Intra-Specific Variation in the Common Shiner, Notropis cornutus frontalis (Agassiz) from Minnesota and South Dakota

The voluminous literature relating to intra-specific variations in fishes has been reviewed by Hubbs (1934, 1940), Tanning (1952), Lindsay (1953) and others. A majority of the workers have supported the interpretation that the variation is influenced by various environmental factors, primarily the temperature during the pre-fry stages of development. Certain of the meristic characters which show such variability have been generally used in identifying various races of minnows. If such characters as the number of anal fin rays or scales in the lateral line are easily influenced by the environment, their usefulness in defining races is certainly open to question. However, if they are little influenced by environmental conditions, then their usefulness is not subject to such criticism. Support for the latter view can be found in certain experimental studies (Gabriel 1944, Heuts 1949)

Revised Distribution Records of Some Minnesota Fishes, With Addition of Two Species to the Faunal List

Recent collections of fishes in Minnesota hove resulted in the addition of two species, Moxostoma carinatum (Catostomidae) and Ammocrypta asprella (Percidae), to the state\u27s inland faunal list. Additional information on the distribution of 11 other species (Minytrema melanops, Hybopsis x-punctata, Opsopoeodus emiliae, Dionda nubiloa, Notropis amnis, Notropis texanus, Notropis umbratilis, Pimephales vigilax, Lepomis humilis, Etheostoma asprigene, ond Etheostoma microperca) is presented . Collections in large rivers are responsible for several new distribution records, and further sampling in such habitats should lead to further discoveries

The Summer Standing Crop, Growth and Distribution of Chironomus plumosus, in Lake Itasca, Minnesota

During the period 15 June to 3 September 1965, 626 Ekman dredge hauls were made in Lake Itasca, Minnesota. The numbers and weights of Chironomus plumosus L. at 6 m, 7 m, 8 m, Siefert\u27s Hole (9.5 - l 0.4 m), and Peace Pipe Vista (11.5 - 13.7 m) depression were determined. In addition, the numbers and weights of several other benthic dipteran larvae, Cryptochironomus, Palpomyia, and Procladius, normal associates of C. plumosus, were determined. A loss of 98,407 larvae/ha/day occurred in the 6-9 m stratum during the 12 weeks. There was a decrease in numbers of larvae of 79.3% and 84% at Siefert\u27s Hole and Peace Pipe Vista depression, respectively. The summer decrease in biomass was 4.23 kg/ha/day in the 6-9 m stratum, 1.72 kg/ha/day in Siefert\u27s Hole, and 0.98 kg/ha/day in the Peace Pipe Vista depression. The individual larvae were gaining weight during the 12 week period when the biomass was decreasing. The ANOVA of numbers of larvae during the last seven weeks of the sampling period showed significant effects of depth and time on numbers, but no significant interaction. Fisher\u27s coefficient of dispersion was used to determine the distributional patterns of larvae al the various sampling depths; few collections varied significantly from random distribution, in several samples from Siefert\u27s Hole and the Peace Pipe Vista depression the larvae showed a clumped distribution. The number of larvae surviving to 3 September were estimated to represent a potential pupal crop of 87.31 kg/ha in the 6-10.5 m stratum

New Distributional Records of Some Minnesota Fishes

Minnesota is almost unique in that its waters drain by three divergent courses: the Red River to the Arctic, the Great Lakes to the Gulf of St. Lawrence and the Mississippi River to the Gulf of Mexico. The close proximity of the headwaters of these several drainages present opportunities for certain species to move from one basin to another. Species restricted to the Arctic basin have their southern limits in northern and western Minnesota. Many eastern and southern species have their northern and western limits within the state. In spite of the fact that intensive collecting has been carried on since 1890 by various workers new records or range extensions are made each year

Multi-modal analysis of courtship behaviour in the old world leishmaniasis vector Phlebotomus argentipes

BACKGROUND: The sand fly Phlebotomus argentipes is arguably the most important vector of leishmaniasis worldwide. As there is no vaccine against the parasites that cause leishmaniasis, disease prevention focuses on control of the insect vector. Understanding reproductive behaviour will be essential to controlling populations of P. argentipes, and developing new strategies for reducing leishmaniasis transmission. Through statistical analysis of male-female interactions, this study provides a detailed description of P. argentipes courtship, and behaviours critical to mating success are highlighted. The potential for a role of cuticular hydrocarbons in P. argentipes courtship is also investigated, by comparing chemicals extracted from the surface of male and female flies. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: P. argentipes courtship shared many similarities with that of both Phlebotomus papatasi and the New World leishmaniasis vector Lutzomyia longipalpis. Male wing-flapping while approaching the female during courtship predicted mating success, and touching between males and females was a common and frequent occurrence. Both sexes were able to reject a potential partner. Significant differences were found in the profile of chemicals extracted from the surface of males and females. Results of GC analysis indicate that female extracts contained a number of peaks with relatively short retention times not present in males. Extracts from males had higher peaks for chemicals with relatively long retention times. CONCLUSIONS: The importance of male approach flapping suggests that production of audio signals through wing beating, or dispersal of sex pheromones, are important to mating in this species. Frequent touching as a means of communication, and the differences in the chemical profiles extracted from males and females, may also indicate a role for cuticular hydrocarbons in P. argentipes courtship. Comparing characteristics of successful and unsuccessful mates could aid in identifying the modality of signals involved in P. argentipes courtship, and their potential for use in developing new strategies for vector control

Differences in carotid arterial morphology and composition between individuals with and without obstructive coronary artery disease: A cardiovascular magnetic resonance study

Objective: We sought to determine differences with cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) in the morphology and composition of the carotid arteries between individuals with angiographically-defined obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD, = 50% stenosis, cases) and those with angiographically normal coronaries (no lumen irregularities, controls). Methods and results: 191 participants (50.3% female; 50.8% CAD cases) were imaged with a multi-sequence, carotid CMR protocol at 1.5T. For each segment of the carotid, lumen area, wall area, total vessel area (lumen area + wall area), mean wall thickness and the presence or absence of calcification and lipid-rich necrotic core were recorded bilaterally. In male CAD cases compared to male controls, the distal bulb had a significantly smaller lumen area (60.0 [plus or minus] 3.1 vs. 79.7 [plus or minus] 3.2 mm[super]2, p less than 0.001) and total vessel area (99.6 [plus or minus] 4.0 vs. 119.8 [plus or minus] 4.1 mm[super]2; p less than 0.001), and larger mean wall thickness (1.25 [plus or minus] 0.03 vs. 1.11 [plus or minus] 0.03 mm; p = 0.002). Similarly, the internal carotid had a smaller lumen area (37.5 [plus or minus] 1.8 vs. 44.6 [plus or minus] 1.8 mm[super]2; p = 0.006) and smaller total vessel area (64.0 [plus or minus] 2.3 vs. 70.9 [plus or minus] 2.4 mm[super]2; p = 0.04). These metrics were not significantly different between female groups in the distal bulb and internal carotid or for either gender in the common carotid. Male CAD cases had an increased prevalence of lipid-rich necrotic core (49.0% vs. 19.6%; p = 0.003), while calcification was more prevalent in both male (46.9% vs. 17.4%; p = 0.002) and female (33.3% vs. 14.6%; p = 0.031) CAD cases compared to controls. Conclusion: Males with obstructive CAD compared to male controls had carotid bulbs and internal carotid arteries with smaller total vessel and lumen areas, and an increased prevalence of lipid-rich necrotic core. Carotid calcification was related to CAD status in both males and females. Carotid CMR identifies distinct morphological and compositional differences in the carotid arteries between individuals with and without angiographically-defined obstructive CAD.Carotid Atherosclerosis (MRI) Progression Study (CAMPS, HL076378) and Cardiovascular Research Training Program (T-32, HL07838); and the General Clinical Research Center at the Wake Forest University School of Medicine (M01 RR-07122)

Resolving the ancestry of Austronesian-speaking populations

There are two very different interpretations of the prehistory of Island Southeast Asia (ISEA), with genetic evidence invoked in support of both. The “out-of-Taiwan” model proposes a major Late Holocene expansion of Neolithic Austronesian speakers from Taiwan. An alternative, proposing that Late Glacial/postglacial sea-level rises triggered largely autochthonous dispersals, accounts for some otherwise enigmatic genetic patterns, but fails to explain the Austronesian language dispersal. Combining mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), Y-chromosome and genome-wide data, we performed the most comprehensive analysis of the region to date, obtaining highly consistent results across all three systems and allowing us to reconcile the models. We infer a primarily common ancestry for Taiwan/ISEA populations established before the Neolithic, but also detected clear signals of two minor Late Holocene migrations, probably representing Neolithic input from both Mainland Southeast Asia and South China, via Taiwan. This latter may therefore have mediated the Austronesian language dispersal, implying small-scale migration and language shift rather than large-scale expansion