bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Locomotion in the Coleoptera Adephaga, especially Carabidae
Authors: Evans M. E. G. 
Published: August 2009

This study considers leg structure and function in the Adephaga (Caraboidea). Many ground beetles are known to be rapid runners but does this habit account for all the characteristic features of their leg structure? To answer this question, the gaits of several terrestrial Adephagan and Polyphagan beetles have been described briefly; it was concluded that they are fundamentally similar. Thus the peculiar hind legs of Adephaga (with their greatly restricted coxal angle of swing) are not specifically suited to a running habit, but are adapted for pushing. Four basic modifications for pushing have been described in the foreleg ofCarabus problematicus.The particular type of pushing was apparent when the functions of its hind leg were considered. The enlarged metatrochanter contains a strong femoral rotator muscle which forces the hind tarsus vertically downwards (and the hindbody upwards). This movement is a necessary part of wedge‐pushing, where the wedge‐shaped head and prothorax are pushed forwards and the hindbody–the back of the wedge–is oscillated vertically to enlarge the horizontal crevice. The slightly movable metacoxa is part of the antagonistic mechanism of femoral counter‐rotation, in which an ingenious lever action swings up the hind legs (and so depresses the hindbody).The most profound locomotory changes in the Adephaga reflect swimming adaptations. These have involved changes in the pro‐ and mesocoxal articulations, and the immobilization of the metacoxae.Trachypachusis particularly interesting, as it is a terrestrial Caraboid with immobilized metacoxae. The terrestrial Adephaga (mainly Carabidae) can be divided into two basic groups with divergent habits (if specialist burrowers, etc. are excluded). These groups (which merge) are the strong wedge‐pushers/poorer runners with relatively large metatrochanters, and the fast runners/poorer wedge‐pushers with smaller trochanters. Experimental evidence for this separation includes estimates of running speeds and the vertical forces exerted by the hind legs of several species during wedge‐pushing.
Carotenoids of the pupae of the Large White butterfly (Pieris brassicae) and the Small White butterfly (Pieris rapae)
Authors: Rothschild Miriam , Valadon Guy , Mummery Rosemary 
Published: August 2009

The light cues received by the larvae of Pieris brassicae which determine diapause can also influence the carotenoid distribution (and hence the colour) in the epidermis and cuticle of the diapausing pupae. Irrespective of background or light cues received during the “sensitive period” of the pharate pupa, these diapausing pupae are coloured green. They then contain more than double the concentration of carotenoids in their epidermis than the non‐diapausing pupae. This green colour can be somewhat modified by switching the full grown larvae to long day regimes immediately after feeding ceases.The Large White and Small White butterfly each has a characteristic carotenoid storage pattern, which can be demonstrated by feeding the larvae on portions of the same cabbage leaves. The braconid parasite Apanteles glomeratus mirrors the carotenoids in its host.
The hairpencils of the flour moth Ephestia kuehniella
Authors: Corbet Sarah A. , Lai‐Fook Joan 
Published: August 2009

The hairpencils of the Mediterranean flour moth, Ephestia kuehniella Zeller, are tufts of modified scales between the seventh and eighth abdominal segments of the adult males. The fine structure and development of a hairpencil organule is described. A process of the trichogen cell secretes the modified scale and then withdraws, and the cell invaginates forming a microvillous lumen into which pheromone is probably secreted. This lumen communicates with the outside via rows of pores in the hollow scale. The opening of these pores when the moth emerges from the pupal cuticle may be a result of the drying out of the membrane that covered them. The socket of the hairpencil scale is secreted by a tormogen cell.The hairpencils of male Lepidoptera differ in position from family to family, but the organules that compose them seem to share a common structure. Epidermal glands and organules are classified in a scheme that takes account of their mode of development.
Genetic changes in a population of fieldmice (Apodemus sylvaticus) during one winter
Authors: Brown A. J. Leigh 
Published: August 2009

The ecological genetics of a population of fieldmice at the edge of a deciduous wood was studied over two years using starch‐gel electrophoresis and mark‐recapture techniques. Numbers fluctuated widely and the survival rates indicated a high degree of dispersal away from the grid in summer. In autumn 1974 a large influx of animals occurred when the adjacent fields were harvested. During the following winter significant changes in the phosphoglucomutase genotype frequency were observed, associated with a marked fall in numbers. Winter survival is normally good in Apodemus. These results are therefore of some interest.Either differential mortality or differential emigration could be responsible for the genetic changes. The former explanation is preferred in this situation. Fieldmice are known to exploit both field and wood habitats where they meet, and could be subject to differences in selection pressure in the two niches.
Histochemistry of the unicellular glands in relation to their physiological significance in the epidermis of Monopterus cuchia (Synbranchiformes, Pisces)
Authors: Mittal A. K. , Agarwal S. K. 
Published: August 2009

The cytochemical nature of the secretory contents of the unicellular glands—the mucous cells and the sacciform granulated cells in the epidermis of Monopterus cuchia has been described in order to understand their physiological significance.The mucous cells secrete mainly the acid mucopolysaccharides and mucoproteins in addition to small amounts of phospholipids. The secretory contents of the sacciform granulated cells are proteinaceous in nature and give strong reactions for elastin, tryptophan and tryosine. High amounts of cholesterol and small amounts of phospholipids and acid mucopolysaccharides are also identified in these sacciform granulated cells.Phospholipids, mucoproteins and elastin could well increase the viscosity of mucopolysaccharides retaining the slimy secretions on the surface for relatively longer periods. The retention of mucopolysaccharides and elastin on the surface for longer periods that can bind large amounts of water has been correlated to keep the skin moist, facilitating the cutaneous respiration and preventing the fish from desiccation when it is on land. The role of elastin in protecting the fish from various chemical attacks and mechanical stresses is also discussed.Tryptophan secreted by sacciform granulated cells may have the immunological role facilitating the antibody transfer across the epidermis.
Functional structure of the carpal and ventral vibrissae of the squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris)
Authors: Hyvärinen H. , Kangasperko H. , Peura Raija 
Published: August 2009

A study is made of the histology, distribution and ultrastructure of nerve‐organs in the carpal and ventral sinus hairs of the squirrel Sciurus vulgaris L. These sinus hairs were found to be typical tactile hairs. Their situation on the inner surfaces of the forelimbs, and on the ventral body wall is assumed to be useful during climbing. Five different types of nerve end‐organs were found:1. Ring‐shaped end‐organs, especially in the ring sinus, associated with certain cells in connectivetissue and in many cases also anchored to the hair follicle.2. Merkelcells in the basal cell layer of the outer root sheath at the level of the ring sinus.3. Lanceolate end‐organs between the glassy membrane and the connective tissue of the ringwulst and betweenthese in the upper part of the ring sinus.4. Encapsulated end‐organs in the cavernous sinus.5. Free thin nerveendings.
A subordinal classification of frogs (Amphibia: Anura)
Authors: Sokol Otto M. 
Published: August 2009

Two new anuran suborders, based on two states of the trigeminofacial ganglion character complex are proposed. A subsidiary character is the presence or absence of free ribs in extant taxa. These new suborders are more clades (sister groups) than sequential levels of organization. Discoglossoidei, retaining separate trigeminal and facial ganglia and free ribs, encompasses only Leiopelmatidae and Discoglossidae, although by definition it would include the common ancestor of both lineages. Ranoidei have the trigeminal and facial ganglia fused and extant taxa lack free ribs. This group includes all other frogs.Only the superfamiliesPelobatoidea and Pipoidea are reallocated by the new arrangement. The former are now regarded as representing the ranoidean stem group. Both laival and adult morphology show that pipoids are highly derived rather than primitive frogs, and their trigeminofacial systems show that they are ranoideans rather than discoglossoideans. They presumably are ultimately derived from pelobatoids, but the known taxa are too specialized for direct derivation and there must have been an intermediate group with pipoid tadpoles but without extreme specializations for either fossorial or aquatic life.
The social and spatial organization of winter communal roosting in Rooks (Corvus fmgilegus)
Authors: Swingland Ian R. 
Published: August 2009

The spatial and social organization of a winter communal roost of Rooks (Corvus frugilegus L.) was examined. The behaviour of rooks in the roost was found to reduce the rate of loss of heat energy for all or some of the population. The saving of energy experienced by young birds by roosting in sheltered positions was important because of the smaller energy reserves available. When the weather became exceptionally severe, dominant individuals, in seeking sheltered positions, forced less dominant birds from more sheltered to far less sheltered positions, thereby increasing their energy loss. The effects of this selectively‐acting social hierarchy during the night is exacerbated on the feeding grounds during the day when some rooks starve especially those low in the hierarchy. The daytime feeding situation will also increase the lower critical metabolic temperature of the young rooks by lowering the nutritional plane. Other evidence is presented to show that in winter, mortality of young rooks is higher than that of adult rooks.It is argued that the change in the spatial organization in the roost induced by weather and determined by a selectively‐actingsocial hierarchy operates to reduce the rate of energy loss of the majority of the rooks while the remainder suffer an increasing energy deficit.
The histochemistry and ultrastructure of the clitellum of the enchytraeid Lumbricittus rivalis (Oligochaeta: Annelida)
Authors: Richards K. Sylvia 
Published: August 2009

The monostratified clitellar epidermis of Lumbricillus rivalis consists of supporting cells, granular secretory cells, and globular secretory cells, together with the acid mucous cells typical of normal skin in the anterior and posterior transition zones. The secretion of the granular cells is a neutral glycoprotein with low levels of bound lipid, and that of the globular cells is a sulphated acid mucopolysaccharide lacking detectable protein or lipid.Ultrastructurally the granular cells possess 1 μm, membrane‐bound granules of variable electron density suggestive of maturation changes. The formative granules arise from Golgi vesicles and are moderately electron translucent. They contain parallel‐aligned, tubule‐like inclusions of 14 nm diameter, observed also in the mature regions of the Golgi. Granules in the mid or apical part of the cell show increased electron density, the formative pattern being wholly or partially obscured and the subunit alignment, when discernable, no longer uniform. Moiré fringe patterns are evident in some granules. The patterns and electron density are lost after pronase digestion. The globular cells contain electron translucent, membrane‐bound globules of 2–3 μm diameter with finely fibrous contents. They arise from mature Golgi vesicles and are unaffected by pronase treatment.The results suggest that the granular cells secrete the cocoon wall and the globular cells the material that surrounds the developing embryos, and are compared with published accounts of other microdrile clitella and with those of the clitellum of lumbricid earthworms.
Odonata from the Guinea Savanna Zone in Ghana
Authors: Marshall* Adrian G. , Gambles** R. Moylan 
Published: August 2009

Odonata found during two visits to Mole National Park in Northern Ghana during 1974 and 1975 are listed, with brief notes on their habits and ecology, and these are compared with similar observations, published and unpublished, from areas of similar latitude in the Ivory Coast and Nigeria.In an appendix descriptions and figures are given of simple means of separating species that are not readily distinguishable by reference to the published literature.
The transient and steady state responses in oxygen consumption by tropical butterflies to temperature step transfer tests
Authors: Clarke Kenneth U. 
Published: August 2009

A test is described which permits the determination of the respiratory rate of the insect to respond to, and recover from a short series of temperature changes. Both the transient and steady state respiratory responses were studied in the pupa, male and female of four species of tropical butterflies, Heliconius melpomene Linn., Papilio demoleus Wallace, Danaus chrysippus Linn., and Hypolimnas bolina Fabr., following a decrease and then an increase in environmental temperature.Primary data consists of weight, oxygen consumption, and duration time of the transients; secondary data calculated from the above consisted of the Respiratory Change Ratio (RCR) and the % Recovery.The RCR values were similar in pupa, male and female within a species, but showed significant differences between species, H. melpomene showing least change for a 10°C temperature change and H. bolina most. The ability to recover varied within and between species. In D. chrysippus there was no difference between pupa male and female; in H. bolina, pupa, male and female differed significantly in this. Heliconius melpomene showed very poor recuperative powers.The most notable difference in the transients was the slow change following a drop in temperature compared with the instant increase to the steady state value following an increase in temperature. The duration of transients for body temperature were the same for both an increase and a decrease. The respiratory rate of the animal and its body temperature are clearly uncoupled during this period.The transition of the respiratory rate associated with a decrease in temperature showed a smooth curve for the pupa but a momentary increase occurs in the adult.A hypothesis is proposed to account for these results and their possible significance in the distribution and choice of a habitat by the butterflies discussed.
Fast locomotion of some African ungulates
Authors: Alexander R. McN. , Langman V. A. , Jayes A. S. 
Published: August 2009

Ten species of ungulate were filmed, galloping in their natural habitat. They ranged in size from Thomson's gazelle (about 20 kg) to giraffe (about 1000 kg). They were pursued to make them run as fast as possible. The films have been analysed to determine speed, stride frequency, stride and step lengths, and duty factors. The dependence of these quantities on body size is discussed.Summary:Fast locomotion of zebra, giraffe, warthog and seven species of Bovidae has been studied. The animals were filmed from a pursuing vehicle while galloping in their natural habitat.Stride frequency was more closely correlated with limb length (represented by hip height) than with body mass. Mean stride frequency was proportional to (hip height)‐0·51 and maximum stride frequency to (hip height) ‐0·63.Maximum speed was between 10 and 14 m s ‐1 for all species except buffalo (7 m s ‐1). It was not significantly correlated with body mass.Since the small species ran at least as fast as the large ones they attained higher Froude numbers. Relative stride length was approximately 1·8 (Froude number)0·39 for all species, irrespective of size. Relative step length was approximately 0·65 (Froude number)0·2, both for the fore feet and for the hind ones. The vertical forces exerted by the feet are proportional to (body weight)×(Froude number)0·2 so the forces at maximum speed are larger multiples of body weight for small species than for large ones.
The structure and function of the dermal pectoral girdle in bony fishes with particular reference to ostariophysines
Authors: Gosline William A. 
Published: August 2009

The structure of the dermal pectoral girdle of teleostean fishes is analyzed in relation to its functions. In bony fishes the vertebral column, with a horizontal axis, and the pectoral girdle, with a basically vertical axis, form the only skeletal links between the head and the body. The individual bones of the dermal girdle are considered as supporting units joined by a series of articulations that permit differential movement between adjacent bones. The movements mediated by this linkage system are: lateral swinging of the head relative to the body, expansion of the distance between the central areas of the two pectoral girdles to permit passage of large food items, and fore‐and‐aft movements of the anteroventral ends of the cleithra relative to the skull. Among other factors affecting the structure of the dermal pectoral girdle are the provision for the support of the pectoral fin base and the requirement for the effective operation of a sleeve valve between the girdle and the opercular cover.Modifications of the dermal pectoral girdle in ostariophysine fishes are discussed. A brief history of the bony fish girdle in terms of its functional components is postulated.
The life‐history of the julid millipede Cylindroiulus nitidus in a Derbyshire wood
Authors: Blower J. Gordon , Miller Peter F. 
Published: August 2009

A population of C. nitidus in a deciduous wood at Milldale, Derbyshire included adult males with 36 to 54 podous segments but the highest number of segments possessed by immature males was 38. The occcurrence of males in successive stadia is contrasted with the alternation of copulatory and intercalary males in some other juliform millipedes.Samples were taken to determine the course of post‐embryonic development and life‐history in the field. Stadial determination by counting rows of ocelli was not possible but a separation was made by analysis of dimensions. These dimensions and segmental formulae are compared with those of German examples. No intercalary or other modified post‐imaginal male stages were present.From a comparison of the distribution of stadia in five samples it appears that males mature in three and females in four years. Males survive a further four to five, females a further three years after first achieving maturity. The significance of the special and general life‐history characters of the species are discussed.
The biology and evolution of the reproductive cycle of Miniopterus schreibersii and M. australis (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae)
Authors: Richardson Elizabeth G. 
Published: August 2009

The reproductive biology of Miniopterus schreibersii and M. australis was studied at latitude 28·5°S, in eastern Australia. Comparison was made with material from 23·5°S to 37°S.Both species are monoestrous and monotocous. Ovulation is from the left ovary and implantation is in the right cornu. At latitude 28·5°S, a “silent heat” precedes behavioural oestrus and fertilization by two months in M. schreibersii and three months in M. australis. In M. schreibersii copulation and fertilization occur in late May and early June, immediately after a relatively short period of spermatogenesis and about one month after the release of sperm to the epididymides. During winter, implantation of the blastocyst stage is delayed. The male accessory glands involute but a store of epididymal sperm is retained. Implantation occurs in August and birth is in December. M. australis conceives in mid‐August, after an extended period of spermatogenesis which ceases four to six weeks prior to copulation. An epididymal sperm store is present some 21/2 months prior to insemination. Implantation has occurred by mid‐September and parturition takes place in December.Comparative data from other latitudes in eastern Australia show no differences in the timing of a reproductive events of M. australis between 23·5°S and 31°S. In M. schreibersii in South Australia (37°S) mating occurs in April and May. Plasticity in the timing of parturition (October to December) and other anomalies of this population are discussed.The data suggest that evolutionary hypotheses involving extrapolation from one species to the other are questionable and that a more complex and varied adaptive response to climate may exist than has hitherto been supposed.
Variations in body weight, wing length and condition of Mallard Anas platyrhynchos platyrhynchos and their relationship to environmental changes
Authors: Owen Myrfyn , Cook W. A. 
Published: August 2009

This paper describes the analysis of over 15,000 weights of Mallard caught for ringing at Borough Fen Decoy, Northamptonshire, during a 13 year period. Weights are corrected to give condition indices by using wing length to give an indication of body size. The weight of pectoral muscles varies with body weight but as the fat stores increase in weight the proportion of body weight made up of flight muscles decreases. Body weight corrected for size gives a better indication of the bird's condition (defined as its fitness for its present and future needs) than the relative weight of the pectoral muscles or the shape of the breast.The relationships between food availability and weather, and condition are examined. Only occasionally can a drop in condition following hard weather be detected; the birds normally emigrate to the coast after a few days of adverse conditions. There is a relationship between the condition of Mallard in autumn and the amount of grain left on their stubble feeding grounds after harvest. The implications of variations in winter condition on survival and breeding success are briefly discussed.
Comparative studies of morphology and reproduction in two subspecies of the Greater bushbaby, Galago crassicaudatus crassicaudatus and G. c. argentatus
Authors: Dixson A. F. , Horn R. N. Van 
Published: August 2009

Two subspecies of the Greater bushbaby, Galago crassicaudatus argentatus and G. c. crassicaudatus, are known to differ morphologically, but quantitative studies of the differences, or of reproductive compatability between the subspecies, have not previously been attempted. Somatic measurements were made on living specimens of both subspecies and controlled experiments were conducted to determine whether fertile matings would occur between them. G. c. argentatus is heavier than G. c. crassicaudatus and has longer ears, a longer ulna and fibula and a greater biorbital breadth. A significant degree of sexual dimorphism in body weight and length of the fibula and ulna occurs in G. c. argentatus, males being larger than females. In G. c. crassicaudatus however, there are no statistical differences between the sexes in these somatic measurements. The morphology of the male and female external genitalia differs between the two subspecies.In six pairs of male argentatus and female crassicaudatus, only one pair mated and no offspring resulted. In seven pairs of female argentatus and male crassicaudatus, matings occurred in all pairs but only one female conceived and this pregnancy ended prematurely in a spontaneous abortion. In control experiments using six oppositely‐sexed pairs of G. c. crassicaudatus, however, all females became pregnant and produced live offspring.The morphological and reproductive differences between G. c. argentatus and G. c. crassicaudatus are more pronounced than previously realized and it is possible that the two varieties may merit separation as distinct species of Galago.