Effect of relative humidity on the free-living stages ofStrongyloides papillosus (Rhabdiasoidea: Nematoda)

Summary The eggs and larvae are affected by the changes in the humidity level around them. The eggs do not develop below 87% relative humidity at 30 °C and 25 °C. At sub-developmental rel. hum. they remain viable for 30 h at 81%, but at 73% rel. hum. level they do not survive beyond 18 h. Survival of larvae in 100% rel. hum. is longer at 30 °C than at 25 °C and 35 °C, and also they exhibit a poor resistance to desiccation.Acknowledgment. The author is grateful to Dr. Devendra Prasad of Patna University for his supervision and constant help in the work. The assistance of State University Grants Commission through a research scholarship is gratefully acknowledged.     

Effect of humidity on desiccation by living and dead wolf spiders (Araneae: Lycosidae)

Résumé La vitesse de dessication deLycosa n'est pas influencée par le sexe ou l'espèce. Du poids est perdu plus rapidement par des Araignées mortes que par les vivantes, et cela chez toutes les deux à 0% plus qu'à 80% d'humidité relative.     

Intergeneric interactions betweenEimeria separata (Apicomplexa) andNippostrongylus brasiliensis (Nematoda) in the rat

Summary Ova production inNippostrongylus brasiliensis infected rats was significantly greater than in rats singly infected with the helminth whenEimeria separata infections were introduced 4, 6 and 11 days postinoculation withN. brasiliensis. Patent periods were unaltered during concurrent infections. These results suggest that the presence ofE. separata affects helminth fecundity but does not increaseN. brasiliensis longevity as has been shown withE. nieschulzi.This study was supported by NIH MB RS Grant RRO8012-8.     

Growth ofTrichinella spiralis (Nematoda) muscle larvae in the rat

Résumé Dans le présent travail, on a constaté que le taux d'accroissement deTrichinella spiralis dans le muscle strié du rat est très variable et offre un processus discontinu.     

Large scale cultivation of a free-living nematode (Caenorhabditis elegans)

Summary A method is presented for the large scale cultivation of the free-living nematodeCaenorhabditis elegans, using continuous aeration and agitation in glass ware (stirrer flasks) developed for the continuous culture of suspended cells. With this technique, populations up to 10⁹ nematodes may be obtained in a 10 l culture in less than 6 weeks with an inoculum of some 50 worms. Costs can be reduced by using an inexpensive yeast extract, available from the food industry.     

Intergeneric interactions between Eimeria separata (Apicomplexa) and Nippostrongylus brasiliensis (Nematoda) in the rat

Ova production in Nippostrongylus brasiliensis infected rats was significantly greater than in rats singly infected with the helminth when Eimeria separata infections were introduced 4, 6 and 11 days postinoculation with N. brasiliensis. Patent periods were unaltered during concurrent infections. These results suggest that the presence of E. separata affects helminth fecundity but does not increase N. brasiliensis longevity as has been shown with E. nieschulzi.     

Peroxidase and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase activities duringEimeria nieschulzi (Apicomplexa) and/orNippostrongylus brasiliensis (Nematoda) infections in the rat

Summary Results suggest that malabsorption of amino acids which occurs duringEimeria nieschulzi andNippostrongylus brasiliensis infections in rats is not due to impairment by intestinal inflammation of gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase activity.Supported by NIH MBRS grant RR08012-13.     

Nervous and behavioral responses to light in colonies of the free-living bryozoan,Selenaria maculata (Busk)

Summary Bursts of electrical impulses which spread throughout the entire colony were recorded from individual zooids ofSelenaria. Strong illumination caused a rapid increase in the frequency of bursts and also caused the colonies to start moving, usually towards the light the recorded electrical activity may act to trigger locomotor behavior.We are grateful to Dr P. Arnold (James Cook University, Townsville) for his assistance in collecting the live material ofS. maculata, to Miss P. L. Cook and Mr P. J. Chimonides (British Museum (Natural History) for their helpful discussions, and to Dr J.P. Thorpe (University of Liverpool) for suggesting the topic. We thank also the Science and Engineering Research Council for financial support (grant No. GR/A71578).     

Peroxidase and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase activities during Eimeria nieschulzi (Apicomplexa) and/or Nippostrongylus brasiliensis (Nematoda) infections in the rat

Results suggest that malabsorption of amino acids which occurs during Eimeria nieschulzi and Nippostrongylus brasiliensis infections in rats is not due to impairment by intestinal inflammation of gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase activity.     

A first report of relative movements within the hyoid apparatus during feeding inAnolis equestris (Reptilia: Iguanidae)

Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences - The movements of the hyoid apparatus ofAnolis equestris, during mechanical reduction of prey, have been studied by cinefluoroscopy. In the SO and FO stages,...     

Effect of starvation on the blood ofOphiocephalus punctatus (Bloch)

Summary During starvation the values of RBC, WBC counts, Hb content and packed cell volume declined. After 15, 21 and 27 days of starvation little fluctuation was noted but major fluctuation was recorded after 33 days of starvation in all the above parameters.Thanks are due to CSIR, New Delhi, for financial assistance.     

Effect of the juvenoid methoprene on the hemolymph composition of the cabbage maggotDelia radicum (Diptera: Anthomyiidae)

Summary Treatment of post-feeding larvae of the cabbage maggotDelia radicum with methoprene did not affect the capacity of the insect to pupate, but suppressed eclosion to the adult stage. The concentration of hemolymph trehalose was significantly decreased by methoprene treatment, although hemolymph protein and amino nitrogen levels were unaffected.19 December 1986The authors are grateful to D. C. Read of the Research Centre, Agriculture Canada, Charlottetown, P.E.I., Canada for supplying eggs ofD. radicum for the stock colony. TheD. radicum colony was maintained at the Agriculture Canada Research Station, St. John's West, Newfoundland, Canada. The sample of methoprene was donated by Zoecon Corp., Palo Alto, California, U.S.A. This research was supported by a grant from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (Operating grant A6679).     

Effect of water temperature on the motility ofPelagia noctiluca (Forksal)

Summary Laboratory tests have been performed, on the behavior of the jellyfishPelagia noctiluca as a function of the water temperature. It has been found that the usual contractions of the umbrella are almost completely missing at 6°C; they begin to appear at about 7–8°C and they reach frequencies of about 10 and 40 per min at 11 and 15°C respectively. An ambient temperature of about 11°C appears to be a threshold value below which this kind of medusa ceases to move actively and sinks, while at higher temperatures it gradually begins to shift, showing a positive thermotropism in the presence of temperature gradients greater than about 0.01 °C/cm.This work was supported by grant No. 80.00748.88 from the National Research Coucil of Italy (CNR).