Instances of sex inversion in the domesticated swordtail, Xiphophorus helleri Heckel (Pisces, Osteichthyes)

3 protogynous hermaphrodites were found in a domesticated strain of Xiphophorus helleri, confirming much doubted observations by older authors. It therefore seems that sex determination may vary between strains, certain strains being strictly gonochoristic but others being capable of true hermaphroditism.     

A possibility to achieve genetic transformation in the platyfish-swordtail system (Platypoecilus maculatus — Xiphophorus helleri)

Summary In order to determine how informative homologous donor DNA might be made available to propigment cells of the recipientXiphophorus helleri for transformation, labelled heterologous DNA fromE. coli was injected into the neural crest region or the yolk sac of embryos of the recipient. On the basis of the degradation rate of the donor DNA and the incorporation rate of radioactivity into the recipient DNA, it is concluded that injection into the neural crest region may be a suitable method to make available informative homologous donor DNA for transformation.Supported by DFG through SFB No. 103, and by Stiftung Volkswagenwerk.     

Veränderungen der aggressiven Handlungsbereitschaft männlicher Schwertträger,Xiphophorus helleri,nach sozialer Isolation (Fische,Poeciliidae)

Summary IfXiphophorus helleri males are kept in social isolation for 14–56 days, the fights for rank order position showed an increasing duration and intensity. These results support the idea of a spontaneous accumulation of attack readiness and are in contrast to the results in cichlid fishes. It is supposed that the different influence of social isolation to aggressive behaviour corresponds to different types of social organisation anp ecological adaptations.

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Mit Unterstützung der Deutschen Forschungsgemeinschaft.     

Rudiments of an ability for time measurement in the cavernicolous fishAnoptichthys jordani hubbs and innes (pisces characidae)

Summary Rudiments of an ability for endogenous time-measuring are indicated a) by bimodal activity in the dark phase of LD-cycles of 1616 or 2424 h and b) by damped activity oscillations frequently follwoing a transition from LD to constant conditions. These oscillations always have the same period length as the applied LD.     

On the multiple sex chromosome mechanism in a lygaeid,Oxycarenus hyalinipennis (Costa)

Résumé Oxycarenus hyalinipennis (Costa) possède vraisemblablement des chromosomes sexuels multiples du typeX ₁ X ₂ Y. Les métaphases diploïdes renferment, soit 17, soit 19 éléments. Les 2 éléments supplémentaires des cinèses à 19, bien que comparables auxm-chromosomes des autres Lygéides, diffèrent de ces derniers en certains points de leur comportement qui évoque celui des «surnuméraires» trouvés chez d'autres insectes. La méiose est du type habituel chez les Hétéroptères.     

Genetic basis of susceptibility for development of neoplasms following treatment with N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU) or X-rays in the platyfish/swordtail system

Summary Specific genotypes of the xiphophorine fish develop neoplasms following treatment with N-methyl-N-nitrosourea or X-rays. Several of these neoplasms can be related to the presence of specific chromosomes. The implications of these findings are discussed.Supported by Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft through Sonderforschungsbereich 103 Zellenergetik und Zelldifferenzierung, Marburg (projects C 9 and C 10), and by Justus-Liebig-Universität Giessen. We are indebted to Prof. K. Frese, Veterinär-Pathologisches Institut, Giessen and Dr H. D. Mennel, Pathologisches Institut, Freiburg, for their help in the classification of neoplasms. We furthermore thank K. Klinke for breeding the fish. Dedicated to Prof. C. Kosswig on the occasion of his 75^th birthday.The paper contains parts of the dissertations of S. Abdo, J. Haas and G. Kollinger.supported by the Egypt ministry of education.     

No sex difference in the waveform of the pulse type electric fish,Gnathonemus petersii (Mormyridae)

Summary A communication signal in an African freshwater electric fish, its pulse-like Electric Organ Discharge (EOD), was investigated in order to determine whether inter- or intraindividual variability of the EOD waveform provides a putative cue for communication, in addition to the electric cues already identified. In contrast to an individual's highly stereotyped EODs showing extremely low variation (fig. 1), variability between individuals was considerable (fig. 2). The dependence of an individual's EOD duration on temperature was weak with a Q₁₀ of close to 1.5. In none of four quantitative EOD waveform measures can a sexual dimorphism be discerned (table).Gnathonemus petersii very likely relies on mechanisms other than discrimination of intraspecific EOD waveforms for mate recognition.     

XO type of sex mechanism in earwigs (Dermaptera)

Summary The diploid chromosome complement inAllodahlia macropyga (Westwood) is 14+XO- and 14+XX- This is the first record in Dermaptera, of a XO male-determining mechanism.The authors express their sincere thanks to Prof. G. P. Sharma, Department of Zoology, Panjab University, Chandigarh, for providing research facililies.     

Intersubspecific sex chromosome difference inCitellus citellus L. (Rodentia,Sciuridae)

Summary The autosomal karyotypes of all subspecies studied ofCitellus citellus from Bulgaria do not differ. The X chromosome, by contrast, is different in 1 of the subspecies where it seems to have undergone a pericentric inversion.The authors wish to express their sincere thanks to Prof. Ts. Peshev (Sofia University, Department of Zoology) for providing and identifying the subspecies and also to D. Todorova for her skilful technical help.     

(E,E)-10,12-Hexadecadienal: A component of the female sex pheromone of the spiny bollworm,Earias insulana (Boisd.) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

Summary (E,E)-10,12-Hexadecadienal has been identified as a component of the sex pheromone of the female spiny bollworm moth,Earias insulana, by gas-chromatographic, electroantennographic and microchemical studies of abdominal tip extracts and entrained volatiles from female moths.This work was carried out under Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food licence HH 11599/139, issued under the Destructive Pests and Diseases of Plants Order 1965.