Small mammals reduce activity during high moon illumination under risk of predation by introduced predators.

Predation influences prey survival and drives evolution of anti-predator behaviour. Anti-predator strategies by prey are stimulated by direct encounters with predators, but also by exposure to indicators of risk such as moonlight illumination and vegetation cover. Many prey species will suffer increased risk on moonlit nights, but risk may be reduced by the presence of dense vegetation. Determining the role of vegetation in reducing perceived risk is important, especially given predictions of increased global wildfire, which consumes vegetation and increases predation. We used remote cameras in southeastern Australia to compare support for the predation risk and habitat-mediated predation risk hypotheses. We examined the influence of moonlight and understorey cover on seven 20-2500 g mammalian prey species and two introduced predators, red foxes and feral cats. Activity of all prey species reduced by 40-70% with increasing moonlight, while one species (bush rat) reduced activity in response to increasing moonlight more sharply in low compared to high understorey cover. Neither predator responded to moonlight. Our findings supported the predation risk hypothesis and provided limited support for the habitat-mediated predation risk hypothesis. For prey, perceived costs of increased predation risk on moonlit nights outweighed any benefits of a brighter foraging environment.

Raíz secundaria embrional asociada a la germinación de Garcinia intermedia (Clusiaceae) y su posible papel en la supervivencia de las plántulas / Secondary embryonary root associated with seed germination in Garcinia intermedia (Clusiaceae) and its possible role in seedling survival

Germination tests on Garcinia intermedia (Clusiaceae) seeds showed the growth of two types of roots: additionally to the primary root, a secondary root crosses the seed lengthwise. To determine its possible role on the survival and growth of this species, 90 seedlings at least six months old (collected in Central Costa Rica) were planted in plastic bags with organic soil, and placed in a greenhouse. The seedlings were treated as follows: treatments in which the primary or secondary root was cut off, and a control group with both roots intact (30 replicates each). After three months 10 seedlings/month/treatment were extracted to measure their height, basal diameter, root length (main and secondary root), and biomass of the stem, roots and seed (without its coat). Control seedlings had the highest growth, followed by those without secondary roots. Nonetheless, more than 90% of the seedlings whose primary roots were cut off, survived after five months of the excision treatment, in part due to the capacity of this species to regenerate its radical system through the seed reserves, sprouting of a primary-like root, and/or the growth stimulus of the secondary root (60% of the total: 20% with sprouts from the primary root stump, 13.3% with a growth stimulus of the secondary root, and 26.7% with both conditions). The length of the sprouted roots was significantly different only on those plants that were extracted during the first two monthly measurements, when compared with the control (F6 = 18.6, F7 = 16.0, p < 0.01).

[Regeneration of tree cover in a small urban forest reserve from the moist Premontane region]. / Regeneración de la vegetación arbórea en una pequeña reserva forestal urbana del nivel premontano húmedo, Costa Rica.

The tropical premontane moist forest is one of the most destructed life zones in Costa Rica. For such regions, a small natural preserve system has been proposed. An inventory of trees greater than 3.5 cm in diameter at breast height was done in one hectare urban forest patch that was left under natural regeneration for 30 years. The inventory included 940 individuals of at least 55 species and 32 families. A Holdridge Complexity Index of 58 was obtained. There was a strong dominance by small-diameter trees of successional and exotic species.

Activation of cancer cell proteases and cytotoxicity by EGF and PDGF growth factors.

The biological effects of EGF and PDGF growth factors on A172 and hEGFr-3T3 cell lines were studied using RBC induced cytolysis and polyacrylamide-gelatin gel electrophoresis assays. The authors report that growth factor-induced cytotoxicity in these cells is mediated by proteolytic enzymes. Treatment of A172 cells with either EGF or PDGF resulted in marked increase of their cytotoxicity (Release Index = 150%). Similarly, RBC induced release index by hEGFr-3T3 cells was elevated to 420% in the presence of 3.4 pM of EGF. However, in A172 cells, PDGF did not have a significant effect on DNA and protein synthesis indicating that stimulation of proteolytic activity is independent of the growth factor signaling pathway. Growth factor induced cytotoxicity was significantly reduced by protease inhibitors in both cell lines. Using EDTA and leupeptin several proteolytic species were identified and localized to cellular membranes as evidenced by polyacrylamide-gelatin electrophoresis assay. These data suggest that growth factors regulate the activation or secretion of proteolytic enzymes in cancer cells and may mediate the invasive and metastatic behavior of these cells.

Pathogenesis of anemia in rats with Walker 256 carcinosarcoma.

The purpose of this study was to further clarify the pathophysiology of anemia in malignancy. To accomplish this end a total of 210 normal or splenectomized rats with or without the solid form of Walker 256 carcinosarcoma was studied. In vivo studies demonstrated that in stage I cancer (tumor weight less than 10% of body weight) a slightly shortened red cell survival resulted in a mild degree of anemia. With increasing tumor size, 51Cr red cells mass decreased further, in spite of extramedullary erythropoiesis and a slightly increased incorporation transferrin-bound iron into red cells. Splenectomized rats with stage II cancer developed a more profound degree of anemia associated with a significantly decreased incorporation of 59Fe into red cells. Marrow cell culture studies demonstrated that heme synthesis in response to erythropoietin in stage I cancer was not significantly different from normal, but in rats with stage II cancer (tumor weight greater than 10% of body weight) heme synthesis in response to erythropoietin was markedly decreased. In vitro studies demonstrated that plasma erythropoietin levels were appropriately increased in most rats with transplanted malignancy. These studies indicate that bone marrow heme synthesis in response to erythropoietin is impaired in rats with the anemia of advanced malignancy.