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The uptake of heavy metals at sublethal concentrations by the mycelia and sporocarps of an edible fungus Pleurotus sajor-caju was measured by an atomic absorption spectrophotometer, and their impact on growth, productivity, and cellular proteins was also studied. Mycelia demonstrated the lowest uptake of Co2+ (11 micrograms ml-1) and Hg2+ (12 micrograms ml-1) and the highest uptake of Cu2+ (182 micrograms ml-1) and Cd2+ (178 micrograms ml-1). Sporocarps obtained from the substrate treated separately with Pb2+ (100 micrograms ml-1) and CD2+ (6 micrograms ml-1) indicated a minimum and maximum uptake of Pb2+ (7 micrograms g-1) and Cd2+ (33 micrograms g-1), respectively. Although Cu2+ and Cd2+ at 6 micrograms ml-1 indicated 41 and 93% growth reduction, Pb2+ and Hg2+ also caused more than 85% reduction of growth at 15 and 6 micrograms ml-1, respectively. Pb2+ reduced mycelial protein significantly (36%), but Hg2+ caused maximum reduction (30%) of proteins in sporocarps. Separate treatment of spawned substrate with test heavy metals reduced biological efficiency of sporocarp production, but markedly with Pb2+.
The cicada genus Platypleura has a wide distribution across Africa and southern Asia. We describe endothermic thermoregulation in four South African species that show crepuscular signaling behavior. This is the first evidence of thermoregulation in platypleurine cicadas. Field measurements of body temperature ( T(b)) show that these animals regulate T(b) through endogenous heat production. Maximum T(b) measured was 22.1 degrees C above ambient temperature during calling activity at dusk. The mean T(b) during dusk activity did not differ from the mean T(b) during diurnal activity. A unique behavior for cicadas, a temperature-dependent telescoping pulsation of the abdomen, was observed in the laboratory during endogenous warm-up. This behavior is part of a unique method of heat generation in endothermic cicadas. Males generally call from trunks and branches within the canopy and appear to use endothermy even when the sun is available to elevate T(b). Endothermy may provide the cicadas with the advantage of decreasing predation and acoustic competition by permitting calling from perches that most complement their cryptic coloration patterns and that ectotherms cannot use due to thermal constraints. In addition, endothermy may permit calling activity during crepuscular hours when atmospheric conditions are optimal for acoustic communication and predation risks are minimal.
Leucoagaricus gongylophorus, the fungus cultured by the leaf-cutting ant Atta sexdens, produces polysaccharidases that degrade leaf components by generating nutrients believed to be essential for ant nutrition. We evaluated pectinase, amylase, xylanase, and cellulase production by L. gongylophorus in laboratory cultures and found that polysaccharidases are produced during fungal growth on pectin, starch, cellulose, xylan, or glucose but not cellulase, whose production is inhibited during fungal growth on xylan. Pectin was the carbon source that best stimulated the production of enzymes, which showed that pectinase had the highest production activity of all of the carbon sources tested, indicating that the presence of pectin and the production of pectinase are key features for symbiotic nutrition on plant material. During growth on starch and cellulose, polysaccharidase production level was intermediate, although during growth on xylan and glucose, enzyme production was very low. We propose a possible profile of polysaccharide degradation inside the nest, where the fungus is cultured on the foliar substrate.
The genetic diversity of a Leccinum duriusculum population growing under <20-year-old Populus alba on former farming soil was analysed from 1998 to 2001 and compared in 2000 to the two nearest populations found under >70-year-old P. alba. Genets were recognized using RAPD amplifications with three different primers, while their conspecificity was assessed by sequencing the nuclear ITS and mitochondrial large ribosomal subunit. The young population was colonized by a large genet that persisted from 1998 to 2001 (most distal sporophores were 10.4 m apart in 2001) and a second genetically related genet appeared in 2001. Five and six genets, respectively, of smaller size were found in the two other populations, while the investigated area was slightly smaller (72.25 m2) and the three populations were strongly divergent genetically (>33%). The genetic uniformity, as well as the high speed of radial growth of the lasting genet under <20-year-old P. alba (radial growth: 1 m/year), are interpreted in the framework of a founder effect. The slow recruitment of genets is proposed to lower the intraspecific competition and to entail large, fast-growing genets. The differences from ectomycorrhizal populations due to secondary colonization, which have been investigated often, are also emphasized.
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This study represents a first step toward understanding the contribution formant frequency makes to the perception of female voice categories. The effects of formant frequency and pitch on the perception of voice category were examined by constructing a perceptual study that used two sets of synthetic stimuli at various pitches throughout the female singing range. The first set was designed to test the effects of systematically varying formants 1 through 4. The second set was designed to test the relative effects of lower frequency formants (F1 and F2) versus higher frequency formants (F3 and F4) through construction of mixed stimuli. Generally, as the frequencies of all four formants decreased, perception of soprano voice category decreased at all but the highest pitch, A5. However, perception of soprano voice category also increased as a function of pitch. Listeners appeared to need agreement between all four formants to perceive voice categories. When upper and lower formants are inconsistent in frequency, listeners were unable to judge voice category, but they could use the inconsistent patterns to form perceptions about degree of jaw opening.
Rapid quantification of psilocybin and psilocin in extracts of wild mushrooms is accomplished by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography with paired-ion reagents. Nine solvent systems and three solid supports are evaluated for their efficiency in separating psilocybin, psilocin and other components of crude mushroom extracts by thin-layer chromatography.
Professional voice users present interesting challenges for laryngologists and speech-language pathologists. Many of these patients place olympic demands on their voices and must meet standards of near-perfection to succeed as vocal artists. Through systematic treatment combining the traditional art of medicine with modern technology, the physician should generally be able to care for the premier voice professional. The expertise gained improves the standard of care for all voice patients.
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