Social and ecological complexity is associated with gestural repertoire size of wild chimpanzees

Increasing our understanding of primate gestural communication can provide new insights into language evolution. A key question in primate communication is the association between the social relationships of primates and their repertoire of gestures. Such analyses can reveal how primates use their repertoire of gestural communication to maintain their networks of family and friends, much as humans use language to maintain their social networks. In this study we examined the association between the repertoire of gestures (overall, manual and bodily gestures, and gestures of different modalities) and social bonds (presence of reciprocated grooming), coordinated behaviors (travel, resting, co‐feeding), and the complexity of ecology (e.g. noise, illumination) and sociality (party size, audience), in wild East African chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii). A larger repertoire size of manual, visual gestures was associated with the presence of a relationship based on reciprocated grooming and increases in social complexity. A smaller repertoire of manual tactile gestures occurred when the relationship was based on reciprocated grooming. A smaller repertoire of bodily gestures occurred between partners who jointly traveled for longer. Whereas gesture repertoire size was associated with social complexity, complex ecology also influenced repertoire size. The evolution of a large repertoire of manual, visual gestures may have been a key factor that enabled larger social groups to emerge during evolution. Thus, the evolution of the larger brains in hominins may have co‐occurred with an increase in the cognitive complexity underpinning gestural communication and this, in turn, may have enabled hominins to live in more complex social groups.     

Effect of reserpine on ventricular escape

Catecholamine depletion by reserpine diminishes the tendency of the ventricle to escape from vagal suppression. Neither spinal section nor adrenalectomy enhances the reserpine effect. Norepinephrine restores the characteristic occurrence of ventricle escape during vagal stimulation.     

The toxicity of the cyanobacterium Microcystis aeruginosa to rainbow trout, Salmo gairdneri Richardson

Abstract. Microcystis aeruginosa is a common cyanobacterium of nutrient-rich fresh waters. It has been implicated in a large number of poisoning incidents involving wild and domesticated terrestrial animals. The study showed that a pure strain of M. aeruginosa toxic to mice was non-toxic to rainbow trout immersed in a culture for 10 days. In contrast, when presented by intraperitoneal injections Microcystis caused an acute toxic response with 100% mortality of fish within 36 h. The histopathology of the response is described and contrasted with that to another cyanobacterium, Anabaena cylindrica , which was shown to be non-toxic by immersion or injection.     

Emaciation of pond-cultured snakehead, Channa striatus (Fowler)

Abstract. A new disease condition which may affect up to 20% of a population has been recognized in pond cultured snakeheads, Channa striatus (Fowler). Clinically, affected fish are inappetent and severely emaciated; histologically and ultrastructurally, emaciated pond reared snakeheads display extensive striated myofibrillar and sarcoplasmic degeneration and necrosis with inflammatory changes.     

Ultrastructural aspects of infestation by Ichthyobodo necator (Henneguy, 1883) on the skin and gills of the salmonids Salmo salar L. and Salmo gairdneri Richardson

Abstract. Ultrastructural changes in the skin and gill epithelia of Salmo salar L. and Salmo gairdneri Richardson caused by Ichthyobodo necator are described. Sloughing of Malphigian cells and epidermal spongiosis result in the characteristic clinical signs of costiasis. Destruction of subsurface cells may facilitate rapid development of spongiosis. Infested surface cells show dramatic degeneration of the cytoplasm but the nucleus usually remains intact. It is concluded that I. necator does not feed specifically on the nucleus.