THE H-ION CONCENTRATION AND THE ORIGIN OF THE HEART BEAT

The rate of the frog or guinea pig heart preparation was not significantly influenced by the H-ion concentration when this was kept within limits which allowed the heart to continue beating. The theory that the H-ion concentration is intimately concerned with the origination of the heart beat is not supported by the results of this investigation.     

Cliff swallow colonies as information centers

Colonies of cliff swallows (Aves: Hirundo pyrrhonota) appear to be information centers in which colony residents acquire information on the location of food sources. Individuals that have been unsuccessful on a foraging trip return to the colony, locate a successful forager, and follow that individual to a food source. Individuals often follow, and are followed by, their neighbors within the colony, possibly because neighbors can observe foraging success through food brought back to nestlings. All individuals are equally likely to follow others or be followed, and thus all individuals benefit from opportunities to receive information.     

Recurring origins of allopolyploid species in asplenium

A large proportion of plant species has originated through allopolyploidy: interspecific hybridization followed by chromosome doubling. Heterozygosity remains fixed in allopolyploids because of nonsegregation of parental chromosomes. Two allotetraploid species of the fern genus Asplenium show allozyme polymorphisms at loci that are polymorphic in their diploid progenitors, indicating that each has originated more than once and implicating continued gene flow from diploids to tetraploids.