Digital Microstructure in Ecologically Diverse Sympatric Microhylid Frogs, Genera Cophixalus and Sphenophryne (Amphibia, Anura), From Papua-New-Guinea

1986 ◽  
Vol 34 (2) ◽  
pp. 135 ◽  
Author(s):  
DM Green ◽  
MP Simon

The extent of development of digital adhesive toe-pads in sympatric species of microhylid frogs, Cophixalus and Sphenophryne, correlates with the degree of arboreality exhibited by the species. The same basic structures and cell types are found in the toe-pads of these microhylid frogs as are found in other arboreal and semi- arboreal frogs of many diverse evolutionary lineages. A variety of types of cell surface, with unknown functional significance but potential systematic use, are found on the feet of these frogs. Allometric increase in adhesive-pad area in larger species is by widening of the toe-pad, as opposed to acquisition of accessory pads as in some hylid tree frogs.

2001 ◽  
Vol 49 (6) ◽  
pp. 675 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Ross Sinclair

Most megapode species rake organic material into mounds in which they incubate their eggs. To test predictions of a model proposed for temperature regulation in incubation mounds (the ‘Seymour Model’), I collected data on the physical characteristics of these mounds of the sympatric wattled brush-turkey (Aepypodius arfakianus), brown-collared talegalla (Talegalla jobiensis) and New Guinea megapode (Megapodius decollatus) in Papua New Guinea. Data from mounds supported several predictions of the Seymour Model: (1) there is a critical mass needed for mounds to heat to incubation temperatures, (2) mounds are stable homeotherms, (3) mounds cool after they are abandoned, and (4) mounds with different proportions of organic material differ in size. Data did not support predictions that (1) mound size will change with changes in ambient air temperature, and (2) mounds in high-rainfall areas will be convex to shed water. Mounds of New Guinea megapodes and brown-collared talegallas were similar and differed from those of wattled brush-turkeys in size, composition, temperature profile and location of eggs. These differences were consistent with the Seymour Model. The Seymour Model is robust enough to explain differences in mounds of sympatric megapodes, which differ in their taxonomy, behaviour and ecology.


Author(s):  
Michael Edidin

Cell surface membranes are based on a fluid lipid bilayer and models of the membranes' organization have emphasised the possibilities for lateral motion of membrane lipids and proteins within the bilayer. Two recent trends in cell and membrane biology make us consider ways in which membrane organization works against its inherent fluidity, localizing both lipids and proteins into discrete domains. There is evidence for such domains, even in cells without obvious morphological polarity and organization [Table 1]. Cells that are morphologically polarised, for example epithelial cells, raise the issue of membrane domains in an accute form.The technique of fluorescence photobleaching and recovery, FPR, was developed to measure lateral diffusion of membrane components. It has also proven to be a powerful tool for the analysis of constraints to lateral mobility. FPR resolves several sorts of membrane domains, all on the micrometer scale, in several different cell types.


Author(s):  
Donald Denoon ◽  
Kathleen Dugan ◽  
Leslie Marshall

1984 ◽  
Vol 29 (10) ◽  
pp. 786-788
Author(s):  
Patricia M. Greenfield

2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
Esteban Tristan ◽  
Mei-Chuan Kung ◽  
Peter Caccamo

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