Showing papers by "Andrew J. Beattie published in 1998"

Spatial fidelity of plant, vertebrate, and invertebrate assemblages in multiple-use forest in eastern Australia

Abstract: The design of a protected areas network that contains or represents as many species as possible (maximum complementarity of areas) is a first step toward in situ conservation of species biodiversity. In the absence of complete species inventories, however, area selection must employ surrogate data such as the distribution of plant or vertebrate species. The degree to which the use of these taxa results in a network of sites with maximum complementarity for others depends on levels of assemblage fidelity among taxa. Assemblage fidelity is defined here as the degree to which assemblages from different phylogenic groups co-occur in space and time. We examined the spatial fidelity of ground-active invertebrate (ants and several beetle families: Carabidae, Scarabaeidae, Pselaphidae), vascular plant, and vertebrate assemblages (birds, small mammals, frogs, and reptiles) at 56 sites in a range of eastern Australian forest types. We used unlogged (n = 32) and logged (n = 24) forest sites. Assemblage fidelity was assessed by ordination and Mantel correlation, and patterns of species richness and species turnover that helped explain the findings were analyzed by simple correlation, cluster analysis, and two indices of β diversity. Our analyses revealed general assemblage fidelity among plant, vertebrate, and invertebrate assemblages, and results were consistent in both unlogged and logged forest. In several forest types, however, fidelity among invertebrates and plants was low due to high invertebrate turnover. Overall levels of species turnover were much higher for vascular plants and invertebrates than for vertebrates. Species richness patterns at individual sites were generally uncorrelated among taxa. Our findings suggest that (1) the exclusion of invertebrates from biodiversity surveys cannot be justified on the assumption that plant and vertebrate assemblages act as surrogates for invertebrate species-level biodiversity or on the basis of cost-efficiency; (2) both spatial fidelity and species turnover are useful for evaluating the role of selected taxa as surrogates for the species-level biodiversity of others; (3) the selection of sites for in situ biodiversity conservation should consider taxa that exhibit high levels of species turnover; and (4) the inclusion of invertebrates in biodiversity surveys may offer considerable cost savings and be more representative of species biodiversity than conventional plant and vertebrate surveys. Fidelidad Espacial de Ensamblajes de Plantas, Vertebrados e Invertebrados en Bosques de usos Multiples en Australia Oriental El diseno de redes de areas protegidas que contengan o representen tantas expecies como sea posible (complementaridad maxima de areas) es un primer paso hacia la conservacion in situ de la biodiversidad de especies. Sin embargo, en ausencia de inventarios de especies completos, la seleccion del area debera emplear datos alternativos como son la distribucion de especies de plantas o vertebrados. El grado de resultado del empleo de estos datos en una red de sitios con maxima complementaridad para con otros dependera del nivel de fidelidad del ensamblaje entre datos. La fidelidad del ensamblaje se define aqui como el grado con el cual los ensamblajes de diferentes grupos filogeneticos co-ocurren en espacio y tiempo. Examinamos la fidelidad espacial de invetebrados activos del suelo (hormigas y varias familias de escarabajos: Carabidae, Scarabaeidae, Pselaphidae), plantas vasculares y ensamblajes de vertebrados (aves, mamiferos pequenos, ranas y reptiles) en 56 sitios de un rango de bosques de Australia oriental. Utilizamos sitios con bosques no talados (n = 32) y talados (n = 24). La fidelidad del ensamblaje se evaluo por medio de ordenacion y correlacion de Mantel, los patrones de riqueza y renovacion de especies que ayudaron a explicar los resultados fueron analizados mediante correlacion simple, analisis de conglomerados (clusters) y dos indices de diversidad β. Nuestros analisis revelan una fidelidad general entre esamblajes de plantas, vertebrados e invetebrados y que los resultados son consistentes tanto en areas taladas como en no taladas. Sin embargo, en diversos tipos de bosques, la fidelidad entre invertebrados y plantas fue baja debido a una elevada tasa de renovacion de invertebrados. En general, los patrones de riqueza de especies en sitios individuales no estuvieron correlacionados entre taxas. Nuestros resultados sugieren que: (1) la exclusion de invertebrados de los estudios de biodiversidad no puede ser justificada bajo la aserveracion de que los ensamblajes de plantas y vertebrados actuan como indicadores alternativos de biodiversidad para el nivel de especies de invertebrados, ni en base a costo-eficiencia; (2) tanto la fidelidad espacial como la tasa de renovacion son valiosos para la evaluacion del papel de los taxas seleccionados como alternativos para la biodiversidad a nivel de especie de otros taxas; (3) la seleccion de sitios para la conservacion de la biodiversidad in situ, debera considerar taxas que exhiban niveles altos de renovacion de especies y (4) la inclusion de invertebrados en estudios de biodiversidad podria ofrecer ahorros considerables en costos a la vez de ser mas representativos de la biodiversidad de especies que los estudios convencionales de plantas y vertebrados.

A gloverin-like antibacterial protein is synthesized in helicoverpa armigera following bacterial challenge

Abstract: A bacteria inducible antibacterial protein, P2, was isolated from the old world bollworm Helicoverpa armigera. Fifth-instar larvae were injected with live Escherichia coli NCTC 8196. P2 was isolated by HPLC using reversed-phase and size-exclusion columns. In addition, P2 was isolated by an alternative method of sequential cation-exchange and reversed-phase HPLC. The structure of P2 was determined by N-terminal Edman degradation and mass spectrometry. P2 had similar mass (14.1 kDa) structure and activity to gloverin, an inducible glycine-rich antibacterial protein isolated from Hyalophora gloveri [Axen, A.; Carlsson, A.; Engstrom, A.; Bennich, H. Eur. J. Biochem. 247:614-619; 1997]. At the N-terminus P2 had ∼60% identity with gloverin. P2 is basic, heat stable, and displayed rapid antibacterial action. P2 was active against the Gram-negative bacteria tested and was inactive against the Gram-positive bacteria, Candidaalbicans, a bovine turbinate cell line, and pestivirus.