DOCSLIB.ORG

Level Biology. Basic and Simplified Revision Notes

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Level Biology. Basic and Simplified Revision Notes Systematic “A” level Biology. Basic and simplified Revision notes. SYSTEMATIC “A” LEVEL BIOLOGY. Basic and simplified revision notes. STANDARD TEACHING SYLABUS: 1. Cell biology or cytology………………………………………..………………………….2 Definition of cytology/cell biology, definition of the cell. Microscopy. light and electron microscopes their structure, mode of operation and comparison between them, microscope practical techniques. Cell theory, types of organism’s i.e prokaryotes and eukaryotes, comparison between Prokaryotes and eukaryotes, why cells are small? Structures of the cell, cell diversity.. Cell division. Types of cell division, events that occur during each type, comparison between them and the importance of each type. 2.Histology………………………………………………………………………………………..4 Definition, types of tissues, their structures and functions,adaptations of some tissues to suit their function. Levels of organization. ie unicellular level; tissue level; organ level; system level and organism level; advantages and disadvantages of being unicellular and multicelar organism; 3. Classification of living organisms…………………………………………………….65 Common terms used: classification, taxonomy, systematics, binomial nomenclature, dichotomous keys, taxonomic hierarchy, and five kingdom system: Animalia, Plantae, fungi, Protista and monera general characteristic of organismin each kingdom and the examples. 4. Transport of materials in living organisms………………………………………107 5. Chemicals of life………………………………………………………………………….150 DNA structure, RNA structure, DNA replication and protein synthesis; 6. Nutrition in plants and animals………………………………………………….....173 7. Gaseous exchange………………………………………………………………………..194 8. Respiration………………………………………………………………………..……....204 9. Excretion and osmoregulation…………………………………………………….…212 10. Homeostasis……………………………………………………………………………..228 11. Coordination in plants and animals………………………………………………239 12.Animal behaviour……………………………………………………………………….264 13. Support and movement in plant and animals…………………………………279 14. Reproduction in living organisms…………………………………………………291 15. Variation and genetics………………………………………………………………..324 16. Ecology…………………………………………………………………………………….377 17. Evolution………………………………………………………………………………….415 1 Systematic “A” level Biology. Basic and simplified Revision notes. Cytology/ cell biology Is a branch of biology that deals which deals with the study of the structure of cells using a microscope. The cell. A cell is the basic unit of life. It is the basic functional and structural unit of an organism. All living organisms no matter their size are made of cells. Cells are responsible for carrying out all body processes such as respiration, excretion, osmo regulation, lomotion, circulation etc in the body of the organism. Cells aggregate (unite) in groups to form body structures. When studying the detailed structure of the cell, an instrument called a microscope is used. The microscopes. The term microscope is derived from two Geek words; mikros meaning small and skopein meaning to see or to examine. Cells are studied using a microscope. There are two main types of microscopes: i) The light microscope. These are also divided into two: a simple microscope e.g a hand lens and a compound microscope with many lenses. ii) The electron microscope. The light microscope. This type of microscopes uses light to illuminate the specimen under investigation or that has been placed on the stage. The simplest form of a light microscope is the one with a single lens that has low power magnification. This is known as a hand lens (a magnifying lens).A compound microscope uses two types of lenses ie the eye piece and the objective lens. Light from specimen passes through the first lens called objective lens and produces a magnified image. This image acts as the object of the second lens the eye piece which magnifies it further. The structure of a light microscope 2 Systematic “A” level Biology. Basic and simplified Revision notes. The magnification in a compound microscope. Magnification is the number of times an image is made bigger or smaller compared to the to the object. The total magnification of both lenses is the product of objective lens and magnification and the eye piece lens magnification. For example if the eye piece has the magnification of X10 and the objective lens has X40, then the total magnification is; Total magnification = eye piece magnification X objective lens magnification. = (X10) x (X40) = X400. The resolution (resolving power) of the light microscope. This is the ability of the microscope to distinguish between two separate and very close objects so that they are distinct. It can also be defined as the degree to which the details of the objects are shown or a measure of clarity of the image. If two separate objects cannot be resolved, they will be seen as one object. The difference between the magnification and resolution of a microscope is that magnification can be changed (i.e increased or decreased) while resolution is always the same. The resolving power of the light microscope is always lower (200nm) compared to that of an electron microscope (0.5nm). This resolution is limited by the wave length of the visible light used to illuminate the object. the light microscope can magnify effectively to a bout 1000 times the of the actual specimen since greater magnification a above this increases blurredness. Advantages of a light microscope; It is cheaper and easier to operate when compared to the electron microscope. It can used to observe living specimens directly since it does not require a vacuum like the electron microscope. It does not result in the destruction of cellular organization like the electron microscope. Disadvantages of a light microscope; It has a low resolving power. It has a low magnifying power. Modifications of the light microscope. Type of microscope Mode of operation Main use Ultra violet microscope Uses quartz lenses Study chromosome changes during cell division Dark field microscope Uses light at right angles Study very small to its optical axis and particles about 8nm depends on the scattering of light by different particles. 3 Systematic “A” level Biology. Basic and simplified Revision notes. Phase contrast Depends on the Study transparent cell microscope refraction of light by parts e.g cytoplasm. parts the cell basin on their refractive indices. Polarizing microscope Uses polarized light. Study layer-like structures in the cell e.g spindle fibres, myosin filaments in stratified muscle, cellulose in cell wall etc. Electron Microscopes. In electron microscope a beam of electrons is used. Electrons are negatively charged particles that can be found in orbit around nucleus of atoms. Under certain circumstances they can behave as waves. They have two great advantages over light ie they have extremely short wave length, about the same as X- rays and the beam electrons can easily be focused through specimen using electro-magnets. This involves bending the beam of electrons just as glass lenses are used to bend light with electron microscope magnification have x250,000 are commonly obtained with biological materials. Resolution and magnification. Resolution is the ability to distinguish between 2 separate objects. Magnification can be increased but the resolution of the photograph stays the same. We enlarge the photographs in order to see them more clearly but if we go too far the picture bright less up in 2 separate blood dots. The resolution is much greater than electron- microscope, the shorter the wave lengths are said to greater resolving power than those of light. Structure of electron microscope. Advantages of electron microscope. High resolution (0 – 5nm in practice). It magnifies very tiny objects. 4 Systematic “A” level Biology. Basic and simplified Revision notes. Disadvantages of electron – microscope. The specimen must be dead because it is viewed in vacuum. It is difficult to be sure that the specimen resembling a living cell in all its details because preservation and staining may change or damage the structure. Expensive to buy and run. Preparation of material is time consuming and requires expert training. The specimen is gradually detoriates in the electron beam photographs must there fore be taken it future study is required. Comparison between a light and an electron microscope. (i)Similarities between a light and an electron microscope. In both, specimens are magnified to be seen clearly. In both, specimens to be observed are illuminated. Both have an eye piece where an observer views the specimen. Both have a condenser to control the amount of illuminating agent. Both have a stage. Both have lenses. (ii) Differences: Light microscope. Electron microscope. Uses light to illuminate the specimen. Uses electron to illuminate the specimen. Has low magnifying power (x1500). Has high magnifying power (x300, 000). Produces images in their natural Produces all images in black and colours. white. Small and portable. Very large and only operated in a special place. Not affected by magnetic field. Affected by magnetic field. Has low resolving power (200nm). Has high resolving power (0.5nm). Used to view living and non-living Used to view non – living specimens. specimens. The specimen is supported by a glass The specimens supported on a small slide. copper grid in a vacuum. Uses glass lenses. Uses electromagnetic coils as lenses. Operates in the wave length of about Operates in the wave length of about 400-700mm 0.005mm Types of electron microscope
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Kinetics of Photosynthate Translocation Donald Boyd Fisher Iowa State University
    Iowa State University Capstones, Theses and Retrospective Theses and Dissertations Dissertations 1965 Kinetics of photosynthate translocation Donald Boyd Fisher Iowa State University Follow this and additional works at: https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/rtd Part of the Biochemistry Commons, and the Botany Commons Recommended Citation Fisher, Donald Boyd, "Kinetics of photosynthate translocation" (1965). Retrospective Theses and Dissertations. 4085. https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/rtd/4085 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Iowa State University Capstones, Theses and Dissertations at Iowa State University Digital Repository. It has been accepted for inclusion in Retrospective Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Iowa State University Digital Repository. For more information, please contact [email protected]. This dissertation has been micro&hned exactly as received ® ® ® ^ FISHER, Donald Boyd, 1935- KINETICS OF PHOTOSYNTHATE TRANS­ LOCATION. Iowa State University of Science and Technology, Ph.D., 1965 Botany University Microfilms, Inc., Ann Arbor, Michigan KINETICS OF PHOTOSYNTHATE TRANSLOCATION by Donald Boyd Fisher A Dissertation Submitted to the Graduate Faculty in Partial Fulfillment of The Requirements for the Degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY Major Subject: Biochemistry Approved : Signature was redacted for privacy. Signature was redacted for privacy. fieao. oi I'lajor ueparument Signature was redacted for privacy. D of Graduate College Iowa State University Of Science and Technology Ames, Iowa 1965 il TABLE OF CONTENTS Page I. INTRODUCTION MD LITERATURE REVIE'/J 1 II. ANATOMIC OBSERVATIONS 12 A, Observations on the Leaf Structure 12 B, Observations on the Phloem 18 III. ISOTOPIC EXPERIMENTS 23 A. Materials and Methods 23 1.
    [Show full text]
  • Microfluidics of Sugar Transport in Plant Leaves and in Biomimetic Devices
    Downloaded from orbit.dtu.dk on: Oct 08, 2021 Microfluidics of sugar transport in plant leaves and in biomimetic devices Rademaker, Hanna Publication date: 2016 Document Version Publisher's PDF, also known as Version of record Link back to DTU Orbit Citation (APA): Rademaker, H. (2016). Microfluidics of sugar transport in plant leaves and in biomimetic devices. Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark. General rights Copyright and moral rights for the publications made accessible in the public portal are retained by the authors and/or other copyright owners and it is a condition of accessing publications that users recognise and abide by the legal requirements associated with these rights. Users may download and print one copy of any publication from the public portal for the purpose of private study or research. You may not further distribute the material or use it for any profit-making activity or commercial gain You may freely distribute the URL identifying the publication in the public portal If you believe that this document breaches copyright please contact us providing details, and we will remove access to the work immediately and investigate your claim. Ph.D. thesis Microfluidics of sugar transport in plant leaves and in biomimetic devices Hanna Rademaker 14 September 2016 Supervised by Tomas Bohr and Kaare Hartvig Jensen Cover image: Light microscopy image of a Coleus blumei leaf. The image shows the natural color. Microfluidics of sugar transport in plant leaves and in biomimetic devices Copyright ➞ 2016 Hanna Rademaker. All rights reserved. Typeset using LATEX and TikZ. Abstract The physical mechanisms underlying vital plant functions constitute a research field with many important, unsolved problems.
    [Show full text]
  • Syllabus Botany
    Written examination to be conducted for the post of Astt. Professor. Syllabus Botany Section A Phycology:- Algae in diversified habitats (terrestrial, freshwater, marine), thallus organization, cell ultra structure, reproduction, {Vegetative, asexual, sexual), criteria for classification of algae: pigments, reserve food, flagella, classification; salient features of Protochlorophyta, , Charophyta, Xenthophyta, Bacillariophyta, Phaeophyta and Rhodophyta: wIth special reference- to Microcystis, Hydroaktyon, DropernaldiopsisCosmarium, algal blooms, algal biofertilizers: algae as food, feed and uses in industry. Mycology: General character of fungi, substrate relationship in fungi, cell ultrastructure, unicellular and multicellular organization, cell wall composition; nutrition. (saprobic, biotrophic symbiotic) reproduction (vegetative, asexual sexual), heterothallism, heterokaryosis, parasexuality recent trends in classification. Phylogeny of fungi, general account of Mastigomycotina,Zygomycotina, Ascomycotina,Basidiomycotina, Deuteromycotina with special reference to PilobolusChaetomium, Morchella, Melampsora, Polyporus,Drechslera&Phomo, fungi in industry, medicine and as food fungal diseases in plants and humans, Mycorrhizae, fungi as blocontrol agents. Bryophyta: Morphology, structures reproduction and life .history,-distribution. Classification, general account of Marchantiales, Junger-maniales, Anthocerotales, Sphagnales, Funariales and Polytrichales with special reference to Piaglochasma, Notothylus and Polytrichurn, economic and ecological
    [Show full text]
  • Environmental Impact Assessment
    Environmental Impact Assessment December 2013 IND: SASEC Road Connectivity Investment Program (formerly SASEC Road Connectivity Sector Project) Asian Highway 2 (India /Nepal Border to India/Bangladesh Border) Asian Highway 48 (India/Bhutan Border to India/Bangladesh Border) Prepared by Ministry of Roads Transport and Highways, Government of India and Public Works Department, Government of West Bengal for the Asian Development Bank. This is a revised version of the draft originally posted in July 2013 available on http://www.adb.org/projects/47341- 001/documents/. CURRENCY EQUIVALENTS (As of 30 April 2013) Currency unit – Indian rupee (INR) INR1.00 = $ 0.01818 $1.00 = INR 55.00 ABBREVIATION AADT Annual Average Daily Traffic AAQ Ambient air quality AAQM Ambient air quality monitoring ADB Asian Development Bank AH Asian Highway ASI Archaeological Survey of India BDL Below detectable limit BGL Below ground level BOD Biochemical oxygen demand BOQ Bill of quantity CCE Chief Controller of Explosives CGWA Central Ground Water Authority CITES Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species CO Carbon monoxide COD Chemical oxygen demand CPCB Central Pollution Control Board CSC Construction Supervision Consultant DFO Divisional Forest Officer DG Diesel generating set DO Dissolved oxygen DPR Detailed project report E&S Environment and social EA Executing agency EAC Expert Appraisal Committee EFP Environmental Focal Person EHS Environment Health and Safety EIA Environmental impact assessment EMOP Environmental monitoring plan EMP Environmental
    [Show full text]
  • Transport in Plants
    BIOLOGY TRANSPORT IN PLANTS Transport in Plants In plants, materials such as gases, minerals, water, hormones and organic solutes need to be transported over short and long distances. Short distance transport occurs through through diffusion and cytoplasmic streaming accompanied by active transport. Long distance transport occurs through the xylem and phloem. This transport is called translocation. Means of Transport Facilitated Active Diffusion Diffusion Transport Diffusion The movement of molecules or ions from the region of higher concentration to the region of lower concentration, until the molecules are evenly distributed throughout the available space is known as diffusion. The rate of diffusion gets affected by temperature, density of diffusing substances, medium in which diffusion is taking place, diffusion pressure gradient. Characteristics of Diffusion The diffusing molecules move randomly along the concentration gradient. The direction of diffusion of one substance is independent of the movement of the other substance. www.topperlearning.com 2 BIOLOGY TRANSPORT IN PLANTS There is no energy expenditure. Importance of Diffusion in Plants Diffusion helps in CO2 intake and O2 output in photosynthesis and CO2 output and O2 intake in respiration. It is an effective means of transport of substances over very short distance. Facilitated Diffusion The spontaneous passage of molecules or ions across a biological membrane mediated by specific transmembrane carrier proteins without spending metabolic energy is called facilitated diffusion. Water soluble substances such as glucose, sodium ions and chloride ions are transported by this method. Action of Transport of Proteins The carrier protein acts as selective channels through which the molecules are transported across the membrane.
    [Show full text]
  • International Journal of Research Volume VIII, Issue VI, JUNE/2019
    International Journal of Research ISSN NO:2236-6124 A Study on the Congregation of Adult Butterflies on Non-floral Resources at Different Locations in Jalpaiguri district of West Bengal, India Panchali Sengupta1*, Narayan Ghorai2 1Department of Zoology, West Bengal State University, Berunanpukaria, Malikapur, Barasat, District-24 Parganas (North), Kolkata-700126.West Bengal, India Email id: [email protected] 2Department of Zoology, West Bengal State University, Berunanpukaria, Malikapur, Barasat, District-24 Parganas (North), Kolkata-700126.West Bengal, India email id: [email protected] Abstract Several instances of puddling, as reported among different herbivore arthropods, appears quite interesting. Significantly, congregation of adult butterflies at several non-floral resources (wet soil/mud, animal dung, bird droppings, carrion, rotten/fermenting fruits) were examined at different locations in Jalpaiguri district adjacent to the tea estates, villages and agricultural tracts. Different species of papilionids and pierids congregate on wet soil patch and puddle collectively. However other species of nymphalid, lycaenid and hesperid are found to puddle individually, without associating with others on resources like excrements and carrion. Irrespective of any species newly emerged males, and aged females are found to puddle. Interestingly, each species belonging to a particular family have a specific range of puddling duration. Such specificity in puddling among species of a family could probably be associated with their need for a common nutrient. Keywords:, congregation, hesperid, lycaenid, nymphalid, papilionid, pierid *corresponding author Volume VIII, Issue VI, JUNE/2019 Page No:5877 International Journal of Research ISSN NO:2236-6124 Introduction Puddling is a widely recognised fascinating event in the life history of any herbivore arthropods except beetles targeted towards accumulation of specific micronutrient (Mollemann, 2010).
    [Show full text]
  • Unit 4 Plant Physiology
    UNIT 4 PLANT PHYSIOLOGY Chapter 11 The description of structure and variation of living organisms over a Transport in Plants period of time, ended up as two, apparently irreconcilable perspectives on biology. The two perspectives essentially rested on two levels of Chapter 12 organisation of life forms and phenomena. One described at organismic Mineral Nutrition and above level of organisation while the second described at cellular and molecular level of organisation. The first resulted in ecology and Chapter 13 related disciplines. The second resulted in physiology and biochemistry. Photosynthesis in Higher Plants Description of physiological processes, in flowering plants as an example, is what is given in the chapters in this unit. The processes of Chapter 14 mineral nutrition of plants, photosynthesis, transport, respiration and Respiration in Plants ultimately plant growth and development are described in molecular terms but in the context of cellular activities and even at organism Chapter 15 level. Wherever appropriate, the relation of the physiological processes Plant Growth and to environment is also discussed. Development 2020-21 MELVIN CALVIN born in Minnesota in April, 1911, received his Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of Minnesota. He served as Professor of Chemistry at the University of California, Berkeley. Just after world war II, when the world was under shock after the Hiroshima-Nagasaki bombings, and seeing the ill- effects of radio-activity, Calvin and co-workers put radio- activity to beneficial use. He along with J.A. Bassham studied reactions in green plants forming sugar and other substances from raw materials like carbon dioxide, water and minerals by labelling the carbon dioxide with C14.
    [Show full text]
  • Fauna of New Zealand Website Copy 2010, Fnz.Landcareresearch.Co.Nz
    aua o ew eaa Ko te Aiaga eeke o Aoeaoa IEEAE SYSEMAICS AISOY GOU EESEAIES O ACAE ESEAC ema acae eseac ico Agicuue & Sciece Cee P O o 9 ico ew eaa K Cosy a M-C aiièe acae eseac Mou Ae eseac Cee iae ag 917 Aucka ew eaa EESEAIE O UIESIIES M Emeso eame o Eomoogy & Aima Ecoogy PO o ico Uiesiy ew eaa EESEAIE O MUSEUMS M ama aua Eiome eame Museum o ew eaa e aa ogaewa O o 7 Weigo ew eaa EESEAIE O OESEAS ISIUIOS awece CSIO iisio o Eomoogy GO o 17 Caea Ciy AC 1 Ausaia SEIES EIO AUA O EW EAA M C ua (ecease ue 199 acae eseac Mou Ae eseac Cee iae ag 917 Aucka ew eaa Fauna of New Zealand Ko te Aitanga Pepeke o Aotearoa Number / Nama 38 Naturalised terrestrial Stylommatophora (Mousca Gasooa Gay M ake acae eseac iae ag 317 amio ew eaa 4 Maaaki Whenua Ρ Ε S S ico Caeuy ew eaa 1999 Coyig © acae eseac ew eaa 1999 o a o is wok coee y coyig may e eouce o coie i ay om o y ay meas (gaic eecoic o mecaica icuig oocoyig ecoig aig iomaio eiea sysems o oewise wiou e wie emissio o e uise Caaoguig i uicaio AKE G Μ (Gay Micae 195— auase eesia Syommaooa (Mousca Gasooa / G Μ ake — ico Caeuy Maaaki Weua ess 1999 (aua o ew eaa ISS 111-533 ; o 3 IS -7-93-5 I ie 11 Seies UC 593(931 eae o uIicaio y e seies eio (a comee y eo Cosy usig comue-ase e ocessig ayou scaig a iig a acae eseac M Ae eseac Cee iae ag 917 Aucka ew eaa Māoi summay e y aco uaau Cosuas Weigo uise y Maaaki Weua ess acae eseac O o ico Caeuy Wesie //wwwmwessco/ ie y G i Weigo o coe eoceas eicuaum (ue a eigo oaa (owe (IIusao G M ake oucio o e coou Iaes was ue y e ew eaIa oey oa ue oeies eseac
    [Show full text]
  • Butterfly Extirpations
    RAFFLES BULLETIN OF ZOOLOGY 2018 Conservation & Ecology RAFFLES BULLETIN OF ZOOLOGY 66: 217–257 Date of publication: 19 April 2018 http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:CFF83D96-5239-4C56-B7CE-8CA1E086EBFD Butterfy extirpations, discoveries and rediscoveries in Singapore over 28 years Anuj Jain1,2*#, Khew Sin Khoon3, Cheong Weei Gan2, and Edward L. Webb1* Abstract. Habitat loss and urbanisation in the tropics have been recognised as major drivers of species extinctions. Concurrently, novel habitats such as urban parks have been shown to be important as habitats and stepping stones in urban ecosystems around the world. However, few studies have assessed long-term patterns of species extinctions and discoveries in response to these drivers in the tropics. We know little about long-term persistence and utility of novel habitats in tropical urban ecosystems. In this study, we produced an updated and exhaustive butterfy checklist of species recorded from Singapore till December 2017 to investigate trends in butterfy extirpations (local extinctions), discoveries (new country records) and rediscoveries and how these relate to land use change in 28 years (1990–2017) in Singapore. Up to 144 butterfy species were identifed to be extirpated in Singapore by 1990. From 1990–2017, an additional nine butterfy extirpations have potentially occurred, which suggests a maximum of 153 butterfy extirpations to date. The rate of extirpations between 1990 to 2017 (< 0.33 extirpations per year) was much lower than the rate of extirpations between 1926 to 1989 (> 1.52 extirpations per year). The majority of potentially extirpated butterfies between 1990 to 2017 were species restricted to mature forests.
    [Show full text]
  • Acyrthosiphon Pisum AQP2: a Multifunctional Insect Aquaglyceroporin
    Biochimica et Biophysica Acta 1818 (2012) 627–635 Contents lists available at SciVerse ScienceDirect Biochimica et Biophysica Acta journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/bbamem Acyrthosiphon pisum AQP2: A multifunctional insect aquaglyceroporin Ian S. Wallace a,1, Ally J. Shakesby b, Jin Ha Hwang a, Won Gyu Choi a, Natália Martínková b,c, Angela E. Douglas b,d, Daniel M. Roberts a,⁎ a Department of Biochemistry & Cellular, and Molecular Biology, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Knoxville, TN, 37996–0840, USA b Department of Biology, University of York, York, YO10 5DD, UK c Institute of Vertebrate Biology, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, v.v.i., Květná 8, 603 65 Brno, Czech Republic d Department of Entomology, Comstock Hall, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA article info abstract Article history: Annotation of the recently sequenced genome of the pea aphid (Acyrthosiphon pisum) identified a gene Received 31 August 2011 ApAQP2 (ACYPI009194, Gene ID: 100168499) with homology to the Major Intrinsic Protein/aquaporin super- Received in revised form 19 November 2011 family of membrane channel proteins. Phylogenetic analysis suggests that ApAQP2 is a member of an insect- Accepted 28 November 2011 specific clade of this superfamily. Homology model structures of ApAQP2 showed a novel array of amino acids Available online 8 December 2011 comprising the substrate selectivity-determining “aromatic/arginine” region of the putative transport pore. Keywords: Subsequent characterization of the transport properties of ApAQP2 upon expression in Xenopus oocytes fi Aphid supports an unusual substrate selectivity pro le. Water permeability analyses show that the ApAQP2 pro- Aquaporins tein exhibits a robust mercury-insensitive aquaporin activity.
    [Show full text]
  • Threatened Butterflies of Central Nepal Kathmandu Valley
    Journal of Threatened Taxa | www.threatenedtaxa.org | 26 July 2013 | 5(11): 4612–4615 Note Threatened butterflies of central Nepal Kathmandu Valley. The southern part of the valley, extending from B. Khanal ¹, M.K. Chalise ² & G.S. Solanki ³ Godavari (1360m) to Phulchowki Mountain (2734m) is a species ¹ Natural History Museum, Manju Shree Bazaar, Swayambu, Kathamandu ISSN 44620, Nepal -rich area where more than 150 Online 0974-7907 Print 0974-7893 ² Central Department of Zoology, Tribhuvan University, Kirtipur, Kathmandu species of butterflies, mostly forest 44618, Nepal ³ Department of Zoology, Mizoram University, Tanhril Campus, Aizawl, Mizoram dwelling species, are found (Smith OPEN ACCESS 796004, India 1 [email protected], 2 [email protected], 3 [email protected] 1989). The recent loss of trees in (corresponding author) these forests has left the hills virtually bare except for a few areas between 2660–2715 m. These changes in In Nepal, the area above 3000m is occupied mostly the natural habitat have had a negative impact on the by palearctic butterflies while the temperate, subtropical butterflies of the region. Therefore, an attempt has been and tropical species are sequentially distributed below made here to identify the threats imposed on some rare this altitude. The temperate zone has many micro- butterfly species of this region. habitats to offer to different butterflies. Material and Methods: The present study was The central districts, namely, Kathmandu, Bhaktapur, carried out in the central part of Nepal which includes and Lalitpur are dominated by evergreen broad-leaved three districts—Kathmandu, Bhaktapur, and Lalitpur (Fig. mixed forests between 1800–2400 m.
    [Show full text]
  • Tympanal Ears in Nymphalidae Butterflies: Morphological Diversity and Tests on the Function of Hearing
    Tympanal Ears in Nymphalidae Butterflies: Morphological Diversity and Tests on the Function of Hearing by Laura E. Hall A thesis submitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Biology Carleton University Ottawa, Ontario, Canada © 2014 Laura E. Hall i Abstract Several Nymphalidae butterflies possess a sensory structure called the Vogel’s organ (VO) that is proposed to function in hearing. However, little is known about the VO’s structure, taxonomic distribution or function. My first research objective was to examine VO morphology and its accessory structures across taxa. Criteria were established to categorize development levels of butterfly VOs and tholi. I observed that enlarged forewing veins are associated with the VOs of several species within two subfamilies of Nymphalidae. Further, I discovered a putative light/temperature-sensitive organ associated with the VOs of several Biblidinae species. The second objective was to test the hypothesis that insect ears function to detect bird flight sounds for predator avoidance. Neurophysiological recordings collected from moth ears show a clear response to flight sounds and chirps from a live bird in the laboratory. Finally, a portable electrophysiology rig was developed to further test this hypothesis in future field studies. ii Acknowledgements First and foremost I would like to thank David Hall who spent endless hours listening to my musings and ramblings regarding butterfly ears, sharing in the joy of my discoveries, and comforting me in times of frustration. Without him, this thesis would not have been possible. I thank Dr.
    [Show full text]