Pacific Science (1999), vol. 53, no. 1: 113-122 «:> 1999 by University of Hawai'i Press. All rights reserved ABSTRACTS OF PAPERS Twenty-third Annual Albert L. Tester Memorial Symposium, 5-7 April 1998 1 The Albert L. Tester Memorial Symposium is held in honor ofProfessor Albert L. Tester, who, at the time ofhis death in 1974, was senior professor ofzoology at the University ofHawai'i at Manoa. The faculty and students of the Depart­ ment of Zoology proposed an annual symposium of student research papers as a means of honoring, in a continuing and active way, Dr. Tester's lively en­ couragement of student research in a broad range of fields in biology. Papers reporting original research in all aspects of biology, solicited from graduate students at the University, are presented at the spring-semester symposium. Income from contributions to the Albert L. Tester Memorial Fund of the Uni­ versity of Hawai'i Foundation provides two prizes for the best papers. Judges include representatives of the Department ofZoology faculty, winners from the preceding symposium, and a distinguished scholar from another university, who also presents a major symposium address. In 1998 Kenneth Storey, Pro­ fessor of Zoology, University of Toronto, Canada, participated in the Symposium. Comparison of Animal Decomposition in an Intertidal Zone and in a Terrestrial Habitat on Coconut Island, Hawai'i JOSEPH B. DAVIS2 Decomposition is the natural process of dictable arthropod succession of Diptera as recycling nutrients back to the environment. the initial primary colonizers, followed by Insects (primarily Diptera and Coleoptera) Coleoptera. The arthropods associated with playa major role in the decomposition pro­ the carrion were not as diverse as arthropods cess in a terrestrial environment, and marine associated with other decomposition studies scavengers are the primary decomposers in a on the island of O'ahu. No marine scav­ marine environment. The study focused on engers were found on the carrion. The car­ the intertidal zone, where marine and terres­ cass placed directly in the intertidal zone de­ trial faunas overlap. The animal models were composed at a rate of biomass removal two domestic pigs (Sus sero/a). We placed the similar to that ofthe carcass placed above the carcass of one animal directly in the inter­ intertidal zone. However, insect colonization tidal zone and the other above the intertidal did not occur. Instead, wave action, tidal zone. The carcass placed above the intertidal fluctuations, and bacterial activity were zone exhibited decomposition patterns asso­ primarily responsible for decomposition. ciated with a terrestrial environment-pre- Marine scavengers were present; however, their role in decomposition was minimal. The study demonstrated clear differences between animal decomposition patterns in the inter­ 1 Manuscripts accepted I May 1998. 2 Department of Entomology, University of Hawai'i at tidal zone and in the terrestrial area above Manoa, Honolulu, Hawai'i 96822. Sponsor: M. Lee Goff. the intertidal zone. 113 114 PACIFIC SCIENCE, Volume 53, January 1999 Genes That Induce Apoptosis: Transcriptional Regulation in Doomed Neurons3 TROY A. DRAIZEN4 In all organisms, programmed cell death Type II neurons, are identifiable before their (apoptosis) plays a crucial role in nervous death because they express high levels of the system development. Mechanisms by which A-isoform of the ecdysone receptor (EcR-A). cells are eliminated involve a collaboration Anti-EcR-A antibodies allow these doomed between both gene expression and develop­ neurons to be detected using standard tech­ mental cues. Developmental cues such as niques. To determine the molecular pathway hormone titers, synaptic contacts, and tro­ by which these neurons die, transcript accu­ phic factors must, in some way, regulate the mulation from apoptosis-inducing genes was expression of genes that either induce or evaluated. In Drosophila, three genes, head inhibit apoptosis. Elucidating the molecular involution defective (hid), grim, and reaper, pathways of cell death in the vertebrate each have the ability to independently induce nervous system is problematic because of its apoptosis. Before the onset of apoptosis, the complexity and lack of markers that identify Type II neurons accumulate transcripts of doomed neurons. The fruit fly Drosophila both grim and reaper but not hid. These data melanogaster offers a less-complex nervous suggest that in vivo the cooperative action of system in which two distinct sets of doomed these genes is used to control programmed neurons have been identified. One set, the cell death. The Endemic Hawaiian Sap Beetles (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae): Distribution, Ecological Shifts, and Adaptation 5 The Hawaiian Islands are home to a very that exploit nearly every resource described disharmonic flora and fauna. The absence of for the family as a whole. The family Niti­ many widely distributed families of plants dulidae comprises ~ 2500 species, with over and animals has allowed some of the chance 160 found only in Hawai'i. Of these all but colonists to speciate spectacularly. The en­ six are the result of a single colonization demic Hawaiian sap beetles are one of those event. They are common in rain forest hab­ groups and are not only speciose but occupy itats and to a lesser extent in mesic commun­ a wide variety of niches. There are species ities. Very little was known about their dis­ tribution, host plant affinities, phylogenetic relationships, and the possible adaptive shifts that have produced the current diversity. To 3 Supported by a grant from the Muscular Dystrophy Association to Steven Robinow and by a grant to Troy understand the role of the ubiquitous beetles A. Draizen from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute I conducted a survey of appropriate habitats through the Undergraduate Biological Sciences Educa­ on all the main islands except Lana'i. I col­ tion Program. lected and determined host plant associations 4Department of Zoology, University of Hawai'i at Manoa, Honolulu, Hawai'i 96822. Sponsor: Steven Rob­ for over 75 species of endemic nitidulids. inow. They are found on 31 native plant genera in 5 Supported by a research grant and fellowship 21 families. There are species that utilize from the Evolution, Ecology, and Conservation Biology flowers, fruit, exuded sap, and decaying Program. 6Department of Zoology, University of Hawai'i at leaves, bark, and stems. A phylogenetic hy­ Manoa, Honolulu, Hawai'i 96822. Sponsor: Rosemary pothesis has been generated using 433 bp of Gillespie. mtDNA (cytochrome oxidase I). Combining Abstracts of Papers 115 the phylogenetic framework with data on parallel morphological changes. This pattern habitat preference has revealed interesting provides a system to investigate questions of patterns in resource use. I also identified a speciation, selection, and adaptation to a new pattern of parallel ecological shifts producing niche. Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Apoptosis in the Symbiotic Light Organ of the Sepiolid Squid Euprymna se%pes7 JAMIE S. FOSTER8 The role of bacteria in the initiation of of the light organ, taking up residence in apoptosis in animal tissues has primarily, if epithelial-lined crypt spaces. Once inside the not exclusively, focused on pathogenesis. In light organ the bacteria initiate a program of contrast to the previous studies on bacteria­ apoptosis in the remote cells of the now­ induced apoptosis, evidence is presented for defunct ciliated fields. I examined the effects the induction of apoptosis in a cooperative of the bacterial surface compound lipopoly­ association between the sepiolid squid Eu­ saccharides (LPS) isolated from the symbiont prymna seolopes (Berry) and the lumines­ V fiseheri as well as commercially available cence bacterium Vibrio fiseheri. In this model LPS derived from pathogens known to initi­ system, the symbiotic bacteria induce devel­ ate apoptosis. Preliminary results indicate opmental changes in the morphology of the that exogenous LPS from a variety of gram­ squid light organ mediated in part by apop­ negative bacteria including the symbiotic V tosis. Extended on either side of the juvenile fiseheri are able to initiate a program of light organ is a ridge and two appendages apoptosis in the squid light organ. This in­ composed of epithelial cells covered with teraction between the bacterial LPS and host fields of cilia. The ciliary beat of these struc­ animal cells may be the initial trigger of the tures facilitates the initiation of the symbiosis apoptotic event. This is the first reported in­ by circulating bacteria-rich water in the duction of apoptosis in animal cells by a be­ mantle cavity. The symbiotic bacteria enter nign cooperative bacterium. the light organ through pores on the surface Origins of the Hawaiian Crab Spider Fauna9 JESSICA E. GARBlO 7 Supported by the Constance Endicott Hartt Fellow­ The Thomisidae, commonly known as crab ship, Society for the Integrative and Comparative Biol­ spiders, is one of the few spider families con­ ogy Grants-in-Aid Fellowship, and a Charles and Mar­ taining genera that are known to be excep­ garet Edmondson Research Fellowship. tionally diverse in the Hawaiian Archipelago. BDepartment of Zoology, University of Hawai'i at Manoa, Honolulu, Hawai'i 96822. Sponsor: Margaret This diversity led early systematists to place McFall-Ngai. the 21 described Hawaiian species in several 9 Funding provided by a student research grant unrelated genera. However, recently it has from the Evolution, Ecology,