Natural environments are characterized by daily and seasonal fluctuations in temperature, and ectotherms are expected to adapt to these fluctuations. Moderate temperature fluctuations often accelerate development rate as a result of the Kaufmann effect and possibly additional physiological adaptations. We examined the adaptive potential of ecotype-specific reaction norms by measuring the effect...

Ecotype variation in species exhibiting different life history strategies may reflect heritable adaptations to optimize reproductive success, and potential for speciation. Traditionally, ecotypes have, however, been defined by morphometrics and life history characteristics, which may be confounded with individual plasticity. Here, we use the widely distributed and polytypic freshwater fish spec...

Two contrasting ecotypes of Dianthus carthusianorum L., metallicolous (M) and nonmetallicolous (NM), were cultivated in hydroponics at 0-50 μM Cd for 14 days to compare their Cd accumulation, sensitivity and tolerance mechanisms. While both ecotypes contained similar concentrations of Cd in the shoots and roots, the M ecotype was more Cd-tolerant (as measured by fresh weight production and root...

Voltage-elicited action potentials (APs) have been reproducibly obtained in Arabidopsis thaliana ecotype col. Excitations pulses (voltage-duration: V-t) were given in the 0- to 18-V and 0- to 35-s ranges, respectively, by two galvanically isolated Pt/Ir small wires inserted trough the main vein in the distal part of the leaf. Conventional liquid junction Ag/AgCl electrodes were placed at the zo...

BACKGROUND AND AIMS Purple nutsedge (Cyperus rotundus L.) is a major weed of upland crops and vegetables. Recently, a flood-tolerant ecotype evolved as a serious weed in lowland rice. This study attempted to establish the putative growth and physiological features that led to this shift in adaptation. METHODOLOGY Tubers of upland C. rotundus (ULCR) and lowland C. rotundus (LLCR) ecotypes were...

identifying and selecting superior genotypes in native germplasm is one method for breeding fruit trees. five different ecotypes of jujube (ziziphus jujuba mill.) were collected from different regions of isfahan province, iran, for evaluation of their morphological and pomological traits during 2011-13. results showed that quantitative traits were more significant within ecotypes. ‘‘najafabad’ ...

Identifying suitable genetic stock for restoration often employs a 'best guess' approach. Without adaptive variation studies, restoration may be misguided. We test the extent to which climate in central US grasslands exerts selection pressure on a foundation grass big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii), widely used in restorations, and resulting in local adaptation. We seeded three regional ecotype...

Blubber biopsy samples from eastern North Pacific killer whales Orcinus orca were analyzed for fatty acids, carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes and organochlorine contaminants. Fatty acid profiles were sufficiently distinct among the 3 reported ecotypes (‘resident,’ ‘transient’ or ‘offshore’) to enable individual animals to be correctly classified by ecotype and also by mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA...

Closely related bacterial genomes usually differ in gene content, suggesting that nearly every strain in nature may be ecologically unique. We have tested this hypothesis by sequencing the genomes of extremely close relatives within a recognized taxon and analyzing the genomes for evidence of ecological distinctness. We compared the genomes of four Death Valley isolates plus the laboratory stra...

Cyrtobagous salviniae Calder and Sands (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) is a successful biological control agent of aquatic weeds suppressing species like giant salvinia, Salvinia molesta D.Mitch. (Salviniales: Salviniaceae), in at least 15 countries over 3 continents (Julien et al. 2002). There are at least 2 ecotypes of this insect; the smaller Florida ecotype found on common salvinia, S. minima B...