Parting ways: parasite release in nature leads to sex-specific evolution of defence.

We evaluated the extent to which males and females evolve along similar or different trajectories in response to the same environmental shift. Specifically, we used replicate experimental introductions in nature to consider how release from a key parasite (Gyrodactylus) generates similar or different defence evolution in male vs. female guppies (Poecilia reticulata). After 4-8 generations of evolution, guppies were collected from the ancestral (parasite still present) and derived (parasite now absent) populations and bred for two generations in the laboratory to control for nongenetic effects. These F2 guppies were then individually infected with Gyrodactylus, and infection dynamics were monitored on each fish. We found that parasite release in nature led to sex-specific evolutionary responses: males did not show much evolution of resistance, whereas females showed the evolution of increased resistance. Given that male guppies in the ancestral population had greater resistance to Gyrodactylus than did females, evolution in the derived populations led to reduction of sexual dimorphism in resistance. We argue that previous selection for high resistance in males constrained (relative to females) further evolution of the trait. We advocate more experiments considering sex-specific evolutionary responses to environmental change.

Impact of host sex and group composition on parasite dynamics in experimental populations.

To better understand the spread of disease in nature, it is fundamentally important to have broadly applicable model systems with readily available species which can be replicated and controlled in the laboratory. Here we used an experimental model system of fish hosts and monogenean parasites to determine whether host sex, group size and group composition (single-sex or mixed-sex) influenced host-parasite dynamics at an individual and group level. Parasite populations reached higher densities and persisted longer in groups of fish compared with isolated hosts and reached higher densities on isolated females than on isolated males. However, individual fish within groups had similar burdens to isolated males regardless of sex, indicating that females may benefit more than males by being in a group. Relative condition was positively associated with high parasite loads for isolated males, but not for isolated females or grouped fish. No difference in parasite dynamics between mixed-sex groups and single-sex groups was detected. Overall, these findings suggest that while host sex influences dynamics on isolated fish, individual fish in groups have similar parasite burdens, regardless of sex. We believe our experimental results contribute to a mechanistic understanding of host-parasite dynamics, although we are cautious about directly extrapolating these results to other systems.

Crossing the hopf bifurcation in a live predator-prey system.

Population biologists have long been interested in the oscillations in population size displayed by many organisms in the field and laboratory. A wide range of deterministic mathematical models predict that these fluctuations can be generated internally by nonlinear interactions among species and, if correct, would provide important insights for understanding and predicting the dynamics of interacting populations. We studied the dynamical behavior of a two-species aquatic laboratory community encompassing the interactions between a demographically structured herbivore population, a primary producer, and a mineral resource, yet still amenable to description and parameterization using a mathematical model. The qualitative dynamical behavior of our experimental system, that is, cycles, equilibria, and extinction, is highly predictable by a simple nonlinear model.

Toroidal runaway beams.

We investigate the dynamics of a special group of runaway electrons which possibly play an important role in toroidal fusion devices. Starting from the torus center they are accelerated by a toroidal electric field and are hence forced to move across the toroidal magnetic field into regions with rising poloidal field in order to compensate for the centrifugal forces. Can such particles finally form a tight beam of relativistic runaways in the outboard region or is this prevented due to the perpendicular momentum they gain by passing the toroidal field? Since neither the energy nor the magnetic momentum of the particles is conserved this question has been treated by invoking the relativistic equations of motion. It turns out, however, that the problem can be essentially simplified since, apart from the centrifugal forces associated with the toroidal motion, the inertia forces are negligible. The resulting first order equation can be solved analytically. From the solution it is concluded that the formation of narrow runaway beams with diameters in the range of micrometers and very small pitch angles (v(perpendicular)/v(||)<10(-6)) appears feasible. Such electrons would perform low-frequency oscillations about three to four orders of magnitude lower than the gyrofrequency in the toroidal field. When passing the maximum poloidal magnetic field strength they are suddenly lost from the plasma region.

Plasma rotation in a plasma generator

The plasma rotation in a linear magnetic configuration has been investigated by means of high-resolution Doppler-spectroscopy. The effects of external device parameters and ion mass as well as the radial profiles have been studied. A simple model, based on the conservation of the total angular momentum, explains the main empirically determined dependences of the average angular velocity. The results are compared with the common multifluid description developed for hollow cathode discharges.

Measurement of the radiative cooling rates for high-ionization species of krypton using an electron beam ion trap

We describe a measurement of the radiative cooling rate for krypton made at the Berlin electron beam ion trap (EBIT). The EBIT was tuned to a charge-state distribution approaching the ionization balance of a plasma at a temperature of about 5 keV. To determine the cooling rate, we made use of EBIT's capabilities to sample a wide range of electron-beam energies and distinguish between different radiation channels. We have measured the x-ray emission from bremsstrahlung, radiative recombination, dielectronic recombination, and line radiation following electron-impact excitation. The dominant contribution to the cooling rate is made by the n=3-2, n=4-2, ellipsis x rays of the L-shell spectra of krypton, which produce more than 75% of the total radiation loss. A difference with theoretical calculations is noted for the measured total cooling rate. The predicted values are lower by a factor of 1.5-2, depending on the theoretical model. For our measurement of the cooling rate, we estimate an uncertainty interval of 22-30 %.