Sexual selection in seaweed? Testing Bateman's principles in the red alga Gracilaria gracilis

In anisogamous species, sexual selection is expected to be stronger in males. Bateman's principles state that the variance in (i) reproductive and (ii) mating success is greater for males, and (iii) the relationship between reproductive success and mating success (the Bateman gradient) is also stronger for males than for females. Sexual selection, based on Bateman's principles, has been demonstrated in animals and some angiosperms, but never in a seaweed. Here we focus on the oogamous haploid-diploid rhodophyte Gracilaria gracilis in which previous studies have shown evidence for non-random mating, suggesting the existence of male-male competition and female choice. We estimated mating and reproductive success using paternity analyses in a natural population where up to 92% of fertilizations occurred between partners of that population. The results show that the variance in mating success is significantly greater in males than in females and that the Bateman gradient is positive only in males. Distance to female partners also explains a minor part of the variance in male mating success. Although there is no evidence for sexual dimorphism, our study supports the hypothesis that sexual selection occurs in G. gracilis, probably on male traits, even if we cannot observe, characterize or quantify them yet.

Pollinators of the sea: A discovery of animal-mediated fertilization in seaweed

The long-held belief that animal-mediated pollination is absent in the sea has recently been contradicted in seagrasses, motivating investigations of other marine phyla. This is particularly relevant in red algae, in which female gametes are not liberated and male gametes are not flagellated. Using experiments with the isopod Idotea balthica and the red alga Gracilaria gracilis, we demonstrate that biotic interactions dramatically increase the fertilization success of the alga through animal transport of spermatia on their body. This discovery suggests that animal-mediated fertilization could have evolved independently in terrestrial and marine environments and raises the possibility of its emergence in the sea before plants moved ashore.

Repeated doses of rocuronium bromide administered to cirrhotic and control patients receiving isoflurane. A clinical and pharmacokinetic study

BACKGROUND

Steroid muscle relaxants often display pharmacodynamic changes in patients with cirrhosis because of alterations in elimination processes. Rocuronium is a new steroid muscle relaxant possibly eliminated through the liver. This study was designed to compare rocuronium pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics in cirrhotic and healthy patients.

METHODS

Rocuronium was administered to 26 cirrhotic patients and 24 control subjects anesthetized with isoflurane for an elective procedure. Patients were randomly allocated to received an initial dose of rocuronium: 120, 180, 250, or 300 micrograms.kg-1. Dose-response curves were established, and ED50 was calculated. Preselected maintenance doses (75, 150, or 225 micrograms.kg-1) were administered at 25% recovery of twitch height to compare clinical duration of action. At the end of the procedure, relaxation was reversed in half of the patients, and the time course of recovery was compared in the two groups. Blood samples drawn during the procedure and after the last maintenance dose allowed pharmacokinetic analysis in six cirrhotic patients and six control subjects.

RESULTS

ED50 of the initial dose was 144 micrograms.kg-1 in cirrhotic patients and 60 micrograms.kg-1 in control subjects, related to a higher initial volume of distribution (cirrhotic 78.5 +/- 31.7 ml.kg-1, control 29.8 +/- 17.3 ml.kg-1). Time from complementary dose to 25% recovery was longer in cirrhotic patients (41.0 +/- 20.7 min vs 30.2 +/- 9.7 min), but time course of action during maintenance was not statistically different in the two groups. In cirrhotic patients receiving five maintenance doses or more, prolongation of the duration of action with successive maintenance doses could be statistically demonstrated. Spontaneous recovery was delayed in cirrhotic patients, because of impaired elimination processes: greater volume of distribution at steady-state (264 +/- 92 vs. 151 +/- 59 ml.kg-1); trend toward a lower clearance (189 +/- 60 vs. 296 +/- 169 ml.min-1).

CONCLUSIONS

Rocuronium pharmacodynamics are moderately altered by cirrhosis, possible because of pharmacokinetic alterations. Individual variability in response to rocuronium is great, and dosage should be carefully titrated to that required.