MOBILIZATION OF WORLD FLOWERING PLANTS SUPPLIES BASED ON DEVELOPMENT OF SYSTEMATIZED GENETIC COLLECTION OF ADAPTIVE AND AGRONOMIC VALUABLE TRAITS

The problems of study and utilization of plant germplasm collections and arrangement of genetic resources based on botanical, functional, morphological, biochemical, and genetical principles are underlined in the article. The types of identified and systemized germplasm collections and genetic resources of flowering plants are described. The search path and methods of identification, differentiation, arrangement, and selection of genetic donors and germplasm collections of traits of ontogenetic and phylogenetic adaptation are shown in the article.

Photoperiodic effects on body size and energetics of the collared lemming, Dicrostonyx groenlandicus

Resting metabolic rates of adult collared lemmings, Dicrostonyx groenlandicus, acclimated from weaning to either long, "summer" (22L:2D) or short, "winter" (2L:22D) photoperiod at 15 °C were examined as a function of ambient temperature. Winter morphs were significantly heavier than summer morphs (73.8 ± 7.7 (SD) and 54.5 ± 7.2 (SD) g, respectively). However, there were no differences in mass-specific metabolic rates between treatments at 15 and 20 °C. At low ambient temperatures (0 and −10 °C), metabolic rates of summer morphs were significantly higher than those of winter morphs, indicating a shift in the thermoneutral zone with photoperiod acclimation. There were no significant differences in core temperature between morphs at any ambient temperature. Thermal conductance of winter morphs was significantly lower (0.05 mL O2 (g∙h∙°C)−1) than that of summer morphs (0.09 mL O2 (g∙h∙°C)−1). Comparisons with other myomorph rodents do not support the contention that lemmings have unusually high metabolic rates. However, minimal thermal conductances of lemmings were much lower than expected on the basis of body size. These data suggest that although lemmings may differ in seasonal patterns of energetics from other microtines, there is little evidence to support the assertion that high rates of metabolism are characteristic of all microtines, or that observed basal rates represent a phylogenetic adaptation to cold.

Regression of the Time-Keeping Ability in Carabid Beetles by Phylogenetic Adaptation to Cave Conditions

Locomotor activity patterns of six cavernicolous carabid species representing the course of regressive evolution have been investigated under constant conditions. The analysis establishes new relationships between the circadian structure of the activity patterns observed under constant conditions (LL and D D) and the phylogenetic adaptation to cave conditions. This is due to the mathematical method used for investigating the activity patterns, i. e. the Wigner-Ville spectrum that enables the evaluation of nonstationarities. It overcomes the hypothesis of stationarity which was the base of previous examinations. The new method delivers a more refined gradual decrease of the stability of the circadian pattern of activity in cavernicolous beetles than could be achieved by classical periodogram analysis. It is also shown that the locomotion patterns of extremely evolved troglobitic clearly deviate from a purely signal-free (white noise) structure. Possible time­keeping mechanisms that may cause the measured stabilities and regressive lines of possible evolutionary development are discussed.