Variability of sexual dimorphism of main anthropometric dimensions of newborns in connection with the degree of urbanization

The study embraces big volume of literary data – over 120 samples of newborns of each sex from former USSR of 1960s, including main anthropometric dimensions (height, weight, chest and head girths). The quantitative estimation of the level of sexual dimorphism (SeD) is accomplished using Kullback divergence – analogue of the Mahalanobis distance. The parameter of quantity of population of the residence place, associated with the income level, nutrition status and frequency of socially significant diseases, is used as the marker of the degree of urbanization. Results. The level of Sed of newborn infants has modest fluctuations and for most somatic traits has average meaning about 0,3 standard deviations, independently of the degree of urbanization of the residence place of territorial/ethnic groups. Still the living standards in big millionaire cities are favorable to the progress (improvement) of physical status of male infants – increase of head girth in Moscow megalopolis, increase of height/weight dimensions of both Russian and aboriginal newborns in Tashkent – which promotes some increase of Sed of somatic traits as well. Conclusion. Somatic dimensions of newborns are the classic object of stabilizing selection, hence have very moderate variability. In this context, quantitative meaning of SeD of body dimensions is also relatively stable.

Condition dependence of phenotypic integration and the evolvability of genitalic traits in a neriid fly

The spectacular diversity of insect male genitalia, and their relative insensitivity to the environment, have long puzzled evolutionary biologists and taxonomists. We asked whether the unusual evolvability of male genitalia could be associated with low morphological integration of genitalic traits, by comparison with male somatic traits and female traits. We also asked whether this pattern was robust to variation in resource availability during development, which affects adult condition. To address these questions, we manipulated larval diet quality in a split-brood design and compared levels of integration of male and female genitalic and somatic traits in the neriid fly, Telostylinus angusticollis . We found that male genitalic traits were substantially less integrated than male somatic traits, and less integrated than female genitalic traits. Female genitalic traits were also less integrated than female somatic traits, but the difference was less pronounced than in males. However, integration of male genitalic traits was negatively condition-dependent, with high-condition males exhibiting lower trait integration than low-condition males. Finally, genitalic traits exhibited lower larval diet × family interactions than somatic traits. These results could help explain the unusually high evolvability of male genitalic traits in insects.

Description of Titanoeca deltshevi sp. n. from Bulgaria with faunistic notes on related species in the Balkans (Araneae, Titanoecidae)

Titanoeca deltshevi sp. n. is described and illustrated from Bulgaria. It appears closely related to T. praefica (Simon, 1870), T. spominima (Taczanowski, 1866) and partially (males only) to T. flavicoma L. Koch, 1872. A faunistic synopsis of the genus Titanoeca Thorell, 1870 in Bulgaria is also presented that is based on new field data and a review of the published literature. Titanoeca flavicoma is newly recorded for Bulgaria and T. turkmenia Wunderlich, 1995 is new for Bulgaria and Albania. Titanoeca incerta (Nosek, 1905) is removed from the Bulgarian, and therefore from the European spider checklists. The possible division of the European members of Titanoeca into three groups based on differences in copulatory and somatic traits is discussed.

Effect of physical activity level on body build and physical fitness of girls and boys aged 10-19 years

Aim: The study was aimed to evaluate the somatic build and physical fitness of children and adolescents aged 10-19 years depending on their physical activity. Basic procedures: The survey was conducted in the years 2008-2009 with 925 girls and 1016 boys aged 10-19 years, attending rural and urban schools in the Bielsk District. The following basic anthropometric measures were taken: body height, body mass, arm and shank circumference, thickness of three skinfolds (over the triceps, over the scapula, and over the iliac crest). The Body Mass Index (BMI) was computed from values of body height and mass measurements. Numeric values of somatotypological components were calculated as well; these including: endomorphy, mesomorphy, and ectomorphy. Physical activity was evaluated based on the trials of the European Physical Fitness Test battery, and stratified acc. to a 3-level scale: low activity – up to 1 hour, moderate activity – between 1 and 3 hours, and high activity – 4 and more hours. In groups of the physical activity of girls and boys, values of somatic traits and results of motor tests were normalized with the use of equations indicating dependencies of mean values and standard deviations on age, according to Stupnicki et al. [1]. Significance of differences between the studied groups was evaluated using the analysis of variance ANOVA with “post-hoc” Newman-Keuls test. Results: The surveyed girls and boys with the highest physical activity were characterized by the lowest values of somatic traits, except for body height, and by the best results of physical fitness. Greater differences between results were observed in the girls. Conclusions: A correlation was demonstrated between the physical activity and somatic build and physical fitness of the surveyed girls and boys. Key words: physical activity, physical development, physical fitness, children and adolescents