Background-Asthma is an increasingly common disorder responsible for considerable morbidity and mortality. Although obesity is a risk factor for asthma and weight loss can improve symptoms, many patients do not adhere to low calorie diets and the impact of dietary restriction on the disease process is unknown.

What was once considered a single Holarctic species of green lacewing, Chrysoperla carnea (Stephens), has recently been shown to be a complex of many cryptic, sibling species, the carnea species group, whose members are reproductively isolated by their substrate-borne vibrational songs. Because species in the complex are diagnosed by their song phenotypes and not by morphology, the current systematic status of the type species has become a problem. Here, we attempt to determine which song species corresponds to StephensÕ 1835 concept of C. carnea, originally based on a small series of specimens collected in or near London and currently housed in The Natural History Museum. With six European members of the complex from which to choose, we narrow the Þeld to just three that have been collected in England: C. lucasina (Lacroix), Cc2 Ôslow-motorboatÕ, and Cc4 ÔmotorboatÕ. Ecophysiology eliminates C. lucasina, because that species remains green during adult winter diapause, while Cc2 and Cc4 share with StephensÕ type a change to brownish or reddish color in winter. We then describe the songs, ecology, adult morphology, and larval morphology of Cc2 and Cc4, making statistical comparisons between the two species. Results strongly reinforce the conclusion that Cc2 and Cc4 deserve separate species status. In particular, adult morphology displays several subtle but useful differences between the species, including the shape of the basal dilation of the metatarsal claw and the genital ÔlipÕ and ÔchinÕ of the male abdomen, color and coarseness of the sternal setae at the tip of the abdomen and on the genital lip, and pigment distribution on the stipes of the maxilla. Furthermore, behavioral choice experiments involving playback of conspeciÞc versus heterospeciÞc songs to individuals of Cc2 and Cc4 demonstrate strong reproductive isolation between the two species. Comparison of the adult morphology of song-determined specimens to that of preserved specimens in the original type series and in other collections in The Natural History Museum, London, indicate that the ÔtrueÕ Chrysoperla carnea (Stephens) is Cc4. Cc2 cannot be conÞdently associated with any previously described species and is therefore assigned a new name, Chrysoperla pallida sp. nov., and formally described.

The Canadian oil sands industry stores toxic oil sands process-affected water (OSPW) in large tailings ponds adjacent to the Athabasca River or its tributaries, raising concerns over potential seepage. Naphthenic acids (NAs; C(n)H(2n-Z)O(2)) are toxic components of OSPW, but are also natural components of bitumen and regional groundwaters, and may enter surface waters through anthropogenic or natural sources. This study used a selective high-resolution mass spectrometry method to examine total NA concentrations and NA profiles in OSPW (n = 2), Athabasca River pore water (n = 6, representing groundwater contributions) and surface waters (n = 58) from the Lower Athabasca Region. NA concentrations in surface water (< 2-80.8 μg/L) were 100-fold lower than previously estimated. Principal components analysis (PCA) distinguished sample types based on NA profile, and correlations to water quality variables identified two sources of NAs: natural fatty acids, and bitumen-derived NAs. Analysis of NA data with water quality variables highlighted two tributaries to the Athabasca River-Beaver River and McLean Creek-as possibly receiving OSPW seepage. This study is the first comprehensive analysis of NA profiles in surface waters of the region, and demonstrates the need for highly selective analytical methods for source identification and in monitoring for potential effects of development on ambient water quality.

Two hypotheses have been considered in the literature regarding how anuran morphology reduces predation risk: by (1) improving escape swimming performance, or (2) using the tail as a lure to draw predator strikes away from the body of the tadpole. We investigated these hypotheses using a modification of the morphology, performance, and fitness path analysis of Arnold (1983, Am. Zool. 23:347-361). Indirect effects of morphology on fitness, as mediated by burst swimming speed, as well as direct paths from morphology to survival with dragonfly larvae were included in the path model. Tadpole morphology did affect burst swimming speed, however, burst swimming speed did not influence survival. Fast tadpoles were larger overall, had long tails, deep tail muscles, and proportionally small bodies. In addition, a shape trait similar to published descriptions of the tail lure morphology had a direct relationship with survival. Thus, only the tail lure effect was supported. This study documents the utility of analyzing multiple trait effects and demonstrates that including direct paths between traits and fitness in the morphology, performance, and fitness path model allows evaluation of alternative hypothesis of selection.