Research Update.

YELLOWSTONE National Park; COLORADO; POLYNESIA; UNITED States; BOULDER (Colo.)

Presents news briefs relating to biological research. Report that the 1988 fires in Yellowstone National Park were unusual, but not abnormal; Examination of the trees in the park to determine that there is a natural fire circle of 300-400 years; Work of researchers from the University of Colorado in assisting in criminal investigations by identifying stomach contents of murder victims; Way that identification of stomach contents has provided crucial evidence in a number of cases; Identification of maize chromosome regions affecting 40 quantitative traits, such as plant height, kernel weight, and leaf dimensions; Use of two sets of genetic markers to find the genes which control the quantitative traits; The use of aerial photographs and satellite images to find new habitats for endangered Polynesian birds, and to determine the vegetation and the amount of habitat suitable for various species on small islands in the Pacific Ocean; Identification of tomato genes which play a role in pollen development; Report that briefly damaging cotton seedlings increases the plants' resistance to spider mites, but that the induced resistance is weaker in plants confined to small pots or crowded by other seedlings.