Protegulum and brephic shell of the earliest organophosphatic brachiopods

Early development stages imprinted on the shells of Cambrian brachiopods from the class Linguliformea (orders Paterinida, Lingulida, Acrotretida) were studied with scanning electron microscope based on a large collection from the Siberian Platform. Some specimens of all three orders preserved protegulum (embryonic shell); their brephic (juvenile) shells, also were studied. Many of them might lack larval development stage as it is known for the recent representatives of the family Lingulidae. But unlike recent lingulids, the surface of the juvenile dorsal valves of all studied linguliformeans bore two (rarely three) pairs of gentle elevations accommodating bundles of setae, which sometime preserve as groups of fine imprints along their margins. Recent Lingula and Glottidia lack setae in this stage. On the other hand, recent classes Craniformea and Rhynchonelliformea have setae, but they develop in the larval stage. Most of brachiopod groups have the setae in the adult stage but these setae have different origin, are short, located on the lateral and anterior ends of the shell, and grow from the marginal cells of the mantle.     

Chemico-structure of the organophosphatic shells of siphonotretide brachiopods

The organophosphatic shell of siphonotretide brachiopods is stratiform with orthodoxly secreted primary and secondary layers. The dominant apatitic constituents of the secondary layer are prismatic laths and rods arranged in monolayers (occasionally in cross-bladed successions), normally recrystallized as platy laminae. Sporadically distributed, interlaminar, lenticular chambers, containing apatitic meshes of laths and aggregates of plates and spherulites, probably represent degraded, localized exudations of glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) with dispersed apatite.
The shells of Helmersenia and Gorchakovia are perforated by canals with external depressions (antechambers) that possibly contained chitinous tubercles in vivo . The immature shell of Siphonotreta and most other siphonotretids is similarly perforated and pitted; but the mature part bears recumbent, rheomorphic, hollow spines that grew forward out of pits. Internally, spines pierce the shell as independent structures to terminate as pillars in GAGs chambers. Spines and pillars were probably secreted by collectives of specialized cells (acanthoblasts) within the mantle.
The shell of the oldest siphonotretide, Schizambon , is imperforate but the ventral valve has a pedicle foramen that lies forward of the posterior margin of the juvenile valve. This relationship characterizes all siphonotretides, suggesting that the pedicle, in vivo , originated within the ventral outer epithelium and not from the posterior body wall as in lingulides.     

Inter- and intra-specific cuticle variation between amphimictic and parthenogenetic species of root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne spp.) as revealed by a bacterial parasite (Pasteuria penetrans)

Specific host–parasite interactions exist between species and strains of plant parasitic root-knot nematodes and the Gram-positive bacterial hyperparasite Pasteuria penetrans. This bacterium produces endospores that adhere to the cuticle of migrating juveniles, germinate and colonise the developing female within roots. Endospore attachment of P. penetrans populations to second-stage juveniles of the root-knot nematode species Meloidogyne incognita and Meloidogyne hapla showed there were interactive differences between bacterial populations and nematode species. Infected females of M. incognita produced a few progeny which were used to establish two nematode lines from single infective juveniles encumbered with either three or 26 endospores. Single juvenile descent lines of each nematode species were produced to test whether cuticle variation was greater within M. hapla lines that reproduce by facultative meiotic parthenogenesis than within lines of M. incognita, which reproduces by obligate parthenogenesis. Assays revealed variability between broods of individual females derived from single second-stage juvenile descent lines of both M. incognita and M. hapla suggesting that progeny derived from a single individual can differ in spore adhesion in both sexual and asexual nematode species. These results suggest that special mechanisms that produced these functional differences in the cuticle surface may have evolved in both sexually and asexually reproducing nematodes as a strategy to circumvent infection by this specialised hyperparasite.     

Structure of the first-formed shell of the Middle Ordovician orthid-like brachiopods from the Leningrad Region

Shell structure of the first-formed shell of the Middle Ordovician orthid-like brachiopods from the Leningrad Region is described. The 190-μm-wide first-formed shell is composed of finely granular layer while 700-μm-wide first-formed shell is fibrous. Thus the order Orthida in the Early Paleozoic included brachiopods with both planktotrophic and lecithotrophic larvae in the ontogeny.     

A Stem Group Brachiopod From The Lower Cambrian: Support For A Micrina (Halkieriid) Ancestry

The shell structure of the Lower Cambrian Mickwitzia , a bilaterally symmetrical bivalve hitherto doubtfully assigned to the Brachiopoda, confirms that the genus shares characters with linguliform brachiopods. The columnar lamination of its organophosphatic shell is homologous with that characterizing acrotretides. The shell, however, is also pervaded by striated apatitic tubes indistinguishable from those permeating the sclerites of the problematic organophosphatic, laminar–shelled Micrina which is close to Halkieria . No crown group brachiopods have such tubes that are presumed to have contained setae. The presence of both these features in the Mickwitzia shell suggests that the stock is a stem group brachiopod with a halkieriid ancestry.     

The tube-like structures on the juvenile shells of earliest strophomenides and billingsellides as evidence of their life cycles

Possible life cycle of some ancient plectambonitoids (order Strophomenida) from the Middle Ordovician of Russia is reconstructed based on the well-preserved specimens composing the ontogenetic series. Four regions may be distinguished on their shell surface: protegulum, brephic shell, neanic shell and adult shell. The posterior margin of ventral protegulum bears pedicle sheath, which is a tubular outgrowth with a 40-μm-wide aperture at the distal end. The protegulum and brephic shell have common type of microstructure that possibly is spherular; the neanic and adult shells are fibrous. The strophomenide ontogeny possibly was similar to that of recent discinides. The strophomenide life cycle possibly included the planktotrophic juvenile stage; the protegulum and brephic shell were formed in the water column. The aperture of the pedicle sheath was possibly used as an anal opening of the floating juvenile and as an attachment organ during the settlement; at early adult stages, the sheath erased, the anus closed, and the animal started to lie on the ventral valve. The origin of the order Strophomenida and its relative groups is possibly connected with the loss of the pedicle lobe; judging by some strophomenide morphological features, true pedicle was present in the strophomenide ancestors. The tubes on the ventral umbones of strophomenides and billingsellides are not homologous as pedicle sheaths of strophomenides are formed at the planktotrophic swimming stage, and the tubes surrounding the pedicles of billingsellides were formed by deltidial plates of almost adult shell after settling.     

Microstructure of the linguliformean brachiopod Linnarssonia from the Lower Cambrian of Sichuan, China

Acrotretoids, one of the oldest brachiopod groups, are abundant in the Lower Cambrian Jiulaodong Formation. The shell of Linnarssonia sp. is composed of two layers: a primary layer and a columnar secondary layer. The primary layer is mostly exfoliated, resulting in exposure of the openings to the central canal of the columns. Filae are seen on the surface of the columnar layer, indicating that the columnar secondary layer has influenced changes in ornament on the shell surface. The larval shell has only very weak ripples; the post-larval shell has obvious concentric ribs. Small pits of variable shape cover almost the entire shell surface. The secondary layer is composed of several columnar laminations, each of which comprises both the upper and lower laminae and the cylindrical columns between them. On the inner side of shell the thin columnar laminations increase. The new microstructural data show that two shell layers are developed in Early Cambrian acrotretoid brachiopods; the columnar lamination may be a primitive feature of the microstructural development of the Brachiopoda and may help establish the affinity between different stem-group brachiopods.     

The genus Uromunna (Crustacea: Isopoda: Munnidae) in New South Wales,Australia, with a key for all known species

The invertebrate collection of the Australian Museum revealed the existence of three new species of the genus Uromunna (family Munnidae) from New South Wales, Australia. Uromunna tenagoika sp. nov. from Batemans Bay has the head anterior margin concave, without simple setae; eyes with few ommatidia, eye lobes with both margins parallel, in male posterior margin directed forward; pereonite 7 as wide as pereonite 6, subequal to pleotelson width; pleotelson distal margin pointed, suburopodal shelf present; mandible palp absent; pereopod I propodus robust setae absent; pereopods relatively short; pleopod IV exopod distal tip with one pappose seta. Uromunna rhamnda sp. nov. from Batemans Bay has a head anterior margin concave, without simple setae; eye lobes with both margins parallel, in male posterior margin parallel to frontal margin; pleotelson distal margin pointed, suburopodal shelf absent; mandible palp present; pereopod I propodus robust setae absent; pleopod IV exopod distal tip with one pappose seta. Uromunna eora sp. nov. was found at Southern Creek, located north of Sydney and is the first species of the genus described from a fully freshwater environment with no marine water input. It has a relatively elongate body (length 3.4× width), anterior margin concave, eye lobes with both margins converging distally, in male posterior margin directed forward; pereonite 7 as wide as pereonite 6, wider than pleotelson width; pleotelson distal margin truncate, suburopodal shelf present; mandible palp present; pereopod I propodus robust setae present; pleopod IV exopod distal tip with two pappose setae. This work raises the number of Uromunna species found in Australia to a total of six.

http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:D877FC47-BC6E-4827-BA89-3A75AFDE1124     

热带、亚热带典型森林-土壤系统植硅体碳演变规律

分别选取中国亚热带毛竹林、马尾松林、青冈林、杉木林和热带青梅林、芭蕉林、橡胶林、马占相思林8种森林类型,采集其鲜叶、凋落叶以及0～10和10～30 cm土层土壤,通过微波消解法提取其中的植硅体,并采用碱溶法测定植硅体中碳含量.结果表明: 4种亚热带森林类型鲜叶、凋落叶和0～10 cm土层中植硅体碳含量均以马尾松林(230.24、229.17、20.87 g·kg^-1)最高,毛竹林(30.55、37.37、3.38 g·kg^-1)最低,10～30 cm土层则以青冈林(18.54 g·kg^-1)最高,毛竹林(2.90 g·kg^-1)最低.热带森林鲜叶中植硅体碳含量以马占相思林(377.66 g·kg^-1)最高,青梅林(46.83 g·kg^-1)最低,凋落叶中则是橡胶林(218.23 g·kg^-1)最高,芭蕉林(27.66 g·kg^-1)最低,而0～10和10～30 cm土层土壤中均以马占相思林(23.84、24.90 g·kg^-1)最高,芭蕉林(3.89、3.93 g·kg^-1)最低.与0～10 cm表层土相比,杉木林、青冈林、马尾松林、毛竹林、橡胶林、马占相思林、芭蕉林和青梅林鲜叶植硅体碳含量分别下降97.4%、94.9%、90.9%、88.9%、95.9%、93.7%、93.3%和63.7%.青冈林、芭蕉林和马占相思林鲜叶植硅体碳含量显著高于凋落叶,而毛竹林、马尾松林、杉木林、青梅林和橡胶林之间无显著差异.8种森林类型土壤植硅体碳含量均显著低于鲜叶和凋落叶,表明植硅体在通过凋落物释放到土壤的过程中是不稳定的.     

The effects of capture spiral composition and orb-web orientation on prey interception

Cribellar prey capture threads found in primitive, horizontal orb-webs reflect more light, including ultraviolet wavelengths, than viscous threads found in more derived, vertical orb-webs. Low web visibility and vertical orientation are each thought to increase prey interception and may represent key innovations that contributed to the greater diversity of modern, araneoid orb-weaving spiders. This study compares prey interception rates of cribellate orb-webs constructed by Uloborus glomosus (Uloboridae) with viscous orb-webs constructed by Leucauge venusta (Tetragnathidae) and Micrathena gracilis (Araneidae). We placed sectors of cribellar and viscous threads side by side in frames that were oriented either horizontally or vertically. The webs of both U. glomosus and L. venusta intercepted more prey when vertically oriented. In each orientation L. venusta webs intercepted more insects than did U. glomosus. Although this is consistent with the greater visibility of cribellar threads, the more closely spaced capture spirals of L. venusta may have contributed to this difference. Micrathena gracilis webs intercepted more prey than did U. glomosus webs, although web orientation did not affect the performance of this araneoid species. The stickier and more closely spaced capture spirals of M. gracilis may have enhanced the interception rates of this species and accounted for the greater number of smaller dipterans retained in its webs. The tendency for these slow, weak flight insects to be blown into both horizontal and vertical webs may account for similar interception rates of horizontal and vertical M. gracilis webs. These observations support the enhanced prey interception of vertically oriented orb-webs, but offer only qualified support for the contributions of lower visibility viscous capture threads.     

Taxonomic status and distribution of Mirabilis himalaica (Nyctaginaceae)

Mirabilis himalaica (Edgew.) Heimerl (Nyctaginaceae) is endemic to the Himalayas where it is used in traditional Tibetan folk medicine and is the only Old World representative of a large New World genus. The systematic position of M. himalaica and historical biogeography of Mirabilis and related genera was evaluated using two loci (nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer, rps16), with divergence times estimated using internal transcribed spacer sequences. All 16 sampled provenances of M. himalaica formed a strongly supported terminal clade and at the sectional level formed a clade with sect. Quamoclidion sensu stricto, despite their morphology. Section Oxybaphoides and sect. Oxybaphus were not closely related to M. himalaica, suggesting their apparent morphological similarities are convergent. The beast analysis and ancestral area reconstruction indicated that M. himalaica separated from related North American species during the late Miocene to early Pleistocene ∼5.22 Ma (95% highest posterior density, 2.53–8.18). Both migration by way of the Quaternary Bering land bridge (Beringia) and long‐distance dispersal could have contributed to the present‐day disjunction between M. himalaica and the American species. These results agree with previous studies that suggest Oxybaphus should be merged into Mirabilis. However, although the infrageneric position of M. himalaica is still uncertain, it is not close to sect. Oxybaphus as has been suggested previously.     

The origin and geometry of radial ribbing patterns in articulate brachiopods

Ackerly, S. C. 1992 07 15: The origin and geometry of radial ribbing patterns in articulate brachiopods.
Geometric models for simple. radial ribbing in articulate brachiopods include (1) ribs radiating isometrically from the shell umbo. (2) divergence of thc ribs from some 'point' within the shell, and (3) reorientation of the ribs at right angles to the shell margin. Analyses of the Orthida, the ancestral taxon of articulate brachiopods, indicate that rib geometries are isometric in Early Cambrian taxa (model 1). but that by the Early Ordovician rib orientations are generally perpendicular to the shell margin (model 3). A combination of functional and morphogenetic Factors explains the ribbing geometries observed in orthide brachiopods.     

6种含笑属植物抗寒性分析与综合评价

以6种含笑属植物为试材,进行田间冻害调查,拟合Logistic方程计算其低温半致死温度,采用石蜡切片技术,测定9项叶片解剖结构指标,运用隶属函数法对各树种的抗寒性进行综合分析与评价.结果表明: 6种含笑属植物叶片的相对电导率与0～25 ℃低温处理3 h的半致死温度之间呈显著正相关.6种含笑属植物低温半致死温度在-20.48～-8.67 ℃,高低顺序为深山含笑>红花深山含笑>峨眉含笑>杂交11-8>阔瓣含笑>六瓣含笑;叶片表皮细胞1～2层,垂周壁略呈波浪状,栅栏组织细胞1～3层,9项叶片解剖结构指标差异显著,栅栏组织厚度、栅海比和主脉厚度是影响抗寒性的主要叶片解剖结构指标.电导法和隶属函数法对6种含笑属植物的抗寒性评价结果与田间调查结果基本一致.6种含笑属植物抗寒性强弱顺序为:六瓣含笑>阔瓣含笑>杂交11-8>峨眉含笑>红花深山含笑>深山含笑.     

Ontogeny and evolution within the Myophorellidae (Bivalvia): Paedomorphic trends

The role of heterochronic phenomena in molluscan evolution is insufficiently understood but potentially significant. The aim of this paper is to explore some paedomorphic trends in the evolution of the Myophorellidae (Bivalvia: Trigoniida). Early ontogeny of general shell shape and ornamentation of one species of Steinmanella was analyzed and compared to data obtained for three species of Myophorella: two belonging to the subgenus M. (Promyophorella) (one from the Jurassic and one from the Cretaceous) and one belonging to the Jurassic M. (Myophorella). For general shell shape, a geometric morphometric analysis was performed on lateral views of the shells. Regarding ornamentation, flank costal disposition on the marginal carina, tubercle separation and relative development of the sub-commarginal subset of flank costae were quantified. A qualitative analysis was also performed. A two-trend shell shape development is considered as primitive. The first trend is marked by a relative reduction of the posterior margin together with a relative elongation of the shell. A tangential opisthogyrate growth component characterizes the second trend. There is a transitional stage where both trends interact. Early flank ornamentation is characterized by two or three sub-commarginal costae, continuous through the area, after which oblique costae with fine tubercles start to form. The subgenus M. (Myophorella) evolved by paedomorphic retention of juvenile shell shape and ornamentation, resulting in a large shell with coarse tubercles. Shell morphology in Steinmanella evolved by paedomorphic suppression of the primitive second trend in the development of the shell, resulting in an orthogyrate shell shape, and the retention of juvenile ornamentation (coarse tubercles, more sub-commarginal costae, juvenile rates of costal disposition). The paedomorphic (most likely by deceleration) retention of juvenile shell morphology within the Myophorellidae seems to have been recurrent within the group, resulting in many cases of convergence, and obscuring the phylogenetic relationships among its species.     

How the 'forceps' of Lithophaga aristata (Bivalvia: Mytiloidea) are formed

The calcareous substratum borer, Lithopaga aristata Dillwyn, 1817, secretes posterior incrustations that take the form of interlocking 'forceps'. These are secreted, initially, as asymmetrical ridges by similarly asymmetrical dorsal and ventral glands in the left and right middle folds of the posterior mantle lobes. In the adult, the secretions are more uniformly spread over the posterior shell margins, concealing the juvenile ridges.
Opening and closing of the valves smooths the outer surfaces of the 'forceps' against the burrow wall, which also comes to be lined with calcium carbonate that is reciprocally smoothed, so that they occlude the borehole more effectively. Extension and retraction of the siphons probably smooths the inner surfaces of the 'forceps' which are sharpened by abrasion, one against the other, during valve opening and closing. The pair of inequilateral spikes so produced, project from the burrow aperture, occluding it, but probably, more importantly, distancing aperturally attacking predators from the true posterior shell margin. Interlocking of the 'forceps' and their sharpness may further deter would-be predators.     

贵州遵义松林寒武系牛蹄塘组Tsunyiella luna的个体发育初探

本文运用形态测量学方法对贵州遵义寒武系牛蹄塘组中高肌虫Tsunyiella luna的个体发育进行初步探讨。结果显示遵义地区T.luna的生长模式为异速生长,在壳高与壳长正交方向异速、非等比生长,高长比值随着壳体生长波动式降低,先增大再减小后增大;铰合线与壳长方向异速、等比生长,其比值随壳体生长成反比例降低;腹边缘均衡生长,蜕壳阶段不确定。个体发育阶段分为早、中和晚三个期,早期构造从无到有,高长比变大;中期前瘤和背缘脊在壳体占比逐渐减小,中背部逐渐增大,高长比逐渐减小;晚期前瘤在壳体占比略增大,背缘脊减小,中背部不明显,高长比变大。T.luna的个体发育探讨为该属种的准确鉴定和演化研究提供重要的信息。     

维螨属2新种记述(蜱螨亚纲:中气门目:维螨科)

记述维螨属2新种:河南维螨Veigaia henanensis sp.nov.和福建维螨Veigaia fujianensis sp.nov.     

DNA repair in reduced genome: the Mycoplasma model

The occurrence of bacteria with a reduced genome, such as that found in Mycoplasmas, raises the question as to which genes should be enough to guarantee the genomic stability indispensable for the maintenance of life. The aim of this work was to compare nine Mycoplasma genomes in regard to DNA repair genes. An in silico analysis was done using six Mycoplasma species, whose genomes are accessible at GenBank, and M. synoviae, and two strains of M. hyopneumoniae, whose genomes were recently sequenced by The Brazilian National Genome Project Consortium and Southern Genome Investigation Program (Brazil) respectively. Considering this reduced genome model, our comparative analysis suggests that the DNA integrity necessary for life can be primarily maintained by nucleotide excision repair (NER), which is the only complete repair pathway. Furthermore, some enzymes involved with base excision repair (BER) and recombination are also present and can complement the NER activity. The absence of RecR and RecO-like ORFs was observed only in M. genitalium and M. pneumoniae, which can be involved with the conservation of gene order observed between these two species. We also obtained phylogenetic evidence for the recent acquisition of the ogt gene in M. pulmonis and M. penetrans by a lateral transference event. In general, the presence or nonexistence of repair genes is shared by all species analyzed, suggesting that the loss of the majority of repair genes was an ancestral event, which occurred before the divergence of the Mycoplasma species.     

中国巢鼠属分类与分布的讨论

巢鼠属（Micromys Dehne,1841）隶属于啮齿目（Rodentia）鼠科（Muridae）,是最小的啮齿动物之一。此前的研究显示该属包含巢鼠（M.minutus）和红耳巢鼠（M.erythrotis）两个物种,但由于数据缺乏,红耳巢鼠的有效种地位仍存争议,且两个物种在中国的地理分布也不确定。本研究在安徽清凉峰国家级自然保护区采集到一批巢鼠属标本,经形态与分子学鉴定发现其包含巢鼠和红耳巢鼠两个物种,它们在清凉峰海拔1 600 m处同域分布,支持红耳巢鼠的有效种地位。基于安徽清凉峰巢鼠和红耳巢鼠的外形特点,本文对国家动物标本资源库的巢鼠属照片进行了分析,并结合相关文献资料,对中国巢鼠属的地理分布进行了整理,同时绘制了地理分布图。结果显示：在我国巢鼠主要分布在黑龙江、吉林、辽宁、内蒙古、河北、陕西、甘肃、新疆、江苏、安徽、浙江、湖南、江西、广东、福建、台湾;红耳巢鼠主要分布在云南、四川、陕西、湖北、西藏、贵州、重庆、安徽、福建、广西;两者在安徽清凉峰和陕西镇巴县、城固县皆有分布。此外,分子系统学分析显示,我国巢鼠属多样性仍被低估,极有可能存在未知的分类单元,巢鼠属的分类研究工作仍需加强。