生境不完全重叠的两种鲤科鱼类耐低氧及运动能力比较

以乌江流域亲缘关系近,但分布并不完全重叠的马口鱼(Opsariichthys bidens)和宽鳍鱲(Zacco platypus)作为实验对象,分别考察这两种实验鱼的低氧耐受及游泳运动能力。将野外采回的实验鱼置于(25±1)℃条件下,分别测定两种鱼的临界氧分压(Pcrit)、水面呼吸(ASR)、失去平衡点(LOE)以及在不同溶氧水平(8.0、4.0和2.0 mg/L)下的临界游泳速度(Ucrit)和活跃耗氧率(MO2active)。研究发现:马口鱼的Pcrit(2.44±0.20)mg/L显著高于宽鳍鱲(1.86±0.10)mg/L(P=0.031)。但马口鱼的50%ASR(1.23±0.16)mg/L显著低于宽鳍鱲(1.97±0.11)mg/L(P=0.023);马口鱼的50%LOE(0.84±0.01)mg/L同样显著低于宽鳍鱲(0.97±0.02)mg/L(P=0.004)。宽鳍鱲在8.0和4.0 mg/L下的游泳能力显著高于马口鱼,然而马口鱼和宽鳍鱲的Ucrit均随测定溶氧水平的下降而显著降低(P0.01);宽鳍鱲和马口鱼的运动耗氧率均随水流速度的增加而呈现指数增加,但随测定溶氧水平的降低运动耗氧曲线变得相对平缓,尤其是在溶氧为4.0 mg/L时马口鱼的运动耗氧曲线与宽鳍鱲相比越发平缓;两种实验鱼的MO2active随溶氧水平下降的变化趋势与Ucrit相似(P0.001)。结果表明:两种野外生存的实验鱼不仅在低氧耐受能力方面存在显著差异,而且两者的游泳运动能力也有不同表现,这很有可能与其遗传特征、生存环境及生态习性相关。     

尾鳍缺失和恢复生长对不同生境的两种鲤科鱼类快速启动游泳能力的影响

为了考查尾鳍切除及其恢复生长对偏好静水环境的鲫鱼(Carassius auratus)与偏好激流环境的宽鳍鱲(Zacco platypus)两种鲤科鱼类快速启动游泳能力的影响,将鲫鱼幼鱼((6.34±0.02)cm)和宽鳍鱲幼鱼((6.26±0.12)cm)各16尾,其中8尾在(25.0±0.5)℃的条件下分别进行尾鳍切除、20 d恢复生长、再次切除处理,另外8尾作为对照组;测量计算两种实验鱼的相关形态参数并采用电刺激方式,通过高速摄像机获取实验鱼的影像资料,分析计算后获得快速启动相关参数。结果显示:鲫鱼的细度比(FR)显著小于宽鳍鱲(P0.01),尾鳍指数(FI)却显著大于宽鳍鱲(P0.01),两种实验鱼的快速启动最大线速度(Vmax)、移动距离(d)、相对旋转半径(RTr)和弯曲指数(BC)均无显著差异;尾鳍切除后,两种实验鱼快速启动的Vmax、d和RTr与正常组相比均呈现显著下降(P0.01),其中鲫鱼Vmax下降39%而宽鳍鱲下降24%;经过20 d的恢复生长,两种实验鱼的尾鳍面积均恢复至切除前的60%,而快速启动的Vmax、d、RTr和BC却与正常组(同样经过20 d生长)无显著差异;尾鳍再次切除后与正常组相比,鲫鱼和宽鳍鱲Vmax的下降幅度(17%和9%)与首次切除后的(39%和24%)相比均呈现降低的趋势,其中鲫鱼的下降幅度更大;尾鳍再次切除后与正常组相比,宽鳍鱲的BC显著增大(P=0.046)。结果表明:(1)鲫鱼尾鳍对快速启动能力的作用大于宽鳍鱲;(2)而偏好急流环境的宽鳍鱲经过恢复生长表现出更加明显的功能补偿现象。     

温度对宽鳍鱲运动能力和行为特征的影响

为了探究温度对宽鳍鱲(Zacco platypus)运动能力和行为特征的影响,分别在15和25℃的水温下对捕捞自乌江重庆武隆段的宽鳍鱲进行了为期3周的温度驯化,随后对其临界游泳能力、快速启动能力和行为特征(活跃性和隐匿行为)进行了测定。结果表明:相比25℃组,低温下(15℃)实验鱼临界游泳速度、最大代谢率、日常代谢率和代谢范围均显著降低(P0.05);低温下快速启动参数中最大速度、最大加速度和120 ms移动位移均显著降低(P0.05),但反应时滞无显著变化;此外,低温下实验鱼活跃性显著降低,而隐匿行为显著增加(P0.05);提示低温下宽鳍鱲运动能力的整体水平显著下降,对温度反应较为保守的快速启动反应时滞可能是低温下宽鳍鱲应对捕食压力的重要方式,而行为上降低活跃性和提高隐匿行为可能是对运动能力降低的补偿。     

饥饿对食蚊鱼和唐鱼幼鱼能量物质消耗及游泳能力的影响

为探究食蚊鱼和唐鱼在遭受饥饿胁迫时其能量物质消耗利用特征以及在游泳能力上的响应在室内(25±1)℃水温下设0(对照组)、10、20、30和40 d5种饥饿时间,研究了饥饿对食蚊鱼和唐鱼幼鱼主要能量物质消耗以及对爆发游泳速度(U_(burst))和临界游泳速度(U_(crit))的影响,旨在从能量代谢和游泳行为角度探讨食蚊鱼和唐鱼幼鱼应对饥饿胁迫的策略及其种间差异.结果表明:饥饿前(0 d对照组),食蚊鱼糖原和脂肪含量均显著小于唐鱼,蛋白质含量却与唐鱼无显著差异,而无论何种游泳速度,食蚊鱼均显著小于唐鱼.经历不同饥饿时间后,两种鱼糖原含量均随饥饿时间增加呈显著幂函数曲线下降趋势,并在饥饿10d时接近于0,而脂肪和蛋白质含量均随饥饿时间呈显著线性下降.与唐鱼相比,食蚊鱼脂肪-饥饿时间线性方程斜率显著降低,但蛋白质-饥饿时间方程斜率却显著增加.饥饿40 d后,食蚊鱼和唐鱼能量物质消耗率均显示为糖原脂肪蛋白质;但从能量物质的绝对消耗量来看,食蚊鱼表现为蛋白质脂肪糖原,而唐鱼则是脂肪蛋白质糖原.而无论何种试验鱼,其U_(burst)和U_(crit)均随饥饿时间增加呈显著线性下降,且U_(burst)-饥饿时间线性方程斜率均显著小于U_(crit)-饥饿时间方程.与唐鱼相比,食蚊鱼U_(burst)-饥饿时间线性方程斜率无显著变化,但U_(crit)-饥饿时间线性方程斜率却显著降低.结果表明,饥饿胁迫下2种鱼的能量物质消耗利用特征与游泳能力变化密切相关.相比唐鱼,食蚊鱼虽然整体上能量储备较少,游泳能力较低,但在饥饿期间却主要利用储存量更大的蛋白质供能,饥饿后脂肪含量下降幅度小于唐鱼,其U_(crit)变化比唐鱼更加稳定,这从一定程度上表明其具有更强的耐饥饿潜力,为适应营养匮乏的溪流生境提供了有利条件.     

流速对红鳍银鲫幼鱼游泳状态的影响

在28℃水温下,采用特制的鱼类游泳行为测定装置,研究体重(125.94±13.87)g的红鳍银鲫(Barbodes schwanenfeldi)幼鱼在0.0m/s(对照组)和0.1m/s、0.3m/s、0.5m/s3种流速下的游泳行为。结果表明,从0.0～0.3m/s,红鳍银鲫幼鱼平均趋流率和摆尾频率均随着流速的增加而增大,而0.5m/s组在90min内随时间延长而下降。红鳍银鲫游泳状态明显受到所处流速的影响,在静水对照组以"逆流前进"和"顺流而下"为主,两者共占总观察时间的98%以上;各流速组均以逆流静止为主,且随着流速的增大,逆流静止所占时间比例从45.8%增加至81.3%,而逆流前进所占时间比例由24.1%减至5%以下;逆流后退所占时间比例以0.1m/s组最大,为16.4%;顺流而下的比例随着流速增大先减小后增大,3个流速组依次为13.7%、2.1%和10.9%。红鳍银鲫幼鱼的游泳速度(V)和摆尾频率(TBF)在逆流前进及逆流静止两种游泳状态下呈线性正相关,而在逆流后退和顺流而下两种状态下两者没有显著相关。     

流速对细鳞裂腹鱼游泳行为及能量消耗影响的研究

通过自制密封的鱼类游泳实验装置, 研究了流速对细鳞裂腹鱼游泳行为和能量消耗的影响。结果显示,细鳞裂腹鱼的摆尾频率随游泳速度的变化有明显的变化规律, 摆尾频率随着流速的增加而显著性的增加,而摆尾幅度有减小趋势, 差异性不显著。结果还表明, (26±1) ℃时, (10.60±0.54) cm 细鳞裂腹鱼的相对临界游泳速度为(11.5±0.5) BL/s, 绝对临界游泳速度为(110.28±2.02) cm/s。测定的相对临界流速较其他的鲤科鱼大,是对生存水流环境(流速0.5—1.5m/s)适应性的表现。这一结果表明鱼类的游泳能力是能够训练的。运动代谢率与相对流速的关系为, AMR = 93.08e(0.307v) + 314.33, R2= 0.994; 单位距离能耗与流速的指数关系为COT =28e (-1.03V) +6.05, R2= 0.998。流速达到8 BL/s 时, 裂腹鱼耗氧率开始下降, 从流速7 BL/s 时, (1245.57±90.97 )mg O2/(kg·h)最大, 下降到(978.78±189.38) mg O2/(kg·h)。1—7 BL/s 流速范围内, 裂腹鱼单位时间内的耗氧率随着游泳速度的增加而增加, 而且随着游泳速度的增加, 单位距离能耗(COT)逐渐减少, 最小能耗在6 倍体长流速, 0.68 m/s 时, 为(6.00±1.57) J/(kg·m), 其能量利用效率最大。       

加速流对鲢、鳙幼鱼下行过程中游泳行为的影响

研究以具有下行洄游需求的鲢(Hypophthalmichthys molitrix)、鳙(Aristichthys nobilis)幼鱼为实验对象, 分别在2种不同流态加速流(Ⅰ: 22—55 cm/s, Ⅱ: 25—60 cm/s)中进行下行实验, 对实验鱼在2种加速流中的游泳行为(下行率、下行方式及各区域游泳时间)进行定量分析并利用游泳停留时间百分比F_t衡量其偏好水流速度。结果显示: 加速流下鲢、鳙均表现出了直接下行与非直接下行两种行为。其中加速流Ⅰ中鲢、鳙直接下行率分别为35.71%、30.00%, Ⅱ中分别为45.83%、59.09%。非直接下行的鲢在2种加速流中小于30 cm/s流速区域的停留时间显著高于其他区域(P<0.05), 即鲢在实验条件下的偏好水流速度范围为小于30 cm/s; 非直接下行的鳙在加速流Ⅰ中小于30 cm/s及50—55 cm/s流速区域的停留时间显著高于其他区域(P<0.05), Ⅱ中小于30 cm/s流速区域的停留时间显著高于其他区域(P<0.05), 即鳙本实验条件下偏好水流速度范围为小于30 cm/s。将2种加速流流速相同区域合并分析发现鲢、鳙在小于30 cm/s和50—55 cm/s流速区域的停留时间存在显著性差异(P<0.05), 中间及高流速区域无明显性差异(P>0.1)。研究表明: 加速流对鲢、鳙下行游泳行为产生了影响且2种鱼在下行通过方式和偏好流速选择上存在一定的种间差异性。     

溶氧水平对鳊鱼、中华倒刺鲃幼鱼游泳能力的影响

在(25 1)℃条件下, 以鳊鱼(Parabramis pekinensis)体重(4.70 0.11)g, n=32、中华倒刺鲃(Spinibarbus sinensis)体重(3.26 0.06)g, n=32幼鱼为研究对象, 采用鱼类游泳代谢测定仪在水体溶氧为8、4、2、1 mgO2/L条件下分别测定其临界游泳速度(Ucrit)和游泳代谢率(MO2), 并计算出静止代谢率(MO2rest)、最大游泳代谢率(MO2max)、代谢范围(MS)及单位位移能耗(COT)等相关参数。结果显示, 随着溶氧水平的下降, 鳊鱼、中华倒刺鲃幼鱼的Ucrit均逐渐下降, 除中华倒刺鲃幼鱼的值在4与8 mgO2/L下没有显著性差异外, 其他各组均差异显著(P0.05); 在同一溶氧水平下的中华倒刺鲃Ucrit显著大于鳊鱼(P0.05)。两种鱼的MO2max和MS均随DO的下降而显著下降, 但MO2rest在溶氧水平低于1 mgO2/L才显著下降(P0.05)。研究还发现鳊鱼、中华倒刺鲃幼鱼的MO2在同一游泳速度下随溶氧水平下降而降低, 而在相同溶氧水平下随游泳速度的上升而显著升高(P0.05); COT随游泳速度上升而显著降低(P0.05), 但在高游泳速度下相对稳定, 在同一游泳速度下随着DO的下降有所减小。中华倒刺鲃的COT整体上小于鳊鱼, 且在低游泳速度下差异更大。87.5%(1-8 mgO2/L)溶氧水平的下降导致两种鱼类相似的Ucrit变化(53% vs. 50%), 但溶氧水平由8降到4 mgO2/L时, 鳊鱼32%MO2max的下降导致Ucrit下降13%, 但同样的溶氧水平下降虽然导致中华倒刺鲃的MO2max下降20%, 但由于MO2rest和COT的下降, 其Ucrit并没有显著的变化。实验结果表明: 不同溶氧水平对不同鱼种游泳能力的影响存在差异, 这种差异与其代谢对策密切相关。       

水流对团头鲂(Megalobrama amblycephala)幼鱼游泳行为的影响

为探讨团头鲂幼鱼(Megalobrama amblycephala)游泳行为对水流的响应规律,该文通过特制鱼类游泳行为测定装置,测定了团头鲂幼鱼在25℃,0、0.1、0.2、0.3、0.4m/s流速条件下的游速、游距、转角、至中心点的距离及游泳轨迹。结果表明:随着流速的增大,个体游速、游距及转角值均相应增大。0、0.1及0.2m/s流速组间的游速、游距及转角差异均不显著(P>0.05),但显著小于0.3和0.4m/s组别,且0.3和0.4m/s流速组之间差异均不显著(P>0.05);整个时间段内,个体至中心点的距离随流速增大并未呈现明显规律性,各流速间差异不显著(P>0.05),游速与游距呈显著线性正相关,而与转角呈显著线性负相关,与至中心点的距离则无相关性;游泳轨迹随水流增大趋向复杂化。     

饥饿和温度驯化对中华倒刺鲃静止代谢和游泳能力的影响

为了探讨饥饿和温度驯化对中华倒刺鲃(Spinibarbus sinensis)幼鱼维持代谢和游泳运动能力的影响,在不同温度(15、25℃)条件下分别测定了经0(对照)、1、2、4周饥饿后中华倒刺钯的静止代谢率(M_(O_2_(rest))和匀加速最大游泳速度(U_(CAT))。饥饿和低温对M_(o_2_(rest))和U_(CAT)均有负效应。在高温条件下,实验鱼经1周饥饿后其M_(o_2_(rest))和U_(CAT)均显著下降(P0.05);但在低温条件下,仅4周饥饿组的M_(o_2_(rest))和U_(CAT)显著下降(P0.05)。U_(CAT)与M_(o_2_(rest))在不同的饥饿周期具有相似的变化趋势;在低温条件下,前期饥饿阶段M_(o_2_(rest))和U_(CAT)变化较小,后期饥饿阶段变化较大;但在高温条件下则相反。无论是在低温还是在高温条件下,U_(CAT)与M_(o_2_(rest))之间均呈显著线性正相关(P0.05),但低温组回归方程斜率显著高于高温组回归方程斜率(F_(1,4)=11.416,P=0.028)。在不同温度下,中华倒刺钯游泳运动能力对饥饿的反应不尽相同可能与维持代谢、生化反应速率、机体能量储存、代谢酶活性及底物利用类型等的差异相关,这种对策的差异可能是其对栖息地环境温度和食物资源季节性变化的适应。     

Acaricidal activity of the essential oil from Tetradenia riparia (Lamiaceae) on the cattle tick Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus (Acari; Ixodidae)

Tetradenia riparia (Lamiaceae) is a well-known herbal medicine with a variety of useful properties, including its acaricidal effect. This experiment was carried out to study the bioacaricidal activity of T. riparia essential oil (EO) against engorged females of Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus (Acari; Ixodidae). For this purpose, nine serial concentrations (12.50%, 6.25%, 3.75%, 1.80%, 0.90%, 0.45%, 0.22%, 0.11%, and 0.056% w/v) of T. riparia were used for the adult immersion test (AIT). For the larval packet test (LPT), we used 14 serial concentrations (100.00%, 50.00%, 25.00%, 12.50%, 6.25%, 3.65%, 1.82%, 0.91%, 0.45%, 0.228%, 0.114%, 0.057%, 0.028%, and 0.014% w/v). The results for AIT showed 100.00% and 2.05% mortality, 19.00 and 90.20% for the total number of eggs, egg-laying inhibition of 0.00% and 90.20%, hatchability inhibition of 0.00% and 70.23%, and product effectiveness of 100.00% and 2.89%, respectively. The AIT indicated that the LC₅₀ and LC_99.9, calculated using the Probit test, were for mortality (%) 0.534 g/mL (0.436–0.632) and 1.552 g/mL (1.183–1.92); for total number of eggs were 0.449 g/mL (0.339–0.558) and 1.76 g/mL (1.27–2.248); and for hatchability inhibition were 0.114 g/mL (0.0–0.31) and 2.462 g/mL (1.501–3.422), respectively. Larvae between 14 and 21 days old were fasted and placed in each envelope. Bioassays were performed at 27° ± 1 °C, RH ? 80%. Larval mortality was observed 24 h after treatment and showed 10.60–100% mortality in the LPT bioassay. The LPT showed that the LC₅₀ and LC_99.9 were 1.222 g/mL (0.655–1.788) and 11.382 g/mL (7.84–14.91), respectively. A positive correlation between T. riparia EO concentration and tick control, was observed by the strong acaricidal effects against R. (B.) microplus, and the mortality rate of ticks was dose-dependent. Our results showed that T. riparia is a promising candidate as an acaricide against resistant strains of R. (B.) microplus.     

Characterisation of cell wall polysaccharides, arabinogalactans-proteins (AGPs) and phenolics of Cola nitida, Cola acuminata and Garcinia kola seeds

Many Cola plant species are endemic to West and Central Africa. Cola acuminata and Cola nitida are used as masticatory when fresh, while the dried nuts are used for beverages and pharmaceutical purposes in Europe and North America. Garcinia kola seeds, that serve as a substitute for the true kola nuts, are used in African traditional medicine for the treatment of various diseases, including colic, headache and liver cirrhosis. Seeds extracts of G. kola are also known for their anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and antiviral properties. To gain information on the chemical properties of the kolas, we have isolated and analyzed cell wall polysaccharides, arabinogalactan-proteins and phenolic substances from the seeds of the three kola species. The sugar composition of cell wall material of C. acuminata, C. nitida and G. kola revealed that Gal (up to 30%), Ara, GalA and Glc as the predominant monosaccharides, representing approximately 90% by mol of the total hydrolysable sugar present in this material. In Ammonium oxalate cell wall fraction, GalA was found to be the major sugar present in all kola species. In the alkali-soluble fraction, there were significant differences in the level of Glc and Gal. The level of Glc was high in C. acuminata and C. nitida while the level of Gal and Xyl were high in C. nitida and G. cola. Isolation and quantification of arabinogalactan-proteins demonstrate that G. kola seeds contained four to eight times more of these proteoglycans than the seeds of the other two species. Finally, analysis of soluble phenolic substances shows that caffeine and catechin were largely represented in C. acumina and C. nitida seeds, with caffeine accounting for 50% of all soluble phenolics. These findings indicate that the three Kola seeds are highly enriched in pectins and proteoglycans and that C. acuminata and C. nitida can be used as a possible source of caffeine and catechin.     

不同程度的尾损伤对镇海林蛙(Rana zhenhaiensis)蝌蚪游泳速度的影响

无尾两栖类蝌蚪的尾巴通过产生强大的游泳速度在反捕食中起到了重要的作用。以镇海林蛙(Rana zhenhaiensis)蝌蚪为实验动物来评估断尾的运动代价。以74尾具有完整尾蝌蚪作为实验组,通过截去不同尾长片段,人为分成轻微尾损伤组(30%)和严重尾损伤组(30%)并测定两组蝌蚪在断尾前后的游泳速度。以16尾完整尾蝌蚪作为对照组在实验组断尾前后同时进行游泳速度的测定。实验结果显示断尾影响蝌蚪的游泳速度,但仅在尾损伤程度达到尾长的30%以上时才产生不利的影响。这表明轻微尾损伤并不对镇海林蛙蝌蚪的游泳速度产生严重影响。在断尾前后实验组蝌蚪的游泳速度均与尾长呈正相关。在相同尾长状态下,尾损伤蝌蚪的相对游泳速度明显快于完整尾蝌蚪。因此,尾损伤的镇海林蛙蝌蚪有可能通过改变尾和身体的摆动频次等方式在断尾后对游泳速度进行了一定的补偿。尾损伤在野外频繁发生于蝌蚪的尾远端,据此推测镇海林蛙蝌蚪在自然条件下的尾损伤并不会产生严重运动代价。     

Screening of Vitamin D activity (VDA) of Solanum glaucophyllum leaves measured by radioimmunoassay (RIA)

The ingestion of Solanum glaucophyllum (SG) causes a calcinosis of cattle named Enteque Seco (ES). The toxic principle is the 1,25-(OH)₂D₃, mainly conjugated as glycoside. This study aims to validate a simple novel method of evaluation of the VDA of SG leaves. Aqueous extracts of SG were purified using C₁₈ minicolumns and assayed by RIA with an antibody raised in rabbits by injection of the acid—C22, 1α-(OH)Vitamin D₃. Data were expresed as glycoside equivalent to 1,25-(OH)₂D₃ in ng/g of dry leaves. We compared this data with 1,25-(OH)₂D₃ levels measured, in the same samples, by liquid chromatography (HPLC) after enzyme cleavage. This procedure involved the incubation of SG leaves with rumen fluid, followed by C₁₈-OH solid phase extraction. The 1,25-(OH)₂D₃ fraction was run by HPLC and detection was achieved using a photodiode array detector. Data were expressed as micrograms of 1,25-(OH)₂D₃/g dry leaves. A significant regression of 1,25-(OH)₂D₃ levels (Y) as a function of glycoside RIA 1,25-(OH)₂D₃ equivalents (X) was found: Y = 12.02 + 0.35X [R = 0.81; P = 0,0002; N = 15], allowing us to conclude that this novel assay could be used to estimate the amount of this active principle contained in SG leaves.     

Notch信号途径中的Su(H)和E(spl)基因对果蝇天然免疫的影响

天然免疫系统是多细胞生物抵抗各种入侵微生物的第一道防线.Notch途径介导相邻细胞之间的相互作用,调节细胞、组织、器官的分化和发育.为了进一步探索Notch信号途径在果蝇天然免疫中的功能,利用Notch途径下游基因Su(H)和E(spl)的低表达突变体果蝇,通过体外注射病原体分析了生存率、血细胞的噬菌功能和抗菌肽的表达量以及突变体的血细胞数量.结果表明,革兰氏阴性细菌和真菌感染后果蝇E(spl)突变体的生存率、噬菌能力及抗菌肽的表达量明显降低,而且幼虫期血细胞出现异常增殖;Su(H)突变体只对真菌表现出敏感性,抗菌肽的表达量降低,但是对真菌的噬菌能力正常.此结果表明,Notch途径不仅影响个体的生长发育,而且在果蝇天然免疫中也起重要的调节作用.     

Susceptibility of Helicoverpa zea and Heliothis virescens (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) to Vip3A insecticidal protein expressed in VipCot™ cotton

Susceptibility of laboratory and field colonies of Helicoverpa zea (Boddie) and Heliothis virescens F. to Vip3A insecticidal protein was studied in diet incorporation and diet overlay assays from 2004 to 2008. Responses of field populations were compared to paired responses of University of Arkansas laboratory susceptible H. zea (LabZA) and H. virescens (LabVR) colonies. After 7 d of exposure, observations were made on number of dead larvae (M) and the number of larvae alive but remaining as first instars (L1). Regression estimates using M (LC₅₀) and M plus L1 (MIC₅₀) data were developed for laboratory and field populations. Susceptibility of laboratory and field populations exposed to Vip3A varied among different batches of protein used over the study period. Within the same batch of Vip3A protein, susceptibilities of laboratory colonies of both species (LabZA and LabVR) were similar. Field colonies were significantly more susceptible to Vip3A than the respective reference colonies of both species. Within field populations, susceptibility to Vip3A varied up to 75-fold in H. zea and 132-fold in H. virescens in LC₅₀ estimates. Variabilities in MIC₅₀s were up to 59- and 11-fold for H. zea and H. virescens, respectively.     

The effect of seasonality on oxidative metabolism in Nacella (Patinigera) magellanica

We studied the seasonal variation on aerobic metabolism and the response of oxidative stress parameters in the digestive glands of the subpolar limpet Nacella (P.) magellanica. Sampling was carried out from July (winter) 2002 to July 2003 in Beagle Channel, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina. Whole animal respiration rates increased in early spring as the animals spawned and remained elevated throughout summer and fall (winter: 0.09 ± 0.02 μmol O₂ h^− 1 g^− 1; summer: 0.31 ± 0.06 μmol O₂ h^− 1 g^− 1). Oxidative stress was assessed at the hydrophilic level as the ascorbyl radical content / ascorbate content ratio (A / AH⁻). The A / AH⁻ ratio showed minimum values in winter (3.7 ± 0.2 10^− 5 AU) and increased in summer (18 ± 5 10^− 5 AU). A similar pattern was observed for lipid radical content (122 ± 29 pmol mg^− 1 fresh mass [FW] in winter and 314 ± 45 pmol mg^− 1 FW in summer), iron content (0.99 ± 0.07 and 2.7 ± 0.6 nmol mg^− 1 FW in winter and summer, respectively) and catalase activity (2.9 ± 0.2 and 7 ± 1 U mg^− 1 FW in winter and summer, respectively). Since nitrogen derived radicals are thought to be critically involved in oxidative metabolism in cells, nitric oxide content was measured and a significant difference in the content of the Fe–MGD–NO adduct in digestive glands from winter and summer animals was observed. Together, the data indicate that both oxygen and nitrogen radical generation rates in N. (P.) magellanica are strongly dependent on season.     

Effects of CO2 concentrations on the freshwater microalgae, Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, Chlorella pyrenoidosa and Scenedesmus obliquus (Chlorophyta)

In order to investigate the possible impacts of increased atmospheric CO₂ levels on algal growth and photosynthesis, the influence of CO₂ concentration was tested on three planktonic algae (Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, Chlorella pyrenoidosa, and Scenedesmus obliquus). Increased CO₂ concentration enhanced significantly the growth rate of all three species. Specific growth rates reached maximal values at 30, 100, and 60 M CO₂ in C. reinhardtii, C. pyrenoidosa, and S. obliquus, respectively. Such significant enhancement of growth rate with enriched CO₂ was also confirmed at different levels of inorganic N and P, being more profound at limiting levels of N inC. pyrenoidosa and P in S. obliquus. The maximal rates of net photosynthesis, photosynthetic efficiency and light-saturating point increased significantly (p < 0.05) in high-CO₂-grown cells. Elevation of the CO₂ levels in cultures enhanced the photoinhibition of C. reinhardtii, but reduced that of C. pyrenoidosa and S. obliquus when exposed to high photon flux density. The photoinhibited cells recovered to some extent (from 71% to 99%) when placed under dim light or in darkness, with better recovery in high-CO₂-grownC. pyrenoidosa and S. obliquus. Although pH and pCO₂ effects cannot be distinguished from this study, it can be concluded that increased CO₂ concentrations with decreased pH could affect the growth rate and photosynthetic physiology of C. reinhardtii, C. pyrenoidosa, and S. obliquus.     

Thermal sensitivity of metabolic rates and swimming performance in two latitudinally separated populations of cod, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Gadus morhua</Emphasis> L.

Atlantic cod populations live in a wide thermal range and can differ genetically and physiologically. Thermal sensitivity of metabolic capacity and swimming performance may vary along a latitudinal gradient, to facilitate performance in distinct thermal environments. To evaluate this hypothesis, we compared the thermal sensitivity of performance in two cod stocks from the Northwest Atlantic that differ in their thermal experience: Gulf of St Lawrence (GSL) and Bay of Fundy (BF). We first compared the metabolic, physiological and swimming performance after short-term thermal change to that at the acclimation temperature (7°C) for one stock (GSL), before comparing the performance of the two stocks after short-term thermal change. For cod from GSL, standard metabolism (SMR) increased with temperature, while active metabolism (AMR, measured in the critical swimming tests), EMR (metabolic rate after an exhaustive chase protocol), aerobic scope (AS) and critical swimming speeds (U _crit and U _b–c) were lower at 3°C than 7 or 11°C. In contrast, anaerobic swimming (sprint and burst-coasts in U _crit test) was lower at 11 than 7 or 3°C. Factorial AS (AMR SMR⁻¹) decreased as temperature rose. Time to exhaustion (chase protocol) was not influenced by temperature. The two stocks differed little in the thermal sensitivities of metabolism or swimming. GSL cod had a higher SMR than BF cod despite similar AMR and AS. This led factorial AS to be significantly higher for the southern stock. Despite these metabolic differences, cod from the two stocks did not differ in their U _crit speeds. BF cod were better sprinters at both temperatures. Cod from GSL had a lower aerobic cost of swimming at intermediate speeds than those from BF, particularly at low temperature. Only the activity of cytochrome C oxidase (CCO) in white muscle differed between stocks. No enzymatic correlates were found for swimming capacities, but oxygen consumption was best correlated with CCO activity in the ventricle for both stocks. Overall, the stocks differed in their cost of maintenance, cost of transport and sprint capacity, while maintaining comparable thermal sensitivities.     

The phylogenetic placement of Ostropales within Lecanoromycetes (Ascomycota) revisited

Results of molecular studies regarding the phylogenetic placement of the order Ostropales and related taxa within Lecanoromycetes were thus far inconclusive. Some analyses placed the order as sister to the rest of Lecanoromycetes, while others inferred a position nested within Lecanoromycetes. We assembled a data set of 101 species including sequences from nuLSU rDNA, mtSSU rDNA, and the nuclear protein-coding RPB1 for each species to examine the cause of incongruencies in previously published phylogenies. MP, minimum evolution, and Bayesian analyses were performed using the combined three-region data set and the single-gene data sets. The position of Ostropales nested in Lecanoromycetes is confirmed in all single-gene and concatenated analyses, and a placement as sister to the rest of Lecanoromycetes is significantly rejected using two independent methods of alternative topology testing. Acarosporales and related taxa (Acarosporaceae group) are basal in Lecanoromycetes. However, if the these basal taxa are excluded from the analyses, Ostropales appear to be sister to the rest of Lecanoromycetes, suggesting different ingroup rooting as the cause for deviating topologies in previously published phylogenies.