Maternal Thermal Effects on Female Reproduction and Hatchling Phenotype in the Chinese Skink(Plestiodon chinensis)

We maintained gravid Chinese skinks(Plestiodon chinensis) at three constant temperatures(25, 28 and 31 °C) during gestation, and randomly assigned eggs from each female to one of the same three temperatures for incubation to determine maternal thermal effects on female reproduction and hatchling phenotype. Maternal temperature affected egg-laying date, hatching success and hatchling linear size(snout-vent length, SVL) but not clutch size, egg size, egg component, and embryonic stage at laying. More specifically, females at higher temperatures laid eggs earlier than did those at low temperatures, eggs laid at 31 °C were less likely to hatch than those laid at 25 °C or 28 °C, and hatchlings from eggs laid at 31 °C were smaller in SVL. Our finding that maternal temperature(pre-ovipositional thermal condition) rather than incubation temperature(post-ovipositional thermal condition) affected hatching success indicated that embryos at early stages were more vulnerable to temperature than those at late stages. Our data provide an inference that moderate maternal temperatures enhance reproductive fitness in P. chinensis.     

Large males have a mating advantage in a species of darter with smaller,allopaternal males Etheostoma olmstedi

<正> Theory suggests that males that are larger than their competitors may have increased mating success, due to bothgreater competitive ability and increased attractiveness to females. We examined how male mating success varies with male sizein the tessellated darter Etheostoma olmstedi. Previous work has shown that large males tend to move around and breed in vacantbreeding sites, and consequently provide less care for their eggs, while smaller individuals can be allopaternal, caring for the eggsof other males as well as for their own. We studied female egg deposition in a natural breeding population using artificial breedingsites and in the laboratory, where female choice of spawning site was restricted to two breeding sites tended by two males ofdifferent sizes. In both the field and the laboratory, nests tended by larger males were more likely to receive new eggs. Additionally,the mean size of males associated with a nest was positively correlated with both the maximum coverage of eggs at the nestand the number of times new eggs were deposited. We discuss how the increased mating success of larger males, despite their decreasedparental care, may help explain allopaternal care in this species     

Nesting season,nest age,and disturbance,but not habitat characteristics,affect nest survival of Chinese grouse

Nest survival is a vital component of breeding success,and affects population dynamics,as the loss of nests is the main cause of reproductive failure in birds.To identify key factors for the conservation of Chinese grouse Tetrastes sewerzowi,we tested the effects of nest concealment,nest age,nesting season,and habitat edge on nest daily survival rate(DSR)of Chinese grouse using 54 nests found at Lianhuashan Nature Reserve,Gansu,China,2009-2012.Moreover,we controlled for the effect of research activity by testing the effect of nest checks on DSR.Overall,mammal predation caused 93%of nest failures.DSR was 0.986±0.0038 in the constant model and the probability of a nest with a full clutch of 6 eggs surviving the entire 40-day nesting period was 0.526±0.090.DSR decreased with nest age and nesting season(from 19 May to 3 July).Mammals instead of avian predators being responsible for most nest failures suggest that nest sites might be selected to avoid visual avian predators,but not olfactory mammalian predators,and the decreasing trend of DSR with nest age and nesting season could attribute to an additive exposure effect.Moreover,nest checks conducted by investigators significantly lowered nest DSR,especially during the late period of nesting season and for older nests.Mammalian predators might locate the nest site by following the investigator's odor.Based on our results,we suggest that the late incubation stage is a particularly vulnerable period for nest survival of Chinese grouse and those researchers should adjust their activities around nests to balance the need of acquiring accurate data and decreasing nest predation risk.     

不同生态因子对黄鳝受精卵孵化率的影响

This paper studied the effects of some ecological factors (temperature, pH, hatching method and ammonia) on the embryonic development of ricefield eel. The results indicated that the optimum hatching temperature of ricefield eel was 25～28℃, and no significant difference was found about the effects of pH within the range of pH 5.5～9.5 on the hatching rate of oosperm. Dripping water incubation had a higher hatching rate of oosperm than staticing water incubation, and the hatching rate of oosperm decreased with increasing ammonia content. The present study provided an available suggestion for the all-artificial and half-artificial breeding of ricefield eel.     

Heat sensitivity of eggs attributes to the reduction in Agasicles hygrophila population

Agasicles hygrophila has been introduced worldwide as a control agent for the invasive weed Alternanthera philoxeroides.However,global warming has potential impact on its controlling efficacy.The aim of this research was to explore the primary factors responsible for the greatly reduced A.hygrophila population in hot summers.To imitate the temperature conditions in summers,different developmental stages of hygrophila were treated with high temperatures from 32.5℃ to 45℃ for 1-5 h.Based on the survival rate,the heat tolerance of each developmental stage was ranked from lowest to highest as follows:egg,1st,2nd,3rd instar larva,adult and pupa.Eggs showed the lowest heat tolerance with 37.5℃ as the critical temperature affecting larval hatching.Heat treatment of the A.hygrophila eggs at 37.5℃ for 1 h decreased the hatch rate to 24%.Our results indicated that when compared with the control at 25℃,1 h treatment at 37.5℃ prolonged the duration of the egg stage,shortened the duration of oviposition and total longevity,and changed the reproductive pattern of A.hygrophila.The net reproductive rate,intrinsic rate and finite rate were all significantly reduced.The results suggest that low heat tolerance of the eggs was the major factor responsible for the reduction of A.hygrophila populations,and the key temperature was 37.5°C.Therefore,appropriate measures should be taken to protect eggs in order to maintain the efficacy of A.hygrophila in the biological control of A.philoxeroides in hot summers.     

NEST ENVIRONMENTS OF THE LATE CRETACEOUS DINOS AUR EGGS FROM NANXIONG BASIN, GUANGDONG PROVINCE

<正>As dinosaurs were oviparous animals, incubation of their eggs was the essential procedure during their reproduction. Physiologically. eggshell microstructures were bound to adapt to the nest environments during incubation if embryos normally developed. Gas conductance estimated from eggshell morphology can provide evidence for the environment conditions in nests. Seymour (1979) first estimated gas coaductance of dinosaur eggs from France and Mongolia and indicated that the nest environments of these eggs were all high in humidity, low in oxygen and high in carbon dioxide. Such conditions most likely occurred underground or within incubation mounds. Williams et al. (1984) found similar nest environments of four kinds of dinosaur eggs from Aix Basin in southern France.     

多氯联苯对鸡胚的毒性作用

The toxic effects of polychlorinated biphenlys (PCB) on embryonic chickens, especially on liver morphology, were studied. PCB (Aroclor 1 254) was injected into yolk of Hyline fertilized eggs, with doses of 0, 1, 10 and 100 μg/egg, respectively. The survival rate of chicken embryos in each PCB treatment group was significantly lower than that of the control group. The hatching rate of 1 μg/egg group was only 40%. Subcutaneous edema and hydrocephally were found in dead embryos and newly hatched chicks of all treatment groups. Livers of newly hatched chickens were removed for examination of histological structures. After PCB treatment, severe liver injury was apparent. The hepatic structures were damaged and steatosis was observed, together with necrosis and cell vacuolation and pyknosis. There were more Kupffers cells in the hepatic sinusoid. No PAS positive staining was found in the hepatic cytoplasm, indicating that glycogen was exhausted in the hepatic cells. The higher death rate in PCB treated groups may be related to glycogen exhaustion. These findings indicate that PCBs reduced the hatching rate by causing severe subcutaneous edema and liver injury in chicken embryos.     

Effects of Constant versus Fluctuating Incubation Temperatures on Hatching Success,Incubation Length,and Hatchling Morphology in the Chinese Skink(Plestiodon chinensis)

We incubated eggs of Plestiodon chinensis under five constant(24, 26, 28, 30, and 32 °C) and one fluctuating thermal regimes to examine the effects of constant versus fluctuating incubation temperatures on hatching success, incubation length, and hatchling morphology. The duration of incubation varied considerably among the six temperature treatments, whereas hatching success did not. The mean incubation length decreased as temperature increased in a nonlinear way, and increased as the thermal variance increased. Incubation temperature affected the body size(linear length and mass) and shape of hatchlings, with eggs incubated at 26, 28, and 30 °C producing larger and heavier hatchlings than did those incubated at 24 °C, 32 °C, or fluctuating temperatures. Our results showed that exposure of P. chinensis eggs to extreme temperatures for brief periods of time did not increase embryonic mortality and, in the fluctuating-temperature treatment, the thermal variance affected hatchling morphology more evidently than the thermal mean. Our results highlight the importance of the thermal variance in affecting embryonic development and hatchling morphology, and add further evidence that temperatures within the range of 26-30 °C are optimal for P. chinensis embryos.     

The sex ratio of wild Chinese alligators Alligator sinensis

The Chinese alligator Alligator sinensis is one of the most endangered crocodilian species, and typically exhibits temperature-dependent sex determination. It is extremely important to clarify the sex structure of Chinese alligators to implement recovery projects successfully. However, the sex ratio of wild Chinese alligators remains unknown. In this study, we collected 28 years of sex ratio data from Chinese alligators residing in the natural and artificial habitats of Changxing Nature Reserve, China, and examined the differences in the sex ratio dynamics between these two populations. We observed that the sex ratio of wild Chinese alligators is 1 male to 4.507 females, which was significantly lower compared to that of the captive population （1 to 2.040; P 〈 0.001）, and is significantly different to previously documented sex ratios for this species （all P 〈 0.01）. Furthermore, we documented an annually stable （P = 1.000） female-biased sex ratio for wild alligators at hatching [1 male to 4.747 females; 0.174 （0.167~）.182）], in contrast to a dramatically fluctuating sex ratio （P 〈 0.001） in captivity [1 male to 1.674 females; 0.374 （0.246-0.593）], showing a potential mechanism for adjusting the sex structure. Finally, we found that the hatchling sex ratios were similar to that of the population sex ratio （P = 0.748）, with little correlation to air temperature values in the 60-70 day incubation period during the breeding season （July and August; both P 〉 0.05）. Overall, this study indicates that the stabilized female-biased sex ratio of Changxing Chinese alligators might result from selection pressure caused by local mate competition and major inbreeding .     

Sexual Dimorphism,Female Reproductive Characteristics and Egg Incubation in an Oviparous Forest Skink(Sphenomorphus incognitus) from South China

We studied sexual dimorphism and female reproduction in an oviparous forest skink(Sphenomorphus incognitus)from South China.We incubated eggs under five thermal regimes(22,25,28,25±3 and 27±5°C)to examine the effects of constant versus fluctuating temperatures on incubation length and hatchling morphology.In our sample the largest male and female were 110 mm and 108 mm snout-vent length(SVL),respectively.Adult males and females did not differ in mean SVL;adult males were larger in head size(both length and width),longer in foreand hind-limb lengths and shorter in abdomen length than females of the same SVL.Accordingly,we conclude that S.incognitus is a sexually monomorphic species in terms of SVL but shows sexual dimorphism in head size,abdomen length and appendage length.Females laid a single clutch of 3-10 eggs per breeding season from early May to midAugust,with larger females generally laying more(but not always larger)eggs per clutch than did smaller ones.Embryonic stages at laying ranged from Dufaure and Hubert's(1961)stage 31 to 32,with a mean stage of 31.3.The positive relationship between clutch mass and female SVL was not significant.The offspring size-number trade-off does not exist in S.incognitus,as revealed by the fact that egg mass was independent of relative fecundity.Incubation length decreased as temperature increased,and stable temperatures resulted in delayed hatching.Hatchlings incubated under the five thermal regimes did not differ from each other in any examined trait,suggesting that S.incognitus is among oviparous reptilian species where incubation temperature has no role in modifying hatchling morphology as long as eggs are not exposed to extreme temperatures for prolonged periods of time.     

扬子鳄胚胎喉的组织发生

观察了２０例扬子鳄胚胎的喉发生过程。孵育第６天出现喉气管憩室,第８天出现喉原基。孵育１０￣２０天,原始喉腔上皮细胞分裂增殖加快,喉腔侧壁中部的上皮向两侧中胚层不断突出,喉腔渐扩大。第３０￣４８天,喉腔的背室及左右腹室逐渐明显。喉肌及喉软骨于第３４天开始分化,第４８天,喉肌发育成横纹肌,喉软骨化基本完善。固有膜及粘膜下层于第４０天开始出现,第４８￣６２天,其中的血管分布渐增多。孵育第４０天,喉上皮表     

扬子鳄视觉器官组织学研究

本文用光镜和电镜研究了扬子鳄(Alligator sinensis)的组织学,同时测量了其眼球的一些光学参数.扬子鳄眼球呈扁圆球形,角膜径与球径的比值为1:1.44;晶状体与角膜的比值为1:1.40。角膜内具鲍氏膜;虹膜内的括约肌、睫状体内的睫状肌均属横纹肌,视细胞椭圆体内线粒体嵴突与线粒体长轴相平行,这与报道的其它鳄类不同。虹膜内未见扩瞳肌纤维,角膜缘缺巩膜小骨片,晶状体环垫薄,因而其视觉调节能力仍然很弱。视网膜中视细胞由视杆细胞、单锥细胞、双锥细胞组成,其中以视杆细胞占多数。视细胞与神经节细胞核比值平均为2.5:1,表明扬子鳄的组织结构与其弱光视觉相适应。     

扬子鳄外周血细胞的超微结构

对扬子鳄血细胞亚显微结构进行透射电镜观察。结果表明：在外周血细胞中可区分出红细胞、嗜中性粒细胞、嗜酸性粒细胞、嗜碱性粒细胞、单核细胞、淋巴细胞以及血栓细胞。电镜图像显示：与其它爬行动物相比,各类血细胞体积较小并具有不同程度的变形运动及吞噬能力。红细胞的特征是长梭形,其长短径之比值超过3.0。在外周血液中发现了多种未成熟型血细胞;进入外周血液中的红细胞普遍已分化到一定程度,但有的仍须在外周血液中完成其最后的发育;单核细胞在外周血液中经历了从幼单核细胞到成熟单核细胞的过程,并描述了从未成熟到成熟阶段细胞的超微结构的变化;嗜中性粒细胞在外周血液中经历了从早幼粒细胞、中幼粒细胞,晚幼粒细胞到成熟粒细胞的过程,描述了嗜中性粒细胞各个发育阶段细胞的超微结构及特征,并讨论了嗜天青粒细胞和嗜中性粒细胞的关系。     

扬子鳄的营养成份初步分析

对扬子鳄肌肉、脂肪及血粉有关营养成份作了较全面分析检测。结果表明鳄肌肉和血粉中粗蛋白含量高,且含氨基酸种类齐全和多种必需微量元素,其营养丰富,生物学价值高;鳄贮脂中不饱和脂肪酸占总脂肪酸的７１４％,富含多种高级不饱和脂肪酸,其营养价值高于其他兽类油,具有保健作用。     

扬子鳄(Alligator sinensis)的舌腺

扬子鳄舌粘膜固有层内,除舌尖外可见到许多舌腺,特别是沿舌背中线两侧数量尤多,其形状和大小不一,有简单的单管腺,也有复杂的复管泡状腺,全舌约有舌腺100个。舌腺于胚鳄将破壳时发生。最早出现在距舌尖约三分之一处,随后,舌后和舌尖的稍后方相继出现舌腺,约一个月龄,幼鳄的舌腺仍在发育中。舌腺的发生由粘膜上皮内折、特化成腺泡和导管。扬子鳄舌腺除滑润食物外,还具排泄氯化钠的功能。     

浙江余姚河姆渡遗址中鳄的发现

<正> 河姆渡遗址是浙江省内保存比较完整、遗物相当丰富的一处距今约7000年左右的新石器时代遗址。它在杭州湾以南的余姚县城东约五十华里四明山北麓的罗江公社河姆渡村。1973年和1977年曾进行过两次发掘,总计2600平方米,约占遗址总面积的1/15。在取得了大量具有重要历     

扬子鳄皮肤腺结构与发育的初步观察

扬子鳄有三种皮肤腺:背腺、泄殖腔麝腺和下颌腺。背腺位于背中线左右两侧第二行鳞片下方,其确切位置个体间差异很大,如表1。幼鳄背腺形态多种多样,但显示出是一种退化器官,未观察到腺开口,也未观察到半成鳄和成鳄的背腺,因此扬子鳄背腺可能不具功能。泄殖腔麝腺位于泄殖腔腹唇内,梨形,腺管开口于泄殖腔腹壁,成体腺腔很大,腺的底部壁较厚,腺细胞明显地分成若干小叶,其它部位壁较薄,小叶不明显,属全泌腺,分泌油脂物,繁殖期特别发达,但性未成熟个体亦具功能,是一种信息素下颌腺位于下颌后方两侧皮肤内,圆柱状,脉管开口于下颌腹侧皮肤表面,成体腺腔不规则,腺壁厚,从包囊到腺腔,腺细胞可明显地分成三个区,属全泌腺,分泌油脂物,在繁殖期特别发达,此腺到性成熟才具功能。     

扬子鳄胚胎背腺的发生及退化

本文在１４例扬子鳄Ａｌｌｉｇａｔｏｒｓｉｎｅｎｓｉｓ胚胎中观察了背腺的发生及退化过程。孵化第２８天,背中线左右两侧第二行鳞片处的表皮内陷形成实心的背腺腺芽;第３８天,背腺腺泡明显,腺上皮为复层上皮;从第４６天开始,腺上皮出现明显的退化,大量增殖的腺管上皮细胞逐渐堵塞腺管及腺孔。扫描电镜观察表明,孵化第３２—３６天的胚胎背部第二行鳞的各列鳞片表面均有背腺腺孔,以后逐渐出现少数不规则的退化,孵化第５８天以后,绝大多数背腺腺孔消失。对扬子鳄背腺的发生及退化现象作了讨论。     

试论晚白垩世以来气候、地理等因素的变化对鼍类的进化及地理分布等影响

现存的鼍属只有两个种:即东亚的扬子鳄及北美的密河鳄。虽然这两个种的性质、纬度分布以及生态环境等都十分相似;但两者的水平分布的距离却几有地球的半圈。本文根据有关鼍类的进化、迁徙等的历史资料,对此进行了初步的探讨。     

A NEW SPECIES OF ALLIGATOR FROM SHANWANG, SHANDONG

<正> A crocodilian specimen is described and identified, as a new species of Alligalor in present paper. The material was collected from the Middle Member of the Shanwang Formation, Linqu County, Shandong Province by the members of the Linqu Paleontological Museum in 1984. Nearly 40 taxa of fossil vertebrates, including fishes, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals, have been reproted from this Miocene locality since 1930's (Yian et al. 1983, Qiu et al. 1986). Within the vertebrate fauna the fossil mammals and fishes are very rich, but the other are relatively rare. This is the first record of a crocodilan from the diatomaceous quarry of Shanwang.