THE PHYLOGENETIC RELATIONSHIPS AND BIOGEOGRAPHY OF TRUE PORPOISES (MAMMALIA: PHOCOENIDAE) BASED ON MORPHOLOGICAL DATA

Prior studies of phylogenetic relationships among phocoenids based on morphology and molecular sequence data conflict and yield unresolved relationships among species. This study evaluates a comprehensive set of cranial, postcranial, and soft anatomical characters to infer interrelationships among extant species and several well-known fossil phocoenids, using two different methods to analyze polymorphic data: polymorphic coding and frequency step matrix. Our phylogenetic results confirmed phocoenid monophyly. The division of Phocoenidae into two subfamilies previously proposed was rejected, as well as the alliance of the two extinct genera Salumiphocaena and Piscolithax with Phocoena dioptrica and Phocoenoides dalli . Extinct phocoenids are basal to all extant species. We also examined the origin and distribution of porpoises within the context of this phylogenetic framework. Phocoenid phylogeny together with available geologic evidence suggests that the early history of phocoenids was centered in the North Pacific during the middle Miocene, with subsequent dispersal into the southern hemisphere in the middle Pliocene. A cooling period in the Pleistocene allowed dispersal of the southern ancestor of Phocoena sinus into the North Pacific (Gulf of California).     

Age and growth of diadromous <Emphasis Type="Italic">Galaxias maculatus</Emphasis> (Jenyns, 1842) in southernmost South America (54° S) including contribution of age classes to reproduction

The population of Galaxias maculatus studied here, Arroyo Negro (54° S), is located at the southern extreme of the species distribution. This is the first work on growth and other life history traits of a Fueguian diadromous population based on otoliths study. This species is part of the native fish fauna of Patagonia. Furthermore, studies on the growth and reproduction of G. maculatus in South America mostly refer to freshwater populations of Andean-Patagonian lakes and rivers (about 41° S). Size cohorts were studied; age and growth parameters were estimated, the latter using the VBGM. Four size cohorts were established, and 3+ was determined as maximum age class. No differences were found in growth curves between males and females. The 1+ age class was by far not only the most numerous in the population but also the most represented in the reproductive population. The relation between mean TL and latitude was positive (r?=?0.62) for South American populations; however, further studies are needed to determine whether it is this population’s life strategy, the local adaptation of a peripheral population or countergradient growth. The results are interpreted in the context of the information available for other populations, and provide important information about the plasticity in life history traits of this species.     

Biological versus geochemical control and environmental change drivers of the base metal budgets of a tropical montane forest in Ecuador during 15 years

To assess the susceptibility of the base metal budget of a remote tropical montane forest in Ecuador to environmental change, we determined the extent of biological control of base metal fluxes and explored the impact of atmospheric inputs and precipitation, considered as potential drivers of ecosystem change, on the base metal fluxes. We quantified all major base metal fluxes in a ca. 9.1 ha forested catchment from 1998 to 2013. Mean (±s.d.) annual flux to the soil via throughfall + stemflow + litterfall was 13800 ± 1500 mg m^?2 Ca, 19000 ± 1510 mg m^?2 K, 4690 ± 619 mg m^?2 Mg and 846 ± 592 mg m^?2 Na of which 22 ± 6, 45 ± 16, 39 ± 10 and 84 ± 33%, respectively, were leached to below the organic layer. The mineral soil retained 79–94% of this Ca, K and Mg, while Na was released. Weathering rates estimated with three different approaches ranged from not detected (ND) to 504 mg m^?2 year^?1 Ca, ND-1770 mg m^?2 year^?1 K, 287–597 mg m^?2 year^?1 Mg and 403–540 mg m^?2 year^?1 Na. The size of mainly biologically controlled aboveground fluxes of Ca, K and Mg was 1–2 orders of magnitude larger than that of mainly geochemically controlled fluxes (sorption to soil and weathering). The elemental catchment budgets (total deposition ? streamflow) were positive for Ca (574 ± 893 mg m^?2) and K (1330 ± 773 mg m^?2), negative for Na (?370 ± 1300 mg m^?2) and neutral for Mg (1.89 ± 304 mg m^?2). Our results demonstrate that biological processes controlled element retention for Ca, K and Mg in the biological part of the ecosystem. This was different for Na, which was mainly released by weathering from the study catchment, while the biological part of the ecosystem was Na-poor. The deposition of base metals was the strongest driver of their budgets suggesting that the base metal cycling of the study ecosystem is susceptible to changing deposition.     

西瓜食酸菌Ⅲ型效应蛋白AopBF1的鉴定与功能分析

【背景】细菌性果斑病（bacterial fruit blotch,BFB）是一种发生在葫芦科作物上的检疫性病害,其病原菌为西瓜食酸菌（Acidovorax citrulli）,西瓜食酸菌通过Ⅲ型分泌系统（type Ⅲ secretion system,T3SS）将重要的致病因子Ⅲ型效应蛋白（type Ⅲ effector,T3E）转运到植物体内,从而致病。目前,对于T3E致病机制的认识非常有限。课题组前期已鉴定到西瓜食酸菌FC440菌株中的一些候选T3E。【目的】明确西瓜食酸菌FC440菌株候选T3E中AopBF1的序列特征、转运特性及其在病原菌致病过程中的作用,可以为深入解析病原菌致病机制奠定理论基础。【方法】利用生物信息学手段,预测分析AopBF1的T3E序列特征;通过RT-qPCR、无毒蛋白报告系统检测AopBF1所受调控及其转运特性;观察aopBF1突变体（插入突变）及过表达时西瓜食酸菌的致病力表型,分析AopBF1对西瓜食酸菌致病性的贡献。【结果】AopBF1具有T3E的序列特征、不含保守结构域,具有蛋白激酶序列特征;AopBF1在T3SS核心调控基因hrpX、hrpG突变株中的表达量显著降低;当aopBF1基因与AvrBs1功能区（59-445 aa）片段同时于avrBs1突变株中表达时,能够诱发含Bs1蛋白的ECW-10R辣椒叶片发生过敏性坏死反应;aopBF1突变株对寄主黄瓜的致病力显著减弱,而同时黄瓜组织中过氧化氢、超氧阴离子自由基及胼胝质的积累量表现为显著增加;AopBF1过表达菌株对寄主的致病力显著增强,其在诱导本氏烟的hypersensitive response （HR）反应发生上表现延迟;AopBF1瞬时表达时,显示定位于本氏烟细胞的细胞质、细胞核和细胞膜,可诱发本氏烟发生HR反应,促进PAMP-triggered immunity （PTI）及激素通路相关基因的表达。【结论】AopBF1是西瓜食酸菌的一个具有蛋白激酶特征的T3E,抑制寄主活性氧和胼胝质积累等PTI免疫反应以促进西瓜食酸菌的致病,激发含R抗性蛋白的本氏烟的PTI和激素相关抗病免疫反应。     

Buoyancy of sub-Antarctic notothenioids including the sister lineage of all other notothenioids (Bovichtidae)

The radiation of notothenioid fishes (Perciformes) in Antarctic waters was likely the result of an absence of competition in the isolated Antarctic waters and key traits such as the production of antifreeze glycoprotein and buoyancy modifications. Although notothenioids lack a swim bladder, the buoyancy of Antarctic species, ranging from neutrally buoyant to relatively heavy, corresponds to diverse life styles. The buoyancy of South American notothenioids has not been studied. Static buoyancy was measured in adult notothenioids (n = 263, from six species of the sub-order Notothenioidei, families Bovichtidae, Eleginopidae, Nototheniidae, and Harpagiferidae) from the Beagle Channel. Measurements were expressed as percentage buoyancy (%B). Buoyancy ranged from 3.88 to 6.96% (median, 4.0–6.7%), and therefore, all species could be considered benthic consistent with previous studies that found that neutral buoyancy in notothenioids is rare. Harpagifer bispinis, Patagonotothen cornucola, and Cottoperca gobio were significantly less buoyant than Paranotothenia magellanica. The buoyancy values of most species were concordant with known habitat preferences. These data, especially the data of C. gobio (sister lineage of all other nototehnioids) and E. maclovinus (sister lineage of the Antarctic clade of notothenioids), could be useful for understanding the diversification of this feature during the notothenioid radiation.     

Population biology of two helminth parasites of flatfishes from the Atlantic coast of Morocco

On the Atlantic Moroccan coast, two species of pleuronectiform fish coexist, wedge sole ( Citharus linguatula ) a temperate species, and spotted flounder ( Dicohgoglossa cuneata ) a tropical one. These two species are the definitive host for Bothriocephalus andresi and Acanthocephaloïdes propinquus , respectively. A negative binomial fits the dispersion of B. andresi in the population of C. linguatula . The fish become parasitized between their first and third year, while still immature, with the highest abundances in the third year. After the fish become ichthyopagous, the level of infection drops drastically. We postulate that copepods are the sole source of infection. The presence of B. andresi in both Atlantic and Mediterranean populations of C. linguatula shows that the parasite follows the host during its migration along the Mediterranean coasts.
The prevalence of A. propinquus remains above 50% as a consequence of the large numbers of amphipods included in the diet of D. cuneata , regardless of the age of the fish or the season. The amphipods, Phtisica marina and Pariambus typicus are an important food and represent potential intermediate hosts for A. propinquus . The population dynamics of A. propinquus on the Atlantic Moroccan coasts are similar to those observed in parasite populations of Gobius niger in the Gulf of Lion (French Mediterranean). The observation of B. andresi and A. propinquus in both Moroccan Atlantic and Mediterranean fishes highlights the problem of the evolution of these parasite populations during the colonization of the Mediterranean by the hosts.     

Synthesis,Spectroscopic Analysis,and in Vitro/in Silico Biological Studies of Novel Piperidine Derivatives Heterocyclic Schiff-Mannich Base Compounds

In the present study, 3-substitued-4-(4-hydroxybenzylidenamino)-4,5-dihydro-1H-1,2,4-triazol-5-ones ( S1-8 ) were synthesized by treating 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde ( B ) with eight different 3-substitued-4-amino-4,5-dihydro-1H-1,2,4-triazole-5-ones ( T1-8 ) in acetic acid medium, separately. The synthesized Schiff bases ( S ) were reacted with formaldehyde and secondary amine such as 4-piperidinecarboxyamide to afford novel heterocyclic bases. 3-Substitued-4-(4-hydroxybenzylidenamino)-4,5-dihydro-1H-1,2,4-triazol-5-ones ( T ) were treated with 4-piperidinecarboxyamide in the presence of formaldehyde to synthesize eight new 1-(4-piperidinecarboxyamide-1-yl - methyl)-3-substitued-4-(4-hydroxybenzylidenamino)-4,5-dihydro-1H-1,2,4-triazol-5-ones ( M1-8 ). The structure characterization of compounds was carried out using ¹H-NMR, IR, HR-MS, and ¹³C-NMR spectroscopic methods. The inhibitory properties of the newly synthesized compounds were calculated against the acetylcholinesterase (AChE), butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), and glutathione S-transferase (GST) enzymes. Ki values were calculated in the range of 20.06±3.11–36.86±6.17 μM for GST, 17.87±2.91–30.53±4.25 μM for AChE, 9.08±0.69–20.02±2.88 μM for BChE, respectively, Besides, IC₅₀ values were also calculated. Best binding scores of -inhibitors against used enzymes were calculated as −12.095 kcal/mol, −12.775 kcal/mol, and −9.336 kcal/mol, respectively. While 5-oxo-triazole piperidine-4-carboxamide moieties have a critical role in the inhibition of AChE and GST enzymes, hydroxy benzyl moiety is important for BChE enzyme inhibition.     

Limb joint surface areas and their ratios in Malagasy lemurs and other mammals

Surface areas of humeral and femoral heads scale largely as a function of body size. However, differences in the relative sizes of these articular surfaces are correlated with differential joint mobility and force transmission through fore- and hindlimbs. They can therefore assist interpretation of the positional behavior of extinct species. In this paper, we document variation in ratios of humeral head surface area to femoral head surface area among extant primates and other mammals. We then examine a group of extinct primates: the subfossil lemurs of Madagascar. Many Malagasy le murs, including some giant extinct species with very long forelimbs and short hindlimbs, have relatively small humeral heads and large femoral heads. We explore the adaptive implications of this pattern. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Ein neues captorhinomorphes reptil aus dem thüringischen rotliegend (Unter-Perm; Ost-Deutschland)

Thuringothyris mahlendorffae n.gen. n.sp. is described on the basis of the skull roof, palate, stapes and much of the postcranial skeleton from the Upper Rotliegend (Tambach-Schichten) of the Thuringian Forest in eastern Germany. The new taxon shows both protorothyridid and some captorhinid features. The interrelationships of the »Protorothyrididae«, primitive Captorhinidae, and earliest Diapsida are reviewd. The tetrapod material is used to reassess the biostratigraphic position of the fossil-bearing horizon.