Establishment and host records of Icerya aegyptiaca (Douglas) (Hemiptera: Coccoidea: Monophlebidae) in the Sakishima Islands of the Ryukyu Archipelago,Japan, with notes on its worldwide distribution

The monophlebid scale insect Icerya aegyptiaca is reported for the first time in the Ryukyu Islands of Japan, where it was found in four islands: Kurima Island, Kuro Island, Miyako Island and Yonaguni Island. Icerya aegyptiaca was collected from 36 plant species belonging to 23 families. Information on the distribution and natural enemies of I. aegyptiaca and a key to separate known species of Icerya occurring in Japan are provided.     

Evidence from mitochondrial genomics supports the lower Mesozoic of South Asia as the time and place of basal divergence of cypriniform fishes (Actinopterygii: Ostariophysi)

We analysed mitochondrial genomic sequences under maximum likelihood (ML) criteria to explore phylogenetic relationships, and performed historical biogeography analysis with divergence time estimation for fishes of Order Cypriniformes (Actinopterygii: Ostariophysi). We added mitogenomes for eight new cypriniforms and one outgroup to a data set comprising 53 and six outgroup mitogenomes from a previous study to make our taxon sampling geographically representative. The ML tree reconfirmed monophyly of four basal cypriniform clades (cyprinids, catostomids, gyrinocheilids, and loaches including balitorids and cobitids). It also recovered 18 monophyletic groups largely equivalent to the subfamilial rank, and resolved interrelationships among most of these subfamilial clades. However, lower bootstrap support for the ML tree and higher approximately unbiased (au) probabilities for alternative topologies around some branches indicated problems that still need to be resolved. Historical taxon biogeography by dispersal‐vicariance analysis, a parsimonious reconstruction of past ranges, and gain‐loss ratio analysis at the subfamilial level, identified the geographical region of basal cypriniform divergence as southern Asia. Bayesian divergence time analysis dated the basal otophysan split, which gave birth to Order Cypriniformes, to the late Triassic around 219.5 Mya. The basal cypriniform divergence took place during the late Jurassic around 155.9 Mya. These dates coincide with the onset and completion, respectively, of the Pangaean breakup. Taking biogeographical analysis and node dating into account, we consider the most likely candidate for the initial geographical range of Order Cypriniformes to be the south‐eastern area of Mesozoic Laurasia (present‐day southern Asia, excluding the Indian subcontinent). We also briefly discuss ecological implications of the group's divergence. © 2011 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2011, 161 , 633–662.     

Morphological dormancy in seeds of the autumn-germinating shrub Lonicera caerulea var. emphyllocalyx (Caprifoliaceae)

To better understand the germination ecophysiology of the genus Lonicera , the dormancy class, temperature requirements for embryo growth and radicle emergence and phenology of seedling emergence were determined for Lonicera caerulea var. emphyllocalyx . At maturity, seeds have an underdeveloped embryo (approximately 28% of the length of full-grown embryos). Embryos in fresh seeds grew to full length at 15, 20, 20/10 and 25/15°C within 3 weeks, but failed to grow at ≤ 10°C and at 30°C. Radicles emerged from 86–100% of freshly matured seeds in light at 15, 20, 20/10 and 25/15°C within 28 days, but failed to emerge at 10°C. Radicles emerged equally well in a 12 h photoperiod and in continuous darkness at 25/15°C. Rapid embryo growth and germination over a range of conditions indicate that seeds of this taxon have morphological dormancy (MD); this is the first report of MD in a species of Lonicera . Seeds are dispersed in summer, at which time high temperatures promote embryo growth. Embryos grow to the critical length for germination in approximately 1 month; the peak of seedling emergence occurs in early autumn. Radicles emerged within 2 months from 98% of seeds buried at soil depths of 2 cm and 10 cm in the field in August in Sapporo, Japan; thus, seeds have no potential to form a persistent soil seed bank. However, seeds sown too late in autumn for embryos to grow remained viable and germinated the following summer when temperatures were high enough to promote embryo growth.     

The Role of Cell Adhesion in the Differentiation of Mesendodermal Tissues in the Starfish, Asterina pectinifera

The role of cell-to-cell adhesion in the early embryogenesis of the starfish Asterina pectinifera was studied by using concanvalin A (ConA), an agent known to weaken cellular contact by binding to glycosides at the cell surface. The major change in morphology was a diminution in the volume of the endodermal tissues (the digestive tract) of the treated larvae. It was found by pulse treatment that this effect of ConA was stage-specific, and that the effective period corresponded to the stage when blastomeres become more cohesive. The number of cells in the mesodermal tissues, however, was relatively constant while the volume of the endodermal tissue varied considerably. It was suggested that cell-to-cell adhesion during this stage is involved in the allocation of endodermal tissues. In contrast, mechanisms other than cell adhesion were considered to be important for the differentiation of the mesodermal tissues.     

Dissociation of Lipid Components and Reconstitution at – 75° C of Mg<Superscript>2+</Superscript> Dependent,Na<Superscript>+</Superscript> and K<Superscript>+</Superscript> Stimulated,Adenosine Triphosphatase in Rat Brain

MEMBRANE enzymes, because of their lipid content, are insoluble in water and usually solubilized as micelles in aqueous solution by detergents for biochemical study. Direct study of lipid components by means of organic liquids in which they dissolve leads at once to the denaturation of the enzyme. At temperatures appreciably colder than 0° C, however, organic solvents may leave enzymatic activity intact^1–3, making it possible to study enzyme reactions.     

INDUCTIVE CAPACITIES OF GLOMERULAR BASEMENT MEMBRANES AND DENTINE MATRIX

The inductive capacities of the basement membranes of calf kidney glomeruli and the dentine matrix of the incisors of 23-day rabbit fetuses were examined on the presumptive ectoderm of Triturus gastrulae. The basement membranes caused almost entirely neural induction and the dentine matrix caused mesodermal induction. These findings suggest that intercellular substances play an important role in the inductive effects of heterologous tissues.     

探讨云南山茶起源的一线曙光—野生二倍体类型在金沙江流域的发现

新近发现的云南山茶原始二倍体类型分布于金江河谷流域的云南华坪悬及四川盐边县,海拔１８００－２８００ｍ。其植被模型为亚热带常绿阔叶林与云南松的混交林,生境较为湿润。云南山茶原始二倍体类型的形态特征与广布的六倍体类群非常相似,而与怒江山茶及西南山茶的形态特征不同。二倍体的花粉母细胞在减数分裂中期Ｉ形成１５个二价体,间期的细胞核结构为球形前染色体型,分裂前期染色体为中间型,其核型公式为２ｎ＝３０＝２２ｍ     

Diversity of drosophilid flies on Kume-jima, a subtropical island: comparison with diversity on Iriomote-jima

The drosophilid fauna was studied on Kume‐jima, a subtropical island located in the central part of the Ryukyu archipelago, and compared with the fauna of Iriomote‐jima located near the south‐western end of the archipelago. The number of species collected from Kume‐jima was 37, much fewer than that recorded from Iriomote‐jima (95 species). The number of subtropical species was particularly reduced on Kume‐jima, possibly owing either to this island being more distantly located from the sources of subtropical species (e.g. Taiwan) than Iriomote‐jima and/or to winter temperature on Kume‐jima being a little lower (by approximately 1.5°C). The number of fungus‐feeders was also much reduced on Kume‐jima, but the number of fruit‐feeders was only slightly reduced. On Kume‐jima, fungi seem to be less abundant because forests are smaller, resulting in a smaller number of fungus‐feeders. Habitat selection and seasonality were analyzed for species collected using “retainer” type traps baited with banana. For species occurring on both islands, habitat selection differed little between the two islands, whereas the seasonality of some species differed markedly between the two islands.