Remodelling of the vertebral axis during metamorphic shrinkage in the pearlfish

Body shortening was observed in the pearlfish Carapus homei during metamorphosis. The tenuis larva at first possessed a suite of osseous vertebral bodies of similar length. The reduction in both the number and size of vertebrae followed increasing decalcification, degeneration of organic tissue and shortening. This involved a complete degradation and disappearance of the caudal tip vertebrae, and there was a reduction in the size of most of the remaining vertebrae. The further development of the vertebrae began with ossification of the neural and haemal arches before that of the vertebral body. This second part of the development followed a gradient: a gradual decreases towards the caudal tip in the size of the vertebrae and their completeness.     

Early larval ontogeny of the Permo-Carboniferous temnospondyl Sclerocephalus

The early larval development of the temnospondyl Sclerocephalus sp. is analyzed, based on 38 specimens from the Lower Rotliegend (Permo-Carboniferous boundary) of the Saar-Nahe Basin (south-west Germany). The study focuses on the smallest larval specimens, which exemplify changes in both proportions and ossification patterns. In comparison with dissorophoid larvae, the skull ossifies more fully and at a much faster rate; the smallest specimens already have completely formed circumorbital bones that are sutured throughout. Sculpturing undergoes two marked changes, first from uniformly pitted to pits of variable size and regional differentiation, and finally to the origin of ridges. The palate of small larvae differs from that of larger specimens in patterns of dentition, having more teeth including a denticle field on the cultriform process. The mandible of small larvae is described for the first time, being narrower than in adults and having three dentigerous coronoid elements. The smallest specimens have poorly ossified neural arches, lack vertebral centra, and have faintly ossified humeri, femora, and very poorly developed distal elements. The posterior ribs, metapodia, and phalanges appeared after the dermal elements of the pectoral girdle, whereas the scapulocoracoid and ischium are absent throughout the larval period. Early growth and differentiation of the limbs and the ilium illustrates the developmental patterning of the appendages, which proceeded from proximal to distal. Dermal squamation is uniform in small stages, consisting of round or oval osteoderms with pronounced growth rings; in large larvae, they start to differentiate in certain body regions.     

Release of planula larvae, settlement and development of Siderastrea stellata Verrill, 1868 (Anthozoa, Scleractinia)

We herein provide the first observations on planulation, larval development, and metamorphosis of Siderastrea stellata, an endemic reef-building species that occurs along the northeastern and southeastern coasts of Brazil. The release and settlement of larvae were observed in two distinct periods. The first started 3 days after collection on January 28 during the last quarter, whereas the second started 2 months later, on April 10 during the change from new moon to the first quarter. Planulation continued throughout approximately 48 h. Brooded larvae released from the mouth contained zooxanthellae, and underwent settlement after 48 h. Newly extruded larvae stayed in close contact with parental polyps. Fusion was observed among larvae from the same colony. The first septal cycle was formed by day 2–3, while the third cycle of exosepta became evident 15 days after protosepta development. The development of the corallite of primary polyp was slow, and after 9 months of analyses no evidence of budding was obtained, this indicating that colonial development is likely to be a late event in the S. stellata life history.     

两栖动物在水体污染生物监测中作为指示生物的研究概况

简单介绍了两栖动物作为指示生物在环境监测中的优越性及其研究历史和现状,同时也概述了我国学者在这方面的研究,总结了污染水体中部分蝌蚪的形态行为特征,并且提出了利用两栖动物的形态和行为模式建立水体污染生物监测仪器的可能性,为生物监测提供了科学依据。     

中国两栖类种群生态研究概述

两栖类种群生态学研究从深度和广度上看,均无法与哺乳类和鸟类的相比。然而与哺乳类和鸟类一样,随着生态环境的恶化和生态空间的减少,两栖类各物种种群面临巨大的生存压力,甚至濒临灭绝;因此,广泛深入地开展两栖类种群生态学研究,探讨两栖类与外界环境之间的关系,对环境监测和对两栖类种群的保护与利用均有较大的现实意义和理论意义。为此,重点从两栖类的种群结构与动态规律,摄食行为与食性,怕分析与通讯联系,繁殖过程和繁殖习性,越冬准备和冬眠适应,以及两栖类种群数量下降等方面,对中国研究者的工作进行综述,试图阐述研究现状,存在问题,并分析了尚待加强研究的方面和今后的发展趋势。     

Assessment of rates of deformity in wild frog populations using in situ cages: a case study of Leopard Frogs (Rana pipiens) in Ontario, Canada

High rates of deformity in wild amphibian populations from north-eastern North America have been increasingly reported since 1995. In the St Lawrence River basin (Canada) elevated frequencies of limb and eye deformities in mudpuppies (Necturus maculosus) and leopard frogs (Rana pipiens) were recorded in the early 1990s. A caging study was conducted during 1998 to verify the rates recorded in leopard frogs and pursue the potential causes of deformities seen in juveniles and adults. Week-old leopard frog tadpoles were collected from a reference wetland and maintained through to metamorphosis in cages in previously identified high risk wetlands. Deformity frequencies were measured and compared with frequencies measured in wild populations of leopard frogs inhabiting the same wetlands. The results of caging studies and sampling of wild populations were also compared with corresponding data collected from a reference wetland. No deformities were observed in caged or wild reference animals. Very low deformity frequencies (up to 2.2%) were observed in frogs caged in high risk wetlands, but greater frequencies (3.4-10%) were observed in wild young-of-the-year frogs captured at the same sites. The types of deformities were similar among groups; they included fused, missing or extra digits and disproportionate hindlimb length or eye pupil size. In addition, mortality rates were elevated in two cages in high risk wetlands. In general, the caging procedure was effective in establishing the potential for production of deformities in the waters of a given wetland, but tended to underestimate the rates calculated for samples of wild populations. The ramifications of the first-year findings for similar assessments of amphibian deformity rates and establishment of cause-effect linkages are discussed.     

Effects of head shape variation on growth, metamorphosis and survivorship in larval salamanders (Hynobius retardatus)

The effects of head shape variation on growth and metamorphosis in larval salamander (Hynobius retardatus) were examined by a laboratory experiment and a field experiment. In the laboratory experiment, each larva was fed equal amounts and was prevented from accessing others in both the solitary and group treatments, although chemical cues could be transmitted through water in the group treatment. The relative head width of larvae became larger in the group treatment during the early periods but having a large head width did not finally influence growth rate and days for metamorphosis. In the field experiment, larvae were allowed to contact each other directly in two density conditions. The enlarged relative head width was linked to high growth rate in the high-density treatment but not in the low-density treatment. The larval body size distribution in the high-density condition tended to be smaller, and there was a small proportion of large-sized individuals with a broad head width. Moreover, the small number of large larvae metamorphosed much earlier than the others. The mortality of larvae in high-density conditions was much higher than that in the low-density treatments. This would be a consequence of cannibalism in the high-density condition. From the experimental results obtained, it is argued that for the larvae of H. retardatus having a large head is an adaptive tactic that maximizes fitness, particularly in temporary ponds with an unpredictable environment and in crowded conditions.     

Deposition of BaSO4 in the tight junctions of amphibian epithelia causes their opening; apical Ca2+ reverses this effect

Selective deposition of BaSO₄ in the tight junctions (TJs) of frog skins led to profound and reversible functional alterations of these structures, as revealed by changes of tissue conductance (G), clamping current (I), and fluxes of extracellular markers (sulfate (J^SO ₄) and sucrose (J^SUC)). Experiments were performed with nominally Ca²⁺ -free simple salt solutions on the apical side (usually KCl) and Na₂SO₄-Ringer on the inner side of skins. The deposition of BaSO₄ in the TJs was obtained by diffusion and/or migration through the paracellular path of Ba²⁺ from the apical solution and SO ₄ ^2– from the inner solution. A brief presence (2 to 6 min) of apical Ba²⁺ (Ba²⁺ pulse) is followed (i.e., when Ba²⁺ is removed from the apical fluid) by a large increase of G, I, J^SO ₄ and J^SUC, above pre-Ba²⁺ levels. These attain a steady state within 15 to 30 min (overshoot phase), characterizing a conspicuous increase of the paracellular permeability. During the overshoot phase, a second Ba²⁺ pulse blocks the paracellular route while apical Ba²⁺ is present, leading to a new and larger overshoot when the Ba²⁺ pulse is terminated. Addition of apical Ca²⁺ triggers the resealing of the TJs, resulting in a full recovery of G, I, J^SO ₄ and J^SUC. This Ca²⁺ -induced recovery persists when apical Ca²⁺ is removed. The presence of a normal Ca²⁺ concentration in the inner bathing Ringer does not induce the recovery process. Tissues remain viable after being submitted to the Ba²⁺ treatment and the subsequent overshoot. Experiments performed in the urinary bladder of Rana catesbeiana and skins and urinary bladders of Bufo marinus indicate that Ba²⁺ effect can also be elicited in these tissues. The above results seem to report general properties of the TJs. Incidentally, they warn about the use of Ba²⁺ as an ion channel blocker in epithelial membranes in association with SO ₄ ^2– -containing solutions on the contralateral side.This project was supported by grants from Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (91/0293-7 to F.L.V., and 90/1788-1 to A.S.), and Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (410068/90-0 and 303633-85/BF to F.L.V.). J.A.C. received a doctoral fellowship from Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior/Fundação Universidade do Rio Grande. We thank Dr. Alice T. Ferreira for help in the measurements of free Ca²⁺ concentration.     

An amphibian two-domain ‘big’ neurophysin: conformational homology with the mammalian MSEL-neurophysin/copeptin intermediate precursor shown by trypsin-Sepharose proteolysis

A ‘big’ frog (Rana esculenta) neurophysin, encompassing sequences homologous to mammalian MSEL-neurophysin and copeptin, has been passed through a trypsin-Sepharose column in order to compare its conformation with that of the two-domain intermediate precursor isolated from guinea pig. Whereas the polypeptide possesses 8 arginine residues, only two cleavages were observed located in a putative inter-domain sequence (at Arg-94 and Arg-114). Because free vasotocin has been isolated from the frog, it is assumed that pro-vasotocin has a three-domain conformation similar to that of pro-vasopressin but processing in amphibians involves only one step rather than two steps as in mammals.