Spring and summer microhabitat use by Schlegel’s Japanese gecko,Gekko japonicus (Reptilia: Squamata: Gekkonidae), in urban areas

Differential microhabitat use may be beneficial to achieving fitness in seasonally variable environmental conditions. To explore whether the microhabitat use of the nocturnal Schlegel’s Japanese gecko, Gekko japonicus, varies seasonally and depends on juvenile, male, and female reproductive groups, we investigated five categorical and five quantitative measure variables of microhabitat use in a wild population both in spring and summer. Most geckos were found on white, vertical planes of concrete and plastered brick walls. None of the categorical variables (type of location, substrate, substrate color, light source, and refuge) significantly differed according to season or group, while substrate temperature and irradiance at the location where geckos were observed and the distance from the nearest potential refuge were significantly greater in summer than in spring. The quantitative measure variables did not differ among the reproductive groups. These results suggest that G. japonicus seasonally adjusts its microhabitat use mainly in terms of quantitative measure variables rather than categorical variables.     

Characterization of expressed sequence tag‐derived microsatellites from the kuruma prawn,Marsupenaeus japonicus

The kuruma prawn, Marsupenaeus japonicus, is a commercially important benthic marine crustacean in East Asia. Understanding the species’ population structures will be very important for its proper stock assessment and management strategy. Herein, 13 polymorphic microsatellite loci originating from expressed sequence tag libraries of M. japonicus were isolated and characterized. Number of alleles per locus ranged from two to 15, observed and expected heterozygosities ranged from 0.250 to 0.906 and from 0.310 to 0.932, respectively. The adequate level of variability within the population renders these microsatellite loci ideal markers for population genetic analysis of M. japonicus.     

Life history,distribution and molecular phylogenetics of the Upward-Mouth Spikefish Atrophacanthus japonicus (Teleostei: Tetraodontiformes: Triacanthodidae)

Ninety-six juvenile specimens (37–54 mm standard length; L_S) of the rarely collected Upward-Mouth Spikefish Atrophacanthus japonicus (Triacanthodidae) were obtained from the stomachs of three Yellowfin Tuna Thunnus albacares collected off Guam in the Mariana Islands in the central Pacific Ocean. These specimens extend the range of A. japonicus eastward into Oceania. We review the systematic characters of the monotypic genus Atrophacanthus and present colour photographs of freshly collected specimens. The diet of the juvenile specimens of A. japonicus consisted of thecosome pteropods and foraminiferans. We present a range map of A. japonicus based on all known specimens and show that specimen size is related to whether specimens were collected in the pelagic zone or on the bottom. Our results support that, compared to all other Triacanthodidae, A. japonicus has an unusually extended pelagic larval and juvenile period, up to 54 mm L_S, before settling to the bottom as adults. Lastly, we provide a multilocus phylogeny addressing the phylogenetic placement of Atrophacanthus based on eight of 11 triacanthodid genera and six genetic markers. Our results reveal that Atrophacanthus is the sister group of Macrorhamphosodes and they provide new insights about the evolutionary history of the family.     

木根麦冬与林生麦冬5S rRNA基因的进化

为了揭示多拷贝基因的进化方式,对濒危植物木根麦冬（Ophiopogon xylorrhizus Wang et Dai)3个居群、6个个体的294个5S rRNA基因拷贝及其姐妹种林生麦冬（O.sylvicola Wang et Tang) 的45个拷贝进行了DNA测序和序列分析,并以这个迄今发表的最大的单个物种的5S rDNA基因数据,以PAUP程序重建了分子系统发育树。结果表明：1）所得序列呈高度多样性,长度变化在307－548碱基之间,仅13对（3．8％）相同,序列分化指数较高：木根麦冬是0．078,林生麦冬是0．032,两物种间是0．149;2）100％的统计值支持两物种的5S rRNA基因分别来自于祖先种的一个拷贝,即“建立者拷贝”,这个拷贝在物种形成之后进行了一系列连续的扩增,形成一个直系的基因家族,而祖先种的其他拷贝在物种形成后被丢失;3）不同拷贝是独立进化的,序列间的一致化过程很弱,这在串联重复的rRNA基因中是罕见的;4）木根麦冬居群间曾存在频繁的基因交流,使5S rRNA基因的许多拷贝扩散于不同居群,维持着种内较高的遗传多样性。可以认为是某些近期发生的变化,阻止了居群间的基因交流,导致该物种广泛的自交,发生自交衰退,并最后导致濒危。     

Epidermal cells of a symbiosis-defective mutant of Lotus japonicus show altered cytoskeleton organisation in the presence of a mycorrhizal fungus

The influence of the mycorrhizal fungus Gigaspora margarita on cytoskeleton organisation in epidermal cells of Lotus japonicus roots was compared between plants of the wild type Gifu and the mutant Ljsym4-2, in which the fungus is confined to the epidermal cells. Immunofluorescence labelling of plant microtubules and microfilaments showed only limited alterations in the peripheral cytoskeleton of epidermal cells during early stages of fungal interaction with the wild type. Later, microtubules and microfilaments enveloped the growing hypha, while the host cell nucleus moved close to the fungus. In contrast, epidermal cells of the mutant responded with disorganisation and disassembly of microtubules and microfilaments before and during fungal penetration attempts. The fungus penetrated only as far as to epidermal cells, whose cytoplasm became devoid of tubulin and actin, suggesting cell death. The close relationship between host cytoskeleton organisation and compatibility with the fungus suggests that a functional Ljsym4 gene is necessary for correct reorganisation of the epidermal cell cytoskeleton in the presence of the fungus and for avoiding hypersensitivity-like reactions.     

Antioxidant Peptides from the Protease Digest of Prawn (Penaeus japonicus) Muscle

The muscle of the prawn Penaeus japonicus was hydrolyzed by various proteases, and antioxidant activity of the hydrolysates was examined. Among the digests, pepsin digest showed the most potent antioxidant activity. Three antioxidant peptides have been isolated from the active peptidic fraction by ion-exchange chromatography, gel filtration, and ODS high-performance liquid chromatography. Their structures were identified as Ile-Lys-Lys, Phe-Lys-Lys, and Phe-Ile-Lys-Lys. Received October 16, 1998; Accepted January 8, 1999.     

鲈鱼生长激素的分离及其生物活性鉴定

运用葡聚糖凝胶Ｇ－１００过滤和反相高儿液相色谱纯化两步法,首镒从鲈鱼脑垂体中分离出鲈鱼生长激素,通过ＳＤＳ－聚丙烯凝胶电泳测得鲈鱼非还原性的和还原性的生长激素分子量分别为１９．２和２０．７ｋＤ;等电聚焦证实鲈鱼生长激素等电点为７．１５。Ｗｅｓｔｅｒｎ免疫印迹反应证实,鲈鱼生长激素具有与大麻哈鱼生长激素抗体发生特异性免疫交叉反应的特性,而与大麻哈鱼催乳素和生长催乳素抗体无免疫交叉反应。     

日本囊对虾4个地理群体线粒体16S rRNA序列及遗传结构分析

对我国东南沿海日本囊对虾(Marsupenaeus japonicus)的4个地理群体广东群体(GD)、台湾群体(TW)、福建群体(FJ)和浙江群体(ZJ)的线粒体16S rRNA基因片段进行PCR扩增,对产物进行测序后分析。经比对获得470bp的核苷酸分析序列,发现了16个变异位点,得到了10种单倍型。广东、台湾、福建和浙江群体的核苷酸多样性依次分别为0.0008、0.0010、0.0051、0.0015,各群体均存在独有的单倍型和共有单倍型。群体遗传距离分析表明各群体间保持着一定的遗传差异,其中福建群体与其他群体之间存在着较远的遗传距离并保持了较高的遗传多样性。另外,利用其423bp的16S rRNA同源序列探讨了对虾科6个属共12种对虾的系统进化关系,囊对虾属与沟对虾属亲缘关系较近聚为一支,其他4个属的10种对虾聚为一支。     

仿刺参养殖池塘浮游病毒丰度与环境因子的相关性分析

为了揭示仿刺参养殖池塘生态系统中浮游病毒与环境因子的关系,于2008年3—11月对大连市谢屯地区的仿刺参养殖池塘中的浮游病毒丰度进行了定期检测,同时对水温、pH、溶解氧、盐度、叶绿素a含量、化学需氧量、无机氮、活性磷酸盐、异养细菌等因子进行了监测,对浮游病毒丰度与这些环境因子之间的相关性进行了分析。结果表明:仿刺参养殖池塘中浮游病毒的平均丰度为8.32×1010VLPs.L-1(最高值为4月的18.2×1010VLPs.L-1,最低值为11月的1.31×1010VLPs.L-1),外海水中浮游病毒平均丰度为6.45×1010VLPs.L-1(最高值为4月的12.6×1010VLPs.L-1,最低值为6月的2.02×1010VLPs.L-1),仿刺参养殖池塘中营养盐、水温、pH及盐度对浮游病毒丰度的影响较大,而外海水中叶绿素a和异养细菌对浮游病毒丰度的影响较大。     

学习经历在平腹小蜂寄主选择过程中的作用

研究了已经交配与未经交配的平腹小蜂在羽化后不同时间对中间寄主柞蚕卵信息记忆的持效性,比较了经学习训练与未经学习训练的平腹小蜂在不同时间对其自然寄主荔枝蝽卵和中间寄主柞蚕卵的选择性。结果表明：交配过的平腹小蜂在大量羽化后96h检验柞蚕卵的时间和数量都显著增多,而未经交配的平腹小蜂在此时搜索寄主的时间也显著延长,说明平腹小蜂在此时对柞蚕卵信息的记忆开始明显减弱。经学习训练的和未经学习训练的平腹小蜂在大量羽化后96h对荔枝蝽卵的第一选择数和刺卵数都明显提高,并且前者较后者在各个时段对荔枝蝽卵的第一选择数、检验卵数以及刺卵数都多,说明经学习训练的平腹小蜂对荔枝蝽卵的趋性较高,并且随着时间的延长受柞蚕卵信息的干扰逐渐减小,对荔枝蝽卵的学习效果不断增强。