Snails can survive passage through a bird’s digestive system

Aim Predation is generally viewed as a factor that limits the distribution of animal prey species. However, in certain instances, such as seed dispersal, predation may enhance the dispersal capability of prey species. In a prior study, we found that land snails are preyed upon by the Japanese white‐eye (Zosterops japonicus) and the brown‐eared bulbul (Hypsipetes amaurotis) in the Ogasawara Islands. In this paper we provide experimental and field evidence indicating that land snails could potentially be dispersed through bird predation. Location Hahajima Island of the Ogasawara Islands in the western Pacific. Methods Experimentation was first performed to test whether the land snail Tornatellides boeningi could remain alive after being swallowed and passed through the bird digestive system. Next, in order to investigate the potential role of internal bird transport and dispersal of this snail, we investigated the relationship between the distribution of population genetic diversity in the snail and the regional geographical abundance of predatory birds. The population genetic structure of T. boeningi and isolation by distance were inferred with Arlequin . The association between nucleotide diversity in T. boeningi populations and population density of predators was examined using a generalized linear mixed model. We conducted a likelihood ratio test for the full model and for another model that removed the fixed effect. Results Of the 119 snails fed to Japanese white‐eyes and 55 snails fed to brown‐eared bulbuls, 14.3% and 16.4% of the snails, respectively, passed through the gut alive. Additionally, one snail gave birth to juveniles after emerging from a bird’s gut. Significant heterogeneity among the populations of T. boeningi on Hahajima was indicated using AMOVA; however, there was no evidence of isolation by distance. A positive correlation was found between levels of mitochondrial DNA variation among and within T. boeningi populations and the density of Japanese white‐eyes in the wild. Main conclusions Bird predation appears to be a method of dispersal for T. boeningi, and our results suggest that bird‐mediated dispersal plays a role in land snail population structure.     

Classification,inhibition, and specificity studies of the vitelline coat lysin from toad sperm

The sonicated supernatant of the sperm of the toad, Bufo japonicus, can digest easily the vitelline coat (VC) of uterine eggs, and to a lesser extent the VC of coelomic eggs, but not that of activated eggs. The VC lysis and fertilization were competitively inhibited in the presence of t-butyloxycarbonyl-L-Gln-L-Arg-L-Arg-4-methylcoumaryl-7-amide (Boc-Gln-Arg-Arg-MCA), suggesting the involvement of proteases in the fertilization process. Starting from a sonicated supernatant, a potent VC lysin, possessing hydrolytic activity on Boc-Gln-Arg-Arg-MCA, was obtained by anion-exchange chromatography and gel filtration. The activity of the partially purified lysin was inhibited by diisopropyl fluorophosphate (DFP) and by such trypsin inhibitors as soybean trypsin inhibitor, leupeptin, and (p-amidinophenyl) methanesulfonyl fluoride hydrochloride, but not by chymostatin, E-64, and ethylene glycol bis(β-aminoethyl ether)-N,N,N′,N′-tetraacetic acid. The molecular weight of the lysin was estimated to be 32K, based on the fluorographic image of ³H-DFP binding to the lysin on sodium dodecyl sulfate gel electrophoresis. The VC lysin was most active at pH 7.0–7.6 and under low ionic strength equivalent to fresh water. The release of the VC lysin was induced upon incubation of sperm with the contents of oviducal pars recta granules (PRG), which are known to induce the acrosome reaction. We conclude that the protease studied here represents the VC lysin of toad sperm that is involved in fertilization by digesting the VC of uterine eggs, probably released as a result of the acrosome reaction induced by PRG.     

Effects of interspecific competition on development and reproduction in two giant water bugs,Diplonychus japonicus vuillefroy andDiplonychus major esaki (Hemiptera: Belostomatidae)

We studied the interpecific competition between 2 species of predatory aquatic bugs, Diplonychus japonicus and D. major by conducting a field experiment. We set up 3 types of experimental plots in the paddy fields where D. major predominated. The two plots contained single species of either D. japonicus or D. major, respectively, and one plot had both species in equal number. We compared the development and the reproductive performance between plots in each species. In D. japonicus, the number of eggs and early instar nymphs were significantly smaller in the plots containing both species than in the monospecific plots. However, the numbers of late instar nymphs and newly emerged adults were not significantly different between plots. The proportions of starved nymphs in both plots were larger than those in the D. japonicus's natural habitats. The final densities of adults in both plots were lower than those in the natural habitats. These results suggest that lower density of D. japonicus in these paddy fields is due to the lack of available food for nymphs rather than the effects of interspecific competition with D. major. In D. major, significant differences were not found in the number of eggs, each instar nymphs and adults. These results suggest that the effects of interspecific competition did not affect the reproductive performance of D. major.     

识别未衍生化的13—羟化GAs及其葡萄糖苷的单克隆抗体

抗ＧＡ３ 及其葡萄糖苷的ＭＡＢ１０单克隆抗体源于以ＧＡ３ 中的３ 位羟基（３－ＯＨ）为偶联位点,人血清白蛋白（ＨＳＡ）为载体合成的ＧＡ３－３－ＨＳＡ 免疫原． 该抗体对１３－羟化ＧＡｓ（１３－ＯＨＧＡｓ、ＧＡ１、ＧＡ３、ＧＡ５ 等）和ＧＡ３ 葡萄糖苷具有高亲和力． ７ 位羧基的甲酯化可显著降低ＭＡＢ１０ 对１３－ＯＨ ＧＡｓ的亲和力,而３－ＯＨ 的糖苷化却未降低其亲和力． 用该抗体建立的两种分别用于ＧＡ３ 及其葡萄糖苷测定的酶联免疫吸附法（ＥＬＩＳＡ）,其检测线性范围均为０．２～２０ ｐｍ ｏｌ． 借助这两种ＥＬＩＳＡｓ,研究了羊蹄（Ｒｕｍ ｅｘ ｊａｐｏｎｉｃｕｓ）叶片中ＧＡ３ 及其类似ＧＡｓ和葡萄糖苷的动态变化．结果表明,叶片衰老与游离态ＧＡｓ的糖苷化有关;而６－ＢＡ 延缓衰老则可能与其减缓ＧＡｓ的糖苷化有关     

Leucocyanidin reductase activity and accumulation of proanthocyanidins in developing legume tissues

Proanthocyanidin (PA) and anthocyanin accumulation and location in developing leaves, flowers, and seeds of the legumes Medicago sativa, Lotus japonicus, Lotus uliginosus, Hedysarum sulfurescens, and Robinia pseudacacia were investigated by quantitative measurements and by histological analysis after staining with 1% vanillin/HCl, butanol/HCl, or 50% HCl. M. sativa leaves and flowers, L. japonicus leaves, and R. pseudacacia flowers do not contain PAs, but seeds of all investigated species contain PAs. Anthocyanins are absent in the seed coats of all five species and in leaves of L. japonicus. PA content generally increases as a function of development in leaves, but declines in flowers. With the exception of H. sulfurescens, flower PAs are synthesized in the parenchyma cells of the standard petal, while anthocyanins are located in the neighboring epidermal cells. Leucocyanidin reductase (LCR) catalyzes the conversion of 2,3-trans-3,4-cis-leucocyanidin to (+)-catechin and is the first enzyme in the PA-specific pathway. LCR activity was only detected in PA-containing tissues and generally declined during tissue development.     

木根麦冬（Ophiopogon xylorrhizus）干叶提取DNA用于RAPD分析

木根麦冬（Ｏｐｈｉｏｐｏｇｏｎｘｙｌｏｒｒｈｉｚｕｓ）是我国珍稀濒危植物,分布仅限于云南西双版纳雨林,在植物系统学和保护生物学研究中具有独特的意义。随机扩增多态ＤＮＡ（ＲＡＰＤ）方法是揭示群体遗传多样性的高效、简便方法,但一般均以新鲜材料提取总ＤＮＡ,对一些分布边远地区物种难以采用此法。本文研究从木根麦冬干叶片中提取总ＤＮＡ,进行ＲＡＰＤ分析。样品取自４个居群、４９个个体。选取生长旺盛的叶片,在野外用硅胶快速干燥保存样品。采用高盐低ｐＨ值法提取总ＤＮＡ,每克鲜重所得的干叶可得８０～１６０μｇ。通过对模板ＤＮＡ的各种处理和ＰＣＲ扩增程序的调整,解决了扩增片段边缘弥散、界线模糊、产率低等问题,获得了理想的扩增带型。这一成果对其它从野外直接采样的干叶提取ＤＮＡ进行ＲＡＰＤ研究具有指导意义     

Hatch date‐dependent differences in early growth and development recorded in the otolith microstructure of Trachurus japonicus

Otolith microstructure of 308 juvenile jack mackerel Trachurus japonicus sampled in the southern Sea of Japan between June and September 2002 were examined by light microscopy. Hatch‐date distribution indicated a protracted spawning season from 16 January to 30 May 2002. The first secondary primordium (SP) was formed at ages 19–54 days, with a mean ±  s . d . of 30·4 ± 6·1. The number of SP in an otolith ranged from two to 15, with a mean of 6·1 ± 1·7. Age of the first SP formation, number of SP and increment width varied with hatch date. In general, late‐hatched fish were younger when the first SP formed, and had a higher number of SP and wider increments, than early‐hatched fish. As increment width is a linear function of somatic growth and formation of the first SP is associated with metamorphosis in jack mackerel, these variations in otolith microstructure indicated that rates of growth (as inferred from wider increments) and development (as inferred by younger age of first SP formation) were higher in late‐hatched fish relative to early‐hatched fish. Higher temperature experienced by late‐hatched fish during early life stages may contribute critically to their higher growth and development rates compared to early‐hatched fish.     

浙麦冬块根与须根主要成分比较

为比较浙麦冬(Ophiopogon japonicus)块根和须根中的主要成分,采用GC-MS对2年生块根及须根中的有效成分和挥发油成分进行了分析。结果表明,浙麦冬块根的总糖含量高于须根,而须根的可溶性糖、黄酮含量皆略高于块根。从浙麦冬根的挥发油中共检出73种化合物,其中块根50种,须根48种,共同含有的物质有香桧烯、莰酮、愈创木醇等25种,含量较多的成分有β-榄香烯、长叶烯及绿花白千层醇等。低沸点的醇类及烯烃为麦冬根部挥发油的主要成分。浙麦冬须根的化学成分在种类和含量上皆与块根相似,有些成分甚至高于块根,可以作为块根的替代品应用于保健品及药物研发等领域。     

日本弓背蚁雄蚁生殖系统结构及其化学组成研究

【目的】雄蚁是蚂蚁巢群的重要成员,主要参与种群的繁殖。本文对日本弓背蚁Camponotus japonicus雄蚁的生殖系统结构及其化学组成进行了研究,拟为进一步开展雄蚁的生殖行为研究提供基础信息。【方法】利用光学和扫描电镜观察了雄蚁的生殖系统结构,并利用GC-MS方法分析了其化学组成。【结果】(1)雄蚁生殖系统包括1对附腺、1对输精管和射精管3部分,睾丸退化消失;附腺最为发达,肾形,乳白色;输精管简单细长,与附腺基部1/3处相连。扫描电镜下发现附腺表面平坦,包裹有发达的网状肌肉组织。(2)利用GC-MS方法检测到13种化学物质,主要以醛类、烃类和酸类为主,分别占29.31%、21.87%和20.56%,还有一些醇类(12.71%)和酯类(15.05%);含量最高的3种成分分别为十八烯醛(15.86%)、11-十六烯醛(13.45%)和9,12,15-十八碳三烯酸-2,3-二羟基丙酯(11.78%)。【结论】雄蚁生殖系统主要由附腺、输精管和射精管三部分组成,其中附腺最为发达,输精管细长,睾丸退化消失;生殖系统中含有多种化学成分,但其功能还有待于进一步的研究。     

福建、浙江、江苏、上海疫霉种的研究

1985—1986年,从福建漳州,浙江杭州,上海,江苏南京,苏州,扬州,常州等地采集100多种植物进行分离,在雪松(Cedrus deodara),倒挂仙人鞭(Cereus flagelliformis),冬青卫茅(Euonymus japonieus),构树(Broussonetia papyrifera),蓖麻(Ricinus communis),柑桔(Citrus reticulata),带叶兜兰(Paphiopedilum hirsutissimum),芋(Colocasia esculenta),鳄梨(Persea americana),山茶(Camellia sp.),珊瑚樱(Solanum pseudo-capsicum),百合(Lilium brownii var.viridulum),蔓常春花(Vinca major),西瓜(Citrullus lanatus)等14种寄主植物上分离到51个疫霉菌株,鉴定为9个种:烟草疫霉(=寄生疫霉)Phytophthora nicotianae B.de Haan(=P.parasitica Dast.),掘氏疫霉P.drechsleri Tucker,樟疫霉 P.ciunamomi Rands,棕榈疫霉P.palmivora(Butl.)Butl.,柑桔褐腐疫霉P.citrophthora(R.et E.Smith) Leon.,苎麻疫霉P.bochmeriae Saw.,蜜色疫霉P.meadii McRae,簇囊疫霉P.botryosa Chee,隐地疫霉P.cryptogea Pethyb.et Laff.。其中,烟草疫霉,掘氏疫霉,樟疫霉出现频率较高,分布较广,初步认为是上述地区植物疫病的主要病原菌。簇囊疫霉、蜜色疫霉是国内新记录。