Growth of the first antler in Iberian red deer (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Cervus elaphus hispanicus</Emphasis>)

In this study, we describe the process of pedicle and first antler growth in Iberian red deer (Cervus elaphus hispanicus) and document relationships among body development, maternal milk supply and composition, and maternal weight on the length of first antlers. Antler length of 53 males of Iberian red deer was measured every 2 weeks from birth to 20 months of age. Deer weight, age, and the date of occurrence of the major events during the antler growth cycle were also recorded. The first evidence of pedicle development occurred when the animals were 38.0 ± 0.6 weeks old and weighed 60.7 ± 0.9 kg. Antler cleaning took place at a mean age of 63.8 ± 0.7 weeks and a mean weight of 91.5 ± 1.8 kg. The antler growth period lasted 16.7 ± 0.4 weeks, and the cleaning period lasted 5.1 ± 0.4 weeks. First antler growth followed a sigmoid curve, reaching a final length of 38.3 ± 1.0 cm. Antler length was positively correlated with body weight during the antler growth cycle. Additionally, the final length of the first antler was related to total milk yield, date of antler growth initiation, body weight at 6 months of age, and the antler growth time interval.     

Molecular phylogenetic analysis shows that <Emphasis Type="Italic">Amanita ponderosa</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">A. curtipes</Emphasis> are distinct species

Amanita curtipes and A. ponderosa are two Mediterranean taxa sharing a number of morphological features as well as their habitat. Their synonymy or variety status has been proposed by several authors. To clarify this taxonomic issue we have sequenced the D1-D2 domains of the 28S rRNA gene as well as the complete ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 region of several specimens of the two species collected in Spain, and aligned these sequences with those from other Amanita species. Molecular phylogenetic analysis based on the two regions revealed that A. ponderosa and A. curtipes are clearly distinct species. The distribution of Amanita species in the phylogenetic trees was consistent with the division of the genus in subgenera and sections as proposed by previous authors. Sequences of A. ponderosa and A. curtipes were grouped in a monophyletic cluster together with other species of the section Amidella. However, A. ponderosa was closer to other species in the section, such as A. peckiana and A. volvata, than to A. curtipes. We also indicate the macromorphological characters that are most useful to reliably distinguish A. ponderosa and A. curtipes.     

Comparative morphology and sex identification of the reproductive system in formalin-preserved sea turtle specimens

Sex identification in young sea turtles is challenging. Sea turtle neonates lack external dimorphic characteristics and heteromorphic sex chromosomes. We compared the morphology of the gonads and reproductive ducts of dead formalin-preserved hatchling and post-hatchling Caretta caretta, Dermochelys coriacea, and Chelonia mydas and identified sex-specific differences in these structures that are useful in assigning sex. We tested 11 gross gonadal and reproductive duct characteristics in 57 neonate sea turtles and verified the sex by histological examination. A suite of four characters was found to reliably indicate sex in the three species considered: paramesonephric duct size, mobility of the duct, presence of a complete lumen and gonad mobility. Additionally, gonad shape and edge form were dependable sex-specific characters in cheloniids but not in D. coriacea. Together, these morphological characteristics provide new and reliable methods to quickly distinguish sex in preserved neonate sea turtles without using more extensive histological methods.     

江西猕猴桃属(Actinidia)植物的分布及其区系特征

通过野外调查和查阅大量标本、文献,对江西猕猴桃属植物的分布和区系特征进行了系统研究。江西省境内分布有猕猴桃属植物20种和11变种(或变型),其中葛枣猕猴桃(Actinidia polygama (Sieb．et Zucc．)Maxim．)、灰毛猕猴桃(A．cinerascens C．F．Liang)、楔叶猕猴桃(A.fasciculoides var. cuneata C.F.Lang)和簇花猕猴桃(A．fasciculoides C．F．Liang)为江西新分布。江西猕猴桃属植物区系特征表现在：(1)种类丰富;(2)特有现象较明显;(3)多型性突出;(4)地理成分复杂,以中国特有分布式样为主;(5)种间、种内分化较强烈;(6)与邻近地区猕猴桃属植物的关系密切。还对江西猕猴桃属植物的分布与自然生境的关系进行了探讨。     

Molecular and morphological data suggest that Spinibarbus caldwelli (Nichols) (Teleostei: Cyprinidae) is a valid species

The taxonomic problem of the cyprinid species of genus Spinibarbus, occurring in southern China and northern Vietnam, was resolved on the basis of molecular and morphological analyses. Spinibarbus caldwelli and Spinibarbus hollandi have a smooth posterior edge of the last unbranched dorsal fin ray among species in the genus. Spinibarbus caldwelli is currently regarded as a junior synonym of S. hollandi because of ambiguities in diagnostic characters. In this article, 11 mtDNA cytochrome b sequences of Spinibarbus specimens were analyzed together with Barbodes gonionotus and Puntius conchonius as outgroups. Our results showed that specimens identified as S. hollandi from Taiwan were different from those from the Asian mainland at a high level of genetic divergence (0.097–0.112), which is higher than that between the two valid species, S. sinensis and S. yunnanensis (0.089), and suggested that Taiwan specimens should be considered as a different species from the Asian mainland one. In a molecular phylogenetic analysis, the sister-group relationship between Taiwan specimens and the Asian mainland specimens was supported strongly by a high confidence level (100% in bootstrap value). Further analysis of morphological characters showed that overlap of diagnostic characters is much weaker than previously suggested. Taiwan specimens had 8 branched rays in the dorsal fin, whereas those from the mainland had almost 9–10. The molecular and morphological differences suggest S. caldwelli to be valid. The molecular divergence shows the genetic speciation of S. hollandi and S. caldwelli might have occurred 5.6–4.9 million years ago; the former could be a relict species in Taiwan, and the latter dispersed in the Asian mainland.     

西藏色季拉山种子植物垂直带谱的划分与分布特点研究

将色季拉山种子植物分布划分为山地暖温带针阔混交林带、山地温带针叶林带、亚高山寒温带针叶林带、高山寒带疏林、灌丛、草甸带和高山荒漠带。在上述基础上 ,分析了各带谱的区系组成、性质和特有种分布特点。     

副沙鳅属的多变量形态分析

采用多变量分析方法对副沙鳅属Parabotia的外部形态进行了主成分分析,在27个测量性状的第1、第2主成分散布图上显示,副沙鳅属的外部形态存在着3个具有明显差异的种组:即点面副沙鳅,双斑副沙鳅、武昌副沙鳅和花斑副沙鳅,漓江副沙鳅和小副沙鳅3个种组.主成分负荷值还进一步表明,6种副沙鳅属外部度量性状的差异有多元化的倾向.结合定性特征的观察确定了副沙鳅属6个种的有效性.     

农田土壤动物和微生物与生物化学动态关系的研究

研究了农田土壤动物和微生物的季节动态与土壤生物化学特征之间的关系 ,并利用灰色理论与方法进行分析。结果表明 ,土壤生物和土壤生物化学特征均有明显的季节性变化。而土壤动物和微生物的季节动态与土壤生物化学特征之间也具有明显的相关性。其中关系最大的生物化学特征是过氧化氢酶、脱氢酶、无机磷转化作用和枯枝落叶分解速率。并建立了 5个灰色数学模型 [GM(1,5 ) ]。     

Redescription of Pseudoaugeneriella nigra (Langerhans, 1880), new combination (Polychaeta, Sabellidae), with remarks on some characters of Fabriciinae

The fabriciin sabellid species, Fabricia nigra Langerhans, 1880 from the Macaronesian region, is assigned to the genus Pseudoaugeneriella Fitzhugh, 1998, based on information provided by newly collected specimens. The species is redescribed, including the variability of key characters. Moreover, structures of the anterior end — dorsal lips, ventral filamentous appendages, peristomial rings — of Pseudoaugeneriella nigra and other species of Fabriciinae are studied histologically and by means of SEM. The systematic significance of these characters in Fabriciinae is discussed.