Localization of essential rhombomeres for respiratory rhythm generation in bullfrog tadpoles using a binary search algorithm: Rhombomere 7 is essential for the gill rhythm and suppresses lung bursts before metamorphosis

Frog metamorphosis includes transition from water breathing to air breathing but the extent to which such a momentous change in behavior requires fundamental changes in the organization of the brainstem respiratory circuit is unknown. Here, we combine a vertically mounted isolated brainstem preparation, “the Sheep Dip,” with a search algorithm used in computer science, to identify essential rhombomeres for generation of ventilatory motor bursts in metamorphosing bullfrog tadpoles. Our data suggest that rhombomere 7, which in mammals hosts the PreBötC (PreBötzinger Complex; the likely inspiratory oscillator), is essential for gill and buccal bursts. Whereas rhombomere 5, in close proximity to a brainstem region associated with the mammalian expiratory oscillator, is essential for lung bursts at both stages. Therefore, we conclude there is no rhombomeric translocation of respiratory oscillators in bullfrogs as previously suggested. In premetamorphic tadpoles, functional ablation of rhombomere 7 caused ectopic expression of precocious lung bursts, suggesting the gill oscillator suppresses an otherwise functional lung oscillator in early development. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Develop Neurobiol 73: 888–898, 2013     

Risk assessment based on indirect predation cues: revisiting fine‐grained variation

To adaptively express inducible defenses, prey must gauge risk based on indirect cues of predation. However, the information contained in indirect cues that enable prey to fine‐tune their phenotypes to variation in risk is still unclear. In aquatic systems, research has focused on cue concentration as the key variable driving threat‐sensitive responses to risk. However, while risk is measured as individuals killed per time, cue concentration may vary with either the number or biomass killed. Alternatively, fine‐grained variation in cue, that is, frequency of cue pulses irrespective of concentration, may provide a more reliable signal of risk. Here, we present results from laboratory experiments that examine the relationship between red‐eyed treefrog tadpole growth and total cue, cue per pulse, and cue pulse frequency. We also reanalyze an earlier study that examined the effect of fine‐grained variation in predator cues on wood frog tadpole growth. Both studies show growth declines with increasing cue pulse frequency, even though individual pulses in high‐frequency treatments contained very little cue. This result suggests that counter to earlier conclusions, tadpoles are using fine‐grained variation in cue arising from the number of predation events to assess and respond to predation risk, as predicted by consumer–resource theory.     

Getting in shape: adaptation and phylogenetic inertia in morphology of Australian anuran larvae

The external morphology of frog larvae is predicted to vary among habitats, for a variety of functional reasons. I performed a phylogenetic comparative study to test whether correlations between habitat and the shape of the tadpole and its oral disc are adaptive in 82 species from south‐eastern Australia in the families Hylidae and Myobatrachidae. Habitat distributions and phylogenetic relationships were compiled from the literature and shape was quantified using geometric morphometric analysis of published drawings. Results indicate that shape evolved towards different optima in different habitats while also showing appreciable levels of phylogenetic inertia. Within myobatrachids, evolution of terrestrial tadpoles was associated with a short and shallow head/body and a shallow tail. In aquatic species, the use of benthic microhabitats was correlated with a long shallow tail, dorsal eye position, shallow head/body and ventral mouth with robust jaw sheaths. Even traits with evidence for adaptation evolved slowly in response to habitat shifts, usually requiring ≥10 million years to evolve half‐way to a new optimum. Although these findings support adaptive evolution of tadpole body form, they also highlight a strong influence of ancestral character states and indicate that phenotypes in extant species are partly maladaptive.     

The ontogeny of Pseudis platensis (Anura,Hylidae): Heterochrony and the effects of larval development on postmetamorphic life

Recent studies have described the giant tadpole, delayed metamorphic transformations, and absence of postmetamorphic growth of the skeleton of Pseudis Platensis. These features address questions about derived patterns of life cycles and the role of the heterochrony during the metamorphosis in anurans. Using anatomical methods, we provide new data on the development of reproductive, digestive and integument systems, and age inference obtained from ontogenetic series of Pseudis platensis. Our results indicate that at the end of metamorphosis, the adult skin is completely differentiated, including the calcified dermal layer; the testis has seminiferous tubules with spermatogonia, spermatocytes, and spermatids; ovarian sacs present previtellogenic ova; and the adult digestive tract is fully formed. The froglets differ from adults only in being unable to reproduce. The entire life cycle of P. platensis can occur in 4 years. In the first year, larval development, growth to adult size, and gonad differentiation are completed. Long larval development rather than size of the tadpoles seems to be involved in the absence of juvenile stages. J. Morphol., 2010. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

中国两栖类一新种(有尾目,小鲵科)

对2003年2月、2005年11月采自广西猫儿山国家级自然保护区的1种小鲵进行了研究,认为其特征与现有的小鲵都不相同,确定为中国两栖纲有尾目小鲵科小鲵属1新种,即猫儿山小鲵Hynobius maoershanensis sp.nov..模式标本保存于广西大学动物科技学院标本室,部分副模标本(MESH05111001,MESH05111002)保存于广西猫儿山国家级自然保护区标本室.     

不同水温条件下中华蟾蜍蝌蚪的表型可塑性研究

对中华蟾蜍Bufo gargarizans蝌蚪在不同水温下生长以及变态情况进行了观察,测量了不同发育时期的全长、尾长、体宽,记录了不同温度条件下各时期出现的起始时间和持续时间;比较了不同温度条件下的发育状态,发现高温可以明显加速生长,比对照组提前17天变态.方差分析得出高温下变态前的体长、尾长、体宽、尾高、前肢长都与对照组有明显差异（P＜0.01）,说明高温虽然加速了生长,但也使得变态能量积累不够,体形偏小;21℃时,全长、尾长与对照组差异不显著,其余变量差异显著,说明这个温度下,蝌蚪发育时间充足,积累能量多,趋向于形成较大的个体.这种在水温变化时所呈现出来的表型可塑性有利于适应异质性的环境,急速发育导致的提前变态可以使其避开干旱的危害.但是这种表型可塑性能力也有其局限,推测小个体的成体可能会在生长繁殖中付出代价.     

镉对中国林蛙蝌蚪生长发育的毒性效应

将中国林蛙(Rana chensinensis)蝌蚪分别暴露于加Cd2 的自来水和去离子水中,统计得出24、48、72和96 h的半数致死浓度(LC50)、全致死浓度(LC100)、零致死浓度(LC0)和安全浓度(SC)。结果表明,随着Cd2 浓度的升高和染Cd2 时间的延长,蝌蚪的死亡率增高,Cd2 加入去离子水中对蝌蚪的毒性比在自来水中更强。另外,将26~27期林蛙蝌蚪饲养在含Cd2 0.05、0.1、0.2和0.4 mg.L-1的自来水中直至完全变态,通过对完全变态所需时间、平均体重和长度增长率的测定,研究在SC以下Cd2 对林蛙蝌蚪胚后发育的影响。随着Cd2 浓度的升高,蝌蚪的平均体重和长度的增长率降低,完全变态所需时间增长。说明Cd2 污染在SC以下仍可抑制中国林蛙蝌蚪的生长发育,延缓变态。     

挂榜山小鲵早期胚胎发育初步观察

2005年1～2月,在Nikon体视镜下对挂榜山小鲵的早期胚胎发育过程进行了观察,对不同发育时期进行了数码拍照。根据胚胎发育的外部形态及典型特征将挂榜山小鲵早期胚胎发育过程分为21个时期。在水温6．5～10℃的条件下,受精卵历时1134h孵化出膜,初孵幼鲵全长约16．50mm。