Life history, population dynamics and production of eastern mosquitofish, Gambusia holbrooki (Pisces, Poeciliidae), in rice fields of the lower Mondego River Valley, western Portugal

The introduced population of Gambusia holbrooki from the rice fields of the lower Mondego River Valley, Portugal, was studied for 15 months, relating their life cycle and population dynamics with its production, in order to assess the role of the species in the energy flow and secondary production in this type of agro-ecosystem. Two main annual cohorts (1995 and 1996 cohorts) were identified. The females outnumbered males and the average female/male-ratio was 4. The inspection of ovary developmental stages of this viviparous fish, revealed that the most important reproductive period was between April and August. The first recruits were recorded in June and were present thereafter until October. Males from the parental cohort died before August, whereas parental females could survive until October. Mean adjusted fecundity (number of embryos divided by female standard length) peaked in July 1996 (0.95) and in June 1997 (1.05). Females reached greater sizes, had a higher growth rate and lived longer than males. Annual production was estimated at 3.101 g.m^–2.year^–1 (ash-free dry weight, AFDW), the average biomass at 2.896 g.m^–2 (AFDW), and the P/B ratio was 1.071. A conjugation of life history, population dynamics, production and ecological traits (e.g. fast growth, reduced longevity, viviparity, high productivity, an intermediate position in food chain, and no special habitat requirements for reproduction) clearly show that the populations of G. holbrooki, introduced into rice fields all over the world, may play an important role in the structure and functioning of the biological communities of these important agro-ecosystems.     

武汉地区西部食蚊鱼的生长、死亡系数及种群补充模式

基于2012年4月—2013年3月在武汉地区两样点调查的西部食蚊鱼数据,运用FAO开发的长度频率数据分析软件FiSATⅡ对西部食蚊鱼的生长、死亡系数以及种群补充模式进行了估算。西部食蚊鱼全长范围为8.30-44.86mm,其中优势全长为16-26 mm,占总数的69.17%;雌雄性别为2.63:1,与1:1存在显著性差异;鳞片观察发现仅存在0~+、1~+两个年龄组;雌雄样本全长与体重的关系式分别为W=4.686×10~(-6)L~(3.299)(R~2=0.953),W=1.008×10~(-5)L~(2.989)(R~2=0.903);von Bertalanffy生长方程各参数为:雌性样本极限全长L_∞=45.20 mm,生长系数k=0.52 a~(-1),起始生长年龄t_0=-0.47a,雄性样本极限全长L_∞=33.60 mm,生长系数k=0.53 a~(-1),起始生长年龄t_0=-0.50 a;雌性样本和雄性样本的自然死亡系数M分别为1.64 a~(-1)、1.81 a~(-1),而总死亡系数Z分别为2.29 a~(-1)、2.37 a~(-1);种群补充模式表明,每年4-9月份为西部食蚊鱼的主要补充期。西部食蚊野生种群表现出了寿命短、生长速度快、自然死亡率高、种群补充时间长等特征,表明该物种是一种典型的r对策物种。据此我们提出了针对性的防控措施:阻止其引入,尽早发现并根除该物种。     

卵胎生入侵种食蚊鱼的两性异形和雌性繁殖输出

检测了卵胎生入侵种食蚊鱼(Gambusia affinis)繁殖期个体大小和形态特征的两性异形以及雌性繁殖输出。结果表明,繁殖期,雌性个体的数量显著大于雄性个体,雌性个体的体长显著大于雄性个体,食蚊鱼属于偏向雌性的两性异形。以体长为协变量的One-way ANCOVA及后续的Tukey's检验显示,特定体长食蚊鱼的雌性个体的头宽、眼间距、体宽和体重均显著大于雄性个体;头长和尾鳍长的两性间差异不显著。6个形态特征变量的主成分分析(Eigenvalue≥1)发现,前2个主成分共解释65.1%的变异。头宽、眼间距、体宽和体重在第一主成分有较高的正负载系数(解释45.4%变异),头长在第二主成分有较高的负负载系数(解释19.7%变异)。食蚊鱼的繁殖输出与母体个体大小的线性回归显示,窝仔数和窝仔重均与母体体长、体重呈显著的正相关;食蚊鱼的繁殖输出与母体局部特征的线性回归显示,窝仔数和窝仔重均与母体头宽、眼间距和体宽呈显著的正相关。窝仔数与后代个体的平均体长呈显著的正相关、与后代个体的平均体重相关不显著,后代个体大小与数量不发生权衡。食蚊鱼繁殖期的性别比例、个体大小和局部形态特征的两性异形受生育力选择、性选择、生态位分化、食物竞争等多种选择压力的作用,也有利于该物种种群扩张和快速入侵。     

Genome Analysis inNeurospora crassa;Cloning of Four Lociarginine-1(arg-1),methionine-6(met-6),unknown-7(un-7), andribosome production-1(rip-1) and Associated Chromosome Walking

We have cloned fourNeurospora crassagenes by complementation analysis. Cloned genes include thearginine-1(arg-1),methionine-6(met-6),unknown-7(un-7), andribosome production-1(rip-1) loci. Chromosome walks were initiated in ordered cosmid libraries from the cloned loci. A total of about 700 kb of theNeurosporagenome is covered in these walks.     

A new fungal genus, Teracosphaeria, with a phialophora-like anamorph (Sordariomycetes, Ascomycota)

The new genus and species Teracosphaeria petroica is described for a perithecial ascomycete and its anamorph occurring on decayed wood collected in New Zealand. The fungus produces immersed, non-stromatic ceratosphaeria-like perithecia in nature, with hyaline, septate ascospores produced in unitunicate, non-amyloid asci. The anamorph produced in vitro is phialophora-like with lightly pigmented phialides terminating in flaring, deep collarettes that are often noticeably brown with conspicuous periclinal thickening. Phylogenetic analysis of LSU rDNA sequence data indicates that this fungus is distinct from morphologically similar fungi classified in the Chaetosphaeriales, the Trichosphaeriales or the Magnaporthaceae. It forms a monophyletic group with recently described, chaetosphaeria-like ascomycetes, such as the pyrenomycete genus Mirannulata, and shows affinity with the anamorphic species Dictyochaeta cylindrospora. The usefulness of describing anamorph genera for morphologically reduced anamorphs, when anamorph characteristics are actually part of the holomorph diagnosis, is discussed. An apparently contradictory example of the so-called Cordana and Pseudobotrytis anamorphs of Porosphaerella spp. is also discussed.     

Cystobasidiopsis nirenbergiae, a new agaricostilbomycete (Pucciniomycotina)

A new genus, Cystobasidiopsis, and a new species, Cystobasidiopsis nirenbergiae, are described for a fungus isolated from an arable loess soil in Ahlum near Braunschweig, Niedersachsen, Germany. An integrated analysis of morphological, ecological, ultrastructural and molecular data indicates that the new species belongs to the Chionosphaeraceae within the Agaricostilbales. Relevant characteristics of the new species are discussed and compared with those of related taxa.     

Diet and physiological responses of Spondyliosoma cantharus (Linnaeus, 1758) to the Caulerpa racemosa var. cylindracea invasion

Marine invasions are a worldwide problem that involves changes in communities and the acclimation of organisms to them. The invasive Chlorophyte Caulerpa racemosa var. cylindracea is widespread in the Mediterranean and colonises large areas from 0 to 70 m in depth. The omnivorous fish Spondyliosoma cantharus presents a high frequency of occurrence of C. racemosa in the stomach contents at invaded areas (76.3%) while no presence of C. racemosa was detected in control areas. The isotopic composition of muscle differed significantly between invaded and non-invaded sites for δ¹³C (− 16.67‰ ± 0.09 and − 17.67‰ ± 0.08, respectively), δ¹⁵N (10.22‰ ± 0.22 and 9.32‰ ± 0.18, respectively) and the C:N ratio (2.01 ± 0.0002 and 1.96 ± 0.009, respectively). Despite the high frequency of occurrence of C. racemosa in the stomach contents of S. cantharus and its important contribution to the δ¹³C source (20.7% ± 16.2), the contribution of C. racemosa to the δ¹⁵N in S. cantharus food sources was very low (6.6% ± 5.8). Other invertebrate prey such as decapods and polychaetes were more important contributors to the δ¹⁵N source at both invaded and non-invaded sites. Activation of enzymatic pathways (catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione-s-tranferase, 7-ethoxy resorufin O-de-ethylase) but not a significant increase in lipid peroxidation MDA (0.49 ± 0.01 nmol/mg prot at non-invaded and 0.53 ± 0.01 nmol/mg prot at invaded sites) was observed in S. cantharus individuals living in C. racemosa-invaded sites compared with control specimens. The low δ¹⁵N contribution values of C. racemosa by S. cantharus together with the toxicity demonstrated by the activation of the antioxidant defences and the important contribution of invertebrate prey to the δ¹⁵N could mean that the ingestion of C. racemosa by S. cantharus might be unintentional during the predation of invertebrate preys living underneath the entanglement of the C. racemosa fronds and stolons mats.     

蠋蝽对茄二十八星瓢虫的捕食功能反应

【目的】明确蠋蝽对茄二十八星瓢虫的捕食能力。【方法】在实验室条件下测定蠋蝽5龄若虫对茄二十八星瓢虫2和4龄幼虫的捕食功能反应及搜寻效应。【结果】蠋蝽5龄若虫对茄二十八星瓢虫2和4龄幼虫的捕食行为均符合Ⅱ型功能反应;随着茄二十八星瓢虫密度的增加,蠋蝽的搜寻效应逐渐降低,蠋蝽5龄若虫对茄二十八星瓢虫2龄幼虫的搜寻效应明显大于4龄幼虫;蠋蝽5龄若虫对茄二十八星瓢虫2和4龄幼虫的实际最大捕食量分别为15和10头。【结论】蠋蝽5龄若虫对茄二十八星瓢虫幼虫具有较好的捕食作用。     

纺锤根锥花——中国唇形科锥花属一新记录种

报道了中国唇形科锥花属一新记录种———纺锤根锥花Gomphostemma mastersii Benth.ex Hook.f.,并提供了该种的形态描述和野外生态照片。纺锤根锥花是现知锥花属植物中唯一具有纺锤根的种类。     

基于EPG的麦长管蚜、麦二叉蚜和禾谷缢管蚜取食行为比较

麦长管蚜Sitobion avenae (Fabricius),麦二叉蚜Schizaphis graminum (Rondani)和禾谷缢管蚜Rhopalosiphum padi (Linnaeus)虽然都取食小麦,但其取食部位、传毒能力均有差异。利用EPG研究了3种麦蚜在同一寄主植物上的取食行为,结果显示:(1)禾谷缢管蚜在取食过程中G波出现的时间最早,G波总的持续时间和每次刺探G波的平均持续时间都明显长于麦长管蚜和麦二叉蚜。麦长管蚜第1次E1波的时间、E1波总的持续时间和每次刺探E1波的平均持续时间都明显比麦二叉蚜和禾谷缢管蚜要长。麦二叉蚜E2波总的持续时间和每次刺探E2波的平均持续时间都明显长于麦长管蚜和禾谷缢管蚜。表明3种蚜虫各自拥有不同取食策略。禾谷缢管蚜比其它两种蚜虫需要更多的水分和无机盐,麦长管蚜通过分泌大量唾液增大对食物的利用率,麦二叉蚜通过增加韧皮部取食时间以满足对营养的需要。(2)刺探过程中麦二叉蚜pd波出现的次数为(51.97±7.82)次,高于麦长管蚜的(44.73±4.52)次和禾谷缢管蚜的(32.99±4.22)次。麦二叉蚜pd波Ⅱ-2和Ⅱ-3亚波的时间最长,禾谷缢管蚜最短,三者之间差异达显著水平。表明与其它两种麦蚜相比,麦二叉蚜在取食过程中口针与细胞间的接触频率更高,与细胞内获毒和传毒相关的Ⅱ-3波和Ⅱ-2波持续时间更长,增加了获毒和传毒的几率,是其传毒能力最强的机理。     

Expression of Zkrml2, a homologue of the Krml1/val segmentation gene, during embryonic patterning of the zebrafish (Danio rerio)

We have identified Zkrml2, a novel homologue of the segmentation gene Krml/val in zebrafish (Danio rerio). Zkrml2 shows 72% and 92% identity in its basic leucine zipper domain with mouse Krml1 and zebrafish val, respectively. Zkrml2 is expressed coincident with MyoD throughout the somites starting at the three somite stage, becomes restricted to the dermomyotome, and subsequently disappears. Transient expression is also detected in the reticulospinal and oculomotor neurons. Zkrml2 maps to the Oregon linkage group 11 (Boston Linkage group 14) with no mapped zebrafish mutations nearby.     

Host range of Ceutorhynchus assimilis (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), a candidate for biological control of Lepidium draba (Brassicaceae) in the USA

Ceutorhynchus assimilis has been selected as a potential biological control agent of Lepidium draba, which is a Eurasian invasive weed in North America. Preliminary studies indicated specificity of this weevil collected in southern France on L. draba. This result was in discord with the pest status of C. assimilis found in the literature. Host-specificity tests based both on field and laboratory experiments showed heterogeneity in the host spectrum of the weevils reared from different host-plants as determined by larval development. However, no distinguishable morphological differences could be visually detected between the populations feeding on different host-plants. All sampled populations of weevils were polyphagous as adults. Weevils reared from L. draba were specific to this plant for their complete larval development. Conversely, populations living on other wild and cultivated Brassicaceae species were not able to use L. draba as a host plant. Such differentiation is further highlighted by other biological aspects such as plant infestation rates, sex-ratio, duration of larval development, and differences in the timing of their life cycles. These results demonstrate that C. assimilis, an insect species formerly considered as a pest of Brassicaceae, is characterized by its host-range variability, with one population being potentially useful in the biological control of L. draba. Moreover, this example points to the need to test multiple populations of biological control agents in assessing risk.     

Life history responses of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Daphnia longispina</Emphasis> to mosquitofish (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Gambusia holbrooki</Emphasis>) and pumpkinseed (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Lepomis gibbosus</Emphasis>) kairomones

In the present study, the effect of chemical cues from two fish species (mosquitofish and pumpkinseed), at different concentrations, was tested in life history experiments with Daphnia longispina. The two fish species used represent the most abundant planktivores of many Mediterranean shallow lakes (SW Europe), where the indigenous fish communities have been replaced by such exotic assemblages. Results have shown a similar response of D. longispina to both fish species: kairomones stimulated daphnids to produce more offspring, which resulted in higher fitness (r), relatively to a fishless control. Fish presence also induced an earlier first reproduction, a smaller size at maturity of daphnids, and the production of smaller-sized neonates. Significant correlations with fish concentration (indirect measure of fish kairomone concentration) were found for size at maturity and neonate size, for both fish species. These results are in accordance to the “positive response” observed by other authors, which represents a defence mechanism to face losses caused by fish predators. The chemically mediated size reduction of mature females and neonates is an adaptive response to the size-selective predation exerted by fish. Pumpkinseed introduction is very recent in the lake of origin of the daphnids used in the experiments and its kairomone produced similar effects to mosquitofish in the life history of D. longispina. These results are contrary to the existence of a species-specific kairomone and support the hypothesis of a general fish kairomone. Guest editor: Piet Spaak Cladocera: Proceedings of the 7th International Symposium on Cladocera     

Application of hydrophilic–lipophilic balance (HLB) number to optimize a compatible non-ionic surfactant for dried aerial conidia of Beauveria bassiana

The hydrophilic–lipophilic balance (HLB) number system was used to optimize a compatible non-ionic surfactant, TDA (polyoxyethylene tridecyl ether) in formulations for two Beauveria bassiana strains, NI8 and GHA. The optimal HLB number for TDA was determined on the basis of wetting times for conidial powders. The results indicated that optimal HLB number of TDA for B. bassiana strain NI8 was 8, while the optimum HLB number for strain GHA was 10. The optimized TDA surfactants required significantly less wetting times than the commonly used laboratory surfactants, Triton X-100, Span 80, and Tween 80. These optimized TDA surfactants were further characterized on their ability to produce conidial suspensions of the two strains after 5 min of mixing, TDA HLB 8 and TDA HLB 10 produced suspensions of 1.8 × 10⁸ and 1.6 × 10⁸ conidia/ml for NI8 and GHA, respectively. These conidial levels were significantly higher than those in Triton X-100, Span 80, and Tween 80 suspensions after the same mixing time. Germination assays showed that TDA HLB 8 promoted significantly higher germination rates of strain NI8 than those observed in other commonly used laboratory surfactants. However, the germination rates of the GHA strain were unaffected by any of the surfactants tested. The efficacy of the conidial suspensions was confirmed with assays against Lygus lineolaris. Bioassay results indicated that there were no significant differences in mortalities because of surfactants. These results suggest optimization based upon HLB number will not negatively impact parameters associated with efficacy, while providing desirable physical properties.     

Identification ofTnr3, aSuppressor-Mutator/Enhancer-like transposable element from rice

We isolated members of the retroposon family p-SINE1 in rice and found that one member contained an insertion. A 3-bp sequence at the insertion site within p-SINE1 appeared duplicated. The insertion sequence, 1536 bp in length, carried imperfect inverted repeats of about 13 bp at its termini which begin with 5-CACTA--- -3; these repeats are similar to those found in members of theEn/Spm transposable element family. These results indicate that the insertion sequence is a transposable element belonging to theEn/Spm family and is thus namedTnr3 (transposable element inrice no.3). In fact,Tnr3 carried long subterminal regions containing direct and inverted repeats of short DNA sequences of 15 bp, another characteristic of theEN/Spm family. The subterminal repeat sequences inTnr3 are, however, of two kinds, although they share homology with each other.Tnr3 and its relatives were present in multiple copies in rice. Considering the length ofTnr3, it cannot represent an autonomous type element, but is a non-autonomous element probably derived by deletion from an autonomous transposon.     

The genus Setulipes (Marasmiaceae) in Madagascar and the Mascarenes, including a key to other African taxa

The authors report first records for the genus Setulipes in Madagascar, with the presence of Setulipes cf. hakgalensis and two new species, Setulipes funaliformis and S. moreaui, as well as a new species from Mauritius: S. mauritiensis. A key to these taxa, as well as to other African species, is supplied.