Comparison of ribosomal and isozymic phylogenies of tetrahymenine ciliates

A recent analysis of sequence variations in ribosomal RNA's from 31 species of tetrahymenine ciliates groups them into 9 sets referred to as "ribosets." These species associations are not well correlated with the distributions of distinctive morphological characteristics. The phylogenetic structure suggests that modern "pyriform" tetrahymenines may be paraphyletic survivors of primitive design and that the morphologically distinctive forms may include examples of convergent evolution of derived forms. Alternatively, the common ancestor may have been a polymorphic species that has lost its plasticity in some derived lineages. In an attempt to test the ribosomal phylogeny, we here compare it with a phylogeny based on isozymic variation. The main features of the ribosomal and isozymic phylogenies are similar. The carnivorous (macrostome-forming) species are widely scattered in both, as are the bacteriophagous pyriform species. Isozymic and ribosomal analyses are optimally useful, however, in different contexts. Isozymic variations can distinguish species that are ribosomally identical. Ribosomal variations provide more secure evaluations of distant relationships.     

Comparison of Ribosomal and Isozymic Phylogenies of Tetrahymenine Ciliates

A recent analysis of sequence variations in ribosomal RNA's from 31 species of tetrahymenine ciliates groups them into 9 sets referred to as "ribosets." These species associations are not well correlated with the distributions of distinctive morphological characteristics. The phylogenetic structure suggests that modem "pyriform" tetrahymenines may be paraphyletic survivors of primitive design and that the morphologically distinctive forms may include examples of convergent evolution of derived forms. Alternatively, the common ancestor may have been a polymorphic species that has lost its plasticity in some derived lineages. In an attempt to test the ribosomal phylogeny, we here compare it with a phytogeny based on isozymic variation. The main features of the ribosomal and isozymic phylogenies are similar. The carnivorous (macrostome-forming) species are widely scattered in both, as are the bacteriophagous pyriform species. Isozymic and ribosomal analyses are optimally useful, however, in different contexts. Isozymic variations can distinguish species that are ribosomally identical. Ribosomal variations provide more secure evaluations of distant relationships.     

浙江天台山七子花等6种阔叶树光合生态特性

 对分布在浙江天台山的七子花(Heptacodium miconioides)等6种主要阔叶树的光合生理生态特性进行了研究,结果表明：1)夏季6种植物光合日进程均为“双峰”型,有明显的光合“午休”现象。日均净光合速率月变化呈“单峰”型,8月是一年的高峰期。日均和5～11月平均净光合速率最高的是东南石栎(Lithocarpus harlandii),最低的是天台阔叶槭(Acer amplum var. tientaiense）,七子花处于中下水平。2)相对常绿树种而言,七子花的光补偿点较高,光饱和点较低,对光     

Copulatory patterns of primates as viewed in broad mammalian perspective

The goals of this review are to classify the patterns of copulatory behavior displayed by various species of primates, to compare them to the patterns of nonprimate mammalian species, and to search for correlates of the various patterns. Copulatory patterns are classified in relation to the presence or absence of four defining attributes: a lock, thrusting during intromissions, multiple intromissions, and multiple ejaculations. Literature on copulation in 67 primate species is reviewed, and a tentative classification is proposed for 33 primate species. Although neither social organization nor genital morphology provides a fully satisfactory relationship, there are indications that variations in copulatory behavior are related to variations in genital morphology.     

Seven large variations in the extent of RNA editing in plant mitochondria between three ecotypes of Arabidopsis thaliana

Most RNA editing sites in flowering plant mitochondria are located in coding regions of mRNAs and are usually essential for correct gene expression. Although accordingly little variation should be tolerated, editing sites appear and disappear even between closely related flowering plant species. To investigate whether such editing site variations also occur within species, we analyzed 379 RNA editing sites in the three ecotypes Columbia, Landsberg erecta and C24 of Arabidopsis thaliana. While all editing sites as such are conserved, we identify seven RNA editing sites with 40-60% differences in effective editing between individual ecotypes. These quantitative variations show that the extent of RNA editing in plant mitochondria is very flexible and can change even more rapidly than the evolution of species. The ecotype-specific variations of the RNA editing extent are Mendelian-inherited and can now be used to follow and identify the nuclear loci responsible for these RNA editing phenotypes.     

An Examination of Cell Volume in Dominant Phytoplankton Species of the Central and Southern Adriatic Sea

The phytoplankton biomass expressed as total cell volume is often of doubtful value due to cell size and volume variations in the organisms present. Cell volume calculations for 95 phytoplankton species and volume-frequency diagrams for 25 dominant species were analyzed for the Adriatic Sea. Recommendations for more precise work dealing with phytoplankton cell volume and biomass are given. Temporal variations in the average microplankton cell volume are presented and discussed.     

Cell number and cellular composition in vermiform larvae of dicyemid mesozoans

Cell numbers and cellular composition were examined in vermiform larvae of 44 species of dicyemid mesozoans phylum Dicyemida belonging to six genera: Conocyema , Dicyema , Dicyemennea , Dicyemodeca , Microcyema and Pseudicyema . In addition, the literature on vermiform larvae of another 59 species was reviewed. Vermiform larvae typically have a constant number of peripheral cells that are species specific. Interspecific variations in the total number of peripheral cells range from 10 to 39. The most frequent number is either 22 or 23. Differences in the total number of peripheral cells are mostly due to differences in the number of trunk peripheral cells, such as parapolar cells, diapolar cells and uropolar cells. The body length of vermiform larvae is positively correlated with the number of trunk peripheral cells. Interspecific variations in the total number of trunk peripheral cells range from 2 to 31. The most frequent number is 14. In species with 14 trunk peripheral cells, individual variations of cell numbers were minimal. In species with more trunk peripheral cells, some individual variations appeared. Increase and decrease of trunk cell number might cause diversity of dicyemids, which is possibly related to speciation in these simple multicellular animals.     

Structure and variation in the hindlimb musculature of the woodcreepers (Aves: Passeriformes: Dendrocolaptinae)

The Dendrocolaptinae (woodcreepers), a clade of neotropical passerine birds, form an adaptive radiation with a spectrum of body sizes and bill shapes. Woodcreepers are scansorial, climbing vertical tree trunks supported by their forward toes and stiffened tail. The hindlimb musculature was dissected and described for 42 of the 50 species representing all genera, and for 14 outgroup species. Structural, functional, developmental and evolutionary aspects of muscular variations are analysed. Woodcreepers have extensive ossification of leg tendons. There is intraspecific variation in the degree of ossification, and interspecific variation in the occurrence of ossification between muscles. Intraspecific variation in muscle structure was apportioned according to a published classification. Nine muscles showed variation of the minor, singular, mimicking and incongruous types, but explosive variation was lacking. Some muscles are more prone to variation than others. Ten muscles showed interspecific variations of four types, for which new terms are proposed: occurrence variations; attachment variations in origins and insertions; structural variations in size, shape, or fibre arrangement; and relational variations with other muscles. Variations in the presence of a muscle component did not occur. Discrimination of intraspecific variations from interspecific variations is discussed.     

Variability on microevolutionary and macroevolutionary scales: a review on patterns of morphological variation in Cnidaria Medusozoa

Members of Cnidaria Medusozoa are known for their wide morphological variation, which is expressed on many different levels, especially in different phases of the life cycle. Difficulties in interpreting morphological variations have posed many taxonomic problems, since intraspecific morphological variations are often misinterpreted as interspecific variations and vice-versa, hampering species delimitation. This study reviews the patterns of morphological variation in the Medusozoa, to evaluate how different interpretations of the levels of variation may influence the understanding of the patterns of diversification in the group. Additionally, we provide an estimate of the cryptic diversity in the Hydrozoa, based on COI sequences deposited in GenBank. Morphological variations frequently overlap between microevolutionary and macroevolutionary scales, contributing to misinterpretations of the different levels of variation. In addition, most of the cryptic diversity described so far for the Medusozoa is a result of previously overlooked morphological differences, and there is still great potential for discovering cryptic lineages in the Hydrozoa. We provide evidence that the number of species in the Medusozoa is misestimated and emphasize the necessity of examining different levels of morphological variations when studying species boundaries, in order to avoid generalizations and misinterpretations of morphological characters.     

木犀属植物叶柄的比较解剖学研究

对木犀属(Osmanthus)26种植物叶柄的解剖结构进行了研究.结果表明,木犀属植物叶柄的解剖特征存在比较丰富的变异,叶柄横切面形状有3种类型(U型、V型、Y型),周缘波状、浅波状或近平滑;表皮毛有或无;维管束一般为1大2小,维管束轮廓在种问变异丰富,维管束类型有周韧、近周韧、外韧3种;小叶月桂、牛矢果、厚边木犀、美洲木犀叶柄中央具髓腔,部分种叶柄有硬化细胞或石细胞存在.木犀属植物叶柄的解剖结构特征比较稳定,可作为该属的分种特征.     

Morphological and biochemical variations in the gills of 12 aquatic air-breathing anabantoid fish

All fish species in the Anabantoidei suborder are aquatic air-breathing fish. These species have an accessory air-breathing organ, called the labyrinth organ, in the branchial cavity and can engulf air at the surface of the water to assist in gas exchange. It is therefore necessary to examine the extent of gill modification among anabantoid fish species and the potential trade-offs in their function. The experimental hypothesis that we aimed to test is whether anabantoid fishes have both morphological and functional variations in the gills among different species. We examined the gills of 12 species from three families and nine genera of Anabantoidei. Though the sizes of the fourth gill arch in three species of Trichogaster were reduced significantly, not all anabantoid species had morphological and functional variations in the gills. In these three species, the specific enzyme activity and relative protein abundance of Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase were significantly higher in the anterior gills as compared with the posterior gills and the labyrinth organ. The relative abundance of cytosolic carbonic anhydrase, an indicator of gas exchange, was found to be highest in the labyrinth organ. The phylogenetic distribution of the fourth gill's morphological differentiation suggests that these variations are lineage specific, which may imply a phylogenetic influence on gill morphology in anabantoid species.     

Three sons of fortune: early embryogenesis, evolution and ecology of nematodes

Comparative analysis of nematode development has revealed considerable variations in how the fates of embryonic cells are specified. Such early variations seem enigmatic as they do not influence the resultant structure or performance of the emerging animal. Three different nematode species are used to consider why alternative ways to reach the same goal may have been established during evolution and why early steps of embryogenesis are particularly variable. A scenario is sketched with a shift from late to early cell specification, along with an increase in maternal contribution and developmental tempo and a decrease in regulative potential expressing different developmental strategies. Future studies of larger numbers of species are needed to assess the extent of such variations and to understand more fully the underlying mechanisms, rules and driving forces.     

Polymorphism and evolution of vulval precursor cell lineages within two nematode genera, Caenorhabditis and Oscheius

BACKGROUND: The cell lineage of nematodes is mostly invariant for a given species, but varies between species. One can thus wonder how a cell lineage varies during evolution. We have started a microevolutionary approach within two genera by observing lineage variations of vulval precursor cells in different natural nematode populations of the same and closely related species. RESULTS: In Caenorhabditis elegans, the P3.p cell lineage is variable within a genetically homogeneous population and polymorphic between wild strains. Irrespective of its division pattern, P3.p is competent to form vulval tissue in different C. elegans strains, whereas it is not competent in C. briggsae. In Oscheius sp. 1, P4.p and P8.p lineages are strongly polymorphic. Within each genus, these intraspecies polymorphisms in cell lineages are amplified between closely related species. In Oscheius sp. 1, the large polymorphisms in P4.p and P8.p lineages allowed us to undertake a genetic analysis of the variation between two pairs of strains. Multiple loci are involved in cell lineage differences, and variation at one locus appears to have a relatively strong effect. In addition to these large lineage variations in cells that do not normally contribute to the vulva, we find minor variations (errors) in vulval lineages, which represent the precision level of the vulval-patterning process and point to a selection pressure for maintenance of a large vulval equivalence group. CONCLUSIONS: Polymorphisms in vulval cell lineage are found within a given nematode species, and could be instrumental in explaining evolutionary variations between closely related species.     

Biochemical Studies on Ipomoea Pollen to Understand Species Homology

Studies on pollen phenolic compounds and isozyme profiles of twelve species of Ipomoea to trace the linkage and homology between the species, through UPGMA method, revealed two broad clusters or groups. The trend of clustering and species composition of each group for both the parameters were close to each other and almost in accordance with phylogenetic interpretation with minor variations. The variations are probably due to the fact that phenolics and isozymes are different biomolecules.     

Comparison of pherograms (plasma proteins, hemoglobins) in three species of Textor Temminck (Aves Ploceidae from Kinshasa region, Republic of Za?re)

The plasmic proteinograms got in agar-gel with adult subjects of three species of weavers offer clear similitude to each other and allow only very unusually a separation of the three species. Intraspecific variations in the three species appear on the level of zones a-b-c-d (alpha-globulins). None of these variations could be referred to a particular physiologic state. In the young weavers, we don't meet the beta-gamma-globulins h-i again. In those, the proteins concentration is very low and the haematocrit not very high. The two haemoglobinic fractions are lowly concentrated. Their relative concentration are in relation inverse to the concentrations observed in the grown-up subjects.     

Male sterility at extreme temperatures: a significant but neglected phenomenon for understanding Drosophila climatic adaptations

The thermal range for viability is quite variable among Drosophila species and it has long been known that these variations are correlated with geographic distribution: temperate species are on average more cold tolerant but more heat sensitive than tropical species. At both ends of their viability range, sterile males have been observed in all species investigated so far. This symmetrical phenomenon restricts the temperature limits within which permanent cultures can be kept in the laboratory. Thermal heat sterility thresholds are very variable across species from 23 degrees C in heat sensitive species up to 31 degrees C in heat tolerant species. In Drosophila melanogaster, genetic variations are observed among geographic populations. Tropical populations are more tolerant to heat induced sterility and recover more rapidly than temperate ones. A genetic analysis revealed that about 50% of the difference observed between natural populations was due to the Y chromosome. Natural populations have not reached a selection limit, however: thermal tolerance was still increased by keeping strains at a high temperature, close to the sterility threshold. On the low temperature side, a symmetrical reverse phenomenon seems to exist: temperate populations are more tolerant to cold than tropical ones. Compared to Mammals, drosophilids exhibit two major differences: first, male sterility occurs not only at high temperature, but also at a low temperature; second, sterility thresholds are not evolutionarily constrained, but highly variable. Altogether, significant and sometimes major genetic variations have been observed between species, between geographic races of the same species, and even between strains kept in the laboratory under different thermal regimes. In each case, it is easily argued that the observed variations correspond to adaptations to climatic conditions, and that male sterility is a significant component of fitness and a target of natural selection.     

Global scale patterns of fish species richness in rivers

Explanations of spatial and temporal variation in species richness is a central theme in community ecology Until recently, most research has focused on small-scale phenomena, often emphasizing on local environmental factors and, thus, poorly reflecting large-scale processes that organize species richness In this paper, we analyze variations in species richness of indigeneous freshwater fish on a worldwide scale We show that factors related to species-area and species-energy theories statistically explain most of the variation in freshwater fish species richness across continents Historical events supposed to influence present distributions offish are of little assistence in explaining variations in fish species richness at the global scale Our model, which uses easily measured factors, should also be of practical value to aquatic conservation biology and natural resource management     

Factors associated with plant species richness in a coastal tall‐grass prairie

Abstract. In this study we examine the factors associated with variations in species richness within a remnant tall‐grass prairie in order to gain insight into the relative importance of controlling variables. The study area was a small, isolated prairie surrounded by wetlands and located within the coastal prairie region, which occurs along the northwestern Gulf of Mexico coastal plain. Samples were taken along three transects that spanned the prairie. Parameters measured included micro‐elevation, soil characteristics, indications of recent disturbance, above‐ground biomass (including litter), light penetration through the plant canopy, and species richness. Species richness was found to correlate with micro‐elevation, certain soil parameters, and light penetration through the canopy, but not with above‐ground biomass. Structural equation analysis was used to assess the direct and indirect effects of micro‐elevation, soil properties, disturbance, and indicators of plant abundance on species richness. The results of this analysis showed that observed variations in species richness were primarily associated with variations in environmental effects (from soil and microtopography) and were largely unrelated to variations in measures of plant abundance (biomass and light penetration). These findings suggest that observed variations in species richness in this system primarily resulted from environmental effects on the species pool. These results fit with a growing body of information that suggests that environmental effects on species richness are of widespread importance.     

南大洋极锋以南常见磷虾类生殖特性研究进展

磷虾是南大洋生态系统的基本组成部分,它们在南极海洋食物网中扮演着关键角色。磷虾可能是人类未开发的最大动物蛋白质来源,人类对磷虾资源开发的兴趣日趋增加,但目前关于这些种类的基础生物学,尤其是除南极大磷虾以外的其他磷虾类繁殖特性的了解极为匮乏。本文对已有相关研究进行梳理,揭示了不同种磷虾卵巢发育经历相似的生理步骤;磷虾卵母细胞大小存在区域性差异;通过观察第二性征和卵巢形态可以划分雌性磷虾的发育阶段;磷虾种间产卵期具有纬度差异,种内具有区域差异;多数调查发现样本中雌性磷虾个体占优。在此基础上,本文对今后的研究重点提出展望:1)加强南极大磷虾之外磷虾生殖特性的研究,探索磷虾生殖特点的季节性、区域性对磷虾环南极分布的影响;2)重点关注实验生物学研究,厘清磷虾的产卵次数及机制,以期准确估算繁殖力以评估磷虾资源开发可能产生的影响。     

Effect of local spatial plant distribution and conspecific density on bumble bee foraging behaviour

1. Size variations in pollinator populations may modify competitive interactions among foragers. Competition among pollinators has been shown to lead to one of two contrasting behaviours: either specialisation to the most profitable plant species or generalisation to several species. When foraging, pollinators are also confronted with heterogeneity in the spatial distribution of plant resources. Because variations in both the forager density and plant spatial distribution can affect pollinator behaviour, focus was on the interactive effect of these two factors. 2. Bumble bee (Bombus terrestris L.) individuals were trained on a focal species (Lotus corniculatus L.) and experimentally tested whether variations in the forager density (two or six bumble bees foraging together), plant community spatial distribution (two plant species: L. corniculatus and Medicago sativa, which were either patchily or randomly distributed), and their interaction modified bumble bee foraging behaviour. 3. It was shown that when confronted with a high forager density, bumble bees focused their visits towards the most familiar species, especially when foraging under a random plant distribution. These modifications affected the fruiting of the focal plant species, with a significantly lower reproductive success under low density/patchy conditions. 4. This study demonstrates that the foraging decisions of bumble bees are influenced by variations in both the conspecific density and plant spatial distribution. Given the increasing impact of human activities on plant‐pollinator communities, this raises the question of the potential implications of these results for plant communities in natural conditions when confronted with variations in the pollinator density and spatial distribution of plants.