Morphological and biological characteristics of the Korean population of Leptoglossus occidentalis Heidemann (Heteroptera: Coreidae), an invasive insect pest of conifer cones

In this study, we investigated the morphological and biological characteristics of a serious insect pest of conifer cones, the western conifer seed bug (WCSB), Leptoglossus occidentalis Heidemann (Heteroptera: Coreidae), in Korea. WCSB adults shared external morphology with overseas populations, including zig-zag fascia on the coria, dilation of the hind tibiae, and color pattern on the abdominal dorsum. The average body length and width of WCSB adults were 17.20 and 4.85 mm, respectively, in males and 19.05 and 5.55 mm in females. The average body weights were 111.27 and 169.89 mg in adult males and females, respectively. On average, eggs were 2.12 mm long and 1.17 mm wide. The average body lengths of the first- to fifth-instar nymphs were 3.07, 4.76, 8.77, 13.56, and 15.53 mm, respectively. For biological characteristics, developmental durations of the egg and five nymphal instar stages were 8.6, 3.7, 7.6, 5.8, 5.8, and 9.1 days, respectively, in laboratory conditions. Nymphal mortality was 47.5% in total. The average life expectancy of WCSB adults was 58.2 and 63.9 days in males and females, respectively. Oviposition of the adult females started 23.4 days after emergence, and the total number of eggs laid by a single adult female was 68.6 on average. The results of this study offer basic morphological and biological information that can be used to design an effective control strategy to manage the WCSB population in Korea.     

三峡水库秀丽白虾生长与繁殖生物学特征研究

2012 年11 月至2013 年10 月逐月对三峡水库木洞江段秀丽白虾的生长和繁殖生物学特征进行了研究。结果显示秀丽白虾是一年生的虾类, 寿命为1214 个月。雌性个体的平均体长(37.727.92) mm 显著大于雄性(37.086.59) mm, 具有明显的雌雄异形现象。秀丽白虾的渐近体长(L)为59.33 mm, 生长系数(K)是1.6/年, 生长方程为:Lt=59.33-e-1.6(t+0.081)。雌虾繁殖季节从4 月上旬持续至9 月下旬, 繁殖高峰期为4 月中旬至6 月中旬, 由越冬虾和当年虾两个世代的繁殖群体组成。抱卵雌虾的体长为27.0753.71 mm, 平均体长(L50)为37.06 mm。雌雄性比月变化为1.112.36, 平均为1.46, 群体中雌性个体数量显著多于雄性(P 0.001)。绝对繁殖力(FA)为31294 粒, 相对繁殖力(FR)为(11522)粒/g。绝对繁殖力与体长呈幂函数关系(FA=0.0031L2.8632, r=0.72, n=106), 而与体重呈直线关系(FA=104.63W+9.9534, r=0.79, n=106)。卵径(D)平均值为(1215102) m。为合理保护和利用三峡水库秀丽白虾种群资源, 建议加强虾类捕捞管理, 繁殖期间(49 月)禁止捕捞虾类或限制捕捞强度。       

西藏东南部棘蛙属一新种记述(两栖纲：蛙科)

对产于西藏东南部察隅和墨脱的察隅棘蛙通过形态特征和数值分类作了进一步比较研究,结果认为：产于察隅的察隅棘蛙是一个有效种,而产于墨脱的标本应为一个新种,即墨脱棘蛙Paa medogensis sp.nov.。     

Motion behavior of nauplii and early copepodid stages of marine planktonic copepods

The goal of this study was to quantify periods of activity andvelocities of late naupliar and early copepodid stages of planktoniccopepods occurring regularly on the southeastern continentalshelf of the USA. We obtained quantitative information on eightspecies, including adult females of Oithona plumifera. All studieswere conducted at food concentrations near or above satiationlevels. Activities ranged from 0.85% (adult females of O.plumifera)to 100% of time (nauplii and copepodids of various calanoidspecies). Motion velocities (excluding escape motion) coveredmore than one order of magnitude: from 0.39 mm s^–1 fornauplii of Temora stylifera to 5.24 mm s^–1 for naupliiof Oncaea mediterranea. Ranges of activities of species rangefrom occasional for early juveniles to adult females of O.plumiferato 100% for the same range of T.stylifera, the latter creatinga feeding current from N III onwards, the former not at all.Of notable interest is Centropages velificatus which moves intermittentlyas a late nauplius, continuously as an early copepodid and intermittentlyas an adult. All observed calanoid late nauplii and copepodidsmove in three dimensions, excluding copepodids of the shelfbreak/oceanicParacalanus aculeatus. The results indicate not only significantdifferences in motion behavior between cyclopoids and calanoids,but also between calanoid species. Yet, some calanoid speciesshow little ontogenetic changes at all.     

The reproductive biology, age and growth of the North American cyprinid, Notropis longirostris (Hay)

Notropis longirostris (Hay), the longnose shiner, in Catahoula Creek, Jourdan River drainage, Hancock County, Mississippi, was studied from May 1970 to May 1972. In 1971 reproduction occurred from late March into October, as indicated by gross examination of testes, breeding tubercles and breeding colour in males, and ovarian weights, measurements of ova, and gross examination of ovaries in females. Gross examination of ovaries in 1970 also indicated an extended reproductive season. Generally no significant differences from a 1 : 1 sex ratio or in the size of males and females in collections taken during the reproductive season were indicated. Males and females matured about the same size. Most females were sexually mature when 29–30 mm SL. The smallest female with mature ova was 28 mm; however, the majority of females did not have mature ova until 31–33 mm. The number of mature ova produced prior to spawning ranged from 15 to 129 for females 30.8–44 mm SL. There were significant differences in the number of mature ova with time, two peaks being indicated: the first in late March and April at the beginning of the reproductive period and the second in early July about the middle of the season. This conclusion is also supported by ovarian weight measurements and length frequency histograms. The mean diameters of mature ova ranged from 0.70–1.05 mm, averaging 0.90 mm, and were not significantly correlated with length. Most fish live about 1–1.5 years and do not live through two winters, indicating an annual turnover in the population. Maximum size was about 48 mm SL. Specific characteristics of the life history pattern of N. longirostris are discussed in relation to ecological conditions of the habitat.     

Records and life history of Praunus flexuosus (Crustacea: Mysidacea) in Icelandic waters

Since its fust record in Icelandic waters in 1970, Praunus flexuosushas been found to be very common in the littoral zone of theAtlantic water at the south-west coast of Iceland. It seemspossible that P. flexuosus has only recently been introducedinto Icelandic waters. The life history of P. flexuosus hasbeen followed in Skerjafjord, near Reykjavik, in 1985–1986.The animals have a one-year life span. The females, some ofwhich appear to produce three broods, breed mainly during June–August.Breeding females ranged in length from 18.7 to 25.7 mm and thelargest brood was 72 eggs. The incubation time at c. 11°Cwas estimated to be 25 days. The daily growth rate of juvenileswas estimated to be 0.16 mm in July–August and 0.05–0.07mm in September–October. No growth occurred during thewinter months of October–March.     

Morpho-functional changes of fat body in bacteria fed Drosophila melanogaster strains

We have examined the addition of Escherichia coli to the diet at day 0 of adult life of females from two Oregon R Drosophila melanogaster strains, selected for different longevities: a short-life with an average adult life span of 10 days and a long-life standard R strain with an average adult life span of 50 days. The addition of bacteria to the diet significantly prolonged the fly longevity in both strains and affected the structure and histochemical reactivity of the fat body. The increased survival was characterized by great amount of glycogen accumulated in fat body cells from both strains. In aged control animals, fed with standard diet, lipid droplets were seen to be stored in fat body of short-lived, but not long-lived, flies. On the whole, our data indicate that exogenous bacteria are able to extend the survival of Drosophila females, and suggest that such a beneficial effect can be mediated, at least in part, by the fat body cells that likely play a role in modulating the accumulation and mobilization of reserve stores to ensure lifelong energy homeostasis.     

Morphological and reproductive characteristics of musk shrews (Suncus murinus) collected in Bangladesh, and development of the laboratory line (BAN line) derived from them

To establish a unique laboratory line of the musk shrew with different genetic properties from previously developed laboratory lines, 49 male and 49 female shrews were captured in the campus of Bangladesh Agricultural University from October through November in 1983 and from December in 1985 to January in 1986. The shrews collected were of various ages. They had light gray coats, with slight variations in color. Except for the 12 shrews introduced into our laboratory, the total length and body weight of the shrews ranged from 17.2 to 31.9 cm and 32.5 to 147.0 g in males, and 21.1 to 26.6 cm and 40.8 to 110.0 g in females, respectively. Pregnant females were found throughout the trapping period, and the average fetal litter size was 3.54 (11 cases). Five males and 7 females of the shrews captured in 1983 were transported to our laboratory. After more than 100 days of laboratory rearing, their total length and body weight averaged 27.6 cm and 147.3 g in males, and 24.6 cm and 81.7 g in females. Their body weight was more than double that of Japanese shrews. The shrews introduced (except for one male) produced a total of 59 offspring, which were regarded as the first generation of the laboratory line (BAN Line). Gestation period and average litter size were between 28 and 30 days (10 cases) and 3.47 (17 cases), respectively. The BAN line has consisted of about 60 individuals at each generation and has been maintained as a closed breeding colony.     

Annual survival of Gurney's Sugarbird,Promerops gurneyi

Seasonal variation in body mass and wing length, and the onset and duration of primary moult, were investigated for Chestnut Weavers from northern Namibia. Body mass of adult males was 31.2g (SD 2.6), and adult females weighed 27.4g (SD 1.9). Body mass declined from March to April, and started increasing after August (i.e. near the end of moult) in males and females. Wing length in adult males with new primaries (Oct–Feb) was 80.7mm (SD 2.7) and for adult females (Oct–Feb) 76.8mm (SD 2.6). For both sexes wing length declined during and after the breeding season, due to extensive feather wear. Adult males started primary moult significantly earlier than females (9 April vs 30 April) and moult lasted longer (206 days vs 189 days). The peak summer rainfall and the start of primary moult was earliest in 2000 and latest in 2004 for males and females. Individual primary feathers took 11–18 days to grow.     

The pattern of reproduction in female Columbian black-tailed deer, Odocoileus hemionus columbianus.

Ovarian cycles and the pattern of reproduction in female black-tailed deer in British Columbia were ascertained largely through examination of the ovaries from 444 females. Cyclic development and degeneration of single follicles of ovulatory size occurred several weeks before first ovulation. As the breeding season approached, a second or third large follicle developed in each cycle but in 48% of adult females the follicles were at different stages of maturation. Those failing to rupture at first ovulation luteinized 1 to 2 days thereafter. The first ovulation of the season, in November, never resulted in a lasting pregnancy even though some ova were penetrated by spermatozoa and began to cleave. First ovulation was apparently 'silent' in five of seven females for their ova lacked spermatozoa. Of sixty-one pregnant females, fifty-nine conceived at second ovulation; the other two conceived at subsequent ovulations more widely spaced than the 8- to 9-day interval between first and second ovulations. The synchrony of ovulatory cycles among adult females was such that half of them ovulated for the second time in a span of 7 or 8 days. Primary CL that formed after first ovulation grew to an average maximum volume of only about 45 mm3, whereas those originating at second ovulation grew to twice that size within 5 to 8 days. First generation CL shrank from 35 mm3 to 10 mm3 within 2 days. They disappeared within 18 months but corpora albicantia persisted for the life of the female. The possible ecological significance of the reproductive pattern is discussed.     

Determination of growth and maturation in the common frog, Rana temporaria, by skeletochronology

Growth and maturation in a Swiss population of Rana temporaria were studied in 1983 and 1984 by means of skeletochronology. Resting line (growth ring) diameters were used to back-calculate individual body sizes in previous years; these permitted establishment of an average growth curve and determination of individual ages and sizes at first reproduction. Growth was rapid up to maturation, but continued thereafter at a decreased rate. Males were larger than females at age two but females grew faster thereafter, causing sexual dimorphism in adult body sizes. Body size distributions for both years and for frogs recaptured and first captured in 1984 were established. Growth in immatures was positively, but in adults negatively correlated with body size, with considerable variation at all sizes. Individual adult sizes were positively correlated with body sizes at the end of the first year. Average individual age at first reproduction was 2.8 years in males and 3.1 years in females (range in both sexes two to four years). There is no evidence for a two-year-cycle of reproduction.     

Reproductive biology, length-weight relationship and relative condition of Tilapia leucosticta (Trewavas) in Lake Naivasha, Kenya

In Lake Naivasha Tilapia leucosticta (Trewavas) spawns throughout the year. Males attain maturity at 180 mm and females at 160 mm total length. Males predominate over females in the catches (sex ratio 1-00 : 0-51). Fecundity ranged from 320 to 1328 eggs with an average of 751. The relationship between fecundity (F) and total length (L), body weight (W) and gonad weight (GW) is:
The length-weight regression coefficient is near to the cube. There is little seasonal fluctuation in relative condition of the fishes.     

Temperature control on the post-embryonic growth of Neomysis intermedia Czerniawsky in a hypereutrophic temperate lake

In situ growth of Neomysis intermedia Czerniawsky at the post-embryonicstage was studied by the cohort analysis using the probabilitygraphic technique in a hypereutrophic temperate lake, Lake Kasumigaura.Two overwintering populations and 5 spring cohorts were recognizedover 2-yr field observations performed at 4–15 day intervals.There was no luck in order to follow possible cohorts in mid-summerand autumn. The specific growth rate of the post-embryonic stagedetermined varied between 0.001 and 0.16 (day ^–1) dependingupon the surrounding water temperature, and each individualgrowth showed an almost exponential pattern. Average size ofnew born individuals was {small tilde}2.1 mm in body lengthand was consistent regardless of the difference of seasons,but the average mature size was highly temperature dependent,ranging between 7.6 and 12.0 mm for males and 8.1 and 13.5 mmfor females.     

Biology and population dynamics of Porcellionides sexfasciatus (Crustacea,Isopoda, Oniscidea)

The biology and the population dynamics of Porcellionides sexfasciatus Budde-Lund (1879) were studied on a field and carried out at Garat Naam (Kasserine, Tunisia) from July 1996 to June 1998. The reproduction exhibited a seasonal pattern extending from February/March to October/November. The juveniles appeared in the population from April to November. Size frequency distributions were analysed and 14 cohorts were recognised during the sampling period. Six cohorts were identified at the first sampling and eight new ones on the other samplings. Among these latter cohorts, three were tracked till they disappeared. Minimum average length of new cohorts ranged from 3.07 +/- 0.35 mm to 3.47 +/- 0.2 mm. Maximum average length of cohorts was 10.42 mm. P. sexfasciatus is a semi-annual species (females producing two or three broods per year), with iteroparous and amphogenes females (females reproducing twice or more in their life and producing both males and females), and bivoltine life cycle (two generations per year). The females are able to produce two broods, in the laboratory, without new mating. Fecundity and fertility, corresponding to the number of eggs or embryos per brood, appeared positively correlated with females' size. Although oscillating throughout the year, the sex ratio was often in equilibrium.     

Reproductive biology and growth of bluestripe herring Herklotsichthys quadrimaculatus (Rüppell, 1837) in the northernmost waters

In order to examine the reproductive biology and growth of Herklotsichthys quadrimaculatus in the northernmost part of its reproductive range, the size frequency, gonadal development, and otolith daily increments of this species were collected from the coastal waters of Okinawa Island, southern Japan. Juveniles (<25 mm standard length, SL) were found from April to August. Their size increased to ca. 100 mm SL in November and subsequently remained unchanged. The gonadosomatic index of females was higher (>3.0) between March and August, which was the estimated spawning period. The modal hatching period back‐calculated from otolith daily increments was from April to May, which would be the peak of spawning. Because mature and spent ovaries also contained mature and immature oocytes, it was concluded that females spawn several times during the spawning season. Age determination from otolith increments showed logistic growth up to 97 mm (ca. 180 days post‐hatch), after which growth was almost stagnant. Maximum size and age were 121.6 mm SL and 384 days, respectively. The adult size decreased between August and September, indicating a change in the age cohort. Thus, the fish reached the end of their lifespans after spawning. Some of these ecological features were different from those of a previous study performed in southern areas; these differences suggest a flexible life history that could change to adapt to the surrounding environment.     

Reproduction characteristics of a stunted population of rudd, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Scardinius erythrophthalmus</Emphasis> (Linnaeus, 1758) living in the Anzali Lagoon (the southwest Caspian Sea,Iran)

A total of 486 specimens of Scardinius erythrophthalmus caught in the Anzali lagoon, a large lagoon located in the southwest Caspian Sea (Iran), between March and June 2007 were examined. Age determination showed that the maximum ages observed were 4+ in males and 5+ in females. Isometric growth was identified from length-weight relationship in males, females and pooled data. There was no significant difference from parity in the overall sex ratio of 252 males to 234 females. The fish spawn from mid April to late May, with peak spawning in mid May with the highest average GSI value of 7.12 and 13.52 for males and females respectively. The absolute fecundity ranged between 1482–59620 eggs with the mean of 9287.87 eggs while relative fecundity ranged from 127.8 to 1737.6 eggs/g with the average of 709 eggs/g of body weight. Egg diameter ranged from 0.43 to 1.23 mm with a mean of 0.73 mm. The characteristics of rudd in the stunted population from the Anzali lagoon differ markedly from those of other localities of its range.     

Effects of size at metamorphosis on stonefly fecundity, longevity, and reproductive success

Many organisms with complex life cycles show considerable variation in size and timing at metamorphosis. Adult males of Megarcyssignata (Plecoptera: Perlodidae) are significantly smaller than females and emerge before females (protandry) from two western Colorado streams. During summer 1992 stoneflies from a trout stream emerged earlier in the season and at larger sizes than those from a colder fishless stream, and size at metamorphosis did not change over the emergence period in either stream. We performed two experiments to determine whether variation in size at metamorphosis affected the fecundity, reproductive success and longevity of individuals of this stonefly species and if total lifetime fecundity was affected by the number of matings. In the first experiment, total lifetime fecundity (eggs oviposited) was determined for adult females held in small plastic cages in the field. Males were removed after one copulation, or pairs were left together for life and allowed to multiply mate. Most copulations occurred in the first few days of the experiment. Females in treatments allowing multiple matings had significantly lower total lifetime fecundity and shorter adult longevity than females that only mated once. Multiple matings also reduced longevity of males. Fecundity increased significantly with female body mass at emergence, but only for females that mated once. While multiple matings eliminated the fecundity advantage of large female body size, number of matings did not affect the significant positive relationship between body mass at metamorphosis and longevity of males or females. In a second experiment designed to determine if body mass at emergence affected male mating success, we placed one large and one small male Megarcys in an observation arena containing one female and recorded which male obtained the first mating. The large and the small male had equal probabilities of copulating with the female. Copulations usually lasted all night, and the unmated male made frequent, but unsuccessful attempts to take over the copulating female. Our data suggest that selection pressures determining body size at metamorphosis may operate independently on males and females, resulting in evolution of sexual size dimorphism, protandry, and mating early in the adult stage. We emphasize the importance of interpreting the fitness consequences of larval growth and development on the timing of and size at metamorphosis in the context of the complete life cycle. Received: 1 July 1997 / Accepted: 12 November 1997     

Allometry and sexual selection of male weaponry in Wellington tree weta, Hemideina crassidens

Both male and female Wellington tree weta, Hemideina crassidens,use cavities in trees as diurnal shelters. That these galleriesare often limiting in nature offers males the opportunity toincrease their reproductive success by monopolizing galleriesand the females residing in them. Male H. crassidens, can matureat either the 8th, 9th, or 10th instar, whereas females matureat the 10th instar only, and male head (and mandible) size positivelycovaries with ultimate instar number. It has been suggestedthat males fight for control of galleries by using their enlargedmandibles as weapons, and males with larger mandibles controlgalleries with more females. In the present study, I presenta statistical examination of sexual dimorphism, showing thattraits related to head size are on average significantly largerin males, whereas traits related to body size are on averagesignificantly larger in females. I tested three predictionsaddressing the hypothesis that sexual selection is driving megacephalyin male H. crassidens. First, as predicted, traits related tohead size show a positive allometric relationship with bodysize in males but not in females. Second, adapting a novel statisticaltechnique based on maximum likelihood and bootstrapping revealedthat males, but not females, exhibit a multimodal distributionin head and body size traits. This is likely a consequence ofmales maturing at one of three instars, which results in positivecovariance between the ultimate instar number and morphologicaltraits. Third, as predicted, single adult males with largerheads reside in galleries housing larger groups of adult females.     

Sexual dimorphism and female reproductive cycle in the scincid lizard Trachylepis vittata (Olivier, 1804) in Lebanon (Reptilia: Scincidae)

Sexual dimorphism and the female reproductive cycle were studied in a population of the viviparous lizard Trachylepis vittata at 2000 m a.s.l. on Mount Sannine, Lebanon. Females have larger body sizes than males and males have relatively larger heads than females. Females reach maturity at 56 mm snout-vent length. They spend at least six months in hibernation, from October to March. Adult females emerge from hibernation in April. Fertilization occurs mid-May and gestation lasts for 8-10 weeks. All females collected on the same date had embryos at the same embryonic developmental stage. Females produced 1-4 embryos. There is a significant positive relationship between female body size and number of embryos. Parturition lasts for two weeks and new-borns achieve adult size within about ten months.