Distribution patterns of Baltic herring larvae, Clupea harengus L., in the coastal waters off Helsinki, Finland

Changes in the spatial distribution of Baltic herring larvaethrough time were investigated in the waters off Helsinki, thenorthern Baltic Sea. The average larval densities were comparableto the relatively low levels (mean around 2 larvae m^–2)found in other studies in the Gulf of Finland. In shallow baysvirtually no herring larvae were found in early June. In lateJune and early July the densities of larvae longer than 10 mmincreased to 1–4 larvae m^–2 in shallow areas (depth<2 m), i.e. to levels higher than those recorded in deeperwaters. In combination with data on the size distributions ofthe larvae, these observations suggest that a significant proportionof the herring larvae are found in shallow water after the yolksac stage. We conclude that shallow coastal waters are potentiallyimportant nursery areas for herring larvae and that this featureof herring larval biology should be taken into account in planningsampling programs for larval herring.     

Reproduction and larval development of the gastropod <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cryptonatica janthostoma</Emphasis> (Gastropoda: Naticidae)

The larval morphology of the gastropod Cryptonatica janthostoma inhabiting the Northwest Pacific was described for the first time. Hatched planktotrophic veligers of C. janthostoma had shells 250 μm in height with 0.8 whorls, a bilobate velum with a dark brown pigmentation band shaped along its edge, pair of eye spots, tentacles and statocysts. The surface of the embryonal shell (protoconch 1) was covered with fine granules extended at the dorsal side and rounded at lateral surfaces. Concentric crests and growth lines occurred on part of the shell of late free-swimming larvae (protoconch 2) The velum of the C. janthostoma larvae remained bilobate during the pelagic stage of development, whereas it was divided in 4 lobes during larval development in most of the other species of the Naticidae family. The veliger of C. janthostoma was similar to that of Natica montagu from Danish waters [16] by its shape, pigmentation, shell sculpture and velum structure.     

The ontogenetic development of refracting superposition eyes in crustaceans: Transformation of optical design

We have investigated, comparatively, the ontogenetic development of the compound eye in larvae of a mysid (Neomysis) and a euphausiid (Thysanoessa) species and found it to be close to identical in the two species. The larval eye is of apposition type with special adaptations for planktonic life. The elongated dioptric apparatus is devoid of screening pigment and instead has a proximal lens optically isolating the ommatidium. The pigmented retina is extremely compressed making the eye largely transparent and presumably suitable for a planktonic life. The presence of this specialized type of eye in the planktonic larvae of euphausiids was known before but it is intriguing to find exactly the same type in mysids, spending their entire larval life as embryos in the female marsupium. A possible explanation is offered if mysids earlier in evolution had planktonic larvae. Upon reduction of free-living larvae, the transparent type of eye may have been preserved because there is no selection pressure on the larva to change it. In late larval life, both species transform their eyes to a refracting superposition type typical for adult mysids and euphausiids. The process of transformation and the functional connection between transparent apposition and superposition is described.     

按蚊亚属一新种的记述

笔者等1960年和1981年在昆明市郊龙潭坝水田内,采得一批唇基内毛分枝的按蚊幼虫。1980年在滇西北的德钦县采到同样的幼虫及羽化的成蚊。1981年又专程到龙潭坝再次采集该蚊,经隔离饲养,获得由卵至成蚊各虫期的成套标本,经鉴定为新种——昆明按蚊Anopheles kunmingensis,sp.nov。 雌蚊 中型蚊虫,翅长3.9—4.3毫米。顶鳞在中央处为乳白色,扩展至两侧为棕灰色。后头竖鳞深棕色。触角梗节及鞭节2—5有较多的窄白鳞,唇基两侧各有一小丛深棕色鳞片。触须（图1）较为粗糙,基部鳞片蓬松状,在中央处杂有白鳞,有白环4个,     

Phosphatocopina – ostracode-like sister group of Eucrustacea

The Phosphatocopina were long considered as the oldest, Cambrian, record of ostracode Crustacea. However, our detailed analysis of more than 2,500 specimens from the Upper Cambrian ‘Orsten’ of Sweden reveals that Phosphatocopina are neither Ostracoda nor Eucrustacea. The antenna and mandible of the phosphatocopines investigated consist of a prominent limb stem which carries a two-segmented endopod and multi-annulated exopod. This stem portion is now recognised as the fusion product of the coxa and basipod during ontogeny. Phosphatocopina share features, such as the coxa and basipod on antennae and mandibles, as well as ventral body structures such as the prominent pre-oral labrum and a single post-oral cephalic plate, the sternum (with paragnaths on the mandibular sternal portion), exclusively with the Eucrustacea. As a plesiomorphy, the ontogeny of Phosphatocopina starts with a ‘head larva’ with four pairs of limbs, a larva type found in the ground pattern of the Euarthropoda as well as the Crustacea. In contrast, eucrustacean ontogeny begins with a nauplius with three pairs of limbs, a ‘short-head larva’ or orthonauplius. Again, the post-mandibular limbs of phosphatocopines retain the plesiomorphic limb design of a basipod with a setiferous ‘ proximal endite’, whereas Eucrustacea, including the Ostracoda, have their first post-mandibular limb differentiated into a ‘ mouthpart’, the maxillula. Autapomorphies of Phosphatocopina include the small antennula with few terminal setae, a bivalved shield with interdorsum, and the fused coxa and basipod on antenna and mandible. We therefore consider the Phosphatocopina to be the sister group of the Eucrustacea. The respective phosphatocopine species of the Upper Cambrian of southern Sweden are restricted to a particular time zone and may be useful as stratigraphic markers.     

Larval age, growth and mortality in the oceanic squid Sthenoteuthis pteropus (Cephalopoda, Ommastrephidae) from the eastern tropical Atlantic

An investigation was carried out on larvae of the oceanic tropicalsquid Sthenoteuthis pteropus in the equatorial Atlantic (230'N–7S;12W–830'E) The age of the larvae was calculated from thestatolith microstructure of 20 larvae; mortality was estimatedfrom the size structure of 1128 larvae. The larval stage lasts32–38 days. At ages ranging from 14 to 38 days. the dailyrelative growth rates of mantle length decrease from 7.5 to2.8% day^–1 and from 14–16 to 5.8% of body weightday^–1 At age 12–24 days, mortality rates were estimatedusing both raw catch data and corrected data accounting fornet avoidance. The mean value of raw mortality rates was 0.189,the corrected value was 0.158. During the proboscis division(transformation of the larva into juvenile) at age 25–35days, a sharp decrease in larval growth rates and a simultaneousincrease in mortality rates (raw 0.443, corrected 0.379) wereobserved.     

The Effect of Environmental Factors on Development of the Land-Grab, Cardisoma guanhumi Latreille

Larvae of the land-crab, Cardisoma guanhumi, Latreille. weremaintained in 24 different combinations of salinity and temperaturefrom the time of hatching. Survival to the first crab occurredin salinities of 15–45 p.p.t., 25° and 30°C. Durationof the five zoeal and one megalops stages was similar in salinitiesof 20–40 p.p.t., but at 15 and 45 p.p.t. a greater periodof time was required for total development. Mortality of allthe larvae at 20°C suggests that temperature plays a moreimportant role in survival and distribution of the larvae ofC. guanhumi than salinity. Increments of size in crabs during the first seven post-larvalmolts were similar in salinities of 5–35 p.p.t., 25°C,but in fresh water increase in size at the time of molting wasreduced. Although there was no apparent relationship betweenfrequency of molting and salinities of 5–35 p.p.t., theduration of intermolt was reduced in crabs maintained in freshwater, and survival was also lower. From the present study there is no indication that the morphologicaland physiological processes that are associated with adaptationof the adult crab to the terrestrial environment are initiatedduring larval development. Although the adult crabs have successfullypenetrated the terrestrial environment, the pelagic larvae arestill subject to the numerous ecological variables of the estuarineand marine environments.     

Factors Inducing Successful Anhydrobiosis in the African Chironomid Polypedilum vanderplanki: Significance of the Larval Tubular Nest

The African chironomid Polypedilum vanderplanki exhibits anhydrobiosis,i.e., the larvae can survive complete desiccation. Recoveryrate and trehalose content were investigated in larvae desiccatedslowly or at a rate more than 3 times faster. Upon slow desiccation(evaporation rate 0.22 ml day^–1) larvae synthesized 38µg trehalose/individual before complete desiccation, andall of them recovered after rehydration, whereas larvae thatwere dehydrated quickly (evaporation rate 0.75 ml day^–1)accumulated only 6.8 µg trehalose/individual and noneof them revived after rehydration. In the pools that are theirnatural habitat P. vanderplanki larvae make tubes by incorporatingdetritus or soil with their sticky saliva. This tubular structureis a physical barrier not only to protect the larva from naturalenemies but also induces successful anhydrobiosis by reducingthe dehydration rate. When larvae were dehydrated with 100 µldistilled water (DW) in soil tubes, they accumulated 37 µgtrehalose/individual and more than half of them could reviveafter rehydration, whereas larvae without tubes accumulatedlower level of trehalose and none recovered after rehydration.     

Pathogenicity,reproduction and foraging behaviours of some entomopathogenic nematodes on a new turf pest,Dorcadion pseudopreissi (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae)

Entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) in the families Heterorhabditidae and Steinernematidae have considerable potential as biological control agents of soil-inhabiting insect pests. In the present study, the control potential of the EPNs Steinernema carpocapsae (TUR-S4), S. feltiae (Nemaplus), S. carpocapsae (Nemastar), S. feltiae (TUR-S3) and Heterorhabditis bacteriophora (Nematop) against a new longicorn pest, Dorcadion pseudopreissi Breuning, 1962 (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae), on turf was examined in laboratory studies. Pathogenicity tests were performed at the following doses: 50, 100 and 150 Dauer Juveniles (DJs)/larva at 25°C. Highest mortalities (75–92%) of the larvae were detected at the dose of 150 DJs/larva for all nematodes used. Reproduction capabilities of the used EPNs were examined at doses of 50, 75, 100 and 150 DJs/larva at 25°C. S. carpocapsae (TUR-S4) had the most invasions (32 DJs/larva) and reproduction (28042 DJs/larva) at the dose of 100 DJs, and the highest reproduction (per invaded DJ into a larva) was observed in H. bacteriophora (Nematop) (2402.85 DJs) at a dose of 50 DJs. The foraging behaviour of the nematodes in the presence of D. pseudopreissi and Galleria mellonella L. (Lepidoptera: Galleriidae) larvae was studied using a Petri dish filled with sand at 20°C. All of the used nematodes accumulated near the larvae section of both insect species (32–53% of recovered DJs) with a higher percentage of S. carpocapsae (TUR-S4) (53%) and H. bacteriophora (48%) (Nematop) moving towards larvae of D. pseudopreissi, than the S. feltiae strains.     

Larval Development and Vitellin-like Protein Expression in Palaemon elegans Larvae Following Xeno-oestrogen Exposure

Certain anthropogenic chemicals, most notably xeno-oestrogens,are known to have the potential to disrupt vertebrate endocrinesystems. For example, induction of the female-specific protein,vitellogenin, in male fish is a well-known effect of exposureto xeno-oestrogens and serves as a biomarker of such exposure.There have been few comparable studies of putative biomarkersof endocrine disruption in invertebrates. An exception is theupregulation of vitellin-like larval storage protein (LSP) expressionin the barnacle cypris larva following exposure to oestrogenicchemicals. The current study aimed to establish whether larvaeof the glass prawn, Palaemon elegans, are likewise susceptibleto xeno-oestrogen exposure. Using a polyclonal antiserum toP. elegans apolipovitellin, an 86 kDa polypeptide was detectedby western blotting in the larval and early postlarval stagesof this species. An indirect ELISA applied to the soluble proteinfraction of larval homogenates determined that the titre ofthis putative LSP ranged, depending on larval stage, from 0.48–0.67ng µg^–1. Exposure of P. elegans larvae to the xeno-oestrogen4-n-nonylphenol (4-NP), at 0.2–20 µg L^–1,resulted in a significant, concentration-independent increasein putative LSP levels of 5–18%. Conversely, exposureto the natural oestrogen, 17ß-oestradiol (E₂), at0.2 and 20 µg L^–1, led to a significant concentration-independentdecline (up to 11%) in LSP levels. Whether the effect of 4-NPresults from endocrine disruption is not known, however, anoestrogen receptor-mediated effect is unlikely. Other than aslight increase in larval mortality when exposed to 4-NP at2 µg L^–1, neither 4-NP nor E₂ significantly affecteddevelopment, growth or survival of P. elegans larvae.     

Effect of delayed first feeding on development and feeding ability of Paralabrax maculatofasciatus larvae

The impact of delayed feeding early in development on late feeding ability and development of spotted sand bass Paralabrax maculatofasciatus larvae was examined. Larvae were sampled from hatching until day 19 after delayed feeding for zero (control), 1, 2, or 3 days. Feeding incidence was evaluated as the percentage of larvae with food in the gut and feeding intensity was measured by direct counting of prey after dissection of the gut. Delayed feeding effects due to starvation were observed early in development. By day 5, significant differences ( P  < 0·05) were observed between controls and larvae submitted to degrees of delayed feeding, including total length ( L _T), eye diameter, and the size of the head, liver, gut, muscles and body. Differences were still apparent in L _T, and body, liver and muscle heights at the end of the studied period. Larvae under total starvation did not survive beyond day 5. Initial feeding incidence was 35, 60, 90 and 10% for larvae first fed on day 2, 3, 4 or 5, respectively. Mean ±  s . d . feeding intensity was 3·6 ± 0·8, 2·8 ± 1·3, 5·2 ± 0·3, and 10·2 ± 1·5 rotifers per larva depending on whether larvae were initially fed on day 2, 3, 4 or 5, respectively. The point of no return occurred between 4 and 5 days after hatching.     

Hatching and earliest larval stages of the priapulid worm Priapulus caudatus

Abstract. Here we describe the hatching and morphology of the earliest larval stages of the priapulid worm Priapulus caudatus for the first time. The hatching larva differs considerably from previously described larvae not only in its general body shape but also in its lack of a proper lorica including the typical lorica tubuli. Furthermore, no mouth opening or pharyngeal teeth have formed as yet, and the number and arrangement of scalids differ from that of later larvae. The hatching larva molts and emerges as the first lorica larva. This larva partially resembles earlier described lorica larvae, but there are a number of important differences; the first lorica larva is smaller, and the mouth opening as well as pharyngeal teeth are still yet to form. The second lorica larva is equipped with four rings of pharyngeal teeth; it shows striking similarity to the previously described larva of P. caudatus , i.e., the larva-type 2 , only differing in the scalid pattern. We conclude that the first two larval stages of P. caudatus have not been described previously. We suggest that discrepancies between the earliest lorica larvae described here and in earlier publications might depend on sub-speciation or ecophenotypic modification of larvae collected from different localities. Our findings highlight the importance of studying the development of non-model organisms such as priapulids under controlled laboratory conditions.     

Effect of sodium dodecyl sulfate on polar lobe formation and function in Ilyanassa obsoleta embryos

Polar lobes, anucleate vegetal pole protrusions formed by Ilyanassa obsoleta embryos, serve as a mechanism for shunting morphogenetic determinants to one cell during the first two cleavages. Polar lobe material becomes segregated in the CD cell during first cleavage and in the D cell during second cleavage, resulting in a very unequal four-cell stage. Larval structures including external shell, foot, operculum, statocysts, and eyes develop only when polar lobe material is present. Treatment with the anionic detergent sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) before and during the first cleavage inhibited polar lobe formation and equalized cleavage, as the lobe material was distributed to two cells. No polar lobes formed during second clevage in SDS-equalized embryos, and the four-cell stage consisted of four equal cells with reduced cell contacts. SDS inrreversibly inhibited polar lobe formation without affecting cytokinesis. Although 27% of the larvae from SDS-equalized embryos had one or more lobe-dependent structures duplicated, morphogenesis was impaired: more than 40% of such larvae failed to form shell and/or statocysts. When cells were separated after equalized first cleavage and raised as pairs, the pairs of resulting larvae duplicated lobe-dependent structures with the same frequency as whole equalized embryos. Possible explanations for impaired morphogenesis in SDS-treated embryos are discussed.     

Hydrodynamic disturbances produced by small zooplankton: case study for the veliger larva of a bivalve mollusc

Zooplankton produce hydrodynamic disturbances during swimmingand feeding that enlarge their perceptive volume. From the standpointof both prey and predators, fluid disturbances increase theprobability that an organism is detected, identified and reactedto within appropriate time and space scales. Morphology andkinematics dictate the magnitude, symmetry and attenuation ofdisturbances in the fluid medium. Therefore, fluid disturbancesmay be species and age (size) specific. Normal and high-speedvideo microscopy was used to study flow-field generation byfree-swimming and tethered bivalve larvae. These organisms swimand feed using many highly coordinated and symmetrically distributedappendages (i.e. cilia). Larvae tethered in flow at variousfree stream velocities (U₀), simulating swimming activity, inducedparticle trajectories approximately parallel to the organism'sdorso-ventral axis. Velocity (v) and acceleration (a) were symmetricalin the transverse plane and asymmetrical in the vertical plane.Greatest velocity magnitudes ({small tilde}7, 3 and 6 mm s^–)occurred dorsal to the velum and attenuated with source distance(r) as 1/r, 1/r^1.9 and 1/r^2.9 at 10 s^– U₀ =, 3.1 and 6.4mm s^–1, respectively. For a larva in flow, but with velumretracted, simulating sinking, velocity attenuated at Mr towardsthe organism. Mean velocity gradients were on the order of 3,8 and 10 s^–1 for swimming, sinking and hovering larvae,respectively. The high-frequency (22 Hz) component of particlevelocity past free-swimming larvae was due to beat frequencyof the velar cilia. This attenuated rapidly with r leaving onlylow-frequency (1–3 Hz) disturbances 0.1 mm beyond thetips of the cilia. Comparisons of the kinetic energy dissipationrate for turbulence in coastal waters with the kinetic energyof laminar flow fields implied possible dominance of the flowfield of hovering, but not swimming, larvae to at least threebody diameters from the organism (–1 mm). These differencesin flow fields have important implications for larval survival.The perceptive volume of a hovering larva will be 40-fold greaterthan that of a swimming or sinking larva. However, a hoveringlarva U also more likely to be detected by a potential predatorthat uses mechanosensory organs to locate prey.     

Trophodynamics of the plankton community at Dogger Bank: predatory impact by larval fish

The trophodynamics of a coastal plankton community were studied,focusing on fish larvae and their copepod prey. The major objectiveswere to describe distributional overlap and evaluate the predatoryimpact by larval fish. The study was carried out across DoggerBank in the North Sea, August-September 1991. Sampling transectscrossed tidal fronts off the Bank and plankton at all trophiclevels showed peak abundance within frontal zones. Also Verticallythere was a significant overlap in distributional patterns ofthe plankton. Seven species of fish larvae were abundant, ofthese sprat (Sprattus sprattus) dominated. The abundance ofone group of fish larvae peaked in the shallow water close tothe Bank, whereas other species, including sprat, were foundin deeper water. Prey preference and predation pressure of fishlarvae were assessed using information on prey sizes and growthrates of larvae and the copepod prey. We estimated larval removalof preferred prey sizes to 3–4% day^–1, counterbalancedby a 3–7% day^–1' replenishment from copepod productionand growth. Additional predation pressure on copepods by aninvertebrate predator was estimated to 1–3%day^–1.In conclusion, the dynamics of fish larvae and other zooplankterswere closely linked. At peak abundances of fish larvae (>35mg dry weight m^–2), the accumulated predation on specificsize ranges of copepods, exerted by larvae and other predators,could exceed the ability of copepod replenishment and intra-/interspecificcompetition among predators might take place.     

TOTAL CELL NUMBER AND NUMBER OF THE PRIMARY MESENCHYME CELLS IN WHOLE, 1/2 AND 1/4 LARVAE OF CLYPEASTER JAPONICUS*

Total cell number and number of the primary mesenchyme cells of 1/2 and 1/4 larvae were counted at several developmental stages after hatching in comparison with those of a whole larva, using Clypeaster japonicus as material. To obtain partial larvae, blastomeres were isolated at the 2- or 4-cell stage in Ca-free sea water and cultured in natural sea water at around 23°C. Isolated blastomeres cleaved as in situ, namely, as a part of an embryo. Although each partial embryo tended to spread into a plate, it acquired spherical shape prior to hatching of control whole embryo and developed normally in terms of both developmental rate and morphogenesis. Total cell number of a whole larva was about 620 just after hatching and increased almost linearly until i t reached 1850 at the pluteus stage. A half and quarter larvae contained roughly 1/2 and 1/4, respectively, of the number of cells of whole larva through all stages counted. Numbers of the primary mesenchyme cells in the partial larvae, however, tended to be slightly larger than a half or a fourth of that in whole larva. In whole larva, 35, 50, 56 and 58 was counted at the mesenchyme blastula, early gastrula, late gastrula and pluteus stage, respectively.     

Consumption and utilization of a soyflour-wheat germ diet by larvae of the tobacco budworm parasitized by the tachinidEucelatoria sp

The number ( \(\bar X\) =2.4) ofEucelatoria sp. maggots that completed development in 4th- or 5th-instar larvae of the tobacco budworm (TBW),Heliothis virescens (F.), was significantly greater (P<0.05) than the number ( \(\bar X\) =1.2) that completed development in 3rd-instar larvae. Maggot development time decreased with increasing number of maggots per host larva. It also decreased with advancing larval instars. The range was 6.9±1.1 days in early 3rd-instar TBW larvae and 5.0±0.8 days in early 5th-instar TBW larvae. Unparasitized 3rd- or 4th-instar TBW larvae consumed significantly more food than did similar aged larvae parasitized byEucelatoria sp., but larvae parasitized during the early 5th-instar consumed more food than did similar aged unparasitized larvae. Consumption by 4th- or 5th-instar larvae increased significantly as maggot densities increased from 1 to 3 per host larva, but decreased at a density of 4 or more maggots per host larva. Although body weight gain and consumption were both significantly reduced 48 and 120 h after parasitization of late 3rd-instar larvae (6 days old), the approximate digestibility (AD) value was significantly greater for parasitized than for unparasitized larvae. Unparasitized larvae were more efficient in converting digested food to body substance (ECD) than parasitized larvae, but the efficiency in conversion of ingested food to body substance (ECI) was similar for both parasitized and unparasitized larvae.     

双斑长跗跳甲形态特征及行为学观察

双斑长跗跳甲Longitarsus bimaculatus Baly成虫取食美国白蜡(Fraxinus americana L.)叶片,受害叶焦枯脱落;幼虫钻入根内取食,以须根受害最重。描述各虫态的形态特征,并通过室内饲养和野外调查,观察成、幼虫的行为习性,对成虫的活动、取食、交配等行为作了详细报道。