The energetic savings of sleep versus temperature in the Desert Iguana (Dipsosaurus dorsalis) at three ecologically relevant temperatures

One of the proposed ecological functions of sleep is to conserve energy. The majority of studies that support this theory have been done on endothermic animals whose body temperatures drop during sleep due to the reduced neurological control of thermoregulation. In the present study, we examined typical temperatures to which the Desert Iguana, Dipsosaurus dorsalis, is exposed to in the field and found that mean high temperatures ranged from 24-58 degrees C throughout the active portion of the year. We also examined the ecological savings that sleep could provide for this ectothermic iguana using a closed system respirometer. We found that laboratory-acclimated iguanas are able to save significantly more (27.6%) energy by sleeping than by being awake and that field iguanas also had significant savings of energy (69.1%) while asleep. However, iguanas could save more energy by remaining awake at cooler temperatures than by sleeping at warmer temperatures. In addition, we found no correlation for time of night with metabolic rate. Our study supports the hypothesis that one potential function of sleep is to conserve energy.     

Ion secretion by salt glands of desert iguanas (Dipsosaurus dorsalis)

Unlike the NaCl-secreting salt glands of many birds and reptiles, the nasal salt glands of lizards can secrete potassium as well as sodium, with either chloride or bicarbonate as the accompanying anion. The factors responsible for initiating secretion by the gland and the rates of cation and anion secretion were studied in the desert iguana, Dipsosaurus dorsalis. Lizards were given combinations of ions for several days, and secreted salt was collected daily and analyzed for sodium, potassium, chloride, and bicarbonate. Maximum total cation secretion rate was 4.4+/-0.38 micromol/g/d. Cation secretion ranged from 24% to 100% potassium; even high NaCl loads did not abolish potassium secretion. Maximum bicarbonate secretion was about 0.5 micromol/g/d; chloride was the predominant anion. Secretion rate increased only in response to those treatments that included potassium and/or chloride; sodium ions and other osmotic loads (e.g., sucrose) did not increase secretion. This is in contrast to birds and some other reptiles with salt glands, which initiate NaCl secretion in response to any osmotic load. The specificity of the response of the salt gland of Dipsosaurus may be related to the ecological importance of dietary potassium and chloride for herbivorous desert lizards.     

Contributions to elevated metabolism during recovery: dissecting the excess postexercise oxygen consumption (EPOC) in the desert iguana (Dipsosaurus dorsalis)

The excess postexercise oxygen consumption (EPOC), a measure of recovery costs, is known to be large in ectothermic vertebrates such as the desert iguana (Dipsosaurus dorsalis), especially after vigorous activity. To analyze the cause of these large recovery costs in a terrestrial ectotherm, Dipsosaurus were run for 15 s at maximal-intensity (distance 35.0+/-1.9 m; 2.33+/-0.13 m s(-1)) while O(2) uptake was monitored via open-flow respirometry. Muscle metabolites (adenylates, phosphocreatine, and lactate) were measured at rest and after 0, 3, 10, and 60 min of recovery. Cardiac and ventilatory activity during rest and recovery were measured, as were whole-body lactate and blood lactate, which were used to estimate total muscle activity. This vigorous activity was supported primarily by glycolysis (65%) and phosphocreatine hydrolysis (29%), with only a small contribution from aerobic metabolism (2.5%). Aerobic recovery lasted 43.8+/-4.6 min, and EPOC measured 0.166+/-0.025 mL O(2) g(-1). This was a large proportion (98%) of the total suprabasal metabolic cost of the activity to the animal. The various contributions to EPOC after this short but vigorous activity were quantified, and a majority of EPOC was accounted for. The two primary causes of EPOC were phosphocreatine repletion (32%-50%) and lactate glycogenesis (30%-47%). Four other components played smaller roles: ATP repletion (8%-13%), elevated ventilatory activity (2%), elevated cardiac activity (2%), and oxygen store resaturation (1%).     

A phylogeny of the Lampropeltis mexicana complex (Serpentes: Colubridae) based on mitochondrial DNA sequences suggests evidence for species-level polyphyly within Lampropeltis

The systematic relationships of snakes in the Lampropeltis mexicana complex (L. mexicana, L. alterna, and L. ruthveni) are poorly known despite several taxonomic studies over the last 80 years. Mitochondrial DNA sequences were used to infer the phylogeny of the L. mexicana complex. At least one representative sample from the nine currently recognized species of Lampropeltis was sequenced. Our results suggest that a deep basal split resulted in the divergence of two groups of Lampropeltis, with one group occupying the upland areas of western United States and most of western and central Mexico, and the other northeastern Mexico and the lowland areas of the southern United States. Results also revealed that the L. mexicana complex and Lampropeltis triangulum are polyphyletic, with taxa from both groups nested together in deeply divergent northern and southern clades. These results are incongruent with previous hypotheses of phylogenetic relationships based on morphology, and suggest that morphological characters shared among the various tri-colored Lampropeltis (e.g., hemipenal structure and tri-colored pattern) may be difficult to interpret phylogenetically.     

Snake inhibitors of phospholipase A(2) enzymes

Fragment 53--103 of bovine alpha-lactalbumin, prepared by limited peptic digestion of the protein at low pH, is a 51-residue polypeptide chain crosslinked by two disulfide bonds encompassing helix C (residues 86--98) of the native protein. Refolding of the fully reduced fragment (four--SH groups) is expected to lead to three fully oxidized isomers, the native (61--77, 73--91) and the two misfolded species named ribbon (61--91, 73--77) and beads (61--73, 77--91) isomers. The fragment with correct disulfide bonds was formed in approx. 30% yield when refolding was conducted in aqueous solution at neutral pH in the presence of the redox system constituted by reduced and oxidized glutathione. On the other hand, when the reaction was conducted in 30% (v/v) trifluoroethanol (TFE), the oxidative refolding to the native isomer was almost quantitative. To provide an explanation of the beneficial effect of TFE in promoting the correct oxidative folding, the conformational features of the various fragment species were analyzed by far-UV circular dichroism measurements. The fully reduced fragment is largely unfolded in water, but it becomes helical in aqueous TFE. Correctly refolded fragment is produced most when the helical contents of the reduced and oxidized fragment in aqueous TFE are roughly equal. It is proposed that 30% TFE promotes a native-like format of the fragment and thus an efficient and correct pairing of disulfides. Higher concentrations of TFE, instead, promote some non-native helical secondary structure in the fragment species, thus hampering correct folding.     

Emergence and migration of trunk neural crest cells in a snake,the California Kingsnake (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Lampropeltis getula californiae</Emphasis>)

Background  

The neural crest is a group of multipotent cells that emerges after an epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition from the dorsal neural tube early during development. These cells then migrate throughout the embryo, giving rise to a wide variety derivatives including the peripheral nervous system, craniofacial skeleton, pigment cells, and endocrine organs. While much is known about neural crest cells in mammals, birds, amphibians and fish, relatively little is known about their development in non-avian reptiles like snakes and lizards.     

番石榴挥发物对桔小实蝇成虫的引诱作用

利用Y型嗅觉仪测试了性成熟与性未成熟不同生理状态下桔小实蝇Bactrocera dorsalis雌雄成虫对番石榴叶、果肉及番石榴叶主要挥发成分石竹烯的反应.结果显示,测试剂量为1g和10g的番石榴叶和果肉对性成熟与性未成熟的两性成虫均能产生显著的引诱效果,且反应均在10min时达到显著水平.测试剂量为5mg和10mg的石竹烯对性成熟雌虫、性成熟雄虫和性未成熟雄虫均无引诱作用,但对性未成熟雌虫在60 min时产生显著引诱效果.     

Phylogeographic histories of representative herpetofauna of the southwestern U.S.: mitochondrial DNA variation in the desert iguana (Dipsosaurus dorsalis) and the chuckwalla (Sauromalus obesus)

To determine whether genetic variation in representative reptiles of the southwestern U.S. may have been similarly molded by the geologic history of the lower Colorado River, we examined restriction site polymorphisms in the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) of desert iguanas (Dipsosaurus dorsalis) and chuckwallas (Sauromalus obesus). Observed phylogeographic structure in these lizards was compared to that reported for the desert tortoise (Xerobates agassizi), whose mtDNA phylogeny demonstrates a striking genetic break at the Colorado River. Both the desert iguana and chuckwalla exhibit extensive mtDNA polymorphism, with respective genotypic diversities G = 0.963 and 0.983, close to the maximum possible value of 1.0. Individual mtDNA clones, as well as clonal assemblages defined by specific levels of genetic divergence, showed pronounced geographic localization. Nonetheless, for each species the distributions of certain clones and most major clonal groupings encompass both sides of the Colorado River valley, and hence are clearly incongruent with the phylogeographic pattern of the desert tortoise. Overall, available molecular evidence provides no indication that the intraspecific phylogenies of the southwestern U.S. herpetofauna have been concordantly shaped by a singular vicariant factor of overriding significance.     

Two New Species of Isospora from the Desert Skink (Chalchides ocellatus) from the Egyptian Desert

Isospora chalchidis n. sp. and Isospora eimanae n. sp. were isolated from the desert skink, Chalchides ocellatus , order Squamata, from Egypt. Sporulated oocysts of I. chalchidis n. sp. were spheroidal 19 × 19 (18–20.5 × 18–20.5) μm with a 2–layered walled. Oocysts lacked a micropyle and residuum and few polar granules were present. Sporocysts were lemon-shaped 12.2 × 6.5 (9.5–13 × 5–8) μm with a Stieda body and sporocyst residuum but without a substiedal body. Isospora eimanae n. sp. were spheroidal 18.5 × 18.5 (17–19.5 × 17–19.5) μm with a 2–layered wall. There were oocysts without residuum or polar granule, but with small micropyle at 1 end. Sporocysts were ovoid 12 × 8.5(11–13 × 7.5–9) μm with a small Stieda body and sporocyst residuum but without a substiedal body.     

榴莲果肉挥发物对橘小实蝇雄虫的引诱作用

【目的】实蝇类雄成虫对某些含有甲基丁香酚或覆盆子酮等特殊化合物的花类具有强烈的趋性。具有强烈气味的水果挥发物对果实蝇属昆虫的引诱作用尚未有研究。【方法】在杨桃园研究榴莲、菠萝蜜、菠萝及番荔枝4种新鲜水果气味对橘小实蝇的引诱作用,利用顶空固相微萃取和气质联用技术(GC-MS)提取并分析榴莲果肉挥发物成分。【结果】结果显示,榴莲果肉挥发物对橘小实蝇雄虫的引诱效果最显著;榴莲果肉挥发物共得到22个峰,鉴别到20种化合物。绝大部分为酯类物质(>90%),少数为醇类(0.50%)、醛类(0.45%)和含硫化合物(4.23%);诱捕试验显示,2-甲基丁酸乙酯对橘小实蝇雄虫的引诱数量显著高于2-甲基丁酸甲酯、丙酸丙酯、二甲基硫醚、辛酸乙酯、己酸甲酯以及榴莲鲜果肉。【结论】本试验结果将为下一步研发高效桔小实蝇引诱剂提供依据。     

虎斑颈槽蛇大陆亚种的一些生物学资料

1990～2007年,对虎斑颈槽蛇的生活习性、生长发育、产卵、孵化条件和胚胎发育进行了观察研究.虎斑颈槽蛇的产卵期为6月～7月中旬,一年一次性产卵6～22枚, 孵化期为41～43天,胚胎发育分为16期.卵产出时胚胎已发育到第10～11期,孵化至37天时仔蛇已基本发育完全.详细描述了11～16期胎蛇的外部形态特征和发育时序.     

贵州省蛇类新记录——赵氏后棱蛇

2010年8月和2018年5月于贵州省雷山县(雷公山国家级自然保护区,1号标本)、贵州省黄平县(朱家山县级自然保护区,3号标本)和麻江县(1号标本)共采集到5号游蛇科Colubridae后棱蛇属Opisthotropis标本,经形态学和分子系统学分析鉴定为赵氏后棱蛇Opisthotropis zhaoermii,这是该种在模式产地湖南省古丈县外的首次发现。线粒体cyt b序列构建的系统发育树显示,5号赵氏后棱蛇(武陵山系以西)和模式产地(武陵山系以东)的聚为一支;遗传距离计算结果显示,5号赵氏后棱蛇与模式产地的为0.08%;分子遗传学结果表明,赵氏后棱蛇分布于武陵山系东、西两侧。武陵山系的余脉(如佛顶山)对赵氏后棱蛇不同地理种群的遗传分化可能起着重要影响。     

桔小实蝇成虫对不同颜色和气味物质的趋性反应

研究了不同颜色和气味物质对桔小实蝇(Bactrocera dorsalis Hendel)取食和产卵选择以及趋向行为的影响。结果表明:桔小实蝇成虫对绿色食物具有较强的取食趋性,橙色次之,对黄色和红色的食物趋性弱,同时,雌、雄虫之间对食物颜色的选择无明显差异;在黄、绿、白3种颜色中,桔小实蝇对黄色基质的产卵趋性最强,绿色次之,对白色基质的产卵趋性最弱;嗅觉实验结果中,桔小实蝇成虫对乙酸乙酯、蔗糖、蜂蜜和酵母的气味表现明显趋性,但对红糖气味无趋性反应;而乙酸对桔小实蝇成虫有明显驱避活性;而雌虫对这些物质的嗅觉反应敏感于雄虫。     

Response of Ceratitis capitata, Bactrocera dorsalis, and Bactrocera cucurbitae (Diptera: Tephritidae) to metabolic stress disinfection and disinfestation treatment

Metabolic stress disinfection and disinfestation (MSDD) is a postharvest treatment designed to control pathogens and arthropod pests on commodities that combines short cycles of low pressure/vacuum and high CO2 with ethanol vapor. Experiments were conducted to evaluate the effect of MSDD treatment on various life stages of Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann), Mediterranean fruit fly; Bactrocera dorsalis Hendel, oriental fruit fly; and Bactrocera cucurbitae Coquillett, melon fly, in petri dishes and in papaya, Carica papaya L., fruit. In some experiments, the ethanol vapor phase was withheld to separate the effects of the physical (low pressure/ambient pressure cycles) and chemical (ethanol vapor plus low pressure) phases of treatment. In the experiments with tephritid fruit fly larvae and adults in petri dishes, mortality was generally high when insects were exposed to ethanol and low when ethanol was withheld during MSDD treatment, suggesting that ethanol vapor is highly lethal but that fruit flies are quite tolerant of short periods of low pressure treatment alone. When papaya fruit infested with fruit fly eggs or larvae were treated by MSDD, they produced fewer pupae than untreated control fruit, but a substantial number of individuals developed nonetheless. This suggests that internally feeding insects in fruit may be partially protected from the toxic effects of the ethanol because the vapor does not easily penetrate the fruit pericarp and pulp. MSDD treatment using the atmospheric conditions tested has limited potential as a disinfestation treatment for internal-feeding quarantine pests such as fruit flies infesting perishable commodities.     

Critical Role of TLR2 and MyD88 for Functional Response of Macrophages to a Group IIA-Secreted Phospholipase A2 from Snake Venom

The snake venom MT-III is a group IIA secreted phospholipase A₂ (sPLA₂) enzyme with functional and structural similarities with mammalian pro-inflammatory sPLA₂s of the same group. Previously, we demonstrated that MT-III directly activates the innate inflammatory response of macrophages, including release of inflammatory mediators and formation of lipid droplets (LDs). However, the mechanisms coordinating these processes remain unclear. In the present study, by using TLR2^−/− or MyD88^−/− or C57BL/6 (WT) male mice, we report that TLR2 and MyD88 signaling have a critical role in MT-III-induced inflammatory response in macrophages. MT-III caused a marked release of PGE₂, PGD₂, PGJ₂, IL-1β and IL-10 and increased the number of LDs in WT macrophages. In MT-III-stimulated TLR2^−/− macrophages, formation of LDs and release of eicosanoids and cytokines were abrogated. In MyD88^−/− macrophages, MT-III-induced release of PGE₂, IL-1β and IL-10 was abrogated, but release of PGD₂ and PGJ₂ was maintained. In addition, COX-2 protein expression seen in MT-III-stimulated WT macrophages was abolished in both TLR2^−/− and MyD88^−/− cells, while perilipin 2 expression was abolished only in MyD88^−/− cells. We further demonstrated a reduction of saturated, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids and a release of the TLR2 agonists palmitic and oleic acid from MT-III-stimulated WT macrophages compared with WT control cells, thus suggesting these fatty acids as major messengers for MT-III-induced engagement of TLR2/MyD88 signaling. Collectively, our findings identify for the first time a TLR2 and MyD88-dependent mechanism that underlies group IIA sPLA₂-induced inflammatory response in macrophages.     

Behavioral and Morphological Adaptations by Galapagos Land Iguanas (Conolophus subcristatus) to Water and Energy Requirements of Eggs and Neonates

We examine the importance of both the hydric environment ofnaturally incubating reptilian eggs and the energetic needsof hatchlings via an investigation of reproduction in Galapagosland iguanas (Conolophus subcristatus). Hatching success ofegg clutches and the size of subsequent hatchlings are bothpositively correlated with the water potential of natural nests,as predicted from previous laboratory experiments. Water potentialsrepresenting optimal incubation environments are available foronly a brief period in nature, and depend upon the same seasonalrainfall as does food abundance for the emerging hatchlings.The temporal placement of the reproductive season of Conolophussubcristatus balances these conflicting needs for water by eggsand energy by hatchlings. Oviposition occurs slightly beforesuitable water potentials are reached and hatchling emergenceoccurs after the peak in food abundance. Morphological adaptations by Conolophus subcristatus to theirprecarious reproductive phenology include greater amounts ofalbumen in their eggs, and greater energy reserves in emergenthatchlings than most other lizard species. These adaptationslessen the severity of an arid environment where water becomesavailable for periods too short to allow both oviposition andhatching to be temporally placed in an optimal manner.