Inaugural Meeting of the Bivalvia Research Group of PSC and the 1st Bivalvia Symposium Held in Emei, Sichuan Province

The inaugural meeting of the National Bivalvia Re-search Group of PSC and the 1st Bivalvia symposiumwere held from Nov. 15 to 21. 1983 in Emei, Sichuan.75 participants, representing 53 organizations in cluding     

Revision of the lectotype ofFavreina salevensis (Paréjas) (Crustacea,Decapoda) and description of favreine form-species from the Jurassic and Cretaceous of Scotland,Portugal, Yougoslavia and Pakistan

The lectotype ofFavreina salevensis (Paréjas) is re-examined and illustrated and the following new favreine form-species proposed:Favreina guinchoensis from the Upper Jurassic of Portugal,Favreina njegosensis andFavreina dinarica from the Neocomian of the Dinarids, andFavreina eiggensis from the Bathonian of the Inner Hebrides, Scotland.Favreina murciensis Cuvillier, Bassoulet & Fourcade is recorded from the Jurassic of Pakistan.     

Sedimentological and paleoecological aspects of the Norian–Rhaetian transition (Late Triassic) in the Xuanhan area of the Sichuan Basin,Southwest China

The end-Triassic mass extinction is one of the five big extinction events in the Phanerozoic, and its impact on marine organisms has been extensively studied. However, whether the terrestrial ecosystem had begun to deteriorate or even collapsed prior to the end-Triassic mass extinction remains controversial and the related studies in Asia are very limited. In this study, we provide a comprehensive investigation of the sedimentary environments, their implications for floral changes, and the paleoecology during the Norian–Rhaetian transition in Xuanhan area, northeastern Sichuan Basin, Southwest China. The sedimentary environments and climatic conditions changed coupling the transgression and regression caused by the tectonic movements. Climatic oscillations were identified during the Norian–Rhaetian transition in the Xuanhan area, including a short-term cooling event. The diversity and composition of the plant communities changed through the Norian–Rhaetian transition in Xuanhan area, but the terrestrial ecosystem as a whole didn’t collapse or deteriorate prior to the end-Triassic mass extinction.     

Mineralization of soft-part anatomy and invading microbes in the horseshoe crab Mesolimulus from the Upper Jurassic Lagerstätte of Nusplingen, Germany

A remarkable specimen of Mesolimulus from the Upper Jurassic (Kimmeridgian) of Nusplingen, Germany, preserves the musculature of the prosoma and associated microbes in three dimensions in calcium phosphate (apatite). The musculature of Mesolimulus conforms closely to that of modern horseshoe crabs. Associated with the muscles are patches of mineralized biofilm with spiral and coccoid forms. This discovery emphasizes the potential of soft-bodied fossils as a source for increasing our knowledge of the diversity of fossil microbes in particular settings.     

New teleostean fishes from the Jurassic of southern Germany and the systematic problems concerning the ‘pholidophoriforms’

A new genus,Siemensichthys, from the Upper Jurassic of southern Germany is described. The new genus includes two species,S. macrocephalus (Agassiz) which was formerly in the genusPholidophorus, andS. siemensi n. sp. The two species share synapomorphies such as only one supramaxillary bone covering the dorsal margin of the maxilla. Both species are described, and their phylogenetic position is analyzed. The phylogenetic analyses, based on 27 taxa and 141 characters, show thatAnkylophorus from the Kimmeridgian of Cerin,Siemensichthys andEurycormus from the Solnhofen Lithographic Limestone of Bavaria, form a monophyletic group. The new extinct clade (preliminarily identified as theSiemensichthys- group) is proposed as the sister-group ofPholidophorus s. str. plus more advanced teleosts. This sister-group relationship is supported by eight characters (e.g., supraoccipital bone extending forward in the roof of the otic region; articular bone fused with both the angular and retroarticular; presence of an elongated posteroventral process of quadrate; presence of dorsal processes at the base of the innermost caudal rays of upper lobe; mobile premaxillary bone). Comparisons with species ofPholidophorus s. str. provide a new understanding of the genusPholidophorus. At least four synapomorphies are proposed to support the monophyly ofPholidophorus. As a consequence of this new interpretation, the European Late Jurassic species previously assigned to the Pholidophoridae and to the genusPholidophorus (e.g., ‘Ph.’armatus, ‘Ph.’ falcifer, ‘Ph.’ micronyx, ‘Ph.’ microps) should be reexamined because they do not belong to the family nor to the genus. The order PholidophoriformesBerg is not a monophyletic group as currently constructed. Therefore, all so-called pholidophoriforms are in need of revision.     

Amplectosporangium—A New Genus of Plant from the Lower Devonian of Sichuan,China

A new genus and species Amplectosporangium jiangyouense, is described from the Pingyipu Formation (Siegenian) of the Lower Devonian in Jiangyou district, Sichuan, China. The plant consists of naked dichotomizing erect axes with terminal fertile branch-systems. Sporangia are oval-shaped each with a short stalk and are arranged along the inner side of dichotomized axes in single row. By comparison with other known Devonian plants the genus is considered to represent a new morphological type of early land plants. Based on the theory of the telomic origin of the ovular integument, the plant may represent an early stage in the evolution of integument.     

Review of the fauna of Rotatoria,Cladocera, and Copepoda of the basin of the Anadyr’ River

The zooplankton composition is studied in the thermokarst, glacial and meteorite lakes, channels, former riverbeds, and hollows in the basin of Anadyr’. We found 174 taxa: 78, Rotatoria, 55, Cladocera, and 41, Copepoda. The most diverse is the lake fauna: 51 taxa of Rotatoria, 48, Cladocera, and 37, Copepoda. The thermokarst Lake Maiorskoe hosts 68 taxa: 31, Rotatoria, 14, Cladocera, and 23, Copepoda, wheras the cold ultraoligotrophic Lake El’gygytgyn features only one species of Cyclop of the group scutifer Cyclops neymanae Strel., and Rotatoria and Cladocera are present as allochtonous forms. The Copepoda illustrate the relations of the Anadyr’ fauna with those of Europe, North America, and Japan.     

Late Triassic and Lower Jurassic Foraminifera of the carbonate platform of the Beyaz Aladağ Group (Eastern Taurus,Turkey): New stratigraphic implications

Foraminifera have proven to be reliable biostratigraphic indicators. Accordingly, Triassic and Early Jurassic benthic Foraminifera allow us to define a biostratigraphic zonation within the carbonate platform of Kayseri (Yahyal?), Göksun (Kahramanmara?) and Sivas (Delikta?) regions in the Eastern Taurus (Ceviz, Alada?, Kaman and Felfan Mountains). Seven new stratigraphic sections are described in detail and the first precise inventory and illustration of the benthic foraminifer assemblages from the Triassic successions are presented over a large geographic area. The stratigraphic and palaeontological features of the Lower Mesozoic carbonate units of these mountains include several synchronous transgressive–regressive events that suggest continuity of the Lower Mesozoic environments over a large parautochthonous Taurus zone. Palaeogeographic considerations about the Eastern Taurus carbonates are given, evidencing three stages of development underwent by the studied area: 1) a stable continental margin from Lower Triassic to Lower Cretaceous; 2) a dismantling of the continental margin and first emplacement of ophiolites in the Upper Cretaceous; and 3) a deformation of the continental margin and emplacement of the Peridotite Nappe in the uppermost Cretaceous (Maastrichtian).     

The Late Jurassic Pterosaur Rhamphorhynchus,a Frequent Victim of the Ganoid Fish Aspidorhynchus?

Associations of large vertebrates are exceedingly rare in the Late Jurassic Solnhofen Limestone of Bavaria, Southern Germany. However, there are five specimens of medium-sized pterosaur Rhamphorhynchus that lie adjacent to the rostrum of a large individual of the ganoid fish Aspidorhynchus. In one of these, a small leptolepidid fish is still sticking in the esophagus of the pterosaur and its stomach is full of fish debris. This suggests that the Rhamphorhynchus was seized during or immediately after a successful hunt. According to the fossil record, Rhamphorhynchus frequently were accidentally seized by large Aspidorhnychus. In some cases the fibrous tissue of the wing membrane got entangled with the rostral teeth such that the fish was unable to get rid of the pterosaur. Such encounters ended fatally for both. Intestinal contents of Aspidorhynchus-type fishes are known and mostly comprise fishes and in one single case a Homoeosaurus. Obviously Rhamphorhynchus did not belong to the prey spectrum of Aspidorhynchus.     

Autecology and conservation status of Magnolia sargentiana Rehder ＆ Wilson （Magnoliaceae） in the Dafengding region,southern Sichuan Province,China

This paper reports the first population ecology study of the endangered Magnolia sargentiana Rehder ＆ Wilson （Magnoliaceae）. Magnolia sargentiana is a protected species in China, but little is known about its present status in the field. In 2007 and 2008, we surveyed the population and conservation status ofM. sargentiana in the Provincial Mamize Nature Reserve and the National Meigu Dafengding Nature Reserve, Sichuan Province, southwestern China. Natural regeneration is poor because of unfavorable environmental conditions and anthropogenic disturbances. Flower buds and bark ofM. sargentiana are used in traditional Chinese medicine and their collection by local people over the period 1983-1994 has led to marked population declines. The collection of flower buds and bark is now banned, but hewing branches for firewood and grazing continues to have a negative impact on the recovery of M. sargentiana populations. To protect the species, we require a ban on hewing branches, closure of primary forests to reduce the impact of humans and ungulates, better education of local people, and increased awareness of wildlife conservation.     

Storm-dominated deposition of the Lower Jurassic crinoidal limestones in the Krížna unit, Western Tatra Mountains, Poland

The Lower-Middle Jurassic of the Krína unit in the Western Tatra Mts. (southern Poland) shows considerable facies variation. Crinoidal grainstones of variable thickness (up to 12 m) are one of characteristic facies. They occur above spiculites which were deposited below storm wave base on the slopes of elevated horsts. First single beds of crinoidal limestones occur within spiculites. They were deposited as event beds, generated probably by storms. The overlying thick complex of well-sorted grainstones composed almost entirely of crinoidal ossicles display widespread erosional bed amalgamation, hummocks and locally wave-formed ripples. The above characteristics are the effects of multiple reworking and winnowing of fine crinoidal material by oscillatory currents related to storms. This proves that the sedimentation of the crinoidal grainstones took place between the storm and the fair-weather wave bases. The vertical transition from spiculites with intercalations of crinoidal limestone beds towards the crinoidal grainstones is interpreted as the result of a shallowing upward trend. Since this trend is opposite to the global Early Toarcian transgression, this could be related to an uplift due to local block tectonic activity. The evidence for that is diversification of facies in the Krína Basin, as well as submarine slumps recorded in spiculites. The location of Krína Basin on relatively low northern latitude and on western edges of great Tethys Ocean during Early Jurassic enabled the formation of the crinoidal tempestites.     

Flexibility in the order of action and in the enzymology of the nuclease, polymerases, and ligase of vertebrate non-homologous DNA end joining： relevance to cancer, aging, and the immune system

Nonhomologous DNA end joining （NHEJ） is the primary pathway for repair of double-strand DNA breaks in human cells and in multicellular eukaryotes. The causes of double-strand breaks often fragment the DNA at the site of damage, resulting in the loss of information there. NHEJ does not restore the lost information and may resect additional nucleotides during the repair process. The ability to repair a wide range of overhang and damage configurations reflects the flexibility of the nuclease, polymerases, and ligase of NHEJ. The flexibility of the individual components also explains the large number of ways in which NHEJ can repair any given pair of DNA ends. The loss of information locally at sites of NHEJ repair may contribute to cancer and aging, but the action by NHEJ ensures that entire segments of chromosomes are not lost.     

Symbiotic efficiency and phylogeny of the rhizobia isolated from Leucaena leucocephala in arid–hot river valley area in Panxi, Sichuan, China

In search of effective nitrogen-fixing strains for inoculating Leucaena leucocephala, we assessed the symbiotic efficiency of 41 rhizobial isolates from root nodules of L. leucocephala growing in the arid–hot river valley area in Panxi, China. The genetic diversity of the isolates was studied by analyzing the housekeeping genes 16S rRNA and recA, and the symbiotic genes nifH and nodC. In the nodulation and symbiotic efficiency assay, only 11 of the 41 isolates promoted the growth of L. leucocephala while the majority of the isolates were ineffective in symbiotic nitrogen fixation. Furthermore, one fourth of the isolates had a growth slowing effect on the host. According to the 16S rRNA and recA gene analyses, most of the isolates were Ensifer spp. The remaining isolates were assigned to Rhizobium, Mesorhizobium and Bradyrhizobium. The sequence analyses indicated that the L. leucocephala rhizobia had undergone gene recombination. In contrast to the promiscuity observed as a wide species distribution of the isolates, the results implied that L. leucocephala is preferentially nodulated by strains that share common symbiosis genes. The symbiotic efficiency was not connected to chromosomal background of the symbionts and isolates carrying a similar nifH or nodC showed totally different nitrogen fixation efficiency.     

New ommatids from the Late Jurassic of western Liaoning, China （Coleoptera： Archostemata）

A new genus Amblomma gen. nov. of fossil beetles is erected and can be assignedto the family Ommatidae because its two procoxal cavities are contiguous and the articulations of the abdominal ventrites are abutting. The new genus is similar to Zygadenia Handlirsch, 1906 (=Notocupes Ponomarenko, 1964), Tetraphalerus Waterhouse, 1901,Rhobdocupes Ponomarenko, 1966 and Sinocupes Lin, 1976, but can be distinguished from other genera according to the following characters: the second segment of antennae is shorterthan the third one in length; the posterior tarsi with the basal segment is obviously shorter than the three following taken together in length; the antennae reach the posterior ridge of prothroax in length, and the sides of the prothroax with serrulate margin. Four new species of the new genus are described and figured: Amblomma psilata gen. et sp. nov., Amblomma rudis gen. et sp. nov., Amblomma epicharis gen. et sp. nov., and Amblomma stabilis gen. etsp. nov. A key to species within this new genus is provided. All the specimens are collected from the Late Jurassic Yixian Formation of western Liaoning and are now housed in the College of Life Science, Capital Normal University, Beijing, China.     

Chemotaxis of the unicellular green algaDunaliella salina and the ciliatedTetrahymena pyriformis—effects of glycine,lysine, and alanine,and their oligopeptides

Chemotactic properties of amino acids (L-alanine, glycine and L-lysine) and their oligopeptides (10^–6M) and binding sites to these ligands were investigated in two unicellular models, the heterotrophicTetrahymena pyriformis and the auxotrophicDunaliella salina. Chemotaxis ofDunaliella induced by simple amino acids and their derivatives demonstrated that binding sites (receptors) for food molecules are not only present in the membrane but are also able to induce their basic physiological response. InTetrahymena, substances with special molecular structure and properties (polar, hydrophilic character of the signal peptide chain)-5-L-Lys, 5-Glywere required for chemoattraction, other peptides tested, lacking the required structure, were repellent. Divergences in chemotaxis and binding assays of both species suggest that trends of functional and binding parameters do not run parallel at this level of evolution.     

Cloning,characterisation and expression of the α-tubulin genes of the leech,Hirudo medicinalis

We have isolated two α-tubulin cDNAs from the leech, Hirudo medicinalis. Both encode putative proteins of 451 amino-acids which differ from each other at only two positions. Southern blotting suggests that there are only two α-tubulin genes in the leech. The genes contain two introns and, because of the extremely high homology of the nucleotide sequence from the second intron to the end of the genes, we have inferred that a gene conversion event about 9.5 million years ago has homogenised the Hirudo α-tubulin sequences. Using in situ hybridisation to tissue sections, we have shown that the two genes are probably expressed in all neurons of the leech ganglia and that their spatial distribution remains unchanged during neuronal regeneration. The deduced amino-acid sequences of the leech α-tubulins show that they have greatest similarity to those from a platyhelminth, echiuran and mollusc with rather less to arthropod α-tubulins. The protein sequences of the leech α-tubulins have been compared with representatives of those from across all phyla to determine if any specific feature labels certain isotypes of tubulin for neuronal expression.     

ISSR Analysis of the Genetic Diversity of the Endangered Species Sinopodophyllum hexandrum （Royle） Ying from Western Sichuan Province, China

Slnopodophyllum hexandrum （Royle） Ying Is an Important medicinal and endangered species. Inter-simple sequence repeats （ISSR） analysis was conducted on seven natural populations from western Slchuan Province to Investigate the genetic diversity of S. hexandrum. Leaf samples of 140 Individuals were collected. Of the 139 discernible fragments generated by 12 selected primers （among 100 primers）, 54 appeared to be polymorphlc. The percentage of polymorphlc bands （PPB） was 38.85% at the species level, and PPB within a population ranged from 7.91% to 23.74%. Low levels of genetic variation （He = 0.092, Ho = 0.142） and high levels of genetic differentiation among the populations （Gst= 62.25%） was detected on the basis of results from POPGENE and analysis of molecular variance （AMOVA）, respectively. Furthermore, the limited gene flow （Nm = 0.361） may result from biological characteristics, such as self-pollination and short distance seed dispersal. Based on the genetic and ecological Information available for S. hexandrum, we propose some appropriate strategies for the conservation of the endangered medicinal species in this region, namely rescuing and conserving the core populations for in situ conservation and sampling and preserving more populations with fewer Individuals from each population for ex situ conservation.     

Assay, purification, properties and mechanism of action of γ-glutamylcysteine synthetase from the liver of the rat and Xenopus laevis

1. An improved radioassay for glutathione synthetase and gamma-glutamylcysteine synthetase was developed. 2. Xenopus laevis liver gamma-glutamylcysteine synthetase was purified 324-fold by saline-bicarbonate extraction, protamine sulphate precipitation, CM-cellulose and DEAE-cellulose column chromatography, and gel filtration. 3. Rat liver gamma-glutamylcysteine synthetase was purified 11400-fold by a procedure similar to that employed for the Xenopus laevis enzyme. 4. Rat liver gamma-glutamylcysteine synthetase activity was inhibited by GSH and activated by glycine. These effects, which were not found in the enzyme from Xenopus laevis, may have a regulatory significance. 5. Isotope-exchange experiments revealed fundamental differences in the partial reactions catalysed by the rat and Xenopus laevis synthetases. The enzyme from Xenopus laevis appears to follow a Bi Bi Uni Uni Ping Pong mechanism, with glutamyl-enzyme as intermediate before the addition of cysteine and the release of gamma-glutamylcysteine. The results for the rat liver enzyme are consistent with a Tri Tri sequential mechanism.     

Theropod and possible ornithopod track assemblages from the Jurassic–Cretaceous boundary Houcheng Formation,Shangyi, northern Hebei,China

Dinosaur track assemblages from the Houcheng Formation in the small continental Shangyi Basin of northern Hebei Province, China bridge a gap in the record of vertebrates from this unit and enrich our knowledge of ichnofaunas from the Jurassic–Cretaceous boundary. Their stratigraphic position between the Middle Jurassic Yan-Liao Biota and the Lower Cretaceous Jehol Biota gives them a special importance. New discoveries allow a re-assessment of theropod and possible ornithopod tracks that are present with several trackways. Seventy-three footprints were examined and documented. Despite their smaller size, the tridactyl mesaxonic theropod tracks show morphological similarities with the ichnogenus Therangospodus known from the Upper Jurassic deposits of North America, Europe, and Central Asia. The possible ornithopod tracks lack an associated manus imprint, suggesting a bipedal trackmaker. These possible ornithopod tracks from the Houcheng Formation provide evidence for the presence of small basal ornithopods or basal Cerapoda in the Upper Jurassic–Lower Cretaceous in this region. The depositional environment was the margin of an extensive shallow lake with fluctuating water levels under seasonally dry climate.     

Late Jurassic ichthyosaurs from the Neuquén Basin,Argentina

Late Jurassic ichthyosaurs are well represented in the Tithonian of the Neuquén Basin, in northwestern Patagonia, Argentina. Most of the ichthyosaur material from the Neuquén Basin was originally identified as Ophthalmosaurus. Recently, the new ichthyosaur genus Caypullisaurus was described, based on an almost complete mature specimen from Cerro Lotena. Some material previously referred to Ophlhalmosaurus has been referred to the new genus. However, both genera are present in the Tithonian of the Neuquén Basin. The discovery of an articulated forefin in Cajón de Almanza (near Loncopue, Neuquén) confirms the presence of Ophthalmosaurus in the uppermost Tithonian of the Neuquén Basin.