Latimeria chalumnae and its pedigree

Synopsis Latimeria is the product of a long coelacanth lineage, usually viewed as having changed very little. In this paper a classification of better known coelacanth genera is proposed based on a cladistic computer analysis of 56 morphological characters. Biometrical data are then matched with the classification to explore the possibility of identifying subtle change. It is concluded that throughout coelacanth history there have been changes in the structure of the vertebral column involving an overall increase in the number of vertebral elements, and a consequent crowding of these elements within the abdominal region. These changes may be associated with increasing lobation of the second dorsal and anal fins. In the skull, parameters involving the intracranial joint have also changed in such a way that the anterior part of the skull has lengthened in relation to the posterior part and this may be associated with an increase in length of the basicranial muscle.Abbreviations in text figures Ang angular - a.o.r anterior opening of th rostral organ - Art articular - ba.cr.m basicranial muscle - Basi basisphenoid - Boc basioccipital - bpt.pr basipterygoid process - c.p.l cheek pit line - De dentary - Esc extrascapular - eth.sp etmosphenoid - f.e frontoethmoid - Fr frontal - Fr.d descending process of frontal - intr. j intracranial joint - io.s interorbital septum - sc jugal sensory canal - L.e lateral ethmoid - m.Cor modified coronoid - Mm memtomeckelian - m.ot.sc medial branch of otic canal - Op operculum - o.p.l oral pit line - ot,occ otico-occipital - Pa parietal - Pa.d descending process of parietal - Par parasphenoid - pa.s parietal shield - p.Cor principal coronoid - Po postorbital - Pop preoperculum - p.o.r posterior openings of the rostral organ - Pmx premaxilla, Pre-preorbital - Pro prootic - Pro.p posterior process of prootic - Rart retroarticular - Sc.o sclerotic ossicle - So supraorbital - Soc supraoccipital - Sop suboperculum - Sp spiracular - spl splenial - Sq squamosal - Stt supratemporal - Stt.com supratemporal commissure - Stt.d descending process of supratemporal - Par.a.w ascending wing of parasphenoid - Te tectal - X level of vagus exit     

Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging studies of Latimeria chalumnae

Synopsis Recent radiologic imaging techniques (CT[Computed Tomography] and MRI[Magnetic Resonance Imaging]) were used to investigate the cranial anatomy of the coelacanth Latimeria chalumnae. The non-invasive CT and MRI techniques were performed successfully on a 1.45 m female specimen. This specimen had been frozen a year earlier for future research; the CT was conducted on the frozen animal, whereas the MRI method was performed immediately after thawing. The CT technique provides information about differential density of the organism (especially informative with respect to hard tissues, bone and cartilage), whereas three different types of MRI (proton resonance T₁, T₂ and flash) distinguish cartilage, muscles, and different connective tissues. A total of 381 CT cross sections (2 mm thick with 1 mm of overlap) through the head region were used in a computerized three-dimensional reconstruction program to address questions concerning cranial morphology. The results obtained from these radiologic imaging techniques confirmed most of the basic anatomy known from traditional dissections. However, the morphology of complex structures. such as the cartilaginous processes of the neurocranium, and the integration of the branchial arches and palate can only now be described more accurately.     

Observations on locomotion and feeding of released coelacanths,Latimeria chalumnae

Synopsis Two line-caught coelacanths, Latimeria chalumnae, were released for observation of their free-swimming movements in the open sea at a depth of about 50 m. Observations were made of their movement and use of the fins, interaction with humans (scuba diver), and colouration (white patches on dark background) as a possible means of camouflage. A new nomenclature is proposed for the caudal fin region and finnage.     

A fiftieth anniversary reflection on the living coelacanth,Latimeria chalumnae: some new interpretations of its natural history and conservation status

Synopsis It all started about 400 million years ago, when representatives of a group of fish-like fleshy-finned creatures appeared in the fossil record (or was it through a childhood dream shared by all of us that we would one day study the coelacanth?). Many of the coelacanth's characters placed them close to the ancestry of terrestrial vertebrates. About 70 million years ago they disappeared from the fossil record. The discovery in 1938 of the first living coelacanth, in 1952 of the second and until now over 200 specimens parallels in excitement an encounter with a live dinosaur on a weekend walk, and in significance even more than that. For this year's 50th anniversary of the famous discovery of the first living coelacanth, we retraced the routes and visited the main actors of this zoological drama. New insights into coelacanth natural history were facilitated by novel interpretation of earlier data and our expeditions to the Comoro Islands, retracing the route of the second specimen, measuring unrecorded specimens, interviewing fishermen and describing their fishing crafts, and taking part in recent events on land and water near the only known habitat of the living coelacanth. Entry into this habitat and observations from the research submersible GEO opened up a new era in coelacanth research. Past studies of preserved specimens, which were caught as an incidental bycatch, were supplemented for the first time by studies of free-living coelacanths in their natural habitat. The first film footage taken from the submersible revealed the entirely unfishlike movements of this creature. Its mode of locomotion is a combination of flying and gliding, interspersed with head stands and belly-up drifts which appear to defy gravity. The narrow range of habitat in which the coelacanth has been encountered has led us to realize how vulnerable this ancient relict is. The members of our expeditions therefore cooperated in establishing an international organisation to coordinate efforts to conserve the coelacanth. Editorial     

Size-selective foraging behaviour of blue crabs,Callinectes sapidus (Rathbun), when feeding on mobile prey: Active and passive components of predation

Size-selective predation by small (30-50 mm carapace width) and large (90-110 mm) Callinectes sapidus when feeding on three different size classes of Litopenaeus setiferus was investigated. Laboratory experiments using no-choice and multiple-choice designs were carried out. Active and passive components of predation were evaluated by comparing the probability of attacking (active) and capturing (passive) shrimp. Small C. sapidus consumed shrimp of all size classes in similar frequencies during multiple and no-choice experiments, and the probability of attacking and capturing shrimp of all size classes was similar. Large crabs consumed large shrimp with a significantly higher frequency during multiple than during no-choice experiments, and the probability of capturing large shrimp was significantly higher than medium and small ones. Results in the present study suggest that size-specific consumption rates of C. sapidus are mainly the result of a passive mechanism associated with the salience of shrimp to predation. However, an active component of foraging behaviour related to the decision to attack an alternative prey whilst consuming one that has already been captured, helps to explain the differences in shrimp consumption between multiple and no-choice experiments. The complex interaction between active, passive components and satiation is discussed.     

Trophic strategies and functional morphology of feeding appendages, with emphasis on setae, of Upogebia omissa and Pomatogebia operculata (Decapoda: Thalassinidea: Upogebiidae)

Although species of Upogebiidae historically have been considered filter feeders, recent studies show that many species of this group also deposit feed. In this study, the degrees of trophic specialization of two species of this family, Upogebia omissa and Pomatogebia operculata , were analysed. Feeding mechanisms, stomach contents and morphology of the feeding appendages, with emphasis on setae, were examined. U. omissa , found in sandy substrate, is a generalistic feeder while P. operculata inhabits burrows inside corals, being more specialized in filter feeding. Only 21% of the 57 setal types described were common to both species. Setal types were clustered in three main categories: plumed, serrate and plumodenticulate. No simple setae were found. P. operculata has lower setal diversity, with higher ratio of plumodenticulate to serrate setal types than U. omissa. The 1st and 2nd pereiopods have an important role in collecting food. The mouthparts have two main functions: to brush and retain particles so that food can be transported from the pereiopods to the mouth. Generally in these appendages, the dactyli and basal endites are responsible for brushing particles and the meri and coxal endites for particle retention. The diversity of setal types and complexity of their distribution on the appendages may be related to the necessity to select and triturate particles prior to ingestion, reflecting the differences in trophic strategies utilized by U. omissa and P. operculata. Setal characters appear to be indicators of the relative importance of a specific feeding mode for species of this group.     

Comparison of the feeding habits of Eurasian otters on a fast flowing river and its backwater habitats

The diet and feeding habits of Eurasian otters Lutra lutra were studied by spraint analysis over a 2- year period, on three sections of the Drava River and three backwaters, in south-west Hungary. The primary food was fish (mean: 89.8% and 87.5% for riverine and backwater habitats, respectively); otters living in riverine habitats compared to backwaters, consumed more birds (3.9% and 0.7%, respectively), less mammals (0.5% and 0.9%, respectively), less reptiles and amphibians (5.6% and 10.2%, respectively) and less invertebrates (0.1% and 0.6%, respectively). In riverine habitats otters preyed more frequently on larger fish than in backwaters, but the main fish prey was small-sized (below 100 g in weight, 85.6% and 91.7%, respectively). On river sections they preyed more frequently on reophil (flow preferring fish, 18.9% and 3.3%, respectively), and less on stagnophil fish (stagnant waters preferring, 9.8% and 24.5%, respectively) than in backwaters. The main fish prey was eurytopic (tolerant of rivers and stagnant waters, 71.3% and 72.2%, respectively). Preference (by Ivlev's electivity index, E_i) in the Drava River for various fish guilds differed, as the otters preferred eurytopic (E_i= 0.30) and stagnophil fish (E_i= 0.24), and avoided reophil fish (E_i=−0.58). Otters did not threaten the rare, flow preferring fish species and the main diet consisted of economically unimportant species.     

The effect of round-bale feeder design and roughage type on feed wastage in sheep feeding

Feeding big round-bales in round-bale feeders are known to reduce labor and costs. However, one disadvantage is the high feed wastage. The aim of these experiments was therefore to investigate the effect of feeder design, type of roughage and size of round-bales on feed wastage in sheep. Four round-bale feeders (Diagonal Rail Sheep Circular Feeder (RD), Knarrhult Flexible Round-Bale Feeder (KR), Telemark Round-Bale Feeder (TR) and Standard Sheep Circular Ring Feeder (RV)) were distributed into four identical experimental pens and used in both experiments. In Experiment 1, two types of roughages were used; Roughage 1: low-quality, grass silage harvested at late stage of maturity with dry matter (DM) content of 560 g/kg and Roughage 2: high-quality, hay harvested at an early stage of maturity with DM content of 738 g/kg. In Experiment 2, ewes were offered hay harvested at the late stage of maturity with DM content of 766 g/kg as half and whole round-bales. In both experiments, four groups of 10 ewes of the Norwegian White breed were rotated between the experimental pens and each treatment lasted for 4 days. Feed wastage (roughage on the ground surrounding the feeder) was collected daily. The amount of feed wastage was generally high. The type of roughage (Experiment 1) had a large effect on feed wastage (P < 0.001), where Roughage 1 had a mean feed wastage of 1.88 kg DM/day per ewe and Roughage 2 had 0.48 kg DM/day per ewe. When Roughage 1 was provided, it was evident that the ewes pulled out the long fibrous stems of the feeders and left them as wastage while selecting the leaves. This was not the case for Roughage 2. When feeding half round-bales (Experiment 2), the mean feed wastage was 1.50 kg DM/day per ewe compared to 2.88 kg DM/day per ewe when feeding whole round-bales (P < 0.001). This is probably due to the ewes spending more time eating with their heads inside the feeder when fed half round-bales (P < 0.001) and thus dropped more of the potential wastage inside the feeder. Less feed inside the feeder may also be the reason that feed wastage decreased gradually from Day 1 to Day 4 in both experiments (P < 0.001). Feeder design also had a significant impact on feed wastage (P < 0.001). We conclude that providing early harvested roughage and feeding half round-bales significantly reduced feed wastage.     

The effect of the rate of successful dispersal of a Phytoseiid mite,Phytoseiulus persimilis Athias-Henriot (Acarina: Phytoseiidae) on the persistence in the interactive system between the predator and its prey

Dispersal behaviour was studied on a predacious phytoseiid mite, Phytoseiulus persimilisAthias-Henriot in response to the density of its prey, Tetranychus kanzawaiKishida . And the effect of the change in the rate of successful dispersal of the predators among patches was tested on the persistence of the predator-prey system. The results of the study are summarized as follows:

1. With a severe decline in prey density available per individual predator, the predators exhibited a marked behavioural change and dispersed to other areas.
2. When two neighboring host plants did not touch with each other and the dispersal of the predators was possible only through a 20cm plywood “bridge” which connected the two plants, the rate of successful dispersal of the predators was only 20 to 25%, whereas it was 95% when the plants touched with each other.
3. In the system where 32 host plants touched with each other, the predators succeeded in immigrating into all the plants by the 16th day, and they completely eliminated all the prey by the 33rd day.
4. In another system, the 32 plants were equally divided into eight “patches” which were connected with each other with two of the bridges and the predators could move between them only through the bridges as mentioned above. In such a system the predators and their prey coexisted about three times longer than in the other one.
5. It is suggested that for a longer continued coexistence of the predators and prey, it would be necessary to introduce more physical barrier against the dispersal of the predators and to provide more chances for the prey to disperse.

     

饲料蛋白质含量对黄粉虫生长繁殖及川硬皮肿腿蜂寄生能力的影响

【目的】筛选出适宜川硬皮肿腿蜂Scleroderma sichuanensis Xiao寄生的黄粉虫Tenebrio molitor饲料配方。【方法】用10种不同蛋白质含量的饲料饲喂黄粉虫,并观察各虫态生长繁殖情况,再用川硬皮肿腿蜂接种各配方黄粉虫蛹后置于培养箱中培养,5 d后计数雌蜂产卵量,并通过显著性分析、相关性分析及一元回归分析进行数据处理。【结果】各配方黄粉虫生长繁殖情况正常,指标间存在一定的显著性和相关性且与一元回归分析所得相关性一致。川硬皮肿腿蜂对黄粉虫蛹寄生率没有显著性,为86.25%~96.97%,表现出较高寄生率。寄生产卵量较高且蛋白质含量为14.09%和13.73%配方组显著高于其他配方组。【结论】黄粉虫饲料中蛋白质含量在14%(13.73%~14.09%)时川硬皮肿腿蜂寄生能力最强。     

鲥鱼的驯养与生物学研究Ⅰ.O+龄幼鱼的生长与食性

本文主要描述池塘养殖条件下鲥鱼幼鱼的生长与食性。1)1987-1989年8月至11月幼鱼生长迅速,快于同期珠江天然个体的生长速度;2)体长26.6-94.9mm的幼鱼主要摄食浮游动物,轮虫和浮游植物出现率随个体增大而减少。食物共有18个属种,摄食频度为100%;3)幼鱼的平均饱满指数为75.70‰。各类食物重量百分比的顺序为:桡足类>枝角类>无节幼体>虾类溞状幼体>轮虫>藻类。     

鲥鱼的驯养与生物学研究Ⅰ.O~+龄幼鱼的生长与食性

本文主要描述池塘养殖条件下鲥鱼幼鱼的生长与食性。1)1987—1989年8月至11月幼鱼生长迅速,快于同期珠江天然个体的生长速度;2)体长26.6—94.9mm的幼鱼主要摄食浮游动物,轮虫和浮游植物出现率随个体增大而减少。食物共有18个属种,摄食频度为100％;3)幼鱼的平均饱满指数为75.70‰。各类食物重量百分比的顺序为:桡足类>枝角类>无节幼体>虾类溞状幼体>轮虫>藻类。     

Study on foraging mechanism of leeches with different feeding habits based on chemoreception and foraging behavior

The leeches Whitmania pigra and Hirudo nipponia live in similar environments but have different feeding habits. At present, there are few studies of the foraging mechanism of leeches with different feeding habits. In this study, we first used maze tests to show that these two species of leeches could locate and distinguish their prey through chemosensory activity without mechanical stimulation. However, the two leech species have different foraging behaviors: Individuals of W. pigra move slowly and repeatedly adjust direction through probing and crawling to detect the location of prey (snails), whereas individuals of H. nipponia move quickly, and after determining the location of food (porcine blood), they quickly swim or crawl to the vicinity of their prey. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed that there are two types of sensory cilia and pore structures related to mucus secretion in the heads of both leeches. There are two differently sized types of chemoreceptors on the dorsal lip in W. pigra, which may have different functions during foraging, whereas in H. nipponia there is only one type of chemoreceptor, which is small. We detected the chemical components in the natural food of these two leech species by UHPLC–MS. There were 934 metabolites in the body fluid of snails and 751 metabolites in porcine serum; five metabolites unique to the body fluid of snails and to porcine serum were screened as candidate feeding attractants. Of these metabolites, betaine and arginine effectively attracted individuals of W. pigra and H. nipponia, respectively. In summary, leeches with different feeding habits use chemoreceptors to sense external chemical signals when foraging, and there are significant differences between species in foraging behavior, chemoreceptors, and attractants.     

Effects of prey availability, facultative plant feeding, and plant defenses on a generalist insect predator

This study examined the effects of feeding interval, access to host plants (thus, a source of sap), and plant defenses on the predatory insect, Podisus maculiventris Say (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae). The experiment consisted of a 2 × 2 design with two feeding intervals (1 day or 5 days) and predators living on either tomato plants or plastic plants. Females fed every day had greater body weights and egg hatch rates than females fed every five days. Females on tomato plants lived longer than females on plastic plants. However, access to plants did not alleviate the effects of low prey level on predator weight or reproductive output. In a second experiment, third instar nymphs were placed on either tomato plants or plastic plants for four days to examine the effects of tomato trichome defenses on these predators. Nymphs on tomato plants experienced 50% mortality compared to 15% mortality for nymphs on plastic plants. Some nymphs living on tomato plants were trapped by the hairy trichomes of the plant; others had gummed up legs from the exudates of the plants’ glandular trichomes, which inhibited their movement and ability to feed on prey. Although predators appeared to benefit from feeding on tomato plants, their ability to live on the plants was negatively affected by the defensive features of the plants. The potential effects of trichome defenses on predator survival and population dynamics must be considered when evaluating the benefits of plants on insect predator life histories and efficacy as biological control agents.     

First record of Craspedacusta sowerbyi Lankester, 1880 (Cnidaria: Limnomedusae: Olindiidae) in Mexico (Adolfo Lopez Mateos reservoir), with notes on their feeding habits and limnological dates

This paper represents the first record of the freshwater jellyfish Craspedacusta sowerbyi (Lankester 1880) in México; the medusa was collected in Adolfo Lopez Mateos (ALM) reservoir, one of the main reservoirs in Sinaloa State NW in Mexico. This report of the population of C. sowerbyi represents an exceptional case of freshwater jellyfish on this latitude in American Continent. This study provides additional information on physico chemical characteristics of the reservoir and qualitative and quantitative analysis of the trophic spectrum of C. sowerbyi.     

广东内伶仃岛猕猴食性及食源植物分析

论文对内伶仃岛猕猴(Macaca mulatta)的植物食性进行了全面调查,并测定了食源植物适食部分的比重。研究结果表明:(1)猕猴食源植物约200种,以叶食性、果食性最为丰富;(2)猕猴的活动区域以阔叶林、灌木林等植被类型为主;(3)食源植物以热带亚热带成分为主,与栖息地植被组成特征相适应;(4)内伶仃岛猕猴种群发展的容纳量最适为820～1640只(平均1230只),而以743～1485只(平均1114只)最为合适,其总食量约相当于适食性优质植物资源总蕴藏量的10%～20%。     

The food and feeding habits of Physailia pellucida and Schilbe mystus with notes on the diets of S. uranoscopus and Siluranodon auritus, family Schilbeidae (Osteichthyes: Siluriformes) in Lake Kainji, Nigeria

SUMMARY. The food and feeding patterns of four schilbeids in Lake Kainji were studied between November 1974 and October 1975. Physailia pellucida , a small but abundant species, fed on small crustaceans and immature insects, while Schilbe mystus , a larger but less common schilbeid, fed principally on fish, with insects as a supplementary item in its diet. The rare species, Schilbe uranoscopus , was piscivorous, Siluranodon auritus , another small and rare species, is a herbivore feeding mainly on algae, with some crustaceans and immature insects taken as a source of animal protein. Preferential food selection by different length groups was found in S. mystus and P. pellucida . There were seasonal changes in the dietary items. Competition for food within the family was assumed not to occur in view of the different feeding habits of the species.     

背角无齿蚌对浮游藻类的滤食选择性与滤水率研究

以滇池及其附近水体中分布的背角无齿蚌为研究对象,分析其滤水速率及相关的影响因素,研究其食物组成和滤食浮游藻类的选择性,并初步估算其自然种群的滤水能力和控制浮游藻类的潜力.结果表明,背角无齿蚌的滤水率有一定的日变化,傍晚时较高;滤水率与水体中的悬浮物质含量密切相关,随着悬浮物质浓度增加而减少;滤水率与蚌的个体大小有关,体重增加,滤水率下降.对比水体中与蚌消化道内浮游藻类所占的百分比,发现其对浮游藻类的滤食没有显著的选择性.自然水体中背角无齿蚌的滤水能力很低.     

Ontogenetic and sexual characterization of the feeding habits of franciscanas,Pontoporia blainvillei,based on tooth dentin carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes

We assessed the feeding habits of franciscanas (Pontoporia blainvillei) from southern Brazil through carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes measured in the tooth dentin of dolphins from different age classes. Generalized additive models were fitted to assess whether sex, age, and total body length explained changes in franciscanas isotope ratios. Bayesian isotope mixing models were applied to estimate the contributions of prey items, selected based on stomach content analysis (SCA), to franciscanas' diet. Different trophic enrichment factors (TEF) were applied and the results were compared using Bhattachayya's coefficient index to test for differences in model outputs and to define the best TEF for franciscanas. We found different relative importance of the main prey between the methods, and the contribution by squids could be lower than suggested by SCA. Because the dentin deposited during nursing seems to influence the isotopic ratios of juveniles, caution is recommended when interpreting dietary estimates based on whole tooth samples. This study is the first to characterize ontogenetic shifts in franciscanas' feeding habits using stable isotope analysis (SIA) and testing different TEF values. SIA and SCA complement each other in dietary studies, mitigating potential biases resulting from the use of each method separately.