OSMOTIC RELATIONSHIPS IN THE HEN'S EGG

Data have been given to illustrate the difficulty of obtaining consistent freezing point data with a viscous fluid such as the yolk of the hen''s egg and a technique has been described for obtaining reproducible and accurate results consistently. Further freezing point data have been given which were obtained with both fertile and unfertile hen''s eggs by the use of a freezing point method previously described by the writer. These data show that there is a pronounced difference between the freezing points of the yolk and the white in contrast to data obtained by the use of the same method by Howard who found the freezing points of the yolk and the white to be the same. It was shown by freezing point determinations that even in a mixture of yolk and white osmotic equilibrium is slowly arrived at. This again emphasizes the fact established by Smith and Shepherd that since osmotic equilibrium between yolk and white is slowly arrived at, the postulation of a vital activity at the yolk membrane is unnecessary, since the steady state previously postulated need not be assumed to exist.     

鸡减蛋综合征病毒的致病性研究

减蛋综合征病毒的地方株HS-1能致死鸭胚,致死率达55.6%,在尿囊液中产生高效价的红细胞凝集素,在DEF单层细胞上生长良好,并引起显著的细胞病变,感染细胞的核内出现嗜碱性包涵体,将病毒分离物回归蛋鸡复制出与自然病例相似的临床症状,全部感染鸡都发生了EDS血清抗体转换.     

A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF THE EGG WHITE PROTEINS OF SOME SPECIES OF THE AVIAN ORDER GRUIFORMES

No agreement has been reached on the classification of the avian order Gruiformes as defined by Peters (1934) and Wetmore (1960). Starch gel electrophoresis of egg white proteins was therefore carried out in an attempt to obtain additional taxonomic data. Individual and intrafamilial variability was observed to be small, and the protein patterns thus seem to provide a basis for classification above the familial level. These protein patterns, together with the historically conventional characters, suggest that a relationship exists between the Rallidae, Heliornithidae, Eurypygidae, Turnicidae, and Psophiidae; and that the Gruidae and Aramidae are not far removed from this assemblage. The Aramidae are thought to occupy a separate but intermediate position between the Gruidae and the rail-like assemblage. The Otididae have a very different pattern which, together with the unusual combination of classical characters, suggests that the bustards should be removed from the order. The insufficient sampling from the Cariamidae and Rhynochetidae does little to clarify their systematic positions.     

OSMOTIC RELATIONSHIPS IN THE HEN'S EGG AS DETERMINED BY RELATIVE VAPOR PRESSURES

It has been shown by a comparison of the relative vapor pressures of egg yolk and egg white before and after the addition of sodium chloride to the white that the osmotic pressure of the yolk is greater than that of the white.     

PROPERTIES OF AVIAN EGG SHELLS AND THEIR ADAPTIVE VALUE

I. An arbitrary classification of avian eggshells is proposed.
2. The role of the eggshell in conserving the water in eggs at oviposition is discussed. There is as yet no correlation between this property and the pore systems in avian eggshells.
3. The pore systems may act as diffusion pathways and the hypothesis has been advanced that in many eggs the shells are adapted so that restriction of gaseous diffusion by mud, preening oils and nest debris is prevented.
4. The mechanical properties of the shell are considered in the novel context of defence against (a) attrition that could lead to the pores being blocked with dust, and (b) cracking that would destroy the diffusion pathways noted in 3.
5. The overall objective of the review was to discuss the concept that avian eggshell are adapted to fit an egg to the nest environment.     

TETRAXYLOPTERIS SCHMIDTII: ITS FERTILE PARTS AND ITS RELATIONSHIPS WITHIN THE ANEUROPHYTALES

The fertile branching system of Tetraxylopteris is composed of successive “nodes” bearing opposite and decussately arranged, upcurved sporangial complexes. By means of the transfer technique the morphology of the sporangial complex was revealed. It consists of a main stalk which dichotomizes twice producing four major branches. Each of the four branches is further subdivided three times, the subdivisions being arranged alternately and pinnately. The ultimate divisions bear the sporangia singly and terminally. The sporangial complexes decrease in size distally and are more tightly curved at the apex. The sporangia are oblong-oval with an acute apex. The spores are identical to the dispersed spore taxon Rhabdosporites langii, Richardson. They are spherical, trilete and pseudosaccate with a fine granular ornament on the pseudosaccus. They are 75–176 μ in diameter and show developmental stages from young tetrads to separated, fully mature spores depending on the age of the sporangium from which they were obtained. This is the first account of spores in sporangia of Tetraxylopteris. The diagnosis of the genus and species are emended to include the new information and the order Aneurophytales is redefined.     

基于12S rRNA基因的鹳形目系统发生关系

采用分子系统学的方法探讨鹳形目5个科之间的系统发生关系.文中测出鹳形目鸟类7种mtDNA 12SrRNA基因全序列,并结合来自Genbank的鹳形目另外7个物种及原鸡的同源区序列,经Clustal W软件对位排列后共1 009位点,包含405个变异位点,其中多态性位点381个,260个简约信息位点.基于上述序列数据,以原鸡为外群,使用距离邻接法、最大简约法、最大似然法及贝叶斯法分别重建了鹳形目5科14种的系统发生树.重建的系统发生树显示,内群中的14个种聚合为4支:鹮科构成第一支,聚在系统树的基部;锤头鹳科与鲸头鹳科聚为一支;鹭科和鹳科各自聚成一支.在比较不同建树方法的结果并进行合意树分析后认为:在鹳形目的系统发生中,鹮科可能是最早分化出的一支;锤头鹳科与鲸头鹳科之间的亲缘关系最近,它们祖先与鹭科、鹳科之间的分歧在时间上可能非常接近.鹳形目5个科之间的系统关系可以表示为:(鹮科,(鹭科,鹳科,(锤头鹳科,鲸头鹳科))).     

BIOCHEMICAL GENETICS AND SPECIES RELATIONSHIPS WITHIN THE GENUS HALIOTIS (GASTROPODA: HALIOTIDAE)

The marine gastropod genus Haliotis includes 60–70 describedspecies distributed along the coastlines of most continentsand of islands in the Pacific, Indian and Atlantic Oceans. Theyoccur in tropical and temperate regions of both hemispheres.Protein gel electrophoresis revealed genetic relationships amongseventeen temperate species; Haliotis rubra, H. conicopora,H. laevigata, H. roei, H. scalaris, H. cyclobates, H. coccoradiata,H. midae, H. iris, H, austrails, H. virginea, H. discus hannai,H. kamtschaktkana, H. rufescens, H. corrugata, H. cracherodii,and H. fulgens. Northern temperate species clustered together, but northernand southern species shared so few allelic states that theycould not be united on a single genetic distance diagram. Nordid all the southern temperate species form a single cluster.In addition, genetic characters do not support previous sub-genericdivisions within Haliotis. The observed genetic distances betweensome species were found to be large, and in some cases larger,than those normally associated with species in the same genus.These relationships provide insight into the evolutionary historyand biogcography of the group and emphasize the need for taxonomicreview based on both morphological and genetic information. (Received 8 September 1992; accepted 1 February 1993)     

PHYLOGENETIC RELATIONSHIPS WITHIN THE COLONIAL VOLVOCALES (CHLOROPHYTA) INFERRED FROM rbcL GENE SEQUENCE DATA

The chloroplast-encoded large subunit of the ribulose-1, 5-bisphosphate carboxylase / oxygenase (rbcL) gene was sequenced from 20 species of the colonial Volvocales (the Volvacaceae, Goniaceae, and Tetrabaenaceae) in order to elucidate phylogenetic relationships within the colonial Volvocales. Eleven hundred twenty-eight base pairs in the coding regions of the (rbcL) gene were analyzed by the neighbor-joining (NJ) method using three kinds of distance estimations, as well as by the maximum parsimony (MP) method. A large group comprising all the anisogamous and oogamous volvocacean species was resolved in the MP tree as well as in the NJ trees based on overall and synonymous substitutions. In all the trees constructed, Basichlamys and Tetrabaena (Tetrabaenaceae) constituted a very robust phylogenetic group. Although not supported by high bootstrap values, the MP tree and the NJ tree based on nonsynonymous substitutions indicated that the Tetrabaenaceae is the sister group to the large group comprising the Volvocaceae and the Goniaceae. In addition, the present analysis strongly suggested that Pandorina and Astrephomene are monophyletic genera whereas Eudorina is nonmonophyletic. These results are essentially consistent with the results of the recent cladistic analyses of morphological data. However, the monophyly of the Volvocaceae previously supported by four morphological synapomorphies is found only in the NJ tree based on nonsynonymous substitutions (with very low bootstrap values). The genus Volvox was clearly resolved as a polyphyletic group with V. rousseletii Pocock separated from other species of Volvox in the rbcL gene comparisons, although this genus represents a monophyletic group in the previous morphological analyses. Furthermore, none of the rbcL gene trees supported the monophyly of the Goniaceae; Astrephomene was placed in various phylogenetic positions .     

OSMOTIC RELATIONSHIPS IN THE HEN'S EGG,AS DETERMINED BY COLLIGATIVE PROPERTIES OF YOLK AND WHITE

The osmotic pressure of the yolk and white of the hen''s egg have been shown to be identical, by means of direct freezing point determinations, dialyses, and vapor pressure measurements. Dialysates of egg yolk slow the rate of ice formation compared with NaCl solutions. They also show a marked change of freezing rate as the freezing point is approached. The anomalous freezing behavior of this material may lead to errors in the determination of the true freezing point which would tend to make the value for the yolk erroneously low. The postulate of a vital activity at the yolk membrane maintaining an osmotic pressure difference is thus shown to be unnecessary, since a simple osmotic equilibrium exists between the yolk and the white.     

THE ULTRASTRUCTURE OF THE AVIAN EGGSHELL

By means of scanning electron microscopy the eggshells of a number of passerine and non-passerine wild birds have been investigated. Details and structures have been shown which were hitherto unrevealed by other methods. As suggested by Schmidt (1962a) and Tyler (1964a, 1966a), there is no crystallographic demarcation between cone and palisade layer. There are many vesicular holes in the palisade layer, the physiological significance of which is not yet understood. Bird groups, sometimes even bird species, show specific features of ultratexture of the eggshell by which, for instance, mimetic cuckoo eggs can be distinguished from the eggs of fosters. Other examples are given in which ultra-structure provides useful taxonomic evidence.     

A REASSESSMENT OF PHYLOGENETIC RELATIONSHIPS WITHIN THE PHAEOPHYCEAE BASED ON RUBISCO LARGE SUBUNIT AND RIBOSOMAL DNA SEQUENCES

To better assess the current state of phaeophycean phylogeny, we compiled all currently available rbc L, 18S, and 26S rDNA sequences from the EMBL/GenBank database and added 21 new rbc L sequences of our own. We then developed three new alignments designed to maximize taxon sampling while minimizing information loss due to partial sequences. Phylogenetic analyses were performed on separate and combined data sets (with and without taxa from the sister classes Tribophyceae and Phaeothamniophyceae as outgroups) using a variety of assumption sets, tree-drawing algorithms (parsimony, neighbor joining, and likelihood), and resampling methods (bootstrap, decay, jackknife). Partition homogeneity testing (PHT) by codon position within rbc L showed that all positions could be used despite mild third position saturation. PHT by gene and domain within rDNA showed that the 26S D1 and D2 regions do not enhance phylogenetic signal even when combined with the 18S. The rbc L and rDNA (excluding the 26S D1 and D2) could be combined under PHT. The topology of the combined tree was the same as that of the rbc L tree alone, but bootstrap support was consistently higher in the combined analysis, applied to more branches, and enabled the establishment of sister group relationships among six orders. Although the taxon sampling for the combination tree was lower ( n = 22) than for individual gene analyses ( n = 58 for rbc L and n = 59 for rDNA), results show that the Laminariales (previously reported) and Sphacelariales (new) are both paraphyletic. Choristocarpus tenellus (Kützing) Zanardini is the most basal phaeophyte and the Dictyotales the most basal order. In contrast, the Laminariales sensu stricto ( s.s. ) and Ectocarpales sensu lato ( s.l. ) are the most derived. For phylogenetic studies in the Phaeophyceae, rbc L has more resolving power than rDNA, though the reason for this is unclear based on the fact that both genes are highly conserved.     

CRYPTIC DIVERSITY AND PHYLOGENETIC RELATIONSHIPS WITHIN THE MASTOCARPUS PAPILLATUS SPECIES COMPLEX (RHODOPHYTA,PHYLLOPHORACEAE)1

Mastocarpus papillatus (C. Agardh) Kütz. is a common intertidal red alga occurring along the west coast of North America from Baja California to Alaska. Sequencing of both the chloroplast‐encoded rbcL gene and the nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions of ～200 specimens from California to Alaska revealed that M. papillatus is actually a complex of at least five species. All five species have high bootstrap support in phylogenetic analyses of both genetic regions, and in the case of the ITS marker, the species also have distinctive patterns of indels. Three of the species are localized in the mid‐ to upper intertidal, whereas two of the species occur in the low intertidal. The species also have different geographic ranges that overlap in the Vancouver Island area of British Columbia. No distinctive, reliable morphological differences were observed among the species. Although a variety of names are available for species in the complex, it is not yet clear which name goes with which species. As part of the survey, I also sequenced other species of Mastocarpus in the northeast Pacific region, and I provide new distribution records for M. jardinii ( J. Agardh) J. A. West and for a nonpapillate and probably undescribed species of Mastocarpus.     

EVALUATION OF RELATIONSHIPS WITHIN ERIODICTYON (HYDROPHYLLACEAE) USING TRICHOME CHARACTERISTICS

All 13 taxa of Eriodictyon Bentham (Hydrophyllaceae) were examined to determine the range of variation in trichome characters within the genus. Four simple trichome types were found: short and straight, intermediate length and straight, long and straight, long and wavy. Glandular capitate trichomes were also found in some species. Sessile glands were also observed but not included in the study. Most taxa displayed unique combinations of trichome types on stems, leaves, inflorescence axes and flower parts that allowed those taxa to be identified using trichome types alone. Trichome data support most previous taxonomic treatments, but suggest that 1) the two varieties of E. traskiae are extremely similar, 2) the rare E. altissimum is most similar to the widespread E. californicum, 3) the rare E. capitatum is allied with E. crassifolium var. nigrescens or perhaps E. angustifolium, 4) E. crassifolium var. denudatum and E. crassifolium var. nigrescens are essentially indistinguishable using trichome characters and, coupled with variation in other characters, are best combined under the name E. crassifolium var. nigrescens. Trichome characters provide a wealth of taxonomically useful information and may prove useful in the study of related genera of Hydrophyllaceae.