Biology of the southern brook lamprey,Ichthyomyzon gagei

Synopsis Larval, metamorphosing and adult representatives of the southern brook lamprey,Ichthyomyzon gagei, were collected from Choclafaula Creek in Alabama to provide information on aspects of its life cycle. The proportional length of the prebranchial, branchial, trunk and tail regions changed throughout larval life in a pattern similar to that demonstrated in other lampreys. Body depth changed also throughout much of larval life. Oral disc, dorsal fin height, and eye diameter increased through all or most of metamorphosis and the adult interval. Length-frequency curves for larvae indicate a larval life of 3 1/4–4 1/4 years. Growth rate, reflected by change in total length, was constant throughout the year for each age group. Sex ratio of larvalI. gagei was 1: 1.02. Metamorphosis is initiated in early September and is completed between early February and mid March. Adult 1. gagei spawn between mid April and early May. The number of oocytes ranged from 820–2485 between 95–150 mm total length. The maximum gonadosomic ratio in males was 17.1 and 26.3% in females.     

Identification of lamprey larvae of the genus Ichthyoinyzon (Petromyzontidae)

Synopsis This study deals with the taxonomy of ammocoetes of the North American lamprey genus Ichthyomyzon. The characters most useful to identify them are the pigmentation patterns on the caudal fin and the different areas of the head, as well as the number of myomeres. These characters serve as the basis for a taxonomic key to ammocoetes 56 mm in total length and up.     

Morphology,ontogeny and molecular phylogeny of a new brackish water ciliate Bakuella subtropica sp. n. (Ciliophora,Hypotricha) from southern China

This paper investigates the morphology, ontogenesis and small subunit (SSU) rRNA gene-based phylogeny of a new urostylid ciliate, Bakuella subtropica sp. n., discovered from the estuary of the Pearl River in Guangzhou, southern China. The new species is diagnosed by its elongate body, one buccal and one parabuccal cirrus, midventral complex comprised of 9–23 midventral pairs and one or two midventral rows extending to four fifths of body length, yellow-brown to yellow-greenish cortical granules and an estuary habitat. Its main ontogenetic features are: (1) in the proter, the parental adoral zone of membranelles is completely renewed by new structures and old midventral pairs join the formation of frontal-midventral-transverse cirral anlagen (FVT-anlagen); (2) in the opisthe, the oral primordium originates apokinetally, FVT-anlagen are formed besides and some old midventral cirri join the formation; (3) the anlagen for marginal rows and dorsal kineties develop intrakinetally; and (4) the numerous macronuclear nodules fuse into a single mass before dividing. Based on the SSU rDNA sequences, phylogenetic analyses show a close relationship between Bakuella subtropica sp. n., Apobakuella and Neobakuella, forming a clade separated from the other genera in the family Bakuellidae. Available morphological and ontogenetic data challenge the monophyly of Bakuellidae.     

The pseudoplanktonic crinoid Traumatocrinus from the Late Triassic of Southwest China — Morphology,ontogeny, and taphonomy

The morphology of the pseudoplanktonic crinoid Traumatocrinus from the early Late Triassic (Carnian) Xiaowa Formation of Guanling County (South China, Guizhou Province) is described based on articulated and disarticulated material. Juvenile individuals of less than 10 mm crown height with 20 isotomously branching arms prove the encrinid ancestry of the family Traumatocrinidae. However, even the smallest individuals have five large interradials. Endotomous branching commences at crowns of slightly more than 10 mm at the outer arms of the rays. All brachial articulations are ligamentary (granosyzygies). The assignment of the Chinese material to one of the nominal species of Traumatocrinus is still left open. The diagnosis of the genus Traumatocrinus is emended. Traumatocrinus lived attached to driftwood and was widespread across the Palaeo-Tethys. In contrast to its benthic encrinid ancestors, Traumatocrinus fixed its distal column with countless anastomosing radicular cirri to its substrate, preferentially to the ends of the driftwood logs. Depending on the state of the hypothesized mutable collagene tissue, the columns are preserved in straight positions or curved like a rope. Crowns are preserved in star position with radially splayed arms or in lateral bell position with the cup disrupted in interbrachial position. As usual in black shales, the exposed upper sides of the crinoids are in a more or less progressive state of decomposition whereas the embedded lower sides are intact.     

Variation in Life History of Land-Locked Lacustrine and Riverine Populations of Galaxias maculatus (Jenyns 1842) in Western Australia

Galaxias maculatus is one of the most naturally widely distributed species in the world yet there is no published literature on the biology of Western Australian populations. Galaxias maculatus in the rivers of the south coast of Western Australia inhabit an environment that is variable and at times unpredictable. By examining trends in gonadal development, lengths at first maturity, growth and appearance and persistence of larvae of G. maculatus in two saline rivers (Jerdacuttup River and Oldfield River) and one freshwater lake (Moates Lake), the life histories of populations in contrasting environments were determined. The stable conditions that prevail in the low salinity, cool waters of Moates Lake have fostered an extremely protracted breeding and larval recruitment period (year round) in comparison to limited recruitment in the riverine environments which experience less predictable flow events and water quality (salinity). An upstream migration for breeding in the Jerdacuttup and Oldfield rivers is similar to land-locked G. maculatus in south-eastern Australia and is a reversal of the downstream migration in Moates Lake or populations with marine larval dispersal, i.e. diadromous populations. Differences in population demographics existed between these habitats, with smaller maximum sizes and significantly smaller sizes at maturation occurring in the rivers compared to the lake. In Moates Lake approximately 93, 6 and 1% were 0+, 1+ and 2+, respectively; while cohort progression in the rivers suggests that most fish do not live beyond their first year. As an adaptable opportunist, G. maculatus can modify its life history strategy at a local level to persist in varied and sometimes unpredictable environments.     

Development of human brain

The human has the most complex brain of the primates group. Their development is prolonged beyond birth and it is not completed structurally nor neurochemically until age of 20 years. Decades later, degenerative phenomena begin to be evident, that little by little will drive us to death. At the end of the life, 113 grams aproximate of cerebral mass are lost. The endowment of furrows and convolutions are fixed before birth, while the cerebral surface ends up having values next to the adult at 2 years. However the cerebral weight reaches its maximum at the 20 year-old decade. A first phase of neuronal death appears during the prenatal life, which is continued by another postnatal phase, and it ends with the definitive number of neurons. However, along life, the number of neurons decreases little by little at the time of the neuroglial cells increase. Much about brain knowledge at the moment is difficult to apply to the cranial endocasts, although approaches from the MNR are hopeful.     

Aspects of the reproductive biology and feeding ecology ofChaetodon miliaris,a Hawaiian endemic butterflyfish

Synopsis Aspects of the reproduction and diet of the butterflyfish,Chaetodon miliaris, were studied by examining 345 individuals collected around Oahu, Hawaiian Islands. The sex ratio of this species was uniform and annual spawning activity was periodic yet seasonally protracted, extending through the winter and spring months (January–May). No lunar influence on spawning was detected. Fecundity was quadratically related to fish weight, implying an abrupt shift in the use of energy resources at the time of maturity from growth to reproduction.Gut contents showed that calanoid copepods and other zooplankton comprised the major portion of the diet although benthic prey were commonly taken. Dietary composition varied with season, locality, and size of fish. Based upon comparisons with otherChaetodon spp. the diet ofC. miliaris appears to be relatively opportunistic.     

Estimation of body size and growth patterns in Korean boys

Background

Anthropometric surveys devised by each country attempt to fulfill the requirements of the manufacturers, designers, and human welfare device production, providing them with data and tools and allowing them to face both the internal and export markets. To this end, national anthropometric data collections and comparisons including three-dimensional information, together with comparison of these data among countries, are conducted at both the domestic and global levels.

Methods

The anthropometric data of the Korean population measured in 2013 (Korean Agency for Technology and Standard (KATS) 2013 data) and the data collected from 2010 (KATS 2010 data) that was conducted on 710 males between the ages of 13 and 18 years were analyzed in this section to obtain information on Korean boy’s physical features and growth.

Results

The mean height increased about 5 cm from 13 to 14 years which shows the early fast maturing somatotype. Also, the mean height of boys aged from 15 to 16 increased about 1 to 2 cm. For the results of body proportion rate index against height, they show 0.93, 0.81, 0.38, 0.99, and 0.26 times the height in eye height, shoulder height, fingertip height, and span and maximum shoulder breadth, respectively, in 16-year-old boys. For the body mass index, the weight is increased from the age of 16 years.

Conclusions

There are several studies that cover growth features of the entire range from birth to maturity, and they have reported the comparison of the growth patterns among Europeans. Even though such researches have been made, as for the industry, the human modeling tools based on the anthropometric data and morphological features that cover all the countries should be developed for well-fit garments and other human-oriented design process.     

Review Article – A System for Analysing Features in Studies Integrating Ecology, Development, and Evolution

Ecology is being introduced to Evolutionary Developmental Biology to enhance organism-, population-, species-, and higher-taxon-level studies. This exciting, bourgeoning troika will revolutionise how investigators consider relationships among environment, ontogeny, and phylogeny. Features are studied (and even defined) differently in ecology, development, and evolution. Form is central to development and evolution but peripheral to ecology. Congruence (i.e., homology) is applied at different hierarchical levels in the three disciplines. Function is central to ecology but peripheral to development. Herein, the supercategories form (‘isomorphic’ or ‘allomorphic’), congruence (‘homologous’ or ‘homoplastic’), and function (‘adaptive’ or ‘nonadaptive’) are combined with two developmental mode (i.e., growth) categories (‘conformational’ or ‘nonconformational’) to provide a 16-class system for analysing features in studies in which ecology, development, and evolution are integrated.     

长江鲢、鳙个体发育过程中的表型变化

采用多元分析方法,对采自长江老江河国家级四大家鱼原种场255尾1—5龄鲢、鳙的30项形态度量数据进行了分析。聚类分析显示,鲢可明显地聚成欧氏距离相对较远的1龄组和2—5龄组,鳙也可聚成欧氏距离较远的1、2龄组与3—5龄组。判别分析显示,144尾鲢个体对所聚类的两个组别的判别准确率高达98.0%,111尾鳙个体对所聚类的两个组别的判别准确率也达90.7%。这表明,在幼体向成体的发育过程中,鲢和鳙在形态上均存在着两个具有显著差异阶段。单因素方差分析显示,鲢两个组别之间有18个参数差异极显著,4个差异显著,其中10个显著或极显著地变小,12个显著或极显著地变大。鳙两个组别间有极显著和显著差异的参数分别有14个和3个,其中极显著或显著差异变小和变大的分别有12个和5个。这表明在鲢、鳙个体发育过程中,分别有73.3%和56.7%的特征参数具有生长异速现象。因此,在根据形态鉴别物种、分析种群差异、确立种质标准和作生长退算时,均应考虑所选用特征的生长异速现象。     

The consequences of lower nitrogen availability in autumn for internal nitrogen reserves and spring growth of <Emphasis Type=Italic>Calamagrostis epigejos</Emphasis>

The building and use of internal N stores in the grass Calamagrostis epigejos was investigated in context of complex ecological study focused on mechanisms underlying competitive ability of this highly successful invasive species. Induced changes in nitrogen availability in the course of two subsequent vegetation seasons were used as a tool for finding (i) to what extent high N availability in substrate is important for building N reserves in autumn that support spring regrowth and, (ii) if contrasting contents of N storage compounds may result in differences in growth in the next season. Plants were grown in solely inorganic substrate and received a nutrient solution containing 5 mol m⁻³ of NH₄NO₃. The nitrogen supply was reduced in a low nitrogen (LN) treatment to 0.25 mol m⁻³ in August whereas in high nitrogen (HN) treatment remained high till December. During the following growing season were plants from both treatments grown at the low N supply (0.25 mol m⁻³). An increase in the content of N storage compounds was observed from September to December in both treatments. Plants in the LN treatment showed significantly lower total N content and also N allocated to mobilizable reserves (20–50% of HN plants), namely due to a smaller accumulation of amino acids and soluble protein in autumn. External nitrogen availability in autumn is hence highly important for building N reserves in this species. A major portion of the nitrogen stored in HN plants during winter was taken up from growth medium in late autumn, whereas translocation from senescing shoots dominated in LN treatment. During the winter about 50% of N in plants was permanently present in shoots bearing several frost resistant green leaves. Spring regrowth was accompanied by a fast decrease of both total N and the content of N storage compounds in both treatments. Amino acids were identified as the most prominent source of mobilizable N during spring regrowth. Development of leaf area in LN plants was significantly slower in March and April than in HN plants namely due to smaller number of tillers and green leaves per plant. Low N availability in autumn, therefore, may result in restrictions of plant growth and development in the following season.     

Dental Ontogeny in Macroscelides proboscideus (Afrotheria) and Erinaceus europaeus (Lipotyphla)

We investigated the state of dental eruption in specimens of Macroscelides proboscideus and Erinaceus europaeus of known age. When M. proboscideus reaches adult size and sexual maturity, few or none of its replaced permanent cheek teeth have erupted. The approximate sequence of upper tooth eruption is P1, [I3, C, M1], [I1–2], M2, P4, [P2, P3]. Chronologically, E. europaeus erupts its molars and most premolars prior to M. proboscideus; but its first two upper incisors erupt after those of M. proboscideus, and its canines erupt around the same time. The approximate sequence of upper tooth eruption in E. europaeus is [M1, M2, P2, I3], C, M3, P4, P3, I2, I1. Unlike M. proboscideus, E. europaeus does not reach adult size until all permanent teeth except for the anterior incisors have erupted. While not unique among mammals, the attainment of adult body size prior to complete eruption of the permanent cheek teeth is particularly common among macroscelidids and other afrotherians.     

Glucose and cationic amino acid transporter expression in growing chickens (Gallus gallus domesticus)

Tissue glucose transporter (GLUT1-3) and cationic amino acid transporter (CAT1-3) mRNA expression was determined in growing broiler chicks posthatch. In two experiments, tissues were either collected on days 1, 3 and 7 or days 1 and 14 posthatch. Heart and liver were the only tissues expressing a GLUT isoform on day 1. All tissues expressed a GLUT isoform on day 7 except for the thymus. Most tissues expressing a CAT isoform on day 1 decreased mRNA levels through day 7 (P<0.05), except for bursa CAT-1 which tended to increase (P=0.05). The thymus and spleen did not express any CAT isoform mRNA until day 7. The liver was the only tissue expressing GLUT-2 mRNA through day 14. On day 14, GLUT-1, CAT-1 and CAT-2 mRNA were differentially expressed across tissues (P<0.05). High-affinity GLUT and CAT mRNA expression was highest in the heart and bursa, respectively (P<0.05). Total CAT mRNA expression was greatest in the bursa (P<0.05). The thymus had the lowest high affinity GLUT and total CAT mRNA expression on day 14 posthatch. Therefore, T lymphocytes within the thymus may be most susceptible to glucose and cationic amino acid supply.     

Capture and collection of lampreys: the state of the science

The need for native lamprey conservation, improved lamprey fishery management, and better assessment of non-indigenous lamprey control measures has resulted in increased effort to survey lamprey populations and assess their status. Depending on the study objectives and target species/life stage, collection methods vary dramatically. We therefore provide a comprehensive review of sampling considerations and techniques used to capture, collect, handle, and enumerate both juvenile and adult lamprey life stages. Surveys for lamprey are often constrained by the lack of basic biological information, such as reliable characters for field identification of larvae (ammocoetes), migratory timing of anadromous forms, and spawning/nest building behavior of adults. However, there are a number of studies that have documented habitat preferences of the relatively sedentary ammocoetes. Consequently, existing sampling protocols have focused on the development of stratified sampling that targets optimal ammocoete habitat. In addition to this approach, we discuss methods and gear that can be used to survey migratory life stages, lamprey nests, and difficult-to-sample, deepwater ammocoete habitats.     

Larval lampreys possess a functional lateral line system

Morphology of larval lampreys’ neuromasts was found to be very similar to that of adults. Activity in the lateral line nerve, elicited by a vibrating ball, indicated a functional lateralis system. Analysis revealed at least two populations of afferents, responding to opposite directions of water flow, with adapting responses. The response magnitude increased monotonically with stimulus amplitude. Larval lampreys’ neuromasts were less sensitive than those of teleosts. At low frequencies the response showed a phase lead of 200–220° with respect to the maximum of the ball displacement and a gain that was approximately linearly proportional to frequency.     

Growth and reproduction of the Nile perch,Lates niloticus,an introduced predator,in the Nyanza Gulf,Lake Victoria,East Africa

Synopsis Length-frequency data suggest Nile perch, Lates niloticus, from the Nyanza Gulf grew to a total length of 9 cm by age 118 days and 23 cm by age 287 days. A modified von Bertalanffy growth curve _t = 1.35·L(1-e^–K(t-t _o)) with the parameters L = 93.1, K = 0.272 and t_o = 0.046, is suggested to describe growth up to 5 years of age and the relationship _t = 1.35·(31.96 + 7.681t) for fish aged 6 years and above. Length-weight relationships were = 0.0234·-gt^2.74 for fish between 7 and 15.9 cm total length, = 0.0151·^2.94 for fish between 16 and 45.9 cm total length, and = 0.0023·^3.44 for fish between 46 and 120 cm total length. Male Nile perch first matured between 50 and 55 cm total length when they were probably 2 years old; female Nile perch first matured between 80 and 85 cm total length when they were probably 4 years old. Small males were common, large males were rare, with the reverse holding for females. Sex change, from male to female, is a possible explanation for this size dimorphism.