西北印度洋鸢乌贼角质颚外形变化的影响因素

根据2019年冬春季(2—5月)中国灯光罩网渔船在西北印度洋生产调查期间采集的1009尾鸢乌贼样本,分析了其角质颚外部形态变化的影响因素。结果表明: 角质颚外形特征参数在不同性别、不同胴长组和不同性腺成熟度间均存在显著差异。胴长组201～250 mm以及雌性个体性腺成熟度Ⅱ期和雄性个体性腺成熟度Ⅲ期的各特征参数增幅达到峰值。除上翼长与上脊突长比值(UWL/UCL)和下头盖长与下脊突长比值(LHL/LCL)存在性别间显著差异外,其余特征参数与脊突长的比值均无性别间显著差异,各特征参数与脊突长的比值在不同性腺成熟度、不同胴长组间也无显著差异,比值保持稳定,表明角质颚各区域生长保持一致。研究表明,201～250 mm可能是西北印度洋鸢乌贼角质颚外部形态在胴长上的生长拐点,雌性个体性腺成熟度Ⅱ期和雄性个体性腺成熟度Ⅲ期可能对应角质颚外部形态在性腺成熟度上的生长拐点。     

冬春季西北印度洋鸢乌贼角质颚外部形态及生长特性

角质颚是头足类重要的硬组织之一,被广泛用于研究头足类渔业生态学及资源评估等。根据2019年冬春季(2—5月)中国灯光罩网渔船于西北印度洋海域采集的1009条鸢乌贼样本,对其角质颚外部形态生长特征开展了研究。主成分分析表明,上头盖长(UHL)、上脊突长(UCL)、上侧壁长(ULWL)、下脊突长(LCL)、下翼长(LWL)和下侧壁长(LLWL)可作为角质颚外形变化特征指标。协方差分析表明,除UCL外所有外形特征参数与胴长(ML)的关系以及所有外形特征参数与体重(BW)的关系在性别间均存在显著性差异。根据方程拟合和赤池信息准则(AIC),雌雄个体的LCL、UCL与胴长的关系均最适合用线性函数拟合;雌性个体的UHL、LWL与胴长的关系最适合用幂函数拟合,而ULWL和LLWL与胴长的关系则最适合用线性函数拟合;雄性个体的ULWL与胴长的关系最适合用幂函数表示,UHL、LLWL和LWL与胴长的关系则最适合用对数函数表示。雌性个体所有特征参数与体重的关系均最适合用幂函数拟合;雄性个体除ULWL与体重的关系最适合用幂函数拟合外,其余均最适合用对数函数拟合。特征参数及其与胴长和体重生长方程的确定,为后续利用角质颚研究印度洋鸢乌贼渔业生态学及资源评估提供了科学依据。     

西北印度洋鸢乌贼角质颚色素沉积特性分析

角质颚是头足类主要的摄食器官,蕴含着大量渔业生态学信息。根据2019年3至5月中国灯光罩网渔船在西北印度洋海域采集的1 009尾鸢乌贼(Sthenoteuthis oualaniensis)样本,对其角质颚色素沉积等级进行了划分和判定,分析了色素沉积等级与胴长、体重、性腺成熟度和角质颚形态参数的关系。结果显示,3至5月西北印度洋鸢乌贼角质颚色素沉积等级以2级为主,占总样本的33.87%,色素沉积等级总体上随着月份的增加而增加。鸢乌贼角质颚的色素沉积与胴长、体重和性腺成熟度的关系均存在性别间显著性差异(P <0.05),总体而言雌性个体的沉积速度快于雄性个体。角质颚色素沉积等级与胴长、体重和角质颚外部形态参数均呈正相关,并且都随着性腺成熟度的增加而增加。本研究开展了西北印度洋鸢乌贼角质颚色素沉积研究,确立了鸢乌贼色素沉积等级与胴长、体重、性腺成熟度和角质颚形态参数的关系,并拟合了相关生长方程,为进一步研究鸢乌贼的渔业生态学及合理开发该资源提供了科学依据。     

不同气候年间西北印度洋鸢乌贼渔业生物学比较

文章根据2019年(厄尔尼诺)和2020年(正常)相同月份(2—5月)中国灯光罩网渔船在西北印度洋采集的1896尾鸢乌贼(Sthenoteuthis oualaniensis),对不同气候年间西北印度洋鸢乌贼渔业生物学特性进行了对比研究。结果表明,两年间雌性个体胴长分别为129—347和284—582 mm,优势胴长组分别为171—220和481—530 mm;雄性个体胴长分别为138—273和94—235 mm,优势胴长组均为171—220 mm; 2019年胴长及优势胴长均大于2020年,其中雌性个体差异最大。不同气候年间鸢乌贼体重与胴长的关系存在性别间显著性差异,除2020年雄性样本胴长与体重的关系最适用指数函数表示外,其余胴长与体重的关系均最适用幂函数表示。两年间样本的雌雄性别比分别为1.5﹕1和1.3﹕1,性腺成熟度组成也不相同,雌性个体2019年多处于未成熟阶段(Ⅰ期和Ⅱ期), 2020年则多处于成熟阶段(Ⅲ期和Ⅳ期);雄性个体2019年多处于未成熟阶段(Ⅱ期)和成熟阶段(Ⅲ期), 2020年多处于成熟阶段(Ⅲ期和Ⅳ期)。不同气候年间西北印度洋鸢乌贼个体日龄组成和孵化群体也...     

南海中南部鸢乌贼中型群群体结构

根据2012和2013年在南海中南部采集到的3177尾鸢乌贼中型群样品,对其胴长(ML)、右第一腕长(AL1)、右第二腕长(AL2)、右第三腕长(AL3)、右第四腕长(AL4)、右触腕长(TL)、鳍长(FL)和鳍宽(FW)等形态参数进行测定,并运用主成分分析等方法对其个体的形态差异进行研究.结果表明: 研究海域的鸢乌贼中型群可分为Ⅰ和Ⅱ 2个群体,分别占总数的69%和31%.2个群体的雌性比例均随胴长的增大呈先减少后增加的趋势,直至达到100%;群体Ⅰ雌性和雄性的初次性成熟胴长分别为164和112 mm,群体Ⅱ雌性和雄性初次性成熟胴长分别为157和108 mm.群体Ⅰ在西沙海域和南沙海域均有独立分布区域,而群体Ⅱ密集区主要分布于南沙海域.非参数检验表明:2个群体雌性和雄性个体的全部形态参数均存在显著性差异(P<0.05).在雌性鸢乌贼中,群体Ⅰ和群体Ⅱ的ML、AL1、AL2、AL4、TL和FW存在显著性差异(P<0.05);在雄性鸢乌贼中,群体Ⅰ和群体Ⅱ的ML、AL1、AL2、AL3、AL4和FL存在显著性差异(P<0.01).通过计算差异系数表明,2个群体的形态差异处于种内水平.     

中国南海西沙群岛海域鸢乌贼角质颚色素沉积变化

角质颚是头足类的主要摄食器官,蕴藏着大量的渔业生物学及生态学信息。根据2017年5—8月中国灯光罩网渔船于中国南海西沙群岛海域采集的860尾鸢乌贼样本,对其角质颚色素沉积等级进行了划分和判定,研究了鸢乌贼角质颚色素沉积等级变化与胴长、体质量、净重、性腺成熟度和角质颚外部形态参数等因子的关系。结果表明:鸢乌贼的角质颚色素沉积变化存在性别间显著性差异(P<0.05),雌性个体角质颚色素沉积速度快于雄性;色素沉积等级与胴长、体质量和净重均呈正相关,并随着性腺成熟度的增加而增加;雄性个体角质颚下颚除翼长外,其余各部色素沉积的速度均快于上颚各部;雌性个体上颚各部色素沉积速度均快于下颚。本研究为后续利用角质颚研究鸢乌贼渔业生物学和对该资源的有效开发及科学管理提供了基础。     

中国南海西沙群岛海域鸢乌贼角质颚色素沉积变化

角质颚是头足类的主要摄食器官,蕴藏着大量的渔业生物学及生态学信息。根据2017年5—8月中国灯光罩网渔船于中国南海西沙群岛海域采集的860尾鸢乌贼样本,对其角质颚色素沉积等级进行了划分和判定,研究了鸢乌贼角质颚色素沉积等级变化与胴长、体质量、净重、性腺成熟度和角质颚外部形态参数等因子的关系。结果表明:鸢乌贼的角质颚色素沉积变化存在性别间显著性差异(P0.05),雌性个体角质颚色素沉积速度快于雄性;色素沉积等级与胴长、体质量和净重均呈正相关,并随着性腺成熟度的增加而增加;雄性个体角质颚下颚除翼长外,其余各部色素沉积的速度均快于上颚各部;雌性个体上颚各部色素沉积速度均快于下颚。本研究为后续利用角质颚研究鸢乌贼渔业生物学和对该资源的有效开发及科学管理提供了基础。     

交叉抚育经历对根田鼠体重发育的影响

为检验交叉抚育经历对根田鼠体重发育的可能影响,监测了雌雄亲生和寄养幼仔的体重生长.结果发现: 在不同发育时期(2 ～ 70日龄),雄性亲生与寄养幼仔的体重没有差异; 除第18和20日龄外,其它时期(2 ～ 16,25 ～ 70日龄)雌性亲生与寄养幼仔的体重没有差异; 亲生和寄养幼仔在25日龄前两性体重差异不明显;25日龄后两性体重差异显著; 随着日龄的增加,根田鼠的体重日增长率呈现下降趋势.这些结果表明交叉抚育经历对雄性个体的发育没有影响,对雌性体重发育可能存在短暂影响,但持续时间不长(3 d ≤ T ＜ 9 d);根田鼠亲生和寄养幼仔体重生长的性别差异均在25日龄前后形成.     

鄱阳湖黄鳝的生长特征

以基舌骨和脊椎骨作为年龄鉴定的材料,研究了鄱阳湖黄鳝(Monopterus albus)种群的生长特征.结果表明,种群的年龄结构分别为:雌性1～5龄,雄性2～6龄,2～5龄为黄鳝性别的过渡期(间性).2～4龄为优势年龄组,占渔获物的89.75%,相对应的体长为30～50 cm,体重为30～120 g.体长(L)与体重(W)的关系为:W=0.000 4L3.2601(♀);W=0.001 4L2.9008(∮).按生长指标值分析,阶段生长可以明显地划分为两个时期,即2龄前的生长迅速期和2龄后的生长稳定期.拟合的Von Bertalanffy生长参数分别为雌性L∞=78.5 Cm,k=0.174 02/y,t0=-1.203 2 Y,W∞:602.01 g;雄性L∞=102.3 cm,k=0.118 45/y,t0=-1.310 1 Y,W-=947.32 g;生长特征参数分别为ψ=3.030 3(♀)和ψ=3.093 4(∮);雌雄个体生长差异显著.     

西北印度洋海域鸢乌贼耳石微结构及生长特性

耳石是研究头足类年龄与生长、种群结构和生活史的重要硬组织之一。为研究西北印度洋鸢乌贼耳石微结构及生长特性,根据2019年2—5月我国灯光罩网渔船在西北印度洋调查生产期间采集的1009尾鸢乌贼样本,以耳石总长(TSL)、侧区长(LDL)、翼区长(WL)和最大宽度(MW)作为耳石的外形生长指标,结合日龄数据,对西北印度洋鸢乌贼耳石微结构及其生长特性进行了研究。结果表明: 根据生长纹间宽度,可将耳石微结构分为后核心区、暗区和外围区。协方差分析表明,TSL、LDL、WL和MW与日龄的关系均不存在显著的性别间差异,TSL、WL和MW与日龄的关系最适合用幂函数表示,而LDL与日龄的关系最适合用线性函数表示。总体而言,随着鸢乌贼日龄的增加,TSL、WL、LDL与MW的瞬时相对生长率与绝对生长率基本呈现下降的趋势, 140~180 d可能是西北印度洋鸢乌贼性成熟的日龄段。     

Preparing the Perfect Cuttlefish Meal: Complex Prey Handling by Dolphins

Dolphins are well known for their complex social and foraging behaviours. Direct underwater observations of wild dolphin feeding behaviour however are rare. At mass spawning aggregations of giant cuttlefish (Sepia apama) in the Upper Spencer Gulf in South Australia, a wild female Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops aduncus) was observed and recorded repeatedly catching, killing and preparing cuttlefish for consumption using a specific and ordered sequence of behaviours. Cuttlefish were herded to a sand substrate, pinned to the seafloor, killed by downward thrust, raised mid-water and beaten by the dolphin with its snout until the ink was released and drained. The deceased cuttlefish was then returned to the seafloor, inverted and forced along the sand substrate in order to strip the thin dorsal layer of skin off the mantle, thus releasing the buoyant calcareous cuttlebone. This stepped behavioural sequence significantly improves prey quality through 1) removal of the ink (with constituent melanin and tyrosine), and 2) the calcareous cuttlebone. Observations of foraging dolphin pods from above-water at this site (including the surfacing of intact clean cuttlebones) suggest that some or all of this prey handling sequence may be used widely by dolphins in the region. Aspects of the unique mass spawning aggregations of giant cuttlefish in this region of South Australia may have contributed to the evolution of this behaviour through both high abundances of spawning and weakened post-spawning cuttlefish in a small area (>10,000 animals on several kilometres of narrow rocky reef), as well as potential long-term and regular visitation by dolphin pods to this site.     

Behavioral laterality and morphological asymmetry in the cuttlefish, Sepia lycidas

Behavioral laterality is widely found among vertebrates, but has been little studied in aquatic invertebrates. We examined behavioral laterality in attacks on prey shrimp by the cuttlefish, Sepia lycidas, and correlated this to their morphological asymmetry. Behavioral tests in the laboratory revealed significant individual bias for turning either clockwise or counterclockwise toward prey, suggesting behavioral dimorphism in foraging behavior. Morphological bias was examined by measuring the curvature of the cuttlebone; in some the cuttlebone was convex to the right (righty), while in others, the cuttlebone was convex to the left (lefty). The frequency distributions of an index of cuttlebone asymmetry were bimodal, indicating that populations were composed of two types of individuals: "righty" and "lefty." Moreover, an individual's laterality in foraging behavior corresponded with the asymmetry of its cuttlebone, with righty individuals tending to turn counterclockwise and lefty ones in the opposite direction. These results indicate that cuttlefish exhibit behavioral dimorphism and morphological antisymmetry in natural populations. The presence of two types of lateral morph in cuttlefish provides new information on the relationship between antisymmetric morphologies and the evolution of individual laterality in behavioral responses in cephalopods. The implications of these findings for the interpretation of ecological meaning and maintenance mechanisms of laterality in cuttlefish are also discussed.     

Phylogeny of selected Sepiidae (Mollusca, Cephalopoda) based on 12S, 16S, and COI sequences, with comments on the taxonomic reliability of several morphological characters

Phylogenetic relationships among 11 species of sepiids from Japanese waters and Sepia officinalis from Mediterranean were studied using partial sequences of the mitochondrial 12S rRNA, 16S rRNA, and cytochrome c oxidase subunit I genes. These three genes had been analyzed in an Atlantic species S. elagans and was obtained from database. In the two-gene set analysis (16S+COI), sequence data of another 4 species were added from database. We also studied morphological characters of radulae, tentacular clubs, and cuttlebones. The molecular phylogeny was not congruent with relationships detected by the number of rows in radulae and the arrangement of suckers on the tentacular club. As to the cuttlebone shape, the molecular phylogeny suggests the separation of two groups, Doratosepion species with a lanceolate cuttlebone and the others with a broad cuttlebone. Our molecular phylogenetic study revealed these sepiids are separated into four clades. The first clade includes Sepia officinalis, S. hierrendda, S. bertheloti, S. pharaonis and Sepiella japonica. The second clade consists of S. latimanus and Metasepia tullbergi from sub-tropical waters. The third clade includes Sepia esculenta, S. madokai, S. aculeata and S. lycidas, which have a cuttlebone with a prominent spine. The fourth clade consists of Doratosepion species complex, S. kobiensis, S. lorigera, S. pardex, S. peterseni, and S. sp., which are characterized by a narrow cuttlebone with a distinct outer cone at the posterior end. The lack of membranous structures in the cuttlebone is a synapomorphy for this clade. S. elegans did not clearly belong to any of these clades and might represent the fifth clade.     

Cuttlebone morphology limits habitat depth in eleven species of Sepia (Cephalopoda: Sepiidae)

The cuttlebone is a rigid buoyancy tank that imposes a depth limit on Sepia, the only living speciose cephalopod genus with a chambered shell. Sections of 59 cuttlebones from a geographically diverse sample of 11 species were examined using confocal microscopy. Sepia species that live at greater depths had thicker septa and less space between pillars than did shallow species. A plate theory analysis of cuttlebone strength based on these two measures predicted maximum capture depths accurately in most species. Thus cuttlebone morphology confers differing degrees of strength against implosion from hydrostatic pressure, which increases with increasing habitat depth. Greater strength may come at the cost of increased cuttlebone density, which impinges on the cuttlebone's buoyancy function.     

Androgenic stimulation of aggression eliciting cues in adult opponent mice castrated at birth, weaning, or maturity

The developmental and concurrent effects of androgens on aggression-eliciting qualities of male opponent mice were investigated during paired contests with trained fighters. Groups of male mice were castrated at either 1, 20, or 110 days of age. Half of each group were injected from 110 days of age with a maintenance dose of 100 αg testosterone propionate (TP), while the rest received injections of the arachis oil vehicle. The level of aggression received from fighter mice was monitored after 20 injection days, and compared to that received by intact male, and spayed TP-injected female opponents. The age at castration did not affect the responsiveness of opponents to androgens, and all TP-injected males suffered more severe defeat than oil-injected controls. TP-injected castrate males did not differ from intact males as opponents eliciting aggression, though TP-treated females received significantly more bites than any of the male opponent groups. A concurrent stimulation by androgens of the adult males' aggression-eliciting cues was, therefore, demonstrated. It is suggested that females derive different metabolic end-products from testosterone propionate, which can apparently provide more effective aggression-eliciting cues than are produced by the male mouse.     

Reassessment of spiny dogfish Squalus acanthias age and growth using vertebrae and dorsal-fin spines

Male and female spiny dogfish Squalus acanthias were collected in the western North Atlantic Ocean in the Gulf of Maine between July 2006 and June 2009. Squalus acanthias ranged from 25 to 102 cm stretch total length and were caught during all months of the year except January. Age estimates derived from banding patterns visible in both the vertebrae and second dorsal-fin spines were compared. Vertebral growth increments were visualized using a modified histological staining technique, which was verified as appropriate for obtaining age estimates. Marginal increment analysis of vertebrae verified the increment periodicity, suggesting annual band deposition. Based on increased precision and accuracy of age estimates, as well as more biologically realistic parameters generated in growth models, the current study found that vertebrae provided a more reliable and accurate means of estimating age in S. acanthias than the second dorsal-fin spine. Age estimates obtained from vertebrae ranged from <1 year-old to 17 years for male and 24 years for female S. acanthias. The two-parameter von Bertalanffy growth model fit to vertebrae-derived age estimates produced parameters of L∞ = 94·23 cm and k = 0·11 for males and L∞ = 100·76 cm and k = 0·12 for females. While these growth parameters differed from those previously reported for S. acanthias in the western North Atlantic Ocean, the causes of such differences were beyond the scope of the current study and remain to be determined.     

Cuttlebone: Characterisation, Application and Development of Biomimetic Materials

Cuttlebone signifies a special class of ultra-lightweight cellular natural material possessing unique chemical,mechanical and structural properties,which have drawn considerable attention in the literature.The aim of this paper is to better understand the mechanical and biological roles of cuttlebone.First,the existing literature concerning the characterisation and potential applications inspired by this remarkable biomaterial is critiqued.Second,the finite element-based homogenisation method is used to verify that morphological variations within individual cuttlebone samples have minimal impact on the effective mechanical properties.This finding agrees with existing literature,which suggests that cuttlebone strength is dictated by the cuttlefish habitation depth.Subsequently,this homogenisation approach is further developed to characterise the effective mechanical bulk modulus and biofluidic permeability that cuttlebone provides,thereby quantifying its mechanical and transporting functionalities to inspire bionic design of structures and materials for more extensive applications.Finally,a brief rationale for the need to design a biomimetic material inspired by the cuttlebone microstructure is provided,based on the preceding investigation.     

Biochemical and toxic effects of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin in immature male and female chickens

It has been reported that 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD)-induced body wasting in mammals is associated with decreased adipose tissue lipoprotein lipase (LPL) and glucose transporting (GT) activity with differential sensitivity between genders. This study extends those findings to chickens as an avian model. A significant decrease in body weight gain was demonstrated in immature male and female chickens 10 days after treatment with a single intraperitoneal (i.p.) dose of 10 and 100 microg TCDD/kg. Body weight gain decrease was associated with hepatomegaly and induction of hepatic CYP1A enzymes in both genders. The increase in liver/body weight ratio (48%) and the decreased LPL activity (28%) were significant only in females at 10 microg TCDD/kg. However, the increase in liver/body weight ratio (31%) and the decrease in LPL activity (26%) were significantly demonstrated in males at 100 microg TCDD/kg. Levels of GT were significantly decreased in females (46%) and in males (48%) following treatment with 10 microg TCDD/kg and 100 microg TCDD/kg, respectively. Therefore, in chickens, as in mammals, the TCDD-induced body wasting is accompanied with decreased LPL activity and decreased GT activity and the magnitude of these changes is gender dependent. In contrast to mammals, this study suggests that female chickens are equally, if not more responsive to TCDD toxicity than males.     

Principal components analysis of physical growth in savannah baboons

Morphometric data collected from 118 male and 169 female savannah baboons (Papio cynocephalus anubis) aged between birth and 5.5 years were analyzed to describe the morphology and physical growth of this species. Measurements included weight, crown-rump length, triceps circumference, and skinfolds at the neck, subscapular, suprailiac, and triceps anatomical sites. Principal components analyses were applied to the data to provide multivariate assessments of morphological patterning among the variables. These analyses resulted in the extraction of two unrotated orthogonal components that accounted for 88% of the overall sample variation. The first component accounted for 77% of the variation and represents an axis of overall body size. The second component represents an axis of shape variation that contrasts body size with fat patterning, and was interpreted as a measure of body leanness. Individual component scores were computed for determining age, gender, and age-by-gender interaction effects. Both components were found to be age dependent for both genders. Males and females shared similar age patterning along the two components; however, gender differences did occur in patterning along the two components; however, gender differences did occur in respect to leanness. The multivariate measure of overall body size increased for both genders similarly with advancing age. Age patterning along the leanness component was described as a decrease from birth to 1 year, followed by an increase in leanness in older ages. Females had a delayed and significantly less intense increase in leanness relative to males.     

Female impersonation as an alternative reproductive strategy in giant cuttlefish

Out of all the animals, cephalopods possess an unrivalled ability to change their shape and body patterns. Our observations of giant cuttlefish (Sepia apama) suggest this ability has allowed them to evolve alternative mating strategies in which males can switch between the appearance of a female and that of a male in order to foil the guarding attempts of larger males. At a mass breeding aggregation in South Australia, we repeatedly observed single small males accompanying mating pairs. While doing so, the small male assumed the body shape and patterns of a female. Such males were never attacked by the larger mate-guarding male. On more than 20 occasions, when the larger male was distracted by another male intruder, these small males, previously indistinguishable from a female, were observed to change body pattern and behaviour to that of a male in mating display. These small males then attempted to mate with the female, often with success. This potential for dynamic sexual mimicry may have played a part in driving the evolution of the remarkable powers of colour and shape transformation which characterize the cephalopods.