恒定和波动温度下丽斑麻蜥孵出幼体的表型变异

作者以丽斑麻蜥(Eremias argus)为模型动物研究恒定和波动孵化温度对孵化成功率和孵出幼体表型的影响。卵在四个恒定[24 ,27 ,30 and 33 (±0·3)℃]、一个波动温度下孵化。不同温度处理下的孵化成功率相同,但孵出幼体表型不同。孵化期随孵化温度升高呈指数式缩短;在相同平均温度下,波动温度孵化卵的孵化期比恒温孵化卵长。在所有被检表型特征中,幼体的干重、剩余卵黄干重和运动表现更易受孵化温度影响。总体而言,低温(24℃、27℃)孵出幼体运动表现最佳,高温(33℃)孵出幼体最差、温和温度(30℃和波动温度)孵出幼体居中。本文研究数据显示: (1)丽斑麻蜥卵每日短期暴露于潜在致死的极端温度下对孵化成功率和孵出幼体形态特征无明显的不利效应; (2)温度波动对孵出幼体运动表现无促进作用,对孵化期的影响则不同于平均值相同的恒定温度。     

乌梢蛇精子头部形成的超微结构

摘要：为了解乌梢蛇（Zaocys dhumnades）精子形成的规律,用透射电镜对其头部超微结构进行了观察。结果表明,乌梢蛇精子头部形成可分为4个阶段：阶段Ⅰ,前顶体囊泡内的颗粒物质融合形成1个顶体颗粒而发育为顶体囊泡,随着顶体囊泡的增大,在顶体囊泡与核膜之间形成了致密的纤维物质层。阶段Ⅱ,顶体囊泡变扁平,顶体颗粒分散...     

The variance of incubation temperatures does not affect the phenotype of hatchlings in a colubrid snake, Xenochrophis piscator

It has been documented in some reptiles that fluctuating incubation temperatures influence hatchling traits differently than constant temperatures even when the means are the same between treatments; yet whether the observed effects result from the thermal variance, temperature extremes or both is largely unknown. We incubated eggs of the checkered keelback snake Xenochrophis piscator under one fluctuating (Ft) and three constant (24, 27 and 30 °C) temperatures to examine whether the variance of incubation temperatures plays an important role in influencing the phenotype of hatchlings. The thermal conditions under which eggs were incubated affected a number of hatchling traits (wet mass, SVL, tail length, carcass dry mass, fatbody dry mass and residual yolk dry mass) but not hatching success and the sex ratio of hatchlings. Body sizes were larger in hatchlings from incubation temperatures of 24 and 27 °C compared with the other two treatments. Hatchlings from the four treatments could be divided into two groups: one included hatchlings from the 24 and 27 °C treatments, and the other included hatchlings from the 30 °C and Ft treatments. In the Ft treatment, the thermal variance was not a significant predictor of all examined hatchling traits, and incubation length was not correlated with the thermal variance when holding the thermal mean constant. The results of this study show that the mean rather than the variance of incubation temperatures affects the phenotype of hatchlings.     

产卵于温暖且热稳定巢内的蜥蜴具有相对较高但较窄范围的孵化温度

作者用蜡皮蜥(Leiolepis reevesii)为模型动物,检验产卵于温暖且热稳定巢内的蜥蜴应有相对较高但较窄的孵化温度的假设。卵在三个恒定温度(27、30和33℃)、一个波动温度处理下孵化。温度的平均值而非方差影响孵化期,27、30和33℃的平均孵化期分别为101.1、69.6和55.3d。幼体性别不受孵化温度影响。不同处理孵出的幼体仅有稍许形态差异,但运动表现差异显著。27℃孵出幼体在跑道上的表现比其它处理孵出幼体差。卵能在27℃和33℃下孵化,但这两个孵化温度并不适宜。蜡皮蜥适宜的孵化温度范围可能处于最频繁的巢温变化范围(28℃-32℃)内。与其它在低温生境或温暖生境但产卵于浅巢的有鳞类爬行动物相比较,蜡皮蜥有相对较高但较窄适宜的卵孵化温度。因此,作者的数据支持上述假设。     

Effects of chlorophyll concentration and temperature variation on the reproduction and survival of Temora longicornis (Copepoda, Calanoida) in the Eastern English Channel

The influence of temperature and chlorophyll concentration on egg production, hatching success, female survival and body size of the copepod Temora longicornis was investigated in situ in the coastal waters of the Eastern English Channel. Twenty samples were collected between February and July 2003 three to four times per month. The maximum daily level of egg production of 75.5 eggs female⁻¹ was observed in March, with minima of 10 eggs female⁻¹ in February and July. Between February and March egg production increased with chlorophyll concentration. At the end of March a decrease in egg production corresponded to a strong increase in chlorophyll concentration that indicated a Phaeocystis-dominated bloom. After this period egg production closely followed the temporal variation in chlorophyll concentration with a maximum of 55.3 eggs female⁻¹ in April during a second peak of chlorophyll concentration. Hatching success varied between 60% and 80% and was not influenced by chlorophyll concentration, in situ temperature or any other biological parameter considered in this study. Increases in temperature from February to July paralleled a decrease in body length and an increase in the percentage of spawning females. Mean female survival followed the variation of both temperature and chlorophyll concentration only between April and July. Temperature and chlorophyll concentration affected the reproductive parameters of T. longicornis differently. Female survival and body size were negatively correlated with temperature, while the highest chlorophyll concentrations were not always favourable for egg production. Therefore the quality of food should not be associated with chlorophyll quantity. Furthermore, the maximum values of egg production in this study are the highest recorded for T. longicornis. This study, conducted for the first time in the Eastern English Channel, showed high levels of productivity of T. longicornis despite a decrease of egg production during a Phaeocystis sp. dominated bloom in April.     

Effects of different diets on the reproduction and naupliar development of the copepod Acartia bifilosa

The influence of diatoms on the reproduction and naupliar development of Acartia bifilosa was investigated under laboratory conditions, comparing initial in situ values and laboratory-food treatments. Egg production by A. bifilosa was significantly reduced by one diatom diet (Phaeodactylum tricornutum: Pt) and by two non-diatom diets (Platymonas subordiformis: Ps and Nannochloropsis oculata: No). It was less affected by the other diatom diet (Skeletonema costatum: Sc) or by two mixed-food treatments (D-mix and DG-mix), composed of two diatoms (Pt, Sc) and four species (Pt, Sc, Ps and No), respectively. The negative effect of Pt was eliminated when adult copepods were offered mixed-food diets. There were no significant differences between the hatching success values observed in filtered seawater and in algal exudates, indicating that diatoms did not produce active dissolved toxic substances under the different food concentrations tested. The mortality rate of nauplii was higher with Pt than the other diets, suggesting that this diatom species had a negative effect on egg production, hatching success and naupliar survival simultaneously. Compared to other diets, No and Pt were not beneficial food sources for reproduction and for female and larval survival.     

Fuel use and corticosterone dynamics in hatchling green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas) during natal dispersal

During their natal dispersal hatchling sea turtles depart their nest, beach and inshore areas quickly to move into offshore developmental habitat using their finite energy stores. Patterns of fuel use and endocrine responses that could facilitate hatchling sea turtle dispersal activity are poorly understood. This study, examined aspects of intermediary metabolism by measuring plasma fuel use and an endocrine response of hatchling green turtles (Chelonia mydas) during terrestrial and aquatic activity coinciding with natal dispersal. Specifically, we measured plasma concentrations of glucose, non-esterised free fatty acids and protein to gauge the contributions of carbohydrate, lipid and protein metabolism for fuelling natal dispersal. In addition, we measured plasma levels of the steroid hormone corticosterone (CORT) a hormone implicated in regulating a number of metabolic events associated with migration and energy use in vertebrates. During terrestrial activity, hatchlings ascended through the sand from their nests and exhibited significant increases in plasma CORT and lactate indicating intense periods of anaerobic activity. During swimming, all plasma metabolites, with the exception of plasma protein, peaked between 1 and 4 h post-beginning swimming activity. Plasma CORT peaked at between 3 and 5 h of swimming activity. These plasma concentrations are consistent with intensive activity inducing catabolism of carbohydrate, lipid and protein stores to support prolonged activity. These results are similar to other vertebrates and suggest a relatively uniform cascade of physiological processes during such arduous migratory events.     

Embryonic development rate and hatchling phenotypes in the Chinese three-keeled pond turtle (Chinemys reevesii): The influence of fluctuating temperature versus constant temperature

Although the effects of constant temperatures on hatchling traits have been extensively studied in reptiles, the effects of fluctuating temperatures remain poorly understood. Eggs of the Chinese three-keeled pond turtle (Chinemys reevesii) were incubated at a constant temperatures (28 °C) and two fluctuating temperatures (28±3 °C and 28±6 °C) to test for the influence of thermal environment on incubation duration, hatchling traits, and post-hatching growth. Incubation duration was shorter at constant temperature than at fluctuating temperatures. The sex ratio of hatchlings varied among temperature treatments, with more females from 28±6 °C than from 28 °C. The size and mass were greater for hatchlings from a constant temperature than from fluctuating ones, but this difference in body size disappeared when the hatchlings were 3 months old. In addition, the swimming ability, survival, and growth of hatchlings from fluctuating temperatures did not differ from those of hatchlings from constant temperature, when they were kept at an artificial environment without food scarcity or predation. Therefore, the thermal environments with various temperature fluctuations used in this study do not significantly affect fitness-related hatchling traits in this species.     

Effects of estuarine conditions and organic enrichment on the fecundity and hatching success of Acartia clausi in contrasting systems

The fecundity and hatching success of Acartia clausi were analysed at fixed salinity sites (35, 34 and 33 psu) in two nearby estuaries (Bilbao and Urdaibai, Basque coast, Bay of Biscay) from March to June 1997. Field incubations were conducted to estimate egg production rates and hatching success, and the size of eggs and experimental females measured. Water temperature and dissolved oxygen saturation were also determined, as well as seston samples to quantify food abundance and quality. Between-estuary and within-estuary differences were tested statistically, and correlation and regression analyses were used to determine relationships between reproductive and environmental variables. Egg production rates were higher in the organically enriched estuary of Bilbao; this denoting that food supply controls the fertility of A. clausi in these systems. Temporal patterns of egg production differed between estuaries, and were associated with different nutritional factors in each estuary. Within the salinity range analysed, egg production reached higher values at intermediate salinity (≈34 psu) in both estuaries. This was interpreted as the result of the interaction between the positive effect of food increase, and the negative effect of physicochemical conditions with decreasing salinity. Egg size variations mainly occurred temporally in relation to female size, but no clear trade-off between egg size and egg number was observed in any case. A drop in hatching success in Bilbao, mainly in waters of <34 psu, was related to the oxygen depletion caused by organic pollution. This indicates that organic enrichment in Bilbao has opposite effects on the reproductive success, because it enhances egg production but reduces offspring survival.     

Sexual dimorphism, female reproduction and egg incubation in the oriental leaf-toed gecko (Hemidactylus bowringii) from southern China

We studied sexual dimorphism, female reproduction and egg incubation of the oriental leaf-toed gecko (Hemidactylus bowringii) from a population in southern China. The largest male and female in our sample were 60 and 57 mm snout-vent length (SVL), respectively. Males are the larger sex; sexual dimorphism in head size and tail length (TL) is evident in juveniles and adults, with males having larger heads as well as longer tails than females. Oviposition occurred between late May and late July. Females switched from laying two eggs early in the breeding season to 1-2 eggs later in the season. Clutch mass and egg mass were both independent of female SVL, whereas relative clutch mass was negatively correlated with female SVL. The previous conclusion that female H. bowringii lay a single clutch of eggs per breeding season is unlikely to be true. Thermal environments experienced by H. bowringii eggs affect incubation length as well as morphological and locomotor phenotypes of hatchlings. Hatchlings from eggs incubated at 30 degrees C were larger (SVL, tail length and body mass) and performed better in the racetrack than their counterparts from eggs incubated at 24 degrees C. Temperatures suitable for embryonic development are relatively high in H. bowringii, primarily as a consequence of the adaptive response to warm environments in southern China.     

孵化温度对黄喉拟水龟胚胎发育和幼体特征的影响

用3个恒定温度(24、26和28℃)孵化黄喉拟水龟南方种群卵,检测孵化温度对孵化期、孵化成功率和孵出幼体特征的影响。孵化温度显著影响孵化期和孵化成功率、以及幼体的性别、大小和早期生长。黄喉拟水龟幼体的性别取决于孵化温度(属TSDⅠa型),26℃和28℃孵出幼体偏雄性,30℃孵出幼体都是雌性。随着孵化温度的升高,孵化期呈非线性缩短,而孵化成功率略微增加。较高温度下孵出的幼体较大且具有较好的功能表现,但生长较慢。低温孵出幼体较小,但胚后生长速率较快。低温孵出幼体较小可能与胚胎发育期长、总代谢消耗大有关;而生长速率快则可能是因为低温产生的雄性幼体生长快于高温产生的雌性幼体。与已报道的黄喉拟水龟北方种群卵孵化结果相比较,26℃和28℃条件下南方种群卵的孵化期和产生1∶1性比的关键温度较大。这种地理上的变异可能反映不同种群对当地热环境适应性上的差异。     

孵化温度对双斑锦蛇初生幼体行为和呼吸代谢的影响

以双斑锦蛇(Elaphe bimaculata)为对象,在24 、27和30 ℃下孵化双斑锦蛇卵,研究孵化温度对孵出幼蛇吐信频次、选择体温、二氧化碳代谢量、生长过程中的呼吸代谢、初次摄食个体数和初次摄食量的影响。结果显示:孵化温度对双斑锦蛇孵出幼蛇的各项行为指标均没有显著影响。自幼蛇孵出至体内剩余卵黄消耗完这一时间段内,呼吸代谢产生的二氧化碳量逐步减少到最低值。24 、27和30 ℃孵化温度下孵出幼体呼吸每分钟所产生的CO₂量分别为10.58、12.06和10.88 μL;初次摄食量分别为4.92、4.34和3.60 g,各温度下摄食个体的数目分别约占该温度下孵出幼体总数的46.2%、56.3%和40%。鉴于3个温度处理下孵出幼体的各项指标均无显著差异,24-30 ℃是双斑锦蛇适宜生存的温度区间。     

Relatively low upper threshold temperature in lizards from cool habitats

We used the slender forest skink (Scincella modesta) as a model animal to test for the hypothesis that the upper threshold of incubation temperature is relatively low in lizards using shaded (and thus, cool) habitats. Eight gravid females were collected in early May 2005 from a population in Hangzhou, Zhejiang (eastern China). All females laid a single clutch of 7–13 eggs between mid-May and early June. Eggs were incubated at 24, 28 and 30 (±0.2) °C. None of eggs incubated at 30 °C hatched. Eggs incubated at 24 and 28 °C differed in incubation length but not in hatching success. The incubation length at 24 and 28 °C averaged 22.3 and 20.3 days, respectively. Hatchlings from eggs incubated at 24 and 28 °C did not differ in all examined morphological traits, but hatchlings from eggs incubated at 28 °C performed apparently worse in the racetrack than did their counterparts from eggs incubated at 24 °C. The temperature of 28 °C is close to the upper thermal threshold for successful embryonic development in S. modesta. Compared to other oviparous lizards using open (and thus, warm) habitats, the upper thermal threshold and the range of optimal temperatures for embryonic development are both lower in S. modesta. Our study supports the previous conclusion that species living in thermally different habitats may differ in the upper thermal threshold and the range of optimal temperatures for embryonic development.     

Near anoxia and sulfide as possible factors influencing the spatial distribution of Acartia tonsa and Acartia clausi: Comparative evaluation of egg tolerance

In many coastal and estuarine areas the planktonic copepods Acartia tonsa and Acartia clausi show a spatial separation with A. tonsa restricted to brackish waters and confined environments and A. clausi inhabiting areas more influenced by sea water. The hatching and viability of A. tonsa and A. clausi eggs exposed to anoxia and anoxia/sulfide (conditions that are frequent in bottom waters of the most confined areas) was evaluated to determine if these stress factors play a role in the distribution of these species. Subitaneous eggs, spawned by laboratory reared organisms, were incubated in near anoxia (< 7.59 × 10^− 3 mmol O₂ L^− 1) or anoxia/sulfide (∼ 1 mmol L^− 1) for different periods (1, 4, 8 and 15 days), then transferred to normoxic conditions. The exposure of the eggs to near anoxia and sulfide appears to induce the same response (quiescence) in both species. Exposure times ≤ 8 days to near anoxia or anoxia/sulfide did not affect egg viability, while 15 day exposure caused significant declines in hatching success of both species. A significant difference between the effects of near anoxia and anoxia/sulfide was observed when incubation lasted 15 days; hatching of eggs exposed to sulfide being higher than that of eggs exposed to near anoxia for both species. No significant differences were observed between the two species in hatching success of eggs exposed to both near anoxia and anoxia/sulfide (with the exception of eggs incubated in near anoxia for 4 days). The results indicate that the impact of anoxia and sulfide on the eggs of the two Acartia species cannot be a factor explaining the spatial distribution in coastal and brackish environments of these copepods.Feeding experiments on A. clausi were also performed. Suitability of different algal species to rear this copepod was evaluated and the results were compared with data previously obtained for A. tonsa. Differences in feeding needs between A. clausi and A. tonsa are discussed.     

Isolation of anti-Candida albicans compounds from Markhamia obtusifolia (Baker) Sprague (Bignoniaceae)

An increase in clinical cases of Candidiosis globally as well as fungal resistance to drugs prompted the search for novel anti-Candida albicans agents from plant sources. Leaf extracts of Markhamia obtusifolia were screened for activity against C. albicans in vitro. An acetone extract obtained following serial exhaustive extraction contained mainly the active components with at least four active zones on the bioautogram. Bioassay guided fractionation of this extract led to the isolation of three compounds which inhibited the growth of three C. albicans strains. Based on spectroscopy studies (NMR and MS), the compounds were identified as 3β-hydroxyurs-12-en-28-oic acid, ursolic acid (1) 3β, 19α-dihydroxyurs-12-en-28-oic acid, pomolic acid (2) and 2β, 3β, 19α -trihydroxy-urs-12-en-28-oic acid, 2-epi-tormentic acid (3). The most active compound was 3β, 19α-dihydroxy-12-ursen-28-oic acid (2) with a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) value of 12.5 µg/mL for C. albicans isolated from dog and 25.0 µg/mL for C. albicans from cat and ATCC 90028 at 24 h following incubation. However, at 48 h of incubation MICs were > 400 µg/mL for all the three compounds isolated. This study indicated that M. obtusifolia could be a potential source of active principles against C. albicans.     

Effect of clutch size on male egg-fanning behavior and hatching success in the goby, Eviota prasina (Klunzinger)

In fish that exhibit paternal care, the females often choose their mates on the basis of male traits that are indicative of the parental ability of the males. In a marine goby, Eviota prasina, males tend their eggs within their nests until hatching, and females prefer males that have longer dorsal fins and exhibit courtship behavior with a higher frequency as their mates. In order to clarify the relationship between these sexually selected traits and the parental ability of males of E. prasina, the factors affecting the hatching success of eggs within male nests and the male parental care behavior were examined in an aquarium experiment. Females spawned their eggs in male nests and the clutch size of females showed a high individual variation (range = 88-833 eggs). The hatching success of eggs within male nests showed a positive correlation with the time spent by males in fanning eggs and the clutch size. In contrast to the prediction, however, the hatching success did not show a significant correlation with the sexually selected traits, i.e., the male dorsal fin length and the frequency of courtship displays. Moreover, multiple regression analysis indicated that the time spent by the males in fanning was the most important factor affecting the survival rate of the eggs. The time spent by males in fanning behavior was influenced by the clutch size within their nests; the fanning behavior of males occurred with a higher frequency when they tended larger clutches. Males are required to invest a greater effort in egg-tending behavior to achieve a higher hatching success when they receive larger clutches, probably due to the greater reward for their parental behavior. Based on their mate choice, females may obtain other benefits such as high quality offspring.     

Effects of constant and varying temperatures on the development of blue swimmer crab (Portunus pelagicus) larvae: Laboratory observations and field predictions for temperate coastal waters

Temperature is widely held to be a critical factor for the development of marine invertebrate larvae. We investigated three specific aspects of this relationship for the blue swimmer crab, Portunus pelagicus, in a temperate gulf: (1) the effects of different but temporally constant temperatures on the survival and developmental period of larvae reared in the laboratory, (2) the effects of varying temperatures on the survival and developmental period of larvae reared in the laboratory, and (3) prediction of larval developmental periods under seasonal temperature changes found in the field. Temperature had a marked effect on larval survival. At constant temperatures of 22.5 and 25 °C larval survival was far greater than at lower temperatures down to 17 °C, and developmental period of the larval period was inversely related to (constant) temperature. However, larvae in temperate coastal waters will usually be exposed to seasonally varying, rather than constant, temperatures. To account for this, a larval developmental period model was created and then verified in the laboratory by rearing larvae under varying temperatures. Results of this work demonstrated that developmental periods were markedly different under constant versus varying temperature regimes. Using different temperature simulations for a temperate gulf (Gulf St Vincent, South Australia), the developmental period model predicted that in years of ‘average’ seasonal temperature changes, total larval developmental period could range from 26 to 45 days depending on the day of hatching. In such cases, peak postlarval settlement was predicted to occur between mid January and mid March. Results from this study also predict that larval survival (and thus postlarval settlement) will be maximised in years with abnormally warm summers. Whilst the developmental period model was used to make predictions of developmental period for P. pelagicus in a temperate gulf, it could readily be adapted to predict developmental periods in other coastal environments.