Ultrastructural studies of some chitinozoan vesicles

Four species of Ordovician Chitinozoa from Öland, Sweden, Cyathochitina stentor, Desmochitina minor, Lagenochitina esthonica , and Lagenochitina tumida , have been investigated by transmission electron microscopy. There is very great variation in the vesicle wall ultrastructure of the specimens studied. The texture of the vesicle wall can be homogeneous or granular and can also contain denser zones. Ultrastructures such as pore canals and 'empty spaces' have been revealed. The systematic affinity of the Chitinozoa is discussed, and it is concluded that chitinozoans display typical metazoan structures represented in eggs and egg capsules of marine invertebrates and possibly also in fish.     

Presence de Graptolites de l'Arenig moyen a la basede la Formation de Postolonnec (Massif Armoricain); Consequences stratigraphiques et paleogeographiques

The lowest part of the Postolonnec Formation (western Brittany) can be assigned to the middle Arenig Didymograptus nitidus Zone on graptolite evidence. Preliminary information on the Chitinozoa agrees with this age assignment, which defines more precisely the age of the underlying Grès armoricain Formation and also demands reconsideration of the problems associated with early Ordovician palaeogeography and sedimentology in the Massif armoricain.     

Late Ludlovian Chitinozoa from the locality “Na Požárech” (Silurian,Prague Basin,Barrandian area,Czech Republic)

Ludlow (Silurian) Chitinozoa are described from the lower part of GSSP “Na Po?árech” (Prague Basin, Barrandian area, Czech Republic). Two chitinozoan biozones — Angochitina elongata and Eisenackitina barrandei are established.     

Preference for structured environment in zebrafish (Danio rerio) and checker barbs (Puntius oligolepis)

Information about the welfare and husbandry of pet and laboratory fish is scarce although millions of fish are sold in pet shops and used in laboratory research every year. Inadequate housing conditions can cause behavioural problems also in fish since they are complex animals with sophisticated behaviour. In this study, we investigated the influence of environmental complexity on compartment preference and behaviour in zebrafish (Danio rerio) and checker barbs (Puntius oligolepis). For the preference test, large aquaria were divided by two semi-transparent walls of Plexiglas into an empty compartment, a structured compartment enriched with plants and clay pots, and a smaller compartment in-between, where food was provided. For observation, the empty and structured compartments were divided into six zones of similar size by defining three vertical layers and two horizontal areas (back vs. front area). Seven groups of six to nine zebrafish and seven groups of seven or eight checker barbs were observed on four days each (within a time period of ten days) to assess compartment use and activity, and to assess behavioural diversity and use of zones within compartments. Both zebrafish and checker barbs showed a significant preference for the structured compartment. Nevertheless, in neither species did behavioural diversity differ between the empty and structured compartment. Zebrafish used all zones in both compartments to the same extent. Checker barbs, however, used the structured compartment more evenly than the empty compartment, where they mainly used the lower and middle zones. These results suggest that zebrafish and checker barbs have a preference for complex environments. Furthermore, they indicate that the behavioural and ecological needs of fish may vary depending on species, and recommendations for husbandry should be specified at species level.     

2002-2018年滇池外海蓝藻水华暴发时空变化特征及其驱动因子

为弄清滇池外海蓝藻水华暴发时空变化规律及其影响因素,将滇池外海分为北、中、南3个区域,基于2002—2018年期间中分辨率成像光谱仪(MODIS)反演的水华面积,分析了上述3个区域蓝藻水华的时空变化特征。基于2007—2018年水文、气象和出入流数据,构建了外海三维水动力生态模型(AEM3D),并计算了各区域的水力滞留时间。通过冗余分析(RDA)、随机森林(RF)和斯皮尔曼相关分析方法,分析了影响以上区域蓝藻水华暴发的主要驱动因子。结果表明：2002—2018年期间,整个滇池外海区域年平均水华面积比(水华面积占该区域总面积比例)呈缓慢下降趋势,空间上由北向南依次递减,整个外海水华暴发面积最大主要发生在秋季。在外海北部区域,其东部水华较西部更为严重,而在中部和南部区域,呈现西部水华较东部更为严重的空间分布模式。通过对各影响因子的统计分析发现,风速、水温和日照时长是上述各区域中蓝藻水华暴发的主要决定性因素。水华暴发期间以西南风为主导风向,且上述区域的水华面积比随风速增加呈下降趋势。在外海各区域,水力滞留时间与水华暴发面积均呈显著正相关,空间上水力滞留时间由北向南逐渐增大,风速和风向是影响蓝...     

Evidence for historical introgression along a contact zone between two species of char (Pisces: Salmonidae) in northwestern North America

Phylogeographic analyses can yield valuable insights into the geographic and historical contexts of contact and hybridization between taxa. Two species of char (Salmonidae), Dolly Varden (Salvelinus malma) and bull trout (S. confluentus) have largely parapatric distributions in watersheds of northwestern North America. They are, however, sympatric in several localities and hybridization and some introgression occurs across a broad area of contact. We conducted a comparative phylogenetic analysis of Dolly Varden and bull trout to gain a historical perspective of hybridization between these species and to test for footprints of historical introgression. We resolved two major Dolly Varden mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) clades (with 1.4-2.2% sequence divergence between haplotypes) that had different geographical distributions. Clade N is distributed across most of the range of Dolly Varden, from southern British Columbia through to the Kuril Islands in Asia. Clade S had a much more limited distribution, from Washington state, at the southern limit of the Dolly Varden range, to the middle of Vancouver Island. The distribution and inferred ages of the mtDNA clades suggested that Dolly Varden survived the Wisconsinan glaciation in a previously unsuspected refuge south of the ice sheet, and that Dolly Varden and bull trout were probably in continuous contact over most of the last 100,000 years. When bull trout were included in the phylogenetic analysis, however, the mtDNA of neither species was monophyletic: Clade S Dolly Varden clustered within the bull trout mtDNA clade. This pattern was discordant with two nuclear phylogenies produced (growth hormone 2 and rRNA internal transcribed sequence 1), in which Dolly Varden and bull trout were reciprocally monophyletic. This discordance between mtDNA- and nDNA-based phylogenies indicates that historical introgression of bull trout mtDNA into Dolly Varden occurred. Percent sequence divergence within these introgressed Dolly Varden (clade S) was 0.2-0.6%, implying that the introgression occurred prior to the most recent glaciation. Our analysis and other evidence of contact between divergent lineages in northwestern North America strongly suggests that the area may be the site of previously unsuspected suture zones of aquatic biotas.     

Microbial encrustations from the Middle Oxfordian-earliest Kimmeridgian lithofacies in the Prebetic Zone (Betic Cordillera, southern Spain): characterization, distribution and controlling factors

Two main types of microbial encrustation were identified in Middle Oxfordian to lowermost Kimmeridgian deposits in the Prebetic Zone (southern Spain), showing existing relationships between skeletal content, fabric and morphology of these organosedimentary structures. Laminated planar and concentric encrustations relate to peloidal fabrics (mainly constituted of microbes = microbial laminated fabrics s. str. and microbial oncoids s. str.), as well as to dense microbial fabrics periodically colonized by encrusting foraminifera (microbial laminated fabrics with nubeculariids and microbial oncoids with nubeculariids). Sedimentation rates, substrate stability and grain size, as well as illumination, influenced microbial growth pattern as major controlling factors in low-energy conditions, and forced palaeogeographic and stratigraphic patterns of distribution. Significant encrustation was identified in terrigenous-poor lithofacies from the middle (Transversarium-Bifurcatus zones) to the outer (Transversarium-Bimammatum zones) shelf in the Prebetic Zone. Rare-to-absent encrustation characterized terrigenous-rich deposits (Bimammatum and Planula zones) in the area.     

Carboniferous stratigraphy and depositional environments in the Ahnet Mouydir area (Algerian Sahara)

An up to 3,000-m-thick pile of Carboniferous rocks covers the northern fringe of the Precambrian Hoggar Massif (Touareg Shield) in southern Algeria, thus terminating the depositional history of the Palaeozoic in this sector of the North African Craton. The previous Devonian (Eifelian to Frasnian) palaeogeographic configuration of the area, characterized by ridges and shallow basins, is leveled by a widespread Famennian playa and lower Tournaisian delta sedimentation on a largely undifferentiated shelf. Tournaisian to Moscovian strata were deposited under open-marine, deltaic, shallow-subtidal, fluvial, and continental environments. The Carboniferous sequence can be subdivided into 12, largely interfingering, lithostratigraphic formations, which were dated by conodonts, ammonoids, foraminifers, and brachiopods, yielding a modified biostratigraphic framework of the area. The formations are stacked in four transgressive–regressive cycles, which include two major gaps, one during the middle Tournaisian, the other during the middle Visean to Serpukhovian. The oscillations of sea level can be traced into neighboring areas and seem coeval to early pulses of the Late Carboniferous/Early Permian glaciation of Gondwana. To a lesser degree they may reflect more local tectonic effects of the Variscan orogeny.     

Two highly divergent 5S rDNA unit size classes occur in composite tandem array in European larch (Larix decidua Mill.) and Japanese larch (Larix kaempferi (Lamb.) Carr.).

The 5S ribosomal DNA unit structure and organization have been investigated in Larix decidua and Larix kaempferi using selective amplification of gene and spacer, sequence analysis and homologous probe hybridization. Two highly divergent unit size classes of approximately 650 and 870 bp were detected in both species. Sequence analysis in Larix decidua revealed that length variations occur in the middle spacer region and are the result of duplications (in the long spacers) and considerable sequence heterogeneity. Conversely, the transcribed region is of uniform length (120 bp), and the nucleotide sequence of one Larix decidua clone is similar to that reported for other gymnosperms. Sequence comparison of the larch spacers with two other Pinaceae species (Pinus radiata and Picea glauca) showed that the 5' and 3' regions flanking the gene (40 and 60 bp, respectively) are quite conserved, suggesting a regulatory role. Moreover, a small element of about 70 bp located in the middle spacer region was found to be common to the larch long units and the six Pinus radiata spacer clones previously sequenced (64% sequence identity). The short and long unit size classes are mainly organized in composite tandem array(s) with evidence of extensive zones of strict alternation in both species. Mechanisms underlying this unusual association of divergent units in larch 5S rDNA arrays are discussed.     

Tremadocian (Ordovician) biostratigraphy and graptolites at Dayangcha (Baishan,Jilin, NE China)

Based on a systematic study of Tremadocian graptolites from the Early Ordovician Yehli Formation at Dayangcha, Baishan of Jilin, NE China, a revised graptolite zonation is proposed for the Tremadocian rocks in the area. In ascending order, the graptolite zones include theRhabdinopora flabelliformis parabola Zone, theAnisograptus matanensis Zone, thePsigraptus jacksoni Zone and theAorograptus victoriae Zone. The first three zones are discussed with their definitions and durations clarified, whereas the last zone is introduced for the first time as a replacement of the formerAdelograptus-Clonograptus Zone. The entire Yehli Formation is considered to be older than the late Tremadocian Hunneberg Substage of Scandinavia, the latter being represented by the carbonate-dominated basal part of the overlying Liangchiashan Formation where no graptolites have so far been discovered. The Tremadocian succession in the Dayangcha area is regarded as being representative of the North China (Sino-Korea) Palaeoplate, and a correlation of the Tremadocian graptolite sequence with those of other continents is suggested. Nine species belonging toDendrograptus, Aspidograptus, Callograptus andAirograptus of the family Dendroidae, and eight species ofPsigraptus, Adelograptus, Aorograptus andKiaerograptus of the family Anisograptidae are described and some are revised in the present paper. Among the important revisions are the reconstructed proximal development ofPsigraptus jacksoni based on partially three-dimensional specimens from the area, and the complex thecal structures ofAspidograptus.      

Silurian Chitinozoa from the type Wenlock and Ludlow of Shropshire,England

Chitinozoa recorded from the Wenlock and Ludlow from the type areas in Shropshire and other localities in the Welsh Basin are listed, and the ranges of 35 taxa of stratigraphic value plotted.     

Phylogeographical history of the sponge Crambe crambe (Porifera, Poecilosclerida): range expansion and recent invasion of the Macaronesian islands from the Mediterranean Sea

We studied sequence variation in the nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacers (ITS-1 and ITS-2) in 111 individuals from 11 populations/localities of the sponge Crambe crambe across the core species range in the western Mediterranean Sea and Atlantic Ocean. We report the first confirmed instance of intragenomic variation in sponges. Phylogeographical, nested clade and population genetic analyses were used to elucidate the species' evolutionary history. The study revealed highly structured populations affected by restricted gene flow and isolation-by-distance. A contiguous range expansion in the whole distribution area of the sponge was inferred. Phylogenetic analyses indicate a recent origin of most sequence types that could be explained by a recent origin of the species or a by recent bottleneck event in the studied area. A recent expansion of the distribution range to the Macaronesian region from the Mediterranean Sea was also detected, suggesting that C. crambe was recently introduced from the Mediterranean Sea to the Atlantic Ocean via human-mediated transport, and that the pattern observed is not the result of a natural biogeographical relationship between these zones.     

Integrated radiolarian and conodont biostratigraphy of the Middle Permian Gufeng Formation (South China)

Radiolarians are usually abundant in chert sequences and they have thus been widely used for the biostratigraphy of deep-water sediments. However, there are many difficulties in the correlation of radiolarian biostratigraphic schemes with the standard conodont zones. In this study, 21 radiolarian species were extracted from the Gufeng Formation that crops out in the Luojiaba (LJB) section (western Hubei, China), together with 5 co-occurring conodont species. In this way, it is the first time that the Pseudoalbaillella globosa, Follicucullus monacanthus and F. scholasticus radiolarian zones can be directly correlated with the Jinogondolella nankingensis gracilis, J. aserrata and J. postserrata conodont zones. Accordingly, the 3 radiolarians zones are now firmly correlated with the Roadian to middle Capitanian interval (Middle Permian).     

基于农业面源污染分区的三峡库区生态农业园建设研究

在三峡库区建立生态农业园是解决库区农业、环境和生态问题的有效措施。以农业面源污染分区为基础,探讨三峡库区重庆段生态农业园的建设模式和对策。结果表明:(1)根据地形地貌特征,将生态农业园规划为三大生态农业区,低海拔平坝丘陵生态农业区适宜发展"粮果蔬-猪-沼气-粮果蔬+休闲旅游"复合型高效农业模式,中海拔低山生态农业区可采用"粮-林-畜-沼气-草"的生态农业园建立模式,高海拔高山生态农业区适宜发展林草牧药复合型高效生态农业发展模式。(2)结合农业产业发展,确定了生态种植园、生态养殖园和生态综合园为该区的生态农业园建设方向。划分归并后的五大农业面源污染产污区中,库首外围丘陵山地产污区适宜以生态种植园为主导发展方向;库尾丘陵山地产污区可主营生态养殖园;余下3个产污区的发展核心都宜放在生态综合园建设。(3)三大生态农业区中的中海拔低山生态农业区和五大产污区中的库中平行岭谷产污区是库区生态农业园的建设重点。(4)为保障生态农业园的建设,应积极促进国家、政府、企业和农户之间的合作关系,不断创新和提升农业面源污染防控和农业生产技术。     

Infestation of Glycaspis brimblecombei (Hemiptera: Psyllidae) on three Eucalyptus species in selected ecological zones in Malawi

The study determined variations in incidence, severity and damage of Glycaspis brimblecombei among Eucalyptus species and ecological zones, and the interaction between Eucalyptus species and ecological zones. Additionally, the study determined variation in pest abundance between the upper, middle and lower parts of the tree crown. The study was conducted in six districts located in four ecological zones in Malawi. Eucalyptus stands established in 2014–2016 or coppices from trees cut in that period were sampled for G. brimblecombei infestation. A significant interaction was found between Eucalyptus species and ecological zones on G. brimblecombei infestation. Significant differences were observed between ecological zones in G. brimblecombei infestation with lowest incidence, severity and damage being found in the cooler ecological zone M. Eucalyptus camaldulensis and Eucalyptus tereticornis showed high susceptibility to G. brimblecombei compared to Eucalyptus grandis. There were no significant differences in abundance between the upper, middle and lower tree crown parts of each Eucalyptus species. Control efforts for this psyllid should focus on breeding and planting of resistant Eucalyptus varieties in specifically recommended sites. The uniform distribution of the pest on different tree crown parts implies that use of contact insecticides on a large scale would be tedious and expensive.     

Morphology of lymphoid organs in a cichlid teleost, Tilapia mossambica (Peters).

In Tilapia mossambica organized lymphoid tissues are present in the thymus, head-kidney and spleen, whereas they are lacking in pericardial tissue, liver, mesonephros, intestine and rectum. No lymphoid tissue was observed in the chondrocranium and cartilaginous viscerocranium of young adults. The thymus in Tilapia is encapsulated by thin strands of collagen fibers and consists of outer, middle and inner zones. While middle and inner zones are comparable to the thymic cortex and medulla of higher vertebrates, the homology of the outer zone is not clear. At the anterior end of the thymus, a loose aggregation of lymphocytes without a definite boundary has been observed. The head-kidney is characterized by the presence of lymphoid follicles, a subcapsular sinus, a hilus-like area and lymphatic vessels. The spleen is grossly divisible into white pulp and red pulp; the white pulp contains only a reticular area without definite lymphoid centers and the latter contains predominantly erythrocytes. Morphological changes in the lymphoid organs associated with immune response have been discussed.     

Rudist decline in the Maastrichtian Cardenas Formation (East-central Mexico)

Five sections of the Cardenas and Tabaco formations in east-central Mexico have been analyzed by means of bio-, Sr-isotope, and sequence stratigraphy, in order to evaluate their age as well as the timing of rudist decline.Ammonites [Pachydiscus (Pachydiscus) neubergicus (Hauer), Sphenodiscus pleurisepta (Conrad), Coahuilites sheltoni Böse] indicate an early Maastrichtian age for the topmost lower member of the Cardenas Formation and planktic foraminifera [e.g., Globotruncanita stuarti (de Lapparent), Archaeoglobigerina cretacea (d’Orbigny), Globotruncanella petaloidea (Gandolfi), Gansserina gansseri (Bolli), Globotruncana linneiana (d’Orbigny)] a late early Maastrichtian age for the middle member corresponding to the foraminiferal zones CF5 and CF6. Sr-isotope stratigraphic data yield an early late Maastrichtian age (66.93 Ma < 67.98 Ma < 68.96 Ma) for the last rudist assemblage in the topmost upper member of the Cardenas Formation, coinciding with the foraminiferal zone CF4.17 small-scale and 3 large-scale depositional cycles have been identified, which correspond to para- and depositional sequences. The progradational pattern of the large-scale cycles indicates an overall regression trend, which terminated in subaerial exposure of the area, indicated by paleosoils in the red beds of the Tabaco Formation. The correlation of the large-scale cycles with the global sea level charts indicate that eustatic sea level fall caused the regression and led to the exposure during the middle late Maastrichtian. This subaerial exposure resulted in the loss of habitat and thus the disappearance of rudists in east-central Mexico.     

西藏北部安多地区中侏罗统(巴通阶-卡洛夫阶)菊石

最近从藏北安多地区中侏罗统发现较丰富的菊石类化石,巴通期的菊石有OxyceritesoppeliElmi,Ho moeoplanulitescf. homoeomorphus(Buckman),H. cf. acuticosta(Roemer), Choffatiacf. vicentiMangold, Siemiradzkiacf. matisconensis(Lissajous), Proceritessp., Neuquenicerascf. yokoyamaiKobayashiandFukada和Indosphinctessp.。卡洛夫期的菊石有Oxyceritescf. subcotarius(Oppel), Macrocephalites? sp., Homoeoplanulitescf. furculus(Neumayr),Indospinctes(Elatmites) cf. reveliMangold和Reineckeitessp.。其中Indosphinctes,Indospinctes(Elatmites),Neu queniceras,Siemiradzkia和Procerites等属(或亚属)在西藏北部地区为首次报道。安多地区中—晚巴通期和早卡洛夫期菊石动物群凸现较强的地方性色彩; 晚巴通期ORBIS菊石带和早卡洛夫期KOENIGI菊石带是藏北地区菊石动物群扩散的重要时期。     

Multi objective land allocation (MOLA) for zoning Ghamishloo Wildlife Sanctuary in Iran

Protected area zoning is an approach towards decreasing conflict between the possible uses of land and providing an opportunity for policy making. GIS data processing and spatial analysis along with decision analysis techniques, were used in this study to define zones for Ghamishloo Wildlife Sanctuary according to I.U.C.N. category IV in Isfahan Province of Iran. We used multi-criteria evaluation and multi-objective land allocation for zoning the sanctuary, which covers an area of about 866 km². First, we prepared a land use map of the area using classification of the IRS 6 (AWiFS) data of May 2005. For zoning this region, nine major criteria including wildlife habitat, vegetation cover, soil, distance to historical places, water resources, road, scenic beauties in the landscape, and also to residential areas, and to the core zone were considered. We used the analytical hierarchy process to derive weights of the criteria and then applied a weighted linear combination technique to combine the factors. The degree of suitability was defined by applying Fuzzy membership function. The wildlife sanctuary was divided into four zones including conservation, recreation, rehabilitation, and cultural zones, consisting of 69%, 21%, 9.5% and 0.5% of the area, respectively. Finally, multi-objective land allocation (MOLA) function was used for allocation of the sanctuary's land area to the zones which produced reasonable results.