中国蹦蝗属一新种(直翅目,蝗总科,斑腿蝗科)

记述了采自我国湖南的斑腿蝗科Catantopidae蹦蝗属Sinopodisma Chang 1新种:小尾片蹦蝗S. microfurculasp. nov..新种模式标本保存于河北大学博物馆.新种近似于贵州蹦蝗S. guizhouensis Zheng及卡氏蹦蝗S. kellogii(Chang).与前者的主要区别为:(1)体较大,♂18.3～23.9 mm;♀28～31 mm;(2)雄性触角中段一节的长为宽的2.6～3.1倍;(3)雄性前胸背板的沟前区长为沟后区长的1.96～2.27倍;(4)雄性尾须顶近圆形;(5)阳具基背片桥拱浅,桥面略凹,前突内倾.与后者的主要区别为:(1)雄性触角中段一节的长为宽的2.6～3.1倍;(2)雄性腹部第1节背板不具刻点;(3)雄性腹部末端尾片微露;(4)雄性尾须顶侧扁、近圆形;(5)阳具基背片桥拱浅,桥面略凹,前突较短.     

云南稻蝗属一新种记述(直翅目,蝗总科)

在云南腾冲采到稻蝗属1新种,郑氏稻蝗Oxya zhengisp.nov.。新种近似于小稻蝗Oxya intricata (Stl),主要区别:1)雌雄个体均较粗壮,前翅短,仅到达后足股节中部;2)雄性中胸腹板侧叶间中隔较狭,长为宽的3倍;3)雌性下产卵瓣外缘无明显突出的钝齿,仅具细齿;4)雄性阳茎基背片内冠突较大,呈三角形。     

云南华佛蝗属一新种(直翅目,剑角蝗科)(英文)

记述中国剑角蝗科Acrididae华佛蝗属Sinophlaeoba Niu et Zheng,20051新种,即郑氏华佛蝗Sinophlaeoba zhengi sp.nov.。编写了该属4种的分种检索表。模式标本保存于大理学院农学与生物科学学院。郑氏华佛蝗,新种Sinophlaeoba zhengi sp.nov.(图1~11)新种近似于老阴山华佛蝗S.laoyinshanMao,OuetRen和短翅华佛蝗S.brachyptera Mao,OuetRen,与二者的区见表1。正模♂,云南元江那诺,海拔1732m,2009-11-29,自旺采。副模1♀,云南元江那诺,2008-07-14,卫微采。词源:新种种名以郑哲民教授的姓氏命名,以示对他昆虫分类领域做出突出贡献的敬意。表1郑氏华佛蝗与老阴山华佛蝗和短翅华佛蝗的比较老阴山华佛蝗S.laoyinshan郑氏华佛蝗,新种S.zhengi sp.nov.短翅华佛蝗S.brachyptera雄性头长等于前胸背板长雄性头长略长于前胸背板长,雌性头长近等于前胸背板长雄性头长长于前胸背板长,雌性头长近等于前胸背板长雄性触角较短,达到后足基节雄性触角较长,达到后足股节的1/5雄性触角较短,达到后足基节雄性前翅达到第3腹节后缘或后足股节的1/4雄性前翅略超过第4腹节后缘或后足股节的1/3,雌性达到第3腹节中部雄性前翅几达到第5腹节后缘或后足股节的1/2,雌性达到第4腹节后缘阳具基背片背观桥呈弧形,桥与侧板间夹角呈直角形,锚状突顶端较远地超过桥,侧板后突指向后方阳具基背片背观桥近直,桥与侧板间夹角呈钝角形,锚状突顶端较远地超过桥,侧板后突指向外后方阳具基背片背观桥近直,桥与侧板间夹角明显呈钝角形,锚状突顶端略超过桥,侧板后突指向外方     

龙州蝗属分类研究及一新种记述（直翅目：斑腿蝗科）

系统研究了龙州蝗属,共记述10种,其中包括1新种,即贵州龙州蝗Longzhouacris guizhouensis sp.nov.,该新种近似于斑角龙州蝗L.annulicornis Lu,LiYou,2000,主要区别为:1)前胸背板沟前区长为沟后区长的2.16倍;2)前翅到达第3腹节背板中部;3)后足跗节爪间中垫长为爪长的1.5倍;4)雄性尾片三角形,顶尖;5)触角基半黄褐色,端半暗褐色;6)前翅前半黑褐色,后半淡褐色;7)后足胫节黄绿色。文中附有分种检索表。新种的模式标本保存于陕西师范大学动物研究所昆虫标本室。     

东北地区蝗总科两新种(直翅目)

记述采自东北黑龙江省及吉林省蝗总科2新种,即网翅蝗科的北安雏蝗Chorthippus beianensis sp.nov..新种近似于琼根河雏蝗Chorthippus genheensis Li et Yin,主要区别为触角中段一节的长度为宽度的2.5倍;前翅中脉域宽为肘脉域宽的4倍(♂);后翅仅达前翅长的1/2;雌性前翅仅到达第3腹节背板后缘;后足股节仅上膝侧片黑色.另1新种为剑角蝗科的宽肘迷蝗Confusacris amplicubitus sp.nov.,该种近似于短翅迷蝗Confusacris brachypterus Yin et LI,主要区别为触角中段一节的长度为宽度的3～4倍(♂)或2倍(♀);中胸腹板侧叶间中隔最狭处宽与长度相等(♂)或为长的1.4倍(♀);前翅超过后足股节中部;前翅肘脉域宽为中脉域宽的2.3倍;雌性前翅径脉域黑色,不具淡色纹;后足股节膝侧片及胫节基部非黑色.模式标本保存于陕西师范大学动物研究所昆虫标本室.     

中国山东束颈蝗属一新种(直翅目,蝗总科,斑翅蝗科,斑翅蝗亚科)

记述采自中国山东斑翅蝗科束颈蝗属Sphingonotus Fieber,18521新种,烟台束颈蝗Sphingonotus yantaiensis sp.nov.。新种同蒙古束颈蝗Sphingonotus mongolicus Saussure,1888近似,其区别特征为:前胸背板沟后区长为沟前区长的1.6倍;中胸腹板中隔宽为长的1.3～1.4倍;后足股节长为最宽处的3.6～3.7倍;后足胫节内侧蓝色;后翅黑纹宽,端部不内弯。模式标本保存于山东农业大学植保学院,泰安。     

西藏地区拟康蝗属一新种(直翅目：网翅蝗科）

记述采自中国西藏网翅蝗科拟康蝗属Kangacrisoides Wang et al.,2006 1新种：江达拟康蝗Kangacrisoides jiangdaensis sp. nov.。新种同霍城拟康蝗K. huochengensis Wang, Zheng & Niu, 2006近似,其区别特征为：头背面具中隆线;雄性头侧窝长为宽的2.5–3倍,而雌性为3倍;雌性前翅在背面狭分开,而雄性刚刚相连;雄性前翅顶到达第5–6腹节背板,而雌性到达第4腹节背板;雄性中脉域为肘脉域宽2倍,而雌性为3倍;后足胫节内侧之上、下距近等长;鼓膜孔宽卵形;雌性下生殖板后缘角形突出。     

山东省异爪蝗属一新种(直翅目,蝗总科,网翅蝗科)

记述采自中国山东省网翅蝗科异爪蝗属Euchorthippus Tarbinsky,1926 1新种,山东异爪蝗 Euchorthippus shandongensis sp. nov.。新种同素色异爪蝗 Euchorthippus unicolor(Ikonnikov,1913)近似,其区别特征为:头侧窝较长,长为宽的3.2倍;颜面隆起明显,具纵沟,中眼之下缩狭,往下明显宽大; 雄性前翅较长,明显超过肛上板基部;雄性下生殖板较短,侧面观长为宽的1.5倍; 阳茎基背片弓形深,两侧下端具尖突。模式标本保存于山东农业大学植保学院。     

中国青海省缺沟蝗属一新种(直翅目,蝗总科,网翅蝗科,网翅蝗亚科)

记述采自中国青海省网翅蝗科缺沟蝗属Asulconotus Ying,1974的1新种:久治缺沟蝗Asulconotus jiuzhiensis sp.nov.新种同青海缺沟蝗Asukonotus chinghaiensis Ying,1974近似,其区别特征为:前翅较长,雄性到达腹部第3节背板后缘,长为宽的4.3倍,雌性到达腹部第2节背板后缘,长为宽的4.6倍;雄性下生殖板较短,长为肛上板长的的1.6倍;雌性产卵瓣较短,上产卵瓣长为宽的2.5倍.新种同科氏缺沟蝗Asulconotus kozlovi Mistshenko,1981也近似,其区别特征为:雌性复眼较小,短于眼下沟之长度;前翅较长,到达腹部第2节背板后缘,长为宽的4.6倍;产卵瓣较长,上产卵瓣长为宽的2.5倍,边缘光滑.正模♂,青海久治(33°22′N.101°30′E;海拔3648m),2011-08-23,郑方强、叶保华采.副模:2♂ ♂,2♀ ♀,记录同正模.模式标本保存于山东农业大学植物保护学院,泰安.词源:新种种名源自采集地地名.     

新疆天山地区雏蝗属一新种(直翅目,网翅蝗科)

记述采自新疆天山地区雏蝗属1新种,即天山雏蝗Chorthippus tianshanensis sp.nov.,新种近似于红胫雏蝗Chorthippus rufitibis Zheng,1989,主要区别为:1)前胸背板沟后区长为沟前区的1.1倍;2)前翅较狭长,翅长为宽的4.1倍;3)前缘脉域宽为径脉分支处宽的1.7倍;4)前缘脉域宽为亚前缘脉域宽的2.6倍;5)后足胫节黄褐色.模式标本保存于陕西师范大学动物研究所昆虫标本室及山西大学生命科学与技术学院.     

略论棕榈科与新分出的省藤科的系统分类、演化、区系地理及主要的经济用途

棕榈科原省藤亚科因其子房壁及外果皮被倒生、螺旋状排列的鳞片所覆盖,而区别于其他亚科,因而独立分出成一新科--省藤科。作者讨论了棕榈科的祖先种可能在石炭纪时,自原始裸子植物开以顿目在分化、衍生出苏铁目祖先种的进化干上,于白垩纪时分化出的一个分支。在棕榈科的祖先种出现不久后,在其进化的分支上,于白垩纪后期又分化出一旁支,成为棕榈科的姊妹科--省藤科的祖先种。从两祖先种分别再分化、衍生出现今分布地球上该二科的属与种。两科、尤其前者是被子植物、尤其是单子叶植物中最原始的类群之一。作者还提出棕榈科象牙椰亚科与贝叶棕亚科是该科最原始或较原始的两类群;槟榔亚科和腊材榈亚科是较进化的两类群;而水椰亚科祖先种可能源于象牙椰亚科的祖先种,但又演化为该科最进化与特化的类群。省藤科省藤亚科略比鳞果榈亚科原始。作者讨论了两科为泛热带分布的科,指出两科的"现代分布区"在南北两半球热带地区,少数种还延伸分布到两半球暖亚热带、甚至达中亚热带地区,分布区边缘最北达日本中部、中国长江流域及黄河下游的南部,美国加利佛尼亚州与佛罗里达州和地中海北部;最南达智利中部和新西兰南部;而"现代分布中心"在热带与暖亚热带的亚洲,中、南美洲,大洋洲及非洲的东、南、西部;但分布区的"密集中心"则在热带亚洲、热带中及南美洲、南太平洋群岛及非洲东南部。作者还介绍了近50年我国南方引种驯化成功的两科植物近400种(见^*图谱),其中少数为耐寒的种类,有的种已引种到长江流域或更北的地区。引种的大部分种都有其重要的经济用途,包括:1. 食用,如淀粉和树液可制"西米"或制糖,酿酒、醋或作饮料;果或种子榨油,供食用或工业用;某些种的嫩芽作蔬菜,甚至种子代咖啡饮用;2. 药用,有消炎、止血、活血、驱虫、抗癌等用;3. 建筑、工艺与日用品,包括不少种的树干供建普通房子、桥梁、小船;少数种可提制工业用蜡;许多种的纤维制高级缆绳和编织品;还制工艺品与日用品等;4. 代表热带景观的园林工程、绿化及美化环境的观赏树和人行道树及建造园林景观生态类型的树种等。     

Floral elaiophore structure in four representatives of the Ornithocephalus clade (Orchidaceae: Oncidiinae)

Background and Aims A significant number of species assigned to the Neotropical orchid sub-tribe Oncidiinae reward insect pollinators with oil produced in floral glands termed elaiophores. The latter may be glabrous (epithelial elaiophores) or hirsute (trichomal elaiophores). Although the detailed anatomy and ultrastructure of epithelial elaiophores have been studied for a number of genera, such as Oncidium Sw., Gomesa R. Br. and Trichocentrum Poepp. & Endl., hitherto, trichomal elaiophores have been investigated only for a single species of Oncidiinae, Ornithocephalus ciliatus Lindl. Furthermore, this is the only representative of the Ornithocephalus clade to be investigated to date. Here, an examination is made of the elaiophore anatomy and ultrastructure of a further four species currently assigned to this clade (Ornithocephalus gladiatus Hook., Phymatidium falcifolium Lindl., Zygostates grandiflora (Lindl.) Mansf. and Zygostates lunata Lindl.) and the results compared with those obtained for other Oncidiinae. Methods Elaiophore structure was examined for all species at three stages of flower development: closed bud, first day of anthesis and final stage of anthesis, using light microscopy, fluorescence microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and histochemistry. Key Results Elaiophores of O. gladiatus occur upon the lateral lobes of the labellum and display characters intermediate between those of typical epithelial and trichomal elaiophores, in that they are largely glabrous, consisting mainly of cuboidal epidermal cells, but bear short, unicellular hairs proximally. By contrast, the elaiophores of all the other species investigated occur on the callus and are of the trichomal type. In P. falcifolium, these unicellular hairs are capitate. In all species, oil secretion commenced at the closed floral bud stage. Ultrastructurally, the mainly trichomal elaiophores of the four representatives of the Ornithocephalus clade closely resembled the epithelial elaiophores of other Oncidiinae, in that their cells displayed an organelle complement typical of lipid-secreting cells. However, in some taxa, a number of noteworthy characters were present. For example, the elaiophore cuticle of O. gladiatus and P. falcifolium was bi-layered, the outer layer being lamellate, the inner reticulate. The cuticle of Z. grandiflora and Z. lunata was also lamellate, but here, a reticulate layer was absent. Accumulation of secreted oil resulted in the localized distension of the cuticle. Cuticular cracks and pores, however, were absent from all species. The walls of the secretory cells of Z. grandiflora were also atypical in that they had short protuberances or ingrowths, and contained cavities which are thought to be involved in the secretory process. Conclusions Of the species investigated, most displayed similar anatomical organization, their trichomal elaiophores occurring on the labellar callus. They, thus, differ from many other members of the Oncidiinae, where epithelial elaiophores are found either on the callus, or on the lateral lobes of the labellum. However, ultrastructurally, all elaiophores, whether those of representatives of the Ornithocephalus clade, or those of other oil-secreting Oncidiinae, possessed a similar complement of organelles, regardless of whether the elaiophores were trichomal or epithelial. In view of the latter, and the similar chemical composition of oils derived from all Oncidiinae investigated to date, it is probable that position and type of elaiophore, and possibly the structure of the overlying cuticle, play an important role in pollinator selection in these oil-secreting orchids.     

山东山旺Palaeomeryx化石的初步研究

Palaeomeryx 在含义、性质和分类位置上,一直是一个争论较多的属.最近在山旺发现的 Palaeomeryx 完整骨架,为解决上述问题提供了有价值的资料和证据. Palaeomeryx 雄性具有一对眶上"皮骨角"和单一的"枕顶角".根据共近裔性状的分析,本文作者认为 Palaeomeryx 应该归入长颈鹿,作为这一支中最早分出的一个旁支.长颈鹿和鹿科有较近的亲缘关系,而和牛科的关系较远. Palaeomeryx 大概位于 Blastomeryx 和 Leptomeryx 之间,从反刍类主干中分出.山旺的材料,代表本属中一个较原始的新种: Palaeomeryx tricornis. 它的时代,可能相当于欧洲的 MN4 或 MN5.     

Concentration of 17 trace elements in serum and whole blood of plains viscachas (Lagostomus maximus) by ICP-MS, their reference ranges, and their relation to cataract

The reference ranges of the trace elements Al, As, Be, B, Cd, Co, Cu, Fe, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Li, Rb, Se, Sr, and Zn were determined by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) in sera of a group of free-ranging plains viscachas of the pampa grasslands of Argentina. The values were compared with those of a small group of captive plains viscachas of the Zurich Zoo with diabetes and bilateral cataracts. In addition, a method for digestion of whole-blood samples is described for the trace element determination. Significant differences in the concentration of trace elements in the two groups of animals are discussed. No correlation was found between the levels of selenium and of other trace elements compared to the formation of cataracts.     

Comparative morphology and evolutionary pathways of the mouthparts in spore-feeding Staphylinoidea (Coleoptera)

This study surveys the external morphology of the mouthparts in the guild of spore‐feeders among the coleopterous superfamily Staphylinoidea, evaluating the influence of different phylogenetic and ecological starting points on the formation of their mouthparts. Our emphasis is on a scanning electron microscope analysis (SEM) of the involved trophic structures in spore‐feeding larvae and adults of the Ptiliidae, Leiodidae and Staphylinidae, describing the fine structure of their main functional elements. Functionally, mouthpart structures resemble brushes, brooms, combs, rakes, rasps, excavators, knives, thorns, cram‐brushes, bristle troughs, blocks and differently structured grinding surfaces. Their different involvement in the various aspects of the feeding process (i.e. food gathering, transporting, channelling and grinding) is deduced from our SEM analyses plus direct video observations. We infer five different patterns of food transport and processing, discriminating adults of ptiliids, leiodids plus staphylinids (excluding some aleocharines), several aleocharine staphylinids, and the larvae of leiodids and staphylinids. The structural diversity of the mouthparts increases in the order from (1) Ptiliidae, (2) Leiodidae towards (3) Staphylinidae, reflecting the increasing systematic and ecological diversity of these groups. Comparisons with non‐spore‐feeders show that among major lineages of staphylinoids, shifts from general microphagy to sporophagy are not necessarily constrained by, nor strongly reflected in, mouthpart morphology. Nevertheless, in several of these lineages the organs of food intake and grinding have experienced particular fine‐structural modifications, which have undergone convergent evolution, probably in response to specialized mycophagy such as spore‐feeding. These modifications involve advanced galeal rakes, galeal or lacinial ‘spore brushes’ with arrays of stout bristles, reinforced obliquely ventrad orientated prosthecal lobes and the differentiations of the molar grinding surfaces into stout teeth or tubercles. In addition, several staphylinids of the tachyporine and oxyteline groups with reduced mandibular molae have evolved secondary trituration surfaces, which in some aleocharines are paralleled by considerable re‐constructions of the labium–hypopharynx.     

Mass ratios of magnesium to calcium and phosphorus in the arteries of Japanese and Thai

To elucidate quantitative changes of Ca, P, and Mg in the arteries with aging, the authors investigated changes of the mass ratios of Mg to Ca and P in the arteries of Japanese and Thai by inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry. The arteries of Japanese that were used were the thoracic and abdominal aortas, coronary, common iliac, internal iliac, external iliac, and femoral arteries, in which very high accumulations of Ca and P occurred in old age. The arteries of Thai that were used were the abdominal aorta, ramifying site of the abdominal aorta, coronary, common iliac, internal iliac, and external iliac arteries. It was found that there were extremely significant correlations both between Ca and Mg contents and between P and Mg contents in all of the arteries of the Japanese and the Thai. With regard to the mass ratio, the mass ratios of Mg to Ca ranged from 1.5% to 2.1% in the six arteries of the Japanese, except for the thoracic aorta at 3.1%, at an advanced stage of atherosclerosis, being similar to each other. In the arteries of the Thai, the mass ratios of Mg to Ca ranged from 1.9% to 3.0%, except for the coronary artery at 0.5%, at an advanced stage of atherosclerosis. The mass ratios of Mg to P ranged from 2.5% to 2.7% in the six arteries of the Japanese, except for the coronary artery at 1.8%, at an advanced stage of atherosclerosis. With regard to the arteries of the Thai, the mass ratios of Mg to P ranged from 1.9% to 3.3%, except for the coronary artery at 0.7%, at an advanced stage of atherosclerosis. These results revealed that both the mass ratios of Mg to Ca and Mg to P were almost similar among the arteries of Japanese and Thai, except for the coronary arteries. Therefore, these results suggested that the inorganic deposits in the coronary arteries of Japanese and Thai were similar to those in the intimal tunica of the thoracic aorta, whereas in the other arteries, they were similar to those in the middle tunica of the thoracic aorta.     

Effects of Microbial and Other Antagonistic Organism and Competition on Entomopathogenic Nematodes

Antagonistic factors, broadly identified as antibiosis, competition and natural enemies, impact on entomopathogenic nematodes. Antibiosis can occur through the release of plant chemicals from the roots into the soil, which may adversely affect the host-finding behavior of the infective stage nematode, or the presence of these chemicals in the host insect may negatively affect nematode reproduction. In laboratory studies, intra-specific and inter-specific competition reduces nematode fitness, and inter-specific competition can cause local extinction of a nematode species. For example, after concomitant infection of a host, a steinernematid species usually excludes a heterorhabditid species. The mechanism for the steinernematid superiority has been postulated to be a bacteriocin(s) produced by Xenorhabdus, the symbiotic bacterium of the steinernematid, which prevents Photorhabdus, the symbiotic bacterium of the heterorhabditid, from multiplying. Inter-specific competition between two steinernematid species shows that both can co-exist in a host, but one species will eventually prevail in the environment. By having different foraging strategies, however, both steinermatid species may co-exist in the same habitat. An important issue is whether the introduction of an exotic entomopathogenic nematode species will competitively displace an indigenous nematode species. Although the environmental risks are small, the recommended policy is that the introduction of exotic nematodes be regulated. With other pathogens, entomopathogenic nematodes can out-compete entomopathogenic fungi, but not Bacillus thuringiensis, for the same host individual when both the nematode and entomopathogen are applied simultaneously. The best studied natural enemy is the nematophagous fungus, Hirsutella rhossiliensis, which causes higher mortality in Steinernema glaseri compared with Heterorhabditis bacteriorphora. Differential susceptibility to the fungus may be associated with the retention of the second-stage cuticle by H. bacteriophora. Invertebrate predators including mites and collembolans feed on entomopathogenic nematodes. Although a number of studies have been conducted with antagonists, there is a dearth of field data. We suggest that long-term research plots be established where natural populations of entomopathogenic nematodes occur and include antagonists as a component of such studies.     

On the influence of fishes on the evolution of benthic crustaceans

Though the interweavement of trophic chains in marine ecosystems of the past cannot be reconstructed, as the abundance, nutrition, reproductive rates and other aspects of the biology of fossil species are not known, it is possible to correlate trends in the evolution of single groups of animals, in the presented case the Crustacea, with the influence of other evolving organisms. The evolution of carnivorous, buoyant, well swimming modern fishes probably induced profound changes in marine ecosystems and influenced the evolution of crustaceans. Indications for these interactions are a. the absence or rare occurrence of defenseless archaic crustaceans in habitats, which are populated by teleostean fishes and the survival of some of these forms in refuges like caves and subterranean waters, and b. the reduction of the pleon in the course of the mesozoic evolution of the Decapoda, which occurs parallel to the radiation of the Teleostei, namely in the period between the early Jurassic and the Tertiary. The shortening of the pleon is interreted as a consequence of the stepwise change from a hyperbenthic to a more benthic Iife-stJe and the abandonment of the caridoid escape reaction. Other adaptations are also construed as results from the selective pressure produced by predators. Extant crustaceans which are able to coexist with fishes, among the macrozoobenthos especially the Decapoda and Peracarida, have a variety of protective adaptations, which help to reduce predation.     

Folding funnels, binding funnels, and protein function.

Folding funnels have been the focus of considerable attention during the last few years. These have mostly been discussed in the general context of the theory of protein folding. Here we extend the utility of the concept of folding funnels, relating them to biological mechanisms and function. In particular, here we describe the shape of the funnels in light of protein synthesis and folding; flexibility, conformational diversity, and binding mechanisms; and the associated binding funnels, illustrating the multiple routes and the range of complexed conformers. Specifically, the walls of the folding funnels, their crevices, and bumps are related to the complexity of protein folding, and hence to sequential vs. nonsequential folding. Whereas the former is more frequently observed in eukaryotic proteins, where the rate of protein synthesis is slower, the latter is more frequent in prokaryotes, with faster translation rates. The bottoms of the funnels reflect the extent of the flexibility of the proteins. Rugged floors imply a range of conformational isomers, which may be close on the energy landscape. Rather than undergoing an induced fit binding mechanism, the conformational ensembles around the rugged bottoms argue that the conformers, which are most complementary to the ligand, will bind to it with the equilibrium shifting in their favor. Furthermore, depending on the extent of the ruggedness, or of the smoothness with only a few minima, we may infer nonspecific, broad range vs. specific binding. In particular, folding and binding are similar processes, with similar underlying principles. Hence, the shape of the folding funnel of the monomer enables making reasonable guesses regarding the shape of the corresponding binding funnel. Proteins having a broad range of binding, such as proteolytic enzymes or relatively nonspecific endonucleases, may be expected to have not only rugged floors in their folding funnels, but their binding funnels will also behave similarly, with a range of complexed conformations. Hence, knowledge of the shape of the folding funnels is biologically very useful. The converse also holds: If kinetic and thermodynamic data are available, hints regarding the role of the protein and its binding selectivity may be obtained. Thus, the utility of the concept of the funnel carries over to the origin of the protein and to its function.