The ultrastructure of the preformed ecdysial 'line of weakness' in the puparium cap of Elenchus tenuicornis (Kirby) (Insecta: Strepsiptera).

This study describes the ultrastructure at 'the line of weakness' in the male puparium of Elenchus tenuicornis (Kirby) (Insecta: Strepsiptera). Superficially this line looked like an area of untanned cuticle but ultrastructurally it had an undifferentiated epicuticle, an untanned exocuticle and a loose textured endocuticle. It is speculated that the E. tenuicornis pharate adult male prior to emergence smears a chemical solution on the inner rim of the 'line of weakness' which dissolves the exo- and endocuticles. Following this, the slightest pressure exerted by the ptilinum of the male breaks open the cap of the puparium.     

A light and electron microscopic study of Scherffelia dubia, a new member of the scaly green flagellates (Prasinophyceae)

In clonal culture Scherffelia dubia (Perty) Pascher shows a considerable range of morphological variation, with different cell shapes being produced including those typical for three other species of Scherffelia Pascher ( S. opisthostigma Skuja, S. ovata Pascher, S. pelagica Skuja) and one species of Tetraselmis Stein ( T. bichlora Ettl & Ettl). It is concluded these taxa should be reduced to the synonymy of S. dubia , the type species of Scherffelia. The general cell morphology of S. dubia is described in detail, including a serial section and absolute configuration analysis of the flagellar apparatus. S. dubia is compared with species of Tetraselmis of which ultrastructural details are known and it is shown that both genera are very similar but the generic distinction is nevertheless justified. Main features of distinction include the pyrenoid (present in Tetraselmis but lacking in Scherffelia ) and the chloroplast (single and more or less cup-shaped in Tetraselmis , two separate lateral chloroplasts in Scherffelia ). Both genera are accommodated in the same family, the correct name being Chlorodendraceae and not Tetraselmidaceae or Platymonadaceae which have often been used.     

Triteleia peyerimhoffi comb. n., a remarkably variable circum-Mediterranean scelionid (Hymenoptera, Platygastroidea)

Triteleia peyerimhofficomb. n. (Kieffer, 1906) is redescribed taking into account its great variability and is considered the senior synonym of Triteleia dubia (Kieffer, 1908), Calliscelio lugens (Kieffer, 1910) and Triteleia striolata Kononova & Petrov, 2000, syn. n. Neotypes are designated for Triteleia dubia and Triteleia peyerimhoffi. Triteleia peyerimhoffi is a new record for Greece, France and Croatia and was reared for the first time from eggs of Orthoptera laid in the dead wood of Quercus sp. and Tilia sp. in Romania.     

The influence of algal densities on the toxicity of chromium for Ceriodaphnia dubia Richard (Cladocera, Crustacea)

Food availability may affect metal toxicity for aquatic organisms. In the present study, the influence of high, medium and low densities of the algae Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata (10(6), 10(5) and 10(4) cells.mL(-1), respectively) on the chronic toxicity of chromium to the cladoceran Ceriodaphnia dubia was investigated. C. dubia was exposed to a range of chromium concentration from 2.71 to 34.04 microg.L(-1) and fed with algae at various densities. In another experiment, the green alga was exposed to chromium concentrations (94 to 774 microg.L(-1)) and supplied as food in different densities to zooplankton. The survival and reproduction of the cladoceran were measured in these toxicity tests. The IC50 for Cr to P. subcapitata and metal accumulated by algal cells were determined. The results of a bifactorial analysis (metal versus algal densities) showed that metal toxicity to zooplankton was dependent on algal densities. Significant toxic effects on the reproduction and survival of C. dubia were observed at 8.73, 18.22 and 34.04 microg.L(-1) Cr when the test organisms were fed with 10(6) cells.mL(-1) of P. subcapitata. Although the chlorophyta retain low chromium content, a decrease in the reproduction and survival of C. dubia occurred when they were fed with high algal density contaminated with 774 microg.L(-1) Cr. It was concluded that high algal density have an appreciable influence on chromium toxicity to daphnids.     

Apolysis without ecdysis in larval development of a strepsipteran, Elenchus tenuicornis (Kirby)

Previous uncertainty concerning the number of larval stages in a strepsipteran ( Elenchus tenuicornis ) was resolved by transmission and scanning electron microscope observations. The first larval instar (triungulinid) is free-living: after entering the host (a delphacid) it undergoes a normal ecdysis. The resulting second instar larva undergoes two further apolyses without ecdysis. In the male, the cuticle of the fourth instar larva tans to form the puparium, while the female becomes sexually mature without a further moult after extrusion of the cephalothorax through the host cuticle. The discarded exuviae of the triungulinid remain in the host abdomen; subsequent larval staging is made possible by the retention of the exuviae ensheathing the larva as each apolysis is accomplished.     

Genetic variability and changes of elemental concentrations in cells of Tetrix tenuicornis (orthoptera: tetrigidae) from polluted and unpolluted areas

Genetic variability between populations of the orthopteran insect Tetrix tenuicornis, collected from six locations in Poland, was assayed by using the random amplified polymorphic DNA-polymerase chain reaction (RAPD-PCR) method. The results show that insects in a population from metal polluted areas in Boles?aw have reduced genetic variability in contrast to five other populations located in unpolluted areas. The insects from polluted sites also showed significant changes in elemental concentrations in nerve and muscle cells, measured by X-ray spectroscopy, when compared to insects of the same species collected from unpolluted sites.     

Littoral microcrustaceans (Cladocera, Copepoda) in a prairie coastal wetland: seasonal abundance and community structure

Seasonal species abundance and community structure of the littoralmicrocrustacean community (Cladocera, Copepoda) in two areas of DeltaMarsh were investigated over the open-water season. Cladoceranabundance in Crescent Pond, with no fish, only invertebrate predatorswas considerably higher than in Blind Channel, with both fish andinvertebrate predators, and where cyclopoid copepods were thedominant microcrustaceans. In both areas, a small number of speciesof planktonic cladocerans characterized the community in spring andearly summer, whereas a diverse array of species of phytophilouscladocerans comprised the community throughout the summer. Daphnia rosea was the most abundant species in the planktoniccommunity in Crescent Pond for the first half of the summer, and Ceriodaphnia dubia was most abundant in the last half. In contrast,no single planktonic cladoceran species was consistently mostabundant in Blind Channel. The sequence of dominant phytophilouscladoceran species observed in Crescent Pond through the season wasChydorus sp. 2, Simocephalus vetulus, Pleuroxusdenticulatus, and Ceriodaphnia dubia, and in Blind Channel,Alona circumfimbriata, Simocephalus vetulus, and Ceriodaphnia dubia. Dominant planktonic and phytophilous copepods inboth areas were Diacyclops thomasi, Acanthocyclops vernalis,Eucyclops agilis, and Macrocyclops albidus. Canonicalcorrespondence analysis revealed differences in community structurebetween areas of the marsh related to turbidity, phytoplanktonbiomass, and soluble reactive phosphorus concentration.     

Chromosome aberrations in a natural population of Tetrix tenuicornis (Sahlb.) (Tetrigidae: Orthoptera).

In the natural population of Tetrix tenuicornis from the Kraków-Czestochowa Upland 26.7% of males showed various aberrations of the morphology and behaviour of chromosomes. The high frequency of chromosome aberrations found in this population indicates their genetic instability.     

Moina mukhamedievi n. sp. (Crustacea,Cladocera) from ricefields of Uzbekistan (central Asia)

A new species of Cladocera, Moina mukhamedievi from ricefields of Uzbekistan, is described. It is compared with the related species M. dubia, M. brachiata, M. oryzae. This revised version was published online in September 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Chemical Constituents of Essential Oil of Two Varieties of Artemisia dubia Wall. ex Bess.

The essential oil of Artemisia dubia var. dubia and dubia var. subdigitata were analysed by GCMS and a tatal of 82 compounds including 50 terpenoids, 12 aromatics and 20 aliphatics were identified, among which variety dubia and var. subdigitata contained 54 and 67 compounds respectivey. Comparative studies indicate that 39 compounds (27 terpenoids, 5 aromatics and 7 aliphatics) were shared by the two varieties. The difference in constituents of essential oil between the two varieties is that more types of biocyclic and tricyclic sesquiterpenes, aromatics and aliphatics were shown inA. Dubia var. subdigitata than A. dubia var. dubia. Compositionally, the terpenoids in essential oil of the two varieties were endowed with a higher degree of cyclization than those of the species from Subgen. Artemisia, but similar to those of the species from Subgen. Dracunculus. Thus the assignment of the two varieties in Subgen. Dracunculus was consistent with the phylogeny of the genus Artemisia.     

LASOFINIUS GEN. N. (COLLEMBOLA: TOMOCERIDAE) FROM TASMANIA AND A RE-EXAMINATION OF NEOPHORELLA DUBIA WOMERSLEY (TOMOCERIDAE)

Lasofinius gen. n. is erected for L. willi sp.n. (type species) and L. gemini sp.n., both from Tasmania. The species are described and a key to separate them is given. Lasofinius is characterised by the retention of a postantennal organ in adults which is unusual in the Tomoceridae. The closely related monobasic genus Neophorella Womersley from South Africa (type species N. dubia ) is redescribed. The phylogenetic relationships of both genera are discussed and comments made on the distribution and zoogeography of Tomoceridae in Australia.     

牛尾蒿两变种精油的化学成分

本文以气相色谱质谱计算机联用的方法分析了牛尾蒿原变种Artemisia dubia var. dubia及无毛变种B A. dubia var. subdigitata精油化学成分,共鉴定出82种化合物,其中萜类50种,芳香类12种,脂肪族类20种。经比较研究表明,这两变种的精油中有39种化合物(27 种萜类,5种芳香类和7种脂肪族类化合物)相同,而它们的差别在于牛尾蒿无毛变种中二环、三环倍半萜、芳香类及脂肪族类化合物的类型比原变种多。从精油的萜类化学组成特点来看,这两个变种的萜类化合物环化程度比蒿亚属植物高,而与龙蒿亚属植物相近。因此,这两个变种归属于龙蒿亚属较合适。     

斑翅草螽线粒体基因组序列测定与分析

已经测定的昆虫线粒体基因组中, 直翅目草螽亚科的疑钩额螽Ruspolia dubia线粒体控制区长度最短, 仅70 bp。为此, 本研究采用L-PCR结合二次PCR扩增策略对另一种草螽亚科昆虫斑翅草螽Conocephalus maculates线粒体基因组序列进行了测定。序列注释发现: 斑翅草螽线粒体基因组序列全长15 898 bp, A+T含量为72.05%, 基因排列与典型的节肢动物线粒体基因组一致。全部蛋白质编码基因以典型的ATN作为起始密码子, 9个蛋白质编码基因具有完整的终止密码子, 其余4个以不完整的T作为终止信号。除trnS^AGN外, 其余21个tRNAs均可折叠形成典型的三叶草结构, 依照Steinberg等(1997)线粒体特殊tRNA结构类型-9, trnS^AGN的DHU臂形成一个7 nt环, 反密码子臂则长达9 bp, 含1个突起碱基, 而不是正常的5 bp。斑翅草螽与其他直翅目昆虫线粒体基因组的主要区别在于, 在trnS^UCN和nad1, nad1和trnL^CUN基因间各存在一段罕见的、大段的基因间隔序列, 长度分别为78 bp和360 bp。其中, 位于nad1和trnL^CUN之间的基因间隔序列N链可形成一个包含完整起始、终止密码子(ATT/TAA)、编码103个氨基酸的未知开放阅读框。同义密码子使用偏好与线粒体基因组编码的tRNA反密码子匹配情况无关, 但与密码子第3位点的碱基组成紧密相关; 相对密码子使用频率(relative synonymous codon usage, RSCU)大于1的密码子, 其第3位点全部是A或T。在已经测定的直翅目昆虫线粒体基因组tRNAs中, 均存在一定数量的碱基错配, 且以G-U弱配对为主, 表明G-U配对在线粒体基因组中可能是一种正常的碱基配对形式。本研究测定的斑翅草螽线粒体基因组序列, 和先前已经测定的直翅目线粒体基因组序列一起, 可以为重建直翅目的进化历史提供数据资源。     

三种花蓟马触角感器的超微结构

采用扫描电子显微镜对花蓟马Frankliniella intonsa (Trybom)、 禾花蓟马F. tenuicornis (Uzel) 和西花蓟马F. occidentalis (Pergande) 3种国内危害严重的农业害虫的两性成虫触角感器超微结构进行观察和比较, 旨在明确3种花蓟马两性成虫触角上的感器类型、 数量、 分布及超微形态特征, 明晰3种花蓟马触角感器差异, 进而补充蓟马感器详细资料、 完善蓟马形态学研究。结果表明： 3种花蓟马两性成虫触角上均有8种感器类型, 即Böhm氏鬃毛、 钟形感器、 毛形感器、 刺形感器、 锥形感器、 腔锥形感器、 腔形感器和特殊结构感器。触角各节上感器的分布和数量并不均匀。分析结果显示, 各类感器在触角上的分布相对稳定, 具有一定规律; 近缘种间和同种两性间触角感器的形态及分布无明显差异。     

Multi-linear regression analysis, preliminary biotic ligand modeling, and cross species comparison of the effects of water chemistry on chronic lead toxicity in invertebrates

The current study examined the chronic toxicity of lead (Pb) to three invertebrate species: the cladoceran Ceriodaphnia dubia, the snail Lymnaea stagnalis and the rotifer Philodina rapida. The test media consisted of natural waters from across North America, varying in pertinent water chemistry parameters including dissolved organic carbon (DOC), calcium, pH and total CO(2). Chronic toxicity was assessed using reproductive endpoints for C. dubia and P. rapida while growth was assessed for L. stagnalis, with chronic toxicity varying markedly according to water chemistry. A multi-linear regression (MLR) approach was used to identify the relative importance of individual water chemistry components in predicting chronic Pb toxicity for each species. DOC was an integral component of MLR models for C. dubia and L. stagnalis, but surprisingly had no predictive impact on chronic Pb toxicity for P. rapida. Furthermore, sodium and total CO(2) were also identified as important factors affecting C. dubia toxicity; no other factors were predictive for L. stagnalis. The Pb toxicity of P. rapida was predicted by calcium and pH. The predictive power of the C. dubia and L. stagnalis MLR models was generally similar to that of the current C. dubia BLM, with R(2) values of 0.55 and 0.82 for the respective MLR models, compared to 0.45 and 0.79 for the respective BLMs. In contrast the BLM poorly predicted P. rapida toxicity (R(2)=0.19), as compared to the MLR (R(2)=0.92). The cross species variability in the effects of water chemistry, especially with respect to rotifers, suggests that cross species modeling of invertebrate chronic Pb toxicity using a C. dubia model may not always be appropriate.     

A revision of the lygaeid genus Pseudopachybrachius (Hemiptera)

Abstract. The rhyparochromine lygaeid genus Pseudopachybrachius is revised. Four species are recognized in the perplexing vinctus-gvoup (viz capicola, reductus, vinctus and guttus) based on the genitalia details and external features. One new species, P.concepcioni sp.nov., is described from the West Indies and South America. New distributional records are given for all species. Pamera dubia Reuter 1882 is synonymized with Pseudopachybrachius reductus (Walker, 1872) and a neotype is designated for Rhyparochromus inconspicuus Dallas, 1852. A key and diagnostic characters of seven species are given. Phylogenetic and zoogeographic relationships are discussed. Illustrations of the genitalia, a cladogram and diagnostic external features are included.     

拉缘蝽空间格局及抽样技术的研究

拉缘蝽空间格局测定结果表明,拉缘蝽的1—3龄若虫、4—5龄若虫和成虫等各虫态的空间格局均属于聚集分布,拉缘蝽1—3龄若虫聚集度最高,4—5龄若虫聚集度下降,成虫聚集度更低。在拉缘蝽空间格局的基础上,确定了Kuno风险决策序贯抽样表和1wao—Kuno（1968）理论抽样数。     

The endotegmen tuberculae: an account of little-known structures from the seed coat of the Hydrocharitoideae (Hydrocharitaceae) and Najas (Najadaceae)

SHAFFER-FEHRE, M., 1991. The endotegmen tuberculae: an account of little-known structures from the seed coat of the Hydrocharitoideae (Hydrocharitaceae) and of Najas (Najadaceae). The sub-cellular protuberances from the inner tegmen layer have been given various names in earlier literature. Here named 'endotegmen tuberculae', they vary in shape, size and density of distribution in the endotegmen of different taxa. These characteristics make them useful for taxonomic research at both genus and species level. Their shape is a major consideration in transferring Hydrocharis dubia to the genus Limnobium. A further structure, 'exotegmen tuberculae', has been observed for the first time. This paper gives a survey of these structures and illustrates their taxonomic importance and its implications.     

Allometry of reproduction in two species of gekkonid lizards (Gehyra): effects of body size miniaturization on clutch and egg sizes

In squamate reptiles there is an allometric pattern for small-bodied females to have smaller clutches and proportionally larger eggs than large-bodied females, and this pattern occurs both among and within species. The allometric patterns in two species of the gecko Gehyra were studied to see how evolutionary reductions in adult body size affect fecundity and offspring size among species, and how these changes affect allometric relationships within species. Gehyra dubia has two eggs per clutch (the typical clutch size for gekkonid lizards), whereas the smallerbodied G. variegata has a single egg per clutch. Within both species, egg size increased with female body size. The data are consistent with at least two mechanistic hypotheses: (1) that the width of the pelvis constrains egg size; and (2) in species with invariant clutch sizes, larger females can only allocate additional energy towards egg size and not number. More direct tests of these hypotheses are warranted. Miniaturization of body sizes in Gehyra is correlated with a clutch size reduction of 50% (from two to one), and a large (1.7-fold) compensatory increase in relative egg mass. However, the small-bodied G. variegata (one egg per clutch) had a lower relative clutch mass than did G. dubia. These findings have implications for understanding the influence of evolutionary reductions in body size on reproductive traits, and for allometric trends in squamate reptiles in general.