Ichthyosauria from the Upper Lias of Strawberry Bank,England

Abstract: Eight remarkably preserved specimens of ichthyosaurs from the lower Toarcian (Lower Jurassic) of Strawberry Bank (Ilminster, Somerset, England) are described fully for the first time. Whereas previously these ichthyosaurs were assigned to one species, Stenopterygius hauffianus, our study shows there are two, Stenopterygius triscissus and Hauffiopteryx typicus. S. triscissus is a small‐ to medium‐sized ichthyosaur up to 3.5 m long, characterised by three apomorphies: long and slender rostrum, large elliptical supratemporal fenestra and bipartite pelvis. H. typicus is a small ichthyosaur up to 2.95 m long, with five apomorphies: short and extremely slender rostrum, very large orbit, small rounded supratemporal fenestra and tripartite pelvis, which is fused distally. Cladistic analysis is equivocal about their relationships, suggesting either that Hauffiopteryx and perhaps also Stenopterygius are members of a clade Eurhinosauria or that this clade does not exist, and both genera are members of a wider clade Thunnosauria. Further, the clade Stenopterygiidae, in which Hauffiopteryx had been located, is not identified. Most striking is that the specimens are all juveniles (five specimens) or infants (three specimens), ranging from one‐tenth to one‐half the normal adult length of the species.     

Arnhemtrachia ramingining: a new genus and species of land snail from Arnhem Land,Australia (Stylommatophora: Camaenidae)

The new, monotypic camaenid genus Arnhemtrachia is described for the new species Arnhemtrachia ramingining from Ramingining, Arnhem Land, Northern Territory, Australia with additional records from the Gove Peninsula in eastern Arnhem Land. This camaenid is characterised by a combination of distinct morphological features, such as a small, discoidal, keeled shell with regular axial ribs, open umbilicus and simple, rounded aperture as well as a reproductive system with a long epiphallus possessing a long flagellum and absence of a penial sheath, with a flap on the penial wall which transverses longitudinal pilasters, and a long, simple bursa copulatrix. Based on comparative morphology, Arnhemtrachia reveals affinities with Trozena morata Iredale, 1838 from NE Queensland.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Strobilomyces verruculosus</Emphasis> sp. nov. from Japan

A new species, Strobilomyces verruculosus, is described and illustrated. It is morphologically distinct from other species of Strobilomyces by having a verruculose pileus with small subpyramidal scales, a long and thick stipe with small warty to appressed scales, subdecurrent tubes, and incompletely reticulate basidiospores. Molecular phylogenetic analyses using the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit 3 (cox3) gene support that it belongs to the genus Strobilomyces and is highly differentiated from the other members of this genus found in Japan.     

Quantitative chromosome maps and rDNA localization in the T subgenome of Nicotiana tabacum L. and its putative progenitors

Using DAPI-stained prometaphase chromosomes, quantitative idiograms were constructed for the T subgenome of Nicotiana tabacum (2n = 4x = 48, SSTT) and two putative candidates for its T subgenome progenitor, Nicotiana otophora and Nicotiana tomentosiformis (both have 2n = 24, TT). The large chromosomes of the three karyotypes could be identified from the distributional pattern of the DAPI signal. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) with 5S rDNA gave not only good cytogenetical landmarks for identification of small chromosomes of the karyotypes but also phylogenetical information. In all three idiograms, 5S rDNA was localized in the proximal region of the long arm of a small submetacentric pair, but an additional 5S rDNA locus was detected terminally on the short arm of a small metacentric pair in N. otophora. The 18S rDNA locus detected here corresponded to satellite regions in all three karyotypes. Two satellited pairs in N. otophora and one satellited pair in N. tomentosiformis had single large subterminal DAPI blocks and two interstitial DAPI bands on their long arms, respectively. For the T subgenome component of N. tabacum, the single intense DAPI band was depicted on the center of the long arm of a satellited pair in the idiogram, although two interstitial bands were often detected on the long arm of the satellited pair in some spreads. Therefore, it was suggested that the T component of N. tabacum was more similar to that of N. tomentosiformis than N. otophora, especially in respect of the number and location of rDNA and the distributional patterns of DAPI signals. Received: 25 October 1999 / Accepted: 24 March 2000<@head-com-p1a.lf>Communicated by Y. Gleba     

High-throughput sequencing uncover Ficus tikoua Bur. chloroplast genome

Ficus tikoua Bur., called “di guo”, is a very important economic plant. However, we know little on its molecular mechanisms for a long time. In this study, three F. tikoua chloroplast genomes were first obtained through Illumina sequencing. The F. tikoua Bur. cp genomes exhibited a typical circular structure, including a pair of inverted repeats, a small single copy sequence, and a long single copy sequence. More than 100 genes and about 70 ncRNAs (rRNAs, tRNAs, snRNA, snoRNA, etc.) were identified in each cp genomes. Some repeats, including DNA element, long terminal repeat, small RNA, simple repeat and low complexity, were examined in the three complete cp genomes. In addition, phylogeny tree from six Ficus. species and five Morus. species in family Moracea were constructed for clarifying taxonomy. This data can help further the understanding of evolution and phylogenetic relationships in F. tikoua Bur.

     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Hypocrea phyllostachydis</Emphasis> and its <Emphasis Type="Italic">Trichoderma</Emphasis> anamorph,a new bambusicolous species from France

Hypocrea phyllostachydis was collected from the bamboo species Phyllostachys bambusoides in southwestern France (Dept. Pyréneés Atlantiques). It can be distinguished from other morphologically similar species by the small subglobose or broadly ellipsoidal conidia and small ascospores. Conidiophores of the Trichoderma state of H. phyllostachydis do not branch in a pyramidal fashion, as is typical of most species of Trichoderma. Rather, it has an irregular branching pattern, with a long central axis and relatively short lateral secondary branches. A key to species of Hypocrea with green ascospores from France is presented.     

Review of the genusBembras Cuvier, 1829 (Scorpaeniformes: Bembridae) with description of three new species collected from Australia and Indonesia

The bembrid genusBembras Cuvier is reviewed. Five species,B. japonica Cuvier,B. adenensis Imamura & Knapp and three undescribed species, were assigned to the genus. Type species of the genus,Bembras japonica is redescribed on the basis of 36 specimens including the holotype, and three new species,B. macrolepis, B. longipinnis andB. megacephala, previously misidentified asB. japonicus, are also described on the basis of specimens collected from Australia and Indonesia.Bembras macrolepis differs from its congeners by having large body scales, a long pectoral fin with 17–19 rays and a dark blotch on slightly upper portion to middle of margin, 14–15 anal-fin rays, small head and orbit, and caudal fin with a broad vertical dark band near posterior margin.Bembras longipinnis is distinguished from other members of the genus by having a slightly long pectoral fin with 17–19 rays and lacking a small black blotch near tip of upper rays, caudal fin with a large dark spot most intense in lower lobe, 1–2 gill rakers on upper gill arch, 13–14 anal-fin rays, slightly elong ated head and small orbit.Bembras megacephala is characterized by the following combination of characters: caudal fin with several irregular narrow vertical dark bands, small orbit, pectoral fin with 19–20 rays and lacking a small black blotch near tip of upper rays, head elongate, 2–4 gill rakers on upper gill arch, 15 anal-fin rays and small body scales. A key separating the five species ofBembras is given.     

Fine Structure of the Cell Surface and Golgi Apparatus of Ochromonas*

SYNOPSIS. Ochromonas danica has an unusually flexible cell surface capable of producing projections of varying sizes and shapes: large projections, 340–360 nm long, and small projections, 50–110 nm long. These projections have been demonstrated by transmission and scanning electron microscopy; some of them may break off into the medium and be the source of extracellular membranes and vesicles reported in the cell-free O. danica growth medium. Ruthenium red stained the acid mucopolysaccharide layer just outside the cell surface as well as small blebs at the cell surface. The Golgi complex of O. danica, Ochromonas malhamensis, Ochromonas sociabilis and Ochromonas sp. produced small coated vesicles which may move toward and fuse with the plasma membrane. The role of the several vesicles is unknown but possible functions are discussed.     

Continuous petal variation in Epimedium tianmenshanense (Berberidaceae), a taxon endemic to western Hunan,China

In the protologue, Epimedium tianmenshanense (Berberidaceae), a species endemic to western Hunan, China, was described as ‘flower small, 0.2–0.4 cm diam., inner sepals white, petals as long as inner sepals or a little shorter than the latter, spur very short, ca 5.0 mm’. However, both morphological characteristics and molecular evidence suggest that E. tianmenshanense is closely related to E. baojingense, a taxon with a long spur, thus suggesting that the size of the floral parts is not as reliable as previously believed. When investigating the variability of E. tianmenshanense in more detail, in the field as well as in cultivation, we found that the petals were are highly variable in morphology (both shape and size), being cucullate, subulate, short to long spurred, and with various transitions. The flowers size varied from small to large accordingly. The flowers with cucullate and subulate petals, which were a little shorter than the inner sepals or almost as long as the latter, were small (about 0.8 cm in diameter). The flowers with long spurs, which were much longer than the inner sepals, were also large (about 2.5–3.5 cm in diameter). Finally, the flowers with short spurs, which were a little longer than the inner sepals, were medium-sized (about 1.0–1.2 cm in diameter). In addition, the color of inner sepals was revised from ‘white, occasionally light mulberry-purple’ to yellowish green or yellowish white. Epimedium tianmenshanense is a perfect example of natural petal evolution, which could be used for further taxonomic and evolutionary studies. The reason for the variation and the taxonomic treatment of the species still need further study.     

Oligocene Shorebird Footprints,Kandi, Ombilin Basin,Sumatra

Recent fieldwork in the Ombilin Basin of west-central Sumatra resulted in the discovery of two distinct types of avian footprints, both referable to the ichnogenus Aquatilavipes. The footprints were discovered in the Oligocene Sawahlunto Formation in a creek side outcrop near the Kandi Ombilin Mine. Aquatilavipes wallacei is a small species of Aquatilavipes (～ 19 mm wide; 27 mm long) with elongate third digits, wide total divarication angles (120–150°) and inwardly curved peripheral digits. Aquatilavipes ichnospecies A are also small traces (average 21 mm wide; 31 mm long) with elongate third digits and straight to slightly outwardly curved peripheral digits. These traces are similar in morphology to those of small modern shorebirds such as rails (Rallidae), sandpipers (Scolapacidae) or plovers (Charadriinae).

The Sawahlunto traces occur in very fine-grained to fine-grained sandstone characterized by low-relief current ripples, many of which exhibit mud-draping. A low diversity invertebrate trace fossil assemblage consisting of Arenicolites, Diplocraterion, Planolites, Monocraterion, Skolithos and Coenobichnus co-occurs with the bird footprints. This succession is interpreted as intertidal sand flats. Probe and peck marks preserved on the same bedding planes as the bird footprints support the interpretation that these birds occupied the Kandi intertidal flats for foraging purposes.     

Fine structure of a sensory organ in the arista of Drosophila melanogaster and some other dipterans

Summary The arista, a characteristic appendage of dipteran antennae, consists of 2 short segments at the base and a long distal shaft. A small sensory ganglion, from which arises the aristal nerve, is located proximally in the shaft. The fine structure of the aristal sensory organ was studied in detail in the fruitfly (Drosophila) and for comparison in the housefly (Musca) and the blowfly (Calliphora). In Drosophila, the aristal sense organ consists of 3 identical sensilla that terminate in the hemolymph space of the aristal shaft, and not in an external cuticular apparatus. Each sensillum comprises 2 bipolar neurons and 2 sheath cells; a third sheath cell envelops the somata of all six neurons of the ganglion. The neurons have long slender dendrites with the usual subdivision into an inner and an outer segment. One of the outer segments is highly lamellated and bears small particles (BOSS-structures) on the outside of its cell membrane; the other outer segment is unbranched and has a small diameter. The fine structure of the first dendrite is strongly reminiscent of thermoreceptors known from the antennae of other insects. These thermoreceptors are often coupled with hygroreceptors; however, we can only speculate whether the second dendrite of the aristal organ also has this function. Our present results argue against mechanoreceptive functions, as formerly postulated. The aristal sense organs in Musca and Calliphora are similar to those in Drosophila, but contain more sensilla (12 in Musca, 18 in Calliphora).     

New species of Thyasira, Mendicula, and Axinulus (Bivalvia, Thyasiroidea) from Sub-Antarctic and Antarctic waters

Three new thyasirid species from the Sub-Antarctic and Antarctic waters are described: Thyasira patagonica, Mendicula sudamericana, and Axinulus antarcticus. T. patagonica is characterized by its strong commarginal sculpture, shell as height as length or higher than long, posterior auricle delimited by a deep submarginal sulcus, and a long and sloping straight anterior half of dorsal margin. M. sudamericana distinguished by its longer than high shell outline, elongated tooth-like enlargement anterior to beak, gills with only one demibranch at each side, and foot with a marked heel. A. antarcticus has a minute, subquadrate shell, hinge with a small swelling anterior to beak, gills with a single demibranch, and the lateral body pouch elongated and almost smooth. The present study provides the first reliable record of thyasirids, with a single demibranch from the Southern Ocean. Moreover, characters for a better definition of Mendicula are provided.     

Ultrastructure of carpogonia and carpogonial branches of Batrachospermum helminthosum and Batrachospermum involution (Batrachospermales, Rhodophyta)

The carpogonial branches of Batrachospermum involutum of section Batrachospermum are similar in ultrastructure to nearby fascicles, having uninucleate cells with abundant starch granules and several peripheral, well-developed chloropiasts (up to 10 μm long). In contrast, the short carpogonial branch cells of Batrachospermum helminthosum (section Virescentia) have no visible starch and chloropiasts are reduced in size (up to 2 μm long) with few thylakoids. The breakdown of cross walls among cells of the carpogonial branch is also common in B. helminthosum but does not occur in B. involutum. As a result of cross wall breakdown in the former species, 2-7 nuclei can occur in a continuous cytoplasm. Trichogynes in both species contain scattered mitochondria, vesicles/small vacuoles, osmiophilic globules, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and small chloropiasts. Polylamellate structures also occur in the trichogyne in B. involution. The carpogonial base was fully observed only in B. involutum and it contains a prominent nucleus, ER, chloropiasts and a pit plug connecting it to the subtending carpogonial branch cell. Partial observations of carpogonial branches and carpogonia were made on four other members of the family Batrachospermaceae.     

Postcopulatory selection for dissimilar gametes maintains heterozygosity in the endangered North Atlantic right whale

Although small populations are expected to lose genetic diversity through genetic drift and inbreeding, a number of mechanisms exist that could minimize this genetic decline. Examples include mate choice for unrelated mates and fertilization patterns biased toward genetically dissimilar gametes. Both processes have been widely documented, but the long‐term implications have received little attention. Here, we combined over 25 years of field data with high‐resolution genetic data to assess the long‐term impacts of biased fertilization patterns in the endangered North Atlantic right whale. Offspring have higher levels of microsatellite heterozygosity than expected from this gene pool (effect size = 0.326, P < 0.011). This pattern is not due to precopulatory mate choice for genetically dissimilar mates (P < 0.600), but instead results from postcopulatory selection for gametes that are genetically dissimilar (effect size = 0.37, P < 0.003). The long‐term implication is that heterozygosity has slowly increased in calves born throughout the study period, as opposed to the slight decline that was expected. Therefore, this mechanism represents a natural means through which small populations can mitigate the loss of genetic diversity over time.     

Characterization of microsatellite markers in the squid,Loligo bleekeri (Cephalopoda: Loliginidae)

Loligo bleekeri has a long spawning season and the size of mature males changes during the season: dimorphic (large/small) early in the spawning season and monomorphic (small) later in the spawning season. To understand how copulatory behaviours relate to the dimorphism, we developed five polymorphic microsatellite loci in L. bleekeri. The level of polymorphism ranged from 10 to 22 alleles with expected heterozygosities ranging from 0.79 to 0.93, suggesting that the novel polymorphic loci should be useful for parentage analysis of L. bleekeri.     

Personality as a Predictor of Weight Loss Maintenance after Surgery for Morbid Obesity

Objective: Personality characteristics are assumed to underlie health behaviors and, thus, a variety of health outcomes. Our aim was to examine prospectively whether personality traits predict short‐ and long‐term weight loss after laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding. Research Methods and Procedures: Of patients undergoing laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding, 168 (143 women, 25 men, 18 to 58 years old, mean 37 years, preoperative BMI 45.9 ± 5.6 kg/m²) completed the Dutch Personality Questionnaire on average 1.5 years before the operation. The relationship between preoperative personality and short‐ and long‐term postoperative weight loss was determined using multilevel regression analysis. Results: The average weight loss of patients progressively increased to 10 BMI points until 18 months after surgery and stabilized thereafter. A lower baseline BMI, being a man, and a higher educational level were associated with a lower weight loss. None of the personality variables was associated with weight outcome at short‐term follow‐up. Six of seven personality variables did not predict long‐term weight outcome. Egoism was associated with less weight loss in the long‐term postoperative period. The effect sizes of the significant predictions were small. Discussion: None of the personality variables predicted short‐term weight outcome, and only one variable showed a small and unexpected association with long‐term weight outcome that needs confirmation. This suggests that personality assessment as intake psychological screening is of little use for the prediction of a poor or successful weight outcome after bariatric surgery.     

New record of Sporochnus dotyi (Sporochnales,Phaeophyceae) from Kii Peninsula,Japan

The subtidal brown algal species Sporochnus dotyi Brostoff (Sporochnales, Phaeophyceae), which has been regarded as a Hawaiian endemic, is reported from Kushimoto, Kii Peninsula, Pacific coast of central Honshu, Japan, for the first time outside Hawai'i. The species grew on subtidal rocks ca. 5–20 m deep attached by a small conical holdfast. The erect thalli were 5–30 cm high, terete, robust and alternately branched in 1–2 orders. When mature, pedicellate receptacles developed on the branches, and formed elliptical sori 1 mm long with a pedicel 3–5 mm long. The apical parts of the thalli and the receptacles were terminated with a tuft of simple assimilatory filaments of up to 4 mm long and showed prominent green to yellow underwater iridescence. Reproductive filaments (paraphyses) were densely packed, simple, up to 200 μm long and bore 4–6 mostly unilateral unilocular zoidangia 20–22 μm long and 5–6 m in diameter. In the genetic analyses, the Sporochnus alga from Kushimoto had partial rbcL sequence identical to S. dotyi from Hawai'i. The cox3 phylogeny revealed that this alga formed a fully supported clade with S. dotyi. Therefore, we identified the alga from Kushimoto as S. dotyi. This finding of S. dotyi from Japan, together with the recent reports of the mesophotic macroalgae Ryuguphycus kuaweuweu (=Umbraulva kuaweuweu), Ulva iliohaha and Newhousia imbricata from various localities in the Pacific Ocean including Japan, suggest closer biogeographical connections of subtidal/mesophotic macroalgae in the Pacific than previously recognized.     

Zingiber pseudosquarrosum sp. nov. (Zingiberaceae) from Andaman and Nicobar Islands,India

Zingiber pseudosquarrosum L. J. Singh & P. Singh sp. nov. (Zingiberaceae) from Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India is described and illustrated and its conservation status is evaluated. This new species seems related to Z. squarrosum Roxb. but can be distinguished by the presence of a small pseudostem, long ligule and petiole, broadly lanceolate leaves with cuneate base, caudate apex and paxillate venation, urceolate or prolate inflorescences, very long underground peduncle, long calyx, very long corolla tube, labellum deep purple red (claret) at centre, orange red (vermillion) at lateral sides with ivory (off white) spots, tip truncate and slightly notched, margin folded back, stamen with short filament, yellow orange anther, light brown ovary, blood red (cinnabar) seeds covered by a white aromatic aril. A key to the species of Zingiber Mill. from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands is also provided.