Genetic and environmental influences on shape variation in the European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax)

This paper demonstrates the contribution of both genetic and environmental effects on cultured European sea bass shape. We used the progeny of five populations of sea bass, in a partly diallel design, to investigate the genetics of shape (estimated with geometric morphometrics) in European sea bass. This was done using a common garden experiment with microsatellite markers assignment to parents and populations to avoid confusion between genetic and environmental effects. Additionally, one of the populations was studied over four different aquaculture facilities to investigate the effects of environment on shape. For the first time in this species, shape‐related traits were linked with genetic variation. The first relative warp analysis axis clearly differentiated rearing sites, demonstrating that the main shape/weight effects are related to culturing conditions, thereby accounting for ecomorphologically related differences. The second axis strongly differentiated groups by parental origins; there was a good correlation between shape differences and geographic distances between broodstock sampling locations. High heritabilities of axes scores (0.40–0.55) showed high genetic variation for shape within populations. This study shows that variation in shape has a high genetic component in sea bass, both at the population level and within populations. © 2010 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2010, 101 , 427–436.     

The Comparative Wood-destroying Ability and Preservative Tolerance of Monocaryotic and Dicaryotic Mycelia of Lenzites trabea (Pers.) Fr. and Poria vaillantii (DC ex Fr.) Cke.

Comparison by soil-block tests on several timbers of the wood-destroyingabilities of dicaryotic cultures of both Poria vaillantii andLenzites trabea with those of monocaryotic cultures either derivedfrom, or contributing to, the formation of the dicaryon, indicatedthat monocaryotic cultures of P. vaillantii were generally moredestructive than related dicaryotic cultures, whereas dicaryonsof L. trabea tended to be slightly more destructive than relatedmonocaryons. The tolerance of L. trabea monocaryons to coppersulphate and to sodium arsenate in nutrient agar showed someindication of being higher than that of related dicaryons, whilstthe tolerance of P. vaillantii monocaryons to a copperchrome-arsenatepreservative in soil-block tests also appeared to be higherthan that of related dicaryons. It is concluded that, althoughneither wood-destroying ability nor preservative tolerance wasgreatly affected by nuclear condition, the differences shownmay be of importance in conjunction with the monocaryotizationof dicaryons by toxic agents during laboratory decay tests.     

The mesostigmatic mites associated with Copris hispanus (L.) (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae) in Israel

Works dealing with the association of searabaeid beetles and mesostigmatic mites are shortly reviewed. In the present paper the mite fauna of 106 specimens of Copris hispanus (Scarabaeidae) is investigated. A total of 3732 mites was collected, belonging to 17 species (10 genera, 6 families). The following species are described (or redescribed) and figured: Parasitus coleoptratorum (L.) Berlese, 1906; Parasitus copridis n. sp.; Parasitus hyper-setosus n. sp,; Pachylaelaps hispani Berlese, 1908; Proctolaelaps parascolyti n. sp.; Alliphis halleri (G. & R. Can., 1881); Alliphis gurei n. sp. The degree of specifity of the mite-beetle association is discussed. It is suggested that there is some relation between the social organization of the beetles and the degree of mite infestation, comparable to the mite-hymenoptera association.     

Xylem Development in the Gynoecium of the Apple (Malm pumila L.) Cv. Cox's Orange Pippin K. A. D. *J. COSTA TURA{dagger}

Lignification of the xylem within the carpellary bundles ofapple flowers spreads acropetally from a point 900–1400µm below the base of the locules. At the same time, anotherwave of lignification spreads basipetally from a point justbelow the stigma. The acropetal spread at first progresses morequickly, but at later stages the number of lignified xylem elementsjust below the stigma increases rapidly, reaching a peak justas the flower opens. This increase is very localized and thenumber declines greatly within only 25 % of the stylar distancebelow the stigma. Lignification of the xylem in the bundlesserving other flower parts precedes that serving the gynoecium,and spreads basipetally from a point above the base of the locules Malus pumila, L., anatomy, apple, carpel, Cox's Orange Pippin, development, flower, gynoecium, pedicel, pistil, stigma, style, vasculature, xylem regenreation     

A morphological classification capturing functional variation in phytoplankton

1. A logical way of distinguishing functional groups of phytoplankton is to cluster species according to their functional traits, such as growth rate and nutrient assimilation constants. However, data for such an approach are lacking for the vast majority of the species. 2. In this study, we show that a classification based on simple morphological traits may capture much of the variability in functional properties among the phytoplankton. We used information on more than 700 freshwater species, from more than 200 lakes situated in climate zones ranging from subpolar to tropical. 3. Morphological characteristics correlated well with functional properties, such as growth rate and sinking rate, and also with the population size and biomass attained in the field. This suggests that morphology is a good predictor of the functional characteristics of species. 4. Cluster analysis was used to define seven species groups based on morphology. Although some of the clusters are taxonomically homogeneous, others include species of several separate divisions. Functional traits (not used for the classification) differed significantly among the clusters, suggesting that the clusters may indeed represent meaningful functional groups. 5. Advantages of our morphological approach to classification include its objectivity, its independence from taxonomic affiliations, and the relative ease of its application to the majority of species for which physiological traits are unknown and are not readily determined.     

Xylem Development in the Gynoecium of the Apple (Malus pumila L.) Cv, Cox's Orange Pippin

Lignification of the xylem within the carpellary bundles ofapple flowers spreads acropetally from a point 900–1400µm below the base of the locules. At the same time, anotherwave of lignification spreads basipetally from a point justbelow the stigma. The acropetal spread at first progresses morequickly, but at later stages the number of lignified xylem elementsjust below the stigma increases rapidly, reaching a peak justas the flower opens. This increase is very localized and thenumber declines greatly within only 25% of the stylar distancebelow the stigma. Lignification of the xylem in the bundlesserving other flower parts precedes that serving the gynoecium,and spreads basipetally from a point above the base of the locules. Malus pumila L, anatomy, apple, carpel, Cox's Orange Pippin, development, flower, gynoecium, pedicel, pistil, stigma, style, vasculature, xylem     

Comparative morphology,phylogenetic relationships,and historical biogeography of plesiolebiasine seasonal killifishes (Teleostei: Cyprinodontiformes: Rivulidae)

Phylogenetic and biogeographical analyses were performed for the Plesiolebiasini, a group of 20 small and rare species of South American annual killifishes, some threatened with extinction, occurring in river basins of Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay, and Argentina. The results of a maximum parsimony analysis of 142 morphological characters highly corroborate monophyly of the Plesiolebiasini. Monophyly of each plesiolebiasine genus is supported and Plesiolebias is hypothesized to be the sister group to a clade comprising the remaining plesiolebiasine genera (Papiliolebias, Pituna, Maratecoara, and Stenolebias), corroborating studies based on mitochondrial genes. The phylogenetic analysis supports sister group relationships between Papiliolebias and the clade containing Pituna, Maratecoara, and Stenolebias, and between Maratecoara and Stenolebias. The biogeographical analysis indicates a complex historical biogeographical scenario for plesiolebiasines. A vicariance event between the western Paraguay area and northern river basins may be related to the isolation of the Chaco region from the Amazon between the Late Oligocene and Early Miocene. A vicariance event involving the Paraguay River basin and northern rivers, and the multiple occurrence of area hybridism along the Araguaia depression are tentatively identified as a consequence of tectonic subsidence events occurring during the Pleistocene. © 2011 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2011, 162 , 131–148.