Poecilogony and population genetic structure in Elysia pusilla (Heterobranchia: Sacoglossa), and reproductive data for five sacoglossans that express dimorphisms in larval development

Credible cases of poecilogony, the production of two distinct larval morphs within a species, are extremely rare in marine invertebrates, yet peculiarly common in a clade of herbivorous sea slugs, the Sacoglossa. Only five animal species have been reported to express dimorphic egg sizes that result in planktotrophic and lecithotrophic larvae: the spionid polychaete Streblospio benedicti and four sacoglossans distributed in temperate estuaries or the Caribbean. Here, we present developmental and genetic evidence for a fifth case of poecilogony via egg-size dimorphism in the Sacoglossa and the first example from the tropical Indo-Pacific. The sea slug Elysia pusilla produced both planktotrophic and lecithotrophic larvae in Guam and Japan. Levels of genetic divergence within populations were markedly low and rule out cryptic species. However, divergence among populations was exceptionally high (10-12% at the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase I locus), illustrating that extensive phylogeographic structure can persist in spite of the dispersal potential of planktotrophic larvae. We review reproductive, developmental, and ecological data for the five known cases of poecilogony in the Sacoglossa, including new data for Costasiella ocellifera from the Caribbean. We hypothesize that sacoglossans achieve lecithotrophy at smaller egg sizes than do related clades of marine heterobranchs, which may facilitate developmental plasticity that is otherwise vanishingly rare among animals. Insight into the environmental drivers and evolutionary results of shifts in larval type will continue to be gleaned from population-level studies of poecilogonous taxa like E. pusilla, and should inform life-history theory about the causes and consequences of alternative development modes in marine animals.     

Seasonal polyphenism in larval type: rearing environment influences the development mode expressed by adults in the sea slug Alderia willowi

Dimorphisms occur when alternative developmental pathways produce discrete phenotypes within a species, and may promote evolutionary novelty in morphology, life history, and behavior. Among marine invertebrates, intra-specific dimorphism in larval type (poecilogony) is notably rare, but should provide insight into the selective forces acting on larval strategies. Most established cases of poecilogony appear to be allelic polymorphisms, with local expression regulated by population-genetic processes. Here, we present evidence that dimorphic larval development in the sea slug Alderia willowi is a seasonal polyphenism; the type of larvae produced by an adult slug depends on the rearing environment in which that slug matured. In field surveys of 1996-1999 and 2007-2009, the population in Mission Bay, San Diego (California, USA) produced only short-lived lecithotrophic larvae in summer and early fall, but a varying proportion of slugs expressed planktotrophy in winter and spring. In laboratory experiments, slugs reared under summer conditions (high temperature, high salinity) produced the highest proportion of lecithotrophic offspring, whereas winter conditions (low temperature, low salinity) induced the lowest proportion of lecithotrophy. The shift to a nondispersive morph under summer conditions may be an adaptive response to historical closure of coastal wetlands during the dry season in southern California, which would inhibit dispersal by larvae of back-bay taxa. In most animal polyphenisms, a single larval type is produced and the rearing environment determines which adult phenotype develops. In contrast, alternative larval morphs are produced by A. willowi in response to seasonal cues experienced by the adult stage, varying the phenotype and dispersal potential of offspring. As the only known case of polyphenism in mode of larval development, A. willowi should become a model organism for mechanistic studies of dimorphism and the evolution of alternative life histories.     

The 3'-end-processing factor CPSF is required for the splicing of single-intron pre-mRNAs in vivo.

We describe a new approach to elucidate the role of 3'-end processing in pre-mRNA splicing in vivo using the influenza virus NS1A protein. The effector domain of the NS1A protein, which inhibits the function of the CPSF and PABII factors of the cellular 3'-end-processing machinery, is sufficient for the inhibition of not only 3'-end formation but also the splicing of single-intron pre-mRNAs in vivo. We demonstrate that inhibition of the splicing of single-intron pre-mRNAs results from inhibition of 3'-end processing, thereby establishing that 3'-end processing is required for the splicing of a 3' terminal intron in vivo. Because the NS1A protein causes a global suppression of 3'-end processing in trans, we avoid the ambiguities caused by the activation of cryptic poly(A) sites that occurs when mutations are introduced into the AAUAAA sequence in the pre-mRNA. In addition, this strategy enabled us to establish that the function of a particular 3'-end-processing factor, namely CPSF, is required for the splicing of single-intron pre-mRNAs in vivo: splicing is inhibited only when the effector domain of the NS1A protein binds and inhibits the function of the 30-kDa CPSF protein in 3'-end formation. In contrast, the 3'-end processing factor PABII is not required for splicing. We discuss the implications of these results for cellular and influenza viral mRNA splicing.     

Drainage history and land use pattern of a Swedish river system — their importance for understanding nitrogen and phosphorus load

During the 19th and the first half of the 20th century, approximately 300 km² of lakes and wetlands, representing 29% of the River Kavlingean catchment in Southern Sweden, were drained to make land available for agriculture. Published accounts of nutrient loads from the catchment indicated that until the mid 20th century, factories and urban point sources were the major contributors of both nitrogen and phosphorus. By the middle of the 20th century, the construction of sewage treatment plants had effectively reduced phosphorus pollution. Concurrently, the land drained in the previous century underwent a more intense cultivation, with productivity being maintained by commercial fertilizers. Subsequently, net nutrient loads from agriculture continued to increase, reaching an annual load of 2652 tons total-nitrogen and 70 tons total-phosphorus for the River Kävlingeån. Whilst high nutrient leakage from agricultural watersheds may be a problem which is only recently recognized, it had its origins in nearly a hundred years of commonly accepted agricultural policy.To assess the importance of agriculture as the major source of nutrients to the River Kävlingeån system, three tributary catchment areas, differing in terms of their land use patterns (high, medium and low intensity of agricultural use), were studied and compared with literature figures. Results indicated that agricultural nutrient loss areal coefficients were substantially higher than the literature figures, demonstrating the role of agriculture as source of nutrients to the River Kävlingeån system. The agricultural land use policies of the last fifty years were revealed to be most important with regard to this role. Of such land use policies, the cultivation of the last 10–15% of land employed for agricultural use (primarily riparian ecotones) may be of most significance. The literature indicates that intense agricultural use of this final 10–15% may account for a ca. 50% increase in nitrogen loss. This suggests that one solution to the problem of agricultural diffuse pollution may lie in the restoration and sustainable management of riparian ecotones of agricultural streams.     

The Behaviour of 2′-Deoxy-2′-Fluorouridine Incorporated into Oligonucleotides by the Phosphoramidite Approach

Abstract

2′-Deoxy-2′-fluorouridine has been chemically incorporated into an oligodeoxynucleotide of the structure 5′ACGGAX 3′ (X=U(2′-F)) using the phosphoramidite method and the behaviour of the product has been studied. 5′-O-Monomethoxytrityl-2′-deoxy-2′-fluorouridine was fixed on silica gel at the 3′-end and the chain elongated on a DNA-synthesizer using nucleoside methoxyphosphoramidites. After alkaline work-up two products were observed. One was found to be the desired fluoro containing hexamer, whereas the other corresponds to an araU-hexamer (X=arabino-furanosyluridine). The latter compound is supposed to be a product of alkaline hydrolysis of the C-2′-F-bond. The oligomers containing 2′-fluoro- and ara-U at their 3′-end were chemically sequenced by a solid phase method on CCS-paper which confirmed the right primary structure.     

Accommodating scenarios of climate change and management in modelling the distribution of the invasive tree Schinus molle in South Africa

Determining the potential range of invasive alien species under current conditions is important. However, we also need to consider future distributions under scenarios of climate change and different management interventions when formulating effective long‐term intervention strategies. This paper combines niche modelling and fine‐scale process‐based modelling to define regions at high risk of invasion and simulate likely dynamics at the landscape scale. Our study species is Schinus molle (Peruvian pepper tree; Anacardiaceae), a native of central South America, introduced to South Africa in about 1850 where it was widely planted along roads. Localities of planted and naturalized trees were mapped along 5380 km of roads – a transect that effectively samples a large part of western South Africa. Correlative modelling was used to produce profiles of present and future environmental conditions characterizing its planted and naturalized ranges. A cellular‐automata simulation model was used to estimate the dynamics of S. molle under future climates and different management scenarios. The overall potential range of S. molle in the region is predicted to shrink progressively with predicted climate change. Some of the potential range of S. molle defined based on current conditions (including areas where it is currently highly invasive) is likely to become less favourable. The species could persist where it is well established long after conditions for recruitment have deteriorated. Some areas where the species is not widely naturalized now (notably the fynbos biome) are likely to become more favourable. Our modelling approach allows for the delineation of areas likely to be invaded in future by considering a range of factors at different scales that mediate the interplay of climatic variables and other drivers that define the dimensions of human intervention such as distance from planted trees and the density of planted plants, both of which affect propagule pressure.