Pattern of conodont reworking in the Upper Devonian of the Alps: palaeoenvironmental and palaeotectonic implications

Transfer of sediments from shallow shelf to basin usually implies vertical (stratigraphic) reworking of fossils, but in a few instances produces only lateral reworking (actually within the time span of a subzone). An Upper Devonian (Frasnian) pelagic carbonate sequence with allodapic intercalations and thick intraclast parabreccias triggered by seismic shocks and related tsunami and turbidity currents has been studied. Here, the standard biozone sequence is undisturbed at the zonal as well as the subzonal level. However, distribution of conodonts is discontinuous, and ranges of some important species are altered; mature specimens are commonly broken, whereas complete specimens are mostly juvenile forms. Maxima and minima of element frequency and anomalous thickening or thinning of subzones are recognized. Such distribution patterns of conodonts are compared with the four main facies distinguished and related to the environmental interpretation (a platform-basin system, the original gentle slope of which was fragmenting in fault-controlled blocks). The mean frequency of shallow-water, proximal conodonts is 10% whereas transitional to distal deeper-water genera dominate throughout the entire section. In the dominant biofacies, conodonts settled vertically, in the subordinate one they were transported laterally. The 'intraclast parabreccia' is interpreted as a peculiar type of seismitc. The anomalous thickness variation of biozones is related to the step topography of the slope in a fault-controlled carbonate basin.     

Herpetomonas roitmani (Fiorini et al., 1989) N. Comb.: A Trypanosomatid with a Bacterium-like Endosymbiont in the Cytoplasm

The trypanosomatid previously described as Crithidia roitmani is characterized here at the ultrastructural and biochemical levels. The data indicates that the parasite belongs to the Herpetomonas genus, and we therefore suggest the flagellate to be denominated as Herpetomonas roitmani n. comb. Cladistic analysis of isoenzyme data generated by eight different enzymes showed that the parasite presented a distinct banding pattern and could be grouped with some Herpetomonas spp., but not with Crithidia spp., used as reference strains. Accordingly, when the parasites were grown for longer periods in Roitman's defined medium, expontaneous differentiation from promastigotes to opisthomastigotes (typical of the Herpetomonas genus) occurred. Transmission electron microscopy revealed the presence of bacterium-like endosymbionts in the cytoplasm of all evolutive forms of the parasite. All morphological alterations characteristic of endosymbiont-bearing trypanosomatids could be observed.     

Evolution and phylogeny of the scarab subtribe Anisopliina (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Rutelinae: Anomalini)

Abstract.  The subtribe Anisopliina (Scarabaeidae: Rutelinae: Anomalini) is associated with grasses, and its species are distributed in the Palaearctic, Oriental, Ethiopian, Nearctic and Neotropical biogeographical regions. Phylogenetic analysis of adult morphological characters was conducted to examine the monophyly and classification of the group, as well as to examine characters associated with grass pollinivory and graminivory. We review the biology, phylogeny and classification of the Anisopliina and provide an overview of each genus. The analysis of ninety-one morphological characters using parsimony does not support the monophyly of the subtribe Anisopliina. Instead, the results provide support for a group referred to here as the anisopliine clade, a circum-Mediterranean group, forming an internal clade within the well-supported tribe Anomalini. Sister group relationships are discussed, possibly being associated with a New World anomaline taxon. Character states associated with grass herbivory, including mouthpart and leg characters, are discussed based on the phylogenetic analysis. Within the Anomalini, an evolutionary shift from generalized leaf feeding to grass associations and grass pollen feeding is supported.     

中国近海浮游植物生产的二甲基硫和二甲基硫丙酸的分布状况及其影响因素

于1994～1998年期间调查了浮游植物生产的生源气候气体二甲基硫(DMS)及其前身二甲基硫丙酸(DMSPp)在我国胶州湾、芝罘湾、东海的分布状况及其影响因素.结果表明,自然海区中二者浓度都存在明显的时空变化.地理分布规律是,高值出现在沿岸海区和陆架海区,低值出现在外海特别是贫营养海区.就不同季节而言,高值出现在春季或夏季,低值出现在秋季.DMS或DMSPp的分布在大尺度上主要受海流和水团的影响,而在小尺度上营养条件和生物因子则更重要.在近岸海区,硅藻是DMS和DMSPp的重要贡献者.研究海区硝酸盐与DMSPp的关系有两种情况:当硝酸盐浓度低于1μmol/L时,二者为正相关,硝酸盐浓度高于这个阈值时,二者为负相关.表明浮游植物细胞中二甲基硫丙酸作为渗透压调节物质其含量受到氮源可得性的调控.此外,研究结果还显示,生活污水入海、海水养殖等也对DMS和DMSPp的浓度分布有一定影响.     

Differential anatomical responses to elevated CO2 in saplings of four hardwood species

To determine whether an elevated carbon dioxide concentration ([CO₂]) can induce changes in the wood structure and stem radial growth in forest trees, we investigated the anatomical features of conduit cells and cambial activity in 4‐year‐old saplings of four deciduous broadleaved tree species – two ring‐porous (Quercus mongolica and Kalopanax septemlobus) and two diffuse‐porous species (Betula maximowicziana and Acer mono) – grown for three growing seasons in a free‐air CO₂ enrichment system. Elevated [CO₂] had no effects on vessels, growth and physiological traits of Q. mongolica, whereas tree height, photosynthesis and vessel area tended to increase in K. septemlobus. No effects of [CO₂] on growth, physiological traits and vessels were seen in the two diffuse‐porous woods. Elevated [CO₂] increased larger vessels in all species, except B. maximowicziana and number of cambial cells in two ring‐porous species. Our results showed that the vessel anatomy and radial stem growth of Q. mongolica, B. maximowicziana and A. mono were not affected by elevated [CO₂], although vessel size frequency and cambial activity in Q. mongolica were altered. In contrast, changes in vessel anatomy and cambial activity were induced by elevated [CO₂] in K. septemlobus. The different responses to elevated [CO₂] suggest that the sensitivity of forest trees to CO₂ is species dependent.     

Evolution of the optimal reproductive schedule in the ant Camponotus (Colobopsis) nipponicus (wheeler): a demographic approach

1. Traits are hypothesised to optimise via natural selection. The schedule of reproduction is an important adaptive trait, but its evolution is difficult to study, as measuring parameters is usually difficult. However, the sufficient amounts of demographic data enable us to estimate these parameters. 2. Here, it is shown that the reproductive schedule of the ant Camponotus (Colobopsis) nipponicus is tuned to maximise the lifetime production of alates. 3. A colony started its reproduction 4 years after the colony founding, at which time they were far smaller than well‐developed colonies. This contradicts the prediction of the bang‐bang strategy theory. The size distribution of colonies in the study area showed that the mortality of small colonies is much higher than that of large colonies. 4. A simulation analysis suggests that the colonies that are smaller than the threshold can still achieve significant improvement in colny survival to the following year by investing all resources in colony growth instead of reproduction. A sensitivity analysis for the starting year of reproduction showed that the observed schedule maximises lifetime alate production. The demographic data suggest a stable population, which is required for optimisation through this maximisation. 5. The observed reproductive schedule must be optimised, and the breakdown of the bang‐bang theory is due to higher mortalities during the incipient stage of colonies. This study demonstrates that having enough demographic data creates a useful tool for studying the evolution of life‐history characteristics.