SOMATOSTATIN-LIKE IMMUNOREACTIVE CELLS IN THE GROUND SQUIRREL RETINA

Immunocytochemical techniques were employed to locate somatostatin (SS)-containing cells in the retina of the 13-lined ground squirrel (Spermophilus tridecemlineatus). In normal retinas immunostain was limited to neuronal processes, yet distinctly labeled somata were detected in retinas of animals pretreated with colchicine. Labeled cell bodies were located in the outermost and innermost portions of the inner nuclear layer (INL) and in the ganglion cell layer (GCL). The largest population of SS-like immunoreactive neurons was found in the innermost INL. These cells were identified as small and medium sized amacrine cells whose soma diameters ranged from 4 to 14μm. A smaller population of immunoreactive cells was observed in the outermost region of the INL. These cells, presumptive horizontal cells, were found mainly in peripheral regions of the retina. Immunoreactive cells in the GCL were of two types: displaced amacrines, and retinal ganglion cells. SS-positive axons in the optic fiber layer suggest that some of the immunoreactive GCL neurons were ganglion cells, and it is our opinion that these cells belong to a class of associational ganglion cells previously identified in other species.     

Changes in the composition of British butterfly assemblages over two decades

Changes in the abundance and distribution of individual species have been widely documented in Britain and other countries in recent decades, but little has been done to determine changes in community composition over broad geographic areas. Here, we studied species turnover in 51 butterfly assemblages in Britain since 1976, examining extinction and colonisation events together with variation in the abundances of the species. We showed that the species turnover that occurred over 20 years in Britain was associated with colonisation and extinction events and also with variability in the abundance of the species. These changes in community composition differed according to the habitat requirements of the species and their previous distributions, being more evident for habitat specialists and for southerly distributed species. Colonising species often became abundant components of the communities they joined, although this was more evident for generalist than for specialist species. The abundance of species following their arrival, increased with time since colonisation. Species turnover associated with southerly species expanding northwards is consistent with being a response to climate change. The results suggest that climate- and habitat-driven changes in the identity and abundance of species within communities are widespread, and probably ubiquitous. Similar changes are likely to be occurring in other groups of organisms that are similarly undertaking major range shifts associated with climate change.     

An ethological framework for animal bioerosion trace fossils upon mineral substrates with proposal of a new class, fixichnia

Animal bioerosion trace fossils upon mineral substrates are analyzed from the point of view of the Seilacherian ethological classification. Several of the currently accepted ethological classes: cubichnia, fugichnia, repichnia, fodinichnia, agrichnia, calichnia and aedificichnia are not represented in these substrates. This fact points out a lower behavioral diversity of hard substrate trace fossils when compared with soft sediment trace fossils. Bioerosion traces can be classified in just five classes: domichnia, pascichnia, equilibrichnia, praedichnia and fixichnia. Fixichnia is here erected to gather superficial etching scars resulting from the anchoring of fixation of sessile epiliths by means of a soft or skeletal body part. Praedichnia and fixichnia are exclusive of the bioerosion realm.     

Effects of cordycepin on IAA- and fusicoccin-stimulated cell enlargement, proton extrusion and potassium uptake in maize coleoptiles

In maize (Zea mays F, XL 640 A, DEKALB) coleoptiles, cordycepin (3′-deoxyadenosine) is very active in preventing the cell elongation. H⁺ extrusion and K⁺ uptake induced by IAA and, to a much lesser degree, the same phenomena induced by fusicoccin (FC). Cordycepin, while depressing uridine incorporation into RNA, does not decrease the ATP level or significantly influence the pyruvate level and leucine incorporation into proteins in this material. These results support the hypothesis that one or more proteins. whose synthesis is dependent upon short half-life mRNAs, are essential for a full response to IAA. while this requirement is only partial in FC-stimulation of growth. They also confirm the view that auxin- or FC-induced activation of H⁺/K⁺ exchange plays an important role in mediating the effects of these compounds on cell enlargement.     

A taphonomic approach to the genetic interpretation of clypeasteroid accumulations from the Miocene of Tarragona,NE Spain

Belaústegui, Z., Nebelsick, J.H., Gibert, J.M. de, Domènech, R. & Martinell, J. 2012: A taphonomic approach to the genetic interpretation of clypeasteroid accumulations from the Miocene of Tarragona, NE Spain. Lethaia, Vol. 45, pp. 548–565. Clypeasteroid accumulations are common in Cenozoic shallow marine sediments, particularly in the Neogene, as they are also in analogue modern environments. In this article, four clypeasteroid accumulations from Miocene (Serravallian) shallow marine carbonates of the El Camp de Tarragona Basin (NE Spain) are studied. Two of them are dominated by flat‐shaped Parascutella, whereas the other two consist exclusively of bell‐shaped Clypeaster. The combination of the taphonomic analysis of the tests, the palaeoecological and taphonomic information provided by the associated fossils, and the stratigraphical and sedimentological context of each one of these beds allows interpreting them as autochthonous/parautochthonous accumulations resulting from in situ reworking in moderate energy settings, except for one that constitutes a true sand dollar coquina deposited by a storm event. This contribution explores the potential of thorough taphonomic analysis of marine invertebrate skeletal concentrations and substantiates the importance of clypeasteroid echinoids as producers of shell beds in the Neogene. □ Clypeasteroids, Echinoids, Miocene, Taphonomy, Tarragona.     

中国突背青蜂属Stilbum Spinola,1806分类研究(膜翅目:青蜂科)

突背青蜂属Stilbum Spinola,1806隶属于膜翅目、青蜂科、青蜂族。该属昆虫颚眼距长、后胸背板具杯状结构及中胸下侧板具3齿等特征可区别于青蜂科中的其他属种类。目前,该属全世界已知4种,其中焰突背青蜂Stilbum calens(Fabricius,1781)和蓝突背青蜂Stilbum cyanurum(Frster,1771)在我国有分布。本文详细记述了我国这两种青蜂的特征和特征图,并附世界已知种类的分种检索表。     

Multiple mating increases cocoon hatching success in the earthworm Eisenia andrei (Oligochaeta: Lumbricidae)

In simultaneous hermaphrodites with reciprocal mating, multiple mating may be a male strategy that conflicts with female interests, and therefore an intra‐individual sexual conflict regarding the number of matings may be expected. The evolutionary outcome of this sexual conflict will depend on the costs and benefits that extra mating entails for each sexual function. In the present study, we investigated the costs and benefits of multiple mating on cocoon number, cocoon mass, and cocoon hatching success in the redworm Eisenia andrei, a simultaneous hermaphrodite with reciprocal insemination, by manipulating the number of matings with different partners. We did not detect any reduction in the female reproductive output (number and mass of cocoons) with increasing number of mating partners. However, we found that multiple mating showed benefits for female reproduction that increased the hatching success of the cocoons. This effect may be a result of increased quantity and/or diversity of sperm in the spermathecae of multiple mated earthworms. Further studies are required to clarify the mechanism underlying the increased cocoon hatching success when redworms engage in multiple matings. © 2012 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2012, ?? , ??–??.     

MORPHOLOGICAL BASIS OF EXCRETORY FUNCTION IN NAUSITORA FUSTICULA (JEFFREYS, 1860) (BIVALVIA: TEREDINIDAE)

The function of the excretory system of the teredinid bivalveNausitora fusticula is discussed on the basis of new informationon histology and ultrastructure. The wall of the auricles islined with podocytes that allow haemolymph ultrafiltration tothe pericardial cavity. These podocytes also show apical microvilliwith absorptive activity. The primary urine is drained fromthe pericardial cavity to the afferent ducts by a citiated bulb-likestructure. Theafferent and efferent ducts together form thekidney body. The afferent duct shows structures related to absorption,excretion and conduction of the urine. The efferent ducts, however,have structures concerned only with urine absorption and conduction. (Received 13 January 1997; accepted 15 July 1997)