Genetic variation and population structure of the Japanese sika deer (Cervus nippon) in Hokkaido Island, based on mitochondrial D-loop sequences

Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) D -loop region sequences (602 bp) from 141 samples of the sika deer Cervus nippon collected from Hokkaido Island of Japan were investigated to elucidate population genetic structure. All animals possessed seven repeat units (38 or 39 bp each) in the sequences. Comparison of the 602-bp sequences showed four sites of transitional mutations (A↔G or C↔T). Based on combination of the substitutions, six D -loop haplotypes (a–f types) were identified in the Hokkaido population, suggesting the occurrence of at least six maternal lineages. Distribution maps of the haplotypes constructed using the Geographic Information System showed that the distribution patterns differed from haplotype to haplotype. In particular, distribution of the major three types (a-, b-, and c-types) almost overlapped with three main areas of coniferous forests in Hokkaido. These results suggest that expansion of the sika deer population could have occurred through the habitat of coniferous forests after the historical bottleneck in Hokkaido.     

Molecular Evidence that Phylogenetically Diverged Ciliates Are Active in Microbial Mats of Deep-Sea Cold-Seep Sediment

ABSTRACT. Cold seeps are areas of the seafloor where hydrogen sulfide- and methane-rich fluid seepage occurs, often sustaining chemosynthetic ecosystems. It is well known that both archaea and bacteria oxidize sulfides and methane to produce chemical energy and that several endemic animals use this energy to thrive in cold seeps. On the other hand, there is little knowledge regarding diversity and ecology of microbial eukaryotes in this ecosystem. In this study we isolated environmental RNA and DNA from microbial mats of cold-seep sediment in Sagami Bay, Japan, and retrieved eukaryotic small-subunit ribosomal RNA sequences with polymerase chain reaction methods followed by clone library construction. Most RNA-derived clones obtained were from ciliates, although DNA-derived clones were mainly from the fungus Cryptococcus curvatus , suggesting that ciliates are active in the environment. The ciliate sequences were phylogenetically diverse, and represented eight known class lineages as well as undesignated lineages. Because most ciliates are bacterivorous, it is highly likely that the ciliates for which sequences were recovered play a role in the food web of this ecosystem as grazers of microbial mats. In addition, given that the environment studied is under highly reduced (anoxic) conditions, based on the prokaryotic community structure deduced from T-RFLP profiles, the ciliates detected may be obligatory or facultative anaerobes.     

Haemoglobin Rainier : β145 (HC2) Tyrosine→Cysteine and Haemoglobin Bethesda: β145 (HC2) Tyrosine → Histidine

A biochemical analysis of the structural abnormalities of haemoglobins Bethesda and Rainier has located them in a dipeptide of the β-chains.     

Cold hardiness and sugar content in photo‐insensitive individuals of the cotton bollworm Helicoverpa armigera

Abstract A proportion of Helicoverpa armigera collected from fields in Okayama Prefecture (Western Japan; 34.6°N, 134.1°E) does not enter diapause when reared under a short days at 20 °C during the larval stages. However, diapause in such photo‐insensitive individuals can be induced when they are reared at moderately low temperatures, such as 15 °C, regardless of photoperiod. To determine whether such photo‐insensitive individuals can survive overwintering in fields, the present study compares the cold hardiness and sugar content between nondiapausing and diapausing pupae of photo‐insensitive individuals selected over several generations at 20 °C under a short day photoperiod (LD 10 : 14 h). Diapausing and nondiapausing pupae are obtained under the short days by rearing at 15 and 20 °C, respectively, during larval and pupal stages. These pupae are stepwise acclimated at a reduction of 5 °C every 5 days to 0 °C. Maximum survival periods of nondiapausing and diapausing pupae at 0 °C are approximately 30 and 90 days, respectively. Trehalose content in diapausing pupae increases, reaches a maximum level (1.95 mg 100 mg^?1 in males and 2.1 mg 100 mg^?1 in females) 28 days after exposure to 0 °C and then decreases. On the other hand, glucose content in diapausing pupae increases (maximum level: 0.32 mg 100 mg^?1 in males and 0.21 mg 100 mg^?1 in females) with decreasing trehalose content 42 days after exposure to 0°C. The decrease in trehalose content and the increase in glucose content may be linked to termination of diapause in H. armigera. These results suggest that, in Japan, the photo‐insensitive individuals can only survive in the mild winters of southern regions, and not in the severe winters of northern regions.     

New Species of Meconopsis （Papaveraceae） from Laojun Shan and Yao Shan, Northern Yunnan, China

Two new species,Meconopsis muscicola and M.yaoshanensis (Papaveraceae),are described and characterized.Differences separating them from similar species are discussed and photos showing their diagnostic...     

Herpetomonas mariadeanei sp. n. (Protozoa,Trypanosomatidae) from Muscina stabulans (Falléen, 1816) (Diptera,Muscidae)*

SYNOPSIS. A trypanosomatid flagellate was isolated from the musciod fly Muscina stabulans (Fallén). Cloned cultures of this organism contained promastigotes, opisthomastigotes, and froms containing a long flagellum doubled or coiled within the cell but not protruding outside. These latter forms we are designating endomastigotes. The presence of these hitherto underscribed endomastigotes along with other morphologic and growth characteristics suggest that this is a new species for which the name Herpetomonas mariadeanei is proposed.     

Isolation and characterization of the 337 m{micro} UV-absorbing substance in red alga, Porphyra yezoensis UEDA

Using a variety of Sephadex gel filtrations, starch block zoneelectrophoresis, Avicel SF preparative TLC and DEAE cellulosecolumn chromatography, the characteristic 337 mµ UV-absorbingsubstance from marine red alga, Porphyra yezoensis UEDA wasisolated. The molecular weight of this substance was about 1,000,and its chemical composition was 43.11% C, 5.85% H, 7.23% N,34.73% O and 9.08% Na. In vivo it is located in the chloroplast.On irradiation at 378 mµ, it has a fluorescence actionspectrum peak at 470 mµ. Structural studies on this substanceare still underway, but it could be a kind of aminosugar judgingfrom NMR, IR spectra and other chemical properties. ¹This work was partially supported by the grant of the Ministryof Education in 1969 ²Present address: Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics,University of Hawaii, Honolulu, Hawaii 96822, U.S.A. (Received December 21, 1969; )