Ex situ transportation of coral larvae for research,conservation, and aquaculture

Due to the lack of appropriate methods to transport high amounts of larvae ex situ over large distances, the availability of coral larvae was so far mainly limited to their place of origin. For a research project at Rotterdam Zoo, The Netherlands, we transported several thousand larvae of three broadcast spawners (Acropora tenuis, A. digitifera, Diploria strigosa) from the Indo Pacific and the Caribbean to Europe. Beside logistics and packing techniques, post-transport survival rates were mainly influenced by larvae density and transport duration. Our results indicate optimum survival rates of >90% at densities of 4 larvae ml⁻¹ when not exceeding a transportation time of 4 days. The ex situ transport of coral larvae over large distances might offer new possibilities for research, conservation, and aquaculture.     

Developmental changes in the embryo, pronymph, and first molt of the scorpion Centruroides vittatus (scorpiones: buthidae)

For the first time the scanning electron microscope was used to compare developmental changes in scorpion embryos and the first and second stadia. In the buthid species of this study, Centruroides vittatus, and all other scorpions, the newborn climb up on their mother's back and remain there without feeding for several days. At this location, they undergo their first molt and in a few days they disperse, fully capable of foraging in the terrestrial environment. The results here support earlier suggestions that the first stadium (pronymph) is a continuation and extension of embryological development. The first molt results in a nymph with exoskeletal features much like those in the adult. In the first molt the metasoma becomes relatively longer, and the sting (aculeus) becomes sharp and functional. The metasomal segments are modified for dorsal flexion and sting use. The embryos and the pronymphs have spiracles that open into an invagination near the posterior margin of flap-like abdominal plates in segments 4-7 of the ventral mesosoma. The second instars have spiracles that lead to book lungs farther anterior in sternites. Tubular legs with cylindrical segments in embryos and pronymphs become more sculptured and oval in the transverse plane. Each leg in the pronymph has a blunt, cup-shaped tip while distal claws (ungues, dactyl) are present in the second instar and subsequent stages. There are some sharp bristles and primordial sensilla in the pronymphs, but the second stadium has adult-like surface features: rows of knobs or granulations (carinae), serrations on the inner surfaces of cheliceral and pedipalpal claws, filtering hairs at the mouthparts, peg sensilla on the pectines, and mechano- and chemoreceptor sensilla on the body and appendages. Scorpion embryos and pronymphs have some structures like fossil scorpions thought to have been aquatic. There is a gradual development of features that appear to be terrestrial adaptations. Evidence is provided for the formation of the sternum from third and fourth leg coxal primordia and possibly from the first abdominal segment. This study is the first to provide evidence for a forward shift of the gonopore along with other structures in the anterior abdomen.     

Identification of spawning sites and natural nurseries of fishes in the upper Paraná River,Brazil

Synopsis We studied the timing of migratory fish spawning in the last dam-free stretch of the upper Paraná River and in Itaipu Reservoir. Eggs were more common in the Amambai and Ivaï Rivers, while larvae predominated in the Paraná River and in Itaipu Reservoir. Both eggs and larvae were more abundant at night. The highest abundance of eggs was in October and that of larvae in November. Migratory species predominated in the Amambai and Paraná Rivers, and non-migratory species in the Ivaï River and Itaipu Reservoir. The predominance of eggs in the upper and middle portions, and larvae in the lower, infer that there are spawning sites in the former and nurseries in the latter. The high nocturnal abundance of eggs is associated with spawning at sunset and that of larvae with feeding, avoidance of predators and nocturnal disorientation. The presence of tributaries such as the Amambai and Ivaí Rivers in the last dam-free stretch of the Paraná River is extremely important to the maintenance of regional fish diversity and fish stocks in both the Paraná River and Itaipu Reservoir.     

Diel drift of Chironomidae larvae in a pristine Idaho mountain stream

Simultaneous hourly net collections in a meadow and canyon reach of a mountain stream determined diel and spatial abundances of drifting Chironomidae larvae. Sixty-one taxa were identified to the lowest practical level, 52 in the meadow and 41 in the canyon. Orthocladiinae was the most abundant subfamily with 32 taxa and a 24 h mean density of 294 individuals 100 m⁻³ (meadow) and 26 taxa and a mean of 648 individuals 100 m⁻³ (canyon). Chironominae was the second most abundant subfamily. Nonchironomid invertebrates at both sites and total Chironomidae larvae (meadow) were predominantly night-drifting. Parakiefferiella and Psectrocladius were day-drifting (meadow) whereas 8 other chironomid taxa (meadow) and 2 taxa (canyon) were night-drifting. All others were aperiodic or too rare to test periodicity, Stempellinella cf brevis Edwards exhibited catastrophic drift in the canyon only. The different drift patterns between sites is attributed to greater loss of streambed habitat in the canyon compared to the meadow as streamflow decreased. Consequent crowding of chironomid larvae in the canyon caused catastrophic drift or interfered with drift periodicty. This study adds to knowledge of Chironomidae drift and shows influences on drift of hydrologic and geomorphic conditions.     

Identification of β integrin‐like‐ and fibronectin‐like proteins in the bivalve mollusk Mytilus trossulus

Integrins play a key role in the intermediation and coordination between cells and extracellular matrix components. In this study, we first determined the presence of the β integrin‐like protein and its presumptive ligand, fibronectin‐like protein, during development and in some adult tissues of the bivalve mollusc Mytilus trossulus. We found that β integrin‐like protein expression correlated with the development and differentiation of the digestive system in larvae. Besides the presence of β integrin‐like protein in the digestive epithelial larval cells, this protein was detected in the hemocytes and some adult tissues of M. trossulus. The fibronectin‐like protein was detected firstly at the blastula stage and later, the FN‐LP‐immunoreactive cells were scattered in the trochophore larvae. The fibronectin‐like protein was not expressed in the β integrin‐positive cells of either the veliger stage larvae or the adult mussel tissues and the primary hemocyte cell culture. Despite the β integrin‐ and fibronectin‐like proteins being expressed in different cell types of mussel larvae, we do not exclude the possibility of direct interaction between these two proteins during M. trossulus development or in adult tissues.     

Determining meteorological drivers of salt marsh mosquito peaks in tropical northern Australia

In northern Australia the northern salt marsh mosquito Aedes vigilax is a vector of Ross River virus and is an appreciable pest. A coastal wetland adjacent to Darwin's residential suburbs offers a favorable habitat for Ae. vigilax, and despite vigilant mosquito control efforts, peaks of Ae. vigilax occur in excess of 500/trap/night some months. To improve mosquito control for disease and nuisance biting to nearby residential areas, we sought to investigate meteorological drivers associated with these Ae. vigilax peaks. We fitted a cross‐sectional logistic regression model to weekly counts of female Ae. vigilax mosquitoes collected between July, 1998 and June, 2009 against variables, tide, rainfall, month, year, and larval control. Aedes vigilax peaks were associated with rainfall during the months September to November compared with January, when adjusted for larval control and tide. To maximize mosquito control efficiency, larval control should continue to be implemented after high tides and with increased emphasis on extensive larval hatches triggered by rainfall between September and November each year. This study reiterates the importance of monitoring and evaluating service delivery programs. Using statistical modelling, service providers can obtain solutions to operational problems using routinely collected data. These methods may be applicable in mosquito surveillance or control programs in other areas.     

Environmental influences on the replenishment of lizardfish (family Synodontidae) in Caribbean Panama

Lizardfish (family Synodontidae) are little studied despite their potentially important predatory role in epibenthic coral reef communities. The present study documented the temporal and spatial larval supply patterns of five Caribbean lizardfish species together with environmental variables (solar radiation, rainfall, water temperature, onshore-offshore winds, alongshore winds and wind-induced turbulence) to examine: (1) whether species within the same family respond differently to their developmental environment and (2) if larval supply in year-round warm waters is influenced by climatic changes. To address these questions, late-stage larvae of Synodus foetens, Synodus intermedius, Synodus poeyi, Saurida suspicio and Saurida brasiliensis were collected in replicate light traps in three different reef habitats (back-reef, lagoon and exposed) in the San Blas Archipelago, Panama, over 18 consecutive lunar months. Although replenishment of lizardfish occurred year-round, the temporal and spatial supply patterns were species-specific: S. foetens, S. intermedius and S. poeyi were most abundant during the dry season while S. suspicio and S. brasiliensis were most prevalent during the wet season. When seasons were analysed separately, water temperature explained 39 and 26% of the variance in light trap catches of S. foetens and S. intermedius, respectively, in the dry season while wind-induced turbulence accounted for 25% of the variability in S. suspicio and S. brasiliensis catches during the wet season. These findings stress the importance of analysing larval supply in conjunction with environmental data at a high taxonomic resolution to better understand the mechanisms that drive replenishment in reef systems at low latitudes.     

蝇蛆几丁低聚糖咀嚼片的调节血脂作用

研究和评价了蝇蛆几丁低聚糖咀嚼片的调节血脂作用及其安全性。将50只实验动物（大鼠）随机分为普通饲料对照组、高脂饲料对照组和3个实验组,实验组分别喂以不同剂量蝇蛆几丁低聚糖咀嚼片和高脂饲料。饲养28天后,分别测定大鼠血清总胆固醇（total cholesterol, TC）、血清总甘油三酯（triglyceride, TG）、血清高密度脂蛋白胆固醇（high density lipoprotein cholesterol, HDLC）的含量。用Horn's法对蝇蛆几丁低聚糖咀嚼片的急性毒性进行研究,连续观察7天,记录各组动物的中毒反应情况和死亡只数,计算咀嚼片对小鼠的半数致死剂量。同时对几丁低聚糖咀嚼片作了调节血脂的动物试验,研究结果表明,蝇蛆几丁低聚糖咀嚼片对大鼠血清总胆固醇、总甘油三酯有明显降低和对血清高密度脂蛋白胆固醇有明显稳定作用,具有辅助降血脂作用;对咀嚼片进行急性毒性实验表明,蝇蛆几丁低聚糖咀嚼片对小鼠的半数致死剂量大于10 g/kg·bw,提示其基本无毒。
     

沙棘木蠹蛾卵和幼虫空间分布的地统计学分析

沙棘木蠹蛾(H olcocerushippophaecolus Hua,Chou ,Fang et Chen)是近几年在内蒙古、辽宁、山西、宁夏和陕西等地大面积爆发的一种钻蛀性害虫,其危害发生在幼虫期,主要危害沙棘(H ippophae rhamnoidea)的根干部。为了有效地控制其危害,深入了解种群的空间结构,利用地统计学方法分析了两种受害程度不同的林分内沙棘木蠹蛾幼虫种群和重度受害林分内卵块的空间分布特性。结果表明:两种受害程度不同的林分内,沙棘木蠹蛾的危害具有显著差异,轻度受害林分内无虫样本所占的比例较大,达70 % ,而重度受害林分内不到2 0 % ;虫口密度在轻度受害林分内超过6头/株的只有6 .9% ,而重度受害林分内高达31.9%。根据全方向的变异函数曲线图分析得知:重度受害林分和轻度受害林分内幼虫种群的空间依赖范围分别为7.3m和87.4 18m,而局部空间连续性强度分别为0 .914和0 .178。重度受害林分内幼虫表现较强的空间聚集性,而轻度受害林分则表现为随机分布。在重度受害林分中,单株沙棘树上沙棘木蠹蛾卵块数量最多的为11个,最少的为1个,有卵株率达72 %。分别采用四种不同的理论模型来拟合卵块的实际变异曲线图,得知其全方向的变异函数曲线为指数型,空间依赖范围大小为3.6 m,局部空间连续性强度为0 .876 ,卵块在重度受害林分中呈现较强     

Catalytic convergence of manganese and iron lipoxygenases by replacement of a single amino Acid

Lipoxygenases (LOXs) contain a hydrophobic substrate channel with the conserved Gly/Ala determinant of regio- and stereospecificity and a conserved Leu residue near the catalytic non-heme iron. Our goal was to study the importance of this region (Gly(332), Leu(336), and Phe(337)) of a lipoxygenase with catalytic manganese (13R-MnLOX). Recombinant 13R-MnLOX oxidizes 18:2n-6 and 18:3n-3 to 13R-, 11(S or R)-, and 9S-hydroperoxy metabolites (～80-85, 15-20, and 2-3%, respectively) by suprafacial hydrogen abstraction and oxygenation. Replacement of Phe(337) with Ile changed the stereochemistry of the 13-hydroperoxy metabolites of 18:2n-6 and 18:3n-3 (from ～100% R to 69-74% S) with little effect on regiospecificity. The abstraction of the pro-S hydrogen of 18:2n-6 was retained, suggesting antarafacial hydrogen abstraction and oxygenation. Replacement of Leu(336) with smaller hydrophobic residues (Val, Ala, and Gly) shifted the oxygenation from C-13 toward C-9 with formation of 9S- and 9R-hydroperoxy metabolites of 18:2n-6 and 18:3n-3. Replacement of Gly(332) and Leu(336) with larger hydrophobic residues (G332A and L336F) selectively augmented dehydration of 13R-hydroperoxyoctadeca-9Z,11E,15Z-trienoic acid and increased the oxidation at C-13 of 18:1n-6. We conclude that hydrophobic replacements of Leu(336) can modify the hydroperoxide configurations at C-9 with little effect on the R configuration at C-13 of the 18:2n-6 and 18:3n-3 metabolites. Replacement of Phe(337) with Ile changed the stereospecific oxidation of 18:2n-6 and 18:3n-3 with formation of 13S-hydroperoxides by hydrogen abstraction and oxygenation in analogy with soybean LOX-1.