RESURRECTION OF MESOPLODON TRAVERSII (GRAY, 1874), SENIOR SYNONYM OF M. BAHAMONDI REYES, VAN WAEREBEEK, CÁRDENAS AND YÁÑEZ, 1995 (CETACEA: ZIPHIIDAE)

Mesoplodon traversii (Gray, 1874) is shown to be a senior synonym of the recently described beaked whale Mesoplodon hahamondi Reyes et al. , 1995 on the basis of a phylogenetic analysis of mitochondrial DNA control region sequences. The mandible and teeth of M. traversii , first reported in 1873 by Hector as Dolichodon layardii . are redescribed. The species can be distinguished by features of the calvaria; including the large jugal, broad rostrum, and small distance between premaxillary foramina. The male teeth, which are large and spade-shaped with a strong terminal denticle, are also diagnostic. M. traversii is known only from Pitt Island and White Island, New Zealand and Robinson Crusoe Island, Juan Fernandez Archipelago, Chile.     

Fractal dimension analysis and mathematical morphology of structural changes in actin filaments imaged by electron microscopy

In this work, we examined structural changes of actin filaments interacting with myosin visualized by quick freeze deep-etch replica electron microscopy (EM) by using a new method of image processing/analysis based on mathematical morphology.In order to quantify the degree of structural changes, two characteristic patterns were extracted from the EM images. One is the winding pattern of the filament shape (WP) reflecting flexibility of the filament, and the other is the surface pattern of the filament (SP) reflecting intra-molecular domain-mobility of actin monomers constituting the filament. EM images were processed by morphological filtering followed by box-counting to calculate the fractal dimensions for WP (D_WP) and SP (D_SP). The result indicates that D_WP was larger than D_SP irrespective of the state of the filament (myosin-free or bound) and that both parameters for myosin-bound filaments were significantly larger than those for myosin-free filaments. Overall, this work provides the first quantitative insight into how conformational disorder of actin monomers is correlated with the myosin-induced increase in flexibility of actin filaments along their length as suggested by earlier studies with different techniques. Our method is yet to be improved in details, but promising as a powerful tool for studying the structural change of protein molecules and their assemblies, which can potentially be applied to a wide range of biological and biomedical images.     

中国小香菇属新记录种

报道了小香菇属2个中国新记录种,即耳状小香菇Lentinellus auricula和海狸色小香菇 Lentinellus castoreus,并确认粗毛小香菇 Lentinellus vulpinus在中国的分布。对上述3种进行了详尽的形态学描述并提供特征线条图,编写中国小香菇属Lentinellus已知种分种检索表。     

铝胁迫对入侵植物北美车前生长特性和生物量分配的影响

探讨了铝胁迫对入侵植物北美车前生长特性和生物量分配的影响.结果表明:低浓度( 100 mg/L)的铝胁迫处理对北美车前的生长无显著影响,高浓度(2 000 mg/L)使植株叶片数减少、叶面积变小;短时间高浓度铝胁迫促进北美车前的抽穗数,长时间(30 d)铝胁迫处理后穗生长受到抑制,这种抑制作用在高浓度铝胁迫处理下表现尤...     

海南发现新入侵害虫——橘绵粉虱Aleurothrixus floccosus(Maskell)

橘绵粉虱是一种危险性的入侵生物,已于2018年11月在我国海南文昌的番石榴上发现。本文记述了橘绵粉虱各虫态的形态特征、野外鉴别特征,并列出了其分布及重要寄主植物,附有彩色生态照片。由于橘绵粉虱是柑橘类的重要害虫,具有向中国大陆扩散的可能性,我国南方柑橘产区应密切关注此虫动态。     

Intra‐ and interclonal phenotypic and genetic variability of the trematode Maritrema novaezealandensis

Explaining the origin and maintenance of phenotypic variation remains a central challenge in evolutionary biology. Using the trematode parasite Maritrema novaezealandensis, we examined variability in several morphological, behavioural, and physiological phenotypic traits at the same time as controlling for genotype by using genetically identical parasite clonal lineages. We measured several morphological traits, photoreactive responses, and survivorship to quantify the amount of phenotypic variation within and among 42 clonal parasite lines. Additionally, we tested Lerner's hypothesis that homozygotes are more variable than heterozygotes and assessed correlations between heterozygosity and phenotypic variation among clones. We found substantial differences among clones in morphology, photoreactive behaviour, and survivorship, yet no significant differences among clones in levels of intraclonal phenotypic variability were seen. Although the results demonstrate that conspecific trematode clones have significantly different levels of phenotypic variability, consistent differences over time were not always apparent. Finally, no correlation was found between heterozygosity and phenotypic variation among clones and the pattern of highly variable homozygotes, as observed by Lerner, was not evident in the present study. © 2011 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2011, 103 , 106–116.     

Four new species of the Australian Pamborus Latreille (Coleoptera, Carabidae) carabid beetles

Abstract  Based on an examination of the type specimens of all the known species of the genus Pamborus Latrielle (Coleoptera, Carabidae) four new Australian species are recognised and are described as: P. euopacus sp. n., P. moorei sp. n., P. monteithi sp. n and P. cooloolensis sp. n. In addition, Pamborus viridis Gory, P. opacus Géhin and P. subtropicus Darlington are also redescribed based on the type material and lectotypes are designated for the first two species.     

On the cicada genus Nipponosemia Kato,with description of one new species from China (Hemiptera,?Cicadidae)

The cicada genus Nipponosemia Kato is reviewed. Four species are illustrated, photographed and described, including three known species and one new species. A key to all species of this genusis presented, and information on the biology of Nipponosemia are provided. The systematic status of the tribe Cicadatrini and biogeography of Nipponosemia are discussed.     

柑橘凤蝶蛹发声器的显微结构及防御作用(英文)

【目的】动物界存在多种用于对抗捕食者的防御机制。一些鳞翅目昆虫的蛹在受到机械刺激时会发出蠕动的声音。【方法】在扫描电镜下对柑橘凤蝶Papilio xuthus蛹的发声器形态特征进行观察,并使用Audacity软件对捕获的声音进行特征分析。【结果】柑橘凤蝶蛹在腹部第4-5节和第5-6节之间的节间膜上存在发声器,有规律地发出嘶嘶声。发声器由多层甲壳素构成的刮器和板组成,刮器和板上有 50~90个突起。当蛹的腹部被寄生蜂触角刺激30 s以上时,刮器和板会迅速相互摩擦,腹部反复摆动发出声音。蛹发出的声音是由一系列每2 000~3 000 ms发生3次的短脉冲组成的。频带很宽,主要分布在5~20kHz范围内。新鲜蛹和越冬蛹的活性不同,声强也不同。【结论】本研究首先描述了柑橘蝴蝶蛹发声器的结构,结果支持了一些蝴蝶蛹对寄生生物进化出一种特殊的防御机制(声学防御)的假说。此外,通过比较两种生境的柑橘凤蝶蛹的声波特征,我们提出了同一物种在不同地理区域可以产生方言的假说。 关键词: