Spatio-temporal distribution of early life stages of the European anchovy Engraulis encrasicolus L. within a European temperate estuary with regulated freshwater inflow: effects of environmental variables

The spatio-temporal distribution of the anchovy Engraulis encrasicolus in its early life stages was related to environmental conditions within the Guadalquivir River estuary (south-west, Spain) by monthly field surveys during nine periods of recruitment (May 1997 to December 2005). Anchovy post-larvae showed a consistent seasonal pattern of abundance throughout the study period: each year, a high anchovy recruitment period (HARP) occurred from late May to November, with a main peak in July, coinciding with the period when environmental conditions were more stable. Results of stepwise multiple regression analysis indicates that density of its main prey, Mesopodopsis slabberi, explained 45% of total anchovy density variance. Furthermore, after removing the effect of this variable, interannual differences in the anchovy estuarine recruitment were not significant. Clear spatial and tidal trends were also observed for both prey and predator: at each sampling date, density decreased from the outer to inner estuary; at each sampling site, density was higher during ebbs than during floods. Field distributions related to environmental gradients during HARP indicated that the populations of E. encrasicolus and M. slabberi seemed to hold a steady position at a point on the salinity gradient by longitudinal displacement within the estuary. Since freshwater management actions affect the longitudinal position of the salinity gradient as well as the input of nutrients to the estuary and adjacent coastal areas, it is hypothesized that this factor may also be relevant to anchovy recruitment.     

Plantlet Regeneration from Leaf Protoplast cultures of Japanese Butterbur

Protoplasts were isolated by enzyme digestion from leaf of Japanese butterbur (Petasites japonicus). The enzyme incubation mixture consisted of 4% (W/V)cellulase RS, 2% (W/V) hemicellulase, 1% (W/V) pectinase-dissolved Y-23 and polygalacturonase in a solution of 0. 5 mol/L mannitol at pH 5.7 . In the basic medium of 1/4 MS inorganic salts and 1/2 MS vitamins supplemented with 2 mg/L NAA, 0. 2–0. 5 mg/L BA, 0. 5 mol/L mannitol and 10 g/L sucrose, the cells divided luxuriantly. Regenerated plantlets were formed from callus after bud induction and root initiation.     

Differences in growth rates among cohorts of Encrasicholina punctifer and Engraulis japonicus larvae in the coastal waters off Tanshui River Estuary, Taiwan, as indicated by otolith microstructure analysis

The hatching dates of Encrasicholina punctifer and Engraulis japonicus larvae collected in the coastal waters off Tanshui River Estuary during the fishing seasons of 1992 and 1993 indicated that these two anchovies had protracted spawning seasons, which resulted in multiple recruitment cohorts. Encrasicholina punctifer larvae recruited to the estuary from October to March, while the majority of E. japonicus larvae came in March-May and to a lesser extent in October and November. The E. punctifer larvae on arrival to the estuary were 17·4–35·6 mm in length, 167ndash;89 days old and had growth rates of 0·4–1·0 mm day⁻¹, E. japonicus larvae were 12·1–32·7 mm in length, 19–62 days old and had growth rates of 0·7–0·9 mm day⁻¹. Growth rates were significantly different among cohorts and positively correlated to water temperature.     

两种海马鳃组织和消化道的黏液细胞类型及分布

运用阿新兰(AB,pH 2.6)和过碘酸雪夫氏(PAS)反应染色方法,对三斑海马(Hippocampus trimaculatus)和日本海马(H.japonicus)鳃组织与消化道中的黏液细胞类型及分布进行了研究。染色结果显示:两种海马的鳃组织和消化道中均含有黏液细胞,日本海马的鳃组织中含有Ⅰ型和Ⅳ型黏液细胞,三斑海马的鳃组织中含有Ⅰ型、Ⅲ型和Ⅳ型黏液细胞。两种海马消化道各部位的黏液细胞类型和数量有明显差异:日本海马的食道中Ⅰ型细胞最多,而三斑海马的食道中Ⅳ型细胞最多;日本海马的前肠中只含有Ⅰ型细胞,而三斑海马的前肠中含有Ⅰ型、Ⅲ型和Ⅳ型细胞,其中Ⅰ型细胞含量最多;日本海马的中肠中含有Ⅰ型、Ⅲ型和Ⅳ型细胞,其中Ⅲ型细胞含量最多,而三斑海马中肠中只含有Ⅰ型细胞;日本海马与三斑海马的后肠中都分布有Ⅰ型、Ⅱ型、Ⅲ型和Ⅳ型细胞,两者不同的是,日本海马的后肠中Ⅲ型细胞含量最多,三斑海马的后肠中Ⅳ型细胞含量最多。     

Effect of increased pCO2 in seawater on survival rate of different developmental stages of the harpacticoid copepod Tigriopus japonicus

The rapid increase in carbon dioxide levels in seawater is causing ocean acidification and is expected to have significant effects on marine life. To explore the ability of the harpacticoid copepod Tigriopus japonicus to adapt to an increased concentration of dissolved carbon dioxide (CO₂) in seawater, we compared the survival rates of adult and nauplius stages at 400, 1000, and 1550?ppm pCO₂ over a 14-day period. The survival rate of T. japonicus dramatically decreased over time with increase in pCO₂ concentration. At 1550?ppm, the survival rate showed a decrease of more than 20% at the end of the experimental period over that at 400?ppm. Furthermore, the survival rate decreased by a greater amount at all concentrations in nauplii than in adults, with a greater effect in wild-collected specimens than in culture-derived individuals. The results suggest that future ocean acidification may negatively influence the sustainability of T. japonicus and thus may eventually influence benthic ecosystems.     

Nod Factor/Nitrate-Induced CLE Genes that Drive HAR1-Mediated Systemic Regulation of Nodulation

Host legumes control root nodule numbers by sensing externaland internal cues. A major external cue is soil nitrate, whereasa feedback regulatory system in which earlier formed nodulessuppress further nodulation through shoot–root communicationis an important internal cue. The latter is known as autoregulationof nodulation (AUT), and is believed to consist of two long-distancesignals: a root-derived signal that is generated in infectedroots and transmitted to the shoot; and a shoot-derived signalthat systemically inhibits nodulation. In Lotus japonicus, theleucine-rich repeat receptor-like kinase, HYPERNODULATION ABERRANTROOT FORMATION 1 (HAR1), mediates AUT and nitrate inhibitionof nodulation, and is hypothesized to recognize the root-derivedsignal. Here we identify L. japonicus CLE-Root Signal 1 (LjCLE-RS1)and LjCLE-RS2 as strong candidates for the root-derived signal.A hairy root transformation study shows that overexpressingLjCLE-RS1 and -RS2 inhibits nodulation systemically and, furthermore,that the systemic suppression depends on HAR1. Moreover, LjCLE-RS2expression is strongly up-regulated in roots by nitrate addition.Based on these findings, we propose a simple model for AUT andnitrate inhibition of nodulation mediated by LjCLE-RS1, -RS2peptides and the HAR1 receptor-like kinase.     

Amphibian chytridiomycosis in Japan: distribution,haplotypes and possible route of entry into Japan

A serious disease of amphibians caused by the chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis was first found in Japan in December 2006 in imported pet frogs. This was the first report of chytridiomycosis in Asia. To assess the risk of pandemic chytridiomycosis to Japanese frogs, we surveyed the distribution of the fungus among captive and wild frog populations. We established a nested PCR assay that uses two pairs of PCR primers to amplify the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of a ribosomal RNA cassette to detect mild fungal infections from as little as 0.001 pg (1 fg) of B. dendrobatidis DNA. We collected swab samples from 265 amphibians sold at pet shops, 294 bred at institutes and 2103 collected at field sites from northern to southwestern Japan. We detected infections in native and exotic species, both in captivity and in the field. Sequencing of PCR products revealed 26 haplotypes of the B. dendrobatidis ITS region. Phylogenetic analysis showed that three of these haplotypes were specific to the Japanese giant salamander (Andrias japonicus) and appeared to have established a commensal relationship with this native amphibian. Many other haplotypes were carried by alien amphibians. The highest genetic diversity of B. dendrobatidis was found in the American bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana). Some strains of B. dendrobatidis appeared to be endemic to Japanese native amphibians, but many alien strains are being introduced into Japan via imported amphibians. To improve chytridiomycosis risk management, we must consider the risk of B. dendrobatidis changing hosts as a result of anthropogenic disturbance of the host‐specific distribution of the fungus.     

仿刺参多糖抗肿瘤及对荷瘤小鼠免疫调节作用

目的 观察仿刺参多糖(AJPS)抗肿瘤及免疫调节作用.方法 采用MTT法检测AJPS对人肝癌HepG-2细胞抑制率;以Hca-F肝癌小鼠为模型,采用MTT法、放免法测定荷瘤小鼠细胞免疫指标.结果 AJPS抑制HepG-2细胞生长,抑制小鼠移植瘤生长;增强脾淋巴细胞和巨噬细胞活性,促进TNF-α和IL-2的产生.结论 AJPS具有对HepG-2细胞的直接杀伤作用;AJPS对荷瘤小鼠有免疫调节活性,在肿瘤的免疫治疗中发挥作用.     

麦冬维管束个数观察

目的:观察麦冬维管束个数,为其鉴别提供依据.方法:对样品进行冷冻切片,用间苯三酚-浓盐酸(1:1)染色,统计维管束个数.结果:49批次样品中,28批次中出现维管束多于22个,最多达26个.结论:本结果可为麦冬的显微鉴别提供参考.     

New polymorphic microsatellite loci for population studies in the European anchovy, Engraulis encrasicolus (L.)

Eleven microsatellite loci were developed in the European anchovy, Engraulis encrasicolus, and tested in samples from two geographically distant populations (Atlantic and Mediterranean Sea). Number of alleles ranged from eight to 28 and observed heterozygosity from 0.440 to 0.920. There was no evidence of linkage disequilibrium, although two loci are indeed linked. All loci were in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, except for one locus in the Atlantic and two loci in the Mediterranean sample. These three loci plus two more showed evidence for null alleles.