DELAYED COSTS OF AN INDUCED DEFENSE IN TADPOLES? MORPHOLOGY,HOPPING, AND DEVELOPMENT RATE AT METAMORPHOSIS

Models for the evolution of plasticity predict that individuals having phenotypes induced by exposure to enemies should experience relatively low fitness when enemies are absent. However, costs of induced phenotypes have been difficult to find in both plants and animals, perhaps because costs are expressed at later stages in the life cycle. We searched for delayed costs of an induced defense in larvae of the water frog Rana ridibunda, which exhibits strong phenotypic responses to predators. Tadpoles grew to metamorphosis in outdoor artificial ponds, in either the presence or absence of Aeshna dragonfly larvae confined within cages. We collected metamorphs at forelimb emergence, estimated their development rate until tail resorption was complete, and measured their body and leg shape and hopping performance. Development rate through metamorphosis reflects the duration of a transitional period during which metamorphs are especially vulnerable to predators, and hopping performance may reflect ability to escape predators. Froglets from the dragonfly treatment lost mass through metamorphosis significantly faster than those from predator-free ponds, but they resorbed their tails at about the same rate, despite the fact that their tails were relatively large to begin with. Froglets developing from predator-induced tadpoles had shorter, more muscular legs, and hopped 5% longer distances (difference not significant). Therefore, producing an induced defense against insect predators during the tadpole stage did not exact a cost during or immediately after metamorphosis; if anything, tadpoles with the predator-induced phenotype gave rise to more vigorous froglets. These results focus attention on other costs of the induced phenotype, as well as alternative explanations for plasticity that do not rely on direct fitness trade-offs.     

Ultrastructural and Protargol Studies of Lagenophrys callinectes* (Ciliophora: Peritrichida)

Ultrastructural and protargol studies reveal that the trophont of Lagenophrys callinectes, though highly specialized, generally conforms to the basic peritrich structural pattern. Features described for L. callinectes trophonts which are unique for the genus are the fine structure and arrangement of the lorica and lips, the attachment organelle of the peristomial cytoplasm, its attachment to the loricastome walls, and the arrangement of the aboral kinetosomes of the trophont. Lack of a distinct scopularized region, and of a ventral lorica wall also characterize L. callinectes trophonts. The 4-row terminal peniculus, as revealed by protargol staining, differs from the 6-row terminal peniculus of L. nassa suggesting that the patterns of infundibular structure, as revealed by protargol, should be useful in future taxonomic studies of Lagenophrys species.     

Muscular anatomy of the millipede Phyllogonostreptus nigrolabiatus (Diplopoda: Spirostreptida) and its bearing on the millipede "thorax"

The muscular anatomy of the millipede Phyllogonostreptus nigrolabiatus (Newport, 1844) (Diplopoda; Spirostreptida; Harpagophoridae) is comprehensively surveyed. The musculature of the first three postcollum pleurotergites, the "thorax," and their associated appendages was found to be more complex than that of the postthoracic rings. It is hypothesized that the musculature of the postthoracic segments is derived relative to that of the thoracic segments, which retain primitively free sternites and are not diplosegments. This hypothesis is discussed relative to previous hypotheses positing that the anteriormost three leg-bearing rings in millipedes are diplosegments. The musculature of spirostreptid gonopods is described in detail for the first time. Comparison of the cephalic musculature is made with previously described musculature in Julida showing that, while many aspects of the musculature are conserved, there exist interordinal differences, documenting the potential utility of comparative anatomical studies for resolving millipede phylogeny.     

Egorov’s narrow-skulled vole (Rodentia,Arvicolinae) from the Late Pleistocene of Eastern Siberia,a North American immigrant

A comparative study of the Late Pleistocene Egorov’s narrow-skulled vole from the Indigirka River basin is performed. The taxon was previously regarded as a subspecies of Microtus (Stenocranius) gregalis (Pallas, 1779). Based on a number of morphological characters, it is shown that this vole is closer to the American species Mynomes (Vocalomys) miurus (Osgood, 1901). It is proposed that Mynomes (V.) miurus egorovi (Fejgin in Baranova et Fejgin, 1980) penetrated into northeastern Siberia during the Zyryanian glacial.     

Pollen Morphology of Plants from the Hengduan Mountains and Their Ecological Significance

Pollen morphology of selected taxa from the Hengduan Mountains, Southwest China are investigated in the present study. Forty eight taxa (flowering in the summer, 46 species and 2 varieties) of 43 genera belonging to 27 families were observed by light and scanning electron microscopy. Pollen morphology is described in detail. Two pollen shapes are mainly found in these species: subprolate to prolate (271%) and prolate (25%). Spheroidal, subspheroidal to subprolate, suboblate and tetrad shapes can also be found in some species. Aperture type is mostly tricolporate, with a percentage of 438, and also contains tricolpate, pantoporate, stephanocolpate, 3 colporoid, 6 colpate, monocolpate. The most common ornamentation is finely reticulate, with a percentage of 50. Other exine ornamentations, such as coarsely reticulate, finely granulate, smooth, spinulose are also observed. The palynological documentation of these species will provide the modern palynological basis for paleopalynological studies of the Quaternary Strata. On the basis of pollen morphology characters, identification features of some species in the same families were discussed according to the results of cluster analysis used by SPSS. The ecological significance was also discussed based on the ecological properties of these taxa.     

Adaptive radiation with regard to nutrient sequestration strategies in the carnivorous plants of the genus Nepenthes

Carnivorous pitcher plants of the genus Nepenthes have evolved a great diversity of pitcher morphologies. Selective pressures for maximizing nutrient uptake have driven speciation and diversification of the genus in a process known as adaptive radiation. This leads to the evolution of pitchers adapted to specific and often bizarre source of nutrients, which are not strictly animal-derived. One example is Nepenthes ampullaria with unusual growth pattern and pitcher morphology what enables the plant to capture a leaf litter from the canopy above. We showed that the plant benefits from nitrogen uptake by increased rate of photosynthesis and growth what may provide competitive advantage over others co-habiting plants. A possible impact of such specialization toward hybridization, an important mechanism in speciation, is discussed.     

土体干缩裂缝研究进展

土体干缩裂缝的形成和发展是一个复杂的物理过程,会对土体的强度、稳定性和渗透性等产生影响,其影响范围广泛分布于土壤学、农业、工程地质和环境保护等学科.本文在明确土体干缩裂缝研究重要性的基础上,通过收集整理国内外有关土体干缩裂缝研究的既有文献资料,综述了土体干缩裂缝的理论研究、实用性研究以及裂缝形态定量分析研究,分析和讨论了土体干缩裂缝在研究领域、研究内容和研究方法方面的不足之处,并指出土体干缩裂缝的未来发展方向.     

Infloreszenz- und Blütenentwicklung bei der KugeldistelEchinops exaltatus (Asteraceae)

InEchinops the flowers are surrounded by several scales and initiated in an acropetal and spiral succession on a cone-like inflorescence axis (Figs. 1–6). The floral organs originate in the following sequence: petals—stamens—carpels—pappus. The petals arise from a meristematic rim and therefore are already interconnected when they arise as primordia. This sympetalous zone remains rather inconspicuous for a long period, but eventually, the elongated corolla tube is formed through intercalary growth in a ring zone. Thereby, the stamens are moved upwards and form ledges on the corolla tube (Fig. 34). In the inferior ovary the usual zones of the typical angiospermous gynoecium can be distinguished, namely a synascidiate, symplicate and hemisymplicate zone. The ovule is borne on carpellary tissue.

     

Macro- and microscopic morphology of the flank scales of families Lutjanidae and Serranidae from the Persian Gulf Coral Reefs (Teleosts: Perciformes)

Macro- and microscopic characteristics of flank scales for 12 species were investigated from the Persian Gulf Coral Reefs. In Lutjanus argentimaculatus and L. russellii (family Lutjanidae), the scales of different flank regions were not different, while four characters showed variation in the scale of L. lutjanus i.e., scale shape (pentagonal, hexagonal and square), anterior margin (waved, scalloped and smooth), focus shape (circular and oblong) and focus position (postero-central and central), displayed variation. Scale type (ctenoid) and posterior margin (transforming ctenii) did not show variation and could be considered to be specific in this family. In Epinephelus chlorostigma (family Serranidae), the scales of flank regions did not display variation, while in E. areolatus, E. diacanthus and E. radiates, the scales showed considerable variation. The most variable characters were scale shape, posterior margin and focus shape. Therefore, in fish systematics studies on the base of scale, it is particularly important to compare scales from the same flank regions. Also, some criteria such as size-dependent alternation, ontogenetic changes and variation between flank regions, should be considered. This study supports the potential of scale morphology to help for the understanding of fish diversity in the coral reef ecosystem.     

Dynamics of intracellular mannan and cell wall folding in the drought responses of succulent Aloe species

Plants have evolved a multitude of adaptations to survive extreme conditions. Succulent plants have the capacity to tolerate periodically dry environments, due to their ability to retain water in a specialized tissue, termed hydrenchyma. Cell wall polysaccharides are important components of water storage in hydrenchyma cells. However, the role of the cell wall and its polysaccharide composition in relation to drought resistance of succulent plants are unknown. We investigate the drought response of leaf‐succulent Aloe (Asphodelaceae) species using a combination of histological microscopy, quantification of water content, and comprehensive microarray polymer profiling. We observed a previously unreported mode of polysaccharide and cell wall structural dynamics triggered by water shortage. Microscopical analysis of the hydrenchyma cell walls revealed highly regular folding patterns indicative of predetermined cell wall mechanics in the remobilization of stored water and the possible role of homogalacturonan in this process. The in situ distribution of mannans in distinct intracellular compartments during drought, for storage, and apparent upregulation of pectins, imparting flexibility to the cell wall, facilitate elaborate cell wall folding during drought stress. We conclude that cell wall polysaccharide composition plays an important role in water storage and drought response in Aloe.