Comparative ecology of sexual and asexual gecko species (Lepidodactylus) in French Polynesia

Summary The asexual geckoLepidodactylus lugubris, its sexual congenerL. sp. (Takapoto) and hybrids between the two species inhabit the atoll of Takapoto, providing a natural experiment for studying co-existence and interactions between asexual and sexual populations. The range of the sexual species is confined to one section of the lagoon beach and the trees and buildings which abut it, whereas the asexual is distributed across the whole atoll and occupies many habitats. Behavioural experiments revealed no asymmetry in levels of aggression between the two species, suggesting that the confinement ofL. sp. (Takapoto) to the lagoon beach is not due to agonistic interactions. Ecological differences among the constituent clones of the asexual species exist but cannot completely account for the broader habitat use of the asexual. Within a single habitat, one clone ofL. lugubris consumes a wider range of prey items than its sexual relative. Other studies have found that the asexuals are extremely heterozygous relative to the sexuals; we hypothesize that their broad ecological tolerance may be attributable to heterosis. The co-existence of the sexual and parthenogenetic lizards on this small island seems to be stable and may be facilitated by the specialization of the sexual taxon to beach habitats.     

IUCN classification zones concord with, but underestimate, the population genetic structure of the zebra shark Stegostoma fasciatum in the Indo-West Pacific

The Indo-West Pacific (IWP), from South Africa in the western Indian Ocean to the western Pacific Ocean, contains some of the most biologically diverse marine habitats on earth, including the greatest biodiversity of chondrichthyan fishes. The region encompasses various densities of human habitation leading to contrasts in the levels of exploitation experienced by chondrichthyans, which are targeted for local consumption and export. The demersal chondrichthyan, the zebra shark, Stegostoma fasciatum , is endemic to the IWP and has two current regional International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List classifications that reflect differing levels of exploitation: 'Least Concern' and 'Vulnerable'. In this study, we employed mitochondrial ND4 sequence data and 13 microsatellite loci to investigate the population genetic structure of 180 zebra sharks from 13 locations throughout the IWP to test the concordance of IUCN zones with demographic units that have conservation value. Mitochondrial and microsatellite data sets from samples collected throughout northern Australia and Southeast Asia concord with the regional IUCN classifications. However, we found evidence of genetic subdivision within these regions, including subdivision between locations connected by habitat suitable for migration. Furthermore, parametric F _ST analyses and Bayesian clustering analyses indicated that the primary genetic break within the IWP is not represented by the IUCN classifications but rather is congruent with the Indonesian throughflow current. Our findings indicate that recruitment to areas of high exploitation from nearby healthy populations in zebra sharks is likely to be minimal, and that severe localized depletions are predicted to occur in zebra shark populations throughout the IWP region.     

新疆北塔山雪豹对秋季栖息地的选择

2004年9~10月,对新疆北塔山地区雪豹(Unicaunica)栖息地选择进行了调查。在选定的15条样带上测定了59个利用样方及30个任意样方的6种生境特征(海拔、地形、植被类型、生境平坦度、放牧状况和坡向),其结果如下:Vanderploeg和Scavia选择指数表明:雪豹对海拔、地形、植被类型、生境平坦度和坡向存在选择性:(1)雪豹偏好利用海拔2000~2200m,而避开2600~3000m区域;(2)倾向于悬崖底部和山嵴,避开山坡和山谷;(3)偏好于灌丛,避开森林;(4)避开平坦的开阔地;(5)倾向于选择非放牧区域活动;(6)倾向于选择北坡,避开南坡。对生境特征的主成分分析显示:前3个主成分(海拔、地形和植被类型)的累积贡献率达到75·76%,可以反映雪豹的栖息地特征,同时表明:影响雪豹栖息地选择的主要因素依次为放牧状况、植被类型、地形和生境平坦度。     

Thermal variability in body temperature in an ectotherm: Are cloacal temperatures good indicators of tortoise body temperature?

Historically, studies of reptilian thermal biology have compared ambient temperatures (T_a) to body temperatures (T_b) from the animal under study, with T_b usually taken from the cloaca and various instruments being used to measure T_b. The advent of surgically implanted miniature temperature loggers has offered the opportunity to test the efficacy of cloacal T_b as a measurement in thermoregulatory studies. We expected that there was a difference between skin, cloacal, and core T_b's. Temperatures were measured from various positions on leopard tortoises (Stigmochelys pardalis) using thermocouples and miniature temperature loggers, including surgically implanted temperature loggers. Measurements of temperature from various positions on and in the tortoise were significantly different from T_a. Cloacal T_b's were significantly lower than all other body temperatures measured, and core T_b's were significantly different from cloacal T_b, skin and carapace temperatures. In addition, significant differences were found between measures of temperature from other parts of the body. The variations between core T_b, cloacal T_b and other measures of T_b indicated that there are large thermal gradients within the body of a relatively large tortoise at any given time with cloacal T_b not an accurate measure of core T_b.     

High-resolution X-ray computed tomography of an Early Cretaceous gekkonomorph (Squamata) from Öösh (Övörkhangai; Mongolia)

We describe the braincase of AMNH FR 21444, a gecko-like squamate from the Early Cretaceous of Mongolia, based on high-resolution X-ray computed tomography scans (CT scans) and incorporate it in a phylogenetic analysis of 36 squamate taxa scored for 226 morphological characters. Our analysis corroborates the Eublepharidae-Gekkonoidea split as the basal gekkotan dichotomy, but retrieves Teratoscincus as the sister-taxon to pygopodines + diplodactylines. The combination of plesiomorphic and apomorphic character states within AMNH FR 21444 demonstrates a decoupled evolutionary history between the braincase and the rest of the skull and mandible within gekkonomorph squamates. Enclosure of the lateral head vein and mandibular branch of the trigeminal nerve are both plesiomorphic for gekkonomorphs. The mechanisms responsible for the transition from the plesiomorphic skull roof of basal gekkonomorphs to the modern gekkotan condition cannot be anticipated given the current data.     

中药材蛤蚧的特异性PCR鉴定

以线粒体Cytb、COI、12SrRNA、16SrRNA基因序列为基础,探讨特异性PCR技术鉴定蛤蚧及伪品的可行性。本研究以所扩增的16条COI序列为引物设计依据序列设计了1对位点特异性引物COISF,COISR,同时从Gen-Bank上下载30条序列,设计了CytbSF,CytbSR;16S rRNASF,16S rRNASR;12S rRNASF,12S rRNASR另外3对位点特异性引物,因此共用4对位点特异性引物分别扩增蛤蚧及伪品实验样本。结果表明在复性温度为65℃时,4对引物都出现了理想的结果,即蛤蚧正品出现了扩增条带,而伪品没有扩增条带。同时对市售的蛤蚧商品进行了检测,在所供的7号标本中,有4号为蛤蚧正品,其余3号为蛤蚧伪品。本研究所设计的位点特异性引物可快捷、准确的鉴定蛤蚧及伪品,且在药检工作中具有极大的应用前景。     

Morphological differentiation correlates with ecological but not with genetic divergence in a Gehyra gecko

Body size affects life history, the ecological niche of an organism and its interactions with other organisms. Resultantly, marked differences in body size between related organisms are often an indication of a species boundary. This is particularly evident in the Gehyra variegata species complex of geckos, which displays differential body sizes between genetically divergent species, but high levels of intraspecific morphological conservatism. We report on a Gehyra population that displays extraordinary body size differentiation in comparison with other G. variegata species. We used morphological and environmental data to show this population is phenotypically and ecologically distinct from its parapatric congener Gehyra lazelli and that morphology and ecology are significantly correlated. Contrastingly, mtDNA analysis indicates paraphyly between the two groups, and allele frequencies at six microsatellite loci show no population structure concordant with morpho‐/ecotype. These results suggest either ecological speciation or environmentally induced phenotypic polymorphism, in an otherwise morphologically conservative group.