Topological persistency found in aggregations of coastal sea skater,Halobates japonicus Esaki, 1924 (Hemiptera: Gerridae), based on genetic relationships amongst three aggregations in Ishigaki Island,Japan

Sea skaters, genus Halobates Eschscholtz, 1822, are the only marine insects living in mangrove beds and the tide pools of coral reefs, both of which provide dramatically variable habitats daily by virtue of tide-driven changes in surface level. Females of H. japonicus Esaki, 1924 were collected from three distinct aggregations in a single bay (24°27′5″N, 124°8′40″E) on 1–5 November 2006. Two aggregations were formed in respective tide pools of the coral reef and one was formed in the mangrove beds. Amplified fragment length polymorphism markers were used to detect the persistency of each aggregation at a mesoscale. The results suggested that H. japonicus repeatedly immigrated from outside the bay to establish a meta-population of several deme groups. Aggregations along the coastline had some persistency to the line itself and had little tendency to cross to the opposite shore, even when the distance was short.     

复合微生态制剂对幼刺参营养成分和 酶活力的影响

目的研究复合微生态制剂对幼刺参体壁营养成分、几种消化酶和免疫酶活力的影响。方法在封闭式循环系统中投喂不同的微生态制剂进行30 d刺参养殖实验。结果投喂液态复合微生态制剂组和粉状复合微生态制剂组的刺参体壁的粗脂肪、总糖、粗蛋白含量最高,两组与对照组相比差异有统计学意义(Ps0.05)。添加微生态制剂的3个实验组刺参肠道蛋白酶、淀粉酶活力均比对照组高,且差异有统计学意义(Ps0.05)。实验组刺参的肠道、体壁、体液过氧化氢酶活力均比对照组高,其中投喂液态复合微生态制剂实验组活力最高。实验组刺参组织的酸性磷酸酶和碱性磷酸酶活力也明显高于对照组(与对照组相比差异有统计学意义,Ps0.05)。结论微生态制剂可以有效改善幼刺参体壁营养成分,促进机体消化活力,提高刺参免疫力。     

Spring and summer microhabitat use by Schlegel’s Japanese gecko,Gekko japonicus (Reptilia: Squamata: Gekkonidae), in urban areas

Differential microhabitat use may be beneficial to achieving fitness in seasonally variable environmental conditions. To explore whether the microhabitat use of the nocturnal Schlegel’s Japanese gecko, Gekko japonicus, varies seasonally and depends on juvenile, male, and female reproductive groups, we investigated five categorical and five quantitative measure variables of microhabitat use in a wild population both in spring and summer. Most geckos were found on white, vertical planes of concrete and plastered brick walls. None of the categorical variables (type of location, substrate, substrate color, light source, and refuge) significantly differed according to season or group, while substrate temperature and irradiance at the location where geckos were observed and the distance from the nearest potential refuge were significantly greater in summer than in spring. The quantitative measure variables did not differ among the reproductive groups. These results suggest that G. japonicus seasonally adjusts its microhabitat use mainly in terms of quantitative measure variables rather than categorical variables.     

Characterization of expressed sequence tag‐derived microsatellites from the kuruma prawn,Marsupenaeus japonicus

The kuruma prawn, Marsupenaeus japonicus, is a commercially important benthic marine crustacean in East Asia. Understanding the species’ population structures will be very important for its proper stock assessment and management strategy. Herein, 13 polymorphic microsatellite loci originating from expressed sequence tag libraries of M. japonicus were isolated and characterized. Number of alleles per locus ranged from two to 15, observed and expected heterozygosities ranged from 0.250 to 0.906 and from 0.310 to 0.932, respectively. The adequate level of variability within the population renders these microsatellite loci ideal markers for population genetic analysis of M. japonicus.     

Life history,distribution and molecular phylogenetics of the Upward-Mouth Spikefish Atrophacanthus japonicus (Teleostei: Tetraodontiformes: Triacanthodidae)

Ninety-six juvenile specimens (37–54 mm standard length; L_S) of the rarely collected Upward-Mouth Spikefish Atrophacanthus japonicus (Triacanthodidae) were obtained from the stomachs of three Yellowfin Tuna Thunnus albacares collected off Guam in the Mariana Islands in the central Pacific Ocean. These specimens extend the range of A. japonicus eastward into Oceania. We review the systematic characters of the monotypic genus Atrophacanthus and present colour photographs of freshly collected specimens. The diet of the juvenile specimens of A. japonicus consisted of thecosome pteropods and foraminiferans. We present a range map of A. japonicus based on all known specimens and show that specimen size is related to whether specimens were collected in the pelagic zone or on the bottom. Our results support that, compared to all other Triacanthodidae, A. japonicus has an unusually extended pelagic larval and juvenile period, up to 54 mm L_S, before settling to the bottom as adults. Lastly, we provide a multilocus phylogeny addressing the phylogenetic placement of Atrophacanthus based on eight of 11 triacanthodid genera and six genetic markers. Our results reveal that Atrophacanthus is the sister group of Macrorhamphosodes and they provide new insights about the evolutionary history of the family.     

Genotype-specific response of a lycaenid herbivore to elevated carbon dioxide and phosphorus availability in calcareous grassland

Effects of elevated CO₂ and P availability on plant growth of the legume Lotus corniculatus and consequences for the butterfly larvae of Polyommatus icarus feeding on L. corniculatus were investigated in screen-aided CO₂ control chambers under natural conditions on a calcareous grassland in the Swiss Jura mountains. Elevated CO₂ conditions and P fertilisation increased the biomass production of L. corniculatus plants and affected the plant chemical composition. CO₂ enrichment increased the C/N ratio and sugar concentration and decreased the N and P concentrations. C- and N-based allelochemicals (cyanoglycosides, total polyphenols and condensed tannins) were only marginally affected by CO₂ enrichment. P fertilisation increased the specific leaf area and concentrations of water, N, sugar and P, while the C/N ratio and the concentration of total polyphenols decreased. Furthermore, P availability marginally enhanced the effect of elevated CO₂ on the total dry mass and sugar concentration while the opposite occurred for the total polyphenol concentration. The changes in food-plant chemistry as a result of P fertilisation positively affected larval mass gain and accelerated the development time of P. icarus. Only a marginal negative effect on larval mass gain was found for CO₂ enrichment. However, we found genotype-specific responses in the development time of P. icarus to elevated CO₂ conditions. Larvae originating from different mothers developed better either under elevated CO₂ or under ambient CO₂ but some did not react to CO₂ elevation. As far as we know this is the first finding of a genotype-specific response of an insect herbivore to elevated CO₂ which suggests genetic shifts in insect life history traits in response to elevated CO₂.     

Cheese whey: an alternative growth and protective medium for<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Rhizobium loti</Emphasis> cells

Cheese whey (CW)-based growth medium efficiently protects Rhizobium loti cells during freezing and desiccation and can maintain their growth in a manner similar to that of traditional mannitol-based medium (YEM). The cheese-whey-based medium (CW) improved viability when used to re-suspend cell pellets kept at –20 °C and –80 °C and resulted in the survival of over 90% of the cells. Moreover, bacterial pellets obtained from cells grown in CW withstand desiccation better than cells grown in YEM. Survival was over 60% after 30 days at 4 °C. No differences were observed in nodulation efficiency between YEM-grown and CW-grown cells. Fast protein liquid chromatography (FPLC) protocols are presented for total protein profile analyses of sweet and acid cheese whey.In memoriam of Sylvio Cortina Vicepresident of Fundación COREPRO     

Epidermal cells of a symbiosis-defective mutant of Lotus japonicus show altered cytoskeleton organisation in the presence of a mycorrhizal fungus

The influence of the mycorrhizal fungus Gigaspora margarita on cytoskeleton organisation in epidermal cells of Lotus japonicus roots was compared between plants of the wild type Gifu and the mutant Ljsym4-2, in which the fungus is confined to the epidermal cells. Immunofluorescence labelling of plant microtubules and microfilaments showed only limited alterations in the peripheral cytoskeleton of epidermal cells during early stages of fungal interaction with the wild type. Later, microtubules and microfilaments enveloped the growing hypha, while the host cell nucleus moved close to the fungus. In contrast, epidermal cells of the mutant responded with disorganisation and disassembly of microtubules and microfilaments before and during fungal penetration attempts. The fungus penetrated only as far as to epidermal cells, whose cytoplasm became devoid of tubulin and actin, suggesting cell death. The close relationship between host cytoskeleton organisation and compatibility with the fungus suggests that a functional Ljsym4 gene is necessary for correct reorganisation of the epidermal cell cytoskeleton in the presence of the fungus and for avoiding hypersensitivity-like reactions.