Taxonomic and regional patterns in benthic macroinvertebrate elemental composition in streams

1. Ecological stoichiometry has been used to better understand dynamics in consumer growth and the role of consumer‐recycled nutrients because it focuses on more than one element. Most research has focused on pelagic rather than benthic consumers. Variation in elemental composition among benthic consumer taxa would suggest that taxa differ in their susceptibility to nutrient limitation or in their role in recycling nutrients. 2. We collected benthic macroinvertebrates from streams in two regions (Indiana–Michigan and Wisconsin, U.S.A.) to examine taxonomic and regional variation in benthic macroinvertebrate body carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) concentrations and ratios. 3. Elemental composition varied little within taxa common to both regions. In contrast, elemental composition differed greatly among taxa and appeared to be related to phylogeny. The elemental composition of macroinvertebrates clustered into three distinct groups: insects, mollusks, and crustaceans. To a lesser extent, insects and mollusks also differed in elemental composition among genera. 4. Functional feeding groups (FFGs) differed in elemental composition, with predators having a higher N content than other groups. Substantial elemental imbalances between C and N were found between most primary consumers and their likely food sources, and the magnitude of the imbalance depended in part on the FFG. 5. Our results support an assumption of most ecological stoichiometry models that, within a species, the elemental composition of aquatic invertebrates is relatively constant. Variation in elemental composition among taxa at various higher taxonomic levels suggests that susceptibility of stream invertebrates to nutrient limitation and their role in nutrient cycling will strongly depend on phylogeny.     

Peptidergic modulation of male sexual behavior in Lymnaea stagnalis: structural and functional characterization of -FVamide neuropeptides

In the simultaneous hermaphrodite snail Lymnaea stagnalis, copulation as a male is controlled by neurons that send axons to the male copulatory organs via a single penis nerve. Using direct mass spectrometry of a penis nerve sample, we show that one of the molecular ions has a mass corresponding to GAPRFVamide, previously identified from the buccal ganglia, and named Lymnaea inhibitory peptide (LIP). The identity of this peptide is confirmed by partial peptide purification from the penis nerve, followed by post source decay mass spectrometry. We cloned the LIP-encoding cDNA, which predicts a prohormone that gives rise to five copies of LIP (now re-named LIP A), two other -FVamide peptides (LIPs B and C), and five structurally unrelated peptides. The LIP gene is expressed in neurons of the right cerebral ventral lobe that send their axons into the penis nerve. We show that the LIP A peptide is present in these neurons and in the penis nerve, and confirmed the presence of LIP B and C in the penis nerve by post source decay mass spectrometry. Finally, we demonstrate that LIP A, B and C inhibit the contractions of the penis retractor muscle, thereby implicating their role in male copulation behavior.     

抚仙湖底栖软体动物的种类组成与空间分布

2005年6-7月在抚仙湖采集到底栖软体动物7科8属9种,其出现率为70%,分布的最大水深为118 m,平均水深为31 m,分布区内的平均密度为614 ind·m-2,平均生物量为80.64 g·m-2.软体动物主要分布在湖湾,在密度方面,长角涵螺和环棱螺占优势,在生物量方面,河蚬和环棱螺占优势.现存量分布北区大于南区,沿岸区大于湖心区,水草区大于无草区.软体动物密度分布主要受湖底理化性质影响,与表层水体营养水平相关关系不显著.     

The chiton stylus canal: An element delivery pathway for tooth cusp biomineralization

A detailed investigation of the stylus canal situated within the iron mineralized major lateral teeth of the chiton Acanthopleura hirtosa was undertaken in conjunction with a row‐by‐row examination of cusp mineralization. The canal is shown to contain columnar epithelial tissue similar to that surrounding the mineralized cusps, including the presence of iron rich particles characteristic of the iron storage protein ferritin. Within the tooth core, a previously undescribed internal pathway or plume is evident above the stylus canal, between the junction zone and mineralizing posterior face of the cusp. Plume formation coincides with the appearance of iron in the superior epithelium and the onset of mineralization at tooth row 13. The plume persists during the delivery of phosphorous and calcium into the tooth core, and is the final region of the cusp to become mineralized. The presence of the stylus canal was confirmed in a further 18 chiton species, revealing that the canal is common to polyplacophoran molluscs. These new data strongly support the growing body of evidence highlighting the importance of the junction zone for tooth mineralization in chiton teeth, and indicate that the chemical and structural environment within the tooth cusp is under far greater biological control than previously considered. J. Morphol. 2009. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Predicting changes in molluscan spatial distributions in mangrove forests in response to sea level rise

Mollusks are an important component of the mangrove ecosystem, and the vertical distributions of molluscan species in this ecosystem are primarily dictated by tidal inundation. Thus, sea level rise (SLR) may have profound effects on mangrove mollusk communities. Here, we used dynamic empirical models, based on measurements of surface elevation change, sediment accretion, and molluscan zonation patterns, to predict changes in molluscan spatial distributions in response to different sea level rise rates in the mangrove forests of Zhenzhu Bay (Guangxi, China). The change in surface elevation was 4.76–9.61 mm year⁻¹ during the study period (2016–2020), and the magnitude of surface‐elevation change decreased exponentially as original surface elevation increased. Based on our model results, we predicted that mangrove mollusks might successfully adapt to a low rate of SLR (2.00–4.57 mm year⁻¹) by 2100, with mollusks moving seaward and those in the lower intertidal zones expanding into newly available zones. However, as SLR rate increased (4.57–8.14 mm year⁻¹), our models predicted that surface elevations would decrease beginning in the high intertidal zones and gradually spread to the low intertidal zones. Finally, at high rates of SLR (8.14–16.00 mm year⁻¹), surface elevations were predicted to decrease across the elevation gradient, with mollusks moving landward and species in higher intertidal zones blocked by landward barriers. Tidal inundation and the consequent increases in interspecific competition and predation pressure were predicted to threaten the survival of many molluscan groups in higher intertidal zones, especially arboreal and infaunal mollusks at the landward edge of the mangroves, resulting in a substantial reduction in the abundance of original species on the landward edge. Thus, future efforts to conserve mangrove floral and faunal diversity should prioritize species restricted to landward mangrove areas and protect potential species habitats.     

Localization,physiology, and modulation of a molluskan dopaminergic synapse

We investigated the location, physiology, and modulation of an identified synapse from the central nervous system (CNS) of the mollusk Lymnaea stagnalis. Specifically, the excitatory synapse from interneuron right pedal dorsal one (RPeD1) to neurons visceral dorsal two and three (VD2/3) was examined. The gross and fine morphology of these neurons was determined by staining with Lucifer yellow or sulforhodamine. In preparations where RPeD1 was stained with Lucifer yellow and VD2/3 with sulfo-rhodamine, the axon collaterals occupied similar regions, suggesting that these neurons make physical contact in the CNS. Digital confocal microscopy of these preparations revealed that presynaptic varicosities made apparent contact (synapses) with smooth postsynaptic axon collaterals. The number of putative synapses per preparation was about five to 10. Regarding physiology, the synaptic latency was moderately rapid at 24.1 ± 5.2 ms. Previous work indicated that RPeD1 uses dopamine as a neurotransmitter. The RPeD1 → VD2/3 excitatory postsynaptic potential (EPSP) and the VD2/3 bath-applied dopamine (100-μM) response displayed a similar decrease in input resistance and a similar predicted reversal potential (−31 vs. −26 mV), indicating that the synapse and exogenous dopamine activate the same conductance. Finally, bath-applied serotonin (10 μM) rapidly and reversibly depressed the RPeD1 → VD2/3 synapse but did not affect the VD2/3 bath-applied dopamine (100-μM) response, suggesting a presynaptic locus of action for serotonin. The effect of serotonin was not associated with any changes to the pre- or postsynaptic membrane potential and input resistance, or the presynaptic action potential half-width. The RPeD1 → b3 VD2/3 synapse provides an opportunity to examine the anatomy and physiology of transmission, and is amenable to the study of neuromodulation. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Neurobiol 33: 247–264, 1997     

Photon activation analysis of several kinds of marine invertebrates for trace elements

The concentrations of trace elements in several mollusk, arthropod, echinoderm, and tunicata species were determined by photon activation analysis. The samples were freeze-dried, pulverized by a mill, and fractionated through a 200-mesh sieve. Three standard materials were used for comparative standards: NIST SRM-1566a Oyster Tissue, NIST SRM-1577b Bovine Liver, and NRCC TORT-1 Lobster. The samples and comparator standards were sealed in silica tubes and irradiated for 3 h by 30-MeV bremsstrahlung from a linear accelerator at Tohoku University. By measuring gamma-ray spectra, the concentrations of 16 elements (As, Br, Ca, Cr, Cu, Fe, I, Mg, Mn, Mo, Na, Ni, Pb, Rb, Sr, and Zn) were determined.     

滆湖入湖河流春季大型底栖动物群落结构及水质生物学评价

分别于2018年4月和2019年4月对滆湖入湖河流底栖动物开展调查,并利用生物指数对水质进行生物学评价。结果表明:共鉴定滆湖入湖河流底栖动物28种,以重度耐污种霍甫水丝蚓(优势度为0.46)和中等耐污种铜锈环棱螺(优势度为0.11)占据绝对优势。生物多样性方面以鹤溪河最高,湟里河、扁担河次之,夏溪河及入湖河口最低,水生植物分布是影响各区域底栖动物多样性的重要因素。卡尔森营养状态指数(TSI)与水质污染等级生物评价结果基本一致,以新孟河延伸拓浚工程沿线为界,鹤溪河、夏溪河、湟里河中上游河段处于中度富营养化水平,水体为轻-中污染状态,而下游河段、扁担河及入湖河口处于重度富营养化水平,水体为中-重污染状态。