Kinematics Modeling and Experiments of Pectoral Oscillation Propulsion Robotic Fish

A robotic fish driven by oscillating fins, "Cownose Ray-I", is developed, which is in dorsoventrally flattened shape withouta tail. The robotic fish is composed of a body and two lateral fins. A three-factor kinematic model is established and used in thedesign of a mechanism. By controlling the three kinematic parameters, the robotic fish can accelerate and maneuver. Forwardvelocity is dependent on the largest amplitude and the number of waves in the fins, while the relative contribution of fin beatfrequency to the forward velocity of the robotic fish is different from the usual result. On the other hand, experimental results onmaneuvering show that phase difference has a stronger effect on swerving than the largest amplitude to some extent. In addition,as propulsion waves pass from the trailing edge to the leading edge, the robotic fish attains a backward velocity of 0. 15 m·s^-1.     

青海湖裸鲤生长特征的研究

对2002年5月—2003年7月采自青海湖的1174尾青海湖裸鲤样本年龄进行了耳石鉴定,并依据年龄推算了生长率。青海湖裸鲤体长与体重的关系为:W=0.000174×L2.4990(♀)、W=0.0000402×L2.7538(♂),雌、雄个体生长差异显著。其体长Von Bertalanffy生长方程为:Lt=551.9301(1-e-0.0711(t 0.3044))(♀),Lt=682.8688(1-e-0.0530(t 0.4240))(♂);体重Von Bertalanffy生长方程为:Wt=1237.3431(1-e-0.0711(t 0.3044))2.4990(♀),Wt=2567.3242×(1-e-0.0530(t 0.4240))2.7538(♂)。其雌、雄生长拐点分别为12.57龄和18.67龄。     

Evidence for a single median fin-fold and tail in the Lower Cambrian vertebrate, Haikouichthys ercaicunensis

In this study, we illustrate an exceptionally well-preserved Haikouichthys ercaicunensis from the Lower Cambrian Chengjiang fauna that displays complete single dorsal, ventral and caudal fins. This 530-million-year old vertebrate is fish-shaped and characterized by a single median fin-fold, which is an essential trait of the initial vertebrate chordates. The radially orientated ray-like structures in its dorsal fin somewhat resemble but are probably not real radials seen in basal vertebrates, such as hagfishes and lampreys. The unique design of primitive fins and fin structures provides additional insights into the early evolution of vertebrates.     

色林错裸鲤的年龄鉴定

本文对色体错裸鲤（Gymnocypris selincuoensis) 的年龄、年龄形成时间以及臀鳞、背鳍条磨片和耳石磨对年龄解释的一致性问题进行了探讨。结果表明在取样的258尾标本中,臀鳞鉴定的年龄在1－21龄之间,背鳍条磨片为1－20龄,耳石磨片为1－29龄。背鳍条和耳石磨片对年龄的判别能力分别为98.41%和94.44%,而臀鳞只有62.30%。在这三种年龄鉴定的材料中,以耳石磨片上的年轮计数最高;尤其是15龄以上的个体,耳石磨片年龄计数与臀鳞及背鳍条磨片计数相差可达5－8龄。年轮的形成时间在每年的4－6月。     

Growth-band counts from elephantfish Callorhinchus milii fin spines do not correspond with independently estimated ages

Fin spines from elephantfish Callorhinchus milii were sectioned and viewed with transmitted white light under a compound microscope. The sections displayed growth bands but their interpretation and significance were unclear. Three different methods were used for counting growth bands. The results were compared with reference growth curves based on length-at-age estimates for six juvenile year classes derived from length-frequency distributions, and tagging data that showed longevity is at least 20 years. None of the three ageing methods showed good correspondence with the reference curves and all methods departed markedly from the reference curves at ages above 2 years old. Therefore, growth bands present in C. milii spines are not useful for ageing, at least with the three methods tested here. Spine bands may not represent age marks, but instead may be layers of material deposited irregularly to strengthen the spine.     

Intra-individual variation in body temperature and pectoral muscle size in nestling Alpine swifts Apus melba in response to an episode of inclement weather

The Alpine swift (Apus melba) forages on insects caught exclusively on the wing, implying that dependent nestlings face acute food shortage in periods of cold and rainy weather. Therefore, there should be strong selection on nestling swifts to evolve physiological strategies to cope with periods of undernutrition. We have investigated intra-individual changes in nestling pectoral muscle and body temperature in response to a 1-week period of inclement weather. The pectoral muscle is the largest reserves of proteins, and nestlings have to devote a large amount of energy in the maintenance of body temperature. The results show that nestling pectoral muscle size and body temperature were significantly reduced during the episode of inclement weather. Assuming that these physiological changes are adaptive, our study suggests that nestling swifts spare energy by a pronounced reduction (up to 18°C) in body temperature and use proteins from the pectoral muscle as a source of extra energy to survive prolonged periods of fasting.     

Laboratory evidence suggests glochidia metamorphosis in Sinanodonta japonica (Bivalvia: Unionidae) is supported by gills,but no other tissues of the host Gymnogobius urotaenia (Perciformes: Gobiidae)

We quantitatively assessed the ability of the gills, caudal fin and scales of the floating goby Gymnogobius urotaenia (Hilgendorf, 1879) (Perciformes: Gobiidae) to serve as substrates for the larvae (glochidia) of the freshwater mussel Sinanodonta japonica (Clessin, 1874) (Unionida: Unionidae) by comparing parasitism success and metamorphosis success. We established three experimental treatments with 10 fish per treatment. Twenty glochidia were introduced onto one of the three body parts of each test fish by direct pipette infestation. Glochidia in the gill group had higher parasitism success than those in the fin and scale groups. Juvenile mussels were obtained only in the gill group. We quantitatively assessed the appropriateness of the three body parts as substrates for glochidia on the basis of three indicators: parasitism success; metamorphosis success; and parasitism and metamorphosis success. We conclude from our laboratory experiment that the artificial introduction of S. japonica glochidia onto G. urotaenia gills is a better procedure for obtaining juvenile mussels than the introduction onto fin or scales.     

Development of secondary sexual characters and their relationship to ontogeny and seasonal reproductive period in Hyphessobrycon igneus (Ostariophysi: Characiformes)

Sexual dimorphism in size, anal‐fin shape and coloration of Hyphessobrycon igneus, Characidae, were examined. Males were more frequent at larger body sizes, confirming body size as a sexually dimorphic trait. Anal‐fin shape and the colour of all fins were the same for females and juveniles, differing only in adult males. Likewise, only adult males had bony hooks on fin rays; larger and more sexually mature males had the most numerous and developed hooks and hooks were most developed in degree and number during peak reproductive periods. Fin hooks regressed in number and developmental degree after the reproductive period, but restarted development with the beginning of the new reproductive period without completely disappearing. Results show that bony hooks have a development and regression cycle related to reproductive seasonality.     

Aggressive mimicry of the cleaner wrasse by Aspidontus taeniatus functions mainly for small blennies

The mimic blenny Aspidontus taeniatus Quoy & Gaimard is well known for its resemblance to the juvenile and adult cleaner wrasse Labroides dimidiatus (Valenciennes) in colour and shape. As various reef fishes including piscivores actively approach the cleaner wrasse to solicit cleaning by posing, two types of benefits have been suggested for this resemblance, that is, protective mimicry and aggressive mimicry. In aggressive mimicry, the mimic blenny is supposed to have considerable opportunities to bite the fin of deceived fishes when they pose, but some studies have confirmed that fin biting does not seem to be the main feeding tactic in the blenny in nature. Here, we examined the feeding tactics including fin biting by the mimic blenny in relation to its body size in a field observational survey in the coral reefs of Sesoko Island, Okinawa, Japan. The blenny was observed feeding mainly on four food items: the tentacles of Christmas tree worms, the mantle edges of boring clams, the demersal eggs in damselfishes’ nests and the fins of fishes. The feeding frequency by fin biting significantly decreased with body size, while that by egg predation significantly increased with body size of the blenny. When predating on eggs, the blenny was vigorously attacked by egg‐guarding fish, but often succeeded in raiding their nests by forming a feeding group. When feeding by fin biting, the blenny attacked prey fish without performing any cleaning. The ratio of fin biting was considerably higher in small‐sized blennies, suggesting reliance on this feeding tactic because of a difficulty in conducting a risky egg predation. Thus, our results suggest that the mimic blenny utilizes aggressive mimicry only when it is small as an alternative feeding tactic.     

An embryological study of ventralization of dorsal structures in the tail of medaka (Oryzias latipes) Da mutants

In adult Da ( double anal fin ) mutants of medaka ( Oryzias latipes ), structures such as the dorsal fin and the dorsal half of the caudal fin are ventralized in adult fish. However, there have been few embryological studies of the development of mutant phenotypes except those of the caudal fin. In this study, development of mutant phenotypes of the tail where they typically develop was examined morphologically at various stages of embryogenesis. The arrangement of melanocytes along the dorsal midline, the shape of the dorsal fin fold, and the shape of the dorsal myotome exhibited a ventral pattern in the tail at various embryonic stages in Da mutants.