Reproductive strategies and population structure in Leishmania: substantial amount of sex in Leishmania Viannia guyanensis

Leishmania species of the subgenus Viannia and especially Leishmania Viannia guyanensis are responsible for a large proportion of New World leishmaniasis cases. Since a recent publication on Leishmania Viannia braziliensis, the debate on the mode of reproduction of Leishmania parasites has been reopened. A predominant endogamic reproductive mode (mating with relatives), together with strong Wahlund effects (sampling of strains from heterogeneous subpopulations), was indeed evidenced. To determine whether this hypothesis can be generalized to other Leishmania Viannia species, we performed a population genetic study on 153 human strains of L. (V.) guyanensis from French Guiana based on 12 microsatellite loci. The results revealed important homozygosity and very modest linkage disequilibrium, which is in agreement with a high level of sexual recombination and substantial endogamy. These results also revealed a significant isolation by distance with relatively small neighbourhoods and hence substantial viscosity of Leishmania populations in French Guiana. These results are of epidemiological relevance and suggest a major role for natural hosts and/or vectors in parasite strain diffusion across the country as compared to human hosts.     

菲菊头蝠不同地理种群回声定位声波差异及其影响因子

回声定位声波地理差异及其形成原因是蝙蝠生态学研究领域一个基本而关键的问题,对于探索物种生存机制、物种形成及其保护具有重要科学意义。本研究从较大地理尺度上(9个地理种群)研究了菲菊头蝠(Rhinolophus pusillus)回声定位声波结构的地理差异,并进一步探讨了影响回声定位声波地理种群差异的因素。结果表明,菲菊头蝠雌性的体型较雄性略大,其主频较高。不同地理种群之间回声定位声波差异明显,包括脉冲持续时间、脉冲间隔、主频以及带宽在不同的地理种群之间均表现出一定程度的差异。进一步分析发现,不同地理种群之间的雌性菲菊头蝠前臂长和体重均与主频呈较弱的负相关,降雨量与雌性的主频呈较强的正相关;而不同地理种群之间的雄性前臂长、体重和降雨量与回声定位声波参数均无相关性;此外,地理距离、温度、湿度均与雌雄回声定位声波参数无相关性。本研究结果表明,菲菊头蝠不同地理种群间的回声定位声波出现明显差异,其中,体型和降雨量为主要影响因子,说明蝙蝠回声定位叫声的进化主要受到了当地生境的影响,表现出动物对不同生境的适应性进化。     

Changes of Copepoda populations in Lake Kiret during 1969–1985

Long period analysis of Copepoda populations in Lake Kinneret indicated significant reductions in total biomass and production as well as densities of nauplii and adult stages, particularly females. The reduction of adult Mesocyclops sp. was statistically significant, but that of Thermocyclops sp. was not. Annual averages of eggs/female values and densities of copepodite stages did not show significant changes. Concentrations of adult Thermocyclops sp. became higher relative to the larger genus Mesocyclops sp. It is suggested that densities of large copepods were affected by intensification of predation pressure by particulate feeding fishes. The densities of nauplii were probably reduced by increased predation pressure of filter feeding fish.     

纳西族和普米族的红细胞血型分布

调查了云南纳西族和普米族各１０４人的ＡＢＯ、ＮＭＳｓ、Ｒｈ和Ｐ血型系统。结果表明,ＡＢＯ血型系统中,纳西族和普米族有较高的基因频率ｒ,分别为０．６０８２和０．６８８２,且基因频率ｐ＝ｑ,纳西族均为０．１９５９,普米族均为０．１５５９。ＭＮＳｗ系统中两个民族都表现ｍ〉ｎ、ｓ〉ｓ,Ｍｓ〉Ｎｓ、ＭＳ〉ＮＳ,其中纳西族的基因频率在国内报道的相应值中是比较高的,且ＮＳ为零。     

Trapped within the city: integrating demography,time since isolation and population‐specific traits to assess the genetic effects of urbanization

Urbanization is a severe form of habitat fragmentation that can cause many species to be locally extirpated and many others to become trapped and isolated within an urban matrix. The role of drift in reducing genetic diversity and increasing genetic differentiation is well recognized in urban populations. However, explicit incorporation and analysis of the demographic and temporal factors promoting drift in urban environments are poorly studied. Here, we genotyped 15 microsatellites in 320 fire salamanders from the historical city of Oviedo (Est. 8th century) to assess the effects of time since isolation, demographic history (historical effective population size; N_e) and patch size on genetic diversity, population structure and contemporary N_e. Our results indicate that urban populations of fire salamanders are highly differentiated, most likely due to the recent N_e declines, as calculated in coalescence analyses, concomitant with the urban development of Oviedo. However, urbanization only caused a small loss of genetic diversity. Regression modelling showed that patch size was positively associated with contemporary N_e, while we found only moderate support for the effects of demographic history when excluding populations with unresolved history. This highlights the interplay between different factors in determining current genetic diversity and structure. Overall, the results of our study on urban populations of fire salamanders provide some of the very first insights into the mechanisms affecting changes in genetic diversity and population differentiation via drift in urban environments, a crucial subject in a world where increasing urbanization is forecasted.     

The population dynamics of some freshwater carideans (Crustacea: Decapoda) in Hong Kong,with special reference to Neocaridina serrata (Atyidae)

During a 15-month investigation of the population dynamics of three caridean shrimp species in the Lam Tsuen River, New Territories, Hong Kong, the numbers of the commonest species, Neocaridina serrata (Stimpson)(Atyidae), were reduced as water temperatures fell. By contrast, Caridina lanceifrons Yu became more numerous during the winter. The relatively scarce Macrobrachium hainanense (Parisi)(Palaemonidae) tended to be more abundant during the summer, and the abundance of this species was directly correlated with that of N. serrata. The population size of these two species was positively correlated with water temperatures prevailing one and two months prior to the collection of samples, but there was no significant relationship between C. lanceifrons abundance and water temperature.All species exhibited similar growth patterns with an inflection at the attainment of sexual maturity, occurring after the (presumed) 14th moult for N. serrata and in the (presumed) 13th and 18th stadium for C. lanceifrons and M. hainanensis respectively. Ovigerous shrimps of all species were only recorded when water temperatures exceeded 20 °C and the % incidence of ovigerous N. serrata was positively correlated with prevailing temperatures. It is suggested that restriction of freshwater caridean breeding periods by low temperatures may be common in the subtropics while perennial breeding is more likely to be typical of tropical regions.The mean carapace length of N. serrata populations was negatively correlated with prevailing temperatures, but more strongly correlated with temperatures recorded one and two months prior to sampling when gametogenesis may have taken place. Smallest mean sizes were recorded in late summer upon the cessation of juvenile recruitment. N. serrata has a maximum longevity of approximately 12 months and reproduction occurs in the 7th month of life or later. The hatchlings are well developed and clutch size is not related to the size of the brooding female. An annual life cycle, as seen in N. serrata, may be typical of many small freshwater carideans.Department of Zoology, The University of Hong Kong     

维生素E对萼花臂尾轮虫繁殖的影响

15℃下 ,添加 Ve浓度为 2 0～ 80 ng/ m l时 ,种群密度与培养时间呈显著相关 ,其中 2 0 ng/ ml和 4 0 ng/ ml组最大种群密度分别为 76 .4 0 ind/ ml和 6 5 .2 0 ind/ ml,显著高于对照组 (最大密度 12 .0 0 ind/ ml)。最大混交雌体百分率低于 10 % ,对照组最大混交雌体比率为 4 0 %。轮虫卵雌比有不同程度的提高 ,但维生素浓度为 10 0 ng/ ml时 ,对种群增长不利 ;2 5℃下 ,对照组和各添加组最大密度依次为 6 8.0 0 ,12 2 .0 0 ,12 4 .0 0 ,16 8.0 0和 2 36 .0 0 ind/ ml。最大卵雌比依次为 1.2 1,1.2 5 ,1.2 2 ,1.4 1和 0 .6 9,混交雌体百分比分别为 2 7.6 9,19.89,18.4 2 ,17.0 2和 12 .88% ;30℃下 ,最大密度依次为 113.80 ,12 1.0 0 ,12 2 .80和 15 1.2 0 ind/ ml,最大卵雌比依次为 1.5 0 ,1.4 2 ,0 .6 4和 0 .96。混交雌体百分比分别为 1.76 ,32 .2 6 ,37.5 0和 32 .0 0 %。     

Biology, herbivory, and host specificity of Antiblemma leucocyma (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) on Miconia calvescens DC. (Melastomataceae) in Brazil

Miconia calvescens DC. (Melastomataceae) is an invasive tree considered one of the greatest threats to natural ecosystems of Hawaii and other Pacific islands. The potential for using the defoliator Antiblemma leucocyma (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) as a biological control agent of M. calvescens was evaluated in the native habitat of the insect in Brazil. Impact assessment in the field showed that 37.2% of leaves presented damage by A. leucocyma, and among damaged leaves, 1.5-51.9% of the leaf area (16.3% on average) was affected. Damage was found in young to fully expanded leaves (28-915 cm² in area). Individual A. leucocyma developing as third through sixth instars in the laboratory consumed an average of 1348 cm² of M. calvescens leaf material in about 11 days. Populations of A. leucocyma in the field were heavily impacted (up to 83% parasitism) by a braconid parasitoid. Observations in the field and single- and two-host choice tests in the laboratory indicated that A. leucocyma has a narrow host range restricted to M. calvescens. Usefulness of this herbivore for biological control in Hawaii appears low, however, because of its probable susceptibility to generalist parasitoids.