The digestive tube of Piaractus brachypomus: gross morphology,histology/histochemistry of the mucosal layer and the effects of parasitism by Neoechinorhynchus sp.

The objective of the present study was to describe the histology and histochemistry of the mucosal layer of the digestive tube of Piaractus brachypomus, and the histopathology associated with parasitism by Neoechinorhynchus sp. The digestive tube of P. brachypomus consists of three macroscopically distinct portions: short, rectilinear and elastic-walled ooesophagus, J-shaped siphon stomach and a long intestine with rectilinear and curved portions, defined by patterns of villi as foregut, midgut, and hindgut. Histological and histochemical differences were observed in the mucosal layers of the different digestive tube regions, such as intense production of neutral and acidic mucous substances in the pseudostratified mucosal epithelium of the oesophagus; positive periodic acid Schiff reagent (PAS)reactions at the apex of the columnar epithelial cells of the stomach and increased intensity of histochemical reactions in the hindgut region. Neoechinorhynchus sp. was present in 85.7% of specimens examined, with a mean intensity of 7.4 ± 6.2 (±) and abundance of 6.33. Good health of the fish indicated by high relative condition factor values ( _Kn) and occurrence of only mild to moderate alteration in the mucosal layer indicated that Neoechinorhynchus sp. exhibits low pathogenicity towards P. brachypomus hosts in farming environments, with low levels of infection.     

Can spatial sorting associated with spawning migration explain evolution of body size and vertebral number in Anguilla eels?

Spatial sorting is a process that can contribute to microevolutionary change by assembling phenotypes through space, owing to nonrandom dispersal. Here we first build upon and develop the “neutral” version of the spatial sorting hypothesis by arguing that in systems that are not characterized by repeated range expansions, the evolutionary effects of variation in dispersal capacity and assortative mating might not be independent of but interact with natural selection. In addition to generating assortative mating, variation in dispersal capacity together with spatial and temporal variation in quality of spawning area is likely to influence both reproductive success and survival of spawning migrating individuals, and this will contribute to the evolution of dispersal‐enhancing traits. Next, we use a comparative approach to examine whether differences in spawning migration distance among 18 species of freshwater Anguilla eels have evolved in tandem with two dispersal‐favoring traits. In our analyses, we use information on spawning migration distance, body length, and vertebral number that was obtained from the literature, and a published whole mitochondrial DNA‐based phylogeny. Results from comparative analysis of independent contrasts showed that macroevolutionary shifts in body length throughout the phylogeny have been associated with concomitant shifts in spawning migration. Shifts in migration distance were not associated with shifts in number of vertebrae. These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that spatial sorting has contributed to the evolution of more elongated bodies in species with longer spawning migration distances, or resulted in evolution of longer migration distances in species with larger body size. This novel demonstration is important in that it expands the list of ecological settings and hierarchical levels of biological organization for which the spatial sorting hypothesis seems to have predictive power.     

Lateral line scale types and review of their taxonomic distribution

The trunk canal of fishes is contained within a series of lateral line (LL) scales. To categorise LL scale structural types, and determine their distribution, an analysis of original data was undertaken using light and scanning electron microscopy in combination with a literature survey from over 1,000 species representative of most orders of bony fishes. Our categorisation of LL scales is based on the relationship between the tube, or ossified trunk canal segment, and associated scale. Tubular‐Scalar LL scales consist of a distinguishable tube and elasmoid scale in scale pockets. Four types occur only in species with elasmoid scales. Integrated LL scales do not develop in scale pockets, and their tube is enclosed or extended by a non‐elasmoid scale or spines. Integrated 1 and 2 LL scales co‐occur with ganoid and calcidermoid scales, and Integrated 3 LL scales occur when common scales are absent or elasmoid. Tubular LL scales are tubes only, occurring mainly in scaleless species or with calcidermoid and elasmoid scales. Non‐Tubular LL scales are composed only of a scale, co‐occurring mainly with cycloid scales. There is consistency of LL scale type in many orders, families and genera and the presence of different types within taxa can be meaningful.     

六种重金属离子胁迫诱导鱼类细胞凋亡的研究

以草鱼（Ctenopharyngodon idellus）ZC7901细胞为研究模型,选用六种重金属离子进行胁迫诱导鱼类细胞凋亡试验.结果显示,在Cd²⁺、Cr⁶⁺、Hg²⁺、Cu²⁺、As⁵⁺、Pb²⁺的胁迫作用下,ZC7901细胞均出现了明显的染色质凝集、趋边化、形成凋亡小体等凋亡形态特征,核酸电泳显示DNA发生特异降解而呈现电泳阶梯,用末端脱氧核糖核酸转移酶介导的dUTP切口末端标记（TUNEL）法,检测到DNA的3′-OH断端均被原位特异标记,表明六种重金属离子均能诱导鱼类细胞发生典型的凋亡.     

Timing and size of blooms of the ctenophore Mnemiopsis leidyi in relation to temperature in Narragansett Bay, RI

The ctenophore Mnemiopsis leidyi is at the northern extreme of its geographic range in Narragansett Bay, an estuary on the northeast coast of the United States. Blooms have typically been observed in late summer and fall according to records from 1950 to 1979. We document an expansion of the seasonal range of this important planktonic predator to include springtime blooms during the 1980s and 1990s. This shift to an earlier seasonal maximum is associated with increasing water temperature in Narragansett Bay. Temperatures in spring have risen, on average, 2 °C from 1950 to 1999 with warm years being associated with the positive phase of the North Atlantic Oscillation. During 1999, M. leidyi appeared earlier in spring and was more abundant than during any previous year for which records are available. Changes in the seasonal pattern and abundance of this predator are likely to have important effects on planktonic ecosystem dynamics of Narragansett Bay. These include reduction of zooplankton abundance in spring followed by increases in size and frequency of summer phytoplankton blooms. Earlier blooms of M. leidyi may also reduce survival of eggs and larvae of fish because, as in 1999, they coincide with the period of peak spawning.     

刘家峡水库网箱养鱼场纤毛虫群落特征

2006年3月至2007年2月, 用活体观察法和直接计数法对刘家峡水库网箱养鱼场纤毛虫群落进行了研究.共鉴定到77种纤毛虫, 其中包括4个未定名种, 隶属于3纲11目34科43属.下毛目为优势类群, 前口目为次优势类群, 异毛目为偶见类群.善变膜袋虫、长圆膜袋虫、珍珠映毛虫、钩刺斜管虫和大口瞬目虫为春季群落优势种; 善变膜袋虫、颗粒膜袋虫和珍珠映毛虫为夏季群落优势种; 颗粒膜袋虫和善变膜袋虫为秋季群落优势种; 冬季无明显优势种.纤毛虫物种数的周年动态呈单峰型, 8、9月份物种数最多, 有52种, 3月份最少, 只有18种; 物种数的季节动态为: 夏季＞秋季＞春季＞冬季.纤毛虫丰度的周年动态呈三峰型, 高峰分别出现在4月、6月和9月份, 5月份采样前夕水库调水导致丰度骤降是造成三峰型的主要原因; 纤毛虫丰度的季节动态为: 夏季＞秋季＞春季＞冬季.纤毛虫物种多样性指数的周年动态为: 8月份最大, 3月份最小.相关性分析结果表明, 对网箱养鱼场纤毛虫物种数影响最大的因子是水温, 其次是透明度和pH值, 投放饲料量的影响最小; 对网箱养鱼场纤毛虫丰度影响最大的是投放饲料量, 其次是水温和pH值, 透明度的影响最小.     

Identifying climatic niche shifts using coarse‐grained occurrence data: a test with non‐native freshwater fish

Aim We tested whether coarse‐grained occurrence data can be used to detect climatic niche shifts between native and non‐native ranges for a set of widely introduced freshwater fishes. Location World‐wide. Methods We used a global database of freshwater fish occurrences at the river basin scale to identify native and non‐native ranges for 18 of the most widely introduced fish species. We also examined climatic conditions within each river basin using fine‐grained climate data. We combined this information to test whether climatic niche shifts have occurred between native and non‐native ranges. We defined climatic niche shifts as instances where the ranges of a climatic variable within native and non‐native basins exhibit zero overlap. Results We detected at least one climatic niche shift for each of the 18 studied species. However, we did not detect common patterns in the thermal preference or biogeographic origin of the non‐native fish, hence suggesting a species‐specific response. Main conclusions Coarse‐grained occurrence data can be used to detect climatic niche shifts. They also enable the identification of the species experiencing niche shifts, although the mechanisms responsible for these shifts (e.g. local adaptation, dispersal limitation or physiological constraints) have yet to be determined. Furthermore, the coarse‐grained approach, which highlights regions where climatic niche shifts have occurred, can be used to select specific river basins for more detailed, fine‐grained studies.     

全球变化背景下生态学热点问题研究——第二届"国际青年生态学者论坛"

为促进中国青年生态学者与海外生态学者的交流与合作,第二届"国际青年生态学者论坛"于2011年8月1—4日在南京大学举行。来自海内外近400名学生和青年学者,围绕"全球变化背景下生态学热点问题"主题,分别从植物群落学、植物生理生态学、地下生态学、水生态系统、生物入侵、生物多样性、区域生态安全等7个方面进行了交流与讨论,本届论坛报告反映了在全球变化背景下,我国生态学在研究领域、内容、尺度、方法上的发展现状与进展。以会议收集的95篇摘要为基础,重点综述了27场青年学者论坛报告内容,并对会议的进一步完善提出了几点建议。