Shell morphometry in barnacles: quantification of shape and shape change in Balanus

Geometric design in the barnacle genus Balanus has been studied in relation to variation in adult shell form, that includes differences among species, and size-related changes in shape. The genus comprises 40 Recent species, and as a group these display a more or less constant morphology over an extraordinary size range (10 to 200 mm in basal length).
Linear and volumetric measurements were collected from 232 adult individuals of 14 species representing the variation in size, shell form and shell design thought to occur in the genus. Specimens were chosen to represent the size ranges of the species. Only isolated individuals growing on planar surfaces were used; shells were complete, undamaged and undistorted.
Shell form differs among taxa, and no two species scale alike; intraspecific variation for five ratio variables shows strong allometry over the adult size range of each species. As size increases, there is a trend for the basis and orifice to maintain their shapes or to become slightly more elliptical, and for shells to become more conical and proportionately taller.
Throughout their size ranges, species can be described by these geometries: paraboloid (6 species), frustum of an ellipsoidal cone (5 species), frustum of a cone (2 species) and a cone (1 species). Shell geometry is not a function of species size, but there does appear to be a correlation between shell geometry and shell volume. Species with relatively small shell volumes are described by a frustum of an ellipsoidal cone, or by a cone, while those with a relatively large shell volume are described by a paraboloid, or by the frustum of a cone.     

Morphological variation among widely dispersed larval populations of anadromous southern hemisphere lampreys (Geotriidae and Mordaciidae)

Larvae of all three southern hemisphere anadromous parasitic lampreys were collected from rivers in Australia, New Zealand and South America. Body intervals were measured, trunk myomeres counted and the frequency of pigmentation in different body regions recorded. Morphometric data were subjected to multiple group principal components analysis (MGPCA) which took into account changes during growth. The components (together with myomere counts) and the pigmentation data were both subjected to discriminant analysis. Ordination and rank correlation tests revealed no evidence for either latitudinal clines or a continuum of circumpolar change amongst larval lamprey populations. Clustering of population centroids clearly distinguished between Mordacia lapicida (Gray) from Chile and M. mordax (Richardson) from south-eastern Australia. Populations of Geotria australis Gray divided into groups representing three geographical regions, namely Argentina, Chile and Australasia (Western Australia, Tasmania and New Zealand). Ammocoetes from Argentina were the most divergent, possessing a more posterior cloaca, taller dorsal fins, a greater gap between dorsal fins, and distinctive pigmentation on the head and caudal fin. Within the Australasian group, Western Australian and New Zealand populations clustered closer than either did with those from Tasmania. The cluster analyses for larval populations of G. australis suggest that, during their marine trophic phase, the adults of this species originating from Argentinian and Chilean rivers follow different migratory routes, whereas those from Western Australia, New Zealand and, to a lesser extent, Tasmania intermix.     

An Evaluation of EPR Measurements of the Organic Free Radical Content of Individual Seeds in the Non-destructive Testing of Seed Viability

Hepburn, H. A., Goodman, B. A., McPhail, D. B., Matthews, S.and Powell, A. A. 1986. An evaluation of EPR measurements ofthe organic free radical content of individual seeds in thenon-destructive testing of seed viability.—J. exp. Bot.37: 1675–1684. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectra of individualintact seeds of a range of legumes and brassicas have been obtainedin order to measure their organic free radical contents. Norelationship was found between free radical content and seedviability or early seedling growth for both legumes and brassicas.The testa had a much greater free radical concentration thaneither the embryo axes or the cotyledons for all cultivars ofseed tested. The general high free radical content of the testasuggests that there is little possibility of EPR being usedto predict the viability of individual seeds. The spectroscopicsplitting factor of g = 2·0045 reported for the intactseeds is consistent with the radicals' arising from melanictype compounds. Key words: Seed viability, free radical content     

Analyse cladistique et Trilobites: un point de vue

On the basis of precise trilobite examples, the difficulties and interest in cladistic analysis are emphasized. The problem of distinguishing plesiomorphic and apomorphic characters is exemplified in Morgatia with reference to auxiliary impressions of the glabella and vincular furrows. In Crozonaspis , cladograms by themselves do not clarify the distinction of primitive versus derived features; the stratigraphical distribution of species, although not conclusive, is helpful in clarifying relationships. Although stratigraphical data are essential for reconstructing species lineages, they may be misleading when dealing with taxa above the species level. For all phylogenetical reconstructions, the completeness of the palaeontological and biogeographical record must be taken into consideration. D Trilobita, Phacopida, cladistics, Ordovician.     

A Proposed Organization of the Genus Blepharisma Perty and Description of Four New Species

SYNOPSIS. The following four subgenera. I based chiefly on the form of the macronucleus, are proposed for thr genus Blepharisma Perty 1852: 1) Compactum , having a single compact interphase macronucleus. Type species B Compactum hyalinum Perty. 2) Filijormis , having a vermiform or tubular elongate interphase macronuclcus. occasionally doubled or even fragmented in individuals. Type spcies B. (Filiformis) intermedium Bhandary. 3) Blepharisma , having an interphase macronucleus with two or more nodes usually connected by a very thin strand between the nodes. Type species B. (Blepharisma) Perisicinum Perty. 4) Halteroides , having an interphase macronucleus in two nodes connected by a thick strand. Type species B. (Halteroides) tropicum Bhandary. Differences between the subgenera also can be found in the size, pigmentation, presence or absence of cysts and conjugaion 26 species are presented.
While integradations between the subgenera and species exist, it is felt that separation of the four groups is warranted and may indicate possible evolutionary trends within the genus.