High Altitude Frogs (Rana kukonoris) Adopt a Diversified Bethedging Strategy in the Face of Environmental Unpredictability

Environmental unpredictability can influence strategies of maternal investment among eggs within a clutch. Models predict that breeding females should adopt a diversified bet-hedging strategy in unpredictable environments, but empirical field evidence from Asia is scarce. Here we tested this hypothesis by exploring spatial patterns in egg size along an altitudinal gradient in a frog species(Rana kukunoris) inhabiting the Tibetan Plateau. Within-clutch variability in egg size increased as the environment became variable(e.g., lower mean monthly temperature and mean monthly rainfall at higher altitudes), and populations in environments with more unpredictable rainfall produced eggs that were smaller and more variable in size. We provide support for a diversified bet-hedging strategy in high-altitude environments, which experience dynamic weather patterns and therefore are of unpredictable environmental quality. This strategy may be an adaptive response to lower environmental quality and higher unpredictable environmental variance. Such a strategy should increase the likelihood of breeding success and maximize maternal lifetime fitness by producing offspring that are adapted to current environmental conditions. We speculate that in high-altitude environments prone to physical disturbance, breeding females are unable to consistently produce the optimal egg size due to physiological constraints imposed by environmental conditions(e.g., duration of the active season, food availability). Species and populations whose breeding strategies are adapted to cope with uncertain environmental conditions by adjusting offspring size and therefore quality show a remarkable degree of ability to cope with future climatic changes.     

厚壳贻贝whirlin类贝壳基质蛋白的重组表达与功能分析

贝壳历来是生物工程和材料学研究的重要对象。贝壳中的贝壳基质蛋白质在贝壳的形成与发育过程中具有重要的调控作用。Whirlin类蛋白质(Whirlin-like protein,WLP)是一种从厚壳贻贝(Mytilus coruscus)中鉴定的新型贝壳基质蛋白质。序列分析结果显示,该蛋白质含有PDZ(postsynaptic density/Discs large/Zonula occludens)结构域,而该结构域对贝壳生物矿化的影响目前尚无报道。为深入了解WLP在贝壳形成中对碳酸钙晶体的影响,在序列分析基础上,采用密码子优化结合原核重组表达,获得其重组表达产物后,开展了重组WLP对碳酸钙晶体形貌及晶型的影响研究,结晶速度抑制以及碳酸钙晶体结合分析。分析结果表明,重组WLP能诱导文石型碳酸钙晶体的形貌和方解石型碳酸钙晶体的晶型发生改变;同时重组WLP对碳酸钙晶体具有结合作用,且能抑制碳酸钙晶体的结晶速度。上述结果表明,WLP对贝壳的形成及发育具有重要影响,并可能在贝壳肌棱柱层的形成中发挥了重要作用。     

Integrated species delimitation and conservation implications of an endangered weevil Pachyrhynchus sonani (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in Green and Orchid Islands of Taiwan

Oceanic islands are productive habitats for generating new species and high endemism, which is primarily due to their geographical isolation, smaller population sizes and local adaptation. However, the short divergence times and subtle morphological or ecological divergence of insular organisms may obscure species identity, so the cryptic endemism on islands may be underestimated. The endangered weevil Pachyrhynchus sonani Kôno (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Entiminae: Pachyrhynchini) is endemic to Green Island and Orchid Island of the Taiwan‐Luzon Archipelago and displays widespread variation in coloration and host range, thus raising questions regarding its species boundaries and degree of cryptic diversity. We tested the species boundaries of P. sonani using an integrated approach that combined morphological (body size and shape, genital shape, coloration and cuticular scale), genetic (four genes and restriction site‐associated DNA sequencing, RAD‐seq) and ecological (host range and distribution) diversity. The results indicated that all the morphological datasets for male P. sonani, except for the colour spectrum, reveal overlapping but statistically significant differences between islands. In contrast, the morphology of the female P. sonani showed minimum divergence between island populations. The populations of P. sonani on the two islands were significantly different in their host ranges, and the genetic clustering and phylogenies of P. sonani established two valid evolutionary species. Integrated species delimitation combining morphological, molecular and ecological characters supported two distinct species of P. sonani from Green Island and Orchid Island. The Green Island population was described as P. jitanasaius sp.n. Chen & Lin, and it is recommended that its threatened conservation status be recognized. Our findings suggest that the inter‐island speciation of endemic organisms inhabiting both islands may be more common than previously thought, and they highlight the possibility that the cryptic diversity of small oceanic islands may still be largely underestimated.     

20-羟蜕皮素对家蚕后部丝腺细胞超微结构的影响

应用超薄切片和电镜技术,详细观察了蜕皮激素(MH)对家蚕Bombyx mori后部丝腺细胞超微结构的影响.电镜观察表明,家蚕后部丝腺细胞对MH处理极为敏感.一经MH处理,其细胞核的形态结构和细胞质中各种细胞器的发生、发展都呈现出明显的变化,并且与MH处理时期及剂量有关:五龄前期适量MH(4μg/头)处理,能促进与丝蛋白合成有关细胞器的形成与发展,加速腺细胞的成熟生长;较高剂量(8—16μg/头)处理,则导致自噬体的过早发生.五龄中、后期MH处理,一方面促进了粗面内质网等细胞器的进一步发达,另一方面也提高了自噬体的发生数量;处理剂量越高,后一种倾向越突出.这些结果证明,后部丝腺细胞超微结构的变化受MH调节.     

喙丽金龟属新种记述(金龟子科:丽金龟亚科)

本文记述了在云南采获的金龟子科丽金龟亚科喙丽金龟属的新种5种。新种的模式标本存中国科学院动物研究所。 Adoretus(Prionadoretus)runcinatus新种 体长9-10毫米,体宽4-4.7毫米。 棕或深棕色。披灰白色短细卧毛,均匀不密,底色显露,极疏稀地夹杂较长的竖毛。 体长形,届部稍宽。唇基半圆形,边缘上卷,在黑色边缘后密生一列短毛,表面布锯齿状细刻和小粒疣;额唇基缝稍后弯;额头顶部刻点较粗密,前方刻纹与唇基上的相似;上唇及其喙状部边缘有锯齿状深裂,喙状部的中纵脊弱小或缺;触角10节,鳃片部长于前6节     

香蕉低温酶促褐变

7℃低温导致香蕉果皮变褐,褐变程度可用提取液的OD_(450)值表示。随低温处理时间的延长,OD_(450)增大;还原性物质抗坏血酸、谷胱甘肽含量迅速下降;多酚氧化酶底物多巴胺先有增加,接着降低。 低温下,多酚氧化酶(PPO)、过氧化物酶(POD)和过氧化氢酶(CAT)活性较常温低,PPO和POD的游离态酶活性增高。此外,H_2O_2处理加速果皮变褐,刺激PPO及POD活性;棓酸丙酯处理起相反的效应。故认为香蕉低温褐变是低温损伤、酶促褐变引起的一个复杂过程。     

酵母鉴定程序在酵母分类鉴定中的应用

本文介绍了Barnett等1985年编制并由剑桥大学发行的计算机软件《酵母鉴定程序》,以及如何使用该程序在IBM PC DOS操作系统上进行酵母菌的分类鉴定。我们使用该程序对从云南鸡足山和紫金山两地森林土壤中分离到的82株酵母菌进行了分类鉴定,其中:鉴定到种的有47株,占总株数的57.3％;鉴定到属但未能直接定到种的有21株,占总株数的25.6％;暂未定名的有14株,占总株数的17.1％。     

鸽血变虫（Haemoproteus columbae Kruse,1980）生活史研究

本文首次报告我国鸽血变虫的生活史。自然和人工感染实验证明虱蝇是其昆虫媒介。本虫的配子体进入虱蝇体内6—10天后完成孢子有性增殖。 实验观察了本虫在鸽体内无性增殖期的形态、部位及在末梢血液中配子体的发育过程,并证明其潜隐期(prepatent period)为28—30天。 本工作亦对羽虱体腔中的卵囊和子孢子作了描述,提示羽虱也可能是本虫的媒介昆虫,有待今后研究证实。     

袋衣属一新种

本文描述了袋衣属一新种：云南袋衣。其主要特征为裂片长,末端及边缘常具大量小裂片。裂片上表面无光泽,具丘疹;下表面呈明显的网状褶皱,中央呈睹玫瑰色至暗褐色,近末端呈淡玫瑰色至淡褐色,具稀疏而较大的孔洞。