Intermediary metabolism and shell growth in the brachiopod Terebratalia transversa

Juvenile Terebratalia transversa (Brachiopoda) metabolize carbohydrates in the anterior-most marginal mantle at a rate of 0.46 μM glucose/g/hr (in vitro incubation of mantle in C¹⁴-glucose in a carrying medium of 10^-3 M non-radioactive glucose). The rate declines to 0.18μM glucose/g/hr in full-grown specimens. Carbohydrate metabolism in the marginal (anterior-most) mantle averages approximately 3.7 times greater than metabolism in (a portion of the ‘posterior’) mantle situated between the coelomic canals and the marginal mantle. This ratio remains constant in specimens of all sizes (i.e. an ontogenetic trend in the ratio is absent at p≤ 0.05). Organic acids are not detectable within the mantle (HPLC techniques) even after simulated anoxia (N₂ bubbling during mantle incubation). Glucose metabolism in vitro declines in both the marginal and ‘posterior’ mantles during anoxia and the metabolic ratio between marginal/‘posterior’ mantles becomes 1/1. We found no difference (at p≤ 0.05) in mean metabolic activity or in sue-related metabolic trends among populations from depths ranging between mean sea level and 70 m. However, the activity within the ‘posterior’ mantle was more variable in specimens from 70 m than in those from shallower habitats (10 m - mean sea level). The size of the specimens analyzed was most variable in the groups obtained from the shallowest habitats and least variable at 70 m depth. Our results may help define the energetics of fossil as well as living brachiopod shell growth. Brachiopod shell growth is known to be very slow relative to that of bivalves and our results indicate that this is a result of the animals' slow metabolism. The inflation of the valves in T. transversa is, in part, a function of the high ratio of intermediary metabolism in the marginal vs‘posterior’ mantle (i.e. parallels the relative growth rates at the shell margin vs‘posterior’ areas). We found that the bivalve, Chlamys hastata, which is commonly associated with T. transversa, has a lower ratio of metabolic activities in the ventral/dorsal mantle areas than the brachiopod has in the anterior/posterior. The difference produces a flatter shell in the bivalve in accord with allometric principles. The higher metabolic rate in the marginal vs‘posterior’ brachiopod mantle and its more pronounced decline with anaerobiosis is reflected in the greater definition of growth increments in the outer shell layer. Our results do not support recent generalizations that correlate shell thickness of a wide variety of invertebrates inversely with metabolic rate. Growth rate as determined from width of shell growth increments is a better index of metabolic rate. Although the genetic basis of glucose metabolism is unknown, the observed metabolic variability is consistent with suggestions that populations of marine organisms living in stable offshore environments are genetically more variable but morphologically more uniform than populations from shallow water. Furthermore, our results support suggestions that bivalved molluscs and brachiopods are very different metabolically, but the data are neutral with respect to theories of competitive exclusion of the two taxa throughout geologic history.     

芒果横线尾夜蛾触角感觉器扫描电镜观察

采用扫描电镜技术对芒果横线尾夜蛾触角感觉器进行了观察和研究。结果表明,芒果横线尾夜蛾成虫触角上有5种类型的感觉器,分别为毛形感觉器、刺形感觉器、锥形感觉器、腔锥形感觉器和柱形感觉器。这些感觉器在成虫中存在雌雄二型性,其中雌雄虫都具有毛形感觉器Ⅰ型和Ⅱ型、刺形感觉器、锥形感觉器Ⅰ型和腔锥形感觉器等四种类型的感觉器,其中以毛形感觉器最多,约占全部感觉器的72%。而锥形Ⅱ型和柱形感觉器只存在于雄虫触角上。     

中国单格孢属(丝孢纲)的种

报道单格孢属的两个新种,一个新组合,5个中国新记录种和两个未定名种,同时,对所有已知在中国发现的本属真菌的种进行了归纳总结并制作了检索表。新种小黑球单格孢Monodictys nigraglobulosa的典型特征是产生黑色近球形的分生孢子,具有黑而厚的隔膜;横向单格孢Monodictys transversa的分生孢子横向生长,即孢子的横向量度大于其高度。两个未定名种具有单格孢属的特征,但目前的材料所表现的分种特征还不够充分,暂称之为Monodictys sp.1和Monodictys sp.2,供进一步研究探讨。新组合为方单格孢Monodictys quadrata(Atk.)G.Z.Zhao&T.Y.Zhang。研究标本保存在山东农业大学植物病理学标本室(HSAUP)。     

Homeobox gene expression in Brachiopoda: the role of Not and Cdx in bodyplan patterning, neurogenesis, and germ layer specification

The molecular control that underlies brachiopod ontogeny is largely unknown. In order to contribute to this issue we analyzed the expression pattern of two homeobox containing genes, Not and Cdx, during development of the rhynchonelliform (i.e., articulate) brachiopod Terebratalia transversa. Not is a homeobox containing gene that regulates the formation of the notochord in chordates, while Cdx (caudal) is a ParaHox gene involved in the formation of posterior tissues of various animal phyla. The T. transversa homolog, TtrNot, is expressed in the ectoderm from the beginning of gastrulation until completion of larval development, which is marked by a three-lobed body with larval setae. Expression starts at gastrulation in two areas lateral to the blastopore and subsequently extends over the animal pole of the gastrula. With elongation of the gastrula, expression at the animal pole narrows to a small band, whereas the areas lateral to the blastopore shift slightly towards the future anterior region of the larva. Upon formation of the three larval body lobes, TtrNot expressing cells are present only in the posterior part of the apical lobe. Expression ceases entirely at the onset of larval setae formation. TtrNot expression is absent in unfertilized eggs, in embryos prior to gastrulation, and in settled individuals during and after metamorphosis. Comparison with the expression patterns of Not genes in other metazoan phyla suggests an ancestral role for this gene in gastrulation and germ layer (ectoderm) specification with co-opted functions in notochord formation in chordates and left/right determination in ambulacrarians and vertebrates. The caudal ortholog, TtrCdx, is first expressed in the ectoderm of the gastrulating embryo in the posterior region of the blastopore. Its expression stays stable in that domain until the blastopore is closed. Thereafter, the expression is confined to the ventral portion of the mantle lobe in the fully developed larva. No TtrCdx expression is detectable in the juvenile after metamorphosis. This expression of TtrCdx is congruent with findings in other metazoans, where genes belonging to the Cdx/caudal family are predominantly localized in posterior domains during gastrulation. Later in development this gene will play a fundamental role in the formation of posterior tissues.     

The protegulum and juvenile shell of a Recent articulate brachiopod: patterns of growth and chemical composition

Patterns of shell formation and the chemical composition of the shell deposited during early post-larval life were investigated in laboratory-reared cultures of the Recent articulate brachiopod Terebraralia transversa (Sowerby). A non-hinged protegulum averaging 148 pm in length is secreted by the mantle within a day after larval metamorphosis. The inner surface of the protegulum exhibits finely granular, non-fibrous material. A rudimentary periostracum constitutes the outer layer of the primordial shell. and concentrically arranged growth lines are lacking. By four days post-metamorphosis, a brephic type of juvenile shell develops from periodic additions of shell material to the anterior and lateral edges of the protegulum. Imbricated secondary fibers occur throughout the inner layer of the newly formed juvenile shell, and a rudimentary hinge apparatus is present posteriorly. The external surface of the shell exhibits concentric growth lines anterior to the caudally situated protegulum, and unbranched punctae begin to form in the subperiostracal region of the shell. At 23 days post-metamorphosis, the shell weighs an average of 1.7 μg and measures 318 μm in length. Electron microprobe analyses reveal that the protegulum is calcified. Minor amounts of sulfur, magnesium, iron, chlorine, aluminum, and silicon are also present in protegula and juvenile shells. Based on electron diffraction data, the mineral phase of juvenile shells consists of calcite, and protegula also appear to contain calcite.     

芒果横线尾夜蛾的生活习性及防治

芒果横线尾夜蛾在元江 1年发生 5～ 6代 ,世代重叠 ,以蛹在枯枝或树皮缝中越冬。幼虫共 5龄 ,3龄以后集中钻蛀嫩梢和花穗轴 ,严重影响芒果的树势和产量。新梢抽生 2～ 5cm时用 1 0 0 0～ 1 5 0 0倍液的杀朴磷、氧化乐果、杀虫威交替喷雾 ,防效均在 89 95 %以上。