REDESCRIPTION AND TAXONOMIC RECONSIDERATION OF NEMERTOPSIS CRACILIS VAR. BULLOCKI COE, 1940

INThODUCnONSofarthreeso-calledNeInempissPecies,twisquadoparetatus,N.tetra-clitoPhilaandN.grasilishavebeenreporteddriChina(MortonB.&MortonJ.,l983;Gibson,199()),although,onlyN.quadopunctatusandN.tetraclitoPhilawereconfirmed(Gibson,l99o).N.gTaCilissensuMOrton&Morton,l983wasrecognizedasN.quadopndatus(Quoy&Gaied,1833)byGibson(l99()).InNoveInber,l993,twonemerteansPeCimenswerecollectedfromthecoastofChengWU(24"48'N,ll8"54'E),HuianCounty,Fuianboince,P.R.China.TheyaremorphologicaIlyd…     

Proteocephalus sinocyclocheili n. sp. (Cestoda: Proteocephalidae) in a fishSinocyclocheilus grahami tingi Fang from Yunnan, China

A new species ofProteocephalus from the fishSinocyclocheilus grahami tingi, a subspecies endemic to Fuxian Lake in Southwest China,is described. This is the first report of cestode from this host. The new species differs fromP. exiguus, P. Longicollis, P. parasiluri andP. torulosus, the only other species ofProteocephalus currently reported from China, by lacking an apical sucker, fromP. exiguus by having 45–108 rather than 24–54 testes per proglottis, and a maximum of 15 rather than 28 uterine diverticula; fromP.longicollis by having an average of 45–108 rather than 75–115 testes per proglottis and testes being in a single layer instead of 2 layers; and fromP. torulosus by having 45–108 instead of 150 testes per proglottis and testes being in 3–4 layers; and fromP. parasiluri by having 45–108 rather than 180 testes per proglottis. It resemblesP. percae, P. pollanicola, andP. thymalli in number of testes and uterine diverticula, but differs by lacking an apical sucker.Proteocephalus thymalli, like the new species, has a vagina that opens dorsally to the cirrus sac, butP. thymalli slao has postovarian testes, which the new species lacks. The possible significance of parasitological examinations of the other two subspecies ofS. grahami in two lakes close to Fuxian Lake is discussed in relation to host speciation and coevolution of the host-parasite system.     

Experimental study on the interspecific interactions between the two bloom-forming algal species and the rotifer Brachionus plicatilis

The interspecific interactions between the rotifer Brachionus plicatilis and two harmful algal blooms (HAB) species were investigated experimentally by single culture method. B. plicatilis population and the growth of the two algae were compared at different algal cell densities. The results demonstrated that the B. plicatilis obtained sufficient nutrition from Prorocentrum donghaiense to support net population increase. With exposure to 2.5×10⁴ cells mL⁻¹ of P. donghaiense, the number of B. plicatilis increased faster than it did when exposed to other four algal densities (5, 10, 15 and 20 ×10⁴ cells mL⁻¹), and the increase rate of B. plicatilis population (r) at this algal density was 0.104 ± 0.015 rd⁻¹. Cell densities of P. donghaiense decreased due to the grazing of B. plicatilis. In contrast, Heterosigma akashiwo had an adverse effect on B. plicatilis population and its growth was largely unaffected by rotifer grazing. In this case, B. plicatilis population decreased and H. akashiwo grew at a rate similar to that of the control.     

Nemerteans of Zhoushan Islands,East China Sea Coast,China I. Enopla: Distromatophynchocoela: Monostilifera: Emplectonemertidae

Two nemerteans of the Zhoushan Islands,Paranemertes sinensis sp. nov. andP. peregrina, are reported in this paper.P. sinensis sp. nov. has the body wall longitudinal musculature anteriorly divided, numerous eyes grouped into four clusters, two pairs of cephalic furrows, rhynchocoel 1/3 to 1/2 of full body length, cephalic glands well developed and posteriorly extending beyond the cerebral ganglia, precerebral septum absent, cerebral sense organs situated in front of brain, three pairs of nephridiopores, and 17–18 proboscis nerves. The project supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China     

ON THE MARINE CILIATE, Pseudocohnilembus hargisi （PROTOZOA, CILIOPHORA, SCUTICOCILIATIDA） WITH COMPARISON OF ITS RELATED SPECIES

The living morphology, nuclear apparatus, infraciliature and silverline system of the poorly-known ciliatePseudocohnilembus hargisi Evans & Thompson, 1964, collected from a shrimp culture pond in Qingdao, China, were examined by observation of the live specimen; and by the pyridinated carbonate method and Chatton-Lwoff technique. The main characteristics: 13–14 (usually 13) longitudinal or slightly spirally arranged somatic kineties; single contractile vacuole with usually 2 (1–2) pores at posterior ends of the fourth and fifth somatic kineties to the right of the buccal cavity. Several related congeners were compared and morphometrically tabulated. Project No. 39970098 supported by NSFC.     

Preliminary identification of three new isolates in genus Alexandrium (Dinophyceae) from China sea area

The 5.8S ribosomal DNA sequences (5.8S rDNA) and their flanking regions, internal transcribed spacer 1 and spacer 2 (ITS1 and ITS2) of three new isolates in genus Alexandrium (Alexandrium sp. qd1, Alexandrium sp. qd2, Alexandrium sp. gz) from China were amplified, sequenced, and subjected to phylogenetic analysis. Alexandrium sp. gz and Alexandrium sp. qd1 were grouped with high bootstrap values with four strains/species, i.e., A. catenella South Korea strain, A. catenella Japan strain, and two from China, Alexandrium sp. AC03 and Alexandrium sp. AN01 being proposed to be A. catenalla in a previous study. Then Alexandrium sp. gz and Alexandrium sp. qd1 were identified as Alexandrium catenella. As A. catenella was isolated from Qingdao and Guangzhou sea areas, it supposedly distributed at least in these two areas and was genetically different. Alexandrium sp. qd2 differed greatly from species in Alexandrium. It clustered with Symbiodinium californium, Symbiodinium sp. G15 and Gymnodinium sp. Zhao 01 with 100% bootstrap value; so Alexandrium sp. qd2 affiliates to genus Symbiodinium, and is probably a free-living Symbiodinium species.     

CYTOLOGICAL COMPARISON OF GAMETOGENESIS OF SCALLOPS, ARGOPECTEN IRRADIANS AND CHLAMYS FARRERI

Histological characteristics of gametogenesis of two kinds of scallops, gonochoric Chinese scallop, Chlamys farreri and hermaphroditic bay scallop, Argopecten irradians were investigated in this study. Spermatogenesis in C. farreri has different developmental stages: spermatogonia, primary spermatocyte, second spermatocyte, spermatid and spermatozoon. A large number of same developmental stage spermatic cells converge at a definite area of the testis. Premeiotic, previtellogenic and vitellogenic oocytes can be found during oogenesis in C. farreri, where oocyte distribution is obviously irregular. The A. irradians gonad consists of two different parts in one individual: one part functions as testis, the other as ovary. Between these two parts is a special appearance area, where a large number of spermatic cells are bound with two layers of acellular substance with many oocytes in it.     

Two New Species of the Genus finocladia Kylin （Chordaria-les, Phaeophyta） from Yellow Sea Coasts of China

Two new species of the genus Tinocladia Kylin, T. gracilis sp. nov. and T. microsporangii sp. nov,, are described. T. gracilis is characterized by its slender frond, variable size, infrequently branched medullary filaments, and short assimilating filaments with 2 - 7 cells. T. microsporangii is characterized by its medullary cells which are slightly larger than sub-cortical ones; narrow sub-cortical layer, usually consisting of 4- 6 cells and very small unilocular sporangia. The holotypes are deposited at the Herbarium of the Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, China.     

Study on gametophyte vegetative growth ofUndaria pinnatifida and its applications

When cultured under certain environmental conditions (25°C, light intensity 80 μmol/m²·s, LD 12/12, in enriched seawater medium with 7×10⁻⁴ mol/L NO₃−N, 1.56×10⁻⁴ mol/L, PO₄−P and supplements of other elements like Mn, Fe, I, etc.), male and female gametophytes ofU. pinnatifida kept growing vegetatively and propagated fast at average daily fresh weight increase rate of about 20%. The empirical formulaG _m=G _o·3^m was established to estimate the output of vegetative gametophytes. Vigorous vegetative gametophyte cells began to form reproductive structures (oogonium and spermatangium, when the temperature was lower than 25°C and other environmental factors were kept optimal. The sufficient supply of gametophyte cells provided enough seeds for raisingUndaria sporelings on production scale. Controlled cross-breeding experiments using selected male and female gametophyte clones which increase their cell number by mitosis instead of meiosis were also carried out in vitro. Juvenile sporophytes from the cross-breeding had almost the same length and width increase rates as those of the control. The fact that vegetative gametophytes can be purposely selected, propagated quickly, cross-bred, with the resulting sporophytes having almost the same characteristics leads to a new way to select desiredUndaria strains for long time use without losing the desired economic characteristics. Contribution No. 2696 from the Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China.     

Bioaccumulation of Pb<Superscript>2+</Superscript> and its effects on growth,morphology and pigment contents of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Spirulina</Emphasis> (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Arthrospira</Emphasis>) <Emphasis Type="Italic">platensis</Emphasis>

A laboratory experiment was conducted to assess the bioaccumulation of Pb²⁺ and its effects on growth, morphology and pigment contents of Spirulina (Arthrospira) platensis. The specimen cultured in Zarrouk liquid medium was treated with various initial metal concentrations (0, 5, 10, 30, 50 and 100 μg mL⁻¹). The growth of S. platensis was adversely affected by Pb²⁺ at high concentrations (30, 50 and 100 μg mL⁻¹). However, at low concentrations (5 μg mL⁻¹), Pb²⁺ could stimulate its growth slightly. The pigment contents (chlorophyll α and β carotene) were decreased in a dose-dependent manner. The highest reductions (67% and 53% respectively in chlorophyll α and β carotene) were observed in 100 μg mL⁻¹ treatment group. The LC₅₀ (96 h) of Pb²⁺ was measured as 75.34 μg mL⁻¹. Apart from a few cases of filament breakages at elevated concentrations (50 and 100 μg mL⁻¹), morphological abnormalities are not specific. Metal bioaccumulation increased with Pb²⁺ concentrations, but decreased with exposure time. The maximum accumulated amount was 188 mg g⁻¹ dry weight. The bioconcentration factor (BCF) reached to a peak at day 2, followed by a gradual reduction for all the exposure concentrations. S. platensis is able to tolerate considerably high Pb²⁺ concentrations. Consequently it can be used as a potential species to remove heavy metal from contaminated waters.     

Expression and localization of a novel phosducin-like protein from amphioxus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Branchiostoma belcheri</Emphasis>

A full length amphioxus cDNA, encoding a novel phosducin-like protein (Amphi-PhLP), was identified for the first time from the gut cDNA library of Branchiostoma belcheri. It is comprised of 1 550 bp and an open reading frame (ORF) of 241 amino acids, with a predicted molecular mass of approximately 28 kDa. In situ hybridization histochemistry revealed a tissue-specific expression pattern of Amphi-PhLP with the high levels in the ovary, and at a lower level in the hind gut and testis, hepatic caecum, gill, endostyle, and epipharyngeal groove, while it was absent in the muscle, neural tube and notochord. In the Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) cells transfected with the expression plasmid pEGFP-N1/Amphi-PhLP, the fusion protein was targeted in the cytoplasm of CHO cells, suggesting that Amphi-PhLP is a cytosolic protein. This work may provide a framework for further understanding of the physiological function of Amphi-PhLP in B. belcheri. Supported by the Pilot Projects of Knowledge Innovation Project of Chinese Academy of Sciences (No. KZCX2-YW-211-03 and MGE2008KG06)     

A comparative study of genetic variation between Chinese mitten crab <Emphasis Type="Italic">ericheir sinensis</Emphasis> and Hepu mitten crab <Emphasis Type="Italic">E. hepuensis</Emphasis>

Horizonal starch gel electrophoresis was used to investigate the biochemical genetic structure of Chinese mitten crab Eriocheir sinensis and Hepu mitten crab E. hepuensis. Sixteen putative enzyme-coding loci were examined for forty-nine chinese mitten crabs and thirty-eight Hepu mitten crabs. Nine loci, AAT-1 ^*, AAT-2 ^*, G3PDH ^*, GPI ^*, IDHP-1 ^*, IDHP-2 ^*, MDH-1 ^*, MDH-2 ^* and PGM ^*, are polymorphic in Chinese mitten crab, and seven, AAT-1 ^*, AAT-2 ^*, GPI ^*, IDHP-1 ^*, MDH-1 ^*, MDH-2 ^* and PGM ^*, are polymorphic in Hepu mitten crab. The proportion of polymorphic loci and the expected heterozygosity are 0.562 5 and 0.080 3 for Chinese mitten crab, and 0.437 5 and 0.075 4 for Hepu mitten crab. The Nei’s genetic distance between two species is 0.002 4.     

Notes on Two Marine Ciliates from the Yellow Sea,China： Placus salinus and Strombidium apolatum（Protozoa, Ciliophora）

The living morphology and infraciliature of two rare marine ciliates, Placus salinus Dietz, 1964 and Strombidium apolatum Wilbert and Song, 2005, collected from the coastal waters near Qingdao, China, were investigated by in vivo observation and protargol impregnation technique. The improved diagnosis for Placus salinus is as follows: medium-sized marine Placus, in vivo (50–60)μm×(30–40)μm; cell elliptical to barrel-shaped; 28–31 somatic kineties; single macronucleus usually ellipsoid and one micronucleus located in the indention of the macronucleus; one contractile vacuole posteriorly positioned. Strombidium apolatum is characterized by: marine strombidium (40–60)μm×(30–45)μmm in vivo, cordiform in shape with somewhat pointed posterior end and conspicuous apical protrusion; extrusomes prominent, about 15μm in length and evenly arranged along the circle kinety; about 16 collar and 5–6 buccal membranelles; one elongate macronucleus and one micronucleus; circle and ventral kineties consisting of about 53 and 45 dikinetids respectively.     

The antitumor effect of bromophenol derivatives <Emphasis Type="Italic">in vitro</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Leathesia nana</Emphasis> extract <Emphasis Type="Italic">in vivo</Emphasis>

To investigate the antitumor effect of bromophenol derivatives in vitro and Leathesia nana extract in vivo, six bromophenol derivatives 6-(2,3-dibromo-4,5-dihydroxybenzyl)-2,3-dibromo-4,5-dihydroxy benzyl methyl ether (1), (+)-3-(2,3-dibromo-4,5-dihydroxyphenyl)-4-bromo-5,6-dihydroxy-1,3-dihydroisobenzofuran (2), 3-bromo-4-(2,3-dibromo-4,5-dihydroxybenzyl)-5-methoxymethyl-pyrocatechol (3), 2,2′,3,3′-tetrabromo-4,4′,5,5′-tetrahydroxy-diphenylmethane (4), bis(2,3-dibromo-4,5-dihydroxybenzyl) ether (5), 2,2′,3-tribromo-3′,4,4′,5-tetrahydroxy-6′-ethyloxymethyldiphenylmethane (6) were isolated from brown alga Leathesia nana, and their cytotoxicity were tested by MTT assays in human cancer cell lines A549, BGC-823, MCF-7, B16-BL6, HT-1080, A2780, Bel7402 and HCT-8. Their inhibitory activity against protein tyrosine kinase (PTK) with over-expression of c-kit was analyzed also by ELISA. The antitumor activity of ethanolic extraction of Leathesia nana (EELN) was evaluated on S₁₈₀-bearing mice. All compounds showed very potent cytotoxicity against all of the eight cancer cell lines with IC₅₀ below 10 μg/mL. In PTK inhibition study, all bromophenol derivatives showed moderate inhibitory activity and compounds 2, 5 and 6 showed significant bioactivity with the inhibition ratio of 77.5%, 80.1% and 71.4%, respectively. Pharmacological studies reveal that EELN could inhibit the growth of Sarcoma 180 tumor and increase the indices of thymus and spleen to improve the immune system remarkably in vivo. Results indicated that the bromophenol derivatives and EELN can be used as potent antitumor agents for PTK over-expression of c-kit and considered in a new therapeutic strategy for treatment of cancer. Supported by the National High Technology Research and Development Program of China (863 Program, No. 2007AA09Z410) and Knowledge Innovation Program of Chinese Academy of Sciences (No. KZCX2-YW-209)     

Length frequency analysis ofPleuragramma antarcticum,Electrona antarctica,Protomyctophum bolini

British Antarctic Survey (BAS) data collected near the Antarctic Peninsula area were used in this 1988/1989 study on the length frequency of three Antarctic fish species (Pleuragramma antarcticum, Electrona antarctica and Protomyctophum bolini) showing that the standard length (SL) ofP. Antarcticum ranged from 26.0 mm to 161.0 mm, that the 26.0 mm to 54.0 mm SL juveniles could be considered to be the age group 1 fish, and that the SL ofE. antarctica ranged from 39.4 mm to 89.7 mm for the males and 48.0 mm to 118.0 mm for the females, which may contain at least 6 age groups. This is more than previously thought.P. Bolini had 29.2 mm to 60.2 mm SL and complicated age composition.     

REPORT ON PONTONIINE SHRIMPS（CRUSTACEA：DECAPODA）COLLECTED BY JOINT CHINESE—GERMAN MARINE BIOLOGY EXPEDITIONS TO HAINAN ISLAND,SOUTH CHINA SEA i.ANCHISTUS,CONCHODYTES,CORALLIOCARIS

The present paper reports 7 species of pontoniine shrimps collected from Hainan Island,South China Sea,by the Joint Chinese-German Marine Biology Expeditions,in which,Conchodytes nipponensis(De Haan,1844)and Coralliocaris brevirostris Borradaile,1898 are new records from Chinese waters.     

A Taxonomic Study of the Genus Tinocladia （Chordariales,Phaeophyta） in China Coasts I. Two new species, T. eudesmoides sp.nov, and T. zhangii sp.nov.

Two new species of the genusTinocladia Kylin (1940)T. eudesmoides Ding et Lu sp. nov. andTinocladia zhangii Ding et Lu sp. nov., are described.T. eudesmoides is mainly characterized by its longitudinally and transversely produced sub-cortical filaments from the medulla, its short uniseriate assimilating filaments, usually composed of 6–10 cells with slightly swollen and narrow ultimate cells, and its unilocular sporangia (60–115)×55–70μm, variable in size.T. zhangii is mainly characterized by its very solid frond, not rip apart by hands, its evident longer primary branches, its short and slender secondary branches, with very evident sub-cortical layer, and filaments divided repeatedly, and its large and small unilocular sporangia, with the latter borne on an evidently swollen pedicel. Project B80981816 supported by the NSFC. Contribution No. 4443 from the Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, China.     

The brine shrimp (Artemia parthenogenetica) as encapsulation organism for prophylactic chemotherapy of fish and prawn

Brine shrimp (Artemia parthenogenetica) which had ingested three water-insoluble antibacterial drugs i.e. sulfadiazine(SD), oxytetracycline (OTC) and erythromycin estolate (ERY-Es) were fed toTilapia and Mysis IIIof Penaeus orientalis K. The drug contents in the predators were then determined. After administration of drugs toTilapia and Mysis III, through the bio-encapsulation of the brine shrimp, efficacious therapeutical concentration of OTC and ERY-Es (but not SD) in the predators could be reached and maintained for more than 8 hours.     

ANALYSIS OF EVOLUFIONARY RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ASTASIA LONGA AND EUGLENA GRACILIS BY USING RAPD TECHNIQUE AND CLADISTIC ANALYSIS

Although both Astasia longa and Euglena gracdlis belong to different genera, they share many morphological characters except that A. longa has no chloroplast. In the 1940‘ s, on the basis of the finding that in darkness or upon addition of scrne chemicals, E. gmcilis would fade reversibly or irreversibly, scrne scholars hypothesised that A. longa evolved from E. gracilis by losing chloroplast.The authors‘ use of RAPD and cladistic analyses in a study on the evolutionary relationship between A .longa and E. gmcilis showed that the A. longa ‘ s relationship with E. gmcilis was closer than that with other green euglenoids. This proves the hypothesis that A. longa evolved from E. gmcills is reasonable. The results d this study suggest that saprophytic colorless euglenoids were transformed fromgreen euglenoids by losing their choroplasts.