Dimorphism in Calceola sandalina (Linneé, 1771)

Based on studying the ontogenetic development of Calceola sandalina in the Early Devonian Yukiang Formation from Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, South China, it is for the first time to issue the evidence indicating the existence of sexual dimorphism in Calceola sandalina. The new discovery will add important data on sexual dimorphism throughout the non-colonial fossil metazoan, and it also may throw lights on studying the taxonomy and phylogeny of Calceola sandalina and its relevant taxa.     

性类固醇激素E2、MT 对尼罗罗非鱼(Oreochromis niloticus)雌、雄生长差异的影响

性类固醇激素对动物生长有一定的影响, 但其对鱼类雌、雄生长差异的影响机理尚不清楚。 为进一步了解动物雌雄生长差异的内在原因, 本文通过在体注射和荧光定量PCR 方法, 比较了性类 固醇激素(E₂、MT)对尼罗罗非鱼雌鱼和雄鱼的生长及对垂体GH、肝脏GHR1、IGF-I mRNA 表达的 影响。结果表明: 性类固醇激素E₂ 和MT 对尼罗罗非鱼的生长及生长轴相关基因的表达均有显著的 影响, 并且这种影响存在明显的性别二态性。E₂ 明显促进雌鱼的生长但不显著影响雄鱼的生长, MT 显著促进雄鱼和雌鱼的生长; E₂ 可使雌鱼垂体GH 和肝脏GHR1 、IGF-I 的mRNA 水平显著升高 (P<0.05), 但降低雄鱼垂体GH和肝脏GHR1的mRNA表达; MT 显著提高雄鱼垂体GH和肝脏GHR1、 IGF-I mRNA 水平(P<0.05), 但降低雌鱼垂体GH 的mRNA 表达, 促进雌鱼肝脏GHR1 mRNA 的表达, 但对雄鱼肝脏GHR1 的促进作用明显大于雌鱼(P<0.05).上述结果表明, 性类固醇激素对不同性别尼 罗罗非鱼的生长及生长轴相关基因的mRNA 表达有不同的影响, 表现出明显的性别二态性, 提示不 同性别鱼体内性类固醇激素水平的不同可能是导致尼罗罗非鱼雌雄生长二态性的另一内在原因。     

Sex‐related differences in size,function and regeneration of the major cheliped in the hermit crab Pagurus filholi

Pagurus hermit crabs have a well‐developed right cheliped (major cheliped) and in some species the major cheliped of males is longer than that of females. This paper describes sex‐related differences in major cheliped length and regeneration pattern of the major cheliped in the hermit crab Pagurus filholi. We also examined the function of the major cheliped in male–male competition. Major cheliped length of males was longer than that of females in P. filholi. Males regenerated larger chelipeds than females at the first molt after experimentally induced autotomy. Body size growth in males of the regeneration group was less than that in intact males of the control group while there was no significant difference in body size growth of females between regeneration and control groups. Major cheliped length was included in the best model to explain the outcome of male–male competition and thus sexual selection appears to be a causative factor in the sex‐related difference of the major cheliped length. Sex‐related differences in the regeneration pattern may reflect differences in evolutionary pressures on males for large major chelipeds and females for large body size.     

Effect of salinity on growth and first sexual maturity of Exopalaemon carinicauda (Holthuis, 1950)

To determine the optimal salinity for growth and first sexual maturity of ExopaIaemon carinicauda, the effects of salinity on growth and reproductive performance of early juvenile prawns of E. carinicauda were evaluated under laboratory conditions. Postlarvae from the same female broodstock were reared at six salinity levels （5, 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30） for 12 weeks. The specific growth rate （SGR） and survival rate （SR） under different salinity levels in the first 6 weeks were calculated and compared. SGR was significantly influenced by salinity. Prawns reared in salinity of 10 grew significantly faster （P〈0.05） than those reared in salinities of 5, 20, 25, and 30. However, ANOVA confirmed that there was no significant effect among the six salinity levels on SR. For the next 6 weeks, the body length （BL）, body weight （BW） at the first sexual maturity, and the age at median sexual maturity （As0） of females were measured and compared. Female prawns reared at salinity of 10 presented significantly shorter A50, but no significant differences among the six salinity levels for BL and BW at the first sexual maturity were observed. Based on the above information, the optimal salinity for growth and first sexual maturity of juvenile E. carinicauda is approximately 10.     

胶州湾夜光藻种群动态及其大量繁殖的生态机制

为研究胶州湾夜光藻大量繁殖的生态机制,于2015年逐月对胶州湾12个站位进行了多学科综合调查,获取了温度、盐度、营养盐等环境因子的周年数据,分析了夜光藻种群丰度和结构的时空分布特征,探讨了环境因子对夜光藻种群动态的影响,以及夜光藻种群增长与其繁殖方式的相关关系。结果发现:全年各站位夜光藻丰度范围为0—31.17×10~3ind./m~3,月平均丰度呈现双峰分布;二分裂个体比例介于0—31.25‰,有性繁殖个体比例介于0—29.41‰,两种繁殖方式均呈现出季节差异及空间差异。相关性分析表明,影响夜光藻种群动态的主要因子包括水温、叶绿素a、硝氮及亚硝氮。夜光藻是冷水种,水温与夜光藻种群丰度、两种繁殖个体比例均呈显著负相关;叶绿素a反映夜光藻食物的丰富程度,与夜光藻丰度、两种繁殖个体比例呈显著正相关;亚硝氮和硝氮可能对夜光藻代谢繁殖起调控作用,与夜光藻丰度及有性繁殖个体比例呈负相关。     

First encounter with a live male blanket octopus: The world's most sexually size‐dimorphic large animal

The first encounter with a live male blanket octopus, Tremoctopus violaceus Chiaie, 1830, illustrates the most extreme example of sexual size‐dimorphism in a non‐microscopic animal. Females attain sizes of up to 2 m long—almost 2 orders of magnitude larger than the 2.4‐cm‐long male. Weight ratios between the sexes are at least 10 000:1 and are likely to reach 40 000:1. Sexual selection and the unique defensive strategy of carrying cnidarian stinging tentacles may both have contributed to the evolution of this extreme size‐dimorphism. Such dimorphism is not seen in any other animal remotely as large.     

沙坡头人工固沙区油蒿繁殖分配的研究

对沙坡头人工固沙区油蒿 (Artemisia ordosica) 开花结实期的繁殖分配和生殖枝的生长特点进行了研究,结果表明:2006年8—10月,油蒿生殖枝重、头状花序重都显著增加(P<0.05),但繁殖分配均保持在26%左右;油蒿的繁殖分配与个体大小有一定的关系,地径在0.5 cm以上的油蒿个体才能够开始繁殖,繁殖分配大致呈现出在一定范围内随个体增大而上升,然后又随个体继续增大而下降的趋势。对不同建植年代(1956年、1964年、1981年、1987年)样地中油蒿繁殖结构特征和繁殖分配比较发现,1981年样地上油蒿的生殖枝重、单位生殖枝上的头状花序数、繁殖分配都低于其他3个年代,且其他3个年代的样地间无显著差异(P>0.05)。这表明,人工固沙区油蒿种群的繁殖不仅受固沙时间的影响,而且受其他因素的制约。     

Dimorphism in the Ascidian Pyura stolonifera Near Melbourne, Australia, and its Evaluation Through Field Transplant Experiments

Abstract. On the central coast of Victoria, Australia, the ascidian Pyura stolonifera (H eller . 1878) assumes 2 morphs. a yellow form living exclusively on inner shores, and a brown morph mainly on outer coasts. Distributional surveys, morphological analyses and field transplant experiments were conducted as part of a multidisciplinary investigation designed to elucidate the environmental and genetic components of dimorphism in this species. Distributional surveys revealed that the 2 morphs have a parapatric distribution. Morphological analyses showed striking differences between morphs in colours of tissue types, external anatomy, morphometry and gravimetry. Possible ecological significances of this morphological differentiation are discussed. Transplant experiments, in which morphs were moved within and between habitats, yielded no evidence for morphological plasticity in adults of this species for the great majority of characters examined.