Pub Date : 2015-10-02DOI: 10.1080/11250003.2015.1071437
R. Bakiu, A. Tolomeo, G. Santovito
Abstract Orphan receptor GPR103, a pyroglutamylated RFamide peptide receptor (QRFPR), is a class-A G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) and it is coupled to a Gi alpha subunit (Gi/0) and/or to a Gq protein. Synteny analysis revealed the existence of qrfpr paralogous genes in mouse, zebrafish and coelacanth. These paralogous genes emerged along with the species-specific gene or genome duplications that occurred during vertebrate evolution. Neuropeptide 26RFa (also termed QRFP) is the latest member of the RFamide peptide family to be discovered in the hypothalamus of vertebrates. 26RFa/QRFP is a 26-amino acid residue peptide that was originally identified from the frog brain. It has been shown to exert orexigenic activity in mammals and to be a ligand of the previously identified orphan G protein-coupled receptor, QRFPR. The structure, tissue-specific expression and biochemical activity of the 26RFa/QRFP–QRFPR system are conserved across the Chordata phylum, from fish to mammals. In order to study the molecular evolution of fish QRFPRs, we investigated the presence of natural selection on the QRFPR family using a bioinformatic approach. Overall, the obtained results clearly indicate that fish QRFPRs are under positive selection, but the positively selected amino acids did not significantly alter the biochemical properties of these proteins.
{"title":"Positive selection effects on the biochemical properties of fish pyroglutamylated RFamide peptide receptor (QRFPR)","authors":"R. Bakiu, A. Tolomeo, G. Santovito","doi":"10.1080/11250003.2015.1071437","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/11250003.2015.1071437","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Orphan receptor GPR103, a pyroglutamylated RFamide peptide receptor (QRFPR), is a class-A G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) and it is coupled to a Gi alpha subunit (Gi/0) and/or to a Gq protein. Synteny analysis revealed the existence of qrfpr paralogous genes in mouse, zebrafish and coelacanth. These paralogous genes emerged along with the species-specific gene or genome duplications that occurred during vertebrate evolution. Neuropeptide 26RFa (also termed QRFP) is the latest member of the RFamide peptide family to be discovered in the hypothalamus of vertebrates. 26RFa/QRFP is a 26-amino acid residue peptide that was originally identified from the frog brain. It has been shown to exert orexigenic activity in mammals and to be a ligand of the previously identified orphan G protein-coupled receptor, QRFPR. The structure, tissue-specific expression and biochemical activity of the 26RFa/QRFP–QRFPR system are conserved across the Chordata phylum, from fish to mammals. In order to study the molecular evolution of fish QRFPRs, we investigated the presence of natural selection on the QRFPR family using a bioinformatic approach. Overall, the obtained results clearly indicate that fish QRFPRs are under positive selection, but the positively selected amino acids did not significantly alter the biochemical properties of these proteins.","PeriodicalId":14615,"journal":{"name":"Italian Journal of Zoology","volume":"78 1","pages":"460 - 472"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2015-10-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"86146542","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2015-09-24DOI: 10.1080/11250003.2015.1051140
X. He, M. Chen, E. Zhang
Abstract As a native species in history, Chinese water deer were reintroduced to Shanghai in 2006 and were released into the wild, at Nanhui East Shoal Wildlife Sanctuary, in 2010. In order to study the dispersal, we used radio telemetry to track 12 released deer’s movements. The research suggests that all the bucks showed clear dispersal behaviour in the initial period, and their dispersal occurred earlier and lasted longer than that of the does. Most bucks’ dispersing movement occurred from the third day to the fifth day after release, and the dispersing does’ movement occurred from the eighth to the ninth day. The first dispersal of the bucks lasted for 4–5 days, while this was only 1–2 days for the does. The mean dispersal distance for the bucks was 623 m in the initial period of relocation, and that of the does was significantly smaller. The dispersal distance for sub-adults was also considerably smaller than that of the adults. Reed wetland was the main habitat the deer liked to select. After the initial period, the mean dispersal distance was 857 m and bucks still dispersed significantly farther than does did. Most surviving individuals displayed a new dispersal during early December, but the adult does showed a tendency of retraction from the following January. Unfamiliarity with new environments might explain why the deer did not immediately disperse after release. After becoming familiar with food distribution and shelter conditions, they dispersed further in order to avoid predation risk. In order to improve the survival rate of reintroduced deer, we suggest releasing the adult individuals of robust physique into the wild in future programmes, and more attention should be paid to the initial 9 days after releasing the species. Increasing the local experience of the captive-born animals and helping them become familiar with the new wild habitat will improve the survival rate in future reintroductions.
{"title":"Dispersal of reintroduced Chinese water deer after release in Nanhui East Shoal Wildlife Sanctuary of Shanghai, China","authors":"X. He, M. Chen, E. Zhang","doi":"10.1080/11250003.2015.1051140","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/11250003.2015.1051140","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract As a native species in history, Chinese water deer were reintroduced to Shanghai in 2006 and were released into the wild, at Nanhui East Shoal Wildlife Sanctuary, in 2010. In order to study the dispersal, we used radio telemetry to track 12 released deer’s movements. The research suggests that all the bucks showed clear dispersal behaviour in the initial period, and their dispersal occurred earlier and lasted longer than that of the does. Most bucks’ dispersing movement occurred from the third day to the fifth day after release, and the dispersing does’ movement occurred from the eighth to the ninth day. The first dispersal of the bucks lasted for 4–5 days, while this was only 1–2 days for the does. The mean dispersal distance for the bucks was 623 m in the initial period of relocation, and that of the does was significantly smaller. The dispersal distance for sub-adults was also considerably smaller than that of the adults. Reed wetland was the main habitat the deer liked to select. After the initial period, the mean dispersal distance was 857 m and bucks still dispersed significantly farther than does did. Most surviving individuals displayed a new dispersal during early December, but the adult does showed a tendency of retraction from the following January. Unfamiliarity with new environments might explain why the deer did not immediately disperse after release. After becoming familiar with food distribution and shelter conditions, they dispersed further in order to avoid predation risk. In order to improve the survival rate of reintroduced deer, we suggest releasing the adult individuals of robust physique into the wild in future programmes, and more attention should be paid to the initial 9 days after releasing the species. Increasing the local experience of the captive-born animals and helping them become familiar with the new wild habitat will improve the survival rate in future reintroductions.","PeriodicalId":14615,"journal":{"name":"Italian Journal of Zoology","volume":"34 1","pages":"582 - 591"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2015-09-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"87152129","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2015-09-23DOI: 10.1080/11250003.2015.1093035
V. Pérez‐Mellado, T. García-Díez, J. A. Hernández-Estévez, G. Tavecchia
Abstract Temporal changes in adult sex ratio of animal populations might be due to differences in movements, survival or detection probabilities. We used data from an intensive capture–mark–recapture study of 720 lizards at the islet of Aire (Balearic Islands, Spain) to investigate the demographic mechanisms underlying the spring uneven sex ratio. We simultaneously estimated survival (f), the proportion of transient animals (p) and the probability of recapture (p) of lizards at the study plot. We then estimated population size using open population models for individually based data and compared these with the observed values. Results indicated that males had a higher probability of recapture than females, but this was not sufficient to generate the observed male-biased sex ratio. The proportion of transient males decreased at the end of spring in parallel with the end of the blooming period of the dead horse arum, Helicodiceros muscivorus, a short-lasting food and thermoregulation resource for lizards during spring. Changes in the proportion of transients suggested that sex-dependent movements, most likely linked to a monopolising behaviour of this plant resource, were responsible for the observed difference in the number of males and females. Our results reveal how the interplay of behavioural and ecological factors explains short-term changes in population dynamics and shapes the movement patterns within the island.
{"title":"Behavioural processes, ephemeral resources and spring population dynamics of an insular lizard, Podarcis lilfordi (Squamata: Lacertidae)","authors":"V. Pérez‐Mellado, T. García-Díez, J. A. Hernández-Estévez, G. Tavecchia","doi":"10.1080/11250003.2015.1093035","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/11250003.2015.1093035","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Temporal changes in adult sex ratio of animal populations might be due to differences in movements, survival or detection probabilities. We used data from an intensive capture–mark–recapture study of 720 lizards at the islet of Aire (Balearic Islands, Spain) to investigate the demographic mechanisms underlying the spring uneven sex ratio. We simultaneously estimated survival (f), the proportion of transient animals (p) and the probability of recapture (p) of lizards at the study plot. We then estimated population size using open population models for individually based data and compared these with the observed values. Results indicated that males had a higher probability of recapture than females, but this was not sufficient to generate the observed male-biased sex ratio. The proportion of transient males decreased at the end of spring in parallel with the end of the blooming period of the dead horse arum, Helicodiceros muscivorus, a short-lasting food and thermoregulation resource for lizards during spring. Changes in the proportion of transients suggested that sex-dependent movements, most likely linked to a monopolising behaviour of this plant resource, were responsible for the observed difference in the number of males and females. Our results reveal how the interplay of behavioural and ecological factors explains short-term changes in population dynamics and shapes the movement patterns within the island.","PeriodicalId":14615,"journal":{"name":"Italian Journal of Zoology","volume":"82 1","pages":"556 - 564"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2015-09-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"84804874","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2015-09-23DOI: 10.1080/11250003.2015.1091514
J. Cheng, P. Guo, Z. Wang, L. Sun
Abstract Copper is an essential micronutrient as its redox properties play a significant biochemistry role in the nervous system. Its essentiality is evidenced by Menkes disease (MD), an X-linked neurodegenerative disease caused by mutations in the ATP7A copper transporter, showing that ATP7A is concerned with the development of the nervous system. To investigate the regulation of ATP7A in the development of neurons, we analyzed the expression of the mRNA, protein and the localization of ATP7A in C57BL/6 mice neural stem cells (NSCs), astrocytes and hippocampal neurons cultured in vitro. The results indicated that ATP7A expression was decreased stepwise in NSC, astrocytes and hippocampal neurons. The fluorescent signals of ATP7A were located between the nucleus and plasma membrane in the three kinds of cells. It can be concluded that ATP7A might be involved in the development of neurons and astrocytes. This research may contribute to knowledge about the severe neurodegeneration characteristic of copper-metabolic diseases caused by mutations in the ATP7A gene.
{"title":"Expression and localization of the copper-ATPase ATP7A in mice neural cells","authors":"J. Cheng, P. Guo, Z. Wang, L. Sun","doi":"10.1080/11250003.2015.1091514","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/11250003.2015.1091514","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Copper is an essential micronutrient as its redox properties play a significant biochemistry role in the nervous system. Its essentiality is evidenced by Menkes disease (MD), an X-linked neurodegenerative disease caused by mutations in the ATP7A copper transporter, showing that ATP7A is concerned with the development of the nervous system. To investigate the regulation of ATP7A in the development of neurons, we analyzed the expression of the mRNA, protein and the localization of ATP7A in C57BL/6 mice neural stem cells (NSCs), astrocytes and hippocampal neurons cultured in vitro. The results indicated that ATP7A expression was decreased stepwise in NSC, astrocytes and hippocampal neurons. The fluorescent signals of ATP7A were located between the nucleus and plasma membrane in the three kinds of cells. It can be concluded that ATP7A might be involved in the development of neurons and astrocytes. This research may contribute to knowledge about the severe neurodegeneration characteristic of copper-metabolic diseases caused by mutations in the ATP7A gene.","PeriodicalId":14615,"journal":{"name":"Italian Journal of Zoology","volume":"1 1","pages":"473 - 478"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2015-09-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"89114640","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2015-09-07DOI: 10.1080/11250003.2015.1062149
S.-H. Chen, Liping Xia, H. Dahms, X. Peng, X. Ying
Abstract The ultrastructural characteristics of spermatogenesis of the mollusc Onchidium struma (Pulmonata: Onchidiidae) were studied by transmission electron microscopy. The spermatogenesis of O. struma is divided into five stages based on morphological changes of the nucleus, mitochondria and other organelles that include the spermatogonium, primary spermatocyte, secondary spermatocyte, spermatid and sperm. During sperm cell differentiation, the nucleus content is condensed from asymmetrical granules to flocculent-shape, filament-shape, long-filament-shape, uniform and finally dense granules. The shape of the nucleus is transformed from round to olive shaped, wing shaped and finally long cone shaped. There is a posterior nuclear fossa in the nucleus of the mature spermatozoon. During spermatogenesis, there are rich Golgi vesicles, endoplasmic reticula, endoplasmic reticulum vesicles and a great deal of mitochondria. The number of mitochondria increases at first and then decreases while the volume of mitochondria increases. The mitochondria crista increase in number and are fused. The distribution of mitochondria develops from random to polar, and the mitochondrial complex encloses around the axoneme at the final stage. The changes of nucleus and organelles during spermatogenesis are compared between O. struma and other gastropods, and its peculiarities for gastropod reproduction as well as physiological adaptations are discussed.
{"title":"The ultrastructural characteristics of spermatogenesis in Onchidium struma (Pulmonata: Onchidiidae) and its functional adaptation","authors":"S.-H. Chen, Liping Xia, H. Dahms, X. Peng, X. Ying","doi":"10.1080/11250003.2015.1062149","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/11250003.2015.1062149","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract The ultrastructural characteristics of spermatogenesis of the mollusc Onchidium struma (Pulmonata: Onchidiidae) were studied by transmission electron microscopy. The spermatogenesis of O. struma is divided into five stages based on morphological changes of the nucleus, mitochondria and other organelles that include the spermatogonium, primary spermatocyte, secondary spermatocyte, spermatid and sperm. During sperm cell differentiation, the nucleus content is condensed from asymmetrical granules to flocculent-shape, filament-shape, long-filament-shape, uniform and finally dense granules. The shape of the nucleus is transformed from round to olive shaped, wing shaped and finally long cone shaped. There is a posterior nuclear fossa in the nucleus of the mature spermatozoon. During spermatogenesis, there are rich Golgi vesicles, endoplasmic reticula, endoplasmic reticulum vesicles and a great deal of mitochondria. The number of mitochondria increases at first and then decreases while the volume of mitochondria increases. The mitochondria crista increase in number and are fused. The distribution of mitochondria develops from random to polar, and the mitochondrial complex encloses around the axoneme at the final stage. The changes of nucleus and organelles during spermatogenesis are compared between O. struma and other gastropods, and its peculiarities for gastropod reproduction as well as physiological adaptations are discussed.","PeriodicalId":14615,"journal":{"name":"Italian Journal of Zoology","volume":"24 1","pages":"489 - 498"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2015-09-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"79201950","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2015-08-26DOI: 10.1080/11250003.2015.1080312
R. Azzoni, A. Franzetti, Diego Fontaneto, Aldo Zullini, R. Ambrosini
Abstract Debris-covered glaciers (DCGs) are glaciers whose ablation area is mostly covered by a continuous layer of debris, and are considered to be among the continental glacierized environments richest in life. DCG colonization by microorganisms, plants and animals, has been investigated in a few studies, while the meiofauna (metazoans smaller than 2 mm) of these environments has been neglected so far. In this study, we analyzed nematode and rotifer fauna on the two largest debris-covered glaciers of the Italian Alps: the Miage Glacier and the Belvedere Glacier. In total, we collected 38 debris samples on the glaciers in July and September 2009. All the rotifers we found belonged to the bdelloid Adineta vaga (Davis, 1873). Nematodes belonged to 19 species. Miage Glacier hosted a richer and more diverse nematode fauna than the Belvedere. The dominant genus was Plectus Bastian, 1865, a common genus in habitats at high latitude and altitude. Analysis of the feeding type of nematodes highlighted that bacterivores were dominant on Miage Glacier, while bacterivores and herbivores were more widespread on Belvedere Glacier. Predator nematodes were absent. Analysis of the food-web structure indicated that nematode assemblages on both glaciers were typical of environments with depleted food availability, probably resulting from instability of the glacier surface and the short exposure of sediments, preventing the evolution of true soil and enrichment in organic matter of the debris. The scarcity of bacterial primary producers suggests that deposition of allochthonous organic matter is the principal organic carbon source in this environment.
碎屑覆盖冰川(DCGs)是一种消融区域大部分被连续的碎屑层覆盖的冰川，被认为是大陆冰川化环境中生命最丰富的冰川之一。微生物、植物和动物对DCG的定植已经在一些研究中进行了调查，而这些环境中的小动物(小于2毫米的后生动物)迄今为止一直被忽视。在这项研究中，我们分析了意大利阿尔卑斯山两个最大的冰川上的线虫和轮虫动物群:Miage冰川和Belvedere冰川。2009年7月和9月，我们总共在冰川上收集了38个碎片样本。我们发现的所有轮虫都属于蛭形Adineta vaga (Davis, 1873)。线虫共19种。Miage冰川比Belvedere冰川拥有更丰富、更多样化的线虫群。优势属为1865年的Plectus Bastian，是高纬度和高海拔地区常见的属。对线虫摄食类型的分析表明，Miage冰川上以细菌摄食为主，而Belvedere冰川上以细菌摄食和草食为主。没有捕食者线虫。对食物网结构的分析表明，这两个冰川上的线虫组合都是典型的食物供应不足的环境，这可能是由于冰川表面的不稳定和沉积物的短暴露，阻止了真正土壤的进化和碎屑有机质的富集。细菌初级生产者的稀缺表明，外来有机质的沉积是该环境的主要有机碳源。
{"title":"Nematodes and rotifers on two Alpine debris-covered glaciers","authors":"R. Azzoni, A. Franzetti, Diego Fontaneto, Aldo Zullini, R. Ambrosini","doi":"10.1080/11250003.2015.1080312","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/11250003.2015.1080312","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Debris-covered glaciers (DCGs) are glaciers whose ablation area is mostly covered by a continuous layer of debris, and are considered to be among the continental glacierized environments richest in life. DCG colonization by microorganisms, plants and animals, has been investigated in a few studies, while the meiofauna (metazoans smaller than 2 mm) of these environments has been neglected so far. In this study, we analyzed nematode and rotifer fauna on the two largest debris-covered glaciers of the Italian Alps: the Miage Glacier and the Belvedere Glacier. In total, we collected 38 debris samples on the glaciers in July and September 2009. All the rotifers we found belonged to the bdelloid Adineta vaga (Davis, 1873). Nematodes belonged to 19 species. Miage Glacier hosted a richer and more diverse nematode fauna than the Belvedere. The dominant genus was Plectus Bastian, 1865, a common genus in habitats at high latitude and altitude. Analysis of the feeding type of nematodes highlighted that bacterivores were dominant on Miage Glacier, while bacterivores and herbivores were more widespread on Belvedere Glacier. Predator nematodes were absent. Analysis of the food-web structure indicated that nematode assemblages on both glaciers were typical of environments with depleted food availability, probably resulting from instability of the glacier surface and the short exposure of sediments, preventing the evolution of true soil and enrichment in organic matter of the debris. The scarcity of bacterial primary producers suggests that deposition of allochthonous organic matter is the principal organic carbon source in this environment.","PeriodicalId":14615,"journal":{"name":"Italian Journal of Zoology","volume":"51 1","pages":"616 - 623"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2015-08-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"85715717","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2015-08-18DOI: 10.1080/11250003.2015.1078418
D. Araujo, E. Paula-Neto, A. Brescovit, D. Cella, M. C. Schneider
Abstract Nephilid systematics has been subject to several changes in the last years, and the use of non-classical characters could be useful for evolutionary considerations. In this study, we analyzed the mitotic chromosomes of two nephilid spiders, Nephila clavipes and Nephila sexpunctata, using standard staining, silver nitrate impregnation and C-banding techniques, aiming to discuss the chromosomal similarities of Nephilidae and Tetragnathidae, and chromosome evolution within Nephila and Nephilingis. The basic karyotype characteristics observed in these two species (2n♂ = 22 + X1X20 and monoarmed chromosomes) were similar to those registered for most araneoid families, i.e., Araneidae, Linyphiidae, Nephilidae, Nesticidae and Tetragnathidae. However, the occurrence of both prominent secondary constrictions and nucleolar organizer regions (NORs) is a shared characteristic between Nephilidae and Tetragnathidae, considering that these regions were not observed in any other Araneoidea species cytogenetically examined. Furthermore, in the present study we showed that within Nephila and Nephilingis species, change in the number and location of NORs as well as in the quantity and distribution of constitutive heterochromatin were the main events responsible for chromosome evolution, and that these differences can be useful in the cytotaxonomy of this group.
{"title":"Chromosomal similarities between Nephilidae and Tetragnathidae indicate unique evolutionary traits among Araneoidea","authors":"D. Araujo, E. Paula-Neto, A. Brescovit, D. Cella, M. C. Schneider","doi":"10.1080/11250003.2015.1078418","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/11250003.2015.1078418","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Nephilid systematics has been subject to several changes in the last years, and the use of non-classical characters could be useful for evolutionary considerations. In this study, we analyzed the mitotic chromosomes of two nephilid spiders, Nephila clavipes and Nephila sexpunctata, using standard staining, silver nitrate impregnation and C-banding techniques, aiming to discuss the chromosomal similarities of Nephilidae and Tetragnathidae, and chromosome evolution within Nephila and Nephilingis. The basic karyotype characteristics observed in these two species (2n♂ = 22 + X1X20 and monoarmed chromosomes) were similar to those registered for most araneoid families, i.e., Araneidae, Linyphiidae, Nephilidae, Nesticidae and Tetragnathidae. However, the occurrence of both prominent secondary constrictions and nucleolar organizer regions (NORs) is a shared characteristic between Nephilidae and Tetragnathidae, considering that these regions were not observed in any other Araneoidea species cytogenetically examined. Furthermore, in the present study we showed that within Nephila and Nephilingis species, change in the number and location of NORs as well as in the quantity and distribution of constitutive heterochromatin were the main events responsible for chromosome evolution, and that these differences can be useful in the cytotaxonomy of this group.","PeriodicalId":14615,"journal":{"name":"Italian Journal of Zoology","volume":"72 1","pages":"513 - 520"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2015-08-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"86300814","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2015-08-17DOI: 10.1080/11250003.2015.1077278
G. Corriero, F. Gadaleta, G. Bavestrello
Abstract A new species of Tethya, T. meloni, is described from the Mediterranean Sea. The sponge, spherical in shape, displays a large size, up to about 8 cm in diameter. The surface is pale yellow, covered by flattened tubercles. It differs from the known Mediterranean Tethya species (T. citrina and T. aurantium) according to the following traits: larger body size; colour; shape and size of megasters; distribution pattern of micrasters.
{"title":"A new Mediterranean species of Tethya (Porifera: Tethyida: Demospongiae)","authors":"G. Corriero, F. Gadaleta, G. Bavestrello","doi":"10.1080/11250003.2015.1077278","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/11250003.2015.1077278","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract A new species of Tethya, T. meloni, is described from the Mediterranean Sea. The sponge, spherical in shape, displays a large size, up to about 8 cm in diameter. The surface is pale yellow, covered by flattened tubercles. It differs from the known Mediterranean Tethya species (T. citrina and T. aurantium) according to the following traits: larger body size; colour; shape and size of megasters; distribution pattern of micrasters.","PeriodicalId":14615,"journal":{"name":"Italian Journal of Zoology","volume":"82 1","pages":"535 - 543"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2015-08-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"89017503","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2015-08-14DOI: 10.1080/11250003.2015.1078417
K. Kalarus, M. Bąkowski
Abstract Natural and semi-natural habitats are declining. However, little is known of the value of artificial and human-altered habitats for biodiversity maintenance in fragmented landscapes. We hypothesized that railway tracks can have great value for butterflies as an alternative habitat. Using 200-m-long transects, we investigated species richness and two main types of β-diversity, i.e. nestedness and community dispersion, for both butterflies and their nectar plants in eight sites under an expected gradient of habitat quality – meadows, railway tracks, forest clearings and degraded meadows. Railway tracks and meadows had higher butterfly species richness than forest clearings and degraded meadow. Butterfly species distribution among sites was strongly related to the gradient of habitat quality that was measured as nectar plant composition. Railway tracks contained the widest pool of butterflies with species of various biotopes as well as a wide pool of nectar plants at a nested subset pattern of β-diversity. However, the pattern of community dispersion was opposite to what had been expected. Meadows and railway tracks, being more heterogeneous sites in terms of composition of nectar plants, supported slightly more homogeneous butterfly communities. This suggests that habitats of low quality, i.e. forest clearings and degraded meadows, have less-stable butterfly communities. We concluded that railway tracks located on sun-warmed embankments containing a reach pool of nectar plants could enable multi-species communities to persist in an environment of good suitability. Conservation managers should therefore focus on enhancing the quality of railway tracks and their vicinity through the preservation of a high abundance of various flowering plants.
{"title":"Railway tracks can have great value for butterflies as a new alternative habitat","authors":"K. Kalarus, M. Bąkowski","doi":"10.1080/11250003.2015.1078417","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/11250003.2015.1078417","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Natural and semi-natural habitats are declining. However, little is known of the value of artificial and human-altered habitats for biodiversity maintenance in fragmented landscapes. We hypothesized that railway tracks can have great value for butterflies as an alternative habitat. Using 200-m-long transects, we investigated species richness and two main types of β-diversity, i.e. nestedness and community dispersion, for both butterflies and their nectar plants in eight sites under an expected gradient of habitat quality – meadows, railway tracks, forest clearings and degraded meadows. Railway tracks and meadows had higher butterfly species richness than forest clearings and degraded meadow. Butterfly species distribution among sites was strongly related to the gradient of habitat quality that was measured as nectar plant composition. Railway tracks contained the widest pool of butterflies with species of various biotopes as well as a wide pool of nectar plants at a nested subset pattern of β-diversity. However, the pattern of community dispersion was opposite to what had been expected. Meadows and railway tracks, being more heterogeneous sites in terms of composition of nectar plants, supported slightly more homogeneous butterfly communities. This suggests that habitats of low quality, i.e. forest clearings and degraded meadows, have less-stable butterfly communities. We concluded that railway tracks located on sun-warmed embankments containing a reach pool of nectar plants could enable multi-species communities to persist in an environment of good suitability. Conservation managers should therefore focus on enhancing the quality of railway tracks and their vicinity through the preservation of a high abundance of various flowering plants.","PeriodicalId":14615,"journal":{"name":"Italian Journal of Zoology","volume":"43 1","pages":"565 - 572"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2015-08-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"91334392","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2015-08-04DOI: 10.1080/11250003.2015.1072251
A. Giangrande, L. Caruso, B. Mikac, M. Licciano
Abstract Two new species, Megalomma longoventralis sp. nov. and M. adriaticum sp. nov., are described based on material collected along the Italian and Croatian coasts. The finding increased the number of species up to now recorded for Mediterranean and Italian coasts, indicating that the Megalomma genus is represented in the Mediterranean area by six taxa, living in a range of habitats and depths: M. lanigera, M. cfr. claparedei, M. messapicum, M. pseudogesae, M. longoventralis and M. adriaticum. Some features of the genus Megalomma are revised, and a dichotomous key for Mediterranean species is provided to facilitate their identification. http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:822E64C0-3925-4EC6-91A7-0233BCD3B3DF
摘要根据意大利和克罗地亚海岸收集的资料，描述了两个新种:Megalomma longoventralis sp. nov.和M. adriaticum sp. nov.。这一发现增加了迄今为止在地中海和意大利海岸记录的物种数量，表明在地中海地区有6个分类群代表了Megalomma属，生活在一系列栖息地和深度:M. lanigera, M. cfr。竹竹、竹竹、竹竹、竹竹、竹竹、竹竹。修订了大鳞麻属的一些特征，并提供了地中海物种的二分类键，以方便其识别。http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:822E64C0-3925-4EC6-91A7-0233BCD3B3DF
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