Odorant binding proteins (OBPs) initiate the process of odorant perception. Numerous investigations have demonstrated that OBPs bind a broad variety of chemicals and are more likely to carry pheromones or odor molecules with high binding affinities. However, few studies have investigated its effects on insect behavior. Previously, we found that AmelOBP4 has a significantly higher expression in the heads of foragers than that of nurses regardless of their ages, revealing its importance in foraging behaviour of the honey bee. RNA interference (RNAi) is the induction of sequence specific gene silencing by double-stranded RNA (dsRNA), it is a powerful tool that makes gene inactivation possible in organisms that were not amenable to genetic analysis before. In this study, we found that AmelOBP4 had high expression levels in the antennae of both nurses and foragers, and could be successfully inhibited by feeding double stranded RNA of AmelOBP4 (dsAmelOBP4). Foragers with inhibited AmelOBP4 showed significantly lower sugar responsiveness than control bees, and also significantly reduced EAG response to plant volatiles of nonanal, linalool and 1-Octen-3ol. On the other hand, nurses with inhibited AmelOBP4 showed significantly reduced EAG response to brood pheromone of ethyl oleate, methyl linoleate, methyl palmitate and β-ocimene. Finally, the Y-tube choice assay showed nurses only exhibited a significantly reduced preference to ethyl oleate, but foragers exhibited significantly reduced preference to all these three plant volatiles. The findings of our study suggested that AmelOBP4 plays an important role in the odorant binding process, especially in modulating olfactory behaviour in workers. Our results provide a foundation for exploring the olfactory mechanism of Apis mellifera.
{"title":"AmelOBP4: an antenna-specific odor-binding protein gene required for olfactory behavior in the honey bee (Apis mellifera)","authors":"Fang Liu, Yu Lai, Lixian Wu, Qiang Li, Linyue Lei, Wei Yin, Yuan Zhang, Zachary Y. Huang, Hongxia Zhao","doi":"10.1186/s12983-024-00554-y","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s12983-024-00554-y","url":null,"abstract":"Odorant binding proteins (OBPs) initiate the process of odorant perception. Numerous investigations have demonstrated that OBPs bind a broad variety of chemicals and are more likely to carry pheromones or odor molecules with high binding affinities. However, few studies have investigated its effects on insect behavior. Previously, we found that AmelOBP4 has a significantly higher expression in the heads of foragers than that of nurses regardless of their ages, revealing its importance in foraging behaviour of the honey bee. RNA interference (RNAi) is the induction of sequence specific gene silencing by double-stranded RNA (dsRNA), it is a powerful tool that makes gene inactivation possible in organisms that were not amenable to genetic analysis before. In this study, we found that AmelOBP4 had high expression levels in the antennae of both nurses and foragers, and could be successfully inhibited by feeding double stranded RNA of AmelOBP4 (dsAmelOBP4). Foragers with inhibited AmelOBP4 showed significantly lower sugar responsiveness than control bees, and also significantly reduced EAG response to plant volatiles of nonanal, linalool and 1-Octen-3ol. On the other hand, nurses with inhibited AmelOBP4 showed significantly reduced EAG response to brood pheromone of ethyl oleate, methyl linoleate, methyl palmitate and β-ocimene. Finally, the Y-tube choice assay showed nurses only exhibited a significantly reduced preference to ethyl oleate, but foragers exhibited significantly reduced preference to all these three plant volatiles. The findings of our study suggested that AmelOBP4 plays an important role in the odorant binding process, especially in modulating olfactory behaviour in workers. Our results provide a foundation for exploring the olfactory mechanism of Apis mellifera.","PeriodicalId":55142,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Zoology","volume":"83 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-01-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142974594","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-01-13DOI: 10.1186/s12983-024-00555-x
Peter Jägers, Stefan Herlitze
During their nighttime shoaling, the flashlight fish Anomalops katoptron produce fascinating, bioluminescent blink patterns, which have been related to the localization of food, determination of nearest neighbor distance, and initiation of the shoal’s movement direction. Information transfer e.g., via alarm signals is an important aspect in group living species especially when being under threat. In dark environments, bioluminescence has the potential to accurately transfer such information. Under threat A. katoptron show increased swimming speeds and a higher group cohesion accompanied by fast blink frequencies. In this study we used a two-choice paradigm to test the preferences for typical blink characteristics e.g., frequency and duration. Our data show that individuals decided within short periods (< 4 s) for faster blink frequencies of artificial light organs and the preference for the higher blink frequencies became more pronounced as the difference between the presented frequencies increased. The preference correlated with the frequency rather than the duration. Our study suggests that fast, bioluminescent blinks of light organs lead to aggregations of A. katoptron.
{"title":"Fast, bioluminescent blinks attract group members of the nocturnal flashlight fish Anomalops katoptron (Bleeker, 1856)","authors":"Peter Jägers, Stefan Herlitze","doi":"10.1186/s12983-024-00555-x","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s12983-024-00555-x","url":null,"abstract":"During their nighttime shoaling, the flashlight fish Anomalops katoptron produce fascinating, bioluminescent blink patterns, which have been related to the localization of food, determination of nearest neighbor distance, and initiation of the shoal’s movement direction. Information transfer e.g., via alarm signals is an important aspect in group living species especially when being under threat. In dark environments, bioluminescence has the potential to accurately transfer such information. Under threat A. katoptron show increased swimming speeds and a higher group cohesion accompanied by fast blink frequencies. In this study we used a two-choice paradigm to test the preferences for typical blink characteristics e.g., frequency and duration. Our data show that individuals decided within short periods (< 4 s) for faster blink frequencies of artificial light organs and the preference for the higher blink frequencies became more pronounced as the difference between the presented frequencies increased. The preference correlated with the frequency rather than the duration. Our study suggests that fast, bioluminescent blinks of light organs lead to aggregations of A. katoptron.","PeriodicalId":55142,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Zoology","volume":"29 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-01-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142968274","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-12-19DOI: 10.1186/s12983-024-00553-z
Kaiyue Cui, Shengnan Yang, Junhua Hu
Climatic and geographic variations have profound effects on the resource utilization of individuals and populations. Evaluating resource use in different environments is crucial for understanding species ecological adaptation strategies and promoting biodiversity conservation. Stable isotopes are widely used to assess trophic niches, providing quantitative indicators of ecological interactions between organisms and resource use in ecosystems. This study assesses the trophic niche traits of spiny-bellied frogs (Quasipaa boulengeri) in the marginal mountains of the Sichuan Basin in southwestern China using stable isotopes. Trophic niche variation under different time periods and environmental conditions is explored. The spiny-bellied frogs experienced a significant reduction in trophic niche width during the past breeding season. The populations in the northwestern Sichuan Basin had a greater trophic niche width than the southeastern populations, and their δ15N values showed a positive correlation with temperature seasonality and a negative correlation with annual precipitation. Despite differences between the northwestern and southeastern populations, there was a consistent trend of increased individual specialization with latitude in both the northwestern and southeastern regions. Ontogenetic niche shifts and differences in trophic niche traits between the northwestern and southeastern populations indicate diverse adaptation strategies in mountain frogs. The findings underscore the impact of geographical and climate variations on the resource utilization of amphibians. In addition, patterns of individual specialization highlight the significance of considering intra- and interpopulational changes when studying ecological adaptation.
{"title":"Trophic niche adaptation of mountain frogs around the Sichuan Basin: individual specialization and response to climate variations","authors":"Kaiyue Cui, Shengnan Yang, Junhua Hu","doi":"10.1186/s12983-024-00553-z","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s12983-024-00553-z","url":null,"abstract":"Climatic and geographic variations have profound effects on the resource utilization of individuals and populations. Evaluating resource use in different environments is crucial for understanding species ecological adaptation strategies and promoting biodiversity conservation. Stable isotopes are widely used to assess trophic niches, providing quantitative indicators of ecological interactions between organisms and resource use in ecosystems. This study assesses the trophic niche traits of spiny-bellied frogs (Quasipaa boulengeri) in the marginal mountains of the Sichuan Basin in southwestern China using stable isotopes. Trophic niche variation under different time periods and environmental conditions is explored. The spiny-bellied frogs experienced a significant reduction in trophic niche width during the past breeding season. The populations in the northwestern Sichuan Basin had a greater trophic niche width than the southeastern populations, and their δ15N values showed a positive correlation with temperature seasonality and a negative correlation with annual precipitation. Despite differences between the northwestern and southeastern populations, there was a consistent trend of increased individual specialization with latitude in both the northwestern and southeastern regions. Ontogenetic niche shifts and differences in trophic niche traits between the northwestern and southeastern populations indicate diverse adaptation strategies in mountain frogs. The findings underscore the impact of geographical and climate variations on the resource utilization of amphibians. In addition, patterns of individual specialization highlight the significance of considering intra- and interpopulational changes when studying ecological adaptation.","PeriodicalId":55142,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Zoology","volume":"12 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2024-12-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142849140","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-12-04DOI: 10.1186/s12983-024-00549-9
Bruno Cavalcante Bellini, Nikolas Gioia Cipola, Sopark Jantarit, Nathália Michelly da Cunha Santos, Areeruk Nilsai, Hsin-Ju Cheng, Nerivânia Nunes Godeiro
The subfamily Seirinae (Collembola: Entomobryidae) is among the most diverse suprageneric taxa of epedaphic springtails and is particularly abundant and species-rich in tropical and subtropical regions. Numerous studies have investigated its internal and external phylogenetic relationships, enhancing our understanding on Seirinae systematics. Recent taxonomic efforts have also advanced our knowledge on the subfamily morphology and diversity. In this study, we reevaluate the phylogeny of Seirinae using the mitogenomes of 26 samples from different continents, aiming to discuss recent findings regarding the group systematics, to identify cases of alien species introduced in China and Thailand, and propose new synonyms for Seira spp. Additionally, we describe a new species from Thailand and provide a redescription of Seira brasiliana (Arlé) based on the study of Brazilian and Chinese specimens. Through these efforts, we provide further ground for understanding the evolution, systematics, distribution and taxonomy of the group, contributing to future studies on Seirinae and Entomobryidae.
{"title":"Exploring mitogenomic data to enhance the understanding of Seirinae (Collembola: Entomobryidae) evolution, distribution and taxonomy","authors":"Bruno Cavalcante Bellini, Nikolas Gioia Cipola, Sopark Jantarit, Nathália Michelly da Cunha Santos, Areeruk Nilsai, Hsin-Ju Cheng, Nerivânia Nunes Godeiro","doi":"10.1186/s12983-024-00549-9","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s12983-024-00549-9","url":null,"abstract":"The subfamily Seirinae (Collembola: Entomobryidae) is among the most diverse suprageneric taxa of epedaphic springtails and is particularly abundant and species-rich in tropical and subtropical regions. Numerous studies have investigated its internal and external phylogenetic relationships, enhancing our understanding on Seirinae systematics. Recent taxonomic efforts have also advanced our knowledge on the subfamily morphology and diversity. In this study, we reevaluate the phylogeny of Seirinae using the mitogenomes of 26 samples from different continents, aiming to discuss recent findings regarding the group systematics, to identify cases of alien species introduced in China and Thailand, and propose new synonyms for Seira spp. Additionally, we describe a new species from Thailand and provide a redescription of Seira brasiliana (Arlé) based on the study of Brazilian and Chinese specimens. Through these efforts, we provide further ground for understanding the evolution, systematics, distribution and taxonomy of the group, contributing to future studies on Seirinae and Entomobryidae.","PeriodicalId":55142,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Zoology","volume":"74 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2024-12-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142763218","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Tibetan sheep are indigenous to the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau. Owing to the harsh hypoxic environment in this plateau, the hemoglobin (Hb) protein in Tibetan sheep has undergone adaptive changes over time. Hb is primarily responsible for transporting O2 and CO2 between the lungs and other tissues of the body. The α subunit of Hb, encoded by the HBA gene, is a crucial component of the protein. However, whether variations in the HBA gene sequence affect the adaptation of Tibetan sheep to high-altitude hypoxia remains unclear. In this study, we sequenced the HBA gene and identified three single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). These SNPs were genotyped in Tibetan and Hu sheep using Kompetitive Allele-Specific PCR (KASP). The results showed that the frequencies of the AT genotype and H1H2 haplotype were higher in Tibetan sheep than in Hu sheep. Individuals with the AT genotype exhibited higher P50 levels, whereas those with the H1H2 haplotype exhibited lower PO2 and SaO2 levels. The higher P50 levels indicated that O2 was more readily released from oxygenated Hb into the tissues, with the lower PO2 and SaO2 levels facilitating this process. These findings indicate that variations in the HBA gene sequence contribute to enhancing O2 transfer efficiency in Tibetan sheep.
{"title":"Variations in HBA gene contribute to high-altitude hypoxia adaptation via affected O2 transfer in Tibetan sheep","authors":"Pengfei Zhao, Xiong Ma, Jianming Ren, Lan Zhang, Yunxin Min, Chunyang Li, Yaoyao Lu, Ying Ma, Mingjie Hou, Hui Jia","doi":"10.1186/s12983-024-00551-1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s12983-024-00551-1","url":null,"abstract":"Tibetan sheep are indigenous to the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau. Owing to the harsh hypoxic environment in this plateau, the hemoglobin (Hb) protein in Tibetan sheep has undergone adaptive changes over time. Hb is primarily responsible for transporting O2 and CO2 between the lungs and other tissues of the body. The α subunit of Hb, encoded by the HBA gene, is a crucial component of the protein. However, whether variations in the HBA gene sequence affect the adaptation of Tibetan sheep to high-altitude hypoxia remains unclear. In this study, we sequenced the HBA gene and identified three single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). These SNPs were genotyped in Tibetan and Hu sheep using Kompetitive Allele-Specific PCR (KASP). The results showed that the frequencies of the AT genotype and H1H2 haplotype were higher in Tibetan sheep than in Hu sheep. Individuals with the AT genotype exhibited higher P50 levels, whereas those with the H1H2 haplotype exhibited lower PO2 and SaO2 levels. The higher P50 levels indicated that O2 was more readily released from oxygenated Hb into the tissues, with the lower PO2 and SaO2 levels facilitating this process. These findings indicate that variations in the HBA gene sequence contribute to enhancing O2 transfer efficiency in Tibetan sheep.","PeriodicalId":55142,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Zoology","volume":"19 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2024-11-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142684288","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-11-19DOI: 10.1186/s12983-024-00550-2
Mariusz Kanturski, Yerim Lee, Hyojoong Kim
Background: Lachninae (Insecta: Aphididae) represent a fascinating group of aphids that are traditionally divided into five tribes. Among these, members of the tribe Tuberolachnini exhibit remarkable morphological and biological diversity. One genus of this group, Miyalachnus, known from Japan, is characterized by unique features. Our study aimed to re-examine the tribal classification within Lachninae, with a focus on the diverse Tuberolachnini and the previously understudied genera Miyalachnus and Sinolachnus.
Results: We conducted a comprehensive phylogenetic analysis using four genes (COI, COII, CytB, and EF1α), employing both maximum likelihood (ML) and Bayesian inference (BI) methods on a combined dataset. Our findings challenge the monophyly of Tuberolachnini. The analyses revealed that Miyalachnus and Sinolachnus are phylogenetically distinct from the core Tuberolachnini genera (Nippolachnus, Pyrolachnus, and Tuberolachnus), instead showing a closer relationship with Tramini. Specifically, the Miyalachnus clade forms a sister clade to the clade containing Sinolachnus and Tramini.
Conclusions: On the basis of these molecular results, corroborated by morphological evidence, we propose to erect a new tribe within the Lachninae-Miyalachnini trib. nov. with Miyalachnus as the type genus. We also provide updated taxonomic diagnoses for the remaining tribes and discuss their relationships as well as distinguishing features.
{"title":"Phylogenetic reconstruction of Tuberolachnini and Lachninae (Insecta, Hemiptera): Morphological and molecular analyses revealed a new tribe.","authors":"Mariusz Kanturski, Yerim Lee, Hyojoong Kim","doi":"10.1186/s12983-024-00550-2","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12983-024-00550-2","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Lachninae (Insecta: Aphididae) represent a fascinating group of aphids that are traditionally divided into five tribes. Among these, members of the tribe Tuberolachnini exhibit remarkable morphological and biological diversity. One genus of this group, Miyalachnus, known from Japan, is characterized by unique features. Our study aimed to re-examine the tribal classification within Lachninae, with a focus on the diverse Tuberolachnini and the previously understudied genera Miyalachnus and Sinolachnus.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>We conducted a comprehensive phylogenetic analysis using four genes (COI, COII, CytB, and EF1α), employing both maximum likelihood (ML) and Bayesian inference (BI) methods on a combined dataset. Our findings challenge the monophyly of Tuberolachnini. The analyses revealed that Miyalachnus and Sinolachnus are phylogenetically distinct from the core Tuberolachnini genera (Nippolachnus, Pyrolachnus, and Tuberolachnus), instead showing a closer relationship with Tramini. Specifically, the Miyalachnus clade forms a sister clade to the clade containing Sinolachnus and Tramini.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>On the basis of these molecular results, corroborated by morphological evidence, we propose to erect a new tribe within the Lachninae-Miyalachnini trib. nov. with Miyalachnus as the type genus. We also provide updated taxonomic diagnoses for the remaining tribes and discuss their relationships as well as distinguishing features.</p>","PeriodicalId":55142,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Zoology","volume":"21 1","pages":"29"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2024-11-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11575128/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142669732","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-11-14DOI: 10.1186/s12983-024-00552-0
Danica Pavlović, Branislav Salatić, Srećko Ćurčić, Petar Milovanović, Dejan V. Pantelić
All living organisms exist in a world affected by many external influences, especially water and light. Photonic nanostructures present in certain insects, have evolved over time in response to diverse environmental conditions, facilitating communication within and between species, camouflage, thermoregulation, hydration, and more. Up to now, only a few insect species have been discovered whose elytron changes its color due to permeation of water (or its vapor) through cuticle. Here we report on a scarabaeid beetle Hoplia argentea remarkable in its ability to shift from green to brownish-red when exposed to water, demonstrating reversible changes. Here we show that elytron and scales form a complex and efficient micro/nano-optofluidic system. Water is channeled into the elytral lacunae, then transported internally to the petals of the scales, where it is wicked inside each scale, pushing the entrapped air out. Wicking is a very fast process, occurring during a few seconds. The advantage of this principle is in extremely high pressure (approximately 15 bar) produced by capillary forces, which expediates permeation of air. We present optical models that explain the physical mechanisms behind the coloration, detailing how superhydrophilic properties influence optical behavior. Species within the genus Hoplia exhibit diverse coloration strategies, likely linked to their specific ecological niches. These organisms have evolved intricate optical and microfluidic systems that facilitate rapid alterations in body coloration, potentially serving purposes such as environmental camouflage and thermoregulation. Studying microfluidic and optical properties of the elytra will not only enhance our understanding of the biological purposes behind color change but also inspires design of artificial biomimetic devices. Dynamic fluid flow patterns, described in this paper, are fairly constant and unique and can be used in security applications as a, so called, physically unclonable functions (PUF). More broadly, this kind of microfluidic system can be used for controlled drug release, sensing, hydraulic and pneumatic pumping.
{"title":"Complex interplay between the microfluidic and optical properties of Hoplia sp. beetles","authors":"Danica Pavlović, Branislav Salatić, Srećko Ćurčić, Petar Milovanović, Dejan V. Pantelić","doi":"10.1186/s12983-024-00552-0","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s12983-024-00552-0","url":null,"abstract":"All living organisms exist in a world affected by many external influences, especially water and light. Photonic nanostructures present in certain insects, have evolved over time in response to diverse environmental conditions, facilitating communication within and between species, camouflage, thermoregulation, hydration, and more. Up to now, only a few insect species have been discovered whose elytron changes its color due to permeation of water (or its vapor) through cuticle. Here we report on a scarabaeid beetle Hoplia argentea remarkable in its ability to shift from green to brownish-red when exposed to water, demonstrating reversible changes. Here we show that elytron and scales form a complex and efficient micro/nano-optofluidic system. Water is channeled into the elytral lacunae, then transported internally to the petals of the scales, where it is wicked inside each scale, pushing the entrapped air out. Wicking is a very fast process, occurring during a few seconds. The advantage of this principle is in extremely high pressure (approximately 15 bar) produced by capillary forces, which expediates permeation of air. We present optical models that explain the physical mechanisms behind the coloration, detailing how superhydrophilic properties influence optical behavior. Species within the genus Hoplia exhibit diverse coloration strategies, likely linked to their specific ecological niches. These organisms have evolved intricate optical and microfluidic systems that facilitate rapid alterations in body coloration, potentially serving purposes such as environmental camouflage and thermoregulation. Studying microfluidic and optical properties of the elytra will not only enhance our understanding of the biological purposes behind color change but also inspires design of artificial biomimetic devices. Dynamic fluid flow patterns, described in this paper, are fairly constant and unique and can be used in security applications as a, so called, physically unclonable functions (PUF). More broadly, this kind of microfluidic system can be used for controlled drug release, sensing, hydraulic and pneumatic pumping.","PeriodicalId":55142,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Zoology","volume":"16 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2024-11-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142610157","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-10-21DOI: 10.1186/s12983-024-00547-x
Piotr Gąsiorek, Martin V. Sørensen, Marie Rathcke Lillemark, Frederik Leerhøi, Anders P. Tøttrup
Tardigrade diversity and distribution are enigmatic in most parts of the globe, and only some European countries can boast of a relatively well-studied water bear fauna. However, even these suffer from the lack of genetic data, which would substantiate faunistic data and make biogeographic comparisons easier. Denmark has never been intensively and systematically researched in this regard, thus a citizen science sampling of cryptogams (mosses, liverworts, and lichens) was launched in spring 2023, aiming at a comprehensive biodiversity survey across this insular country. Nearly 700 samples were selected out of 8.000 sent to NHMD, based on the quality of samples, representativeness of various regions of Denmark, and the type of substrate to allow unravelling of potential ecological associations between tardigrades and cryptogams. Importantly, a large fraction of morphological identifications was backed up by DNA barcode data based on ITS-2 (1001 sequences), and in some cases also on COI (93 sequences) and ITS-1 (22 sequences) molecular markers, which are recognised DNA fragments used in species delimitation. We quadruple the number of known Danish limno-terrestrial tardigrade species (55 spp. reported in this paper vs. 14 spp. reported in literature so far, most of which were contentious due to the insufficient knowledge on tardigrade taxonomy), demonstrating the power of integrative taxonomy. No fewer than nine spp. are new to science. This is the first case where tardigrade fauna of an entire country is examined both from morphological and DNA barcoding data perspective.
在全球大部分地区，缓行动物的多样性和分布都是一个谜，只有一些欧洲国家的水熊动物群研究得相对较好。然而，即使是这些国家也缺乏基因数据，而基因数据可以证实动物学数据，并使生物地理比较更加容易。丹麦从未在这方面进行过深入系统的研究，因此在 2023 年春季启动了一项隐花植物（苔藓、肝草和地衣）公民科学采样活动，旨在对这个海岛国家的生物多样性进行全面调查。根据样本的质量、在丹麦各地区的代表性以及基质类型，从发送给 NHMD 的 8,000 份样本中选出了近 700 份样本，以揭示沙蜥和隐花植物之间潜在的生态关联。重要的是，大部分形态鉴定都有基于 ITS-2（1001 个序列）的 DNA 条形码数据作为支持，在某些情况下还有基于 COI（93 个序列）和 ITS-1 （22 个序列）分子标记的数据，这些标记是用于物种划分的公认 DNA 片段。我们将已知的丹麦跛足沙蜥物种数量增加了四倍（本文报告了 55 个种，而迄今为止文献中报告的物种只有 14 个，其中大部分因对沙蜥分类学的了解不足而存在争议），显示了综合分类学的威力。其中不少于 9 个种是科学界的新发现。这是首次从形态学和 DNA 条形码数据的角度对整个国家的沙蜥动物群进行研究。
{"title":"Massive citizen science sampling and integrated taxonomic approach unravel Danish cryptogam-dwelling tardigrade fauna","authors":"Piotr Gąsiorek, Martin V. Sørensen, Marie Rathcke Lillemark, Frederik Leerhøi, Anders P. Tøttrup","doi":"10.1186/s12983-024-00547-x","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s12983-024-00547-x","url":null,"abstract":"Tardigrade diversity and distribution are enigmatic in most parts of the globe, and only some European countries can boast of a relatively well-studied water bear fauna. However, even these suffer from the lack of genetic data, which would substantiate faunistic data and make biogeographic comparisons easier. Denmark has never been intensively and systematically researched in this regard, thus a citizen science sampling of cryptogams (mosses, liverworts, and lichens) was launched in spring 2023, aiming at a comprehensive biodiversity survey across this insular country. Nearly 700 samples were selected out of 8.000 sent to NHMD, based on the quality of samples, representativeness of various regions of Denmark, and the type of substrate to allow unravelling of potential ecological associations between tardigrades and cryptogams. Importantly, a large fraction of morphological identifications was backed up by DNA barcode data based on ITS-2 (1001 sequences), and in some cases also on COI (93 sequences) and ITS-1 (22 sequences) molecular markers, which are recognised DNA fragments used in species delimitation. We quadruple the number of known Danish limno-terrestrial tardigrade species (55 spp. reported in this paper vs. 14 spp. reported in literature so far, most of which were contentious due to the insufficient knowledge on tardigrade taxonomy), demonstrating the power of integrative taxonomy. No fewer than nine spp. are new to science. This is the first case where tardigrade fauna of an entire country is examined both from morphological and DNA barcoding data perspective.","PeriodicalId":55142,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Zoology","volume":"85 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2024-10-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142452403","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-10-08DOI: 10.1186/s12983-024-00548-w
Anastasiya Ivanovna Lukinykh, Olga Vladimirovna Ezhova, Vladimir Vladimirovich Yushin, Sergey Vladimirovich Galkin, Vladimir Vasilievich Malakhov
The deep-sea acorn worm Quatuoralisia malakhovi belongs to the phylum Hemichordata, class Enteropneusta, family Torquaratoridae, which was described in 2005. Owing to their epibenthic lifestyle and deep-sea habitat features, torquaratorids differ anatomically from shallow-water acorn worms; however, their morphology and fine structure are poorly studied. We have the opportunity to make three complete detailed series of histological sections of Q. malakhovi and to study the microscopic anatomy, histology and fine structure of the reproductive system of this acorn worm using scanning and transmission electron microscopy. The sexes of Q. malakhovi are separate and indistinguishable externally. The lobed testes occupy the dorsal side of the genital wings and distinctly bulge into the peribranchial cavity by their mature lobes. The central part of the testis is always submerged into the genital wing and opens via a single gonad pore. The monociliary muscle cells stretch along the external wall of the testis and surround the gonad pore, probably taking part in the contraction of the testis lobes for spawning. The germinative epithelium of the testis contains spermatogenic cells at different stages of development and interstitial cells. Yolk cells are not found. Interstitial cells embrace the spermatogonia and spermatogenic columns, providing horizontal compartmentalization of the germinative epithelium, and contain numerous phagosomes with remnants of degenerating spermatogenic cells. The testis wall contains haemal lacunae, which are usually located on the side opposite the gonad pore. We describe the fine structure of spermatogonia, spermatocytes clustered in spermatogenic columns, spermatids, and spermatozoa. Spermatozoa are of the ectaquasperm type and consist of an acorn-shaped head and a flagellum 18–25 µm long. The sperm head includes a beak-shaped acrosomal part, a spherical nucleus and a midpiece containing a ring of 5 or rarely 6 mitochondria. The male reproductive system and sperm structure of Q. malakhovi, a representative of the family Torquaratoridae, have a number of differences from shallow-water acorn worms; however, the spermatogenesis and sperm structure of Q. malakhovi generally follow the pattern of the other three enteropneust families, and the phylogenetic significance of these deviations should be the subject of further research.
{"title":"Male reproductive system of the deep-sea acorn worm Quatuoralisia malakhovi (Hemichordata, Enteropneusta, Torquaratoridae) from the Bering Sea","authors":"Anastasiya Ivanovna Lukinykh, Olga Vladimirovna Ezhova, Vladimir Vladimirovich Yushin, Sergey Vladimirovich Galkin, Vladimir Vasilievich Malakhov","doi":"10.1186/s12983-024-00548-w","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s12983-024-00548-w","url":null,"abstract":"The deep-sea acorn worm Quatuoralisia malakhovi belongs to the phylum Hemichordata, class Enteropneusta, family Torquaratoridae, which was described in 2005. Owing to their epibenthic lifestyle and deep-sea habitat features, torquaratorids differ anatomically from shallow-water acorn worms; however, their morphology and fine structure are poorly studied. We have the opportunity to make three complete detailed series of histological sections of Q. malakhovi and to study the microscopic anatomy, histology and fine structure of the reproductive system of this acorn worm using scanning and transmission electron microscopy. The sexes of Q. malakhovi are separate and indistinguishable externally. The lobed testes occupy the dorsal side of the genital wings and distinctly bulge into the peribranchial cavity by their mature lobes. The central part of the testis is always submerged into the genital wing and opens via a single gonad pore. The monociliary muscle cells stretch along the external wall of the testis and surround the gonad pore, probably taking part in the contraction of the testis lobes for spawning. The germinative epithelium of the testis contains spermatogenic cells at different stages of development and interstitial cells. Yolk cells are not found. Interstitial cells embrace the spermatogonia and spermatogenic columns, providing horizontal compartmentalization of the germinative epithelium, and contain numerous phagosomes with remnants of degenerating spermatogenic cells. The testis wall contains haemal lacunae, which are usually located on the side opposite the gonad pore. We describe the fine structure of spermatogonia, spermatocytes clustered in spermatogenic columns, spermatids, and spermatozoa. Spermatozoa are of the ectaquasperm type and consist of an acorn-shaped head and a flagellum 18–25 µm long. The sperm head includes a beak-shaped acrosomal part, a spherical nucleus and a midpiece containing a ring of 5 or rarely 6 mitochondria. The male reproductive system and sperm structure of Q. malakhovi, a representative of the family Torquaratoridae, have a number of differences from shallow-water acorn worms; however, the spermatogenesis and sperm structure of Q. malakhovi generally follow the pattern of the other three enteropneust families, and the phylogenetic significance of these deviations should be the subject of further research.","PeriodicalId":55142,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Zoology","volume":"12 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2024-10-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142384250","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-09-30DOI: 10.1186/s12983-024-00546-y
Peng Zheng, Tao Liang, Lei Shi
Toe fringes are a key innovation for sand dwelling lizards, and the relationship between toe fringe function and substrate properties is helpful in understanding the adaptation of lizards to sand dune environments. We tested the sand burial performance of Phrynocephalus mystaceus on different sand substrates with toe fringe manipulation, with the aim of assessing whether the function of the toe fringes shifts under different substrate properties, especially in highly mobile substrates. The sand burial performance of P. mystaceus was influenced by substrate properties in relation to the toe fringe states of the lizard. After removal of the bilateral toe fringes, the sand burial ability score of P. mystaceus was significantly higher on sand substrates below 100 mesh than on native sand substrates. As the angle of stability of the substrate properties decreased, the sand burial performance of the lizard was even better after the bilateral toe fringes were removed. The results of the LASSO model and the path analysis model showed that the stability angle provided the opposite effect on sand burial performance in different toe fringe states. These results further suggest that the sand burial function of toe fringes may not be suitable for highly mobile sand substrates. It remains to be tested further whether the function of toe fringes is more important for running on sand.
{"title":"Are toe fringes important for lizard burying in highly mobile sand?","authors":"Peng Zheng, Tao Liang, Lei Shi","doi":"10.1186/s12983-024-00546-y","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s12983-024-00546-y","url":null,"abstract":"Toe fringes are a key innovation for sand dwelling lizards, and the relationship between toe fringe function and substrate properties is helpful in understanding the adaptation of lizards to sand dune environments. We tested the sand burial performance of Phrynocephalus mystaceus on different sand substrates with toe fringe manipulation, with the aim of assessing whether the function of the toe fringes shifts under different substrate properties, especially in highly mobile substrates. The sand burial performance of P. mystaceus was influenced by substrate properties in relation to the toe fringe states of the lizard. After removal of the bilateral toe fringes, the sand burial ability score of P. mystaceus was significantly higher on sand substrates below 100 mesh than on native sand substrates. As the angle of stability of the substrate properties decreased, the sand burial performance of the lizard was even better after the bilateral toe fringes were removed. The results of the LASSO model and the path analysis model showed that the stability angle provided the opposite effect on sand burial performance in different toe fringe states. These results further suggest that the sand burial function of toe fringes may not be suitable for highly mobile sand substrates. It remains to be tested further whether the function of toe fringes is more important for running on sand.","PeriodicalId":55142,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Zoology","volume":"31 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2024-09-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142330275","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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