Alteration of metallothionein mRNA in bay scallop Argopecten irradians under cadmium exposure and bacteria challenge

Metallothionein (MT) is a superfamily of cysteine-rich proteins contributing to metal metabolism, detoxification of heavy metals, and immune response such as protecting against ionizing radiation and antioxidant defense. A metallothionein (designated AiMT2) gene was identified and cloned from bay scallop, Argopecten irradians. The full length cDNA of AiMT2 consisted of an open reading frame (ORF) of 333 bp encoding a protein of 110 amino acids. with nine characteristic Cys-X-Cys, five Cys-X-X-Cys, five Cys-X-X-X-Cys and two Cys-Cys motif arrangements and a conserved structural pattern Cys-x-Cys-x(3)-Cys-Tyr-x(3)Cys-x-Cys-x(3)-Cys-x-Cys-Arg at the C-terminus. The cloned ANT showed about 50% identity in the deduced amino acid sequence with previously published MT sequences of mussels and oysters. The conserved structural pattern and the close phylogenetic relationship of AiMT2 shared with MTs from other mollusc especially bivalves indicated that AiMT2 was a new member of molluscan MT family. The mRNA transcripts in hemolymph of AiMT2 under cadmium (Cd) exposure and bacteria challenge were examined by real-time RT-PCR. The mRNA expression of AiMT2 was up-regulated to 3.99-fold at 2 h after Listonella anguillarum challenge, and increased drastically to 66.12-fold and 126.96-fold at 16 and 32 h post-challenge respectively. Cadmium ion exposure could induce the expression of AiMT2, and the expression level increased 2.56-fold and 6.91-fold in hemolymph respectively after a 10-day exposure of 100 mu g L-1 and 200 mu g L-1 CdCl2. The sensitivity of AiMT2 to bacteria challenge and cadmium stress indicated it was a new Cd-dependent MT in bay scallop and also regulated by an immune challenge. The changes in the expression of AiMT2 could be used as an indicator of exposure to metals in pollution monitoring programs and oxidative stress, and bay scallop as a potential sentinel organism for the cadmium contamination in aquatic environment. (C) 2008 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Dietary-morphological relationships of fishes in Liangzi Lake, China

Species in Liangzi Lake were clustered into four trophic groups: Hemiramphus kurumeus and Hemiculter bleekeri bleekeri fed predominantly on terrestrial insects; Carassius auratus auratus and Abbottina rivularis on non-animal food; Hypseleotris swinhonis, Ctenogobius giurinus, Pseudorasbora parva and Toxabramis swinhonis on cladocerans or copepods; Culterichthys erythropterus on decapod shrimps. Gut length, mouth width, mouth height, gill raker length and gill raker spacing, varied widely among species. With the exception of three species pairs (H. swinhonis, C. glurinus; C. erythropterus, H. kurumeus; T. swinhonis, H. bleekeri bleekeri), principal components analysis of morphological variables revealed over-dispersion of species. Canonical correspondence analysis of dietary and morphological data revealed five significant dietary-morphological correlations. The first three roots explained > 85% of the total variance. The first root reflected mainly the relationship of gut length to non-animal feud, with an increase in gut length associated with an increase in non-animal food. The second root was influenced strongly by the relationship of the gill raker spacing to consumption of copepods, with an increase in gill raker spacing associated positively with copepods in the diet. The third root was influenced by the relationship of mouth gape to consumption of fish and decapod shrimps, with an increase in mouth gape associated with more fish and decapod shrimps in the diet. These significant dietary-morphological relationships supported the eco-morphological hypotheses that fish morphology influence food use, and morphological variation is important in determining ecological segregation of co-existing fish species. (C) 2001 The Fisheries Society of the British Isles.

Morphological and phylogenetic analysis of a Gymnodinium-like species from the Chinese Coast

A Gymnodinium-like species was studied with light microscopy (LM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Also, the internal transcribed spacers (containing 5.8S rDNA) and large ribosomal subunit DNA (D1-D2) sequences were obtained by PCR amplification, and then sequenced to explore the relationships within our isolate, Gymnodinium and other Gymnodinium-like species, including Karenia, Gyrodinium, Karlodinium and Symbiodinium. The LM observation showed that the species was characterized by moving in a levorotatory direction, visible hypocone, epicone and transverse groove, all of which are typical for Gymnodinium. In addition, two flagella could be found under SEM. The phylogenetic analysis revealed that the isolate grouped with Symbiodium, rather than other relevant dinoflagellates. All results showed our isolate belongs to Symbiodium. The strain was isolated from a red tide water sample, denoting that Symbiodium may be causative species for algal bloom.

Phylogenetic studies on two strains of Antarctic ice algae based on morphological and molecular characteristics

The taxonomic characterization of two strains of Antarctic ice algae, Chlamydomonas sp. ICE-L and Chlamydomonas sp. ICE-W, were analyzed on the basis of morphological and molecular traits. The results indicate that they are the same species and belong to Chlamydomonas (Chlorophyta). According to I SS rDNA and ITS-I sequences they are very close relatives of Chlamydomonas sp. Antarctic 2E9, if not identified as such. They belong to the 'monadina clade', Cd. monadina and Cm. subdivisa as the sister group, on the basis of 18S rDNA sequence. They occur in 'Chlamydomonas clade' according to rbcL sequencing and are close relatives of Cd. kuwadae. The ITS sequences of ICE-L and ICE-W are 1302 base pairs and 1300 base pairs in length, the longest Volvocales ITS sequences ever reported.

Pervasive autocorrelation of the chemical index of alteration in sedimentary profiles and its palaeoenvironmental implications

The chemical index of alteration has been used widely for reconstruction of the palaeoclimate. However, the mechanisms and environmental factors controlling the chemical index of alteration of sediments are not yet fully understood. In this study, autocorrelations of the chemical index of alteration in nine sedimentary profiles, from both the land and the sea, spanning different geological times, are discussed. The sediments of these profiles have different origins (dust, fluvial or ocean sediments) and are from various climate situations and sedimentary environments. Autocorrelations of chemical index of alteration series are ubiquitously evident in all profiles. It is suggested here that autocorrelations may be caused by post-depositional changes such as persistent weathering and diagenesis. As a result, the chemical index of alteration may not reflect climatic conditions during the time of sediment deposition. This study strongly recommends the confirmation of the reliability and veracity of the chemical index of alteration before it is adopted to evaluate the weathering degree of parent rocks and to reconstruct the past climate. Significant autocorrelations in loess profiles were specifically observed, suggesting that the existing understanding of loess deposition in terms of climate conditions requires re-examination, and that previous reconstructions of rapid climate changes (for example, in centennial-millennial scales) should be treated with caution.

Short-term morphological changes after sand-digging during a sand sculpture activity

The morphology of the beach backshore and foreshore at Huiquan Bay, Qingdao, China, is characterized by a single intertidal sandbar system with a spring tide range of 4.59 m. The beach was measured with a laser total station of Leica TPS402. Contours of the beach were generated using data collected in March and November 2005. The survey method provided 2 mm measuring accuracy and 4-10 m horizontal spacing. The net accretion volume of the foreshore was about 11, 215 m(3) from March to November. After sand sculpture activity, the axis of the sand trough migrated onshore from about 3.5 m to 17.5 m on the foreshore beach in November. At the same time, the axis of the sandbar crest migrated onshore no more than 42.25 m on the northwest foreshore; and it migrated offshore no more than 23.75 m on the southeast foreshore. On the northwest and southeast foreshore beach, two strips of erosion areas with a thickness of 0-0.2 m appeared on the sandbar crest. Accretion occurred at the bottom of the sand trough with a thickness of similar to 0.2-0.6 m. The sandbar height decreased after sand sculpture activity, and it was no more than 0.7 m in March and 0.6 m in November. Human activities, such as sand digging on the sandbar crest during sand sculpture activity, also can disturb the beach morphology of intertidal bar systems. This phenomenon also was validated by comparison of beach morphology, the results of a color artificial tracer experiment and a sediment transportation trend prediction.

Morphological and ultrastructural characterization of the coelomocytes in Apostichopus japonicus

The coelomocytes suspended in the coelomic fluid and occurring in the coelomic epithelial layer of the sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicus (Selenka) (Holothuroidea: Aspidochirota: Stichopodidae) function as mediators of the immune system, trephocytic cells and nutrient transport cells. Types of coelomocytes are characterized based on their morphological and ultrastructural features. Flow cytometry plus light and electron microscopic analyses were conducted in order to characterize the coelomocytes of A. japonicus. Six types of coelomocytes were identified: lymphocytes, morula cells, amoebocytes, crystal cells, fusiform cells and vibratile cells. Within these major categories, several distinctive cell types occurred that might represent developmental stages. The mean +/- SD coelomocyte concentration in the individuals (body length: 10 to 15 cm; weight: 100 to 150 g) was (3.79 +/- 0.65) X 10(6) cells ml(-1). The coelomic fluid contained mainly hyalinocytes (76.69%) and granulocytes (23.31 %).

Feeding, morphological changes and allometric growth during starvation in miiuy croaker larvae

We investigated the effects of the timing of first feeding (larvae in F0, F1, F2, F3 and S were first fed on day 3, 4, 5, 6 days after hatching (DAH) and unfed, respectively) on feeding, morphological changes, survival and growth in miiuy croaker larvae at 24A degrees C. The fed larvae initiated feeding on 3 DAH and reached point of no return (PNR) on 6 DAH. Larvae in F0 and F1 groups survived apparently better than F2 group at the end of the experiment on 36 DAH. High larval mortality occurred from 3 to 7 DAH in all feeding groups, accounting for 40% (F0, F1 and F2 groups) to 90% (F3 and S groups) of the total mortality. Larvae in F0 and F1 groups grew better than F2 group throughout the experiment. Eye diameter, body height, head height and mouth gape of the first feeding larvae were more sensitive to starvation than other morphometrics and could be used as indicators for evaluating their nutritional status. Results indicated that delayed first feeding over 1 day after yolk exhaustion could lead to poor larval survival and growth. To avoid starvation and obtain good growth in culturing, larvae feeding should be initiated within 1 day after yolk exhaustion at 24A degrees C.

Morphological and genetic study of Prorocentrum donghaiense Lu from the East China Sea, and comparison with some related Prorocentrum species

In this paper, the detailed morphology of Prorocentrum donghaiense Lu from both field samples and cultures was examined, and a taxonomic comparison was made between P donghaiense and some related Prorocentrum spp. using morphological and molecular data and other published information. There were distinct differences among these species in morphological characteristics that historically have been presented as conservative features. The discrepancies extended beyond that of individual variations within the same species due to environmental factors. Therefore, these morphological features may not be conservative but, rather, polymorphic depending on environmental conditions. Based on this analysis, we suggest that the high-biomass bloom-forming species in the East China Sea, previously reported as Prorocentrum dentatum Stein, is P donghaiense Lu. The species reported from the East China Sea and Japanese and Korean waters appear to be the same species. Molecular data also suggest that P. dentatum (CCMP1517) and P. donghaiense are genetically identical. Therefore, the geographic distribution of P. donghaiense may be much wider than expected. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Feeding resumption, morphological changes and mortality during starvation in Japanese flounder larvae

Japanese flounder Paralichthys olivaceus larvae established first feeding 3 days after hatching (DAH) at c. 17degreesC. Non-fed fish reached irreversible starvation at age 5 DAH. Non-fed fish showed similar feeding rate and feeding intensity as the fed fish when they were provided with prey before 5 DAH, after which the starved larvae did not feed even when prey became available. None of the six morphological measurements examined (total length, body height, eye height, head height, gut height and myotome height) showed significant differences between the non-fed and fed larvae until 5 DAH. Normal development continued only in the fed group, and the non-fed larvae showed reverse growth or body collapse after 5 DAH. Owing to the shrinkage and collapse at the top of head due to starvation, head height could be a sensitive indicator of starvation in Japanese flounder larvae. In the fed treatments, high mortality occurred from first feeding (3 DAH) to irreversible starvation (5 DAH), accounting for about two-thirds to three-quarters of the overall mortality (46-52%) throughout the experiments. This mortality was not prey density or larval density dependent. Mortality during the same period in the non-fed larvae accounted for about a third of the overall mortality (100%). (C) 2002 The Fisheries Society of the British Isles. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

Morphological and reproductive response of Caragana microphylla to different stocking rates

Understanding the effect on host plants of defending against herbivores is important in grazing ecology and grassland management. In this study, the morphological and reproductive responses of Caragana microphylla Lam. to grazing sheep were investigated using a 15-year grazing experiment with six stocking rates in the Inner Mongolia steppe of China. Plant height, rachis length, leaflet size, and number of pods decreased significantly, whereas spine density and length increased significantly with increased stocking rate. Significant negative correlations were observed between production of vegetative and reproductive organs and defensive organs, indicating that it is costly for C. microphylla to defend against herbivores and that morphological miniaturization and a tradeoff between production and defense were main responses of C. microphylla to herbivores. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.