Gene loss and evolutionary rates following whole-genome duplication in teleost fishes.

Teleost fishes provide the first unambiguous support for ancient whole-genome duplication in an animal lineage. Studies in yeast or plants have shown that the effects of such duplications can be mediated by a complex pattern of gene retention and changes in evolutionary pressure. To explore such patterns in fishes, we have determined by phylogenetic analysis the evolutionary origin of 675 Tetraodon duplicated genes assigned to chromosomes, using additional data from other species of actinopterygian fishes. The subset of genes, which was retained in double after the genome duplication, is enriched in development, signaling, behavior, and regulation functional categories. The evolutionary rate of duplicate fish genes appears to be determined by 3 forces: 1) fish proteins evolve faster than mammalian orthologs; 2) the genes kept in double after genome duplication represent the subset under strongest purifying selection; and 3) following duplication, there is an asymmetric acceleration of evolutionary rate in one of the paralogs. These results show that similar mechanisms are at work in fishes as in yeast or plants and provide a framework for future investigation of the consequences of duplication in fishes and other animals.

Characterization of Ornamental Rock Residue and Potassium Liberation Via Organic Acid Application

ABSTRACT Organic acids present in organic matter and, or, exudates by microorganisms and plants can increase the liberation of potassium present in minerals. The objective of this study was to characterize the residue from ornamental rocks and evaluate the release of K from these residues after the application of organic acids. The experiment was conducted under laboratory conditions and followed a 2 × 3 × 5 factorial design with three replicates. The studied factors were: two organic acids (citric acid and malic acid), three ornamental rock residues (R1, R2 and R3) and five organic acid rates (0, 5, 10, 20 and 40 mmol L-1). After agitation, K concentrations were determined in the equilibrium solution. Successive extractions were performed (1, 5, 10, 15, 30 and 60 days after the start of the experiment). The organic acids used (citric and malic) promoted the release of up to 4.86 and 4.34 % of the total K contained in the residue, respectively, reinforcing the role of organic acids in the weathering of minerals and in providing K to the soil. The K quantities were, on average, 6.1 % higher when extracted with citric acid compared to malic acid.

Some Common Iowa Fishes, May 1936

This booklet contains information on the fish industry in Iowa and how to manage and improve it. It also shows drawings of the anatomy of a fish and various breeds that are found in Iowa. It concludes with a list of native fishes known from Iowa.

Overfishing of small pelagic fishes increases trophic overlap between immature and mature striped dolphins in the Mediterranean Sea

The interactions among diet, ecology, physiology, and biochemistry affect N and C stable isotope signatures in animal tissues. Here, we examined if ecological segregation among animals in relation to sex and age existed by analyzing the signatures of delta15N and delta13C in the muscle of Western Mediterranean striped dolphins. Moreover, we used a Bayesian mixing model to study diet composition and investigated potential dietary changes over the last two decades in this population. For this, we compared isotope signatures in samples of stranded dolphins obtained during two epizootic events occurring in 1990 and 2007-2008. Mean delta13C values for females and males were not significantly different, but age-related variation indicated delta13C enrichment in both sexes, suggesting that females and males most likely fed in the same general areas, increasing their consumption of benthic prey with age. Enrichment of delta15N was only observed in females, suggesting a preference for larger or higher trophic level prey than males, which could reflect different nutritional requirements. delta13C values showed no temporal variation, although the mean delta15N signature decreased from 1990 to 2007-2008, which could indicate a dietary shift in the striped dolphin over the last two decades. The results of SIAR indicated that in 1990, hake and sardine together contributed to 60% on the diet of immature striped dolphins, and close to 90% for mature striped dolphins. Conversely, the diet of both groups in 2007-2008 was more diverse, as hake and sardine contributed to less than 40% of the entire diet. These results suggest a dietary change that was possibly related to changes in food availability, which is consistent with the depletion of sardine stocks by fishing.

De la bellesa ornamental a la bellesa comercial : De les relacions entre art i publicitat en l'obra cartellista d'Alphonse Mucha

En aquest treball s'investiga, a través de l'obra d'Alphonse Mucha com autor paradigmàtic de l'Art Nouveau en el context geogràfic del París de finals del segle XIX i principis del XX, la possible influència de la publicitat en la difusió i consolidació de les creences i valors dels grups socials més ben posicionats, i molt especialment en el cas de la dona, ja que l'obra de Mucha està centrada bàsicament en la figura femenina. Així mateix, també es busca esbrinar la intervenció d'aquests grups en la creació d'un camp artístic que alhora faria possible la contemplació estètica de l'anunci comercial, i que esdevindria un element més d'aquesta moderna cultura, capitalista i urbana, de grans transformacions i avenços tecnològics, i que des d'una òptica crítica com la de l'Escola de Frankfurt, estaria 'cosificant' l'individu en nom de la ciència i el progrés, des del moment en què aquest quedaria condemnat al consum il·limitat per tal de satisfer un desig insaciable: l'afany d'emulació de la classe ociosa, o dit d'altra manera, d'aquella que el domina.

Brotações adventícias de abacaxizeiro ornamental sob o efeito de benzilaminopurina, ácido naftalenoacético e períodos de subcultivo

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar os efeitos da adição de benzilaminopurina (BAP), em combinação com o ácido naftalenoacético (ANA), e dos períodos de subcultivo, na formação de brotações in vitro de abacaxizeiro ornamental. O meio básico líquido consistiu de sais minerais MS e vitaminas. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi o inteiramente casualizado, em esquema fatorial 6x2x4, com seis concentrações de BAP (0, 0,125, 0,25, 0,5, 1 e 2 mg L-1) e duas de ANA (0 e 0,1 mg L-1), e quatro períodos de subcultivo (30, 60, 90 e 120 dias). Os explantes consistiram de brotações individuais de 1 cm de comprimento, oriundas da cultura in vitro. A formação de novas brotações foi observada em meio suplementado com BAP, em todos os períodos de subcultivo. O maior número médio de brotos por explante foi obtido em meio com a concentração de 1,2 mg L-1 de BAP e 120 dias de subcultivo.

Substratos alternativos ao xaxim na produção de bromélia ornamental

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar substratos alternativos para o cultivo da bromélia Aechmea fasciata (Lindley) Baker, para substituir com eficiência as misturas formuladas com o xaxim Dicksonia sellowiana (Presl.) Hook. Foram testados os substratos: casca de Pinus, casca de Eucalyptus, coxim, fibra de coco e xaxim, misturados com turfa e perlita, nas proporções 2:7:1, 5:4:1 e 8:1:1. O experimento foi realizado em condições de estufa com cobertura de polietileno, sombreada com tela a 70%. As bromélias foram cultivadas durante 435 dias, até o início do florescimento - estádio de comercialização. As variáveis analisadas foram as massas de matéria seca de: folhas, raiz, inflorescência, escapo floral e caule; além da massa de matéria seca total e a qualidade comercial. Os substratos formulados com xaxim ou casca de Pinus, nas proporções 2:7:1, 5:4:1 e 8:1:1, e com casca de Eucalyptus, fibra de coco ou coxim, na proporção 2:7:1, foram as misturas que apresentaram os melhores resultados. Os substratos formulados com casca de Eucalyptus, fibra de coco ou coxim, com 10% de turfa e 10% de perlita, na proporção 8:1:1, apresentaram os piores resultados.

Flora ornamental de Cerdanyola del Vallès, idoneïtat respecte les al·lèrgies i mesures pal·liatives

El pol·len de plantes alliberat durant la pol·linització pot produir al·lèrgies a persones sensibles amb tendència ascendent en el temps, provocant malestar i elevades pèrdues econòmiques. La mala planificació en flora ornamental urbana és, en part, responsable; aquest estudi identifica, ajudant-se de plànols de simple interpretació, els principals problemes d’aquesta en relació a les al·lèrgies en Cerdanyola. S’observa una elevada presència de gèneres amb alta al·lerginicitat, molts concentrats en determinades localitzacions, essent especialment perillosos en març i abril, i una sobreplantació d’Acer negundo. Millorar la qualitat de vida dels afectats passa principalment per disminuir el nombre d’espècies altament al·lergògenes prioritàriament en les localitzacions amb més perill, tasca que ha de ser idealment realitzada per un equip d’experts.

Irrigation performance and gross water productivity in furrow-irrigated ornamental tree production

In the ornamental plant production region of Girona (Spain), which is one of the largest of its kind in southern Europe, most of the surface is irrigated using wide blocked-end furrows. The objectives of this paper were: (1) to evaluate the irrigation scheduling methods used by ornamental plant producers; (2) to analyse different scenarios in order to assess how they affect irrigation performance; (3) to evaluate the risk of deep percolation; and (4) to calculate gross water productivity. A two-year study in a representative commercial field, planted with Prunus cerasifera ‘Nigra’, was carried out. The irrigation dose applied by the farmers was slightly smaller than the required water dose estimated by the use of two different methods: the first based on soil water content, and the second based on evapotranspiration. Distribution uniformity and application eff iciency were high, with mean values above 87%. Soil water content measurements revealed that even at the end of the furrow, where the infiltrated water depth was greatest, more than 90% of the infiltrated water was retained in the shallowest 40 cm of the soil; accordingly, the risk of water loss due to deep percolation was minimal. Gross water productivity for ornamental tree production was € 11.70 m–3, approximately 20 times higher than that obtained with maize in the same region.

Caracterização morfológica de seis variedades cítricas com potencial ornamental

Embora o Brasil seja o maior produtor mundial de citros, a produção de mudas cítricas para fins ornamentais é pequena, e a pesquisa nessa área ainda é escassa. Os citros são atrativos para o paisagismo principalmente por seus frutos, que são de tamanhos, formatos e cores variados e que, em sua maioria, podem ser ingeridos in natura. O objetivo deste trabalho foi caracterizar, para fins paisagísticos, seis variedades cítricas com potencial ornamental: cidra Mão-de-Buda, kunquat Nagami, laranja Cipó, laranja Imperial, limão Faustrine e tangerina Venezuela, cultivadas no Banco Ativo de Germoplasma do Centro APTA Citros Sylvio Moreira, do Instituto Agronômico, em Cordeirópolis-SP. Para cada variedade, foram coletados 30 folhas adultas, 30 flores totalmente abertas e 30 frutos maduros para análise de seus caracteres morfológicos. As características das árvores também foram avaliadas. O delineamento utilizado foi o inteiramente casualizado, e a média das 30 medidas de cada variável representou a variedade. Foram observadas diferenças morfológicas acentuadas entre as seis variedades e todas apresentaram potencial ornamental.

[Notes breus (fauna)] Noves introduccions i poblament actual de peixos a l’estany de Banyoles = New introductions and present population of fishes in Lake Banyoles

Nota breu de fauna sobre les noves introduccions i el poblament actual de peixos a l’estany de Banyoles

Finlands fiskar målade efter naturen = The fishes of Finland, drawn and coloured from life. Häft. 1-12

Gustaf (Gösta) Sundman (1854-1914) tuli tunnetuksi korkeatasoisten luonnontieteellisten kuvateosten kuvittajana. Finlands fiskar –teos ilmestyi kahtenatoista vihkona 1883-1893, upeat, metallihohtoiset kalojen kuvat irrallisina tauluina. Kalateokset tekstit ovat eläintieteen professori O. M. Reuterin ja eläintieteellisen museon amanuenssin A. J. Melan laatimia.

Experimental assessment of the effects of a Neotropical nocturnal piscivore on juvenile native and invasive fishes

We experimentally examined the predator-prey relationships between juvenile spotted sorubim Pseudoplastystoma corruscans and young-of-the-year invasive and native fish species of the Paraná River basin, Brazil. Three invasive (peacock bass Cichla piquiti, Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus, and channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus) and two native (yellowtail tetra Astyanax altiparanae and streaked prochilod Prochilodus lineatus) fish species were offered as prey to P. corruscans in 300 L aquaria with three habitat complexity treatments (0%, 50% and 100% structure-covered). Prey survival was variable through time and among species (C. piquiti < O. niloticus < A. altiparanae < P. lineatus < I. punctatus), depending largely on species-specific prey behavior but also on prey size and morphological defenses. Habitat complexity did not directly affect P. corruscans piscivory but some prey species changed their microhabitat use and shoaling behavior among habitat treatments in predator’s presence. Pseudoplatystoma corruscans preyed preferentially on smaller individuals of those invasive species with weak morphological defensive features that persisted in a non-shoaling behavior. Overall, our results contrast with those in a companion experiment using a diurnal predator, suggesting that nocturnal piscivores preferentially prey on different (rather diurnal) fish species and are less affected by habitat complexity. Our findings suggest that recovering the native populations of P. corruscans might help controling some fish species introduced to the Paraná River basin, particularly C. piquiti and O. niloticus, whose parental care is expected to be weak or null at night

Conservation Genetics of Exploited Finnish Salmonid Fishes

Genetic diversity is one of the levels of biodiversity that the World Conservation Union (IUCN) has recognized as being important to preserve. This is because genetic diversity is fundamental to the future evolution and to the adaptive flexibility of a species to respond to the inherently dynamic nature of the natural world. Therefore, the key to maintaining biodiversity and healthy ecosystems is to identify, monitor and maintain locally-adapted populations, along with their unique gene pools, upon which future adaptation depends. Thus, conservation genetics deals with the genetic factors that affect extinction risk and the genetic management regimes required to minimize the risk. The conservation of exploited species, such as salmonid fishes, is particularly challenging due to the conflicts between different interest groups. In this thesis, I conduct a series of conservation genetic studies on primarily Finnish populations of two salmonid fish species (European grayling, Thymallus thymallus, and lake-run brown trout, Salmo trutta) which are popular recreational game fishes in Finland. The general aim of these studies was to apply and develop population genetic approaches to assist conservation and sustainable harvest of these populations. The approaches applied included: i) the characterization of population genetic structure at national and local scales; ii) the identification of management units and the prioritization of populations for conservation based on evolutionary forces shaping indigenous gene pools; iii) the detection of population declines and the testing of the assumptions underlying these tests; and iv) the evaluation of the contribution of natural populations to a mixed stock fishery. Based on microsatellite analyses, clear genetic structuring of exploited Finnish grayling and brown trout populations was detected at both national and local scales. Finnish grayling were clustered into three genetically distinct groups, corresponding to northern, Baltic and south-eastern geographic areas of Finland. The genetic differentiation among and within population groups of grayling ranged from moderate to high levels. Such strong genetic structuring combined with low genetic diversity strongly indicates that genetic drift plays a major role in the evolution of grayling populations. Further analyses of European grayling covering the majority of the species’ distribution range indicated a strong global footprint of population decline. Using a coalescent approach the beginning of population reduction was dated back to 1 000-10 000 years ago (ca. 200-2 000 generations). Forward simulations demonstrated that the bottleneck footprints measured using the M ratio can persist within small populations much longer than previously anticipated in the face of low levels of gene flow. In contrast to the M ratio, two alternative methods for genetic bottleneck detection identified recent bottlenecks in six grayling populations that warrant future monitoring. Consistent with the predominant role of random genetic drift, the effective population size (N_e) estimates of all grayling populations were very low with the majority of N_e estimates below 50. Taken together, highly structured local populations, limited gene flow and the small N_e of grayling populations indicates that grayling populations are vulnerable to overexploitation and, hence, monitoring and careful management using the precautionary principles is required not only in Finland but throughout Europe. Population genetic analyses of lake-run brown trout populations in the Inari basin (northernmost Finland) revealed hierarchical population structure where individual populations were clustered into three population groups largely corresponding to different geographic regions of the basin. Similar to my earlier work with European grayling, the genetic differentiation among and within population groups of lake-run brown trout was relatively high. Such strong differentiation indicated that the power to determine the relative contribution of populations in mixed fisheries should be relatively high. Consistent with these expectations, high accuracy and precision in mixed stock analysis (MSA) simulations were observed. Application of MSA to indigenous fish caught in the Inari basin identified altogether twelve populations that contributed significantly to mixed stock fisheries with the Ivalojoki river system being the major contributor (70%) to the total catch. When the contribution of wild trout populations to the fisheries was evaluated regionally, geographically nearby populations were the main contributors to the local catches. MSA also revealed a clear separation between the lower and upper reaches of Ivalojoki river system – in contrast to lower reaches of the Ivalojoki river that contributed considerably to the catch, populations from the upper reaches of the Ivalojoki river system (>140 km from the river mouth) did not contribute significantly to the fishery. This could be related to the available habitat size but also associated with a resident type life history and increased cost of migration. The studies in my thesis highlight the importance of dense sampling and wide population coverage at the scale being studied and also demonstrate the importance of critical evaluation of the underlying assumptions of the population genetic models and methods used. These results have important implications for conservation and sustainable fisheries management of Finnish populations of European grayling and brown trout in the Inari basin.