Genetic evidence of two sibling species within the Contracoecum ogmorhini Johnson & Mawson 1941 complex (Nematoda; Anisakidae) from otariid seals in boreal and austral regions

Genetic variation of Contracaecum ogmorhini (sensu lato) populations from different otariid seals of the northern and southern hemisphere was studied on the basis of 18 enzyme loci as well as preliminary sequence analysis of the mitochondrial cyt b gene (260 bp). Samples were collected from Zalophus californianus in the boreal region and from Arctocephalus pusillus pusillus, A. pusillus doriferus and A. australis from the austral region. Marked genetic heterogeneity was found between C. ogmorhini (sensu lato) samples from the boreal and austral region, respectively. Two loci (Mdh-2 and NADHdh) showed fixed differences and a further three loci (Iddh, Mdh-1 and 6Pgdh) were highly differentiated between boreal and austral samples. Their average genetic distance was DNei = 0.36 at isozyme level. At mitochondrial DNA level, an average proportion of nucleotide substitution of 3.7% was observed. These findings support the existence of two distinct sibling species, for which the names C. ogmorhini (sensu stricto) and C. margolisi n. sp., respectively, for the austral and boreal taxon, are proposed. A description for C. margolisi n. sp. is provided. No diagnostic morphological characters have so far been detected; on the other hand, two enzyme loci, Mdh-2 and NADHdh, fully diagnostic between the two species, can be used for the routine identification of males, females and larval stages. Mirounga leonina was found to host C. ogmorhini (s.s.) inmixed infections with C. osculatum (s.l.) (of which C. ogmorhini (s.l.) was in the past considered to be a synonym) and C. miroungae; no hybrid genotypes were found,confirming the reproductive isolation of these three anisakid species. The hosts and geographical range so far recorded for C. margolisi n. sp. and C. ogmorhini (s.s.) are given.

Strandings as indicators of marine mammal biodiversity and human interactions off the coast of North Carolina

The adjacency of 2 marine biogeographic regions off Cape Hatteras, North Carolina (NC), and the proximity of the Gulf Stream result in a high biodiversity of species from northern and southern provinces and from coastal and pelagic habitats. We examined spatiotemporal patterns of marine mammal strandings and evidence of human interaction for these strandings along NC shorelines and evaluated whether the spatiotemporal patterns and species diversity of the stranded animals reflected published records of populations in NC waters. During the period of 1997–2008, 1847 stranded animals were documented from 1777 reported events. These animals represented 9 families and 34 species that ranged from tropical delphinids to pagophilic seals. This biodiversity is higher than levels observed in other regions. Most strandings were of coastal bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) (56%), harbor porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) (14%), and harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) (4%). Overall, strandings of northern species peaked in spring. Bottlenose dolphin strandings peaked in spring and fall. Almost half of the strandings, including southern delphinids, occurred north of Cape Hatteras, on only 30% of NC’s coastline. Most stranded animals that were positive for human interaction showed evidence of having been entangled in fishing gear, particularly bottlenose dolphins, harbor porpoises, short-finned pilot whales (Globicephala macrorhynchus), harbor seals, and humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae). Spatiotemporal patterns of bottlenose dolphin strandings were similar to ocean gillnet fishing effort. Biodiversity of the animals stranded on the beaches reflected biodiversity in the waters off NC, albeit not always proportional to the relative abundance of species (e.g., Kogia species). Changes in the spatiotemporal patterns of strandings can serve as indicators of underlying changes due to anthropogenic or naturally occurring events in the source populations.

我国主要森林生态系统碳循环研究

作者广泛收集了近二十年来我国森林生物量生产力、土壤剖面有机质含量、凋落物现存量、年凋落量、凋落物分解等方面的研究资料，以及国内外土壤呼吸的相关资料，把森林作为一个自然的生态系统，从生物自身循环的角度系统地研究了我国森林在全球变化中的地位和作用提供了基础数据。主要得到以下几个方面的研究结果： 1、基于上述资料，采用林业部规划院1989-1993年的最新统计的我国不同森林类型的面积（不包括经济林和竹林，台湾省未计入），估算了我国森林生态系统总碳贮量。森林生态系统有机碳库包括植被、土壤和凋落物层三个分室，我国主要森林生态系统的碳贮量为281.16 * 10~8吨，其中植被碳库为62.00 * 10~8吨，占总碳库的22.2%;土壤碳库为210.23 * 10~8吨，占总碳库的74.6%;凋落物层的碳贮量为8.92 * 10~8吨，占总量的3.2%。我国森林生态系统碳贮量由大到小的顺序是：落叶阔叶林、暖性针叶林、常绿和常绿落叶阔叶林、云冷杉林、落叶松林、硬叶常绿阔叶林、温性针叶林、针叶和针阔混交林、阔叶红松林、热带林、樟子松林，前5类森林碳贮量占总贮量的87%，是我国森林主要的碳库。 2、分析了我国森林生态系统各个分室的碳密度特点。我国森林生态系统的平均碳密度是258.83t/ha，基本趋势是随纬度的增加而增加。其中植被的平均碳密度是57.07t/ha，随纬度的增加而减小;土壤碳密度约是植被碳密度3.4倍，其区域特点与植被碳密度呈相反趋势，随纬度升高而增加，作者根据所选117个样本建立了土壤有机碳密度与水热因子的模拟方程;凋落物层平均碳密度是8.21t/ha，随水热因子的改善而减小。这些结果为研制森林生态系统仿真模型提供了基础。 3、分析了我国森林生态系统的主要碳平衡通量，对中国森林生态系统的碳源与碳汇作初步评价，为减缓我国二氧化碳排放提供理论基础。结果表明我国森林生态系统在与大气的气体交换中表现为碳汇，年通量为4.80 * 10~8吨C/年。基本规律是随纬度的升高，即从热带向寒带，碳汇功能下降，这取决于系统碳收支的各个通量之间的动态平衡;阔叶林的固碳能力大于针叶林。 4、初步评价了我国森林生态系统在碳循环中的作用。我国生物物质燃烧、化石燃料燃烧、人口呼吸每所释放的总碳量为9.87 * 10~8吨/年，而我国森林生态系统可以吸收其中的48.7%。

Growth performance and nutrient utilization of catfish Clarias gariepinus fed varying inclusion level of fermented unsieved yellow maize

This study was conducted using 150 fish of Clarias gariepinus to investigate the growth performance and nutrient utilization of Clarias gariepinus fed five treatment diets containing varying inclusion level of fermented unsieved maize. The diets were grouped into CT, T1, T2, T3, and T4 with inclusion levels of 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% of fermented unsieved maize respectively. Highest weight gain was recorded in T4 with value of 10.24 and lowest weight was recorded in CT with 9.17. High FCR were observed in T2 with value of 0.70 and lower value was observed in T4 with value of 0.62. While, T2, T3, and T4 have highest survival rates with values of 90% in each treatment CT and T1 recorded 80% and 70% respectively. There was a significant (p< 0.05) difference between the food conversion ratios treatment T4 with the best value and other treatments. There was a significant (p< 0.05) difference between the levels of fermented unsieved maize inclusion and the specific growth rate of the experimental fish. The highest value of protein level and feed efficiency were observed in T4 at significant difference level (p< 0.05) than other treatments. It was concluded that fermentation of maize in fish feed has positive effects on the nutritional value of the feed. It is recommend that fermented maize can replace raw maize in fish feed diet for growth performance. KEYWORDS: Fermentation, yellow maize, Clarias gariepinus, Fish, Feed.

Growth performance and nutrient utilization of catfish Clarias gariepinus fed varying inclusion level of fermented unsieved yellow maize

This study was conducted using 150 fish of Clarias gariepinus to investigate the growth performance and nutrient utilization of Clarias gariepinus fed five treatment diets containing varying inclusion level of fermented unsieved maize. The diets were grouped into CT, T1, T2, T3, and T4 with inclusion levels of 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% of fermented unsieved maize respectively. Highest weight gain was recorded in T4 with value of 10.24 and lowest weight was recorded in CT with 9.17. High FCR were observed in T2 with value of 0.70 and lower value was observed in T4 with value of 0.62. While, T2, T3, and T4 have highest survival rates with values of 90% in each treatment CT and T1 recorded 80% and 70% respectively. There was a significant (p< 0.05) difference between the food conversion ratios treatment T4 with the best value and other treatments. There was a significant (p< 0.05) difference between the levels of fermented unsieved maize inclusion and the specific growth rate of the experimental fish. The highest value of protein level and feed efficiency were observed in T4 at significant difference level (p< 0.05) than other treatments. It was concluded that fermentation of maize in fish feed has positive effects on the nutritional value of the feed. It is recommend that fermented maize can replace raw maize in fish feed diet for growth performance.

藏猴替代父母行为

在23周龄内,婴猴有10.5%的时间受到替代父母, 主要是成年雄性的照料, 此行为可能用以补偿母亲在恶劣觅食条件下对子女的高投入。其中,7.3%的时间与成年雄性在一起, 1.9%与非母亲成年雌性, 1.3%与少年猴在一起。雄性较雌性更经常地照料、探查、拦回、排斥婴猴;他们一般只与雄性婴猴玩耍。

尼罗罗非鱼在淡水和海水中的生长及对蛋白质需求的比较

以酪蛋白为蛋白源,配制蛋白质含量为19 80%～40 50%的6种精饲料,采用室内循环水养殖系统,在饱食投喂和(27±1)℃水温条件下对吉富品系尼罗罗非鱼幼鱼进行8周的饲养实验,比较其在淡水和海水中的生长及蛋白质需求。结果显示:尼罗罗非鱼在淡水和海水中生长良好,存活率分别为100%和87%～100%;随着饲料蛋白质含量增加,实验鱼的平均终重、增重率和日增重率呈线性增加,饲料系数呈线性下降,蛋白质效率也呈下降趋势。在相同的饲料蛋白水平下,上述指标在淡水鱼和海水鱼之间均无显著差异蛋白质适宜需要量为28%～32

A taxonomic study of Oconnorella (Enchytraeidae, Oligochaeta) from Changbaishan Mountain, China

We describe three enchytraeid species, including two new species, from Mt. Changbaishan, Jilin Province, northeastern China. Oconnorella cheni sp. nov. is characterized by a simple spermatheca; absence of the oesophageal appendages and seminal vesicle; and nephridia from 6/7, with a distinct funnel and the efferent duct arising from the anterior part of the postseptale. Oconnorella globula sp. nov. is distinguished by a spermatheca with two diverticula; lack of oesophageal appendages and seminal vesicle; and nephridia from 6/7, with distinct funnel and the efferent duct arising from the mid-ventral or posteroventral part of the postseptale. We redescribe Oconnorella changbaishanensis (Xie et al., 2000) from type and live specimens, and amend some characters that cannot be investigated clearly from mounted specimens. We revise the generic diagnosis of Oconnorella.

A traveling-wave electroabsorption modulator with a large optical cavity and intrastep quantum wells

This paper reports a novel traveling-wave electroabsorption modulator (TWEAM) with a large optical cavity waveguide and an intrastep quantum well structure designed to achieve a high bandwidth, high saturation power and better fiber-matched optical profile, which is good for high coupling efficiency. The optical mode characteristic shows a great improvement in matching the circular mode of the fiber and the saturation power of 21 dBm, and a 3 dB bandwidth of 23 GHz was achieved for the fabricated TWEAM.

Investigation of responsivity decreasing with rising bias voltage in a GaN Schottky barrier photodetector

The unexpected decrease in measured responsivity observed in a specific GaN Schottky barrier photodetector (PD) at high reverse bias voltage was investigated and explained. Device equivalent transforms and small signal analysis were performed to analyse the test circuit. On this basis, a model was built which explained the responsivity decrease quantitatively. After being revised by this model, responsivity curves varying with bias voltage turned out to be reasonable. It is proved that the decrease is related to the dynamic parallel resistance of the photodiode. The results indicate that with a GaN Schottky PD, the choice of load resistance is restricted according to the dynamic parallel resistance of the device to avoid responsivity decay at high bias voltage.

Design of two-dimensional photonic crystal edge emitting laser for photonic integrated circuits

An edge emitting laser based on two-dimensional photonic crystal slabs is proposed. The device consists of a square lattice microcavity, which is composed of two structures with the same period but different radius of air-holes, and a waveguide. In the cavity, laser resonance in the inner structure benelits from not only the anomalous dispersion characteristic of the first band-edge at the M point in the first Brillouin-zone but also zero photon states in the outer structure. A line defect waveguide is introduced in the outer structure for extracting photons from the inner cavity. Three-dimensional finite-difference time-domain simulations apparently show the in-plane laser output from the waveguide. The microcavity has an effective mode volume of about 3.2(lambda/eta(slab))(3) for oscillation -mode and the quality factor of the device including line defect waveguide is estimated to be as high as 1300.

A two-dimensional photonic crystal slab mirror with silicon on insulator for wavelength 1.3 mu m

A concrete two-dimensional photonic crystal slab with triangular lattice used as a mirror for the light at wavelength 1.3 mu m with a silicon-on-insulator (Sol) substrate is designed by the three-dimensional plane wave expansion method. For TE-like modes, the bandgap in the F-K direction is from 1087nm to 1559nm. The central wavelength in the bandgap is about 1.3 mu m, hence the incident light at wavelength 1.3 mu m will be strongly reflected. Experimentally, such a photonic crystal slab is fabricated on an SOI substrate by the combination of EBL and ICP etching. The measurement of its transmission characteristics shows the bandgap edge in a longer wavelength is about 1540mn. The little discrepancy between the experimental data and the theoretical values is mainly due to the size discrepancy of the fabricated air holes.

Raman scattering detection of stacking faults in free-standing cubic-SiC epilayer

We report on stacking fault (SF) detection in free-standing cubic-SiC epilayer by the Raman measurements. The epilayer with enhanced SFs is heteroepitaxially grown by low pressure chemical vapour deposition on a Si(100) substrate and is released in KOH solution by micromechanical manufacture, on which the Raman measurements are performed in a back scattering geometry. The TO line of the Raman spectra is considerably broadened and distorted. We discuss the influence of SFs on the intensity profiles of TO mode by comparing our experimental data with the simulated results based on the Raman bond polarizability (BP) model in the framework of linear-chain concept. Good agreement with respect to the linewidth and disorder-induced peak shift is found by assuming the mean distance of the SFs to be 11 angstrom in the BP model.