Rhinomuraena spp. (Pisces: Muraenidae): The first vertebrate genus with post-anally situated urogenital organs

Rhinomuraena spp. are specialized, marine sand-dwelling ribbon-like eels, protandric in their sexual activity. With maturation they develop black, blue-yellow and yellow colour morphs, according to stages of sexual change. This investigation is based on fish collected around Fiji, near the Moluccas, Taiwan and Philippines from 1978 to 1989. The study of 20 individuals of 400 to 1170 mm total length disclosed that, contrary to all known Vertebrata, 80 to 82% of their gonads, that range in length between 80 to 400 mm, and the entire posterior kidney complex are situated post-anally, in two parallel pouches extending ventrally in the caudal part of the body. The kidney is situated dorsally and partially posteriorly to the gonads and attached to them.     

Export pumps in Epulopiscium fishelsoni, the symbiotic giant gut bacterium in Acanthurus nigrofuscus

Activity of the potential antixenobiotic efflux pumps of Epulopiscium fishelsoni (epulos), the symbiotic giant gut bacterium of the algivorous surgeonfish Acanthurus nigrofuscus, was studied in vivo using various specific substrates and microfluorometry. Kinetic and inhibitor analyses revealed the following vital efflux activities: (1) verapamil-sensitive efflux of amphiphilic cationic compounds rhodamine B, Hoechst 33342, and ethidium bromide; (2) verapamil-sensitive efflux of hydrophobic neutral fluorescein diacetate; (3) verapamil-insensitive efflux of hydrophilic anionic fluorescein; and (4) verapamil-insensitive efflux of glutathione-S-bimane. Cytosolic enzymes, nonspecific esterase and glutathione S-transferase, were shown to participate in xenobiotic metabolism. The results suggest that the activity of the potential efflux pump in epulos are similar to those described in other bacteria but are kinetically characterized by an unusually high transport rate, probably mediated by hyperplasia of the plasma membrane. Further studies of the export pumps in epulos may unmask their evolutionary adaptation to a xenobiotic-rich host gut content.     

Cultured amniotic fluid cells for prenatal diagnosis of lysosomal storage disorders: A methodological study

The influence of culture conditions on the ultrastructure and enzyme activities of amniotic fluid cells are reported. Morphological changes were determined as a function of the number of lysosomal-like inclusion bodies per cell, and these results correlated to the activity of Thiexosaminidase, a-mannosidase, β-glucuronidase, arylsulphatase C and 5′ nucleotidase. The parameters examined were pH of the culture media, type of media, increasing cell passage and day of harvest. Our results indicate that enzyme activities are less sensitive to changes in culture conditions as compared to ultrastructural changes. We therefore recommend that in order to obtain reliable ultrastructural results for the diagnosis of storage disorders, cultures should be grown in MEM as the culture medium, the pH of the medium carefully monitored to remain below pH 7·4, examining the cultures no later than the eighth cell passage and no later than the 10th day after subculture.     

Oogenesis and spawn-formation in the pigmy lion fish Dendrochirus brachypterus (Pteroidae)

Dendrochirus brachypterus possesses a special type of ovary in which the germinative epithelium surrounds a spongy stroma hanging in the lumen. The inner side of the ovarian wall is covered by a special type of epithelium that produces a gelatinous envelope around the gametes (spawn) during reproduction. In general, oogenesis in the lion fish resembles that of other teleosts, the characteristic difference being in the formation of ovigerous peduncles-protrusions of the spongy stroma, each of which bears a single oocyte. During oogenesis the oocytes rise above the germinal epithelium, enveloped in their follicular epithelia. The larger the oocyte the greater the length of its peduncles and the further its position from the germinal layer (Fig. 3). During this phase of development, a marked multiplication of yolk granules occurs; they increase their diameter and finally homogenize at ovulation. Under favorable thermal conditions, oogenesis continues all year round. The peduncular growth of oocytes enables the growing egg cells to move away from the egg-producing surface, thus making space available for the ovary to produce more eggs. This ability should have a survival value for these fish if we take into consideration that the most vulnerable stage in their life history is that of planktonic larvae (Fishelson, 1975).     

SOLID SET IRRIGATION SYSTEM DESIGN USING LINEAR PROGRAMMING1

: Irrigation systems can be formulated to enable linear programming to be used to obtain optimal systems. Linear programming is a readily available technique in most scientific and technical centers which have computer facilities. The objective function towards a minimal cost is based on a suggested classification of the system components, and the constraints mainly refer to required pressures and discharges. A case study in which linear programming is used to determine optimal pipe diameters is given for the solution of a solid set under tree sprinkler system.     

OPTIMIZING THE RETURN FROM A JOJOBA PLANTATION UNDER SCARCE DATA CONDITIONS1

ABSTRACT: There is a serious shortage of yield data for Jojoba (SIMMONDSIA CHINENSIS) from mature and cultivated plantations of ten years or older. Thus, the optimal quantities of water and fertilizers that are needed annually by a Jojoba plantation to achieve maximum profits were estimated from existing plantations. A computer model (IMSL subroutine ZXMWD) was used to determine a Mitscherlich yield function. An economic profit model that incorporates the yield function was then designed to maximize the profits. According to the net present value (NPV) criterion, the maximum yearly net profit is about $7800 per ha, which is achieved during the 11th growth year. The computed cumulative NPV is approximately $21,000 per ha for the entire 15-year period. Similar profits were calculated when the model was tested to examine the NPV using different assumptions with respect to varying costs.     

Food composition and feeding behavior of shallow-water crinoids at Eilat (Red Sea)

The food of 3 feather-stars, Lamprometra klunzingeri Hartlaub, 1890), Heterometra savignii (J. Müller, 1841) and Capillaster multiradiatus (Linnaeus, 1758), from the shallow water of Eilat (Red Sea) was found to be composed of planktonic and semi-benthalic organisms with a strong dominance of zooplankton. Monthly analyses of stomach contents showed seasonal changes in the participation of various systematic units in the diet. Food-comprising organisms were found to be selected according to size, and those measuring up to 400 formed 90% of the diet.This research has been sponsored partly by the Oceanic Biology Branch, Office of Naval Research, U.S.A. under contract N 62558-4556 and contract F 671052 67C 0043 between the Office of N.R. and the Tel-Aviv University. It represents part of the M.Sc. thesis of the first named author (in the framework of Red Sea investigations headed by Dr. L. Fishelson).     

Surface zooplankton dynamics and community structure in the Gulf of Aqaba (Eilat), Red Sea

Winter and summer zooplankton maxima were observed on both near-reef and offshore sampling sites in the northern part of the Gulf of Aqaba, with summer maxima smaller than those of winter and more characterized by larval forms. Near-reef zooplankton biomass was generally several times greater than that observed 2 km offshore. During 1987, a near-reef maximum of 155 ind. or 12.2 g wet biomass m^–3 was observed in March, while 103 ind. or 8.5 g wet biomass m^–3 was observed in July. In the same year, 2 km offshore a maximum of 53 ind. or 2.5 g wet biomass m^–3 was observed in February, while a maximum of 33 ind. or 0.5 g wet biomass m^–3 was noted in July. The following year, 1988, the near-reef zooplankton abundances were little changed, but offshore zooplankton abundances were much higher (317 m^–3). During 1987, the dominant winter (March) forms near the reef were gammarid amphipods, at maximum concentrations of 100 ind. m^–3, where the summer (July) maximum was composed primarily of mysids (34 m^–3), gammarid amphipods (30 m^–3), and fish eggs (24 m^–3). The offshore winter zooplankton fauna was characterized by copepods and appendicularians, each at a maximum concentrations of ca 13 ind. m^–3, while the summer maximum was dominated by brachyuran zoea (31 m^–3). Though the 1988, winter near-reef zooplankton community compositions were similar to those of 1987, the offshore zooplankton fauna was dominated by ostracods, which were relatively rare in previous years. Preliminary data suggests that holoplanktonic forms like chaetognaths, copepods and appendicularians, at an offshore site exhibit different patterns of vertical migration than those near the reef. This different behavior may result from different species compositions of these taxa or from high concentrations of pseudoplanktonic bentho-neritic peracarid crustaceans.Please address correspondence and reprint requests to T. Echelman, Marine Science Research Center, State University of New York, Stony Brook, New York 11794-5000, USA     

Histology and ultrastructure of the skin of Lepadichthys lineatus (Gobiesocidae: Teleostei)

The skin of the Red Sea clingfish Lepadichthys lineatus Briggs, 1966, which lives on shallow-water crinoids, consists of a continuous layer of giant mucus-producing cells. Upon stimulation, these cells are able, in seconds, to envelope the fish entirely with a thick layer of their secretion. The cells are 75 to 290 high, and are enveloped by septa of compressed epithelium. They rest on a strong collagenous layer, and extend to the skin surface, where they open. The nuclei of the giant cells are large, and irregularly shaped; their cytoplasm has a very extensive endoplasmic reticulum and undergoes deep structural changes during maturation. Their ability to produce large amounts of mucus seems to be an adaptive device to protect the fish from contact with the rough surface of the crinoid host.     

The geomorphology and ecosystem service economic value baselines of tributary watersheds in Malaysia

Environment, Development and Sustainability - This study presents how a cluster of tributary watersheds was evaluated for geomorphology and ecosystem service economic value baselines. Tributary...