Pleistocene survival of an archaic dwarf baleen whale (Mysticeti: Cetotheriidae)

Pliocene baleen whale assemblages are characterized by a mix of early records of extant mysticetes, extinct genera within modern families, and late surviving members of the extinct family Cetotheriidae. Although Pleistocene baleen whales are poorly known, thus far they include only fossils of extant genera, indicating Late Pliocene extinctions of numerous mysticetes alongside other marine mammals. Here a new fossil of the Late Neogene cetotheriid mysticete Herpetocetus is reported from the Lower to Middle Pleistocene Falor Formation of Northern California. This find demonstrates that at least one archaic mysticete survived well into the Quaternary Period, indicating a recent loss of a unique niche and a more complex pattern of Plio–Pleistocene faunal overturn for marine mammals than has been previously acknowledged. This discovery also lends indirect support to the hypothesis that the pygmy right whale (Caperea marginata) is an extant cetotheriid, as it documents another cetotheriid nearly surviving to modern times.     

红海湾银杏齿喙鲸(Mesoplodon ginkgodens)组织中的DDT

用Agilent 6890N型气相色谱仪,HP-1701型毛细管气相色谱柱(30 m×0.32 mm×0.25μm)63Ni放射源-μECD检测器测定了搁浅于广东红海湾的银杏齿喙鲸(Mesoplodon ginkgodens)组织中的∑DDT,包括其代谢物pp′-DDE、pp′-DDD和异构体op-DDT、pp′-DDT,并分析了∑DDT在组织中的含量水平、组成特征及污染来源。结果表明,银杏齿喙鲸鲸脂中的∑DDT含量最高,为177.1×10-9(湿重,下同),在肺中含量最低为15.2×10-9。∑DDT含量在鲸体各组织中的顺序为鲸脂肝脏胃心脏肾脏肌肉胰肺。在各组织中(pp′-DDE+pp′-DDD)/∑DDT的比值均值为0.39,表明可能有新的污染源注入此鲸所栖息的海域环境。与国外其他海域鲸类的鲸脂中∑DDT含量相比,本次测定的鲸脂中∑DDT含量相对较低。     

Homology and phylogeny and their automated inference

The analysis of the ever-increasing amount of biological and biomedical data can be pushed forward by comparing the data within and among species. For example, an integrative analysis of data from the genome sequencing projects for various species traces the evolution of the genomes and identifies conserved and innovative parts. Here, I review the foundations and advantages of this "historical" approach and evaluate recent attempts at automating such analyses. Biological data is comparable if a common origin exists (homology), as is the case for members of a gene family originating via duplication of an ancestral gene. If the family has relatives in other species, we can assume that the ancestral gene was present in the ancestral species from which all the other species evolved. In particular, describing the relationships among the duplicated biological sequences found in the various species is often possible by a phylogeny, which is more informative than homology statements. Detecting and elaborating on common origins may answer how certain biological sequences developed, and predict what sequences are in a particular species and what their function is. Such knowledge transfer from sequences in one species to the homologous sequences of the other is based on the principle of 'my closest relative looks and behaves like I do', often referred to as 'guilt by association'. To enable knowledge transfer on a large scale, several automated 'phylogenomics pipelines' have been developed in recent years, and seven of these will be described and compared. Overall, the examples in this review demonstrate that homology and phylogeny analyses, done on a large (and automated) scale, can give insights into function in biology and biomedicine.     

Molecular phylogeny of cycads inferred from rbcL sequences

The chloroplast gene rbcL was sequenced to elucidate the evolution of the gymnosperm plant order Cycadales. In accordance with traditional systematics, the order Cycadales and the corresponding genera cluster as monophyletic clades. Among them, the genus Cycas forms a basal group. The genetic distances within the genus Encephalartos and between the sister groups Encephalartos, Lepidozamia and Macrozamia, are unexpectedly small, suggesting that the extant species are the result of Miocene and Pliocene speciation. Their distribution in Africa or Australia, respectively, may therefore rather be due to long-distance dispersal than to Cretaceous continental drift, as had previously been assumed. The rbcL sequences also indicate that the colonisation of Madagascar by Cycas thouarsii occurred only recently as the sequences of C. thouarsii and Cycas rumphii from Indonesia are identical. In contrast, the divergence of the Cycadaceae and Zamiaceae apparently occurred in the Mesozoic.     

Bony outgrowths on the jaws of an extinct sperm whale support macroraptorial feeding in several stem physeteroids

Several extinct sperm whales (stem Physeteroidea) were recently proposed to differ markedly in their feeding ecology from the suction-feeding modern sperm whales Kogia and Physeter. Based on cranial, mandibular, and dental morphology, these Miocene forms were tentatively identified as macroraptorial feeders, able to consume proportionally large prey using their massive teeth and robust jaws. However, until now, no corroborating evidence for the use of teeth during predation was available. We report on a new specimen of the stem physeteroid Acrophyseter, from the late middle to early late Miocene of Peru, displaying unusual bony outgrowths along some of the upper alveoli. Considering their position and outer shape, these are identified as buccal maxillary exostoses. More developed along posterior teeth and in tight contact with the high portion of the dental root outside the bony alveoli, the exostoses are hypothesized to have developed during powerful bites; they may have worked as buttresses, strengthening the teeth when facing intense occlusal forces. These buccal exostoses further support a raptorial feeding technique for Acrophyseter and, indirectly, for other extinct sperm whales with a similar oral apparatus (Brygmophyseter, Livyatan, Zygophyseter). With a wide size range, these Miocene stem physeteroids were major marine macropredators, occupying ecological niches nowadays mostly taken by killer whales.     

Molecular phylogeny of metazoa (animals): Monophyletic origin

Dedicated to Prof. Dr. H. Risler and Prof. Dr. Dr. h. c. R. K Zahn     

The phylogeny of archaebacteria,including novel anaerobic thermoacidophiles in the light of RNA polymerase structure

DNA-dependent RNA polymerases of archaebacteria are distinct from those of eubacteria both in structure and in function. They show similarities to those of the eukaryotic cytoplasm. Extremely thermophilic anaerobic sulfur-respiring archaebacteria isolated from solfataric waters represent four different families, the Thermoproteaceae, the “stiff filaments”, the Desulfurococcaceae and the Thermococcaceae, of a novel order, Thermoproteales. Together with the Sulfolobales, they form the second branch of the urkingdom of the archaebacteria besides that of the methanogens and extreme halophiles. Thermoplasma appears isolated.     

海湾扇贝苗运输环境条件的研究

在实验室条件下，研究了温度和湿度对海湾扇贝苗存活的影响；双结合生产性运输，研究了温度，溶解氧，运输季节和贝苗规格对运输贝苗存活的影响。担子同运输包装贝苗方法：１２ｈ以内的运输，用干贮法；１２－１８ｈ以内，用淋贮法，１８－２１ｈ以内，用水贮帆布桶法。２１－３４ｈ内，用水贮保温箱法。运输贝苗的主要条件是；低温，高湿度或足够的溶解适宜季节，适宜贝苗规格。     

长江口中华鲟保护区及临近水域大型底栖动物研究

根据2004年5月、8月、11月和2005年2月(Ⅰ年度)及2005年8月、11月和2006年2月、5月(Ⅱ年度)共2个水文年对T长江口中华鲟保护区水域(30°15′～31°45′N、121°30′～122°15′E)15个取样站8个航次的采泥样品和阿氏网样品,对底内动物和底上动物的种类组成、生物量、栖息密度、重要种的优势度、群落多样性和结构及时间空间动态变化进行分析.结果表明,底内动物共出现15种,种类组成贫乏,优势种变化明显,底内动物生物量和栖息密度平均值分别为1.44 g/m2和11.33个/m2,生物量和栖息密度总体呈现下降趋势,物种多样性指数低并有下降趋势,群落结构极不稳定;底上动物底栖动物59种,组成有明显季节和年度变化,底内动物生物量和栖息密度平均值分别为15.58 ×10-2g/m2和6.81×10-2个/m2;底上动物生物量和栖息密度略呈现下降趋势,优势种的种类及优势度年际有较大变化,种类数和生物量北支高于南支.底内动物2个年度生物量平均值季节变化为夏季＞春季＞秋季＞冬季,底上动物2个年度生物量平均值季节变化为春季＞冬季＞秋季＞夏季,底内动物与底上动物的季节变化具有一定的不平衡性.     

广东红海湾银杏齿喙鲸组织中HCH的残留水平与分布特征

为了解HCH在中国近岸海域哺乳动物体内的积累状况,本文用Agilent 6890 N型气相色谱仪、DB-1701型毛细管色谱柱和<'63>Ni放射源微电子捕获检测器,测定了中国广东红海湾银杏齿喙鲸(Mesoplodon ginkgodens)鲸体中∑HCH(α-HCH、β-HCH,γ-HCH和δ-HCH)的含量,并分析...     

Male antenna morphology and its effect on scramble competition in false garden mantids

Well-developed antennae are crucial for many insects, but especially for scramble competitors, who race to find their mates using female sex cues. In these systems, the ability of males to locate females quickly is thought to be under strong selection. A rarely tested assumption is that males with more sensory structures are able to locate females faster. In the present study, we used the false garden mantid Pseudomantis albofimbriata to investigate male antennal morphology and its effect on male efficiency in finding a mate. We used scanning electron microscopy to describe the major sensilla types and their arrangement along the length of male antennae. We also conducted field enclosure trials relating male antennal morphology to scramble competition in this system. We identified six different types of antennal sensilla (cheatic, trichoid, basiconic, grooved peg, ceolocapitular and campaniform) on male P. albofimbriata antennae. As expected, males who had more trichoid sensilla located females quicker than did males with fewer sensilla. Results of the current study suggest that antenna morphology plays a significant role in mate location and hence scramble competition in the P. albofimbriata mating system.     

北京市冬季室内空气PM10微观形貌及粒度分布

探讨了北京市吸烟和非吸烟4户家庭室内外空气可吸入颗粒物(PM10)的质量浓度变化规律,利用高分辨场发射扫描电镜(FESEM)和图像分析技术研究了室内PM10的微观形貌特征及粒径分布特点.结果表明,吸烟室内PM10浓度一般高于非吸烟室内;室内PM10一般由烟尘集合体、燃煤飞灰、矿物颗粒、生物质颗粒及未知颗粒共5种颗粒物组成.吸烟和非吸烟室内PM10的粒径一般小于2.5祄,呈双峰分布,其中在吸烟室内,烟尘集合体和未知颗粒等的贡献比较大,而非吸烟室内PM10的数量-粒度分布也为双峰分布,烟尘集合体、燃煤飞灰的贡献比较大.吸烟和非吸烟室内PM10的体积-粒度分布均为单峰分布,并且集中在2.5~10祄范围,其中吸烟室内的烟尘集合体、矿物颗粒物占优势,而非吸烟的室内矿物颗粒占优势.虽然矿物颗粒对粒度粒径的贡献较小,但对体积的贡献比较大.