Contrasting ecological information content in whaling archives with modern cetacean surveys for conservation planning and identification of historical distribution changes

Many species are restricted to a marginal or suboptimal fraction of their historical range due to anthropogenic impacts, making it hard to interpret their ecological preferences from modern-day data alone. However, inferring past ecological states is limited by the availability of robust data and biases in historical archives, posing a challenge for policy makers . To highlight how historical records can be used to understand the ecological requirements of threatened species and inform conservation, we investigated sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus) distribution in the Western Indian Ocean. We assessed differences in information content and habitat suitability predictions based on whale occurrence data from Yankee whaling logs (1792–1912) and from modern cetacean surveys (1995–2020). We built maximum entropy habitat suitability models containing static (bathymetry-derived) variables to compare models comprising historical-only and modern-only data. Using both historical and modern habitat suitability predictions  we assessed marine protected area (MPA) placement by contrasting suitability in- and outside MPAs. The historical model predicted high habitat suitability in shelf and coastal regions near continents and islands, whereas the modern model predicted a less coastal distribution with high habitat suitability more restricted to areas of steep topography. The proportion of high habitat suitability inside versus outside MPAs was higher when applying the historical predictions than the modern predictions, suggesting that different marine spatial planning optimums can be reached from either data sources. Moreover, differences in relative habitat suitability predictions between eras were consistent with the historical depletion of sperm whales from coastal regions, which were easily accessed and targeted by whalers, resulting in a modern distribution limited more to steep continental margins and remote oceanic ridges. The use of historical data can provide important new insights and, through cautious interpretation, inform conservation planning and policy, for example, by identifying refugee species and regions of anticipated population recovery.     

Postcopulatory sexual selection favours intrinsically good sperm competitors

We used guppies to study repeatability in sperm competitiveness and postcopulatory sexual selection on male ornamentation. In a block design involving 25 pairs of males, artificial insemination was used to mate each pair (A and B) to four unrelated females—two that were mated with the combined ejaculates of both males (sperm-competition treatment) and two receiving sperm from each of the two males individually (single-male treatment). Our analysis revealed significantly repeatable patterns of paternity across females in the sperm-competition treatment, suggesting that certain males are intrinsically better sperm competitors than others, irrespective of female identity. Next, we compared mean brood success (number of offspring per brood) between sperm competition and single-male treatments. We found no significant effect of treatment on female fecundity, suggesting that the previously reported direct benefits of polyandry in this species may be due to factors such as differential maternal effects or differences in the number of inseminated sperm between treatments. Our artificial insemination assay was designed to control both factors. Finally, we determined whether variation in relative paternity was random with respect to male phenotype. Unlike previous work on Trinidadian populations, we found no significant relationship between male sexual ornamentation and sperm competitiveness in the focal population.     

Study on the mechanism of action between dimethyl phthalate and herring sperm DNA at molecular level

Dimethyl phthalate (DMP), a typical phthalic acid ester, is widespread in the environment and causes extensive concern due to its adverse effects on human health. To understand the genotoxicity of DMP at molecular level, the toxic interaction of DMP with herring sperm (hs) deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA; hs-DNA) was investigated in vitro under simulated physiological conditions using multi-spectroscopic techniques and a molecular modeling method. The results of Ultraviolet-Visible absorption spectroscopy, fluorescence emission spectroscopy, and circular dichroism spectra indicated that DMP interacts with hs-DNA in a groove-binding mode that changes the double helical structure of DNA. The binding constant and the number of binding sites calculated from the fluorescence quenching data were 565.718 L mol^?1 and 0.7872, respectively. A molecular modeling study revealed that DMP tends to bind with DNA in the A-T-rich regions of minor groove and that hydrogen bonding and van der Waals forces play main roles in the interaction. This research can help to elucidate the mechanism of DMP toxicity in vivo.     

急性镉染毒对河南华溪蟹精子质量的影响

采用急性毒性实验方法,研究了镉(Cd2+)对河南华溪蟹(Sinopatamon henanense)精子质量的影响.实验设置了5个Cd2+浓度组(7.25、14.5、29、58和116 mg·L-1)和1个空白对照组,在2个染毒时间(5d和7d)采用特异性的荧光染料和流式细胞术(FCM)对精子成活率、膜完整性、顶体完整性及染色质结构进行了测定.结果显示,随着Cd2+浓度的增加和染毒时间的延长,精子的成活率下降,质膜和顶体缺失率上升,异染色质所占比率上升.在Cd2+浓度为58、116 mg·L-1条件下暴露5d后,精子成活率显著降低(p ＜0.05);Cd2+浓度为116 mg·L-1时,精子质膜完整性和染色质结构均有明显的损伤;而顶体状态在Cd2+浓度为29 mg·L-1时就呈现显著的损伤(p＜0.01).在Cd2+浓度为29、58、116mg·L-1条件下染毒7d后,精子成活率、质膜完整性和顶体完整性降低;在所有的染毒组,DNA结构受到了显著的破坏.结果表明,Cd2+暴露对华溪蟹精子质量有明显的影响.     

Preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD), a collaborative activity of clinical genetic departments and IVF centres

An Erratum has been published for this article in Prenatal Diagnosis 22 (5) 2002, 451. Preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) requires the combined efforts of geneticists and workers in the field of reproductive medicine. This was studied on the basis of a questionnaire, sent to 35 members of the PGD Consortium of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE). A reply was obtained from 20 centres. They represent the majority of activities in the field of PGD in the world. It is obvious that many of the activities (in vitro fertilisation, embryo culture and biopsy) take place in IVF units while others (counselling and diagnosis) are the responsibility of genetic diagnostic centres. The distances between both units vary considerably. In all but one centre sex determination is offered. Aneuploidy screening is offered in 13 out of 20 centres. PGD of translocations and other structural chromosome abnormalities is offered in all but one centre. The number of monogenic diseases offered varies considerably. In comparison to prenatal diagnosis PGD is more expensive. The majority of these costs are due to the IVF or ICSI procedure. The charges for PGD vary between about € 600 and € 4000. In 16 out of 20 centres the parents to be must sign an informed consent form. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

环境污染物浓缩铀诱发雄性机体的生殖毒性研究

在不同水平浓缩铀￣（２３５）ＵＯ＿２Ｆ＿２内污染诱发机体生殖毒性的研究中，观察到浓缩铀可诱发精子畸形，主要呈现双头和无钩精子。浓缩铀诱发精原细胞染色体畸变，则以染色体断片为主，对初级精母细胞可产生染色体断片和易位，出现多价体。浓缩铀可致精子ＤＮＡ链断裂，其断裂片段则可随￣（２３５）ＵＯ＿２Ｆ＿２摄入量的加大而增多，浓缩铀引起遗传物质的损伤，可诱发胎鼠显性致死突变和骨骼畸形增生，而其诱发骨骼畸形的发生率则与睾丸浓缩铀的摄入量呈正相关。     

Toxicity of copper, lead, and cadmium on the motility of two marine microalgae Isochrysis galbana and Tetraselmis chui

Computer assisted movement tracking was used to characterize the motility of two marine microalgae, Isochrysis galbana and Tetraselmis chui, and to investigate the toxicity of Cu, Pb, and Cd on motile percentage, curvilinear velocity, average path velocity, straight line velocity, linearity, straightness, and wobble. Except for motile percentage, all other motility parameters di ered significantly between I. galbana and T. chui. Based on relative motile percentage data, the median e ective concentration (EC50) of Cu on the motility of I. galbana and T. chui was 31.4 and 1.3 mol/L, respectively, while for Pb it was 37.8 and 10.9 mol/L and for Cd it was 121.6 and 37.8 mol/L, respectively. Compared to I. galbana, T. chui was more sensitive to all tested metals. The toxic e ect of the heavy metals on motility exhibited the following decreasing order for both species: Cu > Pb > Cd. Our results indicate that I. galbana and T. chui motility is sensitive to heavy metals and can be used as an indicator for toxicology bioassays.     

环境污染物对精子损伤机制的研究进展

越来越多的研究表明,环境污染是多种生物生殖力下降的主要原因之一,而精子作为雄性生物的生殖细胞,因高度分化丧失了自我修复能力,极易受环境因素的胁迫。但环境污染物致生物体精子损伤机制的研究目前尚缺乏完整、系统的体系。本文在总结近年来国内外相关研究的基础上,从环境污染物诱导精子产生氧化应激、改变生精细胞的细胞周期、诱导正常生精细胞发生细胞凋亡和扰乱生物体雄激素水平4个方面综合探讨了环境污染物损害精子形态结构、功能以及降低精子数量的潜在作用模式,为开发精子损伤的早期特异性分子标记物奠定了理论基础,同时也为污染物致精子损伤的机制研究提供新的思路。     

Repeatability and heritability of sperm competition outcomes in males and females of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Tribolium castaneum</Emphasis>

Differences among males in their success in achieving fertilisations when females mate with more than one partner are now recognised as an important target of sexual selection. However, very few studies have attempted to determine whether particular males are consistently successful in sperm competition and whether success in sperm competition is a heritable trait. Additionally, the potential heritability of female traits that influence the outcome of sperm competition has received only limited attention. Using the polyandrous beetle Tribolium castaneum, we examined repeatability of male success in sperm competition by mating pairs of males carrying different visible genetic markers to a string of different females. Males showed consistency in their ability to successfully transfer sperm to females, but not in their success in sperm competition. Furthermore, when we independently compared success in sperm competition of fathers with their sons, we found no evidence for heritability of this trait. Similarly, females that exhibited high or low first male sperm precedence did not tend to have daughters that showed the same pattern. Our results suggest that we should be wary of assuming that success in sperm competition is heritable through either sex.