Karyotype analysis of interspecific fusants of basidiomycetes by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis

The purpose of this research was to analyze the karyotype of the interspecific fusants of twoPleurotus species. Auxotrophic mutants derived from the cultivated strain ofP. ostreatus andP. cornucopiae were used. Protoplasts were fused electrically, and the fusants were selected under auxotrophic complementation. Esterase isozyme analysis showed that several fusants had isozyme bands originating from both parental strains, and others had unilateral isozyme bands. The fusant that had expressed isozyme bands of both parental strains showed chromosomal DNA bands of both of the parental strains in pulsedfield gel electrophoresis analysis. Despite the above results, the chromosomal composition of the fusants obtained by the pulsed-field gel electrophoresis did not exhibit all of the bands of both fusion parents.     

Analysis of the electrophoretic karyotype ofFlammulina velutipes

The karyotype ofFlammulina velutipes (Curt.: Fr.) Sing. was analyzed electrophoretically using contourclamped homogeneous electric field gel electrophoresis and hybridization with DNA probes. The chromosomal DNA from the monokaryon (Fv-4K) and the dikaryon (Fv-4) were resolved into six and eight bands, respectively. The sizes of the chromosomes ranged from 1.9 to 6.0 megabase (Mb) pairs. Each of the separated bands of chromosomal DNA was identified by use of five cloned probes. The number of these chromosomes was estimated to be 6 and 12, respectively; and the size of the entire genome was estimated to be about 20.1 and 38.6Mb, respectively. From a comparison of the hybridization patterns, the existence of allelic chromosomes of different sizes was deduced in the Fv-4 strain.     

Bottom feeding and net chasing improve foraging behavior in hatchery-reared Japanese flounder Paralichthys olivaceus juveniles for stocking

We examined the effect of bottom feeding and net chasing as means to improve the maladaptive off-bottom swimming of hatchery-reared Japanese flounder Paralichthys olivaceus juveniles for stock enhancement. Three treatments were tested: (1) a bottom feeding treatment in which fish were fed near the bottom; (2) a net chasing treatment in which fish were chased by a hand net two to four times a day, and (3) a surface feeding treatment in which fish were fed from the surface (control treatment). Foraging behavior at the surface with surface feeding was analyzed 1 day before initiating these treatments and 2 weeks thereafter. A comparison of the pre- and post-treatments revealed that off-bottom swimming was less in the bottom feeding treatment and net chasing treatments. A comparison of off-bottom swimming in the bottom feeding treatment between the pre- and post treatments revealed that bottom fed fish showed less off-bottom swimming than surface fed fish. These findings suggest that fish behavior can be manipulated during the rearing period and that such manipulations can be used to improve the behavior of fish for release.     

Radula development in abalone Haliotis discus hannai from larva to adult in relation to feeding transitions

ABSTRACT: The radula morphology of Haliotis discus hannai was examined by scanning electron microscope from the larval to the adult stage. The radula of competent larvae contained 11–13 transverse rows of teeth after 6–7 days at 20°C. The number of rows increased to 25–30 during the first several days after settlement, but then remained approximately constant throughout the post-larval period, increasing again in abalone larger than 4 mm in shell length (SL). In post-larvae < ~1 mm SL, only two pairs of lateral teeth (L1, L2) were present in the larval radula. An additional three pairs of lateral teeth (L3–L5) were added progressively as post-larvae grew from 0.9 mm to 1.9 mm SL. Marginal teeth were added steadily from one pair in larvae to 30–40 pairs at 3–4 mm SL, 70–80 pairs in 30–40 mm juveniles, and 70–90 pairs in 90–100 mm adults. The serrations on the working edges of the rachidian (R) and lateral teeth became less pronounced as the abalone grew. Nearly all serrations disappeared from the rachidian (R) and inner lateral teeth (L1, L2) by ~2 mm SL, and from the outer lateral teeth (L3–L5) by 20 mm SL. For abalone larger than 1.5 mm SL, the L3–L5 teeth became longer and more pointed, which increased the space between adjacent rows of teeth. Post-larvae < 1 mm SL had highly curved teeth with clearance angles of approximately or less than zero, whereas larger abalone had positive clearance angles. These radula developments appear to be related to transitions in feeding habits from microbial to macroalgal diets.     

Detection of intra- and interspecific variation of the dry rot fungus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Serpula lacrymans</Emphasis> by PCR-RFLP and RAPD analysis

We investigated a genotype-based assay to discriminate the dry rot fungi Serpula lacrymans. DNAs were extracted from 74 isolates from the northern half of Japan, and internal transcribed spacers (ITS) were amplified by polymerase chain reaction. Genotypes of isolates were checked by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) using two enzymes, Taq I and Hha I. Among the 74 isolates identified as S. lacrymans in terms of morphologic features, 5 isolates were shown to have been misidentified. Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis was conducted in order to detect the intraspecific diversity of S. lacrymans isolated in Japan. Because no relation between geographical origin and genetic distances was observed, the intraspecific diversity of S. lacrymans is suggested to be small.Part of this report was presented at the 52nd Annual Meeting of the Japan Wood Research Society, Gifu, April 2002     

Correction to: Dispersion and degradation of environmental DNA from caged fish in a marine environment

Fisheries Science - In the original publication the text in right column of page 330, the sequences of primers were incorrectly published as.     

Genetic variations within Symbiodinium clade C among zooxanthellate corals (Scleractinia) in the temperate zone of Japan

In a recent study most of the temperate-living corals were found to harbor stress-sensitive Symbiodinium clade C, which is common in the tropical zone. In this study, we investigated the genetic variations within Symbiodinium clade C among corals living in temperate waters of Japan (17 genera; 26 species) using rDNA internal transcribed spacers (ITSs) to clarify the genetic differences between climatic zones. We also focused on two widespread coral species, Acropora hyacinthus and Pocillopora damicornis, to compare the genetic differences of Symbiodinium clade C between subtropical and temperate regions. We found multiple haplotypes of Symbiodinium ITSs in clade C, which formed nine subclades. Our data indicate that five genera (Acropora, Cyphastrea, Stylocoeniella, Porites, Pocillopora) contained host-specific Symbiodinium, while members of the family Faviidae and others contained several Symbiodinium ITS haplotypes from two or three subclades. A comparative analysis using Acropora and Pocillopora also revealed that the temperate zone coral population formed a single subclade of Symbiodinium clade C that was genetically isolated from those of subtropical populations. In summary, the majority of corals living in temperate waters of Japan, such as faviid corals, have several ITS haplotypes which possibly are utilized as an opportunistic survival strategy under severe environmental conditions, whereas Acropora and Pocillopora at the very least harbor temperate zone-specific Symbiodinium.     

Predation on fish larvae by moon jellyfish <Emphasis Type="Italic">Aurelia aurita</Emphasis> under low dissolved oxygen concentrations

ABSTRACT:   Laboratory experiments were conducted to test the hypothesis that low dissolved oxygen concentrations have the potential to enhance the predation rate on fish larvae by moon jellyfish Aurelia aurita which is increasing in abundance in the coastal waters of Japan. Larvae of the red sea bream Pagrus major in four size classes (2.9, 4.1, 6.2 and 8.6 mm in standard length) were used as prey in a short-term predation experiment. No change in the bell contraction rate of the jellyfish (mean bell diameter, 100.4 ± 10.2 mm) was observed at the oxygen concentrations tested (1, 2 and 4 mg/L, and air-saturated, 5.5–6.0 mg/L), suggesting a strong tolerance to a decline in the oxygen concentration. More than 80% of the 2.5 and 4.1-mm size-class larvae were predated on by the jellyfish at all oxygen concentrations during the 15-min trials in 10-L tanks. The 6.2 and 8.6-mm size-class larvae were able to escape from the jellyfish apparently due to their developed swimming ability at the two higher dissolved oxygen concentrations. There was an increase in predation on larvae of these two size classes at the two lower dissolved oxygen concentrations. Predation by moon jellyfish on fish larvae can be more intense at low dissolved oxygen concentrations that commonly occur in the coastal waters of Japan.     

Parental Contributions in a Japanese Flounder Hatchery Inferred from Mitochondrial DNA Haplotypes

We analyzed a portion of the mitochondrial genome of hatchery Japanese flounder Paralichthys olivaceus to compare the genetic characteristics between maternal parents and their offspring. The maternal parents consisted of 11 subcultured fish (broodstock taken from hatchery-raised fish) and 41 wild fish. A 1098 base pair region extending from the 3'half of the cytochrome b gene to the central domain of the control region of mtDNA was amplified by PCR and analyzed using 11 restriction endonucleases. We also analyzed the number of copies of tandem repeats in the control region from the sizes of the PCR products. Each female parent had a unique haplotype, but only 31 of them were observed among the 66 offspring examined. From these results, we estimated that about 60% of the maternal parents in the hatchery contributed to the offspring we surveyed. The distribution of the family sizes of the wild fish was Poisson, which is consistent with expectation from a randomly mating population. In contrast, the distribution of family sizes of the subcultured fish deviated from a Poisson distribution. One of the sources of the deviation was that none of the six oldest fishes contributed to offspring production, which is consistent with observation that the spawning peaks later in the spawning season for older fish in flounder hatcheries. Uneven contribution of the female flounders in the hatchery has the potential to reduce substantially the genetic diversity in the offspring. Our results suggest that the misuse of subcultured fish as broodstock is an important cause of reduced genetic diversity in hatchery-raised flounder juvenile.     

Seasonal changes in the distribution of black sea bream Acanthopagrus schlegelii estimated by environmental DNA

Fisheries Science - This study aimed at characterizing the distribution of black sea bream Acanthopagrus schlegelii, a major target fish of commercial and recreational fishing, using environmental...