A critical appraisal of appendage disparity and homology in fishes

Fishes are both extremely diverse and morphologically disparate. Part of this disparity can be observed in the numerous possible fin configurations that may differ in terms of the number of fins as well as fin shapes, sizes and relative positions on the body. Here, we thoroughly review the major patterns of disparity in fin configurations for each major group of fishes and discuss how median and paired fin homologies have been interpreted over time. When taking into account the entire span of fish diversity, including both extant and fossil taxa, the disparity in fin morphologies greatly complicates inferring homologies for individual fins. Given the phylogenetic scope of this review, structural and topological criteria appear to be the most useful indicators of fin identity. We further suggest that it may be advantageous to consider some of these fin homologies as nested within the larger framework of homologous fin‐forming morphogenetic fields. We also discuss scenarios of appendage evolution and suggest that modularity may have played a key role in appendage disparification. Fin modules re‐expressed within the boundaries of fin‐forming fields could explain how some fins may have evolved numerous times independently in separate lineages (e.g., adipose fin), or how new fins may have evolved over time (e.g., anterior and posterior dorsal fins, pectoral and pelvic fins). We favour an evolutionary scenario whereby median appendages appeared from a unique field of competence first positioned throughout the dorsal and ventral midlines, which was then redeployed laterally leading to paired appendages.     

The scale of landscape effect on seed dispersal depends on both response variables and landscape predictor

Landscape Ecology - Landscape structure can affect seed dispersal, but the spatial scale at which such effect is maximized (scale of effect, SoE) is unknown. We assessed patterns and predictors of...     

Effect of Stocking Density on Growth,Survival, and Condition of the Mexican Cichlid Cichlasoma beani

The Mexican cichlid Cichlasoma beani is currently exploited regionally as food and can be commercialized in the aquarium trade. Natural populations of C. beani may already be negatively affected by anthropogenic alteration of the areas in which it is distributed. The aim of the present study was to examine the effect on growth, survival, and condition of C. beani cultured in three stocking densities: three (D3), six (D6), and nine (D9) fish per each 40 L tank. At the end of a 6‐wk trial the fish cultured in D3 were longer, heavier, and grew faster than the rest of the treatments but their survival was the lowest compared to D6 and D9. The mortalities were caused by a strong aggressive behavior in D3.     

Comparison of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pinus taeda</Emphasis> L. whole-tree wood property calibrations using diffuse reflectance near infrared spectra obtained using a variety of sampling options

A necessary objective for tree-breeding programs, with a focus on wood quality, is the measurement of wood properties on a whole-tree basis, however, the time and cost involved limits the numbers of trees sampled. Near infrared (NIR) spectroscopy provides an alternative and recently, it has been demonstrated that calibrations based on milled increment cores and whole-tree data can provide good estimates of whole-tree properties. Several options exist for sampling standing trees and the aim of this study was to compare wood property calibrations based on NIR spectra collected from samples obtained using different sampling methods. Calibrations for whole-tree lignin and basic specific gravity based on NIR spectra from whole-tree chips (milled or intact) had the strongest statistics, calibrations based on NIR spectra from milled increment cores were similar. Other options for sampling the tree (drill shavings, etc.) gave errors that were too large for practical applications. If an increment core is going to be used to estimate whole-tree properties, it is recommended that it be dried and milled prior to analysis.     

Trypanocidal activity of extracts and fractions of Bertholletia excelsa

Crude extracts and fractions of Bertholletia excelsa stem barks were tested for trypanocidal activity. Acetone and methanol extracts showed significant in vitro trypanocidal activity against trypomastigote form of Trypanosoma cruzi since in the concentration of 500 microg/ml, the parasites were reduced in 100% and 90.3% respectively, whereas the triterpene betulinic acid pure isolated from hexane extract presented 75.4%.     

Decomposition processes in coastal lagoons and their implications for the assessment of ecological health

1. Aside from structural indicators, functional indicators have been suggested as a tool for assessing the health of transitional water ecosystems. The aim of this study was to assess the potential for the use of plant litter decomposition as a functional indicator of ecosystem health in coastal lagoons.
2. A field experiment was conducted to assess the decomposition rate of Ruppia maritima enclosed in coarse and fine mesh litterbags and incubated in 10 Mediterranean coastal lagoons that conform to a gradient of ecological status produced by anthropogenic impacts as determined by a structural quality index.
3. The microbial decomposition rate in fine mesh litterbags increased linearly along the ecological gradient. However, this relationship was not observed for the overall decomposition rate in coarse mesh bags.
4. Decomposition rates in coarse mesh bags were negatively related to macroinvertebrate diversity, indicating that, in transitional habitats, such as coastal lagoons, high biodiversity is not a prerequisite for successful ecosystem functioning.
5. The results suggest that functional indicators, such as the microbial litter decomposition process, should be used in addition to structural ones to detect anthropogenic‐derived environmental perturbations in coastal lagoons.

     

Integration of pre- and postharvest treatments for the control of black spot caused by Alternaria alternata in stored persimmon fruit

In Israel, black spot caused by Alternaria alternata is the main postharvest factor that impairs the quality and reduces the storability of persimmon fruit (Diospyros kaki cv. Triumph). The fungus infects the fruit in the orchard and remains quiescent until harvest. After harvest, the pathogen slowly colonizes the fruit during storage at 0 °C, which elicits black spot symptom development 2–3 months after storage entry. A commercial postharvest dip treatment in chlorine at 500 mg L^?1, released from sodium troclosene tablets, effectively controlled black spot in fruit stored for up to 2 months. However, decay incidence increased as the length of storage was extended beyond 2.5 months. The long incubation period that precedes black spot symptom development after harvest enabled the development of a series of integrative approaches for application at the pre- and postharvest stages, in combination with the commercial chlorine dip treatment, to improve the control of black spot disease. Preharvest treatments included treatment with the cytokinin-like N₁-(2-chloro-4-pyridyl)-N₃-phenylurea (CPPU) 30 d after fruit set, or a single spray with the curative fungicide polyoxin B 14 d before harvest, and when one of these was applied in combination with the postharvest chlorine dip treatment, the black spot infected area was reduced by 3 and 60%, respectively, compared with the chlorine dip alone. At the postharvest stage, fogging during storage, or post-storage on-line spraying with sodium troclosene, when applied in combination with the postharvest chlorine dip, improved the percentage of marketable fruit by 2 or 10%, respectively, compared with the chlorine dip alone. The results indicate that postharvest pathogens that show a slow colonization pattern might enable the integration of pre- and postharvest disease control methods to improve quality and reduce postharvest disease development.     

High‐throughput Cryopreservation of Sperm from Sex‐reversed Southern Flounder,Paralichthys lethostigma

The Southern flounder, Paralichthys lethostigma, is a valuable aquaculture fish with established markets in the USA. All‐female production in this species is an important technology for aquaculture because the females usually have body sizes twice those of males at the same age, and sex‐reversed males (genotypic XX neomales) are used for all‐female production by crossing with genetically normal females. However, sperm volume from the neomales is usually small (<0.5 mL) and limits their application for all‐female fish production. Cryopreservation of sperm from these sex‐reversed neomales will provide access on demand with increased efficiency to extend the application of neomales. The goal of this study was to develop a protocol for cryopreservation of sperm from the Southern flounder by using an automated high‐throughput processing system. The objectives were to: (1) determine the effect of osmolality on activation of sperm motility; (2) evaluate the effect of extender solutions on sperm motility capacity; (3) evaluate the acute toxicity of cryoprotectants (dimethyl sulfoxide [DMSO], propylene glycol, and polyethylene glycol) on sperm motility, and (4) estimate the effect of cooling rate on sperm cryopreservation and post‐thaw fertilization. Sperm motility was activated when osmolality was 400 mOsmol/kg or higher. Of the three extender buffers tested, HEPES4‐(2‐hydroxyethyl)‐1‐piperazineethanesulfonic acid (HEPES) at 300 mOsmol/kg resulted in better protection for sperm motility than did Hanks' balanced salt solution and Mounib solution at 300 mOsmol/kg during 7 d of refrigerated storage. After 30 min equilibration with the cryoprotectant of 15% DMSO, sperm motility was 24 ± 21% (fresh sperm motility without any cryoprotectants was 42%). After cooling at a rate of 20 C/min, post‐thaw sperm motility was 8 ± 5% and fertilization was 63 ± 40% evaluated at the 32–64 cell stage (5 × 10⁵ sperm per egg). Overall, a protocol was developed for sperm cryopreservation in the Southern flounder with high‐throughput processing, which provides a tool to preserve the valuable genetic resources from neomale flounders, and enables germplasm repository development for the Southern flounder.     

Effects of Water Hardness and Calcium: Magnesium Ratios on Reproductive Performance and Offspring Quality of Macrobrachium rosenbergii

This study evaluated the effect of specific calcium and magnesium ratios at two hardness values on reproductive performance and offspring quality of Macrobrachium rosenbergii brood‐females. Hatchery water containing 110.5 mg/L CaCO3 hardness was considered baseline as it has been used successfully to hatch and rear larvae and was used as the control treatment. At each hardness value of 150 and 190 mg/L CaCO₃, four experimental water treatments were made in triplicate. Each treatment was adjusted using soluble salts (CaCl₂·H₂O, MgSO₄·7H₂O, and MgCl₂·6H₂O) to provide the hardness and calcium to magnesium ratios of 0:20, 20:80, 50:50, and 80:20 needed. Each of the experimental tanks (140 L) were stocked with six females and one male. The results indicated that both hardness and Ca:Mg ratios affect brood‐female reproductive qualitative parameters such as intermolt period, egg hatchability, egg dry weight, and egg‐clutch somatic index (ESI) parameters (P < 0.05) but not fecundity and eggs per spawn. The results revealed that brood‐females at 150 mg/L hardness showed greater reproductive performance than at 190 and 110.5 mg/L hardness. The findings also demonstrated that the treatment 50Ca50Mg at 150 mg/L hardness with 38.8 mg/L calcium and 12.9 mg/L magnesium had optimum reproductive performance and offspring quality for M. rosenbergii brood‐females.