Abstract:The intrinsic of increase(r_m),finite rate of increase(λ),mean generation time(T),net reproduction rate(R₀),mean lifespan,age at first brood,mean interval between clutch and fecundity of Daphnia carinata were studied under different temperatures (15,20,25,30℃) and pH values (6,7,8,9,10).The results indicated that temperature was of great importance to the reproduction of D.carinata .The mean generation time(T),mean lifespan,age at first brood, mean interval between clutch decreased with increasing temperature,while intrinsic of increase(r_m)and finite rate of increase(λ)increased with temperature varying from 15-30℃.The intrinsic of increase(r_m)at 30℃ was significantly higher than in other groups.Effects of pH on the survival and neonate production of D.carinata were also studied.Results showed that there was no significant difference among pH 7,8,9 and 10. When D.carinata was reared at pH 6,intrinsic of increase(r_m)and finite rate of increase(λ)were significantly higher than those reared in other groups.

Abstract:The histological,surface and internal fine structures of gill filaments of Cheilinus undulatus were investigated using light,scanning and transmission electron microscopy.The results showed that there were 3 pairs of holobranch,1 pair of hemibranch and 1 pair of pseudobranchia.The comb primary filaments lined on the gill arches closely.Many secondary gill lamellae inlaid on two sides of each filament,and arranged each other closely.The blood system of filament was composed of afferent artery,efferent artery and capillary vessel nets.Various features such as indentations,micropits and crevices were present on non-respiratory surface of filaments.The respiratory surface of filaments was folded.The filaments were covered by epithelial cells,which had different surface features in different areas.It had regular fingerprint shape microridges in non-respiratory surface,no microridge but folded surface in respiratory area and irregular microridges in the transition region.There were many holes on the non-respiratory surface.Chloride cells and mucous cells were observed and many mitochondria and excretion vesicles distributed in chloride cells.Secondary filaments were consisted of epithelial cells,basement membranes,endothelial cells and pillar cells.These structures formed the water-blood barrier.The close relationship between the structure of fish gill and its function was discussed.

Abstract:To study the effect of morphometric attributes on body weight of the Steelhead Oncorhynchus mykiss,morphometric measurement was taken from 116 samples.The attributes used in this study include body length,body height,body depth,head length,eye diameter,eye cross and bodyweight.A correlation coefficient matrix was constructed,in which the body weight was used as the dependent variable and other attributes as independent variables for path analysis.The path coefficients,determination coefficients,and correlation index were calculated,and major morphometric attributes were determined.The results showed that all the correlation coefficient between each independent variable and dependent variable (body weight) were significantly different (P<0.01).The trait with the strongest direct effect on body weight was body height (0.363),then the body length (0.291),body depth (0.264) and eye diameter (0.111).The high value of multiple correlation index R² at 0.972 between morphometric attributes and body weight suggests that the selected attributes are practical.The multiple regression equation relating the body weight was established as y=-107.53+3.03 X₁+20.01 X₃+12.63 X2+45.56 X₅,where y is body weight,X₁,X₂,X₃,X₅,is body length,body height,body depth,eye diameter respectively.

Abstract:In order to understand the status of distribution and population density of Crab-eating Frog (Fejervarya cancrivora),we made field surveys at 12 sites of mangrove in Hainan from April to August 2008,and measured the population density and habitat by line transects at the four mangroves.The Crab-eating Frog only found in 4 nature reserves,named Hainan Dongzhai Harbor Mangrove National Nature Reserve,Qinglan Harbor Mangrove Provincial Nature Reserve,Wenchang,Xinying Harbor Mangrove,Danzhou,and Wucun Mangrove Nature Reserve,Chengmai.All the four mangroves have larger area (>100 hm²),rich plant species and exposed bottom at high tide.The average population densities of Crab-eating Frog in mangrove,shrimp pond and intertidal mudflat are 132±71 individuals/hm²,65±50 individuals/hm²and 37±22 individuals/hm² respectively,and the population densities are significantly different among the three habitats.In the four mangroves,the highest population density occurs at Hainan Dongzhai Harbor Mangrove National Nature Reserve and lowest at Wucun Mangrove Nature Reserve respectively.The population density is not different between Qinglan Harbor Mangrove Provincial Nature Reserve and Xinying Harbor Mangrove (P>0.05).The population decline and distribution region reduction of Crab-eating Frog are mainly caused by habitat destruction,water pollution and illegal harvest.

Abstract:The microstructure and ultrastructure of Leydig cells in Chinese Rat Snake Zaocys dhumnade were examined by light microscopy and transmission electron microscopy,and the concentration of serum testosterone was measured by radioimmunoassay (RIA).During a reproductive cycle,the region of Leydig tissue,the quantity of Leydig cells and the microstructure changed very evidently.In the Leydig cells in May,there were developed mitochondria with tubular cristae,abundant smooth endoplasmic reticulum and numerous lipid droplets,suggesting that Leydig cells have the ultrastructure characteristic of synthesizing and secreting steroid hormone.The concentration of serum testosterone also changed evidently,and its major peak appeared in May,and the minor peak appeared in September.The microstructure and ultrastructure of Leydig cells were positively correlated with the concentration of serum testosterone.Our results suggest that Leydig cells in Chinese Rat Snake can synthesize and secrete testosterone.

Abstract:To compare daily rhythms of Eothenomys miletus and Apodemus chevrieri which sympatric distributed in Hengduan Mountains region,their thermoregulation and evaporative water loss (EWL) were measured four times in 04:00-06:00,10:00-12:00,16:00-18:00,and 22:00-24:00 within 24 hours from 24 adult samples (12♀ and 12 ♂ ) for each species.E.miletus and A.chevrieri had a similar body temperature (T_b) circadian rhythm,their maximum body temperature,37.45±0.17℃ and 37.30±0.24℃,occurred at 04:00-06:00,respectively,and their minimum body temperature,35.77±0.42℃ and 36.05±0.11℃,occurred at 10:00-12:00.However,significant differences between the two species were found in nonshivering thermogenesis (NST),basal metabolic rate (BMR),thermal conductance (C) and dry thermal conductance (Cdry).EWL appeared a significant difference only at 16:00-18:00.E.miletus had clear circadian rhythms in BMR and EWL.The NST circadian variation in A.chevrieri corresponded to the T_b oscillations,moreover the daily rhythms of C and Cdry were also synchronous with ambient temperature.Suffering high temperature and low temperature,the two species adapt to environmental conditions by taking the similar daily rhythms of T_b.Compared to E.miletus, A.chevrieri has a stronger physiological regulation mechanism to maintain water and energy balance.

Abstract:Seed recovery processes were investigated with Eutamias sibiricus in the semi-natural enclosures in Dongfanghong Forest Dailing District of Heilongjiang Province in August 2009 and 2010.In the beginning of experiments,we constructed 16 semi-natural enclosures with one nest in each enclosure which is 10 m×10 m× 2.5 m in size and one E.sibiricus was released in it.All the enclosures with natural vegetation were covered by net to protect the animal from predator.In the first 3 days,we laid 30 seeds of Pinus koraiensis in the center of enclosure every day to check the discovery rate for each animal.Then,we choose 8 very active one as target animal to test the seed recovery process.In the formal experiment,we laid 30 tagged seeds evenly in the half enclosure area against the nest side in the first day; buried 30 tagged seeds 2 cm depth evenly in the same region in the second day; buried 60 marked seeds alternately with 1,2 and 3 seeds in each cache in the third day to see whether cache size influences seed recovery rate.In the fourth day,we buried 30 tags only unevenly to test whether animal can locate seeds by vision; fifth day,we buried 30 untagged seeds to see whether the animal can find seed by smell.We used three seed species (P.koraiensis,Corylus heterophylla and C.mandshurica) in this study.Our results showed no difference in seed discovery rates regardless ground surface releasing and burial.However,seed recovery rates varied significantly with seed species and cache sizes.The recovery rates of "false seeds" were 3.75% (P.koraiensis),1.67% (C.heterophylla) and 42.92% (C.mandshurica),indicating the significance of vision.The recovery rates between handling caches and chipmunk’s own caches were not significantly different.These results showed that E.sibiricus rely on olfaction and vision to recover seeds under the semi-natural enclosures and olfaction might play an important role in finding seeds.

Abstract:We conducted field studies on the breeding behavior of Sclater’s Monal(Lophophorus sclateri) on Mt Gaoligong in spring (March-May) at the year of 2002 to 2004.The single nest site found locates on a ledge (3.8 m) on the side of a large boulder (6.3 m).Egg-laying began in late March,incubation in early April,and chicks hatched in early May.Clutch size varied between 2 and 3 eggs (n=2) and the laying interval between eggs was 2 days (n=1).The eggs are cream-coloured,have fine reddish brown spots and average 85.8 g (n=5).The incubation period is 28 days (n=2) and chicks average 57.3 g (n=3) at hatch.All of the eggs were fertile and hatched successfully.The single nest site that we found was used for at least two years,possibly three,suggesting that nest sites might be a limiting factor for this population.

Abstract:The social amoeba Dictyostelium discoideum is increasingly being used as a simple model for the investigation of problems that are relevant to development and pathogenesis.The investigation of autofluorescence during development is helpful to identifying basic fluorescent threshold,accuracy of experiment marked with fluorescent dye,and cellular sorting with flow cytometry.The autofluorescence of KAx-3 cells at different developmental phases was observed with fluorescent microscope in wild type D.discoideum.The results showed that the autofluorescence of spore capsule at fruiting body was strongest,while the autofluorescence was weakest at unicellular phase under excitement of wide blue (abbr: WB).There was no autofluorescence at slug under excitement of wide green (abbr: WG) and wide interference yellow (abbr: WIY).The autofluorescence at unicellular phase was weakest under excitement of wide ultraviolet ray (abbr: WU).The autofluorescent intensity was changed during development.Green,red,and blue colors of autofluorescences were separately excited by WB,WG and WIY,and WU.The results indicate the diversity autofluorescence spectrum of KAx-3 cells in wild type D.discoideum.

Abstract:The effects of different concentrations (400,800 and 1200 mg/L) of melamine on population growth,sexual reproduction,body size and egg size of rotifer Brachionus calyciflorus were investigated.The results showed that the 24 h LC₅₀ value of melamine to B.calyciflorus was 2 627.00 mg/L.Compared with the controls,melamine at 800 and 1 200 mg/L decreased significantly the population growth rate,but increased the resting egg production,body size and egg size,indicating that the rotifers allocate more energy for body growth,and produce bigger but less offspring at higher concentrations of melamine.Melamine at 1 200 mg/L increased significantly the mictic rate and the ratio of mictic females/amictic females.With the increase of melamine concentration,the resting egg production increased,but the population growth rate decreased.The mictic rate and the ratio of mictic females/amictic females were curvilinear correlated with melamine concentration.

Abstract:Dugesia japonica is usually used as model animal for the study of regeneration mechanism. In this study, an improved acetylcholinesterase histochemical method was used to locate the nerve system of D.japonica. The research results (DjAChE⁺) showed that the nerve system of D.japonica consisted of central nerve system and its branches, lateral nerve cords and peripheral epithelial nerve net. Dorsal and ventral nerve nets connected respectively with lateral nerve cords and formed the peripheral epithelial nerve net. Central nerve system was comprised of cerebral ganglion, ventral nerve cords and optic nerves. The multi-branch nerves from the central nerve connected with each other in the medial area of the cerebral ganglion and ventral nerve cords, which formed stomatic nerve ring in the medial mouth, which extended from pharynx root to pharynx tissue and formed pharyngal nerve net. The multi-branch nerves from the central nerve connected with both dorsal and ventral nerve nets, and then joined together with lateral nerve cords. The important findings in this research were that dorsal nerve net, ventral nerve net and lateral nerve cords coexisted in the D. japonica nerve system. This study provided the systematic neuroanatomical foundation for the regeneration mechanism of the D. japonica nerve system, and provided a simple and efficient histochemistry method for the AChE⁺ structure research in different planarians.

Abstract:The radular morphology of Cellana toreuma and C.grata was observed by optical microscopy and electron microscopy.Without central tooth,the radular formula of two limpets was "1 ·1 ·0 ·1 ·1",indicating that both had a lateral tooth and a marginal tooth.There was a curve on the firside of radulae where the teeth had loose configuration and had obvious phenomenon of abrasion.The lateral tooth morphology of two limpets was very similar: the lateral tooth was falciform,with a strong cusp,almost triangular base and a protuberance.Part of its cusp was thin.However,there were some differences in tooth morphology between the two limpets: C.toreuma had three strong cusps,with the second close to the third.C.grata had two cusps,with the second cusp close to its base.The base of two limpets was almost triangular and had a protuberance.Seventeen parameters were used to measure the radular band and the teeth on the anterior,middle and posterior segment of radular band for comparison.There was obvious difference in the ratio of length to width of radular strip,indicating that the radular band morphology of C.grata was more thinner.There was a certain relationship between these parameters of three segments of radular band: the ratio of middle segment was greater than that of anterior segment,and the ratio of middle segment was greater than that of posterior segment.It was feasible to use radulae as taxonomic basis of C.toreuma and C.grata.

Abstract:The male Redclaw Crayfish (Cherax quadricarinatus) with initial body length of 10.5 cm were fed with artificial diets containing different levels of cholesterol (0,0.25%,0.50%, 0.75%,1.00%) for 10 weeks.Hepatopancreas digestive enzymes and testis AKP,LDH,ATPase were measured.The results showed that group 2 had the best growth index and the highest trypsin activity.There was no significant difference in lipase activity among groups 2,3,and 4,but lipase activities in these three groups were higher than those in group 1 and control.Testis AKP activity and LDH activity were the highest in group 3.There was no significant difference in testis ATPase activity between group 2 and 3,but ATP activities in these two groups were higher than those in groups 1,4 and control.The results suggest that the optimum dietary cholesterol in the feed was between 0.50% to 0.75% during rapid gonadal development phase in C.quadricarinatus.