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We investigated the influence of host species on intestinal microbiota by comparing the gut bacterial community structure of four cohabitating freshwater fish larvae, silver carp, grass carp, bighead carp, and blunt snout bream, using denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) of the amplified 16S and 18S rRNA genes. Similarity clustering indicated that the intestinal microbiota derived from these four fish species could be divided into four groups based on 16S rRNA gene similarity, whereas the eukaryotic 18S rRNA genes showed no distinct groups. The water sample from the shared environment contained microbiota of an independent group as indicated by both 16S and 18S rRNA genes segments. The bacterial community structures were visualized using rank-abundance plots fitted with linear regression models. Results showed that the intestinal bacterial evenness was significantly different between species (P less than 0.05) and between species and the water sample (P less than 0.01). Thirty-five relatively dominant bands in DGGE patterns were sequenced and grouped into five major taxa: Proteobacteria (26), Actinobacteria (5), Bacteroidetes (1), Firmicutes (2), and Cyanobacterial (1). Six eukaryotes were detected by sequencing 18S rRNA genes segments. The present study suggests that the intestines of the four fish larvae, although reared in the same environment, contained distinct bacterial populations, while intestinal eukaryotic microorganisms were almost identical.

The feeding ecology of leptocephali has remained poorly understood because they apparently feed on particulate organic matter (POM), which varies in composition, and it is unclear which components of the POM they assimilate. The δ13C and δ15N stable isotope (SI) and fatty acid (FA) compositions of 3 families of leptocephali and POM were compared in 3 latitudinal current zones of the western South Pacific. The δ15N signatures of leptocephali and POM overlapped, with both having their lowest values in the southern current zone. POM in general (across all zones) contained 38 FAs and was rich in saturated FAs (SFA) (16:0, 18:0, 14:0), while leptocephali contained 50 FAs, with high proportions of 16:0, and higher contributions of 22:6ω3, 20:5ω3, 18:1ω9, 16:1ω7 and other FAs than found in the POM. Serrivomeridae leptocephali in the north had higher δ15N signatures and were also distinguished from Nemichthyidae and Muraenidae larvae by their FA compositions (higher SFAs, lower 22:6ω3 and 20:5ω3). Although SI signatures of the Serrivomeridae larvae did not clearly vary with size, 16:0 and 18:0 FA proportions decreased with increasing larval size, and 22:6ω3 and 16:1ω7 increased in larger larvae. Correspondences between the latitudinal variations in nitrogen SI signatures and FA compositions of POM with those of leptocephali and the presence of FA markers of both autotrophic and heterotrophic organisms were consistent with leptocephali feeding on POM. POM can contain various materials from primary producers and heterotrophic microorganisms, but differences in the SI signatures and FA compositions in leptocephali remain to be explained through further research.

The life cycles of fishes are complex and varied, and knowledge of the early life stages is important for understanding the biology, ecology, and evolution of fishes. InEarly Life History of Marine Fishes,Bruce S. Miller and Arthur W. Kendall Jr., bring together in a single reference much of the research available and its application to fishery science-knowledge increasingly important because for most fishes, adult populations are determined at the earliest stages of life. Clear and well written, this book offers expert guidance on how to collect and analyze larval fish data and on how this information is interpreted by applied fish biologists and fisheries managers.

Ocean acidification, caused by increased atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations, is currently an important environmental problem. It is therefore necessary to investigate the effects of ocean acidification on all life stages of a wide range of marine organisms. However, few studies have examined the effects of increased CO2 on early life stages of organisms, including corals. Using a range of pH values (pH 7.3, 7.6, and 8.0) in manipulative duplicate aquarium experiments, we have evaluated the effects of increased CO2 on early life stages (larval and polyp stages) of Acropora spp. with the aim of estimating CO2 tolerance thresholds at these stages. Larval survival rates did not differ significantly between the reduced pH and control conditions. In contrast, polyp growth and algal infection rates were significantly decreased at reduced pH levels compared to control conditions. These results suggest that future ocean acidification may lead to reduced primary polyp growth and delayed establishment of symbiosis. Stress exposure experiments using longer experimental time scales and lower levels of CO2 concentrations than those used in this study are needed to establish the threshold of CO2 emissions required to sustain coral reef ecosystems.

An illustrated guide to the sweeping diversity of crustacean larval forms. Winner of the CHOICE Outstanding Academic Title of the Choice ACRL Crustaceans—familiar to the average person as shrimp, lobsters, crabs, krill, barnacles, and their many relatives—are easily one of the most important and diverse groups of marine life. Poorly understood, they are among the most numerous invertebrates on earth. Most crustaceans start life as eggs and move through a variety of morphological phases prior to maturity. In Atlas of Crustacean Larvae, more than 45 of the world's leading crustacean researchers explain and illustrate the beauty and complexity of the many larval life stages. Revealing shapes that are reminiscent of aliens from other worlds—often with bizarre modifications for a planktonic life or for parasitization, including (in some cases) bulging eyes, enormous spines, and aids for flotation and swimming—the abundant illustrations and photographs show the detail of each morphological stage and allow for quick comparisons. The diversity is immediately apparent in the illustrations: spikes that deter predators occur on some larvae, while others bear unique specializations not seen elsewhere, and still others appear as miniature versions of the adults. Small differences in anatomy are shown to be suited to the behaviors and survival mechanisms of each species. Destined to become a key reference for specialists and students and a treasured book for anyone who wishes to understand \"the invertebrate backbone of marine ecosystems,\" Atlas of Crustacean Larvae belongs on the shelf of every serious marine biologist.

The emerald ash borer, Agrilus planipennis, native to Asia is a devastating pest of ash in North America and European Russia. There are several parasitoids of A. planipennis recorded in Asia and North America, but none previously in Europe and European Russia. Eighty two specimens of the ectoparasitoid Spathius polonicus Niezabitowski (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Doryctinae) (23 adults, 56 larvae and three pupae) were found in the remains of A. planipennis larvae at five localities in Moscow Province in October 2013 - May 2014. S. polonicus is rare but widely distributed and mainly a Western Palaearctic species. It seems that the level of parasitism could be relatively high: in nature, more than 50% of the last instar larvae of A. planipennis examined were killed by S. polonicus. We collected 24 live last instar larvae and prepupae and the remains of 30 last instar larvae of A. planipennis previously parasitized by S. polonicus. S. polonicus may be suitable for the biocontrol of A. planipennis both in Europe and North America, because it is a native of the temperate climate zone. The potential of this parasitoid for biological control needs special investigation.

Nesidiocoris tenuis (Reuter) (Hemiptera: Miridae) is an effective predator of pests of tomato crops and a promising biocontrol agent of Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) in the Mediterranean area. The aim of this study was to determine the numerical response of N. tenuis to different levels of abundance of T. absoluta and its potential for controlling it when infesting tomato crops. The effects of infesting plants with either 0.2 or 2 larvae of T. absoluta and releasing either 2 or 0 adults of N. tenuis per plant were assayed in a complete factorial randomised-block design with 3 repeats in 12 greenhouse compartments in southern Spain. The population dynamics of the moth was similar in all compartments, with and without N. tenuis, but T. absoluta reached a lower absolute peak density in compartments with N. tenuis (29.1 +/- 8.2 larvae per leaf) than in those without them (44.5 +/- 19.4 larvae per leaf). The peak numbers of larvae of T. absoluta did not differ on the plants initially infested with 0.2 or 2 larvae. Nesidiocoris tenuis reached a maximum of 1.9 +/- 0.43 and 3.0 +/- 0.4 individuals per leaf in compartments in which low and high numbers of T. absoluta were initially introduced, respectively. The yield of tomatoes was higher in the treatments with N. tenuis than in those without, but the percentage of damaged fruit (more than 50%) was similar. The slow numerical response of N. tenuis might have been due, among other things, to the poor establishment of this mirid due to the scarcity of prey. N. tenuis densities of about 0.2 individuals per leaf during the linear population growth phase of T. absoluta (0.5 to 3 larvae per leaf) did not prevent outbreaks.

In the present study, the predatory interactions between two locally abundant large lady beetles, Coccinella septempunctata L. (C7) and Coccinella transversalis F. (Ct) provided with either an extremely scarce, scarce, sub-optimal, optimal or abundant supply of the pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum (Harris) were investigated. For this, three 2-predator combinations (conspecific C7 + C7 and Ct + Ct, and heterospecific C7 + Ct) of 10-day-old unmated adult females were used. The relationships between the proportion of prey consumed by the predators in the conspecific and heterospecific combinations when provided with five different abundances of prey were similar in consisting of a decelerating (type II) functional response when provided with an extremely scarce to optimal supply of prey, followed by an accelerating (type III) functional response when provided with an optimal to abundant supply of prey. It is likely that the modified type II functional response recorded in the present study was a consequence of using a small experimental arena (Petri dish). The multiplicative risk model analysis revealed that the predators interacted antagonistically except in the C7 + C7 combination provided with an extremely scarce supply of prey where the predators had an additive effect. The predators in the heterospecific C7 + Ct combination consumed fewer aphids when provided with an extremely scarce, scarce, sub-optimal or optimal supply of prey prey than the predators in conspecific C7 + C7 combination but a similarly high number when provided with an abundant supply of prey. In addition, the efficiency of converting prey biomass into their own biomass was higher in the heterospecific C7 + Ct than in the conspecific C7 + C7 or Ct + Ct combinations at all prey densities. Although the conversion efficiency of the predators in the conspecific and heterospecific combinations provided with an extremely scarce supply of prey was the highest recorded, their growth rate was the lowest. In contrast, both the conversion efficiency and growth rate of the predators in the three combinations were highest when provided with an abundant supply of prey. It may, therefore, be concluded that when the predators in the combinations occupy similar ecological niches, they will probably consume less prey than they require when prey is both scarce and abundant because the predators interact antagonistically.

The efficacy of natural enemies in controlling pests under field conditions is largely correlated with their capacity to spread within infested crops. In this study the spatial dispersal of the California red scale parasitoid Aphytis melinus was evaluated in the field after augmentative releases. The experiment was conducted in 2007 in six 1-ha plots in a Sicilian citrus orchard under integrated pest management. A total of 180,000 A. melinus adults was released in each of three plots and the other plots were left as untreated control. The flight range of the parasitoid was evaluated, for 35 days after the release, on 16 trees per each plot, located at 20 and 40 m from the central release point using yellow sticky traps activated with Aonidiella aurantii sexual pheromone and by monitoring the percentage parasitism of the scale on fruits and twigs. The effects of the distance from the release point and density of susceptible stages of host on parasitoid dispersal were evaluated. The number of wasps captured during the whole trial was greater in the traps located 20 m from the release point than in those at 40 m and in the control plots. Aphytis melinus dispersed over distances less than 40 m based on both the lower percentage parasitism and numbers captured recorded at distances of 40 m. The results are discussed in the context of the biological control of California red scale in citrus orchards by means of wasp releases. In particular, the release points should be no more than 40 m apart for a quick and homogeneous colonization of the area treated.

Ergonomic efficiency is in termites maximized by task partitioning among specialized castes. The isopteran caste systems can be classified as either (i) linear, when tasks are performed by pluripotent immatures (pseudergates), retaining the ability to develop into winged imagoes or (ii) bifurcated, with the presence of a true worker caste, which diverges early and permanently from the sexual (nymph/alate) line. Here, we report on the ontogenetic potentialities of the highly polymorphic sand termite Psammotermes hybostoma. Beside numerous pluripotent pseudergates, constituting the main work force, some larger non-feeding apterous immatures, also occur. These individuals are unable to proceed to the winged imago stage, but store large amounts of fat and also give rise to large soldiers. Soldiers therefore originate from a wide range of apterous instars, consequently being highly polymorphic. The caste system of P. hybostoma is essentially linear, as in other basal Rhinotermitidae, but is distinguished by the late bifurcation leading to large apterous immatures. Because these large worker-like individuals deviate late and do not perform worker tasks, they cannot be considered homologous to the true workers of Termitidae and advanced Rhinotermitidae, but they provide a novel example of the evolution of sterile immatures in termites.