Search results for "Systematics"
showing 10 items of 6702 documents
Studies on the Fibrous Components of the Test ofCiona intestinalisLinnaeus. I. Cellulose-like Polysaccharide
1977
Chemical, histochemical and electron microscopic studies on the fibrous polysaccharide component of the test of Ciona intestinalis L. were made. The results showed cellulose-like fibres to be present in the cuticle layer and in the ground substance. Bundles of fibres varying in diameter from 80 to 600 nm interweave to form a conspicuous network. The bundle appears to be formed of flat fibres, 10–13 nm in width, while the fibre is composed of fibrils 3.5–5 nm; the rectangular cross section of fibres can be supposed. The probable role of this polysaccharide is discussed.
The Role of Lectins in Finfish: A Review
2019
The immune system of vertebrates involves both innate and acquired immune responses. The innate immunity is more generalized with robust response whereas the other has a highly specific response to infectious pathogens. Because of the lack of specialized lymphatic organs, innate immunity is an important mode of defense in fishes. The less specific innate immune system acts mainly through complement pathway which depends on pattern-based recognition of “self” and “non-self” targets by host lectins and associated proteins. This ultimately results in the clearance of target cells. Lectins are glycoproteins which possess at least one carbohydrate recognition domain (CRD) that specifically and r…
Carotenoid-based colour polyphenism in a moth species: search for fitness correlates
2007
Carotenoid-based integumental coloration is often associated with individual performance in various animals. This is because the limited amount of the pigment has to be allocated to different vital functions. However, most of the evidence for the carotenoid-based trade-off comes from vertebrate studies, and it is unclear if this principle can be applied to insects. This possibility was investigated in Orgyia antiqua L. (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae). The larvae of this species are polyphenic in their coloration, varying from a highly conspicuous combination of yellow hair tufts on black background to cryptic appearance with brown hair tufts. The conspicuous larvae are aposematic, advertising t…
Determination of biological characteristics of Tunisian Artemia salina populations
2012
In this study, Artemia salina cysts collected from four Tunisian hypersaline environments were characterized using biometrical, biological and biochemical descriptors. Biometrical analysis revealed that the mean diameter value ranged from 220.25 to 237.76 μm, for the untreated cysts, from 199 to 224.52 μm for decapsulated cysts and that the chorion thickness ranged from 6.62 to 10.58 μm. 48 h after hatching, Artemia from Sebkha El Meleh, Sebha Moknine, Sfax saltworks and Sahline saltworks presented a hatching percentage of 52.7%, 53.75%, 70.16% and 43.74%, respectively. The length of the freshly hatched instar I nauplii varied from 429 to 449.34 μm. The fatty acids profile showed that the n…
Biogeochemical evaluation of historical sediment contamination in the Gulf of Palermo (NW Sicily): Analysis of pseudotrace elements and stable isotop…
2012
Abstract Sedimentary biogeochemical data from the Gulf of Palermo, which borders one of the major urban and industrial areas of the central Mediterranean, provide a decennial–centennial-scale record of the effects of human activity on this coastal environment. In this study we report trace elements (TE), C org /N tot ratios, δ 13 C org , and δ 15 N tot from dated ( 210 Pb) sediments collected in two coastal stations variably influenced by urban/fluvial loadings and illegal dumping and we compare them with published data for offshore sediments, in order to investigate at a large spatial scale the influence of on-land activities on sedimentary marine system. TE were generally low except for H…
Biological activity of resveratrol, a stilbenic compound from grapevines, against Botrytis cinerea, the causal agent for gray mold
1997
The biological activity of resveratrol, a stilbenic compound synthesized by grapevines in response to various stresses, was reevaluated against Botrytis cinerea using a novel in vitro system that enabled direct observation of the fungus with an inverted microscope. We determined that 90 μg resveratrol/ml reduced germination of B. cinerea conidia by ca. 50%. Moreover, resveratrol was shown to significantly reduce mycelial growth of B. cinerea at concentrations ranging from 60 to 140 μg/ml. Exposure to resveratrol at concentrations ranging from 60 to 140 μg/ml resulted in cytological changes in B. cinerea, such as production of secondary or tertiary germ tubes by conidia, cytoplasmic granulat…
17β-Estradiol-dependent regulation of chaperone expression and telomerase activity in the marine sponge Geodia cydonium
1999
It is known that species belonging to the lowest metazoan phylum, the Porifera (sponges), do not develop tumors. Sponge cells share with tumor cells of higher animals at least one characteristic; they contain high levels of telomerase activity, suggesting that they possess a high proliferation capacity. This assumption, however, has not been substantiated experimentally. In addition, sponges show a specific bauplan, leading us to postulate that they undergo apoptosis to replace a given set of cells at a given time. In the present study, 17β-estradiol (βE2) was used as a defined agent to assess its effect on both the telomerase activity and the process of apoptosis in the marine sponge Geodi…
Prebiotic polypeptides and the origin of biological information.
1983
Recent data on the origin of biological information are reviewed. These data corroborate the view that polyamino acids were the first informational polymers. The source of information is seen in the chemical reactivity of amino acids, their prebiotic abundance and the prebiotic environment. Evidence is presented in favor of Matsuno's protohypercycle that may have preceded Eigen's hypercycle, but that involves a translation of information from polypeptides into that of polynucleotides.
Use of stable isotopes to investigate dispersal of waste from fish farm as a function of hydrodynamics.
2006
Stable isotopes were used to examine differential effects of fish farm waste on the water column and sediments. To achieve this objective, we chose 3 marine fish farms located along the coast of Sicily (Mediterranean Sea) as point-source disturbances, and a control area. The hypothesis that carbon and nitrogen isotope composition of particulate (POM) and sedimentary (SOM) organic matter varied with increasing distance (from cages to 1000 m) was tested at 3 levels of hydrodynam- ics: low (mean velocity of current (MVC) ~12 cm s -1 ), intermediate (MVC ~22 cm s -1 ), and high (MVC ~40 cm s -1 ). Different isotopic signals from allochthonous (fish waste) over natural (phytoplankton, terrigenou…
Role of peat organic matter on isotopic composition of most abundant benthic organisms in intertidal habitats of SW Iceland
2008
The transfer of peat organic matter (OM) from tidal pools of upper littoral to downstream rocky shores and its potential incorporation into marine biota were investigated using the stable isotope approach. Samplings were carried out in September 2004 in two SW Icelandic sites (Osar and Hvassahraun), where we selected (1) areas with shores where grass gently declined towards rocks and, on reaching the sea line, formed small tidal peat pools and (2) areas where grass and rocky shores were not contiguous, rather the grass lower limits were several hundreds of meters back from the shore. In both grass and no grass areas, in the intertidal zone, all benthic organisms and all potential OM sources…