Megascopic Symmetrical Metazoans from the Ediacaran Doushantuo Formation in the Northeastern Guizhou,South China

In South China, various megascopic symmetrical metazoan fossils were found in the upper Doushantuo （陡山沱） Formation of the Neoproterozoic Ediacaran. The worm-like fossil is characterized by modern taxological annelid, for many metameres, parapodia, one possible tentale, an alimentary canal, and a dorsal vessel. The triradiate discoidal fossils belong to Trilobozoa, and the octaradiate discoidal fossil might be Ctenophora. All these fossils indicate that the megascopic metazoans have appeared in the Doushantuoian of Eidacaran and imply that the symmetrical metazoans must have originated at least 550 Ma ago.

Behavioral Diversity and Complexity Indicated by Metazoan Traces at a Topological Level since Proterozoic

On the basis of topological criteria, metazoan traces can be classified as four ichnoorders (clusters) and twenty two ichnofamilies (kinds), which consist of nine basic and three combined topological configurations. At a topological level, the behavioral diversity and complexity indicated by metazoan traces have remained quite stable since the Early Cambrian. Dramatic changes of these traits took place in the Neoproterozoic, in which 75% (12/16) of the topoichnotaxa and all nine basic topological configurations of metazoan traces occurred, but the most complex and highest level topological configuration occurred in the Early Cambrian of the coelomate animal explosive evolution, showing that in the Neoproterozoic and Early Cambrian gestated not only the Ediacarian fauna and all the basic types of multi cellular animals known today, but also all the basic and the most complex metazoan traces through geological time.

Metazoan Parasites of the Mediterranean Garfish <i>Belone belone gracilis</i>(Teleostei: Belonidae) as a Tool for Stock Discrimination

The aim of the present study was to provide a current survey of metazoan parasites of the Mediterranean garfish Belone belone gracilis Lowe, 1839 off Tunisian coast and their potential use as biological tags for discriminate stocks. Parasitological analysis of 453 specimens of B. b. gracilis along the eastern Tunisian coast revealed the presence of ten species of metazoan parasites: one monogenean Axine belones Abildgaard, 1794;four digeneansLecithostaphylus retroflexus (Molin, 1859), Tergestia acanthocephala (Stossich, 1887) Stossich, 1899, Aponurus laguncula Looss, 1907 and Condylocotyla pilodora(metacercaria) Pearson et Prévot, 1985;one copepod Bomolochus bellonesBurmeister, 1835;two isopods Irona nana Schioedte et Meinert, 1884 andNerocila orbignyi (Guérin-Méneville, 1832);1 acanthocephalan Telosentis exiguus (Von Linstow, 1901) and one nematod Anisakid larvae. Discriminant analysis using parasites as biological tags, allowed identifying two stocks ofB. b. gracilis. Digenea L. retroflexus, A. laguncula and Anisakid larvae were the most important species in determining the position of sampled fishes from the central coast off Tunisia. Metacercaria C. pilodora characterized specimens from the Southern coast off Tunisia. These results were corroborated by comparing parameters of prevalence and mean abundance between zones. Discriminant analysis used for the separation of B. b. gracilis between seasons in both localities showed that a seasonal variation affected mainly specimens from the center suggesting seasonal move of fishes.

Effect of Locality, Host Species and Sex on the Metazoan Parasitic Infestation of Two, Species of <i>Scarus</i>Fish from the Red Sea Coast at Jeddah and Rabigh in Saudi Arabia

A total number of 60 specimens of two different species of Scarus fish caught from the Red Sea coast at Jeddah (30) and Rabigh (30) cities in Saudi Arabia were examined to determine their metazoan parasitic fauna, their prevalences, and mean intensities. Collected parasites were identified as, Isopoda (praniza larva of Gnathia sp.), Copepoda (Hatschekia sp.) Monogenea (Diplectanum sp.) and Digenea (Lecithoclaster and Bucephalus spp). Out of 30 specimens of fish caught from Jeddah coast 13 (43.4%) were infested by 90 parasites comprising of two parasite species, praniza larva and Hatschekia sp., with prevalence of infestation 40% and 3.33%, and mean intensity 7 and 6 parasites per fish respectively. 19 (63.3%) of Scarus fish caught from Rabigh coast were infested by 205 parasites representing 4 parasite spp. Diplectanum sp. represents the most commonly encountered parasite with prevalence (53.3%) and mean intensity (10.94%), followed by (Lecithoclaster sp. then praniza larva, prevalances (16.66% and 13.3%) and mean inentisities (3.4. and 1.75) respectively. Bucephalus sp. showed the minor, prevalence (3.33%) and mean intensity (6). Generally Scarus fish species from Rabigh had higher prevalence and mean intensity (63.3% and 7.59%) than Scarus fish species from Jeddah (43.4% and 6.92%). Female fish from Jeddah showed no parasitic infestation, while males were infested (prevalence 65% and mean intensity 6.92). Female fish from Rabigh had higher prevalence (84.21) and lower intensity (6.43) than males which showed prevalence (27.27%) and intensity (19). Relationship between parasitic infestation and fish species and sex were also studied in the two different localities and discussed.

Metazoan Parasites of Clariid Fishes, Lake Victoria: Reflection of the Original Fauna in the Lake?

A total of 32 parasite species were documented from 658 clariid fishes examined. Thirteen species were nematodes, eleven digeneans, three cestodes, two crustaceans, and the Monogenea, Acanthocephala and Hirudinea were each represented by one species. Of the parasites recovered 16 were identified to species level, 12 to genus and 4 parasites were not identified. Most of the parasites recorded in the present study have been reported in fish ofTanzaniaand elsewhere, however, there were a few first records, and these included Neogoezia sp., Comephoronema sp., Travnema sp., Quimperia sp. and Gendria tilapiae. It is stipulated that these parasites represent the original fauna of the lake prior to introduction of the alien species. The clariid fish species investigated were a good model for studying the parasites of fish in the lake because of having a variety of parasites some of which being specific to certain clariid fishes, for instance Diplostomum and Tylodelphys species infecting only C. gariepinus and the camallanids being typical of the clariid fishes.

江苏泗洪洪泽湖湿地国家级自然保护区后生浮游动物群落结构及影响因子

浮游动物在水生态系统的物质循环、能量流动和信息传递过程中起着重要作用.为探究江苏泗洪洪泽湖湿地国家级自然保护区后生浮游动物现状,研究于2020年8月—2021年7月对保护区水域的后生浮游动物进行了4次调查.研究发现后生浮游动物62属112种,其中轮虫32属67种,枝角类17属31种,桡足类13属14种.后生浮游动物平均密度为1636.31 ind./L,季节变化对密度有极显著的影响,空间变化对其有显著影响.研究发现,洪泽湖保护区共有15种优势种,优势种生态位宽度指数为0.14~0.84,生态位重叠指数为0.22~0.95,生态位重叠程度总体较高.Permanova分析结果表明,pH、水温(WT)、总氮(TN)、透明度(SD)是影响保护区后生浮游动物群落结构的主要环境因子.使用物种多样性指数评价水质,结果显示保护区水体处于轻度-中度污染水平.本研究可为洪泽湖湿地国家级自然保护区生态环境监测、保护及管理等提供基础资料和科学依据.

Exceptionally preserved brachiopods from the Chengjiang Lagerst(a|¨)tte(Yunnan,China):Perspectives on the Cambrian explosion of metazoans

The Cambrian explosion was coined to describe the geologically sudden appearance of numerous bilaterian body plans(Phyla)around the Ediacaran-Cambrian transition,around 565-520million years ago.Many explanations and conjectures have been postulated in order to explain the pattern and duration of this explosive radiation of many different phyla of early metazoans.Here,we focus on the evolution of a phylum of marine suspension-feeding animals—the brachiopods,as exemplified by the exceptionally preserved taxa from the celebrated Chengjiang Konservat Lagerst(a|¨)tte(Yunnan,China).The abundant soft-bodied preservation at these fossil quarries gives us the only firm insights into what brachiopods looked like and how they functioned and lived when they first appeared on the Earth.Studies of Chengjiang brachiopods demonstrate that the early animals developed a remarkably varied organization of tissues and organs shortly after the onset of Cambrian explosion.In the marine suspension-feeding brachiopods,most importantly the tentaculate feeding structure of early brachiopods is already differentiated into two shapes of lophophore,anteriorly coiled(spiralled)and posteriorly arching tentacle crowns and the unique latter type was previously not documented from fossil and living brachiopods.Also unlike any known Recent brachiopod,all the known Cambrian brachiopods from Chengjiang have an open digestive tract that was disposed either as a Ushaped gut in linguliform and stem group brachiopods,or straight gut with a posterior anus in some calcareous-shelled stocks.Moreover,in contrast toliving lingulids,all the Cambrian brachiopods have an epibenthic lifestyle either cemented by a ventral valve or attached by variable pedicles to establish complex ecological community encompassing primary tierers and variable secondary tierers.It is therefore assumed that brachiopods were the first benthic metazoan that achieved their success in ecological stratification and tiering complexity by late Atdabanian.The setae are also important for the brachiopod suspension-feeding life style,and in the Chengjiang braehiopods they include two types cilia-like and spine-like setae.The mantle canals of different braehiopod species are also distinctly variable in arrangement,mainly disposed in pinnate,baeulate and peripheral conditions.Of these,the peripheral disposition of mantle canals is for the first time proposed here so as to differentiate from the bifurcate condition in recent lingulids in that the former is devoid of posteriorly extending main trunks of sinus,but possesses a diverging dorsal vascula media in dichotomy.

Rare horizontal transmission does not hide long-term inheritance of SINE highly conserved domains in the metazoan evolution

Transposable elements （TEs） are self-replicating, mobile DNA sequences which constitute a significant fraction of eukaryotic genomes. They are generally considered selfish DNA, as their replication and random insertion may have deleterious effects on genome functionalities, although some beneficial effects and evolutionary potential have been recognized. Short interspersed elements （SINEs） are non-autonomous TEs with a modular structure： a small RNA-related head, a body, and a long interspersed element-related tail. Despite their high turnover rate and de novo emergence, the body may retain highly conserved domains （HCDs） shared among divergent SINE families： in metazoans, at least nine HCD-SINEs have been recognized. Data mining on public molecular databases allowed the retrieval of 16 new HCD-SINE families from cnidarian, molluscs, arthropods, and vertebrates. Tracking the ancestry of HCDs on the metazoan phylogeny revealed that some of them date back to the Radiata-Bilateria split. Moreover, phylogenetic and age versus divergence analyses of the most ancient HCDs suggested that long-term vertical inheritance is the rule, with few horizontal transfer events. We suggest that the evolutionary conservation of HCDs may be linked to their potential to serve as recombination hotspots. This indirectly affects host genomes by maintaining active and diverse SINE lineages, whose insertions may impact （either positively or negatively） on the evolution of the genome.

Fossilized metazoan embryos——the historical testimony of the Cambrian explosion

IN zoology, the developmental stage of individual from zygote to hatching was called embryo. The modem embryology is a branch of study on the organism’ s embryos. The palaeoembryology is a new field in palaeontology, and it has not been considered an important field before, because the invertebrate’s eggs or embryos are minute size and without mineralized envelope. Until now, fossilized eggs of invertebrates in Cambrian have been rarely reported and most of them are small globular structures without recognizable features. Other reported fossilized embryos found from Middle Cambrian are spherical with a

Influence of season,size and sex on the dynamic of gill metazoan parasite infesting the Balistes capriscus(Teleostei:Balistidae)of the Gulf of Gabès(Tunisia)

Objective:To investigate the effects of season,size and sex on the dynamic of gill metazoan parasite infesting the Balistes capriscus(Gmelin,1788)(Teleostei:Balistidae)(B.capriscus)of the Gulf of Gabès(Southern Tunisia,Central Mediterranean Sea).Methods:A parasitological survey of the grey triggerfish B.capriscus from the Gulf of Gabès(Southern Tunisia,Central Mediterranean Sea)was conducted monthly from June 2011 to June 2012.A total of 1080 fish were collected from commercial catches by pelagic trawl net at different fishing ports at Chebba(34°14'N,11°06'E),Kerkennah(34°45'N,11°17'E)and Zarzis(33°41'N,11°48'E).The weight,size,sex,date and area of capture of each specimen were recorded.Then,B.capriscus was examined to search for ectoparasites.For each parasite species,parasitological indices were calculated.Results:The parasite species are indentified as two copepods:Naobranchia variabilis,Taneacanthus ballistae and a monogenean:Ancyrocephalus balisticus.The parasitological indices depend significantly on seasonality;the highest prevalence of Naobranchia variabilis,Taneacanthus ballistae and Ancyrocephalus balisticus(28.89%,35.93%and 55.56%respectively)was recorded during summer season(June–August),while the lowest prevalence of each(6.3%,4.44%,8.15%)recorded during winter season(December–February).Furthermore the parasitological indices depend significantly on the host size but not on host sex.Conclusions:Our data suggest that the dynamic of gill metazoan parasite infesting B.capriscus is a result of a complex of biotic and abiotic factors.It is the first study on the effects of season,size and sex on the dynamic of gill metazoan parasite infesting B.capriscus(Teleostei:Balistidae)of the Gulf of Gabès(Southern Tunisia,Central Mediterranean Sea).

LTR-mediated retroposition as a mechanism of RNA-based duplication in metazoans

Subject Code:C03With the support by the National Natural Science Foundation of China,the Chinese Academy of Sciences,and the National Key Basic Research Program of China,Prof.Zhang Yong(张勇)and colleagues at the Institute of Zoology,Chinese Academy of Sciences uncovered a general mechanism mediated by LTR retrotransposons to create transcribed RNA-based duplicates in metazoans,which

Microtubular metazoan fossils with multi-branches in Weng'an Biota

Microtubular metazoan fossils with multi- branches are found at least 4 times from the Sinian (Ediacarian) Doushantuo Formation at Weng’an, Guizhou, China. Their living mode should be the benthonic colony with higher ability of asexual re- production. The inner of the tube with cross-walls and chamber shows that these fossils are basal or stem- group cnidarians, similar to extinct tabulates. The multi-branching microtubular fossils are real meta- zoan found from Weng’an biota, which is very im- portant for studying the origin and evolvement of metazoan.

Host-parasite interactions in perpetual darkness:Macroparasite diversity in the cavefish Astyanax mexicanus

Astyanax mexicanus has repeatedly colonized cave environments,displaying evolutionary parallelisms in many troglobitic traits.Despite being a model system for the study of adaptation to life in perpetual darkness,the parasites that infect cavefish are practically unknown.In this study,we investigated the macroparasite communities in 18 cavefish populations from independent lineages and compared them with the parasite diversity found in their sister surface fish populations,with the aim of better understanding the role that parasites play in the colonization of new environments.Within the cavefish populations,we identified 13 parasite taxa,including a subset of 10 of the 27 parasite taxa known for the surface populations.Parasites infecting the cavefish belong to five taxonomic groups,including trematodes,monogeneans,nematodes,copepods,and acari.Monogeneans are the most dominant group,found in 14 caves.The macroparasites include species with direct life cycles and trophic transmission,including invasive species.Surprisingly,paired comparisons indicate higher parasite richness in the cavefish than in the surface fish.Spatial variation in parasite composition across the caves suggests historical and geographical contingencies in the host-parasite colonization process and potential evolution of local adaptations.This base-line data on parasite diversity in cavefish populations of A.mexicanus provides a foundation to explore the role of divergent parasite infections under contrasting ecological pressures(cave vs.surface environments)in the evolution of cave adaptive traits.

青草沙水库后生浮游动物功能群特征及影响因子

为分析青草沙水库后生浮游动物功能群特征及其与水环境因子的关系,于2021年逐月采样调查水库内后生浮游动物。共采集到青草沙水库47种后生浮游动物并划分为9个功能群,年均生物密度为82.4 ind/L,年均生物量为0.3460 mg/L,轮虫捕食者(Rotifers carnivore,RC)、中型浮游动物滤食者(Middle copepods and claocera filter feeders,MCF)和大型浮游动物滤食者(Large copepods and claocera filter feeders,LCF)的生物量构成总生物量的主要部分。Pearson分析表明,小型浮游动物捕食者(Small copepods and claocera carnivora,SCC)同中型浮游动物捕食者(Middle copepods and claocera carnivora,MCC)、小型浮游动物滤食者(Small copepods and claocera filter feeders,SCF)具有显著的相关性(P<0.05),功能群SCF、SCC、MCF和MCC之间具有极显著的相关性(P<0.01),同为捕食关系的功能群RC与轮虫滤食者(Rotifers filter feeders,RF)则不呈现显著相关性(P>0.05)。冗余分析(Redundancy analysis,RDA)表明,除了功能群RC、LCF和LCC外,其他功能群与水深(WD)和溶解氧(DO)呈显著负相关关系,与水温(WT)呈正相关关系,溶解性总固体(TDS)和氨氮(NH_(3)-N)与功能群RC和LCC呈显著正相关,与功能群LCF呈显著负相关。

河南寒武系苗岭统微生物成因构造与后生动物扰动构造的交替发育

河南寒武系苗岭统发育了大量微生物成因构造(叠层石和凝块石)和后生动物扰动构造(遗迹化石)。登封馒头组三段下部以叠层石灰岩及含垂直潜穴鲕粒灰岩的交替发育为特征,常被风暴作用导致的凹凸不平界面所分隔,叠层石形成于中等能量的滩间坪环境,而垂直潜穴发育于持续搅动的高能鲕粒滩环境;登封张夏组底部以凝块石灰岩和生物扰动构造灰岩的交替发育为特征,常以厚薄不均的泥岩层为分界面,二者均形成于正常浪基面之下的深水低能环境;卫辉崮山组以叠层石灰岩和生物扰动构造灰岩的交替发育为特征,二者以凹凸不平的界面或薄泥岩层相分隔,叠层石保存于中等能量的潮间坪沉积,而生物扰动构造则形成于低能的台地缓斜坡。当环境条件有利于微生物成席时(如清洁的水体、稳定的水动力条件和坚硬的底质),微生物成因沉积构造和微生物席底会大量发育。当环境条件不适合微生物席发育时(如浑浊的水体、交替变化的水动力条件和松软的底质),后生动物便开始在沉积物中掘穴,留下各类后生动物扰动构造和混合底。

瓮安生物群中后生动物化石研究进展及问题讨论

贵州瓮安埃迪卡拉(震旦)纪陡山沱期磷酸盐化生物群具有生物多样性特征,包含有蓝菌、多细胞藻类、疑源类、后生动物休眠卵及胚胎、可疑的海绵动物、管状后生动物和微小两侧对称的后生动物等化石类型,是迄今为止全球保存最为完好的晚前寒武纪磷质化石库。瓮安陡山沱组磷质岩提供了早期生命从简单到复杂进化过程中的重要化石记录,展示了埃迪卡拉生物群出现以前早期多细胞生物的生命景观,为研究晚前寒武纪生物圈面貌提供了一个重要的埋葬学窗口。近来,通过醋酸浸解法,在贵州瓮安陡山沱期含磷地层中发现了大量疑似后生动物的实体化石(包含了所有已经报道的类型或与之相似的化石类型)新材料,为了解这些化石的内部构造特征,将一些化石包埋后制作了定向薄片。基于上述化石新材料,结合定向薄片的研究和前人的研究成果,本文详细介绍了瓮安生物群中后生动物化石研究的新进展和存在的问题。

贵州新元古代到寒武纪早期特异埋藏后生生物群及其研究意义

贵州化石丰富,素有古生物王国之称,其中早期特异埋藏后生生物十分发育,由老至新有埃迪卡拉系的瓮安生物群、江口庙河生物群,寒武系第1统的小壳动物群、第2统下部的牛蹄塘生物群及中上部的杷榔动物群、第3统底部的凯里生物群。这些特异埋藏生物群与云南寒武系的澄江动物群、关山生物群及陕南埃迪卡拉系高家山生物群构成了我国早期后生生物的演化链,反映了从动物起源(瓮安生物群)、可疑多门类动物出现(江口庙河生物群)、动物骨骼化(高家山生物群)、生物矿化质和量的变化或骨骼动物爆发性辐射(小壳动物群)及海绵动物辐射(牛蹄塘生物群)再到动物主要门类出现的寒武纪大爆发(澄江动物群)、海洋生物多样化及生态复杂化(凯里生物群)的演化过程。

南亚热带湖泊—星湖后生浮游动物群落特征研究

星湖位于广东省境内,是一个南亚热带浅水自然湖泊,由5个子湖组成,是典型的富营养化湖泊。为了解这一典型南亚热带富营养湖泊的后生浮游动物群落特征,于2002年对该湖的轮虫和浮游甲壳动物进行了研究。星湖的后生浮游动物基本上为广温种类,兼具一些嗜暖种。轮虫在种类数、数量和生物量上均占优势,其优势种为臂尾轮虫。在4个子湖中,波海湖的臂尾轮虫数量最高,与该子湖营养水平较高相对应。桡足类为第二优势类群,在数量上以无节幼体和桡足幼体为主,并且在7、8月份数量较高,优势种为温中剑水蚤和台湾温剑水蚤;枝角类优势种则是长额象鼻溞和颈沟基合溞。两类浮游甲壳动物成体的数量均比较低。与20世纪90年代相比,星湖后生浮游动物的数量和生物量均下降,两类甲壳动物均向小型种类演替。和我国北亚热带的富营养化湖泊相比,星湖后生浮游动物的数量和生物量都明显偏低,这可能反映了南亚热带浅水湖泊的特征。

晚震旦世的特种生物群落──庙河生物群新知

描述了庙河生物群１３属１４种，其中５新属５新种。进一步证实了陡山沦期后生植物的大分异与辐射。动物化石很可能已具有有机质骨骼，包括内骨骼和外骨骼。后生植物的进化稍早于后生动物的进化或者二者同步，前者对后者可能有重要影响。

峡东地区震旦系层型剖面的界定与层序划分

通过震旦系研究历史的回顾,在前人研究的基础上,结合近年来综合地层研究的成果,试图建立可供全球对比的中国末元古系层型剖面。我国震旦系研究历史悠久,典型剖面经历南北之争,数十年来存在多种界定意见。通过近十年的研究,笔者依然认为峡东地区震旦系剖面沉积最为连续,出露完整,具有生物演化特征明显和形态多样的特点,可与世界各地的末元古纪地层进行广泛对比。目前,其上界定位于峡东地区灯影组天柱山段小壳化石带之下(即相当云南晋宁梅树村剖面震旦—寒武系界线小壳化石带B点,年龄为539±34Ma),而底界的厘定在国内一直存在多种意见。本文通过对峡东地区震旦系剖面的综合地层研究,结合生物地层学、年代地层学、层序地层学、C/O同位素研究以及沉积相等方面的综合分析,认为震旦系底界应划定在南沱冰期之后的陡山沱期沉积的下界,重申应选定峡东地区剖面为震旦系的层型剖面。