First record of abnormal body coloration in a rockfish Sebastes koreanus(Scorpaenoidei:Sebastidae)from coastal water of China based on morphological characteristics and DNA barcoding

The first record of abnormal body coloration in Sebastes koreanus Kim and Lee,1994,from the Yellow Sea of China,was documented based on morphological characteristics and DNA barcoding.The two rockfish specimens were collected from the coastal waters of Qingdao,China,and the whole body and all fins of them were red.Of the two red-colored rockfish,there were tiny deep red spots on each fin,2 red radial stripes behind and below the eyes and 1 large deep red blotch on the opercula,while the similar stripe and spot patterns are also present in the S.koreanus specimens with normal body coloration.The countable characteristics of the two specimens are in the range of the morphometry of S.koreanus.To further clarify the species identity and taxonomic status of the two specimens,DNA barcode analysis was carried out.The genetic distance between the red-colored rockfish and S.koreanus was 0,and the minimum net genetic distances between the red-colored rockfish and other Sebastes species except for S.koreanus were 3.0%,which exceeds the threshold of species delimitation.The phylogenetic analysis showed that the DNA barcoding sequences of the two red-colored rockfish clustered with the S.koreanus sequences.The above results of DNA barcode analysis also support that the two red-colored rockfish could be identified as the species of S.koreanus.The mechanism of color variation in S.koreanus is desirable for further research and the species could be an ideal model to study the color-driven speciation of the rockfishes.

Effects of Biomineral Liquid from Spartina alterniflora on Growth,Body Color and Nutritional Components of Ricefield Eels,Monopterus albus

[Objective]The paper was to develop new fodder additives and to strengthen comprehensive utilization of Spartina alterniflora resources.[Method]The effects of biomineral liquid from S.alterniflora on growth,nutritional components of ricefield eels were studied.[Result]（1）0.5%of biomineral liquid had significant effect on weight gain rate,which was 8.37%higher than that in control group（P〈0.01）.Further supply of biomineral liquid could not increase the weight gain rate.Furthermore,biomineral liquid had no effect on the survival rate of ricefield eels.（2）Ricefield eels had certain changes in body color in the0.5%biomineral liquid group,and some ricefield eels were yellowing.（3）The contents of Cr,Fe,Zn in body of ricefield eels in treatment group were significantly higher than that in control group,but was lower than that in wild eel group,and the content of Se in treatment group was lower than that in control group and wild group（P〈0.01）.（4）The contents of K,Mg in muscle of ricefield eels in treatment group were higher than those in control group and wild eel group.The contents of ash and Ca in treatment group were close to that in control group but were higher than that in wild eel group.The content of crude fat in treatment group was close to that in wild eel group but was lower than that in control group.The contents of Zn,Se,Ni in treatment group were higher than that in control group and wild eel group,and the contents of Cr,Fe,Cu were close to that in control group and were higher than that in wild eel group（P〈0.01）.No significant differences were observed in the contents of moisture,crude fat and P among the three groups（P〉0.05）.[Conclusion]Addition of biomineral liquid from S.alterniflora could speed up the growth of ricefield eels and significantly improve their flesh quality,but had no significant effect on survival rate of ricefield eels.

Influence of Y^(3+),Bi^(3+) Content on Photoluminescence of YVO_4∶Dy^(3+) Phosphor Induced by Ultraviolet Excitation

YxVO4∶0.01Dy3+ and Y0.99-xVO4∶0.01Dy3+,xBi3+ phosphors were synthesized by chemical co-precipitation method.Their crystal structure,micromorphology and photoluminescence(PL) properties were investigated by X-ray diffraction(XRD),scan electron microscopy(SEM) and spectrofluorometer.YxVO4∶0.01Dy3+ and Y0.99-xVO4∶0.01Dy3+,xBi3+ phosphors have a broad excitation band from about 250 to 350 nm including a strongest peak at about 310 nm.Under its excitation,the emission spectra exhibits two sharp peaks,one of which centered at about 483 nm for 4F9/2→6H15/2 transition of Dy3+ and the other at about 574 nm due to the 4F9/2→6H13/2 transition of Dy3+.For YxVO4∶0.01Dy3+(x=0.94,0.97,0.99,1.01,1.03) phosphor,with increasing value of x,the body color of phosphor changes from yellow to white and the strongest peak in the excitation spectra shifts a little to shorter wavelength.It is detrimental to luminous intensity when Y3+ content deviates stoichiometric ratio.For Y0.99-xVO4∶0.01Dy3+,xBi3+(x=0.01,0.05,0.1,0.15,0.2,0.25) phosphor,the samples have extraneous bismuth vanadium oxide phase except for the major tetragonal zircon structure when x≥0.20.With increasing value of x,the band edge in the excitation spectra shifts to longer wavelength,the excitation intensity and luminous intensity increase early and decrease late.When the value of x is 0.01,the intensities increase evidently.In addition,the influence of Y3+ or Bi3+ on the color temperature of emission and micromorphology of YVO4∶Dy3+ is slight.

Rop plays conserved roles in the reproductive and digestive processes of spider mites

Ras opposite(Rop)is known to play an essential role in regulating vesicle trafficking,including synaptic transmission and general secretion.The fundamental roles of Rop have been confirmed by the observation that null mutations in many organisms generate lethal phenotypes during embryogenesis.However,the effects of Rop during the postembryonic stages,especially in non-model organisms,remain largely unknown.Here,we provide new data that enhance our understanding of Rop's roles in the adults of multiple species of Tetranychus spider mites(Acari:Tetranychidae),a class of notorious agricultural pests.Our in silico and experimental evidence demonstrated that Rop is under purifying selection and is highly conserved in Tetranychus spp.RNA interference experiments showed that Rop is required for maintaining normal fecundity but has no significant effect on survival.We further demonstrate that knockdown of Rop darkens the body color of spider mites and blocks the excretion of fecal pellets,which is likely to be related to an abnormality in the excretion of food waste in the digestive system.Overall,our findings clarify novel functions of a vesicle trafficking-related gene in the adult stage of multiple Tetranychus species and highlight the need to evaluate the roles of essential genes in various organisms.

Photo-identification comparison of four Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin populations off southeast China

Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins(Sousa chinensis)inhabit shallow coastal waters of the Indo-Pacific region including southeast China,with at least 6 putative populations identified to date in Chinese waters.However,the connectivity among these populations has not yet been fully investigated.In the present study,we compared and crossmatched photographic catalogs of individual dolphins collected to date in the Pearl River Delta region,Leizhou Bay,Sanniang Bay,and waters southwest of Hainan Island,a total of 3158 individuals,and found no re-sighting of individual dolphins among the 4 study areas.Furthermore,there was a notable difference in the pigmentation pattern displayed by individuals from these 4 regions.We suggest that this may be a phenotypical expression of fine-scale regional differentiation among humpback dolphin groups,possibly distinct populations.Given the considerable conservation management implications it may carry(e.g.definition of management units),further research is much needed.