Vestrogothia spinata(Phosphatocopina,Crustacea),Fossils of Orsten-type Preservation from the Upper Cambrian of Western Hunan,South China

Fossils of Orsten-type preservation represented by the crustacean Skaracarida and Phosphatocopida were found in western Hunan, South China in 2005, including the important phosphatocopid species Vestrogothia spinata based on exquisitely preserved soft-bodied specimens that allow the first growth stage to be reestablished. The taxonomy of Vestrogothia spinata is revised employing the character of a two-divided limb stem of the mandible. A new foundation for the phylogeny of the Phosphatocopina using mandible characters related to crustacean appendages is postulated. Vestrogothia spinata has only previously been found from Sweden.

Two New“Notostracans”,Chenops gen.nov.and Jeholops gen.nov. (Crustacea:Branchiopoda:?Notostraca) from the Yixian Formation,Northeastern China

The Early Cretaceous Jehol biota of northeastern China contains a diverse group of notostracans, including two genera, Chenops and Jeholops, described here. Chenops is characterized by a combination of an ovate carapace, narrow anal plate, equant distal endites and endopod on the anterior thoracic limbs. In addition to the new species, Chenops yixianensis, the genus also provisionally includes Prolepidurus oblongus Oleynikov, 1968. Jeholops, however, is monotypic, represented by the new species Jeholops hongi. It is characterized by a combination of kazacharthran and notostracan features unique to this taxon. Both new genera are provisionally placed in the taxon Notostraca. More detailed work exploring the morphology of exceptionally-preserved branchiopod crustaceans is needed. The difficulties in placing fossil notostracans into a phylogenetie framework are discussed.

Resting Stages of Crustaceans in the Crimean Hypersaline Lakes(Ukraine) and Their Ecological Role

1 Introduction A presence of resting stages in various aquatic organisms is a long-known phenomenon as a mechanism of species adaptation to exist in unstable aquatic habitats,surviving adverse conditions in the"sleeping"state(Radzikowski,2013).Bank of resting stages of planktonic organisms is an important component of the plankton community,without which we cannot understand community dynamics(Brendonck and De Meester,2003).

The paranthurid isopod crustacean Paranthura nigropunctata (Lucas, 1846)： first record from the Atlantic coast of Morocco

The littoral paranthurid isopod crustacean Paranthura nigropunctata （Lucas, 1846） is recorded for the first time from the littoral of El Jadida located on the Atlantic northwest coast of Morocco. Specimens were obtained from the invasive brown seaweed Sargassum muticum and the natives Bifurcaria bifurcata and Cystoseira tamariscifolia in January 2015. This new record further confirms a significant southward distribution of P. nigropunctata and contributes to the knowledge of the biogeography of this isopod. Heretofore, the species was only known from the western and eastern Mediterranean and some Atlantic coasts. The present finding is the first of the species from Moroccan Atlantic shores, and suggests that the species may also be present in other coastal localities from Morocco and Africa. Some data on morphology, ecology and spatial distribution of the species are provided.

Phylomitogenomics of Malacostraca(Arthropoda: Crustacea)

Along with the sequencing technology development and continual enthusiasm of researchers on the mitochondrial genomes, the number of metazoan mitochondrial genomes reported has a tremendous growth in the past decades. Phylomitogenomics—reconstruction of phylogenetic relationships based on mitochondrial genomic data—is now possible across large animal groups. Crustaceans in the class Malacostraca display a high diversity of body forms and include large number of ecologically and commercially important species. In this study, comprehensive and systematic analyses of the phylogenetic relationships within Malacostraca were conducted based on 86 mitochondrial genomes available from Gen Bank. Among 86 malacostracan mitochondrial genomes, 54 species have identical major gene arrangement（excluding t RNAs） to pancrustacean ground pattern,including six species from Stomatopoda, three species from Amphipoda, two krill, seven species from Dendrobranchiata（Decapoda）, and 36 species from Pleocyemata（Decapoda）. However, the other 32 mitochondrial genomes reported exhibit major gene rearrangements. Phylogenies based on Bayesian analyses of nucleotide sequences of the protein-coding genes produced a robust tree with 100% posterior probability at almost all nodes. The results indicate that Amphipoda and Isopoda cluster together（Edriophthalma）（BPP=100）.Phylomitogenomic analyses strong support that Euphausiacea is nested within Decapoda, and closely related to Dendrobranchiata, which is also consistent with the evidence from developmental biology. Yet the taxonomic sampling of mitochondrial genome from Malacostraca is very biased to the order Decapoda, with no complete mitochondrial genomes reported from 11 of the 16 orders. Future researches on sequencing the mitochondrial genomes from a wide variety of malacostracans are necessary to further elucidate the phylogeny of this important group of animals. With the increase in mitochondrial genomes available, phylomitogenomics will emerge as an important component in the Tree of Life researches.

Biological Invasions in Marine Ecosystems:Amphipods(Crustacea:Amphipoda)as a Model Group

The introduction of non-indigenous species(NIS),de­liberately or unintentionally,by means of human action,is considered one of the major threats to biodiversity and ecosystem functioning worldwide[1].Some of these spe­cies successfully establish,spread rapidly into new loca­tions,and become invasive,altering ecosystem services and causing both significant ecological and socio-econom­ic impacts[1,2].

Dormant stages of crustaceans as a mechanism of propagation in the extreme and unpredictable environment in the Crimean hypersaline lakes

A pool of dormant stages of planktonic organisms in saline lakes is a substantial component in the plankton communities;we need to take it into account to understand plankton dynamics.Hypersaline water bodies in Crimea,the largest peninsula in the Black Sea,constitute a very characteristic and peculiar habitat type in the region.We examined the presence of crustacean resting stages in sediments of dried up sites of the Crimean hypersaline lakes.Sediment samples were taken in 9 different lakes.Experiments performed on the hatching of these resting stages showed the presence of Moina salina(Cladocera),parthenogenetic Artemia and Artemia urmiana(Anostraca),Eucypris mareotica( inflata)(Ostracoda),and Cletocamptus retrogressus(Harpacticoida).Comparing the experimental results obtained with clean dried brine shrimp cysts and those kept in sediment samples,it was noted that clean cysts hatched much faster than those from sediments did.Some components in bottom sediments slow down and desynchronize hatching from resting eggs in different groups of crustaceans.The sediments of different lakes inhibited the nauplii output from Artemia and ostracod resting eggs to different degrees.More data are needed before we can discuss the reasons of this inhibition.The nonsynchronous output of active stages from the bottom resting ones may be an adaptation that allows crustacean species to exist in extreme and unpredictably changing environments,avoiding the risk that all may emerge at once under unsuitable conditions.

Diversity of Bacteria Isolated from Crustacea Larvae and Their Rearing Water

The bacteria in the genus Vibrio are heterothrophic, which exist in the larval rearing water of Crustacea and often show diverse pathogenicities to marine animals. In order to assess the bacterial diversity associated with Crustacean seed production, 32 strains were isolated from black tiger shrimp (Penaeus monodon) and mangrove crab (Scylla paramamosain) larvae and their rearing-water and characterized using biochemical and molecular approaches. Two or more genotypically different species were identified. The vibriosis of black tiger shrimp was caused by V. harveyi, V. alginolyticus and Vibrio spp. predominantly, while that of crab by V. harveyi and V. alginolyticus only.

Systematic status of the caridean families Gnathophyllidae Dana and Hymenoceridae Ortmann(Crustacea:Decapoda):a further examination based on molecular and morphological data

The four palaemonoid(sub)families Anchistioididae,Gnathophyllidae,Hymenoceridae,and Pontoniinae are similar in morphology,and all live in marine habitats.Their systematic relationships are controversial.In this study,we used sequences from a mitochondrial ribosomal gene(16S rRNA) and three nuclear genes(H3,NaK,and enolase) to explore the phylogenetic relationships of these four taxa.Our tree based on 43 species belonging to 28 genera shows that Gnathophyllidae and Hymenoceridae are nested within Pontoniinae.This result is consistent with evidence from larval morphology.The defining characteristics of Gnathophyllidae and Hymenoceridae,a vestigial or missing mandibular incisor process and a broadened third maxilliped,can also be found in Pontoniinae;conversely,on the basis of published species descriptions,gnathophyllids and hymenocerids meet most of the defining characteristics of Pontoniinae.The peculiar form of the third maxilliped in gnathophyllids and hymenocerids might be the result of adaptive evolution,as these particular features are also present in pontoniines.According to our phylogenetic tree,Anchistioididae are more remote from Pontoniinae,which is consistent with the distinct morphological differences in the pleopods.The pontoniine genera analyzed(together with Gnathophyllidae and Hymenoceridae) are divided into two clades.The members of Clade I exhibit primordial characteristics similar to those of the Palaemoninae,and might be direct descendants of the ancestor of the Pontoniinae;members of Clade II are more specialized.

Agononida Baba and de Saint Laurent,1996(Crustacea:Decapoda:Anomura:Galatheoidea:Munididae) from Chinese waters

The present paper reports five species of squat lobster,genus Agononida Baba and de Saint Laurent,1996,of which A.squamosa(Henderson,1885) and A.cf.variabilis(Baba,1988) were not previously reported in Chinese waters.All the specimens are kept in the Marine Biological Museum collection in the Institute of Oceanology,Chinese Academy of Sciences,Qingdao.To date,there have been 11 species of this genus recorded from China's seas.A key to those species is provided in this paper.

On a new species of Paragoneplax Castro (Crustacea: Decapoda: Goneplacidae), P. chenae sp. nov. from the South China Sea

A new species of goneplacid crab, Paragoneplax chenae, is described, based on collections from the Nansha Islands, South China Sea. P. chenae closely resembles its only congener P. serenei (Zarenkov, 1972) in general appearance. They are distinguishable from each other by the male abdominal and gonopodal characters.

泛甲壳动物激素调控卵黄蛋白原合成的分子机制研究进展

甲壳动物和昆虫由于进化上亲缘关系近,被统称泛甲壳动物,大多数泛甲壳动物卵黄蛋白原为雌性特异性蛋白,是卵母细胞中储存的卵黄蛋白的前体,可为胚胎发育提供营养和能量,是决定繁殖性能的关键因素,在生殖发育中起着十分重要的作用。已有研究证明,调控泛甲壳动物卵黄蛋白原的主要激素有保幼激素、蜕皮激素、神经肽和胰岛素样肽等。昆虫保幼激素和蜕皮激素发挥促进作用,而神经肽和胰岛素样肽对卵黄蛋白原合成的调控作用因种类不同而存在不同。除了以上激素,甲壳动物特有的眼柄高血糖激素家族以及促雄腺激素(IAG)对卵黄蛋白原的合成起负调控作用。本文总结了近年来泛甲壳动物卵黄蛋白原合成调控机制的相关研究,概括并比较了调控昆虫与甲壳动物的卵黄蛋白原合成的主要激素及调控机制,为养殖虾蟹甲壳动物生殖调控相关研究提供参考。

Two new species of Vestrogothia (Phosphatocopina, Crustacea) of Orsten-type preservation from the Upper Cambrian in western Hunan, South China

Although fossils of Orsten-type preservation represented by Skaracarida and Phosphatocopina were first reported from the Middle and Upper Cambrian in western Hunan, South China in 2005, diversified phosphatocopine species have never been appropriately described and elucidated in terms of their evolutionary relationships. Here, we described two new species of Phosphatocopina, Vestrogothia anterispinata sp. nov. and V. bispinata sp. nov. The evolutionary relationship among all the valid species of Phosphatocopina is discussed and the phylogeny of Phosphatocopina is reestablished using cladistic analysis. Accordingly, phosphatocopines primitively evolved along two lineages: one evolved towards the emergence of lobes; the other evolved towards the emergence of dorsal spines. Respectively, lobes originated independently three times, and dorsal spines originated only once. With regard to the dorsal rims, interdorsum originated first, whereas dorsal furrow originated independently twice on the basis of interdorsum. Probably Hesslandona may represent a polyphyletic group, whereas Vestrogothia a monophyletic group.

The developmental trend of labrum and median eyes of Orsten-type preserved Phosphatocopina (Crustacea)

The Phosphatocopina (Crustacea,Arthropoda) is an important group of 'Orsten-type' preserved fossils.It is resolved as the sister-group of Eucrustacea.Here we study the labrum,the median eyes,and the inner lamella of Phosphatocopina based on the selected specimens respectively from western Hunan,South China,and Sweden.The labrum characters of different species exhibit interspecific difference.The ratio of labrum length/shield length is significant to the reconstruction of the ontogeny of phosphatocopines.The labrum characters should be introduced to the diagnosis of Phosphatocopina.In the earliest growth stage,the median eyes were inconspicuous,almost as flat as the other area of the hypstome.However,with the growth of the individuals they became conspicuous.There were two obviously concave structures on the ventral side of the hypostome in later stages,which were the positions where the median eyes should have been located.In addition,the two modes of preservation of the inner lamella,i.e.,that of shrinking and that of bulging up,are interpreted as the preservational artifact herein.

A review of the genus Synalpheus(Crustacea:Decapoda:Caridea:Alpheidae) from China seas

The genus Synalpheus （Decapoda： Alpheidae） from China seas is reviewed. Thirty one species belonging to this genus are described and illustrated in the present paper, including 4 new species and 6 newly recorded species from the China seas as following： S. brevrostrus sp. nov., S. jinqingensis sp. nov., S. liui sp. nov., S. tonkinensis sp. nov., S. biunguiculatus （Stimpson, 1860）, S. gracilirostris de Man, 1910, S. iphinoe de Man, 1909, S. lophodactylus Coutiere, 1908, S. modestus de Man, 1909 and S. mortenseni Banners, 1985. A key to 31 species of the genus Synalpheus from China seas is provided.

Qingdao 2010:Facilitating the dissemination of new discoveries in Crustacean Research

Over the period 20-25 June,2010,I had the good fortune to attend the Seventh International Crustacean Congress in Qingdao,China.Discipline specific conferences are very special events-giving us the opportunity to both share knowledge and to learn from colleagues who are interested in the narrower field(s)in which we are specialists.However,with recent advances in molecular biology and microscopy,carcinology,which comprises crustacean biology,palaeontology,distribution and evolution,is now so diverse that sub-disciplines within it are becoming increasingly specialized.Indeed,this is so much so that except in meetings such as this congress,many of us lack real opportunities to discuss and debate other perspectives of our science.The meeting at Qingdao provided such a venue,and it was particularly enjoyable.

Advances on taxonomy of marine Crustacea in China

The researches on taxonomy and phylogeny of the subphylum Crustacea in China, mainly the marine species, are reviewed in the present paper. The researches involved taxonomy, morphology, fauna and zoogeography, phylogeny and systematics. The mentioned groups almost cover all groups of the Crustacea which have been studied by Chinese scholars. This review is of great significance to summarize the achievements in the field of taxonomy and phylogeny on marine crustaceans in China.

NEW MIDDLE TRIASSIC NOTOSTRACA (CRUSTACEA) FROM TOKSUN COUNTY, NORTH XINJIANG

The fossils of one new genus and three new species described in this paper were collected from the grey-brownish sandstone of the Kelamayi Formation （克拉玛依组） （Xiaoquangou Group） in Toksun County （托克逊）, North Xinjiang. In age the formation may be referred to as the Middle Triassic （T2K）; and the fossils, a new Middle Triassic Notostraca （Crustacea）. They are Xinjiangiops suni g.s.n., Xin. Keerjianensis and Xin. tuokexunensis g.s.n.

J'S HARBOUR Crustacean Nation

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