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 water depth and substrate color on the growth and body color of the red sea cucumber,Apostichopus japonicus

Three color variants of the sea cucumber,Apostichopus japonicus are recognized,the red one is highly valued in the market. When the red variant is cultured in ponds in China,its body color changes from red to celadon in 3–6 months. The effects of water depth and substrate color on the growth and body color of this animal were investigated. Juveniles of red A. japonicus were cultured in cages suspended at a range of water depths(20,50,100,150 and 200 cm). The specific growth rate of red sea cucumbers was significantly higher in animals cultured at deeper water layers compared with those grown at shallowers. Body weights were greatest for sea cucumbers cultured at a depth of 150 cm and their survival rates were highest at a depth of 200 cm. A scale to evaluate the color of red sea cucumbers(R value) was developed using a Pantone standard color card. All stocked animals in the 9-month trial retained a red color,however the red body color was much more intense in sea cucumbers cultured at shallower depths,while animals suspended in deeper layers became pale. In a separate trial,A. japonicus were cultured in suspended cages with seven different colored substrates. Substrate color had a significant effect on the growth and body-color of red A. japonicus. The yield were greatest for A. japonicus cultured on a yellow substrate,followed by green > white > orange > red > black and blue. All sea cucumbers in the 7-month trial retained a red color,although the red was most intense(highest R value) in animals cultured on a blue substrate and pale(lowest R value) for animals cultured on a green substrate.

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.

Body color plasticity of Diaphorina citri reflects a response to environmental stress

Body color polyphenism is common in Diaphorina citri.Previous studies compared physiological characteristics in D.citri,but the ecological and biological significance of its body color polyphenism remains poorly understood.We studied the ecological and molecular effects of stressors related to body color in D.citri.Crowding or low temperature induced a high proportion of gray morphs,which had smaller bodies,lower body weight,and greater susceptibility to the insecticide dinotefuran.We performed transcriptomic and metabolomics analysis of 2 color morphs in D.citri.Gene expression dynamics revealed that the differentially expressed genes were predominantly involved in energy metabolism,including fatty acid metabolism,amino acid metabolism,and carbohydrate metabolism.Among these genes,plexin,glycosidase,phospholipase,take out,trypsin,and triacylglycerol lipase were differentially expressed in 2 color morphs,and 6 hsps(3 hsp70,hsp83,hsp90,hsp68)were upregulated in gray morphs.The metabolome data showed that blue morphs exhibited a higher abundance of fatty acid and amino acid,whereas the content of carbohydrates was elevated in gray morphs.This study partly explains the body color polyphenism of D.citri and provides insights into the molecular changes of stress response of D.citri.

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.

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.

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.