Development Of Morphological Traits Research Articles

Nutrition affects larval survival and the development of morphological traits in male and female flour beetles, but genital size and shape remains canalised.

The caloric content and macronutrient ratio of diet consumed is a major source of phenotypic variation in most animal populations. While these nutritional effects have been well-documented for a variety of life-history and morphological traits, the effects of nutrition on male genitals are poorly understood but genitals are thought to be more canalised than general morphology and hence less susceptible to variation in nutrition. Even less is known about the effects of nutrition on female genital form, which to our knowledge, have never been investigated. Here we tested for effects of juvenile dietary macronutrients (protein and carbohydrate) on larval survival, adult morphology, including genital size and shape in male and female flour beetles (Tribolium castaneum). We found there was nutritionally induced plasticity in larval survival and morphology, although the latter effect was variable, with body size being most responsive to dietary macronutrients and genital size and shape being least responsive. Functionally equivalent morphological traits in the sexes responded similarly to nutrition. Previously, we showed that the genitalia of male and female T. castaneum are subject to strong stabilising sexual selection, and our current findings suggest that developmental mechanisms reduce the nutritional sensitivity of male and female genitals, possibly to ensure matching during mating.

The Effect of Quinolones on Common Duckweed Lemna minor L., a Hydrophyte Bioindicator of Environmental Pollution.

Plant growth and the development of morphological traits in plants are inhibited under exposure to pharmaceuticals that are present in soil and water. The present study revealed that moxifloxacin (MOXI), nalidixic acid (NAL), levofloxacin (LVF) and pefloxacin (PEF) at concentrations of >0.29, >0.48, >0.62 and >1.45 mg × L-1, respectively, inhibited the growth (Ir) of duckweed plants and decreased their yield (Iy). In the current study, none of the tested quinolones (QNs) at any of the examined concentrations were lethal for common duckweed plants. However, at the highest concentration (12.8 mg × L-1), LVF increased Ir and Iy values by 82% on average and increased the values of NAL, PEF and MOXI by 62% on average. All tested QNs led to the loss of assimilation pigments. In consequence, all QNs, except for LVF, induced changes in chlorophyll fluorescence (Fv/Fm), without any effect on phaeophytinization quotient (PQ) values. The uptake of NAL, MOXI, LVF by Lemna minor during the 7-day chronic toxicity test was directly proportional to drug concentrations in the growth medium. Nalidixic acid was absorbed in the largest quantities, whereas in the group of fluoroquinolones (FQNs), MOXI, LVF and PEF were less effectively absorbed by common duckweed. This study demonstrated that biosorption by L. minor occurs regardless of the plants' condition. These findings indicate that L. minor can be used as an effective biological method to remove QNs from wastewater and water and that biosorption should be a mandatory process in conventional water and wastewater treatment.

Morphological changes and ontogenetic development of Amblyseius eharai Amitai & Swirski (Acari: Phytoseiidae)

This paper describes the immature and mature characteristics of Amblyseius eharai Amitai & Swirski in detail to determine its morphological ontogeny based on laboratory-reared specimens. The main changes during ontogeny are as follows: the pronotal shield extends to j6 level and opisthosoma is unsclerotized in the larva; the dorsum has two shields in the protonymph, pronotal shield slightly expended comparing to that of the larva, and the opisthonotal shield smooth and weakly sclerotized. The podonotal and opisthonotal shields in the deutonymph are partially fused, and the dorsal shield is complete, covering almost the entire opisthonotum in adults in both sexes. There are nine pairs of dorsal setae in the larva, 14 pairs in the protonymph, and 19 pairs in both deutonymph and adult. In deutonymphs, gender could be distinguished by the number of setae in the area around the anal valves. In protonymphs, all dorsal, hypostomal setae, and the macrosetae of leg IV appear and are consistent with the subsequent stages. The development of morphological traits in the ontogeny of A. eharai may provide some basic knowledge to distinguish it from closely related species.

Morphological changes in Neoseiulus californicus (Acari: Phytoseiidae).

This paper deals with the detailed morphological observation of larva, protonymph and deutonymph, as well as female and male adults of Neoseiulus californicus (McGregor) based on laboratory reared specimens. The main changes are as follows: larva with one dorsal shield, while protonymph with two, which fused into a holodorsal shield in deutonymph; 9 pairs of dorsal setae in larvae, 14 pairs in protonymph, and 19 pairs in deutonymph and adult; the immature stages without discernible ventrianal shield, though hypoplastic shield, a weakly sclerotized small plate around the anal pore, present in the protonymph and deutonymph. larva and protonymph each with seven pairs of ventral setae, while deutonymph and adult each with 12 pairs; movable digit with one or two teeth in larva, three teeth in protonymph, deutonymph or adult. The development of morphological traits in ontogenesis of N. californicus could provide helpful basis to identify it practically from its relatives.

Ontogeny of morphological traits in Phenopelopidae (Acari: Oribatida)

In this study, the complete ontogenetic development of morphological traits in Phenopelopidae was investigated on the base of juvenile and adult specimens of Eupelops hirtus (Berlese, 1916) and Peloptulus phaenotus (CL Koch, 1844) and literature. The juveniles of Eupelops Ewing, 1917, Peloptulus Berlese, 1908 and Propelops Jacot, 1937 show plicate integument and a dorsoventrally flattened hysterosoma, with short setae c1, c3 and of d-series on the gastronotum, which seem to be typical of Phenopelopidae. However, the juveniles of Eupelops and Peloptulus have some or all marginal setae on the gastronotum longer and thicker than other setae, at least one setal pair on the posterior part of gastronotum (h1 in larva and h3 in nymphs), whereas those of Propelops have these setae long or short. The juveniles and adults of Eupelops and Peloptulus differ distinctly from those of Propelops in the type of subcapitulum and chelicerae; the two former genera have the subcapitulum secondarily anarthric and the chelicerae pelopsiform, whereas the latter genus has the subcapitulum diarthric and the chelicerae normal. The adults of Eupelops and Propelops have 10 pairs of notogastral setae, including c2 and 2–3 or three pairs of p-series, respectively, whereas that of Peloptulus has eight pairs, including c2 and p1 (p2 and p3 are lost). The two former genera have also setae of ad-series, whereas the latter genus lacks them. In Eupelops seta in is long and phylliform, whereas in other genera it is setiform; long in Propelops and short or long in Peloptulus. In all genera the anterior part of notogaster protrudes over the prodorsum as a tectum, but in Eupelops this tectum is considerably larger than in other genera.

Sex, androgens, and whole-organism performance in an Australian lizard

Understanding underlying physiological differences between the sexes in circulating androgens and how hormonal variation affects morphology–performance relationships may help clarify the evolution of sexual dimorphism in diverse taxa. Using a widely distributed Australian lizard (Eulamprus quoyii) with weak sexual dimorphism and no dichromatism, we tested whether circulating androgens differed between the sexes and whether they covaried with morphological and performance traits (bite force, sprint speed, endurance). Males had larger head dimensions, stronger bite force, faster sprint speed, and longer endurance compared to females. We found that the sexes did not differ in androgen concentrations and that androgens were weakly associated with both morphological and performance traits. Interestingly, high circulating androgens showed a nonlinear relationship with bite force in males and not females, with this relationship possibly being related to alternative male reproductive tactics. Our results suggest that androgens are not strongly correlated with most performance and morphological traits, although they may play an important organizational role during the development of morphological traits, which could explain the differences in morphology and thus performance between the sexes. Differences in performance between the sexes suggest differential selection on these functional traits between males and females. © 2014 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2014, 111, 834–849.

Homeotic genes and their role in development of morphological traits in wheat

Information about main families of plant homeotic genes, ways of their activity regulation, and role in morphogenesis is presented. The role of known homeotic genes in wheat development and possible participation of homeotic genes in the development of main morphological traits of this species is discussed.

Condition‐dependence and Sex Traits in the Male Great Bustard

AbstractSecondary sex traits involved in the courtship display of the male great bustard (Otis tarda) are analyzed in the light of condition‐dependence theory. Heaviest males at the start of the mating period further gained about 30% in body mass. Both display performance and development of morphological traits involved are mainly determined by body mass. Males who developed sex traits were among those in good physical condition, although not the current physical condition but weight of the male correlates with the development of sex traits. We discuss the idea that weight may be a good indicator of overall physical condition during development up to maturity, rather than just the current condition at a given season. Our results show a discontinuity both in display performance and in the development of morphological traits — i.e. birds of weight below a certain threshold neither performed the display nor fully developed the secondary sex traits. This constitutes evidence of cost reduction by males when expected benefits from mating are low, and is consistent with the viability‐conditioned expression of the traits.