Substrate selection of Christmas tree worms (Spirobranchusspp.) in the Gulf of Eilat, Red Sea

Author(s):  
Orly Perry ◽  
Yuval Sapir ◽  
Gad Perry ◽  
Harry Ten Hove ◽  
Maoz Fine

Christmas tree worms (Spirobranchusspp.) are prominent sessile organisms inhabiting hermatypic corals in tropical and sub-tropical reefs. Until recently, most of the largerSpirobranchusspecies were considered to be in obligatory associations with live hermatypic corals. However, recent studies indicate that someSpirobranchusspecies can build tubes on artificial substrate as well and that others may show preferences for using specific species of corals and hydrozoans as substrates. In the present study, we conducted a survey ofSpirobranchusspp. substrate preference in the Gulf of Eilat. We found seven morphotaxa ofSpirobranchus, of which two may be a single new species. We show thatSpirobranchustaxa differ not only in their morphology, but also in their substrate use. Our results demonstrate that the ecological niche ofSpirobranchusis species-specific, and a putative innate preference exists for some substrates.

PeerJ ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. e9666
Author(s):  
Atsushi Nanami

Coral reefs support diverse communities, and relationships among organisms within these communities are quite complex. Among the relationships, clarifying the habitat association and foraging substrate selection relative to habitat characteristics is of central importance to ecology since these two aspects are the fundamentals for survival and growth of organisms. The aims of the present study were to investigate the spatial distribution and feeding substrate selection of 14 species of butterflyfishes on an Okinawan coral reef in Japan. Species-specific spatial distributions varied with habitat characteristics (e.g., encrusting corals, massive corals, branching Acropora and rock). For feeding substrates, seven species of obligate coral polyp feeders exhibited significant positive selectivity for tabular Acropora, corymbose Acropora, encrusting corals and massive corals but significant negative selectivity for dead corals, coral rubble and rock. Among six species of facultative coral polyp feeders, two species exhibited significant positive selectivity for encrusting corals and massive corals, and one species showed significant positive selectivity for dead corals as feeding substrates. In contrast, three species exhibited no significant positive selectivity for any feeding substrates. A similar result was observed for one non-coralline invertebrate feeder. Among the 14 species, 12 species showed a relatively close relationship between spatial distribution and feeding substrates but the remaining two species did not. The present study is the first study to elucidate species-specific spatial distributions and feeding substrate selection of butterflyfishes on an Okinawan coral reef. The results of the present study suggest that diverse substrates, including various types of living corals (especially encrusting corals, massive corals, tabular Acropora, corymbose Acropora and branching Acropora) and non-coralline substrates (rock) are the primary determinants of spatial distributions and feeding sites. Thus, diverse substrates are important for maintaining high species diversity of butterflyfishes and changes of the substrates would likely change the spatial patterns and foraging behavior, although species-specific responses may be found, depending on their species-specific dependence on vulnerable substrates.


Glycobiology ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hannah M Stephen ◽  
Trevor M Adams ◽  
Lance Wells

Abstract Thousands of nuclear and cytosolic proteins are modified with a single β-N-acetylglucosamine on serine and threonine residues in mammals, a modification termed O-GlcNAc. This modification is essential for normal development and plays important roles in virtually all intracellular processes. Additionally, O-GlcNAc is involved in many disease states, including cancer, diabetes, and X-linked intellectual disability. Given the myriad of functions of the O-GlcNAc modification, it is therefore somewhat surprising that O-GlcNAc cycling is mediated by only two enzymes: the O-GlcNAc transferase (OGT), which adds O-GlcNAc, and the O-GlcNAcase (OGA), which removes it. A significant outstanding question in the O-GlcNAc field is how do only two enzymes mediate such an abundant and dynamic modification. In this review, we explore the current understanding of mechanisms for substrate selection for the O-GlcNAc cycling enzymes. These mechanisms include direct substrate interaction with specific domains of OGT or OGA, selection of interactors via partner proteins, posttranslational modification of OGT or OGA, nutrient sensing, and localization alteration. Altogether, current research paints a picture of an exquisitely regulated and complex system by which OGT and OGA select substrates. We also make recommendations for future work, toward the goal of identifying interaction mechanisms for specific substrates that may be able to be exploited for various research and medical treatment goals.


2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ruklanthi de Alwis ◽  
Li Liang ◽  
Omid Taghavian ◽  
Emma Werner ◽  
Hao Chung The ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Shigella is a major diarrheal pathogen for which there is presently no vaccine. Whole genome sequencing provides the ability to predict and derive novel antigens for use as vaccines. Here, we aimed to identify novel immunogenic Shigella antigens that could serve as Shigella vaccine candidates, either alone, or when conjugated to Shigella O-antigen. Methods Using a reverse vaccinology approach, where genomic analysis informed the Shigella immunome via an antigen microarray, we aimed to identify novel immunogenic Shigella antigens. A core genome analysis of Shigella species, pathogenic and non-pathogenic Escherichia coli, led to the selection of 234 predicted immunogenic Shigella antigens. These antigens were expressed and probed with acute and convalescent serum from microbiologically confirmed Shigella infections. Results Several Shigella antigens displayed IgG and IgA seroconversion, with no difference in sero-reactivity across by sex or age. IgG sero-reactivity to key Shigella antigens was observed at birth, indicating transplacental antibody transfer. Six antigens (FepA, EmrK, FhuA, MdtA, NlpB, and CjrA) were identified in in vivo testing as capable of producing binding IgG and complement-mediated bactericidal antibody. Conclusions These findings provide six novel immunogenic Shigella proteins that could serve as candidate vaccine antigens, species-specific carrier proteins, or targeted adjuvants.


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 634
Author(s):  
Euichi Hirose ◽  
Noburu Sensui

Ascidians are marine sessile chordates that comprise one of the major benthic animal groups in marine ecosystems. They sometimes cause biofouling problems on artificial structures underwater, and non-indigenous, invasive ascidian species can potentially and seriously alter native faunal communities. Ascidian larvae are usually tadpole-shaped, negatively phototactic, and adhere on substrates by secreting a glue from their adhesive organs. Although larvae often prefer hydrophobic surfaces, such as a silicone rubber, for settlement, hydrophobic materials are often used to reduce occurrence of fouling organisms on artificial structures. This inconsistency may indicate that an attractive surface for larvae is not always suitable for settlement. Micro-scale structures or roughness may enhance the settlement of ascidian larvae, but settlement is significantly reduced by a nano-scale nipple array (or moth-eye structure), suggesting functional properties of similar structures found on the body surfaces of various invertebrates. The substrate preferences of larvae should be one of the important bases in considering measures against biofouling, and this review also discusses the potential uses of materials to safely reduce the impacts of invasive species.


Author(s):  
Rolla Tryon

SynopsisThe most common kinds of speciation result in new species that initially have a small range. These will develop a limited or an extensive range depending upon the geographic extent of the environment to which they are adapted. A significant element in the extent of the potential range of a new species is the adaptation inherited from the parental species. Selection of a parental species for a local environment at one site can lead to a narrow ecological adaptation and often to a limited potential range. These species are likely to produce derived ones that also have a limited range, and these derivates will increase the regional species endemism and diversity. Selection of a parental species for migration to other sites can lead to a broader ecological adaptation and often to a broad potential range. These species are more likely to produce derived ones that also have an extensive range, and these derivates will increase regional species diversity.


2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kim de Mutsert ◽  
Kristy A. Lewis ◽  
Eric D. White ◽  
Joe Buszowski

Coastal erosion and wetland loss are affecting Louisiana to such an extent that the loss of land between 1932 and 2016 was close to 5,000 km2. To mitigate this decline, coastal protection and restoration projects are being planned and implemented by the State of Louisiana, United States. The Louisiana Coastal Master Plan (CMP) is an adaptive management approach that provides a suite of projects that are predicted to build or maintain land and protect coastal communities. Restoring the coast with this 50-year large-scale restoration and risk reduction plan has the potential to change the biomass and distribution of economically and ecologically important fisheries species in this region. However, not restoring the coast may have negative impacts on these species due to the loss of habitat. This research uses an ecosystem model to evaluate the effects of plan implementation versus a future without action (FWOA) on the biomass and distribution of fisheries species in the estuaries over 50 years of model simulations. By simulating effects using a spatially-explicit ecosystem model, not only can the changes in biomass in response to plan implementation be evaluated, but also the distribution of species in response to the planned restoration and risk reduction projects. Simulations are performed under two relative sea level rise (SLR) scenarios to understand the effects of climate change on project performance and subsequent fisheries species biomass and distribution. Simulation output of eight economically important fisheries species shows that the plan mostly results in increases in species biomass, but that the outcomes are species-specific and basin-specific. The SLR scenario highly affects the amount of wetland habitat maintained after 50 years (with higher levels of wetland loss under increased SLR) and, subsequently, the biomass of species depending on that habitat. Species distribution results can be used to identify expected changes for specific species on a regional basis. By making this type of information available to resource managers, precautionary measures of ecosystem management and adaptation can be implemented.


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 01-13
Author(s):  
Ebrahim Khodadady

Objectives: to develop a novel religious orientation scale based on the Quran and validate it with pre-university students of secondary education Method: All the Quranic ayat which addressed its believers directly regarding their religious orientation were scrutinized in terms of pre-university students’ characteristics, resulting in the selection of 57 upon which a 60-item Quranic Orientation Scale (QOS) was developed. The scale was administered to 1123 students and their responses were subjected to Principal Axis Factoring and Promax with Kaiser Normalization (PKN). Results: Out of 60 items comprising the QOS, 48 loaded acceptably and exclusively on seven rotated factors called believing in holy scriptures,, remembering and seeking Allah, fulfilling Quranic obligations, following Allah confidently, following Quranic instructions, not befriending disbelievers, and informed Quranic struggle. Both the scale and its underlying factors had internal consistency and correlated significantly with each other. Conclusion: The Quran teaches the domain of religious orientation directly to its readers as a hierarchically and culturally independent schema consisting of specific species and genera. Pre-university student, however, not only reduce the domain as regards the number of its constituting species and genera but also develop their own religious families. Going through this process consciously they render their religious orientation a hierarchically and culturally organized schema.


Zootaxa ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 4763 (4) ◽  
pp. 451-484 ◽  
Author(s):  
MILENA ROSZKOWSKA ◽  
DARIA GROBYS ◽  
TOMASZ BARTYLAK ◽  
MAGDALENA GAWLAK ◽  
HANNA KMITA ◽  
...  

Pseudechiniscus is a morphologically homogeneous heterotardigrade genus with a relatively low number of morphological features useful for the species discrimination. The species of the Pseudechiniscus suillus-facettalis complex are some of the most challenging tardigrades to identify. Here, we examine several populations from Antarctica, Italy, Madagascar and Norway that would have most likely been attributed to Pse. suillus prior to the recent redescription of the species. Populations were analysed using integrative taxonomy—a combination of classical morphology and morphometry, as well as genetic data. Besides minute differences in dorsal sculpture and morphometry, we found clear, species-specific differences in ventral sculpture which are very useful in discrimination of Pseudechiniscus species. Based on morphology (mainly ventral sculpture) and significant genetic distances in COI and ITS-2 sequences, we describe five new species: Pse. angelusalas sp. nov. from Madagascar, Pse. dastychi sp. nov. from Antarctica, Pse. ehrenbergi sp. nov. from Italy as well as Pse. indistinctus sp. nov. and Pse. lacyformis sp. nov. from Norway. Finally, we provide an updated phylogenetic tree of the genus Pseudechiniscus based on COI sequences. 


2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nancy N Nichols ◽  
Ronald E Hector ◽  
Sarah E Frazer

Abstract Coniochaeta sp. strain 2T2.1 is a key member of a microbial consortium that degrades lignocellulosic biomass. Due to its ecological niche and ability to also grow in pure culture on wheat straw, protocols for transformation and antibiotic selection of the strain were established. Hygromycin was found to be a reliable selectable transformation marker, and the mammalian codon-optimized green fluorescent protein was expressed and used to visualize fluorescence in transformed cells of strain 2T2.1.


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