A New Inland Record of the Bull Shark Carcharhinus leucas (Müller & Henle 1839) from Peninsular Malaysia

A single specimen of a bull shark Carcharhinus leucas (Müller & Henle 1839) with c. 102 cm of total length was landed and photographed on 25 March 2019 in Sungai Mawai Lama, about 25 km inland, Kota Tinggi District, Johor, Peninsular Malaysia. This rare finding represents only the second record of C. leucas in inland Peninsular Malaysia. This shark was identified as C. leucas by the snout much shorter than the width of mouth and bluntly rounded, first dorsal fin triangular, rearward sloping, originating over or slightly behind pectoral insertion, second dorsal fin much smaller than the first dorsal fin (< 3.1:1), and lack of an interdorsal ridge. The coloration of fresh specimen: greyish back and white belly, the dark coloration on the tip of the caudal fins and second dorsal fin. This species is currently listed as a vulnerable species based on the IUCN Red List Status. Further study and monitoring are needed to assess the possibility of the importance of Sungai Mawai Lama as critical habitat of C. leucas.

KEANEKARAGAMAN SPESIES BURUNG DI HUTAN MANGROVE PULAU KELAGIAN BESAR PROVINSI LAMPUNG

The existence of mangrove forests is very important in an area because as a habitat for various types of wildlife, especially birds. This study aims to determine the diversity of bird species in the Kelagian Besar Mangrove Forest, Lampung Province. Data on bird species diversity was obtained by the IPA (Indices Ponctual Abundance) method. Data collection of bird species by recording the type and number of individual birds found. Species identification also uses the method of bird recognition directly by people who know the birds in the area such as the local community or an expert on birds. Data obtained in the field are then analyzed using the Shanon-Winner diversity index formula. The results found 27 species of birds from 21 families with a total of 741 individual birds in the Kelagian Besar Mangrove Forest. While the diversity index value is 2.26 with medium index criteria. There are 8 protected bird species, namely the black-necked darautaut (Sterna sumatrana), the white-wing daralaut (Chlidonias leucopterus), the oyster daralaut (Gelochelidon nilotica), the white belly eagle (Haliaeetus leucogaste), the brontok eagle (Spizaetus cirrhatus), oyster belly Rhipidura javanica), sabine seagulls (Xema sabini), and large fissures (Fregata minor).

A new species of hagfish, Eptatretus wandoensis sp. nov. (Agnatha, Myxinidae), from the southwestern Sea of Korea

Four specimens of the five-gilled white mid-dorsal line hagfish, Eptatretus wandoensissp. nov. were recently collected from the southwestern Sea of Korea (Wando). This new species has five pairs of gill apertures, 14–18 prebranchial slime pores, 4 branchial slime pores, a dark brown back with a white mid-dorsal line and a white belly. These hagfish are similar to Eptatretus burgeri and Eptatretus minor in having a white mid-dorsal line, but can be readily distinguished by the numbers of gill apertures (5 vs. 6–7), gill pouches (5 vs. 6), and prebranchial slime pores (14–18 vs. &gt; 18), as well as the body color (dark brown back vs. gray or brown pale). In terms of genetic differences, Eptatretus wandoensis could be clearly distinguished from E. burgeri (0.9% in 16S rRNA and 8.5% in cytochrome c oxidase subunit I sequences) and E. minor (4.5% and 13.9%).

Agro-economic performance of bur gherkin under staking systems

ABSTRACT The bur gherkin cultivation is predominantly carried out without a staking system, but problems such as the "white belly" and fruit rot occur in this system. This study aimed to evaluate staking systems for bur gherkin plants. The experimental design was randomized blocks, with five treatments (no staking, agricultural netting staking, Mexican staking, vertical ribbon with total secondary stem thinning and vertical ribbon with alternate secondary stem thinning) and four replicates. The fresh mass and number of fruits per plant, fruit length and average diameter, number and fresh mass of fruits with white belly per plant, fresh mass per fruit and total yield were evaluated, as well as the economic indicators gross income, net income, rate of return and profitability index. For all the staking systems, the incidence of fruits with white belly was lower. The agricultural netting (43.75 t ha-1), Mexican (35.94 t ha-1) and vertical ribbon with alternate secondary stem thinning (22.24 t ha-1) systems promoted yields superior to that for no staking. The best economic indicator (US$ 21,031.46 ha-1) was observed for the agricultural netting staking, which is the most recommended for the bur gherkin cultivation.

Milling yield components of local dryland rice varieties

ABSTRACT Family farmers in the western Santa Catarina state, Brazil, have conserved local dryland rice varieties. However, the literature lacks data about the milling performance of these varieties, as well as about the effects of genotypes, environment and genotype x environment interaction. The current study aimed to evaluate the milling yield, as well as whole, broken, white-belly and chalky grains, in experiments designed in complete randomized blocks, with four replications, in two sites. The rates for milling yield and whole and broken grains were, respectively, 57.93-69.90 %, 38.73-66.0 % and 3.40-22.15 %, with 15 local varieties reaching values similar to those recorded for modern dryland rice varieties. The Anchieta county (origin of the varieties) recorded the highest values for milling yield and whole grain. The incidence rates for white-belly and chalky grains were, respectively, 0.10-8.68 % and 0.02-3.12 %. Significant differences (p ≤ 0.05) were observed for genotype, environment and genotype x environment interaction effects, concerning the milling yield. For whole and broken grains, the differences were significant (p ≤ 0.05) for genotype and environment, but not significant for genotype x environment interaction. For white-belly and chalky grains, the differences were significant (p ≤ 0.05) for genotype and genotype x environment interaction, but not significant for environment. For all the studied milling yield variables, differences were observed for the varieties' stability, as well as established a stability ranking.

Busted Sooks, Rank Peelers, and White-Belly Jimmies

The trade in blue crabs remains an important part of the Eastern Shore economy, and it traces its origins back to the arrival of the railroad and advances in food processing and preservation in the late 1800s. This chapter begins with the regional vernacular nomenclature for blue crabs related to the fishery, marketing, and shedding for soft shell crabs. It includes details on crabbing and recipes. The chapter speaks to the creation of terroir and cuisine through language.

Transcriptomic Analysis of Coding Genes and Non-Coding RNAs Reveals Complex Regulatory Networks Underlying the Black Back and White Belly Coat Phenotype in Chinese Wuzhishan Pigs

Coat color is one of the most important characteristics for distinguishing Chinese indigenous pig breeds. In Wuzhishan pigs, the animals have black on the back and white on the abdomen. However, the molecular genetic basis of this phenotype is unclear. In this study, we used high-throughput RNA sequencing to compare expression profiles of coding and non-coding RNAs from white and black skin samples obtained from individual Wuzhishan pigs. The expression profiling revealed that 194 lncRNAs (long non-coding RNAs), 189 mRNAs (messenger RNAs), and 162 miRNAs (microRNAs) had significantly different levels of expression (|log2 fold change| > 1, p-value < 0.05) in white and black skin. Compared to RNA levels in black skin, white skin had higher levels of expression of 185 lncRNAs, 181 mRNAs, and 23 miRNAs and lower levels of expression of 9 lncRNAs, 8 mRNAs, and 139 miRNAs. Functional analysis suggested that the differentially expressed transcripts are involved in biological processes such as melanin biosynthesis, pigmentation and tyrosine metabolism. Several key genes involved in melanogenesis, including MLANA, PMEL, TYR, TYRP1, DTC, TRPM1 and CAMK2A, had significantly different levels of expression in the two skin tissues. Potential lncRNA–miRNA–gene interactions were also examined. A total of 15 lncRNAs, 11 miRNAs and 7 genes formed 23 lncRNA–miRNA–gene pairs, suggesting that complex regulatory networks of coding and non-coding genes underlie the coat color trait in Wuzhishan pigs. Our study provides a foundation for understanding how lncRNA, miRNA and genes interact to regulate coat color in black-back/white-belly pigs. We also constructed lncRNA–miRNA–gene interaction networks to elucidate the complex molecular mechanisms underlying skin physiology and melanogenesis. The results extend our knowledge about the diversity of coat color among different domestic animals and provide a foundation for studying novel mechanisms that control coat color in Chinese indigenous pigs.

WB1, a Regulator of Endosperm Development in Rice, Is Identified by a Modified MutMap Method

Abnormally developed endosperm strongly affects rice (Oryza sativa) appearance quality and grain weight. Endosperm formation is a complex process, and although many enzymes and related regulators have been identified, many other related factors remain largely unknown. Here, we report the isolation and characterization of a recessive mutation of White Belly 1 (WB1), which regulates rice endosperm development, using a modified MutMap method in the rice mutant wb1. The wb1 mutant develops a white-belly endosperm and abnormal starch granules in the inner portion of white grains. Representative of the white-belly phenotype, grains of wb1 showed a higher grain chalkiness rate and degree and a lower 1000-grain weight (decreased by ~34%), in comparison with that of Wild Type (WT). The contents of amylose and amylopectin in wb1 significantly decreased, and its physical properties were also altered. We adopted the modified MutMap method to identify 2.52 Mb candidate regions with a high specificity, where we detected 275 SNPs in chromosome 4. Finally, we identified 19 SNPs at 12 candidate genes. Transcript levels analysis of all candidate genes showed that WB1 (Os04t0413500), encoding a cell-wall invertase, was the most probable cause of white-belly endosperm phenotype. Switching off WB1 with the CRISPR/cas9 system in Japonica cv. Nipponbare demonstrates that WB1 regulates endosperm development and that different mutations of WB1 disrupt its biological function. All of these results taken together suggest that the wb1 mutant is controlled by the mutation of WB1, and that the modified MutMap method is feasible to identify mutant genes, and could promote genetic improvement in rice.

A new Puddle Frog, genus Phrynobatrachus (Amphibia: Anura: Phrynobatrachidae), from the eastern part of the Upper Guinea biodiversity hotspot, West Africa

We describe a new species of Phrynobatrachus from swamp forests in the southern border region of Ivory Coast and Ghana. The new species differs from all other known West African Phrynobatrachus by the combination of adult snout-vent-length being between 20 and 30 mm; absence of a spiny tubercle on the eyelid; presence of a dark face mask; a black throat in adult males; narrow and partly indistinct scapular ridges or comma shaped warts; distinct spinulae on males’ throats and dorsal surfaces; pronounced pedal webbing; round finger- and toe tips, not enlarged to discs; a white belly with small blackish spots in both sexes; more than one wide dark cross bar on hind legs; and rosé to reddish colour on ventral parts of hind legs in both sexes. It is further defined by its genetic and acoustic characters. It is morphologically and genetically most similar to P. liberiensis and P. intermedius.