Seasonal dynamics of male and female reproductive systems in the Siberian salamander, Salamandrella keyserlingii (Caudata, Hynobiidae)

It is not well known how low temperatures, like a subarctic steppe–tundra climate, influence reproductive traits of ectothermic vertebrates. To begin answering this question, we studied male and female reproductive systems of Salamandrella keyserlingii inhabiting a Tomsk population (southeast of Western Siberia), Russia, in ecological and physiological terms. In males, before spermiation, the testicular size and weight in late April–early May were greatest of all. Spermiation occurred during breeding immigration in spring when mean air temperature was above 10°С, and at the same time rain fell. After spermiation, the testicular size and weight decreased sharply, and the diameter of the vasa deferentia increased. “Spawning” (i.e., simultaneous extrusion of sperm and oviposition) occurred from late April to late May, and this duration fluctuated in temperature and humidity. The testicular size and weight increased in summer. Sperm mass was detected in the testes by the smear method in April–September, except in June when single fragmented unrealized sperm was detected and in July when spermatids were detected. In females, ovarian weight was greatest in spring before ovulation. From late June, vitellogenesis began in ovarian follicles, in which mint green yolks accumulated. Melanin deposited in the surface of the ovary from July when oviducts were hypertrophying. In contrast, some large-sized females did not show any sexual maturity shortly before hibernation (although these females may be subadults). These results suggest that low temperatures in Siberia induce early timing of gamete maturation in females, but the females’ reproductive cycle might also be biennial. A reproductive cycle in males was annual with the completion of the gamete maturation process in August

Design and development of Ti-Ni, Ni-Mn-Ga and Cu-Al-Ni-based alloys with high and low temperature shape memory effects

In recent years, multicomponent alloys with shape memory effects (SMEs), based on the ordered intermetallic compounds B2-TiNi, L21-Ni2MnGa, B2- and D03-Cu-Me (Me = Al, Ni, Zn), which represent a special important class of intelligent materials, have been of great interest. However, only a small number of known alloys with SMEs were found to have thermoelastic martensitic transformations (TMTs) at high temperatures. It is also found that most of the materials with TMTs and related SMEs do not have the necessary ductility and this is currently one of the main restrictions of their wide practical application. The aim of the present work is to design and develop multicomponent alloys with TMTs together with ways to improve their strength and ductile properties, using doping and advanced methods of thermal and thermomechanical treatments. The structure, phase composition, and TMTs were investigated by transmission- and scanning electron microscopy, as well as by neutron-, electron- and X-ray diffraction. Temperature measurements of the electrical resistance, magnetic susceptibility, as well as tests of the tensile mechanical properties and special characteristics of SMEs were also used. Temperature-concentration dependences for TMTs in the binary and ternary alloys of a number of quasi-binary systems were determined and discussed. It is shown that the ductility and strength of alloys required for the realization of SMEs can be achieved through optimal alloying, which excludes decomposition in the temperature range of SMEs' usage, as well as via various treatments that ensure the formation of their fine- (FG) and ultra-fine-grained (UFG) structure. © 2019 by the authors.Funding: This work was performed within the framework of state task “Structure”, grant no. AAAA-A18-118020190116-6 and the cooperative laboratory of the Ural Federal University n.a. the First President of Russia B.N. Yeltsin and the Mikheev Institute of Metal Physics of the Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences

Spermatogenesis in the Siberian salamander, Salamandrella keyserlingii (Caudata: Hynobiidae)

Spermatogenic cycles of hynobiid salamanders are interesting for the study of male reproductive adaptations in amphibians living under different environmental conditions. In order to detect the main differences between spermatogenic cycles of hynobiids, we studied the spermatogenic cycle of Salamandrella keyserlingii from the suburbs of Tomsk (southeastern Western Siberia) and compared it with those in the literature of hynobiids from different regions of Asia. We histologically and histochemically examined the testes of males captured from April to September. In April, the testes of males entering breeding sites contained bundles of spermatozoa (Sz) and primary (Sg I) and secondary spermatogonia (Sg II). After spermiation and breeding, Sg II began to proliferate. Meiosis of spermatocytes occurred in late June through July. The spermiogenesis began in late July; spermatids and Sz appeared in August. In September, Sz, Sg I, and Sg II were found in testes, which was also when Sg II proliferated. There are two types of spermatogenic cycles in the studied salamanders. The first one includes one period of spermatogonial proliferation (SP) in the first half of the active season. The second type consists of two periods of SP, with one occurring at the beginning and the other at the end of the active season. To identify possible differences in hynobiid spermatogenic cycles, we tested the relation of the duration of active season (DAS), the duration of SP period in the first half of cycle (DSPP), and the number of SP periods per year (NSPPs), considering environmental (air) temperatures in these species’ habitats. We could not find a direct relationship between NSPPs and air temperatures, but DAS and DSPP were correlated with temperature. We assume that two periods of SP can play the most apparent adaptive role in S. keyserlingii in a subarctic climate and in Batrachuperus tibetanus under mountain conditions

Oviduct, egg, and egg sac structures in the Siberian salamander, Salamandrella keyserlingii (Caudata, Hynobiidae): a histological and histochemical study

Unraveling morphological and chemical features of the eggs’ jelly layers and other clutch elements, formed by the oviduct of a female, is necessary for the understanding of reproductive adaptation in amphibians. Our study is the first microstructural and histochemical descriptions about the complexity of oviduct, ovisac, jelly layer of the ovum, and egg sac in hynobiid salamanders. We examined female Salamandrella keyserlingii in preovulatory (gravid) and ovulatory (spent) conditions using anatomical, histological, and histochemical methods. Each ovum was covered with two jelly layers. All ova from one oviduct fell into one egg sac. Inner space of the oviduct, in which ova were passed through, was filled with jelly-like substances designated as «intermediate fluids». We named the membrane-like outer layer of the egg sac as «theca». Jelly layers surrounding the ovum were formed by the oviducal tubular glands of the pars recta and pars convoluta of the oviduct, consisting of acidic and neutral glycoproteins. In the ovisac (i.e., homologous uterus), there were three glandular regions and one aglandular dilatable ovisac. Of the ovisac, glands A, B, and C secreted acidic and neutral glycoproteins for the intermediate fluids, neutral glycoproteins for the theca, and mucus-like materials with a neutral glycoprotein nature, respectively. We suggest that these mucus-like materials are essential to attaching the adhesive tips of the egg sacs to some substrates during oviposition

Database of Amphibia distribution in West Siberia (Russia)

West Siberia is a large region in North Eurasia, which harbours multiple climatic zones, landscape types and biomes. Its amphibian fauna is characterised by a combination of European and Asian species. For many species, this region is the place where the limits of their global ranges are located (Rana temporaria, R. amurensis, Bufotes sitibundus). West Siberia also has at least two non-native amphibian species (Pelophylax ridibundus, Bufotes viridis). The exact ranges and patterns of distribution of the West Siberian amphibian species are poorly studied. The mapping of species ranges is important for the development of conservation measures and monitoring of invasive species is required to investigate their impacts on the natural ecosystems

Effect of heat treatment on structural and phase transformations in the Ti49.5Ni50.5 alloy amorphized by high-pressure torsion

Results are presented for a study of the structural and phase transformations that occur in the titanium-nickelide shape-memory alloy Ti 49.5Ni50.5 subjected to heat treatment after deformation-induced amorphization by megaplastic high-pressure torsion (HPT) using five or ten revolutions of Bridgman anvils. The investigations were performed using transmission and scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and measurements of the temperature dependences of electrical resistivity and magnetic susceptibility. It has been established that the crystallization of the alloy already occurs upon low-temperature treatment, beginning with ∼500 K. The evolution of the structure and the stage character of the development of crystallization and recrystallization processes depending on temperature have been determined. It has been shown that the annealing of the amorphized alloy makes it possible to obtain highly homogeneous nanostructured, submicrocrystalline, or bimodal states in the B2 austenite. A complete diagram of thermoelastic martensitic transformations of the B2 austenite has been constructed in the region from a nanostructured to a conventional polycrystalline state (with a grain size of 20-50 μm). The effect of size on the stabilization of austenite has been revealed and its specific features have been studied for the B2 → R and B2(R) → B19′ martensitic transformations depending on the structural state of the alloy. © 2013 Pleiades Publishing, Ltd

The Effect of Heat Treatment on the Structure and Mechanical Properties of Nanocrystalline Cu–14Al–3Ni Alloy Subjected to High-Pressure Torsion

Abstract: The effect of heat treatment on the microstructure, phase composition, mechanical properties, and microhardness of the shape-memory Сu–14 wt % Al–3 wt % Ni alloy prepared in the nanocrystalline state, which results from the severe plastic high-pressure torsion (HPT), is studied. Electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction analysis are used in combination with electrical resistivity measurements in order to obtain data on the peculiarities of thermoelastic martensitic transformations and decomposition in the HPT-processed alloy subjected to thermal actions. © 2021, The Author(s).The study was performed in terms of state assignment no. АААА-А18-118020190116-6 (Struktura) of the joint laboratory of the Institute of Metal Physics, Ural Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences and Ural Federal University

Андромоноэция и протандрия у Oenanthe aquatica (Apiaceae)

The paper studies the synflorescence structure and flowering biology of the biennial monocarpic wetland plant Oenanthe aquatica. This species has a set of adaptations to prevent self-pollination, including generation of a pseudanthium, andromonoecy, intra- and interfloral protandry, and a specific sequence of flowering within its umbels. The synflorescence of O. aquatica is a panicle of umbels. The size of perfect and male flowers consistently decreases as the order of synflorescence axes grows. The size-related differences between perfect and staminate flowers on axes of the same branching order consist only in the length of their calyx abaxial teeth, corolla diameter, width of abaxial petals, length and width of anthers, and length and height of stylopodium. We have identified two arrangements of staminate flowers in O. aquatica: male flowers are located at the periphery or in the center of the umbellets. The share of staminate flowers in umbels increases as an axis order grows. The female phase of flowers on axes of one order occurs simultaneously within entire synflorescences with the male phase of flowers on axes of the next order, which might mean geitonogamy. Perfect flowers live for five to seven days, while staminate flowers function for no more than one day