Oxygen Isotope Variability within Nautilus Shell Growth Bands

Nautilus is often used as an analogue for the ecology and behavior of extinct externally shelled cephalopods. Nautilus shell grows quickly, has internal growth banding, and is widely believed to precipitate aragonite in oxygen isotope equilibrium with seawater. Pieces of shell from a wild-caught Nautilus macromphalus from New Caledonia and from a Nautilus belauensis reared in an aquarium were cast in epoxy, polished, and then imaged. Growth bands were visible in the outer prismatic layer of both shells. The thicknesses of the bands are consistent with previously reported daily growth rates measured in aquarium reared individuals. In situ analysis of oxygen isotope ratios using secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) with 10 μm beam-spot size reveals inter- and intra-band δ18O variation. In the wild-caught sample, a traverse crosscutting 45 growth bands yielded δ18O values ranging 2.5‰, from +0.9 to -1.6 ‰ (VPDB), a range that is larger than that observed in many serial sampling of entire shells by conventional methods. The maximum range within a single band (~32 μm) was 1.5‰, and 27 out of 41 bands had a range larger than instrumental precision (±2 SD = 0.6‰). The results from the wild individual suggest depth migration is recorded by the shell, but are not consistent with a simple sinusoidal, diurnal depth change pattern. To create the observed range of δ18O, however, this Nautilus must have traversed a temperature gradient of at least ~12°C, corresponding to approximately 400 m depth change. Isotopic variation was also measured in the aquarium-reared sample, but the pattern within and between bands likely reflects evaporative enrichment arising from a weekly cycle of refill and replacement of the aquarium water. Overall, this work suggests that depth migration behavior in ancient nektonic mollusks could be elucidated by SIMS analysis across individual growth bands

DISCOVERY OF THE FIRST NEARCTIC MOSS-EATING FLEA BEETLE, DISTIGMOPTERA BOREALIS BLAKE, 1943 (COLEOPTERA: CHRYSOMELIDAE: GALERUCINAE: ALTICINI)

A flea beetle, Distigmoptera borealis Blake, 1943, is documented for the first time to feed on liverworts, Reboulia hemisphaerica (L.) Raddi (Aytoniaceae), and moss, Weissia controversa Hedw. (Pottiaceae). This is the first and only known bryobiont leaf beetle in the USA and Nearctic biogeographic region. The adult of D. borealis is redescribed and illustrated, and the larva and pupa of D. borealis are described and illustrated for the first time

Insetos florestais de importância quarentenária para o Brasil: guia para seu reconhecimento.

Nos últimos anos, devido ao crescente intercâmbio mundial de mercadorias, a propagação de pragas em espécies florestais aumentou notavelmente, causando muitas perdas ao setor florestal. A introdução, estabelecimento e dispersão de pragas florestais são favorecidos por diversos fatores, como: presença de plantações monoespecíficas com alta densidade de plantas, plantios mal manejados, localizados em áreas inadequadas e presença de plantios clonais. Estas pragas podem ser veiculadas tanto em materiais de propagação (sementes, mudas e estacas), como em madeira. Neste caso, as madeiras utilizadas em embalagens e suporte de mercadorias, bem como aquelas utilizadas na acomodação de cargas (madeira de estiva) em diferentes meios de transporte, constituem uma via eficaz para a dispersão, ingresso e estabelecimento de pragas florestais quarentenárias, as quais podem afetar negativamente a produção e a exportação de produtos florestais. Para garantir a sanidade florestal brasileira e prevenir o ingresso de tais pragas, são necessários a fiscalização e o monitoramento constantes, principalmente nos locais de ingresso de mercadorias. Este manual tem como finalidade, auxiliar no reconhecimento de insetos florestais de importância quarentenária, contribuindo para que a constatação destes agentes seja feita imediatamente, melhorando a eficiência no controle quarentenário de pragas florestais.bitstream/item/29864/1/Insetos-florestais.pd

Reconhecimento e Identificação das principais famílias de insetos de importância quarentenária associados a materiais de propagação e/ou madeira.

bitstream/item/32499/1/Doc193-2.pd

Epithelial antimicrobial peptides in host defense against infection

One component of host defense at mucosal surfaces seems to be epithelium-derived antimicrobial peptides. Antimicrobial peptides are classified on the basis of their structure and amino acid motifs. Peptides of the defensin, cathelicidin, and histatin classes are found in humans. In the airways, α-defensins and the cathelicidin LL-37/hCAP-18 originate from neutrophils. β-Defensins and LL-37/hCAP-18 are produced by the respiratory epithelium and the alveolar macrophage and secreted into the airway surface fluid. Beside their direct antimicrobial function, antimicrobial peptides have multiple roles as mediators of inflammation with effects on epithelial and inflammatory cells, influencing such diverse processes as proliferation, immune induction, wound healing, cytokine release, chemotaxis, protease-antiprotease balance, and redox homeostasis. Further, antimicrobial peptides qualify as prototypes of innovative drugs that might be used as antibiotics, anti-lipopolysaccharide drugs, or modifiers of inflammation

Catálogo Taxonômico da Fauna do Brasil: setting the baseline knowledge on the animal diversity in Brazil

The limited temporal completeness and taxonomic accuracy of species lists, made available in a traditional manner in scientific publications, has always represented a problem. These lists are invariably limited to a few taxonomic groups and do not represent up-to-date knowledge of all species and classifications. In this context, the Brazilian megadiverse fauna is no exception, and the Catálogo Taxonômico da Fauna do Brasil (CTFB) (http://fauna.jbrj.gov.br/), made public in 2015, represents a database on biodiversity anchored on a list of valid and expertly recognized scientific names of animals in Brazil. The CTFB is updated in near real time by a team of more than 800 specialists. By January 1, 2024, the CTFB compiled 133,691 nominal species, with 125,138 that were considered valid. Most of the valid species were arthropods (82.3%, with more than 102,000 species) and chordates (7.69%, with over 11,000 species). These taxa were followed by a cluster composed of Mollusca (3,567 species), Platyhelminthes (2,292 species), Annelida (1,833 species), and Nematoda (1,447 species). All remaining groups had less than 1,000 species reported in Brazil, with Cnidaria (831 species), Porifera (628 species), Rotifera (606 species), and Bryozoa (520 species) representing those with more than 500 species. Analysis of the CTFB database can facilitate and direct efforts towards the discovery of new species in Brazil, but it is also fundamental in providing the best available list of valid nominal species to users, including those in science, health, conservation efforts, and any initiative involving animals. The importance of the CTFB is evidenced by the elevated number of citations in the scientific literature in diverse areas of biology, law, anthropology, education, forensic science, and veterinary science, among others

Oxygen Isotope Variability within Nautilus Shell Growth Bands

Nautilus is often used as an analogue for the ecology and behavior of extinct externally shelled cephalopods. Nautilus shell grows quickly, has internal growth banding, and is widely believed to precipitate aragonite in oxygen isotope equilibrium with seawater. Pieces of shell from a wild-caught Nautilus macromphalus from New Caledonia and from a Nautilus belauensis reared in an aquarium were cast in epoxy, polished, and then imaged. Growth bands were visible in the outer prismatic layer of both shells. The thicknesses of the bands are consistent with previously reported daily growth rates measured in aquarium reared individuals. In situ analysis of oxygen isotope ratios using secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) with 10 μm beam-spot size reveals inter- and intra-band δ18O variation. In the wild-caught sample, a traverse crosscutting 45 growth bands yielded δ18O values ranging 2.5‰, from +0.9 to -1.6 ‰ (VPDB), a range that is larger than that observed in many serial sampling of entire shells by conventional methods. The maximum range within a single band (~32 μm) was 1.5‰, and 27 out of 41 bands had a range larger than instrumental precision (±2 SD = 0.6‰). The results from the wild individual suggest depth migration is recorded by the shell, but are not consistent with a simple sinusoidal, diurnal depth change pattern. To create the observed range of δ18O, however, this Nautilus must have traversed a temperature gradient of at least ~12°C, corresponding to approximately 400 m depth change. Isotopic variation was also measured in the aquarium-reared sample, but the pattern within and between bands likely reflects evaporative enrichment arising from a weekly cycle of refill and replacement of the aquarium water. Overall, this work suggests that depth migration behavior in ancient nektonic mollusks could be elucidated by SIMS analysis across individual growth bands

The outer prismatic layer of a portion of the polished surface from <i>Nautilus macromphalus</i> (AMNH 105621) imaged by four different techniques: A) SE, B) CLFM, C) Plain light dissecting microscope, D) UV.

<p>The oldest shell precipitated is in the upper right corner of all images. Growth proceeds to the lower left. All images are of the same portion of the shell. Five bands are highlighted with white lines. A) SE image showing the polished shell surface. Lines of pores in the SE image (A) correlate to low fluorescence in CLFM (B), bright portions of the band in the plain light correlate to dissecting microscope image (C) and dark portions in the long wavelength UV (~360 nm) fluorescence image (D). These cavities are the same as those intersected by some SIMS analysis pits (<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0153890#pone.0153890.g004" target="_blank">Fig 4</a>). B) CLFM (true color) image showing growth bands. Growth bands extend from the exterior surface of the outer prismatic layer (top of the image) to the interior boundary with the nacreous layer. Note that the banding closer to the nacreous boundary is more pronounced than the banding toward the exterior of the shell. C) Plain-light dissecting microscope image (true color) of polished shell surface. Banding is apparent but discontinuous. D) UV fluorescence (true color) image of the shell. Faint banding is present with an orientation equal to that found in other imaging techniques. CLFM images on the uncoated sample mount were made using a Bio-Rad MRC-1024 scanning confocal microscope at the W. M. Keck Laboratory for Biological Imaging at UW-Madison operated with a 40 mW laser at a wavelength of 488 nm. Images of banding within the outer prismatic layer were best expressed through an emission filter that detects visible green light (λ = 505 to 539 nm). Growth-band orientation in the prismatic layer was used to place SIMS transects.</p

SIMS results and CLFM brightness for transects perpendicular to banding in the outer prismatic layer of the wild-caught <i>Nautilus macromphalus</i> (AMNH 105621).

<p>SIMS analysis and CLFM imaging was done on this 8 mm long portion of vacuum roasted and polished <i>Nautilus macromphalus</i> shell. The background grayscale is based on the residual CLFM brightness after lowess regression to correct for differences in brightness within and between images. Oxygen isotope ratios are plotted against hours of growth, assuming that each dark-light-dark cycle is 24 hours. The most recently precipitated shell is at time 0. Overlapping transects are color coded to show where correlation across the shell was carried out to produce the composite record. Transect locations are highlighted on the CLFM image of the outer prismatic layer. Correlation shows agreement within instrumental precision between transects correlated across the shell. There is considerable oxygen isotope variability within daily individual growth bands and across multiple bands. A higher resolution map of the shell surface is available in the supplementary information (<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0153890#pone.0153890.s001" target="_blank">S1 Fig</a>).</p