1,721,020 research outputs found
Selezione naturale: niente estremi per favore
No full textLe dispute sulla selezione naturale hanno radici profonde e non accennano a diminuire, come insegna il caso del libro Gli errori di Darwin. E la corretta comprensione dell’evoluzione ne risente
Sperm structure of Rhopalura littoralis (Orthonectida)
No full textThe fine structure of the spermatozoon in the orthonectid Rhopalura littoralis is described. This is the first fine structural description of an orthonectid sperm. The spermatozoon contains a slightly elongated nucleus and two centrioles orientated along the longitudinal axis of the sperm. The proximal centriole bears one rootlet. A single mitochondrion is present in the mid-piece region. An acrosome is absent. The sperm tail is a simple flagellum with 9 +2 structure. We consider the orthonectan spermatozoon to be closer in structure to of those of Porifera, Cnidaria, and Annelida, than to Aschelminthes and Platyhelminthes, to which they have previously been allied
Mixed reproductive strategy in Tubifex tubifex (Oligochaeta, Tubificidae)?
No full textDespite the wide use of the tubificid oligochaete Tubifex tubifex in eco-toxicological studies, the reproductive strategy adopted by the species, that can reasonably be assumed to be the key to its ecological success, is still not well investigated. This study reports on breeding experiments analysed by allozyme markers (Pgi, Pgm, and Idh), accompanied by a study of the sperm production in the species, with the aim to: (1) clarify the type of uniparental reproduction adopted by the species, (2) test the hypothesis that uniparental reproduction is reversible, (3) investigate the occurrence of biparental reproduction in laboratory cultures. Studies of parent-offspring comparison at polymorphic allozyme loci showed parthenogenetic reproduction and maintenance of asexuality in the parthenogenetic individuals. A cross-breeding test performed with couples made up of randomly assorted individuals, whose genotype combinations were suitable for discriminating between sexual and asexual reproduction, failed to show biparental reproduction in laboratory cultures: T. tubifex always reproduced parthenogenetically. Unexpectedly, spermiogenetic analysis indicated that both kinds of sperm produced by the species (eusperm and parasperm) were differentiated in individuals raised either in cohort cultures or in isolation (first, second, and third parthenogenetic generations), with a similar pattern of sperm production correlated to the sexual stage. Interestingly, there was no avoidance of mating in any of the collective cultures analysed. Concomitance between parthenogenetic reproduction and a normal male functionality, which is typical of a sexually reproducing species, could be justified by a mixed reproductive strategy or a pseudogamy process occurring in T. tubifex. However, several aspects of the reproductive behaviour of the species deserve further investigation
The occurrence of strongylid nematodes in the epididymides of wood mice
No full textThe recent discovery of a larval nematode in the epididymides of free-living wood mice (Apodemus sylvaticus) suggests a sexual transmission of these parasites. They have been placed within the bursate nematodes (order Strongylida) through 18S rDNA analysis, suggesting that they are undetermined meta-strongyloid nematodes. The possibility that these parasites are transmitted sexually opens an intriguing field of research because sexually transmitted metazoan parasites are known to occur mainly in invertebrates, whereas in vertebrates sexually transmitted parasites are usually microparasites such as viruses, bacteria and protozoa
The phylogeny of Branchiobdellida (Annelida, Clitellata) assessed by sperm characters
No full textData on the spermatozoa of Branchiobdellida were taken from the published literature: sperm models of 25 species belonging to 13 different branchiobdellidan genera have been compared with the aim of supplying further evidences for a phylogenetic analysis of the group. The species considered were representative of all traditional branchiobdellidan families, excluding the monotypic Caridinophilidae. Branchiobdellidan spermatozoa are complex cells, thus it was possible to analyse the variation of 20 characters within the group. A parsimony analysis has yielded nine minimal trees, eight of which are very similar to one another. The main conclusions of the phylogenetic analysis are: (a) the monophyly of the taxon Branchiobdellida is confirmed; (b) the most speciose branchiobdellidan genus, Cambarincola is polyphyletic; (c) none of the traditional 'families' are supported; (d) the genus Branchiobdella is monophyletic, but the position of one species, B. kobayashi, albeit basal to the whole genus, is not resolved; (e) the other two genera analysed for which more than one species was available, Pterodrilus and Xironogiton, are monophyletic; (f) there seems to be a 'trend' in the whole group towards an increase of acrosome length. Our results partly parallel those obtained by Gelder and Siddall (2000) with a combined analysis of molecular and somatic characters, and point to the need for a comprehensive revision of the Branchiobdellida based on a combination of molecular, somatic and spermatological data sets. (C) 2004 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved
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