the intestinal bacterial diversity of stichopus japonicus was investigated using 16s ribosomal rna gene (rdna) clone library and polymerase chain reaction/denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (pcr-dgge). the clone library yielded a total of 188 clones, and these were sequenced and classified into 106 operational taxonomic units (otus) with sequence similarity ranging from 88 to 100%. the cov...

Arginine kinase plays an important role in the cellular energy metabolism of invertebrates. Dimeric arginine kinase (dAK) is unique in some marine invertebrates. The effects of Zn²(+) on the unfolding and aggregation of dAK from the sea cucumber Stichopus japonicus were investigated. Our results indicated that Zn²(+) caused dAK inactivation accompanied by conformational unfolding, the exposure ...

The plasma concentration of 25-hydroxycholecalciferol was measured in 13 adult Hermann's tortoises (Testudo hermanni), seven adult spur-thighed tortoises (Testudo graeca) and two adult marginated tortoises (Testudo marginata) during 2004. They were healthy, of both sexes, and kept in captivity under natural unfiltered sunlight in southern England with no dietary sources of cholecalciferol. Bloo...

Lateralization of brain and behaviour at the population level has been documented in all vertebrate classes. Research was mostly carried out on mammalian and avian species, the least investigated class with this regards being the Reptilia, with studies concentrating on lateralized aggressive behaviour in lizards. No research has been carried out on lateralization in the Chelonian order. We inve...

Abstract A redescription of Hypostomus hermanni is presented herein along with the description a new species Hypostomus, which apparently endemic to Ivaí River basin, tributary Upper Paraná Brazil. diagnosed from congeners mainly by having: usually large black blotches on body and fins; absence keels compound pterotic, pre-dorsal plates, lateral series bony plates; having parieto-supraoccipital...