The prey and predators of Homalopsine snakes

The diets of all South-East Asian water snakes of the subfamily Homalopsinae are reviewed. New diet observations for 10 species of homalopsine snakes are presented. The data on four of these, Cantoria violacea, Enhydris doriea, E. longicauda and Gerarda prevostina represent the first published diet records for these species. The observations for Fordonia leucobalia, Myron richardsonii andEnhydris enhydris represent the first taxonomically detailed diet records for these three species. The records provided for Cerberus rynchops, Enhydris plumbea and Homalopsis buccata add new taxonomic categories to previous records. The records provided for Cerberus rynchops, E. plumbea and Homalopsis buccata add new taxonomic categories to previous records. Four generalities emerge from our findings: (1) freshwater homalopsines feed primarily on fish and the adults and larvae of amphibians; (2) at least four of the eight estuarial species specialize on crustaceans while two primarily prey on fish; (3) feeding on crustaceans appears to have evolved independently at least twice; (4) prey are usually less than 10% of the predator's mass. The known predators of homalopsines are summarized and include both invertebrates and vertebrates. The microhabitats of the estuarial species are discussed and related to prey and habitat preferences.     

Cardiac activation and inhibition involved in molting behavior of a spiny lobster

To study the molting behavior of the spiny lobster, electrical activity of the heart, stomach and skeletal muscles was recorded using in-dwelling electrodes. For 1–2 h before molting the heart rate gradually increases. At the same time shorter trains of stomach burst discharges frequently occur. The heart rate then declines and burst discharges of skeletal muscles begin. The skeletal bursts are regularly spaced (10–15 s intervals). A peristalsis pattern of short and long bursts continues for 10–20 min and is terminated by a few bursts corresponding to abdominal flips. The short skeletal burst is followed by a drop in heart rate. Bioassay using the isolated heart suggests that at the final stage of molting the blood contains some substance(s) which inhibit heart beat.     

Switching among functional states by means of neuromodulators in the lobster stomatogastric ganglion

Summary The lobster stomatogastric ganglion contains the central pattern generators (CPGs) for the pyloric and gastric mill rhythms. All of the neurons and their synaptic connections have been identified for each rhythm and serve as the basis for understanding the mechanisms by which chemical neuromodulators are able to alter the functional state of each CPG. Using examples of different amines and peptides, I show how these substances can be found within specific neurons and how their application to the CPG can alter the motor patterns in specific ways. I also discuss what changes in cellular and synaptic properties occur as a result of bath application and particularly in the case of proctolin, how these changes may have behavioral correlates. The various outputs appear to be the result of a functional rewiring of anatomically defined neural circuits and this may be a widespread mechanism for the production of closely-linked but behaviorally distinct movement patterns.     

低温稀碱浸提法提取龙虾壳天然虾红色素

研究了用碱浸提剂从龙虾虾头壳或龙虾前大腿壳中浸提天然虾红色素工艺条件,包括浸提剂用量、浸提剂浓度、浸提温度等因素对浸提溶液的吸光度的影响,以及沉淀虾红色素的 pH和虾红色素在不同酸碱性溶液中的还原性、在不同条件下的稳定性．结果表明:在50℃下用 0．5 mol·L-1NaOH溶液浸提龙虾壳中天然虾红色素,然后将浸提液pH调到4．0或5．0沉淀虾红色素,效果好,工艺简单,可节省酸碱试剂和能耗;虾红色素在不同酸碱性溶液中都具有还原性;对时间、温度有较好的稳定性,阳光照射稳定性一般．