Project description:Coloration can play critical roles in a species' biology. The allometry of color patterns may be useful for elucidating the evolutionary mechanisms responsible for shaping the traits. We measured characteristics relating to eight aspects of color patterns from Graptemys oculifera and G. flavimaculata to investigate the allometric differences among male, female, and unsexed juvenile specimens. Additionally, we investigated ontogenetic shifts by incorporating the unsexed juveniles into the male and female datasets. In general, male color traits were isometric (i.e., color scaled with body size), while females and juvenile color traits were hypoallometric, growing in size more slowly than the increase in body size. When we included unsexed juveniles in our male and female datasets, our linear regression analyses found all relationships to be hypoallometric and our model selection analysis found support for nonlinear models describing the relationship between body size and color patterns, suggestive of an ontogenetic shift in coloration traits for both sexes at maturity. Although color is critical for many species' biology and therefore under strong selective pressure in many other species, our results are likely explained by an epiphenomenon related to the different selection pressures on body size and growth rates between juveniles and adults and less attributable to the evolution of color patterns themselves.
Project description:In recent years, the scale culture of Chinese soft-shelled turtle has developed rapidly. However, diseases in aquaculture are the main problems affecting the rapid and healthy cultivation. Strengthening the immunity of Chinese soft-shelled turtles is extremely important to control the infection of pathogenic bacteria. Bacillus has attracted attention as a probiotic supplement in aquatic feeds.In our previous studies, we found that the addition of Bacillus subtilis B10 to diets could increase survival rate, daily weight gain (DG) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) of Chinese soft-shelled turtles, improving the activities of digestive enzyme and optimizing the microbial communities of intestinal in Chinese soft-shelled turtle.However, the study on the mechanism of Bacillus subtilis B10 in Chinese soft-shelled turtle culture remains rare. Therefore, in this study, we used Bacillus subtilis B10 to feed the turtle, and used RNA-seq to explore its mechanism.
Project description:To investigate the cellular responses of the Chinese soft-shelled turtle after niclosamide exposure, a total of 45 healthy juvenile turtles randomly selected and divided into three groups containing one control group (without NIC exposure, CG) and two experimental groups (exposed to 10 and 50 μg/L of NIC, respectively).
Project description:In the present study, the eggs of Chinese pond turtles (Mauremys reevesii) were incubated at three temperatures (26℃, 29℃ and 32℃). During the thermosensitive period (TSP) of incubation, the adrenal-kidney-gonad (AKG) complexes were sampled, and the transcriptome differences of the AKG samples were investigated using next-generation sequencing, then candidate genes associated with temperature-dependent sex determination of Reeves' Turtle were identified.