Article is the first report on endogenously produced cellulases in terrestrial isopod crustaceans and diminishes generally accepted dependence of cellulose decomposition in isopods digestive system on microbial activity. Since terrestrial isopods, including cosmopolitan species Porcellio scaber, are important decomposers of decayed plant material in terrestrial ecosystems, here described ability to produce their own cellulases provides new insight into their digestion physiology and emphasizes their already established ecological role as decomposers.
COBISS.SI-ID: 2242127
This study reports on the involvement of silicon in the biocalcification of different organic matrices and on detailed architecture of the crustacean exoskeleton in different mineralization stages. Silicon was localized in the calcifying matrix of the crustacean exoskeleton and in the mineral nuclei attached to the extracellular polymeric substances of cyanobacteria and identified as hydrated silica. Concerning mineralized animal tissues, silicon was localized in growth areas in young bones of vertebrates previously, so common principles of biocalcification involving silica are discussed.
COBISS.SI-ID: 2278991
Genus Monolistra is distributed between NE Italy and Albanian borders, while its subgenus Microlistra is NW merodinaric. We studied its phylogeny molecularly, provided distributional data, all species diagnoses, descriptions of two new species. Remarkable is discrepancy between the low molecular and very high morphological diversity. The coincidence of species distribution ranges with recent watersheds is in discrepancy with other groups, whose distributions are defined by paleohydrography. This indicates a very recent immigration into subterranean waters.
COBISS.SI-ID: 2218575
This study provides a detailed description of the early or previtellogenic oocytes which are the most predominant oocytes in the ovaries of Proteus. While the oocytes of Proteus possess certain structural characteristics typical for other amphibians, some features are unique and could result from adaptation to the subterranean environment.
COBISS.SI-ID: 2188623
We developed a highly optimized multiplex PCR that genotypes 12micro-satellite loci and a sex determination locus in brown bear (Ursus arctos) faecal samples in a single multiplex PCR and a single sequencer run. The new protocol out performed the multiplex pre-ampli?cation strategy used in aprevious study. While pre-ampli?cation protocols might still improve PCR success and reliability on a small fraction of low-quality samples, the higher costs and work load do not justify their use when analysing reasonably fresh non-invasive material
COBISS.SI-ID: 2143055