一种广泛可及的委内瑞拉马脑炎病毒复制子颗粒疫苗平台的开发

人兽共患病病毒在动物宿主中成群体传播.而且能够在人群中出现,造成对公共健康产生不利影响的传染性疾病,在疾病暴发与新现的背景下,可便携的、安全且有效的疫苗平台被广泛需求.在此工作中,研究者报道了对甲病毒属复制子疫苗平台的生成与鉴定,这是基于非选择介质———减毒委内瑞拉马脑炎(VEE)病毒疫苗而完成的,所用毒株为3526(VRP3526).     

中国柯属5种资源植物潜在地理分布及其对气候变化的响应

利用最大墒模型和地理信息系统软件对柯属（Lithocarpus）5种资源植物在我国的适宜分布区进行了定量预测,并对未来不同气候情景下其分布区的变化进行了分析。结果显示：木姜叶柯（L.litseifolius（Hance）Chun.）在我国秦岭淮河以南广泛分布,短尾柯（L.brevicaudatus（Skan）Hay.）主要分布在我国亚热带中东部区域;木姜叶柯在未来气候（2061-2080年）RCP2.6、RCP8.5两种情景下适生区面积分别减少了5.1%和3.0%,而短尾柯却分别增加了0.5%和1.5%。白柯（L.dealbatus（Hook.f.et Thoms.ex DC.）Rehd.）适宜区主要分布在云南北部、四川南部,烟斗柯（L.corneus（Lour.）Rehd.）主要分布在两广省份的南亚热带地区。白柯和烟斗柯在RCP2.6情景下适生区面积分别减少了12.1%和17.8%,在RCP8.5情景下分别减少了3.5%和15.9%,这两个种的适宜区面积减少较多。厚斗柯（L.elizabethae（Tutch.）Rehd.）主要分布于广西,在两种情景下适宜区面积分别增加了7.3%和6.3%。研究结果表明,由于分布区存在差异,同属不同物种的未来分布对气候变化的响应不同。     

西北干旱区10种荒漠植物地理分布与大气候的关系及其可能潜在分布区的估测

 选择面积广阔、地理位置特殊、气候干旱、地形地貌多样、生态系统脆弱以及人类活动长期干扰,而且目前面临着西部大开发和环境保护双重矛盾的西北干旱区作为研究区域,通过收集西北干旱区多种优势种和常见种的地理分布资料,选取10 种分布范围相对明确、资料相对齐备的荒漠植物种：短叶假木贼（Anabasis brevifolia）、木蓼（Atraphaxis frutescens）、沙拐枣（Calligonum mongolicum）、膜果麻黄（Ephedra przewalskii）、裸果木（Gymnocarpos przewalskii）、梭梭柴（Haloxylon ammodendron）、白梭梭（Haloxylon persicum）、尖叶盐爪爪（Kalidium cuspidatum）、松叶猪毛菜（Salsola laricifolia）和合头草（Sympegma regelii）,定量分析其地理分布与气候因子的关系,并据此估测其潜在中心分布区和潜在最大分布范围,与实际分布范围进行比较。结果表明,10种荒漠植物的Holdridge生物温度、降水量和可能蒸散率的平均值、标准差、最大值和最小值比较准确地反映了我国荒漠地区的典型气候特征,说明植物种分布与气候的定量对应关系较好。其可能潜在分布的估测中,中心分布估测图与植物种的实际分布范围有较好的对应性,而在最大可能分布的估测图中,与实际有一定误差及存在一些不合理的地方,但种与种之间有差异。究其原因,首先在于目前所拥有的植物种分布和气象资料的限制,而且植物种的实际分布范围受到人为活动的影响较大,所以无法完全把握植物种与气候的准确定量关系;其次,气候极值所预测的只是植物种分布的最大可能性,而不能表现出植物种现实分布的主要地区,气候均值与标准差所反映的中心分布区,其准确性更可靠;再者,模拟预测仅考虑了植物种与大气候的关系,而没有考虑决定植物分布的其它环境因素,如土壤、基质、地形等地理因素。     

Syllidae (Annelida, Polychaeta) from the Caribbean coast of Venezuela

Venezuela possesses a great variety of coastal environments allowing for a high diversity of marine species. However, systematic studies on marine invertebrates are scarce, especially on polychaetes. The family Syllidae is poorly known, and only 14 genera and 42 species have been reported from this country. A total of 13 genera and 26 species the Syllidae were identified from benthic samples collected on different substrata of the northeastern coast of Venezuela. Of these, seven genera and 16 species constitute new records for Venezuela: Odontosyllis guillermoi, Syllides floridanus, Salvatoria clavata, Salvatoria limbata, Sphaerosyllis longicauda, Parapionosyllis longicirrata, Trypanosyllis parvidentata, Trypanosyllis vittigera, Opisthosyllis sp., Syllis amica, Syllis armillaris, Syllis gracilis, Syllis pseudoarmillaris, Syllis vittata, Parasphaerosyllis indica and Myrianida convoluta.     

Description of two new species of Rissoella Gray, 1847 (Mollusca, Gastropoda, Heterobranchia) from Venezuela, with a key to the Caribbean species known for the genus

Two new species of the genus Rissoella Gray, 1847 are described from Venezuela, one from the National Park Morrocoy, Rissoella morrocoyensis sp. n. and the other from the Wildlife Refuge Isla de Aves, Rissoella venezolanicola sp. n. Rissoella morrocoyensis sp. n. has a deep umbilicus (partly closed), preumbilical cord, black head, hypobranchial gland marked by a pale yellow boomerang-shaped ribbon and it lives on the leaves of the seagrass Thalassia testudinum Banks & König, 1805. Rissoella venezolanicola sp. n. has an angled preumbilical cord which extends to the columella delimiting a trapezoid, a hypobranchial gland marked by a yellow quaver-shaped ribbon and protoconch with fuchsia highlights. It lives on the brown alga Dictyota spp. The records of Rissoella in the Caribbean are revised and illustrations, a comparative table and a key to the Caribbean species known for the genus are provided.     

Digenean parasites of Chinese marine fishes: a list of species, hosts and geographical distribution

In the literature, 630 species of Digenea (Trematoda) have been reported from Chinese marine fishes. These belong to 209 genera and 35 families. The names of these species, along with their hosts, geographical distribution and records, are listed in this paper.     

Occurrence Patterns,Habitat Associations,and Potential Prey of the River Dolphin,Inia geoffrensis,in the Cinaruco River,Venezuela1

The distribution, habitat association, group size, population structure, and prey availability of river dolphins (Inia geoffrensis) were studied from November 1993-June 1994 in the Cinaruco River, a tributary of the Orinoco River that forms the southern boundary of Venezuela's Santos Luzardo National Park. Dolphins were sampled from a boat using modified strip-width transects, for a total of 418 h. The study area was 1.67 km², and contained 20 km of water courses. Like other rivers of this region, the Cinaruco River undergoes a seasonal flood cycle. Dolphins were seen most often during the period of falling water (41% of total sightings) and least often during the rising water period (24% of total sightings). Dolphins were seen most often in confluence areas (35% of total sightings) and were seldom seen in side channels (13% of total sightings). The presence of rocks or sandbanks was associated with a greater frequency of dolphin sightings, and sightings increased with habitat heterogeneity. Average group size for the 8-mo study was 2.0 (±1.0) and was largest during the rising water period. Calves were first sighted during the end of the dry season and became more common during the early flood season. Six individuals were photo-identified and resighted with one sighted eight times over 186 d. The fish diversity of the study area was high, with 161 species documented in our samples. The stomach of one Inia contained 15 fishes representing at least 4 species.     

Pictolejeunea reginac, a new species of Lejeuneaceae (Hepaticae) from Venezuela

Pictolejeunea reginae, a new species from Venezuela is described and illustrated. It is the type of the new subgenusNeopitolejeunea Ilkiu-Borges, which is characterized by entire underleaves. A key to the two subgenera and four known species ofPictolejeunea is provided.

---

Ilkiu-Borges, A. L. (Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi, C. P. 399, Belém, Pará, CEP 66040-170. Brasil: email: ilkiuborges@hotmail.com).Pictolejeunea reginae, a new species of Lejeuneaceae (Hepaticae) from Venezuela. Brittonia 54: 318–321. 2002.—Pictolejeunea reginae, uma nova espécie encontrada na Venezuela, é descrita e ilustrada. A espécie é tratada como tipo do novo subgêneroNeopictolejeunea Ilkiu-Borges, caracterizada pelos anfigastros inteiros. é apresentada uma chave para os dois subgêneros e as quatro espécies dePictolejeunea.

     

Airborne dispersal ofCecropia peltata L. (Moraceae) pollen,a neotropical species,in the vicinity of Caracas,Venezuela

In this paper, airborne dispersion of the pollen ofCecropia peltata L. (Moraceae) in a location close to the Equator is described. The Cecropias are fast-growing pioneer trees unique to the Neotropics, where they grow within a large altitude range, from Mexico to Brazil.Cecropia pollen was the most abundant grain throughout the year. The highest recovery occurred during April–May. As widely distributed members of the Moraceae family and because of their small pollen size, the Cecropias are prime suspects for being the source of inhalant allergens. The numbers ofCecropia airborne pollen grains that were recorded are well above those deemed necessary for human sensitization.     

A new rheophytic species of Euceraea (Flacourtiaceae) from Sierra de la Neblina, Venezuela

Euceraea rheophytica is newly described and illustrated. It differs from the two other species in the genus, E. nitida and E. sleumeriana, in its much smaller and narrower leaves and in its smaller, spicate (vs. branched) inflorescences. It is known only from frequently flash-flooded riverbanks in the large, central canyon of the Sierra de la Neblina massif in southernmost Venezuela.     

Two new species of the side necked turtle genus,Bairdemys (Pleurodira, Podocnemididae), from the Miocene of Venezuela

The side-necked turtle genusBairdemys (Podocnemididae,Shweboemys Group) from the Miocene of Venezuela and Puerto Rico is revised, and four species are diagnosed on the basis of skull characters; two are de-scribed as new.B. hartsteini Gaffney &; Wood, 2002, from the Cibao Formation of Puerto Rico, is characterized by a higher skull, with a straight labial ridge and a premaxillary notch;B. venezuelensis (Wood &; Díaz de Gamero 1971), from the Urumaco Formation of Venezuela, is characterized by the absence of a premaxillary notch, a high anterior triturating surface convexity, a deep posterior triturating surface concavity, and a short pterygoid mid-line contact;B. sanchezi, new species, from the Urumaco Formation of Venezuela, is characterized by a very low anterior triturating surface convexity and shallow posterior triturating surface concavity, a premaxillary notch, small size, and extensive temporal and cheek emargination;B. winklerae, new species, from the Urumaco Formation of Venezuela, is characterized by an elongate, narrow snout, with a concave labial ridge, and no premaxillary notch. Based on osteological and bone histological results, an additional strongly crushed skull and associated cara-pace fragment of a previously undetermined podocnemidid from the Urumaco Formation of Venezuela can be further referred toPodocnemis or a closely related taxon — again underscoring the importance of this formation as one of the major fossil lagerstätten of turtles in South America.     

Reproductive variations of cladocerans in grasslands periodically flooded for irrigation in Mantecal,Venezuela

The present work is a study of the cladoceran fauna and its reproduction during drought, in grasslands modified by embankment for irrigation be periodical flooding at Mantecal, Venezuela. Due to the importance of changing reproductive mechanisms of cladocerans in response to changing conditions, we present the daily variation of certain species that have both sexual and parthenogenetic females, thus contributing a first report on the reproductive cycles of cladocerans in this country. During February and March of 1980, corresponding to the final period of the dry season, samples were collected in the whole water column (5–38 cm) every two days with a Van Dorn sampler of 1-liter capacity. Environmental conditions were recorded at the same time. The cladoceran community consisted of 13 species. Study of six of these species revealed that sexual females were most abundant in March when the water level was lowest, while parthenogenetic females were at their peaks in February. However, all species showed variation at the beginning and end of their reproductive periods.