越南荨麻科楼梯草属和赤车属植物新记录

报道了7个楼梯草属和赤车属植物(荨麻科)新纪录,它们分别为锐齿楼梯草(E. cyrtandrifolium),变黄楼梯草(E. xanthophyllum),对叶楼梯草(E. sinense),宽叶楼梯草(E. platyphyllum),托叶楼梯草(E. nasutum),短叶赤车(P. brevifolia)和华南赤车(P. grijsii)。列出了各个物种的标本引证和地理分布情况。     

西藏紫草科1新记录属——微果草属

该文报道了西藏地区紫草科1新记录属微果草属(Microcaryum)及1新记录种微果草(Microcaryum pygmaeum (Clarke)Johnst.)。该种发现于西藏隆子县,生于海拔约5 000 m的高山草甸。研究了其外部形态、小坚果微形态及花粉形态,并与形态相近种毛果草 （Lasiocaryum densiflorum (Duthie)Johnst.） 进行了比较。凭证标本保存于北京师范大学动植物标本馆植物标本室(BNU)。     

阿尔泰山两河源国家级自然保护区鼓藻类中国新记录

分别于2016年7月和2017年8月在阿尔泰山两河源国家级自然保护区采集鼓藻类植物标本,经显微镜观察,发现鼓藻类（绿藻门）中国新记录植物5个分类单位,隶属于4个属,包括4种1变种：膨大新月藻（新拟）（Closterium tumidulum Gay）、钝齿宽带鼓藻（新拟）［Pleurotaenium crenulatum (Ralfs) Rabenhorst］、克塞凹顶鼓藻（新拟）（Euastrum coeselii Kouwets）、圆齿状鼓藻（新拟）（Cosmarium crenulatum Ngeli）和肾形鼓藻收缩变种（新拟）（Cosmarium reniforme var. compressum Nordstedt）。对这些新记录植物的形态学特征进行了详细的描述,并提供了光镜照片及手绘图。     

甘肃省小陇山地区鸢尾属植物资源调查及2个新记录种

本文报道了甘肃小陇山地区鸢尾科（Iridaceae）鸢尾属（Iris L.）植物2个新分布记录种：长柄鸢尾（Iris henryi Baker）和薄叶鸢尾（Iris leptophylla Lingelsh.）。通过整理重新编制了小陇山地区鸢尾属植物的分种检索表。两种植物的发现进一步丰富了鸢尾属在全国的分布格局和本属在秦岭地区的种类,并为小陇山地区的物种多样性研究提供了新的分布信息。凭证标本存放于陇南师范高等专科学校植物标本室。     

中国毛茛科翠雀属的分类学研究(十三):狭序翠雀花的名实订正

发现根据甘肃南部标本描述的毛茛科狭序翠雀花（Delphinium angustipaniculatum W.T.Wang）与此前记载分布于甘肃南部和四川北部的松潘翠雀花（D.sutchuenense Franch.）属于同一种植物,故将前者处理为后者的异名。讨论了松潘翠雀花与其可能的近缘种秦岭翠雀花（D.giraldii Diels）和疏花翠雀花（D.sparsiflorum Maxim.）的形态区别。     

湖北省被子植物1个新记录属和5个新记录种

报道了湖北省被子植物1个新记录属：葛缕子属（Carum L.）;5个新记录种：田葛缕子（Carum buriaticum Turcz.）、南川鹿药（Maianthemum nanchuanense H. Li & J. L. Huang）、宽叶香茶菜〔Isodon latifolius （C. Y. Wu & H. W. Li） H. Hara〕、广东新耳草〔Neanotis kwangtungensis （Merrill & F. P. Metcalf） W. H. Lewis〕和毛柱郁李（Prunus pogonostyla Maxim.）。相关凭证标本保存于中国科学院武汉植物园标本馆（HIB）。     

贵州省新记录植物

报道了产自贵州赤水桫椤国家级自然保护区内的贵州省7种新记录植物,分别是狭冠长蒴苣苔（Didymocarpus stenanthos Clarke）、芒毛苣苔（Aeschynanthus acuminatus Wall.ex A.DC.）、石蜘蛛（Pinellia integrifolia N.E.Brown）、网子度量草（Mitreola reticulata Tirela-Roudet）、棒距虾脊兰（Calanthe clavata Lindl.）、金长莲（Staurogyne sichuanica H.S.Lo）和石萝藦（Pentasacme championii Benth.）,其中叉柱花属(Staurogyne Wall.)和石萝藦属(Pentasacme Wall.ex Wight)为贵州省新记录属,凭证标本均保存在中南林业科技大学植物标本室(CSFI)。这些植物新的地理分布对于贵州北部植物区系和丹霞地貌植被研究均有重要意义。     

半干旱草地不同植物枯落物分解对放牧和封育的响应

为探究放牧和封育对半干旱草地植物枯落物分解的影响,选取赖草、牛枝子及其混合物为研究对象,调查了不同网孔分解袋中宁夏半干旱草地植物枯落物分解特征及对放牧和封育的响应规律。结果表明：（1）放牧样地250目网孔中,枯落物质量残留率表现为牛枝子显著高于赖草和混合物（P<0.05）,而在放牧样地30目网孔、封育样地2种网孔中,枯落物质量残留率均表现为3种枯落物间无显著差异。（2）250目网孔中,放牧和封育样地枯落物分解衰减常数均表现为混合物显著高于牛枝子,而赖草居中;并且,牛枝子枯落物分解衰减常数表现为封育样地显著高于放牧样地。30目网孔中,放牧和封育样地枯落物分解衰减常数均表现为赖草、混合物显著高于牛枝子（P<0.05）;并且,牛枝子枯落物分解衰减常数表现为封育样地显著高于放牧样地（P<0.05）。（3）在放牧样地,仅牛枝子枯落物R_m表现为30目显著低于250目网孔（P<0.05）,k表现为30目显著高于250目网孔（P<0.05）;土壤动物对枯落物分解的贡献率表现为混合物显著低于牛枝子,赖草居中（P<0.05）。而在封育样地,仅牛枝子枯落物k表现为30目显著高于250目网孔（P<0.05）;土壤动物对枯落物分解的贡献率表现为混合物和牛枝子均显著高于赖草,且混合枯落物的土壤动物贡献率表现为封育样地显著高于放牧样地（P<0.05）。（4）枯落物残留率与其初始N、P、木质素/N、C/P呈显著相关性（P<0.05）;枯落物分解衰减常数与其初始N、P、木质素、N/P、C/P和木质素/P间均呈显著相关性（P<0.05）。研究表明,植物种类组成显著影响枯落物的残留率和分解衰减常数。放牧与封育管理通过影响网孔中土壤动物分布来调控半干旱区草地植物枯落物的分解,而且封育管理更有利于促进土壤动物对低质量枯落物（牛枝子）的分解。     

新疆、青海、内蒙古3省区被子植物分布新记录

该文报道了中国新疆、青海、内蒙古3个省区的植物新分布记录,包括2个省级新分布记录属和6个省级新分布记录种。其中陌上菜属（Lindernia Allioni）为新疆新记录属;薄果荠属（Hornungia Borb Reichenbach）为内蒙古新记录属。短茎岩黄芪（Hedysarum setigerum Turczaninow ex Fischer et C.A.Meyer）、帕米尔四齿芥（Tetracme pamirica Vassilcz.）和陌上菜〔Lindernia procumbens （Krocker） Borbas〕为新疆新记录种;密毛肋果沙棘（Hippophae neurocarpa subsp. stellatopilosa Y. S. Lian et al. ex Swenson et Bartish）为青海新记种;薄果荠〔Hornungia procumbens （Linnaeus） Hayek〕和粗穗赖草（Leymus crassiusculus L. B. Cai）为内蒙古新记录种。凭证标本存放于内蒙古大学植物标本馆（HIMC）中。     

新疆三种独尾草的适宜分布及其对未来气候变化的响应

研究国内仅分布于新疆的3种短命植物阿尔泰独尾草（Eremurus altaicus）、粗柄独尾草（Eremurus inderiensis）和异翅独尾草（Eremurus anisopterus）的适宜分布及其对未来气候的可能响应,对新疆短命植物资源的分布、利用与科学保护具有重要意义。共收集了64个自然分布点,筛选了6个气候因子和2个地形因子数据,利用MaxEnt模型和地理信息系统ArcGIS软件模拟了当前气候情景下3种独尾草的生态适宜性,探讨影响3种植物分布的主导因子及其数值范围,预测3种独尾草的适宜分布对未来气候变化（2001-2040年、2041-2080年,基于温室气体中等排放情景：SSP2-4.5共享社会经济路径）的可能响应。结果表明：（1）基准气候下,3种独尾草在新疆的适宜分布存在较大差异：阿尔泰独尾草主要分布于伊犁河谷、天山北麓、阿尔泰山中段和准噶尔西部山地;两种沙生独尾草均分布于天山中段的绿洲-荒漠区过渡带,古尔班通古特沙漠西南部沙地;（2）最干月降水量（1-25mm）主要限制了阿尔泰独尾草的适宜分布;温度季节性变动指数（1150-1672）主要限制了两种沙生独尾草的适宜分布;（3）2001-2040年和2041-2080年,3种独尾草的适宜分布整体均呈缩减趋势：阿尔泰独尾草向天山北麓和准噶尔西部山地略微缩减;粗柄独尾草和异翅独尾草向古尔班通古特沙漠南缘略微缩减。     

Vermicomposting in the management of pig-waste in Hong Kong

The treatment and disposal of pig-waste in Hong Kong has received much attention in recent years but, following any of the presently used treatment processes, solids remain to be further stabilized. Vermicomposting is a waste stabilization technique which converts waste into potentially recyclable materials such as worm protein and worm casts. The earthworm, Pheretima asiatica, can stabilize most of the solids arising from the treatment of pig-waste, including raw pig manure, suggesting that vermicomposting has a high potential as a unit process in the management of pig-waste in Hong Kong.S.H. Wong is with the Environmental Protection Department, Hong Kong; and D.A. Griffiths is with the Department of Botany, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.     

香港鹅耳枥(桦木科)的群落特征

为保护香港特有植物香港鹅耳枥,基于典型样地调查,对香港鹅耳枥所在群落进行了研究。结果表明,在225 m2的样地内,有维管植物37科66属68种。建群种为香港鹅耳枥,个体高度最高3 m,所在群落植株平均高度0.92 m,分层不明显。位于中国香港岛的香港鹅耳枥处于衰退状态,小个体极少。因此,建议采取就地保护和迁地保护措施,以重建种群。     

Rodent Diversity in a Highly Degraded Tropical Landscape: Hong Kong, South China

The diverse ecological roles played by different rodent species mean that the loss of some species and superabundance of others could potentially influence a wide range of ecological processes. Hong Kong (22° N, 114° E), with seven million people in a land area of 1100 km², could be considered a `worst case scenario' for the survival of mammalian diversity. Existing information on rodents in Hong Kong was compiled from previous published and unpublished studies, and additional trapping was conducted at 17 non-urban sites. The rodent fauna of modern Hong Kong consists of eight species of rats and mice (Bandicota indica, Mus caroli, M. musculus, Niviventer fulvescens, Rattus norvegicus, R. rattus, R. tanezumi, R. sikkimensis: Muridae), one porcupine (Hystrix brachyura: Hystricidae), and one recently introduced tree squirrel (Callosciurus erythraeus: Sciuridae). Six of the murids are urban or agricultural commensals, so only the porcupine and two murids, N. fulvescens and R. sikkimensis, are likely survivors of Hong Kong's pre-deforestation native rodent fauna. The two murids co-dominate in forest and shrubland, but can also move through grassland, which has probably enabled their survival through repeated cycles of fragmentation and regrowth. Additional forest rodents that may have inhabited Hong Kong in the past are tentatively identified from information on their recent distributions in the region. One possible ecological consequence of Hong Kong's depleted rodent fauna is a shift in the balance between seed predation and seed dispersal, in favor of the former.     

Purification and properties of β-amylase from Bacillus circulans S31

A thermotolerant -amylase was purified from Bacillus circulans S31 isolated from soil in Hong Kong. The purified enzyme has an M _r of 64 kDa and was stable at 50°C and pH 7.0 for 30 min. Its K _m for starch was 0.9 mg/ml with a V _max of 0.3 mg/min. It was not activated by any metal ion although sulphydrys reagents were inhibitory.H.S. Kwan, K.H. So and K.Y. Chan are with the Department of Biology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong S.C. Cheng is with the Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, Hong Kong Polytechnic, Hung Hom, Hong Kong.     

Phylogenetic relationships in the harmful dinoflagellate Cochlodinium polykrikoides (Gymnodiniales, Dinophyceae) inferred from LSU rDNA sequences

Phylogenetic relationships among chain-forming Cochlodinium species, including the harmful red tide forming dinoflagellate Cochlodinium polykrikoides, were investigated using specimens collected from coastal waters of Canada, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, México, Philippines, Puerto Rico, and USA. The phylogenetic tree inferred from partial (D1–D6 regions) large subunit ribosomal RNA gene (LSU rDNA) sequences clearly differentiated between C. polykrikoides and a recently described species, Cochlodinium fulvescens. Two samples collected from the Pacific coasts of North America (British Columbia, Canada and California, USA) having typical morphological characters of C. fulvescens such as the sulcus located in the intermediate region of the cingulum, were closely related to C. fulvescens from western Japan in the phylogenetic tree. Cochlodinium polykrikoides formed a monophyletic group positioned as a sister group of the C. fulvescens clade with three well-supported sub-clades. These three clades were composed of (1) East Asian, including specimens collected from Hong Kong, western Japan, and southern Korea, (2) Philippines, from Manila Bay, Philippines and Omura Bay, Japan, and (3) American/Malaysian, from the Atlantic coasts of USA, the Pacific coast of México, Puerto Rico, and Borneo Island, Malaysia. Each of these clades is considered to be a so-called “ribotype” representing the population inhabiting each region, which is distinguished based on ribosomal RNA gene sequences in the species despite similarities in their morphological characters.     

Lignocellulolytic enzyme profiles of edible mushroom fungi

One of the most economically-viable processes for the bioconversion of many types of lignocellulosic wastes is represented by edible mushroom cultivation. Lentinula edodes, Volvariella volvacea and Pleurotus sajor-caju are three important commercially cultivated mushrooms which exhibit varying abilities to utilise different lignocellulosics as growth substrate. Examination of the lignocellulolytic enzyme profiles of the three species show this diversity to be reflected in qualitative variations in the major enzymic determinants (i.e. cellulases, ligninases) required for substrate bioconversion. For example, L. edodes, which is cultivated on highly lignified substrates such as wood or sawdust, produces two extracellular enzymes which have been associated with lignin depolymerisation in other fungi, (manganese peroxidase and laccase). Conversely, V. volvacea, which prefers high cellulose-, low lignin-containing substrates produces a family of cellulolytic enzymes including at least five endoglucanases, five cellobiohydrolases and two -glucosidases, but none of the recognised lignin-degrading enzymes.J.A. Buswell, Y.J. Cai, S.T. Chang, J.F. Peberdy and S.Y. Fu are with the Department of Biology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong. J.A. Buswell and S.T. Chang are also with the Centre for International Services to Mushroom Biotechnology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong. J.F. Peberdy is also with the Department of Life Science, University of Nottingham, United Kingdom. S.Y. Fu is also with, and H.-s. Yu is with the Institute of Chemistry, Academia Sinica, Guangzhou, China.     

The reproductive biology of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Nassarius festivus</Emphasis> (Powys, 1835) (Gastropoda: Nassariidae) in relation to seasonal changes in temperature and salinity in subtropical Hong Kong

The reproduction of Nassarius festivus (Gastropoda: Nassariidae) has been studied on three contrasting beaches in Hong Kong. There was no significant difference in shell heights between females and males of N. festivus at three study sites and the sex ratio was always female biased. The highest female sex ratio was recorded from Starfish Bay, followed by Tai Tam Bay and then Tai Mong Tsai. The sexual cycle of N. festivus is completed in 1 year in Hong Kong. It is a winter spawner with a reproductive period ranging from September to May. The gonads progressively mature in autumn with maturity being achieved in winter. Spring and summer are times of gonadal decline and gametogenesis initiation, respectively. The ranges in water temperature and salinity at which mature individuals occur were 13.7–28.0°C and 19.3–29.0‰, respectively. N. festivus produces between 16 and 46 eggs·capsule⁻¹. Over its short life span of 1.21 years, therefore, N. festivus attempts to maximize reproductive output. The eggs hatch as veligers which remain in the plankton for between 33 and 41 days. In terms of its reproductive biology, it is concluded that N. festivus behaves as a typical sub-tropical species with a mix of tropical and temperate characteristics seen in other nassariids from these latitudes.     

Isolation and characterization of restriction endonuclease EclHKI from an Enterobacter cloacae strain

An Enterobacter cloacae strain, producing restriction enzyme EclHKI, was isolated from a decaying potato. The enzyme is an isoschizomer of Eam1105I, which recognizes and cleaves GACNNN!NNGTC. EclHKI was produced at high activity (4×10⁴ U/g wet cells) and was purified from contaminants which interfere with restriction digestion by passing the cell lysate through DEAE-Sephacel and heparin columns. Activity was optimal at 37°C in a medium salt buffer.H.-Y. Chan, Y.-C. Chan and P.-C. Shaw are with the Department of Biochemistry, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong: K.-M. Kam is with the Institute of Pathology, Sai Ying Pun Jockey Club Clinic, Hong Kong.     

Distribution of toxigenic Bacillus cereus in rice samples marketed in Hong Kong

Eleven of 16 samples of rice on sale in rice shops and supermarkets in Hong Kong contained Bacillus cereus. Although B. cereus counts did not exceed 100 bacteria/g in most of the positive samples, a sample of Thai red rice and a poor quality rice originating from China contained between 300 to 1000 cells/g and 10⁴ to 2×10⁵ cells/g, respectively. Nine strains produced an enterotoxin responsible for the diarrhoeal-type B. cereus food poisoning and seven of these strains also produced a haemolysin (haemolysin BL), a dermonecrotic vascular permeability factor which may be a virulence determinant in diarrhoeal illness caused by this bacterium.P.K. Lee and J.A. Buswell are with the Department of Biology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong; K. Shinagawa is with the Department of Veterinary Medicine, Iwate University, Iwate, Japan.     

Molecular Coordinated Regulation of Gene Expression During Ovarian Development in the Penaeid Shrimp

To understand the molecular events of ovarian development in penaeid shrimp, RNA arbitrarily primed polymerase chain reaction (RAP-PCR) was used to identify differentially expressed genes during ovarian maturation in Metapenaeus ensis. From a screening of 700 clones in a cDNA library of the shrimp ovary by the products of RAP-PCR of different maturation stages, 91 fragments with differentially expressed pattern as revealed by dot-blot hybridization were isolated and sequenced. Forty-two of these fragments show significant sequence similarity to known gene products and the differentially expressed pattern of 10 putative genes were further characterized via Northern hybridization. Putative glyceraldehyde–3–phosphate dehydrogenase and arginine kinase are related to provision of energy for active cellular function in oocyte development. Translationally controlled tumor protein, actin, and keratin are related to the organization of cytoskeleton to accomplish growth and development of oocytes. High mobility group protein DSP1, heat shock protein 70, and nucleoside diphosphate kinase may act as repressors before the onset of ovarian maturation. Peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans isomerase and glutathione peroxidase are related to the stabilization of proteins and oocytes. This study provides new insights on the molecular events in the ovarian development in the shrimp. Present addresses: T.S. Lo, Department of Applied Science, Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education, Chai Wan, Hong Kong, China J.L.Y. Mong, Department of Biochemistry, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong, China Q.W.L. Wong, Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong, China