Computer assisted sperm analysis of motility patterns of postthawed epididymal spermatozoa of springbok (Antidorcas marsupialis), impala (Aepyceros melampus), and blesbok (Damaliscus dorcus phillipsi) incubated under conditions supporting domestic cattle in vitro fertilization

The need for information on the reproductive physiology of different wildlife species is important for ex situ conservation using such methods as in vitro fertilization (IVF). Information on species reproductive physiology and evaluation of sperm quality using accurate, objective, repeatable methods, such as computer-assisted sperm analysis (CASA) for ex situ conservation has become a priority. The aim of this study was to evaluate motility patterns of antelope epididymal spermatozoa incubated for 4 h under conditions that support bovine IVF using CASA. Cauda epididymal spermatozoa were collected postmortem from testicles of springbok (N = 38), impala (N = 26), and blesbok (N = 42), and cryopreserved in biladyl containing 7% glycerol. Spermatozoa were thawed and incubated in Capacitation media and modified Tyrode lactate (m-TL) IVF media using a protocol developed for domestic cattle IVF. The study evaluates 14 motility characteristics of the antelope epididymal sperm at six time points using CASA. Species differences in CASA parameters evaluated under similar conditions were observed. Several differences in individual motility parameters at the time points were reported for each species. Epididymal sperm of the different antelope species responded differently to capacitation agents exhibiting variations in hyperactivity. Motility parameters that describe the vigor of sperm decreased over time. Spermatozoa from the different antelope species have different physiological and optimal capacitation and in vitro culture requirements. The interspecies comparison of kinematic parameters of spermatozoa between the antelopes over several end points contributes to comparative sperm physiology which forms an important step in the development of species specific assisted reproductive techniques (ARTs) for ex situ conservation of these species.     

试论野生稻资源遗传多样性原生境保存

我国野生稻资源丰富,分布地域广阔,由于经济建设用地需要,近年来野生稻原生地遭到严重破坏,野生稻原生境保存已是十分紧迫的事情。本文论述了原生境保存的意义,原生境保存地的选择原则及设想,旨在提高全民生态保护意识,加强野生稻资源保护。     

Ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase, protein and nitrogen in Scots pine seedlings cultivated at different nutrient levels

Seedlings of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) of a northern provenance were cultivated in nutrient solution for 10 weeks in a climate chamber. The nutrient solution (renewed by solution exchange) contained 2.5, 10 or 50 mg N I^?1. All other essential elements were added in optimal proportion to the nitrogen. Seedlings cultivated at 10 and 50 mg N I^?1 were similar with respect to all characteristics studied. Seedlings cultivated at 2.5 mg N I^?1 showed a lower growth rate, especially for the shoot, and an altered morphology, with high root:shoot ratios and long, slender roots. The nitrogen concentrations in shoot and needles as well as in whole seedlings were not significantly affected by the nitrogen supply, while the nitrogen concentrations in the roots were somewhat lower at 2.5 mg N I^?1. Ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase (EC 4.1.1.39) activity and the concentrations of carboxylase, total and soluble protein and of chlorophyll in the needles were consistently much lower for seedlings cultivated at 2.5 mg N I^?1, than for seedlings grown at higher nutrient levels. A close correlation was observed between activity and concentration of the carboxylase (r=0.95). Carboxylase activity and protein were more sensitive to a low nutrient supply than was chlorophyll. The data show how activity and concentration of ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase and the concentrations of soluble and total protein and of chlorophyll in needles of pine seedlings can be negatively affected by the nutrient supply, also when the nitrogen concentrations in the needles are close to those observed at optimal nutrient supply. It is suggested that pine seedlings store assimilated non-protein nitrogen in the needles when protein synthesis is under restraint. The nitrogen concentration in needles and seedlings could not be used as a measure of the physiological state of the seedlings.     

Growth and survival of larvae of Thaumetopoea pinivora inside and outside a local outbreak area

1 Outbreaks of herbivorous insects tend to be spatially restricted, possibly because of demographic differences between inside and outside the outbreak area. In some cases, the margin of the outbreak area is distinct, allowing comparisons of adjacent areas that may identify factors leading to such differences in abundance. The northern pine processionary moth Thaumetopoea pinivora presently occurs at outbreak densities within a well‐defined area of approximately 3000 ha on the island of Gotland, south Sweden. We investigated whether cohorts of young larvae (first and second instar) had higher growth rate and survival inside or outside the outbreak area. 2 Group‐feeding appears to promote outbreaks in certain insect groups. Because T. pinivora larvae are highly social, we also compared larval performance between groups of different sizes inside and outside of the outbreak area: ‘small’ (33 eggs/group) and ‘normal’ (100 eggs/group). 3 Averaged over group size, whole colony mortality through the first two instars was two‐fold higher in the non‐outbreak area compared with the outbreak area. Mortality of individual larvae in the surviving colonies, however, did not differ between the two areas. There were only small differences in food quality (toughness, nitrogen content) between the areas, with no detectable effects on larval performance. 4 Larval relative growth rate did not differ between reduced and normal‐sized groups, which is surprising given that growth rate is known to increase with group size in other group‐feeding lepidopterans. 5 Reduced group size negatively affected larval survival, particularly in the outbreak area; by contrast, normal‐sized groups survived equally well in the two areas. Wood ants (Formica spp.) were more common outside the outbreak area, and appeared to be the main cause of colony mortality at low larval density. A different result was observed with regard to per‐capita mortality, which was higher in the outbreak area. We speculate that this could have been due to solitary predators being locally specialized on T. pinivora in the high‐density area.     

基于灰色关联分析方法评价13种野生兜兰的迁地保护适应性

由于过度收集和对原生境地的破坏,我国野生兜兰已濒临灭绝,对其进行迁地保护十分必要。通过对引种的13种40份野生兜兰资源进行迁地栽培,并观测兜兰种质在迁移地的各种生长性状指标等,本研究利用灰色关联分析方法评价13种兜兰的迁地适应性,分析影响其迁地保护的关键因素。结果表明:(1)带叶兜兰、同色兜兰、长瓣兜兰、文山兜兰适应性较强,与理想种的关联度均在0.8以上;巨瓣兜兰、白花兜兰、小叶兜兰、紫纹兜兰、紫毛兜兰、硬叶兜兰适应性一般,与理想种的关联度在0.7~0.8之间;麻栗坡兜兰、杏黄兜兰、红旗兜兰适应性较差,与理想种的关联度均在0.6以下;(2)不同兜兰种类、同一种类不同产地兜兰种质的迁地生长适应性不同,来源地和栽培温度可能是影响其迁地保护的关键因子。     

朱鹮的保护与研究

朱(Nipponia nippon)是世界濒危鸟类,国家一级重点保护动物,现仅分布于中国陕西洋县及其邻近地区。我国自1981年重新发现野生朱以来,保护工作取得显著成就。本文综述了近年朱保护和研究工作中取得的成绩及进展,提出了当前我国朱保护面临的问题及下一步亟待开展的工作,为该物种的保护和管理提供了科学的建议。     

Effect of exogenous gibberellins on flowering in Pinus sylvestris grafts

Ethanolic sprays of gibberellins were applied to developing shoots of about 12-year-old Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) grafts during the shoot elongation period in two consecutive years. Both male and female flowering was increased by these treatments in both years. The effect was particularly distinct in male flowering. However, different clones showed varying responses to the treatment. This variation was associated with both the genotype and the environmentally determined year-to-year fluctuation in flowering. Differences among clones were analysed further by introducing a model earlier developed for comparisons of the growth rhythm in various woody and herbaceous species.     

Oviposition preference and larval survival of Diprion pini on Scots pine clones in relation to foliage characteristics

1 When laying eggs, adult female Diprion pini discriminated between clones of Scots pine, Pinus sylvestris. 2 Larval survival was affected by Scots pine clone but was not correlated with oviposition preference. 3 Diprion pini laid most eggs on tougher needles of Scots pine. 4 There was no evidence to suggest that D. pini is responding to the monoterpene composition of the foliage.     

沿干旱梯度樟子松人工林针叶和枝条非结构性碳水化合物及氮含量的变化

选取沿内蒙古科尔沁沙地自然干旱梯度分布的6个樟子松人工林样点(辉南、西丰、付家、章古台、奈曼和乌兰敖都)为研究对象,测定当年生和1年生针叶和枝条中非结构性碳水化合物(NSCs)和氮(N)含量的变化,以探究干旱条件下樟子松的碳供需状态和养分贮存策略。结果表明：随干旱加剧,樟子松针叶和枝条中的NSCs和可溶性糖含量显著降低。从最湿润样点(辉南)到最干旱样点(乌兰敖都),樟子松当年生和1年生针叶中可溶性糖含量分别由12.8%和12.5%下降到9.0%和9.5%,而当年生枝条中可溶性糖含量由15.6%下降到9.2%。随干旱加剧,樟子松针叶和枝条中淀粉含量变化不显著,当年生和1年生针叶可溶性糖和淀粉的比值降低,当年生和1年生枝条中N含量显著增加。科尔沁沙地樟子松在干旱条件下显著消耗可溶性糖存储,存在“碳饥饿”致死风险。樟子松倾向维持稳定的淀粉含量以及在枝条中积累N以应对长期的干旱胁迫。     

In vitro propagation of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pimelea spicata</Emphasis> R.Br (Thymelaeaceae), an endangered species of the Sydney region,Australia

Micropropagation was assessed as an ex situ conservation strategy for the endangered Australian plant Pimelea spicata (Thymelaeaceae). Although regeneration of this species was achieved, several physiological problems were observed and examined. Explants of P. spicata had a higher multiplication rate on MS medium, than on ½ MS, but there was a significantly higher percentage of necrotic shoot tips on the higher salt medium. Increasing calcium concentration and gas exchange exacerbated shoot-tip necrosis. A number of hyperhydrated shoots were produced in all treatments, the cause of which could not be determined, although less hyperhydicity was observed in the ½ MS treatment. Shoots, rooted in vitro on ½ MS in the absence of plant growth regulators, were successfully acclimatised to greenhouse conditions, while direct rooting of microshoots using IBA gel treatment proved unsuccessful. This is the first report of tissue culture propagation of this endangered species.     

木兰科植物及其珍稀濒危种类的迁地保护

应用迁地保护的原理和方法,在华南植物园引种保存木兰植物１１属１２５种,其中中国１１３种,国外１２种,属哗啦诉珍稀濒危植物有２９种,从而建立了具有相当规模的木兰物种质基因库。     

Evaluating ex situ conservation projects: Genetic structure of the captive population of the Arabian sand cat

Ex situ conservation plays an increasingly important role in the conservation of endangered species. Molecular genetic markers can be helpful to assess the status of captive breeding programmes. We present the first molecular genetic analysis of the captive population of the Arabian sand cat (Felis margarita harrisoni) using microsatellites. Our data indicates that the captive population of F. m. harrisoni comprises three genetic clusters, which are based on different founder lineages. Genetic diversity was relatively high, the effective population size even exceeded the number of founders. This was presumably caused by subsequently integrating unrelated, genetically diverse founders into the captive population and a careful management based on minimizing kinship. However, we detected an error in the studbook records, which might have led to incestuous matings and underlines the usefulness of molecular evaluations in captive breeding programmes for endangered species.     

Identification of the photosynthetic CO2 fixation inhibitors in isolated pine chloroplasts as resin acids

Thus far all attempts to isolate CO, fixing chloroplasts from pine have failed. In this paper it is proposed that resin acids present in pine needles partition into membranes during chloroplast isolation and interfere with specific reactions of the Calvin cycle. CO, fixation by isolated spinach chloroplasts was strongly inhibited by the introduction of a suspension of chloroplasts isolated from Pinus sylvestris L. A partially purified organic extract obtained from chloroplasts of this pine species also strongly inhibited CO, fixation by the spinach chloroplasts. The major inhibitory compounds from the organic extract were identified as a mixture of resin acids by gas-liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry. Two resin acids, abietic acid and dehydroabietic acid, were tested for inhibitory activity. Both resin acids were potent inhibitors of photosynthetic CO₂fixation, with dehydroabietic acid being about three times more potent than abietic acid.     

濒危植物裸芸香的繁育系统及在植物园迁地保护环境下的传粉研究

迁地保护是防止濒危物种灭绝的一种重要的辅助手段。为了有效保护和管理在中国科学院武汉植物园迁地保护环境下的濒危植物裸芸香（Psilopeganum sinense）,通过定位观察、人工授粉实验等方法对裸芸香的开花生物学、繁育系统和传粉过程进行了研究。结果表明：裸芸香单花花期6～8 d,雄性先熟,单花开放进程中性表达经历了雄性功能期、两性功能期和雌性功能期。裸芸香不存在无融合生殖和风媒传粉,其繁育系统类型为兼性异交,但在无传粉昆虫时能自发自交结实。在武汉植物园内的主要传粉者与宜昌野生居群的传粉者相同,均为双翅目的灰带管蚜蝇（Eristalis cerealis）、细腹食蚜蝇（Sphaerophoria sp.）、黑带食蚜蝇（Episyrphus balteatus）和膜翅目的两种遂蜂（Halictidae）。在植物园自然状况下裸芸香的结实率为90%,不存在生殖障碍。自然自发自交及兼性异交的繁育系统显示裸芸香具有一定的适应生境片断化及环境干扰的潜力。