土地利用约束下中国东部南北样带生产力和植被分布对全球变化的响应

对现有的区域植被动态模拟模型进行了改进,使之包含了土地利用分布格局对植被和生态系统相关过程的影响.改进后的模型被用于研究中国东部南北样带(NSTEC)植被和净第一性生产力对未来气候变化的响应.模拟结果显示土地利用格局对未来气候条件下植被分布的变迁和生产力形成过程有非常显著的影响.与没有土地利用约束的情形相比较,土地利用作为限制条件缓减了植被类型之间的竞争,从而减少了模拟的样带区域内常绿阔叶林,但增加了模拟灌木和草地的分布.土地利用约束使得模拟得到的当前条件下的净第一性生产力更为接近实际情况,且未来气候条件下的生产力改变量更为可信.对未来CO2倍增条件下7个大气环流模型预测的气候情景的模拟结果表明:落叶阔叶林将显著增加,但针叶林、灌木和草原的分布将下降.未来气候条件下NSTEC样带的净第一性生产力总量将增加.预测样带北部的净第一性生产力的变化范围大于样带南部.温度变化比降水变化对样带的生产力具有更强的控制.     

土地利用约束下中国东部南北样带生产力和植被分布对全球变化的响应

对现有的区域植被动态模拟模型进行了改进,使之包含了土地利用分布格局对植被和生态系统相关过程的影响。改进后的模型被用地研究中国东部南北样带(NSTEC)植被和净第一性生产力对未来气候变化的响应。模拟结果显示土地利用格局对未来气候条件下植被分布的变迁和生产力形成过程有非常显著的影响。与没有土地利用约束的情形相比较,土地利用作为限制条件缓减了植被类型之间的竞争,从而减少了模拟的样带区域内常绿阔叶林,但增加了模拟灌木和草地的分布。土地利用约束使得模拟得到的当前条件下的净第一性生产力更为接近实际情况,且未来气候条件下的生产力改变量更为可信。对未来CO2倍增条件下7个大气环流模型预测的气候情景的模拟结果表明：落叶阔叶林将显著增加,但针叶林、灌木和草原的分布将下降。未来气候条件下NSTEC样带的净第一性生产力总量将增加。预测样带北部的净第一性生产力的变化范围大于样带南部。温度变化比降水变化对样带的生产力具有更强的控制。     

三峡库区植被生物量和生产力的估算及分布格局

三峡工程对三峡库区的生态环境将会产生巨大影响,对库区生物量和生产力的本底研究具有重要的科学意义和历史价值.以108块临时样地及森林资源清查数据为基础,对三峡库区植被生物量和生产力进行估算,结果表明:(1)三峡库区植被总生物量和年生产力分别为1.17×108t、1.77×107t,占全国森林植被的0.91%和3.62%,均高于全国平均水平;(2)三峡库区马尾松林生物总量最多,达到4.14×107t,常绿阔叶林单位面积生物量最高,为85.60t hm-2;(3)竹林的NPP最高,为10.10t a-1 hm-2,柏木林最低,仅为4.21t a-1 hm-2;(4)三峡库区植被平均生物量和NPP均呈现"东高西低,北高南低"的分布格局,与经纬度没有明显相关性;(5)森林植被平均生物量随着海拔上升而增加,在海拔为1500～1800m范围内达到最大值59.05t hm-2,随后迅速下降.(6)NPP随海拔变化呈现"先减后增随后又减"的规律,最大值出现在900～1200m区段,为7.07t a-1 hm-2;(7)库区海拔在300～1500m间的森林植被总生物量和总生产力分别为8.15×107t和10.38×106t a-1,占整个库区的83.58%和83.83%.     

气候变化对我国南方人工林地上生物量影响的模拟研究——以会同生态站磨哨实验林场为例

全球气候变暖对陆地生态系统尤其是森林生态系统有着重要的影响,气温升高、辐射强迫的增强将显著改变森林生态系统的结构和功能.南方人工林作为我国森林的重要组成部分,对气候变化的响应日益强烈.为了探究未来气候情景下我国南方人工林对气候变化的响应,降低未来气候变化对人工林可能带来的损失,本研究采用3种最新的气候情景—典型浓度排放路径情景(RCP2.6情景、RCP4.5情景、RCP8.5情景)预估数据,应用生态系统过程模型PnET-Ⅱ和空间直观景观模型LANDIS-Ⅱ模拟2014—2094年间湖南省会同森林生态实验站磨哨实验林场森林的地表净初级生产力(ANPP)、物种建立可能性(SEP)和地上生物量的变化.结果表明: 不同森林类型的SEP和ANPP对气候变化的响应有明显的差异,各森林类型对气候变化的响应程度表现为: 对于SEP,在RCP2.6和RCP4.5情景下,人工针叶林＞天然阔叶林＞人工阔叶林;在RCP8.5情景下,天然阔叶林＞人工阔叶林＞人工针叶林.对于ANPP,在RCP2.6情景下,人工阔叶林＞天然阔叶林＞人工针叶林;在RCP4.5和RCP8.5情景下,天然阔叶林＞人工阔叶林＞人工针叶林.人工针叶林的地上生物量在2050年左右开始下降,天然阔叶林和人工阔叶林整体呈现上升趋势.2014—2094年,研究区地上总生物量在不同气候情景下增加幅度不同,RCP2.6情景下增加了68.2%,RCP4.5情景下增加了79.3%,RCP8.5情景下增加了72.6%.3种情景下的总地上生物量大小排序为: RCP4.5> RCP8.5> RCP2.6.我们认为,适当的增温将有助于未来研究区森林总地上生物量的积累,但过度的增温也可能会阻碍森林的生产和生态功能的持续发展.     

基于BIOME-BGC模型的红壤丘陵区湿地松(Pinus elliottii)人工林GPP和NPP

应用生物地球化学模型BIOME-BGC模型估算了1993～2004年红壤丘陵区湿地松林总第一性生产力（GPP）、净第一性生产力（NPP）,并分析GPP、NPP年际变化对气候的响应以及未来气候变化情景下GPP、NPP的响应。结果表明,湿地松林1993～2004年GPP、NPP的总量变化波动于1777～2160g Cm^-2a^-1之间和453～828gCm^-2a^-1之间,平均值分别为1941g Cm^-2a^-1和695gCm^-2a^-1。在研究时段内,GPP、NPP有缓慢增长趋势,GPP、NPP总量平均值从1990年代初期（1993～1996年）的1826、687gCm^-2a^-1上升到21世纪初期（2001～2004年）的2026、693gCm^-2a^-1。这主要是由于研究时段内GPP、NPP对降水缓慢增长的正响应造成的。未来气候变化情景分析表明,CO2浓度倍增不利于湿地松林GPP、NPP的增长,但均不超过1.5%。在CO2浓度不增加条件下,GPP正向响应了降水单独变化和温度升高1.5℃且降水增加情景,正向响应NPP的情景条件是降水的单独变化;当CO2浓度倍增和气候改变时,预测的GPP正向响应了降水的变化,同时正向响应了温度升高1.5℃且降水变化;正向响应NPP的情景条件是降水的变化。     

日尺度下水热因子变化对青藏高原高寒草原生产力的影响特征

温度和降水变化显著影响高寒生态系统植被生长和系统功能。草地生产力作为草地系统功能强弱的重要体现,对气候变化,特别是温度和降水变化十分敏感。探究高寒草原生产力如何响应气候变化,对预测未来气候变化情景下高寒草地系统功能变化意义重大。前期研究大都从年或季节尺度探究气候变化对草地生产力的影响特征,缺乏更精细时间尺度的关联分析。本研究基于1997—2020年青藏高原高寒草原长期植被观测数据及相应气候资料,应用简单线性回归及偏最小二乘回归法(Partial Least Squares regression, PLS)探究了研究区草地地上净初级生产力对日尺度温度和降水变化响应特征。结果表明：(1)近24 a来研究区年平均气温和降水量分别以0.03℃/a和4.36 mm/a的速率显著升高;(2)近24 a来研究区草地生产力显著升高(增幅为5.24 g m^-2 a^-1),且与年平均温度和降水量呈显著正相关关系;(3)日尺度分析表明,不同阶段温度和降水变化对草地生产力的影响不同,其中5—8月和9—10月的温度及5—7月和9—11月的降水是影响研究区草地生产力的气...     

未来气候情景下中国东北森林生态系统碳收支变化

应用FGOALS模式输出的未来气候情景数据驱动中国森林生态系统碳循环模型FORCCHN,模拟了东北地区森林生态系统碳收支未来可能的时空变化。预测结果表明：未来平衡发展情景（A1B）气候变化情景下,2003—2049年东北森林生态系统净初级生产力（NPP）和土壤呼吸在达到饱和状态前均呈波动上升趋势,将分别增加10.84%、134.43%,且土壤呼吸的增加速率远远大于NPP的增加速率;2003—2049年,东北森林生态系统可能仍将具有明显碳汇功能,但强度呈下降趋势,将下降95.64%;未来47年东北森林虽然碳汇能力在减弱,但吸碳总量还在不断增加,说明未来47年东北森林对降低大气中温室气体浓度上升以及缓解气候变化将会起到积极作用。     

气候变化对中国大兴安岭森林演替动态的影响

应用森林生长演替动态模型-FAREAST,在气候变化背景下对大兴安岭漠河林区森林的演替动态进行了模拟。模拟选择了目前气候情景、增暖情景、温度和降水都增加情景3种气候情景,并考虑了气候变化引起的火干扰变化对森林演替的影响。结果表明:维持目前气候不变,兴安落叶松(Larix gmelini)将继续作为绝对优势树种,樟子松(Pinussylvestris var.mongolica)、桦树(Betula)、杨树(Populus)伴生其中;气候发生变化,东北森林带将有北移的趋势,大兴安岭将可能以温带针阔混交林为主,森林群落中出现红松(P.koraiensis)、蒙古栎(Quercus mongolica)、椴树(Tilia)等树种;火干扰影响森林生物量及森林的物种组成和结构。     

黑河流域植被垂直分布对气候变化的响应

黑河流域作为我国典型的生态系统过渡带,深入分析该区域内植被垂直分布变化对气候变化的响应,对于开展区域尺度植被分布对气候变化的响应研究极具代表性。近30年来,黑河流域的植被分布随着平均生物温度和降水分布变化,在空间分布上,尤其是垂直分布上发生了系列变化。基于黑河流域植被类型的410个野外调研采样数据、1980s年代的植被数据、遥感影像、气候观测数据、DEM等多源数据,分别构建了黑河流域气候要素和植被类型垂直分布变化的空间分析模型,定量揭示了黑河流域绿洲农田荒漠带（≤1700 m）、荒漠草原植被带（1700-2100 m）、干性灌丛草原植被带（2100-2500 m）、山地森林草原植被带（2500-3300 m）、高山灌丛草甸植被带（3300-3800 m）和高山寒漠草甸植被带（≥3800 m）6个植被垂直带的植被变化及其对气候变化的响应差异。研究结果表明：在1980s-2010s期间,整个黑河流域植被空间分布的动态变化率为25.75%,发生变化的总面积为203.12万hm²;绿洲农田荒漠植被带的变化面积最大（72.24万hm²）,山地森林草原植被带的植被动态变化率最高（56.93%）;6个垂直带内的年平均生物温度和平均降水整体上均呈增加趋势,其中降水的增长率随海拔升高呈下降趋势,而平均生物温度的增长率则随海拔升高呈持续上升趋势;黑河流域中低海拔植被带内的植被动态变化与年平均生物温度和平均降水的相关性整体上高于其他植被带;荒漠草原植被带和干性灌丛草原植被带的植被动态变化对气候变化的敏感性高于其他植被带内植被变化对气候变化的敏感性。     

内蒙古锡林河流域羊草草原净初级生产力及其对全球气候变化的响应

利用CENTURY模型对内蒙古锡林河流域羊草草原在未来气候变化以及大气CO₂浓度增高条件下的年地上净初级生产力(annual aboveground net primary productivity,ANPP)动态进行了模拟研究.结果表明：CENTURY模型可以较好地预测ANPP的变化.进一步的情景模拟发现,虽然全球气候变化所引起的温度和降水改变、以及大气CO₂浓度升高都会影响ANPP,但降水是关键的影响因子.多个全球气候模型(GCM) 预测该地区未来降水量会减少,故可能导致其ANPP降低,但在以下气候变化情景下研究区ANPP可能会升高：1)CO₂浓度倍增,温度升高2 ℃,降水保持不变或增加10%～20%;2)CO₂浓度保持不变,温度升高2 ℃,降水增加20%.气候变化将对内蒙古锡林河流域羊草草原产生显著影响.     

Preparation of hair for measurement of elements by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS)

The preparation of hair for the determination of elements is a critical component of the analysis procedure. Open-beaker, closedvessel microwave, and flowthrough microwave digestion are methods that have been used for sample preparation and are discussed. A new digestion method for use with inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) has been developed. The method uses 0.2 g of hair and 3 mL of concentrated nitric acid in an atmospheric pressurelow-temperature microwave digestion (APLTMD) system. This preparation method is useful in handling a large numbers of samples per day and may be adapted to hair sample weights ranging from 0.08 to 0.3 g. After digestion, samples are analyzed by ICP-MS to determine the concentration of Li, Be, B, Na, Mg, Al, P, S, K, Ca, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ge, As, Se, Rb, Sr, Zr, Mo, Pd, Ag, Cd, Sn, Sb, I, Cs, Ba, Pt, Au, Hg, Tl, Pb, Bi, Th, and U. Benefits of the APLTMD include reduced contamination and sample handling, and increased precision, reliability, and sample throughput.     

Literature based species occurrence data of birds of northeast India

The northeast region of India is one of the world's most significant biodiversity hotspots. One of the richest bird areas in India, it is an important route for migratory birds and home to many endemic bird species. This paper describes a literature-based dataset of species occurrences of birds of northeast India. The occurrence records documented in the dataset are distributed across eleven states of India, viz.: Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal. The geospatial scope of the dataset represents 24 to 29 degree North latitude and 78 to 94 degree East longitude, and it comprises over 2400 occurrence records. These records have been collated from scholarly literature published between1915 and 2008, especially from the Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society (JBNHS). The temporal scale of the dataset represents bird observations recorded between 1909 and 2007. The dataset has been developed by employing MS Excel. The key elements in the database are scientific name, taxonomic classification, temporal and geospatial details including geo-coordinate precision, data collector, basis of record and primary source of the data record. The temporal and geospatial quality of more than 50% of the data records has been enhanced retrospectively. Where possible, data records are annotated with geospatial coordinate precision to the nearest minute. This dataset is being constantly updated with the addition of new data records, and quality enhancement of documented occurrences. The dataset can be used in species distribution and niche modeling studies. It is planned to expand the scope of the dataset to collate bird species occurrences across the Indian peninsula.     

日本北海道虻类雌性外生殖器形态(双翅目：虻科)(英文)

【目的】利用日本北海道虻类评估和验证外生殖器在分类学上的意义。【方法】将虻类成虫标本浸渍在生理盐水中并置于双目显微镜下通过针和镊子在培养皿中进行解剖并绘图,观察第9背板、第10背板、尾叶、第8腹板、受精囊、受精囊管及生殖叉器的形态特征。【结果】在日本北海道共记录了虻科(Tabanidae) 3亚科7属38种。我们观察并描述了3亚科其中的6属24种的雌性外生殖器的主要特征。亚科之间存在明显差异;然而在一般情况下属之间很难建立一种方法来确定共同点;种之间只有在斑虻属Chrysops中有相似之处,其他属中则比较多样化。因此,亚科鉴定根据第9背板、第8腹板及受精囊足以进行区分,属及种鉴定需要结合第9背板、第10背板、尾叶、第8腹板、受精囊、受精囊管及生殖叉器各自的特征组合在一起才能区分开来。我们也制作了虻类外生殖器的检索表。【结论】和许多其他昆虫一样,外生殖器是虻科的重要分类特征,对于促进分类学和系统学的发展具有重要意义。本研究首次对分布在日本北海道的虻科雌性外生殖器进行了系统研究。     

外泌体在白血病中的重要调控作用

目前,白血病复发是患者死亡的主要原因之一。肿瘤细胞和微环境的相互作用,以及隐匿在骨髓中的肿瘤干细胞,促进了白血病的复发和向淋巴组织的转移,因此白血病的治疗、转移和复发问题受到广泛关注。外泌体是由绝大多数细胞分泌的双层脂质膜囊泡,可以调控细胞间的交流和信息传递。在白血病细胞、基质细胞和内皮细胞之间的相互联系中都涉及到外泌体,白血病细胞来源的外泌体存在于白血病患者的血浆中,能把其携带的白血病相关抗原及微小RNA呈递给靶细胞,促进白血病肿瘤细胞的增殖,有助于肿瘤细胞实现免疫逃避,保护白血病细胞抵抗化疗药物导致的细胞毒性作用,促进血管生成及肿瘤细胞的迁移。因此,外泌体与白血病的转移、治疗及预后密切相关,可以用来检测和监测白血病的进展。本文综述了外泌体的来源、形成与分泌机制,以及外泌体在白血病发生前、发展中、预后和免疫治疗中所扮演的重要角色。     

Ecological importance of sedges: a survey of the Australasian Cyperaceae genus Lepidosperma

Background

Sedges (Cyperaceae) form an important ecological component of many ecosystems around the world. Sword and rapier sedges (genus Lepidosperma) are common and widespread components of the southern Australian and New Zealand floras, also occurring in New Caledonia, West Papua, Borneo, Malaysia and southern China. Sedge ecology is seldom studied and no comprehensive review of sedge ecology exists. Lepidosperma is unusual in the Cyperaceae with the majority of species occurring in dryland habitats.

Scope

Extensive review of ecological literature and field observations shows Lepidosperma species to be important components of many ecosystems, often dominating understorey and sedge-rich communities. For the first time, a detailed ecological review of a Cyperaceae genus is presented.

Conclusions Lepidosperma

species are long-lived perennials with significant abundance and persistence in the landscape. Speciation patterns in the genus are of considerable interest due to complex biogeographical patterns and a high degree of habitat specificity. Potential benefits exist for medicinal products identified from several Lepidosperma species. Over 178 organisms, including 26 mammals, 42 birds, six reptiles, five amphibians, eight arachnids, 75 insects, three crustaceans and 13 fungi, are found to be dependent on, or making use of, Lepidosperma species. A significant relationship exists between Lepidosperma species and the moth genus Elachista. Implications for the conservation and ecology of both sedges and associated species are discussed.     

Characterization of citrus pectin samples extracted under different conditions: influence of acid type and pH of extraction

Background and Aims

Pectin is a complex macromolecule, the fine structure of which is influenced by many factors. It is used as a gelling, thickening and emulsifying agent in a wide range of applications, from food to pharmaceutical products. Current industrial pectin extraction processes are based on fruit peel, a waste product from the juicing industry, in which thousands of tons of citrus are processed worldwide every year. This study examines how pectin components vary in relation to the plant source (orange, lemon, lime, grapefruit) and considers the influence of extraction conditions on the chemical and macromolecular characteristics of pectin samples.

Methods

Citrus peel (orange, lemon, lime and grapefruit) from a commercial supplier was used as raw material. Pectin samples were obtained on a bulk plant scale (kilograms; harsh nitric acid, mild nitric acid and harsh oxalic acid extraction) and on a laboratory scale (grams; mild oxalic acid extraction). Pectin composition (acidic and neutral sugars) and physicochemical properties (molar mass and intrinsic viscosity) were determined.

Key Results

Oxalic acid extraction allowed the recovery of pectin samples of high molecular weight. Mild oxalic acid-extracted pectins were rich in long homogalacturonan stretches and contained rhamnogalacturonan I stretches with conserved side chains. Nitric acid-extracted pectins exhibited lower molecular weights and contained rhamnogalacturonan I stretches encompassing few and/or short side chains. Grapefruit pectin was found to have short side chains compared with orange, lime and lemon. Orange and grapefruit pectin samples were both particularly rich in rhamnogalacturonan I backbones.

Conclusions

Structural, and hence macromolecular, variations within the different citrus pectin samples were mainly related to their rhamnogalacturonan I contents and integrity, and, to a lesser extent, to the length of their homogalacturonan domains.     

The Rumen Ciliate Fauna of Domestic Sheep (Ovis ammon aires) from the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus

ABSTRACT. Concentration and composition of ciliate protozoa in the families Ophryoscolecidae and Isotrichidae were determined in rumen contents of domestic sheep ( Ovis ammon aries ) from Cyprus. A total of five genera of Ophryoscolecidae were identified, Metadinium, Enoploplastron, Polyplastron, Epidinium , and Ophryoscolex , which included six species: Metadinium affine, Enoploplastron triloricatum, Polyplastron multivesiculatum, Epidinium ecaudatum, Epidinium graini, and Ophryoscolex purkynjei. Eight separate forms of Epidinium were identified ( E. ecaudatum f. ecaudatum, E, e. f. caudatum, E. e. f. bicaudatum, E. e. f. tricaudatum, E. e. f. quadricaudatum, E. graini f. graini, E. g. f. caudatricoronatum , and E. g. f. caudaquadricoronatum ), along with five forms of Ophryoscolex purkynjei (O. p. f. purkynjei, O. p. f. bifidobicinctus, O. p. f. bifidoquadricinctus, O. p. f. bicoronatus, O. p. f. tricoronatus , and O. p. f. quadricoronatus). Three species of Isotrichidae were observed, Isotricha intestinalis, I. prostoma , and Dasytricha ruminantium. This study reports new host records for three forms of Epidinium graini and Ophryoscolex purkynjei f. bifidobicinctus. The rumen fauna in the family Ophryoscolecidae from Cypriote domestic sheep appear to have limited diversity compared to those from Turkish and Far Eastern (Chinese/Japanese) sheep, while they are more diverse than those found in Western European (Scottish) and North American (Canadian/Alaskan) sheep.     

Design and Use of Multiplexed Chemostat Arrays

Chemostats are continuous culture systems in which cells are grown in a tightly controlled, chemically constant environment where culture density is constrained by limiting specific nutrients.^1,2 Data from chemostats are highly reproducible for the measurement of quantitative phenotypes as they provide a constant growth rate and environment at steady state. For these reasons, chemostats have become useful tools for fine-scale characterization of physiology through analysis of gene expression^3-6 and other characteristics of cultures at steady-state equilibrium.⁷ Long-term experiments in chemostats can highlight specific trajectories that microbial populations adopt during adaptive evolution in a controlled environment. In fact, chemostats have been used for experimental evolution since their invention.⁸ A common result in evolution experiments is for each biological replicate to acquire a unique repertoire of mutations.^9-13 This diversity suggests that there is much left to be discovered by performing evolution experiments with far greater throughput. We present here the design and operation of a relatively simple, low cost array of miniature chemostats—or ministats—and validate their use in determination of physiology and in evolution experiments with yeast. This approach entails growth of tens of chemostats run off a single multiplexed peristaltic pump. The cultures are maintained at a 20 ml working volume, which is practical for a variety of applications. It is our hope that increasing throughput, decreasing expense, and providing detailed building and operation instructions may also motivate research and industrial application of this design as a general platform for functionally characterizing large numbers of strains, species, and growth parameters, as well as genetic or drug libraries.     

Frequency of cyanogenesis in tropical rainforests of far north Queensland, Australia

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Plant cyanogenesis is the release of toxic cyanide from endogenous cyanide-containing compounds, typically cyanogenic glycosides. Despite a large body of phytochemical, taxonomic and ecological work on cyanogenic species, little is known of their frequency in natural plant communities. This study aimed to investigate the frequency of cyanogenesis in Australian tropical rainforests. Secondary aims were to quantify the cyanogenic glycoside content of tissues, to investigate intra-plant and intra-population variation in cyanogenic glycoside concentration and to appraise the potential chemotaxonomic significance of any findings in relation to the distribution of cyanogenesis in related taxa. METHODS: All species in six 200 m(2) plots at each of five sites across lowland, upland and highland tropical rainforest were screened for cyanogenesis using Feigl-Anger indicator papers. The concentrations of cyanogenic glycosides were accurately determined for all cyanogenic individuals. KEY RESULTS: Over 400 species from 87 plant families were screened. Overall, 18 species (4.5 %) were cyanogenic, accounting for 7.3 % of total stem basal area. Cyanogenesis has not previously been reported for 17 of the 18 species, 13 of which are endemic to Australia. Several species belong to plant families or orders in which cyanogenesis has been little reported, if at all (e.g. Elaeocarpaceae, Myrsinaceae, Araliaceae and Lamiaceae). A number of species contained concentrations of cyanogenic glycosides among the highest ever reported for mature leaves-up to 5.2 mg CN g(-1) d. wt, for example, in leaves of Elaeocarpus sericopetalus. There was significant variation in cyanogenic glycoside concentration within individuals; young leaves and reproductive tissues typically had higher cyanogen content. In addition, there was substantial variation in cyanogenic glycoside content within populations of single species. CONCLUSIONS: This study expands the limited knowledge of the frequency of cyanogenesis in natural plant communities, includes novel reports of cyanogenesis among a range of taxa and characterizes patterns in intra-plant and intra-population variation of cyanogensis.     

Micromanipulation of Gene Expression in the Adult Zebrafish Brain Using Cerebroventricular Microinjection of Morpholino Oligonucleotides

Manipulation of gene expression in tissues is required to perform functional studies. In this paper, we demonstrate the cerebroventricular microinjection (CVMI) technique as a means to modulate gene expression in the adult zebrafish brain. By using CVMI, substances can be administered into the cerebroventricular fluid and be thoroughly distributed along the rostrocaudal axis of the brain. We particularly focus on the use of antisense morpholino oligonucleotides, which are potent tools for knocking down gene expression in vivo. In our method, when applied, morpholino molecules are taken up by the cells lining the ventricular surface. These cells include the radial glial cells, which act as neurogenic progenitors. Therefore, knocking down gene expression in the radial glial cells is of utmost importance to analyze the widespread neurogenesis response in zebrafish, and also would provide insight into how vertebrates could sustain adult neurogenesis response. Such an understanding would also help the efforts for clinical applications in human neurodegenerative disorders and central nervous system regeneration. Thus, we present the cerebroventricular microinjection method as a quick and efficient way to alter gene expression and neurogenesis response in the adult zebrafish forebrain. We also provide troubleshooting tips and other useful information on how to carry out the CVMI procedure.