山西庞泉沟银露梅群落物种多样性的海拔格局

采用样地调查的方法, 对山西庞泉沟银露梅(Potentilla glabra)群落的结构特征、物种多样性随海拔梯度的变化以及沿海拔梯度群落的相似性进行了研究, 并通过R语言对群落α多样性指数间的相关性进行了分析。结果表明: (1) 银露梅群落各层的α多样性指数除生态优势度指数(D)沿海拔梯度的变化不明显外, 其它各指数的变化基本一致。银露梅群落在海拔 1 700-1 900 m与2 100-2 300 m区间内, 灌木层和草本层的α多样性指数均较高, 在海拔1 900-2 000 m区间则较低。另外, 银露梅群落各α多样性指数间除J₂外均呈显著正相关。(2) 随着海拔间隔的增加, 灌木层和草本层的4个β多样性指数的变化均呈上升趋势, 并且草本层随海拔间隔的增加β多样性指数整体比灌木层高。(3) 银露梅群落Jaccard相似性指数随着海拔间隔的增大逐渐减小, 而当海拔达到2 300 m以上时, 群落间的相似性升高, 群落相对稳定。     

茂兰喀斯特森林植物物种丰富度的垂直分布特征及环境解释

茂兰喀斯特峰丛地貌森林是目前罕见的一类原生性强、人为干扰少的非地带性森林生态系统,与常态地貌地带性森林生态系统相比差异大。该研究采用典型样地调查方法对茂兰喀斯特森林海拔在620～910 m之间的垂直样带11个样方进行调查,分析研究区顶级群落物种丰富度的垂直梯度变化特征,并用冗余分析(RDA)法分析环境因子对物种丰富度的影响,以明确垂直梯度上物种丰富度与环境因子的关系,为喀斯特自然森林生态系统的维持与恢复、保护与管理提供理论基础。结果表明：(1)该调查茂兰喀斯特峰丛共记录有维管植物511种,隶属于124科272属。(2)单因素方差分析表明,该群落不同生活型的丰富度之间存在极显著差异(P<0.01);LSD多重比较分析表明,群落丰富度水平表现为总体>灌木层>草本层>乔木层。(3)随海拔梯度的升高,群落总物种丰富度和草本层物种丰富度与海拔呈显著负相关关系(P<0.05),乔木层丰富度和灌木层丰富度与海拔无明显规律。(4)冗余分析表明,土壤C/N/P的解释率达到58%,是影响物种丰富度的主要因素。     

毛竹林扩张对周边森林群落菌根系统的影响

毛竹(Phyllostachys heterocycla ‘Pubescens’)凭借其独特的生长特性极易扩张进入周边的常绿或针阔混交森林群落并取而代之。菌根减弱假说对毛竹林扩张导致周边林分枯亡并抑制林下幼苗更新的机制进行了解释, 即毛竹林的成功扩张是由于毛竹蔓延引起森林群落的菌根系统紊乱, 使宿主植物与菌根真菌的共生关系受到干扰, 进而影响了宿主植物的分布与更新。该研究以浙江省西天目山国家自然保护区为研究区域, 对菌根减弱假说进行了检验。通过在毛竹-针阔混交林交接区沿毛竹扩张方向设置毛竹纯林、竹-林过渡带、针阔混交林3种类型的样带, 选取在针阔混交林、竹-林过渡带同时存在的6种优势乔灌树种——杉木(Cunninghamia lanceolata)、枫香树(Liquidambar formosana)、青冈(Cyclobalanopsis glauca)、柳杉(Cryptomeria fortunei)、江浙山胡椒(Lindera chienii)、毛柄连蕊茶(Camellia fraterna), 测定这6个树种在两样带中的菌根侵染频率和强度, 检测在毛竹林扩张中周边森林群落菌根的响应, 同时对比了毛竹在毛竹纯林和竹-林过渡带菌根感染率和强度的变化, 检验该假设。实验结果表明: 1)针阔混交林和竹-林过渡带的主要树种菌根都具有较高的菌根侵染频率(> 95%), 且不同林分间林木的侵染频率无显著差异(p > 0.1); 2)在竹-林过渡带杉木和江浙山胡椒的丛枝菌根侵染强度较针阔混交林明显增加(p < 0.1); 3)毛竹的丛枝菌根侵染频率和强度远低于其他针阔树种, 且在扩张前后没有显著变化(p > 0.1)。实验结果否定菌根减弱假说。     

拉萨河谷上段江孜沙棘Hippophea gyantsensis(Rousi) Lian种群的海拔梯度性变异

江孜沙棘[Hippophea gyantsensis(Rousi)Lian]是青藏高原特有的一种广生态幅的小乔木,在拉萨河谷地区的海拔3500~4200m范围内均有分布。前人工作多集中在江孜沙棘果实的开发利用方面,对其基础生态学研究较少。本研究旨在探讨江孜沙棘沿海拔梯度的群落组成和表型变异的规律。为此,在拉萨河谷上段沿海拔梯度由东向西设置了4个样带:3850m、3950m、4050m和4200m,每个样带设置2至3个10m×10m的样方进行研究。首先,详细记录了每个样方内林下维管植物的物种组成、样方内的沙棘盖度、海拔、样方与河岸的实际距离,并用DCA[detrended correspondence analysis(去势对应分析)]排序方法对群落及其组成物种进行排序分析。随机抽取了每个样方内的20个江孜沙棘植株个体,测定其胸径、基径、株高和叶片长度,用回归分析法分析这些变量和海拔之间的关系。研究结果表明,江孜沙棘在拉萨河谷内的主要生境分为4种类型,即:河边砾石滩地、河阶草滩、河边草甸和河边林缘,样方排序结果主要受海拔的影响;同时,江孜沙棘植株的基径、胸径和高度都随着海拔的升高而显著减小,而叶片长度与海拔之间无显著相关。本文研究结果表明,对江孜沙棘而言,海拔所代表的综合环境因子对其分布和表型有显著的影响,而局部光照可能也是影响其表型特征的重要生态因子。     

青藏高原高寒草地地上植物碳积累速率对生态系统多功能性的影响机制

在全球气候变暖的背景下, 草地作为陆地生态系统碳库的重要组成部分, 其较小幅度的波动, 会影响整个陆地生态系统碳循环和生态系统多功能性(EMF)。地上植物碳积累速率(CAR)表示从生长季初始到生长季生物量峰值的群落地上部分碳累积速率, 能够很好地表征固碳功能、固碳潜力和效率。因此, 植物CAR的变化会改变地上和地下群落维持EMF的能力。目前EMF的相关报道多探讨地上群落多样性和EMF的关系, 而缺乏高寒草地生态系统植被地上CAR对EMF的影响机制研究。该研究目的是探究高寒草地群落CAR对EMF的调控作用、机理和过程, 这将对草地生态系统管理提供理论支持, 并推进对生态系统多功能性维持机制的理解。2015年7-8月, 在青藏高原地区进行草地样带调查, 共计取115个样点。综合土壤有机碳、全氮、全磷、地上和地下生物量以及微生物生物量碳等13种生态系统参数计算生态系统多功能性指数(M)。利用归一化植被指数(NDVI, 1982-2013年)计算并提取2015年物候数据, 最终获得CAR。采用薄盘光滑样条插值法插值气象数据, 提取样点2011-2015年年降水量和年平均气温, 以供分析CAR对EMF的调控机理。主要结果: 地下生物量、土壤有机碳、全磷和微生物生物量碳含量对CAR和M有较高的权重(0.58、0.80、0.83和0.79; 1.05、0.98、1.02和0.97), CAR和M呈显著线性正相关关系(R² = 0.45, p < 0.01)。在降水和气温要素的影响下, 植物地上群落和地下土壤要素的协同作用, 影响植被CAR, 进一步调控EMF。     

天目山不同海拔毛竹伐除区群落结构变化

以浙江天目山不同海拔(480、580、700和800 m)的毛竹伐除区森林植被为对象,基于群落生态学方法研究2017—2020年各海拔群落的结构变化。结果表明: 2017年所有样地木本植物有515株,隶属于27科43属50种。3 年间增加14科23属30种,个体数量增加116.9%,新增物种主要有毛竹、紫珠、山胡椒、山鸡椒、构树等,主要分布在海拔580和700 m处。2017和2020年海拔580、700和800 m的群落中重要值最大的树种不变,分别为杉木、臭椿和枫香树,而海拔480 m群落重要值最大的树种由杉木变为油茶。各海拔群落径阶分布变化明显。海拔480 m群落径阶分布由倒“J”型发展为单峰左偏态,海拔700 m群落径阶结构由倒“J”型发展为指数型,海拔800 m群落径级分布呈正态分布,峰值由24 cm移到30 cm。3年间各植物群落的Simpson优势度指数和Shannon多样性指数提高,均随海拔升高而显著下降。群落β多样性随海拔升高、海拔间距的增加而增大。2020年新增物种为群落天然更新提供了充足的幼苗幼树,但仍未演替到亚热带顶极群落。     

拉萨河谷上段江孜沙棘Hippophea gyantsensis(Rousi)Lian种群的海拔梯度性变异

江孜沙棘[Hippophea gyantsensis(Rousi)Lian]是青藏高原特有的一种广生态幅的小乔木,在拉萨河谷地区的海拔3500～4200 m范围内均有分布.前人工作多集中在江孜沙棘果实的开发利用方面,对其基础生态学研究较少.本研究旨在探讨江孜沙棘沿海拔梯度的群落组成和表型变异的规律.为此,在拉萨河谷上段沿海拔梯度由东向西设置了4个样带:3850 m、3950 m、4050 m和4200 m,每个样带设置2至3个10 m×10 m的样方进行研究.首先,详细记录了每个样方内林下维管植物的物种组成、样方内的沙棘盖度、海拔、样方与河岸的实际距离,并用DCA [detrended correspondence analysis (去势对应分析)] 排序方法对群落及其组成物种进行排序分析.随机抽取了每个样方内的20个江孜沙棘植株个体,测定其胸径、基径、株高和叶片长度,用回归分析法分析这些变量和海拔之间的关系.研究结果表明,江孜沙棘在拉萨河谷内的主要生境分为4种类型,即:河边砾石滩地、河阶草滩、河边草甸和河边林缘, 样方排序结果主要受海拔的影响;同时,江孜沙棘植株的基径、胸径和高度都随着海拔的升高而显著减小,而叶片长度与海拔之间无显著相关.本文研究结果表明,对江孜沙棘而言,海拔所代表的综合环境因子对其分布和表型有显著的影响,而局部光照可能也是影响其表型特征的重要生态因子.     

辽西大黑山北坡植物群落组成及多样性研究

在辽西大黑山自然保护区北坡,沿海拔400～1000m,选择典型地段设置3条垂直样带,样带间隔100m,每条样带垂直梯度上隔100m设置一个样地,共21个样地森林群落,进行了群落组成、群落多样性等随海拔上升变化情况的研究。结果表明,森林群落的郁闭度、平均胸径和胸高断面积等随海拔上升有较明显的增加,海拔800m以上主要是分布于核心区内的山地原生植被,700m以下主要为山地疏林和部分人工林;群落的优势种组成随海拔升高表现出由复杂多样逐渐向简单单一过渡的变化趋势;乔木种和灌木种的Shannon多样性指数随着海拔的增加而呈现近似于线性的降低趋势,二者的优势度随着海拔的增加有较明显的上升;草本植物和乔灌层相比优势度较高,多样性指数较低,而且随着海拔的变化幅度也较小,表明群落中草本植物随海拔并没有明显的变化;群落的水平β多样性随海拔增加呈明显的下降趋势,说明在本研究的空间范围内,森林组成在较低海拔更加斑块化。     

天山云杉天然林群落空间结构异质性分析

为了解天山云杉(Picea schrenkiana var. tianschanica)天然林群落空间结构的变异规律,沿天山山脉由西至东选择5个地点(昭苏、新源、呼图壁、天池、奇台),在每一地点沿海拔布设样带进行天山云杉群落调查,样带海拔区间为1700~2900 m。利用角尺度、大小比数分析其群落空间结构特征。结果表明: (1) 5个样带天山云杉角尺度平均值为0.545,群落呈团状分布格局;大小比数平均值为0.490,群落内林木的生长状态介于亚优势与优势之间。(2) 不同海拔高度天山云杉角尺度的变化显示随海拔高度的增加该群落呈现聚集分布-随机分布-聚集分布-随机分布的交替变化规律;大小比数随海拔高度的变化显示群落中天山云杉林木生长分化特征随海拔的增加呈现出亚优势-中庸-亚优势-劣势的规律。(3) 5个地点天山云杉角尺度平均值随着经度的变化较小,各地点均呈明显的整体团状分布;而林木大小分化由西至东表现为中庸木-亚优势木-中庸木的转变特征。     

贺兰山西坡主要山地灌丛群落的基本特征

灌丛是贺兰山最主要的植被组分, 但关于该地区灌丛群落的专门研究并不多见。为了解该地区灌丛资源的分布及生长状况, 该研究对内蒙古贺兰山国家级自然保护区内主要的山地灌丛群落进行样方调查, 通过分析样方数据, 量化描述了各群落的基本特征。结果表明: 贺兰山自然保护区沿海拔梯度主要有准噶尔栒子群系(Form. Cotoneaster soongoricus)、紫丁香群系(Form. Syringa oblata)、小叶金露梅群系(Form. Potentilla parvifolia)、虎榛子群系(Form. Ostryopsis davidiana)、小叶忍冬群系(Form. Lonicera microphylla)、银露梅群系(Form. Potentilla glabra)、山生柳群系(Form. Salix oritrepha)和鬼箭锦鸡儿群系(Form. Caragana jubata) 8种主要的山地灌丛群系。     

Quantitative aspects of reactive gliosis: A review

Recent studies of gliosis in a variety of animal models are reviewed. The models include brain injury, neurotoxic damage, genetic diseases and inflammatory demyelination. These studies show that reactive gliosis is not a stereotypic response, but varies widely in duration, degree of hyperplasia, and time course of expression of GFAP immunostaining, content and mRNA. We conclude that there are different biological mechanisms for induction and maintenance of reactive gliosis, which, depending on the kind of tissue damage, result in different expressions of the gliotic response.Special issue dedicated to Dr. Alan N. Davison.     

Antioxidant Activity of Sulfur and Selenium: A Review of Reactive Oxygen Species Scavenging,Glutathione Peroxidase,and Metal-Binding Antioxidant Mechanisms

It is well known that oxidation caused by reactive oxygen species (ROS) is a major cause of cellular damage and death and has been implicated in cancer, neurodegenerative, and cardiovascular diseases. Small-molecule antioxidants containing sulfur and selenium can ameliorate oxidative damage, and cells employ multiple antioxidant mechanisms to prevent this cellular damage. However, current research has focused mainly on clinical, epidemiological, and in vivo studies with little emphasis on the antioxidant mechanisms responsible for observed sulfur and selenium antioxidant activities. In addition, the antioxidant properties of sulfur compounds are commonly compared to selenium antioxidant properties; however, sulfur and selenium antioxidant activities can be quite distinct, with each utilizing different antioxidant mechanisms to prevent oxidative cellular damage. In the present review, we discuss the antioxidant activities of sulfur and selenium compounds, focusing on several antioxidant mechanisms, including ROS scavenging, glutathione peroxidase, and metal-binding antioxidant mechanisms. Findings of several recent clinical, epidemiological, and in vivo studies highlight the need for future studies that specifically focus on the chemical mechanisms of sulfur and selenium antioxidant behavior.     

PCNA泛素化修饰对DNA损伤应答途径的调控

机体细胞在多种化学物质和内外环境不断攻击下会诱发DNA损伤。为了维持基因组的稳定性,细胞内拥有一系列完善而精确的细胞应答机制来保护基因组DNA的完整性。细胞首先通过DNA损伤检测点,然后通过一系列细胞信号转导通路,启动细胞周期阻滞,进而介导细胞修复或凋亡。大量研究表明泛素化作为一种重要的蛋白质翻译后修饰方式,参与调控了多种细胞生理过程。近期研究表明,DNA损伤导致复制应激可诱发PCNA的翻译后泛素化修饰,泛素化修饰的PCNA可能参与了多种DNA损伤应激过程,影响细胞选择不同的DNA损伤应答途径,导致细胞截然不同的转归。因此,更好地了解PCNA泛素化的作用及其影响DNA损伤应答通路可为我们更深入地了解人类细胞如何调控异常的DNA代谢过程和癌症的发生和发展机制提供依据。     

PCNA泛素化修饰对DNA损伤应答途径的调控

机体细胞在多种化学物质和内外环境不断攻击下会诱发DNA损伤。为了维持基因组的稳定性,细胞内拥有一系列完善而精确的细胞应答机制来保护基因组DNA的完整性。细胞首先通过DNA损伤检测点,然后通过一系列细胞信号转导通路,启动细胞周期阻滞,进而介导细胞修复或凋亡。大量研究表明泛素化作为一种重要的蛋白质翻译后修饰方式,参与调控了多种细胞生理过程。近期研究表明,DNA损伤导致复制应激可诱发PCNA的翻译后泛素化修饰,泛素化修饰的PCNA可能参与了多种DNA损伤应激过程,影响细胞选择不同的DNA损伤应答途径,导致细胞截然不同的转归。因此,更好地了解PCNA泛素化的作用及其影响DNA损伤应答通路可为我们更深入地了解人类细胞如何调控异常的DNA代谢过程和癌症的发生和发展机制提供依据。     

Herbivory simulations in ecological research

Because of the experimental advantages that they offer, mechanical simulations of grazing are more commonly used than true herbivory in ecological studies of the impact of herbivory on plants. However, few studies have explicitly compared plant responses to herbivory and to mechanical simulations. Most such comparisons report differences in plant responses to mechanical versus true herbivory, even though the amounts and types of tissue removed were similar. Moreover, studies that also attempted to mimic the timing of leaf damage report differences in plant responses to the different damage modes. Because a plant's response to herbivory is complex and is activated by more than merely the removal of tissue, exact mechanical simulations may prove difficult.     

The simultaneous detection of mitochondrial DNA damage from sun-exposed skin of three whale species and its association with UV-induced microscopic lesions and apoptosis

Due to life history and physiological constraints, cetaceans (whales) are unable to avoid prolonged exposure to external environmental insults, such as solar ultraviolet radiation (UV). The majority of studies on the effects of UV on skin are restricted to humans and laboratory animals, but it is important to develop tools to understand the effects of UV damage on large mammals such as whales, as these animals are long-lived and widely distributed, and can reflect the effects of UV across a large geographical range. We and others have used mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) as a reliable marker of UV-induced damage particularly in human skin. UV-induced mtDNA strand breaks or lesions accumulate throughout the lifespan of an individual, thus constituting an excellent biomarker for cumulative exposure. Based on our previous studies in human skin, we have developed for the first time in the literature a quantitative real-time PCR methodology to detect and quantify mtDNA lesions in skin from sun-blistered whales. Furthermore the methodology allows for simultaneous detection of mtDNA damage in different species. Therefore using 44 epidermal mtDNA samples collected from 15 blue whales, 10 fin whales, and 19 sperm whales from the Gulf of California, Mexico, we quantified damage across 4.3 kilobases, a large region of the ~ 16,400 base pair whale mitochondrial genome. The results show a range of mtDNA damage in the skin of the three different whale species. This previously unreported observation was correlated with apoptotic damage and microscopic lesions, both of which are markers of UV-induced damage. As is the case in human studies, this suggests the potential use of mtDNA as a biomarker for measuring the effect of cumulative UV exposure in whales and may provide a platform to help understand the effects of changing global environmental conditions.     

Effect of defoliation on leaf growth,sexual expression and reproductive success of Cnidoscolus aconitifolius (Euphorbiaceae)

Several studies on herbivory have shown that plants may have different responses to foliar damage. Most studies have been done using hermaphroditic species, here we present, using a defoliation experiment, different types of response to foliar damage by the monoecious Cnidosculus acontifolius. We evaluated four treatments: natural herbivory (control), and 25%, 50% and 100% artificial defoliation. The results suggest that this species is capable of showing the following compensatory responses: (a) undercompensation in total production of flowers and in fruit set (damage >25%); (b) full compensation in seed weight (all levels of damage); and (c) overcompensation in leaf growth and in the proportion of female flower production (damage 25%). The results show that C. aconitifolius can exhibit a very fast and plastic response depending on the intensity of damage and the time since defoliation. The increase in foliar growth suggests a long-term tolerance response to hervibory, whereas the change in the proportion of female flowers produced does not appear to have a long-term effect due to the decrease of fruit production in all levels of damage. We suggest that the response in foliar growth and the change in sexual expression by C. aconitifolius, are associated with the high resource availability conditions prevalent in the population studied.     

Functional genomics of the yeast DNA-damage response

High-throughput approaches are beginning to have an impact on many areas of yeast biology. Two recent studies, using different experimental platforms, provide insight into new pathways involved in the response of yeast to DNA damage.     

Biophysics and synchrotron radiation where the marriage fails. X-ray damage of lipid membranes and mesophases.

The call for brighter synchrotron X-radiation sources for use in structural biology research is barely audible as we enter the new millennium. Our brightest sources are already creating havoc when used at design specifications because of radiation damage. The time is long overdue to take stock of where we are and where we wish to go with regards to using existing sources and to designing new ones. The problem of radiation damage is particularly severe in studies involving kinetics and mechanism where cryotechniques are not always viable. Accordingly, we need to understand the very nature of radiation damage and to devise means for minimizing it. This is the thrust of the current study as applied to lipid membranes and mesophases. Here, we report on two very different types of radiation damage. One involves a dramatic phase transformation and the other a disordering of lamellar stacking. How beam energy and dose/rate affect damage is also discussed. The work highlights the nature of the damage process and the need for additional studies if we are to make most efficient use of an important resource, synchrotron radiation.     

Do tropical forest leaves suffer more insect herbivory? A comparison of tropical versus temperate herbivory,estimated from leaf litter

It is generally believed that tropical forests suffer more herbivory, as a proportion of leaf area, than do temperate forests. Reviews so far have compared studies performed by different authors using very different methodologies. Here we carried out studies on 125 samples at 86 localities in eastern North America and on 75 samples taken at five localities in Malaysia and Singapore, including both mature secondary and primary forest. Samples in North America were spread over 3 years. In tropical Asia, the samples were taken at four time slices at least 8 months apart, scattered over a 4-year period. Total herbivore damage during the lifetime of tree leaves was estimated from the percentage area damaged in recently fallen, undecayed leaves from the forest floor, using scanner-linked software. In terms of percentage damage per leaf, the results suggest that lowland tropical forest has significantly higher leaf herbivory (5.82%) than temperate forest (5.48%). This is in accord with the general expectation that aseasonal tropical forests should have more herbivory damage. However, when percentage damage ‘per unit time of growing season’ is calculated based on an estimate of leaf lifetime in the tropics, tropical lowland herbivory damage turns out to be a fraction (about one half) of that in the temperate zone. Thus, these results tend to put in question the widely held view that herbivore damage is markedly more intense in the tropics. Over total leaf lifetime, the intensity of damage in the tropical area is only slightly higher than temperate regions. In terms of intensity of herbivory on leaves per unit of time, the opposite seems to be the case. It is uncertain which index should be taken as more significant in interpreting the selection pressure for anti-herbivore defenses in the tropics.