一种使用Image J重构昆虫感器支配神经的方法

【目的】Image J是一款基于Java的完全开源软件,本文通过Image J重构昆虫感器支配神经,以期提供一种开源的三维重构方法。【方法】Image J重构包括调整系列图片亮度及对比度、图像校准、手动绘制填色图片、导入填色图片、通过图形工作站运行3D Viewer。【结果】基于ImageJ,完成了灰飞虱触角盘状感器支配神经的三维重构,重构模型生动展示了盘状感器支配神经元组的数量及空间延展关系。在三维查看器中可旋转、放大三维模型观察精细结构,也可调整阈值观察特定结构,还可调整模型透明度及模型整体颜色。【结论】ImageJ具有广阔的升级空间和应用前景,有望为昆虫、其他节肢动物及生物组织的三维重构提供有力支持。     

甘肃东大山自然保护区岩羊生态行为的初步观察

2004年7月和8月,通过样线调查、野外直接跟踪观察和瞬间取样的方法,对东大山自然保护区岩羊(Pseudois nayaur)的种群结构和生态行为进行了初步研究。在观察到的720只岩羊中,719只组成了50个群,最大的群82只,最小的群2只,平均群大小(14.38±15.83)只(n=50)。雌雄性比为1∶0.63,成年雌体、亚成体和幼体之比是1∶0.4∶0.24。岩羊的昼间活动中,上午和下午各有一个瞬间觅食高峰,分别在6:30时和15:30时,中午有一段较长时间的休息期。通过对一个46只岩羊群连续12 d的野外跟踪观察,发现该岩羊群昼间的活动范围基本上在1.47 km2内。对152个自然死亡的雄性岩羊头骨的分析表明,东大山雄性岩羊的自然死亡年龄在7.5~11.5龄,其中9.5龄是其自然死亡的高峰。     

叉角厉蝽对斜纹夜蛾不同龄期幼虫的选择捕食作用

应用二次回归通用旋转组合设计探讨了叉角厉蝽与斜纹夜蛾低龄幼虫,中龄幼虫和高龄幼虫共存系统中,天敌对猎物不同年龄等级的选择捕食作用,建立了3个年龄等级的幼虫被捕食量模型。根据被捕食量模型可计算出斜纹夜蛾3个年龄等级不同密度组合下,天敌对猎物的选择捕食比率,结果表明,在3个年龄等级相同密度的组合下,叉角厉蝽倾向于捕食个体大的中高龄幼虫。     

宁夏贺兰山岩羊肌肉营养成分分析

为研究贺兰山岩羊肌肉组织的营养价值,对其组成成分进行分析。结果表明:雌性岩羊与雄性岩羊肌肉组织在磷、锌、氨基酸和脂肪酸的含量方面有所不同。岩羊肌肉是蛋白质和矿物质的良好来源,尤其是钙、磷和铜。与联合国粮食农业组织(FAO)和世界卫生组织(WHO)推荐的理想蛋白质模型(EAA /TAA 比约40% )相比较,岩羊肌肉蛋白质营养价值很高(其中,雄性EAA /TAA 比为39.3% ,雌雄EAA/ TAA 比为39.2%)。通过计算氨基酸评分和氨基酸化学评分,岩羊肌肉蛋白中缬氨酸为限制性氨基酸,赖氨酸含量很高。此外,岩羊肌肉也是亚油酸和亚麻酸的良好来源。     

假丝酵母属疑难菌株大亚基rDNA D1/D2区域序列分析及其分类学意义

对根据常规形态和生理生化性状难以确定分类学地位的8株假丝酵母菌,进行了以大亚基(26S) rDNA中D1/D2区域(约500～600 bp)的碱基序列分析为依据的分子分类学研究.根据系统树上所显示的供试菌株与假丝酵母属及相关子囊菌酵母已知种的亲缘关系,以及与最近缘种模式菌株D1/D2区域序列的相似性比较,确定了各个菌株的归属.本研究也显示了DNA序列分析在假丝酵母菌快速鉴定中的优越性.     

假丝酵母属疑难菌株大亚基rDNA D1/D2区域序列分析及其分类学意义*

对根据常规形态和生理生化性状难以确定分类学地位的8株假丝酵母菌,进行了以大亚基(26S) rDNA中D1/D2区域(约500~600 bp)的碱基序列分析为依据的分子分类学研究。根据系统树上所显示的供试菌株与假丝酵母属及相关子囊菌酵母已知种的亲缘关系,以及与最近缘种模式菌株D1/D2区域序列的相似性比较,确定了各个菌株的归属。本研究也显示了DNA序列分析在假丝酵母菌快速鉴定中的优越性。     

3D生物打印在软骨修复中的应用*

关节软骨损伤后的自我修复是医学界一直在研究和探讨的难题。3D生物打印技术可以精准的分配载细胞生物材料,构建复杂的三维活体组织,在优化软骨缺损修复组织的内部结构、机械性能以及生物相容性上有很大优势,因此近年来成为软骨修复组织工程领域的研究热点。重点介绍了软骨生物3D生物打印的最新进展,包括软骨生物打印“墨水”材料的选择、种子细胞的来源以及3D生物打印技术的发展。此外,还阐述了3D生物打印技术在组织工程学应用上的部分局限性,并对其在软骨修复领域的发展与应用进行了预测。     

单侧帕金森病猴模型的行为、神经递质、多巴胺受体、病理及局部脑血流研究

经右侧颈总动脉注射甲基-苯基-四氢吡啶(MPTP)使猴产生左侧肢体动作减少、行动迟缓、震颤及向右侧缓慢旋转。应用美多巴和阿朴吗啡显著地改善单侧帕金森病(PD)症状,同时引起向左侧快速旋转,并呈明显的剂量依赖性;应用苯丙胺引起向右侧快速旋转。连续应用美多巴诱致单侧PD猴产生舞蹈手足徐动症。高效液相色谱测定显示右侧壳核、尾状核和黑质多巴胺(DA)含量显著降低。光镜发现右侧黑质神经元变性。SPECT活体显像发现病损侧纹状体D_2DA受体活性在病损初期无改变,病损严重时超敏,以及病损侧脑血流灌注减低。实验表明MPTP可建成理想的能形象地模拟人类PD的单侧PD猴模型。SPECT是活体研究PD病理生理的有效检测手段。     

分离自杭子梢等3个宿主的根瘤菌的表型分析*

对86株分离自杭子梢、决明和菜豆的根瘤菌及20株已知参比菌进行了数值分类和全细胞蛋白SDS-PAGE的表型分析。在数值分类聚类中,所有供试菌在68％的相似性水平上分为两群。群I为快生和中侵生根瘤菌,群Ⅱ为慢生根瘤菌。群I在85％的相似性水平上又可分为3个亚群,群Ⅱ在76％的相似性水平上分为3个亚群。蛋白电泳结果表明,群I在68％的相似性水平上,分为4个亚群,其中亚群1和亚群2相当于数值分类中的亚群1,亚群3和亚群4与数值分类中的亚群2和亚群3相对应;群Ⅱ在59％的相似性水平上分为3个亚群,分别与数值分类中的亚群3、亚群1和亚群2大致对应。这说明两种方法在分类上得到的结果比较接近。正在通过进一步的实验确定两种方法一致的未与已知菌株聚在一起的亚群的分类地位。研究结果还表明,三种宿主的根瘤菌存在着多样性。     

中国特有种子植物银杉树干的中性三萜成分研究

从银杉树干分离到七种结晶性中性三萜成分,经鉴定其中六种是已知的锯齿烯族化合物,分别为银杉 B(3α-methoxy-21-keto-△~(14)-serratene)、银杉 C[serratenediol monoacetate(3β-acetyl-21α-hydroxy-△~(14)-serratene)]、银杉 D(serratenediol)、银杉 E(即国外发表的compound[D],结构未定)、银杉 F(3β-hydroxy-21-keto-△~(14)-serratene)和银杉 G(serratene-dione)。银杉 H 为一新的锯齿烯族成分,其分子结构尚待进一步研究确定。     

Heterogeneity in male horn growth and longevity in a highly sexually dimorphic ungulate

In sexually dimorphic ungulates, sexual selection favoring rapid horn growth in males may be counterbalanced by a decrease in longevity if horns are costly to produce and maintain. Alternatively, if early horn growth varied with individual quality, it may be positively correlated with longevity. We studied Alpine ibex Capra ibex in the Gran Paradiso National Park, Italy, to test these alternatives by comparing early horn growth and longevity of 383 males that died from natural causes. After accounting for age at death, total horn length after age 5 was positively correlated with horn growth from two to four years. Individuals with the fastest horn growth as young adults also had the longest horns later in life. Annual horn growth increments between two and six years of age were independent of longevity for ibex whose age at death ranged from 8 to 16 years. Our results suggest that growing long horns does not constrain longevity. Of the variability in horn length, 22% could be explained by individual heterogeneity, suggesting persistent differences in phenotypic quality among males. Research on unhunted populations of sexually dimorphic ungulates documents how natural mortality varies according to horn or antler size, and can help reduce the impact of sport hunting on natural processes.     

Effects of harvest,culture, and climate on trends in size of horn-like structures in trophy ungulates

Hunting remains the cornerstone of the North American model of wildlife conservation and management. Nevertheless, research has indicated the potential for hunting to adversely influence size of horn-like structures of some ungulates. In polygynous ungulates, mating success of males is strongly correlated with body size and size of horn-like structures; consequently, sexual selection has favored the development of large horns and antlers. Horn-like structures are biologically important and are of great cultural interest, both of which highlight the need to identify long-term trends in size of those structures, and understand the underlying mechanisms responsible for such trends. We evaluated trends in horn and antler size of trophy males (individuals exhibiting exceptionally large horns or antlers) recorded from 1900 to 2008 in Records of North American Big Game, which comprised >22,000 records among 25 trophy categories encompassing the geographic extent of species occupying North America. The long-term and broad-scale nature of those data neutralized localized effects of climate and population dynamics, making it possible to detect meaningful changes in size of horn-like structures among trophy males over the past century; however, ages of individual specimens were not available, which prevented us from evaluating age-class specific changes in size. Therefore, we used a weight-of-evidence approach based on differences among trophy categories in life-history characteristics, geographic distribution, morphological attributes, and harvest regimes to discriminate among competing hypotheses for explaining long-term trends in horn and antler size of trophy ungulates, and provide directions for future research. These hypotheses were young male age structure caused by intensive harvest of males (H1), genetic change as a result of selective male harvest (H2), a sociological effect (H3), effects of climate (H4), and habitat alteration (H5). Although the number of entries per decade has increased for most trophy categories, trends in size of horn-like structures were negative and significant for 11 of 17 antlered categories and 3 of 8 horned categories. Mean predicted declines during 1950–2008 were 1.87% and 0.68% for categories of trophy antlers and horns, respectively. Our results were not consistent with a sociological effect (H3), nutritional limitation imposed by climate (H4), or habitat alteration (H5) as potential explanations for long-term trends in size of trophies. In contrast, our results were consistent with a harvest-based explanation. Two of the 3 species that experienced the most conservative harvest regimes in North America (i.e., bighorn sheep [Ovis canadensis] and bison [Bison bison]) did not exhibit a significant, long-term trend in horn size. In addition, horn size of pronghorn (Antilocapra americana), which are capable of attaining peak horn size by 2–3 years of age, increased significantly over the past century. Both of those results provide support for the intensive-harvest hypothesis, which predicts that harvest of males has gradually shifted age structure towards younger, and thus smaller, males. The absence of a significant trend for mountain goats (Oreamnos americanus), which are difficult to accurately judge size of horns in the field, provided some support for the selective-harvest hypothesis. One other prediction that followed from the selective-harvest hypothesis was not supported; horned game were not more susceptible to reductions in size. A harvest-induced reduction in age structure can increase the number of males that are harvested prior to attaining peak horn or antler size, whereas genetic change imposed by selective harvest may be less likely to occur in free-ranging populations when other factors, such as age and nutrition, can override genetic potential for size. Long-term trends in the size of trophy horn-like structures provide the incentive to evaluate the appropriateness of the current harvest paradigm, wherein harvest is focused largely on males; although the lack of information on age of specimens prevented us from rigorously differentiating among causal mechanisms. Disentangling potential mechanisms underpinning long-term trends in horn and antler size is a daunting task, but one that is worthy of additional research focused on elucidating the relative influence of nutrition and effects (both demographic and genetic) of harvest. © 2013 The Wildlife Society.     

Disease and secondary sexual traits: effects of pneumonia on horn size of bighorn sheep

Secondary sexual traits (e.g., horns and antlers) have ecological and evolutionary importance and are of management interest for game species. Yet, how these traits respond to emerging threats like infectious disease remains underexplored. Infectious pneumonia threatens bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis) populations across North America and we hypothesized it may also reduce horn growth in male sheep. We assess the effect of pneumonia on horn size in male bighorn sheep using 12 herd datasets from across the western United States that had horn growth and disease data. Disease resulted in 12–35% reduction in increment (yearly) length and 3–13% reduction in total horn length in exposed individuals. The disease effect was prolonged when pathogens continued to circulate in sheep populations. Further, disease likely delays the age at which horns reach ¾-curl and prevents achievement of full-curl. This is further evidenced with 6 of the 12 herds experiencing an increase in average age at harvest following die-off events.     

Alpine ibex males grow large horns at no survival cost for most of their lifetime

Large horns or antlers require a high energy allocation to produce and carry both physiological and social reproductive costs. Following the principle of energy allocation that implies trade-offs among fitness components, growing large weapons early in life should thus reduce future growth and survival. Evidence for such costs is ambiguous, however, partly because individual heterogeneity can counterbalance trade-offs. Individuals with larger horns or antlers may be of better quality and thus have a greater capacity to survive. We investigated trade-offs between male early horn growth and future horn growth, baseline mortality, onset of actuarial senescence, and rate of ageing in an Alpine ibex (Capra ibex ibex) population. Horn growth of males in early life was positively correlated to their horn length throughout their entire life. Cohort variation and individual heterogeneity both accounted for among-individual variation in horn length, suggesting both long-lasting effects of early life conditions and individual-specific horn growth trajectories. Early horn growth did not influence annual survival until 12 years of age, indicating that males do not invest in horn growth at survival costs over most of their lifetime. However, males with fast-growing horns early in life tended to have lower survival at very old ages. Individual heterogeneity, along with the particular life-history tactic of male ibex (weak participation to the rut until an old age after which they burn out in high mating investment), are likely to explain why the expected trade-off between horn growth and survival does not show up, at least until very old ages.     

Long-term data reveal effects of climate,road access,and latitude on mountain goat horn size

Potential negative artificial selection on horn size is a concern for many harvested ungulates. The mountain goat (Oreamnos americanus) has distinct black horns, but targeting animals based on horn size in the field can be challenging. We analyzed over 23,000 horn records that included base circumference and total length, from which we also derived horn volume, from mountain goats harvested in Alaska, British Columbia, and the Northwest Territories from 1980 to 2016. We tested 3 potential drivers of horn size variation: geographical location, environmental conditions, and artificial selection. We found no support for a latitudinal effect with surprisingly little variation across the sampling distribution. The Pacific Decadal Oscillation had the largest effect outside age in the model, suggesting a role of climate in shaping variation. Mountain goats harvested closer to roads had larger horns, indicating that ease of access might allow hunters to be more selective, though the effect size was small. Our findings reinforce the value of accurate and complete record keeping on horn size, age, and sex of harvested animals, and highlight the importance of explicitly considering climate and accessibility when devising management strategies for the mountain goat.     

Polyceraty (multi‐horns) in Damara sheep maps to ovine chromosome 2

Polyceraty (presence of multiple horns) is rare in modern day ungulates. Although not found in wild sheep, polyceraty does occur in a small number of domestic sheep breeds covering a wide geographical region. Damara are fat‐tailed hair sheep, from the south‐western region of Africa, which display polyceraty, with horn number ranging from zero to four. We conducted a genome‐wide association study for horn number with 43 Damara genotyped with 606 006 SNP markers. The analysis revealed a region with multiple significant SNPs on ovine chromosome 2, in a location different from the mutation for polled in sheep on chromosome 10. The causal mutation for polyceraty was not identified; however, the region associated with polyceraty spans nine HOXD genes, which are critical in embryonic development of appendages. Mutations in HOXD genes are implicated in polydactly phenotypes in mice and humans. There was no evidence for epistatic interactions contributing to polyceraty. This is the first report on the genetic mechanisms underlying polyceraty in the under‐studied Damara.     

Contrasting patterns of sexually selected traits in Mediterranean and continental populations of European mouflon

The expression of sexually selected traits in highly dimorphic ungulates may be influenced by environmental quality. Variations in habitat conditions can impose different constraints on the allocation of energy resources to male life‐history traits, and possibly alter the female preferences for specific features. Here, we compared the horn growth patterns in male European mouflon Ovis aries musimon living in different habitats (Mediterranean vs. continental) but sharing a common genetic origin. We hypothesized that the expression of sexually selected traits such as horn development should be promoted in more favorable habitat conditions (i.e., Mediterranean). Using linear mixed models on data retrieved from individuals harvested under the same hunting regime, we found longer horns and greater individual variance in horn segment length in the Mediterranean population than in the continental one. Furthermore, Mediterranean rams showed no evidence of compensatory horn growth, as opposed to the continental rams. Unexpectedly, horn base circumference was greater in the continental habitat than in the Mediterranean one. The overall results suggest different patterns of investment in horns in the two populations, with seemingly stronger pressure and consequences of sexual selection on mouflon rams living in more favorable environments. Although the role of hunters' selectivity cannot be excluded a priori, our data suggest that the differences in the expression of sexually selected traits in our study populations may be influenced by environmental conditions. Because sexual selection can impose substantial fitness costs on individuals, further investigations on the trade‐offs between reproduction and survival would improve our understanding of the dynamics of mouflon populations living in different environmental conditions.     

The role of geological substrate for horn growth in ungulates: a case study on Alpine chamois

Ecological factors such as environmental and climatic conditions affect the growth of ornaments in ungulates. Studies about their influence can reveal key information on individual life histories and detect the events that can have important evolutionary consequences. Among the ecological factors commonly thought to play a role in such ecological processes, researches have so far neglected the possible influence of the geological feature which may either promote or restrain the early investment in horn growth. This study takes into consideration a broad range of ecological factors that are expected to affect horn growth and analyses how the substrate (calcareous versus siliceous) could modify the horn size in 1,685 yearling Alpine chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra) which were legally shot during 5 consecutive years in Central-Eastern Italian Alps. Interestingly, we found shorter horns in chamois shot on siliceous than on calcareous substrate, irrespective of the sex, showing how the substrate (and related ecological conditions) may affect horn growth. The substrate interacted with two ecological factors in shaping the horn size, i.e. aspect and snow cover. Differences between horn lengths recorded for chamois shot on these two substrates were less pronounced where South-facing slopes prevailed. During an average winter (about 100 days with more than 10 cm of snow on the ground) chamois horns were longer in individuals using calcareous areas, although the increase of number of days with more than 10 cm of snow on the ground had a stronger impact in reducing horn length in calcareous environment. We demonstrated that substrate, and related ecological conditions, influence horn growth. In ungulate species where ornament size is related to reproductive success, environmental factors, such as geological feature, can thus cause evolutionary consequences in the expression of ornaments and individual fitness.     

Horn growth rate and longevity: implications for natural and artificial selection in thinhorn sheep (Ovis dalli)

We used horn measurements from natural and hunted mortalities of male thinhorn sheep Ovis dalli from Yukon Territory, Canada, to examine the relationship between rapid growth early in life and longevity. We found that rapid growth was associated with reduced longevity for sheep aged 5 years and older for both the hunted and natural mortality data sets. The negative relationship between growth rate and longevity in hunted sheep can at least partially be explained by morphologically biased hunting regulations. The same trend was evident from natural mortalities from populations that were not hunted or underwent very limited hunting, suggesting a naturally imposed mortality cost directly or indirectly associated with rapid growth. Age and growth rate were both positively associated with horn size at death for both data sets, however of the two growth rate appeared to be a better predictor. Large horn size can be achieved both by individuals that grow horns rapidly and by those that have greater longevity, and the trade-off between growth rate and longevity could limit horn size evolution in this species. The similarity in the relationship between growth rate and longevity for hunted and natural mortalities suggests that horn growth rate should not respond to artificial selection. Our study highlights the need for the existence and study of protected populations to properly assess the impacts of selective harvesting.     

牛、绵羊角的遗传定位及遗传机制研究进展

角属于动物颅骨附属物,为反刍动物所特有。牛(Bos taurus)、绵羊(Ovis aries)角的表型包括野生型两角表型、人工驯化的无角表型、畸形角等多种。牛和绵羊是阐明角的质量性状和数量性状之间的关系以及质量性状的多基因调控机制等方面的理想动物模型。近年来,对角性状研究不断深入,在阐明新器官起源进化、自然选择、性别选择和人工选择对角表型的影响等方面取得了一系列进展。本文详细介绍了角的研究概况、多角表型遗传定位、无角位点基因遗传定位和畸形角等,并对目前牛和绵羊角的遗传机制及存在的问题进行了分析,以期为反刍动物角性状和其他特异性性状遗传机制研究提供参考。