盐胁迫下宁夏枸杞苯丙烷代谢相关基因差异表达分析北大核心CSCD

为探究盐胁迫条件下宁夏枸杞苯丙烷代谢相关基因差异表达规律,以不同浓度NaCl(0,100,200,300 mmol/L)处理的水培宁夏枸杞幼苗为研究材料,利用高通量测序技术和qRT-PCR对盐胁迫下宁夏枸杞苯丙烷代谢相关基因差异表达进行分析,同时对该途径中关键酶活性及产物含量进行测定。结果表明,(1)宁夏枸杞在不同浓度NaCl处理下共有58个苯丙烷代谢相关基因差异表达,且随着盐胁迫程度的增加大部分基因表达水平上调或不变;(2)随着NaCl浓度的增加,宁夏枸杞叶片抗氧化酶SOD、POD、CAT的活性均下降,而酚类物质、类黄酮和木质素的含量在100 mmol/L NaCl处理下均显著积累。研究发现,宁夏枸杞可能通过调控苯丙烷代谢相关基因上调表达,增加酚类物质、类黄酮和木质素的合成,来清除过多活性氧和提升细胞壁强度以适应盐胁迫;宁夏枸杞可耐受的NaCl浓度在100~200 mmol/L之间。     

盐碱胁迫对枸杞幼苗生物量积累和光合作用的影响

以内陆高寒区盐碱地重要的经济树种枸杞2年生幼苗为研究对象,采用盆栽控制试验方法,设置50、100、200、300mmol·L~(-1)共4个盐和碱(NaCl和NaHCO3)胁迫浓度,研究盐、碱胁迫对枸杞苗木生长和光合的影响,以明确枸杞幼苗生长的耐盐、碱浓度范围,探讨土壤盐碱含量与土壤水分含量的关系,为不同类型盐碱条件下枸杞的种植和水分管理提供理论依据。结果表明:(1)随着盐碱胁迫浓度的增大,枸杞幼苗根茎叶生物量及叶绿素含量(SPAD)、净光合速率(Pn)、蒸腾速率(Tr)、气孔导度(Gs)和胞间二氧化碳浓度(Ci)等光合作用参数逐渐受到显著抑制,且碱胁迫的抑制作用更强烈;但低浓度(50mmol/L)NaCl胁迫下,枸杞幼苗叶绿素含量和净光合速率并未受到显著影响。(2)在盐碱胁迫条件下,枸杞幼苗的最大净光合速率(Pnmax)、暗呼吸速率(RD)、初始量子效率(AQY)、光饱和点(LSP)均低于对照,而光补偿点(LCP)高于对照,且随着胁迫浓度的增加,碱胁迫处理下的变幅大于盐胁迫。(3)随着胁迫浓度的增大,影响净光合速率的因素由气孔限制转向非气孔限制的临界值,在盐胁迫下的临界浓度约为200mmol/L,在碱胁迫下的临界浓度约为100mmol/L。(4)按照指标值超过对照组50%标准,经回归分析确定,枸杞耐盐和耐碱阈值分别为(246.3±2.1)mmol/L和(126.7±2.7)mmol/L;在此阈值的基础上,得到土壤含水量与土壤含盐量回归曲线方程。研究认为,枸杞幼苗具有一定的耐盐能力,但过高浓度的盐碱胁迫会损坏其光合结构,降低光环境适应能力和光合作用效率,从而影响其正常生长。     

干旱胁迫下发菜光合作用相关基因差异表达分析

该研究以不同失水处理的发菜为研究材料,以充分吸水状态的发菜为对照,利用高通量测序技术和qRT PCR技术检测了干旱胁迫下发菜光合作用相关基因差异表达规律,并对光合色素和酶活在干旱胁迫下的变化进行了研究。结果表明：(1)发菜在不同程度干旱胁迫下有113个光合作用相关基因差异表达,其中失水30%、75%和100%的发菜分别有44个、74个和91个光合作用相关基因差异表达。(2)随着干旱胁迫程度的加深藻胆素、叶绿素a和类胡萝卜素含量逐渐降低,Rubisco活性随着干旱胁迫程度的增强先上升后下降,GAPDH活性随着干旱胁迫的增强呈现下降的趋势。研究表明,发菜通过光合作用相关基因的差异表达调控光合作用以适应干旱胁迫。该研究结果对进一步研究发菜干旱胁迫响应机制及其耐旱光合机理奠定了基础。     

硅对盐胁迫下西葫芦幼苗水分代谢及光合特性的影响

土壤中高浓度的盐严重影响西葫芦产量和品质,而外源硅可有效缓解盐胁迫对作物的伤害。探究外源硅对盐胁迫下西葫芦幼苗水分代谢及光合作用的保护机制,可为西葫芦抗盐栽培提供理论参考。【方法】以西葫芦品种“寒绿7042”为试材,通过水培试验,共设置对照、硅处理（0.3 mmol/L Na2SiO3·9H2O）、盐胁迫（150 mmol/L NaCl）、盐胁迫+硅处理（150 mmol/L NaCl+0.3 mmol/L Na2SiO3·9H2O）4个处理,处理10 d后测定西葫芦幼苗的根系形态、根系活力、叶片含水量、叶片水势、光合参数、叶绿素含量、叶绿素荧光参数及根系质膜水通道蛋白基因的表达等指标。【结果】盐胁迫显著抑制了西葫芦幼苗根系的生长,降低了根系活力、叶片含水量、叶片水势和蒸腾作用;同时,盐胁迫还破坏了植株的光合系统,导致净光合速率、气孔导度、叶绿素含量和PSII光化学效率显著降低。外源硅显著改善了盐胁迫下西葫芦幼苗的根系形态,提高了根系活力,并通过促进根系质膜水通道蛋白基因PIP1;2、PIP1;3、PIP1;5、PIP1;7、PIP2;1、PIP2;4、PIP2;6、PIP2;8、PIP2;9和PIP2;12的表达来改善植株体内的水分状况,表现为叶片含水量和叶片水势提高、蒸腾作用增强;同时,外源硅还通过提高叶片气孔导度、叶绿素含量、净光合速率、PSII最大光化学效率、PSII实际光化学效率、光化学淬灭系数,降低胞间二氧化碳浓度和非光化学淬灭系数来增强盐胁迫下幼苗的光合作用。【结论】盐胁迫下添加0.3 mmol/L的硅可以改善西葫芦幼苗的水分代谢和光合作用状况,从而提高西葫芦幼苗抗盐胁迫的能力。     

外源亚精胺对NaCl胁迫下毕氏海蓬子光合参数和叶绿体超微结构的影响

在0、100、300、500和700 mmol·L-1NaCl胁迫条件下比较了喷施0.1mmol·L-1亚精胺(Spd)对毕氏海蓬子(Salicomia bigelovii Torr.)幼苗叶绿素含量、净光合速率、气孔导度、胞间CO2浓度和叶绿体超微结构的影响.结果表明:毕氏海蓬子的叶绿素含量、净光合速率和气孔导度均呈低浓度条件下(0、100和300 mmol·L-1NaCl)升高、高浓度条件下(500和700 mmol·L-1NaCl)降低的趋势,在300 mmol·L-1 NaCl胁迫条件下达到最高值:胞间CO2浓度则呈低浓度NaCl胁迫条件下降低、500 mmol·L-1NaCl条件下升高、700 mmol·L-1NaCl条件下略降低的趋势;在0～500 mmol·L-1NaCl胁迫条件下叶绿素a/b值变化不明显,但在700 mmol·L-1NaCl条件下急剧降低.在低浓度NaCl胁迫条件下,叶绿体整体膨胀,类囊体片层结构松散,但叶绿体和类囊体结构仍保持完整;而经500和700mmol·L-1NaCl处理后,叶绿体超微结构被严重破坏,叶绿体膜结构破裂、类囊体结构松散呈放射状、有些叶绿体完全解体.而在相应的NaCl胁迫条件下喷施0.1 mmol·L-1Spd,毕氏海蓬子的叶绿素含量、净光合速率、气孔导度和胞间CO2浓度虽然也呈现出相同的变化趋势,但其数值均显著高于对照(未喷施Spd);且叶绿体超微结构的损伤程度也轻于对照.研究结果说明:喷施外源Spd能够减缓NaCl胁迫对毕氏海蓬子的伤害作用.     

NaCl 胁迫对盐芥和拟南芥光合作用的影响

本研究检测了与盐芥(Ghellungiella halophila)和拟南芥(Arabidopsis thaliana)光合作用相关的叶绿素、净光合速率(photosynthetic rate, Pn)、气孔导度(stomatal conductance, Gs)、胞间隙CO2浓度以及叶绿素荧光参数等指标, 观察到随着NaCl浓度逐渐增加, 盐芥的叶绿素a/b值(Chl a/Chl b)、类胡萝卜素/总叶绿素值(Car/Chl)显著高于拟南芥, 且二比值变化幅度较小并保持较高水平。盐胁迫下拟南芥净光合速率下降、气孔导度下降和胞间CO2浓度减小。气孔因素是引起拟南芥光合能力下降的主要因素。叶绿素荧光参数的变化表明, 50-200 mmol.L-1 NaCl降低拟南芥叶绿体对光能的吸收能力, 而且降低叶绿体的光化学活性, 使电子传递速率和光能转化效率大幅度下降,造成光能转化为化学能的过程受阻,进一步加剧了光合放氧和碳同化能力的降低。而50-200 mmol.L-1 NaCl 胁迫没有使盐芥的光合作用受到不良影响。     

燕麦盐胁迫响应基因的差异表达与生理响应的关系

以耐盐燕麦品种VAO-9为材料,通过Illumina测序与数字基因表达谱技术对300mmol/L NaCl处理前后的叶片cDNA文库进行RNA-Seq与DGE分析,同时测定0(CK)、100、200、250、300mmol/L NaCl胁迫下VAO-9幼苗叶片的相对电导率、丙二醛含量和脯氨酸含量,探讨燕麦盐胁迫响应基因的差异表达与生理响应的关系。结果表明:(1)RNA-Seq分析得到Unigenes 65 801条,其基因表达呈现高度的不均一性和冗余性;若差异基因表达谱鉴定分析以log2Ratio≥2且FDR值≤0.001为选择标准,则发现上调和下调表达基因在胁迫0.5h时分别有306和64个,在胁迫3h时分别有639和290个,胁迫24h时分别有1 488和882个。(2)KEGG代谢分析显示,有23 652条Unigenes比对到KEGG中的128条代谢途径,包括与逆境胁迫相关的植物激素信号转导途径、ABC转运蛋白途径、肌醇磷酸代谢途径、渗透调节途径等。(3)在300mmol/L NaCl处理下燕麦叶片的相对电导率、丙二醛含量、脯氨酸含量等生理指标的变化与相关差异表达基因的变化趋势基本一致,说明基因差异表达量与生理反应密切相关。研究认为,在相同的栽培及胁迫处理条件下,可根据植物盐响应生理指标的变化判断耐盐基因的表达情况。     

盐胁迫下解钾菌对枸杞幼苗的促生效应

以‘宁杞1号’枸杞为研究对象,采用单因素随机区组试验设计,研究不添加NaCl和菌剂(CK)、100 mmol·L^-1 NaCl胁迫(NaCl)、100 mmol·L^-1 NaCl胁迫下添加解钾菌KSBGY01单菌液(NaCl-M1)、KSBGY02单菌液(NaCl-M2)及其混合菌液(NaCl-M3)对枸杞幼苗叶片叶绿素、多酚、超氧阴离子(O₂^-·)、过氧化氢(H₂O₂)和可溶性糖含量、抗氧化物酶和蔗糖代谢酶活性的影响,以探索解钾菌对盐胁迫下枸杞生理生化特性的影响。结果表明: 盐胁迫下解钾菌能够提高枸杞叶片类黄酮(FLAV)、荧光激发比花青素相对指数(FERARI)、花青素(ANTH-RB)和氮素平衡指数(NBI-G),降低O₂^-·和H₂O₂含量,增加可溶性糖含量及过氧化氢酶(CAT)、蔗糖磷酸合成酶(SPS)、蔗糖合成酶(SS)和转化酶(INV)活性。不同处理间比较,NaCl-M2处理中枸杞叶片ANTH-RB值、NBI-G值、可溶性糖含量及CAT、SPS、SS和INV活性最高;NaCl-M3处理中枸杞叶片叶绿素含量、FLAV和FERARI值最高;NaCl-M1处理中枸杞叶片超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性最高;不添加解钾菌的NaCl处理中枸杞叶片谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶(GSH-Px)活性最高;CK处理中枸杞叶片过氧化物酶(POD)活性最高。对枸杞幼苗14项生理生化指标进行灰色系统关联度分析表明,盐胁迫条件下添加解钾菌处理的枸杞生理生化指标加权关联度均高于CK和NaCl处理,其中NaCl-M2处理的加权关联度最高。因此,添加KSBGY02单菌液更有利于缓解盐胁迫对枸杞幼苗的影响。     

不同光照强度下三角叶滨藜光合作用对盐激胁迫的响应

以溶液培养的三角叶滨藜植株为材料研究了不同光照条件下其叶片光合作用对盐(NaCl)激胁迫的即刻反应及变化规律.结果表明,三角叶滨藜光合作用对盐激胁迫的响应有8 min左右的滞后期.在光照强度为100umol·m-2·-1和100 mmol·L-1浓度NaCl共同作用下,三角叶滨藜叶片净光合速率略有上升;但随NaCl浓度和光照强度进一步增加,其净光合速率呈下降趋势,且光照越强,盐胁迫导致的净光合速率下降幅度越大.同时,弱光下或强光低浓度NaCl胁迫下,盐激胁迫导致的净光合速率下降主要是气孔限制引起的;而强光下,高浓度的NaCl胁迫导致的净光合速率下降在盐激胁迫处理的前30-40 min主要由气孔限制引起.40 min后则主要由非气孔限制引起.可见,不同光照强度和NaCl浓度胁迫下三角叶滨藜叶片光合作用响应规律不同,引起净光合速率下降机制各异.     

气温升高与干旱胁迫对宁夏枸杞光合作用的影响

以宁夏枸杞1年生苗木为材料,采用开顶式生长室模拟增温环境,设置两个温度水平(正常环境温度,增温=正常环境温度+2.5—3.7℃)和3个土壤水分水平(正常水分条件(田间最大持水量的70%—75%)、中度干旱处理(田间最大持水量的50%—55%)和重度干旱处理(田间最大持水量的35%—40%)),研究气温升高和干旱胁迫对宁夏枸杞光合作用的影响。结果表明:(1)在增温条件下,中度和重度干旱处理下的净光合速率比对照(正常供水)分别下降17.5%、48.9%,气孔导度平均下降了3.9%,水分利用效率仅为正常环境温度下的57.8%。(2)在气温升高和干旱胁迫交互作用下,枸杞叶片的净光合速率、气孔导度、胞间CO2浓度显著下降的同时,增温处理又加剧了枸杞植株的蒸腾耗水,从而导致枸杞叶片水分的利用效率和CO2同化能力降低。(3)气温升高和干旱胁迫交互作用降低了枸杞的PSⅡ活性中心的光能转换效率、使光合机构和PSⅡ反应中心受到损伤,从而导致枸杞光合作用效率下降。(4)气温升高加剧了干旱胁迫对宁夏枸杞叶片净光合速率和水分利用效率的减小作用,即气温升高加剧了干旱胁迫对宁夏枸杞光合作用的抑制作用。     

Foreign exploration for Scirtothrips perseae Nakahara (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) and associated natural enemies on avocado (Persea americana Miller)

Scirtothrips perseae Nakahara was discovered attacking avocados in California, USA, in 1996. Host plant surveys in California indicated that S. perseae has a highly restricted host range with larvae being found only on avocados, while adults were collected from 11 different plant species. As part of a management program for this pest, a “classical” biological control program was initiated and foreign exploration was conducted to delineate the home range of S. perseae, to survey for associated natural enemies and inventory other species of phytophagous thrips on avocados grown in Mexico, Guatemala, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Trinidad, and Brazil. Foreign exploration efforts indicate that S. perseae occurs on avocados grown at high altitudes (>1500 m) from Uruapan in Mexico south to areas around Guatemala City in Guatemala. In Costa Rica, S. perseae is replaced by an undescribed congener as the dominant phytophagous thrips on avocados grown at high altitudes (>1300 m). No species of Scirtothrips were found on avocados in the Dominican Republic, Trinidad, or Brazil. In total, 2136 phytophagous thrips were collected and identified, representing over 47 identified species from at least 19 genera. The significance of these species records is discussed. Of collected material 4% were potential thrips biological control agents. Natural enemies were dominated by six genera of predatory thrips (Aeolothrips, Aleurodothrips, Franklinothrips, Leptothrips, Scolothrips, and Karnyothrips). One genus each of parasitoid (Ceranisus) and predatory mite (Balaustium) were found. Based on the results of our sampling techniques, prospects for the importation of thrips natural enemies for use in a “classical” biological control program in California against S. perseae are not promising.     

Phylogeny of cardinalfishes (Teleostei: Gobiiformes: Apogonidae) and the evolution of visceral bioluminescence

The cardinalfishes (Apogonidae) are a diverse clade of small, mostly reef-dwelling fishes, for which a variety of morphological data have not yielded a consistent phylogeny. We use DNA sequence to hypothesize phylogenetic relationships within Apogonidae and among apogonids and other acanthomorph families, to examine patterns of evolution including the distribution of a visceral bioluminescence system. In conformance with previous studies, Apogonidae is placed in a clade with Pempheridae, Kurtidae, Leiognathidae, and Gobioidei. The apogonid genus Pseudamia is recovered outside the remainder of the family, not as sister to the superficially similar genus Gymnapogon. Species sampled from the Caribbean and Western Atlantic (Phaeoptyx, Astrapogon, and some Apogon species) form a clade, as do the larger-bodied Glossamia and Cheilodipterus. Incidence of visceral bioluminescence is found scattered throughout the phylogeny, independently for each group in which it is present. Examination of the fine structure of the visceral bioluminescence system through histology shows that light organs exhibit a range of morphologies, with some composed of complex masses of tubules (Siphamia, Pempheris, Parapriacanthus) and others lacking tubules but containing chambers formed by folds of the visceral epithelium (Acropoma, Archamia, Jaydia, and Rhabdamia). Light organs in Siphamia, Acropoma, Pempheris and Parapriacanthus are distinct from but connected to the gut; those in Archamia, Jaydia, and Rhabdamia are simply portions of the intestinal tract, and are little differentiated from the surrounding tissues. The presence or absence of symbiotic luminescent bacteria does not correlate with light organ structure; the tubular light organs of Siphamia and chambered tubes of Acropoma house bacteria, those in Pempheridae and the other Apogonidae do not.     

Taxonomic status of the species of the green algal genusNeochloris

Komárek has recently reviewed the various species assigned to the green algal genusNeochloris Starr (Chlorococcales, Chlorococcaceae) and removed those with uninucleate vegetative cells to a new genus,Ettlia. Watanabe & Floyd, unaware ofKomárek's work, also reviewed the species ofNeochloris and distributed them among three genera—Neochloris, Chlorococcopsis gen. nov., andParietochloris gen. nov.—on the basis of details of the covering of the zoospore and the arrangement of the basal bodies of the flagellar apparatus. This paper reconciles these two treatments and makes additional recommendations at the ranks of genus, family, order, and class.     

Biological control of three floating water weeds,<Emphasis Type="Italic">Eichhornia crassipes,Pistia stratiotes</Emphasis>, and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Salviniamolesta</Emphasis> in the Republic of Congo

Since 1999, four specific weevils (Coleoptera, Curculionidae) were released in the Republic of Congo against three exotic floating water weeds: Neochetina eichhorniae Warner and N. bruchi Hustache against water hyacinth, Neohydronomus affinis Hustache against water lettuce, and Cyrtobagous salviniae Calder and Sands against water fern. Recoveries of exotic weevils were made from all 24 release sites except one, and all four species have established and spread (up to 800 km for water hyacinth weevils). Within a few years of releases, control of water fern and water lettuce was such that fishing and navigation could be resumed, while reductions of water hyacinth populations were only beginning.     

A molecular phylogeny of Hebeloma species from Europe

In order to widen the scope of existing phylogenies of the ectomycorrhizal agaric genus Hebeloma a total of 53 new rDNA ITS sequences from that genus was generated, augmented by sequences retrieved from GenBank, and analysed using Bayesian, strict consensus and neighbour joining methods. The lignicolous Hebelomina neerlandica, Gymnopilus penetrans, and two species of Galerina served as outgroup taxa. Anamika indica, as well as representatives of the genera Hymenogaster and Naucoria, were included to test the monophyly of Hebeloma, which is confirmed by the results. Hebeloma, Naucoria, Hymenogaster and Anamika indica cluster in a strongly supported monophyletic hebelomatoid clade. All trees largely reflect the current infrageneric classification within Hebeloma, and divide the genus into mostly well-supported monophyletic groups surrounding H. crustuliniforme, H. velutipes, H. sacchariolens, H. sinapizans, and H. radicosum, with H. sarcophyllum being shown at an independent position; however this is not well supported. The section Indusiata divides with strong support into three groups, the position of the pleurocystidiate Hebeloma cistophilum suggests the possible existence of a third subsection within sect. Indusiata. Subsection Sacchariolentia is raised to the rank of section.     

Die GattungKarschia — Bindeglied zwischen bitunicaten Ascomyceten und lecanoralen Flechtenpilzen?

The genusKarschia, in the earlier sense, including saprophytes and parasites on lichens, has been thought to be a non-lichenized parallel genus of the lichen genusBuellia. Modern workers included it on the one hand inBuellia, on the other hand combined it with bitunicate ascomycetes. It is now proved thatKarschia is heterogeneous and contains but superficially similar members both of the genusBuellia of theLecanorales and of typical or masked bitunicateAscomycetes. Therefore, it can not be regarded as a link betweenLecanorales andDothideales. The type species ofKarschia belongs to theDothideales.

     

Entwicklungsgeschichte und Ultrastruktur von Pollenkitt und Exine bei nahe verwandten entomophilen und anemophilen Angiospermensippen derAlismataceae,Liliaceae, Juncaceae,Cyperaceae, Poaceae undAraceae

Some closely related members of the monocotyledonous familiesAlismataceae, Liliaceae, Juncaceae, Cyperaceae, Poaceae andAraceae with variable modes of pollination (insect- and wind-pollination) were studied in relation to the ultrastructure of pollenkitt and exine (amount, consistency and distribution of pollenkitt on the surface of pollen grains). The character syndromes of pollen cementing in entomophilous, anemophilous and intermediate (ambophilous or amphiphilous) monocotyledons are the same in principal as in dicotyledons. Comparing present with former results one can summarize: 1) The pollenkitt is always produced in the same manner by the anther tapetum in all angiosperm sub-classes. 2) The variable stickiness of entomophilous and anemophilous pollen always depends on the particular distribution and consistency of the pollenkitt, but not its amount on the pollen surface. 3) The mostly dry and powdery pollen of anemophilous plants always contains a variable amount of inactive pollenkitt in its exine cavities. 4) A step-by step change of the pollen cementing syndrome can be observed from entomophily towards anemophily. 5) From the omnipresence of pollenkitt in all wind-pollinated angiosperms studied one can conclude that the ancestors of anemophilous angiosperms probably have been zoophilous (i.e. entomophilous) throughout.

     

安徽牯牛降的丝孢菌Ⅰ

本文报导作者采自安徽枯牛降自然保护区的18种丝孢菌,分属于5个属,其中有3个新种:牛皮冻生尾孢(Cercospora paederiicola),山鸡椒假尾饱(Pseudocercospora litseae-cubebae),鸡血藤生假尾孢(P. millettiicola)和2个中国新纪录。文中对新种进行了描述及绘图,新记录种作了简要说明。研究的标本保存在中国科学院微生物研究所真菌标本室(HMAS)。     

Changes of dung beetle communities from rainforests towards agroforestry systems and annual cultures in Sulawesi (Indonesia)

Little is known about how tropical land-use systems contribute to the conservation of functionally important insect groups, including dung beetles. In a study at the margin of Lore Lindu National Park (a biodiversity hotspot in Central Sulawesi, Indonesia) dung-beetle communities were sampled in natural forest, young secondary forest, agroforestry systems (cacao plantations with shade trees) and annual cultures (maize fields), each with four replicates (n = 16 sites). At each site we used 10 pitfall traps, baited with cattle dung, along a 100 m transect for six 3-day periods. The number of trapped specimens and species richness at the natural forest sites was higher than in all land-use systems, which did not significantly differ. Each land-use system contained, on average, 75% of the species richness of the natural forest, thereby indicating their importance for conservation. However, a two-dimensional scaling plot based on NESS indices (m = 6) indicated distinct dung beetle communities for both forest types, while agroforestry systems and annual cultures exhibited a pronounced overlap. Mean body size of dung beetles was not significantly influenced by land-use intensity. Five of the six most abundant dung beetle species were recorded in all habitats, whereas the abundance of five other species was significantly related to habitat type. Mean local abundance and number of occupied sites were closely correlated, further indicating little habitat specialisation. The low dung beetle diversity (total of 18 recorded species) may be due to the absence of larger mammals in Sulawesi during historical times, even though Sulawesi is the largest island of Wallacea. In conclusion, the dung beetle fauna of the lower montane forest zone in Central Sulawesi appears to be relatively robust to man-made habitat changes and the majority of species did not exhibit strong habitat preferences.