中国喀斯特植被分类系统

我国喀斯特地貌分布广泛,是全球喀斯特集中分布区面积最大且岩溶发育最强烈的典型区域。喀斯特植被物种组成独特,生物多样性丰富,群落结构复杂,植被类型极其丰富。该文对已发表的喀斯特植被类型和近期的调查资料进行系统整理,依据《中国植被志》的分类原则,在群系尺度上编制了中国喀斯特植被分类系统,包括3个植被型组、13个植被型和554个群系。探讨了喀斯特植被的分类系统与原有分类系统的衔接,并依据相关资料,对喀斯特生境专性群系进行了识别和判定,以期为喀斯特区域的石漠化治理、植被修复提供科学参考。     

元谋干热河谷生态恢复区昆虫多样性研究

以元谋退化生态系统初始生态恢复中人工构建植被为研究对象,在样地调查的基础上,对比分析了退化生态系统和恢复生态系统昆虫群落多样性组成与结构的恢复状况及其对人工群落类型的生态响应。结果表明,植物群落组成是影响昆虫群落多样性的关键因子。与天然植被相比,混交林促进了昆虫在退化地的扩散和定居,物种多样性明显增加。主成分分析排序将6种生境分为两大类:第Ⅰ类为赤桉纯林,代表物种单一、林下空旷、环境干燥为特点的植被;第Ⅱ类为扭黄茅草坡、车桑子灌丛及赤桉 银合欢、赤桉 相思、相思 银合欢3种混交林,代表物种相对复杂,生境偏向湿润的植被。不同生境的特有昆虫和优势昆虫种类和数量分析表明,在3种混交林中,相思 合欢恢复的效果较赤桉 相思与赤桉 合欢显著,是最好的先锋群落植物混交模式,能够较快改良生境,提高其物种多样性。但由于造林面积较小,植被恢复时间短,受人为干扰较大,昆虫多样性恢复的效果还不明显。     

湖北省优先保护森林生态系统的分布及其保护空缺分析

基于湖北省生物多样性数据调查,以湖北省优势生态系统、特殊生态系统、特有生态系统、物种丰富度高的生态系统和特殊生境等5项指标作为评价准则,在咨询专家的基础上,借助GIS分析工具,综合分析了湖北省森林生态系统类型及分布特点。结果表明,湖北省共有261类森林生态系统类型(以群系为单位),其中有75类需要优先保护,并据此提出了湖北省优先保护森林生态系统的优先保护地区;另外,通过综合分析湖北省自然保护区的分布特点,得出湖北省优先保护森林生态系统目前所存在的保护空缺。优先保护地区可作为湖北省森林生态系统优先保护的重点地区,而空缺分析研究结果对于合理布局湖北省森林生态系统自然保护区、提高湖北省生物多样性保护的有效性具有重要参考价值。     

长株潭城市群生态绿心地区主要植被类型的群落特征

长株潭城市群生态绿心地区地处南方红壤丘陵区的中心地带, 植被区划上属中亚热带常绿阔叶林北部植被亚地带。该区植被以次生林为主, 植被类型复杂多样, 在南方红壤丘陵区现状植被中具有典型代表性, 可为区域植被演替动态和植被恢复研究提供良好的平台。该研究采用统一、规范的方法设置了50个样方, 对区内主要植被类型的物种组成、数量特征、生境信息等进行调查。计算乔木层、灌木层和草本层物种重要值, 运用《中国植被志》编研规范进行植被类型划分和命名, 描述群落物种组成和特征, 并提供10个植被型、22个群系、33个群丛共50个样方的原始数据, 包括森林样方43个, 灌丛样方5个, 草地样方1个, 沼泽样方1个。     

系统发育多样性与系统发育结构在岛屿植物群落保护中的意义——以蜈支洲岛为例

为探讨系统发育多样性和系统发育结构在岛屿植物群落保护决策制定中的作用,以海南三亚蜈支洲岛被子植物群系为例,分析物种丰富度和系统发育多样性的相关性。结果表明,蜈支洲岛植被可分为10种群系类型,22个样方的物种丰富度与系统发育多样性呈显著正相关,但系统发育多样性与物种丰富度对植物多样性保护优先顺序的指示有差异。森林群系的物种丰富度和系统发育多样性普遍高于灌木和草本群系,4个森林群系样方表现为系统发育结构发散,3个森林群系样方表现为系统发育结构聚集。灌木群系中露兜树(Pandanus tectorius)灌丛和草海桐(Scaevola sericea)灌丛系统发育多样性较高,草本群系中厚藤(Vitex trifolia)灌草丛系统发育多样性较高,灌木和草本群系大多倾向于系统发育结构聚集。距海或人类活动区较近的群系可能受环境过滤的作用,而远离海和人类活动区的群系主要受竞争排斥作用影响。因此,在岛屿植物多样性保护策略制定中应当综合考虑物种和系统发育维度,以及环境、演替阶段及用岛方式等因素的影响。     

武夷山野外观花

正武夷山位于江西与福建西北部两省交界处,属典型的丹霞地貌,是世界文化与自然遗产地。武夷山西部是全球生物多样性保护的关键地区,保存了世界同纬度带最完整、最典型、面积最大的中亚热带原生性森林生态系统。植被类型垂直分布非常明显,随着海拔的递增,依次分布着常绿阔叶林带、针叶阔叶过渡带、温性针叶林带、中山草甸、中山苔藓矮曲林带、中山草甸几个植被带。武夷山的植物资源极其丰富,种子植物数量在中亚热带地区位居前列。可供观赏     

滇西北县域生物多样性本底调查与评估

中国是世界上生物多样性最丰富的国家之一, 同时也是生物多样性受威胁最严重的国家之一。为了有效保护生物多样性, 2010年国务院批准实施了《中国生物多样性保护战略与行动计划(2010-2030年)》, 划定了32个陆地生物多样性保护优先区, 并设定了开展优先区生物多样性本底调查的战略目标、优先领域与优先行动。为此, 2010-2011年, 环境保护部联合中国科学院和高校的科研人员, 在滇西北开展了18个县的以县域为单元的生物多样性本底示范调查与研究。调查内容包括生态系统(植被类型)和物种两个层次。生态系统主要调查县域内植被类型的多样性, 完成了以群系为单位的植被类型编目; 物种层次主要调查县域内高等植物、脊椎动物、大型真菌的物种多样性组成、数量和用途等, 分析了特有物种和珍稀濒危物种数量等, 完成了县域物种编目。本文基于调查结果, 比较研究了不同县域间的生物多样性组成, 发现植被类型(108个群系)和物种(高等植物4,481种、脊椎动物625种、大型真菌222种)最丰富的县均为玉龙县。同时, 与历史记录对比研究发现, 滇西北的生物多样性分布数据十分欠缺, 严重影响了生物多样性保护的客观有效决策。生物多样性本底调查是生物多样性保护的一项基础工作, 本研究为中国未来开展大规模的生物多样性本底调查与评估提供了案例。     

河南典型草地碳氮库构成对植物多样性的响应

以河南4种典型草地类型(暖性草丛、暖性灌草丛、热性草丛与热性灌草丛)为研究对象,基于野外调查与室内测定,结合RDA冗余分析方法,分析了植物多样性与生态系统碳氮库构成之间的关系。结果表明:河南草地植物物种多样性整体上呈现出灌草丛类草地大于草丛类草地;河南草地具有符合地域特征的植物功能群类型,C3植物比例均远大于C4植物,杂类草占64%～73%,有性兼无性繁殖方式的植物类型多达49%～56%;而生活型组成较为复杂,暖性草地以多年生草本和灌木为主,热性草地以一或两年生草本以及多年生草本为主; RDA分析结果显示,暖性草丛、暖性灌草丛植被氮密度与Shannon和Pielou指数呈正相关,植被碳密度、土壤氮密度与Shannon和Pielou指数呈负相关;热性草丛植被碳氮密度与物种丰富度指数呈正相关,土壤氮密度与Shannon和Pielou指数呈正相关,植被氮密度与Shannon和Pielou指数呈负相关;热性灌草丛土壤碳氮密度与Shannon指数呈正相关,植被碳氮密度与物种丰富度和Shannon指数呈负相关,即物种多样性及不同草地类型植被的组成共同作用影响植被和土壤碳氮密度。总之,河南草地生态系统碳氮库构成是植物物种丰富程度和分布均匀程度综合作用的结果。     

坝上地区农田及两种恢复生境中蜘蛛多样性与群落特征

蜘蛛是农田生态系统中重要的自然天敌,其生物多样性及群落特征直接决定了农田的害虫控制等生态系统服务功能质量。农田及其周边的恢复生境是蜘蛛重要的栖息地。本研究采用陷阱法,对河北省张家口市崇礼区871、1360、1635 m 3个海拔农田、自然恢复草地及人工修复林地的蜘蛛群落的物种组成、物种多样性和功能特征进行研究,分析不同恢复生境中蜘蛛群落特征。结果表明: 不同生境蜘蛛的物种多样性指数差异明显,人工修复林地蜘蛛的多度为124.3只,显著高于自然恢复草地(70.1)及农田(38.6)的蜘蛛多度;人工修复林地(16.3)与自然恢复草地(21.4)的物种丰富度没有显著差别,但均显著高于农田(8.9);人工修复林地(2.04)及自然恢复草地(2.05)的Shannon多样性指数差异不显著,且均显著高于农田(1.55)。3种生境的蜘蛛群落组成均具有显著差异;蜘蛛体长与蜘蛛捕猎类型呈正相关,大型蜘蛛倾向于通过捕猎获取食物;自然恢复草地与农田蜘蛛以游猎型为主,而人工修复林地倾向于拥有更多的结网型蜘蛛,高海拔地区的蜘蛛体积通常较小。自然恢复草地与人工修复林地均可以提升蜘蛛群落多样性,在区域生物多样性保护中起重要作用;不同生境蜘蛛群落组成出现了显著分化,即蜘蛛群落总体的功能特征发生改变和保留了部分生境特有种。2种恢复生境蜘蛛多样性指标优于农田生境,且2种恢复生境物种组成存在差异,均具有保护特有种的功能,研究结果对农田及区域尺度蜘蛛生物多样性保护与恢复具有指导意义。     

鹞落坪保护区四种不同生境的夏季鸟类多样性差异

研究不同生境中鸟类群落的差异可以为其管理与保护提供科学依据。于2017年7—8月在鹞落坪国家级自然保护区的不同海拔区域内开展夏季森林鸟类群落调查, 并分析鸟类群落在森林、公路、村村通和村庄等生境之间的差异。结果共调查到78种4225只鸟, 隶属于9目30科。由于较高的郁闭度和较单一的植被类型, 森林生境中的鸟类物种数、个体数和多样性指数均较低, 与穿越森林的公路无显著差异。尽管村村通和公路生境的鸟类个体数与多样性指数没有显著差异, 但村村通生境中鸟类物种数显著高于公路生境, 仅次于村庄, 这可能与其较高的开阔度和较低的干扰有关。村庄鸟类物种数、个体数和香农威纳多样性指数均显著高于其他生境, 这可能与村庄比较开阔的生境和丰富的食物资源有关。研究结果表明, 在森林景观中, 村落等干扰较大的生境中夏季鸟类群落物种多样性较高。     

A Unique Protease Cleavage Site Predicted in the Spike Protein of the Novel Pneumonia Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) Potentially Related to Viral Transmissibility

正Dear Editor,In December 2019, a novel human coronavirus caused an epidemic of severe pneumonia(Coronavirus Disease 2019,COVID-19) in Wuhan, Hubei, China(Wu et al. 2020; Zhu et al. 2020). So far, this virus has spread to all areas of China and even to other countries. The epidemic has caused 67,102 confirmed infections with 1526 fatal cases     

Curcuminoids as inhibitors of thioredoxin reductase: A receptor based pharmacophore study with distance mapping of the active site

Curcumin is the yellow pigment of turmeric that interacts irreversibly forming an adduct with thioredoxin reductase (TrxR), an enzyme responsible for redox control of cell and defence against oxidative stress. Docking at both the active sites of TrxR was performed to compare the potency of three naturally occurring curcuminoids, namely curcumin, demethoxy curcumin and bis-demethoxy curcumin. Results show that active sites of TrxR occur at the junction of E and F chains. Volume and area of both cavities is predicted. It has been concluded by distance mapping of the most active conformations that Se atom of catalytic residue SeCYS498, is at a distance of 3.56 from C13 of demethoxy curcumin at the E chain active site, whereas C13 carbon atom forms adduct with Se atom of SeCys 498. We report that at least one methoxy group in curcuminoids is necessary for interation with catalytic residues of thioredoxin. Pharmacophore of both active sites of the TrxR receptor for curcumin and demethoxy curcumin molecules has been drawn and proposed for design and synthesis of most probable potent antiproliferative synthetic drugs.     

Comparative morphology of the carpel in the Liliaceae: Hewardieae, Petrosavieae, and Tricyrteae

The young pistils in the melanthioid tribes, Hewardieae, Petrosavieae and Tricyrteae, are uniformly tricarpellate and syncarpous. They lack raphide idioblasts. All are multiovulate, with bitegmic ovules. The Petrosavieae are marked by the presence of septal glands and incomplete syncarpy. Tepals and stamens adhere to the ovary in the Hewardieae and the Petrosavieae but not in the Tricyrteae. Two vascular bundles occur in the stamens of the Hewartlieae and Tricyrtis latifolia. Ventral bundles in the upper part of the ovary of the Hewardieae are continuous with compound septal bundles and placental bundles in the lower part. Putative ventral bundles occur in the alternate position in the Tricyrteae and putative placental bundles in the opposite. position in the Petrosavieae. The dichtomously branched stigma in each carpel of the Tricyrteae is supplied by a bifurcated dorsal bundle.     

Enterovirus 71 3C proteolytically processes the histone H3 N-terminal tail during infection

Highlights
1. The N-terminal tail of histone H3 is specifically cleaved during EV71 infection.
2. Viral protease 3C is identified as a protease responsible for proteolytically processing the N-terminal H3 tail.
3. Our finding reveals a new epigenetic regulatory mechanism for Enterovirus 71 in virus-host interactions.     

Detection of EBV and HHV6 in the Brain Tissue of Patients with Rasmussen’s Encephalitis

Rasmussen’s encephalitis (RE) is a rare pediatric neurological disorder, and the exact etiology is not clear. Viral infection may be involved in the pathogenesis of RE, but conflicting results have reported. In this study, we evaluated the expression of both Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and human herpes virus (HHV) 6 antigens in brain sections from 30 patients with RE and 16 control individuals by immunohistochemistry. In the RE group, EBV and HHV6 antigens were detected in 56.7% (17/30) and 50% (15/30) of individuals, respectively. In contrast, no detectable EBV and HHV6 antigen expression was found in brain tissues of the control group. The co-expression of EBV and HHV6 was detected in 20.0% (6/30) of individuals. In particular, a 4-year-old boy had a typical clinical course, including a medical history of viral encephalitis, intractable epilepsy, and hemispheric atrophy. The co-expression of EBV and HHV6 was detected in neurons and astrocytes in the brain tissue, accompanied by a high frequency of CD8⁺ T cells. Our results suggest that EBV and HHV6 infection and the activation of CD8⁺ T cells are involved in the pathogenesis of RE.     

Perinatal Vertical Transmission of Chikungunya Virus in Ruili,a Town on the Border between China and Myanmar

正Dear Editor,Chikungunya virus (CHIKV), an arbovirus in the family of Togaviridae, genus Alphavirus, is transmitted by the A.aegyptii or A. albopictus mosquito, and causes disease in humans characterized by fever, rash, and arthralgia (Silva and Dermody 2017; Suhrbier 2019). It was first reported in 1953 in Tanzania, and caused only a few outbreaks and sporadic cases in Africa and Asia in last century. However, in the epidemic in 2004, CHIKV acquired mutations that conferred enhanced transmission by the A. albopictus mosquito(Schuffenecker et al. 2006). Since then, it has successively caused outbreaks in Africa, the Indian Ocean, South East Asia, the South America, and Europe (Zeller et al. 2016).     

Development of a Novel Reverse Transcription Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification Method for Rapid Detection of SARS-CoV-2

In conclusion, the novel visual RT-LAMP assay is a simple, rapid, and sensitive approach for detection of SARS-CoV-2, and it is ready for application in primary care and community hospitals or health care centers, and even patients' own houses in response to the current SARS-CoV-2 epidemic because the assay does not require sophisticated equipment and skilled personnel. Furthermore, it is also ready to be used in fields for screening samples from wild animals and environments to facilitate the identification of potential intermediate hosts that mediate the cross-species transmission of SARS-CoV-2 from bats to humans.