塔里木河上游胡杨种群结构与动态

采用样带调查法对塔里木河上游3个断面8.5 hm2天然胡杨林进行野外调查,绘制了胡杨种群年龄结构图和存活曲线,结合种群动态量化方法与时间序列预测,分析种群结构与动态特征。结果表明:塔里木河上游胡杨种群密度随径级增大而减小,自疏指数接近-3/2,个体胸径达24 cm后种群密度保持相对稳定。中、下段胡杨种群年龄结构呈金字塔型,幼龄级所占比例较大、林分年轻;存活曲线为Deevey C型,且动态指数0,为增长种群。受所处生境条件影响,上段不同生境胡杨种群年龄结构差异明显。阿瓦提县胡杨种群结构呈金字塔型,幼龄级比例高达77.2%,存活曲线属Deevey C型,为增长种群;南口镇与托海乡胡杨种群结构呈壶型,幼龄级比例极低、中大龄级比例高达84.7%,存活曲线属Deevey A型,为衰退种群;沙黑里克镇胡杨种群结构呈钟型,存活曲线属Deevey A型,为暂时稳定种群。种群数量动态与时间序列分析表明,中、下段胡杨更新资源丰富,未来种群能够稳定增长;上段南口镇、托海乡与沙黑里克镇幼龄级数量随时间推移减少,种群向大老龄级发展,未来种群将走向衰退。总之,上段胡杨种群因更新资源不足而趋于衰退,未来保持适当的人工辅助恢复措施和加强保护现有植株及其生境是保持胡杨种群自然更新和进行种群恢复的关键。     

塔河源荒漠河岸林群落物种组成、结构与植物区系特征

为了更好地了解荒漠河岸林植被动态与生物多样性维持机制,于塔里木河干流源头荒漠河岸林内建立6个1 hm 2样地,对群落物种组成、数量特征和空间格局等进行综合分析。结果表明,塔河源荒漠河岸林群落结构简单、物种多样性低,共有物种12科15属16种,杨柳科重要值最大(28. 97%),是群落优势建群科。取样面积在0. 04 hm 2时,包括了87. 5%的物种;样地内稀有种和偶见种均占所有物种的12. 5%。植物区系贫乏,单种科、属多,温带成分占绝对优势,古地中海成分也占有重要地位,具典型温带区系性质。样地内 DBH ≥ 1 cm 的活木本个体有2497株,灰胡杨多度占92. 95%,胸高断面积和重要值最大,在群落中占绝对优势地位。群落内科、属、种的数量随植株高度级的增加而减少,垂直结构层次分明,由乔木层、灌木层和草本层构成。样地内所有树种平均胸径15. 57 cm,径级与高度级结构均呈偏正态分布,缺乏高度≤ 2 m的个体,群落更新不良。优势种灰胡杨、胡杨径级结构均呈单峰型,其中胡杨幼树出现断层,灰胡杨幼苗向幼树发展过程中死亡率极高(92. 56%),均为衰退型种群。两个优势种空间格局呈聚集分布,不同生境下随径级增大空间分布格局变化不同;且两个优势种在空间上相互排斥而占据不同生境,暗示着种间竞争与生境异质性是影响荒漠河岸林物种空间分布格局和物种共存的重要因素。     

塔里木河上游灰胡杨种群生活史特征与空间分布格局

灰胡杨是荒漠地区特有的珍稀渐危植物,主要分布在塔里木河流域,是塔里木荒漠生态系统的关键种之一。在塔里木河上游选择具有代表性群落设立5 hm²研究样地,应用相邻格子法进行每木调查,从年龄结构、生命表特征、存活曲线、生存分析以及种群不同发育阶段个体空间分布格局等方面研究了灰胡杨种群生活史动态特征与空间分布规律。结果表明:塔里木河上游灰胡杨种群结构整体上呈钟型,幼树个体较少,成年个体较多,属暂时稳定型种群;不同生境种群结构不同,随河流走向种群结构由稳定型转为衰退型。种群存活曲线趋于DeeveyⅡ,生存率呈单调下降趋势,中期(Ⅵ-Ⅸ)降幅较高;危险率呈上升趋势,于Ⅸ龄级出现危险率与死亡率、消失率高峰,生命期望单调下降,反映种群生存力下降的趋势。灰胡杨种群空间分布格局总体上为聚集分布,因生境不同空间格局发生变化,这是种群适应环境压力及与环境协同进化的结果;种群空间格局随发育进程而变化,从幼龄到中、大龄,种群分布格局的聚集强度减弱并逐渐转变为随机分布,这是种内竞争强度变化的结果。环境因子与种群分布多度的相关与逐步回归分析表明地下水位是影响种群分布的主要因素。可见,塔里木河上游灰胡杨种群结构与空间分布格局随生境和时间发生变化,环境因素和生物因素是影响灰胡杨种群生态特征的两个主要原因。     

塔河源荒漠河岸林群落物种组成、结构与植物区系特征

为了更好地了解荒漠河岸林植被动态与生物多样性维持机制,于塔里木河干流源头荒漠河岸林内建立6个1 hm²样地,对群落物种组成、数量特征和空间格局等进行综合分析。结果表明,塔河源荒漠河岸林群落结构简单、物种多样性低,共有物种12科15属16种,杨柳科重要值最大（28.97%）,是群落优势建群科。取样面积在0.04 hm²时,包括了87.5%的物种;样地内稀有种和偶见种均占所有物种的12.5%。植物区系贫乏,单种科、属多,温带成分占绝对优势,古地中海成分也占有重要地位,具典型温带区系性质。样地内DBH ≥ 1 cm的活木本个体有2497株,灰胡杨多度占92.95%,胸高断面积和重要值最大,在群落中占绝对优势地位。群落内科、属、种的数量随植株高度级的增加而减少,垂直结构层次分明,由乔木层、灌木层和草本层构成。样地内所有树种平均胸径15.57 cm,径级与高度级结构均呈偏正态分布,缺乏高度≤ 2 m的个体,群落更新不良。优势种灰胡杨、胡杨径级结构均呈单峰型,其中胡杨幼树出现断层,灰胡杨幼苗向幼树发展过程中死亡率极高（92.56%）,均为衰退型种群。两个优势种空间格局呈聚集分布,不同生境下随径级增大空间分布格局变化不同;且两个优势种在空间上相互排斥而占据不同生境,暗示着种间竞争与生境异质性是影响荒漠河岸林物种空间分布格局和物种共存的重要因素。     

塔里木河上游天然胡杨林种群空间分布格局与动态研究

以新疆塔里木河上游阿瓦提县天然胡杨林为研究对象,采用相邻格子法进行实地调查,应用方差/均值比率法和5种聚集度指标研究了塔里木河上游天然胡杨林主要种群的空间分布格局与动态特征.结果显示:胡杨群落中除草本西北天冬种群空间分布格局呈随机分布外,其它主要种群均呈聚集分布;拟合检验表明,胡杨、灰叶胡杨种群为聚集分布.种群空间分布动态分析表明,灰叶胡杨在小树、中树与大树阶段均为聚集分布;胡杨种群在小树与中树阶段为聚集分布,但聚集强度减弱,到大树阶段为随机分布.研究表明,物种分布格局主要与物种本身的生物生态学特性和生境有关.     

千岛湖姥山马尾松种群结构和分布格局研究

为研究千岛湖马尾松(Pinus massoniana)种群动态变化,在姥山岛上设置面积为5.76 hm2的固定样地,进行群落学调查。根据野外调查的数据,对马尾松种群的结构和分布格局进行分析。结果表明:马尾松种群1、2级个体数极少,仅占样地中马尾松个体数的0.06%和1.01%,幼苗、幼树储备严重不足,5级个体的比例最高,达到28.28%,马尾松种群径级结构为纺锤型;马尾松种群的存活曲线为凸型。这些均表明马尾松种群的年龄结构趋向衰退型。但马尾松种群中树个体很多,在较长的时期内马尾松还不会退出群落。马尾松种群静态生命表也可看出中一些小型径级的死亡率为负值,也说明马尾松种群幼苗严重缺乏,种群呈衰退趋势。马尾松种群各径级和总体的分布格局均呈聚集分布,从小树→中树→大树聚集指数逐渐减小,种群呈扩散趋势。     

塔里木河中游水文影响下的胡杨种群格局动态

在利用环境同位素技术与多年径流量数据分析塔里木河中游的水文过程基础上,采用聚集度指标与种群结构动态量化法,研究了水文条件变化下胡杨种群结构特征与时空格局动态,预测了胡杨种群未来发展趋势。结果表明:(1)自1998年以来,中游年径流耗损量逐年减少,依靠地表水补给的地下水日益匮乏,具体表现为地下水埋深呈直线下滑趋势,这导致堤防外植被生长所需的生态用水日益紧缺。(2)在分布格局上,胡杨种群借助集群分布的格局抵抗恶劣的生态环境,其聚集强度随个体发育不断减弱,并有向随机分布发展的趋势;在种群结构上,胡杨种群除2003年为稳定型,其他年份下均属衰退型,表现出结构老龄化且长期衰退的特征。(3)2002年中游水量最为充沛,由于生态对环境变化的迟滞性特征使2003年地下水位抬升,导致胡杨种群变为稳定型,且聚集强度最大,种群增长趋势最强。种群动态指数与地下水埋深的回归模型显示,随地下水埋深的下降,种群增长趋势降低,验证了胡杨种群对水文变化的响应。(4)种群动态预测表明,未来2a,仅幼树数量呈增加趋势,其余径级均为减少趋势;未来5年a大树(或老树)数量将大幅减少。可见,地表水与地下水的逐年减少影响了胡杨种群的分布格局,阻碍了种群的更新发育,水文条件是影响中游胡杨生态特征的直接因素。     

大盘山自然保护区香果树种群结构与分布格局

在大盘山自然保护区设置了4个有代表性的样地,应用相邻格子法进行调查获得野外资料。对香果树种群进行统计,绘制径级结构图和高度结构图、编制种群的特定时间生命表;应用理论分布模型和聚集强度指数进行种群分布格局分析。结果表明：香果树种群结构呈纺锤型,幼苗严重不足,种群有衰退的趋势;其更新是以无性繁殖为主;种群格局整体上呈集群分布,但在不同发育阶段,分布格局有所差异：幼树阶段一般为集群分布,中树和大树向随机分布发展,这种分布格局变化与其生物学和生态学特性密切相关;其格局规模在介于8S和32S之间。分析认为,香果树的种群结构和分布格局受到了多种因素的影响,如群落区域小生境、香果树生物学特征以及人为干扰外等,在以上各因素的综合作用下,使得该种群形成典型的小种群。     

茂兰喀斯特森林不同地形部位青冈种群结构与分布格局研究

该研究以茂兰国家级喀斯特森林自然保护区不同地形部位(漏斗、坡地、槽谷)青冈种群为对象,采用立木级结构代替年龄结构的方法研究青冈种群结构,并绘制了种群的存活曲线,用方差/均值比率法(偏离指数C_X)、负二项参数(K)、丛生指数(I)、平均拥挤度(m~*)、聚块性指数(PAI)和聚集指数(C_a)等聚集度指标测定了青冈种群的分布格局,以评价该种群的结构特征与更新潜力。结果表明:三种地形部位中,青冈Ⅱ级幼树占绝对优势,其次是幼苗,中、大树占一定比例,存活曲线接近于DeeveyⅢ型,种群具有较强的自我更新能力,表现为增长型种群;三种地形部位青冈种群除槽谷有完整的径级结构外,漏斗和坡地的径级结构不完整,但均表现为幼苗数量少于幼树,幼树个体数量最多,中树和大树的数量最少,呈中间高而两端低的径级结构;不同地形部位青冈种群分布格局为随机分布,分布格局在种群生长过程中发生变化,表现为随龄级的增加聚集程度减弱,从聚集型向随机型转变。其中,幼苗、幼树、小树多呈聚集分布,中树、大树多呈随机分布。该研究结果为茂兰自然保护区青冈种群的合理保护提供了科学依据。     

不同地理区域栓皮栎种群结构及其空间格局

利用径级法和方差/均值法对我国不同地理区域上栓皮栎种群年龄结构及其空间分布格局进行分析.结果表明: 在水平梯度上,中部、北部、南部和西部栓皮栎种群均呈倒J型分布,而东部种群呈衰退型分布.成年树在中部和南部均呈集群分布,而北部区域呈现随机分布;幼树在在北、中和西部区域均为集群分布,而在南部和东部均呈随机分布.在纬向梯度上,幼树聚集强度的纬向趋势为中>北>南,而成年树聚集强度为中>南>北,经向梯度上幼树和成年树的聚集强度均为中>西>东.在垂直梯度上,中、低海拔种群呈倒J型分布,高海拔呈现衰退型.幼树在不同海拔均呈集群分布;成年树在低海拔为随机分布,而在高海拔和中海拔均为集群分布.幼树和成年树的聚集强度均为中海拔>高海拔和低海拔.在不同地理区域上,幼树的聚集强度均高于成年树.因此,栓皮栋种群结构及其分布格局主要是由环境梯度变化及其自身生物学特性决定,证实了“中心-边缘”种群假说.     

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.     

Hectorella: A member of the betalain-suborderChenopodiineae of the orderCentrospermae

Roots ofHectorella caespitosa Hook. f. were induced to produce a red pigment which was shown to be a betalain and not an anthocyanin. These data indicate thatHectorella belongs to theChenopodiineae, the betalain suborder of theCentrospermae, and excludes alignment with the anthocyanin family theCaryophyllaceae.     

Succession in the southern part of the Canadian boreal forest

Forest succession following fire in a forest mosaic of northwestern Quebec has been studied in order to: (1) describe the successional pathways using communities of different ages and (2) evaluate convergence of successional pathways and possible effect of fire suppression on the establishment of steady-state communities. As a first step, ordination and classification techniques were used in order to remove changes in forest composition which are related to abiotic conditions. Then, ordinations based on tree diameter distributions were used to study shifts in species composition in relation to time since the last fire.Even under similar abiotic conditions, successional pathways are numerous. However, regardless of forest composition after fire, most stands show convergence toward dominance of Thuja occidentalis and Picea mariana on xeric sites and dominance of Abies balsamea and Thuja occidentalis on more mesic sites. Stable communities of >300 yr occur on xeric sites while on mesic sites directional succession still occurs after 224 yr. Nearly all species involved in succession are present in the first 50 yr following fire. Only Abies balsamea and Thuja occidentalis increase significantly in frequency during succession. Following initial establishment, successional processes can generally be explained by species longevity and shade tolerance. Early successional species may be abundant in the canopy for more than 200 yr while the rapid decrease of Picea glauca, a late successional species could be related to spruce budworm outbreaks. Considering the short fire rotation observed (about 150 yr), a steady-state forest is unlikely to occur under natural conditions, though it may be possible if fire is controlled.     

The purification of the three trimannosyl-N-acetylchitobiose pentasaccharides from the urine of swainsonine-intoxicated sheep

A simple method for the preparative resolution of three Man₃GlcNAc₂ isomers called Ia, Ib and II has been designed. It consists mainly of the use of concanavalin A-Sepharose which allowed the total purification of Man₃GlcNAc₂-Ia, and then of anion-exchange resin in borate buffer-gradient to separate the Ib and II isomers. The purity of each oligosaccharide was checked by two HPLC methods. The use of these oligosaccharides for different analytical and biosynthetic purposes is discussed, and the unexpected resistance of one of the Man₃GlcNAc₂ alditols to the action of endo--N-acetylglucosaminidase H is noted.     

Evaluation of the Pro-Lab ID ring system for the identification of medically important yeasts

We evaluated 151 coded isolates of medically important yeast species belonging to the genera Candida, Cryptococcus, Geotrichum, Rhodoturula, Saccharomyces and Torulopsis using the newly developed rapid Pro-Lab Identification Ring, PL 960 system (PLID-Ring). All isolates were concurrently identified by the API 20C and conventional procedures comprising macro- and micromorphology, assimilation and fermentation of various carbon and nitrogen compounds. The PLID-Ring system identified isolates of Candida albicans, C. kefyr, C. krusei, C. lusitaniae, C. parapsilosis, Rhodotorula rubra, and Torulopsis glabrata with 100% accuracy in 24 h. This system identified C guilliermondii and S. cerevisiae isolates with an accuracy of 90% and 86%, respectively, while those belonging to Cr. neoformans, T. candida (= C. famata), C. rugosa and C. tropicalis were identified with 38.4%, 50%, 12.5% and 50% accuracy, respectively. Three isolates of Cr. laurentii were not identified by the PLID-Ring system. The overall accuracy of the PLID-Ring system was 81.45% (123 of 151 isolates). However, the system does not include species such as Cr. laurentii in its data base. When these three Cr. laurentii isolates were excluded from the evaluation, the accuracy of the PLID-Ring system increased from 81.45% to 83.1%.     

Analysis of the genes of the OEE1 and OEE3 proteins of the photosystem II complex from Chlamydomonas reinhardtii

The sequences of the nuclear genes of the 33 kDa (OEE1) and the 16 kDa (OEE3) polypeptides of the oxygen evolving complex of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii have been established. Comparison between the OEE1 protein sequences of C. reinhardtii and higher plants and cyanobacteria reveals 67 and 47% homology. In contrast, C. reinhardtii and higher plants have only 28% overall homology for OEE3 which is mostly limited to the central portion of the protein. The transit peptides of the C. reinhardtii proteins consist of 52 (OEE1) and, most likely, 51 (OEE1) amino acids. They have a basic amino terminal region and, at least in the case of OEE1, a hydrophobic segment at their carboxy terminal end typical of thylakoid lumen proteins. Comparison of the genomic and cDNA clones indicates that the OEE1 and OEE3 genes contain five and four introns, respectively, some of which are located within the coding sequences of the transit peptides.     

Comparative analysis of the Kekkon molecules,related members of the LIG superfamily

Leucine-rich repeats (LRRs) and immunoglobulin (Ig) domains represent two of the most abundant sequence elements in metazoan proteomes. Despite this prevalence, comparatively few molecules containing both LRR and Ig (LIG) modules exist, and fewer still have been functionally defined. One LIG whose function has been investigated is the Drosophila protein Kekkon1 (Kek1). In vivo studies have demonstrated a role for Kek1 in Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) signaling and have suggested a role in neuronal pathfinding. Kek1 is the founding member of the Kek family, a group of six Drosophila transmembrane proteins that contain seven LRRs and a single Ig in their extracellular domains. While this arrangement of domains predicts a possible role as cell adhesion molecules (CAMs), to date little is known about the function or evolutionary relationship of these additional Kek molecules. Here we report that orthologs of Kek1, Kek2, Kek5, and Kek6 exist in the mosquito, Anopheles gambiae, and the honeybee, Apis mellifera, indicating that this family has been conserved for ~300 million years of evolutionary time. Comparative sequence analyses reveal remarkable identity among these orthologs, primarily in their extracellular regions. In contrast, the intracellular regions are more divergent, exhibiting only small pockets of conservation. In addition, we provide support for the general notion that these molecules may share common functions as CAMs, by demonstrating that Kek family members can form homotypic and heterotypic complexes.Edited by D. TautzChristina M. MacLaren, Timothy A. Evans and Diego Alvarado contributed equally to this work     

The history of the genusHomo

The genusHomo was established by Carolus Linnaeus in 1758. During the course of the past 150 years, the addition of fossil species to the genusHomo has resulted in a genus that, according to the taxonomic interpretation, could span as much time as 2.5 Myr, and include as many as ten species. This paper reviews the fossil evidence for each of the species involved, and sets out the case for their inclusion inHomo. It suggests that while the case for the inclusion of some species in the genus (e.g.Homo erectus) is well-supported, in the case of two of the species,Homo habilis andHomo rudolfensis, the case for their inclusion is much weaker. Neither the cladistic evidence, nor evidence about adaptation suggest a particularly close relationship with laterHomo.     

Progress on the genetics of the N2-fixing actinorhizal symbiont Frankia

The actinomycete Frankia is of fundamental and ecological interests for several reasons including its wide distribution, its ability to fix nitrogen, differentiate into sporangium and vesicle (specialized cell for nitrogen-fixation), and to nodulate plants from about 24 genera. Here, we present a review on the genetics performed so far on Frankia. At the end of July 2001, 293 kbp of Frankia DNA sequences were found in the databases. Thirty five percent of these sequences corresponded to full gene or gene cluster sequences. These genes could be divided according to their role into 6 key activities: gene translation (rrnA and tRNA ^pro gene), proteolysis (pcr genes), assimilation of ammonium (glnA and glnII), protection against superoxide ions (sodF), nitrogen fixation (nif cluster), and plasmid replication. We present a review of these genetic islands; their function, expression, localization and particular properties are discussed. A comparative analysis of Frankia nif genes from various strains and species is presented. An improved nomenclature for some of these genes is suggested to avoid conflicts. Frankia plasmids DNA sequences are also presented. The novel trends in Frankia genetics are described.     

Evaluation of antiprotozoal and antimycobacterial activities of the resin glycosides and the other metabolites of Scrophularia cryptophila

Resin glycosides are secondary metabolites exclusive to the convolvulaceous plants. In this study, crypthophilic acids A–C (1–3), the first resin glycosides occurring in another family (Scrophulariaceae), and the other constituents of Scrophularia cryptophila were examined for in vitro antiprotozoal and antimycobacterial potentials. Except for crypthophilic acid B (2), all tested compounds exhibited growth-inhibitory effect against Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense, with l-tryptophan (6) and buddlejasaponin III (7) being the most potent ones (IC₅₀'s 4.1 and 9.7 μg/ml). In contrast, the activity towards Trypanosoma cruzi was poor, and only crypthophilic acid C (3), 6 and 7 were trypanocidal at concentrations above 40 μg/ml. With the exception of 2 and 6, all compounds were active against Leishmania donovani. Harpagide (4) and 3 emerged as the best leishmanicidal agents (IC₅₀'s 2.0 and 5.8 μg/ml). Only compounds 3, 6 and 7 showed antimalarial activity against Plasmodium falciparum with IC₅₀ values of 4.2, 16.6 and 22.4 μg/ml. Overall the best and broadest spectrum activity was presented by compounds 3 and 7, as they inhibited all four parasitic protozoa. None of the isolates had significant activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MICs >100 μg/ml) or were toxic towards mammalian (L6) cells. This is the first report of antiprotozoal activity for natural resin glycosides, as well as for harpagide (4), acetylharpagide (5), tryptophan (6) and buddlejasaponin III (7).