Dissimilarity for partially ranked data and its application to cover-abundance data

Cover-abundance estimates are commonly employed in phytosociological investigations to record the performance of species. Because the coded values are on an ordinal scale of measure, various authors have suggested that some transformation is necessary before such values can be used for classification and ordination. However, it is not clear that transformation is a sufficient treatment, and it would seem preferable to use ordinal data directly. In this paper we examine such direct use of partial rankings and show that several dissimilarity measures can be defined for this case without invoking any transformations. They include dissimilarity measures associated with various rank correlation measures and with distances between strings; all the measure are variant forms of Hausdorf's interset distance. Certain other kinds of data, such as those employing dominant and subdominant species and the dry-weight-rank estimation of biomass, are also on an ordinal scale and could be analysed using similar techniques.To illustrate the approach, a string dissimilarity measure is used to analyse a set of data from Slovakian grasslands which appear to reflect a simple gradient. The original data were recorded with 10 classes of performance and are analysed using hierarchical and nondeterministic, overlapping, classifications.     

Genetic variability for esterase enzyme in Onobrychis species

Summary Understanding polymorphism at the enzyme level is basic to its use in population and genetic studies. However, no such information is available on the variability among different sainfoin (Onobrychis) species. Therefore, our objective was to study the existence of genetic polymorphism for esterase in 17 Onobrychis species and three cultivars of O. viciifolia Scop. Three regions of banding were observed in all the materials tested, with the number of bands varying from 0 to 3, 3 to 14, and 1 to 2 bands in each of these zones, which have been designated EST1, EST2, and EST3 respectively. All the materials studied had unique banding patterns, the only common feature being that all of them, except one species, had isozyme 1. Identification was possible only for four species (O. iberica, O. kachetica, O. transcaucasica, and O. bieberstenii) and one cultivar (Nova) based on the banding patterns. Large diversity was evident from the wide range of percent similarity values (0%–79%). Subsequent studies should be directed in using these isozyme banding patterns as markers to the desirable agronomic and quality traits of different germplasm lines.This work was supported by USDA Specific Cooperative Agreement No. 58-7MN1-8-143 from the Plant Stress and Water Conservation Unit, USDA-ARS, Lubbock, Texas. Joint contribution of the Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas and the USDA-ARS. TTU Journal no. T-4-302     

Successional status of trees in gallery forest along the river Rhine

Abstract. 20 alluvial forest stands of different ages along the river Rhine in central Alsace, France, are described. A natural complex landscape occurs which is formed by erosion activity of the river. Recent human impact (canal construction, cutting) has affected river hydrology: flooding is eliminated over large areas and the underground water levels are stabilized. The forest vegetation varies in species diversity and structure, from young pioneer to older, mid-successional forests. The forests were classified into four associations: Salici-Populetum nigrae, Ligustro-Populetum nigrae, Fraxino-Populetum albae and Querco-Ulmetum minoris. The first three communities are ‘softwood’ because of the dominance of Salix and Populus, the fourth, dominated by Quercus robur, Fraxinus excelsior and Ulmus minor, is ‘hardwood’. Differences in structure, species composition and diversity in 10 widely varying stands in 30-yr and 150-yr old forests are quantified and interpreted in relation to the processes and gradients (moisture and texture) involved. A model of forest succession is developed as follows:

• 1 Whatever the topographic level, Salix and Populus species are the most competitive in colonizing bare sediments.
• 2 Under natural conditions, pioneer softwoods are generally replaced by hardwoods in less than 100 yr.
• 3 Old Querco-Ulmetum is basically the terminal stage of the alluvial succession.
• 4 Old softwood forests result from an interruption of the natural course of succession. Softwoods may be an intermediate or late-successional phase depending on the interruption.
• 5 Successional processes change according to hydrological and edaphic gradients.
• 6 Allogenic processes of flooding are fundamental in the space-time species pattern.
• 7 Allogenic processes are responsible for the high species and community diversity.

     

The relationship between the seed bank and species composition of plant communities in two British salt marshes

The composition of the seed bank was compared with that of the above-ground vegetation in two British salt marshes. Vegetation and seed banks were sampled in autumn and spring. There was a relatively low correlation between seed bank and vegetation in most perennial-dominated zones. Percentage annual plant cover was significantly positively correlated to percentage similarity value between vegetation and seed bank. Cluster analysis indicated that the zones dominated by annuals and by Suaeda vera on the ungrazed Nod Marsh in Norfolk formed groups between seed bank and vegetation, whereas on the Llanrhidian Marsh in Wales the seed bank of four of the six zones formed a group.     

中国种子植物区系定量化研究 V．区系相似性

本文总结了应用相似系数即关联系数进行植物区系相似性分析的现状,指出了存在的问题．然后,从集合论角度讨论了区系相似性、相似关系及其相似系数的实质．作者以为在区系相似性分析中应用Ｒ．Ｒ．Ｓｏｋａｌ和Ｃ．Ｄ．Ｍｉｃｈｅｎｅｒ（１９５８）提出的简单匹配系数比较适宜,同时亦能避免以往区系相似性分析中缺乏可比性及某些“表相”相似等问题．最后,还提出了总体相似系数和类型相似系数二个新概念,以便按照吴征镒教授关于中国植物区系研究的学术思想统一研究各个不同地区植物区系的相似性．对此,作者用了６个区系实例进行了演算说明．     

世界红树植物分布区域间种类组成的相似性研究

以集合论为基础Ｊａｃｃａｒｄ相似性指数,定交了两个植物分布区域间种类组成的相似度和相异度,分析了世界个结树植物分布区域间的相似性。结果认为,在６个分布区域中,与东岸最相似的区域是大洋洲沿岸,与亚洲沿岸及东太平洋群岛之间最相似的区域也是玉平洋洲沿岸,与美洲西岸最相似的区域是非洲西岸,与非洲西岸最相似的区域是美洲东岸。     

Development of a pharmacophore model for the catecholamine release-inhibitory peptide catestatin: Virtual screening and functional testing identify novel small molecule therapeutics of hypertension

The endogenous catecholamine release-inhibitory peptide catestatin (CST) regulates events leading to hypertension and cardiovascular disease. Earlier we studied the structure of CST by NMR, molecular modeling, and amino acid scanning mutagenesis. That structure has now been exploited for elucidation of interface pharmacophores that mediate binding of CST to its target, with consequent secretory inhibition. Designed pharmacophore models allowed screening of 3D structural domains. Selected compounds were tested on both cultured catecholaminergic cells and an in vivo model of hypertension; in each case, the candidates showed substantial mimicry of native CST actions, with preserved or enhanced potency and specificity. The approach and compounds have thus enabled rational design of novel drug candidates for treatment of hypertension or autonomic dysfunction.     

高黎贡山南北段种子植物区系比较研究

为了解高黎贡山的种子植物资源,采用植物区系研究原理和方法,将高黎贡山南段与北段种子植物区系进行对比分析。结果表明,南段有192科878属2807种植物,种可分为15个分布类型9亚型14个变型;北段有172科778属2816种植物,种可分为15个分布类型9亚型20个变型。通过比较科属分化程度、数量构成及古热带成分比例等,南段区系具有较为古老和保守的特点,而北段植物区系具有较为年青和新生的特点。回归分析显示南北段区系地理成分相似度较高,而科属相似性却因分化在逐级降低。