Priority effects and competition by a native species inhibit an invasive species and may assist restoration

Selecting native species for restoration is often done without proper ecological background, particularly with regard to how native and invasive species interact. Here, we provide insights suggesting that such information may greatly enhance restoration success. The performance of the native vine, Pueraria lobata, and that of the invasive bitter vine, Mikania micrantha, were investigated in South China to test how priority effects (timing and rate of germination and seedling growth) and competition (phytochemical effects and competitive ability) impact invasive plant performance. We found that, in the absence of competition, the germination rate of M. micrantha, but not of P. lobata, was significantly affected by light availability. P. lobata seedlings also performed better than those of M. micrantha during early growth phases. Under competition, negative phytochemical effects of P. lobata on M. micrantha were strong and we found M. micrantha to have lower performance when grown with P. lobata compared to when grown by itself. Relative interaction indexes indicated that, under interspecific competition, P. lobata negatively affected (i.e., inhibited) M. micrantha, whereas M. micrantha positively affected (i.e., facilitated) P. lobata. Higher photosynthetic efficiency and soil nutrient utilization put P. lobata at a further advantage over M. micrantha. Field trails corroborated these experimental findings, showing little recruitment of M. micrantha in previously invaded and cleared field plots that were sown with P. lobata. Thus, P. lobata is a promising candidate for ecological restoration and for reducing impacts of M. micrantha in China. This research illustrates that careful species selection may improve restoration outcomes, a finding that may also apply to other invaded ecosystems and species.     

The effect of grazing on winter survival of midday gerbil (Meriones meridianus) of different genders

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of grazing on midday gerbil (Meriones meridianus) population characteristics and survival of animals of different genders. The experiment used a randomized complete block design and was conducted in Alxa Left Banner, Inner Mongolia, China, in 2002 (The agricultural reclamation plots set up in 1994). From April 2006 to October 2010, midday gerbils were live‐trapped in 3 light grazing plots, 3 overgrazed plots, and 3 grazing exclusion plots. The quantity of vegetation was investigated in the two different grazing intensity areas and grazing exclusion area to determine the relationship between gerbils and plant food availability. The results suggested that there was higher gerbil density, individual body mass, and daily body mass growth rate in the grazing exclusion sites than the other sites across the whole year. Females had higher survival in grazing exclusion areas than in other treatments, but the males’ survival showed the opposite pattern. Our results indicated that grazing negatively influenced the midday gerbil population by reducing food availability. Grazing influenced the survival rates of male midday gerbils positively, but had negative effects on females. The reason for gendered differences in survival rates of midday gerbils requires further investigation.     

基于焦磷酸测序技术建立基因编辑水稻检测方法

基因编辑技术发展迅速,但对应的检测方法较少。为寻找创建基因编辑作物适用的检测方法,以 PL3 基因编辑水稻编辑位点为靶标,有效设计了焦磷酸测序的扩增引物及测序引物,并进行有效性检测,分别利用Sequence to Analyze等程序以及SNP和AQ两种模式完成了对PL3 基因的定性和定量检测试验,建立了 PL3 基因编辑水稻编辑位点焦磷酸测序检测方法。结果表明,基于焦磷酸测序技术可以通过检测编辑位点从而将基因编辑型水稻与野生型水稻进行区分。与常规的转基因检测方法相比,该检测方法具有较好的准确性、高效性及高灵敏度等优点,在基因编辑型水稻编辑位点定性和定量检测分析方面具有很好的应用前景。     

Variation in rare earth element (REE), aluminium (Al) and silicon (Si) accumulation among populations of the hyperaccumulator Dicranopteris linearis in southern China

Plant and Soil - Dicranopteris linearis is a rare earth element (REE), aluminium (Al) and silicon (Si) hyperaccumulator plant which occurs in southern China. To date, there have been no studies on...     

Identification of candidate chemosensory receptors in the antennal transcriptome of Tropidothorax elegans

Molecular Biology Reports - Chemosensory receptors in the dendritic membrane of olfactory cells are critical for the molecular recognition and discrimination of odorants. Tropidothorax elegans is a...     

Astragaloside IV alleviates atherosclerosis through targeting circ_0000231/miR-135a-5p/CLIC4 axis in AS cell model in vitro

Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry - Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) have shown to act as crucial mediators in atherosclerosis (AS) development. The purpose of our study was to explore the role of...     

松毛虫赤眼蜂两性生殖品系和孤雌产雌品系在不同品种柞蚕卵中的寄生和生长发育表现

【目的】明确两性生殖品系和孤雌产雌品系松毛虫赤眼蜂Trichogramma dendrolimi在不同品种柞蚕Antheraea pernyi卵中的寄生及发育表现,为以柞蚕卵为替代寄主更好地规模化繁育赤眼蜂提供依据。【方法】测定两性生殖品系和孤雌产雌品系雌蜂在6个品种柞蚕卵［抗大(KD)、大四(DS)、高新(GX)、988(NEE)、青大(QD)和特大(TD)］上的寄生率、子代蜂窝蜂数(单窝羽化子代蜂数)和子代蜂雌性比等生物学指标,以及6个品种柞蚕卵的质量指标(单卵湿重、蛋白质含量、总糖含量和甘油三酯含量);利用主成分分析揭示柞蚕卵质量指标与赤眼蜂生物学指标间的相关性。【结果】NEE品种柞蚕卵育出的两性品系松毛虫赤眼蜂子代蜂个体显著大于除KD和QD品种以外的其他柞蚕品种卵育出的两性品系子代蜂。柞蚕品种对两性品系松毛虫赤眼蜂的寄生率、子代蜂窝蜂数和子代蜂雌性比均无显著影响。在孤雌产雌品系松毛虫赤眼蜂中,KD品种柞蚕卵育出的松毛虫赤眼蜂子代蜂窝蜂数最多,显著高于NEE和QD品种育出的子代蜂窝蜂数,但与DS, GX和TD品种育出的子代蜂窝蜂数相比无显著差异。柞蚕品种对孤雌产雌品系松毛虫赤眼蜂的寄生率和子代蜂个体大小均无显著影响。TD品种柞蚕卵的蛋白质含量最高,显著高于除GX品种以外的柞蚕品种。KD品种柞蚕卵的总糖含量和QD品种柞蚕卵的甘油三酯含量最高,均分别显著高于其余柞蚕品种。主成分分析表明,两性品系松毛虫赤眼蜂寄生率、柞蚕卵蛋白质含量和甘油三酯含量均与柞蚕卵总糖含量呈负相关;两性品系松毛虫赤眼蜂子代蜂个体大小和柞蚕卵甘油三酯含量与单卵湿重呈负相关;孤雌产雌品系松毛虫赤眼蜂寄生率和柞蚕卵甘油三酯含量与松毛虫赤眼蜂子代蜂窝蜂数、柞蚕卵总糖含量和单卵湿重呈负相关;孤雌产雌品系松毛虫赤眼蜂子代蜂个体大小和柞蚕卵总糖含量与蛋白质含量呈负相关。【结论】本研究通过筛选适宜两性生殖品系和孤雌产雌品系赤眼蜂繁育的柞蚕卵品种,初步明确了卵内主要营养指标与子代蜂生物学指标间的相关性。研究结果为利用柞蚕卵更好地规模化繁育松毛虫赤眼蜂提供依据与数据支撑。