罗霄山脉翼手目物种多样性及适生区预测

罗霄山脉位于中国大陆东南部, 是一条南北走向的大型山脉, 面积约6.76万km²。该山脉位于欧亚大陆东部季风区, 生物多样性丰富, 是亚洲东部第三纪冰期动物重要的避难所。为了解罗霄山脉翼手目物种多样性状况, 本研究组于2013-2018年, 使用雾网、手网和竖琴网等工具开展了针对性调查与标本采集, 同时运用形态分类学和分子系统发生学方法鉴定物种。根据调查结果并结合文献记载: 罗霄山脉地区现有翼手目物种4科14属40种, 其中罗霄山脉翼手目新记录种25种, 省级翼手目分布新记录种9种。同时, 本研究基于5年的调查采集位点, 使用生物多样 性与气候变化虚拟实验室(the Biodiversity & Climate Change Virtual Laboratory)在线生境预测平台, 对罗霄山脉翼手目物种当前的适生区, 以及3种不同量温室气体排放情景下(representative concentration pathway, RCP 2.6 / 6.0 / 8.5) 2050年的适生区进行预测, 其中随机森林算法(random forest)的模型解释力较优, 其预测结果显示: 影响该区域翼手目分布的主要环境因子为降水季节性和年平均温度; 山脉中部及南部为翼手目的高适生区, 面积约为罗霄山脉的30%; 与当前适生区相比, RCP 2.6情景下2050年该类群适生区有所扩增, RCP 6.0和RCP 8.5情景下均会导致翼手目适生区急剧缩减, 且分布区将迁移至高海拔区域以响应气候变化。而本项目的开展不仅初步掌握了罗霄山脉翼手目物种多样性本底状况, 也为开展后续的翼手目研究和保护管理提供了参考。     

末次盛冰期以来观光木的潜在地理分布变迁

观光木(Tsoongiodendron odorum)是木兰科的古老残遗物种, 目前正面临严峻的生存威胁, 属于极小种群濒危植物。通过生态位模型(ENM)能够重建观光木地理分布格局的历史变迁, 探究气候变化对该物种分布的影响, 并了解其地理分布与气候需求间的关系, 从而为全球变暖背景下观光木的保护提供理论基础。该文基于96条现代分布记录和8个环境变量, 采用最大熵(MaxEnt)模型模拟观光木在末次盛冰期、全新世中期、现代和未来(2061-2080年, RCP 8.5)的潜在分布区, 利用SDM toolbox分析观光木的地理空间变化, 并综合贡献率、置换重要值和Jackknife检验来评估气候因子的重要性。研究结果表明: (1)观光木的高度适生区在南岭地区, 末次盛冰期时没有大尺度向南退缩, 很可能在山区避难所原地存活; (2)在全新世中期和未来两个增温的气候情境下, 观光木的分布区均表现为缩减, 其中未来分布的减幅更大, 表明气候变暖对观光木的生长有一定的负面影响; (3)总体上看, 观光木各个时期的地理分布范围相对稳定, 说明观光木对气候变化有一定的适应能力, 人为活动或自身繁育问题可能是致濒的重要原因, 并建议对广东和广西群体进行优先保护。     

The intronic promoter of Actin4 mediates high-level transgene expression mainly in the wing and epidermis of silkworms

Transgenic Research - The cytoplasmic actin gene Actin4 (A4) in silkworm (Bombyx mori) was isolated 20 years ago and has a distal promoter upstream of the first exon and a proximal...     

Species richness promotes ecosystem carbon storage: evidence from biodiversity-ecosystem functioning experiments

Plant diversity has a strong impact on a plethora of ecosystem functions and services, especially ecosystem carbon (C) storage. However, the potential context-dependency of biodiversity effects across ecosystem types, environmental conditions and carbon pools remains largely unknown. In this study, we performed a meta-analysis by collecting data from 95 biodiversity-ecosystem functioning (BEF) studies across 60 sites to explore the effects of plant diversity on different C pools, including aboveground and belowground plant biomass, soil microbial biomass C and soil C content across different ecosystem types. The results showed that ecosystem C storage was significantly enhanced by plant diversity, with stronger effects on aboveground biomass than on soil C content. Moreover, the response magnitudes of ecosystem C storage increased with the level of species richness and experimental duration across all ecosystems. The effects of plant diversity were more pronounced in grasslands than in forests. Furthermore, the effects of plant diversity on belowground plant biomass increased with aridity index in grasslands and forests, suggesting that climate change might modulate biodiversity effects, which are stronger under wetter conditions but weaker under more arid conditions. Taken together, these results provide novel insights into the important role of plant diversity in ecosystem C storage across critical C pools, ecosystem types and environmental contexts.     

Efficient deletion of LoxP-flanked selectable marker genes from the genome of transgenic pigs by an engineered Cre recombinase

Genetically modified (GM) pigs hold great promises for pig genetic improvement, human health and life science. When GM pigs are produced, selectable marker genes (SMGs) are usually introduced into their genomes for host cell or animal recognition. However, the SMGs that remain in GM pigs might have multiple side effects. To avoid the possible side effects caused by the SMGs, they should be removed from the genome of GM pigs before their commercialization. The Cre recombinase is commonly used to delete the LoxP sites-flanked SMGs from the genome of GM animals. Although SMG-free GM pigs have been generated by Cre-mediated recombination, more efficient and cost-effective approaches are essential for the commercialization of SMG-free GM pigs. In this article we describe the production of a recombinant Cre protein containing a cell-penetrating and a nuclear localization signal peptide in one construct. This engineered Cre enzyme can efficiently excise the LoxP-flanked SMGs in cultured fibroblasts isolated from a transgenic pig, which then can be used as nuclear donor cells to generate live SMG-free GM pigs harboring a desired transgene by somatic cell nuclear transfer. This study describes an efficient and far-less costly method for production of SMG-free GM pigs.

     

Allopatric divergence and hybridization within Cupressus chengiana (Cupressaceae), a threatened conifer in the northern Hengduan Mountains of western China

Having a comprehensive understanding of population structure, genetic differentiation and demographic history is important for the conservation and management of threatened species. High‐throughput sequencing (HTS) provides exciting opportunities to address a wide range of factors for conservation genetics. Here, we generated HTS data and identified 266,884 high‐quality single nucleotide polymorphisms from 82 individuals of Cupressus chengiana, to assess population genomics across the species' full range, comprising the Daduhe River (DDH), Minjiang River (MJR) and Bailongjiang River (BLJ) catchments in western China. admixture , principal components analysis and phylogenetic analyses indicated that each region contains a distinct lineage, with high levels of differentiation between them (DDH, MJR and BLJ lineages). MJR was newly distinguished compared to previous surveys, and evidence including coalescent simulations supported a hybrid origin of MJR during the Quaternary. Each of these three lineages should be recognized as an evolutionarily significant unit (ESU), due to isolation, differing genetic adaptations and different demographic history. Currently, each ESU faces distinct threats, and will require different conservation strategies. Our work shows that population genomic approaches using HTS can reconstruct the complex evolutionary history of threatened species in mountainous regions, and hence inform conservation efforts, and contribute to the understanding of high biodiversity in mountains.     

Overexpression of the chitinase gene CmCH1 from Coniothyrium minitans renders enhanced resistance to Sclerotinia sclerotiorum in soybean

Transgenic Research - Pathogenic fungi represent one of the major biotic stresses for soybean production across the world. Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, the causal agent of Sclerotinia stem rot, is a...     

甘肃兴隆山保护区野生马麝分布、数量特征及影响因素

综合采用样线法、粪堆计数法及重复调查法对甘肃省兴隆山国家级自然保护区的野生马麝（Moschus chrysogaster）进行了种群调查,结合生境分析,确定了其种群分布、数量特征及影响因素。结果表明,兴隆山保护区分布有野生马麝（1159±275）头,平均种群密度为（3.51±0.83）头/km²;各植被类型生境中的野生麝种群数量及密度存在差异,灌丛生境分布有70%的野生马麝种群,达（807±170）头,种群密度为（6.49±1.63）头/km²;针叶林种群密度最大,达（8.85±83.25）头/km²,分布有野生麝（123±45）头;针阔混交林分布最少,仅（41±15）头,种群密度为（5.00±1.84）头/km²;人工林生境无野生马麝分布。保护区各植被类型生境中的野生马麝种群分布差异反映了马麝对适宜生境功能的需求,食物、保温和隐蔽性是制约野生马麝冬季分布和种群数量的关键因素。此外,因生境及人为干扰强度的不同,保护区各区域的野生马麝种群分布存在差异。建议通过减少人为干扰、地表植被管理及人工林管理优化等措施增加生境适宜性,促进兴隆山自然保护区野生马麝种群的快速恢复和增长。     

干旱胁迫对群众杨光合特性与器官干物质分配的影响

土壤干旱是北方地区杨树人工林生长和生态效益的重要限制因子。以群众杨(Populus×popularis‘35-44’)扦插苗为研究材料,采用盆栽称重法控制土壤水分,设置正常供水、中度干旱、重度干旱3种水分梯度。分别于2016年9月与2017年9月测定叶片气体交换参数、各器官干重、根冠比、叶经济性状等指标,研究了持续2年干旱胁迫下群众杨扦插苗光合特性与器官干物质分配的变化规律,分析了土壤干旱程度、树龄在"小老树"形成中的作用过程。2016年与2017年中度、重度干旱胁迫下功能叶净光合速率(P_n)受到非气孔限制,与正常供水相比分别降低了36.08%、56.42%;18.47%、5.13%。第一年干旱胁迫下群众杨气孔导度(G_s)和蒸腾速率(T_r)显著降低;第二年干旱胁迫下G_s与正常供水无显著差异,而T_r显著提高,有利于叶片C、N元素的运输分配进而维持较高的P_n。第一年随干旱胁迫程度加剧,群众杨叶片C/N显著提高,光合产物分配趋向于叶器官。第二年中度干旱胁迫下叶片C/N与正常供水相比无显著差异,各器官干重下降幅度均低于2016年,而根冠比显著增加,表明其光合产物主要用于地下部构建以适应中度干旱环境;持续重度干旱则光合产物向茎中的分配比例提高。干旱胁迫导致群众杨功能叶水分利用效率(WUE,Water use efficiency)与光合氮利用效率(PNUE,Photosynthetic nitrogen use efficiency)显著降低,整株氮利用效率(NUE,Whole plant nitrogen use efficiency)显著提高。严重土壤干旱下叶片耗水增强、PNUE下降以及茎木质部碳投资增加可能是群众杨小老树形成的重要原因。     

青藏高原多年冻土区不同水分条件的高寒草甸根系功能性状对增温的响应

在青藏高原多年冻土广泛分布的风火山地区,选择小嵩草（Kobresia pygmea）草甸和藏嵩草（Kobresia tibetica）沼泽化草甸为研究对象,采用开顶增温室（Open top chambers, OTCs）模拟气候变暖,探讨模拟增温对土壤水分差异的两种草甸地下生物量及根系功能性状的影响。结果显示,（1）增温显著增加小嵩草草甸0—20 cm根系生物量,主要是由于表层（0—10 cm）根系生物量显著增加,而对藏嵩草沼泽化草甸根系生物量无影响。（2）增温显著增加了小嵩草草甸根组织密度,同时提高了藏嵩草沼泽化草甸10—20 cm的比根长和比根面积（3）增温降低了小嵩草草甸的根系碳含量及10—20 cm根系氮含量,增加了藏嵩草沼泽化草甸的碳含量及10—20 cm根系氮含量,显著提高了小嵩草草甸和藏嵩草沼泽化草甸深层（10—20 cm）根系碳氮比。这些结果预示着增温使得土壤水分较低的小嵩草草甸朝着资源保守的慢速生长型发展,以适应暖干化的环境;土壤水分较高的藏嵩草沼泽化草甸朝着资源获取的快速生长型发展,加速利用土壤中的养分满足植物生长需要。可见,土壤水分可以调节高寒草甸对气候变暖的演变趋势,强调了水分的重要性。