Spatiotemporal variation in leaf size and shape in response to climate

叶片的形态变异是研究植物响应气候变化的重要指标之一。叶片大小与形状影响着植物与外界环境的碳、水等物质交换和能量交换。然而,叶片大小与形状如何响应气候变化仍缺乏研究。此外,大多研究忽略了叶大小与形状在时间和空间上的种内变异,而只关注种间变异。我们收集了中国98年(1910-2008年)7个代表性双子叶植物的植物标本馆标本6000多份,并测量了它们叶片的叶长和宽度。我们探索了叶片大小(叶长、叶宽和长×宽乘积)的地理模式和时间趋势,(即研究了降水量和温度随时间和空间的变化对叶片大小和形状变化的影响。在控制了标本采集时间的影响后,全部物种的平均叶大小沿着纬度梯度的增加而减小,但这一关系在不同物种间存在差异。叶大小和形状的空间变异与温度和降水正相关。当控制了采集地点的影响后,全部物种的平均叶大小随着时间有变大的趋势。大多数物种叶大小的时间变化与降水正相关,而叶形状的时间变化则与温度正相关。我们的研究指出叶大小和形状在时空上的种内变异显著受气候的影响,同时说明植物标本可以为研究植物形态对气候变化的响应提供素材。     

An Ultrastructural Study of the Extruded Polar Tube of Anncaliia algerae (Microsporidia)

All microsporidia share a unique, extracellular spore stage, containing the infective sporoplasm and the apparatus for initiating infection. The polar filament/polar tube when exiting the spore transports the sporoplasm through it into a host cell. While universal, these structures and processes have been enigmatic. This study utilized several types of microscopy, describing and extending our understanding of these structures and their functions. Cryogenically preserved polar tubes vary in diameter from 155 to over 200 nm, noticeably larger than fixed‐sectioned or negatively stained samples. The polar tube surface is pleated and covered with fine fibrillar material that projects from the surface and is organized in clusters or tufts. These fibrils may be the sites of glycoproteins providing protection and aiding infectivity. The polar tube surface is ridged with 5–6 nm spacing between ridges, enabling the polar tube to rapidly increase its diameter to facilitate the passage of the various cargo including cylinders, sacs or vesicles filled with particulate material and the intact sporoplasm containing a diplokaryon. The lumen of the tube is lined with a membrane that facilitates this passage. Careful examination of the terminus of the tube indicates that it has a closed tip where the membranes for the terminal sac are located.     

Are we close enough? Comparing prairie reconstruction chronosequences to remnants following two site preparation methods in Missouri,U.S.A.

Prairie reconstruction has become a common method for reestablishing tallgrass prairie communities in the central United States. With the objective of creating plant communities that approximate remnant (reference) prairies, managers are interested in identifying: (1) best methods for reconstructing reference community conditions; (2) the rate of change in plant communities through time following reconstruction; and (3) species present in remnant communities but missing from reconstructed communities. This information is important in the development of adaptive management strategies during active reconstruction. We used a chronosequence approach to assess the success of two reconstruction methods in emulating local, reference remnant prairie plant communities. We compared broadcast dormant seeding following two types of site preparation, agricultural cropping (Crop) or herbicide control in existing grass assemblages (Grass), and remnant communities. The Crop site preparation method resulted in a rapid increase in richness shortly following seeding. Although more similar to remnant assemblages initially, the Grass method took longer for mean coefficient of conservatism and floristic quality index to approach conditions of the reference communities. However, neither method resulted in plant community compositions that converged with the reference through time. Further, indicator species analysis identified a diverse assemblage of species lacking from the reconstructed prairies. These results suggest the need to develop management strategies for establishing the “missing” species during reconstruction and provide further support for protection and conservation of existing remnant prairies.     

Host specificity and reproductive success of yucca moths (Tegeticula spp. Lepidoptera: Prodoxidae) mirror patterns of gene flow between host plant varieties of the Joshua tree (Yucca brevifolia: Agavaceae)

Coevolution between flowering plants and their pollinators is thought to have generated much of the diversity of life on Earth, but the population processes that may have produced these macroevolutionary patterns remain unclear. Mathematical models of coevolution in obligate pollination mutualisms suggest that phenotype matching between plants and their pollinators can generate reproductive isolation. Here, we test this hypothesis using a natural experiment that examines the role of natural selection on phenotype matching between yuccas and yucca moths (Tegeticula spp.) in mediating reproductive isolation between two varieties of Joshua tree (Yucca brevifolia var. brevifolia and Y. brevifolia var. jaegeriana). Using passive monitoring techniques, DNA barcoding, microsatellite DNA genotyping, and sibship reconstruction, we track host specificity and the fitness consequences of host choice in a zone of sympatry. We show that the two moth species differ in their degree of host specificity and that oviposition on a foreign host plant results in the production of fewer offspring. This difference in host specificity between the two moth species mirrors patterns of chloroplast introgression from west to east between host varieties, suggesting that natural selection acting on pollinator phenotypes mediates gene flow and reproductive isolation between Joshua‐tree varieties.     

Loss of genetic variation in hatchery-reared Indian major carp, Catla catla

The hypothesis that effective population sizes are low in hatchery-reared catla ( Catla catla ) from Bangladesh, possibly leading to inbreeding and loss of variation, was tested. The study was based on analysis of seven microsatellite loci in three samples of hatchery-reared catla and four samples representing wild populations. Pair-wise estimates of genetic differentiation between samples were low between wild samples (θ ranging from 0·012 to 0·034), but high between hatchery samples (θ ranging from 0·153 to 0·185), suggesting strong genetic drift in hatcheries. Genetic variation, both in terms of expected heterozygosity and allelic richness, was significantly lower in hatchery samples than in samples of wild catla. Application of a method for reconstructing families among offspring without parental genetic data showed that the hatchery samples consisted of very few half- and full-sib families, whereas the wild samples consisted of a high number of families, suggesting that most individuals were unrelated. Finally, estimation of the effective number of parents ( N _b) in the largest sample of hatchery fish confirmed that effective population size was low ( N _b= 14·9 for multiallelic loci and N _b= 10·6 if alleles were pooled into two composite alleles). The results show that low effective population sizes leading to loss of variation and possibly inbreeding depression should be a matter of serious concern in aquaculture production of catla.     

Evolutionary disequilibrium and activity period in primates: a bayesian phylogenetic approach

Activity period plays a central role in studies of primate origins and adaptations, yet fundamental questions remain concerning the evolutionary history of primate activity period. Lemurs are of particular interest because they display marked variation in activity period, with some species exhibiting completely nocturnal or diurnal lifestyles, and others distributing activity throughout the 24-h cycle (i.e., cathemerality). Some lines of evidence suggest that cathemerality in lemurs is a recent and transient evolutionary state (i.e., the evolutionary disequilibrium hypothesis), while other studies indicate that cathemerality is a stable evolutionary strategy with a more ancient history. Debate also surrounds activity period in early primate evolution, with some recent studies casting doubt on the traditional hypothesis that basal primates were nocturnal. Here, we used Bayesian phylogenetic methods to reconstruct activity period at key points in primate evolution. Counter to the evolutionary disequilibrium hypothesis, the most recent common ancestor of Eulemur was reconstructed as cathemeral at ～9-13 million years ago, indicating that cathemerality in lemurs is a stable evolutionary strategy. We found strong evidence favoring a nocturnal ancestor for all primates, strepsirrhines and lemurs, which adds to previous findings based on parsimony by providing quantitative support for these reconstructions. Reconstructions for the haplorrhine ancestor were more equivocal, but diurnality was favored for simian primates. We discuss the implications of our models for the evolutionary disequilibrium hypothesis, and we identify avenues for future research that would provide new insights into the evolution of cathemerality in lemurs.     

Genome-scale metabolic representation of Amycolatopsis balhimycina

Infection caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is an increasing societal problem. Typically, glycopeptide antibiotics are used in the treatment of these infections. The most comprehensively studied glycopeptide antibiotic biosynthetic pathway is that of balhimycin biosynthesis in Amycolatopsis balhimycina. The balhimycin yield obtained by A. balhimycina is, however, low and there is therefore a need to improve balhimycin production. In this study, we performed genome sequencing, assembly and annotation analysis of A. balhimycina and further used these annotated data to reconstruct a genome-scale metabolic model for the organism. Here we generated an almost complete A. balhimycina genome sequence comprising 10,562,587 base pairs assembled into 2,153 contigs. The high GC-genome (～ 69%) includes 8,585 open reading frames (ORFs). We used our integrative toolbox called SEQTOR for functional annotation and then integrated annotated data with biochemical and physiological information available for this organism to reconstruct a genome-scale metabolic model of A. balhimycina. The resulting metabolic model contains 583 ORFs as protein encoding genes (7% of the predicted 8,585 ORFs), 407 EC numbers, 647 metabolites and 1,363 metabolic reactions. During the analysis of the metabolic model, linear, quadratic and evolutionary programming algorithms using flux balance analysis (FBA), minimization of metabolic adjustment (MOMA), and OptGene, respectively were applied as well as phenotypic behavior and improved balhimycin production were simulated. The A. balhimycina model shows a good agreement between in silico data and experimental data and also identifies key reactions associated with increased balhimycin production. The reconstruction of the genome-scale metabolic model of A. balhimycina serves as a basis for physiological characterization. The model allows a rational design of engineering strategies for increasing balhimycin production in A. balhimycina and glycopeptide production in general.     

利用植物DNA条形码构建亚热带森林群落系统发育关系——以鼎湖山样地为例

在群落水平上重建植物系统发育关系是当前植物系统学研究的一项重要内容;DNA条形码技术的出现为这一工作的开展提供了便利。本文选取国际通用的植物DNA条形码（rbcL,matK和psbA trnH）,对鼎湖山大样地的183个物种（隶属于24目51科110属）进行测序;分别利用两位点和三位点DNA条形码组合构建该样地植物群落的系统发育关系,并比较不同位点组合构建出的群落系统发育关系的拓扑结构和节点支持率;最后选出一个具有最好拓扑结构和最高节点支持率的鼎湖山大样地群落系统发育关系。在目、科和属这三个水平上,三位点条形码片段组合构建的群落系统发育关系与APG系统获得较好匹配;有些进化分支在相应的APG系统位置解决得不好,却在条形码序列构建的系统发育关系中得到了较好解决。表明综合使用不同进化速率的DNA条形码片段并采取三位点超级矩阵的组合策略,在未采用APG系统大框架的情况下,也能快速而又相对准确地构建出鼎湖山南亚热带森林植物群落的系统发育关系。     

Utilization of cone-beam CT for offline evaluation of target volume coverage during prostate image-guided radiotherapy based on bony anatomy alignment

AimTo assess target volume coverage during prostate image-guided radiotherapy based on bony anatomy alignment and to assess possibility of safety margin reduction.BackgroundImplementation of IGRT should influence safety margins. Utilization of cone-beam CT provides current 3D anatomic information directly in irradiation position. Such information enables reconstruction of the actual dose distribution.Materials and methodsSeventeen prostate patients were treated with daily bony anatomy image-guidance. Cone-beam CT (CBCT) scans were acquired once a week immediately after bony anatomy alignment. After the prostate, seminal vesicles, rectum and bladder were contoured, the delivered dose distribution was reconstructed. Target dose coverage was evaluated by the proportion of the CTV encompassed by the 95% isodose. Original plans employed a 1 cm safety margin. Alternative plans assuming a smaller 7 mm margin between CTV and PTV were evaluated in the same way. Rectal and bladder volumes were compared with the initial ones. Rectal and bladder volumes irradiated with doses higher than 75 Gy, 70 Gy, 60 Gy, 50 Gy and 40 Gy were analyzed.ResultsIn 12% of reconstructed plans the prostate coverage was not sufficient. The prostate underdosage was observed in 5 patients. Coverage of seminal vesicles was not satisfactory in 3% of plans. Most of the target underdosage corresponded to excessive rectal or bladder filling. Evaluation of alternative plans assuming a smaller 7 mm margin revealed 22% and 11% of plans where prostate and seminal vesicles coverage, respectively, was compromised. These were distributed over 8 and 7 patients, respectively.ConclusionSufficient dose coverage of target volumes was not achieved for all patients. Reducing of safety margin is not acceptable. Initial rectal and bladder volumes cannot be considered representative for subsequent treatment.     

基于参与性调查的农户对环境移民政策及重建预案的认知与响应——西南喀斯特移民迁出区研究

环境移民工程的实施对迁出区生态重建产生了极其重要的影响.研究采用参与性农户评估方法(PRA)对喀斯特石山区4个屯农户进行了调查,根据研究需要将其分为移民迁出区和非移民迁出区,对比两组农户的现有耕地面积、经济收入以及对移民政策的态度等问题,探讨迁出区的移民效应和可持续性问题.研究表明:环境移民缓解了人地关系的矛盾,提高了耕地的利用效率、加强了农户环境意识、增加了经济收入以及抵御自然灾害风险的能力,有力地保证了退耕还林政策的顺利实施和多种经营的推广.但仍然存在4个不容忽视的问题.一是潜在移民人数仍然很高.二是农户种植行为的商业化,忽视了对土地利用的可持续性.三是现有的配套措施不够完善,水、路等基础设施亟待解决.四是特色产业和文化受到冲击.