Amino-acid interactions in psychrophiles, mesophiles, thermophiles, and hyperthermophiles: insights from the quasi-chemical approximation

We investigate the mechanisms used by proteins to maintain thermostability throughout a wide range of temperatures. We use the quasi-chemical approximation to estimate interaction strengths for psychrophiles, mesophiles, thermophiles, and hyperthermophiles. Our results highlight the importance of core packing in thermophilic stability. Although we observed an increase in the number of charged residues, the contribution of salt bridges appears to be relatively modest by comparison. We observed results consistent with a gradual loosening of structure in psychrophiles, including a weakening of almost all types of interactions.     

Environmental constraints upon locomotion and predator-prey interactions in aquatic organisms: an introduction

Environmental constraints in aquatic habitats have become topics of concern to both the scientific community and the public at large. In particular, coastal and freshwater habitats are subject to dramatic variability in various environmental factors, as a result of both natural and anthropogenic processes. The protection and sustainable management of all aquatic habitats requires greater understanding of how environmental constraints influence aquatic organisms. Locomotion and predator-prey interactions are intimately linked and fundamental to the survival of mobile aquatic organisms. This paper summarizes the main points from the review and research articles which comprise the theme issue 'Environmental constraints upon locomotion and predator-prey interactions in aquatic organisms'. The articles explore how natural and anthropogenic factors can constrain these two fundamental activities in a diverse range of organisms from phytoplankton to marine mammals. Some major environmental constraints derive from the intrinsic properties of the fluid and are mechanical in nature, such as viscosity and flow regime. Other constraints derive from direct effects of factors, such as temperature, oxygen content of the water or turbidity, upon the mechanisms underlying the performance of locomotion and predator-prey interactions. The effect of these factors on performance at the tissue and organ level is reflected in constraints upon performance of the whole organism. All these constraints can influence behaviour. Ultimately, they can have an impact on ecological performance. One issue that requires particular attention is how factors such as temperature and oxygen can exert different constraints on the physiology and behaviour of different taxa and the ecological implications of this. Given the multiplicity of constraints, the complexity of their interactions, and the variety of biological levels at which they can act, there is a clear need for integration between the fields of physiology, biomechanics, behaviour, ecology, biological modelling and evolution in both laboratory and field studies. For studies on animals in their natural environment, further technological advances are required to allow investigation of how the prevailing physico-chemical conditions influence basic physiological processes and behaviour.     

Critical thermal limits depend on methodological context

A full-factorial study of the effects of rates of temperature change and start temperatures was undertaken for both upper and lower critical thermal limits (CTLs) using the tsetse fly, Glossina pallidipes. Results show that rates of temperature change and start temperatures have highly significant effects on CTLs, although the duration of the experiment also has a major effect. Contrary to a widely held expectation, slower rates of temperature change (i.e. longer experimental duration) resulted in poorer thermal tolerance at both high and low temperatures. Thus, across treatments, a negative relationship existed between duration and upper CTL while a positive relationship existed between duration and lower CTL. Most importantly, for predicting tsetse distribution, G. pallidipes suffer loss of function at less severe temperatures under the most ecologically relevant experimental conditions for upper (0.06 degrees C min(-1); 35 degrees C start temperature) and lower CTL (0.06 degrees C min(-1); 24 degrees C start temperature). This suggests that the functional thermal range of G. pallidipes in the wild may be much narrower than previously suspected, approximately 20-40 degrees C, and highlights their sensitivity to even moderate temperature variation. These effects are explained by limited plasticity of CTLs in this species over short time scales. The results of the present study have broad implications for understanding temperature tolerance in these and other terrestrial arthropods.     

Separation and quantification of the cellular thiol pool of pea plants treated with heat, salt and atrazine

A novel procedure for the separation of the cellular thiol pool according to the molecular weight and localization of compounds with sulphydryl groups is presented. This simple and rapid method allows the differentiation of thiols into three major fractions-low molecular weight (LMT, primarily glutathione and free cysteine), protein-bound (TPT) and pellet-bound (PBT, associated with cell walls and broken organelles). Moreover, determination of the ratio between surface (readily reactive) thiols (ATG) and those that are more or less buried in the protein structure (BTG) can be achieved. In intact pea leaves, the amounts of the total thiols (LMT+PBT+TPT) varies from 2.5 to 4.8 micromol/g of fresh material. The data for LMT, PBT and TPT were related to each other in the approximate ratio 1:2:7. Treatments of pea plants with high temperature, salinity and low amounts of atrazine affect these sulphydryl types differently. For a greater understanding of the applicability of this method to physiological research, the main mechanisms leading to alterations in the cellular thiol pool are discussed. Furthermore, it is suggested that the proportion of available to buried thiols (ATG/BTG) in proteins could be used as a convenient marker for stress impacts.     

三种麦蚜在温度梯度中活动行为的临界高温

利用自制的温度梯度产生装置,研究了禾谷缢管蚜Rhopalosiphum padi、麦长管蚜Sitobion avenae和麦二叉蚜Schizaphis graminum在寄主植物叶片温度梯度上栖息、爬行和取食时的躲避临界高温。温度梯度内,麦蚜在小于等于温度T的温度区域内的累积栖息分布量占温度梯度场内蚜虫栖息总量的百分比Pa=90%时,则把T记为栖息躲避临界高温。将蚜虫在温度梯度内从低温端向高温端爬行的过程中,受到热刺激后调转运动方向时的温度定义为蚜虫爬行时的躲避临界高温。将蚜虫在温度逐渐升高的叶片上取食时拔出口针开始挣扎逃跑时的温度定义为蚜虫取食时的躲避临界高温。为研究麦蚜栖息和爬行时的躲避临界高温,在盛有水的搪瓷托盘一端下方置一盏白炽灯加热水温,在漂浮于水面的小麦叶片上产生了叶片温度梯度,用照相机记录蚜虫在温度梯度内栖息时的分布状态。为研究麦蚜取食时的躲避临界高温,在盛有水的塑料培养皿的下方设置一盏白炽灯用于加热水温,在漂浮于水面的小麦叶片上产生逐渐升高的温度。两个装置的温度设置均可通过调节白炽灯泡顶端与托盘或培养皿底部的距离来控制,用红外测温仪测量叶片上的温度。试验明确了3种麦蚜的栖息躲避临界高温,在26-43℃的叶片温度梯度内,禾谷缢管蚜、麦长管蚜和麦二叉蚜成蚜累积栖息分布达90%的临界高温分别为30.2、28.8℃和27.3℃,用Sigmoidal函数模型描述了麦蚜在温度梯度内的累积分布百分率与温度之间的关系。测定了3种麦蚜爬行和取食时的躲避临界高温,禾谷缢管蚜、麦长管蚜和麦二叉蚜爬行时的躲避临界高温分别为42.0、39.1℃和38.5℃;取食时的躲避临界高温分别为39.3、40.2℃和39.0℃。试验表明,3种蚜虫中禾谷缢管蚜较耐高温。讨论了温度梯度本身的设置、湿度控制、供试蚜虫种群的不同对麦蚜在温度梯度内行为可能造成的影响,并指出在温度梯度中,研究麦蚜若蚜蜕皮、成蚜生殖及有翅蚜和无翅蚜对适宜温度的选择将是今后继续开展的工作内容。本研究的结果为提高麦蚜田间调查取样及预测预报的准确度提供了依据,同时也为今后开展其它昆虫对环境高温的行为对策研究提供方法上的参考。     

森林生态系统土壤CO2释放随海拔梯度的变化及其影响因子

联合国气候框架公约的签署提升了人们对全球变暖、碳循环的关注。土壤CO₂释放作为土壤-大气CO₂交换的主要途径之一,成为了各国生态学家研究的重点内容。通过对1800~2155m海拔梯度上森林生态系统土壤CO₂释放进行研究,揭示了较小空间尺度上土壤CO₂释放的变化规律及其控制机制。在研究区域内,随着海拔梯度的增加,森林土壤CO₂释放由(1.94±006) μmol m^-2 s^-1逐渐增加至(2.22±0.07) μ mol m^-2 s^-1。土壤温度、土壤水分、土壤有机碳（SOC）、全N、全P与土壤CO₂释放呈显著正相关（n=14, P<0.05）;土壤容重与土壤CO₂释放速率呈显著负相关（n=14,P<0.05）;土壤pH对土壤CO₂释放影响不显著。作为一个复杂的生态学过程,环境因子及其交互作用对土壤CO₂释放产生影响,为了减少因子共线性影响,逐步降低因子维数,采用主成分分析（PCA）揭示了土壤温度、土壤水分、SOC、全N、全P、容重6个因子的联合作用,其累积贡献率达到了57％以上;进一步运用逐步回归分析方法,探讨了影响土壤CO₂释放沿海拔梯度分布的主导因子,结果表明土壤水分是研究区域森林生态系统土壤CO₂释放沿海拔梯度变化的主导因子。     

模拟大气CO2浓度和温度升高对亚高山冷杉(Abies faxoniana)林土壤酶活性的影响

采用控制环境生长室研究了川西亚高山森林生态系统中与C、N、P循环有关的土壤转化酶、脲酶、硝酸还原酶和酸性磷酸酶活性的月动态及其对模拟大气CO₂浓度增加、温度升高以及交互作用的动态响应。在一个生长季节内,土壤有机层和矿质土壤层的转化酶、脲酶、硝酸还原酶和酸性磷酸酶的活性高峰均出现在温度较高的夏季。其中,土壤有机层的转化酶活性高峰出现在6月份,但土壤矿质层的转化酶活性高峰出现在7月份,土壤有机层和矿质土壤层的脲酶和酸性磷酸酶的活性高峰均出现在7月份,而硝酸还原酶的活性高峰均出现在8月份。升高大气CO₂浓度处理(EC)对土壤有机层和矿质土壤层的转化酶、脲酶、硝酸还原酶和酸性磷酸酶活性没有显著影响。升高温度处理(ET)显著增加了土壤有机层和矿质土壤层的酶活性,并且土壤有机层的转化酶、硝酸还原酶和脲酶活性增加更显著。大气CO₂浓度增加和温度升高之间的交互作用(ECT)对土壤有机层和矿质土壤层酶活性的影响主要是温度升高引起的。     

粤东大规模海水增养殖区柘林湾浮游细菌的时空分布

2001年9月至2004年12月对粤东大规模海水增养区柘林湾表、底层水体中浮游细菌的时空分布进行调查。结果表明,柘林湾浮游细菌总均值为59．4×10^4／dm^3,与国内外富营养化程度较高的内湾海域大致相当。在平面分布上,浮游细菌总体上表现出湾内高于湾外、养殖区高于非养殖区的分布格局,说明大规模增养殖业对浮游细菌的时空分布具有重要的影响,其中网箱养殖的影响尤其显著。湾顶黄冈河口浮游细菌呈现显著的逐年增加趋势,其原因一方面与调查期间降雨减少有关;另一方面可能是受周边陆源污染输入加剧的影响。在周年变化上,浮游细菌表现为典型的单峰型周年变化模式,主要是受水温的调控。年度峰值出现在夏季高温季节（6～8月）,低谷出现在冬季低温季节（12～2月）。浮游细菌与溶氧呈现显著意义的负相关关系,但低溶氧可能是湾内养殖区初级生产力低下所致,而非浮游细菌耗氧所为。相反,溶氧降低可能会促进专性或兼性厌氧细菌的增加,使养殖环境进一步恶化。     

薇甘菊(Mikania micrantha)天敌——安婀珍蝶(Actinote anteas （Doubleday & Hewitson）)实验种群生命表

为了研究安婀珍蝶（Actinote anteas（Doubleday ＆ Hewitson））能否在广东省室温下顺利繁殖以及探讨其繁殖的最适温度,研究通过观察建立了室温和恒温下的实验种群生命表.在温度18～35 ℃之间,相对湿度85%左右时,安婀珍蝶从第1代到第4代的种群趋势指数分别为22.78、34.28、12.53、19.47;其内禀增长率rm分别为0.0287、0.0308、0.0250、0.0282,表明在室温下安婀珍蝶实验种群的世代繁殖力较高.在14～26 ℃下的实验种群生命表中,安婀珍蝶23 ℃时,内禀增长率rm为0.0401,最高,说明23 ℃是安婀珍蝶的繁殖最适温度.这些都为安婀珍蝶能否在广东地区顺利建立稳定的种群提供了理论的依据.     

正常乳腺温度分布的有限元分析

基于正常乳腺的解剖学结构和生理学特征,建立了一个乳腺组织多维热传递模型。该模型考虑了代谢产热、血液灌注和动静脉血管与组织间热的相互作用,采用有限元分析方法求解热传导方程,数值模拟正常乳腺的稳态温度分布,着重研究血液灌注和代谢产热对正常乳腺组织温度分布的影响。研究结果可为乳腺疾病的热图像分析提供重要参考。