高体近红鲌的生长与繁殖

高体近红鲌为长江上游的特有鱼类,以2008年5—11月从赤水河赤水市江段采集的540尾高体近红鲌标本为材料,对其生长与繁殖特性进行了研究和分析。结果表明:高体近红鲌鳞片年轮结构呈疏密切割型,年龄特征显著。种群由1—4龄共4个年龄组组成,其中以2龄个体为主。体长分布主要集中在100—160 mm;体重分布主要集中在20.0—50.0 g。总性比为♀∶♂=1.30∶1。体长与鳞径呈直线关系,体长和体重呈幂函数关系且幂指数接近3,基本符合匀速生长类型,体长和体重Von Bertalanffy方程分别为Lt=217.38(1-e-0.2867(t+0.757))和Wt=118.151-e-0.2867(t+0.757)2.8103;生长拐点为2.85龄,拐点对应的体长和体重分别为Lt=140.09 mm,Wt=34.37 g。雌雄初次性成熟年龄均为1龄;繁殖高峰期为6—7月。Ⅳ期雌鱼的绝对繁殖力为950—8655粒,平均值(3087.90±1602.15)粒;体长相对繁殖力FL为10.00—56.20粒/cm,平均值(24.26±10.16)粒/cm;体重相对怀卵量FW为66.08—197.67粒/g,平均值(116.49±32.05)粒/g;卵径频率分布显示高体近红鲌为一次产卵类型。       

An individual-based model of hepatitis A transmission

Viral hepatitis A, as other endemic diseases, represents a public health priority worldwide. To study long-time scale human pathogens through individual-based simulations, the development of a dynamic network of contacts is required. In this work, we introduce an individual-based model accounting for the birth and death of the individuals, the generation of new households, and the educational career of the individuals, in order to investigate viral hepatitis A dynamics in the most affected Italian areas. Intervention options such as targeted vaccination, social distancing measures (e.g., closure of day care centers and kindergartens) and improvements in standards of living and hygiene are evaluated. Results show that a very low vaccination coverage is sufficient to control hepatitis A in Italy, while its elimination is not possible since new cases are continuously imported from high endemicity areas outside the country. Finally, the considered social distancing measures can be counterproductive since the fraction of recovered individuals does not decline while the age at infection increases, thus augmenting the probability of developing acute symptoms.     

Triterpenoid saponins from a cytotoxic root extract of Sideroxylonfoetidissimum subsp. gaumeri

Evaluation of the cytotoxicity of an ethanolic root extract of Sideroxylonfoetidissimum subsp. gaumeri (Sapotaceae) revealed activity against the murine macrophage-like cell line RAW 264.7. Systematic bioassay-guided fractionation of this extract gave an active saponin-containing fraction from which four saponins were isolated. Use of 1D (¹H, ¹³C, DEPT135) and 2D (COSY, TOCSY, HSQC, and HMBC) NMR, mass spectrometry and sugar analysis gave their structures as 3-O-(β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1 → 6)-β-d-glucopyranosyl)-28-O-(α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 → 3)[β-d-xylopyranosyl-(1 → 4)]-β-d-xylopyranosyl-(1 → 4)-α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 → 2)-α-l-arabinopyranosyl)-16α-hydroxyprotobassic acid, 3-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl-28-O-(α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 → 3)[β-d-xylopyranosyl-(1 → 4)]-β-d-xylopyranosyl-(1 → 4)-α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 → 2)-α-l-arabinopyranosyl)-16α-hydroxyprotobassic acid, 3-O-(β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1 → 6)-β-d-glucopyranosyl)-28-O-(α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 → 3)-β-d-xylopyranosyl-(1 → 4)[β-d-apiofuranosyl-(1 → 3)]-α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 → 2)-α-l-arabinopyranosyl)-16α-hydroxyprotobassic acid, and the known compound, 3-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl-28-O-(α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 → 3)[β-d-xylopyranosyl-(1 → 4)]-β-d-xylopyranosyl-(1 → 4)-α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 → 2)-α-l-arabinopyranosyl)-protobassic acid. Two further saponins were obtained from the same fraction, but as a 5:4 mixture comprising 3-O-(β-d-glucopyranosyl)-28-O-(α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 → 3)-β-d-xylopyranosyl-(1 → 4)[β-d-apiofuranosyl-(1 → 3)]-α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 → 2)-α-l-arabinopyranosyl)-16α-hydroxyprotobassic acid and 3-O-(β-d-apiofuranosyl-(1 → 3)-β-d-glucopyranosyl)-28-O-(α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 → 3)[β-d-xylopyranosyl-(1 → 4)]-β-d-xylopyranosyl-(1 → 4)-α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 → 2)-α-l-arabinopyranosyl)-16α-hydroxyprotobassic acid, respectively. This showed greater cytotoxicity (IC₅₀ = 11.9 ± 1.5 μg/ml) towards RAW 264.7 cells than the original extract (IC₅₀ = 39.5 ± 4.1 μg/ml), and the saponin-containing fraction derived from it (IC₅₀ = 33.7 ± 6.2 μg/ml).     

Spring wetlands of the Great Artesian Basin,Queensland, Australia

The Great Artesian Basin is an aquifer system that underlies a large area of north-eastern Australia. The spring wetlands in the Great Artesian Basin are of conservation significance because they provide habitat for endemic species including fish, invertebrates and plants. Since European settlement massive quantities of water have been artificially extracted through bores, reducing spring-flows. Records of the springs of the Queensland section of the Great Artesian Basin (excluding Cape York Peninsula) were compiled from a range of historical sources. Most remaining active springs were visited and surveyed, the physical attributes of the springs described and their current status determined. Recharge springs occur in areas where the evidence suggests the basin is recharged by rainfall and 93% of the original 245 spring-groups in these areas are still active. Discharge springs occur in sections of the Basin down-gradient of the recharge areas and only 36% of the original 300 spring-groups in these areas have at least some springs that are still active. The capping of bores could provide a partial restoration of artesian pressure and enhance spring flows. Of the active spring-groups surveyed 26% have suffered major or total damage as a result of excavation of the wetlands. An emerging threat is the use of exotic grasses as ponded pastures, which have the ability to dominate the habitat of spring wetlands. The potential impacts of other threats including those associated with stock, exotic animals and fire are also discussed. Mitigating these threats requires a conservation strategy that seeks to protect remaining springs with high conservation values.     

Japanese species of the Longibrachiatum Clade of Trichoderma

The Longibrachiatum Clade of the genus Trichoderma in Japan was examined, among which two new species and three new records are herewith reported. The new species, T. tsugarense and T. kunigamense were isolated from a bed log (cultivation of Lentinula edodes) and volcanic ash soil, respectively. These species are distinguished from closely related species by growth and morphological characteristics and in phylogenetic analysis. Additional species new to Japan were T. ghanense, T. parareesei and T. sinense. The significance of their distribution is discussed. Most species of the Longibrachiatum Clade are tropical rather than temperate in distribution. Their in vitro optimum growth tends to be >35 °C but the optimum temperature for some Japanese species was lower. Some species are endophytes of temperate plant species, some of which are endemic in Japan.     

长江上游三层流刺网渔业现状的调查

1997-1999年对长江上游宜宾江段和合江江段的三层流刺网渔业现状进行了调查。合江江段三层流刺网内网目在10-180mm之间,宜宾江段以50mm以下的网目为主。采集到的鱼类有59种,包括17种长江上游特有鱼类;渔获物组成存在区域、季节和年际之间的差异。目前长江上游的捕捞强度比70年代显著提高。     

永瓣藤濒危因素探讨

水瓣藤（MonimopetalumchinenseRehd．）是卫矛科（Celastraceae）的一个单种属植物,被列为国家二级珍稀濒危保护树种。永瓣藤濒危的因素主要是：（1）种子萌发障碍;（2）传粉受精不良,胚珠通常败育,结实率偏低;（3）种子成熟后胚因休眠或失水而失活;（4）人类活动对自然生态环境的严重干扰和破坏。本文提出了消除威胁生物多样性的社会因素、加强亚热带阔叶林生态系统的保护、重视自然保护区以外的就地保护工作、深入研究迁地保护的有效方法等保护策略。     

Enhanced reproductive success revealed key strategy for persistence of devastated populations in Himalayan food‐deceptive orchid,Dactylorhiza hatagirea

Anthropogenic disturbances adversely affect populations of rare and endemic plants, resulting in reduction of their population size and performance. Among different plant groups, deceptive terrestrial orchids are vulnerable and possess greater extinction risks because of rarity in occurrence. To understand the response of food‐deceptive terrestrial orchids to disturbances, we selected Dactylorhiza hatagirea as our representative species, which is endemic to Himalaya, and studied its natural populations. This species is rare for being habitat specific, pollination limited and threatened in its natural habitats. We tested the hypothesis that disturbances lead to reduction in population size and plant performance of food‐deceptive terrestrial orchids. For assessing the impact of disturbance, two contrasting groups, heavily devastated (HD) and lightly devastated (LD), were identified on the basis of frequency and intensity of disturbance (harvesting of plant for tubers) by interviewing local people, medicinal plant extractors and shepherds. HD sites, in comparison to LD sites, were found to have smaller population sizes, but showed an increase in plant growth traits (plant height, specific leaf area, leaf N and specific shoot length). Similarly, plants at HD sites were found to have invested less in inflorescence (inflorescence size, inflorescence length, inflorescence length fraction and flowers per length), but despite that showed higher reproductive success. This was a clear indication of enhanced performance of its populations driven by disturbances. Our findings suggested that food‐deceptive species in small populations tend to reduce the probability of population extinction and have the capability to recover rapidly if conserved in time.