PHENOTYPIC PLASTICITY INDUCED IN TRANSPLANT EXPERIMENTS IN A MUTUALISTIC ASSOCIATION BETWEEN THE RED ALGA JANIA ADHAERENS (RHODOPHYTA,CORALLINALES) AND THE SPONGE HALICLONA CAERULEA (PORIFERA: HAPLOSCLERIDA): MORPHOLOGICAL RESPONSES OF THE ALGA1

The association between the red macroalga Jania adhaerens J. V. Lamour. and the sponge Haliclona caerulea is the most successful life‐form between 2 and 4 m depth in Mazatlán Bay (Mexican Pacific). J. adhaerens colonizes the rocky intertidal area and penetrates into deeper areas only when it lives in association with H. caerulea. The aposymbiotic form of the sponge has not been reported in the bay. To understand the ecological success of this association, we examined the capacity of J. adhaerens to acclimate in Mazatlán Bay using transplant experiments. The transplanted aposymbiotic J. adhaerens did not survive the first 2 weeks; however, J. adhaerens when living in association with H. caerulea, acclimated easily to depth, showing no sign of mortality during the 103 d of the experiment. We conclude that the ability of J. adhaerens to colonize in deeper areas in this hydrodynamic environment may in part rely on the protection provided by the sponge to the algal canopy. Both species contribute to the shape of the associated form. Nevertheless, the morphological variation in the association appears to be dominated by the variation in J. adhaerens canopy to regulate pigment self‐shading under light‐limited conditions and/or tissue resistance under high hydrodynamics. Consequently, our results are consistent with light as the abiotic controlling factor, which regulates the lower depth distribution of the association in Mazatlán Bay, through limiting the growth rate of J. adhaerens. Hydrodynamics may determine the upper limit of the association by imposing high mass losses.     

Plant sexual systems, dichogamy, and herkogamy in the Venezuelan Central Plain

Sexual system, temporal variation in sex expression, and herkogamy were evaluated in 210 plant species in the Venezuelan Central Plain (VCP). This analysis was conducted considering the life forms, habitats, flowering time, pollination systems, and dispersal syndromes of the plant species. Hermaphrodite species dominated the community (75.2%; N=158), followed by monoecious taxa (17.1%; N=36), and then dioecious (7.6; N=16). Most species were adichogamous (=homogamous) (75.2%; N=155), followed by protandrous (16.5%; N=34), and protogynous (8.3%; N=17). The frequency of herkogamous species was higher (N=124; 60.2%) than the non-herkogamous (N=82; 39.8%). The three reproductive traits interacted significantly in a way that complements their effectiveness in promoting cross-pollination and avoidance of pollen–stigma interference: hermaphrodite-adichogamous species occurred in similar frequency to herkogamous and non-herkogamous species; monoecious-adichogamous species were mostly herkogamous, and all hermaphrodite, functionally dioecious-adichogamous, species were herkogamous. Sexual system, herkogamy, and dichogamy are associated with habitats in the savanna-forest mosaic of the VCP. The proportion of dioecious species decreased from trees to annual herbs and from forest to disturbed areas. Dichogamous species were most frequent for herbaceous plants, and non-herkogamous species dominated in annual herbs. The frequency of herkogamous species decreased from forest to disturbed areas. Sexual system was significantly associated with pollination system. Most dioecious and monoecious species had generalist pollination. A three-factor log linear analysis indicated that for any combination significantly. Sexual systems and herkogamy were associated with the respective seed dispersal syndrome. Most dioecious and herkogamous species were dispersed by frugivores, while monoecious plants tended to be dispersed by granivores and wind. Flowering time of dioecious species peaked during the dry–rainy transition period, whereas that of monoecious species was greatest during the rainy season. Therefore, specific biotic and abiotic conditions may enforce the occurrence of unisexuality in the community. In a similar way, dichogamous species tend to flower during the rainy season, associated with herbaceous life form and wind pollination. These results are discussed in the context of evolutionary and ecological trends.     

刺叶柄棘豆的一个新变型--白花刺叶柄棘豆

描述了棘豆属(豆科)刺叶柄棘豆(Oxytropis acipblla Ledeb．)的一个新变型：白花刺叶柄棘豆O．aciphylla Ledeb．f．albiflora Z．Y．Chang,Z．H．Wu et L．R．Xu。原变型的花冠为红紫色或蓝紫色,而新变型的花冠为白色。     

Reconstructing a complex early Neoproterozoic eukaryote, Wynniatt Formation, arctic Canada

Flanged filamentous microfossils from two geographically separated assemblages in the early Neoproterozoic Wynniatt Formation, arctic Canada, co-occur with flanged Clavitrichoides -type filaments, flanged Osculosphaera-type vesicles and wrinkled, bi-layered vesicles assigned to a new acritarch form-taxon Plicatosphaeridium impostor n. gen., n. sp. Marked similarities in morphological and microstructural detail identify most, if not all, of these forms as components of a single, relatively complex, multicellular eukaryote, Cheilofilum hysteriopsis n. gen., n. sp. The filamentous, occasionally branched thallus was composed of large cylindrical cells, and extended via rupture of cell termini. Filaments originated from Clavitrichoides -type or Osculosphaera -type vesicles via a similar process of rupture, flange formation and apical extension. Presence of a distinctively mottled wall texture supports the ontogenetic relationship of Wynniatt Cheilofilum, 'Clavitrichoides' and 'Osculosphaera,' and provides circumstantial evidence for including a Plicatosphaeridium phase. Despite superficial similarities, Cheilofilum cannot be interpreted as a filamentous cyanobacterium, strobilating scyphozoan or polychaete worm tube. The distinctive cytokinesis of the filamentous component has close analogues among the annellophores and/or phialides (conidiophores) of various hyphomycetous fungi, though its large size and absence of an associated mycelium argue against its placement within the Fungi. Unambiguous fungal synapomorphies are expressed in co-occurring Tappania, however, and both Cheilofilum and Tappania include a closely comparable Clavitrichoides -type phase in their life cycle.     

模拟酸雨对污泥堆肥中重金属形态转化及其环境行为的影响

通过模拟酸雨淋溶土柱的方法,研究了酸雨（pH=5．0和2．9）作用下污泥堆肥中Zn、Cu和Ni的溶出和迁移性。分析了酸雨对重金属形态分布规律的影响。结果表明,在相同酸雨强度下,淋出液中重金属含量与其在土柱中迁移距离大小次序为Zn〉Cu〉Ni;重金属在相同深度的土层中含量大小次序为Zn〉Ni〉Cu。淋溶液pH的降低和污泥堆肥施加比例的提高均会增加重金属在淋出液和土柱中的含量,但不影响重金属在土柱中的迁移距离。土壤酸化会促使土壤中重金属形态向活性形态转化,而且迁移距离增加。     

Evolution of epiphytes in Davalliaceae and related ferns

The evolution of epiphytes in Davalliaceae was investigated by field observations and molecular phylogenetic analyses. Field studies revealed that in Davalliaceae and related ferns, epiphytes in a broad sense are classified into climber, secondary hemi-epiphyte, and obligate epiphyte, based on combinations of the places (ground vs. tree) of inferred spore germination and sporophyte growth. Some species of Davalliaceae have multiple life forms, i.e. secondary hemi-epiphyte and obligate epiphyte, whereas others are obligate epiphytes. Phylogenetic trees obtained from rbcL and accD gene sequences supported that secondary hemi-epiphytic Oleandra is sister to the epiphytic Davalliaceae and polygrammoid ferns. Analyses of life form evolution based on the phylogenetic relationships suggested that obligate epiphytes of the Davalliaceae and polygrammoid ferns evolved from secondary hemi-epiphytes, or less likely from climbers. We hypothesized a scenario for the evolution of life forms in Davalliaceae and related groups that involves successive changes in rhizome habit, root function, and germination place. Rhizome dorsiventrality and scale morphology, shared by climbers, secondary hemi-epiphytes, and obligate epiphytes examined, may be other innovations for the ferns to have evolved into epiphytes.  © 2006 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2006, 151 , 495–510.     

Modelling the distribution of diameter growth along the stem in Scots pine

This paper presents an empirical model for the distribution of diameter growth along the stem in Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) and for the consequent stem form over time. First, the distribution of annual mass growth in the stem is determined as a function of the total annual growth in stem mass, current stem mass and the distribution of the latter along the stem. Second, the distribution of diameter growth is obtained by converting the fraction of annual growth in the stem mass at a given height in the stem into the thickness of the annual ring at the same height. Application of the model to Scots pine data sets including both young and mature trees not used in parameter estimation showed that the model was capable of reconstructing the distribution of diameter growth from the stem butt to the apex and from the pith to the stem surface at any height in the stem in both young and mature trees. The resulting empirical model was also linked to a physiological, process-based model in order to study its performance in a simulated stand. Simulations representing trees grown in unthinned and thinned Scots pine stands with trees of different status (from dominant to suppressed) showed that the response in tree growth to thinning in terms of the distribution of diameter growth along the stem was quite realistic relative to measured data.     

稻草还田方式对双季水稻产量和土壤碳库管理指数的影响

采用田间定位试验,设置不施肥(CK)、单施化肥(NPK)、稻草切碎全量还田+化肥(SNPK)和稻草全部烧灰还田+化肥(SINPK)4个处理,研究不同稻草还田方式对双季稻产量和土壤碳素形态、碳库管理指数的影响.结果表明:2010—2011年两年四季的水稻平均产量SNPK与SINPK处理基本持平,但均显著高于NPK处理,增幅为5.7%～7.3%.与NPK和SINPK相比,SNPK能显著提高早稻产量,增幅在3.8%～8.8%.与单施化肥和稻草烧灰还田相比,SNPK提高了土壤不同形态碳素含量和碳库管理指数,总有机碳、活性碳、矿化碳和碳库管理指数分别提高了1.8%～2.0%、5.9%～6.5%、16.0%～41.6%和7.3%～7.8%.土壤碳库管理指数与早、晚稻产量呈显著抛物线关系,相关系数分别为0.999和0.980.SNPK能显著提高翌年早稻产量及土壤不同形态碳素含量和碳库管理指数.     

Relevance of signaling molecules for apoptosis induction on influenza A virus replication

Apoptosis is an important mechanism to maintain homeostasis in mammals, and disruption of the apoptosis regulation mechanism triggers a range of diseases, such as cancer, autoimmune diseases, and developmental disorders. The severity of influenza A virus (IAV) infection is also closely related to dysfunction of apoptosis regulation. In the virus infected cells, the functions of various host cellular molecules involved in regulation of induction of apoptosis are modulated by IAV proteins to enable effective virus replication. The modulation of the intracellular signaling pathway inducing apoptosis by the IAV infection also affects extracellular mechanisms controlling apoptosis, and triggers abnormal host responses related to the disease severity of IAV infections. This review focuses on apoptosis related molecules involved in IAV replication and pathogenicity, the strategy of the virus propagation through the regulation of apoptosis is also discussed.