新疆雪豹调查中的痕迹分析

雪豹(Unciauncia)属于中亚高山高度濒危动物,夜行性,极其罕见。新疆雪豹研究小组2004年9~11月,在新疆的北塔山、阿尔泰山东部、天山东部和托木尔峰地区大约9个地点,对雪豹的痕迹进行了全面调查。共计完成67个样线,总长度47776m,其中发现遗留痕迹的样线有27条,痕迹数118个,平均为2.47个/km。记录到的痕迹有粪团、嗅痕(气味标记)、足迹、刨痕、卧迹、爪印、毛发、尿迹、血迹、剩余食物(动物尸体)和吼声等。同步还完成了200余份问卷调查表,充分了解雪豹与当地居民的冲突。最后,通过痕迹学的分析,初步掌握雪豹的栖息地选择、领域范围、分布规律和相对密度。这对于种群数量估计和物种的保护管理具有重要意义。     

Morphological,phytochemical and genetic diversity of threatened Polygonatum verticillatum (L.) All. populations of different altitudes and habitat types in Himalayan region

Polygonatum verticillatum (L.) All. is an important medicinal herb that belongs to the family Asparagaceae. The rhizome of the species is used in Chyavanprash preparation and several other ayurvedic formulations. Numerous active constituents like saponins, alkaloids, phytohormones, flavonoids, antioxidants, lysine, serine, aspartic acid, diosgenin, β-sitosterol, etc. have been reported from this species. In this study, morphological, phytochemical, antioxidant and genetic variations of 11 distant populations of P. verticillatum were measured. Considerably (P < 0.05) higher variations were recorded among different populations of P. verticillatum using morphological, phytochemical and genetic diversity parameters. AGFW (above ground fresh weights); flavonols, FRAP (Ferric ion reducing antioxidant power) and NO (Nitric Oxide scavenging activity) were recorded maximum in Kafni population. Similarly, a significantly higher above and below ground dry weight was recorded in Mayawati and Surmoli populations respectively. Maximum phenolic content, tannins, and DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) activity were recorded in Milam population. A total of 165 individuals from 11 populations were assessed for genetic diversity using inter-simple sequence repeats (ISSR) marker. High genetic diversity (He = 0.35) was recorded in Himkhola and Surmoli populations while it was observed minimum (0.28) in the Mayawati population. Altitude showed a significant positive correlation with tannins (r = 0.674; P < 005) and DPPH (r = 0.820; P < 0.01). Phenol content exhibited a considerably positive relationship with He (r = 0.606; P < 0.05) and BGFW (r = 0.620; P < 0.05), flavonol displayed a positive correlation with Pp% (r = 0.606; P < 0.05). The population structure of P. verticillatum, exhibited that the optimal value of the K was 3 for its populations as determined by the ΔK statistic structure. Among populations, the amount of gene flow is higher (Nm = 1.717) among all sites. Hence, it can be concluded that P. verticillatum populations possess considerable variability in the collected populations. Likewise, the populations from Kafni, Satbunga and Himkhola with higher morphological, phytochemicals and genetic variability were prioritized and therefore recommended for cultivation and mass multiplication to meet the industrial demand for target species.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12298-021-01044-9.     

Breeding biology and provisioning of nestling snow buntings in the Canadian High Arctic

We examined basic breeding biology, as well as the effects of parental sex, brood size, nestling age, and nest habitat on foraging distances and parental food delivery rates of snow buntings (Plectrophenax nivalis) on Devon Island, NT, Canada, in the summers of 2003–2006. Clutch sizes and initiation dates were similar to those found in previous studies, although nest density was much higher. Feeding rates and foraging distances of buntings differed depending on the size and age of the brood, but were similar between nest habitats. Unlike in earlier studies, we found that male buntings made fewer feeding visits, but traveled longer distances to forage for food than females. Whether these differences between the sexes relate to reducing competition for prey, or to differing sex roles in parental care due to the poorly insulated nest cavities of this species, remains to be determined.     

喜马拉雅旱獭种群微卫星变异及遗传多样性

为了解不同地理种群喜马拉雅旱獭(Marmota himalayana)的种群数量变化并探讨其内在的遗传学机制,通过构建部分基因组文库的方法筛选出8个高变异微卫星位点,根据微卫星位点的测序结果设计相应引物,PCR扩增检测了青藏高原4个地理种群(德令哈、乌兰、沱沱河、安多)喜马拉雅旱獭的遗传多态性及其种群结构.研究结果显示:8个位点在喜马拉雅旱獭种群中均为高度多态,观察等位基因数、有效等位基因数、多态信息含量分别为4.75、3.033 2、0.610 2;喜马拉雅旱獭种群总的期望杂合度和观察杂合度分别为0.670、0.699;3个喜马拉雅旱獭种群显著(P＜0.05)或极显著(P＜0.01)偏离H-W平衡状态,且这些偏离平衡的位点均由杂合过度导致(FIS＜0);喜马拉雅旱獭种群的部分位点已经偏离了突变-漂移平衡.结论:筛选出的8个微卫星位点适合于喜马拉雅旱獭种群遗传多样性的研究,所研究的喜马拉雅旱獭种群有较高的遗传多样性,安多地理种群在近期可能经历过瓶颈效应,种群数量曾经下降.     

Cold adaptation in the phytopathogenic fungi causing snow molds

Snow molds are psychrophilic or psychrotrophic fungal pathogens of forage crops, winter cereals, and conifer seedlings. These fungi can grow and attack dormant plants at low temperatures under snow cover. In this review, we describe the biodiversity and physiological and biochemical characteristics of snow molds that belong to various taxa. Cold tolerance is one of the important factors related to their geographic distribution, because snow molds develop mycelia under snow cover and because they should produce intra- and extracellular enzymes active at low temperatures for growth and infection. Basidiomycetous snow molds produce extracellular antifreeze proteins. Their physiological significance is to keep the extracellular environment unfrozen. The psychrophilic ascomycete Sclerotia borealis shows normal mycelial growth under frozen conditions, which is faster than that on unfrozen media at optimal growth temperature. This fungus does not produce extracellular antifreeze proteins, but osmotic stress tolerance enables the fungus to grow at subzero temperatures. In conclusion, different taxa of snow molds have different strategies to adapt under snow cover.     

新疆托木尔峰国家级自然保护区雪豹的种群密度

雪豹(Panthera uncia)是一种仅公布于中亚高山地区的珍稀濒危大型猫科动物,被IUCN红皮书列为濒危物种,并被收录入CITES公约附录Ⅰ,在中国雪豹被列为国家一级重点保护动物(杨奇森和冯祚建,1998).     

Does the removal of snowpack and the consequent changes in soil frost affect the physiology of Norway spruce needles?

Climate change may cause a decrease in snow cover in northern latitudes. This, on the other hand, may result in more severe soil frost even in areas where it is not common at present, and may lead to increased stress on the tree canopy. We studied the effects of snow removal and consequent changes in soil frost and water content on the physiology of Norway spruce (Picea abies [L.] Karst.) needles and implications on root biomass. The study was conducted at a 47-year-old Norway spruce stand in eastern Finland during the two winters of 2005/06 and 2006/07. The treatments in three replicates were: (i) natural snow accumulation and melting (CTRL), (ii) artificial snow removal during the winter (OPEN), and (iii) the same as OPEN, but the ground was insulated in early spring to delay soil thawing (FROST). In spite of the deeper soil frost in the OPEN than in the CTRL treatment, soil warming in spring occurred at the same time, whereas soil warming in the FROST was delayed by 2 and 1.5 months in 2006 and 2007, respectively. The soil water content was affected by snow manipulations, being at a lower level in the OPEN and FROST than CTRL in spring and early summer. The physiological measurements of the needles (e.g. starch, carbon and nitrogen content and apoplastic electrical resistance) showed differences between soil frost treatments. The differences were mostly seen between the CTRL and FROST, but also in the case of the starch content in early spring 2007 between the CTRL and OPEN. The needle responses in the FROST were more evident after the colder winter of 2006. The physiological changes seemed to be related to the soil temperature and water content in the early growing season rather than to the wintertime soil temperature. No difference was found in the fine root (diameter < 2 mm) biomass between the treatments assessed in 2007. In the future, conditions similar to the OPEN treatment may be more common than at present in areas experiencing a thick snow cover. The present experiment took place over the course of two years. It is possible that whenever thin snow cover occurs yearly, the reduced starch content during the early spring may be reflected in the tree growth itself as a result of reduced energy reserves.     

Overwintering stress of Vaccinium vitis-idaea in the absence of snow cover

A snow manipulation experiment aimed to assess risks of direct freezing injury, freeze-induced dehydration and winter desiccation in the absence of snow cover on lingonberry (Vaccinium vitis-idaea). Frames with sheet-plastic sides and removable lids were used in this experiment for two purposes: to prevent accumulation of snow in mid-winter and to provide extra heat during early spring. Leaves were analyzed for frost hardiness, tissue water content and osmotic concentrations, and photoinhibition (Fv/Fm) during the period from the 10th of February to the 7th of April. The natural snow accumulation was low indicated by a minor difference in minimum temperatures between the frame treatment and naturally snow-covered plots. The heating effect of the frames started gradually at the end of February along with increasing solar elevation angles, and was highest at the beginning of April. Frost hardiness peaked in March as a consequence of cold periods, but it was practically lost by the beginning of April. Tissue water content decreased gradually at first, becoming greatly decreased later due to the extra heat. In accordance, the tissue osmotic concentrations increased first gradually, followed by a dramatic increase. Photoinhibition increased uniformly with increasing solar radiation, but at the end showed a sharp increment within a few days, obviously also indicating the effect of heating. It was concluded that neither lethal freezing stress nor significant freeze-induced dehydration occurred during the experiment. However, plants that overwintered without snow suffered from severe winter desiccation injuries due to the combination of solar heat and frozen soil. Although the desiccation stress was possibly a lethal factor, it was preceded by long-term and continued photoinhibition. It was concluded that during overwintering, chamaephyte species may suffer from both freezing and winter desiccation in the absence of protecting snow cover. However, during mild winters provided by climatic change scenarios, the risk of winter desiccation will be more probable. In relation to the future climate, it was concluded that winter desiccation and photoinhibition may develop gradually during a snowless winter and would, even if they did not reach a lethal level by themselves, possibly reduce frost hardiness.