Fighting experience alters brain androgen receptor expression dependent on testosterone status

Contest decisions are influenced by the outcomes of recent fights (winner–loser effects). Steroid hormones and serotonin are closely associated with aggression and therefore probably also play important roles in mediating winner–loser effects. In mangrove rivulus fish, Kryptolebias marmoratus, individuals with higher testosterone (T), 11-ketotestosterone and cortisol levels are more capable of winning, but titres of these hormones do not directly mediate winner–loser effects. In this study, we investigated the effects of winning/losing experiences on brain expression levels of the receptor genes for androgen (AR), oestrogen α/β (ER_α/β), glucocorticoid (GR) and serotonin (5-HT_1AR). The effect of contest experience on AR gene expression depended on T levels: repeated losses decreased, whereas repeated wins increased AR gene expression in individuals with low T but not in individuals with medium or high T levels. These results lend strong support for AR being involved in mediating winner–loser effects, which, in previous studies, were more detectable in individuals with lower T. Furthermore, the expression levels of ER_α/β, 5-HT_1AR and GR genes were higher in individuals that initiated contests against larger opponents than in those that did not. Overall, contest experience, underlying endocrine state and hormone and serotonin receptor expression patterns interacted to modulate contest decisions jointly.     

Forest cover reduces thermally suitable habitats and affects responses to a warmer climate predicted in a high-elevation lizard

Warmer climates have affected animal distribution ranges, but how they may interact with vegetation patterns to affect habitat use, an important consideration for future wildlife management, has received little attention. Here, we use a biophysical model to investigate the potential thermal impact of vegetation pattern on the habitat quality of a high-elevation grassland lizard, Takydromus hsuehshanensis, and to predict the thermal suitability of vegetation for this species in a future warmer climate (assuming 3 °C air temperature increase). We assess the thermal quality of vegetation types in our study area (Taroko National Park in areas >1,800 m) using three ecologically relevant estimates of reptiles: body temperature (T _b), maximum active time, and maximum digestive time. The results show that increasing forest canopy gradually cools the microclimates, hence decreasing these estimates. In the current landscape, sunny mountain-top grasslands are predicted to serve as high quality thermal habitat, whereas the dense forests that are dominant as a result of forest protection are too cold to provide suitable habitat. In simulated warmer climates, the thermal quality of dense forests increases slightly but remains inferior to that of grasslands. We note that the impact of warmer climates on this reptile will be greatly affected by future vegetation patterns, and we suggest that the current trend of upslope forest movement found in many other mountain systems could cause disadvantages to some heliothermic lizard species.     

砷对烤烟碳氮代谢及其产量和品质的影响

采用盆栽试验,系统地研究了砷对烤烟全生育期的碳氮代谢及其产量和品质的影响。结果表明,砷毒害对烤烟全生育期的碳代谢有显著影响,抑制了碳的同化和转化,降低了整个生育期的叶绿素含量、光合速率,造成了全生育期可溶性糖的积累,导致了生育后期淀粉含量的降低,最终使碳积累减少。砷毒害也改变了烤烟的氮代谢,造成生育前期氮同化能力的降低,表现出硝酸还原酶(NR)活性下降、总氮和蛋白质含量低于CK。砷毒害烤烟的氮转化表现活跃,提高了其中的游离氨基酸含量和谷氨酸-丙酮酸转氨酶(GPT)活性,最终导致烤烟生育中后期总氮和蛋白质的积累,但使整个生育期的烟碱含量降低。研究还表明,砷毒害降低了烤烟的产量和经济性状,增加了叶片中砷的积累,可溶性总糖含量的提高和糖氮比的协调虽好,但烟碱含量的降低和总氮、蛋白质含量的增加,以及糖碱比和氮碱比的失调,不利于碳氮代谢有关的化学品质形成。     

Ca2 +对小麦种根及其根毛生长发育的影响

低浓度的CaCl2对小麦种根生长、根毛发生和生长无明显影响,高浓度的CaCl2(0.1 mol/L)对种根和根毛生长有抑制作用,但不影响根毛的发生。Ca2+专一性整合剂EGTA抑制种根生长和根毛的发生及生长,添加一定浓度的外源CaCl2,这种抑制作用可被消除。CaM抑制剂TFP(三氟拉嗪)和CPZ(氯丙嗪)对种根生长、根毛发生和生长均有抑制作用,添加外源CaM可减弱或消除这种抑制作用。     

肠杆菌科细菌产金属β-内酰胺酶的研究进展

金属β-内酰胺酶(MBL)可广泛水解多种抗生素,对常规β-内酰胺酶抑制剂如克拉维酸、舒巴坦等不敏感。产MBL肠杆菌科细菌一直是临床公认的多重耐药病原体。尤其是在发现新德里金属β-内酰胺酶后,人们更加重视肠杆菌科细菌中检出MBL的情况,因为其所致感染日渐严重。因此,快速、准确检测出产MBL菌株是有效预防、控制感染发生与播散的重要环节。本文就肠杆菌科细菌MBL的发现及分类、耐药基因传播、检测方法等进行简要概述。     

我国作物种质资源保存研究与展望

我国于１９８４年１９８６年在北京建成两座国家种质库,９０年代初又在青海建立一座复份库,形成了国家库中,长期配套和异地结合的种质资源保存体系。截止１９９３年底,国家库保存种质资源达２７万余份,到１９９５年保存总数将达到３０余万份。与种子入库时,在国家库的管理,种子质量检测,种子干燥以及低温保存技术研究等方面取得一定进展,今后将继续扩大种质贮存、加强贮存种子生活力跟踪监测,无破坏性检测技术,贮存生理和     

Thermal tolerance and altitudinal distribution of two Sphenomorphus lizards in Taiwan

1.

We compared the thermal tolerances of a high-altitude skink, Sphenomorphus taiwanensis with that of the lowland S. incognitus to test whether their thermal tolerances correspond to their altitudinal distributions.     

依姬蜂属(膜翅目,姬蜂科)一新种记述

介绍了世界依姬蜂属已知的种类及其分布,记述了采自江西全南的依姬蜂属1新种,斑依姬蜂Ishigakia maculata sp.nov,.模式标本保存在国家林业局森林病虫害防治总站.     

不同肥料处理对豫麦49小麦冠层结构与产量性状的影响

为探讨不同肥料处理对小麦冠层结构和产量性状的影响,采用随机区组试验设计和大田切片法,研究了豫麦49小麦品种在单施尿素、鸡粪和鸡粪与尿素配施等条件下小麦冠层结构特征、产量构成因素的变化,结果表明:施用鸡粪有利于增加旗叶的叶绿素含量(SPAD),提高群体光合有效辐射(PAR),增大小麦群体的平均叶倾角(MLA),降低群体的冠层开度(DIFN),提高小麦群体的叶面积指数(LAI)和籽粒产量.综合考虑小麦产量、经济系数等因素,3种肥料处理以鸡粪与尿素配施为最佳,配施处理的小麦冠层结构适宜、株型最佳、群体光分布合理.