The impact of altered precipitation on spatial stratification and activity-densities of springtails (Collembola) and spiders (Araneae)

Abstract.  1. A field experiment was conducted to determine how short-term changes in moisture can alter activity-densities of spiders and springtails.
2. In a Kentucky forest 10 unfenced 4-m² plots were divided into two rainfall treatments. A clear roof over five plots excluded rainfall to simulate severe drought conditions ( drought treatment). Water was sprayed on the five uncovered plots at a rate equal to two times the long-term mean in order to establish the high-rainfall treatment. Activity-densities of Collembola and spiders were measured using pitfall traps designed to sample the top, middle, and bottom layers of leaf litter. The experiment ran from 20 July to 23 September 2001.
3. Overall (i.e. litter layers pooled) activity-density (mean number trapped each sampling date) of Collembola was ≈ 60% lower in drought plots than in plots receiving increased precipitation. Surprisingly, overall spider activity-density was ≈ 1.6 times greater in the drought plots.
4. Differences in rainfall affected the spatial stratification of Collembola and spiders in strikingly different ways. Activity-densities of neither group differed between drought and high-rainfall treatments in the bottom litter layer. Collembola activity-density was three times greater in the top and middle litter layers in high-rainfall plots than in drought plots. In contrast, spider activity-density did not differ between treatments in the top layer, but activity-density was decreased by 50% in the middle layer of high-rainfall plots compared with drought plots.
5. Three Collembola families (Sminthuridae, Tomoceridae, and Entomobryidae) accounted for most of the Collembola pattern. The spider response was due to altered activity-density of one family of wandering spider, the Gnaphosidae.     

猪瘟病毒感染性cDNA克隆的构建及其致病性

为了建立研究猪瘟病毒的技术平台,利用RT-PCR技术构建了猪瘟病毒中国石门株(Shimen)的全长有感染性cDNA克隆pT7SM。通过体外转录线性化的pT7SM并将转录的RNA转染至PK-15细胞中,获得了猪瘟病毒粒子。再用间接免疫荧光法测定了其生长曲线,通过电镜观察到重组病毒呈球形,具有囊膜结构。进一步把获得的猪瘟病毒粒子感染非免疫实验猪,结果子代病毒与石门株类似,对非免疫实验猪有强烈的致病性,证明该全长cDNA克隆可靠稳定,忠实地保留了石门株病毒的感染性和致病特征。由此为进一步探讨猪瘟病毒的致弱机制及病毒与机体相互作用的机制打下了良好的基础。     

用生物信息学方法寻找肝癌特异性表达基因转录调控模式

为了对肝癌(hepatocellularcarcinoma,HCC)的分子发病机理进行研究,首先对肝癌基因表达谱数据用t-检验算法进行了分析,找到了肝癌中特异性表达基因(characteristicgenes).然后把这些基因结合已知的肝HNF家族转录因子染色质免疫共沉淀结合DNA启动子芯片(ChIP-chip)实验数据用SAEM算法进行分析,得到了肝癌特异性表达基因的转录调控关系,并寻找到了多个HNF家族转录因子调控单基因的转录调控模式.结果表明HNF家族转录因子对大量具有重要功能的肝癌特异性表达基因进行了转录调控,并且多个HNF家族转录因子调控单基因可以形成前馈环和多输入调控等模式.     

航天搭载与非搭载舟形藻(Navicula tenera)培养基的优化

通过单因子和正交实验探讨了培养液中不同浓度KNO3、Na2HPO4、FeC l3和Na2S iO3对通过“神舟5号”飞船搭载与非搭载舟形藻(Navicula tenera)生长的影响,确立了适合搭载与非搭载舟形藻生长的最佳培养基组合。结果表明,经搭载后舟形藻生长所需的营养盐组合发生了变化。通过正交实验筛选出适合搭载舟形藻生长的最佳培养基为含300 mg.L-1KNO3、60 mg.L-1Na2HPO4.12H2O、24 mg.L-1FeC l3和700 mg.L-1Na2S iO3.9H2O的F/2培养基;适合非搭载舟形藻生长的最佳培养基为含600 mg.L-1KNO3、60 mg.L-1Na2HPO4.12H2O、12mg.L-1FeC l3和700 mg.L-1Na2S iO3.9H2O的F/2培养基。     

两种动物血巧克力平板分离流感嗜血杆菌效果评价

目的比较羊血、马血巧克力平板痰培养流感嗜血杆菌的检出率和生长情况。方法将送检的痰标本及流感嗜血杆菌标准菌株ATCC10211分别接种于羊血、马血巧克力平板上,置烛缸中,36气培养24h,比较流感嗜血杆菌检出率及其生长情况。结果（1）2种巧克力平板痰培养流感嗜血杆菌的检出率分别为8％、34．5％。（2）标准菌株ATCC10211在马血巧克力平板上生长良好,菌落直径0．5-1．0mm,而在羊血巧克力平板上生长差,菌落大小如“沙粒”,肉眼难见。结论痰培养流感嗜血杆菌使用马血巧克力平板效果优于羊血巧克力平板。     

The Case of Paul Kammerer: Evolution and Experimentation in the Early 20th Century

To some, a misguided Lamarckian and a fraud, to others a martyr in the fight against Darwinism, the Viennese zoologist Paul Kammerer (1880–1926) remains one of the most controversial scientists of the early 20th century. Here his work is reconsidered in light of turn-of-the-century problems in evolutionary theory and experimental methodology, as seen from Kammerer’s perspective in Vienna. Kammerer emerges not as an opponent of Darwinism, but as one would-be modernizer of the 19th-century theory, which had included a role for the inheritance of acquired characteristics. Kammerer attempted a synthesis of Darwinism with genetics and the chromosome theory, while retaining the modifying effects of the environment as the main source of favorable variation, and he developed his program of experimentation to support it. Kammerer never had a regular university position, but worked at a private experimental laboratory, with sidelines as a teacher and a popular writer and lecturer. On the lecture circuit he held forth on the significance of his science for understanding and furthering cultural evolution and he satisfied his passion for the arts and performance. In his dual career as researcher and popularizer, he did not always follow academic convention. In the contentious and rapidly changing fields of heredity and evolution, some of his stances and practices, as well as his outsider status and part-Jewish background, aroused suspicion and set the stage for the scandal that ended his career and prompted his suicide.     

Migratory connectivity and temporal segregation of dunlin (Calidris alpina) in Portugal: evidence from morphology, ringing recoveries and mtDNA

Migratory connectivity plays an important role in conservation of long-distance migrant birds. Here, we study migratory links of dunlin (Calidris alpina), focusing on a stopover and wintering region (Portugal) where it is known that migration routes of dunlin from a broad geographic range (three subspecies) converge, and populations occur simultaneously or separated in time. We combine three methods (ringing recoveries, morphometrics and molecular genetics) to assess breeding origins and extent of temporal segregation of dunlin assemblages. Ringing recoveries show temporal separation of dunlin from different migration routes. Birds found in Portugal during August and September, migrating via Britain, reveal links to breeding areas in Iceland and Greenland. In October, a clear shift to more eastern migration routes occurs, with most Portuguese winter records from stopover sites along migration routes of populations from northern Scandinavia and Russia. Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) of Portuguese dunlin was compared with breeding populations. Spring and autumn migrants in Portugal corresponded to C. a. schinzii and C. a. arctica populations, while the Portuguese winter population clearly differs by including mtDNA haplotypes of C. a. alpina. For genetically sexed individuals, we found significant differences in morphology (bill and tarsus length) supporting the temporal separation of populations/subspecies revealed by recoveries and mtDNA. Our results give evidence for migratory connectivity of dunlin populations between geographic areas previously not considered connected. They confirm the existence of clear differences in breeding origin between birds in Portugal at different times of year. These results are important in the consideration of future long-term conservation plans.     

高中生物探究式实验教学设计研究及案例分析

“探究式学习”促使学生的学习方式和教师的教学方式发生深刻的变革.阐述了探究式学习、实验操作技能和探究式实验教学模式这三个概念的内涵.同时,对高中生物一个重要的验证性实验“叶绿体中色素的提取和分离”进行了改进,实施了探究式实验教学设计并进行了教学实践以及分析,旨在探讨如何培养学生的实验操作技能.由此可得出结论:开展探究式实验教学,既能通过规范的实验操作,培养学生的实验操作技能,又能培养学生的综合探究能力并树立实事求是的科学态度;利用随堂式的实验教学评价,能很好发挥探究式学习的成效.     

结扎大鼠左冠状动脉不同时间制备心肌梗死模型的比较

目的探索大鼠左冠状动脉前降支不同结扎处理后,对心肌形态学及心功能的影响,以建立适合移植干细胞再生修复心肌梗死研究的稳定、可靠和更合乎发病机制的动物模型。方法雄性SD大鼠70只,随机分为五组。即:结扎(15、30、456、0 min)再灌、结扎非再灌。于处理后1 d、1周2、周或4周动态观察心肌梗死变化,并于处理一月后测量动脉收缩压(ASP)、动脉舒张压(ADP),左室收缩压(LVSP),左室舒张末压(LVEDP)及左室压力上升及下降最大速度(±dp/dtmax)。结果引起明显的心肌梗死至少需要结扎30 min。结扎(456、0 min)再灌、结扎非再灌的心肌梗死明显,并观察到梗死区域心肌已绝大部分纤维化,且梗死面积变化较恒定。同时测定不同结扎时间心功能的变化发现,结扎(456、0 min)再灌或结扎非再灌各组ASP、DAP、LVSP、±dp/dtmax显著下降,LVEDP明显升高。并见不同结扎时间处理后,大鼠心功能的变化与心肌梗死后的梗死面积变化密切相关。结论建立了实验大鼠左冠状动脉前降支中上1/3处结扎45 min以上的大鼠心肌梗死模型。不仅合乎临床心肌梗死的发病机制,而且梗死部位、梗死区域面积稳定,适合于移植细胞再生修复心肌梗死的研究。     

帕金森病小鼠模型行为学检测方法的比较研究

目的比较目前常用的5种帕金森病(PD)小鼠模型行为学检测方法在PD研究中的作用。方法用MPTP建立C57BL小鼠PD模型,通过行为学检测(自主活动计数、滚轴实验、游泳实验、爬杆实验、悬挂实验)、免疫组织化学和荧光分光光度法,对比5种行为学检测方法的平均数与变异系数,观察MPTP对PD小鼠模型的行为学、黑质多巴胺(DA)神经元和纹状体酪氨酸羟化酶免疫反应阳性(TH-ir)神经纤维以及纹状体DA水平的影响。结果给与MPTP后,小鼠行为学计数降低,爬杆实验未能得到检测结果,悬挂实验变异系数很高,结果有明显的偶然性,滚轴实验结果变异系数中等,平均数呈现一定的上升趋势,自主活动计数中移动与站立和游泳实验的平均数则呈现明显的下降趋势,变异系数很低,而黑质DA神经元数目减少约58%,纹状体TH-ir神经纤维密度减低,纹状体DA水平明显降低约88%,两组相比差异有显著性(P<0.01)。结论MPTP所致的C57BL小鼠的神经病理、生化改变与PD患者近似,自主活动计数和游泳实验优于其他行为学检测方法。