Tree replacement patterns in subalpine Abies-Betula forests,Wolong Natural Reserve,China

Vegetation in canopy gaps of two old-growth Abies-Betula forest stands, one with bamboo the other without, was measured. The structure of gap vegetation at each site was used to derive tree replacement probabilities. Transition probabilities indicate different tree replacement trends in forests with bamboo compared to those without. Projected compositions show Betula to be the most abundant species in bamboo stands while Abies remains most abundant where bamboo was absent. A dense bamboo sward seems to reduce the probability of Abies filling gaps by inhibiting establishment and growth of seedlings. Bamboo preempts space after canopy gap formation by increasing shoot production which reduces opportunities for establishment and growth of other woody species. Differences in dispersal ability and longevity of Abies and Betula appear to be important factors contributing to their coexistence forests with a small canopy gap disturbance regime.     

云南省(虫齿)目二新种和灰背蛇(虫齿)的记述((虫齿)目:厚(虫齿)科、叉(虫齿)科、围(虫齿)科)

本文记述了云南省(虫齿)目二新种,Tapinella bannana sp.n.和Peripsocus plurimaculatus sp.n.及一新种记录种Ophiodopelma semicets Lee and Thornton,其雄虫为首次记载。     

Strategic procurement of fish by the pumé: A South American “fishing culture”

Information is presented on fishing effort, efficiency, techniques, and catch composition for Pumé men, women, and children along with a conceptual model of fishing as a food procurement strategy. The Pumé are a native lowland South American group living in the topical savanna region of southwestern Venezuela characterized by seasonal flooding. Results are discussed in relation to the Pumé environmental and social situation, and briefly compared with results from other lowland South American groups.     

Polypeptide cytolytic toxins from sea anemones (Actiniaria)

Abstract Biochemical and biological properties of 30 cytolytic polypeptide toxins isolated from 18 species of sea anemones ( Actiniaria ) are presented and classified into three groups according to their molecular mass, isoelectric points and the molecular mechanism of action. Phospholipase A₂-like toxins (30 kDa) from Aiptasia pallida are dissimilar to acidic metridiolysin (80 kDa) from Metridium senile and the group of about 27 predominantly basic toxins, having a molecular mass of 16–20 or 10 kDa, inhibited by sphingomyelin. They are lethal for both invertebrates and vertebrates, cardiotoxic, cutolytic and cytotoxic. Pharmacological activities, cytotoxic and cytolytic properties are mediated, at least in part, by forming pores in lipid membranes. Channels, 1–2 nm in diameter, formed in planar lipid membranes are cation selective and rectified. The mechanisms and some characteristics of ion channel formation by the toxins in the cells as well as in artificial lipid membranes are summarized and discussed in view of the structure-function studies of the toxins. Putative biological roles of toxins, based on their channel-forming activity, in the capture and killing of prey, digestion, repelling of predators and intraspecific spatial competition are suggested.     

A cladistic analysis of the Solatium sessile species group (section Geminata pro parte: Solanaceae)

The Solanum sessile species group is one of eight putatively monophyletic subgroups of the large and diverse Solanum section Geminata. The species group comprises ten species of mostly northern South American trees and shrubs. Characters and character states peculiar to Solanum are discussed in detail. A cladistic analysis of the sessile group yielded four equally parsimonious trees which represent two basic tree topologies. The consensus cladogram is composed of three main clades. Biogeographic analysis using the consensus tree revealed no components in common to the three clades. Possible geographical scenarios are discussed with reference to the geological history of northern South America.     

The influence of salinity on the kinetics of NH inf4 sup+ uptake in Spartina alterniflora

Summary The effects of short- and long-term exposure to a range in concentration of sea salts on the kinetics of NH _inf4 ^sup+ uptake by Spartina alterniflora were examined in a laboratory culture experiment. Long-term exposure to increasing salinity up to 50 g/L resulted in a progressive increase in the apparent K_m but did not significantly affect V_max (mean V_max=4.23±1.97 mole·g^–1·h^–1). The apparent K_m increased in a nonlinear fashion from a mean of 2.66±1.10 mole/L at a salinity of 5 g/L to a mean of 17.56±4.10 mole/L at a salinity of 50 g/L. These results suggest that the long-term effect of exposure to total salt concentrations within the range 5–50 g/L was a competitive inhibition of NH _inf4 ^sup+ uptake in S. alterniflora. No significant NH _inf4 ^sup+ uptake was observed in S. alterniflora exposed to 65 g/L sea salts. Short-term exposure to rapid changes in salinity significantly affected both V_max and K_m. Reduction of solution salinity from 35 to 5 g/L did not change V_max but reduced K_m by 71%. However, exposing plants grown at 5 g/L salinity to 35 resulted in an decrease in V_max of approximately 50%. Exposure of plants grown at 35 g/L to a total sea salt concentration of 50 g/L for 48h completely inhibited uptake of NH _inf4 ^sup+ . For both experiments, increasing salinity led to an increase in the apparent K_m similar to that found in response to long-term exposure. Our data are consistent with a conceptual model of changes in the productivity of S. alterniflora in the salt marsh as a function of environmental modification of NH _inf4 ^sup+ uptake kinetics.     

中国的脊棱齿象属(Stegolophodon)化石

剑齿象属 Stegodon 起源于脊棱齿象属 Stegolophodon,两者都是亚洲大陆晚新生代的特有动物,本文讨论两属中一些种的性质和分类位置问题,并记述了药铺脊棱齿象 Stegolophodon officinalis 的新材料.     

寄生云杉树蜂的枝跗瘿蜂一新种(膜翅目:瘿蜂总科:枝跗瘿蜂科)

枝跗瘿蜂科(Ibahidae)是个小科,所有种类均寄生蛀干害虫树蜂科(Siricidae)的幼虫。我国大陆的本科种类由杨忠岐1991年首次作了报道。现记述采自祁连山林区的另1新种。该种寄生于为害青海云杉(Picea crassifolia Kom.)的黄肩长尾树蜂(Xeris spec-trum spectrum)等树蜂的幼虫。新种的模式标本保存于西北林学院天敌昆虫研究室。至此,我国大陆共有本科种类3种,加上台湾的1个种,我国共有4种:     

环螽属二新种及一新记录种：（直翅目：螽斯总科,露螽科）

环螽属Letana Walker,1869(=Pyrrhicia Stal,1873)迄今已知22种,分布中国、越南、泰国、缅甸、尼泊尔、印度和斯里兰卡等国。作者在整理这个属的标本时发现2新种和1新纪录种,分别采自中国(西藏)和尼泊尔,现记述于后。模式标本均保存在中国科学院上海昆虫研究所。     

绿褶托菇在我国首次发现

本文报道我国蘑菇科Agaricaceae的一个新记录种——绿褶托菇Clarkeinda trachodes (Berk.)Singer,该种所隶属的绿褶托菇属Clarkeinda O. Kuntze现知是个分布于热带亚洲的单型属。