Population size and structure of the African Softshell Turtle,Trionyx triunguis,in Dalaman,southwestern Turkey

We assessed the size of the population of the African Softshell Turtle, Trionyx triunguis, in Dalaman (Mu?la, Turkey), which is considered to be the largest population of the species in the Mediterranean, by using the Jolly-Seber mark-recapture method. A total of 415 individuals were caught during the summer months of 2009 to 2011, of which 148 were recaptures. From 267 marked individuals, 148 (55%) were male, 69 (26%) were female and 50 (19%) were juveniles and subadults of indeterminate sex. The male:female ratio was calculated to be 2.14:1. By using Model A' of the Jolly-Seber mark-recapture method, which includes deaths but no immigration, the mean population size in Kükürt and Küçükdalyan (Karg?n) lakes, together with Tersakan and Ta?l?çay creeks, were estimated to be 396±36. Based on this estimation, the population density was calculated to be 14 turtles/ha. Approximately 67.4% of the estimated population was marked. The mean capture probability (p) and mean survival ratio (Φ) were 0.094±0.009 and 0.957±0.076, respectively. Our results showed that the species’ population size is larger than previously estimated based on visual counts. The status “Vulnerable” C2a of the IUCN Red Data Book categories seems therefore more appropriate for the Mediterranean subpopulation of Trionyx triunguis than “Endangered” C2a.     

Red/ET同源重组技术及其在微生物基因组挖掘中的应用进展

Red/ET同源重组技术(Red/ET recombineering)是由来源于大肠杆菌λ噬菌体的蛋白对Redα/Redβ或来源于Rac原噬菌体的蛋白对Rec E/Rec T所介导的基于短同源臂(40–50 bp)的同源重组技术,能对宿主DNA序列进行快速、高效、精确的修饰和操作。本文主要综述了2010年以来Red/ET同源重组技术在大肠杆菌及其他细菌中的研究进展,同时简要介绍了该技术在微生物基因组挖掘,尤其是在微生物基因簇的异源表达领域的应用进展。     

Newly discovered role of the heterotrophic nanoflagellate Katablepharis japonica,a predator of toxic or harmful dinoflagellates and raphidophytes

Heterotrophic nanoflagellates are ubiquitous and known to be major predators of bacteria. The feeding of free-living heterotrophic nanoflagellates on phytoplankton is poorly understood, although these two components usually co-exist. To investigate the feeding and ecological roles of major heterotrophic nanoflagellates Katablepharis spp., the feeding ability of Katablepharis japonica on bacteria and phytoplankton species and the type of the prey that K. japonica can feed on were explored. Furthermore, the growth and ingestion rates of K. japonica on the dinoflagellate Akashiwo sanguinea—a suitable algal prey item—heterotrophic bacteria, and the cyanobacteria Synechococcus sp., as a function of prey concentration were determined. Among the prey tested, K. japonica ingested heterotrophic bacteria, Synechococcus sp., the prasinophyte Pyramimonas sp., the cryptophytes Rhodomonas salina and Teleaulax sp., the raphidophytes Heterosigma akashiwo and Chattonella ovata, the dinoflagellates Heterocapsa rotundata, Amphidinium carterae, Prorocentrum donghaiense, Alexandrium minutum, Cochlodinium polykrikoides, Gymnodinium catenatum, A. sanguinea, Coolia malayensis, and the ciliate Mesodinium rubrum, however, it did not feed on the dinoflagellates Alexandrium catenella, Gambierdiscus caribaeus, Heterocapsa triquetra, Lingulodinium polyedra, Prorocentrum cordatum, P. micans, and Scrippsiella acuminata and the diatom Skeletonema costatum. Many K. japonica cells attacked and ingested a prey cell together after pecking and rupturing the surface of the prey cell and then uptaking the materials that emerged from the ruptured cell surface. Cells of A. sanguinea supported positive growth of K. japonica, but neither heterotrophic bacteria nor Synechococcus sp. supported growth. The maximum specific growth rate of K. japonica on A. sanguinea was 1.01 d⁻¹. In addition, the maximum ingestion rate of K. japonica for A. sanguinea was 0.13 ng C predator⁻¹d⁻¹ (0.06 cells predator⁻¹d⁻¹). The maximum ingestion rate of K. japonica for heterotrophic bacteria was 0.019 ng C predator⁻¹d⁻¹ (266 bacteria predator⁻¹d⁻¹), and the highest ingestion rate of K. japonica for Synechococcus sp. at the given prey concentrations of up to ca. 10⁷ cells ml⁻¹ was 0.01 ng C predator⁻¹d⁻¹ (48 Synechococcus predator⁻¹d⁻¹). The maximum daily carbon acquisition from A. sanguinea, heterotrophic bacteria, and Synechococcus sp. were 307, 43, and 22%, respectively, of the body carbon of the predator. Thus, low ingestion rates of K. japonica on heterotrophic bacteria and Synechococcus sp. may be responsible for the lack of growth. The results of the present study clearly show that K. japonica is a predator of diverse phytoplankton, including toxic or harmful algae, and may also affect the dynamics of red tides caused by these prey species.     

VIIRS captures phytoplankton vertical migration in the NE Gulf of Mexico

In summer 2014, a toxic Karenia brevis bloom (red tide) occurred in the NE Gulf of Mexico, during which vertical migration of K. brevis has been observed from glider measurements. The current study shows that satellite observations from the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) can capture changes in surface reflectance and chlorophyll concentration occurring within 2 h, which may be attributed this K. brevis vertical migration. The argument is supported by earlier glider measurements in the same bloom, by the dramatic changes in the VIIRS-derived surface chlorophyll, and by the consistency between the short-term reflectance changes and those reported earlier from field-measured K. brevis vertical migration. Estimates using the quasi-analytical algorithm also indicate significant increases in both total absorption coefficient and backscattering coefficient in two hours. The two observations in a day from a single polar-orbiting satellite sensor are thus shown to be able to infer phytoplankton vertical movement within a short timeframe, a phenomenon difficult to capture with other sensors as each sensor can provide at most one observation per day, and cross-sensor inconsistency may make interpretation of merged-sensor data difficult. These findings strongly support geostationary satellite missions to study short-term bloom dynamics.     

中国两栖动物受威胁现状评估

为了了解我国两栖动物受威胁现状和致危因素, 进而制定相关的保护措施和开展国际合作, 本文依据中国两栖动物野生种群与生境现状, 利用《IUCN物种红色名录濒危等级和标准》(3.1版)和《IUCN物种红色名录标准在国家或地区的应用指南》(4.0版), 对中国已知的408种两栖动物的濒危状况进行了评估, 并编制了《中国两栖动物红色名录》。评估结果表明: 中国两栖动物有1种灭绝, 1种区域灭绝, 受威胁的两栖动物共计176种, 占评估物种总数的43.1%, 明显高于《IUCN濒危物种红色名录》(2015)的物种受威胁率(30.8%)。中国两栖动物特有种272种, 其中48.9%属于受威胁物种。中国两栖动物受威胁比例最高的目是有尾目(63.4%), 明显高于无尾目(39.0%); 受威胁比例最高的科是隐鳃鲵科(Cryptobranchidae) (仅有1种, 100%受威胁), 小鲵科(Hynobiidae) (86.7%)和叉舌蛙科(Dicroglossidae) (78.1%)。有11个省区的受威胁物种数占本省区两栖动物物种总数的30%及以上, 前3位分别是四川(40.8%)、广西(39.2%)和云南(37%)。中国大多数两栖动物物种分布在西南山地和华南地区, 以海拔2,000 m以下区域为主。栖息地退化或丧失、捕捉、环境污染列受威胁两栖动物致危因子的前3位。鉴于中国两栖动物区系的复杂性和独特性, 进一步加强两栖动物资源调查、种群和生境监测及相关科学研究, 仍是今后一段时期开展两栖动物多样性保护和濒危物种拯救行动的关键性基础工作。     

Differential mortality of wintering shorebirds on the Banc d'Arguin, Mauritania, due to predation by large falcons

Predators may influence many aspects of the daily life and seasonal movements of their prey. Here we quantify direct, and evaluate indirect effects of predation by three falcon species (Lanner Falcon Falco biarmicus , Barbary Falcon Falco pelegrinoides and Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus ) on coastal shorebirds wintering on the Banc d'Arguin, Mauritania, an area hosting approximately 30% of the East Atlantic Flyway population of shorebirds. On the basis of 754 h of observation over five winters, 97 witnessed attacks and 585 collected prey remains, we show that shorebirds were safer in larger flocks, which tended to be attacked less often. Furthermore, species that forage relatively close to shore and in small flocks were depredated more often than expected from their relative abundance. In three species, Red Knot Calidris canutus canutus , Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica taymyrensis and Dunlin Calidris alpina , the juveniles were more vulnerable than adults. We estimated that on average 1% of the juvenile and 0.1% of the adult Red Knots present were killed by large falcons each winter. For Red Knots we simultaneously quantified annual survival on the basis of an individual colour-marking programme: mortality due to predation by falcons accounted for an estimated 6.2% (juveniles) and 0.8% (adults) of annual mortality. We suggest that juvenile Red Knots are 10 times as likely to be killed by falcons because they use riskier habitats, i.e. early and late tide foraging areas closer to shores where surprise attacks are both more common and more successful. These results indicate that the strength of indirect effects of predation operating in a shorebird population largely outweigh the effects of mortality per se .     

富氢盐水对高压电烧伤大鼠微循环内红细胞流速及组织病理损伤的影响

目的:探讨富氢盐水对高压电烧伤大鼠微循环内红细胞流速及组织病理损伤的影响。方法:80只大鼠随机分为四组,分别为烧伤组、治疗组、对照组和阳性对照组,治疗组烧伤后给予富氢盐水治疗,阳性对照组给予罂粟碱溶液治疗。每组分成三个亚组用于血气分析,肺组织形态学观察和红细胞流动速度检测。结果:治疗组和阳性对照组大鼠肺组织湿干重比均显著低于烧伤组(P0.05),治疗组和阳性对照组大鼠肺组织湿干重比差异不显著(t=0.585,P0.05)。治疗组和阳性对照组大鼠生存时间均显著高于烧伤组(P0.05),治疗组和阳性对照组大鼠生存时间差异不显著(t=0.448,P0.05)。治疗组和阳性对照组氧分压均显著高于烧伤组(P0.05);治疗组和阳性对照组氧分压差异不显著(t=0.424,P0.05)。治疗组和阳性对照组二氧化碳分压均显著低于烧伤组(P0.05);治疗组和阳性对照组二氧化碳分压差异不显著(t=1.285,P0.05)。治疗组和阳性对照组大鼠红细胞流动速度分压均显著高于烧伤组(P0.05);治疗组和阳性对照组之间大鼠红细胞流动速度差异不显著(P0.05)。结论:富氢盐水能够促进烧伤大鼠微循环内红细胞的流动,改善微循环,恢复受损肺组织,在高压电烧伤患者的治疗方面具有较好的应用前景。     

红细胞分布宽度血小板比率和中性粒细胞淋巴细胞比率在急诊PCI术后冠脉无复流评估中的应用价值

目的:探讨红细胞分布宽度血小板比率(RDW)和中性粒细胞淋巴细胞比率(NLR)预测急诊经皮冠状动脉介入(PCI)术后冠脉无复流的应用价值。方法:选取2016年1月~2016年12月于我院行急诊PCI手术治疗的患者66例为研究对象,检测其治疗前的RDW和NLR,统计其急诊PCI术后冠脉无复流现象的发生情况,比较冠脉无复流和正常血流患者的RDW和NLR,分析患者RDW和NLR与其冠脉无复流的关系及其对冠脉无复流的预测价值。结果:66例患者急诊PCI术后冠脉无复流发生率为30.30%(20/66)。与正常血流患者比较,冠脉无复流患者RDW和NLR均升高(P0.05)。Spearman相关分析结果显示患者RDW和NLR与其冠脉无复流均呈正相关(r=0.826,0.878,P0.05)。进一步ROC曲线分析结果显示急诊PCI术前RDW和NLR联合预测其术后冠脉无复流的的ROC曲线下面积高于二者单独预测。结论:急诊PCI患者RDW和NLR与其术后冠脉无复流密切相关且两者联合预测患者术后冠脉无复流的价值良好,可能作为急诊PCI术后冠脉无复流评估的参考指标。     

Spatial heterogeneity and scale‐dependent habitat selection for two sympatric raptors in mixed‐grass prairie

Sympatric predators are predicted to partition resources, especially under conditions of food limitation. Spatial heterogeneity that influences prey availability might play an important role in the scales at which potential competitors select habitat. We assessed potential mechanisms for coexistence by examining the role of heterogeneity in resource partitioning between sympatric raptors overwintering in the southern Great Plains. We conducted surveys for wintering Red‐tailed hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) and Northern Harrier (Circus cyanea) at two state wildlife management areas in Oklahoma, USA. We used information from repeated distance sampling to project use locations in a GIS. We applied resource selection functions to model habitat selection at three scales and analyzed for niche partitioning using the outlying mean index. Habitat selection of the two predators was mediated by spatial heterogeneity. The two predators demonstrated significant fine‐scale discrimination in habitat selection in homogeneous landscapes, but were more sympatric in heterogeneous landscapes. Red‐tailed hawk used a variety of cover types in heterogeneous landscapes but specialized on riparian forest in homogeneous landscapes. Northern Harrier specialized on upland grasslands in homogeneous landscapes but selected more cover types in heterogeneous landscapes. Our study supports the growing body of evidence that landscapes can affect animal behaviors. In the system we studied, larger patches of primary land cover types were associated with greater allopatry in habitat selection between two potentially competing predators. Heterogeneity within the scale of raptor home ranges was associated with greater sympatry in use and less specialization in land cover types selected.     

有机氯农药在大滨鹬和红腹滨鹬体内的富集程度

为探讨东亚-澳大利西亚迁徙路线上的鸻鹬类体内有机氯农药的含量及来源,本研究以该迁徙路线上的大滨鹬(Calidris tenuirostris)和红腹滨鹬(C.canutus)为研究对象,用索氏提取法对这两种鸟的胸肌和皮下脂肪中的有机污染物进行萃取,并用气相色谱法对19种有机氯农药进行检测。结果表明,HCHs、DDTs、硫丹Ⅱ等14种有机氯农药在大滨鹬和红腹滨鹬的组织中均有不同程度的检出,所有样品中的含量最高值达1 573.5 ng/g脂重;在检出的14种有机氯农药中,α-HCH、β-HCH、γ-HCH、p,p′-DDE、硫丹Ⅱ、硫丹硫酸酯和/或p,p′-DDT的检出率达100%;在大滨鹬的肌肉组织、红腹滨鹬的肌肉和脂肪组织中,p,p′-DDE的残留量最高;而在大滨鹬的脂肪组织中硫丹硫酸酯和/或p,p′-DDT的含量最高;目标物中的艾氏剂、异狄氏剂、七氯、反式氯丹等未达检出限或含量较低。我们对比了不同物种及不同组织样本中有机氯农药的富集程度,红腹滨鹬的肌肉组织中HCHs的沉积量显著高于大滨鹬,而大滨鹬的脂肪组织中硫丹硫酸酯和/或p,p′-DDT的含量显著高于红腹滨鹬。此外,分别对比两个物种的肌肉组织和脂肪组织中有机氯农药沉积量,部分有机氯农药在脂肪组织中的沉积量显著高于肌肉组织,说明相比于肌肉组织,有机氯农药可能更易于在脂肪组织中累积。