Differential control of temporal and spatial aspects of cockroach leg coordination

Ensembles of neuronal networks and sensory pathways participate in controlling the kinematic and dynamic parameters of animal movement necessary to achieve motor coordination. Determining the relative contribution of proprioceptive feedback is essential for understanding how animals sustain stable, coordinated locomotion in complex natural environments. Here, we focus on the role of chordotonal organs (COs), proprioceptors found in insect legs, in the spatial and temporal regulation of walking. We compare gait parameters of intact cockroaches (Periplaneta americana) and sensory-impaired ones, injected with pymetrozine, a chemical previously shown to abolish CO function in locusts. We verify that afferent CO activity in pymetrozine-treated cockroaches is inhibited, and analyze the effect of this sensory deprivation on inter-leg coordination. We find significant changes in tarsi placement and leg path trajectories after pymetrozine treatment. Leg touchdown accuracy, measured from relative tarsi positions of adjacent legs, is reduced in treated animals. Interestingly, despite poorer spatial coordination in both stance and swing, temporal properties of the gait remain largely the same as in the intact preparations, apart from changes in ipsilateral phase differences between front and middle legs. These findings provide insights into the role of COs in insect gait control and establish pymetrozine as a useful tool for further studies of insect locomotion.     

A narrowing gyre? The Lega Nord and the shifting balance of Italian immigration policy

This article reflects on the relations between xenophobic parties and immigration policy in Italy. It argues that the salience of the Northern League (Lega Nord), the instability of the Italian party system and the recent transformation of Italy from an emigration country to an immigration country all contribute to Italy's difficulty in achieving a coherent immigration policy. Since the first comprehensive immigration policy emerged in 1998 with the Turco-Napolitano law, there have been six changes of government, with frequent oscillation between centre-right and centre-left coalitions. While the effects of these oscillations, particularly of the centre-right's effort to restrict immigrants’ rights and entry possibilities, have been dampened by the Italian courts and the European Union, it is still problematic to speak of an Italian model. Drawing on Carvalho's book, this article will address the effects of the Lega on creating and maintaining this policy imbalance.     

Environmental Risk Management Decision-Making in a Societal Context

Recent studies point to the need for improved understanding of environmental management frameworks designed to combine qualitative public and quantitative technical inputs in decision-making processes. Flux in public perception and concern about risks imply frameworks must be iterative in nature and incorporate a variety of assessment triggers in the form of decision points. A conceptual model is proposed here to explain the de facto operation of standard risk analytic frameworks within the broader sociopolitical milieu of public policy. The model is presented as a decision flow diagram that emphasizes setting environmental management goals based on societal input and the formulation of decision criteria for selecting management actions to achieve those goals. Prospective and retrospective decision control points operate to select management options that, respectively, avoid or reduce actual or predicted effects. Feedback loops that modify risk management outcomes are identified. Technical and scientific inputs (i.e., risk analysis) are assigned an essential information role within the framework and are responsible for informing the management process with the results of appropriately conducted and reviewed investigations. The proposed model is intended primarily to indicate how environmental risk management decision-making and associated technical assessments may be influenced by social pressures. It is hoped this understanding will lead to analytical transparency and better public communication of the environmental implications of policy options.     

Emerging Threats and Opportunities for Large‐Scale Ecological Restoration in the Atlantic Forest of Brazil

Over the past 150 years, Brazil has played a pioneering role in developing environmental policies and pursuing forest conservation and ecological restoration of degraded ecosystems. In particular, the Brazilian Forest Act, first drafted in 1934, has been fundamental in reducing deforestation and engaging private land owners in forest restoration initiatives. At the time of writing (December 2010), however, a proposal for major revision of the Brazilian Forest Act is under intense debate in the National Assembly, and we are deeply concerned about the outcome. On the basis of the analysis of detailed vegetation and hydrographic maps, we estimate that the proposed changes may reduce the total amount of potential areas for restoration in the Atlantic Forest by approximately 6 million hectares. As a radically different policy model, we present the Atlantic Forest Restoration Pact (AFRP), which is a group of more than 160 members that represents one of the most important and ambitious ecological restoration programs in the world. The AFRP aims to restore 15 million hectares of degraded lands in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest biome by 2050 and increase the current forest cover of the biome from 17% to at least 30%. We argue that not only should Brazilian lawmakers refrain from revising the existing Forest Law, but also greatly step up investments in the science, business, and practice of ecological restoration throughout the country, including the Atlantic Forest. The AFRP provides a template that could be adapted to other forest biomes in Brazil and to other megadiversity countries around the world.     

基因敲除在工业微生物育种方面的应用

微生物育种技术的发展先后经历了自然选育、诱变育种、杂交育种、代谢控制育种和基因工程育种5个阶段,其中基因工程育种技术中的基因敲除技术具有定位性强、经修饰和改造的基因能够随染色体DNA的复制而稳定地复制的特点,使人们可以有目的地去改造生物的遗传物质,从而达到微生物育种的目的,受到人们的广泛关注。就基因敲除技术的几种主要方法及其在改良工业生产菌株中的应用作简要介绍。     

浙江宁波镇海工业园区昆虫多样性研究

于2008年7-11月,对宁波镇海工业园区的昆虫群落多样性进行调查,选取林地、农田、人工苗圃、生态园和工厂区5种具有代表性的生境类型,每月对该地区的昆虫种类及数量进行抽样统计和数据分析.结果表明:该地共有昆虫284种,分属13目108科,其中优势类群为同翅目、直翅目、半翅目、鞘翅目和鳞翅目.在不同功能类群中,从个体数看...     

厦门市三个产业土地利用变化的敏感性

沿海城市人类生存和发展依赖于海岸带生态系统所提供的各类生态系统服务。伴随城市化进程的加快和开发利用程度的提高,沿海城市生态系统受到自然和人类活动越来越大的压力,正面临着剧烈的环境问题,如气候变化、海平面上升、海岸侵蚀等,各种尺度的海岸带脆弱性研究日益引起诸多学者的关注。敏感性是脆弱性分析中的主要因素之一,敏感性指在系统内部、系统与系统之间、复合系统之间相互作用的关系中,用来表征某个系统应对其内部或外部因素变化的响应程度。土地利用变化是城市化过程的集中体现,沿海城市土地利用变化深刻影响了区域生态系统服务的供给、需求和空间配置,进而影响依赖于这些服务的社会产业部门。以厦门市为例,识别沿海城市3个主要产业——渔业、港口航运业、滨海旅游业依赖的主要生态系统服务,构建沿海城市产业部门的土地利用变化敏感性指数,利用生态系统服务价值变化率与土地利用强度变化率的比值对产业部门在土地利用变化背景下的敏感性响应灵敏程度进行表征。计算结果表明,渔业的生态系统服务价值由1987年的1.52610^9元,减小为1992年的1.48510^9元,增加为2002年的2.61410^9元,再下降为2007年的1.11310^9元;港口航运业的生态系统服务价值由1987年的2.13810^9元下降为1992年的1.96310^9元,增加为2002年的2.18710^9元,再减小为2007年的1.85410^9元;滨海旅游业的生态系统服务价值由1987年的2.05610^9元下降为1997年的1.92510^9元,增加为2002年的2.07310^9元,再减小为2007年的2.03810^9元。以1987年为基准年,1992年、1997年、2002年和2007年厦门市渔业敏感性指数分别为0.377、2.692、7.815、3.211,呈现增加-减小的变化;港口航运业敏感性指数分别为1.169、0.474、0.251、1.578,呈现减小-增加的变化;滨海旅游业敏感性指数分别为0.814、0.743、0.091、0.101,呈现减小-增加的变化。在研究结果基础上,探讨了各个产业部门的土地利用变化敏感性响应机制,并且提出未来研究的方向。     

我国农田生态系统土壤动物生态学研究进展

综述了我国近30年来农田生态系统土壤动物生态学研究进展,概述了我国农田土壤动物的群落多样性及其地理分布,总结了农田生态系统中土壤动物对不同耕作方式、施肥和喷洒农药等农业措施、不同土地利用方式以及工业污染的响应,并就土壤动物对农田生态系统健康状况的指示作用等研究的相关进展进行了讨论.通过与国外相关领域的研究进行比较,指出目前研究中存在的问题,提出农田生态系统未来研究的一些热点问题及展望.