Comparison of spatial scale variability of shoot density and epiphytic leaf assemblages of Halophila stipulacea and Cymodocea nodosa on the Eastern Coast of Tunisia

Abstract

A study was undertaken to compare the patterns of spatial variability, epiphytic percentage cover, and distribution of epiphytic fauna and flora between the two adjacent seagrasses Cymodocea nodosa and the invasive species Halophila stipulucea. Samples were taken at six stations separated by 600?m and exposed to different current conditions. The stations G2 and G5 were affected by a high current tide, while G4 was directly exposed to the northern marine currents. The station G3 was situated in the middle of a Posidonia oceanica bed and was less exposed to hydrodynamism, whereas the other stations were relatively protected. Results indicate that for both H. stipulacea and C. nodosa, shoot density and epiphytic cover biomass decreased when exposed to high levels of hydrodynamic activity. In terms of epiphytic leaf assemblages, our results showed significant differences for the two host plants in their mean cover and for the six stations at the largest and smallest spatial scale. Our observations highlight the dominance of Rhodophyta and the low number of epiphytic species and the epiphytic cover on H. stipulacea compared to C. nodosa. In addition, results indicate the absence of two taxa Hydrozoans and Annelida in the epiphytic assemblage of H. stipulacea leaves.     

The intersectional hybrid between Weigela hortensis and W. maximowiczii (Caprifoliaceae)

Morphologically intermediate plants between Weigela hortensis (Siebold & Zucc.) K.Koch and W. maximowiczii (S.Moore) Rehder have been found in Miyagi and Yamagata Pref., northern Japan. Quantitative character analyses of flowers, pollen stainability and molecular analyses indicated that the intermediate plants were hybrids of those two species. This is the first record of an intersectional hybrid with W. maximowiczii (sect. Weigelastrum ) as one of the parent species. The morphological differences among hybrid individuals imply the possibility of backcrosses or formation of second or later generations of hybrids, although those may be quite rare because of a low frequency of viable pollen grains. Causes of hybridization between two distantly-related species in Weigela are discussed. © 2002 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2002, 138 , 369–380.     

Emergence,evolution, and vaccine production approaches of SARS-CoV-2 virus: Benefits of getting vaccinated and common questions

The emergence of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in Wuhan city, China at the end of 2019 made it urgent to identify the origin of the causal pathogen and its molecular evolution, to appropriately design an effective vaccine. This study analyzes the evolutionary background of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2 or SARS-2) in accordance with its close relative SARS-CoV (SARS-1), which was emerged in 2002. A comparative genomic and proteomic study was conducted on SARS-2, SARS-1, and Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS), which was emerged in 2012. In silico analysis inferred the genetic variability among the tested viruses. The SARS-1 genome harbored 11 genes encoding 12 proteins, while SARS-2 genome contained only 10 genes encoding for 10 proteins. MERS genome contained 11 genes encoding 11 proteins. The analysis also revealed a slight variation in the whole genome size of SARS-2 comparing to its siblings resulting from sequential insertions and deletions (indels) throughout the viral genome particularly ORF1AB, spike, ORF10 and ORF8. The effective indels were observed in the gene encoding the spike protein that is responsible for viral attachment to the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) cell receptor and initiating infection. These indels are responsible for the newly emerging COVID-19 variants αCoV, βCoV, γCoV and δCoV. Nowadays, few effective COVID-19 vaccines developed based on spike (S) glycoprotein were approved and become available worldwide. Currently available vaccines can relatively prevent the spread of COVID-19 and suppress the disease. The traditional (killed or attenuated virus vaccine and antibody-based vaccine) and innovated vaccine production technologies (RNA- and DNA-based vaccines and viral vectors) are summarized in this review. We finally highlight the most common questions related to COVID-19 disease and the benefits of getting vaccinated.     

Probleme der Erweiterung der Prüfverteilungen des Maximum-Modulus-Testes und des DUNNETT-Testes

SCHULZ (1976) gave formulas for the approximate computation of the percentage points needed for the comparison of sample means by the Maximum-Modulus-Test resp. by the DUNNETT-Test. Our investigation shows that these formulas are also practicable if the number of the mean differences k is greater than 20. The maximum difference between the exact values and the approximate values of the percentage points amounts to 0,05 in the case of the Maximum-Modulus-Test with k >20 and degrees of freedom v > k for a level of error a = 0,05 resp. a = 0,01. In the case of the DUNNETT-Test this maximum difference amounts to 0,02 for 20 < k < 50 and a = 0,05. Besides it can be here supposed that the approximate percentage points are also practicable for both k >50, a = 0,05 and k >20, a = 0,01.     

Longings and belongings: Indian American youth identity,folk dance competitions,and the construction of ‘tradition’

This article examines the development of the ‘cultural competition’ as a site for the production of multiple identities by Indian American youths on American college campuses. Through the examination of two categories of folk dance competitions (bhangra and raas-garba) at a private university in Washington, DC, we argue that these competitions appear to resist hybridity and produce rhetoric that marginalizes diasporic culture in favour of the ‘pure’ and ‘authentic’ culture of the homeland. However, the goal of expressing uncontaminated ‘authentic’ culture is not realized as diasporic identities and cultures consistently interrupt and undermine homogenizing narratives of ‘tradition’ and ‘authenticity’. We also demonstrate that these folk dance groups often reinforce an ethno-regional distinctiveness rather than a hybrid or pan-Indian identity.     

珍稀濒危植物金丝李种子脱水耐性和贮藏特性

为测定不同脱水程度金丝李(Garcinia paucinervis)种子的萌发情况及其复水后的吸水率、脱水过程中抗性生理指标的变化以及不同贮藏方式下种子的萌发情况,该文研究了金丝李种子的脱水敏感性和储藏特性。结果表明:(1)金丝李种子初始含水量为45.29%,室内通风处放置35 d失水率即达45%。(2)种子失水率低于18%时,萌发率和复水后的吸水率变化不显著;失水率超过18%时,萌发率和复水后吸水率均显著下降,失水率为42%时萌发率为0。其种子的临界含水量为27.29%,半致死含水量为12.72%。(3)随着种子脱水程度的加深,相对电导率、可溶性糖及脯氨酸含量逐步上升;丙二醛含量在失水率低于24%时变化不大,高于24%时显著提高; SOD和POD的活性均呈波动性变化,失水率为18%时活性均最高。(4)室温干藏1个月和-1、-20℃下湿藏1个月的种子均不能萌发;水浸贮藏1个月的种子萌发率显著降低; 4℃湿藏1、3和6个月均显著延缓种子萌发,但对萌发率无显著影响。表明金丝李种子在失水率低于18%时,种子可通过抗性调节维持细胞的正常代谢,能忍受一定程度的脱水和低温;当失水率超过18%时,种子代谢失衡发生劣变直至死亡,属于低度的顽拗性种子。4℃湿沙藏(含水量7.5%)是短期贮藏其种子的较好方法。     

火烧高温对泥炭藓孢子萌发力影响的模拟实验

作为生态系统稳定性维持的一个重要因素,火对泥炭地优势植物泥炭藓(Sphagnum)孢子库的影响尚不清楚.以采自长白山区泥炭地的泥炭土和3种泥炭藓的成熟孢子为实验材料,室内模拟火烧,以此设置不同温度水平(20、40、60或100℃,持续0.5、1、2、4或10 min),对泥炭藓孢子进行热激处理,经萌发实验后,研究火烧高温对孢子萌发率的影响.结果显示,火烧期间各层土温随深度而递减,表层泥炭可达300℃的极端高温,而1 cm深温度仅为70℃,体现出泥炭土良好的热缓冲性;40℃的热激可使锈色泥炭藓(S.fuscum)与中位泥炭藓(S.magellanicum)孢子萌发率提高20%与50%;60℃的热激使尖叶泥炭藓(S.capillifolium)孢子的萌发率提高1倍;100℃热激对3种泥炭藓孢子萌发则有强烈的抑制作用.研究表明,泥炭藓孢子耐受高温的能力有限,但土壤中的孢子凭借泥炭的良好热缓冲性,可以躲避火烧高温造成的致命伤害,适度的热激甚至能提高其萌发力,对其在火后的建植及种群的长存可能有重要意义.