Integrated species delimitation and conservation implications of an endangered weevil Pachyrhynchus sonani (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in Green and Orchid Islands of Taiwan

Oceanic islands are productive habitats for generating new species and high endemism, which is primarily due to their geographical isolation, smaller population sizes and local adaptation. However, the short divergence times and subtle morphological or ecological divergence of insular organisms may obscure species identity, so the cryptic endemism on islands may be underestimated. The endangered weevil Pachyrhynchus sonani Kôno (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Entiminae: Pachyrhynchini) is endemic to Green Island and Orchid Island of the Taiwan‐Luzon Archipelago and displays widespread variation in coloration and host range, thus raising questions regarding its species boundaries and degree of cryptic diversity. We tested the species boundaries of P. sonani using an integrated approach that combined morphological (body size and shape, genital shape, coloration and cuticular scale), genetic (four genes and restriction site‐associated DNA sequencing, RAD‐seq) and ecological (host range and distribution) diversity. The results indicated that all the morphological datasets for male P. sonani, except for the colour spectrum, reveal overlapping but statistically significant differences between islands. In contrast, the morphology of the female P. sonani showed minimum divergence between island populations. The populations of P. sonani on the two islands were significantly different in their host ranges, and the genetic clustering and phylogenies of P. sonani established two valid evolutionary species. Integrated species delimitation combining morphological, molecular and ecological characters supported two distinct species of P. sonani from Green Island and Orchid Island. The Green Island population was described as P. jitanasaius sp.n. Chen & Lin, and it is recommended that its threatened conservation status be recognized. Our findings suggest that the inter‐island speciation of endemic organisms inhabiting both islands may be more common than previously thought, and they highlight the possibility that the cryptic diversity of small oceanic islands may still be largely underestimated.     

Quantification of Flavonoid Compounds from Strawberry ( Fragaria ananassa) and Correlation Effects with Antioxidant Activities

The amounts of flavonoid (myricetin , quercetin and kaempferol), antioxidant contents ( total phenolic and total flavonoid) and antioxidant activities (DPPH and FRAP) were analyzed in strawberry. Quantitative analysis of conjugated flavonoid contents were obtained after different hydrolysis concentration and reaction period . The highest yields of myricetin and quercetin were found with 1.0M HCl and a reaction period of 0.5 hr, however , for kaempferol was 1.0M HCl and a reaction period of 1hr , respectively. In the study, we also estimated the correlation coefficient of TPC, TFC, DPPH and FRAP. In addition , a positive correlation was observed ( r = 0.980, P < 0.05) between TPC and TFC, TPC and TFC are correlated to the DPPH activity (r = 0.913, P < 0.05 and r = 0.899 , P < 0.05 , respectively) , and to the FRAP activity ( r = 0.958, P < 0.05 and r = 0.936, P < 0.05, respectively), respectively. These results pointed out that strawberry generally possesses a high level of antioxidant activities, which could be linked to the levels of phenolic compounds in the fruit.     

Ceramide Inhibits Cell Proliferation through Akt/PKB Inactivation and Decreases Melanin Synthesis in Mel‐Ab Cells

Ceramide is a bioactive sphingolipid that mediates a variety of cell functions. However, the effects of ceramide on cell growth and the melanogenesis of melanocytes are not known. In the present study, we investigated the actions of cell‐permeable ceramide and its possible role in the signaling pathway of a spontaneously immortalized mouse melanocyte cell line, Mel‐Ab. Our results show that C₂‐ceramide inhibits DNA synthesis in Mel‐Ab cells and G361 human melanoma cells in a dose‐dependent manner. Cell cycle analysis confirmed the inhibition of DNA synthesis by a reduction in the S phase. To investigate the ceramide signaling pathway, we studied whether C₂‐ceramide is able to influence extracellular signal‐regulated kinase (ERK) and/or Akt/protein kinase B (PKB) activation. We demonstrated that phosphorylated Akt/PKB is decreased by C₂‐ceramide, whereas phosphorylated ERK was only slightly affected. Therefore, the C₂‐ceramide‐induced inactivation of Akt/PKB may be closely related to the reduced cell proliferation of Mel‐Ab cells. Furthermore, we assessed the effects of C₂‐ceramide on the pigmentation of Mel‐Ab cells. The results obtained showed that the melanin content of cells was significantly reduced by C₂‐ceramide at concentrations in the range of 1–10 μM, and that the pigmentation‐inhibiting effect of C₂‐ceramide is much greater than that of kojic acid at 1–100 μM. In addition, we found that the activity of tyrosinase is reduced by C₂‐ceramide treatment. Our results demonstrate that C₂‐ceramide reduces the pigmentation of Mel‐Ab cells by inhibiting tyrosinase activity.     

几种植物的杀虫效力测定

我国农民在几千年农业发展过程当中,因为和虫害斗争创造了许多办法,在这些经验中,曾发见许多可以杀虫的植物,远在1596年,李时珍所著的本草纲目中,已记述许多可以供杀虫用的植物,并分别说明其用途。在这些植物中,许多杀虫效力是很大的,如烟草等,而有许多植物的毒力是不大的或仅限於防治     

地下害虫防治研究Ⅲ.666土壤处理防治地下害虫研究

应用666粉剂处理土壤以消灭地下害虫,如蛴螬、金针虫等,在其他国家研究这种方法的不少;但是由于害虫种类和生活史的长短、土壤性质、肥料的施用、以及耕作气候条件的不同,因而施用的药量和施用方法亦差异很大。在应用适当药量之下,可使害虫消灭较为彻底,其药剂毒效在土中可以维持相当长时间,因此在发展上不仅作为地下害     

地下害虫防治研究 Ⅴ. 朝鲜黑金龟(虫甲)Holotrichia diomphalia Bates及其他几种金龟(虫甲)的生态和习性研究

蛴螬为主要农作物苗期害虫之一,在华北地区发生极广,为害严重,在全国范围内发生亦相当普遍。华北各省如山西、河北、山东、河南及内蒙古自治区,一般大都发生于灌溉地或较潮湿的地区。如据山东 1953年 45县不完全统针,因被害严重而改种的就有一万余亩,诸城县有一万余亩花生,因受害而严重减产。菏泽1951年在18个村调查被害面积,