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.     

Insulin-like growth factor 2 regulates the proliferation and differentiation of rat adipose-derived stromal cells via IGF-1R and IR

BackgroundInsulin-like growth factor 2 (IGF2), an essential component of the stem cell niche, has been reported to modulate the proliferation and differentiation of stem cells. Previously, a continuous expression of IGF2 in tissues was reported to maintain the self-renewal ability of several types of stem cells. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the expression of IGF2 in adipose tissues and explored the effects of IGF2 on adipose-derived stromal cells (ADSCs) in vitro.MethodsThe expression pattern of IGF2 in rat adipose tissues was determined by gene expression and protein analyses. The effect of IGF2 on proliferation, stemness-related marker expression and adipogenic and osteogenic differentiation was systematically investigated. Furthermore, antagonists of IGF2-specific receptors—namely, BMS-754807 and picropodophyllin—were added to explore the underlying signal transduction mechanisms.ResultsIGF2 levels displayed a tendency to decrease with age in rat adipose tissues. After the addition of IGF2, isolated ADSCs displayed higher proliferation and expression of the stemness-related markers NANOG, OCT4 and SOX2 and greater differentiation potential to adipocytes and osteoblasts. Additionally, both type 1 insulin-like growth factor receptor (IGF-1R) and insulin receptor (IR) participated in the IGF2-mediated promotion of stemness in ADSCs.ConclusionsOur findings indicate that IGF2 could enhance the stemness of rat ADSCs via IGF-1R and IR and may highlight an effective method for the expansion of ADSCs for clinical application.     

黄河裸裂尻鱼细胞色素C氧化酶Ⅰ、Ⅱ和Ⅲ亚基基因的克隆及序列特征分析

采用RT-PCR技术克隆获得了黄河裸裂尻鱼(Schizopygopsis pylzovi)CO Ⅰ、Ⅱ、Ⅲ基因的编码序列,并对此进行了初步分析.结果表明,黄河裸裂尻鱼CO I基因全长为1 551 bp,开放阅读框(ORF)由基因全长组成,编码516个氨基酸;COⅡ基因全长为691 bp,开放阅读框为690 bp,编码2...     

Biodiesel production using Aspergillus niger as a whole‐cell biocatalyst in a packed‐bed reactor

Enzymatic lipase transesterification of palm oil to biodiesel in a packed‐bed reactor (PBR) using a novel strain of the fungus Aspergillus niger, immobilized within polyurethane biomass support particles (BSPs), was investigated. A three‐step addition of methanol was used to reduce lipase inhibition by immiscible methanol. The influence of water content and PBR flow rate was investigated. FAME yield was enhanced with an increase of PBR flow rate in the range of 0.15–30 L h^?1, where inefficient mixing of the reaction mixture at lower flow rates resulted in low conversion rates i.e. 69% after 72‐h reaction. Adding the third mole equivalent of methanol resulted in lipase inhibition due to methanol migration into the accumulated glycerol layer. Glutaraldehyde (GA) solution (0.5 vol.%) was used to stabilize lipase activity, which led to a high FAME yield (>90%) in the PBR after 72‐h of reaction time at a flow rate of 15 L h^?1, and a water content of 15%. Moreover, a high conversion rate (>85%) was maintained after four palm oil batch conversion cycles in the PBR. In contrast, lipase activity of non‐GA‐treated cells decreased with each PBR batch cycle, where only 70% FAME was produced after the forth PBR cycle. Transesterification of palm oil in a PBR system using BSPs‐immobilized A. niger as a whole‐cell biocatalyst is a viable process for enzymatic biodiesel production.     

A new species of Tylophora from coral reef areas in Hengchun Peninsula, Taiwan, China

Tylophora sui Y. H. Tseng & C. T. Chao, sp. nov. 苏氏欧蔓(S3-3. Fig. 1, S3-4. Fig. 2) Type: China. Taiwan: Pintung County, Hengchun Town, Longpan, coral reef areas near seashore, 21 55 20.6 N, 120 51 14.25 E, ca. 76 m, 2009-05-25, Yen-Hsueh Tseng 4668 (holotype, TCF).     

橡胶树橡胶生物合成调控相关基因的表达相关性分析

该文通过qPCR获得了正常割胶条件下,9个茉莉酸信号途径关键环节基因HbCOI1、HbJAZ1、HbJAZ2、HbJAZ3、HbMYC1、HbMYC2、HbMYC3、HbMYC4、HbMYC5和6个橡胶生物合成相关基因HbHRT2、HbSRPP、HbREF、HbHMGR1、HbHRT1、HbGAPDH在5个橡胶树魏克汉种质和5个1981''IRRDB种质胶乳中的表达数据; 通过皮尔逊相关系数分析了这15个基因彼此间的表达相关性,分别获得105对基因的双变量相关系数(r12)和偏相关系数(r12.3),所有105对基因的双变量相关系数(︱r12︱)和偏相关系数(︱r12.3︱)的平均值分别为0.486 ± 0.220和0.304 ± 0.211,达到0.05的差异显著水平。其中,r12与r12.3方向相同的63对(60%),方向相反的42对(40%); ︱r12︱<︱r12.3︱的23对(21.905%),︱r12︱>︱r12.3︱的82对(78.095%); 双变量相关显著性P<0.05的76对(72.38%),P<0.01的59对(56.19%); 偏相关显著性P<0.05的21对(20%),P<0.01的16对(15.24%)。结果显示,这两条途径中的基因表达彼此相关,这为基因表达谱分析中普遍采用的前提假设“功能相关基因的表达相关”提供了进一步的实验证据,可用于挖掘、筛选和预测与橡胶生物合成相关的未知基因,为研究橡胶树产量形成的分子调控机理提供理论基础。     

珊瑚礁生态脆弱性评价--以泰国思仓岛为例

珊瑚礁生态系统受到环境变化、人类活动等各种因素的严重威胁,保护珊瑚礁生态系统是目前全球海洋生态保护的热点,对珊瑚礁开展定量的生态脆弱性评估能够为保护管理对策的制定提供重要科学依据。本研究选取泰国思仓岛作为研究区域,结合空间分析技术建立了具有通用性的珊瑚礁生态脆弱性评估方法。基于ESA模型构建了珊瑚礁生态脆弱性综合指数和评价指标体系,系统分析了思仓岛珊瑚礁脆弱性的来源、构成,并直观展现了脆弱性的区域空间分布。结果表明:思仓岛研究区东北侧的珊瑚礁生态脆弱性大于西南侧,当地珊瑚礁的关键影响因子分别为驳船排污、港口码头、水体透明度等。根据脆弱性评价的结果,提出了当地珊瑚礁保护与修复的空间分区管理对策。本研究为印度-太平洋区系珊瑚礁生态脆弱性评价提供了可行的示例,也为中国的珊瑚礁可持续管理研究提供了借鉴和参照。     

杨亚科植物的分类与分布

杨亚科（Populoideae）植物自然分布于热带非洲和大约从北纬19°～70°度的北半球,由胡杨属（Balsamiflua）和杨属（Populus）2个属所组成。胡杨属间断分布于赤道非洲、古地中海地区和墨西哥,包含2个组（胡杨组、墨杨组）和约3个天然种。杨属分布于欧洲、亚洲、非洲（北缘）和北美洲的广大地区,包含大叶杨亚属（Subgen．Leucoides）（大叶杨组）、杨亚属（Subgen．Populus）（青杨组、黑杨组、杨组）2个亚属和约52个天然种。拟定了杨亚科属的检索表、胡杨属组和种的检索表、杨属亚属和组的检索表以及杨属中各组种的检索表。提供了一个杨树种类目录,包括它们的正名、异名、文献引注和地理分布等。     

营养要素对原油降解菌生长的影响

目的:研究营养要素对原油降解菌生长的影响.方法:通过紫外分光光度计于600nm处测量菌体OD值检测6种碳源、5种氮源、无机离子含量和氯化钠含量对原油降解菌K5生长的影响.通过正交实验确定了原油降解菌K5生长的最佳营养条件.结果:当蔗糖含量0.6%、硫酸铵含量0.2%、氯化钠含量0.6%、微量元素含量0.1%时,原油降解菌生长得最好.结论:确定了原油降解菌K5生长的最佳营养条件,并且发现了培养基中的氮源和碳源对菌体生长量的影响最大以及不同微量元素对菌体生长量有不同程度的促进或抑制作用.     

苯酚降解菌ZJ-1的分离及降解特性研究

目的:筛选苯酚降解菌,用于降解苯酚提高氧化塘处理效率.方法:以苯酚为惟一碳源进行选择性培养.结果:从乌鲁木齐市某炼油厂污水池的活性污泥中分离出一株能以苯酚为惟一碳源培养基上生长的菌株,编号为ZJ-1,该菌株最高可耐受1000mg/L的苯酚.对该苯酚降解菌降解性能研究表明:该菌具有较强的降解能力,在32℃、pH 7左右、接种量1%时,摇床振荡速度120r/min的条件下,该菌株在48h内苯酚降解率可达81%以上.培养液中苯酚浓度在300mg/L、500mg/L时,该菌株的降解率比较明显.当苯酚浓度大于1000mg/L时,则元明显降解效果.结论:ZJ-1菌株对苯酚具有较强的降解能力,具有广阔的应用前景.