The Pitcairn Islands, South Pacific Ocean: plate tectonic and climatic contexts

The remote Pitcairn Group in the South Pacific Ocean comprises a volcanic island (Pitcairn Island), two low coral atolls (Oeno, Ducie) and a raised coralline island (Henderson Island). The geological history of these islands, on anomalously thin oceanic lithosphere, is related to the development of two subparallel island chains (Oeno-Henderson-Ducie; Pitcairn) associated with intra-Pacific plate 'hotspot' activity; the surface manifestation of this activity has been partly determined by structural lineations in the plate inherited from past plate history. The climate of the Pitcairn Islands is determined by the position of the subtropical high pressure system and the South Pacific Convergence Zone. Variations in the strength of this atmospheric circulation system, measured by changes in the Southern Oscillation index of pressure difference, provide a partial explanation of the long-term variability of mean annual rainfall at Pitcairn Island. Knowledge of past climates in the Pitcairn Group remains speculative. Maps of the Pitcairn Islands and a report of climate at Henderson Island (2/91-1/92) are included in the paper.     

The inheritance of a wingless character in the 2spot ladybird (Adalia bipunctata)

A viable wingless 2spot ladybirdAdalia bipunctata (L.) was found in the wild. Breeding through four generations revealed that the wingless trait was controlled by a recessive allele which displays variable levels of expression. The wingless ladybird is discussed in relation to its potential as a biocontrol agent. One ladybird also occurred in this stock which is suggestive of a supergene controlling the colour polymorphism in this species.     

Effect of intraperitoneal administration of granulocyte/macrophage-colony-stimulating factor in rats on omental milky-spot composition and tumoricidal activity in vivo and in vitro

 Milky spots in the greater omentum are small accumulations of leucocytes that consist mainly of macrophages and have recently shown to be a selective dissemination site of intraperitoneal (i. p.) inoculated tumour cells. However, milky-spot macrophages show tumoricidal activity and may, therefore, be an excellent source of effector cells suited for local immunotherapy. In the present study we first examined whether granulocyte/macrophage- colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) treatment of isolated milky-spot macrophages affects the cytotoxicity against syngeneic colon carcinoma cells (CC531) in vitro. Secondly, we studied the influence of intraperitoneal GM-CSF administration on the number and antitumour activity of milky-spot and peritoneal macrophages. All studies were performed in Wag/Rij rats in which a syngeneic colon carcinoma cell line (CC531) is available. The results of the in vitro study showed that GM-CSF treatment of the omental macrophages led to an increased cytotoxicity against the tumour cell line. Intraperitoneal administration of 1000 U GM-CSF daily for 7 consecutive days demonstrated both an enhanced antitumour activity of the milky-spot macrophages and an increase in the milky-spot macrophage population. An increase in the proliferative capacity, according to bromodeoxyuridine incorporation, was shown in the milky-spot macrophages. Taking into account both the enhanced macrophage number and their enhanced activity upon i. p. GM-CSF treatment, the milky-spot macrophages may provide a rationale for local intraperitoneal immunotherapy in the prevention of intra-abdominal tumour growth. Received: 11 April 1996 / Accepted: 21 May 1996     

Biological control of bacterial spot disease and plant growth-promoting effects of lactic acid bacteria on pepper

In our previous studies, we observed the biological control effect of lactic acid bacteria strains (LABs) KLF01, KLC02 and KPD03 against different plant pathogenic bacteria in vitro against Ralstonia solanacearum, and strains KLF01 and KLC02 against Pectobacterium carotovorum under greenhouse and field experiments, respectively. In this study, we observed the efficacy of these bacteria against bacterial spot pathogen (Xanthomonas campestris pv. vesicatoria) and their plant growth-promoting activities in pepper (Capsicum annuum L. var. annuum), under greenhouse and field conditions. LABs significantly (P < 0.05) reduced bacterial spot on pepper plants in comparison to untreated plants in both the greenhouse and the field experiments. The plant growth-promoting effect of LABs on pepper varied; some strains had a significant effect on growth promotion (P < 0.05) compared with untreated plants, while some showed no significant effect in the greenhouse and field experiments. Additionally, LABs were able to colonise roots, produce indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), siderophores and solubilise phosphate. These findings indicate that application of LABs could provide a promising alternative for the management of bacterial spot disease in pepper plants and could therefore be used as a healthy plant growth-promoting agent.     

黄精褐斑病的病原生物学特性

为明确发生在贵州省施秉县的黄精叶斑类病害的病原菌,通过形态学和分子生物学方法对病原菌进行了鉴定,并对其生物学特性进行了初步研究。形态特征及rDNA-ITS、β-tubulin和tef1多基因序列分析表明,该病原菌为棕榈拟盘多毛孢Pestalotiopsis trachicarpicola。生物学特性研究结果表明,该菌菌丝体适宜生长温度为15-30℃,最适温度为28℃;最适pH值为5;以葡萄糖为碳源、酵母浸膏为氮源比较适合菌丝体的生长;菌丝体生长的最佳培养基为PDA;光照对菌丝体生长无明显影响;菌丝体致死温度为45℃。     

杭州市西湖景区春季空气细菌多样性特征

选取了杭州市西湖景区4个典型样点,利用高通量测序方法研究了其空气细菌多样性特征。结果表明,在细菌门水平上,各样点优势细菌为变形菌门(Proteobacteria)、放线菌门(Actinobacteria)、厚壁菌门(Firmicutes)和拟杆菌门(Bacteroidetes),其总相对含量在断桥残雪(MSBB)、柳浪闻莺(OSW)、宝石流霞(PSHFRC)和三潭印月(TPMM)分别为88.31%、86.03%、85.06%和89.28%,且不同样点优势菌群存在一定的差异,OSW和TPMM厚壁菌门分别占9.65%和11.6%,拟杆菌门分别占6.86%和5.55%,MSBB和PSHFRC拟杆菌门分别占7.31%和7.86%,厚壁菌门分别占7.09%和5.32%。在细菌属水平上,各样点优势菌属及含量差异显著,MSBB、TPMM、OSW和PSHFRC相对含量最高的菌属分别为马赛菌属(Massilia)、两面神菌属(Janibacter)、鞘氨醇单胞菌属(Sphingomonas)和甲基杆菌属(Methylobacterium),分别占6.22%、6.45%、6.05%和11.5%,各样点相对含量高于2%的细菌属有鞘氨醇单胞菌属、甲基杆菌属、薄层菌属(Hymenobacter)和异常球菌属(Deinococcus),这些菌属是西湖景区各样点共有的优势菌群;通过空气细菌OTU及多样性分析可知,MSBB空气细菌丰富度较高,均匀度较低,而PSHFRC丰富度较低,均匀度较高。杭州西湖景区不同样点空气细菌群落特征差异显著,且其丰富度和均匀度明显不同。     

中国国家公园的边界、分区和土地利用管理——来自自然保护区和风景名胜区的启示

作为生态文明制度改革的具体实现方式和前沿阵地,国家公园体制建设旨在对我国多样化的保护地体系进行重组管理,实现高效合理的国土空间规划、自然资本的保护和全民公益。研究对我国自然保护区和风景名胜区这两类法定保护地的边界和区划的理论基础和实践的技术手段的发展进行梳理,并对我国国家公园体制试点进展进行总结。在此基础上提出,中国国家公园在保护地个体的边界和内部分区上应以实现保护目标为原则,借鉴自然保护区功能分区的基本原则,根据管理目标细化功能分区,借鉴风景名胜区规划实践,注重景观价值,考虑社会经济条件特别是土地权属及土地开发利用可能和方式,进而考虑气候变化和区域长期发展目标等自然和社会经济动态,形成完整的边界和分区理论体系,从而满足全民公益,实现社区经济发展。在区划理论上,一个可行的切入点是考虑空间上生态系统服务功能的差异,根据实现保护目标的管理需求和满足社区生计发展的利用需求,在土地权属和其他限制条件上实现不同组合的生态系统服务功能的空间规划,利用保护地役权来分离土地所有权、使用权和收益权,限制特定土地利用方式,进行利益相关方资源利用管理。