Egyptian tortoise conservation: A community‐based,field research program developed from a study on a captive population

Local community participation and ex situ conservation has the potential to assist the recovery of the endangered Egyptian tortoise, Testudo kleinmanni. We initiated an in situ community‐based conservation and research program from a captive population of T. kleinmanni. We used a captive population of the Egyptian tortoise to train a member of the local community as a research technician and used his indigenous tracking skills and knowledge of the area to collect activity and dietary data on 28 captive tortoises. We overcame problems with illiteracy by creating a data sheet based on symbols and numbers. This data sheet allowed us to use the indigenous knowledge of various people from the community, and employ them in the future. Our local community approach to data collection, in conjunction with a craft program, made the conservation of the Egyptian tortoise more rewarding to the local community by providing a more sustainable form of income than collecting animals for the pet trade. Our multidimensional approach (local community participation as research technicians, craft program, and trust building) for gaining local support eventually led to the rediscovery of wild Egyptian tortoises in North Sinai, which was significant, as this species was presumed extinct in Egypt. We have now shifted our focus to in situ conservation, using the research and local capacity building template developed from this captive population study. Our template can be used by zoos and conservation organizations with small budgets and collections of native species in natural habitats to create similar captive research programs that can be applied to in situ conservation. Zoo Biol 26:397–406, 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Quantifying Single Microvessel Permeability in Isolated Blood-perfused Rat Lung Preparation

The isolated blood-perfused lung preparation is widely used to visualize and define signaling in single microvessels. By coupling this preparation with real time imaging, it becomes feasible to determine permeability changes in individual pulmonary microvessels. Herein we describe steps to isolate rat lungs and perfuse them with autologous blood. Then, we outline steps to infuse fluorophores or agents via a microcatheter into a small lung region. Using these procedures described, we determined permeability increases in rat lung microvessels in response to infusions of bacterial lipopolysaccharide. The data revealed that lipopolysaccharide increased fluid leak across both venular and capillary microvessel segments. Thus, this method makes it possible to compare permeability responses among vascular segments and thus, define any heterogeneity in the response. While commonly used methods to define lung permeability require postprocessing of lung tissue samples, the use of real time imaging obviates this requirement as evident from the present method. Thus, the isolated lung preparation combined with real time imaging offers several advantages over traditional methods to determine lung microvascular permeability, yet is a straightforward method to develop and implement.     

Post-gastrulation synthetic embryos generated ex utero from mouse naive ESCs

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Atomic Sn4+ Decorated into Vanadium Carbide MXene Interlayers for Superior Lithium Storage

Ion intercalation is an important way to improve the energy storage performance of 2D materials. The dynamic energy storage process in such layered intercalations is important but still a challenge mainly due to the lack of effective operando methods. Herein, a unique atomic Sn⁴⁺–decorated vanadium carbide (V₂C) MXene not only exhibiting highly enhanced lithium‐ion battery (LIB) performance, but also possessing outstanding rate and cyclic stability because of the expanded interlayer space and the formation of V? O? Sn bonding is demonstrated. In combination with ex situ tests, an operando X‐ray absorption fine structure measurement is developed to explore the dynamic mechanism of V₂C@Sn MXene electrodes in LIBs. The results clearly reveal the valence changes of vanadium (V), tin (Sn), and positive contribution of oxygen (O) atoms during the charging/discharging process, confirming their contribution for lithium storage capacity. The stability of intercalated MXene electrode is further in situ studied to prove the key role of V? O? Sn bonding.     

High throughput measure of diversity in cytoplasmic and nuclear traits for unravelling geographic distribution of rosemary

In the present work, variability of both cytoplasmic and nuclear microsatellite traits was investigated with the aim of characterizing a set of rosemary germplasm resources (Salvia rosmarinus). Most of the materials were collected in Italy and France. High‐resolution melting curves were compared each other computing their Euclidean distances and estimating the differences within their principal component as a measure of genetic diversity. Mantel correlation results combined to linear discriminant analysis allowed examined populations to be divided in four principal groups corresponding to four geographic areas, with few interesting and discussed exceptions. As rosemary propagates by seeds coming from insect mediated pollination, steady wild populations can be expected to be in panmictic equilibrium. Gained results confirmed and extended precedent characterization of rosemary genotypes and are compatible with the distribution of other Mediterranean species, as well as with the presence of a glacial refugium in the north‐east area of Sardinia previously described. As the officinal use of this aromatic shrub is spreading, characterization and conservation of wild Mediterranean germplasm is gaining strategic importance. A core collection of 100 genotypes was pointed out as suitable for a cheaper biodiversity ex situ preservation as well as for subsequent metabolic and linkage disequilibrium analyses.     

Cytogeography and chromosomal variation of the endemic East Asian herb Lycoris radiata

Information on the spatial distribution of cytotypes and karyotype variation in plants is critical for studies of the origin and evolution of polyploid complexes. Here, the spatial distribution of cytological races and intraspecific variation in the karyotype of Lycoris radiata, an endemic species to East Asia, is investigated. Conventional karyotype analysis methods were used to determine ploidy level and karyotypical characteristics in 2,420 individuals from 114 populations of L. radiata nearly covering the whole distribution areas in China. Of 114 populations studied, 52 (45.61%), 58 (50.88%), and 4 (3.51%) are diploid, triploid, and mixoploid populations, respectively, with 1,224, 1,195, and 1 individuals being diploid, triploid, and tetraploid, respectively. The triploid possesses a much wider distribution range than the diploid, with the former almost occupying the entire range of this complex species in East Asia and the latter distributing in the middle and east regions of China. Triploids tend to occur at high altitudes, and the relationship between the ploidy and altitude is significantly positive but low (r² = 0.103, p < 0.01). About 98.6% of examined bulbs have a common karyotype consisting of 22 or 33 acrocentric (A) chromosomes. Some aberrant chromosomes which should be generated from A‐type chromosome have been found including metacentrics (m), small metacentrics (m′), and B‐type chromosome. The results can provide a fundamental cytogeographic data for further studies on the evolutionary origins and adaptive divergences of polyploids, especially the triploid, within L. radiata using molecular and/or ecological methods in the future.     

Substrate availability regulates the suppressive effects of Canada goldenrod invasion on soil respiration

基质有效性调节加拿大一枝黄花入侵对土壤呼吸的抑制作用 外来植物入侵不仅会降低河边近岸湿地生态系统植被多样性,而且会改变湿地生态系统的地下碳过程。外来入侵植物加拿大一枝黄花(Solidago canadensis L.)已广泛入侵我国东南部地区,但加拿大一枝黄花入侵对入侵地生态系统地下土壤碳循环过程的影响却知之甚少。本研究通过野外原位观测实验和温室模拟入侵实验,探究外来植物加拿大一枝黄花入侵对入侵地土壤呼吸的影响规律及其驱动因素。野 外原位观测实验开展于2018年7月21日至12月15日,期间每周测定样地土壤呼吸。温室模拟入侵实验开展于2019年7月15日至12月15日,期间每月1日与15日上午测定土壤呼吸、自养呼吸和异养呼吸。土壤呼吸、自养呼吸和异养呼吸通过静态箱结合深埋根系隔离法测定。野外原位观测实验和温室模拟入侵实验结果均显示,加拿大一枝黄花的入侵降低了土壤二氧化碳的排放通量。加拿大一枝黄花入侵对土壤呼吸的抑制作用可能归因于其入侵引起的土壤可利用底物质量与数量的变化,表明外来入侵植物加拿大一枝黄花可通过改变植物释放基质以及与本地植物和/或土壤微生物争夺土壤有效基质而影响土壤碳循环。这些研究结果对于评估外来入侵植物对入侵地地下碳动态的影响以及对全球变暖的贡献具有重要意义。