有机氯农药在大滨鹬和红腹滨鹬体内的富集程度

为探讨东亚-澳大利西亚迁徙路线上的鸻鹬类体内有机氯农药的含量及来源,本研究以该迁徙路线上的大滨鹬(Calidris tenuirostris)和红腹滨鹬(C.canutus)为研究对象,用索氏提取法对这两种鸟的胸肌和皮下脂肪中的有机污染物进行萃取,并用气相色谱法对19种有机氯农药进行检测。结果表明,HCHs、DDTs、硫丹Ⅱ等14种有机氯农药在大滨鹬和红腹滨鹬的组织中均有不同程度的检出,所有样品中的含量最高值达1 573.5 ng/g脂重;在检出的14种有机氯农药中,α-HCH、β-HCH、γ-HCH、p,p′-DDE、硫丹Ⅱ、硫丹硫酸酯和/或p,p′-DDT的检出率达100%;在大滨鹬的肌肉组织、红腹滨鹬的肌肉和脂肪组织中,p,p′-DDE的残留量最高;而在大滨鹬的脂肪组织中硫丹硫酸酯和/或p,p′-DDT的含量最高;目标物中的艾氏剂、异狄氏剂、七氯、反式氯丹等未达检出限或含量较低。我们对比了不同物种及不同组织样本中有机氯农药的富集程度,红腹滨鹬的肌肉组织中HCHs的沉积量显著高于大滨鹬,而大滨鹬的脂肪组织中硫丹硫酸酯和/或p,p′-DDT的含量显著高于红腹滨鹬。此外,分别对比两个物种的肌肉组织和脂肪组织中有机氯农药沉积量,部分有机氯农药在脂肪组织中的沉积量显著高于肌肉组织,说明相比于肌肉组织,有机氯农药可能更易于在脂肪组织中累积。     

湘江鳡仔稚鱼个体和耳石生长发育研究

2008 年6 月至7 月间于鳡(Elopichthys bambusa Richardson)的主要繁殖季节在湘江采集鳡仔稚鱼共370尾, 耳石分析表明这些仔稚鱼日龄在4-25d 间, 推算孵化日期为5 月27 日至6 月22 日。仔鱼前弯曲期向弯曲期转化时间为第6 日龄, 弯曲期向后弯曲期转化为第10 日龄, 后弯曲期向稚鱼期转化为15.5 日龄。体长生长和耳石生长均在进入后弯曲期后(12-13 日龄)出现1 个节点: 节点后体长生长速度是节点前的5 倍,节点后耳石生长速度是节点前的2 倍。早期生活史不同阶段鳡微耳石形态显著改变: 前弯曲期耳石为圆形;弯曲期耳石前后轴的生长速度明显超过背腹轴生长, 耳石也变为椭圆形; 后弯曲期耳石进一步延长, 耳石后端形成略尖的突起, 耳石呈梨形; 进入稚鱼期后, 耳石后突起变得较为平滑, 耳石形状呈贝形。耳石半径和体长的关系在后弯曲期阶段出现节点, 节点前后呈不同的直线关系。       

Sufficiency of horseshoe crab eggs for red knots during spring migration stopover in Delaware Bay USA

Horseshoe crab (Limulus polyphemus) eggs are a dietary staple of the red knot (Calidris canutus) during its spring stopover on the Delaware Bay. Numbers of knots stopping in Delaware Bay declined in the 1990s concurrent with a decline in horseshoe crabs, leading to the hypothesis that reduced horseshoe crab egg abundance limited the red knot population. Management efforts, including a seasonal harvest moratorium in the Delaware Bay, have been instituted to restore crab populations to levels of sustainable use by multiple users, including migratory birds. Our objective was to evaluate the sufficiency of horseshoe crab eggs in Delaware Bay in May–June 2004 and 2005 for knots to refuel for their migratory flight to the Arctic breeding grounds. We examined egg counts to determine if there were fewer high egg-density sites later than earlier in the day and season, as migrating birds might deplete this resource. We studied foraging rates at red knot locations to determine if foraging probes increased with time of day and season as birds depleted surface eggs by pecking, then began probing for subsurface eggs. Finally, we experimentally tested whether red knots and their competitors depleted horseshoe crab eggs. Crab egg numbers at knot foraging sites did not decline throughout the day or season in 2004. In both years, we found no evidence that knots switched from pecking to probing with increases in time since sunrise or start of the stopover. Egg numbers were similar in exclosed and accessible plots on crab nesting depressions and in areas of open intertidal zone, but were significantly lower in accessible than in exclosed plots in the wrack line. Our results indicate that horseshoe crab eggs in Delaware Bay were sufficient to support the refueling of the present-day stopover population of red knots. If an increase in the availability of crab eggs to foraging birds does not result in an increase in knot numbers, managers must prioritize mitigation of limiting factors at other historically important spring stopovers and on the poorly understood breeding and wintering grounds in addition to the Delaware Bay. © 2011 The Wildlife Society.     

On the asymptotics of penalized splines

We study the asymptotic behaviour of penalized spline estimatorsin the univariate case. We use B-splines and a penalty is placedon mth-order differences of the coefficients. The number ofknots is assumed to converge to infinity as the sample sizeincreases. We show that penalized splines behave similarly toNadaraya--Watson kernel estimators with ‘equivalent’kernels depending upon m. The equivalent kernels we obtain forpenalized splines are the same as those found by Silverman forsmoothing splines. The asymptotic distribution of the penalizedspline estimator is Gaussian and we give simple expressionsfor the asymptotic mean and variance. Provided that it is fastenough, the rate at which the number of knots converges to infinitydoes not affect the asymptotic distribution. The optimal rateof convergence of the penalty parameter is given. Penalizedsplines are not design-adaptive.     

Knots in trees – A new rich source of lignans

Recent research in our group has revealed that knots, i.e. the branch bases inside tree stems, commonly contain 5–10% (w/w) of lignans. Norway spruce (Picea abies) knots contain as much as 6–24% of lignans, with 7-hydroxymatairesinol (HMR) as the predominant (70–85%) lignan. Some other spruce species also contain HMR as the main lignan, but some spruce species have also other dominating lignans. Most fir (Abies) species contain secoisolariciresinol and lariciresinol as the main lignans. Lignans occur also in knots of pines (Pinus spp.), although in lower amounts than in spruces and firs. Scots pine (Pinus silvestris) knots were found to contain 0.4–3% of lignans with nortrachelogenin as the main lignan. Lignans have been identified also in knots of some hardwoods, although flavonoids are more abundant in hardwoods. Knots are detrimental in the manufacture of pulp and paper and should preferably be removed before pulping. This is possible using a recently developed industrially applicable process called ChipSep. Recent research has also established novel synthetic routes to several lignans, such as matairesinol, secoisolariciresinol, lariciresinol and cyclolariciresinol, starting from hydroxymatairesinol by applying fairly straight-forward chemical transformations. We conclude that wood knots in certain spruce and fir species constitute the richest known source of lignans in nature. The lignans occur in knots in free form and are easily extracted by aqueous ethanol, or even by water. Not only HMR, but also other potentially valuable lignans, could be produced in a scale of hundreds of tons per year by extraction of knots separated from wood chips at pulp and paper mills.     

A functional-structural model for radiata pine (Pinus radiata) focusing on tree architecture and wood quality

Backgrounds and Aims

Functional–structural models are interesting tools to relate environmental and management conditions with forest growth. Their three-dimensional images can reveal important characteristics of wood used for industrial products. Like virtual laboratories, they can be used to evaluate relationships among species, sites and management, and to support silvicultural design and decision processes. Our aim was to develop a functional–structural model for radiata pine (Pinus radiata) given its economic importance in many countries.

Methods

The plant model uses the L-system language. The structure of the model is based on operational units, which obey particular rules, and execute photosynthesis, respiration and morphogenesis, according to their particular characteristics. Plant allometry is adhered to so that harmonic growth and plant development are achieved. Environmental signals for morphogenesis are used. Dynamic turnover guides the normal evolution of the tree. Monthly steps allow for detailed information of wood characteristics. The model is independent of traditional forest inventory relationships and is conceived as a mechanistic model. For model parameterization, three databases which generated new information relating to P. radiata were analysed and incorporated.

Key Results

Simulations under different and contrasting environmental and management conditions were run and statistically tested. The model was validated against forest inventory data for the same sites and times and against true crown architectural data. The performance of the model for 6-year-old trees was encouraging. Total height, diameter and lengths of growth units were adequately estimated. Branch diameters were slightly overestimated. Wood density values were not satisfactory, but the cyclical pattern and increase of growth rings were reasonably well modelled.

Conclusions

The model was able to reproduce the development and growth of the species based on mechanistic formulations. It may be valuable in assessing stand behaviour under different environmental and management conditions, assisting in decision-making with regard to management, and as a research tool to formulate hypothesis regarding forest tree growth and development.     

Distributions of Topological States in Circular DNA

A distinctive feature of closed circular DNA molecules is their particular topological state, which cannot be altered by any conformational rearrangement short of breaking at least one strand. This topological constraint opens unique possibilities for experimental studies of the distributions of topological states created in different ways. Primarily, the equilibrium distributions of topological properties are considered in the review. It is described how such distributions can be obtained and measured experimentally, and how they can be computed. Comparison of the calculated and measured equilibrium distributions over the linking number of complementary strands, equilibrium fractions of knots and links formed by circular molecules has provided much valuable information about the properties of the double helix. Study of the steady-state fraction of knots and links created by type II DNA topoisomerases has revealed a surprising property of the enzymes: their ability to reduce these fractions considerably below the equilibrium level.     

Tangle analysis of Xer recombination reveals only three solutions, all consistent with a single three-dimensional topological pathway

The product of Xer recombination at directly repeated psi sites on a circular unknotted DNA molecule is a right-hand four-noded catenane. Here, we use tangle equations to analyze the topological changes associated with Xer recombination at psi. This mathematical method allows computation of all possible topological pathways consistent with the experimental data. We give a rigorous mathematical proof that, under reasonable biological assumptions, there are only three solutions to the tangle equations. One of the solutions corresponds to a synaptic complex with antiparallel alignment of recombination core sites, the other two correspond to parallel alignment of cores. We show that all three solutions can be unified into a single three-dimensional model for Xer recombination. Thus the three distinct mathematical solutions do not necessarily represent distinct three-dimensional pathways, and in this case the three distinct tangle solutions are different planar projections of the same three-dimensional configuration.     

Nitrogen fixation by the woody legumeLeucaena leucocephala in Tanzania

Summary The nitrogen fixation rate in a 4-year-old stand of the woody legumeLeucaena leucocephala (Lam.) de Wit. was estimated in the field at a rather dry site in Tanzania by use of an acetylene reduction technique. The diurnal mean value during April–May was 35 nmol C₂H₄ mg^–1 (dry weight) nodules h^–1, with a variation between 22±8 and 48±12 nmol C₂H₄ mg^–1 (dry weight) nodules h^–1 in early morning and at midday, respectively. The nodule biomass was determined by auger sampling to be 51±16 kg (dry weight) ha^–1. Most of the nodules were found at the 10–30 cm soil depth level. A rough calculation of the amount of nitrogen fixed annually arrived at 110±30 kg ha^–1. The results give strong support for the use ofL. leucocephala for soil enrichment in less humid areas of tropical Africa.