First record of a walnut shield bearer Coptodisca (Lepidoptera: Heliozelidae) in Europe

A leafminer of the Nearctic genus Coptodisca Walsingham (Lepidoptera: Heliozelidae), a species of potential economic interest, is reported for the first time from Europe, infesting the black (Juglans nigra L.) and the common walnut (Juglans regia L.). Mines were collected since September of 2010 in several sites of two Italian regions (Campania and Lazio). The species is rather similar to Coptodisca juglandella (Chambers), the only Coptodisca known to attack walnuts, but at present, an unambiguous identification cannot be provided because of the unsatisfactory characterization of this leafminer and congeneric species. Three generations were recorded per year and leafminers overwinter as mature larvae. The first adults emerged in May–June while mature larvae of the last generation started the overwintering in September. During the last generation of the year, infestation levels of leaves were 100% in all sampled localities. Several species of parasitoids were reared from infested mines, with specimens belonging to the genus Chrysocharis (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) being the most frequent parasitoids.     

Thirteen nuclear microsatellite loci for butternut (Juglans cinerea L.)

Butternut (Juglans cinerea L.) is an eastern North American forest tree severely threatened by an exotic fungal pathogen, Sirococcus clavigignenti‐juglandacearum. We report here 13 nuclear microsatellites for genetic evaluation of the remaining natural populations. Summary statistics are reported for individuals from a population of butternuts in central Kentucky (N = 63). All markers were polymorphic, with an average of 13.7 alleles per locus observed. Four loci exhibited significantly fewer heterozygotes than expected under Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium (P < 0.05).     

列入《濒危野生动植物物种国际贸易公约》附录的物种的新标准

ＣＩＴＥＳ（濒危野生动植物国际贸易公约）是一个通过控制贸易的方法来维护物种生存及其持续利用的国际法规,其附录中所列的物种是重点管理的对象,主要根据现有的Ｂｅｒｎｅ标准来确定。但是,长期的实践证明,它已不能满足实际的需要。１９９２年６月ＣＩＴＥＳ常务委员会要求世界保护联盟协助制定一个简明、实用、科学和客观的新标准,本文对此作一简介和讨论。     

Utilization of nitrogen from storage and current-year uptake in walnut spurs during the spring flush of growth

[¹⁵N]-depleted (NH₄)₂SO₄ applied to the soil in 1985 resulted in residual labeling of about 16% of the storage nitrogen (N) pool of mature walnut ( Juglans regia L. cv. Serr) trees in 1987. Application of [¹⁵N]-depleted (NH₄)₂SO₄ fertilizer to a different set of mature walnut trees in 1987 allowed monitoring of the kinetics and utilization of N from current year uptake in 1987 and resulted in >20% labeling of fruit N following completion of leaf expansion. Redistribution of storage N to the new growth predominated during the spring flush of growth although N derived from the soil during current-year uptake contributed increasingly during leaf expansion. Labeled N from current year uptake accumulated preferentially in the leaves as compared with reproductive organs during leaf expansion but subsequent to leaf expansion, fruit were more highly labeled with N derived from current-year uptake than leaves. Pistillate flower abortion was coincident with an apparent competition for N among developing vegetative and reproductive organs and preceded the period of significant N contribution from current-year uptake.     

Training in zoo biology,captive breeding,and conservation

Different types of training in zoo biology, captive breeding, and conservation are discussed and the availability of a variety of programs documented. Emphasis is given to the need for more training in general, and especially for less-developed countries where zoos have much potential yet to be realized. The aims, structure, content, and impact of the Jersey Wildlife Preservation Trust's International Training Program are examined.     

The identification and characterization of a genetic marker linked to hypersensitivity to the cherry leafroll virus in walnut

Walnut blackline disease, caused by the walnut strain of the cherry leafroll virus, causes fatal necrosis of the graft union between susceptible, infected scions of Persian walnut (Juglans regia L.) and hypersensitive, resistant rootstocks. A backcross breeding program to transfer hypersensitivity to cherry leafroll virus from the Norther California black walnut (Juglans hindsii (Jeps.)), into Persian walnut was begun in 1987. Hypersensitivity to the virus is inherited as a single, dominant gene. The current procedures for identifying hypersensitive backcross progeny are slow and labor intensive. Bulks of DNA from backcrosses that were either hypersensitive or susceptible to cherry leafroll virus were compared using randomly amplified polymorphic DNA. One random decamer, sequence 5-CTCCTGCCAA-3 (OP-K15), produces a polymorphic fragment of about 720 bp that has about 7% recombination with hypersensitivity to cherry leafroll virus in our backcross populations. The polymorphic fragment was cloned and converted into a restriction fragment length polymorphism to demonstrate that it is a distinct, low-copy sequence.     

The last wild Spix's Macaw and an Illiger's Macaw produced a hybrid

The one remaining wild male Spix's macaw(Cyanopsitta spixii) chose a femaleIlliger's macaw (Propyrrhura maracana) asa mate. Eggs were found in the nest used by thecouple and one of them contained an embryo.Sequence variation in CHD1-Z and CHD1-W genesshowed that it was a natural hybrid.     

Population structure of Hylobates concolor in Bawanglin Nature Reserve,Hainan, China

The Hainan gibbon continues to survive in Bawanglin Nature Reserve in four social groups totalling 21 individuals. Twelve births have occurred since 1982, and 11 of these individuals survive in 1989. Only three of these 12 births have been females, however. The total female population consists of 6 adult females, two of which are at least 19 years old, and three juvenile females born since 1985. Two of the four social groups have only one adult female each and no juvenile females. All four groups are well protected, but their survival is precarious.     

Drought-induced leaf shedding in walnut: evidence for vulnerability segmentation

Trees of Juglans regia L. shed leaves when subjected to drought. Before shedding (when leaves are yellow), the petioles have lost 87% of their maximum hydraulic conductivity, but stems have lost only 14% of their conductivity. This is caused by the higher vulnerability of petioles than stems to water-stress induced cavitation. These data are discussed in the context of the plant segmentation hypothesis.     

分子标记及其在核桃遗传多样性研究中的应用

核桃是我国重要的坚果和木本油料树种之一,具有重要的学术研究和经济价值。现代分子标记技术的迅速发展为核桃的种质鉴定、遗传育种、遗传多样性分析、亲缘鉴定等提供了崭新途径。本文主要介绍RFLP、RAPD、AFLP及SSR等几种分子标记技术的主要原理、特点以及在核桃遗传多样性方面的研究进展,分析了分子标记在核桃遗传多样性研究中的主要问题,并对其发展提出了展望。     

关于物种濒危等级标准之探讨--对IUCN物种濒危等级的思考

为了保存地球上的生物多样性,我们需要根据物种的种群数量与分布、种群数量波动与分布区下降速率来评定濒危物种的濒危等级,并针对物种的濒危等级提出具体的保护措施。1994年11月,IUCN第40次理事会会议正式通过了经过修订的Mace-Lande物种濒危等级标准作为IUCN物种濒危等级标准。IUCN濒危物种红色名录虽然不是国际法和国家法律,但是对于政府间组织、非政府组织的保护决策以及各国的自然法律法规的制定有着深远的影响,在保护生物学理论研究中也发挥了一定作用。我们在研究制定中国水生野生生物濒危等级标准时发现,如果直接应用IUCN物种濒危等级标准评定水生野生生物濒危等级将存在一些问题。如：(1)如何区别对待那些本来就数量稀少、分布区狭窄的物种和那些由于人类活动而导致其种群数量与生境面积急剧下降的物种?(2)不同的动物类群能否应用同一濒危标准尺度?(3)如何区别对待物种边缘分布区和核心分布区的种群数量与密度的差异?(4)如何处理种群的局部灭绝、局部濒危?(5)一些濒危物种在野生环境中濒危,但是这些物种可以人工繁殖,如何处理可以人工繁殖的濒危物种?(6)如果没有种群与栖息地的精确历史资料和统计数据,怎样应用物种的濒危标准评估其濒危等级?在实践中,我们针对这些问题提出了解决方案。考虑与国际流行的IUCN物种濒危等级标准接轨,我们提出来一个由“无危”、“值得关注”、“受胁”、“濒危”和“灭绝”等5个级构成的濒危等级系统,其中“值得关注”、“受胁”、“濒危”又分为“一般”与“高度”两个亚等级。我们提出应区分“生态濒危物种”、“进化濒危物种”;对于不同生物类群,应区分物种的生活史对策,制定不同生活史物种的濒危标准。对于r-对策物种,引入“经济灭绝”这一等级,将这一等级对应于“受胁”等级,以解决缺少物种数量的统计数据和历史数据这一难题;区别对待特有物种,将其濒危等级提升一等;引进集合种群(metapopulation)概念,将集合种群的局域种群(local population)作为“个体”对待。     

Microsatellites for Lindera species

Microsatellite markers were developed for conservation genetic studies of Lindera melissifolia (pondberry), a federally endangered shrub of southern bottomland ecosystems. Microsatellite sequences were obtained from DNA libraries that were enriched for the (AC)_n simple sequence repeat motif. From 35 clone sequences, 20 primer pairs were designed and evaluated. Eleven primer pairs amplified polymorphic marker loci in pondberry while two did so in Lindera benzoin (spicebush). In 46 samples from a single pondberry site the number of microsatellite alleles ranged from two to 11 per locus with observed heterozygosity values of 0.07–0.91.     

Plantlet regeneration from mature embryos of Juniperus cedrus

A protocol is described for plantlet regeneration using embryonic explants of Juniperus cedrus Webb & Berth. An average of 6 adventitious buds were induced on whole excised embryos cultured for 15 days on Quoirin and LePoivre (QP) half-strength medium supplemented with 5 M N⁶-benzyladenine. For bud development, explants were transferred to phytohormone-free 1/2 QP medium. For shoot elongation, explants were cultured on 1/2 QP with 0.05% activated charcoal and 2% sucrose. Adventitious shoots were rooted successfully in peat-vermiculite-perlite (1:1:1) moistened with 1/4 QP containing 1% sucrose and 5 M -napthaleneacetic acid, pH 5.0. Axillary shoots elongated spontaneously in culture from leaf axils.Abbreviations AC activated charcoal - BA N⁶-benzyladenine - NAA -naphthaleneacetic acid - QP Quoirin & LePoivre - SH Schenk & Hildebrandt     

Assessing the prevalence of hybridization between sympatric Canis species surrounding the red wolf (Canis rufus) recovery area in North Carolina

Predicting spatial patterns of hybridization is important for evolutionary and conservation biology yet are hampered by poor understanding of how hybridizing species can interact. This is especially pertinent in contact zones where hybridizing populations are sympatric. In this study, we examined the extent of red wolf (Canis rufus) colonization and introgression where the species contacts a coyote (C. latrans) population in North Carolina, USA. We surveyed 22,000km(2) in the winter of 2008 for scat and identified individual canids through genetic analysis. Of 614 collected scats, 250 were assigned to canids by mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequencing. Canid samples were genotyped at 6-17 microsatellite loci (nDNA) and assigned to species using three admixture criteria implemented in two Bayesian clustering programs. We genotyped 82 individuals but none were identified as red wolves. Two individuals had red wolf mtDNA but no significant red wolf nDNA ancestry. One individual possessed significant red wolf nDNA ancestry (approximately 30%) using all criteria, although seven other individuals showed evidence of red wolf ancestry (11-21%) using the relaxed criterion. Overall, seven individuals were classified as hybrids using the conservative criteria and 37 using the relaxed criterion. We found evidence of dog (C. familiaris) and gray wolf (C. lupus) introgression into the coyote population. We compared the performance of different methods and criteria by analyzing known red wolves and hybrids. These results suggest that red wolf colonization and introgression in North Carolina is minimal and provide insights into the utility of Bayesian clustering methods to detect hybridization.