中国西南地区独活属植物叶表皮微形态特征及其系统学意义

利用光学显微镜和扫描电镜对中国西南地区独活属16种1变种植物(分隶于中国独活属的全部4个组)的叶表皮微形态进行了观察,测量并统计气孔器大小、密度和气孔指数,并用统计学方法对远轴面气孔器长轴进行显著差异性分析.结果显示:无规则型气孔器普遍存在于所有研究类群的叶远轴面及个别类群叶近轴面,气孔器的分布和密度具有种间特异性.表皮毛普遍存在于远轴面及大部分类群近轴面,长短和覆盖密度因种而异.近轴面表皮细胞为多边形或者不规则形,垂周壁平直、浅波状或波状;远轴面表皮细胞形态多不规则形,表皮细胞垂周壁浅波状或波状.在扫描电镜下,叶表皮气孔器外拱盖内缘为近平滑、浅波状或波状;角质膜条纹状,有的附有颗粒状、鳞片状蜡质等结构.气孔器外拱盖形态以及蜡质类型是稳定的鉴别特征.研究表明独活属植物叶表皮特征存在较大的种间差异,对独活属的系统分类及进化研究具有重要意义,文中对叶表皮特征在独活属植物分类处理中的应用及系统进化问题等进行了讨论,并建立了以叶表皮微形态特征为依据的分类检索表.     

中国瓜馥木属植物叶片结构的解剖观察

采用叶片表皮离析法、扫描电镜和石蜡制片法,研究了中国分布的番荔枝科瓜馥木属19种植物叶片的形态结构。结果表明:瓜馥木属叶片形态和结构具有较多的相似性,如叶片表皮均具有2-多个细胞的单列丝状毛,表皮细胞内具有一个晶簇,气孔器均为平列型,只分布在叶片的远轴面,远轴面的表皮细胞平周壁形成一个乳突,叶片主脉的维管组织除具有正常的维管组织外,还具有一个小的副维管束等,这些特征有助于区分番荔枝科植物的属间关系,支持瓜馥木属是一个很自然的类群。但叶片表皮毛的形态及分布,表皮细胞的形状、叶肉中栅栏组织和海绵组织的结构、远轴面的乳突大小以及叶主脉维管组织的细微结构则具有种间差异。尤其有助于区分小萼瓜馥木和黑风藤、广西瓜馥木和独山瓜馥木、上思瓜馥木和东方瓜馥木等形态相似、难以区分的植物种类。该研究结果为该属的系统研究和种间正确区分提供了重要资料。     

中国罗汉松属叶角质层微形态结构及其分类意义

利用扫描电镜对罗汉松属8种2变种植物叶角质层内外表面进行了细致观察。发现罗汉松属植物叶角质层结构具有许多相似特征,表皮细胞较为规则,长方形或多边形,边缘波状弯曲;气孔器排列成带状,长轴均与叶脉一致,气孔器具较为明显的气孔塞和伏罗林环,气孔器保卫细胞极延伸明显,通常具有2~4个副卫细胞、不具极副卫细胞。但罗汉松属叶角质层结构也具有明显的种间差异,镰叶罗汉松和洛杉矶罗汉松同其它种类差异最大,这两种植物叶两面均具气孔器,角质层内表面垂周壁直,角质层凸缘不明显;贺氏罗汉松最为显著的特征是近轴面和远轴面表皮细胞的垂周壁角质层厚且凸缘均极其发达;小叶罗汉松近轴面表皮细胞排列较为规则,多数为方形,长轴与叶脉垂直,垂周壁之间的角质层突起较为显著,延伸到皮下层;兰屿罗汉松近轴面表皮细胞排列较不规则,多边形,细胞的角端比较钝,没有棱角;大理罗汉松气孔带间隔较小,有时两条气孔带挤在一起,使副卫细胞紧连,近轴面表皮细胞较短,方形或长方形,垂周壁之间的角质层较不发达;海南罗汉松角质层气孔带间隔较宽,气孔器形状为阔椭圆形,近轴面表皮细胞均为细长方形;变种短叶罗汉松和狭叶罗汉松与罗汉松也具有明显差异,短叶罗汉松近轴面表皮细胞排列不规则,垂周壁深波状弯曲,凸缘极为明显,但原种罗汉松近轴面表皮细胞排列较为规则,垂周壁浅波状弯曲,凸缘不明显,而狭叶罗汉松近轴面表皮细胞方形或长方形,比罗汉松的表皮细胞短,垂周壁直或略弯曲,角质层极厚。这些角质层微形态特征差异可以作为罗汉松属内种类分类鉴定的依据。     

番荔枝科植物叶的比较解剖学

利用扫描电镜、叶表皮离析法和石蜡切片法研究了番荔枝科93种2变种植物叶片的形态结构.结果表明番荔枝科植物叶片形态结构具有较大相似性,如叶表面均具有表皮毛,表皮细胞具有晶体,气孔器为平列型,具2～6个副卫细胞,仅分布在远轴面,普遍具有败育气孔器,叶肉组织中普遍含有油细胞等,但表皮毛的类型,表皮细胞的形状,表皮细胞内晶体的类型和形态,叶肉组织的结构具有明显的属间和种间差异.     

中国红豆属植物的叶表皮形态学

用光学显微镜和扫描电子显微镜观察了红豆属(Ormosia)35种的叶表皮形态,这些植物的叶上下表皮细胞为不规则形或多边形,垂周壁有平直、弓形、浅波状或深波状,表皮细胞形状和垂周壁在种间有一些差异。气孔仅存在于下表皮,形状为椭圆形或卵形,以平列型为主;此外还有其他类型的气孔,如长脐红豆、海南红豆等的气孔为不规则形、不等型;少数种类如亮毛红豆、茸荚红豆等的气孔不明显。气孔外拱盖光滑,呈浅波状、波状或不明显,气孔内拱盖光滑、近光滑、浅波状或不明显;蜡被近光滑、颗粒状、鳞片状、条纹状或结网状;多数种具毛被。叶表皮与气孔器特征可作为区分种、变种或亚种的依据。叶表皮微观形态特征支持红豆属成为一个自然类群。     

黑龙江悬钩子属植物叶表皮形态结构的研究

利用扫描电子显微镜对黑龙江悬钩子属植物的叶表皮形态结构进行比较研究。结果显示:(1)悬钩子属植物叶的上表皮细胞呈多边形,垂周壁平直,或无规则形,垂周壁浅波纹;下表皮细胞无规则形,垂周壁浅波纹或深波纹。(2)表皮毛类型有单细胞直立不分支、卷曲不分支,头状腺毛和盾状腺毛四种类型。(3)气孔器均分布于下表皮,且气孔器类型为无规则形;气孔外拱盖单层、内缘平滑或不规则波状。研究表明,黑龙江悬钩子属植物的叶表皮微形态学特征表现出一定差异性,对种间的划分和鉴定具有一定的分类学意义。     

安徽产大戟属植物叶表皮微形态

利用光镜和扫描电镜对安徽7种大戟属(Euphorbia)植物叶表皮进行了观察。发现该属7种植物叶表皮细胞为不规则形或多边形,垂周壁一般为平直、浅波状、深波状;气孔器通常为无规则型,有的种类叶表皮具单细胞毛或多细胞毛,表皮毛在电镜下具瘤状突起的纹饰。在扫描电镜下,角质层纹饰多具鳞片或颗粒等特征,种间有细微差别。结果表明该7种植物叶表皮微形态有明显差别,这些表皮特征有助于识别一些在外部形态较相近的种类。     

中国秋海棠属植物的叶表皮特征及其分类学意义

在光学显微镜下,对中国秋海棠属(Begonia)植物7组52种2变种的叶表皮进行观察。结果表明秋海棠属植物叶表皮形态在属内组间具有较大的相似性,表皮细胞为多边形或近多边形,垂周壁平直或弓形,大多数种类表皮细胞内具有晶体,气孔器仅分布于下表皮,且以不等型为主。叶表皮综合特征,例如表皮细胞形状,表皮毛类型,表皮细胞内晶体的类型和形态,气孔器形态以及与一些种类独有特征的组合,在种间,尤其在近缘种之间具有明显的差异。     

中国蓼属头状蓼组植物叶表皮微形态及其分类学意义

采用光学显微镜对中国蓼属头状蓼组17种7变种植物的叶片下表皮微形态进行了观察研究,结果表明,其叶片下表皮微形态特征分为4种类型:(1)气孔器类型为无规则型,表皮细胞不规则形,垂周壁波状或深波状;(2)非典型不等型,偶有无规则型,表皮细胞多边形或不规则形,垂周壁弓形、波状或深波状;(3)平列型,表皮细胞不规则形,垂周壁深波状;(4)平列型兼有非典型不等型,表皮细胞不规则形,垂周壁波状。根据其叶片下表皮气孔器类型,结合该组植物形态、习性等特征,将中国蓼属头状蓼组植物划分为4个系,即掌裂叶系、多年生系、蓼子草系以及一年生直立系。     

石蒜属植物叶微形态特征研究

借助显微和扫描电镜技术对石蒜属植物叶表皮微形态特征进行了研究。利用光学显微镜和扫描电子显微镜观察了石蒜属植物的叶表皮,统计并测量了气孔类型、气孔大小、气孔密度及气孔指数等,描述了气孔及气孔外拱盖的有关特征。结果表明：石蒜属植物叶表皮气孔器为无规则型,近轴面表皮细胞形状、气孔器类型、垂周壁式样、气孔大小及气孔外拱盖内缘种间无差异或极小,表明石蒜属植物为一自然分类群。而远轴面表皮细胞形状、气孔密度、气孔指数、气孔是否下陷、气孔外拱盖是否有蜡质纹饰等种间差异较大。根据远轴面叶表皮细胞形状及叶气孔特征,研究表明：换锦花、长筒石蒜和安徽石蒜,夏水仙、乳白石蒜与红蓝石蒜,石蒜与中国石蒜具有较近的亲缘关系。因此,叶微形态特征对探讨石蒜属植物种间亲缘关系具有一定的意义。     

Gustatory responses in three prosimian and two simian primate species (Tupaia glis, Nycticebus coucang, Galago senegalensis, Callithrix jacchus jacchus and Saguinus midas niger) to six sweeteners and miraculin and their phylogenetic implications

The intake of six sweeteners was recorded together with theireffects on the impulse activity of the chorda tympani propernerve during their application to the tongue. The sweetenerswere: acetosulfam, aspartame, D-tryptophan, glycine, xylitoland thaumatin. They were used at human equi-sweet concentrations.In all species, D-tryptophan was strongly preferred and gavea significant response, while aspartame and thaumatin gave neithera significant behavioral nor a significant neural response.Acetosulfam, glycine and xylitol elicited neural responses,but their behavioral effects differed from a rejection in somespecies to a preference in others. Miraculin, which has a sweetnessinducing effect in man, showed this effect only in the platyrrhineanspecies and not in the prosimian.     

阿尼玛卿山八种柳属植物叶片的形态结构特征研究

对阿尼玛卿山柳属八种植物的叶片进行了形态和解剖研究。观察结果表明：除旱柳外,其余７种均为异面叶;栅栏组织２－３层,细胞排列紧密;有些种的叶上表皮有光滑的角质膜,下表皮为复表皮。表面多有灰白色的粉粒蜡质,气孔不下陷;此外,在叶表皮、叶肉及维管束鞘中皆存在有含单宁或胶质的异细胞。这些特征与高山地区严酷的自然环境条件是相适应的。     

Regeneration of Sclerenchyma in Wounded Dicotyledon Stems

When the sclerenchyma cylinder that surrounds the vascular cylinderin many dicotyledon stems is interrupted by cutting away oneside of an internode, its continuity becomes restored in somespecies by the differentiation of sclereids within the woundcallus. These sclereids, which may be scattered or arrangedin clumps or in a continuous sheet, lie in a zone within the‘cortical’ parenchyma between the regenerated vascularcylinder and the wound cork. The amount and especially the arrangementof regenerated sclerenchyma tends to reflect that of the originalprimary sclerenchyma cylinder in the unwounded stem, exceptthat longitudinal continuity is poorly developed and all fibresare replaced by sclereids. Syringa vulgaris L, lilac, regeneration, differentiation, fibres, sclereids, sclerenchyma, positional control     

Fish biodiversity changes in the Lower Rio Grande/Rio Bravo, 1953–1996

Clearly defined changes in the fishesof the Lower Rio Grande/Rio Bravo, Texas andMexico, have been documented since 1953. Morerecent surveys show that the originalfreshwater fish fauna has been retreating fromthe lower reaches and is being replaced bybrackish and marine invaders. A total of 13localities between Colombia (Nuevo León,México) and the delta (580 km) weresurveyed, with a total fish fauna of 142species, which include native, exotic, andintruding species. Changes were analysed bylocality. These changes show a loss of themajority of freshwater species, replacement oflow to higher salinity forms. This shift isvery clear in marine invaders, with somespecies penetrating the whole areainvestigated. Those changes are morenoticeable in the lower-most localities, anddiminish upstream. Data suggest that thechanges in the basin, reflecting shifts inwhole-basin ecology, include elevatedtemperature, salinity, turbidity, and lowerrunoff levels. There are indications of higherlevels of pollution as well. Informationobtained in this study is being incorporated inan Index of Biological Integrity to appearelsewhere.     

Observations on the vertical distribution of zooplankton, including post-larval teleosts, off Plymouth in the presence of a thermocline and a chlorophyll-dense layer

During 1973 – 1977, when Sagitta elegans was returningto dominance over S. setosa in Plymouth waters, there was often,in summer in stratified conditions, a community characterizedby S. setosa in the warm water above the thermocline, and atypical S. elegans community in the colder layer below the thermocline.This vertical separation persisted at night even though somespecies from the S. elegans community migrated up into the warmlayer. Such vertical migration was not stopped by a temperaturediscontinuity of from 3° to 6°C, but fewer individuals,or a lesser proportion of species, took part at the higher temperaturedifference. Only a small part of the zooplankton, comprisingsmall individuals of Limacina retroversa, the appendicularians,and, possibly, post-larvae of Arnoglossus laterna, showed signsof aggregation at the thermocline or the chlorophyll maximumclose to it.     

The toxic effects of rubber contaminants on microbial food webs and zooplankton of two lakes of different trophic status

Rubber is commonly used in recreational equipment and devicesforsampling in lakes, but there have been few studies of theeffectsof rubber on planktonic organisms. We investigated the toxiceffects of rubber on the microbial food webs of a mesotrophiclakeand a eutrophic lake. Lake water was collected by pumping via,(i) a polyvinylchloride hose and, (ii) a rubber hose. Samplesoflake water collected by each method were incubated insitu in4.25 l enclosures for four days. The lake water was sampledbeforeand after incubation to determine the concentrations ofinorganicnutrients, chlorophyll a, microorganisms (bacteria,picophytoplankton, flagellates, ciliates) and zooplankton.In the mesotrophic lake, momentary exposure (ten seconds) oflakewater to the rubber hose significantly lowered theconcentrationsof chlorophyll a, bacteria, picophytoplankton and somespecies of zooplankton (Boeckella hamata, Bosmina,androtifers), relative to those in water exposed to the plastichose;flagellates, ciliates and Ceriodaphnia dubia were notsignificantly affected. In the eutrophic lake, the effects oftherubber hose on components of the microbial food web were muchlesssevere, and were consistent with the lake's high levels ofdissolved organic carbon (DOC), which is known to chelatetoxicmetals in water.     

The Nucleus of the Intervertebral Disc from Development to Degeneration

The nucleus of the intervertebral disc in humans shows the mostdramatic changes with age of any cartilaginous tissue. It originatesfrom the notochord. In the foetus and infant, the nucleus containsactively dividing and biosynthetically active notochordal cells.The proteoglycans and other matrix components produced havea high osmotic pressure, imbibe water and maintain a hydratedstructure which, though it has little mechanical strength, hasa high swelling pressure which maintains disc turgor. In somespecies, the notochordal cells and the mucoid nucleus pulposuspersist throughout adult life. However by about 4 yr of agein humans, the notochordal cells have disappeared to be replacedby those of chondrocytic appearance but of unknown origin. Thesecells continue to produce proteoglycans but also synthesizesignificant amounts of collagen. The nucleus becomes firmerand less hydrated and loses its transparent appearance. Thecell density of the adult nucleus is very low with cells occupyingless than 0.5% of tissue volume; each cell thus has to turnover and maintain a large domain of extracellular matrix. Thedensity of living cells decreases with age, possibly becauseof problems with nutrient supply to this large avascular tissue.Proteoglycan concentration also falls, and nucleus hydrationdecreases markedly, the disc discolours and in many cases cleftsand fissures form. In most adults, the disc nucleus degenerateseventually to a stage where it can no longer fulfil its mechanicalrole.     

The relationship between phytoplankton biovolume and chlorophyll in a deep oligotrophic lake: decoupling in their spatial and temporal maxima

The seasonal distributions of phytoplankton biovolume and chlorophylla content were monitored for 14 months in a deep oligotrophic,high mountain lake (Redó, Pyrenees). An allometric relationshipof chlorophyll with biovolume was found throughout the periodstudied, with a correlation coefficient of 0.66. However, therelationship changed with season and the taxonomic compositionof the phytoplankton. Both parameters showed a similar seasonalpattern, but differences in space and time were observed. Thechlorophyll maximum was recorded deeper and later than thatof phytoplankton biovolume. While the biovolume maximum wasrelated to an improvement in conditions for growth (nutrientinput during column mixing periods), and reflected an increasein biomass, the chlorophyll maximum was related to changes incell pigment content, and to spatial or successional trendsin species dominance. Flagellated chrysophytes predominatedat the chlorophyll maxima. Chlorophyll content per unit of phytoplanktonbiovolume fluctuated greatly throughout the year, dependingon light intensity, temperature and phytoplankton composition.Of the main groups of phytoplankton in the lake, the dinoflagellates,which dominated the summer epilimnion phytoplankton community,recorded the lowest pigment content per biovolume (which isconsistent with their size). Higher chlorophyll contents perbiovolume were found in the deep hypolimnion and during thewinter cover period associated with small cells such as somespecies of chlorococcales chlorophytes. When flagellated chrysophyteswere predominant, a broad range of chlorophyll values per biovolumewas found and there was no significant correlation between thetwo biomass indices. These findings reaffirm the need to treatphytoplankton biomass estimates with caution, in particularwhen conducting primary production studies. While our resultsshow that changes in chlorophyll content per cell occur as aphotoacclimation response along a vertical profile, they alsopoint out a component of the successional trends which appearin a phytoplankton growth phase in a lake.     

Impacts of anthropogenic stresses on the early development stages of seaweeds

Seaweeds are important primary producers, and as such contributesignificantly to nearshore ecosystems. Studies on the effects ofanthropogenic stresses on these organisms have largely been concernedwith the vegetative adult stages of the life cycle. Here we review thelimited information on the sensitivity of early stages in the life cycleof seaweeds to global change (UV increase; global warming;increased storm frequencies) and pollution (eutrophication, trace metalsand oil). Impacts on fertility, substrate attachment, development,photosynthesis, growth and mortality are highlighted. In their naturalhabitats, early stages are shade-adapted, as they live shel tered underadult canopies and in pores of the substrata. Although some acclimationunder increased moderate irradiance is seen, higher solar irradiance,and especially ultraviolet-B, inhibits early development. Global warmingmay decrease the fertility and shorten the fertile period of somespecies. With the increasing likelihood of storms associated with globalwarming, gamete release may be inhibited while scouring by suspendedsediments may detach newly settled stages. Succession and localdistribution patterns are likely to be affected. Eutrophication canresult in accelerated development of the early stages of some algalspecies but sewage discharges have a negative impact on sperm motility,fertilisation and can cause increased mortality in germlings. Impacts ofother, indirect effects of eutrophication, including increased sedimentcover of substrata, scouring caused by wind-induced resuspension ofsediments, and grazing, are also expected to be negative. Toxic tracemetals affect gamete viability, inhibit fertilisation and development,and reduce growth rates. Gametes are particularly susceptible to oilpollution and interactions between hydrocarbons and the adhesive mucussurrounding the embryonic stages seem to inhibit settlement.Recommendations for future studies are provided that are aimed atgaining greater insight into the effects of anthropogenic stress on theweakest links in the development cycle of seaweeds.     

The roles of turn formation and cross-strand interactions in fibrillization of peptides derived from the OspA single-layer beta-sheet

We previously demonstrated that a beta-hairpin peptide, termed BH(9-10), derived from a single-layer beta-sheet of Borrelia OspA protein, formed a native-like beta-turn in trifluoroethanol (TFE) solution, and it assembled into amyloid-like fibrils at higher TFE concentrations. This peptide is highly charged, and fibrillization of such a hydrophilic peptide is quite unusual. In this study, we designed a circularly permutated peptide of BH(9-10), termed BH(10-9). When folded into their respective beta-hairpin structures found in OspA, these peptides would have identical cross-strand interactions but different turns connecting the strands. NMR study revealed that BH(10-9) had little propensity to form a turn structure both in aqueous and TFE solutions. At higher TFE concentration, BH(10-9) precipitated with a concomitant alpha-to-beta conformational conversion, in a similar manner to the BH(9-10) fibrillization. However, the BH(10-9) precipitates were nonfibrillar aggregation. The precipitation kinetics of BH(10-9) was exponential, consistent with a first-order molecular assembly reaction, while the fibrillization of BH(9-10) showed sigmoidal kinetics, indicative of a two-step reaction consisting of nucleation and molecular assembly. The correlation between native-like turn formation and fibrillization of our peptide system strongly suggests that BH(9-10) adopts a native-like beta-hairpin conformation in the fibrils. Remarkably, seeding with the preformed BH(10-9) precipitates changed the two-step BH(9-10) fibrillization to a one-step molecular assembly reaction, and disrupted the BH(9-10) fibril structure, indicating interactions between the BH(10-9) aggregates and the BH(9-10) peptide. Our results suggest that, in these peptides, cross-strand interactions are the driving force for molecular assembly, and turn formation limits modes of peptide assembly.