Cerebral specialization during lucid dreaming: A right hemisphere hypothesis.

Research has shown that certain individuals are able to carry out prearranged tasks while lucid dreaming, and that these tasks produce physiological effects on the body similar to what is observed during waking. It was hypothesized that the difficulty of performing cerebrally lateralized tasks during a lucid dream would vary with the dominant hemisphere for that task, with less difficulty for right hemisphere tasks. Twenty-seven participants rated the difficulty of performing three matched pairs of left hemisphere and right hemisphere tasks, first in a lucid dream, and later in their waking imagination. Results indicated right hemisphere dominance during lucid dreaming, especially among right-handed participants. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Inclusion of biotic stress (consumer pressure) alters predictions from the stress gradient hypothesis

1.  The stress gradient hypothesis (SGH) predicts a shift from net negative interactions in benign environments towards net positive in harsh environments in ecological communities. While several studies found support for the SGH, others found evidence against it, leading to a debate on how nature and strength of species interactions change along stress gradients, and to calls for new empirical and theoretical work.
2.  In the latest attempt in this journal, it is successfully argued how the SGH should be expanded by considering different life strategies of species (stress tolerance versus competitive ability) and characteristics of abiotic stress (resource versus non-resource based) over wider stress gradients (opposed to low–high contrasts), but the crucial role of biotic stress by consumers is largely ignored in this refinement.
3.  We point out that consumers strongly alter the outcome of species interactions in benign and harsh environments, and show how inclusion of consumer-incurred biotic stress alters the predicted outcome of interactions along resource- and non-resource-based stress gradients for stress-tolerant and competitive benefactors and beneficiaries.
4.   Synthesis. New studies should include stress gradients consisting of both abiotic and biotic components to disentangle their impacts, and to improve our understanding of how species interactions change along environmental gradients.     

Testing hypotheses about ecological specialization using phylogenetic trees

It is often assumed that ecological specialization represents an evolutionary "dead-end" that limits further evolution. Maximum-likelihood (ML) analyses on phylogenies for 15 groups of phytophagous insects revealed that high transition rates both to and from specialization occurred, but that the mean ratio of rates was significantly biased toward a higher rate to specialization. Here we explore the consequences of the fact that transition rates inferred by ML are affected not only by the distribution, but also by the frequency, of character states. Higher rates to the more common state were inferred in the analyses of Nosil (2002), in similar studies published since 2002, and in a small set of simulations. Thus, the ratio of the rate toward versus away from specialization was strongly, positively correlated with the proportion of specialist species at the tips of the phylogeny and whether transitions away from specialization occur remains unclear. Here we reexamine these data using methods that do not rely on directly comparing transition rates. Maximum-likelihood analyses show that models with no transitions in one direction (e.g., irreversible evolution as predicted by the "specialist as dead end" framework) are usually strongly rejected, independent of the proportion of specialists at the tips. Ancestral state reconstruction revealed two instances where generalists were unambiguously derived from specialists. Transition rates would need to biased 100-fold and 5000-fold toward specialization to reconstruct a history where these shifts from specialization toward generalization do not occur. The general conclusions of Nosil (2002) appear to hold; transitions in either direction likely occur such that specialization does not always limit further evolution. Most generally, inferences regarding character evolution can be strengthened by comparing models of character change and examining ancestor states, rather than only comparing parameter values.     

Field-based insights to the evolution of specialization: plasticity and fitness across habitats in a specialist/generalist species pair

Factors promoting the evolution of specialists versus generalists have been little studied in ecological context. In a large-scale comparative field experiment, we studied genotypes from naturally evolved populations of a closely related generalist/specialist species pair (Polygonum persicaria and P. hydropiper), reciprocally transplanting replicates of multiple lines into open and partially shaded sites where the species naturally co-occur. We measured relative fitness, individual plasticity, herbivory, and genetic variance expressed in the contrasting light habitats at both low and high densities. Fitness data confirmed that the putative specialist out-performed the generalist in only one environment, the favorable full sun/low-density environment to which it is largely restricted in nature, while the generalist had higher lifetime reproduction in both canopy and dense neighbor shade. The generalist, P. persicaria, also expressed greater adaptive plasticity for biomass allocation and leaf size in shaded conditions than the specialist. We found no evidence that the ecological specialization of P. hydropiper reflects either genetically based fitness trade-offs or maintenance costs of plasticity, two types of genetic constraint often invoked to prevent the evolution of broadly adaptive genotypes. However, the patterns of fitness variance and herbivore damage revealed how release from herbivory in a new range can cause an introduced species to evolve as a specialist in that range, a surprising finding with important implications for invasion biology. Patterns of fitness variance between and within sites are also consistent with a possible role for the process of mutation accumulation (in this case, mutations affecting shade-expressed phenotypes) in the evolution and/or maintenance of specialization in P. hydropiper.     

Testing the role of biotic stress in the stress gradient hypothesis. Processes and patterns in arid rangelands

Since many arid ecosystems are overstocked with domestic herbivores, biotic stress could have a stronger influence in modulating the balance of species interactions than expected from the stress gradient hypothesis (SGH). Here we tested a priori predictions about the effect of grazing on species interactions and fine scale spatial structure of grasses in water‐limited ecosystems. We used detailed vegetation mapping and spatial analysis, and performed a field experiment where the direct and indirect components of positive interactions were disentangled to provide evidence of links between process and pattern. We found associational resistance (biotic refuge) to be the dominant process in grazing situations, while competition, instead of direct facilitation, seemed to govern grass spatial patterns when herbivore pressure was relaxed. These results suggest that facilitation between grasses in arid communities may be related to herbivory rather than nurse plant effects. Associational resistance tends to have the strongest effect on spatial aggregation of species at intermediate grazing pressure. Results suggest that contrary to SGH, this physical clustering of species decreased when grazing pressure reached their maximum levels. Positive associations remained significant only when palatability differences between neighbours is large, suggesting that managing stocking rate is a key factor determining the persistence of herbivory refuges. These refuges are potential foci to initiate population recovery of high quality forage species in arid degraded areas.     

植物逆境胁迫抗性的功能基因组研究策略

植物对逆境胁迫抗性的功能基因组研究主要是寻找胁迫抗性位点在相关物种基因组中的保守位置,发现胁迫反应中的高度保守序列,确定植物胁迫反应的调控机理,进而得到植物对逆境胁迫抗性的关键代谢途径和其中的关键调控因子,为进一步选择用于改良植物对逆境胁迫抗性的关键基因奠定基础。本文从主要模式植物(苔藓类植物、复苏植物、盐土植物和甜土植物)、主要技术策略(基因的差异表达分析、基因表达序列标签、cDNA芯片技术。基因表达序列分析和基因敲除和突变体筛选分析)和生物信息学方法(数据分析的生物信息学方法设计到序列比较、比较基因组学、电子克隆)等三个方面对国内外植物逆境胁迫抗性的功能基因组研究策略作了全面综述。     

Physiological and biomass partitioning shifts to water stress under distinct soil types in Populus deltoides saplings

土壤类型是影响植物分布和生产力的重要环境因素,但有关土壤环境异质性对植物抗逆性效应的研究非常缺乏。本研究以美洲黑杨 (Populus deltoids)为对象,以3种典型土壤类型(红壤、黄壤和黄棕壤)为栽培基质,在控制实验条件下,经过三个月的干旱胁迫(25%田间持水量)处理,测定了不同处理条件下美洲黑杨的气体交换速率、抗氧化能力、氮代谢特征、生物量积累与分配特征。研究结果表明,在红壤和黄壤条件下,与对照(75%田间持水量)相比,干旱胁迫显著降低了美洲黑杨各器官的生物量、光合速率、叶片氮同化酶的活性,显著增 加了叶片中过氧化氢、丙二醛和无机氮的含量。在黄棕壤条件下,干旱对美洲黑杨总生物量、光合速率、氮同化酶以及质膜完整性的负面 影响较小,这与其维持较高的超氧化物歧化酶,过氧化物酶和过氧化氢酶的活性相关,也与其生物量分配模式(如提高根冠比)密切相关。 由此可见,生长在黄棕壤条件下的美洲黑杨表现出较强的抗旱能力,这可能与其土壤母质中较高的土壤养分和良好的通气状况相关。因此,就土壤类型而言,与红壤和黄壤相比,黄棕壤提供的土壤环境条件有利于美洲黑杨的抗逆表现和栽培利用。     

Bird communities in habitats along a successional gradient: Divergent patterns of species richness,specialization and threat

The long history of human influence on northern temperate landscapes has created a mosaic of successional stages, from closed forest to open grassland. Various species thus adapted to different habitats and it is interesting to explore how these differences in species composition among particular successional stages translate into differences at the community level. For this purpose, we surveyed breeding birds in 233 patches of five different habitats covering a gradient from bare ground to forest in 29 abandoned military training sites scattered throughout the Czech Republic. Linear mixed effects modelling revealed that late-successional habitats (dense scrubland and forest) were the most species-rich, whereas early-successional stages hosted bird communities with the highest habitat specialization and threat level. These results suggest that the habitats of late-successional stages are important for the maintenance of high bird species richness, but that early-successional habitats are essential for highly specialized and threatened bird species. Given the highly adverse impacts of agricultural intensification and land abandonment on open habitats, it is necessary to promote factors creating initial successional stages suitable for specialized and threatened species.     

外生菌根对植物非生物胁迫的缓解作用及作用机理研究进展

外生菌根在林木共生系统中占据重要的地位,具有提高宿主植物抗逆性的作用.在菌根学领域中,外生菌根与非生物胁迫互作的研究要远少于其他类型的菌根,尤其是缺乏综合、全面的总结性评述.文中总结了近5年来的相关研究,阐述了非生物胁迫(干旱、寒冷、高温、盐碱、重金属和有毒物质)下菌根共生体与植物抗逆性的关系,其他因子与外生菌根协同提...     

Phloem exudate metabolic content reflects the response to water-deficit stress in pea plants (Pisum sativum L.)

Drought stress impacts the quality and yield of Pisum sativum. Here, we show how short periods of limited water availability during the vegetative stage of pea alters phloem sap content and how these changes are connected to strategies used by plants to cope with water deficit. We have investigated the metabolic content of phloem sap exudates and explored how this reflects P. sativum physiological and developmental responses to drought. Our data show that drought is accompanied by phloem-mediated redirection of the components that are necessary for cellular respiration and the proper maintenance of carbon/nitrogen balance during stress. The metabolic content of phloem sap reveals a shift from anabolic to catabolic processes as well as the developmental plasticity of P. sativum plants subjected to drought. Our study underlines the importance of phloem-mediated transport for plant adaptation to unfavourable environmental conditions. We also show that phloem exudate analysis can be used as a useful proxy to study stress responses in plants. We propose that the decrease in oleic acid content within phloem sap could be considered as a potential marker of early signalling events mediating drought response.     

茉莉酸在植物抗逆性中的研究进展

茉莉酸(jasmonic acid, JA)是一种植物内源合成的脂类激素，在植物响应胁迫的调控中发挥着重要作用。本文概括了JA的生物合成与代谢途径及其调控机制；总结了JA信号的传导通路；系统归纳了JA在植物响应生物和非生物胁迫应答中的作用机制和调控网络，重点关注了最新的研究进展。此外，本文梳理了JA与其他植物激素在植物抗逆性调节过程中的信号交流。最后讨论了JA信号通路介导的植物抗逆性研究中亟待解决的问题，并展望了新的分子生物学技术在调控JA信号通路增强作物抗性中的应用前景，以期为植物的抗逆性研究和改良提供参考。     

干湿交替和冻融作用对土壤肥力和生态环境的影响

干湿交替和冻融作用对土壤肥力和生态环境的影响朴河春,刘广深,洪业汤（中国科学院地球化学研究所,贵阳５５０００２）ＥｆｆｅｃｔｓｏｆＡｌｔｅｒｎａｔｉｖｅＤｒｙｉｎｇ－ＲｅｗｅｔｔｉｎｇａｎｄＦｒｅｅｚｉｎｇ－ＴｈａｗｉｎｇｏｎｓｏｉｌＦｅｒｔｉｌｉｔ...     

Testing the facilitation-competition paradigm under the stress-gradient hypothesis: decoupling multiple stress factors

While the facilitation-competition paradigm under the stress-gradient hypothesis has received recent attention, its rigorous testing is yet to be explored. Most of the studies have considered a switch in the net interactions from competition to facilitation with increasing environmental stress as primary evidence supporting the hypothesis, though few studies examined changes in interaction along a full range of a stress gradient. Here, we have conceptualized possible variations in the patterns of change in interaction strength along such gradient. Based on this, we empirically evaluated the temporal shift in the interaction between two marine sessile animals, goose barnacles (Capitulum mitella) and mussels (Septifer virgatus), under multiple stress factors. The net effect of goose barnacles on mussel survivorship was positively related to the total stress gradient encompassing two stress factors, physical disturbance and thermal stress, while no negative value occurred even under mild conditions. When the two stress factors were treated separately, however, the net effect demonstrated apparently different patterns: monotonic increase with physical disturbance versus a quasi-asymptotic pattern (no change over a wide range) with thermal stress. These variable situations have not previously been recognized in this discipline, and the present study emphasizes the importance of an integrative and mechanistic approach to testing and deciphering the facilitation-competition paradigm.     

Testing the beneficial acclimation hypothesis: temperature effects on mating success in a butterfly

Traditionally, it has been assumed that all acclimation changesto the phenotype enhance the performance of an individual organismin the environment in which those changes were induced (beneficialacclimation hypothesis [BAH]), a theory that has been repeatedlychallenged in recent years. We here use a full-factorial designwith 2 developmental and 2 acclimation temperatures to testtheir effects on reproductive performance in the tropical butterfly,Bicyclus anynana. Competition experiments among virgin malesfrom different thermal groups revealed that, at 20 °C, bothgroups acclimated to 20 °C achieved more than twice as manymatings as those acclimated to 27 °C, whereas at 27 °C,only one group (acclimated to 27 °C) outperformed all others.Chill-coma recovery times were also longer for butterflies thatdeveloped at higher temperatures, indicating that butterfliesresponded physiologically to the temperatures at which theywere reared. Our results support the BAH at least in part, anddo not support any alternative hypotheses.