祁连山地甘肃臭草斑块土壤水分与植被盖度空间格局

土壤水分是植被格局形成和演变的主要因素,土壤水分的空间异质性对于认识干旱区草原植物对环境的响应机制具有重要意义,而在较小尺度上,植被状况是土壤水分空间异质性的主要驱动因子.利用地统计学方法,研究了祁连山北坡甘肃臭草单优种群斑块浅层剖面(0 ～30 cm)土壤水分与植被盖度的空间异质性及其关系.结果表明:甘肃臭草斑块浅层剖面土壤水分和植被盖度均符合正态分布,各层土壤水分均存在高度的空间异质性,其中,80.93％～87.34％的空间异质性是由空间自相关引起的,植被盖度主要体现在4.09～6.91 m的尺度上,而由1 m以下尺度随机因素引起的空间异质性占12.66％ ～19.07％;甘肃臭草在斑块尺度上各层土壤水分的空间结构表现出明显的圈层结构和斑块状分布的特点,土壤水分高低值斑块呈镶嵌分布且具有较强的空间异质性;甘肃臭草通过生理整合影响并在一定程度上改变了小尺度上土壤水分的分布格局,从而实现了对土壤水分资源最大限度的利用,提高了种群在干旱生境中的适应能力和竞争力.     

退化草地甘肃臭草和冷蒿种群空间格局及关联性

空间格局和空间关联性是研究种群扩散、群落演替及生物与环境间相互作用的重要手段.在石羊河上游高寒退化草地,运用点格局分析法,对不同演替阶段甘肃臭草和冷蒿的地上生物量、高度、空间格局及关联性进行了研究.结果表明:甘肃臭草在斑块没有形成阶段(CK)和斑块形成阶段(A),所有尺度上为聚集分布,在斑块扩散(B)、稳定(C)和衰退阶段(D),从聚集向随机过渡,随着聚集尺度减少、聚集强度下降,植株高度和地上生物量先增加后减少;冷蒿在各阶段均从聚集分布向随机分布过渡,随着聚集尺度增加,聚集强度增强,植株高度和地上生物量先减少后增加.CK、A、D阶段甘肃臭草和冷蒿之间表现为显著正关联,在B阶段从显著负关联过渡到关联性不显著.在放牧干扰影响下,地上生物量和高度的变化与种群空间格局及关联尺度转换的对应关系反映了退化草地植物种群竞争与生态适应性策略.     

甘肃臭草型退化草地优势种群空间格局及其关联性

空间格局和空间关联性是研究种群扩散和群落演替的重要方法。在石羊河上游高寒退化草地,运用点格局分析法,对不同演替阶段甘肃臭草和阿尔泰针茅的格局及关联性进行了研究。结果表明:甘肃臭草在没有形成斑块(CK)和斑块形成阶段(A),所有尺度上为聚集分布,在斑块扩散(B)、稳定(C)和衰退阶段(D)分别在0-90 cm、0-70 cm和0-40 cm上为聚集分布,90-100 cm、70-150 cm和40-150 cm为随机分布;阿尔泰针茅在CK阶段所有尺度上为随机分布,在A、B、C阶段分别在0-47 cm、0-75 cm、0-130 cm上为聚集分布,在47-50 cm、75-100 cm和130-150 cm上为随机分布,D阶段在所有尺度上为聚集分布;从CK-D阶段,甘肃臭草和阿尔泰针茅之间的关联性由显著负关联向关联性不显著转变,负关联显著程度先增强,后减弱;甘肃臭草种群从CK到D样地,种群领地密度先增大后减小,阿尔泰针茅种群领地密度逐渐减小。优势种替代过程中,种内竞争和种间竞争的相互转化影响格局的分布类型,竞争的不对称性影响关联性程度的强弱。     

甘肃臭草型退化草地优势物种格局控制关系

在石羊河上游高寒退化草地,应用点格局和Ripley K函数检测种间格局控制关系,按照时间序列设置甘肃臭草退化的5个样地,包括未形成斑块(CK)、斑块形成(A),斑块扩散(B)、斑块稳定(C)和斑块衰退(D)样地,研究了不同样地中甘肃臭草与阿尔泰针茅之间的空间分布格局、空间关联性和格局控制关系.结果表明:CK→D样地阿尔泰针茅由随机分布转变为聚集分布;甘肃臭草和阿尔泰针茅之间的关联性由显著负关联向无显著关联转变,负关联显著性先增强后减弱;A、B、C样地中分别在0 ～15、0～12和0～10 cm尺度范围内甘肃臭草对阿尔泰针茅表现出格局控制关系,CK和D样地中没有格局控制关系.体型、规模大,竞争力强的物种,通过改变微生境,迫使其他物种改变分布方式,形成规则分布,进而形成对其他物种的格局控制作用.     

祁连山北坡高寒草地狼毒种群格局

在祁连山北坡高寒退化草地,采用空间序列代替时间序列与点格局相结合的分析方法,研究了小尺度上狼毒种群的组成特征和分布格局.结果表明:伴随狼毒分盖度的增加,狼毒植株数总体上呈现先增大后减小的分布规律;幼株分布格局由随机分布向聚集分布过渡,聚集强度表现出先增强后减弱的规律,成株分布格局基本表现为随机分布;狼毒分盖度较低时,不同大小级狼毒种群在0～100 cm尺度上均表现为随机分布,狼毒分盖度较高时,随着种群的发育,分布格局由聚集分布向随机分布过渡.种群的分布格局与种群的扩散阶段存在密切的关系,狼毒种群通过斑块合并、斑块吞并以及竞争作用和协同作用的相互转化实现种群的扩散.     

藏嵩草和矮嵩草种群空间分布格局对水分的响应

植物种群对土壤水分响应的异质性是其格局形成和演变的环境基础。采用草地群落学调查与点格局分析方法,按湿地中心向边缘土壤水分依次递减的规律设置5个样地,分析了不同水分梯度下祁连山北坡高寒湿地主要植物藏嵩草(Kobresia tibetica)和矮嵩草(K.humilis)种群的空间分布类型及种间关联关系。结果表明:随土壤水分减少,藏嵩草种群盖度、植株高度、地上生物量持续降低,矮嵩草的生物学特征呈现先增大再减小的变化趋势;藏嵩草种群在土壤水分递减过程中小尺度上空间分布类型变化为聚集—均匀—聚集,矮嵩草种群在小尺度上由聚集分布逐渐转为均匀分布;随着土壤水分降低,藏嵩草和矮嵩草种群小尺度上的空间关联性逐渐表现为:显著正关联—关联性不显著—显著负关联。高寒湿地中藏嵩草与矮嵩草种群生物学特征、空间格局的规律性变化,反映了植物种间关系对生境异质性的适应性。     

高原鼠兔有效洞穴密度对高山嵩草群落及其主要种群空间分布特征的影响

高原鼠兔(Ochotona curzoniae)有效洞穴密度变化会引发高山嵩草(Kobresia pygmaea)草甸植物群落及其种群分布格局发生变化。采用野外调查法研究了高原鼠兔有效洞穴密度对高山嵩草群落特征及其主要种群分布格局的影响。结果表明:随高原鼠兔有效洞穴密度增加,高山嵩草草甸植物群落的优势种没发生明显变化,部分伴生种发生更替;高度、盖度、多样性指数和均匀度指数呈现降低态势;地上生物量和丰富度指数变化不明显;高山嵩草和矮火绒草(Leontopodium nanum)种群的盖度、密度以及生物量均呈现降低态势,而达乌里秦艽(Gentiana dahurica)和小花草玉梅(Anemone rivularis var.flore-minors)种群的盖度、密度和生物量呈增加趋势。高山嵩草和矮火绒草的种群分布格局从8个/625m2和14个/625m2的聚集分布分别变为34个/625m2时的均匀分布和随机分布,达乌里秦艽和小花草玉梅种群从8个/625m2和14个/625m2的随机分布变为23个/625m2和34个/625m2时的聚集分布,这说明高原鼠兔有效洞穴密度变化改变了高山嵩草群落的特征和主要植物种群的空间分布格局,而对应群落特征和种群分布格局改变的有效洞穴密度为14个/625m2和23个/625m2。     

高寒草地甘肃臭草斑块不同发育阶段茎-叶生物量分配:异速生长分析

植物生物量分配格局反映了环境对植物的选择和植物对环境的响应。在祁连山高寒退化草地,采用标准化主轴估计(standardized major axis estimation)方法,探讨甘肃臭草(Melica przewalskyi)茎、叶生物量变化及其分配策略对斑块不同发育阶段(斑块形成、斑块扩散、斑块稳定及斑块衰退阶段)的响应。结果表明:随着甘肃臭草斑块的发育,甘肃臭草茎生物量积累呈先上升后下降趋势,茎生物量分配比例呈先下降后上升趋势;叶生物量积累及生物量分配比例在斑块形成、斑块扩散及斑块稳定阶段均呈逐渐上升趋势,斑块衰退阶段呈下降趋势;斑块形成阶段甘肃臭草茎叶生物量呈等速生长模式,斑块扩散及稳定阶段叶生物量的增长速度大于茎生物量的增长速度,斑块衰退阶段转为茎生物量的增长速度大于叶生物量的增长速度。随着斑块的发育,甘肃臭草由依靠增加叶干物质投入占领资源,转为减小叶生物量投入、提高茎生物量的增长速度。     

黑河上游高寒退化草地狼毒种群小尺度点格局分析

植被斑块化是自然界的一种普遍现象, 斑块的形成和变化对植物种群格局的形成和变化具有重要影响。在黑河上游祁连山北坡高寒退化草地, 采用点格局分析方法, 研究了小尺度上狼毒(Stellera chamaejasme)种群的种群密度、组成格局以及分布格局。结果表明: 随着狼毒种群分盖度的增大, 种群密度、领地密度和组成格局呈现规律性的变化, 斑块内部狼毒种群的数量出现增减交替变化趋势, 组成格局规律明显; 狼毒种群的分布格局表现出与尺度关联的变化趋势, 在31%-40%分盖度下, 狼毒种群在所有尺度上表现为随机分布, 在41%-50%、51%-60%、61%-70%、71%-80%分盖度下随着尺度增大, 分布格局的基本模式为: 随机—聚集—随机或均匀—随机—聚集—随机分布, 在聚集状态下, 聚集强度不同。以成株为核心的斑块内部种群表现为随机分布或均匀分布, 相对于外部表现为聚集分布, 随着成株个体数量的逐渐增多, 种群竞争关系由种间竞争转化为种内竞争, 促进了斑块扩张与合并、斑块增多与吞并, 从而实现了种群扩散。     

高寒退化草地甘肃棘豆小尺度点格局

植物种群的空间格局是植物与环境协同适应的结果,体现了植物种群的生活史对策。采用草地群落学调查与点格局分析方法,在祁连山北坡选择未退化(Ⅰ)、轻度退化(Ⅱ)、中度退化(Ⅲ)和重度退化(Ⅳ)4种高寒草地,研究了甘肃棘豆(Oxytropis kansuensis)种群小尺度格局的空间异质性。结果表明:随着天然草地退化程度的加剧,甘肃棘豆种群高度、盖度、地上生物量和密度增大,小株丛(一级)比例逐渐减小,大株丛(二、三级)比例逐渐增大;甘肃棘豆的分布格局表现出与尺度关联的变化趋势,在未退化(梯度Ⅰ)和轻度退化(梯度Ⅱ)草地,甘肃棘豆种群在较小尺度上表现为聚集分布,较大尺度上表现为随机分布;在中度(梯度Ⅲ)和重度(梯度Ⅳ)退化草地,种群空间分布格局则表现出相异的格局特征。随着草地退化程度加剧,甘肃棘豆种群的聚集分布格局由小尺度转向较大尺度,体现了植物种群的扩散和更新策略。     

Identification key for European strand-forming house-rot fungi

An identification key for 20 common strand-forming indoor wood decay fungi is given. The key is based on observations of material from affected buildings and on wood samples that have been incubated in the laboratory. The key is with macro- and microscopic photographs.     

Plant-Parasitic Nematodes of South Viet Nam

Between 1974 and 1978, 2,842 identifications of plant-parasitic nematodes were made from more than 1,700 soil and plant samples collected in eight provinces of South Viet Nam. Species in nine genera—Helicotylenchus, Criconemoides, Meloidogyne, Pratylenchus, Tylenchorhynchus, Hoplolaimus, Hirschmanniella, Xiphinema, and Rotylenchulus—comprised 96.1% of the identifications; the remaining 3.9% were species of 11 genera. Fourteen genera were associated with rice which was grown on about 2,500,000 ha in 1970. Of these, Ditylenchus, Hirschmanniella, and Meloidogyne were most important. Ditylenchus angustus caused severe damage to about 50,000 ha of flooded rice in the Mekong Delta in 1976. Hirschmanniella spp. were found in all samples examined from flooded rice fields. Meloidogyne spp. were common in rice seedbeds, upland rice, and rice not kept flooded continuously. Meloidogyne and Pratylenchus spp. were found in roots of 22 of the 32 crop plants sampled. Little or no attempt was made in South Viet Nam to control nematodes.     

Two common and problematic leucochrysine species – Leucochrysa (Leucochrysa) varia (Schneider) and L. (L.) pretiosa (Banks) (Neuroptera,Chrysopidae): redescriptions and synonymies

We dedicate this article to the memory of Sergio de Freitas, FCAV-UNESP, Jaboticabal, São Paulo, Brazil (deceased, 2012). He was an active and enthusiastic Neuropterist and the cherished mentor and friend of Francisco Sosa.Leucochrysa McLachlan is the largest genus in the Chrysopidae, yet it has received relatively little taxonomic attention. We treat two problematic and common Leucochrysa species – Leucochrysa (Leucochrysa) varia (Schneider, 1851) and Leucochrysa (Leucochrysa) pretiosa (Banks, 1910). Both are highly variable in coloration and were described before the systematic importance of chrysopid genitalia was recognized. Recent studies show that these species occur within a large complex of cryptic species and that they have accumulated a number of taxonomic problems. We identify new synonymies for each of the species–for Leucochrysa (Leucochrysa) varia: Leucochrysa (Leucochrysa) ampla (Walker, 1853), Leucochrysa internata (Walker, 1853), and Leucochrysa (Leucochrysa) walkerina Navás, 1913; for Leucochrysa (Leucochrysa) pretiosa: Leucochrysa (Leucochrysa) erminea Banks, 1946. The synonymy of Leucochrysa delicata Navás, 1925 with Leucochrysa (Leucochrysa) pretiosa is stabilized by the designation of a neotype. The following species, which were previously synonymized with Leucochrysa (Leucochrysa) varia or Leucochrysa (Leucochrysa) pretiosa, are reinstated as valid: Leucochrysa (Leucochrysa) phaeocephala Navás, 1929, Leucochrysa (Leucochrysa) angrandi (Navás, 1911), and Leucochrysa (Leucochrysa) variata (Navás, 1913). To help stabilize Leucochrysa taxonomy, lectotypes are designated for Allochrysa pretiosa and Allochrysa variata. Finally, Leucochrysa vegana Navás, 1917 is considered a nomen dubium.     

Gene polymorphism analysis of Yersinia enterocolitica outer membrane protein A and putative outer membrane protein A family protein

Background

Yersinia enterocolitica outer membrane protein A (OmpA) is one of the major outer membrane proteins with high immunogenicity. We performed the polymorphism analysis for the outer membrane protein A and putative outer membrane protein A (p-ompA) family protein gene of 318 Y. enterocolitica strains.

Results

The data showed all the pathogenic strains and biotype 1A strains harboring ystB gene carried both ompA and p-ompA genes; parts of the biotype 1A strains not harboring ystB gene carried either ompA or p-ompA gene. In non-pathogenic strains (biotype 1A), distribution of the two genes and ystB were highly correlated, showing genetic polymorphism. The pathogenic and non-pathogenic, highly and weakly pathogenic strains were divided into different groups based on sequence analysis of two genes. Although the variations of the sequences, the translated proteins and predicted secondary or tertiary structures of OmpA and P-OmpA were similar.

Conclusions

OmpA and p-ompA gene were highly conserved for pathogenic Y. enterocolitica. The distributions of two genes were correlated with ystB for biotype 1A strains. The polymorphism analysis results of the two genes probably due to different bio-serotypes of the strains, and reflected the dissemination of different bio-serotype clones of Y. enterocolitica.     

Uniquely derived upper molar morphology of Eocene Amphipithecidae (Primates: Anthropoidea): Homology and phylogeny

The extinct Southeast Asian primate family Amphipithecidae is regularly cited in discussions of anthropoid origins, but its phylogenetic position remains controversial. In part, the lack of consensus regarding amphipithecid relationships can be attributed to uncertainty regarding the homology of upper molar structures in this group. Here, we describe a virtually pristine upper molar of Pondaungia cotteri from the late middle Eocene Pondaung Formation of Myanmar, which is the first example of a relatively unworn and well-preserved amphipithecid upper molar ever recovered. The distolingual upper molar cusp in this new specimen of Pondaungia appears to be a lingually displaced and enlarged metaconule, rather than a hypocone or pseudohypocone as previous workers have thought. Reassessment of the upper molar morphology of other amphipithecids and putative amphipithecids reveals a very similar pattern in Siamopithecus, Myanmarpithecus and Ganlea, all of which are interpreted as having upper molars showing many of the same derived features apparent in Pondaungia. In contrast, the upper molar morphology of Bugtipithecus diverges radically from that of undoubted amphipithecids, and the latter taxon is excluded from Amphipithecidae on this basis. Phylogenetic analyses of several character–taxon matrices culled from the recent literature and updated to reflect the new information on amphipithecid upper molar morphology yield similar results. Consensus tree topologies derived from these analyses support amphipithecid monophyly and stable relationships within Amphipithecidae. Amphipithecids appear to be stem members of the anthropoid clade.