Using reverse micelles as microreactor for hydrogen production by coupled systems of Nostoc / R. palustris and Anabaena / R. palustris

Uptake hydrogenase negative mutants of bloom forming cyanobacteria (Nostoc and Anabaena) and the fermentative bacteria Rhodopseudomonas palustris P₄ were used together for producing hydrogen within the reverse micelles fabricated by N-ethyl hexyl sodium sulfosuccinate (AOT) in isooctane and cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) in benzene. The rate of H₂ production in AOT/isooctane reverse micellar system was found to be more promising in comparison to the CTAB/Benzene reverse micellar entrapment. After mutagenesis in 2.0% (v/v) ethyl methane sulphonate (EMS) mutants of Nostoc and Anabaena were selected on BG-11 plates (containing 2% agar) and then used for analysis of produced hydrogen. In comparison to the unmutated Nostoc with R. palustris (within AOT/isooctane) the coupled system of mutated Nostoc and R. palustris produced H₂ by 3.9-fold higher rate, which is 8.6 mmol H₂/h/mg protein. Whereas, mutated Anabaena coupled with R. palustris produced 4.8 times higher hydrogen production within (AOT)/isooctane reverse micelles in comparison to the unmutated Anabaena with R. palustris. Effect of nitrogen to carbon ratio (N/C) on hydrogen production was studied and Anabaena/R. palustris and Nostoc/R. palustris systems were, respectively, found to generate 11.2 and 9.8 mmol H₂/h/mg protein continuously for 3 days. Effects of temperature and light intensity were also investigated and we found that 32°C temperature and 1,000 Lux light intensity are the optimum values in these systems. Addition of sodium dithionite also resulted in further enhancement of the rate and duration of hydrogen production in both (mutated Nostoc/R. palustris and mutated Anabaena/R.␣palustris) systems.     

沼泽红假单胞菌去除镉的研究

研究了沼泽红假单胞菌(Rhodopseudomonas palustris)S菌株的生长、Cd2 的去除与供氧光照、碳源、pH及温度的关系。结果表明:在好氧黑暗、苹果酸为碳源、pH7.0和30℃条件下,S菌株对初始浓度为25mg/L的Cd2 去除率最大,达到85%。在最佳条件下,Cd2 初始浓度为10mg/L~25mg/L时,去除率达85%,Cd2 浓度增加到150mg/L时,去除率仅为23%。测定Cd2 在菌体不同部位的分布发现菌体中富集的Cd2 63.5%在细胞壁上,33.5%在细胞原生质体内。同时,结合该菌体细胞超薄切片透射电镜观察证明了S菌株对Cd2 的去除主要在细胞壁上。     

Bastardierung von Weiden- und SumpfmeiseParus montanus xP. palustris im Nordschwarzwald

Zusammenfassung Im Mai 1984 erschien ein Parus montanus im nördlichen Schwarzwald, wo diese Art noch nie als Brutvogel nachgewiesen wurde. 1986 brütete in demselben Revier ein in einer Nisthöhle, das die Erregungsrufe vonParus palustris wie auch vonP. montanus brachte. Das zugehörige war eine Sumpfmeise. Alle acht Eier waren infertil. In der Diskussion werden die Probleme der Hybridisation bei Meisen besprochen.

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Willow Tit x Marsh Tit hybrid in the Northern Black Forest

Summary In May 1984 a maleParus montanus was observed in the Northern Black Forest, an area where no breeding records for this species exist. A female breeding on the same territory in 1986 was found to have both the alarm call of the Willow and the Marsh Tit. The male on this territory was a Marsh Tit. All of the eight eggs in the clutch were infertile. In the discussion, the problem of hybridization in tits is treated.

     

国产驴蹄草的细胞地理学研究

为探讨国产毛茛科(Ranunculaceae)驴蹄草属(Caltha)两种植物的演化,该文利用传统染色体压片技术和流式细胞术,并结合前人染色体研究结果,对我国驴蹄草23个居群和花葶驴蹄草10个居群进行了细胞学研究。结果表明:驴蹄草是由四倍体(2n=4x=32)、六倍体(2n=6x=48)和八倍体(2n=8x=64)构成的多倍体复合群,花葶驴蹄草具有四倍体(2n=4x=32)和八倍体(2n=8x=64)两种倍性水平。驴蹄草和花葶驴蹄草均是四倍体较为常见,目前尚未见有二倍体报道。由于驴蹄草和花葶驴蹄草大部分居群采自中国青藏高原地区,可能在冰期时存在古二倍体,其适应性较弱,逐渐被其他的倍性取代,这是由于不同细胞型对环境适应性的结果。驴蹄草可能存在两条进化路线:一条是从甘肃到达云南;另一条是从西藏到达云南。前期分子系统学研究显示花葶驴蹄草与驴蹄草的亲缘关系较近,该研究结果中花葶驴蹄草染色体比驴蹄草要小,花葶驴蹄草可能比驴蹄草相对进化。目前花葶驴蹄草只有10个居群,还需进一步增加居群量来解析其演化路线。     

沼泽红假单胞菌对健康小鼠肠道微生物的影响

探讨不同剂量沼泽红假单胞菌对健康小鼠生理功能及肠道微生物结构的影响。

将48只C57/BL6小鼠随机分为对照组(无菌生理盐水)以及沼泽红假单胞菌低剂量组(5×10⁸ CFU/mL)、中剂量组(5×10⁹ CFU/mL)、高剂量组(5×10¹⁰ CFU/mL), 每组12只; 不同剂量灌胃4周后, 测定小鼠胃泌素(Gas)、生长抑素(SS)含量, 观察肠道形态, 并应用Illumina-MiSeq测序平台进行16S rRNA基因V3-V4区测序, 分析其肠道微生物群落结构、多样性及组间差异。

与对照组相比, 低剂量组对促进小鼠Gas分泌差异具有统计学意义(t=6.426, P < 0.01), 高剂量组对抑制小鼠SS分泌差异具有统计学意义(t=3.711, P < 0.05);对照组小鼠回肠肠绒毛高度差异无统计学意义(P > 0.05), 且无肠道炎症刺激反应。沼泽红假单胞菌干预后细菌丰富度和多样性增加, 在门水平上, 与对照组相比, 实验组小鼠肠道菌群拟杆菌门丰度显著降低, 厚壁菌门丰度显著增加(均P < 0.05);在属水平上, 与对照组相比, 实验组小鼠肠道菌群Lachnospiraceae NK4A136 group、乳杆菌属、拟杆菌属、理研菌属和Prevotellaceae UCG-001相对丰度显著增加(均P < 0.05)。

沼泽红假单胞菌能够维持胃肠激素稳态和肠道形态结构, 且对健康小鼠肠道菌群的丰富度和组成产生一定的影响, 维持肠道平衡与稳定。

     

Energetics of metamorphic climax in the pickerel frog (Lithobates palustris)

Anuran metamorphosis, the transition from aquatic larvae to terrestrial juveniles, is accompanied by significant morphological, physiological, and behavioral changes. Timing of metamorphosis and final size, which can influence adult fitness, may depend on sufficient energy accumulated during the larval period to support metamorphosis. However, only two species of anurans have been examined for energetic costs of metamorphosis, Rana tigrina and Anaxyrus terrestris. Based on these species, it has been hypothesized that differences in energy expenditure are related to duration of metamorphosis. To compare energetic costs of metamorphosis among species and examine this hypothesis, we quantified the total energy required for metamorphosis of Lithobates palustris tadpoles by measuring oxygen consumption rates over the duration of metamorphic climax using closed-circuit respirometry. Total energy costs for L. palustris were positively related to tadpole mass and duration of metamorphic climax. However, larger tadpoles completed metamorphosis more efficiently because they used proportionally less total energy for metamorphic climax than smaller counterparts. Costs were intermediate to R. tigrina, a larger species with similar metamorphic duration, and A. terrestris, a smaller species with shorter metamorphic climax. The results supported the hypothesis that amphibian species with more slowly developing tadpoles, such as ranids, require more absolute energy for metamorphosis in comparison to more rapidly developing species like bufonids.     

Biochemical properties of amylase isozymes from Gammarus palustris. A comparative study

Two major α-amylase isozymes from Gammarus palustris were purified and characterized. These isozymes, Amy I^w and Amy I^c, exhibit a seasonal pattern of expression. In this article we investigate whether the seasonal variation has an adaptive significance. In addition, the species-specific properties of amylases were studied. Purification of the isozymes was achieved by sequential glycogen-ethanol precipitation, Sephadex G-200 and ion exchange chromatography. Characterization in terms of K_m, activity patterns at different temperatures, pH values and salt concentrations was done for both isozymes. In addition, the distribution of enzymatic products was analyzed in a high-performance liquid chromatography system. In all conditions tested, the two isozymes gave similar results. This observation suggests that the seasonal change in amylase expression pattern does not result in enzymes differentially suited for seasonal variation in conditions. A comparative analysis showed that G. palustris amylases are apparently distinct from other amylases. These distinctions were seen as an unusually low K_m value, an activity peak at low NaCl concentration, a relatively high pH optimum and the predominant formation of maltotriose.     

二型花柱植物金荞麦的繁殖生态学研究

通过野外实验观察和人工控制套袋等方法,从金养麦的花部基本特征、开花动态、花粉胚珠比(P/O)、花粉活力、柱头可授性、杂交指数、套袋实验及访花昆虫等方面对其繁殖生态学进行了研究.结果显示:(1)金荞麦在同一居群中同时具有长柱型(L-型)和短柱型(S-型)两种花型,短花柱花直径(7.25±0.11 mm)显著大于长花柱花直径(6.79±0.11 mm),长花柱花的柱头和花药高分别为3.39±0.04 mm和1.80±0.02 mm,短花柱花的柱头和花药高则分别为1.89±0.04 mm和3.19±0.06 rnm,表现出互补式雌雄异位的花部特征.(2)金荞麦8～10月开花,单花序的花期为15～23 d,单花的花期为1～3 d,开花进程中,内轮雄蕊先散粉,外轮雄蕊后散粉;S-型花的花粉活力高于L型花的花粉活力,但其单花花粉量低于L-型花,显示了两种花型的自我调控机制.(3)套袋实验表明,金荞麦自花自交不亲和,但具有型内和型间亲和性,L型和S-型花的P/O值分别为810±40.48和526.5±42.24,表明其繁育系统为兼性异交,需要传粉者,但L-型花更倾向异交.(4)金荞麦的主要访花昆虫为膜翅目(Hymenoptera)、双翅目(Diptera)、鳞翅目(Lepidoptera)、半翅目(Hemiptera)和蜻蜒目(Odonata) 19个科37种昆虫,其中,两种花型拥有12种共同的访花昆虫,L-型花访花昆虫14种,S-型花访花昆虫35种,表明S-型花对昆虫具有更强的吸引力.研究表明,金荞麦是典型的二型花柱植物,虽然具有严格的自交不亲和性,但显示一定的型内亲和性.     

Ethnobiology and the evolution of the human mind

An evolutionary perspective on human thought and behaviour indicates that we should expect to find universal systems of perception, classification, and decision-making regarding the natural world. It is the interaction between these evolved aspects of the human mind, the biodiversity of the natural world, and unique historical, social, and economic contexts within which individuals develop and act that gives rise to cultural diversity. The palaeoanthropological record also indicates that language is a recently evolved phenomenon. This suggests that linguistic approaches in ethnobiology are likely to provide only a partial understanding of how humans perceive, classify, and engage with the natural world.     

Resprouting after disturbance in the short-lived herb Rorippa palustris (Brassicaceae): an experiment with juveniles

The impact of plant age, severity of injury and nutrient levels on the ability to resprout from roots was experimentally assessed in juveniles of the short-lived herb Rorippa palustris (L.) Besser. In a chamber experiment, six cohorts of young plants (1–6 week old) were injured to obtain data on the threshold age for the ability to resprout from roots. We found that plant age was an important factor influencing resprouting ability: injured individuals older than 5 weeks were able to resprout, but not plants younger than 3 weeks. The impact of injury severity (defoliation and removal of axillary buds) and nutrient levels on resprouting ability was assessed on juveniles in a greenhouse experiment. Injury induced growth of new shoots from root buds, while the number of adventitious buds on roots was not influenced by injury. Both injury treatments had a similar effect in this respect, and the amount of regenerated biomass and the extent of regeneration were not different among injury treatments. The number of new shoots produced after injury was higher at the high nutrient level, but the number of formed adventitious buds on roots was not influenced by nutrient level. Nutrient level also influenced the amount of regenerated biomass, but the extent of regeneration (regenerated/removed biomass) was not influenced. The short-lived monocarpic species R. palustris is able to resprout from roots relatively easily. This ability seems to be advantageous in disturbed habitats and this idea is discussed throughout the paper.     

Cytochrome c1 and b-type cytochrome with two heme centers in the photosynthetic membranes from Rhodopseudomonas palustris

The photosynthetic membranes from Rhodopseudomonas palustris contained one species of membrane-bound c-type cytochrome, presumably cytochrome c₁, and a b-type cytochrome with two heme centers. The molecular weight and midpoint potential of cytochrome c₁ were 30000 and 275 mV, respectively. The peak of the reduced-minus-oxidized difference spectrum of cytochrome c₁ was at 552 nm. Molecular weight of the b-type cytochrome was 32000 and the cytochrome had two midpoint potentials of 60 mV and −55 mV. The peaks of the reduced-minus-oxidized difference spectra of the high and low midpoint potential heme centers were at 560 and 562 nm, respectively. These results suggested that there was a cytochrome b-c₁ complex in Rps. palustris.     

Short records of marsh warbler ( Acrocephalus palustris) song provide indices that correlate with nesting success

The migrant Marsh Warbler (Acrocephalus palustris) has a complex song repertoire, but such complexity makes quantitative comparison of songs between individual males both time consuming and challenging. We investigate a streamlined method of song analysis that uses 2-min records of song to provide simpler relative indices of repertoire size, including the use of capture-recapture and species-richness models. For each male, three attributes of song were determined: the song complexity, the total repertoire elements and the estimated repertoire size based on the Burnham and Overton jackknife method. Males with higher song indices tend to have greater nesting success, suggesting that even short records of song can indicate male quality to prospective female mates. Why should male Marsh Warblers have long and sustained songs when only 2-min records correlate with nesting success? Assuming that song advertises the quality of the male, and that the quality of such advertisement is sustained throughout the males song period, we argue that the female may need to have only brief exposure initially to that song to assess its quality and hence the quality of the male. More continuous periods of song may reinforce that initial choice by the female, and allow males to remain conspicuous to transient females moving around the territories of potential male mates.     

Dichroism of bacteriochlorophyll in cells of the photosynthetic bacterium Rhodopseudomonas palustris

1. The dichroism was measured at varied wavelengths of polarized light in “intact” cells of Rhodopseudomonas palustris and in films of air-dried lamellar fragments of the bacterium.     

Ethnobiology and applied anthropology: rapprochement of the academic with the practical

Ethnobiology has long featured both academic and practical aspects, with its component disciplines tending to favour one or the other, such that anthropology focuses on classificatory and cognitive issues whereas botany concentrates on issues of resource use. Current trends within development, notably interest in indigenous knowledge that has emerged with participatory approaches, to which ethnobiology has contributed significantly, promise a new synthesis of the academic and practical. This paper describes five ways in which we can think of applied ethnobiology in this context, and illustrates each with examples drawn from natural resources management. The first application is assistance in the introduction of exogenous technology, facilitating technical interventions that are central to many development programmes, enabling a better match to cultural tradition, and promoting meaningful participation. The second application is the facilitating of local solutions to development, advocating the use of local knowledge to further development, asking what insider knowledge may have to recommend in advancing development in the face of outside influences. The third application is the furthering of cultural diffusion, seeking to establish if knowledge and practices in one place have relevance elsewhere, offering an innovative approach to development by drawing upon anthropology's cross-cultural comparative tradition in new ways. The fourth application is the advancing of the commercial use of knowledge, conducting research to find intelligence that may be marketable, even new to science, such bio-prospecting relating to the contentious issue of protecting intellectual property rights. Finally, ethnobiology may be used to support alternative development, promote the formulation of alternative views, and critique development as a capitalist imposition; indigenous activism with respect to international conventions indicates the shape of alternative agendas.     

陕西红碱淖普通燕鸥和鸥嘴噪鸥的繁殖生态比较

2009年4～7月,采用定点观察法和逐巢清点法,对陕西省红碱淖地区普通燕鸥(Sterna hirundo)和鸥嘴噪鸥(Gelochelidon nilotica)的繁殖生态进行了比较研究。结果表明,两者都是4月末迁至红碱淖,并于5月中旬进入繁殖期。普通燕鸥和鸥嘴噪鸥都选择在湖心岛上营巢,普通燕鸥巢址沿岛边缘四周呈线状分布,而鸥嘴噪鸥位于岛中央向外扩散呈块状分布。对食物调查发现,两者在食物资源利用上存在部分生态位分离。巢址分布格局差异性和食物资源利用生态位部分分离是两者能在同一领域共存的主要原因。对雏鸟的体重等形态参数进行Gompertz曲线方程拟合,结果表明,两种雏鸟生长状况的差异性从另一面也可以反应二者种间竞争压力的缓和。另外,从一定的角度分析了两者与遗鸥(Larus relictus)的伴生关系。     

Climate–tree growth relationships of longleaf pine (Pinus palustris Mill.) in the Southeastern Coastal Plain, USA

Knowledge of tree growth/climate response relationships is important to dendroecological studies and dendroclimatic reconstructions, particularly in the Southeastern Coastal Plain where few such studies have been attempted. To this end, we developed tree-ring chronologies of total ring width, earlywood width, and latewood width from longleaf pine (Pinus palustris Mill.) at three sites in the Southeastern Coastal Plain to examine the climate–growth relationships for this tree species. The length of these chronologies is unprecedented for southern pine chronologies in the Southeast. We compared the tree-ring chronologies to monthly temperature, precipitation, Palmer drought severity index (PDSI), and Palmer hydrological drought index (PHDI) data from the pertinent climate divisions. We found that PDSI and PHDI have the highest correlation with longleaf pine growth, and the strongest relationships between longleaf pine growth and these variables occur between July and November. Precipitation in the spring and summer was also positively related to growth at all sites. The relationship between temperature and growth was the weakest among all climate variables, but warm summer temperatures had a consistent, negative relationship with longleaf pine growth. The climate signal in the latewood was generally more robust than for total ring width and earlywood width.