The effect of sterilizing diseases on host abundance and distribution along environmental gradients

This study analyses the effect of host-specific pathogens on range restriction of their hosts across environmental gradients at population margins. Sterilizing diseases can limit host range by causing large reductions in population size in what would otherwise be the central area of a species range. Diseases showing frequency-dependent transmission can also pull back a population from its disease-free margin. A wide range of disease prevalence versus abundance patterns emerge which often differ from the classical expectation of increasing prevalence with increasing abundance. Surprisingly, very few empirical studies have investigated the dynamics of disease across environmental gradients or at range limits.     

The combined effect of environmental and host factors on the emergence of viral RNA recombinants

Viruses are masters of evolution due to high frequency mutations and genetic recombination. In spite of the significance of viral RNA recombination that promotes the emergence of drug-resistant virus strains, the role of host and environmental factors in RNA recombination is poorly understood. Here we report that the host Met22p/Hal2p bisphosphate-3'-nucleotidase regulates the frequency of viral RNA recombination and the efficiency of viral replication. Based on Tomato bushy stunt virus (TBSV) and yeast as a model host, we demonstrate that deletion of MET22 in yeast or knockdown of AHL, SAL1 and FRY1 nucleotidases/phosphatases in plants leads to increased TBSV recombination and replication. Using a cell-free TBSV recombination/replication assay, we show that the substrate of the above nucleotidases, namely 3'-phosphoadenosine-5'-phosphate pAp, inhibits the activity of the Xrn1p 5'-3' ribonuclease, a known suppressor of TBSV recombination. Inhibition of the activity of the nucleotidases by LiCl and NaCl also leads to increased TBSV recombination, demonstrating that environmental factors could also affect viral RNA recombination. Thus, host factors in combination with environmental factors likely affect virus evolution and adaptation.     

环境因子与螺旋藻(节旋藻)分布及丰度的相关性分析

【目的】2015年7月至2015年9月,对海岸线较长、湿地类型比较多样化的渤海湿地及周边水域中螺旋藻(节旋藻)的分布进行研究,并对其与环境因子的相互关系进行分析。【方法】采用相关分析和灰关联分析对螺旋藻(节旋藻)数量与环境因子关系进行分析。【结果】螺旋藻(节旋藻)数量与pH、盐度、总氮(TN)、总磷(TP)、化学需氧量(COD)、氨氮(NH_3-N)呈显著正相关(P0.05,P0.01),与溶解氧(DO)呈显著负相关(P0.05,P0.01),与温度呈负相关,但相关不显著(P0.05);灰关联分析结果表明:各环境因素对螺旋藻数量的关联程度依次为:CODpHTN温度TPDO盐度NH_3-N。【结论】渤海海滨湿地及周边水域中螺旋藻(节旋藻)资源丰富,对螺旋藻(节旋藻)分布影响最大的环境因子是COD,最小是NH_3-N。     

Patterns in the production of latrines by water voles (Arvicola terrestris) and their use as indices of abundance in population surveys

Water vole latrines were studied on four of the principal rivers in the North Yorkshire Moors National Park. Water voles occupied 'core' and 'peripheral' sites on these rivers. Core sites were marked by latrines and held breeding colonies of voles; animals at core sites were readily captured. Peripheral sites were not marked by latrines, but showed erratic water vole activity as measured by activity indices (tracks m^-1 of muddy bank month^-1). It was never possible to catch voles at these peripheral sites, and there was no evidence of breeding.
Latrines on core sites were not maintained outside the breeding season. The appearance of latrines coincided with the start of the breeding season, and while they were maintained, latrines provided a useful guide to the number of animals in the area. A curvilinear response was obtained between latrine production and date, with production rising steadily from early spring until mid-to-late summer, which suggests that latrines signal sexual activity.
Future studies on the distribution of water voles should use a variety of techniques. Latrine surveys will only be applicable during the breeding season at core sites. Similarly, live-trapping will only detect water voles at core sites. Tracking provides the best evidence that water voles are present at peripheral sites even though they may not be breeding or entering traps.     

典型油气藏区域环境因素差异对甲烷氧化菌丰度与群落结构分布的影响

【目的】甲烷氧化菌(methane-oxidizing bacteria, MOB)是油气微生物勘探中重要的指标微生物,其丰度与群落结构分布受到地理位置和多种环境因素的影响。本研究以采集的7个典型油气藏区域的土壤样品为研究对象,探究油气藏区域环境因素差异对甲烷氧化菌丰度与群落结构分布的影响。【方法】对采集自7个典型油气藏区域土壤样品进行pmoA基因实时荧光定量PCR (real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR, qPCR)、细菌16S rRNA基因测序和甲烷氧化菌功能基因pmoA测序,结合环境因子,比较甲烷氧化菌丰度差异,分析环境因子对甲烷氧化菌分布的影响。【结果】土壤样品的理化性质测定发现江汉盆地样品的含水量最高,约22.8%,硝态氮平均含量最高位于玉北油田,达到31.96 μg/g干重土壤,春光油田出现最高的SO₄^2- (6 425.0 mg/g干重土壤)及Cl^- (1 617.0 mg/g干重土壤)浓度。qPCR分析发现pmoA基因丰度仅为土壤样本总细菌丰度的0.77%,表明甲烷氧化菌绝对数量较少。16S rRNA基因测序发现type I型甲基八叠球菌属(Methylosarcina)、甲基嗜热菌属(Methylocaldum)、甲基球菌属(Methylococcus)与type II型的甲基胞囊菌属(Methylocystis) 4种主要的甲烷氧化菌,甲烷氧化菌中的优势菌属的相对丰度极低,最高仅为0.124%。甲烷氧化菌功能基因pmoA测序发现type II型的甲基胞囊菌属、甲基弯曲菌属(Methylosinus)为主要优势pmoA基因型。环境因子与甲烷氧化菌丰度相关性分析表明甲烷氧化菌绝对丰度与铵态氮、pH、颗粒大小、硫酸根和氯离子显著相关,而环境因子与甲烷氧化菌的相对丰度的相关性分析仅发现与颗粒大小、总氮、总磷、金属离子(Al、Fe、K、Ca、Mg、Mn、Zn和Cu)显著相关。甲烷氧化菌pmoA功能基因组成判别相关分析(discriminant correlation analysis, DCA)表明含水量(土壤湿度)、pH值、<2 μm的土壤颗粒、总氮及钙离子对甲烷氧化菌pmoA功能基因组成影响具有显著性。【结论】本研究通过对来自7个典型油气藏区域的土壤样品的甲烷氧化菌的绝对丰度与相对丰度进行分析,发现基于不同的测量方法,甲烷氧化菌的丰度存在较大差异,16S rRNA基因测序无法较为全面地反映土壤样本中优势甲烷氧化菌的群落结构,不同地理位置的甲烷氧化菌指示群落存在差异,在全国尺度下油气区及背景点均无特有的甲烷氧化菌指示群落。对环境因子与甲烷氧化菌相关性分析发现,基于不同的甲烷氧化菌丰度指标,环境因子的显著影响具有较大差别。     

The effect of workers size frequency distribution on colony development inBombus terrestris

Summary The effect of workers size frequency distribution on colony development was studied in 12 young colonies ofB. terrestris. By replacing the original workers with workers of determined size, colonies constituting small, large or mixed size nursing workers were created. The nursing workers size frequency distribution did not influence the average size of the newly emerged workers, nor their size frequency distribution. In contrast, the number of emerging workers and number of egg cells constructed by the queen in colonies with large workers were higher than in colonies with small workers. The small number of emerging workers is explained by prolonged duration of larval time in response to sub-optimal feeding in colonies of small workers. The higher number of egg cells constructed by the queens is supposed to be in response to the number of new cocoons available, or to better condition of the brood.     

The distribution and abundance of animal populations in a climate of uncertainty

Current predictions regarding the ecological consequences of climate change on animal populations are generally autecological and species-specific, and/or non-mechanistic extrapolations of recent short-term patterns. To better understand and predict the effects of climate change on the distribution of species and the abundance of populations we offer a novel, broad theoretical framework. Climate-induced changes in trophic structure may actually be more predictable than effects on individual species. The logic is that there are general differences in climatic sensitivity among trophic levels – specifically, that as one moves up trophic levels, there is an increase in the temperature sensitivity of vital rates. More precisely, we provide: (1) a formal mathematical definition of distribution limits that is both operational and conceptual, introducing the concept DL₅₀, defined as the geographic and climatic isoline representing an equilibrium occupancy of half of the suitable habitats; (2) a matrix of the possible changes in trophic structure from climate change and the general theoretical consequences; and (3) a new idea that predicts broad effects of climatic warming on trophic systems. Our intention is to help meet the challenge of developing and testing general theoretical models that can predict which species will be winners and losers in ecological time, which evolutionary traits will be favoured or selected against, and what will be consequences for ecosystem structure and function.     

纳帕海高原湿地浮游病毒丰度及与环境因子相关性研究

目的 利用EFM技术对纳帕海湿地不同季节7个水样样品中的浮游病毒丰度开展了调查,并对影响浮游病毒丰度的环境因子进行了相关性分析。方法 元素检测,叶绿素a检测,荧光显微镜检测浮游细菌及浮游病毒的丰度。结果 从生态分布上来看旱季和雨季浮游病毒丰度的平均值分别为3.63×106/mL和3.71×107/mL,浮游病毒丰度季节性变化不显著。从对影响浮游病毒丰度的环境因子相关性分析来看,旱季浮游病毒与Chl-a具有弱负相关性（r=0.49,P<0.05）;而雨季浮游病毒丰度与Chl-a具有显著正相关性（r=0.37,P<0.05）,表明雨季纳帕海湿地浮游病毒丰度受Chl-a含量的影响较大。旱季浮游病毒丰度与温度显著负相关,虽然在雨季浮游病毒丰度与温度也呈负相关,但并不显著;在雨季,水体pH变化较明显,而浮游病毒丰度与水体pH呈显著负相关,表明湿地的来水主要在雨季,而离子组成变化大。虽然在雨季和旱季,从多点采样的平均值来看浮游病毒丰度并无明显差异,但从一些局部的采样点来看,雨季的浮游病毒丰度显著高于旱季,说明在纳帕海区域浮游病毒的分布并不平均,因采样点环境的不同会产生明显的区别。结论 对纳帕海高原湿地浮游病毒生态分布的调查,是对该地域生态学研究的补充,使得这一独特地理环境的微生物研究更加系统化。     

Use of stochastic models to assess the effect of environmental factors on microbial growth

We present a novel application of a stochastic ecological model to the study and analysis of microbial growth dynamics as influenced by environmental conditions in an extensive experimental data set. The model proved to be useful in bridging the gap between theoretical ideas in ecology and an applied problem in microbiology. The data consisted of recorded growth curves of Escherichia coli grown in triplicate in a base medium with all 32 possible combinations of five supplements: glucose, NH(4)Cl, HCl, EDTA, and NaCl. The potential complexity of 2(5) experimental treatments and their effects was reduced to 2(2) as just the metal chelator EDTA, the presumed osmotic pressure imposed by NaCl, and the interaction between these two factors were enough to explain the variability seen in the data. The statistical analysis showed that the positive and negative effects of the five chemical supplements and their combinations were directly translated into an increase or decrease in time required to attain stationary phase and the population size at which the stationary phase started. The stochastic ecological model proved to be useful, as it effectively explained and summarized the uncertainty seen in the recorded growth curves. Our findings have broad implications for both basic and applied research and illustrate how stochastic mathematical modeling coupled with rigorous statistical methods can be of great assistance in understanding basic processes in microbial ecology.     

The effect of environmental disturbances on the dynamics of marine intertidal populations

A model is proposed for studying the influence of the duration of a nonreproducing life stage on the dynamics of marine intertidal populations. Analysis of the model shows that this system, in which the time delay (the nonreproducing stage) is in a density independent term, has two solutions. When the nonzero solution exists it is a stable point. A randomly occurring environmental disturbance, to which only the nonreproducing stage is resistant, is superimposed on the basic deterministic equation. Average extinction time, estimated by simulation, appears as a a nonmonotonic function of the duration of disturbance. The graph of extinction time has multiple extrema with minima occuring where the ratio between the duration of the resistant stage and the duration of disturbance is an integer. This phenomenon is more sharply manifested when the intrinsic growth rate and frequency of disturbance are relatively large and when the variance in the duration of disturbance and the duration of the resistant stage is not too large. Increasing patchiness of the habitat has a minor effect on the pattern of dependence of the extinction time on the ratio between the juvenile and environmental periods. The suitability of the model for describing the marine intertidal system of the northern Red Sea is discussed, and it is suggested that the duration of the larval stage can determine adult population dynamics.     

Disease and the abundance and distribution of bird populations: a summary

Over the past few years, I have written several reviews about the effects of infectious diseases upon the distribution and abundance of their host populations. One general review and synthesis is in the fmd chapter of a book whose earlier chapters focus mainly on human diseases (Anderson & May 1991). A bird-specific discussion, with particular reference to conservation issues, is given by Dobson and May (1991). Broadly related questions about the invasion, persistence and spread of infectious diseases within animal communities are explored by Anderson and May (1986) and with emphasis on bird populations by Dobson and May (1986). Also relevant are a set of papers from the Society for Conservation Biology's first-ever symposium on Conservation and Disease (for an overview, see May 1988, Scott 1988).
Rather than burdening the literature with a recapitulation of these existing reviews, this paper gives a sign-posted guide for those who are not familiar with this particular literature. I first sketch reasons for believing that infectious diseases play an important part in the life history of birds. Next I point towards an analytic framework for understanding the dynamics of host-pathogen associations. Finally I list some of the implications for the conservation biology of bird populations.     

The effect of environmental factors on estimated viable and total populations of planktonic bacteria in lakes and experimental enclosures

SUMMARY. The difference between the results of viable and total counting procedures for bacteria are exemplified by vertical profiles from a deep and a shallow lake and from seasonal changes in the epilimnion and hypolimnion of a shallow eutrophic lake. The viable count was, on average, 0.25% of the total count, the greatest difference being noted in the anoxic hypolimnion, probably due to the inadequacy of the viable counting procedure for the isolation of bacteria from such samples. There was a general trend for the more nutrient-rich waters to support larger bacterial populations but such observations did not provide any further information on the factors responsible for the population changes observed. Seasonal fluctuations in the counts are studied and the qualitative and quantitative changes resulting from artificial enclosure of water are discussed. Not all the temporal changes could be explained and short-term changes resulting from nutrient additions to the experimental enclosures were not always reproducible. Horizontal variability was examined, found to be significant and could play an important role where water movement and turbulence is considerable. Results from six sites sampled between 1969 and 1974, representing total and viable bacterial population estimates and a total of eighteen independent or regressor variables were then subjected to principal components analysis. Results taken from the whole water column showed the overwhelming effect of the process of stratification on the bacterial population accounting for 30%-60% of its variability. Secondary components representing algal productivity could account for 10% to 20% of the variability. Many of the chosen regressor variables were acting as measures of the same phenomenon without providing significant information on what affected the bacterial population. To overcome this problem results from the hypolimnion and epilimnion were analysed separately. The analysis demonstrated the importance of seasonal changes in nutrient concentrations in the epilimnion and the development of anoxic conditions in the hypolimnion. Algal biomass, phosphate concentration and the interaction of pH and ammonia appeared to be important. It was concluded that most of the variability in the bacterial population estimates could have been explained by five of the regressor variables and that the factors most likely to provide more information would include some measure of predation and lake retention time.     

The impact of American mink Mustela vison and European mink Mustela lutreola on water voles Arvicola terrestris in Belarus

In the U.K. the impact of introduced American mink Mustela vison , on water voles Arvicola terrestris , may be exacerbated by habitat loss and fragmentation. Pristine wetlands in Belarus, which American mink invaded in the early 1990s, provide a three-pronged opportunity to test this hypothesis. First, we examine the evidence that, even in the unmanaged wetlands of our Belarussian study site, American mink have reduced water vole populations. Second, we ask whether habitat size, type and isolation mitigate the impact of American mink predation. Thirdly, we explore whether water voles are at greater risk of predation from American than European mink because of their patterns of habitat use. Following the invasion of American mink, water voles were most abundant in small, still-water sites, far from river banks, while American mink were most active in large, running-water sites. Small mammal remains were found in a higher percentage of American than European mink scats, and of these, more were water vole in American mink scats. The occurrence of water voles in scats of both mink species declined after the American mink invaded and established. Our results provide at least circumstantial evidence that American mink limit water vole populations even in unmanaged wetland eco-systems, and that they have a greater impact than their European congener at least partly because they make greater use of isolated marshes. Although by no means providing complete protection, the configuration and dispersion of available habitat mitigated the impact of American mink on water voles. This raises the possibility that habitat restoration, especially through the establishment of isolated enclaves, could help reduce the effect of American mink in the U.K. These observations are of broader interest in the context of assessing the effect of multiple pressures on vulnerable species.     

An analysis of distribution and abundance of populations of the high-shore limpet,Notoacmea petterdi (tenison-woods)

Summary Notoacmea petterdi occurs only on vertical surfaces at the highest levels on the shore. On a given surface, density of limpets decreases with increasing height. Mean and maximum sizes of limpets increase with increasing height, due to faster rates of growth at higher levels where densities are lower. Rates of mortality are also negatively correlated with height on the shore, and are therefore generally less at higher levels. Both adult and juvenile limpets exhibit well-developed homing behaviour. There is no evidence of seasonal migrations, density-dependent migrations, nor gradual upward migrations as limpets grow older.Hypotheses are formed on the basis of these preliminary observations and measurements. Results of subsequent experimental manipulations of densities support the hypothesis that density-dependent mortality, due to intraspecific competition, plays a major role in regulating population densities of this limpet. It is also suggested that the pattern of settlement of juvenile limpets is the major factor that determines the limits to the vertical distribution of this species.