Experimental field test of spatial variation in rodent predation of nuts relative to distance and seed density

The spatial context in which seed predation occurs may modify the spatial structure of recruitment generated by seed dispersal. The Janzen–Connell (J-C) model predicts that granivores will exert greater pressure on the parent plant or at those sites where the density of dispersed seeds is higher. We have investigated how the probability of post-dispersal survival of Juglans australis varies with nut density across a hierarchy of spatial scales. We experimentally evaluated the survival of 3,120 nuts at three spatial scales: meso-scale (≤1.5 ha), as forest sites with two densities of fruiting J. australis individuals; intermediate scale (<0.2 ha), as individual trees with two experimental crop sizes; small scale (<0.1 m²), as microsites with two factors (number of nuts and distance from source). Nut removal coincided with seed predation, a condition that allowed us to test the density-dependent seed predation hypothesis. We found that the probability of nut survival was greater at forest sites with higher J. australis density. Nut survival was not affected by nut density in the seed shadow of individual specimens: at sites where J. australis density was greater, the proportion of surviving nuts did not differ between microsites located at different distances from the parent plant, but it was greater at microsites with greater initial nut density. Nut survival depended on the scale at which rodents responded to nut density, being negatively density dependent at the meso-scale and spatially random at intermediate and small scales. At the meso-scale, excess nut supply increased the probability of nut survival, which is in agreement with a model of granivore satiation near the seed source. Rodent satiation at the meso-scale may favour maintenance of sites with high J. australis density, where individual trees may have greater probabilities of passing their genes onto the next stage of the dispersal cycle.     

Assessing reproductive biology of Macrobrachium lamarrei in the Ganges River (NW Bangladesh) in relation to environmental parameters

Macrobrachium lamarrei (H. Milne-Edwards, 1837) is a well-known freshwater prawn species of Bangladesh. The aim of the research is to explore various reproductive aspects (size at sexual maturity, reproductive period and fecundity) of M. lamarrei in the Ganges River, Bangladesh through October 2012 to September 2013. We also study the environmental parameters and their impact on reproduction of M. lamarrei. A total 391 (ovigerous = 141, non-ovigerous = 250) female specimens were collected using Drag net. The TL₅₀ (the TL at which 50% of individuals become mature) was calculated by a logistic equation as 5.20 cm. Based on the availability of ovigerous females the spawning season was February-November with the peak June-July. Further, 50% and 90% ovigerous females were observed when Fulton’s condition factor (K_F) was 0.85 and 1.03, respectively. The total fecundity (F_T) was ranged from 65 to 370 where TL was 4.20–6.40 cm and BW was 0.84–2.50 g. Fecundity was found to be highly correlated with TL (r² ≥ 0.96, r_s = 0.96, p < 0.0001) and BW (r² ≥ 0.88, r_s = 0.93, p < 0.0001). Temperature (r_p = 0.82, p = 0.009), dissolved oxygen (DO) (r_p = −0.83, p = 0.0007), pH (r_p = 0.80, p = 0.0014) and total alkalinity (r_p = −0.87, p = 0.0002), were highly correlated with ovigerous females. The average temperature on peak spawning season was 32 °C. Also, the spawning period connected with the peak rainfall and showed a notable relation between rainfall and ovigerous females. In addition, exploration of long data series pointed that yearly average air temperature is rising by 0.029 °C yr⁻¹, whereas yearly average rainfall is falling by 2.96 mm yr⁻¹. Therefore, the result will be helpful for the sustainable management and conservation of M. lamarrei through fixed permissible mesh size and establishment of a ban period in the Ganges River, Bangladesh and adjoining ecosystems.     

Phenotypic variation of seed traits of Haloxylon ammodendron and its affecting factors

The typical desert-inhabiting shrub Haloxylon ammodendron (C. A. Mey.) Bunge is an important species that is endangered in Northwest China. In this study, variance, correlation and cluster analysis were employed to examine phenotypic variations of H. ammodendron seed traits from 14 populations in China to investigate their relationships with environmental and genetic factors. The average coefficient of variation was higher among regions (26.9%) than within regions (19.8%). Correlation analysis revealed that the diameter/thickness and fruit wing length were significantly correlated with environmental factors. A cluster dendrograms designed based on seed traits was consistent with the finding from environmental and genetic data obtained using Ward's method and the unweighted pair-group method with arithmetic means. A Mantel test revealed correlation between seed traits and environmental data (r = 0.53, P < 0.01) was greater than that between seed traits and genetic data (r = 0.25, P < 0.05). Thus, seed traits associated with morphology, mass, and germination varied significantly among the populations, are strongly affected by climatic and geographical factors, and were moderately correlated with genetic diversity. These results provide insights for designing appropriate conservation strategies for H. ammodendron.     

The morpho-agronomic characterization study of Lens culinaris germplasm under salt marsh habitat in Swat,Pakistan

The present research study evaluate and identify the most suitable and high yielding genotypes of Lens culinaris for the salt marsh habitat of Swat in moist temperate sort of agro climatic environment of Pakistan. A total of fourteen genotypes were cultivated and analyzed through Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD). These genotypes were AZRC-4, NL-2, NL4, NL-5, NL-6, NARC-11-1, NARC-11-2, NARC-11-3, NARC-11-4, 09503, 09505, 09506, P.Masoor-09 and Markaz-09. Different parameters i.e., germination rate, flowering, physiological maturity, plant height, biological grain yield, seed weight, pods formation and its height, pods per plants and protein content were focused specially throughout the study. Preliminary the Lentil genotypes have significant variability in all the major morpho-agronomic traits. The days to germination, 50% flowering and 100 seed weight ranged from 7 to 9, 110 to 116 days, and from 5.4 to 7.3 gm respectively. Biological yield and grain yield ranged from 5333 to 9777 kg ha⁻¹ and 1933 to 3655 kg ha⁻¹ respectively. Whereas, protein contents ranged from 23.21% to 28.45%. It was concluded that the genotype AZRC-4 is better varity in terms of grain yield plus in 100 seed weight and moreover, 09506 genotype was significant under salt marsh habitat in early maturing for the Swat Valley, Pakistan.     

Are Brazil nut populations threatened by fruit harvest?

Harvest of Brazil nuts from the large, iconic tree Bertholletia excelsa generates substantial income for smallholders, providing a strong incentive to conserve the mature forests where it grows. Although much previous work has focused on the impact of nut harvest on new seedling recruits into B. excelsa populations, the connection between harvest rates and long‐term population stability is still unclear. Moreover, there is additional uncertainty for Brazil nut management in terms of population response to climate change and other anthropogenic influences. We drew on 14 years of research in two sites in Acre, Brazil with different B. excelsa nut harvest intensities (39% and 81%), to produce stochastic and deterministic matrix population models which incorporated parameter uncertainty in vital rates. Adult abundance was projected to remain close to the current observed abundance or higher through the next 50 years. Elasticity analyses revealed that the asymptotic population growth rate (λ) was most sensitive to stasis vital rates in sapling, juvenile, and adult stages. Deterministic transition matrices calculated using diameter growth rates dependent on rainfall yielded average λ values around 1.0 under extreme high, extreme low, and average annual rainfall. While sustained high rates of Brazil nut harvest and climate change could potentially negatively impact B. excelsa populations, changes in human use of the forested landscape are more immediate concern. To reduce the risk of population decline, smallholders and managers of B. excelsa rich forests should focus on conservation of pre‐mature and mature individuals.     

Complete mitochondrial genome of the forensically important carrion beetle,Necrodes nigricornis (Coleoptera: Silphidae)

The carrion beetle, Necrodes nigricornis Harold, 1875 (Coleoptera: Silphidae) is one of the most frequently encountered insect species among Silphidae in animal cadavers in Korea. Consequently, the postmortem colonization of the species can provide useful information regarding the time-since-death. In this study, we report the mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) characteristics of N. nigricornis with the aim of increasing the genomic data pools of the family Silphidae, which is of considerable forensic importance. The full-length circular genome is 18,503 bp, with 75.60 % A/T content. It contains a typical set of 37 metazoan genes, but the non-coding A + T-rich region is unusually long at 3,818 bp in length, containing two similar-sized repeats (539 and 542 bp) with a slight length and nucleotide variation. The gene arrangement of the species is identical to that of the ancestral arrangement found in the majority of insects. The biased A/T content in the genome is also reflected in the form of biased codon usage; six codons among 62 comprised solely of A/T nucleotides (TTA, ATT, TTT, ATA, TTA, and TAT) were highly used, accounting for 41.28 % of the total. The maximum-likelihood tree built using 12 PCG (excluding ND2) and lrRNA revealed monophyletic Silphidae, Silphinae, and Nicrophorinae, with relatively higher nodal supports (bootstrap support ≥ 80 %). N. nigricornis, belonging to Silphinae, was placed as the sister to congeneric N. littoralis with the highest nodal support. We believe this mitogenome sequences of the carrion beetle can become an important baseline information for future studies on phylogeny at various levels of taxonomic diversity, intra-specific variation, as well as species identification.     

Relationships among udder characteristics,milk yield and,non-yield traits in Frizarta dairy sheep

In the present study the relationships between five body structural and nine udder morphological traits with milk yield and non-yield traits, i.e. milk contents, somatic cell count and body weight in n = 171 Frizarta ewes were investigated. Positive correlations of moderate to high magnitude were observed among body measurements ranging from 0.25 (body length-chest width) to 0.61 (chest width-chest girth). High correlations were observed between udder width and udder circumference (r = 0.69) as well as between udder circumference at base and middle (r = 0.62). Udder height was found to be positively correlated with cistern depth (r = 0.32), udder width (r = 0.40) and udder circumference (r = 0.42) as well as with teat measurements (0.19 and 0.25 with teat length and teat circumference, respectively). Cistern depth was positively and highly correlated with teat angle (r = 0.64). The correlation between teat length and circumference was also high (r = 0.57). Teat angle was found to be negatively correlated with teat measurements (r = −0.39 and −0.23 for teat length and teat circumference, respectively). Principal components analysis revealed four components that jointly explained 67% of the variance of all the body and the udder morphological traits. The first principal component interpreted as the body dimensions was found to be associated with body weight of ewes. The second component interpreted as global and rear measurements of the udder was significant for milk yield traits. The third and fourth principal components were interpreted as the udder type and teat dimensions, respectively. Ewes’ body weight could be adequately predicted by chest girth, body length, chest width and withers height. Test day milk yields were found to be associated with udder circumference and udder width as well as with udder height and teat length. None of the udder measurements and/or teat characteristics was found to be correlated with milk content(s) and/or somatic cell count. New statistical techniques can be successfully implemented in investigation of relationships between various traits in dairy sheep.     

Complete mitochondrial genomes of three sea basses Lateolabrax (Perciformes,Lateolabracidae) species: Genome description and phylogenetic considerations

Genus Lateolabrax consists of three species, Japanese sea bass Lateolabrax japonicus, spotted sea bass Lateolabrax maculatus and blackfin sea bass Lateolabrax latus. The complete mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) of the three sea basses were amplified and sequenced to characterize and discuss their phylogenetic relationships. The length of mitogenomes was 16,593 bp, 16,479 bp and 16,600 bp, respectively, and all of them consisted of 13 protein-coding genes, 2 ribosomal RNA (rRNA), 22 transfer RNA (tRNA) and a control region, which are typical for mtDNA of vertebrate. Most genes were encoded on the H-strand, except for the ND6 and eight tRNA genes encoding on the L-strand. A significant variation among the three species was detected in length of the control region. Phylogenetic relationship among the three species was constructed based on the datasets, including the 12 protein-coding genes (except ND6 gene), 22 tRNA and 2 rRNA sequences. The results supported the sister taxon between L. japonicus and L. maculatus. The genetic resources reported here are useful for further studies in taxonomy and phylogeny of the three sea basses and related species.     

Validity and reliability of isometric,isokinetic and isoinertial modalities for the assessment of quadriceps muscle strength in patients with total knee arthroplasty

Reliability of isometric, isokinetic and isoinertial modalities for quadriceps strength evaluation, and the relation between quadriceps strength and physical function was investigated in 29 total knee arthroplasty (TKA) patients, with an average age of 63 years. Isometric maximal voluntary contraction torque, isokinetic peak torque, and isoinertial one-repetition maximum load of the involved and uninvolved quadriceps were evaluated as well as objective (walking parameters) and subjective physical function (WOMAC). Reliability was good and comparable for the isometric, isokinetic, and isoinertial strength outcomes on both sides (intraclass correlation coefficient range: 0.947–0.966; standard error of measurement range: 5.1–9.3%). Involved quadriceps strength was significantly correlated to walking speed (r range: 0.641–0.710), step length (r range: 0.685–0.820) and WOMAC function (r range: 0.575–0.663), independent from the modality (P < 0.05). Uninvolved quadriceps strength was also significantly correlated to walking speed (r range: 0.413–0.539), step length (r range: 0.514–0.608) and WOMAC function (r range: 0.374–0.554) (P < 0.05), except for WOMAC function/isokinetic peak torque (P > 0.05). In conclusion, isometric, isokinetic, and isoinertial modalities ensure valid and reliable assessment of quadriceps muscle strength in TKA patients.     

Comparative analysis of genetic structure and variability in wild and cultivated pomegranates as revealed by morphological variables and molecular markers

In this study, the genetic variability and relationships among wild and cultivated pomegranate genotypes from the north of Iran were investigated by morphological characters and RAPD molecular markers. Principal component analysis showed that the first three components explained 61.64 % of the total morphological variation for studied genotypes. Fruit neck diameter, anthocyanin index, TSS, aril juice, fruit flavor index, petiole length, fruit peel thickness and seed hardness were predominant in the first component and contributed most of the total variation. Fruit characteristics such as titratable acidity were negatively correlated (r = ?0.56) with TSS (r = ?0.56) and pH (r = ?0.86) and also, seed hardness showed negative correlation with aril length and aril diameter. Clustering from morphological data allocated individuals into two main clusters with high variation. Two hundred and twenty-nine fragments were scored of which 174 of them were polymorphic with 76.9 % polymorphism. Genetic similarity ranged from 0.15 to 0.78 with an average of 0.42, indicating high genetic variation among studied genotypes. High molecular and morphological variability indicated that this germplasm includes rich and valuable plant materials for pomegranate breeding.     

3个香榧单株的种实性状变异分析

对浙江宁海3个香榧单株种实种长、种径、种长径比(种形系数)、单种重、鲜出核率、核长、核径、核长径比(核形指数)、单核重9个性状指标进行了测定和统计分析,为香榧优株选育提供理论依据。结果表明:单种重平均值最大的是宁榧1号(9.17 g),单种重极大值出现在宁榧1号(13.6 g);单核重平均值最大的为宁榧1号(2.93 g)。平均鲜出核率最大的是宁榧3号,达到40.86%,鲜出核率极大值出现在宁榧2号(51.06%)。株间种长、种径、种长径比、核长、核长径比、单种重、单核重、鲜出核率指标均存在显著差异,而核径差异性不显著。种实性状变异幅度最大的指标为单核重(变异系数CV为22.68%),单种重(变异系数CV为21.18%)次之,最小的为种长径比(变异系数CV为4.49%)。种长、种径、核长、核径均与单种重和单核重有显著相关性,鲜出核率与种长、种径、单种重、呈极显著负相关,与种长径比呈极显著正相关。     

Estimating carrying capacity and stocking rates of rangelands in Harshin District,Eastern Somali Region,Ethiopia

We conducted a quantitative assessment of forage biomass in Harshin district to determine its annual productive potential, carrying capacity, and stocking rates. The dominant Land Use and Land Cover include woodland (35.5%), shrubs (28.3%), grassland (10.6%), and bare land (25.5%). The region has browse‐rich shrubland that is edible to dromedary and goats, as well as massive grassland plains for sheep and cattle. The interannual rainfall variation is 16.5% which implies that the rangeland is a subsistence equilibrium system. The range of forage production is between 105 and 2,310 kg/ha, whereas the average productivity of the district is 742.6 kg/ha. The result indicates that the average carrying capacity of the district is 0.3 TLU ha^?1 year^?1 (4.9 ha TLU^?1 year^?1) while the existing stocking rate is 5.4 TLU ha^?1 year^?1 (0.18 ha TLU^?1 year^?1). This implies that the grazing intensity in the district is much higher than its carrying capacity (recommended rate), which has seen overstocking or grazing pressure excesses of 5.1 TLU/ha (7.2 cattle/ha). Thus, it clearly signals the risk of overgrazing in the district. If this trend continues, the grazing will not be sustainable and there will be shortage of forage as well as expansion of land degradation (due to overgrazing) in the near future.     

Continental-scale climatic drivers of growth ring variability in an Australian conifer

Callitris is Australia’s most successful and drought tolerant conifer genus. Callitris species are distributed across a huge geographical range from rainforest to arid zones, and hence they provide a rare opportunity to view plant growth trends across the continent. Here, we make a continental-scale examination of how climate influences basal diameter growth in Callitris. We sampled a total of five species but focused effort (23 of 28 samples) on the most widespread species, C. columellaris. Cores from a total of 23 trees were sampled from 15 sites that spanned a gradient in mean annual rainfall from 225 to 2117 mm and mean annual temperature from 11.5 to 28.2°C. Ring production is not annual across much of the distribution of the genus, so ¹⁴C-AMS dating was used to establish the frequency of ring production for each core. Ring width, tracheid lumen diameter and number of tracheids per ring were also measured on each core. Ring production was close to annual at mesic sites with reliable alternation of rainfall or temperature regimes but was more erratic elsewhere. For C. columellaris, ring width significantly increased with mean annual rainfall (r ² = 0.49) as a result of wider and more tracheids per ring. For this species tracheid lumen diameter was correlated with annual rainfall (r ² = 0.61), with a threefold increase from the driest to the wettest sites, lending support to the hypothesis that conifers growing at drier sites will have narrow lumen diameters to maximise mechanical strength of the xylem.     

NDVI as an indicator for changes in water availability to woody vegetation

Barrier islands shrub thickets, the dominant woody community of many Atlantic coast barrier islands, are very sensitive to changes in the freshwater lens and thus, constitute a strong indicator of summer drought. NDVI was computed from airborne images and multispectral images on Hog Island (VA, USA) to evaluate summer growing season changes in woody communities for better predictions of climate change effects. Patterns of NDVI were compared year to year and monthly relative to precipitation and water table depth at the appropriate temporal scale. The highest absolute values of NDVI as well as the larger surface covered by woody vegetation (NDVI > 0.5) occurred in the wet year (2004) with a bimodal distribution of NDVI values (around 0.65 and 0.9) while both dry years (2007 and 2008) showed similar values in maximum, mean and standard deviation and unimodal distributions (around 0.75) of NDVI values. Positive linear adjustments were obtained between maximum (r² > 0.9) and mean NDVI (r² > 0.87) and the accumulated rainfall in the hydrological year and the mean water table depth from the last rainfall event till the date of the image acquisition. The spatial variations revealed that water table depth behaved different in wet and dry years. In dry years there was a remarkable increase in mean and maximum values linearly related to water table depth. The highest slope of the adjustment in 2007 indicated a sharp response of vegetation in the driest year. Monthly series of NDVI showed the major role of lack of precipitation through July and August in 2007 with missing classes of NDVI above 0.8 and unimodal distributions in mid-late summer. Best linear fits (r² close to 1) were obtained with rainfall at different temporal scales: accumulated rainfall in the hydrological year 2004 and accumulated rainfall in the last month previous to the date of 2007 image. Thus, in dry years productivity is closely related to water available from recent past as opposed to over the year for wet years. Good fits (r² values higher than 0.88) were obtained between monthly decrease in water table depth and NDVI variables just in the dry year. These results demonstrate the important feedback between woody vegetation response to changes in the freshwater lens using empirical data and could apply to other systems with strong directional gradients in resources.     

Zoonotic and non-zoonotic helminths in black rats of rain-fed and irrigated areas of Swat,Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,Pakistan

Present study was conducted to get information on helminth parasites of zoonotic importance among the black rats of district Swat, Pakistan. Two hundred and sixty nine rats were captured from agricultural ecosystem of the district using live captured traps from 2011 to 2013. Captured rats were anesthetized and surveyed for the presence of ectoparasites, then were carefully dissected for investigation of endoparsites. Helminth parasites of 8 species were identified. Presence of parasite was noticed in 23.7% of sampled rats. The infection rates of sampled rats was given in order of their infectivity as Syphacia obvelata 13(4.83%), Aspiculuris tetraptera 13(4.83%), Heterakis spumosa 12 (4.46%), Hymenolepis spp. 9(3.34%), H.diminuta 8(2.97%), Hymenolepis fusa 4(1.48%), Lutziella microacetabularae 4(1.48%) and Lutziella spp. 1 (0.37%). No significant difference (P < 0.4289) was found in prevalence of parasites among areas, crops, crop stages and sex of the host while adult rats were found more infected than sub-adults. S. obvelata and A. tetraptera were the most common species of helminths while Lutziella sp., 1 (0.37%) was found only in one host. Rattus rattus (the black rat) was regarded as the host of helminth parasites of zoonotic importance, therefore the hidden health hazards of this rodent species needed to be considered to prevent infectivity of humans. Current study was concluded that Rattus rattus harbored a wide variety of helminth parasites which shows a hidden risk to inhabitants of the region. Monitoring rats’ population in settle areas and educating the local community about the risk of rat borne parasitic diseases transmission through rats appears to be absolutely essential.     

Age at sexual maturity of male and female banana weevils,Cosmopolites sordidus Germar (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

This study was to determine the age at sexual maturity and the relationships between age and internal reproductive organs of Cosmopolites sordidus. Male banana weevils become sexually mature 18 days after emergence (DAE), that is after 2 weeks of adult eclosion, in spite of the fact that spermatogenesis is completed at emergence. A positive correlation exists between age and male internal organs, for example for mean testis diameter (r = .849, p ≤ .001), mean seminal vesicle diameter (r = .679, p ≤ .001), mean accessory gland length (r = .561, p ≤ .01) and mean accessory gland diameter (r = .498, p ≤ .05), respectively. Significant differences were recorded between sexually mature and immature weevils with respect to mean testis diameter (T = 4.471, p ≤ .001) and mean seminal vesicle diameter (T = 3.939, p ≤ .001), but not with mean accessory gland length and mean accessory gland diameter (T = 1.899 and 1.661). Male internal organs were visibly underdeveloped at emergence but became significantly enlarged and developed on attainment of sexual maturity. Female C. sordidus, on the other hand, are sexually mature at 5 DAE. There was also a strong, positive correlation between age of females and mean ovariole length (r = .656, p ≤ .001), and significant differences existed between mean ovariole lengths of sexually mature and immature females (T = 4.306, p ≤ .001). Increasing age of females witnessed progressive increases in ovariole lengths and developmental changes within female ovarioles and calyces. The findings made here may be helpful in Musa germplasm screening works, as weevils bred on susceptible cultivars may reveal similar results, while those bred on resistant ones may experience possible delays in their reproductive developments.     

The impact of rainfall magnitude on the performance of digital soil mapping over low-relief areas using a land surface dynamic feedback method

Previous studies have demonstrated that the pattern of land surface dynamic feedbacks (LSDF) based on remote sensing images after a rainfall event can be used to derive environmental covariates to assist in predicting soil texture variation over low-relief areas. However, the impact of the rainfall magnitude on the performance of these covariates has not been thoroughly investigated. The objective of this study was to investigate this impact during ten observation periods following rainfall events of different magnitudes (0–40 mm). An individual predictive soil mapping method (iPSM) was used to predict soil texture over space based on the environmental covariates derived from land surface dynamic feedbacks. The prediction error showed strong negative correlation with rainfall magnitude (Pearson’s r between root-mean squared error of prediction and rainfall magnitude = −0.943 for percentage of sand and −0.883 for percentage of clay). When the rainfall reaches a certain magnitude, the prediction error becomes stable. The recommended rain magnitude (threshold) using LSDF method in this study area is larger than 20 mm for both sand and clay percentage. The predictive maps based on different observed periods with similar rainfall magnitudes show only slight differences. Rainfall magnitude can thus be said to have a significant impact on the prediction accuracy of soil texture mapping. Greater rainfall magnitude will improve the prediction accuracy when using the LSDF. And high wind speed, high evaporation and low relative humidity during the observed periods also improved the prediction accuracy, all by stimulating differential soil drying.     

Genetic diversity of natural populations of Larix principis-rupprechtii in Shanxi Province,China

Prince Rupprecht's Larch (Larix principis-rupprechtii Mayr.) is one of dominant components of middle and high elevation forests in North China. Shanxi Province is well known as “the Hometown of Prince Rupprecht's Larch” in China. In this study, six natural populations of this species across Shanxi were selected to investigate the genetic variation of the species using amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) markers. Results showed that in comparison with some other species of Larix, higher genetic diversity was revealed at the species level for L. principis-rupprechtii (percentage of polymorphic loci PPL = 71.9%, Nei's gene diversity H_E = 0.225, Shannon information index I = 0.341). Most of genetic variation existed within populations (80.5%), while the genetic differentiation among populations was significant (p < 0.001) and higher (G_st = 0.194) than most other species of Larix. The differentiation can be attributed to the limited gene flow (N_m = 1.035) among populations, which could be due to the spatial isolation and habitat fragmentation. The six populations can be divided into three groups based on the Nei's genetic distances between populations (from 0.033 to 0.076). There was no significant correlation (r = 0.268, p > 0.05) between genetic distance and geographic distance among populations. The measures for in-situ or ex-situ conservation should be taken to preserve the genetic diversity of this species.     

贵州核桃种质资源表型性状多样性研究

该研究以贵州省内的3个山脉(乌蒙山、苗岭山和武陵山)、19个核桃和泡核桃实生居群、245棵实生单株为研究材料,对坚果表型性状29个指标的多样性、相关性、聚类及变异进行分析,以揭示贵州核桃资源的表型遗传多样性水平,为贵州核桃资源的保存与利用及核心种质构建提供依据。结果显示：(1)核桃和泡核桃实生居群245份种质资源的18个表型质量性状Simpson指数为0.26～0.82,Shannon-Wiener指数为0.12～1.79;核桃小叶形状多样,易发生顶叶退化,坚果核壳表面特征、坚果形状及核仁皮色多样性丰富。(2)坚果表型变异系数为3.32%～47.67%,平均为21.28%且差异显著(P<0.05),居群间变异系数为9.42%～31.61%且差异显著(P<0.05);居群内和居群间变异均是核桃表型多样性的来源,但坚果性状在居群间差异显著性均高于居群内,说明居群间变异是该区域坚果表型变异的主要来源。(3)3个山脉区域核桃表型均有不同程度变异,其中,苗岭山核桃表型变异程度低,乌蒙山核桃表型变异程度高;UPGMA聚类结果显示,19个核桃实生居群依据贵州山脉区域划分为三类,表明贵州核...     

PCR‐RFLP markers detect 29 mitochondrial haplotypes in Pacific lamprey (Entosphenus tridentatus)

We developed five polymerase chain reaction‐based markers that detect variation in the mitochondrial genome of the Pacific lamprey, Entosphenus tridentatus, across most of its range. Two gene fragments (ND2 and ND5) were amplified and digested with three and two restriction enzymes, respectively, detecting sequence variation at 18 sites (ND2 = 13; ND5 = 5) and yielding 29 composite haplotypes among 1246 lampreys. These sequence‐based markers will be useful in a range of phylogeographical and population genetic studies.