分子系统发育分析揭示中国云南省间座壳属两个新种

间座壳属真菌在多种经济上重要的农作物、观赏植物和森林树木上常作为植物病原菌、内生菌或腐生菌被人熟知.本研究调查我国云南省患病植物叶片上的间座壳属真菌,通过核糖体内部转录间隔区、β微管蛋白基因、翻译延伸因子基因、钙调蛋白基因和组蛋白基因的DNA序列数据比较和形态学特征描述了 2个新种.它们是分别采集自密花胡颓子和荔枝患病...     

Proteomic and metabolomic analysis reveals rapid and extensive nicotine detoxification ability in honey bee larvae

Despite potential links between pesticides and bee declines, toxicology information on honey bee larvae (Apis mellifera) is scarce and detoxification mechanisms in this development stage are virtually unknown. Larvae are exposed to natural and synthetic toxins present in pollen and nectar through consumption of brood food. Due to the characteristic intensive brood care displayed by honey bees, which includes progressive feeding throughout larval development, it is generally assumed that larvae rely on adults to detoxify for them and exhibit a diminished detoxification ability. We found the opposite. We examined the proteomic and metabolomic responses of in vitro reared larvae fed nicotine (an alkaloid found in nectar and pollen) to understand how larvae cope on a metabolic level with dietary toxins. Larvae were able to effectively detoxify nicotine through an inducible detoxification mechanism. A coordinated stress response complemented the detoxification processes, and we detected significant enrichment of proteins functioning in energy and carbohydrate metabolism, as well as in development pathways, suggesting that nicotine may promote larval growth. Further exploration of the metabolic fate of nicotine using targeted mass spectrometry analysis demonstrated that, as in adult bees, formation of 4-hydroxy-4-(3-pyridyl) butanoic acid, the result of 2′C-oxidation of nicotine, is quantitatively the most significant pathway of nicotine metabolism. We provide conclusive evidence that larvae are capable of effectively catabolising a dietary toxin, suggesting that increased larval sensitivity to specific toxins is not due to diminished detoxification abilities. These findings broaden the current understanding of detoxification biochemistry at different organizational levels in the colony, bringing us closer to understanding the capacity of the colony as a superorganism to tolerate and resist toxic compounds, including pesticides, in the environment.     

The status and causes of alien species invasion in China

Data of classification, origin, pathway and environmental impacts of invasive alien micro-organisms, invertebrates, amphibians and reptiles, fish, birds, mammals, weeds, trees, and marine organisms in terrestrial, aquatic and marine ecosystems of China, were analyzed, based on literature retrieval, field survey and consultation. Some 283 invasive alien species were recorded in China, including 19 invasive alien micro-organisms, 18 aquatic plants, 170 terrestrial plants, 25 aquatic invertebrates, 33 terrestrial invertebrates, 3 amphibians and reptiles, 10 fish, and 5 mammals. Of the invasive alien species, 55.1% originated from North and South America, 21.7% from Europe, 9.9% from Asia, 8.1% from Africa and 0.6% from Oceania. Many institutions and individuals in China lack adequate knowledge of ecological and environmental consequences caused by invasive alien species, with some ignorance of the dangerous invasion in the introduction of alien species. For instance, 50.0% of invasive alien plants were intentionally introduced as pasture, feedingstuff, ornamental plants, textile plants, medicinal plants, vegetables, or lawn plants, 25% of alien invasive animals were intentionally introduced for cultivation, ornament, or biological control, In addition, more efforts are being made in the introduction of alien species, and little attention is paid on the management of introduced alien species, which may cause their escape into natural environment and potential threats to the environment. There were also gaps in quarantine system in China. All microorganisms were unintentionally introduced, through timber, seedling, flowerpot, or soil; 76.3% of alien invasive animals invaded through commodity or transportation facility because of the failure of quarantine. Therefore, quarantine measures should be strictly implemented; and meanwhile the intentional introduction of alien species should be strictly managed and a system of risk assessment should be implemented.     

Histological data in a combined phylogenetic analysis of scleractinian reef corals

Scleractinian systematics have undergone rapid changes due to increased use of molecular phylogenetics and new perspectives on skeletal morphology from micromorphology and microstructure. Despite this increase in characters there are still unresolved clades in the phylogeny, indicating that more characters are needed. This study investigates a new source of morphological data within the soft tissue of Indo‐Pacific scleractinian corals. Features of tissue layers, especially cnidocytes, are described in hematoxylin and eosin stained thin sections. Based on this new histological data source, a combined analysis with mitochondrial DNA and skeletal data is performed using parsimony and Bayesian analysis. Parsimony analysis yields three most‐parsimonious trees similar to trees based on Bayesian analysis. Character maps are also produced that show origination of histomorphological traits at deep nodes within the phylogeny. In general, both analyses retain the previously designated families Lobophylliidae and Merulinidae, but some genera are found to be paraphyletic. Nonetheless, the combined analysis produces a highly resolved and well‐supported phylogeny, which could lead to more effective use of biological conservation metrics based on evolutionary distinctiveness. These results show for the first time that inclusion of histomorphological characters improves the resolution of phylogenetic analyses of reef corals. J. Morphol. 277:494–511, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Q型烟粉虱在中国的入侵生态过程及机制

外来种的入侵生态过程及机制是入侵生物学重要的研究内容, 相关领域的案例分析对入侵生物学学科构建具有重要的理论意义, 对于入侵生物的防控具有重要的实践价值。但迄今中国对外来种的入侵生态过程及机制案例分析较少。而近10年来中国学者对重大入侵昆虫Q型烟粉虱Bemisia tabaci的研究为这方面的分析提供了可能。基于上述因素, 本文以Q型烟粉虱为例, 追溯了Q型烟粉虱成功入侵中国的生态过程, 总结了该昆虫成功入侵的生态过程特征, 从种群遗传结构、 生态因子及人类活动等方面解析了该虫成功入侵的机制, 展望了Q型烟粉虱入侵生物学未来的研究方向。我们认为, Q型在中国的入侵生态过程具有传入隐蔽、 扩散快速、 危害严重等特点; Q型烟粉虱成功入侵中国涉及Q型烟粉虱种群遗传学基础、 生态因子及人类活动等多种因素, 其中杀虫剂在中国的大量使用对Q型取代B型的驱动作用可能是Q型烟粉虱在中国成功入侵的重要因素。     

The joint influence of environmental and anthropogenic factors on the invasion of two alien caulerpae in northwestern Mediterranean

Biological Invasions - Many factors are known to influence the invasion of alien species depending on the spatial scales considered. Caulerpa taxifolia and Caulerpa cylindracea are two green...     

An immunological analysis of the phylogenetic relationships between two enigmatic frogs, Myobatrachus and Arenophryne

The monotypic Australian frog genera Myobatrachus and Arenophryne occur in Western Australia. Myobatrachus has a bizarre appearance with a small, narrow head and extremely short limbs—features which may represent adaptations to its forward burrowing habit and dietary specialization on termites. Because of its unusual morphology, Myobatrachus has been interpreted as a representative of an old lineage dating back to the early Tertiary or late Mesozoic era. Phylogenetic analysis of albumin evolution in these two genera, as well as five additional purportedly related frog genera, demonstrates that Myobatrachus and Arenophryne are one another's closest genetic relatives and these lineages most likely diverged in the Miocene. The genera Metacrinia and Pseudophryne are most closely related to the lineage giving rise to Myobatrachus and Arenophryne , with these two major lineages diverging in the early Miocene.     

SHAPE analysis of long-range interactions reveals extensive and thermodynamically preferred misfolding in a fragile group I intron RNA

Most functional RNAs require proteins to facilitate formation of their active structures. In the case of the yeast bI3 group I intron, splicing requires binding by two proteins, the intron-encoded bI3 maturase and the nuclear encoded Mrs1. Here, we use selective 2'-hydroxyl acylation analyzed by primer extension (SHAPE) chemistry coupled with analysis of point mutants to map long-range interactions in this RNA. This analysis reveals two critical features of the free RNA state. First, the catalytic intron is separated from the flanking exons via a stable anchoring helix. This anchoring helix creates an autonomous structural domain for the intron and functions to prevent misfolding with the flanking exons. Second, the thermodynamically most stable structure for the free RNA is not consistent with the catalytically active conformation as phylogenetically conserved elements form stable, non-native structures. These results highlight a fragile bI3 RNA for which binding by protein cofactors functions to promote extensive secondary structure rearrangements that are an obligatory prerequisite for forming the catalytically active tertiary structure.     

The need for sustainable leadership in academia: A survey of German researchers reveals a widespread lack of training for leadership skills

A survey of academics in Germany shows a lack of and a great demand for training in leadership skills. Subject Categories: Careers, Science Policy & Publishing

Success and productivity in science is measured largely by the number of publications in scientific journals and the acquisition of third‐party funding to finance further research (Detsky, 2011). Consequently, as young researchers advance in their careers, they become highly trained in directly related skills, such as scientific writing, so as to increase their chances in securing publications and grants. Acquiring leadership skills, however, is often neglected as these do not contribute to the evaluation of scientific success (Detsky, 2011). Therefore, an early‐career researcher may become leader of a research group based on publication record and solicitation of third‐party funding, but without any training of leadership or team management skills (Lashuel, 2020). Leadership, in the context of academic research, requires a unique list of competencies, knowledge and skills in addition to “traditional” leadership skills (Anthony & Antony, 2017), such as managing change, adaptability, empathy, motivating individuals, and setting direction and vision among others. Academic leadership also requires promoting the research group’s reputation, networking, protecting staff autonomy, promoting academic credibility, and managing complexity (Anthony & Antony, 2017).     

Pathways of cryptic invasion in a fish parasite traced using coalescent analysis and epidemiological survey

Introduced species have the potential to outperform natives via the introduction of new parasites to which the native ecosystem is vulnerable. Cryptic diversity within an invasive species can obscure invasion patterns and confound proper management measures. The aim of this study is to use coalescent theory based methodology to trace recent routes of invasion in populations of Ligula intestinalis, a globally distributed fish parasite possessing both native and recently introduced populations in North Africa. Molecular analyses of mitochondrial DNA discerned a pronounced genetic divergence between introduced and native populations. Distribution of mitochondrial haplotypes demonstrated common origin of European populations with North African parasites sampled from introduced fish species in Tunisia. To test the suggested pathway of introduction, microsatellite data were examined in a model-based coalescent analysis using the software MIGRATE, where Europe to Tunisia direction of migration was favoured over alternative hypotheses of gene flow. Specificity of Tunisian populations to different host species was assessed in an epidemiologic survey confirming prevailing host-based division between introduced and native parasites in North Africa. This approach combining advanced analysis of molecular markers with host-specificity data allows revealing the evolution of host-parasite interactions following biological invasion and provides basis for devising future management measurements.     

Comparative analysis of complete orthologous centromeres from two subspecies of rice reveals rapid variation of centromere organization and structure

Centromeres are sites for assembly of the chromosomal structures that mediate faithful segregation at mitosis and meiosis. This function is conserved across species, but the DNA components that are involved in kinetochore formation differ greatly, even between closely related species. To shed light on the nature, evolutionary timing and evolutionary dynamics of rice centromeres, we decoded a 2.25‐Mb DNA sequence covering the centromeric region of chromosome 8 of an indica rice variety, ‘Kasalath’ (Kas‐Cen8). Analysis of repetitive sequences in Kas‐Cen8 led to the identification of 222 long terminal repeat (LTR)‐retrotransposon elements and 584 CentO satellite monomers, which account for 59.2% of the region. A comparison of the Kas‐Cen8 sequence with that of japonica rice ‘Nipponbare’ (Nip‐Cen8) revealed that about 66.8% of the Kas‐Cen8 sequence was collinear with that of Nip‐Cen8. Although the 27 putative genes are conserved between the two subspecies, only 55.4% of the total LTR‐retrotransposon elements in ‘Kasalath’ had orthologs in ‘Nipponbare’, thus reflecting recent proliferation of a considerable number of LTR‐retrotransposons since the divergence of two rice subspecies of indica and japonica within Oryza sativa. Comparative analysis of the subfamilies, time of insertion, and organization patterns of inserted LTR‐retrotransposons between the two Cen8 regions revealed variations between ‘Kasalath’ and ‘Nipponbare’ in the preferential accumulation of CRR elements, and the expansion of CentO satellite repeats within the core domain of Cen8. Together, the results provide insights into the recent proliferation of LTR‐retrotransposons, and the rapid expansion of CentO satellite repeats, underlying the dynamic variation and plasticity of plant centromeres.     

Daphnia invasion: population dynamics of Daphnia assemblages in two eutrophic lakes with particular reference to the introduced alien Daphnia ambigua

The population dynamics of Daphnia species (D.cucullata, D.ambigua,D.galeata) in two small, productive lakes were studied and experimentswith field enclosures were carried out to elucidate the ecologicalniches of the introduced, alien species D.ambigua. Daphnia ambiguocoexisted temporally with the similarly sized D.cucullata, butlived in deeper water. Although both species had the same clutchsizes, similar proportions of ovigerous females, and death rates.D.cucullata was nurnerically dominant over D.ambigua. This suggeststhat the observed difference in abundance is simply a resultof the slower population growth rates of D.ambigua at lowertemperatures in greater depths. The experiments with field enclosuresshowed that when D.culcullata and D.ambigua were forced to livein the same layer of water, D.ambigua was numerically dominantover D.culullata both in the enclosures with and without fish.As the difference between the abundances of the two speciesdecreased in the enclosure with fish, D.cucullata seems to bebetter protected against fish predation than D.ambigua. In theenclosures without fish, D.ambigua and D.cucullata were numericallysurpassed by the larger species D.galeara. The present resultsimply that in some productive lakes with a high fish stock,D.mbigua invaded the niche of D.galeara and that the speciescan become an important component of the native zooplankton.The results also support the opinion that co-existing Daphniacan have very similar dynamics and niches. ¹ Present address: Zoologisches Institut, Christian-Albrechts-UniversitätKiel, Olshausenstrasse 40, D-24098 Kiel, FRG     

近年来中国热带地区外来有害昆虫的种类特征及入侵分析

我国热带地区是外来入侵物种发生与危害的重灾区,近年来外来有害昆虫入侵所引发的生物灾害及生态安全问题日趋严峻。在海南省、广东省、广西壮族自治区、云南省、福建省外来入侵昆虫的调查结果及文献资料的基础上,整理分析了中国热带地区外来入侵昆虫的种类构成、分布、原产地及首次发现地。据统计,2000-2014年我国热带地区的外来入侵昆虫种类共计23种,隶属于6目11科,数量最多的为半翅目(13种,56.52%),其中以粉蚧科和粉虱科居多;热带地区的外来入侵昆虫在不同地区之间的物种数量差异较大,其中海南省最多(19种,82.61%),其后依次为广东省(16种,69.57%)、云南省(14种,60.87%)、广西壮族自治区(12种,52.17%),而福建省最少(9种,占39.13%);在入侵我国热带地区的外来有害昆虫中,原产于亚洲、北美洲的种类最多均为6种,占26.09%,南美洲占21.74%,而从非洲、大洋洲、欧洲传入的分别占8.70%、4.35%、4.35%;外来入侵昆虫的首次发现地位于广东省的有9种,占39.13%,出现在海南省和云南省的各占30.43%、21.74%,出现在广西壮族自治区的为8.70%。阐明我国热带地区外来有害昆虫的种类特征及入侵现状,可为该地区外来入侵昆虫的监测与防控提供一定的依据。     

Death by sex in an Australian icon: a continent‐wide survey reveals extensive hybridization between dingoes and domestic dogs

Hybridization between domesticated animals and their wild counterparts can disrupt adaptive gene combinations, reduce genetic diversity, extinguish wild populations and change ecosystem function. The dingo is a free‐ranging dog that is an iconic apex predator and distributed throughout most of mainland Australia. Dingoes readily hybridize with domestic dogs, and in many Australian jurisdictions, distinct management strategies are dictated by hybrid status. Yet, the magnitude and spatial extent of domestic dog–dingo hybridization is poorly characterized. To address this, we performed a continent‐wide analysis of hybridization throughout Australia based on 24 locus microsatellite DNA genotypes from 3637 free‐ranging dogs. Although 46% of all free‐ranging dogs were classified as pure dingoes, all regions exhibited some hybridization, and the magnitude varied substantially. The southeast of Australia was highly admixed, with 99% of animals being hybrids or feral domestic dogs, whereas only 13% of the animals from remote central Australia were hybrids. Almost all free‐ranging dogs had some dingo ancestry, indicating that domestic dogs could have poor survivorship in nonurban Australian environments. Overall, wild pure dingoes remain the dominant predator over most of Australia, but the speed and extent to which hybridization has occurred in the approximately 220 years since the first introduction of domestic dogs indicate that the process may soon threaten the persistence of pure dingoes.     

Genetic diversity and phylogenetic analysis of native mountain ponies of Britain and Ireland reveals a novel rare population

The conservation of unique populations of animals is critical in order to preserve valuable genetic diversity and, where populations are free‐living, maintain their irreplaceable influence upon habitat ecology. An accurate assessment of genetic diversity and structure within and between populations is crucial in order to design and implement conservation strategies in natural and domesticated species. Moreover, where it is possible to identify relic populations that are related to a structured breed an ideal opportunity presents itself to model processes that reveal historical factors that have shaped genetic diversity. The origins of native UK mountain and moorland ponies are uncertain, but they may have directly descended from prehistoric populations and potentially harbour specific adaptations to the uplands of Britain and Ireland. To date, there have been no studies of population structure and genetic diversity present within a free‐living group of ponies in the Carneddau mountain range of North Wales. Herein, we describe the use of microsatellites and SNPs together with analysis of the mitochondrial control region to quantify the extent and magnitude of genetic diversity present in the feral Carneddau pony and relate this to several recognised British and Irish pony breeds. Our results establish that the feral Carneddau ponies represent a unique and distinctive population that merits recognition as a defined population and conservation priority. We discuss the implications for conservation of this population as a unique pool of genetic diversity adapted to the British uplands and potentially of particular value in maintaining the biodiversity of these habitats.