Macromutations and Evolution: Fixation of Goldschmidt's Macromutations as Species and Genus Characters.* Papillomatosis and Appearance of Macrovilli in the Rodent Stomach

The cardiac portion of the stomach is lined with macrovilli in a few rodent genera. These are Mystromys (Cricetinae, Cricetidae), Myospalax (Myospalacinae, Cricetidae), Tachyoryctes (Tachyoryctinae, Cricetidae), and Cryptomys(Bathyergidae). The macrovilli favor the development of symbiotic flora and are called symbiovilli. Growth of the corneal epithelium of the cardiac portion of the stomach serves as a morphological basis of symbiovilli. Cases of a hereditary malignant neoplasm giving rise to the formation of multiple macrovilli in the cardiac portion of the stomach have been found in Microtus abbreviatus (Microtinae, Cricetidae), a vole endemic to St. Matthew Island in the Bering Sea. The macrovilli resulting from the papillomatosis mutation are morphologically and histologically identical to the macrovilli of the stomach of the four aforementioned genera. The voles affected with papillomatosis still survive long enough to reproduce. Therefore, the macromutation that leads to death in adult and old voles has been fixed as a species character in some rodent genera. At the early stages of papillomatosis, the pathogenic morphogenesis creates favorable conditions for the development of symbiotic microflora, which gives a selective advantage to the affected animals. It is assumed that mutations with pathogenic effects have been fixed as a species character as a result of heterochrony. The pathogenic neoplasm serves as a preadaptation for the growth of symbiotic flora in the stomach. The mechanisms of the fixation of Goldschmidt's systemic mutations during phylogeny are discussed.     

Analysis of ectoparasites (chigger mites,gamasid mites,fleas and sucking lice) of the Yunnan red‐backed vole (Eothenomys miletus) sampled throughout its range in southwest China

The Yunnan red‐backed vole Eothenomys miletus (Rodentia: Cricetidae) is an endemic rodent species and reservoir host of zoonoses in southwest China. Based on a large host sample (2463 voles collected from 39 localities between 2001 and 2013), a general analysis of four categories of ectoparasite (fleas, sucking lice, chigger mites and gamasid mites) on E. miletus across its entire range of distribution was made. This analysis identified a total of 71 895 ectoparasites belonging to 320 species (30 species of flea, 9 of sucking louse, 106 of gamasid mite and 175 of chigger mite) with a high prevalence (87%), mean abundance (29.19) and mean intensity (33.69). Of the 18 vector species of zoonoses found on E. miletus, the flea Ctenophthalmus quadratus (Siphonaptera: Hystrichopsyllidae) and chigger mite Leptotrombidium scutellare (Trombidiformes: Trombiculidae) were the dominant species; these are the main vectors of zoonoses in China. All of the dominant parasite species showed an aggregated distribution pattern. Male voles harboured more species of parasite than females. Chigger mites represented the most abundant species group on voles and their prevalence was positively correlated with mean abundance (r = 0.73; P < 0.05). As a single rodent species, E. miletus has a high potential to harbour abundant ectoparasites with high species diversity and high rates of infestation. The sex of the vole affects ectoparasite infestation.     

Bacterial diversity in the gastrointestinal tracts of Rhinolophus luctus and Murina leucogaster in Henan Province,China

Previous studies have assessed the diversity of gastrointestinal bacteria in bats and reported that some of the strains are pathogenic to humans; therefore, bats are considered to be potential reservoirs of zoonotic pathogens. However, the bacterial diversity and types of pathogenic bacteria in the gastrointestinal tracts of Rhinolophus luctus and Murina leucogaster have not yet been determined. Humans frequently come into contact with these species; therefore, assessments of their gut microbiota, especially potential pathogens, are essential for public health. In the present study, MiSeq high-throughput sequencing was used to address this research gap, and the results were compared with those reported previously. The V3–V4 regions of the 16S rRNA gene were sequenced using the MiSeq high-throughput sequencing platform to determine the bacterial community of the stomach and the intestines of R. luctus and M. leucogaster. The bacteria in the gastrointestinal tracts of R. luctus and M. leucogaster were classified into three and four main bacterial phyla, respectively. In both R. luctus and M. leucogaster, the dominant phylum was Proteobacteria (stomach 86.07% and 95.79%, intestines 91.87% and 88.78%, respectively), followed by Firmicutes (stomach 13.84% and 4.19%, intestines 8.11% and 11.20%, respectively). In total, 18 and 20 bacterial genera occurred in a relative abundance of 0.01% or more in the gastrointestinal tracts of R. luctus and M. leucogaster, respectively. In R. luctus, the dominant genera were Lactococcus (10.11%) and Paeniclostridium (3.41%) in the stomach, and Undibacterium (28.56%) and Paeniclostridium (4.69%) in the intestines. In M. leucogaster, the dominant genera were Undibacterium (54.41%) and Burkholderia (5.28%) in the stomach, and Undibacterium (29.67%) and Enterococcus (7.19%) in the intestines. Among the detected gastrointestinal tract flora of R. luctus and M. leucogaster, 12 bacterial genera were pathogenic or opportunistic pathogens. A high number of human pathogens were detected in the gastrointestinal tracts of R. luctus and M. leucogaster, which demonstrates the urgency for increased efforts in the prevention and management of bat-to-human disease transmission from these species.     

中国38个地区兰科植物区系成分的比较分析

通过对中国38个地区共147属,984种兰科植物的区系成分的统计,分析了各地区兰科植物的属种热带成分/温带成分(R/T)值随纬度的变化趋势;并利用SPSS 20.0软件对各地区兰科植物的区系成分进行聚类分析。结果表明:(1)38个地区147属兰科植物可划分为11种分布区类型和9种变型,984种兰科植物可划分为12种分布区类型和6种变型。(2)属级水平上R/T值随纬度的升高总体呈下降趋势,38个地区中23个地区为热带性质,13个地区为温带性质,峨眉山和金佛山的热带性质和温带性质相等;种级水平上除俄贤岭的特殊岛屿石灰岩环境造成极强的热带性质外,其他地区的R/T值随纬度的升高而降低,表现出明显的纬向地带性特点。(3)38个地区兰科植物属种级区系类型存在分异现象,即147属兰科植物以热带亚洲分布(24.71%)、北温带分布(19.14%)和热带亚洲至热带大洋洲分布(15.32%)为主,而984种兰科植物除热带亚洲分布(30.28%)外,则以中国特有分布(26.89%)和中国-日本分布(12.85%)为主。(4)属种级聚类结果显示,种级水平的聚类分析比属级水平的聚类更能体现出纬度相近其区系成分也相近的特点。     

竹叶兰根系共生真菌群落结构及生物学功能初探

为研究竹叶兰Arundina graminifolia根系共生真菌的群落结构及对寄主的营养作用,采用高通量测序技术对野生竹叶兰根围土壤、根表、根内3个生态位真菌的种类及生物学功能进行鉴定与预测。所测竹叶兰根系共生真菌的平均辛普森指数为根围0.972、根 表0.905、根内0.703,说明3个位点都具有丰富的共生真菌;根围土壤真菌香农指数7.393显著高于根表和根内香农指数4.728和2.872,根表真菌多样性显著高于根内（P<0.05）。根表、根内有子囊菌门、担子菌门、罗兹壶菌门、壶菌门、毛霉菌门和被孢霉门,较根围土壤缺少球囊菌门和梳霉菌门;分子方差分析（AMOVA）证实3个生态位的真菌群落结构差异极显著（P=0.004）。各生态位丰度最高的20个真菌仅属于子囊菌和担子菌的40个属,其中子囊菌有30个属,种类数量占优势,而担子菌的单个种类丰度高于子囊菌。根围土壤腐生型真菌占优势（44.07%）;根表主要有腐生、病原、共生型真菌;根内真菌营养类型差异大,样品M1的共生型真菌为优势类型（97.21%）,M2、M3以腐生型占优（90.96%）。优势共生型真菌有革菌属Threlephora、根须腹菌属Rhizopogon和Dentiscutata,腐生型真菌主要有长毛孔菌属Funalia和Vuilleminia,均为担子菌。研究结果为揭示竹叶兰与根系真菌的营养关系以及共生真菌的开发提供了依据。     

江西宜黄中华秋沙鸭省级自然保护区种子植物区系分析

通过样线法对江西宜黄中华秋沙鸭省级自然保护区进行植物区系调查。结果表明：(1) 该保护区共有野生种子植物119科428属776种,以禾本科、蔷薇科、菊科等为优势科,以蓼属和悬钩子属为优势属;(2) 单种科属和寡种科属的比例较高,表明该区植物区系分化较明显;(3) 种子植物科可以分成8个分布型7个变型,科的区系热/温比为2.43,表现出区系的隐域性及与热带植物区系联系密切;(4) 种子植物属可以分成14个正型15个变型,属的区系热/温比为1.05,区系性质表现为热带向温带过渡。     

The Study on the Flora of the Tiantangzhai Mountains of the Dabie Mountains,Anhui Province

It is now known that there are 1108 species (including varieties) of vascular plants, in the Tiantangzhai Mountainous region, which belong to 565 genera and 152 families. The Dabieshan Mountains first took shape in the Sinian Period. The origin of the flora of the Dabie Mountains is very ancient, and the flora originated principally from the Tertiary ancient tropical flora. There are many ancient families and genera as well as many relic species. There are all told 81 monotypic and oligotypic genera which are genetically ancient or primitive in the Tiantangzhai Mountainous Region The flora of the Dabieshan Mountains comprises a portion of the flora of East China. In this paper, author has drawn a clear line of demarcation between East China and Central China, from Yichang to Xiangfan in Hubei Province; and a dividing line between East China and North China, through the Tongbaishan Mountains from the Southern foot of the Funiushan Mountains to Huai river.     

秦岭锐齿栎群落种类组成与区系分析

在秦岭林区的锐齿栎群落中出现的维管束植物有82科227属495种,其中乔木123种,灌木100种,草本240种,层间植物32种;非维管束植物有15科19属19种,其中苔藓植物9科13属13种,蕨类植物6科6属6种。群落中偶见种或稀有种的频度出现的百分比高,体现了群落在生境上的差异性,也说明了该群落是一个种类比较丰富、均匀的群落。其区系种类复杂、繁多。地理联系广泛,来源于多种地理成分,其中温带成分占优势,共有115属,占总属数的53．99％;而北温带成分又在其中占明显优势,共有92属,占总属数的43．19％,这些北温带成分大多是该群落各层次中的常遇植物,也是主要的建群植物和主要的伴生植物,体现了锐齿栎群落植物区系的温带亲缘性;各热带成分占有相当的比例,说明了该植物区系与热带植物区系的渊源关系及与其地理位置、气候特征相适应的过渡性特征。     

泗洱自然保护区种子植物区系特征分析

在对泗洱自然保护区详细调查的基础上,对其种子植物的科、属的分布区类型进行了统计分析。结果表明：(1)保护区内种子植物类群丰富;(2)优势科、属明显;(3)区系起源古老;(4)地理成分复杂;(5)种子植物区系在科和属级水平上均显示出温带性质,同时泛热带类型丰富;(6)保护区内植被具明显的过渡性质;(7)分化现象明显,中间类型和特有种丰富。     

千佛山自然保护区种子植物区系特征研究

在对千佛山自然保护区详细调查的基础上,对其种子植物的科、属分布区类型进行了统计分析。结果表明:(1)保护区内种子植物丰富,共153科767属2494种;(2)优势科、属明显;(3)区系起源古老;(4)种子植物地理成分复杂,吴征镒划分的中国种子植物属的15大分布类型在千佛山均有分布;(5)种子植物区系在科和属级水平上均显示出温带性质,温带分布属475属,占总属数的61.9%;(6)特有属、种丰富。     

丹霞山风景地貌的植物区系研究

描述了丹霞山植物区系的特征,对其科、属、种进行系统分析,并与邻近地区植物区系作了对比研究,探讨了丹霞地貌对本区植物区系组成成分的影响。丹霞山植物区系体现了华夏植物区系的特征,其表征科有不少同时也是华夏区系的表征科。从属的地理分布区类型来看,以泛热带分布局的比例最高,其次为热带亚洲分布属、东亚分布局及北温带分布属。丹霞山植物区系相对其纬度来说热带性较强,这与其特定的地貌特征有关。另外,本区的苦藓植物较为丰富,据初步统计共有27科70属,其中石生性苔藓分布尤其广泛。     

宜昌大老岭种子植物区系研究

大老岭有野生种子植物１２２科４３５属８５６种。对本区科、属和种进行了统计与分析,结果表明,该地区的植物区系性质明显是温带性,且以北温带成分为主,地理成分复杂,仅属就有１３个分布区类型和１７个变型,地理联系广泛,具有古老性强和特有现象不很突出的特点。     

Gastrointestinal microecology of BALB/c nude mice.

The aerobic, facultative, and anaerobic microorganisms cultivable from the stomachs, ilea, ceca, and colons of BALB/c athymic (nu/nu) mice (normal and wasting), thymus-implanted normal nude mice, and their heterozygous (nu/+) littermates were investigated. Ninety-one species representing 23 genera of bacteria and yeasts were isolated from the 27 mice. The wasting nude mice showed significantly lower numbers of lactobacilli in their stomach microbiota than did mice from the other three groups. The littermate animals appeared unique among the four groups in having corynebacteria as a major constituent of their stomach and ileal flora. The normal nude mice appeared to have a more diverse anaerobic stomach flora than their heterozygous littermates. These minor differences are discussed with respect to possible immunological, physiological, and environmental factors as their cause. Because the gastrointestinal microfloras of the mice from the four groups were not radically divergent from each other, it was concluded that loss of T-cell function does not dramatically alter the makeup of the cultivable gastrointestinal microflora in these mice.     

滇川干暖河谷种子植物区系成分研究

本文论及滇川干暖河谷种子植物区系成分由科级到种级的研究结果。所统计分析的植物共６９２个种,分属于３３６个属,１１１个科。科级区系成分中,明显以亚热带科为主,暖温带科次之,热带科很少。属级区系成分中,热带属多于温带属,有１４个特有属。热带科属偏多说明本河谷历史上有过以热带区系为主体时期和近代区系发源于热带。种级区系成分中,有中国特有种４２１种,占６１．９０％,其次是温带种多于热带种。干暖河谷的植物区系标志种有１５８种,分三个等级,一级为本河谷特有种,有１８种,二级１０３种,三级３７种。干暖河谷的特有区系成分和各级植物区系标志种均较好地反映本河谷区系演化的近代趋势及其独特性。     

安徽皇藏峪自然保护区的植物区系和森林植被

皇藏峪有野生种子植物９０科、３２８属、５６３种。属的地理成分复杂,但以温带成分占明显优势,反映了该区植物区系的温带属性。其科、属均以极小和小为主,说明了区系成分的多样性。植物分布呈现南北植物的交汇渗透,具有显著的过渡性。根据对２４个样地的分析,将该区的森林植被划分为１个植被型,７个群系。并对各个群系的主要群落学特征进行了描述。     

西双版纳植物区系的特点与亲缘

西双版纳植物区系经初步资料整理统计有种子植物 3336种 ,隶属于 1 1 4 0个属 ,大约 1 97个科。植物区系成分构成是热带分布的科和属分别占总科和属数的 60 .1 %和 83.5% ,在热带分布属中 ,又以热带亚洲成分占优势 (占 32 .8% )。通过植物区系组成和地理成分分析 ,认为该植物区系是热带性质的 ,属于热带亚洲区系的一部分 ,并带有明显热带边缘性质和几种地理成分交汇的特点。西双版纳植物区系与广西热带植物区系和海南热带植物区系在发生上同源 ,主要来自于古南大陆与古北大陆区系成分的融合 ,在发展上受热带亚洲植物区系的渗透和强烈影响。     

金佛山自然保护区蕨类植物资源与区系初步研究

金佛山自然保护区共计有野生蕨类植物46科107属458种(含亚种和变种)。在科的区系成分中单种科14个,少型科(2~5种)16个,多种科(包含6~19种)12个,大科(20~49种)1个,特大科(50种以上)3个,分别占金佛山蕨类植物总科数的30.43%、34.78%、26.09%、2.17%和6.53%;其中热带分布占总科数的54.35%;在属的区系成分中,具12个分布区类型,单种属和少种属数量多;热带成分丰富,包含55属,占总属数的51.40%;特有现象明显,地方特有种十分丰富;属的区系与武陵山和大巴山关系最为密切,与九华山、化龙山、齐云山和云山关系疏远;东亚分布、世界广布、热带亚洲至热带非洲间断分布及北温带分布型对该区系性质的影响最大,热带亚洲分布型和东亚北美间断分布型的影响最小;该区系具有古老、孑遗和原始性等特点,验证了金佛山地区处于我国三大特有现象中心之一的鄂西—川东特有现象中心的观点。     

Molecular identification of temperate Cricetidae and Muridae rodent species using fecal samples collected in a natural habitat

Molecular species identification from biological material collected at field sites has become an established ecological tool. However, extracting and amplifying DNA from degraded field samples, such as prey remains and feces that have been exposed to the elements, remains a challenge and costly. We collected 115 fecal samples of unknown small mammals, resembling fecal droppings of voles and mice (i.e., Cricetidae and Muridae), from a salt marsh in The Netherlands. We modified a previously published protocol into a relatively low-cost method with a PCR success of 95%. We demonstrate that species identification is possible for both Cricetidae and Muridae species using fecal samples of unknown age deposited in the field. For 90 samples, sequences of the variable control region in the mitochondrial genome were obtained and compared to published DNA sequences of small mammals occurring in north European salt marshes. A single sample, probably environmentally contaminated, appeared as Sus scrofa (n?=?1). We positively identified house mouse Mus musculus, being the positive control (n?=?1), and common vole Microtus arvalis (n?=?88). In 81 sequences of 251 nt without ambiguous bases, ten haplotypes were present. These haplotypes, representing the central lineage of the western subspecies M. arvalis arvalis, were separated by 20 mutations from published control region haplotypes of the western European lineages sampled in France. Unlike earlier studies of cytochrome b variation in coastal European populations, we did not find indications of recent purging of genetic variation in our study area.     

Hemicellulose-degrading bacteria and yeasts from the termite gut

Termites play a major role in the recycling of photosynthetically fixed carbon. With the aid of their symbiotic intestinal flora, they are able to degrade extensively wood constituents such as cellulose and hemicellulose. Nevertheless, the microbial species involved in the degradation of hemicelluloses are poorly defined. The purpose of this paper was to examine the microflora involved in hemicellulose degradation. Different aerobic and facultatively anaerobic bacteria and yeasts were isolated using xylan, arabinogalactan and carboxymethylcellulose as substrates. Gram-positive isolates belonged to the genera Bacillus, Paenibacillus, Streptomyces or the actinobacteria group, while the Gramnegative strains were assigned to the genera Pseudomonas, Acinetobacter, Ochrobactrum , and to genera belonging to the family Enterobacteriaceae. The spectrum and activity of xylan- and arabinogalactan-hydrolysing glycosidases of these new isolates, together with additional bacterial strains originally obtained from enrichments with aromatic compounds were determined.     

The intestinal flora: the scales without the sword

The intestine is colonised by a vast population of resident bacteria which have established mutualistic relationships with their host throughout evolution, progressing from commensalism to symbiotic interactions. Intestinal bacteria benefit from resources available in their host, but reciprocally provide advantages to their host, by supplying enzymatic activities not encoded in the host genome, by promoting maturation of the intestine and of the gut associated immune system as well as by modifying the host metabolism. The commensal bacteria, although deprived of pathogenic attributes, might however become a danger for the host in case of translocation, acquisition of pathogenic features or via the inappropriate activation of intestinal inflammation. Remarkably, the commensal flora promotes the onset of innate and adaptive immune defences which, in turn, allow to set up a subtle balance between the host and the flora that promotes the symbiosis.