Carbon, nitrogen and caloric content of eggs, larvae, and juveniles of the walleye pollock, Theragra chalcogramma

Measurements of dry weight (wt), carbon (C), nitrogen (N) and calories were made on walleye pollock eggs (0.24 mg, 35.3% C, 8.3% N, and 4.6 kcal g⁻¹ dry wt), larvae (0.16 g, 42.9% C, 11.1% N and 5.1 kcal g⁻¹ dry wt) and juveniles (22.4 g, 47.2% C, 9.0% N and 5.6 kcal g⁻¹ dry wt). For juvenile fish (9–360 g wet wt) the measured values were related to dry weight and Fulton's condition factor index (CFI) by regression models. The CFI was a better predictor of body composition than dry weight. As CFI improved from a minimum starvation level of 0.42 to a maximum of 1.16, body caloric content, percentage C, and the C/N ratio increased (kcal g⁻¹ dry wt = 4.4 CFI + 1.7, percentage carbon = 49.7 CFI^0.5, C/N ratio = 5.0 CFI + 0.9), while percentage N and percentage ash decreased (percentage N =−3.5 CFI + 12.1; percentage ash = 9.1 CFI^−1.4). The results of this study suggest that seasonal C, N and caloric content of young pollock can be estimated from measurements of Fulton's condition factor index.     

Nitrogen deposition, competition and the decline of a regionally threatened legume, Desmodium cuspidatum

Increased nitrogen (N) deposition, resulting from the combustion of fossil fuels, production of synthetic fertilizers, growth of N(2)-fixing crops and high-intensity agriculture, is one of the anthropogenic factors most likely to cause global biodiversity changes over the next century. This influence may be especially large in temperate zone forests, which are highly N limited and occur in regions with the highest levels of N deposition. Within these ecosystems, N(2)-fixing plants, including legumes, may be more sensitive to N deposition than other plant species. Though it has long been recognized that the competitive edge conferred by N(2)-fixation diminishes with increasing soil N availability, the conservation implications of increased N deposition on native N(2)-fixers have received less attention. We focus on Desmodium cuspidatum, which has experienced dramatic population losses in the last 30-40 years in the northeastern United States. We explore competition between this regionally threatened legume and a common non-N(2)-fixing neighbor, Solidago canadensis, across a gradient of N deposition. Our data show that increased N deposition may be detrimental to N(2)-fixers such as D. cuspidatum in two ways: (1) biomass accumulation in the non-N(2)-fixer, S. canadensis, responds more strongly to increasing N deposition, and (2) S. canadensis competes strongly for available mineral nitrogen and can assimilate N previously fixed by D. cuspidatum, resulting in D. cuspidatum relying more heavily on energetically expensive N(2)-fixation when grown with S. canadensis. N deposition may thus reduce or eliminate the competitive advantage of N(2)-fixing species growing in N-limited ecosystems.     

施氮频率和强度对内蒙古温带草原土壤pH及碳、氮、磷含量的影响

以内蒙古温带典型草原为研究对象,通过 9 个氮沉降梯度以及一年 12 次和一年 2 次的施氮频率比对,经过4年的氮沉降模拟,研究不同氮沉降强度和频率对不同土层土壤 pH 及碳、氮、磷含量的影响.结果表明: 随着施氮强度的增加,土壤 pH 及全磷含量逐渐降低,但土壤有效氮和有效磷的含量呈增加趋势,可溶性有机碳(DOC)含量无明显变化规律,而土壤全碳、全氮含量基本保持不变.与更接近于自然氮沉降状况的一年 12 次施氮相比,一年 2 次施氮明显高估了氮沉降在降低土壤 pH和增加有效磷含量上的作用,低估了氮沉降在增加土壤有效氮含量上的作用,其中0～5 cm土层差异显著.     

Nutritional physiology of the eastern spruce budworm,Choristoneura fumiferana,infected with Nosema fumiferanae,and interactions with dietary nitrogen

Summary Female eastern spruce budworm larvae, Choristoneura fumiferana (Clemens) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), inoculated with a medium lethal spore dosage of the microsporidium Nosema fumiferanae (Thomson) exhibited significant reductions in consumptive index (CI), nitrogen consumptive index (NCI), relative growth rate (RGR), and gross (ECI) and net (ECD) production effeciencies when compared to microsporidian-free larvae. Diseased larvae also exhibited significant increases in approximate digestibility (AD), N utilization efficiency (NUE), and larval moisture content. Both healthy and diseased insects were reared on 2.5% N and 4.5% N diets. Those on the 2.5% N diet showed significant increases in CI, although NCI was still lower than NCI measured for larvae reared on 4.5% N. NUE was also higher on the 2.5% N diet. Diseased cohorts reared on 2.5% N diet had significantly greater mortality than those reared on 4.5% N diet. Pupal weight and development time of infected individuals did not respond to dietary N concentration. However, healthy insects achieved greater pupal weights in a shorter time on the 4.5% N diet than those on the 2.5% N diet. Mortality of healthy insects was unaffected by dietary N.     

Phytoplankton uptake of ammonium, nitrate and urea in the Neuse River Estuary, NC, USA

Uptake rates of ammonium, nitrate and urea were measured during the spring, summer and autumn (2001) in the eutrophic, nitrogen (N) limited Neuse River Estuary (NRE), North Carolina, USA. Ammonium was the dominant form of N taken up during the study, contributing approximately half of the total measured N uptake throughout the estuary. Nitrate uptake declined significantly with distance downstream comprising 33% of the total uptake in the upper estuary but only 11 and 16% in the middle and lower estuary, respectively. Urea uptake contributed least to the total pool in the upper estuary (16%), but increased in importance in the middle and lower estuary, comprising 45 and 37% of the total N taken up, respectively. The importance of regenerated N for fuelling phytoplankton productivity in the mesohaline sections of the NRE is demonstrated. The contribution of urea to the regenerated N pool suggests that internal regeneration of dissolved organic N may support a large proportion of the phytoplankton primary production and biomass accumulation in the middle and lower NRE. These results suggest that N-budgets based on dissolved inorganic N uptake rates alone will seriously under estimate phytoplankton N uptake.     

N, P, and C stoichiometry of Eranthis hyemalis (Ranunculaceae) and the allometry of plant growth

We report the nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and carbon (C) stoichiometry for each of the five organ-types (leaves, aerial stems, reproductive organs, roots, and tubers) of 17 actively growing Eranthis hyemalis plants differing in size (as measured in g C). We also report the N, P, and C stoichiometry of 20 winterized tubers, which are the only perennial organs of this species. Comparisons between whole-plant and winterized N/C and P/C levels indicate that N was resorbed from aerial organs and stored in tubers by the end of the growing season. Leaves were substantial reservoirs for N and P. With few exceptions, N scaled isometrically with respect to C for each organ-type, whereas P scaled as the 3/4 power of C. Thus, N is proportional to P(3/4), which is proportional to C regardless of organ-type. Additionally, annual growth rate G of shoots (leaves and aerial stems) scaled as the -3 power of leaf N/P quotients such that G was proportional to the 3/4 power of leaf P. We suggest that these scaling relationships (together with previously reported allometric trends across herbaceous species) show that growth is constrained by organ-specific N and P allocation patterns (presumably to proteins and ribosomes, respectively).     

黑河下游黑果枸杞叶片C、N、P特征及对土壤水盐的响应

研究植物叶片碳(C)、氮(N)、磷(P)计量特征及其与环境因子相关性将为揭示植物对营养元素需求和环境互馈能力提供理论基础。以内蒙古额济纳旗黑河下游距主河道由近及远选择的8个黑果枸杞(Lycium ruthenicum Murr.)优势种群落为研究对象,分析其在不同水分、盐分土壤层环境下叶片C、N、P含量及比值特征,探讨黑果枸杞群落分布的主要限制元素和土壤水盐对其化学计量的影响。研究结果显示:黑果枸杞群落C含量为(331.56±11.99) mg/g,N含量为(13.17±2.92) mg/g,P含量为(2.48±1.64) mg/g,元素C与N、N与P之间呈正相关关系,C与P呈负相关关系,N与C∶N、P与C∶P及N∶P之间呈极显著负相关关系(P0.01);浅层土壤(0—40 cm)水分与P含量呈极显著负相关(P0.01),与C∶P呈显著正相关(P0.05),深层土壤(40—80 cm)水分、盐分均与N含量呈显著负相关(P0.05),与C∶N呈极显著正相关(P0.01)。结果表明:黑果枸杞C∶N主要由N限制,C∶P、N∶P主要由P限制,N∶P小于限制性养分理论阈值14,指示其生长主要受到N限制;黑果枸杞叶片N含量及C∶N比值对深层土壤水分和盐分具有协同响应特征,反映了荒漠植物在干旱盐渍环境中的抗逆境策略。     

Kinetic, spectroscopic, and structural investigations of the soybean lipoxygenase-1 first-coordination sphere mutant, Asn694Gly

In wild-type soybean LO-1 (WT sLO-1), Asn694 is a weak sixth ligand that is thought to be critical for enzymatic catalysis. In this investigation, N694G sLO-1 was studied to probe its contribution at this sixth ligand position to the kinetic and spectroscopic properties. The k(cat) value of N694G is approximately 230 times lower than that of WT sLO-1 at 25 degrees C, which can be partially explained by a lowered reduction potential of the iron as seen as a shift in the visible ligand-to-metal charge-transfer band (lambda(max) = 410 nm for N694G and lambda(max) = 425 nm for WT sLO-1). This conclusion was supported by a faster rate of oxidation of N694G by the product than that of WT sLO-1 (k(2) = 606 s(-)(1) for N694G and k(2) = 349 s(-)(1) for WT sLO-1). These results suggest a stronger ligand at the active site iron than the native Asn694, which is confirmed to be a water bound to the Fe(II) in the crystal structure. This produces a six-coordinate circular dichroism/magnetic circular dichroism (CD/MCD) spectra for ferrous N694G and an intermediate rhombic electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) signal for ferric N694G. The EPR spectrum and its pH dependence suggest that the coordination environment of ferric N694G contains one hydroxide and one water. On the basis of both kinetic and structural factors, we propose that the Asn694 water-derived ligand would likely be a hydroxide and the active site, water-derived ligand a water in the ferric state, hence lowering the reaction rate of N694G more than would be expected from the lowered reduction potential alone.     

Codon-based tests of positive selection,branch lengths,and the evolution of mammalian immune system genes

Using basic probability theory, we show that there is a substantial likelihood that even in the presence of strong purifying selection, there will be a number of codons in which the number of synonymous nucleotide substitutions per site (d (S)) exceeds the number of non-synonymous nucleotide substitutions per site (d (N)). In an empirical study, we examined the numbers of synonymous (b (S)) and non-synonymous substitutions (b (N)) along branches of the phylogenies of 69 single-copy orthologous genes from seven species of mammals. A pattern of b (N) > b (S) was most commonly seen in the shortest branches of the tree and was associated with a high coefficient of variation in both b (N) and b (S), suggesting that high stochastic error in b (N) and b (S) on short branches, rather than positive Darwinian selection, is the explanation of most cases where b (N) is greater than b (S) on a given branch. The branch-site method of Zhang et al. (Zhang, Nielsen, Yang, Mol Biol Evol, 22:2472-2479, 2005) identified 117 codons on 35 branches as "positively selected," but a majority of these codons lacked synonymous substitutions, while in the others, synonymous and non-synonymous differences per site occurred in approximately equal frequencies. Thus, it was impossible to rule out the hypothesis that chance variation in the pattern of mutation across sites, rather than positive selection, accounted for the observed pattern. Our results showed that b (N)/b (S) was consistently elevated in immune system genes, but neither the search for branches with b (N) > b (S) nor the branch-site method revealed this trend.     

Effect of the active site D25N mutation on the structure, stability, and ligand binding of the mature HIV-1 protease

All aspartic proteases, including retroviral proteases, share the triplet DTG critical for the active site geometry and catalytic function. These residues interact closely in the active, dimeric structure of HIV-1 protease (PR). We have systematically assessed the effect of the D25N mutation on the structure and stability of the mature PR monomer and dimer. The D25N mutation (PR(D25N)) increases the equilibrium dimer dissociation constant by a factor >100-fold (1.3 +/- 0.09 microm) relative to PR. In the absence of inhibitor, NMR studies reveal clear structural differences between PR and PR(D25N) in the relatively mobile P1 loop (residues 79-83) and flap regions, and differential scanning calorimetric analyses show that the mutation lowers the stabilities of both the monomer and dimer folds by 5 and 7.3 degrees C, respectively. Only minimal differences are observed in high resolution crystal structures of PR(D25N) complexed to darunavir (DRV), a potent clinical inhibitor, or a non-hydrolyzable substrate analogue, Ac-Thr-Ile-Nle-r-Nle-Gln-Arg-NH(2) (RPB), as compared with PR.DRV and PR.RPB complexes. Although complexation with RPB stabilizes both dimers, the effect on their T(m) is smaller for PR(D25N) (6.2 degrees C) than for PR (8.7 degrees C). The T(m) of PR(D25N).DRV increases by only 3 degrees C relative to free PR(D25N), as compared with a 22 degrees C increase for PR.DRV, and the mutation increases the ligand dissociation constant of PR(D25N).DRV by a factor of approximately 10(6) relative to PR.DRV. These results suggest that interactions mediated by the catalytic Asp residues make a major contribution to the tight binding of DRV to PR.     

Mutational, NMR, and NH exchange studies of the tight and selective binding of 8-oxo-dGMP by the MutT pyrophosphohydrolase

The solution structure of the ternary MutT enzyme-Mg(2+)-8-oxo-dGMP complex showed the proximity of Asn119 and Arg78 and the modified purine ring of 8-oxo-dGMP, suggesting specific roles for these residues in the tight and selective binding of this nucleotide product [Massiah, M. A., Saraswat, V., Azurmendi, H. F., and Mildvan, A. S. (2003) Biochemistry 42, 10140-10154]. These roles are here tested by mutagenesis. The N119A, N119D, R78K, and R78A single mutations and the R78K/N119A double mutant showed very small effects on k(cat) (相似文献   

The effects of phylogeny,life-history traits and altitude on the carbon,nitrogen, and phosphorus contents of seeds across 203 species from an alpine meadow

Seed reserves are very important to the earlier growth and survival of plants, and its variation in nutrient contents might make species to form different germination or seedlings growth strategies. Here, 203 species collected from an alpine meadow on the northeastern Qinghai–Tibet plateau were used to test the effects of phylogenetic groups, life-history traits, and altitude on carbon (C), nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) contents of seeds across species. The results showed that (1) seeds of Brassicaceae had the highest C content, those of Fabaceae had the highest N content, and Asteraceae had the highest P content, and family explained independently 32.7%, 46.4%, and 17.9% of the variation in C, N, and P contents of seeds, respectively; (2) the smaller seeds tended to have higher C and P contents, and seed mass explained independently 2.5% of variation in C, 4.3% in N, and 8.1% in P contents; (3) N content was explained 1% independently by life form, seeds N content of perennials was significantly higher than that of annals, but seeds C and P contents had non-significant difference between them; (4) seeds of wind-adapted species had higher N and P contents, and dispersal mode explained independently 1.7% of variation in C, 1.6% in N, and 5.6% in P contents; (5) seeds from high altitude had the highest N and P contents, and altitude explained independently 4.3% of the variation in N and 4% in P contents.     

克里雅绿洲旱生芦苇根茎叶C、N、P化学计量特征的季节变化

旱生芦苇在水分限制、元素匮乏的环境条件下,经长期进化适应形成了自身独特的生理生态特征,研究其C、N、P化学计量特征随生长季节的变化规律有助于深入了解该植物生存和适应策略。系统分析了克里雅绿洲旱生芦苇根、茎、叶的C、N、P化学计量特征及其季节动态,深入探讨了不同生长季、不同器官以及两因素的交互作用对以上特征的影响。结果表明:旱生芦苇C、N、P含量均值分别为393.36、12.43、1.25 mg/g,C∶N、N∶P、C∶P均值分别为54.55、9.96、441.27。整个生长季内芦苇各器官间C、N、P平均含量的变化规律一致,为叶茎根,C、N、P化学计量比的变化规律不一致;芦苇C含量随生长季节的变化不断增加,N、P随季节的变化逐渐减少,C、N、P化学计量比随季节的变化规律也不尽相同。对芦苇C、N、P含量及其化学计量比整体变异来源分析显示,生长季节的变化对芦苇C、P、C∶N、C∶P变化的贡献大于器官间差异,器官间差异对芦苇N、N∶P变化的贡献大于生长季节的变化;说明芦苇生长发育过程中各生长季各器官对元素的吸收利用具有特异性。结合N、P元素含量及N∶P值的大小可知,研究区芦苇生长受到N、P共同限制,且更易受N元素的限制。     

Immunoreactive luteinizing hormone, estradiol, progesterone, testosterone, and androstenedione levels during the breeding season and anestrus in Siberian tigers

Seasonal analysis of 1239 captive births of Siberian tigers (Panthera tigris altaica) indicated a peak in April to June (P less than 0.001). Studies on seven animals in Minnesota indicated that behavioral heat cycles and ovarian follicular phase cycles began in late January and ceased in early June. Behavioral observation of 12 heat cycles in four tigers yielded an estrous length of 5.3 +/- 0.2 days and an interestrous interval of 25.0 +/- 1.3 days. Hormone assays on weekly blood samples (N = 180) from three female tigers indicated 16 cycles in two breeding seasons. Peak estradiol-17 beta levels were 46.7 +/- 6.0 pg/ml (N = 17) and interestrous concentrations were 8.7 +/- 0.66 pg/ml (N = 28) during the breeding season. Anestrous estradiol levels were 4.2 +/- 0.5 pg/ml (N = 70). The interestrous interval between estradiol peaks was 24.9 +/- 1.3 days (N = 9) with two outliers of 42 days. Serum progesterone concentrations from February to June were 1.2 +/- 0.15 ng/ml (N = 32), providing no evidence for ovulation or corpus luteum formation. Luteinizing hormone (LH) levels were 0.56 +/- 0.04 ng/ml (N = 180). Serum testosterone (r=0.71, P less than 0.001) and androstenedione levels (r=0.75, P less than 0.001) were correlated with estradiol during the breeding season. The duration of anestrus was 8 mo in two of these tigers. The interval was shortened in one tiger by exposure to a 16L:8D photoperiod. The Siberian tiger appears to be a polyestrous seasonal breeder and an induced ovulator whose breeding season may be synchronized by photoperiod.     

Nucleocapsid amino acids 211 to 254, in particular, tetrad glutamines, are essential for the interaction between the nucleocapsid and membrane proteins of SARS-associated coronavirus

GST pull-down assays were used to characterize the SARS-CoV membrane (M) and nucleocapsid (N) interaction, and it was found that the amino acids 211-254 of N protein were essential for this interaction. When tetrad glutamines (Q) were replaced with glutamic acids (E) at positions of 240-243 of the N protein, the interaction was disrupted.     

黄河三角洲贝壳堤湿地优势灌木碳、氮、磷化学计量特征

为探讨黄河三角洲海岸带湿地不同水盐条件下植物叶片化学计量特征的季节动态及植物生长的限制性营养元素,以滨州贝壳堤岛与湿地国家级自然保护区内的柽柳、杠柳、酸枣3种优势灌木为研究对象,于2017-2018年的生长季（5-10月）每月定期采集叶片样品,测定叶片C、N、P含量。结果表明,生长季内3种灌木叶片C含量呈逐渐上升趋势;叶片N、P含量呈先下降后上升趋势,说明3种灌木采用防御性生活史策略适应盐生和干旱生境。3种灌木叶片C平均含量分别为（399.65±2.66）mg/g、（424.32±1.59）mg/g、（437.47±1.08）mg/g,低于全国（455.1 mg/g）及全球（461.6 mg/g）水平,呈现盐生生境下较低的植物碳储存能力。3种灌木叶片N和P平均含量分别为（30.14±0.26）mg/g和（1.81±0.03）mg/g、（23.18±0.38）mg/g和（2.06±0.04）mg/g、（27.36±0.49）mg/g和（2.01±0.03）mg/g,显著高于全国（N∶20.2 mg/g,P：1.46 mg/g）及全球（N∶19.3-20.1 mg/g,P：1.11-1.42 mg/g）水平。叶片C∶N∶P比呈先上升后下降的趋势,叶片P含量对C∶N∶P比变化具有主导作用。3种灌木叶片C∶N∶P质量比分别为246∶17∶1、224∶12∶1、237∶14∶1,说明柽柳的水盐胁迫适应能力高于杠柳和酸枣。从叶片N、P化学计量特征看,生长季内,柽柳生长一定程度上受土壤P限制,杠柳生长受到土壤N限制,酸枣生长则受土壤N、P共同限制,说明3种灌木的生物地球化学生态位发生了分化,避免了对同种资源的竞争,利于物种共生。     

A monograph of Nephilengys, the pantropical 'hermit spiders' (Araneae, Nephilidae, Nephilinae)

Abstract.  The nephilid genus Nephilengys , known for its synanthropic habits, large webs with a retreat and the extreme sexual size dimorphism, is revised. Of the twenty-three available names, only four species with a globally allopatric distribution are recognized, illustrated and described from both sexes: N. cruentata ( Fabricius, 1775 ) inhabits tropical Africa and South America, where it has probably been introduced; N. borbonica ( Vinson, 1863 ) is found on Madagascar, Comoros, Seychelles and the Mascarene Islands; N. malabarensis ( Walckenaer, 1842 ) ranges from India and Sri Lanka to China, Japan and eastern Indonesia; N. papuana Thorell, 1881 stat.n. is known from New Guinea and tropical Australia. Nephila instigans Butler, 1876 is the proposed syn.n. of N. borbonica ; N. borbonica livida Vinson, 1863 is syn.n. of N. borbonica ; N. niahensis Deeleman-Reinhold, 1989 is syn.n. of N. malabarensis ; N. rainbowi Hogg, 1899 is syn.n. of N. papuana . N. kenmorei Barrion & Litsinger, 1995 , here proposed as a nomen dubium , is an araneid. Nephilengys biology is reviewed and its anatomy summarized for use in a phylogenetic analysis of 197 characters scored for all Nephilengys , selected nephilid species and non-nephilid outgroups. Two new clades are circumscribed, the ' cruentata species group' (with N. cruentata and N. borbonica ) and the ' malabarensis species group' (with N. malabarensis and N. papuana ).