光合有效辐射与地下水位变化对柽柳属荒漠灌木群落碳平衡的影响

全球气候变化和人类活动的加剧, 正导致古尔班通古特沙漠南缘原始盐生旱生荒漠地区的地下水位发生显著改变。大气污染导致该地区太阳辐射减少。以盐生荒漠建群种多枝柽柳(Tamarix ramosissima)为研究对象, 选择地下水位在2.9-4.5 m波动的典型原始生境, 观测了生长期内光合有效辐射和地下水位变化时的光合作用、蒸腾作用和叶水势等生理活动的季节变化, 调查了根系分布特征; 并利用涡度相关系统测定了生态系统碳水通量, 估算群落碳同化能力、蒸腾耗水量与叶面积指数的季节变化, 旨在揭示光合有效辐射和地下水位等环境因素对柽柳属(Tamarix)荒漠灌木群落光合作用的影响。研究结果表明: 降水造成的潜土层水分状况变化对多枝柽柳的碳平衡没有显著影响。深根系与气孔调节是多枝柽柳碳平衡适应荒漠环境水分状况的两个关键机制。特殊的气孔行为体现了多枝柽柳以高水分消耗为代价将其碳获取最大化的适应对策; 多枝柽柳生理与群落尺度的水分平衡和碳获取均依赖于深根系获取的稳定地下水源, 缓和的地下水位波动将不会扰动其现有的碳/水平衡, 地下水位剧烈下降将危及多枝柽柳的生存。此外, 光合有效辐射是另一个主要影响因素, 与群落碳获取呈显著正相关关系。群落碳同化能力的季节变化是光合有效辐射和地下水位共同影响下光合作用物候学特征的体现。过度开采地下水和直接破坏原生植被的行为, 将会严重地干扰多枝柽柳群落的生存, 进而破坏该区域现有的生态水文过程。     

沙漠腹地天然绿洲胡杨和柽柳叶片δ13C值对不同地下水埋深的响应

干旱区植物的水分利用效率对植物的分布及水分利用状况具有重要意义。基于不同地下水埋深条件下沙漠腹地绿洲优势种胡杨和柽柳叶片δ¹³C值,分析了胡杨和柽柳的水分利用效率对不同地下水埋深的响应。结果表明: 随着地下水埋深由2.1 m增加到4.3 m,柽柳叶片的δ¹³C值先略有增加后处于较为稳定状态,柽柳采取较为稳定的水分利用效率适应干旱环境;胡杨叶片的δ¹³C值呈现先略有减小后增加的趋势,胡杨通过提高水分利用效率的策略适应干旱胁迫。同一地下水埋深条件下柽柳叶片的δ¹³C值高于胡杨叶片,表明柽柳的水分利用效率高于胡杨。     

新疆古尔班通古特沙漠南缘多枝柽柳光合作用及水分利用的生态适应性

光合作用和水分利用是陆地生态系统中限制植物光合同化和个体生长发育的重要因素。为了从根本上认识到荒漠绿洲过渡带植物对特殊生境和气候变化的响应和适应机制,有必要深入的了解植被对不同环境因子适应过程的协调性。本文以新疆古尔班通古特沙漠南缘荒漠绿洲过渡带的建群种多枝柽柳（Tamarix ramosissima）为研究对象,分别在自然状态,模拟降水、遮光处理以及降水和遮光双因子处理下,利用LI-6400光合作用系统和Model 3500植物水分压力室分别测定光合作用和枝条水势,研究多枝柽柳枝条水势对浅层土壤水分和光照变化的响应,以及在不同条件下的水分利用效率（WUE）和光能利用效率（LUE）的日进程。结果表明：这四种处理方式下,枝条水势随土壤水分的变化没有明显的差异,趋势表现为黎明前枝条水势最高（-1.2 MPa）,正午枝条水势最低（-3.2 MPa）,太阳落山后枝条水势逐渐升高的趋势;WUE和LUE日变化呈现出近似双峰型抛物线,WUE日变化曲线在11:00和16:00有两个不明显的波峰,LUE日变化曲线在10:00和16:00出现两个明显波峰。当光照发生变化时,遮光处理下的WUE和LUE日变化都较自然状态下的日变化低,分别降低了1.5 ?mol CO2?mmol-1 H2O的WUE和0.20*10-2 ?mol CO2??mol-1APAR的LUE。研究表明,作为深根系植物的多枝柽柳,生存主要依靠地下水来补给水分,所以浅层土壤水分条件变化没有明显引起光合和蒸腾的响应。而午间光强、高温是构成多枝柽柳光抑制现象的主要原因,这是多枝柽柳长期在荒漠绿洲过渡带形成的对抗环境胁迫的一种表现。     

沙漠-绿洲过渡带四种多年生植物水分关系特征

沙漠一绿洲过渡带地区植被的可持续性在防止绿洲沙漠化的过程中非常重要。对过渡带主要植物种骆驼刺(Alhagi sparsifolia Shap)、多枝柽柳(Tamarix ramosissima Lebed．)、胡杨(Populus euphratica Oliv．)和头状沙拐枣(Calligonum caputmedusae Schrenk．)水分关系的研究表明：4种植物的水分恢复状况良好,清晨水势一直较高,水分亏缺并不严重。渗透势和正午水势的降低幅度不大,变化比较平稳,更像是一种生长过程中的结果．植物的水分胁迫状况并不明显。4种植物的水势和渗透势都高于典型的荒漠植物,属于中生植物的范围。水分参数的变化显示在同样的环境节律下,四种植物在水分生理的变化特征上有一致性。一直很高的RWCp值表明植物不能适应剧烈的水分损失和较低的水分含量,植物需要稳定充足的水分供应来适应塔克拉玛干极端气候条件下的生长环境。植物对环境胁迫也有各自不同的生理适应特点,胡杨的△Ⅱ值大,能忍受较多的水分损失维持气孔的开放;骆驼刺的ψp值最高,水分亏缺的平衡与恢复效果明显;C4植物头状沙拐枣能维持较高的水势和渗透势,而盐土植物多枝柽柳能忍受水势的很大降低。夏季一次性灌溉对骆驼刺、多枝柽柳和胡杨水分状况的改善基本没有影响,对头状沙拐枣有一定的帮助。植物群落和地下水关系密切,过渡带地区地下水位稳定在植物可接触的范围内是保证植物长期存活的关键。4种植物对干旱胁迫的适应为躲避型。     

塔里木河下游荒漠植被保护酶活性与地下水位变化的关系

在塔里木河下游的不同断面,随着距离河道由近及远、地下水埋深的不断增大,柽柳叶片的MDA含量、SOD活性随着地下水位的下降而逐渐增加,与地下水位呈显著正相关．相关系数分别为0．7464和0．5531;POD活性却随着地下水埋深的不断增大而呈下降趋势,与地下水位呈显著负相关．相关系数为0．5518。根据不同地下水位条件下柽柳叶片的MDA含量和SOD活性所反映出的适宜其生存的合理生态水位、(严重)胁迫水位并将其进行综合比较与分析,初步推断出：在塔里木河下游地下水埋深超过3．12m时．柽柳的生长即开始受到抑制,5m左右的地下水位即对柽柳造成严重胁迫,≥8．83m的地下水位则会危及柽柳的生存。     

塔里木河下游干旱胁迫下多枝柽柳茎水势的变化

于2005-2006年对新疆塔里木河下游亚合浦马汗和阿拉干断面多枝柽柳(Tamarix ramosissima)茎水势进行了测定.结果表明:多枝柽柳茎水势日变化规律与其它植物水势不同,8:00较高,14:00和20:00较低,20:00以后略呈上升趋势,说明在塔里木河下游气温不是影响多枝柽柳水势变化的主导因素;对多枝柽柳茎水势和地下水埋深、土壤盐分进行相关分析表明,多枝柽柳茎水势与地下水埋深之间呈显著负相关性,与土壤盐分不具有显著相关性,说明塔里木河下游多枝柽柳茎水势对地下水埋深的变化响应强烈,对土壤盐分的变化响应不强烈.该研究可为塔里木河下游进行有效的生态输水,加速受损生态系统的恢复提供科学依据.     

塔里木河中游地区柽柳对地下水埋深的生理响应

以塔里木河中游沙吉力克断面和阿其河断面的柽柳为研究对象,结合两断面地下水埋深的动态监测和柽柳叶片可溶性糖、脯氨酸、MDA含量及SOD、POD活性等生理指标的分析测试,研究了不同地下水埋深与柽柳生理变化的关系,以探讨该地区柽柳的抗旱机理与受胁迫程度.研究表明:随着地下水埋深的不断增加,柽柳叶片的可溶性糖含量、脯氨酸含量、MDA含量和SOD活性均显著增加,而POD活性则呈不断下降的趋势,并且柽柳各生理代谢相互协调;地下水埋深与柽柳叶片的可溶性糖、脯氨酸、MDA含量以及SOD活性呈正相关,相关系数分别为0.602*、0.548、0.735**和0.829**,与POD活性呈负相关(r=-0.709**).研究发现,塔里木河中游地区柽柳的生长已受到严重的干旱胁迫,且沙吉力克断面的柽柳所受到的干旱胁迫较重;柽柳在一定范围内能通过调节体内渗透调节物质的含量和保护酶活性来积极响应地下水埋深的变化,以增强植株自身抗旱能力.     

绿洲前沿地区多枝柽柳水分关系的特征及灌溉的影响

 对塔克拉玛干沙漠南缘策勒绿洲前沿地区多枝柽柳（Tamarix ramosissima）进行了研究,生长季节和灌溉前后水分关系的特征表明：多枝柽柳在生长季节保持了较高较稳定的清晨水势,植物能够平衡白天水分损失造成的水分亏缺,水分恢复状况良好。环境气候变化对渗透势等水分参数的影响不及植物水分恢复状况对它们的影响。除了个别数据,多枝柽柳水势和渗透势的降低幅度很小,更像是生长过程的结果,植物水分胁迫的特征并不明显。对比水分生理上对干旱胁迫的适应——渗透势的迅速降低和质外体水含量的增加,膨压消失点相对含水量(RWCp)和渗透势差值(ΔΠ)等参数显示的生理特征表明,植物更加依靠稳定充足的水分供应来适应生长环境中极端的高水压差和与此相应的高大气蒸发要求。与此适应,植物和地下水发生了联系,并且一次性灌溉对植物水分状况的恢复基本没有帮助,保持地下水位稳定在根系的可吸收范围内成为保护绿洲前沿多枝柽柳长期存在的关键。多枝柽柳的水分特征属于中生植物的范畴,对极端环境的适应属于躲避的类型。     

塔克拉玛干沙漠腹地柽柳年轮宽度对地下水埋深的响应

【目的】柽柳作为干旱荒漠生态系统的典型物种,研究其年轮宽度对地下水响应的保护有重要价值。【方法】研究基于沙漠腹地达理雅博依绿洲地下水埋深资料,利用年轮测定方法分析不同地下水埋深状况下柽柳年轮宽度的变化,探讨其与地下水埋深变化的关系。【结果】样地一地下水埋深随时间逐年增加,埋深范围是1.2～2.6 m,柽柳的年轮宽度在2001-2020年呈显著增加趋势,变化范围为0.98～5.80 mm,年轮宽度年际间差异显著;样地二地下水埋深随时间增长呈现先增加后减小的趋势,埋深范围是2.7～4.5 m,柽柳年轮宽度在1977-2020年整体呈正弦函数变化,范围为1.46～4.41 mm,年轮宽度年际间差异性不显著;样地一柽柳标准年表振幅范围是0.502～1.641,大于样地二柽柳标准年表振幅范围为0.577～1.331。【结论】样地一地下水埋深向着柽柳生长适宜的范围增加时,有利于柽柳的生长,表现为年轮宽度增加,样地二的柽柳年轮宽度变化和地下水埋深之间无显著相关性。     

黑河下游河岸绿洲区包气带土壤水分与植被生长状况的研究

黑河下游荒漠平原区近年来由于河水流入量的持续减小,致使依赖河水补给来源的地下水呈减少趋势,造成区域性地下水位下降,从而引起一系列生态环境问题。通过研究黑河下游河岸绿洲区非饱和带的含水量、地下潜水埋深、土壤类型结构等与河岸绿洲植被生长状况之间的关系,发现土壤结构、地下水位埋深和土壤盐分是决定研究区植被生长状况的3个主要因素,而土壤结构是不可改变的,土壤盐分又与地下水关系密切,因此,地下水是极端干旱区植被生长状况的决定因素。     

Semicircular canal system in early primates

Mammals with more rapid and agile locomotion have larger semicircular canals relative to body mass than species that move more slowly. Measurements of semicircular canals in extant mammals with known locomotor behaviours can provide a basis for testing hypotheses about locomotion in fossil primates that is independent of postcranial remains, and a means of reconstructing locomotor behaviour in species known only from cranial material. Semicircular canal radii were measured using ultra high resolution X-ray CT data for 9 stem primates (“plesiadapiforms”; n = 11), 7 adapoids (n = 12), 4 omomyoids (n = 5), and the possible omomyoid Rooneyia viejaensis (n = 1). These were compared with a modern sample (210 species including 91 primates) with known locomotor behaviours. The predicted locomotor agilities for extinct primates generally follow expectations based on known postcrania for those taxa. “Plesiadapiforms” and adapids have relatively small semicircular canals, suggesting they practiced less agile locomotion than other fossil primates in the sample, which is consistent with reconstructions of them as less specialized for leaping. The derived notharctid adapoids (excluding Cantius) and all omomyoids sampled have relatively larger semicircular canals, suggesting that they were more agile, with Microchoerus in particular being reconstructed as having had very jerky locomotion with relatively high magnitude accelerations of the head. Rooneyia viejaensis is reconstructed as having been similarly agile to omomyids and derived notharctid adapoids, which suggests that when postcranial material is found for this species it will exhibit features for some leaping behaviour, or for a locomotor mode requiring a similar degree of agility.     

Bacterial flora in the alimentary tract of chickens infected with Eimeria brunetti and in chickens immunized with Eimeria maxima and cross-infected with Eimeria brunetti

Differential bacterial counts were made on the intestinal and caecal contents of chickens after inoculation with a standard dose of 320 000 freshly sporulated oocysts of Eimeria brunetti.     

SNS: Adhesive properties, localization requirements and ectodomain dependence in S2 cells and embryonic myoblasts

The body wall muscles in the Drosophila larva arise from interactions between Duf/Kirre and Irregular chiasm C-roughest (IrreC-rst)-expressing founder myoblasts and sticks-and-stones (SNS)-expressing fusion competent myoblasts in the embryo. Herein, we demonstrate that SNS mediates heterotypic adhesion of S2 cells with Duf/Kirre and IrreC-rst-expressing S2 cells, and colocalizes with these proteins at points of cell contact. These properties are independent of their transmembrane and cytoplasmic domains, and are observed quite readily with GPI-anchored forms of the ectodomains. Heterotypic interactions between Duf/Kirre and SNS-expressing S2 cells occur more rapidly and to a greater extent than homotypic interactions with other Duf/Kirre-expressing cells. In addition, Duf/Kirre and SNS are present in an immunoprecipitable complex from S2 cells. In the embryo, Duf/Kirre and SNS are present at points of contact between founder and fusion competent cells. Moreover, SNS clustering on the cell surface is dependent on Duf/Kirre and/or IrreC-rst. Finally, although the cytoplasmic and transmembrane domains of SNS are expendable for interactions in culture, they are essential for fusion of embryonic myoblasts.     

Identification key for European strand-forming house-rot fungi

An identification key for 20 common strand-forming indoor wood decay fungi is given. The key is based on observations of material from affected buildings and on wood samples that have been incubated in the laboratory. The key is with macro- and microscopic photographs.     

Distinct mechanisms for mRNA localization during embryonic axis specification in the wasp Nasonia

mRNA localization is a powerful mechanism for targeting factors to different regions of the cell and is used in Drosophila to pattern the early embryo. During oogenesis of the wasp Nasonia, mRNA localization is used extensively to replace the function of the Drosophila bicoid gene for the initiation of patterning along the antero-posterior axis. Nasonia localizes both caudal and nanos to the posterior pole, whereas giant mRNA is localized to the anterior pole of the oocyte; orthodenticle1 (otd1) is localized to both the anterior and posterior poles. The abundance of differentially localized mRNAs during Nasonia oogenesis provided a unique opportunity to study the different mechanisms involved in mRNA localization. Through pharmacological disruption of the microtubule network, we found that both anterior otd1 and giant, as well as posterior caudal mRNA localization was microtubule-dependent. Conversely, posterior otd1 and nanos mRNA localized correctly to the posterior upon microtubule disruption. However, actin is important in anchoring these two posteriorly localized mRNAs to the oosome, the structure containing the pole plasm. Moreover, we find that knocking down the functions of the genes tudor and Bicaudal-D mimics disruption of microtubules, suggesting that tudor's function in Nasonia is different from flies, where it is involved in formation of the pole plasm.     

Gene expression in spider appendages reveals reversal of exd/hth spatial specificity, altered leg gap gene dynamics, and suggests divergent distal morphogen signaling

Leg development in Drosophila has been studied in much detail. However, Drosophila limbs form in the larva as imaginal discs and not during embryogenesis as in most other arthropods. Here, we analyze appendage genes in the spider Cupiennius salei and the beetle Tribolium castaneum. Differences in decapentaplegic (dpp) expression suggest a different mode of distal morphogen signaling suitable for the specific geometry of growing limb buds. Also, expression of the proximal genes homothorax (hth) and extradenticle (exd) is significantly altered: in the spider, exd is restricted to the proximal leg and hth expression extends distally, while in insects, exd is expressed in the entire leg and hth is restricted to proximal parts. This reversal of spatial specificity demonstrates an evolutionary shift, which is nevertheless compatible with a conserved role of this gene pair as instructor of proximal fate. Different expression dynamics of dachshund and Distal-less point to modifications in the regulation of the leg gap gene system. We comment on the significance of this finding for attempts to homologize leg segments in different arthropod classes. Comparison of the expression profiles of H15 and optomotor-blind to the Drosophila patterns suggests modifications also in the dorsal-ventral patterning system of the legs. Together, our results suggest alterations in many components of the leg developmental system, namely proximal-distal and dorsal-ventral patterning, and leg segmentation. Thus, the leg developmental system exhibits a propensity to evolutionary change, which probably forms the basis for the impressive diversity of arthropod leg morphologies.     

Differences in penetration routes and establishment rates of four entomopathogenic nematode species into four white grub species

We compared the penetration of the entomopathogenic nematodes Steinernema scarabaei (AMK001 strain), S. glaseri (NC1 strain), Heterorhabditis zealandica (X1 strain), and H. bacteriophora (GPS11 strain) into third-instars of the scarabs Popillia japonica, Anomala orientalis, Cyclocephala borealis, and Rhizotrogus majalis. When larvae were exposed to nematodes for 6-72 h larval mortality and nematode establishment rate and occasionally speed of kill often showed the same pattern within nematode-white grub combinations. But no two nematodes or white grub species had the same pattern for these observations for all white grub or nematode species, respectively. Mortality, establishment, and speed of kill followed a similar pattern for H. zealandica, S. glaseri, and S. scarabaei, but there was no clear relationship for H. bacteriophora. Significant nematode establishment was only observed after at least 48 h exposure in most nematode-white grub combinations. Faster establishment was observed only for H. zealandica in A. orientalis and R. majalis (after 24 h) and for S. scarabaei in P. japonica and R. majalis (after 12 h). Nematode establishment after 72 h in the different scarab species was generally low for S. glaseri (<1.5%) and H. bacteriophora (<3%), higher for H. zealandica (2-5%), and the highest for S. scarabaei (1-14%). However, in another experiment establishment was generally higher after 96h exposure. Nematode penetration sites were determined by comparing nematode establishment in larvae with mouth, anus, mouth+anus, or none sealed with glue. The trends for each nematode species were very similar in the different white grub species. H. zealandica and H. bacteriophora showed excellent cuticular penetration ability but may also penetrate through mouth and/or anus. S. glaseri also penetrated through the cuticle but lower establishment in larvae with mouth or mouth+anus sealed suggested that the mouth is an important penetration site. S. scarabaei showed a preference for the mouth as a penetration site, but it showed some cuticular penetration ability and may also use the anus as a penetration site. The methodology used cannot exclude that cuticular penetration also included penetration through the spiracles. To fully understand the effect of nematode and white grub species on nematode virulence, future studies will have to compare host immune response to the penetrating IJs and the role of the symbiotic bacteria in these interactions.