Comparative ecology of vascular plant,bryophyte and testate amoeba communities in four Sphagnum peatlands along an altitudinal gradient in Switzerland

Monitoring tools are needed to assess changes in peatland biotic communities and ecosystem functions in response to on-going climate and other environmental changes. Although the responses of soil organisms and plants to ecological gradients and perturbations do not always correlate, peatland monitoring is mainly based on vegetation surveys. Testate amoebae, a group of protists, are important contributors to carbon and nitrogen cycling in organic soils and are useful bioindicators in peatland ecology and paleoecology. There is however little comparative data on the value of testate amoebae, vascular plants and bryophytes as bioindicators of micro-environmental gradients in peatlands.We compared the relationships of testate amoebae, bryophytes, and vascular plants with soil temperature, water table depth, micro-habitats and the carbon and nitrogen content of Sphagnum mosses in four peatlands along a 1300 m altitudinal gradient in Switzerland. We used the full diversity of vascular plants and bryophyte but only a selection of ten easily identifiable testate amoeba morpho-taxa (i.e. species or species-complexes).Indirect and direct gradient ordinations, multiple factor analysis (MFA) and transfer function models for inferring water table depth showed that a selection of ten testate amoeba taxa are more powerful (% variance explained in RDA) and accurate (discrimination among habitats) indicators of local conditions (micro-habitat type, water table depth and Sphagnum C/N ratio) than the vegetation (vascular plants and bryophytes either individually or combined and considering the full diversity).Our study showed that a limited list of ten easily identifiable testate amoeba taxa have higher bioindication value than the full bryophytes and vascular plants. Furthermore, testate amoebae can be analyzed on samples collected at any season (accessibility allowing and if precise sampling sites are well marked) – a clear advantage for biomonitoring and can be used to infer past changes from the peat record at the same taxonomic resolution. This simple approach could therefore be very useful for biomonitoring of peatlands.     

生态位概念及其在昆虫生态学中的应用

生态位理论已成为现代生态学的重要内容。在生态位概念百年演变史中,“空间生态位”、“功能生态位”与“多维超体积生态位”最具代表性。生态位宽度和生态位重叠是描述物种内和物种间生态位关系最重要的2个指标。本文系统总结了生态位概念的演变历史及其主要测度公式在昆虫生态学中的应用概况;并就如何利用生态位理论,开展害虫综合治理提出了几点看法;最后就生态位理论在昆虫生态学中存在的问题及应用前景进行了分析和展望。合理利用生态位理论,将为切实制定有害生物综合治理策略和探讨外来入侵物种种群形成机理等方面提供理论指导。     

基因系统生态及其应用

运用基因生态系统观点,探讨了基因的行为生态,提出了基因具有整体性、联系性、有序性和平衡性等特性．还讨论了基因生态的应用及其发展前景．     

Peritrich ciliates epizoic on larvae of Brachycentrus subnubilus (Trichoptera): importance in relation to the total protozoan population in streams

The numerical abundance of peritrich ciliates epizoic on larvae of Brachycentrus subnubilus in an English chalk stream is described for an 18-month period. Peaks in the epizoic population occurred during winter at a time when protozoan populations in other stream habitats were low. Ciliates were absent from the first three instars of their host, but were abundant on fourth and fifth instar larvae. Estimates of generation times in the field were made for the ciliate populations (January – February 186 h; July – August 471 h). The relative importance of the epizoic ciliate population as a whole is considered in relation to other protozoan populations in the streams.     

DNA条形码及其在海洋浮游动物生态学研究中的应用

浮游动物的准确鉴定是浮游动物生态学研究的基础.传统的基于形态特征的鉴定不仅费时费力,而且部分类群特别是浮游幼体由于形态差异细微,鉴定存在困难,导致物种多样性被低估.DNA条形码(DNA barcodes)技术为浮游动物物种鉴定提供了一个有力工具,已迅速应用于海洋浮游动物生态学研究.本文介绍了DNA条形码的基本概念、优势及局限性,总结了该技术(主要是基于线粒体细胞色素C氧化酶第一亚基(mtCOI)基因序列片段的DNA条形码)在海洋浮游动物物种快速鉴定、隐种发现、营养关系研究、生物入侵种监测、群落历史演变反演、种群遗传学以及生物地理学中的成功应用.随着DNA条形码数据库信息量覆盖率的不断提高和新一代测序技术的快速发展,DNA条形码将提供除了种类鉴定外更加丰富的信息,从而帮助人们更好地理解海洋浮游动物的多样性及其在生态系统中的功能,推动海洋浮游动物生态学的发展.     

测定温度的转化糖方法及其在景观生态学研究中的应用

通过理论分析,室内实验和野外实测对测定温度的转化糖方法进行了研究,获得如下结论：①该方法的测定结果能有效地反映小尺度景观单元中和各种群落内部的平均温度特征。②调整样品ＰＨ值,能使转化糖方法适用于多种研究地区和多种观测时段;③该方法能够方便而经济地实现在大量不同景观部位和不同群落类型中实现同步测定,也能在难以设置仪器的条件中进行测定;④转化糖方法所测之“效应温度”直接反映了温度对反应过程中的作用程度,因此,对生态过程中与温度之间的关系的研究具有特殊意义。     

甲基化敏感扩增多态性技术(MSAP)在生态学中的应用

DNA甲基化是生物体内最为重要的表观遗传修饰形式之一,在生态学上的应用越来越广泛。在收集、整理生态表观遗传学相关文献的基础上,介绍了甲基化敏感扩增多态性技术(MSAP)的原理、优势与局限性及其在生态学上的应用和展望。MSAP因其应用广泛、操作简便等优点成为研究DNA甲基化水平的有力工具,特别是在探究生物体如何快速适应生境变化以及外来入侵生物如何突破遗传瓶颈等问题上。MSAP技术能够很好地揭示生物种群内部或种群之间的表观遗传差异,是对遗传多样性、遗传变异研究的有力补充。     

地质统计学理论与方法及其在昆虫生态学中的应用

空间相关是昆虫生态学中普遍存在的一种客观现象 ,但这种空间相关性在传统的统计学分析中被忽略了。据此 ,文章对常用的地质统计学的空间相关理论和方法、以及这些理论和方法在昆虫生态学中的应用途径和研究进展作了简述。此外 ,对GIS在昆虫空间相关分析中的应用途径和方法也作了探讨。通过综合分析和比较 ,作者认为 ,未来地质统计学的发展将更多地与GIS融为一体 ,并且二者将与传统的时间序列方法和生物统计学方法有机结合 ,共同应用于昆虫生态学的时空分析和预测之中     

Estimation of cell volume and biomass of penicillium chrysogenum using image analysis

A methodology for the estimation of biomass for the penicillin fermentation using image analysis is presented. Two regions of hyphae are defined to describe the growth of mycelia during fermentation: (1) the cytoplasmic region, and (2) the degenerated region including large vacuoles. The volume occupied by each of these regions in a fixed volume of sample is estimated from area measurements using image analysis. Areas are converted to volumes by treating the hyphae as solid cylinders with the hyphal diameter as the cylinder diameter. The volumes of the cytoplasmic and degenerated regions are converted into dry weight estimations using hyphal density values available from the literature. The image analysis technique is able to estimate biomass even in the presence of nondissolved solids of a concentration of up to 30 gL(-1). It is shown to estimate successfully concentrations of mycelia from 0.03 to 38 gL(-1). Although the technique has been developed for the penicillin fermentation, it should be applicable to other (nonpellected) fungal fermentations.     

Blood volume measurement in baboons: simultaneous estimation of red cell volume and plasma volume

A method is described for frequent sequential blood volume estimation in baboons using 32P for red cell volume measurements and 125I-albumin for simultaneous plasma volume measurements. Values for red cell, plasma, and total blood volumes are reported. Close correlations of the volumes to bodyweight were demonstrated. Circulatory half-lives of the isotopes, determined from disappearance curves, confirmed their suitability for serial measurements in these baboons.     

生态学中的点格局研究概况及其在国内的应用

点格局分析是研究生态学格局的工具之一,近年来在生态学中的应用越来越多。为深入了解点格局分析方法在国内的研究与应用情况,以所总结的研究进展、一般步骤和基本要点为背景,分析评述了1996—2015年期间以点格局为主题的国内中文核心期刊文献。结果表明,在国内生态学格局研究中,应用研究占据主导地位,研究对象广泛,包括以树木为主的乔、灌、草等不同生活型的植物,甚至包括景观;基础研究,包括概括性统计量、零模型与点过程模型等方面,以及专用软件工具包的开发等研究薄弱。在应用中存在一定问题,主要表现为:概括性统计量使用单一,且以Ripley的K-函数及其变形为主;零模型(或点过程模型)是科学问题的统计表达,但是有一半以上的研究未明确给出零模型。建议在未来应用研究中重视多种统计量的组合使用和原假设的建立,在探讨热带、亚热带森林等具有复杂空间结构系统的多样性格局时,考虑对象的不同世代和系统的不同垂直层次,并加强多变量或三维概括性统计量的开发、点格局分析方法与动态过程模型的结合研究等工作。     

原生动物群落多样性变化与汉沽稳定塘水质净化效能相互关系的研究

天津汉沽生物稳定塘是近年建成并投入运行的多级污水净化系统和示范工程。论文报道了汉沽稳定塘各塘主要污染物的去除效果,重点论述了原生动物群落多样性变化及其结构和功能特征与水质净化的相互关系。研究结果表明,５个采样站原生动物群落结构与功能参数的变化与各级塘中污染物的浓度关系密切。进水口（１号站）由于各种污染物含量很高,原生动物种类数、个体数量、多样性指数ｄ值和ＰＦＵ原生动物的群集速度（功能参数）都为零。     

从时空异质性看东湖富营养化中原生动物的演替

1993-08～1994-08,东湖原生动物年均丰度为59,391ind./L,年均生物量为1.40mg/L。从V站到0站,随着营养水平(TSI)增加,数量(A)和生物量(B)显著增加LnA=-58.323+16.503LnTSI(n=5,r=0.983,p=0.003);LnB=-16.840+0.256TSI(n=5,r=0.996,p<0.001),两者均表现出明显的空间异质性。同时,丰度的周年动态模式也发生了明显演替,原来的春季和秋季高峰演变为冬季高峰,营养水平越高,冬季高峰越明显,随营养水平增加形成的原生动物群落结构-种类组成和现存量-的空间格局与年代变化趋势一致。     

空间分析方法在微生物生态学研究中的应用

微生物生态正在受到越来越多的关注,对其研究也渐趋深入。然而由于微生物个体微小的特点及研究手段的限制,多数研究还停留在探索阶段,研究方法也在不断完善当中。近年来,较多的研究开始探讨空间因素在微生物多样性和分布中的影响,对空间分布的探讨有助于更好地认识生态过程,是一种有力的研究手段。微生物空间分析方法已经成为微生物生态学领域中重要的研究方向之一,我国空间方法在微生物生态研究中的应用还没有得到普遍的重视。从不同研究角度出发,结合空间统计的作用,对空间统计方法在微生物生态研究中的应用的必要性及现状做了评述。介绍了空间自相关性的检验,方差图,Mantel检验,Kriging插值等方法在微生物生态研究中的应用,并论述了微生物研究中的尺度问题。这一梳理,对丰富微生物生态学研究中的新方法、新手段具有一定价值。     

Estimation of cell surface associated protease activity and its application to lymphocytes

A new method has been developed to estimate proteolytic activity available at the cell surface. Radioiodinated protein substrates are covalently linked to modified polystyrene-divinylbenzene beads with various diameters. These beads are presented to viable cells. Secreted enzyme activity is estimated when no contact occurs between beads and cells. Surface associated proteolytic activity is estimated by the increased rate of iodinated peptide release due to a contact between beads and cells. This method was applied to various lymphocyte preparations. In the absence of serum, mouse spleen lymphocytes produce three- to fourfold higher proteolytic activity than lymph node cells. This activity is completely inhibited by serum diluted 1:10. Since the proteolysis is so marked in the case of spleen cells, one must conclude that lymphocytes removed from the serum and treated in buffered mediums at 37° C have enzymatically altered surface properties. Cell surface associated enzyme activity was measured using rat lymph node lymphocytes with less than 0.1% contamination by granulocytes. This predominantly thymus derived, T cell population had 30% increase in proteolysis due to contact between cells and solid-phase localized substrate of casein. The released enzymatic activity was inhibited by diisopropylfluorophosphate, but its effect on the surface associated enzyme activity remains questionable since it perturbs several membrane functions.     

声景生态学数据分析与应用

声景生态学是研究景观中生物与非生物声音在多种时空尺度下的声学格局与过程,揭示声音与人类以及声音与自然之间关系的学科。基于声景生态学的研究内容,从声景元素解析、生物多样性评估及人类身心健康评价应用案例中,梳理了数据分析的前沿方法。结论表明,分析技术的发展,特别是人工智能技术的进步,使声景生态学的研究呈现从人工到机器、从单一特征计算到多维特征提取、从单学科研究到多学科联合分析的技术化发展趋势,不断拓展着声景生态学的研究深度与广度。同时这些分析技术的发展也急需优化和标准化,来提高方法的通用性和研究结果间的可比性。此外,需要融合生态学、计算机科学和心理学等交叉学科的理论和方法,进一步推动声景生态学数据分析技术方法体系的完善。     

Role of the protozoan Isotricha prostoma, liquid-, and solid-associated bacteria in rumen biohydrogenation of linoleic acid

From the simultaneous accumulation of hydrogenation intermediates and the disappearance of Isotricha prostoma after algae supplementation, we suggested a role of this ciliate and/or its associated bacteria in rumen biohydrogenation of unsaturated fatty acids. The experiments described here evaluated the role of I. prostoma and/or its associated endogenous and exogenous bacteria in rumen biohydrogenation of C18:2n-6 and its main intermediates CLA c9t11 and C18:1t11. Fractions of I. prostoma and associated bacteria, obtained by sedimentation of rumen fluid sampled from a monofaunated sheep, were used untreated, treated with antibiotics or sonicated to discriminate between the activity of I. prostoma and its associated bacteria, the protozoan or the bacteria, respectively. Incubations were performed in triplicate during 6 h with unesterified C18:2n-6, CLA c9t11 or C18:1t11 (400 μg/ml) and 0.1 g glucose/cellobiose (1/1, w/w). I. prostoma did not hydrogenate C18:2n-6 or its intermediates whereas bacteria associated with I. prostoma converted a limited amount of C18:2n-6 and CLA c9t11 to trans monoenes. C18:1t11 was not hydrogenated by either I. prostoma or its associated bacteria but was isomerized to C18:1c9. A phylogenetic analysis of clones originating from Butyrivibrio-specific PCR product was performed. This indicated that 71% of the clones from the endogenous and exogenous community clustered in close relationship with Lachnospira pectinoschiza. Additionally, the biohydrogenation activity of solid-associated bacteria (SAB) and liquid-associated bacteria (LAB) was examined and compared with the activity of the non-fractioned I. prostoma monofaunated rumen fluid (LAB + SAB). Both SAB and LAB were involved in rumen biohydrogenation of C18:2n-6. SAB fractions performed the full hydrogenation reaction to C18:0 while C18:1 fatty acids, predominantly C18:1t10 and C18:1t11, accumulated in the LAB fractions. SAB and LAB sequence analyses were mainly related to the genera Butyrivibrio and Pseudobutyrivibrio with 12% of the SAB clones closely related to the C18:0 producing B. proteoclasticus branch. In conclusion, this work suggests that I. prostoma and its associated bacteria play no role in C18:2n-6 biohydrogenation, while LAB convert C18:2n-6 to a wide range of C18:1 fatty acids and SAB produce C18:0, the end product of rumen lipid metabolism.