鸮形目两种鸟类线粒体基因组全序列测定与比较研究

利用Long-PCR和Primer Walking结合克隆测序法对短耳鸮和长耳鸮线粒体基因组进行了全序列测定. 结果表明: 短耳鸮mtDNA序列全长为18858 bp, 长耳鸮mtDNA全长为18493 bp, 其中短耳鸮mtDNA是目前已知最长的鸟类线粒体基因组. 两种鸮类的基因组结构和基因排列顺序与家鸡相同, 无假控制区, 在ND3基因174位点都存在一个额外插入的胞苷酸(C). 控制区序列异常增大是造成这两种鸟类mtDNA增大的主要原因, 短耳鸮控制区长度为3288 bp, 长耳鸮为2926 bp, 这是目前已知的脊椎动物线粒体基因组中仅次于盲鳗的最大的控制区. 在其控制区3′端存在大量的串联重复序列, 分析发现这两种鸮类的重复序列和Mt5调控元件有较高的序列相似性, 且能形成多重的茎环二级结构, 这表明该重复序列可能具有一定的生理功能, 影响线粒体基因组的复制或转录表达, 从而使相应物种具有更大的选择优势, 以适应环境和生存竞争.     

吉林向海自然保护区占用喜鹊巢繁殖的鸟类巢记述

部分鸟类在繁殖过程中,为避免被捕食、减少繁殖投入等而选择占用其他鸟类的巢。2014~2016年每年的4~8月,在吉林向海国家级自然保护区记录到4种占用喜鹊巢进行繁殖的鸟类,其中绿头鸭(Anas platyrhynchos)8巢,纵纹腹小鸮(Athene noctua)4巢,长耳鸮(Aiso otus)5巢,麻雀(Passer montanus)6巢。大部分(82.6%)为利用喜鹊的废弃旧巢,而绿头鸭(1巢)、长耳鸮(2巢)和纵纹腹小鸮(1巢)少数侵占喜鹊当年新建的巢。     

鸮形目8种鸟类线粒体DNA多态性研究

采用14种限制性内切酶,对鸮形目8种鸟类(Tyto alba、T.capensis、Otus bakkamoena、O.scops、Asio otus、A.flammeus、Strix aluco、Glaucidium cuculoides)线粒体DNA进行限制性片段长度多态分析, 结果表明:不同种间存在基因组长度多态性,短耳鸮为23.35 kb,长耳鸮为19.78 kb,斑头鸺鹠为18.62 kb,红角鸮为17.65 kb.鸮形目种间具有较高的遗传变异,其中仓鸮和草鸮的平均遗传距离为1.0%,长耳鸮和短耳鸮平均为10.8%,红角鸮和领角鸮平均为13.1%,灰林鸮和斑头鸺鹠为12.3%,其中红角鸮与斑头鸺鹠的平均遗传距离最大为17.5%.鸮形目鸟类线粒体DNA的进化速率为每百万年变化2.0%～2.2%,提示鸮形目两个科间在距今2 800～3 000万年前分歧开来,同时,鸱鸮科各种间的分歧时间在距今2 000～2 500万年前,即处于中新世中期.     

大卫鼠耳蝠线粒体控制区串联重复序列变异

中国特有种大卫鼠耳蝠线粒体D-loop区串联重复序列以81bp为重复单元,重复3～7次。54%的个体具有4个串联重复序列,与5～7个串联重复序列的现有模式具有较大的差异。重复单元的遗传差异受所在位次影响,具有明显的家族性或区域性特点。串联重复序列和相对保守的第一重复单元构建的ML树均形成了3个明显的分支,分别定名为东南区、西南区和南方区。线粒体重复序列区域间的差异暗示其可能经历了多次进化,并以东南区变异最为显著。     

6种猛禽消化系统的比较研究

对6种猛禽(普通鵟Buteo buteo、毛脚鵟B.lagopus、红隼Falco tinnunculus、长耳鸮Asio otus、短耳鸮A.flammeus和鸮Bubo bubo)的消化系统形态结构进行了解剖测量和比较,以了解鸟类消化系统形态结构与食性的关系.结果显示,长耳鸮的消化管最长,是体长的2.08倍;鸮的消...     

阿尔金山国家级自然保护区纵纹腹小鸮食性的季节变化

2012—2013年间,利用食团分析法对阿尔金山国家级自然保护区纵纹腹小鸮Athene noctua的食性进行分析。共分析343个纵纹腹小鸮食团,鉴定出353个猎物。以个体计,当地纵纹腹小鸮主要取食小型哺乳动物,占95.18%,其次为鸟类,占3.97%,也取食少量昆虫(0.85%)。生物量贡献则以小型哺乳动物为主,占99.35%。纵纹腹小鸮在夏季和冬季就可鉴定的取食动物种类比例组成而言,差异具有高度统计学意义(χ2=52.27,df=4,P0.01)。冬、夏两季纵纹腹小鸮取食哺乳动物的平均胫骨长度差异具有高度统计学意义(P0.01)。全年来看,纵纹腹小鸮取食哺乳动物的胫骨长度平均为19.45 mm±5.84 mm(n=194),主要取食Ⅱ级(10.01 mm~20.00 mm)和Ⅲ级(20.01 mm~30.00 mm)的猎物(分别为46.39%和48.45%)。保护区纵纹腹小鸮的食物生态位宽度以夏季最高(2.583),冬季最低(0.949)。研究结果表明纵纹腹小鸮是机会主义捕食者,根据生境中食物的可获得性改变食性。     

山东西部地区猛禽的生态分布

1990年3月～2007年8月在山东西部(聊城市及周边)地区所记录的猛禽分布情况中,共记录到猛禽2目3科18种,其中优势种有黑耳鸢Milvus lineatus、大鵟Buteo hemilasius、普通鵟Buteo buteo、红隼Falco tinnunculus、长耳鸮Asio otus;常见种有燕隼Falco subbuteo、东方角鸮Otus sunia、纵纹腹小鸮Athene noctua、短耳鸮Asio flammeus;另外,有9个稀有种:凤头蜂鹰Pernisptilorhynchus、雕鸮Bubo bubo、游隼Falco peregrinus、灰背隼Falco columbarius、阿穆尔隼Falco amurensis、雀鹰Accipiter nisus、鹗Pandion haliaetus、白尾鹞Circus cyaneus和黄爪隼Falco naumanni,其中后4种是21世纪以来见到的.各种猛禽有明显的栖息地选择差异和季节性分布密度变化,总体密度有些微回升趋势.     

串联重复序列在琴叶拟南芥基因组中的特征探究

串联重复序列广泛存在于真核生物的基因组中,它通过影响染色质的空间结构及基因表达从而影响生物的遗传与进化.本研究以琴叶拟南芥(Arabidopsis lyrata)基因组为材料,分析了1～50 bp重复单元的串联重复序列特征.研究发现串联重复序列在基因的5'UTR和启动子区域密度最高(8757 bp/Mb,8430 bp/Mb),而编码区CDS的密度最低(2406 bp/Mb).基因组中重复模体最高的为单核苷酸重复的T/A碱基,5'UTR中包含大量的二核苷酸重复模体,而在CDS中主要是三核酸重复模体.串联重复序列特征在琴叶拟南芥基因组不同区域的差别,显示其与基因表达和调控功能相适应.本研究深入探讨了串联重复序列在植物基因组中的特征及作用,为重复序列调控基因表达及植物基因组进化提供借鉴.     

五种鲟鱼线粒体控制区异质性和系统发育分析

利用保守引物得到五种鲟鱼的线粒体DNA（mtDNA）控制区（D-loop）全长,长度在795~813 bp。序列中包括了CBS（conserved sequence block）和TAS（termination-associated sequence）区域。利用最大似然法、最大简约法和贝叶斯法构建了系统发育树,发育树分成两枝,呈现明显的生物地理分布。分析表明,现有的鳇属鱼类不是单系群起源。五种鲟鱼D-loop序列都存在长度和数目不等串联重复序列,长度在78~82 bp之间,重复序列拷贝数在4~6次不等,因此造成了mtDNA广泛的异质性现象。不同种类的重复序列单元十分相似,达氏鳇和史氏鲟重复序列单元相似度为82.93%,西伯利亚鲟和俄罗斯鲟重复序列单元相似度为90.59%。在串联重复序列后是一段不完全重复序列。通过与已有同种的重复序列比对发现不同鲟鱼重复序列相同,不同地理区域相同物种的重复序列可能发生过分子内重组。这些表明重复序列在鲟鱼进化上具有相关意义,推测重复序列可能产生在种分化前,重组发生在种分化后。     

不同栖居地和越冬时期长耳鸮的食物组成

通过分析2003—2006年连续3个冬季北京城区和城郊越冬长耳鸮的食团,研究了长耳鸮食物组成的时间与空间变化特征。每月收集1次长耳鸮食团,通过其内容物分析长耳鸮食物中的猎物种类和数量构成。结果表明：城区和城郊两地长耳鸮3种主要猎物中蝙蝠的被捕食率分别为41.6%和43.0%,鼠类为27.5%和39.4%,鸟类为30.7%和18.9%;城区和城郊长耳鸮的食物构成在2004—2005年与2005—2006年的冬季存在显著差异,初冬和冬末的食物构成差异也呈显著水平;同区域的长耳鸮食物构成在年度间和不同越冬时期皆存在显著差异;两地越冬长耳鸮捕食猎物比例的差异与生存环境中猎物资源的可获得性有关。     

Herpersvirus strigis: host spectrum and distribution in infected owls.

Herpesvirus strigis, a new species of the genus Herpesvirus, is a pathogen for several species of owls in the order Srigiformes. Natural infection has been observed in the Eagle Owl (Bubo bubo L.), Long-eared Owl (Asio otus L.) and Snowy Owl (nyctea scandiaca L.) In addition the Little Owl (Athene noctua Scopolic) and Tengmalms Owl (Aegolius funereus L.) was experimentally infected. On the other hand the Tawny Owl (Strix aluco L.) and Barn Owl (Tyto albo Scopoli) proved resistant to a massive experimental infection. Of representatives from nine other orders of birds and mammals, only the Old World Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus L.) was found susceptible to this virus. Distribution of viral antigen in various organs of infected owls, as determined by immunofluorescence and by quantitative virus assay, was in accordance with the occurrence of macroscopic and microscopic lesions.     

The complete mitochondrial genomes sequences of Asio flammeus and Asio otus and comparative analysis

Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), as a model sys-tem, has been extensively used for molecular phy-logenetic and evolutionary analysis[1]. With the ad-vances in DNA sequencing technology, more andmore researchers prefer to use complete mitochondrialgenome for phylogenetic analysis[2—4]. Since the com-plete sequencing of human mtDNA in 1981 (Andersonet al., 1981)[5], 342 vertebrate mitochondrial genomeshave so far been sequenced. Up to now the completesequences of 29 avian mitochondrial genomes h…     

The impact of predation by birds on bat populations in the British Isles

The role played by predation of birds in the mortality of British bats is assessed. A review of dietary studies and anecdotal accounts revealed eleven species of bird which occasionally feed on bats–Herring Gull Larus argentatus , Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundus , Rook Corvus frugilegus , Carrion Crow Corvus corone , Little Owl Athene noctua , Short-eared Owl Asio flammeus , Kestrel Falco tinnunculus , Hobby Falco subbuteo , Merlin Falco columbarius , Peregrine Falco peregrinus and Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus. A further three species feed more frequently on bats–Barn Owl Tyto alba , Tawny Owl Strix aluco and Long-eared Owl Asio otus. Rates of predation were very low accounting for only 00034^o_o of items taken by small hawks and falcons ( n items = 29 519) but 0035^o, of prey taken by owls ( n items = 99 479). By multiplying together the average annual prey capture rates of the predators, assessed from their energetic food requirements and direct observations of prey intake rates, the British populations of the predators and the contribution to the diet made by bats, the annual number of bats which die each year as a result of predation was estimated. The total losses of bats to predation might amount to about 201 400 bats/annum. The most significant predators are Tawny Owl ( c. 168 850 bats/annum), Barn Owl (c. 8800 bats/ annum), Long-eared Owl (c. 10 200 bats/annum) and Kestrels (c. 8400 bats/annum). This predation by avian predators would account for about 11 % of the annual mortality of British bats. An assessment of the biases involved in this calculation suggests it is probably a minimum estimate. Despite the apparent low representation of bats in the diets of predatory birds, the effects of this predation on bat behaviour and population dynamics cannot be ignored.     

Trichinella pseudospiralis in sedentary night-birds of prey from Central Italy.

Trichinella pseudospiralis has been isolated from carnivorous and carrion-feeding mammals and birds in Eastern Europe, Asia, Australia, and North America, suggesting its cosmopolitan distribution. We conducted a survey to detect this parasite in raptorial and carrion-feeding birds in Italy, examining muscles from 205 animals by artificial digestion. We isolated from the breast muscle 1 larva from a tawny owl (Strix aluco) and 2 larvae from a little owl (Athene noctua). These larvae were identified as T. pseudospiralis by the polymerase chain reaction with a specific primer set. This is the first documented report of T. pseudospiralis in animals in Western Europe.     

Origin and evolution of homologous repeated sequences in the mitochondrial DNA control region of shrews

The complete mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) control region was amplified and directly sequenced in two species of shrew, Crocidura russula and Sorex araneus (Insectivora, Mammalia). The general organization is similar to that found in other mammals: a central conserved region surrounded by two more variable domains. However, we have found in shrews the simultaneous presence of arrays of tandem repeats in potential locations where repeats tend to occur separately in other mammalian species. These locations correspond to regions which are associated with a possible interruption of the replication processes, either at the end of the three-stranded D-loop structure or toward the end of the heavy-strand replication. In the left domain the repeated sequences (R1 repeats) are 78 bp long, whereas in the right domain the repeats are 12 bp long in C. russula and 14 bp long in S. araneus (R2 repeats). Variation in the copy number of these repeated sequences results in mtDNA control region length differences. Southern blot analysis indicates that level of heteroplasmy (more than one mtDNA form within an individual) differs between species. A comparative study of the R2 repeats in 12 additional species representing three shrew subfamilies provides useful indications for the understanding of the origin and the evolution of these homologous tandemly repeated sequences. An asymmetry in the distribution of variants within the arrays, as well as the constant occurrence of shorter repeated sequences flanking only one side of the R2 arrays, could be related to asymmetry in the replication of each strand of the mtDNA molecule. The pattern of sequence and length variation within and between species, together with the capability of the arrays to form stable secondary structures, suggests that the dominant mechanism involved in the evolution of these arrays in unidirectional replication slippage.      

不同产地中华鳖的线粒体控制区序列分析及结构比较

采用PCR特异引物,扩增了两产地中华鳖（Pelodiscus sinensis）个体的mtDNA控制区（CR）及其邻近片段,测序获得了长度分别为1830bp和1630bp的序列。结合GenBank中已发表的韩国产中华鳖mtDNA的CR区序列,比较了3个产地中华鳖的CR区结构。分析显示：中华鳖不同产地mtDNA CR区DNA中的A＋T含量分别为60.5%、63.6%和64.8%,它们的5′、3′末端以及CSB1-CSB2之间均存在丰富的可变数目串联重复序列（variable numbers oftandem repeats,VNTR）。基于mtDNA CR区序列和结构分析,显示中华鳖不同产地的野生个体中存在丰富的遗传多样性。