Estimation of life cycle components of selection in an experimental plant population

Viability and fertility components of selection associated with linkage blocks marked by four electrophoretically detectable loci were estimated in an experimental population of barley [Composite Cross V (CCV)]. The intensity of selection affecting the distribution of pollen types in the outcross pool was also estimated and comparisons were made between the selective values of genes in the pools of uniting ovules and pollen. The estimates show that selection was intense at various stages of the life cycle and that viability and fertility components often opposed one another. Estimates of viability and fertility components of selection were also extended to the three-locus level. The multilocus estimates reveal large differences in viability and fertility among homozygous genotypes. It is concluded that strong selection operates at all life cycle stages in CCV, although often in differing directions.     

The effect of selection on esterase allozymes in a barley population

Changes in gene and genotypic frequencies at four esterase loci were monitored over 25 generations in Composite Cross V, an experimental population of barley, to obtain experimental evidence concerning the balance of forces responsible for: (1) the marked differences in allelic frequencies among barleys from different ecogeographical regions of the world; and (2) the extensive allelic variation found within local populations of barley. Analyses of the highly significant changes in allelic frequencies which occurred in CCV showed they were due to directional selection favoring particular alleles and not to mutation, migration or genetic drift. The results show that intense balancing selection, featuring consistent excesses of heterozygotes, also occurred in CCV. It is concluded that among the factors of neo-Darwinian evolution, natural selection plays the predominant role in determining the observed patterns of allelic variation in the barley species as a whole.     

Interpreting population differentiation in terms of drift and selection

Summary Many empirical studies demonstrate some degree of genetic differentiation among populations of the same species. Understanding the relative importance of the processes causing this genetic differentiation has proven to be a difficult task. In particular, population differentiation can be influenced primarily by selection, genetic drift, and migration. We review the effect of drift and migration on patterns of genetic variation, with special reference to the conditions necessary for population differentiation. Conceptually, selection may be implicated in cases of population differentiation if the effect of drift and migration can be shown to be insufficient to cause the observed patterns. We examine some of the pitfalls of this approach when used with allozyme data, and revise a previous conclusion concerning the relative importance of selection in poulations of scale insects.     

Two-stage life cycle of a Cordylophora population in the Netherlands

A population of Cordylophora caspia was studied during a number of years in interconnected waters of different salinity and pollution. The distribution pattern of the colonies is only partly accounted for by these properties of the water. Part of it is also due to the availability of suitable substratum.Evidence is given that colonies of Cordylophora grow and survive on stones along the banks, but flourish during the summer on free-floating water-lily stalks.Zoological Laboratory, University of AmsterdamZoological Laboratory, University of Amsterdam     

Dynamics of numerical changes in human population in terms of animal population ecology

The author uses data concerning the natural regulation of population size and growth among animals to consider possible future scenarios for human population growth. Four possible variants are considered: "numerical stabilization and its consequences connected with density effect; sharp slump caused by a global ecological catastrophe; limited slump brought about by exhaustion of resources and environmental pollution; numerical decrease through birth regulation. It has been shown that only the last variant can, in [the] case of the human population being 1.2-1.5 billion people, ensure restoration of [the] biosphere with keeping [the] existing tempo of scientific-technological progress." (SUMMARY IN ENG)     

The use of canonical analysis for selection within a population of spring barley

A selection method is described involving the application of canonical analysis to data for a number of measured traits in a composite population of spring barley grown in two seasons. Lines were selected which fell within the Euclidean space defined by the range, for a number of standard cultivars, on each significant canonical variate. Alternatively, limits were fixed for an acceptable range for each trait and transformed to canonical variates. Lines were selected which fell nearest to the centroid of this acceptable space. The method might be used as an alternative to the selection index method where difficulty is often encountered in assigning appropriate economic weightings to the traits measured.     

Genetic changes with generations of artificial selection

Using conditional probabilities and moment-generating matrices, I derived approximate algebraic equations that give expectations of gene frequency, population mean, gene frequency variance within lines, or heterozygosity, and gene frequency variance between lines, or drift, for repeated cycles of recurrent selection in populations of finite size. For genes of large effect, the responses to selection differ substantially from the classical expectations, and equations are derived that give quantitative estimates of asymmetry of response when selection is done in opposite directions. Particular cases of the derived formulae yield equations given by other authors. The error involved in the approximations is discussed in the appendix.     

利用InDel标记分析中国香菇菌株的遗传多样性与群体结构

通过对5个香菇菌株重测序,以香菇L808-1菌株的全基因组序列为参考基因组,分析了这些菌株中插入/缺失（InDel）标记位点在香菇基因组10条染色体上的分布,并筛选了插入/缺失碱基数≥15的位点,合成了449对InDel标记引物。经过PCR和电泳检测,其中237对引物条带清晰。最终筛选出107个PIC≥0.3的标记作为核心InDel标记对来自国内的44份香菇菌株进行遗传多样性分析。聚类分析显示栽培菌株和野生菌株各自聚为一支,所选香菇菌株间存在明显的群体分层。群体结构分析显示香菇种质资源可分为4个亚群,主成分分析显示香菇菌株之间的位置及距离与聚类分析和群体结构分析结果相符。香菇InDel分子标记的开发与应用,为香菇核心种质的构建和种质资源育种引用提供了基础。     

Concentration changes of some elements during a year cycle in Lake Vechten

During summer-stratification in Lake Vechten (May–October) a great number of chemical parameters show variations. The concentration patterns of calcium, manganese and iron have been studied in some detail.The calcium concentration in the epilimnion is controlled by carbonate-formation; in the hypolimnion however, no saturation with respect to calcium-carbonate is reached, due to the fact, that carbondioxide equilibrium with the atmosphere no longer exists. The concentration pattern in the hypolimnion (max. concentration about 80 mg.l^–1 near the sediment, 40 mg.l^–1 in epilimnion) is controlled by the velocity of calcium transport from the sediment and perhaps by dissolution of precipitating carbonates from the epilimnion.The maximum manganese concentration in the hypolimnion (about 5 mg.l^–1) is controlled by the solubility of manganese carbonate, causing, together with manganese transport from the sediment, a uniform concentration up to two meters above the bottom. In the epi- and meta-limnion the presence of oxygen is limiting the concentration of manganese.The iron concentration in the hypolimnion shows a strong gradient existing until the overturn (max. concentration near the sediment about 20 mg.l^–1) and is controlled by a number of mechanisms: 1^o. Oxidation by oxygen and manganese oxides near the epilimnion. 2^o. Precipitation by sulphide formation; a strong correlation exists at different depths between sulphate disappearance and a slower increase of iron concentration. 3^o. Transport from the sediment.Control of iron concentration by carbonate formation is unlikely, as the solubility product of iron carbonate is greatly exceeded (10–100 fold). The relative importance of the other processes is not yet known.To describe iron- and manganese dynamics in relation to the cycle of reducing power, generated in primary production we need data about precipitating quantities of iron and manganese compounds, for which suitable sediment-traps must be developed.     

The force of selection on the human life cycle

In this article, I present evidence for a robust and quite general force of selection on the human life cycle. The force of selection acts in remarkably invariant ways on human life histories, despite a great abundance of demographic diversity. Human life histories are highly structured, with mortality and fertility changing substantially through the life cycle. This structure necessitates the use of structured population models to understand human life history evolution. Using such structured models, I find that the vital rates to which fitness is most sensitive are prereproductive survival probabilities, particularly the survival of children ages 0 to 4 years. The fact that the preponderance of selection falls on transitions related to recruitment combined with the late age at first reproduction characteristic of the human life cycle creates a fitness bottleneck out of recruitment. Because of this, antagonistic pleiotropy with any trait that detracts from the constituent transitions to recruitment is expected. I explore the predictors of variation in the force of selection on early survival. High fertility increases the selective premium placed on early survivorship, whereas high life expectancy at birth decreases it.     

哈氏噬纤维菌生活史中形态的变化

【目的】研究哈氏噬纤维菌Cytophaga hutchinsonii 在生活史中细胞形态的变化。【方法】利用光学显微镜、荧光显微镜和电子扫描显微镜对哈氏噬纤维菌生活状态进行详细观察。【结果】发现在饥饿状态下,长杆状菌体开始逐渐弯曲,菌体两端靠近成环形,环形菌体又进一步盘绕收缩成微小球形体,微小球形体在一定条件下能像生孢噬纤维菌的小孢囊一样萌发形成长杆状菌。另外还观察到哈氏噬纤维菌特殊的类核分裂现象。【结论】首次对哈氏噬纤维形成环形菌体和类似小孢囊的微小球形体的过程进行详细描述,为进一步揭示其形态变化与纤维素降解能力之间的关系提供依据。     

Genetic analysis of grain and malt quality in an elite barley population

Quantitative trait loci (QTLs) associated with grain weight, grain width, kernel hardness and malting quality were mapped in a doubled haploid population derived from two elite Australian malting barley varieties, Navigator and Admiral. A total of 30 QTLs for grain weight, grain width and kernel hardness were identified in three environments, and 63 QTLs were identified for ten malting quality traits in two environments. Three malting quality traits, namely β-amylase, diastatic power and apparent attenuation limit, were mainly controlled by a QTL linked to the Bmy1 gene at the distal end of chromosome 4H encoding a β-amylase enzyme. Six other malting quality traits, namely α-amylase, soluble protein, Kolbach index, free amino-acid nitrogen, wort β-glucan and viscosity, had coincident QTL clustered on chromosomes 1HS, 4HS, 7HS and 7HL, which demonstrated the interdependence of these traits. There was a strong association between these malt quality QTL clusters on chromosomes 1HS and 7HL and the major QTL for kernel hardness, suggesting that the use of this trait to enable early selection for malting quality in breeding programs would be feasible. In contrast, the majority of QTLs for hot-water extract were not coincident with those identified for other malt quality traits, which suggested differences in the mechanism controlling this trait. Novel QTLs have been identified for kernel hardness on chromosomes 2HL and 7HL, hot-water extract on 7HL and wort β-glucan on 6HL, and the resulting markers may be useful for marker-assisted selection in breeding programs.     

A demographic analysis of the components of selection in a population of Arctic Skuas.

From previously published demographic data of the age distributions and reproductive rates of the pale, intermediate and dark phenotypes of the Arctic Skua, revised estimates are obtained of the intrinsic rates of increase and selective coefficients of the phenotypes in each sex. Two significant components of selection are variation in age of maturity and variation in reproductive success. Sexual selection is a component of the variation in reproductive success. Dark and intermediate birds have a greater reproductive success than pales, partly as a result of their advantage in sexual selection. Pale birds have an overall advantage, however, because they are younger when they first breed. Given the estimated selective coefficients, a computer model predicts that pale birds will gradually replace the others. So far there are not enough data collected over a sufficiently long time to test the model rigorously.     

Genetic analysis of the components of winterhardiness in barley (Hordeum vulgare L.)

Winterhardiness in cereals is the consequence of a number of complex and interacting component characters: cold tolerance, vernalization requirement, and photoperiod sensitivity. An understanding of the genetic basis of these component traits should allow for more-effective selection. Genome map-based analyses hold considerable promise for dissecting complex phenotypes. A 74-point linkage map was developed from 100 doubled haploid lines derived from a winter x spring barley cross and used as the basis for quantitative trait locus (QTL) analyses to determine the chromosome location of genes controlling components of winterhardiness. Despite the greater genome coverage provided by the current map, a previously-reported interval on chromosome 7 remains the only region where significant QTL effects for winter survival were detected in this population. QTLs for growth habit and heading date, under 16 h and 24 h light, map to the same region. A QTL for heading date under these photoperiod regimes also maps to chromosome 2. Contrasting alleles at these loci interact in an epistatic fashion. A distinct set of QTLs mapping to chromosomes 1, 2, 3, and 5 determined heading date under 8 h of light. Under field conditions, all QTLs identified under controlled environment conditions were determinants of heading date. Patterns of differential QTL expression, coupled with additive and additive x additive QTL effects, underscore the complexity of winterhardiness. The presence of unique phenotype combinations in the mapping population suggests that coincident QTLs for heading date and winter survival represent the effects of linkage rather than pleiotropy.     

Genetic components of root architecture and anatomy adjustments to water-deficit stress in spring barley

Roots perform vital roles for adaptation and productivity under water-deficit stress, even though their specific functions are poorly understood. In this study, the genetic control of the nodal-root architectural and anatomical response to water deficit were investigated among diverse spring barley accessions. Water deficit induced substantial variations in the nodal root traits. The cortical, stele, and total root cross-sectional areas of the main-shoot nodal roots decreased under water deficit, but increased in the tiller nodal roots. Root xylem density and arrested nodal roots increased under water deficit, with the formation of root suberization/lignification and large cortical aerenchyma. Genome-wide association study implicated 11 QTL intervals in the architectural and anatomical nodal root response to water deficit. Among them, three and four QTL intervals had strong effects across seasons and on both root architectural and anatomical traits, respectively. Genome-wide epistasis analysis revealed 44 epistatically interacting SNP loci. Further analyses showed that these QTL intervals contain important candidate genes, including ZIFL2, MATE, and PPIB, whose functions are shown to be related to the root adaptive response to water deprivation in plants. These results give novel insight into the genetic architectures of barley nodal root response to soil water deficit stress in the fields, and thus offer useful resources for root-targeted marker-assisted selection.     

Genetic regulation of life cycle transitions in the brown alga Ectocarpus

The life cycle of an organism is one of its most elemental features, underpinning a broad range of phenomena including developmental processes, reproductive fitness, mode of dispersal and adaptation to the local environment. Life cycle modification may have played an important role during the evolution of several eukaryotic groups, including the terrestrial plants. Brown algae are potentially interesting models to study life cycle evolution because this group exhibits a broad range of different life cycles. Currently, life cycle studies are focused on the emerging brown algal model Ectocarpus. Two life cycle mutants have been described in this species, both of which cause the sporophyte generation to exhibit gametophyte characteristics. The ouroboros mutation is particularly interesting because it induces complete conversion of the sporophyte generation into a functional, gamete-producing gametophyte, a class of mutation that has not been described so far in other systems. Analysis of Ectocarpus life cycle mutants is providing insights into several life-cycle-related processes including parthenogenesis, symmetric/asymmetric initial cell divisions and sex determination.     

Social life cycle assessment for material selection: a case study of building materials

Purpose

Sustainability of a material-based product mainly depends on the materials used for the product itself or during its lifetime. A material selection decision should not only capture the functional performance required but should also consider the economical, social, and environmental impacts originated during the product life cycle. There is a need to assess social impacts of materials along the full life cycle, not only to be able to address the “social dimension” in sustainable material selection but also for potentially improving the circumstances of affected stakeholders. This paper presents the method and a case study of social life cycle assessment (S-LCA) specialized for comparative studies. Although the authors’ focus is on material selection, the proposed methodology can be used for comparative assessment of products in general.

Methods

The method is based on UNEP/SETAC “guidelines for social life-cycle assessment of products” and includes four main phases: goal and scope definition, life cycle inventory analysis, life cycle impact assessment, and life cycle interpretation. However, some special features are presented to adjust the framework for materials comparison purpose. In life cycle inventory analysis phase, a hot spot assessment is carried out using material flow analysis and stakeholder and experts’ interviews. Based on the results of that, a pairwise comparison method is proposed for life cycle impact assessment applying analytic hierarchy process. A case study was conducted to perform a comparative assessment of the social and socio-economic impacts in life cycle of concrete and steel as building materials in Iran. For hot spot analysis, generic and national level data were gathered, and for impact assessment phase, site-specific data were used.

Result and discussion

The unique feature of the proposed method compared with other works in S-LCA is its specialty to materials and products comparison. This leads to some differences in methodological issues of S-LCA that are explained in the paper in detail. The case study results assert that “steel/iron” in the north of Iran generally has the better social performance than “concrete/cement.” However, steel is associated with many negative social effects in some subcategories, e.g., freedom of association, fair salary, and occupational health in extraction phase. Against, social profile of concrete and cement industry is damaged mainly due to the negative impact of cement production on safe and healthy living condition. The case study presented in this article shows that the evaluation of social impacts is possible, even if the assessment is always affected by subjective value systems.

Conclusions

Application of the UNEP/SETAC guidelines in comparative studies can be encouraged based on the results of this paper. It enables a hotspot assessment of the social and socio-economic impacts in life cycle of alternative materials. This research showed that the development of a specialized S-LCA approach for materials and products comparison is well underway although many challenges still persist. Particularly characterization method in life cycle impact assessment phase is challenging. The findings of this case study pointed out that social impacts are primarily connected to the conduct of companies and less with processes and materials in general. These findings confirm the results of Dreyer et al. (Int J Life Cycle Assess 11(2):88–97, 2006). The proposed approach aims not only to identify the best socially sustainable alternative but also to reveal product/process improvement potentials to facilitate companies to act socially compatible. It will be interesting to apply the UNEP/SETAC approach of S-LCA to other materials and products; materials with a more complex life cycle will be a special challenge. As with any new method, getting experience on data collection and evaluation, building a data base, integrating the method in software tools, and finding ways for effective communication of results are important steps until integrating S-LCA in routine decision support.     

Visualization of cytoskeletal changes through the life cycle inAcetabularia

Summary The cytoskeleton in the siphonous, marine green algaAcetabularia is visualized by immunocytochemistry using antibodies against plant alfa tubulin and animal smooth muscle actin. In the vegetative phase of the life cycle, when the cell grows a cylindrical stalk and until the reproductive cap is completed, actin forms continuous, parallel bundles that extend through the entire length of the stalk and cap rays respectively. Microtubules (MTs) cannot be detected until the primary nucleus, located in the rhizoid of the giant cell, divides to form thousands of secondary nuclei. MTs can then be seen radiating from each secondary nucleus that is encountered in the stalk on its migration upwards into the cap rays. They are oriented mostly parallel to the long axis of the cell. At arrival in the cap rays up to the white spot stage, when nuclei assume equidistant positions in the cap ray cytoplasm, a radiating system of MTs forms around each nucleus and dramatically increases until impressive radial arrays have developed. This phase coincides with a disappearance of actin bundles in the cap rays, but they are retained in the stalk cytoplasm. Shortly after that additional MTs appear around the disk like partitions of cap ray cytoplasm. Concomitantly, bundles of actin reappear colinearly with the circumferrential MTs eventually forming complete rings around each disk of cap ray cytoplasm. During this process the compartments of the future cysts are gradually bulging outwards and simultaneously the rings of actin sink inwards until domes are formed with the nuclei fixed in the top centers of the domes. At this stage the peripheral areas of the radiating MT systems around the nuclei start to break down, whereas the circumferrential MT systems remain intact. Subsequently, the rings of both actin and MTs decrease in diameter, and finally contract to a spot opposite the nucleus, while the cysts continue to develop their oval shape. After the cysts have become separated, they round up and enter several rounds of nuclear divisions. MTs form short radial arrays around each nucleus with minor changes due to a reduction of MTs during division followed by a reappearance after completion of each division. Actin is rearranged in the cysts to a cortical network of randomly oriented, short bundles, that is maintained until gamete formation sets in.These findings accentuate the involvement of Cytoskeletal elements in the key steps of morphogenesis inAcetabularia to an extent that is unknown in higher plants.