Ecology of Infectious Disease: Forging an Alliance

The Ecology of Infectious Diseases (EID) program is a joint National Science Foundation–National Institutes of Health initiative to produce predictive understanding of disease dynamics, with a focus on diseases with an environmental component. The interdisciplinary research projects funded by this program take advantage of the wide range of theoretical and methodological advances developed over the past 30 years. The challenge for disease ecology is to unravel these systems, discover how complex they truly are, and to determine if they can be predicted and controlled using targeted environmental, public health, or medical interventions. Between 1999 and 2005, a total of 42 research awards were made under the EID program. EID projects have had affects on policy in two areas: adoption of novel interventions on a local scale and use of models by government agencies for the purpose of allocating public health resources. The past 6 years have been an exciting time for the field of disease ecology; we expect the coming years to be even more exciting and productive. As US federal government employees writing an article as part of our official duties, copyright of all publications is retained by the US government. The views expressed here by Samuel M. Scheiner and Joshua P. Rosenthal are those of the authors and do not represent official views or policies of the National Science Foundation, the National Institutes of Health, or the United States Government.     

Baobabs and elephants in Kruger National Park: nowhere to hide

Baobab size class distributions were surveyed in the Limpopo National Park (LNP), Mozambique, and the Kruger National Park (KNP), South Africa. There are very few elephants in the LNP and the baobab population there had a reverse J-shaped size class distribution with many small baobabs. In contrast, the elephant-impacted baobab population of KNP displayed a mono-modal size-class distribution, with a lack in recruitment. Within KNP, elephant impact (percentage bark stripped up to the height of 3 m) decreased with increasing rockiness and slope steepness. We interpret this to suggest that steep rocky slopes are inaccessible to elephants and therefore these sites may act as a refuge for baobabs. In such inaccessible areas, the baobab population has a similar size-class distribution to that of the populations in the LNP. However, these baobab refugia are restricted in the northern KNP landscape and are therefore probably not large enough to sustain a viable baobab population.     

Pioneering Interdisciplinary Research Initiatives for Oceans and Human Health

Following the release of the report From Monsoons to Microbes by the National Research Council in 1999, efforts began to promote federal sponsorship of research and education in a new scientific discipline focusing on how the ocean affects human health. The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) and the National Science Foundation (NSF) initiated a joint program to establish and sustain several research Centers for Oceans and Human Health (COHH) at nonfederal institutions. Shortly thereafter, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) mounted a similar initiative to establish intramural centers at existing NOAA facilities as well as an extramural grants program. This profile reviews the history and current state of these developments. The statements and opinions in this report are those of the authors only and do not necessarily represent the position of, or imply commitments by, any agency of the United States Government.     

华南国家植物园发展历史与未来展望

该文系统回顾了华南国家植物园近百年来几个关键时期的历史发展、主要成就和社会贡献,从国家、中国科学院、地方政府三个层面分析了华南国家植物园率先设立的缘由,展望了华南国家植物园的未来发展前景,提出了我国国家植物园体系建设的思考和建议。     

新疆伊犁六个民族的初潮年龄

1983年7月至1984年7月,用回忆法调查了新疆伊犁地区3972名12—23岁的女性的初潮年龄,其中哈萨克族924人,维吾尔族864人,锡伯族486人,回族209人,蒙古族216人,汉族1273人。其平均初潮年龄是:哈萨克族14.37±1.09岁,维吾尔族14.34±1.41岁,蒙古族14.21±1.05岁,回族13.89±1.32岁,锡伯族13.78±1.02岁,汉族13.61±1.11岁。各族中均以七、八、九三个月来月经的最多。此外,还发现六个民族中1969—1972年出生的与1961—1964年出生的相比,平均初潮年龄都明显提前。在八年中,回族提前2.67岁,蒙古族提前1.90岁,锡伯族提前1.78岁,汉族提前1.64岁,哈萨克族提前1.17岁,维吾尔族提前1.13岁。     

云南省少数民族皮纹研究—白族等十一个民族皮纹正常值测定

本文报告了云南省白族等11个少数民族14项皮纹正常值参数,并与汉族、北美白人作了比较,进行了统计学分析与聚类分析。结果表明,皮纹这一类遗传性状不仅在各人种之间有显著差异,而且在我国各民族之间也存在显著差异。各民族有自己皮纹的特异性。     

Description of a new small-sized Synodontis species (Siluriformes: Mochokidae) that is important for local subsistence fisheries in the middle Lufira (upper Congo River,DR Congo)

Synodontis denticulatus sp. nov. is an endemic from the middle Lufira Basin and its associated tributaries and lakes. The species shows close morphological resemblance to Synodontis greshoffi and Synodontis unicolor, which are widespread Congo Basin and Bangweulu-Mweru endemic species, respectively. However, it differs from both S. greshoffi and S. unicolor by its non-villous skin (v. villous skin), strong and numerous serrations on the posterior margin of the dorsal spine (v. weak and fewer serrations), weak and few serrations on the posterior margin of the pectoral spine (v. strong and numerous serrations), relatively short maxillary barbels (v. long) and its small maximum standard length (89.1 mm L_S v. 148.0 and 190.7 mm L_S respectively). A DNA barcoding study (coI, mtDNA) revealed that S. denticulatus forms a distinct genetic clade with a genetic distance of 2.18% with S. greshoffi and 0.84% with S. unicolor. Synodontis denticulatus is caught regularly and abundantly as a by-catch in the gillnet fisheries in the middle Lufira lakes. Owing to its small overall size and large bony head, the species has usually no real commercial value but is an important food fish for the fishermen's families.     

Philopotaminae of Madagascar (Trichoptera: Philopotamidae)

The Malagasy fauna includes two genera of Philopotaminae: Wormaldia McLachlan 1865 and an endemic new genus, Ranarijaodes n. gen. The Malagasy and African (sensu stricto) lineages of Wormaldia are distinct. Apomorphic characters (the shape of the phallic apparatus for the African species and the splitting of the median lobe of the tenth tergite for the Malagasy species) confirm their separation. New captures are reported for two of the four previously known species of Wormaldia. Seven new species are described: Wormaldia ambahibeae n. sp., W. faharoa n. sp., W. fahatelo n. sp., W. randriamasimananai n. sp., W. fahefatra n. sp., W. legrandi n. sp. and W. fahadimy n. sp. Ranarijaodes n. gen. is close to Dolophilodes Ulmer 1909. It is described for the three new species Ranarijaodes fiana n. sp., R. angapi n. sp. and R. atsimo n. sp. The 14 Malagasy species of Philopotaminae are endemics of the island. Their geographical distributions and ecological preferences are described and discussed.     

中国三江源国家公园与韩国智异山国家公园的对比研究

自1967年智异山被认定为韩国首个国家公园以来,韩国以国家公园为主体的自然保护地体系建设已历经50余年。这期间韩国在国家公园的建设中积累了大量经验,十分值得我国借鉴。选取我国首个国家公园体制试点——三江源国家公园和韩国首个国家公园——智异山国家公园为研究对象,对二者的管理现状进行了定性分析,并运用基于最优实践的国家公园管理能力评价方法对二者的管理能力进行了定量评价。研究表明:三江源国家公园的管理能力综合得分低于智异山国家公园,在体制建设、保障机制、资源环境管理、社区管理和科普教育五个方面均与智异山国家公园存在一定差距;智异山国家公园在资源本底调查、法制建设、多方参与、环境教育和游憩管理方面的管理能力十分突出,为三江源国家公园管理能力的提升提供了有益借鉴;三江源国家公园在生态补偿和制度约束方面具有比较优势,但在自然资源权属、资源本底调查、社区组织建设和游憩管理方面则亟待提升。在此基础上,针对三江源国家公园建设提出了强化科研支撑、健全多方参与制度、推进全民福利共享三项建议,针对我国国家公园体制建设提出了制定《国家公园法》、设置自然保护地顶层规划两项建议,以期促进三江源国家公园管理能力提升、推动我国国家公园体制建设。     

Fracture toughness of mountain gorilla (Gorilla gorilla beringei) food plants

Mountain gorillas, the largest extant primates, subsist almost entirely on plant matter. Moreover, their diet includes a substantial amount of structural material, such as bark and stems, which other primates tend to avoid. Accordingly, the robust masticatory apparatus of gorillas may be adaptive to this presumably tough diet; however, quantitative information on this subject is lacking. In this study the fracture toughness of mountain gorilla foods was examined for the first time. Samples of 44 food plants from Bwindi-Impenetrable National Park (BINP) and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park (MGNP) were tested. These parks are inhabited by two gorilla populations that regarded by some as being distinct at the subspecific taxonomic level. Although food toughness did not differ between the two populations, both diets contained tough items. Tree barks were the toughest food items (varying from 0.23 to 8.2 kJ/m2), followed by shrub barks, pith, and stems. The toughness of leaves and fruit was negligible compared to that of bark. The toughness of bamboo was low in comparison to the toughest food items. Accordingly, the prominent toughness of bark, pith, and stems may be key factors in the evolution of orofacial robusticity in mountain gorillas.     

Skinfold thicknesses in a national probability sample of U.S. males and females aged 6 through 17 years

Cycles II and III of the Health Examination Survey included measurements of the skinfolds of over 14,000 individuals 6 through 17 years of age, statistically weighted to provide an accurate national probability sample. Analyses of the triceps and subscapular skinfolds of Negroes and whites are reported here, utilizing the median in preference to the mean. Females of either racial group have thicker skinfolds at all ages studied. Whites have greater median triceps thicknesses than Negroes of the same sex and age, but there are no differences between the two racial groups in the subscapular. Since, between all but one pair of adjacent ages in males, from 12 years on, the median triceps fold decreases, but the estimated cross-sectional are of fat increases, it is strongly recommended that reductions in triceps thickness not be automatically interpreted as meaning a loss of subcutaneous fat. Since greater skewness is found in the subscapular distributions in whites, but not in the triceps, it is suggested that racial differences in triceps thickness at these ages occurs from the operation of hereditary factors, while differences in the subscapular skinfold arise from environmental causes.     

安徽天堂寨国家级自然保护区蝶类名录

本文记载安徽天堂寨国家级自然保护区内蝴蝶8科102种,其中4种为安徽省蝶类新记录。     

云南哀牢山、无量山国家级自然保护区蝴蝶种群动态及多样性

蝴蝶是无脊椎动物中最受关注的类群和环境指示生物之一, 其种群动态及群落结构能快速地反映环境的状况。哀牢山和无量山国家级自然保护区具有复杂多样的生境, 含有丰富的动植物资源。为了有效地保护环境和资源, 2016‒2018年在这两个自然保护区开展了蝴蝶资源及其种群动态的研究。结果表明: 两地蝴蝶均具有较高的多样性水平, 且哀牢山蝴蝶多样性较无量山丰富。哀牢山共观测记录5科83属149种, 该地蝴蝶Shannon-Wiener指数(H_s′)为3.92, 物种丰富度为16.36, Simpson指数为0.97; 景东县无量山样区共记录蝴蝶5科88属143种, Shannon-Wiener指数(H_s′)为3.64, 物种丰富度为15.04, Simpson指数为0.96。哀牢山、无量山两个样区共有5科99属178种蝴蝶。生境分析表明两地蝴蝶均具有明显的垂直分布特征, 哀牢山蝴蝶主要分布在海拔1,100 m以下, 而无量山蝴蝶主要分布在1,100-1,400 m之间。调查时段分析表明, 两地蝴蝶主要分布在5-9月, 哀牢山8月蝴蝶种类较丰富, 而无量山9月蝴蝶种类较丰富。年份分析表明, 哀牢山、无量山两地均以2016年蝴蝶多样性最丰富, 这与适宜的气候及较弱的人为干扰有密切的关系。两地蝴蝶群落为中等相似, Jaccard相似性系数为0.64, 共有种有114种(64.05%)。鉴于无量山、哀牢山蝴蝶多样性较丰富, 且有13种近危物种、3种易危物种和56种个体数极低(≤ 10头)的未列入红色名录的物种, 因此蝴蝶保护工作刻不容缓。     

旅游废弃物生态影响评价——以九寨沟、黄山风景区为例

从旅游生态系统物质与能量循环的特点出发,提出旅游废弃物的概念,构建基于生态足迹的旅游废弃物生态影响评价模型,并以九寨沟、黄山风景区为例进行实证比较研究.研究结果表明:(1)2004年九寨沟旅游废弃物生态足迹总量为46960.5678hm2,是黄山总量22331.4490hm2的2.1倍,人均0.024560966hm2是黄山人均0.01394088 hm2的1.76倍.(2)显性生态因子的废水、粪便、固体垃圾、废弃物处理设施的生态足迹很小,4类合计仅占总量的0.16%(九寨沟)与0.3%(黄山),而隐性生态因子CO2排放的生态足迹则占总量的99.84%(九寨沟)与99.70%(黄山).(3)2004年九寨沟与黄山旅游业的CO2排放量分别高达309455.66t与146947.84t,游客人均CO2排放量分别为161.85kg、91.74kg,旅游业的CO2排放对全球气候变化与生态影响的特征明显.(4)旅游废弃物生态足迹中游客占1%,居民占0.26%,而相关企业(交通、饭店)占98.74%.(5)旅游废弃物对九寨沟风景区、成都-九寨沟沿途区域、成都—九寨沟沿途区域以外地区不同空间尺度的生态影响分别为1.26%、34.8%、63.94%;对黄山风景区、黄山市区域、黄山市区域以外地区的生态影响分别为14.6%、31.97%、53.43%.(6)2004年九寨沟、黄山旅游业的生态效率分别为2.53kgCO2-e/US$、1.67kgCO2-e/US$,生态效率值偏大,对生态环境的影响深远.(7)由于风景区规模、性质、游客构成以及游客选择交通工具的差异,旅游废弃物对不同旅游地生态影响的程度与方向不同,而降低游客规模、缩短旅行距离、减少飞机旅行方式等是降低旅游废弃物生态影响的关键.     

Teaching of Microbiology in Schools

Differences between games, simulations, and case studies are identified. The values of these approaches are considered. Examples of particular uses within a biological context are provided. Appendices provide details of commercially available materials and articles on biological games.     

美国国家癌症研究所(National Cancer Institute)--美国癌症研究和资助的主要机构

美国国家癌症研究所(National Cancer Institute,NCI)成立于1937年,是国立卫生研究院(National Institutes of Health,NIH)历史最为悠久的研究所,也是美国癌症研究和资助的主要机构。通过立法及增加对癌症研究的投入,NCI在癌症研究领域取得一些成绩,使肺癌、结直肠癌、乳腺癌及前列腺癌的死亡率持续下降,另在胰腺癌、卵巢癌、白血病和甲状腺癌等肿瘤的诊断和治疗方面也取得了巨大成就。新近NCI制定了到20l5年的奋斗目标：“消除痛苦、减少死亡”,并将主要策略由“寻找进而破坏(seekanddestory)”转为“锁定并且控制(target and control)”。为了实现上述目标,NCI提出必须加强基础研究,以利癌症的早期发现(discovery);以此为基础,将实验室的研究结果尽快用于临床,促进各种治疗措施的发展(development);加强癌症防治的公共卫生宣传,以利于健康资讯的发布(delivery)。本文将简述NCI的历史沿革、主要目标、组织结构、资金预算以及所取得的成就。     

六个民族中结合珠蛋白的遗传多态性

用聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳法研究了黑龙江省及内蒙古自治区6个民族共计1854例健康人的血浆结合珠蛋白的遗传多态性。分别计算了每个群体中的Hp基因频率,经X~2检验证明6个群体中Hp的表型分布均符合Hardy-Weinberg法则。同时,和其它地区报告的汉族群体资料进行比较,发现Hp~1基因频率在中国不同地区有从北到南逐渐增高的倾向。     

自然旅游地居民自然保护态度的影响因素——中国九寨沟和英国新森林国家公园的比较

居民的自然保护态度对自然旅游地的自然保护与旅游可持续发展至关重要,自然旅游地居民自然保护态度的影响因子及影响方式,已经成为自然旅游地管理的重要内容,但相关研究薄弱。以中国九寨沟和英国新森林国家公园(New Forest National Park,NF)为例,根据实地问卷调查数据,从两地居民的人口属性、旅游环保期望、旅游环境影响感知及旅游环境伦理观与其自然保护态度关系的角度,进行定量比较研究。研究发现:(1)两地居民的自然保护态度受不同因子的影响,存在明显的中外差异;(2)人口属性特征如性别、年龄、居住年限、教育水平及旅游业参与情况对新森林国家公园社区居民的自然保护态度没有影响;但性别、旅游业参与情况却影响九寨沟居民的自然保护态度,女性及旅游业参与者更支持对九寨沟进行自然保护;(3)新森林国家公园居民的自然保护态度受其旅游环保期望及旅游环境伦理观的影响:旅游环保期望较高、持保护主义环境伦理观的新森林国家公园居民,更有可能支持对新森林国家公园进行自然保护;(4)九寨沟居民的自然保护态度不受其旅游环保期望及旅游环境伦理的影响,但受其旅游环境影响感知的影响;居民的旅游环境影响感知越消极,越支持对九寨沟进行自然保护。