甘肃兴隆山自然保护区马麝夏季栖息地特征及生境选择格局

2006—2008年夏季(7—8月),对甘肃兴隆山自然保护区马麝(Moschus Sifanicus)的栖息地特征和夏季生境选择格局进行了研究。用Mann-Whitney U检验和χ2检验比较了马麝夏季利用生境样地(n=71)和对照性非利用样地(n=264)间的海拔等17个生态变量的差异,结果表明,兴隆山马麝夏季利用生境的郁闭度[(53.87±3.09)%]和乔木均高[(7.57±0.83)m]均显著大于非利用样地[郁闭度:(49.07±1.66)%,乔木均高:(6.33±0.32)m],喜食植物多度[(12.97±1.80)]株也显著大于非利用样地[(9.61±0.67)株]。此外,与非利用样地相比,兴隆山马麝夏季倾向于选择位于中坡位较陡(67.61%)、距离水源较近(<1000m,77.46%)、隐蔽度(88.73%)和避风性均较好(90%)及距人为干扰较远(>1000m,76.06%)的生境;主成分分析结果表明,前4个因子的累积贡献率达72.45%,由乔木胸径和乔木郁闭度变量组成的乔木因子是决定马麝夏季生境选择的首要因素,此外,海拔因子,由地表植被盖度和食物多度组成的食物因子,由灌木盖度、乔木密度和灌木...     

Genetic differences between broodstock and offspring of seven-band grouper in a hatchery

The seven-band grouper (Epinephelus septemfasciatus) is an important fishery resource of a target for prospective aquaculture diversification and maintenance of stock quality is thus important. To explore the sustainability of fry production, genetic variations in 83 seven-band groupers from two broodstock and offspring populations of a hatchery strain were analyzed using 13 polymorphic nuclear microsatellite DNA loci; 133 alleles were identified. Allelic variability ranged from 4 to 18 in the broodstock and from 3 to 11 in the offspring. The average observed and expected heterozygosities were 0.669 and 0.734 in broodstock and 0.674 and 0.649 in offspring, respectively. Although no statistically significant reductions in heterozygosity or allelic diversity were evident in offspring, considerable loss of rare alleles was apparent. The broodstock and offspring populations exhibited significant genetic differences (F _ST = 0.033, P < 0.001) indicating that genetic drift has likely promoted differentiation between the two populations, which may have negative effects on sustainable fry production. Therefore, genetic variations between broodstock and offspring should be monitored, and inbreeding should be controlled, to ensure the success of commercial breeding programs. Our data provide a useful genetic basis for future planning of sustainable culture and management of E. septemfasciatus in fisheries.     

Ecological characteristics of plant species and associations along two Dinaric karstic rivers (Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Balkans)

This paper describes the plant communities of two oligotrophic karstic rivers with a slight anthropogenic influence — the Trebi?at and the Li?tica — in South Bosnia and Herzegovina, their sinecology, and the relationship between vegetation and plant species and environmental parameters. According to 87 relevés, a total of 26 plant associations, using Braun-Blanquet methods, were found in the rivers and nearby surveyed area. Only nine associations were common to both rivers. Eight associations were recorded for the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina for the first time. Associations from both rivers differed according to following parameters measured at the sampling site: water temperature, distance from the mouth (river kilometers), river width, water depth, flow, pH and slope. There were no differences in nutrient concentrations among the associations. According to Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA), three environmental variables out of the 11 initially considered were retained as being related to plant distribution. The first two axes explained 56.8% and 35.2% of variance of species-environment relationship in the Trebi?at and Li?tica rivers, respectively. Water depth in the Trebi?at River, and pH and river kilometers in the Li?tica River were found to be the most influential, while nutrients and other physico-chemical parameters were not significant in either river. Water depth vector was identified as an underlying environmental factor determining distribution of Potamogeton lucens and Myriophyllum verticillatum (Potamion), and Nymphaea alba (Nymphaeion albae). According to in situ measurements of light intensity, the highest coefficients of light attenuation, radiance and reflection were found at a station with dense populations of Potamogeton lucens and Nuphar luteum (Potametum lucentis). The vegetation and floristic value of the rivers is discussed as a basis for biodiversity conservation programmes and evaluating the state of these ecosystems in the future.     

Honokiol Suppresses Renal Cancer Cells’ Metastasis via Dual-Blocking Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition and Cancer Stem Cell Properties through Modulating miR-141/ZEB2 Signaling

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is associated with a high frequency of metastasis and only few therapies substantially prolong survival. Honokiol, isolated from Magnolia spp. bark, has been shown to exhibit pleiotropic anticancer effects in many cancer types. However, whether honokiol could suppress RCC metastasis has not been fully elucidated. In the present study, we found that honokiol suppressed renal cancer cells’ metastasis via dual-blocking epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and cancer stem cell (CSC) properties. In addition, honokiol inhibited tumor growth in vivo. It was found that honokiol could up-regulate miR-141, which targeted ZEB2 and modulated ZEB2 expression. Honokiol reversed EMT and suppressed CSC properties partly through the miR-141/ZEB2 axis. Our study suggested that honokiol may be a suitable therapeutic strategy for RCC treatment.     

Systematic analysis of biochemical performance and the microbial community of an activated sludge process using ozone-treated sludge for sludge reduction

Two lab-scale bioreactors (reactors 1 and 2) were employed to examine the changes in biological performance and the microbial community of an activated sludge process fed with ozonated sludge for sludge reduction. During the 122 d operation, the microbial activities and community in the two reactors were evaluated. The results indicated that, when compared with the conventional reactor (reactor 1), the reactor that was fed with the ozonated sludge (reactor 2) showed good removal of COD, TN and cell debris, without formation of any excess sludge. In addition, the protease activity and intracellular ATP concentration of reactor 2 were increased when compared to reactor 1, indicating that reactor 2 had a better ability to digest proteins and cell debris. DGGE analysis revealed that the bacterial communities in the two reactors were different, and that the dissimilarity of the bacterial population was nearly 40%. Reactor 2 also contained more protozoa and metazoa, which could graze on the ozone-treated sludge debris directly.     

我国设施黄瓜新育成品种芽期耐盐性评价

用100 mmol/L Mg(NO3)2盐溶液对不同生态类型的143个设施黄瓜新品种进行4 d芽期胁迫处理,调查各种质的发芽势、发芽指数、相对伤害率、发芽率、相对发芽率、第2天和第4天胚根伸长长度、后2 d胚根伸长速度等8个指标,利用各指标隶属函数值对其耐盐性进行聚类分析,并对耐盐强的种质进行恢复出苗初步筛选。研究结果表明,黄瓜萌发期的耐盐性强弱评价结果受多个指标的影响。8个发芽指标的变异系数为10.5%~81.0%,除了发芽率和相对发芽率的变异较小外,其他性状的变异幅度均较大(32.0%~81.0%);各性状指标变异系数在不同生态类型种质中表现不同,华北型和欧洲温室型种质以相对伤害率变异系数为最大,华南型和欧美加工型种质以后2 d胚根伸长速度变异系数最大。从种质总体抗盐结果看,欧美加工型和欧洲温室型>华南型>华北型。各指标隶属函数值聚类分析结果表明,将所有种质划为耐盐强、中、弱3类,其中耐盐强的品种共有54个,占37.8%。54个耐盐品种胁迫后经出苗试验初步筛选出12个恢复能力强的品种,即:J31-1>绿精灵>DRT5>YT24>东农02号>上海农科4号>冬灵102>IVF8>津优35>HGS-2>扬大13>J30-1。     

The effect of drought stress on heterozygosity–fitness correlations in pedunculate oak (Quercus robur)

Background and Aims

The interaction between forest fragmentation and predicted climate change may pose a serious threat to tree populations. In small and spatially isolated forest fragments, increased homozygosity may directly affect individual tree fitness through the expression of deleterious alleles. Climate change-induced drought stress may exacerbate these detrimental genetic consequences of forest fragmentation, as the fitness response to low levels of individual heterozygosity is generally thought to be stronger under environmental stress than under optimal conditions.

Methods

To test this hypothesis, a greenhouse experiment was performed in which various transpiration and growth traits of 6-month-old seedlings of Quercus robur differing in multilocus heterozygosity (MLH) were recorded for 3 months under a well-watered and a drought stress treatment. Heterozygosity–fitness correlations (HFC) were examined by correlating the recorded traits of individual seedlings to their MLH and by studying their response to drought stress.

Key Results

Weak, but significant, effects of MLH on several fitness traits were obtained, which were stronger for transpiration variables than for the recorded growth traits. High atmospheric stress (measured as vapour pressure deficit) influenced the strength of the HFCs of the transpiration variables, whereas only a limited effect of the irrigation treatment on the HFCs was observed.

Conclusions

Under ongoing climate change, increased atmospheric stress in the future may strengthen the negative fitness responses of trees to low MLH. This indicates the necessity to maximize individual multilocus heterozygosity in forest tree breeding programmes.     

Mg2+依赖性蛋白磷酸酶1δ的生物信息学分析

Mg2+依赖性蛋白磷酸酶1δ(protein phosphatase magnesium-dependent 1δ,PPM1D)作为肝癌潜在的预后标志物和治疗靶点,其致癌机制和预后价值仍未完全阐明。为了全面认识PPM1D,使用生物信息学方法,对PPM1D蛋白的序列同源性、组织表达、亚细胞定位、理化性质、空间结构及蛋白质相互作用网络进行分析。结果表明:人PPM1D基因编码605个氨基酸组成的多肽,与物种进化程度一致,属于PP2C蛋白超家族,是碱性不稳定的亲水蛋白,无信号肽和跨膜区域;PPM1D蛋白主要定位于细胞核内,其主要二级结构为随机卷曲,存在磷酸化、乙酰化、甲基化和泛素化位点,与PPM1D相互作用的蛋白主要是细胞周期检查点蛋白和细胞损伤修复相关蛋白。根据分析结果阐述了PPM1D蛋白与癌症的相关性以及PPM1D蛋白作为癌症标志物的理论基础,为进一步研究该蛋白及其参与的信号通路提供一定的借鉴和参考。     

Climate warming and atmospheric deposition affect seed viability of common juniper (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Juniperus communis</Emphasis>) via their impact on the nutrient status of the plant

Global environmental change is increasingly affecting species worldwide. One of the emblematic casualties among plants in several European countries is common juniper (Juniperus communis). Many populations of common juniper throughout its distribution range are declining. The relative lack of viable seed production, resulting in low probabilities for successful natural regeneration, is one of the main reasons for this decline. Climate warming and elevated atmospheric depositions have been shown to negatively affect seed viability of common juniper, but our understanding of the underlying mechanisms remains scarce. One possible pathway is via changes in the plant nutrient status that, in turn, may affect seed viability. Here we took advantage of large-scale gradients in climate and atmospheric depositions between central Sweden and northern Spain, and analysed foliar nutrient concentrations and stoichiometry and seed viability in 20 juniper populations spread across Europe. Our results show that increasing temperatures can negatively affect needle N and P concentrations while enhanced potentially acidifying depositions resulted in lower foliar N and Ca concentrations. Needle C:N ratios increased with higher temperature, acidifying depositions and precipitation. By linking these patterns to seed viability, we found that low needle P, Ca and Mg concentrations were related to low seed viability. Thus, a shortage of these key elements during seed development and seed nutrient storage, can lead to anomalies and seed abortion. These findings help to explain the low seed viability of juniper in Europe and may help to assist land managers to take urgently needed conservation actions.