Description of a new Homidia species (Collembola,Entomobryidae) from Korea

A new species, Homidia pseudoformosana from Korea is described in the present paper. The new species is characterized by labral papillae, ciliated labial seta L₁ and dorsal chaetotaxy of abdominal segment IV. The detailed differences between similar Homidia species are provided.     

Microsatellite DNA loci in the rock bream Oplegnathus fasciatus

Nine novel microsatellite loci were isolated from Oplegnathus fasciatus by screening an enriched genomic library using nonradioactive PCR (polymerase chain reaction) techniques. All loci were found to be polymorphic with an average of 8.1 alleles per locus (range 3–15). The mean observed and expected heterozygosities were 0.71 (range 0.40–1.00) and 0.74 (range 0.50–0.90), respectively. Two loci showed significant Hardy–Weinberg disequilibrium at the P < 0.05 level. The high variabilities revealed in this study suggest that these microsatellite loci should provide useful markers for genetic variation monitoring of O. fasciatus.     

Internal Water Distribution and Cytoplasmic Streaming in Physarum polycephalum

A fungal vacuolation factor causes vacuolation when appliedto the plasmodium ofP. polycephalum, and also results in negativechemotaxis of the plasmodium. This, and the relationship betweenthe normal distribution of vacuoles in the plasmodium and itsdirection of locomotion, suggests that a similar factor maybe operative in determining polarity. A vacuolation factor hasbeen extracted from P. polycephalum. A vacuolar-reticular system in the cytoplasm shows a cycle ofcontractions and expansions that, in the advancing lobe at least,is usually in phase with the oscillating streaming pattern ofthe plasmodium in that region. The possible significance ofthese findings for the mechanism of streaming is discussed.     

Some Aspects of the Biology of Fusarium oxysporum Schl. in Soil

From either a mycelial or a conidial inoculum the fungus survivedin soil as inactive chlamydospores. The level of its soil populationat equilibrium was too low to be studied by dilution plating.Plant materials placed on or beneath the surface of inoculatedsoil were colonized deeply by the fungus, which produced conidiaon them. Dispersal of conidia can occur with water movementin soil, and at right angles to, as well as in the directionof, that movement. No evidence was found of dispersal of thefungus in soil by continuous growth, even over continuous stretchesof organic matter. This finding was related to the inabilityof the fungus to colonize those organic materials that werepreviously colonized by other organisms from the soil, unlessits inoculum potential were greatly augmented. The fungus isthus seen to be a pioneer fungus. The strain used here grewoutwards a short distance from colonized organic food basesin the soil, leaving in the soil resting spores which couldcolonize fresh pieces of organic material subsequently addedthere. The organism could thus spread by discontinuous growthon successively available, fresh, organic materials.     

Characterization of microsatellite markers for Couch's spadefoot toad (Scaphiopus couchii) and cross‐amplification in other species of the family Scaphiopodidae

I developed 12 di‐ and tetranucleotide microsatellite loci for Couch's spadefoot toad (Scaphiopus couchii). These loci have 3–37 alleles per locus and observed heterozygosities ranging from 0.157 to 0.941 among 85 individuals from four populations. Global and within‐population exact tests do not reveal departure from Hardy–Weinberg expectations and all loci pairs are in linkage equilibrium. These independent markers will be useful for studies of population structure and kinship in this commonly studied amphibian. Additionally, several of these loci may be applicable for studies of other North American toads of the family Scaphiopodidae.     

Contrasting levels of genetic diversity between the historically rare orchid Cypripedium japonicum and the historically common orchid Cypripedium macranthos in South Korea

Many terrestrial orchids are historically rare and occur in small, spatially isolated populations. Theory predicts that such species will harbour low levels of genetic variation within populations and will exhibit a high degree of population genetic divergence, primarily as a result of genetic drift. If the origin of the present‐day populations is relatively recent from the same genetically depauperate source population, a complete lack of genetic differentiation between conspecific populations is expected. If a terrestrial orchid was historically common with moderate or high levels of genetic diversity, but has experienced more recent anthropogenic disturbance as a result of over‐collection, it would still exhibit initial levels of genetic variation within populations and a low degree of genetic divergence between populations. To test these predictions, we examined the genetic diversity in six populations (N = 131) of the historically and currently rare Cypripedium japonicum and in four populations (N = 94) of the historically common but now rare C. macranthos from South Korea. Fourteen putative allozyme loci resolved from eight enzyme systems revealed no variation either within or among populations of C. japonicum, which supports the first prediction. In contrast, populations of C. macranthos harboured high levels of genetic variation (mean percentage of polymorphic loci %P = 46.7; mean expected heterozygosity H_e = 0.185) and exhibited a low degree of population genetic divergence (G_ST = 0.059), supporting the second prediction. The lack of genetic variation both within and among conspecific populations of C. japonicum may suggest that populations originated from the same genetically depauperate ancestral population. The high levels of genetic diversity maintained in populations of C. macranthos suggest that the collection‐mediated decrease in the number of individuals is still too recent for long‐term effects on genetic variation. Based on current demographic and genetic data, in situ and ex situ conservation strategies should be provided to preserve genetic variation and to ensure the long‐term survival of the two species in the Korean Peninsula. © 2009 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2009, 160 , 119–129.     

城镇用地扩张对城市热环境的影响

以快速城市化的典型区域广东省东莞市为例,以Landsat/TM、ETM~+为主要数据源,采用单窗算法反演地表温度,提出多时相数据标准化处理方法,构建相对热效应指数、热贡献指数、冷贡献指数,定量研究城镇用地扩张对城市热环境的影响.结果表明:1990-2005年,东莞市城镇用地扩张迅猛,高温区由岛状向带状再向面状扩张.城镇用地的相对热效应指数先增大后减小,1990年为0.6,2000年为1.0,2005年为0.6;热贡献指数持续增长,1990年为4.5%、2000年为38.4%,2005年为62.9%;冷贡献指数逐步增长,1990年为1.2%,2000年为1.8%,2005年为6.8%.

Abstract：

Taking the rapidly urbanized Dongguan City of Guangdong as a ease, and by using Landsat/TM and ETM~+ data, the land surface temperature (LST) was retrieved via mono-win-dow algorithm. A standardized method for treating the LST was proposed, and three thermal envi-ronment indices (relative thermal effect index, heat contribution index, and cold contribution in-dex) were built to quantitatively study the effects of urban land expansion on urban thermal envi-ronment. In 1990-2005, the urban land area in Dongguan had a rapid expansion, and the high temperature zone expanded from island-shape to belt-shape and then to lamina-shape. The rela-tive thermal effect index of urban land decreased after an initial increase, being 0. 6 in 1990,1.0 in 2000, and 0. 6 in 2005. The heat contribution index increased persistently, which was 4. 5% in 1990, 38.4% in 2000, and 62.9% in 2005, and the cold contribution index increased gradually, which was 1.2% in 1990, 1.8% in 2000, and 6. 8% in 2005.     

唐鱼野生种群在海南岛的新发现及其生态资料

于2007年在海南岛发现了国家Ⅱ级重点保护动物唐(Tanichthys albonubes Lin) 群,属种均为海南新记录.该属全球只有两种,种与种群间都呈间断分布,对研究鲤科鱼类的系统发育及古地理等均有重要的科研价值.由于早年过度采集作观赏鱼,加上珠三角地区的急速都市化发展,唐鱼曾被认为是野外已灭绝种.近年被重新发现后,迄今只知分布于广东省珠三角地区零散地点和越南广宁省下龙湾附近.海南岛足这个珍稀种首次在亚洲大陆以外被发现的地点,亦是唐鱼野生种群已知纬度最低的分布点.发现海南唐鱼的地点是一条低地小河,水质清澈,水流缓慢,水生植物茂盛,与广东省报道的唐鱼生境类似.发现海南种群的小河鱼类丰富,全今记录有共生鱼类20种,包括大量掠食性物种,但唐鱼足该地的优势种之一.在不同月份都可以发现体长10mm以下的仔鱼,显示海南岛的唐鱼无明显的繁殖季节.海南岛跟亚洲大陆隔离历史长,其唐鱼与亚洲大陆种群在形态、分子水平上是否存在明显差异,不同种群问的系统发育关系如何,海南唐鱼的保护重要性是否更为突出,是目前正在研究的课题.