Invasive cane toads are unique in shape but overlap in ecological niche compared to Australian native frogs

Invasive species are an important issue worldwide but predicting invasiveness, and the underlying mechanisms that cause it, is difficult. There are several primary hypotheses to explain invasion success. Two main hypothesis based on niche spaces stand out as alternative, although not exclusive. The empty niche hypothesis states that invaders occupy a vacant niche space in the recipient community, and the niche competition hypothesis states that invaders overlap with native species in niche space. Studies on trait similarity/dissimilarity between the invader and native species can provide information on their niche overlap. Here, we use the highly invasive and well‐studied cane toad (Rhinella marina) to test these two hypotheses in Australia, and assess its degree of overlap with native species in several niche dimensions. We compare extensive morphological and environmental data of this successful invader to 235 species (97%) of native Australian frogs. Our study is the first to document the significant morphological differences between the invasive cane toad and a continent‐wide frog radiation: despite significant environmental overlap, cane toads were distinct in body size and shape from most Australian frog species, suggesting that in addition to their previously documented phenotypic plasticity and wide environmental and trophic niche breadth, their unique shape also may have contributed to their success as an invasive species in Australia. Thus, the invasive success of cane toads in Australia may be explained through them successfully colonizing an empty niche among Australian anurans. Our results support that the cane toad's distinct morphology may have played a unique role in the invasiveness of this species in Australia, which coupled with a broad environmental niche breadth, would have boosted their ability to expand their distribution across Australia. We also propose RLLR (Relative limb length ratio) as a potentially useful measure of identifying morphological niche uniqueness and a potential measure of invasiveness potential in anuran amphibians.     

Different seasonal feeding activity of diverse herbivores in two temperate forests

The aim of the present study was to understand the effects of abiotic conditions on seasonal feeding activity of diverse herbivores on the same oak tree species in two different forests. We tracked changes in herbivore feeding activities on an oak tree species (Quercus serrata) in two localities: a low elevation small hillock forest patch (Muan, MN) and a middle elevation mountain forest patch (Mt. Jirisan, JR). A total of five sites were selected in each of two forest localities. Data for leaf expansion, leaf chemical qualities, leaf damage ratio, and numbers of lepidopteran caterpillars were collected during spring (May) and summer (July to August), 2012. Leaf expansion rate was higher at the low hillock forest than the mid‐mountain forest from spring to summer. Nitrogen and carbon content decreased seasonally at both localities. Lepidopteran larval diversity was high in the mid‐mountain forest, and two‐way ANOVA showed that species richness of lepidopteran larvae was significantly affected by the interaction between season and locality. Leaf damage by all herbivores was higher in the low hillock forest than the mid‐mountain forest in spring, but was higher in the mid‐mountain forest in summer. Relative proportion of general herbivores increased from spring to summer in the mid‐mountain forest, but not in the low hillock forest. Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA) ordination showed that altitude‐ and season‐related variables were significant species and environment interaction factors. Our data indicate that locality and temperature disproportionally affected the feeding activities of diverse herbivores in two different temperate forests.     

蜘蛛杀虫肽基因的合成及其在植物中表达质粒的构建

近年来用生物制剂防治害虫,虽然可以避免环境污染,但效果往往不稳定,而用基因工程方法,将抗虫基因导入植物的基因组中,让植物自身产生抗虫物质,将是一种理想的途径［１,２］。抗虫的植物基因工程主要是利用苏云金杆菌的内毒素蛋白,转化此基因的烟草和番茄显示了对虫的抗性［３—６］。澳大利亚Ｄｅａｋｉｎ大学从一种蜘蛛毒液中分离纯化到一种只有３７个氨基酸的小肽,体外实验发现其能杀死多种对农业生产有害的昆虫,但对哺乳动物没有毒害作用［７］。我们根据此肽的氨基酸序列,采用植物偏爱的密码子,人工合成并克隆了此肽的基因…     

稻田蜘蛛混合种群空间分布模式动态分析(英文)

结果表明,在东方红农场稻田中总共有11科29属43种蜘蛛,其中早稻田中有8科19属43种,晚稻田中有10科27属36种。在水稻的不同发育阶段蜘蛛混合种群的空间分布模式存在差异。在早稻发育的前期、中期和后期,稻田蜘蛛混合种群的空间分布模式分别是聚集的、随机的和聚集的;在晚稻发育的前期、中期和后期,其空间分布模式依次是均匀的、聚集的和均匀的。同时,对其空间分布模式动态进行了初步分析。     

微生物修复返溶铬污染场地的研究进展

目前,我国历史遗留铬渣堆场多数采用湿法解毒工艺进行处理,但大量化学药剂的添加不仅增加了成本,引入了污染物,而且随时间的延长铬渣中的Cr(Ⅵ) 源源不断的返溶,场地出现返黄现象,形成二次污染。为了持久稳定的修复铬渣,研究人员提出用微生物修复技术处理湿法解毒后铬渣中Cr(Ⅵ) 的返溶。文中综述了国内外微生物修复铬渣污染场地的研究进展,首先简述了铬渣的危害、处理现状及传统的铬污染修复技术,并以湿法解毒铬污染为例,重点揭示了处理后铬渣中Cr(Ⅵ) 的返溶机理,由此可知湿法解毒后的二次污染不可避免。随后详述了微生物修复Cr(Ⅵ) 过程中生物还原、生物吸附和生物矿化三大作用机理,并阐述了铬污染场地修复过程中微生物物种的响应及群落结构的演替,最后,总结了微生物修复铬渣的研究进展并展望了未来的研究方向。     

Ca(NO3)2对NaCl胁迫下木麻黄扦插苗生理特征的调控

用不同浓度 Ca(NO3) 2 · 4 H2 O(0 .7、1.4、2 .1g Ca2 / kg土 )对 1年生的处在两种 Na Cl胁迫 (10和 2 0 g/ kg)处理下的木麻黄扦插苗进行化学调控 ,研究硝酸钙盐加氯化钠处理的木麻黄幼苗的生长量、木麻黄幼苗抗氧化酶系统活性和渗透调节物质的含量的变化 ,研究结果表明 :中度 Na Cl胁迫加硝酸钙处理下的木麻黄扦插苗的可溶性蛋白质含量增加 ,MDA含量降低说明膜脂过氧化作用减轻 ,而且抗氧化酶活性 (SOD、POD)之间协调变化有利于提高清除自由基的速率 ,中度盐胁迫下钙盐可以促进木麻黄体内脯氨酸的积累 ;但重度 Na Cl胁迫下钙盐对木麻黄的调控作用不显著 ,重度盐胁迫下钙盐反而降低木麻黄 SOD、POD活性和脯氨酸的含量 ,减弱了抗氧化酶系统对活性氧的清除作用 ,同时高浓度钙盐还会加重 Na Cl胁迫对木麻黄幼苗的损伤 ,这说明适量的钙盐有利于木麻黄幼苗抵抗盐胁迫能力的提高 ,而高浓度钙盐则可能会加重盐胁迫     

一个新的产氢细菌的鉴定及产氢特性的研究

利用Hungate滚管技术从福建省漳州垃圾处理厂厌氧消化器的颗粒污泥中分离到一株产氢的细菌L15。菌株L15为严格厌氧的革兰氏阳性杆菌,菌体大小为0.5μm～0.7μm×2.5μm～5.0μm,以侧生鞭毛运动。在孢肉培养基上产生端生的卵圆形芽孢。温度生长范围15℃～45℃（最适温度30℃～37℃）;pH 范围5.0～8.4（最适pH 6.3～6.8）。该菌株不水解明胶和七叶灵,不还原硫酸盐,牛奶变酸但不凝固,发酵多糖和少数的单糖、双糖和寡糖;发酵葡萄糖的最终产物为乙酸、丁酸、H2和CO2。G+C含量为298mol%。16S rDNA序列分析表明,该菌株属于梭菌的簇Ⅰ,与Clostridium paraputrificum较为接近（相似性为97.1%）。通过生理特征和16S rDNA序列的同源性分析,表明菌株L15应是梭菌属簇Ⅰ中的一个新种,命名为Clostridium defluvii。菌株L15保藏在中国普通微生物菌种保藏中心,保藏号为AS1.3489。菌株L15的最佳产氢温度为34℃、pH为7.0。当葡萄糖浓度为0.4%时,氢气产率可达到1.41mol H2/mol 葡萄糖。该菌可利用下列底物产酸产氢,括号内为产氢率(底物浓度1%)：果糖(1.00mol H2/mol)、麦芽糖(2.17mol H2/mol)、蔗糖(1.69mol H2/mol)、菊糖(4.70mol H2/mol)、糖原(5.49mmol H2/g)、淀粉(7.34mmol H2/g)。     

6种植物次生物质对斜纹夜蛾解毒酶活性的影响

草食性昆虫取食植物时遇到宿主植物中大量次生物质的化学防御,研究昆虫适应植物毒素的反防御策略具有重要的科学意义。分别添加0.01%肉桂酸、0.01%水杨酸、0.01%花椒毒素、0.02%槲皮素、0.05%黄酮和0.1%香豆素等6种植物次生物质的人工饲料饲养斜纹夜蛾(Spodoptera litura)五龄幼虫48 h后,测定斜纹夜蛾幼虫中肠和脂肪体中谷胱甘肽S-转移酶(GSTs)、羧酸酯酶(CarE)、P450的酶含量及头部乙酰胆碱酯酶(AChE)的活性,利用半定量RT-PCR检测中肠和脂肪体中CYP4M14和CYP4S9的基因表达水平。结果表明:取食肉桂酸和香豆素后,斜纹夜蛾中肠中CarE的酶活性分别提高了1.67和1.37倍,取食6种次生物质均能显著提高斜纹夜蛾脂肪体中GSTs酶活性。取食肉桂酸和香豆素48 h后,脂肪体中P450酶含量比对照增加2.93和14.50倍。取食肉桂酸、花椒毒素、槲皮素和香豆素后,斜纹夜蛾头部AchE酶活性与对照相比提高了1.53、1.80、2.36和1.56倍。6种次生物质均可诱导脂肪体中CYP4M14基因表达,槲皮素、肉桂酸和香豆素强烈诱导CYP4S9在脂肪体中表达。表明,斜纹夜蛾具有利用植物次生物质诱导其解毒酶的能力,进而提高其对毒素的抗性。