脉冲式降水对不同类型草地土壤微生物呼吸碳释放量的影响

降水事件引起土壤短时间内释放大量CO_2的现象常称为降水脉冲效应。降水事件发生后,由于水分和养分可获得性快速提升使土壤微生物呼吸速率快速升高至正常水分状况的数倍,从而导致土壤CO_2大量释放并一定程度上影响着生态系统碳循环过程和土壤碳平衡,尤其在干旱或半干旱地区。利用自主研发的能快速测定土壤微生物呼吸速率的装置,对内蒙古三类典型草原(草甸草原、典型草原和荒漠草原)土壤分别开展土壤复湿实验(60%饱和含水量),并采用高频测定(48 h测定288次)。在土壤复湿后在所有温带草地类型中均发生了明显的脉冲效应,降水脉冲过程中单位有机质(土壤有机碳,SOC)最大呼吸速率(R_(SOC-max))整体表现为荒漠草原(1.59 mg C g~(-1) SOC h~(-1))草甸草原(0.73 mg C g~(-1) SOC h~(-1))典型草原(0.50 mg C g~(-1) SOC h~(-1));而脉冲效应的持续时间(Duration)则表现为典型草原(2.5 h)草甸草原(1.5 h)荒漠草原(0.67 h)。在土壤复湿48 h内,单位土壤微生物呼吸累积量(A_(R_(Soil)))的大小规律与单位土壤微生物呼吸速率R_(Soil)一致,均为典型草原草甸草原荒漠草原;然而,如果用土壤有机质进行标准化,单位有机质呼吸累积量A_(R_(SOC))表现为荒漠草原(9.74 mg C g~(-1) SOC)典型草原(6.54 mg C g~(-1) SOC)草甸草原(3.54 mg C g~(-1) SOC),与当地年降雨频率呈负相关关系,表明降水脉冲效应与土壤长期经历的干旱状况存在密切关系。本研究结果不仅证明在干旱半干旱区域降水脉冲效应的普遍性,同时还启发我们应从国家或区域尺度开展研究,以进一步揭示土壤基质含量、土壤干旱状况等对降水脉冲效应的影响。     

大熊猫与同域动物在海拔分布上的生态位分化

大熊猫（Ailuropoda melanoleuca）是中国的特有物种,其成功放归可能受放归地气候、栖息地、同域动物等多种因素的影响。本研究在野外调查的基础上,基于生态位理论等方法,探讨了栗子坪国家级自然保护区大熊猫与其大中型同域动物的空间关系。调查结果表明,该保护区内大熊猫同域动物共20种,分别属于2纲5目,其中东洋型分布物种占优势（30%）。大熊猫同域动物分布海拔显著低于大熊猫的分布海拔（P＜0.05）,大熊猫分别与灵长目等5个目的动物在海拔分布上均存在显著的生态位分化（P＜0.001）。灵长目动物在空间分布上与大熊猫分布相异,而其他目的动物与大熊猫空间分布类似。偶蹄目动物痕迹数量占比最高（54.14 %）,而食肉目的小熊猫与大熊猫样线共同遇见率达到了43.75%。本研究结果表明,该地大熊猫同域动物较为丰富,在海拔分布上与大熊猫存在生态位分化。该研究可为圈养大熊猫的放归提供参考依据。     

甘草叶片渗透调节物质及蔗糖代谢相关酶对干旱胁迫的响应特性

该研究以甘草幼苗为试材,采用盆栽自然干旱方法,设计对照(CK)、轻度(LS)、中度(MS)、重度(SS)干旱胁迫处理,测定分析甘草叶片的渗透调节物质及蔗糖代谢相关酶[蔗糖磷酸合成酶(SPS)、蔗糖合成酶合成方向(Ss+)、蔗糖合成酶分解方向(Ss-)、中性转化酶(NI)、酸性转化酶(AI)、淀粉磷酸化酶(SP)]活性的变化,以探讨甘草的渗透调节特性以及糖分调节的酶学机制,揭示甘草对干旱胁迫的响应机理。结果显示:(1)随着干旱胁迫程度的加剧,甘草叶片可溶性糖、可溶性蛋白和脯氨酸含量呈逐渐增加的趋势,束缚水/自由水的比值呈先增加后降低的趋势。(2)随着干旱胁迫程度的加剧,甘草叶片蔗糖、葡萄糖、果糖含量均呈先升高后降低的趋势,但不同胁迫强度出现峰值的时间不同;其中在CK和LS干旱胁迫时蔗糖含量淀粉含量葡萄糖含量果糖含量,在MS和SS干旱胁迫时淀粉含量葡萄糖含量蔗糖含量果糖含量,表明随着干旱程度的增加,甘草叶片中蔗糖转化成了淀粉。(3)随着干旱胁迫程度的加重,甘草叶片的SPS活性呈先升高后降低的趋势,Ss活性和Inv(蔗糖转化酶)活性呈逐渐升高的趋势,SP活性呈逐渐降低的趋势;各胁迫处理的Ss+活性与CK差异不显著,而Ss-活性与CK差异显著,并且Ss-活性在各胁迫处理下远大于Ss+活性,表明甘草叶片Ss-活性在蔗糖代谢过程中占主导作用。(4)相关分析结果显示,在LS中,NI与蔗糖呈负相关关系,Ss-与淀粉呈显著正相关关系、与蔗糖呈负相关关系;在MS中,蔗糖和葡萄糖与SPS、Ss+、Ss-、NI和AI均呈正相关关系,与SP呈负相关关系;在SS中,SP和NI与蔗糖呈正相关关系,而与淀粉呈负相关关系;表明在轻度干旱处理下,Ss参加了蔗糖的分解,继而合成淀粉;在中度和重度干旱条件下,SP主要催化淀粉的分解来增加蔗糖含量以此平衡蔗糖代谢。     

鄂西南木林子常绿落叶阔叶混交林2014~2019年主要物种动态变化

为了明确鄂西南木林子亚热带山地常绿落叶阔叶混交林的短期群落动态,为该区森林生态的保护、恢复与可持续经营提供科学依据。该研究基于木林子自然保护区2.2 hm²动态监测样地,以2014和2019年样地内所有胸径(DBH)≥1 cm的木本植物为研究对象,从物种组成与多样性、重要值、死亡率、补员率及胸径等方面分析了其动态变化。结果表明：(1)5年间2.2 hm²样地内木本植物个体从17 308株减少到16 533株,降幅为4.48%,胸高断面积31.42 m²·hm^-2增长到35.53 m²·hm^-2,物种增加了1科6属18种,消失1属7种。 乔木、亚乔木、灌木及藤本4类生长型物种的Margalef丰富度指数均上升,而Pielou均匀度指数均下降;除乔木外其他3种生长型的Shannon Wiener多样性指数和Simpson指数均上升。(2)补员个体1 269株,平均胸径2.44 cm,胸高断面积为0.32 m²·hm^-2,平均新增115.36 株·hm^-2·a^-1,隶属39科59属99种;死亡个体2 044株,平均胸径3.32 cm,胸高段面积为1.31 m²·hm^-2,平均死亡185.82 株·hm^-2·a^-1,隶属51科90属146种;不同径级补员与死亡个体数差异明显,总体上随着径级的增大而减少。(3)46个主要物种中有15种重要值增大,有31种降低,增加与降低的变化幅度为乔木层>灌木层>亚乔木层;平均胸径从4.70 cm上升为5.12 cm,除锥栗(Castanea henryi)平均胸径有所下降外其他物种均上升。(4)主要树种中有44个为增长型种群,另外2个物种种群增长率不变,主要物种年补员率大于年死亡率,不同生长型物种及其不同径级的死亡率与补员率不同,不同径级补员率总体大于死亡率;随着径级的增大,补员率与死亡率的差值逐渐降低趋于平缓。研究认为,该群落物种组成与多样性及主要物种的重要值、平均胸径变化幅度较小,未发生明显波动,主要物种不同径级的更新动态有所差别,但不剧烈,因此整个群落外貌基本保持不变,发展较为稳定。     

南京地区早产儿坏死性小肠结肠炎病原体特点和益生菌干预效果及预后影响因素分析

目的探究南京地区早产儿坏死性小肠结肠炎(NEC)的病原体特点,并观察益生菌辅助治疗对患儿血清炎症因子水平的影响,分析影响NEC早产儿预后的因素。方法将2014年5月至2018年12月于东南大学附属中大医院就诊的87例NEC早产儿选为研究对象,分析其病原体特点,观察不同治疗方法对患儿血清炎症因子的影响,并通过Logistic回归分析影响NEC患儿预后的危险因素。结果革兰阴性菌是NEC早产儿的主要致病菌,主要包括肺炎克雷伯菌(25株,27.78%)和大肠埃希菌(21株,23.33%)。肺炎克雷伯菌和大肠埃希菌对美罗培南、亚胺培南/西司他丁、哌拉西林/他唑巴坦、多粘菌素和阿米卡星敏感。益生菌干预后的NEC早产儿血清IL-1β、IL-10、TNF-α水平及TLR4的表达均显著低于常规治疗患儿(均P0.05)。发病前3 d内输血、新生儿窒息、益生菌干预、非营养性吮吸、腹膜炎、败血症、加奶速度、PDA均是影响NEC早产儿预后的相关因素(均P0.05),其中发病前3 d内输血、新生儿窒息、加奶速度、PDA是影响NEC早产儿预后的独立危险因素(均P0.05)。结论革兰阴性菌是NEC早产儿的主要致病菌,益生菌干预可有效降低NEC早产儿血清炎症因子水平。对于NEC早产儿的治疗可选用碳青霉烯类、氨基糖苷类等抗生素,同时需关注影响NEC早产儿预后的独立危险因素。     

植物维生素E生物强化研究进展

维生素E是一种只能在光合组织中合成的脂溶性小分子有机化合物,是人体和动物营养不可缺少的重要维生素。由于植物中维生素E含量较低,人类大多处于慢性缺乏维生素E--“隐性饥饿”的状态,而动物饲料中则需要添加外源合成的维生素E以满足其营养需求。因此,提高植物中维生素E的含量是改善维生素E缺乏的重要途径之一。从维生素E的合成途径入手,详细地综述了维生素E合成关键酶基因的表达变化以及前体物质的含量变化对维生素E合成的影响,发现三烯生育酚和α-生育酚的生物强化效果较好,而生育酚总量提高受限;进而从遗传的角度探讨了维生素E合成受限的原因以及遗传上可能影响维生素E合成的其他代谢途径;最后结合可能影响维生素E合成的调控因子以及其前体物质的转运等方面为今后维生素E的生物强化提出了新的思路。     

“Into and Out of” the Qinghai‐Tibet Plateau and the Himalayas: Centers of origin and diversification across five clades of Eurasian montane and alpine passerine birds

Encompassing some of the major hotspots of biodiversity on Earth, large mountain systems have long held the attention of evolutionary biologists. The region of the Qinghai‐Tibet Plateau (QTP) is considered a biogeographic source for multiple colonization events into adjacent areas including the northern Palearctic. The faunal exchange between the QTP and adjacent regions could thus represent a one‐way street (“out of” the QTP). However, immigration into the QTP region has so far received only little attention, despite its potential to shape faunal and floral communities of the QTP. In this study, we investigated centers of origin and dispersal routes between the QTP, its forested margins and adjacent regions for five clades of alpine and montane birds of the passerine superfamily Passeroidea. We performed an ancestral area reconstruction using BioGeoBEARS and inferred a time‐calibrated backbone phylogeny for 279 taxa of Passeroidea. The oldest endemic species of the QTP was dated to the early Miocene (ca. 20 Ma). Several additional QTP endemics evolved in the mid to late Miocene (12–7 Ma). The inferred centers of origin and diversification for some of our target clades matched the “out of Tibet hypothesis’ or the “out of Himalayas hypothesis” for others they matched the “into Tibet hypothesis.” Three radiations included multiple independent Pleistocene colonization events to regions as distant as the Western Palearctic and the Nearctic. We conclude that faunal exchange between the QTP and adjacent regions was bidirectional through time, and the QTP region has thus harbored both centers of diversification and centers of immigration.     

The effects of competition on fitness depend on the sex of both competitors

In intraspecific competition, the sex of competing individuals is likely to be important in determining the outcome of competitive interactions and the way exposure to conspecifics during development influences adult fitness traits. Previous studies have explored differences between males and females in their response to intraspecific competition. However, few have tested how the sex of the competitors, or any interactions between focal and competitor sex, influences the nature and intensity of competition. We set up larval seed beetles Callosobruchus maculatus to develop either alone or in the presence of a male or female competitor and measured a suite of traits: development time, emergence weight; male ejaculate mass, copulation duration, and lifespan; and female lifetime fecundity, offspring egg–adult survival, and lifespan. We found effects of competition and competitor sex on the development time and emergence weight of both males and females, and also of an interaction between focal and competitor sex: Females emerged lighter when competing with another female, while males did not. There was little effect of larval competition on male and female adult fitness traits, with the exception of the effect of a female competitor on a focal female's offspring survival rate. Our results highlight the importance of directly measuring the effects of competition on fitness traits, rather than distant proxies for fitness, and suggest that competition with the sex with the greater resource requirements (here females) might play a role in driving trait evolution. We also found that male–male competition during development resulted in shorter copulation times than male–female competition, a result that remained when controlling for the weight of competitors. Although it is difficult to definitively tease apart the effects of social environment and access to resources, this result suggests that something about the sex of competitors other than their size is driving this pattern.     

Long‐term persistence of wildlife populations in a pastoral area

Facilitating coexistence between people and wildlife is a major conservation challenge in East Africa. Some conservation models aim to balance the needs of people and wildlife, but the effectiveness of these models is rarely assessed. Using a case‐study approach, we assessed the ecological performance of a pastoral area in northern Tanzania (Manyara Ranch) and established a long‐term wildlife population monitoring program (carried out intermittently from 2003 to 2008 and regularly from 2011 to 2019) embedded in a distance sampling framework. By comparing density estimates of the road transect‐based long‐term monitoring to estimates derived from systematically distributed transects, we found that the bias associated with nonrandom placement of transects was nonsignificant. Overall, cattle and sheep and goat reached the greatest densities and several wildlife species occurred at densities similar (zebra, wildebeest, waterbuck, Kirk's dik‐dik) or possibly even greater (giraffe, eland, lesser kudu, Grant's gazelle, Thomson's gazelle) than in adjacent national parks in the same ecosystem. Generalized linear mixed models suggested that most wildlife species (8 out of 14) reached greatest densities during the dry season, that wildlife population densities either remained constant or increased over the 17‐year period, and that herbivorous livestock species remained constant, while domestic dog population decreased over time. Cross‐species correlations did not provide evidence for interference competition between grazing or mixed livestock species and wildlife species but indicate possible negative relationships between domestic dog and warthog populations. Overall, wildlife and livestock populations in Manyara Ranch appear to coexist over the 17‐year span. Most likely, this is facilitated by existing connectivity to adjacent protected areas, effective anti‐poaching efforts, spatio‐temporal grazing restrictions, favorable environmental conditions of the ranch, and spatial heterogeneity of surface water and habitats. This long‐term case study illustrates the potential of rangelands to simultaneously support wildlife conservation and human livelihood goals if livestock grazing is restricted in space, time, and numbers.     

Alternative reproductive tactics are associated with sperm performance in invasive round goby from two different salinity environments

During male–male competition, evolution can favor alternative reproductive tactics. This often results in a dominant morph that holds a resource, such as a nest for egg laying, which competes with a smaller sneaker morph that reproduces by stealing fertilizations. The salinity environment can influence male growth rates, for example, via osmoregulatory costs, which in turn may influence the use of sneaker tactics for small males competing for mating opportunities. Salinity can also affect sperm directly; however, little is known of how salinity influences sneaker tactics through sperm performance. We sampled males of the invasive round goby (Neogobius melanostomus) from two environments, a freshwater river and a brackish estuary. This fish has two male morphs: nest‐holding dark males and non‐nest‐holding light males. We examined the role of water salinity of 0, 8, and 16 on sperm performance and found that for estuarine males, a salinity of 0 reduced sperm velocity compared to a salinity of 8 and 16. Riverine males had low velocity in all salinities. Sperm viability also decreased by over 30% in 0 salinity, compared to 8 and 16, for fish from both environments. Gobies produce ejaculate contents in specialized glands that could in theory shield sperm in an adverse environment. However, gland contents did not improve sperm performance in our tests. Body mass and age estimates indicate that riverine males invested more in somatic growth compared to estuarine males. Estuarine light morph males had a high enough gonadosomatic index to indicate sneaker tactics. We propose that when sperm performance is low, such as for the riverine males, sneaker tactics are ineffective and will be selected against or phenotypically suppressed. Instead, we interpret the increased investment in somatic growth found in riverine males as a life‐history decision that is advantageous when defending a nest in the next reproductive season.