Priority effects and competition by a native species inhibit an invasive species and may assist restoration

Selecting native species for restoration is often done without proper ecological background, particularly with regard to how native and invasive species interact. Here, we provide insights suggesting that such information may greatly enhance restoration success. The performance of the native vine, Pueraria lobata, and that of the invasive bitter vine, Mikania micrantha, were investigated in South China to test how priority effects (timing and rate of germination and seedling growth) and competition (phytochemical effects and competitive ability) impact invasive plant performance. We found that, in the absence of competition, the germination rate of M. micrantha, but not of P. lobata, was significantly affected by light availability. P. lobata seedlings also performed better than those of M. micrantha during early growth phases. Under competition, negative phytochemical effects of P. lobata on M. micrantha were strong and we found M. micrantha to have lower performance when grown with P. lobata compared to when grown by itself. Relative interaction indexes indicated that, under interspecific competition, P. lobata negatively affected (i.e., inhibited) M. micrantha, whereas M. micrantha positively affected (i.e., facilitated) P. lobata. Higher photosynthetic efficiency and soil nutrient utilization put P. lobata at a further advantage over M. micrantha. Field trails corroborated these experimental findings, showing little recruitment of M. micrantha in previously invaded and cleared field plots that were sown with P. lobata. Thus, P. lobata is a promising candidate for ecological restoration and for reducing impacts of M. micrantha in China. This research illustrates that careful species selection may improve restoration outcomes, a finding that may also apply to other invaded ecosystems and species.     

The effect of grazing on winter survival of midday gerbil (Meriones meridianus) of different genders

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of grazing on midday gerbil (Meriones meridianus) population characteristics and survival of animals of different genders. The experiment used a randomized complete block design and was conducted in Alxa Left Banner, Inner Mongolia, China, in 2002 (The agricultural reclamation plots set up in 1994). From April 2006 to October 2010, midday gerbils were live‐trapped in 3 light grazing plots, 3 overgrazed plots, and 3 grazing exclusion plots. The quantity of vegetation was investigated in the two different grazing intensity areas and grazing exclusion area to determine the relationship between gerbils and plant food availability. The results suggested that there was higher gerbil density, individual body mass, and daily body mass growth rate in the grazing exclusion sites than the other sites across the whole year. Females had higher survival in grazing exclusion areas than in other treatments, but the males’ survival showed the opposite pattern. Our results indicated that grazing negatively influenced the midday gerbil population by reducing food availability. Grazing influenced the survival rates of male midday gerbils positively, but had negative effects on females. The reason for gendered differences in survival rates of midday gerbils requires further investigation.     

基于焦磷酸测序技术建立基因编辑水稻检测方法

基因编辑技术发展迅速,但对应的检测方法较少。为寻找创建基因编辑作物适用的检测方法,以 PL3 基因编辑水稻编辑位点为靶标,有效设计了焦磷酸测序的扩增引物及测序引物,并进行有效性检测,分别利用Sequence to Analyze等程序以及SNP和AQ两种模式完成了对PL3 基因的定性和定量检测试验,建立了 PL3 基因编辑水稻编辑位点焦磷酸测序检测方法。结果表明,基于焦磷酸测序技术可以通过检测编辑位点从而将基因编辑型水稻与野生型水稻进行区分。与常规的转基因检测方法相比,该检测方法具有较好的准确性、高效性及高灵敏度等优点,在基因编辑型水稻编辑位点定性和定量检测分析方面具有很好的应用前景。     

Variation in rare earth element (REE), aluminium (Al) and silicon (Si) accumulation among populations of the hyperaccumulator Dicranopteris linearis in southern China

Plant and Soil - Dicranopteris linearis is a rare earth element (REE), aluminium (Al) and silicon (Si) hyperaccumulator plant which occurs in southern China. To date, there have been no studies on...     

Identification of candidate chemosensory receptors in the antennal transcriptome of Tropidothorax elegans

Molecular Biology Reports - Chemosensory receptors in the dendritic membrane of olfactory cells are critical for the molecular recognition and discrimination of odorants. Tropidothorax elegans is a...     

Astragaloside IV alleviates atherosclerosis through targeting circ_0000231/miR-135a-5p/CLIC4 axis in AS cell model in vitro

Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry - Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) have shown to act as crucial mediators in atherosclerosis (AS) development. The purpose of our study was to explore the role of...     

Relationship Between Cuticular Waxes and Storage Quality Parameters of Korla Pear Under Different Storage Methods

Cuticular wax is an important factor that affects storage quality of fruits and vegetables. Previous studies have shown that cuticular wax of pears changes significantly during storage, whereas there are few studies on the effects of different storage methods on the wax changes and the relationship with storage quality. Cuticular wax of Korla pear stored using different methods, was measured to analyze its total wax content, chemical compositions and their relationship with storage quality. At the end of storage, the highest cuticular wax content was observed in controlled atmosphere (CA) storage and the lowest in room temperature storage. The substances of the primary components with higher contents were nonacosane, (E, E)-ɑ-farnesene, dodecan-1-ol, 1,1-dimethoxynonane, nonanal, palmitic acid, and oleic acid. Total wax content, olefins and fatty acids were most significantly with the storage quality, followed by alkanes and esters. Moreover, total wax content, wax composition and weight loss were closely related to postharvest senescence. Overall, an understanding of variations in the cuticular wax under different storage methods could provide theoretical basis for further study on the storage and preservation technology of pears.