长期氮添加对典型草原植物多样性与初级生产力的影响及途径

氮(N)沉降对陆地生态系统的结构和功能已产生了重要的影响, N也是中国北方草原植物生长和初级生产力的主要限制性元素。物种多样性和功能多样性是揭示生物多样性对生态系统功能维持机制的关键指标, 然而, 关于长期N添加下草原物种多样性与功能多样性的关系, 及其对初级生产力的影响途径及机制, 尚不十分清楚。为此, 该研究依托在内蒙古典型草原建立的长期N添加实验平台, 实验处理包括1个完全对照(不添加任何肥料)和6个N添加水平(0、1.75、5.25、10.50、17.50和28.00 g·m^-2·a^-1), 研究了长期N添加对典型草原物种多样性、功能多样性和初级生产力的影响大小及途径。结果表明: 1) N添加显著降低了典型草原的物种丰富度和Shannon-Wiener指数, 但对功能多样性(包括功能性状多样性指数和群落加权性状值)无显著的影响。2)结构方程模型分析表明, 功能多样性主要受物种丰富度的影响, 但是物种多样性减少并没有导致功能多样性降低, 其原因主要是功能群组成发生了改变, 即群落内多年生根茎禾草所占比例显著增加, 以致群落加权性状值变化不大。3) N通过影响物种丰富度和功能群组成, 间接影响群落加权性状值, 进而影响群落净初级生产力。其中, 群落加权性状值是最重要的影响因子, 可解释48%的初级生产力变化, 表明初级生产力主要是由群落内优势物种的生物量及功能性状所决定, 因此该研究的结果很好地支持了质量比假说。     

微生境对黄梅秤锤树野生种群叶片功能性状的影响

植物功能性状可以反映植物应对环境变化的适应策略。本文以黄梅秤锤树(Sinojackia huangmeiensis)当前唯一野生种群为对象, 比较了3种微生境(湖边、种群中心、耕地边)中该物种的叶片功能性状均值、种内变异和叶片生态化学计量特征的差异, 分析了黄梅秤锤树对湖岸带微生境变化的响应及其适应策略。结果表明: (1) 3种微生境中土壤C、N、P含量没有显著性差异(P > 0.05), 但土壤C∶N和C∶P具有显著性差异(P < 0.05), 土壤类型和养分条件有所不同。(2)黄梅秤锤树叶片功能性状的比较用单因素方差分析和贝叶斯方差分析得出的结果一致, 均为叶长、叶面积和比叶面积在中心区域显著高于湖边(P < 0.05), 而耕地边与湖边和中心区域均没有显著差异(P > 0.05); 叶N含量在湖边显著高于中心区域和耕地边(P < 0.05), 而中心区域和耕地边间没有显著差异(P > 0.05); 叶宽、叶长/叶宽、叶干物质含量、叶C和叶P含量在3种微生境间都没有显著性差异(P > 0.05)。(3)黄梅秤锤树叶片的N∶P在湖边显著高于中心区域和耕地边(P < 0.05), C∶N在湖边显著小于中心区域和耕地边(P < 0.05), N∶P和C∶N在中心区域和耕地边没有显著性差异(P > 0.05), C∶P在3种微生境间都没有显著性差异(P > 0.05)。(4)黄梅秤锤树叶片功能性状的总体变异程度在0.02-0.28之间, 其中叶片C和N含量在湖边和中心区域的种内变异程度显著较低, 表明3种生境中湖边和中心区域黄梅秤锤树种群的稳定性相对较差。(5)湖边黄梅秤锤树主要通过增加叶N含量促进生长; 中心区域黄梅秤锤树主要通过增加叶面积和比叶面积以及提高叶N的利用效率来提高光捕获能力促进生长; 耕地边黄梅秤锤树的叶N含量和叶面积、比叶面积都处于中等水平, 通过性状之间的共同作用使植株生长达到最佳水平。以上结果表明, 由于微地形、水位波动和土壤环境条件的差异, 黄梅秤锤树对3种生境中的适应策略有所不同, 并且不是通过单一性状调整来适应环境的变化, 而是通过多种性状之间的权衡达到更好的适应效果。     

阑尾切除术后切口感染患儿PCT、ESR和 CRP变化及切口脓液病原菌分析

目的研究阑尾切除术后切口感染患儿血清C-反应蛋白(CRP)、降钙素原(PCT)和红细胞沉降率(ESR)水平变化及切口脓液病原菌分布。方法选取2014年7月至2019年7月我院收治的100例阑尾切除术后切口感染患儿为观察组,对照组选取同期来我院进行体检的80例健康儿童。对比两组对象血清CRP、PCT和ESR水平,同时分析观察组患儿阑尾切除术后切口脓液病原菌的构成。结果观察组患儿血清CRP、PCT和ESR水平显著高于对照组(均P0.05)。送检的100例脓液及脓性分泌物标本中检出细菌51例,检出率为51.00%。共分离得到病原菌55株(其中有4例为2种细菌混合感染),病原菌种类共13种,其中革兰阴性菌39株(70.91%),革兰阳性菌16株(29.09%),主要病原菌为大肠埃希菌(49.09%)、肺炎克雷伯菌(10.91%)、金黄色葡萄球菌(9.09%)和铜绿假单胞菌(5.45%)。大肠埃希菌、肺炎克雷伯菌和铜绿假单胞菌对厄他培南、亚胺培南、美罗培南、哌拉西林/他唑巴坦、氨曲南较为敏感。结论阑尾切除术后切口感染患儿血清PCT、CRP和ESR水平较高,主要病原菌为大肠埃希菌。     

What would it take to describe the global diversity of parasites?

How many parasites are there on Earth? Here, we use helminth parasites to highlight how little is known about parasite diversity, and how insufficient our current approach will be to describe the full scope of life on Earth. Using the largest database of host–parasite associations and one of the world’s largest parasite collections, we estimate a global total of roughly 100 000–350 000 species of helminth endoparasites of vertebrates, of which 85–95% are unknown to science. The parasites of amphibians and reptiles remain the most poorly described, but the majority of undescribed species are probably parasites of birds and bony fish. Missing species are disproportionately likely to be smaller parasites of smaller hosts in undersampled countries. At current rates, it would take centuries to comprehensively sample, collect and name vertebrate helminths. While some have suggested that macroecology can work around existing data limitations, we argue that patterns described from a small, biased sample of diversity aren’t necessarily reliable, especially as host–parasite networks are increasingly altered by global change. In the spirit of moonshots like the Human Genome Project and the Global Virome Project, we consider the idea of a Global Parasite Project: a global effort to transform parasitology and inventory parasite diversity at an unprecedented pace.     

Electroretinographic study of the magnetic compass in European robins

Migratory birds are known to be sensitive to external magnetic field (MF). Much indirect evidence suggests that the avian magnetic compass is localized in the retina. Previously, we showed that changes in the MF direction could modulate retinal responses in pigeons. In the present study, we performed similar experiments using the traditional model animal to study the magnetic compass, European robins. The photoresponses of isolated retina were recorded using ex vivo electroretinography (ERG). Blue- and red-light stimuli were applied under an MF with the natural intensity and two MF directions, when the angle between the plane of the retina and the field lines was 0° and 90°, respectively. The results were separately analysed for four quadrants of the retina. A comparison of the amplitudes of the a- and b-waves of the ERG responses to blue stimuli under the two MF directions revealed a small but significant difference in a- but not b-waves, and in only one (nasal) quadrant of the retina. The amplitudes of both the a- and b-waves of the ERG responses to red stimuli did not show significant effects of the MF direction. Thus, changes in the external MF modulate the European robin retinal responses to blue flashes, but not to red flashes. This result is in a good agreement with behavioural data showing the successful orientation of birds in an MF under blue, but not under red illumination.     

Strong divergent selection at multiple loci in two closely related species of ragworts adapted to high and low elevations on Mount Etna

Recently diverged species present particularly informative systems for studying speciation and maintenance of genetic divergence in the face of gene flow. We investigated speciation in two closely related Senecio species, S. aethnensis and S. chrysanthemifolius, which grow at high and low elevations, respectively, on Mount Etna, Sicily and form a hybrid zone at intermediate elevations. We used a newly generated genome‐wide single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) dataset from 192 individuals collected over 18 localities along an elevational gradient to reconstruct the likely history of speciation, identify highly differentiated SNPs, and estimate the strength of divergent selection. We found that speciation in this system involved heterogeneous and bidirectional gene flow along the genome, and species experienced marked population size changes in the past. Furthermore, we identified highly‐differentiated SNPs between the species, some of which are located in genes potentially involved in ecological differences between species (such as photosynthesis and UV response). We analysed the shape of these SNPs’ allele frequency clines along the elevational gradient. These clines show significantly variable coincidence and concordance, indicative of the presence of multifarious selective forces. Selection against hybrids is estimated to be very strong (0.16–0.78) and one of the highest reported in literature. The combination of strong cumulative selection across the genome and previously identified intrinsic incompatibilities probably work together to maintain the genetic and phenotypic differentiation between these species – pointing to the importance of considering both intrinsic and extrinsic factors when studying divergence and speciation.     

Genomic and phenomic analysis of island ant community assembly

Island biodiversity has long fascinated biologists as it typically presents tractable systems for unpicking the eco‐evolutionary processes driving community assembly. In general, two recurring themes are of central theoretical interest. First, immigration, diversification, and extinction typically depend on island geographical properties (e.g., area, isolation, and age). Second, predictable ecological and evolutionary trajectories readily occur after colonization, such as the evolution of adaptive trait syndromes, trends toward specialization, adaptive radiation, and eventual ecological decline. Hypotheses such as the taxon cycle draw on several of these themes to posit particular constraints on colonization and subsequent eco‐evolutionary dynamics. However, it has been challenging to examine these integrated dynamics with traditional methods. Here, we combine phylogenomics, population genomics and phenomics, to unravel community assembly dynamics among Pheidole (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) ants in the isolated Fijian archipelago. We uphold basic island biogeographic predictions that isolated islands accumulate diversity primarily through in situ evolution rather than dispersal, and population genomic support for taxon cycle predictions that endemic species have decreased dispersal ability and demography relative to regionally widespread taxa. However, rather than trending toward island syndromes, ecomorphological diversification in Fiji was intense, filling much of the genus‐level global morphospace. Furthermore, while most endemic species exhibit demographic decline and reduced dispersal, we show that the archipelago is not an evolutionary dead‐end. Rather, several endemic species show signatures of population and range expansion, including a successful colonization to the Cook islands. These results shed light on the processes shaping island biotas and refine our understanding of island biogeographic theory.     

The molecular basis of venom resistance in a rattlesnake‐squirrel predator‐prey system

Understanding how interspecific interactions mould the molecular basis of adaptations in coevolving species is a long‐sought goal of evolutionary biology. Venom in predators and venom resistance proteins in prey are coevolving molecular phenotypes, and while venoms are highly complex mixtures it is unclear if prey respond with equally complex resistance traits. Here, we use a novel molecular methodology based on protein affinity columns to capture and identify candidate blood serum resistance proteins (“venom interactive proteins” [VIPs]) in California Ground Squirrels (Otospermophilus beecheyi) that interact with venom proteins from their main predator, Northern Pacific Rattlesnakes (Crotalus o. oreganus). This assay showed that serum‐based resistance is both population‐ and species‐specific, with serum proteins from ground squirrels showing higher binding affinities for venom proteins of local snakes compared to allopatric individuals. Venom protein specificity assays identified numerous and diverse candidate prey resistance VIPs but also potential targets of venom in prey tissues. Many specific VIPs bind to multiple snake venom proteins and, conversely, single venom proteins bind multiple VIPs, demonstrating that a portion of the squirrel blood serum “resistome” involves broad‐based inhibition of nonself proteins and suggests that resistance involves a toxin scavenging mechanism. Analyses of rates of evolution of VIP protein homologues in related mammals show that most of these proteins evolve under purifying selection possibly due to molecular constraints that limit the evolutionary responses of prey to rapidly evolving snake venom proteins. Our method represents a general approach to identify specific proteins involved in co‐evolutionary interactions between species at the molecular level.     

两种生态系统服务价值评估方法比较研究——以四川省金堂县三星镇土地整治工程为例

乡镇土地整治是建设中国美丽乡村的重要途径,对当地生态环境带来正面和负面影响,如何准确评价其生态效益是国家开展土地整治和美丽乡村建设需要面临的重要科学问题。以中国西南部丘陵地区典型乡镇——四川省金堂县三星镇的土地整治工程为例,对比分析了生态系统服务价值当量修正法和单项服务评价法评估土地整治生态效益的异同,以期确定适合我国西南部丘陵地区乡镇土地整治生态效益评估的合理方法。研究结果表明:单项服务评价法的评估结果(生态系统服务价值约300万元)比当量修正法(生态系统服务价值约290万元)高3.5%。当量修正法评估的各项生态系统服务价值增量由高到低依次为:调节服务价值支持服务价值供给服务价值文化服务价值;单项服务评价法评估的生态系统服务价值增量大小排序为:调节服务价值支持服务价值文化服务价值供给服务价值。方法依据和参数的选取不同,导致评估结果具有显著差异,主要表现在单项服务评价法测算的维持养分循环价值、美学景观价值分别是当量修正法的46.90倍和6.94倍,当量修正法测算的水文调节价值是单项服务评价法的5.93倍。单项服务评价法针对各项生态系统服务特征,灵活地选取差异化评估方法,因而其评估结果更准确、真实地反映了生态效益价值。建议运用单项服务评价法评估我国西南部丘陵地区乡镇土地整治的生态效益。     

2030年闽三角城市群土地利用变化对生态系统水源涵养服务的影响

生态系统水源涵养服务作为水资源得以持续的基础和保障,正持续遭受着人类活动的干扰和影响,土地利用变化作为主要的方式之一,对水源涵养的影响广泛而且深远。运用InVEST模型模拟了闽三角城市群2015年和2030年的水源涵养情景,发现到2030年闽三角城市群区域内水源涵养量总体会下降0.24×10⁸ m³;对比发现：土地利用变化对水源涵养的影响主要主要表现在变化面积、变化方向、作用强度以及面积补偿作用四个方面。首先面积变化方面,水源涵养量同用地类型的面积大小正相关,但二者的变化量并不正相关;其次变化方向方面,相比变化为城市生态系统和水域生态系统而言,变化为自然生态系统和农业生态系统的土地利用变化更有利于生态系统水源涵养;再次,土地利用变化对水源涵养产生作用的强度由强及弱以此为林地、其他土地、草地、农田、建设用地、水域及滩涂;最后,面积变化后的补偿作用方面,由于不同用地类型水源涵养能力和面积变化量的差异,由农田、林地、草地及其他土地面积下降导致的水源涵养量损失并不能通过建设用地、水域及滩涂用地类型面积的增加得以完全补偿。