Effects of size,neighbors, and site condition on tree growth in a subtropical evergreen and deciduous broad‐leaved mixed forest,China

Successful growth of a tree is the result of combined effects of biotic and abiotic factors. It is important to understand how biotic and abiotic factors affect changes in forest structure and dynamics under environmental fluctuations. In this study, we explored the effects of initial size [diameter at breast height (DBH)], neighborhood competition, and site condition on tree growth, based on a 3‐year monitoring of tree growth rate in a permanent plot (120 × 80 m) of montane Fagus engleriana–Cyclobalanopsis multiervis mixed forest on Mt. Shennongjia, China. We measured DBH increments every 6 months from October 2011 to October 2014 by field‐made dendrometers and calculated the mean annual growth rate over the 3 years for each individual tree. We also measured and calculated twelve soil properties and five topographic variables for 384 grids of 5 × 5 m. We defined two distance‐dependent neighborhood competition indices with and without considerations of phylogenetic relatedness between trees and tested for significant differences in growth rates among functional groups. On average, trees in this mixed montane forest grew 0.07 cm year^?1 in DBH. Deciduous, canopy, and early‐successional species grew faster than evergreen, small‐statured, and late‐successional species, respectively. Growth rates increased with initial DBH, but were not significantly related to neighborhood competition and site condition for overall trees. Phylogenetic relatedness between trees did not influence the neighborhood competition. Different factors were found to influence tree growth rates of different functional groups: Initial DBH was the dominant factor for all tree groups; neighborhood competition within 5 m radius decreased growth rates of evergreen trees; and site condition tended to be more related to growth rates of fast‐growing trees (deciduous, canopy, pioneer, and early‐successional species) than the slow‐growing trees (evergreen, understory, and late‐successional species).     

一次陆源降雨污水引起血红哈卡藻赤潮的成因

以2007年烟台四十里湾海域血红哈卡藻(Akashiwo sanguinea Hirasaka)赤潮为对象,研究赤潮消长与水环境因子的关系。研究发现大量陆源降雨污水输入后,海水盐度急剧下降、营养盐大幅增加,特别是活性磷酸盐浓度明显增加,促进了血红哈卡藻的生长繁殖并最终形成赤潮。赤潮发生前海区第一优势种为尖刺拟菱形藻(Pseudo-nitzschia pungens Halse),优势度0.47(0.42—0.52),多样性指数2.63(2.43—2.89);赤潮发生时血红哈卡藻密度范围1.05×105—4.10×106个/L,优势度0.92(0.83—0.99),多样性指数0.27(0.15—0.64);赤潮消退后中肋骨条藻(Skeletonema costatum Cleve)为第一优势种,优势度0.49(0.43—0.55),多样性指数2.46(2.19—2.84)。赤潮的发生、发展、消亡与化学需氧量(COD)、无机氮(DIN)、活性磷酸盐(DIP)、富营养化指数(E)呈显著正相关(P<0.05),与盐度呈显著负相关(P<0.01)。赤潮前、后该海域为贫营养、P限制、叶绿素a含量中等,赤潮期间该海域为富营养、P限制、叶绿素a含量高。通过影响力评定,活性磷酸盐、COD、盐度是此次赤潮发生的主要诱发因子,当活性磷酸盐含量低于0.3μmol/L时,硅藻逐渐取代甲藻,此次赤潮消散。     

Signs of stabilisation and stable coexistence

Many empirical studies motivated by an interest in stable coexistence have quantified negative density dependence, negative frequency dependence, or negative plant–soil feedback, but the links between these empirical results and ecological theory are not straightforward. Here, we relate these analyses to theoretical conditions for stabilisation and stable coexistence in classical competition models. By stabilisation, we mean an excess of intraspecific competition relative to interspecific competition that inherently slows or even prevents competitive exclusion. We show that most, though not all, tests demonstrating negative density dependence, negative frequency dependence, and negative plant–soil feedback constitute sufficient conditions for stabilisation of two‐species interactions if applied to data for per capita population growth rates of pairs of species, but none are necessary or sufficient conditions for stable coexistence of two species. Potential inferences are even more limited when communities involve more than two species, and when performance is measured at a single life stage or vital rate. We then discuss two approaches that enable stronger tests for stable coexistence‐invasibility experiments and model parameterisation. The model parameterisation approach can be applied to typical density‐dependence, frequency‐dependence, and plant–soil feedback data sets, and generally enables better links with mechanisms and greater insights, as demonstrated by recent studies.     

Methylation protects miRNAs and siRNAs from a 3'-end uridylation activity in Arabidopsis

Small RNAs of 21-25 nucleotides (nt), including small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) and microRNAs (miRNAs), act as guide RNAs to silence target-gene expression in a sequence-specific manner. In addition to a Dicer homolog, DCL1, the biogenesis of miRNAs in Arabidopsis requires another protein, HEN1. miRNAs are reduced in abundance and increased in size in hen1 mutants. We found that HEN1 is a miRNA methyltransferase that adds a methyl group to the 3'-most nucleotide of miRNAs, but the role of miRNA methylation was unknown. Here, we show that siRNAs from sense transgenes, hairpin transgenes, and transposons or repeat sequences, as well as a new class of siRNAs known as trans-acting siRNAs, are also methylated in vivo by HEN1. In addition, we show that the size increase of small RNAs in the hen1-1 mutant is due to the addition of one to five U residues to the 3' ends of the small RNAs. Therefore, a novel uridylation activity targets the 3' ends of unmethylated miRNAs and siRNAs in hen1 mutants. We conclude that 3'-end methylation is a common step in miRNA and siRNA metabolism and likely protects the 3' ends of the small RNAs from the uridylation activity.     

中华按蚊CYP6Y亚家族基因的鉴定和生物信息学分析

【目的】鉴定中华按蚊Anopheles sinensis CYP6Y亚家族基因,分析它们的结构和特征,推测其可能的功能。【方法】以冈比亚按蚊An. gambiae CYP6Y1作为询问序列,通过双向Blast方法检索中华按蚊转录组中CYP6Y亚家族基因,并通过生物信息学方法分析基因结构、特征及可能的功能。【结果】从中华按蚊转录组测序数据中鉴定出2条CYP6Y亚家族基因,分别命名为AsCYP6Y1（GenBank登录号：KF709397）和AsCYP6Y2（GenBank登录号：KF709398）。序列分析显示,AsCYP6Y1和AsCYP6Y2全长分别为1 713 bp和1 815 bp,分别编码502和526个氨基酸。基因结构分析显示,该亚家族基因仅含有1个相位1型内含子并与其他P450基因形成保守的共线性分布。蛋白结构分析显示,这2个基因编码的蛋白含P450特有的5个特征序列和6个底物结合位点,且均不存在信号肽,其亚细胞定位为细胞质。3D结构分析显示,AsCYP6Y1有18条α螺旋和13股反向平行的β折叠,AsCYP6Y2有19条α螺旋和11股反向平行的β折叠。通过同样的方法,在达林按蚊An. darlingi中也鉴定出2个CYP6Y亚家族基因。系统进化分析显示,AsCYP6Y1和AsCYP6Y2分别与其他3种按蚊的CYP6Y1和CYP6Y2聚成一支,Bootstrap值均大于90%。替换率分析显示,中华按蚊AsCYP6Y1和AsCYP6Y2与其他3种按蚊同源基因的Ka/Ks均小于1。相对进化速率分析显示,中华按蚊CYP6Y和CYP6M亚家族的相对进化速率均显著快于CYP6P亚家族,而CYP6Y和CYP6M亚家族之间没有显著差异。【结论】在中华按蚊和达林按蚊中存在2个CYP6Y亚家族基因,之前在冈比亚按蚊和不吉按蚊An. funestus中也发现2个CYP6Y亚家族基因,表明CYP6Y亚家族基因可能在按蚊属广泛存在,且可能为按蚊属昆虫所特有。     

Palaeoctopus pelagicus from the Turonian of Mexico reinterpreted as a coelacanth (Sarcopterygian) gular plate

Abstract: The supposed vestige of a cephalopod gladius from Turonian platy limestones at Vallecillo, north‐east Mexico, named Palaeoctopus pelagicus by Fuchs et al. in 2008, is reinterpreted and shown to be a gular plate of a coelacanth fish, possibly of the genus Megacoelacanthus. In addition to the gular plate, two extrascapulars and fin rays of all fins are preserved on one slab and its counterpart. This is the first record of a coelacanth from these lower Turonian strata at Vallecillo, which are rich in fish.     

嗜盐菌群对酸性金黄G的脱色特性和机理

【目的】为了获得能够在高盐环境下脱色偶氮染料的嗜盐菌群及其降解机理。【方法】采用富集驯化的方法获得一个嗜盐菌群,采用Illumina HiSeq2500测序平台对其群落结构进行测定;采用分光光度法测定了其降解特性;采用GC-MS和红外图谱分析了其降解机理;采用微核实验的方法比较了偶氮染料降解前后的毒性。【结果】该菌群在10%的盐度下,使100mg/L的酸性金黄G在8h内脱色。菌群主要由Zobellella、Rheinheimera、Exiguobacterium和Marinobacterium组成。最适宜的脱色条件是:pH=6,酵母粉为碳源,蛋白胨或硝酸钾作为氮源,盐度为1%–10%。酸性金黄G降解产物的毒性比降解前降低。酸性金黄G主要的降解产物是对氨基二苯胺和二苯胺。此外,该菌群还能使酸性大红GR和直接湖蓝5B等多种偶氮染料脱色,具有较好的脱色广谱性。【结论】获得了快速降解偶氮染料的嗜盐菌群及降解机理,为该嗜盐菌群应用于高盐印染废水的处理提供菌种资源和理论支持。     

Change in microbial communities in acetate- and glucose-fed microbial fuel cells in the presence of light

Power densities produced by microbial fuel cells (MFCs) in natural systems are changed by exposure to light through the enrichment of photosynthetic microorganisms. When MFCs with brush anodes were exposed to light (4000 lx), power densities increased by 8–10% for glucose-fed reactors, and 34% for acetate-fed reactors. Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) profiles based on the 16S rRNA gene showed that exposure to high light levels changed the microbial communities on the anodes. Based on 16S rRNA gene clone libraries of light-exposed systems the anode communities using glucose were also significantly different than those fed acetate. Dominant bacteria that are known exoelectrogens were identified in the anode biofilm, including a purple nonsulfur (PNS) photosynthetic bacterium, Rhodopseudomonas palustris, and a dissimilatory iron-reducing bacterium, Geobacter sulfurreducens. Pure culture tests confirmed that PNS photosynthetic bacteria increased power production when exposed to high light intensities (4000 lx). These results demonstrate that power production and community composition are affected by light conditions as well as electron donors in single-chamber air-cathode MFCs.     

Reproductive efficiency and shade avoidance plasticity under simulated competition

Plant strategy and life‐history theories make different predictions about reproductive efficiency under competition. While strategy theory suggests under intense competition iteroparous perennial plants delay reproduction and semelparous annuals reproduce quickly, life‐history theory predicts both annual and perennial plants increase resource allocation to reproduction under intense competition. We tested (1) how simulated competition influences reproductive efficiency and competitive ability (CA) of different plant life histories and growth forms; (2) whether life history or growth form is associated with CA; (3) whether shade avoidance plasticity is connected to reproductive efficiency under simulated competition. We examined plastic responses of 11 herbaceous species representing different life histories and growth forms to simulated competition (spectral shade). We found that both annual and perennial plants invested more to reproduction under simulated competition in accordance with life‐history theory predictions. There was no significant difference between competitive abilities of different life histories, but across growth forms, erect species expressed greater CA (in terms of leaf number) than other growth forms. We also found that shade avoidance plasticity can increase the reproductive efficiency by capitalizing on the early life resource acquisition and conversion of these resources into reproduction. Therefore, we suggest that a reassessment of the interpretation of shade avoidance plasticity is necessary by revealing its role in reproduction, not only in competition of plants.