海洋大型底栖动物对海岛开发的生态响应——以宁波大榭岛为例

以开发时间长,产业密集的国家海岛开发试点大榭岛为例分析、评价了海岛开发的潮间带和近岸海域大型底栖动物生态响应。通过对大榭岛岩礁相、泥沙相潮间带以及近岸海域大型底栖动物的物种组成、群落结构和数量分布的分析,同时与该岛周围开发程度较弱的几大海岛的类似生境中大型底栖动物状况进行比较。结果发现:(1)大榭岛岩相潮间带断面牡蛎科(Ostre idae)和藤壶科(Balan idae)等科的物种栖息密度较高,生物多样性较低;(2)泥沙相潮间带底栖动物状况与其他海岛差别不显著;(3)大榭岛近岸海域底栖动物种数少于其他海岛近岸海域,且前者不倒翁虫(Sternaspis scutata)和小头虫(Capitellacapitata)等多毛类物种栖息密度较高,生物多样性较低,群落结构与其他区域相差较大;(4)环境质量的生物评价结果显示,大榭岛近岸海域扰动程度高于其他海岛近岸海域。此外,从海岛开发的规划与功能定位、工程设计与施工工艺、相关人员意识形态三方面提出了一些保护和恢复海洋生物多样性的对策。     

望天树种子散布,萌发及其种群龄级配备的关系研究

本文对勐腊县补蚌望天树(Parashorea chinensis Wang Hsie)种群进行了从种子开始各龄级生长动态的分析。在自然状况下,望天树种群平均每3—4年出现一次旺盛生殖期。处于该期的望天树,胸径30—40厘米,年龄60—80年,每株可产生种子2000—6000颗。种子主要散布在离树体15—30米的环形地带内。种子萌发率68.9％,当年能发育成幼苗的种子占22.35％。幼苗中仅0.72％进入幼树阶段成为望天树种群的预备种群。能发展为稳定的上层构造种群植株的幼苗只有0.023％,大约需要种子20000颗。由于种子的集聚型散布以及各营养生长期中高的死亡率,望天树种群难于扩张。     

青海海北高寒草甸黄嘴朱顶雀亲鸟递食率

中国科学院海北高寒草甸生态系统定位站的黄嘴朱顶雀（Acanthis flavirostris)雌雄亲鸟的育幼行为数据收集于1999－2001年的3个繁殖季节（5－8月）。观察使用了一个闭路电视系统,包括放在鸟巢附近5－10cm处的摄像头和35－40m外的监视器。数据分析表明：亲鸟的递食率无年间变化;雌、雄鸟递食率没有差异;总递食率不随雏鸟日龄和日间不同时段改变,但雌鸟在傍晚以前的递食率低于雄鸟并在傍晚高于雄鸟。在雏鸟6日龄前,雌鸟总递食率低于雄鸟,且二者逐步逼近,然后稳定在同一水平。此种性别差异与雌鸟在递食以外所承担的,为雏鸟保温、遮阳以及清除雏鸟粪便等事务有关。这些结果与单配制鸟类亲本投资理论一致。     

Common variant (rs9939609) in the<Emphasis Type="Italic"> FTO</Emphasis> gene is associated with metabolic syndrome

Recent genome-wide association studies have showed that common variant (rs9939609) in fat mass and obesity associated (FTO) gene was significantly associated with type 2 diabetes through an effect on human body mass index/obesity. Further studies have suggested that this variant was also involved in the development of metabolic syndrome (MetS). However, the results have been inconsistent. In this study, we performed a meta-analysis to clarify the association between rs9939609 polymorphism and the risk of MetS. Published literature from PubMed, EMBASE and other databases were searched. All studies assessing the association between rs9939609 polymorphism and the risk of MetS were identified. Pooled odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) was calculated using fixed-effects model. Thirteen studies (8,370 cases and 23,156 controls) using NCEP ATPIII criteria for MetS were pooled with a meta-analysis. The overall result showed that there was a statistically significant association between rs9939609 polymorphism and MetS risk (OR = 1.11, 95% CI = 1.06–1.17). Subgroup analysis based on ethnicity showed that effect size was only statistically significant in Europeans (OR = 1.11, 95% CI = 1.05–1.16). Eight studies (1,256 cases and 2,551 controls) using IDF criteria for MetS were pooled with a meta-analysis. The overall analysis suggested that rs9939609 polymorphism was significantly associated with MetS risk (OR = 1.32, 95% CI = 1.13–1.54). Subgroup analysis stratified by ethnicity suggested that effect size was only statistically significant in Asians (OR = 1.33, 95% CI = 1.10–1.61). Our results suggested that FTO rs9939609 polymorphism was significantly associated with the increased risk of MetS in European and Asian populations. Mechanistic investigation is also needed to clarify the effect of FTO gene in the predisposition to MetS.     

Inbreeding in Mimulus guttatus Reduces Visitation by Bumble Bee Pollinators

Inbreeding in plants typically reduces individual fitness but may also alter ecological interactions. This study examined the effect of inbreeding in the mixed-mating annual Mimulus guttatus on visitation by pollinators (Bombus impatiens) in greenhouse experiments. Previous studies of M. guttatus have shown that inbreeding reduced corolla size, flower number, and pollen quantity and quality. Using controlled crosses, we produced inbred and outbred families from three different M. guttatus populations. We recorded the plant genotypes that bees visited and the number of flowers probed per visit. In our first experiment, bees were 31% more likely to visit outbred plants than those selfed for one generation and 43% more likely to visit outbred plants than those selfed for two generations. Inbreeding had only a small effect on the number of flowers probed once bees arrived at a genotype. These differences were explained partially by differences in mean floral display and mean flower size, but even when these variables were controlled statistically, the effect of inbreeding remained large and significant. In a second experiment we quantified pollen viability from inbred and self plants. Bees were 37–54% more likely to visit outbred plants, depending on the population, even when controlling for floral display size. Pollen viability proved to be as important as floral display in predicting pollinator visitation in one population, but the overall explanatory power of a multiple regression model was weak. Our data suggested that bees use cues in addition to display size, flower size, and pollen reward quality in their discrimination of inbred plants. Discrimination against inbred plants could have effects on plant fitness and thereby reinforce selection for outcrossing. Inbreeding in plant populations could also reduce resource quality for pollinators, potentially resulting in negative effects on pollinator populations.     

病毒性肝炎HAV，HBV，HCV，HDV和HEV重叠感染的研究

采用ＥＬＩＳＡ法检测了１０８例乙型肝炎病毒（ＨＢＶ）感染者血清中的五种肝炎病毒──甲型（ＨＡＶ）、乙型（ＨＢＶ）、丙型（ＨＣＶ）、丁型（ＨＤＶ）和成型（ＨＥＶ）肝炎病毒的标志物,并采用ＰＣＲ技术检测了患者血清ＨＢＶＤＮＡ、ＨＣＶＲＮＡ及ＨＤＶＲＮＡ。结果五种肝炎病毒重叠感染者３５例（３２．４％）,单纯ＨＢＶ感染者７３例（６７．６％）。ＨＢＶ、ＨＡＶＭ重感染率为４．６％,ＨＢＶ、ＨＣＶ二重感染率为９．２％,ＨＢＶ、ＨＤＶＭ重感染率为１４．８％,ＨＢＶ、ＨＥＶ二重感染率为１．９％,ＨＢＶ、ＨＣＶ和ＨＤＶ三重感     

Effect of Lactobacillus casei on the Production of Pro-Inflammatory Markers in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats

It has been demonstrated that probiotic supplementation has positive effects in several murine models of disease through influences on host immune responses. This study examined the effect of Lactobacillus casei strain Shirota (L. casei Shirota) on the blood glucose, C-reactive protein (CRP), Interleukin-6 (IL-6), Interleukin-4 (IL-4), and body weight among STZ-induced diabetic rats. Diabetes mellitus was induced by streptozotocin (STZ, 50 mg/kg BW) in male Sprague–Dawley rats. Streptozotocin caused a significant increase in the blood glucose levels, CRP, and IL-6. L. casei Shirota supplementation lowered the CRP and IL-6 levels but had no significant effect on the blood glucose levels, body weight, or IL-4. Inflammation was determined histologically. The presence of the innate immune cells was not detectable in the liver of L. casei Shirota-treated hyperglycemic rats. The probiotic L. casei Shirota significantly lowered blood levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, CRP) and neutrophils in diabetic rats, showing a lower risk of diabetes mellitus and its complications.