Seasonal changes in fish catch and environmental variables in a large Tropical Lake,Volta, Ghana

Fish species assemblage and selected environmental variables were monitored in Lake Volta from September 2014 to August 2016 to determine seasonal variability in species composition, catch and environmental variables that determine the structure of the fish community. A total of 1,557 individual fish belonging to 41 species, 25 genera and 13 families were recorded. The important fish species with respect to frequency of occurrence, abundance and weight, respectively, were as follows: Chrysichthys (100%; 43.03%; 17.93%), tilapias (100%; 28.97%; 17.86%), Alestes (100%; 14.13%; 32.10%) and Bagrus (91.67%; 5.65%; 12.80%) in that order. The composition of fish species and their temporal variation in experimental catches were similar to that of commercial catches. There were no significant differences (p > 0.05) in species abundance, weight and diversity indices between the dry and wet seasons. The modal class of length frequency distribution of the dominant species in the catch, Chrysichthys, reduced from 125 mm in 2006 to 95 mm in the current study indicating overfishing. Environmental variables considered showed little variation and within optimal ranges for fish survival and did not differ significantly between seasons. Canonical Correspondence Analysis showed that environmental variables explained 43.30% of the variation in species abundance with Lake water level, nitrite‐nitrogen and total dissolved solids being the main environmental factors influencing the structure of the fish community.     

Taxonomic,functional, and phylogenetic β‐diversity patterns of stream fish assemblages in tropical agroecosystems

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Known and estimated distribution in Mexico of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis,a pathogenic fungus of amphibians

Chytridiomycosis caused by fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) is one of the decline global causes of amphibians. Currently, it is distributed throughout a broad range of climates and ecosystems around the world. An epidemic wave of chytridiomycosis began in North America, resulting in population decline and local extinction of many species, reconfiguring species composition of amphibian communities in the Americas. In Mexico, Bd has caused an amphibian population decrease, and its potential distribution area has not been determined. We reviewed the number of species infected, obtaining Bd frequency of infection by land use and vegetation type, and by elevation range. We examined the known distribution of Bd, estimated the potential distribution, and obtained the bioclimate variables relevant for Bd. Our results indicate that in Mexico, Bd has been detected in 78 species of amphibians in 10 families, from 29 different land use and vegetation types, with cloud forest having the highest number of cases (139) and infected species (15). Bd occurs over an elevation range of 1–3,300 m asl and is most frequent at 1,200–1,500 m asl (36%). In addition to the regions previously described as suitable for Bd, our model included desert, coastal, and tropical forest regions, revealing an increase in the area where amphibians could be at risk of infection. Distribution of Bd is mainly associated with temperature of the wettest quarter and potential evapotranspiration of the warmer quarter. We offer an estimate of the ideal conditions for Bd in Mexico, also information for future studies on Bd and the conservation of amphibians. Abstract in Spanish is available with online material.     

Soil is the main predictor of secondary rain forest estimated aboveground biomass across a Neotropical landscape

We studied the relative effects of landscape configuration, environmental variables, forest age, and spatial variables on estimated aboveground biomass (AGB) in Costa Rican secondary rain forests patches. We measured trees ≥5 cm dbh in 24, 0.25 ha plots and estimated AGB for trees 5–24.9 cm dbh and for trees >25 cm dbh using two allometric equations based on multispecies models using tree dbh and wood‐specific gravity. AGB averaged 87.3 Mg/ha for the 24 plots (not including remnant trees) and 123.4 Mg/ha including remnant trees (20 plots). There was no effect of forest age on AGB. Variation partitioning analysis showed that soils, climate, landscape configuration, and space together explained 61% of tree AGB variance. When controlling for the effects of the other three variables, only soils remained significant. Soil properties, specifically K and Cu, had the strongest independent effect on AGB (variation partitioning, R² = 0.17, p = 0.0310), indicating that in this landscape, AGB variation in secondary forest patches is influenced by soil chemical properties. Elucidating the relative influence of soils in AGB variation is critical for understanding changes associated with land cover modification across Neotropical landscapes, as it could have important consequences for land use planning since secondary forests are considered carbon sinks. Abstract in Spanish is available with online material.     

Crow-Kimura模型中位点突变率对误差阈的随机效应

为了补充Eigen模型和Crow-Kimura模型的随机效应研究,Crow-Kimura模型中的位点突变率被处理成高斯分布随机变量,从而研究误差阈值的特征以及误差阈值的扩展与随机突变率涨落强度之间的关系. 准物种浓度和群体序参数分析表明,在位点突变率涨落较大时,误差阈值不再是相变点,而是平滑的转变区域. 定量分析表明,随机Crow-Kimura模型中转变区宽度与涨落强度之间的关系是非线性的. 将Crow-Kimura模型与Eigen模型的随机特征进行比较发现,在两个模型中适应值随机化使得转变区域的宽度和随机变量涨落强度之间的关系是线性的,而位点突变率随机化中两者的关系是非线性的（指数）. 对于随机化的Crow-Kimura模型,适应值随机化与位点突变率随机化引起的误差阈扩展效应相当. 对于随机Eigen模型,误差阈的扩展效应则主要是由位点突变率的随机化引起的. 之后,本文概述了Eigen模型和Crow Kimura模型中适应值和位点突变率随机化对误差阈值随机效应的影响,并讨论了上述结果对抗病毒策略、癌症治疗和动植物育种的重要意义.     

No “honeymoon phase”: whose health benefits from retirement and when

Does retirement lead to a short, transitory health boost, followed by a stable longer-run effect? The short-run effect has been hypothesized to be a kind of honeymoon effect, that is followed by a longer-run effect that may be either positive or negative. We examine the time path of the health effect of retirement and study effect heterogeneities between individuals along several dimensions. Moreover, we study a broad range of health outcomes, all in order to come to an understanding of the effect patterns that lie behind the diverse findings reported in previous research. For identification we use a fixed effects instrumental variable approach in which the normal and early retirement age thresholds serve as instruments. Using data for 10 countries from the Survey of Health, Retirement and Ageing in Europe (SHARE), we find that retiring both at the normal and early retirement eligibility ages significantly improves all the health aspects we consider. Other than hypothesized, results do not show a honeymoon phase-like transitory health boost. Instead, especially blue-collar workers go through an adjustment period after retiring, in which their health worsens. Afterwards, health stabilizes and improves, so that retirement has a health preserving effect in the longer run. This beneficial health effect of retirement occurs across all occupational groups, across a range of health outcomes, and for both sexes, though there are a number of heterogeneities between groups regarding which health outcomes are particularly affected.     

苦荞锌指蛋白基因FtLOL1的克隆及其对非生物胁迫的应答

根据苦荞(Fagopyrum tataricum)花期转录组数据,采用RT-PCR技术和PCR技术克隆得到一个C2C2型锌指蛋白基因Ft LOL1(Ft LSD-one-like 1,Gen Bank登录号:KP260662),获得c DNA和DNA全长序列,采用实时荧光定量PCR技术研究Ft LOL1在3种非生物处理条件下的表达模式。结果显示,苦荞Ft LOL1基因DNA全长1 720bp,由5个外显子和4个内含子组成,符合GT-AG剪切原则;c DNA包含一个444 bp的开放阅读框,编码147个氨基酸,具有LSD1家族的典型特征;2mmol/L水杨酸、UV-B照射和4℃冷处理均能导致Ft LOL1基因表达量下降,其中水杨酸和UV-B处理均在12h达到最小值,分别为对照组(0h)的11.9%和33.8%,而4℃冷处理条件下,Ft LOL1表达量12h开始下降,至24h达到最小值,为对照组(0h)的50.7%,36h后表达量有所回升,稳定在对照组(0h)的60%左右。推测该基因可能参与苦荞抗高浓度水杨酸、UV-B照射和冷胁迫等非生物胁迫的应答反应,为探究苦荞抗逆性提供了新的视角。     

Diversity,distribution and roles of osmoprotective compounds accumulated in halophytes under abiotic stress

Background and Aims Osmolytes are low-molecular-weight organic solutes, a broad group that encompasses a variety of compounds such as amino acids, tertiary sulphonium and quaternary ammonium compounds, sugars and polyhydric alcohols. Osmolytes are accumulated in the cytoplasm of halophytic species in order to balance the osmotic potential of the Na⁺ and Cl⁻ accumulated in the vacuole. The advantages of the accumulation of osmolytes are that they keep the main physiological functions of the cell active, the induction of their biosynthesis is controlled by environmental cues, and they can be synthesized at all developmental stages. In addition to their role in osmoregulation, osmolytes have crucial functions in protecting subcellular structures and in scavenging reactive oxygen species.Scope This review discusses the diversity of osmolytes among halophytes and their distribution within taxonomic groups, the intrinsic and extrinsic factors that influence their accumulation, and their role in osmoregulation and osmoprotection. Increasing the osmolyte content in plants is an interesting strategy to improve the growth and yield of crops upon exposure to salinity. Examples of transgenic plants as well as exogenous applications of some osmolytes are also discussed. Finally, the potential use of osmolytes in protein stabilization and solvation in biotechnology, including the pharmaceutical industry and medicine, are considered.