Assessment of the stream invertebrate β‐diversity along an elevation gradient using a bidimensional null model analysis

β‐Diversity, commonly defined as the compositional variation among localities that links local diversity (α‐diversity) and regional diversity (γ‐diversity), can arise from two different ecological phenomena, namely the spatial species turnover (i.e., species replacement) and the nestedness of assemblages (i.e., species loss). However, any assessment that does not account for stochasticity in community assembly could be biased and misinform conservation management. In this study, we aimed to provide a better understanding of the overall ecological phenomena underlying stream β‐diversity along elevation gradients and to contribute to the rich debate on null model approaches to identify nonrandom patterns in the distribution of taxa. Based on presence‐absence data of 78 stream invertebrate families from 309 sites located in the Swiss Alpine region, we analyzed the effect size of nonrandom spatial distribution of stream invertebrates on the β‐diversity and its two components (i.e., turnover and nestedness). We used a modeling framework that allows exploring the complete range of existing algorithms used in null model analysis and assessing how distribution patterns vary according to an array of possible ecological assumptions. Overall, the turnover of stream invertebrates and the nestedness of assemblages were significantly lower and higher, respectively, than the ones expected by chance. This pattern increased with elevation, and the consistent trend observed along the altitudinal gradient, even in the most conservative analysis, strengthened our findings. Our study suggests that deterministic distribution of stream invertebrates in the Swiss Alpine region is significantly driven by differential dispersal capacity and environmental stress gradients. As long as the ecological assumptions for constructing the null models and their implications are acknowledged, we believe that they still represent useful tools to measure the effect size of nonrandom spatial distribution of taxa on β‐diversity.     

Demographic responses to climate‐driven variation in habitat quality across the annual cycle of a migratory bird species

The demography and dynamics of migratory bird populations depend on patterns of movement and habitat quality across the annual cycle. We leveraged archival GPS‐tagging data, climate data, remote‐sensed vegetation data, and bird‐banding data to better understand the dynamics of black‐headed grosbeak (Pheucticus melanocephalus) populations in two breeding regions, the coast and Central Valley of California (Coastal California) and the Sierra Nevada mountain range (Sierra Nevada), over 28 years (1992–2019). Drought conditions across the annual cycle and rainfall timing on the molting grounds influenced seasonal habitat characteristics, including vegetation greenness and phenology (maturity dates). We developed a novel integrated population model with population state informed by adult capture data, recruitment rates informed by age‐specific capture data and climate covariates, and survival rates informed by adult capture–mark–recapture data and climate covariates. Population size was relatively variable among years for Coastal California, where numbers of recruits and survivors were positively correlated, and years of population increase were largely driven by recruitment. In the Sierra Nevada, population size was more consistent and showed stronger evidence of population regulation (numbers of recruits and survivors negatively correlated). Neither region showed evidence of long‐term population trend. We found only weak support for most climate–demographic rate relationships. However, recruitment rates for the Coastal California region were higher when rainfall was relatively early on the molting grounds and when wintering grounds were relatively cool and wet. We suggest that our approach of integrating movement, climate, and demographic data within a novel modeling framework can provide a useful method for better understanding the dynamics of broadly distributed migratory species.     

Species specificity and intraspecific variation in the chemical profiles of Heliconius butterflies across a large geographic range

In many animals, mate choice is important for the maintenance of reproductive isolation between species. Traits important for mate choice and behavioral isolation are predicted to be under strong stabilizing selection within species; however, such traits can also exhibit variation at the population level driven by neutral and adaptive evolutionary processes. Here, we describe patterns of divergence among androconial and genital chemical profiles at inter‐ and intraspecific levels in mimetic Heliconius butterflies. Most variation in chemical bouquets was found between species, but there were also quantitative differences at the population level. We found a strong correlation between interspecific chemical and genetic divergence, but this correlation varied in intraspecific comparisons. We identified “indicator” compounds characteristic of particular species that included compounds already known to elicit a behavioral response, suggesting an approach for identification of candidate compounds for future behavioral studies in novel systems. Overall, the strong signal of species identity suggests a role for these compounds in species recognition, but with additional potentially neutral variation at the population level.     

基因组规模代谢网络模型构建及其应用

微生物制造产业的发展迫切需要进一步提高认识、设计和改造微生物细胞代谢的能力,以推动工业生物技术快速发展。随着微生物全基因组序列等高通量数据的不断积聚和生物信息学策略的持续涌现,使全局性、系统化地解析、设计、调控微生物生理代谢功能成为可能。而基于基因组序列注释和详细生化信息整合的基因组规模代谢网络模型(GSMM)构建为全局理解和理性调控微生物生理代谢功能提供了最佳平台。以下在详述GSMM的应用基础上,描述了如何构建一个高精确度的GSMM,并展望了未来的发展方向。     

无花果曲霉发酵生产β-葡萄糖苷酶的动力学分析

在7L生物反应器的分批发酵中,通过对无花果曲霉UV-29液态发酵茵丝体的生长、基质消耗（以总糖计）及β-葡萄糖苷酶产生的特性研究,发现总糖是无花果曲霉生长的限制性基质;β-葡萄糖苷酶的增长趋势明显滞后于细胞生长的增长趋势,其发酵过程属于部分相关模型,即Ga—den提出的Ⅱ型发酵;基于logistic方程,建立了发酵动力学模型,同时对实验数据与模型进行了验证比较,模型计算值与实验数据拟合良好。在7L生物反应器的最大茵体生物量（干重）达到1．17g／100mL,β-葡萄糖苷酶最高酶活达到22．25IU／mL。     

综述与专论: 针对严重急性呼吸综合征冠状病毒2变异株Omicron的疫苗研究进展

2021年底,严重急性呼吸综合征冠状病毒2 Omicron变异株迅速取代Delta突变株在世界范围内广泛流行,其S蛋白具有36个位点突变,导致致病力和传播力发生明显变化,并且具备了免疫逃逸的能力。疫苗接种是目前疫情防控最普适的手段,研究发现,现有疫苗针对Omicron突变株的保护效果明显下降。新的免疫策略或特异性疫苗/多价疫苗针对Omicron有效性的评估均需要动物模型的支撑。在实验室条件下,利用动物模型进行活病毒攻击实验,是在体内验证保护性中和抗体、疫苗有效性的关键技术手段,本文将从动物模型方向综述国内外针对Omicron变异株的疫苗研究进展。     

An application of the theoretical group methods to modeling of complex systems

The applicability of theoretical group methods to studying complex physical and biological systems with the potential of self-organization was demonstrated. The problem of calculating climate sensitivity parameters taking into account the cyclone-anticyclone structure of the atmosphere optically dense in the infrared region is considered as an example.     

Acetic acid and acidification accelerate chronological and replicative aging in yeast

Comment on: Murakami C, et al. Cell Cycle 2012; 11:3087-96.     

鄱阳湖生态经济区生态系统服务价值预测与驱动力

鄱阳湖生态经济区是我国第一个上升到国家战略的生态经济区。利用鄱阳湖生态经济区2004、2008、2012、2016年的MODIS数据,获得4个对应期的土地利用/覆盖数据,参照修订的单位面积生态系统服务价值当量表与灰色GM(1,1)模型,预测了2016-2024年(间隔2 a)的生态系统服务价值数据,并对引起生态服系统务价值变化的驱动力进行了分析。结果表明,鄱阳湖生态经济区在2004-2016年间,草地、建设用地和未利用地面积增加,耕地、林地、水域面积减少,但2016-2024年的预测值变化率仅为-0.17%,表明该研究区生态系统服务价值即将进入一个相对稳定的状态;驱动力分析表明,人为综合干扰在空间分布上以中等影响强度干扰为主,城镇化率是区域总生态系统服务价值降低的首要驱动力,其次分别为非农业人口、人口密度、第一产业GDP、第二产业GDP、固定资产投资额、总GDP及第三产业GDP。建议加强土地利用规划与调控,控制城镇化建设用地扩展,调整产业结构、降低污染,促进鄱阳湖生态经济区总生态系统服务价值的提升。