Population structure of mud flounder Paralichthys orbignyanus from the south-western Atlantic Ocean

The mud flounder Paralichthys orbignyanus (Pleuronectiformes, Paralichthyidae) inhabits shallow waters of low salinities and mud bottoms in the temperate marine coastal regions of the Bonaerensean Ecoregion of the Argentinean Biogeographic Province in the south-western Atlantic Ocean. Specimens of P. orbignyanus were collected from Lagoa dos Patos (LDP) (southern Brazil), Mar Chiquita (MCH) and Marisol (MAR) both located in Buenos Aires (Argentina), and San Antonio Oeste (SAO) in the San Matías Gulf, Rio Negro (Argentina). A fragment of the mitochondrial DNA of the Control Region and seven microsatellite loci were characterized. In the Control Region, P. orbignyanus showed high variability, low nucleotide diversity, mild population expansion and a coalescence time of 35,000 years before the present. Flounders provided evidence of a genetic structure between the sampling sites LDP, MCH, MAR vs. SAO. On the other hand, P. orbignyanus displayed a lower to moderate contemporary genetic structure among all samples except between LDP and MCH. With no evidence of isolation by distance, this analysis supports a model of limited gene flow that is likely to be associated with a consistent larvae retention in all sampling sites. In addition, the present connectivity is ascribed to a lower migration process from SAO in the San Matías Gulf congruent with the prevailing littoral drift.     

Nucleotide Sequence Assessment of Four ORFs of Citrus Tristeza Virus: Evidence of Recombination

Citrus Tristeza Virus (CTV), usually occurs in nature as a mixture of genotypes. Six naturally infected citrus (Citrus sinensis) trees grafted on sour orange rootstock were collected from three citrus growing governorates in Egypt (Sharqia, Qalyubia and Garbia). In this study, RT-PCR, Single-Strand Conformation Polymorphism (SSCP) and nucleotide sequence analysis were used for four independent CTV genomic regions (p65, p18, p20, and p23) to detect and assess the sequence and genetic variabilities among CTV Egyptian isolates. RTPCR products (650 bp) for the CTV p23 gene obtained from the selected isolates were used for the SSCP analysis and DNA sequencing. SSCP patterns of p23 gene for individual isolates yielded different complex haplotype patterns. Nucleotide sequence analysis of p23 region amplified from six isolates under study revealed that p23 shared high nucleotide identity 98.7% with T36 isolate from USA, Florida. Phylogenetic analysis of p23 gene indicated a close evolutionary relationship between all examined isolates and Qaha isolate (T36 isolate group), suggesting that they may have originated from closely related ancestors. Nucleotide sequence analysis of the three genes located on CTV 3′-coterminal overhang, p18, p20 and p65, amplified from isolate A3, Sharqia governorate, revealed that the p18, p65, and p20 genes were related to the T3-KB isolate from South Africa with 99%–100% sequence homology. Phylogenetic relationship analysis for p65, p18 and p20 ORFs clustered the current A3 isolate with T3 genotype group. The recombination analysis identified three of six isolates from Sharqia, and Garbia as potential recombinant for p23 gene. The isolates T36 and T3 were identified as major donors for recombination events in isolate A3. Our results concluded that p23 ORF likely to be as a hotspot region for recombination and originated through recombination event. The current study indicated that recombination is an important factor for the origin of CTV strains in Egypt.     

广西防城港黑翅长脚鹬的繁殖行为

本研究于2021年3～9月,采用目标观察和全事件记录法,对广西防城港市钦州湾八路水湿地黑翅长脚鹬（Himantopus himantopus）的繁殖习性进行全过程观察记录。黑翅长脚鹬的栖息生境主要在盐田、虾塘和鱼塘,而巢主要分布在盐田生境。共发现39巢,雌雄共同营巢,按照主要巢材将其巢分为干草巢、碎石巢、泥皮巢和牛毛毡草巢4种;巢材包括禾本科（Gramineae）和莎草科（Cyperaceae）植物以及碎石、贝壳等;巢外径为（23.3±10.7）cm,巢内径为（11.2±1.9）cm,巢深为（1.6±0.5）cm,巢高为（6.5±4.3）cm(n=39);筑巢需（3±2）d(n=6)。窝卵数2～4枚,1～2 d产1枚卵,7 d内产完满窝卵（n=6）。雌雄均参与孵卵,雄性孵卵时间比雌性长,但二者差异不显著（P> 0.05）,雄性（8 550±245.9）min,雌性（7 530±263.3）min,孵卵期为（25±2）d(n=6)。育雏期（26±3）d(n=6),雌雄轮流育雏,育雏前、中期（雏鸟1～20d日龄）,雌性育雏时间比雄性长,是雄性的2倍,育雏后期（雏鸟大于20 d日龄）,...     

青海湖3种类型高寒湿地甲烷氧化菌群落特征

【背景】甲烷氧化菌在维持湿地生态系统碳平衡方面发挥着重要作用,青海湖高寒湿地具有十分重要的生态地位,但目前有关该地区甲烷氧化菌的研究相对较少。【目的】探究不同类型高寒湿地土壤甲烷氧化菌的群落特征与驱动因素。【方法】以青海湖流域内的小泊湖沼泽湿地、鸟岛湖滨湿地、瓦颜山河源湿地为研究对象,通过高通量测序技术对土壤甲烷氧化菌进行检测。【结果】3种不同类型高寒湿地土壤甲烷氧化菌的优势菌门均为变形菌门(Proteobacteria)。鸟岛湖滨湿地与瓦颜山河源湿地的甲烷氧化菌α多样性存在显著差异(P<0.05),而小泊湖沼泽湿地与二者的甲烷氧化菌α多样性的差异不显著(P>0.05)。LEfSe分析表明,不同类型高寒湿地共存在40个差异菌群,尤以瓦颜山河源湿地差异菌群数量最多,从门到属水平均存在显著差异。冗余分析(redundancy analysis,RDA)表明,甲烷氧化菌菌群变化的主要驱动因子为土壤温度、土壤水分、电导率。【结论】整体而言,青海湖3种类型高寒湿地土壤理化性质及甲烷氧化菌群落多样性均存在差异,且部分菌群的相对丰度具有显著性差异(P<0.05)。     

POPULATION STRUCTURE IN AN INSHORE CETACEAN REVEALED BY MICROSATELLITE AND mtDNA ANALYSIS: BOTTLENOSE DOLPHINS (TURSIOPS SP.) IN SHARK BAY, WESTERN AUSTRALIA

We examined population substructure of bottlenose dolphins ( Tursiops sp). in Shark Bay, Western Australia, using 10 highly polymorphic microsatellite loci, and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). For microsatellite analysis, 302 different animals were sampled from seven localities throughout the bay. Analysis of genetic differentiation between sampling localities showed a significant correlation between the number of migrants ( Nm ) calculated from F _ST, R _ST and private alleles, and distance between localities–a pattern of isolation-by-distance. For mtDNA, 220 individuals from all seven localities were sequenced for a 351 base pair fragment of the control region, resulting in eight haplotypes, with two distinct clusters of haplotypes. Values of F _ST and (φ)_ST for mtDNA yielded statistically significant differences, mostly between localities that were not adjacent to each other, suggesting female gene flow over a scale larger than the sampled localities. We also observed a significant correlation between the number of female migrants calculated from F _ST and φ_ST and the distance of sampling localities. Our results indicate that dispersal in female dolphins in Shark Bay is more restricted than that of males.     

Use of Restored Small Wetlands by Breeding Waterfowl in Prince Edward Island, Canada

Abstract Since 1990 under the Eastern Habitat Joint Venture over 100 small wetlands have been restored in Prince Edward Island, Canada. Wetlands were restored by means of dredging accumulated sediment from erosion to emulate pre‐disturbance conditions (i.e., open water and extended hydroperiod). In 1998 and 1999 we compared waterfowl pair and brood use on 22 restored and 24 reference wetlands. More pairs and broods of Ring‐necked Ducks, Gadwall, Green‐winged Teal, and American Black Ducks used restored versus reference wetlands. In restored wetlands waterfowl pair density and species richness were positively correlated with wetland/cattail area, percent cattail cover, and close proximity to freshwater rivers. In addition, a waterfowl reproductive index was positively correlated with percent cattail cover. Green‐winged Teal pair occurrence in restored wetlands was positively correlated with greater amounts of open water and water depths. American Black Duck pairs occurred on most (86%) restored wetlands. Restored small wetlands likely served as stopover points for American Black Duck broods during overland or stream movements, whereas they likely served as a final brood‐rearing destination for Green‐winged Teal broods. We suggest that wetland restoration is a good management tool for increasing populations of Green‐winged Teal and American Black Ducks in Prince Edward Island.     

青藏高原动物地理区的地位和东部界线问题

本文从历史时空的角度分析了青藏高原地区发生的鱼类区系的变化过程,和高原鱼类区系演化的相对独立性,认为这一鱼类区系的分化直接反映了高原隆升事件,并应当在动物地理区划上得到客观反映,即将青藏高原作为一个独立的区划单元。由于青藏高原的隆升和造成古北区、东洋区分化的第三纪末、第四纪初的全球性气候变冷在时间上相近、波及的范围都巨大,共同促成了欧亚大陆古北区、东洋区和青藏高原区特有类群的分化,作为对这些地史事件反映的青藏高原区、古北区和东洋区,在动物地理区划上应该具有相同的地位．另外,依据高原鱼类的分布范围和青藏高原对非高原鱼类的阻碍作用,讨论了青藏高原的界限及其划分问题。     

马铃薯卷叶病毒基因间隔区的克隆及序列分析

根据已报道的马铃薯卷叶病毒基因组序列．设计合成一对特异性引物,以马铃薯卷叶病毒中国分离株（ＰＬＲＶ－Ｃｈ）的ＲＮＡ为模板,反转录合成ｃＤＮＡ第一条链,经ＰＣＲ扩增后克隆于ｐＵＣ１９质粒中,进一步用ＰＣＲ鉴定、限制酶切分析和序列分析,结果表明：ＰＬＲＶ－Ｃｈ基因间隔区由１９７个核苷酸组成,与国外报道的荷兰ＰＬＲＶ－Ｎ加拿大ＰＬＲＶ－Ｃ,澳大利亚ＰＬＲＶ－Ａ,苏格兰ＰＬＲＶ－Ｓ各株系核苷酸序列具有很高的同源性,同源率依次为９９％、９８％、９３％、９８％。     

Detection of Short Protein Coding Regions within the Cyanobacterium Genome: Application of the Hidden Markov Model

The gene-finding programs developed so far have not paid muchattention to the detection of short protein coding regions (CDSs).However, the detection of short CDSs is important for the studyof photosynthesis. We utilized GeneHacker, a gene-finding programbased on the hidden Markov model (HMM), to detect short CDSs(from 90 to 300 bases) in a 1.0 mega contiguous sequence ofcyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. strain PCC6803 which carriesa complete set of genes for oxygenic photosynthesis. GeneHackerdiffers from other gene-finding programs based on the HMM inthat it utilizes di-codon statistics as well. GeneHacker successfullydetected seven out of the eight short CDSs annotated in thissequence and was clearly superior to GeneMark in this rangeof length. GeneHacker detected 94 potentially new CDSs, 9 ofwhich have counterparts in the genetic databases. Four of thenine CDSs were less than 150 bases and were photosynthesis-relatedgenes. The results show the effectiveness of GeneHacker in detectingvery short CDSs corresponding to genes.     

Cloning and Sequencing of a 27.8-kb Nucleotide Sequence of the 79{degrees}-81{degrees}. Region of the Bacillus subtilis Genome Containing the sspE Locus

The nucleotide sequence of a 27830-bp DNA segment in the 79°–81°.region of the Bacillus subtilis genome has been determined.This region contains 29 complete ORFs including the sspE gene,which encodes a small acid-soluble spore protein gamma and locateson the one side terminal of our assigned region. A homologysearch for the products deduced from the 29 ORFs revealed thatnine of them exhibit significant similarity to known proteins,e.g. proteins involved in an iron uptake system, a multidrugresistance protein, a chloramphenicol resistance protein, epoxidehydrolase, adenine glycosylase, and a glucose-1-dehydrogenasehomolog.