Coral frameworks revisited–reefs and coral carpets in the northern Red Sea

 Coral communities were investigated in the northern Red Sea, in the Gulfs of Suez and Aqaba, for their framework building potential. Five types of coral frameworks were differentiated: Acropora reef framework, Porites reef framework, Porites carpet, faviid carpet, and Stylophora carpet. Two non-framework community types were found: the Stylophora-Acropora community, and soft coral communities. Reef frameworks show a clear ecological zonation along depth and hydrodynamic exposure gradients, with clear indicator communities for each zone. By definition, coral carpets build a framework but lack distinct zonation patterns since they grow only in areas without pronounced gradients. In the northern Red Sea they show a gradual change with depth from Porites to faviid dominance. A Stylophora carpet is restricted to shallow water in the northern Gulf of Suez. Although growth rates of carpets may be somewhat less than those of reefs, the carbonate accumulation is considered to be higher in carpet areas due to their significantly higher areal extension. In addition, reefs and carpets have different sediment retention characteristics – the carpet retains, the reef exports. The in situ fossilization potential of coral carpets is expected to be higher than that of reef frameworks. Accepted: 25 May 1999     

生物多样性与生态系统服务评估指标与方法

评估、模拟和预测全球生物多样性和生态系统服务的状态、趋势及其对人类福祉的影响,是当前生物多样性和生态系统服务研究领域的重要任务。指标和数据、模型和情景是推动生物多样性与生态系统服务评估研究理论建设和方法集成的重要工具。但是,目前对生物多样性和生态系统服务评估的指标体系和技术方法的综合对比研究相对缺乏。因而,系统评述了生物多样性和生态系统服务评估的概念框架、评估指标以及各类评估模型和方法的最新进展。生物多样性—生态系统功能—生态系统服务—人类福祉的级联框架是极具逻辑性的生物多样性和生态系统服务评估框架。现有的评估指标体系和模型方法还存在很多的问题和挑战,难以充分揭示生态系统服务的形成和影响机制、服务之间的联系和作用机理,有效地指导生态系统服务管理和决策制定。然而,这些评估指标和方法可为构建生物多样性与生态系统服务综合集成模型研究的框架提供重要的切入点。基于此,提出了生物多样性与生态系统服务综合集成模型研究的核心内容:i)目的:基于自然—社会综合特征的情景分析确定所解决的科学问题,输出生态系统服务管理和决策制定方案;ii)内容:尺度、生态系统服务类型、生物多样性的层次结构、组分间相互关系、驱动要素、多源数据的综合分析;iii)方法:对现有的各类模型和模型组合进行比较和不确定性分析,建立符合区域实际需求的生物多样性与生态系统服务综合制图模型库。在此基础上,建议我国应尽快发展适合中国区域特点的标准化指标体系和综合评估模型系统,定期对生物多样性和生态系统服务进行综合评估,掌握生物多样性和生态系统服务的变化趋势,提升我国在生物多样性和生态系统服务研究领域的国际地位和话语权。     

旅游景观生态系统理论

针对旅游业快速发展过程中旅游目的地人地关系日趋恶化的趋势,在景观生态学理论的基础上,较为系统地提出旅游景观生态系统的相关理论框架,借以辩明旅游地复杂的人地关系,为旅游地的可持续发展研究提供理论依据.在景观生态学中景观生态系统概念的基础上,探讨了旅游景观生态系统的概念框架,指出旅游景观生态系统是由旅游者、当地居民与其周围的自然环境,遵循相应的生态、经济与社会规律,相互作用相互影响所形成的,具有旅游功能的地域综合体.进而重点讨论了尺度、格局、功能与变化等旅游景观生态系统研究的基本问题,强调辨析旅游景观生态系统格局与功能变化的影响因素及其相互作用机制是研究的重点,是为制止或逆转系统的不良趋势以及制定适宜的优化途径的基础.阐述了格局-功能依存性与状态脆弱性等旅游景观生态系统的特性.     

中欧生命科学领域国际合作的途径与步骤

欧盟框架计划是欧盟科技发展的行动纲领,所设置的项目具有世界一流水平。从1983年开始实施科技框架计划以来,共制定实施了6个框架计划。目前正在实施的是第六框架计划(2002～2006),是第一个对中国全面开放的框架计划。第六框架计划七个优先主题领域中的第一个优先主题领域即“与健康相关的生命科学、基因组学和生物技术”。中方科研机构参加第六框架国际科技合作可采取“物色项目负责人、准备项目申请、通知科技部”三步走的快捷方案 。     

MOF@Au NPs/aptamer fluorescent probe for the selective and sensitive detection of thiamethoxam

The luminescence performance of fluorescent reagents plays a crucial role in fluorescence analysis. Therefore, in this study, a novel bi-ligand Zn-based metal–organic framework, Au nanoparticle (NP) fluorescent material was synthesized using a hydrothermal method with Zn as the metal source. Simultaneously, a DNA aptamer was introduced as a molecular recognition element to develop a Zn-based MOF@Au NPs/DNA aptamer fluorescent probe for the ultra-trace detection of thiamethoxam residues in agricultural products. The probe captured different concentrations of the target molecule, thiamethoxam, through the DNA aptamer, causing a conformational change in the DNA aptamer and bursting the fluorescence of the probe, therefore establishing a fluorometric method for thiamethoxam detection. This method is highly sensitive due to the excellent luminescence properties of the Zn-based MOF@Au NPs, and the DNA aptamer can specifically recognize thiamethoxam, offering high selectivity. The linear range of the method was 2.5–6000 × 10⁻¹¹ mol L⁻¹, with a detection limit of 8.33 × 10⁻¹² mol L⁻¹. This method was applied to the determination of actual samples, such as bananas, and the spiked recovery rate was found to be in the range 84.05–109.07%. Overall, the proposed probe has high sensitivity, high selectivity, and easy operation for the detection of thiamethoxam residues in actual samples.     

Photosensitized covalent organic framework as a light-induced oxidase mimic for colorimetric detection of uric acid

As large numbers of people are suffering from gout, an accurate, rapid, and sensitive method for the detection of gout biomarker, uric acid, is important for its effective control, diagnosis, and therapy. Although colorimetric detection methods based on uricase have been considered, they still have limitations as they produce toxic H₂O₂ and are expensive and not stable. Here, a novel uricase-free colorimetric method was developed for the sensitive and selective detection of uric acid based on the light-induced oxidase-mimicking activity of a new photosensitized covalent organic framework (COF) (2,4,6-trimethylpyridine-3,5-dicarbonitrile–4-[2-(4-formylphenyl)ethynyl]benzaldehyde COF [DCTP–EDA COF]). DCTP–EDA COF has a strong ability to harvest visible light, and it could catalyze the oxidation of 1,4-dioxane, 3,3′,5,5′-tetramethylbenzidine under visible light irradiation to produce obvious color changes. With the addition of uric acid, however, the significant inhibition of the oxidase-mimicking activity of DCTP–EDA COF remarkably faded the color, and thus uric acid could be colorimetrically detected in the range of 2.0–150 μM with a limit of detection of 0.62 μM (3σ/K). Moreover, the present colorimetric method exhibited high selectivity; uric acid level in serum samples was successfully determined, and the recoveries ranged from 96.5% to 105.64%, suggesting the high accuracy of the present colorimetric method, which demonstrates great promise in clinical analysis.     

Drivers of Solidago species invasion in Central Europe—Case study in the landscape of the Carpathian Mountains and their foreground

AimThe invasion process is a complex, context‐dependent phenomenon; nevertheless, it can be described using the PAB framework. This framework encompasses the joint effect of propagule pressure (P), abiotic characteristics of the environment (A), and biotic characteristics of both the invader and recipient vegetation (B). We analyzed the effectiveness of proxies of PAB factors to explain the spatial pattern of Solidago canadensis and S. gigantea invasion using invasive species distribution models.LocationCarpathian Mountains and their foreground, Central Europe.MethodsThe data on species presence or absence were from an atlas of neophyte distribution based on a 2 × 2 km grid, covering approximately 31,200 km² (7,752 grid cells). Proxies of PAB factors, along with data on historical distribution of invaders, were used as explanatory variables in Boosted Regression Trees models to explain the distribution of invasive Solidago. The areas with potentially lower sampling effort were excluded from analysis based on a target species approach.ResultsProxies of the PAB factors helped to explain the distribution of both S. canadensis and S. gigantea. Distributions of both species were limited climatically because a mountain climate is not conducive to their growth; however, the S. canadensis distribution pattern was correlated with proxies of human pressure, whereas S. gigantea distribution was connected with environmental characteristics. The varied responses of species with regard to distance from their historical distribution sites indicated differences in their invasion drivers.Main conclusionsProxies of PAB are helpful in the choice of explanatory variables as well as the ecological interpretation of species distribution models. The results underline that human activity can cause variation in the invasion of ecologically similar species.     

中国森林生物多样性监测: 科学基础与执行计划

中国森林生物多样性保护和恢复措施的制订依赖于生物多样性的监测信息。设计一个有效的生物多样性监测网络是一项复杂的系统工程。监测网络的设计框架可分为监测目标、监测对象、监测指标、取样策略、数据采集和处理、网络维护以及组织工作等几个部分。目前, 国际上已有5个得到广泛认可的生物多样性监测网络, 包括地球观测组织-生物多样性监测网络、全球森林监测网络、热带生态评估与监测网络、泛欧洲森林监测网络和亚马逊森林清查网络, 它们的监测目标、监测内容和方法、样地布局及部分监测成果各有特色。我们试图在全国生物多样性监测、森林资源清查和森林生态系统定位研究的基础上, 通过网络布局、建设和运行, 形成中国森林生物多样性监测网(Chinese Forest Biodiversity Monitoring Network, Sino BON-CForBio)及其监测规范体系。该网络的科学目标是, 在全国尺度上研究不同典型地带性森林的生物多样性维持机制、监测森林生物多样性变化并阐明其机理、研究生物多样性变化的效应。该网络布局以《中国植被区划》中的森林植被区划成果作为顶层设计和监测样地选择的核心依据, 设计了4个层级的监测系统; 其监测指标体系以生物多样性核心指标为主, 并结合我国传统森林群落调查方法进行拓展; 预期建成国家水平上的森林生物多样性监测网络, 阐明森林生物多样性维持机制和生物多样性变化的效应, 同时对重大生态保护工程的生物多样性保护效果进行有效性监测和验证型监测。     

Error evaluation in the laboratory testing process and laboratory information systems

BackgroundThe laboratory testing process consist of five analysis phases featuring the total testing process framework. Activities in laboratory process, including those of testing are error-prone and affect the use of laboratory information systems. This study seeks to identify error factors related to system use and the first and last phases of the laboratory testing process using a proposed framework known as total testing process-laboratory information systems.MethodsWe conducted a qualitative case study evaluation in two private hospitals and a medical laboratory. We collected data using interviews, observations, and document analysis methods involving physicians, nurses, an information technology officer, and the laboratory staff. We employed the proposed framework and Lean problem solving tools namely Value Stream Mapping and A3 for data analysis.ResultsErrors in laboratory information systems and the laboratory testing process were attributed to failure to fulfill user requirements, poor cooperation between the information technology unit and laboratory, inconsistency of software design in system integration, errors during inter-system data transmission, and lack of motivation in system use. The error factors are related to system development elements, namely, latent failures that considerably affected the information quality and system use. Errors in system development were also attributed to poor service quality.ConclusionsComplex laboratory testing process and laboratory information systems require rigorous evaluation in minimizing errors and ensuring patient safety. The proposed framework and Lean approach are applicable for evaluating the laboratory testing process and laboratory information systems in a rigorous, comprehensive, and structured manner.