Genetic relationship between Mongolian and Norwegian horses?

Human populations of Central Asian origin have contributed genetic material to northern European populations. It is likely that migrating humans carried livestock to ensure food and ease transportation. Thus, eastern genes could also have dispersed to northern European livestock populations. Using microsatellite data, we here report that the essentially different genetic distances DA and (deltamu)2 and their corresponding phylogenetic trees show close associations between the Mongolian native horse and northern European horse breeds. The genetic distances between the northern European breeds and Standardbred/Thoroughbred, representing a southern-derived source of horses, were notably larger. We suggest that contribution of genetic material from eastern horses to northern European populations is likely to have occurred.     

Recovery of saltwater crocodiles following unregulated hunting in tidal rivers of the Northern Territory,Australia

Saltwater crocodiles (Crocodylus porosus) in the Northern Territory of Australia were protected in 1971, after a severe population decline resulting from 26 yr of intense commercial hunting. By that time wild saltwater crocodiles were rarely sighted anywhere and they were commercially extinct in areas where they had once been abundant. Standardized monitoring by spotlight surveys started in 1975 and provided relative density indices over time (1975–2009) as a unique record of the post-protection recovery of a wild crocodilian population. We examined the survey data for populations at 12 major tidal rivers, individually and as a single subpopulation. The pattern of recovery in the subpopulation in both abundance and biomass was approximated by logistic curves, predicting 5.26 non-hatchling crocodiles weighing 387.64 kg sighted per kilometer of river in 2010. We predicted potential carrying capacity as 5.58 non-hatchling crocodiles (5.73% higher than 2010) weighing 519.0 kg (25.31% higher than 2010). Individual rivers showed largely different abundance and biomass among rivers. The statistical model that best described the recovery in individual rivers was not always logistic. However, where it was logistic, expected carrying capacity of different rivers showed considerable variation in abundance and biomass. The variation indicates different habitat quality among the rivers. Recovery occurred despite various consumptive uses, particularly a widespread egg-harvest program, which has been an integral part of the incentive-driven conservation program for saltwater crocodiles in the Northern Territory since 1983. We suggest that the saltwater crocodile population of the Northern Territory is achieving full recovery from uncontrolled hunting in 1945–1971. Although saltwater crocodiles are considered an important natural resource, their increase in number, size, and distribution is posing management issues for public safety. Continuation of human–crocodile conflict management through public education and strategic removal of problem crocodiles will be essential. © 2011 The Wildlife Society.     

甘蓝型油菜小核糖核蛋白BnSmD1编码区全长cDNA 的克隆与表达分析

通过筛选野生型油菜(Pet33-10)与无花瓣油菜(Apet33-10)反向消减文库(SSH)和运用RACE-PCR技术, 获得了甘蓝型油菜小核糖核蛋白BnSmD1的全长编码区 cDNA (GenBank登陆号DQ298446)。该基因长484 bp, 含有一个长354 bp的阅读框。BnSmD1在N端拥有两个高度保守的结构域(Sm-1和Sm-2), 羧基端则含有一个RG重复序列。Northern blot表达结果显示: BnSmD1在甘蓝型油菜的各个组织均有表达, 但是它在早期花蕾中的表达明显高于同期的叶和茎。通过对BnSmD1在Apet33-10无花瓣品系与野生型有花瓣品系Pet33-10中各组织的表达差异进行比较, 发现该基因在Apet33-10的早期花蕾中表达明显下降。因此, BnSmD1可能对植物的早期花发育起到了重要的作用, 并很有可能影响花瓣的形成。     

神农架北坡堵河源自然保护区植物多样性研究

为建立自然保护区,保护神农架北坡堵河源地区丰富的生物多样性资源,并为神农架地区植物起源、植被演替以及生物多样性和濒危物种状况深入、准确评价提供基础数据,2002年,采用路线调查与标准地调查相结合的方法,结合历史资料,对堵河源地区的野生植物资源进行了实地野外调查研究,分析了植物区系和植物多样性及其受威胁状况。结果表明:(1)该保护区具有丰富的植物物种多样性,有维管束植物174科730属1733种(含亚种、变种),其中,国家重点保护野生植物有23种;(2)该区植物区系成分具有复杂性、多样性,拥有中国种子植物分布区类型属级水平的全部类型,但明显偏重于温带性质。且植物区系起源古老,有中国特有分布属37个,其中,古特有属27个;(3)该区具有丰富的植被类型,包括4个植被型组,8个植被型,26个群系,具有较高的保护和科研价值。同时针对保护区植物多样性受威胁状况,提出了植被恢复、加强防火设备设施建设、生态移民、保护珍稀濒危植物及社区共管是保护植物多样性的有效措施。     

Floristic studies on freshwater algae of Lake Gondwana,Northern Victoria Land (Antarctica)

Benthic algal mats and phytoplankton of Lake Gondwana (Northern Victoria Land, Antarctica) were investigated. Biomass, chlorophyll content and floristic analyses were carried out on algal mats. The mats are composed of two layers different in colour, floristic composition and chlorophyll content. The algal flora of the mats amount to 34 taxa (19 Cyanophyta, 7 Bacillariophyta, 8 Chlorophyta). The phytoplankton community is species-poor (only 5 taxa). Crytophyta account for about 98% of total algal density.     

Harmful algal bloom forecast system for SW Ireland. Part II: Are operational oceanographic models useful in a HAB warning system

This study investigated the application of a three-dimensional physical hydrodynamic model in a harmful algal bloom forecast system for Bantry Bay, southwest Ireland. Modelled oceanographic conditions were studied and used to help understand observed changes in the chemical and biological patterns from the national biotoxins and phytoplankton monitoring program. The study focused on two toxic events in 2013. An upwelling event was predicted by the model prior to the appearance and population increase of potentially toxic diatoms, Pseudo-nitzschia, and associated domoic acid in shellfish. A downwelling episode was provided as a forecast in the model prior to the arrival of a Dinophysis bloom and detection of its associated biotoxins in Bay shellfish. The modelled forecast products developed included expected surface, mid-depth and bottom current pathways at the mouth of the Bay and on the adjacent shelf. The rate and direction of water volume flow at the mouth and mid-bay sections were produced by the model to examine predicted upwelling and downwelling pulses. The model also calculated the evolution of water properties (temperature, salinity and density) with depth along the Bay axis and on the adjacent continental shelf. Direct measurements of water properties at a fixed point, mid-bay, were comparable to model calculations. The operational model for southwest Ireland produces a reliable 3-day physical hydrodynamic forecast of the dominant regional physical processes that result in water exchange events between Bantry Bay and its adjacent shelf. While simulated physical hydrodynamics were provided as a 3-day forecast, the upwelling and downwelling signals from the model, closely linked to toxic HAB episodes, were evident up to 10 days prior to the contamination of shellfish in the Bay.     

新疆北部森林生态系统地衣植物生活型分析

Life forms of lichen of forest ecosystem in Northern Xinjiang were researched in the Kanas National Natural Reservation Area.They have been grouped into 6 types:Epipetria,Soil-epipetria,Epiphytia arboricosa,Epiphytia moss,Epiphytis grass and Dry-radicantia,in which the species of Epiphytia arboricosa account for 36.89% of the total species in this area,the species of Epipetria for 22.33% and Epiphytia grass the least.The results show that life forms of lichem at the srea in Northem Xinjiang are relatively rich,which indicates the biodiversity characteristics of lichen.     

Differential induction of three pathogenesis-related genes, PR10, PR1b and PR5 by the ethylene generator ethephon under light and dark in rice (Oryza sativa L.) seedlings

Ethylene has been shown to be involved in triggering pathogenesis-related (PR) gene expression mainly in dicotyledonous species; however, less attention has been devoted identifying and characterizing PR genes in rice (Oryza sativa L.), a monocot and a model of cereal crop genera. Here, we demonstrate that ethylene induces at least three important rice PR genes, the PR10, PR1 basic (PR1b), and PR5 genes in rice (cv. Nipponbare) seedling leaf, upon treatment with the ethylene generator, ethephon (ET), in a light-, time- and dose-dependent manner. Induction of these PR genes was partially blocked by cycloheximide (CHX), a eukaryotic cytoplasmic protein synthesis inhibitor, which indicates an involvement of cytoplasmic de novo protein synthesis in their induction. These results clearly indicate a dynamic role for ethylene in PR genes induction in rice.     

A highly sensitive northern blot assay detects multiple proenkephalin a-like mRNAs in human caudate nucleus and pheochromocytoma

Total RNA from post mortem human caudate nucleus, cerebellum, cerebral cortex and pheochromocytoma tissues has been prepared. Northern blot analysis, using a single-stranded human proenkephalin A antisense probe (cRNA), revealed the existence of two different proenkephalin A-like sequences in the human caudate nucleus and pheochromocytoma RNA extracts of approximately 1400 and 1000 nucleotides in length respectively, whereas no specific RNA bands could be detected in the cortex and only the 1400 nucleotide band was present in the cerebellum. Under highly stringent hybridization conditions, the proenkephalin A-like RNA bands still appear, indicating that the detected RNA species have either identical or a closely related sequence to that of the wellcharacterized human proenkephalin A mRNA sequence.