古尔班通古特沙漠固定沙丘上白梭梭和梭梭的空间分布及种间关联性

为了探讨沙漠中固沙灌木种群共存和演替机制, 本文基于古尔班通古特沙漠东南缘固定沙丘上白梭梭(Haloxylon persicum)和梭梭(H. ammodendron)种群的地理位置和生长发育阶段信息(幼株、营养株、生殖株和死株), 采用点格局分析方法(g(r)函数)及Monte-Carlo随机模拟检验和零模型选取的方法, 分析了固沙灌木白梭梭和梭梭种群不同生长发育阶段在0-20 m尺度内的空间分布格局及种间关联性。结果表明: (1)两个种群在研究尺度范围内呈聚集分布, 随着尺度的增大, 其聚集强度逐渐减弱; (2)两个种群整体上呈负关联关系, 尺度越大负关联关系越显著; (3)白梭梭种群生长发育阶段相差越大, 个体间正关联关系越显著; 梭梭种群生长发育阶段越接近, 个体间正关联关系越显著; (4)两个种群中龄级较大的个体(如营养株、生殖株和死株)会对对方种群中龄级较小的幼株产生一定的抑制作用; 同时, 随着两个种群中个体的成长, 双方受到的抑制作用逐渐减弱, 主要表现为正关联和无关联。总体而言, 古尔班通古特沙漠固定沙丘白梭梭和梭梭种群的分布格局整体上为聚集分布, 随龄级增加聚集性减弱, 受生境异质性和扩散限制的影响明显。种间关系多为负相关, 种内不同生长发育阶段之间均为正关联关系。     

金钟藤入侵群落的种间联结及生态位特征

金钟藤(Decalobanthus boisianus)是林业有害植物, 其暴发生长和扩散对森林生态系统造成了严重破坏。本文以海南岛48个金钟藤典型分布群落为研究对象, 用方差比率法和贡献定律法探究群落的稳定性; 用χ ²统计量、联结系数(AC)、共同出现百分率(PC)、Ochiai指数和Dice指数分析金钟藤与伴生物种的种间联结关系; 用生态位宽度、生态位相似性系数和生态位重叠指数研究群落中各物种的生态位特征, 以期为金钟藤生物防治的植物物种筛选提供借鉴。结果表明: (1)金钟藤所在48个群落共有156种伴生植物, 其中大戟科、茜草科、桑科、无患子科和樟科植物占优势; (2)群落中优势物种呈正联结关系, 植物种类累积倒数百分比与累积相对频度交点坐标为(44.53, 55.47), 远离稳定交点坐标(20, 80), 说明群落处于不稳定状态; (3)金钟藤与芳槁润楠(Machilus suaveolens)、黄椿木姜子(Litsea variabilis)、岭南山竹子(Garcinia oblongifolia)、显脉杜英(Elaeocarpus dubius)、鸭脚木(Schefflera octophylla)和银柴(Aporusa dioica)都紧密关联, 说明金钟藤与这些物种的资源利用方式较相似; (4)金钟藤的生态位宽度最大, 与伴生物种间的生态位重叠度较高, 但伴生物种间的生态位重叠度较低。金钟藤的入侵导致群落处于不稳定状态, 并与伴生物种间存在激烈的竞争关系。因此, 建议在金钟藤已入侵的群落中大量栽种芳槁润楠、黄椿木姜子、显脉杜英、鸭脚木和银柴, 以遏制其蔓延; 大量栽种翻白叶树(Pterospermum heterophyllum)、海南菜豆树(Radermachera hainanensis)、九节(Psychotria rubra)和肉实树(Sarcosperma laurinum)用于金钟藤入侵群落的植被恢复。     

Changes in coral reef communities among the Florida Keys, 1996–2003

Hard coral (Scleractinia and Milleporina) cover data were examined from 37 sites surveyed annually from 1996 to 2003 in the Florida reef tract, USA. Analyses of species numbers and total cover showed that site-to-site differences were generally very much greater than differences among times within sites. There were no significant differences among different geographical areas within the reef tract (Upper, Middle and Lower Keys). Large-scale changes documented included a reduction in species numbers and total cover on both deep and shallow offshore reefs between 1997 and 1999 followed by no recovery in cover, and only scant evidence of any recovery in species numbers by 2003. These changes coincided with bleaching events in 1997 and 1998, and the passage of Hurricane Georges through the Lower Keys in 1998. The lack of recovery among offshore reefs suggests that they were no longer resilient. Multivariate analyses revealed that some sites showed relatively little temporal variation in community composition, essentially random in direction, while others showed relatively large year-on-year changes. There was little evidence of any major region-wide changes affecting assemblage composition, or of any events that had impacted all of the sampling sites in any single year. Instead, different sites exhibited differing patterns of temporal variation, with certain sites displaying greater variation than others. Changes in community composition at some sites are interpreted in the light of knowledge of events at those sites and the relative sensitivities of species to various stressors, such as changes in cover of Acropora palmata and Millepora complanata at Sand Key following the bleaching events and hurricane in 1998, and declines in Montastraea annularis at Smith Shoal following a harmful algal bloom in 2002. For most sites, however, it is impossible to determine the causes of observed variation.     

Individualized medicine 2010

Molecular and cell biology have revolutionized not only diagnosis, therapy and prevention of human diseases but also greatly contributed to the understanding of their pathogenesis. Based on modern molecular and biochemical methods it is possible to identify on the one hand point mutations and single nucleotide polymorphisms. On the other hand, using high throughput array technologies, it is possible to analyse thousands of genes or gene products simultaneously, resulting in an individual gene or gene expression profile (signature). These data increasingly allow to define the individual risk for a given disease and to predict the individual prognosis of a disease as well as the efficacy of therapeutic strategies (individualized medicine). In the following sections some of the recent advances of predictive medicine and their clinical relevance will be addressed.     

A single lycaenid caterpillar gets an ant‐constructed shelter and uninterrupted ant attendance

Ant‐lycaenid associations range from mutualism to parasitism and the caterpillars of some species of lycaenids are reported to enter ant nests for shelter, diapause, or pupation. The present study aimed to examine the nature of the association between Euchrysops cnejus (Fabricius) (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae) and Camponotus compressus (Fabricius) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) worker ants on the extrafloral nectary‐bearing cowpea plant, Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp. (Fabaceae). The abundance patterns of the ants and the lycaenid caterpillars together with the spatial patrolling patterns of the ants on the plants revealed that ant abundance increased with the occurrence of the lycaenid caterpillars and the ants preferred the lycaenids over the extrafloral nectar. Camponotus compressus worker ants constructed a shelter at the cowpea plant base after interaction with one or more lycaenid caterpillar(s) and tended the caterpillars and pupae till the emergence of the butterfly. The ant‐constructed shelters (ACSs) inhabited by the minor caste workers (13 ± 1.3 ants per ACS), were utilized by the caterpillars to undergo pupation. The ants confined their activities predominantly to tending the pod‐feeding caterpillars and the solitary pupa within each ACS. It appears that the behavior of the tending worker ants is modulated by the lycaenid vulnerable stages.     

Genetic risk variants for dyslexia on chromosome 18 in a German cohort

Dyslexia is characterized by impaired reading and spelling. The disorder has a prevalence of about 5% in Germany, and a strong hereditary component. Several loci are thought to be involved in the development of dyslexia. Scerri et al. identified eight potential dyslexia‐associated single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in seven genes on chromosome 18 in an English‐speaking population. Here, we present an association analysis that explores the relevance of these SNPs in a German population comprising 388 dyslexia cases and 364 control cases. In case–control analysis, three nominal SNP associations were replicated. The major alleles of NEDD4L‐rs12606138 and NEDD4L‐rs8094327 were risk associated [odds ratio (OR) = 1.35, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.0–1.7, P‐value = 0.017 and OR = 1.39, 95% CI = 1.1–1.7, P‐value = 0.007, respectively], and both SNPs were in strong linkage disequilibrium (r² = 0.95). For MYO5B‐rs555879, the minor allele was risk associated (OR = 1.31, 95% CI = 1.1–1.6, P‐value = 0.011). The combined analysis of SNP sets using set enrichment analysis revealed a study‐wide significant association for three SNPs with susceptibility for dyslexia. In summary, our results substantiate genetic markers in NEDD4L and MYO5B as risk factors for dyslexia and provide first evidence that the relevance of these markers is not restricted to the English language .     

三峡大坝下游残存疏花水柏枝种群结构和动态

在三峡大坝下游的湖北宜都关洲设立1个40 m×40 m的固定样地,利用高度分级,比较2008与2009年两年间的疏花水柏枝（Myricaria laxiflora）种群数量动态,并运用点格局的Ripley＇s K函数分析了其空间格局变化及种群更新特征。结果表明,疏花水柏枝幼苗数量较少,种群更新存在一些障碍。空间分布格局与空间尺度及植株的大小密切相关。种群总体呈集群分布,各大小级多在9 m时出现最大的聚集强度,随着大小级的增加,聚集强度有减弱的趋势。幼苗与中株有较强的正关联。由于种群现有生境变化较大,应考虑迁地保护,并对原生种群加强长期动态监测;同时,开展疏花水柏枝适应机理研究,实施科学保护。     

林木基因组及功能基因克隆研究概述

在美国能源部资助下, 首个多年生木本植物-- 杨树的全基因组测序已经完成且序列信息已对公众开放。杨树全基因组测序的完成标志着林木基因组进入后基因组研究时代。克隆控制重要性状的主效基因是林木后基因组时代的主要研究内容。近年来, 在一些重要作物, 如水稻、蕃茄及玉米中, 先后成功克隆了多个控制重要农艺性状的主效基因, 分子育种在作物中已进入实用阶段。林木相对于这些重要作物而言, 分子遗传学的研究起步较晚, 同时, 由于林木自身的一些生物学特性, 在林木中精确定位与克隆未知基因一度被视为遗传学研究领域的难点。随着技术和研究手段的不断进步, 以及林木基因组资源的快速积累, 有望在这一领域取得突破, 为在林木中开展分子育种创造条件。文章综述了国际上林木基因组与功能基因克隆研究的现状与新发展, 并对后基因组时代的林木功能基因克隆研究的预期成果进行了展望, 以期为从事该领域研究的科研人员提供参考。     

Contribution of dipole-dipole interactions to the stability of the collagen triple helix

Unveiling sequence-stability and structure-stability relationships is a major goal of protein chemistry and structural biology. Despite the enormous efforts devoted, answers to these issues remain elusive. In principle, collagen represents an ideal system for such investigations due to its simplified sequence and regular structure. However, the definition of the molecular basis of collagen triple helix stability has hitherto proved to be a difficult task. Particularly puzzling is the decoding of the mechanism of triple helix stabilization/destabilization induced by imino acids. Although the propensity-based model, which correlates the propensities of the individual imino acids with the structural requirements of the triple helix, is able to explicate most of the experimental data, it is unable to predict the rather high stability of peptides embedding Gly-Hyp-Hyp triplets. Starting from the available X-ray structures of this polypeptide, we carried out an extensive quantum chemistry analysis of the mutual interactions established by hydroxyproline residues located at the X and Y positions of the Gly-X-Y motif. Our data clearly indicate that the opposing rings of these residues establish significant van der Waals and dipole-dipole interactions that play an important role in triple helix stabilization. These findings suggest that triple helix stabilization can be achieved by distinct structural mechanisms. The interplay of these subtle but recurrent effects dictates the overall stability of this widespread structural motif.     

Soil Properties and their Spatial Pattern in a Degraded Sandy Grassland under Post-grazing Restoration, Inner Mongolia, Northern China

In this study, we use classical and geostatistical methods to identify characteristics of some selected soil properties including soil particle size distribution, soil organic carbon, total nitrogen, pH and electrical conductivity and their spatial variation in a 5-year recovery degraded sandy grassland after two different grazing intensity disturbance: post-heavy-grazing restoration grassland (HGR) and post-moderately grazing restoration grassland (MGR), respectively, in Horqin steppe, Inner Mongolia, northern China. The objective was to examine effect of grazing intensity on spatial heterogeneity of soil properties. One hundred soil samples were taken from the soil layer 0–15 cm in depth of a grid of 10 m×10 m under each treatment. The results showed that soil fine fractions (very fine sand, 0.1–0.05 mm and silt + clay, <0.05 mm), soil organic carbon and total nitrogen concentrations were significant lower and their coefficients of variation significant higher under the HGR than under the MGR. Geostatistical analysis of soil heterogeneity revealed that soil particle size fractions, organic carbon and total nitrogen showed different degree of spatial dependence with exponential or spherical semivariograms on the scale measured under HGR and MGR. The spatial structured variance account for a large proportion of the sample variance in HGR plot ranging from 88% to 97% for soil particle fractions, organic C and total N, however, except for organic C (88.8%), the structured variance only account for 50% of the sample variance for soil particle fractions and total N in the MGR plot. The ranges of spatial autocorrelation for coarse-fine sand, very fine sand, silt + clay, organic C and total N were 13.7 m, 15.8 m, 15.2 m, 22.2 m and 21.9 m in HGR plot, respectively, and was smaller than in MGR plot with the corresponding distance of 350 m, 144.6 m, 45.7 m, 27.3 m and 30.3 m, respectively. This suggested that overgrazing resulted in an increase in soil heterogeneity. Soil organic C and total N were associated closely with soil particle fractions, and the kriging-interpolated maps showed that the spatial distribution of soil organic C and total N corresponded to the distribution patterns of soil particle fractions, indicating that high degree of spatial heterogeneity in soil properties was linked to the distribution of vegetative and bare sand patches. The results suggested that the degree of soil heterogeneity at field scale can be used as an index for indicating the extent of grassland desertification. Also, the changes in soil heterogeneity may in turn influence vegetative succession and restoration process of degraded sandy grassland ecosystem.