The Mechanism,Thermodynamic and Kinetic Characteristics of the Microbial Reduction of Goethite Mediated by Anthraquinone-2-Sulfonate

The microbial reduction process of goethite by Shewanella decolorationis S12 was evaluated. The results showed the electron shuttle, anthraquinone-2-sulfonate (AQS), could enhance the microbial reduction. The thermodynamic and kinetic characteristics of goethite reduction by microorganisms were influenced by AQS, concentrations of iron oxide, and electron donor. Transformation between oxidized and reduced species of the electron shuttle during the microbial reduction could be newly noticed. Two interactive steps, biotic and abiotic, were involved in the microbial reduction of Fe (III) oxide mediated by electron shuttle.     

The Amyloid Precursor Protein (APP) Triplicated Gene Impairs Neuronal Precursor Differentiation and Neurite Development through Two Different Domains in the Ts65Dn Mouse Model for Down Syndrome

Intellectual disability in Down syndrome (DS) appears to be related to severe proliferation impairment during brain development. Recent evidence shows that it is not only cellular proliferation that is heavily compromised in DS, but also cell fate specification and dendritic maturation. The amyloid precursor protein (APP), a gene that is triplicated in DS, plays a key role in normal brain development by influencing neural precursor cell proliferation, cell fate specification, and neuronal maturation. APP influences these processes via two separate domains, the APP intracellular domain (AICD) and the soluble secreted APP. We recently found that the proliferation impairment of neuronal precursors (NPCs) from the Ts65Dn mouse model for DS was caused by derangement of the Shh pathway due to overexpression of patched1(Ptch1), its inhibitory regulator. Ptch1 overexpression was related to increased levels within the APP/AICD system. The overall goal of this study was to determine whether APP contributes to neurogenesis impairment in DS by influencing in addition to proliferation, cell fate specification, and neurite development. We found that normalization of APP expression restored the reduced neuronogenesis, the increased astrogliogenesis, and the reduced neurite length of trisomic NPCs, indicating that APP overexpression underpins all aspects of neurogenesis impairment. Moreover, we found that two different domains of APP impair neuronal differentiation and maturation in trisomic NPCs. The APP/AICD system regulates neuronogenesis and neurite length through the Shh pathway, whereas the APP/secreted AP system promotes astrogliogenesis through an IL-6-associated signaling cascade. These results provide novel insight into the mechanisms underlying brain development alterations in DS.     

Combining archive territory mapping data and aerial photography to investigate bird–habitat relationships: a case study from the Lincolnshire coast

Capsule Habitat associations of breeding birds in a complex coastal environment are clear, interpretable and mostly consistent between years.

Aims To match archive territory mapping data with historical aerial photographs and develop data handling and analytical techniques for the study of bird–habitat relationships.

Methods Bird registrations were digitized from archive British Trust for Ornithology Common Birds Census maps and habitat characteristics from contemporaneous aerial photographs. The resulting maps were overlaid and ranks of habitat preference for 15 species calculated using compositional analysis. Similarity analysis identified species with consistent habitat profiles across years. Cluster analysis identified groups of species with similar patterns of habitat use.

Results A total of 5400 registrations of 15 species in 14 habitats were analysed. Of these, 13 species showed stable patterns of habitat association across survey years. Clear differences and similarities in habitat preferences among the species were identified. The results may be used to inform conservation and management programmes in this and similar environments.

Conclusions Extensive archives of bird survey data can be used to study bird–habitat relationships and to measure the effects of natural and anthropogenic environmental change if contemporaneous aerial photographs can be sourced.     

兴安落叶松针叶解剖结构变化及其光合能力对气候变化的适应性

叶片易受环境因子影响,其形态解剖结构特征不但与叶片的生理功能密切相关,而且反映树木对环境变化的响应和适应。叶片结构的改变势必会改变树木的生理功能。同一树种长期生长在异质环境条件下,经过自然选择和适应,会在形态和生理特性等方面产生变异,形成特定的地理种群。另外,母体所经受的环境胁迫也会影响到其子代的生长、发育和生理等特征。因此,了解植物叶片形态结构对环境变化的响应与适应是探索植物对环境变化的响应适应机制的基础。兴安落叶松(Larix gmelinii Rupr.)是我国北方森林的优势树种,主要分布在我国东北地区,但日益加剧的气候变化可能会改变其现有的分布区。为了区分叶片对气候变化的可塑性和适应性,本研究采用同质园法比较测定了6个不同气候条件下的兴安落叶松种源的32年生树木的针叶解剖结构和光合生理相关因子,利用石蜡切片方法分析了针叶的解剖结构特征、光合能力（Pmax-a）、水分利用效率（WUE）之间的关系及其对气候变化的适应性。结果表明：表皮细胞厚度、叶肉细胞厚度、传输组织厚度、维管束厚度、内皮层厚度以及叶片总厚度均存在显著的种源间差异（P < 0.05）。叶肉细胞厚度与Pmax-a、气孔导度和WUE之间均存在显著的正相关关系（P < 0.05）。叶肉细胞厚度、表皮细胞厚度、叶片总厚度以及叶肉细胞厚度和表皮细胞厚度在叶片总厚度中所占比例均与种源地的干燥度指数（即年蒸发量与年降水量之比）呈正线性关系。这些结果说明：不同种源兴安落叶松针叶解剖结构因对种源原地气候条件的长期适应而产生显著的差异,从而引起其针叶光合作用、水分利用等生理功能发生相应的变化,从而有利于该树种在气候变化的情景下得以生存和繁衍。     

不同生境与花部特征对巫山淫羊藿结实特性的影响

对不同生境中巫山淫羊藿结实特性进行比较研究。结果表明:(1)三个种群在繁殖时期中不同花部特征的植株繁殖投资差异不大,如每株分枝数、每株花序数和每株开花数差异均不显著;(2)三个种群中每株结实数、每株结实率、每花序结实数在不同花部特征中差异显著,PLS和SAA要显著大于PESS;(3)三种花部特征在不同生境中单株分枝数和单株花序数均无显著差异。在不同花部特征中种群1开花数量相较少,因而在结实方面均值均要小于种群2和种群3;(4)不同花部特征的果实饱满种子数、败育数和败育率均具有显著差异,而种子数差异不大,但在种群间均无显著的差异。说明种子的多少更多地受到花部特征的影响。总之,巫山淫羊藿的结实特性受到生境和花部特征的双重影响,其中花型比生境对巫山淫羊藿结实特性的影响更为明显。     

秦岭山地松栎混交林主要木本植物组成及更新特征

采用样方法对秦岭南坡中段松栎混交林主要木本植物组成及天然更新特征进行了研究.结果表明:(1)松栎混交林乔木层物种共计40种,油松、锐齿槲栎和华山松为优势种,重要值分别为35.19％、31.99％和8.12％,漆树、栓皮栎和楝木为亚优势种.(2)更新层木本植物共计87种,其中乔木幼苗34种,占总数的39.08％,灌木物种也有一定优势地位,优势种有锐齿槲栎、悬钩子和菝葜等,高度级较小的更新苗在群落内占有较大比例.(3)优势乔木更新特征不同,锐齿槲栎幼苗和幼树密度显著高于油松和华山松,且锐齿槲栎幼苗密度显著高于其幼树,但油松幼苗与幼树、华山松幼苗与幼树间无明显差异.(4)混交林内锐齿槲栎径级结构呈近似倒“J”形分布,种群稳定;油松和华山松种群均呈近似正态分布,大径级个体群相对稳定,但林下幼树不足.该研究结果提示,松栎混交林下油松和华山松更新不良,这将不利于其长期存留于群落中,虽然锐齿槲栎从幼苗到幼树的发育过程中存在更新障碍,但并未影响其种群整体更新,若无大规模干扰,锐齿槲栎将维持逆“J”型的更新方式并成为松栎混交林群落中的第一优势种.     

He-Ne激光预处理对镉胁迫下小麦幼苗生理特性的影响

用He-Ne激光（波长632.8 nm,辐射剂量5.43 mW/mm²）对萌动小麦种子辐照5 min,待幼苗长至一叶一心时,用150 μmol/L CdCl₂溶液进行胁迫处理,研究He-Ne激光预处理对镉（Cd²⁺）胁迫下小麦幼苗生长发育和生理特性的影响。结果显示:He-Ne激光预处理能显著降低Cd²⁺胁迫下小麦幼苗中丙二醛（MDA）、过氧化氢（H₂O₂）含量及超氧自由基（O^-·₂）产生速率,显著提高幼苗叶片超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化物酶(POD)、过氧化氢酶(CAT)、抗坏血酸氧化酶（APX）活性,并使叶片抗氧化物质谷胱甘肽(GSH)和抗坏血酸(AsA)含量以及幼苗株高、根长和干重增加。研究表明,He-Ne激光预处理可有效缓解镉胁迫对小麦幼苗生长的抑制作用,并通过促进其幼苗中酶类和非酶类抗氧化剂的产生,有效减少镉胁迫产生的脂质过氧化物含量,从而提高其耐镉性。     

厌氧铁氧化菌研究进展

厌氧铁氧化菌(AFOM)是微生物学、地质学和环境学领域的重大发现.研究AFOM对于认识铁地质层形成,促进铁、氮、碳等元素的地球生物化学循环,丰富微生物学内容,开发厌氧铁氧化工艺,以及探索原始地球环境和外星生命现象,均有重要意义.本文综述了AFOM的研究进展,介绍了AFOM的存在生境,探讨了AFOM的物种多样性及其营养特性和代谢特性,阐述了AFOM在地质学、微生物学和环境学领域的潜在作用,并展望了AFOM在新物种发掘、代谢机理揭示以及开发应用等方面的研究方向.     

根际CO2浓度升高对网纹甜瓜光合特性及产量和品质的影响

采用雾培植株根际通CO₂处理方式,研究了开花结果期根际CO₂浓度升高对网纹甜瓜光合作用及产量和品质的影响.结果表明：在网纹甜瓜果实发育期间,与350 μL·L^-1（对照）处理相比,根际2500和5000 μL CO₂·L^-1处理的叶片光合色素含量、净光合速率（P_n）、气孔导度（g_s）、胞间CO₂浓度（C_i）及PSⅡ最大光化学效率（F_v/F_m）均不同程度降低,而气孔限制值（L_s）显著提高,且5000 μL CO₂·L^-1处理的变化幅度高于2500 μL CO₂·L^-1处理;单株产量、果实中维生素C和可溶性糖含量显著降低,有机酸含量显著提高.可见,网纹甜瓜果实发育期间根际CO₂浓度超过2500 μL·L^-1时,其光合作用及果实发育会受到显著抑制,从而导致产量和品质降低.