Positive selection and convergent evolution shape molecular phenotypic traits of innate immunity receptors in tits (Paridae)

Despite widespread variability and redundancy abounding animal immunity, little is currently known about the rate of evolutionary convergence (functionally analogous traits not inherited from a common ancestor) in host molecular adaptations to parasite selective pressures. Toll‐like receptors (TLRs) provide the molecular interface allowing hosts to recognize pathogenic structures and trigger early danger signals initiating an immune response. Using a novel combination of bioinformatic approaches, here we explore genetic variation in ligand‐binding regions of bacteria‐sensing TLR4 and TLR5 in 29 species belonging to the tit family of passerine birds (Aves: Paridae). Three out of the four consensual positively selected sites in TLR4 and six out of 14 positively selected positions in TLR5 were located on the receptor surface near the functionally important sites, and based on the phylogenetic pattern evolved in a convergent (parallel) manner. This type of evolution was also seen at one N‐glycosylation site and two positively selected phosphorylation sites, providing the first evidence of convergence in post‐translational modifications in evolutionary immunology. Finally, the overall mismatch between phylogeny and the clustering of surface charge distribution demonstrates that convergence is common in overall TLR4 and TLR5 molecular phenotypes involved in ligand binding. Our analysis did not reveal any broad ecological traits explaining the convergence observed in electrostatic potentials, suggesting that information on microbial symbionts may be needed to explain TLR evolution. Adopting state‐of‐the‐art predictive structural bionformatics, we have outlined a new broadly applicable methodological approach to estimate the functional significance of positively selected variation and test for the adaptive molecular convergence in protein‐coding polymorphisms.     

Species coexistence in resource-limited patterned ecosystems is facilitated by the interplay of spatial self-organisation and intraspecific competition

The exploration of mechanisms that enable species coexistence under competition for a sole limiting resource is widespread across ecology. Two examples of such facilitative processes are intraspecific competition and spatial self-organisation. These processes determine the outcome of competitive dynamics in many resource-limited patterned ecosystems, classical examples of which include dryland vegetation patterns, intertidal mussel beds and subalpine ribbon forests. Previous theoretical investigations have explained coexistence within patterned ecosystems by making strong assumptions on the differences between species (e.g. contrasting dispersal behaviours or different functional responses to resource availability). In this paper, I show that the interplay between the detrimental effects of intraspecific competition and the facilitative nature of self-organisation forms a coexistence mechanism that does not rely on species-specific assumptions and captures coexistence across a wide range of the environmental stress gradient. I use a theoretical model that captures the interactions of two generic consumer species with an explicitly modelled resource to show that coexistence relies on a balance between species' colonisation abilities and their local competitiveness, provided intraspecific competition is sufficiently strong. Crucially, the requirements on species' self-limitation for coexistence to occur differ on opposite ends of the resource input spectrum. For low resource levels, coexistence is facilitated by strong intraspecific dynamics of the species superior in its colonisation abilities, but for larger volumes of resource input, strong intraspecific competition of the locally superior species enables coexistence. Results presented in this paper also highlight the importance of hysteresis in understanding tipping points, in particular extinction events. Finally, the theoretical framework provides insights into spatial species distributions within single patches, supporting verbal hypotheses on coexistence of herbaceous and woody species in dryland vegetation patterns and suggesting potential empirical tests in the context of other patterned ecosystems.     

Morphology and molecular phylogeny of the anaerobic freshwater ciliate Urostomides spinosus nov. spec. (Ciliophora,Armophorea, Metopida) from China

The morphology and molecular phylogeny of a new metopid ciliate, Urostomides spinosus nov. spec., discovered in a freshwater ditch in Qingdao, China, were investigated using live observation, morphometry and protargol staining as well as molecular phylogenetic methods. Diagnostic features of the new species include a broadly obpyriform body carrying three posterior spines, eight somatic kineties, five preoral dome kineties with specialized row 3, adoral zone composed of about 28 membranelles, making a 270° turn around body axis. Phylogenetic analyses of the SSU rDNA sequence revealed that the genus Urostomides is monophyletic, but its interspecific relationships remained unresolved. Moreover, a closer relationship of the new species with the morphologically similar Urostomides campanula was not supported by the molecular data.     

秦岭地区中段死亡斑羚空间分布规律初探

In recent years, Chinese goral (Nemorhaedus griseus) carcasses were frequently found in the mid-Qinling Mountains. In order to assess the spatial distribution pattern of goral carcasses, data of the individuals from Shaanxi's Fourth Giant Panda Survey was used in this study to analyse how the gorals/goral carcasses sites were related to altitude, slope, aspect, river, and road through quantitative analyses. The results showed:(1) the correlation between the sites of goral carcasses and topographic factors was relatively significant. Goral carcasses tend to be found at relatively low altitude (1 200-2 400 m) and mild slope (6°-25°). The chi-square test also showed that the aspect of the goral carcasses sites was significantly different from the goral sites. Most of the goral carcasses were found at south-facing/half southfacing slopes. (2) The correlation between the sites of goral carcasses and the distance to river was significant. The kernel density analysis and Z-test further showed that there were significant differences between the gorals/goral carcasses sites and the distance to river. Most of the goral carcasses sites were close to river (< 100 m). (3) The correlation between the sites of goral carcasses and the distance to road was not significant. Kernel density analysis and Z-test showed that there was no significant difference between the sites of gorals/goral carcasses and the distance to road. This study proposed several suggestions about how to strengthen the protection of gorals in the future.     

龙眼组蛋白去乙酰化酶基因DlHDT1的克隆与特性分析

组蛋白去乙酰化是植物表观遗传调控的重要组成部分,对染色体结构修饰和基因表达调控发挥着重要的作用。为深入探究组蛋白去乙酰化酶基因(histone deacetylase 1,HDT1)在龙眼体胚发生过程中的功能,该研究结合龙眼基因组数据,采用RT-PCR方法克隆得到龙眼组蛋白去乙酰化酶基因(DlHDT1),对其进行生物信息学分析及亚细胞定位观察,同时结合转录组数据分析DlHDT1在体胚发生过程中的FPKM值,并利用qRT-PCR技术检测PEG6000和NaCl处理下DlHDT1的表达模式。结果表明:(1)DlHDT1基因CDS序列全长918 bp,编码305个氨基酸,该蛋白为不稳定亲水性蛋白,不含信号肽和跨膜结构,共含43个磷酸化位点,相对分子量为32 585.54 Da,等电点为4.65;进化树分析显示龙眼DlHDT1与漾濞槭亲缘关系最近(78.76%)。(2)亚细胞定位显示,DlHDT1蛋白定位于细胞核中;顺式作用元件分析发现DlHDT1基因含有大量光响应元件和脱落酸、茉莉酸甲酯等激素及逆境胁迫响应元件;转录组数据显示,DlHDT1在龙眼体胚发生不同时期均有表达,在胚性愈伤组织(EC)阶段表达最低,在球形胚(GE)阶段表达最高。(3)qRT-PCR显示,在PEG6000和NaCl处理下DlHDT1基因,呈下调表达趋势,推测DlHDT1可能参与调控龙眼对干旱及盐胁迫的响应,并存在负调控关系。研究认为,DlHDT1为核定位基因,可能参与龙眼体胚形态建成并在龙眼响应非生物逆境胁迫过程中发挥重要作用。     

基于雪岭云杉树轮宽度重建过去339年天山中部巴音布鲁克地区夏季NDVI

归一化差异植被指数(NDVI)被广泛应用于植被研究的各个领域,但由于观测时长较短,难以满足长时间尺度的研究需要。基于巴音布鲁克地区雪岭云杉建立了树轮宽度年表(STD),计算年表和NDVI同气象观测数据的相关系数。结果表明:树轮宽度指数和NDVI均与同时段的气象数据具有显著相关。结合宽度年表与6—8月NDVI间的显著正相关(r=0.7,P＜0.01,n=38),使用回归模型重建了研究区过去339年的夏季(6—8月)NDVI变化序列,在1680—2018年,重建序列有4个高植被覆盖时段(1738—1765、1786—1798、1964—1973和2000—2018年)和5个低植被覆盖时段(1690—1714、1825—1834、1850—1880、1895—1920和1945—1955年)。重建结果也反映了天山中部水文气候。与周边重建的对比显示,当开都河径流量增加,且研究区处于较为潮湿的环境时,植被覆盖相对较高,反之植被覆盖偏低。重建序列的极值也捕捉了历史文献中一系列自然灾害。混合单粒子拉格朗日综合轨迹模型(HYSPLT)后向轨迹模型和风场分析表明,NDVI异常受到西风带来的降水影响。     

东太平洋公海茎柔鱼饵料中鱼类和头足类组成初步分析

茎柔鱼(Dosidicus gigas)广泛分布于东太平洋海域,在海洋生态系统中扮演着重要角色。本研究根据2019年6—12月我国鱿钓生产船在东太平洋公海采集的62尾茎柔鱼样本,对其胃含物残留的4131个耳石和75个角质颚样本进行鉴定分析。结果表明: 茎柔鱼主要摄食鱼类10种、头足类4种。从摄食饵料的出现频率和数量百分比来看,主要摄食的鱼类饵料为荧串光鱼、朗明灯鱼和墨西哥尾灯鱼,荧串光鱼在不同胴长组的茎柔鱼胃内均有出现,是茎柔鱼最重要的饵料;摄食的头足类主要有茎柔鱼、鸢乌贼和爪乌贼。随着胴长的增大,茎柔鱼摄食的饵料种类不断增加,头足类和灯笼鱼饵料比例增加,且摄食的饵料尺寸增大,摄食营养结构发生改变,摄食营养水平随之提高。研究结果可为评估不同饵料生物在茎柔鱼食性转变过程中的食物贡献提供基础资料。