Plant Conservation in the Caribbean Island Biodiversity Hotspot

While the Caribbean is a recognized “biodiversity hotspot”, plant conservation has not received adequate attention; particularly, given the high levels of endemism in many plant groups. Besides establishing protected areas, there needs to be a sustained effort to study the taxonomy, systematics and ecology of the flora. Recent phylogenetic studies have shown high levels of endemism and conservation studies indicate a large propotion of the flora is threatened with extinction. Eight recommendations are given for plant conservation in the region.     

Diversity and diversification of Eumolpinae (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) in New Caledonia

Contemporary taxonomic work on New Caledonian Eumolpinae (Chrysomelidae) has revealed their high species richness in this Western Pacific biodiversity hotspot. To estimate total species richness in this community, we used rapid DNA‐based biodiversity assessment tools, exploring mtDNA diversity and phylogenetic structure in a sample of 840 specimens across the main island. Concordance of morphospecies delimitation with units delimited by phenetic and phylogenetic algorithms revealed some 98–110 species in our sample, twice as many as currently described. Sample‐based rarefaction curves and species estimators using these species counts doubled this figure (up to 210 species), a realistic estimate considering taxonomic coverage, local endemism, and characteristics of sampling design, amongst others. New Caledonia, compared with larger tropical islands, stands out as a hotspot for Eumolpinae biodiversity. Molecular dating using either chrysomelid specific rates or tree calibration using palaeogeographical data dated the root of the ingroup tree (not necessarily a monophyletic radiation) at 38.5 Mya, implying colonizations after the Cretaceous breakage of Gondwana. Our data are compatible with the slowdown in diversification rates through time and are also consistent with recent faunal origins, possibly reflecting niche occupancy after an initial rapid diversification. Environmental factors (e.g. soil characteristics) seemingly played a role in this diversification process. © 2013 The Linnean Society of London     

Crystal structure and spin crossover studies on bis(2,6-bis(benzimidazol-2-yl)pyridine) iron(II) perchlorate

The structure of the [Fe(bzimpy)₂](ClO₄)₂·xH₂O system (x = 0.25) was determined by single crystal X-ray structure analysis. The Fe(II) ion is hexacoordinated by six donor nitrogen atoms. The magnetic properties of the complex were investigated by powder magnetic susceptibility measurements and ESR. The freshly prepared sample does not show any traces of iron(III) impurities but these are formed as a function of time. After 1 year the sample contains 8.2% iron(III) as shown by UV spectroscopy and indicated by g_eff = 4.3 and 2.0 in its ESR spectrum. This explains the recorded ξ versus T behaviour at low temperature: with increasing temperature the ξ value decreases according to the Curie-Weiss law for a S = 5/2 system having an effective g = 4.3. Above 220 K a continuous increase in the ξ value is observed and a spin crossover applies. The spin transition is not complete at room temperature. A pronounced hysteresis is observed upon heating/cooling the sample between 220 and 414 K on the basis of magnetic data and infrared spectra.     

乙型肝炎病毒X蛋白的优势氨基酸序列与热点突变位点的生物信息学分析

乙型肝炎病毒X蛋白(hepatitis B virus X protein,HBx)全长154个氨基酸,与肝癌发生密切相关.为确定HBx的优势氨基酸序列和热点突变位点,在GenBank中下载所有HBx的氨基酸序列13950条,剔除插入突变、缺失突变和起始密码子非甲硫氨酸的序列,最后保留7126条.通过分析这7126条序列,计算出HBx每个位点的氨基酸分布情况,出现频率最高的氨基酸为该位点的优势氨基酸,其他氨基酸为突变氨基酸.154个位点的优势氨基酸组成HBx优势氨基酸序列.突变率>10.0%的热点突变位点有32个.其中第36、42、44、87、88和127位氨基酸有4种(突变率>1.0%)以上突变形式,具有较高的多态性.与肝癌密切相关的K130M/V131I双突变率为34.7%.通过7126条HBx序列与优势序列的同源性比较,随机选出其中50条序列(2条与优势序列同源性<75%,48条同源性为76%~99%),与23条参考序列及优势序列共同构建系统发生树.结果显示,HBx优势氨基酸序列属于基因型C,这与基因型C为全球主要流行型一致.本研究首次系统性分析了GenBank中HBx的优势序列,确定了32个HBx热点突变位点和6个多态性较高的位点,为基于HBx突变的基础和应用研究奠定了基础.     

卧龙自然保护区典型生态系统服务时空变化研究

自然保护区作为生态系统服务的产生区和生物多样性保护的重点区,评估其关键生态系统服务,对提高保护区管理水平和生态保护与建设效率有重要意义。利用CASA模型、RUSLE模型、InVEST模型及水量平衡原理等方法分别定量评估了卧龙自然保护区2000年和2015年碳固定（NPP）、土壤保持、生境质量和水源涵养4种生态系统服务并分析了其时空分布及其变化特征,揭示了不同地形位梯度和土地利用类型上生态系统服务的差异,识别了生态系统服务的热点区域。研究结果揭示了2000-2015年4种生态系统服务及其变化的时空异质性：1）研究期间保护区4种生态系统服务供给量均有所增加,且增益面积大于减损面积;2）空间上,NPP、土壤保持和生境质量3种服务表现为东南高、西北低,水源涵养空间分布无明显规律,4种服务的空间分布特征均变化不大且保持相对稳定;3）4种生态系统服务空间分布及变化与地形位和土地利用类型有关。4种服务的高值和增益的优势分布区均位于较低地形位指数梯度上,以保护区东南部最为突出;林地和草地是对保护区生态系统服务贡献较大的土地利用类型,尤以林地突出;4）热点分析表明保护区东南部是主要的生态系统服务供给热点区,研究期间Ⅳ类热点区面积显著增加。结合研究区域生态系统特征和生态恢复与管理政策,探讨分析了目标生态系统服务时空变化的自然生态和社会经济驱动力,为本区域生态系统恢复和生物多样性保护提供依据和建议。     

Meiotic crossover patterns: Obligatory crossover,interference and homeostasis in a single process

During meiosis, crossover recombination is tightly regulated. A spatial patterning phenomenon known as interference ensures that crossovers are well-spaced along the chromosomes. Additionally, every pair of homologs acquires at least one crossover. A third feature, crossover homeostasis, buffers the system such that the number of crossovers remains steady despite decreases or increases in the number of earlier recombinational interactions. Here we summarize recent work from our laboratory supporting the idea that all 3 of these aspects are intrinsic consequences of a single basic process and suggesting that the underlying logic of this process corresponds to that embodied in a particular (beam-film) model.     

Tree species richness and density affect parasitoid diversity in cacao agroforestry

In Brazil, cacao is mostly planted beneath shade trees. The diversity of shade trees varies from monospecific to highly diverse canopies, characteristic of pristine Atlantic Forest. This study evaluates the relationships between family richness of Hymenoptera-Parasitica and Chrysidoidea, and tree species richness and density, the species richness of herbaceous understorey, and the area and age of the cacao agroforestry system. We sampled 16 cacao agroforestry systems, with canopy diversity ranging from one to 22 tree species per hectare, in three seasons: summer (March), winter (August) and spring (November). Parasitoids were sampled using eight Malaise-Townes traps per site. Tree species richness and density were enumerated within 1 ha at each site, and herbaceous plant species richness was calculated in eight 1 m² plots, within the hectare. The number of parasitoid families increased with tree species richness and density in spring and summer, but decreased in winter. Neither species richness of herbaceous plants nor area and age of the system affected parasitoid family richness. We suggest that the increase of parasitoid diversity with tree species richness and density in warmer seasons reflects increasing heterogeneity and availability of resources. The decrease in parasitoid family number with tree density in winter may be due to local impoverishment of resources, leading to parasitoid emigration to neighbouring forest remnants. This result implies that a higher diversity of shade trees will help to maintain high parasitoid levels and, in consequence, higher levels of natural enemies of cacao pests, particularly in the warmer seasons. This prediction is borne out in the experience of cacao producers. The proper management of shade tree diversity will play a vital role in maintaining the sustainability of cacao agroforestry production systems in the tropics and, concurrently, will maintain high biodiversity values in these locations.     

微花蛛毛苣苔在中国云南的发现及其补充描述

中越边境喀斯特地区是全球生物多样性热点地区,也是生物多样性保护的关键区域,近年来在该地区发现了多个蛛毛苣苔属植物的新种。微花蛛毛苣苔于2001年在越南北部喀斯特地区首次采集到标本,直到2018年才被发表出来,由于发表时仅基于一号花发育未成熟的标本,所以该物种的诸多形态特征仍不清楚。作者开展中越边境喀斯特地区植物多样性调查时,在我国云南东南部发现了微花蛛毛苣苔,并采集到花发育成熟的植株,对其进行了解剖观察和测量,现对该物种进行补充描述,并提供墨线图和野外生态照片以资辨认。微花蛛毛苣苔与腺花蛛毛苣苔在光滑无毛而反折的花萼以及被腺毛的花冠等形态上最相似,但不同之处在于微花蛛毛苣苔的叶上面幼时被褐色蛛丝状绵毛,后变近无毛,花序顶生,花冠长9～12 mm,蒴果直,不旋扭,长1.2～2.8 cm。微花蛛毛苣苔在滇东南的发现,说明中国南部喀斯特地区和越南北部喀斯特地区构成了一个完整的植物区系地理单元。     

Are We Losing the Best Parts of Our Protected Areas in Tropical Mountains?

Protected areas (PAs) on tropical mountains undergo greater forest destruction in their lower altitudes. We compared the extent of forested, nonforested, and fragmented areas between lowland (<1000 m asl) and montane zones of the Blue Mountains inside the Blue and John Crow Mountains National Park established in Jamaica in 1993. We found that in 2008, inside the montane zone, only 4 percent of forest was cleared, and forest fragmentation was minimal. In the lowland zone, however, the percentage of forest cleared was seven times as high, and the density of fragments was 11-fold higher. We established twenty-five 0.04 ha lowland plots; ordination of tree species composition in these plots reflected a rainfall gradient, showing that plots on the wetter northern side of the Blue Mountains were floristically different from those on the drier southern side. The conservation value of the remaining lowland forest is high because of its high endemism (18% of species in our plots) and beta diversity. In addition, IUCN Red List data show that about 71 percent of threatened tree species in the Blue Mountains grow in the lowland region, 92 percent of which are endemic. From these findings, we identify a ‘protected area hotspot zone’, which lies between the PA boundary and the core high-altitude zone, and which should be instituted in IUCN categories I and II PAs.