A conceptual model for the assessment of depressional wetlands in the prairie pothole region

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's), Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program (EMAP) is developing a landscape-level conceptual model to evaluate the condition of depressional (basin-type) wetlands in the prairie pothole region (PPR) of the United States. This effort is underway to determine the current condition of the Nation's wetlands and to track how it is improving or degrading over time, as well as to identify management priorities over major geographic areas. The depressional wetlands in the PPR were selected by EMAP both because of the importance of this region for waterfowl and because of the efforts currently being conducted by federal agencies and academic institutions in this region. The PPR provides nesting habitat for more than 15 species of ducks, and supports as much as half of the total production of dabbling and diving ducks in North America. Wetlands in this area became a vulnerable resource after extensive draineage in the 1800s. We propose a conceptual model that represents a framework for guiding the development of ecological indicators, research activities, and data collection for the evaluation of wetland conditions. In princple, this conceptual model is applicable to wetlands in any part of the world.     

The Efficiency of Selenocysteine Incorporation Is Regulated by Translation Initiation Factors

Selenocysteine (Sec) incorporation is an essential process required for the production of at least 25 human selenoproteins. This unique amino acid is co-translationally incorporated at specific UGA codons that normally serve as termination signals. Recoding from stop to Sec involves a cis-acting Sec insertion sequence element in the 3′ untranslated region of selenoprotein mRNAs as well as Sec insertion sequence binding protein 2, Sec-tRNA^Sec, and the Sec-specific elongation factor, eEFSec. The interplay between recoding and termination at Sec codons has served as a focal point in researching the mechanism of Sec insertion, but the role of translation initiation has not been addressed. In this report, we show that the cricket paralysis virus intergenic internal ribosome entry site is able to support Sec incorporation, thus providing evidence that the canonical functions of translation initiation factors are not required. Additionally, we show that neither a 5′ cap nor a 3′ poly(A) tail enhances Sec incorporation. Interestingly, however, the presence of the internal ribosome entry site significantly decreases Sec incorporation efficiency, suggesting a role for translation initiation in regulating the efficiency of UGA recoding.     

Aeolian process effects on vegetation communities in an arid grassland ecosystem

Many arid grassland communities are changing from grass dominance to shrub dominance, but the mechanisms involved in this conversion process are not completely understood. Aeolian processes likely contribute to this conversion from grassland to shrubland. The purpose of this research is to provide information regarding how vegetation changes occur in an arid grassland as a result of aeolian sediment transport. The experimental design included three treatment blocks, each with a 25 × 50 m area where all grasses, semi-shrubs, and perennial forbs were hand removed, a 25 × 50 m control area with no manipulation of vegetation cover, and two 10 × 25 m plots immediately downwind of the grass-removal and control areas in the prevailing wind direction, 19° north of east, for measuring vegetation cover. Aeolian sediment flux, soil nutrients, and soil seed bank were monitored on each treatment area and downwind plot. Grass and shrub cover were measured on each grass-removal, control, and downwind plot along continuous line transects as well as on 5 × 10 m subplots within each downwind area over four years following grass removal. On grass-removal areas, sediment flux increased significantly, soil nutrients and seed bank were depleted, and Prosopis glandulosa shrub cover increased compared to controls. Additionally, differential changes for grass and shrub cover were observed for plots downwind of vegetation-removal and control areas. Grass cover on plots downwind of vegetation-removal areas decreased over time (2004-2007) despite above average rainfall throughout the period of observation, while grass cover increased downwind of control areas; P. glandulosa cover increased on plots downwind of vegetation-removal areas, while decreasing on plots downwind of control areas. The relationships between vegetation changes and aeolian sediment flux were significant and were best described by a logarithmic function, with decreases in grass cover and increases in shrub cover occurring with small increases in aeolian sediment flux.     

典型岩溶区域主要土壤类型分布特征与表层土壤保有量估算

在我国西南岩溶区域,土壤受地质和地形条件的影响程度较深,表现出强烈的非均一性;且在不同地质地形条件下,缺乏具体的量化参照系数,致使对土壤元素库容等方面的估算存在较大偏差。据此,本研究基于对贵阳市乌当区实地考察结果,归纳确立土壤在不同地质与地形下的分布特征,修正了现有的土壤图。利用地形图提取区域的坡度信息,再与土壤图和地质图进行叠加,乘以相应类型条件下土壤的经验系数,估算区域主要土壤类型表层(≤1m)土壤的保有量。结果表明,乌当区境内坡度>35°的碳酸盐岩地区无黄壤分布;石灰土的覆盖率和土壤剖面深度随坡度的增加,呈下降趋势,但连续性石灰岩分布区的石灰土变异程度较大;该区表层土壤(≤1m)保有量约为65656万t,主要集中分布在0°～15°碳酸盐岩分布区,且黄壤占50%以上。     

东灵山地区大步甲属物种分布和季节变化的多样性格局

针对东灵山地区的11种不同生境,利用巴氏罐诱法研究大步甲属（Carabus）种类多样怀及其变化与生境的关系,结果表明：（1）本地区有大步甲10种,其中C.manifestus Kraatz和C.crassesculptus Kraatz为优势种,占总数的70.8％,与C.smaragdinus Fischer、C.vladimirskyi Dejean和C.sculptipennis Chaudoir一起构成本地区的常见种;（2）从物种丰富度和数量看,由高到低依次为小龙门林区（以森林为主）、梨园岭退耕区（以灌丛和萌生丛为主）、东灵山主峰区（高海拔,亚高山植物）;物种多样性指数（H‘）由高到低依次为梨园岭退耕区、小龙门林区、东灵山主峰区;均匀度指数值（E）梨园岭退耕区最高,其次为东灵山主峰区,再次为小龙门地区;（3）利用物种的发生与频度数据,对11种不同生境进行栖息地相似性聚类分析,发现东灵山主峰区的3种生境可归为一类,小龙门林区5种生境可归为另一类,梨园岭退耕区的辽东栎萌生丛单独为一类,梨园岭退耕区的山杏和荆条灌丛构成一类,这反映了大步甲属种类分布的地域及生境特点,特别是生境内的湿度、温度和地表覆盖层等特点;（4）通过物种间的相关分析看出：C.smaragdinus和C.granulatus呈显著的正相关关系,反映了它们对退耕区的选择倾向;C.crassesculptus、C.canaliculatus、C.manifestus和Carabus sp.之间,虽然后两种间未达到显著性,但彼此呈正相关关系,反映了这些物种对森林生境选择倾向;（5）大步甲成虫的季节性活动主要在4-9月份间,高峰期集中在6-8份月,各物种在生境内有不同的季节变化趋势,与该地区季节性气候变化一致。研究表明,大步甲物种分布受生境内的湿度、温度、地表覆盖层等环境因素影响,物种多样性与生境肥干扰程度有关,生态恢复将对物种多样性保护具有重要意义。     

贵州山区3种木本植物无机碳利用特性的比较

以生长在喀斯特高原地区玉舍国家森林公园内的成熟银鹊树(Tapiscia sinensis)、白栎(Quercus fabri)和亮叶桦(Betula luminifera)为实验材料,通过对光合作用、叶绿素含量、叶绿素荧光参数、羧化效率(CE)、呼吸速率(Resp)、碳酸酐酶活性(WA)以及稳定碳同位素组成(δ13 C)等指标的测定,分析3种植物不同的无机碳利用特性,为该区生态环境修复选择合适的建群植物种提供依据。结果显示:(1)银鹊树、白栎和亮叶桦分布都较为广泛,银鹊树生长的最佳土壤pH是4.5~5.5,而白栎更倾向于中性到弱酸性土壤,肥沃的酸性土壤则更有益亮叶桦生长;白栎和亮叶桦都能忍受干旱和贫瘠,但是银鹊树不能忍受干旱和高温。(2)银鹊树叶片的Pn、Tr和Gs显著大于白栎和亮叶桦,亮叶桦和白栎的Pn、Tr和Gs分别是银鹊树的69.5%、48.2%、66.7%和28.6%、21.7%、22.2%;亮叶桦叶绿素含量均为银鹊树和白栎的2倍,但3种植物间的WUE则无显著差异。(3)3个树种叶片净光合速率均随着CO2浓度升高呈持续上升的趋势,但它们之间的CO2补偿点和饱和点明显不同。其中,银鹊树和亮叶桦的CO2补偿点均低于50μmol·mol-1,而白栎的则在250~300μmol·mol-1之间;银鹊树的CO2饱和点在1 200μmol·mol-1左右,亮叶桦则在2 300μmol·mol-1左右,而白栎的CO2饱和点明显高于2 300μmol·mol-1。(4)3个树种的CE、Resp和WA均为银鹊树>亮叶桦>白栎;而δ13 C值则以银鹊树最低,亮叶桦和白栎较高。其中,白栎和亮叶桦的CE、Resp、WA分别为银鹊树的5.1%、25.7%、4.0%和45.3%、54.6%、6.8%,且树种间差异显著;白栎和亮叶桦的δ13 C值显著高于银鹊树。研究表明,银鹊树能够吸收大气中的CO2或者在高活性碳酸酐酶作用下转化利用细胞内的HCO3-,它拥有较高的CO2利用能力及无机碳同化效率,因而能够拥有较高的产能;亮叶桦只能获取大气中的CO2作为无机碳源,但它对CO2的利用能力也较高,其产能仅次于银鹊树;白栎同样只能获取大气中的CO2作为无机碳源,同时它对大气中CO2的捕获、利用能力均低于银鹊树和亮叶桦,因而白栎生长非常缓慢,造成其本身对无机碳的需求也最低,所以其产能最低。     

The first checklist of black fungus gnats (Diptera: Sciaridae) of Morocco

The first checklist of black fungus gnats is established; new faunistic records of Sciaridae are presented, providing a list of 10 genera and 55 species. Forty-eight species are newly listed for Morocco, increasing the total of Sciaridae known from Morocco to 69 species, belonging to 12 genera, of which six (Austrosciara Schmitz & Mjöberg, 1924, Bradysiopsis Tuomikoski, 1960, Epidapus Haliday, 1851, Lycoriella Frey, 1942, Pseudolycoriella Menzel & Mohrig, 1998 and Sciara Meigen, 1803) are newly reported for Moroccan fauna.     

横断山北部高山区不同生态条件下土壤微生物数量及其与生态因子的相关性

采用全球定位系统(GPS)采集了横断山北部高山区35个样点的土样,用稀释平板法对该区细菌、真菌和放线菌进行分离计数,并分析了微生物数量与土壤养分、土壤水分、土地利用方式和pH等因子的相关性。结果表明,该区域3大类土壤微生物数量表现为细菌>放线菌>真菌。土壤微生物数量在不同区域表现为松林口>雀儿山>折多山;林地微生物比草地丰富,但不及草地微生物均衡。微生物数量与土壤理化因子间的相关分析表明,放线菌数量与pH呈显著正相关,真菌数量与土壤全钾含量呈极显著正相关。     

Comparison of sequences from the malB regions of Salmonella typhimurium and Enterobacter aerogenes with Escherichia coli K12: A potential new regulatory site in the interoperonic region

Summary The malE and malK genes from Salmonella typhimurium, and the MalEFG operon and a portion of malK from Enterobacter aerogenes were cloned and sequenced. Plasmid-borne malE genes from both species and the malF and malG genes from E. aerogenes were expressed normally in Escherichia coli, and their products function in maltose transport. This shows that the malB products from the three species are interchangeable, at least in the combinations tested. The general genetic organization of the malB region is conserved. Potential binding sites and distances between them are highly conserved in the regulatory intervals. An unexpected conserved region was detected, which we call the U box, and which could be another target for a regulatory protein. This hypothesis is supported by the presence of the U box in the regulatory, region of the pulA-malX operon in Klebsiella pneumoniae. The intergenic region between malE and malF from S. typhimurium and E. aerogenes, contains inverted repeats similar to the palindromic units (PU or REP) found at the same location in E. coli. The predicted amino acid sequence of the encoded proteins showed 90% or more identity in every pairwise comparison of species.