Intricate evolutionary histories in montane species: a phylogenetic window into craniodental discrimination in the Peromyscus mexicanus species group (Mammalia: Rodentia: Cricetidae)

Mountain‐associated species, which exhibit allopatric distributions associated with elevation, endemisms and complex evolutionary histories, pose challenging evolutionary scenarios in which to discern the diversification of species. The Peromyscus mexicanus mice group, distributed along mountains in southern Mexico and Central America, is morphometrically variable, a key rationale for the ongoing controversy regarding its species delimitation. Based on the recognized 15 mitochondrial lineages for the group, we analysed external and craniodental morphometric variables to test whether lineages can be differentiated morphometrically and allow for the delimitation of species. We also aimed to test the prediction that the phylogenetic structure of the morphometric data is concordant with that of the molecular information. Based on 19 craniodental measurements from 521 specimens, multivariate and discriminant analyses showed that lineages are morphometrically discernible, representing distinct phenotypes, and that overall size and mandible measurements are significant features that discriminate lineages, supporting hypotheses about differences in feeding habits between species. Also, a pattern of increasing size with elevation was observed, further supported by specific morphological differences exhibited between highland and lowland lineages inhabiting the same mountain. Our results demonstrate that P. mexicanus is both genetically and morphometrically variable, where most highland montane species are differentiated from lowland species; also, a significant correlation between mitochondrial and morphometric information is indicative of phenetic concordance, altogether in agreement with a recent taxonomic proposal for the group. We suggest that the group's intricate diversification responds to ecological diversification and adaptation to a variety of mountain habitats and Pleistocene biogeographic climatic dynamics.     

Home sweet home: evidence for nest‐fidelity in the rocky intertidal fish,the shanny Lipophrys pholis

The ability to be faithful to a particular area or site was analysed in the shanny Lipophrys pholis. Using passive integrated transponders, adults from a population of L. pholis at Cabo Raso, Portugal, were followed over a period of 3 years. The findings showed that site fidelity is a consistent behaviour during the breeding season with specific breeding males being found only in particular sectors within the area, and in specific nests throughout the years. The fact that, in general, L. pholis individuals were absent from the study area during the non‐breeding season and breeding males were recorded returning to the same nests and sectors for consecutive breeding seasons suggests that they have developed excellent homing abilities. Translocation data corroborate this idea showing that breeding males successfully returned to their nests after a displacement of >100 m. Altogether, these findings highlight the relevance of life‐history traits (e.g. nesting) in the conditioning of site fidelity and homing for this species of rocky intertidal fish, and more importantly, provide evidence for the need of a well‐developed navigational system.     

大青沟国家自然保护区不同植被类型地面生苔藓植物物种多样性研究

在野外样方调查的基础上研究了大青沟国家自然保护区5种不同植被类型地面生苔藓植物物种多样性及其与环境因子之间相关性。（1）共发现苔藓植物12科27属55种,以丛藓科（Pottiaceae）、青藓科（Brachytheciaceae）和真藓科（Bryaceae）等为优势科,青藓属（Brachythecium）、真藓属（Bryum）和小石藓属（Weissia）等为优势属,优势种有双色真藓（Bryum bicolor）、西伯利亚瘤冠苔（Mannia sibirica）、密叶绢藓短柄变种（Entodon compressus var.zikaiwiensis）、绒叶青藓（Brachythecium velutinum）和地钱（Marchantia polymorpha）等;（2） Alpha多样性指数中,Patrick丰富度指数6~29,Shannon-Wiener多样性指数1.439 2~2.608 0,变化规律均为：水曲柳林（Fraxinus mandschuria forest） > 蒙古栎林（Quercus mongolica forest） > 大果榆林（Ulmus macrocarpa forest） > 西伯利亚杏灌丛（Armeniaca sibirica shrub） > 羊草草地（Leymus chinensis community）;Simpson优势度指数0.131 6~0.295 5,与上述两指数呈显著负相关;Pielou均匀度指数0.663 0~0.803 3,与以上指数相关性不强;（3）影响物种多样性的主要环境因子有空气湿度、土壤水分、乔木盖度和灌木盖度;（4） Bata多样性指数0~0.652 2,大果榆林与蒙古栎林之间相似度最大,羊草草地与水曲柳林之间无相似性;水曲柳林和蒙古栎林是研究区地面生苔藓植物物种多样性保护的重点。     

与草菇原基形成相关的过氧化物酶基因VvDyP的结构与表达分析

DyP-type过氧化物酶作为氧化物酶家族中的一员,参与了菌体氧化应激调节反应以及基质降解等过程。本研究从草菇基因组中获得一个DyP-type 过氧化物酶的编码基因,将其命名为VvDyP。对该基因进行结构分析,结果显示草菇的DyP-type 过氧化物酶编码基因全长为 2 333bp,含有8个外显子,7个内含子;开放阅读框长为1 485bp,编码494个氨基酸。通过系统发育分析发现它与灰盖鬼伞以及糙皮侧耳DyP蛋白同源性最高;分析DyP-type 过氧化物酶编码基因在草菇各个时期的表达谱情况并进行荧光定量PCR实验验证发现,草菇的DyP-type过氧化物酶编码基因只在原基中高表达,推测DyP-type过氧化物酶编码基因可以清除过量的活性氧自由基以保证原基的正常形成。     

小鼠精原干细胞不同转染方法效率的比较

本研究采用腺病毒感染、慢病毒感染、脂质体转染和电穿孔转化方法将含有绿色荧光蛋白（GFP）的质粒转入经过差异贴壁法初步分离纯化的小鼠精原干细胞(SSCs)中,转染48 h后通过流式细胞仪检测GFP阳性细胞比例比较4种方法在体外转染精原干细胞的效率.结果显示,脂质体转染效率最高仅为8.64%,不能满足对精原干细胞进一步实验的要求;电穿孔法效率最高达到25.27%,但转化后细胞大量死亡;腺病毒转染细胞的效率达到了32.4%;慢病毒转染效率最高,达到74.25%. 因此,慢病毒转染法是体外转染小鼠精原干细胞的有效方法.     

不同波长光照对罗汉果光合及生长影响

罗汉果试管苗在不同波长的LED(半导体)蓝(475±5nm)、黄(585±5nm)、红(660±5nm)及普通日光灯下培养,25d后观测发现,其外观的优劣依次为:蓝光>白光>红光>黄光;植株重量:蓝光>红光>黄光>白光;蓝光和白光下的植株叶大、色绿,植株矮壮,侧芽多;红光和黄光下的植株叶小、色黄绿,植株高、细、弯曲、节间长。测定罗汉果成熟叶片的吸收光谱,发现在波长380~500nm及660~680nm处有较强吸收。不同的光质下测定成熟叶片光合速率,大小依次为:红光>蓝光>白光>黄光。上述的各项试验表明,蓝光对罗汉果幼苗生长发育最好;红光和蓝光为成熟叶片光合作用的最佳光源。     

Speciation in the highlands of Mexico: genetic and phenotypic divergence in the Mexican jay (Aphelocoma ultramarina)

The pine-oak woodlands of the Mexican highlands harbour significant biological diversity, yet little is known about the evolutionary history of organisms inhabiting this region. We assessed genetic and phenotypic differentiation in 482 individuals representing 27 populations of the Mexican jay ( Aphelocoma ultramarina ) — a widespread bird species of the Mexican highlands — to test whether populations in the central and northern Mexican sierras display discrete breaks between groups, which would be consistent with a role for the different mountain chains in divergence and speciation. We found abrupt breaks in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA; ND2 and control region) delineating four major genetic groups found in the Sierra Madre Occidental, Sierra Madre Oriental, southern Central Plateau (Bajio), and Transvolcanic Belt. These mtDNA groups were largely corroborated by data from nuclear microsatellites and phenotypic data, except that clades from the Central Plateau and Sierra Madre Oriental showed clinal change in these data sets. Uncertainty about the mutation rate for our mitochondrial markers warrants considerable caution with regard to estimating divergence times, but the major genetic groups appear to have split before the most extreme period of glacial cycling that marked the last 0.7 million years and after Mexico's period of major mountain formation. The fact that some genetic breaks do not coincide with well-known geographic barriers suggests a role for ecology in divergence and speciation, and we discuss implications for taxonomy and conservation.     

Between-species correlations in the number of migrants at Ulmeth?chi (Switzerland)

We analysed the number of autumn migrants at a bird ringing station over 41 years in the Jura mountains of Switzerland. For 12 irruptive or potentially irruptive bird species, the correlations between their numbers per year were calculated and the species were clustered accordingly. We found high correlations in the number of migrants between the Coal Tit Periparus ater, Great Tit Parus major and Blue Tit Cyanistes caeruleus. Most correlations of passage number between species pairs changed dramatically over time. Only Blue Tit and Coal Tit showed continuously high correlation in this respect. The variation and changes over time in between-species correlations in the number of migrants needs more attention.     

Forest fragmentation and rhinocryptid nest predation in central Chile

Fragmentation of forest landscapes can raise the intensity of nest predation by increasing the abundance and richness of generalist or introduced predators. Understory foraging birds, such as rhinocryptids, can be highly vulnerable to nest predation in fragmented landscapes because they often place their nests on the ground. Temperate deciduous forests in Chile have been intensively fragmented in the last centuries, causing changes in nest predator densities. We tested if predation of artificial nests, mimicking those of rhinocryptids, placed on and above ground was higher in the remnant fragments of central Chile due to an increase in predator abundance. The rate of nest predation in forest remnants was larger than in native continuous forest. Small mammals were the main nest predators. Despite high predation rates, the abundance of rhinocryptids is higher in forest remnants, suggesting that fragments might constitute ecological traps.     

Site prioritisation for the protection of rare subterranean species – the cases of two ostracods from south-western France

1. Delineation of protected areas for rare subterranean species is a key problem for groundwater biodiversity conservation, because of practical difficulties in implementation. Criteria for site selection are presented that are derived from studies on two remarkable Ostracoda, Dolekiella europaea Gidó, Artheau, Colin, Danielopol & Marmonier (Limnocytheridae) and Vestalenula carveli Artheau (Darwinulidae) discovered in south-western France.
2. Arguments for natural heritage value and protection of subterranean species are proposed and illustrated by using information on these two ostracod species. The proposed criteria are: (i) local and/or regional endemism; (ii) known occurrence of the species at a few localities only; (iii) representativeness for ancient phylogenetic lineages with wider geographical distributions in the past; and (iv) suitability for scientific study because of unique morphological or biological traits.
3. It is also proposed to prioritise the protection of subsurface sites using the following criteria: (i) type locality for newly described species; (ii) presence of other rare stygobiotic taxa; and (iii) high population densities of the primary target species.
4. Development and implementation of protection strategies at local scale are likely to benefit from collaboration between scientists, policy makers and stakeholders. The measures taken should complement existing national and/or international attempts at large-scale protection of groundwater biodiversity.