Do not neglect surroundings in restoration of disturbed sites

We examined the influence of surroundings, i.e. proximity effects, on the course of spontaneous vegetation succession using two data sets. In the first data set, we tested the effects of surrounding vegetation (woodlands, wetlands, grasslands, and synanthropic) on succession in various disturbed habitats in the Czech Republic by comparing successional sites with more natural vegetation within 100 m and at 1 km from each site. The habitats included old fields, gravel‐sand pits, spoil heaps from black coal mining, industrially extracted peatlands, and acidic stone quarries. We found that, with the exception of wetlands, the influence of the vegetation types on seral vegetation was nearly always significant using marginal and partial Canonical Correspondence Analyses. In the second data set, which included 27 limestone quarries, we compared species lists outside (up to 100 m apart) and inside the quarries using Detrended Correspondence Analysis and the Sørensen similarity index. We found much higher species similarity between outside and inside particular limestone quarries than among the quarries themselves and among their surroundings, which also indicates that the seral vegetation is decisively influenced by the surroundings. We argue that restoration ecologists should carefully consider the nature of the surroundings of disturbed sites because of its profound impact on restoration processes. They should conduct inventories and prescribe some restoration measures not only inside a restored site, but also in its surroundings.     

Inter-regional mating compatibility among Bactrocera dorsalis populations in Thailand (Diptera,Tephritidae)

Mating compatibility among recently colonized (wildish) populations of Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel) from different geographic origins in Thailand was assessed through inter-regional mating tests. Outdoor octagonal nylon screen field cages containing single potted mango trees (Mangifera indica L.) were used. Sexual compatibility was determined using the index of sexual isolation (ISI), the male relative performance index (MRPI), and the female relative performance index (FRPI). The ISI values indicated that the northern population of Bactrocera dorsalis from Chiang Mai province was sexually compatible with the southern population of Bactrocera dorsalis (previously Bactrocera papayae) from Nakhon Si Thammarat province. The MRPI values showed that the northern males had a slightly higher tendency to mate than southern males, while the FRPI data reflected that females of both origins participated equally in matings. In all combinations there were no differences between homotypic and heterotypic couples in mating latency. Southern males tended to mate first with southern females, followed by northern males mating with northern females, while the latest matings involved heterotypic couples, in particular northern males mating with southern females. Overall, more couples were collected from higher parts of the field cage and the upper tree canopy, while there were no differences between the origins of flies in terms of elevation of couples within the cage. Laboratory assessments of fecundity showed no differences in the average number of eggs resulting from inter-regional crosses. Development of immature stages was also equal in the two hybrid crosses, with no differences found in the number of pupae produced, percentage pupal recovery, and percent adult emergence. The practical implication of this study is that colony of Bactrocera dorsalis derived from any northern or southern region of Thailand can potentially be used in sterile insect technique programs against this pest.     

The lignin present in steam pretreated softwood binds enzymes and limits cellulose accessibility

The influence of cellulose accessibility and protein loading on the efficiency of enzymatic hydrolysis of steam pretreated Douglas-fir was assessed. It was apparent that the lignin component significantly influences the swelling/accessibility of cellulose as at low protein loadings (5 FPU/g cellulose), only 16% of the cellulose present in the steam pretreated softwood was hydrolyzed while almost complete hydrolysis was achieved with the delignified substrate. When lignin (isolated from steam pretreated Douglas-fir) was added back in the same proportions it was originally found to the highly accessible and swollen, delignified steam pretreated softwood and to a cellulose control such as Avicel, the hydrolysis yields decreased by 9 and 46%, respectively. However, when higher enzyme loadings were employed, the greater availability of the enzyme could overcome the limitations imposed by both the lignin’s restrictions on cellulose accessibility and direct binding of the enzymes, resulting in a near complete hydrolysis of the cellulose.     

当归及其不同炮制品的挥发油提取及成分分析

采用水蒸气蒸馏法分别提取生当归及其不同炮制品中的挥发油,应用气相色谱-质谱联用(GC-MS)技术测定和分析其化学组分.在相同提取方法和测定条件下,从生当归及其不同炮制品饮片中得到的挥发油组分存在一定的差异,主要表现在E-藁本内酯、Z-藁本内酯和Z-丁烯基酞内酯等化合物的含量差异较大.当归经过炮制后其所含挥发油的化学成分组成发生了较大变化,说明不同炮制方法对当归挥发油成分的影响是显著的,表明根据临床应用目的不同对当归进行炮制有一定的物质基础.     

不同产地红毛鸡(Centropus sinensis)氨基酸成分的分析

目的:评价不同产地红毛鸡药材的质量。方法:采用日立L-8800型全自动氨基酸分析仪测定12批不同产地红毛鸡总氨基酸的含量。结果:12个样品均含有17种总氨基酸,其中必需和半必需氨基酸占总氨基酸的49.42%～53.16%。结论:不同产地的红毛鸡均含有丰富的氨基酸,具有较高的药用价值,但含量随产地不同而异。     

不同海拔来源云南地方稻种资源各生育时期耐冷性鉴定评价

本研究以不同海拔生态区来源的307份云南地方稻种资源为试验材料,进行了水稻发芽期、芽期、苗期、孕穗开花期等4个生育时期耐冷性的鉴定评价.鉴定结果表明,云南地方稻种的各生育时期耐冷性分级与其分布的生态区海拔高度均呈显著或极显著的负相关,即云南地方稻种的耐冷性与其来源生态区的海拔高度密切相关,分布在高海拔生态区的地方稻种各...     

Algal Assemblages in Multiple Habitats of Restored and Extant Wetlands

The functional and structural attributes of algal assemblages were studied in 25 restored and 20 extant depressional wetlands in southern central Michigan. Environmental conditions and algal assemblages were compared between restored and extant wetlands and among habitats within wetlands. Restored marshes generally had lower shading by macrophytes, nutrient concentrations, and sediment organic matter. Relative biovolume of non-diatom algae was significantly different among plankton, macrophyte and sediment habitats in restored wetlands, but did not differ between macrophytes and sediments in extant wetlands. Species composition of diatom assemblages was not significantly different between plants and sediments in both restored and extant wetlands. The observed differences in non-diatom algae could not be attributed to any measured environmental variable; however, diatom assemblage differences between habitats increased with light irradiance. Differences in sediment diatom assemblages were observed between restored and extant wetlands and were related to differences in nutrients, pH, and canopy cover. Differences were also observed between epiphytic diatom assemblages in restored and extant wetlands and they were related to light and dissolved oxygen. In summary, differences in light and nutrient availability were the main environmental factors differentiating algal communities in wetlands.     

Leptin cDNA cloning and its mRNA expression in plateau pikas (Ochotona curzoniae) from different altitudes on Qinghai-Tibet Plateau

Leptin, an adipocyte-derived hormone, plays an important role in body energy homeostasis. Plateau pika (Ochotona curzoniae), an endemic and keystone species living only at 3000-5000 m above sea level on Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, is a typically high hypoxia and low temperature tolerant mammal with high resting metabolic rate (RMR), non-shivering thermogenesis (NST), and high ratio of oxygen utilization to cope with harsh plateau environment. To explore the molecular mechanism of ecological acclimation in plateau pika, we first cloned pika leptin cDNA and compared its mRNA expression in different altitudes (3200 and 3900 m) using real-time RT-PCR (Taqman probe) technology. The full-length pika leptin cDNA was 3015 with 504 bp open-reading frame encoding the precursor peptide of 167 amino acids including 21 residues of signal peptide. Pika leptin was 70-72% homologous to that of other species and was of similarly structural characteristics with other species. The pika-specific genetic diversity in leptin sequence occurred at twenty sites. With the increase in altitude, there were larger fat store and high level of ob gene expression in plateau pika. Our results indicated that leptin is sensitive to cold and hypoxia plateau environment and may play one of important roles in pika's ecological adaptation to harsh plateau environment.     

黄土丘陵区不同立地达乌里胡枝子群落水分特征及生物量研究

对黄土高原丘陵沟壑区不同立地条件下的达乌里胡枝子群落水分特征及生物量进行了研究.结果表明:(1)不同立地下的达乌里胡枝子蒸腾日变化均呈单峰型,上午呈上升趋势,于13:00达到峰值,之后均呈不同程度下降趋势.(2)不同立地达乌里胡枝子群落0～200 cm土层平均含水量为阴坡12.34%,半阳坡11.29%,半阴坡11.15%,阳坡8.96%.不同立地达乌里胡枝子叶片相对含水量和饱和亏与各立地土壤含水量关系密切.(3)不同立地下各个时期的达乌里胡枝子群落的地上生物量表现为阴坡＞半阴坡＞半阳坡＞阳坡,地下生物量则表现为阳坡(447.39 g/m2)＞半阳坡(409.12 g/m2)＞半阴坡(344.92 g/m2)＞阴坡(217.01 g/m2).可见,达乌里胡枝子群落的水分生理特性及生物量的积累与立地条件密切相关.     

Burrow use by Tibetan Ground Tits Pseudopodoces humilis: coping with life at high altitudes

The Tibetan Ground Tit Pseudopodoces humilis is a high-altitude passerine endemic to the Tibetan Plateau. A 4-year study in alpine meadows in Northern Tibet at 4300 m asl demonstrated that rather than using Pika Ochotona spp. holes as previously reported, the birds excavated one nest burrow themselves in spring and another after breeding, which they used for roosting in winter. Both the nesting and winter-roosting burrows comprised a straight tunnel leading to an ellipsoid chamber. There were no significant differences in placement or structural characteristics between the two types of burrows, except that winter-roosting burrows had a significantly smaller entrance diameter. Most burrows were 100–160 cm long and their chambers 20–40 cm deep. Tibetan Ground Tits tended to maximize the thermal benefits of their burrows by adjusting their spatial and structural characteristics in response to local solar radiation and wind regimes. Burrows tended to be oriented towards the sun and away from prevailing winds, presumably to maintain burrow temperature. Longer tunnels could function to save heat from solar radiation or reduce wind-disturbance, while shorter tunnels allow chambers to be warmed sooner in situations where wind potentially reduced soil temperatures. The thermal benefits to the birds of burrow architecture are likely to play a crucial role throughout the year in these extreme alpine environments.