Functional genomics of cactus host shifts in Drosophila mojavensis

Understanding the genetic basis of adaptation to novel environments remains one of the major challenges confronting evolutionary biologists. While newly developed genomic approaches hold considerable promise for addressing this overall question, the relevant tools have not often been available in the most ecologically interesting organisms. Our study organism, Drosophila mojavensis, is a cactophilic Sonoran Desert endemic utilizing four different cactus hosts across its geographical range. Its well-known ecology makes it an attractive system in which to study the evolution of gene expression during adaptation. As a cactophile, D. mojavensis oviposits in the necrotic tissues of cacti, therefore exposing larvae and even adults to the varied and toxic compounds of rotting cacti. We have developed a cDNA microarray of D. mojavensis to examine gene expression associated with cactus host use. Using a population from the Baja California population we examined gene expression differences of third instar larvae when reared in two chemically distinct cactus hosts, agria (Stenocereus gummosus, native host) vs. organpipe (Stenocereus thurberi, alternative host). We have observed differential gene expression associated with cactus host use in genes involved in metabolism and detoxification.     

Patterns of genetic variation in the adaptive radiation of New World crossbills (Aves: Loxia)

Incipient species groups or young adaptive radiations such as crossbills (Aves: Loxia) present the opportunity to investigate directly the processes occurring during speciation. New World crossbills include white-winged crossbills (Loxia leucoptera), Hispaniolan crossbills (Loxia megaplaga), and red crossbills (Loxia curvirostra complex), the last of which is comprised of at least nine morphologically and vocally differentiated forms ('call types') where divergent natural selection for specialization on different conifer resources has been strongly implicated as driving diversification. Here we use amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) markers to investigate patterns of genetic variation across populations, call types, and species of New World crossbills. Tree-based analyses using 440 AFLP loci reveal strongly supported clustering of the formally recognized species, but did not separate individuals from the eight call types in the red crossbill complex, consistent with recent divergence and ongoing gene flow. Analyses of genetic differentiation based on inferred allele frequency variation however, reveal subtle but significant levels of genetic differentiation among the different call types of the complex and indicate that between call-type differentiation is greater than that found among different geographic locations within call types. Interpreted in light of evidence of divergent natural selection and strong premating reproductive isolation, the observed genetic differentiation suggests restricted gene flow among sympatric call types consistent with the early stages of ecological speciation.     

黑河中上游典型地区草地植被变化及其生态功能损失分析--以山丹县为例

以黑河流域山丹县1986年和2000年TM影像资料为主要数据源,运用遥感信息解译与地理信息系统技术,分析了研究区10多年来草地植被覆盖的时空变化。并参照Costanza等的生态系统服务功能的单位价值和谢高地等人的中国自然草地生态系统服务价值,初步估算退化型草地植被覆盖变化的生态损失价值,对草地植被覆盖变化给研究区生态系统宏观经济所造成的影响进行了分析研究。结果表明:在1986～2000年间,该区域草地植被覆盖总的变化趋势是草地、林地向其它类型转化,即草地植被覆盖总量在逐年减少。高、中、低覆盖度各类草地,分别减少达35％、9．9％和13．8％。草地植被覆盖类型也呈减少趋势,其中高覆盖度草地减幅最大,其次是低覆盖度草地和中覆盖度草地。草地植被利用过度或退化较为严重,生态环境将趋于恶化。由此导致草地生态系统宏观经济价值损失约9 466．8×104CNY／(km2·a)。     

浙江秀山岛湿地生态系统初探

秀山岛位于东海舟山渔场海域,岛上有大片的湿地资源分布,其滨海部分与舟山渔场的生物资源特别是渔业生物资源密切联系,具有罕见的海岛特色。海岛的特殊地理位置为秀山岛湿地赋予了独特的生态特征。秀山岛湿地内动植物资源丰富,生物多样性高,共有植物种类300余种,栖息的鸟类共有26个科108种,包括国家一级保护动物东方自鹳（Ixobrychus minutus）。还有国家二级保护动物獐（Hydropotes inermis）等珍贵动物自然栖息。秀山岛湿地包括潮下带湿地（浅海湾）、潮间带湿地（泥滩、芦苇丛）、潮上带湿地（咸水沼泽、半咸水沼泽）、异化湿地（盐田、养殖池、稻田）等几个紧密联系的部分。具有多方面的生态功能。由于对湿地的生态功能重视不够,湿地生态系统破碎化严重。目前在秀山岛湿地已经建立了湿地自然保护区,湿地生态系统得到了较好的发展。     

东海栉水母(Ctenophora)生态特征

根据1997~2000年东海23°30′~33°00′N、118°30′~128°00′E海域4个季节海洋调查资料,对东海栉水母数量变化和地理分布特征作了探讨。结果表明,东海栉水母平均丰度秋季(6.3 ind.(100m3)-1)>春季(1.6 ind.(100 m3)-1)>冬季(1.4 ind.(100 m3)-1)>夏季(0.6 ind.(100 m3)-1)。调查海域鉴定到种的栉水母共有6种,其中球型侧腕水母(Pleurobrachia globosa)是东海的主要种类;掌状风球水母(Hormiphora palnata)和瓜水母(Beroe cucumis)是常见种;带水母(Cestumsp.)是次常见种;蝶水母(Ocyropsis crystalline)和卵型瓜水母(Beroe avata)是稀有种。东海栉水母系暖水性浮游动物类群,其数量变化与东海暖流势力活动过程中的携带有密切的联系。球型侧腕水母分布较为广泛,是适应环境能力较强的种类;掌状风球水母、蝶水母和卵型瓜水母相反,仅适应有限的环境;瓜水母和带水母适应能力介于以上两类栉水母之间。     

"生态环境"一词的合理性与科学性辨析

“生态环境”一词是比较中国化的、在中国使用频率较高的一个词。目前中国生态学界和环境科学界开展了一场关于“生态环境”一词合理性和科学性的热烈讨论。本文在文献综述的基础上,系统总结了有关“生态环境”一词的争论与观点,从“生态”和“环境”两词概念含义、学科发展、语义发展等方面探讨了“生态环境”一词的合理性与科学性,分析了在这场争论和讨论中的一些错误认识。     

河口地区牡蛎礁的生态功能及恢复措施

在许多温带河口区,牡蛎礁是具有重要生态功能的特殊生境。牡蛎礁在净化水体、提供栖息生境、保护生物多样性和耦合生态系统能量流动等方面均具有重要的功能。近100年来,由于过度采捕、环境污染、病害和生境破坏等原因,许多温带河口区牡蛎种群数量持续下降,河口生态系统的结构与功能受到破坏,富营养化越来越严重。为了修复河口生态系统、净化水质和促进渔业可持续发展,近20年来,世界各地开展了一系列牡蛎礁的恢复活动,尤其美国在东海岸及墨西哥湾建立了大量的人工牡蛎礁,许多研究结果证实,构建的人工牡蛎礁经过2~3年时间,就能恢复自然生境的生态功能。本文介绍了我国首次牡蛎增殖放流工程-长江口南北导堤牡蛎礁,近2年的监测结果显示,长江口导堤牡蛎种群数量快速增长,附近水生生态系统的结构与功能得到明显改善。最后,针对目前牡蛎礁恢复过程中存在的不足,提出了需进一步研究的课题,包括牡蛎基础生物学(病害和分子系统进化),牡蛎礁恢复的关键技术、科学程序及成功的评价标准等。     

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。     

稻草覆盖对红壤丘陵茶园的生态调控效应

在红壤丘陵区幼龄茶园通过连续4年稻草覆盖的大田试验,研究了稻草覆盖对茶园的生态综合调控效应。结果表明,稻草覆盖改良了土壤理化性状,提高了茶树生长时期(3~10月)的土壤水分含量,特别是土壤表层(0~20 cm)的水分含量;缓冲了茶园土壤温度变化;抑制了茶园杂草的生长;增加了蜘蛛等天敌的数量,有效地控制了假眼小绿叶蝉和茶蚜虫等害虫数量,但茶尺蠖显著增加;有利于蚯蚓的生长,改善了茶园生态环境。     

The role of domain redundancy in genetic robustness against null mutations

A key question in molecular genetics is why severe gene mutations often do not result in a detectable abnormal phenotype. Alternative networks are known to be a gene compensation mechanism. Gene redundancy, i.e. the presence of a duplicate gene (or paralog) elsewhere in the genome, also underpins many cases of gene dispensability. Here, we investigated the role of partial duplicate genes on dispensability, where a partial duplicate is defined as a gene that has no paralog but which codes for a protein made of domains, each of which belongs to at least another protein. The rationale behind this investigation is that, as a partial duplicate codes for a domain redundant protein, we hypothesised that its deletion might have a less severe phenotypic effect than the deletion of other genes. This prompted us to (re)address the topic of gene dispensability by focusing on domain redundancy rather than on gene redundancy. Using fitness data of single-gene deletion mutants of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, we will show that domain redundancy is a compensation mechanism, the strength of which is lower than that of gene redundancy. Finally, we shall discuss the molecular basis of this new compensation mechanism.