The genetic rescue of the Florida panther

We examine the consequences of panthers introduced from Texas into south Florida, an area housing a small, isolated, inbred and distinct subspecies ( Puma concolor coryi ). Once part of a continuous, widespread population, panthers became isolated in south Florida more than a century ago. Numbers declined and the occurrence of genetic defects increased. Hoping to reverse the genetic damage, managers introduced eight female panthers from Texas into south Florida in the mid-1990s. This action was highly controversial and we explain the arguments for and against the intervention. We synthesized data systematically collected on the Florida panthers from before, during and after this management intervention. These data include information on movements, breeding, mortality, survivorship and range. There is no evidence that purebred Florida females produce fewer kittens at a later age or less often than do hybrid cats (i.e. those with a Texas ancestor). Hybrid kittens have about a three times higher chance of becoming adults as do purebred ones. Hybrid adult females survive better than purebred females; there is no obvious difference between the males. Males die younger than females, are more often killed by other males and are more likely to disperse longer distances into habitats that are dangerous to them. Hybrids are expanding the known range of habitats panthers occupy and use.     

Patterns of bushmeat hunting and perceptions of disease risk among central African communities

There is a great need to determine the factors that influence the hunting, butchering and eating of bushmeat to better manage the important social, public health and conservation consequences of these activities. In particular, the hunting and butchering of wild animals can lead to the transmission of diseases that have potentially serious consequences for exposed people and their communities. Comprehension of these risks may lead to decreased levels of these activities. To investigate these issues, 3971 questionnaires were completed to examine the determinants of the hunting, butchering and eating of wild animals and perceptions of disease risk in 17 rural central African villages. A high proportion of individuals reported perceiving a risk of disease infection with bushmeat contact. Individuals who perceived risk were significantly less likely to butcher wild animals than those who perceived no risk. However, perception of risk was not associated with hunting and eating bushmeat (activities that, compared with butchering, involve less contact with raw blood and body fluids). This suggests that some individuals may act on perceived risk to avoid higher risk activity. These findings reinforce the notion that conservation programs in rural villages in central Africa should include health-risk education. This has the potential to reduce the levels of use of wild animals, particularly of certain endangered species (e.g. many non-human primates) that pose a particular risk to human health. However, as the use of wild game is likely to continue, people should be encouraged to undertake hunting and butchering more safely for their own and their community's health.     

Relationships between fish feeding guild and trophic structure in English lowland shallow lakes subject to anthropogenic influence: implications for lake restoration

The shallow lakes of Eastern England have been subject to intense anthropogenic pressures including nutrient enrichment and fish stocking. We sought to determine the relationships between fish community structure and other ecosystem characteristics in 28 of these lakes through classification of fish species into piscivorous, zooplanktivorous and benthivorous feeding guilds according to the literature. Canonical correspondence analysis produced clear associations between fish and ecosystem characteristics that generally agreed with other theoretical (e.g. the alternative stable states hypothesis) and empirical studies, but with some important differences. There was a striking lack of relationships between nutrients and other variables, indicating the importance of top-down rather than bottom-up processes as a structuring force in the generally eutrophic study lakes. The presence of submerged (and shoreline) vegetation was associated with a diverse assemblage of apparently co-existing piscivorous (principally pike Esox lucius) and zooplanktivorous species. Perch Perca fluviatilis, a significant predator in other studies, was unimportant and argued to be limited by water quality in the extremely shallow lakes. In contrast, the benthivorous fish guild (principally carp Cyprinus carpio, bream Abramis brama and tench Tinca tinca) essentially represented the inverse of the potential pelagic associations between piscivores/zooplanktivores and vegetation. The introduction of large benthivores to many study lakes could have precipitated a loss of submerged vegetation through direct uprooting during foraging, with the effect of simplifying the fish community being most acute where littoral vegetation was limited by other anthropogenic factors. It is implied that attempts to promote or restore submerged vegetation in these lakes would best target benthivorous species.     

宫颈癌患者血浆和组织中FHIT基因5′端CpG岛甲基化状态的研究

为了检测宫颈癌患者血浆和组织中FHIT基因5′端CpG岛甲基化状态, 以找到无创伤性诊断宫颈癌的新指标, 选取151例宫颈癌患者的血浆和30例患者的宫颈癌组织为研究对象,用MSP的方法检测FHIT基因5′端CpG岛甲基化状态, 并对MSP产物进行克隆和测序。结果在宫颈癌患者血浆和组织中, FHIT基因5′端CpG岛甲基化率为30.46%和53.33%, 血浆和组织的总体符合率为80%。而对照中均未检测到甲基化状态。随着患者临床分期和组织学分级的增加, FHIT基因甲基化的检出率也在逐渐的增加。表明宫颈癌患者的血浆和肿瘤组织中FHIT基因5′端CpG岛甲基化的发生是高频事件, 使用FHIT基因作为标记可以对宫颈癌患者进行无创伤诊断和预后的评估。     

宫颈癌患者血浆中E-钙黏着蛋白基因启动子区的甲基化状态

肿瘤细胞可以释放DNA进入患者的血浆/血清中,并可作为无创伤性诊断肿瘤的标记物。采用甲基化特异性聚合酶链式反应(MS-PCR)结合亚硫酸盐测序法对151例宫颈癌患者血浆和对应的30例组织中E-钙黏着蛋白基因启动子区甲基化状态进行检测,并与化学发光法检测患者血清的鳞状上皮癌抗原(SCC)相比较,发现此方法的灵敏度为40.39%,特异性为100%,正确性为49.72%,血浆和组织的符合率为76.67%。宫颈炎、子宫肌瘤和正常人的血浆中均未检测到甲基化状态的存在。随着临床分期和组织学分级的增加,E-钙黏着蛋白基因甲基化的检出率也在逐渐增加,与SCC结果相比,MS-PCR方法在早期和恶性度高的宫颈癌中的诊断效果良好。使用E-钙黏着蛋白基因作为分子标记可以对宫颈癌患者进行无创伤性早期诊断和预后的评估。     

Fine-scale genetic structure among genetic individuals of the clone-forming monotypic genus Echinosophora koreensis (Fabaceae)

• Background and Aims For rare endemics or endangered plantspecies that reproduce both sexually and vegetatively it iscritical to understand the extent of clonality because assessmentof clonal extent and distribution has important ecological andevolutionary consequences with conservation implications. Asurvey was undertaken to understand clonal effects on fine-scalegenetic structure (FSGS) in two populations (one from a disturbedand the other from an undisturbed locality) of Echinosophorakoreensis, an endangered small shrub belonging to a monotypicgenus in central Korea that reproduces both sexually and vegetativelyvia rhizomes. • Methods Using inter-simple sequence repeats (ISSRs) asgenetic markers, the spatial distribution of individuals wasevaluated using Ripley's L(d)-statistics and quantified thespatial scale of clonal spread and spatial distribution of ISSRgenotypes using spatial autocorrelation analysis techniques(join-count statistics and kinship coefficient, F_ij) for totalsamples and samples excluding clones. • Key Results A high degree of differentiation betweenpopulations was observed (_ST(g) = 0·184, P < 0·001).Ripley's L(d)-statistics revealed a near random distributionof individuals in a disturbed population, whereas significantaggregation of individuals was found in an undisturbed site.The join-count statistics revealed that most clones significantlyaggregate at 6-m interplant distance. The Sp statistic reflectingpatterns of correlograms revealed a strong pattern of FSGS forall four data sets (Sp = 0·072–0·154), butthese patterns were not significantly different from each other.At small interplant distances (2 m), however, jackknifed 95% CIs revealed that the total samples exhibited significantlyhigher F_ij values than the same samples excluding clones. • Conclusion The strong FSGS from genets is consistentwith two biological and ecological traits of E. koreensis: bee-pollinationand limited seed dispersal. Furthermore, potential clone matesover repeated generations would contribute to the observed highF_ij values among genets at short distance. To ensure long-termex situ genetic variability of the endangered E. koreensis,individuals located at distances of 10–12 m should becollected across entire populations of E. koreensis.     

Palaeopolyploidy, spatial structure and conservation genetics of the narrow steppe plant Vella pseudocytisus subsp. paui (Vellinae, Cruciferae)

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Vella pseudocytisus subsp. paui (Cruciferae) is a narrow endemic plant to the Teruel province (eastern Spain), which is listed in the National Catalogue of Endangered Species. Two distinct ploidy levels (diploid, 2n = 34, and tetraploid, 2n = 68) have been reported for this taxon that belongs to the core subtribe Vellinae, a western Mediterranean group of shrubby taxa with a chromosome base number of x = 17. Allozyme and AFLP analyses were conducted (a) to test for the ploidy and putative palaeo-allopolyploid origin of this taxon, (b) to explore levels of genetic diversity and spatial structure of its populations, and (c) to address in-situ and ex-situ strategies for its conservation. METHODS: Six populations that covered the entire geographical range of this taxon were sampled and examined for 19 allozyme loci and three AFLP primer pair combinations. In addition, the gametic progenies of five individuals were analysed for two allozyme loci that showed fixed heterozygosity. KEY RESULTS: Multiple banded allozyme profiles for most of the surveyed loci indicated the polyploidy of this taxon. Co-inherited fixed heterozygous patterns were exhibited by the gametophytic tissues of the mother plants. Both allozyme and AFLP markers detected high levels of genetic diversity, and a strong micro-spatial genetic structure was recovered from AFLP phenetic analyses and Mantel correlograms. CONCLUSIONS: Allozyme data support the hypothesis of an allotetraploid origin of Vella pseudocytisus subsp. paui that could be representative of other taxa of the core Vellinae group. AFLP data distinguished three geographically distinct groups with no genetic interaction among them. Allotetraploidy and outcrossing reproduction have probably contributed to maintenance of high levels of genetic variability of the populations, whereas habitat fragmentation may have enhanced the high genetic isolation observed among groups. In-situ microgenetic reserves and a selective sampling of germplasm stocks for ex-situ conservation of this taxon are proposed.     

Effects of lycopene supplementation on antioxidant status,oxidative stress,performance and carcass characteristics in heat-stressed Japanese quail

Lycopene, a carotenoid present predominantly in tomatoes, is one of the most efficient antioxidants. This experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary lycopene supplementation on performance, carcass characteristics, biomarkers of oxidative stress (malondialdehyde (MDA) and homocysteine), and concentrations of vitamins C, E, A, cholesterol, triglyceride, and glucose in Japanese quails (Coturnix coturnix Japonica) exposed to high-ambient temperature of 34 °C. Two hundred and forty Japanese quails (10 day-old) were randomly assigned to eight treatment groups consisting of 10 replicates of three birds. The birds were kept at a temperature-controlled room at 22 °C (Thermoneutral, TN groups) or 34 °C (for 12 h/day; 09.00 am–05.00 pm; Heat stress, HS groups). Birds were fed either a basal (control) diet (TN and HS) or the basal diet supplemented with 50, 100 or 200 mg of lycopene/kg of diet. Lycopene supplementation linearly increased feed intake (P=0.05$P=0.05$), live weight gain (P=0.01$P=0.01$), feed efficiency (P=0.01$P=0.01$) and cold carcass weight (P=0.01$P=0.01$) and yield (P=0.05$P=0.05$) under heat stress conditions but did not show the same effect at thermoneutral conditions (P>0.05$P>0.05$). The interaction Serum vitamin C, E, and A (P=0.01$P=0.01$) concentrations increased linearly in birds reared at high temperature while non-significant changes occurred at TN groups. Homocysteine level in serum and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in serum, liver, and heart (P=0.001$P=0.001$) linearly decreased in all birds of both TN and HS groups as dietary lycopene supplementation increased. Heat stress-induced increase in serum cholesterol (P=0.01$P=0.01$), triglycerides (P=0.05$P=0.05$) and glucose (P=0.01$P=0.01$) concentrations were linearly reversed by lycopene supplementation. Supplementation of lycopene increased the HDL concentration whereas, the VLDL and LDL concentrations reduced with lycopene supplementation (P=0.01$P=0.01$, linear), particularly at a dietary concentration of 200 mg/kg. Lycopene could not be detected in control birds while a linear increase was observed in the sera of lycopene supplemented birds The results of the study indicate that lycopene supplementation attenuated the increase in oxidative stress and depletion in antioxidants caused by heat stress in Japanese quails.     

Taxonomy and conservation: A case study from Chamaedorea alternans

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The establishment of justified recommendations in conservation biology requires robust taxonomic treatments for the group(s) being considered. Controversial or poorly developed taxonomies can have a negative impact on conservation assessments. One example of a taxonomically difficult and controversial species complex that is important in conservation involves two species of Mexican palms, Chamaedorea tepejilote and C. alternans. The goal of this study was to investigate whether C. alternans and C. tepejilote are genetically distinct within the Los Tuxtlas region of Veracruz. METHODS: Individuals corresponding to the morphology of C. alternans and C. tepejilote were collected from sympatric and allopatric regions within the Los Tuxtlas Biological Station. Eighty-eight samples were genotyped using amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) markers. Cluster and ordination analyses were used to investigate patterns of differentiation. KEY RESULTS: UPGMA and PCO analyses of AFLP profiles recovered two divergent clusters corresponding to morphologically defined C. tepejilote and C. alternans. No intermediate genotypes were observed and five of the 45 loci were fixed for either the presence or absence between the species. The patterns of divergence observed do not identify a role for sympatric speciation. CONCLUSIONS: The observed patterns of differentiation support the recognition of C. alternans as distinct from C. tepejilote. A suite of vegetative and reproductive morphological features can be used to help distinguish these taxa in the field, but they can be difficult to differentiate from preserved material. Previous treatments of the variation found within the complex (C. alternans and C. tepejilote) as intraspecific variance is unjustified. Given that the Los Tuxtlas region has suffered from historical and ongoing deforestation and that Chamaedorea includes numerous endangered taxa, retaining conservation status for C. alternans serves to help safeguard individuals of the species as well as a region and larger taxonomic group all under considerable threat from human activities.     

Genetic variation in five Mediterranean populations of Juniperus phoenicea as revealed by inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR) markers

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The assessment of the genetic variability and the identification of isolated populations within a given species represent important information to plan conservation strategies on a genetic basis. In this work, the genetic variability in five natural populations of Juniperus phoenicea, three from Sardinia, one from Cyprus and the last one in the Maritime Alps was analysed by means of ISSRs, on the hypothesis that the latter could have been a refugial one during the last glaciation. METHODS: ISSRs were chosen because of their ability to detect variation without any prior sequence information. The use of three primers yielded 45 reproducible, polymorphic bands, which were utilized to estimate the basic parameters of genetic variability and diversity. KEY RESULTS: All of the populations analysed harboured an adequate amount of genetic variability, with H(S) = 0.1299. The proportion of genetic diversity between populations has been estimated by G(ST) = 0.12. The three Sardinian populations are separated, as tested by AMOVA, from the Cyprus and the continental ones. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that geographical isolation has represented a major barrier to gene flow in Juniperus phoenicea. This work represents a first step towards a full genetic characterization of a conifer from the Mediterranean, a world biodiversity hotspot confronted with climate change, and thus contributes towards the planning of genetics-informed conservation strategies.