BIOME6000计划:重古生物群区的最新进展

描述地球系统过去状态的数据,比如特殊时间段（全新世中期６０００ａＢＰ和末次盛冰期１８０００ａＢＰ）的孢粉入植物大化石记录,一 全球变化研究所需要的,以往对这些三生态数据的利用大都是零散的、定点的,植被的重建往往也是定性的描述,而国际地圈－生物圈计划（ＩＧＢＰ）的国际协作项目ＢＩＯＭＥ６０００（全球古植被制图计划）的创立,为古生态数据的综合与定量研究开辟的新的途径。该项目特别强调利用古生态学记录模拟     

基于Maxent模型的檵木分布格局模拟

应用最大熵模型(Maxent)模拟檵木(Loropetalum chinense)在末次间冰期(last inter glacial, LIG)、末次盛冰期(last glacial maximum, LGM)和当代(Present)等不同时期的中国潜在分布格局,分析影响其分布的主导生物气候因子。结果显示:(1)历史气候的变迁,檵木由末次间冰期经末次盛冰期进入当代,适生区面积呈现增加趋势。当代适生区面积占比最大,适生程度也较高;(2)训练数据和测试数据的AUC值分别为0.947和0.954,均达到了极高的精度;(3)刀切法检测表明,影响檵木分布的主导环境因子依次为bio14(最干月份平均降雨量)、bio17(极干季降雨量)、为bio19(极冷季平均降雨量)和bio15(湿度变化方差),其适生值范围分别是23—93 mm, 98—300 mm, 110—350 mm和42%—65%;(4)较纬度而言,经度是影响我国檵木分布格局的主要因子;(5)我国檵木当代的潜在地理分布主要在北回归线以北的区域,总面积为162.55万km²,占国土总面积的16.93%,高适生区集中于...     

Distinctive microfossil supports early Paleoproterozoic rise in complex cellular organisation

The great oxidation event (GOE), ~2.4 billion years ago, caused fundamental changes to the chemistry of Earth's surface environments. However, the effect of these changes on the biosphere is unknown, due to a worldwide lack of well-preserved fossils from this time. Here, we investigate exceptionally preserved, large spherical aggregate (SA) microfossils permineralised in chert from the c. 2.4 Ga Turee Creek Group in Western Australia. Field and petrographic observations, Raman spectroscopic mapping, and in situ carbon isotopic analyses uncover insights into the morphology, habitat, reproduction and metabolism of this unusual form, whose distinctive, SA morphology has no known counterpart in the fossil record. Comparative analysis with microfossils from before the GOE reveals the large SA microfossils represent a step-up in cellular organisation. Morphological comparison to extant micro-organisms indicates the SAs have more in common with coenobial algae than coccoidal bacteria, emphasising the complexity of this microfossil form. The remarkable preservation here provides a unique window into the biosphere, revealing an increase in the complexity of life coinciding with the GOE.     

大型鼩鼱Beremendia(食虫目,鼩鼱科)在江南的首次发现及其古气候学意义

记述了在现代东洋界发现的鼩鼱类一新种:江南贝列门德鼩Beremendia jiangnanensis sp.nov.。化石产自长江以南安徽繁昌早更新世早期人字洞古人类遗址。新种的体型比该属已知种大;形态特征比我国渤海种B.pohaiensis原始,但比欧洲早上新世的B.fissidens进步。贝列门德鼩是喜湿耐冷的北方型动物,最早发现于欧洲北部上新统,曾广泛分布于欧洲和中亚高纬度地区,种群密度大,中更新世完全绝灭;它在东亚出现较晚,零星发现于华北早更新世地层中,其起源尚不清楚。新种乃是人字洞动物群的主要成员之一,该动物群由70多种哺乳动物组成。动物群的生态类型分析和分类统计表明,它与以往发现的早更新世南、北动物群及当地现代动物群截然不同,具有东洋界和古北界交错带动物群的特色,但动物组合特征为北方动物稍占优势,北方色彩较浓。贝列门德鼩和三门马(Equus sanmeniensis)、次兔(Hypolagus)、科氏仓鼠(Kowalskia)、模鼠(Mimomys)等大量北方型动物在我国东洋界的出现,足以说明第四纪早期有一次明显的降温事件。寒冷气候促使北方动物大规模南迁,古北区动物地理区系的界线在早更新世时要比目前更靠南;而且在古北界与东洋界之间确实存在南、北动物过渡带,其界线大致南移至现在的长江以南。贝列门德鼩在我国现代东洋界地区的首次发现,为研究该属的系统演化,探讨上新世一更新世气候转型时期鼩鼱类扩散事件及我国第四纪动物地理区系的演变将提供重要的信息。     

Environmental influences on spatial and temporal patterns of body-size variation in California ground squirrels (Spermophilus beecheyi)

Aim  In order to understand how ground squirrels ( Spermophilus beecheyi ) may respond to future environmental change, we investigated five biotic and environmental factors potentially responsible for explaining body-size variation in this species across California. We examined the concordance of spatial patterns with temporal body-size change since the last glacial maximum (LGM).
Location  California, western North America.
Methods  We quantified body size of modern populations of ground squirrels ( n  = 81) and used a model-selection approach to determine the best variables (sex, vegetation, number of congeners, temperature and/or precipitation) explaining geographical variation in body size among modern populations. We also quantified body size of one fossil population in northern California ( n  = 39) and compared temporal body-size change in S. beecheyi at this location since the LGM with model predictions.
Results  Body size of modern populations conformed to Bergmann's rule, with larger individuals in northern (wetter and cooler) portions of California. However, the models suggest that precipitation, rather than temperature or other variables, may best explain variation in body size across modern spatial gradients. Our conclusion is supported by the temporal data, demonstrating that the body size of S. beecheyi has increased in northern California since the LGM, concordant with precipitation but not temperature change in the region.
Main conclusions  Precipitation, rather than temperature, vegetation or number of congeneric species, was the main factor explaining both spatial and temporal patterns of body-size variation in S. beecheyi . The integration of space and time provides a powerful mechanism for predicting how local populations may respond to current and future climatic changes.     

Observations on the distribution of some chironomids (Diptera) and caddisflies (Trichoptera) in the Killarney area,Ireland

The Killarney region, south-west Ireland, has a mild oceanic climate, yet elements of the flora and fauna in the area appear to have disjunct distributions. Eleven chironomid and two trichopteran taxa, which are considered cold stenothermous and generally occur outside Ireland at high altitudes or northern latitudes, are found in waters around 25 metres above sea level in Killarney. These are believed to be glacial relict elements which have survived in the region to live with a fauna depauperate in comparison to western Europe.     

Hypophysitis

ObjectiveHypophysitis is considered a rare inflammatory disease of the pituitary gland. For a long time, primary autoimmune hypophysitis has stood out as the most relevant type of hypophysitis. However, with the advent of immunotherapy for the treatment of malignancies and identification of hypophysitis as an immune-related adverse event, hypophysitis has garnered increasing interest and recognition. Therefore, awareness, early recognition, and appropriate management are becoming important as the indication for immunomodulatory therapies broaden.MethodsIn this review, we discuss the epidemiology, diagnosis, and treatment of hypophysitis with a focus on recent data and highlight subtypes of particular interest while recognizing the gaps in knowledge that remain.ResultsRegardless of cause, symptoms and signs of hypophysitis may be related to mass effect (headache and visual disturbance) and hormonal disruption that warrant prompt evaluation. In the vast majority of cases, a diagnosis of hypophysitis can be made presumptively in the appropriate clinical context with radiologic findings consistent with hypophysitis and after the exclusion of other causes.ConclusionAlthough subtle differences currently exist in management and outcome expectations between primary and secondary causes of hypophysitis, universally, treatment is aimed at symptom management and hormonal replacement therapy.     

Testing congruency of geographic and genetic population structure for a freshwater mussel (Bivalvia: Unionoida) and its host fish

The macrogeographic dispersal of unionoid mussels is largely dependent on movement by their host fish. The snuffbox mussel Epioblasma triquetra (Unionoida) and other congeners use a novel trapping behaviour to parasitize potential host fish with their larvae (glochidia). Common logperch (Percina caprodes) trapped by E. triquetra survive the trapping behaviour, whereas other darter species (Etheostoma and Percina) do not, thus, making the P. caprodes–E. triquetra relationship a good candidate system for a coevolutionary study. We hypothesized that the geographic genetic structure of E. triquetra should closely match that of its host, albeit with greater interpopulation divergences as a result of its dependency on the host for dispersal. Mantel tests of parallel pairwise matrices of population divergence (Jost's D) and genetic assignment tests based on microsatellite DNA data showed that the genetic population structures of both species were broadly, but not perfectly, congruent. Therefore, it appears that P. caprodes are not solely responsible for the genetic population structure observed for snuffbox and may not necessarily be the mussel's only host across its entire range. This suggests the potential for a geographic mosaic for coevolution in unionoids and darters. The findings of the present study reinforce the need for a joint study and conservation of unionoids and host fish aiming to protect these coevolved taxa. © 2011 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2011, 102 , 669–685.     

Phylogeography of the widespread fern Lemmaphyllum in East Asia: species differentiation and population dynamics in response to change in climate and geography

Past climatic oscillations and complex geodynamic processes had tremendous effects on the current distributions of species in East Asia. Previous studies have revealed that spermatophytes experienced different demographic histories and survived in multiple refuges. However, very few studies involving ferns have been conducted over a large geographical area like East Asia. The monophyletic epiphytic fern genus Lemmaphyllum, which is composed of four species, is widespread in East Asia and offers a good model for exploring how geoclimatic oscillations influence the diversification and demographic history of fern species. We studied the phylogeography of Lemmaphyllum based on 115 populations using plastid sequences and ecological niche modeling. A total of 91 haplotypes were found in Lemmaphyllum. Molecular clock estimation revealed that speciation coincided with the three phases of the Qingzang Movement at beginning of the third uplift of Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. The “Tanaka-Kaiyong Line” demarcated lineages within L. carnosum. The split of the mainland and island lineages of L. rostratum and L. carnosum var. microphyllum may have resulted from ancestral isolation whereby land-bridges acted as a “barrier” rather than as a “corridor” between mainland and island lineages. Multiple glacial refuges such as Sichuan Basin, Jinggangshan region, YGG region, HDM region, and the islands of the China East Sea during the LGM were revealed. The entities of Lemmaphyllum experienced species-specific demographic histories in response to the Pleistocene climate change. The case study of epiphytic ferns may provide evidences for understanding the migration of evergreen broad-leaf forest under climate oscillation.