Hybridization and divergence in multi‐species oak (Quercus) communities

Oaks (Quercus: Fagaceae) commonly interbreed yet retain their morphological, genetic and ecological distinctiveness. Post‐zygotic isolation mechanisms, such as ecologically dependent selection on adaptive loci, may therefore limit introgression. To test this hypothesis, we quantified hybridization and genetic divergence across the contact zone of four red oaks (Quercus section Lobatae) in the Great Lakes region of North America using a suite of 259 amplified fragment length polymorphisms and 27 genic and genomic microsatellite markers. First, we identified hybrids using genetic structure analysis and confirmed the reliability of our assignments via simulations. Then, we identified candidate loci for species maintenance with three complementary tests for selection and obtained partial gene sequences linked to an outlier locus and three other loci. We detected evidence of recent hybridization among all species and considerable gene flow between Q. ellipsoidalis and Q. velutina. Overall, c. 20% of Q. velutina had recent ancestry from Q. ellipsoidalis, whereas nearly 30% of Q. ellipsoidalis had a Q. velutina ancestor. Most loci were negligibly to weakly differentiated among species, but two gene‐linked microsatellites deviated significantly from neutral expectations in multiple, complementary outlier tests. Both outlier loci were located in the same 15‐cM bin on an existing Q. robur linkage map, a region under divergent selection in other oak species. Adaptive loci in this highly differentiated genomic region may contribute to ecological divergence among species and limit introgression.     

冰冻切片技术在铁皮石斛显微结构上的应用

为了快速高效的观察兰科植物铁皮石斛的显微结构,利用光镜和改进的蔗糖保护--液氮速冻冰冻切片法,观察铁皮石斛根、茎、叶的显微结构。该技术方法是将铁皮石斛器官经过蔗糖磷酸缓冲液保护液处理后抽真空,再经过液氮速冻、包埋、切片、展片观察、染色以及拍照等步骤,制作出铁皮石斛根、茎和叶较完整的显微结构切片。研究结果表明,适合铁皮石斛根的最适条件为:蔗糖质量体积分数为8%、冷凝温度-25℃、切片厚度20μm;茎的最适条件为:蔗糖质量体积分数为16%、冷凝温度-20℃、切片厚度15μm;叶的最适条件为:蔗糖质量体积分数为4%、冷凝温度-20℃、切片厚度10μm。该研究在兰科植物显微结构观察和组织化学研究中将具有广阔的应用前景。     

家蚕胚胎发育过程的组织形态显微观察

胚胎发育是动物许多重要器官与性状发育的重要时期。本文利用石蜡切片法,对家蚕的胚胎发育进行了观察,并在显微镜可见光明场下拍照记录胚胎发育的形态特殊时期及其经历的发育时间,直观地获得家蚕胚胎发育完整过程。实验完整记录了家蚕胚胎发育的5个胚胎发育时期及其相对应:卵裂与胚盘形成期、胚带形成期、器官形成期和完成期及其相对应的发育时间。为进一步研究家蚕个体发育,器官的形成与分化奠定基础。     

无菌APPswe/PS1ΔE9双转基因小鼠模型建立及脑内斑块变化初步观察

目的 使用剖宫产净化方法建立无菌APPswe/PS1ΔE9(PAP)双转基因小鼠模型并对动物脑内斑块沉积情况进行初步观察,为研究肠道菌群与阿尔茨海默症关系提供新的动物模型。方法 选择阳性PAP雄性杂合子鼠与经产的C57野生型雌鼠1∶2进行交配。怀孕母鼠在超净工作台内行剖宫产手术,用无菌ICR小鼠代乳。术后每个月进行无菌状态检测;PCR方法检测剖宫产所得PAP仔鼠的基因型;免疫组化方法定量检测9月龄PAP小鼠脑内斑块变化情况。结果 实施剖宫产手术12例,获仔鼠66只,剖宫产存活率及离乳存活率分别为95.45%(63/66)和95.24%(60/63),净化后按国标检测无菌状态均为合格。免疫组化结果显示9月龄无菌PAP小鼠海马内斑块较同月龄SPF级动物减少。结论 通过剖宫产净化技术去除了PAP小鼠携带的菌群,9月龄无菌PAP小鼠脑内斑块减少。     

Is dietary or microhabitat specialization associated with environmental heterogeneity in horned lizards (Phrynosoma)?

Niche breadth is predicted to correlate with environmental heterogeneity, such that generalists will evolve in heterogeneous environments and specialists will evolve in environments that vary less over space and time. We tested the hypothesis that lizards in a heterogeneous environment were generalists compared to lizards in a homogeneous environment. We compared niche breadths of greater short‐horned lizards by quantifying resource selection in terms of two different niche axes, diet (prey items and trophic level), and microhabitat (ground cover and shade cover) between two populations occurring at different elevations. We assessed the heterogeneity of dietary and microhabitat resources within each population's environment by quantifying the availability of prey items, ground cover, and shade cover in each environment. Overall, our results demonstrate that despite differences in resource heterogeneity between elevations, resource selection did not consistently differ between populations. Moreover, environmental heterogeneity was not associated with generalization of resource use. The low‐elevation site had a broader range of available prey items, yet lizards at the high‐elevation site demonstrated more generalization in diet. In contrast, the high‐elevation site had a broader range of available microhabitats, but the lizard populations at both sites were similarly generalized for shade cover selection and were similarly specialized for ground cover selection. Our results demonstrate that environmental heterogeneity of a particular resource does not necessarily predict the degree to which organisms specialize on that resource.     

冬眠和非冬眠状态达乌尔黄鼠肾单位及相关功能因子的比较

冬眠是动物应对冬季低温和食物匮乏的一种生存策略。达乌尔黄鼠(Spermophilus dauricus)是典型的贮脂类冬眠动物。为研究冬眠动物肾脏的适应机制,本实验采用组织学、血液生化分析及酶联免疫方法检测了夏季活动期(7月)、冬眠期(12月)和早春出眠后(3月)达乌尔黄鼠肾单位形态学及血清肌酐、尿素和抗利尿激素(ADH)的变化,并用qPCR方法检测了肾脏水通道蛋白基因(AQP1、AQP2和AQP3)、ADH受体(V2R)及内皮型一氧化氮合酶基因(eNOS)的表达。结果发现,冬眠期和早春出眠期的达乌尔黄鼠肾小球密度、近曲小管和远曲小管的相对管径、皮质部近曲小管数与远曲小管数比值均低于夏季活动期;冬眠期血清肌酐和尿素浓度高于夏季活动期和早春出眠期,ADH浓度及其受体V2R基因表达低于夏季活动期;冬眠期AQP1基因表达高于早春出眠期,AQP3基因表达低于夏季活动期,AQP2基因表达无显著差异;冬眠期eNOS基因表达低于早春出眠期。这些结果表明冬眠的达乌尔黄鼠表现出较低的肾功能;不同时期的水通道蛋白,eNOS及ADH表现出适应性的功能调节。该实验结果丰富了对冬眠动物肾脏适应机制的认识。     

6种蝙蝠精子储存现象的组织学观察

精子储存是蝙蝠的生殖对策之一,有些种类的蝙蝠能将成熟精子在交配前(雄性)或交配后(雌性)储存在附睾或者输卵管及子宫内数月。采用冰冻切片和苏木精-伊红(H.E)染色法,观察了6种蝙蝠的睾丸、附睾、卵巢、输卵管和子宫,发现5种蝙蝠有精子储存现象。另外,本文还讨论了不同生殖对策蝙蝠的地理分布。