不同光照强度对入侵植物薇甘菊（Mikania micrantha）和飞机草（Chromolaena odorata）生长及生物量分配的影响

外来植物入侵严重威胁着当地生物多样性和生态系统功能,引发巨大经济损失,已成为日益严重的全球性问题。光是热带和亚热带森林生态系统植物生长最重要的限制性资源之一,对光的捕获和利用直接影响植物在自然生态系统中的生存和适合度。本研究以华南地区危害严重的入侵植物薇甘菊(Mikania micrantha)和飞机草(Chromolaena odorata)为研究对象,对比二者生长、生物量分配及叶片特征对光照强度变化的响应,从而验证假设:外来植物入侵力受有效光辐射的限制,光照是影响不同演替阶段林型具有不同可入侵性的重要原因之一。研究结果表明,3%—60%全光照下两种外来植物均可存活,并显示较灵活的生物量分配策略,可见其对光照具有广适性,为其广泛分布提供生态学基础。低光严重抑制了两种外来植物的生物量积累,这可能是导致演替后期季风林入侵现象少的主要原因之一。对比两种植物叶片特征对光照强度变化的响应,高光下薇甘菊SLA降低,LAR、LARMR减小,叶片变小变厚,有利于植株保持强光下的水分平衡;低光下薇甘菊增加SLA和LAR,叶片变薄变大,增大对光的截获面积,以实现对光强减弱的适应。相比薇甘菊,3种光照处理对飞机草的SLA、LAR、LARMR无显著影响。以上结果提示:(1)光照影响所在群落对外来植物入侵的抵抗力;(2)攀援植物薇甘菊较丛生型草本飞机草对变化的光环境在叶片水平上具有更高的形态可塑性,有效寻觅光资源。     

大鼠离体心脏停灌和再灌早期引起的肌酸激酶的双相释放

心脏缺血再灌损伤导致肌酸激酶(CK)的大量释放。本实验提供了一个模型、可对再灌早期CK释放的动态变化进行研究。目的在于试图将停灌损伤和再灌损伤加以区分,并探讨氧反常和钙反常在两种损伤中的相对作用。用Langendorff法灌流大鼠离体心脏,平衡10min,停灌10min。于再灌3min内每15s收集一次冠脉流份,测定CK活性(U/L),作为心肌细胞损伤的指标。再灌3min内CK释放呈双相变化,它们的峰值比平衡期对照值高4-6倍。第Ⅰ峰恒定出现于再灌15s。第Ⅱ峰在有基质Krebs-Henseieit(K-H)溶液灌流组主要出现在再灌30-75s,在无基质K-H溶液灌流组主要出现在再灌120-180s。初步判断,第Ⅰ峰主要代表缺灌损伤,第Ⅱ峰主要代表再灌损伤。缺氧或加葡萄糖灌流均能降低双峰值及总释放量,而低钙灌流仅能延缓第Ⅱ峰的出现。由于葡萄糖能增强细胞对氧反常的耐受性,而缺氧能使氧反常推迟出现,又由于缺灌期胞外液并不缺钙,因此在OK双相释放峰值中可能并不包含典型的钙反常成分,而包含氧反常成分。至于低钙降低第Ⅱ峰的原因,可能是暂时抑制了氧反常造成的钙内流与钙负荷损伤。     

Giant invasive Heracleum persicum: Friend or foe of plant diversity?

The impact of invasion on diversity varies widely and remains elusive. Despite the considerable attempts to understand mechanisms of biological invasion, it is largely unknown whether some communities’ characteristics promote biological invasion, or whether some inherent characteristics of invaders enable them to invade other communities. Our aims were to assess the impact of one of the massive plant invaders of Scandinavia on vascular plant species diversity, disentangle attributes of invasible and noninvasible communities, and evaluate the relationship between invasibility and genetic diversity of a dominant invader. We studied 56 pairs of Heracleum persicum Desf. ex Fisch.‐invaded and noninvaded plots from 12 locations in northern Norway. There was lower native cover, evenness, taxonomic diversity, native biomass, and species richness in the invaded plots than in the noninvaded plots. The invaded plots had nearly two native species fewer than the noninvaded plots on average. Within the invaded plots, cover of H. persicum had a strong negative effect on the native cover, evenness, and native biomass, and a positive association with the height of the native plants. Plant communities containing only native species appeared more invasible than those that included exotic species, particularly H. persicum. Genetic diversity of H. persicum was positively correlated with invasibility but not with community diversity. The invasion of a plant community by H. persicum exerts consistent negative pressure on vascular plant diversity. The lack of positive correlation between impacts and genetic diversity of H. persicum indicates that even a small founder population may cause high impact. We highlight community stability or saturation as an important determinant of invasibility. While the invasion by H. persicum may decrease susceptibility of a plant community to further invasion, it severely reduces the abundance of native species and makes them more vulnerable to competitive exclusion.     

Temporal variation of heterozygosity‐based assortative mating and related benefits in a lesser kestrel population

Heterozygosity as a target of mate choice has received much attention in recent years and there is growing evidence supporting its role in the evolution of mate preferences. In this study we analyse mating patterns in relation to heterozygosity in a lesser kestrel (Falco naumanni) population intensively monitored over six study years (2002–2007). The magnitude of heterozygosity‐based assortative mating varied over time, being particularly patent in the last study years (2006, 2007). We have found evidence that this mating pattern entails both direct and indirect‐genetic benefits. Clutch size increased with female heterozygosity and more heterozygous males raised a higher number of fledglings particularly in those years when the strength of the heterozygosity‐based assortative mating was markedly higher. In the last study year, parent–offspring correlation of heterozygosity was stronger and higher than the expected if individuals would have randomly mated with respect to heterozygosity. Overall, our results offer empirical support to the heterozygous mate hypothesis of sexual selection but suggest that genetic diversity may act as a temporally variable target for mate choice.     

Primate group size and interpreting socioecological models: Do folivores really play by different rules?

Because primates display such remarkable diversity, they are an ideal taxon within which to examine the evolutionary significance of group living and the ecological factors responsible for variation in social organization. However, as with any social vertebrate, the ecological determinants of primate social variability are not easily identified. Interspecific variation in group size and social organization results from the compromises required to accommodate the associative and dissociative forces of many factors, including predation, 1 - 3 conspecific harassment and infanticide, 4 - 6 foraging competition 1 , 7 and cooperation, 8 dominance interactions, 9 reproductive strategies, and socialization. 10 - 12 Causative explanations have emerged primarily through the construction of theoretical models that organize the observed variation in primate social organization and group size relative to measurable ecological variation.