Distribution of Acacia senegal (L.) Willd. (Fabaceae) in Uganda and its relationship to climatic factors

The aim of the study was to map the distribution of Acacia senegal and its infraspecific taxa in Uganda and predict its suitable range of occurrence based on climatic factors. The distribution of the infraspecific taxa was analysed for richness, diversity, turnover and reserve selection. Regression analysis was performed to understand the relationship between distribution of the species and climatic variables. Georeferenced species occurrence points were superimposed over temperature and vapour maps. Areas with highest taxa richness, diversity and turnover were mapped and found in the Lake Kyoga basin. The species shows preference for the northern region of the study area with dissimilar climatic pattern from the southern region and the superimposition supported findings. Variety kerensis exhibited narrower climatic, altitudinal and distribution range preference. Temperature seasonality, maximum temperature of warmest month, temperature annual range, mean temperatures of warmest and driest quarters had the highest coefficients of determination (r² > 0.7) hence most important in influencing species distribution. The most appropriate locations for in situ conservation and for germplasm collection to ensure maximum diversity is secured are found in Wabisi‐Wajala, Kiula, Kyalubanga, Bajo, Kasagala, Kabwika‐mujwalanganda, Maruzi, Moroto and Napak Central Forest Reserves. The study recommends ecological studies to understand status of A. senegal.     

Seasonal occurrence and distribution of Bryde's whales in the Hauraki Gulf,New Zealand

The Hauraki Gulf is a large, shallow embayment located north of Auckland City (36°51′S, 174°46′E), New Zealand. Bryde's whales (Balaenoptera edeni) are the most frequently observed balaenopterid in these waters. To assess the use of the Hauraki Gulf for this species, we examined the occurrence and distribution in relation to environmental parameters. Data were collected from a platform of opportunity during 674 daily surveys between March 2003 and February 2006. A total of 760 observations of Bryde's whales were recorded throughout the study period during 371 surveys. The number of Bryde's whales sighted/day was highest in winter, coinciding with the coolest median sea‐surface temperature (14.6°C). Bryde's whales were recorded throughout the Hauraki Gulf in water depths ranging from 12.1–59.8 m (mean = 42.3, SD = 5.1). Cow–calf pairs were most frequently observed during the austral autumn in water depths of 29.9–53.9 m (mean = 40.8, SD = 5.2). Data from this study suggest Bryde's whales in the Hauraki Gulf exhibit a mix of both “inshore” and “offshore” characteristics from the Bryde's whales examined off the coast of South Africa.     

安徽省广德县迁飞性水稻害虫发生的特点与影响因子

据调查 ,2 0 0 2～ 2 0 0 3年安徽省广德县的稻纵卷叶螟、白背飞虱初见期、迁入主峰日较历年平均值显著提前 ,仍以第 2代为主害代次外 ,大发生年第 1代往往即可达到防治指标 ,第 3代仍居留为害。褐飞虱首次出现第 4代危害单季稻记录。 3种迁飞性害虫在单季稻上居留时间延长 ,危害代次增多。稻纵卷叶螟、白背飞虱时空分布差异增大 ,多种影响因子则有利于害虫的发生。     

石斛篓象的生物学特性

石斛篓象Nassophasis sp.为石斛的重要害虫之一,在云南普洱地区1年发生2～3代,世代重叠。3～4月和9～10月为幼虫发生高峰期,6月、12月为成虫发生高峰期。石斛篓象以幼虫蛀茎为害为主,成虫亦为害石斛茎、叶,石斛篓象对球花石斛为害最为严重。昼间取食的成虫数量关系为午后(13:00～14:00)>傍晚(17:30～18:30)>清晨(8:30～9:30);各时段成虫数量与平均温度有一定正相关;成虫在清晨较喜食叶,在午后、傍晚则较喜食茎。     

Measuring the Coding Potential of Genomic Sequences Througha Combination of Triplet Occurrence Patterns and RNY Preference

The distribution of n-tuplet frequencies is shown to strongly correlate with functionality when examining a genomic sequence in a reading-frame specific manner. The approach described herein applies a coarse-graining procedure, which is able to reveal aspects of triplet usage that are related to protein coding, while at the same time remaining species independent, based on a simple summation of suitable triplet occurrences measures. These quantities are ratios of simple frequencies to suitable mononucleotide-frequency products promoting the incidence of the RNY motif, preferred in the most widely used codons. A significant distinction of coding and noncoding sequences is achieved.Reviewing Editor: Dr. Massimo Di Giulio     

First survey on ecological host range of aphid pathogenic fungi (Phylum Entomophthoromycota) in Tunisia

Summary. The natural occurrence of fungal pathogens of aphids and their ecological host range was investigated in Tunisia from 2009 to 2012. The survey focused on aphid infesting different crops and weeds and included 10 different aphid species. Samples were collected from eight agricultural crops sites belonging to three different bioclimatic zones. Four pathogens from the phylum Entomophthoromycota were found to occur naturally in Tunisian ecosystems: Pandora neoaphidis (Entomophthorales: Entomophthoraceae), Entomophthora planchoniana (Entomophthorales: Entomophthoraceae), Conidiobolus obscurus (Entomophthorales: Ancylistaceae) and Neozygites fresenii (Neozygitales: Neozygitaceae). The occurrence of entomophthoralean fungi depended on the sampling area, the bioclimatic zone, and aphid species. P. neoaphidis and E. planchoniana were the predominant pathogens infecting a wide range of aphid species whereas C. obscurus and N. fresenii were sporadically present on a limited number of aphid species. This study is the first survey on ecological host range of entomophthoralean fungi in Tunisia, and the first documentation of C. obscurus and N. fresenii to occur in Tunisia and Maghreb Region.     

Quaternion-based definition of protein secondary structure straightness and its relationship to Ramachandran angles

We describe here definitions of "local helical axis" and "straightness" that are developed using a simple quaternion-based analysis of protein structure without resort to least-squares fitting. As part of this analysis, it is shown how quaternion differences can be visualized to depict accurately the local helical axis relating any two adjacent amino acid residues in standard, nonidealized proteins. Three different options for the definition of amino acid residue orientation in terms of quaternion frames are described. Two of these, the "C(α) frame" and the "P frame," are shown to be correlated strongly with a simple approximate measure derived solely from Ramachandran angles. The relationship between quaternion-based straightness and recognized DSSP-derived secondary structure motifs is discussed.     

强力霉素在斑点叉尾(鲴)体内药物动力学及残留消除规律研究

研究利用高效液相色谱法研究了强力霉素在斑点叉尾 (Ictalurus punctatus)体内的药物动力学与消除规律, 有助于制定合理用药方案和休药期, 为水产品质量安全提供理论依据。(1)单次口服剂量 20 mg/kg 强力霉素在斑点叉尾 体内的药时数据符合二室开放式模型。药-时曲线呈明显双峰现象: 第一次达峰时, 强力霉素在肾、血和肌肉中浓度迅速上升, 达峰时间 Tmax (1)出现在 30min, 强力霉素在肝脏中浓度上升缓慢, 出现在 1h; 肝、肾、血和肌肉第二次达峰的时间 Tmax (2)出现在 8h, 第二次达峰浓度 Cmax(2)大于第一次的浓度Cmax (1)。 药-时曲线下面积(AUC): 肾、肝、血和肌肉分别为 63.242、1282.077、142.379、62.348 μg·h /mL。消除半衰期[T1/2b]: 肾、肝、血和肌肉分别为 40.668、48.767、36.527、31.091h, 平均滞留时间(MRT): 肾、肝、血和肌肉分别为 46.585、56.989、48.859、42.428h; (2)连续口服剂量 20 mg/kg 的强力霉素 5d, 停药后强力霉素在斑点叉尾 肝脏中浓度最高, 肌肉+皮中浓度最低。在不同组织中强力霉素的消除速率不同(P<0.05), 药物消除速度由高到低依次为肌肉+皮、肾脏、肝脏。若以肝脏为靶组织, 最高残留限量 300 μg/kg,休药期不低于 30d; 若以可食组织肌肉+皮为靶组织, 最高残留限量 300 μg/kg, 休药期不低于 19d。     

烟粉虱的发生危害与防治对策

烟粉虱是一种世界性的重要害虫,其严重危害给各国农业生产造成巨大损失。本文就烟粉虱的危害特征、寄主范围、生物型、病毒传播、经济影响以及防治对策进行了综述。