Calcaneus secundarius: description and frequency in six skeletal samples

The calcaneus secundarius (CS) is a small accessory ossicle of the anterior calcaneal facet. A sample of 1,367 calcanei including early 20th century U.S. blacks and whites, XIIth Dynasty Egyptians, Islamic Period Bahrainis, and protohistoric American Indians from two states were examined to determine the frequency of this nonmetric trait. Statistical testing of the correlation of the trait with sex could only be performed on the blacks and whites, a documented cadaver collection. Tests of chi 2 indicated that, although sex differences were insignificant, significant group (not necessarily racial or geographical) differences existed at the .05 level. There was no correlation of side dominance in the overall sample, although significant population differences existed. The trait frequencies of the black and white samples were more similar to one another than to the nonindustrial groups who, in turn, were more similar to each other than to the Terry sample. The findings suggest that a CS is of genetic or congenital origin resulting in a secondary center of ossification in the anterior calcaneal facet.     

On the role of ß-carotene in the reaction center chlorophyll a antennae of photosystem I

Absorption and low temperature fluorescence emission spectra were measured on chloroplast thylakoids and on purified reaction center chlorophyll a-protein complexes of photosystem I, CP-a₁. A clear association between the presence of ß-carotene and the occurrence of far red absorbing and emitting chlorophyll a components of the reaction center antennae of photosystem I was demonstrated. For this study chloroplasts and CP-a₁ were obtained from normal and carotenoid deficient plant material of various sources. The experimental material included 1) lyophilized pea chloroplasts extracted with petroleum ether, 2) the carotenoid deficient mutant C-6E of Scenedesmus obliquus and 3) wheat chloroplasts derived from normal and SAN-9789 treated plants. Removal of carotenoids, most likely principally ß-carotene, caused a loss of long wavelength absorbing chlorophylls in chloroplasts and purified CP-a₁, and the loss or diminution of the long wavelength peak seen in the low temperature fluorescence emission spectrum. This association between ß-carotene and special chlorophyll a forms may explain both the photoprotective and antenna functions ascribed to ß-carotene. In the absence of carotenoids in wheat and in the Scenedesmus mutant, the chlorophyll a antenna of photosystem I was extremely photosensitive. A triplet-triplet resonance energy transfer from chlorophyll a to ß-carotene and a singlet-singlet energy transfer from excited ß-carotene to chlorophyll would explain the photoprotective and antenna functions, respectively. The role of this association in determining some of the fluorescence properties of photosystem I is also discussed.     

Cd2+、Cu2+胁迫对黑藻(Hydrilla verticillata)的生长及光合荧光特性的影响

以黑藻(Hydrilla verticillata)为供试材料,采用Cd2+和Cu2+等两种重金属分别在5个浓度梯度水平下的河砂水培方法,研究Cd2+或Cu2+不同浓度胁迫对黑藻株高、生物量、成活率和叶绿素含量的影响,以及对黑藻叶片最小荧光(Fo)、最大荧光(Fm),PSⅡ最大量子产率(QYmax,)、稳态下的PSⅡ反应中心关闭程度(1-Qp_Lss)、稳态下的非光化学淬灭(NPQ_Lss)等光合荧光参数及其荧光成像的影响,探讨各个参数分别随镉、铜浓度递增的变化规律。研究结果表明,Cd2+胁迫下黑藻的株高显著下降,说明Cd2+可能对黑藻叶片的维管束结构产生伤害作用;Cd2+和Cu2+胁迫对黑藻鲜重均无显著影响,说明与水生植物自由水含量存在一定关系;Cd2+和Cu2+胁迫均使黑藻干重显著下降,其中Cu2+胁迫对黑藻干重的影响更显著,说明Cu2+胁迫对黑藻累积生物量的影响远大于Cd2+;Cd2+和Cu2+胁迫下叶绿素各值均呈下降趋势,而Cu2+胁迫对叶绿素的影响更大,说明Cu2+对黑藻叶绿体的毒害比Cd2+更大。随着Cd2+或Cu2+胁迫浓度梯度的增加,黑藻的叶绿素荧光参数(Fo、Fm、QYmax)呈显著下降趋势,(1-Qp_Lss)呈上升趋势,而NPQ_Lss先上升后下降。黑藻在不同重金属胁迫下的生理指标、荧光参数及成像特征等方面所表现出的变化差异性,反映出同等浓度下黑藻受重金属胁迫的影响程度为:Cd2+胁迫Cu2+胁迫;黑藻可以在Cu2+浓度低于1 mg/L的环境下具有正常的光合活性,可推测将黑藻用于低浓度Cu污染水域的修复;在Cu2+浓度达3 mg/L以上环境下黑藻即无法长时间生存,可推测黑藻可以作为Cd污染水环境的指示种。     

两个品种转基因抗虫棉光合生理的CO2响应

栽培环境条件的改变会对转基因作物产生深远影响。以2种不同转基因棉花及其亲本对照为材料,研究了盆栽种植条件下不同棉花品种在蕾期和吐絮期光合生理特性CO2响应特征。结果表明,与各自的常规棉对照比较,两种转基因抗虫棉单叶净光合速率CO2响应的特征参数表观初始羧化效率(CE)、表观暗呼吸速率(Rd)和最大净光合速率(Pmax,c)虽有一定程度的变化,但其差异均未达到显著水平。在高CO2浓度范围内(700μmol.mol-1),转基因抗虫棉单叶净光合速率和水分利用率(WUE)的CO2响应曲线特征发生变化,且与品种及生育时期有关。两种转基因抗虫棉在不同生育时期的气孔导度(Gs)对CO2浓度的响应特征与其常规棉对照相似,短期CO2浓度增高对转基因抗虫棉的气孔导度没有显著性影响。     

Rhizosphere soil bacterial communities and nitrogen cycling affected by deciduous and evergreen tree species

Deciduous and evergreen trees differ in their responses to drought and nitrogen (N) demand. Whether or not these functional types affect the role of the bacterial community in the N cycle during drought remains uncertain. Two deciduous tree species (Alnus cremastogyne, an N₂‐fixing species, and Liquidambar formosana) and two evergreen trees (Cunninghamia lanceolata and Pinus massoniana) were used to assess factors in controlling rhizosphere soil bacterial community and N cycling functions. Photosynthetic rates and biomass production of plants, 16S rRNA sequencing and N‐cycling‐related genes of rhizosphere soil were measured. The relative abundance of the phyla Actinobacteria and Firmicutes was higher, and that of Proteobacteria, Acidobacteria, and Gemmatimondaetes was lower in rhizosphere soil of deciduous trees than that of evergreen. Beta‐diversity of bacterial community also significantly differed between the two types of trees. Deciduous trees showed significantly higher net photosynthetic rates and biomass production than evergreen species both at well water condition and short‐term drought. Root biomass was the most important factor in driving soil bacterial community and N‐cycling functions than total biomass and aboveground biomass. Furthermore, 44 bacteria genera with a decreasing response and 46 taxa showed an increased response along the root biomass gradient. Regarding N‐cycle‐related functional genes, copy numbers of ammonia‐oxidizing bacteria (AOB) and autotrophic ammonia‐oxidizing archaea (AOA), N₂ fixation gene (nifH), and denitrification genes (nirK, nirS) were significantly higher in the soil of deciduous trees than in that of the evergreen. Structural equation models explained 50.2%, 47.6%, 48.6%, 49.4%, and 37.3% of the variability in copy numbers of nifH, AOB, AOA, nirK, and nirS, respectively, and revealed that root biomass had significant positive effects on copy numbers of all N‐cycle functional genes. In conclusion, root biomass played key roles in affecting bacterial community structure and soil N cycling. Our findings have important implications for our understanding of plants control over bacterial community and N‐cycling function in artificial forest ecosystems.     

夜间变暖提高荫香叶片的光合能力

研究了不同氮供应的条件下夜间变暖对荫香叶片光合能力的影响。当植株生长在相同的日间温度(25℃),而夜间温度从18℃增至20℃时,叶片的光合速率增高(p<0.05)。高氮供应的植株,夜间变暖下其叶片光合速率较低氮供应的高,氮供应增高能促进夜间变暖提高叶片光合速率的效应。在低氮供给和夜间变暖下,植株叶片的光下呼吸和暗呼吸的增高显著(p<0.05)。无论在高氮或低氮供应下,生长在夜间变暖下的植物,其叶片的R ub isco最大羧化速率(Vcm ax)和光合电子传递最大速率(Jm ax)增高(p<0.05),氮供应能增强夜间变暖对Vcm ax和Jm ax的正向效应。夜间变暖降低植株叶片的比叶重,而增加单位叶干重的氮含量(Nm),单位叶面积的氮含量(Na)没发生明显变化。随着全球气候变化,夜间趋暖将有利于树木叶片光合能力的提高,结合高氮供给将会明显地增高植物的碳固定。     

入侵植物喜旱莲子草和本地种接骨草光合生理特征对增温响应的差异

利用红外加热器模拟增温,比较入侵植物喜旱莲子草和本地种接骨草的光合特性对增温响应的差异,以预测气候变暖背景下入侵植物的入侵潜力,并为筛选替代控制植物提供依据。结果表明:增温导致喜旱莲子草和接骨草的叶绿素a/b值分别比对照显著提高6.21%和降低5.55%。无论增温与否,接骨草的叶绿素b含量显著高于喜旱莲子草,而叶绿素a/b值则相反。增温导致喜旱莲子草净光合速率显著提高9.23%,由于气孔导度增大引起蒸腾速率大幅度增加,使得其水分利用效率比对照显著降低10.64%。增温仅导致接骨草的气孔导度显著增加10.95%,而对其他气体交换特征无显著影响。对照条件下,尽管接骨草的气孔导度和胞间CO_2浓度分别显著低于喜旱莲子草7.03%和4.57%,但是前者的净光合速率和水分利用效率分别显著高于后者10.30%和11.92%。增温条件下,两种植物的净光合速率和气孔导度无显著差异,由于接骨草的蒸腾速率显著低于喜旱莲子草18.02%,故其水分利用效率显著高于后者26.45%。增温、物种及其两者的交互作用对光补偿点、光饱和点、最大净光合速率、暗呼吸速率和初始量子效率等光响应参数影响均不显著。总之,对照条件下,接骨草凭借较高的叶绿素b含量、净光合速率和水分利用效率,比喜旱莲子草具有更强的光合能力。但增温后,接骨草的光合优势被削弱。研究从光合生理角度证明接骨草有望作为喜旱莲子草的替代控制植物,但是未来气候变化背景下喜旱莲子草的入侵潜力可能增强。     

供氮水平对落叶松幼苗光合作用的影响

为探讨落叶松光合作用对外界供氮环境变化的响应规律,采用砂培方法在温室内设置了4种供氮浓度(1、4、8mmol/L和16mmol/L),对生长在不同供氮水平下落叶松(Larixgmelinii)1年生幼苗的气体交换参数、叶绿素荧光参数以及一些生化指标进行了测定。结果显示,随供氮水平的提高,落叶松幼苗针叶氮含量、叶绿素含量、类胡罗卜素含量、可溶性蛋白(TSP)含量和光饱和净光合速率(Pmax)均显著增加,同时伴随着叶磷含量和胞间与外界CO2浓度之比(Ci/Ca)的降低。然而,当供氮水平超过8mmol/L增至16mmol/L时,TSP含量及Pmax不再增加,反而略有下降。供氮不足显著降低了幼苗针叶光系统最大光能转换效率(Fv/Fm)、光系统量子效率(ΦPS)和光化学猝灭系数(qP),却增加了非光化学猝灭系数(NPQ)。而增加供氮可使Fv/Fm和ΦPS回升,同时qP升高,NPQ下降,但当供氮水平超过8mmol/L后,各叶绿素荧光参数变化幅度较小。结果表明,增加供氮可显著提高落叶松幼苗的光合能力,增加光系统天线色素捕获的光能用于光化学电子传递的份额,减缓光抑制。然而,16mmol/L已经超过落叶松幼苗最适的供氮水平,过量供氮引起的负面效应可能主要与过低的叶磷含量导致的营养失衡有关。     

石臼湖原生动物种群分布及其同质化

石臼湖地处长江中下游,是国内为数不多的通江淡水湖。为探讨湖泊与入湖支流不同生境中原生动物种群结构及其相似性,于2012年平水期和枯水期分别对石臼湖及其周边入湖支流进行原生动物调查,研究河流和湖泊区域原生动物的种类组成及其季节变化,同时与同一地区的相邻湖泊固城湖作对比,通过计算相似性指数,探讨原生动物对生境同质化的响应。结果表明:调查共采集到原生动物57种,平水期种类多于枯水期;石臼湖河流区各站点原生动物相似性指数在Ⅰ~Ⅲ级之间,为完全不同-轻度相似;湖区站点相似性指数在Ⅱ~Ⅳ之间,为极不相似-中度相似;河流区种类季节之间的相似度极低(0.050~0.267),而湖泊区种类季节之间处于中等相似水平(0.250~0.375),说明河流区原生动物种类的季节变化较湖泊区明显,生物组成的异质性也高于湖泊;原生动物分布对水质有很好的响应关系,氮磷元素在影响原生动物种类组成和分布中起了主要作用;通过石臼湖与固城湖及长江中下游其他湖泊的对比分析,表明在一定范围内,随着生境尺度的增加,生境的同质化会提高生物同质化水平,但超过景观尺度,原生动物地域性特征逐渐显现,即使生境同质,其生物也未必同质;且随着距离的增加,不同区域的生物相似性呈降低的趋势。     

辽宁和江苏两省杂草稻植物性状多样性

辽宁和江苏两省是我国杂草稻(Oryza sativa f. spontanea)发生最为严重的地区之一, 为明确两省杂草稻识别特征和类型, 我们在两省14个市29个样点采集样品, 与当地栽培水稻品种一并在南京种植, 观测了营养生长期和生殖生长期的23个植物性状。结果表明, 两省杂草稻在营养生长期的1月株高、1月和2月分蘖数, 在生殖生长期的果皮色、谷粒长/宽比、百粒重、落粒性、秆硬度、剑叶宽、剑叶长、有效穗数、50%黄熟、50%黄熟–50%抽穗和全黄熟等性状与相应的当地栽培稻存在差异;主成分1和主成分2组成的二维散点图(累计贡献率达43.24%)也显示出两省杂草稻间以及与栽培稻间的差异性。采用欧氏距离对两省杂草稻进行系统聚类可以将杂草稻分为籼型和粳型。其中辽宁省杂草稻全部聚在粳型类群中, 它们又可细分为两类; 江苏省杂草稻既有粳型, 又有籼型, 其中粳型与辽宁省杂草稻聚在粳型类群中, 籼型又可分为3类。这6个类群分别具有如下突出特点: 第1类为强落粒、粒轻、秆矮、早熟、偏粳等; 第2类为无芒、穗多、强休眠、剑叶窄、偏粳等; 第3类为长芒、弱分蘖、穗少、弱落粒、偏粳等; 第4类为硬秆、剑叶宽、迟熟、强休眠、偏籼等; 第5类为红果皮、粒长、软秆、粒重、偏籼等; 第6类为无芒、株高、穗长、剑叶长、偏籼等。上述杂草稻的形态学指标和类型的研究将为两省开展杂草稻危害防治工作提供理论依据。