Analysis of genetic diversity in common loon Gavia immer using RAPD and mitochondrial RFLP techniques

We used random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLP) of mitochondrial cytochrome b (cyt b ) gene to evaluate the genetic diversity in common loon Gavia immer populations from two regions in the United States: New England (NE) and Michigan (MI). RAPD analysis with 18 primers showed 74% polymorphism in NE and 50% in MI loons (similarity coefficient F = 0.92). Although no population-specific markers were found, the frequencies of some RAPD bands varied between the two populations suggesting geographical differences. RFLP analyses with Bam HI enzyme and a 307-bp mitochondrial cyt b gene showed four haplotypes in the NE loon samples and two in the MI samples. The mtDNA haplotype diversity was 0.74 for NE and 0.51 for MI loons, supporting the RAPD data that NE loons have greater genetic diversity than MI loons.     

内蒙古察哈尔丘陵啮齿动物种群数量的波动和演替

根据内蒙古自治区正镶白旗乌宁巴图苏木９７４－１９９３年随啮齿动物密度监测资料进行分析,得到如下结果。共捕啮齿动物１３种,其中达乌尔黄鼠为优势种（６７．８５％）、一趾鼠为次优势种（１０．１６％）,长爪沙鼠、布氏田鼠、达乌尔鼠兔为常见种,余为少见种。黄鼠密度与个体数呈正相关（Ｐ〈０．０００１）、五趾跳鼠与个体数、黄鼠密度呈负相关（Ｐ〈０．００１）。个体数与黄鼠、五趾跳鼠密度的回归模型为：（个体数）＝１     

Effects of water level fluctuations on phytoplankton in a river-floodplain lake system (Paraná River,Argentina)

Several aspects of community organization wereanalyzed comparatively in a small side-arm of theParaná River (Correntoso) and a shallowfloodplain lake (El Tigre) (31° 41 S and60° 42 W), in relation to the hydrology of thesystem. Taxonomic and morphological composition inthe river differed from that in the lake: the riverhad lower species richness (151 vs 218),different contributions of some Classes to totalspecies number (higher Cyano-, Zygo- andDiatomophyceae vs higher Chlorophyceae), anddiffent proportions of nannoplanktonic algae (67.5%vs 80.7%) and netplanktonic filamentousspecies (18.2% vs 4.2%). Phytoplanktonbiomass, higher in the lake than in the river due tothe retention time, was mostly dominated bynannoplankton and netplankton. Loticphytoplankton was dominated by typical fluvialspecies of Diatomophyceae (R-strategists). Riverconditions seem to maintain a subclimacticcommunity, which was little impacted by the flushingof populations from floodplain lakes. Water levelwas the main factor controlling phytoplanktonbiomass, species diversity (H), evenness (E) andcommunity change rate () in the river. Inthe lake, phytoplankton had an autogenicsuccessional sequence during the isolation phase (C-to S-strategists) and other responses todisturbance, mainly during the flood(R-strategists). Frequent changes in phytoplanktoncomposition, biomass, H, E and , revealed aenvironmental instability in the lake, which may beexplained by interactions of external factors(hydrology and climatology) and those of internalorigin, such as nutrients and grazing.     

GENETIC DIVERSITY WITHIN BALTIC SEA POPULATIONS OF NODULARIA (CYANOBACTERIA)1

The determination of the genetic structure of microbial populations has, until recently, required the establishment of many independent clonal cultures for genotypic analysis. In such studies it has been necessary to assume that isolates able to grow in laboratory culture are representative of the full range of diversity within the natural population. In order to test this assumption we used the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to amplify the intergenic spacer region of the Phycocyanin operon (PC-IGS) from filaments of Nodularia taken both from clonal cultures and from natural populations in the Baltic Sea. Analysis of the nucleotide sequences revealed more variation among 16 cultured isolates than within 23 single filaments sampled from a natural population. As a means of rapidly determining population genetic structure we designed and used mixtures of allele-specific amplification primers in diagnostic PCRs to identify which PC-IGS allele was present in single filaments from natural cyanobacterial assemblages. Using this method, we determined the PC-IGS genotype of 156 filaments from 9 sampling stations throughout the central basin of the Baltic Sea in July 1996. Our results show that two distinct genotypes of Nodularia are present in the population at all stations. Although the two types were present in approximately equal numbers, they were not distributed uniformly.     

Cryptic coloration and choice of escape microhabitats by grasshoppers (Orthoptera: Acrididae)

Cryptic coloration is found in many Orthoptera, especially in Acrididae, showing a great variety of forms. In a grasshopper assemblage in southeastern Brazil, preferences for escape places were detected; grasshoppers tended to escape to backgrounds in which they seem to be more cryptic. Coloration was measured using the Simpson diversity index, to quantify 'aspect diversity' (diversity of colours and shapes of patches along the insect's body). A weak positive correlation was found between grasshoppers' aspect diversity and diversification in use of escape places (use of many backgrounds to escape). Grasshoppers with similar colour patterns tended to use the same structures (leaves, sandy soil, stones) to escape.     

Uncertain branch lengths, taxonomic sampling error, and the egg to body size allometry in temperate butterflies (Lepidoptera)

The allometry of egg to body size in temperate butterflies, and the relationships between egg size and larval host structure, taxonomy, voltinism, and duration of the egg stage, are investigated using cross-species analysis and the comparative analysis of independent contrasts. In addition, the effect of two sources of uncertainty that may affect continuous data when treated under a statistical, comparative, framework, is assessed: (1) unknown evolutionary distances, and (2) taxonomic representativity (proportion of species of a given taxon, from which data are available). It is suggested that the effects of taxonomic under-representation could be important in comparative, quantitative studies, but this problem may be tempered by means of weighted regression. Under the assumption that taxonomy represents butterfly phylogeny, egg and adult body size are related by negative allometry (i.e. the slope of the line fitted to the logarithmically transformed data is lower than 1.0). However, the precise slope (0.2-0.9) depends on the method used, branch lengths, and taxonomic sampling. There is evidence for a relationship between a species' voltinism and the number of days it spends in the egg stage, as well as between adult butterfly size and the gross structure of the plants used as larval hosts (woody plants or herbs). Egg size proves to be related to foodplant taxonomy, voltinism, and duration of the egg stage when the data are analysed using species means, but these relationships become non-significant when the comparative method is employed.     

Sequence variation and genetic diversity in the giant panda

About 336–444 bp mitochondrial D-loop region and tRNA gene were sequenced for 40 individuals of the giant panda which were collected from Mabian, Meigu, Yuexi, Baoxing, Pingwu, Qingchuan, Nanping and Baishuijiang, respectively. 9 haplotypes were found in 21 founders. The results showed that the giant panda has low genetic variations, and that there is no notable genetic isolation among geographical populations. The ancestor of the living giant panda population perhaps appeared in the late Pleistocene, and unfortunately, might have suffered bottleneck attacks. Afterwards, its genetic diversity seemed to recover to some extent. Project supported by the “8.5” Key Project of Chinese Academy of Sciences, the Chairman Foundation of Chinese Academy of Sciences, K. C. Wang Education Foundation, the Applied Basic Research Foundation of Yunnan, the National Natural Science Foundation of China, the Special Foundation for Returned Chinese Scientists, and Zoological Society of San Diego.     

Variation within and among the chloroplast genomes ofMelaleuca alternifolia andM. linariifolia (Myrtaceae)

Melaleuca alternifolia andM. linariifolia are commercially important Australian species harvested for their essential oils. Both species have relatively narrow and disjunct distributions on the central coast of eastern Australia. Variation in the chloroplast genome was assessed for eight individuals from each of twelve populations, representing the species' geographic range. Low nucleotide diversity withinM. alternifolia contrasted with high nucleotide diversity inM. linariifolia. CpDNA data are consistent with the southern population ofM. alternifolia being a hybrid population withM. linariifolia. The two species are sympatric in this region. Variation inM. linariifolia was geographically structured, with northern populations differing from southern populations by seven restriction site mutations, five length mutations and an inversion. There was no evidence of hybridisation of the cp genome of northernM. linariifolia with the partially sympatric speciesM. trichostachya. Intra- and interspecific variation in the chloroplast genomes ofM. alternifolia, M. linariifolia, andM. trichostachya indicate considerable potential for the use of intraspecific cpDNA studies in examining phylogenetic relationships in melaleucas.     

The good,the bad and the ugly: science,aesthetics and environmental assessment

The question is raised, whether there are peculiarly scientific values which can be applied in environmental assessment. The use of the expression scientific interest is traced from its 19th century origins to modern British statutes. It is argued that attempts to replace expert judgements by objective scientific criteria (e.g., indices of biodiversity) can never be completely successful. In particular, interest is an aesthetic atribute particularly valued by scientists but incapable of precise measurement. While science provides the best framework for informed judgements on conservation issues, the judgements of scientists are inevitably distinct from their experimental results. Judgements rest on ethical and aesthetic values such as importance and interest, which are essential constituents of the scientific sub-culture, but which are not uniquely scientific.     

Genetic differentiation in Hippocrepis emerus (Leguminosae): allozyme and DNA fingerprint variation in disjunct Scandinavian populations

The structure of genetic variation in disjunct Scandinavian populations of Hippocrepis emerus was studied using allozymes and DNA fingerprinting. Variation in the three native regional populations in Scandinavia was compared with that in a recently introduced population in Sweden. In contrast to the recently introduced population, the native Scandinavian isolates of H. emerus showed high levels of allozyme fixation and low levels of DNA diversity. Variation in allozymes and at DNA fingerprint loci showed closely congruent patterns of geographic variation, with pronounced differentiation between the native Norwegian and Swedish isolates of the species. The structure of genetic variation in native Scandinavian H. emerus is interpreted in terms of historical population bottlenecks and founder events during the species' postglacial immigration into Scandinavia.