The Importance of Hydrodynamics for Protected and Endangered Biodiversity of Lowland Rivers

This paper examines the relationship between protected and endangered riverine species (target species) and hydrodynamics in river-floodplain ecosystems, combining ecological and policy-legal aspects of biodiversity conservation in river management. The importance of different hydrodynamic conditions along a lateral gradient was quantified for various taxonomic groups. Our results show that (i) target species require ecotopes along the entire hydrodynamic gradient; (ii) different parts of the hydrodynamic gradient are important to different species, belonging to different taxonomic groups; (iii) in particular low-dynamic parts are important for many species and (iv) species differ in their specificity for hydrodynamic conditions. Many species of higher plants, fish and butterflies have a narrow range for hydrodynamics and many species of birds and mammals use ecotopes along the entire gradient. Even when focussing only on target species, the entire natural hydrodynamic gradient is important. This means that the riverine species assemblage as a whole can benefit from measures focussing on target species only. River reconstruction and management should aim at re-establishing the entire hydrodynamic gradient, increasing the spatial heterogeneity of hydrodynamic conditions.     

When Landscaping Goes Bad: The Incipient Invasion of Mahonia bealei in the Southeastern United States

Woodlots are forest islands embedded within an urban matrix, and often represent the only natural areas remaining in suburban areas. Woodlots represent critical conservation areas for native plants, and are important habitat for wildlife in urban areas. Invasion by non-indigenous (NIS) plants can alter ecological structure and function, and may be especially severe in remnant forests where NIS propagule pressure is high. Woody shrubs in the Family Berberidaceae have been well documented as invaders of the forest–urban matrix in North America. Mahonia bealei (Berberidaceae) is a clonal shrub native to China, and is a popular ornamental in the Southeastern United States. Mahoni bealei is listed as “present” on some local and state floras, but almost nothing is known regarding its invasion potential in the United States. We sampled 15 woodlots in Clemson, South Carolina, to assess the invasion of M. bealei and other woody non-indigenous species (NIS). M. bealei invaded 87% of the woodlots surveyed and species richness of NIS on these woodlots varied from 5 to 14. Stepwise-multiple regression indicated that less canopy cover and older M. bealei predicted greater abundance of M. bealei , and that not all subdivisions were equally invaded (P < 0.0001; r² = 0.88). The impact of M. bealei on native flora and fauna may be considerable, and it is likely to continue to spread in the Southeastern United States. M. bealei should be recognized as an aggressive invader in the Southeastern United States, with the potential for negative impacts on native flora and fauna.     

Abiotic edaphic factors affecting the growth of a threatened North American Sunflower, Helianthus paradoxus (Asteraceae)

This study evaluated the relationships among soil moisture, soil salinity, and soil oxygen on the growth of Helianthus paradoxus (Asteraceae), a threatened inland salt marsh species of western North America. The study was conducted in large growth boxes (1×2×0.3 m) tilted at an angle to achieve a saturated to dry water gradient similar to that found in the marsh. This experimental design allowed the evaluation of major abiotic factors (soil moisture and soil salinity) which have been shown to be potentially important for this species, while removing major biotic factors, such as competition from other community dominants. Maximum aboveground biomass occurred in the middle rows of the boxes, where surface soil water was reduced and subsurface soil water was intermediate in the gradient. Regression analyses indicated that H. paradoxus would grow best where surface soil water is approximately 5%, subsurface soil water ranges from 20 to 30%, and where surface soil salinity is less than 0.5 g kg⁻¹. Edaphic variables, particularly soil moisture and soil salinity, affect the growth of H. paradoxus. Data presented here suggest that the survival of this species depends on maintenance of the hydrologic regime.     

Sexual systems in gymnosperms: A review

The aim of this study was to update figures for the presence of dioecy among the gymnosperms and investigate its correlation with climate, growth form, pollination and seed dispersal syndromes, and risk of extinction. Dioecy was found in almost 65% of contemporary gymnosperm species, a higher percentage than previous estimates. It dominates in 8 of the 12 families. As in angiosperms, dioecious gymnosperms are particularly common in climbers and are more commonly found in tropical climates. Analysis of the degree of threat using IUCN red list categories showed that the proportion of threatened species is higher in dioecious than in monoecious species only in temperate climate. The high sensitivity of dioecious species to environmental changes associated with human activity in temperate climate may explain this phenomenon. The monophyly of extant gymnosperms and the relatively small number of species (about 1000) create the possibility of treating them as a model group in investigating the evolution of sexual systems.     

Suitability of three aphid species for Aphidius gifuensis (Hymenoptera: Braconidae): Parasitoid performance varies with hosts of origin

Oviposition behavior and offspring fitness of the parasitoid Aphidius gifuensis (Ashmead) were compared on three aphid species, Sitobion avenae F., Myzus persicae (Sulzer), and Aphis gossypii Glover using wasps collected from both S. avenae and M. persicae. A. gifuensis produced more mummies and adults on S. avenae and M. persicae than on A. gossypii regardless of the host of origin. Mummy production was influenced by attack rate and percentage of aphids superparasitized. The F₁ generations from S. avenae and M. persicae were more female-biased and wasps were larger than those from A. gossypii. Although there were significant differences in development time of A. gifuensis in the three aphid species, the difference was generally shorter than one day. Fewer mummies were produced when A. gifuensis was transferred between S. avenae and M. persicae, but no significant difference was observed in emergence rate, percentage of female offspring, or body size. The effects of host species on A. gifuensis female performance and offspring fitness are discussed, along with the potential for using A. gifuensis to control M. persicae and A. gossypii.     

In vitro reactivation of sarin-inhibited brain acetylcholinesterase from different species by various oximes

In vitro as well as in vivo evaluation of the reactivating efficacy of various oximes against nerve agent-inhibited acetylcholinesterase has been usually done with the help of animal experiments. Nevertheless, previously published data indicate that the reactivation potency of oximes may be different in human and animal species, which may hamper the extrapolation of animal data to human data. Therefore, to better evaluate the efficacy of various oximes (pralidoxime, obidoxime, HI-6, K033) to reactivate brain acetylcholinesterase inhibited by sarin by in vitro methods, human, rat and pig brain acetylcholinesterase were used to calculate kinetic parameters for the reactivation. Our results show differences among the species, depending on the type of oxime, and indicate that data from animal experiments needs to be carefully evaluated before extrapolation to humans.     

Further new species of the plant bug genus Campylomma Reuter from the Oriental Region (Heteroptera: Miridae: Phylinae: Nasocorini)

The fauna of the nasocorine plant bug genus Campylomma Reuter from the Oriental Region, including subtropical Japanese Ryukyu Islands (Okinawa Island of Southwest Islands-group) and Taiwan is updated. Three new species are herein described, C. astica n. sp. (from Okinawa and Taoyuan, Taiwan), C. hibiscicola n. sp. (Bangkok, Thailand) and C. nanrenana n. sp. (Pingtung, Taiwan). Of these, C. astica and C. hibiscicola, were observed to have cryptic habitat-preference, inhabiting bracts, stipules or flower buds of the sea (or coastal) hibiscus, Hibiscus tiliaceus (L.) (Malvaceae), planted for landscaping at urbanized zones. An updated checklist of the 22 Oriental Campylomma species is provided.     

医疗保险总额预付试点三级医院患者就医感受调查

目的 调查上海市实行医疗保险总额预付的三级医院中患者的就医感受。方法 经培训的调查员应用结构式调查问卷对上海市10家实行医疗保险总额预付的三级医院的699名患者进行面对面访谈，数据分析主要采用描述性统计。结果 城保患者对门诊医生明显减少处方金额（或处方天数）的感受强于非城保患者，城保和非城保患者的住院就医感受差异无显著统计学意义。结论 医疗保险总额预付对上海三级医院患者就医感受的总体效应似偏弱，而且有限的影响主要集中于门诊而非住院环节。