Cannibalism prevents evolutionary suicide of ontogenetic omnivores in life‐history intraguild predation systems

The majority of animal species are ontogenetic omnivores, that is, individuals of these species change or expand their diet during life. If small ontogenetic omnivores compete for a shared resource with their future prey, ecological persistence of ontogenetic omnivores can be hindered, although predation by large omnivores facilitates persistence. The coupling of developmental processes between different life stages might lead to a trade‐off between competition early in life and predation later in life, especially for ontogenetic omnivores that lack metamorphosis. By using bioenergetic modeling, we study how such an ontogenetic trade‐off affects ecological and evolutionary dynamics of ontogenetic omnivores. We find that selection toward increasing specialization of one life stage leads to evolutionary suicide of noncannibalistic ontogenetic omnivores, because it leads to a shift toward an alternative community state. Ontogenetic omnivores fail to re‐invade this new state due to the maladaptiveness of the other life stage. Cannibalism stabilizes selection on the ontogenetic trade‐off, prevents evolutionary suicide of ontogenetic omnivores, and promotes coexistence of omnivores with their prey. We outline how ecological and evolutionary persistence of ontogenetic omnivores depends on the type of diet change, cannibalism, and competitive hierarchy between omnivores and their prey.     

Early emergence increases survival of tree seedlings in Central European temperate forests despite severe late frost

Global warming is expected to result in earlier emergence of tree seedlings that may experience higher damages and mortality due to late frost in spring. We monitored emergence, characteristics, and survival of seedlings across ten tree species in temperate mixed deciduous forests of Central Europe over one and a half year. We tested whether the timing of emergence represents a trade‐off for seedling survival between minimizing frost risk and maximizing the length of the growing period. Almost two‐thirds of the seedlings died during the first growing period. The timing of emergence was decisive for seedling survival. Although seedlings that emerged early faced a severe late frost event, they benefited from a longer growing period resulting in increased overall survival. Larger seedling height and higher number of leaves positively influenced survival. Seedlings growing on moss had higher survival compared to mineral soil, litter, or herbaceous vegetation. Synthesis. Our findings demonstrate the importance of emergence time for survival of tree seedlings, with early‐emerging seedlings more likely surviving the first growing period.     

Colorectal cancer and country of birth in New South Wales,Australia: All-of-population data for prioritising health service delivery and research

IntroductionCancer care and outcomes differ across cultural groups in Australia. Quantifying these differences facilitates prioritisation and targeting of services and research. All-of-population data are needed by health agencies to understand and fulfil their cancer-control responsibilities. Compiling these data can be challenging while maintaining privacy. We have used data linkage to gain population-wide colorectal cancer data on stage (degree of spread), treatment, and survival in New South Wales (NSW), Australia, by country of birth (COB), and consider service implications.MethodsWe studied colon and rectal cancers diagnosed in 2003–2016 and recorded on the NSW Cancer Registry (n = 41,575), plus linked hospital data and data from Australian Medical and Pharmaceutical Benefits payments, other treatment data and death records. Outcomes for 12 COB categories were analysed using multiple logistic and proportional hazards regression, with Australia as the reference category.ResultsCompared with Australian born, the adjusted odds ratio for distant spread of colon cancer was higher for people born in Lebanon and the United Kingdom. Treatment was less common for people born in China (surgery), Germany (systemic), Italy (surgery), New Zealand (any treatment) and Vietnam (all treatments), while treatment for rectal cancer was more common for people born in Italy (surgery), United Kingdom (radiotherapy, systemic therapy), and Vietnam (surgery), and less frequent for people born in China (radiotherapy). Adjusted 5-year survival was higher for people born in China, Italy, Vietnam, Greece (colon), Lebanon (colon) and other non-English speaking countries. More advanced stage was negatively related to having surgery and survival.ConclusionsThis study illustrates how linked data can enable comparisons of multiple outcomes for colorectal cancer by country of birth across an entire population. Results disclose “big picture” variations in population characteristics, stage, treatment and survival. This will enable better targeting and prioritisation of services and inform research priorities to address disparities.     

Realized niche shift associated with Galinsoga quadriradiata (Asteraceae) invasion in China

粗毛牛膝菊在中国的入侵与生态位漂移有关 在外来物种入侵和扩散过程中,生态位的漂移可能起到了重要作用。粗毛牛膝菊(Galinsoga quadriradiata) 在中国已造成了较为严重的入侵,占据了许多与其原产地不同的气候区。为此,本研究力图揭示粗毛牛膝菊入侵过程中的气候生态位漂移,分析其在该物种入 侵中国过程中可能发挥的作用。本研究结合粗毛牛膝菊原 产地和入侵地的分布点与气候数据, 采用Maxent模型预测了其在中国潜在的分布,并采用主成分分析的方法评估 了在入侵中国过程中粗毛牛膝菊气候生态位的漂移。模型结果显示,该物种原产地种群和入侵地种群之间只 有32.7%的生态位重叠,两个种群的生态位相似性较低(Schoener's D = 0.093, P < 0.005),这暗示了在其入侵过程中发生了生态位漂移。相比于其原产地种群,其在中国的入侵种群气候生态位的整体范围和中心都明 显地漂移向了温度更低、降水更少的区域;中国南方大部分区域属于粗毛牛膝菊的稳定适生区,而位于入侵 前沿的北方地区则存在局域适应和潜在拓殖区域。这些研究结果说明,粗毛牛膝菊在中国的入侵种群仍处于准平衡阶段,未来有可能继续向新的适生区扩散入侵,其生态位的变化有力地解释了为什么该物种在中国的入侵性强、危害范围大。     

Bioaugmentation of a two-stage thermophilic (68 degrees C/55 degrees C) anaerobic digestion concept for improvement of the methane yield from cattle manure

The possibility of improving a two-stage (68 degrees C/55 degrees C) anaerobic digestion concept for treatment of cattle manure was studied. In batch experiments, a 10-24% increase of the specific methane yield from cattle manure and its fractions was obtained, when the substrates were inoculated with bacteria of the genus Caldicellusiruptor and Dictyoglomus. In a reactor experiment inoculation of a 68 degrees C pretreatment reactor with Caldicellusiruptor resulted in a 93% increase in the methane yield of the pretreatment reactor for a period of 18 days, but gave only a slight increase in the overall methane yield of the two-stage setup.     

Forest Fragmentation Reduces Seed Dispersal of Duckeodendron cestroides, a Central Amazon Endemic

Fragmentation that alters mutualistic relationships between plants and frugivorous animals may reduce the seed dispersal of trees. We examined the effects of forest fragmentation on the distributions of seeds and seedlings of a Central Amazon endemic tree, Duckeodendron cestroides . In the dry seasons of 2002–2004, seeds and first-year seedlings were counted within wedge-shaped transects centered around Duckeodendron adults in fragments and nearby continuous forests at the Biological Dynamics of Forest Fragmentation Project. Analyses showed that fragmentation reduced seed dispersal quantity and quality. The percent and distance of dispersed seeds were both twice as great in continuous forest as in fragments. The distances of each tree's five furthest dispersed seeds were three times greater in continuous forest than fragments. Over the 3-yr study, 20 times more seeds were dispersed more than 10 m from parent crowns in continuous forest than fragments. A regression analysis showed more dispersed seeds at all distances in continuous forest than fragments. Dispersal differences were strong in 2002 and 2004, years of large fruit crops, but weak or absent in 2003, when fruit production was low. As distance from parent crowns increased, the number of seedlings declined more rapidly in fragments than continuous forest. Distance-dependent mortality between the seed and seedling stages appeared to be more important in continuous forest than fragments. This research provides ample, indirect evidence demonstrating that forest fragmentation can result in the breakdown of a seed dispersal mutualism, potentially jeopardizing the reproduction of a rare, tropical tree.     

Mesocestoides corti (syn. vogae, cestoda): characterization of genes encoding cysteine-rich secreted proteins (CRISP)

With the aim of identifying genes involved in development and parasite adaptation in cestodes, four coding sequences were isolated from the cyclophyllidean Mesocestoides corti larval stage (tetrathyridium). Genes showed significant similarity to the cysteine-rich secreted protein (CRISP) encoding genes, a large family that includes stage and tissue-specific genes from diverse organisms, many associated with crucial biological processes. The full-length McCrisp2 cDNA encodes a predicted protein of 202 residues in length, containing 10 cysteines and a putative signal peptide. The expression level of McCrisp2 was estimated by Real-time PCR, relative to GAPDH, showing an increase of 75% in segmented worms compared to tetrathyridia. By in situ hybridization, McCrisp2 expression was localized mainly at the larvae apical region of tetrathyridia and in the proglottids of segmented worms. Taken together our results suggest a possible role for M. corti CRISP proteins as ES products, potentially involved in differentiation processes as proposed for homologs in other organisms.     

3种荒漠盐生植物根系及根毛形态特征的比较研究

在水培条件下,针对梭梭、囊果碱蓬和钠猪毛菜3种荒漠盐生植物,研究它们苗期在不同盐浓度条件下根系和根毛形态的差异。结果表明：一定浓度的盐分可以促进3种盐生植物生长,但较高浓度的盐抑制其生长,特别是对根系生长的抑制作用更大。在同样盐浓度下,钠猪毛菜的生长最快,生物量也最大。在盐分浓度较低时,3种盐生植物的主根长和总根长都有所增加,与对照相比,囊果碱蓬增加的幅度较大,但高浓度的盐会抑制根系总长度的增加,其中囊果碱蓬较梭梭和钠猪毛菜抑制的程度轻。盐分对3种植物的根系平均直径没有显著的影响,但有减小的趋势。在水培条件下,梭梭和囊果碱蓬的根系上、中、下部分布的较均匀,而钠猪毛菜的根系中部比上部和下部有显著的增加,盐分对每种植物的根系的分布没有显著的影响。3种植物的根毛与根系生长环境中的盐浓度没有明显相关性;3种植物之间,根毛的长度和密度有显著差异。从根系和根毛的形态特征可以推断：囊果碱蓬比梭梭和钠猪毛菜具有较强的抗旱性和耐极薄能力;梭梭的耐盐能力较其它2种植物差,囊果碱蓬的耐盐性最强。     

油葵苗期抗旱相关性状的QTL定位及候选基因筛选

干旱是限制向日葵生长发育的重要因素之一。为探究向日葵苗期抗旱性分子机制,该研究以向日葵K55与K58杂交构建的150个F₇重组自交系群体为材料,对其在正常浇水和干旱胁迫两种水分处理条件下的叶片相对电导率、叶绿素含量、叶面积、叶片相对含水量、根长进行表型测定,利用前期建立的SNP、SSR分子标记遗传连锁图谱,通过复合区间作图法对5个抗旱相关的性状进行QTL定位。结果表明：(1)共定位到向日葵QTL位点11个,其中正常浇水条件下5个,干旱胁迫条件下6个,表型贡献率为0.768%~7.547%,且5号连锁群上定位到的QTL位点最多(3个)。(2)QTL置信区间内共筛选到62个与干旱相关的候选基因,包括位于qLA 8 1上的rna23019、rna23004、rna22661、rna22193、rna23294、rna22783和位于qCC 13 1上的rna40140,这些基因可作为后续基因克隆及功能研究的重点候选基因。该研究结果为向日葵抗旱性研究及其遗传改良奠定了基础。     

不同产地苦楝苗期生长节律研究

苦楝在我国分布广泛,具有丰富的遗传变异性。为进一步做好苦楝种源筛选和良种选育工作,该文对不同产地苦楝实生苗生长性状和各阶段的生长特点进行了比较分析,初步揭示了苦楝苗期生长规律。以15个产地的1年生实生苗为试材,对苗高、地径、复叶生长及生物量积累等生长性状进行了观测分析,并用Logistics方程对生长节律进行了拟合。结果表明:(1)不同产地苦楝苗高、地径生长差异均达显著水平,根生物量、茎生物量及复叶相关性状差异均达极显著性水平;(2)苗高和地径生长均呈现慢-快-慢的S型生长规律,且均存在2次生长高峰,与苗高生长高峰出现时间相比,地径生长高峰出现时间较晚;(3)Logistic拟合方程的R²为0.976～0.994,均达到极显著相关水平,说明可用Logistic方程拟合苦楝的生长节律;(4)总体上地径速生期较苗高速生期长20～30 d,北方产地苗高和地径进入速生期和结束速生期的时间均早于南方产地,速生期苗高和地径累积生长量均超过总生长量的60%;(5)各生长指标均与纬度负相关,苗高、生物量及复叶面积与经度正相关,其他指标与经度负相关。综上结果表明,苦楝为全期生长型树种,各生长性状在产地间达显著差异水平,生长受纬度和经度双重控制,以纬度控制为主。