Outcrossing potential between 11 important genetically modified crops and the Chilean vascular flora

The potential impact of genetically modified (GM) crops on biodiversity is one of the main concerns in an environmental risk assessment (ERA). The likelihood of outcrossing and pollen‐mediated gene flow from GM crops and non‐GM crops are explained by the same principles and depend primarily on the biology of the species. We conducted a national‐scale study of the likelihood of outcrossing between 11 GM crops and vascular plants in Chile by use of a systematized database that included cultivated, introduced and native plant species in Chile. The database included geographical distributions and key biological and agronomical characteristics for 3505 introduced, 4993 native and 257 cultivated (of which 11 were native and 246 were introduced) plant species. Out of the considered GM crops (cotton, soya bean, maize, grape, wheat, rice, sugar beet, alfalfa, canola, tomato and potato), only potato and tomato presented native relatives (66 species total). Introduced relative species showed that three GM groups were formed having: a) up to one introduced relative (cotton and soya bean), b) up to two (rice, grape, maize and wheat) and c) from two to seven (sugar beet, alfalfa, canola, tomato and potato). In particular, GM crops presenting introduced noncultivated relative species were canola (1 relative species), alfalfa (up to 4), rice (1), tomato (up to 2) and potato (up to 2). The outcrossing potential between species [OP; scaled from ‘very low’ (1) to ‘very high’ (5)] was developed, showing medium OPs (3) for GM–native relative interactions when they occurred, low (2) for GMs and introduced noncultivated and high (4) for the grape‐Vitis vinifera GM–introduced cultivated interaction. This analytical tool might be useful for future ERA for unconfined GM crop release in Chile.     

鄂西南后河自然保护区植物区系研究

后河自然保护区共人维管植物１４１６种,尿属５６８属１６０科。其中蕨类、拟蕨类４１种２８属２０科;裸子植物１８种１１属６科;被子植物１３５７种５２９属１３４科。在科、属、种不同水平上对后河自然保护区植物区系特点进行了较深入的统计和分析。结果显示了该区系的丰富性。复杂性。古老、遗、原始性、温带成分的集中性,古特珍稀危植物群落繁荣的特殊性等特点。因此有理由认为后河植物区系对湖北乃至华中植物区系具有典型的     

The flora and biogeochemistry of the ultramafic soils of Goiás state, Brazil

Major collections of the ultramafic flora of Goiás, central Brazil, were made by Brooks and co-workers in 1988 and 1990. At the time of reports on this material in 1990–1992 much of it had been identified only tentatively and incompletely, but the area was clearly interesting for taxonomic and biogeochemical reasons. Further progress has been made but still only two-thirds of the specimens are identified at the species level. Following a third collection in early 2005, we now have 800 specimens from this area, with chemical analyses of all the plants and of more than 120 representative soil samples. New species have been found, e.g., in Paspalum (Poaceae) and Pterolepis (Melastomataceae). There is a need for more taxonomic work in genera such as Cnidoscolus (Euphorbiaceae), Lippia (Verbenaceae), Turnera and Piriqueta (Turneraceae), and Vellozia (Velloziaceae). Ni hyperaccumulation (>1,000 mg/kg in dry plant matter) has now been found in a total of 79 specimens, representing more than 30 different species. Notable Ni hyperaccumulators include Pfaffia sarcophylla (Amaranthaceae), species of Justicia, Lophostachys and Ruellia (Acanthaceae), Porophyllum (Asteraceae), several species of Lippia (Verbenaceae), Turnera and Piriqueta (Turneraceae), and a possibly new Cnidoscolus (Euphorbiaceae). Ni hyperaccumulation has not been found in plants of the outcrops of Morro Feio or Crominia-Mairipotaba; it seems to be confined to the extensive layered ultramafics of Barro Alto and the Macedo-Niquelandia areas. The distribution of Ni-values in the Brazilian plant collection is different from that found in the Mediterranean and California, where there is a clear distinction between accumulator and non-accumulator plants: in Brazil the distribution is more continuous, and median Ni concentrations are much greater. An ultramafic hill just north of Niquelandia deserves to be protected because of the presence there of many of the hyperaccumulators and species probably endemic to the Goiás ultramafics.     

吐鲁番-哈密盆地早二叠世晚期植物群

首次记述了吐鲁番－哈密盆地的早二叠世晚期植物１１属１３种（包括４新种和４未定种），这是一个以科达类及其相关属为主的安加拉植物群。典型的安加拉植物Ｖｏｊｎｏｖｓｋｙａ属的发现，不但在时代的判定上，而且在植物地理区划上都具重要意义。文中还对这一植物群的特征和时代问题作了简要讨论。     

罗霄山脉东坡—江西省种子植物新记录

报道江西省种子植物1个新记录属萼脊兰属Sedirea Garay et Sweet,及4个新记录种短茎萼脊兰Sedirea subparishii (Z. H. Tsi) Christenson、白花过路黄Lysimachia huitsunae Chien、黄脉莓Rubus xanthoneurus Focke ex Diels、桂东锦香草Phyllagathis guidongensis K. M. Liu & J. Tian,均发现于罗霄山脉东坡。文中简述各新记录种区系地理学意义。     

Systematics and evolution of the Dactylorhiza romana/sambucina polyploid complex (Orchidaceae)

The European–Mediterranean–Oriental Dactylorhiza romana/sambucina polyploid complex was studied with regard to genetic and morphological variation patterns. Allozyme and morphometric data were collected from 24 and 19 populations, respectively, initially identified as D. flavescens, D. insularis, D. markusii, D. romana, D. sambucina, and an indeterminate taxon. Genetic distances were calculated and illustrated by an unweighted pair‐group method using arithmetic averages (UPGMA) dendrogram, and principal components analyses (PCAs) were used to summarize morphological variation patterns. Another PCA was performed on combined allozyme and morphometric data. On the basis of the dendrogram and the PCA plots, main groups of populations were delimited, and the probability that each morphological character would distinguish correctly between these groups was estimated. After combining morphometric interpretations with studies of herbarium material and information from the literature, the following taxa were confidently accepted: D. romana ssp. romana, D. romana ssp. guimaraesii (comb. et stat. nov.) , D. romana ssp. georgica, D. sambucina, D. cantabrica (sp. nov.) , and D. insularis. Levels of genetic diversity suggest that D. romana s.s. is the least derived member of the complex. The evolutionary divergence of the diploid species, D. romana and D. sambucina, was probably the outcome of vicariant speciation, whereas D. romana ssp. georgica and D. romana ssp. guimaraesii appear to have evolved from D. romana s.s. through incomplete vicariant and peripheral isolate speciation events, respectively. In some populations of the diploid taxa, a significant deficiency in heterozygotes was found at one to three loci. It is proposed that this pattern may indicate a Wahlund effect, hypothesizing that local populations are subdivided into demes determined by the commonly sympatric occurrence of two distinct colour morphs combined with partial morph constancy of individual pollinators (bumblebees). Several pathways are possible for the origin of the allotriploid D. insularis and the apparently allotetraploid D. cantabrica. A taxonomic revision is provided. © 2006 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2006, 152 , 405–434.     

陕西木本种子植物区系属的热带地理成分研究

对陕西境内木本种子植物区系属一级的热带地理成分进行了研究,全省木本种子植物区系中的热带地理成分共包括泛热带成分、热带亚洲和热带美洲间断成分、旧世界热带成分、热带亚洲至热带大洋洲成分、热带亚洲至热带非洲成分及热带亚洲成分6种类型,共95属,归属于53科。在各种热带地理成分中,陕西木本植物区系与泛热带成分联系最为密切,各类热带地理成分主要分布于陕西秦岭以南地区。从科、属、种的分布区格局以及木本热带区系成分的群落学作用等方面分析,陕西植物区系具有明显的温带性质,同时,区系也呈现一定的热带—温带过渡性特点。     

江西三清山兰科植物区系分析

江西省三清山兰科植物资源丰富,约21属30种,占江西省兰科植物属种的56.76%、38.46%,占中国兰科植物属种的12.28%、2.41%。区内兰科植物生活型以地生兰为主;分布区式样以温带型为主;区系成分分散,缺乏本地特有成分。与各山地的相似性以及属种分布型比较显示,三清山与5山地在属级水平上相似性系数高,兰科植物区系联系比较紧密,从属分布区类型看,三清山、黄山、天目山和庐山以北温带分布为主,井冈山和武夷山以热带亚洲-热带大洋洲为主;在种级水平上相似性系数较低,种分布区类型均以东亚和中国特有分布为主。按生态型划分,地生兰为主,附生兰为辅,三清山和黄山只有两生态类型,武夷山、天目山、井冈山和庐山生态类型齐全。最后,依据"中国物种红色名录"对各山地珍稀濒危保护物种进行归纳统计。     

DNA-methyltransferase activities in Streptomyces antibioticus

Abstract To quantitate ammonia production by the intestinal flora, ammonia levels in arterial blood and the venous effluent of the small and large bowel of conventional, selectively decontaminated, germ-free and gnotobiotic rats were measured.
When the anaerobic flora was removed by decontamination a significant decrease in ammonia levels was observed in the effluent of both the small and large intestine. Decontamination of aerobic flora did not result in depression of ammonia production. Gnotobiotic rats colonised with an anaerobic flora or with a mixed aerobic and anaerobic flora, showed a slight increase in ammonia levels. No increase in ammonia production was observed when rats were colonised with aerobic flora. These results indicate that the Enterobacteriaceae were not responsible for ammonia generation.
The increase in ammonia levels after colonisation with anaerobic or mixed anaerobic/aerobic flora did not completely restore ammonia levels, despite reaching bacterial counts which were comparable to those in conventional rats. This may be explained by the limited number of species with which the rats were colonized. The finding that aerobic flora does not significantly contribute to ammonia production suggests that neomycin, known to be exclusively effective against aerobic flora, must have other effects to explain improvement of hepatic encephalopathy.     

黄河三角洲滨海湿地微生物多样性及其驱动因子

微生物在湿地的生物地球化学循环和生态功能调节中发挥着重要作用,对全球气候变化具有重大影响,对维持全球生态系统的健康至关重要。以黄河三角洲滨海湿地为研究对象,通过采集代表性植被群落的土壤表层和部分植物根系,探究土壤微生物群落组成、根际微生物、环境因子及其内在的关联性和影响机制。研究结果表明不同植被覆盖地区微生物多样性存在差异,芦苇区和柽柳区微生物丰度高于泥滩区、碱蓬区和棉田,海漫滩微生物丰度高于河漫滩地和泥滩。土壤微生物菌群结构和多样性显著高于根际：土壤细菌的香农指数约为4-5.5,根际微生物的香农指数约为0-4。土壤细菌主要为厚壁菌门、变形菌门、拟杆菌门和放线菌门,占样品总数的90%以上;而根际细菌主要是蓝藻门、变形菌门和放线菌门,二者在属水平上的菌群结构差异更加明显。环境因子的含量与生境类型有关,SO₄^2-和NO₃^-的相关性最高,植被覆盖区土壤中Mn⁴⁺、Fe³⁺和水解氮的含量低于滩涂裸地。冗余分析（RDA）表明,pH值在小空间尺度上对湿地土壤中细菌群落的影响较小,环境因子在门和属水平的解释率分别为89.7%和86.8%,其中K（23.4%）、NO₂^-（11.8%）、Mn⁴⁺（9.8%）和Na（8.0%）是解释门水平微生物区系结构变化和组成的主要因子。研究为理解湿地微生物多样性与湿地生态系统功能之间的影响机制提供了一个生态学视角,有助于了解黄河三角洲滨海湿地土壤和植物根际的细菌分布特征,对黄河三角洲退化滨海湿地的生物修复具有重要的指导意义。