Summer and Winter Marine Heatwaves Favor an Invasive Over Native Seaweeds

Marine heatwaves (MHWs) are emerging as forceful agents of ecosystem change and are increasing in frequency, duration, and intensity with climate change. During MHWs, physiological thresholds of native species may be exceeded while the performance of invasive species with warm affinities may be enhanced. As a consequence, MHWs could significantly alter an ecosystem's invasive dynamics, but such interactions are poorly understood. Following a 10-d acclimation period, we investigated the physiological resistance and resilience of an intertidal rock pool assemblage invaded by the seaweed Sargassum muticum to realistic 14-d marine heatwave scenarios (+1.5°C, +2.0°C, +3.5°C) followed by a 14-d recovery period. We conducted mesocosm experiments in both summer and winter to investigate temporal variability of MHWs. MHW treatments had clear negative impacts on native seaweeds (Fucus serratus and Chondrus crispus) while enhancing the performance of S. muticum. This pattern was consistent across season indicating that acclimation to cooler ambient temperatures results in winter MHWs having significant impacts on native species. As climate warming advances, this may ultimately lead to changes in competitive interactions and potentially exclusion of native species, while invasive species may proliferate and become more conspicuous within temperate rocky shore environments.     

Effect of neohesperidin dihydrochalcone on the activity and stability of alpha‐amylase: a comparative study on bacterial,fungal, and mammalian enzymes

Neohesperidin dihydrochalcone (NHDC) was recently introduced as an activator of mammalian alpha‐amylase. In the current study, the effect of NHDC has been investigated on bacterial and fungal alpha‐amylases. Enzyme assays and kinetic analysis demonstrated the capability of NHDC to significantly activate both tested alpha‐amylases. The ligand activation pattern was found to be more similar between the fungal and mammalian enzyme in comparison with the bacterial one. Further, thermostability experiments indicated a stability increase in the presence of NHDC for the bacterial enzyme. In silico (docking) test locates a putative binding site for NHDC on alpha‐amylase surface in domain B. This domain shows differences in various alpha‐amylase types, and the different behavior of the ligand toward the studied enzymes may be attributed to this fact. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Phylogenetic signals in thermal traits remain stronger in the tropics if we can believe published physiological data. A reply to McKechnie et al., “Data quality problems undermine analyses of endotherm upper critical temperatures”

Due to concerns about data quality, McKechnie, Coe, Gerson, and Wolf ( 2016 ) questioned the conclusions of our study (Khaliq et al., 2015 ) published in this journal. Here, we argue that most of the questioned data points are in fact useful for macrophysiological analyses, mostly because the vast majority of data are explicitly reported in the peer‐reviewed physiological literature. Furthermore, we show that our conclusions remain largely robust irrespective of the data inclusion criterion. While we think that constructive debates about the adequate use of primary data in meta‐studies as well as more transparency in data inclusion criteria are indeed useful, we also emphasize that data suitability should be evaluated in the light of the scope and scale of the study in which they are used. We hope that this discussion will not discourage the exchange between disciplines such as biogeography and physiology, as this integration is needed to address some of the most urgent scientific challenges.     

Hydroxyl-Functionalized DNAs with Different Linkers and Their Complmentary Duplex Stability

Tert-butyldiphenylsilyl (TBDPS) was testified to be an appropriate orthogonal protecting group for novel 7-hydroxyl-functionalized 8-aza-7-deaza-2′-deoxyadenosine analogues. It was stable in partial and complete hydrogenation reactions used for the different linker preparation. The corresponding phosphoramidites and hydroxyl-functionalized oligodeoxynucleotides were synthesized and identified. The thermal effect of the hydroxyl group with different linkers on DNA duplexes was evaluated. It provided a feasible strategy for the preparation of hydroxyl-functionalized DNAs for the nucleic acid research.     

Properties,Potentials, and Prospects of Antifreeze Proteins

Antifreeze proteins (AFPs) are a group of proteins that protect organisms from deep freezing temperatures and are expressed in vertebrates, invertebrates, plants, bacteria, and fungi. The nuclear magnetic resonance, x-ray structure, and many spectroscopic studies with AFPs have been instrumental in determining the structure–function relationship. Mutational studies have indicated the importance of hydrophobic residues in ice binding. Various studies have pointed out that the mechanism of AFP action is through its adsorption on the ice surface, which leads to a curved surface, preventing further growth of ice by the “Kelvin effect.” The AFPs have potential industrial, medical, and agricultural application in different fields, such as food technology, preservation of cell lines, organs, cryosurgery, and cold hardy transgenic plants and animals. However, the applications of AFPs are marred by high cost due to low yield. This review deals with the source and properties of AFPs from an angle of their application and their potential. The possibility of production using different molecular biological techniques, which will help increase the yield, is also dealt with.     

基于SPAC系统干旱区水分循环和水分来源研究方法综述

土壤-植物-大气连续体(SPAC)是研究植物水分利用与循环的核心,研究其水分传输过程对于旱区植被恢复具有重要指导意义.本文从土壤水分和植物蒸腾两个方面进行阐述,对土壤水分的研究主要涉及热惯量法、中子仪法和时域反射仪法,植物蒸腾则从枝叶尺度、单木尺度、林分尺度和区域尺度4个层面分类总结;并重点介绍了稳定同位素方法在研究植物不同水分来源中的应用.     

亚磁场引起小鼠昼夜节律改变和热痛觉敏感增加

地外空间的亚磁场环境是影响宇航员健康的一种潜在风险因素．动物和人体实验表明,亚磁场显著影响个体行为和神经系统功能．但是,目前尚缺乏亚磁场对动物行为和生理等多方面影响的系统检测数据．本文构建了一个适用于动物饲养的亚磁场环境(< 500 nT),并系统检测了30天亚磁场处理对成年雄鼠(C57BL/6,4～6周龄,(20 ± 2) g)的昼夜周期、痛觉、情绪及激素水平的影响．实验结果表明,对比地磁场中饲喂对照组,亚磁场中小鼠的昼夜饮水节律改变、热敏痛觉耐受能力和整体活动水平降低,但是没有发生焦虑或抑郁情绪．亚磁场处理后,小鼠血清去甲肾上腺素水平显著下降． 这些结果说明一个月连续亚磁场处理扰乱动物的昼夜活动节律和内分泌,随后可能导致其感知觉能力的变化和运动机能的下降．     

Selection for rapid and slow recovery from chill‐ and heat‐coma in Drosophila melanogaster

To assess the trade‐offs associated with cold and heat tolerance, selection experiments were conducted on the rate of recovery from chill‐ and heat‐coma using Drosophila melanogaster. Flies were treated with cold and heat to induce coma, and those that showed rapid or slow recovery from coma were selected. The lines selected for rapid (or slow) recovery from chill‐coma also showed rapid (slow) recovery from heat‐coma, although such a correlation was not observed in the lines selected for the rate of recovery from heat‐coma. On the other hand, survival after cold was enhanced in both lines selected for rapid and slow recovery from chill‐coma, and survival after heat was enhanced in both lines selected for rapid and slow recovery from heat‐coma. It was assumed that cold and heat treatments to induce coma caused some damages to flies and those that were tolerant to cold or heat were unintentionally selected in the present coma‐based selection. Only a weak trade‐off was observed between survival‐based cold and heat tolerance. On the other hand, developmental time was prolonged and desiccation resistance, walking speed, and longevity were reduced in the lines selected for rapid and slow recovery from chill‐ and/or heat‐coma, suggesting that these resistance and life‐history traits are under trade‐offs with cold and/or heat tolerance. © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2008, 95 , 72–80.     

黑龙江省黄鼬冬季毛被分层结构及保温功能

为了解黄鼬毛被的保温机制,选取黑龙江省通河林区黄鼬东北亚种(Mustela sibirica manchurica)冬季皮张,通过观测雄性5个部位和雌性4个部位毛被的分层结构,并结合热物性测试比对,发现了毛被的各层结构具有不同的保温隔热功能且存在部位差异。结果表明:1)毛被由外及里表现出4层结构,各层毛被厚度分别为:(12.7±3.0)mm、(6.0±1.8)mm、(5.5±2.2)mm和(1.4±0.5)mm。2)4层毛被的颜色、结构及保温机制依次为:最外层毛被棕黄色或金黄色,仅由2种类型被毛构成,耐磨损能力较强,保护下层毛被,阻挡冷空气侵入并降低毛被的热量散失;第二层毛被淡黄色,此层开始均由4种类型被毛构成,毛干细度较小,被毛间形成细小空隙,滞留大量静止空气,增强保温功能;第三层毛被灰色或灰白色,4种类型被毛的毛干更细,绒针毛和绒毛弯曲程度更大,使被毛间滞留静止空气的能力更强、更稳定,保温能力更强;最内层毛被为白色,为近毛根处,4种类型被毛均较直,便于热量传递。3)4层毛被的对整体的贡献率分别为:16.11%、27.40%、44.40%和12.09%。4)背面毛被较腹面的颜色深,厚度大,保温能力强;沿吻端至尾基的体轴方向毛被厚度增加,保温性增强。5)雄性毛被较雌性的厚度大,保温能力强。以上,反映了黄鼬冬季多部位毛被由表及里不同的空间布局及各层毛呈现的不同的形态结构,从整体上兼顾保护、保温、散热等多种功能,以适应当地的寒冷环境。     

虎纹蛙选择体温和热耐受性在个体发育过程中的变化

体温是影响变温动物表现的最重要生理学变量。检测了国家二级保护动物虎纹蛙的雌性亚成体、雄性亚成体、幼体和蝌蚪这4个发育阶段的选择体温和热耐受性。单因子方差分析表明,虎纹蛙选择体温、耐受低温、耐受高温和温度耐受范围的组间差异均显著,幼体的选择体温(24.13℃)显著低于雌性亚成体(28.06℃)、雄性亚成体(29.27℃)和蝌蚪(28.23℃),雌性亚成体、雄性亚成体和蝌蚪之间差异不显著;幼体的耐受低温(13.85℃)显著高于雌性亚成体(11.27℃)、雄性亚成体(10.84℃)和蝌蚪(10.74℃),雌性亚成体、雄性亚成体和蝌蚪之间差异不显著;幼体具有显著低的耐受高温(35.48℃)、蝌蚪具有显著高的耐受高温(43.31℃),雌性亚成体(39.55℃)和雄性亚成体(39.02℃)的耐受高温差异不显著;幼体(21.62℃)具有显著小的温度耐受范围、蝌蚪(32.58℃)具有显著大的温度耐受范围,雌性亚成体(28.28℃)和雄性亚成体(28.18℃)的温度耐受范围差异不显著。虎纹蛙幼体和亚成体体温和水温之间在降温速度和升温速度的相关关系均显著。用回归剩余值去除水温变化速度对体温变化的影响,双因子方差分析(降温和升温速度为重复检验设置)表明,幼体的体温变化速度显著大于亚成体,两性亚成体间差异不显著;温度变化类型(降温和升温)和两因子的交互作用对体温变化的影响不显著。基本热生态位分离和体温调节能力的发育限制是形成上述现象的最可能的原因。