The search for common anthropogenic impacts on biodiversity: a global network

We introduce an initiative to assess and compare landscape changes related to human activities on a global scale, using a single group of invertebrates. The GLOBENET programme uses common field methodology (pitfall trapping), to appraise assemblages of ground beetles (Coleoptera, Carabidae) in visually-similar land-mosaics (urban-rural gradients). Carabids were selected as the focal taxon as they are sufficiently varied (both taxonomically and ecologically), abundant and sensitive to the environment. However, work on other taxa is comparable with the GLOBENET framework. The continuum of decreasing human pressure from city centres into the surrounding countryside was selected to represent human-caused disturbance for this initial stage of GLOBENET because these gradients can be found virtually all over the world. Through the broad-scale assessment envisioned in the GLOBENET programme, we seek to separate general, repeated effects on biodiversity from those that depend on local environments or particular biotic assemblages. Based on this understanding we aim to develop simple tools and protocols for assessing ecological effects of human-caused landscape changes, which could help to sustainably manage landscapes for biodiversity and for human requirements. For instance, the response of different functional groups of carabids to these landscape changes may help guide management practices. Further GLOBENET developments and information are available at our website: http://www.helsinki.fi/science/globenet/     

Weeding out the genes: the Arabidopsis genome project

The Arabidopsis genome sequence is scheduled for completion at the end of this year (December 2000). It will be the first higher plant genome to be sequenced, and will allow a detailed comparison with bacterial, yeast and animal genomes. Already, two of the five chromosomes have been sequenced, and we have had our first glimpse of higher eukaryotic centromeres, and the structure of heterochromatin. The implications for understanding plant gene function, genome structure and genome organization are profound. In this review, the lessons learned for future genome projects are reviewed as well as a summary of the initial findings in Arabidopsis. Electronic Publication     

The adequacy of collecting techniques for estimating species richness of grassland invertebrates

1.  There is still considerable debate about the most effective methods of sampling invertebrates in monitoring and assessment programmes.
2.  The above-ground invertebrates of a limestone grassland in north-east England were compared between samples from pitfall traps and from a D-vac suction trap combined with a lightweight swish net (SW/DV).
3.  Over 14 000 individuals were captured, with similar numbers in the pitfall and SW/DV samples. A total of 480 species of Hemiptera, Coleoptera, Diptera and Araneae was identified and placed into 14 taxa for further analysis.
4.  The pitfall sample produced species/specimen curves from which it was possible to estimate species richness for all the Coleoptera and Araneae taxa and the calypterate Schizophora. The SW/DV sample was adequate to estimate the species richness of Hemiptera, most Diptera taxa, herbivorous Coleoptera and Linyphiidae.
5.  The proportion of Coleoptera and Araneae taxa that were method-unique was higher in the pitfall sample than the SW/DV sample and vice versa for the Hemiptera and Diptera taxa. Nevertheless, a relatively high proportion of method-unique species of most taxa was found in both sample types, indicating that they can each contribute to assessing species assemblages in grasslands.
6.  Both pitfall traps and SW/DV samples are needed to estimate species richness in grasslands for all taxa except Heteroptera, Homoptera and Lycosidae. Herbivorous Coleoptera and Linyphiidae were collected in numbers adequate for assessing richness in both sample types, but more specimens were required in one or other sample for the remaining taxa.     

一种新型的昆虫诱捕器及其对长足大竹象的诱捕作用

生态诱捕竹林主要害虫是当前研究的难点。用长形竹条和可降解的聚乙烯光滑细线编织成圆柱体虫网诱捕器,以竹笋为引诱剂,研究了不同孔径的虫网对不同大小的长足大竹象成虫的捕获效果,分析了虫网诱捕器捕获成虫的主要部位及该部位的的超微结构,在此基础上,探索了成虫足的作用力特点及其与虫网的互作机制。研究表明(1)在一定范围内,诱捕率Y与虫网边长X₁极显著相关,并受中足长度X₂的影响,三者间的回归方程为Y=-30.551+ 13.945X₁+ 7.825X₂(X₁∈ 、X₂∈ )。(2)虫网诱捕器主要捕捉成虫的主要部位是前、中、后足的转节和腿节。(3)足与虫网的互作主要是机械作用,诱捕器对长足大竹象的捕获主要是虫网与足间的机械作用的结果。虫网诱捕器制作简便,成本低,无毒无污染,是捕获长足大竹象的有效工具。其研究结果为竹林害虫生态防治提供了重要理论依据。     

中性粒细胞胞外诱捕网和血栓形成的研究进展

中性粒细胞胞外诱捕网是由DNA骨架、组蛋白、颗粒成分以及胞浆蛋白组成的网状物,它通过捕获致病微生物,抑制其扩散、灭活毒力因子以及清除病原体来发挥抗菌活性,中性粒细胞这种与其经典的趋化、吞噬作用不同的胞外杀菌方式发挥着重要的固有免疫应答作用。然而,中性粒细胞胞外诱捕网的产生是一把双刃剑。近年来有研究表明它可以导致凝血异常、刺激血栓形成并为其提供支架,但这一过程的机制并不十分清楚,可能与中性粒细胞胞外诱捕网的促凝活性以及凝血级联反应的激活有关。本文将就中性粒细胞胞外诱捕网及其与血栓形成之间关系的研究进展做一综述。     

Agroecological basis for the design of biotechnological traps based on Isaria fumosorosea for the biological control of Bemisia tabaci in strawberry crops

Isaria fumosorosea is an entomopathogenic fungus that is used as a control alternative for nymphs and adults of Bemisia tabaci. Currently there are some commercial products, however, in greenhouse or field, these do not reach the levels of control as in the laboratory because the viability of the spores decreases as a result of the conditions of application of these products in situ. The objective of this work is to implement, through agroecological data, a system of biotechnological traps based on I. fumosorosea to increase the control efficiency mainly of adults of B. tabaci in strawberry greenhouses. One way to quantify the degree of infestation of a crop is the use of yellow traps, likewise to determine the spatial distribution of adults. The Taylor method [(1984). Assessing and interpreting the spatial distributions of insect populations. Annual Reviews of Entomology, 29, 321–357) was used in five different strawberry cultivation models, finding aggregate and regular distributions. Finally, once the crop model with the highest degree of infestation was selected, the designed traps were tested and mortalities were obtained between 50% and 90% in both the laboratory and the greenhouse. The biotechnological traps based on I. fumosorosea both in the laboratory and in the greenhouse had statistically the same effect as those used under the traditional method used in the field that is aspersion; therefore, this alternative method of application can be a tool important for the biological control of this pest.     

NETosis occurs independently of neutrophil serine proteases

Neutrophils are primary host innate immune cells defending against pathogens. One proposed mechanism by which neutrophils prevent the spread of pathogens is NETosis, the extrusion of cellular DNA resulting in neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs). The protease neutrophil elastase (NE) has been implicated in the formation of NETs through proteolysis of nuclear proteins leading to chromatin decondensation. In addition to NE, neutrophils contain three other serine proteases that could compensate if the activity of NE was neutralized. However, whether they do play such a role is unknown. Thus, we deployed recently described specific inhibitors against all four of the neutrophil serine proteases (NSPs). Using specific antibodies to the NSPs along with our labeled inhibitors, we show that catalytic activity of these enzymes is not required for the formation of NETs. Moreover, the NSPs that decorate NETs are in an inactive conformation and thus cannot participate in further catalytic events. These results indicate that NSPs play no role in either NETosis or arming NETs with proteolytic activity.     

斜纹夜蛾种群控制的研究概况

斜纹夜蛾Spodoptera litura(Fabricius)是重要的农业害虫之一。为了控制斜纹夜蛾,使农作物免受危害,前人研究了化学防治、杀虫灯和性诱捕器诱杀、植物诱集和驱避、转基因抗虫品种以及生物防治对其种群控制作用。化学防治在压制斜纹夜蛾种群暴发、减轻农作物遭受损失方面作出了巨大贡献,但日益增强的抗药性、农药残留造成的环境污染、对天敌的杀伤和人畜安全的影响等问题不断受到关注,人们开始对该害虫的一些新的治理策略进行了探讨。在这些无公害的控制技术中,植物诱集和生物防治是2种值得提倡的有效措施。不少植物源提取物和昆虫生长调节剂对斜纹夜蛾幼虫具有极好的效果,是值得研发的2种新型生物制剂。香芋和蓖麻等诱集作物对斜纹夜蛾有较好的诱集效果,如果能将作物诱集和释放天敌昆虫或病原微生物制剂结合,使之成为一套有效的生态控制体系,将可现实斜纹夜蛾种群的持续控制。