Different pathways are involved in the early development of the transient oral apparatus in anuran tadpoles (Anura: Leiuperidae)

The oral apparatus of anuran tadpoles is a unique structure composed of soft and keratinized parts surrounding the mouth. Among the many variations, a common oral apparatus involves a dorsal gap in the marginal papillae, keratinized jaw sheaths, and two upper and three lower rows of labial teeth. In Leiuperidae, besides this generalized morphology, four configurations are distinguished by the arrangement of the lower marginal papillae and the number of lower tooth rows. Study of the early oral ontogeny in 12 species representing these five configurations shows variations in the development of the lower marginal papillae and the third lower labial tooth row. Similar configurations may result from similar pathways (e.g. Physalaemus cuvieri group and Pseudopaludicola falcipes) or different pathways (e.g. generalized oral discs of Pleurodema and Physalaemus). Different oral configurations may result from overlapping trajectories ending at different stages (e.g. Physalaemus riograndensis and Ph. biligonigerus) or different trajectories (e.g. Ph. henselii and Ph. gracilis). Further studies are needed to interpret the role that heterochrony has played in evolutionary change within this family. The unsuspected variation occurring in this transient structure highlights its evolutionary potential and might be insightful in studies of anuran phylogenies that are largely based on adult characters. © 2011 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2011, 104 , 330–345.     

引物间同源性和裂口对PCR扩增的影响

采用ＰＣ／Ｇｅｎｅ软件对能扩增出特异睡不能扩增的ＰＣＲ引物进行同源性比较,同源间“裂口（ｇａｐｓ）”差数的统计,得出源率小于或等于３５％,“裂口”差数大于或等于３,是获得理想ＰＣＲ扩增效果的关键参数之一的结论,为引物设计提供了一条直观的依据。     

A comparison of structural characteristics between old-growth and postfire second-growth hemlock–hardwood forests in Adirondack Park, New York, U. S. A.

1 This study compares the structural characteristics of 12 old‐growth and six postfire second‐growth hemlock–northern hardwood stands in north central Adirondack Park, New York, in order to test the null hypothesis that there are no differences in species composition, size structure, age structure and attributes such as dead wood and canopy gaps between old‐growth stands and this type of second‐growth forest. 2 The second‐growth forests of this study regenerated following widespread logging‐related fires in either 1903 or 1908; the old growth and second growth have similar environmental settings. 3 Estimates of stand ages, derived from an increment core of the oldest tree in each stand, range from 88 to 390 years. 4 Structural attributes are related to stand age (i.e. stage of development). In comparison with the second‐growth forests of this study, older stands are characterized as (a) a larger average diameter of canopy trees; (b) a greater basal area of trees; (c) a lower density of canopy trees and of all trees ≥ 10 cm d.b.h.; (d) a higher density of eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis (L.) Carrière) trees; (e) a higher density of large trees (≥ 50 cm d.b.h.); (f) larger canopy gaps; and (g) a greater volume of coarse woody debris (both logs ≥ 20 cm d.b.h. and snags ≥ 10 cm d.b.h.). 5 Despite differences between old growth and second growth, especially in species composition, it appears from observations of the 18 stands that second‐growth forests are developing some structural characteristics of old growth. 6 Structural attributes of the old‐growth forests are similar to characteristics of the same forest type in geographically distant areas in eastern USA.     

What we (don't) know about global plant diversity

The era of big biodiversity data has led to rapid, exciting advances in the theoretical and applied biological, ecological and conservation sciences. While large genetic, geographic and trait databases are available, these are neither complete nor random samples of the globe. Gaps and biases in these databases reduce our inferential and predictive power, and this incompleteness is even more worrisome because we are ignorant of both its kind and magnitude. We performed a comprehensive examination of the taxonomic and spatial sampling in the most complete current databases for plant genes, locations and functional traits. To do this, we downloaded data from The Plant List (taxonomy), the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (locations), TRY (traits) and GenBank (genes). Only 17.7% of the world's described and accepted land plant species feature in all three databases, meaning that more than 82% of known plant biodiversity lacks representation in at least one database. Species coverage is highest for location data and lowest for genetic data. Bryophytes and orchids stand out taxonomically and the equatorial region stands out spatially as poorly represented in all databases. We have highlighted a number of clades and regions about which we know little functionally, spatially and genetically, on which we should set research targets. The scientific community should recognize and reward the significant value, both for biodiversity science and conservation, of filling in these gaps in our knowledge of the plant tree of life.     

黄淮海地区湿地系统生物多样性保护格局构建

以黄淮海地区为研究对象,首先分析了区域现有湿地保护状况,再基于湿地类型、保护状况和目标保护物种分布,综合考虑GDP、人口密度等社会经济因素,以湿地生物多样性保护为目标,运用系统保护规划的理论和方法,以Marxan作为空间优化模型,进行多目标的湿地系统保护预案设计,构建区域湿地不同保护水平的保护空缺和不可替代性格局,确定合理的湿地系统保护格局。研究结果表明:现有的湿地保护体系仅覆盖了区域17%左右的湿地,尚有许多重要生境游离于现有保护区系统外。为完善黄淮海地区湿地保护体系,需要对黄海海区域内28个保护区进行功能区划调整或者保护等级提升,并在山东(5个县)和河北(4个县),河南、江苏和安徽(各3个县),北京和天津(各1个县)等20个县市内建立新的保护区,与现有湿地保护系统有机整合,最终形成一个黄淮海地区湿地生物保护网络合理格局。结果表明:同其他相关研究方法对比,系统保护规划方法在区域大尺度生物多样性保护方面更具有意义;同时也表明该方法在中国的应用前景广阔。     

Potential causes of arrested succession in Kibale National Park, Uganda: growth and mortality of seedlings

Recent studies suggest that regeneration following large-scale disturbance in Kibale National Park, Uganda, is slow or possibly arrested. Here, data is provided on the growth and mortality of seedlings in the forest understory, treefall gaps, and in large gaps that suggest that this pattern of arrested succession can be attributed partially to the fact that this East African community lacks aggressive colonizing tree species. Growth and mortality rates were contrasted for seedlings of six tree species planted in the understory, small gaps, and large gaps for 36 months. Data suggest that species are adapted to gaps of particular sizes. For example, Uvariopsis congensis grew faster in the understory than in small gaps, whereas Warburgia ugandensis had the lowest mortality rate and highest growth rate in large gaps. Seedlings (n=170) of 15 species were transplanted to assess the response of the tree community to large gap conditions. The limited survival of seedlings in large gaps relative to the understory suggests that only a small proportion of the tree community in this forest regenerates best in gaps larger than those created by the collapse of a single tree. These findings differ from a number of studies conducted in other geographical regions, and suggests that tree communities differ with respect to the proportion of tree species adapted to gaps of particular sizes. This may relate to variation among regions in their history of disturbance and thus frequency of gap formation, size of gaps, and the duration of periods of release. Such variation could imply the existence of a corresponding pattern among tropical forests of differential vulnerability to human disturbance, which tends to create many large gaps.     

洪水漫溢对林窗微环境时空差异的影响——以塔里木河中游荒漠河岸林为例

林窗是森林生态系统中普遍存在的干扰形式。探究洪水漫溢对林窗内部微环境时空异质性的影响,对揭示荒漠河岸林物种多样性变化及其更新特征具有重要意义。在塔里木河中游非洪水和洪水漫溢区各选取一个大小相似的林窗样地,并使用便携式气象监测仪对林窗内不同方位的空气温湿度进行监测,对比分析不同水淹条件下林窗内微环境的时空分布差异,为深入探索荒漠河岸林植被更新机制奠定基础。结果表明：（1）非洪水漫溢区和洪水漫溢区林窗内空气温度均呈现先上升后下降的变化趋势,空气湿度均呈现先下降后上升的变化趋势,且同一个样地中温度与湿度之间存在明显的负相关关系,而洪水漫溢改变了森林微环境,使林窗内湿度升高,温度下降。（2）非洪水漫溢区和洪水漫溢区林窗内不同方位温度分布差异较小,洪水漫溢对温度变化影响不大;两个样地林窗内湿度变化过程较为复杂,差异明显,洪水漫溢区湿度变化梯度更为密集。（3）非洪水漫溢区和洪水漫溢区林窗内温度差界限明显,西南方向温度差较小,中心位置温度差最大,洪水漫溢并未改变不同方位温度变化趋势;湿度差以中心偏北方向较大,其中非洪水漫溢区湿度差在西北方向较小,而洪水漫溢区湿度差最小值出现在西南方向。研究结果表示荒漠河岸林林窗微环境时空差异具有干旱区独特性,同时阐明了林窗微环境对洪水漫溢的响应,为深入研究林窗干扰对荒漠河岸林更新与演替提供了科学依据。     

Disturbance and regeneration dynamics of a mixed Korean pine dominated forest on Changbai Mountain,North-Eastern China

We used dendrochronological methods to study disturbance history of a mixed Korean pine (Pinus koraiensis Siebold et Zuccarini) dominated forest on the northern slope of Changbai Mountain, North Eastern China, over 1770–2000. Frequent small-scale canopy gaps and infrequent medium-scale canopy disturbances dominated natural disturbance regime in the forest, which did not experience stand-replacing disturbances over the studied period. Percentages of growth releases in subcanopy trees were below 6% in most decades, suggesting that disturbances initiating these releases were of low intensity. Strong winds were likely cause of moderate disturbance events. Two episodes with increased disturbance rates (19% and 13%) were dated to the 1920s and 1980s, timing of the 1980s event was consistent with a hurricane occurred in 1986 on the western slope of the Changbai Mountain. Age structure and growth release analyses revealed species-specific regeneration strategies of canopy dominants. Shade-intolerant Olga bay larch (Larix olgensis Henry) recruited mainly before the 1860s. Recruitment of moderately shade-tolerant P. koraiensis occurred as several regeneration waves (1820s, 1850s, 1870–1880s, 1930s, and 1990–2000s) of moderate intensity. Shade-tolerant Jezo spruce (Picea jezoensis Carr. var. komarovii (V. Vassil.) Cheng et L.K.Fu) and Manchurian fir (Abies nephrolepis (Trautv.) Maxim.) regenerated continuously over the last 220 and 130 years, respectively. Enhanced recruitment of P. koraiensis, P. jezoensis, and A. nephrolepis was observed during the 1930s and 1990s, coinciding with increased growth release frequency in the 1920s and 1980s, and suggesting disturbance events of moderate intensity. Our results indicate that the current disturbance regime of the mixed Korean pine dominated forest maintains coexistence of light-demanding and shade-tolerant species and that change in wind climate may be particularly important for future forest composition.     

Processing of DNA Polymerase-Blocking Lesions during Genome Replication Is Spatially and Temporally Segregated from Replication Forks

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The effect of canopy gaps on growth and morphology of seedlings of rain forest species

Summary Growth and morphology of seedlings of ten tropical rain forest species were studied at Los Tuxtlas, Mexico. Seedlings were grown in three environmental conditions: the shaded forest understorey (FU, receiving 0.9–2.3% of the daily photosynthetic photon flux, PF, above the canopy), a small canopy gap of approx. 50 m² (SG, receiving 2.1–6.1% of daily PF), and a large canopy gap of approx. 500 m² (LG, receiving 38.6–53.4% of daily PF). The growth of all species was enhanced in gaps, and in LG the effect was stronger than in SG. Plants grown in LG had a sunplant morphology, with a high root-shoot ratio (R/S), a high specific leaf weight (SLW) and a low leaf area ratio (LAR). Plants grown in SG or FU showed a shade-plant morphology, with a low R/S, a low SLW and a high LAR. Growth responses varied from species unable to grow in the shade but with strong growth in the sun, to species with relatively high growth rates in both shade and sun conditions. Shade tolerant species were able to grow in the shade because of a relatively high unit leaf rate. The pioneerCecropia had a high growth rate in LG because of a high LAR. Most species showed a complex growth response in which they resembled the shade intolerant extreme in some aspects of the response, and the shade tolerant extreme in other aspects.