ASPECTS OF COMPARATIVE PLANKTON ECOLOGY IN CASCADING MGENI RIVER RESERVOIRS (MIDMAR,ALBERT FALLS,AND NAGLE): AN OVERVIEW

Summary

An overview of a three year study of abundance, community structure and succession of zooplankton and phytoplankton in relation to physical limnological conditions in Lakes Midmar and Albert Falls is presented, along with findings on zooplankton from a nine month study of Lake Nagle. Physical stability increased between Midmar (mean summer N² = 6.55 × 10⁴ s²) and Albert Falls (N² = 8.70 × 10⁴ s²), in line with elevations in water temperature. Phytoplankton richness and diversity was similar in these reservoirs, although zooplankton species richness increased downstream. Abundance levels of both phyto- and zoo-plankton were broadly comparable in these two reservoirs. In Midmar and Albert Falls, overall mean (± SD) chlorophyll levels were 3.60 ± 1.54 and 3.41 ± 1.41 μg 1¹, with corresponding overall average zooplankton standing stocks of 0.85 and 0.76 g m² dry mass, dropping to 0.54 g m² in Nagle (for which spring to midsummer data are missing).

Ruderal and colonist phytoplankters were persistently dominant both in Midmar and Albert Falls, in keeping with the continuous (if incomplete) mixing patterns evident in these reservoirs. Few stress tolerant algae occurred. The summer ruderal assemblage was unexpectedly dominated by diatoms in the physically more stable conditions of Albert Falls, but not Midmar. Mean zooplankton grazer-induced instantaneous mortality rates for planktonic algae for the whole study were estimated (by regression predictions) as 0.17 d¹ in both lakes. Phytoplankton was not studied in Nagle.

Changes in zooplankton community structure between Midmar and Nagle largely involved progressive increases in the contribution of smaller-bodied cladocerans (comprising both sequentially smaller species of Daphnia (D. pulex, D. longispina, D. laevis), and additional genera such as Diaphanosoma, Ceriodapnia, Moina and Bosmina). As with a parallel progressive switch between Metadiaptomus meridianus and Tropodiaptomus spectabilis over this series of reservoirs, (and the temporal separation of “co-existing” populations in Albert Falls), which has been shown experimentally to be strongly temperature-linked, changes in absolute temperature are implicated as a primary causal factor in the shifts in cladoceran species composition. Temporal occurrences of these species also indicate the primacy of temperature.     

Reproductive strategy of Labeo senegalensis Valenciennes 1842 (Teleostei: Cyprinidae) in the Ouémé basin,Benin

Aspects of the reproductive biology and population structure of Labeo senegalensis were investigated in the Ouémé River between April 2005 and March 2006. Reproductive strategy was investigated using gonadosomatic index, ovarian structure and fecundity. Average size-at-first-maturity (L ₅₀) was estimated at 29 cm TL for females and 25.7 cm TL for males. The average sex ratio (1:0.96) was not significantly different from unity. Oocyte diameter frequency distribution suggests synchronous development with a single total spawning. Absolute fecundity ranged between 12 948 and 74 832 eggs. Labeo senegalensisis a highly fecund fish that presents a seasonal cycle of reproduction from May to October during the rainy season.     

Genetically distinct Dutch-domesticated Clarias gariepinus used in aquaculture in southern Africa

Clarias gariepinus, a catfish species widely distributed in Africa including South Africa, is naturally absent from the Western Cape and the coastal Eastern Cape provinces. Because of its potential as an aquaculture species it has been widely used in aquaculture ventures in South Africa, specifically a stock known as Dutch catfish, a domesticated strain developed in the Netherlands. Mitochondrial DNA markers indicate that this stock is genetically distinct from the natural populations of C. gariepinus in South Africa. It could potentially pose a threat to South Africa's natural biodiversity if these fish were to escape from aquaculture farms, or was deliberately introduced into inland waters.     

Cu2‐xS Surface Phases and Their Impact on the Electronic Structure of CuInS2 Thin Films – A Hidden Parameter in Solar Cell Optimization

The surface properties of CuInS₂ (CIS) thin‐film solar cell absorbers are investigated by a combination of electron and soft X‐ray spectroscopies. Spatially separated regions of varying colors are observed and identified to be dominated by either CuS or Cu₂S surface phases. After their removal by KCN etching, the samples cannot be distinguished by eye and the CIS surface is found to be Cu‐deficient in both regions. However, a significantly more pronounced off‐stoichiometry in the region initially covered by Cu₂S can be identified. In this region, the resulting surface band gap is also significantly larger than the E_g^Surf of the initially CuS‐terminated region. Such variations may represent a hidden parameter which, if overlooked, induces irreproducibility and thus prevents systematic optimization efforts.     

Structural and biochemical characterization of the broad substrate specificity of Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron commensal sialidase

Sialidases release the terminal sialic acid residue from a wide range of sialic acid-containing polysaccharides. Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron, a symbiotic commensal microbe, resides in and dominates the human intestinal tract. We characterized the recombinant sialidase from B. thetaiotaomicron (BTSA) and demonstrated that it has broad substrate specificity with a relative activity of 97, 100 and 64 for 2,3-, 2,6- and 2,8-linked sialic substrates, respectively. The hydrolysis activity of BTSA was inhibited by a transition state analogue, 2-deoxy-2,3-dehydro-N-acetyl neuraminic acid, by competitive inhibition with a K_i value of 35 μM. The structure of BSTA was determined at a resolution of 2.3 Å. This structure exhibited a unique carbohydrate-binding domain (CBM) at its N-terminus (a.a. 23–190) that is adjacent to the catalytic domain (a.a. 191–535). The catalytic domain has a conserved arginine triad with a wide-open entrance for the substrate that exposes the catalytic residue to the surface. Unlike other pathogenic sialidases, the polysaccharide-binding site in the CBM is near the active site and possibly holds and positions the polysaccharide substrate directly at the active site. The structural feature of a wide substrate-binding groove and closer proximity of the polysaccharide-binding site to the active site could be a unique signature of the commensal sialidase BTSA and provide a molecular basis for its pharmaceutical application.     

川明参果实发育过程中解剖结构的变化

对伞形科(Apiaceae)中国特有单型属种类川明参（Chuanminshen violaceum Sheh et Shan）幼果发育阶段（包含幼果期Ⅰ、幼果期Ⅱ和幼果期Ⅲ）、中果发育阶段（包含中果期Ⅰ、中果期Ⅱ和中果期Ⅲ）和熟果发育阶段（包含熟果期Ⅰ、熟果期Ⅱ和熟果期Ⅲ）果实横切面的解剖结构进行了比较观察。观察结果表明,川明参果实在果壁细胞层数和形态、果棱和维管束、油管、胚乳以及分生果横切面大小和形状等特征均有明显的变化。川明参分生果果壁由厚变薄且外果壁、中果壁细胞形态发生变化,内果壁细胞消失;果实中油管分布在果实的背面、侧面和合生面,油管不断向外扩大,在成熟果实中油管往往皱缩。川明参果实中胚乳逐渐增大,从近球形变化为桃形、肾形直至月牙形,背部呈山丘状隆起;分生果横切面的形状由近五边状圆形变化至梭形,背腹极度压扁。通过对果实发育形态解剖观察发现,果实发育前期,果形的变化主要依靠维管束的发育,从而造成果棱的改变,来改变果实外部结构。到了熟果期,胚乳显现,形体变大,它的形状变化开始改变分生果的外部形态,并且影响较为显著。     

植物根中质外体屏障结构和生理功能研究进展

综述了近10年来植物根中质外体屏障结构和功能的研究进展。质外体屏障指根中内、外皮层初生壁的凯氏带,或次生壁栓质化和木质化,以及植物体表角质层组成的保护组织,能隔绝水、离子和氧气不能自由进出植物体的屏障结构,具有保护植物体的生理功能。根中凯氏带的分子发育机理研究表明根内皮层类似哺乳动物上皮组织的保护作用。植物根中质外体保证内部各种生理代谢在稳定的内部环境中进行,是植物适应各种逆境的重要屏障结构。根中质外体屏障在植物适应干旱、洪涝灾害、离子胁迫和病虫害的侵袭等方面具有重要作用,在探索适应并修复极端生态环境的植物资源中有广阔的应用前景。     

两株芽孢杆菌对花生幼苗生长及其根际土壤微生物群落结构的影响

【背景】贝莱斯芽孢杆菌(Bacillus velezensis)和坚强芽孢杆菌(Bacillus firmus)对花生的促生作用及促生机制研究尚未见报道。【目的】从微生物群落结构和土壤氮磷钾有效养分两个方面综合解析两株芽孢杆菌(贝莱斯芽孢杆菌HP9和坚强芽孢杆菌HP10)对花生的促生机制。【方法】以两株芽孢杆菌为研究对象,通过单独灌根或混合灌根盆栽花生,测定其对花生生长及根际土壤氮磷钾有效养分的影响;利用高通量测序技术分析灌根组与对照组花生根际土壤的细菌和真菌群落结构及多样性。【结果】与对照组相比,3个灌根处理组均明显促进了花生幼苗茎部的伸长及鲜重的增加,根际土壤碱解氮含量显著提高,有效磷和速效钾含量有不同程度增加。芽孢杆菌对花生根际土壤的微生物多样性无显著影响,但影响了细菌和真菌的群落结构组成。灌根处理组根际土壤的拟杆菌门及Mortierellomycota等相对丰度显著增加,在属水平上,农杆菌属、节杆菌属、芽孢杆菌属、伯克霍尔德氏菌属、黄杆菌属、Pedobacter、极地单胞菌属、假单胞菌属、鞘脂单胞菌属、寡养单胞菌属等属的相对丰度明显提高,而且无色杆菌属、短波单胞菌属、金黄色杆菌属、苍白杆菌属、鞘氨醇杆菌属和鞘氨醇盒菌属等6个细菌属仅见于3个灌根处理组中。主成分分析结果显示,与对照相比,3个灌根处理组之间的根际土壤微生物群落结构具有更高的相似性。【结论】贝莱斯芽孢杆菌HP9和坚强芽孢杆菌HP10菌株可以影响根际土壤的微生物群落结构组成,提高根际土壤功能微生物的相对丰度,从而改善土壤肥力,促进花生幼苗生长。     

马铃薯致病疫霉研究进展

马铃薯致病疫霉(Phytophthora infestans)属卵菌纲(Oomycetes)霜霉目(Peronosporales)腐霉科(Pythiaceae)疫霉属(Phytophthora),是马铃薯和番茄晚疫病病原菌。由于晚疫病对马铃薯生产的毁灭性和严重性,对致病疫霉的研究一直是关注的重点。本文首先对病害引起的症状、发生特点及流行规律进行阐述,对有性生殖发生的遗传规律和多种交配型共存的大环境下病原菌群体结构变异特点进行归纳总结。随着2009年致病疫霉基因组测序的完成,本文比对了疫霉属目前已完成测序各个种的基因组学特点,介绍了致病疫霉在效应子克隆方面的研究进展及线粒体基因组研究现状,阐述了功能基因组学的两个重要技术:高密度遗传连锁图谱(high density linkage mapping)和全基因组关联分析(genome-wide association study,GWAS),及其在挖掘致病疫霉重要功能基因上的应用。本文有助于了解致病疫霉研究热点及后续突破方向,可为深入解析致病疫霉的功能基因及致病机制提供参考,对开发马铃薯晚疫病菌药物靶标及预测病害的大规模流行趋势也具有重要意义。