Meiofaunal responses to nutrient additions in a Mediterranean stream

1. The effects of a moderate addition of nutrients (twofold N and threefold P) were examined during a 2‐year period to determine the response to nutrient addition in a meiofaunal community inhabiting sandy patches in a Mediterranean stream. 2. The pattern of meiofaunal assemblages exhibits a high degree of intra‐ and interannual variability. This pattern alternates between periods of hydrological stability and disturbances, such as floods and droughts, which is a characteristic of Mediterranean systems. 3. A before–after–control–impact (BACI) design was used to determine the outcome of the addition by comparing an upstream non‐enriched reach with an enriched downstream reach. Analysis of the study data by means of a nonparametric permutational procedure (permanova ) showed that fertilisation had a significant effect. Density and biomass values increased in the most abundant meiofaunal groups, including microcrustaceans, oligochaetes and chironomids. Microcrustaceans were the dominant group in the permanent meiofauna. 4. We also examined differences in microcrustacean secondary production in both reaches. Ostracods and cyclopoid copepods increased their secondary production in the impacted reach as a result of the nutrient addition. 5. Our study demonstrated that moderate nutrient enrichment can affect the biomass and production of stream meiofauna, but it is still unclear whether this effect was because of autotrophic or heterotrophic pathways.     

The Ordovician-Silurian boundary stratotype: consequences of its approval by the IUGS

Lespérance, Pierre J., Barnes, Christopher R., Berry, William B. N., Boucot, Arthur J. & Mu En-zhi 1987 07 15: The Ordovician-Silurian boundary stratotype: consequences of its approval by the IUGS.
The Ordovician-Silurian stratotype at Dob's Linn, Scotland is the second systemic boundary approved by the International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS). A review of the internationally accepted criteria required of a stratotype shows that few of these are possessed by the Dob's Linn section. The strongest attribute of the section is the presence of zonal graptolites, although the boundary is recognized primarily on a single biological event (base of acuminatus Zone) for which the evolutionary relationships of the taxa are not established. In approving this boundary proposal in 1985, which received only simple majority support within the Ordovician-Silurian Boundary Working Group (OSBWG) and which fails to meet most of the accepted prerequisites for a stratotype, the International Commission on Stratigraphy (ICS) and the IUGS have established an unfortunate precedent. It follows that future systemic boundaries need not meet the accepted standards. It raises serious questions on the assessment and voting procedures of the International Commission on Stratigraphy and on the credence accorded the recommendations developed by the International Subcommission on Stratigraphic Classification of IUGS.     

Molecular cloning and expression of a xylanase gene from Cellulomonas sp. into Escherichia coli

Summary The xylanase gene of Cellulomonas sp. NCIM 2353 was cloned in pUC 18 and selected by growth on xylan as the sole carbon source. The functional clone harboured the recombinant plasmid with an insert of 1.42 kbp, as determined by restriction mapping and Southern hydridization. The clone secreted a xylanase of 45 000 mol. wt. as determined by Western blot analysis using specific antixylanase antibodies. The DNA insert carried the full structural gene along with its promoter and possibly regulatory sequences, since xylanase activity in the clone Cs11 was inducible by xylan. Offprint requests to: D. N. Deobagkar     

Coordinated mRNA and Protein Expression of Human LAMP-1 in Induction of Melanogenesis After UV-B Exposure and Co-Transfection of Human Tyrosinase and TRP-1 cDNAs

In order to better understand the cascade of melanogenic events in melanocytes, this report has introduced our two recent approaches for the expression of melanogenesis/or melanosome-associated genes and encoded proteins in melanocytes (melanoma cells) after repeated exposure to UV -B and after cotransfection of two human genes, i.e., tyrosinase and tyrosinase-related protein-1 (TRP-1). Repeated exposure of UV B (2.5–5.0 mJ/cm²) caused not only upregulation of tyrosinase and TRP-1 genes but also coordinated increase in the gene and protein synthesis expression of Lamp-1 (lysosome-associated membrane protein-1). When COS-7 kidney cells and amelanotic melanoma (C32 and SKMEL-24) and melanotic melanoma (G361 and SK-MEL-23) cells were exposed to cotransfection of human tyrosinase and TRP-1 cDNAs, there was also an increased expression of Lamp-1 mRNA and protein along with tyrosinase activation and new melanin synthesis. Importantly, single transfectants of human tyrosinase cDNA revealed marked cellular degeneration, whereas this degeneration was not seen in single transfectants of TRP-1 cDNA or cotransfectants of human tyrosinase and TRP-1 cDNAs, indicating that TRP-1 prevented, along with Lamp-1, programmed death of melanocytes after transfection of tyrosinase gene. The coordinated expression of TRP-1 and Lamp-1 was further confirmed by antisense oligodeoxynucleotide hybridization experiment against Lamp-1 gene, showing the decreased expression of TRP-1 as identified by three different types of anti-TRP-1 monoclonal antibodies. We propose therefore that human tyrosinase and TRP-l, when activated or expressed together, will coordinate to upregulate the mRNA expression and protein synthesis of Lamp-1. The Lamp-1 molecules will, in turn, cover the inner surface of melanosomal membrane, together with TRP-1 molecules, thus protecting the melanosomal membrane from toxic melanin intermediates generated during melanogenesis in the presence of active tyrosinase. In contrast, the expression of other lysosome-related proteins, e.g., β-galactosidase and CD63 is not stimulated in new melanogenesis.     

西藏色季拉山暗针叶林苔藓多样性及林窗干扰的影响

为了解西藏色季拉山暗针叶林苔藓多样性及林窗干扰的影响,在过去工作积累的基础上研究了色季拉山西坡5块样地内不同林内环境(林窗、林缘和林下)地面、腐木和树附生苔藓生物量特征。结果表明, 地面生单位面积苔藓植物生物量储量最高,平均910.10 g/m²,其次为腐木生(221.90 g/m²),树附生的最低(53.59 g/m²)。林窗地面生苔藓单位面积生物量最高,均值为360.47 g/m²,其次为林下(305.51 g/m²),最小为林缘(244.11 g/m²);林窗、林缘和林下间的地面生苔藓单位面积生物量差异显著(P＜0.05)。沿海拔梯度,林窗苔藓单位面积生物量表现出先增加后减少的趋势。因此,在西藏色季拉山暗针叶林内,林窗对地面生苔藓单位面积生物量有显著影响。     

Between Xylem and Phloem: The Genetic Control of Cambial Activity in Plants

Abstract: Post-embryonic development is controlled by two types of meristems: apical and lateral. There has been considerable progress recently in understanding the function of root and shoot apical meristems at the molecular level. Knowledge of analogous processes in the lateral, or secondary, meristems, i.e. the vascular cambium or cork cambium, is, however, rudimentary. This is despite the fact that much of the diversity in the plant kingdom is based on the differential functions of these meristems, emphasizing the importance of lateral meristems in the development of different plant forms. The vascular cambium is particularly important for woody plants, but it also plays an important role during the development of various herbaceous species, such as Arabidopsis thaliana. In this review, we focus on the two basic functions of cambial activity: cell proliferation and pattern formation.     

高含量、低用量颗粒剂防治玉米螟的研究

1973—1977年,作者研究了防治玉米螟颗粒剂的“高含量、低用量”问题,即在单位面积上有效成分用量相等下,探讨逐步提高颗粒剂中有效成分含量而又按比例减少单位面积上颗粒剂用量的防治效果的相关性。结果证明,在相当大的范围内,高含量、低用量可以代替低含量、高用量。每亩用辛硫磷4克时,1.6%颗炷剂每亩用0.5斤与0.1%颗粒剂每亩用8斤均可获80%左右相似的防治效果;每亩用对硫磷40克时,8%颗粒剂每亩用1斤与1%颗粒剂每亩用8斤均可获90%以上防治效果。对地亚农和二氯苯醚菊酯试验亦获类似结果。 颗粒剂应用这一改革,有利于成品化和机械施药,并可显著降低防治成本。 同时,还做了室内毒力测定及在玉米上残效作用测定,以验证田间防治效果。 近二十年来,国内、外一直把颗粒剂做为防治玉米心叶期玉米螟(`Ostrinia nubilalis`` Hübner)的有效手段。我国自五十年代末已开始研究和应用滴滴涕、六六六等颗粒剂防治玉米螟,获得了高于六六六药液灌心的防治效果(邱式邦等,1961;邱式邦等,1963;慕立义,1963)。但由于颗粒剂用量大、费用高而未能成批生产。土法生产、群制群用的颗粒剂亦存在着缺点:(1)加工时不但造粒、选粒用工多,而且粒度、有效成分的含量及在载体上的分布均难以规格化,药效不够稳定;(2)加工所用的毒剂均为农药制剂。如用乳油、除乳化剂及有机溶剂被浪费外,往往还引起玉米的药害;如用粉剂,则不能渗入载体内部,不耐雨水冲洗而降低残效;(3)由于颗粒剂不规格化和单位面积用量大而不利于机械施药。因此,多年来生产上迫切需要高效、低毒、低残毒、价廉和利于机械施药的成品颗粒剂以代替土法生产的颗粒剂。     

干旱区不同地理种群骆驼刺元素组成及表面结构特征的对比研究

碳(C)、氮(N)、磷(P)元素在植物各器官中的组成,及植物表面结构差异是其对外界环境适应性的重要表征。以干旱区3个地理种群骆驼刺(塔里木盆地策勒种群,吐鄯托盆地托克逊种群,准噶尔盆地阜康种群)为研究对象,通过对植株各器官C,N,P元素组成的测定及表面形貌观测,对其在不同环境中的适应特性进行了比较研究。结果表明:(1)同一种群的骆驼刺,C元素在各器官中的分配没有显著规律;N元素在叶片中含量最高,茎中最低;策勒种群和阜康种群的P含量,叶片中最高,茎与刺中差异不显著;但托克逊种群茎中P含量显著高于其他部位。(2)3个地理种群的骆驼刺叶中元素组成相比,策勒种群C,N含量均最高,托克逊种群C,N含量最低;3个种群叶片的P含量,C∶N,C∶P,N∶P值均没有显著差异。刺中元素含量相比,C含量没有显著差异;N含量阜康种群策勒种群托克逊种群。茎中元素含量相比,N含量差异不显著,但托克逊种群茎中P含量为其他两个种群的2倍,可能与托克逊土壤中高浓度的全N,速效N,速效P有关。(3)托克逊种群表皮极厚,蜡质非常致密,各器官气孔密度均高于其他两个种群;策勒种群比阜康种群叶表皮增厚,蜡质致密,但叶片气孔密度却减小;策勒种群和阜康种群茎与刺的气孔密度差异不显著。研究表明,策勒种群骆驼刺最适应当地环境条件:其叶片具有最高的C,N含量,且表面结构没有明显的干旱胁迫特征。托克逊种群表现出明显的干旱适应特征:其表皮增厚,蜡质致密,气孔密度增大,叶片C,N含量最低。虽然托克逊种群茎中P含量显著高于其他地理种群,但3个地理种群骆驼刺叶片中C∶N,C∶P,N∶P比值保持恒定,C∶N=30.6±4.3,C∶P=357.4±49.9,N∶P=12.0±2.4,说明骆驼刺能够保持较高内稳性,这也可能是其在新疆各地广泛生存的重要原因。     

福寿螺表型性状的空间尺度变异

格局和尺度是生态学的核心概念。尺度的变化可能导致生态学格局的改变。入侵物种性状的变异会对种群的建立和扩散产生重要的影响。为了研究入侵物种福寿螺(Pomacea canaliculata)表型性状的尺度变异并推测可能的作用机制,在广东省开展了福寿螺的体质量、体高、体宽、壳口宽4个表型性状在城市、乡镇、生境、样方、个体5个空间尺度上变异的研究。通过拟合混合模型,进行方差分解,结果发现个体和样方差异解释了近80%的性状变异,生境的差异解释了除体重外其他性状的剩余变异;除体重外乡镇和城市尺度上性状的变异并不明显。结果进一步表明,区域尺度的过程如气候特征等对福寿螺表型性状变异不起主要作用;福寿螺种群特征的研究及防控的重点应考虑其遗传结构特征及局部尺度环境因素。通过不同尺度下性状的变异系数和频度分布曲线的分析,进一步验证了以上结果。     

中国电力行业CO2减排潜力及其贡献因素

电力行业低碳转型是中国低碳经济转型进程中关键行业之一,如何科学分析电力行业的碳减排潜力,确定操作性强的低碳转型路线、提出有效的政策措施是中国政府亟待解决的焦点问题之一。考虑终端电力消费、低碳能源发电占比、火力发电结构、火力发电效率、线损率等因素,构建了自底向上的电力行业CO2排放核算模型,在此基础上,利用情景分析方法探索中国电力行业2015和2020年的CO2减排潜力,进一步利用对数平均权重分解法(LMDI,Logarithmic Mean weight Divisia Index method)对电力行业CO2减排影响因素的贡献度做了归因分析。结果显示,相比基准情景,在当前政策情景和低碳政策情景下,电力行业将分别带来27.0亿t和36.9亿t的CO2减排量。低碳能源发电和火力发电效率是未来对CO2减排最重要的两个贡献因素。终端电力消费量一直是促进电力行业CO2排放增长最重要的贡献因素,因此通过电力需求侧管理等手段控制电力消费量对电力行业的低碳发展至关重要。最后结合减排贡献因素分析的结果为中国电力行业低碳发展提出了相应的政策建议。