The nutritional ecology of larvae of Alsophila pometaria and Anisota senatoria feeding on early- and late-season oak foliage

The larvae of Alsophila pometaria (Harr.), feeding on the young foliage of oak, has a higher relative growth rate (RGR) and relative nitrogen accumulation rate (RNAR) than the larvae of Anisota senatoria (J. E. Smith), feeding on the mature foliage of oak. Although the young oak foliage is more efficiently digested by A. pometaria (higher AD's), it is not more efficiently assimilated and used for growth (no difference in ECI's). Thus, the higher growth rate of A. pometaria is due entirely to a higher consumption rate (RCR and RNCR). Young foliage is significantly higher in nitrogen and water than mature foliage, but phenol and tannin levels are comparable in young and old foliage. A. pometaria consumes the foliage of different oak species at the same rate, independent of nitrogen content, while A. senatoria increases its consumption rate in response to decreased nitrogen levels. As a result, the growth rate of A. pometaria is directly related to leaf nitrogen content, while the growth rate of A. senatoria is independent of leaf nitrogen. The two species of insects have digestive systems that are very similar biochemically, and that are well-designed for effective protein digestion. Tannins and phenols do not influence the nutrional indices of either species. We suggest that the major benefit of spring feeding is the availability of succulent, high-nitrogen foliage, and not the avoidance of high-tannin foliage. The spring feeder appears to have a feeding strategy that favors rapid growth at the expense of efficiency, while the late summer feeder has a strategy that favors efficiency over rate.

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Résumé Alimentées sur feuillage jeune de chêne, les chenilles d'Alsophila pometaria avaient un taux relatif de croissance (RGR) et un taux relatif d'accumulation d'azote (RNAR) plus élevés que les chenilles d'Anisota senatoria alimentées sur feuillage mûr de chêne. Bien que le jeune feuillage soit plus efficacement digéré par A. pometaria (AD plus élevé), il n'est pas assimilé et utilisé pour la croissance avec de meilleurs rendements (les ECI ne sont pas différents). Ainsi le taux de croissance plus élevé d'A. pometaria est dû entièrement à un taux de consommation plus important (RCR et RNCR). Le feuillage jeune est significativement plus riche en azote et en eau que le feuillage mûr, mais les niveaux de phénol et de tanins sont les mêmes. A pometaria consomme les feuilles de différentes espèces de chênes au même taux, indépendamment de la teneur en azote, tandis que A. senatoria accroît sa consommation en réponse à une diminution de la teneur en azote. Il en résulte que le taux de croissance d'A. pometaria dépend directement de la teneur en azote des feuilles, tandis que celui d'A. senatoria en est indépendant. Les systèmes digestifs des deux insectes sont biochimiquement semblables et sont efficaces pour la digestion des protéines. Les tanins et les phénols n'influent pas sur les indices nutritionnels de ces deux espèces. Nous estimons que le principal intérêt de l'alimentation printanière est la disponibilité en feuillage succulent, riche en azote, et non l'absence de feuilles à haute teneur en tanin. L'alimentation printanière semble correspondre à une strategie alimentaire qui favorise la croissance aux dépens de l'efficacité tandis que l'alimentation en fin d'été est une stratégie qui favorise l'efficacité sur la rapidité.

     

Cerebral Blood Flow and Oxidative Metabolism in Conscious Fischer-344 Rats of Different Ages

Abstract: The cerebral metabolic rates for O₂ and for glucose were measured in conscious, fasted male Fischer-344 rats at the ages of 3, 12, and 24 months, and cerebral blood flow was determined with ¹⁴C-iodoantipyrine. The metabolic rates for oxygen and glucose were obtained by multiplying blood flow by the O₂ and glucose concentration differences, respectively, between blood in the femoral artery and in the superior sagittal sinus. Mean cerebral blood flow and the metabolic rates for oxygen and glucose did not differ significantly (p > 0.05) between 3 and 12 or between 12 and 24 months. Nor did the arteriovenous differences for O₂ and for glucose change significantly with age. Because the superior sagittal sinus drains blood mainly from the cerebral cortex, the results indicate that average cerebral cortical oxidative metabolism, and the coupling ratios between the cerebral metabolic rate for oxygen and cerebral blood flow and between the cerebral metabolic rate for glucose and cerebral blood flow, do not change significantly with age in the Fischer-344 rat.     

Nonuniform size distribution of nascent globin peptides, evidence for pause localization sites, and a cotranslational protein-folding model

Examination of nascent globin peptides accumulatingin vitro during globin synthesis in rabbit reticulocyte lysates was carried out. A view was supported that nonrandom distribution of codons with different usage frequencies in mRNA may determine the messenger's translation kinetics. Regions of reduced translation of - and -globin polypeptide chains were localized, and the cotranslational protein-folding model suggested previously was substantiated. An active conjunction of synthesis and folding of proteins was proposed as one of the main destinations of a translation nonuniformity.     

Optimization of free ammonia concentration for nitrite accumulation in shortcut biological nitrogen removal process

A shortcut biological nitrogen removal (SBNR) utilizes the concept of a direct conversion of ammonium to nitrite and then to nitrogen gas. A successful SBNR requires accumulation of nitrite in the system and inhibition of the activity of nitrite oxidizers. A high concentration of free ammonia (FA) inhibits nitrite oxidizers, but unfortunately decreases the ammonium removal rate as well. Therefore, the optimal range of FA concentration is necessary not only to stabilize nitrite accumulation but also to achieve maximum ammonium removal. In order to derive such optimal FA concentrations, the specific substrate utilization rates of ammonium and nitrite oxidizers were measured. The optimal FA concentration range appeared to be 5–10 mg/L for the adapted sludge. The simulated results from the modified inhibition model expressed by FA and ammonium/nitrite concentrations were shown very similar to the experimental results.     

中国花楸属植物的分布及研究现状

花楸属(Sorbus L.)植物冠形多态、花色秀美、果实缤纷、四季叶色各异,具有很高的园艺观赏价值,但因属下种间杂交、多倍化和无融合生殖的存在,所以花楸属也是分类学上比较困难的一个类群.该研究通过细致整理和分析国家标本资源库和全球数字化植物标本数据库中花楸属植物标本信息,了解中国花楸属物种采集位置和野生种质资源的分布中心,构建中国花楸属植物标本数据库,为全国第一次林草种质资源的普查与收集提供参考;在明晰花楸属植物资源分布位置和生境的基础上,发现中国花楸属植物资源居世界之首且花楸属物种多分布在高海拔区域,尤其是在中国西南部的山区,分布有一半以上的中国花楸属物种,在该区域花楸属物种多种倍性并存、杂交频繁发生.然而,这是否为该属植物物种多样性丰富的关键因素,把高海拔分布的花楸属物种引种到低海拔区域能否适应以及如何适应低海拔的夏季高温尚不清楚.基于此,作者就自己的专业领域进一步检索了花楸属植物在形态分类与系统发育、适应性进化和保护遗传学、植物资源利用等方面的研究现状,梳理出花楸属植物目前研究尚未解决的问题,并进一步指出未来研究需重点关注的方向.建议未来的研究重点关注以下问题:(1)在坚实的系统发育框架基础上,重点关注杂交物种形成问题;(2)在对中国花楸属野生种质资源进行全面调查的基础上,选择有较高园艺观赏价值的种类,通过最新的分子生物学技术和方法,研究其引种和驯化过程中面临的夏季高温难题,为高海拔物种的引种和驯化提供理论依据.     

罗布麻资源利用与罗布麻植物分类问题

叙述了有关罗布麻分类的简要历史,讨论了我国罗布麻的植物分类问题,从植物分类学的依据和生产实践的需要考虑,应将我国罗布麻植物划分为1属2种,即罗布麻属（Apocynum L．）和罗布红麻（A．venetum L．）及罗布白麻（A．hendersonii Hook．f．）2种。     

围封对温带半干旱典型草原群落种间关联的影响

为明确围栏封育对温带典型草原群落物种种间关系的影响, 运用方差比率法、基于2 × 2列联表的χ²检验、Ochiai指数、Spearman相关分析, 对位于内蒙古锡林郭勒盟太仆寺旗封育6年的围封样地及围栏外样地的主要优势种及伴生种进行了种间关联和相关性分析。同时运用生态位宽度指数分析围栏内外物种对环境资源的利用能力及种间竞争情况。结果表明: 1) 基于2 × 2列联表的χ²检验结果表明围栏内9个种对显著正联结, 4个种对显著负联结(p ≤ 0.05), 围栏外有19个种对显著正联结, 8个种对显著负联结; Spearman秩相关分析表明围栏内有10个种对显著正相关, 16个种对显著负相关, 围栏外有12个种对显著正相关, 30个种对显著负相关。χ²检验和Spearman检验结果表明围栏内群落处于稳定发展状态, 而围栏外群落处于退化阶段。2)围栏内外的优势种Ochiai指数都较高, 但χ²检验并不显著, 表明优势种之间的关联程度高, 但存在相对独立的分布格局。3)围栏内主要优势种的生态位宽度大于围栏外, 说明围栏封育保护了主要优势种的生长。     

微藻生物矿化作用及其应用前景

微藻能够在细胞外形成多样化的矿化结构,因其具有纳米孔洞、生物学胶黏性和优良机械性能等特点,可以广泛地应用于材料科学、医学领域、水资源净化、合成纳米颗粒、仿生矿化和维护生态环境等领域。归纳了微藻领域已报道的两种典型生物矿化现象——生物钙化和生物硅化,并综合性分析了微藻矿化作用产物在各个相关领域中的应用前景。微藻生物矿化作用可与传统生物质培养与生产相结合,以建立更经济与多样化的微藻节能减排与资源化利用新技术。     

耐低温酵母Curvibasidium rogersii菌株在松萝样品中的首次分离鉴定及基于基因组分析的生物特性探究

【目的】对西藏松萝地衣来源的两株非常规酵母进行分离鉴定,并通过基因组序列分析探究其生物学特性和应用潜力。【方法】从西藏来源的松萝地衣样品内部分离得到2株耐低温酵母菌株,通过26S D1/D2和ITS序列比对分析以及生理生化实验进行菌种鉴定;通过全基因组序列分析和验证探究菌株的生物特性。【结果】两株酵母菌株经鉴定均为Curvibasidium rogersii,可以在10℃低温良好生长,在20℃生长最佳,25℃及以上温度生长缓慢或不生长。对其进行基因组测序和基因组挖掘,测序结果发现,其基因组注释出功能的部分与产油脂的低温酵母白冬孢酵母Leucosporidium creatinivorum具有最高相似性,尼罗红染色发现两株酵母都能够生产油脂,另外在基因组序列中还发现了可能参与木糖代谢的相关蛋白编码基因,实验证明两个酵母菌株可以利用木糖生长。【结论】首次分离鉴定了来自西藏松萝的酵母C. rogersii,为充分开发利用松萝和其他地衣来源微生物,以及利用可代谢木糖的新资源酵母生产微生物油脂提供了基础。     

福建泉州榕属植物园林应用调查及合理利用对策

通过对福建省泉州市榕属植物在园林绿地中应用情况的调查,总结了该属植物较高的应用价值,并分析了应用中存在的问题和误区,提出合理利用及管养对策。