Survival ofPseudomonas solanacearum in soil

Summary Studies on the survival ofPseudomonas solanacearum, the causal agent of bacterial wilt of tomato, under laboratory conditions showed that soil amendments had little effect on the population of the pathogen. When the host plant was grown in amended soil there was a positive influence on growth of the pathogen. The population level of the pathogen incorporated into the soil was reduced to one-half within a period of 46 days. The pathogen survived in the rhizosphere of non-host plants belonging to the families Acanthaceae and Leguminosae even in the absence of the natural hosts, but its incidence in the rhizosphere of plants belonging to Graminae and Cyperaceae was comparatively low indicating possibilities of reducing the inoculum potential of the pathogen in tomato fields by allowing such plants to grow during fallow periods. Part of the thesis of the Senior Author presented to the Kerala Agricultural University, Trichur, Kerala State, India.     

奠基者效应对海南坡鹿迁地保护种群遗传多样性的影响

在迁地保护中,奠基者效应通常会导致新建种群与源种群的遗传分化,并使新建种群的遗传多样性低于源种群。海南坡鹿(Cervuseldi hainanus)是世界濒危种,野生种群仅分布在中国海南岛。由于栖息地破坏和过度狩猎,至20世纪70年代,这个物种仅剩26只,已经濒临绝灭,被列为国家一级保护动物。自1976年开始对海南坡鹿实施就地保护和迁地保护,该种群的数量从最初的26只增加到1600多只。本文采用10个微卫星位点对一个源种群(大田种群)和5个迁地种群(邦溪、甘什岭、枫木、金牛岭、文昌种群)的遗传多样性进行检测,结果发现6个种群的遗传多样性水平均较低(He≈0·3);5个迁地种群分别有1、3或5个单态位点,大田种群无单态位点;邦溪种群与大田种群遗传分化显著,而甘什岭种群与大田种群的遗传分化不显著。结果表明,奠基者效应导致种群的遗传多样性水平较低,并且对于不同迁地种群,影响也不相同。造成这些差异的因素有建群者数量、引种方式和建群种群的结构。该研究为今后在海南岛建立新的海南坡鹿迁地种群提供建议和参考,同时也为其他濒危物种的迁地保护提供理论指导。     

圈养獐分娩的初步观察

2004年的5~7月,在浙江省嵊州市河麂种源繁育基地对34只獐(Hydropotes inermis)的分娩活动进行了观察。结果表明,母獐通常选择安全的地点进行分娩。獐集中分娩的时间为6月3日到6月19日,占分娩母獐总数的73.53%(n=34),并且分娩多在白天进行。产程(从胎膜露出到胎盘娩出)平均为(302.20±15.27)min(n=15)。胎儿娩出的姿势多为前躯前置(前足、头先露出),占83.78%;少数为后躯前置(后足先露出),占16.22%。幼仔首次吮乳时间在单胎和多胎间无显著差异,平均为出生后(44.97±2.73)min(n=35)。幼仔出生后首次平均站立时间在双胞胎、三胞胎和四胞胎分别为(32.25±2.49)min(n=16)(、29.42±2.52)min(n=12)和(65.00±7.39)min(n=6)。每胎幼仔数越多,初生幼仔的平均体重越轻。     

成年雄性林麝消化道寄生虫群落 对不同扰动策略的响应

人工繁育是当前我国保护野生林麝（Moschus berezovskii）资源的主要手段之一,但在林麝种群复壮的过程中,消化道寄生虫病始终威胁着林麝的健康。为探究林麝消化道寄生虫群落对不同扰动策略的响应,本研究分别使用复合药阿苯达唑伊维菌素粉和单一成分药阿维菌素粉去除林麝体内线虫和绦虫,监测林麝其他寄生虫和群落动态变化。选取60只雄性林麝,随机分为三组,分别为阿苯达唑伊维菌素用药组（20只）、阿维菌素用药组（20只）和未做任何处理的对照组（20只）,并连续采集8周用药组和对照组林麝的新鲜粪便。基于改良的Wisconsin粪便虫卵漂浮计数法检测粪便中的虫卵和卵囊,对实验结果进行Kruskal-Wallis检验、Wilcoxon秩检验、Mann Whitney检验和双因素方差分析。研究结果显示,对照组和阿苯达唑伊维菌素用药组林麝的寄生虫感染均为混合感染,球虫为优势物种,其负载量显著高于线虫和绦虫（P < 0.05),阿维菌素用药组林麝仅感染球虫。药物扰动后,两组用药组的林麝球虫的流行率、平均感染强度均高于对照组,但线虫流行率均低于对照组（27.15%,42.15%）。此外,用药后,阿苯达唑伊维菌素用药组林麝先于阿维菌素用药组再次感染线虫和绦虫。通过比较用药组和对照组林麝寄生虫的群落动态变化,表明林麝消化道寄生虫感染现象较为普遍,多重感染中球虫和蠕虫存在竞争关系,复合药物阿苯达唑伊维菌素粉对林麝寄生虫群落的扰动程度更大,林麝寄生虫群落恢复能力与扰动程度成正比。建议林麝人工繁育基地加强科学性和计划性驱虫,并持续性开展林麝寄生虫感染的监测工作。     

A review of the genus Rusa in the indo-malayan archipelago and conservation efforts

Genus Rusa, belonging to the deer family Cervidae is native to the Indo-Malaya Archipelago (IMA). However, detailed information on the Rusa genus in the IMA is limited. This review provides comprehensive information on the Rusa genus in the IMA including, threats and conservation efforts. There are four species of deer in Rusa genus, which is Sambar deer (Rusa unicolor), Javan deer (Rusa timorensis), Visayan spotted deer (Rusa alfredi) and Philippine deer (Rusa marianna). Despite their wide distribution in the South Asian and Southeast Asian regions, they are under serious threats. Some conservation efforts that are being done to protect and conserve them among others are; (1) facilities protection, (2) habitat enrichment programme, (3) Ex-situ conservation, (4) legislations, and (5) captive breeding. Conservation through genetics is also an important step in conserving these species. Recommendations for conservation of the genus are also discussed; 1. maintenance of ecosystem. 2. more effective monitoring system on the existing protected area. 3. ex-situ conservation, and 4. habitat monitoring.     

Gene expression dynamics in deer antler: mesenchymal differentiation toward chondrogenesis

Annual re-growth of deer antler represents a unique example of complete organ regeneration. Because antler mesenchymal cells retain their embryonic capacity to develop into cartilage or bone, studying antler development provides a natural system to follow gene expression changes during mesenchymal differentiation toward chondrogenic/osteogenic lineage. To identify novel genes involved either in early events of mesenchymal cell specialization or in robust bone development, we have introduced a 3 K heterologous microarray set-up (deer cDNA versus mouse template). Fifteen genes were differentially expressed; genes for housekeeping, regulatory functions (components of different signaling pathways, including FGF, TGFβ, Wnt), and genes encoding members of the Polycomb group were represented. Expression dynamics for genes are visualized by an expression logo. The expression profile of the gene C21orf70 of unknown function is described along with the effects when over-expressed; furthermore the nuclear localization of the cognate protein is shown. In this report, we demonstrate the particular advantage of the velvet antler model in bone research for: (1) identification of mesenchymal and precartilaginous genes and (2) targeting genes upregulated in robust cartilage development. Electronic supplementary material Supplementary material is available in the online version of this article at and is accessible for authorized users.     

大兴安岭原麝冬季的生境选择

2005年3～4月和2006年3月,在黑龙江省大兴安岭呼中自然保护区,采用机械布点法随机设置样线,对原麝(Moschus moschiferus)冬季生境选择进行了研究。对海拔、乔木密度、雪深、隐蔽度、食物丰富度、坡度和倒木数量进行2个独立样本的Mann-Whitey U检验,找出生境利用样方与任意样方的生态因子的差异。U检验的结果表明,原麝冬季喜欢活动在相对海拔高、乔木密度小、雪层浅、隐蔽度高、坡度陡且喜食食物丰富的区域;对植被类型、坡位、坡向、距水源距离、距人为干扰距离、动物干扰和碎石坡7个名词性变量采用卡方(Chi-square)统计进行显著性检验,卡方检验的结果表明:原麝冬季偏好远离人为干扰、接近碎石坡、阳坡和其他动物干扰较少的针阔混交林中;对以上14个生态因子进行主成分分析,结果表明,前6个特征值的累计贡献率达到72·318%,可以较好地反映原麝生境特征,根据主成分分析结果,将原麝冬季生境选择影响因子分别命名为空间因子(海拔、坡度、距碎石坡距离)、干扰因子(距人为干扰距离、距水源距离)、坡向因子(坡向、乔木密度)、坡位因子(坡位、动物干扰)、食物因子(食物丰富度、隐蔽度)和倒木因子(倒木数量)。     

Maximal aerobic performance of deer mice in combined cold and exercise challenges

In nature, animals frequently need to deal with several physiological challenges simultaneously. We examined thermoregulatory performance (body temperature stability) and maximal oxygen consumption of deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus) during intense exercise at room temperature, acute cold exposure, and exercise during cold exposure. Results with exercise and cold exposure alone were consistent with previous studies: there was little difference between maximal metabolism elicited by exercise alone or cold exposure alone in warm-acclimated mice; after cold acclimation (9 weeks at 5 °C), maximal exercise metabolism did not change but maximum thermogenic capacity increased by >60%. Warm acclimated animals did not increase maximal oxygen consumption when exercise was combined with moderate cold (0 °C) and had decreased maximal oxygen consumption when exercise was combined with severe cold (–16 °C). Combined cold and exercise also decreased thermoregulatory performance and exercise endurance time. Cold acclimation improved thermoregulatory performance in combined cold and exercise, and there was also a slight increase in endurance. However, as for warm-acclimated animals, maximal exercise metabolism did not increase at low temperatures. We interpret these results as an indication of competition between thermoregulatory and locomotor effectors (brown adipose tissue and skeletal muscle) under the combined challenges of cold exposure and maximal exercise, with priority given to the locomotor function.Abbreviations BAT brown adipose tissue - T _b body temperature - O ₂ rate of oxygen consumption - O ₂ max maximal O₂ in exercise - O ₂ sum maximal O₂ during cold exposure Communicated by G. Heldmaier     

Faecal pellets of Reeves’ muntjac,<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Muntiacus reevesi</Emphasis>: defecation rate,decomposition period,size and weight

Captive muntjac fed on vegetation had a daily defecation rate of 7 to 8.2.pellet groups. Even in the cold month of February 97.6% of pellets decayed within 80 days but for 8 other months the range was 4 to 23 days. Emphasis is given to the need for site-specific information when decay rate is required to assess population size from dung counts. The morphology, dimensions, weight and group size of pellets are described as an aid to distinguish them from the faeces of other cervids.     

13C]-Specific labeling of 8-2' linked (-)-cis-blechnic, (-)-trans-blechnic and (-)-brainic acids in the fern Blechnum spicant

In vivo administration experiments using stable (13C) and radio (14C) labeled precursors established that the optically active 8-2' linked lignans, (-)-cis-blechnic, (-)-trans-blechnic and (-)-trans-brainic acids, were directly derived from L-phenylalanine, cinnamate, and p-coumarate but not either from tyrosine or acetate. The radiochemical time course data suggest that the initial coupling product is (-)-cis-blechnic acid, which is then apparently converted into both (-)-trans-blechnic and (-)-trans-brainic acids in vivo. These findings provide additional evidence for vascular plant proteins engendering distinct but specific phenolic radical-radical coupling modes, i.e., for full control over phenylpropanoid coupling in vivo, whether stereoselective or regiospecific.