麋鹿幼仔的活动同步性与同性聚群倾向

哺乳动物幼体从出生到性成熟这段时间存在生理和行为上的巨大变化.麋鹿幼仔出生1周内,与成鹿和其它仔鹿呈隔离状态,且藏卧于隐蔽处,母鹿哺乳是引起幼仔活动的主要因素.     

重引入对麋鹿种群分娩定时及同步化的影响

种群持续繁殖是重引入物种对原灭绝地气候成功恢复适应的重要标志,研究重引入前后种群的繁殖波动规律,可为重引入管理者提供精准的繁殖预测信息和科学依据。本文整理北京重引入麋鹿种群后的1987年、1997年、2007年和2017年的总分娩数据,以每年最早分娩日作参照基准,统计个体分娩距此的天数,计算同步化率,并用ANOVA分析气温、降水、空气湿度、光照等变量对麋鹿分娩定时格局的影响。结果表明：(1) 引入后麋鹿种群年分娩节律呈“钟摆样”前后摆动,后逐渐回调,并最终处于相对稳定状态：时隔85年 (从灭绝至重引入) 后,北京麋鹿种群首次分娩时间较乌邦寺种群推迟35 ~ 42 d;重引入定植阶段：分娩节律逐年提前;种群扩繁阶段：分娩节律逐年向后推迟;种群复壮阶段：分娩节律又逐年微回调并最终处于稳定状态。(2) 北京麋鹿种群分娩有较强光周期定时和同步化：在重引入的第一年,分娩同步化率达到0 ~ 25%、25% ~ 50%、50% ~ 75%,分别用时18 d、14 d、5 d;重引入定植阶段分别用时41 d、19 d、11 d;种群扩繁阶段分别用时45 d、10 d、9 d;种群复壮阶段分别用时34 d、20 d和11 d。(3) 累积光照和积温,对北京麋鹿种群正常分娩启动影响差异极显著,对同步化分娩没有影响：妊娠期积温达到 (2748.34 ± 157.69)℃,累计光照达到 (3684.77 ± 514.26) h可启动正常分娩。(4) 北京麋鹿种群的分娩峰期与地上生物量峰期相关;从分娩时间来看,北京麋鹿种群已经恢复了对原灭绝地气候的适应。(5) 随时间增长,北京麋鹿种群非同步化分娩的个体数量逐年增加,分娩期总跨度并未延长。1997年以来,平均每年有30%左右的非同步化分娩现象。因此,基于分娩数据分析表明,麋鹿引入北京37年后,种群已经恢复对原灭绝地环境的重适应。     

Molecular characterization of Enterococcus faecium isolated from hospitalized patients in Korea

AIMS: Multilocus sequence typing (MLST) was performed for vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium (VREF) from diverse geographical areas in Korea to obtain insights into the genetic relationships with other molecular profiles. To understand the diversity of lineages, vancomycin-susceptible E. faecium (VSEF) were included. METHODS AND RESULTS: A total of 60 E. faecium isolates were analysed by MLST and esp profile. Molecular typing of Tn1546 of 30 VREF strains was evaluated by overlapping PCR of Tn1546 and DNA sequencing. Seven sequence types (ST) were found among 30 VSEF isolates, and four STs were found among 30 VREF isolates. The types most frequently encountered were ST 78 (26 isolates) and ST 203 (16 isolates). Of the 60 E. faecium isolates, 35 isolates were positive for the esp gene. On molecular typing of Tn1546, all VREF isolates were divided into four main types. Strains with the same ST showed divergence in Tn1546 types and strains with the same Tn1546 type represented different STs. CONCLUSIONS: An association between Tn1546 typing and MLST was not found. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: These results suggest that the horizontal spread of Tn1546 between strains plays a major role in the dissemination of vancomycin resistance in Korea.     

Cross‐transmission of clinical Enterococcus faecium in relation to esp and antibiotic resistance

Aims: To investigate clonality among clinical Enterococcus faecium isolates and normal intestinal microflora isolates as well as cross‐transmission between patients in relation to the presence of the esp gene and antibiotic resistance. Methods and Results: Blood‐culture isolates (n = 101) deriving from tertiary, secondary and primary hospitals were analysed. Antibiotic susceptibility was investigated. Polymerase chain reaction and pulsed‐field gel electrophoresis were used for detection of esp and genotyping, respectively. Nearly half (43%) of the patients included were involved in a cross‐transmission event with Ent. faecium. These strains disseminated both within and between all hospitals. The antibiotic resistance and presence of esp were highest in isolates from the tertiary hospital. Isolates harbouring esp showed less genetic diversity compared with esp negative ones. Conclusions: Cross‐transmission with Ent. faecium between patients was readily detected, indicating that hospital‐adapted clones circulate within and between hospitals. Acquired characteristics, such as antibiotic resistance and esp, seem to accumulate in the isolates disseminating in the tertiary hospital. Significance and Impact of the Study: It is important to characterize Ent. faecium isolates causing infections and to determine the extent of dissemination in order to prevent further spread of these pathogens.     

Distribution and diversity of the enterococcal surface protein (esp) gene in animal hosts and the Pacific coast environment

Aims:  This study sought to evaluate the distribution of the enterococcal surface protein ( esp ) gene in Enterococcus faecium in the Pacific coast environment as well as the distribution and diversity of the gene in Northern California animal hosts.
Methods and Results:  Over 150 environmental samples from the Pacific coast environment (sand, surf zone, fresh/estuarine, groundwater, and storm drain) were screened for the esp gene marker in E. faecium , and the marker was found in 37% of the environmental samples. We examined the host specificity of the gene by screening various avian and mammalian faecal samples, and found the esp gene to be widespread in nonhuman animal faeces. DNA sequence analysis performed on esp polymerase chain reaction amplicons revealed that esp gene sequences were not divergent between hosts.
Conclusions:  Our data confirm recent findings that the E. faecium variant of the esp gene is not human-specific.
Significance and Impact of the Study:  Our results suggest that the use of the esp gene for microbial source tracking applications may not be appropriate at all recreational beaches.     

Trophic ecology of the pikeperch (Sander lucioperca) in its introduced areas: a stable isotope approach in southwestern France

During the last decades, non-native predatory fish species have been largely introduced in European lakes and rivers, calling for detailed information on the trophic ecology of co-existing native and non-native predators. The present study describes the trophic ecology of the introduced pikeperch (Sander lucioperca) in two southwestern French rivers, using stable isotope analysis. Pikeperch could be categorized as a top-predator, and had a significantly higher trophic position (TP, mean±SE=4.2±0.1) compared to other predatory fish such as the native pike (Esox lucius, TP=3.7±0.1) and the introduced European catfish (Silurus glanis, TP=3.8±0.1). Most studies of resource use in freshwaters consider predatory fish as ecologically equivalent; however, this study showed that the pikeperch occupied a higher trophic niche compared to other predatory species in the Lot and Tarn rivers (Garonne River basin). This apparent specialization may thus have consequences upon interspecific relationships within the predatory guild and upon the functional organization of biological communities. To cite this article: D. Kopp et al., C. R. Biologies 332 (2009).     

Frequent occurrence of multidrug‐resistant CC17 Enterococcus faecium among clinical isolates in Sweden

Aims: To screen for the globally spread cluster of Enterococcus faecium, clonal complex 17 (CC17) and characterize the genetic profile of Swedish clinical Ent. faecium isolates. Methods: A total of 203 consecutive isolates collected from 2004 to 2007 from patients with bacteraemia in Sweden. All isolates were genotyped using multiple‐locus variable‐number tandem repeat analysis (MLVA) and 20 isolates representing different MLVA types (MT) were chosen for multilocus sequence typing (MLST). Minimal inhibitory concentrations against clinically relevant antibiotics were determined with agar dilution. Presence of the virulence genes esp and hyl was investigated using PCR. Results: A total of 65% (n = 109) of all isolates belonged to MT‐1, and the second most common MLVA type was MT‐159 (13%, n = 21). MLST analysis confirmed the presence of CC17 during the entire study period. The number of isolates resistant to gentamicin and vancomycin, as well as the presence of hyl, increased significantly during the investigation period. Conclusions: The present study demonstrates that nosocomial infections caused by Ent. faecium CC17 are commonly occurring in Sweden. Significance and Impact of the Study: This is the first report of CC17 Ent. faecium in Sweden. The increase of antibiotic resistance and virulence indicates that these strains are further adapting to the hospital environment.     

苏北滨海湿地麋鹿恢复种群的研究

1986年至2004年,在苏北滨海湿地开展恢复麋鹿野生种群的研究。从每年的2月份开始,在麋鹿的产仔期按照每旬记录产仔数,直至产仔结束。逐年统计半散养和野生麋鹿种群结构。选择不同年龄阶段和不同性别的麋鹿进行称重,分析个体的身体发育程度。半散养麋鹿种群由1986年引进的39 头,发展到2004年的706 头,年均出生率21.7%,鹿群年均增长率为17.5%,现已繁殖了子四代;野生放养麋鹿由31 头增加到2004年的41头,年均出生率16.3%,年均增长率为9.0% ,且于2003年、2004年各产1 头完全属野生的子二代。产仔季节相由引进时的紊乱已调整至目前的规律性产仔。研究表明大丰麋鹿种群繁殖很成功,其寿命、行为、生理发育、繁殖周期等都较引进时发生了显著的变化,已完全适应了黄海湿地生态环境。人类活动干扰仍是影响麋鹿种群恢复的一个重要因素。     

Elephas reckiDietrich,, 1915 (Proboscidea,Elephantidae)). Évolution au cours du Plio-pléistocène en Afrique orientale

A revision of the presently available materialrefered to the species Elephas reckiDietrich.. 1915, collected in East african plio-pleistocene levels, leads up to distinguish a succession of five subspecies within the species: E. r. brumpti n. subsp.; E. r. shungurensis n. subsp.; E. r. atavusArambourg 1947; E. r. ileretensis n. subsp. and E. r. reckiDietrich,, 1915.The five subspecies diagnosis are proposed here. They together represent a monophyletic lineage, the study of which allows to propose new interpretations regarding the history and evolutionary trends of the genus in Africa.     

Relationship between biofilm formation, the enterococcal surface protein (Esp) and gelatinase in clinical isolates of Enterococcus faecalis and Enterococcus faecium

One-hundred and twenty-eight enterococcal isolates were examined for their ability to form biofilm in relation to the presence of the gene encoding the enterococcal surface protein (esp), production of gelatinase and to the source of isolation. Neither esp nor gelatinase seemed to be required for biofilm formation: both Enterococcus faecalis and Enterococcus faecium did not show a correlation between the presence of either esp or the production of gelatinase and biofilm formation. However, in E. faecium while esp was found in isolates from either source, the presence of both esp and biofilm together was only found in strains from clinical settings, suggesting that there exists a synergy between these factors which serves as an advantage for the process of infection.