利用RAPD标记分析卧龙自然保护区不同海拔沙棘种群的遗传变异

从1800m到3400m五个海拔连续取样,用RAPD分子标记研究了卧龙自然保护区中国沙棘种群的遗传结构和遗传变异.用11条寡核苷酸引物,扩增得到151个重复性好的位点,其中143个多态位点,多态率达94.7%.在5个沙棘种群中,总遗传多样性值(HT)为0.289,B种群内的遗传多样性值为0.315,这完全符合沙棘这种多年生、远交的木本植物高遗传变异的特性.5个种群内遗传多样性随海拔升高呈低—高—低变异趋势,在2200m海拔处的B种群遗传多样性达最大值0.315,3400m海拔处的E种群则表现最小,仅0.098.5个种群间的遗传分化值GST=0.406,也即是说有40.6%的遗传变异存在于种群间,59.4%存在种群内.1800m海拔处的A种群与其他种群的明显分离是造成种群间遗传分化大的原因.UPGMA聚类图和PCoA散点图分别进一步确证了5个种群间关系和所有个体间的关系.最后,经过Mantel检测,遗传距离与海拔表现了明显的相关性(r=0.646,P=0.011).     

四川省部分豆科植物根瘤菌的遗传多样性

从四川省豆科植物鸡眼草属、合欢属、豇豆属、葛属、金合欢、杭子梢分离获得了103株根瘤菌,采用AFLP、BOXAIR-PCR研究了这些菌株的遗传多样性.结果表明,分离自四川省豆科植物6个属的根瘤菌存在明显的遗传多样性,AFLP分析中,全部供试菌株的相似性为21%,全部供试菌株可分为26个AFLP遗传群;BOXAIR-PCR聚类分析结果表明,103个菌株分在70%相似性水平处,供试菌株被分为18个BOX遗传群.除部分菌株外,多数根瘤菌按宿主类型聚群,同一宿主而地理来源不同的根瘤菌分布于不同的遗传群,表明宿主和地理环境对根瘤菌具有深刻影响.图3表1参9     

河北省黄顶菊4个地理种群遗传结构分析

利用AFLP技术对河北省黄顶菊[Flaveria bidentis(L.)Kuntze]4个地理种群的遗传结构及其影响因素进行了研究.结果表明,在物种水平上黄顶菊具有较高的遗传多样性;虽然种群间存在较高水平的基因流,但在种群水平上4个种群遗传多样性差异显著,具有较高的遗传分化.分析表明,影响黄顶菊遗传结构的因素较为复杂,入侵时间、环境差异、入侵行为中遭受的奠基者效应和瓶颈效应均影响种群的遗传多样性和遗传分化.聚类分析表明,4个种群间具有明显的种源地的地源性亲缘关系.     

大贵寺国家森林公园野生青檀居群的遗传多样性

利用ISSR分子标记技术对湖北省大贵寺国家森林公园野生青檀（Pteroceltis tatarinowii Maxim．）居群进行遗传多样性分析。用11条ISSR引物对6个青檀居群64个样品进行扩增,扩增片段长度在200bp至3000bp之间,检测到179个位点,其中多态位点165个,多态位点百分率（P）为92．14％。青檀在物种水平上的Nei基因多样性指数（胁）和Shannon信息指数∽分别为0．273和0．423,在居群水平上分别为0．225和0．343,显示出青檀有着较高的遗传多样性。居群间的遗传分化系数（Gsr）为0．192,表明青檀居群间存在着较大的遗传分化;UPGMA聚类分析表明遗传距离与海拔差距有一定的相关性,相邻海拔的青檀居群间遗传距离较近。不同海拔导致的异质生境可能是影响青檀居群遗传分化的主要原因。     

金花茶遗传多样性和遗传结构AFLP分析

利用扩增片段长度多态性(amplified fragment length polymorphism,AFLP)分子标记技术,对金花茶(Camellia nitidissima) 4个天然种群的遗传多样性和遗传结构进行研究,为金花茶资源的有效保护和高效利用提供科学依据。结果表明,8对引物共扩增出1 619个DNA位点,其中1 473个位点具多态性,多态性位点百分率为90. 98%。金花茶物种水平基因多样性指数和Shannon信息指数为0. 146和0. 246,种群水平基因多样性指数和Shannon信息指数为0. 131和0. 215; 4个金花茶种群的多态位点百分率、基因多样性指数和Shannon信息指数变化趋势一致,其中多态位点百分率介于56. 83%～72. 11%之间,基因多样性指数介于0. 122～0. 138之间,Shannon信息指数介于0. 197～0. 228之间。金花茶种群间的遗传分化系数介于0. 139～0. 289之间,遗传变异主要存在于种群内。分子变异分析(AMOVA)结果表明,金花茶种群内遗传变异为81. 52%,种群间遗传变异为18. 48%,遗传变异主要存在于种群内。非加权组平均法(UPGMA)聚类结果表明,种群间遗传变异与其地理距离无明显相关性。应加强现有金花茶种群的就地保护,促进种群自然更新,同时加强迁地保护。     

11个猕猴桃品种间的遗传多样性分析

利用随机扩增多态性DNA标记(RAPD)技术对采自四川省猕猴桃科研基地的11个猕猴桃品种进行了遗传多样性分析.通过引物筛选,从15个RAPD引物中扩增出135条带,其中100条为多态带,占74.07%.UPGMA聚类分析结果揭示了各品种间的亲缘关系.RAPD标记说明猕猴桃品种间遗传距离与地理分布有一定关系,地理位置较近的材料能聚在一起.分子标记可用于猕猴桃种质资源的分类、鉴定及良种选育.图2表2参15     

基于rDNA ITS和ISSR标记研究四川松茸遗传多样性

松茸是一种珍贵的食药用菌,至今无法人工栽培.为更好地开发利用松茸资源,以采自四川小金、雅江、木里等7个县的24株不同生境的野生松茸子实体为材料,采用ISSR(Inter-Simple Sequence Repeat)分子标记及rDNA ITS序列分析的方法研究这些菌株的遗传资源及多样性.从15条ISSR引物中筛选出2条多态性较好的引物对所有菌株进行了扩增,所得条带表明,在松茸中存在一定的遗传多样性;亲缘关系树状图表明,来自木里、会东、小金的大部分松茸样品聚为一个类群,而雅江、盐源、盐边、冕宁的为另一类群,呈现一定的地理分化现象.通过对各菌株rDNA ITS序列分析表明,松茸菌株间的ITS序列相似性很高.同时系统进化树表明四川松茸(Tricholoma matsutake)与美洲口蘑(T.magnivelare)同源关系较近,与欧洲口蘑(T.caligatum)距离较远,这与报道的形态学分类结果并不一致.本研究表明四川松茸蕴含丰富的遗传信息.图4表4参16     

RAPD标记鉴别中华绒螯蟹种群的初步研究

用２００个随机引物对中华绒螯蟹（Ｅｒｉｏｃｈｅｉｒｓｉｎｅｎｓｉｓ）辽河种群、长江种群和瓯江种群进行了ＲＡＰＤ遗传标记鉴别研究,其中引物ＨＸ０１和ＨＸ０２检测到瓯江种群和辽河种群所有样品共有的ＨＸ０１０．４和ＨＸ０２０．７扩增片段,Ｍｒ分别为０．４ｋｂ和０．７ｋｂ．这两个扩增片段在模板ＤＮＡ浓度作上下５０％的改变、或在镁离子和引物浓度分别作上下２５％的改变时仍稳定出现,而长江种群样品的ＰＣＲ反应中无这两个扩增片段出现,因而可作为长江种群的鉴别标记．用上述标记检查一些人工养殖的河蟹,发现一些苗种场的蟹苗种质严重混杂．未发现可以区分瓯江种群和辽河种群的标记     

基于分子标记的油松种群遗传保护分析

利用分子标记技术分析了山西5个天然油松种群140个个体的遗传特征,比较了不同种群的多态位点显性频率、遗传多样性指数、基因流和分化系数.筛选的5个ISSR引物和5个RAPD引物共扩增到位点68个,其中多态位点50个遗传参数的统计分析显示,多态位点的显性频率、遗传多样性指数、分化系数分别介于0.000 0～1.000 0、0.0200～0.500 0和0.003 7～0.615 62:间,表明油松种群遗传多样性的主要来源是等位基因频率的不同和部分位点较大程度的遗传分化.根据油松的种群遗传学特征,认为只有加强天然油松林的生境保护,使其不产生片断化,才能使油松的遗传资源得到有效保护.图2表4参16     

RAPD标记鉴别中华绒螯解种群的初步研究

用２００个随机引物对中华绒螯蟹辽河种群,长江种群和瓯江种进行了ＲＡＰＤ遗传标记鉴别研究,其中引物ＨＸＯ１和ＨＸＯ２检测与瓯江种群和辽河种群所有样品共有的ＨＸＯ１－０．４和ＨＸ０２－０．７扩增片段,     

Representation of the world's biophysical conditions by the global protected area network

Protected areas (PAs) are often implemented without consideration of already existing PAs, which is likely to cause an overrepresentation of certain biophysical conditions. We assessed the representativeness of the current PA network with regard to the world's biophysical conditions to highlight which conditions are underprotected and where these conditions are located. We overlaid terrestrial and marine PAs with information on biophysical conditions (e.g., temperature, precipitation, and elevation) and then quantified the percentage of area covered by the PA network. For 1 variable at a time in the terrestrial realm, high temperature, low precipitation, and medium and very high elevation were underrepresented. For the marine realm, low and medium sea surface temperature (SST), medium and high sea surface salinity (SSS), and the deep sea were underrepresented. Overall, protection was evenly distributed for elevation across the terrestrial realm and SST across the marine realm. For 2 variables at a time, cold and very dry terrestrial environments had mostly low protection, which was also the case for low SST and low and medium SSS across most depths for marine environments. Low protection occurred mostly in the Sahara and the Arabian Peninsula for the terrestrial realm and along the Tropic of Capricorn and toward the poles for the marine realm. Although biodiversity measures are of prime importance for the design of PA networks, highlighting biophysical gaps in current PAs adds a frequently overlooked perspective. These gaps may weaken the potential of PAs to conserve biodiversity. Thus, our results may provide useful insights for researchers, practitioners, and policy makers to establish a more comprehensive global PA network.     

Quantitative composition of the defensive secretion ofBledius species (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Oxytelinae) is adapted to naturally occurring predators

Summary The adaptation of defensive secretions to their target organisms was examined for the abdominal gland secretions ofBledius furcatus, B. spectabilis andB. arenarius. Therefore the target organisms of the secretion of theseBledius species (i.e. their predators) had to be identified. At the collection sites examined these were the earwigLabidura riparia, the antCataglyphis bicolor, the flyLispe candicans, different carabids of the generaPogonus, Dichirotrichus, Dyschirius, Bembidion andCalathus and the wading birdsHaematopus ostralegus andCalidris alba. The secretion of the abdominal glands contains the toxin ptoluquinone dissolved in either-dodecalactone and 1-undecene (B. furcatus andB. spectabilis) or in octanoic acid and octyloctanoate (B. arenarius). The ratio of these solvents is species-specific. Application experiments using some of the natural insect predators (L. riparia, C. bicolor, Pogonus, Di. gustavii, Dyschirius) revealed that these solvent ratios provided a more effective deterrent than other possible ratios. Thus by combining the solvents in certain ratios, the capability of cuticular penetration and therefore the effectiveness of the defensive secretions are adapted to their natural targets.     

Democracy versus development: New urban debates

The politics of development includes subtexts of choice, as underpinned by community consensus (or lack of it), against the larger backdrop of a liberal democracy, with its intricate power structures that influence the choice of concepts and often lead to complicity rather than consent. A dilemma exists between the understanding of field-level practitioners and that of academics, whose understandings of progress differ. Progress can (and often does) imply long-term change across generations whereas development is often more a matter of crisis management and delivering tangible results to end-users. This makes it a bone of contention across political systems, irrespective of local or global dynamics. Development can emerge as a tool to be wielded for power and further political mileage at the expense of progress. Progress cannot be studied as a counterpoint to development as the sense of history is often missing in development interventions. Development tends to be piecemeal as its very logic often stems from the rationale of power. This is not to suggest, however, that development is only about politics; it is definitely more than the politics of everyday life and involves all of civil society that requires its critical and immediate attention. In this sense, it has become a priority for politicians with an underlying agenda designed to out-manouevre dissent and all statements of protest.     

Achieving Open Access to Conservation Science

Conservation science is a crisis discipline in which the results of scientific enquiry must be made available quickly to those implementing management. We assessed the extent to which scientific research published since the year 2000 in 20 conservation science journals is publicly available. Of the 19,207 papers published, 1,667 (8.68%) are freely downloadable from an official repository. Moreover, only 938 papers (4.88%) meet the standard definition of open access in which material can be freely reused providing attribution to the authors is given. This compares poorly with a comparable set of 20 evolutionary biology journals, where 31.93% of papers are freely downloadable and 7.49% are open access. Seventeen of the 20 conservation journals offer an open access option, but fewer than 5% of the papers are available through open access. The cost of accessing the full body of conservation science runs into tens of thousands of dollars per year for institutional subscribers, and many conservation practitioners cannot access pay‐per‐view science through their workplace. However, important initiatives such as Research4Life are making science available to organizations in developing countries. We urge authors of conservation science to pay for open access on a per‐article basis or to choose publication in open access journals, taking care to ensure the license allows reuse for any purpose providing attribution is given. Currently, it would cost $51 million to make all conservation science published since 2000 freely available by paying the open access fees currently levied to authors. Publishers of conservation journals might consider more cost effective models for open access and conservation‐oriented organizations running journals could consider a broader range of options for open access to nonmembers such as sponsorship of open access via membership fees. Obtención de Acceso Abierto a la Ciencia de la Conservación     

A framework to measure the wildness of managed large vertebrate populations

As landscapes continue to fall under human influence through habitat loss and fragmentation, fencing is increasingly being used to mitigate anthropogenic threats and enhance the commercial value of wildlife. Subsequent intensification of management potentially erodes wildness by disembodying populations from landscape-level processes, thereby disconnecting species from natural selection. Tools are needed to measure the degree to which populations of large vertebrate species in formally protected and privately owned wildlife areas are self-sustaining and free to adapt. We devised a framework to measure such wildness based on 6 attributes relating to the evolutionary and ecological dynamics of vertebrates (space, disease and parasite resistance, exposure to predation, exposure to limitations and fluctuations of food and water supply, and reproduction). For each attribute, we set empirical, species-specific thresholds between 5 wildness states based on quantifiable management interventions. We analysed data from 205 private wildlife properties with management objectives spanning ecotourism to consumptive utilization to test the framework on 6 herbivore species representing a range of conservation statuses and commercial values. Wildness scores among species differed significantly, and the proportion of populations identified as wild ranged from 12% to 84%, which indicates the tool detected site-scale differences both among populations of different species and populations of the same species under different management regimes. By quantifying wildness, this framework provides practitioners with standardized measurement units that link biodiversity with the sustainable use of wildlife. Applications include informing species management plans at local scales; standardizing the inclusion of managed populations in red-list assessments; and providing a platform for certification and regulation of wildlife-based economies. Applying this framework may help embed wildness as a normative value in policy and mitigate the shifting baseline of what it means to truly conserve a species.     

Sexual Predators,Energy Development,and Conservation in Greater Yellowstone

Abstract: In the United States, as elsewhere, a growing debate pits national energy policy and homeland security against biological conservation. In rural communities the extraction of fossil fuels is often encouraged because of the employment opportunities it offers, although the concomitant itinerant workforce is often associated with increased wildlife poaching. We explored possible positive and negative factors associated with energy extraction in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (GYE), an area known for its national parks, intact biological diversity, and some of the New World's longest terrestrial migrations. Specifically, we asked whether counties with different economies—recreation (ski), agrarian (ranching or farming), and energy extractive (petroleum)—differed in healthcare (gauged by the abundance of hospital beds) and in the frequency of sexual predators. The absolute and relative frequency of registered sex offenders grew approximately two to three times faster in areas reliant on energy extraction. Healthcare among counties did not differ. The strong conflation of community dishevel, as reflected by in‐migrant sexual predators, and ecological decay in Greater Yellowstone is consistent with patterns seen in similar systems from Ecuador to northern Canada, where social and environmental disarray exist around energy boomtowns. In our case, that groups (albeit with different aims) mobilized campaigns to help maintain the quality of rural livelihoods by protecting open space is a positive sign that conservation can matter, especially in the face of rampant and poorly executed energy extraction projects. Our findings further suggest that the public and industry need stronger regulatory action to instill greater vigilance when and where social factors and land conversion impact biological systems.     

Comparison of the insecticidal effects of water extracted and intact aromatic plants onAcanthoscelides obtectus,a bruchid beetle pest of kidney beans

Summary Acanthoscelides obtectus (Say) is one of the most damaging pests of kidney beans,Phaseolus vulgaris L. worldwide. However, aromatic plants from the families Lamiaceae, Lauraceae, Myrtaceae and Poaceae can protect kidney beans by direct or delayed insecticidal effect, through increased adult mortality and inhibition of beetle reproduction (both oviposition and adult emergence). The efficiency of hydrodistillated and intact plants fromThymus vulgaris andT. serpyllum, Mentha piperata, Rosmarinus officinalis, Satureia hortensis, Eucalyptus globulus, Laurus nobilis, Origanum vulgare, andCymbopogon nardus was compared. For both extracts,Origanum vulgare had the best effect. The insecticidal effect was induced by more than the essential oils because no significant difference was noticed between distilled and intact plants extract. Inhibition of reproduction was particularly important. These results suggest that lipidic as well as non lipidic, allelochemicals, such as phenolics, or non-protein amino-acids, or flavonoids may be involved in the toxicity of aromatic plants to this beetle.     

Rapid,recurring, structured survey versus bioblitz for generating biodiversity data and analysis with a multispecies abundance model

A bioblitz inexpensively and quickly generates biodiversity data, but bioblitzes are often conducted with haphazard, unreplicated sampling. Results tend to be taxonomically, geographically, or temporally biased, lack metadata, and consist of lists of observed taxa that do not enable further analyses or correction for imperfect detection. A rapid, recurring, structured survey (RRSS) uses a structured sampling design and temporal and spatial replication to survey randomly selected sites on a conservation property. We participated in a loosely structured bioblitz and a subsequent RRSS at Big Canoe Creek Nature Preserve in Springville (St. Clair County), Alabama (USA) to compare observed richness derived from the 2 survey approaches. The RRSS data structure enabled us to fit models that accounted for imperfect detection to estimate abundances, occupancy probabilities, and habitat associations. The loosely structured bioblitz data could not be used in such models. We present a new integrated multispecies abundance model that we applied to avian RRSS data. Our model extension enables estimation for the community, employs data augmentation to estimate the number of undetected species, and incorporates covariates. The RRSS generated a more comprehensive and less biased list of observed taxonomic richness than the loosely structured bioblitz (e.g., 73 vs. 45 bird species and 104 vs. 63 insect families from the RRSS vs. loosely structured bioblitz, respectively). Models fit to the RRSS data identified seasonal patterns in avian community composition and allowed for estimation of habitat–occupancy relationships for insect taxa. The RRSS protocol has potential for broad transferability as a standardized, quick, and inexpensive way to inventory biodiversity and estimate ecological parameters while providing an outreach opportunity.     

Compliance with and ecosystem function of biodiversity offsets in North American and European freshwaters

Land-use change via human development is a major driver of biodiversity loss. To reduce these impacts, billions of dollars are spent on biodiversity offsets. However, studies evaluating offset project effectiveness that examine components such as the overall compliance and function of projects remain rare. We reviewed 577 offsetting projects in freshwater ecosystems that included the metrics project size, type of aquatic system (e.g., wetland and creek), offsetting measure (e.g., enhancement, restoration, and creation), and an assessment of the projects’ compliance and functional success. Project information was obtained from scientific and government databases and gray literature. Despite considerable investment in offsetting projects, crucial problems persisted. Although compliance and function were related to each other, a high level of compliance did not guarantee a high degree of function. However, large projects relative to area had better function than small projects. Function improved when projects targeted productivity or specific ecosystem features and when multiple complementary management targets were in place. Restorative measures were more likely to achieve targets than creating entirely new ecosystems. Altogether the relationships we found highlight specific ecological processes that may help improve offsetting outcomes.     

Some polyphagous Homoptera gain protection from their natural enemies by feeding on the toxic plantsSpartium junceum andErythrina corallodendrum (Leguminosae)

Summary Interactions were studied among alkaloid-containing legumes (Erythrina corallodendrum andSpartium junceum) and non-toxic plants (Citrus sinensis, Cucurbita moschata andEuphorbia tirucalli), several polyphagous homopterans,Aphis craccivora (Aphididae),Icerya purchasi, I. aegyptiaca (Margarodidae),Lepidosaphes ulmi (Diaspididae) andPlanococcus citri (Pseudococcidae), and some major natural enemies of these homopterans. Significant reductions in survival due to negative effects of alkaloid containing as compared with non-alkaloidal plants were recorded for the predatorsRodolia cardinalis andChilocorus bipustulatus, but not forCryptolaemus montrouzieri (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae),Chrysoperla carnea (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) andSympherobius sanctus (Neuroptera: Sympherobiidae). The development time of the larvae or pupae ofR. cardinalis, C. carnea andS. sanctus was longer on the toxic plants than on the non-toxic ones. The percentage of parasitism ofA. craccivora collected from the non-alkaloidal plantsVicia palaestina andMelilotus albus was much higher than that onS. junceum. The parasitoid complexes ofA. craccivora differed between both plant groups. The nutritive value of honeydew ofI. purchasi andA. craccivora, as expressed by the life span ofEncyrtus infelix (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) adults, was also investigated. Life spans were significantly longer when the wasps fed on honeydew produced on non-alkaloidal plants (C. sinensis andPittosporum tobira) than on alkaloid containing plants whenI. purchasi — but notA. craccivora — was the producer. It is suggested that the chemical defense ofE. corallodendrum andS. junceum is exploited by polyphagous phytophages to reduce predation. In nature, population growth and density of four of the investigated homopterans are conspicuously high when they developed on the alkaloid containing plant species, and very low on non-alkaloid plants. The efficiency of their natural enemies may be reduced by sequestration of alkaloids (or other toxic plant compounds) or their transfer into excreted honeydew. Therefore it is assumed that a generalist phytophagous homopteran may be protected from its natural enemies, although at different rates of efficiency, if it can safely sequester the host allelochemical when it develops on toxic species within its host range.