一株大熊猫肠道厌氧纤维素菌的分离鉴定、系统发育分析及生物学特性的研究

从成都动物园健康大熊猫的肠道采集样品,富集分离获得一株典型的厌氧纤维素分解菌PD.分离菌是杆状,革兰氏阳性(G ),菌体大小为0.5μm×(3～5)μm,严格厌氧;生长温度为25～40℃,最适生长温度为38℃;pH范围5.0～9.0,最适pH7.2;在纤维素粉作碳源的琼脂培养基上菌落直径为1～3mm,白色透明斑;分离菌株不仅能利用纤维二糖、葡萄糖、蔗糖、淀粉、松三糖、覃糖等多种可溶性碳源,而且可以利用纤维素粉等不溶性碳源.同时,对菌株PD进行了16SrDNA的PCR扩增,并对扩增产物测序.对16SrDNA部分序列进行了分析,并构建了系统发育树,表明菌株PD属于梭菌属,与Clostridiumlentocellum(T)的16SrDNA序列具有92.2%相似性.图5表1参18     

一株嗜酸性产纤维素酶真菌的特性及产酶条件优化

从四川海螺沟原始森林腐土中分离到一株嗜酸性产纤维素酶的真菌X-13,其主要特点是产纤维素酶的最适pH及其纤维素酶最适反应pH均为2.0.在PDA培养基上培养时菌落呈浅黄色至肉桂色,反面呈黄色至棕褐色,产黄色色素;菌丝体透明有隔膜,分生孢子呈球形或近球形.根据菌株的形态特征以及ITS序列同源性和系统发育分析结果,鉴定该菌株为土曲霉(Aspergillus terreus Thom).该菌最佳产酶培养时间为8～10 d;最适产酶温度为30℃,纤维素酶最适反应温度为50℃;最佳碳源、氮源分别为纤维素粉和硫酸铵.通过响应面法对菌株产纤维素酶条件进行优化,使菌株X-13纤维素酶活从1.39 IU/mL提高到2.94 IU/mL,提高了111.5%.     

大熊猫肠道产果胶酶细菌的多样性及产酶特性

为探究大熊猫肠道微生物与消化的相互关系,利用果胶筛选培养基,从大熊猫新鲜粪便中分离具有产果胶酶活性的细菌,对获得的菌株采用生理生化特征和16S r DNA进行鉴定分类,探讨产果胶酶细菌多样性,并研究菌株的最适生长特性及产酶特性.共分离得到产果胶酶的细菌31株,属于志贺菌属(Shigella)、埃希氏菌属(Escherichia)、克雷伯氏菌属(Klebsilla)3个属,其中最高酶活为334.44 U/m L,最低酶活为15.6 U/m L.PF-4菌株具有最高的酶活,鉴定为肺炎克雷伯氏菌,生长温度范围为16-45℃,生长p H范围是5-8,最适产酶时间为24 h,最适产酶温度为37℃,最适产酶p H为6.结果为研究大熊猫消化系统中微生物果胶酶的来源及性质提供了参考.     

3株高温蛋白酶产生菌的分离与鉴定

从云南温泉的污泥样品中分离到3株产蛋白酶的高温菌SB11、SB31和SC5,通过其形态特征、生理生化特征和16S rDNA序列比对分析等,初步鉴定这3株菌都属于土芽孢杆菌属(Geobacillus),其最适生长温度为60℃,最适pH为6.三者的蛋白酶活力分别可达35.6、26.1和26.6UmL-1,最适酶反应温度都在70℃以上,其中菌株SB31的蛋白酶其最适酶反应温度高达80℃,远高于一般动植物来源的蛋白酶.图4表1参11     

嗜热厌氧细菌Clostridium sp.EVA4菌株直接转化纤维素产乙醇的研究

用分离获得的嗜热厌氧纤维素降解细菌 Ｃｌｏｓｔｒｉｄｉｕｍ ｓｐ ． Ｅ Ｖ Ａ４ 菌株进行了直接转化纤维素产生乙醇的动力学、发酵最适条件及其影响因子的研究．结果表明, Ｅ Ｖ Ａ４ 菌株在ｐ Ｈ６ ．２ ～８ ．９ ,θ４５ ℃～６０ ℃的范围内能直接转化纤维素滤纸产生乙醇,最适ｐ Ｈ 为７ ．５ ～８ ．０ ,最适θ为５５ ～６０ ℃． Ｅ Ｖ Ａ４ 菌株能利用纤维素滤纸,纤维素粉 Ｗｈａｔｍａｎ Ｃ Ｆ Ｉ Ｉ,微晶纤维素,纤维素粉 Ｍ Ｎ３００ 和未经处理的玉米秆芯,甘蔗渣,水稻秸秆产生乙醇．乙醇浓度 ,纤维素降解率和培养基还原糖浓度均随培养时间延长而增大．不同的纤维素材料、ｐ Ｈ、θ、底物浓度、酵母粉含量、振荡、培养气相、外加 Ｏ２ 和乙醇等条件均能影响 Ｅ Ｖ Ａ４ 菌株转化纤维素为乙醇的能力．最适条件下 Ｅ Ｖ Ａ４ 菌株利用１ ％ 纤维素滤纸培养１２０ ｈ 产乙醇浓度为１ １２３ ｍｇ／ Ｌ,纤维素降解率为５９ ％     

一株高浸磷嗜酸氧化硫硫杆菌的分离与鉴定

从矿山土样中分离到一株嗜酸的浸磷矿细菌HY-01,观察其形态并研究其培养特征.结果显示,该菌株为革兰氏阴性、短杆状运动细菌,菌体长1～2μm,宽0.5～0.7 μm,能在pH 1.5～8.0的范围内生长,最适生长温度为37℃,最适pH为1.5～3.0.该菌株可以KNO3、NH4NO3、(NH4)2CO3、NH4H2PO...     

一株产耐热纤维素酶菌株的筛选及酶学性质

采用纤维素刚果红平板法从大田蘑菇种植场建堆的稻草样中分离得到了1株能产具有较好温度耐受性和pH稳定性的纤维素酶的放线菌DY3.综合形态、生理生化特征以及16S rDNA序列分析,将其初步鉴定为嗜热裂孢菌(Thermobifida fusca).对该菌所产纤维素酶的性质研究表明:最适催化温度为65℃,在70℃保温60 min后仍有75%以上的活力;最适催化pH为7.5,在pH 5.5～10.0之间该酶的稳定性较好,pH 10.0的条件下仍有80%的活力;最适作用底物是羧甲基纤维素钠.研究可为木质纤维素的生物预处理提供一定参考价值.     

一株兼性嗜冷小甲烷粒菌的生物学特性及系统发育分析

采用改进的亨盖特(Hungate)厌氧技术,从西藏林芝厌氧消化系统中分离到一株产甲烷菌菌株LZ-6.该菌株为革兰氏阴性,不运动,球形,直径约0.3～0.6μm.该菌株利用H2/CO2,微利用甲酸生长,不利用乙酸、甲醇、甲醇/H2、三甲胺、甲胺,最适生长pH为6.8～7.2,最适生长温度25℃,最适Na+浓度0.2mol/L.菌株LZ-6的16SrRNA基因序列与小甲烷粒菌(Methanocorpusculum parvum)相似性为99%.生理、形态结构特征等生物学特性研究表明此株产甲烷古菌为兼性嗜冷产甲烷古菌.     

一株产酸性α-淀粉酶菌株的筛选、纯化及酶学性质

从南宁酒厂附近土壤中筛选到一株产淀粉酶的野生菌株GXBA-4,经革兰氏染色、芽孢染色以及16SrDNA鉴定,初步确定为解淀粉芽孢杆菌(Bacillus amyloliquefacien).将该菌株发酵液经过硫酸铵沉淀和凝胶过滤纯化出一种α-淀粉酶,该酶相对分子质量约为57×103;反应最适温度为40~45℃,适应温度范围广,30℃时仍具有80%以上的相对活力;最适pH为5.0,为低温酸性淀粉酶.该酶水解可溶性淀粉的产物,经HPLC检测主要是以葡萄糖,麦芽糖以及麦芽三糖为主的低聚糖,分别以α-环糊精、β-环糊精、可溶性淀粉、玉米生淀粉为底物,还原糖产物比为0:0:99:3.4,表明该酶为典型的α-淀粉酶.     

厌氧纤维素降解产氢复合菌系L-3研究

从厌氧发酵污泥中筛选到一组高效、传代稳定的厌氧纤维素降解复合菌系L-3.该复合菌系的内切葡聚糖酶活(Cx)、滤纸酶活(FPA)、外切葡聚糖酶活(C1)、β-葡聚糖苷酶活(β-glucodase)分别为0.216、0.101、0.132、0.002U/mL;该复合菌系可使滤纸在42h内溃烂,并能在降解纤维素的同时产生氢气,气体中氢气含量最高可达70.2%,d13时滤纸失重率为70.6%.DGGE结果表明,该复合菌系主要由14种菌组成.在所选实验条件内,该复合菌系产纤维素降解酶的最适条件为:最佳碳源为滤纸,最佳氮源为硫酸铵,温度36℃,pH6.5～7.0,接种量5%.     

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     

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.     

Sequestration of cucurbitacin analogs by New and Old World chrysomelid leaf beetles in the tribe Luperini

Summary Two South American polyphagous leaf beetles,Diabrotica speciosa andCerotoma arcuata, selectively accumulated the bitter tasting compound 23,24-dihydrocucurbitacin D in their body after ingesting root tissues of cucurbit plants. Similarly, three Asian Cucurbitaceae-feeding specialists in the genusAulacophora were found to sequester the same compound. Cucurbitacin analogs were shown to deter feeding by a bird predator, indicating an allomonal role for these compounds in cucurbitacin-associated chrysomelid leaf beetles both of New and Old Worlds. The strong affinity to cucurbitacins, selective sequestration of the analogs and consequent protection from predators suggested an ecological adaptation mechanism developed in common among these two geographically isolated subtribes in the Luperini.     

Effects of Controlled Fire and Livestock Grazing on Bird Communities in East African Savannas

Abstract: In East Africa fire and grazing by wild and domestic ungulates maintain savannas, and pastoralists historically set fires and herded livestock through the use of temporary corrals called bomas. In recent decades traditional pastoral practices have declined, and this may be affecting biodiversity. We investigated the effects of prescribed fires and bomas on savanna bird communities in East Africa during the first and second dry seasons of the year (respectively before and after the rains that mark the onset of breeding for most birds). We compared abundance, richness, and community composition on 9‐ha burned plots, recently abandoned bomas, and control plots in the undisturbed matrix habitat over a 3‐year period. Generally, recently burned areas and abandoned bomas attracted greater densities of birds and had different community assemblages than the surrounding matrix. The effects of disturbances were influenced by interactions between primary productivity, represented by the normalized difference vegetation index, and time. Bird densities were highest and a greater proportion of species was observed on burned plots in the months following the fires. Drought conditions equalized bird densities across treatments within 1 year, and individuals from a greater proportion of species were more commonly observed on abandoned bomas. Yearly fluctuations in abundance were less pronounced on bomas than on burns, which indicate that although fire may benefit birds in the short term, bomas may have a more‐lasting positive effect and provide resources during droughts. Several Palearctic migrants were attracted to burned plots regardless of rainfall, which indicates continued fire suppression may threaten their already‐declining populations. Most notably, the paucity of birds observed on the controls suggests that the current structure of the matrix developed as a result of fire suppression. Traditional pastoralism appears critical to the maintenance of avian diversity in these savannas.     

Effects of Coffee Management on Deforestation Rates and Forest Integrity

Knowledge about how forest margins are utilized can be crucial for a general understanding of changes in forest cover, forest structure, and biodiversity across landscapes. We studied forest‐agriculture transitions in southwestern Ethiopia and hypothesized that the presence of coffee (Coffea arabica)decreases deforestation rates because of coffee's importance to local economies and its widespread occurrence in forests and forest margins. Using satellite images and elevation data, we compared changes in forest cover over 37 years (1973–2010) across elevations in 2 forest‐agriculture mosaic landscapes (1100 km² around Bonga and 3000 km² in Goma‐Gera). In the field in the Bonga area, we determined coffee cover and forest structure in 40 forest margins that differed in time since deforestation. Both the absolute and relative deforestation rates were lower at coffee‐growing elevations compared with at higher elevations (?10/20% vs. ?40/50% comparing relative rates at 1800 m asl and 2300–2500 m asl, respectively). Within the coffee‐growing elevation, the proportion of sites with high coffee cover (>20%) was significantly higher in stable margins (42% of sites that had been in the same location for the entire period) than in recently changed margins (0% of sites where expansion of annual crops had changed the margin). Disturbance level and forest structure did not differ between sites with 30% or 3% coffee. However, a growing body of literature on gradients of coffee management in Ethiopia reports coffee's negative effects on abundances of forest‐specialist species. Even if the presence of coffee slows down the conversion of forest to annual‐crop agriculture, there is a risk that an intensification of coffee management will still threaten forest biodiversity, including the genetic diversity of wild coffee. Conservation policy for Ethiopian forests thus needs to develop strategies that acknowledge that forests without coffee production may have higher deforestation risks than forests with coffee production and that forests with coffee production often have lower biodiversity value. Efectos de la Administración Cafetalera sobre las Tasas de Deforestación y la Integridad de los Bosques     

What Every Conservation Biologist Should Know about Economic Theory

Abstract: The last century has seen the ascendance of a core economic model, which we will refer to as Walrasian economics. This model is driven by the psychological assumptions that humans act only in a self‐referential and narrowly rational way and that production can be described as a self‐contained circular flow between firms and households. These assumptions have critical implications for the way economics is used to inform conservation biology. Yet the Walrasian model is inconsistent with a large body of empirical evidence about actual human behavior, and it violates a number of basic physical laws. Research in behavioral science and neuroscience shows that humans are uniquely social animals and not self‐centered rational economic beings. Economic production is subject to physical laws including the laws of thermodynamics and mass balance. In addition, some contemporary economic theory, spurred by exciting new research in human behavior and a wealth of data about the negative global impact of the human economy on natural systems, is moving toward a world view that places consumption and production squarely in its behavioral and biophysical context. We argue that abandoning the straightjacket of the Walrasian core is essential to further progress in understanding the complex, coupled interactions between the human economy and the natural world. We call for a new framework for economic theory and policy that is consistent with observed human behavior, recognizes the complex and frequently irreversible interaction between human and natural systems, and directly confronts the cumulative negative effects of the human economy on the Earth's life support systems. Biophysical economics and ecological economics are two emerging economic frameworks in this movement.     

Globalization of the Cashmere Market and the Decline of Large Mammals in Central Asia

As drivers of terrestrial ecosystems, humans have replaced large carnivores in most areas, and human influence not only exerts striking ecological pressures on biodiversity at local scales but also has indirect effects in distant corners of the world. We suggest that the multibillion dollar cashmere industry creates economic motivations that link western fashion preferences for cashmere to land use in Central Asia. This penchant for stylish clothing, in turn, encourages herders to increase livestock production which affects persistence of over 6 endangered large mammals in these remote, arid ecosystems. We hypothesized that global trade in cashmere has strong negative effects on native large mammals of deserts and grassland where cashmere‐producing goats are raised. We used time series data, ecological snapshots of the biomass of native and domestic ungulates, and ecologically and behaviorally based fieldwork to test our hypothesis. In Mongolia increases in domestic goat production were associated with a 3‐fold increase in local profits for herders coexisting with endangered saiga (Saiga tatarica).That increasing domestic grazing pressure carries fitness consequences was inferred on the basis of an approximately 4‐fold difference in juvenile recruitment among blue sheep (Pseudois nayaur)in trans‐Himalayan India. Across 7 study areas in Mongolia, India, and China's Tibetan Plateau, native ungulate biomass is now <5% that of domestic species. Such trends suggest ecosystem degradation and decreased capacity for the persistence of native species, including at least 8 Asian endemic species: saiga, chiru (Pantholops hodgsoni), Bactrian camel (Camelus bactrianus), snow leopard(Panthera uncia), khulan(Equus hemionus), kiang (E. kiang), takhi (E. przewalski), and wild yak (Bos mutus). Our results suggest striking yet indirect and unintended actions that link trophic‐level effects to markets induced by the trade for cashmere. Globalización del Mercado de Cachemira y la Declinación de Mamíferos Mayores en Asia Central     

The lichen-rich coastal heath vegetation on the isle of Anholt, Denmark — conservation and management

The high conservational value of the lichen-rich vegetation and landscape of the marine foreland Ørkenen on the isle of Anholt is treated from a Danish as well as a European perspective. The sensitivity of the lichen-rich vegetation to physical disturbance is emphasized. The impact of invasive species such asPinus mugo as well as the effect of atmospheric deposition of nutrients on the heaths at Anholt is described. Considerations related to the development of a management plan for Ørkenen are presented.     

Behavior and ecology of Old World Luperini beetles of the genusAulacophora (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)

Summary The attraction of Old World leaf beetles in the genusAulacophora to kairomones and parakairomones which are effective lures for New WorldDiabrotica andAcalymma were investigated. Beetles captured on sticky traps baited with single and multicomponent lures were no different from the control traps for two species ofAulacophora. Yellow colored traps and squash blossoms are attractive toAulacophora beetles which detect sub-microgram quantities of cucurbitacins on silica gel. Leaf feeding behavior and flight activity data are correlated with varietal preference of threeAulacophora species. The common response byDiabrotica andAulacophora to cucurbitacins reinforces the two groups' coevolutionary association with the Cucurbitaceae. The apparent lack of a common response toCucurbita blossom volatiles suggests recent evolutionary pathways are substantially different for these two groups of beetles.     

Use of stochastic patch occupancy models in the California red-legged frog for Bayesian inference regarding past events and future persistence

Assessing causes of population decline is critically important to management of threatened species. Stochastic patch occupancy models (SPOMs) are popular tools for examining spatial and temporal dynamics of populations when presence–absence data in multiple habitat patches are available. We developed a Bayesian Markov chain method that extends existing SPOMs by focusing on past environmental changes that may have altered occupancy patterns prior to the beginning of data collection. Using occupancy data from 3 creeks, we applied the method to assess 2 hypothesized causes of population decline—in situ die-off and residual impact of past source population loss—in the California red-legged frog. Despite having no data for the 20–30 years between the hypothetical event leading to population decline and the first data collected, we were able to discriminate among hypotheses, finding evidence that in situ die-off increased in 2 of the creeks. Although the creeks had comparable numbers of occupied segments, owing to different extinction–colonization dynamics, our model predicted an 8-fold difference in persistence probabilities of their populations to 2030. Adding a source population led to a greater predicted persistence probability than did decreasing the in situ die-off, emphasizing that reversing the deleterious impacts of a disturbance may not be the most efficient management strategy. We expect our method will be useful for studying dynamics and evaluating management strategies of many species.