一株多菌灵降解菌NY97-1的分子鉴定及GFP标记

用PCR方法扩增的多菌灵降解菌NY97-1的16SrDNA片段经TA克隆后,进行序列测定和BLAST同源序列比较分析,确定了其分类地位为短小芽孢杆菌(Bacilluspumilus,B.p).经BamHⅠ酶切的启动子探针载体pUC19-gfp与NY97-1基因组DNA的Sau3AⅠ酶切片段酶连,酶连产物转化E.coliDH5a,建立B.p的启动子基因文库.挑选其中的两个强阳性克隆,亚克隆来自短小芽孢杆菌总基因组的启动子活性片段F4、F5,构建大肠杆菌-短小芽孢杆菌穿梭表达载体pNW33N-F4-gfp、pNW33N-F5-gfp.通过电转化得到gfp在B.p中的两株标记菌株.在荧光显微镜下,观察到了明亮的绿色荧光,证明活性片段F4、F5均具有组成型启动子的功能,实现了gfp基因在B.p中组成型表达,且遗传稳定,为今后研究多菌灵降解菌B.p在自然环境中的定殖、分布及动态变化打下了基础.图3表2参20     

中度嗜盐菌Halomonas sp.BYS-1启动子的克隆和测序

提取了中度嗜盐菌Halomonassp.BYS1的基因组DNA,以甲基对硫磷水解酶基因(mpd)为报告基因,以启动子探针pUCmpd为载体,通过鸟枪法在E.coliDH5α中构建了BYS1的启动子文库.通过筛选获得了17个阳性克隆,编号为P1～P17.测定了阳性克隆的甲基对硫磷水解酶(MPH)活性,结果表明,P3中mpd基因的启动子活性最强,它的酶活高达2554.3U/mg,而P17中mpd基因的启动子活性最弱,它的酶活只有68.3U/mg.对P3、P8、P17克隆中的重组质粒的插入片段进行了测序和在线启动子预测.图4表1参17     

荧光假单胞菌高效广谱载体的构建及分析

为促进高GC含量基因在荧光假单胞菌(Pseudomonas fluorescens)中表达效果更加理想、操作更加简便,本研究首先采用不依赖基因序列和连接反应的克隆(Sequence and ligation independent cloning,SLIC)方法将载体pCIBhis上与复制相关的序列和标记基因片段构建成克隆载体pCIBS1.然后优化荧光假单胞菌转化方法,用电转化法将pCIBS1导入荧光假单胞菌BL915中,随后又将T7和tac基因启动子分别插入pCIBS1中,成功构建了表达载体pCIBS3和pCIBS2.研究发现载体pCIBS1在大肠杆菌和荧光假单胞菌中均较为稳定,并且将绿色荧光蛋白基因插入表达载体中,在大肠杆菌BL21(DE3)中获得表达,验证了表达载体功能.本研究构建的表达载体和建立的荧光假单胞菌BL915电转化方法,为高GC含量基因在荧光假单胞菌中的表达奠定了基础.     

转座子挽救法克隆鞘氨醇单胞菌CDS-1中呋喃丹水解酶相关基因

用含Tn5转座子的自杀性质粒pSC123诱变呋喃丹降解菌Sphingomonas agrestis CDS-1,获得失去呋喃丹降解功能的突变株CDS-M1.以pMD18-T为载体在E.coli DH5α中构建了CDS-M1的基因组文库,采用转座子挽救法对Tn5插入位点两侧翼的序列进行克隆与测序,根据测序结果(共4 551个碱基)设计引物,从CDS-1的基因组中扩增到同样大小的片段,把该片断克隆到广宿主载体pPZP201上,得到重组质粒pCDZ1,通过三亲接合的方法把pCDZ1导入CDS-M1中进行功能互补实验,结果显示CDS-M1的呋喃丹水解功能得到了恢复,表明该片断中包含呋喃丹水解酶相关基因.图7表1参14     

豆豉纤溶酶在枯草杆菌WB800中的高水平表达

一个来源于豆豉产生菌DC12的新的纤溶酶基因序列被克隆测序.为了实现在枯草杆菌中高水平表达豆豉纤溶酶,将来源于枯草杆菌168的重叠启动子P43序列以及转录终止信号序列通过重叠延伸融合,将融合序列克隆到大肠杆菌-枯草杆菌穿梭载体pBE3中,构建了pBEP43载体.将豆豉纤溶酶基因插入到载体pBEP43后转化枯草杆菌WB800.结果表明,在P43启动子驱动下,豆豉纤溶酶基因在重组菌中的对数生长期和平衡期均获得了表达且分泌到培养基中.重组菌经培养后上清液中的纤溶酶活性最高达1270U/mL,是豆豉纤溶酶基因在自身启动子驱动下表达量的1.87倍和野生菌株枯草杆菌DC12表达量的4.1倍.图5参16     

一个硫化叶菌病毒启动子的分离与鉴定

几乎所有古菌病毒基因组中无RNA聚合酶(RNA polymerase,RNAP)等组成基本转录装置的同源蛋白编码序列,而且启动子活性对病毒感染过程中病毒基因的转录上可能具有重要的影响.为进一步揭示古菌病毒基因启动子的序列结构特点和活性之间的关系,首先基于硫化叶菌质粒pSeSD,将β-半乳糖苷酶编码基因lacS克隆到阿拉伯糖启动子araS下游多克隆位点,构建重组表达载体pSeSD-lacS.将pSeSD-lacS转化冰岛硫化叶菌(Sulfolobus islandicus)E233S菌株后的功能分析结果表明,lacS基因成功表达.在此基础上,利用硫化叶菌病毒STSV2衣壳蛋白编码基因ORF37上游500bp的潜在启动子片段P37替换pSeSD-lacS中的araS启动子,构建出新的重组表达质粒pSeSD-P37-lacS,进一步将pSeSD-P37-lacS转化E233S菌株进行启动子活性分析.β-半乳糖苷酶酶活结果显示,诱导后araS启动子酶活为14 345.7±422.3 mU,P37酶活为13 723.1±370.9 mU,表明P37片段具有启动子功能,而且活性与araS启动子相当.序列分析也显示,P37具有与硫化叶菌基因启动子类似的基础序列元件initiator、TATA-box及BRE等.本研究表明pSeSD-lacS可作为一个硫化叶菌病毒基因启动子筛选载体,而且高活性的基因启动子可能在STSV2病毒生命过程具有重要的作用.(图4表1参27)     

嗜热子囊菌光孢变种内切葡聚糖酶Ⅰ基因在毕赤酵母中的表达及部分酶学性质

嗜热子囊菌是一种嗜热真菌,可以产生具有很高工业价值的内切葡聚糖酶.本研究成功表达了嗜热子囊菌内切葡聚糖酶Ⅰ基凶,并获得热稳定的重组内切葡聚糖酶.提取嗜热子囊菌光孢变种(Thermoascus aurantiacus var.levisporus)总RNA,通过RT-PCR方法克隆出内切-β-葡聚糖酶eg1基因的成熟肽编码序列.采用基因重组的方法构建该基因的巴斯德毕赤酵母Pichia pastoris分泌型表达载体pPIC9K-eg1,经线性化后采用电穿孔法将其导入毕赤酵母GS115中,大量筛选后获得高效表达内切葡聚糖酶Ⅰ的毕赤酵母工程菌株GpN24.该菌株采用甲醇诱导120 h后,内切葡聚糖酶Ⅰ的活力可达570.7 U/mL,最适温度为55℃,在90℃的条件下保温30 min后仍具有60%的酶活力;最适pH为5.0,在pH 3.0～5.0的条件下酶活力保持稳定.图6表2参16     

中度嗜盐菌Halomonas sp.BYS-1耐盐相关DNA片段的克隆

通过固体亚硝基胍诱变获得了Halom onassp.BYS-1的盐敏感突变株BYS-1M.以pBBR1MCS-2为载体在E.coliDH5α中构建了BYS-1的基因文库.以文库菌E.coliDH5α(pBBR-X)为供体菌、E.coliWD803(pRK2013)为辅助菌、BYS-1M为受体菌进行三亲接合,筛选到了恢复耐盐性能的接合子HR-23,提取接合子HR-23的重组质粒pHR23,酶切确定其插入的耐盐相关DNA片段大小分为5.4 kb.该片段为Halom onassp.BYS-1耐盐相关基因的克隆奠定了基础.图5表1参14     

甲基对硫磷降解菌DLL-1的发光酶基因标记及在土壤中的变化

采用三亲接合法成功地将携带有发光酶基因的pTR1 0 2转入了甲基对硫磷降解菌Pseudomonassp .DLL -1菌株中。获得的接合子在液体培养、固体培养过程中以及在土壤中其标记质粒非常稳定。标记质粒并没有给受体细胞的生长、降解甲基对硫磷的能力带来严重的影响。因此 ,将标记菌株DLL -1-B用于土壤生态研究是可行的。在土壤中 ,DLL -1 -B的数量在接种后最初 2天下降幅度较小 ,随后下降速度较快 ,但当下降到 1 0 3～ 1 0 4 g- 1时趋于稳定。DLL -1 -B在水中下降速度更快 ,存活时间更短。DLL -1 -B在旱地土壤中的移动性较差 ,大多存在于 0～ 1 0cm土壤中。在水田中 ,DLL -1 -B的移动性较好 ,2周后 ,2 0～ 3 0cm土壤中测得DLL -1 -B为 2× 1 0 2 g- 1。     

luxAB基因标记甲基对硫磷降解菌DLL-1在土壤和植株根部的生态行为研究

发光酶标记是 1种有效的跟踪微生物在生态环境中动态行为的技术手段。采用luxAB基因标记技术对甲基对硫磷降解菌DLL - 1在土壤中的分布和植株内的定殖情况进行了研究。结果表明 ,DLL - 1可以较长时间的在植株根际定殖 ,3 0d后仍可用X -感光片检测到菌体的存在 ,而根际外未检测到DLL - 1。植株根剖开后在培养基上培养 2 4h后进行X -光片曝光 ,发现DLL - 1能够进入植株根内并定殖。菌株回收后采用测定其农药降解活力和检查质粒图谱 2种方法证实 ,所观测的回收菌株就是接种的DLL - 1菌株     

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.