利用不同植物进行DNA损伤彗星实验的方法比较

为了研究彗星实验在植物DNA损伤检测中的应用,以多种植物材料为对象,进行了植物彗星实验的比较研究.分别分离了蚕豆、菠菜、洋葱、菜豆、大蒜、水稻等植物组织的细胞核,并以彗星实验方法研究了H2O2引起的植物细胞核DNA损伤.电泳后发现H2O2处理组植物细胞核出现明显拖尾,而对照组没有出现拖尾或拖尾较小.研究结果表明彗星实验是一种可以在单细胞水平上研究植物DNA损伤程度的手段,具有灵敏、简单、快速的优点.采用合适的细胞核分离方法,能够将彗星实验应用于多种植物,研究其DNA损伤.蚕豆、菠菜、洋葱、菜豆、大蒜等植物的根尖和叶片都可以应用于植物彗星实验,但在本实验条件下利用水稻组织进行彗星试实验并没有获得明显的彗星图像,能否进行彗星实验可能受植物本身性质或实验条件等多种因素的影响.     

植物彗星实验及其在生态毒理监测中的应用

植物彗星实验(Comet assay)是近几年发展起来的一项检测DNA损伤的新技术,具有快速、简便、灵敏性高和可靠性强等特点.本文总结了近年来国内外植物彗星实验的研究成果,详细介绍了植物彗星实验方法及其在生态毒理学中的应用.     

蚯蚓体腔细胞彗星试验检测阿散酸在泥浆体系中降解前后的遗传毒性变化

配制不同浓度的阿散酸标准液,与某养猪场附近的表层土壤混合形成泥浆系统,放在摇床上连续培养30d.在第0、1、2、3、4周取出适量降解液,分别用分光光度法测定阿散酸的降解率;用彗星试验检测降解液对赤子爱胜蚓体腔细胞DNA的损伤.结果表明,阿散酸低浓度时在泥浆体系中能被较快降解,500mg/L的降解率达到了25%;蚯蚓体腔细胞彗星试验表明,所有降解液均具有遗传毒性,可导致蚯蚓体腔细胞DNA明显损伤,与对照相比具有显著性差异(P<0.05).图1表1参17     

基于彗星实验的洛克沙胂对秀丽隐杆线虫胚胎细胞DNA损伤的研究

为评价洛克沙胂的遗传毒性,采用单细胞凝胶电泳(彗星实验),研究了不同浓度的洛克沙胂对秀丽隐杆线虫胚胎细胞脱氧核醣核酸(DNA)的损伤作用。提取秀丽隐杆线虫的胚胎细胞,分别暴露于0(空白对照)、50、250、500μg·L~(-1)含洛克沙胂的溶液染毒1 h。用彗尾DNA百分比含量(TDNA%)、彗星尾长(TL)和Olive尾矩(OTM)作为DNA损伤的指标。实验结果表明,与空白对照组比较,处理组中彗尾DNA百分比含量、彗星尾长以及Olive尾矩显著增加(P0.01)。随着洛克沙胂浓度的增加,彗尾DNA百分比含量、彗星尾长以及Olive尾矩逐渐增加,其相关系数r0.99,说明在实验浓度范围内,存在极显著的浓度-效应关系。洛克沙胂对秀丽隐杆线虫胚胎细胞DNA具有损伤作用,彗星实验操作简便、快速、灵敏度高,能够反映出洛克沙胂的遗传毒性。因此,通过彗星实验建立实验室检测洛克沙胂遗传毒性的方法具有可行性。     

检测细胞DNA断裂损伤效应的彗星实验法的改良

为了解决彗星实验过程中常出现的脱胶、细胞核分离操作繁琐、重复性低等问题,对彗星实验方法进行了改良,初步建立了彗星实验的快速操作流程。结果显示,通过对载玻片进行预处理,可确保凝胶悬挂均匀;采用改良机械法分离的细胞核浓度适中;以0.5%(w/v)涂层琼脂糖作为基层、以1.5%(w/v)低熔点包埋琼脂糖作为叠加层的"双层凝胶法",辅以"推片法"铺胶,操作便捷且不发生脱胶现象;细胞核膜经裂解处理后再进行电泳和荧光观察,彗星图像清晰,杂质少。应用改良后的彗星实验方法,操作简便,耗时更短,实验效果良好,可快速检测出细胞DNA损伤效应。     

盐酸小檗碱对小鼠脾细胞的DNA损伤和氧化性损伤

为了探讨盐酸小檗碱对小鼠的DNA损伤和氧化性损伤.随机选取30只小鼠分成对照组以及7.5,15,30,60与120mg· kg-1实验组,处理后,应用小鼠脾细胞进行彗星实验与抗氧化酶实验.测定DNA损伤情况以及超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化氢酶(CAT)、过氧化物酶(POD)活性以及丙二醛(MDA)含量变化.对盐酸小檗碱的DNA损伤与氧化性损伤作用进行比较研究.研究结果表明:彗星实验中,随着盐酸小檗碱浓度的增加,尾部DNA含量、尾长与尾矩均增加,与阴性对照组相比差异有统计学意义(p ＜0.05或p＜0.01),且呈剂量-效应关系;超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)与过氧化氢酶(CAT)活性随盐酸小檗碱剂量增加逐渐降低,丙二醛(MDA)含量明显上升,过氧化物酶(POD)活性在7.5 mg·kg-1时上升,而后逐渐下降.在60 mg·kg-1和120 mg· kg-1时,有极显著性差异(p＜0.01)产生.由此可见,盐酸小檗碱对小鼠脾细胞有一定的损伤作用,能够引起小鼠脾细胞的DNA损伤和氧化性损伤.     

nano-TiO_2与1,2,4-TCB联合作用对斑马鱼鳃组织结构及染色体损伤研究

采用组织病理切片法、微核及彗星试验研究nano-TiO_2和1,2,4-TCB联合染毒对斑马鱼鳃组织结构、细胞微核率及DNA损伤的毒性效应。结果表明,单独nano-TiO_2暴露不会导致斑马鱼鳃组织结构损伤,也不会引起明显的微核及染色体损伤。1,2,4-TCB(≥10 mg·L~(-1))会引起鳃组织和细胞染色体的损伤。nano-TiO_2与1,2,4-TCB联合作用会加重斑马鱼的鳃组织结构损伤,出现鳃小片排列严重紊乱,表皮细胞断失严重,鳃小片上皮细胞坏死脱落,鳃丝结构模糊等症状。两者联合作用会引起鳃细胞微核率增加和彗星细胞率的增加,呈现一定的剂量-效应关系,且两者间的联合作用具有协同作用。对彗星试验的尾部DNA百分比、尾长及尾距的分析发现,与对照组和单独作用相比,两者联合作用对彗星指标均有显著增强作用,这表明两者联合作用对染色体的损伤属于非特定片段损伤。     

利用彗星试验研究菲对蚕豆DNA的损伤

以蚕豆(Vicia faba)为对象、以菲为多环芳烃(PAHs)代表物开展彗星试验,用Komet Version 6.0软件进行彗星图像分析,并选择评价参数研究PAHs污染的DNA损伤效应。以Olive尾动量(OTM)作为DNA损伤的评价参数,细胞彗星试验中蚕豆根尖DNA的损伤程度随菲质量浓度(0~0.6 mg·L-1)升高而显著增大。最高浓度组(0.6 mg·L-1)OTM值比阴性对照增加132.63%,存在剂量依赖性,表明菲能诱导蚕豆根尖DNA损伤。在培养液中菲质量浓度为0.1 mg·L-1条件下培养蚕豆,0~12 h时DNA损伤程度随时间延长而增大,12 h时OTM值为38.82±4.48;12~24 h时DNA损伤程度则随时间延长而趋小。为确定菲污染导致DNA损伤的途径,进行非细胞彗星试验,结果表明,0.05 mg·L-1菲即可造成显著DNA损伤(OTM值为22.27±0.42),且DNA损伤程度随菲浓度提高而增大。菲对蚕豆根尖细胞可能存在直接的DNA损伤效应。     

纳米与微米尺度氧化锌体外遗传毒作用特征的比较研究

为揭示纳米氧化锌(ZnO)遗传毒作用特征,以便为纳米材料的安全性评价提供科学依据,利用胞质分裂阻滞微核细胞组学实验和碱性彗星实验比较了纳米和微米尺度ZnO的遗传毒性.结果显示:①微米尺度ZnO在0.02～2.5 μg·mL-1剂量下对微核、核质桥、核芽和核分裂指数(nucleus divided index,NDI)均...     

盐酸小檗碱对小鼠脾细胞的DNA损伤和氧化性损伤研究

为了探讨盐酸小檗碱对小鼠的DNA损伤和氧化性损伤。随机选取30只小鼠分成对照组以及7.5,15,30,60与120 mg?kg^-1实验组,处理后,应用小鼠脾细胞进行彗星实验与抗氧化酶实验。测定DNA损伤情况以及超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）、过氧化氢酶（CAT）、过氧化物酶（POD）活性以及丙二醛（MDA）含量变化。对盐酸小檗碱的DNA损伤与氧化性损伤作用进行比较研究。研究结果表明：彗星实验中,随着盐酸小檗碱浓度的增加,尾部DNA含量、尾长与尾矩均增加,与阴性对照组相比差异有统计学意义（p<0.05或p<0.01）,且呈剂量-效应关系;超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)与过氧化氢酶(CAT)活性随盐酸小檗碱剂量增加逐渐降低,丙二醛(MDA)含量明显下降,过氧化物酶(POD)活性在7.5 mg?kg^-1时上升,而后逐渐下降。在60 mg?kg^-1和120 mg?kg^-1时,有极显著性差异（p<0.01）产生。由此可见,盐酸小檗碱对小鼠脾细胞有一定的损伤作用,能够引起小鼠脾细胞的DNA损伤和氧化性损伤。     

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.     

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.     

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     

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.