Secondary metabolism — evolution and function: Products or processes?

Summary The distinguishing characteristics of secondary metabolism and its associated metabolites are outlined. Current theories relating to the function of secondary metabolism in plants and micro-organisms are enumerated and the view that consideration of the processes rather than the products may best explain the origins of secondary metabolism is discussed.     

中亚热带丝栗栲次生林群落高度级结构分析

以高度级为参考坐标，应用衡量优势种群及群落结构动态的失稳率、群落垂直空间的分享度、α—多样性及群落高度级梯度β—多样性等指标对中亚热带丝栗栲次生林群落高度级结构特征及其动态进行分析评价。结果表明：丝栗栲群落及其优势种群个体数、群落物种数和种对级的分享度随高度级增加都呈下降趋势；各高度级物种数和个体数呈明显的正相关关系；级间失稳率显示，群落在第2、3、6、7高度级呈增长趋势，第4、5高度级呈衰退趋势，群落整体具有增长性结构；群落随高度级形成丰富度指数(dMa)、Shannon—Wiener指数(H)逐渐降低，均匀度指数(J)先增后减的变化趋势；随高度级梯度的增加，群落相邻高度级间Whittaker指数(βw)呈上升趋势，而Mofisita—Horn指数(CMH)呈不规则地跳跃式变化，表现了共有种在群落不同高度级的数量差异。图3表2参15。     

How do slugs cope with toxic alkaloids?

Summary. Arion lusitanicus and other slugs are able to feed on a variety of plants, even those containing toxic secondary metabolites, such as alkaloids. Alkaloids, like sparteine, lupanine, quinidine and atropine are avoided in no-choice feeding experiments only when they are present in concentrations above 1 mg/g food pellet. Alkaloids (sparteine, lupanine, cytisine, quinidine, atropine, senecionine, eserine, and harmaline) are toxic to Arion lusitanicus when injected. LD₅₀ values are 10 to 20 fold higher than in vertebrates indicating that slugs have a high tolerance towards food toxins. The tolerance is higher in young animals than in adult slugs. Injected alkaloids are rapidly detoxified within 72 h. Tolerance and detoxification can be induced by feeding slugs on non-lethal doses of lupin alkaloids. Using isolated microsomal preparations from the digestive gland, active detoxification was observed in vitro. Evidence is presented that cytochrome p450 plays an important role in detoxification of the applied alkaloids. A powerful and inducible detoxification systems appears to be the main mechanism that allows slugs to feed on plants rich in secondary metabolites (when no other food is available), that are usually avoided by other herbivores.     

Recovery of Faunal Communities During Tropical Forest Regeneration

Abstract:  As mature tropical forests are cleared, secondary forests may play an important role in the conservation of animal species, depending on how fast animal communities recover during forest regeneration. I reviewed published studies on the recovery of animal species richness and composition during tropical forest regeneration. In 38 of the 39 data sets I examined, conversion of forest to agriculture or pasture substantially reduced species richness. Given suitable conditions for forest recovery, the species richness of the animal taxa considered can be predicted to resemble that of mature forests roughly 20–40 years after land abandonment. At least for ants and birds, however, recovery of species composition appears to take substantially longer than recovery of species richness. Because species richness for many taxa appears to recover relatively rapidly in secondary forests, conservation of secondary forests may be an effective investment in future diversity. The slower recovery of species composition indicates, however, that some species will require stands of mature forest to persist.     

Pyrrolizidine alkaloids on three trophic levels – evidence for toxic and deterrent effects on phytophages and predators

Summary. Pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) present a model system in the investigation of tritrophic interactions mediated by plant secondary compounds. However, their toxicity for insect herbivores has never been experimentally proven. Here, we demonstrate the toxic effects of a PA on growth and survival of the eri silk moth Philosamia ricini. In a feeding experiment, larvae of this generalist herbivore fed with an artificial PA diet gained weight significantly slower than control animals, and died as pupae. We suggest that derivatives of the ingested PA N-oxide damage developmental functions during metamorphosis. A tracer test with [¹⁴C]senecionine N-oxide revealed that the caterpillars lack adaptations that would prevent conversion of the chemical into the pro-toxic free base. In contrast, the PA adapted leaf beetle Longitarsus anchusae accumulates PAs as N-oxides. We tested the purpose of sequestration in this species as defence against predators. Through a series of prey choice experiments with three carabid predator species, chemically non-protected bark beetle pupae were chosen almost uniformly over L. anchusae pupae. In a following choice test with one of these predators, artificially PA-treated mealworm segments deterred the predator from feeding. Overall the study corroborates the immediate toxic effect of PAs on non-adapted herbivores and the protective effect that adapted insects may gain by sequestering them. It thereby underlines the potential for PAs to play a central role in multitrophic interactions between plants, phytophages and their predators.     

生物活性炭法深度处理纺织废水二级出水中生物活性的研究

采用上流式曝气生物活性炭法处理碱减量印染废水二级生物处理出水,利用TTC-脱氢酶活性(DHA)法监测反应器内DHA生物活性分布.研究发现反应器内生物炭表面附着生物膜活性较高,特别是反应器上部生物碳粒同样具有较高的DHA活性,这与反应器运行一年多能够保持对COD、色度和UV等较高去除率有一定关系.还研究了活性炭吸附、反应器反冲洗对DHA活性的影响.本研究为曝气生物活性炭法有效去除印染碱减量废水中难降解有机物提供了一定的理论依据.     

一种新型环境矿物材料在废水处理中的应用研究

实验研究表明 ,磷矿石作为一种新型环境矿物材料对重金属离子工业废水具有较好的处理效果 ,且自身具有显著的优点。采用分级处理的方法以及磷矿石的合适用量可以使处理后的工业废水达到排放标准甚至饮用标准 ,同时 ,由于磷矿石去除重金属离子速度快 ,在瞬间即可发生作用 ,使得利用动态法进行工业废水的连续处理成为可能 ,而且不会产生二次污染 ,具有工艺应用意义     

生物活性炭法深度处理纺织废水二级出水中生物活性的研究

采用上流式曝气生物活性炭法处理碱减量印染废水二级生物处理出水，利用TTC-脱氢酶活性（DHA）法监测反应器内DHA生物活性分布。研究发现反应器内生物炭表面附着生物膜活性较高，特别是反应器上部生物碳粒同样具有较高的DHA活性，这与反应器运行一年多能够保持对COD、色度和UV等较高去除率有一定关系。还研究了活性炭吸附、反应器反冲洗对DHA活性的影响。本研究为曝气生物活性炭法有效去除印染碱减量废水中难降解有机物提供了一定的理论依据。     

垃圾焚烧发电过程中的二次污染物控制处理技术

概述了二口恶英、重金属、酸性气体、灰渣等垃圾焚烧二次污染物的形成机理，并详细介绍了通过控制垃圾焚烧条件、尾气处理以及吸附等方法，可以有效控制二口恶英类污染物的排放；重金属的控制可以用除尘器或使用相应的吸附剂处理；采用较为成熟的烟气处理技术，可以控制处理酸性气体；灰渣可采用固化稳定化和酸或其他溶剂提出法处置。     

城市污水处理厂二沉池出水曝气混合絮凝的研究

在污水处理厂实验室，对二沉池出口污水进行了曝气和机械2种方式的混合絮凝对比试验。研究结果表明，对于同一水质，在相同的投药量下，曝气混凝沉淀后的水质明显优于机械混凝沉淀后的水质，各项水质指标的去除率分别提高：BOD₅ 6%～9%，COD 4%～6%，NH₃-N 6%～9%，TP 15%～24%，SS 8%～18%。