Meta-analysis of the differential effects of habitat fragmentation and degradation on plant genetic diversity

Genetic diversity is a key factor for population survival and evolution. However, anthropogenic habitat disturbance can erode it, making populations more prone to extinction. Aiming to assess the global effects of habitat disturbance on plant genetic variation, we conducted a meta-analysis based on 92 case studies obtained from published literature. We compared the effects of habitat fragmentation and degradation on plant allelic richness and gene diversity (equivalent to expected heterozygosity) and tested whether such changes are sensitive to different life-forms, life spans, mating systems, and commonness. Anthropogenic disturbance had a negative effect on allelic richness, but not on gene diversity. Habitat fragmentation had a negative effect on genetic variation, whereas habitat degradation had no effect. When we examined the individual effects in fragmented habitats, allelic richness and gene diversity decreased, but this decrease was strongly dependent on certain plant traits. Specifically, common long-lived trees and self-incompatible species were more susceptible to allelic richness loss. Conversely, gene diversity decreased in common short-lived species (herbs) with self-compatible reproduction. In a wider geographical context, tropical plant communities were more sensitive to allelic richness loss, whereas temperate plant communities were more sensitive to gene diversity loss. Our synthesis showed complex responses to habitat disturbance among plant species. In many cases, the absence of effects could be the result of the time elapsed since the disturbance event or reproductive systems favoring self-pollination, but attention must be paid to those plant species that are more susceptible to losing genetic diversity, and appropriate conservation should be actions taken.     

三丁基锡生殖毒性的研究进展

有机锡化合物,特别是三丁基锡,广泛存在于环境中,对生物体以及生态环境存在着潜在的威胁。本文综述了三丁基锡对软体动物、鱼类和哺乳动物生殖机能的影响及其其可能的作用机制,指出了进一步的研究方向。     

基于事故逆向再现的车辆追尾事故仿真分析研究

为认定车辆碰撞事故的性质及责任，动态还原事故发生过程。提出1种逆向事故分析再现方法，经过坐标系旋转后构建确定方程组的车辆碰撞瞬间解析计算模型，并经过实车碰撞实验数据验证其计算精度与三维再现的准确性。利用Crashview软件对1起车辆追尾事故进行仿真分析，解析计算得出车辆碰撞瞬间车速和碰撞前行驶车速，实现事故二维过程重构和三维模拟再现。结果表明:计算分析车速与VDR记录车速误差在5%以内，模拟再现轨迹与事故现场实测痕迹基本吻合，所构建的方法可有效用于车辆追尾碰撞事故辅助分析鉴定，为事故过程分析提供理论依据。     

Influence of hypothyroidism on oxidative stress,c-Fos expression,cell cycle,and apoptosis in rats testes

The molecular basis of male reproduction for cross-regulation between androgen and thyroid hormone axes is still rudimentary. This study aims to define a possible mechanism of hypothyroidism-induced reproductive influence with respect to sex hormone, mineral, sperm motility, oxidative stress, c-Fos expression, cell cycle, and apoptosis in rat testes. The Wistar rats were randomly divided into control group (NS) and hypothyroidism group [1 ml/100g BW/day, 0.1% propylthiouracil (PTU)] by intragastric gavage for 60 days. Blood samples were collected to measure the serum levels. The epididymis was excised to measure sperm motility and testes were excised to measure mineral, oxidative stress, c-Fos expression, cell cycle, and apoptosis. After 60 days, body weight, relative testes weight, triiodothyronine, and total thyroxine were all significantly decreased, whereas thyroid stimulating hormone was increased in the hypothyroidism group. A significant increase in sex hormone level of estradiol (E2) and significant decreases in testosterone (T) and T/E2 ratio were observed following PTU treatment. And sperm quality was also significantly changed. There were significant decreases in the contents of calcium (Ca²⁺) and zinc (Zn²⁺). On the other hand, malondialdehyde and hydrogen peroxide contents significantly increased, whereas the activity of superoxide dismutase, catalase and nitric oxide synthase and nitric oxide content significantly decreased in hypothyroid rats. The mRNA and protein expressions of c-Fos decreased significantly. The cell percentage in G0/G1 phase increased significantly, whereas decreased significantly in S and G2/M phases. Also, a significant increase in testicular cell apoptosis was observed in hypothyroid-treated rats. These results suggested that hypothyroidism could affect reproductive function in the form of changed sex hormone levels, sperm motility and testicular Ca²⁺ and Zn²⁺, and enhanced oxidative stress leading to c-Fos abnormal expression and increased apoptosis.     

A two-generational reproductive toxicity study of zinc in rats

A two-generation reproductive toxicity study of zinc chloride (ZnCl₂) was conducted in rats. F_o male and female rats were administered 0.00 (control), 7.50 (low), 15.00 (mid) and 30.00 (high) mg/kg/day of ZnCl₂. Selected F₁ male and female rats were exposed to the same doses received by their parents (F_o). Exposure of F₀ parental rats to ZnCl₂ showed significant reduction in fertility, viability (days 0 and 4), and the body weight of F₁ pups from the high-dose group but caused no effects on litter size, weaning index, and sex ratio. Similarly, the continued exposure of F₁ parental rats to ZnCl₂ also reduced fertility, liter size, viability (day 0), and the body weight of F₂ pups within the high-dose group but caused no effects on weaning index and sex ratio. Exposure of ZnCl₂ to F₀ and F₁ parental males resulted in a significant reduction in their body weights, and the F₀ and F₁ parental females did not show any significant difference in their body weights compared to their control groups. However, the postpartum dam weights of both F₀ and F₁ female rats were significantly reduced compared to their controls. Exposure of ZnCl₂ to F_o and F₁ generation parental rats did not produce any significant change of their clinical signs as well as their clinical pathology parameters, except the alkaline phosphotase (ALK) level, which showed an upward trend in both sexes of both generations. Exposure of ZnCl₂ to F₀ rats resulted in a reduction of brain, liver, kidney, spleen and seminal vesicles weights of males and in the spleen and uterus of females. Similarly, exposure of F₁ rats to ZnCl₂ also resulted in reduction of brain, liver, kidney, adrenal, spleen, prostate and seminal vesicles weights of males and in spleen and uterus of females. ZnCl₂ exposure resulted in grossly observed gastro-intestianla (GI) tract, lymphoreticular/hematopoietic, and reproductive tract lesions in parental rats in both generations. Reduced body fat was also recorded in F₁ parental rats.     

Effects of dimethoate on rotifer Brachionus calyciflorus using multigeneration toxicity tests

As important members of the zooplankton community and sources of food for fish, rotifers are used extensively in ecotoxicological research to assess the health of the environment and safety of compounds. However, most rotifer toxicity tests are only conducted using rotifer neonates derived from unexposed mothers, thus ignoring the potential transfer of contaminants from mother to offspring. To understand better the mother to offspring exposure, a multigenerational study was conducted using three successive generations (F₀, F₁ and F₂) of the common freshwater rotifer Brachionus calyciflorus to investigate the toxic effects of the widely used organophosphate pesticide, dimethoate (O, O-dimethyl S-methylcarbamoylmethyl phosphorodithioate). When the F₀ generation was exposed to five pesticide concentrations, the population growth rate (r) displayed symptoms of hormesis, characterized by the conversion of low-concentration stimulation to high-concentration inhibition. Despite this observation, the exposure to any given concentration of dimethoate reduced the population growth rates of the F₁ and F₂ generation rotifers. Significant differences existed between the F₀, F₁ and F₂ rotifers for the population growth rate under dimethoate stress: F₂ individuals were more sensitive than F₁, whereas the F₁ individuals were more sensitive than F₀. The results indicated that the parental exposure to a given toxic stress could result in increased sensitivity and decreased fitness in the offspring. This study illustrates the utility of multigenerational toxicity tests, which may better reflect and more accurately predict the effects of long-term pesticide exposure to aquatic organisms at the population level.     

Queen and worker policing in the monogynous and monandrous ant, Diacamma sp.

Policing behavior that prevents workers from laying male eggs was examined in the monogynous and monandrous ponerine ant Diacamma sp. from Japan, in which a singly mated worker called a “gamergate” reproduces as the functional queen in each colony. Since oviposition by virgin workers is rare in the presence of a gamergate, we separated a portion of workers from the gamergates and induced their oviposition experimentally. When orphaned workers had started to oviposit, they were returned to the original colonies, where they continued to lay eggs for a while. The gamergates and other workers interfered with the laying workers by aggressively taking and finally eating the eggs. In total, 60% and 29% of the worker-derived eggs were eaten by gamergates and non-mother workers, respectively. The observed worker-worker interactions were not driven simply by competition to leave own sons, because non-laying non-orphaned workers interfered with worker reproduction. Furthermore, orphaned workers were usually attacked by non-orphaned workers soon after colony reunification. These results indicate that both queen policing by gamergates and worker policing in this species are mechanisms inhibiting worker oviposition. The gamergate contribution to policing was proportionately larger than that of workers, but among virgin workers, the relationship between dominance rank and contribution to policing was not clear. But about 11% of the eggs were not policed and were added to egg piles, especially in large colonies. Worker policing in a monandrous and monogynous eusocial Hymenoptera contrasts to other recent findings, and possible genetic, social, and ecological factors for its evolution in Diacamma sp. are discussed. Received: 16 November 1998 / Received in revised form: 9 February 1999 / Accepted: 21 February 1999     

转野生荠菜凝集素基因棉花对赤子爱胜蚓的影响

在实验室条件下分别给赤子爱胜蚓(Eisenia foetida)饲喂在自然状况下可能接受的棉叶最高添加量和2倍最高添加量的转野生荠菜凝集素(WSA)基因棉花(Gossypium hirsutum)叶片,并以其亲本棉花叶片为对照,以牛粪为阴性对照,以农药为阳性对照,研究种植转WSA基因棉花对赤子爱胜蚓死亡率、生长及繁殖的影响。结果表明,在49 d的试验周期内,与取食亲本棉花叶片的赤子爱胜蚓相比,取食转WSA基因棉花叶片的赤子爱胜蚓的死亡率,体质量,GST、SOD、纤维素酶活性以及蚓茧数和小蚯蚓数均无显著差异,未发现转WSA基因棉花对赤子爱胜蚓有不利影响。     

全氟辛烷磺酸盐(PFOS)替代品对中国白羽鹌鹑的生态毒性

为研究全氟辛烷磺酸盐(perfluorooctane sulfonate,PFOS)替代品对环境生物的毒害效应,选用中国白羽鹌鹑作为受试生物,建立其环境危害评价毒性测试方法,并对PFOS替代化学品进行了急性经口、急性饲喂及繁殖毒性的风险评价。结果表明,全氟丁基有机铵盐阳离子表面活性剂急性经口毒性实验的LD50为500.44mg·kg-1,其余3种替代化学品在上限浓度2000mg·kg-1,白羽鹌鹑均未出现明显死亡,4种PFOS替代品对中国白羽鹌鹑的急性经口毒性均为低毒。全氟丁基有机铵盐阳离子表面活性剂急性饲喂毒性实验的LC50为970.50mg.kg-1,对白羽鹌鹑的饲喂毒性为中毒,而其余3种替代化学品在上限浓度5000mg·kg-1,白羽鹌鹑均未出现明显死亡,对中国白羽鹌鹑的急性饲喂毒性为低毒。在长期饲喂过程中,织物三防整理剂和C6织物三防整理剂会表现出一定的生殖毒性,造成中国白羽鹌鹑的孵化率降低,胚胎死亡率及未受精率升高;全氟丁基有机铵盐阳离子表面活性剂会影响到中国白羽鹌鹑的未受精率,C4织物三防整理剂未表现出明显的生殖毒性。     

十溴联苯醚(BDE-209)对土壤跳虫的急、慢性毒性效应

为揭示溴代阻燃剂对土壤生态系统的潜在危害,采用回避实验和繁殖实验评价了十溴联苯醚(BDE-209)对2种土壤跳虫Folsomia candida和Folsomia fimetaria的急/慢性毒性。48h的急性回避实验中,BDE-209对F.candida和F.fimetaria产生毒性效应的EC_(50)值分别为1.27和0.79mg·kg~(-1),LOEC值均小于0.5mg·kg~(-1)。慢性繁殖实验中,BDE-209对F.candida和F.fimetaria繁殖毒性的EC_(50)值分别为0.81和0.56mg·kg~(-1),LOEC值分别为<0.25和<0.5mg·kg~(-1)。研究表明,土壤BDE-209污染对跳虫的繁殖和环境行为有显著影响,且在较低暴露浓度下(0.25mg·kg~(-1))即对跳虫繁殖产生抑制效应;有性生殖的F.fimetaria比孤雌生殖的F.candida对BDE-209污染的毒性响应更为敏感。