Implications of genetics and current protected areas for conservation of 5 endangered primates in China

Most of China's 24–28 primate species are threatened with extinction. Habitat reduction and fragmentation are perhaps the greatest threats. We used published data from a conservation genetics study of 5 endangered primates in China (Rhinopithecus roxellana, R. bieti, R. brelichi, Trachypithecus francoisi, and T. leucocephalus); distribution data on these species; and the distribution, area, and location of protected areas to inform conservation strategies for these primates. All 5 species were separated into subpopulations with unique genetic components. Gene flow appeared to be strongly impeded by agricultural land, meadows used for grazing, highways, and humans dwellings. Most species declined severely or diverged concurrently as human population and crop land cover increased. Nature reserves were not evenly distributed across subpopulations with unique genetic backgrounds. Certain small subpopulations were severely fragmented and had higher extinction risk than others. Primate mobility is limited and their genetic structure is strong and susceptible to substantial loss of diversity due to local extinction. Thus, to maximize preservation of genetic diversity in all these primate species, our results suggest protection is required for all sub‐populations. Key priorities for their conservation include maintaining R. roxellana in Shennongjia national reserve, subpopulations S4 and S5 of R. bieti and of R. brelichi in Fanjingshan national reserve, subpopulation CGX of T. francoisi in central Guangxi Province, and all 3 T. leucocephalus sub‐populations in central Guangxi Province.     

Progress in the ecology and conservation of giant pandas

Giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) conservation is a possible success story in the making. If extinction of this iconic endangered species can be avoided, the species will become a showcase program for the Chinese government and its collaborators. We reviewed the major advancements in ecological science for the giant panda, examining how these advancements have contributed to panda conservation. Pandas’ morphological and behavioral adaptations to a diet of bamboo, which bear strong influence on movement ecology, have been well studied, providing knowledge to guide management actions ranging from reserve design to climate change mitigation. Foraging ecology has also provided essential information used in the creation of landscape models of panda habitat. Because habitat loss and fragmentation are major drivers of the panda population decline, efforts have been made to help identify core habitat areas, establish where habitat corridors are needed, and prioritize areas for protection and restoration. Thus, habitat models have provided guidance for the Chinese governments’ creation of 67 protected areas. Behavioral research has revealed a complex and efficient communication system and documented the need for protection of habitat that serves as a communication platform for bringing the sexes together for mating. Further research shows that den sites in old‐growth forests may be a limiting resource, indicating potential value in providing alternative den sites for rearing offspring. Advancements in molecular ecology have been revolutionary and have been applied to population census, determining population structure and genetic diversity, evaluating connectivity following habitat fragmentation, and understanding dispersal patterns. These advancements form a foundation for increasing the application of adaptive management approaches to move panda conservation forward more rapidly. Although the Chinese government has made great progress in setting aside protected areas, future emphasis will be improved management of pandas and their habitat.     

Conservation mycology in Australia and the potential role of citizen science

Fungi are undoubtedly important for ecosystem functioning; however, they have been omitted or given scant attention in most biodiversity policy documents, management plans, and formal conservation schedules throughout the world. This oversight may be due to a general lack of awareness in the scientific community and compounded by a scarcity of mycology‐associated curricula at the tertiary level and a lack of mycologists in research institutions. Although molecular techniques advance the systematic cataloging of fungi and facilitate insights into fungal communities, the scarcity of professional mycologists in the environmental sciences hampers conservation efforts. Conversely, citizen science initiatives are making significant contributions to the mycology discipline by increasing awareness and extending the scope of fungal surveys. Future research by professional and amateur mycologists into the distribution of fungi and their function in ecosystems will help identify wider and more effective conservation goals.     

The need for spatially explicit quantification of benefits in invasive‐species management

Worldwide, invasive species are a leading driver of environmental change across terrestrial, marine, and freshwater environments and cost billions of dollars annually in ecological damages and economic losses. Resources limit invasive‐species control, and planning processes are needed to identify cost‐effective solutions. Thus, studies are increasingly considering spatially variable natural and socioeconomic assets (e.g., species persistence, recreational fishing) when planning the allocation of actions for invasive‐species management. There is a need to improve understanding of how such assets are considered in invasive‐species management. We reviewed over 1600 studies focused on management of invasive species, including flora and fauna. Eighty‐four of these studies were included in our final analysis because they focused on the prioritization of actions for invasive species management. Forty‐five percent (n = 38) of these studies were based on spatial optimization methods, and 35% (n = 13) accounted for spatially variable assets. Across all 84 optimization studies considered, 27% (n = 23) explicitly accounted for spatially variable assets. Based on our findings, we further explored the potential costs and benefits to invasive species management when spatially variable assets are explicitly considered or not. To include spatially variable assets in decision‐making processes that guide invasive‐species management there is a need to quantify environmental responses to invasive species and to enhance understanding of potential impacts of invasive species on different natural or socioeconomic assets. We suggest these gaps could be filled by systematic reviews, quantifying invasive species impacts on native species at different periods, and broadening sources and enhancing sharing of knowledge.     

Quantifying progress toward a conservation assessment for all plants

The Global Strategy for Plant Conservation (GSPC) set an ambitious target to achieve a conservation assessment for all known plant species by 2020. We consolidated digitally available plant conservation assessments and reconciled their scientific names and assessment status to predefined standards to provide a quantitative measure of progress toward this target. The 241,919 plant conservation assessments generated represent 111,824 accepted land plant species (vascular plants and bryophytes, not algae). At least 73,081 and up to 90,321 species have been assessed at the global scale, representing 21–26% of known plant species. Of these plant species, at least 27,148 and up to 32,542 are threatened. Eighty plant families, including some of the largest, such as Asteraceae, Orchidaceae, and Rubiaceae, are underassessed and should be the focus of assessment effort if the GSPC target is to be met by 2020. Our data set is accessible online (ThreatSearch) and is a baseline that can be used to directly support other GSPC targets and plant conservation action. Although around one‐quarter of a million plant assessments have been compiled, the majority of plants are still unassessed. The challenge now is to build on this progress and redouble efforts to document conservation status of unassessed plants to better inform conservation decisions and conserve the most threatened species.     

产聚乙烯醇降解酶的培养条件

放线菌StreptomycesvenezuelaeGY1产生的聚乙烯醇(PVA)降解酶是一种诱导酶.以4种不同类型的PVA为唯一碳源时,该菌株单位质量细胞产酶能力比以糖类物质为唯一碳源时提高10倍以上.聚合度和醇解度最高的PVA1799是该菌株产生PVA降解酶的适宜底物,其浓度为1gL-1时,PVA降解酶的产量为120u/g(细胞).培养基中PVA1799浓度由1gL-1上升到5gL-1时,该菌株单位质量细胞产酶能力下降73%,表明PVA1799浓度过高会抑制产酶.GY1菌株产酶的最适温度和pH分别为30℃和7.0.在GY1菌株生长过程中控制以下条件有利于产生PVA降解酶:(1)保持培养体系中较高的溶氧水平;(2)在氮源中补充NO-3;(3)在一定浓度范围内添加MgSO4·7H2O、CaCl2、MnSO4、BaCl2、ZnSO4、FeSO4·7H2O和CuSO4等金属盐.Pseudomonassp.产生的PVA降解酶能够作用伯醇或仲醇类化合物,以这些伯醇或仲醇类化合物代替培养基中的PVA,不能诱导GY1菌株产生PVA降解酶;而在培养基中有PVA存在时,再添加0.5gL-1的3戊醇和环己醇能够明显促进PVA降解酶的产生(单位质量细胞产酶能力分别提高了21%和32%).图8表1参10     

多能硫杆菌1,5-二磷酸核酮糖羧化酶/加氧酶的酶学特征及基因检测

从固体平板的生长情况及RubisCO酶活性测定结果，表明多能硫杆菌是通过卡尔文循环固定的CO2，并具有该循环的关键酶──1，5－二磷酸核酮糖羧化酶／加氧酶．进一步将多能硫杆菌染色体DNA用各种限制性内切酸酶切，Southern转移到硝酸纤维素滤膜上，与光合细菌Rhodobactersphaeroides的RubisCO基因（rbcL－rbcS）探针杂交，显示出杂交带型，说明多能硫杆菌具有R．sphaeroides同源的羧化酶基因，并初步将该基因定位在3．0kb的PstⅠ片段内．     

乳化剂OP和邻菲啰啉存在下硫氰酸钾分光光度法测定土壤有效铁和植物中的铁

在硫酸介质中，在非离子表面活性剂乳化剂ＯＰ和邻菲啉共同存在下，铁（Ⅲ）与硫氰酸钾形成红色配合物，其最大吸收波长为５２２ｎｍ，表观摩尔吸光系数为２．０７…１０￣４Ｌ／ｍｏｌ．ｃｍ，铁（Ⅲ）含量在０—５０μｇ／２５ｍｌ范围内符合比耳定律．该法操作简便、快速．选择性好，应用于土壤有效铁和植物中铁的测定．结果令人满意．     

汽车燃料和排放物的快速气相色谱分析

1　IntroductionGaschromatographyisthemostfrequentlyusedmethodsforthespeciationandquantificationoforganiccompoundsingasphaseandliquidphase .Thechemicalanalysisoforganiccompoundsintheautomotivefuelsandexhaustspeciesisanextremelyimportantandcomplexprocedure …     

活性污泥过程数学模型进展

介绍了活性污泥过程模型ASM1，ASM2及ASM3的建模方法，并分析了各模型的微生物学基础。