Mechanisms of changes in population numbers of Caucasian red deer (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Cervus elaphus maral</Emphasis>) in the northwestern Caucasus

Mechanisms of changes in the numbers of red deer in the Caucasian State Biosphere Reserve (the northwestern Caucasus) were studied from 1958 to 2004 using simulation models developed on the basis of concepts concerning the combined effect of density-dependent and density-independent factors. The results show that changes in population numbers are accounted for by larger (more numerous) local subunits, with small groups remaining relatively stable. In the periods of depression, such a mechanism provides for the maintenance of the spatial population structure.     

Minimizing Harm in Agricultural Animal Experiments in New Zealand

Intrusive agricultural experimentspublished in New Zealand in the last five yearsare reviewed in terms of the degree of animalsuffering involved, and the necessity for thissuffering in relation to research findings.When measured against animal welfare criteriaof the Ministry of Agriculture, thirty-sixstudies inflicted ``severe' or ``very severe'suffering. Many of these experiments hadquestionable short-term applications, had anapplication restricted to agriculturalproduction or economic growth, or could havebeen modified to prevent or reduce suffering.     

Methane fermentation of dung from litter-free reared domestic animals — an optimisation study

Data on the quantity (27 453 tons from litter-free reared animals in Bulgaria, only) and the chemical and energy characteristics of dung produced in intensive management farms for domestic animals suggests that technologies combining biogenic elements recycling with energy utilistation and dung decontamination are expedient to be applied on these types of farms. To this effect a fermenter was designed and a mathematical model (a Chen-Hashimoto model based computer programme) was applied, as a result of which the optimum methane fermentation parameters were determined. The technological methane output (Y_v) — indicator of biogas production efficiency (output/dm³ fermentor volume) showed an optimum at temperature 55°C and period of exchange 6 days. The methane output per unit mineralised organic matter in the substrate (B) — assumed as an indicator of ecological efficiency (maximum organic matter degradation) exhibited an optimum at 33°C for 15 days period of exchange.     

Minimizing the cost of translocation failure with decision‐tree models that predict species’ behavioral response in translocation sites

The high number of failures is one reason why translocation is often not recommended. Considering how behavior changes during translocations may improve translocation success. To derive decision‐tree models for species’ translocation, we used data on the short‐term responses of an endangered Australian skink in 5 simulated translocations with different release conditions. We used 4 different decision‐tree algorithms (decision tree, decision‐tree parallel, decision stump, and random forest) with 4 different criteria (gain ratio, information gain, gini index, and accuracy) to investigate how environmental and behavioral parameters may affect the success of a translocation. We assumed behavioral changes that increased dispersal away from a release site would reduce translocation success. The trees became more complex when we included all behavioral parameters as attributes, but these trees yielded more detailed information about why and how dispersal occurred. According to these complex trees, there were positive associations between some behavioral parameters, such as fight and dispersal, that showed there was a higher chance, for example, of dispersal among lizards that fought than among those that did not fight. Decision trees based on parameters related to release conditions were easier to understand and could be used by managers to make translocation decisions under different circumstances. Minimizar el Costo del Fracaso de la Reubicación con Modelos de Árboles de Decisión que Predigan la Respuesta Conductual de la Especie en los Sitios de Reubicación     

水稻精细胞差异表达基因RSG6的克隆和抗体制备

选用在水稻精细胞和二细胞花粉的差减文库中获得的在精细胞中表达量显著增强且可能代表新基因的EST之一 (BF4 75 2 0 7)为探针 ,筛选水稻精细胞cDNA文库 ,得到一全长为 1176bp的序列 ,其开放读码框编码 2 81个氨基酸 ,与已知蛋白质无明显同源性 ,属于一新发现的基因 ,GenBank登录号为AF4 4 2 4 90 .这是第 1次从高等植物精细胞中分离到的全长基因 .RT PCR结果证明该基因在根、叶、二细胞花粉、成熟花粉、授粉子房和精细胞中均有表达 ,但在精细胞中的表达量要高得多 ,是精细胞差异表达基因 .将此基因命名为RSG6 (ricespermgene6 ) .将RSG6的编码区克隆到表达载体pQE30上 ,构建重组质粒 .经IPTG诱导后 ,在E .coliM15 (pREP4 )中表达出了N端融合了 6×His的融合蛋白 .用纯化的融合蛋白免疫家兔 ,制得高效价、高特异性的抗体     

苏云金芽孢杆菌新基因cry1Ab17的克隆和生物信息学

利用高效克隆PCR产物的专用载体pMD18T,直接从苏云金芽孢杆菌WB9的PCR产物中克隆了cry1Ab17新基因.测序结果表明,该基因(GenBank登录号为AY646166)由3471个碱基组成,其编码的蛋白质含有1156个氨基酸残基,其中亲水性氨基酸占30.8%,疏水性氨基酸占45.2%,酸性氨基酸占12.9%,碱性氨基酸占11.1%.氨基酸序列的同源性分析结果表明,Cry1Ab17蛋白与已报道的Cry1Ab蛋白同源性为95.4%～99.7%,该蛋白的4个氨基酸残基———Pro170、Gly449、Gly796和Gly863与其它已报道Cry1Ab蛋白相应位置的氨基酸残基均不同.在核苷酸序列和氨基酸序列多重比较的基础上,应用PAUP4.0构建了Cry1A蛋白家族的系统发育树.SignalP分析结果显示,Cry1Ab17蛋白中不含信号肽序列.此外,对Cry1Ab17蛋白的二级结构和3个结构域也进行了预测和分析.图4表2参15     

极端嗜热菌海栖热袍菌木聚糖酶B的克隆和表达

极端嗜热菌海栖热袍菌MSB8(ThermotogamaritimaMSB8)能够利用木聚糖代谢 ,并具有两个产木聚糖酶的基因 .本研究首次克隆和在大肠杆菌中表达海栖热袍菌MSB8的第 2个木聚糖酶基因即xynB基因 .以基因组DNA为模板 ,根据xynB基因的全序列设计了两对引物 ,在合适的PCR反应条件下有效地扩增出了xynB基因片段 .选用pET2 8a(+)表达载体 ,NcoI-HindⅢ酶切位点并编码了羧基端 6×His标签的阳性克隆表达成可溶且具有生物活性的蛋白质 .xynB结构基因由 10 4 4对碱基组成 ,编码 347个氨基酸 .根据已知木聚糖酶蛋白质氨基酸的同源性分析 ,XynB与T .sp.strainFjSS3-B .1的XynA的同源性最大 ,为 85 % ,与T .neapolitana的XynB同源性次之 ,为 82 % ,与其它木聚糖酶的同源性小于 4 3% .另外 ,XynB属于F/ 10族木聚糖酶 ,且含有单一功能区 .表 3图 3参 12     

衡阳市动物疫情现状分析与防治对策

分析了衡阳市动物疫情现状,探讨了影响动物疫病发生的社会因素、人为因素和客观因素,结合衡阳市的具体情况,提出了与国际接轨的动物防治目标和对策.着重从政策、法律、经济、技术等方面阐述如何搞好动物防疫工作,提出了搞好动物防疫工作的重要性.     

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