Preserving Population Allele Frequencies in Ex Situ Conservation Programs

Abstract: Optimization of contributions of parents to progeny by minimizing the average coancestry of the progeny is an effective strategy for maintaining genetic diversity in ex situ conservation programs, but its application on the basis of molecular markers has the negative collateral effect of homogenizing the allelic frequencies at each locus. Because one of the objectives of a conservation program is to preserve the genetic composition of the original endangered population, we devised a method in which markers are used to maintain the allele frequency distribution at each locus as closely as possible to that of the native population. Contributions of parents were obtained so as to minimize changes in allele frequency for a set of molecular markers in a population of reduced size. We used computer simulations, under a range of scenarios, to assess the effectiveness of the method in comparison with methods in which contributions of minimum coancestry are sought, either making use of molecular markers or genealogical information. Our simulations indicated that the proposed method effectively maintained the original distribution of allele frequencies, particularly under strong linkage, and maintained acceptable levels of genetic diversity in the population. Nevertheless, contributions of minimum coancestry determined from pedigree information but ignoring the genealogy previous to the conservation program, was the most effective method for maintaining allelic frequencies in realistic situations.     

Update on selective reduction

Over the past 25 years fetal reduction has been utilized to reduce the risks of higher-order multiple pregnancies that have resulted from overly successful infertility therapies. The demographics of multiple pregnancy patients have evolved over the past decade, with increasing proportions coming from IVF as opposed to ovulation induction, being older and a higher proportion with donor eggs. Genetic diagnosis prior to reduction is becoming more common and is very safe in experienced hands. For all starting numbers, including twins, reduction to a lower number of fetuses reduces fetal losses, prematurity, and infant mortality and morbidity. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Ecological Conservation Through Aesthetic Landscape Planning: A Case Study of the Lower Wisconsin State Riverway

A consequence of expanding residential development into rural areas is the potential alteration of ecological communities. Certain novel land-use policies seek practical solutions by accommodating social needs for housing while conserving biodiversity. This study investigates whether regulations designed to protect the aesthetic characteristics of a river corridor simultaneously mitigate negative effects of development on avian biodiversity, despite the absence of explicit conservation objectives. Using housing data from the US Census (1990 and 2000) and the Audubon Christmas Bird Count (1987–2000), we examined changes in housing density, avian communities, and the relationship between these two variables in a location that has adopted aesthetic landscape planning, the Lower Wisconsin State Riverway. We found that overall species diversity increased in the Riverway, but remained constant in reference areas, although the relative increase in housing density in the two areas did not differ. We also found that omnivore populations decreased in the Riverway and increased in reference sites. On the whole, our study provides preliminary evidence that aesthetic landscape planning, such as employed in the Lower Wisconsin State Riverway, might constitute a politically viable approach to conserve ecological resources.     

典型工业园污染源羰基化合物排放特征研究

选取中国华东地区某工业园新区典型行业企业进行现场采样,利用PFPH衍生化-GC/MS联用技术进行羰基化合物(CBCs)的组成特征和含量水平检测,研究其排放特征。结果表明,在该工业园新区内共检出22种CBCs,各化合物的质量浓度为0.008~239.4μg/m~3,各企业CBCs总质量浓度均值为(437.62±64.45)μg/m~3,工业污染源排放贡献率由高至低顺序依次为涂料制造橡胶制造医药制造化学品制造金属制造电子元件制造。根据各物质化学反应活性及大气化学寿命,获得该工业园新区典型的CBCs分子标志物为甲醛、乙醛、丙酮、丙醛、2-丁酮、丁醛、己醛、环己酮和苯甲醛,它们占总CBCs含量的80.01%,其中乙醛含量最高,质量浓度均值高达(95.42±71.48)μg/m3。最后,建立了6种典型工业污染源CBCs成分谱。     

Assessment of toxicity of a glyphosate-based formulation using bacterial systems in lake water

A new Aeromonas bioassay is described to assess the potential harmful effects of the glyphosate-based herbicide, Roundup^®, in the Albufera lake, a protected area near Valencia. Viability markers as membrane integrity, culturability and β-galactosidase production of Aeromonas caviae were studied to determine the influence of the herbicide in the bacterial cells. Data from the multifactor analysis of variance test showed no significant differences (P > 0.05) between A. caviae counts of viability markers at the studied concentrations (0, 50 and 100 mg l⁻¹ of glyphosate).

The effects of Roundup^® on microbial biota present in the lake were assessed by measuring the number of indigenous mesophilic Aeromonas in presence of different amounts of the herbicide at 0, 50 and 100 mg l⁻¹ of glyphosate. In samples containing 50 and 100 mg l⁻¹ of glyphosate a significant (P < 0.05) increase in Aeromonas spp. counts and accompanying flora was observed.

The acute toxicity of Roundup^® and of Roundup^® diluted with Albufera lake water to Microtox^® luminescent bacterium (Vibrio fischeri) also was determined. The EC₅₀ values obtained were 36.4 mg l⁻¹ and 64.0 mg l⁻¹ of glyphosate respectively. The acidity (pH 4.5) of the herbicide formulation was the responsible of the observed toxicity.     

超声波/零价铁(US/Fe)协同降解氯酚类化合物的QSPR研究

在同一反应条件下测定US/Fe协同降解6种氯酚类化合物的降解速率常数(κ).采用软件Chemoffice2005内置的MOPAC2002计算氯酚类化合物的分子结构参数,运用偏最小二乘(PLS)回归分析方法,对氯酚类化合物进行定量结构-性质相关(QSPR)研究,得到预测性较好的模型.模型结果显示,影响US/Fe协同降解性能(logK)的主要因素是Vp、Ehomo、logKow、(Elumo-Ehomo)2和Elumo-Ehomo.推测在US/Fe协同体系中:(1)氯酚类化合物的降解反应不是以空化泡内热解反应为主;(2)Fe表面的吸附作用对降解反应起决定影响,且氯酚化合物与·OH的氧化反应占主导作用.