Exploring fisheries strategies for the western English Channel using an ecosystem model

An ecosystem model of the western English Channel ecosystem in 1994 was used to explore the effects of the use of a fishing policy optimization routine on profits, number of jobs and ecosystem structure. The optimization for single objective led to the specialization of the fishing fleet, with some fleet types being almost excluded. The profits and mainly the job optimizations led to big changes in the ecosystem structure, with loss of diversity, but the overall biomass of all vertebrate groups represented in the model increased considerably. For the objective focusing on ecosystem structure, there was an increase in biodiversity, with many long-lived groups predicted to increase, although the overall vertebrate biomass suffered just a small increase. An “ideal” mixed policy configuration was found when slightly greater weight was given to ecosystem structure than was given to profits and jobs. This scenario led to an overall reduction in effort but also to increased profits and biodiversity, while keeping the number of jobs at the same level as the baseline estimates. The results of the optimizations showed that the average trophic level of the catches is quite resistant to changes in the underlying system structure. On the other hand, despite the high level of aggregation of the model structure, a biodiversity index estimated by the model presented large changes as a function of the weights placed on the single policy functions, reflecting the changes in the system structure. The output of the application of the fishing optimization presented here should be considered in qualitative rather than in quantitative terms as an aid and part contribution to the complicated discussions on future long term management actions. Nonetheless it points to an overall reduction in fishing capacity, an objective widely accepted within the scientific community, while keeping the fishery in a profitable state.     

双酚A联合镉亚慢性染毒对未成年雌性小鼠生殖内分泌干扰作用

目前,针对双酚A(BPA)或镉(Cd)内分泌干扰毒性的研究很多,但是关于其联合作用的研究则较少。将昆明雌性幼鼠分为4组,分别为对照组、BPA组、Cd组及联合组,灌胃染毒5周,观察小鼠动情周期、卵巢组织抗氧化水平、血清性激素及子宫内膜下层α亚型雌激素受体(ERα)免疫组化表达等指标的变化。结果发现,与对照组比较,各染毒组的动情周期均发生变化,体重、子宫系数、血清性激素水平及子宫内膜下层ERα表达降低(P0.05);BPA组及Cd组的卵巢T-SOD及MDA水平与对照组比较无差异(P0.05),但联合组的卵巢T-SOD及MDA水平显著区别于对照组(P0.05);此外,联合组的子宫内膜下层ERα阳性表达率(36%±11.7%)显著低于BPA组及Cd组(P0.05)。BPA及Cd对雌性生殖内分泌系统联合作用毒性较各单剂量组增加,氧化损伤及影响ERα表达可能是联合毒性作用机制之一。     

Spatio-temporal vigilance architecture of an Australian flying-fox colony

The social structure of animal aggregations may vary considerably in both space and time, yet little is known about how this affects vigilance. Here, we investigate the vigilance architecture of a colony of wild-living grey-headed flying-foxes (Pteropus poliocephalus) in Australia and examine how spatial as well as temporal variation in social organization influences social and environmental vigilance. We sampled color-marked individuals at different stages of the reproductive cycle and the year and at different locations in the colony to examine the effects of temporal and spatial factors on social and environmental vigilance. We found that vigilance architecture reflected the social structure of the colony, with the highest environmental vigilance being displayed by bats at the periphery of the colony, and the highest social vigilance by bats that roosted at intermediate distances from the colony’s edge. Furthermore, we found that vigilance levels reflected changes in reproductive state, with social vigilance increasing toward the mating season, particularly in males. Our findings show that spatial and temporal variation in social structure can have differential effects on social and environmental vigilance. This highlights the necessity to differentiate between functions of vigilance to understand fully vigilance architecture in aggregations of social animals.     

非洲爪蟾在生态毒理学研究中的应用（Ⅲ）——生殖内分泌干扰作用的评价

两栖动物生殖内分泌系统(如性别分化、性腺发育、第二性特征)对性激素的敏感性,使得该类动物可用于研究内分泌干扰物(Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals,EDCs)对生殖内分泌系统的干扰作用.两栖动物非洲爪蟾是发育生物学研究的经典模型动物,多年来积累的有关其生殖内分泌的资料可以为生殖内分泌干扰的研究提供参考.论文分析了非洲爪蟾作为评价生殖内分泌干扰作用模型动物的理论基础,总结了评价生殖内分泌干扰作用目前使用的几个指标(性别分化、性腺形态、性腺组织学结构、性激素水平、卵黄蛋白原表达等生物标记),综述了非洲爪蟾在评价酚类化合物、阿特拉津、多氯联苯等几种EDCs的生殖内分泌干扰作用中的应用,最后讨论了非洲爪蟾作为一种评价EDCs生殖内分泌干扰作用的模型动物目前存在的问题.毫无疑问,非洲爪蟾是生殖内分泌干扰研究的良好模型动物,为促进该模型动物更好的应用,需要加强非洲爪蟾生殖生物学和内分泌学的研究.     

热带亚热带土壤氮素反硝化研究进展

热带亚热带独特的土壤性质可能使得反硝化机理有别于温带土壤.文章综述了热带亚热带地区土壤氮素生物反硝化的研究进展,试图更好地了解该地区土壤反硝化在全球氮（N）循环以及在全球环境变化和生态系统响应互作中的角色.热带亚热带土壤反硝化强度普遍较温带地区弱,且随着土地利用方式和耕作管理措施的不同而呈现较大的时空变异性.影响土壤水分状况和土壤碳（C）、N 转化特性和速率的因素即为区域和农田尺度上的反硝化影响因素.湿润型热带亚热带土壤由于含有丰富的氧化物而致使土壤氧化还原势较高,这也是导致该地区土壤反硝化势较温带地区较低的关键土壤因素之-.然而土壤pH 值不是该地区土壤反硝化势较低的主要限制因素.有机C 矿化过程较土壤全氮含量和土壤C/N 比在决定湿润型亚热带土壤反硝化势方面更为重要.愈来愈多的证据表明热带亚热带土壤反硝化的生态环境效应不同于温带地区,热带亚热带地区土壤反硝化对全球变暖的贡献应综合考虑其对其它温室气体（如CH4,CO2）排放和氮沉降的影响.热带亚热带土壤生态系统具有-些防止土壤氮素反硝化损失的机制和保氮策略.然而,热带亚热带生态系统对全球变化的响应机制及其生物地球化学调控机制仍然不清楚,这些研究对于反硝化和其它同时发生的氮转化过程模型的精确构建至关重要.     

Protein expression profile in the testis of rats chronically exposed to low-dose 2, 3, 7, 8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin

The chronic effects low-dose 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) were examined on protein expression profiles in rat testis, sperm, and serum gonadal hormones. A total of 32 male rats were randomly divided into three TCDD-exposed groups, administered either 140, 350, or 875 ng TCDD/kg/week for 29 weeks, respectively, and one control group receiving only corn oil. The proteins from rat testis were separated and analyzed by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and mass spectrometry. TCDD induced significant decreases in sperm counts and serum gonadal hormone levels compared with controls. TCDD altered testicular protein expression levels. Several interesting volume-altered proteins that were related to the reproductive toxicities or other toxicities of TCDD were identified. Among these proteins, PERF15 was the only down-regulated protein; sperm protein SSP411, ubiquitin carboxyl-terminal hydrolase L-3, and eukaryotic translation elongation factor 1 gamma were up-regulated by TCDD. The differentially expressed proteins and other data provide further insight into the mechanisms of reproductive toxicity mediated by low-dose TCDD exposure.     

Effect of formaldehyde exposure on structure and function of epididymis in adult rats: a histological and biochemical study

Formaldehyde (FA), a ubiquitous environmental pollutant, is extensively used in hospitals, laboratories, and industrial settings. Previous studies showed that FA exerts adverse effects on testicular function and as epididymis is known to play an important role in the maturation and storage of sperm, the effects of FA were examined on epididymis. In particular, this study was designed to investigate the influence of FA on structure and function of epididymis in adult male rats using histological and biochemical methods. Sprague-Dawley adult rats were randomly allotted to three groups and exposed to FA at a 0 (control), 0.5, or 10 mg m^?3 by inhalation for 28 days. The results indicated that epididymal toxicity of FA was concentration dependent. Epdididymal structure and function in rats of 0.5 mg m^?3 FA exposure group showed no apparent difference from control. However, epididymal weight, sperm count and motility, the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) were significantly decreased, whereas the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) was significantly increased in epididymis of rats exposed to 10 mg m^?3 FA. Moreover, microscopy with hematoxylin and eosin (H&;E) staining showed atrophy of epididymal tubules, disintegration of epididymal epithelium, disorganization, and even vacuolar denaturalization of epididymal epithelial cells. There was hyperemia in interstitial vasculature and lumina were oligozoospermic in rats of 10 mg m^?3 FA exposure group. In conclusion, FA exposure alters the epididymal structure and function by inducing oxidative stress in epididymis of adult rats.     

Gonadal histology and reproductive steroidogenesis in Lithobates pipiens exposed to atrazine

Abstract

Atrazine, an endocrine-disrupting compound and environmental pollutant, can have adverse effects on amphibian reproductive development and function. To determine the effects of atrazine on anuran gonadal development, Lithobates pipiens larvae were exposed from Gosner stage 25 through 1-month post metamorphosis to 0, 2, 20, or 200?μg/L atrazine or estradiol. Exposure to atrazine did not markedly alter tadpole growth, development, gonadal histology, or reproductive steroidogenesis. Testicular ovarian follicles appeared in L. pipiens metamorphs following all treatments, including controls, whereas ovotestes occurred only in positive controls. Testicular ovarian follicles may be a natural ontogenetic occurrence in this species while ovotestes indicate disruption in development. Establishing the normal pattern of reproductive development for anuran species and conducting comparisons in fully sexually differentiated animals is necessary to clarify the influence of endocrine disrupting compounds.     

Responding to security threats: livelihoods under protracted conflict in Sri Lanka

Populations affected by violent conflicts often withstand threats to their security as well as threats to their livelihoods. Their response to the former threats nontrivially affects their response to the latter threats, and vice versa. This paper examines the interplay between protection and livelihood strategies using a sample of households selected from the Anuradhapura district of Sri Lanka. The fieldwork for this study was completed in 2008, producing evidence that the protection and livelihood strategies employed by households affected by the protracted conflict in Sri Lanka are interlaced. In addition, the research discovered that Muslim and Sinhalese households largely responded to the protracted conflict in ways that are unique to their ethnic group. Certain vulnerabilities that impinge on protection and certain opportunities that support livelihoods are shown to be ethnicised. Hence, the final livelihood outcome, which is defined narrowly here as the household's income, also appears to be ethnicised.     

锌对果蝇寿命及生殖力的影响及其可遗传性

为了分析微量元素锌对动物体寿命和生殖力的影响及这种影响是否具有可遗传性,以黑腹果蝇(Drosophila melanogaster)Canton S品系为材料,应用生存试验及统计分析方法检测不同质量浓度锌处理亲代果蝇后,亲代果蝇及其未受处理F1代果蝇寿命和生殖力变化。结果表明,培养基中添加质量浓度为0.026 g/L、0.052 g/L、0.104 g/L的锌均可延长亲代及未受处理F1代果蝇平均寿命、中间寿命、最高寿命及90%死亡时间,并增强其生殖力,其中0.052g/L质量浓度影响最为明显。添加高质量浓度(0.260g/L)锌可使亲代果蝇缩短寿命、丧失生殖能力。表明适当质量浓度的锌可以延长果蝇寿命,增强其生殖力,并且这种影响可遗传到子一代。