Revealing life‐history traits by contrasting genetic estimations with predictions of effective population size

Effective population size, a central concept in conservation biology, is now routinely estimated from genetic surveys and can also be theoretically predicted from demographic, life‐history, and mating‐system data. By evaluating the consistency of theoretical predictions with empirically estimated effective size, insights can be gained regarding life‐history characteristics and the relative impact of different life‐history traits on genetic drift. These insights can be used to design and inform management strategies aimed at increasing effective population size. We demonstrated this approach by addressing the conservation of a reintroduced population of Asiatic wild ass (Equus hemionus). We estimated the variance effective size (N_ev) from genetic data () and formulated predictions for the impacts on N_ev of demography, polygyny, female variance in lifetime reproductive success (RS), and heritability of female RS. By contrasting the genetic estimation with theoretical predictions, we found that polygyny was the strongest factor affecting genetic drift because only when accounting for polygyny were predictions consistent with the genetically measured N_ev. The comparison of effective‐size estimation and predictions indicated that 10.6% of the males mated per generation when heritability of female RS was unaccounted for (polygyny responsible for 81% decrease in N_ev) and 19.5% mated when female RS was accounted for (polygyny responsible for 67% decrease in N_ev). Heritability of female RS also affected N_ev; (heritability responsible for 41% decrease in N_ev). The low effective size is of concern, and we suggest that management actions focus on factors identified as strongly affecting , namely, increasing the availability of artificial water sources to increase number of dominant males contributing to the gene pool. This approach, evaluating life‐history hypotheses in light of their impact on effective population size, and contrasting predictions with genetic measurements, is a general, applicable strategy that can be used to inform conservation practice.     

Isolation,identification, and the biodegradation characteristics of a benzoylurea insecticides-degrading strain北大核心CSCD

A chlorbenzuron, diflubenzuron, and hexaflumuron-degrading bacterium strain M6, was isolated from the activated sludge of an insecticide factory. The strain was identified as Achromobacter sp. according to an analysis on the 16S rRNA gene sequences, morphological, and physiological characteristics. Strain M6 could degrade more than 91% of 100 mg/L chlorbenzuron, diflubenzuron, and hexaflumuron within 48 hours, which could act as the sole carbon source. Strain M6 showed more chlorbenzuron degradation at a temperature range between 25 and 40 ℃ and a pH range between 6.0 and 8.0. The optimal temperature and the initial pH of medium for chlorbenzuron degradation by strain M6 were 30 ℃ and 7.0, respectively; the maximum chlorbenzuron tolerated concentration of strain M6 was as high as 400 mg/L. Strain M6 hydrolyzed 4-acetaminophenol into a purple-red product. Moreover, an approximately 1.4 kb DNA fragment, which could be expressed into an amidase to degrade amide pesticides, was amplified from the genomic DNA of strain M6. The results preliminarily proved that 3 benzoylurea insecticides could be degraded because of strain M6 hydrolyzing their amide bonds. This study obtained a highly efficient degrading strain and provided new resources and valuable information on benzoylurea insecticide degradation. © 2018 Science Press. All rights reserved.     

BaP和DDT暴露对翡翠贻贝胚胎重要酶活性影响的比较研究

为了揭示不同浓度苯并芘(BaP)及滴滴涕(DDT)对海洋贝类胚胎的生态毒理效应,将翡翠贻贝(Perna viridis)胚胎分别暴露于不同浓度BaP及DDT中,检测暴露24 h和48 h后,BaP和DDT对翡翠贻贝胚胎抗氧化及非特异性免疫酶活性的影响,包括超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶(GSH-Px)、酸性磷酸酶(ACP)、碱性磷酸酶(AKP),并利用综合生物标志物响应(IBR)指数对苯并芘及DDT对翡翠贻贝胚胎的综合毒理效应进行评价。结果表明,BaP和DDT胁迫显著影响翡翠贻贝胚胎抗氧化酶(SOD、GPx)和非特异性免疫酶(ACP、AKP)的活性。与对照组相比,随着暴露浓度的升高,胚胎SOD、AKP的活性呈现先抑制后诱导的趋势。DDT和BaP对ACP酶活性的影响不同,其中BaP对ACP活性的影响表现为先抑制,后恢复,而DDT对翡翠贻贝胚胎ACP的活性影响不显著。IBR分析表明,在胁迫早期随着污染物浓度的升高,RIB值逐渐增大,随着染毒时间延长,处理组RIB值均减小,总体来说,DDT的RIB值比BaP的RIB值大,表明DDT的胚胎毒性较强。通过探究翡翠贻贝胚胎重要酶应答BaP和DDT胁迫的毒理生化响应,评价持久性有机污染物对海洋贝类的毒理效应,为敏感生物标志物的筛选打下一定的基础,且为海洋环境的污染早期预警监测提供了一种新思路。     

Global trends in research output by zoos and aquariums

Zoos and aquaria, often regarded as preservation-cum-entertainment enterprises, are also actors in the effort to curb the biodiversity crisis: raising awareness, supporting conservation, and conducting research. We assessed trends in zoo and aquaria research topics and study organisms over time worldwide. For the zoos and aquaria registered in the Species360's Zoological Information Management System and the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums, we compiled metadata on their research published in the peer-reviewed literature indexed in Scopus and carried out a keyword frequency analysis. The production of scientific papers by zoos increased at a much faster rate than the average accrual of scientific papers in the literature. Evolution of research themes ran parallel to that of biological sciences (e.g., development of molecular genetics or increased awareness about conservation). The focus of 48.5% of zoo-led research was on vertebrates, of which mammal research was 33.7%. Whether zoos are effectively contributing to conservation may still be debatable, but our results highlight their institutional efforts to increase knowledge about the species in their care.     

自然资源核算的生态足迹模型演进及其评论

生态足迹模型作为从生态角度对自然资源进行核算的方法,其发展经历了从一维模型向二维模型,并从二维模型向三维模型的演进过程,论文从科学问题、模型内涵、应用指向和解释能力等4个方面对生态足迹模型演进作了梳理和评论。研究结果表明：1）生态足迹模型是自然资源核算的一个生物物理性工具,弥补了主流的国民经济核算体系下自然资源价值核算的不足。2）一维模型开创性地引入生态生产性土地概念开展自然资源消费核算,以此来测算人类活动对生态的占用情况;二维模型在自然资源消费核算维度的基础上,引入自然资源生态承载能力维度,开拓了自然资源承载力评价的新视野;三维模型进一步从流量和存量两个维度理解自然资源生态承载能力,以圆柱体体积表达生态足迹,生动刻画人类活动对所处区域的生态压力。3）一维模型是二维、三维模型的基础,但它们解决的科学问题各有不同,从而所适用的研究尺度、应用指向也有所差异。4）生态足迹模型属于静态分析模型,无法解释生态经济社会系统的动态变化情况;二维和三维模型属于封闭模型,其计算结果不能准确反映区域生态的真实状况。最后,探讨了生态足迹模型进一步优化的方向。     

前沟藻(Amphidinium hoefleri)和角刺藻(Chaetoceros gracilis)二甲基硫生产的实验研究

用实验室模拟的方法着重研究硅藻的角刺藻（Ｃｈａｅｔｏｃｅｒｏｓｇｒａｃｉｌｉｓ）和乳游甲菏的前沟藻（Ａｍｐｈｉｄｉｍｉｕｍｈｏｅｆｌｉｅｒ）生长过程中ＤＭＳ的生产及不同氮营养条件下对前沟藻ＤＭＳ生产的影响。结果表明（１）前沟藻和角刺激都可以生产二甲基硫（ＤＭＳ）,但２者ＤＭＳ生产能力有很大差别,前沟藻ＤＭＳ平均生产率大约是角刺激藻的１００倍。（２）不同生理阶段的ＤＭＳ产量不同。对数增生匠前沟藻细胞     

基于MODIS模拟的辽东湾叶绿素a的遥感反演模型

叶绿素a浓度对于水质和富营养化评价、赤潮探测及海洋生产力研究有重要意义.利用卫星遥感反演获取叶绿素a浓度弥补了传统采样方法的数据离散化、耗时长且费用高的缺陷,可以实时和全面地观测大尺度海洋叶绿索a分布.通过实测光谱模拟卫星波段,可以在一定程度上削除大气干扰,有助于准确地确定特征波段和建立遥感反演模型.本文以辽东湾为研究区,利用现场实测光谱模拟了MODIS波段,并在光谱特征分析基础上进行叶绿素a的特征波段选择,通过比较单波段和波段比值法等算法,建立了2个具有区域特色的叶绿素a遥感反演模型,并进行了模型验证.结果表明:在辽东湾海域,运用红光附近特征波段667和678 nm来反映叶绿素特征比传统蓝绿光波段(440和550nm)似乎更能削弱其它水体组分的干扰,突出辽东湾水体的特点.利用667、678和551nm的三波段模型要比单纯考虑667和678nm波段比值的模型要好一些,该模型r为0.856,标准差为0.190.模型验证预测值和实测值的相关系数为0.93(p<0.01),表明了模型良好的预测能力.模型具有明显的区域特色,结果是否具有普适性,还需进一步验证.     

煤矸石堆放场周围玉米作物中苯并(a)芘污染特征

以焦作矿区演马矿煤矸石堆放场周围农田玉米为研究对象,对玉米中苯并(a)芘污染特征进行了分析研究.在矸石堆周围布设三条采样线采集玉米样品,玉米样品经提取、浓缩、净化处理后采用高效液相色谱(HPLc)法对其中苯并(a)芘含量进行检测分析.结果表明,研究区玉米作物叶子中苯并(a)芘污染水平较高,达46.7%,茎和籽均未出现苯并(a)芘污染现象,且玉米各部位苯并(a)芘含量与距矸石堆距离呈反比.进一步指出矿区企业应加强对周围环境生态的预防保护,以确保企业的可持续发展.     

Importance of including cultural practices in ecological restoration

Ecosystems worldwide have a long history of use and management by indigenous cultures. However, environmental degradation can reduce the availability of culturally important resources. Ecological restoration aims to repair damage to ecosystems caused by human activity, but it is unclear how often restoration projects incorporate the return of harvesting or traditional life patterns for indigenous communities. We examined the incorporation of cultural use of natural resources into ecological restoration in the context of a culturally important but protected New Zealand bird; among award‐winning restoration projects in Australasia and worldwide; and in the peer‐reviewed restoration ecology literature. Among New Zealand's culturally important bird species, differences in threat status and availability for hunting were large. These differences indicate the values of a colonizing culture can inhibit harvesting by indigenous people. In Australasia among award‐winning ecological restoration projects, <17% involved human use of restored areas beyond aesthetic or recreational use, despite many projects encouraging community participation. Globally, restoration goals differed among regions. For example, in North America, projects were primarily conservation oriented, whereas in Asia and Africa projects frequently focused on restoring cultural harvesting. From 1995 to 2014, the restoration ecology literature contained few references to cultural values or use. We argue that restoration practitioners are missing a vital component for reassembling functional ecosystems. Inclusion of sustainably harvestable areas within restored landscapes may allow for the continuation of traditional practices that shaped ecosystems for millennia, and also aid project success by ensuring community support.