The malaria parasite Plasmodium relictum in the endemic avifauna of eastern Cuba

Island populations are vulnerable to introduced pathogens, as evidenced by extinction or population decline of several endemic Hawaiian birds caused by the malaria parasite, Plasmodium relictum (order Haemosporida). We analyzed blood samples from 363 birds caught near Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, for the presence of haemosporidian infections. We characterized parasite lineages by determining nucleotide variation of the parasite's mitochondrial cyt b gene. Fifty‐nine individuals were infected, and we identified 7 lineages of haemosporidian parasites. Fifty individuals were infected by 6 Haemoproteus sp. lineages, including a newly characterized lineage of Haem. (Parahaemoproteus) sp. CUH01. Nine individuals carried the P. relictum lineage GRW4, including 5 endemic Cuban Grassquits (Tiaris canorus) and 1 migratory Cape May Warbler (Setophaga tigrina). A sequence of the merozoite surface protein gene from one Cuban Grassquit infected with GRW4 matched that of the Hawaiian haplotype Pr9. Our results indicate that resident and migratory Cuban birds are infected with a malaria lineage that has severely affected populations of several endemic Hawaiian birds. We suggest GRW4 may be associated with the lack of several bird species on Cuba that are ubiquitous elsewhere in the West Indies. From the standpoint of avian conservation in the Caribbean Basin, it will be important to determine the distribution of haemosporidian parasites, especially P. relictum GRW4, in Cuba as well as the pathogenicity of this lineage in species that occur and are absent from Cuba.     

In vitro cytotoxicity assessment of roundup (glyphosate) in L-02 hepatocytes

The goal of the present study was to elucidate the in vitro cytotoxicity of Roundup and to reveal the possible related mechanisms in L-02 hepatocytes. By detecting reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, glutathione (GSH)/superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels, mitochondrial permeability transition pore (PTP) open rate, apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF) release, intracellular Ca²⁺ concentration, and alanine aminotransferease (ALT)/aspartate aminotransferase (AST) leakage, we determined that Roundup induced anti-oxidant system inhibition, mitochondria damage, DNA damage, membrane integrity and permeability changes, and apoptosis in L-02 hepatocytes. By revealing the mechanistic insights of Roundup-induced cytotoxicity, our results are valuable for the design of preventive and therapeutic strategies for the occupational population exposed to Roundup and other pesticides.     

Effects of crowding due to habitat loss on species assemblage patterns

Terrestrial animals are negatively affected by habitat loss, which is assessed on a landscape scale, whereas secondary effects of habitat loss, such as crowding, are usually disregarded. Such impacts are inherently hard to address and poorly understood, and there is a growing concern that they could have dire consequences. We sampled birds throughout a deforestation process to assess crowding stress in an adjacent habitat remnant in the southern Brazilian Atlantic Forest. Crowding is expected of highly mobile taxa, especially given the microhabitat heterogeneity of Neotropical forests, and we hypothesized that the arrival of new individuals or species in refuges shifts assemblage patterns. We used point counts to obtain bird abundances in a before-after-control-impact design sampling of a deforestation event. Temporal changes in taxonomic and functional diversity were examined with metrics used to assess alpha and beta diversity, turnover of taxonomic and functional similarity, and taxonomic and functional composition. Over time increased abundance of some species altered the Simpson index and affected the abundance-distribution of traits in the habitat remnant. Taxonomic composition and functional composition changed in the remnant, and thus bird assemblages changed over time. Taxonomic and functional metrics indicated that fugitives affected resident assemblages in refuges, and effects endured >2 years after the deforestation processes had ceased. Dissimilarity of taxonomic composition between pre- and postdeforestation assemblages increased, whereas functional composition reverted to preimpact conditions. We found that ecological disruptions resulted from crowding and escalated into disruptions of species’ assemblages and potentially compromising ecosystem functioning. It is important to consider crowding effects of highly mobile taxa during impact assessments, especially in large-scale infrastructure projects that may affect larger areas than is assumed.     

Predicting and Mapping Potential Whooping Crane Stopover Habitat to Guide Site Selection for Wind Energy Projects

Migratory stopover habitats are often not part of planning for conservation or new development projects. We identified potential stopover habitats within an avian migratory flyway and demonstrated how this information can guide the site‐selection process for new development. We used the random forests modeling approach to map the distribution of predicted stopover habitat for the Whooping Crane (Grus americana), an endangered species whose migratory flyway overlaps with an area where wind energy development is expected to become increasingly important. We then used this information to identify areas for potential wind power development in a U.S. state within the flyway (Nebraska) that minimize conflicts between Whooping Crane stopover habitat and the development of clean, renewable energy sources. Up to 54% of our study area was predicted to be unsuitable as Whooping Crane stopover habitat and could be considered relatively low risk for conflicts between Whooping Cranes and wind energy development. We suggest that this type of analysis be incorporated into the habitat conservation planning process in areas where incidental take permits are being considered for Whooping Cranes or other species of concern. Field surveys should always be conducted prior to construction to verify model predictions and understand baseline conditions. Predicción y Mapeo del Hábitat Potencial de Descanso de la Grulla Americana para Guiar la Selección de Sitios para Proyectos de Energía Eólica.     

铈对马尾松离体胚DNA、RNA及蛋白质合成的影响

用含30mgL^-1CeCl3的培养瘁培养马尾松离体胚，采用^3H-T、^3H-U和^3H-Leu标记技术测定：结果表明，CeCl3明显提高马尾松离体胚在培养过程中对DNA、RNA和蛋白质前体的吸收，以及合成这些生物大分子的能力。CeCl3处理在15h开始迅速吸收DNA前体和合成DNA，比CK提前5h。CeCl3处理在10h开始迅速吸收RNA前体和合成RNA，比CK提前5h，CeCl3处理5h,蛋白质合成前体的吸收量和蛋白质合成量明显高于CK。图6参19     

Avian Diversity and Functional Insectivory on North-Central Florida Farmlands

Abstract:  We studied the potential for native birds to control insect pests on farms. We assessed habitat factors correlated with diversity, distribution, and insect-foraging activity of native birds on farms in north-central Florida and then characterized common bird species that consumed insect biomass in crops as "functional insectivores" (birds most likely to contribute to pest control). Analyses of point-count survey data and foraging observations collected over 2 years on paired organic and conventional farm sites indicated that (1) farms supported most (82–96%) land birds known to breed in the region; (2) bird species richness and abundance varied significantly with matrix habitat and field border type (but not with year or farm management type); (3) the highest bird abundances were associated with mixed crop plantings, field borders, and adjacent matrix composed of forest and hedge; and (4) abundances of 10 species identified as functional insectivores were primarily influenced by crop type (mixed crops attracted significantly more insect foragers into fields than monocrops). We documented birds eating pest insects in crops and did not observe substantive crop damage by birds during growing-season observations. We advocate use of the term functional insectivore to emphasize the potential positive role of avian insectivory on farms during the growing season.     

呼和浩特白塔国际机场2006-2010年的鸟类动态变化

为了探究呼和浩特白塔国际机场2006-2010年间鸟类组成、数量、多样性等方面的变化及其原因,于2010年11月至2011年10月期间,用样带法对机场飞行区内的鸟类进行了系统调查.将记录的数据与2004年11月至2005年10月间数据进行对比分析.结果表明,第1次调查共记录到鸟类12目25科78种;第2次调查记录到鸟类10目16科31种,其中有11种鸟在第1次调查中没有发现.第1次调查中各季节及全年鸟类的种类、数量、多样性指数均大于第2次;机场鸟类的生态类群、食性变化明显;机场环境的改变是造成2次调查结果差异的根本原因,管理部门改造后的机场环境更加不适合鸟类栖息.根据调查资料提出了鸟击防范对策及建议,以达到持久高效预防鸟击事件的目的.     

提高平菇深层培养木质素降解酶活性和对直接湖蓝5B脱色率的探索性研究

以稻草为主要营养基质对平菇进行深层培养,研究了不同浓度(100、200、400、600、800 mg·L-1)直接湖蓝5B对平菇菌丝体产量的影响,以及平菇对不同浓度(100、150、200、250、300、400 mg·L-1)直接湖蓝5B的脱色率.此外,还研究了平菇分别与3种酵母菌(酿酒酵母、产朊假丝酵母和热带假丝酵母)混菌培养及用不同浓度(50、100、200、300、400 mg·L-1)直接湖蓝5B预适应培养的平菇菌种对木质素降解酶活性和直接湖蓝5B脱色率的影响.结果表明:100~400 mg·L-1的直接湖蓝5B均可显著提高了平菇菌丝体产量,而800 mg·L-1的染料对菌丝体的生长有显著抑制作用;染料浓度越高,平菇对其的脱色率越低,发酵时间越长,脱色效果越好.与平菇单菌发酵相比,平菇分别与酿酒酵母和产朊假丝酵母混菌培养可显著提高发酵体系漆酶的活性,平菇分别与所试3种酵母菌混菌培养时锰过氧化物酶活性均有显著增加,与产朊假丝酵母混菌培养时两种酶活性的增加量最大;用50、100、200 mg·L-1直接湖蓝5B预适应培养的菌种接种可显著提高平菇分泌的漆酶的活性,而50mg·L-1和100 mg·L-1的则显著提高锰过氧化物酶的活性.平菇分别与所试3种酵母混菌培养,以及用50 mg·L-1和100 mg·L-1直接湖蓝5B预培养的平菇菌种接种,发酵体系对直接湖蓝5B的脱色效果有显著促进作用,其中,平菇与产朊假丝酵母混菌培养时脱色率最高,达96.3%.通过比较直接湖蓝5B脱色率与漆酶、锰过氧化物酶活性之间的关系可以看出,漆酶、锰过氧化物酶活性与脱色率间基本呈正相关关系.     

Region-wide retreats from lower elevations of range-restricted birds across the Northern Andes

Local studies show upslope shifts in the distribution of tropical birds in response to warming temperatures. Unanswered is whether these upward shifts occur regionally across many species. We considered a nearly 2000-km length of the Northern Andes, where deforestation, temperature, and extreme weather events have increased during the past decades. Range-restricted bird species are particularly vulnerable to such events and occur in exceptionally high numbers in this region. Using abundant crowd-sourced data from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology database, eBird, and the Global Biodiversity Information Facility, we documented distributions of nearly 200 such species. We examined whether species shifted their elevational ranges over time by comparing observed versus expected occurrences below a low elevational threshold and above a high elevational threshold for 2 periods: before and after 2005. We predicted fewer observations at lower elevations (those below the threshold) and more at upper elevations (those above the threshold) after 2005. We also tested for deforestation effects at lower elevations within each species’ distribution ranges. We compared relative forest loss with the differences between observed and expected occurrences across the elevational range. Species’ retreats from lower elevations were ubiquitous and involved a 23–40% decline in prevalence at the lowest elevations. Increases at higher elevations were not consistent. The retreats occurred across a broad spectrum of species, from predominantly lowland to predominantly highland. Because deforestation showed no relationship with species retreats, we contend that a warming climate is the most parsimonious explanation for such shifts.