Inbreeding and Loss of Genetic Variation in a Reintroduced Population of Mauritius Kestrel

Abstract:  Many populations have recovered from severe bottlenecks either naturally or through intensive conservation management. In the past, however, few conservation programs have monitored the genetic health of recovering populations. We conducted a conservation genetic assessment of a small, reintroduced population of Mauritius Kestrel ( Falco punctatus ) to determine whether genetic deterioration has occurred since its reintroduction. We used pedigree analysis that partially accounted for individuals of unknown origin to document that (1) inbreeding occurred frequently (2.6% increase per generation; N _eI= 18.9), (2) 25% of breeding pairs were composed of either closely or moderately related individuals, (3) genetic diversity has been lost from the population (1.6% loss per generation; N _eV= 32.1) less rapidly than the corresponding increase in inbreeding, and (4) ignoring the contribution of unknown individuals to a pedigree will bias the metrics derived from that pedigree, ultimately obscuring the prevailing genetic dynamics. The rates of inbreeding and loss of genetic variation in the subpopulation of Mauritius Kestrel we examined were extreme and among the highest yet documented in a wild vertebrate population. Thus, genetic deterioration may affect this population's long-term viability. Remedial conservation strategies are needed to reduce the impact of inbreeding and loss of genetic variation in this species. We suggest that schemes to monitor genetic variation after reintroduction should be an integral component of endangered species recovery programs.     

The hypothesis of hydrochorous dissemination of populations of conifers

A comparative analysis of field observations and experiments on the distance and rate of dispersal of self-sown Scotch pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) and Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) progeny has shown that the rate of their hydrochorous dissemination downstream is an order of magnitude higher than the rate of dispersal in upland areas. A hypothesis assigning priority to the role of hydrochory in the expansion of conifer populations to the tundra (periglacial) zone along with climate warming has been formulated and substantiated by comparative isozyme analysis of populations in transects lying along and across rivers.     

Population genetic structure of Pinus tabulaeformis in Shanxi Plateau, China

Chinese pine, Pinus tabulaeformis Carr., a species that ranges broadly across northeastern to southwestern China, plays a vital role in the maintenance of the structure and function of these ecosystems. In this study, we examined the genetic diversity of five widespread populations in Shanxi Plateau, the distribution center of Chinese pine, using 15 random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) primers and five inter simple sequence repeat (ISSR) primers in 140 individual tree samples. Similar genetic differentiation results were obtained from the data of RAPD and ISSR. Based on the two sets of data, Nei’s genetic diversity was 0.2842 and 0.3078 and Shannon’s indices of diversity were 0.4332 and 0.4468. Genetic diversity at the species level was found high relative to that for other genera of Pinaceae. The greatest diversity was observed in the Lingkong Mountain population (0.3860), while the lowest was recorded in the Luya Mountain population (0.3352), most likely as a result of natural adaptation and anthropogenic perturbation. The relative magnitude of differentiation among populations (G _ST) was 0.1491 and 0.1356, respectively, implying that most genetic variation was within the populations (∼0.8509), rather than among populations. Published in Russian in Ekologiya, 2008, No. 1, pp. 36–42. The article was translated by the authors.     

三价铕对蚕豆根尖细胞的遗传毒性研究

研究了三价价态稀土元素铕对蚕豆根尖细胞遗传毒性。结果表明，Ｅｕ＾３＋能诱发蚕豆根尖细胞产生微核、染色体桥和染色体粘连等遗传损伤。有关实验数据统计结果还显示微核和染色体桥等遗传损伤指标之间以及它们与Ｅｕ＾３＋处理浓度之间均存在显的相关关系。     

基于改进支持向量机的石煤提钒行业清洁生产评价研究

采用遗传算法(GA)对支持向量机(SVM)进行改进,并将其应用于石煤提钒行业清洁生产评价.在系统研究石煤提钒工艺类型的基础上,根据前期已建立的石煤提钒行业清洁生产评价指标体系,提出GA改进SVM的应用思路,通过对3种工艺类型企业的现场数据采集,形成训练和测试样本,并利用GA算法确定出各类参数(惩罚参数C和核函数参数g),分别为强酸浸工艺C=2.1049,g=5.2184;弱酸浸工艺C=0.0035286,g=1.9947;水浸工艺C=0.39587,g=1.4105.GA-SVM模型测试结果表明,分类精度达到100%.通过与其他评价方法对比表明,训练好的GA-SVM方法针对小样本数据在分类精度和可操作性上都较其他方法有明显优势,实现了对石煤提钒行业清洁生产水平的定量评价.     

t分布受控遗传算法优化BP神经网络的PM2.5质量浓度预测

根据齐齐哈尔大学监测点2014年3—5月PM2?5质量浓度及其对应的每小时的气象因素、气体污染物浓度,建立基于t分布受控遗传算法的BP神经网络模型（ BPM?TCG）,对PM2?5质量浓度进行模拟预测。并将其与BP神经网络模型、遗传算法优化BP神经网络模型（ BP?GA）进行对比分析。3种模型预测结果表明：BPM?TCG模型预测精度最高,泛化能力最好。 BPM?TCG模型对PM2?5质量浓度的准确预测为预防和控制PM2?5提供依据。     

An improved grey wolf optimizer algorithm for identification and location of gas emission

Identification of the leakage of hazardous gases plays an important role in the environment protection, human health and safety of industry production. However, lots of current optimization algorithms, such as particle swarm optimization (PSO) and Grey Wolf Optimizer (GWO), suffer from poor global optimization capability and estimation accuracy. In this work, a hybrid differential evolutionary and GWO (DE-GWO) algorithm is proposed. Tested by simulation cases and Prairie Grass emission experimental data, DE-GWO shows higher estimation accuracy than GWO. Compared with the other four optimization algorithms, DE-GWO exhibits finer robust stability under different population sizes, fewer iterations, as well as higher estimation accuracy with fewer search agents. Importantly, simulation results demonstrate that DE-GWO is more suitable to apply in the scene with a small number of sensors. Therefore, the proposed in this paper outperforms other optimization algorithms for the gas emission inverse problem. DE-GWO can provide reliable estimation towards gas emission identification and positioning, which shows huge potential as the data analysis module of real-time monitoring and early warning system.