Sequence analysis of the ITS region and 5.8S rDNA of Porphyra haitanensis

The sequences of the ITS (internal transcribed spacer) and 5.8S rDNA of three cultivated strains of Porphyra haitanensis thalli (NB, PT and ST) were amplified, sequenced and analyzed. In addition, the phylogenic relationships of the sequences identified in this study with those of other Porphyra retrieved from GenBank were evaluated. The results are as follows: the sequences of the ITS and 5.8S rDNA were essentially identical among the three strains. The sequences of ITS l were 331 by to 334 bp, while those of the 5.8S rDNA were 158 by and the sequences of ITS2 ranged from 673 by to 681 bp. The sequences of the ITS had a high level of homology (up to 99.5%) with that of P. haitanensis (DQ662228) retrieved from GenBank, but were only approximately 50% homologous with those of other species of Porphyra. The results obtained when a phylogenetic tree was constructed coincided with the results of the homology analysis. These results suggest that the three cultivated strains of P. haitanensis evolved conservatively and that the ITS showed evolutionary consistency. However, the sequences of the ITS and 5.8S rDNA of different Porphyra species showed great variations. Therefore, the relationship of Porphyra interspecies phyletic evolution could be judged, which provides the proof for Porphyra identification study. However, proper classifications of the subspecies and the populations of Porphyra should be determined through the use of other molecular techniques to determine the genetic variability and rational phylogenetic relationships.

Genetic characterization of asymmetric reciprocal hybridization between the flatfishes Paralichthys olivaceus and Paralichthys dentatus

Interspecific reciprocal crosses between the two flatfishes Paralichthys olivaceus and P. dentatus yielded hybrids with different viabilities. Specifically, the hybrids of P. olivaceus female and P. dentatus male (HI) were found to be viable, while the reciprocal hybrids from P. dentatus female and P. olivaceus male (HII) were completely inviable. All the HII individuals showed morphological deformities and died before first feeding. The chromosome analysis showed that HI individuals had the same chromosome number as parents. However, two chromosomes were missing in HII offspring indicating that the latter were aneuploids. Genomic inheritance from the parents to F-1 progeny was also examined by amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) analyses, and the results showed differences between reciprocal hybrids. Almost all AFLP bands (97.71%) observed in parents were passed on to HI individuals. In contrast, only 86.64% of the AFLP bands from parents were scored in HII individuals. Frequency of lost parental bands was thus significantly higher in HII than that in HI and intraspecific crosses, which was probably associated with chromosomal elimination. In addition, higher segregation distortions were found in hybrids than in controls, although these differences were not significant. The present study indicates that chromosomal elimination and loss of AFLP loci occurred in inviable HII individuals, while such genomic changes were not found in viable HI individuals. Possible implications of such difference on genomic changes for asymmetric viability in reciprocal hybrids are discussed.

A novel C1q-domain-containing protein from Zhikong scallop Chlamys farreri with lipopolysaccharide binding activity

The C1q-domain-containing (C1qDC) proteins are a family of proteins characterized by a globular C1q (gC1q) domain in their C-terminus. They are involved in various processes of vertebrates and supposed to be an important pattern recognition receptor in innate immunity of invertebrates. In this study, a novel member of C1q-domain-containing protein family was identified from Zhikong scallop Chlamys farreri (designated as CfC1qDC) by expressed sequence tag (EST) and rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) approaches. The full-length cDNA of CfC1qDC was of 777 bp, consisting of a T-terminal untranslated region (UTR) of 62 bp and a 3' UTR of 178 bp with a polyadenylation signal sequence AATAAA and a poly (A) tail. The CfC1qDC cDNA encoded a polypeptide of 178 amino acids, including a signal peptide and a C1q-domain of 158 amino acids with the theoretical isoelectric point of 5.19 and the predicted molecular weight of 17.2 kDa. The C1q-domain in CfC1qDC exhibited homology with those in sialic acid binding lectin from mollusks and C1qDC proteins from higher vertebrates. The typical 10 beta-strand jelly-roll folding topology structure of C1q-domain and the residues essential for effective packing of the hydrophobic core were well conserved in CfC1qDC. By fluorescent quantitative real-time PCR, mRNA transcripts of CfC1qDC were mainly detected in kidney, mantle, adductor muscle and gill, and also marginally detectable in hemocytes. In the bacterial challenge experiment, after the scallops were challenged by Listonella anguillarum, there was a significant up-regulation in the relative expression level of CfC1qDC and at 6 h post-injection, the mRNA expression reached the maximum level and was 4.55-fold higher than that of control scallops. Similarly, the expression of CfC1qDC mRNA in mixed primary cultures of hemocytes stimulated by lipopolysaccharides (LPS) was up-regulated and reached the maximum level at 6 h post-stimulation, and then dropped back to the original level gradually. In order to investigate its function, the cDNA fragment encoding the mature peptide of CfC1qDC was recombined and expressed in Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3). The recombinant CfC1qDC protein displayed a significantly strong activity to bind LIDS from E. coli, although no obvious antibacterial or agglutinating activity toward Gram-negative bacteria E. coli JM109, L. anguillarum and Gram-positive bacteria Micrococcus luteus was observed. These results suggested that CfC1qDC was absolutely a novel member of the C1qDC protein family and was involved in the recognition of invading microorganisms probably as a pattern recognition molecule in mollusk. (c) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Mesozoic-Cenozoic tectonic evolution of the Zhuanghai area, Bohai-Bay Basin, east China: the application of balanced cross-sections

The technique of balancing cross-sections, an important method for studying the tectonic history of sedimentary basins, has many applications. It enables one to compile charts for petroleum exploration and development, and growth sections of ancient structures can be restored so that the structural growth history can be studied. In order to study tectonic evolution in the Zhuanghai area of the Bohai-Bay basin, we selected two seismic profiles and compiled two structural growth sections. Based on the two balanced cross-sections, the evolution can be divided into four phases: the Triassic-Middle Jurassic phase, Late Jurassic - Cretaceous phase, Palaeogene extension phase, and Late Palaeogene-to-present phase. The whole area was uplifted during the Triassic-Middle Jurassic phase because of intense extrusion stress related to the Indo-China movement. During the Late Jurassic and Early Cretaceous, intense extension occurred in east China, and the whole area rifted, leading to the deposition of a thick sedimentary sequence. In the Late Cretaceous, the area suffered uplift and compression associated with the sinistral strike slip of the Tanlu fault. In the Palaeogene, a rifting basin developed in the area. Finally, it became stable and was placed in its present position by dextral strike-slip motion. In addition, some problems associated with compiling balanced cross-sections are discussed.

藻类有机物在富含粘土海洋沉积物中的氧化还原降解研究

研究海洋沉积有机物的早期成岩过程是海洋地球化学的重要内容，也是研究全球碳循环不可缺少的核心课题。本文通过模拟有机物在沉积物－海水界面的降解实验，研究了海洋藻类有机物在富含粘土沉积物中不同氧化还原条件下的降解过程及有机物稳定碳同位素比值的变化。通过为期245天的培养实验，我们分析测定了总有机碳（TOC）、脂肪酸、长链烷烃的含量随时间的变化以及总有机碳和单一脂肪酸化合物同位素组成的变化。结果表明粘土、沉积物氧化还原环境、微生物活动，化合物分子结构、有机物来源等是影响有机物降解的重要因素。藻类有机物在富含粘土沉积物中的降解是一个快速过程，其降解速率可以用简单的早期成岩公式（-dGt / dt = ∑kiGi）很好的描述。应用该模型计算了脂肪酸和长链烷烃的降解速率常数。其中脂肪酸的降解速率常数为0.011-0.119 d-1，低于已报道的用未添加粘土的海洋沉积物培养实验得到的速率常数值。该研究实验显示，粘土对沉积有机物有一定的吸附作用，从而对有机物的降解过程起到不同程度的保护作用。长链烷烃的降解速率常数比脂肪酸稍高，为0.013-0.158 d-1，该值与已报道的经水体降解后沉降到海洋沉积物中残余长链烷烃的降解速率常数相当。TOC，脂肪酸和长链烷烃的降解在氧化环境下比在还原环境下快。脂肪酸和长链烷烃的降解不仅受到环境因素的影响，其自身分子结构特征也是很重要的控制因素。脂肪酸化合物双键数目越多，降解的越快；长链烷烃的碳链越短，降解越快。沉积有机物的早期成岩过程对总有机碳及不同化合物的稳定碳同位素比值具有不同的影响。在245天的培养实验过程中，总有机碳稳定同位素比值（δ13C）有所降低，但变化范围不大且受环境影响较小。而几种主要脂肪酸的δ13C值有不同程度的变化趋势。14：0和16：1的δ13C值降低，18：1的δ13C值升高，而16：0和20：5的δ13C值基本保持不变。因此，在利用沉积物中的生物标志化合物碳稳定同位素研究有机物来源及古海洋生物地球化学过程时，应考虑到早期成岩作用对其同位素比值的影响。

小型桡足类种群动力学研究

小型桡足类在生态系统中的重要作用近年来得到了广泛的关注，在近岸生态系统中，小型桡足类起着相当重要的作用。但关于小型桡足类种群动力学的研究在国内还处于起步阶段，因此我们选取了国内沿岸海域常见优势种小拟哲水蚤、双刺纺锤水蚤、太平洋纺锤水蚤及强额拟哲水蚤等四种小型桡足类为研究对象，探讨其种群动力学相关方面的变动机制。本文在2005年10月－2006年9月选取胶州湾为主要的研究海域，进行了一周年的小型桡足类的采样和培养实验研究。在胶州湾，小拟哲水蚤（Paracalanus parvus）全年出现，其种群数量变动呈现双峰型，在夏季（6月和8月）达数量高值，在冬季（1月）有一个小的高峰。种群数量在4月达全年最低值，在7月份数量也有一个明显的数量降低。从空间分布上来讲，该水蚤在冬季主要以CV期桡足幼体存在于湾南和湾外区域，湾北数量很少；从春末开始，各期幼体开始在各海区广泛分布。小拟哲水蚤在胶州湾几乎全年产卵（2月份除外），但较高的产卵率主要集中在春末到秋初，最大产卵率出现在5月，达27.9 eggs female-1d-1。总体来讲，在胶州湾小拟哲水蚤的产卵率与温度、叶绿素及体长均呈显著正相关，但与盐度呈负相关关系。从不同的区域来看，胶州湾湾北区域小拟哲水蚤产卵率较高，最高值出现在湾北6月份，产卵率达到了60.8 eggs female-1d-1。大于10 eggs female-1d-1的产卵率在湾北持续了6个月（4－9月），在湾口持续了5个月（4－8月），而在湾外只持续了3个月（5－7月）。小拟哲水蚤生物量在6月份达到最高值（6.15 mg C m-3），在4月达到全年最低值（0.028 mg C m-3）。次级生产的变动从4月到9月与生物量的变动趋势完全相似，但冬季生物量的高峰并没有伴随次级生产的高峰值，分析其原因是由于冬季低的生长率所致。小拟哲水蚤在整个胶州湾平均的年次级生产为158.41 mg C.m-3yr -1。强额拟哲水蚤（Paracalanus crassirostris）在胶州湾只在夏末到秋季出现，最大数量出现在8月份。从强额拟哲水蚤的分布区域来看，从湾内到湾外有递减趋势。在2006年9月份，只有湾北有部分种群，其他区域几乎没有该种出现。该种最大产卵率出现在8月，达11.2 eggs female-1d-1。强额拟哲水蚤生物量的变动与次级生产的变动趋势相似，最大值也都出现在8月份。该水蚤在胶州湾平均年次级生产仅为2.12 mg C m-3yr-1。双刺纺锤水蚤(Acartia bifilosa)在胶州湾是全年出现，其种群数量在5－6月份突发性增加达全年最高值（>8000 ind. m-3），之后又急剧下降。从该种的区域分布来看，5－6月份数量的高峰主要出现在湾北区域，7月份虽然各区域数量均下降，但大部分种群集中在湾外区域。双刺纺锤水蚤在胶州湾几乎全年产卵（1－2月除外），产卵率的最高值出现在4月，达16.5 eggs female-1d-1。4月份雌体高的产卵率为5月份种群数量的大量增加提供了补充。双刺纺锤水蚤生物量与次级生产的变动趋势一致，在5－6月份达到高值，在秋冬季次级生产较低。双刺纺锤水蚤在整个胶州湾平均的年次级生产为114.61 mg C m-3yr-1。太平洋纺锤水蚤（Acartia pacifica）在胶州湾季节性出现，在冬春季节消失，从夏季开始出现。该种在5月零星出现，种群数量在6月份开始增多，到7月份达到最高值2356 ind. m-3，之后在8月数量锐减至196 ind. m-3。从区域分布来看，该水蚤在胶州湾只出现在湾北和湾南区域，湾外区域几乎没有，而且呈现湾北到湾南递减的趋势。6月份数量大部分出现在湾北区域，到7月份才有一部份在湾南出现。太平洋纺锤水蚤在其出现季节均产卵，最大产卵率出现在6月份，达37.17 eggs female-1 d-1，部分补充了7月份太平洋纺锤水蚤种群数量的大量增加。太平洋纺锤水蚤生物量与次级生产的变动趋势相似，在7月份达到了最高值，在11月达到最低值。太平洋纺锤水蚤在胶州湾平均的年次级生产为45.63 mg C m-3yr-1。胶州湾四种小型桡足类总的年次级生产为~320 mg C m-3 yr-1。

An unidentified haplosporidian parasite of bay scallop Argopecten irradians cultured in the Shandong and Liaoning provinces of China

Since 1988 growers of bay scallop Argopecten irradians in China have been experiencing mortality in their cultured stocks. Although poorly documented, mortality apparently began near Qingdao and has since spread to other areas of Shandong and Liaoning provinces. Samples of cultured scallops were collected from several growing areas in these provinces and analyzed by histological methods for pathogens. An unidentified haplosporidian parasite was observed in a high proportion of scallops from two of the stocks examined. Most infections were of low intensity, but one heavy infection was also observed. Only plasmodia stages were observed; they occurred intercellularly in connective tissues throughout the scallops. Plasmodia were spherical to oval, varied from 4.0 to 17.0 mu m in diameter and contained from 2 to 18 nuclei. Absence of spores prevented generic assignment of the parasite. The source and pathogenicity of the haplosporidian could not be assessed without additional research. No other microbial parasites (i.e. rickettsia-like, chlamydia-like or kidney coccidia) were observed in any of the scallops examined.

Meso-scale spatial distribution of large tintinnids in early summer in southern Yellow Sea

The spatial distribution of some large tintinnid species (nominally>76 mu m) was investigated according to samples collected by vertical towing in cruises to the southern Yellow Sea in summer 2000-2002 and 2004. Eight species were identified: Codonellopsis mobilis, Leprotintinnus netritus, Tintinnopsis karajacensis, T. japonica, T. kiaochowensis, T. butschlii, T. radix, and Parafavella sp. With maximum abundance of 158.2 ind/L in June 2004, C mobilis was the dominant species, lasting from May to July 2004. Tintinnid communities were patchy and distributed mainly in shallow waters along the shore.

Density-dependent effects on seston dynamics and rates of filtering and biodeposition of the suspension-cultured scallop Chlamys farreri in a eutrophic bay (northern China): An experimental study in semi-in situ flow-through systems

Effects of stocking density on seston dynamics and filtering and biodeposition by the suspension-cultured Zhikong scallop Chlamys farreri Jones et Preston in a eutrophic bay (Sishili Bay, northern China), were determined in a 3-month semi-field experiment with continuous flow-through seawater from the bay. Results showed that the presence of the scallops could strongly decrease seston and chlorophyll a concentrations in the water column. Moreover, in a limited water column, increasing scallop density could cause seston depletion due to scallop's filtering and biodeposition process, and impair scallop growth. Both filtration rate and biodeposition rate of C. farreri showed significant negative correlation with their density and positive relationship with seston concentration. Calculation predicts that the daily removal of suspended matter from water column by the scallops in Sishili Bay ecosystem can be as high as 45% of the total suspended matter; and the daily production of biodeposits by the scallops in early summer in farming zone may amount to 7.78 g m(-2), with daily C, N and P biodeposition rates of 3.06 x 10(-1), 3.86 x 10(-2) and 9.80 x 10(-3) g m(-2), respectively. The filtering and biodeposition by suspension-cultured scallops could substantially enhance the deposition of total suspended particulate material, suppress accumulation of particulate organic matter in water column, and increase the flux of C, N and P to benthos, strongly enhancing pelagic-benthic coupling. It was suggested that the filtering-biodeposition process by intensively suspension-cultured bivalve filter-feeders could exert strong top-down control on phytoplankton biomass and other suspended particulate material in coastal ecosystems. This study also indicated that commercially suspension-cultured bivalves may simultaneously and potentially aid in mitigating eutrophication pressures on coastal ecosystems subject to anthropogenic N and P loadings, serving as a eutrophic-environment bioremediator. The ecological services (e.g. filtering capacity, top-down control, and benthic-pelagic coupling) functioned by extractive bivalve aquaculture should be emphasized in coastal ecosystems. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

基于多目标权重分析的草地适宜放牧率探讨

依据生态系统服务的理念，首次发展了生态系统服务指数（ESI），试图通过对生态系统服务功能的综合考虑，提出科学的适宜放牧率的评价方法。本研究利用美国北达科他州立大学中部草原研究站17年长期放牧试验数据，选取植物多样性Shannon-Wiener指数、地上净初级生产力、土壤表层含水量和单位面积家畜增重4个指标，通过对不同指标分别赋予不同的权重，计算不同管理目标下ESI及其稳定性，并对单目标管理与多目标管理进行了比较研究。结果表明，对于北美混合普列里（Prairie）草地，围封不利用或建立自然保护区，虽然生态系统比较稳定，但既不能有效的提高植物多样性、初级生产力和土壤水分含量等生态功能，又没有畜产品产出；而在重牧或极重牧处理下虽然获得了较大的畜产品生产，但导致了草地生态系统的退化和较大的系统不稳定性。因此，这2种管理方式在实践中都是不可取的。应用生态系统服务指数综合考虑，认为应该权衡各项生态功能和生产功能，此时轻牧或中牧是最适宜的。因此，ESI的建立避免了单项指标的评价偏差，使得适宜放牧率的确定更加合理。

外源H_2O_2对小麦幼苗耐盐性的调节作用

以高原448小麦品种为材料,分别测定了4个处理（Hoagland营养液、Hoagland营养液＋150 mmol/LNaCl、Hoagland营养液＋150 mmol/L NaCl＋10μmol/L H_2O_2和Hoagland营养液＋10μmol/L H_2O_2）的小麦幼苗在第2、4、6、8天叶片叶绿素、丙二醛、可溶性糖和还原性谷胱甘肽含量.结果显示：外源H2O2提高了NaCl胁迫下4个时段小麦幼苗的叶绿素含量（8.27%、32.57%、10.19%、4.86%）及还原性谷胱甘肽含量（3.09%、23.97%、5.85%、2.11%）,显著提高了可溶性糖含量（14.58%、8.43%、16.68%、5.8%,P〈0.05）,而显著降低了其丙二醛含量（17.53%、14.04%、4.75%、8.47%,P〈0.05）.外源H_2O_2（10μmol/L）使NaCl胁迫下叶绿素含量和还原性谷胱甘肽含量峰值提前,同时推迟了丙二醛峰值出现的时间.研究表明,外源H2O2通过提高叶片叶绿素、可溶性糖和还原性谷胱甘肽含量以有效地增强小麦幼苗的耐盐性.

基于交叉抚育的雌性根田鼠对雄鼠尿气味的识别

通过交叉抚育建立同巢同胞、同巢非同胞、异巢同胞和异巢非同胞个体组成的室内繁殖种群,在断奶后(80日龄)分别取这些供体的新鲜尿作刺激物,在吕字型观察箱中观察和记录雌性根田鼠对雄鼠气味的行为响应,以研究根田鼠同胞识别的化学通讯机制.结果表明:(1)成年雌性根田鼠对雄性同巢同胞气味的接近潜伏期极显著短于对同巢非同胞气味的接近潜伏期(P＜0.01),而其对两者的访问时间和嗅舔时间之间的差异并不显著(P＞0.05);(2)雌鼠对雄性异巢同胞和异巢非同胞气味无明显偏好.其对两者的接近潜伏期、访问时间和嗅舔时间等行为响应均无显著差异(P＞0.05);(3)雌鼠对雄性同巢非同胞和异巢非同胞的接近潜伏期差异并不明显(P＞0.05),对两者访问时间和嗅舔时间的差别不大(P＞0.05);(4)比较雌鼠对异巢同胞和同巢同胞气味的行为响应发现,其对后者的接近潜伏期显著短于前者(P＜0.05),其对两者访问时间、嗅舔时间之间的差异未达到显著水平(P＞0.05).这些结果表明,80日龄时,雌性根田鼠具有亲属识别能力,其同胞识别的机制可能为共生熟悉和表型匹配两种模式协同作用