Molecular phylogenetic systematics of twelve species of acipenseriformes based on mtDNA ND4L-ND4 gene sequence analysis

Acipenseriformes is an endangered primitive fish group, which occupies a special place in the history of ideas concerning fish evolution, even in vertebrate evolution. However, the classification and evolution of the fishes have been debated. The mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) ND4L and partial ND4 genes were first sequenced in twelve species of the order Acipenseriformes, including endemic Chinese species. The following points were drawn from DNA sequences analysis: (i) the two species of Huso can be ascribed to Acipenser; (ii) A. dabryanus is the mostly closely related to A. sinensis, and most likely the landlocked form of A. sinensis; (iii) genus Acipenser in trans-Pacific region might have a common origin; (iv) mtDNA ND4L and ND4 genes are the ideal genetic markers for phylogenetic analysis of the order Acipenseriformes.

QtUCP-A program for determining unit-cell parameters in electron diffraction experiments using double-tilt and rotation-tilt holders

A computer program, QtUCP, has been developed based on several well-established algorithms using GCC 4.0 and Qt (R) 4.0 (Open Source Edition) under Debian GNU/Linux 4.0r0. it can determine the unit-cell parameters from an electron diffraction tilt series obtained from both double-tilt and rotation-tilt holders. In this approach, two or more primitive cells of the reciprocal lattice are determined from experimental data, in the meantime, the measurement errors of the tilt angles are checked and minimized. Subsequently, the derived primitive cells are converted into the reduced form and then transformed into the reduced direct primitive cell. Finally all the patterns are indexed and the least-squares refinement is employed to obtain the optimized results of the lattice parameters. Finally, two examples are given to show the application of the program, one is based on the experiment, the other is from the simulation. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

水分亏缺和凋落物水浸液对云杉幼苗生长和种子萌发的影响

在人类活动导致全球变暖的前提下，由于全球气温的升高，地表水分加速向空中蒸发。从20世纪70年代至今，地球上严重干旱地区的面积几乎扩大了一倍。这一增长的一半可归因于气温升高而不是降雨量下降，因为实际上同期全球平均降水量还略有增长。干旱对陆地植物和农林生态系统产生深远影响，并已成为全球变化研究的一个重要方面。位于青藏高原东部的川西亚高山针叶林是研究气候变暖对陆地生态系统影响的重要森林类型。森林采伐迹地、人工林下和林窗环境作为目前该区人工造林和森林更新的重要生境，其截然不同的光环境对亚高山针叶林更新和森林动态有非常重要的影响。凋落物产生的化感物质可通过影响种子萌发和早期幼苗的定居而影响种群的建立和更新，而人工林和自然林物种以及更新速度的差异性也都受凋落物的影响。 云杉是川西亚高山针叶林群落的重要树种之一,在维持亚高山森林的景观格局和区域生态安全方面具有十分重要的作用，其自然更新能力及其影响机制一直是研究的热点问题。本试验以云杉种子和2年生幼苗为研究对象，从萌发、根尖形态、幼苗生长、光合作用、渗透调节和抗氧化能力等方面研究了不同光环境下水分亏缺和凋落物水浸液对云杉种子和幼苗生长的影响。旨在从更新的角度探讨亚高山针叶林自然更新的过程，其研究成果可在一定程度上为川西亚高山针叶林更新提供科学依据，同时也可为林业生产管理提供科学指导。主要研究结论如下： 水分亏缺在生长形态、光合作用、抗氧化能力、活性氧化对云杉幼苗都有显著影响。总体表现为，水分亏缺导致了云杉幼苗的高度、地径、单株总生物量降低，增加了地下部分的生长；水分亏缺显著降低了云杉叶片中相对含水量、光合色素、叶氮含量，净光合速率和最大量子产量(Fv/Fm)，提高了幼苗叶片中膜脂过氧化产物（MDA）的含量；水分亏缺提高了幼苗叶片中过氧化氢(H2O2)含量，超氧荫离子（O2-）生成速率以及脯氨酸和抗氧化系统的活性（ASA, SOD, CAT, POD, APX和GR）。从这些结果可知，植物在遭受水分亏缺导致的伤害时，其自身会形成防御策略，并通过改变形态和生理方面的特性以减轻害。但是，这种自我保护机制依然不能抵抗严重水分亏缺对植物的伤害。 模拟林下低光照条件显著增加单株植物的地上部分生长，尤其是其叶片的比叶面积（叶面积/叶干重），同时其光合色素含量和叶片相对含水量也显著增加，这些改变直接导致植株光合速率和生物量的增加。同时，与高光照水平相比，低光照幼苗的膜脂过氧化产物（MDA）和活性氧物质均较低，显示出低光照比高光照水平对植物的更低的氧化伤害。尽管低光照也导致大部分抗氧化酶活性降低，但这正显示出植物遭受低的氧化伤害，更印证了前面的结论。 凋落物水浸液影响了云杉种子的萌发和根系的生长，更在形态、光合作用、抗氧化能力、活性氧物质以及叶氮水平上显著影响了云杉幼苗，其中，以人工纯林凋落物的影响更有强烈。具体表现在，种子萌发速率和萌发种子幼根的长度表现为对照>自然林处理>人工纯林；凋落物水浸液抑制种子分生区和伸长区的生长，人工林处理更降低了根毛区的生长，使根吸水分和养分困难。对2年生幼苗的影响主要表现在叶绿素含量、光合速率以及叶氮含量的降低；膜脂过氧化产物、活性氧物质和抗氧化酶系统的显著增加。同样的，人工纯林处理对云杉幼苗的影响显著于自然林处理。 在自然生态系统中，由于全球变暖气温升高导致的水分亏缺和森林凋落物都存在森林的砍伐迹地，林窗和林下环境中。我们的研究表明，与迹地或林窗强光照比较，林下的低光照环境由于为植物的生长营造了较为湿润的微环境，因此水分亏缺在林下对云杉幼苗造成的影响微弱。这可以从植物的形态、光合速率以及生物量积累，过氧化伤害和抗氧化酶系统表现出来。另一方面，凋落物水浸液在模拟林下低光照环境对植物的伤害也微弱于强光照环境，这与强光照环境高的水分散失导致环境水分亏缺有关；而人工纯林处理对云杉幼苗的伤害比对照和自然林处理显示出强烈的抑制作用。 Under the pre-condition of global warming resulted from intensive human activities, water in the earth’s surface rapidly evaporates due to the increase of global air temperature. From 1970s up to now, the area of serious drought in the world is almost twice as ever. This increase might be due to the increasing air temperature and not decreasing rainfall because global average rainfall in the corresponding period slightly is incremental. Drought will have profound impacts on terrestrial and agriculture-forest system and has also become the important issue of global change research. The subalpine coniferous forests in the eastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau provide a natural laboratory for the studying the effects of global warming on terrestrial ecosystems. The light environment significantly differs among cutting blanks, forest gap and understory, which is particularly important for plant regeneration and forest dynamics in the subalpine coniferous forests. Picea asperata is one of the keystone species of subalpine coniferouis forests in western China, and it is very important in preserving landscape structure and regional ecological security of subalpine forests. The natural regeneration capacities and influence mechanism of Picea asperata are always the hot topics. In the present study, the short-term effects of two light levels (100% of full sunlight and 15% of full sunlight), two watering regimes (100% of field capacity and 30% of field capacity), two litter aqueous extracts (primitive forest and plantation aqueous extracts) on the seed germination, early growth and physiological traits of Picea asperata were determined in the laboratory and natural greenhouse. The present study was undertaken so as to give a better understanding of the regeneration progress affected by water deficit, low light and litter aqueous extracts. Our results could provide insights into the effects of climate warming on community composition and regeneration behavior for the subalpine coniferous forest ecosystem processes, and provide scientific direction for the forest production and management. Water deficit had significant effects on growth, morphological, physiological and biochemical traits of Picea asperata seedlings. Water deficit resulted in the decrease in height, basal diameter, total biomass and increase in under-ground development; water deficit significantly reduced the needle relative water content, photosynthetic pigments, needle nitrogen concentration, net photosynthetic rate and the maximum potential quantum yield of photosynthesis (Fv/Fm), and increased the degree of lipid peroxidation (MDA) in Picea asperata seedlings; water deficit also increased the rate of superoxide radical (O2-) production, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) content, free proline content and the activities of antioxidant systems (ASA, SOD, POD, CAT, APX and GR) in Picea asperata seedlings. These results indicated that some protective mechanism was formed when plants suffered from drought stress, but the protection could not counteract the harm resulting from the serious drought stress on them. Low light in the understory significantly increased seedling above-ground development, especially the species leaf area (SLA), and photosynthetic pigments and relative needle content. These changes resulted in the increase in net photosynthetic rate and total biomass. Moreover, the lower MDA content and active oxygen species (AOS) (H2O2 and O2-) in low light seedlings suggested that low light had weaker oxidative damage as compared to high light. Lower antioxidant enzymes activities in low light seedlings indicated the weaker oxidative damage on Picea asperata seedlings than high light seedlings, which was correlative with the changes in MDA and AOS. Litter aqueous extracts affected seed germination and root system of Picea asperata seedlings. Significant changes in growth, photosynthesis, antioxidant activities, active oxygen species and leaf nitrogen concentration were also found in Picea asperata seedlings, and plantation treatment showed the stronger effects on these traits than those in control and primitive forest treatment. The present results indicated that seed germination and radicle length parameters in control were superior to those in primitive forest treatment, and those of primitive forest treatment were superior to plantation treatment; litter aqueous extracts inhibited the meristematic and elongation zone, and plantation treatment caused a decrease in root hairs so as to be difficult in absorbing water and nutrient in root system. On the other hand, litter aqueous extracts significantly decreased chlorophyll content, net photosynthetic rate and leaf nitrogen concentration of Picea asperata seedlings; MDA, AOS and antioxidant system activities were significantly increased in Picea asperata seedlings. Similarly, plantation treatment had more significant effect on Picea asperata seedlings as compared to primitive forest treatment. In the nature ecosystem, water deficit resulted from elevating air temperature and litter aqueous extract may probably coexist in the cutting blank, forest gap and understory. Our present study showed that water deficit had weaker effects on low light seedlings in the understory as compared to high light seedlings in the cutting blank and forest gap. The fact was confirmed from seedlings growth, gas exchange and biomass accumulation, peroxidation and antioxidant systems. This might be due to that low light-reduced leaf and air temperatures, vapour-pressure deficit, and the oxidative stresses can aggravate the impact of drought under higher light. On the other hand, litter aqueous extracts in the low light had weaker effects on the Picea asperata seedlings than those at high light level, which might be correlative to the water evapotranspiration under high light. Moreover, plantation litter aqueous extracts showed stronger inhibition for seed germination and seedling growth than control and primitive forest treatments.

九寨沟景区旅游活动扰动形成的退化地段植被恢复试验初报

日益增强的旅游活动干扰已成为九寨沟世界自然遗产的有效保护与持续管理不可回避的问题，也已成为当前区域生态保护与经济发展的焦点问题之一。评估乡土植物种的基本特征、质量、种子休眠程度以及萌发能力；筛选适宜的植被恢复乡土物种并选择有效植被恢复技术措施是开展植被恢复试验的重要前提和保障。本文以九寨沟世界自然遗产为例,通过对景区乡土植物种子基本特征的测定以及采用乡土物种作为植被恢复技术试验与恢复技术筛选的试验物种，在景区旅游干扰区的三种生境类型：原始针叶林、混交林和边坡，根据不同的影响因素设计试验，从而探索适宜的恢复措施和植被恢复物种。初步结论如下： 1． 本文研究的28种乡土植物中，17种测定的物种活力较高(>72%)，均具有作为恢复物种的潜力。但28种种子中75%的发芽率为0%。大部分种子存在一定程度的休眠，包括甘肃山楂、称花藤、疏花槭、陇东海棠、球花荚迷、巴东小檗、蔷薇、宝兴栒子、光泽栒子、光枝柳叶忍冬、甘青铁线莲、毛果铁线莲、宽叶旌节花、糙叶五加和独活。因而种子存在深度休眠是乡土物种自然更新和植被恢复的主要障碍，需要根据种子的形态生理特征，寻求打破乡土植物种子休眠的有效方法，提高种子发芽率。 2．低温层积只显著提高了蔷薇、毛果铁线莲、宽叶旌节花和假升麻3种种子的发芽率，也相对较早地提高了陇东海棠、鲜黄小檗和独活的萌发。对于其它物种的种子，低温层积没能有效打破休眠提高发芽率。综合分析结果表明九寨沟28种林下或林缘乡土植物中窄叶鲜卑花、毛果铁线莲、宽叶旌节花、假升麻、陇东海棠、鲜黄小檗和独活等12种可直播或通过低温层积处理后直播用于旅游干扰退化地段的植被恢复中，而其它的种类尚需进一步寻求打破休眠的措施以提高种子发芽能力。 3．在原始林生境下，七筋菇、巴东小檗、耳叶风毛菊、长叶毛花忍冬及独活5种乡土植物种子的出苗能力不高，因此目前急需提出有关提高种子出苗的方法措施。在相同的处理条件下，不同物种出苗数存在着较大的差异，相比而言，巴东小檗、耳叶风毛菊和长叶毛花忍冬种子出苗与幼苗存活较高，对于其环境适应能力较强，因此它们更适宜采用播种的方式应用于九寨沟原始林践踏地段地表的植被恢复实践；而七筋菇和独活在室内和自然气候条件下萌发都很困难，在植被恢复过程中，可考虑采用其它播种方式。而在边坡和混交林生境试验结果表明，供试物种无萌发和出苗现象，这可能跟外界环境条件、干扰和种子命运有关。 4． 本研究中腐殖质、松土和苔藓覆盖处理措施均未能提高物种出苗，且对样方内植被结构以及物种丰富度也无显著影响，其中的影响因素也是多方面的，因此还需进一步研究探索。但腐殖质对幼苗存活能力方面有一定的积极作用。 The increasing tourism disturbance is an unavoidable issue to effective conservation and sustaind tourist management of Jiuzhaigou Nature Reserve. It has become one of the focal problems of regional ecological protect and economic development. Assessing the traits, quality, seed dormancy and germination of native seed and choosing the suitable species and ways for vegetation restoration were the important precondition and guarantee before vegetation restoration. In this paper, as an example to Jiuzhaigou world nature heritage, through the estimation to the basic characteristics of native seeds and the use of native species for the test of vegetation restoration and the choosing of vegetation restoration techniques, in three different habitats being disturbed, including the primitive forest, mixed forest and side slope. According to different factors, designing experiments in order to explore the appropriate measures and species of vegetation restoration . Our results are as follows: 1． There are 77% seeds of the 28 species with high viability(>72%), which had the potential possibility of being restoration species. The germination of 75% of the seed was 0%.Most of the seed was dormant, So dormancy of seed was the barrier for natural regeneration and vegetation restoration, Further research is needed on investigating the other more effective methods to release seed dormancy of these native species in the future. 2． Cold stratification did not release seed dormancy of most species. In our study, there are only 3 species including Clematis peterae var. trichocarpa, Stachyurus chinensis and Aruncus sylvester (P<0.05) with germination percentage increased by cold stratification. By comprehensive analysis, the result shows: In 28 undergrowth native seeds, Sibiraea angustata, Clematis peterae var. trichocarpa, Stachyurus chinensis, Aruncus Sylvester, Malus kansuensis, Berberis diaphana,and Heracleum hemsleyanum could be used to vegetation restoration by sowing directly or sowing after cold stratification in degenerate gland being disturbed by turism, and othes seed of 28 were needed to search other methods to release seed dormancy for advancing the ability of germination. 3．In the habitat of primitive forest, the ability of emergence of the native species Clintonia udensis, Berberis henryana, Saussurea neofranchetii, Lonicera trichosantha var.xerocalyx and Heracleum hemsleyanum was low, so it is urgently needed to search about the methods of advancing emergence. In the sametreatment, the number of emergence of different species was very different. Relatively speaking, the emergence and seedling survival of the species Berberis henryana, Saussurea neofranchetii and Lonicera trichosantha var.xerocalyx was higher, and the adaptability of the species was better, so they were more suitable for vegetation restoration on trampling-induced degraded patches of primitive forest in Jiuzhaigou; But the germination of Clintonia udensis and Heracleum hemsleyanum was both difficult in laboratory and natural conditions, so it could be considered to apply other sowing methods. However, the result showed that: applied species didn’t germinate or emergent in the habitat of side slope and mixed forest, which could be related to external environment conditions, interference and the fate of the seed. 4．In this study, humus, scatification and bryophyte cover measures didn’t advance the emergence of the species or the structure of vegetation and richness in plot significantly, the impact factors of which were many, therefore further research is needed . However, humus had a certain positive effect on the ability of seedling survival.

黄龙世界自然遗产地岷江冷杉原始林群落结构与植物多样性：生境差异性研究

黄龙世界自然遗产地岷江冷杉林(Abies faxoniana)生境类型多样，群落结构复杂，群落植物种类组成多样性丰富。揭示不同生境的生物多样性及其差异是认识生物多样性格局、形成及维持机制的前提和进行多样性保育的基础。本文采用样方法对黄龙钙化滩生境、阴坡非钙化生境及半阳坡非钙化生境的岷江冷杉原始林植物群落结构及植物多样性进行了研究。结果表明： 黄龙岷江冷杉林具有明显的复层异龄结构，垂直结构明显，乔木、灌木、草本、苔藓层次分明。共发现高等植物386 种，其中维管植物46 科103 属163 种，苔藓植38 科83 属物223 种。各层片结构及物种组成如下: (1)钙化滩生境、阴坡非钙化生境、半阳坡非钙化生境分别发现乔木18 种、13种、8 种。乔木层均可分为两个亚层，第一亚层优势种均为岷江冷杉，第二亚层主要为岷江冷杉异龄树或其它大高位芽物种。钙化滩生境第一亚层除优势种岷江冷杉外混生有巴山冷杉(Abies fargesii)、粗枝云杉(Picea asperata)以及阔叶树种白桦(Betula platyphylla)等，第二亚层主要为岷江冷杉异龄树；阴坡非钙化生境第一亚层除优势种岷江冷杉外间有巴山冷杉和白桦，第二亚层物种主要为川滇长尾槭(Acer caudatum var. prattii)；半阳坡非钙化生境第一亚层除优势种岷江冷杉外混生有巴山冷杉，第二亚层主要为岷江冷杉异龄树。依乔木层优势种的差异，钙化滩生境及半阳坡非钙化生境为岷江冷杉纯林，阴坡非钙化生境为岷江冷杉－川滇长尾槭混交林。不同生境乔木层郁闭度、乔木密度、树高结构、直径结构均存在差异。 (2)钙化滩生境发现灌木41 种，平均盖度为18.49±1.72(％)，平均高度为52.12±4.45(cm)，优势种为直穗小檗(Berberis dasystachya)；阴坡非钙化生境发现灌木30 种，平均盖度为29.33±2.56 (％)，平均高度为119.55±8.01 (cm)，优势种为箭竹 (Fargesia spathacea) 、唐古特忍冬(Lonicera tangutica) 和袋花忍冬(Lonicera saccata)；半阳坡非钙化生境发现灌木29 种，平均盖度为31.35±1.93 (％)，平均高度为107.55±4.24 (cm)，优势种为箭竹(Fargesia spathacea)。不同生境灌木层结构和物种组成多样性差异显著，钙化滩生境的灌木盖度、高度总体上较非钙化的坡地生境低, 钙化滩生境灌木以小型叶的落叶灌木为主，沟两侧非钙化的坡地生境上则发育了丰富箭竹。 (3)钙化滩生境发现草本46 种，平均盖度为7.18±0.79 (％)，平均高度为5.04±0.26(cm)，以山酢浆草(Oxalis griffithii)为优势种；阴坡非钙化生境发现草本物种71 种，平均盖度达29.04±2.31(％)，平均高度为9.08±0.52(cm)，以钝叶楼梯草(Elatostema obtusum)、山酢浆草为优势种；半阳坡非钙化生境草本物种50 种，平均盖度为以8.79±0.82(％)，平均高度为7.67±0.43 (cm)，以扇叶铁线蕨(Adiantum flabellulatum)、双花堇菜(Viola biflora)、华中蛾眉蕨(Lunathyrium shennongense)、山酢浆草为优势种。阴坡非钙化生境草本层片发育良好，多样性最为丰富，盖度和物种丰富度均显著高于钙化滩生境和半阳坡非钙化生境。 (4)钙化滩生境发现苔藓物种140 种，平均盖度达84.25±1.30 (％)，以仰叶星塔藓(Hylocomiastrum umbratum) 等大型藓类为优势种；阴坡非钙化生境发现苔藓物种115 种，平均盖度为79.29±1.64 (％)，以刺叶提灯藓(Mnium spinosum)、大羽藓(Thuidium cymbifolium)、毛尖燕尾藓(Bryhnia trichomitra)等个体较小的物种为优势种；半阳坡非钙化生境发现苔藓物种91 种，平均盖度为60.64±1.93 (％)，也以刺叶提灯藓为优势种。 (5)钙化滩生境、阴坡非钙化生境、半阳坡非钙化生境的物种数分别为234 种、221 种、175 种。乔木层的Shannon-Wiener 指数分别为0.75 ±0.12、1.87±0.12、1.78±0.07（灌木层，0.44±0.08、1.71± 0.15、2.49±0.06；草本层，0.33±0.13、1.31±0.15 、2.15±0.08； 苔藓层1.30±0.11、2.08±0.04、1.73±0.11，）；Pielou 均匀度指数分别为0.45±0.05、0.29±0.06、0.28±0.08（灌木层，0.75±0.03、0.68±0.05、0.52±0.06；草本层，0.68±0.02、0.77±0.02、0.74±0.02；苔藓层，0.40±0.03、0.63±0.02、0.52±0.03）；Simpson's 优势度指数分别为0.63±0.06、0.78±0.04、0.83±0.07（灌木层，0.21±0.03、0.28±0.05、0.45±0.06；草本层，0.25±0.02、0.12±0.01、0.17±0.01；苔藓层，0.45±0.04、0.18±0.01、0.31±0.04）。三种生境间乔木层、草本层的Sorenson 群落相似性系数较低, 灌木层、苔藓层的的Sorenson 群落相似性系数较高。 综上所述，黄龙岷江冷杉林的群落结构、植物多样性在三种生境间存在差异性，这将意味着我们在进行黄龙世界自然遗产地的森林经营管理时要较多地关注岷江冷山林群落在不同生境中的差异性。 There were multiplex habitat types, complicated community structure and abundant species composition in the Huanglong World Natural Heritage Site. Uncovering the differences of biodiversity among different habitats was a precondition to understand the distribution, formation and sustaining mechanism of the biodiversity, and the foundation of biodiversity conservation. In the present study, using plenty of quadrants, we investigated the community structure and the biodiversity of the primitive Abies faxoniana forest in different habitats (travertine bottomland, semi-sunny-slope non-calcified habitat and shady-slope non-calcified habitat) in the Huanglong World Natural Heritage Site. The main results are as follows: All the primitive Abies faxoniana forests in the three habitats were uneven-aged with obvious vertical structure including tree layer, shrub layer, herb layer and bryophyte layer. A total of 386 higher plants including 163 vascular plant species (103 generic, 46 families) and 223 bryophyte species (83 generic, 38 families) were investigated. The structure and species composition of each layer are as follows: (1) There were 18, 13 and 8 tree species in travertine bottomland, shady-slope non-calcified habitat and semi-sunny-slope non-calcified habitat, respectively. The tree layers in all habitats can be divided into two clear sub-layers. The upper tree layers were dominated by Abies faxoniana, and the lower tree layers were dominated by uneven-aged Abies faxoniana or other phanerophytes species. There were Abies fargesii , Picea asperata and Betula platyphylla besides the dominated species (Abies faxoniana) in the upper tree layer in travertine bottomland, and the lower tree layers were dominated by uneven-aged Abies faxoniana; There were Abies fargesii and Betula platyphylla besides the dominated species (Abies faxoniana) in the upper tree layer in shady-slope non-calcified habitat, and the lower tree layers were dominated by Acer caudatum var. prattii; There was Abies fargesii besides the dominated species (Abies faxoniana) in the upper tree layer semi-sunny-slope non-calcified habitat, and the lower tree layers were dominated by uneven-aged Abies faxoniana. According to composition percentage of dominate species in tree layer, both the forest in travertine bottomland and in semi-sunny-slope non-calcified habitat could be ranked as pure forest, and the forest in shady-slope non-calcified habitat could be ranked as mingled forest. There were significant differences in crown density, plant density, height structure and diameter structure among the three habitats. (2) A total of 41 shrub species (average coverage 18.49±1.72％; average height 52.12±4.45 ㎝)were found in travertine bottomland, and the dominate species was Berberis dasystachya; A total of 30 shrub species (average coverage 29.33±2.56 ％;average height 119.55±8.01 ㎝)were found in shady-slope non-calcified habitat, and the dominate species was Fargesia spathacea, Lonicera tangutica and Lonicera saccata. A total of 29 shrub species (average coverage 31.35±1.93％; average height 107.55±4.24 ㎝) were found in semi-sunny-slope non-calcified habitat, and the dominate species was Fargesia spathacea. There were significant differences in structure and species diversity of the shrub layers among the three habitats. The coverage and height of shrub had lower value in travertine bottomland than in two non-calcified habitats. Moreover, travertine bottomland was dominated by deciduous shrub species with microphyll and non-calcified habitats developed abundant Fargesia spathacea species. (3) A total of 46 herb species (average coverage 7.18±0.79％;average height 5.04±0.26 ㎝)were found in travertine bottomland, and the dominate species was Oxalis griffithii; A total of 71 herb species (average coverage 29.04±2.31％;average height 9.08±0.52 ㎝)were found in shady-slope non-calcified habitat, and the dominate species was Elatostema obtusum and Oxalis griffithii. A total of 50 herb species (average coverage 8.79±0.82％;average height 7.67±0.43 ㎝) were found in semi-sunny-slope non-calcified habitat, and the dominate species was Adiantum flabellulatum, Viola biflora, Lunathyrium shennongense and Oxalis griffithii. Herb layers developed well in shady-slope non-calcified habitat and had the higher species richness and coverage than travertine bottomland and semi-sunny-slope non-calcified habitat. (4) A total of 140 bryophyte species (average coverage 84.25±1.30％)were found in travertine bottomland, and the dominate species was big bryophyte species such as Hylocomiastrum umbratum and so on; A total of 115 bryophyte species (average coverage 79.29±1.64％)were found in shady-slope non-calcified habitat, and the dominate species was small bryophyte species such as Mnium spinosum, Thuidium cymbifolium, Bryhnia trichomitra and so on. A total of 91 bryophyte species (average coverage 60.64±1.93％) were found in semi-sunny-slope non-calcified habitat, and the dominate species was Mnium spinosum. (5) There were 234, 221 and 175 plant species in travertine bottomland, shady-slope non-calcified habitat and semi-sunny-slope non-calcified habitat, respectively. Shannon-Wiener index of the tree layer was 0.75 ±0.12, 1.87±0.12 and 1.78±0.07 (the shrub layer, 0.44±0.08, 1.71± 0.15 and 2.49±0.06; the herb layer, 0.33±0.13, 1.31±0.15 and 2.15±0.08; the bryophyte layer, 1.30±0.11, 2.08±0.04 and 1.73±0.11.) for the three habitats, respectively; Pielou index of the tree layer was 0.45±0.05, 0.29±0.06 and 0.28±0.08 (the shrub layer, 0.75±0.03, 0.68±0.05 and 0.52±0.06; the herb layer, 0.68±0.02, 0.77±0.02 and 0.74±0.02; the bryophyte layer, 0.40±0.03, 0.63±0.02 and 0.52±0.03.) for the three habitats, respectively. Simpson's index of the tree layer was 0.63±0.06, 0.78±0.04 and 0.83±0.07 (the shrub layer, 0.21±0.03、0.28±0.05、0.45±0.06; the herb layer, 0.25±0.02, 0.12±0.01 and 0.17±0.01; the bryophyte layer, 0.45±0.04, 0.18±0.01 and 0.31±0.04.) for the three habitats, respectively. There were low Sorenson index both in the tree layer and in the herb layer among the three habitats, whereas, high Sorenson index occurred both in the shrub layer and in the bryophyte layer. To sum up, there were differences both in community structure and plant diversity among the three different habitats, which means that we should pay more attention to habitats heterogeneities of the primitive Abies faxoniana forest when we take action to manage the forest in the Huanglong World Natural Heritage Site.

发布/订阅系统中的原子订阅管理和匹配

如何有效地管理原子订阅并将事件与原子订阅高效地匹配,是发布/订阅系统需要关注的关键问题.首先将原子订阅组织成为一个覆盖森林,然后在这个结构上执行原子订阅的匹配,同时使用谓词的多级索引结构为原子订阅匹配提供支持.此方法已在基于内容的发布/订阅系统OncePubSub上实现.给出了用于验证算法性能和开销的实验.实验结果表明,上述方法具有良好的匹配性能和可伸缩性.

Variations in morphology and PSII photosynthetic capabilities during the early development of tetraspores of Gracilaria vermiculophylla (Ohmi) Papenfuss (Gracilariales, Rhodophyta)

Background: Red algae are primitive photosynthetic eukaryotes, whose spores are ideal subjects for studies of photosynthesis and development. Although the development of red alga spores has received considerable research attention, few studies have focused on the detailed morphological and photosynthetic changes that occur during the early development of tetraspores of Gracilaria vermiculophylla (Ohmi) Papenfuss (Gracilariales, Rhodophyta). Herein, we documented these changes in this species of red algae. Results: In the tetraspores, we observed two types of division, cruciate and zonate, and both could develop into multicellular bodies (disks). During the first 84 hours, tetraspores divided several times, but the diameter of the disks changed very little; thereafter, the diameter increased significantly. Scanning electron microscopy observations and analysis of histological sections revealed that the natural shape of the disk remains tapered over time, and the erect frond grows from the central protrusion of the disk. Cultivation of tissue from excised disks demonstrated that the central protrusion of the disk is essential for initiation of the erect frond. Photosynthetic (i.e., PSII) activities were measured using chlorophyll fluorescence analysis. The results indicated that freshly released tetraspores retained limited PSII photosynthetic capabilities; when the tetraspores attached to a substrate, those capabilities increased significantly. In the disk, the PSII activity of both marginal and central cells was similar, although some degree of morphological polarity was present; the PSII photosynthetic capabilities in young germling exhibited an apico-basal gradient. Conclusions: Attachment of tetraspores to a substrate significantly enhanced their PSII photosynthetic capabilities, and triggered further development. The central protrusion of the disk is the growth point, may have transfer of nutritive material with the marginal cells. Within the young germling, the hetero-distribution of PSII photosynthetic capabilities might be due to the differences in cell functions.

Early expressed genes showing a dichotomous developing pattern in the lancelet embryo

Lancelets (amphioxus), although showing the most similar anatomical features to vertebrates, never develop a vertebrate-like head but rather several structures specific to this animal. The lancelet anatomical specificity seems to be traceable to early developmental stages, such as the vertebrate dorsal and anterior-posterior determinations. The BMP and Wnt proteins play important roles in establishing the early basis of the dorsal structures and the head in vertebrates. The early behavior of BMP and Wnt may be also related to the specific body structures of lancelets. The expression patterns of a dpp-related gene, Bbbmp2/4, and two wnt-related genes, Bbwnt7 and Bbwnt8, have been studied in comparison with those of brachyury and Hnf-3 beta class genes The temporal expression patterns of these genes are similar to those of vertebrates; Bbbmp2/4 and Bbwnt8 are first expressed in the invaginating primitive gut and the equatorial region. respectively, at the initial gastrula stage. However, spatial expression pattern of Bbbmp2/4 differs significantly from the vertebrate cognates. It is expressed in the mid-dorsal inner layer of gastrulae and widely in the anterior region, in which vertebrates block BMP signaling, The present study suggests that the lancelet embryo may have two distinct developmental domains from the gastrula stage, the domains of which coincide later with the lateral diverticular and the somitocoelomic regions. The embryonic origin of the anterior-specific structures in lancelets corresponds to the anterior domain where Bbbmp2/4 is continuously expressed.

Expression of a twist-related gene, Bbtwist, during the development of a lancelet species and its relation to cephalochordate anterior structures

Mesoderm formation plays a crucial role in the establishment of the chordate body plan. In this regard, lancelet embryos develop structures such as the anteriorly extended notochord and the lateral divertecula in their anterior body. To elucidate the developmental basis of these structures, we examined the expression pattern of a lancelet twist-related gene, Bbtwist, from the late gastrula to larval stages. In late-gastrula embryos, the transcripts of Bbtwist were detected in the presumptive first pair of somites and the middorsal wall of the primitive gut. The expression of Bbtwist was then upregulated in the lateral wall of somites and the notochord. At the late-neurula stage, it was also expressed in the anterior wall of the primitive gut, as well as in the evaginating lateral diverticula. No signal was detected in the left lateral diverticulum when it was separated from the gut, while in the right one, the gene was expressed later during the formation of the head coelom in knife-shaped larvae, and in the anterior part of the notochord in the same larvae. In 36-h larvae, only faint expression was detected in the differentiating notochordal and paraxial mesoderm in the caudal region. These expression patterns suggest that Bbtwist is involved in early differentiation of mesodermal subsets as seen in Drosophila and vertebrates. The expression in the anterior notochord may be related to its anterior expansion. The expression in the anterior wall of the primitive gut and its derivative, the lateral diverticula, suggests that lancelets share the capability to produce a mesodermal population from the tip of the primitive gut with nonchordate deuterostome embryos. (C) 1998 Academic Press.

The complete mitochondrial genomes of two common shrimps (Litopenaeus vannamei and Fenneropenaeus chinensis) and their phylogenomic considerations

Complete mitochondrial genomes have proven extremely valuable in helping to understand the evolutionary relationships among metazoans. However, uneven taxon sampling may lead to unclear or even erroneous phylogenetic topologies. The decapod crustaceans are relatively well-sampled, but sampling is still uneven within this group. We have sequenced the mitochondrial genomes of two shrimps Litopenaeus vannamei and Fenneropenaeus chinensis. As seen in other metazoans, the genomes contain a standard set of 13 protein-coding genes, 22 transfer RNA genes, two ribosomal RNA genes and an AT-rich non-coding region. The gene arrangements are consistent with the pancrustacean ground pattern. Both the pattern of gene rearrangements and phylogenomic analyses using concatenated nucleic acid and amino acid sequences of the 13 mitochondrial protein-coding genes strengthened the support that Caridea and Palinura are primitive members of Pleocyemata. These sequences, in combination with two previously published penaeid mitochondrial genomes, suggest that genera within the family Penaeidae have the following relationship: (((Penaeits + Fenneropenaett.) + Litopeiiaelts) + Marsupenaeus). The analyses of nucleic acid and amino acid sequences of the mitochondrial genomes also strongly support the monophyly of Penaeidae, Brachyura and Pleocyemata. In addition, the analyses of the average Ka/Ks in the 13 mitochondrial protein-coding genes of penaeid shrimps indicated a strong purifying selection within this group.

An ancient C-type lectin in Chlamys farreri (CfLec-2) that mediate pathogen recognition and cellular adhesion

C-type lectins are a superfamily of Ca2+ dependent carbohydrate-recognition proteins which play significant diverse roles in nonself-recognition and clearance of invaders. In the present study, a C-type lectin (CfLec-2) from Zhikong scallop Chlamys farreri was selected to investigate its functions in innate immunity. The mRNA expression of CfLec-2 in hemocytes was significantly up-regulated (P < 0.01) after scallops were stimulated by LPS. PGN or beta-glucan, and reached the highest expression level at 12h post-stimulation, which was 72.5-, 23.6- or 43.8-fold compared with blank group, respectively. The recombinant Cflec-2 (designated as rCfLec-2) could bind LPS, PGN, mannan and zymosan in vitro, but it could not bind beta-glucan. Immunofluorescence assay with polyclonal antibody specific for Cflec-2 revealed that CfLec-2 was mainly located in the mantle, kidney and gonad. Furthermore, rCfLec-2 could bind to the surface of scallop hemocytes, and then initiated cellular adhesion and recruited hemocytes to enhance their encapsulation in vitro, and this process could be specifically blocked by anti-rCfLec-2 serum. These results collectively suggested that CfLec-2 from the primitive deuterostome C. farreri could perform two distinct immune functions, pathogen recognition and cellular adhesion synchronously, while these functions were performed by collectins and selectins in vertebrates, respectively. The synchronous functions of pathogen recognition and cellular adhesion performed by CfLec-2 tempted us to suspect that CfLec-2 was an ancient form of C-type lectin, and apparently the differentiation of these two functions mediated by C-type lectins occurred after mollusk in phylogeny. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Metasomatism of the peridotites from southern Mariana fore-arc: Trace element characteristics of clinopyroxene and amphibole

Modal composition and mineral composition of harzburgites from the southern Mariana fore-arc show that they are highly refractory. There are a few modals of clinopyroxene (0.7 vol %) in harzburgites. Two types of amphibole are found in these harzburgites: magnesiohornblende accompanied by clinopyroxene with higher Al2O3 content (> 7%) and lower Mg-#; tremolite around orthopyroxene with lower Al2O3 content (< 2%) and higher Mg-#. Trace element of clinopyroxene and two types of amphibole are analyzed. Primitive mantle-normalised REE patterns for clinopyroxene and magnesio hornblende are very similar and both show HREE enrichment relative to LREE, while magnesiohornblende has higher content of trace element than clinopyroxene. The contents of trace element of tremolite are much lower than those of magnesiohornblende. Clinopyroxene shows enrichment of most of the trace element except HREE and Ti relative to clinopyroxene in abyssal peridotites. Petrology and trace element characteristic of clinopyroxene and two types of amphibole indicate that southern Mariana fore-arc harzburgites underwent two stages of metasomatism. The percolation of a hydrous melt led to mobility of Al, Ca, Fe, Mg, Na, and large amounts of trace element. LILE and LREE can be more active in hydrous melt than HREE and Ti, and the activities of most of the trace element except some of LILE are influenced by temperature and pressure.

Submesoscale activity over the shelf of the northern South China Sea in summer: simulation with an embedded model

We applied a primitive equation ocean model to simulate submesoscale activities and processes over the shelf of the northern South China Sea (NSCS) with a one-way nesting technology for downscaling. The temperature and density fields showed that submesoscale activities were ubiquitous in the NSCS shelf. The vertical velocity was considerably enhanced in submesoscale processes and could reach an average of 58 m per day in the subsurface. At this point, the mixed layer depth also was deepened along the front, and the surface kinetic energy also increased with the intense vertical movement induced by submesoscale activity. Thus, submesoscale stirring/mixing is important for tracers, such as temperature, salinity, nutrients, dissolved organic, and inorganic carbon. This result may have implication for climate and biogeochemical investigations.

Postnatal development of the retina in root vole Microtus oeconomus

Vision plays an important role in the living habits of animals, especially in feeding. We investigated the postnatal development of retina in root vole Microtus oeconornus. The result shows that the retina of the M. oeconornus is very primitive before postnatal day （PD） 3. The neuroblastic layer does not differentiate and makes up more than half of the retina layer. The outer plexiform layer （OPL） first comes into existence at PDS. At PD6, as the presence of the OPL becomes obvious, the outer nuclear layer （ONL） and inner nuclear layer （INL） are much clearer. At PD18, the retina is similar to an adult retina and each layer becomes distinct. The thickness and cell density of the ganglion cell layer （GCL） and ONL during different postnatal days were also examined. These results show that the thickness and density of ONL increase during ontogeny, while the thickness and density of GCL decrease. Compared with Rattus norvegicus, Apodemus agrarius , Cricetulus triton, Microtus mandarinus , Myospalax cansus , Spermophilus dauricus and Sciurotamias davidianus, the histological structure of the retina of M. oeconornus is between that of nocturnal and diurnal rodents.

Mitochondrial cytochrome b sequence variation and phylogenetics of the highly specialized schizothoracine fishes (Teleostei : Cyprinidae) in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau

The complete 1140 bp mitochondial cytochrome b sequences were obtained from 39 individuals representing five species of all four genera of highly specialized schizothoracine fishes distributed in the Qinghai-Tibet plateau. Sequence variation of the cytochrome b gene was surveyed among the 39 individuals as well as three primitive schizothoracines and one outgroup. Phylogenetic analysis suggested that the group assignment based on 1140 bp of the cytochrome b sequence is obviously; different from previous assignments, and the highly specialized schizothoracine fishes (Schizopygopsis pylzovi, Gymnocypris przewalskii, G. eckloni, Chuanchia lablosa, and Platypharodon extremus) form a monophyletic group that is sister to the clade formed by the primitive schizothoracine fishes (Schizothorax prenanti, S. pseudaksaiensis, and S. argentatus). The haplotypes of Schizopygopsis pylzovi and G. przewalskii were paraphyletic based on cytochrome b data, which most likely reflected incomplete sorting of mitochondrial DNA lineages. The diploid chromosome numbers of Schizofhoracinae were considered in phylogenetic analysis and provided a clear pattern of relationships. Molecular dating estimated for highly specialized schizothoracine fishes suggested that the highly specialized schizothoracine fishes diverged in the late Miocene Pliocene to Pleistocene (4.5x10(4)-4.05x10(6) Years BP). The relationship between the cladogenesis of highly specialized schizothoracine fishes and geographical events of the Qinghai-Tibet plateau is discussed.