Degradation of tropical forest in Hainan, China, 1991-2008: Conservation implications for Hainan Gibbon (Nomascus hainanus)

The Hainan gibbon (Nomascus hainanus) is one of the most endangered primates in the world, confined to mature natural forest in Hainan Island, China. We assessed changes in habitat condition on the island between 1991 and 2008, using vegetation maps generated by remote-sensing images. We defined forest suitable for gibbons based on composition, tree size and canopy cover. During the 17-year period, the area of suitable gibbon forest decreased by 540 km(2) (35%) across the whole island, and by 6.3 km(2) (7%) in the locality of the sole remaining gibbon population at Bawangling National Nature Reserve. The forest patches large enough (>1 km(2)) to support a gibbon group decreased from 754 km(2) to 316 km(2) in total area, and from 92 to 64 in number. Suitable natural forest was mainly replaced by plantations below 760 m, or degraded by logging, grazing and planting of pines above 760 m. Meanwhile, forests in former confirmed gibbon areas became more fragmented: mean area of patches decreased by 53%. We mapped the patches of natural forest in good condition which could potentially support gibbons. We recommend a freeze on further expansion of plantations between core patches at Bawangling, Jiaxi-Houmiling and Yinggeling Nature Reserves in accordance with forest protection regulations; establishment of nature reserves in currently unprotected natural forest patches elsewhere in line with the local government's nature reserve expansion policy; and active natural-forest restoration between remaining fragments at Bawangling. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Molecular cytogenetic detection of paternal chromosome fragments in allogynogenetic gibel carp, Carassius auratus gibelio Bloch

In gynogenesis, sperm from related species activates egg and embryonic development, but normally does not contribute genetically to the offspring. In gibel carp, Carassius auratus gibelio Bloch, however, gynogenetic offspring often show some phenotypes apparently derived from the heterologous sperm donor. This paternal effect of allogynogenesis is outstanding in an artificial clone F produced by cold treatment of clone E eggs after insemination with blunt-nose black bream (Megaloabrama amblycephala Yin) sperm. Karyotype analysis revealed 5-15 supernumerary microchromosomes in different individuals of clone F in addition to 156 normal chromosomes inherited from the maternal clone E. A painting probe was prepared from the microdissected microchromosomes, and used to investigate the origin of these microchromosomes. Strong positive signals were detected on each microchromosomes of clone F and on 4 pairs of chromosomes in blunt-nose black bream, whereas no signals were detected on the chromosomes of clone E. This result indicates that some paternal chromosome fragments of blunt-nose black bream have been incorporated into the artificial clone F. Therefore, the manipulation of allogynogenesis may provide a unique method to transfer DNA between diverse species for fish breeding.

有限元子域法分析土石混合介质的饱和导水率

在黄土高原水蚀风蚀交错地区,碎石的存在影响着土壤的水力学特性,因此研究土石混合介质的渗流运动对该地区的植被恢复建设具有重要的指导意义。虽然用有限元法分析地下水渗流的工作很多,但对土石混合介质而言,由于有限元法的解题规模迅速增加,其研究甚少。本模型采用子域法矩形单元,假定土石体中石块含量增加不影响土的孔隙率且石块不透水分析了土石混合介质中的渗流过程。结果表明,影响土石混合介质饱和导水率的主要因素是土石介质的含石率;石块的大小基本不影响混合介质饱和导水率;石块分布方式增加水流路径时,会影响混合介质饱和导水率。这一数值分析结论与土石体渗流问题的部分理论结果和试验结果吻合良好。本模型子域法计算效率高,结果较准确,可用于较大规模的土石混合介质渗流分析,还可推广用于土石混合介质的三维分析和多级子域法有限元技术以获得更大规模的解题效果。