Loss of allele diversity in introduced populations of the hermaphroditic bay scallop Argopecten irradians

The bay scallop Argopecten irradians is a hermaphroditic bivalve native to the Atlantic coast of the United States that was introduced to China for aquaculture production in 1982. It now supports a major aquaculture industry in China. Introduced species often start with limited genetic variability, which is problematic for the further selective breeding. Bay scallop aquaculture is exclusively hatchery based and as the initial introduction consisted of only 26 scallops, there have been concerns about inbreeding and inbreeding depression in cultured populations in China. In this study, eleven simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers were used to compare genetic variation in cultured populations from China with that in a natural population from the east coast of America. Although the difference in heterozygosity was small, the Chinese populations lost 9 of the 45 alleles (20%) found in the wild population. The reduced allele diversity suggests that the Chinese bay scallop populations experienced a bottleneck in genetic diversity that remains significant despite several recent introductions of new stocks aimed at expanding the gene pool. The loss of allele diversity may affect future efforts in selective breeding and domestication, and results of this study highlight the need for additional introductions, advanced breeding programs that minimize inbreeding and continued genetic monitoring. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Sustained response to selection in an introduced population of the hermaphroditic bay scallop Argopecten irradians irradians Lamarck (1819)

Introduced species often start with limited genetic variability, which is problematic for selective breeding. The problem of inbreeding can be exasperated by hermaphroditism. The bay scallop Argopecten irradians irradians is a hermaphroditic species that has been introduced to and now supports a major aquaculture industry in China. Positive response to selection for fast growth was observed in one of the less inbred stocks in a previous study. In this study, we evaluated selection for the second generation to determine if response to selection can be sustained in this introduced population of a hermaphroditic species. Response to selection, realized heritability for the second generation, cumulative (over two generations), current (for the second generation) and residual (from the first generation) genetic gains were estimated by comparing three different types of lines: SS (selected for two generation), SC (selected for the first generation only) and CC (unselected for two generations). The SS line grew significantly faster (P < 0.05) than the other two lines, indicating that the second generation selection for faster growth is still effective. Response to selection and realized heritability for the second generation were 0.612 +/- 0.101 and 0.349 +/- 0.057, respectively, which are similar to those observed for the first generation. The cumulative, current, and residual gains were 17.56 +/- 5.30%, 10.63 +/- 2.46%, and 6.25 +/- 3.13%, respectively. The sustained response to selection for the second generation observed here suggests that considerable genetic variability exists in this population and that future efforts on selective breeding are likely to be fruitful. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

中国红树林生态系统外来种的潜在入侵性研究

外来生物入侵已严重影响生态系统的结构和功能，威胁生物多样性，受到国内外学者的高度重视。我国50%的外来有害植物是人为引种的结果。因此，在引种造林之前对引入种的入侵潜力的研究和评估极为重要。过去几十年，中国南方地区外来的红树植物物种经常被用于人工造林，但这些外来植物的入侵性却缺乏系统的研究。本研究将个体、种群、群落和生态系统四个尺度的研究有机结合，对海南和广东两地的原产于孟加拉国的红树植物无瓣海桑(Sonneratia apetala) (1985年由申达本引入海南东寨港，1993年引种到深圳)和原产我国海南的海桑(S.caseolaris) (1993年引种到深圳)的生物学特性如种子和幼苗的扩散特性、光合生理特性、抵抗潮汐淹水特性以及本地种、外来种林下和光滩大型底栖动物的营养关系进行了综合研究，结论如下： 1． 果期长和果实种子数量大是海桑属植物的共有特点，但海南的本地种海桑不管在海南还是在引种地深圳都具有比引入种无瓣海桑更优势的萌发和漂浮能力。在没有天然海桑属植物分布的天然红树林区开展海桑属植物造林，应高度重视海桑属红树植物果实和种子的漂浮以及萌发早期的幼苗漂浮可能造成的扩散。 2． 通过对深圳福田红树林保护区实验区引种海桑和无瓣海桑幼苗的自然更新和种苗扩散的调查结果表明：海桑和无瓣海桑在深圳湾经过十几年的引种驯化之后，幼苗的更新和扩散能力逐年增高。虽然林下当年生幼苗受光强和温度等环境因子的影响在定居后大量死亡，林缘、林内空地和光滩上良好的光照条件很适合这些红树幼苗的生长。这是近年来深圳福田国家级自然保护区周边出现海桑和无瓣海桑幼苗扩散现象的主要原因。幼苗成功定居相关的机制有待进一步的研究。 3． 在海南，引种的无瓣海桑的光合速率(A)和光合N利用率(PNUE)都低于本地种海桑和白骨壤，而在深圳引种的海桑和无瓣海桑其光合速率和营养循环速度与本地种相当或低于本地种。因此，海南的外来种与本地种红树植物竞争生境的可能性不大，而深圳的外来种海桑具有较高的光合速率(A)和光合N利用率(PNUE)，和本地红树植物竞争生境的可能性依然存在。因此，海南以外的天然红树林区，引种的海桑与本地的红树植物竞争生境的可能性依然存在。 4． 无瓣海桑对潮汐淹水时间的敏感性低于海南本地种海桑，在淹水时间最长的10-12 h的淹水处理下，无瓣海桑还能通过增加茎长度、扩大叶面积来缓解厌氧胁迫和增加光合速率。因此，无瓣海桑比海桑具有更强的抗淹水能力。从叶片气体交换和养分利用的特征上来看，由于同属的海桑和无瓣海桑在天然状态下存在生态位重叠，因此，从本研究的结果看，它们对于中低潮带的生态位竞争是可能存在的。在低潮带无瓣海桑的生长较海桑有优势，因此低潮带区域很可能成为无瓣海桑与海桑竞争空间和资源的主要区域。 5． 人工海桑林的动物营养结构相对于光滩和天然白骨壤林都发生了一定的变化。人工海桑林的动物之间对于食物的竞争大于天然白骨壤林。因而，造林后的海桑人工林的营养结构的稳定性可能低于天然白骨壤林。但是，对于各种底栖动物的可能食物来源和营养关系的证明还需要进一步研究。 基于以上研究结果，本研究结论如下： 两种海桑属植物的果实、种子的数量和种苗的漂浮扩散特性都可能导致外来种幼苗在原生红树林周边的光滩和林缘空地成功定居，这一特点需要长期的监测。但是从植株的光合特性、潮汐淹水的适应性等生理生态学的证据表明：现阶段两个研究样地上的两种外来种红树植物发生生物入侵的可能性不大。但是，引种后在中、低潮位滩涂上存在外来种无瓣海桑与海南本地种海桑竞争生态位的可能性依然存在。对引种后人工生态系统的底栖动物多样性还需要进一步研究。

深圳湾两种引种海桑属红树植物的竞争关系

红树林是生长在热带亚热带低能海岸潮间带的一种特殊的生态系统，它是海岸生态关键区。近年来由于人为的破坏，我国红树林面积日益减少，面临濒危的境地。红树林生态系统的恢复和可持续发展成为了有关研究人员和组织的焦点。引种是红树林恢复最重要的手段。无瓣海桑和海桑作为很有发展前景的红树林造林树种，已经成为了东南沿海一带主要的引种红树种。 海桑和无瓣海桑具有很多相似的特征，在生产实践中往往同时被引种到同一生境中。为了比较两个种之间的生长趋势以及相互作用关系，本实验采用替代序列设计，对无瓣海桑（Sonneratia apetala）和海桑（S. caseolaris）的竞争进行了研究，于2005年8月~2007年8月期间对无瓣海桑和海桑的形态学指标、生理学指标以及营养元素的分配进行了连续测定，采用多个竞争系数评估两个种的竞争。结果表明： 1. 在生物量及其它形态学指标的测定中，海桑比无瓣海桑具有显著的优势，说明海桑具有更强的生长优势，对深圳湾的生境更加适应。通过对无瓣海桑和海桑竞争系数的计算，发现无瓣海桑和海桑之间存在对相同资源的竞争，海桑的相对竞争能力比无瓣海桑强，而受到的竞争抑制小于无瓣海桑。 2. 海桑的净光合速率显著高于无瓣海桑，同时无瓣海桑在混种情况下具有较低的净光合速率，说明种间竞争对无瓣海桑的光合作用产生抑制作用。同时，种间竞争也对无瓣海桑的水分利用效率、光合N利用效率产生了抑制作用，但两个种之间的蒸腾速率差异不显著。 3. 植物光合叶片的N含量水平越高，叶片的净光合速率、水分利用效率和光合N利用效率越高，而光合叶片的C/N值越低。海桑在营养元素吸收和积累方面具有优势，进一步解释了海桑的竞争机制。 在深圳湾，引入种海桑比无瓣海桑具有更强的竞争力。加强对海桑属外来种的研究是很有必要的，特别是对海桑的研究，应该受到更多的关注。而对于海桑属外来种是否能引起生物入侵，还需要进一步的研究。

Morphological description of two bucephalid trematodes collected from freshwater fishes in the Uji River, Kyoto, Japan

The morphology of two species of bucephalids (Bucephalidae; Digenea; Trematoda), which since 1999 has caused a fish disease at the Uji River, Kyoto Prefecture, Japan, is described. Parabucephalopsis parasiluri Wang, 1985 was first recorded in the Uji River in 2000, and Prosorhynchoides ozakii (Nagaty, 1937) in 2005. The definitive host of both species is the Lake Biwa catfish (Silurus biwaensis), and the second intermediate hosts include many fish species from several families. P. parasiluri is an introduced parasite that invaded with its first intermediate host, golden mussels (Limnoperna fortunei), from the Asian continent. P ozakii may also be an introduced species, although its first intermediate host has not been identified. (C) 2007 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Molecular Phylogeny of Geographical Isolates of Bursaphelenchus xylophilus: Implications on the Origin and Spread of this Species in China and Worldwide

The genetic diversity and phylogeny of 26 isolates of Bursaphelenchus xlophilus from China, Japan, Portugal and North America were investigated based on the D2/3 domain of 28S rDNA, nuclear ribosomal Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) sequences, and random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis. The genetic diversity analysis showed that the D2/3 domain of 28S rDNA of isolates of B. xlophilus from China, Portugal, Japan and the US were identical and differed at one to three nucleotides compared to those from Canada. ITS sequences of isolates from China and Portugal were the same; they differed at one or two nucleotides compared to those of Japanese isolates and at four and 23 nucleotides compared to those front the US and Canada, respectively. The phylogenetic analysis indicated that Chinese isolates share a common ancestor with one of the two Japanese clades and that the Canadian isolates form a sister group of the clade comprised of isolates from China, Portugal,Japan, and the US. The relationship between Japanese isolates and those from China was closer than with the American isolates. The Canadian isolates were the basal group of B. xylophilus. This suggests that B. xlophilus originated in North America and that the B. xylphilus that occurs in China could have been first introduced from Japan. Further analysis based on RAPD analysis revealed that the relationship among isolates from Guangdong, Zhejiang, Shandong, Anhui provinces and Nanjing was the closest, which suggests that pine wilt disease in these Chinese locales was probably dispersed from Nanjing, where this disease first occurred in China.

Two new species of Rhagophthalmus Motschulsky (Coleoptera : Rhagophthalmidae) from Yunnan, south-western China, with notes on known, species

Rhagophthalmus fugongensis Li & Liang and Rhagophthalmus lufengensis Li & Ohba are introduced as new to science. The first record of R. tonkineus in China is provided. The male genitalia of R. gibbosulus and R. giganteus are described and illustrated. The female and larva of R. giganteus and the female of R. semisulcatus are illustrated. The distribution of Rhagophthalmus is discussed and a rectification of the relative arrangement of different parts of the male genitalia is provided (the base-piece is on the ventral side of the male genitalia, and the parameres on the dorsal side).

The status and causes of alien species invasion in China

Data of classification, origin, pathway and environmental impacts of invasive alien micro-organisms, invertebrates, amphibians and reptiles, fish, birds, mammals, weeds, trees, and marine organisms in terrestrial, aquatic and marine ecosystems of China, were analyzed, based on literature retrieval, field survey and consultation. Some 283 invasive alien species were recorded in China, including 19 invasive alien micro-organisms, 18 aquatic plants, 170 terrestrial plants, 25 aquatic invertebrates, 33 terrestrial invertebrates, 3 amphibians and reptiles, 10 fish, and 5 mammals. Of the invasive alien species, 55.1% originated from North and South America, 21.7% from Europe, 9.9% from Asia, 8.1% from Africa and 0.6% from Oceania. Many institutions and individuals in China lack adequate knowledge of ecological and environmental consequences caused by invasive alien species, with some ignorance of the dangerous invasion in the introduction of alien species. For instance, 50.0% of invasive alien plants were intentionally introduced as pasture, feedingstuff, ornamental plants, textile plants, medicinal plants, vegetables, or lawn plants, 25% of alien invasive animals were intentionally introduced for cultivation, ornament, or biological control, In addition, more efforts are being made in the introduction of alien species, and little attention is paid on the management of introduced alien species, which may cause their escape into natural environment and potential threats to the environment. There were also gaps in quarantine system in China. All microorganisms were unintentionally introduced, through timber, seedling, flowerpot, or soil; 76.3% of alien invasive animals invaded through commodity or transportation facility because of the failure of quarantine. Therefore, quarantine measures should be strictly implemented; and meanwhile the intentional introduction of alien species should be strictly managed and a system of risk assessment should be implemented.

Switch Region for Pathogenic Structural Change in Conformational Disease and Its Prediction

Many diseases are believed to be related to abnormal protein folding. In the first step of such pathogenic structural changes, misfolding occurs in regions important for the stability of the native structure. This destabilizes the normal protein conformation, while exposing the previously hidden aggregation-prone regions, leading to subsequent errors in the folding pathway. Sites involved in this first stage can be deemed switch regions of the protein, and can represent perfect binding targets for drugs to block the abnormal folding pathway and prevent pathogenic conformational changes. In this study, a prediction algorithm for the switch regions responsible for the start of pathogenic structural changes is introduced. With an accuracy of 94%, this algorithm can successfully find short segments covering sites significant in triggering conformational diseases (CDs) and is the first that can predict switch regions for various CDs. To illustrate its effectiveness in dealing with urgent public health problems, the reason of the increased pathogenicity of H5N1 influenza virus is analyzed; the mechanisms of the pandemic swine-origin 2009 A(H1N1) influenza virus in overcoming species barriers and in infecting large number of potential patients are also suggested. It is shown that the algorithm is a potential tool useful in the study of the pathology of CDs because: (1) it can identify the origin of pathogenic structural conversion with high sensitivity and specificity, and (2) it provides an ideal target for clinical treatment.