Associação entre sobrepeso, obesidade e transtornos mentais comuns: estudo realizado com nutricionistas da Rede Hospitalar do Município do Rio de Janeiro

Excesso de peso (sobrepeso e obesidade) e transtornos mentais comuns são importantes problemas de saúde pública no Brasil e no mundo. A associação entre ambos tem sido investigada por pesquisadores, porém os resultados ainda são conflitantes. Estudos realizados com nutricionistas têm dado maior ênfase à prática de atuação, entretanto, poucos abordaram questões de saúde desses profissionais, principalmente sobre o excesso de peso e sofrimento psíquico. Objetivo - Analisar a associação entre sobrepeso, obesidade e transtornos mentais comuns nesses profissionais. Métodos - Estudo seccional, realizado com 289 nutricionistas da rede pública de hospitais do município do Rio de Janeiro, no período de outubro de 2011 a agosto de 2012. A avaliação do excesso de peso corporal foi realizada com base no Índice de Massa Corporal (kg/m2) através da aferição de peso e altura, e os transtornos mentais comuns através do General Health Questionarie (GHQ-12). Variáveis sócio-demográficas, laborativas e de saúde também foram incluídas no estudo. Resultados - A prevalência de sobrepeso foi de 32,3% e de obesidade, 15,3%. A prevalência de transtornos mentais comuns (TMC) foi de 37,7%. A análise bruta demonstrou uma associação negativa entre transtornos mentais comuns e sobrepeso (OR 0,68; IC95% 0,39 1,20) e positiva para obesidade (OR 1,34; IC95% 0,65 2,75) que não se modificou quando ajustado pelas variáveis socioeconômicas (SES), laborativas e de saúde (OR= 0,60 IC95% 0.32 1,10) para sobrepeso e para a obesidade (OR= 1.09 IC95% 0,50 2,37). Conclusão - Os resultados do estudo destacam as altas prevalências de sobrepeso, obesidade e transtornos mentais comuns, bem como, a magnitude da associação entre os eventos, ambos sem significância estatística. Sugerimos novos estudos em que se possam identificar os mecanismos envolvidos nesta relação, bem como os fatores relacionados às condições de trabalho e de vida que possam estar afetando a saúde do nutricionista que é formado para cuidar da saúde população muitas vezes em detrimento da sua própria saúde.

Age, growth, mortality, and radiometric age validation of gray snapper (Lutjanus griseus) from Louisiana

The gray snapper (Lutjanus griseus) is a temperate and tropical reef fish that is found along the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic coasts of the southeastern United States. The recreational fishery for gray snapper has developed rapidly in south Louisiana with the advent of harvest and seasonal restrictions on the established red snapper (L. campechanus) fishery. We examined the age and growth of gray snapper in Louisiana with the use of cross-sectioned sagittae. A total of 833 specimens, (441 males, 387 females, and 5 of unknown sex) were opportunistically sampled from the recreational fishery from August 1998 to August 2002. Males ranged in size from 222 to 732 mm total length (TL) and from 280 g to 5700 g total weight (TW) and females ranged from 254 to 756 mm TL and from 340 g to 5800 g TW. Both edge analysis and bomb radiocarbon analyses were used to validate otolith-based age estimates. Ages were estimated for 718 individuals; both males and females ranged from 1 to 28 years. The von Bertalanffy growth models derived from TL at age were Lt = 655.4{1–e[–0.23(t)]} for males, Lt = 657.3{1–e[– 0.21(t)]} for females, and L t = 656.4{1–e[– 0.22 (t)]} for all specimens of known sex. Catch curves were used to produce a total mortality (Z) estimate of 0.17. Estimates of M calculated with various methods ranged from 0.15 to 0.50; however we felt that M= 0.15 was the most appropriate estimate based on our estimate of Z. Full recruitment to the gray snapper recreational fishery began at age 4, was completed by age 8, and there was no discernible peak in the catch curve dome.

Comparação do uso de noradrenalina, nitroprussiato e levosimendan na terapia do choque hipovolêmico: efeitos sobre a microcirculação e expressão gênica renal

Este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar os efeitos sistêmicos, microcirculatórios assim como mudanças na expressão gênica renal, causados pela ação da noradrenalina, nitropussiato de sódio e levosimendan no tratamento do choque hemorrágico. Nesse estudo foi utilizado o modelo da câmara dorsal.Os animais foram sujeitos a choque hemorrágico e após, foram aleatoriamente divididos em quatro grupos. Os grupos foram: CTRL, recebeu apenas ringer lactato; NPS recebeu ringer lactato com nitroprussiato de sódio; NA recebeu ringer lactato com noradrenalina e LEV, recebeu ringer lactato com levosimendan. Foram avaliados parâmetros sistêmicos, assim como parâmetros microcirculatórios (comparados como percentual em relação ao momento basal). Além disso, foi avaliada a expressão gênica renal de eNOS, HIF-1α, ICAM e caspase-3. O grupo NPS apresentou uma recuperação sustentada do diâmetro arteriolar ( 89 12 %) e DCF (125 114 %) ao final do tratamento. Houve recuperação da velocidade de hemácias nos grupos CTRL e NPS. Não houve diferença em relação ao número de leucócitos aderidos e/ou rolantes ao final do tratamento. A expressão gênica renal de eNOS e caspase-3 entre os grupos não apontou diferenças, entretanto houve diferença significativa na expressão renal de HIF- 1α no grupo NA (0,65 0,08, UA) em relação ao grupo CTRL (0,44 0,06, UA) e LEV (0,45 0,06, UA). Todos os grupos tiveram uma maior expressão de ICAM (0,65 0,12; 0,7 0,12; 0,069 0,06; 0,65 0,12, UA) em relação ao grupo SHAM (0,50 0,05, UA). Ringer lactato puro ou associado com noradrenalina ou levosimendan não foram suficientes para recuperar e sustentar os parâmetros microvasculares. O tratamento com nitroprussiato de sódio foi o que apresentou os melhores resultados, com recuperação dos diâmetros arteriolar, da DCF e velocidade de hemácias.

Avaliação do efeito do chá verde sobre a pressão arterial, função endotelial, perfil metabólico, atividade inflamatória e adiposidade corporal em mulheres pré-hipertensas obesas

As doenças cardiovasculares são a principal causa de morte nos países ocidentais. Alguns estudos sugerem que o chá verde tem efeito benéfico sobre diferentes fatores de risco cardiovascular. No entanto, outros estudos não mostraram essa associação. Objetiva avaliar em mulheres pré-hipertensas obesas o efeito do consumo de chá verde sobre: a pressão arterial, a função endotelial, o perfil metabólico, a atividade inflamatória e a adiposidade corporal. Estudos clínico, randomizado, cruzado, duplo-cego e placebo-controlado. Durante 4 semanas as mulheres foram orientadas a ingerir 3 cápsulas de extrato de chá verde por dia (500mg extrato chá verde/cápsula) passando por 2 semanas de washout e posteriormente ingeriam por mais 4 semanas o placebo. As mulheres que iniciaram o estudo tomando placebo posteriormente utilizaram o chá verde. Ou seja, todas as pacientes receberam chá verde e placebo por um mesmo período. No início e final de cada tratamento foram analisadas as variáveis. Foram avaliadas 20 mulheres pré-hipertensas, obesidade grau I e II, idade entre 25 e 59 anos. O local do estudo foi o Laboratório da Disciplina de Fisiopatologia Clínica e Experimental Clinex. Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro. As variáveis estudadas foram a pressão arterial, índice de hipertemia reativa (avaliada com Endo-PAT2000), proteína C reativa, interleucina-6, fator de necrose tumoral-α, molécula de adesão intercelular e molécula de adesão vascular celular, inibidor de ativador do plasminogênio, fator de crescimento endotelial vascular, E-selectina, adiponectina, colesterol total, LDL-colesterol, HDL-colesterol, triglicérides, glicemia, insulina, HOMA, índice de massa corporal, circunferência de cintura, circunferência de quadril, relação cintura quadril e percentual de gordura corporal. Como resultados, na avaliação da pressão arterial pela monitorização ambulatorial da pressão arterial, observou-se redução significativa da pressão arterial sistólica de 24 horas (pré 130,31,7 mmHg vs. pós 127,02,0 mmHg; p= 0,02), pressão arterial sistólica diurna (pré 134,01,7 mmHg vs. pós 130,72,0 mmHg; p= 0,04) e pressão arterial sistólica noturna (pré 122,21,8 mmHg vs. pós 118,42,2 mmHg; p= 0,02), após o consumo do chá verde, em comparação ao uso do placebo. Após o consumo do chá verde foi observado aumento, embora estatisticamente não significativo, no índice de hiperemia reativa (pré 1,980,10 vs. pós 2,220,14), além de redução expressiva na concentração da molécula de adesão intercelular (pré 91,88,0 ng/ml vs. pós 85,85,6 ng/ml) e do fator de crescimento endotelial vascular (pré 195,846,2 pg/ml vs. pós 158,638,7 pg/ml), porém sem significância estatística. As demais variáveis avaliadas não se modificaram de forma significativa após o consumo do chá verde, em comparação ao placebo. Foi observada forte correlação entre redução de pressão arterial sistólica e diastólica de 24hs, avaliada pela monitorização ambulatorial da pressão arterial, e o aumento do índice de hipertemia reativa (r= -0,47; r= -0,50, respectivamente). Os resultados do presente estudo sugerem que o chá verde tem efeito benéfico sobre a pressão arterial e possivelmente sobre a função endotelial.

小麦幼苗阶段体内同化产物的运输和分配

用14C示踪法研究了冬小麦（Triticum aestivum L.）在整个冬前分蘖期内各个叶龄期主茎各叶位叶片同化产物的运输方向和供应范围，同时测定了主茎各叶位叶片净同化量对主茎叶片总同化量的贡献及其同化产物的运转率，对于各个分蘖出现后不同叶龄期接受主茎输出同化产物的量进行了定量的估计。得到以下主要结果： 1、整个冬前分蘖期，主茎一般维持有4-5片叶行使光合功能。其中顶部两片叶对植株同化产物的贡献最大。这两片叶的净同化量占主茎叶片总同化量的60%以上。主茎各叶位叶片在24小时内对标记同化产物的运转率在60%-85%之间。随着叶位下降，由于叶片衰老，不仅净同化量下降，而且叶片的同化物运转率也下降。整个分蘖期内，主茎叶片同化物的总运转率逐渐提高。 2、主茎叶片输出的同化物除主要供应主茎本身的顶端生长部位外，有相当大的一部分（约50%）供应给各分蘖，而不输入已经展开的主茎叶片。主茎顶部的两片主要功能叶主要供应主茎本身的顶端生长部位，0叶对主茎本身顶端生长部位的供应量始终保持在50%以上。随着叶位下降，对主茎本身的供应减少，而对分蘖的供应大大增加。 3、在向各分蘖的供应中，主茎顶部的三片主要功能叶集中供应正在出现（即正在长-1叶）的主茎一级分蘖和只有一片展开叶的主茎一级分蘖，对其它一级分蘖的供应，随蘖位降低，供应减少。其它主茎叶片都是主要供应本叶腋所包的上一节位的主茎一级分蘖，其次是本节位和上二节位的一级分蘖。每一主茎叶片的供应范围可分别达上、下两个节间距离。 4、各一级分蘖从主茎接受同化产物的量具有相同的变化规律。既分蘖在伸出叶鞘前和伸出后的早期（具有两片展开叶前）生长，从主茎接受相当大的部分同化物（约占主茎叶片总输出量的10-20%）;当分蘖具有两片展开叶时，从主茎接受同化物的量明显减少（占主茎叶片总输出量的10%）;当分蘖具有三片展开叶时，从主茎接受同化物已很少（5%以下）。作者认为，可以把具有两片展开叶的分蘖视为开始营养独立的分蘖。 5、主茎运向二级分蘖的同化物很少（5%以下）。主茎基部的一至两片叶对根系供应较多。但与地上部相比，主茎运往根系的同化物也比较少（10%以下）。 6、一级分蘖叶片的同化产物主要供应一级分蘖本身的生长部位和它所带的二级分蘖;一级分蘖叶片对二级分蘖的供应方式与主茎对一级分蘖的供应方式相同。一级分蘖的同化产物运向主茎和其它蘖群及分蘖很少。

Benthic habitats of Buck Island Reef National Monument

NOAA’s Center for Coastal Monitoring and Assessment’s Biogeography Branch has mapped and characterized large portions of the coral reef ecosystems inside the U.S. coastal and territorial waters, including the U.S. Caribbean. The complementary protocols used in these efforts have enabled scientists and managers to quantitatively compare different marine ecosystems in tropical U.S. waters. The Biogeography Branch used these same general protocols to generate three seamless habitat maps of the Bank/Shelf (i.e., from 0 ≤50 meters) and the Bank/Shelf Escarpment (i.e., from 50 ≤1,000 meters and from 1,000 ≤ 1,830 meters) inside Buck Island Reef National Monument (BIRNM). While this mapping effort marks the fourth time that the shallow-water habitats of BIRNM have been mapped, it is the first time habitats deeper than 30 meters (m) have been characterized. Consequently, this habitat map provides information on the distribution of mesophotic and deep-water coral reef ecosystems and serves as a spatial baseline for monitoring change in the Monument. A benthic habitat map was developed for approximately 74.3 square kilometers or 98% of the BIRNM using a combination of semi-automated and manual classification methods. The remaining 2% was not mapped due to lack of imagery in the western part of the Monument at depths ranging from 1,000 to 1,400 meters. Habitats were interpreted from orthophotographs, LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) imagery and four different types of MBES (Multibeam Echosounder) imagery. Three minimum mapping units (MMUs) (100, 1,000 and 5,000 square meters) were used because of the wide range of depths present in the Monument. The majority of the area that was characterized was deeper than 30 m on the Bank/Shelf Escarpment. This escarpment area was dominated by uncolonized sand which transitioned to mud as depth increased. Bedrock was exposed in some areas of the escarpment, where steep slopes prevented sediment deposition. Mesophotic corals were seen in the underwater video, but were too sparsely distributed to be reliably mapped from the source imagery. Habitats on the Bank/Shelf were much more variable than those seen on the Bank/Shelf Escarpment. The majority of this shelf area was comprised of coral reef and hardbottom habitat dominated by various forms of turf, fleshy, coralline or filamentous algae. Even though algae was the dominant biological cover type, nearly a quarter (24.3%) of the Monument’s Bank/Shelf benthos hosted a cover of 10%-<50% live coral. In total, 198 unique combinations of habitat classes describing the geography, geology and biology of the sea-floor were identified from the three types of imagery listed above. No thematic accuracy assessment was conducted for areas deeper than about 50 meters, most of which was located in the Bank/Shelf Escarpment. The thematic accuracy of classes in waters shallower than approximately 50 meters ranged from 81.4% to 94.4%. These thematic accuracies are similar to those reported for other NOAA benthic habitat mapping efforts in St. John (>80%), the Main Eight Hawaiian Islands (>84.0%) and the Republic of Palau (>80.0%). These digital maps products can be used with confidence by scientists and resource managers for a multitude of different applications, including structuring monitoring programs, supporting management decisions, and establishing and managing marine conservation areas. The final deliverables for this project, including the benthic habitat maps, source imagery and in situ field data, are available to the public on a NOAA Biogeography Branch website (http://ccma.nos.noaa.gov/ecosystems/coralreef/stcroix.aspx) and through an interactive, web-based map application (http://ccma.nos.noaa.gov/explorer/biomapper/biomapper.html?id=BUIS). This report documents the process and methods used to create the shallow to deep-water benthic habitat maps for BIRNM. Chapter 1 provides a short introduction to BIRNM, including its history, marine life and ongoing research activities. Chapter 2 describes the benthic habitat classification scheme used to partition the different habitats into ecologically relevant groups. Chapter 3 explains the steps required to create a benthic habitat map using a combination of semi-automated and visual classification techniques. Chapter 4 details the steps used in the accuracy assessment and reports on the thematic accuracy of the final shallow-water map. Chapter 5 summarizes the type and abundance of each habitat class found inside BIRNM, how these habitats compare to past habitat maps and outlines how these new habitat maps may be used to inform future management activities.

A habitat-use model to determine essential fish habitat for juvenile brown shrimp (Farfantepenaeus aztecus) in Galveston Bay, Texas

A density prediction model for juvenile brown shrimp (Farfantepenaeus aztecus) was developed by using three bottom types, five salinity zones, and four seasons to quantify patterns of habitat use in Galveston Bay, Texas. Sixteen years of quantitative density data were used. Bottom types were vegetated marsh edge, submerged aquatic vegetation, and shallow nonvegetated bottom. Multiple regression was used to develop density estimates, and the resultant formula was then coupled with a geographical information system (GIS) to provide a spatial mosaic (map) of predicted habitat use. Results indicated that juvenile brown shrimp (<100 mm) selected vegetated habitats in salinities of 15−25 ppt and that seagrasses were selected over marsh edge where they co-occurred. Our results provide a spatially resolved estimate of high-density areas that will help designate essential fish habitat (EFH) in Galveston Bay. In addition, using this modeling technique, we were able to provide an estimate of the overall population of juvenile brown shrimp (<100 mm) in shallow water habitats within the bay of approximately 1.3 billion. Furthermore, the geographic range of the model was assessed by plotting observed (actual) versus expected (model) brown shrimp densities in three other Texas bays. Similar habitat-use patterns were observed in all three bays—each having a coefficient of determination >0.50. These results indicate that this model may have a broader geographic application and is a plausible approach in refining current EFH designations for all Gulf of Mexico estuaries with similar geomorphological and hydrological characteristics.

棉花抗黄萎病基因工程研究和防卫反应相关基因的克隆

系统获得性抗性(Systematic acquired resistance, SAR)是植物抵御病原菌侵染的最有效手段，利用基因工程技术导入SAR信号发生过程中的关键基因后，植物的SAR基因表达量提高并且对病原菌侵染的反应速度加快，因此植物的抗病性得以增强，与传统的抗病基因工程技术相比它对病原菌没有专一性，许多学者称之为广谱抗病基因工程，该领域已成为目前抗病基因工程研究的热点和前沿。 NDR1和NPR1基因在植物的SAR发生中起着重要的作用，前者功能定位在ROS(reactive oxygen species)的激活和随后的水杨酸(SA)诱导合成之间，突变株病原菌诱导后SA合成能力降低，SAR发生减弱，目前还没有对该基因进行过量表达分析的报道;后者功能定位在SAR信号转导级联反应之中的SA积累和随后的SAR基因表达之间。该突变株在病原菌侵染时不产生病程相关蛋白(PRs)，表现为感病，而对照抗病;过量表达该基因的转基因拟南芥对多种病原菌的侵染产生抗性，PR1等PRs蛋白的表达量也提高，异源表达该基因的水稻对白叶枯病的抗性也提高。本研究利用RT-PCR方法从拟南芥中克隆了这两种基因，序列分析表明拟南芥Wassilewskija生态型的NDR1基因与Columbia生态型相比，共有7处碱基不同，引起编码氨基酸变化4处，而NPR1基因与报道的Wassilewskija生态型来源的NPR1基因完全相同。 我们构建了35S启动子驱动的NDR1和NPR1基因的植物组成型高效表达载体，利用农杆菌介导法转化烟草，PCR和Southern鉴定外源基因已经整合到植物基因组中。抗病性分析显示过量表达NDR1和NPR1基因的烟草对晚疫病和赤星病的抗性都有明显提高，说明这两个基因的在其它植物中异源表达后，都能提高植物对多种病原菌的抗性。 本论文提出了利用这两个基因来培育抗黄萎病棉花的设想，一方面为解决这个“世纪性”难题积累新的资料，另一方面也为其它作物的抗病基因工程提供新的经验。利用35S启动子驱动的NDR1和NPR1基因的植物组成型表达载体分别对陆地棉品种石远321进行花粉管通道法转化。同时，还探讨了这两个基因在棉花中的共转化实验，希望它们的“协同增效”能进一步提高棉花的抗病性。对其中2001年夏天在南京注射所获得的5,000粒种子在三亚进行100 g/ml卡那霉素筛选，初步鉴定分别获得转NDR1和NPR1基因株系26和24棵，PCR进一步鉴定其中分别有12和7棵为转基因阳性，转基因频率分别为0.50％和0.27％，目前利用营养钵蘸根法对其二代进行抗枯、黄萎病鉴定，结果显示有转基因植株对枯、黄萎病的抗性都明显增强，进一步的鉴定正在进行中。2002年初海南注射分别获得转NDR1和NPR1基因以及共转化种子22,000、10,500和12,500粒种子，2002年夏在中国农科院植保所黄萎菌病圃筛选抗黄萎病单株，并利用100 g/ml卡那霉素初步筛选出了一批抗性植株，每种转基因株系随机挑选5株进行PCR鉴定，结果显示为阳性。进一步的抗黄萎病鉴定和筛选以及分子分析正在进行中。 同时，本文还探讨了病原菌诱导型启动子在广谱抗病基因工程应用的可能性。根据烟草的Pr1-a启动子已知序列设计引物，PCR扩增启动子序列后,构建病原菌诱导型NPR1基因植物表达载体，并对棉花进行转化，获得种子11,500粒，利用同上的筛选方法，获得了一致的结果，目前抗黄萎病鉴定、分子检测以及生物学分析正在进行中。 最后，鉴于抗生素标记在转基因植物的应用引起了许多“安全性”争论的事实，还构建了无筛选标记的表达载体对抗虫棉进行转化，这样在生产上可以直接获得抗虫棉抗黄萎病棉花新材料，也为其它作物抗病基因工程积累经验。 本研究还提出了一种较为有效的提取高质量棉花总RNA的方法，与原来一些棉花RNA纯化方法相比，该方法所用都为常规试剂，易于重复，质量高。并且利用获得的总RNA构建了黄萎菌激发子诱导的cDNA文库，滴度测定为1╳107pfμ/μg，插入片段大小在5 00~2 000 bp范围内。 鉴于NPR1基因研究的重要性，本研究还利用简并引物PCR技术从海岛棉和陆地棉的基因组中都分离到了NPR1基因的同源片段，大小都为208 bp，与拟南芥NPR1基因的相应部分的同源性分别为66％和65％，它们之间的同源性为87％，目前该基因的全长正在分离鉴定中。 多聚半乳糖醛酸酶抑制蛋白(PGIPs)在植物的防御反应中起着重要的作用，通过分析已知20余种pgip基因序列的保守区，设计简并引物，PCR扩增海岛棉（Gossypium barbadense）7124 cDNA文库，得到一条长561 bp的片段，序列测定后分析确认为pgip基因的一部分。根据此序列和棉花病原菌诱导的cDNA文库载体中已知部分设计RACE引物，扩增后，5’和3’RACE分别得到666bp和906 bp的片段。序列分析表明它具有完整的编码框，产物为330 aa的蛋白质。序列分析该蛋白具有10个串联的LRR(leucine-rich repeat)区，与柑桔(Citrus)和枳(Poncirus)的pgip基因的同源性分别为69.2%和68.7%。进一步PCR扩增得到该基因的全长阅读框，并且获得了相应的基因组片段，序列分析发现该基因没有内含子。这是从棉属植物中克隆的第一个pgip基因。

Life history of the Atlantic sharpnose shark (Rhizoprionodon terraenovae) (Richardson, 1836) off the southeastern United States

The life history of the Atlantic sharpnose shark (Rhizoprionodon terraenovae) was described from 1093 specimens collected from Virginia to northern Florida between April 1997 and March 1999. Longitudinally sectioned vertebral centra were used to age each specimen, and the periodicity of circuli deposition was verified through marginal increment analysis and focus-to-increment frequency distributions. Rhizoprionodon terraenovae reached a maximum size of 828 mm precaudal length (PCL) and a maximum age of 11+ years. Mean back-calculated lengths-at-age ranged from 445 mm PCL at age one to 785 mm PCL at age ten for females, and 448 mm PCL at age one to 747 mm PCL at age nine for males. Observed lengthat-age data (estimated to 0.1 year) yielded the following von Bertalanffy parameters estimates: L∞= 749 mm PCL (SE=4.60), K = 0.49 (SE=0.020), and t0= –0.94 (SE=0.046) for females; and L∞= 745 mm PCL (SE = 5.93), K = 0.50 (SE=0.024), and t0= –0.91 (SE = 0.052) for males. Sexual maturity was reached at age three and 611 mm PCL for females, and age three and 615 mm PCL for males. Rhizoprionodon terraenovae reproduced annually and had a gestation period of approximately 11 months. Litter size ranged from one to eight (mean=3.85) embyros, and increased with female PCL.

Abundance of cetatceans in the southern U.S. North Atlantic Ocean during summer 1998

The U.S. Marine Mammal Protection Act requires that the abundance of marine mammals in U.S. waters be assessed. Because this requirement had not been met for a large portion of the North Atlantic Ocean (U.S. waters south of Maryland), a ship-based, line-transect survey was conducted with a 68 m research ship between Maryland (38.00°N) and central Florida (28.00°N) from the 10-m isobath to the boundary of the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone. The study area (573,000 km2) was surveyed between 8 July and 17 August 1998. Minimum abundance estimates were based on 4163 km of effort and 217 sightings of at least 13 cetacean species and other taxonomic categories. The most commonly sighted species (number of groups) were bottlenose dolphins, Tursiops truncatus (38); sperm whales, Physeter macrocephalus (29); Atlantic spotted dolphins, Stenella frontalis (28); and Risso’s dolphins, Grampus griseus (22). The most abundant species (abundance; coeffi cient of variation) were Atlantic spotted dolphins (14,438; 0.63); bottlenose dolphins (13,085; 0.40); pantropical spotted dolphins, S. attenuate (12,747; 0.56); striped dolphins, S. coeruleoalba (10,225; 0.91); and Risso’s dolphins (9533; 0.50). The abundance estimate for the Clymene dolphin, S. clymene (6086; 0.93), is the first for the U.S. Atlantic Ocean. Sperm whales were the most abundant large whale (1181; 0.51). Abundances for other species or taxonomic categories ranged from 20 to 5109. There were an estimated 77,139 (0.23) cetaceans in the study area. Bottlenose dolphins and Atlantic spotted dolphins were encountered primarily in continental shelf (<200 m) and continental slope waters (200−2000 m). All other species were generally sighted in oceanic waters (>200 m). The distribution of some species varied north to south. Striped dolphins, Clymene dolphins, and sperm whales were sighted primarily in the northern part of the study area; whereas pantropical spotted dolphins were sighted primarily in the southern portion.

羊草草原群落氮素平衡和碳水化合物贮藏对氮素添加的响应

草地在世界各种不同的气候带和土壤类型区均有分布，约占陆地面积的24%。尽管二十世纪中叶以来，人类通过各种措施，使氮素由大气圈进入生物圈的量已经翻了一翻，但是，草地生态系统由于没有得到足够的氮素补充，其生产力至少是季节性地受到氮素的制约。我国草原生态系统的退化与氮素匮乏已经引起了广泛重视。尽管一些研究者的工作已经涉及到氮素循环的一些方面，但是关于草原生态系统的氮素平衡过程的系统研究迄今尚未开展。地下器官中贮藏养分的积累是多年生牧草抵御不良环境条件的物质保障，碳水化合物是我国典型草原植物重要的贮藏营养物质。但是关于我国草原生态系统贮藏养分的研究还相当匮乏。值得一提的是，不合理的人类活动也加剧了草地生态系统氮素的损失，甚至对全球环境和人类健康产生了重要影响。为此，我们在中国科学院内蒙古草原生态系统定位研究站的羊草样地设计了氮素添加试验，采用15N稀释法对典型草原羊草群落的氮素吸收利用、氮素平衡进行了研究，并就氮素添加条件下，植物氮素利用与植物竞争的关系、氮素吸收分配与牧草生物产量与品质的关系进行了探讨。同时采用高效液相色谱对羊草群落植物贮藏碳水化合物的种类与含量进行了测定。 15N稀释法的试验结果表明：我国典型草原羊草群落吸收的氮素平均16.41%来源于肥料，83.59%来源于土壤。氮素添加不仅显著促进了羊草群落地上器官对肥料氮索和土壤氮素的吸收量，而且促进了地下器官对肥料氮素和土壤氮素的吸收量。生物量达到最大时，羊草群落吸收的氮素分配到地下器官中的比例平均为74.85%，分配到地上器官中的比例平均为25.15%。植物吸收的肥料氮素在地上和地下器官之间的分配比例约各占50%。 在我国典型草原羊草群落，植物对肥料氮素的回收率仅为31.61%，氮素添加显著影响羊草群落植物对肥料氮素的回收，随着氮素添加量的提高，地上和地下植物器官对肥料氮素的回收量均显著提高。凋落物的肥料氮素回收率为2.92%，地下凋落物的回收率显著高于地上凋落物。肥料氮素的土壤存留率为36.16%，主要分布在地表至40cm的土层范围内(>95%)。各土层存留的标记肥料氮素量均随着氮素添加量的增加而显著提高。肥料氮素的当季损失率为21.77%-43.38%。风险：收益分析表明，在本试验条件下，添加5.25gN/m2与28gN/m2的处理风险大于收益，添加17.5g/m2的处理风险最低，收益最高，在草原生态系统的管理中可以参考。 为了了解羊草群落植物的竞争能力是否对羊草群落植物的相对多度有影响，我们对不同盖度的10个物种的15N吸收速率、15N分配、植物组织氮素含量、单株生物量、根／冠比、氮素生产力等反映植物竞争能力的指标进行了测定和分析。发现向根系的氮素分配比例、根／冠比、和氮素生产力与植物的相对盖度显著正相关，向地上器官的氮素分配比例、氮素吸收速率与相对盖度呈显著负相关，而植物组织氮素含量、和单株生物量与植物相对盖度无关。 试验前，我们认为氮素吸收速率应该与植物的相对多度显著正相关，但是本试验发现却是显著负相关。这一结果说明，高的氮素吸收速率并不能代表较高的竞争能力，而是稀少植物能够与优势植物共存的一种生理机制。 氮素的吸收与分配显著地影响牧草的生物产量和品质。氮素添加提高了羊草生物量，促进了生物量向地上器官的分配比例，降低了向根系的分配比例，使根／冠比显著降低。氮素添加促进了羊草对氮素的吸收以及向茎叶中的分配比例，降低了向根系的分配比例，提高了羊草各器官的氮素含量和地上器官的蛋白质含量，对根系的蛋白质含量无显著影响。本试验条件下，氮素添加水平为17.5gN/m2时，羊草根、茎、叶生物产量均最高。与17.5gN/m2的处理相比较，添加28gN/m2的处理，羊草的生物产量以及牧草蛋白质含量均无显著差异。初步认为，本实验条件下，17. 5gN/m2是较为适宜的氮素添加量。 地下器官中贮藏养分的积累是多年生牧草抵御不良环境条件的物质保障，碳水化合物是我国典型草原植物重要的贮藏营养。采用高效液相色谱(HPLC)对羊草群落地下器官的贮藏性碳水化合物进行了分析。结果表明，羊草群落地下贮藏碳水化合物种类主要包括甘露糖醇、果聚糖、蔗糖、葡萄糖和果糖。其中甘露糖醇是最主要贮藏碳水化合物，约占60%;其次是果聚糖，约占30%。氮素添加量对羊草群落地下贮藏碳水化合物有显著影响。在0～50 g NH4N03. m-2.yr-1范围内，随着氮素添加量的增加，总糖、果聚糖、甘露糖醇的含量均逐渐升高。氮素添加时期对羊草群落地下贮藏碳水化合物含量亦有显著影响。7月初（雨季）添加氮素比4月份（牧草开始返青）更有利于牧草地下贮藏碳水化合物的积累。 对羊草根茎中的贮藏性碳水化合物的测定结果表明，羊草根茎中的贮藏碳水化合物组分主要包括果聚糖、甘露糖醇、蔗糖、葡萄糖和果糖。其中果聚糖是最主要贮藏碳水化合物，约占60%：其次是甘露糖醇，约占20%。氮素添加量对羊草根茎中的贮藏碳水化合物有显著影响。在0～17.5 g N/m2范围内，随着氮素添加量的增加，总糖、果聚糖、甘露糖醇的含量均逐渐升高。氮素添加时期对羊草根茎中的贮藏碳水化合物的含量亦有显著影响。在7月初添加氮素比4月份添加氮素更有利于贮藏碳水化合物的积累。

岷江中上游植被生态恢复过程中若干问题的探讨

　1．对四川省岷江上游地区（茂县）的锐齿槲栎（Quercus aliena var. acuteserrata）天然次生林进行研究，发现：(1) 坚果完好比例约在14% ~26%之间，完好坚果的发芽率和发芽势都比较高，但在天然状况下能够留存到翌年5月的坚果几乎没有。因此，实生幼苗的天然补充就受到了严重的限制。(2) 林缘的幼苗密度低于所有其它生境的 (P<0.05)，林中的幼苗密度最高，和林窗的比较有显著差异(P<0.05), 而和灌丛的比较则差异不显著（P>0.05）。在灌丛幼苗密度和林中以及林窗的比较都没有差异。动物对坚果的取食速度则是林中的最慢 (10.0%)，林窗和林缘的基本相同(分别为61.1%和66.5%)，取食速度都明显快于林中(P<0.01)。(3) 林中的幼苗在小于100 cm的各高度内都有大量分布，说明在林中树冠下幼苗是可以长期存在的，暗示在幼苗阶段的锐齿槲栎可能是耐荫的。(4) 在林中缺失幼树，在林缘则有包括幼树在内的完整的更新大小系列，表明林缘是更新的关键地点。(5) 在栎林的每一个大小级别上，萌生个体和实生个体都按各种比例伴生，说明导致萌生的干扰一直在发生，并可能在森林的更新中扮演重要角色;也说明该地区的锐齿槲栎林由萌生和实生起源的个体混合组成。 2．栎林是北半球温带森林的重要组成部分，因此栎林更新是全球森林更新研究的热点之一，而啮齿动物对栎林更新的影响则是关注的焦点。在2002~2003年，通过坚果标记研究了未被取食和遗弃坚果（即咬开后只有少部分被捕食后丢弃在林中的坚果）的健康比例，并定量测定了坚果的捕食、搬运、遗弃、丢弃、贮藏和留存等各种命运的比例和特点;对坚果也进行了各种人为的处理，以观测其命运和动物取食速度，发现：(1) 遗弃坚果中不健康坚果的比例比动物未取食的天然坚果中的比例有极显著的增加 (P>0.05)，暗示啮齿动物一般是通过咬开坚果来识别坚果健康与否并决定是否捕食。(2) 根据坚果命运和对照相比改变与否以及如何改变，各种人工处理坚果的命运可以分为 4 类：① 坚果命运没有任何显著改变;② 坚果被就地捕食的速度降低，搬运的速度不变，最终搬运坚果的比例增加而就地捕食坚果的比例降低，留存坚果的比例偶尔能增加至0.2%;③ 坚果就地捕食的速度几乎降至0，搬运的速度则在下降一段时间后又上升，并且搬运作用持续了相对长的时间，最终搬运坚果的比例大大增加，就地捕食坚果的比例很低，留存率为0;④ 坚果被搬运和就地捕食的速度和比例都降低，留存坚果的比例相应的大大增加，甚至可以达到50%。(3) 命运得到显著改变的②、③、④类坚果所承受的人工处理按照作用方式又可以分为主要作用于坚果化学状态（即气味浓度）的处理、主要作用于坚果物理状态（颜色、形态、有无附属物等）的处理以及使坚果处于不同颜色背景的处理;其中主要作用于坚果化学状态的处理对坚果命运具有最重大的改变，如胶带包裹处理和烧焦处理;其它各种主要作用于坚果的物理状态和所处背景的处理对其命运则也具有相对轻微的改变。这一试验结果可能证明：啮齿动物在对坚果进行识别和取食选择等活动时主要依赖于嗅觉来感知坚果的可食性，但是能感觉物理状态和所处背景的视觉也起一定程度的作用。(4) 啮齿动物对栎树坚果进行就地捕食、遗弃、搬运、异地捕食、丢弃、贮藏等作用，使各种命运的坚果都具有一定的数量比例和特点，也提供了动物影响栎林更新的多种可能途径。 3．人工干扰是任何退化生态系统中都始终存在的重大问题。除了明显的砍伐或者采摘外，人工践踏也是一种重要的干扰，特别是在茂县的山林普遍被牛马不断的放牧的情况下，这个干扰的后果就更加显著。为此研究了人脚踩踏的路上的白车轴草和未踩踏草坪上白车轴草在最大叶长、株高、芽高、构件数量、构件平均鲜重、死叶数量、根长等构型指标，根、茎、叶三者的生物量（干重）及比例等生物量指标，平均花序数量、花平均数量等繁殖指标方面的不同，发现踩踏使白车轴草植株：(1) 株高降低，芽高降低，最大叶长变小，平均每厘米的构件数量增加，构件平均鲜重降低，根长度减小，死叶数量增加。(2) 平均花序数量下降，每花序的花平均数量下降。(3) 但是在生物量的分配上，根和茎的生物量没有显著的下降，但是叶的生物量显著减低。因为白车轴草的茎可以不断克隆繁殖，所以踩踏对其存活可能没有太大的影响，只是造成了植株的矮化和密集化，根也变短;但是对种子繁殖有重大影响，反映在平均花序数量和每花序平均花数的显著下降上。在生物量的分配中，作为主要的同化器官，叶的生物量显著下降，而根茎比没有变化。这可能说明这样的克隆植物其物质流动是呈现网络化的特征，具有比较强的抗干扰能力。 4．连香树、油松、日本落叶松、华山松油松混合林是茂县地区的几种主要的已经营造的林型或者树种。为了了解其20年来的营林效果，运用样方调查的方法测量了这几种树种或者林型的胸径、持水量、凋落物现存量、密度等，评价了它们在生长、营业循环和水土保持等方面的差异。结果表明：日本落叶松具有生长缓慢，凋落物现存量大，涵养水分能力良好的树种，值得推广;油松生长迅速，凋落物现存量巨大，涵养水分能力一般的树种，也可以大力栽植;油松和华山松的混交林具有比较大的蓄积量和较好的涵养水分的能力，可以推广;而连香树则做为生长速度中等，成材率低，凋落物现存量小，涵养水分能力差的树种，不应该进一步推广。

锡林河流域温带草地植物VOC释放及其对草地生态系统碳循环的贡献

植物源挥发性有机碳化合物（Volitale organic compounds, VOC）是大气VOC的主要来源，与对流层大气质量、大气化学密切相关。鉴于温带草地的分布范围很广，草地植物VOC释放潜力某种程度上影响植物源VOC的总释放量。另外，植物源VOC也是光合作用固定碳素的损失方式之一，可能在特定区域或生态系统中具有重要意义。基于上述想法，本文设计了四个方面的实验作为研究内容：1） 温带草地物种水平VOC释放潜力、及其与植物功能群的关系？2) 沙地植物物种水平VOC释放潜力、及其与植物功能群的关系？3) 沙地植物-草地植物VOC释放潜力存在显著性差异吗？4) 温带典型草地和退化草地的VOC释放速率如何？在生态系统水平，植物源VOC对温带草地碳循环的贡献多大？ 在所测定的175种温带草地植物中，不同植物间异戊二烯和单萜释放潜力差异很大;除少数物种外，大多数植物的异戊二烯和单萜释放潜力都较低，尤其是典型草地的优势物种。在此基础上，作者探讨了分类学赋值方法对温带草地植被的可行性，并初步建立了锡林河流域温带草地植物的VOC释放目录（共277种植物）。另外，温带草地植物的异戊二烯和单萜释放潜力与植物功能群（植物生活型和水分功能群）具有一定的联系，尤其是植物生活型。总的来说，温带草原的优势生活型（物种），即多年生根茎禾草（或多年生丛生禾草），具有较低的异戊二烯和单萜释放潜力。各水分功能群间差异不显著，但中旱生植物、旱中生植物 (温带草原的优势功能群)，具有较低的异戊二烯、单萜释放潜力。因此，温带草原退化过程中，那些具有较高VOC释放潜力的植物，重要性将会增加。 沙地植物种类组成非常丰富，不同物种间的异戊二烯和单萜释放潜力变异也很大。另外，沙地植物的异戊二烯和单萜释放潜力与其功能群间关系较密切，不同植物生活型间差异显著;其中也以多年生根茎禾草、多年生从生禾草的释放潜力最低，而乔木的释放潜力相对最高;该结论基本与草地的研究结论一致。然而，沙地植物的异戊二烯和单萜释放潜力与其水分功能群的关系比较模糊，中生植物具有更高的释放潜力，湿生植物的释放潜力较小。 通过对比沙地植物和草地植物的释放潜力，发现沙地植物的异戊二烯和单萜释放潜力比草地植物高，且这种差异整体上显著。另外，这种显著性差异，在不同植物生活型、水分功能群间也同样存在。沙地植物比对应的草地植物具有更高的异戊二烯和单萜释放潜力，最可能的原因：沙地正午的温度明显比草地温度高，前者实测温度可超过 45 ℃,这种经常性、周期性高温，促使沙地植物采用与草地植物不同的适应策略，即沙地植物通过释放更多的异戊二烯或单萜来减少其可能遭的热胁迫或热伤害，这种长期适应策略，使沙地植物具有更高的萜类化合物释放潜力。 本文还调查了温带典型草地生态系统和退化草地生态系统的异戊二烯和单萜释放速率，结果表明典型草地的标准异戊二烯和单萜释放速率分别为0.50 μgC g-1 h-1和0.69 μgC g-1 h-1;退化草地的标准异戊二烯和单萜释放潜力分别为0.32 μgC g-1 h-1和1.59 μgC g-1 h-1。总的来说，温带草地的异戊二烯和单萜释放速率都比较低，尤其是典型草地。整个生长季，典型草地释放的异戊二烯和单萜分别为31.6 mgC•m-2　和 70.4 mgC•m-2;退化草地的异戊二烯和单萜释放量分别为20.8 mgC•m-2 和 168.8 mgC•m-2。退化草地萜类化合物总释放速率远高于典型草地，尤其是单萜释放能力。过度放牧引起的草地退化，通过改变植被种类组成，对温带草地的异戊二烯和单萜释放速率产生显著影响;总体而言，温带草地退化将会使草地释放更多萜类化合物。 在温带草地生态系统中，Clost as VOC相对其NPP而言很小，在环境PAR和温度高时,它的贡献率相对较大;Clost as VOC约占典型草地生态系统NEP的5.32 %，退化草地生态系统NEP的0.23 %。植物源VOC释放所损失的碳素相对草地生态系统NPP而言几乎可以忽略不计;但是，相对其NEP，Clost as VOC还是具有一定的相关性。虽然，草地生态系统Clost as VOC对NPP或NEP的贡献率较小，但考虑到全球尺度植物源VOC的巨大释放速率，它在碳循环中的贡献率仍然不容忽视;在某些特殊的生态系统中，仍可能扮演重要角色。

浑善达克沙地根茎克隆植物对去除枝叶的响应

过度放牧是导致浑善达克沙地荒漠化发展的重要原因之一。在该地区占据优势的根茎型克隆草本植物不仅被牲畜频繁地采食，而且也面临着频繁的沙埋和养分胁迫的干扰。通过克隆生长，这些根茎型植物的单个基株能够跨越异质性的资源斑块，同时也可能遭受局部的、非均匀性的采食或沙埋。克隆整合可能会作为一种补偿性机制促进被采食克隆部分或分株的恢复和生长，因而，能够缓解采食及其与环境因素（沙埋/养分胁迫）交互作用对克隆植物的影响。本文以浑善达克沙地草地典型的根茎型沙生植物种和草地植物种为实验材料，应用（野外和温室）实验生态学方法检验了克隆整合的这种效果。 在一个野外实验中，通过对共存在沙丘上的两种根茎型克隆植物沙地雀麦（Bromus ircutensis Kom.）和沙鞭（Psammochloa villosa (Trin.) Bor.），及两种非克隆植物褐沙蒿（Artemisia intramongolica H.C.Fu）和草木樨状黄芪（Astragalus melilotoides Pall.）的个体植株进行不同强度（0、50、90％）的枝叶去除处理，我们发现：50％和90％的枝叶去除增加了沙地雀麦和沙鞭的相对生长率（RGR）;而90％的枝叶去除显著减小了褐沙蒿和草木樨状黄芪的RGR。经两个多月处理后，与对照相比，去除枝叶的非克隆植物的地上生物量恢复的远不及克隆植物完全。这些结果表明克隆植物比共存的非克隆植物更能忍耐采食。在分株种群水平上开展的另外一个野外实验表明，在50％的去除强度下，根茎连接明显改善了沙鞭分株种群的表现，但对沙地雀麦分株种群没有显著影响。然而，在90％的去除强度下，根茎连接显著的改善了两种植物分株种群的表现，显示出克隆整合的重要作用。而且，与未剪除的分株种群相比，两种植物当遭受90％的去除强度后，其根茎保持连接的分株种群产生了更多而小的分株个体。 以羊草（Leymus chinensis (Trin.) Tzevl.）和赖草（Leymus secalinus (Georgi) Tzvel）的克隆片断为材料，通过两个温室实验研究了克隆整合对克隆植物忍受采食与沙埋/养分胁迫交互作用的影响。每个克隆片断由一个近端（发育上较老）分株和一个远端（发育上较年轻）分株组成。近端分株不进行胁迫处理，而远端分株进行重复去除 枝叶沙埋/养分胁迫处理;同时，切断或保持克隆片断的根茎连接。结果表明，单因素的干扰对两个种远端分株的影响较小。当遭受剪除处理后，低养供应的赖草远端分株显示出比高养条件下更强的生物量补偿能力。当两个种的远 端分株处于单因素胁迫时，根茎切断很少影响其生物量生产和新分株的形成;而当远端分株同时处于枝叶去除和沙 埋/养分胁迫下时，切断根茎对两个种远端分株的生物量和分株的产生造成了明显的负效果，表明克隆整合发挥了重 要的作用。但克隆整合并没有导致近端分株的显著损耗。 基于以上实验结果，我们得出：克隆整合可以明显提高浑善达克沙地根茎克隆植物应对枝叶去除，及其和沙埋/养分胁迫交互影响的能力，是克隆植物适应频繁干扰的沙地草地环境的重要对策之一。

沙埋与供水对毛乌素沙地两种重要植物幼苗生长的影响

近年来，土地荒漠化（ Desertification）及其防治已成为世界各国政府及科学界广泛关注的社会与环境问题。毛乌素沙地是我国荒漠化发展的中心地区之一。荒漠化不仅长期制约着地方经济的发展，同时也不同程度地影响着黄河中下游等地区的生态环境。因此，毛乌素沙地退化生态系统的恢复重建势在必行。沙埋与水分是该地区重要的生态因子和限制因子。柠条（Caragana korshinskii ）和羊柴（Hedysarum laeve ）作为该地区广泛分布的物种，经常用于我国北方干旱、半干旱区的生态恢复。因此，本文以这两个物种为研究对象， 探讨不同的沙埋与供水对两种植物幼苗存活与生长的影响。该研究对深化与丰富植物对沙生环境适应的生态学机理认识， 进而对采用合理的方法进行荒漠化防治及当地生态系统恢复重建具有重要的理论与实际意义。 以柠条（Caragana korshinskii ）和羊柴（Hedysarum laeve ）这两种植物幼苗为研究对象，人工控制6 个沙埋深度、5 个沙埋时间和4 个水分梯度，研究它们对不同沙埋深度和供水量的响应。结果表明：适量的沙埋(0.25~0.50 H 沙埋)与供水(柠条50 mm/月，羊柴75 mm/月)可以促进幼苗生长，过量的沙埋与供水则会抑制生长甚至导致幼苗死亡。柠条幼苗在50 mm/月供水， 0.25、0.50 H 沙埋， 羊柴幼苗在75 mm/月供水，0.25、0.50 H 沙埋下具有较高的生物量、叶面积、相对生长速率和净同化速率；幼苗在1.0 H 和1.25 H 沙埋下全部死亡。供水量较小、沙埋较浅时，两种植物根冠比均较高；当供水量最大时，柠条幼苗根冠比在沙埋最深和没有沙埋时较大，而羊柴幼苗根冠比仍在没有沙埋时最高。