Comparison of two marine sponge-associated Penicillium strains DQ25 and SC10: differences in secondary metabolites and their bioactivities

Two strains of Penicillium, DQ25 and SC10, isolated from marine sponge Haliclona angulata (Bowerbank) and Hymeniacidon sp. respectively, were subjected to stationary cultivation under GYP medium for 30 days. The fermentation extracts were undergone bioactivities assays against human pathogens, phytopathogenic fungi and brine shrimp (Artemia salina). Bioassays-guided compounds isolation was performed by Silica gel columns and Sephadex LH-20 chromatography. Spectroscopic methods were used to structures elucidation of the compounds. Results showed the activities of secondary metabolites of strain DQ25 were generally stronger than that of strain SC10. Major bioactive molecules isolated from strain DQ25 were a 1,4-naphthoquinone derivative and an unidentified alkaloid. The two components were not isolated from the extract of strain SC10. ITS sequences revealed that these two species have the greatest similarity with Penicillium vinaceum and Penicillium granulatum respectively.

Vertical distribution of bacterial and archaeal communities along discrete layers of a deep-sea cold sediment sample at the East Pacific Rise (similar to 13 degrees N)

The community structure and vertical distribution of prokaryotes in a deep-sea (ca. 3,191 m) cold sediment sample (ca. 43 cm long) collected at the East Pacific Rise (EPR) similar to 13 degrees N were studied with 16SrDNA-based molecular analyses. Total community DNA was extracted from each of four discrete layers EPRDS-1, -2, -3 and -4 (from top to bottom) and 16S rDNA were amplified by PCR. Cluster analysis of DGGE profiles revealed that the bacterial communities shifted sharply between EPRDS-1 and EPRDS-2 in similarity coefficient at merely 49%. Twenty-three sequences retrieved from DGGE bands fell into 11 groups based on BLAST and bootstrap analysis. The dominant groups in the bacterial communities were Chloroflexi, Gamma proteobacteria, Actinobacterium and unidentified bacteria, with their corresponding percentages varying along discrete layers. Pairwise Fst (F-statistics) values between the archaeal clone libraries indicated that the archaeal communities changed distinctly between EPRDS-2 and EPRDS-3. Sequences from the archaeal libraries were divided to eight groups. Crenarchaea Marine Group I (MGI) was prevalent in EPRDS-1 at 83%, while Uncultured Crenarchaea group II B (UCII B) abounded in EPRDS-4 at 61%. Our results revealed that the vertically stratified distribution of prokaryotic communities might be in response to the geochemical settings and suggested that the sampling area was influenced by hydrothermalism. The copresence of members related to hydrothermalism and cold deep-sea environments in the microbial community indicated that the area might be a transitional region from hydrothermal vents to cold deep-sea sediments.

The unique skeleton of siliceous sponges (Porifera; Hexactinellida and Demospongiae) that evolved first from the Urmetazoa during the Proterozoic: a review

Sponges (phylum Porifera) had been considered as an enigmatic phylum, prior to the analysis of their genetic repertoire/tool kit. Already with the isolation of the first adhesion molecule, galectin, it became clear that the sequences of sponge cell surface receptors and of molecules forming the intracellular signal transduction pathways triggered by them, share high similarity with those identified in other metazoan phyla. These studies demonstrated that all metazoan phyla, including Porifera, originate from one common ancestor, the Urmetazoa. The sponges evolved prior to the Ediacaran-Cambrian boundary (542 million years ago [myr]) during two major "snowball earth events", the Sturtian glaciation (710 to 680 myr) and the Varanger-Marinoan ice ages (605 to 585 myr). During this period the ocean was richer in silica due to the silicate weathering. The oldest sponge fossils (Hexactinellida) have been described from Australia, China and Mongolia and are thought to have existed coeval with the diverse Ediacara fauna. Only little younger are the fossils discovered in the Sansha section in Hunan (Early Cambrian; China). It has been proposed that only the sponges possessed the genetic repertoire to cope with the adverse conditions, e.g. temperature-protection molecules or proteins protecting them against ultraviolet radiation. The skeletal elements of the Hexactinellida (model organisms Monorhaphis chuni and Monorhaphis intermedia or Hyalonema sieboldi) and Demospongiae (models Suberites domuncula and Geodia cydonium), the spicules, are formed enzymatically by the anabolic enzyme silicatein and the catabolic enzyme silicase. Both, the spicules of Hexactinellida and of Demospongiae, comprise a central axial canal and an axial filament which harbors the silicatein. After intracellular formation of the first lamella around the channel and the subsequent extracellular apposition of further lamellae the spicules are completed in a net formed of collagen fibers. The data summarized here substantiate that with the finding of silicatein a new aera in the field of bio/inorganic chemistry started. For the first time strategies could be formulated and experimentally proven that allow the formation/synthesis of inorganic structures by organic molecules. These findings are not only of importance for the further understanding of basic pathways in the body plan formation of sponges but also of eminent importance for applied/commercial processes in a sustainable use of biomolecules for novel bio/inorganic materials.

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.

高山植物条纹狭蕊龙胆的分子亲缘地理学研究

草本植物由于较短的生活周期以及对环境变化的敏感性,可能会更好地揭示第四纪冰期以来植物居群变化的历史过程。分子亲缘地理学研究是揭示动植物居群历史的有力工具,但到目前为止对青藏高原草本植物的分子亲缘地理学研究几乎是空白。因此,本文选择在青藏高原及邻近地区生长的一年生高山草本植物条纹狭蕊龙胆为研究对象,进行了13个居群155个个体的叶绿体基因组（cpDNA）非编码片段trnH（GUG）-psbA基因间区序列变异检测,共发现7种单倍型,其中单倍型Hap A是分布最广的,而单倍型Hap E、Hap F和Hap G是拥有的居群所特有的。青藏高原东北部、东部及邻近地区的每个居群拥有的单倍型非常单一,而高原东南部横断山区的单倍型分布很集中,遗传多样性也相对较高。分子变异分析（AMOVA）结果表明整个分布区条纹狭蕊龙胆的遗传变异主要存在于居群间（73.05%）,且居群间的遗传分化很高（G_(ST)=0.805,F_(ST)=0.731,N_(ST)=0.859）,有着显著的亲缘地理学结构（N_(ST)〉G_(ST),P〈0.05）和较低的居群间的平均基因流（N_m=0.184）。结合巢式支系法分析（NCA）,根据本文的研究结果推测青藏高原东南部横断山区是该植物第四纪冰期时可能的避难所,而且在间冰期或冰期后,伴随着异域片段化和过去片段化从避难所发生范围扩张而形成当前单倍型及居群的分布格局。

青藏高原高寒草甸植物群落物种组成和生物量沿环境梯度的变化

生物多样性与生态系统功能的关系及其机制是生态学领域的重大科学问题．人们越来越关注环境因子对多样性-生产力关系的影响．植物群落组成、物种丰富度、物种特征、生物量的分布结构和植物枯枝落叶对高寒草甸物种多样性和生产力有着重要的影响．因此，我们利用2001～2004年中国科学院海北生态系统定位站高寒草甸群落的实测资料，研究了不同环境梯度（土壤含水量和营养）下，植物群落生物量，物种丰富度及组成的变化．结果表明，植物群落物种组成的不同反应在生物量的分布上，以藏嵩草为优势种的藏嵩草沼泽化草甸群落总生物量（地上、地下）最高（13196．96±719．69g／m~2），次之是以杂类草和莎草科为主的小嵩草草甸（2869．58±147．52g／m~2），以禾本科和杂类草为主的矮嵩草草甸最低（2153．08±141．95g／m~2）．藏嵩草沼泽化草甸中，草本植物枯枝落叶显著高于小嵩草、矮嵩草草甸，土壤含水量对草本植物枯枝落叶有较大的影响．不同类型草甸群落中，地上生物量与土壤有机质、全氮和群落盖度之间均呈显著正相关（P〈0．05）；藏嵩草沼泽化草甸中，总生物量与物种丰富度呈负相关（rs=-0．907，P〈0．05）、地下生物量与土壤含水量呈正相关（rs=-0．900，P〈0．05）；而在小嵩草和矮嵩草草甸中它们之间均没有达到显著水平，说明不同类型高寒草甸群落生产力除受物种多样性、功能群内物种密度和均匀度的影响，同时也受物种本身特征和外部环境资源的影响．不同类型草甸群落生物量的分布与土壤含水量和土壤养分的变化相一致．

狭果茶藨种子脂肪酸的分析

用超临界萃取技术对产于青藏高原上的狭果茶蔗种子中脂肪酸进行萃取,其萃取率为12%.用毛细管气相色谱对萃取的脂肪酸进行了分离和分析.结果表明不饱和脂肪酸的质量分数在90%以上.其中α-亚麻酸(α-Linolenic aeia)为27.4%,γ-亚麻酸(γ-Linoleic aeia)为4.93%,亚油酸(Linoleic aeia)为32.61%.

扬子地块西南缘大面积低温成矿时代

中国西南地区(川、滇、黔、桂、湘)发育有世界上很典型的低温成矿域，其面积之大(约90万km2)、包含的矿种之多(Au、Hg、Sb、As、P、Pb-Zn、U、Ni-Mo-PGE、重晶石、冰州石和分散元素等)、矿床组成和组合之复杂，在全球十分鲜见。扬子地块西南缘是中国西南大面积低温成矿域的重要组成部分。近年来，作者采用Rb-Sr、Sm-Nd、Ar-Ar等多种同位素定年方法，对扬子地块西南缘产出的磷矿、金矿、锑矿等低温矿床的成矿时代进行了较系统的研究。文章总结了这些研究成果，并结合前人的资料，初步拟定出该区存在三期大规模低温成矿作用，它们分别相当于晚元古代一早古生代(晚震旦世—早寒武世)、晚加里东期(晚志留世—早泥盆地)和燕山期(晚侏罗世一中自垩世)。该区的磷矿、重晶石矿和黑色页岩中的镍钼铂矿主要形成于晚元古代一早古生代，同位素年龄主要为585～540 Ma；赋存于前寒武纪浅变质碎屑岩中的金一锑．钨矿床主要形成于晚加里东期，同位素年龄主要为435-380 Ma；产于寒武系以后地层中的锑矿床主要是在中燕山期成矿，同位素年龄主要为160～140 Ma；而该区的卡林型金矿和汞矿主要在燕山中晚期大规模成矿，同位素年龄主要为170-80 Ma。

萤石Sm—Nd同位素体系对晴隆锑矿床成矿时代和物源的制约

本文首次对黔西南晴隆锑矿床的萤石进行Sm-Nd同位素研究，来探讨该矿床的形成时间和成矿物源。研究表明，该矿主成矿期的萤石构成两组等时线，其对应的等时线年龄分别为148±8Ma和142±16Ma。显示该矿床的成矿作用发生在晚侏罗世。本次测定的成矿年龄数据远小于峨眉山玄武岩的成岩年龄，暗示该矿床与该区二叠纪的火山作用没有直接的成因联系。计算表明，在晴隆锑矿床成矿时(142Ma)，两组萤石的δNd(t)值分别为-5．72～-5．81和-3．81～-3．88，远小于峨眉山玄武岩的相应值(0．40～3．27)；两组萤石初始Nd同位素组成的差异，暗示其Nd的来源存在不均一性，这很可能与萤石沉淀环境围岩的局部差异有关。在δSr(t)-δNd(t)图解中，萤石明显分布在与赋矿围岩不同的区域，暗示该矿的成矿物质主要是来自外部(可能是下伏老地层或基底)，而不是赋矿的峨眉山玄武岩和茅口组灰岩，因此，该矿并非是前人认定的“原地改造成矿”。

Simultaneous light emitting diode-induced fluorescence and contactless conductivity detection for capillary electrophoresis

A combined detection system of simultaneous contactless conductometric and fluorescent detection for capillary electrophoresis (CE) has been designed and evaluated. The two processes share a common detection cell. A blue light-emitting diode (LED) was used as the excitation source and an optical fiber was used to collect the emitting fluorescence for fluorescent detection (FD). Inorganic ions, fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-labeled amino acids and small molecule peptides were separated and detected by the combined detector, and the detection limits (LODs) of sub-μ M level were achieved.

Solos do médio alto curso do Rio Grande, região serrana do Estado do Rio de Janeiro.

O objetivo do trabalho foi realizar o estudo dos solos de uma área montanhosa na região de influência do médio alto curso do Rio Grande, região Serrana do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, na escala 1:100.000, visando proceder à identificação, caracterização e cartografia dos solos. Predomina na área relevo forte ondulado a montanhoso e amplitude altimétrica entre 700 e 1.300 metros, podendo registrar picos mais elevados. O tipo climático predominante é o Aw, tropical mesotérmico úmido, de Köppen, com temperatura média anual de 17,8ºCº e precipitação pluviométrica variável de 1.327 mm a 1.585 mm anuais. Os procedimentos utilizados consistiram basicamente na delimitação dos principais domínios e/ou padrões fisiográficos, a partir de dados de sensores remotos e do modelo digital de elevação (MDE), principalmente dos dados de altimetria e de declividade. No domínio das baixadas, foram identificados Neossolos Flúvicos, ocupando as várzeas do Rio Grande e Cambissolos Flúvicos nas posições ligeiramente mais elevadas das baixadas. No domínio das terras altas, foram identificados Argissolos Vermelhos, Vermelho-Amarelos e eventualmente Amarelos, restritos às partes mais suavizadas da paisagem. Na classe do Argissolo Vermelho-Amarelo há ocorrência de solos com caracteristicas intermediárias para a classe dos Latossolos, e apenas na classe do Argissolo Vermelho ocorrem solos eutróficos, relacionados a diques de rochas básicas. Latossolos Vermelhos, Vermelho-Amarelos, Amarelos e eventualmente Latossolos Amarelos húmicos e, mais raramente, ácricos, que gradativamente dão lugar a Cambissolos Háplicos e Neossolos Litólicos, que ocorrem associados a afloramentos de rochas, à medida que a vertente fica mais íngreme. Excluindo os solos representativos das áreas de várzea, o restante, assim como os afloramentos de rochas, ocorrem em toda a área de estudo em diferentes posições da paisagem. As principais restrições pedológicas observadas na área compreendem a baixa fertilidade natural dos solos e a elevada suscetibilidade à erosão, em consequência da elevada precipitação e do relevo vigoroso da área. Essas características influenciam no comportamento dos solos frente aos diferentes tipos de usos e práticas de manejo, devendo ser consideradas no planejamento de uso dos solos.

Local studies collections online: an investigation in Irish public libraries

Barry, L., Tedd, L.A. (2008). Local studies collections online: an investigation in Irish public libraries. Program: electronic library and information systems, 42(2), 163-186.

Rainfall infiltration and soil hydrological characteristics below ancient forest, planted forest, and grassland in a temperate northern climate

How rainfall infiltration rate and soil hydrological characteristics develop over time under forests of different ages in temperate regions is poorly understood. In this study, infiltration rate and soil hydrological characteristics were investigated under forests of different ages and under grassland. Soil hydraulic characteristics were measured at different scales under a 250 year old grazed grassland (GL), a six (6 yr) and 48 (48 yr) year old Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) plantation, remnant 300 year old individual Scots pines (OT) and a 4000 year old Caledonian Forest (AF). In-situ field saturated hydraulic conductivity (Kfs) was measured and visible root:soil area was estimated from soil pits. Macroporosity, pore structure, and macropore connectivity were estimated from X-ray tomography of soil cores, and from water-release characteristics. At all scales the median values for Kfs, root fraction, macro-porosity and connectivity values tended to AF > OT > 48 yr > GL > 6 yr, indicating that infiltration rates and water storage increased with forest age. The remnant Caledonian Forest had a huge range of Kfs (12 to > 4922 mm h-1), with maximum Kfs values 7 to 15 times larger than 48-year-old Scots pine plantation, suggesting that undisturbed old forests, with high rainfall and minimal evapotranspiration in winter, may act as important areas for water storage and sinks for storm rainfall to infiltrate and transport to deeper soil layers via preferential flow. The importance of the development of soil hydrological characteristics under different aged forests is discussed.