There are two 5 '-flanking regions of bkt encoding beta-carotene ketolase in Haematococcus pluvialis

The unicellular green alga Haematococcus pluvialis accumulates a commercially valuable astaxanthin, with levels reaching up to 4% dry weight under environmental stress. In recent years, much effort has been devoted to understanding the molecular mechanisms regulating astaxanthin biosynthetic pathways. Beta-carotene ketolase (bkt), with control being exhibited at the transcription level, plays an important role in astaxanthin biosynthesis by H. pluvialis. Here we demonstrate the presence of two separate 5'-flanking regions [1.5 kilobase (kb) and 2 kb] of bkt (bkt1 and bkt2) that possess regulatory elements similar to those of known stress-responsive genes in plants. Results of 5'-deletion constructs and transient beta-galactosidase expression assays demonstrate that there may be positive regulatory elements governing expression in the shorter promoter at -1060/-900 from the 1.5 kb 5' region, and in the longer promoter at -1838/-1219 and at -1046/ -734 from the 2 kb 5' region relative to each homologous ATG start codon. Furthermore, our present studies reveal that the first intron (+371/+497) downstream from the 1.5 kb 5' untranslated region of bkt1 may function as a negative regulatory element to regulate its own promoter.

Geomorphology, sedimentary processes and development of the Zenisu deep-sea channel, northern Philippine Sea

The Zenisu deep-sea channel originates on the Izu-Ogasawara island arc, and disappears in the Shikoku Basin of the Philippine Sea. The geomorphology, sedimentary processes, and the development of the Zenisu deep-sea channel were investigated on the basis of swath bathymetry, side-scan sonar imagery, submersible observations, and seismic data. The deep-sea channel can be divided into three segments according to the downslope gradient and channel orientation. They are the Zenisu Canyon, the E-W fan channel, and the trough-axis channel. The sediment fill is characterized by turbidite and debrite deposition and blocky-hummocky avalanche deposits on the flanks of the Zenisu Ridge. In the Zenisu Canyon and the Zenisu deep-sea channel, sediment transport by turbidity currents generates sediment waves (dunes) observed during the Shinkai 6500 dive 371. The development of the Zenisu Canyon is controlled by a N-S shear fault, whereas the trough-axis channel is controlled by basin subsidence associated with the Zenisu Ridge. The E-W fan channel was probably affected by the E-W fault and the basement morphology.

Experimental study on the impact of dinoflagellate Alexandrium species on populations of the rotifer Brachionus plicatilis

To investigate harmful effects of the dinoflagellate Alexandrium species on microzooplankton, the rotifer Brachionus plicatilis was chosen as an assay species, and tested with 10 strains of Alexandrium including one known non-PSP-producer (Alexandrium tamarense, AT-6). HPLC analysis confirmed the PSP-content of the various strains: Alexandrium lusitanicum, Alexandrium minutum and Alexandrium tamarense (ATHK, AT5-1, AT5-3, ATC102, ATC103) used in the experiment were PSP-producers. No PSP toxins were detected in the strains Alexandrium sp1, Alexandrium sp2. Exposing rotifer populations to the densities of 2000 cells ml(-1) of each of these 10 Alexandrium strains revealed that the (non-PSP) A. tarnarense (AT-6) and two other PSP-producing algae: A. lusitanicum, A. minutum, did not appear to adversely impact rotifer populations. Rotifers exposed to these three strains were able to maintain their population numbers, and in some cases, increase them. Although some increases in rotifer population growth following exposures to these three algal species were noted, the rate was less than for the non-exposed control rotifer groups. In contrast, the remaining seven algal strains (A. tamarense ATHK, AT5-1, AT5-3, ATC102, ATC103; also Alexandrium sp1 and Alexandrium sp2) all have adverse effects on the rotifers. Dosing rotifers with respective algal cell densities of 2000 cells ml-1 each, for Alexandrium spl, Alexandrium sp2, and A. tamarense strains ATHK and ATC103 showed mean lethal time (LT50) on rotifer populations of 21, 28, 29, and 36h, respectively. The remaining three species (A. tamarense strains AT5-1, AT5-3, ATC102) caused respective mean rotifer LT50S of 56, 56, and 71 h, compared to 160 h for the unexposed "starved control" rotifers. Experiments to determine ingestion rates for the rotifers, based on changes in their Chlorophyll a content, showed that the rotifers could feed on A. lusitanicum, A. minutum and A. tamarense strain AT-6, but could graze to little or no extent upon algal cells of the other seven strains. The effects on rotifers exposed to different cell densities, fractions, and growth phases of A. tamarense algal culture were respectively compared. It was found that only the whole algal cells had lethal effects, with strongest impact being shown by the early exponential growth phase of A. tamarense. The results indicate that some toxic mechanism(s), other than PSP and present in whole algal cells, might be responsible for the adverse effects on the exposed rotifers. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

植物生长季海北高寒湿地辐射收支特征

依据祁连山海北高寒湿地植物生长期观测资料, 分析了区域辐射收支情况及其变化特征. 结果表明: 祁连山海北高寒湿地有较强的太阳总辐射(DR), 但地表反射辐射(UR)、地面有效辐射(ELR)较低;地表长波辐射(ULR)、大气逆辐射(DLR)、净辐射(Rn)均较高, 且具有明显的日、季节变化. 植物生长期5～9月的日变化振幅DR＞Rn＞UR＞ULR＞DLR＞ELR, 其总量表现出ULR＞DLR＞DR＞Rn＞UR＞ELR, 分别达4650.6、 4225.5、 3058.8、 2156.2、 477.6和425.1 MJ•m-2. 从月际分布来看, ULR、 DLR、 DR最高出现在7月, Rn出现在6月, UR出现在5月, ELR出现在8月, 分别为980.3、 913.1、 721.5、 554.9、 112.1和127.4 MJ•m-2.

植物生长季退化草毡寒冻雏形土CO2释放特征

对中国科学院海北高寒草甸生态系统定位站地区退化草毡寒冻雏形土CO2释放的全天候连续观测结果表明，退化草毡寒冻雏形土CO2的释放有明显的日变化和季节动态，日最大释放速率出现于12：00-14：00，最小释放速率出现于6：00-8：00；植物生长季的最大振幅为462.49mg·m^-2·h^-1（8月18日），最小振幅为114.97mg·m^-2·h^-1（5月9日），CO2释放速率白天大于夜晚。不同物候期CO2释放速率亦不同，草盛期>枯黄期>青期。最大日均值为480.76mg·m^-2·h^-1（8月18日），最小日均值为140.77mg·m^-2·h^-1（5月9日）。释放速率与气温、地表温度及土壤5cm地温均呈显著或极显著相关关系，表明温度是决定CO2释放速率季节变化的首要因素。

Extraction of Nitraria tangutorum seed oil by supercritical carbon dioxide and determination of free fatty acids by HPLC/APC/IMS with fluorescence detection

The seed oil from Nitraria tangutorum samples was obtained by supercritical carbon dioxide extraction methods. The extraction parameters for this methodology, including pressure, temperature, particle size and extraction time, were optimized. The free fatty acids in the seed oil were separated with a pre-column derivation method and 1,2-benzo-3,4-dihydrocarbazole-9-ethyl-p-toluenesulfonate (BDETS) as a labeling regent, followed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with fluorescence detection. The target compounds were identified by mass spectrometry with atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI in positive-ion mode). HPLC analysis shows that the main compositions of the seed oil samples were free fatty acids (FFAs) in high to low concentrations as follows: linoleic acid, oleic acid, hexadecanoic acid and octadecanoic acid. The assay detection limits (at signal-to-noise of 3:1) were 3.378-6.572 nmol/L. Excellent linear responses were observed, with correlation coefficients greater than 0.999. The facile BDETS derivatization coupled with mass spectrometry detection allowed the development of a highly sensitive method for analyzing free fatty acids in seed oil by supercritical CO2 extraction. The established method is highly efficient for seed oil extraction and extremely sensitive for fatty acid profile determination. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

CO2 fluxes of alpine shrubland ecosystem on the north-eastern Tibetan plateau

We measured ecosystem CO2 fluxes for an alpine shrubland on the north-eastern Tibetan Plateau, Qinghai, China. The study is to understand (1) the seasonal variation of CO2 flux and (2) how environmental factors affect the seasonality of CO2 exchange in the alpine ecosystem. Daytime ecosystem respiration was extrapolated from the relationship between temperature and nighttime CO2 fluxes under high turbulent conditions.Seasonal patterns of gross ecosystem production, ecosystem respiration and net ecosystem CO2 exchange followed highly the seasonal change of aboveground biomass in the alpine shrubland. The net ecosystem CO2 exchange was mainly controlled by the variation of photosynthetic photon flux density, while the ecosystem respiration was closely correlated to the soil temperature at 5-cm depth. Integrated values of gross ecosystem production, ecosystem respiration and net ecosystem CO2 exchange for the period from November 1, 2002 to October 31 2003 were estimated to be 1418, 1155 and 222 g CO2 m(-2) yr(-1), respectively.

一种新的求解坐标变换关系的方法

介绍一种利用空间向量求解坐标变换关系的方法,简化了传统的坐标系之间坐标变换关系求解的复杂计算,减小了采样误差对计算结果的影响．为建立各物体之间的位姿关系描述提供了有效的数学计算手段．

不同石漠化程度岩溶峰丛洼地系统景观格局的比较

利用花江岩溶峡谷区南坡不同石漠化程度的5个独立的岩溶峰丛洼地系统景观要素的实测数据，分析了多样性、优势度、破碎度、分离度等景观格局指标的变化规律及其所指示的生态学意义。结果表明，这些指标在不同峰丛洼地系统都能较好地评价石漠化过程中景观格局的动态变化规律，对分析石漠化土地的发展趋势具有较好的指示意义。但多样性指数、优势度指数、均匀度指数也与各峰丛洼地系统的景观基质有关，在不同石漠化程度的峰丛洼地系统中，反映的景观生态意义是不一样的。景观格局分析不仅强调面积，而且还考虑所研究石漠化土地的空间分布特征(格局)、景观组成特点与石漠化过程的关系和对石漠化的影响，在石漠化程度判定和石漠化指标的研究中景观格局是一个不可忽视的问题。

栖霞组沉积地球化学特征及其环境意义

沉积环境的古氧相特征是沉积环境和古海洋特征恢复的重要内容。岩石地球化学特征是判断其形成环境氧化还原条件的重要手段之一。本文以来宾地区铁桥面为重点．通过对栖霞组灰岩的地球化学分析，结合沉积学、古生态学特征．认为栖霞组沉积于贫氧的沉{只背景．是在海水深度和海域的局限程度等沉积条件发生周期性变化的情况下形成的。古氧相地球化学指标V(V十Ni)、Cc/La、U／Th值都适用于该组以钙质沉积为主的沉积物。黄铁矿矿化程度(DOP值)变。化较大．眨映该区多变的古氧相特征。

个旧锰结核矿床地质地球化学与成因初步研究

个旧锰结核矿床产在锡石-多金属硫化物矿田顶部的第四系砂锡矿之中.从矿床地质产状、化学组成、微量元素、稀土元素、矿物组合等方面进行了讨论,认为个旧锰结核属于异地海相成因,后经搬运沉积在第四系砂锡矿之中;与中太平洋海山CAD19锰结核的物质组成和微量元素进行对比,表明个旧和CAD19锰结核有相类似的稀土模式,相对富集轻稀土,并出现明显的Eu负异常和Ce的正异常.