香港地区湍蛙遗传多样性研究

依据线粒体上ND2和CO1两个变异较大的基因序列分析了香港地区香港湍蛙7种群、华南湍蛙1种群，以及大陆其他地区华南湍蛙7种群，戴云湍蛙1种群，武夷湍蛙1种群的系统发育关系，进而探讨香港湍蛙的遗传多样性、香港湍蛙特有性、如何确定香港湍蛙最佳保护单元以及这四种湍蛙的物种分类地位。 1． 香港湍蛙保护遗传学研究 香港湍蛙核苷酸传多样性较低，从其遗传多样性信息、单倍型网络分析、中性检验值以及岐点分布结果一致显示香港湍蛙很可能经历了瓶颈后的扩张，种群正在由一个较小的有效种群大小迅速增长, 有足够的时间通过变异用于积累单倍型的多态性, 而对于提高核苷酸多样化而言, 时间尚短（Nei M et al，1975，Avise J C，2000；李明等，2003）。 分子变异分析结果显示香港湍蛙种群间存在较多的基因交流，且系统发育树上各种群间交叉在一起，没有形成与地理单元相关的分支，而从其单倍型网络看，他们源于共同的祖先，是一个单系群，与地理单元间没有形成显著的遗传分化。因此应作为一个进化显著单元（ESU）。结合其与其他湍蛙发育关系及遗传距离以及野外采集信息认为香港湍蛙只在香港地区有分布，属于香港特有种。该物种内遗传多样性较低，又属于世界自然保护联盟红皮书中的近危种，同时也是《野生动物保护条例》中的受保护野生动物，且由于香港城市建设等使得其栖息环境受到威胁，因此在香港特别行政区应该受到重点保护。 从单倍型分布和核苷酸多样性可以看出大榄涌种群和城门种群具有较高的单倍型多样性和核苷酸多样性，应该作为保护的重点区域。 2. 华南湍蛙东、南沿海种群间系统关系 华南湍蛙分布广，各种群存在着丰富的遗传多样性信息且中部种群广西龙胜和湖南张家界种群核苷酸多样性明显高于其他边缘种群华南湍蛙。种群间几乎没有基因交流，且各种群间无共享单倍型，可见已形成了显著的遗传分化。各种群间遗传距离都较远，其中广东南昆山种群以及福建三港种群与其他种群距离最远，因此可以推测其他种群（广东深圳、香港大屿山、广西龙胜和防城以及湖南张家界种群）可能为独立进化的种群。但是否是一新种或一隐存种，还需要结合形态学进行更深入的研究。 本研究中无论从系统关系看还是从遗传距离看，大屿山种群与深圳种群最近，支持陈坚峰等将其定为华南湍蛙，即华南湍蛙新增一个分布点：香港大屿山。 系统树上广西防城种群（支B）与龙胜和湖南种群（支A）形成姐妹群。香港大屿山种群与深圳种群先形成姐妹群（支C），但却没有与其距离很近的广东南岭及南昆山种群（支D）形成姐妹群，可能粤北和粤中的环境及气候较复杂因此与粤南其他种群形成了明显的隔离。同时可以看出华南湍蛙种群遗传分化与地理距离没有显著的相关性。 3. 四种湍蛙间的系统关系 根据线粒体CO1基因建立四种湍蛙间的系统关系及其遗传距离，很清楚地看到，香港湍蛙与戴云湍蛙关系很近，而华南湍蛙则与武夷湍蛙较近。然而，戴云湍蛙同一个种群内部共有两个单倍型DY1和DY2，且两个单倍型间遗传距离大于DY1与香港湍蛙间遗传距离，更远远大于香港湍蛙种群内部的距离，即戴云湍蛙内部两个单倍型间遗传距离达到了种级水平，同样在系统发育树上这两个单倍型与香港湍蛙形成并系。但是，戴云湍蛙种内在形态上差异不显著。因此，其是否属于萌芽物种分化形成（budding speciation）或已经完全分化为两个不同的种值得进一步研究？ 与戴云湍蛙香港湍蛙关系类似，从系统树上看华南湍蛙不形成单系，而是分成两个大支，与武夷湍蛙形成并系，且福建和南昆山的华南湍蛙与武夷湍蛙遗传距离远大于武夷湍蛙种内福建种群与浙江种群的遗传距离，达到了种级分化水平。由此，可以推断武夷湍蛙是有效种。系统树上广东深圳、香港大屿山、广西防城和龙胜以及湖南张家界种群与华南湍蛙福建及南昆山各种群间遗传距离已超出了种内各种群间的遗传距离，但是至于这一支是否应为另外一个种，有必要扩大采样，并结合核基因及形态信息进行进一步研究。 MtDNA of ND2 and CO1 gene were used to investigate genetic diversity of Amolops in Hongkong .We collected seven populations of A. hongkongensis,，one population of A.ricketti from Hong Kong and other seven populations of A.ricketti from East and South of Chinese mainland. As well as one population of A. daiyunensis and one population of A.wuyiensis Phylogenetic relationship were analyzed of four species. Discussed whether A.hongkongensis is an endemic species and how can we make the conservation and management decisions. 1. Conservation Genetics of A. hongkongensis A. hongkongensis has a low nucleotide diversity, the results of genetic diversity, haplotype network, neutrality test and the mismatch distributions indicate that A. hongkongensis experienced a recent expansion after a bottle neck. They had enough time to accumulated haplotype diversity, but it’s too short to have a high nucleotide diversity（Nei M et al，1975，Avise J C，2000；Li et al，2003）. The result of AMOVA reveals that it has much gene exchange among the populations of A. hongkongensis. The clades of the phylogenetic tree were mixed together, no significant genetic differentiation among 8 populations and they share the same ancestor from the network analysis, these indicate that they are monophyly and should be protected as one ESU. Combined with the information of relationships of interspecies, genetic distance and distribution investigate, We conclude that A. hongkongensis is an endemic species of Hong Kong. Considering on the status of low genetic diversity in A.hongkongensis, and this species was listed in the IUCN red list as near threatened, as well as listed in the . Furthermore, it’s habitat loss and degradation more rapidly as the human activity got higher and higher. So it’s urgent to protect them in Hong Kong. Our results suggest that Tai Lam Wu and TAI MO Shan -Shing Mun populations have the higher priority to be protected because their higher genetic diversity. 2．Phylogenetic relationships among populations of Amolops ricketti from the Southern and eastern China A. ricketti has the considerable genetic diversity of mitochondrial haplotypes within and among populations, and Mitochondrial DNA diversity was higher in populations at the central area of the present distribution range of the frog，i. e. the Longsheng population and Zhangjiajie population, than at the edges of their distribution range. They have no share haplotype among populations, and have a significant genetic differentiation. Genetic distance is high among the populations, especially the distance of Nankun and Sangang group with others, which suggested that they evolved independently. May be there is a cryptic species or a new species, a further study is needed. The results of gene tree and the genetic distance clearly demonstrate that the population from LanTau island is A. ricketti, so we agree with Chen et al(2005) . That means A.ricketti have a new distribution site: LanTau island, HongKong. Phylogenetic relationships were analyzed through NJ and Mrbayes methods and got a consistent topological structure, the structure indicated that the ingroup were comprised four groups. Populations Longsheng and Zhangjiajie were first clustered as clade A; Populations Fangcheng was clustered together (clade B) as a sister group to clade A；Populations Shenzhen and Lantau island were sister groups and clustered as clade C；Then the clade D included populations Nankunshan and Nanling in Guangdong province and Sangang in Fujian province. 3. Phylogenetic Relationships among these four specises Phylogenetic relationships based on 1503bp CO1 gene and the genetic distance show that A. hongkongensis close to A. daiyunensis whereas A.ricketti near to A.wuyiensis. Nevertheless, there are two haplotypes in A.daiyunensis and the genetic distance between them higher than the distance between DY1 with A. hongkongensis. A. hongkongensis is nested in the paraphyletic ancestral species A. daiyunensis. Without significant difference in the morphological characters, So, we considered both A.daiyunensis and A.hongkongensis are valid species, may be this represents a case of ‘budding speciation’ like Batrachuperus pinchonii(Fu and Zeng,2008) in the population of A. daiyunensis. Just like two species above A. wuyiensis and A. ricketti are not monophyly, instead, A.wuyiensis is nested in the paraphyletic ancestral species A.ricketti. We need do more research to make sure whether they are new species.

中国首批濒危苔藓植物红色名录简报

初步报道了2004年上海中国苔藓植物多样性保护国际研讨会上通过的中国首批濒危苔藓植物红色名录。名录共计82种,其中藓类植物28科、47属、50种,苔类植物12科、26属、31种和角苔类植物1科、1属、1种。根据修订的IUCN/IAB标准,82种苔藓植物中,36种划为极危(CR),29种划为濒危(EN),17种划为易危(VU)。对中国首批濒危苔藓植物的地理分布特点、濒危原因及今后的保护行动也进行了初步讨论。

黑白仰鼻猴（Rhinopithecus bieti）西藏种群栖息地变化研究

黑白仰鼻猴（Rhinopithecus bieti）目前分布在金沙江和澜沧江之间横断山脉的一个狭小的区域范围内（26o14’N-29o20’N，99o15’E-99o37’E），海拔2 600 m（南部） - 4 200 m（北部）之间；目前大约有15 群，数量估计约1700 个体。是我国特有的灵长类之一，为国家Ⅰ级保护动物，在IUCN（世界自然保护联盟）2007 受威胁物种红皮书中被列为濒危物种并处于小种群、高度片断化状态（ENC 2a）。西藏是黑白仰鼻猴分布的北端，约有300 个体。基于前人的野外调查和报道确认，暗针叶林和针阔叶混交林是其适宜栖息地，人们在低海拔和高海拔砍伐或者火烧暗针叶林和针阔叶混交林的产物－农田和夏季牧场正在逐渐侵蚀着其适宜栖息地。尽管当地藏族村民信奉佛教，禁止猎杀任何野生动物，但是近些年来，黑白仰鼻猴栖息地不断丧失，这与牧场和农田扩张、当地人们薪柴采集等活动有关。黑白仰鼻猴西藏种群主要在原始暗针叶林和和针阔叶混交林里活动。为了评估该物种的栖息地现状和变化情况，我们通过野外调查工作，应用GIS 和RS 技术，分别解译了1986 年、1992 年、1997 年、2001 年和2006 年的Landsat TM/ETM+ 冬季卫星影像，并对解译结果进行了计算和分析，得到了以下西藏种群栖息地的主要结果： 1）现有暗针叶林（包括原始针叶林和针阔混交林）面积是30 500 hm2 ，夏季牧场面积是13 100 hm2 ，农田面积是6 400 hm2 ；2）在过去20 年间（1986-2006 年），暗针叶林面积减少了14.6％（5 200 hm2 ），夏季牧场面积增加了47.2％（4 200 hm2 ），农田面积增加了14.3％（800 hm2 ）；3）在过去20 年间，暗针叶林的斑块数量增加了68.4％，平均斑块面积下降了49.3％（从1986 年的15.1 hm2 下降到2006 年的7.6 hm2 ），最大的斑块指数下降了54.9％；景观丰富度并没有变化，但Shannon 多样性指数和Shannon 均匀度指数分别增加了2.7％。这都表明栖息地丧失和破碎化程度越来越严重。在上述结果的基础上，我们进一步对栖息地变化的主要原因进行了初步分析和探讨。通过暗针叶林面积、夏季牧场面积和农田面积和当地各乡村的家庭户数、人口数量、平均家庭人口数和牲畜存栏数等统计数据的Spearman秩相关分析表明，暗针叶林面积变化分别与当地的人口数量、家庭户数和平均家庭人口数呈显著负相关，与牲畜存栏数呈负相关；而夏季牧场面积和农田面积都分别与人口数量、家庭户数和平均家庭人口数呈显著正相关，与牲畜存栏数呈正相关。这意味着在目前当地传统生产方式基本未发生改变的情况下，因人口数量增加所带来的生产等活动强度的增加是黑白仰鼻猴栖息地丧失与破碎化加剧的主要原因（R2 = 0.972）；当地人类经济活动的增加，如牧场和农田扩张，牲畜存栏数增加以及薪材采集和木质建筑等导致了栖息地丧失、退化和破碎化。但另一方面，当地一妻多夫的婚配制度（仅在西藏部分地区仍有保留）对黑白仰鼻猴的栖息地保护有积极的作用，因为大家庭（家庭人口数）的人均资源消耗，如薪柴需求、房屋数量、牧场和农田等，都比小家庭低。在过去20 年中（1983-2003 年），当地家庭户数的增加比人口数量增加要慢，这对黑白仰鼻猴的栖息地保护起到了一定的积极作用。因此，西藏种群作为单独的遗传亚种群，其保护工作任重而道远。

黑颈鹤（Grus nigricollus）种群生态及濒危等级评估

黑颈鹤的种群总量有5000～6000 只个体,主要分布在青藏高原和云贵高原,分布区约22 ×105km2 ,占有面积约5400 km2 。青藏高原北部和西部为其繁殖区,越冬区主要在雅鲁藏布江河谷中段、喜马拉雅山脉南坡及云贵高原部分区域,青藏高原东部为其迁徙途径之地。越冬时以家族、同种群及混合群(主要与灰鹤Grus grus 和斑头雁A nser indicus) 形式集群活动。繁殖期分化为非繁殖群和繁殖对(Breeding pair) 两种类型。繁殖对能否成功地占有领域是繁殖成败的关键。笔者认为该物种依IUCN(1994) 标准应列为易危级(Vulnerable ,VU)

A new species of Orinus (Poaceae) from Qinghai, China

A new species of Orinus Hitchcock, O. alticulmus L. B. Cai & Tong Lin Zhang, is described and illustrated. This species is endemic to Qinghai province, China, occurring at altitudes of 2450-2600 m on sandy soils. It resembles O. kokonorica (K. S. Hao) Tzvelev, but differs from that species by its slightly effuse panicles, longer spikelets usually with five or six florets, purple-yellow anthers, shorter caryopses, and the paleas usually longer than the lemmas. A key to the five species of the genus is provided.

The impact of conifer plantation forestry on the ecology of peatland lakes

Blanket bog lakes are a characteristic feature of blanket bog habitats and harbour many rare and threatened invertebrate species. Despite their potential conservation value, however, very little is known about their physico-chemical or biological characteristics in western Europe, and their reference conditions are still unknown in Ireland. Furthermore, they are under considerable threat in Ireland from a number of sources, particularly afforestation of their catchments by exotic conifers. Plantation forestry can potentially lead to the increased input of substances including hydrogen ions (H+), plants nutrients, dissolved organic carbon (DOC), heavy metals and sediment. The aims of this study were to investigate the effect of conifer plantation forestry on the hydrochemistry and ecology of blanket bog lakes in western Ireland. Lake hydrochemistry, littoral Chydoridae (Cladocera) and littoral macroinvertebrate communities were compared among replicate lakes selected from three distinct catchment land use categories: i) unplanted blanket bog only present in the catchment, ii) mature (closed-canopy) conifer plantation forests only present in the catchment and iii) catchments containing mature conifer plantation forests with recently clearfelled areas. All three catchment land uses were replicated across two geologies: sandstone and granite. Lakes with afforested catchments across both geologies had elevated concentrations of phosphorus (P), nitrogen (N), total dissolved organic carbon (TDOC), aluminium (Al) and iron (Fe), with the highest concentrations of each parameter recorded from lakes with catchment clearfelling. Dissolved oxygen concentrations were also significantly reduced in the afforested lakes, particularly the clearfell lakes. This change in lake hydrochemistry was associated with profound changes in lake invertebrate communities. Within the chydorid communities, the dominance of Alonopsis elongata in the unplanted blanket bog lakes shifted to dominance by the smaller bodied Chydorus sphaericus, along with Alonella nana, Alonella excisa and Alonella exigua, in the plantation forestry-affected lakes, consistent with a shift in lake trophy. Similarly, there was marked changes in the macroinvertebrate communities, especially for the Coleoptera and Heteroptera assemblages which revealed increased taxon richness and abundance in the nutrient-enriched lakes. In terms of conservation status, despite having the greatest species-quality scores (SQS) and species richness, three of the four International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) red-listed species of Coleoptera and Odonata recorded during the study were absent from lakes subject to catchment clearfelling. The relative strengths of bottom-up (forestry-mediated nutrient enrichment) and top-down (fish) forces in structuring littoral macroinvertebrate communities was investigated in a separate study. Nutrient enrichment was shown to be the dominant force acting on communities, with fish having a lesser influence. These results confirmed that plantation forestry poses the single greatest threat to the conservation status of blanket bog lakes in western Ireland. The findings of this study have major implications for the management of afforested peatlands. Further research is required on blanket bog lakes to prevent any further plantation forestry-mediated habitat deterioration of this rare and protected habitat.

New wild Brassica oleracea L. germplasm at its western distribution limit in the Iberian Peninsula

An exploration and collection mission for wild Brassica oleracea populations was carried out in spring and summer of 2013. The aim of this collection was to expand the number of accessions of wild Brassica oleracea available for basic and applied research in plant breeding. In this paper we report a new accession of wild Brassica oleracea in an unexplored coastal area of Galicia, NW Iberian Peninsula. Details of population ecology and vegetation, soil, climate and geographic data were recorded for this population. The “Endangered” threat category for the region is proposed, and actions for in situ and ex situ conservation are proposed. Seeds will be added to the germplasm collections of University of Santiago de Compostela and Misión Biológica de Galicia (CSIC) for further research on diverse aspects of the dynamics and ecophysiology of the population along with characterization and evaluation of useful traits.

Methodological considerations in reserve system selection: a case study of Malagasy Lemurs.

Although data quality and weighting decisions impact the outputs of reserve selection algorithms, these factors have not been closely studied. We examine these methodological issues in the use of reserve selection algorithms by comparing: (1) quality of input data and (2) use of different weighting methods for prioritizing among species. In 2003, the government of Madagascar, a global biodiversity hotspot, committed to tripling the size of its protected area network to protect 10% of the country’s total land area. We apply the Zonation reserve selection algorithm to distribution data for 52 lemur species to identify priority areas for the expansion of Madagascar’s reserve network. We assess the similarity of the areas selected, as well as the proportions of lemur ranges protected in the resulting areas when different forms of input data were used: extent of occurrence versus refined extent of occurrence. Low overlap between the areas selected suggests that refined extent of occurrence data are highly desirable, and to best protect lemur species, we recommend refining extent of occurrence ranges using habitat and altitude limitations. Reserve areas were also selected for protection based on three different species weighting schemes, resulting in marked variation in proportional representation of species among the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species extinction risk categories. This result demonstrates that assignment of species weights influences whether a reserve network prioritizes maximizing overall species protection or maximizing protection of the most threatened species.

Insights into torpor and behavioural thermoregulation of the endangered Juliana's golden mole

The cryptic, subterranean ways of golden moles (Chrysochloridae) hamper studies of their biology in the field. Ten species appear on the IUCN red list, but the dearth of information available for most inhibits effective conservation planning. New techniques are consequently required to further our understanding and facilitate informed conservation management decisions. We studied the endangered Juliana's golden mole Neamblysomus julianae and aimed to evaluate the feasibility of using implantable temperature sensing transmitters to remotely acquire physiological and behavioural data. We also aimed to assess potential body temperature (T-b) fluctuations in relation to ambient soil temperature (T-a) in order to assess the potential use of torpor. Hourly observations revealed that T-b was remarkably changeable, ranging from 27 to 33 degrees C. In several instances T-b declined during periods of low T-a. Such 'shallow torpor' may result in a daily energy saving of c. 20%. Behavioural thermoregulation was used during periods of high T-a by selecting cooler microclimates, while passive heating was used to raise T-b early morning when T-a was increasing. In contrast to anecdotal reports of nocturnal patterns of activity, our results suggest that activity is flexible, being primarily dependent on T-a. These results exemplify how behavioural patterns and microclimatic conditions can be examined in this and other subterranean mammal species, the results of which can be used in the urgently required conservation planning of endangered Chrysochlorid species.

Tackling Invasive Alien Species in Europe: the Top 20 Issues

Globally, Invasive Alien Species (IAS) are considered to be one of the major threats to native biodiversity, with the World Conservation Union (IUCN) citing their impacts as ?immense, insidious, and usually irreversible?. It is estimated that 11% of the c. 12,000 alien species in Europe are invasive, causing environmental, economic and social damage; and it is reasonable to expect that the rate of biological invasions into Europe will increase in the coming years. In order to assess the current position regarding IAS in Europe and to determine the issues that were deemed to be most important or critical regarding these damaging species, the international Freshwater Invasives - Networking for Strategy (FINS) conference was convened in Ireland in April 2013. Delegates from throughout Europe and invited speakers from around the world were brought together for the conference. These comprised academics, applied scientists, policy makers, politicians, practitioners and representative stakeholder groups. A horizon scanning and issue prioritization approach was used by in excess of 100 expert delegates in a workshop setting to elucidate the Top 20 IAS issues in Europe. These issues do not focus solely on freshwater habitats and taxa but relate also to marine and terrestrial situations. The Top 20 issues that resulted represent a tool for IAS management and should also be used to support policy makers as they prepare European IAS legislation.

Ecology of the early life-history stages of shad Alosa fallax fallax (Lacépède, 1803) in the River Mira, with a note on Alosa spp. larvae in the River Guadiana

Tese dout., Ecologia, Universidade do Algarve, 2006

Avaliação do estatuto de conservação da flora endémica de Cabo Verde

Tese de mestrado. Biologia (Ecologia e Gestão Ambiental). Universidade de Lisboa, Faculdade de Ciências, 2014

Conservation status of the endangered chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes verus) in Lagoas de Cufada Natural Park : (Republic of Guinea-Bissau)

Tese de doutoramento, Biologia (Ecologia), Universidade de Lisboa, Faculdade de Ciências, 2014

Plano de gestão e conservação de Azorina vidalii (Wats.) Feer

Dissertação de Mestrado, Gestão e Conservação da Natureza, 15 de Maio de 2015, Universidade dos Açores.