Single base-resolution methylome of the silkworm reveals a sparse epigenomic map

Epigenetic regulation in insects may have effects on diverse biological processes. Here we survey the methylome of a model insect, the silkworm Bombyx mori, at single-base resolution using Illumina high-throughput bisulfite sequencing (MethylC-Seq). We conservatively estimate that 0.11% of genomic cytosines are methylcytosines, all of which probably occur in CG dinucleotides. CG methylation is substantially enriched in gene bodies and is positively correlated with gene expression levels, suggesting it has a positive role in gene transcription. We find that transposable elements, promoters and ribosomal DNAs are hypomethylated, but in contrast, genomic loci matching small RNAs in gene bodies are densely methylated. This work contributes to our understanding of epigenetics in insects, and in contrast to previous studies of the highly methylated genomes of Arabidopsis(1) and human(2), demonstrates a strategy for sequencing the epigenomes of organisms such as insects that have low levels of methylation.

Abundance and composition of benthic fauna in Penaeus monodon Fabricius culture pond on the west coast of Malaysia peninsular

This paper reports a study on the benthic faunal abundance and diversity of tiger shrimp P. monodon culture ponds in Perak, west coast of Malaysia Peninsular. Sampling was carried out at three weeks interval throughout the 116 days culture period. In addition, water temperature, dissolved oxygen, salinity, transparency, pH and organic matter of soil were also measured. Results showed that the major groups of macro-benthos comprised of gastropod, foraminifera, polychaetes, bivalve and insects; whereas the meio-benthos comprised of harpacticoid copepods, ostracods, nematodes, gastropods, foraminifera, bivalve, insects, crustacean nauplii and polychaetes. In macro-benthos, the abundance of different sizes of Gastropods increased throughout the culture duration. This consisted of 37-98.20% for <1cm length, 1.80-61.50% for 1-2cm length and 1.18—1.30% for >2cm length. Other macro and meio-benthic organisms decreased linearly with the culture period. The depletion symptom indicates that the culture species may have intensively preyed upon the consumable (<0.5cm in size) benthic fauna together with detritus and artificial diet; or could have been caused by pond bottom deterioration via uneaten feed, faces and toxic gases.

The diversity of amphibians, reptiles and mammals and their importance in the Victoria and Kyoga lake basins

The shore margins of Lakes in the Victoria basin are highly dented and mostly swampy, fringed by Papyrus and other wetland vegetation types important habitats for herpetofauna and wetland adapted mammals. Of recent, the extent of the 'wetland' has been extended in several places by the Water Hyacinth (Eichornia cryaseps). Ecologically, amphibians are important in many ways; they are mostly predators, acting as primary and secondary carnivores. Their prey consists mostly of insects, some of which are pests to crops or disease vectors. They are also inter-inked in food chains, often acting as food for other vertebrates, such as pigs, birds, snakes and sometimes man. Because of their ectothermic physiology, the life history and ecology of amphibians often differ markedly from that of birds or mammals (McCollough el ai, (992).Amphibians are known to be an easily recognisable taxon in given habitats; and populations are sometimes specialised within a narrow habitat. This makes it easy and practical to monitor changes in composition over time, given different onditions (Heyer el al 1994, Phillips 1990). Impacts on their habitat are reflected in changes in numbers and species diversity in a short time. These are some of the factors that have made amphibians to be recognised, nowadays, as good indicators of habitat change

Observations on the biology of Nothobranchius guentheri (Pfeffer) (Cyprinodontidae), an annual fish from the coastal region of East Africa

Nothobranchius guntheri is found in seasonal pools and streams in the coastal region of Tanzania. A population recurring annually in a pond near Kilosa has been studied. Growth in length was rapid and maximum mean lengths were attained within 11-12 and 7-8 weeks of hatching by males and females respectively. Males grew larger and exhibited wider variation in length than females. N. guentheri shows clear sexual dichromatism. No significant inequality in the sex ratio was found. Females with ripe eggs were found 7-8 weeks after hatching. Spawning continued throughout adult life and fecundity increased markedly with increasing length. In laboratory aquaria, aggressiveness between adult males was noted and females were actively driven on to the substratum preparatory to spawning. The diet of the fish pond consisted chiefly of aquatic and terrestrial insects, of which midge larvae and pupae were the most common. N. guentheri is exploited by man in the aquarist trade and for the biological control of mosquitoes. An extended redescription of the species is appended which includes N. melanospilus (Pfeffer) as a synonym.

紫茎泽兰精油各馏份对4种仓库害虫的杀虫活性

：用紫撬泽兰精油的20℃～150。C，150℃一200℃，20．0℃，230℃．230屯。300℃和300℃以上馏协，分剐以 稚．簦嘴，L的熏蒸浓爰楚理米象、玉采象、簿豆象牵蚕熹象，螬幕表磷凄5争犍静中，娃15。℃～200℃馏傍转荣虫活性 最高，其洗是20℃一150℃和200℃～230气馏份，而300℃以上馏份的杀虫活性靛低。进一步的生测结装表明．150屯一 200℃增傍对米象、玉来氧、绿黛象和善豆象24h的l(葡分莉为15 5li4，17．8124，培．0302和16．2671mg／Lo

Response of macrozoobenthos communities to ecological engineering remediation in a hypertrophic urban lake

The relationship of macrozoobenthos communities with some environmental variables, and their response to the ongoing restoration measures were studied in a small hypertrophic urban lake near the Yangzte River, China. Twenty taxa including 9 oligochaetes, 7 insects, 2 mollusks and two other animals were found during March 2005 to May 2006. The reappearance of some indigenous macrozoobenthos species showed that the ecological engineering remediation carried out was helpful for the recovery of the macrozoobenthos communities. Through canonical correspondence analysis (CCA), it was detected that temperature (T), conductivity (COND), Secchi depth/deep (SD/Deep), TN, total suspended solids (SS) and chemical oxygen demand (CODcr) were significant environmental factors that influenced the pattern of macrozoobenthos. Limnodrilus hoffmeisteri, Tanypus sp. and Alocinma longicornis could be used as potential bio-indicators in monitoring the development of ecological restoration.

Macrozoobenthic community of Fuxian Lake, the deepest lake of southwest China

Located in the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau in southwest China, Fuxian Lake covers an area of 211 km(2), with maximum depth of 155 m. It is known to have a unique fauna, including 14 described endemic species. In order to describe the zoobenthic community of the lake more completely, the present study was conducted from August 2002 to August 2003. Altogether 62 benthic taxa, including 22 oligochaetes, 21 molluscs and 18 insects were identified, of which the dominant taxa belonged to Potamothrix, Procladius and Paraprososthenia. The standing stocks of benthos were much higher in the littoral (824 ind/m(2) in density, 3.72 g/m(2) in biomass) than in the profundal region (23 ind/m(2) in density, 0.10 g/m(2) in biomass). Species richness was greatest in summer and standing stocks were larger in spring and summer than in other seasons. Analyses of functional feeding groups indicated that collector-gatherers and scrapers were predominant in entire lake. Stepwise multiple regression analysis demonstrated that the water depth is the most important factor affecting the distribution of macrozoobenthos. (C) 2008 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.

Biologically inspired visual odometer for navigation of a flying robot

Experimental research in biology has uncovered a number of different ways in which flying insects use cues derived from optical flow for navigational purposes, such as safe landing, obstacle avoidance and dead reckoning. In this study, we use a synthetic methodology to gain additional insights into the navigation behavior of bees. Specifically, we focus on the mechanisms of course stabilization behavior and visually mediated odometer by using a biological model of motion detector for the purpose of long-range goal-directed navigation in 3D environment. The performance tests of the proposed navigation method are conducted by using a blimp-type flying robot platform in uncontrolled indoor environments. The result shows that the proposed mechanism can be used for goal-directed navigation. Further analysis is also conducted in order to enhance the navigation performance of autonomous aerial vehicles. © 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Characterization and phylogenetic analysis of the chitinase gene from the Helicoverpa armigera single nucleocapsid nucleopolyhedrovirus

A putative chitinase gene was identified within the fragment EcoRI-K of the Helicoverpa armigera single-nucleocapsid nucleopolyhedrovirus (HearNPV, also called HaSNPIV) genome. The open reading frame (ORF) contains 1713 nucleotides (nt) and encodes a protein of 570 amino acids (aa) with a predicted molecular weight of 63.6 kDa. Transcription started at about 18 h post infection (p.i.) and the protein was first detected at 20 h p.i. The times of transcription and expression are characteristic of a late baculovirus gene. 5' and 3' RACE indicated that transcription was initiated from the adenine residue located at -246 nt upstream from the ATG start site and the poly (A) tail was added at 267 nt downstream from the stop codon. This is the first report on the molecular characterization of a chitinase from a single nucleocapsid NPV. The phylogeny of baculoviral chitinase genes were extensively examined in comparison with chitinases derived from bacteria, fungi, nematode, actinomycetes, viruses, insects and mammals. Neighbor-joining and most parsimony analyses showed that the baculoviral chitinases were clustered exclusively within gamma-proteobacteria. Our results strongly suggest that baculoviruses acquired their chitinase genes from bacteria. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Structure of macrozoobenthos of the East Dongting nature reserve, with emphasis on relationships with environmental variables

Ecological survey of macrozoobenthos assemblages was carried out at 32 sites in the East Dongting Nature Reserve, located in the northern region of the East Dongting Lake in the middle basin of the Yangtze River, China. All total 51 taxa including 18 oligochaetes, 15 mollusks, 14 insects and four other animals were recorded. Mollusks composed the dominant group and accounted for more than 70% of the total abundance. Assemblages were composed mainly of scrapers (66.7%) and collector-gatherers (nearly 20%), and to a lesser extent collector-filterers (roughly 12%), predators (ca. 7%), and shredders (ca. 6%). Two-way indicator species analysis, detrended correspondence, and canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) were employed to identify the relationships between macrozoobenthos assemblages and environmental variables. Thirty-two sites were separated into four site groups based on composition and relative abundance of benthic macroinvertebrates. CCA detected that water depth, pH, conductivity, SiO2, total nitrogen, total phosphorus, alkalinity, hardness, and Ca2+, were significant environmental factors influencing the pattern of macozoobenthos. In this minimal subset, water depth, pH, alkalinity and hardness were the most influential variables.

Dietary-morphological relationships of fishes in Liangzi Lake, China

Species in Liangzi Lake were clustered into four trophic groups: Hemiramphus kurumeus and Hemiculter bleekeri bleekeri fed predominantly on terrestrial insects; Carassius auratus auratus and Abbottina rivularis on non-animal food; Hypseleotris swinhonis, Ctenogobius giurinus, Pseudorasbora parva and Toxabramis swinhonis on cladocerans or copepods; Culterichthys erythropterus on decapod shrimps. Gut length, mouth width, mouth height, gill raker length and gill raker spacing, varied widely among species. With the exception of three species pairs (H. swinhonis, C. glurinus; C. erythropterus, H. kurumeus; T. swinhonis, H. bleekeri bleekeri), principal components analysis of morphological variables revealed over-dispersion of species. Canonical correspondence analysis of dietary and morphological data revealed five significant dietary-morphological correlations. The first three roots explained > 85% of the total variance. The first root reflected mainly the relationship of gut length to non-animal feud, with an increase in gut length associated with an increase in non-animal food. The second root was influenced strongly by the relationship of the gill raker spacing to consumption of copepods, with an increase in gill raker spacing associated positively with copepods in the diet. The third root was influenced by the relationship of mouth gape to consumption of fish and decapod shrimps, with an increase in mouth gape associated with more fish and decapod shrimps in the diet. These significant dietary-morphological relationships supported the eco-morphological hypotheses that fish morphology influence food use, and morphological variation is important in determining ecological segregation of co-existing fish species. (C) 2001 The Fisheries Society of the British Isles.

现代NMR技术在生物医学中的应用－－稀土对大鼠代谢产物的影响及磁共振造影剂性质的研究

近年来，随着脉冲傅里叶变换核磁共振波谱仪灵敏度的提高及计算机技术的进步，使NMR技术在生物领域的应用有了飞速的发展。论文应用NMR技术研究了稀土化合物（硝酸镧）对大鼠体内代谢产物的影响。对Wistar种大鼠按不同剂量给药（灌胃和腹腔注射两种方式）后的尿液和血清中的代谢物质的~1H NMR谱数据进行研究，并结合血清、尿液中生化指标的检测结果，指出稀土作用后大鼠肾脏的肾小管及肝脏线粒体均受到一定程度的损害，随稀土摄入量的增多，损害程度越严重。并提出代谢物中尿素、Suc、Kg、Cit、DMA、DMG、TMAO和氨基酸等可以作为肾脏受损伤的NMR markers，而乙醇、Lac和Tau可作为肝脏受损伤的NMR markers。实验中最小剂量为0.05 mg La(NO_3)_3/kg体重，仍有机体受损的NMR信号，说明稀土的安全剂量小于这一数值。在临床磁共振成像中，造影剂是医学诊断中的一种重要辅助试剂。本文采用NMR水弛豫分析法研究了GdDTPA及Gd(cycle-DTPA-1,2-PN)、Gd(DTPA－BIN)在水溶液和BSA溶液中的弛豫性质，为研究顺磁性金属配合物与蛋白质间相互作用情况提供了有效方法；对配体cycle-DTPA-1,2-pn、DTPA－BIN做了~1H NMR滴定研究，得出其质子解离过程和解离常数，并采用半经验量化计算方法计算了两种配体的质子化过程，得到了与~1H NMR滴定一致的结果。结果表明将NMR实验和量化计算方法结合，是考察复杂配体热力学稳定性的有效方法。

直接型生物燃料电池酶催化剂的研究

生物燃料电池作为一种真正意义上的理想绿色环保电源，由于可作为小功率长寿命的体内植入电源，已成为人们研究的热点课题之一。目前对生物燃料电池的研究主要集中在间接型生物燃料电池，已取得一定进展。但是间接型生物燃料电池具有电子传递链长、效率低等弱点，而直接型生物燃料电池有望克服以上缺点，成为更具研究潜力的新一代生物燃料电池。本文从探索简单、有效的酶固定方法入手，制备炭载辣根过氧化物酶（HRP）、漆酶（Lac）、酪氨酸酶（Tyr）作直接型生物燃料电池的阴极催化剂和炭载葡萄糖氧化酶（GoD）作阳极催化剂。用多种谱学方法表征了炭载酶催化剂的结构特征和用电化学方法研究了炭载酶的直接电化学及电催化性能。得到的主要结果和结论如下：1．以比活性高、稳定、结构清楚、有纯的商品化试剂且价廉的HRP为模型分子来探索用平衡吸附法将HRP固定到活性炭表面，用Nofion膜加固并修饰到玻碳（GC）电极上，以期制备得到炭载HRP修饰的Gc电极（HRP-C／GC）。实验结果表明，炭载HRP能进行准可逆的直接电化学反应，式电位（0）在50-700mv／s的范围内几乎不随扫速变化，平均值为C0．362±0．001）v，表观速率常数（ks）为（3．4±0．69）s-1HRP-C/GC电极对HZoZ还原有很好和稳定的电催化活性，表明固定在活性炭上的HRP能保持其生物活性，而且能稳定数月时间。因此，固定在活性炭上的HRP有可能用作直接型生物燃料电池的阴极催化剂。由上述结果可见，用平衡吸附法把HRP固载到活性炭上，并用Nofion膜加固的酶电极的制备方法具有简单且有效的特点，有可能作为直接型生物燃料电池酶催化剂的制备方法。2．用平衡吸附法将Lac和Tyr分别固定到活性炭上，发现炭载Lac和Tyr都能进行准可逆的直接电化学反应，其0，在10-150mv／s的范围内几乎不随扫速而变化，分别为-0．166和-0．139v。另外，还发现炭载Lac和Tyr对02的还原有明显的电催化作用，表明炭载Lac和Tyr仍能保持它们的生物活性，因而能作直接型生物燃料电池的阴极催化剂。3．用平衡吸附法将葡萄糖氧化酶（GOD）固定到活性炭表面，发现炭载GOD能进行准可逆的直接电化学反应，其0，在10-200mv／s的范围内几乎不随扫速而变化，平均值为C0．467±0．002）v；ks值为（1．18±0．59）5-1；且其直接电化学反应是2e＋ZH＋的过程。另外，还发现炭载GOD对p-D（＋）葡萄糖的氧化有明显的电催化作用，表明炭载GOD没有发生变性，仍保持其生物活性，所以能用作直接型生物燃料电池的阳极催化剂。

CO2浓度升高对三种树木叶片化学和舞毒蛾幼虫取食及生长的影响

探讨全球气候变化的生物学和生态学效应是当今生态学中的热点，研究大气CO2浓度升高对植物-昆虫相互作用关系的影响具有重要的理论和实践意义。本文使用开顶式气室（Open-top chamber，OTC）在野外条件下研究了CO2浓度升高对三种树木（小青杨、白桦和蒙古栎）叶片化学成分含量的影响，以及树木叶片品质变化对一种广食性森林昆虫（舞毒蛾）幼虫取食、生长发育和取食偏嗜性的影响。得出如下结果：（1）CO2浓度升高对3个受试树种叶片中的营养成分及次生代谢物含量均有显著影响，总体表现为氮含量降低，而碳氮比、非结构性碳水化合物、总酚和缩合丹宁含量增加。叶片中的化学成分含量可随时间发生显著变化，不同树种、甚至同一树种不同冠层高度的叶片对CO2浓度升高的响应强度也是不同的。叶片的干物质含量和比叶重对CO2浓度升高的响应不显著。（2）室内非选择性取食实验、室内选择性取食实验以及上树取食饲养方式下的多龄期取食实验，均发现高浓度CO2处理组内舞毒蛾幼虫的生长发育受到显著抑制。但对四龄舞毒蛾幼虫所进行的短期生物测定并未发现不同CO2浓度处理下幼虫的生长发育速率、对食物的取食率和转化率等昆虫营养指标存在显著差异。（3）叶片品质的降低是导致舞毒蛾幼虫生长发育受抑制的主要原因。但是总体上，CO2浓度升高导致的叶片品质变化并未显著影响幼虫的取食率和取食量。（4）舞毒蛾幼虫对不同叶片种类表现出清晰的取食选择性，这种选择性在其幼龄期就可表现出来。幼虫对小青杨上层叶片有最显著的偏嗜性，对蒙古栎下层叶片有最明显的拒食性。但是CO2浓度升高导致的叶片品质变化对舞毒蛾幼虫的取食选择性和寄主偏嗜行为并未产生显著影响。（5）检测出高浓度CO2处理组内舞毒蛾幼虫虫粪中含有浓度更高的植物次生代谢物质（总酚和缩合单宁），这很可能是昆虫整体生长发育受抑制的重要原因之一。

森林昆虫对长白山森林生态系统健康的影响

本文系统研究了长白山昆虫种类、多样性及对森林生态系统健康的影响，研究结果如下：1、长白山已知名的昆虫有26目、209科、1162属、1960种，其中森林害虫有11目、105科、885种，重要的森林害虫638种，隶属6目、63科。2、不同海拔森林内，昆虫种的多度、优势类群属种数不同；在阔叶红松林中最高，在亚高山岳桦林中最低。3、森林昆虫群落中植食性昆虫类群的多样性指数最大，为2.921，其次为寄生性类群1.243，捕食类群最小为1.123。天敌昆虫群落中以捕食性类群的种数占比重最大。4、植物群落物种丰富度指数与植食性昆虫丰富度指数呈负相关，而与捕食性天敌昆虫丰富度指数呈正相关；寄生性天敌的丰富度指数却与植物群落丰富度指数呈负相关。植物群落的多样性指数与捕食性、寄生性天敌的多样性指数呈正相关，而与植食性昆虫的多样性指数呈负相关，这表明昆虫的多样性影响植物群落的多样性。5、皆伐迹地的害虫多样性比择伐迹地的高，在类群上也明显不同，表明择伐形式对森林生态系统的健康维持更为有利。6、长白山共有森林鸟200余种，对自然控制森林害虫，维持生态系统健康起到了积极作用。7、森林昆虫可以作为指示物种评价森林生态系统健康，特别是稀有种和重要害虫的发生数量。