Comparative ecologies of domestic and naturalised rainbow trout in northern Lake Huron

Northern Lake Huron (Ontario, Canada) supports the largest concentration of freshwater salmonid cage culture farms in Canada and receives inputs of domestic‐strain rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) through escapement. We assessed the potential effects of these domestic fish on the naturalised rainbow trout of this ecosystem by comparing their respective ecologies. Mature adults were sampled from spawning tributaries, primarily in spring, and to a lesser extent in fall. Fish of domestic origin comprised ~80% of rainbow trout sampled from sites near cage culture facilities but <20% of rainbow trout sampled from more distant sites. Domestic adults in spawning condition (gametes free‐flowing) were present in the spawning tributaries in both spring and fall sampling seasons, whereas naturalised fish in spawning condition were only observed in the spring. Domestic adults were younger and smaller (in length), appeared to have shorter lifespan and had a higher male to female ratio compared with their naturalised counterparts. Growth rates (change in length with age) of naturalised and domestic females in the wild were similar, but domestic males grew more slowly than naturalised males. Domestic females also produced smaller eggs than naturalised females. Food web positions (inferred from δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N) of domestic and naturalised fish were very similar but varied more strongly with body size in the former. Domestic‐strain rainbow trout of cage culture origin can survive, grow and attempt to spawn in northern Lake Huron and have the potential to compete for food, mates and spawning habitat with naturalised rainbow trout.     

广东省主要红树林植物DNA条形码评价

为评估DNA条形码对鉴定红树林植物的通用性和有效性,在广东红树林分布区域共计采集红树林植物16科22属23种,共144个样品,并进行DNA条形码测序。结果表明:选择的rbcL、matK和trnH-psbA 3个DNA片段的PCR扩增成功率分别为100%、80.29%±8.49%、99.38%±1.25%。测序成果率最高为rbcL 100%,trnH-psbA次之94.57%±5.06%,matK最低75.04%±6.26%。表明rbcL和trnH-psbA片段在红树林群落中都具有较好的通用性。应用BLAST和NJ Tree两种方法计算红树植物的物种识别率。BLAST结果表明,单片段中trnH-psbA的物种识别率最高,为84.48%±12.09%,rbcL次之,matK最低。NJ Tree分析显示单片段中rbcL的物种识别率最高,为66.65%±17.35%;trnH-psbA片段次之,matK片段最低。两张分析方法都显示多个片段组合使用时,rbcL或trnH-psbA是提高物种平均识别率的主要片段。利用单片段rbcL即可获得平均节点支持率最高的红树植物系统发育树,且能准确区分不同树种。trnH-psbA片段可以识别rbcL片段不能识别的物种,可以作为补充片段。综合比较,推荐rbcL、trnH-psbA作为红树林植物DNA条形码片段。     

2013年国外家兔遗传育种研究进展

我国是养兔大国，但家兔遗传育种基础研究薄弱。文章对2013年国外家兔遗传育种最新研究进展进行综述，以期为国内家兔育种者提供参考。     

Screening for reproductive biomarkers in Bactrian camel via iTRAQ analysis of proteomes

Bactrian camel is an ancient and precious species of livestock; that is, unique resources exist in the desert and have important economic and scientific value. In recent years, the number of Bactrian camels has declined sharply. Due to its long reproductive cycle and seasonal oestrus, the mechanism of oestrus is unknown. To identify candidate biomarkers of reproduction, we performed a comprehensive proteomic analysis of serum from Bactrian camel in oestrus and non-oestrus, using isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation (iTRAQ) coupled with tandem mass spectrometry. We identified 359 proteins, of which 32 were differentially expressed: 11 were up-regulated and 21 were down-regulated in samples from camels in oestrus. We validated the differential expression of a subset of these proteins using qPCR and Western blot. Gene ontology annotation identified that the differentially expressed proteins function in cellular processes, metabolic processes and immune system processes. Notably, five of the differentially expressed proteins, PCGF5, histone H1.2, RBP4, FOLR1 and ANTXR2, are involved in reproductive regulatory processes in other animals. KEGG enrichment analysis demonstrated significant enrichment in several cardiac-related pathways, such as ‘dilated cardiomyopathy’, ‘hypertrophic cardiomyopathy’, ‘cardiac muscle contraction’ and ‘adrenergic signalling in cardiomyopathy’. Our results suggest that candidate biomarker (PCGF5, histone H1.2, RBP4, FOLR1 and ANTXR2) discovery can aid in understanding reproduction in Bactrian camels. We conclude that the profiling of serum proteomes, followed by the measurement of selected proteins using more targeted methods, offers a promising approach for studying mechanisms of oestrus.     

Collembola in ecotoxicology—Any news or just boring routine?

Despite the uncontested significance of soils for human nutrition and drinking water quality, the majority of ecotoxicological testing is confined to aquatic test systems. Among the standardised tests for soils, the reproduction test with the springtail Folsomia candida is among the most widely used ones. First steps towards its standardisation were undertaken in the late 1980s. Here we review major advances that have been made since then, with respect to mechanistic, pragmatic and ecological aspects. Specifically we address the ecological relevance of any modifications of the standardised tests. We introduce a miniaturised version of the reproduction test which allows reducing the amount of soil per test unit to one third and the number of synchronised individuals to 40% as compared to the standard test. In addition, we developed an assay using Collembola eggs instead of synchronised adults. First results of a three-species test indicate that the presence of other species may affect choice behaviour. We point out a potential biased view of existing ecotoxicological data with Collembola due to the fact that most results refer to metal contamination. Finally, recommendations for future research are given, with special reference to avoidance and microcosm tests involving Collembola.     

Lactation-related mammary gland pathologies—A neglected emergency in the bitch

Mastitis is a common reproductive disorder in bitches, reaching a prevalence of 0.71%. Mastitis has a wide range of forms, from asymptomatic to severe gangrenous mastitis that can lead to septic shock and death of the bitch and nurslings. However, most of the time it is overlooked, undiagnosed or mistreated. The present systematic review was performed to revise and summarize the existing knowledge related to this disorder, including diagnosis, treatment and prevention.     

羊高频高效繁育调控技术应用现状和操作要点

阐述了羊高频高效繁育调控技术的国内外研究应用现状,并结合生产实践总结出羊高频高校繁育调控技术操作程序及要点,其内容包括：羊的同期发情、多胎技术、精液解冻及镜检、输精前处理、腹腔镜观察卵巢状况、腹腔镜子宫内输精、早期妊娠诊断、羔羊代乳粉、羔羊早期断奶等技术和方法。     

Soil fauna across Central European sandstone ravines with temperature inversion: From cool and shady to dry and hot places

Sandstone massifs with their deep ravines or gorges offer the instructive opportunity to study the response of organisms to steep environmental gradients. In 2008–2010, many groups of soil fauna were studied along transects across three ravines in the Bohemian Switzerland National Park (north-western Czech Republic), a part of the Elbe Sandstone Massif. Each transect included five sampling positions: two opposite edges, two opposite mid-slope positions, and the ravine bottom. The ravines had a specific microclimate characterized by temperature inversion. In general, the cooler and more humid ravine bottoms had also less acid soil with lower carbon content but enriched by litter of deciduous trees and herbs. The other transect positions were characterized by spruce (mid-slopes) and pine (edges) stands with mor humus, exposed to drought in the upper parts. The soil animal communities (identified to species level) differed substantially in dependence on their position along the transects. Ravine bottoms hosted a diverse soil fauna, including a rich macrofauna. The thick duff layer of acid soils on the slopes and edges hosted a poorer fauna but supported high densities of important decomposers such as enchytraeids, oribatid mites and microbivorous nematodes. In general, these were higher on the slopes, presumably due to the drought exposure of the edges. Vertical position in the ravine and soil pH were the most important factors explaining community composition. This confirmed that the area's high geomorphological diversity, leading to steep microclimatic gradients and heterogenous soil conditions, is a major cause of its high biodiversity. A shift in community structure in the lower parts of the ravines, observed after the first half of the study period, was possibly caused by summer flash floods. An increased frequency and severity of dry spells and flash floods due to heavy rains, predicted by relevant climate warming scenarios, will probably have an detrimental effect on the ravines'soil fauna.     

封面封底

线粒体是一种广泛存在于真核细胞并为机体提供能量的细胞器,其自噬对于清除功能障碍的线粒体,维持线粒体的动态平衡和细胞稳态具有重要意义。近年来,线粒体自噬对雌性动物生殖的影响愈发受到关注。本文在线粒体自噬生理功能基础上,从雌性动物主要生殖器官与组织、卵母细胞、颗粒细胞及胚胎等方面综述了线粒体自噬对雌性动物生殖功能的影响。     

鸡繁殖性能近交衰退相关CpG岛差异甲基化基因的筛选

鸡繁殖性能近交衰退是地方鸡遗传资源活体保种过程中面临的重要问题之一,本研究旨在探讨全基因组CpG岛（CpG island,CGI）区DNA甲基化在鸡繁殖性能近交衰退中的作用。分别从狼山鸡高近交组和低近交组中各选取健康母鸡3只,即试验分2个组,每组3个重复,然后采用全基因组重亚硫酸盐测序（WGBS）技术,检测分析两组个体性腺轴组织（包括卵巢和下丘脑）全基因组DNA甲基化差异,筛选差异甲基化区域（DMRs）,并对CpG岛区差异甲基化基因进行功能注释和富集分析。结果表明,狼山鸡高近交组和低近交组比较,其卵巢和下丘脑基因组整体甲基化水平均不存在显著差异（P>0.05）;高、低近交组间差异甲基化区域检测发现,下丘脑和卵巢中分别检测到5 948和4 593个差异甲基化区域,其中1 798和995个差异甲基化区域位于基因组CpG岛区,分别注释到1 020和552个基因;下丘脑中,这些CpG岛区差异甲基化基因显著富集在信号转导、神经系统发育、生殖系统发育和卵母细胞成熟调控等繁殖相关的GO条目,以及转化生长因子β信号通路、乙型肝炎、脂肪酸代谢、胰岛素信号通路等19条KEGG信号通路（P<0.05）;卵巢中,CpG岛区差异甲基化基因显著富集于12条信号通路（P<0.05）,包括慢性骨髓白血病、流感A、精氨酸和脯氨酸代谢、粘着连接等,一些与卵子发育和性激素分泌相关的信号通路也被富集到,如黄体酮介导的卵母细胞成熟、卵母细胞减数分裂、GnRH信号通路、雌激素信号通路等,其中包含CDC27、ADCY8、AKT3等10个差异甲基化基因。因此,本研究在狼山鸡高、低近交组间检测到了大量差异甲基化区域,并发现大量差异甲基化基因与繁殖性状相关,推测这些基因CpG岛区DNA甲基化可能在狼山鸡繁殖性能近交衰退调控中发挥重要作用,研究结果为进一步深入探索鸡繁殖性能近交衰退调控机制奠定了基础,为物种资源保护和家禽育种工作提供了理论参考依据。