Conservation needs for the endangered New Zealand sea lion,Phocarctos hookeri

1. Understanding population size and trend is critical information in species management and conservation. To enable accurate population trend estimates, consistent robust monitoring of a species is essential, particularly for a species such as the New Zealand (NZ) sea lion, Phocarctos hookeri , which has experienced an almost continuous decline in pup production since the late 1990s.
2. This research examines the pup production estimates for all known breeding sites for this species, and using a stage‐structured matrix population model, estimates population size and trend between 1995 and 2015.
3. Overall, it is estimated that 2,316 pups were born in 2015, a decrease of 13% since 1995 and a 27% decline since the highest pup production estimate in 1998. This decline has been driven by the significant decline of 48% at the main breeding area, the Auckland Islands since 1998.
4. Using the stage‐structured matrix population model a total species population size of 11,767 sea lions (95% CrI: 10,790–12,923) was estimated. This is the lowest population size of any sea lion species. Trend data for the Auckland Islands indicated that pup and population numbers have decreased at 1.9% yr^?1 in the last 20 yr, while total species population decline is 0.6% yr^?1.
5. Estimates of population trends for this species have been hindered by inconsistent monitoring at most breeding sites. This study strengthens the growing field of research highlighting the need for consistent long‐term monitoring for the conservation management of endangered species.

     

Exploring connectivity between spawning and nursery areas of Mullus barbatus (L., 1758) in the Mediterranean through a dispersal model

Connectivity between spawning and nursery areas plays a major role in determining the spatial structure of fish populations and the boundaries of stock units. Here, the potential effects of surface current on a red mullet population in the Central Mediterranean were simulated using a physical oceanographic model. Red mullet larvae were represented as Lagrangian drifters released in known spawning areas of the Strait of Sicily (SoS), which represents one of the most productive demersal fishing‐grounds of the Mediterranean. To consider the effect of inter‐annual variability of oceanographic patterns, numerical simulations were performed for the spawning seasons from 1999 to 2012. The main goal was to explore connectivity between population subunits, in terms of spawning and nursery areas, inhabiting the northern (Sicilian‐Maltese) and southern (African) continental shelves of the SoS. The numerical simulations revealed a certain degree of connectivity between the Sicilian–Maltese and the African sides of the SoS. Connectivity is present in both directions, but it is stronger from the Sicilian–Maltese spawning areas to the African nurseries owing to the marine circulation features of the region. However, because the majority of the larvae are transported to areas unsuitable for settlement or outside the SoS, the dispersal process is characterized by a strong loss of potential settlers born in the spawning areas. These results are in agreement with the low genetic heterogeneity reported for this species in the Mediterranean Sea and support the existence of a metapopulation structure of red mullet in the SoS and the adjacent areas.     

茶树GGPS基因家族的克隆、生物信息学和表达分析

牻牛儿基牻牛儿基焦磷酸合酶(Geranylgeranyl diphosphate synthase,GGPS)是萜类合成途径的结构酶,对植物生长发育具有重要意义。本研究通过RACE和RT-PCR方法克隆得到5条潜在的茶树GGPS序列,分别命名为CsGGPS1-4和CsGGPS9,其中CsGGPS9存在3条等位基因,分别是CsGGPS9-1、CsGGPS9-2和CsGGPS9-3,在系统进化树上与其他基因分成两支。蛋白质序列分析表明,茶树GGPS家族成员都具有polyprenyl_synt结构域,不存在信号肽序列。亚细胞定位预测结果显示,CsGGPS1、CsGGPS2和CsGGPS4定位在叶绿体上,CsGGPS3和CsGGPS9定位在线粒体上。通过Swiss Model进行三维建模,结合"three-floor"模型对茶树GGPS家族成员的功能进行预测,预测结果显示,CsGGPS1、CsGGPS2和CsGGPS4是GGPS;CsGGPS3是异源二聚体形式的牻牛儿基焦磷酸合酶的小亚基;CsGGPS9的催化主产物是碳链数大于30的异戊烯基焦磷酸。q RT-PCR分析表明,CsGGPS1整体表达丰度较低,仅在一芽二叶中表达量稍高;CsGGPS2在茶树各个组织中均有表达,在花中表达量最高,且花发育过程中表达量先上升后下降;CsGGPS3在叶和幼根中的表达量高于花,花发育过程中表达平稳;CsGGPS4在茶树各个组织中表达量数值相近,在花发育过程中表达量变化趋势与CsGGPS2相同;CsGGPS9的表达量在成熟叶中显著低于幼嫩叶片。     

昆明长水国际机场鳞翅目昆虫种群初探

对2018年1~12月昆明长水国际机场东西跑道外侧草坪的鳞翅目昆虫进行了调查,结果发现:该目昆虫具有明显季节差异,种类和数量均是夏季最多,秋季其次,冬、春季相对较少。生境分析表明,鳞翅目昆虫对生境依赖有一定差异,故提出了清除草坪内开花植物或种植不开花植物,从而减少昆虫多样性,降低鸟类到草坪觅食及鸟击概率的建议。     

天山云杉林冠层结构对草本物种多样性的影响

为研究天山云杉林冠层特征与林下草本物种多样性的相互关系，以新疆天格尔森林公园天山云杉林的4个龄级的林分（幼林龄、中林龄、近熟林、成熟林）为研究对象，以冠层分析仪获得的冠层结构特征和林下光环境指数等野外实际调查数据为依据，通过计算 α 多样性指数分析4个龄级的草本物种多样性，利用多元统计方法研究冠层结构对草本多样性的影响。结果表明，各个指标在不同龄级间均有一定的差异，且随着林分的生长和更新，天山云杉林呈现林冠开度逐渐减小、叶面积指数增大、林下光辐射均减弱、物种多样性指数均减小的趋势；典型模型表明林冠开度对冠层结构起到主要作用（呈极显著正相关P<0.01），叶面积指数次之（呈极显著负相关P<0.01）；在林下辐射中，林下总辐射对林内光环境起主要作用；相比冠层结构，林下光照对草本层物种多样性的作用更大，其中林冠开度和丰富度指数之间呈显著正相关，林下总辐射、林下直射辐射和多样性指数、均匀度指数之间均呈显著正相关。     

呋喃磺草酮原药中主要杂质的结构鉴定及其合成

针对HPPD除草剂呋喃磺草酮原药生产中产生的3个质量分数均大于0.1%的主要杂质,通过高效液相色谱、核磁共振氢谱和高分辨质谱对3个杂质的结构进行了结构鉴定,发现其中2个为未见文献报道的化合物。结合生产工艺对杂质产生的路径进行了分析,并成功进行了合成。该研究对呋喃草酮原药质量控制和安全产生具有重要意义。     

松嫩草原盐碱土细菌多样性分析

以松嫩盐碱草原3种不同盐碱程度的盐碱土为材料,应用高通量测序技术,研究了3种不同程度盐碱土壤的细菌群落结构。结果表明:3种盐碱土的理化性质差异显著(P0.05),pH值、碱化度随着盐碱化程度增加而增大,而碱解氮、速效钾和有机质含量随着盐碱化程度增加而降低;3种盐碱土共获得2841个OTU,分属于39个细菌门,其中酸杆菌门、变形菌门等10个菌门是盐碱土中最主要的细菌门类;轻度盐碱土中酸杆菌门占主导地位,相对丰度为32.28%,中度盐碱土中变形菌门占主导地位,相对丰度为19.87%,重度盐碱土中放线菌门占主导地位,相对丰度为22.57%;RDA分析表明,酸杆菌门、硝化螺旋菌门、广古菌门、TM7等的相对丰度与碱解氮、有机质以及速效钾含量呈正相关,疣微菌门的相对丰度与有效磷含量呈正相关,放线菌门、浮霉菌门、拟杆菌门、芽单胞菌门、厚壁菌门的相对丰度与pH值、碱化度呈正相关。     

Effect of transferring lignocellulose-degrading bacteria from termite to rumen fluid of sheep on in vitro gas production,fermentation parameters,microbial populations and enzyme activity

The digestive tract of termite(Microcerotermes diversus) contains a variety of lignocellulose-degrading bacteria with exocellulases enzyme activity, not found in the rumen, which could potentially improve fiber degradation in the rumen. The objectives of the current study were to determine the effect of inoculation of rumen fluid(RF) with three species of bacteria isolated from termite digestive tract, Bacillus licheniformis, Ochrobactrum intermedium, and Microbacterium paludicola, on in vitro gas production(IVGP), fermentation parameters, nutrient disappearance, microbial populations, and hydrolytic enzyme activities with fibrous wheat straw(WS) and date leaf(DL) as incubation substrate. Inoculation of RF with either of three termite bacteria increased(P0.05) ammonia-N concentration compared with the control group(free of termite gut bacteria). Termite bacteria inoculation had no effect(P0.05) on gas production characteristics, dry matter, organic matter and neutral detergent fiber disappearance, pH, and concentration and composition of volatile fatty acids. Population of proteolytic bacteria and protozoa, but not cellulolytic bacteria, were increased(P0.05) when RF was inoculated with termite bacteria with both WS and DL substrates. Inoculation of RF with termite bacteria increased protease activity, while activities of carboxymethyl-cellulase, microcrystalline-cellulase, α-amylase and filter paper degrading activity remained unchanged(P0.05). Overall, the results of this study indicated that transferring lignocellulose-degrading bacteria, isolated from digestive tract of termite, to rumen liquid increased protozoa and proteolytic bacteria population and consequently increased protease activity and ammonia-N concentration in vitro, however, no effect on fermentation and fiber degradation parameters were detected. These results suggest that the termite bacteria might be rapidly lysed by the rumen microbes before beneficial effects on the rumen fermentation process could occur.     

水分胁迫对大豆生长与产量的影响及应对措施

在大豆生长发育过程中,非生物胁迫严重影响理化进程并降低产量,其中水分胁迫是所有其他非生物胁迫（高温、低温、土地瘠薄、盐碱等）损失的总和。为了提高大豆在水分胁迫中的抗逆性,通过归纳水分胁迫对大豆生长发育及产量的研究现状,总结干旱和淹水胁迫对大豆形态结构、生理指标及产量指标的影响,分析抵御水分胁迫的应对措施和有效方法。指出目前抗旱防涝存在的问题,并提出解决方案,以期降低水分胁迫对大豆生产造成的损失。