Phytophagous insect fauna of Onopordum spp. thistles in the south of Syria

Thistles from the genus Onopordum (Asteraceae) are of Mediterranean and Eurasian origin. They are very common in the south of Syria, in particular in Damascus and Al Suwayda, and are found in fallow fields, pastures, roadsides and neglected areas. In 2015–2017, several sites with large populations of Onopordum spp. were identified. Weekly surveys of some of the sites, mainly in the regions of Damascus and Al Suwayda, revealed a significant diversity of phytophagous insect species, some of which had a very high population density. A total of 29 insect species were detected, belonging to four orders and 21 families. The most abundant species were from the order Coleoptera. These were observed to be feeding on different plant parts of Onopordum spp. Purely endophagous species comprised 38% of the species observed on Onopordum spp., ectophagous species comprised 45% with 17% of species mixed ectophagous and endophagous. Species that only fed on Onopordum spp. represented 34% of all the species observed.     

Site‐specific management is crucial to managing Mikania micrantha

Increasingly, weeds have been taking on global distributions. With the proliferation of invasive weeds has come the challenge of managing these species over broad geographical regions, with diverse habitats and political jurisdictions. Here, we review the management of Mikania micrantha Kunth (Asteraceae; mile‐a‐minute) throughout its invaded range, extending through most of the Pacific islands and southern and south‐east Asia. Context matters when determining the best course of action for managing M. micrantha, as it has invaded a large variety of agricultural and natural systems. In Queensland, Australia and Florida, USA, M. micrantha has been targeted in relatively successful eradication campaigns, highlighting the importance of early detection and rapid response methods, while elsewhere in its invaded range, populations are either still increasing or showing limited signs of decline. An inter‐regional approach to research and management should incorporate successful management strategies employed throughout the invaded range including, but not limited to, chemical and cultural control practices, manual and mechanical control, classical biological control using the rust fungus Puccinia spegazzinii, plant–plant competition and integrated approaches utilising two or more control methods concurrently. Additional knowledge of M. micrantha genetics is required to determine if management approaches could be fine‐tuned for particular populations. Countries bordering the Mekong River formed a network in 2011 to co‐ordinate the management of invasive species such as M. micrantha. Expanding such a collaborative approach to other regions could further reduce populations of M. micrantha and limit its spread.     

沙棘果实中主要活性成分质量分布

沙棘作为一种抗逆性、适应性、萌蘖性较强的植物资源，被广泛应用于黄土丘陵地区荒山绿化、土壤改良、水土保持和砒砂岩治理。沙棘不仅具有良好的生态价值，其果实中富含多种生物活性物质。本文凝练了沙棘果实中活性化合物的构成、分布及活性特征，并对沙棘果实活性物质的研究进行展望。基于相关文献，针对黄酮、花青素、酚酸、有机酸、肌醇、维生素、类胡萝卜素、不饱和脂肪酸、甾醇等广泛存在于沙棘果实中的化学成分进行总结分析，提供沙棘果实中上述活性物质分布情况的综合信息。研究表明，针对沙棘果实中活性物质的构成、分布和活性特征的研究较为丰富，但在部分领域仍缺乏研究，如栽培技术条件对活性物质的影响，活性物质与沙棘果实加工中异味的关联性等。本文为沙棘果实在食品、药品及保健品行业中的综合利用提供了理论支撑，为促进沙棘资源在经济中的全面发展提供参考。      

甘露糖修饰的壳聚糖聚乳酸-羟基乙酸共聚物纳米微球作为口蹄疫病毒核酸疫苗递送载体的特性评价

旨在对制备的甘露糖修饰的壳聚糖聚乳酸-羟基乙酸共聚物[poly （D，L-lactide-co-glycolide），PLGA]纳米微球作为口蹄疫病毒（foot-and-mouth disease virus，FMDV）核酸疫苗递送载体进行评价。采用西佛碱反应和元素分析制备具有一定取代度的甘露糖修饰的壳聚糖衍生物（mannose modified chitosan，MCS），然后，经双重乳化挥发法制备得到甘露糖修饰的壳聚糖PLGA纳米微球（MCS-PLGA-NPs）。采用纳米粒径仪检测MCS-PLGA-NPs粒径分布和表面电势（zeta）、扫描电镜考察其形态、琼脂糖凝胶电泳观察其对质粒的吸附和吸附质粒后抵抗核酸酶降解能力、CCK-8法检测MCS-PLGA-NPs的细胞毒性、激光共聚焦观察巨噬细胞对MCS-PLGA-NPs-质粒DNA复合物的摄取、荧光显微镜和Western blot验证MCS-PLGA-NPs加载质粒DNA在细胞中的表达。元素分析结果表明，成功制备了取代度为5%~10%的MCS。纳米粒径测定和扫描电镜结果表明，MCS-PLGA-NPs的zeta为正值、粒径分布均匀且形态规则呈球形。琼脂糖凝胶电泳结果显示，MCS-PLGA-NPs吸附质粒的能力随着其质量的增加而增强并且可以在一定程度上抵抗核酸酶降解质粒DNA。在细胞毒性试验中，不同浓度的MCS-PLGA-NPs与RAW264.7细胞共孵育24 h后，细胞存活率仍在85%以上。在细胞摄取试验中，用激光共聚焦显微镜可以明显观察到质粒DNA结合到纳米微球表面被RAW264.7细胞摄取。荧光显微镜和Western blot试验证明MCS-PLGA-NPs加载质粒DNA可以在细胞中进行表达。综上表明，本研究成功制备了MCS以及具有递送核酸疫苗能力的MCS-PLGA-NPs，为FMDV核酸疫苗的递送研究提供了新的方向和见解，也为该递送载体携带特定抗原靶向抗原递呈细胞表面甘露糖受体以及应用于动物免疫的研究奠定基础。     

Waterlogging tolerance of pea at germination

Peas (Pisum sativum L.) are exposed to waterlogging at germination when grown as relay in rice‐based cropping. Ninety‐one germplasm accessions were evaluated in relay (sown in waterlogged soil), and subsequently 10 diverse genotypes compared under relay and sole cropping (conventional tillage sowing) over two seasons in Bangladesh. Contrasting genotypes, BM‐3, NL‐2 and Kaspa, were further evaluated in three waterlogging treatments (drained control, 4 and 8 days waterlogging) in the glasshouse. Conspicuous variation in waterlogging tolerance at germination was observed in the field and confirmed under controlled conditions. In relay sowing in 2011, emergence of a few genotypes was affected by waterlogging. In 2012, emergence in relay was severely affected (12 plants/m²) compared to sole sowing (37 plants/m²). Among genotypes BM‐3 had 6 plants/m² emerge, which all subsequently died, in contrast to NL‐2 in which emergence was 13 plants/m² with all plants surviving. In the glasshouse, there was 14% emergence in BM‐3, 40% in NL‐2 and 55% in Kaspa after 8 days of waterlogging. Such marked differences in waterlogging tolerance at germination in the model pea are the first reported and illustrate prospects for selection to improve adaptation to relay sowing in South Asia.     

Migration pathways,speed and mortality of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) smolts in a Scottish river and the near‐shore coastal marine environment

Long‐distance migration of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) is known to result in high levels of mortality. For a species experiencing global population decline, it is thus vital to better understand migration behaviour, both in the river and marine stages. Atlantic salmon smolts (n = 50) were tracked using acoustic telemetry in the River Deveron, Scotland, and adjacent coastal area. Higher rates of mortality were observed in the river (0.77% per km) than the early marine stage of migration (0.0% per km). Mortality likely resulted from predation. Higher swim speeds were recorded in the early marine stage compared with the river (marine = 7.37 ± 28.20 km/day; river = 5.03 ± 1.73 km/day [mean ± SD]), a potential predator avoidance behaviour. The majority of smolts leaving the river did so in darkness and on a flooding tide. Overall river and marine migration success were linked to nights of lower lunar brightness. Marine migration speed decreased with increasing environmental noise levels, a finding with implications for fisheries management. The migration pathway in the early marine environment did not follow obvious geographical features, such as the coastline. Thus, we suggest that early marine environment pathways are more influenced by complex water currents. These findings highlight factors that influence smolt migration survival and behaviour, areas on which future research should focus.     

Stable isotopes and gut contents indicate differential resource use by coexisting asp (Leuciscus aspius) and pikeperch (Sander lucioperca)

Differential use of habitat and prey resources is an important mechanism that may allow coexistence of sympatric species. Unlike interactions between smaller cyprinid and percid fishes, the resource use by coexisting predatory asp (Leuciscus aspius) and pikeperch (Sander lucioperca) is relatively unknown. Here, gut content and stable isotope analyses were used to study ontogenetic dietary shifts and interspecific trophic niche overlap between asp and pikeperch coexisting in two reservoirs. The hypothesis that both species show an ontogenetic dietary shift from small invertebrates to large fish prey, but at the same time use different prey resources to reduce potential competitive interactions, was validated. The isotopic niches of the two predators showed no, or only a moderate, degree of overlap (0%–65%). The ontogenetic changes in the degree of interspecific isotopic niche overlap were different in the two reservoirs, suggesting that trophic segregation can be dynamic and variable among systems. Gut contents revealed that small (<100 mm standard length) asp consumed mostly terrestrial invertebrates and emerged aquatic insects, whereas small pikeperch foraged on zooplankton, larval and pupal stages of aquatic insects and fish. Larger individuals (>100 mm) of both species were predominantly piscivorous, with asp consuming more cyprinid prey and pikeperch more percid prey. Coexisting asp and pikeperch populations are able to utilise different prey resources, thereby reducing potential negative competitive interactions.