Allochrony as a potential driver for reproductive isolation in adaptive radiations of European whitefish ecomorphs

In northern Fennoscandian lakes, monophylogenetic lineages of postglacial fishes are radiating into several adaptive forms, but the speciation process is still at an incipient stage. The speciation process has received increased attention over the years, but the underlying mechanisms and drivers are still debated and poorly understood. European whitefish (Coregonus lavaretus [L.]) is the most abundant fish species in these lakes and has evolved into several ecomorphs adapted to different trophic niches and habitats. Genetic divergence has been observed among these ecomorphs, but the mechanism(s) responsible for the ongoing build-up of reproductive isolation has still to be revealed. As these systems are young in evolutionary time (<10 kyr), prezygotic and postzygotic extrinsic isolation mechanisms are thought to be more likely to contribute to the reproductive isolation than intrinsic isolation mechanisms. We determined the gonadosomatic index (GSI) of three ecomorphs in two replicated lake systems and used GSI as a proxy to investigate the prezygotic isolation mechanism, allochrony, as a driving factor of divergence in this adaptive radiation of whitefish. We found that the three ecomorphs differed in GSI values within and between lakes, suggesting different spawning times of the ecomorphs. We also show that males of one ecomorph had equal onset of maturity as another ecomorph, giving novel insights into the ongoing gene flow observed between ecomorphs. The result supports allochrony as a driver for the divergence process of whitefish ecomorphs, but more evidence is still needed to rule out that the three ecomorphs make use of different spawning grounds.     

Heme oxygenase-1 protects renal function in septic rats via influencing expression of thrombomodulin

AIM: To investigate the protective effect of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) on the kidney of septic rats and the influence of HO-1 on the expression of thrombomodulin (TM) in the kidney. METHODS: Sepsis in rats was developed with cecal ligation and puncture (CLP). The septic rats were randomly divided into sham group, CLP group, CLP+HO-1 inducer group and CLP+HO-1 inhibitor group (n=18). The plasma levels of creatinine (Cr), cystatin-C (Cys-C), carboxyhemoglobin (COHb), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and TM, and the changes of prothrombin time (PT) and activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) in each group were measured. Histopathological examination was performed in the kidney. The expression of TM in the kidney tissue was detected by Western blot. RESULTS: Compared with sham group, significantly elevated plasma levels of Cr, Cys-C, TNF-α, IL-1β and TM (P<0.05), shortened PT and APTT (P<0.05), significantly increased microthrombus formation, and lowered TM expression in the kidney (P<0.05) of CLP group were observed. The administration of hemin lowered the plasma levels of Cr, Cys-C, TNF-α, IL-1β and TM (P<0.05), prolonged PT and APTT (P<0.05), attenuated microthrombus formation, and up-regulated the expression of TM in the kidney (P<0.05). In contrast, ZnPP had the opposite effects. CONCLUSION: HO-1 increases the expression of TM in the kidney and exerts anticoagulatory and antiinflammatory effects, thereby improving renal function in the septic rats.     

Quantifying uncertainty in the wild‐caught fisheries goal of the Ocean Health Index

Sustainability indices are proliferating, both to help synthesize scientific understanding and inform policy. However, it remains poorly understood how such indices are affected by underlying assumptions of the data and modelling approaches used to compute indicator values. Here, we focus on one such indicator, the fisheries goal within the Ocean Health Index (OHI), which evaluates the sustainable provision of food from wild fisheries. We quantify uncertainty in the fisheries goal status arising from the (a) approach for estimating missing data (i.e., fish stocks with no status) and (b) reliance on a data‐limited method (catch‐MSY) to estimate stock status (i.e., B/B_MSY). We also compare several other models to estimate B/B_MSY, including an ensemble approach, to determine whether alternative models might reduce uncertainty and bias. We find that the current OHI fisheries goal model results in overly optimistic fisheries goal statuses. Uncertainty and bias can be reduced by (a) using a mean (vs. median) gap‐filling approach to estimate missing stock scores and (b) estimating fisheries status using the central tendency from a simulated distribution of status scores generated by a bootstrap approach that incorporates error in B/B_MSY. This multitiered approach to measure and describe uncertainty improves the transparency and interpretation of the indicator and allows us to better understand uncertainty around our OHI fisheries model and outputs for country‐level interpretation and use.     

The neglected role of religion in fisheries management

Religion and spirituality have long played important roles in fishery systems around the world, and yet are often neglected in modern fisheries management and research. We review current literature and analyse the major small‐scale fishery on Lake Tanganyika, Africa, to highlight how religion may mediate fishing behaviours. Our study surveyed 154 fishers across 11 landing sites in Tanzania, followed by 15 semi‐structured interviews with key informants including fishery officers and local religious leaders. We identified key connections between religious beliefs/practices and fisher perceptions, behaviour and compliance with harvest restrictions and regulations. We demonstrate that better understanding and accounting for religious dimensions is critical for engaging with fishery stakeholders more effectively and managing global fisheries more sustainably.     

Hazards of managing disparate species as a pooled complex: A general problem illustrated by two contrasting examples from Hawaii

Surprisingly little published information exists on the pros and cons of managing extracted resources that are pooled as compound taxa such as species complexes. Current fisheries management includes many species complexes; in Hawaii, this includes two taxa of species pooled at subfamily and higher levels. These include seven species of parrotfishes (Scarinae, Labridae) and a seven‐species ‘bottomfish’ complex (the ‘Deep‐7’: comprising six species of snappers [Etelinae, Lutjanidae] and a single species of grouper [Epinephelidae]). Recent research on key vital rates (growth, reproduction) for major species in both taxa indicates that these complexes consist of species with disparate life histories. Species in the parrotfish taxon exhibit fast to very fast growth and short to moderate longevities, whilst Deep‐7 bottomfishes exhibit moderate to very slow growth and long to very long lifespans. These data clearly indicate that, although pooling species is a tempting default option in data‐poor situations, it is at best a necessary evil to be avoided when sufficient data on the demographics of component species become available. Pooling species is especially problematic when the ecosystem effects of extracting functionally dominant species should be an important management consideration in addition to that of species demographics. Assessments that recognize and quantify the ecosystem importance of habitat engineers and other ecological dominants could substantively improve management of species complexes. Ultimately, complexes of resource species need to be evaluated and managed based on many, sometimes conflicting and sometimes reinforcing, but always careful considerations such as those contrasted herein between the parrotfishes and bottomfishes of Hawaii.     

崇明岛草鱼池塘沉积物中多环芳烃的分布状况及生态风险

为探究崇明岛池塘养殖持久性污染状况，采用气相色谱-质谱联用法对崇明岛不同区域草鱼池塘沉积物中16种优先控制多环芳烃(PAHs)的含量及分布情况进行了研究，同时运用主成分分析法、特征比值法和质量标准法等对草鱼池塘中PAHs的来源及生态风险进行了分析。结果显示，崇明岛草鱼池塘养殖沉积物中的PAHs总含量为未检出(ND)~1 654.09 μg/kg，平均含量为95.13 μg/kg，其中4~5环PAHs对总浓度的贡献率最高；崇明岛不同区域草鱼池塘沉积物中的PAHs含量差异较大，表现为岛中部池塘含量低，沿岛四周池塘含量较高，尤其是岛西部沿岸区池塘含量最高且种类多；分析发现，崇明岛草鱼养殖池塘中的PAHs主要来源于岛内生物燃烧和石油燃烧，总体处于中等偏下污染水平，生态风险较低，但在西北部池塘存在潜在生态风险，应予以重视。     

革兰阴性菌外膜囊泡的研究进展

外膜囊泡(outer membrane vesicles,OMVs)是革兰阴性(G^-)菌从细胞膜上脱落下来的囊泡,携带有细菌的大量组分,如外膜蛋白、脂多糖、脱氧核糖核酸等。由于OMVs无活性、不能复制且具有免疫原性,所以被认为是最具潜力的亚单位疫苗,同时OMVs对细菌本身具有多种作用,故OMVs成为研究的热点。本文从G^-菌OMVs的组成成分、形成机制、生物学功能、提取纯化方法及其开发应用前景5个方面综述其研究现状,为G^-菌的致病机制研究、OMVs的疫苗开发应用提供技术指导。     

探索以"党建+"推动"美丽乡村"建设模式——基于海南省大石岭村的调研

经过近几年的发展，大石岭村在以“党建+”为抓手的“美丽乡村”活动建设实践中取得了一 定成就:发展规模逐渐扩大，内容不断丰富，并结合乡村特色产业与“二十三年红旗不倒”的红色文化 推动乡村发展。然而，在实践中，仍存在诸多问题，如红色资源利用不到位，市场秩序不健全，旅游业 发展不完善，党建工作执行不彻底等等。为解决以上问题，必须研究相关对策，以确保大石岭村“美丽 乡村”建设的长远利益。     

关于当前中国农村生态文明建设的思考

生态文明建设是全面建成小康社会的重要内容，当前生态文明建设日益推进，环境保护受到 越来越多的重视，但农村生态文明建设形势依然严峻，我国农村生态文明建设正处于关键时期。本文 分析了当前中国农村生态文明建设存在的问题，在此基础上找到有效解决路径，进而推进农村生态文 明建设。     

试论营林措施对森林病虫害防治的作用

采取营林措施开展病虫害防治工作，是从根本上防治病虫害的一种有效的方法和途径。本 文以病虫害防治中的营林措施为研究课题，通过探讨营林造林中的病虫害防治原则和防治措施以及 防治方法，探索该措施对于森林病虫害防治的作用和影响，旨在为促使和推动森林病虫害防治工作的 有效开展提供有益借鉴和参考帮助。