Macroalgal meadow habitats support fish and fisheries in diverse tropical seascapes

Canopy‐forming macroalgae can construct extensive meadow habitats in tropical seascapes occupied by fishes that span a diversity of taxa, life‐history stages and ecological roles. Our synthesis assessed whether these tropical macroalgal habitats have unique fish assemblages, provide fish nurseries and support local fisheries. We also applied a meta‐analysis of independent surveys across 23 tropical reef locations in 11 countries to examine how macroalgal canopy condition is related to the abundance of macroalgal‐associated fishes. Over 627 fish species were documented in tropical macroalgal meadows, with 218 of these taxa exhibiting higher local abundance within this habitat (cf. nearby coral reef) during at least one life‐history stage. Major overlap (40%–43%) in local fish species richness among macroalgal and seagrass or coral reef habitats suggest macroalgal meadows may provide an important habitat refuge. Moreover, the prominence of juvenile fishes suggests macroalgal meadows facilitate the triphasic life cycle of many fishes occupying diverse tropical seascapes. Correlations between macroalgal canopy structure and juvenile abundance suggests macroalgal habitat condition can influence levels of replenishment in tropical fish populations, including the majority of macroalgal‐associated fishes that are targeted by commercial, subsistence or recreational fisheries. While many macroalgal‐associated fishery species are of minor commercial value, their local importance for food and livelihood security can be substantial (e.g. up to 60% of landings in Kenyan reef fisheries). Given that macroalgal canopy condition can vary substantially with sea temperature, there is a high likelihood that climate change will impact macroalgal‐associated fish and fisheries.     

Does streptobacillary arthritis reduce house mouse population density,activity and damage to sorghum crops?

An experiment to examine the effect of streptobacillary arthritis on mouse populations was conducted in maturing sorghum crops in mouse-proofed pens. There were three treatment pens and three control pens in which mice with and without clinical signs of streptobacillary arthritis were introduced, respectively. A constant mouse density (533 mice ha⁻¹) was introduced to the pens by releasing 12 mice in each pen. The sex ratio of introduced mice was also constant by releasing in each pen nine males and three females. Mean track index was lower in treatment pens than in control pens, indicating that streptobacillary arthritis reduced the activity of mice. However, this was not translated into a reduction in other population responses. Mean mouse density at harvest, percentage of female pregnant at harvest, yield loss caused by mice and a feeding index (oil card index) did not differ significantly between treatment and control groups. A plausible explanation for these findings was that mice with the clinical signs might be less active but were able to consume as much grains as mice without the clinical signs because food was in abundant supply.     

Policosanol has no antioxidant activity in human low-density lipoprotein but increases excretion of bile acids in hamsters

Policosanol is a group of long chain primary alcohols and has been shown to reduce blood cholesterol levels and to inhibit the oxidation of low-density lipoprotein (LDL). The present study examined (i) the effect of policosanol supplementation in the diet on the fecal excretion of neutral and acidic sterols in hamsters and (ii) the antioxidant activity of policosanol in human LDL. Golden Syrian hamsters were divided into four groups (n = 12/each) fed one of the four diets containing 0 (control), 0.38, 0.75, and 1.50 g kg(-1) policosanol for 6 weeks. It was found that hamsters given 0.38-1.5 g kg(-1) diets had a serum total cholesterol level lowered by 15-25% and had a high-density lipoprotein cholesterol elevated by 7-16.8%. It was found that policosanol increased the excretion of acidic sterols by 25-73%. Contrary to that in previous reports, policosanol had no apparent anti-LDL oxidation activity when 1-tetracosanol, 1-hexacosanol, and 1-octacosanol were incubated in human LDL. Policosanol also possessed no scavenging activity on the free radical2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl. These data provide evidence that in addition to the effect of HMG-CoA reductase, the cholesterol-lowering activity of policosanol is partially mediated by its inhibition on the absorption of bile acids, but these data disprove the claim that policosanol is an antioxidant.     

Characterization of antioxidants present in bitter tea (Ligustrum pedunculare)

The present study examined the antioxidants present in bitter tea (Ligustrum pedunculare). It was found that the crude glycoside fraction strongly protected human low-density lipoprotein (LDL) from oxidation. Further column chromatography led to purification of eight phenylethanoid or monoterpene glycosides: lipedoside A-I, lipedoside A-II, lipedoside B-I, lipedoside B-III, lipedoside B-V, lipedoside B-VI, osmanthuside B, and anatolioside. It was found that lipedoside A-I, lipedoside A-II, lipedoside B-V, and lipedoside B-VI were protective, whereas the other four compounds did not protect human LDL from Cu(2+)-medicated oxidation. Lipedoside A-I, lipedoside A-II, lipedoside B-V, and lipedoside B-VI also had a scavenging effect on 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl free radical (DPPH), comparable to that of alpha-tocopherol. The inhibitory effect of these four phenylethanoid or monoterpene glycosides on oxidation of human LDL and alpha-tocopherol was dose-dependent at concentrations of 5-40 microM. The present results demonstrate that bitter tea as a beverage contains effective antioxidants that may have benefits similar to those of green tea in terms of antioxidant activity.     

用水稻基因芯片筛选小麦耐旱相关基因

为了解小麦在干旱逆境条件下的基因转录规律,采用PEG6000对耐旱小麦(Triticum aestivum)品种旱选10号进行拟旱处理,分别提取0、1、6和24h植株的总RNA,经反转录荧光标记制备cDNA探针,并将其与含有6万Oligo的水稻全基因组芯片进行杂交,扫描采集数据后并进行结果分析。在1、6和24h样品中分别检测到差异表达基因166、207和328个,随着处理时间的延长,差异表达基因数目增加。对差异基因进行功能分类,能量代谢途径相关基因在1、6和24h差异表达基因总数中所占比例分别为4.2%、8.2%和16.8%,其中大部分为光合作用相关基因,并且主要表现为上调,但Psbr和Rubisco编码基因的转录水平为下调,暗示它们在耐旱反应中发挥着一定作用。     

Technical efficiency of carp production in India: a stochastic frontier production function analysis

This paper aims to examine the levels and determinants of technical efficiency in carp pond culture in India. The stochastic production frontier technique involving the model for technical inefficiency effects is applied separately to samples of semi‐intensive/intensive and extensive carp producers interviewed during 1994–95. The results showed significant technical inefficiencies in carp production in India, especially among extensive farms. The mean technical efficiencies for semi‐intensive/intensive and extensive sample farms were estimated to be 0.805 and 0.658 respectively. By operating at full technical efficiency levels, the semi‐intensive/intensive farms could, on average, increase their production from about 3.4 Mt ha^?1 to 4.1 Mt ha^?1. Likewise, the extensive farms could increase their production from 1.3 Mt ha^?1 to 1.9 Mt ha^?1. Much of these efficiency gains would come from improvement in the adoption of recommended fish, water and feed management and monitoring practices. Besides expanding production area, the results indicated several other possibilities for increasing carp production in India by increasing yields per hectare, such as: (1) increased intensification of carp culture (i.e. moving from extensive to semi‐intensive or intensive systems); (2) improvement in technical efficiency at the farm level; and (3) technological progress. However, the realization of these potentials will depend on continuous efforts by the government in ensuring an adequate supply of inputs, technology transfer and development and adequate provision of research, extension and credit services in aquaculture.     

Rice Germin-Like Proteins: Allelic Diversity and Relationships to Early Stress Responses

Germin-like protein (GLP) markers were associated with quantitative trait loci (QTL) for resistance to the rice blast pathogen, Magnaporthe oryzae in multiple rice (Oryza sativa) mapping populations. Twelve paralogous OsGLP gene family members are located within the physical QTL region on chromosome 8, and gene silencing studies suggest that they contribute collectively to the resistance phenotype. We compared sequence and expression profiles of OsGLP alleles in two resistant and two susceptible parental rice lines to find functional polymorphisms that correlated with the resistant phenotype. Based on coding and promoter sequences, the genes belong to two germin subfamily groups (GER3 and GER4). OsGLP members from both subfamilies were constitutively expressed and developmentally regulated in all cultivars. Transient induction above constitutive levels was observed for some OsGLPs, especially GER4 subfamily members, at early time points after M. oryzae infection and mechanical wounding. Varying 5′ regulatory regions and differential expression of some family members between resistant and susceptible cultivars corresponded with differential hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) accumulation after the same stimuli. OsGLP of both GER subfamilies localized to the plant cell wall. The protein location and early gene induction suggest that OsGLPs protect rice leaves at early stages of infection before fungal penetration and subsequent ingress. Our data suggest that regulation of OsGLP genes defines resistant versus susceptible phenotypes.     

Does resource complementarity or prevention of lodging contribute to the increased productivity of rice varietal mixtures in Yunnan,China?

We conducted an experiment in Gejiu, Yunnan Province of China during the wet season of 2002 to examine the importance of resource complementarity and prevention of lodging in the fast-spreading practice of growing rice varietal mixtures in China to suppress rice blast disease and its associated damage. The hybrid rice variety Shanyou 63 and the glutinous or sticky rice variety Huangkenuo were used to study intra- and inter-varietal competition in the rice intercropping system. The experiment was laid out as a randomized complete block design in four replications with pure stands and mixtures of both varieties at different total planting densities and mixing ratios. In half of the pure stand treatments of glutinous rice a metal frame was installed to prevent lodging. The results showed that resource complementarity between the two rice varieties, resulting from niche differentiation, was marginal and did not greatly enhance the productivity of the rice varietal mixtures. In contrast, prevention of lodging of glutinous rice was identified as an important additional advantage of growing these rice varieties in mixture.