Conservation of the jackass penguin (Spheniscus demersus (L.))

The jackass penguin Spheniscus demersus (L.) is confined to the coastal waters of southern Africa, and breeds on 18 islands predominantly within the region of the cold, nutrient rich Benguella current. Since the early 1900s the species' population has declined in numbers of unknown magnitude. The decline appears to be continuing, although the absence of reliable census data precludes an accurate measurement of the rate of change. The initial fall in numbers was undoubtedly due to severe disturbance of nesting birds and excessive commercial exploitation of eggs. The average annual egg crop for the period 1900-30 exceeded 450,000 eggs from Dassen Island alone. Egg collection has been suspended temporarily, but the species now appears to be threatened by oil pollution, and by competition with a pelagic shoal fish industry. Threats to breeding colonies are posed by harbour developments. These factors are discussed and evaluated. South African marine organisms are considered officially to be an economic resource and are heavily exploited. Legislation governing the control of this resource is the concern of the Ministry for Economic Affairs. There is no provision for any government body to investigate the status and biology of economically insignificant, but yet integral, components of the marine ecosystem. The major priority of conservations is to safeguard the jackass penguin population at its present level. This includes proclamation of several offshore islands and their surroundings as national nature reserves. We consider current efforts to rescue, clean and rehabilitate oiled seabirds as contributing little to conservation in real terms, even though the activity has an important humanitarian and educational function. Research priorities include a comprehensive census of the jackass penguin and other seabird populations in southern Africa; a study of mortality and recruitment, with particular attention to factors affecting the rates of these processes; a study of the dynamics of the penguin/prey interaction, with special reference to the possible effects of competition with the pelagic fishing industry; an evaluation of the degree of disturbance that nesting penguins can tolerate; an investigation into the temporal and spatial patterns of oil pollution incidents, oil slick occurrence and movement, and the development of methods of keeping birds away from oil slicks; and, lastly, an evaluation of the efficacy of rehabilitating oiled penguins as a contribution to maintaining or increasing the current jackass penguin population. The responsibility for these projects rests with the South African government.     

The influence of the herbicide 2-methyl-4-chlorophenoxyacetic acid (MCPA) on the mineralization of litter-derived alkanes and the abundance of the alkane monooxygenase gene (alkB) in the detritusphere of Pisum sativum (L.)

In the present study, the temporal and spatial variation of the abundance of the alkane monooxygenase gene alkB and 16S rRNA genes in different soil compartments was analysed in the presence or absence of 2-methyl-4-chlorophenoxyacetic acid (MCPA) after the addition of pea litter to soil in a microcosm study. Samples were analysed shortly after litter addition (T0) and 1?week (T1), 3?weeks (T3) and 6?weeks (T6) after the addition of litter. In addition also, the quantity and quality of litter-derived alkanes was analysed and measured. The results revealed a fast and complete degradation of MCPA in all compartments throughout the experiment. Nevertheless, significant changes in the distribution patterns of short- and middle-chained alkanes suggest an interaction of MCPA and alkane degradation. alkB gene copy numbers were highly influenced by the time point of analysis and by the investigated soil compartment. Overall, an increase in alkB gene copy numbers from T0 to T3 was visible in the upper soil compartments whereas a decrease compared to T0 was measured in the deeper soil compartments. MCPA addition resulted in an increase of alkB abundance at T6. Gene copy numbers of 16S rRNA were not influenced by sampling time and soil compartment. In contrast to the control treatments, a slight increase in 16S rRNA gene copy numbers was visible at T1 and T3 compared to T0 in all soil compartments.     

Biotransformation of (R)- and (S)-terpinen-4-ol by the larvae of common cutworm (Spodoptera litura)

(R)-Terpinen-4-ol was mixed in an artificial diet at a concentration of 1 mg/g of diet, and the diet was fed to the last instar larvae of common cutworm (Spodoptera litura). Metabolites were recovered from frass and analyzed spectroscopically. (R)-Terpinen-4-ol was transformed mainly to (R)-p-menth-1-en-4,7-diol. Similarly, (S)-terpinen-4-ol was transformed mainly to (S)-p-menth-1-en-4,7-diol. The C-7 position (allylic methyl group) of (R)- and (S)-terpinen-4-ol was preferentially oxidized.     

In vivo studies on the metabolism of the monoterpene pulegone in humans using the metabolism of ingestion-correlated amounts (MICA) approach: explanation for the toxicity differences between (S)-(-)- and (R)-(+)-pulegone

The major in vivo metabolites of (S)-(-)-pulegone in humans using a metabolism of ingestion-correlated amounts (MICA) experiment were newly identified as 2-(2-hydroxy-1-methylethyl)-5-methylcyclohexanone (8-hydroxymenthone, M1), 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-6-(1-methylethyl)cyclohexanone (1-hydroxymenthone, M2), 3-methyl-6-(1-methylethyl)cyclohexanol (menthol), and E-2-(2-hydroxy-1-methylethylidene)-5-methylcyclohexanone (10-hydroxypulegone, M4) on the basis of mass spectrometric analysis in combination with syntheses and NMR experiments. Minor metabolites were be identified as 3-methyl-6-(1-methylethyl)-2-cyclohexenone (piperitone, M5) and alpha,alpha,4-trimethyl-1-cyclohexene-1-methanol (3-p-menthen-8-ol, M6). Menthofuran was not a major metabolite of pulegone and is most probably an artifact formed during workup from known (M4) and/or unknown precursors. The differences in toxicity between (S)-(-)- and (R)-(+)-pulegone can be explained by the strongly diminished ability for enzymatic reduction of the double bond in (R)-(+)-pulegone. This might lead to further oxidative metabolism of 10-hydroxypulegone (M4) and the formation of further currently undetected metabolites that might account for the observed hepatotoxic and pneumotoxic activity in humans.     

Effect of 6-methoxybenzoxazolin-2-one (MBOA) on the reproduction rate of the grain aphid (Sitobion avenae F.)

Partial host-plant resistance could make a substantial contribution to reducing the damage caused by economically important grain aphids and, therefore, to reduced insecticide use. Naturally occurring hydroxamic acids, in particular 2,4-dihydroxy-7-methoxy-1,4-benzoxazin-3-one (DIMBOA), have been shown to be involved in the resistance of cereals to insects. DIMBOA is unstable in aqueous solutions and has been reported to decompose to 6-methoxybenzoxazolin-2-one (MBOA). MBOA was tested on grain aphids living on artificial diet incorporated with MBOA. From 0 to 0.1 mM, the intrinsic rate of increase (rm) increased. From 0.1 to 0.3 it decreased by 73%. The rm was calculated to be 0 at 1.0 mM. Consequently, even low concentrations of MBOA may reduce the aphid multiplication to a level below the economic damage threshold. Therefore, it is possible to breed wheat varieties with a sufficiently high content of DIMBOA to decrease grain aphid populations.     

Study of the Productive Behavior of Var-21 Soya (Glycine max (L.) Merrill) under the Application of Organic Fertilizers

The use of organic fertilizers to improve the agronomic parameters of soy (Glycine max (L.) Merrill) has been considered a key production practice. During the period from December 2015 to May 2016, the productive behavior of Var-21 soya under the application of two organic biofertilizers was assessed in southern Haiti. Four random repetitions were carried out with biofertilizer A (cow dung + leguminous waste + ash + rice chaff) and biofertilizer B (cow dung + molasses + quick lime). The variables analyzed were days to flowering, plant height, number of beans per pod, weight of 1,000 beans, and yield per hectare, with statistical evaluation by analysis of variance and Tukey’s test. The best yield was obtained with biofertilizer A in treatment T2 (150 L/ha) (4,129.99 kg/ha). This study enabled us to identify the most efficient foliar fertilizer to improve the production parameters of Var-21 soya. The information obtained will serve as a basis for future research, especially into the effectiveness of organic fertilizers on other crop species, and under other agro-environmental conditions.     

Soils of the Pavlovsk Park (Saint Petersburg)

Eurasian Soil Science - Soils of the Pavlovsk Park–the largest landscape park in Europe—have been studied, and large-scale mapping of the soil cover of the main areas of the park has...     

Soils of the Summer Garden (Saint Petersburg)

Soils of the Summer Garden—the first regular (French-style) garden in Russia—are characterized on the basis of the materials of field study performed during reconstruction of the garden in 2005–2011. Most of these soils are filled soils—urbostratozems—underlain by the loamy sands deposited in the Littorina Sea or by the buried gray-humus gleyic and gleyed soils. Urbostratozems are characterized by the slightly acid reaction in the topsoil horizons and slightly alkaline reaction in the middle-profile and lower horizons. The humus content in them varies from 0.2 to 6.8%; in the buried gray-humus soils, it is within 1.3–2.6%. The soils of the garden are characterized by the high and extremely high content of available phosphorus and the predominantly low content of available potassium as determined by Machigin’s method. The bulk content of Pb in the surface soil horizons during the period of our study exceeded the maximum permissible concentration by 3–20 times; the bulk contents of Cu and Zn exceeded the tentative permissible concentrations for coarse-textured soils by 2–6 and 4–20 times, respectively. The main sources of the soil contamination by the heavy metals are the nearby highways. Local contaminated area was also found near the household yard.     

Distribution pattern of woodlice (Isopoda) and millipedes (Diplopoda) in four primeval forests of the Western Carpathians (Central Slovakia)

We collected 1605 isopod individuals (eight species) and 671 diplopod individuals (17 species) in four primeval forests of the Western Carpathians, Central Slovakia, by leaf litter extraction. The forests are of different temperate deciduous forest types varying in tree species, aspect, elevation and soil characteristics. The oak forests, established on southwest oriented slopes at an elevation of 280-600 m, were characterized by Hyloniscus riparius, Porcellium conspersum, Enantiulus nanus and Ophioiulus pilosus. The beech forests, established on northeast oriented slopes at an elevation of 700-1100 m, were characterised by Ligidium hypnorum, Trachysphaera costata and Polyzonium germanicum. A remarkable increase of the total number of species and individuals occurred in both forest types adjacent to coarse woody debris (CWD). Woodlice density close to CWD was between 200 and 630 individuals m⁻² (35-130 individuals m⁻² distant from CWD); millipede density close to CWD ranged from 60 to 230 individuals m⁻² (15-75 individuals m⁻² distant from CWD). Species richness of both taxa close to CWD varied from 13 to 16 species m⁻² (7-12 species m⁻² distant from CWD). Thus, CWD has a significant influence on saprophages. However, structural components such as CWD and the amount of leaf litter did not significantly alter species assemblages. Species at sites distant from CWD were a subset of species at sites close to CWD. According to a canonical correspondence analysis (CCA), ‘forest type’ and ‘elevation within a slope’, as well as chemistry of the upper soil layer, i.e. ‘acidification’ and ‘nutrition’, strongly influenced species assemblages.     

锌指核酸酶(ZFN)介导的牛肌肉抑制素基因(MSTN)突变的研究

肌肉生成抑制素(myostatin,MSTN)是肌肉发育的负调控基因,突变后会引起肌肉的过度发育,在肉用动物育种中有非常重要的价值。本研究利用锌指核酸酶(zinc finger nuclease,ZFN)对牛(Bos taurus)MSTN基因的第二外显子特异性剪切,诱导该基因的突变,从而达到敲除该基因的目的。首先对脂质体介导的双质粒共转染牛成纤维细胞的条件进行优化,获得的共转染效率高达19.27%;之后利用两组ZFNs对牛成纤维细胞进行转染,单细胞通过口吸法移入96孔板,经扩大培养后进行PCR筛选,获得18株MSTN基因突变细胞株,其中包括一株双等位基因敲除的细胞系,两组ZFNs对牛成纤维细胞的突变效率分别为6.05%和3.84%;最后,挑选一株突变细胞系进行体细胞核移植研究,共获得24枚重构胚;将去除透明带的重构胚培养于2i培养液中,获得囊胚来源的类滋养层干细胞,通过PCR和测序检测,证明该细胞系在MSTN基因第二外显子具有与供体细胞相同的突变。结果表明,所合成的两组ZFNs可以在MSTN作用位点引起突变,具有很高的突变效率,而且能获得双等位基因突变的细胞株,获得的细胞株能够用作体细胞核移植的供体细胞。本研究为肉用牛的品质改良和育种工作提供了基础资料。     

镉胁迫对不同小麦品种幼苗生长以及Cd~(2+)、Zn~(2+)、Mn~(2+)吸收和积累的影响

以洛旱6号、豫麦25、豫麦18、豫农949、新麦21及许农5号为试验材料,通过营养液培养法,研究了镉胁迫对其幼苗生物量积累以及Cd2+、Zn2+与Mn2+吸收的影响。结果表明,与正常生长小麦相比,低Cd2+(≤30μmol/L)浓度下,除许农5号地上部生物量有所下降外,其余品种的地上部和地下部生物量均呈上升趋势。中、高Cd2+(≥60μmol/L)浓度下,所有品种的生物量呈下降趋势,所有小麦品种体内Cd2+的含量均随着Cd2+处理浓度的增加而不断增加,而且,根系内Cd2+的含量均明显高于地上部。随着Cd2+处理浓度的增加,所有小麦品种地上部Zn2+的含量均不断增加,地下部Zn2+含量的变化品种间存在差异。地上、地下部Mn2+的含量则随处理浓度增加而不断降低。     

Influence of dieldrin on the reproduction of the earthwormEisenia fetida (Oligochaeta)

Summary The environmental hazard of the agricultural pesticide dieldrin for the earthwormEisenia fetida was experimentally determined in order to assess and quantify sublethal effects. We determined that the non-toxic dieldrin had a negative effect on cocoon production. An inverse relationship was found between the concentration of dieldrin in the environment and the number of hatchlings per cocoon. The hatchlings were also smaller than those from the controls.Hatching success of cocoons was also adversely affected and the incubation period was longer. Knowledge of sublethal effects has predictive value in ecotoxicological work and could serve as a timely warning device of an overburdened soil ecosystem.     

Cesium-137 in the environment of the Altay Region (Russia)

The results of the extensive measurements ofCesium-137 (¹³⁷Cs) in virgin soils, plants,forest litter and lake bottom sediments of AltayRegion in 1992–1995 are presented. Analyses of thevertical soil profiles indicate that ¹³⁷Cs ispresent in the upper 5–20 cm of the soil. Crops andthe majority of wild plants show no signs ofcontamination with ¹³⁷Cs even in areas where soilis contaminated. A regional map of ¹³⁷Csconcentration is presented, which shows a highlyirregular pattern of radio-cesium deposition from thenuclear tests on the Semipalatinsk Nuclear Polygonbetween 1949 to 1962. This kind of lateraldistribution of ¹³⁷Cs in Altay virgin topsoilscannot be accounted for only by the distance from thenuclear testing site, on the contrary, it seems to bepredominantly dependent on the weather conditions anda pattern of rainfall at the time of Semipalatinskexplosions. The article discusses the factors causingthe post-precipitation redistribution of ¹³⁷Cs inthe soil column and demonstrates that forest litter,lichen and lake bottom sediments can be used assensitive indicators of the historical and currentradioactive contamination.     

环境中多溴联苯醚(PBDEs)分布特征研究进展

多溴联苯醚(PBDEs)是一类具有生态风险的新型环境有机污染物。PBDEs作为阻燃剂已经被愈来愈广泛地添加到工业产品中,对大气、水体、沉积物、土壤等环境介质产生污染,并最终危害生物和人类健康。鉴于这一环境新问题的产生,本文概述了环境介质中PBDEs的来源、含量,并对其分布特征进行了探讨。     

Biotransformation of gamma-terpinene and (-)-alpha-phellandrene by the larvae of common cutworm (Spodoptera litura)

gamma-Terpinene was mixed in artificial diet at a concentration of 1 mg/g of diet, and the diet was fed to the last instar larvae of common cutworm (Spodoptera litura). Metabolites were recovered from frass and analyzed spectroscopically. gamma-Terpinene was transformed mainly to p-mentha-1,4-dien-7-oic acid and p-cymen-7-oic acid (cumic acid). Similarly, (-)-alpha-phellandrene was transformed mainly to (4R)-p-mentha-1,5-dien-7-oic acid and p-cymen-7-oic acid (cumic acid). The C-7 position (allylic methyl group) of gamma-terpinene and (-)-alpha-phellandrene was preferentially oxidized.