IUCN Red List of freshwater fishes and lampreys in Flanders (north Belgium)

Red Lists are used to assess the extinction risk of species. Regional IUCN criteria were applied to categorise 42 indigenous freshwater fish species in Flanders into Red List categories. As such, three species are assessed as Regionally Extinct, eight as Critically Endangered, two as Endangered and eight as Vulnerable. A further five species are considered Near Threatened, 15 species as Least Concern and one species is Data Deficient. Five species disappeared from the Regionally Extinct category compared with the previous Red List (1988) as a consequence of improved water quality of estuaries and reintroduction programmes. In total, 62% of the freshwater fish species in Flanders was considered extinct or threatened. This is higher than neighbouring regions and Europe as a whole (44%). This new Red List of freshwater fishes in Flanders can be used to inform conservation actions.     

以科学的视角揭开作物转基因的神秘面纱

转基因技术是近现代农业史上发展最为迅猛的作物遗传改良技术。1996年首例转基因作物开展商业化种植,截至2016年转基因作物种植面积已呈百倍增加。人们从转基因作物的大面积推广应用中获得了巨大的经济效益与社会效益。目前转基因在我国被"妖魔化",甚至出现"谈转基因色变"的局面。为使公众对转基因有科学全面的认识,对转基因的基本概念、国内外发展现状、安全性评价等内容进行了阐述,同时展望了转基因作物在我国产业化的发展趋势。     

Molecular identification of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal spores associated to the rhizosphere of Retama raetam in Tunisia

ABSTRACT

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are found in the soil of most ecosystems where they form mutualistic associations that affect plants growth. We have investigated the community structure of AMF associated to Retama raetam growing in five regions of Tunisia. The total number of spores was significantly different across sites, ranging from 633 to 1062 spores per 100 g dry soil. A dominance of small spores was revealed. The large subunit region of the rDNA of AMF spores associated to the rhizosphere of R. raetam was sequenced. Sequences clustered into 13 operational taxonomic units. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the majority of sequences were grouped within Glomeraceae and Claroideoglomeraceae families. Only two sequences were affiliated to the Scutellospora genus. These results suggest the dominance of the genus Glomus in the soil rhizosphere of R. raetam. A correlation between phylogenetic analysis, soil chemicals properties, and AMF community richness was also detected.     

Development of the polysaccharidic matrix in biocrusts induced by a cyanobacterium inoculated in sand microcosms

Soil inoculation with cyanobacteria (cyanobacterization) is a biotechnological method widely studied to improve soil quality and productivity. During their growth on soil, cyanobacteria excrete exopolysaccharides (EPSs) which glue trichomes to soil particles, in a three-dimensional extracellular polymeric matrix. EPS productivity is an important screening parameter to select proficient inoculants and is affected by growth conditions and abiotic stresses. In this study, we evaluated the capability of the cyanobacterium Schizothrix cf. delicatissima AMPL0116 to form biocrusts when inoculated in sand microcosms under stressing conditions, and the characteristics of the synthesized polymeric matrix. In parallel, we evaluated the characteristics of exopolysaccharidic exudates of the strain when grown in liquid culture, under optimal growth setting. Our results pointed out at significant differences of the exopolymers produced in the two conditions in terms of monosaccharidic composition and molecular weight distribution, and proved the capability of S. cf. delicatissima AMPL0116 to form stable bioaggregates on sandy soils.     

Considering neighborhood effects improves individual dbh growth models for natural mixed-species forests in Mexico

Key message

More accurate diameter at breast height (dbh)-growth models are needed for developing management tools for mixed-species forests in Mexico. Individual distance-dependent dbh growth models that quantify local neighborhood effects have been developed for four species groups in such forests. The performance of the models is improved by distinguishing between inter- and intraspecific group competitions.

Context

The management of mixed-species forests in the northwest of Durango, Mexico, is mainly based on the selection method. Understanding the interspecific and intraspecific competition is critical to developing management tools for such mixed-species forests.

Aims

An individual-based distance-dependent modeling approach was used to model the growth of dbh and to evaluate neighborhood effects for four species groups in Mexican mixed-species stands.

Methods

Twenty-two species were classified into four groups: Pinus (seven species), other conifers (three species), other broadleaves (four species), and Quercus (eight species). Four methods were used to select neighboring trees and 12 competition indices (CIs) were calculated. Comparisons of the neighboring trees selection methods and CIs and tests of assumptions about neighborhood effects were conducted.

Results

Intra-species-group competition significantly reduced diameter growth for all species groups, except for the Quercus group. The Pinus, other conifers, and Quercus groups had significant and negative neighborhood effects on the other broadleaves species group, and not vice versa. The Quercus group also had negative neighborhood effect on the Pinus and other conifers species groups, and not vice versa. The Pinus and other conifers species groups had negative neighborhood effects on each other. All fitted age-independent dbh growth models showed a good of fit to the data (adjusted coefficient of determination larger than 0.977).

Conclusion

The growth models can be used to predict dbh growth for species groups and competition in mixed-species stand from Durango, Mexico.

     

高产母猪窝内体重变异的营养调控

随着现代育种技术的发展,母猪的产仔数不断提高,然而,初生仔猪窝内体重变异也随之增大,导致断奶前死亡率增加,断奶后体重差异大,成为现代养猪生产中影响营养精准供给、管理效率提高和生产效益增加的主要限制因素。本文综述了初生仔猪窝内体重变异的影响因素,探讨了能量来源、蛋白质与氨基酸水平以及功能性添加物对降低初生仔猪窝内体重变异的调控作用及可能机制,为通过营养途径提高窝内整齐度提供参考依据。     

4个豆科牧草在干热河谷生态芒果园的应用研究

为筛选出适宜在干热河谷生态果园种植的豆科牧草。本文设计牧草种类和翻压方式两水平因素,牧草种类是提那罗爪哇大豆(Glycine wightii(Wight and Arn.)Verdcourt‘Tinaroo’)、热研5号柱花草(Stylosanthes giuanensis‘Reyan No.5’)、大翼豆(Macroptilium atropurpureum(DC)Urb)和铺地木蓝(Indigofera endecaphylla Jacq.)4个牧草,翻压方式为翻压与不翻压,观测牧草草产量、地表温湿度、土壤湿度、土壤理化性状变化量;翻压方式观测翻压牧草前后土壤理化性状的变化。结果表明:在芒果园内种植提那罗爪哇大豆在改善果园土壤微环境及作为绿肥翻压提高土壤肥力方面均高于其他3个牧草;大翼豆地上生物量最高,年均干草产量为7 470.463kg·hm-2;热研5号柱花草枯枝落叶量最高,年均3 183.00kg·hm-2。种植牧草小区在调节地表温度及保持土壤水分效果高于未种植区,柱花草在调节地表温度及保持土壤水分的效果高于其他牧草。经济效益与草产量一致。     

New invasion of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bemisia tabaci</Emphasis> Mediterranean species in Brazil associated to ornamental plants

In Brazil, the first major invasion event of Bemisia tabaci was that of Middle East–Asia Minor 1 (MEAM1) species, formerly termed as B biotype, which commenced in the 1990s mainly by ornamental plants in São Paulo State. More than two decades after this invasion, the presence of the Mediterranean (MED) species of B. tabaci, formerly Q biotype, was reported in Rio Grande do Sul, the southernmost State of Brazil, and now in São Paulo and Paraná States, in southeastern Brazil. Specimens of whiteflies collected from commercial begonia, hydrangea, petunia and poinsettia greenhouses in São Paulo, and also from begonias and poinsettias collected in flower shops in Paraná, were all identified as belonging to MED species. Furthermore, the secondary endosymbionts Arsenophonus, Hamiltonella and Rickettsia of MED from São Paulo and Paraná were detected by PCR and their presence confirmed by sequencing and FISH analysis, and those results differed from MED detected in Rio Grande do Sul that harbored only Hamiltonella and Cardinium. Our results suggest a new MED invasion into Brazil and is associated with ornamental plants. The two MED populations are genetically different and suggest that they are separate invasions.     

Fast and sensitive on-site isothermal assay (LAMP) for diagnosis and detection of three fruit tree phytoplasmas

Over the years, real-time PCR outflanked endpoint PCR in phytopathogen diagnostics, mainly because of the increase in sensitivity and timesaving aspects of the technique. However, a time consuming 16S rRNA-based nested PCR method is still the gold standard for phytoplasma diagnosis. This is also the case for phytoplasma detection in Malus, Pyrus and Prunus, the three main host plants of apple proliferation (AP), pear decline (PD) and European stone fruit yellows (ESFY) phytoplasma, respectively. The last decade, loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) (Notomi et al. 2000) is gaining a lot in significance and is also for phytoplasmas expected to become a widely used reliable diagnostic tool. High specificity and sensitivity which also requires a less stringent need for DNA purification, and the short analysis time and the limited equipment requirements makes the LAMP method a fast and affordable alternative with great point-of-care diagnostic potential. In this paper, we present a LAMP primer set for the ribosomal group 16SrX, containing the important fruit tree phytoplasmas AP, PD and ESFY. The primers were developed and validated for fast and sensitive detection and general use for diagnosis. We foresee that the LAMP technique will also have its application in on-site diagnosis of the fruit tree phytoplasmas during inspections and surveys.