Dispersal limitation at the expanding range margin of an evergreen tree in urban habitats?

Dispersal limitations contribute to shaping plant distribution patterns and thus are significant for biodiversity conservation and urban ecology. In fleshy-fruited plants, for example, any preference of frugivorous birds affects dispersal capacities of certain fruit species. We conducted a removal experiment with fruits of Ilex aquifolium, a species that is currently expanding its range margin in northern Europe in response to climate change. The species is also a popular ornamental tree and naturalization has been observed in many parts of its range. Fruits of native I. aquifolium and of three cultivars were offered to birds at the expanding range margin in urban habitats in eastern Denmark. The four fruit types were removed at different rates and red fruits were preferred over a yellow cultivar. Small fruit diameter was positively related to fruit removal, and removal was faster under tree canopies compared with open habitats. The preference for red cultivars compared with native I. aquifolium may contribute to naturalization and potential invasion of garden escapes. Preferential foraging under closed canopies indicates trees and shrubs as recruitment foci for fleshy-fruited plants in urban landscapes. The results should be included in urban forestry and planting of potentially invasive ornamental species.     

鱼菜共生系统下种养密度和投喂频率对鲫鱼生长及品质的影响

为评估不同种养密度和投喂频率对鱼菜共生系统中鲫鱼生长及品质的影响,建立温室基质栽培式鱼菜共生系统(鲫鱼+生菜),设置种植密度分别为28(A1)、42(A2)、56(A3)株·m-2;养殖密度分别为8(B1)、10(B2)、12(B3)kg·m-3;饲料投喂频率分别为1(C1)、2(C2)、3(C3)次·d-1,以明确鱼...     

Immunohistochemical Studies on Oestrogen Receptor Alpha (ERα) and the Proliferative Marker Ki-67 in the Sow Uterus at Oestrus and Early Pregnancy

Oestrogen receptor alpha (ERalpha), the main subtype in the uterus, is involved in the regulation of uterine growth/proliferation. A relationship between ERalpha and proliferative activity has been shown in the cyclic sow uterus, but to our knowledge, no study has been carried out on early pregnant sows. Therefore, by means of immunohistochemistry and use of mouse monoclonal antibodies to ERalpha and a proliferative marker, Ki-67, the localization of these proteins was investigated in the sow uterus during early pregnancy. Eighteen crossbred multiparous sows were artificially inseminated once at 20-15 h before expected ovulation. After artificial insemination (AI), they were slaughtered at five different times: at oestrus, 5-6 h after AI (n = 4), 20-25 h after ovulation (n =4), 70 h after ovulation (n = 4), on day 11 (the first day of standing oestrus = day 1, n = 3) and on day 19 (n = 3). Immediately after slaughter, uterine samples were collected at the mesometrial side of the uteri, fixed in 10% formaldehyde and embedded in paraffin. Immunohistochemistry was performed by using mouse monoclonal antibodies to ERalpha (C-311) and Ki-67 (MM1). All sows slaughtered after ovulation were pregnant. In general, positive immunostaining for ERalpha and Ki-67 was found in the nuclei. Variations in staining intensity and proportion of positive nuclei were observed in different uterine compartments and stages of early pregnancy. The highest level of ERalpha presence in the surface epithelium and myometrium was found at oestrus (5-6 h after AI), and low levels of ERalpha in these compartments were observed as early as 20-25 h after ovulation. In the glandular epithelia, presence of ERalpha was highest at 70 h after ovulation. The largest number of ERalpha-positive cells in the stroma was observed at oestrus and early after ovulation. Low proliferation was observed, and with no significant difference in tissue compartments except in the glandular epithelium. High proliferative activity in the glandular epithelium at 70 h after ovulation indicated involvement in preparation for secretory activity and growth during pregnancy establishment. Significant positive correlation was found between the number of ERalpha-positive cells in the stroma and Ki-67-positive cells in the surface epithelium. In conclusion, the present study showed differences in immunolocalization of ERalpha and the proliferative marker Ki-67 in different tissue compartments of the sow uterus at oestrus and early pregnancy. In some uterine compartments, the patterns of ERalpha and Ki-67 immunostaining seemed to be influenced by insemination and the presence of embryos, in addition to the effects of steroid hormones.     

Treatment with Gonadotropin Releasing-Hormone in Prepubertal Gilts at Two Different Ages

To study the effect of GnRH in prepubertal gilts, seven crossbred gilts were treated with saline solution and 250 fig GnRH. In connection with saline and GnRH treatments blood was sampled every 15 min for 4 h, thereafter every 30 min for 2 h and every 60 min for 3 h, and finally every 3 h for 6 days. The ovaries were inspected by laparo-scopy just before and 6 days after GnRH treatment. The first GnRH treatment was undertaken when the gilts had a mean age of 141 days and mean body weight of 66 kg. One gilt was in prooestrus at this treatment. In the other 6 gilts the mean LH level was around 0.5 μg/l during a 4 h period after the saline injection. After the GnRH treatment a LH peak was seen with a mean duration of 4 h and a mean maximum level of 9.2 ± 2.07 μg/1. None of the gilts ovulated or showed oestrus within a week after GnRH treatment, which was confirmed by laparoscopy. The seventh gilt which was in prooestrus had high levels of oestradiol-17β (> 40 pmol/1) at GnRH treatment and no LH peak was seen during a 4 h period after treatment.Two gilts which had not shown oestrus at an age of 173 days and a mean body weight of 93 kg were treated a second time with 250 μg GnRH. The LH peak had a duration of 4 h and a mean maximum level of 5.3 ± 3.04 μg/l. Neither of these 2 gilts showed oestrus or ovulated within a week after GnRH injection. It was concluded that a single injection of GnRH results in a LH peak but is not enough to stimulate ovulation or oestrus in prepubertal gilts at a mean age either of 141 or 173 days.Key words: GnRH-treatment, prepubertal gilts, LH, oestradiol-17β     

酪酸梭状芽孢杆菌培养条件的研究

为使酪酸梭状芽孢杆菌的菌体浓度和芽孢转化率都达到最大,我们对其培养条件进行了研究。结果表明:葡萄糖1.0%、胰蛋白胨1.0%、酵母膏0.5%、牛肉浸膏0.3%,适量合适的无机盐类,接种前活化菌种,接种量10%,培养36h可获最大菌体浓度和芽孢转化率。     

崩岗侵蚀区崩壁土体湿化机理及影响因素分析

以广东五华县莲塘岗崩岗崩壁土体为研究对象,结合土体物理特性,采用野外湿化试验测定土体浸水后的完全崩解时间,初步阐明其湿化机理,并分析其影响因素。结果表明:(1)崩壁不同层位土体的成份、结构、粒度等存在差异,使其物理性质受水力作用影响显著,抗冲抗蚀能力从强到弱分别为表土层、红土层、砂土层。(2)崩壁不同层位土体浸水后,水呈非均衡态进入土体孔隙,粒间斥力超过吸力,产生应力集中现象,使土体结构受到破坏,导致崩解现象发生;砂土层崩解速度明显高于表土层和红土层,遇水软化性极强。(3)土体结构的粒度成分及孔隙性影响崩壁土体的崩解性。相比红土层和表土层,砂土层粗颗粒含量较高,湿化崩解时间较短。孔隙发育程度较低的红土层,其湿化崩解所需时间比砂土层长;从红土层到砂土层,随着初始含水率增大,崩解速度不断加快,意味着红土层受到水力侵蚀后,下部砂土层受到的侵蚀将更加严重。一旦水分下渗至砂土层,将导致崩岗侵蚀进一步快速发展。     

黄土高原农地草地林地土壤团聚体稳定性沿降水梯度的变化特征

团聚体稳定性是表征土壤结构稳定性的重要指标,与坡面水文过程及侵蚀过程密切相关,为探明黄土高原团聚体稳定性(aggregatestability,MWD)沿降水梯度的变化特征及其影响因素。该论文在黄土高原沿降水梯度布设了7个采样点,测定每个采样点农地、草地和林地的MWD。结果表明,农地MWD沿降水梯度自南向北呈逐渐减小趋势;草地和林地MWD变化趋势比较相似且无显著差异(P=0.233),最南端宜君的MWD小于稍北富县的MWD,之后向北大体呈减小趋势。农地、草地和林地MWD空间变化特征除受土壤有机质、年均降水量和年均气温的影响以外,农地的MWD与土壤机械组成存在显著相关关系(P0.05),而草地和林地的MWD与根系质量密度存在显著相关关系(P=0.037)。非线性回归表明,农地MWD可以用土壤中值粒径和年均降水量模拟,而草地和林地MWD可用土壤有机质、根系质量密度和年均温模拟。研究成果对于理解黄土高原土壤团聚体稳定性空间变异及其影响因素、分析水文及侵蚀过程的区域变化规律具有理论意义。     

都市型自然保护区系统构建与规划探讨

从国内外都市型自然保护区的发展现状出发,总结归纳了都市型自然保护区系统构建方法以及保护区规划原则和理论依据,旨在为都市型自然保护区的研究提供一定的理论探讨。