Oman at the cross-roads of inter-regional exchange of cultivated plants

During the past years the Sultanate of Oman which is located at the south-eastern tip of the Arabian peninsula has been studied for its cultivated plant genetic resources. Data from this study, that commenced in 2002 and information from the literature have been combined to document the millenia-old cultivation history of many agri- and horticultural crop plants in this country at the cross-roads of inter-regional exchange. The resulting checklist comprises 194 species from 133 genera and 53 families and 11 geoelements of 136 selected species. Notable inputs came from South and Southeast Asia with 21.3%, from the Near East and East Mediterranean with 20.6%, and from Central and South America with 15.4%. Most elements are allochthonous while real autochthonous elements such as Boswellia sacra Flueck. and Prunus arabica (Oliv.) Meikle are rare. A remarkable infraspecific variation in several crop species and evidence of introgession were found indicating an evolutionary power of Oman that is similar to that of South Italy.     

Habitat suitability, threats and conservation of isolated populations of the smooth snake (Coronella austriaca) in the southern Iberian Peninsula

During the Pleistocene, climatic fluctuations due to glacial and interglacial periods greatly modified the distribution of boreal organisms. One direct effect of these distribution shifts is that, along the southern edge of the range of some boreal species, populations persist only in isolated patches of suitable habitats, surrounded by less suitable areas. Isolated populations in marginal habitat are vulnerable to several threats, including climate change, anthropogenic threats, and stochastic events. We developed habitat-suitability models using Ecological Niche Factor Analysis for populations of the smooth snake, Coronella austriaca, at the southernmost limit of the species range. These models were based on historical and current records of occurrence, coupled with remote sensing data including elevation, slope, and climatic variables. Our results indicated that C. austriaca in the Iberian Peninsula occurred in areas associated with high slope and precipitation, low temperatures, and low variation in seasonal temperature and precipitation compared to areas of non-occurrence. At a broad scale, the areas classified as highly suitable for the species in the southern Iberian Peninsula were small and fragmented. At a local scale, extensive field work demonstrated that C. austriaca occurs in low densities in these areas. In addition, we detected several human-induced threats like habitat loss, favoured by temperature increase and rainfall reduction. Several life-history traits, such as dietary specialization and low frequency reproduction, also may contribute to the vulnerability of these populations to local extinctions. Although the most suitable southernmost areas are included in protected reserves, specific guidelines for management are needed to assess conservation needs.     

Genetic erosion and in situ conservation of Lima bean (Phaseolus lunatus L.) landraces in its Mesoamerican diversity center

Lima bean (Phaseolus lunatus L.) is an important crop in traditional Mayan agriculture of the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico, its Mesoamerican center of diversity. Genetic erosion in this species is currently a threat in this region out of 3 of 21 landraces dominate 71.24% of the cultivated area, and 12 are rare landraces grown only in 6.29%. Using 90 ISSR loci, we estimated the diversity and genetic relationships for 21 landraces to analyzing their risk of genetic erosion, and generate data for their in situ conservation. Total genetic diversity was high (h = 0.29), however it was lower than wild gene pool reported (h = 0.69). The abundant landraces had genetic diversity values lower (h = 0.13, I = 0.17) than the common (h = 0.26, I = 0.33) and rare landraces (h = 0.24, I = 0.27). However, the rare landraces are in a higher risk of genetic erosion due to local extinction. The cluster analysis showed no groups corresponding to morpho-phenological characteristics, geographic origin or traditional classification, which resulted from high inter-landraces gene flow levels. The molecular data confirmed that the domesticated Lima bean pool of the Yucatan Peninsula has a high risk of genetic erosion. If current tendencies in landrace cultivation continue, many will no longer be planted within two to three generations, with a consequent loss of their alleles. Programs urgently need to be established for in situ conservation of Lima bean landraces in this region.     

雷州半岛农业土壤与作物镍含量及其潜在健康风险

在雷州半岛采集了106个农业土壤表层样品和43个农作物样品(包括蔬菜、水果、甘蔗和稻谷),分析了土壤和农作物可食部分镍的含量,研究镍的分布特征和富集能力,评价其健康风险。结果表明,雷州半岛土壤中镍平均含量为49.81mg·kg-1,超过国家土壤二级标准(GB15618-1995)的样品占25.47%,徐闻、雷州等地超标较严重。蔬菜和稻谷镍含量分别介于0.083￣0.733mg·kg-1和0.360￣1.09mg·kg-1,不同程度超过食品卫生建议标准,而水果类(含甘蔗)镍含量较低。不同种类农作物可食部分对镍元素的富集均存在着差异,其中蔬菜类的芥菜、小白菜镍的富集能力较强,青瓜、生菜、花菜、油麦菜等蔬菜品种和菠萝、香蕉、橙子、甘蔗等水果类镍的富集能力则较低,菠萝和甘蔗镍的富集系数仅为0.0013和0.0005,较适合在雷州半岛镍含量较高的玄武岩风化土种植;稻谷镍的富集系数介于0.0056￣0.0259,6个样品差异较大,可能与不同样点间土壤pH值不同或复合污染有关。依据USEPA推荐的RfD值和广东省居民平均食物消费结构进行计算,雷州半岛蔬菜、稻谷和水果(含甘蔗)三大类作物可食部分通过土壤-植物-人体途径年平均摄入量为174.4mg·人~(-1)·a~(-1),若考虑其他的摄入途径,雷州半岛农产品中的镍对人体潜在一定的健康风险。     

南极科学考察概况及淡水生态系统研究

本文简要介绍了南极洲的漂移演变、地理景观、气候状况和自然资源。对南极发现过程及科学考察历史亦作了简短论述。中国南极长城站位于西南极菲尔德斯半岛西南端 (58°57′52″W ,6 2°12′59″E) ,中山站则位于东南极拉斯曼丘陵的米勒半岛北端 (76°2 2′2 4″E ,6 9°2 2′2 4″S) ,两者相距 50 0 0km。作者以1991- 1995年实地考察结果为据 ,对长城站和中山站地区湖泊、溪流、雪地等淡水生态系统的理化环境、生物群落结构与功能现状进行比较研究 ,对引起两地淡水生态系统出现差异的原因作了初步分析     

Alien freshwater fish species in the Balkans—Vectors and pathways of introduction

Fish introductions, particularly in areas of high biological diversity and endemism, represent a major threat for biodiversity. In the Balkan Peninsula, 60 fish species have been introduced to date, of which 36 have become naturalized in inland waters. Since the Balkans are one of the world's 35 biodiversity hot spots, this large presence of alien fish species poses a serious threat for the stability of freshwater ecosystems and the survival of the native ichthyofauna and of aquatic biodiversity in general. The motivation for the introductions, and the historical timeline, varies among the Balkan states. Despite recent attempts to implement and align legislation aimed at preventing the introduction of potentially invasive species, and the implementation of rigorous controls of introductions and increased protection of open waters, the majority of current introductions remain intentional, primarily via aquaculture. This review article provides a historical overview of freshwater fish introductions, the motivation behind them and the current distribution of alien freshwater fishes in the Balkans. The ecological implications and future perspectives concerning alien fish species in the region are also discussed.     

Emergence of pathogenic betanodaviruses belonging to the SJNNV genogroup in farmed fish species from the Iberian Peninsula

Betanodaviruses are the causative agents of viral nervous necrosis (VNN) or viral encephalopathy and retinopathy (VER) in cultured marine fish. Based on the RNA2 gene fish nodaviruses have been traditionally classified into four different genotypes and recently a fifth genotype has been proposed. This study presents sequencing data of 24 new nodaviruses obtained from three different fish species: sea bass, Dicentrarchux labrax (L.), sea bream, Sparus aurata L., and Senegalese sole, Solea senegalensis Kaup, cultured in the Iberian Peninsula (Spain and Portugal). Sequence analysis was performed on the T4 region (388 nt) of the coat protein gene. In addition, phylogenetic analysis, according to maximum parsimony and neighbour-joining methods, was performed using these sequences and other nucleotide sequences available in the databases or in the literature. Results obtained indicate that all these new nodaviruses should be classified into the striped jack nervous necrosis virus (SJNNV) genotype. This finding suggests that SJNNV genotype is emerging in the Iberian Peninsula and could easily spread throughout the Mediterranean, representing a serious threat to the fish farming industry.     

山东半岛南部产卵场鳀鱼生殖群体结构及其变化

根据2000~2004年在山东半岛南部鳀鱼(Engraulis japonicus)产卵场多学科综合调查所获得的资料及1991年等相关历史资料,从体长组成、集群特征、年龄结构、性腺成熟度、性成熟系数、性比、摄食强度等多个方面研究了鳀鱼生殖群体结构及其变化特征。结果表明:(1)鳀鱼生殖群体全长组成范围为6~16cm,优势长度9~12cm,长度组成年代际变化明显,生殖群体组成趋向小型化;(2)生殖群体由1~4龄鱼组成,与1991年相比1龄鱼比例增加,生殖群体的平均年龄减小;(3)6月上旬进入产卵盛期,鳀鱼雌性个体性腺成熟度以IV期、VA期占优势,6月下旬IV期和VA期比例减少,VB期和VI-IV期比例增加,7月上旬VI-III期和VI-II期比例占优势,盛产期结束;(4)鳀鱼生殖期间摄食强度较弱,空胃率超过60%。(5)生殖群体按个体大小集群产卵,各群聚优势长度组成存在明显差别,性腺发育程度不一致。本文还对鳀鱼资源衰退给生殖群体结构和种群补充造成的影响进行了初步讨论。     

山东近海21种经济鱼类的核型研究↑（*）

采用ＰＨＡ体内注射─—空气干燥制片法报道了山东近海２１种经济鱼类的核型和部分种类的银染核型。并通过各分类群表现出来的核型稳定性、同源性及核型变异现象对它们及其相关种类的亲缘关系和核型演化等问题进行了讨论。     

Mesopelagic fish larval assemblages during El Niño‐southern oscillation (1997–2001) in the southern part of the California Current

Mesopelagic species are the principal constituents of larval fish assemblages inhabiting the southerly California Current region. Seasonal larval abundance is influenced by circulation of the California Current and subtropical Countercurrent, including regional changes of the physical, chemical, and biological characteristics during the El Niño‐Southern Oscillation. This study examines the mesopelagic fish larvae distribution and abundance patterns between seasons and years, with the aim of describing the mesopelagic larval assemblages during dynamic environmental changes induced by El Niño (1997–1998) and the rapid transition to La Niña (1998–2000) along the west coast of the Baja California Peninsula (25–31°N). Despite large oceanographic variability, larval assemblages varied principally on a seasonal basis, related to reproductive periods and the north–south gradient influenced by the seasonal pattern of the California Current. An increased diversity, number of species, and abundance of tropical species was noticeable during the northward expansion of warm‐water taxa during El Niño, principally in the northern areas (Ensenada and Punta Baja). After El Niño, population adjustments and rapid recovery occurred during La Niña conditions, which reflected seasonal differences in the mesopelagic community structure that are closely related to the seasonal pattern of oceanic currents.