Understanding the Enemy: A Review of the Genetics,Behavior and Chemical Ecology of Varroa destructor,the Parasitic Mite of Apis mellifera

Varroa destructor (Mesostigmata: Varroidae) is arguably the most damaging parasitic mite that attacks honey bees worldwide. Since its initial host switch from the Asian honey bee (Apis cerana) (Hymenoptera: Apidae) to the Western honey bee (Apis mellifera) (Hymenoptera: Apidae), Varroa has become a widely successful invasive species, attacking honey bees on almost every continent where apiculture is practiced. Two haplotypes of V. destructor (Japanese and Korean) parasitize A. mellifera, both of which vector various honey bee-associated viruses. As the population of Varroa grows within a colony in the spring and summer, so do the levels of viral infections. Not surprisingly, high Varroa parasitization impacts bees at the individual level, causing bees to exhibit lower weight, decreased learning capacity, and shorter lifespan. High levels of Varroa infestation can lead to colony-wide varroosis and eventually colony death, especially when no control measures are taken against the mites. Varroa has become a successful parasite of A. mellifera because of its ability to reproduce within both drone cells and worker cells, which allows populations to expand rapidly. Varroa uses several chemical cues to complete its life cycle, many of which remain understudied and should be further explored. Given the growing reports of pesticide resistance by Varroa in several countries, a better understanding of the mite’s basic biology is needed to find alternative pest management strategies. This review focuses on the genetics, behavior, and chemical ecology of V. destructor within A. mellifera colonies, and points to areas of research that should be exploited to better control this pervasive honey bee enemy.     

日本环境保全型耕地农业系统对中国耕地保护的启示

为解决中国农业长期粗放经营问题,研究中国耕地与生态文明协同保护体系,采用文献研究法和归纳演绎法,分析东亚地区代表国家环境保全型农业下的耕地农业协同体系。研究表明,日本的耕地农业环境保护支付制度、生态补偿市场认证体系、耕地农业法律制度保障,是建立在生态补偿原则上,经过实践检验行之有效的,能够提升市场参与度及农民自主性投入的耕地生态协同保护措施。中国在推广耕地合理利用实践方面做出了不懈努力,但是在建立耕地生态协同保护的休耕制度、因地制宜建立生态补偿体系、加快推进耕地生态协同保护专项基金的设立等方面还需进一步坚持和完善。     

基于分子生态学网络分析松嫩退化草地土壤微生物群落对施氮的响应

【目的】 氮素输入影响着全球草地生态系统的可持续性,关注施氮对土壤微生物群落的影响及其分子生态网络,为草地退化修复提供理论依据。【方法】 以松嫩退化羊草草地为研究对象,通过施氮和未施氮处理,利用高通量测序和随机矩阵网络构建理论构建土壤微生物群落分子生态网络。探讨氮素管理对退化羊草草地土壤微生物群落结构及网络的影响,氮添加条件下微生物网络结构中的关键微生物变化规律,以及该过程中微生物之间的互作关系,解析外源氮素添加条件下土壤细菌动态变化的关键结点和规律。【结果】 在门分类水平上施氮处理草地有细菌门22个,未施氮处理23个。7个菌门是施氮和未施氮处理草地的优势菌门,其中变形菌门（Proteobacteria）是含有OTU数量最多的门类,约占总序列的30.46%,酸杆菌门（Acidobacteria）是含有OTU数量次之的门类,约占总序列的30.15%,芽单胞菌门（Gemmatimonadetes）是含有OTU数量第3的门类,约占总序列的8.14%,放线菌（Actinomycete）约占总序列的6.15%,绿弯菌门（Chloroflexi）、拟杆菌门（Bacteroidetes）和硝化螺旋菌门（Nitrospirae）三者约占总序列的17.16%。施氮处理草地土壤微生物中的变形菌门、放线菌门、拟杆菌门的相对丰度均显著高于未施氮处理草地土壤（P<0.01）;未施氮草地土壤中绿弯菌门、酸杆菌门、芽单胞菌门相对丰度显著高于施氮草地土壤（P<0.01）,其他各门细菌施氮与未施氮处理间未呈现出显著差异。表征网络的正向连接比、平均路径长度、平均聚类系数和模块性均为施氮处理显著低于未施氮处理（P<0.001）。在土壤的分子生态网络中,未施氮处理有16个模块枢纽（Zi>2.5,Pi≤0.62）,施氮处理有6个模块枢纽,均属于酸杆菌门、芽单胞菌门和放线菌门。施氮导致土壤微生物种间关系改变,进而改变土壤整体生态网络。【结论】 施氮降低了退化草地土壤网络结构的复杂程度和紧密性;降低了退化草地土壤中的酸杆菌门和绿弯菌门相对丰度,提高了变形菌门、放线菌门和芽单胞菌门相对丰度。土壤中微生物关键物种（OTU）由16个（未施氮）减少为6个,且二者土壤中均没有重叠OTU,这表明施氮调控微生物群落网络的关键物种,进而改变其分子生态网络结构。     

Geomorphic estimates of the stability of a uranium mill tailings containment cover: Nabarlek,Northern Territory,Australia

The geomorphic stability of the cover (cap) over the pit of Nabarlek Uranium Mine in Arnhem Land, Northern Australia, is important because radon gas and other long-lived radio-nuclides arising from mill tailings must be contained for long periods. The primary agents of denudation in the region's seasonally wet tropical environment of low relief are rainwash, overland flow, rilling and gullying. Other agents of erosion are of less concern, although biogenic agents of erosion (e.g. termites and windthrow) may enhance fluvial activity. A combination of modelling, using the Universal Soil Loss Equation, and analogue estimates of denudation and thresholds of rilling and gullying from areas with similar geology, topography and climate are used to estimate the stability of the Nabarlek cover. Denudation rates are conservatively estimated at less than 100mm ky⁻¹. It is suggested that with some minor design modifications the cover will retain its integrity for several thousand years.     

绿洲城市自然景观空间格局与城市生态分析——以乌鲁木齐为例

由于建立在荒漠背景之上,绿洲城市生态环境比较脆弱,城市自然景观在城市生态建设中的作用尤为重要,本文以乌鲁木齐为研究对象,借用景观生态学的方法,在ERDASINMAGINE和ARCVIEW软件的支持下进行景观要素的划分,从绿地斑块组成和格局以及城市自然廊道系统方面分析乌鲁木齐市的景观空间格局的特点及生态环境现状,提出:绿洲城市生态建设中应注重绿地系统内部结构和空间布局的调整,扩大绿地景观面积,适当提高林地比重,增加绿地组成多样性;改建河流廊道,充分发挥河流廊道的生态效益。     

森林生态资源价值补偿机制的探讨

笔者在相关研究成果的基础上,对建立森林生态资源价值补偿机制所涉及到的有关问题进行了讨论,提出了价值补偿的4种途径,即自我补偿、行业补偿、社会补偿以及国家和地方补偿等;指出了森林生态资源价值补偿的具体办法和措施,这些办法和措施带有明显的过渡性质,并呈现多样化趋势;针对湖北森林生态资源价值补偿工作的现状,提出了建立补偿机制的应对策略,“局部补偿带动全面补偿”,“先易后难,分步实施”等是应对策略的核心;强调全社会广泛的参与和积极配合,是补偿机制能否顺利建立及有效运行的关键,只有调动全社会的力量,资源价值补偿的目的才能最终实现。     

利用OWA和电路模型优化黄河流域甘肃段生态安全格局

从生态系统服务视角出发优化生态安全格局,对于维护区域生态安全格局,确保经济社会稳定发展意义重大,但现有研究缺乏对多种生态系统服务之间权衡情景下生态系统状况的认知。该研究以黄河流域甘肃段为研究单元,在测度2019年食物供给、碳固定、产水量、土壤保持及生境质量5种典型生态系统服务的基础上,利用有序加权平均(Ordered Weighted Averaging,OWA)模型识别出生态系统服务权衡度最高的优先保护区作为生态源地,利用最小累积阻力模型和电路模型识别生态廊道和战略点区域,进行生态安全格局构建与优化。结果表明:黄河流域甘肃段生态源地斑块共计169个,总面积27 460.56 km2,约占研究区总面积的19.2%。5种生态系统服务之间在全流域尺度下呈现出协同关系,甘南高原、陇中、陇东黄土高原由于受地形气候和植被覆盖以及人类活动的影响,生态系统服务差异显著。利用电路模型提取得到441条生态廊道,总体呈网状分布,贯穿东西,识别出生态节点49个。提出构建"四轴、六区、多中心"的黄河流域甘肃段生态安全空间布局优化体系,形成功能化、网络化的区域生态空间优化结构。     

生态位构建理论及其应用

总结了生态位构建在自然选择压的改变、非基因继承、基因具有间接的相互作用和表型的双重角色等4个方面的理论;探讨了生态位构建在进化生物学、生态学协同进化、人类基因遗传和文化过程的关系、管理科学等相关研究领域的应用情况和发展前景.     

绥芬河珠星雅罗鱼溯河生殖群体结构特征研究

珠星雅罗鱼Leuciscus haronensis（Gunther）为鲤科鱼类中少有的溯河洄游类型。本研究采集了880尾2009年度绥芬河溯河洄游生殖群体样本,分析了溯河期、产卵期以及个体的体长、体重组成、年龄与生长、生殖能力、成熟系数、肥满度等主要生态学特征及种群数量。绥芬河珠星雅罗鱼生殖群体分三批溯河繁殖,即3月中...     

Using knowledge of behaviour and optic physiology to improve fish passage through culverts

Culverts reduce connectivity for aquatic animals by being both a hydraulic and physical barrier. However, altered light intensity may also be a behavioural barrier to fish movement, especially for diurnal species that have adapted to moving when it is light. We propose that knowledge of optical physiology and fish behaviour, two important mechanisms underpinning movement, can inform efforts to improve fish movement through culverts. We firstly review the sensory systems of fish with reference to visual sense and explore how this affects fish movement. We then highlight theoretical knowledge that can help us understand fish behaviour and the potential mismatch between the conditions under which fish have evolved and altered conditions within culverts. We describe potential knowledge gaps and directions for future research to improve our understanding of how culverts may affect fish movement. Finally, we explore the potential costs and ecological benefits of different mitigation options to identify those with the most promise for managing the light environment in culverts to facilitate movement. For researchers and managers exploring this subject, we suggest an approach that: (a) identifies light requirements for movement by different species, (b) tests movement under different light conditions and (c) considers an integrative assessment method for testing fish behaviour around culverts. Understanding how optical physiology, fish behaviour and culvert design influence fish movement can improve connectivity for a range of species.