围栏封育对温性草甸草原植物群落构成及生态位特征的影响

为明确温性草甸草原群落构成和生态位对围栏封育的响应,运用了Levins生态位指数和Pianka生态位重叠指数以及物种多样性指数分析围栏内外植物种对资源的利用情况和种间竞争情况。结果表明:围栏封育显著促进退化草地植被恢复,植被地上生物量和地下生物量分别较对照提高255.06%,51.06%;物种多样性与丰富度分别增加了10.36%,10.34%。围封样地内生态位宽度排名前2位的植物为囊花鸢尾和羊草,生态位宽度值分别为0.921和0.873;自由放牧样地生态位宽度排在前2的植物为蒲公英和寸草苔,生态位宽度值依次为0.912和0.791。围栏封育可以显著提高草地生产力,并且对物种多样性也有一定的促进作用,是应对退化温性草甸草原恢复的有效措施;与自由放牧相比,围栏封育增加了群落植物种整体生态位重叠值和种间竞争。     

Facilitation of an Exotic Grass Through Nitrogen Enrichment by an Exotic Legume

Invasive species control requires understanding the mechanisms behind their establishment and their interactions with other species. One potential ecosystem alteration influencing the establishment and spread of invasive species is anthropogenic nitrogen enrichment, from sources like introduced or invasive nitrogen (N)-fixing legumes, which can alter competition between native, non-native, and invasive plants. Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis) and N-fixing yellow sweet clover (Melilotus officinalis) are exotic to the Great Plains and are currently invading and degrading native rangelands by altering ecosystem processes and displacing native plants. Therefore, we investigated how N enrichment from yellow sweet clover affects the aboveground biomass production of Kentucky bluegrass and western wheatgrass (Pascopyrum smithii), a native cool-season grass, the ranges of which overlap in the northern Great Plains. In a controlled greenhouse environment, we conditioned experimental pots by growing yellow sweet clover and terminating each plant after 8 wk. Conditioned soils contained ≈ 340% more plant-available N than untreated soils 2 wk after yellow sweet clover death. We then grew Kentucky bluegrass and western wheatgrass transplant seedlings in interspecific and intraspecific pairs in pots conditioned either with or without yellow sweet clover for 12 wk. Aboveground biomass production of both Kentucky bluegrass and western wheatgrass grown in interspecific and intraspecific pairs increased in conditioned soils. However, when grown together in conditioned pots, the increase in Kentucky bluegrass biomass relative to untreated pots (520%) was double that of the increase in western wheatgrass biomass (260%). Our results reveal that Kentucky bluegrass can use increased soil N to produce proportionally more aboveground biomass than western wheatgrass, a native grass competitor. Thus, our results suggest yellow sweet clover and other sources of N enrichment may facilitate the invasion of Kentucky bluegrass.     

Investigations on the efficacy of routinely used phenotypic methods compared to genotypic approaches for the identification of staphylococcal species isolated from companion animals in Irish veterinary hospitals

Background

Identification of Staphylococci to species level in veterinary microbiology is important to inform therapeutic intervention and management. We report on the efficacy of three routinely used commercial phenotypic methods for staphylococcal species identification, namely API Staph 32 (bioMérieux), RapID (Remel) and Staph-Zym (Rosco Diagnostica) compared to genotyping as a reference method to identify 52 staphylococcal clinical isolates (23 coagulase positive; 29 coagulase negative) from companion animals in Irish veterinary hospitals.

Results

Genotyping of a 412 bp fragment of the staphylococcal tuf gene and coagulase testing were carried out on all 52 veterinary samples along with 7 reference strains. In addition, genotyping of the staphylococcal rpoB gene, as well as PCR-RFLP of the pta gene, were performed to definitively identify members of the Staphylococcus intermedius group (SIG). The API Staph 32 correctly identified all S. aureus isolates (11/11), 83% (10/12) of the SIG species, and 66% (19/29) of the coagulase negative species. RapID and Staph-Zym correctly identified 61% (14/23) and 0% (0/23) respectively of the coagulase-positives, and 10% (3/29) and 3% (1/29) respectively of the coagulase-negative species.

Conclusions

Commercially available phenotypic species identification tests are inadequate for the correct identification of both coagulase negative and coagulase positive staphylococcal species from companion animals. Genotyping using the tuf gene sequence is superior to phenotyping for identification of staphylococcal species of animal origin. However, use of PCR-RFLP of pta gene or rpoB sequencing is recommended as a confirmatory method for discriminating between SIG isolates.     

放牧季节及放牧强度对高寒草地植物多样性的影响

在海北高寒草地进行了7年轻度放牧、中度放牧和重度放牧试验,并用围栏控制放牧进行对照.试验显示,物种丰富度和均匀度在夏季牧场和冬季牧场出现不同的变化.在夏季牧场,物种丰富度随着放牧强度的增强而增强,而均匀度则随着放牧强度的增强而下降;在冬季牧场,物种丰富度和放牧之间呈现驼峰反应模式,说明植物的丰富度在中度放牧强度时达到最大.不同牧场生物多样性变化的模式说明夏季牧场放牧强度不足.     

贵阳市高尔夫俱乐部草坪基地建植与管理

通过贵阳市高尔夫球场草皮基地的建植和养护管理 ,从中总结了过渡气候带建植草坪应注意的一些问题。根据所建草坪的功能 ,选择相适应的草种应用于高尔夫球场。并对其适应性进行了研究     

干草原牧草贮藏碳水化合物含量变化规律的研究

１９９３年在内蒙古正蓝旗于草原对１０种牧草贮藏碳水化合物含量的变化规律进行了研究。在植物生长期内，每１５天采样一次，分析牧草茎基部和根部的总糖和还原糖含量。试验结果表明，牧草在返青时都要消耗贮藏碳水化合物，分蘖后开始积累贮藏碳水化合物，在拔节和抽穗时又要消耗贮藏碳水化合物，开花、结实后又积累贮藏碳水化合物。但有的牧草出现相反的情况。根据牧草贮藏碳水化合物含量变化的规律，作者对合理利用草地提出了一些意见和建议。     

升金湖消落带植被特征及与土壤特性的关系

探讨湖泊湿地土壤特性对植物多样性的影响,对于理解湿地植被分布及功能的维持机制具有重要意义.在安徽升金湖消落带沿水位梯度设立研究样方,测定植物的盖度、地上生物量以及土壤含水量、有机碳、全氮、全磷等指标,并结合Pearson相关性分析、冗余分析(redundancy analysis,RDA)探讨了土壤特性对植物多样性的影响.结果表明,随着地下水位上升,土壤含水量与全氮含量显著增加(P<0.05),土壤有机碳和土壤全磷含量显著降低(P<0.05).土壤有机碳、全磷含量以及C?N与土壤含水量极显著负相关(P<0.001),土壤全氮、N?P以及C?P与土壤含水量极显著正相关(P<0.001).土壤含水量、土壤全氮含量以及C?P和N?P是影响消落带植被物种多样性变化的关键因子,共同解释了变化的91.85％.总之,土壤含水量可以直接影响消落带植物多样性,也可以通过改变土壤中氮元素的转化和磷元素的有效性间接影响物种多样性.     

化隆县草地鼠虫危害调查

１９９７￣１９９８年对化隆县草场上发生的鼠虫危害进行了调查研究,发现５大类草场都有害鼠和蝗虫分布,其中,在山地草甸和山地草原上较多,全县鼠害草场面积２２５０６ｈｍ＾２,虫害草场面积２１．９８６ｈｍ＾２,高原鼢鼠和高原鼠兔是优势害鼠,狭翅雏蝗和红翅皱膝蝗是优势害虫。高原鼠兔密度为２．５只／ｈｍ＾２。高原鼢鼠为３只／ｈｍ＾２;蝗虫平均密度为２１头／ｈｍ＾２。     

In vitro effect of recombinant human tumor necrosis factor-alpha on canine neutrophil apoptosis

Neutrophils (polymorphonuclear leukocytes: PMNs) are essential for the host defense against various infections and are often injurious to the host, causing inflammatory diseases where tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) is suggested to play an important role. Since an effect of TNF-alpha on canine PMN apoptosis has not been studied, canine PMNs were stimulated with recombinant human (rh)TNF-alpha in the present study to investigate the effect of TNF-alpha on canine PMN apoptosis. PMN apoptosis and function to produce ROS were assessed by flow cytometry. Delayed apoptosis was observed in the PMNs treated with rhTNF-alpha at 100 ng/ml, accompanied by retention of capability to produce ROS. However, PMN apoptosis was accelerated by rhTNF-alpha combined with cycloheximide. Therefore, it is indicated that TNF-alpha is able to activate anti- and pro-apoptotic pathways in PMNs and that the inhibition of PMN apoptosis by TNF-alpha requires protein synthesis in the PMNs.     

A morphological analysis of the skull size and shape of Kerivoulinae (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae) from Vietnam

Southeast Asia is a region of high biodiversity, containing species of plants and animals that are yet to be discovered. In this region, bats of the subfamily Kerivoulinae are widespread and diverse with six species recorded in Vietnam. However, the taxonomy of the Kerivoulinae in Asia is complicated. In our study, we used diagnostic characters and multivariate analysis to determine morphological differences between the genera Kerivoula and Phoniscus. We showed that the two genera are distinguishable by the size of second upper incisors, the shape of skull, nasal sinus, canines, second upper and lower premolars. In addition, the two genera can be osteometrically separated by measurements of the braincase height, interorbital width and shape of anterior palatal emargination. Our data clearly revealed the morphological variations in the skull shape of Kerivoula hardwickii in Vietnam. This suggests a possible separation into three morphotypes, representing cryptic species supported by statistical differences with wide variation in skull shape, size and teeth. These results demonstrated Kerivoula hardwickii can be separated three subspecies, and the result will serve as the basis for the future assessment and classification of this group in Southeast Asia.