Using genetic tools to inform conservation of fragmented populations of Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) across their range in China

A herd of 15 Chinese elephants attracted international attention during their 2021 northward trek, motivating the government to propose establishment of an Asian elephant national park. However, planning is hampered by a lack of genetic information on the remaining populations in China. We collected DNA from 497 dung samples from all 5 populations encompassing the entire range of elephants in China and used mitochondrial and microsatellite markers to investigate their genetic and demographic structure. We identified 237 unique genotypes (153 females, 84 males), representing 81% of the known population. However, the effective population size was small (28, range 25–32). Historic demographic contraction appeared to account for low haplotype diversity (H_d = 0.235), but moderate nucleotide and nuclear diversity (π = 0.6%, H_e = 0.55) was attributable to post-bottleneck recovery involving recent population expansion plus historical gene exchange with elephants in Myanmar, Lao PDR, and Vietnam. The 5 populations fell into 3 clusters, with Nangunhe elephants differing consistently from the other 4 populations (F_ST = 0.23); elephants from Mengyang, Simao, and Jiangcheng belonged to a single population (henceforth, MSJ), and differed from the Shangyong population (F_ST = 0.11). Interpopulation genetic variation reflected isolation by distance and female-biased dispersal. Chinese elephants should be managed as 2 distinct units: Nangunhe and another combining Shangyong and MSJ; their long-term viability will require restoring gene flow between Shangyong and MSJ, and between elephants in China and neighboring countries. Our results have the potential to inform conservation planning for an iconic megafaunal species.     

短期围栏封育对高寒草甸植物群落及土壤理化性质的影响

充分了解围栏封育对植物群落及土壤理化性质的影响,是合理制定草甸恢复和利用相关政策、促进当地畜牧业经济可持续发展的关键。本研究通过对西藏三江并流区封育2年的高寒草甸的群落样方调查与土壤理化性质测定,结果表明,比较自由放牧,围封后地上和地下生物量分别提高26.24%和8.94%,但物种多样性指数略有下降;围封后土壤电导率、盐度和总溶解固体分别下降26.50%,29.03%,30.15%;围栏内地上生物量与土壤盐度、总溶解固体、电导率呈显著正相关(P<0.05),地下生物量与硝态氮、温度呈显著正相关(P<0.05);围栏外地下生物量与介电常数、体积含水率呈显著负相关(P<0.05),与铵态氮呈显著正相关(P<0.05)。研究结果表明,2年短期围封对高寒草甸植物群落及其土壤理化性质均有一定改善,可以作为应对草甸退化的干扰手段与管理措施。     

放牧和模拟降水对短花针茅荒漠草原植物功能群多样性的影响

为探究放牧和降水变化对植物功能群的影响,本文以内蒙古短花针茅(Stipa breviflora)荒漠草原为研究对象,开展了野外控制试验。试验设置围封和适度放牧,分别进行模拟降水处理(减少降水量50%、自然降水、增加降水量50%、增加降水量100%),并在每年8月观测植物群落组成。结果表明：减水会降低植物功能群多样性、生物量和物种数量,增水有利于植物功能群多样性的提高。多年生丛生禾草多样性随降水量的增加而升高。同时,对降水梯度和功能群多样性进行拟合分析发现,降水量低于年降水量16%则不利于除灌木、半灌木外其他功能群植物的生长。围封草地增水67%～79%时,功能群的Simpson指数、Shannon-Wiener指数、Pielou指数值均较高,功能群多样性较高;由于放牧提高了植物的水分利用效率,放牧地各指数在增水26%～50%时较高,功能群多样性较高。综上,适度的放牧及水分补充有利于提高植物功能群多样性。     

生物多样性与地形及土壤因素对坡面产流产沙的耦合影响

生物多样性关系到生态系统的功能,而坡度和土壤因素是影响坡面产流产沙的重要因子。本研究基于黄土丘陵区生物多样性,并引入坡度、降雨前土壤含水量和土壤容重,探究其与坡面产流产沙总量的耦合关系。通过野外人工降雨试验,记录草本、灌木和乔木群落下的产流时间和产流产沙总量,并开展土壤植被调查。结果表明,与草本和乔木群落相比,灌木群落在延长产流开始时间和降低产沙总量上表现更优;植被群落功能离散度指数(FDiv)对产沙总量影响最大,Simpson指数(D)对产流总量影响最大,坡度仍然是不可忽视的第二重要影响因素;产流总量与坡度、土壤容重、D和功能丰富度指数(FRic)的回归关系优于产流总量分别与其的回归关系;产沙总量与坡度和FDiv指数的回归关系优于产沙总量分别与其的回归关系。植被保护与坡度改善将是该区水土保持规划工作的重点。     

刈割强度对大针茅草原植物群落特征和土壤理化性质的影响

探究不同刈割强度对大针茅典型草原植物群落特征以及土壤理化性质的影响,可为大针茅草原制定合理科学的刈割制度提供理论依据。本研究以大针茅典型草原为对象,于2020年在内蒙古锡林浩特市毛登牧场刈割实验平台进行野外植被调查和取样。该实验平台于2014年建立,以不刈割为对照（CK）,设置轻度（LM）、中度（MM）及重度刈割（HM）3个处理。本研究通过计算物种重要值和多样性指数,测定植物群落地上、地下生物量以及土壤理化性质,探究群落特征与土壤理化性质的关系。结果表明：1）与不刈割相比,不同刈割强度均增加了新物种,且中度刈割的物种数最多;与不刈割相比,不同刈割强度均显著增加了群落的丰富度和Shannon-Wiener指数,且轻度刈割显著增加了优势度和均匀度指数,表明轻度刈割最有利于群落多样性的维持;不同刈割强度对大针茅草原的生产力均无显著影响;2）土壤全碳、全氮和pH均在中度刈割时最高,且显著高于不刈割,表明中度刈割对土壤养分有积极影响;3）硝态氮是影响草地生产力的主要土壤因子,土壤含水量是影响草地群落多样性的主要土壤因子。本研究可为大针茅典型草原群落结构、物种多样性以及生产力等方面的研究提供重要参...     

小麦饲料中添加木聚糖酶对高原型藏羊胃肠道发育的影响

旨在分析小麦粉中添加木聚糖酶(xylanase, Xyl)对藏羊羔羊胃肠道发育的影响。选择同质性良好的2～3月龄高原型藏羊公羔60只,随机分为两组,每组30只,各组内设置5个重复。对照组(Control group)饲喂不含木聚糖酶的日粮,试验组(Test group)饲喂含0.2%木聚糖酶的日粮,试验分为预饲期10 d和正试期90 d。饲养试验结束时,两组各随机选取5只羔羊进行屠宰,采集消化道组织置于多聚甲醛固定,并收集血液、瘤胃和空肠内容物。结果显示：1)与对照组相比,试验组瘤胃的角质层厚度、颗粒层厚度,瓣胃的乳头长度、乳头宽度、角质层厚度、颗粒层厚度,皱胃的黏膜厚度以及十二指肠的肌层厚度,空肠的绒毛高度、黏膜厚度,回肠的肌层厚度显著提高(P<0.05);2)对照组瘤胃和血清的LPS含量显著高于试验组(P<0.05);3)相较于对照组,试验组瘤胃的糜蛋白酶、胰蛋白酶、脂肪酶活性以及空肠的糜蛋白酶、α-淀粉酶活性显著提高(P<0.05);4)试验组瘤胃的总抗氧化能力水平、谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶及过氧化氢酶活性以及空肠的总抗氧化能力水平、谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶、超氧化物歧化酶...     

The effect of remifentanil infusion on sevoflurane minimum alveolar concentration–no movement (MACNM) and bispectral index in dogs

ObjectiveTo determine the effect of remifentanil infusion on the minimum alveolar concentration of sevoflurane preventing movement (SEVOMAC_NM) and bispectral index (BIS) in dogs.Study designProspective, unmasked study.AnimalsA total of 10 adult Beagle dogs weighing 9.0 ± 1.1 kg.MethodsDogs were anesthetized with sevoflurane and baseline SEVOMAC_NM was determined. Remifentanil was infused at 5, 10 and 20 μg kg^–1 hour^–1, in sequence, with 20 minutes washout between infusions. Variables monitored throughout anesthesia included heart rate (HR), oscillometric blood pressure, end-tidal partial pressure of carbon dioxide, end-tidal sevoflurane concentration (Fe′Sevo) and BIS. SEVOMAC_NM after remifentanil infusion (SEVOMAC_NM-REMI) determination started 20 minutes after the start of each infusion. Venous blood samples were collected for plasma remifentanil concentration determination at baseline, SEVOMAC_NM-REMI determination time points, and 20 minutes after each infusion was stopped. A mixed model analysis was used to determine the effect of remifentanil infusion on response variables. The relationships between BIS and Fe′Sevo, plasma remifentanil concentrations and the percentage decrease in baseline SEVOMAC_NM were evaluated (p < 0.05).ResultsThe overall SEVOMAC_NM at baseline was 2.47 ± 0.11%. Addition of remifentanil at all infusion rates significantly decreased SEVOMAC_NM, but the medium and high doses resulted in significantly greater decreases in SEVOMAC_NM than the lower dose. There was no difference in SEVOMAC_NM percentage change between infusions 10 and 20 μg kg^–1 hour^–1. Plasma remifentanil concentrations were significantly different in all infusion rates. Baseline BIS value was 70 ± 1 and was lower than the BIS values recorded during all remifentanil infusions. BIS values were not significantly different among infusion rates. HR was lower and mean arterial pressure was higher during remifentanil infusions than at baseline.Conclusions and clinical relevanceAll remifentanil infusions decreased SEVOMAC_NM in dogs. Remifentanil infusion at any rate studied did not reduce BIS values.     

条形浅基础极限承载力的滑移线解

当网格剖分足够密时，采用差分解法可得到具有足够精度的有重土静力极限平衡数值解。根据大量计算分析，揭示了有效旁侧荷载宽度L、无量纲极限承载力 / 与内摩擦角 、无量纲参数λ的内在规律，据此将滑移线法数值解拟合为简洁的解析表达式，并在理论上证明了这一规律。通过与几种经典承载力公式的比较和分析，综合对该拟合公式的可靠度分析，论证了其正确性和可行性。     

Ye Yaxin, Jin Jin, Wang Wenjing, Xu Yu

研究Nacl浓度与小麦幼苗生长分裂的关系及对小麦幼苗的遗传损伤。实验结果表明：小麦幼苗生长在含NaCl的介质中，其幼苗生长被抑制，根尖细胞有丝分裂指数下降,幼苗的分裂指数、遗传损伤与盐浓度间有一定的线性关系。结果显示：有丝分裂指数与处理浓度间呈负相关。这表明：NaCl浓度高或作用时间延长时对小麦细胞具有遗传学毒性，小麦幼根细胞有丝分裂指数可以作为监测环境中NaCl含量的定量指标。     

Safeguarding Capability Index System of Regional Sustainable Development

According to the new requirement of sustainable development in the new stage, this paper puts forward the definition of the safeguarding capacity of regional sustainable development and uses some statistical methods of frequency statistics and principal component analysis to construct the index system of safeguarding capacity. Then it takes the data of the Three Gorges reservoir area for example to make empirical analysis, and provides efficient measurement tools to further measure the regional sustainability together with its safeguarding capacity, and therefore helps the government and the relevant organizations to establish more scientific policies of sustainable development.