Three SNPs within exons of INHA and ACVR2B genes are significantly associated with litter size in Dazu black goats

The aim of this study was to analyse the association between single-nucleotide polymorphisms within INHA and ACVR2B and litter size in Dazu black goats. In total, twenty-two SNPs were genotyped in 190 individuals by SNaPshot and resequencing. The results showed that three SNPs (SNP_1, SNP_12 and SNP_13 in this study) were detected to have significant additive genetic effect on the recorded goat litter size (p < .05). The SNP_1 (NC_030809.1), a non-synonymous substitution of G for T at chr2-g. 28314990 in the exon 2 of INHA gene (NM_001285606.1), resulted in homozygote 2 (HOM2) contributed 0.25 and heterozygote (HET) contributed 0.12 larger litter than homozygote 1 (HOM1). Meanwhile, SNP_12 (Chr22-g. 11721225 A > T) and SNP_13 (Chr22-g. 11721227 A > C) (NC_030829.1) simultaneously mutated at the first and third position of a triplet AAA (lysine, K) in the exon 4 of ACVR2B gene (XM_018066623.1) had estimated genetic effects of HOM1 (0.00) and HOM2 (0.03) larger than HET (−0.12). In conclusion, one SNPs (chr2-g. 28314990 T > G) within the exon 2 of INHA and two SNPs (Chr22-g. 11721225 A > T and Chr22-g. 11721227 A > C) i n the exon 4 of ACVR2B gene were highly recommended as candidate markers of litter size in Dazu black goats. A large-scale association study to assess the impact of these variants on litter size is still necessary.     

Seasonal Losses of Surface Litter in Northern Great Plains Mixed-Grass Prairies

Surface litter protects rangeland soils against wind and water erosion and provides food and nesting materials for wildlife and insects. However, the ability of grassland systems to provide these services depends on the little studied topic of seasonal surface litter decomposition. Seasonal and annual surface litter decomposition rates were determined between 2014 and 2015 in central and western South Dakota at three mixed-grass prairie locations. Residue bags containing surface litter were placed in the field in late fall (1 November) of 2014 and removed after the winter (1 April), spring (1 July), and summer + fall seasons (1 November) of 2015. The litter was analyzed for total C, total N, acid detergent fiber (ADF), and acid detergent lignin (ADL). Average winter temperatures ranged from −5^oC to −15^oC, while summer temperatures ranged from 10^oC to 35^oC. Litter decomposition was lowest during the winter (0.57−0.86 g [kg × day]⁻¹) and greatest during the summer + fall (2.12−2.69 g [kg × day]⁻¹). Over the entire season, 40.8−62% of the surface litter decomposed. Winter litter decomposition was positively correlated with air temperature (r = 0.62, P < 0.01) and snow depth (r = 0.61, P < 0.01), and negatively correlated with C/N ratio (r = −0.65, P < 0.01), ADF (r = −0.35, P < 0.05), and ADL (r = −0.25, P < 0.05) concentrations. These findings indicate that winter decomposition cannot be ignored and that winter surface litter decomposition increases with snow depth.     

猪血浆转铁蛋白与部分经济性状关系的研究——Ⅰ. 多态性与产仔数和日增重的关系

用经改进的聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳铁染法,测定了二花脸猪血浆转铁蛋白多态类型,分析了其基因型频率和基因频率,并探讨了猪血浆转铁蛋白多态性与产仔性能和增重速度的相关性。     

羊草草原枯枝落叶中能量特征 分析

在草原生态系统中，以枯枝落叶为主体的能量的输入，积累和释放，是能量流动的主要环节。每年因植物的枯死，转移到枯枝落叶的能量为３９４９．６７９ＫＪ．ｍ６２．ａ，其季节变化呈指数形式。现存枯枝落叶中贮存的能量为３４２４．１０ＫＪ．ｍ＾２，经１年分解后，残留在枯枝落叶的能量为２２８２．４３ＫＪ．ｍ＾２，释放出的能量为１１４１．６０ＫＪ．ｍ＾２，能量释放的季节动态呈Ｓ型曲线。     

典型草原枯落物分解过程中官能团的动态特征

选择锡林浩特东部国家气候观象台的生态监测研究样地,对大针茅(Stipa grandis)、羊草(Leymus chinensis)、糙隐子草(Cleistogenes squarrosa)、知母(Anemarrhena asphodeloides)枯落物的化学结构特征进行阐释。结果表明:(1)枯落物分解速率呈先增大后减小的变化趋势,且知母枯落物分解速率高于大针茅、羊草和糙隐子草;枯落物总碳(TC)含量为富集-释放模式,在第120d时,知母枯落物TC含量高于其他3种植物。(2)大针茅、羊草、知母、糙隐子草枯落物所含的主要官能团为-OH;=C-H、-CH 2、-CH 3;C=O;C=O、C=C;C-O。(3)不同植物枯落物官能团含量在分解初期迅速减少,在分解后期减少趋势较为缓慢,与分解过程中枯落物的分解速率变化趋势一致;知母的含碳官能团含量在分解结束后最低,而羊草的则最大,且知母和糙隐子草损失量最大,与分解过程中枯落物TC含量的特征一致。(4)大针茅的支链化指数最大,羊草的最小;糙隐子草的芳香性指数最大,知母的最小。不同植物芳香性指数在分解初期迅速减少,在分解后期减少趋势较为缓慢,与分解速率变化趋势一致。     

内生真菌对高寒草地紫花针茅凋落物分解的影响

禾草内生真菌对于提高宿主植物对生物和非生物胁迫的耐性发挥着积极作用,然而,禾草内生真菌共生体凋落物分解对于草地生态系统养分循环的影响仍不清楚。本研究以紫花针茅为研究对象,比较带内生真菌（E+）与不带内生真菌（E-）植株凋落物分解过程中重量及全氮、木质素和纤维素含量,以及木质素∶N、纤维素∶N与全氮、木质素和纤维素残留率的变化,以期揭示内生真菌在紫花针茅凋落物分解过程中发挥的作用。主要结果如下：E+紫花针茅凋落物分解速率高于E-,具有更短的分解周期;随着时间的延长,紫花针茅凋落物木质素含量和木质素∶N由E+显著高于E-逐渐变为二者之间差异不显著,纤维素含量、纤维素∶N和纤维素残留率则逐渐变为E+显著低于E-;另外,随着分解时间延长,E+和E-凋落物全氮含量呈上升趋势,而全氮残留率呈现出下降-上升-下降的趋势,且后期E+显著低于E-。因此,内生真菌不同程度地促进了紫花针茅凋落物全氮、木质素和纤维素的降解。