Analysis of genetic diversity in Bolivian llama populations using microsatellites

South American camelids (SACs) have a major role in the maintenance and potential future of rural Andean human populations. More than 60% of the 3.7 million llamas living worldwide are found in Bolivia. Due to the lack of studies focusing on genetic diversity in Bolivian llamas, this analysis investigates both the genetic diversity and structure of 12 regional groups of llamas that span the greater part of the range of distribution for this species in Bolivia. The analysis of 42 microsatellite markers in the considered regional groups showed that, in general, there were high levels of polymorphism (a total of 506 detected alleles; average PIC across per marker: 0.66), which are comparable with those reported for other populations of domestic SACs. The estimated diversity parameters indicated that there was high intrapopulational genetic variation (average number of alleles and average expected heterozygosity per marker: 12.04 and 0.68, respectively) and weak genetic differentiation among populations (F_ST range: 0.003–0.052). In agreement with these estimates, Bolivian llamas showed a weak genetic structure and an intense gene flow between all the studied regional groups, which is due to the exchange of reproductive males between the different flocks. Interestingly, the groups for which the largest pairwise F_ST estimates were observed, Sud Lípez and Nor Lípez, showed a certain level of genetic differentiation that is probably due to the pattern of geographic isolation and limited communication infrastructures of these southern localities. Overall, the population parameters reported here may serve as a reference when establishing conservation policies that address Bolivian llama populations.     

Genetic diversity decreases as population density declines: Implications of temporal variation in mitochondrial haplotype frequencies in a natural population of Tscherskia triton

Although the spatial genetic differentiation that occurs in animal populations has been extensively studied, information on temporal variations in genetic structure and diversity is still lacking, especially for animals with oscillating populations. In the present study, we used the mtDNA D‐loop sequence to assess the temporal genetic variation in samples from six successive years for the greater long‐tailed hamster, Tscherskia triton. Sampling was carried out between 1998 and 2003 in cropland on the North China Plain, China. A total of 108 individuals were analyzed. The temporal samples showed a high level of genetic diversity. Substantial genetic changes in haplotype frequencies over time were detected for the hamster population. Random genetic drift and migration are likely to be the major factors responsible for the observed temporal pattern. The genetic diversity of the hamster population was higher in years with higher population density, and lower in years with lower population density. The result supports our hypothesis that genetic diversity decreases when population density declines in animals whose population oscillates greatly between years. The combined effects of inbreeding and genetic drift caused by reproduction, dispersal and population size might play important roles in the observed changes in genetic structure and diversity between years.     

野菊和神农香菊毛状体及叶片表面分泌物的比较

本研究以野菊(Dendranthema indicum)和神农香菊(D.indicumvar.aromaticum)为研究对象,对比分析了其叶片的表皮毛形态、密度以及叶片表面分泌物种类和含量。结果表明,其叶片表皮毛主要有两种类型,一类是没有分泌功能的T-形非腺毛,一类是具有分泌功能的头状腺毛。T-形非腺毛在上下表皮的密度差异不大,而头状腺毛差异较大,主要集中在叶片的下表皮。两种植物材料叶片表面分泌物里共分析出73种化合物,其中大部分为萜类及其衍生物,共有的化合物有18种;野菊和神农香菊中分别分析出48、43种化合物,分别占分泌物总相对含量的90.96%和84.33%。     

Practical aspects of genetic management of small populations – The Olkuska sheep example

Abstract

The study aimed to identify important factors threatening genetic diversity within small sheep populations, and to propose sustainable management strategies. Demographic evolution, genetic diversity and current genetic management practices were analyzed in a population of Polish Olkuska sheep. Unbalanced contributions of individual rams to the next generation were observed due to differences in the period of their utilization, the number of progeny and the number of daughters used in reproduction. Matings between closely related animals were common. Pedigree completeness was satisfactory and inbreeding coefficient was high, 11.71% for lambs born in 2012. Relatively high values of potential and realized coancestries within flocks showed the importance of keeping more than one ram. The genetic conservation index and average relatedness coefficient, and their comparison between regions was helpful in considering management options. The information on genetic relationships and genetic conservation parameters of rams should be provided to breeders with simple interpretations.     

野生硬雀麦栽培驯化研究

通过硬雀麦Bromus rigidus与3种一年生黑麦草Lolium multiflorum和莜麦Avena nuda的品种比较试验,结果表明:硬雀麦产草量达76 095.0 kg/hm2,仅次于阿伯德多花黑麦草(77 589.0 kg/hm2),略高于邦德一年生黑麦草(74 212.5 kg/hm2),三者之间差异不显著(P>0.05);高于赣选1号多花黑麦草(67 033.5 kg/hm2)和莜麦(66 697.5 kg/hm2),差异极显著(P<0.01)。硬雀麦的播种量以73.3125 kg/hm2,行距15 cm为最佳,平均产量可达98 227.5 kg/hm2。硬雀麦可作为过渡带冬闲田种植的优良牧草。     

草原毛虫幼虫的食性及其空间格局

以禾草及嵩草在高寒草甸中的优势度为指标,研究草原毛虫(Gynaephora alpherakii)的食性、空间格局及其与植物群落的相关性。结果表明:草原毛虫的食性具有较强的选择性,其喜食程度排序为莎草科(Cyperaceae)>禾本科(Gramineae)>杂类草,特别对嵩草属(Kobresia Willd.)植物表现出强烈的偏好和倾向性;草原毛虫的分布型受制于其喜食植物的空间格局,在总体上呈聚集分布,但在小尺度下则常呈均匀分布;虫口密度依赖于喜食植物的丰富度和多样性,随着喜食植物的增加而显著上升,随着植物多样性的减少而显著下降;草原毛虫在高寒草甸生态系统中具有平衡物种关系、调控群落结构的功能;采用定向改变草地植物组成的农艺措施实现对草原毛虫数量的人工调控是实施虫害生态防治的有效途径。     

毛条灌木草场建立方法的研究

通过对毛条灌木林进行平茬，在人工灌溉条件下观测平茬毛条生物产量的变化，认为毛条平茬后具有很强的萌蘖能力，可产生原生枝条数4．1倍的萌生枝条；每年灌溉1次，灌水量1050m^3／hm^2，既可维持平茬毛条林的正常生长；在4株／m^2的密度条件下，平茬毛条的年产草量(干质量)可达538g／m^2，植被盖度可达78％以上，达到了经济效益和生态效益的共同提高；根据平茬毛条的生长变化规律，可初步确定冬春季节和夏季干旱时期为毛条灌木草场适宜的放牧时间。     

哈尔滨市不同生境类型春季麻雀种群密度差异分析

城市中不同功能区内的生境环境各不相同,常见的功能区为景区、人工林、校园及居民区,研究城市不同生境类型对麻雀种群数量的影响可以对城市进一步建设和管理提供参考。本试验选取哈尔滨市太阳岛部分景区、东北林业大学林场、哈尔滨医科大学校园及哈尔滨市南岗区大众新城居民小区作为研究点。通过样方与样线法采集不同生境下的麻雀数量,使用SPSS 19. 1软件进行分析得到麻雀的种群密度。通过t检验得出结论为:城市不同功能区内的同一绿地种类中麻雀种群密度之间差异极显著,就均值来看麻雀种群密度大小依次为:太阳岛、大众新城、哈医大校园、东北林业大学林场,因此相对来说麻雀更喜欢太阳岛(风景区),其次是大众新城(居民区),然后是哈医大(高校校园),最后是校林场(人工林)。同时,通过t检验得到高校校园功能区中不同绿地种类的麻雀种群密度间差异也极显著,结果中均值显示麻雀种群密度从大到小依次为:林草混合地、林荫路、草地,因此相对来说麻雀更喜欢林草混合地,其次是林荫路,最后是草地。     

Impact of climate change on the small mammal community of the Yukon boreal forest

Long‐term monitoring is critical to determine the stability and sustainability of wildlife populations, and if change has occurred, why. We have followed population density changes in the small mammal community in the boreal forest of the southern Yukon for 46 years with density estimates by live trapping on 3–5 unmanipulated grids in spring and autumn. This community consists of 10 species and was responsible for 9% of the energy flow in the herbivore component of this ecosystem from 1986 to 1996, but this increased to 38% from 2003 to 2014. Small mammals, although small in size, are large in the transfer of energy from plants to predators and decomposers. Four species form the bulk of the biomass. There was a shift in the dominant species from the 1970s to the 2000s, with Myodes rutilus increasing in relative abundance by 22% and Peromyscus maniculatus decreasing by 22%. From 2007 to 2018, Myodes comprised 63% of the catch, Peromyscus 20%, and Microtus species 17%. Possible causes of these changes involve climate change, which is increasing primary production in this boreal forest, and an associated increase in the abundance of 3 rodent predators, marten (Martes americana), ermine (Mustela ermine) and coyotes (Canis latrans). Following and understanding these and potential future changes will require long‐term monitoring studies on a large scale to measure metapopulation dynamics. The small mammal community in northern Canada is being affected by climate change and cannot remain stable. Changes will be critically dependent on food–web interactions that are species‐specific.     

辽东半岛结缕草无性系种群构件生物量相关模型及形成规律

按生物构件的理论,分析了辽东半岛结缕草无性系种群叶片、叶鞘、分株、匍匐茎各构件生物量以及总生物量间的相关模型和构件生物量的分配、形成规律,探讨了其不同生物量基于种群大小(密度)的形成规律。结果表明,辽东半岛结缕草无性系种群的总生物量及各构件生物量均随着种群密度的增大而以线性函数增加,各构件生物量与总生物量以及各构件生物量间亦均以线性函数增加,生物量增加比率均表现为:分株>匍匐茎,叶鞘>叶片,总生物量增量的27.2%分配给叶片,29.2%分配给叶鞘,43.6%分配给匍匐茎,叶片,叶鞘和匍匐茎构件生物量的积累是按1∶1.1∶1.6比例形成。