Potential distribution modelling, niche characterization and conservation status assessment using GIS tools: a case study of Iberian Copris species

Dung beetle populations, in decline, play a critical ecological role in extensive pasture ecosystems by recycling organic matter; thus the importance of their conservation status. Presence data available for Copris hispanus (L.) and Copris lunaris (L.) (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae) in Comunidad de Madrid (CM), and BIOMAPPER, a GIS-based tool, was used to model their environmental niches. The so derived potential distributions of both species were used to exemplify the utility of this kind of methodologies in conservation assessment, as well as its capacity to describe the potential sympatry between two or more species. Both species, distributed along a Dry-Mediterranean to Wet-Alpine environmental conditions gradient, overlap in areas of moderate temperatures and mean annual precipitations in the north of CM. Copris are poorly conserved in the existing protected sites network, but protection provided by new sites included in the future Natura 2000 Network will improve the general conservation status of these species in CM.     

Microbial dynamics in an anaerobic soil slurry amended with glucose, and their dependence on geochemical processes

Under anoxic conditions, microbial activities interact closely with geochemical reactions and consequently affect soils, underlying aquifers, and the atmosphere. Recent studies have noted the relationships between microbial biodiversity and environmental conditions, but the dynamics of numerous coexisting microbial groups in connection with soil biogeochemical processes has never been investigated. In this work, we investigated the dynamics of anaerobic microbial populations using a new method combining PCR-SSCP and epifluorescent direct counts, and analysed these results in the light of biogeochemical changes. Batch incubations were performed over an 8-day period on a calcic cambisol (WRB) incubated anaerobically, either without amendment (treatment C) or after adding glucose (treatment +G). In treatment +G, the predominant microbial processes included (i) NO₃⁻ and NO₂⁻ reduction during the first 12 and 24 h of incubation respectively, (ii) fermentations during the first 6 days with non-symbiotic N₂ fixation between days 1 and 6, enabling bacterial growth during this period, and probably (iii) reduction of FeIII by H₂ oxidation throughout the incubation period. In treatment C, microbiological and geochemical measurements revealed no prominent microbial activities, and the PCR-SSCP method led to complex bacterial density profiles without prominent peaks. In treatment +G, 78 microbial groups were distinguished; these were divided into seven sets (A to G) according to their dynamics. Bacteria belonging to sets A, E and F grew during the period of intense fermentation and were probably able to fix N₂, as is the case with Clostridium butyricum (set A). Bacteria belonging to sets B, D, and G were probably able to reduce FeIII to FeII with concomitant oxidation of H₂ into H₃O⁺, but unable to fix N₂. Two microbial groups in these sets were closely related to Clostridium favosporum (set B) and the genus Bacillus (set B). Bacteria belonging to class C were probably only able to reduce N oxide(s). Lastly, we obtained two similar estimates of the gross increase in microbial biomass by taking into account either (i) the sum of gross increases for the 78 microbial groups, or (ii) the energy yield of catabolic reactions minus the energy requirement for N₂ fixation.     

兽医微生物学实验教学改革

为提高兽医微生物学实验教学质量,增强学生对实验操作技能的实践应用能力和创新能力,对传统实验课程教学进行探索性改革.通过加强实验室安全管理,改善实验室条件,优化课程体系,并将实验教学与科研创新有机结合,同时改革效果评价模式等,有效提高了兽医微生物实验教学质量,提高了学生学习积极性和自主性,提升了学生的综合实验素养.     

现代食品微生物学原理与应用研究生课程教学改革探索

现代食品微生物学原理及应用是食品科学与工程硕士研究生需要掌握的一门重要课程。在教学过程中,优化教学内容、创新教学方法、改革实验教学,有助于提高教学质量,培养研究生良好的科学精神和创新能力。     

Anticipating the species jump: surveillance for emerging viral threats

Zoonotic disease surveillance is typically triggered after animal pathogens have already infected humans. Are there ways to identify high‐risk viruses before they emerge in humans? If so, then how and where can identifications be made and by what methods? These were the fundamental questions driving a workshop to examine the future of predictive surveillance for viruses that might jump from animals to infect humans. Virologists, ecologists and computational biologists from academia, federal government and non‐governmental organizations discussed opportunities as well as obstacles to the prediction of species jumps using genetic and ecological data from viruses and their hosts, vectors and reservoirs. This workshop marked an important first step towards envisioning both scientific and organizational frameworks for this future capability. Canine parvoviruses as well as seasonal H3N2 and pandemic H1N1 influenza viruses are discussed as exemplars that suggest what to look for in anticipating species jumps. To answer the question of where to look, prospects for discovering emerging viruses among wildlife, bats, rodents, arthropod vectors and occupationally exposed humans are discussed. Finally, opportunities and obstacles are identified and accompanied by suggestions for how to look for species jumps. Taken together, these findings constitute the beginnings of a conceptual framework for achieving a virus surveillance capability that could predict future species jumps.     

BODIUM—A systemic approach to model the dynamics of soil functions

The increasing demand for biomass for food, animal feed, fibre and bioenergy requires optimization of soil productivity, while at the same time, protecting other soil functions such as nutrient cycling and buffering, carbon storage, habitat for biological activity and water filter and storage. Therefore, one of the main challenges for sustainable agriculture is to produce high yields while maintaining all the other soil functions. Mechanistic simulation models are an essential tool to fully understand and predict the complex interactions between physical, biological and chemical processes of soils that generate those functions. We developed a soil model to simulate the impact of various agricultural management options and climate change on soil functions by integrating the relevant processes mechanistically and in a systemic way. As a special feature, we include the dynamics of soil structure induced by tillage and biological activity, which is especially relevant in arable soils. The model operates on a 1D soil profile consisting of a number of discrete layers with dynamic thickness. We demonstrate the model performance by simulating crop growth, root growth, nutrient and water uptake, nitrogen cycling, soil organic matter turnover, microbial activity, water distribution and soil structure dynamics in a long-term field experiment including different crops and different types and levels of fertilization. The model is able to capture essential features that are measured regularly including crop yield, soil organic carbon, and soil nitrogen. In this way, the plausibility of the implemented processes and their interactions is confirmed. Furthermore, we present the results of explorative simulations comparing scenarios with and without tillage events to analyse the effect of soil structure on soil functions. Since the model is process-based, we are confident that the model can also be used to predict quantities that have not been measured or to estimate the effect of management measures and climate states not yet been observed. The model thus has the potential to predict the site-specific impact of management decisions on soil functions, which is of great importance for the development of a sustainable agriculture that is currently also on the agenda of the ‘Green Deal’ at the European level.     

Climate Variability and Oceanographic Settings Associated with Interannual Variability in the Initiation of Dinophysis acuminata Blooms

In 2012, there were exceptional blooms of D. acuminata in early spring in what appeared to be a mesoscale event affecting Western Iberia and the Bay of Biscay. The objective of this work was to identify common climatic patterns to explain the observed anomalies in two important aquaculture sites, the Galician Rías Baixas (NW Spain) and Arcachon Bay (SW France). Here, we examine climate variability through physical-biological couplings, Sea Surface Temperature (SST) anomalies and time of initiation of the upwelling season and its intensity over several decades. In 2012, the mesoscale features common to the two sites were positive anomalies in SST and unusual wind patterns. These led to an atypical predominance of upwelling in winter in the Galician Rías, and increased haline stratification associated with a southward advection of the Gironde plume in Arcachon Bay. Both scenarios promoted an early phytoplankton growth season and increased stability that enhanced D. acuminata growth. Therefore, a common climate anomaly caused exceptional blooms of D. acuminata in two distant regions through different triggering mechanisms. These results increase our capability to predict intense diarrhetic shellfish poisoning outbreaks in the early spring from observations in the preceding winter.     

土壤微生物学实验模块化的开设研究

高校微生物学实验教学注重培养学生的兴趣和科学探究技能,然而目前实验教学模式单一,容易导致学生学习兴趣丧失,自主学习能力下降,造成学习效果不佳。本文根据微生物学实验教学特点,对土壤微生物学实验设计了3个相互关联、前后衔接的实验模块,分别为：土壤微生物的采集与培养基制作,微生物的分离与纯化,微生物的鉴定和保藏。本文结合微生物学实验教程将独立的实验内容连成整体,并通过学生自主研究结合教师指导的模式,以达到加深学生对土壤微生物学知识理解及提高实验操作技能目的。     

利用BIOLOG系统对不同种类细菌鉴定的研究

为完善细菌鉴定工作,本试验通过利用BIOLOG细菌自动微生物分析系统(简称BIOLOG系统)对13株大肠杆菌、15株巴氏杆菌和7株金黄色葡萄球菌进行了鉴定,并与传统方法[1]包括形态学观察、革兰氏染色、生化实验等的鉴定结果进行了比对.实验结果表明,与传统方法相比BIOLOG系统具有准确、快捷、简便的优点,同时也有一定的局限性,从而为BIOLOG系统的更好使用提供了实验依据.     

SPF金黄地鼠核心种群的微生物质量控制

SPF金黄地鼠微生物质量控制对保持动物种群的质量稳定性十分重要。介绍了SPF金黄地鼠核心种群微生物质量控制的具体做法和经验体会,以期为提高隔离器饲养条件下SPF金黄地鼠的种群质量稳定性提供参考和借鉴。