A pioneering survey of deep-diving and off-shore cetaceans in the northern South China Sea

A pioneering boat-based survey was conducted in 2019, to gather baseline information regarding the presence, composition, relative abundance, and spatial distribution of deep-diving and off-shore cetaceans in the northern South China Sea (SCS). A total of 27 sightings comprising at least 8 cetacean species were recorded during the 13-day survey, including 5 deep-diving species (i.e. Risso's dolphin [Grampus griseus], short-finned pilot whale [Globicephala macrorhynchus], sperm whale [Physeter macrocephalus], Cuvier's beaked whale [Ziphius cavirostris], and an unidentified beaked whale [either the ginkgo-toothed beaked whale, Mesoplodon ginkgodens, or Deraniyagala's beaked whale, Mesoplodon hotaula]), as well as 3 off-shore dolphins (i.e. pantropical spotted dolphin [Stenella attenuate], striped dolphin [Stenella coeruleoalba], and Fraser's dolphin [Lagenodelphis hosei]). With the exception of pantropical spotted dolphins, all other species were sighted and recorded at sea in the northern SCS for the first time. The pantropical spotted dolphin was the most frequently sighted species, comprising 30% of the total sightings. Deep-diving cetaceans were mainly sighted in the northern Xisha Archipelago, whereas off-shore dolphins were distributed across the survey area. The pantropical spotted dolphin was observed in aggregations of more than 100 individuals and nearly all encountered species included calves; these findings suggested that the survey area functions as an important feeding and calving ground for various cetacean species. This pioneering survey provides fundamental information regarding cetacean fauna in the northern SCS and highlights the need to strengthen research and conservation efforts concerning these species.     

人工养殖西伯利亚狍肠道微生物组成的雌雄差异

肠道微生物是一个复杂的生态系统,与宿主的健康、疾病以及其他因素有着密切的关系。目前,关于肠道菌群结构和功能的研究较多,但是对西伯利亚狍肠道菌群的研究还未见报道。西伯利亚狍(Capreolus pygargus)属于反刍动物,有独特的消化特性和微生物群来帮助它们适应高纤维的食物。本研究利用高通量测序技术在Illumina MiSeq平台上对14只狍肠道微生物进行16S rRNA基因分析。结果表明:个体样本中门类组成的差异,雌性个体JY3和雄性个体JY9除Firmicutes,Bacteroidetes,Proteobacteria这3类菌群外,其他门类菌群所占比例都很低。在科水平上,雌性个体中Ruminococcaceae在JY7和JY13肠道内含量相对较少,Bacteroidaceae在JY7,JY10和JY13中含量较高。雄性个体中Ruminococcaceae在JY11和JY14肠道内含量较少,Prevotellaceae在JY4中含量较少。在属水平上,雌性个体特有的菌属为Roseburia,Alloprevotella,Lachnospiraceae_incertae_sedis和Coprococcus;雄性个体特有的菌属为Fusobacterium,Succiniclasticum,Streptococcus和Clostridium sensu stricto。Alpha多样性分析表明,Ace指数范围2128.93—772.98,Chao1指数范围2128.89—785.27,Shannon指数范围5.44—3.78,Simpson指数范围0.07—0.01。在不同物种分类水平上,雌雄狍肠道内的优势菌群有些不同。PCoA(principal co-ordinates analysis)分析显示,狍样本几乎混在一起,没有明显差异。     

Cloning and Sequence Analysis of HA and NA Genes of One Strain of H6N6 Subtype Avian Influenza Virus Isolated from Guizhou Province

To investigate the epidemic situation of H6N6 subtype avian influenza virus (AIV) in Guizhou province,A/duck/Guizhou/013/2014 was isolated from Sansui duck in live poultry market of Guizhou in 2014,the hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA) genes of DK/GZ/14 were subjected to clone and sequence analysis.The results showed that HA gene had the highest nucleotide homologies (97.5%) with the duck-origin H6N6 subtype AIV isolated from Eastern China in 2009,and the strains of HA gene proteolytic cleavage sites was P-Q-I-E-T-R-G,which accordeol with the molecular characteristic of low pathogenic AIV (LPAIV).However,NA gene of A/duck/Guizhou/013/2014 had the highest nucleotide homologies (98.2%) with the duck-origin H6N6 subtype AIV isolated from Fujian in 2007.The phylogenetic tree showed that A/duck/Guizhou/013/2014 and Hunan strains located in the same branch,while three duck-origin H6N6 subtype AIV isolated from Guizhou in 2007 and A/duck/Guizhou/013/2014 located in the different branch for HA and NA genes in genetic evolution,which suggested that A/duck/Guizhou/013/2014 was far with the local H6N6 subtype.The results also clearly indicated that duck-origin H6N6 subtype AIV had genetic diversity in duck population in Guizhou.     

黄河兰州段湿地典型植物群落物种多样性研究

以黄河兰州段分布最广泛的芦苇-假苇拂子茅群落和酸模叶蓼-灰绿藜群落为研究对象,研究2个群落的植物物种组成和多样性特征。结果表明:芦苇群落有植物22种,隶属于13科20属,酸模叶蓼群落有植物24种,隶属于11科22属,2个群落的共种有10种,相似性系数为43.48%,菊科、禾本科、藜科、蓼科是该植物区系的优势科。物种多样性的分析说明2个群落的Pielou指数(J)波动比较小,Simpson指数(D)和Shannon-Wiener指数(H)均波动都比较大,并且H指数与J指数存在明显的正比例关系,而与D指数呈显著的反比例关系。方差分析表现出两群落S,H,D和J指数的差异并不明显,说明组成两群落的物种有一定的相似性和连续性,也存在着差异。     

9种牧草对青海同德牧区土壤特性的影响

通过对青海省高寒牧区常见的9种多年生牧草单播2年后耕层0~15cm土壤理化(pH、容重(BD)、有机碳(SOC)、全氮(TN)、无机碳(C)及微生物学性质(微生物生物量碳(Cmic)、氮(Nmic)和群落代谢功能)等指标的测定分析,结果表明,研究区域只有在种植披碱草2年后土壤有机碳含量有所增加,说明与其他草种相比,种植披碱草利于有机质的积累;试验在每年施肥1次的情况下,土壤氮含量仍然偏低,说明此区氮素被过度利用,处于缺乏水平,因此每年增施氮肥数量、频率以及时间上应加强管理。通过对不同牧草种植区土壤各因子的聚类分析,发现贫花鹅观草、无芒雀麦、紫野麦草和扁穗冰草之间相似度较高,表明其对土壤养分及微生物群落功能的影响较为接近,故在大面积种植的时候可根据牧草地上生物量/质量的高低进行选择性播种。从土壤质量方向考虑,种植杂花苜蓿、红豆草和西北羊茅不利于土地的改良。     

Basic characterization of avian β‐defensin genes in the Japanese quail,Coturnix japonica

In this study, we identified a cluster of 14 avian β‐defensins (AvBD; approximately 66 kbp) in the Japanese quail, Coturnix japonica. Except for AvBD12 (CjAvBD12) and ‐13, the CjAvBDs coding sequences exhibited greater than 78.0% similarity to the respective orthologous chicken AvBD genes (GgAvBD). The putative amino acid sequence encoded by each CjAvBD contained six cysteine residues and the GXC (X1‐2) motif considered essential for the β‐defensin family. Each CjAvBDs also formed a sub‐group with the respective orthologous genes of various bird species in a phylogenetic tree analysis. Synteny between the CjAvBD cluster and GgAvBD cluster was confirmed. The CjAvBD cluster was mapped on the long‐arm end of chromosome 3 by linkage analysis based on single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of CjAvBD1 and CjAvBD12 (approximately 46kbp), as well as GgAvBD cluster. We also confirmed that CjAvBD1, ‐4, ‐5, ‐9, and ‐10 are transcribed in 20 tissues, including immune and digestive tissues. However, our experimental data indicated that the CjAvBD cluster lacks the AvBD3 and ‐7 loci, whereas the CjAvBD101α, ‐101β, and ‐101θ loci arose from gene duplication of the AvBD6 orthologous locus in the CjAvBD cluster after differentiation between Coturnix ‐ Gallus.     

The genetic diversity and structure of 18 sheep breeds exposed to isolation and selection

The phylogenetic layout of the genotyped (30 microsatellite) 18 sheep breeds in this study demands and provides the opportunity to evaluate both neutral and adaptive components of genetic diversity in a naturally and artificially selected and subdivided sheep population. Seven Pramenka strains from Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia characterized by a very low intensity of artificial selection, preserved the highest neutral genetic variability. Eight central and north‐western European breeds under considerable artificial isolation and selection preserved the lowest genetic variability. Only combinations of various phylogenetic parameters offer a reasonable explanation for underlying evolutionary forces working in the investigated island and mainland sheep breeds under variable natural and artificial selection. More than 60% of total genetic, diversity was allocated to virtually unselected Pramenka strains, and an additional 25% to native moderately selected Graue Gehoernte Heidschnucke and intensively selected Ostfriesische Milchschafe. Some economically very important breeds and strains did not contribute to a pool with maximal genetic diversity, while they play an important role in the cultural heritage of respective countries.     

新麦草遗传多样性等位酶分析

采用不连续系统的聚丙烯酰胺垂直板凝胶电泳(VPAGE)对新疆新麦草的5个天然居群和1个栽培种遗传多样性和居群结构进行了分析.测定的6个酶系统中,确定了9个等位酶位点,多态位点百分率平均值为90.48%,平均等位基因数为2.920 7,平均预期杂合值为0.542 7.总的基因多样性中,86%存在于居群内,14%来自居群间.聚类分析以遗传距离D=0.14为分界线将6份材料明显地分为2组.研究表明,新麦草具有丰富的遗传多样性,其多样性可能与生境、人工驯化、风媒异交等因素有关.     

Nutrient addition and disturbance effects on the community composition and assembly in a desert steppe北大核心CSCD

The effects of short-term nutrient additions (NPKμ, 10 g·m- 2) and disturbances on the species diversity, functional traits, soil properties, and community assembly mechanisms of the herbaceous community in the Urat desert steppe were examined. A mixed linear model, principal component analysis, and null model methods were utilized and both disturbance and interaction treatments were found to significantly reduce species richness and β diversity. Short-term nutrient additions significantly reduced soil pH but increased soil electrical conductivity. Six functional traits of the dominant species (i.e. Stipa glareosa, Peganum harmala, Salsola collina, Corispermum mongolicum) and six community-weighted mean significant changes under the disturbance and nutrient addition treatments were identified. The disturbance and nutrient additions promoted the transformation of the dominant species in the community from conservative strategies to acquisitive strategies. The results of the two null models revealed that community assembly under the control tended to be a stochastic process, while the disturbance and interaction treatments tended to be deterministic processes, and that of the nutrient addition treatments tended to be weaker deterministic processes. Plant communities in the desert steppe responded and adapted to the nutrient additions and disturbances through changes in the dominant species and their crucial functional traits. © 2023 Chinese Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.     

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.