Effects of no‐take area size and age of marine protected areas on fisheries yields: a meta‐analytical approach

Marine protected areas (MPAs) are often promoted as tools for biodiversity conservation as well as for fisheries management. Despite increasing evidence of their usefulness, questions remain regarding the optimal design of MPAs, in particular concerning their function as fisheries management tools, for which empirical studies are still lacking. Using 28 data sets from seven MPAs in Southern Europe, we developed a meta‐analytical approach to investigate the effects of protection on adjacent fisheries and asking how these effects are influenced by MPA size and age. Southern European MPAs showed clear effects on the surrounding fisheries, on the ‘catch per unit effort’ (CPUE) of target species, but especially on the CPUE of the marketable catch. These effects depended on the time of protection and on the size of the no‐take area. CPUE of both target species and the marketable catch increased gradually by 2–4% per year over a long time period (at least 30 years). The influence of the size of the no‐take area appeared to be more complex. The catch rates of the entire fishery in and around the MPA were higher when the no‐take areas were smaller. Conversely, catch rates of selected fisheries that were expected to benefit most from protection increased when the no‐take area was larger. Our results emphasize the importance of MPA size on its export functions and suggest that an adequate, often extended, time frame be used for the management and the evaluation of effectiveness of MPAs.     

Current status and future strategy in breeding grasspea (Lathyrus sativus)

Efforts in grasspea (Lathyrus sativus) improvement have increased since the development of lines that are very low in the neurotoxin Beta-N-oxalyl-L-alpha-beta-diamino propionic acid (ODAP); also referred to as Beta-N oxalyl-amino-L-alanine (BOAA). Many programs now address several related aspects of improvement simultaneously. These include reduced ODAP concentrations, insect and disease resistance, nitrogen fixation, agronomic practices, fodder and forage production, and components for increased yielding ability. The coordinated, multidisciplinary approach now being applied to the genetic improvement of grasspea should allow the potential of this largely neglected grain legume to be fully realized.     

Genetic characterization of a collection of chayote, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Sechium edule</Emphasis> (Jacq.) Swartz,in Costa Rica by using isozyme markers

We established protocols for the analysis of genetic diversity in chayote (Sechium edule) by using isozyme markers, thereby determining the level of genetic diversity present in 42 accessions of chayote from Costa Rica. We obtained clear and reproducible zymograms for eight enzyme staining systems: PGM, 6-PGD, PGI, IDH, MDH, SOD, SKD, and EST, and were able to score 14 putative loci. Eight of the 14 loci examined were polymorphic. We found 35 distinct multilocus genotypes among these accessions. Five of these multilocus genotypes were homozygous for all loci. In addition, our data also revealed that most of the multilocus genotypes (24) were heterozygous for only one of the eight loci, and the rest were heterozygous for two or three loci (9 and 4 accessions, respectively). Seven multilocus genotypes were found in two different accessions. Dice similarity coefficient was used to study the relationship between accessions. This analysis, based on the presence and absence of alleles, revealed that accessions collected in the same location seldom shared the same multilocus genotype. The value of isozyme polymorphisms as tools to continue studies on the characterization of chayote is discussed.     

Source of mycorrhizal inoculum influences growth of Faidherbia albida seedlings

Poor land use management and practice inhibit the growth and establishment of tree seedlings in dryland areas.We assessed arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi(AM)status of Faidherbia albida(Del.)A.Chev.trees grown on different land uses.We quantified the growth and nutrient uptake of F.albida seedlings inoculated with AM from different sources.These efforts were based on soil and fine root samples from the rhizosphere soils of F.albida trees.AM root colonization was determined using the gridline intersect method.Spores were extracted by the wet sieving and decanting method and identified to genus level.The seedling experiment had a completely randomized onefactorial design with four treatments and five replications.Faidherbida albida seedlings were grown in a greenhouse.All in situ F.albida trees were colonized by AM fungi.AM root colonization of F.albida trees was significantly higher(P<0.0086)in area exclosures than on lands used for grazing or cultivation.Spore abundance was significantly higher(P<0.0014)in area exclosures followed by cultivated land and grazing land.Glomus was the dominant genus in all land-uses.AM-inoculated F.albida seedlings grew better(P<0.05)than non-inoculated controls.Seedlings inoculated with AM from area exclosure had significantly(P<0.05)higher growth and nutrient uptake than those inoculated with AM from grazing and cultivated land.This emphasizes the importance of the native soil AM potential for better establishment of seedlings to achieve optimum plant growth improvement and assist in rehabilitation of degraded arid lands.     

长期秸秆还田对白浆土物理性质及水稻产量的影响

【目的】明确长期秸秆还田对白浆土土壤物理性质及水稻产量的影响。【方法】开展秸秆还田长期定位试验。试验设置4个处理,分别为对照(CK),单施秸秆(S),秸秆+化肥(SNPK),单施化肥(NPK)。在2005年后连年处理,并于试验处理前和2010年、2015年试验处理期间调查土壤容重、硬度、孔隙、三相组成以及水稻产量。【结果】白浆土长期秸秆还田有利于水稻产量提高,10年产量平均,秸秆还田配施肥料处理水稻产量比对照和秸秆单独还田处理增产275.70%和133.23%,比单施化肥处理增产14.17%。秸秆还田处理水稻产量在还田第5—10年平均产量比第1—5年有增加趋势;长期秸秆还田可以改善土壤物理性质,降低土壤容重、硬度,还田10年后,秸秆还田配施化肥处理土壤容重低于化肥单施、秸秆单施及对照处理,SNPK处理0—20、20—30 cm土层土壤容重与对照相比分别降低6.34%和10.00%,与还田5年后同类处理相比仍呈下降趋势;秸秆还田配施化肥处理土壤硬度10年后在10、20、30 cm土层与处理前相比分别降低为26.87%、5.68%和4.62%,在20—30 cm土层与对照相比差异显著,还田10年与5年后相比有下降趋势,其他处理变化不明显;还田5年后,秸秆还田配施化肥处理在0—20、20—30、30—40 cm土层土壤固相比例与对照相比分别下降8.82%、8.36%和3.65%,还田10年后分别下降10.87%、10.61%和4.67%,10年后要比5年后下降幅度大,秸秆还田配施化肥比秸秆单施和化肥单施处理下降幅度大;长期秸秆还田可以增加土壤有效孔隙的数量,在处理间和年限间差异极显著,还田10年后,在0—20、20—30、30—40 cm土层秸秆还田配施化肥土壤有效孔隙比对照增加28.86%、63.85%和23.40%,在20—30 cm和30—40 cm土层比化肥单施增加12.55%和62.96%,在0—20、20—30、30—40cm土层比秸秆单施增加19.68%、56.52%和24.46%;与还田5年后相比,土壤有效孔隙度均呈现增加的趋势。【结论】长期秸秆还田可以改善白浆土不良物理性状,降低白浆层的容重、硬度,增加土壤总孔隙度和有效孔隙的比例,提高水稻产量。秸秆还田年限越长改善土壤不良物理性质效果越明显。单独进行秸秆还田改善土壤效果不明显,秸秆还田配施肥料处理效果明显;在不同处理上,秸秆还田配施化肥处理既有改土效果,又可提高水稻产量,而单施化肥和单独秸秆还田均达不到此类效果。     

Ripening-related defense proteins in Annona fruit

In order to obtain a better understanding of the active defense strategy of cherimoya (Annona cherimola Mill.) fruit, hydrolytic and antifungal activity, as well as expression of proteins functionally and immunogenically related to the pathogenesis-related proteins chitinase (PR-Q) and 1,3-β-glucanase (PR-2), were estimated in fruit at different ripening stages. Increase in expression of the 27 kDa constitutive chitinase and the induction of two new proteins, a 26 kDa chitinase and a 51 kDa 1,3-β-glucanase were associated with enhanced in vitro hydrolytic and antifungal activity of the acidic protein extract in ripe fruit. Ripening modified the expression of constitutive basic isoenzymes, with a sharp decrease in both relative accumulation and hydrolytic activity. Likewise, a new basic 33 kDa chitinase was induced in the over-ripe fruit, concomitant with accumulation of a basic constitutive 76 kDa 1,3-β-glucanase. At this stage, the basic protein extract modified in vitro growth inhibition of Botrytis cinerea. Short-term high CO₂ treatment delayed fruit ripening and maintained a similar distribution of activity and isoenzymatic pattern in both protein fractions to that in unripe fruit. These results indicate that the changes in the pattern of defense proteins and hydrolytic activity in cherimoyas appear to be associated with ripening. Moreover, unlike the constitutively expressed isoenzymes, only the transitorily induced chitinases and 1,3-β-glucanases were associated with an active defense-related response.     

Bioprospection of Microalgae and Cyanobacteria as Biocontrol Agents Against Vibrio campbellii and Their Use in White Shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei Culture

Vibrio spp. are the most common and harmful shrimp pathogenic bacteria; however, microalgae and cyanobacteria have the ability to produce antimicrobial substances against these species. In this study, the organic and aqueous extracts of 28 species of marine microalgae and cyanobacteria were screened against Vibrio campbellii M1. Two of these phytoplankton species with antibacterial activity in aqueous extracts (Dunaliella tertiolecta and Skeletonema costatum) and nontoxic to brine shrimp Artemia franciscana nauplii were used to evaluate their anti‐Vibrio effect when used as green‐water cultures in Vibrio‐challenged white shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei cultures. No differences in mortality of juvenile L. vannamei were observed between treatments tested, suggesting that the pathogenicity of V. campbellii could be related to the growth stage of shrimp. The proximal composition of D. tertiolecta and S. costatum was in the recommended range for penaeid shrimp nutrition, allowing shrimp supplemented with these microalgae to have significantly greater total length and weight than control shrimp. Shrimp supplemented with S. costatum presented the highest values of organic mass (11.48 mg/organism) and growth rate (0.31 mg/d) in comparison to D. tertiolecta. These results indicate that microalgae are not only capable of producing antibacterial compounds against Vibrio but can also help shrimp nutrition.     

Insulin binding to bovine mammary membranes: comparison of microsomes versus smooth membranes

The study was undertaken to determine if membrane preparations of bovine mammary tissue bound insulin. If binding occurred, it was also the intent to compare binding kinetics between microsomes and smooth membranes. Insulin binding to bovine mammary membranes attained equilibrium, was saturable and was specific for insulin. Additional studies showed binding to be pH sensitive and maximal at 10 mM calcium. Binding affinity of insulin to microsomes and smooth membranes was similar, with the exception that smooth membranes bound 1.8 times more insulin per unit of membrane protein than microsomes. Two different methods were used to generate data for kinetic analysis of the insulin-receptor interaction in microsomes. Competitive binding assays (.6 ng [125I]insulin plus 0 to 100 ng insulin) indicated the presence of two binding sites with dissociation constants (Kd) of .32 and 15.8 nM. Direct titration of microsomes with [125I]insulin (.02 to 10 ng/ml) revealed two binding sites with Kd of .017 and .31 nM. The affinity of the second binding site measured by the competitive binding assay method (Kd of 15.8 nM) is low and therefore may not be of physiological importance for insulin action. Insulin appears to bind to two high-affinity receptor sites in bovine mammary microsomes with Kds of .017 nM and .32 nM. These findings show that bovine mammary tissue contains receptors for insulin. In addition, isolation of smooth membranes from microsomes enriches the number of insulin receptors per unit of membrane protein without altering their binding characteristics.