关键词： Associational resistance   Insect herbivores   Plant apparency   Restoration   Smallholder forestry   Timber plantations  

摘要： The reforestation of degraded tropical pastures requires innovative tree planting systems that consider land user needs. We established a silvopastoral reforestation system and assessed the effects of companion trees on the native timber tree Tabebuia rosea in Panama. Timber tree individuals were established in (1) solitary plantings (TSol) or in companion plantings with (2) Guazuma ulmifolia (TGua) or (3) the nitrogen-fixing Gliricidia sepium (TGli). We quantified growth characteristics and herbivory of T. rosea, and analyzed leaf chemistry (including the stable isotopes delta N-15 and delta C-13) and structure (leaf mass per area). Companion trees significantly affected stem diameter growth of T. rosea. Stem diameter growth was as high in TGli trees as in TSol trees but was reduced in TGua trees. Furthermore, TGua trees had higher leaf water content, and lower delta C-13 and lower leaf mass-to-area ratio than TGli trees, suggesting there were effects of shading by G. ulmifolia on T. rosea. Herbivory was high but not affected by planting regimes. Leafing phenology did not differ between planting regimes and G. sepium did not increase nitrogen content in T. rosea leaves. Companion tree planting can support timber tree growth in silvopastoral reforestations, but adequate species selection is crucial for successful implementation of this planting system. Tree-tree interactions seem to be more relevant for timber tree growth than herbivory in the studied system.

关键词： Nest boxes   New Guinea   tree cavity   wildlife management  

摘要： Little is known of the frequency of use and reliance upon tree cavities by wildlife, nor the natural availability of cavities in New Guinea forests. We surveyed the literature for records of cavity use by birds and mammals in New Guinea. We examined every standing tree on one hectare of primary forest and one hectare of secondary forest for cavities, then carefully assessed every tree for cavities after they were felled. We put up 190 artificial nest boxes of five designs in three sites and monitored occupancy. At least 50 species (23.6%) of New Guinea terrestrial mammals and 118 species (17.7%) of non-marine or aquatic bird species are recorded in the literature as using tree cavities. Ground observation identified 36 suspected cavities in a hectare of lowland primary forest and 10 in nearby secondary forest. Upon inspection of all trees after felling, these figures changed to 26 and 0 respectively. Ground censuses are not accurate. Cavities were more commonly found in large trees. In less than a year, nest box occupancy reached exceeded 33%, with Phalanger spp. and Sugar gliders, Petaurus breviceps, being most common. Some bird use was detected by the presence of feathers;snakes and geckos were also found in boxes. Occupancy increased with time and would probably be higher after a second year. The larger boxes had greater occupancy, as did boxes placed higher in the trees. Bees occupied and probably excluded other users from 10% of boxes. As Papuan forests are disturbed by logging, hunting practices and gardening, conservationists might need to manage practices to ensure cavity availability. Artificial nest boxes might have utility for wildlife conservation and research.

关键词： Chronic renal disease   Plasma phosphate concentration   Proteinuria   Obesity   Diabetes   Colon carcinoma   Inflammation  

摘要： Gum arabic (GA), a water-soluble dietary fiber rich in Ca2+, Mg2+ and K+, is used in Middle Eastern countries for the treatment of patients with chronic kidney disease. Recent animal experiments shed some light into mechanisms involved in the therapeutic action of GA. According to experiments in healthy mice, GA treatment increases creatinine clearance, enhances renal excretion of ADH, Mg2+ and Ca2+, decreases plasma phosphate concentration as well as urinary excretion of phosphate and Na+. In diabetic mice GA treatment increases urinary Ca2+ excretion, and decreases plasma phosphate concentration, plasma urea concentration, urinary flow rate, natriuresis, phosphaturia, glucosuria, proteinuria as well as blood pressure. Extrarenal effects of GA treatment in mice include decreased expression of intestinal Na+ coupled glucose carrier SGLT1 with subsequent delay of electrogenic intestinal glucose transport, glucose-induced hyperglycemia, hyperinsulinemia and body weight gain. GA treatment decreases colonic transcription of the angiogenetic factors angiogenin 1, angiogenin 3 and angiogenin 4, of CD38 antigen, aquaporin4, interleukin18, vav-3-oncogene, y(+)-amino acid-transporter, sulfatase1, ubiquitinD and chemokine ligand5. Moreover, GA treatment decreases angiogenin and beta-catenin protein expression. Accordingly, GA treatment counteracts the development of tumors following chemical cancerogenesis. In mouse dendritic cells, antigen-presenting cells linking innate and adaptive immunity, GA treatment modifies maturation and cytokine release. GA treatment further favourably influences the course of murine malaria. The effects of GA treatment on plasma phosphate concentration, blood pressure and proteinuria may prove beneficial in chronic renal failure and diabetic nephropathy. The effect of GA on intestinal glucose transport may be useful in the prophylaxis and treatment of obesity and diabetes, the effect of GA on angiogenin and beta-catenin expression could be exploit

关键词： 树鼩   灵长类   动物模型   人类疾病   基因组   染色体组   重点实验室  

摘要： 由中科院昆明动物所动物模型与人类疾病机理重点实验室、深圳华大基因研究院等单位合作完成的破译树鼩基因组研究工作于2013年2月在《自然·通讯》(Nature Communications)杂志上在线发表。研究人员通过完成高质量的树鼩(Tupaia belangeri chinensis)全基因组测序及比较基因组分析,阐明了其系统分类地位和相关生物学特征的遗传基础,尤其是树鼩用于若干重要疾病如HBV、HCV感染以及抑郁症模

关键词： Taxonomy   Phoridae   new species   Kola Peninsula  

摘要： 64 species of Phoridae, in 6 genera, are reported from the Kola Peninsula, north of the Arctic Circle. The new species Megaselia elenae and M. kozlovi are described. 33 species of Megaselia, only known from females, are given code numbers. Keys to the species of all the females of Megaselia and Phora are provided;and also a key to the males European Megaselia species with a notopleural cleft.

关键词： Koala   Semi-arid   Resource selection   Spatial distribution   Australia   Home range  

摘要： Background: Conservation strategies derived from research carried out in one part of the range of a widely distributed species and then uniformly applied over multiple regions risk being ineffective due to regional variations in species-habitat relationships. This is particularly true at the edge of the range where information on animal movements and resource selection is often limited. Here, we investigate home range size, movement patterns and resource selection of koalas Phascolarctos cinereus in the semi-arid and arid landscapes of southwest Queensland, Australia. We placed collars with GPS units on 21 koalas in three biogeographic regions. Home range sizes, resource selection and movement patterns were examined across the three regions. Results: Habitat selectivity was highest at the more arid, western edge of the koala's range with their occupancy restricted to riparian/drainage line habitats, while the more easterly koalas displayed more variability in habitat use. There was no significant difference between home range sizes of koalas at the western edge of the range compared to the more easterly koalas. Instead, variability in home range size was attributed to spatial variations in habitat quality or the availability of a key resource, with a strong influence of rainfall and the presence of freestanding water on the home range size of koalas. Within a 580 m spatial range, movement patterns of male and female paths showed a tortuous trend, consistent with foraging behavior. Beyond this spatial range, male paths showed a trend to more linear patterns, representing a transition of movement behavior from foraging to breeding and dispersal. Conclusions: The difference in home range movement patterns and resource use among the different koala populations shows that behavior changes with proximity to the arid edge of the koala's range. Changes in home range size and resource use near the range edge highlight the importance of further range-edge studies for informin

关键词： 北京动物园   雕塑   青年时期   锲而不舍   单簧管   北京人   学习   演奏家  

摘要： 田树民，1956年生，北京人，自幼随父学习绘画，尤喜动物与音乐，先拜解放军军乐团单簧管演奏家张进才学习单簧管，后从吾学习石雕。树民青年时期在北京动物园供职，与鸟兽虫鱼结下不解之缘。在爬虫馆工作时，细心观摩，胸有成竹，刀笔之下，出神入化，至今所镌作品百余件，各臻妙处。京华从吾习雕刻者，卓然有成者惟树民也。树民不慕荣利，穷且益坚、锲而不舍、持之以恒。必成器也。

关键词： burning mosaic   critical weight range   fire impact   post-fire succession   small mammal   vegetation structure  

摘要： Understanding mechanisms underlying fire regime effects on savanna fauna is difficult because of a wide range of possible trophic interactions and feedbacks. Yet, understanding mechanisms underlying fauna dynamics is crucial for conservation management of threatened species. Small savanna mammals in northern Australia are currently undergoing widespread declines and regional extinctions partly attributable to fire regimes. This study investigates mammal trophic and ecosystem responses to fire in order to identify possible mechanisms underlying these declines. Mammal trophic responses to fire were investigated by surveying mammal abundance, mammal diet, vegetation structure and non-mammal fauna dynamics in savannas six times at eight sites over a period of 3 years. Known site-specific fire history was used to test for trophic responses to post-fire interval and fire frequency. Mammal and non-mammal fauna showed only minor responses of post-fire interval and no effect of fire frequency. Lack of fauna responses differed from large post-fire vegetation responses. Dietary analysis showed that two mammal species, Dasyurus hallucatus and Isoodon auratus, increased their intake of large prey groups in recently burnt, compared to longer unburnt vegetation. This suggests a fire-related change in trophic interactions among predators and their prey, after removal of ground-layer vegetation. No evidence was found for other changes in food resource uptake by mammals after fire. These data provide support for a fire-related top-down ecosystem response among savanna mammals, rather than a bottom-up resource limitation response. Future studies need to investigate fire responses among other predators, including introduced cats and dingoes, to determine their roles in fire-related mammal declines in savannas of northern Australia.

关键词： Urban ecology   Arboreal arthropods   Sampling   Trees  

摘要： Large, isolated trees are a prominent part of town planning, and the nature of the urban environment poses unique challenges in sampling the arthropod assemblages found on them. As part of a larger study on the role of these trees in supporting wider biodiversity, we undertook a trial of arthropod sampling methods to compare the relative impact of sampling method versus the species of tree sampled. Using four species of study trees, three sampling methods were trialed: an inverted cone based bole trap, a compact flight intercept trap, and branch bagging and clipping. Total arthropod abundance, richness, and diversity were modeled using generalised linear mixed models, which showed that in many cases the variation between sampling method was larger than that found between tree species. All three of the sampling methods proved to be practical in the field, and overcame the challenges faced in sampling urban trees, thereby providing the opportunity for more detailed study. Our findings also highlight the case for a multifaceted approach to sampling arthropods if a complete picture of the community assemblage is to be gained.

关键词： 身高   动物   长度单位   测量  

摘要： “朋友们，我们测量人和动物的身高时，不是一般都说几米吗。那么测量高度的时候，长度单位是不是只能用m（米）呢？”