Background:Pistacia integerrima,a cornerstone of traditional medicine,is renowned for its therapeutic applications against various health conditions,including cancer and hepatitis.This study investigates the pharmacol...Background:Pistacia integerrima,a cornerstone of traditional medicine,is renowned for its therapeutic applications against various health conditions,including cancer and hepatitis.This study investigates the pharmacological potential of bioactive compounds derived from Pistacia integerrima in inhibiting 5-lipoxygenase(5-LOX),a key enzyme implicated in inflammation and cancer progression.The current study aimed to evaluate the lipoxygenase inhibitory activity of bioactive compounds from Pistacia integerrima and assess their potential for therapeutic development in the context of inflammation and cancer treatment.Methods:Three major compounds-spinacetin(1),patuletin(2),and pistagremic acid(3)-were isolated from Pistacia integerrima and analyzed for their lipoxygenase inhibitory activity.Biochemical assays and molecular docking studies were performed to assess their effectiveness in inhibiting 5-LOX.Results:All three compounds demonstrated significant inhibition of lipoxygenase activity.Spinacetin(1)and patuletin(2)exhibited the most potent inhibitory effects,with IC_(50)values of 40.34μM and 45.04μM,respectively.Molecular docking studies revealed that patuletin(2)had the highest binding affinity(−7.717 kcal/mol)against 5-LOX,followed by spinacetin(1)with a binding affinity of−6.074 kcal/mol.In-depth in silico analysis highlighted the drug-likeness of spinacetin(1)and its favorable toxicological profile,suggesting its suitability for therapeutic development.Conclusion:The study demonstrates that compounds from Pistacia integerrima,particularly spinacetin and patuletin,have significant lipoxygenase inhibitory activity,with spinacetin showing promise as a lead candidate for lipoxygenase-targeted therapies.The findings reinforce the therapeutic relevance of Pistacia integerrima and suggest that its bioactive compounds may serve as safer,plant-based alternatives to conventional anti-inflammatory and anticancer treatments.展开更多
Objective:To investigate the epidemiological situation of cercarial trematodes infection in freshwater snails from different water resources in Chiang Mai province,Thailand.Methods:The snail specimens were collected f...Objective:To investigate the epidemiological situation of cercarial trematodes infection in freshwater snails from different water resources in Chiang Mai province,Thailand.Methods:The snail specimens were collected from 13 districts of Chiang Mai province during April 2008 to February 2012.The prevalence of cercarial infection in snails was investigated using the crushing method.The drawing was done with the help of a camera lucida for the morphological study.Results:A total of 2479 snail individuals were collected and classified into 7 families,11 genera,and 14 species,Among them,8 snails species were found to be infected with an overall prevalence of 17.27%(428/2479),which infected with nine groups of cercariae;gymnocephalous cercaria,strigea cercaria,megalurous cercaria,monostome cercaria,parapleurolophocercous cercaria(Haplorchis cercaria),pleurolophocercous cercaria,furcocercous cercaria(Transversotrema cercaria),xiphidiocercaria,and virgulate cercaria.The parapleurolophocercous cercaria was found to be the dominant type among the cercarial infection in the snails(64.25%).Conclusions:The various species of snails found in the research location act as the intermediate hosts for the high prevalence of parasitic infection of many species of mammals.This work will provide new information on both the distribution and first intermediate host of trematodes.展开更多
Himalayan alder species are proven to be very useful in traditional as well as contemporary agroforestry practice. These nitrogen-fixing trees are also useful in the land restoration. Therefore, understanding the dist...Himalayan alder species are proven to be very useful in traditional as well as contemporary agroforestry practice. These nitrogen-fixing trees are also useful in the land restoration. Therefore, understanding the distribution of Himalayan alder and the potential zone for plantation is meaningful in the agroforestry sector. Suitable climatic zones of Alnus spp. were modelled in Max Ent software using a subset of least correlated bioclimatic variables for current conditions(1950 -2000), topographic variables(DEM derived) and Landuse Landcover(LULC) data. We generated several models and selected the best model against random models using ANOVA and t-test. The environmental variables that best explained the current distribution of the species were identified and used to project into the future. For future projections, ensemble scenarios of climate change projection derived from the results of 19 Earth System Models(ESM) were used. Our model revealed that the most favorable conditions for Alnus nepalensis are in central Nepal in the moist north-west facing slope, whereas for Alnus nitida they are in western Nepal.The major climatic factor that contributes to Alnus species distribution in Nepal appears to be precipitation during the warmest quarter for A. nepalensis and precipitation during the driest quarter for A. nitida. Future projections revealed changes in the probability distribution of these species, as well as where they need conservation and where they can be planted. Also, our model predicts that the distribution of Alnus spp. in hilly regions will remain unchanged, and therefore may represent sites that can be used to revitalize traditional agroforestry systems and extract source material for land restoration.展开更多
Objective:To analyze the prevalence of echinostome metacercariae in Filopaludina dorliaris(F.dorliaris)and Filopaludina martensi martensi(F.martensi martensi)and genotype variation of echinostome metacercariae by usin...Objective:To analyze the prevalence of echinostome metacercariae in Filopaludina dorliaris(F.dorliaris)and Filopaludina martensi martensi(F.martensi martensi)and genotype variation of echinostome metacercariae by using random amplified polymorphic DNA(RAPD)analysis.Methods:Filopaludina sp.snails were collected from eight localities of Lamphun Province,Northern Thailand and examined for echinostome metacercariae.RAPD-PCR was used lo analyze genotype variation of echinostome metacercariae.Results:A total of 3 226 F.dorliaris and F.martensi martensi snails were collected from eight localities.The overall prevalences of echinostome metacercariae in F.dorliaris and F.martensi martensi were 40.89%and 36.27%,while the intensity of infection was 20.37 and 12.04,respectively.The dendrogram constructed base on RAPD profiles,4 well supported domains were generated;(i)group of metacercariae from Ban Hong,Mae Ta,Meaung,Pa Sang,Toong Hua Chang,and Weang Nong that were clustered in the group of E.revolutum,(ii)Ban Thi,(iii)Lee,and(iv)3 adults of an out group.Condusioiis:This research demonstrated RAPD profiling has been a useful tool to detect DNA polymorphisms to determine genetic relationship between echinostome metacercariae in Lamphun Province,Northern Thailand.展开更多
Objective:To investigate the infection of Fasciola gigantka(F.gigantka)in domestic cattle from Chiang Mai province and molecular confirmation using ITS-2 region.Methods:The liver and gall bladder of Bubalus bubalis(B....Objective:To investigate the infection of Fasciola gigantka(F.gigantka)in domestic cattle from Chiang Mai province and molecular confirmation using ITS-2 region.Methods:The liver and gall bladder of Bubalus bubalis(B.bubalis)and Bos taurus(B.taunts)from slaughterhouses were examined adult worms and prevalence investigation.The species confirmation with phylogenetic analysis using ITS-2 sequences was performed by maximum likelihood and UPGMA methods.Results:The total prevalences of infection in B.bubalis and Bubalus taurus(B.taurus)were67.27%and 52.94%respectively.The respective prevalence in both B.bubalis and B.taurus were acquired from Doi-Saket,Muang,and Sanpatong districts,with 81.25%,62.50%and 60.00%for B.bubalis and 62.50%,50.00%and 47.06%for Bos taunts respectively.The species confirmation of F.gigantka and some related species by basing on maximum likelihood and UPGMA methods used,4 groups of trematodes were generated,first F.gigantka group including specimen of Chiang Mai,second 2 samples of F.hepatica,third group of 3 rumen flukes;Orthocoelium streptocoelium,F.elongatus and Paramphistomum epliclitum and fourth group of 3 minute intestinal flukes:Haplorchis taichui,Stellantchasmu falcatus.Haplorchoides sp.and liver fluke;Opisthorchis civerrini respectively.Conclusions:These results can be confirmed the Giant liver fluke which mainly caused fascioliasis in Chiang Mai was identified as F.gigantka and specimens were the same as those of F.gigantka recorded in olher different countries.Nucleotide sequence of ITS-2 region has been proven as effective diagnostic tool for the identification of F.gigantka.展开更多
Wild rodents were collected using live snap traps in pistachio gardens of Kerman Province, Southeast Iran from 2007 to 2009, then some physiological parameters of them were measured. The samples were identified as fol...Wild rodents were collected using live snap traps in pistachio gardens of Kerman Province, Southeast Iran from 2007 to 2009, then some physiological parameters of them were measured. The samples were identified as follow: Nesokia indica, Meriones persicus, Meriones lybicus and Tatera indica. Blood samples were obtained from the heart, then the blood parameters (glucose, cholesterol, triglyceride, total protein, HDL, red and white blood cell number) in wild species of rodents and laboratory rat were compared. The results showed that there were no significant differences in serum glucose, triglyceride, HDL and total protein levels among different experimental groups. The concentration of cholesterol in T. indica was more than that in N. indica (P < 0.01). The total numbers of red blood cells also showed significant difference between wild garden rodent species and laboratory rat (P < 0.01), while the numbers of white blood cells showed no significant difference.展开更多
The historical relationships of nine areas of endemism of the tropical montane cloud forests(TMCFs)were analysed based on a temporal cladistic biogeographical approach.Three cladistic biogeographical analyses were con...The historical relationships of nine areas of endemism of the tropical montane cloud forests(TMCFs)were analysed based on a temporal cladistic biogeographical approach.Three cladistic biogeographical analyses were conducted based on 29cladograms of terrestrial taxa by partitioning them into three time-slices,namely,Miocene,Pliocene,and Pleistocene.The results showed different area relationships over time.For the Miocene and Pliocene time slices,the Isthmus of Tehuantepec acted as a geographic barrier that fragmented the TMCFs into two portions:west of the Isthmus and east of the Isthmus.In the case of the Pleistocene,the TMCFs were broken into two portions,one related to the Neotropical region and the other to the Nearctic region.Furthermore,the analyses allowed us to detect the influences of different geological and paleoclimatological events on the distribution of the TMCFs over time.Therefore,the TMCFs current distribution might have been driven by geological events during the Miocene-Pliocene,whereas climatic fluctuations have the highest impact during the Pleistocene.展开更多
The conservation status of all the amphibians in China is analyzed,and the country is shown to be a global priority for conservation in comparison to many other countries of the world.Three Chinese regions are particu...The conservation status of all the amphibians in China is analyzed,and the country is shown to be a global priority for conservation in comparison to many other countries of the world.Three Chinese regions are particularly rich in amphibian diversity:Hengduan,Nanling,and Wuyi mountains.Sala-manders are more threatened than frogs and toads.Several smaller families show a high propensity to become seriously threatened:Bombinatoridae,Cryptobranchidae,Hynobiidae and Salamandridae.Like other parts of the world,stream-breeding,high-elevation forest amphibians have a much higher likeli-hood of being seriously threatened.Habitat loss,pollution,and over-harvesting are the most serious threats to Chinese amphibians.Over-harvesting is a less pervasive threat than habitat loss,but it is more likely to drive a species into rapid decline.Five conservation challenges are mentioned with recommendations for the highest priority research and conservation actions.展开更多
Integrated pest management （IPM） is widely practiced in commercial oil palm agriculture. This management system is intended to minimize the number of attacks by pest insects such as bagworms on crops, as well as cur...Integrated pest management （IPM） is widely practiced in commercial oil palm agriculture. This management system is intended to minimize the number of attacks by pest insects such as bagworms on crops, as well as curb economic loss with less dependency on chemical pesticides. One practice in IPM is the use of biological control agents such as predatory insects. In this study, we assessed the response of predatory natural enemies to pest outbreak and water stress, and document the habitat associations of potential pest predators. The abundances of 2 predatory insect species, namely Sycanus dichotomus and Cosmolestes pictieeps （Hemiptera： Reduviidae）, were compared bagworm outbreak sites and nonoutbreak sites within oil palm plantations. We also examined habitat characteristics that influence the abundances of both predatory species. We found that the abundance of C. picticeps was significantly higher in bagworm outbreak sites than in nonoutbreak sites. There were no significant differences in the abundance ofS. dichotomus among outbreak and non-outbreak sites. Both species responded negatively to water stress in oil palm plantations. Concerning the relationship between predatory insect abundance and in situ habitat quality characteristics, our models explained 46.36% of variation for C. picticeps and 23.17% of variation for S. dichotomus. Both species of predatory insects thrived from the planting of multiple beneficial plants in oil palm plantations. The results suggest that C. picticeps can be used as a biological agent to control bagworm populations in oil palm plantations, but S. dichotomus has no or little potential for such ecosystem service.展开更多
Giant pandas are commonly perceived as clean and cuddly animals.In the wild,the bamboo-eating giant pandas(Huang et al.,2021)are dirty,and perhaps worse,field observations have shown that giant pandas are so attracted...Giant pandas are commonly perceived as clean and cuddly animals.In the wild,the bamboo-eating giant pandas(Huang et al.,2021)are dirty,and perhaps worse,field observations have shown that giant pandas are so attracted to horse manure that they cannot resist rolling in it(Zhou et al.,2020).This strange behavior requires further study to understand.In the natural environment,feces are like an identification card;Animals can learn about the sex and mating status of other individuals of their species(Zhou et al.,2019)and identify the presence of predators nearby by smelling the feces(Linklater et al.,2013;Brodie et al.,2016).After a decade of field observation,Chinese scientists have determined that horse manure strongly attracts wild giant pandas in the Qinling region,a behavior that appears rare among other animals.A video taken by the research team in Shaanxi’s Foping National Nature Reserve showed a wild giant panda sniffing,rolling,rubbing its cheek against,and coating the manure all over its body after encountering the fresh horse manure.展开更多
Climate change creates novel environmental conditions that plant species must adapt to.Since plants are finely tuned to the seasonality of their environments,shifts in their phenology serve as some of the most compell...Climate change creates novel environmental conditions that plant species must adapt to.Since plants are finely tuned to the seasonality of their environments,shifts in their phenology serve as some of the most compelling evidence of climate change’s impact.Understanding how key fitness-related phenological traits,such as flowering onset,respond to novel environments is crucial for assessing species’plasticity and/or adaptive potential under climate change.Here,we investigated the onset of flowering in Fragaria vesca(woodland strawberry;Rosaceae)by translocating genotypes between four sites along a south-north gradient in Europe,encompassing its entire latitudinal distribution range with varying temperatures,precipitation patterns,and photoperiods.At each site,we included a reduced precipitation treatment using rainout shelters to simulate drought conditions and assess their impact on flowering onset.Our findings revealed that southern and central European genotypes exhibited a delayed onset of flowering when translocated to the northernmost site.In contrast,no difference among genotypes was found in the onset of flowering when grown in more southerly sites.Reduced precipitation accelerated flowering across several sites and all genotypes,irrespective of their latitudinal origin.Overall,northern European genotypes showed a greater capacity to adjust their onset of flowering in response to the different photoperiods and temperatures across the latitudinal gradient compared to southern European genotypes,suggesting that they may be more resilient to shifting environmental conditions.Differences in phenotypic plasticity among genotypes translocated to higher versus lower latitudes highlight the role of photoperiod in evaluating a species’capacity to cope with climate change.展开更多
文摘Background:Pistacia integerrima,a cornerstone of traditional medicine,is renowned for its therapeutic applications against various health conditions,including cancer and hepatitis.This study investigates the pharmacological potential of bioactive compounds derived from Pistacia integerrima in inhibiting 5-lipoxygenase(5-LOX),a key enzyme implicated in inflammation and cancer progression.The current study aimed to evaluate the lipoxygenase inhibitory activity of bioactive compounds from Pistacia integerrima and assess their potential for therapeutic development in the context of inflammation and cancer treatment.Methods:Three major compounds-spinacetin(1),patuletin(2),and pistagremic acid(3)-were isolated from Pistacia integerrima and analyzed for their lipoxygenase inhibitory activity.Biochemical assays and molecular docking studies were performed to assess their effectiveness in inhibiting 5-LOX.Results:All three compounds demonstrated significant inhibition of lipoxygenase activity.Spinacetin(1)and patuletin(2)exhibited the most potent inhibitory effects,with IC_(50)values of 40.34μM and 45.04μM,respectively.Molecular docking studies revealed that patuletin(2)had the highest binding affinity(−7.717 kcal/mol)against 5-LOX,followed by spinacetin(1)with a binding affinity of−6.074 kcal/mol.In-depth in silico analysis highlighted the drug-likeness of spinacetin(1)and its favorable toxicological profile,suggesting its suitability for therapeutic development.Conclusion:The study demonstrates that compounds from Pistacia integerrima,particularly spinacetin and patuletin,have significant lipoxygenase inhibitory activity,with spinacetin showing promise as a lead candidate for lipoxygenase-targeted therapies.The findings reinforce the therapeutic relevance of Pistacia integerrima and suggest that its bioactive compounds may serve as safer,plant-based alternatives to conventional anti-inflammatory and anticancer treatments.
基金Supported by National Research Council of Thailand(NRCT)(Grant No.2555A10402010)
文摘Objective:To investigate the epidemiological situation of cercarial trematodes infection in freshwater snails from different water resources in Chiang Mai province,Thailand.Methods:The snail specimens were collected from 13 districts of Chiang Mai province during April 2008 to February 2012.The prevalence of cercarial infection in snails was investigated using the crushing method.The drawing was done with the help of a camera lucida for the morphological study.Results:A total of 2479 snail individuals were collected and classified into 7 families,11 genera,and 14 species,Among them,8 snails species were found to be infected with an overall prevalence of 17.27%(428/2479),which infected with nine groups of cercariae;gymnocephalous cercaria,strigea cercaria,megalurous cercaria,monostome cercaria,parapleurolophocercous cercaria(Haplorchis cercaria),pleurolophocercous cercaria,furcocercous cercaria(Transversotrema cercaria),xiphidiocercaria,and virgulate cercaria.The parapleurolophocercous cercaria was found to be the dominant type among the cercarial infection in the snails(64.25%).Conclusions:The various species of snails found in the research location act as the intermediate hosts for the high prevalence of parasitic infection of many species of mammals.This work will provide new information on both the distribution and first intermediate host of trematodes.
基金RBGE Edinburg databasethe National Herbarium and Plant Laboratories(KATH),Godawari+5 种基金Tribhuvan University Central Herbarium(TUCH),Kirtipur,KathmanduNepal for facilitating with herbarium studyMs.Banu Ojaentire Cornell Nepal Study Programme family for partial financial supportCGIAR research programs on‘Forests,Trees and Agroforestry’(CRP6.2)programCenter for Mountain Ecosystem Studies to be a part of research on species distribution in Asian Highlands
文摘Himalayan alder species are proven to be very useful in traditional as well as contemporary agroforestry practice. These nitrogen-fixing trees are also useful in the land restoration. Therefore, understanding the distribution of Himalayan alder and the potential zone for plantation is meaningful in the agroforestry sector. Suitable climatic zones of Alnus spp. were modelled in Max Ent software using a subset of least correlated bioclimatic variables for current conditions(1950 -2000), topographic variables(DEM derived) and Landuse Landcover(LULC) data. We generated several models and selected the best model against random models using ANOVA and t-test. The environmental variables that best explained the current distribution of the species were identified and used to project into the future. For future projections, ensemble scenarios of climate change projection derived from the results of 19 Earth System Models(ESM) were used. Our model revealed that the most favorable conditions for Alnus nepalensis are in central Nepal in the moist north-west facing slope, whereas for Alnus nitida they are in western Nepal.The major climatic factor that contributes to Alnus species distribution in Nepal appears to be precipitation during the warmest quarter for A. nepalensis and precipitation during the driest quarter for A. nitida. Future projections revealed changes in the probability distribution of these species, as well as where they need conservation and where they can be planted. Also, our model predicts that the distribution of Alnus spp. in hilly regions will remain unchanged, and therefore may represent sites that can be used to revitalize traditional agroforestry systems and extract source material for land restoration.
基金supported by the Ministry of Science and Technology and the Graduate School,Chiang Mai Univeraity
文摘Objective:To analyze the prevalence of echinostome metacercariae in Filopaludina dorliaris(F.dorliaris)and Filopaludina martensi martensi(F.martensi martensi)and genotype variation of echinostome metacercariae by using random amplified polymorphic DNA(RAPD)analysis.Methods:Filopaludina sp.snails were collected from eight localities of Lamphun Province,Northern Thailand and examined for echinostome metacercariae.RAPD-PCR was used lo analyze genotype variation of echinostome metacercariae.Results:A total of 3 226 F.dorliaris and F.martensi martensi snails were collected from eight localities.The overall prevalences of echinostome metacercariae in F.dorliaris and F.martensi martensi were 40.89%and 36.27%,while the intensity of infection was 20.37 and 12.04,respectively.The dendrogram constructed base on RAPD profiles,4 well supported domains were generated;(i)group of metacercariae from Ban Hong,Mae Ta,Meaung,Pa Sang,Toong Hua Chang,and Weang Nong that were clustered in the group of E.revolutum,(ii)Ban Thi,(iii)Lee,and(iv)3 adults of an out group.Condusioiis:This research demonstrated RAPD profiling has been a useful tool to detect DNA polymorphisms to determine genetic relationship between echinostome metacercariae in Lamphun Province,Northern Thailand.
文摘Objective:To investigate the infection of Fasciola gigantka(F.gigantka)in domestic cattle from Chiang Mai province and molecular confirmation using ITS-2 region.Methods:The liver and gall bladder of Bubalus bubalis(B.bubalis)and Bos taurus(B.taunts)from slaughterhouses were examined adult worms and prevalence investigation.The species confirmation with phylogenetic analysis using ITS-2 sequences was performed by maximum likelihood and UPGMA methods.Results:The total prevalences of infection in B.bubalis and Bubalus taurus(B.taurus)were67.27%and 52.94%respectively.The respective prevalence in both B.bubalis and B.taurus were acquired from Doi-Saket,Muang,and Sanpatong districts,with 81.25%,62.50%and 60.00%for B.bubalis and 62.50%,50.00%and 47.06%for Bos taunts respectively.The species confirmation of F.gigantka and some related species by basing on maximum likelihood and UPGMA methods used,4 groups of trematodes were generated,first F.gigantka group including specimen of Chiang Mai,second 2 samples of F.hepatica,third group of 3 rumen flukes;Orthocoelium streptocoelium,F.elongatus and Paramphistomum epliclitum and fourth group of 3 minute intestinal flukes:Haplorchis taichui,Stellantchasmu falcatus.Haplorchoides sp.and liver fluke;Opisthorchis civerrini respectively.Conclusions:These results can be confirmed the Giant liver fluke which mainly caused fascioliasis in Chiang Mai was identified as F.gigantka and specimens were the same as those of F.gigantka recorded in olher different countries.Nucleotide sequence of ITS-2 region has been proven as effective diagnostic tool for the identification of F.gigantka.
文摘Wild rodents were collected using live snap traps in pistachio gardens of Kerman Province, Southeast Iran from 2007 to 2009, then some physiological parameters of them were measured. The samples were identified as follow: Nesokia indica, Meriones persicus, Meriones lybicus and Tatera indica. Blood samples were obtained from the heart, then the blood parameters (glucose, cholesterol, triglyceride, total protein, HDL, red and white blood cell number) in wild species of rodents and laboratory rat were compared. The results showed that there were no significant differences in serum glucose, triglyceride, HDL and total protein levels among different experimental groups. The concentration of cholesterol in T. indica was more than that in N. indica (P < 0.01). The total numbers of red blood cells also showed significant difference between wild garden rodent species and laboratory rat (P < 0.01), while the numbers of white blood cells showed no significant difference.
基金the CONACyT 478077partially financed by DGAPA-PAPIIT 220621。
文摘The historical relationships of nine areas of endemism of the tropical montane cloud forests(TMCFs)were analysed based on a temporal cladistic biogeographical approach.Three cladistic biogeographical analyses were conducted based on 29cladograms of terrestrial taxa by partitioning them into three time-slices,namely,Miocene,Pliocene,and Pleistocene.The results showed different area relationships over time.For the Miocene and Pliocene time slices,the Isthmus of Tehuantepec acted as a geographic barrier that fragmented the TMCFs into two portions:west of the Isthmus and east of the Isthmus.In the case of the Pleistocene,the TMCFs were broken into two portions,one related to the Neotropical region and the other to the Nearctic region.Furthermore,the analyses allowed us to detect the influences of different geological and paleoclimatological events on the distribution of the TMCFs over time.Therefore,the TMCFs current distribution might have been driven by geological events during the Miocene-Pliocene,whereas climatic fluctuations have the highest impact during the Pleistocene.
文摘The conservation status of all the amphibians in China is analyzed,and the country is shown to be a global priority for conservation in comparison to many other countries of the world.Three Chinese regions are particularly rich in amphibian diversity:Hengduan,Nanling,and Wuyi mountains.Sala-manders are more threatened than frogs and toads.Several smaller families show a high propensity to become seriously threatened:Bombinatoridae,Cryptobranchidae,Hynobiidae and Salamandridae.Like other parts of the world,stream-breeding,high-elevation forest amphibians have a much higher likeli-hood of being seriously threatened.Habitat loss,pollution,and over-harvesting are the most serious threats to Chinese amphibians.Over-harvesting is a less pervasive threat than habitat loss,but it is more likely to drive a species into rapid decline.Five conservation challenges are mentioned with recommendations for the highest priority research and conservation actions.
文摘Integrated pest management （IPM） is widely practiced in commercial oil palm agriculture. This management system is intended to minimize the number of attacks by pest insects such as bagworms on crops, as well as curb economic loss with less dependency on chemical pesticides. One practice in IPM is the use of biological control agents such as predatory insects. In this study, we assessed the response of predatory natural enemies to pest outbreak and water stress, and document the habitat associations of potential pest predators. The abundances of 2 predatory insect species, namely Sycanus dichotomus and Cosmolestes pictieeps （Hemiptera： Reduviidae）, were compared bagworm outbreak sites and nonoutbreak sites within oil palm plantations. We also examined habitat characteristics that influence the abundances of both predatory species. We found that the abundance of C. picticeps was significantly higher in bagworm outbreak sites than in nonoutbreak sites. There were no significant differences in the abundance ofS. dichotomus among outbreak and non-outbreak sites. Both species responded negatively to water stress in oil palm plantations. Concerning the relationship between predatory insect abundance and in situ habitat quality characteristics, our models explained 46.36% of variation for C. picticeps and 23.17% of variation for S. dichotomus. Both species of predatory insects thrived from the planting of multiple beneficial plants in oil palm plantations. The results suggest that C. picticeps can be used as a biological agent to control bagworm populations in oil palm plantations, but S. dichotomus has no or little potential for such ecosystem service.
文摘Giant pandas are commonly perceived as clean and cuddly animals.In the wild,the bamboo-eating giant pandas(Huang et al.,2021)are dirty,and perhaps worse,field observations have shown that giant pandas are so attracted to horse manure that they cannot resist rolling in it(Zhou et al.,2020).This strange behavior requires further study to understand.In the natural environment,feces are like an identification card;Animals can learn about the sex and mating status of other individuals of their species(Zhou et al.,2019)and identify the presence of predators nearby by smelling the feces(Linklater et al.,2013;Brodie et al.,2016).After a decade of field observation,Chinese scientists have determined that horse manure strongly attracts wild giant pandas in the Qinling region,a behavior that appears rare among other animals.A video taken by the research team in Shaanxi’s Foping National Nature Reserve showed a wild giant panda sniffing,rolling,rubbing its cheek against,and coating the manure all over its body after encountering the fresh horse manure.
基金funded by the European Commission(Biodiv ERs A project Plant Cline:Adapting plant genetic diversity to climate change along a continental latitudinal gradient,project ID Biodiv Clim-177)Formas(the Swedish Research Council for Sustainable Development,grant no.2020-02376)+2 种基金the Academy of Finland(grant no.344726)the Research Foundation-Flanders(grant no.FWO ERANET G0H6520N and FWO KAN 1506619N)Ministerio de Ciencia,Inovación y Universidades(grant no.PCI2020-120719-2)。
文摘Climate change creates novel environmental conditions that plant species must adapt to.Since plants are finely tuned to the seasonality of their environments,shifts in their phenology serve as some of the most compelling evidence of climate change’s impact.Understanding how key fitness-related phenological traits,such as flowering onset,respond to novel environments is crucial for assessing species’plasticity and/or adaptive potential under climate change.Here,we investigated the onset of flowering in Fragaria vesca(woodland strawberry;Rosaceae)by translocating genotypes between four sites along a south-north gradient in Europe,encompassing its entire latitudinal distribution range with varying temperatures,precipitation patterns,and photoperiods.At each site,we included a reduced precipitation treatment using rainout shelters to simulate drought conditions and assess their impact on flowering onset.Our findings revealed that southern and central European genotypes exhibited a delayed onset of flowering when translocated to the northernmost site.In contrast,no difference among genotypes was found in the onset of flowering when grown in more southerly sites.Reduced precipitation accelerated flowering across several sites and all genotypes,irrespective of their latitudinal origin.Overall,northern European genotypes showed a greater capacity to adjust their onset of flowering in response to the different photoperiods and temperatures across the latitudinal gradient compared to southern European genotypes,suggesting that they may be more resilient to shifting environmental conditions.Differences in phenotypic plasticity among genotypes translocated to higher versus lower latitudes highlight the role of photoperiod in evaluating a species’capacity to cope with climate change.
