Food web structures are well known to vary widely among ecosystems. Moreover, many food web studies of lakes have generally attempted to characterize the overall food web structure and have largely ignored internal sp...Food web structures are well known to vary widely among ecosystems. Moreover, many food web studies of lakes have generally attempted to characterize the overall food web structure and have largely ignored internal spatial and environmental variations. In this study, we hypothesize that there is a high degree of spatial heterogeneity within an ecosystem and such heterogeneity may lead to strong variations in environmental conditions and resource availability, in turn resulting in dif ferent trophic pathways. Stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes were employed for the whole food web to describe the structure of the food web in different sub-basins within Taihu Lake. This lake is a large eutrophic freshwater lake that has been intensively managed and highly influenced by human activities for more than 50 years. The results show significant isotopic dif ferences between basins with dif ferent environmental characteristics. Such differences likely result from isotopic baseline dif ferences combining with a shift in food web structure. Both are related to local spatial heterogeneity in nutrient loading in waters. Such variation should be explicitly considered in future food web studies and ecosystem-based management in this lake ecosystem.展开更多
REE （rare earth element） analysis of bioapatite has recently been used to determine fossil provenience, taphonomy, stratigraphic correlation and paleoenvironmental conditions. This research has determined that REE s...REE （rare earth element） analysis of bioapatite has recently been used to determine fossil provenience, taphonomy, stratigraphic correlation and paleoenvironmental conditions. This research has determined that REE signatures are independent of diet, species, phylogeny and osteological material. Therefore, REE signatures are solely dependent on the depositional environment. Timing of emplacement could limit the resolution of REE analysis so it is vital to understand the length of time for REE signatures incorporation into bioapatite. A fossiliferous Pleistocene sites in Fossil Lake, Oregon has the potential to address this variable. A fossilized rabbit was found in its burrow and was contained in the uppermost unit that also is host to a semi-articulated fossilized salmon. The rabbit burrowed into this unit after the lake was subaerially exposed and is not contemporaneous with the salmon. REE signatures were found to be equivalent. The timing of emplacement of the REE signatures has to be less than the difference between the age of the salmon and the rabbit. Since the uppermost units of Fossil Lake are younger than 45,000 BP the remains can be dated with carbon-14. Therefore, this research aids in further quantifying the timing of emplacement of REE signature in bioapatite.展开更多
The success of many enteric bacteria is hinged on the ability to tolerate environmental stress such as extreme acidity. The acid stress response （ASR） has been investigated in many enteric bacteria and has been show...The success of many enteric bacteria is hinged on the ability to tolerate environmental stress such as extreme acidity. The acid stress response （ASR） has been investigated in many enteric bacteria and has been shown to involve variable expression of a broad spectrum of genes involved in transcriptional regulation, metabolism, colonization and virulence; representing a linkage between acid tolerance and pathogenicity. Though the majority of ASR studies have been conducted in laboratory conditions and from the perspective of pathogenicity, the role of environmental reservoirs on acid adaptation has recently emerged as an important aspect of pathogenic microbial ecology. This mini-review profiles ASR in three opportunistic enteric pathogens and synthesizes recent work pertaining to the study of this dynamic response.展开更多
基金Supported by the"Chen Guang"Project of Shanghai Municipal Education Commission(No.10CG52)the Shanghai Education Development Foundation(No.11YZ155)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.41206124,41541024)
文摘Food web structures are well known to vary widely among ecosystems. Moreover, many food web studies of lakes have generally attempted to characterize the overall food web structure and have largely ignored internal spatial and environmental variations. In this study, we hypothesize that there is a high degree of spatial heterogeneity within an ecosystem and such heterogeneity may lead to strong variations in environmental conditions and resource availability, in turn resulting in dif ferent trophic pathways. Stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes were employed for the whole food web to describe the structure of the food web in different sub-basins within Taihu Lake. This lake is a large eutrophic freshwater lake that has been intensively managed and highly influenced by human activities for more than 50 years. The results show significant isotopic dif ferences between basins with dif ferent environmental characteristics. Such differences likely result from isotopic baseline dif ferences combining with a shift in food web structure. Both are related to local spatial heterogeneity in nutrient loading in waters. Such variation should be explicitly considered in future food web studies and ecosystem-based management in this lake ecosystem.
文摘REE （rare earth element） analysis of bioapatite has recently been used to determine fossil provenience, taphonomy, stratigraphic correlation and paleoenvironmental conditions. This research has determined that REE signatures are independent of diet, species, phylogeny and osteological material. Therefore, REE signatures are solely dependent on the depositional environment. Timing of emplacement could limit the resolution of REE analysis so it is vital to understand the length of time for REE signatures incorporation into bioapatite. A fossiliferous Pleistocene sites in Fossil Lake, Oregon has the potential to address this variable. A fossilized rabbit was found in its burrow and was contained in the uppermost unit that also is host to a semi-articulated fossilized salmon. The rabbit burrowed into this unit after the lake was subaerially exposed and is not contemporaneous with the salmon. REE signatures were found to be equivalent. The timing of emplacement of the REE signatures has to be less than the difference between the age of the salmon and the rabbit. Since the uppermost units of Fossil Lake are younger than 45,000 BP the remains can be dated with carbon-14. Therefore, this research aids in further quantifying the timing of emplacement of REE signature in bioapatite.
文摘The success of many enteric bacteria is hinged on the ability to tolerate environmental stress such as extreme acidity. The acid stress response （ASR） has been investigated in many enteric bacteria and has been shown to involve variable expression of a broad spectrum of genes involved in transcriptional regulation, metabolism, colonization and virulence; representing a linkage between acid tolerance and pathogenicity. Though the majority of ASR studies have been conducted in laboratory conditions and from the perspective of pathogenicity, the role of environmental reservoirs on acid adaptation has recently emerged as an important aspect of pathogenic microbial ecology. This mini-review profiles ASR in three opportunistic enteric pathogens and synthesizes recent work pertaining to the study of this dynamic response.
