分子标记方法在生态学中的应用潜力和局限

Potential and limitations of applying molecular markers in ecological research

近几十年来,分子标记方法在生态学中得到了广泛的应用,并显示出重要的应用潜力,着重表现在:①目前分子标记方法主要应用在种群生态学中,在今后的研究中,它将在进化生态学,保护生态学,恢复生态学及生态系统生态学中显示出巨大的应用空间;②现有的一些分子标记方法还有更大的应用空间;③对同一研究问题,结合不同的分子标记方法可以取得更好的研究成果;④新的分子标记方法的产生,将有利于生态学的研究工作的深化和获得新的发展。同时,由于一些分子标记研究费用较高,获得的基础数据重复性较低,研究过程中涉及到一些放射性的安全性问题等都可能影响它在生态学领域的应用。因此,针对生态学不同的要求选择和优化分子标记手段是十分重要的。

In recent decades, molecular markers have been applied extensively in ecological studies, and shown the importance in further our understanding of ecosystem and function. This potentiality represents several points including: ① The molecular markers are applied primarily in population ecology at present. In the future, greater potential of utilizing molecular markers will be realized in the study of evolutionary ecology, conservation ecology, restoration ecology and ecosystem ecology; ②some molecular markers will be used in brand new research areas; ③ several different molecular markers will be combined in solving questions in order to improve data quality; ④ with new molecular marker to be developed, novel and extensive development will be foreseen in the area of ecology. However, molecular markers also have associated limitations when they are used in ecological investigations, such as high running cost, low repetitions, and radioactive problems. It is important to choose and optimize different molecular markers when different ecological issues are to be addressed.