Community structure and species diversity dynamics of a subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forest in China:2005 to 2020

Here,we characterize the temporal and spatial dynamics of forest community structure and species diversity in a subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forest in China.We found that community structure in this forest changed over a 15-year period.Specifically,renewal and death of common species was large,with the renewal of individuals mainly concentrated within a few populations,especially those of Aidia canthioides and Cryptocarya concinna.The numbers of individual deaths for common species were concentrated in the small and mid-diameter level.The spatial distribution of community species diversity fluctuated in each monitoring period,showing a more dispersed diversity after the 15-year study period,and the coefficient of variation on quadrats increased.In 2010,the death and renewal of the community and the spatial variation of species diversity were different compared to other survey years.Extreme weather may have affected species regeneration and community stability in our subtropical monsoon evergreen broad-leaved forests.Our findings suggest that strengthening the monitoring and management of the forest community will help better understand the long-and short-term causes of dynamic fluctuations of community structure and species diversity,and reveal the factors that drive changes in community structure.

Polypore funga and species diversity in tropical forest ecosystems of Africa,America and Asia,and a comparison with temperate and boreal regions of the Northern Hemisphere

Polypores play a cru cial role in energy recycling and forest regeneration in forest ecosystems.The majority of them are wood degraders;some are forest pathogens and others are ectomycorrhizal symbionts.The basidiocarps provide food and shelter for many organisms,mostly invertebrates,but also some vertebrates,as well as food and medicine for humans.Despite extensive research on the species diversity and phylogenetic relationships of polypores in recent years,there remains a lack of comprehensive understanding of their distribution patterns and species composition at the large scale.Checklists of polypores from the tropical zone,including tropical Africa,tropical America,and tropical Asia,were analyzed for species diversity,distribution patterns,major taxa,and nutritional modes.A total of 1,902 polypore species was found in the three regions,representing 8 orders,46families,and 250 genera of Agaricomycetes.The orders Polyporales(especially the family Polyporaceae)and Hymenochaetales(especially the family Hymenochaetaceae)had the most prolific taxa,with their species accounting for 93.4%of the total polypores listed.Each of 1,565(or 82.3%)of the total 1,902 species were found in only one of the three regions studied,and we treat them temporarily as"regional endemic species".Only 141species were shared among all three regions,accounting for a mere 7.4%.Tropical Africa and tropical America had the greatest number of shared species and the highest S?rensen similarity index(SC)value.Tropical forests had a higher species richness compared with temperate to boreal forests of the Northern Hemisphere,and in addition,also a higher proportion of white rot polypores compared to brown rot and ectomycorrhizal species.This study outlines the distribution patterns and species diversity of polypores in the world,shedding light on their ecological significance in diverse ecosystems.

Effects of urbanization and forest type on species composition and diversity,forest characteristics,biomass carbon sink,and their associations in Changchun,Northeast China:implications for urban carbon stock improvement

Differences in forest attributes and carbon sequestration of each organ and layer between broadleaved and conifer forests of central and outer urban areas are not well-defined,hindering the precise management of urban forests and improvement of function.To clarify the effect of two forest types with different urbanization intensities,we determined differences in vegetation composition and diversity,structural traits,and carbon stocks of 152 plots(20 m×20 m)in urban park forests in Changchun,which had the largest green quantity and carbon density effectiveness.We found that 1.1-fold thicker and healthier trees,and 1.6-to 2.0-fold higher,healthier,denser,and more various shrubs but with sparser trees and herbs occurred in the central urban forests(p<0.05)than in the outer forests.The conifer forests exhibited 30–70%obviously higher tree aboveground carbon sequestration(including stem and leaf)and 20%bigger trees,especially in the outer forests(p<0.05).In contrast,1.1-to 1.5-fold higher branch stocks,healthier and more diverse trees were found in broadleaved forests of both the inner and outer forests(p<0.05).Plant size and dominant species had similarly important roles in carbon stock improvement,especially big-sized woody plants and Pinus tabuliformis.In addition,a higher number of deciduous or needle species positively affected the broadleaved forest of the central urban area and conifer forest of the outer urban area,respectively.These findings can be used to guide precise management and accelerate the improvement of urban carbon function in Northeast China in the future.

Assessment of plant diversity of endemic species of the Saharo-Arabian region in Egypt

Savanna, semi-deserts, and hot deserts characterize the Saharo-Arabian region, which includes Morocco, Mauretania, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Palestine, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Yemen, southern Jordan, Syria, Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and northern India. Its neighboring regions, the Sudano-Zambezian region belonging to the Paleotropical Kingdom and the Mediterranean and Irano-Turanian regions included in the Holarctic Kingdom, share a large portion of their flora with the Saharo-Arabian region. Despite the widespread acknowledgment of the region's global importance for plant diversity, an up to date list of the Saharo-Arabian endemics is still unavailable. The available data are frequently insufficient or out of date at both the whole global and the national scales. Therefore, the present study aims at screening and verifying the Saharo-Arabian endemic plants and determining the phytogeographical distribution of these taxa in the Egyptian flora. Hence, a preliminary list of 429 Saharo-Arabian endemic plants in Egypt was compiled from the available literature. Indeed, by excluding the species that were recorded in any countries or regions outside the Saharo-Arabian region based on different literature, database reviews, and websites, the present study has reduced this number to 126 taxa belonging to 87 genera and 37 families. Regarding the national geographic distribution, South Sinai is the richest region with 83 endemic species compared with other eight phytogeographic regions in Egypt, followed by the Isthmic Desert(the middle of Sinai Peninsula, 53 taxa). Sahara regional subzone(SS1) distributes all the 126 endemic species, Arabian regional subzone(SS2) owns 79 taxa, and Nubo-Sindian subzone(SS3) distributes only 14 endemics. Seven groups were recognized at the fourth level of classification as a result of the application of the two-way indicator species analysis(TWINSPAN) to the Saharo-Arabian endemic species in Egypt, i.e., Ⅰ Asphodelus refractus group, Ⅱ Agathophora alopecuroides var. papillosa group, Ⅲ Anvillea garcinii group, Ⅳ Reseda muricata group, V Agathophora alopecuroides var. alopecuroides group, Ⅵ Scrophularia deserti group, and Ⅶ Astragalus schimperi group. It's crucial to clearly define the Saharo-Arabian endemics and illustrate an updated verified database of these taxa for a given territory for providing future management plans that support the conservation and sustainable use of these valuable species under current thought-provoking devastating impacts of rapid anthropogenic and climate change in this region.

The Potential of Agroforestry Species Diversity and Abundance in a Disturbed Forest Reserve of Ogun State, Nigeria

Nigeria’s deforestation rate is at an alarming level due to weak forest governance, losing about 80 kha of natural forest cover per annum every year to agricultural land expansion, conflicts, and illegal logging. The expansion of agricultural land over other land use is over 50% and it is increasing. Agroforestry, as an option, offers a dynamic, ecologically based, natural resource management system that integrates forest trees into the agricultural landscape for the benefit of land users at all levels. This research aimed to assess the diversity and abundance of agroforestry tree species between the forest and farm zones at Edun Forest Reserve to improve agrobiodiversity by identifying tree species richness around farms in the reserve. A systematic sampling technique was used to sample plots, and relative dominance and important value index were determined. Results showed a significant difference between the species richness between the forest zone and farm zone of Edun Forest Reserve. On the important value index, Gmelina arborea (25.04) has the highest in the forest zone, while Cedrela odorata (0.661) is the least, and Tectona grandis (39.37) is the species with the highest in the farm zone Terminalia ivorensis (2.91) recorded the least. Combretaceae was identified as the most dominant family across the two zones. This research showed that appraisal of tree stand structure on farmlands is crucial for sustainable agroforestry management decisions in the forest zones of Nigeria.

Impacts of Human Activities and Season on Species Diversity and Abundance of Butterflies in Mpanga Kipengere Game Reserve and Surrounding Farmlands, Tanzania

Maintaining natural habitats is crucial for the preservation of insects and other species that indicate environmental changes. However, the Mpanga/Kipengere Game Reserve and its surrounding farmlands are facing disturbance due to human activities, which is putting many wildlife species, particularly larger mammals, at risk. To determine the impact of human activities on butterfly species diversity and abundance in the reserve and its surrounding areas, we conducted a study from November 2021 to October 2023. We collected butterfly data using transect walks and baited traps in two habitat types. Our study yielded 2799 butterfly Individuals ranging in 124 species divided into five families habitat, season, and anthropogenic factors are significant environmental variables influencing species diversity and abundance of butterflies. Therefore, it’s important to protect habitat and dry-season water for the conservation of invertebrates such as butterflies. Our study findings provide essential information for ecological monitoring and future assessment of the Mpanga/Kipengere Game Reserve ecosystem health.

How elevation and soil properties affect plant distribution patterns and species diversity in the Mediterranean mountain ecosystem of Al-Jabal Al- Akhdar, Libya

The objectives of this study were to assess distribution patterns of plant species richness,plant diversity and vegetation structure in relation to environmental factors along elevation gradient in Al-Jabal Al-Akhdar,Libya.For each species,its growth form,chorological affinities,degree of occurrence,endemism status and originality were provided.A total of 534 taxa were generated from 70 families of the flowering plants,and 3 of the non-flowering plants were identified.The native flora of the study area was counted for 80.2%of the total indigenous taxa(465).The hump-shaped pattern of plant species richness was obtained,with the highest species richness at the mid-elevations,and both ends of the gradient have the lowest.The annuals(300 species,56.2%)and non-succulent perennial herbs(165 species,30.9%)were the most dominant growth forms of the total species composition.Along the elevation gradient,Asteraceae,Fabaceae,Poaceae,Lamiaceae and Apiaceae were the dominant families with the highest numbers of species.This investigation recorded 31 endemic taxa,comprising 25 dicots and 6 monocots,primarily of Mediterranean origin,with most belonging to the Asteraceae and Lamiaceae families.Mediterranean chorotype was the dominant,whether pure(mono-),or combined with one(bi-and pluri-regional)or more(pluri-regional).Application of cluster analysis on the vegetation data yielded four cluster groups;each was linked to an elevation level.It emphasized the importance of establishing conservation strategies to minimize human disturbance and safeguard relic habitats of Juniperus phoenicea L.at its southern distribution limits in Africa,underlining the proactive management required for species preservation.The application of Redundancy Analysis revealed that Shannon diversity index(H'),pH and Fe were the determinant soil factor in the mid-elevation levels(L2 and L3)whereas altitude,fine sand,HCO3,OM,and soil contents of Na,SO4 and Cl for the extreme levels(L1 and L4).

Thriving green havens in baking deserts:Plant diversity and species composition of urban plantations in the Sahara Desert

Hot arid zones represent vital reservoirs of unique species and ecosystems,holding significant importance for biodiversity.This study aimed to explore the plant diversity associated with tree plantations in urban ecosystems under hyper-arid climatic conditions in the Sahara Desert of Algeria.In May 2022,30 quadrats measuring 1 m^(2) each were established at the base of Phoenix dactylifera,Leucaena leucocephala,and Tamarix aphylla,corresponding to the dominant tree species in each of three plantations.In each quadrat,the plant quantitative inventory was conducted to measure plant diversity and similarity among the studied plantations.Based on this,we assessed the plant functional traits and rarity/abundance status of the flora.The findings revealed a diverse flora associated with the studied plantations,comprising 29 plant species grouped into 27 genera and 12 families.Notably,Poaceae(accounting for 30.8% of the flora),Asteraceae(25.0%),and Zygophyllaceae(21.6%)were well-represented.With an overall density of approximately 555 individuals/m^(2),Zygophyllum album(120 individuals/m^(2))and Polypogon monspeliensis(87 individuals/m^(2))emerged as the most abundant species.Functional trait analysis underscored the pivotal role of therophytes(constituting over 50.0% of the flora)and anemochorous species(33.0%-62.5%).Phytogeographic analysis emphasized the prevalence of the Saharo-Arabic element(constituting over 31.0% of the flora)and the Mediterranean Saharo-Arabic element(9.5%-21.5%).The Cosmopolitan element thrived under disturbance factors,recording percentages from 13.0% to 20.0% of the plant community.The rarity/abundance status of the flora emphasized the significance of rare,common,and very common species in the studied plantations.These findings could provide fundamental data for the effective control and management of biodiversity in hot hyper-arid urban ecosystems.

Genome-wide SNP markers provided insights into the reproductive strategy and genetic diversity of the green tide causative species Ulva prolifera in China

Ulva prolifera is the causative species of the annually occurring large-scale green tides in China since 2007.Its specific biological features on reproductivity strategies,as well as intra-species genetic diversity,are still largely unknown,especially at the genome level,despite their importance in understanding the formation and outbreak of massive green tides.In the present study,the restriction site-associated DNA genotyping approach(2b-RAD)was adopted to identify the genome-wide single-nucleotide polymorphisms(SNPs)of 54 individual thalli including samples collected from Subei Shoal in 2019 and Qingdao coast from 2019 to 2021.SNPs genotype results revealed that most of the thalli in 2019 and 2020 were haploid gametophytes,while only half of the thalli were gametophytes in 2021,indicating flexibility in the reproductive strategies for the formation of the green tides among different years and the dominance of asexual and vegetative reproductive mode for the floating period.Besides,population analysis was conducted,and it revealed a very low genetic diversity among samples from Subei Shoal and the Qingdao coast in the same year and a higher divergence among samples in different years.The results showed the efficiency of 2b-RAD in the exploration of SNPs in U.prolifera and provided the first genome-wide scale evidence for the origin of the large-scale green tides on the Qingdao coast.This study improved our understanding of the reproductive strategy and genetic diversity of the green tide causative species and will help further reveal the biological causes of the green tide in China.

Floristic Diversity and Conservation Status of Guineo-Congolese Species in Southeastern Cameroon: The Case of the Gari-Gombo Communal Forest

The conservation of plant biodiversity has become one of the most important objectives in the sustainable management of Guinean-Congolese ecosystems. However, in the south-east zone of Cameroon, there is a lack of rigor in the management of these forests, which can result in the loss of species of high conservation value. The study was carried out in communal forests in the south-east zone of Cameroon. Its aim was to carry out a floristic inventory and then compare the list of species with the IUCN catalog. Twenty-four plots, each with a surface area of 0.2 ha, were set up in the Gari-Gombo communal forest. All timbers with a DBH ≥ 5 cm were systematically counted. A total of 176 species, belonging to 144 genera and 45 families, were surveyed. Fabaceae (42.08%), Malvaceae (39%), Euphorbiaceae (24.64%), Moraceae (20.92%), Apocynaceae (18.64%), Cecropiaceae (16.60%), Ulmaceae (14.76%), Meliaceae (14.61%), Violaceae (14.08%), Combretaceae (12.67%), Theobroma cacao (21.17%), Baphia leptobotrys (18.06%), Rinorea sp. (14.09%), Musanga cecropioides (12.18%), Terminalia superba (10.32%), Neosloetiopsis kamerunensis (10.14%), Celtis zenkeri (8.29%) and Alstonia boonei (7.77%) were the most important taxa. Nearly 90% of the species in this forest are Guinean species, with a dominance of Guinean-Congolese species (66%). Fourteen (14) threatened species have been identified in the FCGG. This study, which highlights the rich biodiversity of communal forests, is important for guiding biodiversity conservation policies in ecosystems used for production.

Research on the Species Diversity of Flower-visiting Syrphidae in the Farmland of Hanzhong Area

[Objective] The aim was to explore the species diversity of flower-visiting Syrphidae in the farmland of Hanzhong area.[Method] Based on the sample collection and the sorting and identification of collected specimens and literature,the species and their seasonal changes of flower-visiting Syrphidae in the agroecosystem of Hanzhong area were systematically analyzed.[Result] 5 015 specimens of Syrphidae were cheaked in this study,and 141 species of 53 genera of 16 families in three subfamilies of flower-visiting species of Syrphidae were identified in farmland of Hanzhong area,in which 65 species were Syrphinae;72 species were Milesiinae;while four species were Microdontinae.The species of Syrphidae in this region were active in April,May,June and July.There were two dominant species in this region,including Episyrphus balteatus and Eristalis tenax.[Conclusion] This study had provided theoretical basis for the studies on the flower-visiting habit and fecundation of insects of Syrphidae in this area.

Distributional patterns of species diversity of main plant communities along altitudinal gradient in secondary forest region,Guandi Mountain,China

Fourteen plots were chosen along with the altitude of 1600-2600 m in Guandi Mountain, Shanxi Province, China to investigate all the trees in the plots, and the species diversity indexes were calculated for analyzing the effects of altitudinal gradient on plant species diversity. The results showed that the order of dominant species from low altitude to high altitude is as Quercus liaotungensis Koidz, Pinus tabulaeformis, Betula platyphylla, B. albo-sinensis, Picea wilsonii, P. Meyeri and Larix principis-rupprechtii. With altitude increasing, the average height and DBH of the arbor firstly increase and then decrease, the maximal height and DBH of the arbor present the unimodal variable trend, the maximal height of coniferous and broad-leaved trees firstly increases and then decreases, the maximal DBH of broad-leaf trees has no clear fluctuation, and the maximal DBH of the needle-leaf trees decreases gradually. Moreover, in middle altitudinal communities （the altitude of 1900-2200 m）, the maximal height and DBH of the needle-leaf trees are larger than these of broad-leaf trees. Both Shannon-wiener index and Margalef index of the communities present the unimodal variable trend, with a peak in the mid-altitude. Plant species diversity in the mid-altitude （1900-2200 m） is higher than that of the low altitude （1600-1900 m） and the high altitude （2200-2600 m）. In addition, the unimodal variable trend of α species diversity is clearly correlated with the altitudinal gradient. The change of plant species diversity is significantly correlated with the altitudinal gradient, and also related to the community structure, the community composition, the feature of species and the human disturbance.

Patterns of species diversity and functional diversity of breeding birds in Hangzhou across an urbanization gradient

Given the rapid rise in human population and increasing urbanization,it is important to understand their potential impacts on biodiversity.From March 2007 to August 2007,we conducted bird surveys in 90 strip transects,each 3 km long and 100 m wide,along a gradient of urbanization in Hangzhou,China.This gradient spanned a range of urbanization levels including urban areas,rural-urban continuum areas,farming areas,mixed forest/farming areas and forested areas.We recorded 96 breeding bird species and classified them into nine functional groups based on nesting requirements.The nine functional groups consisted of canopy nesters,shrub nesters,canopy/shrub nesters,natural cavity nesters,building nesters,natural cavity/building nesters,ground nesters,water surface nesters and parasitic nesters.Species and functional diversities were estimated based on the Shannon-Wiener index.Environmental data of each transect as human disturbance,vegetation cover and building index were also measured,and a synthetic urbanization index of each transect was introduced based on these data.We used regression analyses to model the relationship of species abundance,species diversity,functional abundance and functional diversity with this synthetic index.The results show that urbanization significantly reduces species richness,species diversity,functional richness and functional diversity,but the specific patterns differed.The relationship between species abundance/species diversity and urbanization is linear.In contrast,the relationship between functional diversity and urbanization was quadratic.In other words,with increased urbanization,functional diversity declined only slightly at first but then dropped at an accelerating rate.This implies that,although moderate urbanization reduces species diversity of breeding birds,it affects functional diversity of breeding birds only slightly in Hangzhou.The regression analysis of species diversity and functional diversity suggests a quadratic relationship between species diversity and functional diversity,i.e.,a linear relationship between species diversity and functional diversity can only exist at low diversity levels across urbanization gradients and increasing species abundance does not lead to an increase in functional diversity at the highest diversity levels.

Study on Species Diversity of Alpine Vegetation with Different Altitudes in Daban Mountain

[Objective] The aim of this study is to investigate species diversity of alpine vegetation in different altitudes of Daban mountain. [Method] Plant communities were surveyed in three different altitudes （3 025 m,3 405 m,3 813 m） of Daban mountain,the eastern Qilian,and the richness or diversity index of vegetation in three different altitudes was comparatively analyzed. [Result] The species richness decreased with the gradual increase of altitude,and species diversity of plant communities was relatively lower in medium altitude. Furthermore,community similarity also decreased with the increase of altitude,and β diversity of communities had a significant change. [Conclusion] Environmental factor change caused by different altitudes and human disturbance are important reasons for the change of species distribution pattern in different altitudes.

Allozyme Diversity and Population Genetic Structure of Three Medicinal Epimedium Species from Hubei

Three Epimedium species, E. pubescens Maxim., E. sagittatum （Sieb. ＆ Zucc.） Maxim., and E. wushanense T. S. Ying, which are sympatrically distributed in the western Hubei Province, have been used in traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） for about 2,000 years. Genetic variability and population genetic structure of 11 natural populations of these Epimedium species were investigated using isoelectric focusing in thin-layer polyacrylamide slab gels. Of the 22 enzyme systems prescreened, six coding for 13 loci and 45 alleles were resolved, which were used for analyzing genetic diversity and population structure at both intraspecific and interspecific levels. The results showed that： l） high levels of genetic diversity were observed in all three species （A = 2.6-3.2, P = 69.2%-84.6%, Ho= 0.274-0.377, HE= 0.282-0.369）, which were higher than that of other herbaceous and aulmal-pollinated species with similar life-history characteristics; 2） there was significant deviation from Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium, with one half of the loci showing heterozygote excess and the other homozygote excess, in all populations, suggesting the complicated breeding system of Epimedium species; 3） the low level of intraspecific and interspecific genetic differentiation （GST= 0.0246-0.0409 and 0.0495-0.1213, respectively） indicated a high level of gene flow among populations and close genetic relationship among the three species; and 4） UPGMA cluster analysis further showed that E. pubescens was more closely related to E. sagittatum than to E. wushanense, which was in good agreement with the morphological characters and the recent phylogenetic analysis of these species. On the basis of these results, it was concluded that the mixed breeding system, long-lived perennial life form, ancient evolutionary history, and seed dispersal by ants in Epimedium are responsible for the genetic variation and population structure of these species.

Dynamic change of arborous species diversity in natural secondary forests after selective cutting on the north slope of Changbai Mountain, Northeast China

The community characteristics of natural secondary forests on the north slope of Changbai Mountain after selective cutting were investigated, and the dynamics of arborous species diversity during the restoration period of 28 years were studied. The results showed that the arborous species richness (S) had little change and kept the range of 18-22 all along, the Simpson index (D) of the secondary layer and regeneration layer and whole stand had similar trends of change, but that of the canopy layer descended slowly in initial 15 years and had little change later, and the change of diversity index was not obvious and the Shannon-Wiener index (H? fluctuated in a very small scopes (H±10%).

Inhibitory effect of ferroptosis inhibitor toxicity induced by cobalt nanoparticles through reactive oxygen species

BACKGROUND:Soft tissue damage induced by cobalt nanoparticles is currently the most noticeable complication in patients with artificial joint prostheses.Therefore,an effective therapeutic strategy is needed to limit the toxicity of cobalt nanoparticles.OBJECTIVE:To investigate the protective effect of a ferroptosis inhibitor on cobalt nanoparticles-induced cytotoxicity.METHODS:To evaluate the detoxification effect of ferroptosis inhibitor on mouse fibroblasts(Balb/3T3),Balb/3T3 cells were treated with cobalt nanoparticles and ferroptosis inhibitor for 24 hours.The cell viabilities were measured by cell viability assay.Based on the results of the cell viability assay,the concentrations of cobalt nanoparticles and deferiprone were determined.The experiment was divided into four groups:the cobalt nanoparticles group(400μmol/L cobalt nanoparticles),the cobalt nanoparticles+deferiprone group(400μmol/L cobalt nanoparticles and 25μmol/L deferiprone),the deferiprone group(25μmol/L deferiprone),and the control group.The expressions of glutathione peroxidase 4 and solute carrier family 7 member 11 protein were examined by western blot assay.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)The cell viability assay results showed that as the exposure time or the drug concentration increased,cell viability decreased further,indicating that the cytotoxic effect of cobalt nanoparticles was time-and dose-dependent.Additionally,after 24 hours of exposure,cobalt nanoparticles significantly reduced cell viability and glutathione levels compared with the control group(P<0.05).At the same time,compared with the control group,there was an increase in reactive oxygen species production,intracellular iron levels,and the expression of inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factorα,interleukin-1β,and interleukin-6.After the addition of deferiprone,compared with the cobalt nanoparticles group,cell viability significantly improved,and reactive oxygen species production,intracellular iron levels,and the expression of inflammatory cytokines(tumor necrosis factorα,interleukin-1β,and interleukin-6)significantly decreased(P<0.05).This demonstrated that deferiprone had a protective effect on cells exposed to cobalt nanoparticles.(2)Western blot assay results showed that cobalt nanoparticles reduced the expression of glutathione peroxidase 4 and solute carrier family 7 member 11 protein(P<0.05),while deferiprone inhibited this effect(P<0.05).(3)The above findings verify that cobalt nanoparticles are highly cytotoxic and ferroptosis inhibitor deferiprone has a detoxification effect on cytotoxicity induced by cobalt nanoparticles.Ferroptosis plays an important role in the process by which cobalt nanoparticles induce cytotoxicity.The inhibitory effect of ferroptosis inhibitors on the toxicity of cobalt nanoparticles may provide valuable insights for further research into the mechanisms of cobalt nanoparticle toxicity and potential detoxification strategies.

Research on Species Diversity Characteristics of Chinese Endemic Plant Populus shanxiensis

[Objective] This study aimed at researching the species diversity of Populus shanxiensis community in Heichashan Mountain. [Method] Based on sampling methods, investigation in sampling spots was carried out according to the important indicator, the abundance index （N0）, Simpson index （λ）, Shannon-Weiner index （H＇） and homogeneity index （E1 and E5） were used for analysis. [Results] Species diversity index of Populus shanxiensis community was not only depended on the species compositions of communities, but also closely related to the important value of species. The order of abundance index and diversity index in each layer of Populus shanxiensis community was herb layershrub layertree layer, and the abundance index was positively related to the diversity index; while the variation trend of community homogeneity index was different from that of abundance index and diversity index, and the homogeneity had shown negative correlation with the dominance. [Conclusion] In this study, the growth status and conditions of Populus shanxiensis were further understood and researched, which had laid theoretical foundation for protecting the endangered species and provided basic information for the future studies of endangered species and related disciplines.

Genetic diversity and population genetic structure of Paeonia suffruticosa by chloroplast DNA simple sequence repeats(cpSSRs)

Paeonia suffruticosa Andr.is an endemic shrub flower in China with 2n=10.This study used 228 cultivars from four populations,i.e.,Jiangnan,Japan,Northwest,and Zhongyuan,as materials to explore the genetic diversity levels among different populations of tree peony varieties.The results showed that 34 bands were amplified using five pairs of cp SSR primers,with an average of 6.8 bands per primer pair.The average number of different alleles(N_(a)),effective alleles(N_(e)),Shannon's information index(I),diversity(H),and polymorphic information content(PIC)were 3.600,2.053,0.708,0.433,and 0.388,respectively.The PIC value was between 0.250 and 0.500,indicating a moderate level of polymorphism for the five cp SSR primer pairs.The genetic diversity levels of peony cultivars varied among different populations,with the Northwest population showing relatively lower levels(I=0.590,H=0.289,and PIC=0.263).A total of 52 haplotypes were identified in the four examined populations,and the number of haplotypes per population ranged from 11 to 22.Forty-four private haplotypes were detected across populations,and the Northwest population exhibiting the highest count of private haplotypes with 17.The mean number of effective number of haplotypes(N_(eh)),haplotypic richness(R_h),and diversity(H)were 8.351,6.824,and 0.893,respectively.Analysis of molecular variance indicated that genetic variation within tree peony germplasm was greater than that between germplasm resources,and the main variation was found within individuals of peony germplasm.Cluster analysis,principal coordinate analysis,and genetic structure analysis classified tree peonies from different origins into two groups,indicating a certain degree of genetic differentiation among these four tree peony cultivation groups.This study provides a theoretical basis for the exploration,utilization,and conservation of peony germplasm resources,as well as for research on the breeding of excellent varieties.

Associations between food insecurity with gestational diabetes mellitus and maternal outcomes mediated by dietary diversity:A cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND Food insecurity(FI)during pregnancy negatively impacts maternal health and raises the risk of gestational diabetes mellitus(GDM)and pregnancy-induced hypertension(PIH),resulting in adverse outcomes for both mother and baby.AIM To investigate the relationships between FI and pregnancy outcomes,particularly GDM and PIH,while also examining the mediating role of the dietary diversity score(DDS).METHODS A cross-sectional study was undertaken to examine this relationship,involving 600 pregnant women.Participants were women aged 18 years or older who provided complete data on FI and pregnancy outcomes.The FI was measured via the Household Food Security Survey Module,with GDM defined as fasting plasma glucose levels of≥5.1 mmol/L or a 2-hour oral glucose tolerance test value of≥8.5 mmol/L.The DDS is determined by evaluating one's food consumption based on nine distinct food groups.A logistic regression model was used to explore the relationship between FI and PIH,and GDM.RESULTS Seventeen percent of participants reported experiencing FI during pregnancy.The study found a significant association between FI and an elevated risk of GDM[odds ratio(OR)=3.32,95%CI:1.2-5.4].Once more,food-insecure pregnant women had higher rates of PIH(OR=0.10,95%CI:0.02-0.45)and they also faced a higher likelihood of neonatal complications,such as neonatal intensive care unit’s admissions and the birth of infants with extremely low birth weight.The FI wasfurther linked to metabolic disruptions,such as elevated fasting blood sugar(FBS),low-density lipoprotein cholesterol,and triglyceride levels.Our results indicate that the DDS acts as a significant mediator in the relationship between FI and the incidence of GDM.In particular,the mediation analysis showed that approximately 65%of the effect was mediated through DDS(P=0.002).CONCLUSION These findings underscore the serious challenges that FI presents during pregnancy and its effects on maternal and infant health.Additionally,the study explored how DDS mediates the relationship between FI and the incidence of GDM.