Assessment of different mcy genes for detecting the toxic to non-toxic Microcystis ratio in the field by multiplex qPCR

Harmful cyanobacterial blooms, especially Microcystis blooms, occur worldwide and draw widespread attention. The dynamics of microcystin-producing Microcystis and competition between microcystin-producing Microcystis and non-microcystin-producing Microcystis are key to predicting and treating Microcystis blooms. Multiplex qPCR is a useful tool to assess such issues. In this study, we developed multiplex qPCR methods with newly-designed probes and primers for the microcystin-synthesis related genes mcyA and mcyE. We used seven toxic Microcystis strains and four non-toxic Microcystis strains to compare the differences in the ratios of toxic and non-toxic Microcystis in mixed cultures, which were calculated using abundances of the genes mcyA, mcyB, mcyD, mcy E and phycocyanin( PC). We also compared traditional cell counting and multiplex qPCR. Hierarchical clustering and principal component analysis indicated that mcyD was the most suitable mcy gene for quantification in laboratory experiments. mcyB abundances were always higher; we suggest that the amount of toxic Microcystis measured using mcyB might overestimate the actual percentages.

煤矿废弃地复垦区生态绩效评价技术研究进展

基于国内外关于煤矿废弃地复垦区生态绩效评价技术的论著分析,对煤矿废弃地复垦区生态绩效评价的指标选取、指标体系的建立、评价标准的构建及评价方法的应用等进行了综述,指出当前尚未提出通用于煤矿废弃地生态恢复绩效的评价体系,由于缺乏对植物-环境关系的长期、系统的动态监测和作用机理研究,造成了评价指标选取的不系统性和评价目标选取的盲目性。建立植物-环境系统的长期、动态监测网络,探索生态绩效评价新方法,构建科学、系统、实用的煤矿废弃地生态恢复绩效评价指标及评价标准,将是今后煤矿废弃地复垦区生态绩效评价研究领域的发展趋势。

Temporal and spatial distribution of phytoplankton functional groups and role of environment factors in a deep subtropical reservoir

Phytoplankton and environment factors were investigated in 2015 and phytoplankton functional groups were used to understand their temporal and spatial distribution and their driving factors in Wanfeng Reservoir. Seventeen functional groups(B, D, E, F, G, J, Lo, MP, P, S1, T, W1, W2, X1, X2, Xph, Y) were identified based on 34 species. The dominant groups were: J/B/P/D in dry season, X1/J/Xph/G/T in normal season and J in flood season. Phytoplankton abundance ranged from 5.33×10~4 cells/L to 3.65×10~7 cells/L, with the highest value occurring in flood season and lowest in dry season. The vertical profi le of dominant groups showed little differentiation except for P, which dominated surface layers over 20 m as a result of mixing water masses and higher transparency during dry season. However, the surface waters presented higher values of phytoplankton abundance than other layers, possibly because of greater irradiance. The significant explaining variables and their ability to describe the spatial distribution of the phytoplankton community in RDA diff ered seasonally as follows: dry season, NH4-N, NO_3-N, NO_2-N, TN:TP ratio and transparency(SD); normal season, temperature(WT), water depth, TN, NH4-N and NO_3-N; flood season, WT, water depth, NO_3-N and NO_2-N. Furthermore, nitrogen, water temperature, SD and water depth were significant variables explaining the variance of phytoplankton communities when datasets included all samples. The results indicated that water physical conditions and hydrology were important in phytoplankton community dynamics, and nitrogen was more important than phosphorus in modifying phytoplankton communities. Seasonal differences in the relationship between the environment and phytoplankton community should be considered in water quality management.

Revisiting Sustainable Development of Dry Valleys in Hengduan Mountains Region

Dry valleys are a striking geographic landscape in Hengduan Mountains Region and are characterized by low rainfall, desert type of vegetation and fragile environment. Past efforts and resources have been concentrated mainly on rehabilitation of degraded ecosystem and fragile environment, particularly reforestation, while socio-economic development has been largely overlooked. Despite successes in pocket areas, the overall trend of unsustainability and environmental deterioration are continuing. It is important to understand that uplift of the Tibetan Plateau is the root cause of development of dry valleys, and development and formation of dry valleys is a natural process. Human intervention has played a secondary role in development of dry valleys and degradation of dry valleys though human intervention in many cases has speeded up environmental degradation of the dry valleys. It is important to understand that dry valleys are climatic enclaves and an integrated approach that combines rehabilitation of degraded ecosystems and socio-economic development should be adopted if the overall goal of sustainable development of dry valleys is to be achieved. Promotion of niche-based cash crops, rural energy including hydropower, solar energy, biogas and fuelwood plantation is recommended as the priority activities.

Populus euphratica, a Tolerant Model but Endangered Arborescent Species

Populus euphratica is a most tolerant arborescent species to abiotic stress. It can adapt to extreme conditions, ranging from flood to atmosphere extremely dry, hot from + 54 ℃ to - 45 ℃, and from normal soil to the soil with very high salt concentration ( to 2 ～5%) although being a non-halophyte. However, the natural stands of P. euphratica have been shrinking tremendously for the past decades and some populations are facing the fate of extinction. The preservation of existing resources should be carried out as a burning issue. In parallel, P. euphratica could be taken as a model plant to explore the molecular mechanism of abiotic-stress tolerance and to exploit its tolerant genes due to its smaller genome and easy molecular manipulation. The measures for preservation, germ-plasma exploitation, tolerance mechanism exploration and resource utilization were also discussed in this paper.