Scale dependent effects in resource selection by crop-raiding Japanese macaques in Niigata Prefecture,Japan

A resource selection function is one that yields values proportional to the probability of use of a resource unit. This quantity is influenced by the heterogeneity of landscape structures, which occurs over multiple spatial scales. To provide input into wildlife management strategies, we investigated the scale dependency and functional responses of Japanese macaques using multiple scale analysis. The multiple buffers with radii of 100, 500, 1000, 1500, 2000, and 2500 m were defined as the spatial scale. Crop damage was predicted at the within-home range scale, using the Random Forests algorithm with environmental variables linked to resource selection of Japanese macaques. Sixteen environmental variables were defined, covering aspects of landscape configuration, human disturbance, topography, and adopted countermeasures. Crop damage was most accurately predicted within a buffer zone of 1000 m, although radii exceeding 1000 m were also highly accurate. Although the importance of variables differed among spatial extents, the functional responses for each environmental variable were independent of spatial extent. These results suggest that the limiting factors of crop damage depend on spatial extent, while functional responses in resource selection remain constant across spatial extents. We also compared a multi-scale gradient map with a typical binary map to demonstrate the uncertainty in damage predictions at different spatial scales. Our results may aid wildlife management planning, for which differences in resource selection across different spatial scales are critically important.     

Genetic diversity in two Japanese flounder populations from China seas inferred using microsatellite markers and COI sequences

Japanese flounder is one of the most important commercial species in China; however, information on the genetic background of natural populations in China seas is scarce. The lack of genetic data has hampered fishery management and aquaculture development programs for this species. In the present study, we have analyzed the genetic diversity in natural populations of Japanese flounder sampled from the Yellow Sea (Qingdao population, QD) and East China Sea (Zhoushan population, ZS) using 10 polymorphic microsatellite loci and cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) sequencing data. A total of 68 different alleles were observed over 10 microsatellite loci. The total number of alleles per locus ranged from 2 to 9, and the number of genotypes per locus ranged from 3 to 45. The observed heterozygosity and expected heterozygosity in QD were 0.733 and 0.779, respectively, and in ZS the heterozygosity values were 0.708 and 0.783, respectively. Significant departures from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium were observed in 7 of the 10 microsatellite loci in each of the two populations. The COI sequencing analysis revealed 25 polymorphic sites and 15 haplotypes in the two populations. The haplotype diversity and nucleotide diversity in the QD population were 0.746±0.072 8 and 0.003 34±0.001 03 respectively, and in ZS population the genetic diversity values were 0.712±0.047 0 and 0.003 18±0.000 49, respectively. The microsatellite data (F_st =0.048 7, P<0.001) and mitochondrial DNA data (F_st =0.128, P<0.001) both revealed significant genetic differentiation between the two populations. The information on the genetic variation and differentiation in Japanese flounder obtained in this study could be used to set up suitable guidelines for the management and conservation of this species, as well as for managing artificial selection programs. In future studies, more geographically diverse stocks should be used to obtain a deeper understanding of the population structure of Japanese flounder in the China seas and adjacent regions.     

The missing half of the subduction factory: shipboard results from the Izu rear arc,IODP Expedition 350

IODP Expedition 350 was the first to be drilled in the rear part of the Izu-Bonin, although several sites had been drilled in the arc axis to fore-arc region; the scientific objective was to understand the evolution of the Izu rear arc, by drilling a deep-water volcaniclastic section with a long temporal record (Site U1437). The Izu rear arc is dominated by a series of basaltic to dacitic seamount chains up to ~100-km long roughly perpendicular to the arc front. Dredge samples from these are geochemically distinct from arc front rocks, and drilling was undertaken to understand this arc asymmetry. Site U1437 lies in an ~20-km-wide basin between two rear arc seamount chains, ~90-km west of the arc front, and was drilled to 1804 m below the sea floor (mbsf) with excellent recovery. We expected to drill a volcaniclastic apron, but the section is much more mud-rich than expected (~60%), and the remaining fraction of the section is much finer-grained than predicted from its position within the Izu arc, composed half of ashes/tuffs, and half of lapilli tuffs of fine grain size (clasts <3 cm). Volcanic blocks (>6.4 cm) are only sparsely scattered through the lowermost 25% of the section, and only one igneous unit was encountered, a rhyolite peperite intrusion at ~1390 mbsf. The lowest biostratigaphic datum is at 867 mbsf (~6.5 Ma), the lowest palaeomagnetic datum is at ~1300 mbsf (~9 Ma), and the rhyolite peperite at ~1390 mbsf has yielded a U–Pb zircon concordia intercept age of (13.6 + 1.6/?1.7) Ma. Both arc front and rear arc sources contributed to the fine-grained (distal) tephras of the upper 1320 m, but the coarse-grained (proximal) volcaniclastics in the lowest 25% of the section are geochemically similar to the arc front, suggesting arc asymmetry is not recorded in rocks older than ~13 Ma.     

Estimation of temporal variation in splash detachment in two Japanese cypress plantations of contrasting age

To elucidate splash erosion processes under natural rainfall conditions, temporal variations in splash detachment were observed using a piezoelectric saltation sensor (H11B; Sensit Co., Portland, ND, USA). Preliminary laboratory tests of Sensit suggested that they were suitable for field observations. Field observations were conducted between July and September 2006 in 21‐ and 36‐year‐old Japanese cypress (Chamaecyparis obtusa) plantations with mean stand heights of 9·2 m and 17·4 m, respectively. Splash detachment (in g m^?2) was measured seven times using splash cups, and raindrop kinetic energy (in J m^?2 mm^?1) in both stands was measured using laser drop‐sizing (LD) gauges. Sensit was installed to record saltation counts, which were converted to temporal data of splash detachment (splash rate; in g m^?2 10 min^?1) using the relationship between splash detachment and saltation counts. Surface runoff was monitored using runoff plots of 0·5 m width and 2·0 m length to obtain temporal data of flow depth (in millimeters). Both total splash detachment and raindrop kinetic energy were larger in the older stand. Increased splash rates per unit throughfall were found in both stands after rainless durations longer than approximately one day in both stands. However, a lower splash rate was found in the 21‐year stand after rainfall events. During extreme rainstorms, the 21‐year stand showed a low runoff rate and a decline in the splash rate, while the 36‐year stand showed a higher splash rate and increased flow depth. The piezoelectric sensor proved to be a useful means to elucidate splash erosion processes in field conditions. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Pressure–temperature conditions of ongoing regional metamorphism beneath the Japanese Islands

We evaluate the pressure–temperature (P–T) conditions of ongoing regional metamorphism at the top of the oceanic crust of the subducted Pacific and Philippine Sea plates through a combination of phase diagrams and hypocenter distribution and based on the dehydration-induced earthquake hypothesis. The brute-force method was employed to find the best match thermal structure to link the hypocenter distribution and dehydration. The estimated thermal structure varies far from the values obtained from numerical simulation. Our estimates are consistent with the qualitative physical prediction for the variation of temperature in different subduction zones and provide quantitative constraints for the models.In northeastern Japan, the P–T path for the top of the oceanic crust turns to the high-T side at a depth of around 90 km. The depth corresponds to the location of the volcanic front and an active convection of the wedge mantle below this depth is suggested. Our computations also reveal the effect of an exceptional scenario beneath the Kanto region. The temperature in the Kanto region, where the cold lid of the Philippine Sea plate prevents heating by the return-flow of mantle wedge above, is much lower than that of northeastern Japan. The subduction of younger Philippine Sea plate leads to a higher-temperature in the oceanic crust. In the central Shikoku region, the thermal structure exhibits high-T/P nature. Heating by shear deformation can explain the high-T/P path in the depth range from 20 to 35 km. The Kyushu area shows moderate type T/P path reaching up to eclogite facies conditions. In the Kii and central Shikoku region, the thermal structure exhibits high-T/P nature. However, the absolute values for the areas seem to have problem in physical context. Our results has risen the significance of sediment subduction in the southwest Japan and requirement for further improvements in this technique including the aspect of variation of the bulk composition of the subducted material.     

用显微注射方法分析牙鲆肌肉发育调节基因MyoD, Myf5的启动子序列

克隆了牙鲆(Paralichthys olivaceus)肌肉发育调节基因MyoD和Myf5的启动子序列,分别为608 bp和1 073 bp。对序列进行分析发现MyoD和Myf5的启动子含有参与肌肉发育调控的基因的结合位点。将MyoD和Myf5的启动子连接到GFP载体上,构建了重组质粒MyoDP-GFP和Myf5P-GFP,并注射到一细胞或两细胞的斑马鱼胚胎中,对这两个基因的启动子进行了瞬时表达研究。结果表明,牙鲆MyoD和Myf5的启动子可以驱动绿色荧光蛋白特异地在斑马鱼肌肉纤维中表达,因此牙鲆608 bpMyoD和1073 bpMyf5的启动子包含着可以驱动MyoD和Myf5正常表达的必需元件,它们是肌肉特异的,并且可以跨物种行使其功能。     

利用博弈模型分析和评价日本渔业管理

分析日本渔业协同组合的建立对日本渔业管理活动的改进,针对这种政府、渔业协同组合和渔民的行为选择结果能够达到相对均衡状态,并且能够有效弥补政府单一监管模式的不足的管理模式,本文从博弈论角度分析渔民、政府、渔业协同组合的行为选择依据,得出了渔业协会是政府有效监管的必要前提,进而对我国渔业管理提供很好的借鉴意义。     

牙鲆胸腺的组织学研究

牙鲆的胸腺位于鳃腔背面结缔组织膜上,紧贴着肾脏的头部,界限清晰,胸腺不向咽腔突出,胸腺上皮没有粘液细胞。牙鲆胸腺没有明显的外区和内区之分,胸腺细胞和巨噬细胞比较均匀地分布于整个组织中,未能观察到胸腺小体。在胸腺的细胞类型上,首次发现了大量的交错突细胞,常与淋巴细胞相伴,其特点是具有大量的”迷路样”膜结构。同时还发现,牙鲆胸腺可以不对称并存在快速退化现象,在3月龄时最易观察,而6月龄以上的牙鲆即退化消失。     

摄食转基因集胞藻牙鲆的安全性评价

评价转牙鲆生长因子基因集胞藻作为鱼类饲料添加剂的安全性。将摄食转基因集胞藻的牙鲆肌肉以10.0 g/kg.BW.d剂量给小鼠连续灌喂8周,对试验鼠的摄食量、体重、血液常规和血生化指标、脏体系数以及生殖机能进行了检测,对组织器官进行了病理学检查。研究结果显示,灌喂摄食转基因藻牙鲆的小鼠,其摄食量、体重、血液常规、血生化指标及脏体系数与对照小鼠无显著差异(P>0.05),其生殖机能和肝、肾等组织器官未受损害。表明转基因集胞藻作为牙鲆饲料添加剂不能通过食物链对食鱼生物造成不良影响,是安全无毒的。