Dynamic secretion changes in the salt glands of the mangrove tree species Avicennia officinalis in response to a changing saline environment

The specialized salt glands on the epidermis of halophytic plants secrete excess salts from tissues by a mechanism that is poorly understood. We examined the salt glands as putative salt and water bi‐regulatory units that can respond swiftly to altering environmental cues. The tropical mangrove tree species (Avicennia officinalis) is able to grow under fluctuating salinities (0.7–50.0 dS m^?1) at intertidal zones, and its salt glands offer an excellent platform to investigate their dynamic responses under rapidly changing salinities. Utilizing a novel epidermal peel system, secretion profiles of hundreds of individual salt glands examined revealed that these glands could secrete when exposed to varying salinities. Notably, rhythmic fluctuations observed in secretion rates were reversibly inhibited by water channel (aquaporin) blocker, and two aquaporin genes (PIP and TIP) preferentially expressed in the salt gland cells were rapidly induced in response to increasing salt concentration. We propose that aquaporins are involved and contribute to the re‐absorption of water during salt removal in Avicennia officinalis salt glands. This constitutes an adaptive feature that contributes to salt balance of trees growing in saline environments where freshwater availability is limited.     

Modelling secondary succession of neotropical mangroves: Causes and consequences of growth reduction in pioneer species

Mangrove forest structure is the result of interactions between species responses to abiotic stress factors, disturbance, dispersal and competition. The combination of abiotic conditions and disturbance history may determine the growth potential of the species, whereas dispersal, competition and external or biogenic changes in abiotic conditions may tune their succession. Even in forests with only a few species, this set of factors can create multiple species compositions. For example, pure stands of the mangrove Laguncularia are common in newly colonized areas, but they may evolve into mixed stands dominated by Rhizophora or Avicennia. We demonstrate such an evolution with a field study of mangroves established in abandoned rice fields. We use an individual-based simulation model to understand how species-dependent dispersal, growth rate and shade tolerance lead to the observed patterns in horizontal and vertical forest structure. We find that the initially dominating species will be gradually replaced in the canopy. This alteration cannot be explained exclusively by shade tolerance of the succeeding species. Rather, it is essential to assume that the height growth rate of the pioneer species slows down relative to those of the later species. A decrease in nutrient availability may be responsible for these relative changes in the growth rates of different species.     

利用mRNA差别显示技术分离盐胁迫下红树植物白骨壤耐盐相关cDNA

从福建龙海红树林自然保护区采集白骨壤的隐胎生果实 ,在实验室分别置于 0‰盐度海水和 50‰盐度海水进行沙培。分别取叶片 ,提取纯化RNA。通过锚定引物OligodT₁₂ GC反转录和 8个 10核苷酸随机引物进行PCR扩增 ,经 8%非变性聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳后发现了 3个差异DNA片段只在高盐培养条件的白骨壤基因组中表达 ,而在无盐培养条件中没有出现。这 3个差异cDNA片段分别命名为csrg1(600bp)、csrg2(550bp)、csrg3(480bp)。3个差异cDNA片段的RNA杂交结果显示 ,只有csrg1片段存在明显差异 高盐中有杂交斑点 ,无盐中无杂交斑点 ;而其余 2个片段在高盐和无盐条件下都没有杂交斑点出现。从而表明csrg1就是耐盐相关cDNA。进一步将csrg1片段克隆 ,并进行DNA序列分析。全序列在GenBank中查询后 ,未发现相关同源片段。耐盐相关cDNA片段的获得 ,将为分离全长耐盐基因 ,搞清该基因表达调控的机理提供条件.     

Polymorphic microsatellite DNA markers in the mangrove tree Avicennia alba

Like most species of mangrove trees of the genus Avicennia, A. alba is widely distributed among tropical and subtropical coasts around the world. Mangroves play an essential role in ecosystem dynamics but are reported to be regressing as human pressure increases on coastal zones. Hypervariable genetic markers are useful for population genetics studies, to estimate the level of impact and the populations potential for recovery. Microsatellite markers for A. alba were obtained by screening a partial genomic library enriched for microsatellite dinucleotide repeats. Among 20 primer pairs defined, six amplified polymorphic microsatellites with a satisfying level of variability.     

三种泌盐红树植物对盐胁迫的耐受性比较

在盐度 0、5、15、2 5和 35 (% )下种植泌盐红树植物老鼠 (Acanthus ilicifolius)、桐花树 (Aegiceras corniculatum)和白骨壤(Avicennia marina)的繁殖体 ,以繁殖体萌发、幼苗生长、叶片泌盐量、叶片组织液盐含量和蒸腾蒸发量为指标 ,比较其对盐胁迫的耐受性。盐度提高对胎生种类桐花树和白骨壤的萌根速率无显著影响 ,但高盐度明显抑制非胎生种类老鼠的萌根。白骨壤的萌苗率不受盐度影响 ,但 2 5以上的盐度导致桐花树和老鼠的萌苗率下降。在盐度范围 5～ 35内 ,白骨壤幼苗的茎高生长随盐度的增加而减少 ,但减少量比桐花树小 ,而老鼠的减少量最大。老鼠因盐度提高而导致的叶片长度的减少量最大。在盐度提高的情况下 3种植物均具有泌盐量增加的效应 ,在任一盐度下泌盐能力的顺序均为白骨壤 >桐花树 >老鼠。淡水培养时 ,3种红树植物的叶片组织液盐含量 (约 2 % )均高于环境盐度 0。在盐度范围 5～ 35内 ,白骨壤的叶片组织液盐含量维持在较稳定的水平 (4 .3%～ 5 .0 % ) ,桐花树的变化范围为 2 .4 %～ 4 .5 % ,老鼠 2 .3%～ 5 .3%。淡水培养时 ,3种植物的蒸腾蒸发量类似 ,但盐性条件下白骨壤的蒸腾蒸发量显著高于桐花树和老鼠。随着盐度的增加 ,老鼠的蒸腾蒸发量下降最多。这些结果均表     

中国北部湾白骨壤红树林的虫害与研究对策

危害北部湾白骨壤的主要害虫是广州小斑螟 (Oligochroacantonella)幼虫、双纹白草螟 (Pseudcatharylladuplicella)幼虫和广翅蜡蝉 (Euricaniasp.)成虫。广州小斑螟喜食害白骨壤叶片 ,造成大量叶片的枯干和枝条的死亡 ,最高可导致林木 73 %的叶面积危害。室内培养发现广大腿小蜂 (Brachymeriasp .)、啮小蜂 (Tetrastichussp .)可寄生广州小斑螟的蛹 ,终止其羽化过程。虫害具有突发性、专一性、快速扩展的特点。海水淹没可明显抑制虫害。讨论了虫害的发源、爆发的原因、生态效应和防治途径 ,并指出深入研究的方向     

Characterization of microsatellite markers for the mangrove tree Avicennia germinans L. (Avicenniaceae)

We describe 10 primers for amplification of microsatellite loci for the mangrove, Avicennia germinans. Eight loci were isolated from a DNA sample from the Pacific coast of Baja California, Mexico and two loci were isolated from a DNA sample from the Atlantic coast of Bermuda. Polymorphism was investigated in a population from the Mexican Pacific coast (n = 15) and in four samples scattered throughout the range of the species. Total number of alleles for the species ranged from two to 10. Observed heterozygosity in the Mexican Pacific coast population ranged from 0.27 to 0.60, with two loci having fixed alleles.     

Global Patterns of Pre-Dispersal Propagule Predation in Mangrove Forests1

Mangroves in disparate families produce viviparous seedlings (propagules) that are attacked by many crab and insect predators both before and after dispersal. While post-dispersal predation is viewed as an important factor in structuring many mangrove communities, pre-dispersal predation rates and agents have been characterized for few species. Ten species of mangrove and 3299 propagules were surveyed for pre-dispersal propagule predation at 42 sites around the world. Pre-dispersal predation rates were variable among sites and species, ranging from 0 to 93 percent within sands, with a global total predation rate of 23.3 percent (across all propagules examined) and a mean level of 28.3 percent across sites. Grapsid crabs, Coleoptera and Lepidoptera were the primary predators identified. Forests near human population centers and stands occurring at high intertidal sites exhibited higher levels of propagule predation than those in unpopulated or low-intertidal sites. Predation rates on a species were weakly, negatively correlated with conspecific seedling density at a site. To explore temporal variation in, and ramifications of pre-dispersal predation for propagule growth and abscission dynamics, Rhizophora mangle propagules were monitored over two years at three sites in Belize, Central America. Predation did not significantly reduce hypocotylar growth of germinated propagules on the parent tree, but nearly doubled the abscission rate of premature propagules. Pre-dispersal propagule predation is a ubiquitous feature of mangrove forests world-wide, and must be accounted for in estimates of reproductive output, stand health, and propagule availability for forestry and restoration efforts.