Geographic variations in seed dispersal by ants: are plant and seed traits decisive?

The effect of local ant species on the dispersal success of a myrmecochorous plant, Helleborus foetidus, was analyzed in two populations of the Iberian Peninsula (Caurel and Cazorla, respectively). The contribution of the various local ant species to dispersal was very unequal. While 5 and 19 ant taxa visited the plants of Caurel and Cazorla, respectively, most removal activity (67 and 80%) was performed by two species only (Formica lugubris and Camponotus cruentatus, respectively). Visits by dispersers were also unequally distributed between neighboring plants. While some plants were always visited during the period of seed release, others were never visited. A regression model indicated that this pattern might be explained by two plant traits: ants preferred to visit plants that released more seeds and whose elaiosomes were richer in oleic acid. Although it has long been known that this compound triggers removal by ants, it is the first demonstration that quantitative variations in elaiosome traits contribute to variation in dispersal success. Finally, other variables being equal, morphological traits (seed size, elaiosome size, and elaiosome/seed size ratio) did not affect ant behavior. Although myrmecochory has long been considered a diffuse interaction, our results support the idea that, at local scale, a limited number of ant species may be decisive to its evolution.     

Indirect interactions between invasive and native plants via pollinators

In generalised pollination systems, the presence of alien plant species may change the foraging behaviour of pollinators on native plant species, which could result in reduced reproductive success of native plant species. We tested this idea of indirect interactions on a small spatial and temporal scale in a field study in Mauritius, where the invasive strawberry guava, Psidium cattleianum, provides additional floral resources for insect pollinators. We predicted that the presence of flowering guava would indirectly and negatively affect the reproductive success of the endemic plant Bertiera zaluzania, which has similar flowers, by diverting shared pollinators. We removed P. cattleianum flowers within a 5-m radius from around half the B. zaluzania target plants (treatment) and left P. cattleianum flowers intact around the other half (control). By far, the most abundant and shared pollinator was the introduced honey bee, Apis mellifera, but its visitation rates to treatment and control plants were similar. Likewise, fruit and seed set and fruit size and weight of B. zaluzania were not influenced by the presence of P. cattleianum flowers. Although other studies have shown small-scale effects of alien plant species on neighbouring natives, we found no evidence for such negative indirect interactions in our system. The dominance of introduced, established A. mellifera indicates their replacement of native insect flower visitors and their function as pollinators of native plant species. However, the pollination effectiveness of A. mellifera in comparison to native pollinators is unknown. Christine B. Müller, deceased 7 March 2008.     

An absence of aggression between non-nestmates in the bull ant <Emphasis Type="Italic">Myrmecia nigriceps</Emphasis>

The ability of social insects to discriminate against non-nestmates is vital for maintaining colony integrity, and in most social insect species, individuals act aggressively towards non-nestmates that intrude into their nest. Our experimental field data revealed that intra-colony aggression in the primitive bulldog ant Myrmecia nigriceps is negligible; our series of bioassays revealed no significant difference in the occurrence of aggression in trials involving workers from the same, a close (less than 300 m) or a far (more than 1.5 km) nest. Further, non-nestmate intruders were able to enter the nest in 60% of our trials; a similar level was observed in trials involving nestmates. These results suggest that workers of M. nigriceps are either unable to recognize alien conspecifics or that the costs of ignoring workers from foreign colonies are sufficiently low to favor low levels of inter-colony aggression in this species.     

Indirect defense in a highly specific ant–plant mutualism

Although associations between myrmecophytes and their plant ants are recognized as a particularly effective form of protective mutualism, their functioning remains incompletely understood. This field study examined the ant-plant Hirtella physophora and its obligate ant associate Allomerus decemarticulatus. We formulated two hypotheses on the highly specific nature of this association: (1) Ant presence should be correlated with a marked reduction in the amount of herbivory on the plant foliage; (2) ant activity should be consistent with the "optimal defense" theory predicting that the most vulnerable and valuable parts of the plant are the best defended. We validated the first hypothesis by demonstrating that for ant-excluded plants, expanding leaves, but also newly matured ones in the long term, suffered significantly more herbivore damage than ant-inhabited plants. We showed that A. decemarticulatus workers represent both constitutive and inducible defenses for their host, by patrolling its foliage and rapidly recruiting nestmates to foliar wounds. On examining how these activities change according to the leaves’ developmental stage, we found that the number of patrolling ants dramatically decreased as the leaves matured, while leaf wounds induced ant recruitment regardless of the leaf’s age. The resulting level of these indirect defenses was roughly proportional to leaf vulnerability and value during its development, thus validating our second hypothesis predicting optimal protection. This led us to discuss the factors influencing ant activity on the plant’s surface. Our study emphasizes the importance of studying both the constitutive and inducible components of indirect defense when evaluating its efficacy and optimality.     

Effects of maternal diet and host quality on oviposition patterns and offspring performance in a seed beetle (Coleoptera: Bruchidae)

In seed beetles, oviposition decisions may influence the offspring phenotype because eggs constitute the initial resources available for larval development. We tested the effects of host quality variations (small vs. large seeds of the host plant Calystegia sepium, Convolvulaceae) on oviposition patterns and offspring performance of the seed beetle Megacerus eulophus. We also manipulated the maternal diet: high diet quality vs. low diet quality to evaluate possible interactive effects of the maternal nutritional environment and host quality on oviposition patterns. We further assessed the consequences of egg size variation in offspring size. Female M. eulophus fed with high-quality diet (H-diet) laid more eggs and lived longer than females fed with low-quality diet (P-diet). Fecundity decreased under a low-quality host for both maternal diets. The occurrence of maternal environmental effects on egg size plasticity was detected. Under conditions of low-quality host, mothers fed with the high-quality diet produced bigger eggs in comparison with a high-quality host, whereas females fed with the low-quality diet produced smaller ones. Regardless of these differences observed in egg size depending on the maternal diet, progeny emerging from small seeds (low-quality host) showed a similar performance at emergence. Offspring traits were only significantly affected by host quality. Beetles emerging from large seeds had greater body weight and length than those reared on small seeds. Variations in oviposition patterns in response to host quality are discussed.     

Plant origin of Okinawan propolis: honeybee behavior observation and phytochemical analysis

Propolis is a natural resinous product collected by honeybees from certain plants. It has gained popularity as a food and alternative medicine. Poplar and Baccharis are well known as the source plants of European and Brazilian propolis, respectively. However, the propolis from Okinawa, Japan, contains some prenylflavonoids not seen in other regions such as Europe and Brazil, suggesting that the plant origin of Okinawan propolis is a particular plant that grows in Okinawa. To identify the plant origin of Okinawan propolis, we observed the behavior of honeybees as they collected material from plants and caulked it inside the hive. Honeybees scraped resinous material from the surface of plant fruits of Macaranga tanarius and brought it back to their hive to use it as propolis. We collected samples of the plant and propolis, and compared their constituents by high-performance liquid chromatography with a photo-diode array detector. We also compared their 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl radical scavenging activity. The chemical constituents and biological activity of the ethanol extracts of the plant did not differ from those of propolis. This indicates directly that the plant origin of Okinawan propolis is M. tanarius. S. K. and J. N. contributed equally to this work.     

Factors affecting in vitro plant regeneration of the critically endangered Mediterranean knapweed (Centaurea tchihatcheffii Fisch et. Mey)

Habitat destruction has resulted in the extinction of many plant species from the earth, and many more face extinction. Likely, the annual endemic Mediterranean knapweed (Centaurea tchihatcheffii) growing in the Golbasi district of Ankara, Turkey is facing extinction and needs urgent conservation. Plant tissue culture, a potentially useful technique for ex situ multiplication, was used for the restoration of this ill-fated plant through seed germination, micropropagation from stem nodes, and adventitious shoot regeneration from immature zygotic embryos. The seeds were highly dormant and very difficult to germinate. No results were obtained from the micropropagation of stem nodes. However, immature zygotic embryos showed the highest adventitious shoot regeneration on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium, containing 1 mg l⁻¹ kinetin and 0.25 mg l⁻¹ NAA. Regenerated shoots were best rooted on MS medium containing 1 mg l⁻¹ IBA and transferred to the greenhouse for flowering and seed set. As such, the present work is the first record of in vitro propagation of critically endangered C. tchihatcheffii, using immature zygotic embryos, and is a step forward towards conservation of this indigenous species.     

Foraging scent marks of bumblebees: footprint cues rather than pheromone signals

In their natural habitat foraging bumblebees refuse to land on and probe flowers that have been recently visited (and depleted) by themselves, conspecifics or other bees, which increases their overall rate of nectar intake. This avoidance is often based on recognition of scent marks deposited by previous visitors. While the term 'scent mark' implies active labelling, it is an open question whether the repellent chemicals are pheromones actively and specifically released during flower visits, or mere footprints deposited unspecifically wherever bees walk. To distinguish between the two possibilities, we presented worker bumblebees (Bombus terrestris) with three types of feeders in a laboratory experiment: unvisited control feeders, passive feeders with a corolla that the bee had walked over on its way from the nest (with unspecific footprints), and active feeders, which the bee had just visited and depleted, but which were immediately refilled with sugar-water (potentially with specific scent marks). Bumblebees rejected both active and passive feeders more frequently than unvisited controls. The rate of rejection of passive feeders was only slightly lower than that of active feeders, and this difference vanished completely when passive corollas were walked over repeatedly on the way from the nest. Thus, mere footprints were sufficient to emulate the repellent effect of an actual feeder visit. In confirmation, glass slides on which bumblebees had walked on near the nest entrance accumulated hydrocarbons (alkanes and alkenes, C23 to C31), which had previously been shown to elicit repellency in flower choice experiments. We conclude that repellent scent marks are mere footprints, which foraging bees avoid when they encounter them in a foraging context.     

烟台市典型工业排放PM2.5源成分谱特征研究

鉴于烟台市本地化源成分谱研究缺乏的现状,以及颗粒物精细化来源解析及环境管理的需求,采用NK-ZXF颗粒物再悬浮采样器,对6家烟台市典型工业下载灰源样品进行再悬浮采样,构建6类〔燃煤电厂、供热锅炉、生物质锅炉、钢铁（烧结）行业、玻璃行业和垃圾处理行业〕PM_2.5源成分谱,并对PM_2.5源成分谱特征及其排放颗粒物携带重金属特征进行评估.结果表明:①燃煤电厂PM_2.5源成分谱的标识组分包括Si、Cl-和SO₄2-,其质量分数分别为15.2%、9.3%和7.8%;与燃煤电厂相比,供热锅炉排放的PM_2.5中w（OC）偏高、w（SO₄2-）偏低;生物质锅炉排放的主要组分有K、Cl-和OC等,其质量分数分别为7.4%、13.3%和8.6%;钢铁（烧结）行业PM_2.5源成分谱中w（Ca）、w（Fe）和w（Cl-）较高;SO₄2-和Ca为玻璃行业PM_2.5源成分谱的主要组分,其质量分数分别为20.6%、8.2%;垃圾处理行业重金属质量分数最高,其主要组分为Cl-和SO₄2-.②CD（coefficient of divergence,分歧系数）计算结果表明,各源成分谱有一定相异性（CD范围为0.53~0.70）,其中生物质锅炉与垃圾处理行业PM_2.5源成分谱差异（CD为0.70）最大.③各典型工业排放PM_2.5所携带重金属特征显示,垃圾处理行业排放PM_2.5中的重金属质量分数（2.3%）最高,燃煤电厂、供热锅炉、生物质锅炉和玻璃行业排放的重金属中Cr、Ni和Cu相对质量分数较高,钢铁行业和垃圾处理行业排放的重金属中Pb相对质量分数较高.研究显示,所构建的烟台市各典型工业排放PM_2.5源成分谱特征鲜明,能够反映各行业PM_2.5排放特征.      

融雪剂对园林植物种子萌发的影响

使用融雪剂是高纬度城市冬季除雪的主要措施之一,但融雪剂中含有的盐类物质可以对园林植物造成伤害。在此研究了融雪剂对刺（Robinia pseudoacacia）、万寿菊（Tagetes erecta）、矮紫薇（Lagerstroemia indiea’Petite pinkie＇）、草地早熟禾（Poa pratensis）、侧柏（Platycladus orientalis）种子发芽率和相对受害率的影响。试验结果表明：5种植物种子的发芽率随融雪剂浓度的升高而降低．相对受害率则随融雪剂浓度升高而增大。其中草地早熟禾种子时融雪剂最敏感,可以用草地早熟禾种子萌发为指示,间接检验融雪剂对植物的伤害程度。     

Individual and collective choice: parallel prospecting and mining in ants

Decision making is of crucial importance in the lives of both animals and humans. How decisions of group members scale up to group decisions is of great interest. Accordingly, we gave homeless ant colonies (n = 67) in three experiments a choice between two nest sites (with small, big or mixed sand grains), each of which had to be excavated to be habitable. Among the colonies that chose only one of the new nest sites, all preferred the ones that could be excavated most easily and quickly. There are interesting parallels between the collective choice of mining sites and the ability of certain ants to select short cuts; both involve positive feedback. However, in this paper, we discuss a mechanism whereby collective co-ordination in the production of social infrastructure can occur in the absence of signalling.     

Clonal structure affects the assembling behavior in the Japanese queenless ant <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pristomyrmex punctatus</Emphasis>

The queenless ant Pristomyrmex punctatus (Hymenoptera: Myrmicinae) has a unique society that differs from those of other typical ants. This species does not have a queen, and the workers lay eggs and produce their clones parthenogenetically. However, a colony of these ants does not always comprise members derived from a single clonal line. In this study, we examined whether P. punctatus changes its “assembling behavior” based on colony genetic structure. We prepared two subcolonies—a larger one comprising 200 individuals and a smaller one comprising 100 individuals; these subcolonies were established from a single stock colony. We investigated whether these subcolonies assemble into a single nest. The genetically monomorphic subcolonies (single clonal line) always fused into a single nest; however, the genetically polymorphic subcolonies (multiple clonal lines) did not tend to form a single colony. The present study is the first to demonstrate that the colony genetic structure significantly affects social viscosity in social insects.     

Interactive effects of ozone and powdery mildew (Sphaerotheca fuliginea) on bottle gourd (Lagenaria siceraria)

Interacting effects of ozone at 0.05, 0.1 and 0.2 ppm and powdery mildew infection were studied with respect to the growth, flowering and fruit-setting of bottle gourd, and ozone injury, fungal colonization, conidia size and germination. Intermittent exposure in closed-top chambers to ozone at 0.1 or 0.2 ppm, and infection by Sphaerotheca fulginea, each caused significant suppressions of plant growth, flowering and fruit-setting. Fungal colonization was increased by exposures to 0.05 ppm ozone, but decreased by 0.2 ppm ozone. Less browning and necrosis (symptoms of ozone phytotoxicity) appeared on the leaves of mildew-inoculated plants exposed to ozone at 0.1 and 0.2 ppm. Conidia collected from plants exposed to 0.1 and 0.2 ppm were smaller, contained fewer fibrosin bodies and showed poor germination in-vitro. Fumigations with ozone at 0.05 ppm increased the germination of conidia collected from the exposed plants or of the conidia directly exposed to ozone on glass slides in microgas exposure cabinets. Distortion and wall rupturing of the conidia were induced by exposure to ozone at 0.2 ppm for 12 h. Ozone at 0.05 ppm and S. fuliginea jointly suppressed the root and shoot growth of bottle gourd significantly more than the sum of individual effects (synergistic interaction). The fungus infection partially protected the plants from injury by ozone at 0.2 ppm, and exposure to ozone at 0.2 ppm inhibited fungal development. Antagonistic reductions of damage to bottle gourd growth by simultaneous mildew infection and ozone at 0.2 ppm were observed. The study revealed that powdery mildew infection may become severe on bottle gourd grown in areas polluted with mild level of ozone (0.05 ppm) whereas, at 0.1 ppm O₃ or more, the disease will be suppressed.     

气温和土壤湿度变化对3种典型荒漠植物种子发芽的影响

植物种子发芽对气温和土壤湿度变化的响应是气候变化对荒漠生态系统影响的关键. 为了分析荒漠植物种子发芽对气温和土壤湿度变化的响应趋势,选择典型荒漠植物沙拐枣(Calligonum mongolica)、泡泡刺(Nitraria sphaerocarpa)和麻黄(Ephedra przewalskii),在人工气候箱中分析在3种土壤湿度(3%,5%和15%),2种气温(16 ℃/22 ℃ 和21 ℃/27 ℃)和浸种(12 h)与不浸种处理下种子的发芽趋势. 结果显示:沙拐枣和泡泡刺种子的发芽率随土壤湿度的增加而增加,浸种下随气温的升高其发芽率增幅比不浸种下大;不浸种下气温升高麻黄种子发芽率增幅比不浸种下大,浸种下土壤湿度为3%时气温升高其发芽率增幅比土壤湿度为5%和15%时大(P<0.05). 3种植物种子发芽指数随气温的升高和土壤湿度的增加而增加,不浸种下气温升高沙拐枣和泡泡刺种子的发芽指数显著增加,浸种下其发芽指数增幅不大;不浸种下气温升高麻黄种子发芽指数增幅较小,浸种下其发芽指数增幅较大. 3种植物种子均在培养初期发芽速率增加较快. 荒漠植物种子发芽受气温和土壤湿度的共同影响,不同植物种子发芽对这些因素的变化有不同的响应.      

不同磷肥对砷超富集植物蜈蚣草修复砷污染土壤的影响

施肥是提高重金属污染土壤的植物修复效率的必要强化措施之一.通过研究农业生产中常用磷肥对砷超富集植物蜈蚣草生长、砷累积及氮磷钾吸收的影响,确定可提高蜈蚣草修复砷污染土壤能力的最佳磷肥类型.结果表明,与不施砷对照组相比.添加砷处理中施用相应磷肥的蜈蚣草总生物量中蜈蚣草均有所降低(除钙镁磷肥外);在添加砷的情况下,钙镁磷肥、磷酸二氢钙和磷酸二氢铵等3个施磷处理总生物量相对较高.显著高于其他磷肥处理和不施磷处理(0.83 g/pot);地上部砷累积量由大到小的顺序为:磷酸二氢钙>钙镁磷肥>磷酸二氢铵>磷酸二氢钾>磷酸二氢钠>不施磷>过磷酸钙;磷酸二氢钙处理的砷去除效率高达7.28%.由此可见,磷肥能一定程度提高砷超富集植物的修复能力,但不同磷肥对其砷去除效率的影响可达数倍之差,磷酸二氢钙是首选磷肥类型,综合考虑土壤pH、N、P和有效态砷等各种因子,磷酸二氢铵和钙镁磷肥也可作备选肥料类型.     

东祁连山高寒草甸鼢鼠鼠丘土壤种子库特征

通过野外植被调查和种子萌发法分析了新鼠丘、 旧鼠丘和天然草地土壤种子库密度、 物种组成。结果表明,新鼠丘土壤种子库中种子密度为176.93±135.51 seeds/m²,旧鼠丘种子密度为1 486.15±900.78 seeds/m²,对照的天然草地种子密度为2 937.01±2 471.60 seeds/m²。新鼠丘土壤种子库中主要有3种植物,分别是萼果香薷(Elsholpzia bensa var.calycocarpa)、 波伐早熟禾(Poa poophagorum)和灰绿藜(Chenopodium glaucum);旧鼠丘土壤种子库中主要有3种植物,分别是灰绿藜、 节裂角茴香(Hypecoum leptocarpum)和波伐早熟禾;天然草地土壤种子库中主要有6种植物,分别是异针茅(Stipa aliena)、 二裂委陵菜(Potentilla bifurca)、 高原毛茛(Ranunculus tanguticus)、 黄花棘豆(Oxytropis ochrocephala)、 独行菜(Lepidium apetalum)和蓝翠雀花(Delphinium caeruleum)等。 新、 旧鼠丘土壤种子库密度差异较大,但差异不显著(P>0.05),物种构成差异较小;鼠丘与天然草地间在土壤种子库密度间差异较大,物种构成也较大。鼠丘土壤种子库中多为一年生植物种子,表明鼠丘上植物群落为高寒草甸演替的初期阶段。     

川西草原十字花科油料植物资源的研究和利用

首次对四川西部草原的野生十字花科油料植物资源作了比较系统的调查研究,收集植株和种子标本约12属20种。经过种子油分分析和引种观察,筛选出几种有特种用途且适应力较强的植物资源。这些植物资源是蕴藏量大的食用油料播娘蒿(Descurainia sophia)、菥蓂(Thlaspi arvense),高亚油酸的优质食用油料植物高蔊菜(Rorippa elata),高亚麻酸的工业用油料植物涩荠(Malcolmia africana)、独行菜(Lepidiumapetalum)等。可供进一步的开发利用。     

Ant-gardens of tropical Asian rainforests

Ant-garden (AG) associations are systems of epiphytic plants and arboricolous (i.e., tree-living) ants, in which the ants build fragile carton nests containing organic material. They collect and incorporate seeds or fruits of epiphytes that then germinate and grow on the nest [sensu Corbara et al. (1999) 38:73–89]. The plant roots stabilize the nest carton. AGs have been well-known in the neotropics for more than 100 years. In contrast, reports on similar associations in the paleotropics are scarce so far. After discovering a first common AG system on giant bamboo [Kaufmann et al. (2001) 48:125–133], we started a large-scale survey for AGs in Peninsular Malaysia, Borneo, Java, and southern Thailand. A great variety of AG systems (altogether including 18 ant species and 51 plant species) was discovered and is described in the present paper. The high number of species participating in AG associations was reflected by a great variability in the specific appearances of the nest gardens. Frequently, further groups of organisms (e.g., hemipteran trophobionts, fungi) were also involved. Preference patterns of particular ant and epiphyte species for each other and for particular phorophytes (carrier trees) were detected. We integrate domatia-producing, so-called ant-house epiphytes in our study and compare their phases of establishment, as well as other characteristics, to “classical” AGs, coming to the conclusion that they should be regarded only as a special type of AG epiphyte and not as a separate ecological category.Electronic Supplementary Materials  Supplementary material is available for this article at     

In vitro conservation and sustained production of breadfruit (Artocarpus altilis, Moraceae): modern technologies for a traditional tropical crop

Breadfruit (Artocarpus altilis, Moraceae) is a traditionally cultivated, high-energy, high-yield crop, but widespread use of the plant for food is limited by poor quality and poor storage properties of the fruit. A unique field genebank of breadfruit species and cultivars exists at the National Tropical Botanical Garden in the Hawaiian Islands and is an important global resource for conservation and sustainable use of breadfruit. However, this plant collection could be damaged by a random natural disaster such as a hurricane. We have developed a highly efficient in vitro plant propagation system to maintain, conserve, mass propagate, and distribute elite varieties of this important tree species. Mature axillary shoot buds were collected from three different cultivars of breadfruit and proliferated using a cytokinin-supplemented medium. The multiple shoots were maintained as stock cultures and repeatedly used to develop whole plants after root differentiation on a basal or an auxin-containing medium. The plantlets were successfully grown under greenhouse conditions and were reused to initiate additional shoot cultures for sustained production of plants. Flow cytometry was used to determine the nuclear deoxyribonucleic acid content and the ploidy status of the in vitro grown population. The efficacy of the micropropagation protocols developed in this study represents a significant advancement in the conservation and sustained mass propagation of breadfruit germplasm in a controlled environment free from contamination.     

外加不同铁源和丛枝菌根对砷污染土壤上玉米生长及磷、砷吸收的影响

通过盆栽模拟试验研究了添加不同铁源及接种丛枝菌根真菌(Arbuecular mycorrhizal fungi,AMF)对高砷污染土壤上玉米生长及其吸收磷、砷、铁、锰、铜和锌的影响.试验结果表明,与对照相比,添加硫酸亚铁并接种AMF显著地提高了土壤有效铁、锰含量,降低了土壤中水溶性砷、磷含量以及玉米地上部砷的含量,并极大地增加了植株对磷的吸收,提高了植株体内磷砷吸收量之比,从而明显地改善了植株的菌根建成和生长状况.在不接种情况下,硫酸亚铁和石灰混合处理显著地降低了土壤水溶性砷、磷含量及根系砷含量,并明显增加了磷的吸收以及磷、砷吸收量的比值,使玉米植株生物量和根长增加的幅度较其它铁源处理时更大.尽管添加铁尾矿砂增加了土壤水溶性磷的含量以及植株磷的吸收而在一定程度上改善了玉米的生长,但这种效果以不接种时更为明显,因而有必要根据土壤的污染程度调整铁尾矿砂的添加量和接种抗性菌株,以强化植物的抗砷能力.