Soil and preen waxes influence the expression of carotenoid-based plumage coloration

The signaling function of carotenoid-based plumage is mainly determined by the concentration of pigments in feathers. For this reason, most studies of the proximate control of coloration focus on processes during and preceding moult. In great tits Parus major, past research demonstrates that carotenoid-based plumage coloration honestly indicates male quality and, thus, may be a sexually selected signal. In this study, we investigate how dirt and preen oil influence the coloration of carotenoid-based feathers in the great tit. We collected six feathers from each individual bird; three feathers served as controls while the remaining three feathers were washed with a chloroform/methanol mixture to remove soil and preen waxes. We assessed plumage coloration using digital photography. This cleaning procedure slightly enhanced ornamentation; the experimentally cleaned feathers expressed hues shifted towards shorter wavelengths and expressed brighter overall coloration than control feathers. This is the first experimental study conducted on wild birds demonstrating that, in addition to pigment concentration, the presence of preen waxes and soils on feathers may contribute to variation in coloration.     

Prenuptial perfume: Alloanointing in the social rituals of the crested auklet (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Aethia cristatella</Emphasis>) and the transfer of arthropod deterrents

Alloanointing, the transfer of chemicals between conspecifics, is known among mammals, but hitherto, the behavior has not been documented for birds. The crested auklet (Aethia cristatella), a colonial seabird of Alaskan and Siberian waters, alloanoints during courtship with fragrant aldehydes that are released from specialized wick-like feathers located in the interscapular region. Crested auklets solicit anointment at the colony, and prospective mates rub bill, breast, head, and neck over wick feathers of their partners. This distributes aldehydes over the head, neck, and face where the birds cannot self-preen. The resulting chemical concentrations are sufficient to deter ectoparasites. Auklets that emit more odorant can transfer more defensive chemicals to mates and are thus more sexually attractive. Behavioral studies showed that crested auklets are attracted to their scent. Wild birds searched for dispensers that emitted their scent and rubbed their bills on the dispensers and engaged in vigorous anointment behaviors. In captive experiments, naïve crested auklets responded more strongly to synthetic auklet scent than controls, and the greatest behavioral response occurred during early courtship. This study extends scientific knowledge regarding functions of alloanointing. Alloanointing had previously been attributed to scent marking and individual recognition in vertebrates. Alloanointing is described here in the context of an adaptive social cue — the transfer of arthropod deterrents between prospective mates.     

Point of decision: when do pigeons decide to head home?

Pigeons released away from their loft usually fly around at the release site for a while before they finally leave. Visual observations had suggested that the moment when the birds decide to head home is associated with a certain change in flying style. To see whether this change is also reflected by GPS-recorded tracks, a group of pigeons equipped with flight recorders was released at two sites about 10 km from their home loft. The initial part of their flight paths was analyzed in order to find objective criteria indicating the point of decision. We selected the highest increase in steadiness as the best estimate for the moment of decision. This criterion allows us to divide the pigeons’ paths in two distinct phases, an initial phase and the homing phase, with the moment of decision, on an average, 2 min after release. The moment of decision marks a change in behavior, with a significant increase in steadiness and flying speed and headings significantly closer to the home direction. The behavior of the individual birds at the two sites was not correlated, suggesting no pronounced individual traits for the length of the initial phase. The behavior during this phase seems to be controlled by flight preparation, exploration, and non-navigational motivations rather than by navigational necessities alone. Electronic supplementary material  The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

玉米根内和根际土壤溶磷细菌生物学特性研究

从玉米根内和根际土壤中分离筛选到22株溶磷细菌。根据16SrRNA基因序列分析,2株溶磷效果最好的菌株分别被鉴定为伯克霍尔德氏菌(Burkholderia sp.SY9)和泛菌(Pantoea sp.Gym7c)。同时对菌株SY9和Gym7c的溶磷能力和植物促生特性进行了进一步研究。利用磷酸钙和开阳磷矿矿粉研究了菌株释放P、Ca和Fe的效能。液体培养条件下,菌株在在磷酸钙培养基中的生长好于在开阳磷矿粉培养基中的生长,同时菌株能够合成铁载体。菌株SY9从开阳磷矿粉中释放P、Ca,和Fe的能力比菌株Gym7c强。然而菌株Gym7c从磷酸钙中释放P和Ca的能力比菌株SY9强。菌株Gym7c主要是通过合成的有机酸溶解磷酸钙并释放其中的P和Ca,而菌株SY9是通过合成的有机酸和铁载体溶解开阳磷矿粉并释放出其中的P、Ca,和Fe。溶解开阳磷矿粉的有机酸主要是葡萄糖酸而溶解磷酸钙的有机酸主要包括丁二酸、丙酸、苹果酸和酒石酸等。菌株Gym7c能够合成生长素、铁载体和1-氨基环丙烷-1-羧酸脱氨酶。菌株SY9和Gym7c对酸碱、盐和温度均表现出一定的抗性。     

紫色母岩覆盖层控制底泥磷释放的效果及机制

选取重庆地区分布面积较广的3种紫色母岩(飞仙关组、蓬莱镇组和遂宁组),和2种经众多研究证明可有效控制底泥污染物释放的岩石(石灰石和方解石)作为活性覆盖材料,进行底泥覆盖模拟实验,研究紫色母岩覆盖层对底泥磷素释放的控制效果及机制.结果表明,3种紫色母岩覆盖层对底泥总磷向上覆水体释放的抑制作用较强,远好于方解石与石灰石(P0.05).其中,飞仙关组紫色母岩覆盖层对底泥总磷向上覆水体释放的抑制效果最好,抑制率为94.4%.5种覆盖材料均可促进底泥总磷的释放与转化,显著促进底泥OP原位转化为Ca-P,而3种紫色母岩覆盖层更有利于底泥释放出的磷转化为无机磷和有机磷.同时,5种覆盖材料均会改变底泥及上覆水体微生物的群落结构,其中PLFA16:0标记的细菌数量与上覆水体的总磷含量呈显著负相关.     

Mourning dove (Zenaida macroura) wing-whistles may contain threat-related information for con- and hetero-specifics

Distinct acoustic whistles are associated with the wing-beats of many doves, and are especially noticeable when doves ascend from the ground when startled. I thus hypothesized that these sounds may be used by flock-mates as cues of potential danger. To test this hypothesis, I compared the responses of mourning doves (Zenaida macroura), northern cardinals (Cardinalis cardinalis), and house sparrows (Passer domesticus) to audio playbacks of dove ‘startle wing-whistles’, cardinal alarm calls, dove ‘nonstartle wing-whistles’, and sparrow ‘social chatter’. Following playbacks of startle wing-whistles and alarm calls, conspecifics and heterospecifics startled and increased vigilance more than after playbacks of other sounds. Also, the latency to return to feeding was greater following playbacks of startle wing-whistles and alarm calls than following playbacks of other sounds. These results suggest that both conspecifics and heterospecifics may attend to dove wing-whistles in decisions related to antipredator behaviors. Whether the sounds of dove wing-whistles are intentionally produced signals warrants further testing.     

Roost type influences torpor use by Australian owlet-nightjars

Australian owlet-nightjars (Aegotheles cristatus; ～50?g) are one of only a few avian species that roost in cavities year-round and regularly enter torpor. Cavity roosts act as thermal buffers, and roost type likely affects energy expenditure of small birds. We used radiotelemetry to locate diurnal winter roost sites of owlet-nightjars in central Australia and to measure body (T (b)) and skin (T (skin)) temperature. We also recorded ambient temperature inside (T (IN)) and outside roosts. Individual owlet-nightjars used one to seven different roosts (tracking time 3-10?weeks), selecting either rock crevices (four birds) or tree hollows (four birds), or switching between the two roost types (seven birds). Rock crevices (T (IN) +9°C to +33°C) were warmer and thermally more stable than tree hollows (T (IN) -4.0°C to +37°C). Torpor, often expressed by a reduction of T (skin)/T (b) by >10°C for 3-4?h at dawn, was influenced by roost selection; torpor use in tree hollows was almost twice that in rock crevices. Despite the potential energy savings accrued from roosting in well-insulated cavities, owlet-nightjars roosted in tree hollows more often (65% bird days, n?=?398) than in rock crevices (35% bird days, n?=?211). Lower costs of arousal from torpor via passive rewarming and basking and decreased risk of predation are two possible explanations for the preference to roost in tree hollows. We provide the first evidence for the influence of cavity roost selection on torpor use in a free-ranging bird and show that roost selection and thermal biology are strongly interrelated in determining energy expenditure.     

Reverse positional orientation in a neotropical orb-web spider, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Verrucosa arenata</Emphasis>

Most orb-web spiders face downwards in the web. A downward orientation has been proposed to be the optimal strategy because spiders run faster downwards and thus can catch prey quicker. Consequently, orb-web spiders also extend their web in the lower part, leading to top-down web asymmetry. Since the majority of orb-web spiders face downwards, it has been difficult to test the effect of orientation on prey capture and web asymmetry. In this study, we explored the influence of reverse orientation on foraging efficiency and web asymmetry in Verrucosa arenata, a neotropical orb-web spider that faces upwards in the web. We show that reverse orientation does not imply reverse web asymmetry in this species. V. arenata spiders captured more prey in the lower part of the web but more prey per area on the upper part. The average running speeds of spiders did not differ between upward and downward running, but heavier spiders took longer to capture prey while running upwards. We discuss these findings in the context of foraging efficiency and web asymmetry.     

武汉东湖底泥释磷特点

为了探讨东湖底泥的释磷状况 ,采用实验室模拟法研究了环境条件变化对东湖底泥沉积物磷释放的影响以及底泥磷的形态分布与底泥释磷量的关系 .结果表明 :升高水温和扰动上覆水均能加速磷释放 .上覆水中性时(pH =7.4) ,底泥释磷量最低 ;在较高或较低 pH值时 ,底泥释磷量倍增 .厌氧条件下底泥释磷量是好氧条件下的30倍 .研究还显示 ,底泥中不同形态的磷与底泥磷释放量有不同程度的相关性 ,其中可溶性磷和铁磷与底泥磷释放量高度相关 (r>0 90 ,P<0.01) .     

洪湖沉积物中有机氯农药的释放动力学模拟

以洪湖表层沉积物为研究对象,通过模拟试验,对悬浮状态下沉积物中有机氯农药的释放动力学过程进行了研究. 结果表明,沉积物中有机氯农药的释放具有初始阶段释放速度快而后释放速度减慢的规律. 并且,沉积物中有机氯农药的释放强度主要受化合物的水溶性控制. 水溶性相对较高的物质(如α-HCH)在水中的释放浓度较高,释放时间也更长. 另外,温度对有机氯农药的释放也有重要的影响,随着温度的升高,沉积物中有机氯农药的释放明显加强. 最后,通过试验数据分析,建立了沉积物中有机氯农药释放的一级动力学模型并确定了模型参数. 释放动力学模型的验证结果表明,实测值与模拟值吻合较好.      

Light-dependent magnetic compass in Iberian green frog tadpoles

Here, we provide evidence for a wavelength-dependent effect of light on magnetic compass orientation in Pelophylax perezi (order Anura), similar to that observed in Rana catesbeiana (order Anura) and Notophthalmus viridescens (order Urodela), and confirm for the first time in an anuran amphibian that a 90° shift in the direction of magnetic compass orientation under long-wavelength light (≥500 nm) is due to a direct effect of light on the underlying magnetoreception mechanism. Although magnetic compass orientation in other animals (e.g., birds and some insects) has been shown to be influenced by the wavelength and/or intensity of light, these two amphibian orders are the only taxa for which there is direct evidence that the magnetic compass is light-dependent. The remarkable similarities in the light-dependent magnetic compasses of anurans and urodeles, which have evolved as separate clades for at least 250 million years, suggest that the light-dependent magnetoreception mechanism is likely to have evolved in the common ancestor of the Lissamphibia (Early Permian, ~294 million years) and, possibly, much earlier. Also, we discuss a number of similarities between the functional properties of the light-dependent magnetic compass in amphibians and blue light-dependent responses to magnetic stimuli in Drosophila melanogaster, which suggest that the wavelength-dependent 90° shift in amphibians may be due to light activation of different redox forms of a cryptochrome photopigment. Finally, we relate these findings to earlier studies showing that the pineal organ of newts is the site of the light-dependent magnetic compass and recent neurophysiological evidence showing magnetic field sensitivity in the frog frontal organ (an outgrowth of the pineal).     

Homing pigeons (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Columba livia</Emphasis> f. <Emphasis Type="Italic">domestica</Emphasis>) can use magnetic cues for locating food

An experimental group of homing pigeons (Columba livia f. domestica) learned to associate food with a magnetic anomaly produced by bar magnets that were fixed to the bowl in which they received their daily food ration in their home loft; the control group lacked this experience. Both groups were trained to search for two hidden food depots in a rectangular sand-filled arena without obvious visual cues; for the experimental birds, these depots were also marked with three 1.15 × 10⁶ μT bar magnets. During the tests, there were two food depots, one marked with the magnets, the other unmarked; their position within the arena was changed from test to test. The experimental birds searched within 10 cm of the magnetically marked depot in 49% of the test sessions, whereas the control birds searched there in only 11% of the sessions. Both groups searched near the control depot in 11 and 13% of the sessions, respectively. The significant preference of the magnetically marked food depot by the experimental birds shows that homing pigeons cannot only detect a magnetic anomaly but can also use it as a cue for locating hidden food in an open arena.     

Avian-like attributes of a virtual brain model of the oviraptorid theropod <Emphasis Type="Italic">Conchoraptor gracilis</Emphasis>

An almost complete adult endoneurocranium of Conchoraptor gracilis Barsbold 1986 (Oviraptoridae; ZPAL MgD-I/95), discovered at the Hermiin Tsav locality (the Upper Cretaceous) in Mongolia, is analyzed. A virtual model of the endoneurocranial cavity was derived from CT scans and represents the most complete maniraptoran endocast to date. It displays reduced olfactory bulbs, large cerebral hemispheres in contact with the expanded cerebellum, an epiphysial projection, optic lobes displaced latero-ventrally, presumptive cerebellar folia, enlarged cerebellar auricles, and a deep medulla oblongata with a prominent ventral flexure. Contrary to Archaeopteryx, the shortened olfactory tract and cerebellum overtopping cerebral hemispheres of Conchoraptor resemble conditions in modern birds. Calculating brain mass relative to body mass indicates that Conchoraptor falls within the range of extant birds, whereas Archaeopteryx occupies a marginal position. Most of the endoneurocranial attributes, however, have a less birdlike appearance in Conchoraptor than do corresponding structures in Archaeopteryx and modern birds in which 1) postero-laterally expanded hemispheral domains broadly overlap the optic lobes, 2) the epiphysis projects to the posterior cerebrum, 3) lateral extension of the optic lobes substantially decreases a brain length-to-width ratio, 4) optic lobe and anterior hindbrain are superposed in lateral view, and 5) cerebellar and midbrain compartments are in distinct superposition. The endoneurocranial characteristics of Conchoraptor, taken together, suggest that the animal had a keen sense of vision, balance, and coordination. The data presented in this study do not allow an unambiguous assessment whether the avian-like endoneurocranial characteristics of the flightless Conchoraptor evolved convergently to those of avian theropods, or indicate a derivation of oviraptorosaurs from volant ancestors.     

扰动强度对菹草浸泡过程中氮磷碳释放的影响

以在北京前海采集的菹草（Potamogeton crispus）为实验材料,研究了在不同扰动强度下菹草残体浸泡过程中氮磷及高锰酸盐指数（PI）的释放特征和规律.结果表明,扰动可以加快菹草中总磷（TP）和PI的释放,在240 h的高强度扰动下,水中的氨氮（NH 4^＋-N）和总氮（TN）出现了显著（ANOVA,p〈0.0...     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Jeholornis</Emphasis> compared to<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Archaeopteryx</Emphasis>, with a new understanding of the earliest avian evolution

The recently reported Jeholornis represents the only known bird with a complete long skeletal tail except for Archaeopteryx. Two newly discovered specimens referable to Jeholornis provide some important new information about its anatomy. The tail of Jeholornis is much longer than that of Archaeopteryx and comprises a maximum of 27 caudal vertebrae compared with only 23 in Archaeopteryx. More interestingly, the tail feathers are shaped more like those of dromaeosaurs than those of Archaeopteryx. We conclude that the common ancestor of birds must have a more primitive tail than that in Archaeopteryx, confirming the side branch position of Archaeopteryx in the early avian evolution. The synsacrum is composed of six sacrals, representing a transitional stage between Archaeopteryx and more advanced birds. The scapula of Jeholornis has a dorso-laterally exposed glenoid facet, and the coracoid has a supracoracoid foramen. The presence of a pair of fenestrae in the sternum of Jeholornis has further implications for the air-sac system in early birds. Electronic Supplementary Material  The online version of this article (doi: contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

软水中EPS对铜管/硅酸盐体系溶解性铜释放影响

以海藻酸钠模拟水体中的EPS,研究了软水体系中海藻酸钠对铜管,硅酸盐体系缓蚀效果的影响.结果表明,当有低浓度海藻酸钠存在时,体系中的溶解性铜浓度显著增加,且老化1 a的铜管溶解性铜释放浓度明显高于老化3 a和10 a的铜管,释放溶解性铜浓度大小顺序为c1a>c3a>c10a;但随着海藻酸钠浓度的增加,老化1 a的铜管的溶解性铜释放浓度增加,而3 a和10 a铜管的溶解性铜释放浓度减小,表明水体中EPS的存在降低硅酸盐对铜管的缓蚀效果.在pH值7.5和海藻酸钠为16mg/L条件下,不同停留时间溶解性铜释放呈现逐渐增加-降低-逐渐增加的趋势,表明海藻酸钠、硅酸盐、铜离子和管壁进行了复杂的相互作用.在低pH值条件下,海藻酸钠对铜管溶解性铜释放影响更加显著,随着pH值增加和铜管老化时间延长,其溶解性铜释放浓度降低,表明海藻酸钠对溶解性铜释放影响降低.     

Social familiarity modulates group living and foraging behaviour of juvenile predatory mites

Environmental stressors during early life may have persistent consequences for phenotypic development and fitness. In group-living species, an important stressor during juvenile development is the presence and familiarity status of conspecific individuals. To alleviate intraspecific conflicts during juvenile development, many animals evolved the ability to discriminate familiar and unfamiliar individuals based on prior association and use this ability to preferentially associate with familiar individuals. Assuming that familiar neighbours require less attention than unfamiliar ones, as predicted by limited attention theory, assorting with familiar individuals should increase the efficiency in other tasks. We assessed the influence of social familiarity on within-group association behaviour, development and foraging of juvenile life stages of the group-living, plant-inhabiting predatory mite Phytoseiulus persimilis. The observed groups consisted either of mixed-age familiar and unfamiliar juvenile mites or of age-synchronized familiar or unfamiliar juvenile mites or of pairs of familiar or unfamiliar larvae. Overall, familiar mites preferentially grouped together and foraged more efficiently, i.e. needed less prey at similar developmental speed and body size at maturity, than unfamiliar mites. Preferential association of familiar mites was also apparent in the inter-exuviae distances. Social familiarity was established by imprinting in the larval stage, was not cancelled or overridden by later conspecific contacts and persisted into adulthood. Life stage had an effect on grouping with larvae being closer together than nymphal stages. Ultimately, optimized foraging during the developmental phase may relax within-group competition, enhance current and future food supply needed for optimal development and optimize patch exploitation and leaving under limited food.     

三峡库区消落带土壤邻苯二甲酸二丁酯静态释放特征

为了解特大型水库消落带优先有机污染物迁移转化规律,以邻苯二甲酸二丁酯(DBP)为代表性优先污染物,采用静态淹水法研究了土壤中DBP浓度、上覆水离子强度、有机质含量等因素对三峡库区消落带土壤中DBP静态释放规律的影响.结果表明,消落带土壤中DBP在淹水前期由土壤向上覆水中迁移释放,该过程分为短暂但是释放速率较快的快速释放阶段和释放时间较长但释放速率较慢的慢速释放阶段,此过程可以很好地用二室一级动力模型拟合.随着土壤中添加的DBP浓度的增大,DBP向上覆水快速释放速率加快,而快速释放比例则减小;慢释放速率和慢速释放比例则正好相反.随着上覆水离子强度的增加,快速释放比例增加,使DBP向上覆水释放量增加.上覆水高浓度的DBP在淹水初期会抑制土壤DBP的释放而且使DBP释放达到最大值的时间延迟.上覆水添加腐殖酸后,快速释放速率、慢速释放速率和快速释放比例均增大,从而使DBP向上覆水的释放量也增加.     

Avian phenotypic traits related to feeding preferences in two <Emphasis Type="Italic">Culex</Emphasis> mosquitoes

Host choice by mosquitoes affects the transmission dynamics of vector-borne infectious diseases. Although asymmetries in mosquito attraction to vertebrate species have been reported, the relative importance of host characteristics in mosquito blood-feeding behavior is still poorly studied. Here, we investigate the relationship between avian phenotypic traits—in particular, morphometry, plumage coloration, and nesting and roosting behavior—and the blood-feeding patterns in two common Culex mosquito species on a North American avian community. Forage ratios of the mosquito species were unrelated to the phylogenetic relationships among bird species. Culex pipiens fed preferably on birds with lighter-colored plumage and longer tarsi; furthermore, solitary roosting avian species were both bitten by Cx. pipiens and Cx. restuans more often than expected. These associations may be explained by greater mosquito attraction towards larger birds with a greater color contrast against the background. Although communally roosting birds may release more cues and attract more mosquitoes, individuals may in fact receive fewer bites due to the encounter-dilution effect. Mosquito feeding behavior is a highly complex phenomenon, and our results may improve understanding of the non-random interaction between birds and mosquitoes in natural communities.     

绿潮硬毛藻衰亡分解过程中营养盐的释放规律

通过室内模拟,研究了不同环境条件下绿潮硬毛藻的分解速率,以及死亡藻体内营养盐的释放规律,以阐明硬毛藻大量衰亡对天鹅湖水质的潜在影响。结果显示,温度对硬毛藻分解速率的影响显著（P < 0.01）,高温（30℃）可促进藻体的分解,而沉积物和营养盐水平对分解的影响相对较小。在试验前期（0～7 d）,硬毛藻的分解速率较大,藻体中的P向水体大量释放;而N的释放量较低,并呈持续释放的趋势。P释放率最高可达91.63%,而N仅为73.01%。温度、沉积物对藻体N、P释放的影响显著（P < 0.01）,各因子对藻体P释放的影响效应表现为:温度>沉积物>营养盐水平;N释放为:沉积物>温度>营养盐水平。高温条件下,死亡藻体的N、P释放率均较高。因此,在温度较高的夏末秋初,应及时清理湖区中的死亡藻体,以免导致水质恶化,造成二次污染。