芘暴露对马氏珠母贝鳃和肝胰腺抗氧化酶活性的影响

在实验生态条件下，采用生态毒理学方法，选用海洋环境中常见的有机污染物多环芳烃芘（Pyrene），以马氏珠母贝（Pinctada martensi）为实验材料进行毒理实验。研究了芘不同质量浓度（8、16、32和64μg·L^-1、不同时间（7，10 d）的胁迫对马氏珠母贝鳃和肝胰腺组织中超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）、过氧化物酶（POD）和谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶（GPx）3种抗氧化酶活性的影响。结果表明：3种酶在不同组织和不同胁迫时间的敏感性有所差异，在芘胁迫马氏珠母贝第7天，鳃组织中 SOD、POD、GPx 3种酶活性主要表现为诱导现象，高质量浓度组对3种酶活性均具有极显著诱导作用（p〈0.01），而芘胁迫对肝胰腺3种酶活性的影响主要表现为抑制作用，且POD酶活性表现最敏感，在较低浓度组就被显著抑制（p〈0.01）；到染毒第10天，鳃组织中SOD、GPx两种酶诱导作用明显，POD诱导现象不显著（p〉0.05），肝胰腺中3种酶活性与对照组相比诱导明显，并表现出一定的剂效关系。两种组织中SOD和GPx活性的变化具有一定的同步性。通过比较最低可观察效应质量浓度（LOEC），发现在第7天，鳃组织中敏感性强弱表现为SOD=POD〉GPx，肝胰腺中表现为POD〉GPx〉SOD，而到第10d，两组织中敏感性又分别表现为GPx〉SOD〉POD，GPx=SOD〉POD。因此，在较短的暴露时间，POD酶活性可作为芘胁迫对马氏珠母贝的生物标志物，而对于较长时间的染毒实验，可选用 GPx 酶作为芘胁迫对马氏珠母贝的生物标志物以监测海洋环境芘污染。     

芘污染对马氏珠母贝(Pinctada martensi)D型面盘幼虫发育的影响

多环芳烃(PAHs)是一类广泛存在于环境中的持久性有机污染物,大多具有潜在毒性、致癌性及致畸诱变作用。选取马氏珠母贝(Pinctada martensi)作为模式动物,研究芘对马氏珠母贝D型面盘幼虫发育的影响。将马氏珠母贝D型面盘幼虫暴露于不同浓度(2、4、8、16和32μg·L-1)芘(pyrene)中,在暴露后第12、24、36、48、60、72和84小时,分别测定其死亡率和畸形率,并观察形态学的变化。结果表明,芘对D型面盘幼虫的发育有显著影响,同一浓度组的死亡率与时间呈正相关。在2～32μg·L-1浓度范围内,不同暴露时间段,死亡率与浓度呈正相关。芘暴露对马氏珠母贝D型面盘幼虫的形态也有显著影响,随着芘浓度的增大幼虫畸形的比例增高,并呈现明显的剂量-效应关系,其中8和32μg·L-1浓度组的响应最敏感。同时,芘暴露对马氏珠母贝D型面盘幼虫的半数致死浓度(LC50)随着时间的推移逐渐降低,60h后趋于稳定,LC50值为43.50μg·L-1。研究结果表明,芘暴露能影响马氏珠母贝D型面盘幼虫的发育,并可能对其种群结构产生不利影响。     

全氟辛烷磺酸盐(PFOS)对半滑舌鳎(Cynoglossus semilaevis)免疫相关基因表达的影响

为了解全氟辛烷磺酸盐(perfluorooctane sulfonate, PFOS)暴露对半滑舌鳎(Cynoglossus semilaevis)免疫功能的影响,在实验室条件下,运用RT-PCR方法分析了PFOS暴露对半滑舌鳎热休克蛋白hsp70、hsp90、C型凝集素(c-type lectin)和细胞色素c氧化酶(cytochrome c oxidase, cox)等4种免疫相关基因表达水平的影响。实验测定了上述4种基因在半滑舌鳎肝、鳃、肠及肌肉4种不同组织中随时间(0、24 h、48 h、96 h和7 d)的表达变化情况。结果表明,在4种组织中,hsp70基因的表达与对照相比为上调,其中,肝组织hsp70基因的表达量显著高于其他各组织,且表达高峰值的出现也早于其他各组织;hsp90基因在肝和鳃组织中表达量随时间不同而波动,在肠组织中表达上调,在肌肉中表达显著下调;c-type lectin基因表达量与对照组相比表达显著下调或无明显差异;cox基因在肝组织和肠组织中表达下调,在鳃和肌肉中表达上调。上述研究结果表明,PFOS能引起免疫相关基因的表达变化,对半滑舌鳎具有潜在的免疫毒性。肝组织中各免疫基因对PFOS胁迫的响应高于其他组织。本研究可为阐明全氟辛烷磺酸盐对半滑舌鳎的免疫毒性提供基础数据。     

苯并[a]芘对马氏珠母贝鳃组织抗氧化酶活性的影响

将马氏珠母贝（Pinctada martensi）暴露于不同质量浓度（1、4和8μg.L-1）苯并[a]芘B[a]P中,检测暴露后第3、7和10天后,马氏珠母贝鳃组织抗氧化酶（超氧化物歧化酶SOD、谷胱甘肽硫转移酶GST和过氧化氢酶CAT）对苯并[a]芘胁迫的生态毒理效应。结果表明：暴露时间为3、7 d时,SOD活性无明显变化,随着暴露时间的延长,SOD活性在第10天时被激活;在胁迫初期,GST活性被激活,随后表现出逐渐降低的趋势,在暴露后10 d,不同质量浓度组GST活性变化趋于稳定。当暴露质量浓度相同时,表现出明显的时—效关系;而CAT活性在第7天被激活,随着时间的延长,高质量浓度（4和8μg.L-1）组表现出先升高后下降的趋势,并表现出一定的时-效关系。SOD、GST和CAT均可作为B[a]P污染的生物标志物,活性变化相对于SOD,GST和CAT对B[a]P的胁迫更加敏感。     

苯并\[a\]芘对马氏珠母贝肝组织抗氧化酶活性的影响

为揭示不同浓度苯并[a]芘(B[a]P)对海洋贝类的生态毒理效应,将马氏珠母贝(Pinctada martensi)暴露于不同浓度(1、4和8μg.L-1)B[a]P中,检测暴露3、7和10d后,B[a]P对马氏珠母贝肝组织抗氧化酶(超氧化物歧化酶SOD、谷胱甘肽硫转移酶GST和过氧化氢酶CAT)活性的影响。结果表明:暴露时间3d时,随着B[a]P浓度的增加,SOD活性无明显变化,GST的活性被激活,在7d和10d受到抑制,GST活性表现为抑制,并表现出一定的剂量-效应关系,而CAT的活性在染毒后第7天受到激活;暴露时间10d时,SOD活性增加,GST活性和CAT活性均受到抑制。B[a]P暴露时间相同,GST活性和CAT活性变化趋势基本相似。B[a]P浓度相同(1和4μg.L-1)时,随着暴露时间的延长,SOD活性无明显变化,GST的活性受到抑制,CAT的活性表现为先激活后抑制的趋势。另外,相对于SOD活性,GST和CAT的活性变化可以更好地反映B[a]P对马氏珠母贝胁迫的毒性效应。     

氨氮胁迫下菲律宾蛤仔肝胰腺内参基因的筛选

利用荧光定量PCR技术对目标基因进行转录水平分析,选择合适的内参基因作为对照是其前提条件.随着氨氮胁迫菲律宾蛤仔毒性效应的深入研究,需要准确评价氨氮对蛤仔肝胰腺组织基因表达的影响.然而,不同浓度氨氮条件下的菲律宾蛤仔肝胰腺组织的内参基因的筛选尚未报道.本研究以2种不同氨氮浓度暴露菲律宾蛤仔14 d的肝胰腺组织cDNA为qRT-PCR的模板,利用geNorm、NormFinder、BestKeeper和RefFinder软件评估β-肌动蛋白(Actin)、延伸因子1-α(EF-1α)、β-微管蛋白(Tubu)、18S核糖体RNA(18S)、泛素(Ubi)和亲环蛋白A(CyPA)6个内参基因的表达稳定性.结果表明,肝胰腺组织中备选内参基因的表达稳定性依次为:Actin>18S>CyPA>Ubi>Tubu>EF-1α,即Actin为表达最稳定的内参基因.本研究为进一步分析氨氮胁迫下菲律宾蛤仔肝胰腺组织的基因表达情况,提供了可靠的内参基因.     

苯并[a]芘对马氏珠母贝血淋巴细胞DNA损伤的研究

通过单细胞凝胶电泳技术（彗星试验）研究了苯并[a]芘（B[a]P）对马氏珠母贝（Pinctada martensi）血淋巴细胞DNA的损伤。结果显示,在相同暴露时间内,不同质量浓度的B[a]P均能引起马氏珠母贝血淋巴细胞DNA损伤。4μg.L-1 B[a]P处理组DNA含量、彗尾长度和Olive尾矩均最大,分别为34.39%、281.73和60.31μm。随着暴露时间的延长,彗星尾长明显增加,表现出明显的时间-效应关系,而DNA含量和Olive尾矩没有呈现出规律性变化。此外,在不同的染毒时间内,对照组和各处理组之间均存在显著差异（P〈0.05）,3个指标具有很好的一致性。研究表明,彗星试验是检测B[a]P对马氏珠母贝血淋巴细胞DNA损伤的一种有效手段,马氏珠母贝血淋巴细胞DNA损伤可作为指示B[a]P污染的一种有效生物标志物用于早期预警监测。     

苯并[a]芘对马氏珠母贝血淋巴细胞DNA损伤的研究

通过单细胞凝胶电泳技术(彗星试验)研究了苯并[a]芘(B[a]P)对马氏珠母贝(Pinctada martensi)血淋巴细胞DNA的损伤。结果显示,在相同暴露时间内,不同质量浓度的B[a]P均能引起马氏珠母贝血淋巴细胞DNA损伤。4μg.L-1 B[a]P处理组DNA含量、彗尾长度和Olive尾矩均最大,分别为34.39%、281.73和60.31μm。随着暴露时间的延长,彗星尾长明显增加,表现出明显的时间-效应关系,而DNA含量和Olive尾矩没有呈现出规律性变化。此外,在不同的染毒时间内,对照组和各处理组之间均存在显著差异(P<0.05),3个指标具有很好的一致性。研究表明,彗星试验是检测B[a]P对马氏珠母贝血淋巴细胞DNA损伤的一种有效手段,马氏珠母贝血淋巴细胞DNA损伤可作为指示B[a]P污染的一种有效生物标志物用于早期预警监测。     

团头鲂谷胱甘肽S-转移酶基因的克隆及其在氨氮胁迫中的表达分析

谷胱甘肽S-转移酶(glutathione S-transferase,GST)是一类多功能蛋白家族,主要参与解毒和抗氧化防御过程。为了研究GST在团头鲂(Megalobrama amblycephala)肝脏解毒过程中的作用,克隆并分析了团头鲂1个谷胱甘肽S-转移酶基因(命名为MaGST)cDNA序列,采用实时荧光定量PCR研究了其在氨氮胁迫下的表达规律。MaGST包含1个长218个氨基酸的完整开放阅读框,具有GST蛋白家族的保守碱基和保守结构域。通过MEGA 5.0软件分析系统进化树发现,团头鲂GST与其他动物mu型GST聚为一簇,表明团头鲂GST属于mu型GST。荧光定量PCR结果显示MaGST基因在团头鲂各组织中均有表达,在肝脏和鳃中表达量最高,肌肉中表达量最低,同时在氨氮胁迫过程中该基因在肝和鳃中的表达规律相似,均在胁迫期间表达量显著上调;氨氮胁迫24 h时鳃和肝组织均存在组织损伤。研究结果提示在团头鲂肝脏和鳃组织中GST基因参与了氨氮胁迫的解毒过程。将该基因的编码区重组到p ET-21(a+)载体后在大肠杆菌中得到诱导表达,重组MaGST的GST活力为(10.36±0.68)U·mg~(-1)蛋白。     

近江牡蛎(Crassostrea hongkongensis)热休克蛋白70对壬基酚的响应

以β-actin为内参基因,采用实时荧光定量聚合酶链式反应(PCR)技术,检测不同时间(12、24、48、96和192h)不同浓度(0.01、0.1、1、10、100、300μg·L-1)壬基酚(NP)处理下近江牡蛎(Crassostrea hongkongensis)鳃、外套膜和消化腺中HSC70和HSP70基因mRNA的表达水平。结果显示,0.01μg·L-1NP能诱导近江牡蛎鳃和消化腺中HSC70和HSP70基因显著高表达(P0.05)。随着NP处理浓度的升高,其表达水平逐渐升高,处理一定时间后100μg·L-1NP诱导近江牡蛎HSC70和HSP70基因表达量显著高于300μg·L-1NP诱导表达量(P0.05)。HSC70基因在鳃和消化腺中显著高表达峰值出现在96 h时,在外套膜中出现在48 h时;HSP70基因在鳃中显著高表达峰值出现在48 h时,在外套膜和消化腺中出现在24 h时。可见,近江牡蛎HSC70和HSP70基因对NP具有显著反应性。     

Antennal responses of four species of tree-killing bark beetles (Coleoptera: Scolytidae) to volatiles collected from beetles,and their host and nonhost conifers

Summary. Host selection in tree-killing bark beetles (Coleoptera: Scolytidae) is mediated by a complex of semiochemical cues. Using gas chromatographic-electroantennographic detection (GC-EAD) and GC-mass spectrometric analyses, we conducted a comparative study of the electrophysiological responses of four species of tree-killing bark beetles, the Douglas-fir beetle, Dendroctonus pseudotsugae, Hopkins, the mountain pine beetle, D. ponderosae Hopkins, the spruce beetle, D. rufipennis Kirby, and the western balsam bark beetle, Dryocoetes confusus Swaine, to volatiles captured by aeration of 1) bole and foliage of four sympatric species of conifers, Douglas-fir, Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco, lodgepole pine, Pinus contorta var. latifolia Engelm., interior spruce, Picea engelmannii x glauca, and interior fir, Abies lasiocarpa x bifolia, and 2) con- and heterospecific beetles at three stages of attack. We identified 13 monoterpenes in the conifers and nine compounds in the volatiles of beetles that elicited antennal responses. There was no qualitative difference in the terpene constitution of the four species of conifers and very little difference across beetle species in their antennal response to compounds from conifers or beetles. The lack of species-specific major or minor components in conifers suggests that beetles would need to detect differences in the ratios of different compounds in conifers to discriminate among them. Attraction to hosts and avoidance of nonhost conifers may be accentuated by perception of compounds emitted by con- and heterospecific beetles, respectively. The 22 compounds identified are candidate semiochemicals with potential behavioural roles in host location and discrimination.     

Diet-induced chemical phytomimesis by twig-like caterpillars of Biston robustum Butler (Lepidoptera: Geometridae)

Summary. Polyphagous caterpillars of the giant geometer Biston robustum resemble the twigs of their respective food sources in color and shape. Common predatory ants, including Lasius and Formica, were often observed to freely prowl directly on caterpillars bodies, even after antennal contact. This suggests that the cuticular chemicals of the caterpillars resemble those of the twigs of the foodplants, so we analyzed both by GC and GC-MS. The chemical compositions differed among caterpillars fed on a cherry, Prunus yedoensis, a chinquapin Castanopsis cuspidata, and a camellia Camellia japonica. The cuticular chemicals of the caterpillars resembled those of their corresponding food sources. When the caterpillar diets were switched from the cherry to camellia or chinquapin at the 4^th instars, the caterpillars cuticular chemicals changed after molting to resemble those of their respective foods. Caterpillars also changed their cuticular chemicals when they perched on cherry twigs and fed on camellia or chinquapin leaves, but not when they perched on camellia or chinquapin twigs and fed on cherry leaves. The chemical similarities between the caterpillars and the twigs were due to the digestion of host leaves, which indicates that this is a diet-induced adaptation.     

Some polyphagous Homoptera gain protection from their natural enemies by feeding on the toxic plantsSpartium junceum andErythrina corallodendrum (Leguminosae)

Summary Interactions were studied among alkaloid-containing legumes (Erythrina corallodendrum andSpartium junceum) and non-toxic plants (Citrus sinensis, Cucurbita moschata andEuphorbia tirucalli), several polyphagous homopterans,Aphis craccivora (Aphididae),Icerya purchasi, I. aegyptiaca (Margarodidae),Lepidosaphes ulmi (Diaspididae) andPlanococcus citri (Pseudococcidae), and some major natural enemies of these homopterans. Significant reductions in survival due to negative effects of alkaloid containing as compared with non-alkaloidal plants were recorded for the predatorsRodolia cardinalis andChilocorus bipustulatus, but not forCryptolaemus montrouzieri (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae),Chrysoperla carnea (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) andSympherobius sanctus (Neuroptera: Sympherobiidae). The development time of the larvae or pupae ofR. cardinalis, C. carnea andS. sanctus was longer on the toxic plants than on the non-toxic ones. The percentage of parasitism ofA. craccivora collected from the non-alkaloidal plantsVicia palaestina andMelilotus albus was much higher than that onS. junceum. The parasitoid complexes ofA. craccivora differed between both plant groups. The nutritive value of honeydew ofI. purchasi andA. craccivora, as expressed by the life span ofEncyrtus infelix (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) adults, was also investigated. Life spans were significantly longer when the wasps fed on honeydew produced on non-alkaloidal plants (C. sinensis andPittosporum tobira) than on alkaloid containing plants whenI. purchasi — but notA. craccivora — was the producer. It is suggested that the chemical defense ofE. corallodendrum andS. junceum is exploited by polyphagous phytophages to reduce predation. In nature, population growth and density of four of the investigated homopterans are conspicuously high when they developed on the alkaloid containing plant species, and very low on non-alkaloid plants. The efficiency of their natural enemies may be reduced by sequestration of alkaloids (or other toxic plant compounds) or their transfer into excreted honeydew. Therefore it is assumed that a generalist phytophagous homopteran may be protected from its natural enemies, although at different rates of efficiency, if it can safely sequester the host allelochemical when it develops on toxic species within its host range.     

Comparison of the insecticidal effects of water extracted and intact aromatic plants onAcanthoscelides obtectus,a bruchid beetle pest of kidney beans

Summary Acanthoscelides obtectus (Say) is one of the most damaging pests of kidney beans,Phaseolus vulgaris L. worldwide. However, aromatic plants from the families Lamiaceae, Lauraceae, Myrtaceae and Poaceae can protect kidney beans by direct or delayed insecticidal effect, through increased adult mortality and inhibition of beetle reproduction (both oviposition and adult emergence). The efficiency of hydrodistillated and intact plants fromThymus vulgaris andT. serpyllum, Mentha piperata, Rosmarinus officinalis, Satureia hortensis, Eucalyptus globulus, Laurus nobilis, Origanum vulgare, andCymbopogon nardus was compared. For both extracts,Origanum vulgare had the best effect. The insecticidal effect was induced by more than the essential oils because no significant difference was noticed between distilled and intact plants extract. Inhibition of reproduction was particularly important. These results suggest that lipidic as well as non lipidic, allelochemicals, such as phenolics, or non-protein amino-acids, or flavonoids may be involved in the toxicity of aromatic plants to this beetle.     

Increase of multi-metal tolerance of three leguminous plants by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi colonization

A greenhouse pot experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of the colonization of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus (AMF) Glomus mosseae on the growth and metal uptake of three leguminous plants (Sesbania rostrata, Sesbania cannabina, Medicago sativa) grown in multi-metal contaminated soil. AMF colonization increased the growth of the legumes, indicating that AMF colonization increased the plant’s resistance to heavy metals. It also significantly stimulated the formation of root nodules and increased the N and P uptake of all of the tested leguminous plants, which might be one of the tolerance mechanisms conferred by AMF. Compared with the control, colonization by G. mosseae decreased the concentration of metals, such as Cu, in the shoots of the three legumes, indicating that the decreased heavy metals uptake and growth dilution were induced by AMF treatment, thereby reducing the heavy metal toxicity to the plants. The root/shoot ratios of Cu in the three legumes and Zn in M. sativa were significantly increased (P < 0.05) with AMF colonization, indicating that heavy metals were immobilized by the mycorrhiza and the heavy metal translocations to the shoot were decreased.     

2种烷基多环芳烃对仿刺参CYP450和p53基因表达的影响研究

海洋环境中多环芳烃类(PAHs)主要来源于海洋溢油事故以及沿海石油化工企业的废水排放,国内外大量研究发现海洋中的多环芳烃对海洋生物造成了潜在的生态风险。为了揭示不同浓度多环芳烃类污染物对海参的生态毒理效应,将仿刺参(Apostichopus japonicus)分别暴露于不同浓度的2种烷基多环芳烃3-甲基菲(5、10、100μg·L~(-1))和2-甲基蒽(5、10、50μg·L~(-1))中,检测暴露3 d、7 d和14 d后,3-甲基菲和2-甲基蒽胁迫下仿刺参CYP450和p53基因的相对表达量。结果表明,3-甲基菲和2-甲基蒽胁迫下,仿刺参CYP450和p53基因的表达均对毒物产生了不同程度的响应。与对照组相比,3-甲基菲各处理组对仿刺参CYP450和p53基因的表达均产生显著的抑制作用(P0.05); 2-甲基蒽各处理组对仿刺参CYP450和p53基因的表达影响作用不同,暴露7 d后,2-甲基蒽各处理组对仿刺参CYP450基因的表达表现出抑制作用,对p53基因的表达表现出诱导作用。相同浓度与时间胁迫下,2-甲基蒽对仿刺参CYP450和p53基因表达的影响比3-甲基菲的影响大。上述研究结果表明,3-甲基菲和2-甲基蒽均可不同程度影响仿刺参CYP450和p53基因的表达,且与3-甲基菲相比,2-甲基蒽对仿刺参CYP450和p53基因表达的影响较明显。上述结果为多环芳烃类污染物对仿刺参的生物毒性评价提供了基础数据。     

Net energetic advantage drives honey bees (Apis mellifera L) to nectar larceny in Vaccinium ashei Reade

Carpenter bees (Xylocopa spp.) act as primary nectar thieves in rabbiteye blueberry (Vaccinium ashei Reade), piercing corollas laterally to imbibe nectar at basal nectaries. Honey bees (Apis mellifera L) learn to visit these perforations and thus become secondary nectar thieves. We tested the hypothesis that honey bees make this behavioral switch in response to an energetic advantage realized by nectar-robbing flower visits. Nectar volume and sugar quantity were higher in intact than perforated flowers, but bees (robbers) visiting perforated flowers were able to extract a higher percentage of available nectar and sugar so that absolute amount of sugar (mg) removed by one bee visit is the same for each flower type. However, because perforated flowers facilitate higher rates of bee flower visitation and the same or higher rates of nectar ingestion, they are rendered more profitable than intact flowers in temporal terms. Accordingly, net energy (J) gain per second flower handling time was higher for robbers on most days sampled. We conclude that the majority evidence indicates an energetic advantage for honey bees that engage in secondary nectar thievery in V. ashei.Communicated by R. Page     

Benthic macrophyte communities in the Ghar El Melh lagoon (North Tunisia)

This work deals with the biodiversity and distribution of benthic macrophytes in the Ghar El Melh lagoon, a Mediterranean coastal lagoon located in the North of Tunisia. An inventory was made of the benthic flora and submerged macrophyte communities were mapped during two successive campaigns (the summer of 1999 and the winter of 2000). The following 24 macrophyte species were identified: seven red algae, two brown algae, 11 green algae, and four marine angiosperms. The results were compared with available data from the literature. Ruppia cirrhosa is the most dominant species. It is found in all lagoon parts, except in the west sector.Ruppia beds are usually associated withCladophora forming heterogeneous communities. During summerRuppia cirrhosa shows a large distribution, covering an area of ca. 21.4 km², with dense, extensive beds covering 80–100%. In winter, severalCladophora species have a very large distribution as well, covering nearly an area of 28.5 km² with an average cover of 46%. The green algaeCaulerpa prolifera is confined to the eastern part of the lagoon which is mainly affected by seawater. In comparison with previous situations, many transformations were observed in biodiversity and spatial distribution of the dominant communities. Thus,Cymodocea nodosa andZostera beds, which dominated in the 1970s, were replaced byZostera andCaulerpa prolifera in the 1980s and are currently succeeded byRuppia cirrhosa andCladophora. Restoration of the Ghar El Melh lagoon will enable an increase in the exchange with the open sea and the circulation of water, in particular in the confined zones. This should considerably improve the water quality and would positively influence the phytobenthic communities.     

Testing a new model of aphid abundance with sedentary and non-sedentary predators

Aphid population dynamics has been thoroughly investigated, especially in tree-dwelling aphids. Among the controls of the aphid rate of increase are the negative effects of antagonists, the positive effects of mutualists, the density-dependence of the aphid dynamics, and the non-stationary quality of plant tissues. Here we present a mechanistic model of aphid growth that considers most of these governing factors using a simple formulation. What is new in this model is that it considers two kinds of antagonists. The first kind is a guild of aphid predator specialists that includes ladybirds (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), but also species of some families of Hemiptera, Diptera, and Neuroptera. The second kind of antagonists consists of omnivores or generalist predators and in this particular setting is exemplified by the European earwig Forficula auricularia (Dermaptera: Forficulidae). The model developed here compared the effects of these two different kinds of aphid predators, the second one always at the site (sedentary predators) and the first one that arrives in important numbers only once the aphid population has already developed to some degree (non-sedentary predators). Multiple model parameter sets, representing different hypotheses about controls on aphid populations, were evaluated within the Generalised Likelihood Uncertainty Estimation (GLUE) methodology. The model correctly reproduced the experimental data obtained in an organic citrus grove showing the important effect that sedentary predators as earwigs can have on the aphid populations. Low densities of sedentary predators or even low predation rates can have a disproportionate effect on the final aphid density, as they prey on small populations, when the per capita effect on the aphid population is higher. During the main spring peak of aphids the role of non-sedentary predators is secondary, as they track the aphid density rather than control it. However, these non-sedentary predators are important within the proposed model to keep the second autumn peak of aphids at low values.     

加拿大一枝黄花和小飞蓬叶浸提液对大豆幼苗生长的复合化感效应

加拿大一枝黄花(Solidago canadensis)和小飞蓬(Conyza canadensis)常共同入侵至同一农田生态系统。探究了两者对大豆幼苗生长的复合化感作用。加拿大一枝黄花叶浸提液显著抑制大豆幼苗地上生物量。而小飞蓬叶浸提液也明显抑制大豆幼苗地上生物量(未达到显著水平)。与对照处理相比,两者复合叶浸提液处理未显著影响大豆幼苗地上生物量。两者复合叶浸提液处理下大豆幼苗地上生物量显著大于加拿大一枝黄花叶浸提液单一处理,同时也大于小飞蓬叶浸提液单一处理(未达到显著水平)。两者叶浸提液单一处理均明显降低大豆幼苗株高(未达到显著水平)。与对照处理相比,两者复合叶浸提液处理未显著影响大豆幼苗株高。两者复合叶浸提液处理下大豆幼苗株高明显大于两者叶浸提液单一处理(未达到显著水平)。因此,两者叶浸提液对大豆幼苗的生长均具有一定程度的抑制效应,且加拿大一枝黄花叶浸提液对大豆幼苗产生的化感作用(尤其是地上生物量)明显大于小飞蓬。两者复合化感作用明显低于两者单一化感作用,尤其是两者对大豆幼苗地上生物量的复合化感作用显著低于加拿大一枝黄花的单一化感作用。所以,化感效应可能在两者共同入侵(即两者复合作用)进程中所起的贡献低于在两者单一入侵进程中所起的作用。