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.     

Predatory behavior and chemical communication in two Metapone species (Hymenoptera:Formicidae)

Summary. Colonies of two species of Metapone (M. madagascarica, M. new species.) were collected in Madagascar and established in laboratory nests. It could be demonstrated that both species are specialist predators of termites (Cryptotermes kirbyi). During hunting the ants sting the termites and thereby paralyze and preserve the prey alive. In this way prey can be stored in the ant nest for extended periods. During foraging and colony emigrations the ants lay chemical trails with poison gland secretions. Among the seven compounds identified in the venom only methyl pyrrole-2-carboxylate elicits trail following behavior in both Metapone species. Received 11 February 2002, accepted 23 February 2002.     

The use of the tergal gland defensive secretion in male intrasexual aggression of the rove beetle,Aleochara curtula (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae), measured by closed-loop-stripping-analyses and tandem bioassay — mass fragmentography

Summary 2-methyl-1,4-benzoquinone as a target compound of the tergal gland secretion of the rove beetle,Aleochara curtula, was quantified from the reservoirs of individual beetles. Males store less secretion than females, and they evaporate more of the secretion as measured by adsorption from the air (closed-loop-stripping-analysis). The amount of emitted quinone is increased during aggressive interactions of rival males. The pulsed emission of the secretion during aggression is demonstrated by a novel technique combining observation of behavior with the on-line measurement of target fragment ions by mass-spectrometry (tandem bioassay — mass fragmentography). The emission of the secretion is used as a weapon in combats between males and may result in the repulsion of subordinate males from the mating site, but may also serve to mimic females chemically in order to avoid aggressive encounters.     

Chemistry of the postpharyngeal gland secretion and its implication for the phylogeny of IberianCataglyphis species (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

Summary A comparative morphological and chemical study of six endemic species ofCataglyphis from the Iberian Peninsula:C. ibericus, C. rosenhaueri, C. hispanicus, C. humeya, C. velox andC. floricola and the Moroccan speciesC. bombycinus is described. The morphological study relied primarily on genitalia characteristics, whereas the chemical study concentrated on the postpharyngeal gland constituents. Cladograms based on the morphological and chemical data were performed using Ward's method. The dendrogram based on morphological features revealed that the IberianCataglyphis can be classified into three species groupsalbicans, altisquamis andemmae. The same pattern occurred when the dimethylalkanes constituents of the postpharyngeal gland were utilised as character states, with a slight displacement of species within thealtisquamis group. However, when the complete hydrocarbon blend was utilised major discrepancies in the dendrograms occurred.Cataglyphis velox proved to be very similar toC. bombycinus, whereasC. floricola clustered with the other two species of thealtisquamis group. Based on the geographical distribution and paleontological data (Tinaut 1993) it is assumed thatC. floricola recently invaded the Iberian Peninsula. Based on the chemical findings we postulate that chemical character displacement occurred inC. floricola as a result of its sympatry withC. velox after the former colonized the Iberian Peninsula. We further discuss the possible reason for the different dendrograms obtained when only the dimethylalkanes are considered and its implication for the communicative role of the postpharyngeal gland secretion in these ants.     

Thyroid status in juvenile alligators (Alligator mississippiensis) from contaminated and reference sites on Lake Okeechobee,Florida, USA

Exposure to environmental contaminants has been shown to alter normal thyroid function in various wildlife species, including the American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis). Abnormalities in circulating levels of the thyroid hormone thyroxine (T₄) have been reported in juvenile alligators from several contaminated lakes in Florida. To further elucidate these functional thyroid abnormalities, this study examines the structure of thyroids and circulating T₄ concentrations from juvenile alligators collected from three sites of varying contamination on Lake Okeechobee, Florida. The following variables were used to characterize thyroid morphology: epithelial cell height, width and area, percent colloid, and follicle area. These variables were compared among study sites and between genders. No difference was detected in epithelial cell height, epithelial cell area, or follicle area among the sites, whereas significant differences in epithelial cell width (p=0.02) and percent colloid (p=0.008) were found. Animals from the most contaminated site (Belle Glade) had significantly greater epithelial cell widths and significantly less colloid present in their follicles compared to animals from the reference site (West). Gender did not have a significant interaction with site for any variable measured. Thyroxine (T₄) concentrations were elevated in the intermediately contaminated site (Conservation Area 3A) compared to the other sites (p<0.0001). It is proposed that the disruptions seen in Lake Okeechobee alligators are due to disruptions at both the thyroid and extra-thyroidal tissues.     

利用16s rDNA方法检测刺参消化道细菌种类

以2007年7月采自大连瓦房店养殖厂的刺参为实验材料,通过对刺参肠道中的细菌16s rDNA V3区基因进行扩增、克隆测序及序列同源性分析,对其种类进行初步研究。本研究测序获得11条16s rDNA V3区基因序列,并进行Blast同源比对,确定序列同源性,分析出11种细菌,三种梭菌属(Clostridium)细菌,两种为假单胞菌属细菌(Pseudomonas),一种产丙酸菌属细菌(Propionigenium),一种为金黄色葡萄球菌(Staphylococcus aureus),有六种细菌分别与4种不可培养的未命名细菌同源,并根据测序结果建立系统发生树。本研究提供了一种检测海洋微生物的方法,为刺参病害诊断提供科学依据,为海洋微生物资源的开发和新种的发现提供了资料。     

全氟辛磺酸（PFOS）对非洲爪蟾（Xenopus laevis）生长发育、甲状腺和性腺组织学的影响

为了揭示全氟辛磺酸(PFOS)的甲状腺激素和性激素干扰效应,并探索运用爪蟾动物模型同时检测多种环境内分泌干扰效应的可能性,将NF48阶段非洲爪蟾(Xenopus laevis)蝌蚪暴露于0.01、0.1和1mg·L-1PFOS中6个月,检测PFOS对爪蟾生长、变态、甲状腺和性腺的影响.结果表明,在各取样时间,PFOS组爪蟾体长、体重和蝌蚪尾长与对照组均无显著差异(p>0.05);2个月后,PFOS组比对照组平均慢1个发育阶段,4和6个月后,0.01mg·L-1PFOS组反而比对照组分别快1和2个发育阶段.6个月后,PFOS组甲状腺出现滤泡上皮细胞增生、胶质减少甚至空泡化等现象,且随着PFOS浓度的增加而加重;各组幼蛙性腺出现间性、睾丸珍珠状和先天性萎缩等畸形现象,外观为间性的性腺主要表现为睾丸组织中产生类似雌性个体的卵巢腔.对照组幼蛙的雌雄比为0.5:1,而暴露组分别为2.3:1(0.01mg·L-1组)、4.5:1(0.1mg·L-1组)和5:1(1mg·L-1组).上述结果表明,PFOS对爪蟾的变态过程具有小剂量刺激效应,能引起甲状腺组织结构的损伤,导致睾丸组织的雌性化和雌雄性比的异常升高,表现出明显的甲状腺激素和性激素干扰效应,可以认定为一种环境内分泌干扰物.实验同时表明非洲爪蟾可以用于多种环境内分泌干扰效应的同时检测.     

亚硝态氮胁迫对日本蟳消化酶活力及同工酶表达的影响

亚硝态氮是养殖水体中常见的胁迫因子.为探讨亚硝态氮对养殖蟹类的毒性作用,采用生物酶测定及聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳的方法,研究了水体中不同浓度(0.15,0.3,2,5,10,20mg/L)亚硝态氮胁迫下日本蟳肝胰腺消化酶活力的变化,以及高浓度(20mg/L)亚硝态氮胁迫对日本蟳同工酶表达的影响.结果表明:低浓度(0.15,0.3mg/L)的亚硝态氮胁迫对碱性蛋白酶,酸性蛋白酶,脂肪酶和淀粉酶活力均产生一定的诱导效应,且在处理7d时,除淀粉酶活力略低于对照组外,其他3种消化酶活力仍保持在较高的水平.较高浓度(2,5,10mg/L)亚硝态氮的短期胁迫(0.5~1d)会诱导酸性蛋白酶,碱性蛋白酶和脂肪酶活力的迅速升高,但随即快速下降.高浓度(20mg/L)的亚硝态氮胁迫对蛋白酶和淀粉酶活力表现出明显的抑制效应.处理7d时,胁迫浓度2mg/L及以上的实验组各消化酶活力与剂量浓度间均呈显著负相关关系.20mg/L亚硝态氮胁迫下,除肌肉中新增两条酶带(MDH-2和MDH-4)外,日本蟳鳃,肝胰腺,胃,心脏,卵,精子等组织中的α-淀粉酶(α-AMY)同工酶,乳酸脱氢酶(LDH)同工酶,苹果酸脱氢酶(MDH)同工酶和过氧化物酶(POD)同工酶均出现活性减弱或酶带数量减少现象.结果显示高浓度亚硝态氮胁迫对日本蟳消化酶活力和同工酶表达均表现出明显的抑制作用.     

Aggressive reproductive competition among hopelessly queenless honeybee workers triggered by pheromone signaling

In the honeybee, Apis mellifera, the queen monopolizes reproduction, while the sterile workers cooperate harmoniously in nest maintenance. However, under queenless (QL) conditions, cooperation collapses and reproductive competition among workers ensues. This is mediated through aggression and worker oviposition, as well as shifts in pheromones, from worker to queen-like composition. Many studies suggest a dichotomy between conflict resolution through aggression or through pheromonal signaling. In this paper, we demonstrate that both phenomena comprise essential components of reproductive competition and that pheromone signaling actually triggers the onset of aggression. We kept workers as QL groups until first aggression was observed and subsequently determined the contestants' reproductive status and content of the mandibular (MG) and Dufour's glands (DG). In groups in which aggression occurred early, the attacked bee had consistently more queen-like pheromone in both the MG and DG, although both contestants had undeveloped ovaries. In groups with late aggression, the attacked bee had consistently larger oocytes and more queen-like pheromone in the DG, but not the MG. We suggest that at early stages of competition, the MG secretion is utilized to establish dominance and that the DG provides an honest fertility signal. We further argue that it is the higher amount of DG pheromone that triggers aggression.     

日本食品废物不同资源化技术下的碳排放比较研究

应用生命周期评价法（LCA）,采用日本农林水产省和环境省的调查数据和统计数据,对不同资源化技术处理食品废物碳排放进行评价.10种资源化技术相比于3种非资源化（主要是焚烧）技术的结果表明,食品废物生命周期各阶段碳排放最多的是预处理+处理阶段,约占85%;最少的是回收阶段,可抵消部分排放.此外,全生命周期总排放,甲烷化（循环消化液）是最有利于温室气体减排的技术,可减排380.6kg CO₂e/t,通过调节参数核算日本城市生活垃圾的减排潜力每年约为5586万tCO₂e.甲烷化（单纯）、肥料化均减少温室气体排放,并且前者减排效果优于后者.而废物固形燃料（RDF）、甲烷化（与地下水混合）、饲料化（液化）、甲烷化（混合焚烧）、碳化、乙醇化、饲料化（额外干燥）与发电焚烧、无发电焚烧、焚烧可燃垃圾（无发电）依次增加了温室气体的排放.不考虑再生品的异地运输,则甲烷化（与地下水混发电焚烧合）相比饲料化（液化）产生更少的温室气体排放,其他次序按照技术的优劣性保持不变.