Ecology of Nuclear Polyhedrosis Virus in Western Siberian Populations of the Gypsy Moth (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Lymantria dispar</Emphasis> L.)

The impact of the nuclear polyhedrosis virus on the population dynamics of the gypsy moth Lymantria dispar L. has been studied. The results have shown that polyhedrosis morbidity in the western Siberian population of the insect is relatively low, compared to that reported for North American and European populations. A possible cause of this situation is found in the high migration activity of moths in the Asian L. dispar populations, which allows the virus load on the biotope to remain relatively stable and insufficient for the initiation of mass viral diseases during population outbreaks.__________Translated from Ekologiya, No. 3, 2005, pp. 222–226.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Ilinykh.     

Meta-analysis of the differential effects of habitat fragmentation and degradation on plant genetic diversity

Genetic diversity is a key factor for population survival and evolution. However, anthropogenic habitat disturbance can erode it, making populations more prone to extinction. Aiming to assess the global effects of habitat disturbance on plant genetic variation, we conducted a meta-analysis based on 92 case studies obtained from published literature. We compared the effects of habitat fragmentation and degradation on plant allelic richness and gene diversity (equivalent to expected heterozygosity) and tested whether such changes are sensitive to different life-forms, life spans, mating systems, and commonness. Anthropogenic disturbance had a negative effect on allelic richness, but not on gene diversity. Habitat fragmentation had a negative effect on genetic variation, whereas habitat degradation had no effect. When we examined the individual effects in fragmented habitats, allelic richness and gene diversity decreased, but this decrease was strongly dependent on certain plant traits. Specifically, common long-lived trees and self-incompatible species were more susceptible to allelic richness loss. Conversely, gene diversity decreased in common short-lived species (herbs) with self-compatible reproduction. In a wider geographical context, tropical plant communities were more sensitive to allelic richness loss, whereas temperate plant communities were more sensitive to gene diversity loss. Our synthesis showed complex responses to habitat disturbance among plant species. In many cases, the absence of effects could be the result of the time elapsed since the disturbance event or reproductive systems favoring self-pollination, but attention must be paid to those plant species that are more susceptible to losing genetic diversity, and appropriate conservation should be actions taken.     

基于事故逆向再现的车辆追尾事故仿真分析研究

为认定车辆碰撞事故的性质及责任，动态还原事故发生过程。提出1种逆向事故分析再现方法，经过坐标系旋转后构建确定方程组的车辆碰撞瞬间解析计算模型，并经过实车碰撞实验数据验证其计算精度与三维再现的准确性。利用Crashview软件对1起车辆追尾事故进行仿真分析，解析计算得出车辆碰撞瞬间车速和碰撞前行驶车速，实现事故二维过程重构和三维模拟再现。结果表明:计算分析车速与VDR记录车速误差在5%以内，模拟再现轨迹与事故现场实测痕迹基本吻合，所构建的方法可有效用于车辆追尾碰撞事故辅助分析鉴定，为事故过程分析提供理论依据。     

Regulation of worker reproduction in bumblebees (Bombus terrestris): workers eavesdrop on a queen signal

In the annual bumblebee Bombus terrestris, the onset of queen-worker conflict over male production is seasonally and socially constrained. Workers will do better if they start to reproduce (the so-called competition phase) only after ascertaining that larvae are committed to gyne development but before the season ends because they gain more by rearing sister-gynes than their own sons. Here, we tested two nonmutually exclusive hypotheses as to what triggers the onset of worker reproduction: Workers can directly monitor larval development and/or workers eavesdrop on the queen signal that directs gyne development. Exposing workers to gyne larvae through a double mesh did not advance the competition phase compared to control colonies. However, when workers, but not the queen, were allowed contact with gyne larvae, both the competition phase and gyne production were advanced. Thus, while larvae do not emit a volatile pheromone that discloses their developmental route, the physical contact of workers with such larvae triggers early competition phase. However, workers exclusively exposed to worker larvae (colonies prevented from producing gyne larvae) started to reproduce at the same time as control colonies. Replacing the resident queen with an older queen (from gyne-rearing colonies) advanced the competition phase, irrespective of worker age. The results are consistent with the hypothesis that workers eavesdrop on the queen pheromones. This is adaptive because it allows workers a broader time-window for reproduction and thus to gain fitness from rearing both sister-gynes and sons before the season ends without affecting colony development.     

不同海拔高度短穗兔耳草克隆生长及克隆繁殖特征

研究了青藏铁路和青藏公路沿线 5个不同海拔高度样地中短穗兔耳草克隆生长和克隆繁殖的特征.结果表明,不同海拔高度短穗兔耳草匍匐茎数量、匍匐茎长度、基株干重、匍匐茎干重和无性系分株干重等均存在极显著差异(P<0. 01);匍匐茎数量与海拔高度之间存在明显的负线性相关性(P=0. 046 4);匍匐茎长度、基株干重、匍匐茎干重、单位长度上匍匐茎干重、无性系分株干重和匍匐茎分株总干重 /基株干重比值均与海拔高度之间存在极显著的二次多项式相关性(P<0. 01),但匍匐茎长度、匍匐茎分株总干重 /基株干重随海拔高度的变化趋势与基株干重、匍匐茎干重、单位长度上匍匐茎干重、无性系分株干重随海拔高度的变化趋势相反.在短穗兔耳草分布的海拔范围内,其克隆繁殖和克隆生长有一个“最佳”海拔高度,远离这一高度,其克隆繁殖和克隆生长会受到一定限制. 图 6表 2参 18     

Preparation and activation: determinants of age at reproductive maturity in male baboons

Age at maturity is a particularly important life history trait, but maturational data are rare for males in natural populations of mammals. Here we provide information on three maturational milestones and their social and demographic correlates among 43 wild male baboons, Papio cynocephalus, in a natural population in Amboseli National Park, Kenya. We examined (1) age at testicular enlargement, which signals puberty and the onset of subadulthood, (2) age at attainment of adult dominance rank, which we consider to be the beginning of adulthood, and (3) age at first sexual consortship, which is the best measure available for age at first reproduction in male baboons. Testicular enlargement (median age = 5.69 years) occurred earlier among sons of high ranking mothers, and was not influenced by rainfall or seasonality. Attainment of adult dominance rank (median age = 7.41 years) was also accelerated among sons of high-ranking mothers, and among males whose mothers had died while the males were juveniles. First sexual consortship (median age = 7.92 years) was not influenced directly by maternal characteristics, but attainment of adult dominance rank always preceded first consortship. The lag time between attainment of adult rank and first consortship (median = 2.5 months; range = 5–526 days), was predicted by the number of sexually cycling females in the group when the male attained rank, and by how high ranking the male became in his first months as an adult. We suggest that the age at which a male baboon is ready to begin reproducing is influenced by a relatively stable maternal characteristic that exerts its influence early in development, but the timing with which this potential is realized depends on activation by more proximate, often stochastic triggers such as female availability. This two-level organization of influences is likely to contribute to the variance both in age at first reproduction and in lifetime fitness. Differences in the relative magnitude of the two levels will lead to both intra- and interspecific variability in the opportunity for maternal selection and sexual selection.     

二氧化硫体内衍生物对雄性小鼠精子的毒性效应

为了探讨二氧化硫(SO2)的雄性生殖毒理效应,研究了SO2体内代谢衍生物———亚硫酸钠(Na2SO3)和亚硫酸氢钠(NaHSO3)混合液(物质的量比为3:1)对雄性昆明小鼠精子的毒性作用.采用腹腔注射(i.p.)染毒方法,每天注射一次,连续5 d,于染毒后d 35处死动物,观察和分析小鼠的精子活动度、数量和畸形率.结果表明:(1)SO2衍生物可引起小鼠精子数量尤其是正常活动度精子数量减少,引起不活动精子数量增加,且呈剂量-效应关系;(2)SO2衍生物可引起多种类型的精子畸形增加,尤其可引起不定形畸变精子的频率显著增加,总精子畸变率随染毒剂量的增加而呈剂量依赖性增高.由此推论,SO2污染有一定的雄性生殖毒性.图1表2参14     

重金属对秀丽隐杆线虫繁殖的影响

为了探究重金属单独及联合暴露对秀丽隐杆线虫(Caenorhabditis elegans)繁殖的影响及其作用机制,采用96孔板液相暴露试验,以环境相关浓度(0.1~50.0 μg/L)的Cd、Hg、Pb暴露同步化处理秀丽隐杆线虫,24 h后统计其怀卵数及阴门畸形率,以及连续记录72 h内子一代秀丽隐杆线虫的个体数,最后利用2×2析因设计方差分析阐明重金属的两两联合作用模式. 结果表明:与对照组相比,Cd、Hg、Pb单独及联合暴露对秀丽隐杆线虫的繁殖具有显著抑制作用,ρ(Cd)为50.0 μg/L、ρ(Hg)为10.0 μg/L、ρ(Pb)为50.0 μg/L暴露组秀丽隐杆线虫子一代数量分别降低了43.5%、33.8%、51.0%;Cd-Hg暴露组〔当ρ(Cd)、ρ(Hg)分别为50.0、10.0 μg/L时〕、Hg-Pb暴露组〔当ρ(Hg)、ρ(Pb)分别为10.0、50.0 μg/L时〕、Cd-Pb暴露组〔当ρ(Cd)、ρ(Pb)分别为50.0、50.0 μg/L时〕秀丽隐杆线虫子一代个体数分别降低了44.7%、61.0%、53.3%. 进一步研究发现,Cd、Hg、Pb单独及联合暴露会引起秀丽隐杆线虫子宫内受精卵数量降低以及产卵器阴门结构畸形率升高. 2×2析因设计方差分析结果发现,Cd、Hg、Pb两两联合暴露对秀丽隐杆线虫的繁殖表现为没有交互作用或者交互方式为拮抗. 研究显示,秀丽隐杆线虫子宫内怀卵数的降低是其子一代数量显著减少的主要原因,而阴门结构的损伤可能使产卵行为受损,从而进一步加剧重金属对秀丽隐杆线虫繁殖的抑制作用.      

低pH值对大型溞（Daphnia magna Straus）存活、生长和生殖的影响

在静置换水条件下,研究了低pH值对大型存活、生长和生殖的影响。结果表明,在25±1℃下,急性试验低pH值对大型的24h和48hLL50值及其95％可信限分别为pH值4.66±0.19和4.94±0.20。慢性试验进行了14天,对存活和生长,pH值1.75有影响,pH值5.0没有影响;对生殖,pH值5.0有影响,pH值5.5没有影响。显示出低pH值对大型的毒性阈限在pH值5.00－5.50之间。     

安徽省宣州扬子鳄饲养种群繁殖现状分析

对１９９３ ～１９９８ 年安徽省扬子鳄繁殖研究中心内的亲代与子代鳄的繁殖情况进行了统计研究,结果表明：扬子鳄亲代卵的平均受精率为（７５．６６±２．２９） ％ ,子一代为（６９ ．２４ ±５ ．１２） ％ ,经ｔ 检验,两者差异显著;亲代产卵孵化幼鳄的平均畸形率为（０．３０ ±０．２０） ％ ,而子一代产卵幼鳄平均畸形率为（１ ．８５±０．９５） ％ ,经ｔ 检验,两者差异显著．但受精卵幼鳄孵化率在两代间差异不显著．通过饲养种群的家系和有效群体大小分析,作者认为造成子代鳄的繁殖率下降和畸形率上升的原因与近亲繁殖有关．对扬子鳄的遗传保护研究提出了建议．