Lactation patterns of pinnipeds are not explained by optimization of maternal energy delivery rates

Within pinnipeds, phocids and otariids show differing maternal care strategies. Phocids rear young out of body stores in a yearly cycle with a single stay ashore when the mother fasts while lactating, whereas otariids provision their young by repeated foraging trips to sea alternating with brief stays ashore where they suckle their young. In a previous optimality model, these differences have been interpreted as adaptations based on differing energy requirements of large (phocid) and smaller (otariid) species, and the time budget of the large elephant and the much smaller Antarctic fur seal were correctly predicted. Our refined model—extended to pinniped species of all sizes—predicts lactation strategies to shift from attendance cycles to 1-year cycles with increasing body mass and provides an explanation for the finding that phocid pups are weaned at lower relative mass than otariid pups. However, other predictions do not correspond to empirical findings. In particular, the model does not explain the behavior of large otariids and small phocids. Thus, maternal metabolic requirements alone appear insufficient to explain observed lactation patterns. In the light of our results, we discuss more generally the scope and limitations of optimality models when applied in a comparative framework to a group of related species.     

Variation in levels of reactive oxygen species is explained by maternal identity, sex and body-size-corrected clutch size in a lizard

Many organisms show differences between males and females in growth rate and crucial life history parameters, such as longevity. Considering this, we may expect levels of toxic metabolic by-products of the respiratory chain, such as reactive oxygen species (ROS), to vary with age and sex. Here, we analyse ROS levels in female Australian painted dragon lizards (Ctenophorus pictus) and their offspring using fluorescent probes and flow cytometry. Basal level of four ROS species (singlet oxygen, peroxynitrite, superoxide and H₂O₂) measured with a combined marker, and superoxide measured specifically, varied significantly among families but not between the sexes. When blood cells from offspring were chemically encouraged to accelerate the electron transport chain by mitochondrial uncoupling, net superoxide levels were three times higher in daughters than sons (resulting in levels outside of the normal ROS range) and varied among mothers depending on offspring sex (significant interaction between maternal identity and offspring sex). In offspring, there were depressive effects on ROS of size-controlled relative clutch size, which relies directly on circulating levels of vitellogenin, a confirmed antioxidant in some species. Thus, levels of reactive oxygen species varies among females, offspring and in relation to reproductive investment in a manner that makes its regulatory processes likely targets of selection.     

耕作历史和种植制度对绿洲农田土壤有机碳及其组分的影响

耕作历史和种植方式是影响黑河绿洲农田土壤总有机碳及其组成的重要因素。研究结果显示,随着耕作时间的延长,土壤总有机碳(TOC)、活性有机碳(AOC)、惰性有机碳(NOC)的含量均呈增加趋势,但AOC、NOC的增幅存在差异,AOC因性质活泼,对农业活动等措施引起的变化较NOC有较快响应,因此,在耕作的初期(0~5 a),AOC的增幅高于NOC,而20 a的耕地NOC增幅大于AOC,之后达到AOC与NOC的增幅接近(>100 a)的动态发展趋势,表明总有机碳含量积累的过程是AOC与NOC增幅逐渐接近、NOC积累增速的过程。>100 a的耕地,因种植方式不同,剖面上TOC、AOC、NOC含量呈现出:油菜地>普通玉米地>制种玉米地>小麦地。分析发现,绿洲区近年来大面积种植制种玉米引起TOC、AOC、NOC发生改变,增加秸秆或牲畜粪便的归还量是提高土壤有机碳的有效途径。     

洪湖沉积柱中重金属的历史分布特征及来源

为了解历史上洪湖重金属的含量水平及来源,于2014年12月在洪湖中心位置采集了沉积柱,分析了沉积柱中4种重金属（Cu、Cd、Zn、Pb）的含量,并结合¹³⁷Cs和²¹⁰Pb定年技术得到沉积物中重金属高分辨率年代沉积序列.结果表明：洪湖沉积柱中4种重金属总量介于67.86~189.57mg/kg之间,4种重金属含量的高低为Pb>Zn>Cu>Cd.地累计指数表明Cu和Zn未达到污染级别,而Pb为无污染到中度污染级别,Cd为中度污染到强污染级别.沉积物中重金属含量受洪水和围湖造田的共同影响,新滩水闸建成前,洪水会导致沉积物中重金属含量先降低,随后升高.水闸建成后,洪水会导致洪湖出现内涝致使沉积物中重金属含量升高;围湖造田导致沉积物中重金属含量升高.源解析研究表明,沉积物重金属来源于非点源农业污染、交通活动以及工业废水和生活废水排放.     

化学氧呼吸器的现状与发展趋势

随着人类社会的发展进步,对生产安全和应急救生用呼吸器的需求越来越旺盛,化学氧呼吸器已经成为重要的研究方向。介绍了化学氧呼吸器的工作原理和发展历程以及技术现状,分析比较了化学氧呼吸器的优缺点。在此基础上指出,优化产氧装置、开发高效冷却技术、降低整体体积和重量、制定技术标准和开发检测技术是化学氧呼吸器研究开发重要而又迫切的任务。     

高炉煤粉喷吹站消防水系统设计

介绍了钢铁行业的高炉煤粉喷吹站消防水系统总的设计原则、设计方法,并针对某钢铁联合企业两座1 780 m3高炉合建的煤粉喷吹站消防水系统设计的工程实例,详细论述了高炉煤粉喷吹站消防水系统的选择方法、组成部分、主要参数的确定方法及控制方法。同时结合工程实践,对高炉煤粉喷吹站消防水系统设计中常遇到的一些问题提出了合理建议。     

滑脱流动影响的低渗储层甲烷运移采出规律研究

为了达到低渗储层甲烷抽采过程甲烷采井优化设计和产能准确预测的目的,基于现场测井数据,采用非线性流体数值计算方法,以柳林煤层甲烷试验采区为例,对滑脱流动影响的煤层甲烷采场压力非线性分布和产能预测进行研究。数值计算结果表明:低渗储层甲烷运移采出受气体滑脱流动影响显著,考虑滑脱流动影响时,采场压力衰减区域变大,气体速率变快;对比测井产能历史拟合数据发现,计算所得的滑脱流动影响的产能预测值更加准确。由计算结果验证了单井开采具有采场压力影响范围较小,产能较低等缺点,并得出五采出四压裂的布井方式是既能够准确预测产能又能够更好避免井间干扰效应的最优布井方式。     

Rapid Evolution in the Wild: Changes in Body Size, Life-History Traits, and Behavior in Hunted Populations of the Japanese Mamushi Snake

Abstract:  Rapid evolution caused by human exploitation of wildlife is not usually addressed in studies of the impacts of such exploitation despite its direct relevance to population persistence. Japanese mamushi ( Gloydius blomhoffii ), an endemic venomous snake of the Japanese archipelago, has been heavily hunted by humans, and many populations appear to be declining or are already extirpated. We compared local populations that have been hunted regularly with populations that have not been hunted. Mamushi in hunted populations were smaller, had fewer vertebrae, produced more and smaller offspring, had increased reproductive effort among smaller females, and in nature fled at greater distances from an approaching human and were less defensive than mamushi in unhunted populations, as predicted from life-history theory. Heritability estimates for body size, number of vertebrae, and antipredator behavior were statistically significant, and neonates from hunted sites showed the same distribution of altered characters (compared with those from unhunted sites) as adults. Thus, distribution of the divergent trait between hunted and unhunted sites appeared in part to be genetically based, which suggests rapid evolution to human predation pressures. Trait distributions in hunted populations probably deviate from naturally (as opposed to anthropogenically) selected optima and, therefore, may have long-term negative repercussions on population persistence. Because rapid evolution affects a suite of parameters that characterize exploited populations, accurate understanding of the impacts of exploitation and effective resource management and conservation can only be achieved if evolutionary consequences are considered explicitly.