The role of daytime cues in the development of magnetic orientation in a night-migrating bird

To assess the role of celestial rotation during daytime in the development of the magnetic compass course, pied flycatchers (Ficedula hypoleuca Pallas, Muscicapidae) were handraised in Latvia under various celestial and magnetic conditions. Tests were performed during autumn migration in the local geomagnetic field (50 000 nT, 73° inclination) in the absence of celestial cues. A group of birds that had never seen the sky showed a bimodal preference for the migratory southwest-northeast axis, whereas a second group that had been exposed to the natural sky from sunrise to sunset in the local geomagnetic field showed a unimodal preference for the seasonally appropriate southwesterly direction. A third group that had also been exposed to the daytime sky, but in the absence of magnetic compass information, also oriented bimodally along a southwest-northeast axis. These findings demonstrate that observing celestial rotation during daytime enables birds to choose the right end of the migratory axis for autumn migration at the Latvian test location. This transformation of axial behavior into appropriate migratory orientation, however, requires the birds to have simultaneous access to information on both celestial rotation and the geomagnetic field. Received: 19 September 1997 / Accepted after revision: 22 November 1997     

Reproductive success of monogamous and polygynous pied flycatchers (Ficedula hypoleuca)

One of the most interesting aspects of the mating system of pied flycatchers is the regular occurrence of polygyny. Here we present data on the reproductive success of polygynously paired pied flycatcher males compared to monogamous males based on paternity analyses through DNA fingerprinting. Males paired with two females suffered a higher loss in reproductive output per female compared to monogamous males due to (1) a greater proportion of unhatched eggs in their broods, (2) greater nestling mortality and (3) a greater probability of being cuckolded. Nevertheless, the number of fledglings was significantly greater for polygynous males. Based on the number of nestlings that returned for subsequent breeding seasons, however, the reproductive success of monogamous and polygynous males did not differ significantly. These data raise the question as to why males attempt polygyny. Received: 16 August 1999 / Received in revised form: 15 March 2000 / Accepted: 18 March 2000     

Heavy Metal Toxicity Responses of Two Willow (Salix) Varieties Grown Hydroponically: Development of a Tolerance Screening Test

The E.U. funded BIORENEW project is investigating bioremediation of industrially degraded land using biomass fuel crops, including willow. One of its goals is to develop a rapid screening test to assess the metal tolerance of large numbers of willow varieties. This should reflect how a plant will respond to heavy metals under various field conditions and in the long term. A preliminary experiment tested two varieties of contrasting ability to thrive in metal-contaminated soils. Trees were exposed to a metal cocktail in three different strengths of background solution. An appropriate strength solution (1/4 strength Hoaglands) was identified for differentiating variety performance, based on its effect on the biomass of plant fractions relative to control fractions. This is a response to heavy metals which can be quantified rapidly and simply. The relative performance of the varieties was comparable to their performance in field studies. This test will be used to assess the tolerance of further varieties.     

甲基叔丁基醚(MTBE)蒸腾流浓度因子(TSCF)的试验评估

甲基叔丁基醚(MTBE)是北美燃料市场最常用的汽油添加剂，由于在土壤中的不吸附性和极高的水溶性．MT-BE已成为一种蔓延性的地下水污染物．植物修复技术被认为是目前对MTBE污染治理最为有效的方法之一．蒸腾流浓度因子（TSCF)作为植物修复技术中十分重要的参数，其通常是用污染物的辛醇-水分配系数(Kow)直接评估的。由于不同植物其体内脂肪含量不同，所以如果仅用污染物的Kow值来计算其TSCF值，往往不能准确表达污染物在植物体内的传输行为．由于MTBE在植物体内不发生降解，植物挥发是MTBE植物修复技术中唯一的作用机理．本实验用一自行设计的植物反应器来测定MTBE在不同温度条件下的TSCF值．长出新根须和嫩叶的柳树(Salix alba)枝条在一容积500mL的植物反应器中生长9-12d(其中MTBE溶液500mL，浓度4．81-6．60mg／L)来观察柳树对MTBE的吸收。MTBE的去除率和柳树的蒸腾量之间的关系用来计算其TSCF值．在15℃，20℃和25℃条件下，MTBE的TSCF值分别为0.58,0.75和0.49．本实验结果表明，柳树对MTBE的吸收是一个被动的行为，并且MTBE在柳树体内随蒸腾流的传输也有一定的限度。图2表1参11。     

Metal concentrations in deciduous tree leaves from urban areas in Poland

Accumulation of metals in deciduous tree foliage fromurban areas in western-south Poland was monitored duringthe vegetation season of 2000 year. Concentrations of Al,Ba, Ca, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn, Ni, Pb, Sr, Ti and Znwere measured in birch, willow, linden and maple leavesusing the ICP-AES method. Seasonal variations of metalconcentrations and their relations with sampling sitewere investigated. The most dynamic accumulation of Al,Cd, Cr, Ni and Pb was observed for examined species. Thehighest differences in element concentrations forinvestigated sites were found for Ba, Cd, Mn and Ni.Interelement correlations were investigated. In allfoliar samples synergistic relationships between Al–Crand Ca-Sr were found. Statistically significant negativecorrelations were observed only for Cd and Ti in birch leaves.     

Impact of Busy Roads on Breeding Success in Pied Flycatchers <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ficedula hypoleuca</Emphasis>

The impact of dense traffic on the breeding success in pied flycatchers (Ficedula hypoleuca) was studied using roadside nest-boxes. Nest site selection and breeding success of flycatchers were observed in relation to the distance from the road. The number of occupied territories was no higher closer to the road than it was deeper inside the forest. The distance to the road had no effect on the laying date, clutch size, or brood size. However, nests closer to the road were more likely to fail at the chick stage. The number of broods that were closer to roads and were lost completely was significantly higher than those further away. As a consequence, the number of fledglings per breeding attempt decreased closer to roads. The nestlings typically died as older chicks when the parent birds were providing them with maximum quantities of food. A possible reason for the declining reproductive success was the traffic-related mortality of parent birds, as weather conditions were not especially adverse for raising healthy offspring.     

Tamarix and Diorhabda Leaf Beetle Interactions: Implications for Tamarix Water Use and Riparian Habitat

Tamarix leaf beetles (Diorhabda carinulata) have been widely released on western United States rivers to control introduced shrubs in the genus Tamarix, with the goals of saving water through removal of an assumed high water‐use plant, and of improving habitat value by removing a competitor of native riparian trees. We review recent studies addressing three questions: (1) to what extent are Tamarix weakened or killed by recurrent cycles of defoliation; (2) can significant water salvage be expected from defoliation; and (3) what are the effects of defoliation on riparian ecology, particularly on avian habit? Defoliation has been patchy at many sites, and shrubs at some sites recover each year even after multiple years of defoliation. Tamarix evapotranspiration (ET) is much lower than originally assumed in estimates of potential water savings, and are the same or lower than possible replacement plants. There is concern that the endangered southwestern willow flycatcher (Empidonax trailli extimus) will be negatively affected by defoliation because the birds build nests early in the season when Tamarix is still green, but are still on their nests during the period of summer defoliation. Affected river systems will require continued monitoring and development of adaptive management practices to maintain or enhance riparian habitat values. Multiplatform remote sensing methods are playing an essential role in monitoring defoliation and rates of ET on affected river systems.     

Egg composition in relation to social environment and maternal physiological condition in the collared flycatcher

Offspring survival can be influenced by resources allocated to eggs, which in turn may be affected by the environmental factors the mother experiences during egg formation. In this study, we investigated whether experimentally elevated social interactions and number of neighbouring pairs influence yolk composition of collared flycatchers (Ficedula albicollis). Social challenge was simulated by presentation of a conspecific female. Experimental females spent more time near the cage and produced eggs with higher androgen concentration, but local breeding density did not affect yolk androgen level. Moreover, we found that females exposed to more intra-specific interactions and those that bred at higher density produced eggs with smaller yolk. These females may be more constrained in foraging time due to more frequent social encounters, and there might be increased competition for food at areas of higher density. In contrast, the present study did not reveal any evidence for the effect of social environment on yolk antioxidant and immunoglobulin levels. However, we found that yolk lutein and immunoglobulin concentrations were related to the female’s H/L ratio. Also, yolk lutein and α-tocopherol levels showed a seasonal increase and were positively related to the female’s plasma carotenoid level. Mothers may incur significant costs by transferring these compounds into the eggs, thus only females in good physiological condition and those that lay eggs later, when food is probably more abundant, could allocate higher amounts to the eggs without compromising their defence mechanisms. Our results suggest that environmental circumstances during egg formation can influence conditions for embryonic development.     

柳树乙醇提取物体外抗氧化活性

通过Fenton反应产生.OH,邻苯三酚自氧化产生O2.-模型,研究了柳树乙醇提取物体外清除自由基的作用。结果显示,柳茎和柳叶乙醇提取物在3.125—50 mg/ml浓度范围内具有清除O2.-的作用。随着浓度升高,其清除作用增大。在浓度达到50mg/ml时,柳茎提取物的清除率为75.62%,柳叶提取物的清除率为88.53%;柳茎乙醇提取物在3.125—25 mg/ml浓度范围内,清除.OH的能力随着其浓度的增加而逐渐增强。当浓度为25mg/ml时,其清除率为60.63%;柳叶提取物在浓度3.125—25mg/ml内清除.OH的作用不明显。当浓度达到50mg/ml时,对羟基自由基的清除率为60.63%。