Fungal spores and pollen in particulate matter collected during agricultural activities in the Po Valley (Italy)

Airborne particulate matter (PM) containing fungal spores and pollen grains was sampled within a monitoring campaign of wheat threshing, plowing and sowing agricultural operations. Fungal spores and pollen grains were detected and identified on morphological basis. No studies were previously available about fungal spore and pollen content in agricultural PM in the Po Valley. Sampling was conducted in a Po Valley farmland in Mezzano (Ferrara, Italy). The organic particles collected were examined by scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer. Fungal spores and pollen grains were identified when possible at the level of species. The most frequent components of the organic particles sampled were spores of Aspergillus sp., which could represent a risk of developing allergies and aspergillosis for crop farmers.     

上海大气中花粉与颗粒物的复合污染特征

于2009~2010年,利用风标式花粉采集器,采集了上海不同区域春、秋、冬季的飞散花粉和大气颗粒物样品,并于春季(2010年4月)利用重力花粉采集器在不同高度采集了飞散花粉样品,以及不同区域悬铃木的花粉.对风标花粉采样器采集的样品进行溶酸处理后进行花粉鉴定;对重力法采集的花粉样品染色后直接进行观察.利用高分辨的扫描电镜(SEM)对悬铃木花粉上吸附的大气颗粒物进行了微观表征.结果显示,上海春季大气中的花粉以木本植物花粉为主.不同区域悬铃木花粉上所吸附的颗粒物组分有所差异.冬季和春季大气颗粒物(总悬浮颗粒物)中的SO42-的浓度均为所检测离子(Na+、K+、Ca2+、Mg2+、NH4+、NO3-、SO42-、Cl-)中浓度最高的,NO3-、SO42-、NH4+在冬季样品中要比春季样品中的浓度高.上海大气颗粒物中的地壳元素的质量浓度从高到低为Ca >Na>Mg>K.     

Diet and environment 1.2 million years ago revealed through analysis of dental calculus from Europe’s oldest hominin at Sima del Elefante,Spain

Sima del Elefante, Atapuerca, Spain contains one of the earliest hominin fragments yet known in Europe, dating to 1.2 Ma. Dental calculus from a hominin molar was removed, degraded and analysed to recover entrapped remains. Evidence for plant use at this time is very limited and this study has revealed the earliest direct evidence for foods consumed in the genus Homo. This comprises starchy carbohydrates from two plants, including a species of grass from the Triticeae or Bromideae tribe, meat and plant fibres. All food was eaten raw, and there is no evidence for processing of the starch granules which are intact and undamaged. Additional biographical detail includes fragments of non-edible wood found adjacent to an interproximal groove suggesting oral hygiene activities, while plant fibres may be linked to raw material processing. Environmental evidence comprises spores, insect fragments and conifer pollen grains which are consistent with a forested environment.     

Effects of simulated acid rain on fertility of litchi

The regulatory role of calcium in fertility of pollen and pistil under simulated acid rain was investigated. The germination percentage of pollen treated with acid rain of pH 4.5 was 9.42% lower than that of control, and that of pH 3.5, pH 2.5 and pH 1.5 were 22.47%, 45.49% and 71.62%, respectively. Simultaneously, the injury character of pollen was obviously observed when flowers were treated with acid rain of pH 3.5. The difference in fruit setting rate between the female flower treated with acid rain of pH 4.0 and the control was significant at p 〈 0.05. Ca（NO3 ）5 of 0.2-0.4 mmol/L could promote pollen germination under the stress of acid rain. The beneficial function was reduced when calcium concentration surpassed 0.8 mmol/L. Spraying 2 mmol/L Ca（NO3 ）5 reduced the injury of acid rain to pistil and increased fruit-setting rate significantly. The physiological importance of calcium during pollen germination and pistil development was also discussed.     

Pollen foraging: learning a complex motor skill by bumblebees (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Bombus terrestris</Emphasis>)

To investigate how bumblebees (Bombus terrestris) learn the complex motor skills involved in pollen foraging, we observed naïve workers foraging on arrays of nectarless poppy flowers (Papaver rhoeas) in a greenhouse. Foraging skills were quantified by measuring the pollen load collected during each foraging bout and relating this to the number of flowers visited and bout duration on two consecutive days. The pollen standing crop (PSC) in each flower decreased drastically from 0530 to 0900 hours. Therefore, we related foraging performance to the changing levels of pollen available (per flower) and found that collection rate increased over the course of four consecutive foraging bouts (comprising between 277 and 354 individual flower visits), suggesting that learning to forage for pollen represents a substantial time investment for individual foragers. The pollen collection rate and size of pollen loads collected at the start of day 2 were markedly lower than at the end of day 1, suggesting that components of pollen foraging behaviour could be subject to imperfect overnight retention. Our results suggest that learning the necessary motor skills to collect pollen effectively from morphologically simple flowers takes three times as many visits as learning how to handle the most morphologically complex flowers to extract nectar, potentially explaining why bees are more specialised in their choice of pollen flowers.     

简单物化因子影响杨属花粉保存的初步研究

选取地层埋藏条件中可能与花粉保存状态相关的两个物化因子-pH值和温度开展试验,即将现代杨属花粉置于不同pH值梯度的溶液中,并在模拟的地层温度条件下进行不同持续时间的恒温水浴加热。实验结果显示,杨属花粉随所处环境的酸碱度升高,花粉浓度明显降低、破坏程度显著增加,但与加热时间却无明显关系。     

Characterization of pollen deposition in a forest environment

Measurements of the dry deposition of pollen were made during the months of May and June 1987 in northern Wisconsin, using a smooth surrogate surface. Samples were taken on a raft located on Little Rock Lake and at a nearby field monitoring station. Rain samples were also collected at the field station. The wet SO₄²⁻ flux was 102.7 mg m⁻², compared with a dry SO₄²⁻ flux of 118 mg m⁻² at the field monitoring site and 45 mg m⁻² at the lake site.The SO₄²⁻ content of pollen ranged from 0.2 to 0.8% of the weight of the pollen, and NO₃⁻ concentrations were an order of magnitude lower. Between 9 and 22% of the pollen weight was available as total organic carbon (TOC) upon addition to water.The addition of pollen to distilled water produced an acid reaction, due to organic acids and not inorganic acidity.     

长沙黄雨的观测分析及其形成机制的探讨

根据对长沙黄雨的多年观测，确定黄雨是松树花粉所致。进而探讨了长沙地区黄雨的物质来源及其形成机制，并分析了大气颗粒物富集效应与大气污染、酸雨污染的关系，还指出了花粉雨对敏感人群可能造成的危害。     

Individual lifetime pollen and nectar foraging preferences in bumble bees

Foraging specialization plays an important role in the ability of social insects to efficiently allocate labor. However, relatively little is known about the degree to which individual bumble bees specialize on collecting nectar or pollen, when such preferences manifest, and if individuals can alter their foraging preferences in response to changes in the colony workforce. Using Bombus impatiens, we monitored all foraging visits made by every bee in multiple colonies and showed that individual foragers exhibit consistent lifetime foraging preferences. Based upon the distribution of foraging preferences, we defined three forager types (pollen specialists, nectar specialists, and generalists). In unmanipulated colonies, 16–36?% of individuals specialized (≥90?% of visits) on nectar or pollen only. On its first day of foraging, an individual’s foraging choices (nectar only, pollen only, or nectar and pollen) significantly predicted its lifetime foraging preferences. Foragers that only collected pollen on their first day of foraging made 1.61- to 1.67-fold more lifetime pollen foraging visits (as a proportion of total trips) than foragers that only collected nectar on their first foraging day. Foragers were significantly larger than bees that stayed only in the nest. We also determined the effect of removing pollen specialists at early (brood present) or later (brood absent) stages in colony life. These results suggest that generalists can alter their foraging preferences in response to the loss of a small subset of foragers. Thus, bumble bees exhibit individual lifetime foraging preferences that are established early in life, but generalists may be able to adapt to colony needs.     

啤酒糟对活性染料的吸附特性研究

通过批式实验考察了不同条件对啤酒糟吸附活性黑31和活性蓝49的影响。结果表明：在较宽的溶液初始pH值范围内（2～9）,啤酒糟投加量为10g/L时,4h内啤酒糟能有效地对100mg／L活性黑31和300mg／L活性蓝49溶液吸附脱色。啤酒糟对活性黑31和活性蓝49的吸附率都随NaCl浓度的增加而降低。吸附率随时间的增加逐渐增大,8h内吸附基本达到平衡。染料初始浓度越高,吸附率越低。由该批式实验得到的最佳吸附脱色条件为：pH2．0,啤酒糟投加量15g／L,吸附时间8h。     

Mortality of pollen beetle (Meligethes spp.) larvae due to predators and parasitoids in rape fields and the effect of conservation strips

In 1996–1999, different mortality factors of pollen beetle larvae were investigated in twenty six rape fields in the northern part of Switzerland which had either a wild flower strip or an extensively managed meadow adjacent to the long side of the field. At 3 and 30 m into the crop from the conservation strip, total mortality, mortality from predators, parasitoids and unspecified factors were measured. Total pollen beetle larval mortality was 66–96%. Mortality caused by predators was 16–27% and there was no significant difference between mortality at 3 m and that 30 m from the extensively managed meadows. However, in fields with wild flower strips adjacent to them, the percentage mortality from predators was significantly greater at 30 m than at 3 m. The range of parasitism of pollen beetle larvae was 0–54% and was on average greater at 3 m than at 30 m. In fields with wild flower strips, the percentage parasitism with Tersilochus heterocerus was significantly higher than in fields with extensively managed meadows. However, mortality from all parasitoids was only 1–2% and there was no significant difference between 3 and 30 m. The effect of parasitoids on pollen beetle mortality was masked by the high unspecified mortality and the mortality from predators. The unspecified mortality was 46–72% and was significantly greater in 1998 and 1999 than in 1996 and 1997. These differences are probably because of meteorological factors (wet in 1999 and dry in 1998). The possible influences of the two types of conservation strips on pollen beetle larval density were investigated. The results show that in fields with adjacent wild flower strips, the pollen beetle larvae were more evenly distributed (but not significantly so) than in fields with extensively managed meadows where larval density decreases faster from the edge into the rape field.     

西安市路面积尘不同粒径矿物组成研究

对西安市路面积尘粒径分布和不同粒径中矿物质量组成的研究表明,路面积尘质量主要集中在30～50目(0.59～0.297mm),其次在140～160目(0.105～0.088mm),<200目(<0.074mm)的粒径中。同时给出不同粒径中矿物的分布特点,较细粒径中矿物含量稍高于较粗粒径中的含量。细颗粒表面积大,更易吸附较多的有毒有害物质,对环境的影响较明显。     

Pheromone-modulated behavioral suites influence colony growth in the honey bee (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Apis mellifera</Emphasis>)

The success of a species depends on its ability to assess its environment and to decide accordingly which behaviors are most appropriate. Many animal species, from bacteria to mammals, are able to communicate using interspecies chemicals called pheromones. In addition to exerting physiological effects on individuals, for social species, pheromones communicate group social structure. Communication of social structure is important to social insects for the allocation of its working members into coordinated suites of behaviors. We tested effects of long-term treatment with brood pheromone on suites of honey bee brood rearing and foraging behaviors. Pheromone-treated colonies reared significantly greater brood areas and more adults than controls, while amounts of stored pollen and honey remained statistically similar. Brood pheromone increased the number of pollen foragers and the pollen load weights they returned. It appeared that the pheromone-induced increase in pollen intake was directly canalized into more brood rearing. A two-way pheromone priming effect was observed, such that some workers from the same age cohorts showed an increased and extended capacity to rear larvae, while others were recruited at significantly younger ages into pollen-specific foraging. Brood pheromone affected suites of nursing and foraging behaviors allocating worker and pollen resources associated with an important fitness trait, colony growth.     

Studies on relationships between air pollutants and allergenicity of Humulus Scandens pollen collected from different areas of Shanghai

Pollen pollution and allergy are becoming prominent issues in China. However, few studies on pollinosis have been reported. As an allergen in the atmosphere, allergenic Humulus scandens pollen was collected from four districts of Shanghai, including Wusong (WS), Jiading (JD), Xujiahui (XJH) and Songjiang (SJ). The mass concentrations of SO₂, NO₂, O₃, PM_10, and PM_2.5 (particulate matter with air dynamic diameter less than 10 and 2.5 µm, respectively) near the four sampling sites were also recorded during Humulus scandens pollen season. The allergenicity of the Humulus scandens pollen was assessed by using of a rat model and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Relationships between the allergenicity and air pollutants were correlated. Our results demonstrated that the biological viability of the pollens collected from the four districts exhibited no significant differences. ELISA and dot blotting results further demonstrated that the serum of sensitized rats exhibited much higher immune-reactive response than that of control groups. Western blotting showed that the 15 KD (1KD = 1000 dalton) proteins of Humulus pollen led to the allergic response. The allergenic intensity of Humulus pollen protein from different samples followed the pattern: WS > JD > XJ > SJ. There was a negative relationship between the allergenicity of Humulus pollens and PM₁₀ (R = -0.99) / PM_2.5 (R = -0.73), and a positive relationship with O₃ (R = 0.92). These data clearly showed that PM₁₀ and PM_2.5 could enhance Humulus pollen protein release, and O₃ could aggravate the allergenicity of the Humulus pollen.     

东北地区2002年春季沙尘暴的物质特征和成因分析

沙尘暴是东北地区冬春季一种常见的灾害性天气,研究东北地区沙尘颗粒的特征,来源和成因是防止沙尘暴的关键.通过对东北地区2002年春季沙尘暴物质的粒度分析和孢粉分析,发现沙尘暴物质中孢粉丰富,主要以草本中的蒿属和藜科为主.沙尘颗粒的中值粒径为10～20μm. 通过粒度分布曲线和孢粉组合可以从新的角度分析沙尘来源.通过对扬沙和沙尘暴季节分布规律,多年分布规律和地质历史时期及人类历史时期的出现规律的研究,发现东北地区扬沙沙尘暴以冬春型为主,50年中冬春季发生沙尘天气的次数占总次数的75%.在地质历史时期和人类历史时期扬沙和沙尘暴就频繁出现,50年来,扬沙和沙尘暴在波动中减少,2000年开始在东北地区扬沙和沙尘暴出现频率增强.东北地区扬沙和沙尘暴出现频次、强度和分布的南界受冬季风强度控制,冷干组合是沙尘暴高发的有利条件.     

Floral colour change in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Byrsonima variabilis</Emphasis> (Malpighiaceae) as a visual cue for pollen but not oil foraging by oil-collecting bees

Pollinators search for multiple flora resources throughout their life cycle. Most studies, however, only assess how bees discriminate floral cues in the context of nectar foraging. In the present study, we sought to elucidate whether oil-collecting bees discriminate flowers of Byrsonima variabilis (Malpighiaceae) with petals of different colours when foraging for pollen or oil. As the colour of the standard petal changes during anthesis, we characterised the spectral reflectance patterns of flowers throughout anthesis and modelled chromatic perceptual space to determine how these colour patterns are perceived by bees. Through the quantification of flower pollen in the different phases, we found that the colour of the standard petal is an honest cue of the presence of pollen. Centridine bees preferentially visited flowers with a yellow (bee’s green) colour when searching for pollen, but indiscriminately visited flowers with different petal colours when searching for floral oil. We suggest that standard petals, in the species studied and others of the genus, like nectar guides, act as pollen guides, which oil-collecting females use to detect pollen-rich flowers. Moreover, they use different floral clues during foraging for different resources in the same host plant.     

The Sensitivity and Adaptation of Ecosystems to the Disturbances: A Case Study in Northeastern Estonia

The study focused on the problem of the response and adaptation of an ecosystem to natural fire in case of greenhouse warming. The palaeoecological approach was used and reconstructions were made for timeca 6000 years ago, when the human impact in the studied area was absent or very weak and the summer temperatures were about 2.4 degrees higher than at the present time. The palaeoreconstructions were compliled using the charcoal, pollen and diatoms data from the sediments of a northeast Estonian lake. The results show that forest fires influenced the biota of the lake mainly through evapotranspiration and the accompanying erosional changes. The impacts of the fire directly to the lake ecosystem were short-term and the primary diatom association was restored after 10–15 years. The pollen influx was influenced by the fires mainly through the changes in the openness of the landscape and the composition of the pollen spectra was restored over a period of 50–60 years. The data demonstrate the high ability of the studied ecosystem to adapt to the impact of natural fires in the climatic environment comparable with that predicted for the future.     

Cells of the connective tissue differentiate and migrate into pollen sacs

In angiosperms, archesporial cells in the anther primordium undergo meiosis to form haploid pollen, the sole occupants of anther sacs. Anther sacs are held together by a matrix of parenchyma cells, the connective tissue. Cells of the connective tissue are not known to differentiate. We report the differentiation of parenchyma cells in the connective tissue of two Gordonia species into pollen-like structures (described as pseudopollen), which migrate into the anther sacs before dehiscence. Pollen and pseudopollen were distinguishable by morphology and staining. Pollen were tricolpate to spherical while pseudopollen were less rigid and transparent with a ribbed surface. Both types were different in size, shape, staining and surface architecture. The ratio of the number of pseudopollen to pollen was 1:3. During ontogeny in the connective tissue, neither cell division nor tetrad formation was observed and hence pseudopollen were presumed to be diploid. Only normal pollen germinated on a germination medium. Fixed preparations in time seemed to indicate that pseudopollen migrate from the connective tissue into the anther sac.     

不同菌株固态发酵废白酒糟生产饲料蛋白的研究

选择菌种24株，以白酒糟为原料进行了单菌发酵，多菌株组合发酵，以及不同氮源发酵试验。结果表明：以F-5，F-23，F-17和F-24组成的多菌发酵体系，经4d发酵后，发酵产物粗蛋白含量达30．86％，比原料本身的粗蛋白含量高65．3％；粗纤维含量由21．14％降低到17．65％；氨基酸总量由15．16％提高到22．88％，比原料本身高50．9％，且氨基酸含量齐全。试验表明，由F-5，F-17，F-23和F-24组成的多菌种发酵体系是发酵白酒糟生产饲料蛋白的优良菌种。     

不同水稻品种籽粒Cd、Cu和Se的含量差异及其人类膳食摄取风险

采用田间试验法,研究了江苏省57个水稻品种籽粒对太湖地区乌栅土中Cd、Cu、Se的吸收积累.结果表明水稻籽粒的Cd、Cu、Se含量的变化范围分别为0.099±0.039、4.86±2.595、0.035±0.007mg/kg,指示不同水稻品种对同一土壤中Cd、Cu、Se的吸收及其在籽粒中的积累存在有显著的差异.不同品种籽粒对Cu和Cd的吸收积累有同步的趋势,而高Se品种显示出抑制重金属Cu和Cd积累的倾向.不同品种籽粒中重金属含量的差异可能影响到人类重金属食物摄取的健康风险,57个品种中92%的样品的Cd含量超出USEPA推荐的人类摄取的籽粒临界含量.因此,在土壤重金属污染地区,必须密切注意高Cd、Cu吸收积累品种的大规模栽培.而筛选高Se低Cu、Cd的水稻品种进行品质育种是可能的.