The symbiotic lifestyle and its evolutionary consequences: social monogamy and sex allocation in the hermaphroditic shrimp Lysmata pederseni

Sex allocation theory predicts female-biased sex allocation for simultaneous hermaphrodites with a monogamous mating system. Mating systems theory predicts that monogamy is advantageous in environments where refuges are discrete, scarce, relatively small, and when predation risk is high outside of these refuges. These predictions were tested with the Caribbean shrimp Lysmata pederseni, a simultaneous hermaphrodite which has an early male phase and lives inside tubes of the sponge Callyspongia vaginalis. This host sponge is a scarce resource that, together with the high predation risk typical of tropical environments, should favor monogamy in the shrimp. Field observations demonstrated that shrimps were frequently encountered as pairs within these tube sponges. Pairs were equally likely to comprise two hermaphrodites or one hermaphrodite and one male. Several of these pairs were observed for long periods of time in the field. Experiments demonstrated that hermaphrodites tolerated other hermaphrodites but not males in their host sponge. These results suggest that pairs of hermaphroditic L. pederseni are socially monogamous; they share the same host individual and might reproduce exclusively with their host partners for long periods of time. Nevertheless, males appeared less likely to establish long-term associations with hermaphrodites as indicated by the rate of their disappearance from their hosts (greater than that of hermaphrodites). Sex allocation was female biased in monogamous hermaphrodites. On average, hermaphrodites invested 34 times more to female than to male reproductive structures. Monogamy and female-biased sex allocation seem to be evolutionary consequences of adopting a symbiotic lifestyle in simultaneous hermaphrodites.     

Sexual behavior,cannibalism, and mating plugs as sticky traps in the orb weaver spider <Emphasis Type="BoldItalic">Leucauge argyra</Emphasis> (Tetragnathidae)

Unpublished field observations in Leucauge argyra, a tropical orb weaver spider, suggest the occurrence of conspicuous mating plugs that could reduce or prevent remating attempts. Otherwise, the sexual behavior of this species remains unknown. The aims of this study were to describe the courtship behavior and copulation in L. argyra and investigate mating plug formation in this species. Fourteen virgin females and 12 plugged females were exposed to up to three males and checked for mating plug formation. Of the 12 virgins that copulated, nine produced plugs (five immediately after copulation), and the five plugged females that copulated produced another mating plug immediately after copulation. We did not detect the transfer of any male substance during copulation but observed a whitish liquid emerging from female genital ducts. Plug formation was positively associated with male twanging during courtship. One virgin and four plugged females cannibalized males. In seven trials with virgins and in three trials with plugged females, the male’s palp adhered to a substance that emerged from female genital ducts and spread on her genital plate. The male had to struggle energetically to free his glued palp; two of these males were cannibalized while trying to release their palps. Females seem to determine copulation duration by altering the timing of mating plug formation and through sexual cannibalism. This is the first case reported of a mating plug as a sticky trap for males.     

旋轮虫在污水生物处理中的作用机制初探

蛭形轮虫常被用作生物处理性能良好的指示生物.本文以一种常见的蛭形轮虫—旋轮虫(Philodina sp.)为研究对象,着重探讨了旋轮虫及其分泌物对活性污泥处理性能和细菌的作用方式,以明确旋轮虫在污水生物处理中的作用机制.结果表明,旋轮虫及其分泌物均在一定程度上提高了活性污泥对COD、氨氮、总磷的去除率,且两者的提高效果相近,表明旋轮虫分泌物是旋轮虫对活性污泥的主要作用形式,即非直接捕食性的间接作用是其主要作用形式.旋轮虫分泌物对絮凝性细菌的絮凝性、异养硝化-好氧反硝化菌的同步硝化和脱氮效能均有促进作用,进一步表明旋轮虫提高活性污泥活性的作用是通过其分泌物提高细菌活性的结果.此外,通过使用根癌农杆菌KYC55从旋轮虫分泌物中检测出AHLs信号分子的类似物,表明旋轮虫对细菌的作用机制可能是其分泌物误导或触发细菌的群体感应所致.本文结果为研究微型动物在污水生物处理中的作用机制提供了新的研究思路.     

Does leaf flushing in the dry season affect leaf traits and herbivory in a tropical dry forest?

We report a small hawk-like diurnal bird from the early Oligocene (30–31 million years ago) of Poland. Aviraptor longicrus, n. gen. et sp. is of a size comparable with the smallest extant Accipitridae. The new species is characterized by very long legs, which, together with the small size, suggest an avivorous (bird-eating) feeding behavior. Overall, the new species resembles extant sparrowhawks (Accipiter spp.) in the length proportions of the major limb bones, even though some features indicate that it convergently acquired an Accipiter-like morphology. Most specialized avivores amongst extant accipitrids belong to the taxon Accipiter and predominantly predate small forest passerines; the smallest Accipiter species also hunts hummingbirds. Occurrence of a possibly avivorous raptor in the early Oligocene of Europe is particularly notable because A. longicrus coexisted with the earliest Northern Hemispheric passerines and modern-type hummingbirds. We therefore hypothesize that the diversification of these birds towards the early Oligocene may have triggered the evolution of small-sized avivorous raptors, and the new fossil may exemplify one of the earliest examples of avian predator/prey coevolution.

     

Temporal organization among pollination systems in a tropical seasonal forest

The Placerias/Downs’ Quarry complex in eastern Arizona, USA, is the most diverse Upper Triassic vertebrate locality known. We report a new short-faced archosauriform, Syntomiprosopus sucherorum gen. et sp. nov., represented by four incomplete mandibles, that expands that diversity with a morphology unique among Late Triassic archosauriforms. The most distinctive feature of Syntomiprosopus gen. nov. is its anteroposteriorly short, robust mandible with 3–4 anterior, a larger caniniform, and 1–3 “postcanine” alveoli. The size and shape of the alveoli and the preserved tips of replacement teeth preclude assignment to any taxon known only from teeth. Additional autapomorphies of S. sucherorum gen. et sp. nov. include a large fossa associated with the mandibular fenestra, an interdigitating suture of the surangular with the dentary, fine texture ornamenting the medial surface of the splenial, and a surangular ridge that completes a 90° arc. The external surfaces of the mandibles bear shallow, densely packed, irregular, fine pits and narrow, arcuate grooves. This combination of character states allows an archosauriform assignment; however, an associated and similarly sized braincase indicates that Syntomiprosopus n. gen. may represent previously unsampled disparity in early-diverging crocodylomorphs. The Placerias Quarry is Adamanian (Norian, maximum depositional age ~219 Ma), and this specimen appears to be an early example of shortening of the skull, which occurs later in diverse archosaur lineages, including the Late Cretaceous crocodyliform Simosuchus. This is another case where Triassic archosauriforms occupied morphospace converged upon by other archosaurs later in the Mesozoic and further demonstrates that even well-sampled localities can yield new taxa.

     

香溪河大型底栖动物24 h漂流规律研究

漂流行为是大型底栖动物适应河流水文过程的重要生物行为,也是研究河流底栖动物时空分布过程的重要依据,研究底栖动物的漂流规律对了解河流生态系统纵向格局的形成过程和演变机制具有重要意义.2017年8月选择湖北省香溪河的2条支流（九冲河与高岚河）研究大型底栖动物的漂流种类、昼夜节律和功能摄食类群构成.结果表明:①九冲河与高岚河漂流底栖动物均以蜉蝣目（Ephemeroptera）占绝对优势,相对丰度分别为76.9%、96.1%.九冲河的漂流物种数（35种）远高于高岚河（14种）.②优势物种分析表明,九冲河的优势物种为高翔蜉（Epeorus sp.）、弯握蜉（Drunella sp.）、四节蜉（Baetis sp.）、花翅蜉（Baetiella sp.）、扁蚴蜉（Ecdyonurus sp.）、沼石蛾（Limnophilidae sp.）、等翅石蛾（Philopotamidae sp.）和蚋（Simulium sp.）,高岚河的优势物种为花翅蜉和高翔蜉.③2条河流大型底栖动物的漂流均为显著的夜漂流类型,且漂流高峰期均出现在06:00.九冲河的夜漂者以襀翅目（Plecoptera）为主,高岚河以蜉蝣目为主.不同物种漂流的昼夜节律不同,高翔蜉、弯握蜉、扁蚴蜉、沼石蛾、等翅石蛾和蚋的第1个漂流密度高峰期均出现在20:00-22:00;四节蜉的第1个漂流密度高峰期出现在04:00-06:00;而花翅蜉的第1个漂流密度高峰期在九冲河出现的时间为04:00-06:00,在高岚河为02:00-04:00.④昼夜间漂流底栖动物的功能摄食类群和生活类型群落组成也有一定差异,但总体来看,漂流者的功能摄食类群均以收集者为主,以游泳生活者占主要优势.研究显示,九冲河与高岚河底栖动物的漂流节律表现出明显的差异性,其人为活动强度的差异是造成漂流规律差异的主要原因.      

Frequent summer nuptial flights of ants provide a primary food source for bats

In many ant species, nuptial flight tends to be short in time and assumed to be synchronous across a large area. Here, we report that, in the upper Jordan Valley, northern Israel, massive nuptial flights of Carpenter ants (Camponotus sp.) occur frequently throughout the summer, and their alates form up to 90% of the diet of the greater mouse-tailed bat (Rhinopoma microphyllum) during this period. This fat and protein-rich diet enables female bats to lactate during summer, and the large amount of fat that both sexes accumulate may serve as an energy source for their following winter hibernation and posthibernation mating in early spring (March–April). We suggest that the annual movement of these bats to the Mediterranean region of Israel may have evolved in order to enable them to exploit the extremely nutritious forms of ant alates when the bats’ energetic demands are highest.     

1株异养反硝化硫细菌的分离鉴定及代谢特性

工业废水中的有机物、硫化物和含氮化合物是废水处理面临的重大挑战.利用生物技术,可以实现在废水处理系统中同时去除这3种污染物.在污水处理反应器中,分离出1株异养反硝化硫细菌HDD1.基于16S rRNA基因的系统进化分析和生理特征显示菌株HDD1为Thauera属的一个种.菌株HDD1能够利用乙酸盐和硫化物作为电子供体,硝酸盐作为电子受体进行呼吸作用.在15h之内,CH3COO-(300 mg·L~(-1))、S2-(200 mg·L~(-1))和NO-3(487 mg·L~(-1))被完全代谢去除.扫描电子显微镜和能量色散谱结果显示硫化物氧化的主要产物为单质硫.菌株HDD1能够同时应用于工业废水处理和硫元素的资源化回收.     

Form and nature of precopulatory sexual selection in both sexes of a moth

Sexual selection is a process that operates through intrasexual competition and intersexual choice for reproduction in both sexes. Here, we report our work on a polygamous moth, Ephestia kuehniella Zeller (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), aiming to infer the form and nature of precopulatory sexual selection in males and females. We show that, although a number of traits measured in each sex are correlated with mating success, the primary selection trait in females appears to be abdominal thickness and that in males is aedeagus length. As the female’s abdominal thickness is a reliable signal about the number and developmental stage of eggs, males who select females with thicker abdomens for mating will gain reproductive benefit, i.e., fertilizing more mature eggs. For females, earlier maturation of their eggs makes the females more likely to achieve mating earlier in an uncertain world where there is no guarantee that they will find more males in the future. Sexual selection appears to be the important force behind the evolution of fast egg maturation in females. We show that, under a male-biased sex ratio, more than 20% of mating fails within a few minutes after the aedeagus has penetrated into the female’s genitalia, suggesting that females can assess the features of the male aedeagus before allowing insemination to occur. Dissection and examination of both sexes suggest that a longer aedeagus enhances mating and fertilization efficiency in this species, supporting the notion that sexual selection is a primary force in the evolution of genital variance.     

Females prefer carotenoid colored males as mates in the pentamorphic livebearing fish,<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Poecilia parae</Emphasis>

The first results of female preference and chosen male mating success in a new model organism, the pentamorphic livebearing fish, Poecilia parae, are presented. Poecilia parae is a relative of the guppy, P. reticulata, and is assumed to have similar reproductive behavior. We tested the hypothesis that P. parae females, like female guppies, prefer caretenoid colored males as mates. Here we show that the time a female spent with males was significantly greater for carotenoid coloration in red and yellow melanzona, but time with these two morphs did not differ. The preferred red and yellow males mated significantly more often with their choosing females than did the non-preferred blue and parae males. The few blue melanzona and parae males that mated did so without performing courtship displays. Some females mated with all phenotypes including immaculata males during open group trials. Female P. parae clearly preferred males with carotenoid coloration, thereby corroborating the hypothesis. Alternative male mating tactics by blue melanzona, parae, and immaculata morphs and promiscuous mating by females also resembled features of reproductive behaviors exhibited by guppies.     

Promiscuity in mice is associated with increased vaginal bacterial diversity

Differences in the number of sexual partners (i.e., mating system) have the potential to exert a strong influence on the bacterial communities present in reproductive structures like the vagina. Because this structure serves as a conduit for gametes, bacteria present there may have a pronounced, direct effect on host reproductive success. As a first step towards the identification of the relationship between sexual behavior and potentially pathogenic bacterial communities inhabiting vital reproductive structures, as well as their potential effects on fitness, I sought to quantify differences in bacterial diversity in a promiscuous and monogamous mammal species. To accomplish this, I used two sympatric species of Peromyscus rodents—Peromyscus californicus and Peromyscus maniculatus that differ with regard to the number of sexual partners per individual to test the hypothesis that bacterial diversity should be greater in the promiscuous P. maniculatus relative to the monogamous P. californicus. As predicted, phylogenetically controlled and operational taxonomic unit-based indices of bacterial diversity indicated that diversity is greater in the promiscuous species. These results provide important new insights into the effects of mating system on bacterial diversity in free-living vertebrates, and may suggest a potential cost of promiscuity.     

Undiagnosed heterotopic pregnancy,maternal hemorrhagic shock,and ischemic stroke in the intrauterine fetus

Heterotopic pregnancy occurs rarely following natural conception; however, intrauterine embryo transfer following in vitro fertilization is a known risk factor for its occurrence. A 29-year-old woman presented with acute abdomen at 14w5d gestation following in vitro fertilization–embryo treatment. A ruptured heterotopic gestation in the left fallopian tube was identified at laparoscopy and treated by salpingectomy. Subsequently, at 21-week gestation, routine sonogram demonstrated bilateral ventriculomegaly in the intrauterine fetus. Fetal magnetic resonance imaging was highly suggestive of ischemic brain injury, most likely attributable to the maternal hypovolemic shock because of ruptured heterotopic gestation. The pregnancy was terminated by intracardiac injection and induction of labor. Timely diagnosis of heterotopic pregnancy requires a high index of suspicion as diagnostic delays can have catastrophic consequences for the mother and/or the intrauterine fetus. © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Mating behavior of a flower-visiting longhorn beetle Zorion guttigerum (Westwood) (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae: Cerambycinae)

Long-range sex pheromones have been demonstrated for several cerambycid beetle species. Our field study on the mating behavior of Zorion guttigerum, on the basis of its temporal and spatial distributions on mating and feeding sites (flowers), and longevity, however, suggests that such pheromones are not used by this species. Plant characteristics rather than long-range sex pheromones may play an important role in bringing both sexes together. Adult activities on flowers occur exclusively during the day with two peaks, one around midday and the other in the late afternoon. Overall operational sex ratio is male-biased (1 :1.5 ) but it becomes very highly male-biased (1 :9 ) when mating and feeding activities decrease to the minimum in mid-afternoon, suggesting that females leave flowers to oviposit during that period of time. For cerambycid species whose females oviposit alone, and in which mating and oviposition occur on different plants or different plant parts, the operational sex ratio appears to vary significantly over time on the mating sites. The number and duration of pair-bondings also vary over time for Z. guttigerum. Fewer and shorter pair-bondings in the morning may suggest a strong sexual selection process. After 2 h of selection, both sexes tend to engage in longer pair-bondings and mate more times before females leave the mating sites in mid-afternoon. Details of the mating behavior are described here.     

Monogamy in a new species of wild guinea pigs (Galea sp.)

A new species of wild guinea pigs from Bolivia was recently discovered: Galea sp. So far no data are available concerning its social and mating systems. We therefore investigated behavioural compatibility, sexual dimorphism, paternity in a male-competing situation, testicular and epididymal size, and sperm morphology and motility. The results showed a complete intrasexual and moderate intersexual behavioural incompatibility between unfamiliar animals, a reversed sexual dimorphism with females larger than males, and litters always fathered by single males. Furthermore, both the reproductive organ weights and the percentage of motile sperm and sperm with intact acrosomes were significantly lower compared with the promiscuous congeneric Galea musteloides. In summary, these data strongly suggest a monogamous social and mating system for the recently discovered Galea sp.     

Editorial team and Arnold Berliner Award 2019

Behavioral studies of gynandromorphism, also called as sex mosaic, contribute to the understanding of the relationship between morphological gender and sexual identity of an animal. Few studies have focused on the behaviors of gynandromorphic spiders because of a scarcity of gynandromorphic individuals in the field. In this study, we collected a gynandromorphic spider, Myrmarachne formicaria (De Geer 1778) (Araneae: Salticidae), from the field and examined its morphology and sex-specific behavior in the laboratory. The right half of the gynandromorphic spider presented male characteristics and the left half female characteristics. It showed courtship behavior to M. formicaria females and agonistic behavior to the males. These results indicate that the gynandromorphic spider’s sexual identity is male. Our findings suggest that a spider can exhibit behaviors of male sexuality, although the external morphology has the characteristics of both sexes. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of a gynandromorphic individual and its behavior in the genus Myrmarachne.

     

Copulatory behavior in a pholcid spider: males use specialized genitalic movements for sperm removal and copulatory courtship

Sexual selection may operate on pre-copulatory, copulatory, and post-copulatory traits. An example of a copulatory target of sexual selection is the genitalic movements a male performs during copulation. These movements may function either to prevent sperm competition or to influence a female’s fertilization decision. Here we investigated how copulation duration, pedipalp movements, and abdominal movements that males of the pholcid spider Holocnemus pluchei produce during copulation influence sperm removal and/or patterns of successful sperm transfer. We compared mating events with virgin and mated females for differences in copulatory and post-copulatory behavior. We expected longer copulation duration, longer pedipalp movement duration, and more complex and frequent pedipalp and abdominal movements when males mated with mated females compared to virgin females. Except for abdominal movements, our results corroborated these predictions. Furthermore, when we investigated mating events with mated females, we observed sperm mass ejection from the female gonopore and physical removal of sperm by males’ procursi. Females with interrupted second mating events showed a significant reduction of stored sperm masses compared to females with completed mating events. We suggest that males use alternating pedipalp movements to remove most of the rival sperm stored by mated females prior to sperm transfer. Copulation duration and pedipalp movements can be further used to transfer sperm and/or as a form of genitalic copulatory courtship.     

一种改性微生物吸附剂的制备及其对镉离子的吸附特性

改性生物吸附剂具有更好的重金属离子去除能力,成为近年来研究热点.本研究通过向菌株拉乌尔菌Raoultella sp. X13生长培养基中添加特定盐获得改性吸附剂,并研究了其镉离子（Cd²⁺）吸附特性.研究结果表明,相比原始菌体X13,经KCl、K₂SO₄、KH₂PO₄、（NH₄）₂SO₄和NH₄Cl改进的生长培养基制备的吸附剂提高了对Cd²⁺吸附效果.其中,NH₄Cl改性的拉乌尔菌Raoultella sp. X13（命名为R5-1）对Cd²⁺吸附能力显著增加,达66.40 mg·g^-1,增加了47.30%.这一显著变化主要依赖于生长代谢引起的细胞表面结构变化.Cd²⁺吸附特性研究结果表明生物吸附过程受溶液pH、初始金属浓度和接触时间的影响.Langmuir等温线模型和伪二级动力学模型更加符合吸附剂R5-l对Cd²⁺的吸附数据. FTIR分析表明R5-l表面存在多种功能位点并可能参与金属离子的结合,例如—OH,—CH₂,N—H, —COO,磷酸盐或硫酸盐等官能团.模拟实验结果表明吸附剂R5-l可以有效修复废水中多种金属离子.因此,本研究获得的改性吸附剂R5-l可以作为重金属Cd²⁺的潜在微生物修复剂,并为高效,简便,环保地制备改性吸附剂提供一定的参考.     

Parasitoid-induced mortality of Araneus omnicolor (Araneae, Araneidae) by Hymenoepimecis sp. (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae) in southeastern Brazil

All species included in the Polysphincta genus-group develop as ectophagous parasitoids of active spiders, killing their hosts prior to pupation. However, little information regarding natural history and ovipositing behavior of most species are available. In this study we inspected 85 webs of Araneus omnicolor to evaluate the frequency of parasitism and host size preferences of the wasp Hymenoepimecis sp. We also described the web characteristics of normal and parasitized spiders and the wasp ovipositing behavior. About 41% of the adult females of A. omnicolor inspected were parasitized. The highest incidence of parasitism was observed among relatively small females while no egg or larva was found in large individuals. Araneus omnicolor builds a strong web composed of an orb and barrier threads, where the spider rests within a curled leaf. The parasitoid larva builds its cocoon within this refuge, and modified cocoon webs were not observed. The ovipositing behavior of Hymenoepimecis sp. was very similar to that of Hymenoepimecis argyraphaga parasitizing Leucauge argyra, including the position of the sting, the killing of a previously attached larva, and the expelling of the egg from the base of the ovipositor.     

三峡库区支流梅溪河附石藻类群落变化及其与环境因子的关系

为了解不同水文期三峡库区支流附石藻类与环境因子的关系,分别于丰水期(2016年8月)、枯水期(2016年11月)及平水期(2017年3月)这3个时期,对三峡库区支流梅溪河非回水区和回水区的26个采样点附石藻类进行采样并对其相关环境因子进行分析.结果表明, 3个水情期,共鉴定出附石藻类5门47属106种(含变种).其中,丰水期采集到73种,隶属5门38属,枯水期67种,隶属4门36属,平水期63种,隶属4门33属.丰水期、枯水期和平水期优势种分别为19种、 17种和18种,丰水期的主要优势种属为曲壳藻属、束丝藻属和席藻属,枯水期为异极藻属、曲壳藻属和舟形藻属,而平水期为异极藻属、曲壳藻属和色球藻属. 3个时期共有的优势种为扁圆卵形藻(Cocconeis placentula)、曲壳藻(Achnanthes sp.)、近棒形异极藻(Gomphonema subclavatum)、小型异极藻(G.parvulum)、小型舟形藻(Navicula parva)和缢缩异极藻(G.constrictum).冗余(RDA)分析表明,回水区的附石藻类优势种相对丰度与电导率(Spc)、溶氧(DO)、pH...     

Alternative mating behaviors of the queen polymorphic ant <Emphasis Type="Italic">Temnothorax longispinosus</Emphasis>

Mating behaviors of ants fall into two categories: female calling, in which a female alate releases pheromones that attract males, and male swarming, in which large male aggregations attract females. Female calling is common in species with queens that return to their natal nest to found colonies dependently after mating, while male swarming is common in species with queens that disperse to found independently. In some species that display both founding strategies, a queen-size polymorphism has evolved in which dependent-founding queens are smaller than independent-founding queens. Dependent founding is likely difficult if gynes (virgin queens) are mating in distant swarms. Therefore, a queen may adopt one or the other mating strategy based on its size and founding behavior. We investigated mating behaviors in the queen-polymorphic ant, Temnothorax longispinosus. Observations in laboratory mating arenas indicated that small gynes exhibited significantly lower flight activity than large gynes. Both forms mated in male swarms, and neither form exhibited female calling. The reduced flight activity of the small morph may facilitate returning to the natal nest after mating, provided the mating swarm is located nearby. Therefore, alternative colony-founding behaviors may be possible without the evolution of female-calling behavior; however, the reduced flight activity of small morphs may require that mating swarms are not distant from the natal nest.