Female ornamentation and territorial conflicts in collared flycatchers (Ficedula albicollis)

Female ornaments in species with conventional sex roles often indicate individual quality, but the evolutionary forces maintaining them are less clear. Sexual competition for breeding opportunities may represent an important role for female signals, especially in polygynous species, but there is little experimental evidence for this. The wing patch size (WPS) of female collared flycatchers indicates age and body condition and predicts social mating patterns. We challenged nest-building females with decoy females of varying WPS and found that the aggressive response of residents increased with decoy WPS, suggesting a role for this female ornament in territorial competition. Our results explain why female WPS predicts territorial distances when mated to a polygynous male and indicate that the role of WPS in female competitive interactions is similar to that in males of the same population.     

Laying date and polygyny as determinants of annual reproductive success in male collared flycatchers (Ficedula albicollis): a long-term study

Annual reproductive success (ARS) is one of the main components of lifetime reproductive success, a reliable measure of individual fitness. Previous studies often dealt with ARS and variables potentially affecting it. Among them, long-term studies that consider multiple factors at the same time are particularly important in understanding the adaptive value of different phenotypes. Here, we used an 18-year dataset to quantify the ARS of male collared flycatchers (Ficedula albicollis) on the basis of recruited offspring. We simultaneously assessed the effect of start of breeding, age, polygyny, body size and the expression of forehead patch (a sexually selected trait). The success of early breeding individuals was appreciably higher than late birds; however, breeding too early was also disadvantaged, and males that bred around the yearly median breeding date had the highest ARS. Polygynous males were more successful in years with good food supply, while in years with low food availability, they did not produce more recruits than monogamous males. The age of males, their forehead patch size and body size did not affect the number of recruits. Our findings support the importance of breeding date and suggest stabilizing selection on it in the long term. We also show that polygyny is not always advantageous for males, and its fitness pay-off may depend on environmental quality.     

Geographical variation in sexual behavior and body traits in a sex role reversed wolf spider

Mating partners need to recognize, assess each other, and exchange information through behavioral events that occur before, during, and after mating. Sexual signals, as well as life history traits, are influenced by selective pressures and environmental factors that can vary across distant geographical areas. Allocosa senex is a sand-dwelling wolf spider which constructs burrows along the sandy coasts of Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay. Females are the mobile sex that searches for males and initiates courtship. They prefer males which construct longer burrows, and males prefer virgin females in good body condition. The objective of this study was to compare sexual behavior patterns, as well as body characteristics and burrow dimensions, between two geographically distant locations of A. senex, one in Uruguay (Uruguayan location) and the other from central Argentina (Argentinean location). We found differences in the number of male abdominal vibrations, male and female touches during mating, and number of erections of male leg spines, which all were higher in matings of Argentinean pairs. On the other hand, male body mass and female body condition were higher in Uruguayan individuals. The wide distribution of A. senex could be determining variations in the biotic and abiotic features that affect the species, generating differences in the strength of selective forces acting on individuals from the two studied locations.     

Parasites and health affect multiple sexual signals in male common wall lizards, Podarcis muralis

Multiple advertising sexual traits may either advertise different characteristics of male condition or be redundant to reinforce reliability of signals. Research has focused on multiple visual traits. However, in animals that use different multiple additional sensory systems, such as chemoreception, different types of traits might have evolved to signal similar characteristics of a male quality using different sensory channels. We examined whether ventral coloration and chemicals in femoral gland secretions of male common wall lizards, Podarcis muralis, are affected by their health state (blood-parasite load and cell-mediated immune response). Our results indicated that less parasitized lizards had brighter and more yellowish ventral colorations and also femoral secretions with higher proportions of two esters of octadecenoic acid. In addition, lizards with a greater immune response had more saturated coloration and secretions with higher proportions of octadecenoic acid methyl ester. We suggest that these signals would be reliable because only healthier males seemed able to allocate more carotenoids to coloration and presumably costly chemicals to secretions. The use of multiple sensory channels may provide more opportunities to signal a male quality under different circumstances, but also may reinforce the reliability of the signal when both types of traits may be perceived simultaneously.     

Temporal variation in size-assortative mating and male mate choice in a spider with amphisexual care

Males should be more selective when they have a high investment in reproduction, especially in species with biparental or paternal care. In this context, male mate choice can promote size-assortative mating (SAM) when (1) large males win intrasexual disputes, (2) large females are more fecund, and (3) males prefer larger females to smaller ones. In the spider Manogea porracea, males exhibit high reproductive investment by building their webs above those of females and exhibiting extended care of offspring in the absence of females. Under these circumstances, we expect the occurrence of SAM and male preference for large females. Herein, we performed observations and experiments in the field to evaluate the hypotheses that (1) M. porracea mates assortatively by size and (2) SAM is influenced by male mate choice. Furthermore, we measured variables that could affect mating patterns, the sex ratios, and densities of both sexes. Pairing in M. porracea was positively size-assortative in 2012, but not in 2013. Large males won most disputes for mates and preferred larger females, which produced more eggs. The inconsistency in detection of SAM was due to population dynamics, namely variations in sex ratio and population density across the breeding season. Furthermore, we found that the significance of male mate choice on sexual selection of body size in M. porracea strongly depends on the competition intensity for mating opportunities. The traditional sexual selection hypothesis of SAM needs to be reviewed and must include measures of competition intensity.     

Multimodal sexual signals in male ocellated lizards Lacerta lepida: vitamin E in scent and green coloration may signal male quality in different sensory channels

The mechanisms that confer honesty to multiple sexual signals of vertebrates remain less known. We suggest that vitamin E in the scent (femoral secretions) and carotenoids in coloration of Lacerta lepida lizards might advertise quality because they are relevant in metabolism as major antioxidants and have a dietary origin. Results showed that there may be similar trade-offs between immunity and both chemical and visual signaling, as males with more vitamin E in secretions and those with more greenish, darker, and saturated carotenoid-dependent colorations had a higher immune response. This suggests that only high-quality males can divert from metabolism and allocate enough vitamin E to secretions and enough carotenoids to coloration. Therefore, information provided by visual and chemical signals is congruent. The use of multiple sensory channels may allow signaling a male quality under different circumstances or reinforce the reliability of the signal when both signals are perceived simultaneously. However, we also found that characteristics of carotenoid-dependent coloration mirror the amounts of vitamin E in secretions. This might support that carotenoids, which are not true antioxidants in the organism, would just reflect and “inform” on the actual contents of metabolic antioxidant vitamin E, which is part of the true system that prevent oxidation. We suggest that the metabolic roles of vitamins might be the actual basis of honesty of many sexual displays, and that carotenoid-based signals might be just the visible part of the whole system.     

铅暴露对雄性黑斑蛙精子毒性和血清性激素水平的影响

在实验条件下,将健康性成熟雄性黑斑蛙暴露于0.1、0.2、0.4、0.8和1.6 mg·L-1浓度的铅溶液中30d,观察和分析黑斑蛙的精子数量、精子活动度和精子畸形率,采用酶联免疫吸附法检测血清中睾酮(T)和雌二醇(E2)的水平,以探讨铅对雄性黑斑蛙的生殖内分泌毒性.结果表明,随铅染毒剂量的升高,精子数量下降,精子畸形率呈剂鼍依赖性增加,精子活动率呈剂鼍依赖性降低;随铅染毒剂量的升高,血清中T水平明显下降,E2水平则明显升高,且均呈剂量-效应关系,结果提示,铅对雄性黑斑蛙有明显的生殖毒性,可改变血清睾酮和雌激素水平,干扰生殖内分泌调节平衡.     

The effect of vegetation density on male mate guarding and extra-territorial forays in the yellow-breasted chat (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Icteria virens</Emphasis>)

Extra-pair paternity is widely documented in birds, but the behaviors that lead to extra-pair copulations (EPCs) have been less well studied, particularly in territorial songbirds. We studied the behaviors associated with extra-territorial forays (ETFs) and male mate guarding in a socially monogamous, but genetically promiscuous, neotropical migrant passerine, the yellow-breasted chat (Icteria virens). Focal observations and radiotelemetry revealed that both males and females engaged in ETFs. 65% of the females in our study engaged in at least one foray onto a neighboring territory. 50% of males also were observed engaging in ETFs, but males were much more conspicuous during these intrusions compared to females. Females preferred to remain close to the ground in areas where vegetation was the densest. Female behavior was difficult to observe during ETFs but females sometimes interacted with neighboring extra-pair males. Males attempted to guard their mates by remaining close to them and following them during extra-territorial intrusions. We observed instances in which a male attacked his mate and appeared to herd her back to his territory. However a males ability to maintain close proximity to his mate was significantly and negatively correlated with vegetation density. Our results suggest that the behaviors which lead to extra-pair encounters are influenced by the behavior of all participants and are modified by the characteristics of the habitat.     

Female reciprocal calling in the Iberian midwife toad (Alytes cisternasii) varies with male call rate and dominant frequency: implications for sexual selection

Male midwife toads (Alytes cisternasii) responded differently depending on the call frequency and call rate of other males. I tested female Iberian midwife toads with the same set of stimuli used earlier with males. Females responded faster to high call rates, and female vocal activity was greater in response to low-frequency male calls. Thus, in both sexes, the vocal response differs in the same direction according to signal frequency variation, but the magnitude of the response is greater in males than in females. In the light of these results, I discuss the implications for sexual selection of this reciprocal calling.     

Carotenoids,immune response and the expression of sexual ornaments in male greenfinches (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Carduelis chloris</Emphasis>)

Allocation trade-offs of carotenoids between their use in the immune system and production of sexual ornaments have been suggested as a proximate mechanism maintaining honesty of sexual signals. To test this idea, we experimentally examined whether carotenoid availability in the diet was related to variation in antibody response to novel antigens in male greenfinches (Carduelis chloris aurantiiventris), a species with extensive carotenoid-dependent plumage colouration. We also measured the cost of mounting a humoral response in terms of circulating carotenoids. Finally, we examined the relationship between plumage colour, immune response and circulating carotenoids. We found that males with carotenoid-supplemented diets showed stronger antibody response than non-supplemented birds. We also found that activation of the immune system significantly reduced circulating carotenoids (24.9% lower in immune-challenged birds than in control birds). Finally, intensity (chroma) of ventral plumage colouration of males, a character directly related to concentration of total carotenoids in feathers, was negatively correlated with the immune response and circulating carotenoids in winter. These results support the idea that carotenoids are a limiting resource and that males trade ornamental colouration against immune response.     

乌溪江梯级水库的营养特征及水生态健康评价

大量梯级水电开发对河流生态系统的健康状况产生重要影响。以乌溪江梯级水库为研究区域,2017年6—11月对上游湖南镇水库和下游黄坛口水库的营养特征及浮游植物组成进行了调查,并应用生物完整性评价指数对水库水生态系统进行健康评价。结果表明,乌溪江梯级水库氮、磷、有机物含量较低,处于贫营养状态。调查期间共鉴定浮游植物8门152种,其中蓝藻门和绿藻门的密度较高,下游黄坛口水库的浮游植物密度低于上游湖南镇水库。生物完整性指数评价结果显示,乌溪江梯级水库生物完整性较高,处于一般到亚健康状态,该指数受水温影响明显,水温低时黄坛口水库的健康状况较好,水温高时湖南镇水库的健康状况较好。     

洞庭湖氮磷时空分布与水体营养状态特征

为揭示通江湖泊洞庭湖水体、沉积物营养盐的时空分布特征,分别于2012年1月和6月在入湖河道、湖区和出湖口共采集了13个具有代表性的水样和沉积物样品,分析了样品中氮、磷的含量及洞庭湖的营养水平. 结果表明,洞庭湖水体中ρ(TN)、ρ(TP)、ρ(NH₄+-N)和ρ(NO₃--N)全湖平均值分别为2.34、0.06、0.27和0.54mg/L,沉积物中w(TN)、w(TP)、w(NH₄+-N)、w(NO₃--N)全湖平均值分别为1220.47、678.97、28.94、4.41mg/kg. 氮、磷含量总体表现为入湖河口大于湖体和出湖口,并且入湖河流中以湘江支流较高,湖体以东洞庭湖区较高. 不同季节间的对比表明,水和沉积物样品中氮、磷含量均表现为6月高于1月,尤其水体中ρ(TN),6月显著高于1月(P<0.01). 洞庭湖全湖TLI(∑)(综合营养状态指数)平均值为45.93,分布规律与ρ(TN)、ρ(TP)一致. 与其他富营养化湖泊相比,洞庭湖ρ(TN)、ρ(TP)较高,但没有发生大面积水华,主要是因为其换水周期短、流速较大所致.      

钦州湾秋季营养盐分布特征及营养状态分析研究

根据2010年9月对钦州湾海域的现场调查资料,分析了钦州湾表层海水中营养盐的分布特征及其富营养化。结果表明：该湾亚硝酸盐（N02-N）,硝酸盐（NO,-N）,铵盐（NH4-N）,磷酸盐（PO4-P）和活性硅（SiO3-Si）平均含量及范围分别为0．032（0．006-0．059）mg／L,0．262（0．018-0．663）mg／L,0．076（0．032-0．120）mg／L,0．009（0．001～0．02）mg／L和1．213（0．191-4．078）mg／L。在空间分布上,各营养盐含量均呈现出湾内高,湾外低的分布趋势,体现出秋季陆地径流的主导控制作用。相关性分析表明,秋季营养盐的补充均以陆源输入供应为主,对整个海湾的营养水平起到了主导控制作用。根据营养状态指数评价模式计算结果显示,秋季钦州湾调查海区总体表现为中度营养水平。     

渤海湾海丰盐场卤虫种类组成与生殖特性

1999年7～10月对渤海湾海丰盐场卤虫自然种群的种类组成和生殖特性进行了研究，结果表明：(1)原来仅有孤雌生殖种群，如今孤雌生殖卤虫与两性生殖卤虫Artemia franciscana共存，且在8～10月份外来种A.franciscana占主要部分。(2)温度是影响休眠卵产生的重要环境因子。实验期间温度降低，卵生比例升高，到9、10月份已全部为卵生。(3)随温度降低，怀后代数有上升的趋势。多数月份卤虫怀后代数与盐度负相关。     

农业对小冰期和现代我国七月气候的影响模拟

小冰期是数千年来最引人注目的一个冷期,也是近百年变暖的直接历史背景,该时期我国农业扩展范围已与现代相差无几。自然植被被农业植被替换,对区域水循环和气候变化都产生影响。比较冷暖时期该类影响之差别,有利于认识土地覆盖与气候的联系。文中利用全球和区域气候模式,考察小冰期和现代两种全球背景下我国区域土地覆盖变化对七月平均气候状况的影响。结果表明：小冰期夏季偏冷地区主要在北方,农业具有减缓小冰期大尺度降温的效应,而在较温暖且温度变化较小的华南和华中地区,农业则起一定的降温效应；农业对现代气候下的降水影响不大,但在小冰期背景下却导致降水减少     

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.     

营养条件对污水中小球藻生长及产能效应的影响

以过滤的富营养化的鱼塘废水为培养液,添加外源的碳、氮、磷元素,考察污水中不同的外源无机碳浓度、总氮浓度、总磷浓度对小球藻(Chlorella vulgaris)的生长、油脂含量和烃类含量的影响。在25℃、光照强度为4 500 Lux、光暗比为12L:12D的条件下培养10 d。单因子方差分析和多重比较结果表明:(1)以Na2CO3做碳源,小球藻生物量和烃类含量在外源无机碳浓度为6 mg/L时最高,油脂含量在外源无机碳浓度为12 mg/L最高。(2)以KNO3做氮源,小球藻生物量在总氮浓度为25 mg/L时最高,油脂含量在总氮浓度为15 mg/L时最高,烃含量在总氮浓度为20 mg/L时最高。(3)以KH2PO4做磷源,小球藻生物量和烃类含量在总磷浓度为2 mg/L时最高,油脂含量在总磷浓度为1.5 mg/L时最高。     

Geographic variations of life history traits and potential trade-offs in different populations of the parasitoid Leptopilina heterotoma

Energy allocation is determined by resource availability and trade-offs among traits, and so organisms have to give some traits priority over others to maximize their fitness according to their environment. In this study, we investigated the geographic variations in life history traits and potential trade-offs in populations of the parasitoid Leptopilina heterotoma (Hymenoptera: Figitidae) originating from the north and the south of the Rh?ne–Sa?ne valley (over a gradient of 300?km, South-East France). We measured a set of traits related to reproduction, maintenance, and mobility using several estimators of each of these main functions determined at different times. We did not find any clear differences between populations from contrasting areas, whereas the southern populations, which were all assumed to be exposed to similar environmental conditions, displayed contrasting patterns of energy allocation. Thus, the most likely explanation seems to be that the evolution of the life history of L. heterotoma is probably shaped by local selective pressures, such as microclimate, microhabitats, or intensity of competition, rather than by regional ecological conditions. Using our study as an example, we discuss the interest of considering several traits and using different ways of measuring them, concluding that multiple measurements should be performed in future studies to ensure the robustness of the results.