Hoopoes color their eggs with antimicrobial uropygial secretions

Uropygial gland secretions are used as cosmetics by some species of birds to color and enhance properties of feathers and teguments, which may signal individual quality. Uropygial secretions also reach eggshells during incubation and, therefore, may influence the coloration of birds’ eggs, a trait that has attracted the attention of evolutionary biologists for more than one century. The color of hoopoe eggs typically changes along incubation, from bluish-gray to greenish-brown. Here, we test experimentally the hypothesis that dark uropygial secretion of females is responsible for such drastic color change. Moreover, since uropygial secretion of hoopoes has antimicrobial properties, we also explore the association between color and antimicrobial activity of the uropygial secretion of females. We found that eggs stayed bluish-gray in nests where female access to the uropygial secretion was experimentally blocked. Furthermore, experimental eggs that were maintained in incubators and manually smeared with uropygial secretion experienced similar color changes that naturally incubated eggs did, while control eggs that were not in contact with the secretions did not experience such color changes. All these results strongly support the hypothesis that female hoopoes use their uropygial gland secretion to color the eggs. Moreover, saturation of the uropygial secretion was associated with antimicrobial activity against Bacillus licheniformis. Given the known antimicrobial potential of uropygial secretions of birds, this finding opens the possibility that in scenarios of sexual selection, hoopoes in particular and birds in general signal antimicrobial properties of their uropygial secretion by mean of changes in egg coloration along incubation.     

Keeping eggs warm: thermal and developmental advantages for parasitic cuckoos of laying unusually thick-shelled eggs

Obligate brood parasites have evolved unusually thick-shelled eggs, which are hypothesized to possess a variety of functions such as resistance to puncture ejection by their hosts. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that obligate brood parasites lay unusually thick-shelled eggs to retain more heat for the developing embryo and thus contribute to early hatching of parasite eggs. By doing so, we used an infrared thermal imaging system as a non-invasive method to quantify the temperature of eggshells of common cuckoos (Cuculus canorus) and their Oriental reed warbler (Acrocephalus orientalis) hosts in an experiment that artificially altered the duration of incubation. Our results showed that cuckoo eggshells had higher temperature than host eggs during incubation, but also less fluctuations in temperature during incubation disturbance. Therefore, there was a thermal and hence a developmental advantage for brood parasitic cuckoos of laying thick-shelled eggs, providing another possible explanation for the unusually thick-shelled eggs of obligate brood parasites and earlier hatching of cuckoo eggs compared to those of the host.     

Cognitive skills and bacterial load: comparative evidence of costs of cognitive proficiency in birds

Parasite-mediated selection may affect the evolution of cognitive abilities because parasites may influence development of the brain, but also learning capacity. Here, we tested some predictions of this hypothesis by analyzing the relationship between complex behaviours (feeding innovations (as a measure of behavioural flexibility) and ability to detect foreign eggs in their nests (i.e. a measure of discriminatory ability)) and abundance of microorganisms in different species of birds. A positive relationship would be predicted if these cognitive abilities implied a larger number of visited environments, while if these skills favoured detection and avoidance of risky environments, a negative relationship would be the prediction. Bacterial loads of eggshells, estimated for mesophilic and potentially pathogenic bacteria (i.e. Enterococcus, Staphylococcus and Enterobacteriaceae), were used as a surrogate of probability of contact with pathogenic bacteria. We found that bird species with higher feeding innovation rates and rejection rates of experimental brood parasitic eggs had higher density of bacteria on their eggshells than the average species. Since the analysed groups of microorganisms include pathogenic bacteria, these results suggest that both feeding innovation and ability to recognize foreign eggs are costly and highlight the importance of parasite-mediated selection in explaining the evolution of cognitive abilities in animals.     

Constraints on temperature-dependent sex determination in the leopard gecko (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Eublepharis macularius</Emphasis>): response to Kratochvil et al.

Kratochvil et al. (Naturwissenschaften 95:209–215, 2008) reported recently that in the leopard gecko (Eublepharis macularius) of the family Eublepharidae with temperature-dependent sex determination (TSD), clutches in which eggs were incubated at the same temperature produce only same-sex siblings. Interpreting this result in light of studies of sex steroid hormone involvement in sex determination, they suggested that maternally derived yolk steroid hormones could constrain sex-determining mechanisms in TSD reptiles. We have worked extensively with this species and have routinely incubated clutches at constant temperatures. To test the consistency of high frequency same-sex clutches across different incubation temperatures, we examined our records of clutches at the University of Texas at Austin from 1992 to 2001. We observed that clutches in which eggs were incubated at the same incubation temperature produced mixed-sex clutches as well as same-sex clutches. Furthermore, cases in which eggs within a clutch were separated and incubated at different temperatures produced the expected number of mixed-sex clutches. These results suggest that maternal influences on sex determination are secondary relative to incubation temperature effects.     

Nest sanitation through defecation: antifungal properties of wood cockroach feces

The wood cockroach Cryptocercus punctulatus nests as family units inside decayed wood, a substrate known for its high microbial load. We tested the hypothesis that defecation within their nests, a common occurrence in this species, reduces the probability of fungal development. Conidia of the entomopathogenic fungus, Metarhizium anisopliae, were incubated with crushed feces and subsequently plated on potato dextrose agar. Relative to controls, the viability of fungal conidia was significantly reduced following incubation with feces and was negatively correlated with incubation time. Although the cockroach's hindgut contained abundant β-1,3-glucanase activity, its feces had no detectable enzymatic function. Hence, these enzymes are unlikely the source of the fungistasis. Instead, the antifungal compound(s) of the feces involved heat-sensitive factor(s) of potential microbial origin. When feces were boiled or when they were subjected to ultraviolet radiation and subsequently incubated with conidia, viability was “rescued” and germination rates were similar to those of controls. Filtration experiments indicate that the fungistatic activity of feces results from chemical interference. Because Cryptocercidae cockroaches have been considered appropriate models to make inferences about the factors fostering the evolution of termite sociality, we suggest that nesting in microbe-rich environments likely selected for the coupling of intranest defecation and feces fungistasis in the common ancestor of wood cockroaches and termites. This might in turn have served as a preadaptation that prevented mycosis as these phylogenetically related taxa diverged and evolved respectively into subsocial and eusocial organizations.     

Offspring sex in a TSD gecko correlates with an interaction between incubation temperature and yolk steroid hormones

We incubated eggs of the Japanese gecko Gekko japonicus at three temperatures, and measured yolk testosterone (T) and 17??-estradiol (E2) levels at three time points in embryonic development (oviposition, 1/3 of incubation, and 2/3 of incubation), to examine whether maternal influence on offspring sex via yolk steroid hormone deposition is significant in the species. Eggs incubated at 24?°C and 32?°C produced mostly females, and eggs incubated at 28?°C almost a 50:50 sex ratio of hatchlings. Female-producing eggs were larger than male-producing eggs. Clutches in which eggs were incubated at the same temperature produced mostly same-sex siblings. Yolk T level at laying was negatively related to eggs mass, and yolk E2/T ratio was positively related to egg mass. Results of two-way ANOVA with incubation temperature and stage as the factors show that: yolk E2 level was higher at 32?°C than at 24?°C; yolk T level was higher, whereas yolk E2/T ratio was smaller, at 28?°C than at 24?°C; yolk E2 and T levels were higher at 2/3 than at 1/3 of incubation. Our data in G. japonucus show that: (1) maternal influence on offspring sex via yolk steroid hormone deposition is significant; (2) incubation temperature affects the dynamics of developmental changes in yolk steroid hormones; (3) influences of yolk steroid hormones on offspring sex are secondary relative to incubation temperature effects; and (4) offspring sex correlates with an interaction between incubation temperature and yolk steroid hormones.     

Reassessing the role of the honeybee (Apis mellifera) Dufour's gland in egg marking

Dufour's gland secretion may allow worker honeybees to discriminate between queen-laid and worker-laid eggs. To investigate this, we combined the chemical analysis of individually treated eggs with an egg removal bioassay. We partitioned queen Dufour's gland into hydrocarbon and ester fractions. The bioassay showed that worker-laid eggs treated with either whole gland extract, ester fraction or synthetic gland esters were removed more slowly than untreated worker-laid eggs. However, the effect only lasted up to 20 h. Worker-laid eggs treated with the hydrocarbon fraction were removed at the same rate as untreated eggs. The amount of ester which reduced the egg removal rate was far higher than that naturally found on queen-laid or worker-laid eggs, and at natural ester levels no effect was found. Our results indicate that esters or hydrocarbons probably do not function as the signal by which eggs can be discriminated.     

Parental conflict and blue egg coloration in a seabird

When both parents provide offspring care, equal sharing of costly parental duties may enhance reproductive success. This is crucial for longlived species, where increased parental effort in current reproduction profoundly affects future reproduction. Indication of reproductive value or willingness to invest in reproduction may promote matching responses by mates, thus reducing the conflict over care. In birds with biparental care, blue-green eggshell color may function as a signal of reproductive value that affects parental effort, as predicted by the signaling hypothesis of blue-green eggshell coloration. However, this hypothesis has not been explored during incubation, when the potential stimulus of egg color is present, and has been little studied in longlived birds. We experimentally studied if egg color affected incubation patterns in the blue-footed booby, a longlived species with biparental care and blue eggs. We exchanged fresh eggs between nests of the same laying date and recorded parental incubation effort on the following 4 days. Although egg color did not affect male effort, original eggshell color was correlated with pair matching in incubation. Exchanged eggshell color did not affect incubation patterns. This suggests that biliverdin-based egg coloration reflects female quality features that are associated with pair incubation effort or that blue-footed boobies mate assortatively high-quality pairs incubating more colorful clutches. An intriguing possibility is that egg coloration facilitates an equal sharing of incubation, the signal being functional only during a short period close to laying. Results also suggest that indication of reproductive value reduces the conflict over care.     

微咸水灌溉下微生物菌肥对盐渍土理化性质和细菌群落的影响

微生物菌肥改良盐渍土具有高效、绿色环保等优势,同时施加微生物菌肥是安全利用微咸水的有效方式.试验基于河套灌区中度盐渍土,以枸杞为指示植物,在微咸水灌溉条件下设置施加不同微生物菌肥量F1(4 500 kg·km^-2)、 F2(7 500 kg·km^-2)、 F3(10 500 kg·km^-2)和无菌肥(CK)这4个处理,研究枸杞4个关键生育期(开花期、果实膨大期、盛果期和落叶期)不同微生物菌肥施用量对土壤盐基离子、水分、 pH值、养分和细菌群落的影响.结果表明,相较CK, F1仅显著降低了前2个生育期Na⁺含量(P<0.05),而F2和F3均显著降低全生育期Na⁺含量(P<0.05),平均降低33.66%和57.98%; F3显著提高了全生育期的土壤含水率(MC)、有机质(OM)、碱解氮(AN)和速效磷(AP)含量(P<0.05).枸杞生育旺盛期,F3的Shannon指数较CK提高了4.41%;土壤优势菌门为变形菌门、拟杆菌门和放线菌门,优势菌属为鞘脂单胞菌属和...     

三角帆蚌对白洋淀底泥氮磷释放及微生物的影响探究

为了解三角帆蚌对白洋淀底泥的影响,以白洋淀淀区水和底泥为试验材料,通过室内模拟试验并结合16S rRNA高通量测序技术,考察了三角帆蚌的活动对底泥氮、磷释放以及微生物丰度和多样性的影响.结果表明:①三角帆蚌的生物扰动作用显著提高了底泥氮、磷的释放,上覆水中TN、NH₃-N和TP浓度分别提高了0.18、1.1和1.2倍,颗粒态NH₃-N和可溶性磷浓度的增加是上覆水中NH₃-N、TP浓度增加的主要来源.②三角帆蚌的生物扰动作用轻微提高了上覆水中COD_Cr的浓度（P < 0.05）,并降低了底泥中全氮、全磷的含量,将底泥中全氮、全磷的削减率分别提高了26.0%和10.9%,底泥氮、磷释放规律的不同是导致全氮削减率高于全磷的主要原因.③三角帆蚌的活动可显著降低水中蓝细菌的数量,为其他微生物提供了更多生态位,从而提高了脱氮除磷功能菌丰度和微生物多样性,但是三角帆蚌对底泥中微生物丰度和多样性影响较小.研究显示,三角帆蚌能极大地促进白洋淀底泥氮、磷释放,同时降低内源污染风险,并提高上覆水脱氮除磷功能菌丰度和微生物多样性,可依据实际情况用于白洋淀湿地修复中.      

不同碳源下硫还原地杆菌对反硝化过程的影响机制探讨

硝酸盐是废水中常见的污染物,其具有较高的氧化还原电位,在水中的去除主要依靠微生物的反硝化作用.目前的初步研究表明,电活性细菌能够和反硝化细菌通过互营生长加速反硝化过程.为探究在不同外加碳源下电活性细菌对反硝化过程的影响,选取不能够利用硝态氮作为电子受体的模式电活性细菌硫还原地杆菌(G.sulfurreducens PCA)与不同碳源(乙醇、丙酸或葡萄糖)驯化得到的反硝化细菌进行共培养.结果表明,改变碳源为乙酸盐后,不同体系中硝态氮的去除效率达到了94%.碳源的改变造成了不同程度的反硝化滞后现象,在当以乙醇为外加碳源时,G.sulfurreducens PCA的加入能够将迟滞时间缩短3 h,其反硝化速率可达到186 g·m~(-3)·d~(-1),同时产生的亚硝氮含量也相对最低.但以葡萄糖作为反硝化外加碳源时,迟滞时间最短,但加入G.sulfurreducens PCA后会延长反硝化所需的时间,这可能是与反硝化细菌同G.sulfurreducens PCA竞争体系中的乙酸盐碳源有关.分析微生物群落结构变化发现,G.sulfurreducens PCA的加入提高了反硝化细菌的相对丰度,使其能够适应因碳源改变而产生的对反硝化细菌的生长抑制现象.     

攀枝花矿区糙野青茅根际耐铬放线菌筛选及促生能力评价

从攀枝花矿区糙野青茅根际土中分离放线菌,筛选获得对重金属铬具有强耐受性、抗菌促生和产胞外酶能力的放线菌,为微生物-植物联合修复重金属污染提供菌种资源.采用稀释涂布法进行放线菌的分离,通过放线菌在不同铬浓度高氏一号培养基上的生长状况判断其对重金属铬的耐受性,进一步采用原子吸收分光光度法分析菌株对铬耐受性强的菌株耐铬及去铬能力;通过对菌株产铁载体、溶磷、产吲哚乙酸(IAA)、产纤维素酶、产淀粉酶、产木糖酶、产酪蛋白酶能力及抗菌活性的筛选,综合评价菌株抗菌促生能力.结果显示,分离获得的27株根际菌株,光学显微形态及扫描电镜结果均显示为放线菌,其中有14株能在含铬的培养基上生长,具有耐铬能力.16S rRNA基因测序结果显示,14株放线菌分属于链霉菌属(streptomyces)、小单孢菌属(Micromonospora)和冢村氏菌属(Tsukamurella).菌株SCAU9002和SCAU9008在铬浓度为300mg·L~(-1)的处理下培养6 d,去铬率分别达到81.17%和78.41%;菌株SCAU9002、SCAU9006、SCAU9008、SCAU9009、SCAU9013同时具有3种促生功能,盆栽实验结果进一步表明,在重金属胁迫下,经菌株处理后的玉米植株更高,生物量更大,根系更发达,促生效果较好.此外,菌株SCAU9006对6种病原菌具有拮抗作用,5株菌同时具有3种及以上产胞外水解酶的能力,4株菌能在7%的NaCl浓度下生长,13株菌在pH5.0~8.0的范围内均可生长.结果表明,根际放线菌在促进矿区植物生长和铬尾矿污染土壤的生物修复研究中具有很大潜力.     

有机物特性对AAO系统污泥沉降性能的影响

研究了不同进水混合型有机物组成下AAO系统中活性污泥菌群结构演替规律以及微生物胞内、胞外聚合物的变化对污泥沉降性能的影响.结果表明,当进水中有机物全部为溶解态时,污泥沉降性能最佳,污泥体积指数(sludge volume index,SVI)为70 m L·g-1,且优于进水有机物以溶解态为主(SVI=120 m L·g-1)和以颗粒态为主(SVI=280 m L·g-1)的系统.根据菌群结构分析可知Thiothrix、Chryseolinea和Trichococcus这3种菌属对污泥沉降性能的影响至关重要.其中颗粒态有机物可促进Trichococcus的生长,而溶解态有机物可促进Thiothrix和Chryseolinea的生长.此外,菌群结构的改变也对胞内及胞外聚合物的变化有重要影响,从而加剧污泥沉降性能改善或恶化的进程.较高的溶解态有机物含量可提高胞内聚合物贮存能力,并改善污泥沉降性能.同时,污泥沉降性能也与松散附着胞外聚合物(loosely bound extracellular polymeric substances,LB-EPS)中多糖、蛋白质和Zeta电位呈显著负相关关系.     

DNBF-O3-GAC组合工艺深度脱除氮磷及代谢产物

为提高污水厂尾水水质,本研究采用新型缓释碳源复配海绵铁、活性炭作为反硝化生物滤池的复合填料,分别以模拟二级处理出水和实际污水厂尾水为进水,考察了复合缓释碳源填料反硝化生物滤池-臭氧-活性炭(DNBF-O_3-GAC)组合工艺同步脱氮除磷及去除微生物代谢产物的性能,并借助Mi Seq高通量测序技术分析了反硝化生物滤池生物膜中的微生物群落结构特征.结果表明,组合工艺取得了较好的脱氮除磷及微生物代谢产物的效果:模拟配水阶段和实际尾水阶段NO_3~--N平均去除率分别达到88.87%、79.99%;TP平均去除率分别达到87.67%、65.51%;UV254平均去除率分别达到45.51%、49.23%.组合工艺各处理单元具有不同的功能:NO_3~--N、TN、TP、TFe的变化主要发生在反硝化生物滤池反应器中;UV254、三维荧光强度的变化主要发生在臭氧-活性炭反应器中.微生物在属水平进行聚类分析结果表明,反硝化脱氮系统存在硫自养反硝化菌和异养反硝化菌,当实际尾水阶段碳源相对不足时,硫自养反硝化作用有了显著加强,Thiobacillus(硫杆菌属)的占比由7.44%上升至29.62%,硫自养反硝化与异养反硝化形成的这种互补作用延长了新型缓释碳源的使用周期.     

Increase in membrane thickness during development compensates for eggshell thinning due to calcium uptake by the embryo in falcons

We compared membrane thickness of fully developed eggs with those of non-developed eggs in different endangered falcon taxa. To our knowledge, membrane thickness variation during development has never been examined before in falcons or any other wild bird. Yet, the egg membrane constitutes an important protective barrier for the developing embryo. Because eggshell thinning is a general process that occurs during bird development, caused by calcium uptake by the embryo, eggs are expected to be less protected and vulnerable to breakage near the end of development. Thus, egg membranes could play an important protective role in the later stages of development by getting relatively thicker. We used linear mixed models to explore the variation in membrane thickness (n = 378 eggs) in relation to developmental stage, taxon, female age, mass and identity (73 females), egg-laying sequence (105 clutches) and the study zone. Our results are consistent with the prediction that egg membranes are thicker in fully developed eggs than in non-developed eggs, suggesting that the increase in membrane thickness during development may compensate for eggshell thinning. In addition, our data shown that thicker membranes are associated with larger, heavier and relatively wider eggs, as well as with eggs that had thinner eggshells. Egg-laying sequence, female age and the study zone did not explain the observed variation of membrane thickness in the falcon taxa studied. As we provide quantitative data on membrane thickness variation during development in falcons not subjected to contamination or food limitation (i.e. bred under captive conditions), our data may be used as a reference for studies on eggs from natural populations. Considering the large variation in membrane thickness and the multiple factors affecting on it and its importance in the protection of the embryo, we encourage other researchers to include measurements on membranes in studies exploring eggshell thickness variation.     

Sex ratio estimations of loggerhead sea turtle hatchlings by histological examination and nest temperatures at Fethiye beach, Turkey

Hatchling sex ratios in the loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta) were estimated by placing electronic temperature recorders in 21 nests at Fethiye beach during 2000–2002. Over the seasons, the mean temperature in the middle third of the incubation period ranged from 26.7 to 32.1°C, and incubation periods ranged from 49 to 67 days. Based on the mean temperatures during the middle third of the incubation period, and on histologically sexed dead hatchlings, the sex ratios of hatchlings at Fethiye beach were roughly equal, i.e. 60–65% of the hatchlings were females. This contrasts with the highly female-skewed sex ratios in loggerhead turtles elsewhere; Fethiye has a relatively high proportion of male hatchlings. For endangered sea turtles, the knowledge of hatchling sex ratios at different beaches, coupled with appropriate conservation measures, can make an important contribution to their survival.     

基于硝酸盐缓释-功能微生物协同的污染底泥原位修复技术研究

重污染底泥原位修复常需外加大量电子受体,但大量实践表明电子受体直接投加存在作用时效短、微生物利用效率低等问题.针对该问题,开发了电子受体缓释-功能微生物协同的复合环境功能材料,并探讨了功能材料对底泥原位修复效果.结果表明:①复合功能材料〔以Ca（NO₃）₂计,下同〕仅投加5.7 g/kg时,底泥中ORP（氧化还原电位）提升了60.17%~73.96%,AVS（酸可挥发性硫化物）去除率高达90%,是其他传统原位修复材料的1倍.②相较于单独投加Ca（NO₃）₂的修复方式,复合功能材料最大可去除上覆水中33.78%的ρ（TN）,而且ρ（NH₄+-N）也降低了27.90%.③复合功能材料同时促进上覆水中TP和COD_Cr的去除,其去除率分别在78%和30%以上.④从经济成本和对环境影响的角度出发,在工程应用上宜用电子受体:固定剂:促凝剂:发泡剂:塑形剂:复合微生物菌剂:水的质量比为1:5:0.5:0.5:0.1:1:1的复合功能材料.研究显示,硝酸盐缓释-功能微生物复合材料是一种高效的重污染底泥原位修复材料,能显著提升底泥和上覆水中污染物去除效率,降低ρ（NH₄+-N）、ρ（COD_Cr）,避免上覆水体受到二次污染.      

Absence of within-colony kin discrimination: foundresses of the social wasp, Polistes carolina, do not prefer their own larvae

 There is great potential for conflict within social insect colonies especially when there are multiple inseminated females laying eggs. One reason that conflict is not always realized may be that these females do not identify their own progeny and direct their attentions preferentially towards them. Using DNA microsatellite loci we were able to determine exactly which female was the mother of each larva in eight nests of the social wasp, Polistes carolina. Using 26 h of videotapes of natural nests we observed 2,093 feedings of specific larvae by these adults and found that they did not preferentially feed their own progeny. Instead feedings were distributed to progeny as predicted based on their frequency in the nest. The absence of nepotism towards closest kin within colonies in this system is likely to promote colony harmony. Received: 24 January 2000 / Accepted in revised form: 30 March 2000     

促生剂投量对菌剂-促生剂协同修复沉积物的影响

采用5个110 L的模拟河道反应器,在投加菌剂的基础上(底泥稳定后向底泥和水中分别注射浓度为0.09%和0.03%的菌剂),生物促生剂投量分别设计为0(空白对照实验)、0.08、0.09、0.10和0.11 g·L~(-1),通过为期115 d的修复实验研究菌剂与促生剂协同作用时底泥微生物群落特征变化规律,进而分析其对底泥修复效果的影响.实验表明,投加促生剂后,115 d时Chloroflexi、Proteobacteria、Firmicutes、Betaproteobacteria及Bacteroidetes等主要功能菌群相对丰度增加,脲酶活性与蛋白酶活性后期时总体上低于单独投加菌剂组.促生剂投量为0.10 g·L~(-1)时,上覆水COD_(Cr)稳定浓度为16.82 mg·L~(-1),低于其余各组;底泥TOC含量由初始的0.808%下降至第115 d时的0.687%,去除率为14.9%,显著高于其余各组;促生剂投量为0.11 g·L~(-1)时,底泥全氮去除率最高为14.8%.生物促生剂促使微生物群落向更适宜降解去除氮素及有机质的方向演替,有效改善底泥环境.