Breeding skylarks (Alauda arvensis) on organic and conventional arable farms in The Netherlands

The aim of this study was to analyse the effects of differences in cropping pattern between organic and conventional arable farms on the breeding activity of skylarks and to assess the effects of arable crop management on skylark nest survival. Skylark nest density was seven times higher on organic farms than on conventional farms (0.63 vs. 0.09 nest per 10 ha). Skylarks showed a strong preference for spring cereals, lucerne and grass leys, all of which were mainly or exclusively grown on organic farms. On organic farms nests were initiated during the entire breeding season, but on conventional farms no nesting activity was found during the peak of the season (early May to early June). On organic farms 27% of all nests was successful. Increasing the availability of suitable breeding habitat during the peak of the breeding season on conventional farms might provide one means of enhancing breeding skylark populations. On organic farms, crop management should focus on reducing nest loss due to farming operations.     

Male-biased predation of western green lizards by Eurasian kestrels

Selective predation can be an important force driving the evolution of organisms. In particular, sex-biased predation is expected to have implications for sexual selection, sex allocation and population dynamics. In this study, we analysed sex differences in the predation of the western green lizard (Lacerta bilineata) by the Eurasian kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) during the reproductive season. In addition, we investigated whether the rate of predation differed during the 8-year study period and among the three habitats studied. We collected lizard remains from nest boxes of kestrels. Freshly killed lizards were sexed by visual inspection, whilst the sex of head remains was assigned by analysing the cephalic scale morphology using geometric morphometrics. Our results show that the risk of being predated by a kestrel in our population was overall about 3.55 times higher for males than for females. To our knowledge this is the first study showing a male-biased predation in a lizard species. The selective predation of males was consistent between years over the 8-year study period (1999-2006) and also consistent between the three types of kestrel hunting habitat. Overall predation rates on lizards differed between habitats, depending on the year. We propose that the observed sex-biased predation is mainly due to sex differences in lizard behaviour.     

Response to displaced neighbours in a territorial songbird with a large repertoire

Neighbour recognition allows territory owners to modulate their territorial response according to the threat posed by each neighbour and thus to reduce the costs associated with territorial defence. Individual acoustic recognition of neighbours has been shown in numerous bird species, but few of them had a large repertoire. Here, we tested individual vocal recognition in a songbird with a large repertoire, the skylark Alauda arvensis. We first examined the physical basis for recognition in the song, and we then experimentally tested recognition by playing back songs of adjacent neighbours and strangers. Males showed a lower territorial response to adjacent neighbours than to strangers when we broadcast songs from the shared boundary. However, when we broadcast songs from the opposite boundary, males showed a similar response to neighbours and strangers, indicating a spatial categorisation of adjacent neighbours’ songs. Acoustic analyses revealed that males could potentially use the syntactical arrangement of syllables in sequences to identify the songs of their neighbours. Neighbour interactions in skylarks are thus subtle relationships that can be modulated according to the spatial position of each neighbour.     

Field-breeding birds on organic and conventional arable farms in the Netherlands

In this study territory densities of field-breeding farmland birds were compared on pairwise-selected organic and conventional arable farms for two years. Differences in territory densities between the two farm types were explained examining the effects of three factors on territory densities: (1) non-crop habitats, (2) crop types and (3) within-crop factors. In both years, densities of most species did not differ between organic and conventional farms. Only skylark and lapwing were more abundant on organic farms, but only skylarks showed a consistent pattern over both years. Differences in crop types grown between the two systems were the only explaining factor for differences in densities of skylark. For lapwing, the difference was only partly due to differences in crop type, but differences in within-crop factors (probably as a result of crop management) were likely to have had an effect as well. There were no significant differences in abundance of non-crop habitats between the two farming systems, so this could not explain differences in territory densities.     

内蒙古温带草原羊草叶片功能特性与光合特征对外源氮输入的响应

以内蒙古锡林河流域羊草草原典型植被羊草(Leymus chinensis)为研究对象,探讨了4个不同氮素输入水平(0、5、10和20g·m-·2a-1)下羊草叶片功能特性与光合特征的响应,并分析了外源氮输入背景下草地生态系统固碳潜势的变化.结果表明:中等水平施氮(10g·m-·2a-1)显著增加了羊草叶面积、叶绿素相对含量、叶氮浓度与净光合速率,但与中氮相比,高氮(20g·m-·2a-1)输入下却有所下降;施氮不仅对叶片净光合速率有一定程度的促进作用,而且延长了光合作用高峰期的持续时间;随着氮素添加梯度的增加,羊草叶片蒸腾速率降低,瞬时水分利用效率增高,气孔导度增大,胞间CO2浓度逐渐减小.从光合固碳的角度来看,适量的外源氮素输入有利于草地生态系统固定更多的CO2.     

Carotenoid-dependent coloration of male American kestrels predicts ability to reduce parasitic infections

The signaling function of sexually selected traits, such as carotenoid-dependent avian plumage coloration, has received a great deal of recent attention especially with respect to parasitism and immunocompetence. We argue that parasite-mediated models of sexual selection may have an implicit temporal component that many researchers have ignored. For example, previous studies have demonstrated that carotenoid-dependent traits can signal past parasite exposure, current levels of parasitism, or the ability of individuals to manage parasitic infections in the future. We examined repeated measures of carotenoid-dependent skin color and blood parasitism in American kestrels (Falco sparverius) to distinguish whether coloration might signal current parasitism or the potential to deal with infections in the future. We found no evidence that coloration was related to current levels of parasitism in either sex. However, coloration of males significantly predicted their response to parasitism; males with bright orange coloration during prelaying, when mate choice is occurring, were more likely than dull yellow males to reduce their levels of infection by the time incubation began. Coloration during prelaying may advertise a male’s health later in the breeding season. For kestrels, the ability to predict future health would be highly beneficial given the male’s role in providing food to his mate and offspring. Coloration of females was not a significant predictor of parasitism in the future, and we provide several possible explanations for this result.     

不同生物反应器中基因工程菌生物强化处理阿特拉津研究

在膜-生物反应器(MBR)和复合生物反应器中,考察基因工程菌生物强化处理阿特拉津去除效果,并对基因工程菌浓度和降解基因atzA基因丰度变化进行检测.结果表明,阿特拉津对COD和氨氮的生物去除活性具有一定的抑制作用;基因工程菌生物强化后,COD及氨氮的去除效率得到恢复.MBR对COD和氨氮的去除效果优于复合生物反应器.基...     

中国松嫩草原羊草植硅体对全球变暖和氮沉降模拟的响应研究

在松嫩草原应用红外线增温和人工施氮的方法对羊草群落模拟全球变暖和氮沉降,提取羊草中的植硅体,分析探讨植硅体的形态及数量变化规律.羊草中的植硅体可以划分为4个大类和12个亚类,以及较小的植硅体碎片,其中帽型植硅体含量高达70%.尖顶帽型和平顶帽型植硅体与刺帽型植硅体可能有不同的发育机制,并且尖型植硅体对施氮更为敏感;与对照相比,增温处理对羊草植硅体的发育有促进作用(长宽增加0.1～2.6μm),而施氮处理则有一定的抑制作用(长宽减小0.1～1.4μm),增温和施氮交叉作用,则施氮对羊草植硅体发育表现出的抑制作用明显减弱;施氮处理中出现其他处理中未见到的空心棒型(占棒型总量的46%),而且除棒型、帽型、尖型以外的植硅体含量增加到10%,从而推测,对于以羊草为优势植物的松嫩草原,施氮的影响可能要强于增温,如果两者同时作用,增温能在一定程度上缓解施氮的影响.实验中的羊草植硅体对模拟全球变化很敏感,说明植硅体对环境因子的改变很敏感,其作为古环境的代用指标应是可靠的.     

微生物法液相氧化SO2

通过对酸性水溶液、含Fe³⁺水溶液、含Fe²⁺水溶液、细菌菌液和细菌培养基水溶液脱除二氧化硫的实验,探讨了微生物液相氧化二氧化硫的途径.以液相中SO₄^2-浓度考察了Fe³⁺浓度、Fe²⁺浓度、进口SO₂浓度以及温度对脱硫成酸的影响.微生物脱硫有2种机制:一是直接氧化作用,即氧化亚铁硫杆菌(Thiobacillus ferrooxidans)将S(IV)氧化成S(VI);二是间接催化氧化,氧化亚铁硫杆菌在酸性条件下具有快速氧化Fe²⁺成Fe³⁺,增强Fe³⁺对SO₂的液相催化氧化能力,研究表明微生物脱硫以间接催化氧化为主.在浓度0～1.2g/L之间,Fe³⁺和Fe²⁺浓度越高,脱硫效果越好,氧化亚铁硫杆菌表现出对Fe³⁺/Fe²⁺体系氧化SO₂的强化效果.入口SO₂浓度越高,细菌脱硫效率越低,但液相中SO₄^2-浓度随进口SO₂浓度增加变化不大.温度对微生物脱硫影响较大,最佳脱硫温度为30～40℃.     

凤眼莲对富营养化水体中氨氧化和反硝化微生物的影响

凤眼莲近年来广泛应用于富营养化淡水湖泊的生态修复中,但其对微生物的相互作用和对水体中氮素的去除鲜有报道.本研究在氮素去除过程中对比凤眼莲和细菌的相对重要性,并且检测浮游植物对硝化细菌和反硝化细菌相对丰度及多样性的影响.水体中氮素的去除率以及硝化和反硝化作用的潜在能力使用定量聚合酶链式反应(qPCRs)对硝化作用基因amoA和反硝化作用基因nirS/K进行检测,从微观角度研究富营养化水体中是否会受到凤眼莲存在的影响.结果表明,TN的减少在70d的实验周期中所有处理组表现较为一致,但凤眼莲存在的实验组在24h内TN和NH_4~+-N的去除上有显著的降低,并且amoA的丰度有所增加,nirS/K的丰度有所降低.T-RFLP结果表明亚硝化单胞菌在氨氧化微生物中占优势.凤眼莲的种植可以实现富营养化水体中NH_4~+-N的快速有效减少,且微生物的相互作用可以充分利用到淡水生态系统的修复中.     

转cry1Ab和epsps基因玉米C0030.3.5对土壤固氮细菌丰度和群落结构的影响

为评估转基因玉米种植对土壤氮周转功能微生物的潜在风险,以转cry1Ab和epsps基因玉米C0030.3.5(TM)及其亲本玉米DBN318(PM)为研究对象,于2015年拔节期、抽雄期、乳熟期、完熟期采集根际土和非根际土进行试验,并采用荧光定量PCR(quantitative real-time PCR,q PCR)和末端限制性片段长度多态性(terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism,TRFLP)技术分析土壤固氮微生物nif H基因丰度和多样性.结果表明,TM和PM根际土和非根际土固氮细菌nif H基因丰度随生长时期整体呈现先升高后降低的变化趋势,无论是根际土还是非根际土,同一生长时期2种玉米nif H基因丰度间差异均不显著.相关分析显示,土壤固氮细菌nif H基因丰度与有机质含量呈极显著正相关.T-RFLP结果表明,所获得的14种TRFs中,43 bp和155 bp片段所代表的固氮细菌为共有优势种群,无论是根际土还是非根际土,同一生长时期各T-RFs的相对丰度在TM和PM间差异同样不显著.土壤固氮细菌的Shannon指数和Evenness指数随生长期整体呈现出先升高后降低的变化趋势,无论是根际土还是非根际土,同一生长时期TM和PM的Shannon指数间及Evenness指数间均无显著差异.主成分分析(principal component analysis,PCA)表明TM和PM土壤固氮细菌群落结构组成无显著差异.冗余分析(redundancy analysis,RDA)显示土壤铵态氮和p H对固氮细菌群落结构组成影响显著.     

脱硫石膏对稻田CH4释放及其功能微生物种群的影响

为探究脱硫石膏对温室气体CH_4排放及其功能微生物种群的影响,采用静态暗箱/气相色谱法,高通量测序和荧光定量PCR技术,研究了FGDG0(0 t·hm~(-2))、FGDG1(2 t·hm~(-2))、FGDG2(4 t·hm~(-2))、FGDG3(8 t·hm~(-2))、FGDG4(16 t·hm~(-2))这5个施加脱硫石膏处理下CH_4排放特征、稻田细菌群落结构及产甲烷菌和甲烷氧化菌丰度的变化.结果表明施加脱硫石膏后,土壤p H显著提高(P0.05),土壤氧化还原电位、有机质、速效钾含量增加,但处理间无显著差异(P0.05);稻田CH_4平均排放通量随着脱硫石膏用量增加而降低,且FGDG1FGDG2FGDG3FGDG4,较对照分别减少31.56%、57.30%、83.60%、90.66%;与对照相比,FGDG1、FGDG2处理增加了土壤细菌丰富度和多样性,但用量超过4 t·hm~(-2)后,细菌丰富度和多样性逐渐降低;与对照相比,稻田土壤硫酸盐还原菌属相对丰度显著提高6.98%~13.56%,甲烷氧化菌pmo A基因丰度增加0.3%~6.2%,产甲烷菌mrc A基因丰度显著下降2.4%~15.8%,且丰度比(pmo A/mcr A)随着脱硫石膏用量增加而增大;相关性分析表明,CH_4平均排放通量与土壤中硫酸盐还原菌属相对丰度呈显著负相关,与产甲烷菌mcr A基因丰度呈显著正相关,与pmo A/mcr A比呈显著负相关.综上,脱硫石膏能够提高稻田土壤细菌群落多样性,抑制稻田CH_4排放.     

解偶联剂邻氯苯酚作用下活性污泥微生物群落结构的演替规律研究

投加解偶联剂邻氯苯酚可以实现活性污泥系统的污泥减量,但邻氯苯酚长时间作用下系统中微生物群落结构及多样性的变化尚不清楚.因此,本研究利用2个序批式反应器（SBR）进行了63 d的实验,考察了未投加邻氯苯酚（R_A）和投加10 mg·L^-1邻氯苯酚（R_B）条件下,活性污泥系统中基质去除特性及微生物群落结构的变化规律.研究结果表明,投加10 mg·L^-1的邻氯苯酚使得污泥减量达41.3%,COD平均去除率下降10.4%.氨氮去除率在实验前期持续下降,在第28 d时下降至82.3%,而后逐渐恢复到93.2%.高通量测序结果表明,投加邻氯苯酚后系统中微生物丰度及多样性逐渐降低.R_B系统中主导菌门Proteobacteria的相对丰度一直保持在50%以上.硝化菌属中Nitrosomonas和Nitrospira的相对丰度最高降低了约88.3%和100%（第28 d）,但在实验后期有所恢复.在第63 d,R_B系统中絮凝菌Zoogloea的相对丰度下降了98.2%,而丝状菌Meganema丰度增加至33.8%,这导致系统污泥沉降性能略有下降.此外,Dokdonella的相对丰度由0.68%增加至1.33%,而Paracoccus的相对丰度增加了近36倍,这些参与难降解有机物的功能菌增加说明其可能参与了邻氯苯酚的降解.本研究结果对于解析解偶联剂长时间作用下活性污泥微生物的响应机制具有重要的指导意义.     

Does the mechanism of sex determination constrain the potential for sex manipulation? A test in geckos with contrasting sex-determining systems

The concentration of yolk steroids was suggested to influence offspring gender in oviparous animals subject to both temperature-dependent sex determination (TSD) and genotypic sex determination (GSD). However, the proposed mechanisms of steroid effects are thought to differ between TSD and GSD: a direct effect of oestrogens on gonad feminisation in TSD species vs a differential induction of male-producing or female-producing gametes in GSD species. Geckos offer an ideal opportunity for testing these suggested mechanisms. Closely related gecko species differ in their modes of sex determination. They lay clutches of two synchronously formed eggs; both eggs share equal steroid levels. If identical hormonal composition and environment during vitellogenesis, gravidity and incubation determine the sex of the progeny, siblings should share the same gender in both TSD and GSD geckos. We found strong support for this prediction in a TSD gecko species. Among clutches that were incubated at the temperature that produced both sexes, there were no clutches with siblings of the opposite sex. On the other hand, about half of the clutches yielded siblings of the opposite sex in four GSD species. These results suggest that sex-determining systems constrain the ability of the female to produce single-sex siblings and, hence, it seems that the GSD mechanism constrains the opportunities for sex ratio manipulation in geckos via yolk steroid manipulation.     

风浪扰动中太湖OA对水体磷循环影响的原位实验研究

在一次风速12 m.s-1的强风浪过程中,对太湖梅梁湾一浅水区水体有机聚集体（organic aggregates,OA）丰度、颗粒态有机质含量、碳、氮和磷含量等基本理化性质的变化情况进行了连续的原位监测和分析,同时分析了基本的水质指标.结果表明,风浪过程会对水体OA的理化性质及水体的磷循环产生极大的影响：在风浪过程中...     

“Sleeping with the enemy”—predator-induced diapause in a mite

Diapause in arthropods is a physiological state of dormancy that is generally thought to promote survival during harsh seasons and dispersal, but it may also serve to avoid predation in space and time. Here, we show that predation-related odours induce diapause in female adult spider mites. We argue that this response allows them to move into an area where they are free of enemies, yet forced to survive without food. Spider mites are specialised leaf feeders, but—in late summer—they experience severe predation on leaves. Hence, they face a dilemma: to stay on the leaf and risk being eaten or to move away from the leaf and risk death from starvation and thirst. Female two-spotted spider mites solve this dilemma by dramatically changing their physiology when exposed to predation-associated cues. This allows them to disperse away from leaves and to survive in winter refuges in the bark of trees or in the soil. We conclude that the mere presence of predation-associated cues causes some herbivorous mites to seek refuge, thereby retarding the growth rate of the population as a whole: a trait-mediated indirect effect that may have consequences for the stability of predator–prey systems and for ecosystem structure.     

Nest ectoparasites increase physiological stress in breeding birds: an experiment

Parasites are undoubtedly a biotic factor that produces stress. Heat shock proteins (HSPs) are important molecules buffering cellular damage under adverse conditions. During the breeding season, blue tit Cyanistes caeruleus (L.) adults are affected by blood parasites, nest-dwelling parasites and biting flies, potentially affecting their HSP-mediated responses. Here, we treated females with primaquine to reduce blood parasites and fumigated nests with permethrin to reduce nest-dwelling parasites to test whether these treatments affect HSP60 level during the breeding season. Medicated females, but not controls, had a significant reduction of the intensity of infection by Haemoproteus spp. blood parasites. However, final intensity of infection did not differ significantly between groups, and we did not find an effect of medication on change in HSP60 level. Fumigation reduced the abundance of nest-dwelling parasites (mites, fleas and blowfly larvae) and engorged biting midges in nests. Females breeding in non-fumigated nests increased HSP60 levels during the season more than those breeding in fumigated nests. Furthermore, the change in HSP60 level was positively correlated with the abundance of biting midges. These results show how infections by nest ectoparasites during the breeding period can increase the level of HSPs and suggest that biting midges impose physiological costs on breeding female blue tits. Although plausible, the alternative that biting midges prefer to feed on more stressed birds is poorly supported by previous studies.     

Intraspecific competition and high food availability are associated with insular gigantism in a lizard

Resource availability, competition, and predation commonly drive body size evolution. We assess the impact of high food availability and the consequent increased intraspecific competition, as expressed by tail injuries and cannibalism, on body size in Skyros wall lizards (Podarcis gaigeae). Lizard populations on islets surrounding Skyros (Aegean Sea) all have fewer predators and competitors than on Skyros but differ in the numbers of nesting seabirds. We predicted the following: (1) the presence of breeding seabirds (providing nutrients) will increase lizard population densities; (2) dense lizard populations will experience stronger intraspecific competition; and (3) such aggression, will be associated with larger average body size. We found a positive correlation between seabird and lizard densities. Cannibalism and tail injuries were considerably higher in dense populations. Increases in cannibalism and tail loss were associated with large body sizes. Adult cannibalism on juveniles may select for rapid growth, fuelled by high food abundance, setting thus the stage for the evolution of gigantism.     

长沙地区樟树林土壤水稳定同位素特征及其对土壤水分运动的指示

为研究长沙地区林地土壤水分运动规律,基于2017年3月-2018年2月长沙地区樟树林土壤水分及0~130 cm土壤水、地下水和降水中稳定同位素监测数据,分析了土壤水中稳定同位素特征及其与降水中稳定同位素的关系.结果表明:①土壤水分季节变化表现为丰水期（3-6月,土壤蓄水量大而稳定）、耗水期（7-10月,土壤水分以消耗为主）、补水期（11月-翌年2月,土壤水分以补给为主）3个阶段,土壤含水量由表层至深层呈增加趋势,稳定性增强,土壤含水量的垂向差异依次为耗水期 > 补水期 > 丰水期.②受到冠层截留和地表枯枝落叶吸持的影响,林地的有效降水为降水量（P）>3.3 mm,并且LMWL_{P > 3.3 mm}（降水量>3.3 mm时的当地大气水线）较LMWL的斜率和截距显著增加,与各深度SWL（土壤水线）更接近.③由表层至深层,土壤水稳定同位素受降水入渗、新旧水混合和蒸发的影响减小,0~40 cm土壤水中δ18O均表现为丰水期 > 补水期 > 耗水期,而40~130 cm土壤水中δ18O的季节变化不显著.④观测期间不同水体中lc-excess（δD与LMWL的差值）的平均值依次为降水（0） > 地下水（-2.80‰） > 土壤水（-5.00‰）,土壤水中lc-excess随深度的增加而增大.研究显示:土壤水下渗时新旧水混合是一个持续累积的过程,旧的土壤水逐渐被降水替代;受土壤结构、质地等性质的差异及不同降水事件的影响,土壤水分的补给在剖面上存在时滞.      

两次污泥颗粒化过程中微生物群落的动态变化

利用序批式反应器(sequencing batch reactor,SBR)培养好氧颗粒污泥(aerobic granular sludge,AGS),在此期间发生了AGS破碎现象,后经培养,破碎污泥再次变为成熟的AGS.因此,采用Illumina Mi Seq PE300高通量测序技术研究了两次污泥颗粒化过程中微生物群落结构变化的差异,以期揭示有利于AGS形成的优势菌属;此外,利用实时定量聚合酶链式反应(quantitative polymerase chain reaction,q PCR)探究了两次污泥颗粒化过程中硝化微生物的动态变化.结果表明,在两次污泥颗粒化过程中,胞外蛋白质和胞外多糖的含量均增加;氨氧化古菌(ammonia oxidizing archaea,AOA)在第一次污泥颗粒化过程以及AGS成熟过程丰度增加,氨氧化细菌(ammonia oxidizing bacteria,AOB)虽然在第一次污泥颗粒化过程中丰度降低,但是在AGS培养过程中其丰度都一直高于AOA;微生物群落多样性随着AGS的形成而降低;变形菌门(Proteobacteria)相对丰度明显增加,分别增加了12.29%和5.90%;某些属于变形菌门的属其相对丰度也增加,其中,Candidatus Competibacter在两次污泥颗粒化过程中相对丰度增加最明显,并且在成熟的AGS中呈现很高的相对丰度,达到14.20%.总的来说,胞外蛋白质和胞外多糖含量的增加,可能促进了污泥颗粒化;AOA和AOB可能共同参与了AGS的氨氧化作用;Ca.Competibacter的富集可能有利于AGS的形成.