A new heuristic for capturing the complexity of multimodal signals

Many animal signals are inherently multimodal, engaging more than one of the receiver’s sensory systems simultaneously, and it is the interaction between the two modalities that determines the signal’s function (s) and efficacy. It is hence necessary to quantify the effect of each modality relative to the other in order to fully understand animal communication. We have developed a new heuristic to aid in the identification and interpretation of the many distinct ways in which signals in multiple sensory modalities interact. Our approach represents natural variation in signal production for each modality and uses these to generate three-dimensional receiver response surface plots that map the relationships among the signal components and receiver behavior. We accommodate the extant hypotheses for the interactions between modalities, each of which makes a clear prediction about the shape of the response surface, and extend previous theory by considering new phenomena.     

桑沟湾海域叶绿素a的时空分布特征及其影响因素研究

2009年4月-2010年2月对山东荣成典型养殖海湾—桑沟湾海域水体中的叶绿素a（Chl-a）进行了6个航次的监测,分析该海区表底层海水中Chl-a的质量现状,探讨Chl-a在桑沟湾海区的时空分布特征,以及与水温和营养盐等主要环境因子的相关性。结果表明,桑沟湾海域表层海水Chl-a质量浓度范围为0.36～9.77μg L-1,平均值为2.17μg L-1;底层海水Chl-a质量浓度范围为0.40～7.46μg L-1,平均值为2.14μg L-1。Chl-a质量浓度的季节性变化呈现一定的模式,夏季〉秋季〉春季〉冬季。Chl-a的质量浓度在春季和冬季呈现由湾内向湾外递减的分布特征,而夏季和秋季则没有明显的分布规律。垂直分布上,夏季表层Chl-a质量浓度高于底层,冬季则是底层高于表层,春秋2季表底层垂直分布比较均匀。相关分析显示桑沟湾Chl-a与水温呈较显著正相关,但与营养盐溶解无机氮（DIN）不具显著意义的相关关系。总体看来,桑沟湾海域Chl-a的时空分布受养殖环境状况、水文环境及陆地径流和外源输入的共同影响,贝藻养殖活动及营养盐的陆源输入是影响Chl-a分布格局的重要因素。     

太湖蓝藻的时空变化规律及治理方法

利用2009─2012年丰水期和平水期的生物调查获取的环境和生物数据,研究太湖蓝藻的时空分布规律,分析蓝藻分布与其他物理、化学和生物因子（如温度、酸碱性、有机物和营养盐含量、浮游植物与浮游动物密度等）的相关关系。结果表明：太湖水质基本上超出V类地表水指标,主要的超标因子是总氮。总氮在丰水期和平水期的质量浓度分别为3.05 mg·L-1和1.65 mg·L-1,总氮在丰水期质量浓度降低的主要原因可能是丰水期蓝藻迅速生长,吸收了大量的营养盐。蓝藻仍是太湖浮游植物的优势种。2009─2012年太湖蓝藻的密度随年份无明显变化,但随季节和区域存在显著差异：丰水期蓝藻密度均值为4.87×10^7cell·L-1,明显高于平水期蓝藻密度（1.51×10^6 cell·L-1）;太湖东部采样点蓝藻密度明显低于其他湖区。影响蓝藻的非生物因素包括温度、酸碱度和营养盐,高温、偏碱性和高营养盐含量都会增加蓝藻的密度。蓝藻与其他浮游植物和大型水生植物之间存在竞争关系,蓝藻密度增加促进了枝角类的生长。推荐利用机械打捞和大型水生植物修复方法,因为这2种方法可在降低蓝藻密度的同时去除水体中的有机物和营养盐,可以从根本上降低太湖蓝藻水华的风险。增加其他藻类和枝角类控制蓝藻水华方法可行性较差：1）蓝藻暴发时期其它藻类对能量和营养的竞争能力弱于蓝藻,难以抑制蓝藻的生长;2）在太湖中增加枝角类可能降低现有蓝藻的密度,但建立完整的食物链体系降低富营养化程度,防范生物调控中可能存在的生态风险（如其他藻类水华等）较困难。     

Plasticity in echolocation signals of European pipistrelle bats in search flight: implications for habitat use and prey detection

We studied the echolocation and hunting behavior of three aerial insectivorous species of bats (Vespertilionidae: Pipistrellus) in the field in order to characterize the signals used by the bats and to determine how call structure varies in relation to habitat structure (uncluttered versus cluttered space). We documented free-flying, naturally foraging wild pipistrelles in various habitats using multiflash stereophotography combined with simultaneous sound recordings. Then we reconstructed the bat's flight position in three-dimensional space and correlated it with the corresponding echolocation sequences. In all three species of pipistrelles, signal structure varied substantially. In echolocation sequences of the search phase we found a consistent association of signal types with habitat types. In uncluttered habitats (obstacles more than 5 m from the bat) pipistrelles emitted almost exclusively narrowband signals with bandwidths less than 15 kHz. In cluttered habitats (obstacles less than 5 m from the bat) they switched to signals with bandwidths of more than 15 kHz. Wideband signals were also used when the bats were turning in cluttered and uncluttered spaces and for an instant after turning away from obstacles. Prey detection occured only when the outgoing signal did not overlap with the returning echo from potential prey. The bats also avoided overlap of echoes from potential prey and obstacles. Based on the results of this study, we propose an overlap-free window within which pipistrelles may detect potential prey and which allows predictions of minimum distances to prey and clutter-producing objects. Correspondence to: E.K.V. Kalko     

蓄水后三峡库区重庆段污染负荷与时空分布研究

针对三峡库区重庆段蓄水后的污染负荷状况及时空分布进行了研究。介于三峡库区蓄水后污染形式的变化以及污染源的多样性和库区内各区县污染源特征的差异，将各类污染源分类并分区域进行计算预测。除了对受广泛关注的工业污染、生活污染进行了预测外，还研究了农田径流污染、船舶流动污染、淹没土壤释放污染的计算方法并对其进行了计算。计算结果表明，在2002、2010、2020年重庆段库区水体的主要污染源为农田径流污染、城市生活污水污染和农村生活污染，其中农田径流污染的CODCr、NH3-N、TP的贡献率分别达到了59．95％、74．64％、85．86％，为主要污染源。在2002年、2010年、2020年重庆段三峡库区CODCr、NH3-N、TP的主要来源区域为重庆主城区、万州区、涪陵区和江津市。     

Variation among populations of the sailfin molly in the rate of concurrent multiple paternity and its implications for mating-system evolution

We examined patterns of concurrent multiple mating in a live-bearing poeciliid fish, the sailfin molly (Poecilia latipinna). We tested whether the probability of multiple paternity was related to female body size or fertility and whether the rate of multiple paternity varied among four populations that differed in their distributions of female body size and fertility. We analyzed data on mother and offspring genotypes for three polymorphic allozymes by three techniques, including a maximum-likelihood estimator that accounts for sampling error in both parental and offspring allele frequencies. The estimated rate of multiple paternity varied between 0.09 and 0.85, and the rate in one population varied seasonally between 0.33 (spring) and 0.85 (autumn). The variation in these rates was not associated with variation in body-size distributions among populations but was closely associated with variation in size-specific fertility: populations with greater variation in female fertility had higher multiple-paternity rates. Within two populations, logistic regression revealed that individual females of larger body size and greater size-specific fertility were more likely to carry multiply sired broods. This result is consistent with observations made in one of the populations 5 years earlier. In general, the results strongly suggest that the mating system varies markedly among conspecific populations of sailfin mollies and that larger, more fertile females are the objects of intermale competition. Received: 6 May 1996 / Accepted in revised form: 5 December 1996     

扎龙湿地丹顶鹤巢址空间分布变化及其对环境变化指征

扎龙国家级湿地保护区是我国一级保护鸟类丹顶鹤最重要的集中繁殖栖息地。以扎龙保护区为研究区,利用质心模型和最近邻体模型等方法,模拟1996至2004年间丹顶鹤（Grus japonensis）巢址的空间分布变化,分析这种变化对环境变化的指示作用。结果表明：丹顶鹤种群巢址分布出现向核心区集中的现象,鹤巢平均最近邻体距离大幅减少,巢址的空间分布格局由1996年的均匀分布转变为2004年的成群分布型;丹顶鹤巢址的空间分布变化表明该区环境发生巨大的变化：1996年核心区内栖息资源相对均匀、丰富,而缓冲区和实验区适宜生境呈零星分布格局,此后生境质量经历了由适宜一非适宜,适宜生境空间分布由均匀一斑块化的过程,到2004年各功能区适宜生境数量大幅减少,且核心区内适宜生境斑块化严重。为研究区丹顶鹤种群及其生境的保护和管理提供参考。     

Retrospective analysis of spatial and temporal variability of chlorophyll-a in the Curonian Lagoon

The Curonian Lagoon, the largest in Europe (total surface area 1584?km²), is located in the southern part of the Baltic Sea, from which it is separated by a narrow sand bar and to which it is connected by the Klaipeda Straits. It is characterised by shallow eutrophic waters (mean depth 3.8?m) with average low salinity (<5??) due to the nutrient-rich freshwaters discharged by the river Nemunas. Cyanobacteria blooms, including species producing toxic metabolites, have been a frequent phenomenon in summer. In this study a series of MERIS Full Resolution (FR) satellite images acquired between 2004 and 2009 during summer periods were used to assess the temporal evolution and spatial variability of the lagoon water quality in terms of chlorophyll-a. The models/algorithms were calibrated/validated with field data collected in 2009, based on in situ radiometric (remote sensing reflectance -Rrs-) and limnological (chlorophyll-a concentrations -chl-a-) measurements. The chl-a concentrations were estimated by developing a semi-empirical band ratio (Rrs(708)/Rrs(664)) equation applied to MERIS images after correction for atmospheric effects with the 6S code. Results from this study suggest elevated spatial and temporal variability of chl-a. Spatial variability probably arises from the mosaic of situations within the Curonian lagoon in terms of bottom sediment features, nutrient availability in the water column, water depth and hydrodynamics. Temporal variability is probably linked to complex and interplaying metereological and environmental constraints such as the length of the ice cover period, average water temperatures, wind-induced sediment re-suspension, the pattern of precipitations and river-associated nutrient transport to the lagoon. This study stresses the importance of remote sensing as a valid tool for long-term whole ecosystem studies. The preliminary results need more through analyses and intersection with other environmental data in order to better comprehend algal bloom determinants in complex and extremely dynamic systems such as coastal lagoons.     

广州市PM10的时空变化特征分析

广州市的空气颗粒物污染呈逐年加重趋势,因此利用2001-2004年广州市空气自动监测点(国控点)监测的PM10日平均质量浓度资料,分析了广州市PM10的时空变化特征.统计结果表明,广州市PM10年平均质量浓度逐年递增,月平均质量浓度和季节变化趋势也较明显,秋冬季节污染较重,春夏季节污染较轻;污染较重的是海珠区和黄埔区,污染较轻的为越秀区、天河区和花都区;主成分分析显示各监测点对广州市PM10污染的贡献相当,不同监测点之间PM10质量浓度的变化主要受大尺度上的天气现象影响.     

Social competition masculinizes the communication signals of female electric fish

Male intrasexual competition and female choice explain the evolution of male ornaments. Except in sex-role-reversed taxa, female ornaments have been regarded as an epiphenomenon of genetic correlation, with no female-specific function or independently selected basis. Females from species with conventional sex roles may still experience some degree of female–female competition and male choice that could explain the persistence of female ornaments. We studied the effect of female competition on the expression of a sexually dimorphic communication signal. In the electric fish Brachyhypopomus gauderio, both sexes produce an electric signal pulse for communication and electrolocation. Male electric pulses are longer in duration and greater in amplitude than those of females. As competition increases, males further enhance their signals in response to elevated androgen levels. We explored whether females respond to social competition as males do, by enhancing their communication signals and increasing androgen levels. We measured amplitude and duration of the electric signal pulse, and testosterone levels in female B. gauderio in their natural habitat in Uruguay and estimated social competition by calculating population density and adult sex ratio (ASR). In the lab, we manipulated ASR and population density independently to separate these factors and eliminate seasonal confounds. Under both field and lab conditions, signal pulse amplitude increased with population density, while pulse duration increased with female bias in ASR. In the field, but not the lab, androgen levels increased when ASR was female biased. Our findings indicate that the socially mediated mechanism of signal regulation is shared by the sexes, although whether androgens regulate this signal plasticity in females remains unclear.     

Human-driven spatial and temporal shift in trophodynamics in the Gulf of Maine,USA

Utilizing marine protected areas (MPAs) to isolate the ecological effects of human influence can help us understand our effect on systems and foster ecosystem-based approaches to management. Specifically, examining invertebrate prey community dynamics inside and outside an MPA may provide a measure of how altering human influence (i.e., certain fishing pressures) affects ecosystem interactions. We measured trophic interactions inside and outside a deep-water temperate MPA over 2 years. Predation rates on tethered, preferred groundfish prey (crabs) were initially identical inside and outside the MPA, but decreased outside the MPA after the commercial groundfish fishing season commenced. Predation trials using a ubiquitous prey species (brittle stars) and a less preferred prey species (urchins) served as controls, showing no MPA effect. Our experiments quantify differential predatory activity resulting from differences in human activity driven by an MPA, demonstrating important effects of fishing and regulations on the strength of trophic interactions.     

金沙江干热河谷山地草地封育过程中土壤种子库时空特征

2006年和2007年,分别选择放牧、封育1年、封育2年和封育3年的退化山地草地,采用土壤种子库萌发法对土壤种子库的时间、空间分布进行测定,旨在揭示金沙江干热河谷退化山地草地在封育过程中,土壤种子库的时间、空间以及时间序列上的空间变化特征.结果表明,(1)随封育年限的推移土壤种子库密度显著增加(F=73.107;P=<0.001).植物种群土壤种子库密度随封育年限的推移,多年生植物种群土壤种子库密度显著增加(P=<0.001),一年生植物种群土壤种子库密度显著现降低(P=<0.01).(2)土壤种子库的空间分布特征为0～5 cm土壤层(含凋落物层)>5～10 cm土壤层>10～15cm土壤层,种子密度呈自上而下减少的趋势.(3)土壤种子库时间序列上的空间分布特征为,0～5 cm土壤层中种子库密度随封育时间的推移呈显著下降趋势(F=43.758;P<0.01),5～10 cm土壤层中种子库密度随封育时间的推移呈显著增加趋势(F=6.435;P<0.05),10～15 cm土壤层中种子库密度随封育时间的推移呈显著增加趋势(F=6.620;P<0.05).     

Variation in signal timing behavior: implications for male attractiveness and sexual selection

Mate choice often takes place in group settings, such as leks or choruses, in which numerous individuals display and compete for mates simultaneously. In addition to well-known preferences for male traits like size and signaling rate, females of group-displaying species often show preferences that are based on the relative timing of male signals, generally preferring the leading signal. Variation in male signal timing behavior may therefore affect male attractiveness and, ultimately, reproductive success. I used acoustic communication in green treefrogs (Hyla cinerea) to assess the amount of signal timing variation found in natural choruses and to test hypotheses about the sources of variation in signal timing behavior. I recorded dyads of vocally interacting males in the field to describe patterns of variation in signal timing behavior. Incorporating information about female signal timing preferences, I also assessed the amount of variation in signal timing that is likely to be selectively neutral, as well as the amount that is likely under selection by female choice because it involves attractive or unattractive signal placement. I show that there is considerable variation in signal timing behavior, particularly involving neutral signal timing placement. I also show that between-male variation in other traits (size, signal period) is partly linked to variation in signal timing behavior and discuss these findings in terms of male attractiveness and sexual selection in group-displaying organisms.     

Significance of spectral and temporal call parameters in the auditory communication of male grass frogs

Summary During the spawning period, male grass frogs (Rana temporaria L.) frequently produce short and long territorial calls in addition to mating calls. The calls differ in mean pulse number, duration, and pattern of amplitude modulation. Experiments in which recorded natural calls are played back reveal that male grass frogs are capable of discriminating the different conspecific calls. A male frog stimulated by mating calls always responds by producing mating calls in greater numbers (Fig. 3). Territorial calls presented at low intensity also cause an increase in the mating-call rate (Fig. 4), but at high intensity they clicit territorial calls and turning toward the loudspeaker. A combination of short and long territorial calls was especially effective in eliciting the phonotaxis response. As play-back experiments with simulated calls show, the carrier frequency and the pulse repetition rate are particularly important cues for recognition of conspecific calls (Fig. 5). A simulated call with a 400-Hz carrier frequency (the dominant frquency of the mating call) is just as effective as the natural call with the complete frequency spectrum (Fig. 3), whereas a 1100-Hz simulated call is ineffective (Fig. 5). The chief factors in discrimination among the conspecific calls are the call repetition rate and probably the amplitude and frequency modulation. Changes in the duration of the calls had little effect (Fig. 6). The available evidence suggests that the mating call has a reciprocally stimulating action on males in a chorus, whereas the territorial calls experess aggressiveness and give warning to other males.     

High-frequency sound transmission in natural habitats: implications for the evolution of insect acoustic communication

Summary Transmission and reception of high-frequency sound in the natural environment of bushcrickets (Tettigonia viridissima L.) was studied using the activity of an identified neuron in the insect's auditory pathway as a biological microphone. Different positions of the receiver within the habitat were simulated by systematic variation of the distance from a loudspeaker and the height above the ground. Attenuation and filtering properties of the habitat were investigated with pure-tone frequencies between 5 and 40 kHz. Sound attenuation in excess of the attenuation due to geometrical spreading alone increased with increasing frequency, distance between sender and receiver, and decreasing height within the vegetation (Figs. 2–4). The data also confirm the existence of two kinds of excess attenuation. The amount of amplitude fluctuations in the sound signals was investigated by analysing the variability of the neuronal responses at a given receiver position. Variability increased with decreasing bandwidth of a noise signal at some distance from the loadspeaker. The variability in the responses to pure tones increased with both increasing frequency and distance from the source (Fig. 7). In the selected habitat, the temporal pattern of the natural calling song of male T. viridissima was very reliably reflected in the activity of the recorded neuron up to a distance of 30 m at the top of the vegetation, and 15–20 m near ground level (Figs. 5, 8). The maximum hearing distance in response to the calling song was about 40 m. Environmental constraints on long-range acoustic communication in the habitat are discussed in relation to possible adaptations of both the signal structure and the behavior of the insects.Abbreviations excessive attenuation EA - sound pressure level SPL Offprint requests to: H. Romer     

The scale and cause of spatial heterogeneity in strength of temporal density dependence

The importance of density dependence in natural communities continues to spark much debate because it is fundamental to population regulation. We used temporal manipulations of density to explore potentially stabilizing density dependence in early survivorship among six local populations of a tropical damselfish (Dascyllus flavicaudus). Specifically, we tested the premise that spatial heterogeneity in the strength of temporal density dependence would reflect variation in density of predators, the agent of mortality. Our field manipulations revealed that mortality among successive cohorts of young fishes was density dependent at each reef, but that its strength varied by approximately 1.5 orders of magnitude. This spatial heterogeneity was well predicted by variation among the six reefs in the density of predatory fishes that consume juvenile damselfishes. Because density dependence arose from competition for enemy-free space within a shelter coral, the mortality consequence of the competition depended on the neighborhood density of predators. Thus, the scale of heterogeneity in the density dependence largely reflected attributes of the environment that shaped the local abundance of predators. These results have important implications for how ecologists explore regulatory processes in nature. Failure to account for spatial variation could frequently yield misleading conclusions regarding density dependence as a stabilizing process, obscure underlying mechanisms influencing its strength, and provide no insight into the spatial scale of the heterogeneity. Further, models of population dynamics will be improved when experimental approaches better estimate the magnitude and causes of variation in strength of stabilizing density dependence.     

区域农田生态系统生产力的时空格局及其影响因子研究——以山东省为例

在统计数据的基础上,以山东省为例,利用模型量化了农田生态系统净初级生产力（NPP）,并研究了农田生态系统NPP的时空格局及其影响因素。研究发现,2000—2006年间,山东省农田生态系统NPP在时间序列上整体呈上升的趋势,由2000年的476.5g·m-2·a-1（以C计）上升到2006年的544.2g·m-2·a-1（以C计）。空间格局中以鲁东、鲁中和鲁南较高,鲁西南和鲁北较低。各地市中以枣庄最高,为691g·m-2·a-1（以C计）;东营最低,约424.4g·m-2·a-1（以C计）。另外,莱芜、临沂及菏泽等地也相对偏低。通过对影响农田生态系统NPP的自然因子和人为因子分别进行主成分分析发现：气候因子中对山东省农田生态系统NPP贡献最大的为降水;人为因子中以农膜的贡献最大,其次为农药、机械、化肥,而劳动力的贡献则随着科技的发展而降低,人口密度的过大对农田生态系统生产力具有较大的负面影响。     

A model of Cellular Automata for the spatial and temporal analysis of Citrus Sudden Death with the fuzzy parameter

Citrus Sudden Death (CSD) is a disease that has affected sweet orange trees grafted on Rangpur lime in the south of Minas Gerais state and in the north of São Paulo state (Brazil). This is a worrying characteristic because the Rangpur lime responds to 85% of the Brazilian citrus rootstocks. This disease is believed to be caused by a virus transmitted by aphids (vector) of the citrus. In this work, we have adopted the Cellular Automata model (CA) to study the temporal evolution of the disease. We take into account the effect of the wind in the space covered by the aphid. To establish the relationship between the space covered by the aphid and the intensity of the wind, we have adopted the rule-based fuzzy system. Simulations were performed and compared to real data. Through the use of the mean absolute error (MAE) method, it was possible to verify a 70% of similarity between our model of data and the real one.