沼液SBR处理出水养殖螺旋藻

养猪沼液氮磷等营养物质丰富,可作为廉价的螺旋藻培养基,但其成分复杂,尤其是高氨氮等因素严重抑制螺旋藻的生长.采用序批式生物反应器(sequencing batch reactor,SBR)降低沼液中的氨氮浓度,通过改变进水中化学需氧量(chemical oxygen demand,COD)与总氮(total nitrogen,TN)的比值,研究了沼液中的亚硝态氮及硝态氮的保留情况,为螺旋藻生长提供氮源.通过对比螺旋藻在不同工况出水中的生长情况,以及氮元素的保留情况,筛选出最佳SBR工况.摇瓶试验结果表明,当进水COD/TN=3.0,出水中氨氮、硝态氮、亚硝态氮浓度分别为51.2、91.6、213.1 mg·L~(-1),此时螺旋藻具有较快生长速率,产率达到0.084 g·(L·d)~(-1).在此基础之上,通过放大螺旋藻培养规模至120L,研究了螺旋藻在室外大棚中的生长情况及螺旋藻对沼液中氮、磷元素的去除,结果表明螺旋藻在室外依然生长良好,培养10 d后,产率为(0.075±0.003)g·(L·d)~(-1),螺旋藻蛋白含量达到60%左右,养殖出水中氨氮去除率达到99%.     

Arsenic methylation by an arsenite S-adenosylmethionine methyltransferase from Spirulina platensis

Arsenic-contaminated water is a serious hazard for human health. Plankton plays a critical role in the fate and toxicity of arsenic in water by accumulation and biotransformation.Spirulina platensis(S. platensis), a typical plankton, is often used as a supplement or feed for pharmacy and aquiculture, and may introduce arsenic into the food chain, resulting in a risk to human health. However, there are few studies about how S. platensis biotransforms arsenic. In this study, we investigated arsenic biotransformation by S. platensis. When exposed to arsenite(As(Ⅲ)), S. platensis accumulated arsenic up to 4.1 mg/kg dry weight.After exposure to As(Ⅲ), arsenate(As(Ⅴ)) was the predominant species making up 64% to86% of the total arsenic. Monomethylarsenate(MMA(Ⅴ)) and dimethylarsenate(DMA(Ⅴ))were also detected. An arsenite S-adenosylmethionine methyltransferase from S. platensis(Sp Ars M) was identified and characterized. Sp Ars M showed low identity with other reported Ars M enzymes. The Escherichia coli AW3110 bearing Spars M gene resulted in As(Ⅲ) methylation and conferring resistance to As(Ⅲ). The in vitro assay showed that Sp Ars M exhibited As(Ⅲ) methylation activity. DMA(Ⅴ) and a small amount of MMA(Ⅴ) were detected in the reaction system within 0.5 hr. A truncated Sp Ars M derivative lacking the last 34 residues still had the ability to methylate As(Ⅲ). The three single mutants of Sp Ars M(C59S, C186 S, and C238S) abolished the capability of As(Ⅲ) methylation, suggesting the three cysteine residues are involved in catalysis. We propose that Sp Ars M is responsible for As methylation and detoxification of As(Ⅲ) and may contribute to As biogeochemistry.     

Folivory versus florivory—adaptiveness of flower feeding

The distribution of resources and defence is heterogeneous within plants. Specialist insects may prefer tissue with high concentrations of the plant’s characteristic defence compounds. Most herbivorous butterfly or sawfly larvae are considered to be folivores, so also the turnip sawfly Athalia rosae (Hymenoptera: Tenthredinidae), a specialist herbivore on Brassicaceae. We investigated which tissue larvae choose to feed upon and how they perform on flowers, young or old leaves of Sinapis alba. Furthermore, constitutive and inducible levels of glucosinolates and myrosinases were investigated and nutrients analysed. Larvae moved from leaves to flowers for feeding from the third larval instar on. Flowers were not actively chosen, but larvae moved upwards on the plant, regardless of how plants were orientated (upright or inverted). Flower-feeding larvae were heavier and developed faster than larvae feeding on young leaves, and adults laid more eggs. Old leaves as food source resulted in the lowest growth rates. Flowers contained three and ten times higher myrosinase activities than young and old leaves, respectively, whereas glucosinolate concentrations and nitrogen levels of flowers and young leaves were comparable. Glucosinolate concentrations of old leaves were very low. Changes in tissue chemistry caused by larval feeding were tissue specific. Defence levels did not change in flowers and old leaves after A. rosae feeding in contrast to young leaves. The high insect performance on flowers cannot be explained by differences in chemical defence. Instead, the lack of mechanical defence (trichomes) is probably responsible. Movement to the flowers and folivory is overall highly adaptive for this sawfly species.     

Divergent evolution of feeding substrate preferences in a phylogenetically young species flock of pupfish (Cyprinodon spp.)

A fundamental question in sympatric speciation is how trophic divergence is achieved. We used an extremely young (<8,000 years) species flock of pupfish (Cyprinodon spp.) from Laguna Chichancanab in south-eastern Mexico to examine divergent evolution of preferences for different feeding substrates. In a test aquarium, we presented four feeding substrates (sand, gravel, a plastic plant, and blank bottom), but no actual food was offered. The four feeding substrates were chosen to mirror the most common substrate types in Laguna Chichancanab. Previous studies demonstrated that benthic food items prevail in the diet of most Cyprinodon species. C. beltrani preferred sand, whereas C. labiosus preferred gravel. F₁ hybrids of both species showed intermediate preferences. C. maya searched for food equally at all substrates. As the test fish were reared under identical laboratory conditions (i.e., in the absence of feeding substrates), the species-specific preferences appear to be genetically fixed, suggesting rapid divergent evolution of feeding behaviors.     

Regional,seasonal and interspecific variation in <Superscript>15</Superscript>N and <Superscript>13</Superscript>C in sympatric mouse lemurs

Madagascar provides some of the rare examples where two or more primate species of the same genus and with seemingly identical niche requirements occur in sympatry. If congeneric primate species co-occur in other parts of the world, they differ in size in a way that is consistent with Hutchinson’s rule for coexisting species, or they occupy different ecological niches. In some areas of Madagascar, mouse lemurs do not follow these “rules” and thus seem to violate one of the principles of community ecology. In order to understand the mechanisms that allow coexistence of sympatric congeneric species without obvious niche differentiation, we studied food composition of two identical sized omnivorous mouse lemur species, Microcebus griseorufus and M. murinus with the help of stable isotope analyses (δ ¹⁵N and δ ¹³C). The two species are closely related sister species. During the rich season, when food seems abundant, the two species do not differ in their nitrogen isotope composition, indicating that the two species occupy the same trophic level. But they differ in their δ ¹³C values, indicating that M. griseorufus feeds more on C₄ and CAM (Crassulacean-acid-metabolism) plants than M. murinus. During the lean season, M. murinus has lower δ ¹⁵N values, indicating that the two species feed at different trophic levels during times of food shortage. Hybrids between the two species showed intermediate food composition. The results reflect subtle differences in foraging or metabolic adaptations that are difficult to quantify by traditional observations but that represent possibilities to allow coexistence of species.     

Floral CO<Subscript>2</Subscript> emission may indicate food abundance to nectar-feeding moths

As part of a study of the roles of the sensory subsystem devoted to CO₂ in the nectar-feeding moth Manduca sexta, we investigated CO₂ release and nectar secretion by flowers of Datura wrightii, a preferred hostplant of Manduca. Datura flowers open at dusk and wilt by the following noon. During the first hours after dusk, when Manduca feeds, the flowers produce considerable amounts of nectar and emit levels of CO₂ that should be detectable by moths nearby. By midnight, however, both nectar secretion and CO₂ release decrease significantly. Because nectar production requires high metabolic activity, high floral CO₂ emission may indicate food abundance to the moths. We suggest that hovering moths could use the florally emitted CO₂ to help them assess the nectar content before attempting to feed in order to improve their foraging efficiency.Electronic Supplementary Material  Supplementary material is available in the online version of this article at     

沼液养殖钝顶螺旋藻的中试研究

在室外中试规模的跑道池中,使用混凝沉淀处理后的沼液养殖高耐污钝顶螺旋藻,研究了螺旋藻的生长情况以及沼液中氮磷的去除情况,计算了沼液中氮磷向螺旋藻体的转化效率.在此基础上,结合小试研究,分析总结了使用沼液室外规模化养殖螺旋藻过程中存在的问题和对策.以12 d为一个培养周期,总共进行了6批次培养试验,其中3批次培养的螺旋藻浓度能够达到采收要求(D560>0.8);而另外3批次未能收获螺旋藻.成功的3个养殖批次中,螺旋藻采收后沼液中COD、氨氮、总氮、总磷分别减少了28.6%~48.5%、30.4%~48.5%、41.8%~48.6%、14.3%~94.5%;其中去除的总氮和总磷向螺旋藻细胞的转化率分别为12.1%~98.5%和21.2%~83.7%.沼液中的高浓度氨氮以及残存虫卵孵化产生的虫害是导致另外3批次培养螺旋藻生长缓慢的主要因素,使用生物处理技术降低沼液中氨氮含量、使用膜过滤技术去除沼液中虫卵对于稳定获得高产率的螺旋藻非常必要.     

镉在3种乔木中的积累及其亚细胞分布和化学形态研究

研究不同镉（Cd）浓度（0、25、50、100、200 mg·kg^-1）处理下,栾树（Koelreuteria paniculata）、臭椿（Ailanthus altissima）、银杏（Ginkgo biloba）3种乔木叶、枝、根中Cd的含量与积累特征,并分析Cd对其叶片超微结构的影响,探讨Cd在3种乔木叶片与根系中的亚细胞分布和化学形态特征.结果表明,3种乔木体内的Cd含量随着土壤Cd处理浓度的增加而增加,且主要积累在根部.栾树和臭椿各器官中的Cd含量显著高于银杏,表明栾树和臭椿对Cd的积累能力强于银杏.高浓度Cd处理下,栾树和臭椿叶片细胞结构损伤明显,细胞内出现大量黑色絮状物,且附着在细胞壁及细胞器的表面.而银杏叶片细胞无明显损伤特征,说明银杏对Cd的耐受性强于栾树和臭椿.3种乔木叶片中的Cd多存在于细胞壁或可溶性组分中,根系中的Cd多存在于细胞壁中,Cd在各组织的叶绿体、线粒体和细胞核等细胞器中分布较少.3种乔木叶片和根系中分别以移动性和毒性相对较低的HAc、NaCl提取态Cd分配比例最大.3种乔木各器官对Cd的积累能力与其叶片细胞中叶绿体与线粒体组分Cd占比有显著负相关关系,与叶片中HAc提取态Cd分配比例呈显著正相关性.     

Sticky snack for sengis: The Cape rock elephant-shrew, Elephantulus edwardii (Macroscelidea), as a pollinator of the Pagoda lily, Whiteheadia bifolia (Hyacinthaceae)

Following the recent discovery of rodent pollination in the Pagoda lily, Whiteheadia bifolia (Hyacinthaceae) in South Africa, now the Cape rock elephant-shrew, Elephantulus edwardii (Macroscelidea, Afrotheria) is reported as an additional pollinator. Elephant-shrews, live-trapped near W. bifolia plants, were released in two terraria, containing the plants. The animals licked nectar with their long and slender tongues while being dusted with pollen and touching the stigmas of the flowers with their long and flexible noses. The captured elephant-shrews had W. bifolia pollen in their faeces, likely as a result of grooming their fur as they visited the flowers without eating or destroying them. The animals mostly preferred nectar over other food. This is the first record of pollination and nectar consumption in the primarily insectivorous E. edwardii, contributing to the very sparse knowledge about the behaviour of this unique clade of African mammals, as well as pollination by small mammals.     

Benzoquinones from millipedes deter mosquitoes and elicit self-anointing in capuchin monkeys (Cebus spp.)

Neotropical monkeys of the genus Cebus anoint themselves by rubbing arthropods and plants against their pelage. A recent study has shown that free-ranging wedge-capped capuchin monkeys ( C. olivaceus) in Venezuela self-anoint with a benzoquinone-secreting millipede, an activity by which they are hypothesized to appropriate chemical deterrents of mosquitoes. To evaluate the plausibility of this hypothesis, female yellow fever mosquitoes ( Aedes aegypti) were presented with two millipede secretory compounds, 2-methyl-1,4-benzoquinone and 2-methoxy-3-methyl-1,4-benzoquinone, on nylon-reinforced silicone membranes placed over wells filled with human blood, a highly preferred food. Mosquitoes exhibited fewer landings, fed less frequently, and flew more frequently (a possible indication of repellency) in the presence of membranes treated with benzoquinones than with controls. These compounds also elicit self-anointing in captive male and female tufted ( C. apella) and white-faced ( C. capucinus) capuchin monkeys.     

Forest clearing and sex ratio in forest-dwelling wood ant <Emphasis Type="Italic">Formica aquilonia</Emphasis>

Sex ratios of ants have been shown to vary with food resource levels in several studies, but it is not known whether forest clear-cutting has any effect on sex ratio of aphid-tending forest-dwelling ants. We investigated whether the offspring sex ratio of the forest dwelling ant Formica aquilonia varied as a response to clear-cutting. We found that the proportion of males was smaller in clear-cuts than in adjacent forests. Our results are among the first showing that anthropogenic changes in forest structures may have a potential to modify sex ratios of social insects and other forest-dwelling animals.     

Energy budget of Pieris brassicae L. larvae (Lepidoptera: Pieridae) fed on four host plant species

Energy budgets were evaluated for the larval development of Pieris brassicae fed on leaves of Brassica oleracea var. capitata, B. oleracea var. botrytis, B. oleracea var. sarson and Nasturtium montanum. Food consumption, assimilation and tissue growth values were maximum for the larvae fed on B. oleracea var. capitata and minimum for the larvae fed on N. montanum. Mean values of approximate digestibility (AD), efficiency of conversion of digested food into body tissue (ECD) and efficiency of conversion of ingested food into body tissue (ECI) fall within the values reported for other leaf-eating lepidopterans. An equivalent weight of the following materials had calorific values in the order given: faeces < food plant < larval stages < pupal stage.     

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.     

Experience,but not distance,influences the recruitment precision in the stingless bee <Emphasis Type="Italic">Scaptotrigona mexicana</Emphasis>

Recruitment precision, i.e. the proportion of recruits that reach an advertised food source, is a crucial adaptation of social bees to their environment. Studies with honeybees showed that recruitment precision is not a fixed feature, but it may be enhanced by factors like experience and distance. However, little is known regarding the recruitment precision of stingless bees. Hence, in this study, we examined the effects of experience and spatial distance on the precision of the food communication system of the stingless bee Scaptotrigona mexicana. We conducted the experiments by training bees to a three-dimensional artificial patch at several distances from the colony. We recorded the choices of individual recruited foragers, either being newcomers (foragers without experience with the advertised food source) or experienced (foragers that had previously visited the feeder). We found that the average precision of newcomers (95.6 ± 2.61%) was significantly higher than that of experienced bees (80.2 ± 1.12%). While this might seem counter-intuitive on first sight, this “loss” of precision can be explained by the tendency of experienced recruits to explore nearby areas to find new rewarding food sources after they had initially learned the exact location of the food source. Increasing the distance from the colony had no significant effect on the precision of the foraging bees. Thus, our data show that experience, but not the distance of the food source, affected the patch precision of S. mexicana foragers.     

Wasps robbing food from ants: a frequent behavior?

Food robbing, or cleptobiosis, has been well documented throughout the animal kingdom. For insects, intrafamilial food robbing is known among ants, but social wasps (Vespidae; Polistinae) taking food from ants has, to the best of our knowledge, never been reported. In this paper, we present two cases involving social wasps robbing food from ants associated with myrmecophytes. (1) Polybioides tabida F. (Ropalidiini) rob pieces of prey from Tetraponera aethiops Smith (Formicidae; Pseudomyrmecinae) specifically associated with Barteria fistulosa Mast. (Passifloraceae). (2) Charterginus spp. (Epiponini) rob food bodies from myrmecophytic Cecropia (Cecropiaceae) exploited by their Azteca mutualists (Formicidae; Dolichoderinae) or by opportunistic ants (that also attack cleptobiotic wasps). We note here that wasps gather food bodies (1) when ants are not yet active; (2) when ants are active, but avoiding any contact with them by flying off when attacked; and (3) through the coordinated efforts of two to five wasps, wherein one of them prevents the ants from leaving their nest, while the other wasps freely gather the food bodies. We suggest that these interactions are more common than previously thought.     

黔西北土法炼锌废渣堆场修复植物叶片和废渣的生态化学计量特征

为探讨土法炼锌废渣堆场实现生态修复后废渣-植物系统中植物内稳性以及不同植被类型与氮磷限制的关系,选择黔西北威宁县猴场镇已开展生态修复达4年的土法炼锌废渣堆场为研究区域,以废渣堆场上生长良好的5种优势乔灌草植物即构树（Broussonetia papyrifera）、柳杉（Cryptomeria fortunei）、大叶醉鱼草（Buddleja davidii）、芦竹（Arundo donax）、三叶草（Trifolium repens L）为研究对象,研究5种优势植物在铅锌废渣堆场中碳（C）、氮（N）、磷（P）、钾（K）的生态化学计量特征及其相互关系。结果表明：不同优势植物修复的废渣中C、N含量较高,P、K含量较低,三叶草废渣中N、P含量显著高于其他植物（p<0.05）,有效氮、有效磷与速效钾表现为三叶草废渣较高,柳杉较低;各元素化学计量特征表现为C∶P > C∶K > C∶N > N∶P > N∶K > P∶K,三叶草废渣中N∶K、P∶K显著高于其余四种植物。5种植物叶片中N含量整体较低,草本植物三叶草N、P、K含量明显高于其余几种植物;通过叶片N∶P分析表明,除三叶草生长受P限制,其余4种植物生长都受N限制。废渣与植物叶片中养分含量间的相关性表明,植物叶片中N、P、K含量分别与废渣中有效态养分（N、P、K）含量呈显著正相关（p<0.05）。除叶片N∶P与废渣中有效态养分（N、P、K）含量呈正相关外,叶片中其余元素间的化学计量比均与废渣中有效态养分（N、P、K）含量呈负相关,其中叶片C∶K、P∶K与废渣中有效态养分（N、P、K）含量呈极显著负相关（p<0.01）。因此,废渣中N、P、K的有效性显著影响着植物叶片中N、P、K的含量及生态化学计量特征。     

Screening of endophytic bacteria against fungal plant pathogens

Bacterial endophytes were found from 6 plant leaves among 35 plant leaves screened. Two of the isolated bacteria showed antagonistic activity against fungal plant pathogens. An isolate named KL1 showed the clear inihibition against plant pathogens, Fusarium oxysporum and Rhizoctonia solani, on PDA as well as TSA plate. Supernatant of the bacterial culture also showed the clear inhibition against the fungal growth on the plate and the antibiotic substance was identified as iturin A by HPLC analysis. KL1 was identified as Bacillus sp. from the 16S rRNA gene analysis. Very thin hyphae of R. solani was miccroscopically observed when the fungus was co-cultivated with KL1.     

芦竹和木本植物间种修复重金属污染土壤

通过温室盆栽实验,研究草本植物芦竹与木本植物构树、桑树间种修复重金属污染土壤的潜力.结果表明,重金属污染土壤上芦竹与构树、桑树间种有利于植物的生长,提高植物对污染土壤中重金属的富集能力,并有效改善土壤酶活性.重金属污染土壤上单种芦竹、构树和桑树的叶片光合色素含量随着修复时间的延长呈下降趋势,而芦竹与构树、桑树间种修复270 d后,构树叶片叶绿素a和类胡萝卜素含量,桑树叶片叶绿素b和类胡萝卜素含量均与修复初期(90 d)相比无显著差异;桑树叶片叶绿素a、叶绿素b以及类胡萝卜素含量较单种桑树分别显著(P 0. 05)提高99. 1%、177. 1%和119. 9%,且整株生物量显著(P 0. 05)提高26. 1%.芦竹-构树间种下植物地上部分Pb和Zn总量较单种芦竹分别显著(P 0. 05)提高171%和124%;芦竹-桑树间种下植物地上部分As和Pb总量较单种桑树和芦竹修复分别显著(P 0. 05)提高150%和76. 5%.芦竹与构树、桑树间种修复270 d后,污染土壤中As、Cd、Pb和Zn的赋存形态无明显变化,而且土壤脲酶、酸性磷酸酶和总磷酸酶活性明显优于部分单一植物修复.上述结果表明,芦竹与构树、桑树间种可有效用于重金属污染土壤修复,还可改善污染土壤的环境质量.     

N and P dynamics in the litter layer and soil of Mexican semi-arid forests, state of Morelos

In central Mexico, it is common for farmers to retain useful trees in abandoned lands after maize cultivation, creating a park-like landscape of scattered trees for extensive livestock grazing, among other land uses (mature forests, secondary forests, and livestock grazing in secondary forests). Among these trees Acacia cochliancantha and Ipomoea arborescens are the most common species associated with this land use in the region. The objective of this study was to assess the effects of both tree species on soil N and P recycling. To this end, we measured N and P concentrations in leaves of both species; and the seasonal N and P (total and dissolved) content in the litter, and total N and P, inorganic N, and bicarbonate-extractable-P concentrations, and the N transformations in the soil, in samples collected under crown of Acacia and Ipomoea and in open areas. Trees of different species varied in their capacity to cycle N. The leaves of Acacia were richer in N than those of Ipomoea (29.7 and 25.0 mg N g⁻¹, respectively), and nutrient resorption was higher in leguminous trees than in Ipomoea (by 20% in the case of N, and 35% in the case of P). Acacia trees had higher effects on soils than Ipomoea trees, like consistent increases of N concentrations (by 30% in the case of total N, and by 50% in the case of inorganic N) and transformations (N mineralization and nitrification in rainy season increases by a factor of 20 and 36, respectively). On the other hand, Ipomoea produced senescent leaves and accumulated forest litter with less P concentration (0.8 and 0.7 mg P g⁻¹, respectively) in relation to Acacia (senescent leaves: 1.3 mg P g⁻¹; litter: 1.1 mg P g⁻¹), reflecting the lower availability of the nutrient in the soil. The total litter N and P pools decreased in the rainy season under crown of both species, as the dissolved P pool did. The total soil N and P concentrations did not change with sampling season. However, potential N transformations and bicarbonate P under both species were higher in dry season than in rainy season samples. Comparison with other land uses in the region suggests that the Acacia–Ipomoea system cycles low quantity of nutrients, but there are no notable differences in the availability of P in the soils. These results demonstrate that scattered trees improve the N and P cycling following the discontinuation of agricultural practices, and the effects will vary depending on the tree species.     

Homing pigeons (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Columba livia</Emphasis> f. <Emphasis Type="Italic">domestica</Emphasis>) can use magnetic cues for locating food

An experimental group of homing pigeons (Columba livia f. domestica) learned to associate food with a magnetic anomaly produced by bar magnets that were fixed to the bowl in which they received their daily food ration in their home loft; the control group lacked this experience. Both groups were trained to search for two hidden food depots in a rectangular sand-filled arena without obvious visual cues; for the experimental birds, these depots were also marked with three 1.15 × 10⁶ μT bar magnets. During the tests, there were two food depots, one marked with the magnets, the other unmarked; their position within the arena was changed from test to test. The experimental birds searched within 10 cm of the magnetically marked depot in 49% of the test sessions, whereas the control birds searched there in only 11% of the sessions. Both groups searched near the control depot in 11 and 13% of the sessions, respectively. The significant preference of the magnetically marked food depot by the experimental birds shows that homing pigeons cannot only detect a magnetic anomaly but can also use it as a cue for locating hidden food in an open arena.