Two lactones in the androconial scent of the lycaenid butterfly Celastrina argiolus ladonides

Male adult butterflies of many species have characteristic odors originating from the disseminating organs known as androconia. Despite the fact that androconia exist in several species, there have been few investigations on adult scents from the lycaenid species. Celastrina argiolus ladonides (Lycaenidae) is a common species in Eurasia. We have reported that male adults of this species emit a faint odor, and the major components causing this odor have been newly found in the Insecta. By using field-caught individuals, we determined the chemical nature and location of this odor in the butterfly. Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) analyses revealed that two lactone compounds, lavender lactone and δ-decalactone, are present in the extracts of males but absent in those of the females. On an average, approximately 50 ng of each compound was found per male. Chiral GC analyses performed using enantiomerically pure standards revealed that the natural lavender lactone was a mixture of two enantiomers with an R/S ratio of 32:68, whereas the natural δ-decalactone contained only the R-enantiomer. When the analyses were conducted using different parts—forewings, hindwings, and body—of three males, the lactones were more abundantly found on the forewings and hindwings than on the body. Microscopic observation of the wings demonstrated that battledore scales known as androconia are scattered on the upper surface of both the wings of C. argiolus ladonides males. These results indicate that the specialized scales on the wings of males serve as scent-disseminating organs.     

Frequent summer nuptial flights of ants provide a primary food source for bats

In many ant species, nuptial flight tends to be short in time and assumed to be synchronous across a large area. Here, we report that, in the upper Jordan Valley, northern Israel, massive nuptial flights of Carpenter ants (Camponotus sp.) occur frequently throughout the summer, and their alates form up to 90% of the diet of the greater mouse-tailed bat (Rhinopoma microphyllum) during this period. This fat and protein-rich diet enables female bats to lactate during summer, and the large amount of fat that both sexes accumulate may serve as an energy source for their following winter hibernation and posthibernation mating in early spring (March–April). We suggest that the annual movement of these bats to the Mediterranean region of Israel may have evolved in order to enable them to exploit the extremely nutritious forms of ant alates when the bats’ energetic demands are highest.     

Retinal regionalization and heterogeneity of butterfly eyes

The regional characteristics of the eyes of butterflies from different families have been surveyed using epi-illumination microscopy, utilizing the eyeshine visible due to the tapetum situated proximally to the rhabdom. All butterflies studied have a high spatial acuity in the frontal region. The facet diameter varies slightly across the eye, and the interommatidial angle and the eye parameter p are especially large dorsally. Whereas the ommatidial lattice is generally highly regular, the eyeshine colours distinctly depend on the species. Sometimes the eyeshine is locally uniform, but often it is heterogeneous. It is hypothesized that the regional characteristics as well as the local heterogeneity are adaptations that optimize spectral discrimination.     

Level of coordinated development in economy and environment

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贵州植物物种高丰富度区域人类干扰变化分析

结合地面调查和卫星遥感监测手段,基于贵州省维管植物、濒危植物物种、特有物种野外调查数据的整理和空间化,叠加形成物种高丰富度区,结合1990～2018年贵州土地利用和人类干扰遥感监测数据,对其动态变化进行分析,结果表明:1)贵州植物物种高丰富度区域主要分布在册亨县、安定县、兴义市、兴仁县、凯里市、雷山县、印江土家族苗族自...     

生态环境政策统筹发展思考

生态环境政策是国家为了完成生态环境保护目标和任务而制定的各种制度规范和保障条件。在打好污染防治攻坚战决胜之年和"十四五"生态环境保护谋篇布局之年,其作用日显重要。生态环境政策本质上是一个"传动系统",把国家生态环境保护的强大动力传递到每个行动者,这些动力分为"推动力、拉动力、行动力"。推动力类政策的特点是限制性和强制性,包括产业政策、生态环境管理政策、督察问责制度等。拉动力类政策的特点是引导性和自愿性等,包括生态环境保护创建活动、生态补偿、优惠政策、财政补贴等。行动力类政策的特点是基础性和持久性,包括绿色教育、信息公开、信用评价、社会舆论监督等。生态环境政策的发展路径是"协同推进、整体优化"。建议对生态环境政策进行机制化管理,开展储备、评估和清理等工作。为此需要加强对生态环境政策制定出台工作的统筹,注重建设生态环境政策研究力量。     

黄河流域生态服务价值与经济协调发展的时空演化研究

厘清黄河流域生态现状,分析生态系统服务时空演化特征及与经济协调发展情况,对提升区域经济协调发展具有重要意义。基于黄河流域9省区2000—2020年土地利用数据及国民经济发展数据,测算生态系统服务价值及经济与生态环境协调指数,揭示黄河流域生态系统服务价值时空演化特征及与经济协调发展关系,结果表明：(1)2000—2020年黄河流域全域生态服务价值(ESV)持续增长,由2000年的7020.74亿元增长到2020年的25598.24亿元;(2)研究期内,黄河流域经济与生态协调发展存在显著空间相关性,且人类活动及土地利用方式对生态系统服务价值影响较大,高度冲突区逐渐集中于上游青海、四川、甘肃等省区内经济欠发达地区和下游河南、山东等省区内人类干扰密度较高的地区;(3)研究区经济与生态环境协调发展空间分布不均衡,2000—2020年空间集聚态势逐步加大,且冲突区面积远大于协调区,中下游及下游区域两极分化现象明显;(4)研究区内不同区域资源禀赋与生态环境差异较大,要因地制宜,找出不同区域适合自身发展的路径,综合推动黄河流域经济发展与生态环境保护的耦合协调发展。     

Effects of irrigation and landscape heterogeneity on butterfly diversity in Mediterranean farmlands

Irrigation effects on biodiversity are poorly known, particularly in Mediterranean agro-ecosystems. In this study we analyzed irrigation effects on butterfly species richness, abundance and diversity as well as on species composition in a farmed landscape under Mediterranean climate. The study area consisted of four contiguous agricultural sub-areas with a decreasing degree of intensification: irrigated, mixed (dry and irrigated), dry and environmentally protected (i.e. Special Protection Area, SPA) dry farmland. Forty one km-transects (ten per sub-area) were searched for butterflies in 2008 and 2009. Contrary to expectations, species richness (alfa, beta and gamma diversity) was highest in both years in the most intensified sub-area (i.e. irrigated) followed by SPA, dry and mixed sub-areas. Landscape characteristics accounted for most of the between-subareas differences in species richness. Species richness was negatively related to mean field size at the landscape level and positively related to the number of trees and large shrubs along transects. Therefore, the higher number of butterfly species recorded in the irrigated farmland could be due to a more complex landscape. In contrast, butterfly abundance was highest in cereal steppes (i.e. dry and SPA sub-areas), with abundance being negatively affected by mean field size. Inter-annual change in butterfly abundance was much sharper in rainfed (i.e. dry and SPA) than in irrigated (i.e. irrigated and mixed) sub-areas. Irrigated farmland may provide more favorable conditions for butterflies by buffering the (year-to-year and summer) drought periods characterising Mediterranean climate. Species composition differed among sub-areas, with differences being partly explained by field size and number of trees and shrubs along transects. Our study suggest an important role of landscape characteristics in boosting butterfly biodiversity in intensively managed irrigated croplands and emphasizes the importance of encouraging studies on farmland butterfly diversity in different (bioclimatic) regions allowing the design of region-specific agri-environmental schemes.     

Feminization of genetic males by a symbiotic bacterium in a butterfly,Eurema hecabe (Lepidoptera: Pieridae)

Wolbachia are symbiotic bacteria found in many arthropods and filarian nematodes. They often manipulate the reproduction of host arthropods. In the present study, female-biased sex-ratio distortion in the butterfly Eurema hecabe was investigated. Breeding experiments showed that this distorted sex ratio is maternally inherited. When treated with tetracycline, adult females of the thelygenic line produced male progeny only. After PCR using Wolbachia-specific primers for the ftsZ gene a positive result was seen in the thelygenic females, but not in male progeny from tetracycline-treated females, or individuals from a Tokyo population with normal sex ratio and reproduction. Cytological observations showed that thelygenic females lack the sex chromatin body (W chromosome). The results strongly suggest that the sex-ratio distortion in E. hecabe is due to feminization of genetic males by Wolbachia.     

Sugar receptor response of the food-canal taste sensilla in a nectar-feeding swallowtail butterfly, Papilio xuthus

The feeding behavior in nectar-feeding insects is triggered by a sugar-receptor response in contact chemosensilla. The contact chemosensilla are distributed not only on tarsi and the outside of the proboscis but also on the inside of the food canal in Lepidoptera. Although the chemosensilla inside the food canal are assumed to detect sweet taste during the passage of nectar through the food canal, their electrophysiological function has received little attention. In the nectar-feeding Asian swallowtail butterfly, Papilio xuthus (Lepidoptera: Papilionidae), we found 15- to 30-μm-long sensilla neatly lined up along the inside galea wall, which forms the food canal in the proboscis. The receptor neurons of these sensilla responded to sucrose. We hypothesized that starch and sucrose compete with each other for a taste receptor site on the sensilla. When we added starch and sucrose to the food-canal sensilla, the electrophysiological responses of food-canal sensilla were inhibited in parallel with the food-sucking behavior of the butterflies. These results suggest that the food-canal sensilla are involved in the behavioral control of nectar-sucking in this butterfly species.     

杭州市土地资源承载力评价及其协调发展

土地资源承载力是区域协调发展的重要指标,基于驱动力-压力-状态-响应的研究框架构建杭州市土地资源承载力的指标体系,并运用熵权TOSPSIS方法对杭州市2009—2017年土地承载力及其各子系统水平进行评价,同时引用障碍度模型对杭州市土地承载力的障碍因素进行诊断,最后采用耦合协调模型对杭州市承载力子系统内部的耦合协调性进行了研究。结果表明：（1）在2009—2017年杭州市土地资源承载力的评价结果呈波动上升趋势,评价年限内土地承载力整体水平处于中级状态,但距离优质承载力仍有一定的差距;（2）从2009年到2013年,障碍度因素主要集中在驱动力系统和压力系统,2014—2017年,障碍度因素主要集中于状态系统和驱动力系统;（3）在研究区间内杭州市承载力系统整体的耦合协调度较好,但距离优质协调仍有不小的差距,其中承载力系统耦合度总体较高,除2009年处于拮抗级别外,其他年份均处于高水平耦合级别,并且在研究年份内各年的耦合度评价结果均高于耦合协调度评价结果,同时评价区间内系统耦合协调度变化大致呈“初级协调到良好协调再到初级协调”的态势。     

新疆绿洲开发与区域协调发展战略研究

受区域生态环境的影响,新疆绿洲经济发展普遍具有封闭性、局限性和不平衡性特征,经济规模小而内向,生态约束性强,市场化动力不足,制约了城市化、工业化加速发展。基于非连续封闭流域的绿洲经济,提出应采取具有区域特色的发展战略,通过强化开放和流通解决市场问题,采取“相对集中发展战略”,建设大城市、大基地和大通道,克服市场化结构和布局矛盾,发展流域生态经济的战略构想。     

复合养殖系统中浮游动物种类丰度及其影响因素

利用人工湿地和养殖塘构建了复合养殖系统,通过设置不同塘间水质差异,调查了斑点叉尾鮰鱼鱼种培育段和成鱼养殖段不同梯度下的浮游动物种类丰度,并探讨了种类丰度与环境因子的关系.结果表明,2养殖阶段的循环塘中,轮虫的种类丰度随养殖密度的增加而升高,浮游甲壳动物随养殖密度的增加而降低.成鱼养殖阶段对照塘中轮虫的种类丰度高于循环塘P1、P2;枝角类和桡足类的丰度则低于P1、P2;高养殖密度塘P3中,3种形态浮游动物种类丰度均低于对照塘.15种环境因子的主成分分析以及种类丰度与环境因子的冗余度分析结果表明,影响浮游动物种类丰度的主要环境因素为水体的营养状态,水体的物理特征对种类丰度的影响较小.     

Climatic and genetic controls of yields of switchgrass, a model bioenergy species

The U.S. Renewable Fuel Standard calls for 136 billion liters of renewable fuels production by 2022. Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) has emerged as a leading candidate to be developed as a bioenergy feedstock. To reach biofuel production goals in a sustainable manner, more information is needed to characterize potential production rates of switchgrass. We used switchgrass yield data and general additive models (GAMs) to model lowland and upland switchgrass yield as nonlinear functions of climate and environmental variables. We used the GAMs and a 39-year climate dataset to assess the spatio-temporal variability in switchgrass yield due to climate variables alone. Variables associated with fertilizer application, genetics, precipitation, and management practices were the most important for explaining variability in switchgrass yield. The relationship of switchgrass yield with climate variables was different for upland than lowland cultivars. The spatio-temporal analysis showed that considerable variability in switchgrass yields can occur due to climate variables alone. The highest switchgrass yields with the lowest variability occurred primarily in the Corn Belt region, suggesting that prime cropland regions are the best suited for a constant and high switchgrass biomass yield. Given that much lignocellulosic feedstock production will likely occur in regions with less suitable climates for agriculture, interannual variability in yields should be expected and incorporated into operational planning.     

UASB反应器中厌氧氨氧化污泥的种群分析

利用变性梯度凝胶电泳、克隆和实时PCR等分子生物学技术对2个厌氧氨氧化反应器中的微生物进行了初步研究.变性梯度凝胶电泳结果表明,尽管2个反应器的接种污泥不同,但经过1年多的连续运行,二者的微生物种群结构基本相同;Planctomycete克隆结果表明,相似的15个序列(>99%)与已报道的3个属的厌氧氨氧化菌的序列均有较大距离(<92%),而与具有厌氧氨氧化功能的KSU-1序列有97%的相似,amoA基因克隆结果表明,反应器中的部分好氧氨氧化菌属于β-Proteobacteria中具有厌氧氨氧化活性的Nitrosomonas;实时PCR结果表明,厌氧氨氧化细菌占细菌总量的27%~29%,好氧氨氧化菌约为5%.     

Reward and non-reward learning of flower colours in the butterfly Byasa alcinous (Lepidoptera: Papilionidae)

Learning plays an important role in food acquisition for a wide range of insects. To increase their foraging efficiency, flower-visiting insects may learn to associate floral cues with the presence (so-called reward learning) or the absence (so-called non-reward learning) of a reward. Reward learning whilst foraging for flowers has been demonstrated in many insect taxa, whilst non-reward learning in flower-visiting insects has been demonstrated only in honeybees, bumblebees and hawkmoths. This study examined both reward and non-reward learning abilities in the butterfly Byasa alcinous whilst foraging among artificial flowers of different colours. This butterfly showed both types of learning, although butterflies of both sexes learned faster via reward learning. In addition, females learned via reward learning faster than males. To the best of our knowledge, these are the first empirical data on the learning speed of both reward and non-reward learning in insects. We discuss the adaptive significance of a lower learning speed for non-reward learning when foraging on flowers.     

Differential survival rates in a declining and an invasive farmland gastropod species

Individual marking by using transponders represents a promising tool to further investigate causes of population trends of farmland invertebrates and the dynamics of farmland biodiversity. Once common in agricultural fields the slug Arion rufus is now restricted to forests, whereas the closely related and similar Arion lusitanicus recently built up high populations. Here, it was tested whether (1) transponder tagging combined with artificial shelters for recapturing is a suitable approach for quantifying adult survival of farmland gastropods under real field conditions, (2) whether captive bred and wild A. lusitanicus differ in survival, and (3) whether in agricultural fields the declining slug A. rufus shows reduced survival rates compared to the invasive slug A. lusitanicus. One hundred and thirty transponder-tagged slugs were released and individual-based mark-recapture models were performed. Individual marking by using transponders proved to be a successful method for quantifying survival rates of the slugs. The favoured model showed no differences in survival or encounter rates between captive bred and wild A. lusitanicus. A. rufus showed significantly reduced survival rates compared to A. lusitanicus coinciding with their population trends in farmland areas. This might be due to differential susceptibility to habitat degradation, differential predation rates or promotion of the invasive competitor species. A further decrease of A. rufus in agricultural landscapes is expected.