Multiple paternity in wild populations of the garter snake,Thamnophis sirtalis

Summary Many adaptations have arisen in response to spern competition. In garter snakes, males produce copulatory plugs that are thought to prevent such competition. We tested this assumption using paternity exclusion techniques with electrophoretic data from 32 litters of snakes collected from two populations. Multiple paternity was confirmed in 50% of the litters examined (13/22 Michigan litters; 3/10 Wisconsin litters), and we estimate that as many as 72% of the litters may have been multiply sired. The presence of multiple paternity was also confirmed using the technique of genotypic regression. Mean relatedness in litters with evidence of multiple paternity was 0.390±0.053; in litters lacking such evidence mean relatedness was 0.498±0.022. Thus our data reveal a high incidence of multiple paternity in these snakes and suggest that their adaptations to prevent sperm competition are surprisingly ineffective.     

Courting male garter snakes (Thamnophis sirtalis parietalis) use multiple cues to identify potential mates

Mating aggregations of red-sided garter snakes (Thamnophis sirtalis parietalis) in Manitoba provide a unique opportunity to identify the cues that attract a male snake and induce him to court. The snakes are abundant, tolerate human presence, and males direct courtship to a subset of other males ("she-males") as well as to females. Previous work has emphasised the role of pheromonal cues (skin lipid profiles) as sexual attractants in snakes. However, pheromones are so widely distributed throughout the den area that these chemical cues may be difficult for males to use to localise females. Our field studies show that males and females differ in several other attributes such as size (females are larger than males), body temperature (very cold snakes are often females), muddiness (females are often covered in mud) and whether or not they are solitary (most females are surrounded by courting males). Experiments show that males use all of these cues to identify possible sexual partners. Visual and thermal cues are particularly important for solitary mate-searching males; but after a mating ball forms around a female, pheromones may be most important. Our study also reveals substantial variation among individuals: females vary in attractiveness, and males vary in their intensity of courtship as well as in the magnitude of their preference for one potential partner versus another. Thus, a male snake's "decision" whom to court depends not only on visual and thermal as well as chemical cues, but also on the male's own preferences and on subtle differences among potential sexual "targets".     

Mating in the red-sided garter snake,Thamnophis sirtalis parietalis: differential effects on male and female sexual behavior

Summary Female red-sided garter snakes, Thamnophis sirtalis parietalis, become unattractive to most males after mating in the field and in the laboratory. Male red-sided garter snakes vary in their latencies to court attractive females following copulation, with courtship resuming in minutes to hours. Unsuccessful males in mating balls disperse from mating pairs, but are not residually inhibited from courting attractive females. These patterns of behavior indicate that males have evolved mechanisms to maximize opportunities for copulation with several females, while females mate only once per season.     

Evidence for a female sex pheromone mediating male trailing behavior in the red-sided garter snake, Thamnophis sirtalis parietalis

Summary. Male garter snakes locate females during the breeding season utilizing conspecific trailing behavior. It has been hypothesized that the female-derived chemical cue responsible for mediating male reproductive trailing behavior is the sexual attractiveness pheromone, a previously characterized contact pheromone responsible for releasing male courtship behavior. To examine this hypothesis, we tested the response of male red-sided garter snakes, Thamnophis sirtalis parietalis, to pheromone trails produced by males, females and ‘she-males’. She-males are a small subset of males in the natural population that are morphologically and behaviorally similar to other males except that they produce and express the sexual attractiveness pheromone during the breeding season. When tested on a Y-maze, males were found to detect and follow the skin lipid trails of females and she-males, but displayed no behavioral responses to male trails. In addition, males were unable to discriminate between she-male and female trails when given a choice. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that the sexual attractiveness pheromone is the chemical cue primarily utilized by males to mediate reproductive trailing behavior.     

Tetrodotoxin affects survival probability of rough-skinned newts (Taricha granulosa) faced with TTX-resistant garter snake predators (Thamnophis sirtalis)

Lethal chemical defenses in prey species can have profound effects on interactions with predators. The presence of lethal defenses in prey can correct the selective imbalance suggested by the life-dinner principle in which the fitness consequences of an encounter between predator and prey should be much greater for the prey species than the predator. Despite the apparent adaptive advantages of lethality the evolution of deadly prey presents a fundamental dilemma. How might lethal defenses confer an individual fitness advantage if both predators and prey die during interactions? We examined the interaction between the rough-skinned newt (Taricha granulosa), which contains a powerful neurotoxin called tetrodotoxin (TTX), and the common garter snake (Thamnophis sirtalis). In some sympatric populations, Th. sirtalis have evolved physiological resistance to TTX. Whether the newts’ toxin confers protection from snake predators or has been disarmed by the snakes’ physiological resistance has not yet been directly tested. In predator–prey trials, newts that were rejected by snakes had greater concentrations of TTX in their skin (4.52 ± 3.49 mg TTX/g skin) than those that were eaten (1.72 ± 1.53 mg TTX/g skin). Despite the plethora of taxa that appear to use TTX defensively, this is the first direct and quantitative demonstration of the antipredator efficacy of TTX. Because the survival probability of a newt (and thus fitness) is affected by individual TTX concentration, selection can drive the escalation of toxin levels in newts. The variable fitness consequences associated with both TTX levels of newts and resistance to TTX in snakes that may promote a strong and symmetrical coevolutionary relationship have now been demonstrated.     

Seasonal anorexia in the male red-sided garter snake,<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Thamnophis sirtalis parietalis</Emphasis>

Many animals show seasonal shifts in behaviors that coincide with breeding, migration, or hibernation. These behavioral shifts provide ideal opportunities to study the regulation of behavior. The red-sided garter snake (Thamnophis sirtalis parietalis) spends 8 months of the year inactive in underground hibernacula, 1 month breeding, and 3 months feeding to build up enough energy stores to survive the following winter. Although they emerge from 8 months of hibernation with severely depleted energy reserves, they do not feed until weeks later, after the breeding season. We tested the hypothesis that this lack of feeding during the breeding season is due to a shift in behavior rather than the distribution of food and potential mates. Male garter snakes were given a series of choices between pursuing a breeding or feeding opportunity. The proportion of tests in which males selected feeding over breeding gradually increased throughout the study period, reaching almost 100% in the final tests. Males also were given opportunities to feed and court at the beginning and end of the study. Males initially refused food and courted females, but when retested at the end of the study they fed and did not court females. Thus aphagia during the breeding season is due at least in part to an endogenous shift in behavior.Communicated by P. Weatherhead     

Extremes in the resource consumption process: A mathematical model of the irruption of the moose population on Isle Royale. Part 1—Ecological background and model development

The development of a mathematical model of the moose-browse interaction on Isle Royale, Michigan, from the time of the establishment of the moose population in the early 1900s until the time of the arrival of wolves on the island about the mid-twentieth century is described. A brief history of the observations that were made during that period of the dynamics of the moose population and its resulting impact upon the vegetation is given. The simplifying assumptions that were made, the processes that were judged important enough to be represented in the model, the state variables that were selected and the input variables that were considered are delineated. A rationale is developed for the mathematical form of each of the terms used in the state equations. The literature that was utilized and the methodologies that were employed to obtain estimates of the parameters of the equations and the values of the initial conditions of the state variables are described.     

海南岛儿童发钙量与土壤交换性钙关系的探讨

通过对海南岛上万名学龄前儿童头发钙含量以及所处地域农耕旱地土壤交换性钙的调查与分析发现：土壤钙与儿童头发钙含量呈极显著正相关;海南岛儿童头发钙均值低于国内其它地方的报道值;土壤环境钙含量的高低,能间接反映人体钙的营养状况。     

Impact of diesel oil effluent in the mucosal surface of the alimentary canal of Oreochromis nilotica (Linnaeus): a scanning electron microscopic study

Adverse effects of diesel oil on microanatomical structure of the alimentary canal of O. nilotica were studied using SEM observations. The study revealed irregular arrangement of the stratified epithelial cells along with fragmentation of the normal concentric pattem of microridges of the same cells in buccopharynx and oesophagus. The excessive secretion of mucus of buccopharynx and oesophagus were the salient changes caused by diesel oil pollution. The destruction and degeneration of the mucosal folds of stomach and intestine along with their epithelial cells exhibited a concrete hyperactivity resulting in abundant' secretion of mucus over the microridges of the epithelial cells. In the intestinal region the columnar epithelial cells showed tumefaction and microvilli of the plasma membrane of epithelial cells get heavily damaged. Disarray of the microridges of epithelial cells, excessive secretions of mucus formation of even cell sheet were the most conspicuous changes in rectum. It was concluded that chronic exposure of diesel oil may hamper the absorption of the nutrients through alimentary canal resulting into ill-growth and production of the fish.     

洞庭湖演变对湖区农业生态环境的影响

讨论了洞庭湖演变对湖区农业生态环境的影响，认为湖体演变带来了诸如湖泊效应降低、洪涝灾害频繁、土壤潜育化严重、血吸虫病流行以及水产资源破坏等一系列生态环境问题，并提出了保护和改善湖区农业生态环境的对策与措施。     

不同阳离子影响下小麦根吸收镉的动力学过程

生物配体模型(BLM)是基于稳定态假设的一个平衡模型,能够较准确地运用于预测重金属的毒性及其生物有效性.根据BLM模型的假设条件模拟土壤溶液,研究了Ca2+、Mg2+、Cu2+和Ni2+对小麦根吸收Cd2+动力学的影响,阐述了BLM在应用中存在的局限性.结果表明:在8h内的短期动力学吸收实验中,小麦根对Cd的吸收及吸附量呈线性增加,但未达到稳定值,这说明Cd2+在根-液界面未达到稳定平衡;并且小麦根对Cd的吸收是受溶液中Cd2+扩散速率影响的.小麦根对Cd的吸收通量与Cd2+浓度[Cd2+]和Cd与小麦根表上的配体结合浓度{Cd-Rcel}l都具有较好的线性关系,但随着Cd2+浓度的增加稳定常数KM-Rcell、渗透常数p和同化速率常数kint均呈降低趋势.Ca2+、Mg2+和Cu2+降低了小麦根对Cd2+的吸收通量,而Ni2+对Cd2+的竞争作用不显著.由于Cd与Ca、Ni有共同的吸收通道,Ca通道吸收达到饱和后可降低小麦根对Cd的吸收,但是Ca2+、Mg2+和Cu2+通过降低内化速率常数也可使小麦根对Cd的内化通量减少,因此不能完全用竞争效应解释其结果.另外,阳离子的存在会改变小麦根表的性质,Ca2+、Mg2+的存在会增加亨利系数KCd,即生物配体浓度{Rcel}l和(或)离子与生物配体结合稳定常数KCd-Rcell会增加,同时这些离子的存在还会降低渗透常数p和kint;Cu2+、Ni2+的存在会降低KCd;且p和k在低浓度Cd(0.01～0.05μM)条件下增加,在高浓度Cd条件下降低.     

城市绿地滞尘作用机理和规律的研究进展

城市绿地的滞尘作用是城市绿地重要的生态功能之一。综述了城市绿地的滞尘机理、变化规律。城市绿地的滞尘机理主要分为3种方式：滞留、附着和粘附;城市绿地滞尘能力与滞尘时间、城市环境、植物种、植物群落结构等因素存在密切的联系。不同植物滞尘能力的差异很大,总体规律表现为乔木植物〉灌木植物〉草本植物;但就单位叶面积来说,滞尘能力均以草本植物〉灌木植物〉乔木植物〉藤本植物;主要原因是垂直高度不同,灌草能有效截留地面的扬尘（城市中灰尘的主要来源）。研究表明,同种类植物种在封闭式环境条件下叶片滞尘量明显低于开敞式环境条件下的滞尘量,因此,在城市不同环境中的植物滞尘能力表现为工业区〉商业交通区〉居住区〉清洁区。随着季节和滞尘时间的变化,每种植物都存在一个滞尘限度,如果无雨水或人为干扰,最终达到一个动态平衡。从城市绿地群落的垂直结构看,乔—灌—草型的绿地具有相对较好的滞尘作用,是目前较为理想的绿地类型;另外,在城市绿地面积明显不足的情况下,以藤本植物为主的垂直绿化将成为城市绿化发展的新方向。同时,在城市绿地滞尘机理、规律以及植物滞尘能力评价等方面仍需要进一步深入研究。     

Etude expérimentale du comportement nuptial de Platynereis dumerilii (Annelida: Polychaeta): chémoréception, émission des produits génitaux

In the heteronereis form of Platynereis dumerilii, the roles of the swelling of the parapodial cirri of the male or female first segments, of the crenellations of the dorsal parapodial cirri of the male posterior region and those of the male pygidial papilli have been ascertained experimentally with respect to nuptial behaviour. The nuptial dance and the release of the genital products are provoked by chemical stimulating discharges from the partner of the opposite sex. The chemical stimuli act on the swelled or crenellated parapodial cirri, probably through the bipolar chemoreceptor neurons which are numerous on these organs. The excitation is transmitted to the cerebral ganglia by way of the ventral cord; it is translated into motor impulses which act upon the musculature concerned in the nuptial dance and in the release of genital products. Accordingly, the swelling and the crenellations of the parapodial cirri appear to contain chemoreceptors. The specificity of this chemoreception, in regard to the exciting substance emitted by the opposite sex, is probably related to the presence of a protein (Boilly-Marer, 1966a, b) elaborated during heteronereidation by epidermal cells adjacent to the dendritic extensions of the chemoreceptor cells. The pygidial papilli appear to insure sperm evacuation.     

The evolving sedentary lifestyle among nomadic pastoralists in the humid zone of Nigeria: implications for land-use policy

SUMMARY

The humid zone of Nigeria has traditionally been considered unsuitable for extensive cattle production because of the prevalence of tsetse fly. Over the years, nomadic pastoralists, mainly Fulani, from the northern part of the country paid seasonal visits to this zone in search of pasture and water for their cattle during the dry season when the threat of the tsetse menace is less. The recent increase in the number of settled pastoralists has been associated with changing trends in the ecology and economy of the zone.

Relying on recent survey data, this paper attempts a systematic analysis of the adaptive strategies of the Fulani in pursuit of a sedentary lifestyle in the humid frontier of southwest Nigeria. Some of the adaptive strategies identified include: establishment of grazing orbits within a 20 km radius of their settlements, adjustment of herd size and structure, adoption of a multiple livelihood system, production of arable crops and appropriation of traditional social structures and kinship networks for herd management.

Long-term insecure land-holding arrangements, incessant seasonal bush burning for regeneration of pasture by the Fulani and the gradual destruction of the native forest cover are some of the problems arising from the sedentarisation of livestock production in the area. It was observed that the present land-use arrangement, even though it appears to guarantee the pastoralists security of tenure in the short term, is not sustainable in the long run, given the increasing commercialization of land in the area and rapid population growth. It was, therefore, concluded that government should put in place a land redistribution arrangement that will ensure secure land ownership by the Fulani. Development initiatives in the area should also focus on reinforcing those traditional practices of the Fulani that would guarantee a sustainable land-use system in the area.     

Influence of iron, nickel and cobalt on biogas production during the anaerobic fermentation of fresh residual biomass

We have investigated the dependence of the rate of the production of biogas upon the concentration of nickel, cobalt and iron at sub-toxic concentration and monitored its composition as amount of hydrogen, methane and carbon dioxide. The distribution of the added metals between the liquid and solid phase has also been monitored.

The results of our investigations show that the addition of any of the listed metals to the sludge may cause the production of a higher amount of biogas and influence the methane or carbon dioxide percentage. Conversely, the effect on the hydrogen production depends upon the metal added, the age of the active sludge used, and its adaptation to the susbtrate. As a general feature, during the acidogenesis phase, nickel reduces, while iron increases, the percentage of dihydrogen in the biogas, while cobalt has no influence.     

Comparison of telomere length among different life cycle stages of the jellyfish Cassiopea andromeda

The polyp (scyphistoma) of the jellyfish Cassiopea andromeda reproduces asexually repeatedly, while the medusa, the sexually reproducing stage, exhibits a relatively shorter life span. As a first step to understand the mechanism behind the differences in the life spans of the polyp and medusa stages of the jellyfish, we compared the lengths of the telomere region of one targeted chromosome between the polyp and medusa stages using a modified single telomere length assay (STELA). The double-stranded regions of the telomeres were amplified by PCR, and the average length of the PCR products was estimated by densitometry analysis of the gel smear. Chromosomes within cells of the bell region of the medusa were characterized by longer telomeres than those of polyps, asexual propagules, or other regions of the medusa. This is the first study to estimate the telomere lengths of targeted chromosomes in a cnidarian and opens a way to understand the mechanism underlying different life spans of the polyp and medusa stages.     

江苏省里下河地区湖泊资源动态研究

根据 198 1年的地形图资料和 1997年的 TM资料 ,利用遥感和 GIS方法对江苏省里下河地区的大纵湖和蜈蚣湖水体信息进行了动态监测 ,发现由于围湖养殖导致两湖面积减少很快 ,滞涝库容急剧下降 ,对该区滞洪和航运带来不利影响 ,并直接影响该区社会经济的可持续发展。针对湖泊面积的减少 ,指出了保护湖泊资源和湖区经济可持续发展的相应对策 ,为该区合理利用湖泊资源提供了参考依据     

Laboratory experiments on waveform inversion of an internal solitary wave over a slope-shelf

Internal solitary waves (ISWs) have been detected in many parts of the world oceans, particularly over slope-shelf topography, on which signature of waveform inversion has been identified. The effects of these waves on engineering operations and ecological process have also been reported in the literature. This article reports the results of a series of numerical modeling and laboratory experiments on waveform evolution of a depression ISW in a nearly stratified two-layer fluid system, in which specific water depth ratios above the horizontal plateau of the trapezoidal obstacle were arranged to facilitate the occurrence of waveform inversion. Classifications of waveform instability (no instability, shear instability and overturning with breaking) on the slope are confirmed in the present laboratory study. Numerical results for waveform variation are also found in fair agreement with the laboratory measurements for cases without waveform inversion and minor internal breaking. Moreover, laboratory results revealed that the depth ratio of the stratified two-layer fluid above the plateau and the magnitude of the incident ISW were the two most important factors for promoting waveform inversion beyond a turning point, in addition to the requirement of a sufficient distance from the shoulder of the trapezoidal obstacle. These factors also influenced the outcome of the shoaling process, energy dissipation, internal wave breaking and turbulent mixing on the front slope, as well as the likelihood of waveform inversion on the horizontal plateau. Contrary to the common perception, it was also observed, at least from the results of the present laboratory experiments, that not all the incident ISWs of depression would produce waveform inversion on the plateau, where the upper layer was physical greater than the bottom layer, unless moderate incident wave was provided. The outcome might also be attributed to the limited distance from the shoulder onto the plateau in the present laboratory setup. However, once waveform inversion occurred on the plateau, it was found, among others, that: (1) the amplitude of the transmitted leading crest and trough might be as low as 30 and 20%, respectively, to the amplitude of the incident wave in depression; (2) the characteristic wavelength of the transmitted leading trough doubled while that of the crest was asymptotically one-half of the incident wavelength, despite the wide range variation in the depth ratios above the plateau; and (3) the transmitted potential wave energy of the leading crest contained 30% of the incident energy. Based on the results of present laboratory experiments, the range for the non-dimensional parameter α, which indicates the effect of nonlinearity and the promotion of waveform inversion on horizontal plateau, will be proposed.