Laying date and polygyny as determinants of annual reproductive success in male collared flycatchers (Ficedula albicollis): a long-term study

Annual reproductive success (ARS) is one of the main components of lifetime reproductive success, a reliable measure of individual fitness. Previous studies often dealt with ARS and variables potentially affecting it. Among them, long-term studies that consider multiple factors at the same time are particularly important in understanding the adaptive value of different phenotypes. Here, we used an 18-year dataset to quantify the ARS of male collared flycatchers (Ficedula albicollis) on the basis of recruited offspring. We simultaneously assessed the effect of start of breeding, age, polygyny, body size and the expression of forehead patch (a sexually selected trait). The success of early breeding individuals was appreciably higher than late birds; however, breeding too early was also disadvantaged, and males that bred around the yearly median breeding date had the highest ARS. Polygynous males were more successful in years with good food supply, while in years with low food availability, they did not produce more recruits than monogamous males. The age of males, their forehead patch size and body size did not affect the number of recruits. Our findings support the importance of breeding date and suggest stabilizing selection on it in the long term. We also show that polygyny is not always advantageous for males, and its fitness pay-off may depend on environmental quality.     

湖滨带氧化还原环境的时空变化及其环境效应

在太湖梅梁湾,沿开阔水体至湖滨带方向,对植被型湖滨带(A区)、裸露型湖滨带(B区)和开阔水体(D区)水体中DO和水/沉积物Eh进行为期1a的现场观测.结果发现,梅梁湾水体DO时空变化明显.B区和D区水体中DO常年饱和,而A区DO浓度较低(年均(5.5±1.7)mg·L-1).在植物生长季,从开阔水体至湖滨植被区溶解氧浓度从12.7 mg·L-1降到4.5 mg·L-1;在非植物生长季则从9.7 mg·L-1降到6.2mg·L-1.湖滨带水体Eh在150 mV左右波动,空间变化趋势与溶解氧变化同步.沉积物Eh也表现出明显的时空变化,在植物生长季,各区沉积物均处于较强的还原状态(-158～-101 mV);而在非植物生长季,由开阔水体向植被型湖滨带Eh逐渐升高.在沉积物的垂直剖面上,开阔水体Eh自表层沉积物向下逐渐降低,而在A区的植被覆盖区则是先降低,大概在5 cm深处开始逐渐升高,于20 cm深左右达到峰值.根据上述植被型湖滨带氧化还原环境的特点,可以推知进行湖滨带生态修复,有利于去除湖泊氮污染.     

A longitudinal study of age-specific reproductive output and body condition among male rhesus macaques,<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Macaca mulatta</Emphasis>

In many mammalian species, male reproductive success appears to climb sharply at young adulthood, form a brief plateau during prime ages, and decline among older animals, a pattern often attributed to reduced physical condition with ageing. However, solid evidence to either substantiate or refute this profile among nonhuman primates is lacking. Here, we combine a decade of genetic analysis of paternity among free-ranging rhesus macaques, Macaca mulatta, with information about body condition in order to evaluate how changes in morphology might govern age-specific reproduction among males. We show that age-specific reproductive success traverses the same life history profile as found in other mammals, but reductions in reproductive output with advanced age were associated with reduced chances of survivorship rather than accompanied by diminished body condition. We demonstrate that variance in male age at onset of reproduction is three times greater than variance in female age at onset of reproduction. We provide the first evidence from primates that age-specific reproductive output among males is not a consequence of age-related changes in body condition, but reflects social and demographic factors.     

Growth and nutrient accumulation of Phragmites australis in relation to water level variation and nutrient loadings in a shallow lake

Shallow lake eutrophication is a global environmental issue. This study investigated the effects of water level variation and nutrient loadings on the growth and nutrient accumulation of Phragmites australis (reed) by field samplings in Baiyangdian Lake, the largest shallow lake of northern China. The field samplings were conducted in two sites of different nutrient loadings during the whole growth period of reeds, and three types of zones with different water depths were chosen for each site, including the terrestrial zone with water level below the ground, the ecotone zone with the water level varying from belowground to aboveground, and the submerged zone with water level above the ground. The result showed that reed growth was more limited by water level variation than nutrient loadings. The average stem lengths and diameters in terrestrial zones were about 26.3%-27.5% and 7.2%-12.0% higher than those in submerged zones, respectively. Similarly, the terrestrial status increased the aboveground biomass of reeds by 36.6%-51.8% compared with the submerged status. Both the nutrient concentrations and storages in the aboveground reeds were mainly influenced by the nutrient loadings in surface water and sediment rather than the water level variation of the reed growth environment, and the nutrient storages reached their maxima in late August or early September. It was observed that the maximum nitrogen storage occurred in the terrestrial zone with higher nutrient loadings, with the value of 74.5 g/m 2 . This study suggested that water level variation and nutrient loadings should be considered when using reeds to control and remediate eutrophication of shallow lakes.     

Sex- and age-related differences in the timing and body condition of migrating Reed Warblers Acrocephalus scirpaceus and Sedge Warblers Acrocephalus schoenobaenus

The migration strategies of birds may vary strongly between species and also between age and/or sex groups. We studied the autumn migration and body condition of molecularly sexed Reed Warblers Acrocephalus scirpaceus and Sedge Warblers Acrocephalus schoenobaenus (211 and 208 ind., respectively) at a stopover site on Lake Druzno, Northern Poland, in 2008. Immature male Reed Warblers were caught significantly later than females (median dates 9 days later), but in the Sedge Warbler, both sexes of immatures migrated at about the same time. Adult males and females of both species did not differ in their time of migration. Adult and immature males of both species were larger (wing length and body mass) than females. In both species, fat reserves were similar in both sexes of both age classes. Adults of both sexes of Reed and Sedge Warbler were generally caught earlier than immatures. In both species, the body mass and fat reserves of immatures were generally less than in adults. The autumn protogyny of immature Reed Warblers may allow smaller females to limit competition with bigger males during migration and at the wintering grounds. In the Sedge Warbler, which tends to match its migration to peak of occurrence of superabundant food at stopover sites, both sexes gain an advantage from migrating at the same time. Since part of the measured wing length variation in both species was explained by sex differences, temporal trends in wing length recorded at stopover sites should be interpreted with caution.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Fusarium</Emphasis> head blight incidence and mycotoxin accumulation in three durum wheat cultivars in relation to sowing date and density

Durum wheat (Triticum turgidum var. durum) is an important crop in Europe, particularly in the Mediterranean countries. Fusarium head blight (FHB) is considered as one of the most damaging diseases, resulting in yield and quality reduction as well as contamination of grain with mycotoxins. Three winter durum wheat cultivars originating from Austria, Slovakia, and Poland were analyzed during 2012–2014 seasons for FHB incidence and Fusarium mycotoxin accumulation in harvested grain. Moreover, the effects of sowing density and delayed sowing date were evaluated in the climatic conditions of Southern Poland. Low disease severity was observed in 2011/2012 in all durum wheat cultivars analyzed, and high FHB occurrence was recorded in 2012/2013 and 2013/2014 seasons. Fusarium graminearum was the most abundant pathogen, followed by Fusarium avenaceum. Through all three seasons, cultivar Komnata was the most susceptible to FHB and to mycotoxin accumulation, while cultivars Auradur and IS Pentadur showed less symptoms. High susceptibility of cv. Komnata was reflected by the number of Fusarium isolates and elevated mycotoxin (deoxynivalenol, zearalenone, and moniliformin) content in the grain of this cultivar across all three seasons. Nivalenol was identified in the samples of cv. Komnata only. Genotype-dependent differences in FHB susceptibility were observed for the plants sown at optimal date but not at delayed sowing date. It can be hypothesized that cultivars bred in Austria and Slovakia show less susceptibility towards FHB than the cultivar from Poland because of the environmental conditions allowing for more efficient selection of breeding materials.     

中国环境污染治理投资现状与发展趋势分析

根据1986～1997年中国环境污染治理投资总量与构成等有关数据,对该投资的范围与筹资政策、投资状况、资金来源、投资效益以及发展趋势等方面进行了分析,认为其间我国的环境污染治理投资在总量上有较大增长,但占GNP的比例仍偏低．“九五”期间所需污染治理投资约为4500亿元。占GNP比例为1.3％。目前发展趋势较好。     

Hunting behaviour and breeding performance of northern goshawks Accipiter gentilis, in relation to resource availability, sex, age and morphology

Animal territories that differ in the availability of food resources will require (all other things being equal) different levels of effort for successful reproduction. As a consequence, breeding performance may become most strongly dependent on factors that affect individual foraging where resources are poor. We investigated potential links between foraging behaviour, reproductive performance and morphology in a goshawk Accipiter gentilis population, which experienced markedly different resource levels in two different parts of the study area (rabbit-rich vs. rabbit-poor areas). Our analyses revealed (1) that rabbit abundance positively affected male reproductive output; (2) that age, size and rabbit abundance (during winter) positively affected different components of female reproductive output; (3) that foraging movements were inversely affected by rabbit abundance for both sexes (for females, this may mainly have reflected poor provisioning by males in the rabbit-poor area); (4) that younger breeders (both in males and females) tended to move over larger distances than older individuals (which may have reflected both a lack of hunting experience and mate searching); and (5) that male body size (wing length) showed some covariation with resource conditions (suggesting possible adaptations to hunting agile avian prey in the rabbit-poor area). Although we are unable to establish firm causal relationships with our observational data set, our results provide an example of how territory quality (here, food abundance) and individual features (here, age and morphology) may combine to shape a predator's foraging behaviour and, ultimately, its breeding performance.     

Possible steps to follow for filling the gap between requirements and the real condition in tanneries

The tannery industry, as one of most important industrial activities, faced more dilemmas at the fall of communistic era:

• -Can the branch keep a leading position for the exported products at the national level, under a de-centralized system?
• -Can the industry comply with the new, more stringent environmental legislation?
• -How far is this industrial branch from the European BAT/BATNEC?

Facing a completely new perspective for their development, many industrial units had a limited margin for manoeuvre and those not enough flexible had to shut down.“Economic survival whatever the price” has been the mantra for some good years. The newly presented EU legislation has been raising many difficult and complex problems for the units that managed to survive that they need to prioritize their improvement actions.Combining Cleaner Production (CP) measures with laboratory research for technology upgrades can have a synergistic effect for improving environmental performance and decrease resource consumption. The effects were evaluated for more experimented measures, such as better process control, toxics use reduction, and source separation of wastes. The results demonstrate that real improvements of environmental performance can be achieved and the indicators that were utilized have values that are comparable with those published for “advanced” processes practiced in EU.     

黄土丘陵小流域土地利用的时空分布及其与地形因子的关系

采用航片解读、实地调查、土地规划和基于GIS的统计分析相结合的方法,从土地利用面积和地形分布格局的变化分析入手,研究了黄土丘陵小流域土地利用的时空分布格局及其影响因子。研究结果表明,黄土丘陵区大南沟小流域的土地利用变化可以分成两个阶段,第一阶段从1975、1998年到25°退耕,林地/灌木地面积增加,荒草地、休闲地和耕地的面积减少,果园/经济林地的面积变化不明显;第二阶段即3种土地利用规划方案,包括25°、20°和15°退耕方案,林地/灌木地和荒草地的面积保持不变,耕地和休闲地逐渐被果园/经济林地所替代。汇总与相关分析表明,这5种土地利用类型的地形分布格局也发生相应的变化。研究指出,近20年来,大南沟小流域土地利用格局日趋优化,3种土地利用规划方案体现了土地持续利用的生态、经济和社会效益,具有很强的操作性。     

神东矿区AVHRR/NDVI的时空、开采强度和气候效应

研究采矿扰动区长时序、多维度NDVI变化趋势,有助于认识非自然生态区植被演替规律,对高强度开采条件下西北脆弱生态区地表植被自然修复和人工修复工作具有指导意义.研究通过设立直接影响区、间接影响区和自然生态校验区,利用长时序GIMMS AVHRR/NDVI（1981～2006）植被指数数据集,结合同期温度、降水和煤炭产量信息,从时间、空间、气候和开采强度方面开展对比分析,并以长时序MODIS NPP/NDVI（2000～2010）数据进行结果验证.时序分析表明,全球变化背景下,神东矿区植被生长季二度延长;空间分析表明,神东矿区NDVI增量低于缓冲区,缓冲区NDVI增量低于自然生态区;开采强度分析表明,随着神东矿区开采强度增强,NDVI增速放缓,增长速率低于自然生态区;气候变化分析表明,神东矿区NDVI受温度升高、降水减少共同作用,与温度相关性较高,与降水相关性较低;同期MODIS NPP/NDVI验证结果表现出与AVHRR/NDVI一致的规律性.     

2014年2月下旬京津冀持续重污染过程的静稳天气及传输条件分析

利用常规气象观测资料、空气质量监测资料、再分析资料和数值模式资料,分析了2014年2月20-26日京津冀地区持续重污染天气过程的环流背景、气象要素特征、静稳天气条件和传输条件.结果表明：2月20-26日,亚洲东部受弱高压脊控制,京津冀及周边地区位于地面高压后部,等压线较为稀疏,气压梯度小,造成地面风速较小;与此同时,混合层高度低,通风系数小和逆温存在,构成重污染天气出现和维持的气象条件,均不利于大气中污染物和水汽的垂直和水平扩散.静稳天气指数对于重污染天气有一定的指示意义,高静稳天气指数通常对应高PM_2.5浓度,且二者变化趋势一致性高;2月20-26日静稳天气指数总体上大于2014年1-3月其他几次污染过程,且在高位长时间维持,造成此次污染过程更严重.此外,传输条件也是京津冀重污染天气的主要成因：地面高压西侧的偏南或偏东气流有助于污染物和水汽向京津冀地区输送和聚集,使能见度进一步降低、污染物浓度进一步升高.     

Dental microwear in relation to changes in the direction of mastication during the evolution of Myodonta (Rodentia,Mammalia)

Observations of dental microwear are used to analyse the correlation between changes in molar tooth crown morphology and the direction of masticatory movement during the evolution of Myodonta (Rodentia, Mammalia). The studied sample includes 36 specimens representing both superfamilies of Myodonta (Muroidea and Dipodoidea) spanning 16 dipodoid and 9 muroid species. Microscopic scratches on occlusal surfaces resulting from contact between opposite teeth during mastication are analysed. Using these features, we determine the direction of masticatory movements. Microwear patterns display diverse orientations among Dipodoidea: oblique in Sicistinae, Euchoreutinae and Zapodinae, propalinal in Dipodinae and intermediary in Allactaginae. Similarly, Muroidea exhibit the following orientations: oblique in Cricetinae and propalinal in Arvicolinae, Cricetomyinae, Gerbillinae and Murinae. These various chewing types illustrate different evolutionary grades within the superfamilies. Acquisition of the antero-posterior masticatory movement in Dipodoidea is related to flattening of the molar occlusal surface. However, in some muroid subfamilies, this direction of mastication is associated with low-crowned and cuspidate molars (Cricetomyinae, Murinae).     

水体有机和无机颗粒组分变化对散射和后向散射特性影响研究

研究颗粒物的比例构成对散射及后向散射特性的影响,对推动水色遥感的发展具有重要的意义。本文结合2017年6月和9月秦皇岛附近海域的实测数据,获取了各站位有机颗粒（POM）、无机颗粒（PIM）的浓度以及散射、后向散射等光谱参数,并进行了相关性分析。结果表明,受水体颗粒物浓度的影响,各波段比后向散射系数的变化幅度明显增大,变异系数CV最大值出现在550 nm处;通过建立散射、后向散射系数与总悬浮颗粒物浓度（SPM）以及与PIM和POM之间的关系模型发现,水体的后向散射受水体颗粒物构成影响较大,与有机、无机颗粒物浓度之间的模型精度较高,均方根误差（RMSE）的变化范围为0.0094~0.0143,模型精度在700 nm处最好;同时,分析了无机颗粒物的比例构成（PIM/SPM）对散射效率和后向散射效率的影响,得出相对于散射效率Q_be,后向散射效率Q_bbe受无机颗粒物比例构成影响最大,但是Q_bbe与PIM/SPM的相关性并不是很高,决定系数R2为0.4。     

双台子河口文蛤碳、氮、磷收支的季节变化

在双台子河口现场研究滩涂生境优势埋栖性贝类--文蛤主要生理生态学参数的基础上,建立了其不同季节的C、N、P收支方程.结果表明,文蛤对海水中C、N、P等要素的生长余力（SFG_C、SFG_N、SFG_P）均呈现明显的季节变化,即在夏季最高;但SFG_C在春季时最低,且为负值,SFG_N及SFG_P全年均为正值.SFG_C、SFG_N和SFG_P变化范围分别为-2.11~18.59mgC/（ind·d）、0.13~5.87mgN/（ind·d）和0.11~1.45mgP/（ind·d）.文蛤的C、N、P生长效率季节变化显著,且C、N、P净生长效率基本表现为K_N2 > K_P2 > K_C2.文蛤在春季及秋季时的碳收支顺序依次为粪便碳 > 呼吸碳 > 生长碳,夏季时为生长碳 > 呼吸碳 > 粪便碳,冬季时为生长碳 > 粪便碳 > 呼吸碳.文蛤摄取氮元素用于生理过程的各组分比例依次为生长氮 > 粪便氮 > 排泄氮.文蛤摄食磷量用于生理过程的各组分比例在各季节中（除冬季外）依次为生长磷 > 粪便磷 > 排泄磷.C、N、P收支方程显示,文蛤更趋向于对N、P元素的富集,即摄取的N、P元素绝大部分用于其自身的生长和繁殖.研究结果表明,文蛤作为双台子河口优势埋栖性贝类是该海域生态系统C、N、P循环的重要组成部分,并在河口生态系统生源要素循环中发挥着重要作用.     

Spindle speed variation and adaptive force regulation to suppress regenerative chatter in the turning process

Chatter suppression in machining processes results in more material removal rate, high precision and surface quality. In this paper, two control strategies are developed to suppress chatter vibration in the turning process including a worn tool. In the first stage, a sinusoidal spindle speed variation around the mean speed is modulated to disturb the regenerative mechanism. The optimal amplitudes of the speed modulations are found based on a genetic algorithm such that the input energy to the turning process is minimized. In the second stage, to improve the response of the system which is associated with small ripples under the steady state condition, an adaptive controller is designed. In this stage, the provided external force (e.g., by a piezo-actuator) is the input variable. Results are provided for each control strategy. It is shown that if both control approaches are applied simultaneously, chatter vibration is suppressed in less time without any ripples at the steady state condition.     

北洛河流域水质空间异质性及其对土地利用结构的响应

根据2011年10月和2012年10月的北洛河流域水体采样数据,利用GIS技术和地统计学方法,分析了北洛河流域水质指标TP、TN、NO-3-N、NH+4-N和高锰酸盐指数(CODMn)的空间变异特征,并探讨了子流域尺度上不同土地利用结构对河流水质的影响.结果表明,北洛河流域水质指标TN和NO-3-N受结构性因素影响显著,表现出较强的空间变异性,而TP、NH+4-N和CODMn受到结构性因素和随机性因素共同作用,表现出较弱的空间变异特征.TN与农业用地面积百分比呈显著正相关关系,与林地面积百分比呈显著负相关关系,NO-3-N与农业用地面积百分比存在显著正相关关系.可以初步推测,控制TN空间异质性分布的结构性因素是农业用地和林地,而控制NO-3-N空间分布的结构性因素为农业用地.