Fossil evidence for the early ant evolution

Ants are one of the most studied insects in the world; and the literature devoted to their origin and evolution, systematics, ecology, or interactions with plants, fungi and other organisms is prolific. However, no consensus yet exists on the age estimate of the first Formicidae or on the origin of their eusociality. We review the fossil and biogeographical record of all known Cretaceous ants. We discuss the possible origin of the Formicidae with emphasis on the most primitive subfamily Sphecomyrminae according to its distribution and the Early Cretaceous palaeogeography. And we review the evidence of true castes and eusociality of the early ants regarding their morphological features and their manner of preservation in amber. The mid-Cretaceous amber forest from south-western France where some of the oldest known ants lived, corresponded to a moist tropical forest close to the shore with a dominance of gymnosperm trees but where angiosperms (flowering plants) were already diversified. This palaeoenvironmental reconstruction supports an initial radiation of ants in forest ground litter coincident with the rise of angiosperms, as recently proposed as an ecological explanation for their origin and successful evolution.     

新疆且末县银石山地区巴颜喀拉山群时代的化石依据

新疆且末县银石山地区巴颜喀拉山群为一套以复理石、类复理石沉积为主的地层，在1：25万区调中采集到较多的生物化石。其中三叠纪的菊石、古植物、放射虫等标准化石分子产于正常沉积的泥晶灰岩、碎屑岩、硅质岩等岩层中，代表巴颜喀拉山群的沉积时代。且在纵向与横向上控制程度高。石炭纪、二叠纪的有孔虫、腕足等化石产于外来滑动岩块成因的灰岩透镜体中，属沉积混杂带进的异地异时分子。据此，确定区内该套地层为三叠系，而不是前人划分的二叠系地层时代。     

Prenuptial perfume: Alloanointing in the social rituals of the crested auklet (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Aethia cristatella</Emphasis>) and the transfer of arthropod deterrents

Alloanointing, the transfer of chemicals between conspecifics, is known among mammals, but hitherto, the behavior has not been documented for birds. The crested auklet (Aethia cristatella), a colonial seabird of Alaskan and Siberian waters, alloanoints during courtship with fragrant aldehydes that are released from specialized wick-like feathers located in the interscapular region. Crested auklets solicit anointment at the colony, and prospective mates rub bill, breast, head, and neck over wick feathers of their partners. This distributes aldehydes over the head, neck, and face where the birds cannot self-preen. The resulting chemical concentrations are sufficient to deter ectoparasites. Auklets that emit more odorant can transfer more defensive chemicals to mates and are thus more sexually attractive. Behavioral studies showed that crested auklets are attracted to their scent. Wild birds searched for dispensers that emitted their scent and rubbed their bills on the dispensers and engaged in vigorous anointment behaviors. In captive experiments, naïve crested auklets responded more strongly to synthetic auklet scent than controls, and the greatest behavioral response occurred during early courtship. This study extends scientific knowledge regarding functions of alloanointing. Alloanointing had previously been attributed to scent marking and individual recognition in vertebrates. Alloanointing is described here in the context of an adaptive social cue — the transfer of arthropod deterrents between prospective mates.     

Stable Isotopes of Nitrogen in Fossil Cladoceran Exoskeletons: Implications for Nitrogen Sources in the Central Baltic Sea During the Past Century

15  N of bulk sediment, organic carbon concentrations, and abundances of exoskeletons of Bosmina longispina maritima in the sediment, the data are used to evaluate significant sources of nitrogen in the food web over the past century. Nitrogen isotopic composition of bulk sediments ranges from 2.5 to 4.5?, that of exokeletons varies between 0.4 and 6.2?. The two are positively correlated. A marked increase in the abundance of Bosmina since 1965 (from less than 500 specimen to more than 5000 specimen cm³ of sediment) is correlated with a significant increase in sedimentary organic carbon concentrations (from 4% to more than 10%). The isotopic data do not identify increased land-derived nitrate as the dominant nitrogen source fuelling the increase. Instead, we postulate that nitrogen fixation by diazotrophic bacteria has been one of the larger sources of nitrogen in the Baltic Sea, as it is today. Received: 29 April 1998 / Accepted in revised form: 13 August 1998     

长江口潮滩表层沉积物中微塑料的分布及沉降特点

河口区域是污染物的源头与交汇的区域.为探索微塑料在长江口潮滩的污染现状,本文选取长江口6个采样点、4个季度的潮滩沉积物进行采样分析,长江口潮滩沉积物中微塑料检测结果显示的平均丰度为(3.42±1.31)items·g~(-1),有纤维状和碎片状两种存在形式,其中纤维状占主要部分.微塑料在潮滩沉积物中的分布与沉降和长江口冲淤情况有着高度一致性,在沉积物冲刷地段位点微塑料丰度较低,在沉积物淤积位点微塑料丰度较高.长江口潮滩沉积物中微塑料丰度在1月达到最高值,且在1月和4月各位点差异较大,在7月和11月差异较小.再悬浮实验表明,微塑料主要在表层沉积物和水中积聚.本文结果表明,长江口潮滩沉积物受到一定程度的微塑料污染,微塑料在潮滩的积聚与长江口冲淤、降水和潮汐等因素密切相关.本文的结果可以为长江口潮滩表层沉积物中微塑料的污染研究提供一定的基础数据.     

青浦区城市化中人居环境的协调发展研究

青浦区人居环境的可持续发展体系是一个由人口、社会、资源、环境与经济5个子系统构成的开放巨系统。文章通过提出综合衡量系统“协调性”和“发展水平”的“协调发展度”模型，研究青浦区在城市化中人居环境复合系统内5个子系统之间协调发展度情况。并运用回归模型，探讨协调发展度与城市化发展水平之间的内在联系，提出城市化进程必须与其人居环境的可持续发展相适应。     

应用灰色模型(G,M)预测软土路基沉降量

本文讨论了灰色系统理论在软土路基沉降量预测中的应用 ,以京珠高速公路灵山实验段沉降观测数据为例 ,建立了沉降量灰色预测模型 ,并与三点法、双曲线法的预测结果以及实测结果进行了对比 ,结果表明 ,灰色预测模型的预测沉降量与实际沉降量更接近。最后分析了用灰色模型进行预测应注意的问题。     

冲小孔废料堵塞原因分析及解决方法

分析了冲小孔废料堵塞的各种原因 ,从模具、材料 ,设备三方面介绍了解决冲小孔废料堵塞的方法     

Behavioral and life-history evidence for interspecific competition in the larvae of two heliconian butterflies

Interspecific competition in herbivorous insects remains a controversial issue. To date, many studied systems have not met assumptions of the traditional competition theory, and a new paradigm has been emerging. We examined the behavioral and life-history consequences of common host plant use of Heliconius erato and Dryas iulia (Nymphalidae) in relation to Passiflora suberosa (Passifloraceae). Larvae of the former use the apical portion of this host; the latter is presumably able to explore all plant parts. We assessed host use pattern in relation to leaf age, when reared either alone (D. iulia) or together (D. iulia and H. erato). Larval feeding choice tests with respect to leaf age were performed, and performance was recorded. Observations were made to assess antagonistic behavior of H. erato and D. iulia towards each other, if any. Similarly to H. erato, D. iulia fed on the young leaves significantly more than the mature ones; larvae were not induced to prefer mature leaves. First instars of H. erato used only the apical parts of P. suberosa and displayed aggressive behavior towards D. iulia, which moved to the lower shoot portions. Larval mortality and development time of both species significantly increased when reared together; such performance costs were more pronounced in D. iulia than H. erato. Our study gathers evidences that use of P. suberosa by these heliconian butterflies represent a case of competitive exclusion resulting in niche differentiation, where costs are higher for D. iulia than H. erato.     

我国大气腐蚀研究进展(续完)

总结了近几年来我国在大气腐蚀方面的研究现状和进展,包括国产、常用、量大、面广的4大类材料在我国9类主要典型大气环境下的腐蚀数据积累：各类典型材料在典型环境下的大气腐蚀行为规律：大气环境因素对材料大气腐蚀的影响;碳钢、低合金钢大气腐蚀行为预测,特别是根据8年试验结果所总结出的大气腐蚀速度与试验时间之间具有幂函数关系的基础上．又进一步建立了腐蚀速度与合金元素之间的数学模型关系;探讨了采用ACM技术评估大气腐蚀严酷性;初步建立了大气腐蚀数据库,并正进一步采用计算机发展网络查询服务系统,实现科学数据共享。经20余年之研究,撰写了并出版中国材料自然环境腐蚀专著中大气腐蚀篇．还研制和生产了经济耐候钢。     

太湖流域西部圩区陆地生态系统维持和调节功能量化评估

圩区是南方平原水网地区一种重要的地理单元,圩区陆地生态系统维持和调节功能的研究对于圩区内的土地利用优化、生态环境保护与恢复等都有重要的意义。研究选取太湖流域西部地区的圩区,采用物质量评估的方法,对陆地生态系统的水量调节、净化环境、土壤保持和生境维持等4 种类型的生态服务功能进行了量化评估,研究结果表明：①圩区陆地生态系统年可调节水量43.71×10⁸ m³,削减总氮6 079.72 t,削减总磷734.99 t,保持土壤150.76×10⁴ t,景观综合指数介于0.96~1.11 之间,体现出较大的服务价值;②圩区陆地生态系统维持和调节功能的总量和单位面积量在空间上都存在差异性。从总量来看,宜兴、溧阳和金坛各市区较高,武进、丹徒和丹阳的服务功能总量较低,地形及水系分布是造成这一差异的主要原因;从单位面积的服务功能量来看,丹徒和丹阳较高,金坛、溧阳和宜兴处于一般水平,武进最低,圩区内土地利用方式的不同是造成这一差异的主要原因;③圩内生态系统服务功能的管理和恢复应参考服务能力大小,因地制宜区别对待。生态服务功能较强的市区,应发挥其生态功能的优势;生态服务功能较弱的地区,应采取一定的措施对其生态服务功能进行恢复;④研究成果对于圩内生态环境保护与恢复、土地利用结构优化等也具有参考价值。     

浅谈吉林省西部草原"三化"治理对策

随着吉林省农牧业进入新的发展阶段,结构调整、提高效益、改善生态环境已经成为现阶段农牧业和农村经济发展的重要任务,草原作为西部生态系统的重要组成部分,也是治理的重点.在结合现有的资料对吉林省西部草原"三化"的原因进行分析,并提出相应治理对策.     

Optical properties of the uropygial gland secretion: no evidence for UV cosmetics in birds

Ultraviolet (UV) reflectance of the plumage is common in birds and plays an important role in sexual signalling. Recently, it has been proposed that birds are able to modify plumage UV reflectance by the application of uropygial gland secretion. Based on a survey of the optical properties of this secretion from 51 species belonging to 12 avian orders, we show that two main types of uropygial secretions exist, one predominantly found in passerines and one in non-passerines, both reducing relative UV reflectance of a white background (Teflon™ tape). We quantified how each type of secretion (exemplified by blue tit and mallard) affected feather UV reflectance. Both secretions reduced overall brightness and relative UV reflectance of white mallard feathers but hardly affected the reflectance of UV/blue blue tit crown feathers. According to models of avian colour vision, changes in reflectance due to application of the secretion were at or below the discrimination threshold of most birds. We conclude that the uropygial secretion is unlikely to play a major role in modifying plumage UV reflectance. However, the optical properties of the uropygial secretion may have been selected to interfere as little as possible with visual signaling through plumage reflectance. Electronic supplementary material  The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

房地产建设项目生态宜居性的模糊综合评价

以现代住区人居生态环境的要求和前人研究为基础,立足于以人为本和便于实际评估工作的开展,综合考虑人居生态环境健康、舒适的特点,在类比众多评价方法和参考国内外指标体系的基础上,运用模糊综合评价对某一大型房地产项目的生态宜居性进行初步分析,以期完善、充实中国房地产项目的生态宜居性评价体系和方法,为该领域的进一步研究提供基础。     

西部公路建设环境监测指标体系研究

根据西部公路建设及环境保护发展概况，研究了建立西部公路建设环境监测指标应遵循的原则，并提出了两部公路建设环境监测指标体系。     

支持西印度洋地区海洋和海岸带资源可持续管理的海洋研究

西印度洋(WIO)地区以其迷人的海岸带、丰富的海洋生物多样性以及富饶的海洋和海岸带资源而著称.但是地处WIO地区的许多国家像肯尼亚、莫桑比克、索马里、南非、坦桑尼亚、科摩罗、马达加斯加、毛里求斯、留尼旺、塞舌尔等却极度贫困,特别是近二三十年以来,该地区的环境退化现象以及自然资源和生物多样性的下降越来越明显.     

支持西印度洋地区海洋和海岸带资源可持续管理的海洋研究

西印度洋(WIO)地区以其迷人的海岸带、丰富的海洋生物多样性以及富饶的海洋和海岸带资源而著称.但是地处WIO地区的许多国家像肯尼亚、莫桑比克、索马里、南非、坦桑尼亚、科摩罗、马达加斯加、毛里求斯、留尼旺、塞舌尔等却极度贫困,特别是近二三十年以来,该地区的环境退化现象以及自然资源和生物多样性的下降越来越明显.