Root plasticity buffers competition among plants: theory meets experimental data

Morphological plasticity is a striking characteristic of plants in natural communities. In the context of foraging behavior particularly, root plasticity has been documented for numerous species. Root plasticity is known to mitigate competitive interactions by reducing the overlap of the individuals' rhizospheres. But despite its obvious effect on resource acquisition, plasticity has been generally neglected in previous empirical and theoretical studies estimating interaction intensity among plants. In this study, we developed a semi-mechanistic model that addresses this shortcoming by introducing the idea of compensatory growth into the classical-zone-of influence (ZOI) and field-of-neighborhood (FON) approaches. The model parameters describing the belowground plastic sphere of influence (PSI) were parameterized using data from an accompanying field experiment. Measurements of the uptake of a stable nutrient analogue at distinct distances to the neighboring plants showed that the study species responded plastically to belowground competition by avoiding overlap of individuals' rhizospheres. An unexpected finding was that the sphere of influence of the study species Bromus hordeaceus could be best described by a unimodal function of distance to the plant's center and not with a continuously decreasing function as commonly assumed. We employed the parameterized model to investigate the interplay between plasticity and two other important factors determining the intensity of competitive interactions: overall plant density and the distribution of individuals in space. The simulation results confirm that the reduction of competition intensity due to morphological plasticity strongly depends on the spatial structure of the competitive environment. We advocate the use of semi-mechanistic simulations that explicitly consider morphological plasticity to improve our mechanistic understanding of plant interactions.     

Demographic plasticity in tropical reef fishes

We use age-based analyses to demonstrate consistent differences in growth, mortality, and longevity of coral reef fishes from similar habitats (exposed reef crests) 20 km apart. On outer-shelf reef crests of the northern Great Barrier Reef (GBR), size in four taxa of reef fishes (Chlorurus sordidus, Scarus frenatus, and S. niger and the acanthurid Acanthurus lineatus) was systematically and significantly smaller when compared with the same taxa on adjacent mid-shelf reef crests. Differences in size could be attributed to differences in growth between habitats (shelf positions). On outer reef crests the species examined had consistently lower size at age profiles and also reduced life spans compared with populations from mid-shelf reefs. To confirm this relationship, two of the most abundant species (C. sordidus and S. frenatus) were selected for more detailed spatial analysis of demographic patterns. Sampling adults of both taxa from reef crests on three mid- and three outer-shelf reefs revealed that most of the variation in growth was explained by shelf position, although C. sordidus also displayed differences in growth among mid-shelf reefs. We conclude that differences in body sizes across the continental shelf of the northern GBR are primarily determined by these trends in growth. Strong spatial patterns also existed in the mean ages of populations and longevity estimates for C. sordidus and S. frenatus between shelf positions. Both species on outer-shelf reefs displayed less variable cohort sizes, significantly reduced mean ages, and foreshortened longevity compared with populations on mid-shelf reefs. Furthermore, differences in these parameters were rare among replicate reefs within mid- and outer-continental-shelf positions. Age-based catch curves suggested that rates of S. frenatus natural mortality on the outer shelf were nearly twice as high as on the mid shelf. Visual surveys indicated that total scarid densities on outer-shelf reef crests are on average fourfold higher than for equivalent mid-shelf habitats. This fact, coupled with significantly reduced growth rates, reduced mean ages, and increased mortality rates, suggests that density-dependent processes may be responsible for observed differences among localities.     

Dominance and reproduction in a parthenogenetic lizard

Summary In most vertebrates, males and females are believed to differ in terms of their investment in offspring. Dominance theory suggests that one way individuals of the sex with lower parental investment can increase reproductive success would be to dominate others of the same sex. The dominant competitors are thought to achieve preferred access to mates, and thus, have greater reproductive success than subordinates.Reproduction in parthenogenetic Cnemidophorus uniparens normally proceeds without males, but individuals exhibit mounting behaviors in captivity that are typical of closely related Cnemidophorus species that reproduce sexually. Thus, these animals provide an unusual opportunity to study the effects of behavior on reproduction apart from copulation and fertilization. In this study relationships between dominance and reproduction were investigated in the unisexual lizard species, C. uniparens. Dominance hierarchies were rapidly established and maintained in the laboratory by agonistic encounters among individuals. The number of times an individual charged its cagemates was positively correlated with the number of clutches and eggs laid. Also, dominant animals who charged their cagemates were likely to win agonistic encounters; recipients of charges usually fled. Hierarchies based on different behaviors were not all related to reproduction. Charges as a predictor of dominance was unrelated to body length, percent increase in body length and time spent in the basking site. However, individuals with a high percent increase in body length spent more time basking. This is likely a result of the increased energy demands of growth in addition to reproduction. Physiological stress as measured by plasma corticosterone titers was unrelated to dominance. We suggest that dominance is an important factor affecting reproduction in C. uniparens.     

Predicting reproduction rate of varroa

A single equation is derived to predict population-density effects on the reproduction rate of the honey bee parasite Varroa destructor Anderson and Trueman. This equation provides a simpler alternative to the approach currently used in the literature, and additionally corrects an anomaly in that approach. The method is then extended to the case of co-existing haplotypes of Varroa. It thus derives an equation used without proof for modelling biocontrol of Varroa, and examines the error caused by an approximation necessary for a closed form solution. Additionally a varroa population model incorporating the derived equation is described.     

Worker policing and worker reproduction in Apis cerana

Workers of the Asian hive bee, Apis cerana, are shown to have relatively high rates of worker ovary activation. In colonies with an active queen and brood nest, 1-5% of workers have eggs in their ovarioles. When A. cerana colonies are dequeened, workers rapidly activate their ovaries. After 4 days 15% have activated ovaries and after 6 days, 40%. A cerana police worker-laid eggs in the same way that A. florea and A. mellifera do, but are perhaps slightly more tolerant of worker-laid eggs than the other species. Nevertheless, no worker's sons were detected in a sample of 652 pupal males sampled from 4 queenright colonies. A cerana continue to police worker-laid eggs, even after worker oviposition has commenced in a queenless colony.     

Mating and reproduction in the wasp Vespula germanica

We used polymorphic microsatellite markers to study patterns of queen and worker reproduction in annual nests of the wasp Vespula germanica in its introduced range in Australia. We found that queens were typically polyandrous (at least 85.4% mated multiply), with the minimum number of male mates ranging from 1 to 7. Calculations based on nestmate worker relatedness (r=0.46) yielded an estimate of effective queen mating frequency of 2.35. Queens were unrelated to their mates (r=-0.01), indicating that mating occurred at random within Australian V. germanica populations. In addition, the distribution of the minimum number of male mates of queens followed a Poisson distribution. This result suggested that the probability of a queen remating was not affected by previous copulations. We also discovered that mates of polyandrous queens contributed unequally to progeny production leading to significant male reproductive skew within nests. Analyses of nestmate male genotypes revealed that queens usually produced most or all males. However, workers were responsible for the production of many males in a few nests, and, in contrast to theoretical expectations, two of these nests were apparently queenright.     

植物耐受和解除重金属毒性研究进展

总结了植物细胞及分子水平对重金属耐性和解除其毒性的途径.植物通过避免增加细胞内敏感位点毒物浓度来解除重金属毒性.其途径主要有:一方面通过菌根化、细胞壁吸收及根系分泌物的螯合作用减少根系吸收重金属进入细胞质;另一方面通过体内调节机制解除重金属毒性和提高耐性,主要通过一系列膜蛋白对进入细胞质内的重金属排出细胞质外、隔离于液泡中,或将重金属转变为无毒性形态挥发入大气,或通过细胞质内的植物螯合素、金属硫蛋白、有机酸、氨基酸、多胺等对重金属螯合,解除重金属毒性;同时植物还可以在重金属胁迫下产生热休克蛋白修复胁迫伤害的蛋白质.本文提供了涉及植物重金属解毒和耐性广泛的观点和证据.     

Toxic trace elements and reproduction

Successful reproduction requires a well developed genital tract, including a good cooperation between hypothalamus, pituitary, ovaries and uterus on the female side and good sperm quality and motility on the male side. Heavy metals may interact with every single step of these processes, and after successful implantation the feto‐placental unit may be another target for heavy metal toxicity. In this review the reproduction process and the interaction of the heavy trace elements Cd (cadmium), Pb (lead) and Hg (mercury) are described.     

Size-dependent reproduction in the Caribbean gorgonian Pseudoplexaura porosa

Reproductive success among clonal taxa is often portrayed as a simple function of clone size, but reproduction in Pseudoplexaura porosa (Houtuyn), a common Caribbean gorgonian, reflects a more complex relationship between size and gamete production. Tagged colonies were sampled at two reefs in the San Blas Islands, Panama during the 1995 spawning season to determine the colony size at first reproduction, size-dependent polyp fecundities, and whole colony gonad production, and to follow the gametogenic cycle. Additional data were obtained during non-spawning months in 1984 and 1985. Of 120 colonies ranging in height from 20 to 250 cm, only colonies taller than 50 cm were reproductive. An average of 4.33 oocytes polyp⁻¹, 560 to 800 μm in diameter, were released during monthly synchronous spawning events from June to September. Oocytes released each month developed from a group of intermediate size oocytes present at the end of the preceding month. Almost all oocytes >560 μm were released during each spawning event. Spermatogenesis was a shorter process than oogenesis. During each spawning month, mature spermaries developed from a group of <125 μm spermaries. Virtually all spermaries >190 μm were released each month, and most of the spermary volume in mature male polyps was generated anew each month of spawning. Among reproductive colonies, polyp fecundity increased with colony height from 50 to 200 cm. Per capita fecundity of >200 cm tall female colonies was lower than for 150 to 200 cm colonies, but whole colony fecundity of large colonies was greater due to the exponential increase in the number of polyps that occurs with increasing colony height. In male colonies, both polyp and colony reproductive output increased with colony height. The large amounts of sperm produced by large male colonies probably contributes to the high rates of in situ fertilization observed in P. porosa. Differences in fecundity as a function of colony size and sex suggest differences in some combination of the cost of reproduction and/or allocation of resources to reproduction. Received: 9 September 1998 / Accepted: 7 June 1999     

Choice in Varroa jacobsoni Oud. between honey bee drone or workerbrood cells for reproduction

Summary The effect of variation in copulation duration on sperm precedence (P₂) of the last male was investigated in a non-territorial libellulid using irradiated-male techniques and observations in a large field enclosure. Copulation duration varied between 6 min and more than 1 h (X = 23.19 min ± 12.74). In the clutch deposited immediately after the copulation, most copulation durations resulted in high sperm precedence for the last male. Several experimentally interrupted short matings still resulted in 100% precedence. However, most interrupted copulations of 10 min or less resulted in a low P₂. After long, uninterrupted copulations, P₂ remained high in clutches that were collected up to 9 days after the mating. After interrupted short copulations, P₂ fluctuated or remained at a low level from the first clutch onwards. This indicates that sperm mixing probably starts within 24 h and that after a long copulation virtually no rival sperm is left in the female's sperm storage organs. As most natural copulations are long, complete removal of rival sperm seems to be common in S. danae. Only 3 f 17 variables investigated explained a significant amount of the variation in copulation duration. Copulations shortened with increasing temperature and for each additional mating of the male. The strongest effect however, was due to time of day: early morning copulations lasted longer than midday copulations. Adjustment of the copulation duration to the decreasing chance of obtaining additional matings was found to be the most likely of five explanatory hypotheses that were evaluated.     

Female adaptation to developmental plasticity in male calling behavior

The katydid Neoconocephalus triops exhibits in North America substantial developmental plasticity of male mating calls. The AM rate of the summer calls is significantly faster than that of the winter calls at the same temperature. In the tropics, where N. triops originated, males express only the fast summer-call phenotype. We tested two alternative hypotheses: (1) call plasticity in the population from North America evolved in response to selection by female preference after N. triops colonized North America, or (2) call plasticity evolved before N. triops expanded into North America and its expression in the novel environment led to adaptive change of female preferences. First, we tested whether call plasticity was present in tropical populations of N. triops. Tropical males expressed the winter-call phenotype when reared under winter conditions, indicating that call plasticity did not evolve in response to temperate climates. Second, we compared female preferences among temperate and tropical populations. We found that the temperature dependence of preferred AM rate was significantly steeper in temperate N. triops than in a tropical population of N. triops. Third, we compared temperature dependence of female preference of the N. triops populations to three Neoconocephalus species without call plasticity. Only temperate N. triops had significantly steeper temperature dependence than the other species. This steeper temperature dependence matched female preference to the fast summer call at high temperatures and to the slow winter call at low temperatures in temperate populations. These results support the hypothesis that female preference changed in N. triops in North America to compensate for the plasticity of male calls.     

Pre-natal investment in reproduction by female Antarctic fur seals

Summary Maternal investment, in terms of pup birth mass, in gestation by Antarctic fur seals (Arctocephalus gazella) was related to the date of birth in two consecutive years. There were significant differences in birth mass between years and between the sexes within years. Birth mass was used to calculate the mean energetic cost of producing a pup to parturition. The cost for a male pup in 1986 was 173 MJ while it was 191 MJ in 1987. For female pups the cost was 152 and 166 MJ in 1986 and 1987 respectively. Given the probable pattern of foetal growth, this constitutes a minimum of 5–15% of the maternal energy budget in the final months of gestation. Birth mass varied inversely with date of birth, but more strongly for male than for female pups. The sex ratio at birth was unity in both years and this did not vary with time through the birth season. In a subsample of mothers (n=79) which were captured on the day of birth, there was a decline in the body mass and standard length with date of birth. Male birth mass was directly related to maternal mass and maternal condition (mass/length) but there was no significant relationship for females. These results suggest that the growth of male foetuses is limited by maternal resources while female foetuses do not exploit fully maternal resources.     

Non-thermal plasmas for disease control and abiotic stress management in plants

Environmental Chemistry Letters - Climate change is predicted to cause severe loss in agricultural production by increasing disease epidemics and intensifying&nbsp;abiotic stresses. Therefore,...     

转基因植物入侵性评价指标初探

从生态学 (种子水平和成体水平 )和生理生化 (酶表达、蛋白检测、光合能力等 )层次 ,探讨转基因植物 (GMP)可能形成入侵性的一些特性 ,尝试建立GMP入侵性的评价指标体系 ,为进行转基因植物的安全性评价提供借鉴。     

Growth and reproduction in the mesopelagic-boundary squid Abralia trigonura

Abralia trigonura is a small squid that is an important member of the mesopelagic boundary community around Hawaii. Squids were aged by examining statolith growth increments, and various reproductive parameters were measured. Female longevity is 6 mo, and they become sexually mature at 3.5 mo. Male longevity is the same, but they become sexually mature at 2.5 mo. This species appears to be a multiple spawner, and peculiarities in the number of eggs found in the oviducts suggests that they spawn every few days. Possible advantages of this reproductive mode are examined.     

加拿大一枝黄花有性生殖特征研究

加拿大一枝黄花Solidago canadensis L.是分布于我国的危害性最为严重的入侵种之一,它既可以通过有性生殖又可以通过无性生殖进行繁殖.对加拿大一枝黄花有性生殖的相关特征,如花序和小花的生物学特性、结实率和传粉方式等进行了研究.结果表明,加拿大一枝黄花的性系统为雌全性系统,每花序总花数为(15.16±1.67)个,缘花/盘花值为3.07±0.64.对成熟果实透明后进行的结实率统计表明,其结实率较低.套纱布网袋后的结实率极显著低于开放性授粉的,表明其花序是需要昆虫传粉的类型.加拿大一枝黄花的花序结构特征和开放式样显示出有利于增加异交的特点.尽管其结实率相对较低,但整个植株结实量大,仍需要防止其通过有性生殖产生的种子进行远距离的扩散和在新分布地区建立种群. 花有性生殖的相关特征,如花序和小花的生物学特性、结实率和传粉方式等进行了研究.结果表明,加拿大一枝黄花的性系统为雌全性系统,每花序总花数为(15.16±1.67)个,缘花/盘花值为3.07±0.64.对成熟果实透明后进行的结实率统计表明,其结实率较低.套纱布网袋后的结实率极显著低于开放性授粉的,表明其花序是需要昆虫传粉的类型.加拿大一枝黄花的花序结 特征和开放式样显示出有利于增加异交的特点.尽管其结实率相对较低,但整个植株结实量大,仍需要防止其通过有性生殖产生的种子进行远距离的扩散和在新分布地区建立种群. 花有性生殖的相关特征,如花序和小花的生物学     

Light and temperature demands for growth and reproduction of laminarian gametophytes in southern and central California

The gametophytes of 9 laminarian species (4 from southern California, and 5 from central California, USA) became fertile in the unicellular stage (female gametophytes) or in a few-celled stage (male gametophytes), when appropriate temperatures and a sufficiently high quantum irradiance in the blue part of the spectrum were supplied. Vegetative growth, leading to the formation of filamentous gametophytes was light-saturated at relatively low irradiances (4 W m^-2; equivalent to about 2 nE cm^-2 sec^-1 or an illuminance of 1000 lux), whereas 2 to 3 times this irradiance in continuous fluorescent cool white light was needed to induce the majority of the gametophytes to become fertile. An illuminance of 8300 lux did not inhibit the development of the gametophytes from southern Californian species. Egregia menziesii exhibited an exceptionally low quantum demand for induction of fertility. Gametophytes of species from central and southern California differed in regard to their temperature optimum for growth (12°C in the former, 17°C in the latter) and their upper temperature limit for reproduction (17°C in the former, 20°C in the latter).     

Novel method for in situ visualization of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in mangrove plants

Two-photon laser confocal scanning microscopy (TPLCSM) was first used to visualize the uptake and movement of naphthalene (NAP), phenanthrene (PHE), and pyrene (PYR), from separately contaminated hydroponics solutions into living Kandelia candel (L.) Druce seedlings. With this non-destructive and non-chemical extraction technique, the experimental results revealed that three types of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) were observed moving into the K. candel and its translocation to radicle, hypocotyl and leaf, and the transmission rates of these PAH in the K. candel were in the order of NAP?>?PHE?>?PYR. Data demonstrate the manner in which PAH enter, transport, and distribute within the K. candel, and provided us some valuable information on uptake and translocation mechanism of PAH. These findings may help to optimize the phytoremediation strategies of PAH in mangrove wetlands.     

Nectar secondary compounds affect self-pollen transfer: implications for female and male reproduction

Pollen movement within and among plants affects inbreeding, plant fitness, and the spatial scale of genetic differentiation. Although a number of studies have assessed how plant and floral traits influence pollen movement via changes in pollinator behavior, few have explored how nectar chemical composition affects pollen transfer. As many as 55% of plants produce secondary compounds in their nectar, which is surprising given that nectar is typically thought to attract pollinators. We tested the hypothesis that nectar with secondary compounds may benefit plants by encouraging pollinators to leave plants after visiting only a few flowers, thus reducing self-pollen transfer. We used Gelsemium sempervirens, a plant whose nectar contains the alkaloid gelsemine, which has been shown to be a deterrent to foraging bee pollinators. We found that high nectar alkaloids reduced the total and proportion of self-pollen received by one-half and one-third, respectively. However, nectar alkaloids did not affect female reproduction when we removed the potential for self-pollination (by emasculating all flowers on plants). We then tested the assumption that self-pollen in combination with outcrossed pollen depresses seed set. We found that plants were weakly self-compatible, but self-pollen with outcrossed pollen did not reduce seed set relative to solely outcrossed flowers. Finally, an exponential model of pollen carryover suggests that high nectar alkaloids could benefit plants via increased pollen export (an estimate of male function), but only when pollinators were efficient and abundant and plants had large floral displays. Results suggest that high nectar alkaloids may benefit plants via increased pollen export under a restricted set of ecological conditions, but in general, the costs of high nectar alkaloids in reducing pollination balanced or outweighed the benefits of reducing self-pollen transfer for estimates of female and male reproduction.