An acanthocephalan parasite increases the salinity tolerance of the freshwater amphipod <Emphasis Type="Italic">Gammarus roeseli</Emphasis> (Crustacea: Gammaridae)

Studies of the influence of parasites on host fitness generally conclude that parasites have a strong negative effect on their hosts. In this study, we have investigated experimentally the role of Polymorphus minutus, an acanthocephalan parasite, on the salinity tolerance of the freshwater amphipod Gammarus roeseli, one of its intermediate hosts. Unexpectedly, P. minutus-infected gammarids were more tolerant to salinity stress than uninfected ones. The mean lethal salt concentrations for 50% mortality of hosts tested were 17.3 (infected) and 9.7 g/L (uninfected). The parasitic load (one or two parasites per host) did not affect the result. The size of hosts had no significant influence on the salinity tolerance of either infected or uninfected gammarids. The mobility of all types of gammarid decreased when the salinity exceeded 9.0 g/L, but there was no significant difference between infected and uninfected gammarids. We discuss the higher salinity tolerance of infected amphipods in relation to O₂ consumption and osmoregulation. Finally, we demonstrate that the salinity tolerance is enhanced in the parasitized amphipod but without a significant change in behavior or an osmoregulatory adjustment.     

Safe caves and dangerous forests? Predation risk may contribute to salamander colonization of subterranean habitats

Recent studies suggest that many organisms actively colonize the subterranean environment to avoid climatic stress, exploit new ecological opportunities and reduce competition and predation. Terrestrial salamanders are known to colonize the more stable subterranean habitats mainly to escape external climatic extremes, while the role of predation avoidance remains untested. To better understand the importance of predation, we used clay models of the cave salamander Speleomantes strinatii to compare the predation occurring in woodland and subterranean habitats. Models were positioned in three forests and in three caves in NW Italy. One-hundred eighty-four models were retrieved from the field and 59 (32%) were attacked by predators. Models were attacked on their head more often than expected by chance and, therefore, were perceived by predators as real prey items. In the woodlands, clay models showed a four-time higher probability of being attacked in comparison to caves, suggesting a different level of potential predation risk in these surface habitats. These findings are one of the first experimental evidences that, in terrestrial ecosystems, predation avoidance may contribute to the salamander underground colonization process.     

Male-biased predation of western green lizards by Eurasian kestrels

Selective predation can be an important force driving the evolution of organisms. In particular, sex-biased predation is expected to have implications for sexual selection, sex allocation and population dynamics. In this study, we analysed sex differences in the predation of the western green lizard (Lacerta bilineata) by the Eurasian kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) during the reproductive season. In addition, we investigated whether the rate of predation differed during the 8-year study period and among the three habitats studied. We collected lizard remains from nest boxes of kestrels. Freshly killed lizards were sexed by visual inspection, whilst the sex of head remains was assigned by analysing the cephalic scale morphology using geometric morphometrics. Our results show that the risk of being predated by a kestrel in our population was overall about 3.55 times higher for males than for females. To our knowledge this is the first study showing a male-biased predation in a lizard species. The selective predation of males was consistent between years over the 8-year study period (1999-2006) and also consistent between the three types of kestrel hunting habitat. Overall predation rates on lizards differed between habitats, depending on the year. We propose that the observed sex-biased predation is mainly due to sex differences in lizard behaviour.     

Field vole (Microtus agrestis) seasonal spacing behavior: the effect of predation risk by mustelids

There are numerous studies showing that predation risk may change different aspects of the behavior of prey, such as habitat use, activity pattern, and foraging. Prey should exhibit the strongest antipredatory response against their most deadly predator. Small mustelids are considered the most important mammalian predators of voles. Nevertheless, there is no general agreement as to whether strong antipredatory reactions exist in natural free-living populations of voles. Here, we studied the field vole Microtus agrestis spatial reaction to high predation risk from small mustelids in the breeding (August) and nonbreeding (October) seasons under natural conditions. Voles were exposed to a caged weasel (Mustela nivalis) and a stoat (Mustela erminea), as well as to the odors of these predators. The reactions of 30 field voles were monitored with radiotelemetry. The field voles were found to display antipredator reactions that varied with season. In the breeding period, in response to predation risk, voles reduced locomotory activity and daily-range size, whereas in the nonbreeding period they did not. Changes in home range position were similar for control and treatment voles, in both the breeding and nonbreeding periods. The results indicate that mustelid predators modify the spatial behavior of small rodents in natural conditions depending on season. This might be a reflection of differences in state-dependent responses to predation from sexually active or inactive individuals. This suggests that the basic antipredatory reaction of voles under high predation risk from small mustelids limits their locomotory activity.     

腾格里沙漠东南缘不同生境白刺(Nitraria)灌丛沙堆的空间分布格局

运用地统计学和数量生态学方法,从维持天然白刺灌丛稳定性和持久生态效益角度出发,对腾格里沙漠东南缘不同生境白刺灌丛沙堆的空间异质性进行了研究,分析了不同生境白刺固沙生态效益.结果表明,生境地下水埋深和白刺植株发育状况的差异直接影响了白刺耐沙埋的能力,间接地影响了白刺沙堆的固沙效应.湖盆低地白刺种群的植株盖度、密度和生物量显著高于山前冲积扇区（p<0.01）,植株高度则相反,且无显著差异（p>0.05）.湖盆低地的半固定生境沙堆高度平均为1.20 m,单个沙堆积沙体积平均为88.19 m³,固定生境的山前冲积扇沙堆高度平均为1.14 m,单个沙堆积沙体积平均为33.16 m³.不同生境条件下,白刺沙堆的斑块大小和分布存在明显差异（p<0.01）.湖盆低地的白刺灌丛沙堆趋向于大斑块、小密度,空间自相关距离较长,而山前冲积扇区相反.湖盆低地由自相关因素引起的沙堆大小和积沙体积空间异质性占主要部分,分别体现在1.2～84 m和1.2～505 m尺度;而山前冲积扇的随机因素引起的沙堆大小和积沙体积空间异质性占到100％,在100 m以下尺度该区白刺灌丛沙堆大小和积沙体积具有恒定的变异,其空间分布格局在这个尺度无规律体现呈随机分布.     

Role of post-dispersal seed and seedling predation in establishment of dandelion (Taraxacum agg.) plants

Dandelion Taraxacum agg. (formerly Taraxacum officinale G.H. Weber ex Wiggers) is a common weed species associated with pastures, grasslands and no-tillage cropping systems throughout its native range in Europe, and more recently introduced into North America, Australasia and elsewhere. Following wind-dispersal from the parent plant, its seeds are subject to predation from a host of invertebrate predators. Similarly, seedling predation may also significantly limit dandelion recruitment. Although such post-dispersal mortality is central to our understanding of dandelion population dynamics and therefore weed control, the precise spatio-temporal role played by different putative seed and seedling predators is poorly understood. Here we studied how seed viability, and seed and seedling predation influenced dandelion recruitment at two contrasting sites in central Europe. The abundance in the field and seed and seedling consumption in the laboratory were determined for the main groups of predators—ground beetles (Coleoptera: Carabiade), terrestrial isopods (Isopoda: Oniscidea) and molluscs (Gastopoda: Pulmonata). At particular sites, seed viability and seedling predation were negatively correlated while the percentage of seeds that succumbed to seed predation was similar. Combined factors accounted for the death of 98% and 87% of exposed seeds. Ground beetles (particularly Amara spp.) and terrestrial isopods (Armadillidium vulgare) were efficient and dominant seed predators, while slugs (Arion lusitanicus) and isopods were important predators of seedlings. While there was no seasonal trend in the intensity of seed predation it decreased towards autumn in parallel with the feeding activity of the declining population of A. lusitanicus. The mortality factors thus varied in their importance, largely between sites and less with the course of the season. Although seed inviability, seed and seedling predation did not stop the recruitment of dandelion seedlings they are crucial factors limiting dandelion populations. Methods of increasing the efficiency of predation of seed as a means of managing weeds are worthy of further study, particularly in areas where dandelion is an invasive species.     

Scale-dependent habitat selection in migratory frugivorous passerines

Frugivorous migrants may select fruit-rich habitats en route to attain high food rewards, yet their stopover behavior may also be shaped by other considerations, such as predation risk. During 1996–2001 we investigated autumn stopover habitat use of three Sylvia warblers (sylviids; S. hortensis, S. atricapilla and S. curruca) and three Turdidae chats (turdids; Cercotrichas galactotes, Oenanthe hispanica and Phoenicurus phoenicurus) in planted groves of the fruiting tree Pistacia atlantica in Lahav Forest, Israel, which is located at the edge of a desert. We used fecal analysis, a constant-effort trapping scheme and field observations to estimate the extent of frugivory, and bird habitat and microhabitat selection with regard to natural fruit and foliage densities. We also measured bird microhabitat selection in a set of fruit-manipulated trees. We trapped a total of 2,357 birds during the course of the study. Although sylviids exhibited higher frugivory level than turdids, both species groups exhibited a similar significantly positive correlation between bird and fruit densities at the habitat scale. However, at the microhabitat scale, sylviids selected densely foliated trees, whilst turdids were randomly distributed among trees. Our findings suggest that both species groups selected fruit-rich stopover habitats to take advantage of the high food availability before the demanding migration journey. No other mechanism except predation avoidance can explain the sylviids microhabitat selection; the migrants used foliage cover to reduce bird detectability by raptors. We conclude that en route passerines may use staging habitats in a sophisticated manner, by adopting scale-related behavior with regard to the availability of food and refuge cover.     

半干旱-亚湿润干旱沙区樟子松根内真菌群落结构和功能时空动态特征

研究揭示呼伦贝尔沙地樟子松天然林和不同引种地(呼伦贝尔沙地、科尔沁沙地和毛乌素沙地)不同林龄(中龄林、近熟林和成熟林)人工林根内真菌群落结构和功能时空动态特征及其对环境变化(气候因子和土壤理化性质)的响应,阐明樟子松根内真菌生态功能及其与林木生长的互作关系.结果表明：(1)樟子松人工林根内真菌多样性指数均显著高于天然林(P<0.05),且毛乌素沙地人工林最高;樟子松根内真菌群落存在明显的地理分布,但林龄影响不存在显著差异(P>0.05).(2)与樟子松人工林相比,天然林外生菌根真菌比例更高(50.49%),主要包括Acephala、小菇属(Mycena)和乳牛肝菌属(Suillus);樟子松天然林主要指示菌种为Acephala,呼伦贝尔沙地人工林为肉齿菌属(Sarcodon),科尔沁沙地人工林为红菇属(Russula)和美口菌属(Calostoma),毛乌素沙地人工林为地孔菌属(Geopora)、Mallocybe和棉革菌属(Tomentella).(3)在樟子松天然林和人工林中,指示菌种主要受到有效氮、有效磷和林龄的影响,而与土壤含水量、 pH值和全氮含量相关的指示菌种数...     

Density and nutritional condition of carabid beetles in wildflower areas of different age

Density and nutritional condition of the five carabid beetle species Agonum mülleri, Anchomenus dorsalis, Anisodactylus binotatus, Pterostichus vernalis and Poecilus cupreus was studied. Carabids were caught in sixteen 1–4-year-old wildflower areas, identified and counted, their nutritional condition was calculated and calculations were related to habitat parameters (i.e. wildflower area age, vegetation cover, soil water content, habitat size, surrounding landscape composition) and sex.Whereas the number of Anisodactylus binotatus caught responded positively to succession in wildflower areas, A. mülleri numbers tended to decrease and the other three species were unaffected. In a stepwise multiple regression species affiliation, sex and age of wildflower area explained together 98.5% of the variance in the pooled nutritional condition of Anchomenus dorsalis, Anisodactylus binotatus, A. mülleri and P. vernalis. Age of wildflower area alone explained 61.7% of the variance and age increased the nutritional condition of carabids. Correspondingly, nutritional condition of Poecilus cupreus was positively correlated with the age of wildflower area. Overall, the nutritional condition of the carabid assemblage studied increased from the first to the second year and then remained stable. To keep the proportion of 1-year-old wildflower areas low, wildflower areas should therefore be maintained for several years to improve the life conditions of carabid beetles and to enhance their beneficial effects in agroecosystems.     

基于原位生物测试的水生态风险评估技术研究

我国流域水环境呈现典型的复合污染特征,亟需发展基于生物效应的生态风险评估方法,以实现环境管理和生态修复的精准化.在野外原位暴露下受试生物受到多种污染物的共同胁迫,可以准确表征研究位点复合污染所产生的生态风险.原位生物测试较传统实验室生物测试具有更高的环境真实性和生态相关性,较野外生物监测对生物体承受的外源污染压力更清晰、可控.综述了基于原位生物测试的水生态风险评估技术,旨在促进该技术在我国水环境监测中的应用,提高生态风险评估的准确度.总结了国内外近年来原位生物测试的研究特色,详细阐述了实施过程中受试生物选择、暴露装置设计和研究位点选择的原则,以及原位生物测试方法在水环境生态风险评估中的应用案例.结果表明:①对原位生物测试实施要素进行规范化形成标准,将有利于该方法在环境管理中的推广应用.②利用原位生物效应、原位生物体内浓度以及二者与环境浓度相结合进行风险评估,是原位生物测试在生态风险评估中的三类应用类型.③原位生物暴露与被动采样的联合应用可同步获取原位生物效应和污染物生物可利用浓度,有利于实现全面准确的风险评估,应用潜力较大.研究表明,选用本土模式生物,采用多层次的毒性终点,设计简单有效的暴露装置,并同时考虑原位生物效应和环境浓度将有利于原位生物测试方法在我国的发展.      

应用于矿山修复的高效菌株鉴定与溶岩机制:基于增强回归树分析

岩石矿区废弃地水土流失问题极度严峻,微生物对修复该问题造成的退化生境具有重要意义,为探究微生物对岩石矿区生境修复的有效性与作用机制,采用两次定向筛选,获得1株高效产铁载体及吲哚乙酸(IAA)的硅酸盐矿物分解细菌,利用16S rRNA基因序列分析鉴定该细菌为Pseudomonas protegens.通过该细菌对硅酸盐岩的岩石分解实验,测定培养液pH值,K、Al、Si这3种元素的释放量,检测岩石溶蚀的粒径变化,并分析培养液中不同有机酸,氨基酸及多糖的浓度变化,研究Pseudomonas protegens NLX-4对硅酸盐的溶蚀效果,同时引入增强回归树(boosted regression tree analysis,BRT)分析,探究其促溶机制.分析表明,该细菌通过代谢积累一定浓度的酒石酸(777 mg·L~(-1))以及多糖(8.21 g·L~(-1)),对硅酸盐岩产生释钾、释铝、脱硅的作用,从而有效促进岩石的分解.菌株Pseudomonas protegens NLX-4可作为修复废弃矿地被破坏生境的良好菌种资源.     

Bee-hawking by the wasp, <Emphasis Type="BoldItalic">Vespa velutina</Emphasis>, on the honeybees <Emphasis Type="BoldItalic">Apis cerana</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="BoldItalic">A</Emphasis>. <Emphasis Type="BoldItalic">mellifera</Emphasis>

The vespine wasps, Vespa velutina, specialise in hawking honeybee foragers returning to their nests. We studied their behaviour in China using native Apis cerana and introduced A. mellifera colonies. When the wasps are hawking, A. cerana recruits threefold more guard bees to stave off predation than A. mellifera. The former also utilises wing shimmering as a visual pattern disruption mechanism, which is not shown by A. mellifera. A. cerana foragers halve the time of normal flight needed to dart into the nest entrance, while A. mellifera actually slows down in sashaying flight manoeuvres. V. velutina preferentially hawks A. mellifera foragers when both A. mellifera and A. cerana occur in the same apiary. The pace of wasp-hawking was highest in mid-summer but the frequency of hawking wasps was three times higher at A. mellifera colonies than at the A. cerana colonies. The wasps were taking A. mellifera foragers at a frequency eightfold greater than A. cerana foragers. The final hawking success rates of the wasps were about three times higher for A. mellifera foragers than for A. cerana. The relative success of native A. cerana over European A. mellifera in thwarting predation by the wasp V. velutina is interpreted as the result of co-evolution between the Asian wasp and honeybee, respectively.     

海绵城市生物滞留带重金属污染特征及风险评价

生物滞留带作为海绵城市重要的净水和渗水措施,在全国海绵城市建设中得到了广泛的应用.为了探明生物滞留带重金属累积、污染和可能存在的环境风险,以全国首批海绵城市建设示范区重庆市悦来新城生物滞留带为研究对象,探讨其重金属含量与空间分布特征,利用污染系数、地质累积指数和潜在生态风险指数进行污染水平和生态环境风险评价.结果表明,悦来新城生物滞留带中除Mn外,Cu、Zn、Pb、Ni和Cd的含量平均值均超出重庆市土壤背景值的4.14、1.77、4.98、1.23和6.51倍.空间分布上,不同功能区域道路旁的生物滞留带重金属含量呈现出较大差异性,工业区道路生物滞留带中Cu、Zn、Mn、Pb、Ni和Cd的含量均显著高于其他区域生物滞留带中的同种类重金属含量（P<0.05）.污染系数和地质累积指数显示重金属的污染水平排序为：Mn相似文献   

3种生物处理方式对污泥减量效果的比较及优化

通过间歇试验得到3种生物方式(污泥好氧消化、厌氧消化以及颤蚓摄食)对污泥的比减量速率、污泥减量速率和污泥减量比例.当初始污泥浓度为2 500mg·L^-1时,经过24h减量,颤蚓摄食、厌氧消化和好氧消化3种方式对污泥的比减量速率R分别为0.13 mg·(mg·d)^-1,0.09 mg·(mg·d)^-1和0.03 mg·(mg·d)^-1,对污泥的减量速率分别为315 mg·(L·d)^-1,263mg·(L·d)^-1和65 mg·(L·d)^-1.通过细菌荧光染色和脱氢酶活性检测证实颤蚓摄食在短时间内对污泥中细菌细胞膜的破坏程度最大,可以将颤蚓摄食和厌氧消化相组合强化对污泥的减量.对于初始浓度为2 500mg·L^-1的污泥,颤蚓摄食12h后再厌氧消化36h,可以在2d左右使污泥减量的比例达到30%,减量比速率为0.25 mg·(mg·d)^-1.当初始污泥浓度增加到4 240mg·L^-1,颤蚓摄食时间需要延长到24h方能保证组合工艺对污泥最大程度地减量.     

接种丛枝菌根真菌对雌雄美洲黑杨吸收铅镉的影响

以雌雄美洲黑杨(Populus deltoides)为研究对象,砂培条件下,研究接种丛枝菌根真菌(Glomus intraradices)对受Pb污染(200 mg·kg-1)、Cd污染(10 mg·kg-1)及复合污染的雌雄美洲黑杨Pb和Cd的富集与分配特征的影响,关注Pb/Cd复合污染独特的环境效应.结果表明:1未接种丛枝菌根真菌条件下,与单一污染相比,复合污染增加了美洲黑杨雄株叶、粗根、细根Pb和Cd含量;复合污染增加了雌株叶片中Pb和Cd含量,却降低了粗根和细根中Pb和Cd含量;复合污染条件下雄株Pb和Cd向地上部分器官的迁移率分别增加135%和78%,雌株则分别增加52%和18%.2复合污染条件下,接种丛枝菌根真菌引起雄株Pb和Cd富集系数分别增加87%和6%,雌株则分别增加171%和65%;雄株Pb和Cd向地上部分器官的迁移率降低65%和69%,雌株则分别降低59%和53%.3Pb污染条件下,接种丛枝菌根真菌的雌雄之间Pb积累量没有显著差异;Cd污染条件下,接种丛枝菌根真菌的雄株总Cd积累量是雌株的1.7倍;复合污染条件下,接种丛枝菌根真菌的雌株Pb和Cd总积累量分别是雄株的1.3和1.2倍.本研究表明,接种G.intraradices能提高美洲黑杨的Pb和Cd积累能力,对于不同污染条件下,应根据实际情况选择合适的杨树性别进行造林和生态修复.     

From repulsion to attraction: species- and spatial context-dependent threat sensitive response of the spider mite Tetranychus urticae to predatory mite cues

Prey perceiving predation risk commonly change their behavior to avoid predation. However, antipredator strategies are costly. Therefore, according to the threat-sensitive predator avoidance hypothesis, prey should match the intensity of their antipredator behaviors to the degree of threat, which may depend on the predator species and the spatial context. We assessed threat sensitivity of the two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae, to the cues of three predatory mites, Phytoseiulus persimilis, Neoseiulus californicus, and Amblyseius andersoni, posing different degrees of risk in two spatial contexts. We first conducted a no-choice test measuring oviposition and activity of T. urticae exposed to chemical traces of predators or traces plus predator eggs. Then, we tested the site preference of T. urticae in choice tests, using artificial cages and leaves. In the no-choice test, T. urticae deposited their first egg later in the presence of cues of P. persimilis than of the other two predators and cue absence, indicating interspecific threat-sensitivity. T. urticae laid also fewer eggs in the presence of cues of P. persimilis and A. andersoni than of N. californicus and cue absence. In the artificial cage test, the spider mites preferred the site with predator traces, whereas in the leaf test, they preferentially resided on leaves without traces. We argue that in a nonplant environment, chemical predator traces do not indicate a risk for T. urticae, and instead, these traces function as indirect habitat cues. The spider mites were attracted to these cues because they associated them with the existence of a nearby host plant.     

三角帆蚌对白洋淀底泥氮磷释放及微生物的影响探究

为了解三角帆蚌对白洋淀底泥的影响,以白洋淀淀区水和底泥为试验材料,通过室内模拟试验并结合16S rRNA高通量测序技术,考察了三角帆蚌的活动对底泥氮、磷释放以及微生物丰度和多样性的影响.结果表明:①三角帆蚌的生物扰动作用显著提高了底泥氮、磷的释放,上覆水中TN、NH₃-N和TP浓度分别提高了0.18、1.1和1.2倍,颗粒态NH₃-N和可溶性磷浓度的增加是上覆水中NH₃-N、TP浓度增加的主要来源.②三角帆蚌的生物扰动作用轻微提高了上覆水中COD_Cr的浓度（P < 0.05）,并降低了底泥中全氮、全磷的含量,将底泥中全氮、全磷的削减率分别提高了26.0%和10.9%,底泥氮、磷释放规律的不同是导致全氮削减率高于全磷的主要原因.③三角帆蚌的活动可显著降低水中蓝细菌的数量,为其他微生物提供了更多生态位,从而提高了脱氮除磷功能菌丰度和微生物多样性,但是三角帆蚌对底泥中微生物丰度和多样性影响较小.研究显示,三角帆蚌能极大地促进白洋淀底泥氮、磷释放,同时降低内源污染风险,并提高上覆水脱氮除磷功能菌丰度和微生物多样性,可依据实际情况用于白洋淀湿地修复中.      

典型山核桃产区土壤重金属空间异质性及其风险评价

山核桃(Carya cathayensis)是我国特有的高档干果和木本油料植物,目前关于山核桃林地土壤重金属污染研究鲜有报道.本研究以典型山核桃产区临安为研究区,系统采集了188个山核桃土壤样品,采用地统计学以及Moran's I等空间分析方法研究土壤重金属的空间异质性,并对山核桃林土壤重金属潜在生态风险进行评价.结果表明,重金属Cd、Cu、Zn、Pb、Ni、Cr平均含量分别为0.37、40.76、87.61、30.10、28.33、56.57 mg·kg-1,其中Cd、Cu平均值分别是背景值的1.33和2.87倍.单因子污染指数、内梅罗污染指数及潜在生态风险评价结果显示研究区土壤重金属均有样点超过土壤背景值,且Cd、Cu、Zn、Pb、Ni有部分样点超过土壤环境质量二级标准,表明研究区土壤已具有Cd、Cu、Zn、Pb、Ni、Cr不同程度的累积特征,局部土壤已受到Cd、Cu、Zn、Pb、Ni的污染,其中Cd最为严重,达到了强生态危害程度,Cu次之,总体上重金属呈中等生态危害程度.基于半方差函数分析得出,Cd、Cu、Pb、Ni、Cr具有强烈的空间自相关,而Zn属于中等空间相关性.Moran's I指数以及克里格插值结果揭示重金属Cd、Cu、Zn、Pb、Ni、Cr均存在明显的空间分布格局和局部空间聚集现象,高值主要集中在太阳、岛石、清凉峰、河桥以及湍口几个乡镇,且以重金属Cd、Cu污染风险概率较高.土壤Cd、Cu、Zn、Ni、Cr高值分布主要与矿区开采有关,而Pb与钾肥的施用密切相关.可见,研究区重金属空间分布特征受人为活动影响明显.     

Indirect interactions between invasive and native plants via pollinators

In generalised pollination systems, the presence of alien plant species may change the foraging behaviour of pollinators on native plant species, which could result in reduced reproductive success of native plant species. We tested this idea of indirect interactions on a small spatial and temporal scale in a field study in Mauritius, where the invasive strawberry guava, Psidium cattleianum, provides additional floral resources for insect pollinators. We predicted that the presence of flowering guava would indirectly and negatively affect the reproductive success of the endemic plant Bertiera zaluzania, which has similar flowers, by diverting shared pollinators. We removed P. cattleianum flowers within a 5-m radius from around half the B. zaluzania target plants (treatment) and left P. cattleianum flowers intact around the other half (control). By far, the most abundant and shared pollinator was the introduced honey bee, Apis mellifera, but its visitation rates to treatment and control plants were similar. Likewise, fruit and seed set and fruit size and weight of B. zaluzania were not influenced by the presence of P. cattleianum flowers. Although other studies have shown small-scale effects of alien plant species on neighbouring natives, we found no evidence for such negative indirect interactions in our system. The dominance of introduced, established A. mellifera indicates their replacement of native insect flower visitors and their function as pollinators of native plant species. However, the pollination effectiveness of A. mellifera in comparison to native pollinators is unknown. Christine B. Müller, deceased 7 March 2008.     

Intraspecific competition and high food availability are associated with insular gigantism in a lizard

Resource availability, competition, and predation commonly drive body size evolution. We assess the impact of high food availability and the consequent increased intraspecific competition, as expressed by tail injuries and cannibalism, on body size in Skyros wall lizards (Podarcis gaigeae). Lizard populations on islets surrounding Skyros (Aegean Sea) all have fewer predators and competitors than on Skyros but differ in the numbers of nesting seabirds. We predicted the following: (1) the presence of breeding seabirds (providing nutrients) will increase lizard population densities; (2) dense lizard populations will experience stronger intraspecific competition; and (3) such aggression, will be associated with larger average body size. We found a positive correlation between seabird and lizard densities. Cannibalism and tail injuries were considerably higher in dense populations. Increases in cannibalism and tail loss were associated with large body sizes. Adult cannibalism on juveniles may select for rapid growth, fuelled by high food abundance, setting thus the stage for the evolution of gigantism.