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.     

Integrated plumage colour variation in relation to body condition, reproductive investment and laying date in the collared flycatcher

The possible integration of different sexual ornaments into a composite system, and especially the information content of such ornament complexes, is poorly investigated. Many bird species display complex plumage coloration, but whether this represents one integrated or several independent sexual traits can be unclear. Collared flycatchers (Ficedula albicollis) display melanised and depigmented plumage areas, and the spectral features (brightness and UV chroma) of these are correlated with each other across the plumage. In a 5-year dataset of male and female plumage reflectance, we examined some of the potential information content of integrated, plumage-level colour attributes by estimating their relationships to previous and current year body condition, laying date and clutch size. Females were in better condition the year before they became darker pigmented, and males in better current year condition were also darker pigmented. Female pigment-based brightness was positively, while male structurally based brightness was negatively related to current laying date. Finally, the overall UV chroma of white plumage areas in males was positively associated with current clutch size. Our results show that higher degree of pigmentation is related to better condition, while the structural colour component is associated with some aspects of reproductive investment. These results highlight the possibility that correlated aspects of a multiple plumage ornamentation system may reflect together some aspects of individual quality, thereby functioning as a composite signal.     

Offspring sex in a TSD gecko correlates with an interaction between incubation temperature and yolk steroid hormones

We incubated eggs of the Japanese gecko Gekko japonicus at three temperatures, and measured yolk testosterone (T) and 17??-estradiol (E2) levels at three time points in embryonic development (oviposition, 1/3 of incubation, and 2/3 of incubation), to examine whether maternal influence on offspring sex via yolk steroid hormone deposition is significant in the species. Eggs incubated at 24?°C and 32?°C produced mostly females, and eggs incubated at 28?°C almost a 50:50 sex ratio of hatchlings. Female-producing eggs were larger than male-producing eggs. Clutches in which eggs were incubated at the same temperature produced mostly same-sex siblings. Yolk T level at laying was negatively related to eggs mass, and yolk E2/T ratio was positively related to egg mass. Results of two-way ANOVA with incubation temperature and stage as the factors show that: yolk E2 level was higher at 32?°C than at 24?°C; yolk T level was higher, whereas yolk E2/T ratio was smaller, at 28?°C than at 24?°C; yolk E2 and T levels were higher at 2/3 than at 1/3 of incubation. Our data in G. japonucus show that: (1) maternal influence on offspring sex via yolk steroid hormone deposition is significant; (2) incubation temperature affects the dynamics of developmental changes in yolk steroid hormones; (3) influences of yolk steroid hormones on offspring sex are secondary relative to incubation temperature effects; and (4) offspring sex correlates with an interaction between incubation temperature and yolk steroid hormones.     

Prenatal diagnosis of a fetus harboring an intermediate load of the A3243G mtDNA mutation in a maternal carrier diagnosed with MELAS syndrome

We prenatally diagnosed MELAS syndrome in a fetus whose mother and older brother had the MELAS-specific A3243G mutation. The mutant mtDNA level of the amniotic fluid cells was not significantly different from that of the postnatal peripheral blood and hair follicle samples. The obstetrical course was uncomplicated except for transient exacerbation of the mother's diabetes, which required insulin control. At term, the infant was macrosomic, and the delivery was complicated by shoulder dystocia. MELAS syndrome in itself does not influence either the prenatal course of the mother or the fetal outcome. In contrast to the fulminating clinical course of this mother's first child, MELAS symptoms did not develop in her second child until age four, despite similar high tissue levels of mutant mtDNA. The phenotypic diversity in two offspring with similar higher levels of mutant mtDNA suggests that prenatal genetic diagnosis of cultured amniotic cells may yield results that are poor prognosticators of fetal outcome. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

All-in-one whole exome sequencing strategy with simultaneous copy number variant,single nucleotide variant and absence-of-heterozygosity analysis in fetuses with structural ultrasound anomalies: A 1-year experience

Objective

We performed a 1-year evaluation of a novel strategy of simultaneously analyzing single nucleotide variants (SNVs), copy number variants (CNVs) and copy-number-neutral Absence-of-Heterozygosity from Whole Exome Sequencing (WES) data for prenatal diagnosis of fetuses with ultrasound (US) anomalies and a non-causative QF-PCR result.

Methods

After invasive diagnostics, whole exome parent-offspring trio-sequencing with exome-wide CNV analysis was performed in pregnancies with fetal US anomalies and a non-causative QF-PCR result (WES-CNV). On request, additional SNV-analysis, restricted to (the) requested gene panel(s) only (with the option of whole exome SNV-analysis afterward) was performed simultaneously (WES-CNV/SNV) or as rapid SNV-re-analysis, following a normal CNV analysis.

Results

In total, 415 prenatal samples were included. Following a non-causative QF-PCR result, WES-CNV analysis was initially requested for 74.3% of the chorionic villus (CV) samples and 45% of the amniotic fluid (AF) samples. In case WES-CNV analysis did not reveal a causative aberration, SNV-re-analysis was requested in 41.7% of the CV samples and 17.5% of the AF samples. All initial analyses could be finished within 2 weeks after sampling. For SNV-re-analysis during pregnancy, turn-around-times (TATs) varied between one and 8 days.

Conclusion

We show a highly efficient all-in-one WES-based strategy, with short TATs, and the option of rapid SNV-re-analysis after a normal CNV result.     

A/O交替运行钢渣基复合滤料生物滤池处理模拟生活污水脱氮除磷特性

利用两级钢渣基复合滤料生物滤池(SSMBF)构建厌氧/好氧(A/O)交替运行工艺系统.在单池HRT=2h,A/O交替周期48h,厌氧DO=0.2~0.5mg/L,好氧DO=3~5mg/L,T=23~27℃的运行条件下,考察了SSMBF系统对模拟生活污水(pH=6.8~7.5,COD=260~330mg/L,NH4+-N=35~40mg/L,PO43--P=9~11mg/L)的处理效果,分析了其氨氮和磷去除特性.结果表明,两级A/O交替SSMBF系统具有良好的生活污水处理能力,对氨氮、磷和COD的去除率分别为95%、40%~60%和83.3%,出水氨氮、磷和COD浓度分别为0.5mg/L?3~6mg/L和50mg/L.在厌氧/好氧交替周期为48h的工况下,SSMBF系统的氨氧化菌和聚磷菌分别可在10h和8h恢复最佳活性.SEM?EDS表征和污染物去除特性分析结果显示,A/O交替运行SSMBF系统充分发挥了钢渣基复合滤料的离子和碱度释放特性,通过聚磷菌的厌氧释磷效应,在厌氧SSMBF中诱导促进了生物-结晶协同除磷,结晶产物为以羟基磷灰石为主的磷酸盐化合物.     

运用CVM评估濒危物种保护的经济价值及其可靠性分析——以哈尔滨市区居民对东北虎保护的支付意愿为例

利用当前国际上流行的评估资源经济价值的重要方法--条件价值评估法（CVM）,支付卡式、二分式问卷各设计了340份,调查了哈尔滨市区居民对东北虎保护的支付意愿。结果表明,支付卡式问卷调查分析得到居民的平均支付意愿为7.38元/（户·月）,二分式问卷调查结果为9.27元/(户·月),由支付卡式问卷调查分析得到哈尔滨市区居民20年内的总支愿意为是10.76×108元,二分式问卷调查结果为23.03×108元。支付卡式问卷的支付意愿与参与调查者的相关社会经济因素的相关性分析显示,文化程度、户月均收入、对东北虎的了解程度与居民的支付意愿呈正相关关系,年龄与居民的支付意愿呈负相关关系。二分式问卷的支付意愿的主导因子是月收入。与3个月前的调查结果比较显示,前后两次调查结果无显著差异,支付卡式问卷前后两次调查支付意愿差值为1.61元/（户·月）。二分式问卷前后两次调查支付意愿值的差异为0.56元/（户·月）。