Specific dynamic action affects the hydrostatic pressure tolerance of the shallow-water spider crab <Emphasis Type="Italic">Maja brachydactyla</Emphasis>

The bathymetric distribution of marine benthic invertebrates is likely governed by a combination of ecological and physiological factors. The present study investigates oxygen consumption and heartbeat rate in response to attempted feeding at 1, 100 and 150 atm in the shallow-water spider crab, Maja brachydactyla, from temperate European waters. No significant difference was evident between the resting heartbeat rate of specimens at 1 or 100 atm, which were 56 and 65 bpm, respectively (Mann–Whitney, U = 5382.0; n = 95, 98; p = 0.079). However, at 150 atm the resting heartbeat rate was significantly higher than that observed for 100 atm at 108 bpm (Mann–Whitney, U = 149.0; n = 45, 98; p < 0.001). At 150 atm, feeding was never observed and coupled with the elevated resting heartbeat rate; it is suggested by 150 atm continued survival is unfeasible. At 1 and 100 atm, feeding instigated a distinct increase in heartbeat rate, which remained elevated for over 30 h. This increase peaked within 1 h at 1 atm. At 100 atm, this required 4 h and postprandial oxygen consumption was significantly higher than at 1 atm (Kruskal–Wallis, H = 85.036; df = 2; p < 0.001). Elevated hydrostatic pressure is hypothesized to extend the duration and the total metabolic energy devoted to specific dynamic action. The metabolic requirements of feeding under hyperbaric conditions may even reach such a critical demand that feeding is entirely inhibited.     

Shell colour,temperature, (micro)habitat structure and predator pressure affect the behaviour of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cepaea nemoralis</Emphasis>

Although shell colour polymorphism of the land snail Cepaea nemoralis is a well-known phenomenon, proximate and ultimate factors driving its evolution remain uncertain. Polymorphic species show variation in behavioural responses to selective forces. Therefore, we estimated effects of various environmental factors (temperature, humidity, food availability, (micro)habitat structure and predatory pressure) on behavioural response (frequency of locomotion, climbing and hiding) of C. nemoralis morphs, in experimental and natural conditions. In the experimental part of study, the frequency of locomotion was negatively affected by temperature and the presence of food and positively influenced by the presence of light. Morphs significantly differed in behavioural responses to environmental variability. Pink mid-banded and yellow five-banded morphs climbed less often and hide in shelter more often than yellow and pink unbanded individuals when temperature was low and food was absent. Snails fed most often at moderate temperature compared to low and high temperatures. Field investigations partially confirmed differences among morphs in frequency of climbing, but not in terms of probability of hiding in sheltered sites. In natural colonies, temperature and (micro)habitat structure significantly affected frequency of climbing as well as hiding in shelter. Snails more often hid in sheltered sites where thrushes preyed on Cepaea. Tendency of unbanded morphs to climb trees may have evolved under avian predatory pressure as thrushes forage on a ground. Tendency of banded morphs to hide in sheltered sites may reflect prey preferences for cryptic background. The results implicate that differential behaviour of C. nemoralis morphs compensate for their morphological and physiological limitations of adaptation to habitat.     

Trophic specialisations in alternative heterochronic morphs

Polymorphisms are suspected of reducing competition among conspecifics in heterogeneous environments by allowing differential resource use. However the adaptive significance of alternative morphs has been poorly documented. The aim of this study is to determine food partitioning of two heterochronic morphs of the Alpine newt, Triturus alpestris, in mountain lakes. The morphs differ in the functional morphology of their feeding apparatus. Only paedomorphs are able to expel water during prey suction behind the mouth through gill slits. We observed a substantial trophic differentiation between morphs in all lakes. Paedomorphs preyed mainly on plankton, whereas metamorphs foraged on terrestrial invertebrates that fell upon the water surface. This resource partitioning may facilitate the coexistence of the alternative morphs in lakes devoid of vertebrate competitors. Food diversity may thus favour the evolutionary maintenance of facultative polymorphism in natural populations.     

To see or not to see: does previewing a future opponent affect the contest behavior of green swordtail males (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Xiphophorus helleri</Emphasis>)?

Animals assess the fighting ability of conspecifics either by engaging in aggressive interactions or observing contests between others. However, whether individuals assess physical prowess outside the context of aggressive interactions remains unknown. We examined whether male green swordtails (Xiphophorus helleri) extract information about the fighting ability of solitary individuals via observation and whether acquiring such information elicits behavioral modifications. Contests preceded by mutual visual assessment were significantly shorter than fights where only one or neither of the two individuals was informed in advance. Focal animals initiated aggressive behavior more often against larger opponents only after previewing their adversary, indicating that swordtails can extract information about relative body size from watching solitary conspecifics. When a fighting disadvantage is perceived, observers adopt tactics that increase their probability of winning the contest.     

Females prefer carotenoid colored males as mates in the pentamorphic livebearing fish,<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Poecilia parae</Emphasis>

The first results of female preference and chosen male mating success in a new model organism, the pentamorphic livebearing fish, Poecilia parae, are presented. Poecilia parae is a relative of the guppy, P. reticulata, and is assumed to have similar reproductive behavior. We tested the hypothesis that P. parae females, like female guppies, prefer caretenoid colored males as mates. Here we show that the time a female spent with males was significantly greater for carotenoid coloration in red and yellow melanzona, but time with these two morphs did not differ. The preferred red and yellow males mated significantly more often with their choosing females than did the non-preferred blue and parae males. The few blue melanzona and parae males that mated did so without performing courtship displays. Some females mated with all phenotypes including immaculata males during open group trials. Female P. parae clearly preferred males with carotenoid coloration, thereby corroborating the hypothesis. Alternative male mating tactics by blue melanzona, parae, and immaculata morphs and promiscuous mating by females also resembled features of reproductive behaviors exhibited by guppies.     

Color polymorphism in a land snail Cepaea nemoralis (Pulmonata: Helicidae) as viewed by potential avian predators

Avian predation is one of the most probable factors maintaining polymorphism of shell coloration in Cepaea nemoralis. This assumption is justified by the fact that birds frequently forage on snails and their prey choice varies with morph coloration. However, in all preceding studies, the conspicuousness of morphs was determined only by using human vision which is significantly different from birds’ visual perception. In this study, we assessed how birds perceive colors of four Cepaea nemoralis morphs using physiological models of avian color vision. We calculated combined chromatic and achromatic contrast between shells and three habitat background types as a measure of shell conspicuousness. The degree of background color matching in Cepaea nemoralis depended on both shell morph and habitat type. On average, banded morphs were more conspicuous than unbanded morphs. Morphs were the most cryptic against dry vegetation and the most conspicuous on bare ground. We also found a significant interaction between habitat type and color morph. The relative conspicuousness of shell morphs depended on habitat and was the most variable against green vegetation. Our study provides the first insight into how potential avian predators view Cepaea nemoralis morphs. The results are discussed in light of multiple hypotheses explaining selective predation on Cepaea nemoralis morphs.     

The role of microgynes in the reproductive strategy of the neotropical ant <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ectatomma ruidum</Emphasis>

Miniaturized queens, microgynes, are regarded as an alternative reproductive strategy sparsely present through the ant world. The described roles of miniaturized queens include alternative short-distance dispersal morphs, an adaptation to polygyny and inquiline parasites. Some of these inquiline parasite microgynes have been described as a separate species from their host. In the poneromorph group, miniaturized queens are only reported in two Mexican populations of two Ectatomminae: Ectatomma tuberculatum, in which small queens represent an inquiline species (Ectatomma parasiticum) and Ectatomma ruidum. E. ruidum presents apparently facultative polygyny with microgynes. We used mitochondrial DNA markers and newly developed microsatellite loci to investigate the status as well as the role of microgynes in E. ruidum. We confirmed that microgynes and macrogynes are from the same species. This species is almost exclusively monogynous and monoandrous, supernumerary dealate queens of both types being actually daughters of the mother queen. An apparently polygynous nest was more often headed by a macrogyne than a microgyne. We didn't find any inbreeding or isolation by distance in the studied population, indicating that new gynes are inseminated by unrelated males and can establish a new nest far from their natal nest. However, re-adoption of daughter queens seems to be the rule and rate of microgyny appears to be linked to nest density and environmental factors.     

长江口沉积物甲烷产生潜力与产甲烷菌群落特征

采用室内培养与高通量测序技术,研究了长江口沉积物产甲烷潜力及其产甲烷菌群落组成特征.结果表明,研究区沉积物甲烷排放速率为4.15～7.12 nmol·g~(-1)·d~(-1),且表现出厌氧区高、丰氧区低的特点.甲烷产生潜力为丰氧区大于厌氧区,说明甲烷在水体中氧化是减少甲烷排放的重要环境过程.研究区沉积物中产甲烷菌群落组成具有明显的差异.厌氧区沉积物产甲烷菌的优势群落为Methanococcoides(拟甲烷球菌属)、Methanosarcina(甲烷八叠球菌属)和Methanosaeta(甲烷鬃菌属),丰氧区沉积物为Methanosarcina(甲烷八叠球菌属)、Methanosaeta(甲烷鬃菌属)和Methanocella(甲烷胞菌属),因而缺氧过程会对产甲烷菌群落产生重要的影响.通过估算发现,研究区甲烷的排放量为2487～6819 t·a~(-1),表明长江口是甲烷排放的净产生源.因此,由缺氧过程导致的河口环境因子变化会影响甲烷的代谢循环过程及其微生物群落组成,进而对河口生态系统甲烷排放产生重要的影响.     

Energetic expenditure during vocalization in pups of the subterranean rodent<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Ctenomys talarum</Emphasis>

Theoretical signaling models predict that to be honest, begging vocalizations must be costly. To test this hypothesis, oxygen consumption was measured during resting and begging (i.e., vocalizing) activities in pups of the subterranean rodent Ctenomys talarum by means of open-flow respirometry. No statistical differences in individual oxygen consumption between resting and calling pups ranging in age from day 2 to day 20 were found. Given these data, begging calls of C. talarum could not be considered as honest advertisements of offspring need, contrary to what suggested by the behavioral observations of the mother and pups during the nestling period.     

Threshold temperatures mediate the impact of reduced snow cover on overwintering freeze-tolerant caterpillars

Decreases in snow cover due to climate change could alter the energetics and physiology of ectothermic animals that overwinter beneath snow, yet how snow cover interacts with physiological thresholds is unknown. We applied numerical simulation of overwintering metabolic rates coupled with field validation to determine the importance of snow cover and freezing to the overwintering lipid consumption of the freeze-tolerant Arctiid caterpillar Pyrrharctia isabella. Caterpillars that overwintered above the snow experienced mean temperatures 1.3°C lower than those below snow and consumed 18.36 mg less lipid of a total 68.97-mg reserve. Simulations showed that linear temperature effects on metabolic rate accounted for only 30% of the difference in lipid consumption. When metabolic suppression by freezing was included, 93% of the difference between animals that overwintered above and below snow was explained. Our results were robust to differences in temperature sensitivity of metabolic rate, changes in freezing point, and the magnitude of metabolic suppression by freezing. The majority of the energy savings was caused by the non-continuous reduction in metabolic rate due to freezing, the first example of the importance of temperature thresholds in the lipid use of overwintering insects.     

Alternative mating behaviors of the queen polymorphic ant <Emphasis Type="Italic">Temnothorax longispinosus</Emphasis>

Mating behaviors of ants fall into two categories: female calling, in which a female alate releases pheromones that attract males, and male swarming, in which large male aggregations attract females. Female calling is common in species with queens that return to their natal nest to found colonies dependently after mating, while male swarming is common in species with queens that disperse to found independently. In some species that display both founding strategies, a queen-size polymorphism has evolved in which dependent-founding queens are smaller than independent-founding queens. Dependent founding is likely difficult if gynes (virgin queens) are mating in distant swarms. Therefore, a queen may adopt one or the other mating strategy based on its size and founding behavior. We investigated mating behaviors in the queen-polymorphic ant, Temnothorax longispinosus. Observations in laboratory mating arenas indicated that small gynes exhibited significantly lower flight activity than large gynes. Both forms mated in male swarms, and neither form exhibited female calling. The reduced flight activity of the small morph may facilitate returning to the natal nest after mating, provided the mating swarm is located nearby. Therefore, alternative colony-founding behaviors may be possible without the evolution of female-calling behavior; however, the reduced flight activity of small morphs may require that mating swarms are not distant from the natal nest.     

Population-level mating patterns and fluctuating asymmetry in swordtail hybrids

Morphological symmetry is a correlate of fitness-related traits or even a direct target of mate choice in a variety of taxa. In these taxa, when females discriminate among potential mates, increased selection on males should reduce fluctuating asymmetry (FA). Hybrid populations of the swordtails Xiphophorus birchmanni and Xiphophorus malinche vary from panmictic (unstructured) to highly structured, in which reproductive isolation is maintained among hybrids and parental species. We predicted that FA in flanking vertical bars used in sexual signalling should be lower in structured populations, where non-random mating patterns are observed. FA in vertical bars was markedly lower in structured populations than in parental and unstructured hybrid populations. There was no difference in FA between parentals and hybrids, suggesting that hybridisation does not directly affect FA. Rather, variation in FA likely results from contrasting mating patterns in unstructured and structured populations.     

高溶解氧条件下不同曝气量对短程硝化性能及微生物特征的影响

短程硝化过程是短程生物脱氮工艺中的限速步骤,在保证稳定亚硝化率的前提下,提高曝气量能够提高好氧氨氧化菌的活性,进而提高氨氧化速率.本文在序批式反应器中,通过改变曝气量,在高溶解氧条件下,考察不同曝气量对短程硝化的性能及微生物的影响.结果表明,随着曝气量的增大,氨氧化速率不断升高.单位体积曝气量为0.8、1.7、3.3、5.0 L·min^-1·L^-1时,氨氧化率维持在50%左右,亚硝酸盐氮积累率稳定在99%以上,平均氨氧化速率分别为0.88、0.96、1.29和1.32 mg·L^-1·min^-1.高通量测序分析表明,不同曝气量条件下,反应器中好氧氨氧化菌的优势菌属均为Nitrosomonas,而亚硝酸盐氧化菌都被有效抑制,Nitrospira丰度很低.此外,检出Acidovorax、Denitratisoma、Hyphomicrobium、Ignavibacterium等多种反硝化细菌,这些反硝化菌能够与好氧氨氧化菌共同作用,使系统发生少量内源同步硝化反硝化.综合考虑曝气能耗和反应速率,曝气量为3.3 L·min^-1·L^-1时,可实现控制短程硝化工艺的低耗高效运行.     

喀斯特高原退化湿地草海土壤微生物群落碳源代谢活性研究

为了揭示土壤微生物群落功能多样性对湿地退化过程的响应及其与环境因子的关系,采用BIOLOG-ECO微平板法对喀斯特高原湿地草海不同植被演替阶段根际土壤微生物的碳源代谢活性进行了研究.结果表明,沿湿地植被演替梯度,根际土壤微生物群落碳源代谢强度逐渐增加,原生湿地竹叶眼子菜(Comm.Potamogeton malaianu)根际土壤微生物碳源利用能力最低,碳源代谢类型单一;草甸灯芯草(Juncus effusus L.)群落利用能力最强,碳源代谢类型丰富;Shannon指数(H')和Mc Intosh指数(U)均沿植被演替梯度逐渐升高,这可能与地上植物和土壤理化环境变化有关;主成分分析(PCA)提取的3个主成分累计贡献率为92.85%,能够很好解释不同阶段碳源利用的分异,醇类和氨基酸类是引起碳源利用分异的主要基质;冗余分析(RDA)表明,环境因子对微生物碳源代谢活性具有重要影响,p H、DOC是引起碳源利用分异的主要环境因子.土壤微生物群落碳源代谢活性影响湿地碳循环功能.     

Radio-telemetric evidence of migration in the gregarious but not the solitary morph of the Mormon cricket (Anabrus simplex: Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae)

 The Mormon cricket, Anabrus simplex, is one of just a few species of katydids (or bushcrickets, Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae) that, like migratory locusts, appear to have solitary and migratory morphs. Using radio telemetry we studied movements of individuals of two morphs of this flightless species. Individuals within each migratory band had similar rates of movements along similar directional headings whereas solitary individuals moved little and showed little evidence of directionality in movement. Our results also add to other recent radio-telemetry studies showing that flightless insects of 1–2 g in mass can be tracked successfully using these methods. Received: 28 February 2000 / Accepted in revised form: 19 June 2000     

Variation of foraging rate and wing loading, but not resting metabolic rate scaling, of insect pollinators

Morphological, physiological and behavioural variation with body size (i.e. scaling) may affect costs of living in a particular environment for insects and, ultimately, pollination or foraging success. However, few studies have directly assessed the scaling of these traits at the species level. Using two similar-sized pollinator species (the hawkmoth Macroglossum trochilus and the fly Moegistorhynchus longirostrus), we compare intraspecific scaling relationships of resting metabolic rate (RMR), foraging rate (FR) and wing loading (WL) to address this paucity of data. Scaling of RMR was similar for both taxa although the intercepts for the relationships differed. However, these two species showed variation in WL scaling relationships and fundamentally different FR scaling. For M. longirostrus, FR scaling was positive but non-significantly related to body mass while for M. trochilus FR scaling was negative. This suggests that variation in FR and WL, but not RMR scaling, among these flies and hawkmoths may impose significant energetic costs which could affect animal–plant interactions in the wild.     

有机污染物在大连近海海水中生物降解速度的研究

研究了４种特征有机污染物在大连近海海水中生物降解的动力学,通过大天然海水中分别加入有机物苯,硝基苯,苯胺和苯酚,实验测定了它们在０．１ｍｇ／Ｌ,０．３ｍｇ／Ｌ,０．５ｍｇ／Ｌ及１ｍｇ／Ｌ等几组不同浓度下的ＢＯＤ及其历时曲线,根据实验结果,经数据处理,得到同物的生物降解动力学参数Ｋ和Ｌ０,应用一级反应动力学表示的ＢＯＤ数学模式Ｙ＝Ｌ０（１－１０＾ｋｔ）较好表达了ＢＯＤ随时间的变化规律,计算结果与实测     

Extraordinarily long sperm in the socially monogamous cichlid fish <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pelvicachromis taeniatus</Emphasis>

The main function of the spermatozoon is the transfer of the male haploid genome during fertilisation. In animals in general and in fishes in particular, there is huge variation in sperm size. In fishes, sperm size ranges from 13 μm in Mugil cephlus to nearly 100 μm in the channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus. We examined intra-specific variation in sperm morphometry in the socially monogamous cichlid Pelvicachromis taeniatus using scanning electron microscopy. The mean total sperm length of nearly 70 μm was extraordinarily large for cichlids. Furthermore, within-male variation was remarkably high. To our knowledge, P. taeniatus produces the longest cichlid sperm ever documented. Several hypotheses concerning the adaptive significance of these results are presented.     

Microbial community characterization, activity analysis and purifying efficiency in a biofilter process

The growth and metabolism of microbial communities on biologically activated carbon(BAC) play a crucial role in the purification of drinking water.To gain insight into the growth and metabolic characteristics of microbial communities and the efficiency of drinking water treatment in a BAC filter,we analyzed the heterotrophic plate count(HPC),phospholipid,dehydrogenase,metabolic function and water quality parameters during start-up and steady-state periods.In the start-up process of the filter with natural biofilm colonization,the variation in heterotrophic plate count levels was S-curved.The total phospholipid level was very low during the first 5 days and reached a maximum value after 40 days in the filter.The activity of dehydrogenase gradually increased during the first 30 days and then reached a plateau.The functional diversity of the microbial community in the filter increased,and then reached a relatively stable level by day 40.After an initial decrease,which was followed by an increase,the removal rate of NH4+-N and COD Mn became stable and was 80% and 28%,respectively,by day 40.The consumption rate of dissolved oxygen reached a steady level after 29 days,and remained at 18%.At the steady operation state,the levels of HPC,phospholipid,dehydrogenase activity and carbon source utilization had no significant differences after 6 months compared to levels measured on day 40.The filter was shown to be effective in removing NH4+-N,NO2--N,COD Mn,UV 254,biodegradable dissolved organic carbon and trace organic pollutants from the influent.Our results suggest that understanding changes in the growth and metabolism of microorganisms in BAC filter could help to improve the efficiency of biological treatment of drinking water.     

Melanin- and carotenoid-dependent signals of great tits (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Parus major</Emphasis>) relate differently to metal pollution

Due to their high phenotypic plasticity, the expression of secondary sexual characteristics is particularly sensitive to stress. Here, we investigated the expression of two conspicuous visual signals in great tits (Parus major) in a metal pollution gradient. In three study sites with marked differences in metal contamination (mainly lead, cadmium, copper and zinc), we compared melanin and carotenoid colouration of great tits. While carotenoid colouration (yellow breast) was negatively related to metal pollution, the size of a melanin trait (breast stripe) was larger in the most polluted sites. Environmental pollutants not only affect the expression of conspicuous signals but may even enhance, directly or indirectly, a signal of male quality such as breast stripe. Our results also support the multiple messages hypothesis predicting that different signals highlight different aspects of geno- and phenotypic condition of the bearer.