A GPS-based system for recording the flight paths of birds

 The GPS recorder consists of a GPS receiver board, a logging facility, an antenna, a power supply, a DC-DC converter and a casing. Currently, it has a weight of 33 g. The recorder works reliably with a sampling rate of 1/s and with an operation time of about 3 h, providing time-indexed data on geographic positions and ground speed. The data are downloaded when the animal is recaptured. Prototypes were tested on homing pigeons. The records of complete flight paths with surprising details illustrate the potential of this new method that can be used on a variety of medium-sized and large vertebrates. Received: 2 February 2000 / Accepted in revised form: 17 April 2000     

An analysis of the 1984 locust plague in Australia using multitemporal landsat multispectral data and a simulation model of locust development

An analysis of the 1984 locust (Chortoicetes terminifera (Walker)) plague in Australia was undertaken to determine its source region using a simulation model of locust development and whether using appropriately enhanced satellite data, the individual areas that were suitable for locust breeding could be detected within this region. The origin of the 1984 plague was found to be in the Channel Country of south west Queensland, and satellite data indicated that there were localised areas suitable for locust breeding at the appropriate time other than those detected by ground survey. It is concluded that it isfeasible to use satellite data on an operational basis to detect areas suitable for locust breeding by monitoring changes in vegetation condition. Using the locust simulation model, the course of breeding and possible plague development can then be forecast, and ground surveys directed to the areas of interest at the approximate time.     

基于主体功能区的福建省城镇建设用地利用效率研究

区域的功能定位对城镇建设用地利用效率存在重要的影响。论文以福建省优化开发区、重点开发区、农产品主产区、重点生态功能区四大功能区功能定位发展目标为基础,采用地均投入产出技术效率表征城镇建设用地利用效率,剔除非期望产出构建随机前沿生产函数模型,对福建省2009—2015年四大主体功能区城镇建设用地利用效率进行差异化评析。结果表明：1）福建省2009—2015年城镇建设用地利用效率有所提升,且存在显著的区域差异。优化开发区城镇建设用地利用效率最高,而农产品主产区最低;农产品主产区城镇建设用地利用效率增速最快,而优化开发区增速最慢,表明建设用地利用程度与主体功能区功能定位存在一致性。2）福建省各主体功能区内要素投入产出存在显著空间分异,且呈现高低值格局之分。根据不同功能定位的区域城镇建设用地利用效率特点提出针对优化对策和建议。     

Sensory regulation of the pleuroalar muscles in the migratory locust

The Science of Nature -     

基于统计综合评价的主体功能区协调发展探析

以我国2005~2010年间的287个地级行政单位为基础,通过主体功能区的划分,利用统计综合评价法和探索性空间统计分析方法,从主体功能区居民基本公共服务和收入两个方面评价了目前主体功能区的协调发展状况。结果表明,主体功能区的协调发展水平整体偏低,差异明显,并且其空间分异突出。     

Explaining postnatal growth plasticity in a generalist brood parasite

Selection of a particular host has clear consequences for the performance of avian brood parasites. Experimental studies showed that growth rate and fledging mass of brood parasites varied between host species independently of the original host species. Finding correlates of this phenotypic plasticity in growth is important for assessing adaptiveness and potential fitness consequences of host choice. Here, I analyzed the effects of several host characteristics on growth rate and fledging mass of the young of brown-headed cowbird (Molothrus ater), a generalist, non-evicting brood parasite. Cowbird chicks grew better in fast-developing host species and reached higher fledging mass in large hosts with fast postnatal development. A potential proximate mechanism linking fast growth and high fledging mass of cowbird with fast host development is superior food supply in fast-developing foster species. So far, we know very little about the consequences of the great plasticity in cowbird growth for later performance of the adult parasite. Thus, cowbird species could become interesting model systems for investigating the role of plasticity and optimization in the evolution of growth rate in birds.     

Adult flight in a water strider exposed to habitat drydown in the larval stages

Aquarius paludum inhabits a wide variety of water surfaces, ranging from temporary to permanent ponds and lakes throughout the Palearctic. Thus, some larvae of A. paludum will be exposed to habitats that dry out. We assess here the influence of drying on water strider growth and development. When exposed to drying-out in the larval stage, the growth period was prolonged. Drying-out during one of the first three instars was associated with longer maintenance of flight muscles without histolysis and reduced the number of eggs laid by long-winged (LW) adults that shifted to a "flyer" strategy. Alternatively, adults exposed to dry habitats during whole larval period expressed shorter preoviposition periods and shifted to a "non-flying, reproducer" strategy. These contrasting responses to drying can be understood as flexible physiological functions depending on the drying history to which larvae are exposed. This flexibility may be a significant factor in allowing A. paludum to occupy such a wide range of habitats in Eurasia.     

一次航班飞行全过程大气污染物排放特征

飞机发动机以航空煤油为燃料,在运行过程中会排放多种大气污染物,对空气质量和人体健康存在较大影响.选择A320作为典型机型,提取了一次真实航班飞行过程中的机载飞行数据,基于BM2及BM2-FOA耦合模型,获得了其在飞行全过程中每一时刻CO、UHC、NO_x及PM_(2.5)的排放指数,并计算了CO、UHC、NO_x、SO_2、CO_2及PM_(2.5)的精确排放量.结果表明,飞行过程中CO和UHC排放指数与推力变化趋势相反,数值范围分别为0.67~595.34 g·kg~(-1)和0.05~0.43 g·kg~(-1).NO_x排放指数与燃油流量变化趋势一致,数值范围是0.96~114.25 g·kg~(-1).PM_(2.5)排放指数全过程变化较小,约为0.25~0.36 g·kg~(-1).飞行全过程中,CO_2排放总量最大,约为2.0×10~4kg.同时,NO_x的排放量约为213.4 kg,SO_2也排放了24.5 kg.CO、PM_(2.5)和UHC的排放量分别为7.5、2.2和0.5 kg.将本次精确计算结果与使用ICAO基准模型对LTO起降阶段的估算结果进行对比后发现,基准模型LTO飞行时间较真实时间偏长37%.基准模型估算LTO阶段CO、UHC污染物排放量偏高,NO_x偏低,且偏差较大;而SO_2、CO_2和PM_(2.5)的排放量估算结果偏差相对较小.与机动车相比,A320飞机的一次LTO起飞着陆飞行,NO_x排放量约等于一辆小客车行驶8.6×10~4km,或相当于1274辆小客车1 d的排放量.