Maternal effects on post-weaning physical and social development in juvenile mountain goats (Oreamnos americanus)

Little is known about maternal effects on post-weaning development, yet they may be important because maternal care could have long-term consequences only evident when offspring approach adulthood. We have assessed the effects of maternal age, current reproduction (presence of a kid of the year) and social rank on the body mass, horn length and social rank of 1- and 2-year-old mountain goats (Oreamnos americanus). Maternal reproductive status and social rank did not affect the mass or horn length of either yearlings or 2-year-olds. Maternal age was positively correlated with yearling body mass for males but not females. We could not detect any maternal age effects on body mass of 2-year-olds. Maternal age and spring forage quality were positively correlated with horn length of yearlings of both sexes, but not of 2-year-olds. Juvenile females showed compensatory growth in mass between 1 and 2 years of age, but males did not. Neither sex showed compensatory growth in horn length. None of the maternal characteristics we examined directly affected the social rank of juveniles, which increased with body mass. Social rank in female mountain goats seems to be established early in life and maintained to adulthood. By affecting yearling development, maternal age could affect the reproductive success of males.     

Sex-specific effects of yolk-androgens on growth of nestling American kestrels

Maternally derived androgen hormones concentrate in avian egg yolks as the yolks grow on the female’s ovary, possibly forming a basis for important maternal effects in birds. In the American kestrel (Falco sparverius), experimental elevation of yolk androgens in the first-laid egg of a clutch (a-egg) to the concentrations found naturally in a clutch’s later-laid eggs reduces the growth rate of a-egg nestlings compared to controls. These findings, together with discoveries from other species that the effects of yolk androgens on growth of female nestlings may differ from their effects on growth of male nestlings, raise the hypothesis that natural changes in yolk-androgen concentrations with laying order are ultimately due to a difference between the sexes in their yolk-androgen sensitivity and between early- and late-laid eggs in their sex ratio. By re-analyzing previously published data and adding to the analysis data from previously unanalyzed blood samples used for sex determination, we investigated possible sex-specific effects of yolk-androgens in the context of a potential sex-biased laying order in free-living American kestrels. We used a multi-level, mixed model with a Gompertz function to analyze growth of nestlings hatching from a-eggs that were control-treated or in which we experimentally elevated yolk-androgen concentrations shortly after laying to the higher concentrations naturally found in later-laid eggs. We discovered that male nestlings were more susceptible than female nestlings to growth inhibition by yolk-androgen elevation but did not find a bias in sex ratio with respect to laying order. Together, these findings do not support the above hypothesis. However, they are consistent with the hypothesis that sex differences in yolk-androgen sensitivity enable mothers to economically tune reproductive effort to an individual offspring’s reproductive value, which can vary more for one sex than the other.     

连续两年紫外线-B辐射增强对玉米种子发芽及幼苗生长的影响

研究了在紫外线 (UV -B)辐射增强条件下与自然光下生长的玉米种子的发芽和幼苗生长特性以及对UV -B反应的变化。结果表明 :与自然光下生长的玉米种子相比 ,UV -B辐射增强条件下生长的玉米种子的发芽率和幼苗生长指标有不同程度的下降 ,但在连续两年UV -B强度增加条件下 ,其种子发芽和幼苗生长指标受高强度UV -B影响的程度显著下降。在连续两年UV -B辐射增强条件下生长的玉米种子萌发的幼苗叶片类黄酮含量显著高于在自然光下生长的玉米种子萌发的幼苗 ,这可能是在UV -B辐射增强条件下生长的玉米对UV -B辐射增强产生适应性的重要原因之一。     

Effects of Warming Conditions in Eastern North American Forests on Red-Backed Salamander Morphology

Abstract:  Several studies have reported climate-associated changes in phenotypically plastic traits of amphibians, yet it remains unknown whether amphibians can manifest an evolutionary response to global climate change at the rate and magnitude that it is occurring. To assess this issue, we examined temporal change in the morphology of the red-backed salamander ( Plethodon cinereus ), a small, abundant woodland salamander distributed widely in eastern North America with two distinct morphotypes: striped individuals associated with cooler microclimates and unstriped individuals associated with warmer microclimates. We compiled morph frequencies for 50,960 individual salamanders from 558 sites as recorded in the published literature and in unpublished field notes of herpetologists between 1908 and 2004. We observed that striping probability increased with increasing latitude, longitude, and elevation and decreased (from 80% to 74% range wide) with time. The combined forces of regional climate warming and, particularly, forest disturbance have evidently been sufficient to cause morphological evolution in this amphibian over the last century.     

Insights into the costs of complex maternal care behavior in the burrower bug (Sehirus cinctus)

The evolution of life history characters, including parental care behaviors, depends on costs and benefits. When offspring can influence parental behaviors, parent-offspring conflict over parental care can occur, but only if these parental behaviors are costly. Mother burrower bugs (Sehirus cinctus) exhibit extended and complex care of offspring. Mothers guard eggs until hatching and then attend and provision offspring for approximately 2 weeks after hatching. Using four experimental treatments, we attempted to identify the costs associated with specific components of these behaviors. Under laboratory conditions, egg guarding increases inter-clutch interval, but provisioning does not appear to be very costly. We discuss additional ecological factors that may be important in mediating provisioning costs under natural conditions. Through analysis of individual maternal performance, we find no evidence for trade-offs between successive clutches. These data suggest that variation in overall condition may obscure variation in allocation strategies.Communicated by F. Trillmich     

底质营养状况对黑藻生长及光合作用的影响

在室内模拟条件下,利用三种不同营养状况的底质,研究了底质营养对黑藻生长及光合作用的影响,结果表明:(1)营养水平最高的HH底质对黑藻的早期生长和光合有利,但在高温季节会严重降低黑藻的根系活力和叶绿素含量,影响黑藻后期生长;(2)TR底质营养水平较低,该处理下黑藻生物量累积量较低;(3)HK底质能够充分满足黑藻生长的营养需求,且在高温季节对黑藻的生长和光合有利。相关分析表明,底质营养状况是影响黑藻生长的重要因素。     

两种底质对狐尾藻生长和生理指标的影响

在温室条件下,分别以土壤和沉积物作为底质,模拟研究狐尾藻（Myriophyllum spicatum）生长和生理指标的变化。结果表明：与营养水平相当的沉积物相比,以土壤作为底质的处理,其狐尾藻茎叶生物量降低了87．15％,根系生物量增加了226．54％,根系活力降低了46．46％,超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）和过氧化物酶（POD）活性分别增加了134．20％和119．91％。上覆水和间隙水中活性磷浓度分别增加了146．67％和1382．61％。以土壤为底质,增加该处理水体中磷浓度,抑制狐尾藻生长。     

Factors influencing length of maternal care in brown bears (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Ursus arctos</Emphasis>) and its effect on offspring

Length of maternal care, i.e. the interval between successfully raised litters, is the most important factor explaining the variation in reproductive rate among brown-bear (Ursus arctos) populations. In this paper, we examine the variation in length of maternal care in radio-marked brown bears and its effect on their offspring in northern Sweden. Young stayed with their mothers for 1.4–1.5 or 2.4–2.5 (in one case 3.5) years and were weaned with body masses varying from 17 to 69 kg. The probability of yearling litters staying with their mother for a 2nd year increased with decreasing yearling body mass, and was higher for litters with two offspring than for litters with one or three to four offspring. Staying with their mothers for a 2nd year had a positive effect on mass gain in yearlings and this effect was more pronounced in litters with two than three to four offspring. Body mass of 2-year-olds was not related to age of weaning, suggesting that keeping offspring for an additional year mainly compensated for low yearling body mass. If large offspring body mass positively affects later offspring survival and reproduction, mothers may be able to optimize the length of maternal care according to the litter size and the size of their yearlings.Communicated by F. Trillmich     

Effects of elevated yolk testosterone levels on survival, growth and immunity of male and female yellow-legged gull chicks

Androgen hormones of maternal origin contained in the eggs of avian species are considered to have positive effects on offspring characteristics and performance. However, negative consequences have also been reported, suggesting that mothers may experience a trade-off between beneficial and detrimental effects of egg androgens to offspring fitness. We studied the effects of elevated yolk testosterone (T) concentration on survival, development and phenotype of male and female yellow-legged gull (Larus michahellis) chicks by injecting egg yolks with physiological doses of the hormone. Elevated yolk T resulted in a male-biased post-hatching sex ratio, T-treated clutches producing a greater proportion of males compared to control ones at day 4 post-hatching, likely resulting from a reduction of female embryonic survival, whereas no effect of hormone treatment on hatching success or short-term chick survival was observed. In addition, T depressed post-hatching body mass in both sexes but had no effects on the intensity of the cell-mediated immune response or skeletal growth. No sex differences in egg characteristics or chick phenotype were detected. Time to hatching was not affected by T, but females originating from first laid eggs hatched earlier than males of the same laying order, independently of hormone treatment. However, the implications of sex differences in hatching times are unclear in the study species. Taken together, our results suggest that female yellow-legged gulls may be constrained in transferring androgens to their eggs by negative consequences on the viability of female offspring and growth of chicks of the two sexes.     

两种底质对狐尾藻生长和生理指标的影响

在温室条件下,分别以土壤和沉积物作为底质,模拟研究狐尾藻(Myriophyllum spicatum)生长和生理指标的变化。结果表明:与营养水平相当的沉积物相比,以土壤作为底质的处理,其狐尾藻茎叶生物量降低了87.15%,根系生物量增加了226.54%,根系活力降低了46.46%,超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)和过氧化物酶(POD)活性分别增加了134.20%和119.91%,上覆水和间隙水中活性磷浓度分别增加了146.67%和1382.61%。以土壤为底质,增加该处理水体中磷浓度,抑制狐尾藻生长。     

燃煤烟气脱硫副产物在酸性土壤上施用的效果--以豆科作物为例

研究了燃煤烟气脱硫副产物的农业利用价值，该物质在酸性土壤上施用对豆科作物的影响以及对环境的影响。研究结果显示，燃煤烟气脱硫副产物有很好的农业利用价值；在不同类型的红壤上，豆科作物适量施用脱硫副产物均有不同程度的增产和提高品质的效果，并能有效地改善土壤的理化性能；供试物中的重金属含量均没有超过国家的限量标准，故适量施用后，当造作物植株中检出的重金属均低于国家限量标准。     

再生水灌溉对冬小麦生长和产量的影响

随着我国污水处理技术的发展,再生水生产能力得到了明显地提高,实现再生水农业安全利用,将开辟农业用水新途径。以冬小麦（Triticum aestivum）为对象,通过盆栽试验,研究了不同程度处理的再生水（二级再生水、三级再生水）对冬小麦生长和产量的影响。结果表明：再生水灌溉能显著提高冬小麦的株高、叶面积、叶绿素含量,但开花前对光合作用的改善不显著。再生水灌溉处理的冬小麦超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）活性整体提高,尤其是越冬阶段,叶片SOD活性较对照处理提高了15%,抽穗后作用减弱,各处理间的过氧化物酶（POD）活性差异不明显。以再生水灌溉的盆栽小麦产量和对照相比没有明显差异,再生水灌溉可以实现正常的产量水平。     

镉污染土壤对潜在能源植物生长的影响

利用重金属污染土壤种植能源植物是一种同时解决环境问题和能源问题的新理念,但目前相关研究成果并不多。通过盆栽试验研究人工镉污染土壤中象草Pennisetumpurpureum和亚香茅Cymbopogonnardus两种植物植株的生长状况和两种植物对土壤镉的吸收和富集能力。结果表明,当外源可溶性镉加入到土壤后,其主要是以生物有效性较高的状态存在。土壤镉对象草和亚香茅生长的影响作用有很大的不同,亚香茅比象草具有更强的镉耐受力,其生物量受镉污染影响小。两种植物植株镉含量均随土壤镉添加量的增加而增加。除高镉处理象草外,植物地下部分含镉量比地上部分高很多。高镉处理象草地下部分含镉量比地上部分低的现象可能反映出根系已积累了太多的镉,因而加速了向地上部的转移,从而加剧了植物中毒的程度。赤泥添加剂具有降低土壤酸度,减少植物对镉的吸收和增加象草和亚香茅生物量的作用。     

氮磷钾对寒害腰果植株恢复生长结果的影响

通过观测不同施肥处理区寒害腰果植株重新开花坐果状况,分析施肥对寒害腰果植株恢复生长的影响,并分析腰果叶片养分含量与结果量之间的关系。结果表明：氮对寒害腰果植株重新开花的花枝数影响最大,钾次之,磷影响最小,随着氮施用量的增加,植株的花枝数逐渐增大;氮是影响寒害腰果植株结果量的主要因素,植株结果量随着氮施用量的增加而增加,磷、钾各处理间的结果量均未达到统计上显著差异;在施氮肥的基础上,配施磷钾肥,可以提高寒害腰果植株结果量,9个施肥处理中以N3P3K2处理的结果量最多。     

氮磷钾对寒害腰果植株恢复生长结果的影响

通过观测不同施肥处理区寒害腰果植株重新开花坐果状况,分析施肥对寒害腰果植株恢复生长的影响,并分析腰果叶片养分含量与结果量之间的关系。结果表明:氮对寒害腰果植株重新开花的花枝数影响最大,钾次之,磷影响最小,随着氮施用量的增加,植株的花枝数逐渐增大;氮是影响寒害腰果植株结果量的主要因素,植株结果量随着氮施用量的增加而增加,磷、钾各处理间的结果量均未达到统计上显著差异;在施氮肥的基础上,配施磷钾肥,可以提高寒害腰果植株结果量,9个施肥处理中以N3P3K2处理的结果量最多。     

UV-B增加对菠菜生长发育和品质的影响

研究了在大田栽培和自然光的条件下，模拟紫外辐射的增加对菠菜生长发育和品质的影响。生长指标的分析结果表明，随着UV-B辐射的增加，菠菜的干质量、叶面积、绿叶数、株高生长均呈降低趋势，而且随着UV-B越强，降低程度越大，并在一定程度上延缓植株生长。品质指标的分析结果表明，UV-B辐射增强，菠菜叶片的可溶性糖质量分数降低，维生素C质量分数降低，随UV-B辐射强度增大，可溶性糖和维生素C质量分数降低的幅度愈大；UV-B辐射增强，菠菜叶片的蛋白质和抗坏血酸表现为质量分数升高，但当UV-B辐射超过一定强度，二者又表现为低于对照。     

Effects of furoquinoline alkaloids on the growth and feeding of two polyphagous lepidopterans

Summary. The furoquinoline alkaloids skimmianine and dictamnine were tested for effects on the feeding and growth of larvae of the generalist lepidopteran, Spodoptera litura. Skimmianine was further investigated for toxic and phototoxic effects on the larvae of Trichoplusia ni, also a generalist species. In feeding experiments with S. litura, growth and consumption of larvae decreased with increasing concentration of furoquinolines; skimmianine caused a greater reduction in growth than dictamnine. In T. ni, dietary skimmianine reduced growth and consumption; when administered topically, it significantly reduced consumption but without a concomitant reduction in growth. Phototoxicity of skimmianine was not apparent in T. ni because UV light failed to increase the negative effects of the alkaloid on larvae.     

镉和铁及其交互作用对植物生长的影响

镉是植物的非必需元素，而铁是植物生长发育过程中必不可少的元素。虽然这两种元素对植物的作用是截然相反的，但是它们在植物体内存在着交互作用关系，相互影响着对方功能的发挥。供给植物足够的铁可极大地缓解植物的镉污染毒害，利于植物合成更多的叶绿素，促进光合作用进行，降低镉对氨基酸、蛋白质合成以及酶活性的影响。相反，镉污染将诱导植物的铁营养缺乏。渍水植物根表形成的铁氧化物胶膜可促进植物对镉的吸收。     

膜下滴灌棉田不同土层盐分变化及其对棉花生长的影响

研究选择两种不同盐分含量土壤（中度盐渍化EC25：4-7 dS.m-1和轻度盐渍化EC25：1-4 dS.m-1）,通过对棉田整个生育期的土壤盐分含量测定,研究棉田不同土层盐分变化及其对棉花生长的影响。结果表明：两种不同盐分含量土壤,盐分降幅较大的在0-20、40-80 cm土层为膜下滴灌棉田盐分积聚区。整个生育期土壤盐分变化趋势相似,都表现为土壤盐分前期（现蕾期）快速下降后期有所增加;中度盐渍化和轻度盐渍化棉田的单株干物质积累量差异不显著,单位面积的干物质积累和籽棉产量差异显著,其主要原因是两种盐分土壤棉花的成活率差异较大。     

模拟氮沉降对大豆萌发和幼苗生长的影响

氮沉降是当今倍受关注的全球性环境问题.采用大田试验和室内培养的方法,研究大豆种子萌发和幼苗生长对氮沉降的响应.实验设4组处理(CK、T1、T2、T3),所施氮肥为NH4NO3,在室内培养实验中,4组处理的浓度分别为0、0.08、0.16、0.24mol/L.大田实验中,4组处理的氮施入量分别为0,50,100,150 kg·hm-2·a-1.结果表明:过量氮沉降对种子萌发有一定的抑制作用,降低了种子的发芽速度和发芽率;抑制了幼苗的生长速度,降低了植株的株高、叶面积和生物量,并减小了根冠比;随着氮施入量的增加幼苗的蒸腾速率逐渐降低,但叶片叶绿素含量逐渐增加.