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.     

物种多样性对植物生长与土壤镉污染修复的影响

土壤重金属污染是当今最为突出的环境问题之一,其中,重金属镉(Cd)已成为我国受污染土壤中最主要的无机污染物之一.植物修复法是去除土壤重金属的重要方法,研究表明,植物物种多样性的增加能促进生态系统功能.那么在Cd污染土壤中,植物物种多样性对植物生长和Cd污染修复会有怎样的影响,其内在机理是怎样的并不清楚.基于此,本研究选择6种本地常见草本植物(荆芥、鸡眼草、短叶水蜈蚣、牛筋草、鸭跖草和细风轮菜),通过室内控制实验研究不同植物物种多样性(1-,2-,3-,6-物种)对植物生长与土壤Cd污染修复的影响.结果表明:植物物种多样性的增加显著促进植物地下生物量和总生物量的积累,并对植物根系形态(根总长、根总表面积、根尖总数与根平均直径)和叶绿素荧光参数(PSII最大光能转化效率F_v/F_m和PSII潜在活性F_v/F_0)有显著的促进作用;植物物种多样性的增加能显著提高植物地上、地下及总Cd含量(积累量)和富集系数;植物物种多样性的增加对植物生长、根系形态指标及Cd的富集具有显著的净效应,且以互补效应为主.本研究选取的是对环境条件要求不高、生长周期短的本地草本植物,可为利用本地常见短世代周期植物进行土壤重金属污染修复提供理论依据.     

Adaptation to climate change in Ethiopia and South Africa: options and constraints

Climate change is expected to adversely affect agricultural production in Africa. Because agricultural production remains the main source of income for most rural communities in the region, adaptation of the agricultural sector is imperative to protect the livelihoods of the poor and to ensure food security. A better understanding of farmers’ perceptions of climate change, ongoing adaptation measures, and the decision-making process is important to inform policies aimed at promoting successful adaptation strategies for the agricultural sector. Using data from a survey of 1800 farm households in South Africa and Ethiopia, this study presents the adaptation strategies used by farmers in both countries and analyzes the factors influencing the decision to adapt. We find that the most common adaptation strategies include: use of different crops or crop varieties, planting trees, soil conservation, changing planting dates, and irrigation. However, despite having perceived changes in temperature and rainfall, a large percentage of farmers did not make any adjustments to their farming practices. The main barriers to adaptation cited by farmers were lack of access to credit in South Africa and lack of access to land, information, and credit in Ethiopia. A probit model is used to examine the factors influencing farmers’ decision to adapt to perceived climate changes. Factors influencing farmers’ decision to adapt include wealth, and access to extension, credit, and climate information in Ethiopia; and wealth, government farm support, and access to fertile land and credit in South Africa. Using a pooled dataset, an analysis of the factors affecting the decision to adapt to perceived climate change across both countries reveals that farmers were more likely to adapt if they had access to extension, credit, and land. Food aid, extension services, and information on climate change were found to facilitate adaptation among the poorest farmers. We conclude that policy-makers must create an enabling environment to support adaptation by increasing access to information, credit and markets, and make a particular effort to reach small-scale subsistence farmers, with limited resources to confront climate change.     

Seedling growth and metal accumulation of selected woody species in copper and lead/zinc mine tailings

A greenhouse pot experiment was conducted to evaluate the potential of selected woody plants for revegetation in copper (Cu) and lead/zinc (Pb/Zn) mine tailing areas. Five woody species (Amorpha fruticosa Linn, Vitex trifolia Linn: var. simplicifolia Cham, Glochidion puberum (Linn.) Hutch, Broussonetia papyrifera, and Styrax tonkinensis) and one herbaceous species (Sesbania cannabina Pers) were planted in Cu and Pb/Zn tailings to assess their growth, root morphology, nutrition uptake, metal accumulation, and translocation in plants. Amorpha fruticosa maintained normal growth, while the other species demonstrated stress related growth and root development. Sesbania cannabina showed the highest biomass among the plants, although it decreased by 30% in Cu tailings and 40% in Pb/Zn tailings. Calculated tolerance index (TI) values suggested that A. fruticosa, an N-fixing shrub, was the most tolerant species to both tailings (TI values 0.92–1.01), while S. cannabina had a moderate TI of 0.65–0.81 and B. papyrifera was the most sensitive species, especially to Pb/Zn tailings (TI values 0.15–0.19). Despite the high concentrations of heavy metals in the mine tailings and plants roots, only a small transfer of these elements to the aboveground parts of the woody plants was evident from the low translocation factor (TF) values. Among the woody plants, V. trifolia var. simplicifolia had the highest TF values for Zn (1.32), Cu (0.78), and Pb/Zn (0.78). The results suggested that A. fruticosa and S. cannabina, which have the highest tolerance and biomass production, respectively, demonstrated the potential for tailings revegetation in southern China.     

光照与磷的交互作用对两种淡水藻类生长的影响

采用一次性单种培养的方法,研究了磷和光照对铜绿微囊藻和四尾栅藻生长以及叶绿素形成的影响.结果表明,光照水平的提高能够提高藻类最大比增长率,延长藻类指数生长期;但达到一定水平后,光照水平的增加会抑制单细胞藻类体内叶绿素的合成.在试验设定的浓度范围内,磷对藻类最大比增长率的影响不大;而不利于藻类叶绿素的形成.对于铜绿微囊藻的生长,磷与光照表现出明显的交互作用,但对于四尾栅藻,二者的交互作用并不明显.     

不同形态的砷水生生物基准探讨及在辽河流域的初步应用

有毒元素砷在我国各流域分布广泛,主要包括三价和五价两种价态,其毒性差别很大,目前我国缺乏本土的砷水质基准研究,而国外的砷水质基准多以总砷表示,科学性有待商榷.因此,本文分别搜集了三价砷、五价砷和总砷对我国本土水生生物的毒性数据,共获得三价砷12属12种,五价砷18种23属,以及总砷25属29种的合格数据.利用美国环保局推荐的物种敏感度排序法,通过数据分析得出,三价砷的急性和慢性基准阈值分别为84.26μg·L-1和56.55μg·L-1,五价砷的急性和慢性基准阈值分别为1171μg·L-1和633.3μg·L-1,总砷的急性和慢性基准阈值分别为264.4μg·L-1和150.7μg·L-1;总砷的基准阈值与美国现行砷基准值相当,而五价砷基准阈值与三价砷基准阈值体现出数量级的差异,因此,需要分价态考虑砷基准的制定.基于推算的砷基准阈值,用商值法评价了辽河流域枯水期总砷暴露的生态风险.检测结果表明,辽河的总砷暴露浓度范围在2.6~82.4μg·L-1之间,全部位点均无风险,但西辽河段上游支流两点位的砷浓度分别超出三价砷慢性基准阈值的1.20和1.45倍,表明可能存在潜在的砷暴露风险.     

水绵(Spirogyra)的除磷特性及其对微藻生长的抑制作用

针对富营养化水体的除磷和微型藻类生物生长的抑制问题,研究了水绵(Spirogyra)的除磷特性及其对微藻生长的抑制作用.以蓝藻中的Microcystis aeruginosa、绿藻中的Scenedesmus为代表,研究了Spirogyra对微型藻类生物生长的抑制特性.共培养实验结果表明,Spirogyra对以上2种藻类的生长具有明显的抑制作用,对Chlorella的生长也有同样的抑制作用;共培养、Spirogyra培养液及其过滤液对Microcystis aeruginosa、Scenedesmus生长的影响等实验表明,这种抑制作用是因Spirogyra生长的代谢分泌物或其共生微生物而引起.用总磷(TP)浓度小于1.60mg·L-1的模拟湖水进行实验,发现Spirogyra在生长过程中可以有效地去除水中的磷.磷的去除效率与氮营养物成份有关,NH4 -N/NO3--N质量比为3:7时除磷效率最高.除磷过程中无机氮磷比的变化规律表明,除却Spirogyra同化除磷之外,Spirogyra生长会引起水体pH升高,从而诱导磷沉积是除磷的重要机制之一.Spirogyra对微型藻类生长良好的抑制性能以及除磷特性为富营养化水体的生物修复、水源水的保护提供了新的技术途径.     

Facilitating landform migration by removing shore protection structures: Opportunities and constraints

Recent studies have identified the need to adapt to climate change by allowing landforms and habitats to migrate landward, although implementation of actual adaptation responses is limited. Removing the barriers that shore protection structures create between coastal and upland habitats can reestablish exchanges of sediment and the ecological functions of the natural ecotone. The potential for removing these structures was evaluated in 12 national parks managed by the U.S. National Park Service. Criteria for removal included condition of structures, influence of natural processes, environmental benefits, public safety, and visitor access and use.We found that 145 structures out of a total of 407 could be removed or allowed to deteriorate. We highlight three adaptation projects that are currently being conducted, two of which involve removing structures. Reasons for not taking a more pro-active approach to removing protection structures include (1) conflicting policy directives; (2) presence of key access roads and critical archaeological and historic sites; (3) lack of data; (4) lack of funds and human resources; (5) reluctance to replace known problems with an unknown set of problems; (6) consideration of visitor desires; and (7) reluctance to allow erosion to occur. Demonstration projects are needed to provide information about adaptation strategies that promote enhancement of ecosystem functions. Projects to remove protection structures are likely to be viewed as successful only if results are specified as a positive product, and the distinction between the concept of loss (erosion of existing landforms and habitats) and the concept of gain (evolution of new landforms and habitats) is made clear.     

Analysis of relationship between economic growth and environment in Benxi Shiqiaozi Development Zone

ＡｎａｌｙｓｉｓｏｆｒｅｌａｔｉｏｎｓｈｉｐｂｅｔｗｅｅｎｅｃｏｎｏｍｉｃｇｒｏｗｔｈａｎｄｅｎｖｉｒｏｎｍｅｎｔｉｎＢｅｎｘｉＳｈｉｑｉａｏｚｉＤｅｖｅｌｏｐｍｅｎｔＺｏｎｅ￥ＬｉＢｉｎ；ＲｕＪｉａｎｇ；ＹｅＷｅｎｈｕ；ＸｕＹｕｎｌｉｎ（Ｃｅｎｔｅ...     

三种海洋微藻生长期脂肪酸组成研究

球等鞭金藻、盐藻和小球藻脂肪酸组成气相色谱分析的结果表明 ,三种海洋微藻在指数生长期总多不饱和脂肪酸含量 (TPUFA)明显比稳定生长期高 ,而总饱和脂肪酸含量 (TSFA)在指数生长期间相对较低。球等鞭金藻的DHA ,小球藻的EPA和盐藻的C18∶3均在培养后的第 6d均达最大值。     

pH及光照对两种赤潮甲藻种群生长和胞外碳酸酐酶活性的影响

研究了pH和光照强度对两种赤潮甲藻(Prorocentrum donghaiense和Karlodinium micrum)的种群生长及其胞外碳酸酐酶(CA)活性的影响。结果表明,pH 7.5、光照强度30μmol/(m2.s)是两种微藻的最适种群生长条件,在种群生长的最适pH和光照强度下,胞外CA活性最大。最适培养条件下,两种甲藻胞外碳酸酐酶活性随着种群生长周期而变化,指数生长期至平台期CA酶活增加,平台期至衰退期CA酶活降低,平台期胞外CA活性最大。     

多氯联苯(PCBs)污染对秋茄Kandelia candel生长的影响

通过盆栽实验研究了不同浓度(180×10-9、900×10-9、1 800×10-9和2 700×10-9)的多氯联苯(PCBs)对红树植物秋茄Kandelia candel幼苗生长的影响.结果表明:秋茄的生长指标茎高、茎径、茎体积和生物量的生长量呈现先上升后下降的变化趋势,不过各处理的生长指标均高于对照组;研究表明,秋茄能在PCBs浓度为2 700×10-9的沉积物中正常生长,对PCBs有较强的耐受性和适应性.     

氮限制对三种赤潮藻生长以及种间竞争效应的影响

为了了解不同类别的赤潮藻类对氮(N)限制的响应,在实验室单独培养以及混合培养条件下,研究了N限制对3种典型赤潮微藻(中肋骨条藻、锥状斯氏藻和海洋卡盾藻)生长的影响.结果显示,N限制对3种赤潮藻类的生长均具有明显影响,其中中肋骨条藻对N限制较为敏感.混合培养体系中,藻细胞生长同时还受到种间竞争的明显抑制;而在3种藻混合培养条件下,种间竞争成为了藻细胞生长的决定性因素,锥状斯氏藻和海洋卡盾藻能对中肋骨条藻的生长能产生协同抑制作用.锥状斯氏藻是一种可形成孢囊的种类,N限制和种间竞争能促进其孢囊的提前形成,并且种间竞争能显著提高孢囊的形成率.     

Flood protection and endogenous sorting of households: the role of credit constraints

Human migration is increasingly seen as a promising climate change adaptation and flood risk reduction strategy. The purpose of this paper is to investigate how spatial differences in flood risk, due to differences in flood protection, reduce the mobility of vulnerable households through a credit constraint mechanism. Using an equilibrium model with two households types and endogenous sorting, we show how spatial differences in flood protection lead to clustering of vulnerable households in a risky region, in a real-world setting of common United States (US) flood zones. We find clustering effects of some size for flood zones with return periods of less than 30 years.     

Ontogenetic variation in cold tolerance plasticity in Drosophila: is the Bogert effect bogus?

Ontogenetic variation in plasticity is important to understanding mechanisms and patterns of thermal tolerance variation. The Bogert effect postulates that, to compensate for their inability to behaviourally thermoregulate, less-mobile life stages of ectotherms are expected to show greater plasticity of thermal tolerance than more-mobile life stages. We test this general prediction by comparing plasticity of thermal tolerance (rapid cold-hardening, RCH) between mobile adults and less-mobile larvae of 16 Drosophila species. We find an RCH response in adults of 13 species but only in larvae of four species. Thus, the Bogert effect is not as widespread as expected.     

Toxic effects of chlortetracycline on maize growth, reactive oxygen species generation and the antioxidant response

The toxicity of chlortetracycline (CTC) on maize (Zea mays L.) growth and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation was studied. The root and shoot lengths and fresh weights of maize seedlings were inhibited by CTC treatment (p < 0.05). Root length was more sensitive than other parameters with the EC₁₀ value of 0.064 mg/L. The spin trapping technique followed by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) analysis was used to quantify the ROS production. The ROS generated in maize roots after exposure to CTC was identified as hydroxyl radical (.OH). The EPR signal intensity correlated positively with the logarithm of CTC concentrations exposed (p < 0.05). The dynamic changes of malondialdehyde (MDA) contents and the antioxidative enzyme activities in maize roots were also determined. As compared to the control group, CTC was found to significantly increase MDA content. Treatment of maize roots with the.OH scavenger sodium benzoate (SB) reduced the MDA content and enhanced the antioxidative enzyme activities. The results demonstrated the harmfulness of CTC at high dose to maize in the early developmental stage, and clarified that the inducement of.OH is one of the mechanisms of CTC toxicity.