The pathway for the flow of salt-marsh grass production into marsh food-webs is still not well defined. We compared the abilities
of three marsh macroinvertebrates [salt marsh periwinkles, Littoraria irrorata (Say) (=Littorina irrorata), salt-marsh coffee-bean snails, Melampus bidentatus (Say); and a talitrid amphipod, Uhlorchestia spartinophila Bounsfield and Heard] to access standing-dead leaves of smooth cordgrass (Spartina alterniflora Loisel). The invertebrates were incubated with naturally-decaying leaves, and the rates of removal of organic matter and
living fungal biomass (ergosterol) were measured. The impact of invertebrate activity upon fungal growth rates was measured
as rates of fungal-membrane synthesis (incorporation of radioacetate into ergosterol). The removal rates of organic leaf biomass
per mg individual biomass were highest for amphipods (700 μg mg−1 d−1) and lowest for periwinkles (90 μg mg−1 d−1), but the relatively large biomass of the snails made their removal rates per individual greater than those of amphipods.
Net removal of ergosterol by all three invertebrates was >50% for yellow-brown (early-decay) leaf blades. For fully-brown
(advanced-decay) blades, >50% removal of ergosterol was found only for periwinkles; exposure to coffee-bean snails and amphipods
resulted in a net ergosterol reduction of ≤20%. The lower net reduction of living fungal biomass by coffee-bean snails and
amphipods may have been due to fungal-growth stimulation (2.3-fold stimulation in coffee-bean snails and 1.5-fold stimulation
in amphipods). Grazing by periwinkles did not stimulate fungal growth, possibly because of its high intensity. Grazing by
these three salt-marsh shredders may affect marsh-grass shoot-decay in different ways. Periwinkles may abbreviate the period
of fungal production, and incorporate the decaying material relatively quickly into snail biomass and fecal-pellet rain to
the sediments. Coffee-bean snails and amphipods may enhance and prolong fungal production, along with the formation of fecal-pellet
rain. All three invertebrates fed preferentially on leaf blades rather than leaf sheaths, and feeding rates of gastropods
were higher during the night than during the day.
Received: 25 November 1998 / Accepted: 4 November 1999 相似文献
Evaluation of evolutionary mechanisms proposed to promote cooperative behavior depends on the relative influence of the behavior
on the reproductive success of individuals, the reproductive success of the group in which they interact behaviorally, and
the degree of gene correlation among cooperators. The genetic relationship within cooperative coalitions of female red howler
monkeys was examined for three populations with different densities and growth rates. Patterns of gene correlation change
within coalitions is documented using data from the mitochondrial and nuclear genomes, and long-term census monitoring. Differences
in fecundity and infant survivorship within and between groups of unrelated (rˉ=0) and related (rˉ≥ 0.25) females are compared. Females that emigrate from their natal groups form coalitions with other migrant females. These
coalitions attempt to establish a territory and, once successful in producing offspring, exclude other females from feeding
resources. Females in these coalitions had different mtDNA haplotypes and a genetically estimated mean r of 0, supporting demographic data on emigration patterns indicating that these females rarely have the opportunity to form
coalitions with kin. Patterns of recruitment and rate of matriline development within social groups supported behavioral data
indicating that females actively attempt to promote their own matriline as breeders over that of other females, and that some
matrilines are more successful at this than others. Mean r among females was significantly higher in coalitions established as social groups for several generations (rˉ=0.44). In these groups, females all shared the same mtDNA haplotype, and mtDNA haplotype divergence was significantly higher
between than within groups. Females in coalitions with kin had significantly higher reproductive success than females in unrelated
coalitions in all populations. This difference was not a function of coalition size, number of males, socionomic sex ratio,
or primiparity, although anecdotal evidence suggests that allomothering may compensate for inept new mothers in related coalitions
more often than in unrelated ones. Differences in territory quality could not be ruled out as a potential causal factor in
the saturated populations, but were unlikely in the low-density, growing population. There were substantial differences among
long-established coalitions in overall reproductive output in all three populations, and this was significantly correlated
with the number of breeding females. Increase in coalition size was a function of both group age and the behavioral tolerance
among females. Regardless of the underlying reasons for the patterns observed, reproductive success clearly increases with
degree of gene correlation among females within cooperative coalitions, and coalitions that recruit more daughters produce
more offspring. The nature of the cooperative relationship among group females directly influences both of these outcomes.
This is associated with substantial genetic differentiation among social groups within populations, creating conditions in
which genetic tendencies towards cooperative behavior can become tightly associated with group reproductive success.
Received: 15 September 1999 / Revised: 27 April 2000 / Accepted: 27 May 2000 相似文献
One of the most interesting aspects of the mating system of pied flycatchers is the regular occurrence of polygyny. Here we
present data on the reproductive success of polygynously paired pied flycatcher males compared to monogamous males based on
paternity analyses through DNA fingerprinting. Males paired with two females suffered a higher loss in reproductive output
per female compared to monogamous males due to (1) a greater proportion of unhatched eggs in their broods, (2) greater nestling
mortality and (3) a greater probability of being cuckolded. Nevertheless, the number of fledglings was significantly greater
for polygynous males. Based on the number of nestlings that returned for subsequent breeding seasons, however, the reproductive
success of monogamous and polygynous males did not differ significantly. These data raise the question as to why males attempt
polygyny.
Received: 16 August 1999 / Received in revised form: 15 March 2000 / Accepted: 18 March 2000 相似文献
Abstract: Animal reintroductions and translocations are potentially important interventions to save species from extinction, but most are unsuccessful. Mortality due to predation is a principal cause of failure. Animals that have been isolated from predators, either throughout their lifetime or over evolutionary time, may no longer express appropriate antipredator behavior. For this reason, conservation biologists are beginning to include antipredator training in pre-release preparation procedures. We describe the evolutionary and ontogenetic circumstances under which antipredator behavior may degenerate or be lost, and we use principles from learning theory to predict which elements can be enhanced or recovered by training. The empirical literature demonstrates that training can improve antipredator skills, but the effectiveness of such interventions is influenced by a number of constraints. We predict that it will be easier to teach animals to cope with predators if they have experienced ontogenetic isolation than if they have undergone evolutionary isolation. Similarly, animals should learn more easily if they have been evolutionarily isolated from some rather than all predators. Training to a novel predator may be more successful if a species has effective responses to similar predators. In contrast, it may be difficult to teach proper avoidance behavior, or to introduce specialized predator-specific responses, if appropriate motor patterns are not already present. We conclude that pre-release training has the potential to enhance the expression of preexisting antipredator behavior. Potential training techniques involve classical conditioning procedures in which animals learn that model predators are predictors of aversive events. However, wildlife managers should be aware that problems, such as the emergence of inappropriate responses, may arise during such training. 相似文献
Gradients of genetic distances (GGDs) between 26 adjacent cenopopulations of Scotch pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) along the transects through the distinct landscape-ecotopic isolation borders were analyzed graphically. The results
made it possible to reveal and quantitatively estimate gradients and borders of gene-pool structural patterns in populations
of this species in the central part of Northern Eurasia. In lowland areas, the most distinct borders were found between pine
populations growing on dry lands and bogs (Pineta sphagnosa) in the forest zone of the Transural region, as well as between the Arakaragaiskii and Amankaragaiskii island pine forests
in the steppe zone (Northern Turgai). In highland areas (the Urals and the Carpathians), the greatest GGDs were observed between
low-mountain (about 600 m above sea level) and middle-mountain (850–900 m) populations. Analysis of GGDs is a promising gene-geographic
method for determining population borders and studying the chorogenetic structure of species. 相似文献
Three-dimensional (3D) models are often utilised to assess the presence of sand and gravel deposits. Expanding these models to provide a better indication of the suitability of the deposit as aggregate for use in construction would be advantageous. This, however, leads to statistical challenges. To be effective, models must be able to reflect the interdependencies between different criteria (e.g. depth to deposit, thickness of deposit, ratio of mineral to waste, proportion of ‘fines’) as well as the inherent uncertainty introduced because models are derived from a limited set of boreholes in a study region. Using legacy borehole data collected during a systematic survey of sand and gravel deposits in the UK, we have developed a 3D model for a 2400 km2 region close to Reading, southern England. In developing the model, we have reassessed the borehole grading data to reflect modern extraction criteria and explored the most suitable statistical modelling technique. The additive log-ratio transform and the linear model of coregionalization have been applied, techniques that have been previously used to map soil texture classes in two dimensions, to assess the quality of sand and gravel deposits in the area. The application of these statistical techniques leads to a model which can be used to generate thousands of plausible realisations of the deposit which fully reflect the extent of model uncertainty. The approach offers potential to improve regional-scale mineral planning by providing an enhanced understanding of sand and gravel deposits and the extent to which they meet current extraction criteria.
Russian Journal of Ecology - Abstract—The study of the effect of mycorrhiza symbiosis on the transformation of carbon and nitrogen compounds in soils is important in view of the necessity to... 相似文献
The growing recognition that climate change mitigation alone will be inadequate has led scientists and policymakers to discuss climate geoengineering. An experiment with a US sample found, contrary to previous research, that reading about geoengineering did not reduce conservatives’ skepticism about the existence of anthropogenic climate change. Moreover, depending on how it is framed, geoengineering can reduce support for mitigation among both conservatives and non-conservatives. When geoengineering is framed as a major solution, people worry less about climate change, leading to reduced mitigation support. When framed as disastrous, people perceived geoengineering as riskier, also leading to a decrease in mitigation support. A more moderate framing of geoengineering as a partial solution is less susceptible to moral hazard effects. Overall, results suggest that geoengineering will not lessen political polarization over anthropogenic climate change, and could undercut support for mitigation efforts. Instead, framing geoengineering as a small piece to solving a big puzzle seems to be the best strategy to weaken this potential moral hazard. 相似文献