Settlement-competency periods of larvae of three species of scleractinian corals

The pattern of settlement over time of three broadcast spawning coral species (Cyphastrea serailia, Acanthastrea lordhowensis, and Goniastrea australensis) from the Solitary Islands (30°00′S; 153°20′E) was studied in 1995 and 1996 in order to determine the maximum length of time these larvae could remain in the water column and still retain the ability to settle and metamorphose. Larvae were maintained in aquaria and the number which had settled on biologically-conditioned tile pairs was monitored every 5 to 10 d. While the majority of larvae settled quickly after becoming competent, some larvae survived and settled for extended periods after spawning. Competency periods ranged from 26 d for C. serailia to 56 d for G. australensis and 78 d for A. lordhowensis. These data greatly extend the known competency periods for larvae of broadcast-spawning corals and indicate the potential for transport of broadcast-spawned coral larvae over large distances. Medium to long-distance larval dispersal of the species studied provides a mechanism for their widespread distribution in subtropical regions, on reefs which are often widely spaced and relatively isolated. Received: 27 May 1997 / Accepted: 27 November 1997     

Karyotypic characterization of the great sturgeon, Huso huso, by multiple staining techniques and fluorescent in situ hybridization

A karyotype analysis by several staining techniques was carried out on the great sturgeon, Huso huso (Linnaeus, 1758). The karyotype (2n = 118 ± 2) was composed of 42 pairs of meta-/submetacentric chromosomes and 17 pairs of acrocentrics/microchromosomes. Constitutive heterochromatin was mainly located at the centromeric regions of the acrocentric chromosomes. The biarmed chromosomes showed weak C-bands. Fluorescent staining with GC-specific chromomycin A₃ showed clearly recognizable fluorescent regions, whereas a more uniform base composition was revealed by the AT-specific 4,6-diamidino-2 phenylindole. After Ag-staining, nucleolar organizer regions could be observed on the short arms of two medium-sized submetacentrics and on two acrocentrics. Digoxigenated 28S and 5S rDNA probes, prepared from Acipenser naccarii DNA and hybridized to metaphase chromosomes, showed signals on six and two chromosomes, respectively. The telomeric sequence (TTAGGG) _n detected by FISH was located at both ends of each chromosome. Results are discussed in relation to karyotype organization and evolution in sturgeons. Received: 1 April 1998 / Accepted: 21 July 1998     

Genetic protein variation in red mullet (Mullus barbatus) and striped red mullet (M. surmuletus) populations from the Mediterranean Sea

Starch-gel electrophoresis of allozymes was used to differentiate the two red mullet species (Mullus barbatus L. and M. surmuletus L.) in the Mediterranean Sea and, further, to investigate the genetic stock structure of M. barbatus in the eastern Mediterranean area. Twenty putative enzyme-coding loci were examined in eight M. barbatus samples caught in the Aegean and Ionian Seas (Greece) and in the Gulf of Lion (France), and two M. surmuletus samples caught in the Aegean and Gulf of Lion. A high degree of genetic polymorphism was found in both species. Species-specific electrophoretic patterns were found in PGI* and PGM*. Estimates of variance of allele frequencies among samples (F _ST) and ² analyses both revealed significant differences (P < 0.05) among the M. barbatus samples. Most of the genetic variation was among samples regardless of region. The mean value of Nei's genetic distance between the two species was 0.329. Genetic distance among M. barbatus samples was low (maximum Nei's D = 0.012), with the sample from Platania differing most from other M. barbatus samples. This is probably be due to founder effects existing at this area. These results suggest that allozyme analysis may provide important information on the genetic structure of the red mullet to ensure sustainable management of this species. Received: 7 May 1997 / Accepted: 13 October 1997     

Coalitionary mate guarding by male chimpanzees at Ngogo, Kibale National Park, Uganda

Cooperative mate guarding by males is unusual in mammals and birds, largely because fertilizations are non-shareable. Chimpanzees live in fission-fusion communities that have cores of philopatric males who cooperate in inter-group aggression and in defending access to the females in their community. Male contest mating competition is restrained within communities, but single high-ranking males sometimes try to mate guard estrous females. Data from an unusually large chimpanzee commmunity at Ngogo, Kibale National Park, Uganda, that contains more males than any previously studied community show new variation in chimpanzee mate-guarding behavior. Contrary to expectation given the large number of males, mate guarding was as common as, or more common than, at other sites, and males other than the alpha male guarded more often. More strikingly, pairs or trios of top-ranking males sometimes engaged in cooperative aggression to prevent estrous females from mating with other males, but tolerated each other's mating activities. Both single males and coalitions mostly guarded periovulatory females. Mate-guarding coalitions were previously unknown in chimpanzees. Coalitions occurred in large mating parties, seemingly because these often contained too many males for single males to maintain exclusive access to estrous females. Coalition members gained higher shares of copulations than they could have expected from solo mate guarding, and suffered lower per capita costs of guarding (as inferred from aggression rates). Two males who most often participated in coalitions formed two-male coalitions at about the point where the number of males present made it unlikely that either could get 50% or more of total copulations on his own, and formed trios when this value dropped below 33%. Kin selection could be a factor in cooperation among male chimpanzees, but coalition members were not necessarily close relatives and the apparent structure of payoffs fit that of mutualism. Furthermore, reliance of male chimpanzees on support from allies to maintain high rank could have led to trading of mating exclusivity for support against mating competitors. Received: 28 May 1997 / Accepted after revision: 16 May 1998     

空空导弹海洋大气自然环境试验研究

针对空空导弹随航母服役需求和海洋大气自然环境适应性风险,结合相关标准和研制经验,对空空导弹海洋大气自然环境试验方案设计流程、方法及要点进行了研究。提出了一套空空导弹海洋大气自然环境试验方案,可用于指导新研型号科学有效地开展自然环境试验,为回答空空导弹海洋大气自然环境适应性指标提供了支撑。空空导弹应系统策划海洋大气自然环境试验,以尽早暴露问题,实现产品设计改进,为上舰环境适应性的提高奠定基础。同时,还应大力开展自然加速环境试验技术和动态自然环境试验技术研究工作。     

汽车零部件金属卤素灯阳光模拟试验与户外自然曝晒的相关性研究

目的 探究汽车零部件金属卤素灯阳光模拟加速试验与户外自然曝晒的关系。方法 使用3种典型高分子透明材料分别进行阳光模拟加速试验、AIMBOX/Arizona户外曝晒和Florida户外曝晒,基于试验后样品的黄变值,比较阳光模拟试验与户外曝晒的相关性,并对阳光模拟试验与户外曝晒的加速性进行探讨。结果 阳光模拟（IP/DP箱）加速试验与AIM BOX/Arizona户外曝晒高度相关,综合加速倍率约是AIM BOX/Arizona户外曝晒的3倍。阳光模拟（IP/DP箱外）加速试验与Florida户外曝晒高度相关,综合加速倍率是Florida户外曝晒的7倍。结论 基于3种典型材料研究可知,汽车零部件阳光模拟加速试验与典型户外自然曝晒具有一定相关性。     

铝合金微电偶腐蚀机理与数值模拟研究进展

综述了铝合金微电偶腐蚀在机理研究和数值模拟两方面的研究进展,针对独立微电偶的腐蚀机理表征、多元微电偶空间随机分布相互作用规律、结构/载荷因素与铝合金微电偶腐蚀驱动力间的竞争机制等3个方面进行了展望,期望为铝合金微电偶腐蚀研究提供方向参考。     

人工湿地污水处理系统脱氮研究进展

系统地介绍了人工湿地去除污水中氮污染物的机理及国内外研究进展，详细阐述了影响人工湿地污水处理系统脱氮的内、外界因素，对于人工湿地污水处理工艺的推广应用提供科学依据。