Extra-pair copulations create a potential for sexual conflict in pair-bonding birds. Here we report an experimental study
of the bluethroat, Luscinia s. svecica, in which the throat ornament of males was blackened with Nyanzol D in order to reduce their sexual attractiveness and thus
increase the sexual conflict over fertilizations. In an earlier study, we showed that males blackened before pairing had a
lower success in attracting social mates than controls, whereas males blackened after pairing guarded their mates more intensely
and sang less than controls. Here we add behavioural data from one more year on males blackened after pairing and corroborate
our previous finding that the manipulation caused males to guard their mates more intensely and advertise less for additional
mates. Blackened males did not suffer more intrusions from neighbouring males than did controls. Paternity analyses of the
combined data set, using multilocus DNA fingerprinting and microsatellite typing, revealed that blackened males lost significantly
more paternity than controls. There was also a tendency for blackened males to show a lower success in achieving extra-pair
fertilizations. These results indicate that females have the upper hand in the sexual conflict over fertilizations, as females
paired with unattractive males can achieve more extra-pair paternity despite the greater constraint posed by the intensified
mate guarding. Still, within the blackened group, there were some indications that males guarding more intensely and singing
less had higher paternity than males guarding less and singing more, suggesting a marginal positive effect of guarding for
unattractive males. Male mate guarding must nevertheless be considered a best-of-a-bad-job strategy in this species.
Received: 4 December 1997 / Accepted after revision: 14 June 1998 相似文献
The responsiveness of adult beech and spruce trees to chronic O(3) stress was studied at a free-air O(3) exposure experiment in Freising/Germany. Over three growing seasons, gas exchange characteristics, biochemical parameters, macroscopic O(3) injury and the phenology of leaf organs were investigated, along with assessments of branch and stem growth as indications of tree performance. To assess response pattern to chronic O(3) stress in adult forest trees, we introduce a new evaluation approach, which provides a comprehensive, readily accomplishable overview across several tree-internal scaling levels, different canopy regions and growing seasons. This new approach, based on a three-grade colour coding, combines statistical analysis and the proficient ability of the "human eye" in pattern recognition. 相似文献
Chemical and toxicological profiles were assessed in surface sediments (fraction <63 μm) from the southern North Sea. In extracts of freeze-dried samples, polybrominated biphenyl (PBB), Irgarol 1051 and phthalate concentrations were below the respective detection limits (except di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate, which was between 170 and 3300 μg kg−1 dry weight (dw)). Hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD) concentrations were between 0.8 and 6.9 μg kg−1 dw, with highest concentrations at river mouths. Polybrominated diphenylethers (PBDE) concentrations were 0.4–0.6 μg kg−1 dw, decabromodiphenylether (BDE209) 1–32 μg kg−1 dw. The ratio BDE209/PCB153 was used as a tracer for recent emissions, and pointed towards a BDE209 source in the Western Scheldt’s upper estuary. PCBs and PAHs were between 0.19–4.7 and 2.6–200 μg kg−1 dw respectively and generally had highest concentrations at near-shore locations and river mouths.
Responses in the Microtox broad-spectrum and the Mutatox genotoxicity assays were generally low, with near-shore locations giving higher responses. The umu-C genotoxicity and the ER-CALUX assay for estrogenicity showed no response, with the exception of one near-shore location (IJmuiden outer harbour, ER-CALUX).
Highest dioxin-like toxicity (DR-CALUX) was found at near-shore locations, in the outflow of the Rhine/Meuse estuary including a dumping site of harbour sludge. At the Oyster Grounds, DR-CALUX responses appeared to be linked to the occurrence of larger PAHs (4–6 rings). A new, non-destructive clean up procedure resulted in significantly higher DR-CALUX responses than the current protocol. The Dutch legislation on disposal of harbour sludge at sea, dictates the use of the conventional clean up procedure. Our results therefore indicate that probably more dioxin-like toxicity associated with harbour sludge is disposed off at sea than assumed. 相似文献
The reference method to quantify mixing ratios of the criteria air pollutant nitrogen dioxide (NO2) is NO-O3 chemiluminescence (CL), in which mixing ratios of nitric oxide (NO) are measured by sampling ambient air directly, and mixing ratios of NOx (= sum of NO and NO2) are measured by converting NO2 to NO using, for example, heated molybdenum catalyst or, more selectively, photolytic conversion (P-CL). In this work, the nitrous acid (HONO) interference in the measurement of NO2 by P-CL was investigated. Results with two photolytic NO2 converters are presented. The first used radiation centered at 395 nm, a wavelength region commonly utilized in P-CL. The second used light at 415 nm, where the overlap with the HONO absorption spectrum and hence its photolysis rate are less. Mixing ratios of NO2, NOx and HONO entering and exiting the converters were quantified by Thermal Dissociation Cavity Ring-down Spectroscopy (TD-CRDS). Both converters exhibited high NO2 conversion efficiency (CFNO2; > 90%) and partial conversion of HONO. Plots of CF against flow rate were consistent with photolysis frequencies of 4.2 s-1 and 2.9 s-1 for NO2 and 0.25 s-1 and 0.10 s?1 for HONO at 395 nm and 415 nm, respectively. CFHONO was larger than predicted from the overlap of the emission and HONO absorption spectra. The results imply that measurements of NO2 by P-CL marginally but systematically overestimate true NO2 concentrations, and that this interference should be considered in environments with high HONO:NO2 ratios such as the marine boundary layer or in biomass burning plumes. 相似文献
Energy ‘policy’ is not a recent invention. What is new is that instead of a variety of policies rooted for the most part in notions other than adequacy of reasonably priced and readily available energy supplies, the past fifteen years or so have witnessed the emergence of a set of policies that are more pointedly directed at energy targets as such. These include, above all, such cross cutting issues as efficiency in use, security against supply disruptions, incentives to oil and gas producers, opportunities for the development of alternative energy sources and concern for the equitable sharing of costs associated with any of these policies. If there is one overriding issue that permeates the policy fabric it is the delineation of the governmental role versus market forces. Debate and controversy on that topic is bound to continue. 相似文献
Research indicates that ventilating systems can be designed for higher ventilation efficiency in the zone of occupation than systems designed for complete mixing. Expressions for ventilation efficiency are derived using a two-box theoretic model. These definitions of ventilation efficiency can be used for practical measurements, and also seem to be valid for multibox schemes. Measurements reviewed show that diagonal schemes are the most efficient. Short-circuiting schemes, with warm air supply along the ceiling and high wall exhaust, produce very low efficiencies. The mathematical model predicts high efficiencies using diffuse air supply directly to the zone of occupation, if the air is not used heating. 相似文献