Sex-dependent immune response in a semelparous spider

Previous studies on arthropods showed that seasonality and parity in breeding considerably impact the direction of sex differences in immunocompetence, and it has been suggested that life span and the time window available for breeding play key roles in shaping sex-differences in immunity. One proposed mechanism behind this phenomenon is differential investment into life history traits in sexes. Here, we tested whether in a seasonally breeding semelparous arthropod sexes differ in their immunocompetence, predicting that females would show weaker immune response than males. We compared encapsulation efficiency (a well-established and widely used method for assessing immunocompetence) of freshly matured, virgin males and females of the lycosid spider Pardosa agrestis (Westring, 1861). On average, males mounted stronger immune response than females and the extent of encapsulation was positively associated with prosoma length in males, but not in females. Also, time until maturation was positively related to the extent of encapsulation in both sexes, but did not significantly affect adult prosoma length. We propose that sex-difference in encapsulation is likely shaped by combined effects of relatively higher costs of reproduction in females, narrow time window of reproductive activity, and the absence of trade-off between current and future reproduction.     

Meta-networks for the study of biogeographical traits in ecological networks: the Mexican hummingbird-plant assemblage

Recent studies on ecological networks have quantified the contribution of ecological, historical, and evolutionary factors on the structure of local communities of interacting species. However, the influence of species’ biogeographical traits, such as migratory habits or phylogeographical history, on ecological networks is poorly understood. Meta-networks, i.e., networks that cover large spatial extensions and include species not co-occurring locally, enable us to investigate mechanisms that operate at larger spatial scales such as migratory patterns or phylogeographical distributions, as well as indirect relationships among species through shared partners. Using a meta-network of hummingbird-plant interaction across Mexico, we illustrate the usefulness of this approach by investigating (1) how biogeographical and morphological factors associate with observed interactions and (2) how species-specific biogeographical characteristics associate with species’ network roles. Our results show that all studied hummingbird and plant species in the meta-network were interrelated, either directly or through shared partners. The meta-network was structured into modules, resulting from hummingbirds and plants interacting preferentially with subsets of species, which differed in biogeographical, and, to a lesser extent, morphological traits. Furthermore, migrants and hummingbirds from Nearctic, Transition, and widespread regions had a higher topological importance in the meta-network. Our study illustrates how meta-networks may contribute to our current knowledge on species’ biogeographical traits and biotic interactions, providing a perspective complementary to local-scale networks.     

Limited scope for reproductive senescence in wild populations of a short-lived fish

Senescence in wild populations was long considered negligible but current evidence suggests that it is widespread in natural populations of mammals and birds, affecting the survival and reproductive output of older individuals. In contrast, little is known about reproductive senescence in species with asymptotic growth that can keep increasing their reproductive output as they grow older and larger. Using a cross-sectional study, we tested age-related decline in fecundity and relative allocation to reproduction in five wild populations of an annual killifish, Nothobranchius furzeri (Cyprinodontiformes). We did not detect any decline in absolute female egg production over their short lifespan in the wild. Relative fecundity (egg production controlled for female body mass) tended to decrease with age. This effect was driven primarily by a single population that survived 17 weeks, almost twice as long as the median persistence of the other four study populations. There was no decrease in relative ovary mass while in males, relative testes mass actually increased with age. Intra-population variation in relative ovary mass increased in older females suggesting heterogeneity in individual trajectories of female reproductive allocation. Overall, we demonstrate that annual killifish do not experience significant age-related decline in reproductive functions during their very short lifespan in the wild despite the marked deterioration of gonad tissue detected in captivity.     

The fractal dimension of a conspicuous ornament varies with mating status and shows assortative mating in wild red-legged partridges (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Alectoris rufa</Emphasis>)

Complex body designs, such as plumage ornaments in birds, can be described by fractal geometry. These complex patterns could have a role as visual signals during courtship and social interactions, but an empirical validation in the wild is currently lacking. Here, we investigated whether the fractal dimension (FD) of a complex plumage pattern displayed by red-legged partridges Alectoris rufa could function as a potential sexual signal. We captured wild birds early in the breeding season and tested if mated and unmated birds differed in the FD of their conspicuous melanin-based black bib. We also tested if the FD of the black bib was correlated within the pair, looking for evidence of assortative mating based on the expression of this trait. We simultaneously assessed similar effects in other ornamental traits (black bib size, white throat patch and black flank band surface, redness of the eye rings and bill). Mated birds showed higher black bib FD values than unmated ones. Mated males, but not females, also displayed a larger black bib. Moreover, the black bib FD (but not the trait size) and the white throat patch surface showed assortative mating. Finally, females with higher black bib FD showed smaller black flank band surface, suggesting a trade-off in the expression of the two melanin-pigmented plumage traits. This provides unique and novel indication for the shape complexity of a pigmented trait, here described by its fractal dimension, to be potentially under sexual selection in a wild animal.     

长期侧流提取对EBPR系统除磷及其磷回收性能的影响

实验采用交替厌氧/好氧(An/O)运行模式的SBR反应器,考察310 d内分3个批次提取侧流比为0、1/4、1/3、1/2的厌氧放磷上清液后EBPR系统的脱氮除磷效果及相应的磷回收性能.结果表明,整个实验阶段系统对COD和氨氮的去除较为稳定,出水均能满足《城镇污水处理厂污染物综合排放标准》一级A标准,总氮去除因厌氧阶段反硝化不断增强有所提升,达标率由88.2%显著上升至98.6%.然而,随着厌氧上清液提取次数的增多,系统释磷能力整体下降,但前两个批次中系统除磷均稳定高效,去除率在90%以上,相应地出水磷达标率大于75%,仅第3批次实验中侧流比为1/2时系统除磷率出现大幅波动,最低降为54.2%,并贡献该批次出水磷不达标率的60%,说明长期提取1/2侧流比不利于主流工艺出水稳定维持.研究还发现,长期进行侧流磷回收实验有利于污泥减量,且对污泥沉降性能影响不大.因此,在EBPR系统内长期提取适当侧流比的厌氧上清液以进行磷回收与主流工艺同步高效脱氮除磷具有可行性.     

Molecular characterization of effluent organic matter in secondary effluent and reclaimed water: Comparison to natural organic matter in source water

Municipal wastewater reclamation is becoming of increasing importance in the world to solve the problem of water scarcity. A better understanding of the molecular composition of effluent organic matter(Ef OM) in the treated effluents of municipal wastewater treatment plants(WWTPs) is crucial for ensuring the safety of water reuse. In this study, the molecular composition of Ef OM in the secondary effluent of a WWTP in Beijing and the reclaimed water further treated with a coagulation–sedimentation–ozonation process were characterized using a non-target Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry(FT-ICR MS) method and compared to that of natural organic matter(NOM) in the local source water from a reservoir. It was found that the molecular composition of Ef OM in the secondary effluent and reclaimed water was dominated by CHOS formulas, while NOM in the source water was dominated by CHO formulas. The CHO formulas of the three samples had similar origins. Anthropogenic surfactants were responsible for the CHOS formulas in Ef OM of the secondary effluent and were not well removed by the coagulation-sedimentation-ozonation treatment process adopted.     

化工物料包装过程静电危害分析

高绝缘化工物料在包装过程中极易带电,以聚酯切片包装为研究对象,对聚酯切片在输送、包装过程物料静电起电机理进行了分析,并对聚酯切片输送包装过程中的包装袋表面电位及物料荷质比进行现场检测,探讨了聚酯切片打包过程中静电危害及预防措施。     

纳米氧化锌颗粒物通过氧化应激和离子通道失调诱导大鼠气管上皮细胞凋亡的机理

纳米氧化锌具有广泛的工业用途,其生态安全性受到广泛关注,针对纳米氧化锌诱导的呼吸道细胞毒性及其作用机理研究尚不广泛.本研究分别采用不同浓度和粒径(30 nm和90 nm)的氧化锌颗粒物处理大鼠气管上皮细胞(rat tracheal epithelial cells,RTE cells),暴露时间为12 h,通过检测细胞内锌元素含量,细胞增殖抑制率,细胞凋亡率,凋亡相关caspsae 3基因与蛋白相对表达量,细胞内金属硫蛋白活性,ROS和MDA含量、细胞内Ca~(2+)-ATP酶和Na~+/K~+-ATP酶活性来分析纳米氧化锌诱导细胞毒效应机理.在90 nm纳米氧化锌高浓度暴露时,其细胞内锌元素浓度为0.845μg·L~(-1),约为低浓度暴露组的4.7倍,是30 nm低浓度暴露组的9倍;纳米颗粒物诱导的细胞增殖和凋亡毒效应具有剂量和尺寸依赖效应;30 nm处理组的pro-caspase 3和cleaved-caspase 3蛋白表达量均高于90 nm暴露组;暴露浓度为10 mg·L~(-1)的90 nm处理组的金属硫蛋白增加量为0.533μg·L~(-1),增幅达到46%;不同粒径氧化锌颗粒物处理后,细胞内ROS和MDA含量显著上升,且30 nm处理组结果均高于90 nm处理组;纳米氧化锌颗粒物暴露诱导细胞Ca~(2+)-ATP酶和Na~+/K~+-ATP酶活性显著下降,30 nm氧化锌颗粒物暴露组,其Na~+/K~+-ATP酶活性分别是对照组的1.8倍和3.5倍.纳米氧化锌颗粒物进入RTE细胞,通过干扰锌在细胞内代谢,诱导细胞内ROS和MDA水平升高,产生氧化应激,进而诱导细胞凋亡是导致纳米氧化锌产生细胞毒性的主要原因之一.纳米氧化锌会导致细胞内Ca~(2+)-ATPase和Na~+/K~+-ATPase活性下降,离子通道失调,破坏细胞内离子平衡,进一步造成细胞凋亡.