Effects of sex-associated competitive asymmetries on foraging group structure and despotic distribution in Andean condors

Phenotype-limited interference models assume competitive asymmetries among conspecifics and unequal sharing of resources. Their main prediction is a correlation between dominance status and patch quality: dominant individuals should preferentially exploit better-quality habitats. We tested assumptions and predictions of the phenotype-limited interference model in Andean condors (Vultur gryphus), a New World vulture with strong sexual size dimorphism (males are 30–40% heavier than females). We recorded searching birds in habitats differing in quality: mountains and plains. We also observed scavenging behaviour at 20 sheep carcasses, and videotaped 5 of them. Intraspecific hierarchy at carcasses was based on size: males dominated females and, within each sex, older birds dominated younger ones. Adult males and juvenile females occupied extreme positions in the feeding hierarchy. Aggression was directed at those individuals belonging to lower hierarchical levels. In high-quality areas (mountains), more condors arrived at carcasses. Juvenile females were more often observed searching in low-quality areas (plains), far from breeding areas and main roost sites. GLM analyses of individual behaviour showed that the hierarchy did not influence time of arrival, but low-ranking individuals spent more time at carcasses, especially if the number of condors at arrival was high. Additionally, low-ranking condors spent less time feeding at carcasses when individuals of higher hierarchical levels were present. On the other hand, the number of condors present had a positive effect on feeding rates of dominant individuals, probably because of a reduction in individual vigilance. These results support most of the assumptions and predictions of the phenotype-limited distribution model, although a spatial truncated distribution between phenotypes was not observed. Asymmetric feeding pay-off, unequal parental roles and sexual selection constraints could favour sexual divergence in body size in Andean condors. Received: 6 April 1998 / Accepted after revision: 11 July 1998     

Metabolic transformations of acquired lucibufagins by firefly “femmes fatales”

Summary. Female Photuris fireflies sequester defensive steroidal pyrones (lucibufagins) from male fireflies of the genus Photinus. Lucibufagin analyses of Photuris females and Photinus ignitus males show that the lucibufagin mixtures of predator and prey differ in their composition. Analyses of whole body extracts showed that P. ignitus males contain a mixture of eight non-glycosylated lucibufagins, composed mostly of compounds with two oxygenated positions in the steroidal A-ring (C-3, C-5). After feeding on P. ignitus males, Photuris females contain six major lucibufagins. Three of these compounds are not present in the prey, including the novel lucibufagin glycoside 5β,11α-dihydroxy-12-oxo-3β-O-β-D-xylopyranosylbufalin, and two other lucibufagins with a trioxygenated A-ring (C-2, C-3, C-5). These results indicate that Photuris females transform the sequestered lucibufagins both by glycosylation and oxidation, which could affect the systemic transportability of these compounds due to an increase in their polarity. Received 18 February 1999; accepted 19 April 1999.     

Chemical egg defense in Photuris firefly “femmes fatales”

Summary. Female Photuris fireflies contain defensive chemicals of two types. They sequester steroidal pyrones (lucibufagins) from male fireflies of the genus Photinus that they eat, and themselves produce the defensive betaine N-methylquinolinium 2-carboxylate. Chemical analyses of Photuris eggs showed that females that fed on Photinus males endow their eggs with both lucibufagin and the betaine, while those that did not feed on Photinus lay eggs that contain betaine, but virtually no lucibufagin. Photuris females collected in the field during the Photinus flight season laid eggs that invariably contained betaine, but lucibufagin only at times. Predation experiments showed that Photuris eggs are essentially unacceptable to larvae of a coccinellid beetle (Harmonia axyridis) and an ant (Leptothorax longispinosus), but moderately acceptable to an earwig (Forficula auricularia). When applied experimentally to palatable insect eggs, lucibufagin proved deterrent to these three predators, while the betaine proved deterrent to the ant and coccinellid larva only. Both types of defensive compound decreased egg predation in the field. By endowing their eggs with both exogenous and endogenous chemicals, Photuris females are essentially “maximizing their options”– when feeding on Photinus, their eggs are doubly protected, but they are not entirely defenseless when the females are unable to procure lucibufagin. Received 12 August 1999; accepted 27 August 1999     

小城镇生态监测指标体系及监测方法研究综述

阐述了小城镇开展生态监测的目的和意义,以及小城镇生态监测指标体系的建立原则,介绍了城市生态子系统环境监测指标体系、农村生态子系统环境监测指标体系和自然生态子系统环境监测指标体系的具体内容,以及相关的监测方法与技术。     

环境样品中亚硝酸细菌amoA基因的克隆与测序

对从环境样品中分离的亚硝酸细菌(Ammonia oxidizingbacteria)amoA基因进行克隆与测序,为构建基因工程菌打下基础。采用亚硝酸细菌选择性培养基,从4个不同的畜牧养殖污水处理厂采集的样品(分别编号为1,2,3,4)在室温下富集培养2个月后,采取酚氯仿抽提的方法提取DNA。根据已报道的亚硝化单胞菌(Nitrosomonassp.)amoA基因序列,设计引物AMOB AMOE,并在AMOB,AMOE的5′-端分别加上了BamHⅠ和HindⅢ的限制性酶切位点,以利于进一步酶切和克隆。用AMOB AMOE对4种样品的DNA进行PCR扩增,PCR产物进行琼脂糖凝胶电泳分析。结果表明,4种样品中1号和3号样品扩增得到预期长度的DNA片段,2号和4号样品扩增没有得到预期片段。回收纯化PCR产物与pGEM-T载体连接,构建amoA基因测序载体,并转化E.coliM15。测序结果提交GenBank进行Blast分析。结果显示,扩增得到的DNA片段均与Nitrosomonassp.GH22的amoA基因有99 7%的同源性,可从环境中分离的亚硝酸细菌中克隆出amoA基因。      

Prevalence and perspectives of illegal trade in cacti and succulent plants in the collector community

Although illegal wildlife trade (IWT) represents a serious threat to biodiversity, research into the prevalence of illegal plant collection and trade remains scarce. Because cacti and succulents are heavily threatened by overcollection for often illegal, international ornamental trade, we surveyed 441 members of the cacti and succulent hobbyist collector community with a mixed quantitative and qualitative approach. We sought to understand collector perspectives on the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES) and on the threats IWT poses to cactus and succulent conservation. Most respondents (74% of 401 respondents) stated that illegal collection in cacti and succulents represents a “very serious problem” and that the problem of wild plant collection is increasing (72% of 319 respondents). Most forms of illegal collection and trade were seen as very unacceptable by respondents. Self-reported noncompliance with CITES rules was uncommon (11.2% of 418 respondents); it remains a persistent problem in parts of the cacti and succulent hobbyist community. People engaging in rule breaking, such as transporting plants without required CITES documents, generally did so knowingly. Although 60.6% of 381 respondents regarded CITES as a very important tool for conservation, sentiment toward CITES and its efficacy in helping species conservation was mixed. Collectors in our survey saw themselves as potentially playing important roles in cactus and succulent conservation, but this potential resource remains largely untapped. Our results suggest the need for enhanced consultation with stakeholders in CITES decision-making. For challenging subjects like IWT, developing evidence-based responses demands deep interdisciplinary engagement, including assessing the conservation impact of species listings on CITES appendices.     

江苏省宿迁市某监测井地下水砷超标原因研究

江苏宿迁市中部某远离工业企业的监测井地下水砷（As）指标连续多期次超《地下水质量标准》（GB/T 14848—2017）Ⅳ类标准限值。为探究该监测井地下水As长期超标原因,通过在监测井附近新钻取岩芯沉积物中不同形态As的提取实验,结合新井和监测井中地下水的同步取样与水质参数的测试,系统分析了监测井点位地下水As超标的原因。研究结果发现,离监测井5 m处的新井地下水As质量浓度不超标,而监测井中As仍超标。对比新井和监测井的水质参数与沉积物中As的赋存形态发现,在还原性和弱碱性的环境条件下,地下水类型及地层沉积物中碳酸盐结合态的变化可能对地下水As质量分数有明显的影响,而铁-锰氧化物结合态与有机物-硫化物结合态的变化对As质量分数超标影响则有限。此外,不排除可能受到成井工艺不规范与监测井受到串层污染的影响。     

典型燃煤电厂机组二氧化碳排放测试及核算研究

为验证二氧化碳排放量的测试技术适用性及可行性,获取燃煤电厂机组碳排放特征,系统比较不同测试方法之间碳排放量的差异,对某典型火电机组二氧化碳排放开展测试,结果表明,不同测试原理及设备二氧化碳排放实测体积分数均较为接近。测试机组CO₂实测体积分数为11.28%～14.21%,与负荷变化呈一定的正相关关系,不同负荷下基准氧含量(体积分数6%)基本无变化。测试机组排放量与负荷正相关,使用了缺省值的指南排放量最高,与其他方法排放量相对偏差均值为31.6%;使用入炉煤实测数据的指南排放量差异不大,相对偏差为0.1%;使用入炉煤实测数据的2版指南排放量高于直接测量法,相对偏差均值为4.9%;直接测量各类方法间相对偏差均值为1.0%,其中在线法与手工法间相对偏差均值为1.2%。CO₂排放强度与负荷负相关,实验条件下,机组负荷越高,碳排放强度越低。     

基于突变理论的近海船舶航行安全评价

基于船舶航行安全评价在海事预防与管理中的重要性,从"人-机-环境-管理"指标体系出发,结合近海航行船舶的特点及影响安全的因素,建立一个定量指标为主、定性指标为辅的4级安全评价体系;结合突变级数法和模糊综合评价对近海船舶航行安全进行评价和预测;最后以秦皇岛海域的5艘航行船舶为例进行实例演示。结果表明:用突变级数法对近海船舶航行进行安全评价得出的结论与实际情况基本吻合。应用突变级数法对近海船舶的安全状况进行实时监控、评价和预测,有助于海上运输的安全管理。     

滤袋的脉冲喷吹清灰试验研究

利用脉冲喷吹实验台,在其他条件不变的情况下,改变喷吹压力、脉冲宽度、喷吹气量和喷吹距离,测定2 m滤袋侧壁上、中、下3个测点的压力正峰值和压力正峰值到达时间,调整喷吹参数使滤袋侧壁沿长度方向压力正峰值和压力正峰值到达时间合理分布,通过这两个因素来研究脉冲清灰效果.结果表明,喷吹压力、喷吹气量和喷吹距离对压力正峰值和压力正峰值到达时间影响较大,适当提高喷吹压力、喷吹气量和喷吹距离有助于改善滤袋的脉冲喷吹清灰,脉冲宽度的变化对其影响较小.研究表明,0.6 MPa的喷吹压力、0.08 ms的脉冲宽度、200 mm的喷吹距离为最佳喷吹参数.