Nest site selection and induced response in a dominant arboreal ant species

It is well known that arboreal ants, both territorially dominant species and plant ants (e.g., species associated with myrmecophytes or plants housing them in hollow structures), protect their host trees from defoliators. Nevertheless, the presence of an induced defense, suggested by the fact that the workers discovering a leaf wound recruit nestmates, is only known for plant ants. Based on the results from a field study, we show here (1) that colonies of Azteca chartifex, a territorially dominant, neotropical arboreal ant species, mostly selected Goupia glabra (Goupiaceae) trees in which to build their principal carton nests and (2) that plant signals induced workers to recruit nestmates, which patrol the leaves, likely providing the plant with a biotic defense. Furthermore, the number of recruited workers was clearly higher on G. glabra, their most frequently selected host tree species, than on other tree species. These results show that contrary to what was previously believed, induced responses are also found in territorially dominant arboreal ants and so are not limited to the specific associations between myrmecophytes and plant ants.     

含锌废水对小麦种子萌发和幼苗生长的影响

试验用不同浓度的锌溶液模拟污水,浸种后用水培法培养小麦,全面观察研究不同浓度的锌对小麦种子萌发、幼苗生长过程中的形态和生理生化指标的影响以及相同浓度的锌溶液对不同品种小麦的影响,初步探讨锌对小麦的作用机制.结果表明:10 mg/L及20 mg/L的Zn2 溶液对小麦种子的萌发、幼苗根系活力和叶绿素含量有促进作用,25 mg/L～160 mg/L的Zn2 溶液随着浓度的增高使得小麦种子的发芽和幼苗根系及地上部分的生长发育受到押制,同时叶绿素的含量也有所降低;相同浓度的锌溶液对不同品种的小麦有不同程度的影响.     

北京市气溶胶的时间变化与空间分布特征

以MODIS气溶胶遥感数据与同期AERONET监测数据为基础,应用统计分析、对比分析、时间序列分析等技术手段,研究了北京地区气溶胶的时间变化和空间分布特征.结果表明,气溶胶MODIS遥感反演数据和同期AERONET监测数据吻合较好,Pearson积矩相关系数为0 789,误差为ΔAOT550 = -0.077AOT 0.03.北京地区气溶胶550 nm光学厚度AOT和细粒比η的时间变化规律性明显:夏季以城市污染气溶胶为主,光学厚度最高,且具细粒特征;春季城市污染气溶胶和春季沙尘共存,光学厚度比较高,且粗粒占一定比例;冬季以采暖燃煤气溶胶为主,光学厚度不高,但是粗粒占较大比例;秋季大气清澈,气溶胶平均光学厚度仅为0.34.空间分布方面,主要受植被覆盖和产业结构等因素影响,位于西部北部山区的延庆、密云、怀柔和门头沟区气溶胶的光学厚度低,位于东南部平原地区的昌平、顺义、通县、大兴和房山区气溶胶光学厚度总体较高.     

化学除磷条件下蚯蚓生态滤池污泥性质的试验研究

概述了蚯蚓生态滤池的研究进展,介绍了蚯蚓生态滤池化学除磷的工艺流程和设备参数;由试验得出氯化铁（FeCl3·6H2O）是蚯蚓生态滤池化学除磷的合适药剂,并确定最经济投加量为50mg／L;在此条件下,研究了化学除磷小试滤池产生的污泥性质,包括污泥产率的变化、重金属含量、污泥的脱水性能、污泥的稳定化程度以及污泥的最终处置方法。     

Why do <Emphasis Type="Italic">Manduca sexta</Emphasis> feed from white flowers? Innate and learnt colour preferences in a hawkmoth

Flower colour is an important signal used by flowering plants to attract pollinators. Many anthophilous insects have an innate colour preference that is displayed during their first foraging bouts and which could help them locate their first nectar reward. Nevertheless, learning capabilities allow insects to switch their colour preferences with experience and thus, to track variation in floral nectar availability. Manduca sexta, a crepuscular hawkmoth widely studied as a model system for sensory physiology and behaviour, visits mostly white, night-blooming flowers lacking UV reflectance throughout its range in the Americas. Nevertheless, the spectral sensitivity of the feeding behaviour of naïve moths shows a narrow peak around 450 nm wavelengths, suggesting an innate preference for the colour blue. Under more natural conditions (i.e. broader wavelength reflectance) than in previous studies, we used dual choice experiments with blue- and white-coloured feeders to investigate the innate preference of naïve moths and trained different groups to each colour to evaluate their learning capabilities. We confirmed the innate preference of M. sexta for blue and found that these moths were able to switch colour preferences after training experience. These results unequivocally demonstrate that M. sexta moths innately prefer blue when presented against white flower models and offer novel experimental evidence supporting the hypothesis that learning capabilities could be involved in their foraging preferences, including their widely observed attraction to white flowers in nature.     

湿法消解-原子荧光光谱法同时测定地表水中的砷和汞

为提高检测效率、降低检测成本、提高检测的准确性,采用硝酸消解水样,断续流动进样,在KBH_4-酸体系中、最佳的仪器试验条件下,用原子荧光光谱法同时测定地表水中的砷和汞。实验结果表明:砷、汞检出限分别为0.109、0.0026μg/L,线性范围分别为0～40μg/L和0～2μg/L,精密度都是1.4%,加标回收率分别为93.5%～107%和96.0%～104%。表明该检测方法检出限低、干扰性小、精密度高、测定结果稳定,能够满足地表水中砷和汞同时测定要求。     

水中挥发酚检测方法初探

酚类属高毒物质,水中挥发酚的含量直接影响人类健康。近10年来,我国研究人员对水中挥发酚的测定方法开展了很多研究,特别对于采用4-氨基安替比林分光光度法(4-AAP)(GB 7490-1987)测定水中挥发酚的各个环节,如样品的采集、保存、预处理、试剂纯度、反应时间控制等相关因素进行了研究,找到了影响含量准确的因素,为测定水中挥发酚的含量提供了快速、准确、重复性好的方法。对一些非国标法测定水中挥发酚的方法也进行了介绍。文章对这些方法进行了分类总结。希望能对实验人员有所帮助。     

Within-population variation in ejaculate characteristics in a prolonged breeder,Peron’s tree frog, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Litoria peronii</Emphasis>

Sperm number is often a good predictor of success in sperm competition; however, it has become increasingly clear that, for some species, variation in probability of paternity cannot be explained by sperm number alone. Intraspecific variation in ejaculate characteristics, such as the number of viable sperm and sperm longevity, may play an equally important role in determining fertilization success. Here, we assess variation among ejaculates in three factors that may contribute to fertilization success (number of sperm per ejaculate, viability, and longevity), in a population of Peron’s tree frog (Litoria peronii). We detected large variation among males in the number of sperm per ejaculate and the proportion of viable sperm within ejaculates, which could not be explained by variation in either male size or body condition. However, the proportion of viable sperm released by males increased over the season. Finally, we assessed sperm longevity (proportion viable sperm determined using a dual-fluorochrome vital dye) at two different temperatures. At 23°C, on average, 75% of sperm remained viable after 2 h, but there were significant differences amongst males with the percentage of viable sperm ranging from 43% to 95%. For sperm incubated at 4°C, ejaculates varied fivefold in sperm longevity with some males having 50% viable sperm after 5 days. Our data suggest that ejaculate characteristics (sperm number, viability, and longevity) vary widely in Peron’s tree frog and may therefore play an important role in determining siring success both in the presence and absence of sperm competition. We discuss the results in relation to selection on ejaculate traits via natural and sexual selection in this and other amphibians.     

炼油厂设备检修期间污水处理装置运行探讨

针对炼油厂大检修期间污水处理装置正常运行的主要经验进行总结,可为同类装置设备提供参考。     

Interspecific mating of the introduced bumblebee <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bombus terrestris</Emphasis> and the native Japanese bumblebee <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bombus hypocrita sapporoensis</Emphasis> results in inviable hybrids

The bumblebee Bombus terrestris is not only an effective pollinator, but also a potential invasive alien species outside its native range. Recently, nearly 30% of queens of the Japanese native species Bombus hypocrita sapporoensis and B. hypocrita hypocrita were estimated to copulate with B. terrestris males in the field, suggesting that indigenous bumblebees could be genetically deteriorated through hybrid production with the introduced species. In this study, we evaluated hybrid production between the introduced B. terrestris and the indigenous B. hypocrita sapporoensis under laboratory conditions. The hatching rate of eggs derived from interspecific matings was 0% and 8.6% depending on the direction of the cross, which was significantly lower than that from intraspecific matings of B. terrestris (76.9%) and B. hypocrita sapporoensis (78.9%). Genetic studies using microsatellite markers revealed that both haploid and diploid individuals were present in the egg stage, whereas all hatched larvae were haploid. In addition, histological studies revealed that eggs derived from interspecific matings terminated development 2 days after oviposition. These results strongly suggested that eggs derived from interspecific matings are inviable due to post-mating isolation mechanisms. Mass release of exotic pollinators could cause serious population declines of native bumblebee species.