Landmark memories are more robust when acquired at the nest site than en route: experiments in desert ants

Foraging desert ants, Cataglyphis fortis, encounter different sequences of visual landmarks while navigating by path integration. This paper explores the question whether the storage of landmark information depends on the context in which the landmarks are learned during an ant's foraging journey. Two experimental set-ups were designed in which the ants experienced an artificial landmark panorama that was placed either around the nest entrance (nest marks) or along the vector route leading straight towards the feeder (route marks). The two training paradigms resulted in pronounced differences in the storage characteristics of the acquired landmark information: memory traces of nest marks were much more robust against extinction and/or suppression than those of route marks. In functional terms, this result is in accord with the observation that desert ants encounter new route marks during every foraging run but always pass the same landmarks when approaching the nest entrance.     

Inter and intra-population variation in shoaling and boldness in the zebrafish (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Danio rerio</Emphasis>)

Population differences in anti-predator behaviour have been demonstrated in several species, although less is known about the genetic basis of these traits. To determine the extent of genetic differences in boldness (defined as exploration of a novel object) and shoaling within and between zebrafish (Danio rerio) populations, and to examine the genetic basis of shoaling behaviour in general, we carried out a study that involved laboratory-raised fish derived from four wild-caught populations. Controlling for differences in rearing environment, significant inter-population differences were found in boldness but not shoaling. A larger shoaling experiment was also performed using one of the populations as the basis of a North Carolina type II breeding design (174 fish in total) to estimate heritability of shoaling tendency. A narrow-sense heritability estimate of 0.40 was obtained, with no apparent dominance effects.     

略论中国绿色社区建设

绿色社区建设在中国刚刚起步 ,这是一种全新的发展理念、发展目标和发展模式 ,是实施可持续发展战略的现实要求 ,是加快中国城市化进程的必然选择 ,是全面建设小康社会的重要内涵 ,是创造绿色文明的热切呼唤。建设绿色社区具有重要的理论指导意义和实践示范作用。     

Mitigation of the Impact of Tropical Cyclones in Northern Australia through Community Capacity Enhancement

Community mitigation of hazard impact requires hazard knowledge and preparedness on the part of the members of diverse and complex communities. Longitudinal research in the tropical cyclone prone north of Australia has gathered extensive datasets on community awareness, preparedness and knowledge, in order to contribute to education campaigns and mitigation strategies. Data have been used to identify issues of vulnerability to cyclones and capacity to deal with the hazard. This has been developed as a community vulnerability and capacity model that may be applied to diverse communities in order to assess levels of capability to mitigate and deal with the cyclone hazard. The model is presented here in a simplified form as its development is evolving and ongoing.     

乐果对金鱼的急性毒性影响

用改进的寇氏法（karber）测定了乐果对金鱼（Carassius auratus）的急性毒性。急性试验经150mg／L、188．4mg／L、234．4mg／L、291．7mg／L、360mg／L乐果暴露4d，在15％～20％下，24、48、72、96h的L11m值分别为297．17、289．13、259．12、238．67mg／L，其95％置信限分别为284．25～310．67、275．17～303．81、243．33～275．93、223．98～254．33mg／L。     

切割钢渣活化过硫酸盐降解偶氮类染料酸性红73

切割钢渣是钢铁生产过程中的固体废弃物,如何有效处理和利用这些废渣具有减少环境污染、实现废物资源化的重要意义.本文选择河北邢台钢铁厂中切割钢渣为过硫酸盐(PS)活化剂,活化过硫酸盐(PS)去除水相中偶氮染料酸性红73(AR73),实验表明,25 mg·L~(-1) AR73在15 min内,其降解率为99.9%,TOC矿化率达58.6%.同时考察了钢渣投入量、PS浓度、初始pH值等影响因素对AR73降解效率的影响:随着PS浓度、钢渣投入量的增加,AR73的降解速率也逐渐增加;在pH为3～9时,AR73均可被有效去除,酸性条件更有利于AR73的去除.活性自由基猝灭实验表明,酸性红73的降解是通过自由基和非自由基两种机制实现的,且钢渣可多次回收重复利用.钢渣活化PS技术,还可有效去除蒽醌类染料(活性蓝19),其去除率为99.9%,矿化率可达92.0%;同时该技术对某印染废水(COD_(Cr)=5625 mg·L~(-1))的去除率达49.9%.本文所构建的切割钢渣活化过硫酸盐(PS)技术可应用于偶氮印染废水的处理,实现"以废治废"的目标.     

Analysis of the Henze precipitate from the blood cells of the ascidian<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Phallusia mammillata</Emphasis>

The Henze precipitate, a peculiar blue-green microparticulate obtained by lysis of the blood cells of the ascidian Phallusia mammillata (Protochordata), was investigated with atomic force microscopy (AFM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray microanalysis. The precipitate was collected from the Henze solution, an unstable red-brown product obtained by treating blood with distilled water, whose degradation yields a characteristic blue-green product. The microparticulates measured 50–100 µm in diameter and appeared irregular in shape. SEM examination showed smooth, roughly round boundaries. The microparticulate surface examined with AFM appeared as an irregular matrix formed by 70–320-nm-wide mammillate composites, including and embedding small (500–800 nm wide) crystal-like multilayered formations. X- ray analysis showed that the elements present in these same precipitates were mainly C, Si, Al and O. The microparticulate composition appeared close to those of natural waxes or lacquers, embedding amorphous silicates and/or other Si–Al components. The unusual occurrence of Si in ascidian blood and its role are discussed.     

The effect of metapleural gland secretion on the growth of a mutualistic bacterium on the cuticle of leaf-cutting ants

In Acromyrmex octospinosus leaf-cutting ants the metapleural glands produce an array of antibiotic compounds that serve as a general defence against unwanted microbes on the cuticle. Leaf-cutting ants also grow mutualistic Pseudonocardiaceae bacteria on their cuticle that produce antibiotics controlling a microfungal parasite of their fungus gardens. Interaction between this bacterium and gland secretion therefore seems unavoidable. We document the typical development of bacterial growth on the cuticle of young major workers, show that growth starts a few days after eclosion, and that the maximal cover is reached after 2–3 weeks and gradually declines when workers mature. Experimental closure of the metapleural glands had no effect on the initial exponential growth phase of the bacterium, but significantly reduced the cover during the decline phase. The age-dependent abundance of the bacterium and its partial dependence on metapleural gland secretion support the hypothesis that the abundance of this mutualist is actively regulated.