天津污灌区耕作土壤中多环芳烃的纵向分布

研究了天津污灌区土壤剖面中多环芳烃含量的分布特征，几个代表性样点的研究表明，天津市郊水稻田中PAHs含量最高，菜地含量居次，高粱地含量最低。PAHs总含量在土壤剖面的纵向分布总体上是随着土壤剖面的加深而降低。由于长期污水的淹灌作用，水稻田中PAHs含量出现了局部异常高值。用萘(Nap)、菲(Phe)和苯并[a]芘(Bap)作为高低环组分的代表物质分析PAHs在土壤剖面的分布规律，发现Nap、Phe和Bap的含量在纵向剖面上变化趋势基本相同，总体上含量随着剖面的加深而降低。比较单个组分含量在土壤剖面中的变化，在犁底层以下，Bap的含量基本上低于检测限，而Nap的含量在整个土壤剖面中均高于Bap。PAHs含量在土壤剖面上的分布主要受其物理化学性质、土壤中有机碳和粘粒含量的影响。     

Copulatory plugs do not assure high first male fertilisation success: sperm displacement in a lizard

Sperm competition selects for opposing male defensive and offensive reproductive traits, and its outcome may be determined by the effectiveness to which one trait has evolved to out-compete the other. We tested the effectiveness of a first male plug physical interference with a second male insemination (defence) vs the effectiveness of plug and associated sperm displacement by a second male (offence) on the outcome of sperm competition in Iberian rock lizards. We conducted a double mating experiment where we compared the proportion of eggs per clutch fertilised by the same second males (against the same first males) when they copulated with females 30 min (first male plug adhered firmly inside the female cloaca) and 4 h (first male plug loosely adhered or shed from the female cloaca) after first males. We found that second males fertilised the majority of the eggs per clutch in the 30-min treatment, whereas fertilisations were equally shared between the two males in the 4-h treatment. These results show that plugs have little defensive effectiveness, and thus, do not assure high first male fertilisation success. Instead, sperm displacement appears to be associated with plug displacement. That is, because sperm embedded in first male plugs, and displaced from competition for fertilisations by second males, is expected to increase in number with decreasing time allowed for female sperm transport, second males thus enjoy higher fertilisation success. This study shows that offensive plug displacement out-competes plug defensive role in Iberian rock lizards. Moreover, it reveals sperm displacement as a novel sperm competition mechanism in reptiles.     

Parent-offspring cooperation in the blue-footed boody (Sula nebouxii): social roles in infanticial brood reduction

Summary Reproduction in the blue-footed boody was examined for evidence of parent-offspring conflict over infanticidal reduction of the brood. Parental investment was analysed by measuring clutch characteristics, and chick growth and mortality in four seasons. Direct observations were made of behavioral development to determine the social roles of family members. The modal clutch was two similar-sized eggs, which hatched 4.0 days apart due to a 5.1-day laying interval and immediate incubation of the first egg. On average, senior chicks grew faster than their sibs in years of good or poor growth (Fig. 2), maintaining the initial size disparity for at least 65 days (Fig. 1). Differential mortality of junior chicks was associated not with poor personal growth, but with a 20–25% weight deficiency of the senior sib, implying siblicidal brood reduction triggered at a weight threshold. Senior chicks established behavioral dominance through low-frequency pecking, but ordinarily did not eliminate their sibs nor substantially suppress their begging (Fig. 3), even when their own growth was 16% below potential. Parents fed dominant chicks more frequently than subordinates, but did not intervene in inter-sib aggression, even when it reached a siblicidal level. The weight and possibly the dominance relation between sibs was inverted in 12% of pairs. The theoretical prediction of conflict over elimination of the junior chick was not supported; rather, parents and senior chick cooperate, as if their fitness interests were congruent. Further, provisional tolerance of the junior chick by its underweight senior sib is consistent with self-sacrifice to increase the latter's inclusive fitness.     

Male quality,reproduction, and survival in the great tit (Parus major)

Summary Three possible measures of male quality (social dominance, song, and size), reproduction, and survival were studied in a single population of great tits. Winter dominance position on a feeder was related to strophe length (number of phrases per strophe), inversely related to positive drift (decrease of the singing rate of the phrases in a strophe), but not related to song repertoire size. Neither winter dominance position nor song were related to size (wing length, tarso-metatarsus length, weight).Singing capacity was not correlated with individual reproductive success in a single breeding season, using a rather limited data set. However, better singers (males which sing longer strophes, show less positive drift, and have larger song repertoires) survived better and had a higher individual lifetime reproductive success (on the basis of a male's recruited offspring of all breeding seasons). Our results show that there exist measurable differences whereby birds that are dominant in winter sing better, survive longer, and produce more surviving offspring during their life time. We suggest that differences in male quality are the common cause (direct and indirect) of all these effects.     

Roles of male residence and relative size in the social behavior of Iberian rock lizards, Lacerta monticola

Many studies on contest competition used residency asymmetry as a discrete variable. However, the probability of winning an interaction may change as a continuous function of the value of the location where the encounter occurs. We performed a field study to examine the importance of location within a home range and relative body size to the outcomes of agonistic interactions between male lizards, Lacerta monticola. The distances to activity centers (the most used locations based on a density function of sightings) and relative size play important roles in agonistic interactions and had interacting effects in natural conditions. On the other hand, previous studies with lizards suggested that inferior competitors are able to avoid agonistic interactions in the field. Thus, we staged encounters in the laboratory to examine the behavioral responses of smaller individuals. The responses of each focal smaller male were measured in its own home cage (resident), in the cage of a larger male (intruder) and in a cage in which no male was previously present (control). The predominant behavioral tactics of smaller males were avoidance when they are the intruders and displaying when they are the residents. Submissive displays by smaller males may help reduce the costs of agonistic encounters.     

Experimental assessment of sensory modalities of coral-reef fish larvae in the recognition of their settlement habitat

One of the great mysteries of coral-reef fish ecology is how larvae locate the relatively rare patches of coral-reef habitat on which they settle. The present study aimed to estimate, by experiments in aquaria, the sensory modalities of coral-reef fish larvae for senses used in searching for their species settlement habitat. Larval recognition of settlement habitat can be based on the detection of conspecifics and/or of characteristics of coral habitat using visual, chemical and mechanical cues. For this study, larvae were captured with crest nets and were then introduced into experimental tanks that allowed testing of each type of cue separately (visual, chemical or mechanical cues). Among the 18 species studied, 13 chose their settlement habitat due to the presence of conspecifics and not based on the characteristics of coral habitat, and 5 species did not move toward their settlement habitat (e.g. Scorpaenodes parvipinnis, Apogon novemfasciatus). Among the different sensory cues tested, two species used the three types of cues (Parupeneus barberinus and Ctenochaetus striatus: visual, chemical and mechanical cues), six used two types (e.g. Myripristis pralinia: visual and chemical cues; Naso unicornis: visual and mechanical cues), and five used one type (e.g. Chrysiptera leucopoma: visual cues; Pomacentrus pavo: chemical cues). These results demonstrate that many coral-reef fish larvae could in practice use sensory cues for effective habitat selection at settlement, and have the ability to discriminate species-specific sensory cues.Communicated by J. Krause     

Symmetry, male dominance and female mate preferences in the Iberian rock lizard, Lacerta monticola

Female preference for dominant males is widespread and it is generally assumed that success in male-male competition reflects high quality. However, male dominance is not always attractive to females. Alternatively, relatively symmetric individuals may experience fitness advantages, but it remains to be determined whether males with more symmetrical secondary sexual traits experience advantages in both intra- and intersexual selection. We analysed the factors that determine dominance status in males of the lizard Lacerta monticola, and their relationship to female mate preference, estimated by the attractiveness of males' scents to females. Sexually dimorphic traits of this lizard (head size and femoral pores) appear to be advanced by different selection pressures. Males with relatively higher heads, which give them advantage in intrasexual contests, were more dominant. However, head size was unimportant to females, which preferred to be in areas marked by relatively heavier males, but also by males more symmetric in their counts of left and right femoral pores. Chemicals arising from the femoral pores and other glands might honestly indicate quality (i.e. related to the symmetry levels) of a male to females and may result from intersexual selection. Females may use this information because the only benefit of mate choice to female lizards may be genetic quality. Chemical signals may be more reliable and have a greater importance in sexual selection processes of lizards than has previously been considered.     

Understanding the distribution of cattle production systems in the South American Chaco

ABSTRACT

Impacts of cattle production vary among different production systems, but data on their distribution is scarce for most world regions. In this work, we combine datasets on cattle vaccination locations and land cover in a regression framework to define and map major cattle production systems in the Argentinean Dry Chaco. We also explore how cattle occurrence relates to spatial determinants. Results indicate that the region harbors about 5.5 million heads. Cattle density was mainly described by the share of pasture (69.9%), cropland (28.1%) and aridity (23.8%). We identified 12-major cattle production systems: six cow-calf, three whole-cycle, and three fattening systems. Of these, four systems had high woodland cover (>85%). Data generated is available in a website. Understanding the distribution of cattle production systems is important to assess the environmental impacts of beef production at broad scales. Integrating vaccination data with land-cover information provides a promising avenue to identify livestock systems.     

辽宁东部山区几种主要森林植被类型土壤渗透性能研究

沿辽河水系设置临时标准地 ,对辽宁东部山区具有代表性的油松林、落叶松林、红松林、柞木林、杂木林及灌丛 6种植被类型的土壤水分的入渗性能进行了研究。结果表明 ,辽东山区 6种植被类型下土壤都表现出较强的渗透性能。A层的初始入渗率 (f0 /mm·min- 1) 1 2 .8～ 6 1 .1 ,平均值为 38.7,B层 1 6 .8～4 1 .7,平均值为 2 7.0 ,C层 2 9.2～ 38.2 ,平均值为 2 4 .4 ;A层的稳定入渗率 (fc/mm·min- 1) 2 .6～ 4 .2 ,平均值为 3.5 ,B层 2 .2～ 4 .1 ,平均值为 2 .9,C层 1 .1～ 3.3,平均值为 2 .2 ;A层的饱和导水率 (k10 /mm·min- 1)1 .5 3～ 2 .2 3,平均值为 1 .86 ,B层 0 .77～ 2 .0 5 ,平均值为 1 .2 7,C层 0 .5 0～ 1 .2 8,平均值为 0 .79。不同植被类型下不同土壤发生层次的入渗能力差异显著 :一般地 ,阔叶林下土壤的入渗性能明显好于针叶林 ,榛丛下土壤也表现出很好的渗透性能 ;不同土层入渗性能大小为A层 >B层 >C层。林龄差异在 2个龄级以上时 ,林龄越大 ,土壤初渗性能越好。用Horton方程拟合土壤饱和渗透过程 ,模拟结果与实测结果相近。     

水体突发污染事件在线生物监测技术的发展和应用分析

自1800s以来,经过2个世纪的发展,针对水体突发污染事件的在线生物监测技术越来越完善,其所采用的分析指标主要包括生物行为变化(1900s至目前)、生物新陈代谢变化(1800s至目前)和生物电变化(1980s至目前)等3种,其中,应用最广泛、发展最完善的为基于生物行为指标的在线生物监测技术。进入21世纪以来,在线生物监测技术得到快速发展和普遍应用。中国、美国、德国、韩国和瑞典等国家已经大规模应用基于不同生物指标的在线生物监测技术,以实现对水体突发污染事件的有效监管。随着计算和分析技术的进一步发展,在线生物监测技术也会越来越完善,在维持社会稳定、保证经济可持续发展以及保障人民饮水安全方面将会发挥越来越重要的作用。