Heterospecific pairing and hybridization between <Emphasis Type="Italic">Nasutitermes corniger</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">N. ephratae</Emphasis>

The sympatric neotropical termites Nasutitermes corniger and Nasutitermes ephratae are clearly distinguishable based on morphology, nest architecture, defensive secretion composition, and molecular markers. However, given the extensive ecological, geographical, and behavioral overlap of these closely related species, the potential for interbreeding may exist. To explore this possibility, heterospecific pairs were formed experimentally to examine courtship and colony-establishment behaviors, and reproductive potential. Courtship and nest construction behavior occurred in heterospecific pairs in a similar manner to that of conspecific pairs. Survival of pairs depended upon the species of the female partner. N. ephratae females paired with N. corniger males produced as many offspring as conspecific pairs. N. corniger females mated to N. ephratae males, however, produced significantly fewer offspring at 60 days post-establishment than the reciprocal cross or conspecific N. ephratae or N. corniger pairs. This was also the only pairing in which any aggression was observed. Heterospecific pairs and groups formed in mate choice mesocosms, suggesting that species recognition between these two termites is not an important aspect of mate choice. Overall, species mismatch tolerance and hybrid offspring viability are high. The present data, together with previous evidence from defensive secretions and isozyme analysis, suggest that hybridization may periodically occur in nature, and that reproductive barriers between these two species may be incomplete. Hybridization could provide a rare but important source of genetic diversity and may ensure mating opportunities for the more abundant sex of alates in each species.     

Forming a tough shell via an intracellular matrix and cellular junctions in the tail epidermis of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Oikopleura dioica</Emphasis> (Chordata: Tunicata: Appendicularia)

A postanal tail is a major synapomorphy of the phylum Chordata, which is composed of three subphyla: Vertebrata, Cephalochordata, and Tunicata (Urochordata). Among tunicates, appendicularians are the only group that retains the tail in the adult, and the adult tail functions in locomotion and feeding in combination with a cellulose-based house structure. Given the phylogenetic position of tunicates, the appendicularian adult tail may possess ancestral features of the chordate tail. We assess the ultrastructural development of the tail epidermis of the appendicularian Oikopleura dioica. The epidermis of the larval tail is enclosed by the larval envelope, which is a thin sheet similar to the outer tunic layer of ascidian larvae. The epidermis of the adult tail seems to bear no tunic-like cellulosic integuments, and the tail fin is a simple folding of the epidermis. Every epidermal cell, except for the triangular cells at the edge of the tail fin, has a conspicuous matrix layer of fibrous content in the apical cytoplasm without enclosing membranes. The epidermis of the larval tail does not have a fibrous matrix layer, suggesting the production of the layer during larval development and metamorphosis. Zonulae adhaerentes firmly bind the epidermal cells of the adult tail to one another, and the dense microfilaments lining the cell borders constitute a mechanical support for the cell membranes. The intracellular matrix, cell junctions, and cytoskeletons probably make the tail epidermis a tough, flexible shell supporting the active beating of the oikopleuran adult tail.     

Tracking pigeons in a magnetic anomaly and in magnetically “quiet” terrain

Pigeons were released at two sites of equal distance from the loft, one within a magnetic anomaly, the other in magnetically quiet terrain, and their tracks were recorded with the help of GPS receivers. A comparison of the beginning of the tracks revealed striking differences: within the anomaly, the initial phase lasted longer, and the distance flown was longer, with the pigeons' headings considerably farther from the home direction. During the following departure phase, the birds were well homeward oriented at the magnetically quiet site, whereas they continued to be disoriented within the anomaly. Comparing the tracks in the anomaly with the underlying magnetic contours shows considerable differences between individuals, without a common pattern emerging. The differences in magnetic intensity along the pigeons' path do not differ from a random distribution of intensity differences around the release site, indicating that the magnetic contours do not directly affect the pigeons' routes. Within the anomaly, pigeons take longer until their flights are oriented, but 5 km from the release point, the birds, still within the anomaly, are also significantly oriented in the home direction. These findings support the assumption that magnetically anomalous conditions initially interfere with the pigeons' navigational processes, with birds showing rather individual responses in their attempts to overcome these problems.     

Effects of irrigation,fertilization and crop straw management on nitrous oxide and nitric oxide emissions from a wheat–maize rotation field in northern China

One-year winter wheat–summer maize rotation is the most popular double cropping system in north-central China, and this highly productive system is an important source of nitrous oxide (N₂O) and nitric oxide (NO) emissions due to the high fertilizer N and irrigation water inputs. To sustain the high crop production and mitigate the detrimental impacts of N₂O and NO emissions, improved management practices are extensively applied. The aim of this study is therefore to evaluate the effects of an improved management practice of irrigation, fertilization and crop straw on grain yield and N₂O and NO emissions for a wheat–maize rotation field in northern China. Using automated and manual chamber measuring systems, we monitored N₂O and NO fluxes for the conventional (CT, 2007–2008), improved (IT, 2007–2008), straw-amended (WS, 2008–2009), straw-not-amended (NS, 2008–2009), and no N-fertilizer treatments (WS–NN, 2008–2009), respectively, for one rotation-year. The grain yields were determined for CT and IT for three rotation-years (2005–2008) and for WS, NS and WS–NN for one rotation-year (2008–2009). The improved management of irrigation and fertilization reduced the annual N fertilization rate and irrigation amount by 17% and 30%, respectively; increased the maize yield by 7–14%; and significantly decreased the N₂O and NO emissions by 7% (p < 0.05) and 29% (p < 0.01), respectively. The incorporation of wheat straw increased the cumulative N₂O and NO emissions in the following maize season by 58% (p < 0.01) and 13%, respectively, whereas the effects of maize straw application were not remarkable. The N₂O and NO emission factors of applied N were 2.32 ± 2.32% and 0.42 ± 1.69% for wheat straw and 0.67 ± 0.23% and 0.54 ± 0.15% for chemical N-fertilizers, respectively. Compared to conventional management practices using high application rates of irrigation water and chemical N-fertilizer as well as the field burning of crop straw, the improved management strategy presented here has obvious environmentally positive effects on grain yield and mitigation of N₂O and NO emissions.     

水钠锰矿的Mn（Ⅲ）分布及Na4P2O7溶液处理对其铅吸附性能的影响

以深入理解水钠锰矿结构中低价锰离子的含量及分布对其铅吸附性能的影响为目的,通过不同pH（pH为2、4、5）的焦磷酸钠溶液络合浸提酸性水钠锰矿结构中的Mn（Ⅱ）和Mn（Ⅲ）,研究了浸提锰离子的形态、含量、矿物的锰平均氧化度和Pb2＋的吸附量及其伴随Mn2＋、H＋释放量的变化.结果表明,锰平均氧化度为3.670的酸性水钠锰...     

UV-B增强对稻田呼吸速率、CH4和N2O排放的影响

于水稻生长季进行室外盆栽试验,人工模拟UV-B辐射增强20%,采用静态箱-气相色谱法测定稻田生态系统的呼吸速率、CH4和N2O排放通量,研究UV-B辐射增强对稻田生态系统呼吸速率、CH4和N2O排放通量的影响.结果表明,UV-B辐射增强没有改变稻田呼吸速率、CH4和N2O排放通量的季节变化规律;与对照相比,平均呼吸速率...     

基于实测的燃煤电厂细颗粒物排放特性分析与研究

选取我国6个有代表性的燃煤电厂对烟尘、PM10和PM2.5的排放情况进行实测,根据所测数据计算各电厂对烟尘、PM10和PM2.5除尘效率以及排放因子,并分析得到其排放特性.6个受检燃煤电厂静电除尘及湿法脱硫设备对烟尘总除尘效率最高为99.88%,最低为99.75%,平均去除率为99.82%;除尘前,烟气中PM10含量范...     

1950-2009年洞庭湖流域农业水灾演变特征及分异规律

洞庭湖流域为我国重要农业生产区,而农业水灾却一直是制约农业可持续发展的最大障碍因素。以1950-2009年水灾统计资料为依据,用定性与定量相结合的方法,系统分析了该流域农业水灾演变特征及区域分异。结果表明:①年年发生流域性或区域性的农业水灾,其中重灾、特大水灾频率呈增大趋势;②在长时间尺度演变过程中,受灾率异常指数岀现2个波峰期和4个波谷期,成灾率异常指数岀现3个波峰期和3个波谷期,且水灾受灾率与成灾率大体上呈同步变化,但短时间內受灾率与成灾率却呈反向波动;③农业水灾具有突变性,但总体演变呈增加趋势;④受孕灾环境、洪涝致灾因子及经济发展水平组合差异的制约,农业相对灾情与绝对灾情在空间上的分布均呈明显的南北分异与东西分异。     

南方红壤丘陵区粮食生产的完全成本 ——以湖南省祁阳县为例

针对目前我国农业生产中的资源环境问题,指出粮食生产成本核算的不完整性,粮食生产造成的资源耗减和环境降级得不到补偿。运用环境经济学原理和可持续发展理论对粮食生产的完全成本进行分析,提出粮食生产的完全成本除包括直接生产成本外,还应包括粮食生产的资源环境成本。论文以南方红壤丘陵区的湖南省祁阳县为研究对象进行案例分析,研究表明,2008年该区域粮食生产的资源环境成本相当于当年农业总产值的36.55%;早、中、晚稻的完全成本分别达到4.27、3.84和4.40元·kg^-1,其中资源环境成本分别为1.38、 1.65和1.64元·kg^-1,直接生产成本分别为2.89、 2.19和2.76元·kg^-1,而实际市场价格分别仅有1.76、 1.90和1.84元·kg^-1。研究结果对有关部门制定相关农业政策、调整粮食生产布局、促进区域粮食生产和可持续发展具有一定的参考价值。     

长期暴露于全氟十三酸的青鳉鱼体内分布和生物富集

研究了将青鳉鱼长期暴露于不同浓度的全氟羧酸类物质全氟十三酸(PFTriDA)后的器官分布和富集系数.结果显示, PFTriDA最高富集在性腺;其次是卵、肝脏;浓度最低的部分是残体.除了性腺之外,该器官分布与野生中华鲟的一致.在相同暴露浓度下,雄鱼体内各器官的PFTriDA的含量高于雌鱼,机理模型计算进一步表明高母子传递系数是造成雌雄差异的可能原因.随着PFTriDA暴露浓度的升高,鱼体内同一器官的生物富集系数(BCF)呈现下降趋势.