Regulation of worker reproduction in bumblebees (Bombus terrestris): workers eavesdrop on a queen signal

In the annual bumblebee Bombus terrestris, the onset of queen-worker conflict over male production is seasonally and socially constrained. Workers will do better if they start to reproduce (the so-called competition phase) only after ascertaining that larvae are committed to gyne development but before the season ends because they gain more by rearing sister-gynes than their own sons. Here, we tested two nonmutually exclusive hypotheses as to what triggers the onset of worker reproduction: Workers can directly monitor larval development and/or workers eavesdrop on the queen signal that directs gyne development. Exposing workers to gyne larvae through a double mesh did not advance the competition phase compared to control colonies. However, when workers, but not the queen, were allowed contact with gyne larvae, both the competition phase and gyne production were advanced. Thus, while larvae do not emit a volatile pheromone that discloses their developmental route, the physical contact of workers with such larvae triggers early competition phase. However, workers exclusively exposed to worker larvae (colonies prevented from producing gyne larvae) started to reproduce at the same time as control colonies. Replacing the resident queen with an older queen (from gyne-rearing colonies) advanced the competition phase, irrespective of worker age. The results are consistent with the hypothesis that workers eavesdrop on the queen pheromones. This is adaptive because it allows workers a broader time-window for reproduction and thus to gain fitness from rearing both sister-gynes and sons before the season ends without affecting colony development.     

不同氮肥与磷肥的互作效应

利用盆栽试验研究了潮土中不同氮肥与磷肥的互作效应，结果表明：不同氮肥与磷肥的配合施用对潮土中油菜的生长和养分吸收有显著的交互作用。生长初期，施氮并不能促进、甚至会抑制油菜的生长，氯化铵较其它氮肥作用突出。随着生长期的延长，氮肥对油荣生长的促进作用逐渐显现，但氯化铵的促进作刚仍低于其它氮肥。植株养分累积受不同氮肥影响的规律与植株干物质累积表现的规律基本一致。土壤有效磷含最受不同氮肥影响较小，而水溶性磷含量因施用不同氮肥表现出显著的差异，特别是在生长初期的土壤中。相关分析结果表明，油菜生长初期的干物质质量与土壤水溶性磷含量达到极显著相关（r=0．727^＊＊）。因此推测，不同氮肥对油菜生长的影响可能因氮肥降低土壤中磷的有效性所致，这些结果对今后的合理施肥提供了重要的参考依据。     

农药杀螟硫磷酶促降解的研究

从长期受农药杀螟硫磷污染的土壤中分离到一株高效降解菌株,研究了其最适产酶条件:培养温度为30℃,培养液起始pH为7.0,培养时间为30 h.从该降解菌中提取的粗酶液在pH 7.5和30℃时显示最大的降解活性,其米氏常数Km为2.92×10-4mol/L,最大降解速率为2 422.79 nmolm in-1mg-1.图7参15     

Assessment of herbaceous plant habitats in water-constrained environments: predicting indirect effects with fuzzy logic

Herbaceous plant production plays a key role in determining the function of rangeland ecosystems in the semi-arid and Mediterranean regions. Therefore, assessment of herbaceous plant habitats is important for understanding the ecosystem functioning in these regions and for applied purposes, such as range management and land evaluation. This paper presents a model to assess herbaceous plant habitats in a basaltic stony environment in a Mediterranean region. The model is based on geographic information systems (GIS), remote sensing and fuzzy logic, while four indirect variables, which represent major characteristics of herbaceous habitats, are modeled: rock cover fraction; wetness index (WI); soil depth; and slope orientation (aspect). A linear unmixing model was used to measure rock cover on a per pixel basis using a Landsat TM summer image. The wetness index and local aspect were determined from digital elevation data with 25 m × 25 m pixel resolution, while soil data were gathered in a field survey. The modeling approach adopted here is process-based and assumes that water availability plays a crucial role in determining herbaceous plant production in Mediterranean and semi-arid environments. The model rules are based on fuzzy logic and are written based on the hypothesized water requirements of the herbaceous vegetation. The results show that on a polygon basis there is positive agreement between the model proposed here and previous mapping of the herbaceous habitats carried out in the field using traditional methods. Intrapolygon tests show that the use of a continuous raster data model and fuzzy logic principles provide an added value to traditional mapping. Moreover, herbaceous biomass measurements at two time intervals—mid- and peak winter season—corresponded with the habitat assessment predictions achieved using a new scenario that is proposed in this research. This scenario suggests that rockiness increases herbaceous production on south-facing slopes, while in other slope aspects the rock cover has lower impact on herbaceous growth. Due to its simplicity, the model suggested here can be used by planners and managers, to adjust range activities over large areas. The process-based approach should allow adaptation of the model to other regions more effectively than models that were formulated on a purely empirical basis. The model could also be used to study the relationship between water availability and ecosystem productivity on a regional scale.     

钢铁工业环评中清洁生产评价指标体系

根据钢铁钢铁工业的特点，提出了钢铁工业建设项目环境影响评价中清洁生产指标体系的构造方法以及相关的量化指标，并将其运用到天津钢铁工业结构调整项目中去。     

宁夏农牧业发展方向与草地农业结构调整问题的探讨

针对宁夏农牧业发展结构失衡的现状,指出长期推行重农轻牧的农区模式而不是发展草地农业是一种方向性失误。为此探讨了宁夏农牧业结构调整的生态学依据,分区调整方向与拓宽结构调整思路的问题。     

谈企业成本控制

本文从企业的生产成本、资金成本和管理成本等三个方面,谈到了企业在生产经过中降低成本的有效途径和方法,从而增强企业在激烈的市场环境中的竞争力,达到“增收节支”的目的.     

Maternal quality and differences in milk production and composition for male and female Iberian red deer calves (Cervus elaphus hispanicus)

Several theories predict a sex-biased investment either through unbalanced sex ratios in offspring or through differences in provisioning. According to them, one would expect an optimisation in indirect fitness, or else a compensation for increased mortality of one sex. In addition, biases in provisioning may also arise as a consequence of weight-dependent non-adaptive nutrient demands by offspring. This study examines milk provisioning and sex biases in offspring sex ratio together with maternal quality variables. Mothers of higher quality (weight and age) showed greater milk provisioning ability (in terms of production) resulting in greater calf weight gain. Mothers of sons produced greater yields of milk, milk protein, fat and lactose than mothers of daughters, and increased percentage of protein after controlling for higher male birth weight. In contrast, mothers of males did not differ from mothers of females in age or any body weight variables related to maternal quality. These results suggest that differences in milk production and composition for sons and daughters are rather a mechanism to optimise indirect fitness than a mechanism to compensate for increased mortality in male calves, or a consequence of greater weight-dependent nutrient demands by heavier male calves. Results also suggest that biases in milk provisioning may occur without biases in offspring sex ratio, and furthermore, in contrast to the prediction that biases should be relative to the mean investment of the population, that milk provisioning biases might not be relative.Communicated by F. Trillmich     

The effect of ambient temperature on forager sound production and thoracic temperature in the stingless bee, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Melipona panamica</Emphasis>

Foragers of the stingless bees genus Melipona may produce intranidal sounds that are correlated with food location and quality. In this study, we provide the first detailed analysis of pulsed sounds produced by Melipona panamica foragers while feeding on a carbohydrate food source. We trained foragers to a 2.5-M sucrose feeder under normal, ambient temperature (23–33°C) and lower temperature (11–25°C) conditions. We recorded forager sounds under both conditions and tested the effect of temperature of the thorax, feeder plate, and air on sound temporal characteristics. Forager energetic expenditure and the number of pulses per visit were significantly higher in the cold condition than in the normal condition. Foragers spent a longer time at the feeder under the cold condition than during the normal condition. Interpulse durations were significantly shorter in the cold condition than in the normal condition and became progressively and significantly shorter at the end of each performance. Thus, pulse production increased before departure. Foragers increased their thoracic temperatures above ambient at all experimental air temperatures. Under chilled conditions, foragers had a significantly greater difference between thorax temperature and ambient air temperature than under normal conditions. Foragers must achieve a minimum flight muscle temperature before take-off, and thus forager sounds may be linked to muscle warm-up.     

浅谈人的不安全行为与安全生产

从行为学、安全系统工程学、心理学的观点,阐述了事故的致因。其中,人的不安全行为是事故发生的主要原因。因此,只有控制人的不安全行为,才能有效地避免人身事故的发生。