Parasite distribution and virulence: implications for parasite-mediated sexual selection

The Hamilton-Zuk hypothesis states that females choosing males with more developed secondary sexual traits, i.e. brighter males, achieve greater fitness if variability in brightness reflects heritable variation in resistance to parasites. However, several factors will affect the likelihood that parasites play a role in sexual selection in given species. Here, using simple models, we show that because of parasite aggregation on a few hosts, only few breeding males would suffer from reductions in brightness due to parasites. Only in cases where parasites are abundant and show low levels of aggregation among their hosts would there be sufficient variability in brightness among breeding males for female choice of bright, resistant males to evolve. In addition, sufficient parasite-induced variability in brightness among breeding males will only occur in host-parasite systems where pathology is linearly related to the number of parasites per host. The presence of males that are uninfected and bright but genetically susceptible to parasites will also influence the fitness advantages obtained by females choosing bright males. If genetic immunity against parasites is rare in the host population, females can probably only benefit from choosing bright males if parasites are common and little aggregated among males. These results greatly limit the generality of the Hamilton-Zuk hypothesis, and suggest that only a small fraction of host-parasite associations could promote the evolution of host mate choice for resistance based on brightness. Correspondence to: R. Poulin     

新时代下中国自然资源安全的战略思考

中国特色社会主义进入新时代,经济处于转型升级的攻关期,自然资源安全保障被赋予了新的使命和要求。刚成立的自然资源部为新时代中国自然资源安全保障和综合管理的发展带来了新机遇。新时代是30 a以上的大尺度,其中长期战略安排需基于对自然资源历史变化的系统总结和对未来中长期的资源供需形势的战略研判。综合来看,未来中长期中国水资源需求仍将上升,耕地的粮食供应压力增大,直接影响民生福祉;矿产资源需求整体仍处于高位,不同矿种需求由“普涨”转向“结构性分异”;森林资源木材供给压力加重,关联着现代化经济体系的建设目标。以生态文明战略为统领,践行“绿水青山就是金山银山（两山）”的理念,坚持节约资源和保护环境,是保障中国自然资源安全的关键。为缓解中国整体资源安全压力,提高自然资源综合保障能力,以更有力地支撑中国“两个百年”战略目标的实现,建议：抓紧开展面向新时代的中国自然资源战略研究及顶层规划设计;实行严格的自然资源管理和环境保护制度;优化资源供给结构,加快资源开发利用的科技创新;立足国内,提高资源利用效率,促进循环利用,加强资源领域的国际合作。     

目的地旅游系统隐性结构的分析

目的地系统是旅游系统中的一个重要子系统,组成这一系统的结构和要素有显性和隐性之分.从目的地旅游系统隐性结构要素的存在形式、功能表现等进行分析,旨在引起人们对隐性要素的关注,并进行有效的保护和合理的利用,实现旅游目的地的可持续发展.     

THE USE OF MULTIPLE REGRESSION MODELS IN PREDICTING SEDIMENT YIELD1

ABSTRACT. Four commonly used models for predicting sediment yield are analyzed and compared using previously published data. Three of these models involve logarithmic transformations. Some of the problems involved in transforming data are discussed in the context of logarithmic transformations. These problems are illustrated using the results of standard regression analyses and economic loss function analyses. For the data analyzed, the linear model is preferable to each of the logarithmic models on the basis of each analysis, and the usual multiple objective nature of the model choice problem is thus modified. The extent to which these results can be generalized is discussed in the context of model choice.     

旅游地形象的认知与构建

文章从心理和消费行为学角度分析了旅游地形象的概念及其形成机制,指出旅游地形象也是重要的旅游资源。并以此为依据,结合较为成熟的企业形象系统理论,探索了旅游地形象系统的构建思路、旅游地形象建立的方法和步骤。关于旅游地形象的研究会加深对旅游资源的再认识,同时也对丰富和完善旅游规划工作有一定的建设性指导意义。     

浅议环境与经济可持续发展

介绍了可持续发展的概念、特征，论述了环境与经济发展的关系以及我国可持续发展的战略选择。     

Close-range acoustic signaling and mate choice in Hawaiian crickets (Gryllidae: Laupala)

Evolution of the mate recognition system (MRS) can play a central role in animal speciation. One dramatic consequence of changes in the MRS is the failure of individuals from divergent lineages to successfully court and mate, thereby reducing gene flow between these groups. Here, we test the role of an acoustic mating signal on mate choice in a Hawaiian cricket genus (Gryllidae: Laupala). Speciation in Laupala is proceeding at an extremely rapid rate, apparently driven by divergence in aspects of the mate recognition system, most conspicuously the pulse rate of male calling song. Previous studies demonstrate that females prefer the pulse rate of a conspecific male’s song when perceived at long range, in laboratory phonotaxis trials. In this study, we examined mate choice in two species that differ dramatically in pulse rate: Laupala paranigra and Laupala kohalensis. We tested the female’s preference in both species for pulse rates at close range, by providing females an opportunity to mate with hybrid males producing a range of intermediate pulse rates. Results of our study demonstrate that while strong behavioral barriers exist between these two species, variation in the pulse rate of male calling song did not predict female mate choice at close range. These results suggest a more complex architecture to mate recognition in Laupala than previously hypothesized.     

Transitional politics: emerging incentive-based instruments in environmental regulation

This paper proposes a positive theory of environmental instrument choice. We study a democratic society that seeks to lower the level of pollution from industrial sources to a pre-specified target. The target can be implemented by one of three instruments: [S]: uniform emission standards; [P]: tradeable permits; and [T]: emission taxes. The conflict of interest between special-interests, representing polluters, and the electorate is resolved by an elected politician. We characterize when each of the three policy instruments is chosen in political equilibrium and show that the transition, observed in many countries, from [S] to either [P] or [T] can be understood as a natural consequence of increasingly ambitious environmental targets.     

Indirect genetic benefits of polyandry in a spider with direct costs of mating

The search for the evolutionary explanation of polyandry is increasingly focused on direct and indirect selection on female resistance. In a polyandrous spider Stegodyphus lineatus, males do not provide material benefits and females are resistant to remating. Nevertheless, polyandrous females may obtain indirect genetic benefits that offset the costs associated with multiple mating. We manipulated the opportunity for females to select between different partners and examined the effect of female mating history (mated once, mated twice, or rejected the second male) on offspring body mass, size, condition, and survival under high- and low-food rearing regimens. We found that multiple mating, not female choice, results in increased female offspring body mass and condition. However, these effects were present only in low-food regimen. We did not find any effects of female mating history on male offspring variables. Thus, the benefits of polyandry depend not only on sex, but also on offspring environment. Furthermore, the observed patterns suggest that indirect genetic benefits cannot explain the evolution of female resistance in this system.     

Developmental stress affects the attractiveness of male song and female choice in the zebra finch (Taeniopygia guttata)

Developmental stress has recently been shown to have adverse effects upon adult male song structure in birds, which may well act as an honest signal of male quality to discriminating females. However, it still remains to be shown if females can discriminate between the songs of stressed and non-stressed males. Here we use a novel experimental design using an active choice paradigm to investigate preferences in captive female zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata). Nine females were exposed to ten pairs of songs by previously stressed and non-stressed birds that had learned their song from the same tutor. Song pairs differed significantly in terms of song complexity, with songs of stressed males exhibiting lower numbers of syllables and fewer different syllables in a phrase. Song rate and peak frequency did not differ between stressed and non-stressed males. Females showed a significant preference for non-stressed songs in terms of directed perching activity and time spent on perches. Our results therefore indicate that developmental stress affects not only the structure of male song, but that such structural differences are biologically relevant to female mate choice decisions.