Effects of within- and among-patch experiences on the patch-leaving decision rules in an insect parasitoid

The present study aimed to address how an insect parasitoid makes patch-departure decisions from various types of host patches and how previous patch experiences in the environment modify this decision-making process. Experiments were done with the parasitic wasp Aphidius rhopalosiphi attacking the grain aphid Sitobion avenae. In the experiments, wasps were observed in a laboratory environment containing several patches of various host densities, and behavioural records were analysed using a Coxs proportional hazards model. Consideration of the effect of the within-patch experience gave a classic pattern of patch-leaving decision rules in parasitoids: A. rhopalosiphi used local information on host quality (i.e. numbers of ovipositions or rejections) and availability (i.e. patch density) to determine departure decision. However, consideration of previous patch experiences provided evidence that these departure rules are fundamentally dynamic, responding to the physiological state of the animal and the information it has about its environment. Results showed that A. rhopalosiphi decreased its tendency to leave the visited patch after an oviposition. However, when a female has already laid several other eggs in the environment, such an incremental mechanism gradually switched to a decremental one. Hence, A. rhopalosiphi responded to egg-load depletion by leaving the visited patches sooner and by depositing a smaller number of eggs in those patches, which probably led to a decreased level of superparasitism. Results also indicated that previous experiences enabled wasps to estimate spatial host distribution and then to adjust their behavioural decisions accordingly. Thus, A. rhopalosiphi was shown to adjust its patch residence time according to the quality and the number of the patches previously visited. These proximate mechanistic rules adopted by A. rhopalosiphi females are discussed in the context of general predictions from optimality models.Communicated by D. Gwynne     

内蒙古中东部地区几种豆科牧草根瘤菌的表型多样性及水分梯度对其分布的影响

选用101株分离自扁蓿豆、胡枝子、野豌豆、锦鸡儿属植物的根瘤菌菌株，进行了营养利用、抗生素抗性、耐逆性和酶活性测定等84个表型性状分析，发现分离自同种寄主植物的根瘤菌由于地理来源的不相同而存在着较大的多样性．通过数值分类，各已知种分别聚群，101株未知菌在84％的相似水平上分为4个各不同的群．根据1、2、3、4群菌的聚类情况，结合在不同水分梯度下采集的豆科牧草根瘤菌，结果发现除个别菌外，绝大部分菌株呈现随着水分梯度的不同，各菌以类群形式分布．证明土壤中水分含量对根瘤菌的分布有很大影响．     

Behavioral responses to a novel predator and competitor of invasive mosquitofish and their non-invasive relatives (Gambusia sp.)

Attributes of the recipient community may affect the invasion success of arriving non-indigenous organisms. In particular, biotic interactions may enhance the resistance of communities to invasion. Invading organisms typically encounter a novel suite of competitors and predators, and thus their invasiveness may be affected by how they cope with these interactions. Behavioral plasticity may help invaders to respond appropriately to novelty. We examined the behavioral responses of highly invasive mosquitofish to representative novel competitors and predators they might encounter as they spread through North America. We compared the behavior of invasive Gambusia holbrooki and G. affinis to that of two close relatives of lower invasive potential (G. geiseri and G. hispaniolae) in order to elucidate whether responses to novelty related to invasiveness. In short-term assays, female Gambusia were paired with a novel competitor, Pimephales promelas, and a novel predator, Micropterus dolomieu. Behavioral responses were measured in terms of foraging success and efficiency, activity, refuge use, predator inspections, and interspecific aggression. Contrary to a priori predictions, invasive and non-invasive responses to novel interactions did not differ consistently. In response to novel competition, both invasive species increased foraging efficiency, but so did G. geiseri. In response to novel predation, only G. holbrooki decreased consumption and activity and increased refuge use. No antipredator response was observed in G. affinis. We found consistent differences, however, between invasives and non-invasives in foraging behavior. Both in the presence and absence of the competitor and the predator, invasives foraged more efficiently and consumed more prey than non-invasives.Communicated by P. Bednekoff     

Postnatal confirmation of prenatally diagnosed trisomy 16 mosaicism in two phenotypically abnormal liveborns

Two phenotypically abnormal liveborns in whom trisomy 16 mosaicism was diagnosed prenatally by amniocentesis are described. Analysis of a percutaneous umbilical blood sample in one case revealed a normal chromosomal complement. Ultrasound examinations performed at the time of amniocentesis were normal. Serial sonography during the late second and third trimesters demonstrated progressive intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) in both fetuses and a cardiac defect in one. At birth, both infants had dysmorphic features and multiple congenital anomalies. Trisomy 16 mosaicism was confirmed postnatally in both infants in skin fibroblasts; however, peripheral blood samples contained only chromosomally normal cells. The two mosaic trisomy 16 cases described in this report, together with the five confirmed cases reported previously, demonstrate the need for caution in the counselling of patients when trisomy 16 mosaicism is diagnosed prenatally in amniotic fluid samples. Such cases potentially can result in the birth of dysmorphic infants with significant birth defects, growth retardation, and possible developmental disabilities.     

Morphophysiological and Population Adaptations ofAjuga reptansL. at the Northern Boundary of Its Range

The results of comprehensive morphophysiological and population studies on Ajuga reptansL., a species of the nemoral floristic complex, at the northern boundary of its range (in the middle taiga subzone of the Komi Republic) are reviewed. Adaptations at the cell, organism, and biocenotic levels are revealed. The maintenance and survival of the species at the boundary of its range are provided for by its physiological plasticity, resistance to low temperatures, and multiple variants of ontogeny. Prognosis of Ajuga reptansfuture status under conditions of global climate change and expansion of anthropogenically disturbed areas is favorable.     

Geno- and Phenogeographic Analysis of Pinus sylvestris L. Populations along the Transect Extending from the Northern to Southern Boundary of the Species Range

Nei's genetic distances (Nei, 1972, 1978) between 12 Scotch pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) populations were determined using isozyme analysis. The gradients of these distances along the 1500-km meridional transect in the Transural Region and Northern Turgai from the pre-forest-tundra subzone (the Synya River basin) to the southern steppe (the Naurzumskii forest) were calculated. We discovered that the genetic distance gradients (GDGs) progressively increase in the direction from the northern boundary of the range to the southern boundary of the forest-steppe zone and sharply increase in the insular forests growing in the steppe zone. The results of cluster analysis and Mahalanobis distance gradients with respect to a set of morphological characters of the cones provide evidence that Scotch pine populations of the forest zone share somewhat the same gene pool, whereas the group of Scotch pine populations in the insular forests of Northern Turgai is obviously differentiated phenogenetically from the insular forests of the Tobol region, which grow farther to the north.     

参数对2A12铝合金微动疲劳局部塑性影响分析

目的研究局部塑性对微动疲劳的影响。方法建立2A12铝合金圆柱/平面微动疲劳有限元模型,考虑塑性作用进行有限元分析,研究微动疲劳参数对局部塑性的影响。结果局部塑性变形发生在试件表面或次表面,最大等效塑性变形随着微动垫半径的减小而增大。随着轴向应力的增加,最大切向应力增加;随着摩擦系数的增加,剪应力的最大值急剧增加,粘着区增加,滑移区减小,但摩擦系数对整个接触区的大小没有影响。结论微动疲劳参数对局部塑性有一定的影响。     

方位及冠层对厚朴果实和种子形态变异的影响

为从方位及冠层的角度探讨光照对厚朴(Magnolia officinalis)果实和种子形态变异的影响,分别从植株的不同方位和冠层采集果实、种子,并测定其形态指标。结果表明,方位对厚朴果实和种子的形态变异影响显著,不同方位厚朴果实和种子的表型性状表现为南方位和东方位优于西方位,南、东和西3个方位均优于北方位;冠层对厚朴果实和种子的形态变异影响显著,不同冠层果实和种子性状表现为中冠层优于上冠层,上冠层优于下冠层;方位和冠层对厚朴果实和种子多项形态指标的协同作用不显著。与果实相比,种子的表型性状更稳定。     

胚胎期及哺乳期全氟辛烷磺酸盐(PFOS)暴露对大鼠长时程突触可塑性影响的miRNA组学研究

为探讨PFOS胚胎期及哺乳期暴露对动物子代学习记忆能力影响的分子机理,采用微小RNA(miRNA)芯片技术检测PFOS胚胎期及哺乳期暴露对出生第1和7天大鼠脑组织miRNA表达的影响,分析突触可塑性相关miRNA表达的差异变化。结果显示,经PFOS暴露后出生第1和7天的大鼠脑组织中分别有24和17个miRNA发生显著性差异表达(p<0.05),其中与突触传递和神经递质转运等相关的miRNA的差异表达最为显著,主要包括miR-466b、miR-672、miR-297、miR-674-3p和miR-207。差异表达miRNA的路径分析显示出生后1和7d的大鼠的长时程增强效应(LTP)均受PFOS显著影响(p<0.05),这说明PFOS胚胎期及哺乳期暴露可能通过影响LTP的形成、发展和维持过程对大鼠子代大脑学习记忆能力造成威胁,并且miR-466b、miR-672、miR-297、miR-674-3p和miR-207可能参与了其中的调控过程。