A trade-off between prey- and predator-induced polyphenisms in larvae of the salamander Hynobius retardatus

Organisms in natural habitats participate in complex ecological interactions that include competition, predation, and foraging. Under natural aquatic environmental conditions, amphibian larvae can simultaneously receive multiple signals from conspecifics, predators, and prey, implying that predator-induced morphological defenses can occur in prey and that prey-induced offensive morphological traits may develop in predators. Although multiple adaptive plasticity, such as inducible defenses and inducible offensive traits, can be expected to have not only ecological but also evolutionary implications, few empirical studies report on species having such plasticity. The broad-headed larval morph of Hynobius retardatus, which is induced by crowding with heterospecific anuran (Rana pirica) larvae, is a representative example of prey-induced polyphenism. The morph is one of two distinct morphs that have been identified in this species; the other is the typical morph. In this paper, we report that typical larval morphs of Hynobius can respond rapidly to a predatory environment and show conspicuous predator-induced plasticity of larval tail depth, but that broad-headed morphs cannot respond similarly to a predation threat. Our findings support the hypothesis that induction or maintenance of adaptive plasticity (e.g., predator-induced polyphenism) trades off against other adaptive plastic responses (e.g., prey-induced polyphenism). For a species to retain both an ability to forage for larger prey and an ability to more effectively resist predation makes sense in light of the range of environments that many salamander larvae experience in nature. Our results suggest that the salamander larvae clearly discriminate between cues from prey and those from predators and accurately respond to each cue; that is, they adjust their phenotype to the current environment.     

The Ecological–Genetic Pattern of Variation in the Populations of Narrow-Leaved Hawk's Beard Crepis tectorum L. (Asteraceae)

The effect of long-term exposure to a stress factor on the pattern of variation and intrapopulation differentiation with respect to phenotypic plasticity was studied in Crepis tectorum L. by means of family analysis of various traits in seedlings. Trends in the changes of variation patterns in populations and the possible consequences of the decrease in the proportions of genotypes determining a low sensitivity to environmental changes and in genotypic diversity with respect to phenotypic plasticity are discussed.     

Adaptive prey behavior and the dynamics of intraguild predation systems

Intraguild predation constitutes a widespread interaction occurring across different taxa, trophic positions and ecosystems, and its endogenous dynamical properties have been shown to affect the abundance and persistence of the involved populations as well as those connected with them within food webs. Although optimal foraging decisions displayed by predators are known to exert a stabilizing influence on the dynamics of intraguild predation systems, few is known about the corresponding influence of adaptive prey decisions in spite of its commonness in nature. In this study, we analyze the effect that adaptive antipredator behavior exerts on the stability and persistence of the populations involved in intraguild predation systems. Our results indicate that adaptive prey behavior in the form of inducible defenses act as a stabilizing mechanism and show that, in the same direction that adaptive foraging, enhances the parameter space in which species can coexist through promoting persistence of the IG-prey. At high levels of enrichment, the intraguild predation system exhibits unstable dynamics and zones of multiples attractors. In addition, we show that the equilibrium density of the IG-predator could be increased at intermediate values of defense effectiveness. Finally we conclude that adaptive prey behavior is an important mechanism leading to species coexistence in intraguild predation systems and consequently enhancing stability of food webs.     

不同光环境下薇甘菊形态和生理可塑性及其响应研究

研究了华南地区外来入侵种薇甘菊Mikania micrantha H B Kunth不同光环境下形态和生理可塑性及其适应性响应。通过模拟开阔地段、林缘、大林窗、小林窗、林下等不同生境的的光照环境,并设计一个干扰实验,分析了薇甘菊的生长、碳同化以及生物量分配如何对光环境作出适应性响应。研究了当干扰发生时,薇甘菊如何对光环境的变化做出形态和生理可塑性响应。通过对其各项生物量分配及气体交换等指标的观测,在小林窗光照环境下薇甘菊生长缓慢生物量积累较少,但是如果一旦受到干扰,光照环境得到改善,薇甘菊将在很短的时间内通过适应性形态和生理可塑性响应,迅速体现出较强的入侵性。这也可能是入侵植物薇甘菊＂坐待对策（sit and wait strategy）＂的生动体现：如果外界环境不利,暂且先保持繁殖体（种子或者根茎）,一旦条件成熟（发生干扰条件得到改善或者遗传变异或者生态生理的积累）,就会迅速爆发。所以我们一方面,不用担心郁闭的森林会被薇甘菊入侵,但另一方面也要注意干扰会引起光照等环境条件的改变,使得原来潜伏于林下的薇甘菊繁殖体重新变得富有入侵性。     

Specific Features of Interactions between the Active and Passive Population Components in Some Life Forms of Flowering Plants

The soil banks of disseminules (seeds in therophytes and dormant tubers or bulbs in geophytes) can serve as genetic reserves of populations and contribute to the maintenance of a high variation level in the material presented to natural selection. Populations of the liliaceous geoephemeroid Fritillaria meleagroidesmanifest each year no more than fragments of variation, which can be observed in plants of active subpopulations. The differences in individual activity rhythms accounted for statistical significance of the difference between the samples taken from the same population in different years.     

液化石油气钢瓶长径比研究

分析钢瓶的长度和直径之比(长径比)对容积变形率的影响,在材料相同的条件下,长径比大的气瓶的容积变形率的要求也相应提高。笔者分别从钢瓶的边界效应、冲压工艺、制造经济性3个方面探讨了液化石油气钢瓶的合适长径比,并综合提出了液化石油气钢瓶的长径比的适宜范围为0.8～1.6。