Mate choice tactics and swarm size: a model and a test in a dance fly

In the dance flyEmpis borealis (L.) (Diptera: Empididae) females gather to swarm and males visit swarms for mating. A model was constructed, based on previously published data, simulating how males may choose among females of different sizes in swarms of different sizes. The focal question was, what influences the number of individuals in the swarm in this and possibly other swarming insects? The relationships between original swarm size and both the number of males arriving per minute and the proportion of males mating are both logarithmic. The model predicted that if these relationships were linear, or if males were able to judge absolute female size, the mean swarm size should increase and be at least four times as large as those found in the field. The only type of male mate choice strategy that gave rise to very large swarms (>25) was size-related choice (if males are able to assess the size of a female in relation to the entire population and not merely to the swarm). Furthermore, no swarming behaviour would occur if males mate independently of swarm size. Thus, the numbers of females attending a given swarm site are influenced by male arrival pattern, male preference for larger swarms, the inability of males to judge the absolute body size of females, and female polyandry. Males searching for mates seem to prefer larger swarms than females searching for a swarm to join, but the mean swarm size is primarily set by the swarm size preference of females. Optimal swarm size predicted from the model was 4.68±0.53 females. In order to test model predictions, 69 natural swarm sites were studied during one season. The mean swarm size was 4.85±4.54 females (median 4.03), and about 90% of swarms consisted of 11 females or fewer. Predicted and observed swarm size did not differ significantly.     

“Decision-making” in conflicts of wild chimpanzees (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Pan troglodytes</Emphasis>): an extension of the Relational Model

>We examined the "decision-making" process of aggressive interactions within a community of wild chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes verus) in the Taï National Park, Côte d'Ivoire (West Africa). Costs and benefits were investigated for 876 dyadic aggressive interactions among 18 adults (including 4 independent adolescents) of either sex. An extended version of the Relational Model was developed to describe the dynamics of the "decision-making" process in Taï chimpanzees, which suggests that the net benefit determines the occurrence of conflicts. Both sexes fought more frequently for the resources that were most important to them, food for females and social contexts for males. Individuals used two different strategies according to their likelihood of winning the aggressive interaction, determined by the dominance relationship of the conflict partners. Dominant initiators had longer and more intense aggressive interactions, but they limited their social disadvantages by fighting non-cooperative partners. Subordinate initiators had shorter and less intense aggressive interactions, but risked more social costs, which they could reduce afterwards by reconciliation. Both strategies included a positive overall net benefit. The extended Relational Model fits the complexity of wild chimpanzee conflicts and allows for more flexibility in the "decision-making" compared to the original version.Communicated by E. Sterck     

A spatial zero-inflated poisson regression model for oak regeneration

Ecological counts data are often characterized by an excess of zeros and spatial dependence. Excess zeros can occur in regions outside the range of the distribution of a given species. A zero-inflated Poisson regression model is developed, under which the species range is determined by a spatial probit model, including physical variables as covariates. Within that range, species counts are independently drawn from a Poisson distribution whose mean depends on biotic variables. Bayesian inference for this model is illustrated using data on oak seedling counts. Received: May 2004 / Revised: December 2004     

农业面源污染模型研究进展

综述了农业面源污染模型国内外研究进展,介绍了常用的面源污染模型概念与适用范围,明确"3S"技术与SWAT、AGNPS等模型有机结合是当今面源污染模型的研究热点。提出我国面源污染模型未来研究的重点是围绕水质改善目标,建立面向全流域尺度的面源污染负荷估算方法,构建完整的基础监测数据网络,为建立符合我国流域特性的面源污染模型提供支撑。     

Economic valuation of health impacts of air pollution in Mumbai

Air pollution leads to serious negative impacts on health. Thephysical evidence is compelling. An attempt has been made inthis paper to establish dose-response relationship of AmbientAir Quality Index and human health, based on time spent by anindividual in different microenvironments during one day.Economic valuation of morbidity and mortality has been attemptedthrough lost salary approach. The results show that theavoidance cost is 29% of the total health damage cost.     

Using fugacity to predict volatile emissions from layered materials with a clay/polymer diffusion barrier

Structural insulated panels (SIPs) have significant environmental and energy advantages. However, the tight structure that results may cause degraded indoor air quality and the potential release of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from these layered materials must be considered. A physically based model for predicting VOC emissions from multi-layer materials is described. Fugacity is used to eliminate the concentration discontinuities at the interface between layers. This avoids an obstacle associated with numerically simulating mass transfer in composite materials. The numerical model is verified for a double-layer system by comparing predicted concentrations to those obtained with a previously published analytical model. In addition, hexanal emissions from multi-layer SIPs are simulated to demonstrate the usefulness of the fugacity approach. Finally, the multi-layer model is used to investigate the impact that clay/polyurethane nanocomposite diffusion barriers can have on VOC emissions. Indoor gas-phase concentrations can be greatly reduced with a barrier layer on the surface, thereby minimizing the environmental impact of SIPs.     

新一代安全电起爆系统的研究

通过对多种类型电雷管的分析、试验,研制成功了新一代安全电起爆系统,即ＢＪ－ １型安全电雷管起爆系统。由于它从根本上解决了雷管对电的安全问题,并且网路操作和检测方法均较简单,因而成了爆破工作者长期探讨而渴望已久的安全电起爆系统,也代表着爆破作业和爆破器材的发展方向     

应用计算机评价铁灭克农药对地下水污染的影响

研究了铁灭克农药(Aldicarb)对地下水污染的影响,同时用美国环保局提供的PRZM模型进行模拟.结果表明,田间试验的实测值与PRZM的模拟值吻合良好.在本试验条件下,棉田使用铁灭克对地下水无污染影响.研究表明,PRZM模型可以用来模拟铁灭克农药在其它平原地区使用时对地下水的影响。     

湖南省城镇生活垃圾总量预测研究

结合在社会系统中有一定应用的耗散结构理论的有关思想、方法和研究成果，对湖南省城镇生活垃圾总量进行建模预测，实际应用结果表明该模型具有结构简单、适用性强的特点，且预测值与实际值吻合较好。     

应用英国CRTN88模式和GIS进行道路交通噪声预测与规划

介绍了一种将道路交通噪声预测模式CRTN88和地理信息系统(GIS)结合的方法及基本框架。实例研究证明,应用该方法所开发的系统能为道路交通噪声的实时预测和规划提供方便、高效的工具。并探讨了提高系统的实用性、集成度和预测精度的两点需要深入研究的问题。