Extra-pair paternity in alpine marmots, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Marmota marmota</Emphasis>: genetic quality and genetic diversity effects

Assuming that a male’s genetic characteristics affect those of his offspring, extra-pair copulation has been hypothesized to increase heterozygosity of the progeny—the “genetic compatibility” hypothesis—and the genetic diversity within litters—the “genetic diversity” hypothesis. We tested these two hypotheses in the alpine marmot (Marmota marmota), a socially monogamous mammal showing a high rate of extra-pair paternity (EPP). In a first step, we tested the assumption that a male’s genetic characteristics (heterozygosity and genetic similarity to the female) affect those of his offspring. Genetic similarity between parents influenced offspring heterozygosity, offspring genetic similarity to their mother, and litter genetic diversity. The father’s heterozygosity also influenced litter genetic diversity but did not affect offspring heterozygosity. Hence, heterozygosity seems not to be heritable in the alpine marmot. In a second step, we compared genetic characteristics of extra-pair young (EPY) and within-pair young (WPY). EPY were less genetically similar to their mother but not more heterozygous than WPY. EPY siblings were also less genetically similar than their WPY half siblings. Finally, the presence of EPY promoted genetic diversity within the litter. Thus, our data support both the “genetic compatibility” and the “genetic diversity” hypotheses. We discuss further investigations needed to determine the primary causes of EPP in this species.     

污泥膨胀形成机理及控制措施研究现状和进展

污泥膨胀现象在全球污水处理厂普遍存在,已成为制约活性污泥工艺发展的重大难题之一.本文总结了丝状细菌研究现状;重点阐述了当前引起污泥膨胀的主要机理;说明了基于这些机理的选择器控制理论;给出了主要的选择器类型.对当前关于污泥膨胀的研究进展和方向,分别从微生物和数学模型2个方面进行了讨论,最后,提出了一系列亟待解决的问题.     

Imprecision in waggle dances of the honeybee (Apis mellifera) for nearby food sources: error or adaptation?

A curious feature of the honeybee's waggle dance is the imprecision in the direction indication for nearby food sources. One hypothesis for the function of this imprecision is that it serves to spread recruits over a certain area and thus is an adaptation to the typical spatial configuration of the bees' food sources, i.e., flowers in sizable patches. We report an experiment that tests this tuned-error hypothesis. We measured the precision of direction indication in waggle dances advertising a nest site (typically a tree cavity, hence a target that is almost a point) and compared it with that of dances advertising a food source (typically a flower patch, hence a target that covers an area). The precision of dances for a nearby nest site was significantly higher than that of dances for an equidistant feeder. This was demonstrated four times with four colonies. Our evidence therefore supports the hypothesis that the level of precision in the direction indication for nearby food sources is tuned to its optimum without being at its maximum. Received: 9 December 1998 / Received in revised form: 24 February 1999 / Accepted 12 March 1999     

中国污染密集型产业地理分布研究

随着资源环境约束加强,调整产业结构、优化产业空间布局已成为我国经济发展的战略选择。产业空间格局重置过程中,污染密集型产业的转移成为一个迫切需要研究的问题。论文利用2003-2008 年工业企业普查数据,采用Tobit 模型和Heckman 两阶段模型,探讨污染密集型产业地理分布的特征。论文发现,我国污染密集型产业正在进行空间结构调整,长江三角洲、珠江三角洲、京津冀地区污染密集产业不断转出,山东及中部地区开始成为污染密集型产业新的集聚地;造纸等较为轻型产业主要向中部内陆等地区转移,而化学原料及化学制品业等技术密集型产业则更主要在沿海地带重新分布。另外,要素禀赋、环境规制以及全球化对污染密集型产业分布影响显著。其中,技术以及劳动力成本是污染企业区位选择的重要影响因素;受全球化的影响,国际市场潜力对污染企业区位影响更为重要;环境规制与污染企业的成立具有倒U型关系;最后,企业的异质性对于污染企业地理分布也具有显著的影响。文章启示,在产业转移过程中,需要适当的政策引导以最小化对生态环境的破坏。     

Egg coloration in ring-billed gulls (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Larus delawarensis</Emphasis>): a test of the sexual signaling hypothesis

Although many avian eggs appear to be cryptically colored, many species also lay vibrant blue green eggs. This seemingly conspicuous coloration has puzzled biologists since Wallace, as natural selection should favor reduced egg visibility to minimize predation pressure. The sexual signaling hypothesis posits that blue green egg coloration serves as a signal of female quality and that males exert post-mating sexual selection on this trait by investing more in the nests of females laying more intensely blue green eggs. This hypothesis has received mixed support to date, and most previous studies have been conducted in cavity-nesting species where male evaluation of his partner’s egg coloration, relative to that of other females, may be somewhat limited. In this study, we test the sexual signaling hypothesis in colonially nesting ring-billed gulls (Larus delawarensis) where males have ample opportunity to assess their mate’s egg coloration relative to that of other females. We used correlational data and an experimental manipulation to test four assumptions and predictions of the sexual signaling hypothesis: (1) blue green pigmentation should be limiting to females; (2) extent of blue green egg coloration should relate to female quality; (3) extent of blue green egg coloration should relate to offspring quality; and (4) males should provide more care to clutches with higher blue green chroma. Our data provide little support for these predictions of the sexual signaling hypothesis in ring-billed gulls. In light of this and other empirical data, we encourage future studies to consider additional hypotheses for the evolution of blue green egg coloration.     

The pattern of species turnover resulting from stochastic population dynamics: The model and field data

The model of random population dynamics in a sampling site returns geometric distribution of longevities of continuous presence (=persistence) and Poisson distribution of the presence–absence transitions. This discrete-time stochastic process describes the presence–absence pattern observed in the beetles surveyed 6 years on Mount Carmel, Israel. Homogeneous pools of species mostly on the Families rank, exhibit the predicted by the model patterns. Conformity to an ergodic hypothesis is the criterion of ecological homogeneity. This criterion assumes the equivalence of short-term behavior of entire pool and long-term behavior of any species from this pool. The pool of all 801 species of Order Coleoptera does not match the model. Thus a taxon of an arbitrary rank may not be considered a priory as a unit of ecological study. Determined from field data parameters of the model are biased and magnitude of the bias depends on longevity of the survey. Parameter of distribution depends also on species tolerance, which is the level adaptation of given species to given environment in given time interval. Random process of species turnover may be considered as a game of species to gain their presence against deteriorative fluctuations of environmental conditions.     

Territory characteristics and coexistence with heterospecifics in the Dartford warbler <Emphasis Type="Italic">Sylvia undata</Emphasis> across a habitat gradient

The study of successional gradients may help to understand the relative influence of habitat structure and competition on territory characteristics. Here, we evaluate the effects of vegetation cover, conspecific and heterospecific densities, and distance to the nearest neighbor on territory size, shape, and overlap in insectivorous birds. We studied these effects along a gradient of postfire habitat regeneration in which foliage cover and densities of focal species varied several-fold. We delineate 197 territories (minimum convex polygons) of the shrub-dwelling Dartford warbler (Sylvia undata) and 255 of the syntopic Sardinian (Sylvia melanocephala), subalpine (Sylvia cantillans) and melodious (Hippolais polyglotta) warblers at three plots in NE Catalonia (Spain and France) in 1987–2005. After accounting for the effect of the number of locations used to delineate polygons, generalized linear mixed models (GLMM) showed a reduction in territory area of the Dartford warbler as conspecific density increased and distance to nearest neighbor decreased, in accordance with the contender pressure hypothesis for territory size regulation. Heterospecific density was not included in the final model of territory size and the effect of habitat structure was marginal. Territory roundness was positively correlated with its size and with conspecific density, probably in relation to energetic constraints, and negatively with heterospecific density. Territorial exclusion was almost complete among Dartford warblers, whereas interspecific territory overlap was extensive and tended to increase with heterospecific density and with structural diversity along the gradient. Our results support the hypothesis that Mediterranean warbler coexistence derives from ecological segregation and not from interspecific territoriality.     

Dance precision of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Apis florea</Emphasis>—clues to the evolution of the honeybee dance language?

All honeybee species make use of the waggle dance to communicate the direction and distance to both food sources and potential new nest sites. When foraging, all species face an identical problem: conveying information about profitable floral patches. However, profound differences in nesting biology (some nest in cavities while others nest in the open, often on a branch or a cliff face) may mean that species have different requirements when dancing to advertise new nest sites. In cavity nesting species, nest sites are a precise location in the landscape: usually a small opening leading to a cavity in a hollow tree. Dances for cavities therefore need to be as precise as possible. In contrast, when the potential nest site comprises a tree or perhaps seven a patch of trees, precision is less necessary. Similarly, when a food patch is advertised, dances need not be very precise, as floral patches are often large, unless they are so far away that recruits need more precise information to be able to locate them. In this paper, we study the dance precision of the open-nesting red dwarf bee Apis florea. By comparing the precision of dances for food sources and nest sites, we show that A. florea workers dance with the same imprecision irrespective of context. This is in sharp contrast with the cavity-nesting Apis mellifera that increases the precision of its dance when advertising a potential new home. We suggest that our results are in accordance with the hypothesis that the honeybees’ dance communication initially evolved to convey information about new nest sites and was only later adapted for the context of foraging.     

FRP加固钢筋混凝土梁的抗剪计算方法

随着利用FRP加固混凝土结构研究的深入和应用的拓展,FRP加固钢筋混凝土梁抗剪性能的研究已取得了丰硕的成果。以往对抗剪承载力的分析大多是基于有效应变即对极限应变进行有效折减的方法,而最近的研究则引入了裂缝处FRP应变分布不均匀系数。在此基础上,本文综合考虑了FRP发挥的最大应变、沿裂缝应变分布的不均性以及斜裂缝倾角对有效应变的影响,提出了等效有效应变的概念,使计算趋于简单和清晰。本文收集了128根FRP全包裹的、以FRP断裂破坏为主的钢筋混凝土梁的抗剪实验数据,通过对主要影响因素的统计分析,建立了等效有效应变简单可靠的计算公式和基于FRP断裂的抗剪承载力设计方法。128根实验梁的抗剪计算结果表明,本文提出的方法简单可行,意义明确,且精度要比已有的建议公式稍高。     

中国区域环境绩效及波特假说的再检验

以二氧化碳为非期望产出,基于序列DEA的方向性距离函数、环境规制强度指数、Malmqulist-Luenberger指数,测度了1999~2010年中国30个省、市、自治区及东、中、西、东北四大区域的环境技术效率、环境规制成本及全要素生产率,并对四大区域的全要素生产率进行了波特假说的再检验.研究结果表明:区域间的环境技术效率呈现东-东北-中-西依次递减的演变格局;东北老工业基地的环境规制成本最高、西部地区最低;环境规制强度与全国及四大区域全要素生产率有显著的正相关性,这支持了波特假说的存在;技术进步效应的检验结果显示,只有中部区域支持波特假说的存在,西部区域检验结果表明碳排放的规制过高会对技术进步带来消极影响;环境技术效率变化效应的检验结果显示,全国及四大区域均支持波特假说的存在,碳排放规制强度的加强,会推动各地区在不同时期追赶最优生产前沿面的程度.