Sesquiterpene Hydrocarbons: Kairomones with a releaser effect in the sexual communication of the white-spotted longicorn beetle, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Anoplophora malasiaca</Emphasis> (Thomson) (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae)

Summary.  We conducted a series of experiments with the white-spotted longicorn beetle Anoplophora malasiaca (Thomson), and its host plant, Citrus unshiu, to examine the origin of the sesquiterpene hydrocarbons (SHCs; including β-elemene, β-caryophyllene, α-humulene, α-farnesene, and several unidentified compounds) that are contained in the elytra of the beetles and act as an attractant. In the laboratory, mechanically wounded citrus branches, as well as those fed upon by A. malasiaca, attracted males more frequently than intact branches. Solid phase microextraction (SPME) and subsequent analyses by gas chromatography (GC) analyses detected measurable SHCs from the air around both mechanically wounded and beetle-infested branches, as well as trace amounts from intact branches. The SHCs were also detected for a certain time from beetles that had fed on the citrus branches, but the amounts decreased rapidly after they were removed from the host. This decrease generally corresponded with a reduction of attractiveness of the beetles in a behavioural assay. Isolated females acquired the SHCs after exposure to, but not upon contact with, other females that had fed on C. unshiu branches. We hypothesize that the citrus SHCs are adsorbed in, retained on, and released from the wax layer of the beetle elytra. Since these compounds are released from branches when beetles feed, they may indirectly signal the presence of beetles to others in the field. The high response rate to SHCs by males is likely representing mate searching behavior. The SHCs act as kairomones with a releaser effect in the communication system of A. malasiaca. Hiroe Yasui, Toshiharu Akino, Midori Fukaya: These authors contributed equally to this article.     

Ecologically neglected tannins and their biologically relevant activity: chemical structures of plant ellagitannins reveal their in vitro oxidative activity at high pH

Summary.  Chemical structures of 27 ellagitannins were systemically compared in respect of their in vitro oxidative activity at high pH found e.g. in lepidopteran insects. The analysis revealed over six-fold differences in the oxidative activities of individual ellagitannins which could be explained by the chemical divergences of the ellagitannins. These findings allowed the formulation of a simple equation that can be used to estimate the oxidative activities of other ellagitannins with known structures. The results suggest that, in future studies of plant-herbivore interactions, ellagitannins should be (1) taken into account as possible oxidative stress -based defences of plants against herbivores, (2) chemically characterized from the study plants, and (3) quantified individually, not as chemically ill-defined group. These actions together with the utilization of the created equation would allow the clarification of the role of ellagitannins in plant-herbivore interactions as natural pro-oxidants.     

Intraguild predation by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Harmonia axyridis</Emphasis> on coccinellids revealed by exogenous alkaloid sequestration

Summary.  Under laboratory conditions, the multicolored Asian lady beetle, Harmonia axyridis is well known as an intraguild predator of other ladybirds. However the real impact of this exotic species on native species was poorly investigated in the field. Because many ladybird species produce alkaloids as defensive compounds, we propose here a new method of intraguild predation monitoring in coccinellids based on alkaloid quantification by GC-MS. In laboratory experiments, adaline was unambiguously detected in fourth instar larvae of H. axyridis having ingested one egg or one first instar larva of Adalia bipunctata. Although prey alkaloids in the predator decreased with time, traces were still detected in pupae, exuviae and imagines of H. axyridis having ingested one prey when they were fourth instar larvae. Analysis of H. axyridis larvae collected in two potato fields shows for the first time in Europe the presence of exogenous alkaloids in 9 out of 28 individuals tested. This new method of intraguild predation detection could be used more widely to follow the interactions between predators and potential chemically defended insect preys.     

Sex pheromone of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ectinus aterrimus</Emphasis> (L<Emphasis Type="SmallCaps">inné</Emphasis>, 1761) (Coleoptera: Elateridae)

Summary.   Ectinus aterrimus (L.) is a fairly common European click beetle species which develops mainly in forests. In pheromone gland extracts of female E. aterrimus, examined using gas chromatography – mass spectrometry (GC-MS), one single compound was present. This was identified as 7-methyloctyl 9-methyldecanoate by comparison with a synthetic sample. Field trapping trials revealed a highly significant attraction of male E. aterrimus towards this ester. The structure of the compound differs remarkably from the pheromones of the closely related Agriotes spp., which exclusively use terpene esters.     

Differential responses in American (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Castanea dentata</Emphasis> Marshall) and Chinese (<Emphasis Type="Italic">C. mollissima</Emphasis> Blume) chestnut (Falales: Fagaceae) to foliar application of jasmonic acid

Summary.  Tannins are plant defense compounds that exhibit antibiotic (e.g. toxic) and antixenotic (e.g. repellent) effects against an array of plant pests. They are broadly divided into two major groups, hydrolysable tannins (gallotannins and ellagitannins) and proanthocyanidins, each with an undetermined number of compounds. We investigated constitutive levels of hydrolysable tannins and proanthocyanidins in the leaves and stems of American (Castanea dentata Marshall) (Fagales: Fagaceae) and Chinese (C. mollissima Blume) chestnut. American chestnut contained more proanthocyanidins in leaves and stems than Chinese chestnut, but Chinese chestnut contained more foliar hydrolysable tannins. Regardless of these differences, gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar L, Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae) performance did not differ when fed American and Chinese chestnuts. We also investigated the effects of jasmonic acid (JA) treatment on differential tannin induction in American and Chinese chestnut leaves and stems. JA treatment increased proanthocyanidins in American chestnut stems and hydrolysable tannins in both tissue types of American chestnut, but did not influence tannin concentrations in Chinese chestnut leaves or stems. HPLC-ESI-MS analysis of pooled samples suggested that hydrolysable tannins in each tissue were qualitatively comprised primarily of ellagitannins, and JA generally increased the number of hydrolysable tannins that could be detected by ESI-MS. Third, we investigated the performance of gypsy moths on JA treated and untreated American and Chinese chestnut. Caterpillar relative growth was not influenced by JA treatment on Chinese chestnut, but decreased in response to JA application on American chestnut. Our results indicate that JA-dependent defenses differ between these chestnut species. This study improves our understanding of ecologically important differences in tannin induction and herbivore susceptibility in Castanea, and has important implications in efforts for American chestnut restoration and commercial chestnut production.     

往复隔板絮凝池流场数值模拟及混凝效果分析

对往复隔板絮凝池内的流场进行了数值模拟 ,并根据絮凝池的工作特征分析了水流状态对混凝效果的影响。结果表明絮凝池转弯处过水断面面积A_1 与廊道过水断面面积A_2 的比值A =A_1 / A_2 ,这一影响流场紊流动能的设计参数的最佳范围是 1 2～ 1 5。按此设计参数设计的往复隔板絮凝池模型的混凝反应效率是比较理想的。     

新型絮凝剂聚环氧氯丙烷胺的合成研究

以环氧氯丙烷和二甲胺为原料,乙二胺为交联剂,制备有机阳离子聚合物,研究乙二胺加入量、反应温度、环氧氯丙烷和二甲胺的摩尔比、聚合时间等对聚合物粘度和阳离子度的影响,利用电子透射电镜(TEM)和电子扫描电镜(SEM)对聚合物的结构形貌进行了表征,结果表明,环氧氯丙烷和二甲胺的摩尔比为1．5：1,乙二胺加入量为3％时,聚合物的粘度和阳离子度最大,具有较强的吸附架桥和电中和作用,对染料废水有较好的脱色效果。     

人尿中1-羟基芘浓度与多环芳烃日暴露量的关系

采集并分析了 10 0名不吸烟成人 2 4h的呼吸带空气 (PM10 和气相 )、食物及尿液样品 ,建立了尿中1 羟基芘与多环芳烃日暴露量的关系 结果表明 :晨尿 1 羟基芘 (μmol·mol肌酐 -1)浓度与芘、苯并 (a )芘等 13种多环芳烃日暴露量的对数线性回归方程拟合度R2 达 0 12— 0 6 7,方程各项参数也均达到了显著性水平 (P <0 0 0 1)     

快速木质纤维素分解菌复合系MC1对秸秆的分解能力及稳定性

以天然水稻秸秆为材料研究了快速降解木质纤维素的细菌复合系MC1对木质纤维素的分解能力;并在不同条件保藏、高温处理以及利用变性梯度胶电泳(DGGE)技术研究了复合系的稳定性.结果表明,复合系MC1在50℃液体静止培养条件下8～10d,把培养液2%干重的水稻秸秆完全分解溶化;经过9d的培养,水稻秸秆的总干重减少81%,其中纤维素减少99%,半纤维素减少74%,木质素减少51%.连续继代培养4a、常温干燥保存4a、-20℃冷冻藏4a、培养液直接在室温和4℃保存1a、90℃处理30min仍具旺盛的分解能力并稳定传代.平板培养基培养证明MC1全部由细菌组成,16SrDNA变性梯度胶电泳(DGGE)检测结果,在6个月内主要条带几乎没有变化,说明MC1的菌种组成相当稳定.MC1对纤维素的分解利用具重要前景.     

Monitoring contaminants from oil production at sea by measuring gill EROD activity in Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua)

An ex vivo gill EROD assay was applied in Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) as a biomarker for waterborne CYP1A-inducing compounds derived from oil production at sea. Exposure to nominal concentrations of 1 ppm or 10 ppm North Sea crude oil in a static water system for 24 h caused a concentration-dependent gill EROD induction. Further, exposure of cod for 14 days to environmentally relevant concentrations of produced water (PW, diluted 1:200 or 1:1000) from a platform in the North Sea using a flow-through system resulted in a concentration-dependent induction of gill EROD. Crude oil (0.2 ppm) from the same oil field also proved to induce EROD. Finally, gill EROD activity in cod caged for 6 weeks at 500-10 000 m from two platforms outside Norway was measured. The activities in these fish were very low and did not differ from those in fish caged at reference sites.