Social feeding in ladybird beetles: adaptive significance and mechanism

Summary. Young larvae of Adalia bipunctata search an area more intensively when exposed to the odour from other larvae feeding on aphids than when exposed only to the odour of aphids. In an olfactometer young larvae were significantly attracted either to the odour of crushed aphids or larvae feeding on aphids, but not to that of aphids, larvae, larvae plus aphids or larvae feeding on an artificial diet. That is, the change in searching behaviour appears in response to a volatile released by aphids when attacked. The odour released by crushed aphids is made up entirely of aphid alarm pheromone, β-farnesene. It is likely that the adaptive significance of this response is that it increases the ability of larvae to locate larvae that have already caught prey. By sharing the aphid kill of another larva it is likely that a first instar ladybird larva greatly increases its probability of surviving to the next instar. It is suggested that this social feeding is facilitated by egg clustering, which also may additionally account for why aphidophagous ladybirds lay their eggs in clusters. Received 28 February 2000; accepted 24 March 2000     

The feeding behaviour of Schistocerca gregaria,the desert locust,on two starch mutants of Arabidopsis thaliana

Summary. Schistocerca gregaria, the desert locust, has been shown to regulate its dietary intake with respect to specific macronutrients in synthetic foods. This study examined the nutrients in the leaves of two starch mutants of Arabidopsis thaliana, and then compared the feeding behaviour of locusts on the two starch mutants. The high-starch mutant had c. 25 times more starch than the no-starch mutant. Newly molted 5th stadium locusts were preconditioned for 3 days on one of the mutants, and then observed for 90 min while exposed to the same or the alternative mutant. Locusts pretreated with the no-starch mutant fed longer during the first meal on high-starch mutants, spent more time feeding, and had the smaller latency to begin a meal when compared to the locusts pretreated on the high-starch mutant. The results of the study are interpreted in light of an integrative model of nutrient balancing. Received 16 November 1999; accepted 23 December 1999     

Relationships between pikas (Ochotona, mammalia) and vegetation in Tuva

The burrowing and trophic activities of four pika (Ochotona) species proved to be reflected in the horizontal structure of the biogeocenotic cover. Zoophytochores ofOchotona daurica andO. pallasi pricei burrows correspond to previously described ameboid zoophytochores. Burrows of pikas provide for the growth of pea shrubs (Caragana bungei, C leucophloea), with the formation of specific plant groups under their crowns and on rubble dug out by pikas. In ecosystems of placers, zoophytochores are formed owing to the presence of pika food stores and lavatories, which are the main substrate for vascular plants first appearing among the stones. General ecological (and successional) series characterizing the overgrowing of placers is as follows: (1) separate spots of vegetation with poor floristic composition at the sites of pika food stores (stacklets); (2) groups of spots and simplest complexes; and (3) complex plant communities of pika colonies. Food stores of pikas in Tuva were analyzed.     

Public Nutrition from an Approach to a Discipline: Concern's Nutrition Case Studies in Complex Emergencies

The Public Nutrition approach, like that of Public Health, is context specific. It places an emphasis on populations rather than individuals and is inter-disciplinary in nature. Both approaches seek to understand the complex aetiology of a clinical outcome such as malnutrition within the widest possible framework. Public Nutrition uses the UNICEF conceptual framework and adapts and expands it. The authors of this article argue – through the examination of a number of case studies taken from the work of Concern Worldwide (hereafter referred to as Concern) in southern Sudan, Rwanda, Angola, Tanzania and DRC – that there are two critical constituents of the Public Nutrition approach. These are: a contextual analysis (including the use of surveillance information for programme design and advocacy) and community involvement at all stages of the project cycle. Some of the key obstacles to the adoption of the Public Nutrition approach are identified by illustrating two practical programme settings. For the Public Nutrition approach to be more widely used, the authors recommend a number of key strategies including the further dissemination of case studies and the clarification of the scope and boundaries of the approach. These strategies will enable Public Nutrition to evolve both as a practical programme framework as well as an academic discipline.     

Selective feeding programmes in Ethiopia and East Sudan–1985/1986

A survey of thirty-four feeding programmes in Ethiopia and East Sudan was undertaken. Wie differences were found between the two countries and also within Ethiopia. Irrelugar general ration distribution was commonplace in Ethiopia, thus placing an extra strain on selective feeding programmes. The principal admission criteria to Selected Feeding Programmes (SFPs) were weight for height categories. The cut-off stages of the emergency. Useful compasirions between programmes were hampered by such differences, as well as by the different methods of reporting data.
The types of food usd in programmes depended on availability and included high energyu drinks, poridges, take-home pre-mixes and sometimes indigenous foods. A large number of foods e.g. cornedbedef, chicken paté, noodles, da4tes etc. Some added interesting variety and added nutritional value to the diet, while others caused more problems than they solved due to their low acceptability, inappropriate packaging, limited accompanying information and complex an costly preparation. The imlementation of food dination policies by donors and consignees regarding appropriate foodstuffs and their recommended use was considered to be the major solution to this problem.     

我国南疆荒漠喀什-和田地区的畜牧业特点与发展战略

作者在对该地区进行实地考察的基础上,研究了位于新疆南部荒漠最西部两个地区的自然环境和经济条件后,指出该地区畜牧业的 4个基本特点,概括了该地区畜牧业与生态环境以及牧业生产条件之间的关系。地处内陆,极端干旱,周围高山环绕,绿洲经济与绿洲农业发达,对该地区畜牧业的现状与发展有深刻影响。从而作者提出了该地区发展畜牧业的方向与战略。指出今后应以发展集约化的平原绿洲畜牧业为主体。改革饲养方式,加强饲料生产,提高畜群生产水平,近期商品性生产的发展要与自给性生产的发展相结合。使我国这一特殊类型地区的畜牧业得以顺利发展。     

华山松松茎象幼虫的危害及其防治研究

华山松松茎象是南岳景区松树上新发现的一种重要害虫,该虫严重危害华山松和黑松.本文介绍了其幼虫的取食危害特点及防治方法.该虫幼虫取食华山松和黑松的韧皮部,同时取食新鲜的松脂,越冬后的幼虫仅靠取食新鲜松脂就能正常发育,并化蛹、羽化.单株虫口数量与松树树干基部直径呈明显正相关,即树干基部直径在10.0~20.0 cm 、20.1~25.0 cm 、25.1~35.0 cm之间的松树,平均单株有虫数量分别为1.0头株-1、1.98头株-1和3.30头.株-1.在5~10月间,采用人工清除幼虫的方法可有效地控制该虫的危害,采用化学药剂防治该虫效果不明显.     

进水模式对强化脱氮好氧颗粒污泥培养的影响

针对不同进水模式对好氧颗粒污泥培养及强化脱氮效果的影响尚无统一定论的问题,系统比较研究了快速进水直接曝气、快速进水厌氧搅拌和厌氧推流慢速进水3种模式对好氧颗粒污泥形成特性及脱氮效果的影响.研究发现,快速进水直接曝气模式所形成颗粒污泥表面易生长丝状菌,颗粒粒径可达2.0mm以上,但易解体;快速进水厌氧搅拌模式可形成粒径多为1.5~2.0mm的好氧颗粒污泥,TN去除率达到80%,优于前种模式,但未能避免颗粒解体;厌氧推流慢速进水可获得粒径多为1.0~1.5mm的颗粒污泥,常规负荷下出水COD浓度约10~15mg/L,TN浓度小于1mg/L,TN去除率达90%,满足地表Ⅲ类水标准.系统比较证实,厌氧推流慢速进水方式是实现强化脱氮好氧颗粒污泥培养的最佳模式.     

A comparison of process performance during the anaerobic mono- and co-digestion of slaughterhouse waste through different operational modes

The use of consecutive feeding was applied to investigate the response of the microbial biomass to a second addition of substrates in terms of biodegradation using batch tests as a promising alternative to predict the behavior of the process. Anaerobic digestion (AD) of the slaughterhouse waste (SB) and its co-digestion with manure (M), various crops (VC), and municipal solid waste were evaluated. The results were then correlated to previous findings obtained by the authors for similar mixtures in batch and semi-continuous operation modes. AD of the SB failed showing total inhibition after a second feeding. Co-digestion of the SB + M showed a significant improvement for all of the response variables investigated after the second feeding, while co-digestion of the SB + VC resulted in a decline in all of these response variables. Similar patterns were previously detected, during both the batch and the semi-continuous modes.     

酸雨和降尘对菜青虫生长和取食行为的影响

通过室内模拟试验探讨了酸雨、降尖及其复合污染对菜青虫生长发育和取食行为的影响。结果表明，直接处理对菜青虫有明显的抑制作用，而间接处理则有促进作用。试验发现，在受污染的植物体内有糖分与蛋白质积累现象，这是造成虫害加重的主要原因之一。