Factors influencing length of maternal care in brown bears (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Ursus arctos</Emphasis>) and its effect on offspring

Length of maternal care, i.e. the interval between successfully raised litters, is the most important factor explaining the variation in reproductive rate among brown-bear (Ursus arctos) populations. In this paper, we examine the variation in length of maternal care in radio-marked brown bears and its effect on their offspring in northern Sweden. Young stayed with their mothers for 1.4–1.5 or 2.4–2.5 (in one case 3.5) years and were weaned with body masses varying from 17 to 69 kg. The probability of yearling litters staying with their mother for a 2nd year increased with decreasing yearling body mass, and was higher for litters with two offspring than for litters with one or three to four offspring. Staying with their mothers for a 2nd year had a positive effect on mass gain in yearlings and this effect was more pronounced in litters with two than three to four offspring. Body mass of 2-year-olds was not related to age of weaning, suggesting that keeping offspring for an additional year mainly compensated for low yearling body mass. If large offspring body mass positively affects later offspring survival and reproduction, mothers may be able to optimize the length of maternal care according to the litter size and the size of their yearlings.Communicated by F. Trillmich     

低温对日本沼虾耗氧率、排氨率和Na+/K+ ATPase比活力的影响

在低温和室温条件下，测定了两种规格日本沼虾(Macrobrachium nipponens)的耗氧率、排氨率和Na^ ／K^ ATPase比活力．结果表明，低温条件下日本沼虾的耗氧率和排氨率均低于室温，且与体重呈负相关；而Na^ ／K^ ATPase比活力高于室温，且与体重呈正相关．表4参21     

一种新的快速测定水中COD的消化一分光光度法

探讨了在MnSO_4-CuSO_4复合催化剂、硫-磷混酸体系中,对样品进行恒温密封消解,用分光光度法测定溶液的COD值。实验得出测定化学需氧量的最佳条件:混酸H_2SO_4-H_3PO_4体积比为4:1,催化剂MnSO_4-CuSO_4质量比为1:2,MnSO_4-CuSO_4的总量为0．03g,消解温度为165℃,消解时间为15min。实验结果表明,此方法的测定结果与重铬酸钾法测定结果的相对误差≤5%,且有较好的重现性及较高的准确度与精密度。本法可同时消解多个试样,适用于大批量试样COD的测定,使试样的消解时间由标准法的2h缩短到了15min,同时用MnSO_4-CuSO_4复合催化剂代替价格昂贵的A_(g2)SO_4,大大降低了分析成本。     

The relative role of age and experience in determining variation in body mass during the early breeding career of the Common Tern (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Sterna hirundo</Emphasis>)

Body mass is a consistent individual trait that characterises the state of adult birds and mammals and is positively related with long-term reproductive success. However, whether and to what extent body mass changes over lifetime in long-lived birds is poorly studied. In this paper, we investigate how individual body mass varies with age. Furthermore, we try to separate possible effects of age and experience on body mass. This study was conducted in a Common Tern colony on the German Wadden Sea coast. Transponders allowed registration of individuals throughout the breeding season and consecutive years with an antenna system combined with electronic balances for recording individual body-mass changes within and between years. Individual body masses of males and females were measured during three stages of the breeding season: at arrival, during incubation and chick rearing when mass was lowest in both sexes. Individual-based longitudinal analyses clearly showed that body mass during arrival, incubation and chick rearing increased up to an age of 5 or 6 years. First-time breeders had lower body mass than experienced breeders. Experience had stronger effects on incubation mass than age. Recruiting age also affected body-mass development of breeders: Three-year-old recruits showed a stronger increase in mass with experience than 4-year-old recruits. We assume that increasing experience enables birds to cope better with the physiological challenge of reproduction. To explain the general phenomenon of higher body mass in older birds, our results support the constraint hypothesis rather than either the selection or restraint hypothesis.     

用连续提取法研究芘在鱼鳃表面的结合形态

建立了研究鱼鳃表面芘的结合状态的四步连续提取方法．分别用H2O、CaCl2、CH3OH和n-C6H14+CH2Cl2(1:1, v/v)混合液提取经暴露的鱼鳃．操作定义的前3步分别提取松散附着在鳃表的鱼鳃黏液中的芘,紧密附着在鳃表的鱼鳃黏液中的芘以及直接吸着在鱼鳃表皮上的芘,第4步则用来提取鱼鳃组织吸收的芘．其提取的芘分别占总量的 4．0％、12．1％、45．2％和38．7％．经3 h暴露,进入鳃组织的芘仅为总测定量的三分之一强,因此大部分芘并未进入鳃组织．单独进行的五步CH3OH连续提取实验结果证明,CH3OH提取步骤能有效地解吸鳃表吸着的芘,但不会导致鳃组织中芘的释放．动态实验结果表明,黏液结合态芘在暴露1h左右即达到平衡,而鳃表吸着态和鳃组织吸收态芘在暴露3h内含量迅速上升,3 h后显著趋缓．     

天然水体中有机酸当量浓度的确定方法

本文根据天然水体中溶解有机在碳与化学需氧量和生化需氧量之间的相关性，以及有机酸当量和水体溶解有机碳之间的近似定量关系，提出了由化学需氧量或生化需氧量得到溶解有机碳或总有机碳浓度，最终得到有机酸和有机酸根当量浓度的转换方法，为大区域天然水体有机酸碱缓冲作用的评估提供了一个实用的转换途径。     

The use of the tergal gland defensive secretion in male intrasexual aggression of the rove beetle,Aleochara curtula (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae), measured by closed-loop-stripping-analyses and tandem bioassay — mass fragmentography

Summary 2-methyl-1,4-benzoquinone as a target compound of the tergal gland secretion of the rove beetle,Aleochara curtula, was quantified from the reservoirs of individual beetles. Males store less secretion than females, and they evaporate more of the secretion as measured by adsorption from the air (closed-loop-stripping-analysis). The amount of emitted quinone is increased during aggressive interactions of rival males. The pulsed emission of the secretion during aggression is demonstrated by a novel technique combining observation of behavior with the on-line measurement of target fragment ions by mass-spectrometry (tandem bioassay — mass fragmentography). The emission of the secretion is used as a weapon in combats between males and may result in the repulsion of subordinate males from the mating site, but may also serve to mimic females chemically in order to avoid aggressive encounters.     

River water quality management model using genetic algorithm

Conventional mathematical programming methods, such as linear programming, non linear programming, dynamic programming and integer programming have been used to solve the cost optimization problem for regional wastewater treatment systems. In this study, a river water quality management model was developed through the integration of a genetic algorithm (GA). This model was applied to a river system contaminated by three determined discharge sources to achieve the water quality goals and wastewater treatment cost optimization in the river basin. The genetic algorithm solution, described the treatment plant efficiency, such that the cost of wastewater treatment for the entire river basin is minimized while the water quality constraints in each reach are satisfied. This study showed that genetic algorithm can be applied for river water quality modeling studies as an alternative to the present methods.     

Gap-Crossing Decisions by the Red Squirrel, a Forest-Dependent Small Mammal

Abstract:  Forest-associated species in fragmented landscapes must traverse potentially inhospitable gaps to move between habitat patches. Although conservation biologists advocate connecting patches with corridors or improving the matrix to make it suitable for movement, little is known about the factors influencing gap-crossing decisions for most species. We investigated gap crossing by the red squirrel ( Tamiasciurus hudsonicus ) in logged landscapes in southeastern Alaska, where the species avoids microhabitats associated with gaps created by clearcutting. We released individuals across clearcuts and determined the routes they took home with tracking spools and radio telemetry. Of 36 adult red squirrels translocated across six clearcuts, 14 crossed clearcuts to reach home. Squirrels were more likely to cross clearcuts if the detour efficiency (distance to home crossing gap divided by distance of forested detour) was low, indicating an ability to compare distances along alternate routes and travel costs or risks in different habitats. No other landscape metrics, such as gap size or crossing distance, predicted crossing behavior. Red squirrels of low body mass were more likely to cross clearcuts, where the probability of encountering conspecifics is low. Distance predicted route choice for squirrels detouring around clearcuts. Indirect evidence suggests that perceived predation risk, energetic costs, or both are higher in clearcuts. Detour efficiency reportedly influences the gap-crossing decisions of some forest-associated birds, but this is the first demonstration of its role in gap-crossing decisions by a mammal.     

钯卟啉室温磷光氧传感器的研究

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