Bushcricket song structure and predation by the acoustically orienting parasitoid fly Therobia leonidei (Diptera: Tachinidae: Ormiini)

Males of most bushcricket species produce acoustic advertisement signals to attract females for mating. These signals can also increase conspicuousness to predators. In the genus Poecilimon (Orthoptera: Phaneropterinae) males are attacked by the parasitoid fly Therobia leonidei (Diptera: Tachinidae: Ormiini) which locates males by their calls. In Greece T.leonidei parasitizes several Poecilimon species with different song structures: we examined whether host choice is related to song structure by comparing parasitism rates in two closely related Poecilimon species. One of these species produces monosyllabic songs, the songs of the other species being polysyllabic. The tachinid fly parasitized the polysyllabic species to a greater extent. We demonstrate in a field-experiment that this preference for the polysyllabic species does not depend on local adaptations of the fly. The most probable explanation for the preference of the fly for the polysyllabic singing species seems to be better detection of longer songs. This result is discussed in the context of male song evolution. Received: 4 November 1997 / Accepted after revision: 22 March 1998     

NaCl,Na2CO3胁迫下星星草根际K^＋,Na^＋,Ca^2＋的生理行为

对星星草施加25～600mmol·L－1NaCl及12．5～200mmol·L－1Na2CO3的盐胁迫处理，分析其根际K＋、Na＋、Ca2＋的生理行为．结果表明：Na2CO3对培养液中K＋、Na＋、Ca2＋活度的影响大于NaCl，其中Na2CO3使Ca2＋活度极度下降；营养液中K＋、Na＋、Ca2＋活度与星星草根中K＋、Na＋含量密切相关，其中，根中K＋、Na＋含量与营养液中Ca2＋活度和Na＋活度平方之比即（Ca2＋）／（Na＋）2之间具有一致的曲线关系，根系环境中的（Ca2＋）／（Na＋）2对植物K＋、Na＋吸收有决定性作用．星星草地上部分K＋、Na＋含量与其根中K＋、Na＋含量也相关．根（DW）中K＋在0．38～0．52mmol·g－1间可维持地上部分K＋含量基本稳定．根中Na＋含量较低时，地上部分Na＋含量随根中含量升高而平缓上升．但根中Na＋高至一定值时，地上部分Na＋转而急剧上升，提示星星草在由根向上转运K＋、Na＋的过程中有一定调控作用．     

UV-B辐射对大豆和黄瓜幼苗某些生理特性的影响

在植物生长室中,ＵＶ－ Ｂ辐射明显降低黄瓜幼苗的根系活力,抑制程度随辐射时间的延长而增强．黄瓜和大豆幼苗的叶绿素和可溶性蛋白含量减少与ＵＶＢ辐射时间长短呈正相关,但是类胡萝卜素减少幅度不大．ＵＶＢ对Ｃｈｌｂ 的破坏较Ｃｈｌａ 严重,导致Ｃｈｌａｂ 比值增大．ＵＶＢ虽增加大豆幼苗的ＳＯＤ活性,但降低大豆幼苗的ＮＲ活性及其对温度变化的敏感性．分析认为,Ｃｈｌａｂ 比值和ＳＯＤ 活性升高,有助于植物对ＵＶＢ的适应     

A mixed methodology for evaluating use of evidence in conservation planning

Conservation practitioners widely recognize the importance of making decisions based on the best available evidence. However, the effectiveness of evidence use in conservation planning is rarely assessed, which limits opportunities to improve evidence-based practice. We devised a mixed methodology for empirically evaluating use of evidence that applies social science tools to systematically appraise what kinds of evidence are used in conservation planning, to what effect, and under what limitations. We applied our approach in a case study of the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC), a leading land conservation organization. We conducted qualitative and quantitative analyses of 65 NCC planning documents (n = 13 in-depth) to identify patterns in evidence use, and surveyed 35 conservation planners to examine experiences of and barriers to using evidence. Although claims in plans contained a wide range of evidence types, 26% of claims were not referenced or associated with an identifiable source. Lack of evidence use was particularly apparent in claims associated with direct threats, particularly those identified as low (71% coded as insufficient or lacking evidence) or medium (45%) threats. Survey participants described relying heavily on practitioner experience and highlighted capacity limitations and disciplinary gaps in expertise among planning teams as barriers to using evidence effectively. We found that although time-intensive, this approach yielded actionable recommendations for improving evidence use in NCC conservation plans. Similar mixed-method assessments may streamline the process by including interviews and refining the document analysis frames to target issues or sections of concern. We suggest our method provides an accessible and robust point of departure for conservation practitioners to evaluate whether the use of conservation planning reflects in-house standards and more broadly recognized best practices.     

Evaluating the success of functional restoration after reintroduction of a lost avian pollinator

Conservation translocation is a common method for species recovery, for which one increasingly frequent objective is restoring lost ecological functions to promote ecosystem recovery. However, few conservation translocation programs explicitly state or monitor function as an objective, limiting the ability to test assumptions, learn from past efforts, and improve management. We evaluated whether translocations of hihi (Notiomystis cincta), a threatened New Zealand passerine, achieved their implicit objective of restoring lost pollination function. Through a pollinator-exclusion experiment, we quantified, with log response ratios (lnR), the effects of birds on fruit set and seed quality in hangehange (Geniostoma ligustrifolium), a native flowering shrub. We isolated the contributions of hihi by making comparisons across sites with and without hihi. Birds improved fruit set more at sites without hihi (lnR = 1.27) than sites with hihi (lnR = 0.50), suggesting other avian pollinators compensated for and even exceeded hihi contributions to fruit set. Although birds improved seed germination only at hihi sites (lnR = 0.22–0.41), plants at sites without hihi had germination rates similar to hihi sites because they produced 26% more filled seeds, regardless of pollination condition. Therefore, although our results showed hihi improved seed quality, they also highlighted the complexity of ecological functions. When an important species is lost, ecosystems may be able to achieve similar function through different means. Our results underscore the importance of stating and monitoring the ecological benefits of conservation translocations when functional restoration is a motivation to ensure these programs are achieving their objectives.     

Secondary metabolism — evolution and function: Products or processes?

Summary The distinguishing characteristics of secondary metabolism and its associated metabolites are outlined. Current theories relating to the function of secondary metabolism in plants and micro-organisms are enumerated and the view that consideration of the processes rather than the products may best explain the origins of secondary metabolism is discussed.     

Pathways of system transformation: Strategic agency to support regime change

There is a well-recognised need to transform existing systems of production and consumption towards a more sustainable orientation. However, there is much uncertainty about how to achieve sustainability transitions in practice, and what transition advocates and actors can do to catalyse and steer regime transformation. We therefore need evidence of how transitions are operationalised, in order to better understand the on-ground dynamics of regime change. To address this gap, this research paper examines three contemporary cases of transformational change in the Australian urban water sector and the dominant strategic approach to change adopted in each city. It focuses on the strategic behaviour of actors, in particular examining how agents navigate and respond to the opportunities and constraints of their context, and what initiatives (or combination thereof) can facilitate innovation diffusion and regime transformation. The results reveal three distinct patterns of change, each of which favour particular strategic interventions by transition proponents.In order to incubate transformational change, the results suggest that actors may be best served by initially employing strategies that are immediately compatible with their existing context. However, examination of the strengths and weaknesses of each pattern confirm that no single strategic approach is in itself sufficient, and in order to embed a novel innovation and bring about regime change, actors will eventually need to broaden the range of interventions used. The results also reveal the possibility of a ‘pattern-dependence’ that actors need to deliberately work to overcome in order to fully mainstream the desired change. These findings therefore provide insight into the links between regime transformation, patterns of change and actor strategies while also offering practical guidance that can be used to inform the design and implementation of regime transformation agendas and programs.     

英语课堂内的口语教学

如何进行英语口语的教学已成为教学界一个非常重要的问题。当前口语教学面临着诸多困难和问题。论文中提及了与口语教学有关的教学法一交际教学法，两个影响口语教学的重要因素，即教与学之间的互动作用和课堂气氛对口语教学的影响。     

Influence of the zebra mussel and fish fry on structural and functional characteristics of microorganisms in experimental ecosystems

The interactions of zebra mussels, invertebrates, fish, and microorganisms were studied experimentally. Trends in the distribution of total bacterial biomass, the abundance of heterotrophic organisms, and their functional activities in water and grounds were analyzed. The most favorable conditions for development of bacteria developed in June, in the presence of fish and without zebra mussels. In experimental ecosystems with zebra mussels, a decrease in the abundance and activity of microorganisms and a change of dominant yeast forms were observed.     

高活性萘降解细菌Hydrogenophaga Palleronii LHJ38的研究

为了研究微生物对多环芳烃的降解和转化规律,以萘作为研究对象,从餐厨油烟污染土壤中筛选到一株萘降解活性较高的细菌菌株,经菌种鉴定,定名为帕氏氢噬胞菌(H ydrogenophaga Palleronii)LH J38。测定了该菌的生长曲线和萘降解曲线,建立了菌株对萘的降解活性的定量测定方法,并研究了其最适生长条件。结果表明,在28℃、初始pH6.6、碳氮摩尔比为4的最适培养条件下,LH J38对初始质量浓度为2 000m g/L的萘在96h内的降解率可达98%以上;处于对数生长期的LH J38对萘的降解活性可达47.3nm o l/(m g.m in)。