Effects of helpers on breeder survival in the red-cockaded woodpecker (Picoides borealis)

Helpers can gain future indirect fitness benefits by increasing the survival of breeders that produce offspring related to the helper. Helping augments group size through the helper's presence and, in some cases, by increasing fledging success. Breeders may then experience enhanced survivorship because of the benefits of living in large groups. Helping may also reduce the workload of the breeder, which in turn may increase the likelihood that the breeder will survive to breed again. We used Cox's proportional hazards model to examine whether breeders' survival in two populations of the red-cockaded woodpecker (Picoides borealis) was enhanced when group size was increased in the presence of (1) the helper itself, or (2) "extra" fledglings (fledglings produced by the breeder because of helping behavior). We found that in the presence of helpers, the risk of a breeder dying declined by 21–42% for males and 0–14% for females. Our results suggest reduced breeder workload as one mechanism to explain reduced breeder mortality in the presence of helpers: breeders spent less time incubating and provisioning nestlings when assisted by helpers. The risk of a breeder dying declined by 16–42% in males and 26–43% in females in the presence of "extra" fledglings. We speculate on possible mechanisms by which fledglings might affect breeder survival. Our results support the hypothesis that helpers gain future indirect benefits by reducing breeder mortality. Electronic Publication     

Female control of reproductive skew in cooperatively breeding brown jays (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Cyanocorax morio</Emphasis>)

Brown jays (Cyanocorax morio) are long-lived, social corvids that live in large, stable, territorial groups (mean = 10 individuals). In this study, I determined the distribution of reproductive success within groups using multi-locus DNA fingerprinting. Breeding females produced virtually all (99%) of the young within their own nests. Reproduction within groups was highly skewed towards a single primary female, although long term data indicate that secondary females (female breeders that were usually younger and subordinate to the primary female) were sometimes successful. The high reproductive skew observed for females was associated with primary female aggression. Successful reproduction by secondary females may have been due to parental facilitation or the inability of primary females to completely suppress secondary females. Multiple paternity occurred in 31–43% of broods and extra-group paternity occurred in a minimum of 22% of broods. Patterns of paternity also varied between years, since females often switched or included new genetic mates. Although male consorts of nesting females fathered relatively few offspring (20%), they still had a higher chance of fathering offspring than any other single group male. Reproduction was less skewed for males than females as a result of female mating patterns. Female reproductive patterns are consistent with some of the predictions and assumptions from optimal skew models, while male reproductive patterns are not. The factors affecting skew in species with complex social systems such as incomplete control by breeders over subordinate reproduction, female control of paternity, and resource inheritance have not been well incorporated into reproductive skew models.Communicated by: J. Dickinson     

张集矿区沉陷治理

根据张集矿井田开采五年规划,对地表的移动变形预计,得出开采地面建(构)筑物的影响规律治理的基本方法.     

小海高位池沉积物中重金属分布与污染评价

通过分析8个小海高位池养殖区的采样点沉积物中7个典型重金属污染物的含量,采用单因子指数法和Hakanson生态风险指数法,定量确定养殖池沉积物中重金属的污染程度和潜在生态风险程度。结果表明,沉积物中主要的重金属污染因子是Cu、Pb,污染指数分别为1.14和1.08;其重金属影响因子的顺序为CuPbCdHgZnCrAs,属于轻度污染;主要潜在生态风险因子为Cd,各种重金属的潜在生态危害系数大小顺序为CdHgCuPbAsCrZn,潜在生态风险指数RI平均值为41.12,属于低潜在生态风险。     

规模化畜禽养殖小区替代分散养殖模式污染物减排核算及建议

规模化畜禽养殖小区采用生态工程处理养殖废水和粪便,是一种新出现的环保型养殖模式,与传统的分散养殖方式相比,具有集约型、减量化的特点.本文通过实地调查,监测某规模化畜禽养殖小区及其替代同等规模分散养殖户的主要污染物排放浓度和排放总量,为核算污染物初始排放量、削减量及外排量提供基础数据,以研究和核定实施集约化养殖后污染物减排成效.结果表明,规模化畜禽养殖替代散户养殖,能大幅度减少规模养殖区域养殖废水及污染物外排量,减少幅度为:废水量41.6％,COD 93.5％,NH3-N 99.9％,TP 99.4％,SS 90.5％.养殖小区通过源头减排,提高末端治理效率,并配套农牧结合的有效实施,可使替代养殖户的排污量削减全额认定,实现污染物“零排放”.     

海工高强钢在海水中应力腐蚀研究进展

从高强钢材料的合金成分、金相组织、加工工艺、残余应力以及海水温度、Cl^－浓度、pH值等环境条件和腐蚀程度等方面总结了高强钢应力腐蚀的影响因素。结合高强钢的使用环境和力学特点,简述了高强钢的应力腐蚀开裂机理,包括氢致开裂理论、阳极溶解理论、腐蚀产物楔入理论、应力吸附破裂理论等。针对高强钢在海洋环境中的应力腐蚀问题,分别从组织成分优化、表面处理和阴极保护等方面论述了应力腐蚀防护方法。最后,展望了应力腐蚀机理与防护的发展方向。     

再生水中弗氏柠檬酸杆菌生物膜特性研究

从使用再生水的某电厂冷却塔粘泥中分离出一株具有硫酸盐还原功能的弗氏柠檬酸杆菌.利用扫描电子显微镜（SEM）和能谱仪（EDS）对再生水中HSn70-1A和BFe30-1-1两种合金表面弗氏柠檬酸杆菌生物膜结构和成分进行表征,结果表明HSn70-1A成膜特性好于BFe30-1-1,两种合金表面生物膜中C、O等无机元素含量较...     

Governance of seed and food security through participatory plant breeding: Empirical evidence and gender analysis from Syria

This paper presents the findings of a study on the governance of seed conducted in the framework of a participatory plant breeding (PPB) programme, based on a multi‐year inquiry with a panel of ten Syrian households. The study assessed the interactions between governance regimes regulating the rights to access and control genetic resources at international and national level, compared to the actual ability of the respondent women farmers to access and control the seed of varieties they co‐developed with the PPB programme. The paper argues that gender equal access to seed can “optimally” contribute to enhancing household food security in small scale farming. The paper also argues that to support a gender‐equal access to seed in the respondent households legislation needs to explicitly protect the rights of women farmers to access and share the benefits of genetic material and draw from empirical evidence of the actual access to and control of seed at ground level.     

Dengue epidemics in the Caribbean-temperature indices to gauge the potential for onset of dengue

The seasonality, patterns and the climate associations of the reported cases of dengue in the Caribbean were studied by analyzing the annual and monthly variability of reported cases as well as those of climate parameters (temperature and precipitation). More attention was given to Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, and Jamaica, as those countries contributed mostly to the reported cases. The data were for the period 1980–2003. Results showed that the incidence of dengue in the Caribbean were higher in the last decade (1990s) compared to that in the previous decade (1980s). The yearly patterns of dengue exhibited a well-defined seasonality. The epidemics appeared to occur in the later half of the year following onset of rainfall and increasing temperature. Analysis revealed that the association of the epidemics with temperature was stronger, especially in relation to the onset of dengue, and the probability of epidemics was high during El Niño periods. In years with early warmer periods epidemics appeared to occur early, which was a scenario more probable in the year after an El Niño (an El Niño + 1 year). Indices linked to temperatures that are useful for gauging the potential for onset of dengue were examined. An index based on a moving average temperature (MAT) appeared to be effective in gauging such potential and its average (AMAT) signals a threshold effect. MAT index has potential use in adaptation and mitigation strategies.     

畜禽养殖废水铬污染研究

随着现代畜禽养殖业的发展,畜禽养殖场排放的污染物越来越严重地污染环境,同时由于畜禽养殖的饲料中需要掺入畜禽所需微量元素铬,具有较大的污染隐患。本研究发现畜禽养殖废水是农村溪流铬污染的重要来源;在南山溪中,T—Cr浓度符合C=0．74Coe^-0.1205t（R^2=0．7366）规律衰减变化,Cr（Ⅵ）浓度符合C=0．806Coe^-0.1345t（R^2=0．5927）规律衰减变化;水体中Cr（Ⅵ）与T—Cr含量的关系较为显著（R^2为0．7188）,水体T—Cr含量与底质T—Cr含量的相关性较差（R^2为0．1839）。