Variability in pattern and hydrogen isotope composition (δ2H) of long-chain n-alkanes of surface soils and its relations to climate and vegetation characteristics: A meta-analysis

The average chain length (ACL), carbon preference index (CPI), and hydrogen isotope composition (δ²H) of long-chain n-alkanes in sediments have been used to retrieve information about the paleoclimate. Despite their importance as in-between media from leaves to sediments, n-alkanes of surface soils have not been systematically analyzed at large scale. Such an investigation of the spatial variation of n-alkane properties in soil and their dependence on climatic and botanic (e.g., vegetation type) factors could provide a rationale for a better estimation of the past environment. We synthesized the patterns and δ²H of long-chain n-alkanes in soil (δ²H^n-alkanes) with regard to vegetation types (cropland, grassland, shrubland, and woodland) and environmental factors using data from peer-reviewed papers. Our results showed that the ACL and CPI of soil C₂₇–C₃₃ n-alkanes were not suitable indicators for differentiating vegetation types at large scale; instead, ACL significantly correlated with water conditions such as mean annual precipitation (MAP) and Palmer drought severity index (PDSI), and CPI significantly correlated with temperature without significant influence of vegetation type. The variation (i.e., standard deviation) of fractionation between the δ²H values in annual precipitation and in soil n-alkanes (ε_rain-soil) was smaller than that reported in leaves; therefore, soils were better suited to quantifying the general growing conditions of plants at a certain site. The fractionation ε_rain-soil correlated with climatic conditions as described by the PDSI and relative humidity (RH). This correlation agreed with the change in leaf water enrichment with changing RH taken from the literature and was independent of the vegetation type at large scale. This meta-analysis may provide useful information for the variations of the patterns and δ²H_n-alkanes values in surface soils.     

夏秋季红火蚁工蚁的觅食偏好性及与多态性的关系

【目的】明确在广州地区红火蚁Solenopsis invicta的觅食嗜好性,为我国防治红火蚁新型饵剂的研制与开发提供科学依据.【方法】2011年7—11月观察了广州桑园和荒地红火蚁工蚁觅食活动的季节差异和日动态,并分析其摄食食物类别与生境、季节的关系,比较分析了固态型、液态型或防御型工蚁的个体分布.【结果和结论】春、秋季的2种生境中,摄取固态或液态食物的红火蚁工蚁数量在2种生境或夏秋季节间存在显著差异(固态型P0.01,液态型P0.05),但这种差异不受生境和季节互作的影响(固态型P=0.373 3、液态型P=0.903 3).工蚁对液态食物的喜好强于固态食物,携带液态食物的工蚁的平均比例[夏季:(36.58±8.74)%,秋季:(37.60±5.16)%],显著地高于搬运固态食物的[夏季:(8.03±1.66)%,秋季:(7.30±1.71)%].取食固态食物、液态食物以及负责防御的3类工蚁的个体多态性均呈连续性偏态分布,其平均头壳宽度分别为(0.652 4±0.007 1)、(0.636 1±0.006 2)和(0.636 3±0.006 4)mm,而且三者间无显著性差异.     

农户关于转基因作物的认知对种植意愿的影响研究

以湖北地区547户农户的调查数据为依据,在分析农户禀赋特征和其对转基因作物的认知这两者关系的基础上,探寻农户关于转基因作物的认知对其种植意愿的影响,及农户的个人风险偏好对该过程所起的作用。通过层次回归分析法,运用SPSS 17.0软件对数据进行处理得出:1)农户的性别、文化程度、兼业程度及家庭收入对农户关于转基因作物的认知有显著影响;2)农户关于转基因作物的认知对农户的种植意愿有显著正向影响;3)农户的个人风险偏好对品质情况认知与销售情况认知影响种植意愿的过程有显著的调节作用。基于以上研究结论,对转基因作物的推广提出拓宽宣传途径、提高农户对转基因作物的认知,及增强农户的抗风险能力等对策建议。     

A weight‐of‐evidence approach for defining thermal sensitivity in a federally endangered species

1. Managing for threatened and endangered species under changing environmental conditions is a challenge faced by resource managers worldwide. Lack of basic knowledge of the biology and habitat requirements of these species can contribute to this difficulty but is exacerbated by the limitations of working with rare species (i.e. few individuals) or unrefined and non‐lethal methods for evaluating stress.
2. A weight‐of‐evidence approach was used to evaluate the thermal biology of the federally endangered dwarf wedgemussel (Alasmidonta heterodon), using cumulative results from multiple experimental assessments, co‐occurring species, and their host fish to begin defining the thermal limits and optimal conditions for the species.
3. Results suggest that dwarf wedgemussel and its host fish are thermally sensitive species compared with other Atlantic‐slope mussels, with a lower critical thermal maximum (CTM) and the selection of reduced temperatures during choice experiments.
4. Physiological studies resulted in a lack of statistical significance, primarily owing to low power, which was a function of sample size – an unavoidable problem when studying rare species. Given these limitations, thermal choice and CTM may be more useful end points than physiological processes such as clearance and respiration rates when dealing with sample‐size limitations.
5. These results suggest that management strategies that avoid exposing dwarf wedgemussel and its thermally sensitive host fish to extreme temperatures could be important for species conservation.

     

Mate choice of an endogeic earthworm revealed by microsatellite markers

Endogeic earthworms are difficult study subjects due to the cryptic medium in which they live; thus, only the behaviour of epigeic and anecic earthworms has been studied before. We used microsatellite markers as a tool to elucidate the mate choice processes of Hormogaster elisae, an endogeic earthworm. It was shown to normally mate with two partners, preferably of the same size that are found in close proximity thereby eliminating the need for long-distance dispersion, which could explain the previously observed high genetic differentiation between populations. The genetic analyses of the sperm within each of its four spermathecae showed a uniform distribution with no signs of differential storage of sperm from different partners.     

Repeated annual drought has minor long‐term influence on δ13C and alkane composition of plant and soil in model grassland and heathland ecosystems

As a result of global climate change the incidence of drought conditions in Europe is predicted to increase in the future, which also influences plant resistance. Lipids are important plant constituents that protect plants against drought stress and contribute to the intermediate stable carbon (C) pool in soil. However, the extent to which drought influences lipid cycling in the plant–soil system is unknown and, therefore, it remains questionable how the ecosystem recovers after drought. We focused on plant and soil samples from two different plant communities (temperate grassland and heathland) that had been exposed to 5 years of 4.5–6.0 weeks repeated annual drought. They were sampled one year after the last drought to check the recovery of the plant–soil system. Samples were analyzed for their bulk C, stable C and nitrogen (N) isotope (δ¹³C, δ¹⁵N) and lipid composition. Contrary to our expectation, no strong influence of five years of repeated annual drought was observed for above‐ground biomass, roots and soils in the model ecosystems with respect to elemental (C and N concentrations, C : N ratio) bulk isotope (δ¹³C, δ¹⁵N) composition and the total extractable lipid concentration. Thus, plants did not sustain a significant change in their C and lipid concentration as well as their composition after five years of repeated annual drought. This might be related to the comparatively short drought period related to the overall growth season and provides evidence for recovery of the C and lipid dynamics in temperate grassland and heathland model ecosystems exposed to annual drought.     

Movements and habitat use by pikeperch (Stizostedion lucioperca (L.)) in a hydropeaking reservoir

Abstract –  We used radio telemetry to measure the habitat use and movements of 20 tagged pikeperch (44–59 cm) in the hydropeaking Pyhäkoski Reservoir, Finland, during June 1999–2000. The hydrological conditions in the 8-km-long reservoir were measured and then modeled over eight discharge rates between 30 and 700 m³ · s⁻¹. Pikeperch preferred relatively low water velocities and deep water depths especially during the winter. During the summer, pikeperch moved actively in different parts of the reservoir. No relationship was found between hydroelectric plant operations and distances moved by pikeperch during the summer. Movements peaked in autumn but decreased during the winter to a restricted area. After 1 year of monitoring, 4 out of 20 tagged pikeperch remained in the Pyhäkoski Reservoir, three had died when descending from hydroelectric dams, 10 had descended downstream to other reservoirs or sea, two were captured by local fishermen, and one fish's signal was lost for unknown reasons.     

Inheritance of Eye Pattern and Seed Coat Colour in Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata [L.] Walp.)

The F₂ progenies of crosses between several cowpea (V. unguiculata) lines were investigated for variation of eye pattern and seed coat colour. It was found that three (W, H, O) and five (R, P, B, M, N) major genes control eye pattern and seed coat colour, respectively. The recessive gene (GO) for restricted eye pattern enables the underlying basic white or cream seed coat colour to be observed. A similar effect is obtained with the recessive gene (rr) for colour expression. The expression of mottling (V), possibly a seed coat pattern, may for be observed when it is combined with the genes for certain eye patterns. The significance of these findings in breeding for consumer preference for specific seed coat colour is discussed.     

An investigation of the relationship between the F1 potential and the measures of genetic distance among wheat lines

Summary Three groups of characters selected using three methods were used to calculate genetic distance among two groups of winter wheat lines using Euclidean distance based on principal components. These wheat lines were then clustered by the unweighted pair-group arithmetic average method. The relationship between genetic distance and standardized potence was seemingly influenced by genetic materials. In order to obtain promising crosses, it is advisable to select parents from intercluster rather than intracluster materials. The results suggested that the repeatability method was better than the conventional and weighting methods for selecting characters for distance analysis.     

油桐尺蠖幼虫对3种桉树无性系的取食选择性初探

采用叶碟法对油桐尺蠖幼虫取食3种桉树无性系叶片的选择性差异进行了研究。结果表明：油桐尺蠖幼虫对DH184—1（尾赤桉Eucalyptus urophylla×E.camaldulensis）、GL—WC3（尾赤桉E. urophylla×E．camaldulensis）和GL—UG9（巨尾桉E．grandis×Euro...