Effects of predator-induced visual and olfactory cues on 0+ perch (Perca fluviatilis L.) foraging behaviour

Abstract –  Foraging juvenile fish with relatively high food demands are usually vulnerable to various aquatic and avian predators. To compromise between foraging and antipredator activity, they need exact and reliable information about current predation risk. Among direct predator-induced cues, visual and olfactory signals are considered to be most important. Food intake rates and prey-size selectivity of laboratory-reared, naive young-of-the-year (YOY) perch, Perca fluviatilis , were studied in experiments with Daphnia magna of two size classes: 2.8 and 1.3 mm as prey and northern pike, Esox lucius , as predator. Neither total intake rate nor prey-size selectivity was modified by predator kairomones alone (water from an aquarium with a pike was pumped into the test aquaria) under daylight conditions. Visual presentation of pike reduced total food intake by perch. This effect was significantly more pronounced (synergistic) when visual and olfactory cues were presented simultaneously to foraging perch. Moreover, the combination of cues caused a significant shift in prey-size selection, expressed as a reduced proportion of large prey in the diet. Our observations demonstrate that predator-induced olfactory cues alone are less important modifiers of the feeding behaviour of naive YOY perch than visual cues under daylight conditions. However, pike odour acts as a modulatory stimulus enhancing the effects of visual cues, which trigger an innate response in perch.     

基于镧系金属有机框架材料检测水体中酰胺类除草剂残留的可视化技术研究

研发水体中酰胺类农药残留简便快捷的检测技术，对评估农药造成的水体污染和提出相应的治理对策具有重要意义。以共掺杂镧系金属离子 (Eu3+ 和Tb3+) 作为配位金属离子，分别利用水热法和微波法制备了镧系金属有机框架材料 (lanthanide metal-organic frameworks, Ln-MOF)，对其结构和性质进行了表征，并采用所制备的Ln-MOF对水体中残留的5种常见酰胺类除草剂 (乙草胺、异丙草胺、丙草胺、敌草胺和异丙甲草胺) 进行了定性和定量分析。结果表明:与水热法相比，采用微波法制备的Ln-MOF样品呈蓬松的簇状、结晶度好，且具有更高的发光效率，故选择微波法制备Ln-MOF。农药残留检测试验结果表明，不同除草剂对Tb3+和Eu3+的发光会产生差别性猝灭，并使整体发射光发生变化，进而实现水体中农药的可视化检测。进一步研究发现，荧光强度比值I (Tb3+)/I (Eu3+) 与丙草胺浓度在0.1~1 mmoL/L范围时呈线性相关，线性相关系数R2 = 0.998，检测限 (LOD) 为0.08 mmoL/L。另外，该材料对于用湖水配制的除草剂溶液也具有一定的定性检测能力。本研究结果展现了Ln-MOF用于水体中酰胺类除草剂的定性、定量分析具有良好应用前景。     

The installation of underground pipelines: effects on soil properties

Since the 1970s a network of underground pipes, up to 1200 mm diameter, has been installed in the UK to transmit crude oil to refineries and gas from onshore terminals for distribution. Chosen routes are subject to significant constraints. Current techniques for pipe installation involve topsoil removal and storage. Trench depth is set to allow a cover of 1200 mm overburden after pipes have been installed. The heavy machinery involved results in severe compaction of exposed subsoil. Subsoil is loosened comprehensively and topsoil replaced. Existing field drains are reconnected, and, if necessary, new drains with gravel backfill installed. Pipe installation usually takes place between April and October. Preventative measures to limit compaction during installation are not a practical option. If subsequent arable crops or grass are poorer or drainage more defective than before disturbance, the loss is assessed and compensation paid. To determine the cause of the loss >60, investigations have been made throughout the UK. Soil physical properties were assessed in an open trench using visual and tactile methods. Consistently, severe compaction in the subsoil was identified as the cause of poor crop growth or drainage; it was not observed in the topsoil. Specific recommendations for remedial action were made based on location, depth and severity of the compaction. These included the installation of additional land drains, increasing the amount of gravel above the drains, or further subsoil loosening orientated to cross gravel backfill. After appropriate remedial action, net compensation for crop losses was frequently small or negligible.     

绵羊BMP15基因B2突变可视化检测技术的建立

骨形态发生蛋白15（bone morphogenetic protein 15,BMP15）基因突变对绵羊排卵率、产仔数以及繁殖力有很大影响,本研究旨在建立快速可视化检测BMP15基因B2突变的技术。将改良的扩增阻滞突变系统（amplification refractory mutation system,ARMS）与核酸染料SYBR Green Ⅰ结合,针对BMP15基因B2突变设计ARMS特异性引物,使引物下游3'端的最后一个碱基为A,并在下游引物3'端的第3位碱基处设计额外的错配,以提高引物的特异性;经ARMS PCR扩增后,向产物中加入SYBR Green Ⅰ,通过肉眼观察PCR管内的颜色变化来检测BMP15基因的B2突变。经测序发现所采集的样本均为野生型,因此,利用重叠延伸PCR构建BMP15基因B2突变型模板,测序结果显示BMP15基因B2突变型模板构建成功。ARMS PCR结果显示,ARMS特异性引物能够只扩增突变型模板,而不会扩增野生型模板,且扩增效果良好。ARMS PCR扩增后加入SYBR Green Ⅰ发现已知野生型模板与阴性对照一致,呈SYBR Green Ⅰ原始颜色橙黄色,而已知突变型模板呈亮绿色,且色差明显,肉眼可辨。用建立的可视化检测BMP15基因B2突变的技术检测50个小尾寒羊基因组DNA （随机向其中20个样本中加入构建的BMP15基因B2突变型模板）,将可视化检测的突变型样本编号与混合样本时记录的编号对比,结果表明该技术能够准确检测绵羊BMP15基因的B2突变,且准确率高达100%。将构建的BMP15基因B2突变型的模板进行梯度稀释,对本试验可视化检测体系的灵敏度进行检测,发现ARMS可视化检测技术的灵敏度达到0.006 ng/μL。因此,本研究建立的技术能够可视化地检测绵羊BMP15基因B2突变,且准确率高,有望为高繁殖力绵羊的选育提供技术支持。     

基于视景仿真技术的联合收割机牵引及加载性能研究

随着农业机械化的不断发展,联合收割机的应用越来越普遍,大大地提高了农业生产效率。然而,在联合收割机使用中还存在一些驾驶员视域不开阔、可视环境差等不安全因素。针对这些问题,本文引入了视景仿真技术概念,通过构建基于视景仿真技术的联合收割机牵引及加载性能模型,对联合收割机的牵引及加载性能进行仿真分析。结果显示,将视景仿真技术应用与联合收割机,方便了驾驶员及时掌握实地信息,提高了牵引性能和加载性能,降低了驾驶危险系数。     

Decoding attraction: Improving vine weevil monitoring by exploiting key sensory cues

BACKGROUND

Monitoring is an integral component of integrated pest management (IPM) programmes used to inform crop management decisions. Vine weevil, Otiorhynchus sulcatus F. (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), continues to cause economically significant losses in horticultural crops due to an inability to reliably detect the presence of this species before crop damage occurs. To improve vine weevil monitoring we investigated the behavioural responses of adult vine weevils to visual (monitoring tool shade/colour, height and diameter as well as the effect of monitoring tool and plant density) and olfactory (host plant and conspecifics) cues under glasshouse conditions.

RESULTS

Monitoring tool shade, height and diameter all influenced monitoring tool efficacy, with individuals exhibiting a preference for black, tall and wide monitoring tools. The total number of individuals recorded in monitoring tools increased with monitoring tool density. By contrast, plant density did not influence the number of individuals recorded in monitoring tools. Yew-baited monitoring tools retained a larger number of individuals compared to unbaited ones. Similarly, more vine weevils were recorded in monitoring tools baited with yew and conspecifics than in unbaited monitoring tools or those baited with only yew. Baiting monitoring tools with conspecifics alone did not enhance the number of vine weevils recorded in monitoring tools.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study confirms that visual and olfactory cues influence vine weevil behaviour. This provides information on key factors that influence vine weevil monitoring tool efficacy and can be used to inform the development of a new monitoring tool for this pest. © 2023 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.     

基于视觉的苗期作物株间除草关键技术研究现状

基于视觉的苗期作物和杂草的图像分割技术逐渐成熟,通过视觉技术对苗期作物进行精准识别和定位,是实现株间除草的关键技术和难点。作物的精准识别首先需要利用颜色特征将图像中的作物、杂草和土壤背景进行分割;其次利用实际识别对象的位置特征,形状特征,纹理特征,光谱特征等构造新的特征向量,结合成熟的分类算法对作物和杂草进行特征分类识别。针对棉苗和大豆苗,主要提取位置特征、形状特征,多采用支持向量机为主分类算法;针对玉米,主要提取位置特征、纹理特征,多采用人工神经网络为主的分类算法;针对部分蔬菜苗,主要提取形状特征、光谱特征,多采用算法结合的优化算法,具体实现时需要根据离线样本学习的结果来平衡苗期作物的识别准确率与实时性。在目前的算法中,主要存在三方面的问题:作物特征提取效果易受到遮挡、光照等干扰;分类算法目前还不能得到非常令人满意的准确性和实时性;目前算法一般是针对某种时段的作物,不具有通用性。这些都是后续算法研究中需要进一步解决的问题。     

Multi‐channel visual evoked potential as an ancillary tool to diagnose intraorbital optic nerve lesions

Multi‐channel visual evoked potential (MVEP) recording method was used to assist in diagnosing a 4‐month‐old Chinese Albino rabbit with an intraorbital mass. Subcutaneous MVEP of its both eyes were recorded simultaneously using 16 electrodes (4 × 4) multi‐channel array. Analysis of the cortical potential landscapes (CPL) showed that the conduction function of right eye was remarkably impaired in terms of decreased amplitudes and prolonged latencies. Specific side‐dominant distribution asymmetry of the decreased MVEP amplitudes indicated that the temporal side of the optic nerve (ON) was severely involved. Overall prolonged latencies of the CPL without side differences suggested that the functional impairment could have been caused by the mechanical compression exerted by an intraorbital mass. Surgical removal procedures confirmed that the mass was located temporally to the ON. Pathological examination provided a final diagnosis of a giant polycystic mucocele. Beyond its significance as a standard tool to assess functional changes of the visual pathway, MVEP recordings might assist locating intraorbital lesions that involve the ON by careful analysis of abnormal CPLs.