Parasite treatment affects maternal investment in sons

Parasitism can be a major constraint on host condition and an important selective force. Theoretical and empirical evidence shows that maternal condition affects relative investment in sons and daughters; however, the effect of parasitism on sex ratio in vertebrates is seldom considered. We demonstrate experimentally that parasitism constrains the ability of mothers to rear sons in a long-lived seabird, the European shag Phalacrocorax aristotelis. The effect contributes to the decline in offspring survival as the breeding season progresses and hence has important population-level consequences for this, and potentially other, seasonal breeders.     

Nest inheritance is the missing source of direct fitness in a primitively eusocial insect

Animals that cooperate with nonrelatives represent a challenge to inclusive fitness theory, unless cooperative behavior is shown to provide direct fitness benefits. Inheritance of breeding resources could provide such benefits, but this route to cooperation has been little investigated in the social insects. We show that nest inheritance can explain the presence of unrelated helpers in a classic social insect model, the primitively eusocial wasp Polistes dominulus. We found that subordinate helpers produced more direct offspring than lone breeders, some while still subordinate but most after inheriting the dominant position. Thus, while indirect fitness obtained through helping relatives has been the dominant paradigm for understanding eusociality in insects, direct fitness is vital to explain cooperation in P. dominulus.     

Kin selection in cooperative alliances of carrion crows

In most cooperative vertebrates, delayed natal dispersal is the mechanism that leads to the formation of kin societies. Under this condition, the possibility that kin-based cooperative breeding is an unselected consequence of dispersal patterns can never be ruled out because helpers can only help their relatives. Here we show that a population of carrion crows (Corvus corone corone) fully fits the central prediction of kin selection theory that cooperative breeding should arise among relatives. On their territory, resident breeders are aided not only by nonbreeding retained offspring but also by immigrants (mainly males), with whom they share matings. Philopatry cannot account, however, for the high degree of genetic relatedness found between breeders and immigrants of the same sex that cooperate at a nest, indicating that crows actively choose to breed cooperatively with their relatives.     

Breeding together: kin selection and mutualism in cooperative vertebrates

In cooperatively breeding vertebrates, nonbreeding helpers raise young produced by dominant breeders. Although the evolution of cooperative breeding has often been attributed primarily to kin selection (whereby individuals gain "indirect" benefits to their fitness by assisting collateral relatives), there is increasing evidence that helpers can be unrelated to the young they are raising. Recent studies also suggest that the indirect benefits of cooperative behavior may often have been overestimated while the direct benefits of helping to the helper's own fitness have probably been underestimated. It now seems likely that the evolutionary mechanisms maintaining cooperative breeding are diverse and that, in some species, the direct benefits of helping may be sufficient to maintain cooperative societies. The benefits of cooperation in vertebrate societies may consequently show parallels with those in human societies, where cooperation between unrelated individuals is frequent and social institutions are often maintained by generalized reciprocity.     

Kin discrimination and the benefit of helping in cooperatively breeding vertebrates

In many cooperatively breeding vertebrates, a dominant breeding pair is assisted in offspring care by nonbreeding helpers. A leading explanation for this altruistic behavior is Hamilton's idea that helpers gain indirect fitness benefits by rearing relatives (kin selection). Many studies have shown that helpers typically provide care for relatives, but relatively few have shown that helpers provide closer kin with preferential care (kin discrimination), fueling the suggestion that kin selection only poorly accounts for the evolution of cooperative breeding in vertebrates. We used meta-analysis to show that (i) individuals consistently discriminate between kin, and (ii) stronger discrimination occurs in species where the benefits of helping are greater. These results suggest a general role for kin selection and that the relative importance of kin selection varies across species, as predicted by Hamilton's rule.     

母鸡限饲对子代胚胎期脂类代谢相关血液指标的影响

 【目的】研究肉种鸡产蛋期限饲对子代胚胎期脂肪代谢相关血清生化指标和激素水平的影响。【方法】分别选用东北农业大学自繁高、低脂系肉种母鸡各384只,分为两个处理组。产蛋期：处理组一饲喂正常日粮,处理组二饲喂量是正常组的75%,产蛋高峰期收集种蛋并进行孵化。子代按照母代分组收集种蛋,每组150枚,分别于13、15、17和19胚龄取血。【结果】母代限饲显著降低了血清中13胚龄总胆固醇（CHO）、甘油三酯（TG）和4个胚龄低脂系低密度脂蛋白含量（P＜0.05）;显著提高了19胚龄高密度脂蛋白（HDL）和低脂系13、15胚龄血清中葡萄糖（G）的含量（P＜0.05）。母代限饲显著降低血清中15胚龄高脂系和19胚龄胰高血糖素（GLU）的含量、13、15和19胚龄胰岛素（INS）含量、13和15胚龄的瘦素（LEP）含量（P＜0.05）;4个胚龄中,限饲组血清生长激素（GH）水平总体低于正常饲喂组。【结论】肉种母鸡产蛋期限饲能够直接影响子代胚胎期的血液生化和激素水平,这种影响在13胚龄就已经产生;胚胎期血液生化指标在品系间表现出了不同的趋势。     

Evolution and development of sex differences in cooperative behavior in meerkats

In cooperatively breeding birds, where helpers of both sexes assist with the provisioning and upbringing of offspring who are not their own, males tend to contribute more than females to rearing young. This sex difference has been attributed to paternity uncertainty, but could also occur because males contribute more where they are likely to remain and breed in their group of origin. In contrast to most birds, female meerkats (Suricata suricatta) are more likely to breed in their natal group than males. We show that female meerkat helpers contribute more to rearing young than males and that female helpers feed female pups more frequently than males. Our results suggest that sex differences in cooperative behavior are generated by sex differences in philopatry and occur because females derive greater direct benefits than males from raising recruits to their natal group. These findings support the view that direct, mutualistic benefits are important in the evolution of specialized cooperative behavior.     

肉种鸡产蛋中期能量限饲对子代肉鸡生长性能、血液生化指标及肌节长度的影响

试验对产蛋中期AA肉种鸡进行能量限饲,探讨其对子代生长性能、血液生化指标及肌节长度的影响。选用产蛋中期肉种母鸡288羽,分为4个处理组,每组6个重复,每个重复12只。对照组饲喂基础饲粮,试验组日粮能量水平分别为基础饲粮能量的80%、70%、50%,对照组和实验组均限饲且饲喂量相同,于产蛋中期(40~42周龄)进行人工授精、孵化得到子代。每组选用90只肉仔鸡公雏,每组设6个重复,每个重复15只,自由采食同种日粮,试验期为49 d。结果表明,①生产性能:与对照组相比,50%、70%能量组仔鸡初生重显著降低(P<0.05),80%能量组仔鸡49日龄体重显著升高(P<0.05)。②血液生化指标:母体能量限饲显著降低了28日龄各组仔鸡血清中ALB的含量(P<0.05),显著提高了50%能量组IGF-1的水平(P<0.05)。③肌节长度:与对照组相比,50%、70%能量组1日龄肉鸡腿肌肌节长度显著降低(P<0.05),70%、80%能量组28日龄肉鸡腿肌肌节长度显著升高(P<0.05),50%能量组49日龄肉鸡腿肌肌节长度显著增大(P<0.05)。结果表明,肉种鸡产蛋中期能量限饲对子代生长发育有显著影响,并且子代在生长过程中表现出补偿生长作用。     

孕期应激对绵羊子代表型编程效应研究进展

家畜孕期应激对子代行为、生理和神经方面有着复杂的影响,这种影响可以持续到子代成年甚至跨代遗传。家畜孕期管理不当会对母体产生应激,使母体及其子代的生长、健康和福利受损,从而影响家畜的经济价值。本文以绵羊孕期应激模型和人工合成糖皮质激素模拟应激模型的试验结果为切入点,系统总结了绵羊孕期应激对子代表型的影响,并讨论了研究结果异同的可能原因。研究发现,绵羊孕期应激可以影响子代出生体重、调节子代下丘脑—垂体—肾上腺轴发育、影响子代行为模式和认知能力、改变子代基因表达和大脑形态,并且母体糖皮质激素水平是决定子代表型变化的主要因素。未来研究方向应该侧重于绵羊孕期应激对子代基因表达、免疫功能、生产性能和母性行为的影响,以及不同妊娠时期母体应激的比较研究、对子代影响的连续研究和探讨孕期应激不良编程的应对策略研究。     

母鸡限饲对子代脂肪沉积、相关酶活性及其基因表达的影响

 【目的】本试验旨在研究母鸡采食量限饲对子代脂肪沉积、脂肪酸合成酶(fatty acid synthetase,FAS)活性及其基因表达的影响,探讨母体营养效应及子代后天的补偿作用。【方法】选择东北农业大学繁育的高、低脂系肉种母鸡各384羽,分别分为两个处理组。产蛋期,处理一饲喂正常日粮,处理二日采食量是处理一的75%。产蛋高峰期收集种蛋进行孵化。子代自由采食常规水平日粮。【结果】母鸡采食量限饲显著提高子代28日龄腿肌脂肪含量(P＜0.05),56日龄时差异不显著(P＞0.05);子代肝脏脂肪含量品系间存在差异,高脂系显著高于低脂系(P＜0.05);品系与采食水平的互作对子代肝脏脂肪含量和28日龄胸肌脂肪含量影响显著(P＜0.05);子代腹脂率品系间差异极显著(P＜0.01)。56日龄时,子代肝脏FAS酶活性品系间差异显著(P＜0.05),品系与饲喂水平的互作对肝脏FAS酶活性影响显著(P＜0.05)。子代肝脏FAS mRNA表达丰度1日龄时品系间差异显著(P＜0.05);28日龄时,品系与饲喂水平的互作对肝脏FAS mRNA的表达影响显著(P＜0.05);母鸡采食量限饲显著提高了28日龄子代肝脏FAS mRNA的表达丰度(P＜0.05);56日龄时差异不显著(P＞0.05)。【结论】母鸡采食量限饲影响子代脂肪的沉积,且品系间表现出不同的趋势;56日龄时,肉仔鸡肝脏FAS酶活性品系间差异显著(P＜0.05),且品系与饲喂水平的交互作用影响显著(P＜0.05);肉仔鸡肝脏FAS mRNA的表达丰度受母体效应的影响,并且在其后生长过程中表现出补偿作用。     

Effects of Maternal Dietary Energy Restriction on Fat Deposition of Offspring

The study was carried out to investigate the effects of maternal dietary energy restriction on growth performance, serum indices and fat deposition of offspring. A total of 400 female Arbor Acres （AA） broiler breeders were studied. These female birds involved three experimental treatments and a control group with normal dietary energy diets （ND, 11.7 MJ of ME. kgt during the laying）. In treatments 2, 3 and 4, the energies of diets were 20%, 30% and 50% （LD20, LD30 and LD50） lower than those of the control, respectively. The study commenced at the beginning of the laying period when the total egg production reached 5% of the flock. All the broiler offspring were fed the same diets. The results showed that in low energy diets, offspring showed decreased 1-day-old weight, but 49-day-old weight was higher in LD20 diet （P〈0.05）. For offspring during days 1-49, the average daily gain （ADG） in LD20 group and the feed conversion ratio in LD50 group were improved as compared with those of the control （P〈0.05）. Compared with the control, abdominal fat percentage increased in 49-day-old offspring from LD30 diet （P〈0.05）; the fat content of breast muscle in offspring increased in broilers fed low energy diets （P〈0.05）. In 28-day-old offspring from breeders given LD20 and LD50 diets, liver fat percentages were higher compared with ND （P〈0.05）. The subcutaneous fat thickness in 28-day-old offspring from LD50 group and 49-day-old offspring from LD30 group was higher （P〈0.05）. On day 49, the serum cholesterol （CHO） of offspring from breeders fed LD20 diet and serum high-density lipoprotein （HDL） of offspring from breeders fed LD50 diet reduced compared with those of the control （P〈0.05）. In addition, a higher triiodothyronine （T3） content in serum was found in offspring from broiler breeders given LD20 and LD30 diets （P〈0.05）. Serum thyroxine （T4） in offspring significantly decreased with the decrease of diet energy （P〈0.05）. In conclusion, to a certain extent, dietary energy restriction in breeders could improve growth performance and promote lipid metabolism of offspring.     

Effects of helpers on juvenile development and survival in meerkats

Although breeding success is known to increase with group size in several cooperative mammals, the mechanisms underlying these relationships are uncertain. We show that in wild groups of cooperative meerkats, Suricata suricatta, reductions in the ratio of helpers to pups depress the daily weight gain and growth of pups and the daily weight gain of helpers. Increases in the daily weight gain of pups are associated with heavier weights at independence and at 1 year of age, as well as with improved foraging success as juveniles and higher survival rates through the first year of life. These results suggest that the effects of helpers on the fitness of pups extend beyond weaning and that helpers may gain direct as well as indirect benefits by feeding pups.     

释放激素类似物(LRH-A_3)提高种禽产蛋率的研究

1989～1990年,对LRH-A_3提高种鸡、种鸭的产蛋率进行了研究,结果表明:LRH-A_3可显著影响种禽的产蛋率,但不同的给药途径影响不一样。注射给药对产蛋率没有影响,甚至略有下降;口服给药后产蛋种鸡率可提高10.59％,种鸭提高8.46％,且对母禽的健康。蛋的质量及孵化率均无不良影响。其方法简单,易于推广,有较高的社会经济效益。     

肉种鸡日粮能量水平对子代肉仔鸡脂肪沉积及其相关血液指标的影响

试验采用单因子试验设计,选用20周龄体重相近的爱拔益加(AA)肉种母鸡300羽,随机分为3组,每组5个重复,每个重复20羽。在产蛋率达到5%时进行能量处理,对照组饲喂玉米-豆粕型基础日粮,高能组、低能组日粮能量水平分别为对照组的120%、80%,各组均限饲且饲喂量相同。随机抽取300羽产蛋中期(40~42周龄)肉种鸡孵化后的1日龄公雏,试验分组与母代相同,自由采食、饮水,试验期为49 d。结果表明,①与对照组相比,高能组28日龄肝脂率、皮脂厚和49日龄腹脂率显著提高(P<0.05);随着母体日粮能量水平降低,28日龄和49日龄肉仔鸡胸肌、腿肌、肝脏总胆固醇含量呈现出降低趋势,但均无显著变化(P>0.05)。②与对照组相比,高能组28日龄血清三碘甲腺原氨酸(T3)和甲状腺素(T4)含量、49日龄血清高密度脂蛋白(HDL)含量显著降低(P<0.05),而49日龄血清甘油三酯(TG)、低密度脂蛋白(LDL)含量显著升高(P<0.05);低能组49日龄血清胆固醇(CHO)含量显著降低(P<0.05),血清T3含量显著升高(P<0.05)。结果提示,随着肉种鸡日粮能量水平的升高,子代血清T3、T4水平呈现降低趋势,肝脂蓄积逐渐增多,从而使血脂水平也逐渐升高。综合考虑,肉种鸡日粮能量水平低20%可能更有利于子代的生长发育。     

Transfer of maternal calcium to the offspring via the milk

By measuring the specific activities of milk and of maternal and filial long bones 3 months after calcium-45 had been given to the then nonpregnant mothers, it was found that the magnitude of the contribution of the maternal calcium stores to milk formation is similar to the contribution to the bone calcium of the offspring, that is, 10 to 15 percent of either milk calcium or filial calcium is maternal in origin.     

改善日粮维生素对种鸡繁殖性能的影响

某鸡场饲养的海兰Ｗ－３６父母代种鸡１５０００套在４０周龄后种蛋的受精率、孵化率较低,经分析认为属维生素营养不良造成,遂改变日粮的维生素。通过改变饲料的维生素,显著的改进种蛋的品质,使蛋壳强度得到显著提高（Ｐ＜０．０５）,蛋壳厚度显著增加（Ｐ＜０．０５）,蛋重显著降低（Ｐ＜０．０１）;通过改变饲料的维生素,种蛋的受精率提高了５．５６个百分点,受精蛋孵化率提高了５．６１个百分点,入蛋孵化率提高了１０．７５个百分点。经ｔ检验试验前后种蛋受精率差异极显著（Ｐ＜０．０１）,入蛋孵化率差异极显著（Ｐ＜０．０１）,受精蛋孵化率差异不显著（Ｐ＞０．０５）;通过改变日粮的维生素,提高了蛋品质,受精率、孵化率,从而显著的提高了种鸡场的经济效益。     

柞蚕种繁育与市场现状调查研究

对国内柞蚕生产基本情况、柞蚕种繁育及其市场供应情况进行调研和分析,结果表明,目前柞蚕种繁育供给中存在的无序竞争扰乱市场,供求不稳定、繁种主体利益与责任不统一、监管不到位,《蚕种管理办法》执行不力等是导致种子质量无法完全保证的主要问题。文中针对这些问题提出加强柞蚕种质资源创新、建立柞蚕质量监督检验体系、加强市场监管、建立全国柞蚕种业战略联盟等有效措施。力求为保障柞蚕产业健康可持续发展提供借鉴。     

甜瓜亲本与其F1代的RAPD标记分析

利用RAPD标记方法,从分子水平上探测了甜瓜亲本与其杂种F1的遗传差异,用27个引物对11个甜瓜基因型进行了扩增,共扩增出44条有效谱带,其中多态性条带19条,占总条带数的43.18%。每条引物可扩增3～8条带,平均每条引物产生1.63条有效带。根据RAPD遗传距离进行分析,杂种F1多偏向母本自交系遗传;甜瓜亲本自交系间的遗传距离为0～0.39。作为父本,TopMark自交系与H16自交系相比,子代更多继承了Top-Mark自交系的遗传特性。以上结果与田间性状表现相符,RAPD标记用于甜瓜遗传差异的研究切实可行,其结果可用于育种过程中的亲本选配和分子标记辅助选择。     

Analysis of the Offspring Sex Ratio of Chicken by Using Molecular Sexing

The overall sex ratio of offspring （dead embryos and hatch chicks） from all the fertilized eggs of 140 hens collected for 30 days was studied using duplex PCR of certain fragments of sex chromosomes. Additional 894 dead embryos over a period of 21 days of incubation were also investigated to verify the sex ratio of the dead embryos. The sex of the early dead embryos was identified using this molecular sexing technique. The sex ratio of the hatch chicks and the total offspring of the hens investigated in this experiment did not differ from the expected sex ratio （i.e., 1：1）., However, the number of female dead embryos was significantly more than that of males. The data indicated that the different physiologic function of males and females contributed to female-biased mortality during incubation. It was also found by further analysis that the sex ratios of the offspring of some hens were significantly biased to female or male over the period investigated, which suggested that the sex ratio of offspring might be influenced by the maternal condition to some degrees.     

数码育种新概念

根据十几年的育种实践,将作物育种发展的阶段划分为测量育种、模糊育种和数码育种三个阶段。首次提出了数码育种概念,即用不同的数位来代表作物的生物学性状,数位上的数字代表该性状的量。育种者根据要调查的性状及该性状的分级标准,制定一个统一的编码程序,然后对所有的育种材料进行编码,所有的育种材料就都有了自己的身份证。只要看到某一材料的身份证,便可知其所有的遗传性状。利用计算机数据管理系统,对育种材料进行科学管理,分析其遗传规律,科学选配组合,资源信息交流共享,从而使育种工作有明确的目标、清晰的路线、快捷的路径、准确的选择、高效的运作。