Honey bee nest thermoregulation: diversity promotes stability

A honey bee colony is characterized by high genetic diversity among its workers, generated by high levels of multiple mating by its queen. Few clear benefits of this genetic diversity are known. Here we show that brood nest temperatures in genetically diverse colonies (i.e., those sired by several males) tend to be more stable than in genetically uniform ones (i.e., those sired by one male). One reason this increased stability arises is because genetically determined diversity in workers' temperature response thresholds modulates the hive-ventilating behavior of individual workers, preventing excessive colony-level responses to temperature fluctuations.     

Hormonal and genetic control of behavioral integration in honey bee colonies

The ability of insect colonies to adjust the division of labor among workers in response to changing environmental and colony conditions, coupled with research showing genetic effects on the division of labor in honey bee colonies, led to an investigation of the role of genetics and the environment in the integration of worker behavior. Measurements of juvenile hormone(JH) titers and allozyme analyses of worker honey bees suggest that two processes are involved in colony-level regulation of division of labor: (i) plasticity in age-dependent behavior is a consequence of modulation of JH titers by extrinsic factors, and (ii) stimuli that can affect JH titers and age-dependent behavior do elicit variable responses among genetically distinct subpopulations of workers within a colony. These results provide a new perspective on the developmental plasticity of insect colonies and support the emerging view that colony genetic structure affects behavioral organization.     

Mutualistic fungi control crop diversity in fungus-growing ants

Leaf-cutting ants rear clonal fungi for food and transmit the fungi from mother to daughter colonies so that symbiont mixing and conflict, which result from competition between genetically different clones, are avoided. Here we show that despite millions of years of predominantly vertical transmission, the domesticated fungi actively reject mycelial fragments from neighboring colonies, and that the strength of these reactions are in proportion to the overall genetic difference between these symbionts. Fungal incompatibility compounds remain intact during ant digestion, so that fecal droplets, which are used for manuring newly grown fungus, elicit similar hostile reactions when applied to symbionts from other colonies. Symbiont control over new mycelial growth by manurial imprinting prevents the rearing of multiple crops in fungus gardens belonging to the same colony.     

Human leukemic cells: in vitro growth of colonies containing the Philadelphia (Ph) chromosome

Human leukemic cells with a marker (Philadelphia; Ph(1)) chromosome gave rise to granulocytic and mononuclear cell colonies when grown in vitro. All metaphases from a single colony were either Ph(1) positive or Ph(1) negative. No colonies contained a mixed cell population. This suggests that leukemic and normal cells exist simultaneously and that in vitro colonies are clonal in origin.     

Genetic compatibility affects queen and worker caste determination

The development of queen and worker phenotypes in ants has been believed to be largely determined from environmental effects. We provide evidence that the production of discrete phenotypes is also influenced by genetic interaction effects. During the development of eggs into adults, some patrilines among offspring of multiply mated Pogonomyrmex rugosus ant queens became more common in workers while others became overrepresented in queens. Controlled crosses showed that these changes stem from some parental genome combinations being compatible for producing one phenotype but less compatible for the other. Genetic interaction effects on caste may be maintained over evolutionary time because the fitness of an allele depends on its genetic background.     

蜂王浆产量与温湿度关系的研究

通过给蜂群施加环境控制措施不同,结果蜂箱内部的小气候环境有着本质差异试验采取5种环境控制水平,不同处理水平的蜂箱内部温度存在极显著差异(F>0.01),蜂箱内部湿度存在显著差异(F>0.05),蜂王浆产量存在极显著差异(F>0.01),王台接受率差异不明显(F>0.05),并且得出湿度与产浆量呈负相关、相关系数为-0.6,温度与产浆量呈正相关,相关系数为 0.03.最后得出在高温季节,只要给蜂群遮荫在副盖上不加湿垫,同时坚持坚巢门喂水,产浆效果最佳.凡在蜂群副盖加湿垫来降温增湿的处理产浆均不佳.这一结论与人们传统的感性经验截然相反,试验得出结论在生产实施简单易行,具有较大经济价值,采用此法每箱每年较传统方法多产王浆600g,少投入垫子2元,共计可增收节支92元,同时又减轻养蜂人员每天给垫子加水的体力劳动.     

不同穗型水稻群体中温湿度特征的研究

本研究以不同穗型的3个品种沈稻11、辽粳294和沈农9816为试材，研究了水稻群体间的温湿度特征。结果表明，白天不同品种水稻群体中温度和相对湿度的变化趋势与大气一致。水稻群体中露点温度的脉动远大于温度和相对湿度，总的趋势是中午露点温度较高。不同水稻群体中温度的差异小于湿度。从8月上旬至9月中旬，不同品种群体中的温、湿度差异逐渐增大，弯穗品种群体中的温度低于直立、半直立穗品种，湿度大于直立、半直立穗品种，直立和半直立穗品种之间的差别不太大。     

日本弓背蚁种群动态及繁殖规律的研究

对13巢日本弓背蚁进行调查,结果表明平均每蚁巢有卵249粒、幼虫592头,蛹306只、工蚁1298只、无翅雌蚁(蚁后)1只,各虫态数量无稳定比例.种群数量与蚁群年龄及土壤性质有关.每年秋季产生有性蚁,翌年4月下旬至5月上旬婚飞.婚飞后单个雌蚁繁育出第1批工蚁需37天.雌蚁在有工蚁照顾下每天产卵,日均产卵12.5粒,单个雌蚁产卵量低.雌蚁缺乏时,工蚁也可少量产卵.大、中、小型工蚁均有产卵能力,大型工蚁产卵力较强.单个饲养的工蚁不能产卵.     

Haplodiploidy and the evolution of facultative sex ratios in a primitively eusocial bee

In eusocial Hymenoptera, the haplodiploid system of sex determination creates relatedness asymmetries such that workers are more closely related on average to their sisters than to their brothers. For such societies, kin-selection theory and sex-ratio theory predict that workers maximize their inclusive fitness by biasing the investment sex ratio toward females. To test the prediction of sex-ratio biasing, relatedness asymmetries were experimentally manipulated in colonies of the primitively eusocial bee Augochlorella striata (Halictidae: Hymenoptera) by removing or not removing foundress queens. Queenright colonies (relatedness asymmetry present) produced a more female-biased sex ratio than did queenless colonies (relatedness asymmetry absent). Worker reproduction and unmated replacement queens can be discounted as alternative explanations. Workers therefore facultatively adjusted their colony's sex ratio and, in the presence of a relatedness asymmetry, biased the investment sex ratio toward their more closely related sisters and away from their more distantly related brothers.     

New method of forming bee colonies by division in half

A new method of forming bee colonies has been developed and a patent is obtained for it. The method consists in a considerable (theoretically, 100%) increase from strong highly productive colonies without their entry into a swarming state, without a reduction of productivity, and with complete readiness for overwintering (with respect to food) of both the parent colony itself and the newly formed one.     

污水、污泥中苏云金杆菌的分离及其基因型鉴定

从40个样品中分离到112株芽孢菌,其中有2株为Bt,占1.8%;从城市污水和啤酒厂生物处理系统中分别分离到1株Bt:采用cry1-cry11、cyt、vip3A、aiiA和inhA引物对BRC-WLY1和BRC-WLY2进行PCR扩增,发现2株Bt含有cry1(cry1Ag、cry1Ba、cry1Gb、cry1La)、cry2Ac、vip3A、aiiA杀虫基因,其中BRC-WLY1还含有inhA基因.     

玉米灰斑病菌培养性状观察

研究表明，玉米灰斑病菌的不同菌株在玉米叶煎汁固体和液体培养基上菌落形态不同，但多数菌株菌落为黑色、有白色絮状菌丝、液体培养的孢子球为黑色具绒毛。不同菌株在同一培养基上或同一菌株在两种不同培养基上的生长速度均有显著的差异，说明灰斑病菌的分化或多态性在菌丝生长速率方面有明显的反映。首次在自然条件下分离到灰斑病菌的白化菌株（20-46）。白化菌株在菌落性状和生长速率上均与其他菌株差异显著。白化菌株的发现证明玉米灰斑病菌存在遗传变异的潜能。     

小鼠ES细胞在不同饲养层上培养nanog基因的 表达水平与生长行为

观察小鼠ES-D3细胞在MEF、新生牛睾丸支持细胞(nBTSCs)和新生兔睾丸支持细胞(nRTSCs)饲养层上生长4dnanog基因的表达水平和生长行为。RT-PCR分析显示,MEF饲养层上培养4d的ES-D3nanog基因含量高;nBTSC饲养层上培养nanog基因表达较低;而RTSC饲养层上培养nanog基因表达最低。结果显示:不同饲养层上的ES-D3细胞集落形态和培养4d分化程度有差异。在MEF饲养层上的ES-D3细胞培养4d,集落形态仍然很规则,细胞间紧密,集落表面少见大细胞,AKP染色强阳性。在nBTSC饲养层上的ES-D3细胞,集落界限清晰,AKP染色显示,集落大部分细胞呈阳性,少数的细胞集落为弱阳性,可见集落表面分散有较多的大细胞。在nRTSC饲养层上的饲养层上的ES-D3,集落隆起不明显,集落界限不清晰,大部分集落形态不太规则,AKP染色显示集落中部分细胞呈阳性,少数的细胞集落为全阴性,集落表面有较少的大细胞,集落周围有伸出的成纤维细胞。     

稻曲病（Ustilaginoidea virens）病穗和病粒的空间分布型

用频次分布法测定了水稻稻曲病病穗和病粒在稻田中的分布,结果表明：在２０块稻中,有１９块田曲病病穗分布符合聚集分布,仅１块田符合随机分布,稻曲病病粒的分布在１９块田中均符合聚集分布。又用８种聚集度指数测定了稻曲病病穗和病凿的分布型。结果表明,稻曲病的病穗和病粒的分布均是聚集的,其分布的基本成分为疏松个体群,个体群内分布是随机的。病穗和病粒的个体群面积分别为４－８穴和２－４穴。     

浙农大A系意蜂王浆高产试验

 以王浆高产为主要特征的浙农大A系意峰20群，通过1年定地结合小转地饲养，运用适合浙农大A系意蜂的多项生产技术，全年共产王浆154.1kg，平均每群产浆7.7 kg，刷新了国内外王浆高产记录；同时，生产蜂蜜950 kg，平均每群47.5 kg；花粉35 kg，平均每群1.75 kg；蜂蜡17 kg，平均每群0.85 kg；蜂群发展到60群，增加了2倍。全年群均创利739.1元，创造了我国群均效益的最高记录。     

Nestmate and kin recognition in interspecific mixed colonies of ants

Recognition of nestmates and discrimination against aliens is the rule in the social insects. The principal mechanism of nestmate recognition in carpenter ants (Camponotus) appears to be odor labels or "discriminators" that originate from the queen and are distributed among, and learned by, all adult colony members. The acquired odor labels are sufficiently powerful to produce indiscriminate acceptance among workers of different species raised together in artificially mixed colonies and rejection of genetic sisters reared by different heterospecific queens.     

酿酒微生物计数方法探讨

采用琼脂倾注法接种不同菌株,并对平板菌落分别进行人工计数与自动计数,对两种方法的计数结果进行比较分析,以验证全自动菌落计数仪的菌落识别功能和计数准确性。结果表明,全自动菌落计数仪对于菌落较小的细菌类能准确地快速计数,重现性好,最大误差率为3.95%;但对于菌落形态较大的霉菌类、酵母类等计数准确率低,最大误差率分别为42.86%和35.50%。因此,在实际应用中应以自动计数为主,通过合理设置菌落直径、颜色、亮度、背景偏差等参数以方便自动计数,同时采用人工计数对结果进行修正,以提高计数准确率。     

不同水平维生素A对意大利蜜蜂春繁阶段群势及幼虫抗氧化性的影响

【目的】研究日粮中添加不同水平维生素A对意大利蜜蜂春繁阶段群势和幼虫虫体抗氧化活性的影响。【方法】春繁开始时选用本地意大利蜜蜂25群（群内无花粉贮备）,随机分为5组,分别饲喂添加了不同水平维生素A的试验日粮,维生素A水平分别为0、5 000、10 000、15 000、20 000 IU•kg-1,并测定各组蜂群群势及幼虫抗氧化活性。【结果】春繁阶段饲粮中维生素A添加水平对意大利蜜蜂群势及取食量有显著影响。在试验期末,维生素A水平为10 000 IU•kg-1组群势显著高于对照组和其它试验组（P＜0.05）;饲喂维生素A水平为10 000和15 000 IU•kg-1饲料时5日龄幼虫虫体抗氧化活性（总抗氧化能力（T-AOC）、总超氧化物岐化酶（T-SOD）活性、过氧化氢酶（CAT）活性）显著高于对照组和其它试验组（P＜0.05）,丙二醛（MDA）含量显著低于对照组和其它试验组（P＜0.05）;除维生素A水平为15 000 IU•kg-1组外,10 000 IU•kg-1组工蜂初生重显著高于对照组和其它试验组（P＜0.05）。【结论】意大利蜜蜂春繁阶段适宜的维生素A添加水平（10 000—15 000 IU•kg-1）有利于蜂群群势的增长和抗氧化能力的提高。     

A metagenomic survey of microbes in honey bee colony collapse disorder

In colony collapse disorder (CCD), honey bee colonies inexplicably lose their workers. CCD has resulted in a loss of 50 to 90% of colonies in beekeeping operations across the United States. The observation that irradiated combs from affected colonies can be repopulated with naive bees suggests that infection may contribute to CCD. We used an unbiased metagenomic approach to survey microflora in CCD hives, normal hives, and imported royal jelly. Candidate pathogens were screened for significance of association with CCD by the examination of samples collected from several sites over a period of 3 years. One organism, Israeli acute paralysis virus of bees, was strongly correlated with CCD.     

Tournaments and slavery in a desert ant

Many species of ants engage in physical fighting when territorial borders are challenged. In contrast, colonies of the honeypot ant species Myrmecocystus mimicus conduct ritualized tournaments, in which hundreds of ants perform highly stereotyped display fights. Opposing colonies summon their worker forces to the tournament area by means of an alarm-recruitment system. When one colony is considerably stronger than the other, the tournament quickly ends, and the weaker colony is raided and its ants "enslaved." This is the first example of intraspecific slavery recorded in ants.