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.     

Utilization of Sake lees as Broiler Feedstuff and its Effects on Growth Performance and Intestinal Immunity

Increasing food loss and waste (FLW) is a global problem, and efforts are being made to use waste food as potential livestock feed material. The amount of self-supplied feed is lower in Japan than in other countries, and the government recommends FLW use for animal feed. Sake (Japanese rice wine) is a traditional alcoholic beverage. During the sake manufacturing process, large amounts of squeezed solids or “lees” (sake lees) are generated. Sake lees are nutritious and functional, but are prone to spoilage. In this study, we investigated whether sake lees should be mixed with animal feed immediately or after drying. To assess the usefulness of sake lees as a poultry feed ingredient and determine the effect of sake lees on intestinal immunity, we performed a feeding trial with three treatments: a raw sake lees (RSL) diet, dried sake lees (DSL) diet, and control diet. Three-week-old broilers were fed these diets (n=8 per group) for two weeks. We then calculated feed efficiency and performed RT-qPCR to assess the effects of diet on intestinal immunity. The growth performance in the RSL diet group was equivalent to that in the control diet group. The DSL diet became difficult for broilers to eat, resulting in decreased growth performance. In the ileum of RSL-diet broilers, the mRNA expression levels of TGF-β1 and avian β-defensin (AvBD)12 were significantly increased compared to those of control diet broilers (p<0.05), and a significant correlation was observed between the two genes (p<0.05). Our results indicated that sake lees should not be dried and should be mixed immediately with feed, and this sake lees when fed to chicken activates the intestinal immunity. However, sake lees have a lower fat content than corn, and it is thus important to combine sake lees with high-energy feed.     

罗平万峰山市级自然保护区保护价值评价

万峰山自然保护区地处地貌发育典型的喀斯特地区,是我国滇东喀斯特山地森林的重要组成部分,也是滇东地区重要的物种基因库。本文在对保护区内现有野生动植物资源进行分析的基础上,从典型性、稀有性、脆弱性、多样性、感染力、面积适宜性、潜在价值、科研价值等方面对保护区的保护价值进行了综合评价分析,认为保护区形成了具有代表性的喀斯特山地森林生态系统,区内的森林生态系统对保护喀斯特地区极其脆弱的生态环境及保护生物多样性具有十分重要的意义。     

石柱县莼菜大田植物多样性调查与分析

调查重庆市石柱县野生莼菜大田的植物多样性。共发现植物244种,隶属于74科200属。其中菊科26属30种,禾本科19属21种,荨麻科8属12种,唇形科10属11种;外来入侵植物有34科63属69种,菊科、禾本科物种数最多;本土危害物种9科10属12种,危害能力极强。此外,还发现国家二级保护植物金荞麦(Fagopyrum dibotrys),重庆市省级重点保护野生植物瓶尔小草(Ophioglossum vulgatum)。区系分析、植被类型、植物组成分析显示,该地植物区系丰富,属于热带和温带气候带之间,且物种多样性相对丰富,湿地植物数量相对较高,危害植物干扰严重。     

沉水植物在水环境治理中的应用研究

淡水是人类生存不可或缺的珍贵资源,然而随着近年工业快速发展及人口大幅增加,水环境污染问题日益突出,进一步加剧了水资源短缺的矛盾。沉水植物因其各部分均可吸收养料且通气组织特别发达,常被用作水环境治理的先锋种,其具有去除氮磷、提高透明度、固定底泥、抑制蓝藻、微生物协同等重要作用。本文就沉水植物及其设计原则、作用原理展开阐述,并分析应用中存在的问题,展望未来研究方向,以期为沉水植物今后的应用与研究提供参考。     

转基因甜瓜植株的获得及其抗病性

甜瓜（Ｃｕｃｕｍｉｓ ｍｅｌｏ）子叶外植体能被含双元载体的根瘤农杆菌菌不妨功体内含１个ＮＰＴ－Ⅱ基因（新霉素磷酸基转移酶Ⅱ基因）,以供选择卡妹妹纱抗性的转化甜 １个ＷＭＶ－２ ＣＰ基因（西瓜花叶病毒２号外壳蛋白基因）。卡那霉素抗性植株经ＰＣＲ－Ｓｏｕｔｈｅｒｎ杂交试验表明,外源的ＷＭＶ－２ ＣＰ基因确已通过农杆菌介导的转化途径导入甜瓜细胞。目前转基因甜瓜已开花结果。攻毒试验表明,与对照相比,转基因     

Challenges facing arthropod biological control: identifying traits for genetic improvement of predators in protected crops

Biological control is an efficient pest control method but there are still limitations that are hindering its wider adoption. Genetic improvement of biological control agents (BCAs) can help to overcome these constraints, but the choice of key attributes for better performance that need to be selected is still an open question. Several characteristics have been suggested but the harsh reality is that selective breeding of BCAs has received a lot of attention but resulted in very little progress. Identifying the appropriate traits to be prioritized may be the first step to reverse this situation. In our opinion, the best way is to look at the factors limiting the performance of key BCAs, especially generalist predators (pesticide compatibility, prey‐density dependence, non‐suitable crops, and extreme environmental conditions), and according to these challenges, to choose the attributes that would allow BCAs to overcome those limitations. The benefits of selection for higher resistance to toxins, whether artificially applied (pesticides) or plant produced (plant defenses); increased fitness when feeding on non‐prey food (supplemented or plant‐derived); and better adaptation to extreme temperature and humidity are discussed. In conclusion, genetic improvement of BCAs can bring about new opportunities to biocontrol industry and users to enhance biocontrol resilience. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry     

寄主植物对桃蚜羧酸酯酶和乙酰胆碱酯酶的诱导作用

在１９９５～１９９６年研究了寄主植物对桃蚜［Ｍｙｚｕｓｐｅｒｓｉｃａｅ（Ｓｕｌｚｅｒ）］羧酸酯酶（ＣａｒＥ）和乙酰胆碱酯酶（ＡＣｈＥ）的诱导作用。在试验的甘蓝、茄子和桃树３种寄主植物中，取食甘蓝的桃蚜种群ＣａｒＥ和ＡＣｈＥ活性最高，取食茄子和桃树的桃蚜种群ＣａｒＥ活性没有明显不同，而ＡＣｈＥ活性取食茄子的桃蚜种群明显高于取食桃树的种群。ＣａｒＥ与底物的亲和力是桃树＞茄子＞甘蓝，而ＡＣｈＥ与底物的亲和力则是甘蓝＞茄子＞桃树。ＡＣｈＥ与毒扁豆碱的双分子速率常数（Ｋｉ）值大小顺序为甘蓝＞桃树＞茄子     

长沙市地被植物园林应用的现状及其存在的问题

通过对长沙市园林地被植物应用情况的实地调查,发现目前长沙市园林常用的地被植物约40种,分析了长沙市园林中宽阔地域、小面积地域、人工湖及人工溪流旁、坡和角以及林下等4种不同的地被植物的配置应用形式及目前存在的问题,并提出了发展对策.     

Periodicity and gradients in dispersal ofAlternaria linicola in linseed crops

Conidia ofAlternaria linicola produced on infected linseed crops were mainly dispersed by wind. The numbers of conidia in the air above linseed crops collected by a Burkard spore sampler were greatest between 1200 h and 1300 h, when the relative humidity was lowest. Although numbers of conidia collected decreased with increasing height within and above the crop canopy, air-borneA. linicola conidia were present up to 80 cm above the crop canopy. Conidia ofA. linicola were transported by wind up to at least 40 m downwind from an artificial line inoculum source, but their numbers decreased with increasing distance from the source. In 1991, 1992, and 1993, the dispersal ofA. linicola conidia above linseed crops followed a seasonal periodicity which was influenced by weather conditions and cultural practices. The greatest numbers of conidia were collected during July, August and early September and coincided with periods favourable for sporulation and with an increase in the incidence of the disease in the senescent crop. Air-borneA. linicola conidia produced on point or line inoculum sources (naturally infected linseed stem debris) were responsible for the spread of the disease in linseed crops. In 1992 and 1993, the disease was first detected downwind from the sources, but by the end of the growing seasons, it had spread in all directions and up to 20 m and 60 m from the sources, respectively. Disease gradients were initially steep near the inoculum sources but they became flatter with time due to the secondary spread of the disease.