Reproductive roles predict sexual dimorphism in internal and external morphology of lake whitefish,Coregonus clupeaformis

Abstract – The different reproductive roles of the sexes can predict the direction and magnitude of sexual dimorphism of external and internal morphology. Males should have enlarged structures that enhance the acquisition of mating opportunities, whereas females are predicted to have enlarged organs that are associated with the production of eggs. We tested these predictions in male and female lake whitefish, a species in which both sexes have similar overall body size and shape. After controlling for body size, male lake whitefish had significantly longer jaws and pectoral and pelvic fins, larger hearts, and more muscle than females. Sexual dimorphism in relative muscle mass may be one of the most fundamental morphological differences between males and females. Females had relatively heavier livers than males. Because the liver is important for the breakdown of fats and vitellogenesis, selection should favour an enlarged liver in females for the processing of energy and the production of large numbers of eggs.     

Comparison of uptake of different N forms by soil microorganisms and two wet-grassland plants: A pot study

Two common plant species of temperate wet grasslands, Carex acuta and Glyceria maxima, were tested for their preferences in the uptake of different nitrogen (N) sources (amino acid, ammonium, nitrate) and their ability to compete for these sources with soil microorganisms. The experiment was a one-day incubation study with plants growing in soil obtained from the field, which was supplied with a solution containing the three N sources, one at a time labeled with ¹⁵N. The bulk of the N demand of both species was covered by nitrate-N, which was the dominant N form in the soil at the time of the experiment. Ammonium-N was taken up less strongly, and organic N formed only a negligible part of their nutrition. The assimilated inorganic N was preferentially transported to apical meristem of the youngest leaf, while organic N remained mostly in the roots. The fast-growing Glyceria took up more N and was a better competitor vis-à-vis soil microbes for rarer N forms than Carex. However, both plants were poor competitors for N vis-à-vis soil microbes, irrespective of the N form. Microbes took up nitrate ca. five times faster and organic N more than a hundred times faster than plants. Correspondingly, the calculated turnover time of microbial N was 17 days, compared to 40 days for N in plant roots. A significant amount of added ¹⁵N was found at non-exchangeable sites in the soil, which points to the importance of microbial N transformation and abiotic N fixation for N retention in soil. In summary, the preferential assimilation of inorganic N by the wetland plants studied here and their poor ability to compete for N with soil microbes over the short term agree with the results of studies carried out with other species from temperate grasslands.     

Sperm competition and the evolution of sperm form and function in mammals

Sperm competition is a powerful selective force that has influenced many reproductive traits in males and females although additional evolutionary explanations may help to understand the diversity of mammalian reproduction. Sperm morphology varies considerably in mammals with extreme examples in several rodent lineages in which a wide range of sizes and complex head morphologies have been identified. Mammalian spermatozoa also differ in function, with swimming velocity and trajectory showing much divergence. Underlying processes mediating function have received little attention so far, but differences in timing and proportion of sperm undergoing capacitation or acrosomal exocytosis may be related to variation in signalling processes. Furthermore, energy required for sperm functions (such as motion, signalling and overall maintenance of cell integrity) can be produced and consumed, following different patterns among species and this could be the result of several selective forces. A more thorough understanding of the diversity in structure and function of sperm cells, and underlying selective forces, may help us develop better methods to assess them taking into account particulars and generalities of sperm form and performance. Such tests could then become more reliable in estimations of the impact of cryopreservation or effect of changes in the environment and their relevance for fertility.     

根系分泌物在‘热研2号’柱花草与鬼针草生长早期种间干扰中的作用

为探究根系分泌物在牧草与杂草种间相互干扰中的作用,采用营养液水培和土壤盆栽法研究‘热研2号’柱花草(Stylosanthes guianensis Sw. ‘Reyan No.2’)和鬼针草(Bidens pilosa L.)根系分泌物对彼此生长的影响。结果表明：无植株体接触情况下,柱花草根系分泌物对鬼针草表现出化感抑制作用,而鬼针草根系分泌物对柱花草表现为化感促进作用;柱花草和鬼针草在根系不完全接触时的根长、根体积、生物量均高于根系自由接触(P<0.05),根系无接触时二者的根长、分枝数、生物量也均高于根系自由接触(P<0.05);竞争效应分析发现,根系不完全接触时柱花草的竞争能力强于鬼针草,而根系自由接触时竞争能力弱于鬼针草。说明土培伴生生长时柱花草根系分泌物也可以抑制鬼针草的生长,但鬼针草能通过增强地上部竞争能力来抵御柱花草根系分泌物的化感干扰,二者的种间关系是资源竞争和化感作用共同作用的结果。     

Characterization and quantitative assessment of interspecific and intraspecific penetration of below-ground vegetation by cogongrass (Imperata cylindrica (L.) Beauv.) rhizomes

Cogongrass ( Imperata cylindrica (L.) Beauv.), an invasive C4 perennial grass, negatively influences native plant communities by forming dense monotypic stands that alter ecosystem properties and lower local species diversity. A hypothesized mechanism by which cogongrass achieves competitive dominance is a novel use of below-ground vegetative disturbance of neighboring vegetation (i.e. puncturing). However, very little empirical evidence is found in the peer-reviewed literature to quantify this phenomenon, much less establish it as a true form of competitive interaction. The present field study was conducted to quantify the occurrence of rhizome-mediated, below-ground vegetative penetration, both interspecifically and intraspecifically, document how this phenomenon is influenced by spatial location relative to the cogongrass stand, and determine the role that above-ground and below-ground biomass might have in the process. Analyses of 100 sod samples indicated that rhizome-mediated, below-ground vegetative penetration is a much larger intraspecific phenomenon than an interspecific one. The data also strongly suggested spatial location as a significant factor, with most penetrations occurring in the interior of a cogongrass stand as opposed to the advancing border. Significant correlations between rhizome-mediated, below-ground vegetative penetration and above-ground cogongrass biomass were found in the overall plot analysis and most strongly in the advancing border of the cogongrass stands.     

基于营养竞争原理的大豆根腐病生防芽孢杆菌的筛选及其特性研究

利用营养竞争平板筛选法获得了可在大豆麦麸(SWB)培养基上快速生长并拮抗大豆根腐病菌Fusarium oxysporum和F.solani的芽孢杆菌菌株B006和B010。通过16S rDNA序列分析、形态观察和生理生化性状测定,将其鉴定为枯草芽孢杆菌(Bacillus subtilis)。田间小区试验结果表明,以种子处理(108cfu/mL,药种比为1∶60)和以麦麸为载体的固体菌剂土壤沟施(106cfu/g,用量195 kg/ha)B006和B010菌剂对真叶期大豆根腐病的防治效果分别为74.6%和63.5%,高于商品化学农药35%多福合剂种子处理的防效(P=0.05),大豆产量分别增加13.8%和24.0%。利用特异引物对生防功能基因的扩增结果表明,bmyB、fenD、bioA和srfAA基因以及srfAB基因簇的片段在2个菌株中均存在,而ituC基因仅存在于B010菌株中。对菌株生防功能基因的分析有助于今后高效菌株的快速筛选和对生防菌作用机制的研究。     

根际分隔对玉米/豌豆间作种间竞争及豌豆结瘤固氮的影响

通过盆栽试验研究了玉米/豌豆间作条件下,两种施氮水平(0、0.15 g·kg~(-1))及三种分隔方式(不分隔、塑料膜分隔、尼龙网分隔)对玉米、豌豆生长及豌豆结瘤固氮的影响。结果表明:与单作相比,玉米/豌豆间作后对玉米的生长和养分的吸收有显著的促进作用,在整个生育期,玉米生物量的增加量随着豌豆生育期的推进而增加,豌豆苗期、豌豆结荚初期、豌豆收获期玉米的生物量在不施氮肥条件下分别增加:28.5%、32.8%、48.7%;在施氮0.15 g·kg~(-1)时分别增加-8.6%、8.1%、63.2%。在玉米豌豆间作体系中三种分隔方式玉米生物量的大小顺序为:间作不分隔间作尼龙网隔间作塑料膜分隔单作;在不施氮肥时,间作后豌豆苗期生物量与单作相比增加显著,增加幅度达35.8%;随着玉米生育期的推进,间作豌豆的生物量增加幅度随着降低,到豌豆收获期与单作豌豆相比差异不显著。收获时三种分隔方式豌豆生物量的大小顺序为:间作塑料膜分隔间作不分隔间作尼龙网隔单作;在施氮肥时,随着玉米的生长间作豌豆与单作豌豆相比显著减产,收获时三种分隔方式对豌豆生物量的大小顺序为:间作尼龙网隔间作塑料膜分隔单作间作不分隔。与单作相比,间作提高了豌豆的结瘤数;间作不分隔、间作尼龙网隔、间作塑料膜分隔条件下,碗豆的结瘤数分别增加120%、82.5%、22.5%。     

The re-emergence of indigenous forest in an urban environment, Christchurch, New Zealand

Christchurch, the second largest city in New Zealand is a planned city on a coastal plain on the east coast of the South Island. The birth of the city and the subsequent century of development was characterised by colonial values and tree and garden planting with familiar European species along with those from Australia, North America, and eventually all other continents. The image of an “English garden city” with classical parks of oaks and willow-lined rivers became the accepted norm and the way in which the city has been promoted to potential tourists. Gardening is one of the top two recreational activities and exotic species greatly outnumber native species in the flora and in gardens. This has had serious consequences for the highly fragmented and degraded indigenous vegetation and its co-adapted wildlife. A few hardy indigenous species continued to regenerate through this period, but since the 1970s, there has been a progressive change of attitude and interest in reclaiming the natural heritage of the city, manifest in widespread private and public planting of indigenous species and active habitat restoration. In this article we examine the indigenous and exotic shrub and tree components of the Christchurch flora as planted street trees, in domestic gardens, and in parks. We also present data on shrub and tree regeneration in parks and domestic gardens in the city. Indications are that the more sensitive, less intrusive management of urban environments, combined with the greater density of indigenous seed sources, has allowed regeneration of a wide range of indigenous species across a broad spectrum of habitats – from neglected gardens to pavement cracks to exotic plantations. This is despite the competition from the prodigious seed banks and density of exotic trees, shrubs, and ground covers and albeit minimal impacts of introduced browsing and seed eating mammals. If the present trends continue through appropriate management and facilitation, these tentative signs of native forest regeneration should eventually proliferate into a sustainable mixed origin urban forest that resurrects and preserves the natural character of the region.     

Changes in the herbicide sensitivity and competitive ability of Abutilon theophrasti over 28 years: Implications for hormesis and weed evolution

BACKGROUND

The potential of weed species to respond to selection forces affecting the evolution of weedy traits such as competitive ability is poorly understood. This research characterized evolutionary growth changes in a single Abutilon theophrasti Medik. population comparing multiple generations collected from 1988 to 2016. A competition study was performed to understand changes in competitive ability, and a herbicide dose–response study was carried out to assess changes in sensitivity to acetolactate synthase-inhibiting herbicides and glyphosate over time.

RESULTS

When grown in monoculture, A. theophrasti biomass production per plant increased steadily across year-lines while leaf number decreased. In replacement experiments, A. theophrasti plants from newer year-lines were more competitive and produced more biomass and leaf area than the oldest year-line. No clear differences in sensitivity to imazamox were observed among year-lines. However, starting in 1995, this A. theophrasti population exhibited a progressive increase in growth in response to a sublethal dose of glyphosate (52 g a.e. ha⁻¹), with the 2009 and 2016 year-lines having more than 50% higher biomass than the nontreated control.

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrates that weeds can rapidly evolve increased competitive ability. Furthermore, the results indicate the possibility of changes in glyphosate hormesis over time. These results highlight the importance of the role that rapid (i.e., subdecadal) evolution of growth traits might have on the sustainability of weed management strategies. © 2023 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.