Physiological but not morphological adjustments along latitudinal gradients in a human commensal species,the Eurasian tree sparrow

Human commensal species take advantage of anthropogenic conditions that are less likely to be challenged by the selective pressures of natural environments. Their morphological and physiological phenotypes can therefore dissociate from habitat characteristics. Understanding how these species adjust their morphological and physiological traits across latitudinal gradients is fundamental to uncovering the eco-physiological strategies underlying coping mechanisms. Here, we studied morphological traits in breeding Eurasian tree sparrows (ETSs; Passer montanus) among low-latitude (Yunnan and Hunan) and middle-latitude (Hebei) localities in China. We then compared body mass; lengths of bill, tarsometatarsus, wing, total body, and tail feather; and baseline and capture stress-induced levels of plasma corticosterone (CORT) and the metabolites including glucose (Glu), total triglyceride (TG), free fatty acid (FFA), total protein, and uric acid (UA). None of the measured morphological parameters varied with latitude except in the Hunan population, which demonstrated longer bills than those in other populations. Stress-induced CORT levels significantly exceeded baseline levels and decreased with increasing latitude, but total integrated CORT levels did not vary with latitude. Capture stress-induced significantly increased Glu levels and decreased TG levels, independent of site. However, the Hunan population had significantly higher baseline CORT, baseline and stress-induced FFA levels, but lower UA levels, which differed from other populations. Our results suggest that rather than morphological adjustments, physiological adjustments are mainly involved in coping mechanisms for middle-latitude adaptation in ETSs. It is worth investigating whether other avian species also exhibit such dissociation from external morphological designs while depending on physiological adjustments.     

Effect of the Silicic Acid Polymerization Degree on the Coagulating Property of Polyalumium Silicate Chloride

Polyaluminum silicate is a new type of inorganic macromolecular flocculants, which is developed as a complex product in recent years on the base of polyalumium flocculant and polysilicic acid flocculant. Sodium silicate is diluted to the concentration of 3.0% SiO 2 with distilled water. The solution was adjusted to pH 4.5 with sulphate acid and kept at quiescency for different time to get polysilicic acid with different polymerization degrees. Using polysilicic acid prepared and aluminium chloride as materials, a series of polyaluminium silicate chlorides(PASC) with different basicities(B), Al/Si molar ratios and polymerization degree of silicic acid are prepared by copolymerization technique. The Al-Ferron timed complex colorimetric method is applied to characterize species distribution of PASC and to study its influence factors. The interaction between hydrolyzed aluminum species and polysilicic acid with different polymerization degrees in PASC is discussed.The flocculant prepared is applied to the treatment of commercial concrete wastewater. The turbidity removal of commercial concrete wastewater is up to 97% when a PASC, prepared with polysilicic acid of 145 min polymerization degree.     

免耕精量直插点播偏置滑块机构的参数优化

以免耕直插式精量点播器的偏置滑块机构为研究对象,为实现该点播器接近零速投种对其结构参数进行优化分析。对偏置滑块的偏置距离e在[0,25]内抽出11组进行仿真分析。优化分析的结果表明:滑块偏置的距离e=10mm,点播器的鸭嘴入出土位移差s=68mm,鸭嘴在入出土瞬时速度v=42mm/s,曲柄摆角θ=30°。     

广西红水河地区蚱总科的新种(直翅目)

记述采自广西壮族自治区中部红水河地区蚱科5新种，即广西尖顶蚱Teredorus guaangxiensis sp．nov．，凹缘柯蚱Coptotettix curvimargiinus sp．nov.，齿股蚱Tetrix denti femura sp．nov．，粗体蚱Tetrix grossus sp．nov．及忻城悠背蚱Euparatettix xinchengensis sp．nov．。模式标本保存于陕西师范大学动物研究所。     

浅析花卉命名存在的问题及原因

本文总结了花卉命名中存在同名异物、同物异名以及种属不当和大小属的问题,并从历史、商业等方面分析了原因,同时针对不同的问题提出了一些建议。     

甘肃叶蜂种类调查及分类研究 Ⅴ.松叶蜂科松叶蜂亚科和叶蜂科蕨叶蜂亚科、短叶蜂亚科、长背叶蜂亚科属种名录

整理采自甘肃膜翅目松叶蜂科松叶蜂亚科和叶蜂科蕨叶蜂亚科、短叶蜂亚科、长背叶蜂亚科标本总计102号,经鉴定分为13属20种。其中,新松叶蜂属1种、吉松叶蜂属2种、松叶蜂属1种、平缝叶蜂属5种、脊额叶蜂属1种、柄臀叶蜂属1种、凹颚叶蜂属2种、异颚叶蜂属1种、侧齿叶蜂属1种、长室叶蜂属1种、窗胸叶蜂属1种、长背叶蜂属2种、短唇叶蜂属1种。包括1甘肃新记录属:短唇叶蜂属,5科学新种:武氏吉松叶蜂、甘肃平缝叶蜂、黑胫平缝叶蜂、中华柄臀叶蜂、黑肩长背叶蜂,1科学新组合:白唇窗胸叶蜂和11甘肃新记录种和4已知种。     

Can incidental sighting data be used to elucidate habitat preferences and areas of suitable habitat for a cryptic species?

The involvement of communities in ecological studies has been shown to augment conservation efforts, especially for cryptic species. However, there is a lack of studies addressing the utility of incidental sighting records from community members in gaining knowledge on habitat preferences and distribution of suitable habitat for these organisms. This study compares preferences of the Lumholtz's tree kangaroo (Dendrolagus lumholtzi ; LTK), a cryptic rainforest folivore in northeastern Australia, for various habitat and climatic variables derived from data collected during scientific projects to those derived from incidental sighting records using ArcGIS and Maxent. Incidental sighting records suggest that the species uses a wider range of altitudes, annual rainfalls, annual mean temperatures and vegetation types than predicted by scientific studies. Incidental records also show that the species can persist in areas of lower rainfall during the wettest month and lower minimum temperature during the coldest month. Both data place the species within a comparable range of rainfalls during the driest month, maximum temperatures of the warmest month and soil types. When using identified preferences to assess the extent and distribution of suitable habitat, incidental records predicted more areas of suitable habitat than scientific records with an overlap of up to 91% between them. The present study proves that incidental sighting records can be a valuable part of the study of cryptic species and should be considered complementarily alongside scientific studies to obtain comprehensive ecological information of a species that can assist in its conservation.     

干旱区矿区不同立地类型土壤种子库特征

矿区的自然或人工植被恢复是维持生物多样性及生态系统稳定的重要途径。通过室外萌发法对金昌镍铜矿区7种不同立地生境土壤种子库的研究表明:该区域土壤中物种丰富度较高,包括16科47属,共56种植物,分别为:藜科(Chenopodiaceae)、禾本科(Gramineae)、菊科(Compositae)、柽柳科(Tamaricaceae)、苋科(Amaranthaceae)、马齿苋科(Portulacaceae)、豆科(Leguminosae)、十字花科(Cruciferae)、车前科(Plantaginaceae)、胡颓子科(Elaeagnaceae)、蒺藜科(Zygophyllaceae)、莎草科(Cyperaceae)、大戟科(Euphorbiaceae)、紫草科(Boraginaceae)、蔷薇科(Rosaceae)、茄科(Solanaceae);植物组成以一年生草本植物占绝对优势(89.3%),多年生草本植物次之(7.54%),灌木种最少(2.59%)。土壤种子平均储量412粒·m~(-2),不同立地类型土壤种子库储量差异显著,与其他荒漠地区比较,土壤种子库储量偏低;土壤种子库物种Simpson多样性指数为:新尾矿周边自然植被区龙首矿自然植被区龙首矿开采废弃地供暖公司柽柳林地。     

长春市主要绿化树种适应低温冻害能力的调查与分析

以长春市部分绿地的主要园林绿化树种为对象,对其适应低温冻害的能力进行了调查与分析,结果表明:在2009～2010年冬春季节持续低温作用下,12种外来树种中未遭受冻害的有青杄等7种,占58.3%;油松、丹东桧柏、大径级垂榆、京桃、刺槐普遍遭受冻害,都有死亡植株发生,其中大径级垂榆冻死率高达63.6%。低温累积效应是导致树木遭受冻害的主要因素,种间的遗传差异亦是因素之一。乡土野生树种无冻害相发生。     

具二次脉冲效应的单种群动力学模型分析

讨论了一类具脉冲出生与脉冲收获及脉冲投放的单种群动力学模型,利用离散动力系统频闪映射理论,得到了一个生物资源管理控制值的充分条件.