Phenotypic consequences of maternally selected nests: a cross-fostering experiment in a desert lizard

Despite the importance of maternally selected nests in shaping offspring phenotypes, our understanding of how the nest environment affects embryonic development and offspring traits of most non-avian reptiles is rather limited largely due to the logistical difficulty in locating their nests. To identify the relative contributions of environmental (temporal [seasonal] and spatial [nest-site]) and intrinsic (clutch) factors on embryonic development and offspring traits, we conducted a cross-fostering experiment by swapping eggs between maternally-selected nests of the toad-headed agama (Phrynocephalus przewalskii) in the field. We found that nest environment explained a large proportion of variation in incubation duration, hatching success, and offspring size and growth. In contrast, clutch only explained a small proportion of variation in these embryonic and offspring traits. More significantly, compared with spatial effects, seasonal effects explained more phenotypic variation in both embryonic development and offspring traits. Eggs laid early in the nesting season had longer incubation durations and produced smaller hatchlings with higher post-hatching growth rates than did later-laid eggs. Consequently, hatchlings from early-laid eggs reached larger body sizes prior to winter. In addition, we found that female toad-headed agama did not select nests specific to reaction norms of their own offspring because hatchlings from original or translocated nests had similar phenotypic traits. Overall, our study demonstrates the importance of seasonal variation in nest environments in determining embryonic development and offspring phenotypes, which has not been widely appreciated at least in non-avian reptiles.     

Effects of human disturbance on nest placement of the woodpigeon (Columba palumbus): a case study from the Middle Atlas,Morocco

The woodpigeon (Columba palumbus) is a common and widespread bird in Morocco (North Africa). I examined, over 2 years (2010 and 2011), the breeding density and nest placement of this game species in relation to nest site habitat and degree of human disturbance. The study area was in the Middle Atlas Tighboula mountain forest, Morocco, in a disturbed and an undisturbed site. Using data collected in the 2 study sites, I aimed to identify the factors influencing the placement of nests within holm oak trees (Quercus rotundifolia) and their densities. I found that habitat structures, influenced by grazing disturbance, have affected nesting density and the location of nests of this species. Woodpigeons place their nests in a higher position (3.42 ± 0.19 m) when disturbance intensity is high and lower (1.68 ± 0.1 m) when disturbance intensity is low, and show higher nesting density in less disturbed zone (3.1 ± 0.4 nests/ha) than in highly disturbed zones (1.4 ± 0.2 nests/ha). Grazing disturbance could pose a threat to population persistence at a broader scale and could potentially reduce the abundance of this species by altering the composition and the structure of the forest nesting habitat. Further multi‐scale studies are needed to assess the effects of different levels of grazing disturbance on woodpigeon nest density and placement, and to enhance our knowledge of the breeding behavior of this game species under variable environments.     

两种孵化方法对泥鳅孵化效果的比较研究

为比较孵化方式对泥鳅孵化效果的影响,试验采用4mg DOM＋3μg LHRH-A2对泥鳅进行催产,将所产卵子进行人工授精后,采用西北农林科技大学安康水产试验示范站自制溢水式孵化桶与水泥池置入40目绢纱布网箱两种方法对泥鳅受精卵进行去巢流水式孵化和鱼巢附卵孵化。在pH7.0~7.5、水温24~26℃的条件下,以孵化时间和孵化率探讨两种孵化方式对泥鳅孵化的影响。结果去巢流水孵化的孵化时间和孵化率为（30.52±0.89）h、（92.25±0.84）%;鱼巢附卵孵化的孵化时间和孵化率为：（38.56±1.04）h（、88.97±0.78）%。表明去巢流水孵化显著优于鱼巢附卵孵化。     

引入新西兰的欧金翅雀的拒卵行为及其窝卵特征(英文)

那些有着确切的引入历史记录的鸟类种群,为研究生态环境的快速变化对其行为(例如对巢寄生的反应)和生活史特征(例如窝卵数和卵参数)的影响,提供了一个难得的机遇。我们比较了欧金翅雀(Carduelis chloris)在其原产地英国和引入新西兰的种群对外来卵的拒卵行为及其窝卵特征。尽管以往研究认为欧金翅雀不是大杜鹃的合适宿主,因而没有受到杜鹃寄生的选择压力,但我们却发现引入种群的欧金翅雀有拒卵行为(尽管拒卵比例较低)。欧金翅雀在原产地和引入地的弃巢比例没有差异,因此弃巢不是欧金翅雀应对巢寄生的策略。与以往研究不同,两地的窝卵数和卵大小没有显著差异。本文强调了在巢寄生实验中注意控制对照实验组的重要性。     

废弃物生产地毯式草皮的研究

以废弃物为铺网进行地毯式草皮培植及其铺坪建植,并对培植草皮、草皮铺坪建植性能指标进行了研究.结果表明,由于同草种废弃物铺网不同,培植草皮性能差异相对较大,铺网生产性能差异相对较小;除个别废弃物外,多数废弃物生产地毯式草皮均十分理想.草种不同,草皮及铺坪效果也不同.因此,生长快、根系发达并对铺网适应性好的草种是理想草种.     

农用稀土天然放射性及其对土壤和作物污染的评价

１９８１－１９９３年对我国农用硝酸稀土样品的天然放射性进行了监测，查明农用稀土化合物中主要的天然放射性成分是＾２３２Ｔｈ，平均含量为５４．９Ｂｑ．ｋｇ＾－１。通过１０年定位试验和两年喷施不同放射性活度稀土的田间试验，均未检测出土壤中天然放性活度的变化，也测不出作物体中α、Ｕ和＾４０Ｋ活度增加的趋势，仅作物茎叶＾２３２Ｔｈ活度有增加。     

番鸭呼肠孤病毒套式RT-PCR检测方法的建立及应用

根据GenBank上发表的鸭呼肠孤病毒基因组序列,利用生物学软件设计合成内外2对引物,建立了检测番鸭呼肠孤病毒(Muscovy duck reovirus,MDRV)的套式RT-PCR检测方法,并运用建立的检测方法对分离病毒与其他禽病病毒进行检测。结果显示,该方法能从MDRV中扩增到与预期大小相符的特异性目的片段,检测灵敏度达到0.1 pg病毒RNA,对禽呼肠孤病毒(avian reovirus,ARV)、鸡传染性法氏囊病病毒(infectious bursal disease virus,IBDV)、番鸭细小病毒(Muscovy duck parvovirus,MDPV)、鹅细小病毒(goose parvovirus,GPV)、鸭病毒性肝炎病毒(duck hepatitis virus,DHV)等病毒样品的扩增结果均为阴性。因此,本研究为番鸭呼肠孤病毒病的快速检测及诊断研究提供参考。     

全球变化的中国气候—植被分类研究

目的揭示滇西南地区蚂蚁分布规律。方法采用样地调查法研究滇西南地区蚂蚁物种的分布格局。结果共采集到蚁科昆虫10亚科65属188种,相较于南滚河国家级自然保护区,滇西南地区亚科数相近,物种数相等,属的丰富度更高。滇西南地区分布的蚂蚁物种超过半数生态适应幅度狭窄,栖息生境、觅食和筑巢场所类别有限。黄足尼兰蚁[Nylanderia flavipes (Smith)]、邵氏姬猛蚁[Hypoponera sauteri Wheeler]和宽结摇蚁[Erromyrma latinodis (Mayr)]的垂直分布范围最大(海拔高差1750 m),栖息于季风常绿阔叶林的蚂蚁物种 (112种)、地表觅食的蚂蚁物种 (140种) 和在土壤内筑巢的蚂蚁物种 (87种) 最为丰富。结论分析认为蚂蚁物种的分布格局主要受物种适应能力、海拔、气候、植被类型和丰富度影响。多数蚂蚁喜欢低海拔和食物资源丰富的环境,适宜的温度和湿度条件更有利于蚂蚁栖息。研究结果对滇西南生物多样性保护具有参考价值。     

互利共生关系下粗纹举腹蚁蚁巢及种群的时空动态

紫胶种植园中的粗纹举腹蚁与云南紫胶虫之间存在互利共生关系,为了揭示粗纹举腹蚁蚁巢和种群的时空分布,于2009年11月至2010年7月在云南省墨江县雅邑乡的紫胶林和对照林内分别调查了粗纹举腹蚁巢的数量、空间位置和体积,记录了蚁巢数量和工蚁数量的时间动态变化。结果表明:紫胶林中的蚁巢数量和工蚁数量均显著高于对照林;蚁巢的集群分布、随机分布和离散分布模式在研究样地内均有出现,但紫胶林中的随机分布频率高于对照林;蚁巢数量与工蚁数量随月份变化,紫胶虫成虫期的工蚁数量略高于紫胶虫幼虫期。本研究结果表明蚂蚁与紫胶虫的互利共生改变了蚁巢的分布模式,增加了蚂蚁的种群数量,为在紫胶种植园中利用粗纹举腹蚁进行生物防控提供了一定的生物学依据。     

鸟类栖息地选择研究进展

野生动物栖息地选择的研究是动物学研究的一个基本而又重要的领域,鸟类对栖息地的选择以植被类型为基础,在不同空间尺度上,影响乌类栖息地选择的环境因素亦不相同;在不同的季节和生活史阶段,鸟类对栖息地类型的造反生变化的植被因素和鸟类在不同生活史阶段对栖息地的不同需求;而鸟类的繁殖栖息地选择取决于小尺度上的植被结构。目前,人造巢实验被广泛运用于鸟类巢址栖息地选择分析和巢卵捕食率研究,但这一实验方法尚需改进,