Spatial distribution of isopods in an oak–beech forest

Soil macroinvertebrates were studied in a Mediterranean-type forest on brown-pebble forest soils in southern Russia. At the site, 144 intact soil cores (76 cm² each) forming a grid of 24 × 6 units were taken in order to determine animal spatial distribution. Abundance of isopods was 166.3 ± 16.0 indiv. m^–2 and they constituted about 12% of the total macrofaunal abundance. Biomass of isopods was 3.5 g m^–2, or about 21% of the total biomass of macrofauna. Three woodlice genera (Armadillidium, Cylisticus, and Trachelipus) were found at the site. The two latter genera formed almost all (93%) of the isopod population. We found that spatial distribution of woodlice was heterogeneous: areas with 4–5 individuals per sample were neighboring those without animals. In order to study soil factors influencing isopod distribution in the brown-pebble forest soil, the size of a sample was artificially increased by combining adjacent sample units. Litter mass (r = 0.41) and loss on ignition (LOI) (r = –0.55) significantly influenced isopod distribution. Soil pH was near neutral (6.79), LOI was 8.39, and the water holding capacity was 70.9%. Pebbles comprised up to 84% of the sample's mass. Ca. 40 samples are recommended for estimation of isopod abundance in brown forest soil.     

Electrical or photocontrol of the rotary motion of a metallacarborane

Rotary motion around a molecular axis has been controlled by simple electron transfer processes and by photoexcitation. The basis of the motion is intramolecular rotation of a carborane cage ligand (7,8-dicarbollide) around a nickel axle. The Ni(III) metallacarborane structure is a transoid sandwich with two pairs of carbon vertices reflected through a center of symmetry, but that of the Ni(IV) species is cisoid. The interconversion of the two provides the basis for controlled, rotational, oscillatory motion. The energies of the Ni(III) and Ni(IV) species are calculated as a function of the rotation angle.     

Impacts of red wood ants Formica polyctena on the spatial distribution and behavioural patterns of ground beetles (Carabidae)

The aim of this study was to examine the effect of red wood ants Formica polyctena s.l. Foerst. on the spatial distribution of carabids and describe mechanisms of the ant–beetle interactions at the individual level. Fifteen carabid species were found in the foraging territory of an ant colony. The difference in the numbers of carabids in ant-controlled and ant-free territories was maximal in July, when the ants were most active. Measurements of running speed, duration of stops, and individual trajectories showed significant alterations in the behaviour of beetles in the ant-controlled territory. Experiments with a binary Y-shaped labyrinth showed that different carabid species used species-specific sets of behavioural tactics for avoiding conflict with ants. Pterostichus magus and P. oblongopunctatus, which are comparable with red wood ants in body length and speed of movement, possess the most effective stereotyped tactics in combination with a flexible behaviour. Such properties allow these species to penetrate ant foraging territory and partly avoid interference competition.     

俄引水稻种质的直播特性研究

为获得具有优良直播特性的种质,以俄罗斯引进的10份水稻资源为材料,研究中胚轴长度、低温发芽能力和淹水条件下发芽率等与水稻直播相关的特性。结果表明:‘LIDER’、‘ATLANT’和‘OLIMP’低温条件下萌发速度最快,‘LIDER’、‘OLIMP’、‘ATLANT’、‘NATASHA’、‘ISTOK’和‘PARTNER’具有较好的低温发芽能力;‘ATLANT’、‘ISTOK’、‘RAPANZ’、‘GAMMA’、‘OLIMP’和‘SONET’的中胚轴长度与‘绿香粳28’在5%水平上达显著差异;在缺氧条件下,所有的品种间的发芽率均达极显著差异,但俄罗斯品种均优于对照。在所有引进的俄罗斯10品种中,‘ATLANT’与直播相关的综合性状最为突出,中胚轴长度、低温发芽能力和淹水条件下发芽率均极显著优于对照品种。