Gastral Drumming in Vespula germanica (Hymenoptera: Vespidae): Vibrational Communication at Night Suggests Additional Roles in Colony Organization

Gastral drumming (GD) is a type of vibrational communication that has been reported in several species of yellowjackets and hornets. Despite early claims that it acts as a hunger signal, a more recent study found evidence that it acts as a nest-based food-recruitment signal, the first reported for eusocial wasps. Early studies also claimed, without supporting data, that it is produced most often in the early morning hours when the sun rises. Here, I recorded drumming continuously in colonies of Vespula germanica (Fabricius) to assess whether production was highest in the morning. Although I found no evidence in support of greater early morning production, I found, surprisingly, that it is produced at night, a time when foraging does not occur. When these results are combined with the results from previous studies on this species and similar findings in honey bees, they suggest that GD may be a modulatory signal, which acts by increasing general activity levels and by increasing the rate that individuals come into contact with social cues.     

The rates of maize growth and lignin biosynthesis change after root-applied chalcone

The effects of root-applied chalcone at 0.15 mmol L⁻¹ on the growth and lignin biosynthesis in maize were investigated. The contents of 4-coumarate: CoA ligase (4CL, EC 6.2.1.12) substrates in maize shoots were increased more rapidly in the samples with chalcone application than in the control and the increase occurred at ≤ 3 h after the application (HAA). The lignin content was reduced by chalcone at ≤ 6 HAA. The shoot growth was suppressed by chalcone at ≤ 9 HAA. Consequently, the results suggest that chalcone suppressed maize growth by inhibiting monolignol biosynthesis.     

Production of chitinases with Trichoderma harzianun isolates using solid substrate fermentation

Over forty Trichoderma harzianum isolates have been screened in solid substrate fermentation (SSF)for chitinase production. Strains were isolated from Asian soil and tree bark samples. Identification was performed in Canada and Austria by classical and molecular taxonomical methods.……     

分层供水施磷对冬小麦磷效率及产量的影响

研究分层供水施磷对冬小麦磷效率及产量的影响,为指导旱地施磷提供一定理论和实践依据。试验设整体湿润(W1)和上干下湿(W2) 2 种水分处理,不施磷(CK)、表施(SP)、深施(DP)3 种施磷处理,供试品种选用水分敏感型（‘小偃22’）和抗旱型（‘长旱58’）。研究结果表明：磷肥施用深度对冬小麦磷根效率比、磷肥利用效率、磷肥偏生产力(PFPP)及产量的影响随土壤水分和品种而异。2 种水分条件下,‘小偃22’DP较SP处理磷肥利用率、PFPp均显著降低(P＜0.05),磷根效率比及产量则差异不显著;W1 处理下,‘长旱58’DP较SP处理除磷根效率比外其他指标均显著降低(P＜0.05),W2 处理下则相反,上述指标均显著增加(P＜0.05)。本试验结果表明,土壤水分供应不足时,磷肥深施有利于提高抗旱性较强冬小麦品种对磷素的吸收利用能力,从而提高磷肥利用率及产量。     

Effect of water extract from spent mushroom substrate after Ganoderma balabacense cultivation by using JUNCAO technique on production performance and hematology parameters of dairy cows

The spent mushroom substrate of Ganoderma balabacense cultivation (SMSGB) contains a large amount of bioactive substances. However, the potentials of SMSGB for improving milk production in dairy cows have not been thoroughly studied. In this study, the effects of hot water extract (HWE) from spent mushroom substrate after G. balabacense cultivated with JUNCAO, the herbaceous plants long‐known to be suitable for cultivating edible and medicinal fungi, on production performance and hematology parameters of dairy cows, were determined. Holstein dairy cows were fed different doses of HWE. After a 60‐day administration period with 100 g/day of HWE, milk yield, milk protein and triglyceride (TG) levels increased by 4.02% (P < 0.01), 4.49% (P < 0.05) and 32.65% (P < 0.05), respectively; somatic cell count (SCC) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) were significantly decreased (P < 0.05). The production performance of dairy cows suggests that HWE with SMSGB treatment is effective in improving milk yield (P < 0.01) and hematology parameters of dairy cows, and may be useful as a functional feed additive.     

人工践踏对无土草坪基质的影响

本试验采用人工践踏的方式,研究了不同组合配比的基质对无土草坪耐践踏性的影响。结果表明,良好的无土草坪基质配比及适合的厚度是保证无土草坪优良的耐践踏性及观赏性的关键。本试验中,草坪草生长基质层和弹性材料层均为25 mm,结构合理、厚度适中,克服了现有草坪基质薄、持水力差的缺点。在相同践踏强度下,能维持较高水平的草层高度、草坪盖度和草坪草分蘖数,分别达到了5.14 cm、97.60%和123.97 个·dm-2,且停止践踏后草坪质量能快速恢复。均匀混合的草坪草生长基质层和弹性材料层,在厚度一致的前提下并不耐践踏,实际效果不好。土壤坪床的处理效果最差。因此,具有独立的草坪草生长基质层和弹性材料层且厚度适中的基质,适用于生产耐践踏性好的无土草坪。     

Involvement of the ERK1/2 MAPK pathway in insulin-induced S6K1 activation in avian cells

In mammals, insulin regulates S6K1, a key enzyme involved in the control of protein synthesis, via the well-documented phosphoinositide-3'kinase (PI3K) pathway. Conversely, S6K1 is activated by insulin in avian muscle despite the relative insulin insensitivity of the PI3K pathway in this tissue. Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascade is another insulin sensitive pathway. The aim of this study was to explore the potential involvement of the ERK1/2 MAPK pathway in the control of p70 S6 kinase (S6K1) in avian species. Firstly, we characterized ERK1/2 MAPK in various chicken tissues. ERK2 was the only isoform detected in avian species whatever the tissue studied. We also showed that ERK2 is activated in vivo by insulin in chicken muscle. The regulation and the role of ERK2 in insulin signaling were next investigated in chicken hepatoma cells (LMH) and primary myoblasts. Insulin stimulation led to ERK2 and S6K1 phosphorylation, and concomitantly increased kinase activity. U0126, an inhibitor of the ERK MAPK pathway, completely abolished insulin-induced S6K1 phosphorylation and activity in chicken myoblasts, whereas its effect was only partial in LMH cells. In conclusion, these results show that ERK1/2 MAPK is involved in the control of S6K1 by insulin in chicken cells, particularly myoblasts.     

松嫩平原不同土壤基质条件下羊草种群年龄结构的研究

通过对不同土壤基质条件下羊草Leymus chinensis种群年龄结构进行研究,结果表明:5月中旬在松嫩平原羊草种群营养生长期,分蘖株均由1龄、2龄、3龄3个龄级组成,呈增长型年龄结构,其中均以1龄和2龄级分蘖株占绝对优势,为89.4%～99.7%,3龄株仅占0.3%～10.6%;根茎均由2龄、3龄、4龄3个龄级组成,根茎长度及其质量均以2龄级最高,3龄次之,4龄最小;根茎物质的储量均随着龄级的升高而降低,羊草种群对低龄植株、根茎的大比例投资是羊草种群扩大其空间的一种十分有效的生态对策.     

坪床基质对兰引Ⅲ号结缕草根系生长及分布的影响

坪床结构对草坪草根系和草坪使用质量的影响很大。为探讨5种坪床基质对兰引Ⅲ号结缕草（Zoysia japonica ‘LanyinNo. III’）根系生长的影响,试验设计5种坪床基质：100% 纯砂（A）,砂：泥炭（85%：15%）（B）,砂：土（85%：15%）（C）,砂：土：泥炭（85%：7.5%：7.5%）（D）,100% 纯土（E）。结果表明：根长密度、根表面积密度随坪床深度的加深而减小,纯土坪床的上述根系指标显著小于砂基坪床;一级根在0～5 cm的根层中分布最多l而二级根在5～10 cm根层分布最多;3种砂质混合基质中,砂+泥炭混合基质好于砂+土和砂+土+泥炭2种混合基质。在土壤各层深度中,砂基坪床的根平均直径显著大于纯土坪床。纯砂坪床的地下生物量最大,而纯土坪床0～5 cm根层内根系生物量所占比例最大。综合分析认为,砂基坪床适合做运动场草坪,其中以砂与泥炭混合基质最好,纯土坪床则排水不良,不适宜做运动场草坪。     

氮沉降对凋落物分解的影响研究进展

过去几十年的人类活动增加了陆地生态系统的氮输入量,对凋落物分解的影响有促进、抑制和没有影响3种情况。凋落物的基质质量影响凋落物的分解,其中木质素、纤维素、酚类物质、N浓度、P浓度、C/N比、C/P比、木质素/N比具有重要作用。人类活动引起的全球变化,如CO₂增加、温度上升和降水变化,影响了氮沉降的速率和凋落物分解。未来氮沉降对凋落物分解的研究热点包括加强氮沉降对热带与亚热带森林凋落物和阔叶树种凋落物分解影响的研究,氮沉降对凋落物分解影响研究的长期化,采用13C同位素研究凋落物分解,注重凋落物分解对氮沉降与大气CO₂浓度升高、气候变暖、降水变化、紫外线辐射增强、P沉降交互作用响应的研究。