Effect of mate selection on fuzzy selective mating criteria in closed dairy multiple ovulation and embryo transfer nucleus programs

In order to control rates of response and inbreeding, mate selection using fuzzy selective mating criteria (FMC) was investigated in adult multiple ovulation and embryo transfer nucleus schemes for dairy cattle. Stochastic simulation was used to model the closed nucleus scheme. This mate selection was examined in four alternative mating and male selection schemes: (i) a hierarchical scheme; (ii) a hierarchical sibship scheme (two males per sibship); (iii) a factorial scheme (two sires per dam); and (iv) a factorial sibship scheme (two males per sibship and two sires per dam). Genetic response and inbreeding rate tended to be reduced by increasing the trade-off parameter of FMC between the expected breeding value and inbreeding of progeny. Inbreeding rates in all schemes were reduced by reducing the variance of family size through selection and the average coancestry of mating pairs through mate allocation.     

Major histocompatibility complex and mate choice in the polygynous primate: the Sichuan snub‐nosed monkey (Rhinopithecus roxellana)

The highly polymorphic genes within the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) not only play a major role in immunity resistance, but also seem to provide hints for mate choice in some animal populations. In the present study we investigated MHC‐related mate choice in a small natural population (group size 40–55 individuals) of a polygynous primate, the Sichuan snub‐nosed monkey (Rhinopithecus roxellana). We found that there was no evidence either for MHC‐disassortative mating, or for females to mate with males based on MHC heterozygosity or specific alleles. Nevertheless, of the 11 alleles identified, we found that the frequencies of 2 alleles, Rhro‐DRB2 (P < 0.01) and Rhro‐DRB5 (P < 0.05) were higher in offspring than in their parents. These findings suggest that MHC‐DRB in this population of R. roxellana is unlikely to be associated with mating preferences. Limited female opportunities for mate choice are likely due, in part, to the harem breeding structure present in R. roxellana, and the relatively small number of resident adult males in our study band (N = 4–6). In addition, we suggest that differences in the frequency of particular alleles across generations may be linked to parasite resistance in a fluctuating environment; however, confirmation of this finding requires further study.     

Social learning in fishes: a review

Animals acquire skills and knowledge from other animals, and fish are no exception. There is now strong experimental evidence that many species of fish exhibit social learning and traditional behaviours. Here, we review the literature pertaining to social learning in fish, focusing on (i) antipredator behaviour, (ii) migration and orientation, (iii) foraging, (iv) mate choice and (v) eavesdropping.     

The effect of aqueous extract of gross and commercial yerba mate (Ilex paraguariensis) on intra-abdominal and epididymal fat and glucose levels in male Wistar rats

This study analyzed the plasma lipid profile, glucose levels and fat deposits in male rats treated with aqueous extract of gross yerba mate, commercial yerba mate or water. Yerba mate treatment did not change body weight gain and lipid profile. The consumption of gross yerba mate significantly increased blood glucose (6.6 mmol/L) as compared to the water (4.8 mmol/L) and commercial group (5.2 mmol/L) and decreased epididymal and intra-abdominal deposits (10.1 mg/g and 23.7 mg/g of weight) as compared to the water (15.4 mg/g and 36.9 mg/g of weight) and commercial group (12.5 mg/g and 28 mg/g of weight). The results suggest that gross yerba mate reduces fat more efficiently but produces a greater increase in blood glucose when compared to commercial yerba mate and water groups.     

山羊A-B导联心电图初探

探索了山羊心电图新的导联方法,结果表明Ａ－Ｂ导联的Ｐ波、ＱＲＳ波群及Ｔ波均比较稳定,波形振幅大,便于分析,为描记山羊心电图的最理想导联。     

大青杨、香杨种间及种源间的交配

对大青杨、香杨种源选择和种源间交配进行了研究。通过苗期测定、成树评比、冻害、虫害、形质指标PCA和聚类分析,综合选出了30＃（大带×大奋）、94＃（香虎×香奋）、60＃（香奋×香带）等优良组合,材积生长超过对照种131．61％～107．87％,选出60-1、61-1、60-2、60-4、94-1、30-1、30-2、30－4、30-5、30-6等无性系．生长量与对照差异达显著水平。该项研究对大青杨、香杨遗传改良提供了一条新的途径。     

白带锯蛱蝶雌蝶利用视觉和嗅觉信息识别两性

[目的]探究视觉和嗅觉信息在白带锯蛱蝶雌蝶识别异性中扮演的作用,从而加深对性二型蝶类两性交流机制的认识。[方法]在网室内分别悬挂白带锯蛱蝶雄蝶和雌蝶的真实翅模型、打印的翅模型和活蝴蝶模型,记录雌蝶对以上模型的访问次数。[结果]表明:仅有视觉或嗅觉信号存在时,雌蝶对雄蝶模型访问次数均大于雌模型。雌蝶对雌雄翅和纸模型访问平均次数均有显著差异,说明雌蝶仅靠视觉信息能够辨别雌雄。雌蝶对雌雄嗅觉模型访问平均次数有显著差异,说明雌蝶仅靠嗅觉信息能够辨别雌雄。视觉和嗅觉信息均存在时,雌蝶对正常雄蝶访问平均次数多于雄蝶视觉和嗅觉模型,且对3种雄蝶的平均访问次数有显著差异,说明雌蝶识别雄蝶时偏好2种信息的综合作用。[结论]白带锯蛱蝶雌蝶利用视觉或嗅觉信息均能识别雌雄两性,雌蝶在识别两性时较偏爱同时有视觉和嗅觉信息的雄蝶。     

6种氨基甲酸酯类农药对绿藻的毒性试验

以羊角月牙藻、四尾栅藻、斜生栅藻、普通小球藻和蛋白核小球藻5种绿藻作为供试生物,用6种氨基甲酸酯类农药对其进行96 h的急性毒性实验研究。结果表明,6种氨基甲酸酯类农药对5种绿藻都有不同程度的毒性,但不同藻类对不同农药的敏感性不同,四尾栅藻对速灭威、叶蝉散较为敏感,普通小球藻对这6种农药均较敏感,而蛋白核小球藻对6种农药均不敏感。     

红脂大小蠹雄性配偶选择行为及其对生殖的影响

为研究红脂大小蠹(Dendroctonus valens)雄性能否依据信息素对雌性进行选择,以及这种选择行为对生殖的影响,首先使用Y-型嗅觉仪验证这种选择行为,然后用玻璃夹板技术分析雄性对其选择(P)和未选择(NP)的雌性在求偶和交配行为上的差异,最后用木段接种技术研究雄性与P雌性和NP雌性配对后在坑道构筑、产卵和幼虫发育上的差异。结果表明,雄性对雌性有着显著的基于信息素的选择行为。在求偶和交配行为上,雄性对P雌性更易求偶成功,交配时间更长(P0.05)。当雄性和P雌性配对时,前10 d筑出更长的且更清洁的坑道(P0.05)。20 d时,P雌性后代中孵化幼虫占后代总数量的比例极显著高于NP雌性(P0.001)。30 d时,P雌性的幼虫质量极显著高于NP雌性(P0.001)。以上结果表明,红脂大小蠹存在基于信息素的雄性配偶选择行为,其对生殖产生显著影响。     

特效植物营养素对水稻父母本产量及表观遗传效应的影响

以常规稻品种粳泰占为试材,采用经特效植物营养素(SPNE)不同处理的父母本进行交配,种子收获后开展系列试验,比较了种子后代的发芽率、发芽势及萌发后幼苗单株重和叶绿素、蛋白质含量,同时比较了不同处理种子后代在同等肥力田块种植的产量性状.结果表明:上代父母本同时用SPNE处理的种子后代表现最好,其次是父本用SPNE处理而母本用清水处理,再次是母本用SPNE处理而父本用清水处理,且经SPNE处理的种子后代表现均优于父母本用清水处理,不同处理间的表观遗传存在差异.