展毛翠雀的花性状表型选择

传粉者的选择作用是花表型性状进化的重要驱动力, 解析选择作用的强度是理解花进化的关键。通过表型操控实验和表型选择研究能够分析花性状与其适合度的关系, 探究花性状的表型选择作用。为揭示花性状变化对雌性适合度的影响, 本研究处理展毛翠雀(Delphinium kamaonense var. glabrescens)花萼片大小, 并进行表型选择分析。结果表明: 人为减小展毛翠雀花萼片显著降低了传粉者的访花频率, 但是并没有影响种子产量(种子数和结籽率), 说明展毛翠雀花萼片的大小不影响种子产量, 可能主要吸引传粉昆虫输出花粉。通过雌性适合度(种子数量)估计表型选择梯度, 发现花萼片大小(长和宽)没有受到显著的直接选择梯度。但是, 花距长受到显著的线性选差和选择梯度, 表明花距的延长能够增加种子产量。本研究表明展毛翠雀花性状受到选择的作用, 但萼片和花距有不同的功能, 分别影响传粉者访问频率和种子产量。     

宁夏枸杞的花粉呈现式样及交配系统研究北大核心CSCD

被子植物的花回馈、雌雄蕊时空分离特征和花粉呈现式样等花部特征及传粉者效率会影响雄性适合度和有性繁殖过程。宁夏枸杞(Lycium barbarum)是中国宁夏、新疆、内蒙等干旱和半干旱地区分布的特有种。该研究对新疆喀什地区宁夏枸杞自然种群的花部综合征、花粉呈现式样、花回馈、传粉者行为与交配方式的关系进行观察及统计分析,以探讨其花粉逐步呈现的适应性及其在提高雌雄繁殖过程中的意义。结果表明:(1)宁夏枸杞的单花寿命为(4.07±0.15) d,而雄性持续时间(0.07±0.01 d)比雌性持续时间短(4±0.01 d);花寿命内雌蕊长度比雄蕊长,属柱头探出式异位类型;花粉呈现式样为不完全逐步呈现。(2)花寿命不同阶段花回馈间存在显著差异。(3)意大利蜜蜂(Apis mellifera)、熊蜂(Bombus sp.)、食蚜蝇(Syrphidae sp.)是宁夏枸杞在自然居群的主要访花者,其中熊蜂和食蚜蝇是主要传粉者,但传粉者效率低,属于高移出低沉积类型。(4)宁夏枸杞的花粉胚珠比(2 448.11±448.32)及授粉实验结果均表现出兼性异交特征;自发自交及人工自花授粉花的座果率及结籽率很低,属于自交不亲和类型;自然传粉花的座果率及结籽率比人工去雄异花低,存在其较高的花粉限制(40.71%)。研究发现,宁夏枸杞花部综合征表现出雌雄异位和花粉不完全逐步呈现式样,这是避免雌雄功能及雄蕊各花药间的干扰、减少花粉同步移出及保障其雄性适合度的有效途径,但自然居群的传粉者种类限制、传粉效率低以及自交不亲性是导致宁夏枸杞花粉限制及降低雌性繁殖成功的主要原因。     

云南草蔻花蜜分泌格局与访花动物行为及其对果实和种子产量的影响

依靠动物传粉的植物, 其繁殖成功 (胚珠受精与花粉散布 ) 很大程度上取决于访花动物的种类和拜访行为, 而访花动物的种类和行为又受植物提供给传粉者的回报, 主要是花蜜分泌格局的影响。通过对姜科山姜属植物云南草蔻 (Alpiniablepharocalyx) 花蜜分泌量及糖分含量的测定, 拜访动物种类、传粉昆虫拜访频率及停留时间的调查, 主要盗蜜者花松鼠 (Tamiopsswinhoei) 的盗蜜行为观察, 植物的结实率以及结籽量的分析等, 探讨花蜜分泌与传粉昆虫的关系以及盗蜜对果实及种子生产的影响。研究表明 :云南草蔻的两种花型花蜜的分泌量在一天的单花开花过程中呈现相反的格局, 花柱上举型花下午的花蜜分泌量高于上午, 而花柱下垂型花则上午略高于下午 ;两种花型花蜜的糖分浓度都随着开花时间而下降 ;共有 17种访花动物拜访云南草蔻的花, 其中 8种具有传粉作用 ;传粉昆虫的停留时间随拜访频率的不断增加而缩短 ;被盗蜜植株与未被盗蜜植株的结实率差异不显著而结籽量差异显著。     

大叶铁线莲访花昆虫调查及盗蜜昆虫行为研究

大叶铁线莲Clematis heracleifolia DC. 的花朵大多下垂,需要传粉昆虫为其传粉,目前尚无关于其访花昆虫研究的报道。 通过2年的野外观察研究,共观察到27种昆虫访问大叶铁线莲。 发现有盗蜜行为的昆虫7种, 其中1种同时具有初级盗蜜和次级盗蜜行为,2种具有初级盗蜜行为,4种具有次级盗蜜行为;黄胸木蜂Xylocopa appendiculata Smith是主要的盗蜜昆虫,其盗蜜行为影响了其它昆虫的访花行为,对大叶铁线莲的传粉造成一定的影响。 在其余20种访花昆虫中,双带弄蝶Lobocla bifasciata (Bremer et Grey)、贡尺蛾Gonodontis aurata Prout、熊蜂Bombus sp.和姬蜂虻Systropus sp.是优势种; 而小青花金龟Oxycetonia jucunda Faldermann和日本条螽Ducetia japonica (Thunberg)访花频率最低,且访花目的只是取食花朵。 通过对大叶铁线莲访花昆虫的调查和盗蜜昆虫行为的研究,为大叶铁线莲的传粉生物学和保护提供参考依据。     

毛姜花原变种花寿命对两性适合度的影响

植物的花寿命被认为是由雌、雄适合度的增长和维持花开放的花费之间的平衡来决定的。姜花属(Hedychium)是姜科唯一一个从热带到高海拔地区分布的大属, 属内不同种类植物的花寿命差异很大。毛姜花原变种(H. villosum var. villosum)的花寿命为5 d, 显著长于其它同域分布的姜科植物。通过人工剪除毛姜花原变种的柱头来使花朵具雌性功能的时间缩短, 结果显示: 在不同的处理中, 结实率随花朵具雌性功能时间的延长而增加, 开花1 d后剪除柱头的结实率为1.85% ± 1.59%, 极显著低于对照的结实率20.96% ± 4.13%, 说明其较长的花寿命能显著地增加传粉的成功率和结实率, 长达5 d的花寿命有利于雌性适合度的提高。同时, 毛姜花原变种开花1 d后, 剩余的平均花粉数和总平均花粉数没有显著差异, 而开花后2、3和4 d后剩余的平均花粉数则极显著少于总平均花粉数, 说明随着花寿命的延长, 花粉输出量也显著增加, 其长达5 d的花寿命也有利于其雄性适合度的提高。较长的花寿命在毛姜花原变种拓展新的生境、向更高海拔地区的扩散中也许起着重要的作用。姜科植物有着极其多样性的传粉和繁育系统, 花寿命在姜科植物传粉和繁育系统的多样性形成及其进化中起着重要作用, 同时, 较长的花寿命有效地提高了雌性适合度和雄性适合度, 从而使姜科植物能脱离热带生境, 向更高海拔的地区扩散, 花寿命在姜科植物从热带地区到高海拔地区的分布过程中也起着重要作用。     

管花秦艽的传粉生态学研究——兼与同域分布近缘种的比较

在青藏高原东北部连续两年观察了晚秋开花植物管花秦艽Gentiana siphonantha的传粉生态学特征,并在此基础上进一步比较分析了与该物种同域分布且亲缘关系较近、但开花较早的麻花艽G straminea之间的传粉生态学特征.管花秦艽的花发育过程表现出雌雄异熟和雌雄异位的特点,不存在花内的自花传粉,套袋隔离的花不结实也支持这一结论;株内自交的高结实率表明该物种是自交亲和的.盛花期每植株平均有15朵开放的花,雄性和雌性阶段的花比例为1.2:1;自然条件下产生种子必须依赖传粉媒介;苏氏熊蜂是最有效的传粉昆虫,且访花过程中埘雄性和雌性阶段花不具明显的偏向性;株内连续访花的频率高达87.8%,从而导致同株异花传粉自交的广泛存在.与同域分布的麻花艽相比,管花秦艽的单花花期、雄性和雌性期持续时间缩短.但盛花期开花数量明显增加.令人感兴趣的是尽管两个近缘种的花形态特征存在显著差异,但都是由同一种熊蜂传粉.这一特点与过去认为花颜色和花管长度是物种分化过程中与不同传粉昆虫协同进化导致牛殖隔离的假说不相符合.管花秦艽单花的访花频率和同株异花连续访花的比例都明显高于麻花艽.两个物种不同花序设计导致访花昆虫行为的改变可能是造成这一差异的主要原因.两个物种具有不同的开花时间,但仍然存在一定的花期重叠,表现出不完全的传粉生殖隔离状态.     

蝶形花植物猪屎豆自花传粉机制研究

猪屎豆( Crotalaria pallida)为典型的蝶形花植物,分布极广,是路边或遭破坏生境中最常见的先锋种之一,野外观察未发现其有营养生殖的现象,主要为种子繁殖。该研究通过对自然生境中猪屎豆开花物候、访花昆虫及繁育系统的研究,旨在从繁殖的角度阐述其快速扩张的能力。结果表明：尽管猪屎豆的主要访花昆虫是蜜蜂,但蜜蜂的访花频率极低[(1.73±1.30)次/花序·h-1],且在整个花期内花药和柱头均被龙骨瓣包裹,蜜蜂访花时未成功接触柱头和花粉,不能实现传粉,因此蜜蜂不是猪屎豆有效的传粉昆虫,这与假说“蝶形花普遍是对膜翅目昆虫,尤其是对蜜蜂传粉的适应”不一致。人工授粉结果显示,猪屎豆为自交亲和种,不存在无融合生殖现象,其繁殖主要通过主动自交生产种子来实现,且在自交过程中长短花药都参与主动自交。这种自交方式不同于其他蝶形花植物的主动自交仅由短花药实现。对猪屎豆而言,长短花药均参与自交能够增加柱头的授粉几率,保证其在不利的生境中成功结籽,是其成功扩张的关键因素之一。     

雌先熟植物茄参 （茄科）的繁育系统

对分布于云南西北部的茄参（Mandragora caulescens）的繁育系统进行了研究。茄参的花期为5月底到6月初,单花持续时间为（9.9±2.8）d,其性表达方式为雌性先熟。有三种昆虫拜访茄参的花,白背熊蜂蜂王是最有效的传粉昆虫,但其访花频率很低;苍蝇和蚂蚁的访花频率较高,但苍蝇传粉效率十分有限;蚂蚁是窃蜜者。授粉实验证明茄参具有部分自交亲和能力,但由于雌性先熟,不具备主动自交能力。人工添加异交花粉显著提高了结实率和结籽数,证明茄参存在花粉限制。茄科的大部分植物是严格自交不亲和的,但茄参族的茄参是自交部分亲和,这和茄科天仙子族的部分成员类似。我们认为这两个独立起源于新世界向欧亚大陆扩散事件的族,各自从自交不亲和向自交亲和转变可能与高山地区恶劣的自然条件有关,这种繁育系统的进化模式是否具有普遍性值得进一步研究。     

雌先熟植物茄参（茄科）的繁育系统

对分布于云南西北部的茄参（Mandragoraca caulescens）的繁育系统进行了研究。茄参的花期为5月底到6月初,单花持续时间为（9．9±2．8）d,其性表达方式为雌性先熟。有三种昆虫拜访茄参的花,白背熊蜂蜂王是最有效的传粉昆虫,但其访花频率很低;苍蝇和蚂蚁的访花频率较高,但苍蝇传粉效率十分有限;蚂蚁是窃蜜者。授粉实验证明茄参具有部分自交亲和能力,但由于雌性先熟,不具备主动自交能力。人工添加异交花粉显著提高了结实率和结籽数,证明茄参存在花粉限制。茄科的大部分植物是严格自交不亲和的,但茄参族的茄参是自交部分亲和,这和茄科天仙子族的部分成员类似。我们认为这两个独立起源于新世界向欧亚大陆扩散事件的族,各自从自交不亲和向自交亲和转变可能与高山地区恶劣的自然条件有关,这种繁育系统的进化模式是否具有普遍性值得进一步研究。     

新西兰岩石百合中两种共存的繁育策略：延迟自动自交和欺骗传粉吸引

延迟自动自交和欺骗传粉吸引在被子植物多数类群中有相关报道,但是至今没有发现两种繁育策略在同一物种中共存现象。本研究通过对照试验检测新西兰岩石百合雄蕊附属物和花冠闭合运动是否分别具有欺骗吸引和延迟自交功能。研究结果表明,新西兰岩石百合黄色的雄蕊附属物拟态花粉（或花药）,约93%的昆虫访花行为源自黄色花药附属物的欺骗吸引,雄蕊附属物的报酬拟态功能有效提高昆虫拜访频率并促进异交。同时,研究发现新西兰岩石百合花期结束时花瓣闭合促使雌雄隔离距离的缩小,花瓣自然闭合的花朵平均结籽数（20.62）显著高于闭合前去雄处理花朵（11.79）。我们的结果表明延迟自动自交与欺骗传粉吸引两种繁育策略在新西兰岩石百合中共存。     

The orientation of the sandhopper <Emphasis Type="Italic">Talitrus saltator</Emphasis> during a partial solar eclipse

To acquire more information about the identification and use of the sun and other celestial cues in the sea–land orientation of the sandhopper Talitrus saltator, we carried out releases in a confined environment during a partial solar eclipse and at sunset. The sandhoppers were unable to identify the sun (86% covered) during the eclipse nor to use other celestial compass factors of orientation. This was probably due to the low level of light intensity (close to the minimum level for orientation recorded at sunset) and to the variations in intensity and pattern of skylight polarization.     

Nocturnal orientation in the black carpenter antCamponotus pennsylvanicus (DeGeer) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

Summary The black carpenter antCamponotus pennsylvanicus (DeGeer), a predominantly nocturnal Formicine ant, responds to a hierarchy of visual and tactile cues when orienting along odor trails at night. Under illumination from moonlight or artificial light, workers rely upon these beacons to mediate phototactic orientation. In the absence of moonlight or artificial lights, ants were able to orient visually to terrestrial landmarks. In the absence of all landmarks, save for overhanging tree branches, ants could negotiate shortcuts or make directional changes in response to visual landmarks presented within the tree canopy on a moonless night. When experimental manipulations placed the ants in total darkness, they could no longer negotiate shortcuts and would resort to thigmotactic orientation along structural guidelines to reach a food source. The hierachical organization of these diverse cues in a foraging strategy is discussed, as well as their adaptive significance toC. pennsyhanicus.     

Blue-light-induced chloroplast orientation in Mougeotia. Evidence for a separate sensor pigment besides phytochrome

Chloroplast orientation in the green alga Mougeotia has been induced by unidirectional red or blue light, given continuously during one hour. In addition, part of the preparations obtained scattered strong far-red light simultaneously with the orienting light. This far-red light completely abolished the response to red light, consistent with phytochrome as the sensor pigment for orientation in Mougeotia. In blue light, however, the response was completely insensitive to far-red light, thus pointing to a different sensor pigment in the shortwavelength region.Abbreviation P_fr far-red-absorbing form of phytochrome     

The use of spatial cues for structural guideline orientation inTapinoma sessile andCamponotus pennsylvanicus (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

Camponotus pennsylvanicus(DeGeer) and Tapinoma sessile(Say) exploit structural elements as guide-lines in their topographic orientation. This research documents the response of T. sessileand C. pennsylvanicusto a series of thigmotactic, gravitational, chemotactic, and phototactic cues while utilizing structural guidelines. Adherence to these guidelines is more pronounced on vertical than on horizontal surfaces and more pronounced in darkness than in daylight. Orientation switches from a crestline on the horizontal to a groove on the vertical. Light and odor trails serve an important role as distance cues in structural guideline orientation. The hierarchy of orientation cues and the adaptive significance of these ant's exploitation of structural guidelines are discussed.     

Cellulose orientation at the surface of the Arabidopsis seedling. Implications for the biomechanics in plant development

In diffuse growing cells the orientation of cellulose fibrils determines mechanical anisotropy in the cell wall and hence also the direction of plant and organ growth. This paper reports on the mean or net orientation of cellulose fibrils in the outer epidermal wall of the whole Arabidopsis plant. This outer epidermal wall is considered as the growth-limiting boundary between plant and environment. In the root a net transverse orientation of the cellulose fibrils occurs in the elongation zone, while net random and longitudinal orientations are found in subsequent older parts of the differentiation zone. The position and the size of the transverse zone is related with root growth rate. In the shoot the net orientation of cellulose fibrils is transverse in the elongating apical part of the hypocotyl, and longitudinal in the fully elongated basal part. Leaf primordia and very young leaves have a transverse orientation. Throughout further development the leaf epidermis builds a very complex pattern of cells with a random orientation and cells with a transverse or a longitudinal orientation of the cellulose fibrils. The patterns of net cellulose orientation correlate well with the cylindrical growth of roots and shoots and with the typical planar growth of the leaf blade. On both the shoot and the root surface very specific patterns of cellulose orientation occur at sites of specific cell differentiation: trichome-socket cells complexes on the shoot and root hairs on the root.     

Electrooptical parameters of kanamycin-treated <Emphasis Type="Italic">E. coli</Emphasis> cell suspensions

The effect of kanamycin on the electrophysical parameters of cell suspensions of Escherichia coli K-12 and pMMB33 was investigated. Incubation of the sensitive K-12 strain with kanamycin resulted in significant changes in the orientation spectra (OS) of the cell suspensions; these changes were not revealed in the case of the resistant pMMB33 strain. In the case of the sensitive K-12 strain incubated with different kanamycin concentrations, changes in the OS of the cell suspensions occurred within the 10–1000 kHz frequency range of the orienting electrical field. The most pronounced change in the electrooptical signal was observed at 10 μg/ml of kanamycin. Control experiments were carried out by standard plating on nutrient media. Thus, the OS changes of suspensions in the presence of antibiotics may be used as a test for microbial resistance to such antibiotics.     

Homing and Movement of Yellow-phase American Eels in Freshwater Ponds

Ten yellow-phase American eels, Anguilla rostrata, were captured from Hammond Pond, a small freshwater pond located in central Maine, U.S.A. The eels were implanted with radio transmitters and released into nearby Hermon Pond. At the same time, 10 eels were captured from Hermon Pond, implanted with radio transmitters and returned to Hermon Pond to serve as a control group. The two ponds are connected by a 1.6km section of Souadabscook Stream. We tracked the 20 eels over the 90-day duration of the experiment. Four of the ten displaced eels returned to their home pond. None of the control fish were located outside of their home pond during the study. Three of the four eels that successfully returned to their home pond did so under the darkness of the new moon and the fourth made the journey during the first quarter moon phase. Location data showed that translocated and native eels tended to occupy different areas of Hermon Pond. This study provides evidence of homing behavior in American eels living in small freshwater ponds and indications that homing activity may be linked to lunar cycle.     

Orientation responses of individual larder beetles,Dermestes ater (Coleoptera,Dermestidae), to directional shifts in wind stimuli

Anemotaxis in adult larder beetles, Dermestes ater,was investigated using a locomotion compensator, to uncover the mechanism(s) by which beetles maintain a course direction relative to a wind stimulus. Compared to walking in still air, anemotactically orienting beetles walk with the following characteristics over 60-s periods: (1) reduced locomotor and turning rates, (2) sustained, relatively straight paths with course directions at various angles to the wind, and (3) an increased tendency to stop for brief periods. Differences in wind speed affect mainly path straightness, which increases positively with stimulus intensity. Beetles track the wind direction equally well moving up or downwind, and they are able to orient at angles either close to the wind or at more oblique angles. When the wind direction was shifted 90°, the beetles turned, usually over the short angle, to their previous course heading relative to the stimulus. Indvidual beetles exhibited preferred course directions over several trials within a period of 20 min. Each beetle regained its particular anemotactic angle after the 90° shift in the stimulus direction. Although the beetles paused in some trials, stopping was not required to reorient to the altered stimulus direction.     

Helicoidal orientation of cellulose microfibrils in Nitella opaca internode cells: ultrastructure and computed theoretical effects of strain reorientation during wall growth

The ultrastructure of the mature internode cell wall of Nitella opaca is described. It is interpreted in terms of a helicoidal array of cellulose microfibrils set in a matrix. A helicoid is a multiple plywood made up of layers of parallel microfibrils. There is a progressive change in direction from ply to ply, giving rise to characteristic arced patterns in oblique sections. A critical tilting test, using an electron microscope fitted with a goniometric stage, showed the expected reversal of direction of the arced pattern. Nitella cell wall is thus more regularly structured than previous studies have shown. From a survey of the cell-wall literature, we show that such arced patterns are common. This indicates that the helicoidal structure may be more widespread than is generally realised, although numerous other cell walls show no signs of it. Nevertheless, there are examples in most major plant taxa, and in several types of cells, including wood tracheids. Most of the examples, however, need confirmation by tilting evidence. There are possible implications for wall morphogenesis. Helicoidal cell walls might arise by selfassembly via a liquid crystalline phase, since it is known that the cholesteric state is itself helicoidal. A computer graphics programme has been developed to plot the expected effects of growth strain on the patterns in oblique sections of helicoids with various original angles between consecutive layers. Herringbone patterns typical of crossed polylamellate texture can be generated in this way, indicating a possible mode of their formation.     

The significance of visual landmarks for navigation of the giant tropical ant,Paraponera clavata (Formicidae,Ponerinae)

Summary Workers of the giant tropical ant,Paraponera clavata, use trail pheromones for orientation and recruitment of nestmates. However, chemical markings may not always be sufficient for successful navigation in complex three-dimensional terrain, and additional orientation cues may be required. Behavioral field experiments were performed to investigate the significance of visual landmarks for homing foragers. Animals which were prevented from seeing the canopy were unable to navigate back to the nest, even though trail pheromones were still present. In contrast, foragers found their way back to the nest after their trail pheromones had been abolished but their visual scenes remained unchanged. This emphasizes the important role of visual landmarks during spatial orientation in homingP. clavata foragers. Individually foraging scouts were discovered in the understory of the forest floor up to 30 m away from their nest. They were rewarded, and displaced between 0.8 m and 13.6 m. Fifteen out of 16 animals had no difficulties in finding the nest entrance despite the altered appearance of local and distant landmarks at the release site. Apparently the scouts were able to recognize the visual scenes at the release site, and used them for reference to locate the nest entrance. In contrast, ants displaced from their nest to sites around 4 m away had more difficulties to re-find the nest.