THE BREEDING STATUS OF THE CAPE VULTURE IN THE TRANSVAAL DURING 1980—1985

Benson, P. C., Tarboton, W. R., Allan, D. G. & Dobbs, J. C. 1990. The breeding status of the Cape Vulture in the Transvaal during 1980–1985. Ostrich 61: 134–142.

Ten of the 11 extant Cape Vulture Gyps coprotheres colonies in the Transvaal were censused using aerial and/or ground census techniques in the 1980–1985 breeding seasons. Minimum counts were obtained and best estimates of total numbers of “active nests” were determined using correction factors to compensate for incomplete photocoverage in the aerial technique and nest failures prior to the census dates. In 1985, the year when the most complete data were available, a minimum of 2741 and a best estimate of 2987 active nests were determined to be present in the Transvaal. At the large colonies, which were intensively monitored, breeding numbers did not fluctuate greatly from year to year, and it is thus estimated that about 3000 pairs of birds bred yearly in the Transvaal during the study period. Although the data indicate that the total numbers are greater than previously thought this is due to improved census techniques, rather than an increase in the population. Ninety-eight percent of breeding occurred at six colonies and 82% at three (Kransberg, Blouberg and Manutsa). The large colonies are associated with communal grazing (homelands) Private cattle and game farming and nature conservation areas, where the use of poison for predator control is minimal. The vulnerable status afforded the Cape Vulture in the South African Red Data Book—Birds (Brooke 1984) is justified because of the bird's disappearance from some breeding colonies, reduction in numbers at others and its vulnerability to poisoning.     

ON THE LARVAE OF THE CHINESE SPECIES OF THE SUBFAMILY CHRYSOMYINAE(DIPT.CALLIPHORIDAE)

In this paper, the author described the larvae of Chinese Chrysomyine flies. All larval specimens of the seven species studied in this paper were reared in the laboratory. The 7 species of Chrysomyinae are as follows: Chrysomya megacephala (Fab., 1794). Fig.1. Ch. pinguis (Wlk., 1858). Ch. bezziana Vill., 1914, Fig.2. Ch. defixa (Wlk., 1857), Fig.3. Achaetandrus rufifacies (Macq., 1842). Fig. 4a.b. Ach. villeneuvii (Patton. 1922). Fig. 4b. (right 5, 8.) Ceylonomyia nigripes (Aubt., 1932). Fig. 5. The larvae of following species are described for the first time.     

ON THE LARVAE OF THE CHINESE SPECIES OF THE TRIBE LUCILIINI (DIPT.CALLIPHORIDAE)

The present paper deals with the larvae of 10 species of Luciliini from China. The 10 species of Luciliini are as follows: Hypopygiopais infumata (Bigot, 1877), Fig. 1. Hemipyrellia ligurriens (Wied., 1830), Fig. 2. Lucilia sericata (Meig., 1826), Fig. 3. L. cuprina (Wied., 1830), Fig. 4. L. illustris (Meig., 1826), Fig. 5. L. caesar (L., 1758), Fig. 6. L. porphyrina (Walk., 1857), Fig. 7. L. ampullacea laoshanensis Quo, 1952, Fig. 8.     

METAMORPHOSIS OF THE LARVA OF THE POLYCHAETE ARENICOLA CRISTATA. MORPHOLOGY OF THE ‘HOUR-GLASS’ STAGE

The constricted ‘waist’ of the metamorphosing larva of the polychaete Arenicola cristata is described, using light and electron microscopy. The constriction is shown to be the consequence of the discharge and collapse of a post-trochal ring of epithelial cells which remain as functional components of the post-metamorphic juvenile. Morphological differentiation of neuro-effector and interneuronal contacts is initiated at this time. Muscular and neural changes are discussed in terms of their role in effecting metamorphosis.     

THE POTENTIAL FOR PALAEOBOTANY IN THE EXPLANATION OF CHINA''''S PLANT GEOGRAPHY

The distributions of many plant taxa in China at the present day indicate centres of floristic importance which may be ancient,and have evolutionary significance,or which may be only their latest locations in a Cenozoic history of migrations.This paper summarizes the present and Cenozoic distributions in China of the following taxa:Nitraria,Ephedra,Carya,Liquidamber,Pterocarya,Betulaceae.It is concluded that the centres of importance of the named genera are different now from what they were at some time in the Cenozoic past;each has accomplished major migrations and suffered significant extinctions during that period.The history of the Betulaceae is less clear but in principle soluble.     

MANAGING THE ST. LUCIA ESTUARY—MESSAGES FROM THE MUD

Summary

The infaunal macrobenthic community of the St Lucia estuary has been exposed to natural disturbance in the form of salinity fluctuations arising from floods and hypersaline conditions, and human-induced interference arising from dredging and beam trawling. The responses of the benthos to these disturbances have been recorded between 1983 and 1994 and are discussed in the light of management options for the estuary. A simple benthic sampling strategy is suggested to monitor the important benthic species.     

THE ROLE OF ALLELOPATHIC SUBSTANCES IN THE “SMOTHER CROP” BARLEY

The high degree of success of barley as a “smother crop” generally has been attributed to physical competition for nutrients and water. However, it was found that even in the absence of such competition, barley still inhibits germination and growth. This occurred both in mixed cultures receiving adequate nutrients and water and in germination tests. Aqueous leachates of seeds and roots of barley caused similar inhibition of germination and growth, thereby indicating an inhibitory allelopathic substance. A specificity of reaction was found, with the greatest inhibition occurring with Stellaria media (L.) Cyr., less with Capsella bursa-pastoris (L.) Medic. and tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.), and no significant effect with wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). A concentration effect and possible periodic production of the inhibitor were indicated. Living plants and aqueous leachates of living roots were more inhibitory than dead ones, thereby supporting the hypothesis of an active metabolic secretion of the allelopathic substance. Preliminary attempts to identify the active inhibitory components demonstrated the presence of alkaloids, with a much greater concentration of substance in the living than in the dead root leachates. The alkaloid, gramine, known to occur in barley, was found to have an inhibitory effect on the growth of Stellaria media and it is suspected as an active component of the root leachates. These results suggest that factors other than the previously assumed physical competition are involved in the mechanism of the “smother crop” barley.     

ASSESSING THE CONTAMINATED LEVELS AND RISK OF TYPICAL CONTAMINANTS IN THE UPPER REACHES OF THE YANGTZE RIVER北大核心CSCD

We generally reviewed the distributions and potential risks of heavy metals, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and phthalic acid esters (PAEs) in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River based on recent studies. The distribution of heavy metals varied significantly with locations and types of mediums, and contents of some metals exceeded the limits in food. The contents of PAHs in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River were in line with those in the lower reaches. Low molecular weight PAHs were predominant in surface water, while high molecular weight PAHs were predominant in sediments, indicating low molecular PAHs may pose greater risks to aquatic ecosystems. DEHP and DBP were the predominant monomers of PAEs in surface water and sediments, and BBP and DBP ranked first and second respectively in fish bodies. The results of risk assessment also indicated that monomers such as DBP and DnBP had greater risk than DEHP. Over all, heavy metals and organic pollutants were widely distributed in the aquatic environment in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River, which may pose potential risks to the ecosystem. © 2019, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.     

THE 2ND CONGRESS OF THE PALEOBOTANICAL SOCIETY OF PSC HELD IN NANJING

The 2nd Congress of the Paleobotanical Society of Palaeontological Society and the Paleobolanical symposium (1987) held from November 24th to 27th at Nanjing, Jiangsu. Present at the meeting were 86 Chinese paleobotanists and several students from research institutes, universities, colleges, natural historical museums and geological, coal- and petroleum-prospecting parties.     

《CLADISTICS:THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF THE WILLI HENNIG SOCIETY》简介

该刊由WILLI　HENNIG学会1985年创办，季刊N　I　Platnick(entomology american museum of natural history)与C J H umphries(Botany british museum (matira; jostpru ))任主编，编委会由美国，英国，加拿大。丹麦等国的著名系统学家组成。     

TEMPERATURE COEFFICIENT OF THE ACTION OF β-RAYS UPON THE EGG OF NEREIS

The temperature coefficient of the action of β-rays from radium upon the egg of Nereis lies between 1.1 and 1.2. This is of a magnitude characteristic of photochemical reactions.