武夷山典型植被类型土壤动物群落的结构特征

选择武夷山不同海拔高度的4个典型植被群落(EVB,COF,DWF和ALM),对其土壤动物群落的结构和变化进行研究,结果表明,植被沿海拔梯度变化对土壤动物类群数、密度和多样性产生了显著的影响。不同海拔高度样地中,密度-类群DG多样性指数和土壤动物数量沿海拔高度上升呈显著递减趋势;数量占优势的土壤动物类群膜翅目(F=6.35,P0.001)、蜱螨目(F=9.25,P0.01)、弹尾目(F=5.93,P0.05)和鞘翅目(F=4.42,P0.05)的密度在不同海拔样地之间存在显著的差异。除高山草甸外,土壤动物群落在土层中的垂直分布呈明显"表聚现象"。但高山草甸的弹尾目、膜翅目、双翅目(幼虫)和等足目等类群较多地聚集在10-25cm土层。不同海拔高度土壤动物的类群总数和总个体数量表现为2种季节变化模式:(1)常绿阔叶林和针叶林秋季大量发生;(2)亚高山矮林和高山草甸夏季大量发生且数量接近。     

浦东滩涂中型土壤动物群落结构及土质酸碱度生物评价分析

1999年,对上海浦东滩涂4类不同酸碱度土壤中的中型土壤动物进行了调查。应用物种丰富度,个体数多度,多样性指数和均匀度4个群落参数,并结合种类研究,讨论了土壤动物群落结构与不同酸碱度土壤的关系。结果表明,土壤中弹尾目和蜱螨目对不同酸碱度土壤反应敏感。弹尾目的3个群落参数和蜱螨目的4个参数均很好地反映与土壤反应敏感。弹尾目的3个群落参数和蜱螨目的4个参数均很好地反映与土壤pH的关系,相关系数分别在0．9以上和0．85左右,在pH相差较大的情况下,可以区分不同酸碱度的土壤。弹尾目的符Tao(Paranura sp.)可用于评价酸碱度较接近的土壤,球角Tao(Hypogastrura sp.）可用于评价酸碱度相差较大,高pH或环境条件较恶劣的土壤。     

5种相思树和尾巨桉人工林土壤养分和酶活性特征

为揭示固氮树种土壤养分转化的酶学机制,对固氮树种[厚荚相思(Acacia crassicarpa)、黑木相思(A. melanoxylon)、卷荚相思(A.cincinnata)、大叶相思(A.auriculiformis)和马占相思(A.mangium)]及非固氮树种尾巨桉(Eucalyptusurophylla×E.grandis)人工林的土壤养分含量、酶活性及其相关性进行研究。结果表明,相思林40～60cm土层的pH均高于尾巨桉林;5种相思林土壤各土层的TP、TK含量均低于尾巨桉林,而20～40 cm土层的TC、TN含量均高于尾巨桉林,黑木相思林和马占相思林各土层的有效养分均显著高于尾巨桉林(P0.05)。0～10 cm土层中,相思林的土壤酸性磷酸酶和纤维素酶活性均高于尾巨桉林,大叶相思林的土壤脲酶、蔗糖酶、纤维素酶和芳基硫酸酯酶活性显著高于尾巨桉林(P0.05),卷荚相思林的土壤脲酶、纤维素酶、几丁质酶和淀粉酶活性显著高于尾巨桉林(P0.05)。相关分析结果表明,土壤脲酶、蔗糖酶和几丁质酶活性与AP显著负相关(P0.05),蔗糖酶和纤维素酶活性与NH4+-N显著负相关(P 0.05),脲酶、纤维素酶、芳基硫酸酯酶与土壤TK显著负相关(P0.05),几丁质酶活性与TN含量呈显著正相关(P0.05),土壤淀粉酶活性与NH4+-N呈显著正相关(P 0.05),过氧化氢酶活性与土壤TK含量呈显著正相关。可见,与尾巨桉人工林相比,在我国南方退化山地引种相思树可提高土壤关键酶的活性,对土壤有效养分具有明显改良作用,有利于退化地土壤的生态修复及人工林长期生产力的维持。     

浙江衢州中型土壤动物群落结构及其季节性变化

20 0 1年 3～ 12月 ,对浙江衢州地区红壤竹林地 (自然土壤 )、农耕 (水稻、茶叶、柑橘、甘蓝地 )和撂荒地的中型土壤动物做了调查。以种群密度、类群丰富度、多样性指数和均匀度 4个群落参数为指标 ,探讨中型土壤动物的群落结构和动态 ,再用 4个群落结构参数的欧几里得距离做聚类分析。结果表明 :① 19个类群出现在这 6类土壤中。其中 ,弹尾目 (Collembola)和蜱螨目 (Acarina)为优势类群 ,双翅目 (Diptera)、鞘翅目 (Coleoptera)和膜翅目 (Hymenoptera)为常见类群。②以年为单位计算 ,自然土壤与农耕和撂荒地 (共 5类 )动物群落结构不同 :前者类群丰富度 =13 2 5± 0 2 5 ,多样性指数 =2 2 7± 0 2 8;而后者类群丰富度 =7 5 5± 0 88,多样性指数 =1 5 7± 0 15 (因其间无差异 ,故合并计算 )。③以季节为单位计算 ,6类土壤的动物群落结构相似性聚类图有如下特征 :甘蓝地、茶叶地和柑橘地构成相似性最高的一组 ;它们先后与水稻田、撂荒地 ,最后与竹林地聚合。竹林地具有最高的动物类群丰富度和多样性指数 ,或可视为该地区质量最高的土壤类型     

转PcLIPH8基因水稻的构建及其相关表型分析

利用黄孢原毛平革菌木质素过氧化物酶基因(PcLIPH8),构建植物双元表达载体35S∷PcLIPH8,并遗传转化水稻野生型品种Kitaake,对转基因水稻进行分子鉴定、酶活及木质素含量测定、表型观察等分析。结果表明：(1) 成功构建了植物双元表达载体35S∷PcLIPH8,获得3个独立的转PcLIPH8水稻株系,但在苗期转基因水稻与野生型对照无明显表型差异。(2) 酶活及木质素含量测定结果表明,转基因水稻的木质素过氧化物酶活性增加3.06%~5.07%,而木质素含量显著低于野生型对照,苗期降低11.44%~14.97%,成熟期降低13.83%~20.05%。(3) 成熟期表型分析表明,转基因水稻较野生型对照的株高增加了28.37%~39.78%,穗谷粒数增多110%~120%,生物量增大18.61%~22.97%,而千粒重减小12.86%~13.34%,谷粒长度变短6.67%~7.15%。该研究结果为利用PcLIPH8基因降低木质素含量,提高生物产量,从而改善植物品质奠定了前期基础。     

黄淮海平原保护性耕作下玉米季土壤动物多样性

调查了黄淮海平原农田保护性耕作下玉米拔节期(7月)和成熟期(9月)土壤动物的丰富度和多样性.结果表明：玉米成熟期土壤动物丰富度和多样性高于拔节期;拔节期土壤动物类群和数量免耕处理高于翻耕处理.土壤动物主要分布在表层(0～10 cm)土壤中,而翻耕处理下层(10～20 cm)土壤中仍有较大分布,导致翻耕与免耕处理下层土壤动物差异显著.免耕处理下,蜱螨目、小蚓类、双翅目和双尾目（特别是蜱螨目）数量高于翻耕处理.在玉米成熟期,秸秆还田效应显著,秸秆量越大土壤动物丰富度越高,其中弹尾目、蜱螨目、鞘翅目和啮虫目的个体数量均显著增加.弹尾目数量在玉米两个生长期均与秸秆还田量高度正相关,表明弹尾目在秸秆分解及其养分循环中起着重要作用.     

青藏东缘若尔盖高寒草甸中小型土壤动物群落特征及季节变化

中小型土壤动物是生态系统的重要组成部分。为了查明高寒草甸生态系统的中小型土壤动物群落特征及其变化动态,2008至2009年间,利用定位观测方法对青藏东缘若尔盖高寒草甸的中小型土壤动物进行了5次调查。结果为:(1)捕获中小型土壤动物9318只,隶属于3门7纲88类;平均密度为39941.67 个/m²;大类群中,线虫纲(Nematoda)的个体数占总个体数的91.50%,蛛形纲(Arachnida)(主要为蜱螨目)、弹尾纲(Collembola)、寡毛纲(Oligochaeta)和昆虫纲(Insecta)分别占3.73%、2.55%、1.12%和1.07%;(2)土壤动物的群落密度、类群数、密度-类群指数、Shannon指数、Simpson指数和Pielou指数均有显著的季节差异(P<0.01或P<0.05),表明高寒草甸生态系统的中小型土壤动物群落多样性对季节变化具有高度敏感性;(3)线虫纲、蛛形纲、弹尾纲、寡毛纲和昆虫纲的密度变化趋势基本一致,并均有显著的季节差异(P<0.05);(4)各季节间的Sorensen群落相似性系数低于Morisita-Horn相似性系数,表明季节变化对群落物种组成的影响相对较强,对优势类群个体密度的影响相对较弱;(5)中小型土壤动物群落的类群数和密度,以及弹尾纲、寡毛纲和昆虫纲的密度均与温度有显著的负相关(P<0.01或P<0.05),线虫和蛛形纲的密度与温度和降水均有不显著的负相关(P>0.05)。研究结果表明若尔盖高寒草甸的中小型土壤动物群落组成和多样性具有明显的季节特征,而温度是影响其季节变化的最主要气候因素;另外,从温度、降水及其年间变化对中小型土壤动物的影响可知全球气候变暖在短期内将会对高寒草甸土壤动物群落产生不利的影响。     

天童常绿阔叶林五个演替阶段凋落物中的土壤动物群落

为探讨森林凋落物中土壤动物群落的结构特征以及土壤动物群落随植被演替而发生的变化 ,于 2 0 0 3年冬季 ,对浙江天童常绿阔叶林 5个演替阶段凋落物中的土壤动物群落 ,按代表不同分解阶段的新鲜凋落物层、腐叶层和腐殖土层进行了调查研究。共获得土壤动物 13381只 ,分别隶属于 2门 8纲 2 0目。优势类群为蜱螨目 (Arcarina)和弹尾目 (Collem bola) ,二者共占总数的 94 .2 4 % ,A/ C为 7.6 6 ;常见类群为双翅目 (Diptera)。研究结果表明 :(1)凋落物中的土壤动物群落存在明显的有别于真土层的垂直分布 ,类群数和个体数总体表现为向下递增的趋势。共有 19类、5 9.0 3%的土壤动物分布在底部腐殖土层 ,仅 8类、5 .35 %的土壤动物分布在新鲜凋落物层 ,其余共 8类分布在中间腐叶层。而且 ,不同类群在各演替阶段的分布表现出一定的差异 ;(2 )凋落物中土壤动物群落随植物群落的演替而发生明显的变化 :个体总数和类群总数在演替顶极阶段最高 ,其次为中期阶段 ,演替初期最低。但是 ,在目这一分类等级上 ,各演替阶段凋落物中土壤动物群落的主要类群基本一致 ,均为蜱螨目、弹尾目、双翅目和鳞翅目 (L epidoptera) ;(3)相似性分析表明 ,演替中期凋落物中土壤动物群落与顶极阶段最为相似 ;但它们的Shannon- Wiener多样性     

桉-桤不同混合比例凋落物分解过程中 土壤动物群落动态

采用凋落物分解袋法研究了10:0(TⅠ)、7:3(TⅡ)5:5(TⅢ)、3:7(TⅣ)和0:10(TV)巨桉(Eucalyptus grandis)和台湾桤木(Alnus formosana)混合凋落物分解过程中的土壤动物群落特征.从5种类型、3种规格的810只凋落袋中共收集土壤动物75651只,隶属2门10纲20目,其中弹尾目(Collembola)和蜱螨目(Acarina)为优势类群.土壤动物个体数最高是7-8月,大型土壤动物个体数最高是7月,中小型土壤动物个体数最高是7-8月.大型、中小型土壤动物类群数各月间均波动较小.与30目和6目相比,260目网袋中弹尾目和蜱螨目等中小型土壤动物数量更高.相对台湾桤木(TV)而言,巨桉(TⅠ)凋落物中弹尾目数量更多.啮虫目(Psocoptera)在台湾桤木(TV)凋落物中的数量远远高于其它凋落物,后孔寡毛目(Opisthopora)在混合凋落物中数量较高.不同比例的凋落物混合可改变凋落物中土壤动物的数量和组成.桤木、混合凋落物中大型土壤动物的个体数高于巨桉凋落物,而且上述凋落物的分解速率亦明显快于巨桉凋落物,这意味着大型土壤动物的活动可加速凋落物的分解.因此,在巨桉人工纯林中混栽台湾桤木,可显著提高大型土壤动物的数量,促进凋落物的分解.     

扎龙保护区丹顶鹤繁殖行为观察

采用瞬时扫描取样法、焦点动物取样法和所有事件取样法对扎龙国家级自然保护区内野生状态下丹顶鹤繁殖行为进行了观察。结果显示 ,野生丹顶鹤的繁殖行为占观察时间的 38 1 4% ,是其繁殖期耗时最多的行为。在整个繁殖期 ,依次出现的繁殖行为是求偶 ( 1 0 3% )、交配 ( 0 41 % )、筑巢 ( 3 85 % )、产卵 ( 0 2 3% )、孵化 ( 72 32 % )、育雏 ( 2 2 1 5 % ) ,孵化和育雏不呈现明显的节律性。在孵化过程中有明显的换孵规律。方差分析表明 ,降水因素对丹顶鹤的筑巢 (F =1 0 84,P <0 0 1 )和孵化 (F =1 0 7 46,P <0 0 1 )有极显著影响 ;温度因素对求偶 (F =8 76,P <0 0 1 )、交配 (F =9 5 3,P <0 0 1 )、筑巢 (F =1 3 80 ,P <0 0 1 )、孵化 (F =2 2 3 70 ,P <0 0 1 )和育雏 (F =2 5 80 ,P <0 0 1 )有极显著影响     

Effects of transgenic Bt rice on growth, reproduction, and superoxide dismutase activity of Folsomia candida (Collembola: Isotomidae) in laboratory studies

Transgenic rice expressing Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) CrylAb protein is expected to be commercialized in China in the near future. The use of Bt rice for controlling insect pests sparks intensive debates regarding its biosafety. Folsomia candida is an euedaphic species and is often used as a "standard" test organism in assessing effects of environmental pollutants on soil organisms. In this study, growth, development, reproduction, and superoxide dismutase activity (SOD) of F. candida were investigated in the laboratory for populations reared on leaf tissue or leaf-soil mixtures of two CrylAb rice lines and a non-Bt rice isoline. Two independent tests were performed: 1) a 35-d test using petri dishes containing yeast diet (positive control) or fresh rice leaf tissue, and 2) a 28-d test in soil-litter microcosms containing yeast or a mixture of soil and rice leaf tissue. Biological parameters measured in both tests were number of progeny production, population growth rate, and SOD activity. For the petri dish test, data measured also included insect body length and number of exuviation. There were no significant differences between the populations reared on Bt and non-Bt rice leaf tissue in all measured parameters in both tests and for both Bt rice lines, suggesting no significant effects of the CrylAb protein in Bt rice on F. candida in the laboratory studies. Results of this study should add additional biosafety proofs for use of Bt rice to manage rice pests in China.     

Laboratory assessment of the impacts of transgenic Bt rice on the ecological fitness of the soil non-target arthropod, Folsomia candida (Collembola: Isotomidae)

Transgenic rice expressing Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) endotoxins (Bt rice) for pest control is considered an important solution to food security in China. However, tests for potential effects on non-target soil organisms are required for environmental risk assessment. The soil collembolan Folsomia candida L. (Collembola: Isotomidae) is a potential non-target arthropod that is often used as a biological indicator in bio-safety assessments of transgenic crops. In the present study, the roots, stems, and leaves of Bt rice were exposed to F. candida under laboratory conditions, with survival, reproduction and growth of the collembolan as ecological fitness parameters. Significant differences in ecological fitness were found among the different treatments, including differences in the plant parts and varieties of non-Bt rice, presumably as the result of three factors: gene modification, plant parts and rice varieties. The fitness of F. candida was less affected by the different diets than by the exposure to the same materials mixed with soil. Our results clearly showed that there was no negative effect of different Bt rice varieties on the fitness of F. candida through either diet or soil exposure.     

从白符虫兆(弹尾纲)活性卵的形状变化探讨沃尔巴克氏体的共生作用(英文)

Wolbachia属共生菌的侵染是引起跳虫——白符虫兆孤雌生殖的原因。对带有正常沃尔巴克氏体菌群的白符虫兆卵和通过利福平处理剔除沃尔巴克氏体菌群的白符虫兆卵的胚胎发育进行实验观察。白符虫兆的活性卵产出3到4天后,卵体大小显著性地增大,并伴随卵体形状从球形到圆饼形的变化。这些变化在利福平处理的或者是7%自然失活的非活性卵中都没有出现。推测沃尔巴克氏体在白符虫兆卵产出后的3天之内或者3天之前的受精卵发育或胚胎发育中发挥着重要作用;同时根据目前已有的研究结果推断沃尔巴克氏体对白符虫兆卵发育可能的影响机制。     

Role of avoidance behavior in the response of Folsomia candida to above‐freezing cooling temperatures

Although avoidance behavior is thought to be one of the major strategies for arthropods to cope with cold, there is a general lack of data supporting its use. This study tested the suggestion that Collembola migrate deeper into the soil to avoid cooling temperatures during the transition from summer to winter. We released mature hemi‐edaphic Folsomia candida Willem (Collembola: Isotomidae) in large (5 301 cm³) and small (306 cm³) soil microcosms exposed to ambient temperatures ranging between 5 and 20 °C. Springtails released in the large microcosms for periods of 2, 3, and 4 weeks dispersed throughout the soil column but remained more abundant in the upper third layer of the soil column whether exposed to weekly decreasing temperatures or a constant ambient temperature of 20 °C. Both small (juvenile) and large (mature) springtails exposed to cooling were more abundant in the upper third than in the middle or lower third of the soil columns after 2, 3, or 4 weeks. Groups of F. candida released in small microcosms provided with a positive soil temperature gradient displayed the same vertical distribution, with 90% of individuals clustered in the top 4.5 cm of the 15‐cm column whether exposed to air temperatures of 5, 10, 15, or 20 °C. Results from the two types of microcosms demonstrated that the vertical distribution of springtails remains strongly biased to the upper soil layer regardless of the temperature of their environment and whether the temperature in the soil column was uniform or graduated. This supports our prediction that hemi‐edaphic species such as F. candida do not relocate to warmer deeper soil layers, but tend to remain in the surface soil layer where they can acclimate to the cooling temperature.     

转基因水稻对土壤微生物群落结构及功能的影响

以非转基因水稻为对照,以变性梯度凝胶电泳(DGGE)和Biolog技术为手段,研究了2种转基因水稻对土壤微生物群落结构及功能的影响。结果显示:转基因水稻仅在生长发育旺盛期对土壤细菌数量有显著影响;且不同品种转基因水稻土壤微生物间的遗传距离大于转基因水稻与对照间土壤微生物的距离,即2个转基因水稻品种对土壤微生物群落遗传多样性的影响均不显著;在水稻抽穗期,2种转基因水稻与其对照的土壤微生物群落在72h时的平均光密度呈现显著差异,而到了成熟期则差异不显著。土壤微生物群落多样性指数和均匀度指数也表现出类似趋势。本试验证明,在水稻生长发育旺盛时期,Mclntosh指数(u)是一个有效区分转基因水稻和非转基因水稻土壤微生物群落多样性的指标。     

Ecotoxicity of cobalt to the springtail Folsomia candida

Despite growing concern about the potential adverse effects of elevated cobalt concentrations in the environment, hardly any toxicity data are available for terrestrial invertebrates. Therefore, chronic toxicity of cobalt was assessed for the springtail Folsomia candida. The 28-day EC50 for the reproduction of F. candida was 1480 mg Co/kg dry wt in standard artificial soil (OECD) and 409 mg Co/kg dry wt in standard field soil (LUFA 2.2). The difference in toxicity can be explained by the higher pH and cation exchange capacity which decreased cobalt bioavailability in the OECD soil. When expressed as pore water concentrations, 28-day EC50s were similar: 159 mg Co/L in OECD and 174 mg Co/L in LUFA 2.2, which corresponded with calculated Co2+ activities of 0.953 and 1.20 mmol/L, respectively. Although the presented data can be considered as a step forward in the assessment of the potential risk of cobalt in the terrestrial environment, more toxicity data for different species are needed to evaluate the environmental risk of cobalt in soils.     

抗真菌转基因水稻秸秆降解对土壤细菌数量及多样性的影响

【背景】随着转基因作物的大面积种植,其潜在的环境安全性问题备受关注。转基因作物收获后,大部分残留物会重返土壤,可能对土壤微生物造成影响。【方法】通过室内模拟田间秸秆降解试验,采用平板计数法、表面荧光显微镜直接计数法（FDC）以及变性梯度凝胶电泳（DGGE）技术,分析了抗真菌转基因水稻秸秆降解对土壤细菌数量及多样性的影响。【结果】平板计数表明,在整个降解过程中,转基因与非转基因处理土壤可培养细菌数量的变化趋势有所差别,但差异不显著。FDC结果表明,转基因与非转基因处理土壤细菌总数差异不显著。DGGE指纹图谱显示,转基因与非转基因处理土壤样品之间的多样性指数、均匀度和丰富度均无显著差异。【结论与意义】抗真菌转基因水稻秸秆降解并未对土壤细菌数量和多样性产生显著影响。本研究为抗真菌转基因水稻的环境安全性评估提供了依据。     

转Bt基因水稻根际土壤微生物多样性的磷脂脂肪酸(PLFAs)表征

以亲本水稻为对照,应用13C脉冲标记和磷脂脂肪酸技术,分析转Bt基因对水稻根际微生物多样性的影响.结果表明:转Bt基因水稻与亲本水稻根际均以饱和脂肪酸和支链脂肪酸为主,单不饱和脂肪酸次之,多不饱和脂肪酸最少.苗期、拔节期和抽穗期,转成基因水稻根际革兰氏阳性菌(G+)代表性磷脂脂肪酸含量显著低于亲本水稻;革兰氏阴性菌(G-)代表性磷脂脂肪酸含量显著高于亲本水稻.水稻各生育期,转Bt基因未对水稻根际土壤真菌、放线菌磷脂脂肪酸含量造成显著影响,且转Bt基因水稻与亲本水稻根际微生物磷脂脂肪酸13C含量无显著性差异.表明外源Bt基因插入仅对水稻根际微生物多样性造成短暂影响,不具有持续性.     

Selection of healthy and nuclear polyhedrosis virus infectedAnticarsia gemmatalis [Lep.: Noctuidae] as prey by nymphalNabis roseipennis [Hemiptera: Nabidae] in laboratory and on soybean

Nabis roseipennis Reuter nymphs demonstrated a preference for nuclear polyhedrosis virus (NPV) — infected over healthyAnticarsia gemmatalis Hübner larvae when offered a choice of larval prey in Petri dishes and on soybean. In Petri dishes, small (second-third instar) and large (fifth-sixth instar) nymphs attacked a significantly greater number of diseased than healthy larvae at all larval instars tested (first-fifth instars) and exposure periods (2, 5 and 24 h), except that at 2 h the number of 1^st and 3^rd instar larvae attacked by large nymphs did not differ significantly (P≤0.05). Nabis roseipennis caged with larvae on individual soybean plants in the greenhouse resulted in a generally low percentage of attack by small and large nymphs after 2 days, ranging from 5.6 to 36.7%. As in the Petri dishes, the nabids showed a significant preference for diseased larvae over healthy larvae attacked for all nabid and larval sizes on soybean, with the percentage of diseased larvae attacked ranging from 28.0 to 65.4% (P≤0.05). This preference for diseased larvae on soybean as well as in Petri dishes demonstrates that the preference was not due to the close proximity in which the host and prey were found in the Petri dishes. The preference for diseased larvae may be due to a reduction in a defensive response in late stages of disease. This material is based upon work supported in part by USDA Grant No. 83-CRCR-1-1212.     

Effects of chronic exposure to a toxic prey in a generalist predator

Abstract.  Generalist predators experience large differences in prey quality, and eating toxic prey may affect their fitness even if the toxic prey constitutes only a small fraction of a mixed diet. Feeding and life history parameters were examined in the wolf spider Pardosa prativaga during continuous exposure to the toxic collembolan Folsomia candida . Spiderlings were divided into a control group fed adult Drosophila melanogaster , a group fed only F. candida , and a mixed diet group fed both types of prey. Folsomia candida reduced survival, developmental stage attained and growth rate of all exposed spiders. Spiders chronically exposed to F . candida increased their consumption of D. melanogaster compared to control spiders. Folsomia candida thus inhibited the utilization of the high-quality food and/or increased the respiration rate. The intake of F . candida remained at a constant low level throughout the experiment, indicating that P. prativaga was unable to develop an absolute aversion against this prey. Half of the control group was also given the mixed diet after a large juvenile instar was attained. These spiders were not affected to the same extent as the newly hatched spiderlings, indicating an ontogenetically increased tolerance. Comparison of laboratory-raised and field-caught spiders confirmed that tolerance to F. candida was size-dependent and thus not an induced response. A differential survival in the mixed diet group, based partly on maternal effects, indicated possible genetic variability in the physiological tolerance to F. candida .