广西扶绥黑叶猴活动节律和日活动时间分配

2002年8月至2003年7月,对生活在完全被周围农田隔离的石山中的一群黑叶猴的昼夜活动节律和日活动时间分配进行研究。采用以群为单位的焦点动物观察法和连续记录法,每月对猴群连续10d跟踪观察。结果表明:3月至10月,黑叶猴的昼夜活动节律由8个环节组成,11月至2月由9个环节组成,移动、觅食和休息在活动节律中重复出现,晒太阳仅出现在11月至翌年2月。休息占黑叶猴日活动时间的比例最大,其次是觅食、移动、晒太阳和理毛。黑叶猴的日活动时间分配具有明显的月变化规律,相关性分析表明,环境温度、栖息地的食物丰富度和光照强度是影响黑叶猴日活动时间分配的主要因素。进一步分析认为,黑叶猴的活动时间分配体现了叶食性灵长类的特点,更体现了黑叶猴对北热带喀斯特石山环境的适应特点。     

弄岗黑叶猴的日活动类型和活动时间分配

2005年10月-2006年9月,用瞬时扫描法对广西弄岗自然保护区内的一群黑叶猴(Trachypithecusfran oisi)的日活动节律和活动时间分配进行研究。结果表明:黑叶猴日活动中出现2个觅食高峰和1个休息高峰。觅食高峰分别出现在7:00-9:00和16:00-18:00;休息高峰出现在10:00-14:00。黑叶猴日活动节律表现出明显的季节性变化,表现为旱季上午的觅食高峰被推迟了1h,且觅食时间长于雨季;旱季下午的觅食活动提前1h结束。猴群在雨季较早进入休息高峰,而且中午休息时很少有移动或零星觅食。研究期间,猴群用于休息的时间平均占日活动时间分配的51.99%,移动占20.25%,觅食占18.61%,理毛占7.61%,玩耍占1.20%,其它行为(包括打斗、交配等)仅占0.14%。活动时间分配有明显的季节性差异,主要表现为:与雨季相比,黑叶猴在旱季花费更多的时间用于觅食和移动,而相应地减少用于休息的时间。活动时间分配在不同年龄和性别的个体之间也存在显著差异,表现为成年个体花费更多的时间用于休息和觅食,未成年个体则花费更多的时间用于移动和玩耍;雌性个体比雄性个体花费更多的时间用于理毛。     

黑叶猴活动时间季节性变化

为全面了解黑叶猴(Trachypithecus francoisi)的生态习性和活动规律,从中探讨其对喀斯特石山生境的适应策略,从2001年3~12月,在广西扶绥珍贵动物保护区对一群黑叶猴进行了连续的跟踪观察,采用连续记录法收集相关的行为数据。结果表明,黑叶猴的日活动节律表现为上午和下午的觅食高峰,中午进入长时间的休息期。这可能与白天的温度和日照强度的变化有关。它们的活动节律具有明显的季节性变化,主要表现为雨季活动节律中的觅食高峰与旱季相比推迟1h出现;旱季觅食高峰中用于觅食的时间明显增加,且中午出现一个小的觅食高峰。在黑叶猴的活动时间分配中,平均65.4%的时间用于休息,19.6%用于觅食,9.9%用于移动,用于社会活动的时间平均仅占5.1%。它们的活动时间分配表现出明显的季节性变化。在旱季,用于觅食的时间明显多于雨季,而休息时间相应地减少。     

黑叶猴在喀斯特石山生境的觅食活动

2002 年 8 月至2003 年 7 月,对一群生活在广西扶绥珍稀动物保护区内孤立石山中的黑叶猴进行观察,通过收集有关栖息地利用的数据,从中探讨栖息地的破碎化对其生态习性的影响.研究结果表明：猴群的觅食活动在石山各个部位的分布存在着显著差异,它们更偏好在山腰觅食（66.1%）,而较少利用山脚（18.6%）和山顶（15.3%）.从横向水平来看,猴群的觅食活动主要集中在6个觅食斑块,总面积为7.94 hm^2,约占栖息地面积的18.9%.觅食斑快中黑叶猴喜食食物的植株密度明显高于非觅食斑块.虽然树叶在黑叶猴食物组成中占绝大部分,但其食物组成具有明显的季节性变化.与之相对应,猴群对觅食斑块的利用也表现出明显的季节性差异.     

环境和社会因素对喀斯特石山猕猴日活动节律和活动时间分配的影响

2007年9月至2008年8月,以广西弄岗国家级自然保护区内的一大群野生猕猴为研究对象进行连续的跟踪观察,采用瞬时扫描取样法收集其食物组成、活动节律和活动时间分配的数据,旨在探讨影响石山猕猴活动节律及活动时间分配的环境和社会因素。结果表明:猴群的日活动节律表现为上午和下午的觅食高峰以及中午的休息高峰,这与白天温度和日照强度的变化有关。日活动时间分配中,休息42.1%,移动34.5%,觅食15.1%,玩耍2.0%,理毛5.2%,其他行为1.3%。猴群依据食物的变化调整活动时间分配,其中用于移动的时间与食物中果实的比例成显著的正相关性。不同性别年龄组个体的活动时间分配表现出显著差异,主要表现为成年雄性花费更多的时间休息,而成年雌性花费更多的时间觅食和参与社会性理毛,未成年个体则花费更多的时间玩耍。与同域分布的小群猕猴相比,本研究群花费更多的时间休息,较少的时间觅食。这些差异可能与盗食农作物有关。     

同域分布黑叶猴和熊猴的活动时间分配比较

2005年9月至2006年8月,在广西弄岗国家级自然保护区选择一群黑叶猴和两群熊猴作为观察对象,采用瞬时扫描取样法收集相关的行为数据.通过比较两种灵长类活动时间分配的数据来探讨食物资源在时间和空间分布上的差异对两种灵长类动物活动时间分配的影响.结果表明:休息在黑叶猴的活动时间分配中所占比例明显高于熊猴; 熊猴用于移动的时间比例明显高于黑叶猴.两种灵长类采取不同的策略以应对喜食食物的季节性短缺.当旱季嫩叶和果实的可获得性降低时,黑叶猴明显增加用于移动和觅食的时间比例,相应减少用于休息的时间.与此相反,熊猴明显减少用于移动的时间比例,相应地增加用于社会性理毛的时间比例.分析表明,食物的可获得性以及食物组成的差异可能是影响同域黑叶猴和熊猴活动时间分配差异的重要因素.     

广西弄岗黑叶猴栖息地选择与利用

2005年9月至2006年8月对广西弄岗国家自然保护区内一群黑叶猴进行行为观察,采用瞬时扫描法观察并收集猴群的栖息地利用数据,分析黑叶猴对喀斯特石山栖息地的选择与利用规律。结果表明,黑叶猴对不同山体部位的利用有显著性差异(χ~2=43.063,df=4,P0.001)。黑叶猴对崖壁的利用频率最高(占总记录的36.67%±9.44%),其次是山坡(32.30%±9.57%),对山脚(14.15%±5.01%)、山顶(11.24%±8.42%)和平地(5.63%±2.92%)的利用较少。分析发现,黑叶猴对山体部位的利用没有显著的季节性差异(山顶:Z=-0.160,P=0.837;崖壁:Z=-0.320,P=0.749;山坡:Z=-0.480,P=0.631;山脚:Z=-1.601,P=0.109;平地:Z=0,P=1)。黑叶猴将崖壁作为主要的休息场所,山坡和山脚为主要的移动和觅食场所。黑叶猴对栖息地的利用受食物可获得性的影响。当食物中花的可获得性降低时,猴群增加对山脚的利用;当嫩叶可获得性降低时,猴群增加在崖壁移动的频率;当果实的可获得性升高时,猴群增加在平地觅食的频率。食物组成与黑叶猴栖息地利用也有关系。总体来看,黑叶猴对山顶的利用频率与花的觅食比例呈显著正相关;对山脚的利用频率与果实+种子的觅食比例呈显著正相关。猴群在山顶休息的频率随花和成熟叶的觅食比例的上升而上升;在山脚休息的频率随果实+种子的觅食比例的上升而上升。猴群在山坡觅食的频率随果实+种子的觅食比例的下降而上升;在山脚觅食的频率随嫩叶的觅食比例的下降而上升。另外,平均最低温度与猴群在平地觅食的频率呈负相关关系。分析表明食物的分布和数量对黑叶猴栖息地利用有重要影响,黑叶猴对栖息地的选择是在觅食利益与风险之间进行权衡的结果。     

黑叶猴食物组成的地域性差异比较

研究同一个物种在不同生境觅食对策的差异不仅有助于了解其行为和生态的可塑性,还有助于评价其对自然或人为干扰导致的生境质量的改变的适应能力,从而为物种的有效保护和管理提供科学依据。本文以广西弄岗国家级自然保护区和扶绥保护区的黑叶猴为研究对象,采用瞬时扫描取样法收集相关的食性数据,并结合贵州麻阳河国家级自然保护区黑叶猴的食性研究结果,比较分析黑叶猴食物组成的区域性差异以探讨黑叶猴对不同喀斯特石山生境的行为适应对策。结果表明:黑叶猴3个地理种群共采食77科、182属、259种植物,木本植物(包括乔木和灌木)是其最重要的食物来源。3个地理种群均表现出较高程度的叶食性,树叶分别占其食物组成的52.7%、63.9%和79.7%。然而,3个地理种群的食物组成却存在显著差异,种群间总的食物重叠指数仅为1.33%-7.43%,主要食物的重叠指数仅为0-13.51%。这些差异可能与栖息地中植被组成的差异有关。与弄岗和麻阳河黑叶猴相比,扶绥黑叶猴采食更多的嫩叶和灌木。人为干扰对栖息地植被结构的影响可能是导致上述差异的主要原因。我们认为黑叶猴不同地理种群食物组成的显著差异反映其觅食的灵活性以应对不同喀斯特石山生境。     

黑叶猴对广西扶绥破碎生境的选择和利用

从2001年3月至12月,对生活在广西扶绥珍贵动物保护区内-孤立石山上的一群黑叶猴(Trachypithecus francoisi)进行观察.通过收集有关栖息地利用的数据,探讨栖息地的破碎化对黑叶猴生态习性的影响.为分析人类活动对柄息地植被的影响,作者设置了10个植被样方,其中5个位于人类活动频繁的山坡;5个位于人类活动较少的山顶.观察结果表明,山坡的植物种类、多样性以及植物密度均低于山顶;山顶上黑叶猴喜食植物的密度也明显高于山坡.扶绥黑叶猴生境喜好程度分析表明,猴群偏好在食物丰富而人类活动少的山顶休息和觅食,而很少利用人类活动频繁的山坡.雨季里,猴群明显增加对山顶的利用率,而相应地减少对崖壁的利用.因此,扶绥黑叶猴对栖息地选择和利用可能是觅食利益和躲避人类活动干扰权衡的结果.黑叶猴选择崖壁上的突出平台或石洞作为夜宿地;通常重复利用少数几个夜宿地,并且会连续利用同一个夜宿地.     

弄岗熊猴的活动节律和活动时间分配

2005年9月至2006年9月,采用瞬时扫描取样法,在弄岗国家级自然保护区对野生熊猴(Macaca assamensis)进行了连续跟踪观察,收集相关的活动节律和活动时间分配的数据,通过分析其与气候及食物组成的关系,从中探讨影响熊猴活动节律及活动时间分配的因素。研究结果发现:在熊猴的日活动节律中,觅食活动表现为逐渐增强的趋势,最高峰值出现在下午15:00,休息活动在中午出现一个小的高峰;其日活动节律表现出明显的季节性差异,主要表现为旱季大部分时间段的觅食强度均高于雨季,且早上7:00-10:00出现一段长时间的休息,而雨季里长时间的休息则发生在中午12:00-14:00;在活动时间分配上,熊猴平均花费39.6%时间用于休息,33.2%用于移动,18.3%用于摄食,5.1%用于理毛,2.4%用于玩耍,1.4%用于其他行为,其活动时间分配也表现出明显的季节性差异;与雨季相比,在旱季熊猴明显增加用于觅食的时间,而相应地减少用于休息的时间,活动时间分配的季节性变化明显与食物组成的变化有关;在不同年龄组个体间,青少年猴花费更多的时间用于玩耍,而用于休息和理毛的时间明显少于成年猴。     

Collagen-like triple helix formation of synthetic (Pro-Pro-Gly)10 analogues: (4(S)-hydroxyprolyl-4(R)-hydroxyprolyl-Gly)10, (4(R)-hydroxyprolyl-4(R)-hydroxyprolyl-Gly)10 and (4(S)-fluoroprolyl-4(R)-fluoroprolyl-Gly)10.

For the rational design of a stable collagen triple helix according to the conventional rule that the pyrrolidine puckerings of Pro, 4-hydroxyproline (Hyp) and 4-fluoroproline (fPro) should be down at the X-position and up at the Y-position in the X-Y-Gly repeated sequence for enhancing the triple helix propensities of collagen model peptides, a series of peptides were prepared in which X- and Y-positions were altogether occupied by Hyp(R), Hyp(S), fPro(R) or fPro(S). Contrary to our presumption that inducing the X-Y residues to adopt a down-up conformation would result in an increase in the thermal stability of peptides, the triple helices of (Hyp(S)-Hyp(R)-Gly)(10) and (fPro(S)-fPro(R)-Gly)(10) were less stable than those of (Pro-Hyp(R)-Gly)(10) and (Pro-fPro(R)-Gly)(10), respectively. As reported by B?chinger's and Zagari's groups, (Hyp(R)-Hyp(R)-Gly)(10) which could have an up-up conformation unfavorable for the triple helix, formed a triple helix that has a high thermal stability close to that of (Pro-Hyp(R)-Gly)(10). These results clearly show that the empirical rule based on the conformational preference of pyrrolidine ring at each of X and Y residues should not be regarded as still valid, at least for predicting the stability of collagen models in which both X and Y residues have electronegative groups at the 4-position.     

Synthesis and luminescence properties of a blue-emitting Sr(3.5) Y(6.5) O(2) (PO(4) )(1.5) (SiO(4) )(4.5) :Eu(2+) phosphor

A novel blue‐emitting Sr_3.5Y_6.5O₂(PO₄)_1.5(SiO₄)_4.5:Eu²⁺ phosphor was synthesized via a solid‐state reaction. Powder X‐ray diffraction (XRD) analysis demonstrated that the Sr_3.5Y_6.5O₂(PO₄)_1.5(SiO₄)_4.5 host had a hexagonal crystal structure in the space group P6₃/m and unit cell parameters a = 9.418 Å, c = 6.900 Å. The as‐prepared phosphor showed a blue emission and all the main emission peaks were located at around 466 nm for different excitation wavelengths of 297, 333 and 391 nm. The temperature dependence of the photoluminescence property was investigated in the range 20–250 °C, and the emission intensity decreased to 71% of the initial value at room temperature on increasing the temperature to 150 °C. According to the classical theory of fluorescent thermal quenching, the activation energy (ΔE) for the thermal quenching luminescence of the as‐prepared Sr_3.45Y_6.5O₂(PO₄)_1.5(SiO₄)_4.5:0.05Eu²⁺ phosphor was determined to be 0.20 eV. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Biology of Bactrocera (Zeugodacus) tau (Walker) (Diptera: Tephritidae)

The biology of the fruit fly Bactrocera tau, an important horticultural pest, was studied under laboratory conditions at 25°C and 60–70% relative humidity on Cucurbita maxima. The duration of mating averaged 408.03 ± 235.93 min. After mating, the female fly had a preoviposition period of 11.7 ± 4.49 days. The oviposition rate was 9.9 ± 8.50 eggs and fecundity was 464.6 ± 67.98 eggs/female. Eggs were elliptical, smooth and shiny white, turning darker as hatching approached, and measured 1.30 ± 0.07 mm × 0.24 ± 0.04 mm. The chorion has polygonal microsculpturing and is species-specific with polygonal walls. The egg period lasts for 1.3 ± 0.41 days. The duration of the larval period is 1.2 ± 0.42, 1.7 ± 0.48 and 4.0 ± 0.94 days for first, second and third instars, respectively. Pupation occurs in the sand or soil and pupal periods are 7.0 ± 0.47 days. The life cycle from egg to adult was completed in 14.2 ± 1.69 days; the longevity of mated females and males was 130.33 ± 14.18 and 104.66 ± 31.21 days, respectively. At least two to three generations were observed from June 2008 to June 2009.     

Role of tfdC(I)D(I)E(I)F(I) and tfdD(II)C(II)E(II)F(II) gene modules in catabolism of 3-chlorobenzoate by Ralstonia eutropha JMP134(pJP4)

The enzymes chlorocatechol-1,2-dioxygenase, chloromuconate cycloisomerase, dienelactone hydrolase, and maleylacetate reductase allow Ralstonia eutropha JMP134(pJP4) to degrade chlorocatechols formed during growth in 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetate or 3-chlorobenzoate (3-CB). There are two gene modules located in plasmid pJP4, tfdC(I)D(I)E(I)F(I) (module I) and tfdD(II)C(II)E(II)F(II) (module II), putatively encoding these enzymes. To assess the role of both tfd modules in the degradation of chloroaromatics, each module was cloned into the medium-copy-number plasmid vector pBBR1MCS-2 under the control of the tfdR regulatory gene. These constructs were introduced into R. eutropha JMP222 (a JMP134 derivative lacking pJP4) and Pseudomonas putida KT2442, two strains able to transform 3-CB into chlorocatechols. Specific activities in cell extracts of chlorocatechol-1,2-dioxygenase (tfdC), chloromuconate cycloisomerase (tfdD), and dienelactone hydrolase (tfdE) were 2 to 50 times higher for microorganisms containing module I compared to those containing module II. In contrast, a significantly (50-fold) higher activity of maleylacetate reductase (tfdF) was observed in cell extracts of microorganisms containing module II compared to module I. The R. eutropha JMP222 derivative containing tfdR-tfdC(I)D(I)E(I)F(I) grew four times faster in liquid cultures with 3-CB as a sole carbon and energy source than in cultures containing tfdR-tfdD(II)C(II)E(II)F(II). In the case of P. putida KT2442, only the derivative containing module I was able to grow in liquid cultures of 3-CB. These results indicate that efficient degradation of 3-CB by R. eutropha JMP134(pJP4) requires the two tfd modules such that TfdCDE is likely supplied primarily by module I, while TfdF is likely supplied by module II.     

The helix-coil transitions of poly (dA)-poly (dT) and poly (dA-dT)-poly (dA-dT)

Helix–coil transition curves are calculated for poly (dA) poly(dT) and poly (dA-dT) poly (dA-dT) using the integral equation approach of Goel and Montroll.⁵ The transitions are described by the loop entropy model with the exponent of the loop entropy factor, k, remaining an arbitrary constant. The theoretical calculations are compared with experimental transition curves of the two polymers. Results indicate that the stacking energies for these two polymers differ by about 1 kcal/mole of base pairs. Also, a fit between theory and experiment was not possible for k > 1.70.     

Archaeobotany of capers (Capparis) (Capparaceae)

The origins of capers, their use and cultivation are discussed. Capers seeds and charcoal are often recovered from archaeological sites of the Mediterranean and West Asia. These are referred to as C. Spinosa L. This is mostly a group of cultivars restricted to localities surrounding the Western Mediterranean and some places in the Eastern Mediterranean. Identification of the findings is discussed in terms of seed morphology, present distribution and ancient uses of C. aegyptia Lam., C. sicula Veill., C. cartilaginea Decne, C. orientalis Veill., C. decidua (Forssk.) Edgew. and other species. Citations of Capparis in early Rabbinic, Mesopotamian and Greco-Roman texts are presented. Received June 3, 2002 / Accepted October 8, 2002 Correspondence to: D. Rivera     

Spectroscopic investigations of Er(3+) :CdO-Bi(2) O(3) -B(2) O(3) glasses

This article reports on the optical properties of Er³⁺ ions doped CdO–Bi₂O₃–B₂O₃ (CdBiB) glasses. The materials were characterized by optical absorption and emission spectra. By using Judd–Ofelt theory, the intensity parameters Ω_λ (λ = 2, 4, 6) and also oscillatory strengths were calculated from the absorption spectra. The results were used to compute the radiative properties of Er³⁺:CdBiB glasses. The concentration quenching and energy transfer from Yb³⁺–Er³⁺ were explained. The stimulated emission cross‐section, full width at half maximum (FWHM) and FWHM × values are also calculated for all the Er³⁺:CdBiB glasses. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Copper (II) and cobalt (II) complexes of chiral tetrathiafulvalene-oxazoline (TTF-OX) and tetrathiafulvalene-thiomethyl-oxazoline (TTF-SMe-OX) derivatives

Synthesis and single crystal X-ray structures of the first paramagnetic transition metal complexes containing chiral ethylenedithio-tetrathiafulvalene-oxazoline (EDT-TTF-OX) 1a-c and ethylenedithio-tetrathiafulvalene-thiomethyloxazoline 2 (EDT-TTF-(SMe)OX) ligands based on copper (II) and cobalt (II) are described. The racemic [EDT-TTF-OX][Cu(hfac)₂] complex 3a crystallizes in the triclinic centrosymmetric space group , whereas the enantiopure counterparts 3b-c crystallize in the triclinic non-centrosymmetric space group P1. Cu(II) adopts a distorted square pyramidal coordination geometry, a much weaker Cu?S_TTF interaction also being identified. The same coordination pattern around Cu(II) is observed in the complex [(rac)-EDT-TTF-(SMe)OX][Cu(hfac)₂] (4) in spite of the bidentate nature of the redox active ligand. DFT theoretical calculations afforded two equilibrium configurations for a corresponding model complex, in which the metal centre establishes secondary coordination either with one S_TTF or with the SMe group. The same ligand coordinates the cobalt (II) to afford the octahedral complex [(rac)-EDT-TTF-(SMe)OX][Co(hfac)₂] (5). In all these novel complexes, the paramagnetic centres are structurally and magnetically isolated. Cyclic voltammetry measurements show the stability of the radical cation species.     

Photosynthesis of F(1) Hybrids between C(4) and C(3)-C(4) Species of Flaveria

Photosynthetic characteristics were studied in several F₁ hybrids between C₄ and C₃-C₄ species of Flaveria. Stable carbon isotope ratios, O₂ inhibition of apparent photosynthesis, and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase activities in the hybrids were similar to the means for the parents. Values of CO₂ compensation concentrations were nearer to those of the C₄ parent and apparent photosynthesis was below that of both parents, being only 60 and 74% of that of the lowest (C₃-C₄) parent in two experiments. Reductions of CO₂ compensation concentration and O₂ inhibition of apparent photosynthesis as well as increases in carbon isotope ratios and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase activities compared to values in C₃-C₄ species suggest transfer of a limited degree of C₄ photosynthesis to the F₁ hybrids. However, the lower apparent photosynthesis of the hybrids suggests that transfer of C₄ characteristics to non-C₄ species is detrimental unless characteristics associated with C₄ photosynthesis are fully developed. There was a highly significant negative correlation (r = −0.90) between CO₂ compensation concentration and the logarithm of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase activity in the parents and hybrids, suggesting involvement of this enzyme in controlling the CO₂ compensation concentration. Although bundle-sheath cells were more developed in leaves of hybrids than in C₃-C₄ parents, they appeared to contain lower quantities of organelles than those of the C₄ parent. Reduced quantities of organelles in bundle-sheath cells could indicate incomplete compartmentation of partial pathways of the C₄ cycle in the hybrids. This may mean that the reduction of CO₂ compensation and O₂ inhibition of apparent photosynthesis relative to the C₃-C₄ parents is less dependent on fully developed Kranz anatomy than is increased apparent photosynthesis.