Quantitative field investigations of feeding and territorial behaviour of young-of-the-year brook charr,Salvelinus fontinalis

Synopsis Direct observations of young-of-the-year brook charr, Salvelinus fontinalis, in a second-order woodland stream indicated that most of their feeding effort was directed toward sub-surface, drifting prey (83% of feeding time). Feeding from the substrate and water surface was much less frequent (17% of feeding time). Comparisons of gut contents to drift net and substrate fauna samples corroborated that the most commonly consumed prey (chironomid and trichopteran larvae, ostracods, and ephemeropteran nymphs) were captured primarily from sub-surface, invertebrate drift. The disproportionate numbers of some prey species in the guts of several fish indicate that some prey selection occurred. Territories appeared to be cardioid-shaped, and were often contiguous, with dominance hierarchies evident among the residents. Agonistic interactions were frequent. Charges and chases predominated (91% of interactions) while lateral displays were infrequent (9% of interactions). Overall, these fish spent most of the daylight hours station-holding (77%) and feeding (18%). While only 3% of total time was spent in aggression, this amounted to 14% of the time a fish spent away from its station. There was some indication that territories were defended at a cost of feeding time.     

Population genetics theory of concerted evolution and its application to the immunoglobulin V gene tree

Summary The previous simple model for treating concerted evolution of multigene families has been revised to be compatible with various new observations on the immunoglobulin variable region family and other families. In the previous model, gene conversion and unequal crossing-over were considered, and it was assumed that genes are randomly arranged on the chromosome; neither subdivision nor correlation of gene identity and chromosomal distance were considered. Although this model satisfactorily explains the observed amino acid diversity within and between species, it fails to predict the very ancient branching of the mouse immunoglobulin heavy chain V-gene family. By incorporating subdivided structure and genetic correlation with chromosomal distance into the simple model, the data of divergence may be satisfactorily explained, as well as the rate of nucleotide substitution and the amino acid diversity. The rate at which a V-gene is duplicated or deleted by conversion or by unequal crossing-over is estimated by the new model to be on the order of 10^–6 per year. The model may be applicable to other multigene families, such as those coding for silkmoth chorion or mammalian kallikrein.Contribution no. 1560 from the National Institute of Genetics, Mishima, 411 Japan     

Vacuolar ion currents in the primitive green algaEremosphaera viridis: The electrical properties are suggestive of both the Characeae and higher plants

Summary The electrical properties of the vacuolar membrane of the primitive green algaEremosphaera virdis were investigated using the patch-clamp technique. In whole vacuole measurements two types of transport systems with long activation time-constants were identified. The first, showing marked outward rectification, was activated by an increase in the cytosolic calcium concentration. Furthermore, it displayed sensitivity to micromolar concentrations of the anion channel blocker Zn²⁺ and to acidification of the cytosol. In contrast, the second time-activated current component was almost insensitive to changes in cytosolic pH and was blocked by the potassium channel inhibitor TEA. In addition to these slowly activating current components, the vacuolar membrane contained at least two further transport systems, responsible for an instantaneous current. These two current components were distinguished by their different sensitivity to protons, cytosolic calcium, and TEA. Comparing these electrical properties to those observed in vacuoles of higher plants or in cytoplasmic droplets from characean algae, respectively, it seems thatEremosphaera is intermediate, corresponding to the systematic position of this simple green alga.Abbreviations [Ca²⁺]_cyt cytosolic free calcium concentration - EGTA ethyleneglycol-bis(-aminoethylether)N,N,N,N-tetraacetic acid - HEPES N-[2-hydroxyethyl]piperazine-N-[2-ethanesulfonic acid] - I electric current - IRC inward rectifying current - MES 2-[N-morpholino]ethanesulfonic acid - ORC outward rectifying current - pH_cyt cytosolic pH - pH_vac vacuolar pH - P_o open probability - P_x permeability coefficient of ion species X - TEA tetraethylammonium chloride - Tris tris[hydroxymethyl]aminomethane - V voltage     

Detrending climate data prior to climate–growth analyses in dendroecology: A common best practice?

Tree growth varies closely with high–frequency climate variability. Since the 1930s detrending climate data prior to comparing them with tree growth data has been shown to better capture tree growth sensitivity to climate. However, in a context of increasingly pronounced trends in climate, this practice remains surprisingly rare in dendroecology. In a review of Dendrochronologia over the 2018–2021 period, we found that less than 20 % of dendroecological studies detrended climate data prior to climate-growth analyses. With an illustrative study, we want to remind the dendroecology community that such a procedure is still, if not more than ever, rational and relevant. We investigated the effects of detrending climate data on climate–growth relationships across North America over the 1951–2000 period. We used a network of 2536 tree individual ring-width series from the Canadian and Western US forest inventories. We compared correlations between tree growth and seasonal climate data (Tmin, Tmax, Prec) both raw and detrended. Detrending approaches included a linear regression, 30-yr and 100-yr cubic smoothing splines. Our results indicate that on average the detrending of climate data increased climate–growth correlations. In addition, we observed that strong trends in climate data translated to higher variability in inferred correlations based on raw vs. detrended climate data. We provide further evidence that our results hold true for the entire spectrum of dendroecological studies using either mean site chronologies and correlations coefficients, or individual tree time series within a mixed-effects model framework where regression coefficients are used more commonly. We show that even without a change in correlation, regression coefficients can change a lot and we tend to underestimate the true climate impact on growth in case of climate variables containing trends. This study demonstrates that treating climate and tree-ring time series “like-for-like” is a necessary procedure to reduce false negatives and positives in dendroecological studies. Concluding, we recommend using the same detrending for climate and tree growth data when tree-ring time series are detrended with splines or similar frequency-based filters.     

笼养蓝马鸡取食高度偏好

笼养鸟类取食高度对其自然行为表达和动物福利至关重要。然而,相关研究却少见报道。本文以我国二级重点保护野生动物——蓝马鸡(Crossoptilon auritum)为研究对象,观察笼养状态下其对不同高度取食槽内放置的种子或蔬菜的取食次序,并使用回归分析建立取食高度与偏好值的数学模型。结果发现,笼养蓝马鸡取食种子类食物(玉米粒)最佳取食高度为0cm,并且采食偏好随采食槽高度升高而下降(y=-0.564x+43.146,R²=0.946,y为采食偏好值,x为采食槽高度);油麦菜(Lactuca sativa)的最适取食高度范围为15～25 cm,随着取食槽高度的升高,偏好值先上升,至25 cm处后下降(y=-0.014x2+0.543x+26.487,R²=0.952,y为采食偏好值,x为采食槽高度)。当取食槽高度在65 cm及以上时,蓝马鸡拒食率上升(拒食率≥38.9%)。成年蓝马鸡体高对取食高度影响不明显。研究结果可为笼养蓝马鸡饲养管理提供参考。     

Palynological and palaeobotanical investigations in the area of the post-medieval Helsinki Old Town

Pollen, phytolith, and plant macrofossil analyses were carried out on the cultural layers of Helsinki Old Town excavated by the Helsinki City Museum and dated to the 15–17th centuries. Cultural mineral soil layers, a former ditch, a well, one waste pit, one waste heap and three house areas were investigated. The results show that-within certain limits-pollen in the mineral soil reflects the cultural changes of the local settlement from rural to urban. Among the main anthropogenic indicators, the high NAP (non-arboreal pollen) frequencies, the low pollen concentration values, and especially the high frequencies of Cichoriaceae (Liguliflorae) pollen should be emphasized. The macrofossil data were used to determine the species list of the herb pollen and to make a more detailed reconstruction of the local vegetation at Helsinki Old Town.     

食管癌患者放射治疗中照射体积和时间与外周血淋巴细胞绝对值的相关性研究

摘要 目的：探究照射体积和时间与食管癌患者外周血淋巴细胞绝对值的相关性。方法：本研究方案将纳入2019年1月~2019年12月蚌埠医学院第一附属医院放疗科收治的放疗或同步放化疗食管癌患者84例,其中单独放疗患者24例,同步放化疗患者60例,采用血液细胞分析仪测定患者放疗期间每周复查外周血白细胞（WBC）、中性粒细胞（N）、淋巴细胞（L）、血红蛋白（HB）及血小板（PLT）计数等指标。Pearson相关性分析照射时间、剂量及体积与外周血指标之间的相关性。结果：食管癌放疗患者,包括同步放化疗及单纯放疗亚组,在治疗1-6周,照射时间与外周血指标均无相关性（P>0.05）。但在放疗第5-6周,患者放疗剂量与WBC、N、L、HB呈负相关（P<0.05）,同步放化疗亚组患者照射剂量与WBC、N、L、HB呈负相关（P<0.05）。在治疗1-4周,不同照射剂量下各梯度照射剂量对应照射体积与外周血指标均无相关性（P>0.05）。但在第5-6周时,患者不同梯度照射剂量下各照射体积与WBC、N呈负相关（P<0.05）,同时在20Gy-60Gy照射剂量,尤其20Gy和30Gy照射剂量下照射体积与L呈负相关（P<0.05）。同步放化疗亚组患者不同照射剂量下各照射体积与WBC、N呈负相关（P<0.05）,同时在20Gy-60Gy照射剂量下照射体积与L呈负相关（P<0.05）,而且在60Gy照射剂量下照射体积与HB呈负相关（P<0.05）。结论：放疗患者特别是同步放化疗亚组患者照射体积、照射剂量与食管癌患者外周血淋巴细胞计数成负相关,基线淋巴细胞与食管癌患者外周血淋巴细胞计数成正相关,而照射时间与食管癌患者外周血淋巴细胞计数无相关性。     

板齿鼠种群数量中长期预测的时间序列模型

本文利用时间序列方法（三次指数平滑法）,并结合季节指数法,建立了板齿鼠种群数量中长期预测（６个月～１年）的时间序列模型,依据１９９１年１１月～１９９３年１２月在广东省博罗县石湾镇里波水管理区对板齿鼠种群数量动态的调查数据,分别预测了１９９４年和１９９５年板齿鼠种群数量的发生,预测准确率达到了８６．５６％。     

Energy allocation for reproduction in a marsupial arboreal folivore,the common ringtail possum (Pseudocheirus peregrinus)

This study examines the annual energetics of a small folivorous marsupial, Pseudocheirus peregrinus. Particular attention was given to the energy and time allocated to reproduction by the females. Daily energy expenditure was measured directly using the doubly labelled water technique. Energy transferred to the young via the milk was estimated from information on milk composition and production. There was no significant seasonal variation in the energy expenditure or water influx of males or females. The mean daily energy expenditure of a 1-kg non-lactating adult ringtail possum was 615 kJ day^–1 or 2.2 times standard metabolic rate. Females showed significant changes in daily energy expenditure according to their reproductive status. Without the burden of lactation the total annual energy expenditure of an adult female was estimated as 212.4 MJ kg^–1 year^–1. The total annual energy expenditure of a female rearing two young was 247.5 MJ kg^–1 year^–1, with the late stage of lactation constituting the most energetically expensive period accounting for 30% of the total yearly energy expenditure during 24% of the time. Total metabolisable energy allocation during reproduction (22 MJ kg) was similar to estimates available for other herbivores, although, the peak metabolisable energy allocation during lactation (759 kJ day^–1) was lower than values available for other herbivores. The total energy requirement for reproduction (metabolisable energy plus potential energy exported to young via milk) suggests that the ringtail possum also has a relatively low overall energy investment in reproduction. It is suggested that the lactational strategy of the ringtail possum has been selected in order to spread the energy demands of reproduction over time due to constraints on the rate of energy intake imposed by a leaf diet and/or to prolong the mother-young bond. The strategies a female ringtail possum may employ to achieve energy balance when faced with the energy demands of reproduction are discussed.     

Time linkages between pollination onsets of different taxa over an 11-year period in Perugia,Central Italy

Times of pollination of different taxa in the atmosphere of Perugia (Central Italy) over an 11-year period (1982–1992) were recorded and analysed by means of a 7-day volumetric Hirst-type pollen trap. For some taxa, the pollination period varied from year to year from a chronological and/or quantitative point of view. Several taxa showed a linkage in their starting dates of pollination. Knowledge of this kind of linkage allows us to build a forecasting model.