Intra- and interspecific variation in body size ofProtohermes (Megaloptera: Corydalidae)

The life history of three populations ofProtohermes grandis and two populations ofProtohermes immaculatus (Megaloptera: Corydalidae) was compared. In general, the larvae lived in stream riffles for 2 years and the adults appeared in summer. Adult body size differed between these closely related species and also between the populations ofP. grandis. Dwarfism occurred inP. immaculatus, a species that is endemic to the small, isolated island, Amami Island. The population ofP. grandis on Yaku Island, located between Amami Island and the mainland Kyushu, had an intermediate body size between that ofP. immaculatus and the mainland population ofP. grandis. Despite being an insular population,P. grandis on Tsushima Island had a similar body size to mainlandP. grandis. In these populations with large adults, some larvae lived in the streams for 3 years. The size distribution of benthic animals, which are the prey available toProtohermes larvae, differed between the streams studied. The density of large prey was lowest on Amami Island, intermediate on Yaku Island, and highest on the mainland and Tsushima Island. Different size distributions of available prey may be caused by the differences of benthic fauna; most of Ecdyonuridae and Ephemerellidae (large mayflies) and Perlidae (large stoneflies) were not found on Amami and Yaku Islands. Thus, there is a tendency to dwarfism in the populations ofProtobermes inhabiting streams where the density of large prey is low.     

Genetic architecture of growth curve parameters in chickens

Summary Genetic improvement in growth of poultry has traditionally proceeded via selection for body weight at a fixed age. Due to increased maintenance costs and reproductive problems of adult broiler breeders, the potential for genetic manipulation of the growth curve has been receiving increased interest. Research of both male and female progeny of a three-way diallel cross was used to investigate the inheritance of growth curve parameters. The Laird form of the Gompertz equation was used to determine growth curve parameters, and was suited to the juvenile growth data frequently collected from meat-type chickens. Growth rate exhibited significant heterosis due to both autosomes and the sex chromosomes. Age at inflection point also exhibited significant average heterosis, though only among females. Growth rate was also influenced by average line effects, as was age at inflection point. Maternal effects had no influence on growth curve parameters, while additive sex linkage was observed for growth rate. Phenotypic and genetic correlations were calculated among the growth curve parameters and suggest that specific breeding programs could alter the growth trajectory of the contemporary broiler chicken. Moderate heritabilities were observed for the growth curve parameters and support the hypothesis that the growth curve could be altered via genetic manipulation of early postnatal growth, especially during the first 14 days post-hatch.     

Was “Lucy” more human than her “child”? Observations on early hominid postcranial skeletons

Fully adult partial skeletons attributed to Australopithecus afarensis (AL 288-1, “Lucy”) and to Homo habilis (OH 62, “Lucy's child”), respectively, both include remains from upper and lower limbs. Relationships between various limb bone dimensions of these skeletons are compared to those of modern African apes and humans. Surprisingly, it emerges that OH 62 displays closer similarities to African apes than does AL 288-1. Yet A. afarensis, whose skeleton is dated more than 1 million years earlier, is commonly supposed to be the ancestor of Homo habilis. If OH 62, classified as Homo habilis by its discoverers, does indeed represent a stage intermediate between A. afarensis and later Homo, a revised interpretation of the course of human evolution would be necessary.     

人体和动物模型的体表物理信息地形图的研究

对人体头面、躯干、四肢、耳廓各局部几十个及整个人体等体表部位正、背面等210个部位进行超微弱冷光和温度测量,输入电子计算机,经特殊的自编程序处理,获得十分清晰的,由3000多数据构成的各个局部或人体整体的冷光和温度地形图。 对家兔左、右耳廓、胸腹部、背部都分别观察32个部位的冷光与体表温度,经计算机分析处理,每观察区域获得约由2000个数据构成的精确的冷光、温度地形分市图。并可见不同生理、病理状态及不同病程家兔体表冷光、温度等地形图呈有规律的改变。 此外,我们还编制了以体表左右相应对称部位差值为分析数据进行地形图分析的程序,用以人体和动物体表物理信息对称规律的研究。 本工作以图形的形式显示物理参量在体表的广泛的分布规律,以揭示机体内部的不同生理、病理状态。本方法定位准确、直观醒目,为研究体表信息及机体生命活动规律提供了与逐点直接测量方法相互补充的有益的新手段。     

Regulation of glycolytic intermediates in cockroach fat body by the corpus cardiacum

Glycolytic intermediates and related metabolites were measured in the fat body of the American cockroach (Periplaneta americana) to locate the rate-limiting reactions that regulate glycolysis during the action of the corpus cardiacum (CC) in vitro.

Species number, species abundance and body length of arboreal arthropods associated with an Australian rainforest tree

Abstract.

• 1 The species number, the abundance per species and the body length of arthropods foraging within the crowns of an over-storey rainforest tree from Australia, Argyrodendron actinophyllum (Sterculiaceae), were investigated by interception trap sampling and restricted canopy fogging. Emphasis was placed upon the interpretation of trap data. Arthropods were trapped continuously day and night, over a 2-year period and the final analyses examined the attributes of 759 species which represented 20,500 individuals.
• 2 The proportion of‘rare’species (Le. collected once) intercepted was high (35.7%), although lower than in other similar rainforest surveys. Neither the α log-series nor the log-normal distribution could be fitted to the relationship between number of species and number of individuals, since the number of rare species was much higher than predicted and the mode of the distribution could not be identified. The proportion of rare species was higher in fogging collections (452%) than in trap collections.
• 3 The data are compared with a study of Bornean arboreal beetles, obtained by fogging trees during a single sampling event. Several patterns were common to both data sets. However, the three-dimensional plot of the variables describing the structure of the arthropod community showed a notably rougher surface than in the case of Bornean beetles.
• 4 Although several factors may complicate the interpretation of the three-dimensional plots, long-term and continuous sampling may alter our perception of complex arthropod communities. This methodology is imperative for a proper understanding of arthropod community structure in rain forests.

     

颈动脉内注入腺苷对呼吸,血压和肾交感神经活动的影响

在33只麻醉家兔,观察了颈动脉内注入腺苷所诱发的平均动脉压、心率,呼吸和肾交感神经活动的变化。结果如下:(1)颈动脉内注入腺苷后,平均动脉压呈剂量依赖性下降;呼吸加快,深度变化不明显,剪断窦神经后注入腺苷,仍引起平均动脉压下降,而呼吸变化消失。(2)隔离的颈动脉窦灌流液内加入腺苷后,平均动脉压下降,心率减慢;颈动脉体(CB)失活后反应消失。(3)将腺苷灌注到颈动脉窦区后,平均动脉压下降,肾交感神经传出放电活动增加,CB 失活或剪断窦神经后,反应消失。由此提示:腺苷可作为兴奋 CB 的一种物质,引起平均动脉压降低,心率减慢,呼吸加强和肾交感神经放电活动增加。     

Age-specific flight behavior in relation to body weight and lipid content of Ips calligraphus reared in slash pine bolts with thick or thin inner bark (phloem)

Rearing larvae of Ips calligraphus (Germar) (Coleoptera: Scolytidae) in bolts of typical slash pine, Pinus elliottii Engelm. var. elliottii, with thin (TN; 0.5–1.5 mm) phloem (inner bark) relative to adult beetle body width significantly reduced body weight and lipid content of emerging adults compared with thick (TK; 2.5–3.5 mm) phloem-reared adults. Unmated (pre-nuptial) TK beetles averaged 2-fold longer daily and life-time flight duration than TN beetles. Daily flights were highly variable, averaging <20 min (longest daily flight=173 min). TK and TN beetles initiated flight, and the greatest number flew, on the first or second day after emergence form their rearing bolt; % of beetles flying and survival gradually declined to zero by day 9. Males (both TK and TN) averaged 2.5 days of flight, ca. 1 day longer than females. Fliers lived ca. 2-fold longer than non-fliers. Among TK and TN fliers, significant but weak positive correlations occurred between body weight and lifetime flight duration. Poor correlation between lifetime flight duration and longevity suggests little physiological cost to flight, but effects on fecundity were not assessed. Flight by mated, egg-laying (post-nuptial) beetles was substantially delayed (peaking on day 6), suggesting degeneration and subsequent regeneration of flight muscles.

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Résumé Le comportement de vol d'Ips calligraphus GERMAR (Scolytidae) a été examiné au laboratoire par une technique de vol captif. La génération parentale avait été artificiellement introduite, suivant la taille des adultes (1,6 à 2,1 mm) dans des morceaux de Pinus elliottii Engelm. variété elliottii au phloeme épais (TK=2,5 à 3,5 mm) ou fin (TN=0,5 à 1,5 mm) les larves se sont développées dans ces morceaux de pin. Le poids et la teneur en lipide des adultes obtenus à partir de TN étaient significativement inférieure à ceux de TK. Le poids des mâles les plus gros a été plus réduit que celui des femelles; les mâles les plus petits semblaient être moins efficaces dans l'initiation des attaques sur les arbres, et les femelles les plus petites ont eu une fécondité réduite.Les durées de vol quotidiennes pendant la vie des mâles TK vierges étaient en moyenne deux fois plus longues que celles des mâles TN. Les durées de vol quotidiennes étaient très variables: en moyenne moins de 20 minutes, mais la plus longue a été de 173 mn. En moyennes les adultes TN et TK ont commencé à voler, et volaient en plus grand nombre, le premier et le second jour après l'émergence. Ensuite la fréquence d'adultes volants et le pourcentage de surviveants, ont graduellement diminué jusqu'à tomber à zéro le neuvième jour. Les mâles TN et TK avaient des vols quotidiens plus longs et volaient environ 1 jour de plus que les femelles. L'activité de vol accrue des mâles reflète leur besoin de trouver dans la nature des arbres convenables; les vols des femelles peuvent généralement être plus brefs, étant plus directement orientés comme une réponse aux phéromones mâles.Les voiliers ont vécu environ 2 fois plus longtemps que les non-voiliers. Parmi les voiliers TK et TN il y avait une corrélation positive étroite entre le poids du corps et la durée totale des vols. Il n'y en a qu'une faible corrélation entre cette durée totale des vols et la longévité, suggérant un faible coût physiologique du vol. L'influence de cette durée des vols et du prélèvement consécutif de lipides sur la fécondité n'a pas été examinée. L'initiation au vol chez les individus fécondés a été sérieusement retardée (maximum le sixième jour) par rapport aux vierges, ce qui suggère un dégénérescence des muscles du vol associée à la reproduction, suivie d'une régénération importante, comme cela a été signalé chez d'autres Scolytes.Ces résultats contribuent à notre compréhension des facteurs conditionnant le comportement de vol et d'autres aspects fondamentaux de la biologie des insectes des pins. Une telle connaissance est nécessaire au développement d'une politique efficace de protection.

     

人体急性缺氧性意识障碍

实验分为低压组(低压舱7,000米)与常压组(吸入7.6％低氧混合气),每组受试者各为12名,有7名参加了两组实验。每组各有4名平均经15分23秒发生了意识模糊或丧失(通称意识障碍)。障碍者的肺泡氧分压为29.9±0.8mmHg。障碍发生前,呈现严重无力,觉醒度降低,反应迟钝,脑波特征是高幅6波(100-300μV)占优势。障碍发生时,高幅δ波丧失节律,幅度衰减,波型不规则,额枕失同步;呼吸循环代偿功能增强程度明显高于障碍前。本工作对于预测和评价人体急性缺氧引起的意识障碍有意义。