Vigilance and fitness in grey partridges Perdix perdix: the effects of group size and foraging-vigilance trade-offs on predation mortality

1. Vigilance increases fitness by improving predator detection but at the expense of increasing starvation risk. We related variation in vigilance among 122 radio-tagged overwintering grey partridges Perdix perdix (L.) across 20 independent farmland sites in England to predation risk (sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus L., kill rate), use of alternative antipredation behaviours (grouping and use of cover) and survival. 2. Vigilance was significantly higher when individuals fed in smaller groups and in taller vegetation. In the covey period (in early winter when partridges are in flocks), vigilance and use of taller vegetation was significantly higher at sites with higher sparrowhawk predation risk, but tall vegetation was used less by larger groups. Individuals were constrained in reducing individual vigilance by group size and habitat choice because maximum group size was determined by overall density in the area during the covey period and by the formation of pairs at the end of the winter (pair period), when there was also a significant twofold increase in the use of tall cover. 3. Over the whole winter individual survival was higher in larger groups and was lower in the pair period. However, when controlling for group size, mean survival decreased as vigilance increased in the covey period. This result, along with vigilance being higher at sites with increasing with raptor risk, suggests individual vigilance increases arose to reduce short-term predation risk from raptors but led to long-term fitness decreases probably because high individual vigilance increased starvation risk or indicated longer exposure to predation. The effect of raptors on survival was less when there were large groups in open habitats, where individual partridges can probably both detect predators and feed efficiently. 4. Our study suggests that increasing partridge density and modifying habitat to remove the need for high individual vigilance may decrease partridge mortality. It demonstrates the general principle that antipredation behaviours may reduce fitness long-term via their effects on the starvation-predation risk trade-off, even though they decrease predation risk short-term, and that it may be ecological constraints, such as poor habitat (that lead to an antipredation behaviour compromising foraging), that cause mortality, rather than the proximate effect of an antipredation behaviour such as vigilance.     

Dispersal patterns, social structure and mortality of wolves living in agricultural habitats in Spain

Wolf Canis lupus dispersal, social structure and mortality have been extensively studied in natural and semi-natural areas of North America and northern Europe but have never been assessed in agricultural areas. From 1997 to 2004, 14 wolves (11 in a wolf-saturated area and three in a low-density area) were radio-collared with long-lasting transmitters in a Spanish agricultural area containing a high-human-population density, a dense network of roads and a shortage of wild ungulates. The wolves mainly feed on an overabundance of livestock carrion. Nine wolves (one of them, three times) dispersed during the study period. The mean age and distance of natal dispersal were 24.8 months and 32 km. The natal dispersal period was much longer in wolves radio-collared in the saturated area (mean >14.6 months) than in the low-density area (<1 month). All three of the dispersers living in the low-density area, and two of the six dispersers in the saturated area settled and bred during the study. The average tenure of six breeders was 4.5 years. The radio-collared wolves spent 72% of the monitoring time living in packs and the rest living in pairs, as dispersers or as peripheral wolves, but the percentage of loners was much higher in the saturated (33.5%) than in the low density (1.6%) areas. The overall annual mortality was 18% (lower than in most populations studied in less modified habitats), but lone wolves had a significantly higher mortality than members of packs and pairs. Nine wolves died during the study, none of them due to natural causes. In general, our results are very similar to those obtained in less modified habitats, except for the dispersal distance, which was much shorter than in other studies. We suggest that barriers and habitat constraints may reduce dispersal distances in our study area.     

Activity of fungicide mixtures against Botrytis cinerea isolates resistant to benzimidazoles,strobilurins and dicarboximides

Botrytis cinerea, the causal agent of grey mould in a broad range of crops, is considered a high‐risk plant pathogen for fungicide resistance development. The use of fungicide mixtures, particularly combinations with synergistic activity, can be a useful tactic to counteract resistance build‐up in pathogen populations. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of different ratios of two‐way mixtures of carbendazim, iprodione, kresoxim‐methyl, tebuconazole and penconazole on four B. cinerea isolates that were sensitive or resistant to benzimidazoles, dicarboximides and strobilurins. The isolates that were resistant to benzimidazoles and strobilurins had E198A and G143A mutations in β‐tubulin and cytochrome b genes, respectively. The mixtures had different effects on each of the isolates in vitro but, in 13 combinations, the synergistic effect was observed against all or three isolates. In greenhouse experiments, 11 fungicide combinations used in decreased (EC₇₅) concentrations showed the maximum control efficiency. The two follow‐up greenhouse experiments using six selected combinations revealed they were highly effective against additional isolates with various fungicide resistance profiles. The identified mixtures‐ratios have potential for use in grey mould management programs in the greenhouse.     

基于B超图像评价HIFU治疗剂量对组织损伤程度的影响

基于B超图像分析HIFU治疗中辐照剂量、组织凝固性坏死区域和图像参数之间的关系。通过对高强度聚焦超声辐照新鲜离体组织前后获得的B超图像做数字减影处理,计算图像灰度平均值,同时切片观察并记录生物组织的凝固性坏死区域大小,在此基础上得到大批量数据的统计特性。结果表明：辐照剂量、组织凝固性坏死区域与B超图像灰度平均值在一定范围内成正相关性;当凝固性坏死区域增大到一定程度时,B超图像灰度平均值不再增大,而是呈无规律分布。B超图像灰度可反映组织损伤程度,为实时监控HIFU治疗效果提供依据。     

Behavioural responses of free‐ranging western grey kangaroos (Macropus fuliginosus) to olfactory cues of historical and recently introduced predators

Predation risk influences foraging decisions and time allocation of prey species, and may result in habitat shifts from potentially dangerous to safer areas. We examined a wild population of western grey kangaroos (Macropus fuliginosus) to test the efficacy of predator faecal odour in influencing time allocated to different behaviours and inducing changes in habitat use. Kangaroos were exposed to fresh faeces of a historical predator, the dingo (Canis lupus dingo), a recently introduced predator, the red fox (Vulpes vulpes), a herbivore (horse, Equus caballus) and an unscented control simultaneously. Kangaroos did not increase vigilance in predator‐scented areas. However, they investigated odour sources by approaching and sniffing; more time was spent investigating fox odour than control odours. Kangaroos then exhibited a clear anti‐predator response to predator odours, modifying their space use by rapidly escaping, then avoiding fox and dingo odour sources. Our results demonstrate that wild western grey kangaroos show behavioural responses to predator faeces, investigating then avoiding these olfactory cues of potential predation risk, rather than increasing general vigilance. This study contributes to our understanding of the impact of introduced mammalian predators on marsupial prey and demonstrates that a native Australian marsupial can recognize and respond to the odour of potential predators, including one that has been recently introduced.     

观赏海棠杂交后代萌芽期观察及花期预测的灰色关联度分析

以‘国光’苹果（Malus domestica‘Rails’）为母本,以10个观赏海棠品种（Malus spp．）为父本进行杂交育种,对杂交后代实生群体的萌芽期进行了观察,并根据9株2年即开花单株的童期性状对观赏海棠的花期进行了灰色关联度分析。结果显示,所有观赏海棠杂交后代的萌芽期（3月12日以后）均晚于父本,93．89％的杂交后代萌芽期（3月下旬至4月上旬）与母本相近或稍晚于母本。在观赏海棠杂交后代花期的叶片叶绿素含量、可溶性蛋白质含量、叶面积、株高、地径等指标以及童期的萌芽期和展叶期等7个性状中,萌芽期和展叶期与花期的灰色关联度最大。因此,在童期利用叶片萌芽期对观赏海棠的花期进行预测极具可行性。     

茶树轮斑病的发生及病原菌分生孢子萌发特性

对豫南茶园茶树轮斑病的发生与病原菌分生孢子萌发特性进行了调查和研究。茶树轮斑病在豫南茶区发生较普遍,一般夏秋发病较重,冬春发病较轻;轮斑病的病叶率和病情指数与温度、湿度、光照等生态因子关系密切;病原菌孢子在离体25℃条件下,4 h开始萌发。在茶树叶面上,病原菌分生孢子萌发明显比非叶面条件下好,病原菌菌丝生长较快,说明此病原菌与茶树叶片有高度的亲和力和较强的适应茶树叶面微环境的能力;茶树轮斑病病原菌分生孢子在pH5~7范围内萌发及芽管伸长较好,pH过小或过大均不利于病原菌的分生孢子萌发和菌丝生长。     

松材线虫(Bursaphelenchus xylophilus)入侵对马尾松(Pinus massoniana)林分生长的影响及相关生长模型

松材线虫（Bursaphelenchus xylophilus）是一种松树上发生严重的有害生物,它不仅改变了生态系统的结构和功能,而且改变了系统内生物的原有特性和地理分布。松材线虫及其引起的松树萎蔫病已对中国马尾松林（Pinus massoniana）的树木成长产生了巨大影响。基于此,使用＂每木调查法＂和＂样方法＂,对松材线虫入侵后的马尾松林内松树的各项生长指标因子进行了调查分析,其结果表明：自松材线虫1996年入侵所调查地区的松林后,对于受害松树不管是伐倒木（被伐倒）还是倒木（自然倒地）,其对周围马尾松胸径生长的影响是显著的,而对树高生长的影响不显著。最后建立了一系列的灰色和灰色-马尔可夫链数学模型,其预测结果精度高,可用于今后受害和未受害区马尾松林分因子的生长预测。     

新疆塔里木河下游土壤特性及其对物种多样性的影响

结合塔河下游大西海子至台特玛湖区段的8个地下水监测断面、31个土壤剖面的217个土样分析数据,利用非参数检验、单因素方差分析和灰色关联方法,分析了塔河下游土壤特性及其对物种多样性变化的影响.研究结果表明,塔河下游土壤除全磷外,有机质等指标存在垂直分布差异,出现显著差异的土层深度为50cm.塔河下游上段的土壤养分含量相对较高,下段较低;物种多样性指数自上段至下段的下降趋势与有机质等的变化相同,而植物群落退化则表现为从复合群落到单一群落的演变趋势,即从乔(胡杨为主)、灌(柽柳为主)、草复合群落演变到单一的柽柳灌丛群落.灰色关联分析表明塔河下游上层(0～50cm)土壤有机质、全氮、全磷、全钾含量与物种多样性的相关性较高.塔河下游土壤有机质、全氮、全磷、全钾等在一定程度上对物种多样性变化有一定影响.