Predation on primates: Ecological patterns and evolutionary consequences

It has long been thought that predation has had important ecological and evolutionary effects on primates as prey. Predation has been theorized to have been a major selective force in the evolution of hominids.¹ In modern primates, behaviors such as active defense, concealment, vigilance, flight, and alarm calls have been attributed to the selective pressures of predation, as has group living itself. It is clear that primates, like other animals, have evolved ways to minimize their risk of predation. However, the extent to which they have been able to do so, given other constraints of living such as their own need to acquire food, has not yet been resolved. Perhaps most hotly debated is whether predation has been the primary selective force favoring the evolution of group living in primates. Part of the difficulty in resolving the debate lies in a paucity of direct evidence of predation. This is regrettable yet understandable since primatologists, by definition, focus on the study of primates, not predators of primates (unless these are also primates). Systematic direct evidence of the effects of predation can best be obtained by studying predators that are as habituated to observers as are their primate prey. Until this is done, we must continue to rely on opportunistic accounts of predation and predation attempts, and on systematically obtained indirect evidence. Such data reveal several interesting patterns: (1) although smaller primates may have greater predation rates than larger primates, even the largest primates are not invulnerable to predation; (2) the use by primates of unfamiliar areas can result in higher predation rates, which might be one pressure favoring philopatry, or site fidelity; (3) arboreal primates are at greater risk of predation when they are more exposed (at forest edges and tops of canopies) than in more concealed locations; (4) predation by mammalian carnivores may often be episodic; and (5) terrestrial primates may not experience greater predation than arboreal primates.     

南京中山植物园活植物信息管理子系统

以植物园植物记录国际传输格式（ITF）为标准,采用以数据库为中心的模块化与结构化的方法,开发研制了南京中山植物园活植物信息管理子系统,并于1994年正式投入使用。该系统界面友好,操作方便,修改灵活,响应速度快。文章对系统的实现、数据处理、软件结构以及软件的功能进行了讨论。     

准噶尔盆地荒漠生物类群与环境的关系

对荒漠生态系统的研究,近期在我国乃至全球均极为活跃。由于开发的需要和全球沙漠化威胁日趋严重,引起有关人士的关注。就新疆而言,解放前虽有一些学者进行过研究,但仅限于某些方面,直到50年代后期展开大规模综合考察以来,对新疆的荒漠自然条件才有较全面认识。作者近年的研究过程,注意到此区生物类群与环境存在较特殊关系,     

江苏省不同种植年限的西/甜瓜农田土壤线虫群落特征

在江苏省主要西/甜瓜产区,采集不同种植年限的西/甜瓜农田土壤,采用线虫形态学的鉴定方法,分析了不同种植年限西/甜瓜农田土壤线虫的数量、群落结构及相关生态指数的变化。结果表明:所有调查样点中,共发现土壤线虫54属,平均682条·100 g^-1干土,其中原杆属线虫、拟丽突属线虫和矮化属线虫在不同种植年限的西/甜瓜农田土壤中均为优势属;随着种植年限的增加,土壤线虫的总数量虽无显著变化,但其中食细菌类线虫和杂食-捕食类线虫数量显著减少,而植物寄生类线虫数量显著增加;植物寄生类线虫中的矮化属、根结属线虫数量不断增加;随着种植年限的增加,土壤线虫的多样性指数(H)、瓦斯乐斯卡指数(WI)、自由生活线虫成熟度指数(MI)显著降低,线虫通道指数(NCR)、植物寄生线虫成熟度指数(PPI)、PPI/MI显著升高,其他指数无显著变化;相关性分析结果显示,土壤线虫数量与土壤pH、速效磷、有效锌和有效硼均呈显著正相关;土壤p H、有机质、全氮、速效钾、有效硼和有效锌对土壤优势属线虫的影响较大;连续种植西/甜瓜会增加土壤植物寄生类线虫数量,进而可能造成西/甜瓜连作障碍的发生;连续种植6~10年,土壤线虫的多样性最低、稳定性最差,土壤环境已趋于恶化。     

Telomere shortening correlates with harsh weather conditions in the bat species Myotis myotis

The relationship of telomere shortening and cellular ageing in cultured cells such as fibroblasts is straightforward: telomeres shorten with an increasing number of cell divisions until they trigger replicative senescence which prevents further mitotic cycles. But studies investigating the relationship between telomere shortening and ageing in whole organisms show contrasting results: while there is a clear decline in telomere length (TL) with chronological age in some species such as humans, no such decline is observed in others. In this issue of Molecular Ecology, Foley et al. (2020) show that experiencing harsh weather conditions correlates with longitudinal telomere shortening in the bat species Myotis myotis, whereas chronological age does not (Foley et al., 2020). Further, the authors investigated whether genetics influence TL and find a low heritability (h² = 0.01–0.06) again suggesting that environmental effects are the dominant drivers of variation in TL in this species. These are important findings as there is disagreement in the literature about the relative magnitude of genetic and environmental effects contributing to TL variation in different species. This paper investigating the impact of environmental effects makes a novel and important contribution to the literature on TL in free‐living mammals.     

微生物技术“学习情境”项目教学改革探索与实践

针对卫生行业对高职医学生物技术专业人才需求,对接企业就业岗位群,设置微生物技术"学习领域"课程,开发设计来源于企业生产或服务实践的以工作过程为导向的"学习情境"教学单元。强化职业导向,开展理论实践一体化项目教学及云班课互动教学改革。采取多元化考核形式,以产品或项目成果为指引,给学生提供感知和体验工作过程的机会。经过多个学习情境项目教学的长期强化训练,学生积累了适应未来岗位的综合技能和素质。     

Determining Allocation: From Paper to Practice in the Distribution of Fishing Rights Between Countries

This article discusses the allocation problem in international fisheries management, which is critical to effective resource management. A number of cases where allocation problems exist are reviewed and trends identified. It is concluded that power relationships between the states involved are an important determinant of allocation outcomes. While this may seem a frustrating conclusion, it nevertheless reflects the realities of international cooperation.     

基于杜邦分析法的非营利性医院财务状况分析

随着我国医疗卫生事业的不断发展,医院管理者逐渐把重点转移到医院的经营管理上。针对这一现象,利用杜邦分析法将财务指标进行逐一分析,及早掌握医院的财务状况和经营状况,控制财务风险的发生。