Thermoregulatory behavior of the bluespotted sunfish,Enneacanthus Gloriousus

Twenty bluespotted sunfish, Enneacanthus gloriosus, were individually tested for thermoregulatory behavior in an electronic shuttlebox. The first fishes of this genus to be tested for thermoregulatory behavior, these individuals were captured near the northern limit of their zoogeographic range, in northeastern Pennsylvania. The mean final preferendum from pooled data of all 20 fish was 28.5°C; there were no significant differences between day and night.     

Complementarity of thermoregulatory rhythms in Micropterus salmoides and M. dolomieui

Largemouth (Micropterus salmoide) and smallmouth (M. dolomieui) blackbasses tested in an electronic shuttlebox exhibited behavioral thermoregulatory rhythms which were temporally complementary. With a LD 12 : 12 photoperiod, M. dolomieui exhibited a preferred-temperature peak of 30.1°C during the latter portion of the photophase, when M. salmoides reached a minimum of 27.1°C. M. dolomieui exhibited a minimum of 26.6°C during the latter portion of scotophase, while M. salmoides remained at a significantly higher plateau of about 29°C, with a peak of 29.5°C at the midpoint of scotophase. The phase relations of the thermoregulatory rhythms relative to photoperiod suggest that they are endogenously timed circadian rhythms entrained by photoperiod. The thermotemporal complementarity of these rhythms suggests an aspect of niche segregation between these largely sympatric congeneric species.     

Behavioral thermoregulation by Ammocoete larvae of the sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) in an electronic shuttlebox

Ammocoete larvae of the sea lamprey Petromyzon marinus, a member of the primitive vertebrate class Agnatha, were tested for thermoregulatory behavior in an electronic shuttlebox (ichthyotron). The final preferendum derived from pooled data for 24 individually tested ammocoetes was characterized by a mean of 13.6 ± 0.17 (s.e.m.)°C, a mode and median of 140°C, and a range of voluntarily occupied temperatures from 10–19°C over a 3-day period.     

Effects of Aroma Components from Oxidized Olive Oil on Preference

The present study explored the possibility that aroma components generated by the oxidation of olive oil may enhance the palatability of olive oil. Using a mouse behavioral model, we found that olive oil oxidized at room temperature for 3 weeks after opening the package, and heated olive oil were both significantly preferred over non-oxidized olive oil. Furthermore, this preference was enhanced with an additive of oxidized refined olive oil flavoring preparation at a certain concentration. These results suggest that the aroma of oxidized fat might be present in most fats, and might act as a signal that makes possible the detection of fats or fatty acid sources.     

Japonica cultivars' susceptibility to the rice water weevil Lissorhoptrus oryzophilus (Coleoptera: Curculionoidea: Brachyceridae)

Italy is the largest rice‐producing country in the European Union. In Italy, only japonica cultivars are listed in the Italian National Register. Almost all of the rice production is concentrated in the Po Valley, where the rice water weevil Lissorhoptrus oryzophilus Kuschel was first detected and settled. This study investigated the performance of this pest in terms of feeding, reproduction and plant injury on 10 rice cultivars chosen among the most widely grown in Italy. No‐choice experiments were conducted to evaluate the plant susceptibility to larval attack and to find out how cultivars can influence the adult leaf area consumption. The results gave evidence of different types of attack depending on the density of the insect (0.6 adults/plant vs. 0.9 adults/plant), the cultivar type and climatic conditions. Different cultivars with the same level of infestation gave different results in terms of productivity. Production was significantly affected by the larval presence in 4 of the 10 cultivars tested. A different population structure reflected a different damage severity. Statistically different values for total adult leaf area consumption were found according to adult female age and to the cultivar.     

Claustral Neurons Projecting to Frontal Cortex Mediate Contextual Association of Reward

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云斑白条天牛对核桃、桉树的趋向性和EAG反应

云斑白条天牛Batocera lineaolata严重危害核桃树和桉树,是一种寄主范围较广的蛀干害虫。本研究通过弄清云斑白条天牛对核桃和桉树两种寄主树种挥发物的行为反应差异,为利用信息素监测和防治云斑白条天牛提供理论依据。本研究采用触角电位(EAG)反应和"Y"型嗅觉仪技术测定了云斑白条天牛对寄主核桃和桉树各部位挥发物的趋向性和EAG反应。结果表明:核桃种群的云斑白条天牛成虫对核桃树皮、叶片和嫰枝挥发物的趋向率均高于桉树相应部位挥发物的趋向率。雌性天牛交尾后对核桃树皮的选择性显著高于交尾前对核桃树皮的选择性;相反,雄性天牛交尾后对核桃树皮的选择性显著低于交尾前对核桃树皮的选择性。核桃种群云斑白条天牛成虫对核桃和桉树的树皮、嫰枝和叶片的挥发物均有较强的EAG反应;其中,雌性天牛对核桃树皮挥发物的EAG反应值显著高于雄虫的EAG反应值;未交尾雄虫对桉树嫰枝挥发物的EAG反应值显著高于核桃嫰枝的EAG反应值。可见,来源于核桃种群的云斑白条天牛更趋向于选择核桃,性别和交尾与否对其趋向性和EAG反应也存在一定影响。     

Restoration and management for cliff‐nesting birds in Mediterranean mining sites: the Sand Martin case study

Habitat enhancement for birds is frequently implemented during mine site restoration. Cliff‐nesting birds often colonize anthropogenic environments such as mining areas (aggregate sites and quarries for aggregate and cement production). Mining activity can compromise breeding success, causing cliff‐nesting birds to depend on the management and restoration of mining areas. The objective of our study is to assess the importance of mine site habitats for Sand Martin conservation and reconcile mining activity with breeding success in Mediterranean environments. We studied Sand Martin breeding habitat preferences in mining areas at three spatial scales. At the mining site scale, we compared 10 mining sites with Sand Martin burrows with 19 mining sites without burrows. At the colony scale (vertical structures with colonies), we evaluated the relationships between the number of breeding pairs, number of burrows, and colony characteristics within 30 distinct Sand Martin colonies. At the burrow scale, we compared the characteristics of the available vertical structure with the areas used by Sand Martins. At the mining site scale, Sand Martins preferred more surface of water bodies, shorter distances to flowing water, older sites, and mining sites which produce aggregates instead of cement. At the colony scale, Sand Martins preferred southwest orientations and stockpiles to vertical extraction faces. At the burrow scale, birds preferred the most vertical areas of the face. Our results support the need for effective habitat restoration and improved management for more effective Sand Martin conservation within mining areas. Simple interventions can enhance habitat quality and conservation of cliff‐nesting birds.     

蛋白质-RNA序列结构界面偏好性及用于对接打分统计势的构建

本文对来自PDB (Protein Data Bank)数据库的蛋白质-RNA复合物结构构建了非冗余非核糖体数据库(694个结构),并对此数据库统计了蛋白质和RNA序列及二级结构的界面偏好性.结果发现,蛋白质β折叠、3_(10)-helix和RNA未配对核苷酸,尤其是未配对中空间排列不规整的核苷酸,具有显著的界面偏好性.据此,对二级结构进行归类,建立了考虑序列和二级结构信息的60×12氨基酸-核苷酸成对偏好势,并将其作为打分函数用于蛋白质-RNA对接中近天然结构的筛选.结果表明,该60×12统计势的打分成功率为65.77%,优于考虑蛋白质或RNA二级结构信息的统计势,及我们小组之前在251个结构上构建的60×8~*统计势.该工作有助于加深对蛋白质-RNA特异性识别的理解,可推动复合物结构预测的进展.