Spatial and temporal dynamics of oviposition behavior of bollworm and three of its predators in Bt and non-Bt cotton fields

Host plants exhibiting insect resistance traits have long been known to influence within‐plant distributions of pests and their natural enemies. Sites and timing of egg deposition are particularly important for synchrony of predators and their prey in the field. Temporal and spatial distribution of eggs of the cotton bollworms [Heliothis virescens (F.) and Helicoverpa zea (Boddie) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)] and that of the predators Geocoris punctipes (Say) (Heteroptera: Geocoridae), Chrysoperla rufilabris (Burmeister) (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae), and Micromus spec. (Neuroptera: Hemerobiidae) were determined during three cotton seasons, from 2002 to 2004, by collecting and examining plants throughout each season. Comparisons also were made between Bt and non‐Bt cotton to investigate possible changes in oviposition behavior on Bt cotton. The study was conducted in commercial fields with insecticide use to manage pests when economic thresholds were exceeded in both cotton types. Egg densities for predators and bollworms varied among years, but were similar on Bt and non‐Bt cottons. Oviposition of bollworms and G. punctipes correlated spatially within plants, with most eggs laid on structures in the top five nodes of cotton plants and on the three outermost leaves on lateral branches regardless of cotton type. Bollworm oviposition dynamics exhibited two peaks within the season (early July and early August). Eggs of all predators and bollworms collected from the field and incubated in the laboratory had high hatching rates throughout each season (74–100%). Temporal association of predator with bollworm oviposition showed a significant correlation with green lacewings, a delay of 10 days for big‐eyed bugs, and no correlation with brown lacewings. Furthermore, Bt cotton plants exerted no significant effect on temporal or spatial patterns of oviposition of bollworms or the predators, indicating no change in oviposition behavior of bollworm females within plant structures after almost one decade of widespread planting of Bt cotton.     

Seasonal variability in the palatability of freshwater macrophytes: a case study

The pond snail Lymnaea stagnalis (L.) was used for a laboratory assessment of seasonal variation in palatability of three freshwater macrophytes: Potamogeton lucens, Elodea canadensis and E. nuttallii. For each species, 2–5 populations were investigated in spring and in summer. Preliminary results showed that the feeding rate of similarly-aged snails bred under standard conditions was stable over time. In contrast, snail feeding rate on the three macrophyte species decreased from spring to summer, which was therefore interpreted as a decrease in plant palatability. This decrease was probably due to tissue maturation, as suggested by the concomitant increase in the dry matter content of leaves of the three species. The high palatability of the species studied during the spring may prove detrimental in cases of strong herbivore pressure, and could have consequences for macrophyte distribution among aquatic habitats.     

湖北省荆门荆山余脉种子植物区系研究

对湖北省荆门荆山余脉种子植物区系进行了统计分析。结果表明:(1)物种多样性丰富,共有野生种子植物128科、576属、1226种;(2)优势科、属明显;(3)分布区类型多样,地理成分复杂;(4)温带性质明显,热带成分丰富,与热带植物区系有较高的亲缘关系,并表现出一定的过渡性;(5)区划上属于华东植物地区。     

西双版纳傣族村寨对湿地植物的传统利用

作者用半结构访谈与关键人物访谈相结合,并佐以证据标本采集的民族植物学研究方法,对云南省西双版纳3个自然环境和经济社会条件差异较大的典型傣族村寨(曼降,曼安,曼伞)居民的湿地植物知识,以及不同性别、年龄人群掌握湿地植物知识的差异作了统计分析。研究结果表明:(1)西双版纳傣族村寨利用的湿地植物种类丰富,经鉴定的有46科102种,以湿生植物为主;利用类型有食用类、药用、代茶类和宗教类等,以食用类为主。(2)三个村寨中以曼伞调查和采集到的植物种类最多,曼安次之,曼降最低。3个村寨利用的湿地植物种类的相似性低。这与村寨周围的自然植被类型及其干扰程度密切相关。(3)统计分析显示,村寨的自然环境与经济发展状况对该村村民传统湿地知识的掌握有重要的影响。食用和药用、代茶植物知识在3个村寨都表现为年长组(>45岁)明显高于年轻组(≤45岁,P<0.05),而男性和女性对不同知识的掌握则因村寨自然环境和经济发展状况的不同而各不相同。植物多样性和民族传统文化多样性的关系显示出传统知识的传承对植物多样性保护是十分重要的。     

马齿苋科植物的潜在价值研究

马齿苋科植物以其极高的营养价值和药用价值近年来引起了人们的普遍关注。对其生物学特性、营养成分、药用价值、开发利用等方面的研究也相继开展。概括了马齿苋科植物的植物学特征、种属特性及其分布特点,并阐述了马齿苋科植物的开发利用现状及其存在的问题。进而对其前景进行展望,探讨了其潜在的研究价值。     

海南岛石灰岩特有植物的初步研究

特有植物是了解一个地区植物区系的起源与演化规律的关键。对海南岛石灰岩特有植物的地理分布特征和分类的初步研究表明:本区共有石灰岩特有植物63种,隶属于37科52属,其中热带性的属占的比例较高;属于海南石灰岩专性种的有18种,一些种类对生长基质的要求相当严格。与其它地区比较,石灰岩山地的特有化发展在海南不很明显。从特有植物的分布来看昌江是海南一个重要的石灰岩植物分化中心。对海南石灰岩特有种比例较低的原因和保育进行了探讨。     

Mechanisms and functions of nonphosphorylating electron transport in respiratory chain of plant mitochondria

Data are raeviewed on mitochondrial systems whose functioning in plants diminishes the efficiency of oxidative phosphorylation. The involvement in this process of alternative oxidase, thermogenin-like uncoupling proteins, a 310 kD stress protein, free fatty acids, and the ADP/ATP antiporter is considered. The role of these systems is discussed with regard to thermogenesis, controlled production of reactive oxygen species, and regulation of bioenergetics and metabolism.     

Models of optimal foraging and resource partitioning: deep corollas for long tongues

We model the optimal foraging strategies for 2 nectarivore species,differing in the length of their proboscis, that exploit thenectar provided by 2 types of flowers, differing in the depthsof their corollas. When like flowers appear in clumps, nectarivoresmust decide whether to forage at a patch of deep or shallowflowers. If nectarivores forage optimally, at least one flowertype will be used by a single nectarivore species. Long-tonguedforagers will normally visit deep flowers and short-tonguedforagers shallow flowers, although extreme asymmetries in metaboliccosts may lead to the opposite arrangement. When deep and shallowflowers are randomly interspersed, nectarivores must decide,on encounter with a flower, whether to collect its nectar orcontinue searching. At low nectarivore densities, the optimalstrategy involves exploiting every encountered flower; however,as nectarivore densities increase and resources become scarce,long-tongued individuals should start concentrating on deepflowers and short-tongued individuals on shallow flowers. Therefore,regardless of the spatial distribution of flowers, corolla depthcan determine which nectarivore species exploit the nectar fromeach flower type in a given community. It follows that corollaelongation can evolve as a means to keep nectar thieves at bayif short-tongued visitors are less efficient pollinators thanlong-tongued visitors.