垂叶榕上16种榕小蜂的种群动态

传粉榕小蜂和榕树的互利共生是传粉昆虫与植物间协同进化的典范。在榕果(榕树的隐头状花序)内,还生活着多种非传粉榕小蜂。这些生活在密闭榕果内由传粉榕小蜂和非传粉榕小蜂组成的群落对研究群落生态学有很大价值。然而,对生存在单一榕树的榕果内的所有榕小蜂的种群动态了解很少,特别是缺少相对长期的连续数据。通过野外近3a观察和采样,研究了垂叶榕榕小蜂群落结构和榕小蜂的种群动态。共记录榕小蜂16种;各种榕小蜂根据发生规律可分为常见种和偶见种,Eupristina koningsbergeri,Philotrypesis sp.1,Philotrypesis sp.4,Philotrypesis sp.5,Sycoscapter sp.1,Walkerella benjamini,Walkerella sp.1,Sycophila sp.2,Sycobia sp.2为常见种;Sycobia sp.1,Acophila sp.1,Sycophila sp.1,Ormyrus sp.1等为偶见种。每种榕小蜂在单果上的数量随季节呈波动变化,季节对榕小蜂群落的多样性和均匀性无显著影响。除了传粉榕小蜂外,Sycoscapter sp.1也是优势种类之一。传粉榕小蜂的数量与非传粉榕小蜂总数间呈显著负相关。传粉榕小蜂与非传粉榕小蜂几乎都呈负相关,而与Walkerella sp.1在数量上呈显著正相关。Sycobia sp.2与Sycophila sp.2在同一瘿中出现,数量上呈显著正相关。但其它非传粉榕小蜂种类在数量上的相关性较为复杂,可能是造成各种榕小蜂数量波动的一个原因。     

爱玉子花序挥发物成分以及对其传粉小蜂的吸引作用

利用动态顶空吸附法和GC-MS分析,研究接受期以及传粉或产卵5d后爱玉子(Ficus awkeotsang)雌、雄隐头花序挥发物成分。研究结果表明:爱玉子隐头花序挥发物的组成成分复杂,种类繁多,主要成分是对传粉小蜂具有显著吸引作用的芳樟醇。组成雌、雄花序的接受期挥发物信号的化合物种类与数量不同,但两者之间的共有化合物却占花序挥发物总量的70%以上,且接受期雌、雄花序挥发物组成比例相似,小蜂无法通过花序挥发物信号的差异,区别雌、雄花序,从而支持"榕树雌、雄花序接受期挥发物存在相互模拟现象"的假说。爱玉子传粉(或产卵)前后花序挥发物信号发生变化,表现在花序在传粉(或产卵)后,一些挥发性化合物在榕果中消失或相对含量减少(如芳樟醇),有些化合物的相对含量增加(如苯甲酸甲酯),并出现新的化合物(如2-乙基己醇);在化合物组成上,萜类化合物相对含量下降,芳香族化合物、脂肪族化合物相对含量上升。嗅觉仪实验表明爱玉子接受期雌、雄花序挥发物对其传粉榕小蜂有极显著的吸引作用,而传粉(或产卵)5d后的雌、雄花序挥发物对传粉榕小蜂有显著的趋避作用。传粉小蜂对雌、雄接受期花序挥发物的选择没有偏向性。榕果通过挥发物的释放量和成分的改变反映出花发育与被授粉(被产卵)状况,传粉小蜂通过接收榕果发出的化学信息,判断选择适合的寄主。研究对于爱玉子的高产栽培以及植物与昆虫专性共生化学生态学机制的理论研究具有重要的意义。     

Natural foliar variegation without costs? The case of Begonia

Background and Aims

Foliar variegation is recognized as arising from two major mechanisms: leaf structure and pigment-related variegation. Begonia has species with a variety of natural foliar variegation patterns, providing diverse examples of this phenomenon. The aims of this work are to elucidate the mechanisms underlying different foliar variegation patterns in Begonia and to determine their physiological consequences.

Methods

Six species and one cultivar of Begonia were investigated. Light and electron microscopy revealed the leaf structure and ultrastructure of chloroplasts in green and light areas of variegated leaves. Maximum quantum yields of photosystem II were measured by chlorophyll fluorescence. Comparison with a cultivar of Ficus revealed key features distinguishing variegation mechanisms.

Key Results

Intercellular space above the chlorenchyma is the mechanism of variegation in these Begonia. This intercellular space can be located (a) below the adaxial epidermis or (b) below the adaxial water storage tissue (the first report for any taxa), creating light areas on a leaf. In addition, chlorenchyma cell shape and chloroplast distribution within chlorenchyma cells differ between light and green areas. Chloroplasts from both areas showed dense stacking of grana and stroma thylakoid membranes. The maximum quantum yield did not differ significantly between these areas, suggesting minimal loss of function with variegation. However, the absence of chloroplasts in light areas of leaves in the Ficus cultivar led to an extremely low quantum yield.

Conclusions

Variegation in these Begonia is structural, where light areas are created by internal reflection between air spaces and cells in a leaf. Two forms of air space structural variegation occur, distinguished by the location of the air spaces. Both forms may have a common origin in development where dermal tissue becomes loosely connected to mesophyll. Photosynthetic functioning is retained in light areas, and these areas do not include primary veins, potentially limiting the costs of variegation.     

Restoration of tensile strength in bark samples of Ficus benjamina due to coagulation of latex during fast self-healing of fissures

Background and Aims

The functions of plant latex have been discussed for a long time. Today, many studies support a defence mechanism as being its main function. A role as a self-healing mechanism was never attributed to the coagulation of latex. In this study we quantified the contribution of the coagulation of Ficus benjamina (weeping fig) latex to a restoration of the mechanical properties of the bark after external lesions.

Methods

Tensile tests of F. benjamina bark were conducted either immediately after injury or at various latency times after injury.

Key Results

A significant increase in the tensile strength of bark samples until 30 min after injury was found, and this effect could be attributed to the coagulation of plant latex alone. The tensile strength remains nearly constant until several hours or days after injury. Then, very probably due to other mechanisms such as cell growth and cell proliferation, the tensile strength begins to increase slightly again.

Conclusions

The coagulation of latex seals lesions and serves as a quick and effective pre-step of subsequent, more effective, long-lasting self-healing mechanisms such as cell growth and proliferation. Thus, a fast self-healing effect can be included in the list of functions of plant latex.     

Fruiting phenology of fig trees in Kalinzu Forest,Uganda

The study determined the abundance and species composition of fig trees that fruited in the different forest types of Kalinzu Forest Reserve (KFR), Uganda. It also assessed the seasonal variations in abundance and species composition of the fig trees, the relationships between the fruiting patterns and rainfall and the figs’ inter‐ and intraspecific patterns of fruiting episodes. Sixteen fig species represented by 515 individuals were monitored monthly from December 2007 to January 2010. Most individuals and species that fruited were in the secondary forest types (the Musanga‐ and Parinari‐dominated secondary forests) and abundances of individuals of the different species were significantly associated with particular forest types. One colonizing species (Ficus sur) was the most abundant species that fruited and was mostly recorded in the secondary forests. Species composition and abundances of trees that fruited varied seasonally, and only the abundances of two canopy species (Ficus lingua and Ficus sansibarica) were significantly related with monthly rainfall. Most species experienced at least four fruiting phases, and F. sur displayed the longest episode covering 22 months. The results suggest that the past intensive logging in KFR promoted the regeneration of a diversity of fig species, and most species generally experience community‐wide asynchronous fruiting.     

热带喀斯特森林常绿和落叶榕树的水力特征和水分关系与抗旱策略

以热带喀斯特地区的直脉榕(Ficus orthoneura)和豆果榕(F.pisocarpa)为实验材料,研究了常绿和落叶树木枝条和叶片的解剖结构特征、光合水分特征和耐旱性的差异,目的在于探讨不同生活型榕树适应干旱生境的策略.直脉榕和豆果榕的叶片都有两层栅栏组织、游离状的海绵组织和钟乳体等旱生结构,同时叶片角质层蒸腾速率(gmin)和气孔导度(gs)相对较低.但与落叶的豆果榕相比,常绿的直脉榕的枝条木质部失去50％传导率的水势(P50)和gmin更低,表现出更保守的水分利用策略.总体上,两种榕树都表现出了对喀斯特干旱生境的良好适应,但是它们的适应策略表现出一定的差别.豆果榕通过落叶度过旱期,而直脉榕在结构和功能上比豆果榕更耐旱.抗旱策略和水分利用策略的不同导致两种榕树的生态位分异,减少了彼此间的水分竞争,有利于它们在喀斯特生境中共存.     

EFFECTS OF LONG-TERM SUBMERGENCE ON SURVIVAL AND RECOVERY GROWTH OF FOUR RIPARIAN PLANT SPECIES IN THREE GORGES RESERVOIR REGION, CHINA

 地瓜藤(Ficus tikoua)、荻(Triarrhena sacchariflora)、牛鞭草(Hemarthria altissima)和狗牙根(Cynodon dactylon)是三峡库区常见的岸生植物, 自然分布于河岸带不同垂直高程的地段。为了明确它们在成库后“三峡库区消落区”长期完全水淹条件下的存活和生长情况, 实验设置对照(不进行水淹, 常规供水管理)和完全水淹两个处理, 30、60、90、120、150和180 d 6个水淹时间水平, 研究了4种植物在完全水淹条件下的存活、生物量变化和恢复生长。结果发现: 1) 4种植物在完全水淹条件下的存活率与其在河岸带上的垂直分布高程密切相关。分布于距江面高程较高的河岸段的地瓜藤植株, 在全淹30 d后就全部死亡; 分布在中高程河岸段的荻在全淹150和180 d后全部死亡; 可以分布于低高程河岸段的牛鞭草和狗牙根, 淹没180 d后存活率分别为90%和100%。2)全淹抑制了荻、牛鞭草和狗牙根的生长, 总生物量增量显著低于对照植株。与水淹0 d相比, 全淹处理植株的地上部分生物量显著降低, 荻在全淹60和120 d后, 地下部分生物量显著降低, 但牛鞭草和狗牙根的地下部分生物量与水淹0 d水平相比无显著差异。3)水淹处理结束后, 存活的荻、牛鞭草和狗牙根植株都能很好地恢复生长。在恢复生长过程中, 全淹30、60和90 d后, 荻、牛鞭草和狗牙根植株的总分枝长相对生长速率与对照植株无显著差异, 全淹120、150和180 d后, 牛鞭草和狗牙根植株的总分枝长相对生长速率显著高于对照植株。全淹处理的荻、牛鞭草和狗牙根植株的总叶片数相对生长速率始终显著高于对照植株。遭受长期完全水淹后, 植株在有限的营养储备条件下, 快速产生叶片以迅速积聚光合产物可能是植物更为优化的恢复生长方式。     

EFFECTS OF LIGHT AND TEMPERATURE ON SEED GERMINATION OF FICUS HISPIDA IN XISHUANGBANNA, SOUTHWEST CHINA

 该研究应用人工气候箱设置不同的光照和温度梯度, 探讨对对叶榕(Ficus hispida)种子萌发的影响。结果表明, 荧光灯条件下(红光和远红光比例(R/FR)为4.56, 光量子密度(PPFD)约为90 μmol&;#8226;m^–2&;#8226;s^–1), 温度对种子萌发速率有显著影响, 而对最终萌发率的影响不显著。对叶榕的种子为光敏性种子, 萌发严格需光, R/FR对种子最终萌发率的影响显著, 较高的R/FR促进种子萌发, 而较低的 R/FR 抑制种子萌发。光强影响种子的萌发速率, 较弱的光照可以延缓种子萌发, 但并不能完全抑制其萌发。在30 ℃条件下, 对叶榕的种子可以在较高的 R/FR (0.42) 水平下萌发, 但温度为23/20 ℃ 时, 种子对 R/FR 的要求增高, 0.42的R/FR不能导致种子萌发。说明较低的温度和 R/FR 都可以显著抑制对叶榕的种子萌发, 而较高的温度和R/FR皆有利于种子的萌发。     

钝叶榕果实内繁殖的两种榕小蜂与寄主榕树间的协同进化

 榕树(Ficus)及其传粉榕小蜂(Agaonidae)构成了高度专一的互惠共生体系。榕树的果实(以下简称榕果)内也寄生着一些非传粉小蜂。 绝大多数非传粉小蜂在榕果外把产卵器刺入果壁产卵到果腔内, 只有极少数种类能够进入果腔内产卵。在西双版纳地区, 钝叶榕(Ficus curtipes)上的杨氏榕树金小蜂(Diaziella yangi)类似于传粉者钝叶榕小蜂(Eupristina sp.), 它也是进入榕果内产卵繁殖后代的, 这就为比 较研究榕果内产卵小蜂与寄主榕树间的关系提供了材料。该文从形态学、行为学和生态学角度比较研究了这两种进入榕果内产卵的小蜂与寄主 钝叶榕之间的作用关系, 研究结果显示: 1)杨氏榕树金小蜂与钝叶榕小蜂的雌蜂头部形状存在趋同进化; 2)两种小蜂的产卵器的平均长度都比 雌花花柱长, 因而能把卵产在子房里; 3)钝叶榕小蜂从瘿花出来需要3~5 h, 交配需要17~19 min, 杨氏榕树金小蜂从瘿花出来只需18~20 min, 交配时间为20~30 s; 4)在自然群落中, 大约90%的雌花期榕果里都只进一只杨氏榕树金小蜂和一只钝叶榕小蜂, 杨氏榕树金小蜂能通过传粉来 增加榕树种子数量, 但对钝叶榕小蜂种群的繁衍造成了极显著的负面影响; 5)两种小蜂于同一时期进入榕果内繁殖, 子代同期成熟羽化, 发育 期与榕树雄花的发育期同步。研究表明: 进入榕果内繁殖的两种小蜂与寄主榕树之间存在着协同进化关系, 杨氏榕树金小蜂为榕树有效地传粉, 这可能是一个由寄生者向互惠方向进化的实例。     

Isolation of microsatellite loci in the pollinating fig wasp of Ficus hispida, Ceratosolen solmsi

Microsatellite loci were isolated for Ceratosolen solmsi , pollinator of the dioecious Ficus hispida. We developed nine polymorphic microsatellite loci based on the method of polymerase chain reaction isolation of microsatellite arrays (PIMA). Enrichment of genomic libraries was performed by random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD). A subset of 38 positive clones was sequenced; 15 clones showed microsatellite loci. We tested 15 designed primer pairs and nine of them produced polymorphic amplification in 48 individual wasps collected from different fruits of the dioecious host fig Ficus hispida in China. Among the 48 individuals, 49 alleles were obtained at the nine loci. The observed heterozygosity ranged between 0.357 and 0.634.