Sternal gland structures in males of bean flower thrips,Megalurothrips sjostedti,and Poinsettia thrips,Echinothrips americanus,in comparison with those of western flower thrips,Frankliniella occidentalis (Thysanoptera: Thripidae)

Sternal pores are important features for identification of male thrips, especially within the subfamily Thripinae. They vary in shape, size and distribution even between species of one genus. Their functional role is speculated to be that of sex- and/or aggregation pheromone production. Yet, sexual aggregations are not reported in Echinothrips americanus, known to have sternal pores, while we observed aggregations in Megalurothrips sjostedti, previously reported to lack them.We examined the sternal glands and pores of the thripine species E. americanus and M. sjostedti males, in comparison with those of Frankliniella occidentalis using light microscopy, as well as scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Pore plates of F. occidentalis were ellipsoid and medial on sternites III–VII, while in E. americanus they were distributed as multiple micro pore plates on sternites III–VIII. In M. sjostedti they appeared as an extremely small pore in front of the posterior margin of each of sternites IV–VII. Pore plate and pore plate area were distributed similarly on sternites III–VII in F. occidentalis. However, in E. americanus the total pore plate area increased significantly from sternites III to VIII. Ultrastructure of cells associated with sternal glands showed typical characteristics of gland cells that differ in size, shape and number. The function of sternal glands is further discussed on the basis of morphological comparisons with other thrips species.     

A Statistical Evaluation of Sediment Quality Triad Benthic Community Measurements in PAH-Impacted Sediments at a Manufactured Gas Plant Site along the Hudson River

The sediment quality triad (SQT) assumes that three measurements (sediment chemistry, laboratory bioassay, and benthic macroinvertebrate counts) comprise an independent assessment of impact, which when integrated using a weight-of-evidence approach provides a comprehensive assessment of risk. An SQT assessment was conducted on 41 sediment samples collected adjacent to a manufactured gas plant site on the freshwater reach of the Hudson River in New York State. The assessment shows that the benthic macroinvertebrate data did not correlate with either sediment or pore water polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) concentrations, nor did these data show consistent relationships to the results of laboratory bioassay testing (Hyalella azteca 28-day survival or biomass). The benthic community across the site and reference areas was comprised of few taxa, all of which were pollution-tolerant organisms with tolerance values greater than or equal to five. Only in significantly impacted sediment samples with PAH concentrations in the thousands of milligrams per kilogram, pore water concentrations above 100 toxic units, and visible non-aqueous phase liquid present in the sample did the benthic macroinvertebrate data show a response. In contrast, sediment and pore water PAH measurements and H. azteca toxicity testing provided consistent interpretation of impact. These results illustrate that benthic macroinvertebrate data may contain less information value and be a more challenging line of evidence to interpret in triad studies conducted in certain ecological settings; in this case, a large-order river with a relatively depauperate benthic community dominated by species tolerant of PAHs.     

Concentrations and Health Risk of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Some Brands of Biscuits in the Nigerian Market

Concentrations of 16 priority polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were determined in 40 brands of biscuits in the Nigerian market. The analyses were performed by gas chromatography-flame ionisation detection (GC-FID) after Soxhlet extraction of the sample with hexane/dichloromethane and clean-up of the extract. The concentrations of Σ16 PAHs in these biscuit samples were in the range of 35.7–645.3 μg kg^?1, 75.9–490.7 μg kg^?1, 91.5–537 μg kg^?1, 18.4–522.2 μg kg^?1, 123.5–393.8 μg kg^?1, 167.2–880 μg kg^?1, 136.5–316 μg kg^?1, and 135.5–241.6 μg kg^?1 for shortcake, digestives, cookies, shortbread, wafers, crackers, Pringles, and cabin, respectively. The concentrations of Σ8 carcinogenic PAHs in the samples ranged from not detected (nd)–323.3 μg kg^?1, 15.7–138 μg kg^?1, 9.7–312.9 μg kg^?1, nd–331.7 μg kg^?1, nd–220.9 μg kg^?1, nd–53.3 μg kg^?1, 18.4–56.6 μg kg^?1, and 6.6–170.8 μg kg^?1 for shortcake, digestives, cookies, shortbread, wafers, crackers, Pringles, and cabin, respectively. The margin of exposure (MOE), based on PAH8 as an indicator for the occurrence and effects of PAHs in food, was less than 10,000, the serious health effects value, in 30% and 8% of the brands for the child and adult scenarios, respectively.     

How to escape from the host nest: Imperfect chemical mimicry in eucharitid parasitoids and exploitation of the ants’ hygienic behavior

Communication in ants is based to a great extent on chemical compounds. Recognition of intruders is primarily based on cuticular hydrocarbon (CHC) profile matching but is prone to being cheated. Eucharitid wasps are specific parasitoids of the brood of ants; the immature stages are either well integrated within the colony or are protected within the host cocoons, whereas adult wasps at emergence must leave their host nest to reproduce and need to circumvent the ant recognition system to escape unscathed. The behavioral interactions between eucharitid wasps and workers of their host, the Neotropical ant Ectatomma tuberculatum, are characterized. In experimental bioassays, newly emerged parasitoids were not violently aggressed. They remained still and were grabbed by ants upon contact and transported outside the nest; host workers were even observed struggling to reject them. Parasitoids were removed from the nest within five minutes, and most were unharmed, although two wasps (out of 30) were killed during the interaction with the ants. We analyzed the CHCs of the ant and its two parasitoids, Dilocantha lachaudii and Isomerala coronata, and found that although wasps shared all of their compounds with the ants, each wasp species had typical blends and hydrocarbon abundance was also species specific. Furthermore, the wasps had relatively few CHCs compared to E. tuberculatum (22–44% of the host components), and these were present in low amounts. Wasps, only partially mimicking the host CHC profile, were immediately recognized as alien and actively removed from the nest by the ants. Hexane-washed wasps were also transported to the refuse piles, but only after being thoroughly inspected and after most of the workers had initially ignored them. Being recognized as intruder may be to the parasitoids’ advantage, allowing them to quickly leave the natal nest, and therefore enhancing the fitness of these very short lived parasitoids. We suggest that eucharitids take advantage of the hygienic behavior of ants to quickly escape from their host nests.     

The chemical basis for sex recognition in Drosophila melanogaster

Chemical cues were recognized to play a predominant role in initiating male courtship behaviour in Drosophila melanogaster as measured by the number and duration of wing-vibration responses elicited in test males. The effect was associated with compounds specific to the female cuticle, for which we describe a simple extraction procedure. Female active extracts were compared with behaviourally non-active extracts from males, using gas-liquid and thin-layer chromatography. Using these preparative methods, long-chain hydrocarbons were isolated and activity was found only among unsaturated molecules. One, heptacosadiene, inducing the highest level of courtship, appears to be the main aphrodisiac pheromone of the female D. melanogaster. This compound is specific to females of the species and is the most abundant of their cuticular hydrocarbons.     

一株高效降解芘的细菌分离、鉴定及其降解效果

摘要：【目的】获得高效降解高分子量多环芳烃的细菌,并研究其对多环芳烃的降解能力。【方法】利用富集培养和芘升华平板方法,从焦化厂污染土壤中分离多环芳烃降解细菌,对分离菌株通过形态特征、16S rRNA基因和gyrb基因序列相似性分析进行鉴定,并研究该菌对高分子量多环芳烃（HMW-PAHs）的降解效果。【结果】筛选到一株能以芘、苯并蒽、屈、苯并芘、茚并芘、苯并苝、荧恩为碳源和能源生长并降解这些底物的菌株HBS1,该菌株的16S rRNA基因和gyrb基因序列与Gordonia amicalis的相应基因的相似     

Organic and inorganic human-induced contamination of Posidonia oceanica meadows

In coastal environments, plants are used for phytoremediation of contamination. Organic and inorganic contaminants may be due to natural and/or anthropogenic sources. The aim of this study is to compare inorganic (trace metal) and organic (PAH) contamination in Posidonia oceanica and to analyse the relationship between these types of pollutants indeed very few studies have been interested in their correlations and common sources. P. oceanica leaves were collected in two sites exhibiting different levels of human-induced pressure. Higher values were recorded in the more polluted site (Toulon) for trace metals (Ag, Hg, Pb) as well as for PAHs (Medium Molecular Weight and High Molecular Weight) due to the presence of the city and/or harbour in proximity. For the first time in a coastal environment, correlations were observed between metals and PAHs.     

光质对烟叶光合特性、类胡萝卜素和表面提取物含量的影响

以烤烟云烟87为材料,在烟株团棵期和打顶期用透光率相近的有色薄膜分别对其进行遮光处理直到采收结束,研究光质对烟叶光合特性、类胡萝卜素和表面提取物含量的影响.结果表明:烟叶生育前期各光质的整体光合性能依次为红光＞自然光＞白光＞蓝光＞黄光,后期蓝光的作用逐渐凸显.烤后烟叶β-胡萝卜素和叶黄素含量之间呈极显著正相关,且β-胡萝卜素含量明显高于叶黄素含量.团棵期增加红光,打顶期补充蓝光,有利于提高烤后烟叶β-胡萝卜素和叶黄素含量.光质对腺毛分泌物中的β-西柏三烯二醇影响最大,对降茄二酮影响最小.烷烃类蜡质成分中的三十一烷、三十三烷和异三十三烷含量受光质影响较大,异三十二烷和二十九烷含量受光质影响较小.相对于腺毛分泌物和烷烃类蜡质而言,光质对新植二烯影响较小.黄膜处理烤后烟叶的腺毛分泌物及其降解产物总量最高,光质对新植二烯和烷烃类蜡质含量的影响存在多种变化.红光和蓝光对烟叶表面提取物的影响效应主要表现在烟株生长前期,黄光和白光的影响效应主要体现在烟株生长后期.烟株生长前期增加红光比例,有利于增加烤后烟叶新植二烯和烷烃类蜡质成分积累;烟株生长后期补充黄光光质有助于提高烤后烟叶腺毛分泌物含量和表面提取物总量.     

Enhancing bioremediation of diesel-fuel-contaminated soil in a boreal climate: Comparison of biostimulation and bioaugmentation

Cold conditions delay bioremediation of oil hydrocarbons, but other bottlenecks also affect the outcome. Means to stimulate biodegradation of diesel oil hydrocarbons in contaminated soil were compared. Different combinations of nutrients, bulking agent, aeration, and microbial inocula were examined in lab simulations, and effective combinations were tested in field conditions. Bacterial communities were investigated by cloning and sequencing 16S-rRNA genes. Efficient degradation was attained when slow-release nutrients and aeration were used simultaneously. Bacterial inocula did not advance soil remediation, nor did they have any lasting effect on bacterial densities. Bacteria belonging to Proteobacteria were dominant in all cases. In the field test, a bulking agent promoting air passage through the soil ensured sufficient aeration, while forced air decreased the soil moisture excessively. We concluded that biostimulation via optimization of nitrogen and oxygen supply significantly improved bioremediation of oil-contaminated soil, while bioaugmentation had no additional effect.