The effects of flooding,plant traits,and predation on purple loosestrife leaf‐beetles

Classical biological weed control is based on the premise that introducing specialized natural enemies from the native range re‐establishes herbivore control of plant invaders, ultimately leading to negative population growth rates. Evidence from past biocontrol programs suggests that herbivores are not solely responsible for shaping plant demography. Diverse environmental conditions in the introduced range may not only affect demography, but also influence top‐down control of target plants. We investigated how flooding affects impacts of predators (top‐down) and plant quality (bottom‐up) on performance of two leaf‐beetles, Galerucella calmariensis L. and Galerucella pusilla Duftschmid (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Galerucini), released in North America as biocontrol agents of purple loosestrife, Lythrum salicaria L. (Lythraceae). Predation and flooding regime have been linked to low leaf‐beetle recruitment at sites where insects failed to attain outbreak populations. Predator exclusion experiments at adjacent flooded and non‐flooded sites indicated a positive effect of flooding on leaf‐beetle survival for all developmental stages, whereas predator exposure had little effect. There was no difference in predation rates at sites with successful or failed purple loosestrife control, questioning the importance of predation in limiting growth and impact of these biocontrol agents’ populations. Effect of flooding on purple loosestrife quality was evaluated in a common garden study where plants were grown under different flooding treatments. Plants grown in flooded soil had higher water content and lower tannic acid concentration than plants grown in well‐drained soil. Consistent with field observations, leaf‐beetle oviposition rate and survival were higher on flooded plants. Results indicate that both bottom‐up and top‐down forces operate on Galerucella populations, yet their relative strength is mediated by flooding regime. Ignoring intricacies of plant‐herbivore and trophic interactions in the introduced range appears to be a major handicap for the improvement of weed biocontrol programs.     

不同抗性品种稻田捕食性节肢动物的群落结构

对3个类型稻田早、晚稻捕食性节肢动物群落调查,结果表明:共有捕食性节肢动物67种,丰富度以蜘蛛高于捕食性昆虫类;早稻高于晚稻;中抗品种高于抗虫和感虫品种。早稻以皿蛛科Linyphiidae的食虫沟瘤蛛UlmmeliatainsecticepesBoes.etStr.占优势,晚稻则以狼蛛科Lycosidae的相对丰盛度最高。早稻捕食性天敌数量动态以中抗品种峰期最长;感性样田中天敌平均密度与中抗样田差异不显著,与抗虫品种差异显著;捕食性节肢动物多样性随着品种抗性的增强呈降低趋势,优势度随着品种抗性的增强而增强。晚稻3个品种样田中天敌的平均密度差异不显著;各品种样田的多样性明显高于早稻,且波动幅度小于早稻,品种之间多样性差异较小,晚稻群落可能具有较高的稳定性。     

典型岩溶区域主要土壤类型分布特征与表层土壤保有量估算

在我国西南岩溶区域,土壤受地质和地形条件的影响程度较深,表现出强烈的非均一性;且在不同地质地形条件下,缺乏具体的量化参照系数,致使对土壤元素库容等方面的估算存在较大偏差。据此,本研究基于对贵阳市乌当区实地考察结果,归纳确立土壤在不同地质与地形下的分布特征,修正了现有的土壤图。利用地形图提取区域的坡度信息,再与土壤图和地质图进行叠加,乘以相应类型条件下土壤的经验系数,估算区域主要土壤类型表层(≤1m)土壤的保有量。结果表明,乌当区境内坡度>35°的碳酸盐岩地区无黄壤分布;石灰土的覆盖率和土壤剖面深度随坡度的增加,呈下降趋势,但连续性石灰岩分布区的石灰土变异程度较大;该区表层土壤(≤1m)保有量约为65656万t,主要集中分布在0°～15°碳酸盐岩分布区,且黄壤占50%以上。     

壳聚糖锌离子固定化亲和层析填料的制备与性质

目的:制备了壳聚糖Zn2+固定化亲和层析填料,并对其性能进行了研究。方法:采用反相悬浮法制备了交联壳聚糖;再以环氧氯丙烷为活化剂,乙二胺为螯合配基,制备了固定化亲和层析填料;表征了其有效粒径以及均匀系数、含水量、失重率、氨基含量、骨架密度、堆积密度以及孔度值。从时间、加入ZnCl2的浓度、温度、pH方面对Zn2+固定化条件进行了优选,并确定了Zn2+的固定化量。含组氨酸标签的乙醛脱氢酶粗酶液,经硫酸铵盐析后,考察了壳聚糖Zn2+固定化亲和层析填料的亲和性能。结果:制备的填料有效粒径为105μm;均匀系数为1.46;含水量为58.03%;失重率为85.43%;氨基含量为9.20mmol/g;骨架密度为1.217 8g/ml;堆积密度为0.843 2g/ml;孔度值为36.40%。固定化Zn2+的最佳条件是:时间3 h、加入ZnCl2溶液浓度0.1mol/L、温度28℃、pH 5.5;且此条件下,亲和层析填料中Zn2+固定化量为3.35mmol/g。壳聚糖Zn2+固定化亲和层析填料对乙醛脱氢酶的亲和性能为4.14IU/g(干重)。结论:制备了壳聚糖Zn2+固定化亲和层析填料,可用于带有组氨酸标签重组蛋白的快速分离与纯化。     

Soral crypsis: protective mimicry of a coccid on an Indian fern

Herbivory with crypsis is not well documented in ferns. The present record of cryptic coloration of coccid Saissetia filicum Boisduval (Homoptera: Coccidae) to the sori of a fern species Asplenium nidus L. (Aspleniaceae) is unique. Predatory beetles (Jauravia sp., Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) that feed on the coccids, are suggested to be selective pressure for the development of the present homopteran soral crypsis. A higher rate of effective predation is noticed in the vegetative leaves than the fertile leaves. Aggressive ants were found harvesting honeydew secretions from the coccids and defending the trophobionts as well as the host fern from their natural enemies. In addition, a possible three-way mutualistic relationship among the coccids, its host fern and the tending ant is suggested. Differential numbers of coccids on vegetative and fertile leaves is correlated with their phenol content and degree of predation by beetles. Such coloration mimicry by the coccids may enable them to obtain the necessary blend of sorus of the host fern needed to evade beetle detection and attack.     

紫花苜蓿的花蜜量和访花蜜蜂数量对种子产量的影响

对10个紫花苜蓿品种的花萼直径、花蜜量、访花蜜蜂数量和种子产量进行了研究,结果表明,紫花苜蓿的单位面积花蜜量与访花蜜蜂数量呈极显著正相关(r=0.93**),访花蜜蜂数量与种子产量呈显著正相关(r=0.87*);紫花苜蓿的花蜜量与花萼直径呈极显著正相关(r=0.99**);紫花苜蓿品种赛特(Sitel)和德宝(Derby)在兰州地区能获得高产、优质的种子。     

光合性能选种法研究

生物良种的选择,历来是人类最关心的事,本文讨论的是植物的选种方法,我们在品质基本相同的几个品种中选择最优品种.这里最优品种指的就是产量最高者.植物的产量是由光合作用所产生的生物量,所以,光合性能强的物种常为最优品种.本文所介绍的选种方法,就是根据不同品种的光合性能的强弱来研究品种的优劣,而植物光合性能强弱可以通过植物的光合总量来确定.本文计算了三个猕猴桃品种的光合总量,其中光合总量最高者为最优品种（产量最高）,这与生产实践完全一致,所以光合性能选种法得到了生产实践的验证.     

NaCl胁迫下AM真菌对棉花生长和叶片保护酶系统的影响

利用盆栽实验研究了 Na Cl胁迫条件下 AM真菌对棉花生长和叶片保护酶系统的影响。结果表明 :在土壤中加入 0、0 .1%、0 .2 %、0 .3%浓度 Na Cl条件下 ,Na Cl胁迫对 AM真菌的接种效果有显著影响。接种 AM真菌提高了棉花根系菌根侵染率 ,增加了棉株的生物产量 ,以 0～ 0 .2 % Na Cl浓度时 AM真菌接种效果最好。 AM真菌对棉株生理参数和保护酶活性的影响因生育期和 Na Cl浓度不同而异 ,现蕾期和低盐浓度 (0～ 0 .1% )下叶片叶绿素含量明显增加 ;中高盐水平 (0 .2 %～ 0 .3% )和生育后期叶片可溶性蛋白质含量和 SOD、POD、CAT等保护酶活性显著提高 ,MDA含量明显降低 ;棉株 K、Ca、Mg含量因植株部位和盐浓度不同而变化。 AM真菌增强宿主植物的耐盐性可能源于促进宿主根系对土壤矿质元素吸收的直接作用和改善植物体内离子平衡和生理代谢活动、提高保护酶活性的间接作用     

Interactions of the ant Crematogaster scutellaris with the fig/fig wasp mutualism

Abstract. 1. A classical example of specialised pollination mutualisms is the relationship between fig trees and their pollinating wasps, in which each partner depends completely on the other for its reproduction; however the fig/fig wasp association is also the target of a great diversity of other species, ranging from specialised parasites to opportunistic foragers, among them ants.
2. The ant community and the sources of ant attraction observed on the Mediterranean fig tree Ficus carica were characterised.
3. A guild of ants attracted by homopterans tended on the plant was distinguished from a second guild composed of two co-dominant ant species ( Crematogaster scutellaris and Pheidole pallidula ) that prey mostly on pollinating wasps, abundant during certain parts of the fig cycle.
4. Foraging workers of C. scutellaris search for prey on the fig inflorescence (syconium), capturing pollinating wasps mostly at the peak of wasp emergence and at a rate estimated to reach 600 prey per day for an entire tree.
5. Detailed study of the predatory sequences displayed under experimental conditions showed that ant workers captured 100% of the pollinating wasps offered, while they captured only 5.5% of the parasitoid wasp specific to the pollinator. The respective impacts of the interaction on ants and on the figs are discussed, as well as several behavioural traits of predation by the dominant ant on pollinators.     

The Food Amount Rating Scale: Development,Reliability, and Validity

Objective: Implied in measures of binge eating is the assumption that individuals agree on what comprises a large amount of food. However, whether individuals estimate food amounts similarly or whether estimation of food amounts varies as a function of personal characteristics is unknown. The Food Amount Rating Scale (FARS) is a standardized set of stimuli for assessing individuals’ judgment of food amounts. Research Methods and Procedures: Two versions of the FARS were developed, and their psychometric properties were assessed. These versions are the same in all respects except that the rater is instructed to rate various food amounts for the average woman on Form W and for the average man on Form M. Results: Content validity was confirmed by 14 researchers and research assistants in the field of eating disorders. The FARS is a 24-item inventory with adequate test–retest reliability (Form W = 0.85; Form M = 0.87) and split–half reliability (Form W = 0.90; Form M = 0.89). Convergent validity is suggested by the finding that ratings for the average woman (Form W) were significantly higher than ratings for the average man (Form M). Discussion: The FARS is a psychometrically sound tool for use in basic research focused on identifying whether the subjective judgment of food amounts varies as a function of personal characteristics and in clinical research where it may be important to know how individuals judge food amounts.