Foraging strategy of a non-omniscient predator in a changing environment (II) model with two data windows and a relative comparison criterion

1. The model with two data windows and the relative comparison criterion (SRC) is proposed based on a Dynamic Programming problem. The model deals with predators whith remember separately the profitability of each patch and visit patches repeatedly. The model predator can remember foraging results that have occurred within the duration of memory (D_m). But when the number of foraging results in one patch exceeds the capacity of the memory chamber (C_m), older results are deleted from memory. C_m is the short data window for patches searched recently and D_m is the long one for patches searched in the past, but not recently. The model predator always searches at the patch with the highest estimation of profitability.
2. The validity of SRC was checked by the experiment with great tits ofSmith andSweatman (1974). SRC could describe satisfactorily weil the experimental result that great tits at first searched almost uniformly and then concentrated their foraging efforts to good patches but they could not detect the new good patch after changes in food distribution. These analyses showed that great tits did not forage in an optimal manner in the experimental conditions ofSmith andSweatman (1974).
3. Differences of SRC from the exploration and exploitation model ofKrebs et al. (1978) and from the model with one data window and the absolute criterion (SAC) of Inoue (1983) were discussed to show characteristics of the two extreme strategies for sampling the patchy environment.

     

Spatial distribution of the green peach aphid used in estimating the populations of gynoparae

Summary In 2 years, during the initial invasion of peach leaves by the green peach aphid,Myzus persicae (Sulzer), the number of gynoparae was low, and the distribution on leaves was random. Then as the mean number increased, the distribution became intermediate and could not be distinguished from either a Poisson or a negative binomial. Finally, as the mean continued to increase, the variance increased rapidly, and the population was found to fit a negative binomial distribution. Thus the aggregation response was verified because the dispersion pattern fitted a contagious distribution. A sampling plan was devised by which the dispersion parameterk was used to estimate the density of aphids per leaf based on the percentage of leaves infested. Sampling the third year of the study confirmed the validity of the sampling parameter that had been calculated from data for the 2 previous years.     

The spatial distribution of the wheat-bulb fly,Leptohylemyia coarctata (fall.) (Diptera: Anthomyiidae)

The spatial distribution of the eggs, larvae, pupae and adults of the wheat-bulb fly was investigated by fitting 42 sets of data comprising 1334 samples to the Poisson and negative binomial distributions, and by using the power law (S²=am^b). In general, the tests indicated that all stages were aggregated and fitted the negative binomial model.     

A comparative analysis on the distribution of nymphal populations of some leaf- and planthoppers on rice plant

The frequency distribution of the number of nymphs per hill of rice plant were analyzed for three species of rice leaf- and planthoppers, Nilaparvata lugens, Delphacodes striatella and Nephotettix cincticeps, based on the sampling data obtained during their last generations in the paddy field. For every species concerned, individual distributions were proved to be contagious and to fit well to the negative binomial distribution. Further, it was found that the value of negative binomial parameter k is so stable for same species that a single value of k is applicable for a series of counts with different means, whereas that k differs remarkably among different species: if the reciprocal of the weighted estimate of common k which is an adequate index measuring degree of contagiousness of the distribution, is compared among different species, it is higher in the order of Nilaparvata, Delphacodes and Nephotettix. The ecological and practical implication of constancy and heterogeneity within and among species was discussed respectively as to the value of parameter k.     

Morpho-ecological study on the South American species of the genus Nothofagus

The morphology of the 11 taxa of South American Nothofagus are compared. Thirty eight characteristics were taken into account: 12 from leaves, 3 from stipules, 3 from buds, 6 from cupules, 7 from fruits, 4 from petioles and 3 from male flowers. The data matrix, with average values of 100 measurements per taxon, was analyzed with multivariate statistical methods of classification and polar and spatial ordination. Five groups were established: The first one (Nothofagus obliqua, N. obliqua var. macrocarpa, N. leoni and N. alessandrii), with deciduous leaves, is adapted to mediterranean climatic conditions. The second groups (N. dombeyi, N. nitida and N. antarctica), with small leaves which are evergreen for the first two species and deciduous for the last, develops under temperate humid conditions typical of the Valdivian region. The three remaining groups correspond to isolated species with different requirements: N. glauca, has large deciduous leaves and colonizes the most xerophytic biotope that a Nothofagus in central Chile can tolerate. N. pumilio, with mid-sized deciduous leaves, is adapted to the cold and dry zones of the southern Andes. Finally, N. betuloides, with small evergreen leaves, grows in the cold/humid somewhat boggy conditions of the Magellanic region.     

中国杉木林生物生产力格局及其数学模型

 根据大量的样地材料,从宏观上阐明了杉木林生物生产力的地理分布格局和水热相关规律,建立的生产力地理分布模型客观地反映了杉木高产林区的地理分布规律。根据限制因子作用律建立了杉木林生物生产力水热优化模型,模型显示杉木林生长最适宜的水热组合环境为：年均气温16～17℃,年降水量1700～1900mm,温暖指数145—150℃月,潜在蒸散量920～930mm,这时杉木林乔木层的生产力达17～18t·hm-2·a-1,全林生产力达21～22t·hm-2·a-1。     

青藏高原和喜马拉雅地区锦鸡儿属植物的地理分布

锦鸡儿属Caragana是一个典型的温带亚洲分布属。本属在青藏高原和喜马拉雅约有24种1变种,约占整个属的1／3。这些种类几乎全部处于演化高级阶段,且既有叶轴宿存类群,也有假掌状叶类群。反映出种的分化很活跃,在横断山地区形成本属的分布中心、分化中心。本区内绝大多数种类是特有分布。替代现象主要受气候、植被变化作用,沿横断山和喜马拉雅分布的长齿系Ser. Bracteolatae Kom．是一个典型的替代分布类群。锦鸡儿属植物生态适应性很强,可在其生长的灌丛中形成优势种。 寒化和旱化现象十分突出,它们有一系列森林种、草原种和荒漠种及相关的形态变异。用锦鸡儿属植物进行青藏高原和喜马拉雅区域内的分布区关系分析及最小生成树MST和特有性简约性分析(PAE),表明横断山地区特别是其北部是本属植物的一个地理结点。以此沿横断山向北部唐古特和西部藏东南适应性辐射。横断山和西喜马拉雅联系微弱,看不出植物长距离扩散的踪迹,大多是由于生态因子限制而产生的隔离。虽然本区不可能是锦鸡儿属的起源地,然而,通过本区与邻近地区的地理联系,可推测它们在我国适应性辐射方向是从东北向西南。结合豆科蝶形花亚科其它属化石记录及其分布区局限在温带亚洲等现象,认为锦鸡儿植物是一组特化、晚近衍生的类群,起源于北方东西伯利亚晚第三纪中新世后期至上新世。     

Census and distribution of chimpanzees in Côte D’Ivoire

Most methods of estimating chimpanzee population densities rely on nest counts. We tested the most frequently used techniques on a known chimpanzee community living in the rainforest of the Taï National Park, Côte d’Ivoire. The best density estimates are given by counts that assume groups of nests to be distributed randomly and that use the mean group size for homogenous habitat but the median for heterogenous habitats. Correction for real forest cover within the region should be made because chimpanzees make nests only in forested regions. This method gave the exact chimpanzee density for the Taï population, i.e. 1.7 nest builders/km². For the nationwide survey, we first estimated the chimpanzee density for different types of habitat (e.g. intact primary forest: 1.64 chimpanzees/km²; degraded forests: 0.4 chimpanzees/km²; human encroached forests and mosaic habitats: 0.09 chimpanzees/km²). Second, we estimated the total forest cover of the country with satellite pictures. This gave an estimated chimpanzee population in Côte d’Ivoire of about 11,676 ± 1,168 individuals, which equals the number of spectators at a soccer game in an average European town. Sadly, only three National Parks may have chimpanzee populations large enough to be viable, whereas the rest are scattered and isolated small populations that are already threatened in their survival.     

Pharmacokinetic, metabolic, and antidiarrheal properties of (d and l) heptapeptides of sorbin in rodent

The C-terminal heptapeptide-amide (C7-sorbin) is the minimal biologically active fragment of sorbin inducing an increase in intestinal hydroelectrolytic absorption. An analogue (D7-sorbin), characterized by the replacement of the ultimate C-terminal amino acid l-alanine-amide by d-alanine-amide, was synthetized. For pharmacokinetic studies, D7-sorbin and C7-sorbin were tritium labeled. After IV injection, clearances were 10.6 and 30.2 ml⁻¹ for D7-sorbin and C7-sorbin, respectively, and MRT were 34 and 18 min. After SC administration, C_max attained 0.41% and 0.12% of the dose/ml, respectively. The IP route showed a 45-min delay before C_max and a 100% bioavailability for both peptides. D7-sorbin was principally excreted in urine, as shown by balance study, and in part in intact form, as controlled by mass spectrometry. D7-sorbin induced a significant decrease of the VIP-induced ileal secretion, previously observed with C7-sorbin. The change of l-Ala to d-Ala increased the stability of the synthetic C-terminal peptide of sorbin whereas its biological activity, bioavailability, and route of elimination were unchanged.     

论三白草科的系统演化和地理分布

根据细胞学、孢粉学、花器官发生和发育、花部维管结构、胚胎学、比较形态及解剖学等方面的证据,对三白草科４属６种的系统演化关系进行了详细论证。并联系古地理、古气候和古植物的有关史料对三白草科分布区的起源作了据理推论。三白草科大约起源于早白垩纪古北大陆东南部。它的原始类型可能与现代三白草属的形态大体相似,为一种多年生具根状茎的草本,花小、无被、具苞片。白垩纪末期三白草的原始类群已完成它在古北大陆的迁移和