Trade-offs between seed dispersal and dormancy in an amphi-basicarpic cold desert annual

Background and Aims

Several studies have demonstrated trade-offs between depth of seed dormancy and dispersal ability for diaspore-dimorphic species. However, relatively little is known about trade-offs between these two life history traits for a species that produces more than two diaspore morphs. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between seed dormancy and dispersal in Ceratocarpus arenarius, an amphi-basicarpic cold desert annual that produces a continuum of dispersal unit morphs.

Methods

A comparison was made of dispersal and dormancy breaking/germination responses of dispersal units from ground level (a), the middle of the plant canopy (c) and the top of the plant canopy (f). Various features of the morphology and mass of dispersal units and fruits (utricles) were measured. The role of bracteoles in diaspore dispersal by wind, settlement onto the soil surface and dormancy/germination was determined by comparing responses of intact dispersal units and fruits. Movement of dispersal units by wind and animals, seed after-ripening, germination phenology and the presence of water-soluble germination inhibitors in bracteoles were tested using standard procedures.

Key Results

Dispersal units a, c and f differed in morphology and mass; in the majority of cases, extremes were exhibited by a and f, with c being intermediate. Overall, relative dispersal ability was f > c > a, whereas relative intensity of dormancy was a > c > f. Bracteoles increased dispersal distance by wind, enhanced settlement of diaspores onto the soil surface and mechanically inhibited germination.

Conclusions

The results provide evidence for a model in which there is a continuous inverse-linear relationship between diaspore dispersal ability and depth of dormancy. Thus, dispersal unit heteromorphism of C. arenarius results in a continuum, from no dispersal ability/high dormancy (dispersal unit a) to high dispersal ability/low dormancy (unit f), which may be a bet-hedging strategy in the cold desert environment.     

外用保幼激素与早熟素对丽斗蟋翅二型个体飞行与生殖发育间生理权衡的影响（英文）

为探讨丽斗蟋Velarifictorus ornatus翅二型个体飞行与生殖发育间生理权衡的内分泌控制机理, 本研究调查了外用保幼激素Ⅲ(JH-III)与早熟素Ⅰ(P-I)对丽斗蟋翅二型个体飞行肌与生殖发育的影响。结果表明： 成虫羽化后当日分别注射1, 5, 10和25 μg保幼激素7 d后, 显著促进了丽斗蟋长翅雌虫卵巢发育, 卵巢重量分别从对照组的16.8±11.4 mg/♀增加到43.9±10.7, 33.6±14.0, 56.8±7.6和 39.3±30.7 mg/♀; 但对卵巢内怀卵量无显著影响。相反, 外用保幼激素则诱发飞行肌降解, 1, 5和10 μg JH-III处理组飞行肌重量分别下降为12.9±4.7, 11.7±4.8和8.8±0.8 mg/♀, 显著低于对照组飞行肌重量(17.7±1.6 mg)。对短翅雌虫注射P-I时, 当注射的剂量超过50 μg/♀时, 能够显著抑制卵巢发育, 而低于50 μg/♀时则对卵巢发育无明显影响。外用JH-III对丽斗蟋长翅雄虫飞行肌、 精巢、 附腺的发育无明显影响; 外用P-I对短翅型雄虫精巢与附腺的发育也无明显影响。因此, 丽斗蟋翅二型雌虫与雄虫的飞行肌与生殖器官的内分泌控制机理可能存在差异。     

Ovariole development in Staphylinidae (Coleoptera)

Summary

Twenty percent of the species from 88% of the genera, which comprise the British Staphylinidae fauna, were dissected and their ovaries attributed to one often defined types. Three-quarters of the species studied possessed six ovarioles in each ovary although the eight species of Bledius examined were found to have only a single ovary, a condition previously thought to be unique to the family Scarabaeidae within the Coleoptera. The type of ovariole development within most staphylinid subfamilies is remarkably constant. Any inconsistencies are described. Species of Aleochara, known to have parasitic larvae, were found to have a larger number of ovarioles per ovary than any other member of the Staphylinidae examined. They also exhibited a greater variation in ovariole number within each species which is correlated with the size of the adult beetle.     

Novel whole cell adhesion assays of three isolates of the fouling diatom Amphora coffeaeformis reveal diverse responses to surfaces of different wettability

Whole cell, strength of adhesion assays of three different isolates of the fouling diatom Amphora coffeaeformis were compared using a hydrophilic surface viz. acid washed glass (AWG), and a hydrophobic surface viz. a self assembled monolayer (SAM) of undecanethiol (UDT). Assays were performed using a newly designed turbulent flow channel that permits direct observation and recording of cell populations on a test surface. Exposure to continuous shear stress over 3 h revealed that the more motile isolate, WIL2, adhered much more strongly to both test surfaces compared to the other two strains. When the response of the isolates to shear stress after 3 h was compared, there was no significant difference in the percentage of cells removed, irrespective of surface wettability. Cells of the three isolates of A. coffeaeformis varied significantly in their response to different surfaces during initial adhesion, indicating the presence of a wide range of ‘physiological races’ within this species.     

鸡肠道微生物菌群的建立发育、分布和生理学意义

鸡的胃肠道具有复杂的微生物菌群,该微生物菌群与宿主的肠道和整体健康密切相关,为了全面揭示鸡肠道微生物菌群的组成及其功能,本文对鸡肠道微生物菌群的建立发育、各肠段群落的分布及其生理学意义进行综述,从而为鸡肠道功能菌株的分离及有效利用,合理调控微生物菌群-宿主相互作用,提高饲料转化率和改善肠道健康提供理论依据。     

秦岭不同海拔森林土壤-植物-凋落物化学计量特征对土壤氮组分的影响

为探究不同海拔森林土壤氮组分对土壤-植物-凋落物化学计量特征的响应规律,选取太白山1300~2600 m海拔范围内4种典型森林--锐齿栎林(Quercus aliena var.acuteserrata)、辽东栎林(Quercus liaotungensis)、红桦林(Betula albo-sinensis)、牛皮桦林(Betula albo-sinensis var.septen-trionalis)为研究对象,测定土壤、叶片、凋落物、根的碳(C)、氮(N)、磷(P)及土壤铵态氮、硝态氮、微生物生物量氮,分析不同森林土壤、植物、凋落物的化学计量比值的变化特征及其对氮组分的影响。结果表明:1)4种森林土壤C、N、P含量的变化范围分别为36.77~59.80、2.91~4.76、0.13~0.80 g·kg^-1。C、N含量在不同森林间变化趋势基本一致,均表现为牛皮桦林>红桦林>辽东栎林>锐齿栎林;P含量的变化趋势表现为辽东栎林>牛皮桦林>红桦林>锐齿栎林;2)锐齿栎林叶片N∶P<14,表明锐齿栎林生长较大程度受N限制;辽东栎林、红桦林、牛皮桦林叶片N∶P>16,表明辽东栎林、红桦林、牛皮桦林生长较大程度受P限制;3)不同森林间微生物量氮差异显著(P<0.05),铵态氮含量无显著差异,硝态氮含量表现为锐齿栎林(0.33 mg·kg^-1)>牛皮桦林(0.28 mg·kg^-1)>辽东栎林(0.27 mg·kg^-1)>红桦林(0.17 mg·kg^-1);4)冗余分析结果表明,土壤-植物-凋落物N∶P值是影响土壤微生物量氮的重要因子,土壤C∶N是影响铵态氮、硝态氮含量的重要因子。本研究结果为太白山森林生态系统的保护和氮循环研究奠定基础。     

高CO2浓度、干旱及其互作对不同持绿型小麦幼苗的影响

以小麦持绿型品种‘烟农19'和非持绿型品种‘旱选3号'为试材,在开放式气室(OTC)内设置正常CO₂浓度(370 μmol·mol^-1)和高CO₂浓度(550 μmol·mol^-1),干旱(田间持水量的45%～55%)和灌溉(田间持水量的75%～85%),共4个环境处理,采用盆栽法研究高CO₂浓度、干旱及其互作对不同持绿型小麦幼苗生长性状、生物量积累和生理性状的影响。结果表明: 干旱显著抑制了小麦幼苗的生长发育;高CO₂浓度对小麦幼苗的生长发育有明显的促进作用,对分蘖数的影响更显著,干旱条件下高CO₂浓度使旱选3号和烟农19的分蘖数分别增加了61.0%和42.3%。两种水分条件下,高CO₂浓度显著增加了小麦幼苗的生物量,降低了幼苗叶片过氧化物酶和脯氨酸的含量。干旱条件下,高CO₂浓度表现出更好的“肥效作用”。此外,不同持绿型小麦品种对高CO₂浓度的响应存在差异,旱选3号对CO₂的响应更敏感。因此,在未来气候变化背景下,CO₂浓度升高时可以适当减少田间灌水量,合理利用水资源,还需注意选择适宜的品种。     

A part‐dependent account of biological individuality: why holobionts are individuals and ecosystems simultaneously

Given one conception of biological individuality (evolutionary, physiological, etc.), can a holobiont – that is the host + its symbiotic (mutualistic, commensalist and parasitic) microbiome – be simultaneously a biological individual and an ecological community? Herein, we support this possibility by arguing that the notion of biological individuality is part‐dependent. In our account, the individuality of a biological ensemble should not only be determined by the conception of biological individuality in use, but also by the biological characteristics of the part of the ensemble under investigation. In the specific case of holobionts, evaluations of their individuality should be made either host‐relative or microbe‐relative. We support the claim that biological individuality is part‐dependent by drawing upon recent empirical evidence regarding the physiology of hosts and microbes, and the recent characterization of the ‘demibiont’. Our account shows that contemporary disagreements about the individuality of the holobiont derive from an incorrect understanding of the ontology of biological individuality. We show that collaboration between philosophers and biologists can be very fruitful in attempts to solve some contemporary biological debates.     

Plasticity in above‐ and belowground resource acquisition traits in response to single and multiple environmental factors in three tree species

Functional trait plasticity is a major component of plant adjustment to environmental stresses. Here, we explore how multiple local environmental gradients in resources required by plants (light, water, and nutrients) and soil disturbance together influence the direction and amplitude of intraspecific changes in leaf and fine root traits that facilitate capture of these resources. We measured population‐level analogous above‐ and belowground traits related to resource acquisition, i.e. “specific leaf area”–“specific root length” (SLA–SRL), and leaf and root N, P, and dry matter content (DMC), on three dominant understory tree species with contrasting carbon and nutrient economics across 15 plots in a temperate forest influenced by burrowing seabirds. We observed similar responses of the three species to the same single environmental influences, but partially species‐specific responses to combinations of influences. The strength of intraspecific above‐ and belowground trait responses appeared unrelated to species resource acquisition strategy. Finally, most analogous leaf and root traits (SLA vs. SRL, and leaf versus root P and DMC) were controlled by contrasting environmental influences. The decoupled responses of above‐ and belowground traits to these multiple environmental factors together with partially species‐specific adjustments suggest complex responses of plant communities to environmental changes, and potentially contrasting feedbacks of plant traits with ecosystem properties. We demonstrate that despite the growing evidence for broadly consistent resource‐acquisition strategies at the whole plant level among species, plants also show partially decoupled, finely tuned strategies between above‐ and belowground parts at the intraspecific level in response to their environment. This decoupling within species suggests a need for many species‐centred ecological theories on how plants respond to their environments (e.g. competitive/stress‐tolerant/ruderal and response‐effect trait frameworks) to be adapted to account for distinct plant‐environment interactions among distinct individuals of the same species and parts of the same individual.     

The effect of leaffolder Cnaphalocrocis medinalis (Guenee) [Lepidoptera: Pyralidae] injury on the plant physiology and yield loss in rice

Influence of leaffolder feeding on chlorophyll, PS II activity and plant–water relations, effect of larval density on leaf damage and time course studies on larval feeding behaviour on altered physiological changes in TN1 rice culture were studied. Quantification of yield losses in the field caused by leaffolder was also assessed. Leaffolder damage resulted in 57% reduction in chlorophyll content, 23% reduction in PS II activity and 23% reduction in relative water content in comparison with control. Rice leaffolder larva folds the leaf and scrapes the green tissue from within the fold resulting in scorching and drying of the leaves. Larval density had differentially influenced effective leaf area of rice crop. Larval densities of more than 3 larvae per hill at maximum tillering stage resulted up to 20% unfilled grains, 28–57% reduction in PS II activity and 23% reduction in relative water content in comparison with the control. At flowering stage, flag leaf area damage of above 25% resulted in more than 50% unfilled grains over control, indicating direct effect of yield reduction in rice. Thus, a cumulative effect of loss in chlorophyll, reduced photosynthate availability and altered water relations caused by the leaffolder injury to flag leaf lead to greater yield loss in rice.