Dispersing male Parnassius smintheus butterflies are more strongly affected by forest matrix than are females

Dispersal is a central aspect of the ecology, evolution, and conservation of species. Predicting how species will respond to changing environmental conditions requires understanding factors that produce variation in dispersal. We explore one source of variation, differences between sexes within a spatial population network. Here, we compare the dispersal patterns of male and female Parnassius smintheus among 18 subpopulations over 8 years using the Virtual Migration Model. Estimated dispersal parameters differed between males and females, particularly with respect to movement through meadow and forest matrix habitat. The estimated dispersal distances of males through forest were much less than for females. Observations of female movement showed that, unlike males, females do not avoid forest nor does forest exert an edge effect. We explored whether further forest encroachment in this system would have different effects for males and females by fitting mean parameter estimates to the landscape configuration seen in 1993 and 2012. Despite differences in their dispersal due presumably to both habitat and physiological differences, males and females are predicted to respond in similar ways to reduced meadow area and increased forest isolation.     

Dewlap size in male water anoles associates with consistent inter-individual variation in boldness

Male sexually selected signals can indicate competitive ability by honestly signaling fitnessrelevant traits such as condition or performance. However, behavior can also influence contest outcomes;in particular, boldness often predicts dominance rank and mating success. Here, we sought to determi ne whether male ornament size is associated with consiste nt in dividual differences in boldness in water anoles Anol is aquaticus. We measured the relative size of the dewlap, a flap of skin under the chin that is a sexually selected ornament in Anolis lizards, and tested for associations with responses to a novel and potentially risky environment: time to emerge from a refuge into an arena and number of head sea ns post-emergence. We found that in dividuals con siste ntly differed in both time to emerge and head sea nning (i.e., in dividual resp on ses were repeatable), and that dewlap size was negatively related to nu mber of head sea ns. This suggests that orname nt size could indicate male boldness if seanning represents antipredator vigilance. We found that males that had larger relative dewlaps were also in better body condition, but boldness (i.e., head scann ing) was not related to condition. Lastly, we found con siste nt d iff ere nces in behavior betwee n trials, showing that anoles were becoming habituated or sensitized to the testing arena. Overall, our study shows that in additi on to indicating con dition and perform a nee, dewlap size could also honestly indicate male boldness in Anolis lizards.     

Behavioral and neural auditory thresholds in a frog

Vocalizations play a critical role in mate recognition and mate choice in a number of taxa, especially, but not limited to, orthopterans, frogs, and birds. But receivers can only recognize and prefer sounds that they can hear. Thus a fundamental question linking neurobiology and sexual selection asks-what is the threshold for detecting acoustic sexual displays? In this study, we use 3 methods to assess such thresholds in tdngara frogs: behavioral responses, auditory brainstem responsesz and multi unit electrophysiological recordi ngs from the midbrain.We show that thresholds are lowest for multiunit recordings (ca. 45 dB SPL), and then for behavioral responses (ca. 61 dB SPL), with auditory brainstem responses exhibiting the highest thresholds (ca. 71 dB SPL). We discuss why these estimates differ and why, as with other studies, it is unlikely that they should be the same. Although all of these studies estimate thresholds they are not measuring the same thresholds;behavioral thresholds are based on signal salienee whereas the 2 neural assays estimate physiological thresholds. All 3 estimates, however, make it clear that to have an appreciation for detection and salienee of acoustic signals we must listen to those signals through the ears of the receivers.     

Age and sex differences in niche use at molt and its effect on plumage coloration characteristics in a bird

Bird plumage is often very colorful and can communicate the quality of the bearer to conspecifics. These plumage-based signals of quality are composed of multiple pigments (e.g., melanin and carote no ids). Therefore, sex and age classes, which often show marked differe nces in plumage coloration, may have different dietary needs for the different plumage components and this might promote pref ere nces for differe nt dietary niches at different molting stages. However, no study has addressed the role that changes in niche use play in the expression of multiple component plumage signals in birds. We used stable isotope analysis to test the hypothesis that niche use is related to age and sex and to differently cultured plumage patches, yellow carotenoid-based and black melanin-based, in great tits Parus major. We recorded high niche overlap between plumage patches, although δ15N was higher in black than yellow plumage. Niche overlap was relatively low for age classes and relatively high for sex classes, and age classes showed a contrasting pattern of niche overlap between carotenoid- and melanin-based plumages. Moreover,δ13C, but not δ15N, had a significant negative relationship with carotenoid-based plumage, which was only apparent in juveniles. Take n together, our results demonstrate that n iche use had a moderate in fluence on plumage coloration characteristics of great tit individuals, mostly associated with δ13C rather than with δ15N and with age rather than with sex. Therefore, our study is significant because it confirms the releva nee of n iche use duri ng orn ame nt production in free-livi ng birds.     

钼在桃树干旱胁迫响应中的作用解析

以毛桃(Amygdalus persica)实生苗为试材, 研究干旱胁迫下, 钼酸铵处理对钼辅因子硫化酶编码基因(LOS5/ABA3)表达量、脱落酸(ABA)含量及抗旱相关生理指标的影响。结果表明, 干旱胁迫下, 喷施不同浓度钼酸铵处理毛桃实生苗叶片, 其含水量及叶绿素和脯氨酸含量显著高于对照, 且以0.04%钼酸铵处理效果最好; 电解质渗漏率显著低于对照。干旱胁迫下, 与对照相比, 喷施0.04%钼酸铵的毛桃实生苗叶片中LOS5/ABA3表达量显著提高; ABA含量、水分利用效率和净光合速率均高于对照, 蒸腾速率低于对照, 且差异显著; 叶片抗氧化酶活性显著升高, MDA含量显著降低; 离体处理的叶片质量损失减缓, 且差异显著。研究表明毛桃实生苗在干旱胁迫下喷施钼酸铵可通过上调钼辅因子硫化酶编码基因的表达水平, 提高叶片中ABA和脯氨酸含量及抗氧化酶活性, 从而缓解干旱胁迫下的细胞膜氧化伤害, 降低叶片失水速率, 减轻干旱胁迫对毛桃实生苗的伤害。     

霜冻过程温光因子分析及模拟霜冻条件的建立

近年来霜冻对我国果树产业的影响越来越大, 建立科学的模拟霜冻程序对于加强果树霜冻基础研究十分必要。基于对大田霜冻天气的实际观测, 分析了自然霜冻在降温速度、低温极限、升温速度以及霜后光照条件方面的特点, 建立了用于实验室环境下的霜冻处理程序。结果表明, 霜冻发生时气温的变化主要包括降温、低温维持和升温3个阶段。降温和升温阶段气温的变化近似线性; 霜后一般伴随较强的光照。经研究确定模拟霜冻条件为: 黑暗环境下, 气温在30分钟内从室温(20°C)降到5°C, 在5°C维持30分钟, 之后以0.8°C·h ^-1的速度降到-2°C, 在-2°C维持2小时, 再以4.7°C·h ^-1的速度回升到5°C结束霜冻处理。霜冻处理后的恢复条件为气温16°C及光强800 μmol·m ^-2·s ^-1。     

生物和非生物逆境胁迫下的植物系统信号

复杂多变的自然环境使植物进化出许多适应策略, 其中由局部胁迫引起的系统响应广泛存在, 精细调节植物的生长发育和环境适应能力。植物系统响应的诱导因素首先引起植物从局部到全株范围的信号转导, 这类信号称为系统信号。当受到外界刺激时, 植物首先在受刺激细胞内触发化学信号分子的变化, 如茉莉酸和水杨酸甲酯等在浓度和信号强度方面发生变化; 进而, 伴随着一系列复杂的信号转换, 多种信号组分共同完成系统响应的激活。植物激素、小分子肽和RNA等被认为是缓慢系统信号通路中的关键组分, 而目前也有大量研究阐释了由活性氧、钙信号和电信号相互偶联组成的快速系统信号通路。植物系统信号对其生存和繁衍至关重要, 其精确的转导机制仍值得深入研究。该文综述了植物响应环境的系统信号转导研究进展, 对关键的系统信号组分及其转导机制进行了总结, 同时对植物系统信号传递的研究方向进行了展望。     

蛋白磷酸化修饰在植物-病原微生物互作中的作用研究进展

蛋白磷酸化修饰是植物细胞信号调控的普遍机制。植物-病原微生物互作过程中, 关键调控蛋白的磷酸化状态影响免疫信号的激活。多种病原微生物通过干扰宿主蛋白的磷酸化状态攻击免疫系统, 以提高致病性。该文对植物免疫调控过程中关键元件的磷酸化修饰及其在免疫信号中的调控作用进行了综述。研究植物-病原菌互作过程中关键蛋白的磷酸化修饰, 有助于深入探讨植物-病原微生物互作的分子机理。该文将为寻找广谱抗病的新途径提供理论依据。     

Retromer Subunits VPS35A and VPS29 Mediate Prevacuolar Compartment （PVC） Function in Arabidopsis

Intracellular protein routing is mediated by vesicular transport which is tightly regulated in eukaryotes. The protein and lipid homeostasis depends on coordinated delivery of de novo synthesized or recycled cargoes to the plasma membrane by exocytosis and their subsequent removal by rerouting them for recycling or degradation. Here, we report the characterization of protein affected trafficking 3 （pat3） mutant that we identified by an epifluorescence-based for- ward genetic screen for mutants defective in subcellular distribution of Arabidopsis auxin transporter PIN1-GFR While pat3 displays largely normal plant morphology and development in nutrient-rich conditions, it shows strong ectopic intracellular accumulations of different plasma membrane cargoes in structures that resemble prevacuolar compart- ments （PVC） with an aberrant morphology. Genetic mapping revealed that pat3 is defective in vacuolar protein sorting 35A （VPS35A）, a putative subunit of the retromer complex that mediates retrograde trafficking between the PVC and trans-Golgi network. Similarly, a mutant defective in another retromer subunit, vps29, shows comparable subcellular defects in PVC morphology and protein accumulation. Thus, our data provide evidence that the retromer components VPS35A and VPS29 are essential for normal PVC morphology and normal trafficking of plasma membrane proteins in plants. In addition, we show that, out of the three VPS35 retromer subunits present in Arabidopsis thaliana genome, the VPS35 homolog A plays a prevailing role in trafficking to the lyric vacuole, presenting another level of complexity in the retromer-dependent vacuolar sorting.     

跨膜运输静、动态图像特征识别的比较

图像在生物学教学中起着越来越重要的作用,然而对于学生如何识别图像却不甚明了。为了解学生对图像特征识别的情况,本研究邀请不同年级学生分组分别观看不同形式的跨膜运输图像并让学生描述图像展现的内容。基于“变异理论”形成的跨膜运输图像关键特征的判别标准,对学生的描述进行分析比较发现教学中运用多种视觉表征形式更利于达到教学目标。