Why did heterospory evolve?

The primitive land plant life cycle featured the production of spores of unimodal size, a condition called homospory. The evolution of bimodal size distributions with small male spores and large female spores, known as heterospory, was an innovation that occurred repeatedly in the history of land plants. The importance of desiccation‐resistant spores for colonization of the land is well known, but the adaptive value of heterospory has never been well established. It was an addition to a sexual life cycle that already involved male and female gametes. Its role as a precursor to the evolution of seeds has received much attention, but this is an evolutionary consequence of heterospory that cannot explain the transition from homospory to heterospory (and the lack of evolutionary reversal from heterospory to homospory). Enforced outcrossing of gametophytes has often been mentioned in connection to heterospory, but we review the shortcomings of this argument as an explanation of the selective advantage of heterospory. Few alternative arguments concerning the selective forces favouring heterospory have been proposed, a paucity of attention that is surprising given the importance of this innovation in land plant evolution. In this review we highlight two ideas that may lead us to a better understanding of why heterospory evolved. First, models of optimal resource allocation – an approach that has been used for decades in evolutionary ecology to help understand parental investment and other life‐history patterns – suggest that an evolutionary increase in spore size could reach a threshold at which small spores yielding small, sperm‐producing gametophytes would return greater fitness per unit of resource investment than would large spores and bisexual gametophytes. With the advent of such microspores, megaspores would evolve under frequency‐dependent selection. This argument can account for the appearance of heterospory in the Devonian, when increasingly tall and complex vegetative communities presented competitive conditions that made large spore size advantageous. Second, heterospory is analogous in many ways to anisogamy. Indeed, heterospory is a kind of re‐invention of anisogamy within the context of a sporophyte‐dominant land plant life cycle. The evolution of anisogamy has been the subject of important theoretical and empirical investigation. Recent work in this area suggests that mate‐encounter dynamics set up selective forces that can drive the evolution of anisogamy. We suggest that similar dispersal and mating dynamics could have underlain spore size differentiation. The two approaches offer predictions that are consistent with currently available data but could be tested far more thoroughly. We hope to re‐establish attention on this neglected aspect of plant evolutionary biology and suggest some paths for empirical investigation.     

Yield stability of determinate and indeterminate dry bean cultivars

Summary Yield stability of determinate and indeterminate dry bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) cultivars was compared using regression of genotypic performance on environmental means. Yields of 28 dry bean cultivars differing in plant growth habit and commercial class designation were obtained from 42 Michigan performance nurseries over the 6 year period 1980 to 1985. The determinate type I large-seeded kidney and cranberry bean cultivars had below-average seed yield and large mean square deviations from regression. Lower yielding determinate small-seeded navy cultivars had low deviation mean square values, while higher yielding determinate navy cultivars had correspondingly higher mean square deviations from regression. Although seed yield of cultivars with an indeterminate growth habit was greater than determinate cultivars, prostrate type III indeterminate cultivars had deviation mean square values equivalent to those of large-seeded determinate cultivars. The erect, short vine type II indeterminate cultivars (architypes) had greater than average seed yields and minimum deviations from regression. Compared with other plant types, the architype group showed a greater yield response to more productive environments, with regression coefficient values significantly greater than unity. These results indicate that the type II growth habit offers the breeder the best opportunity of obtaining greater seed yield without incurring loss of yield stability as occurs with the type I and type III growth habits. Since the dry bean cultivars utilized in this study represent two distinct centers of domestication, the regression analysis suggests that cultivars from the predominant genetic center demonstrate more yield stability. A non-significant rank correlation coefficient between the combined and separate analyses for deviation mean square values of large-seeded cultivars implies that commercial dry bean classes should be compared separately based on center of domestication.Contributions from Michigan Bean Commission, Michigan Bean Shippers Assoc. and Michigan Agric. Exp. Sta., Michigan Agric. Exp. Sta. Journal Article No. 11986     

Macrophytes in tropical shallow lakes: An important food item to benthic entomofauna or an underused resource?

Although macrophytes are known to increase benthic diversity in lakes, the importance of this resource as food for the insects living at the bottom of these ecosystems are still poorly understood. This study assessed the diets of benthic Chironomidae and Campsurus (Ephemeroptera) in two environments: a lake with macrophytes (M+) and another without macrophytes (M?). We expected a differential use of food resources in M+, where plant tissue is particularly important for the aquatic insects’ diet. The diet of 734 individuals from 16 taxa were analyzed. Contrary to expectations, benthic insects consumed low amounts of plant tissue. This finding led us to investigate whether the presence of macrophytes in lakes would indirectly contribute to the benthic insects’ feeding, as more food resources were explored in M+ and a spatial variation of resources intake was observed in this lake, in contrast to the homogeneous feeding in M?. We highlight that macrophytes were responsible for the organic matter build‐up in the sediment, especially at the lake region dominated by these plants, and contributed to increase the deposition of high‐quality amorphous organic matter, which favored taxa in M+ that fed exclusively on this item. The lower diversity of food items exploited in M?, and the Tanypus alga‐based diet in this lake, indicates the low quality of organic resources in its sediment. Although macrophytes were indirectly beneficial for benthic insects’ feeding, we found that this is not an attractive resource for prompt ingestion by most benthic taxa.     

九香虫形态及生物学特征研究

通过建立网室近自然实验种群,结合野生个体观察记述了云南玉溪九香虫Coridius chinensis (Dallas)种群的各虫期形态特征、在云南玉溪红塔区的年生活史、寄主范围、取食偏好、成虫及若虫的行为习性,为该虫的保育和规模化养殖提供依据。结果显示,九香虫卵有绿色和粉色两种生态型,若虫有5个龄期;在云南玉溪红塔区1年仅发生1代,仅以成虫态越冬;红塔区九香虫野生个体主要以佛手瓜和南瓜等葫芦科植物为食;取食偏好选择试验表明该虫最喜取食葫芦,冬瓜和南瓜次之;雌雄成虫可多次交配多次产卵,单雌单次平均产卵量为16.3±6.0粒。研究表明,云南玉溪红塔区的九香虫种群为典型的一化性昆虫,休眠期可达8个月;该虫食性较广,可取食多科植物,但以葫芦科瓜类为主;羽化成虫每年9月中旬至10月上旬陆续从佛手瓜、南瓜等寄主植物上迁至枯树皮下、柴堆等隐蔽场所越冬,翌年4月下旬陆续解除休眠,迁至佛手瓜、南瓜等作物上取食繁殖。     

新疆塔什库尔干野生动物自然保护区马可波罗盘羊生境适宜性评价

马可波罗盘羊是帕米尔高原的代表性物种,开展生境适宜性评价对于该物种的保护与管理具有重要意义。综合考虑植被、地形等影响马可波罗盘羊生境选择的关键因子,以及道路和牧场等人为干扰因子,借助ArcGIS,构建生境适宜性指数模型,在不同尺度上评价分析马可波罗盘羊的生境适宜性及其季节变化特征。结果表明:15836 km~2保护区内马可波罗盘羊夏季潜在适宜生境面积为2127.19 km~2,冬季为1915.70 km~2。保护区西北部面积3767.73 km~2的马可波罗盘羊实际分布区内,夏季潜在适宜生境面积为1095.48 km~2,冬季为1072.82 km~2,马可波罗盘羊适宜生境集中分布于保护区内该物种实际分布区。受人为干扰,保护区内马可波罗盘羊夏季和冬季实际适宜生境丧失率分别为18.43%和17.78%,实际分布区内适宜生境丧失率分别为33.65%和29.73%,表明实际分布区马可波罗盘羊适宜生境受人类活动影响较大,应予以重点保护。总体而言,影响马可波罗盘羊生境适宜性的关键因素是国道314和放牧。基于上述研究结果,作者提出了4点关于马可波罗盘羊生境保护,以及保护区管理与规划的建议与思考。     

海洋鱼类肠道微生物研究进展及应用前景

肠道微生物在动物体内数量庞大、结构复杂,在宿主生长发育过程中发挥着重要作用。淡水鱼类肠道微生物的研究主要集中于其对鱼类生长代谢、营养吸收及免疫调节等方面的影响,海洋鱼类则研究相对较少,且多集中于肠道微生物多样性及其变动影响因素分析。本文在归纳总结鱼类肠道微生物功能及其研究方法的基础上,着重分析肠道微生物在海洋鱼类生长发育调控、食性、环境适应性及污染物指示等研究中的应用现状和发展前景,以期为今后利用海洋鱼类肠道微生物开展多学科交叉研究提供启发和参考。     

Trophic ecology of the pikeperch (Sander lucioperca) in its introduced areas: a stable isotope approach in southwestern France

During the last decades, non-native predatory fish species have been largely introduced in European lakes and rivers, calling for detailed information on the trophic ecology of co-existing native and non-native predators. The present study describes the trophic ecology of the introduced pikeperch (Sander lucioperca) in two southwestern French rivers, using stable isotope analysis. Pikeperch could be categorized as a top-predator, and had a significantly higher trophic position (TP, mean±SE=4.2±0.1) compared to other predatory fish such as the native pike (Esox lucius, TP=3.7±0.1) and the introduced European catfish (Silurus glanis, TP=3.8±0.1). Most studies of resource use in freshwaters consider predatory fish as ecologically equivalent; however, this study showed that the pikeperch occupied a higher trophic niche compared to other predatory species in the Lot and Tarn rivers (Garonne River basin). This apparent specialization may thus have consequences upon interspecific relationships within the predatory guild and upon the functional organization of biological communities. To cite this article: D. Kopp et al., C. R. Biologies 332 (2009).     

北京房山大足鼠耳蝠食鱼性及回声定位信号

大足鼠耳蝠 (Myotisricketti)具有食鱼蝙蝠的形态特征 ,但食鱼习性待考。以北京房山种群为对象 ,夜间在洞口悬挂雾网 ,捕获取食返洞大足鼠耳蝠共 18只 ,胃检发现 7例全为鱼类 (宽鳍 ,鲫鱼和洛氏 ) ,10例以鱼类为主 ,仅 1例全为昆虫。室内实验观察到捕鱼行为 2 5 6次 ,成功率 12 5 %。如此 ,该种具食鱼习性的猜测得到证实。回声定位信号属调频型 ,扫频范围从 6 7 4 0kHz到 2 3 6 3kHz ,主频 (38 2 1± 1 18)kHz ,声信号时程 (2 5 8± 0 34)ms。这些特征具有一定的物种特异性     

Relationships between fish feeding guild and trophic structure in English lowland shallow lakes subject to anthropogenic influence: implications for lake restoration

The shallow lakes of Eastern England have been subject to intense anthropogenic pressures including nutrient enrichment and fish stocking. We sought to determine the relationships between fish community structure and other ecosystem characteristics in 28 of these lakes through classification of fish species into piscivorous, zooplanktivorous and benthivorous feeding guilds according to the literature. Canonical correspondence analysis produced clear associations between fish and ecosystem characteristics that generally agreed with other theoretical (e.g. the alternative stable states hypothesis) and empirical studies, but with some important differences. There was a striking lack of relationships between nutrients and other variables, indicating the importance of top-down rather than bottom-up processes as a structuring force in the generally eutrophic study lakes. The presence of submerged (and shoreline) vegetation was associated with a diverse assemblage of apparently co-existing piscivorous (principally pike Esox lucius) and zooplanktivorous species. Perch Perca fluviatilis, a significant predator in other studies, was unimportant and argued to be limited by water quality in the extremely shallow lakes. In contrast, the benthivorous fish guild (principally carp Cyprinus carpio, bream Abramis brama and tench Tinca tinca) essentially represented the inverse of the potential pelagic associations between piscivores/zooplanktivores and vegetation. The introduction of large benthivores to many study lakes could have precipitated a loss of submerged vegetation through direct uprooting during foraging, with the effect of simplifying the fish community being most acute where littoral vegetation was limited by other anthropogenic factors. It is implied that attempts to promote or restore submerged vegetation in these lakes would best target benthivorous species.