Adaptations for feeding on rock surfaces and sandy sediment by the fiddler crabs (Brachyura: Ocypodidae) Uca tetragonon(Herbst, 1790) and Uca vocans(Linnaeus, 1758)

Two species of fiddler crab, Uca tetragonon(Herbst, 1790) and Uca vocans(Linnaeus, 1758), which belong to the subgenus Gelasimus, dwell on rocky shores and muddy–sandy tidal flats, respectively, in Phuket Is., Thailand. We investigated their feeding ecology in relation to the morphology of their feeding organs: minor food-handling chelipeds and maxillipeds. U. tetragononfed chiefly on rocks covered by filamentous green algae. U. vocansfed on the emerged sand and in shallow water along the shoreline and in pools. While feeding, both crabs made sand pellets beneath their mouthparts and discarded them, indicating that they divided the matter scooped up with their minor chelipeds into edible and inedible fractions by using the maxillipeds in the water passing through their buccal cavity. The morphology of maxillipeds hardly differed between the two species, which means that both species are flotation-feeders. The morphology of their minor chelipeds, however, differed: the tips of the dactyl and pollex were flat in U. tetragononand pointed in U. vocans.When the minor cheliped was closed, U. tetragononhad a hemispherical space in the distal one-fourth of the gape, which was closed by the framing keratin layers and a few setae of the dactyl and pollex. On the other hand, U. vocanshad an ellipsoidal space in the distal half of the gape. We consider these morphological characters to be adaptations to the different feeding substrates for retaining more food-laden sediment. We discuss the role of the setae on the minor chelipeds on the basis of the morphological differences between populations of U. tetragononin Phuket Is. and East Africa where the crab inhabits muddy–sandy tidal flats.     

Distribution and multiplication of Ralstonia solanacearum strain race 1 biovar 4 in vegetable sweet potato cuttings

Ralstonia solanacearum (RS) race 1 biovar 4 (R1bv4), causal agent of bacterial wilt in vegetable sweet potato (VSP), is often latent in VSP vines and is important in introduction of the pathogen to newly planted fields. In this study, the effects of biological and environmental factors on the distribution and multiplication of R1bv4 in VSP tissues were examined. Based on stem-injection inoculation, the R1bv4strain of NC01 could cause 49.0% and 33.0% wilting on VSP cultivars TN71 and WS, respectively. The populations of NC01 in diseased TN71 and WS were 10⁸–10⁹ cfu/g tissue at 28th day after inoculation. On the other hand, the R1bv4 could not cause symptom in cultivars of TN57 and VSPSL-1 vine and the NC01 was confined to near the injection sites. Temperature tests indicated that NC01 could cause 28.0% and 14.0% wilting on cultivar TN71 at 28 and 20°C, respectively. Moreover, the populations of NC01in diseased plants were 1.6 × 10⁹ and 7.9 × 10⁸ cfu/g tissue at 28 and 20°C, respectively. The distribution of NC01 in VSP stem indicated that the isolation frequency of NC01 was lower than 31.0% in terminal shoots or erect stems and 45.0 to 100.0% in creeping stem after 8 wks planted in infested soil (10⁶ cfu/g soil). The results demonstrated that terminal shoots or erect stems were not common carrier for transmitting R1bv4. Furthermore, two R1bv4 strains, NC01 and HsinT01, were examined the ability for latent infection on cv. TN71. The results revealed that NC01 and HsinT01 showed different ability of latent infection on cultivar TN71. NC01 had lower percentage (46.8% and 45.1%) than HsinT01 (93.4% and 75.3%) at 20 and 28°C.     

A note on the feeding ofAmphichaeta leydigii (Oligochaeta,Naididae) in lacustrine sandy shores

The analysis of gut contents ofAmphichaeta leydigii, found for the first time in Italy in sandy shores of Lake Vico (Central Italy), proved grazing of the species on diatoms (Centrales and Pennales). Detritus and organic particles, abundant in the substratum, were observed only in small amounts.     

Penetrometer resistance,root penetration resistance and root elongation rate in two sandy loam soils

Root penetration resistance and elongation of maize seedling roots were measured directly in undisturbed cores of two sandy loam soils. Root elongation rate was negatively correlated with root penetration resistance, and was reduced to about 50 to 60% of that of unimpeded controls by a resistance of between 0.26 and 0.47 MPa. Resistance to a 30° semiangle, 1 mm diameter penetrometer was between about 4.5 and 7.5 times greater than the measured root penetration resistance. However, resistance to a 5° semiangle, 1 mm diameter probe was approximately the same as the resistnace to root penetration after subtracting the frictional component of resistance. The diameter of roots grown in the undisturbed cores was greater than that of roots grown in loose soil, probably as a direct result of the larger mechanical impedance in the cores.     

Host-seeking behaviour of tracheal mites (Acari: Tarsonemidae) on honey bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae)

The behaviour of the endoparasitic tracheal mite, Acarapis woodi (Rennie) on honey bees (Apis mellifera L.) is a challenge to observe because of its small size. Through a microscope, we videotaped this mite's movement on young bees, dead bees and bees exposed to vegetable oil. Previous studies have shown that solid vegetable oil decreases mite infestations in a bee colony. We hypothesized that the oil alters mite behaviour to the detriment of the parasite, thus helping to safeguard the host. Habitat-seeking behaviour, identified as necessary for mites to locate a new host environment, was disrupted on both dead and oil-treated bees. Questing behaviour, which is associated with transfer between hosts, increased significantly on the dead and oily bees. The behaviours of mites were significantly different between all three treatments (x ²=494.96, p<0.001 on dead bees and x ²=851.11, p<0.001 on oily bees). Both questing and seeking behaviours were significantly different on each of the thoracic treatments (F _2,66=7.88, p<0.001 and F _2,66=21.28, p<0.001) and mite questing behaviour was not altered between males and females on live or oily bees (F _1,22=0.25, p<0.62), but habitat seeking was (F _1,22=7.42, p<0.012). The male questing and habitat-seeking behaviours were observed. We conclude that oil-treated bees gained protection from habitat-seeking mites because the normal behaviour of the mites seeking an oviposition site is interrupted.     

江苏野菜资源的利用与开发

江苏野菜资源丰富,共计１９２种,隶属４４科１０８属,其中蕨类植物７科１５属５１种,种子植物３７科９３属１４１种。江苏野菜利用历史悠久,近年已发展成为规模种植,产生良好的经济效益和社会效益。     

新的生物杀虫剂螨虫素对棉花、蔬菜害虫的毒力评价及应用技术研究

本文通过生物杀虫剂螨虫素对棉花、蔬菜害虫的毒力评价及田间应用研究表明,它对棉朱砂叶螨和菜青虫两种害虫杀伤力最强,其中LC90分别为0．078ppm和0．013ppm。兼有胃毒、触杀作用,残效期较长,分别达13天和9天。田间小区试验认为防治菜青虫和茄朱砂叶螨以2ppm浓度为宜。防治适期为卵孵化初期或低龄幼(若)虫（螨)期,其防效能达90%以上。该药特点用药量低、效果好、无公害、值得推广。     

A New Marine Interstitial Ciliate from the Northwest Atlantic Coast Tracheloraphis primitarum Sp. N. (Ciliophora, Kinetofragminophora, Karyorelictida, Trachelocercidae)

ABSTRACT A new species of marine interstitial ciliate, Tracheloraphis primitarum sp. n., is described from intertidal sands (160-200-μm medium grain size) along the Northwest Atlantic coast. Living specimens are not transparent under incident light, 0.4-0.9 mm in length, and are characterized by an elongated body, bulbous anterior and rounded posterior regions. Cytostome is simple without a cleft on the lip. Protargol silver impregnation shows 18-29 longitudinal kineties. The glabrous zone is very narrow, 6-7 μm wide, and corresponds to the area occupied by one kinety and two interkinetal spaces. Ten to fifteen kineties terminate against the glabrous zone. Interkinetal extrusomes are present. The nuclear apparatus is a single centrally-placed nuclear group that consists of three large irregular macronuclei and 2-3 micronuclei; these are either clustered or encapsulated.     

宁夏银川平原沙化土地不同人工林土壤质量评价

沙化土地土壤贫瘠、生产力低,人工植被恢复是重要的土壤改良措施。为研究宁夏银川平原沙地不同人工林栽植对土壤的影响,以银川腹部沙地银川植物园沙化土壤恢复区的2017年3月种植的文冠果(Xanthoceras sorbifolium)和欧李(Cerasus humilis)人工林地为研究对象,以邻近的长期撂荒地为对照,对土壤质量进行了研究。2020年7—8月采集土样并测定了土壤物理、化学、生物学等20个指标作为土壤质量评价的总数据集,方差分析筛选出差异显著性的9个指标作为重要数据集指标,采用主成分分析法和Norm值建立土壤质量评价指标最小数据集(MDS),利用线性和非线性两种评分方法计算土壤质量指数(SQI)。结果表明：与长期撂荒地相比,银川平原沙化土壤恢复区人工文冠果、欧李林地的土壤理化性质较好,土壤砂粒百分比减少、粉粒和黏粒百分比有所增加,pH降低;有机质、全氮、全磷、全钾等主要养分指标提高,蔗糖酶、脲酶、纤维素酶等主要生物酶活性也高于撂荒地,筛选出的研究区土壤质量评价MDS指标为土壤粉粒百分比和全磷。2种评价方法下,文冠果和欧李人工恢复林地的SQI高于撂荒地,但提高不显著(P>0...     

宁夏河东沙区刺槐和丝绵木水分利用策略

刺槐和丝绵木混交林是宁夏河东沙区防护林建设的主要模式,了解刺槐和丝绵木的水分利用策略,能为区域植被恢复和防护林林分结构调整提供科学依据。以宁夏河东沙区刺槐(Robinia pseudoacacia)和丝绵木(Euonymus bungeanus)混交林为研究对象,通过监测微气象、树干液流和土壤质量含水量,结合大气降水、土壤水、植物木质部水同位素组成,采用Granier及其校正公式,运用贝叶斯混合模型(MixSIAR)和相似性比例指数(PS)研究2个树种的蒸腾耗水、水分来源和水分利用关系。结果表明：刺槐和丝绵木的蒸腾耗水量在生长季中期较高,前期和后期较小,刺槐的蒸腾耗水量是丝绵木的1.55倍;影响刺槐蒸腾耗水的主要环境因子为饱和水汽压差、太阳辐射、0—40 cm土壤质量含水量和40—120 cm土壤质量含水量;影响丝绵木蒸腾耗水的主要环境因子为饱和水汽压差、太阳辐射、平均气温、0—40 cm土壤质量含水量和40—120 cm土壤质量含水量;蒸腾耗水较高时,刺槐主要吸收利用中层土壤水,丝绵木主要吸收利用浅层土壤水,蒸腾耗水较低时,刺槐主要吸收利用浅层土壤水,丝绵木主要吸收利用中层土壤水;在...