FRIENDS OF WILDLIFE SOUND AT NSA

ABSTRACT

The problem of categorization arises in any classification system because classes should be discrete while the characteristics of most natural objects and aspects of nature are more or less gradual. In systematics, this problem usually is solved by creating several levels of categories, such as class, order, family, genus and species. In the existing killer whale discrete call classification, only two levels occur—call type and call subtype. In this paper we describe structural categories at a broader level than call type in the discrete sounds of killer whales and compare these categories between and within vocal clans in a community of resident killer whales from Southeast Kamchatka, Russian Far East, and also with killer whales outside this community. We found four main classes of discrete calls in the repertoire of resident killer whales from Southeast Kamchatka. The calls of Southeast Kamchatka transient killer whales and Sakhalin killer whales do not fall into these classes. This suggests that the resident killer whale community from Southeast Kamchatka has some rules defining the structure of calls which are typical for this community. Consequently, all resident killer whales from Southeast Kamchatka can be said to share the same vocal tradition.     

THE RATE OF KILLING OF CLADOCERANS AT HIGHER TEMPERATURES

In spite of obvious possible sources of disturbance, the "velocity of killing" of organisms at supranormal temperatures, properly determined, tends to adhere to the Arrhenius equation for relation to temperature. Over certain ranges of temperature the relationship between log velocity of killing and 1/T° abs. is linear. Interpreted as due to the thermal denaturing of protein, it is possible that differences between the temperature characteristics for the killing process in closely related forms may be suggestive in regard to the mechanism of the denaturing. The temperature limits within which the linear relationships appear may be classed among those temperature levels which are critical temperatures for protoplasmic organization.     

长治市幼儿园4—5岁儿童四季生长情况

作者对山西省长治市幼儿园1980和1981年出生的216名儿童(男125、女91),在1985年四季生长的情况进行了测量和统计分析。结果表明,男童年均身高增长6.12厘米,体重增长2.49公斤;女童年均身高增长5.65厘米,体重增长2.35公斤。各季身高和体重增长值经F检验,季节差异均非常显著(p<0.01)。一年内最佳生长季节为秋季,同其它三季比较,经Dunnett检验,只有春季男女儿童身高增长和冬季女童体重增长与秋季相比,差异不显著(P<0.05)。其余各季增长同秋季比较,差异均非常显著(P<0.01)。