Increased yolk testosterone facilitates prenatal perceptual learning in Northern bobwhite quail (Colinus virginianus)

Prenatal learning plays an important role in the ontogeny of behavior and birds provide a useful model to explore whether and how prenatal exposure to hormones of maternal origin can influence prenatal learning and the development of behavior. In this study we assessed if prenatal exposure to yolk testosterone can influence auditory learning in embryos of Northern bobwhite quail (Colinus virginianus). We experimentally enhanced testosterone concentrations in bobwhite quail eggs prior to incubation. The embryos from these T-treated eggs as well as control embryos that had received the vehicle-only or were non-treated were exposed to an individual bobwhite hen's maternal call for 120 min over the course of the day prior to hatching. All chicks were tested at 24 h following hatching for their auditory preference between the familiar bobwhite maternal call versus an unfamiliar bobwhite maternal call. T-treated chicks spent significantly more time in proximity to the familiar call compared to the unfamiliar call and also showed shorter latencies to approach the familiar call than control birds. Increased emotional reactivity, i.e. propensity to express fear responses, was also found in T-treated chicks. Baseline heart rates recorded in a second group of T-treated embryos and control embryos did not differ, which suggests no effect of yolk testosterone on baseline arousal level. To our knowledge this is the first demonstration of the influence of prenatal exposure to testosterone on auditory learning.     

林麝源蜡样芽孢杆菌SCBCM001株的分离鉴定及全基因组序列分析

【背景】细菌性疾病是林麝规模化养殖的重要制约因素,蜡样芽孢杆菌曾在林麝化脓灶中检出,但是目前对林麝源蜡样芽孢杆菌的研究报道很少。【目的】对分离自病死林麝肝脏中的一株疑似蜡样芽孢杆菌进行分离鉴定和全基因组序列分析,为林麝相关疾病的防治奠定基础。【方法】将病原菌纯化培养后,对病原菌进行生化试验、药敏试验和小鼠致病性试验;并通过第3代单分子测序技术进行全基因组测序,根据测序结果进一步评估物种间的亲缘关系,并进行基因功能注释和遗传进化分析。【结果】该病原菌经平均核苷酸相似度分类和系统发育树分析属于蜡样芽孢杆菌群,生化结果符合蜡样芽孢杆菌的一般特征,将分离菌株命名为SCBCM001。该菌株对小鼠的半数致死量为8.3×107 CFU,对大多数β-内酰胺类、四环素和磺胺异噁唑耐药,对氨基糖苷类、头孢氨苄、头孢哌酮和亚胺培南等药物敏感;全基因组测序结果表明该菌株的染色体大小为5292570bp,GC含量为35.37%,多位点序列分型显示该菌株属于ST427序列类型。在菌株SCBCM001基因组内发现hblA、hblC、hblD、nheA、nheB、clo和cytK等多种毒力因子,同时菌株携带对β-内酰...     

林麝源支气管败血波氏杆菌FMDBb1株的分离鉴定及全基因组序列分析

【背景】呼吸系统疾病是圈养麝常见疾病之一,其中部分由支气管败血波氏杆菌引起,但目前关于林麝源支气管败血波氏杆菌的研究甚少。【目的】对分离自患病林麝鼻黏液的一株疑似支气管败血波氏杆菌进行分离鉴定和全基因组序列分析,为林麝相关疾病的防治奠定基础。【方法】将病原菌纯化培养后,通过菌落形态和生化试验初步鉴定病原菌类型,然后进行药敏试验和小鼠致病性试验以观察其耐药和毒力表型,最后对其进行全基因组测序,通过平均核苷酸一致性(Average NucleotideIdentity,ANI)比对在全基因组水平进一步评估物种间的亲缘关系,并进行基因功能注释和遗传进化分析。【结果】该病原菌经ANI分类属于经典波氏杆菌亚种,结合菌落形态和生化结果综合鉴定为支气管败血波氏杆菌,菌株命名为FMDBb1,药敏表型显示其对林可霉素、利福平及大多数β-内酰胺类抗生素耐药,对小鼠的半数致死量为8.55×106 CFU。全基因组测序显示该菌基因组大小为5 133 936 bp,基因功能注释显示其拥有强代谢能力,基因组内检测到65个经典波氏杆菌毒力因子,以及1个粉霉素和1个利福平的靶向耐药基因,同时发现19个插入序列和1个噬...     

林麝源铜绿假单胞菌噬菌体vB＿PaeM＿PAMD02的生物学特性与全基因组序列分析

【背景】圈养林麝一半以上的死亡是由铜绿假单胞菌引起的化脓性疾病导致。另外,由于细菌的抗性增加,噬菌体是继抗生素后的另一抗菌选择。【目的】以分离自病死林麝肺脏的铜绿假单胞菌为宿主菌分离一株噬菌体,对其进行生物学特性、全基因组序列分析与体内抑菌试验。【方法】通过双层平板法分离纯化一株裂解性噬菌体,测定其裂解谱、最佳感染复数、一步生长曲线、热稳定性、最适生长pH等生物学特性,通过电镜观察其具体形态,进行全基因组测序与序列分析,并进行小鼠体内抑菌试验。【结果】分离到一株裂解性铜绿假单胞菌噬菌体并命名为vB＿PaeM＿PAMD02,该噬菌体具有透明且边缘清晰无晕环的噬菌斑,其裂解谱较窄,最佳感染复数为0.1,裂解潜伏期为40 min,裂解暴发量较高,热稳定性较高,可耐受弱碱环境。其全基因组大小为66 264 bp,GC含量为55.59%,序列注释结果显示该噬菌体具有92个开放阅读框,不含毒力与耐药基因,属于肌尾噬菌体科。小鼠体内抑菌试验结果显示了PAMD02对其宿主菌良好的抑菌效果。【结论】本研究分离的噬菌体PAMD02有较高的裂解效率,对不利环境有较好的耐受性,不含毒力基因与耐药基因,具有应用...     

Progesterone and testosterone concentrations during oestrous cycle and pregnancy in the common vole (Microtus arvalis Pallas)

Serum progesterone and testosterone concentrations were measured during different stages of oestrous and pregnancy in paired and unpaired female common voles (Microtus arvalis). Hormone concentrations were measured by ELISA, and cycle stages were determined by vaginal smears. Paired females usually had serum progesterone concentrations of more than 10 ng/ml in the oestrous cycle. A significant maximum was detected in prooestrous (51.70 +/- 7.84 ng/ml, mean +/- S.D.). Serum progesterone concentrations increased from about 40 ng/ml at the beginning of pregnancy to about 70 ng/ml on days 15 and 16. The last 2 days before parturition (days 19 and 20) were characterised by a decrease of progesterone concentrations to ca. 30 ng/ml. The maximum concentration of testosterone was found in prooestrous (1.58 +/- 0.31 ng/ml). Concentrations during pregnancy varied between 1.5 and 2.1 ng/ml. In two of three cases unpaired females exhibited progesterone values below 10 ng/ml, but with varying vaginal smear patterns. The combination of progesterone concentrations and vaginal smear patterns was found to be regular in only 23.8% of the cases. The most frequent cycle stage found was the oestrous (44.2%). Mean concentrations of progesterone (10.43 +/- 13.81 ng/ml) and testosterone (0.85 +/- 1.11 ng/ml) in unpaired females were significantly lower than in paired females, thereby denoting reproductive inactivity in the former. The study presents basic data for several parameters of the reproductive biology in the common vole and confirms the importance of combining hormone assays and vaginal smear monitoring in reproductive research.     

Age and growth in Peale's dolphin (Lagenorhynchus australis) in subantarctic waters off southern South America

The Peale's dolphin, Lagenorhynchus australis, is a mainly coastal and one of the most often seen species off southernmost South America from 33°S off Chile and 38°S off Argentina to south of Cape Horn. Although a common species, its IUCN status is “Data Defficient”, so any information on this species is relevant. Age, growth and physical maturity were examined in skeletons of 57 specimens of this species, mostly from the coasts of Tierra del Fuego, Argentina; this represents most of the known specimens of this species available in museum and private collections. Most specimens were by-catch in shore-set gillnets or had been harpooned for crab bait. Age was determined for 23 specimens, all from Tierra del Fuego. The maximum age was 13 years for a 199 cm female. The largest female in this survey was 210 cm, the largest male 205 cm in total length (12 years), but this probably does not represent the maximum length for this species. Only two animals, of 12 and 13 years, were physically mature. Animals reach asymptotic length (188 cm) with less than the 30% of the vertebral epiphyses fused. The animals in this study were mainly subadults, as has been found for other southern by-caught dolphins. Growth was studied for total length using 18 osteological characters with the Gompertz model. We propose that zygomatic width can be used to estimate total length for incomplete beach-cast specimens.     

Geographic phenetic variation of two eastern-Mediterranean non-commensal mouse species, Mus macedonicus and M. cypriacus (Rodentia: Muridae) based on traditional and geometric approaches to morphometrics

We tested the hypothesis that skull shape within the genus Mus may vary with geographic location by assessing the extent and spatial distribution of phenotypic skull variation within and among two wild mouse species, M. macedonicus and M. cypriacus, using traditional and geometric morphometrics including a rather novel application of sliding semilandmarks. Shape was shown to be significantly correlated both with longitude and latitude in M. macedonicus, yet the correlation between morphometric and geographic distances was not significant, and morphometric differences between Asian and European populations were not higher than those within the particular continents. The phylogenetic signal was found to be stronger in dental characters than in cranial ones, however, overall concordance between the pattern of morphometric variation and the presumed history of M. macedonicus was rather weak. In both species, the dorsal and ventral sides of the skull were shown to covary in many aspects though there were also some differences between them, making the functional interpretation of these differences difficult. Discrimination between M. cypriacus and M. macedonicus as well as discrimination between two M. macedonicus subspecies was highly reliable using both traditional and geometric morphometric tools to analyze skull measurements.     

Stictis s. lat. (Ostropales, Ascomycota) in northern Scandinavia, with a key and notes on morphological variation in relation to lifestyle

The closely related genera Carestiella, Schizoxylon and Stictis (Stictidaceae, Ostropales, Ascomycota) are revised in northern Scandinavia, and a revised phylogenetic hypothesis, including all seven species of this group in the area, is presented. A key to the species of Stictis s. lat. (including Carestiella, Schizoxylon and Stictis) in Northern Scandinavia is presented. S. albescens and S. confusum are described as new to science, and the new name S. brunnescens is introduced for S. mollis ssp. populorum, when treated as a distinct species. C. socia and S. albescens are the only representatives of their genera in northern Scandinavia, but a total of five species of Stictis are present in the area (S. brunnescens, S. confusum, S. mollis, S. populorum and S. radiata). Substantial within-species variation in ascoma morphology and wall pigmentation is revealed and discussed, and found to correlate with fungal lifestyles; optional lichenization apparently affects several details in fungal anatomy and morphology.     

Male extraterritorial forays, age and paternity in the socially monogamous reed bunting (Emberiza schoeniclus)

Genetic studies have shown that extra-pair paternity is widespread among socially monogamous bird species. Yet, the role of males and females and their behavior leading to this mixed reproductive strategy is poorly understood. Here, we analyze paternity in relation to male age and mating behavior in the socially monogamous reed bunting (Emberiza schoeniclus). We report a positive relation between male extraterritorial forays and success in obtaining extra-pair fertilizations. Extraterritorial forays tended to increase in frequency with male age and older males sired a larger number of extra-pair offspring than young males. Identified extra-pair sires were old in nine out of ten cases. The likelihood of being cuckolded was not affected by male age. Although based on correlative data, our results highlight age-dependent explorative male behavior as a key determinant for the understanding of extra-pair mating in the reed bunting. We do, however, emphasize the need for further studies to reveal the role of females in extra-pair copulations and fertilizations.     

柑橘大实蝇精巢、精泵和精泵内骨骼的生长发育状况

【目的】柑橘大实蝇是一种严重为害柑橘类果实的经济害虫。研究其精巢、精泵以及精泵内骨骼生长发育状况,有助于提高柑橘大实蝇人工繁殖效率以及其田间防治效果,为柑橘大实蝇的预测预报及防治提供理论基础。【方法】基于光学显微镜测量恒温和室温条件下柑橘大实蝇雄虫的精巢、精泵以及精泵内骨骼的长度和宽度,并建立其长度、宽度和指数的函数模型,比较恒温和室温2种饲养条件下其雄虫器官发育状况差异。【结果】无论是在恒温还是室温条件下饲养,随着柑橘大实蝇雄成虫日龄的增加,其精巢、精泵以及精泵内骨骼的长度、宽度和指数变化趋势均符合幂函数增长模型。在恒温和室温条件下,其雄虫的精巢宽度、精泵的长度和宽度以及指数、精泵内骨骼宽度均无明显差异。在室温条件下饲养的雄虫的精巢长度[(4.00±0.14) mm]及指数(3.40±0.14)、精泵内骨骼长度[(1.65±0.03) mm]及指数(1.84±0.08)均分别显著高于在恒温条件下饲养的雄虫的精巢长度[(3.75±0.13) mm]及指数(3.19±0.14)、精泵内骨骼长度[(1.61±0.03) mm]及指数(1.77±0.08)。【结论】变温(室温)比恒温更有利于柑橘大实蝇雄虫的精巢和精泵内骨骼的发育,并推荐使用精泵长度推断其雄虫日龄的方法。     

Life-history of predatory mites Neoseiulus californicus and Phytoseiulus persimilis (Acari: Phytoseiidae) on four spider mite species as prey, with special reference to Tetranychus evansi (Acari: Tetranychidae)

The commercially available strains of Phytoseiulus persimilis Athias-Henriot, the biological control agent of Tetranychus urticae Koch, perform poorly in the Western Mediterranean, probably because they are not well adapted to local climatic conditions. For that reason, efforts are being focused on the development of a biological control programme using native phytoseiid mites. Four species of red spider mites can be found in vegetable crops in eastern Spain: T. urticae, Tetranychus turkestani Ugarov and Nikolski, Tetranychus ludeni Zacher and the recently introduced Tetranychus evansi Baker and Pritchard. To evaluate their potential role as biological control agents, the present study evaluates the life-history of local populations of Neoseiulus californicus (McGregor) and P. persimilis when fed on T. urticae, T. turkestani, T. evansi, and T. ludeni in the laboratory. Results indicate that N. californicus and P. persimilis are able to feed and complete their development on the four tested red spider mite species. The predators may exhibit a particularly high capacity for population increase when fed on T. urticae, T. turkestani, and T. ludeni, thus may be able to provide effective control of these species in the field. When fed T. evansi, however, predator performance was poor; significant increase in development and preoviposition times, and a reduction in oviposition period and fecundity were recorded. The resultant low capacity for population growth suggests poor ability of the two tested predators to suppress T. evansi populations on commercial crops. It is unlikely therefore that P. persimilis and N. californicus, now being widely used to control T. urticae in greenhouse crops in Central Europe, will be able to halt any spread of T. evansi to greenhouse crops in temperate areas.     

Infectivity, growth, development and pathology of Echinostoma caproni (Trematoda) in the golden hamster

Laboratory hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus) were experimentally infected with 75 ± 15 metacercarial cysts of Echinostoma caproni. Worms were recovered from days 7 to 89 post-infection with eight to 90 (average 37) parasites in the small intestine. Worm wet weights averaged 0.85 mg at 10 days, 1.8 mg at 17 days, 3.4 mg at 45 days, and 7.7 mg at 89 days; average dry weights for the identical days were, 0.15, 0.30, 0.70 and 2.2 mg, respectively. The average body area of worms fixed in hot (80°C) alcohol-formalin-acetic acid was 0.21 mm² on day 3, 4.9 mm² on day 10, and 17.7 mm² on day 42. Clinical signs in some hamsters included progressive unthriftiness and watery diarrhea. Gross examination revealed enlarged lymphatic nodules along the length of the small intestine. The histopathological responses of hamsters to the parasite showed erosion of the intestinal villi with lymphocytic infiltration being the primary response; hemorrhagic areas were also observed in the villi.     

Mycobiota associated with larval mines of Thrypticus truncatus and T. sagittatus (Diptera, Dolichopodidae) on waterhyacinth, Eichhornia crassipes, in Argentina

Thrypticus truncatus is a candidate agent for biocontrol of waterhyacinth; the larvae of this diptera mine in the petioles and feed on the phloem in the vascular bundles. The mycobiota associated with T. truncatus and T. sagittatus mines was investigated during two surveys undertaken in the spring and autumn in the Delta of the Paraná River, Argentina. Isolations were made from the mines and larval feeding points, as well as from the larvae, following dissection of the petioles, and plated onto agar. Young and upper parts of the petioles without Thrypticus mines were used as controls. Twenty eight fungal species were isolated from the mines. Pestalotiopsis guepinii, Mucor attenuatus, Phoma tropica, Achlya americana, Fusarium avenaceum, Cladosporium cladosporioides, Clonostachys rosea, Epicoccum purpurascens, Plectosporium tabacinum, Alternaria alternata, and Acremonium sp. were the most common fungi associated with mines and feeding points. Cladosporium cladosporioides, Cytospora sp., Mucor attenuatus, and Phoma tropica were associated with the larval body. The list of fungi in mines was compared with bibliographic information to determine if the species are known pathogens on waterhyacinth or other plant species. This is the first study on mycobiota associated with T. truncatus and T. sagittatus mines in waterhyacinth petioles in Argentina.     

Spatial organization of the fat dormouse (Glis glis) in an oak-hornbeam forest during the mating and post-mating season

Home range (HR) size and overlap, movements, and nest site use of fat dormice Glis glis (Linnaeus, 1766) were studied by live-trapping and radiotracking in the Bialowieza Forest in north-eastern Poland. The study was conducted during a mast year of oak Quercus robur (2001) and hornbeam Carpinus betulus (2002). Average HR size measured by 100% minimum convex polygons varied from 3.6 to 7.0 ha in males and from 0.55 to 0.76 ha in females. HR size in males was significantly larger in the hornbeam mast year than in the oak mast year, which was probably due to the lower energy value of hornbeam mast. Males had significantly larger HRs and used more nest sites than females. In contrast to females, HRs of males overlapped extensively. In the mating season, core areas of males overlapped significantly more and they shared their core areas with more males than in the post-mating season. During the mating season, males were found to share nest sites with other males or with a single female. Additionally, groups of 2–3 males were observed aggregating around a female during the mating season. Our data suggest that fat dormice have a promiscuous mating system where the females are territorial, and the non-territorial males directly compete for access to receptive females during the mating season.     

N,N′-bis-(2,3-Methylenedioxyphenyl)urea and N,N′-bis-(3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl)urea enhance adventitious rooting in Pinus radiata and affect expression of genes induced during adventitious rooting in the presence of exogenous auxin

We have analyzed the effect of N,N′-bis-(2,3-methylenedioxyphenyl)urea (2,3-MDPU) and N,N′-bis-(3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl)urea (3,4-MDPU), two symmetrically substituted diphenylurea derivatives with no auxin or cytokinin-like activity, on the rooting capacity of Pinus radiata stem cuttings. Results indicate that both diphenylurea derivatives enhance adventitious rooting in the presence of exogenous auxin (indole-3-butyric acid, IBA), even at low auxin concentration, in rooting-competent cuttings, but have no effect on the adventitious rooting of low or null competent-to-root cuttings. Histological analyses show that, in the simultaneous presence of MDPUs and low concentration of exogenous auxin, adventitious root formation is induced in the cell types that retain intrinsic competence to form adventitious roots in response to auxin. The time course of cellular events leading to root formation and the time of root emergence are closely similar to that observed in cuttings treated only with higher auxin concentration. In addition, the mRNA level of a P. radiata SCARECROW-LIKE gene, which is significantly induced in the presence of the optimal concentration (10 μM) of exogenous auxin needed for cuttings to root, is increased in the presence of MDPUs and low concentration of exogenous auxin (1 μM). The expression of a P. radiata SHORT-ROOT gene in rooting-competent cuttings during adventitious rooting is also affected by the presence of MDPUs when combined with auxin. As MDPUs do not affect the expression of either gene in the absence of exogenous auxin, but only in its presence, we suggest that MDPUs could interact, directly or indirectly, with the auxin-signalling pathways in rooting-competent cuttings during adventitious rooting.     

Population level effects of cadmium and the insecticide imidacloprid to the parasitoid, Aphidius ervi after exposure through its host, the pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum (Harris)

The objective of this study was to assess the influence of toxic substances with different modes of action on a two-species system: an aphid-specific parasitoid, Aphidius ervi Haliday, feeding on the pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum (Harris). The instantaneous rate of population increase (r_i) was used as a measure of population level toxic effect in this study. The toxicants evaluated were imidacloprid, a nonpersistent neurotoxic insecticide, and cadmium, a chronic pollutant with a tendency to accumulate. We evaluated the effects of cadmium and imidacloprid on A. pisum and A. ervi because both toxicants can occur together in polluted areas where crops are grown. Cadmium (200 or 400 mg kg⁻¹ dry weight soil) and imidacloprid (4 or 40 g a.i. ha⁻¹) were applied to soil contained in plastic pots in which broad bean plants, Vicia faba L., were grown. Results of this study indicated that cadmium at the concentrations tested, reduced population growth rate of the pea aphid. Imidacloprid also reduced aphid growth rate, but only at the highest concentration tested (40 g a.i. ha⁻¹). Combinations of cadmium and imidacloprid had the greatest impact on aphid growth rate. Imidacloprid alone had no effect on population growth rate of the parasitoid. However, cadmium alone or in combination with imidacloprid had a negative impact on A. ervi by reducing population growth rate 77%. These results indicate that negative impacts on parasitoids may occur in areas where cadmium contamination is present and imidacloprid is used to control aphids.     

陕西凤县驯养林麝的种群动态、性比和年龄结构

林麝是濒危资源动物,林麝驯养是保育濒危林麝资源及可持续利用麝香的有效方式。基于对2001至2012年间的陕西凤县林麝驯养的监测和调查,分析了其种群动态、性比和年龄结构。结果表明,陕西凤县的林麝驯养在近10余年获得了快速发展,全县共有150余个麝场,麝场数呈指数式增长,增长率达27.33%,但其平均驯养规模无明显增长,平均存栏种群仅为16.38头。凤县的驯养麝种群总体增长近似指数式增长,增长率达27.22%,目前存栏种群已达3712头。区分性别和年龄,各亚群的增长均呈指数式增长,幼年麝的增长率(30.30%)高于成年麝(27.16%),雄麝的增长率(28.30%)高于雌麝(27.78%)。在2001至2012年间,幼麝种群的雌雄性比((102.64±3.15)%,n=12)和成年麝种群的雌雄性比((100.85±2.585)%,n=10)均显著偏雌(P0.01),但幼麝、成年麝种群间的性比差异不显著(P0.05)。在2005年及2010—2012年间,幼麝(0.5岁龄)占种群的比例为31.91%,亚成体麝(1.5岁龄)占种群的比例为21.11%,成麝(2.5—12.5岁龄)比例为42.72%,老年麝(13.5岁龄及以上)仅占种群的4.26%。合并年龄分析,育龄前个体(幼麝和亚成体麝)的平均比例为53.02%,表明凤县驯养林麝属快速增长种群,其增长潜力较大。在林麝驯养实践中,管理部门可制定准入制度或适当重组现有麝场,促进较大的驯养种群构建,并建立通畅的麝香交易渠道,控制林麝种源的过热交易,以利于林麝驯养种群的性比平衡及可持续的繁育、增长。     

不同寄主对南亚果实蝇生长发育和繁殖的影响

【目的】探究葫芦科和茄科寄主果实对南亚果实蝇生长、发育和繁殖的影响。【方法】构建南亚果实蝇在南瓜、黄瓜、冬瓜和西红柿上的种群生命表,评价南亚果实蝇在4种寄主上的适应性。【结果】南亚果实蝇在南瓜上的成虫前期存活率(87.96 %)和繁殖力(361.26粒·雌^-1)均显著高于南亚果实蝇在黄瓜(80.00%和288.34粒·雌^-1)、冬瓜(72.03%和84.80粒·单雌^-1)和西红柿(69.69%、76.55粒·单雌^-1)上的成虫前期存活率和繁殖力。以南瓜为寄主的南亚果实蝇的内禀增长率(0.10)和净增值率(90.63)显著高于以黄瓜(0.08和74.37)、冬瓜(0.07和35.62)和西红柿(0.07和26.03)为寄主的南亚果实蝇内禀增长率和净增值率。【结论】南亚果实蝇在4种寄主上均能完成世代周期,但是南瓜是南亚果实蝇最适宜的寄主。