The population dynamics of the large pine aphid,Cinara pinea (Mordv.)

The large pine aphid, Cinara pinea lives exclusively on Pinus species, where it feeds on the foliated shoots of the current and previous year. The paper describes the development of a computer model designed to simulate the aphid's population dynamics on saplings in the controlled environment of the laboratory, i.e. in the absence of natural enemies. The model was able to account for about 80% of the variation in aphid numbers within and between trees over a three month period. Sensitivity analysis revealed that the number of pine aphids is limited primarily by nymphal emigration, the operation of which is sensitive both to density and to plant quality as reflected in aphid growth rates. Of secondary importance are changes in reproduction acting through increased reproductive delay, again a result of altered growth rates and adult size. Development, too, has an important secondary influence. Contrary to expectation and conventional belief, however, alate production proved to be of negligible importance, either in limiting or regulating population numbers. Alatae are produced in too few numbers and for too short a period to significantly alter the pattern of population change.     

Complex sex determination in the stinging nettle Urtica dioica

The dioecious species Urtica dioica harbours wide variation in sex ratio of seeds. We conducted a series of crosses to analyse the genetic basis of sex determination in this species. Dutch populations of U. dioica contain low proportions of monoecious individuals beside male and female plants. Self-pollination of monoecious plants always yielded female, male and monoecious plants, generally in a ratio of one female to three male/monoecious individuals. This motivated us to write down a simple model in which gender is determined by one major sex-determination locus with four alleles. In the model males and monoecious plants have distinct genotypes but are both heterozygous at the sex-determination locus. We first made crosses among progeny obtained after self-pollination of monoecious plants. These crosses showed that the monoecious trait generally showed Mendelian inheritance and was passed on to the next generation via both pollen and seeds. Further crosses between monoecious plants and plants from dioecious system indicated that alleles from the dioecious system are often dominant. However, many exceptions to our genetic model are observed which suggest that dominance is incomplete and/or that more genes are involved in sex determination. We discuss to what extent sex determination genes explain the strongly biased seed sex ratios and argue that additional genes, for instance genes for female choice, must also be involved.     

Carbohydrate binding properties of the stinging nettle (Urtica dioica) rhizome lectin

The interaction of the stinging nettle rhizome lectin (UDA) with carbohydrates was studied by using the techniques of quantitative precipitation, hapten inhibition, equilibrium dialysis, and uv difference spectroscopy. The Carbohydrate binding site of UDA was determined to be complementary to an N,N',N"-triacetylchitotriose unit and proposed to consist of three subsites, each of which has a slightly different binding specificity. UDA also has a hydrophobic interacting region adjacent to the carbohydrate binding site. Equilibrium dialysis and uv difference spectroscopy revealed that UDA has two carbohydrate binding sites per molecule consisting of a single polypeptide chain. These binding sites either have intrinsically different affinities for ligand molecules, or they may display negative cooperativity toward ligand binding.     

Heritable variation in seed sex ratio of the stinging nettle (Urtica dioica)

Male and female flowering plants of the dioecious Urtica dioica occur in approximately equal numbers in our study area on the coastal sand dunes of Meijendel. The seed sex ratio (SSR, fraction of males) collected from female plants in the field varied between 0.05 and 0.76, and differed significantly between maternal parents. After one generation of selection for either high or low SSR, female plants produced seed batches with sex ratios as extreme as 0.08 and 0.73. Natural populations of U. dioica harbour considerable genetic variation in SSR.     

大气二氧化碳浓度变化对禾谷缢管蚜种群动态的影响

利用开顶式熏气室研究了大气CO₂浓度和土壤水分对禾谷缢管蚜Rhopalosiphum padi (L.)种群动态的影响,并分析了禾谷缢管蚜密度与被处理小麦叶片化学成分的关系。结果表明：（1）禾谷缢管蚜种群密度随CO₂浓度升高而持续增大并与土壤水分密切相关,各CO₂浓度下均以60%田间持水量时的密度最大;（2）CO₂和土壤水分对小麦叶片化学成分有明显的影响,麦叶水分、可溶性蛋白质、可溶性糖、淀粉含量随CO₂浓度和土壤水分含量上升而增加,纤维素含量随CO₂浓度上升而增加、随土壤水分含量上升而降低,单宁、丁布（DIMBOA）含量在CO₂浓度为550 μl/L时最高,但单宁含量随土壤水分上升而增加,丁布含量在60%田间持水量时最低;（3）禾谷缢管蚜密度与叶片水分、可溶性蛋白质、可溶性糖、淀粉含量呈正相关,与丁布、单宁含量呈负相关。结论：在未来的气候条件下,随着CO₂浓度升高禾谷缢管蚜种群可能会持续增长,这种增长在半干旱区更加突出。禾谷缢管蚜种群增长的原因之一是大气CO₂和土壤水分条件改变了植物的化学成分构成。     

大气二氧化碳浓度变化对禾谷缢管蚜种群动态的影响

利用开顶式熏气室研究了大气CO₂浓度和土壤水分对禾谷缢管蚜Rhopalosiphum padi (L.)种群动态的影响,并分析了禾谷缢管蚜密度与被处理小麦叶片化学成分的关系。结果表明：（1）禾谷缢管蚜种群密度随CO₂浓度升高而持续增大并与土壤水分密切相关,各CO₂浓度下均以60%田间持水量时的密度最大;（2）CO₂和土壤水分对小麦叶片化学成分有明显的影响,麦叶水分、可溶性蛋白质、可溶性糖、淀粉含量随CO₂浓度和土壤水分含量上升而增加,纤维素含量随CO₂浓度上升而增加、随土壤水分含量上升而降低,单宁、丁布（DIMBOA）含量在CO₂浓度为550 μl/L时最高,但单宁含量随土壤水分上升而增加,丁布含量在60%田间持水量时最低;（3）禾谷缢管蚜密度与叶片水分、可溶性蛋白质、可溶性糖、淀粉含量呈正相关,与丁布、单宁含量呈负相关。结论：在未来的气候条件下,随着CO₂浓度升高禾谷缢管蚜种群可能会持续增长,这种增长在半干旱区更加突出。禾谷缢管蚜种群增长的原因之一是大气CO₂和土壤水分条件改变了植物的化学成分构成。     

The effect of reducing growth in winter wheat on the population dynamics of the grain aphid Sitobion avenae (F.)

1 The effect of reducing the growth of winter wheat on population size and development of the grain aphid Sitobion avenae was studied. 2 Automatic, mobile, crop shading devices, which reduced radiation comparable to levels found on a cloudy day, whilst minimizing other climatic changes, were used to reduce crop growth. Shading was applied between either GS 31 and 39 (1st node detectable → flag leaf ligule just visible) or GS 39 and 55 (flag leaf just visible → 50% of inflorescence emerged). 3 Sitobion avenae populations were initiated at GS 55 and highest populations were subsequently observed on plants shaded between GS 31 and 39. 4 Individual aphids confined within clip cages were observed to measure development from birth to adult moult, adult lifespan and fecundity. Results indicated that adult lifespan was shortest on plants shaded between GS31 and 39, whilst there were no differences in development time or fecundity. 5 Possible explanations for these observations are discussed.     

The role of the perennial stinging nettle, Urtica dioica, as a reservoir of beneficial natural enemies

A wide range of natural enemies, including predators, parasites and entomophagous fungi were observed to feed on the stinging nettle aphid, Microlophium carnosum, populations of which increased rapidly in late April and early May. Patches of stinging nettles thus served as an important alternate feeding site for some beneficial natural enemies before pest aphids appeared on cultivated plants. Anthocoridae, Miridae and Coccinellidae were the most abundant specific predators sampled on nettles; only the Coccinellidae appeared to disperse over a defined period to other habitats. The hymenopterous parasites Aphidius ervi and Ephedrus lacertosus parasitized up to 10% of M. carnosum populations in June: two species of the fungus Entomophthora occurred spasmodically. Cutting patches of nettles in May or June had the most striking effect on the species and numbers of Coccinellidae. Cutting in mid-June might increase the numbers and impact of natural enemies on nearby pest infestations.     

Direct and ecological costs of resistance and tolerance in the stinging nettle

Plant resistance and tolerance to herbivores, parasites, pathogens, and abiotic factors may involve two types of costs. First, resistance and tolerance may be costly in terms of plant fitness. Second, resistance and tolerance to multiple enemies may involve ecological trade-offs. Our study species, the stinging nettle ( Urtica dioica L.) has significant variation among seed families in resistance and tolerance as well as costs of resistance and tolerance to the holoparasitic plant Cuscuta europaea L. Here we report on variation among seed families (i.e. genetic) in tolerance to nutrient limitation and in resistance to both mammalian herbivores (i.e. number of stinging trichomes) and an invertebrate herbivore (i.e. inverse of the performance of a generalist snail, Arianta arbustorum). Our results indicate direct fitness costs of snail resistance in terms of host reproduction whereas we did not detect fitness costs of mammalian resistance or tolerance to nutrient limitation. We further tested for ecological trade-offs among tolerance or resistance to the parasitic plant, herbivore resistance, and tolerance to nutrient limitation in the stinging nettle. Tolerance of nettles to nutrient limitation and resistance to mammalian herbivores tended to correlate negatively. However, there were no significant correlations among resistance and tolerance to the different natural enemies (i.e. parasitic plants, snails, and mammals). The results of this greenhouse study thus suggest that resistance and tolerance of nettles to diverse enemies are free to evolve independently of each other but not completely without direct costs in terms of plant fitness.     

Stochastic modeling of aphid population growth with nonlinear, power-law dynamics

This paper develops a deterministic and a stochastic population size model based on power-law kinetics for the black-margined pecan aphid. The deterministic model in current use incorporates cumulative-size dependency, but its solution is symmetric. The analogous stochastic model incorporates the prolific reproductive capacity of the aphid. These models are generalized in this paper to include a delayed feedback mechanism for aphid death. Whereas the per capita aphid death rate in the current model is proportional to cumulative size, delayed feedback is implemented by assuming that the per capita rate is proportional to some power of cumulative size, leading to so-called power-law dynamics. The solution to the resulting differential equations model is a left-skewed abundance curve. Such skewness is characteristic of observed aphid data, and the generalized model fits data well. The assumed stochastic model is solved using Kolmogrov equations, and differential equations are given for low order cumulants. Moment closure approximations, which are simple to apply, are shown to give accurate predictions of the two endpoints of practical interest, namely (1) a point estimate of peak aphid count and (2) an interval estimate of final cumulative aphid count. The new models should be widely applicable to other aphid species, as they are based on three fundamental properties of aphid population biology.     

棉蚜种群动态预报模型

对1980-1989年河南棉区棉蚜种群动态分析表明,棉蚜为害可分为苗蚜和伏蚜两个时期,根据环境因子(气温、相对湿度、降雨量)和不同危害期,建立了2个模糊预报模型,并取得了较满意的预测效果。     

The primary structure of stinging nettle (Urtica dioica) agglutinin. A two-domain member of the hevein family.

The primary structure of stinging nettle (Urtica dioica) agglutinin has been determined by sequence analysis of peptides obtained from three overlapping proteolytic digests. The sequence of 80 residues consists of two hevein-like domains with the same spacing of half-cystine residues and several other conserved residues as observed earlier in other proteins with hevein-like domains. The hinge region between the two domains is four residues longer than those between the four domains in cereal lectins like wheat germ agglutinin.     

棉蚜种群动态预报模型

对１９８０—１９８９年河南棉区棉蚜种群动态分析表明,棉蚜为害可分为苗蚜和伏蚜两个时期,根据环境因子（气温、相对湿度、降雨量）和不同危害期,建立了２个模糊预报模型,并取得了较满意的预测效果．     

The gene for stinging nettle lectin (Urtica dioica agglutinin) encodes both a lectin and a chitinase.

Chitin-binding proteins are present in a wide range of plant species, including both monocots and dicots, even though these plants contain no chitin. To investigate the relationship between in vitro antifungal and insecticidal activities of chitin-binding proteins and their unknown endogenous functions, the stinging nettle lectin (Urtica dioica agglutinin, UDA) cDNA was cloned using a synthetic gene as the probe. The nettle lectin cDNA clone contained an open reading frame encoding 374 amino acids. Analysis of the deduced amino acid sequence revealed a 21-amino acid putative signal sequence and the 86 amino acids encoding the two chitin-binding domains of nettle lectin. These domains were fused to a 19-amino acid "spacer" domain and a 244-amino acid carboxyl extension with partial identity to a chitinase catalytic domain. The authenticity of the cDNA clone was confirmed by deduced amino acid sequence identity with sequence data obtained from tryptic digests, RNA gel blot, and polymerase chain reaction analyses. RNA gel blot analysis also showed the nettle lectin message was present primarily in rhizomes and inflorescence (with immature seeds) but not in leaves or stems. Chitinase enzymatic activity was found when the chitinase-like domain alone or the chitinase-like domain with the chitin-binding domains were expressed in Escherichia coli. This is the first example of a chitin-binding protein with both a duplication of the 43-amino acid chitin-binding domain and a fusion of the chitin-binding domains to a structurally unrelated domain, the chitinase domain.     

大豆蚜自然天敌种群动态及其控蚜作用研究

2008-2010年间,分别在辽东山区和辽西半干旱丘陵地区设置试验田,采用系统调查的方法,对大豆蚜Aphis glycines Matsumura自然天敌种群动态及控蚜作用进行研究。共鉴定辽宁地区大豆蚜天敌7目、16科、44种,其中优势天敌异色瓢虫Leis axyridis(Pallas)居首位。田间试验结果表明,大豆蚜天敌田间消长表现连续6个阶段,即初见期、波动期、上升期、盛期、下降期和消退期;田间3年平均大豆蚜数量与天敌(天敌单位)总体呈极显著的相关关系,各年度百株蚜量与天敌单位也均呈极显著相关关系。辽东地区天敌跟随紧密并随蚜虫数量变化波动,具有明显的自然控蚜作用。其中,7月11-21日天敌发生盛期与蚜虫高峰期吻合,蚜虫急剧下降;7月下旬后,受高温、多雨、蚜霉菌作用、植株老化等影响,蚜虫种群逐步下降、消退,天敌也陆续迁出豆田。辽西地区天敌迁入豆田比蚜虫晚10～15d,对前期蚜虫控制弱,且天敌峰期滞后蚜虫5d左右,一般年份蚜虫发生较重。     

Interannual population dynamics of the green spruce aphid Elatobium abietinum (Walker) in France

The hypothesis that similar processes govern interannual dynamics of green spruce aphid in the UK and France, is generally supported by the application of a general discrete model. A simple model based on relatively few parameters was able to closely characterise interannual population dynamics from completely independent aerial and arboreal samples of aphids. Long-term field population estimates of the green spruce aphid Elatobium abietinum (Walker) in France have provided the opportunity to select and evaluate the generality of a model, which was developed in the UK to explain the year-to-year variations in peak abundance of the aphid. The objective was to observe the influence of the local climates and disturbing climate factors on the population densities of the insect in two regions of France. The model uses climate variables and aphid population data from regular samples in the two regions that were investigated. A general discrete model was used to predict aphid population densities. The model performed well in tracking the interannual patterns of population but was less likely to predict absolute population density. To improve predictions, further account would need to be taken of additional site-specific climate variables and the strength of overcompensating density dependence. Nevertheless, it is clear that broadly similar processes are at work in the population dynamics of this insect across its biogeographical range.     

Pathogenic fungal dynamics in a fall population of the blackmargined aphid (Monellia caryella)

A fall population of the blackmargined aphid, Monellia caryella (Fitch) (Homoptera: Aphididae), was monitored daily for mortality caused by fungi and parasitoids. Three species of Entomophthorales fungi were found. Fungal-induced mortality was found to be correlated with minimum temperature. During the period when the minimum temperature was consistently above 8°C, fungal-induced mortality was positively correlated with the sum of hours of leaf-wetness on days 5, 6, and 7 before sampling. Parasitoid wasps killed fewer hosts than fungi and were not affected by environmental factors.

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Résumé La mortalité quotidienne provoquée par des parasitoïdes et des champignons sur une population automnale de M. caryella Fitch (Homopt. Aphididae) a été suivie à Byron (Géorgie, USA), avec enregistrement de la température, de la pluie et de l'humidité des feuilles. 3 espèces de champignons entomophthorales ont été trouvées: Neozygites sp., Entomophthora planchoniana et Erynia sp. 54% des pucerons morts étaient contaminés par Neozygites et 46% par E. planchoniana. Seuls 2 pucerons avaient été tués par Erynia sp. Les taux de mortalité quotidienne par champignons s'élevaient après les périodes pluvieuses et d'humidité des feuilles. La mortalité due au parasitisme était inférieure à la mortalité due aux champignons et ne semblait pas liée aux conditions écologiques. La discussion porte sur l'importance de la mortalité provoquée par les champignons sur la dynamique de la population de pucerons.

     

Can competition explain local rarity of a nettle aphid?

Abstract.  1. Previous studies have shown that two aphid species, Microlophium carnosum and Aphis urticata on stinging nettle ( Urtica dioica ) show very different abundance patterns.
2. Theory suggests that the local rarity of A. urticata in Silwood Park, U.K., might be explained by competitive exclusion by the more common species, mediated indirectly through natural enemies. Experimental aphid colonies on potted nettles were used to test for effects of M. carnosum on A. urticata in the field.
3. Though there was some evidence that natural enemies aggregated on the aphid colonies, no population-level effects of competition from M. carnosum on A. urticata could be detected. No evidence was found for competition being a major factor causing the local rarity of A. urticata .     

田间不同防治方法对麦蚜种群动态的影响

【目的】从保护生态环境兼顾防治害虫的角度出发,研究不同防治方法对麦蚜种群动态的影响,为麦蚜的田间防治提供理论依据。【方法】本试验分别设置不同的麦蚜防治田(空白对照田、黄板田、糖醋液田、诱芯田、诱虫灯田、综合防治田),在小麦生长期观察不同的防治田内麦蚜的种群动态的变化。【结果】诱虫灯对有翅蚜的防治效果要好于黄板和糖醋液,但对禾谷缢管蚜Rhopalosiphum padi(Linnaeus)有翅蚜的诱捕效果不明显,黄板和糖醋液对有翅蚜和无翅蚜均有防治效果,多种防治方法共同利用对麦蚜种群数量有一定的防治效果。【结论】多种防治方法共同使用的防治效果优于单一防治方法,诱虫灯、糖醋液、黄板、诱芯对不同种类麦蚜的防治效果不同。在田间使用时应注意不同时期采用不同的防治方法。     

Egg population dynamics of naturally spawning dace,Leuciscus leuciscus (L.)

Synopsis Survival of dace eggs in a chalkstream was 8.6 to 21.8% from spawning to hatching. The proportion of dead eggs in samples rose from 4.9% at the end of spawning to 59% after 13 days. The combined number of dead eggs, live eggs and the empty shells of eggs after hatching also began a steady decline soon after the end of spawning. Egg drift was estimated to be 2.0% of the initial egg population. Laboratory studies and field population estimates indicated that macroinvertebrates were capable of eating large numbers of dead eggs but much smaller numbers of live ones. A large part of the fall in egg numbers was accounted for by egg decomposition. There was a close relationship between the percentage of surviving eggs and substrate composition with poor survival in areas of high silt and low gravel content.