Phonotaxis in flying crickets: Neural correlates

Tethered, flying crickets perform stereotyped steering movements when stimulated with sound. Electrophysiological recordings show that identifiable motoneurones respond to acoustic stimulation in a manner which reflects the phonotactic behaviour of the intact cricket. Both steering behaviour and its neural correlates reflect the fine temporal structure of the acoustic stimulus. Decapitation of the cricket eliminates steering movements in response to sound.     

Neural activity pattern is not necessary for the development of adult ultrastructure in katydid (Neoconocephalus robustus) singing muscles

Summary The singing muscles of the katydid Neoconocephalus robustus develop adult ultrastructure late in the last nymphal instar and during the first few days of adult life. The ultrastructural changes during early adulthood were not affected by unilateral axotomy shortly after the adult molt. Both denervated and innervated muscles developed adult proportions of mitochondria, myofibril, and sarcoplasmic reticulum and transverse tubules.     

Exogenous and endogenous growth regulators on apogamy in Dryopteris affinis (Lowe) Fraser-Jenkins sp. affinis

This work showed for the first time the relationship between the effect of exogenous auxins and gibberellins on apogamy in Dryopteris affinis (Lowe) Fraser-Jenkins sp. affinis and its endogenous contents during early apogamic events. The addition of NAA (0.53 and 5.37 μM) or GA₃ 2.8 μM to an MS solid medium significantly increased apogamous sporophyte formation. BA induced brown callus that regenerated sporophytes in a hormone-free medium. The endogenous contents of GA₁, GA₃, GA₄, GA₇, GA₉ and IAA were determined by GC–MS in gametophytes cultured on MS solid medium, before and during early stages of apogamous embryo development. The accumulation of both GA₉ and IAA before embryo development was evident as high levels of GA₄ in the earliest analysed stage of embryo development and high levels of GA₃ in elongating shoots were found. The role of gibberellins on apogamy was also supported by data showing a decrease in the percentage of gametophytes developing embryos because of the addition of flurprimidol to the culture medium.     

Agonistic communication between males of a zaprochiline katydid (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae)

The calls produced by male katydids serve to attract femalesand repel rivals. Males generally exhibit overt aggressive responsesto conspecifics that call within their territories, and intermalespacing is maintained by properties of the call. Here we examinethe acoustic behavior of a zaprochiline katydid in which maleaggressive behavior and even the ability to detect conspecificsappear greatly reduced. Despite reduced hearing sensitivity,males were shown to detect and respond to the calls of conspecificsusing substrate-borne vibrations. During playback experimentsmales increased their calling rates by decreasing the intervalbetween chirps. However, rather than exhibit overt aggressionmales would simply change their calling sites when the intensityof playback song was increased. These results were supportedby observations of natural encounters between males in the field.The interval between chirps decreased as the distance betweencalling males decreased, and encounters were always terminatedwhen one male moved away from the other. We suggest that theloss in auditory sensitivity and reduced aggressive behaviorof this species may be a consequence of the necessity to aggregatearound highly localized feeding sites.     

Lethal territorial aggression in a white-handed gibbon

During an intergroup conflict an adult male white-handed gibbon (Hylobates lar) from one group was attacked and wounded by the adult male of a neighboring group. The wounded male's calling behavior, general activity level, feeding, and participation in territorial defense declined dramatically in the days following the injury as he instead spent long periods resting and tending the wound. The normal and healthy appearance of this male prior to injury, the circumstances of the fight that caused the injury, the resultant deterioration in normal maintenance and social behavior, and finally the apparent infection of the wound by insect larvae all suggested that his disappearance 24 days later was the result of death due directly or indirectly to the wound he had suffered. The observations reported here suggest that the ritualization of territorial aggression in this species has not eliminated risks of serious injury and death. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Is selection for territorial aggression in brown trout density‐dependent?

A comparison between a high-density (migratory) and a low-density (stream-resident) population of brown trout Salmo trutta , from the same stream, showed there was no support for the view that aggression was density-dependent.     

Lethal intergroup aggression by chimpanzees in Kibale National Park, Uganda

Chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) have hostile intergroup relations throughout most or all of their geographic range. Hostilities include aggressive encounters between members of neighboring communities during foraging and during patrols in which members of one community search for neighbors near territory boundaries. Attacks on neighbors involve coalitions of adult males, and are sometimes fatal. Targets include members of all age/sex classes, but the risk of lethal intergroup coalitionary aggression is highest for adult males and infants, and lowest for sexually swollen females. The best-supported adaptive explanation for such behavior is that fission-fusion sociality allows opportunities for low-cost attacks that, when successful, enhance the food supply for members of the attackers' community, improve survivorship, and increase female fertility. We add to the database on intergroup coalitionary aggression in chimpanzees by describing three fatal attacks on adult males, plus a fourth attack on an adult male and an attack on a juvenile that were almost certainly fatal. Observers saw four of these attacks and inferred the fifth from forensic and behavioral evidence. The attackers were males in two habituated, unprovisioned communities (Ngogo and Kanyawara) in Kibale National Park, Uganda. We also summarize data on other intercommunity attacks at Ngogo. Our observations are consistent with the "imbalance of power" hypothesis [Manson & Wrangham, Current Anthropology 32:369-390, 1991] and support the argument that lethal coalitionary intergroup aggression by male chimpanzees is part of an evolved behavioral strategy.     

Landscape structure and population density affect intraspecific aggression in beavers

Intraspecific competition plays an important role for territory acquisition and occupancy, in turn affecting individual fitness. Thus, understanding the drivers of intraspecific aggression can increase our understanding of population dynamics. Here, we investigated intraspecific aggression in Eurasian (Castor fiber) and North American (Castor canadensis) beavers that are both monogamous, territorial mammals. Combined, we examined tail scars from >1,000 beavers (>2,000 capture events) as part of two long‐term studies in Norway and the USA. We investigated the influence of landscape structure, population density, sex, age, and (for Eurasian beavers only) social status and group size on the number of tail scars caused by conspecifics. The number of tail scars was affected by population density in well‐connected landscape types (large lakes and rivers), but not in more isolated areas (ponds), where individuals generally had fewer tail scars. Further, the relationship of population density was not linear. In the North American beaver population occurring in large lakes, intraspecific aggression increased with population density. Conversely, in the saturated Eurasian beaver population, intraspecific aggression was in a negative relationship with population density (except at the highest densities), likely due to inverse density‐dependent intruder pressure via dispersers. Our findings emphasize that population density can affect intraspecific aggression depending on landscape structure, which might have important consequences for local patterns of dispersal, mate change, and territory occupancy, all of which can affect population dynamics.     

Selective phonotaxis in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Neoconocephalus nebrascensis</Emphasis> (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae): call recognition at two temporal scales

The calls of many Orthopteran species are comprised of a simple trill of pulses, the temporal pattern of which is important for call recognition. Male Neoconocephalus nebrascensis produce pulses with a temporal structure typical for the genus. However, they modify this pattern by grouping their pulses into verses, thereby creating a higher order temporal structure. The importance of the pulse pattern and verse structure for call recognition in N. nebrascensis was determined using a walking compensator. Females required the conspecific pulse pattern for call recognition, responding only when the intervals between pulses were short or absent. Females also required the verse structure for call recognition, and recognized the verse structure only when the amplitude modulation depth between verses and pauses exceeded 18 dB. We discuss that the verse recognition mechanism is a derived trait adapted for pre-mating isolation. We hypothesize that the unusually large amplitude modulation required for verse recognition forces males to synchronize their calls in order to preserve an attractive pattern. Call synchrony appears to be the outcome of cooperation, rather than competition, in this species.     

Toxicokinetics and biotransformation of pentachlorophenol in the topsmelt (Atherinops affinis)

The toxicokinetics and biotransformation of pentachlorophenol (PCP) were determined in the topsmelt (Atherinops affinis) In a static system, topsmelt (n = 9) were exposed to 50 μg/L of [U-¹⁴C]PCP for 24 hours to determine the absorption rate constant (Ka), the whole-body bio-concentration (at steady-state conditions), the elimination rate constant UQ, and the elimination half-life (t_1/2). Kinetics were determined by direct quantitation of radioactivity in the exposure water. Following exposure, fish were placed in a flow-through metabolism chamber for 24 hours to allow depuration of retained residues, which were collected on XAD-4 resin. Excreted residues were identified and quantified by high-pressure liquid co-chromatography, fraction collection, and liquid scintillation counting. The Ka and Ke, calculated using a simplified model, were 0.012 M-1 0.005/h and 0.014±;0.003/h, respectively, while the 24 hour total concentration factor was 278.0×182.0 and the t_1/2 was 52.7±;11.2. During 24 hours of exposure to dean seawater, topsmelt depurated 32.9% of retained residues, and while PCP was primarily excreted unchanged (64.9%), significant amounts of both pentachlorophenylsulfate (18.9%) and pentachloro-β-D-glucuronide (16.2%) were also formed.     

Individual‐ and population‐level personalities in a floriphilic katydid

Behaviour, including personality, informs us about the response of animals towards their changing environment. Despite the widespread occurrence of florivorous insects and the important but often underrated ecological roles that they play, the study of florivore behaviour is neglected relative to that of pollinators and other herbivores. Specifically, we do not know how different personality types can develop among florivores and enable them to persist in habitats with an ephemeral and dynamic availability of food resources. To address this knowledge gap, we investigated the following questions: whether the (a) inter‐individual differences of exploration and boldness are consistent; (b) inter‐population differences of exploration and boldness are consistent; (c) exploration and boldness are correlated. We collected individuals of the polyphagous floriphilic katydid, Phaneroptera brevis from four populations from wasteland sites in Singapore and performed a personality assay conducted in an insectary to investigate the exploratory and boldness levels of the individuals and populations. The major novel finding was that the floriphilic P. brevis katydids exhibit population‐level personality types for boldness, but not for exploration. Some katydid individuals were consistently more exploratory and bolder than other individuals. However, contrary to our predictions, we did not find any evidence of behavioural syndromes in the katydid individuals, as the boldness level for individuals was not significantly correlated with exploration for individuals. This suggests that an individual which is more exploratory may not be equally keen to take risks and consume novel food that it encounters. Our findings also suggest that boldness and exploration are linked to ecologically important behaviours, but more studies are needed to better understand population‐level personality and how and why natural selection may favour the evolution of personality in certain populations.     

四川产中菊头蝠喜马拉雅亚种和马铁菊头蝠日本亚种外部形态及头骨的比较

对四川产中菊头蝠喜马拉雅亚种(Rhinolophus affinis himalayanus)和马铁菊头蝠日本亚种(R.ferrumequinum nippon)的23项外部形态指标和22项头骨形态指标进行了测量,并进行数理统计分析。结果表明,(1)中菊头蝠喜马拉雅亚种和马铁菊头蝠日本亚种的23项外部形态测量指标中有2项差异显著(P<0.05),16项差异极显著(P<0.01),其中:中菊头蝠喜马拉雅亚种(n=14)体长小于59 mm(47.30~58.40),尾长小于26 mm(21.69~25.68),耳长小于22 mm(18.36~21.88),前臂长小于56 mm(50.9~54.20),第Ⅲ掌骨第一指节长小于16 mm(13.2~15.53),第Ⅲ掌骨第二指节小于32 mm(27.38~31.74);而马铁菊头蝠日本亚种(n=6)体长大于62 mm(62.43~66.76),尾长大于30 mm(30.56~36.18),耳长大于24 mm(24.47~27.20),前臂长大于56 mm(58.78~63.46),第Ⅲ掌骨第一指节大于19 mm(19.38~21.39),第Ⅲ掌骨第二指节大于34 mm(34.42~38.11),这些差异可作为区分四川产这两个种的依据。(2)中菊头蝠喜马拉雅亚种和马铁菊头蝠日本亚种的22项头骨形态测量指标中,除颅高、听泡间距差异不显著(P>0.05)外,其他20项指标都存在极显著差异(P<0.01)。     

Concentrations of Lead,Cadmium, and Mercury in Halfbeaks (Hyporhampus affinis) from the East Java Coast,Indonesia and Human Health Hazard

The objectives of this study were to measure the levels of lead, cadmium, and mercury in the muscle tissues of halfbeaks (Hyporhampus affinis) captured at five stations along the East Java coast, Indonesia. This fish is one of the important species and consumed by local people as a cheap source of protein. We evaluated the hazard level posed by the metals in relation to the maximum residual limit for human consumption and to estimate the weekly intake and compare it with the provisional tolerable weekly intake (PTWI). The Pb, Cd, and Hg concentrations in fish at all stations ranged from 0.006 to 0.023 mg/kg, 0.007 to 0.024 mg/kg, and 0.047 to 0.055 mg/kg wet weight, respectively. All samples of halfbeaks collected from this area appear to be safe for human consumption because their metals’ levels are below the permissible limit for human consumption and the maximum weekly intakes are below the recommended values of PTWI.     

Effects of diet quality on performance and nutrient regulation in an omnivorous katydid

1. Omnivores by definition eat both plants and animals. However, little is known about how diet macronutrient content affects omnivore performance, or the extent to which they can regulate macronutrient intake. We assessed these questions using the salt marsh katydid, Conocephalus spartinae Fox (Tettigoniidae). 2. In our first experiment we used artificial diets with different protein–carbohydrate ratios to assess the effects of diet quality on survival, growth, and lipid accumulation. We found that diets with a high protein–carbohydrate ratio negatively affected Conocephalus survival. Among surviving individuals growth was not significantly different across the treatments, but lipid content decreased significantly as the protein–carbohydrate ratio of diets increased. 3. In a second experiment we explored the ability of Conocephalus to regulate their protein–carbohydrate intake. Results revealed that Conocephalus did not feed randomly when presented with two nutritionally complementary foods. A detailed analysis of their protein–carbohydrate intake revealed selection for a protein‐biased diet, but a lack of tight regulate of protein–carbohydrate intake. 4. We discuss how key macronutrients can limit omnivores, and how nutritional flexibility may enable omnivores to persist in nutritionally heterogeneous environments.     

The effects of sublethal concentrations of five organophosphorus insecticides on temperature tolerance, reflexes, and orientation in Gambusia affinis affinis (Pisces: Poeciliidae)

Gambusia affinis were exposed to the insecticides ABATE®, fenthion, chlorpyrifos, methyl parathion, and malathion for 24 h at concentrations of 1, 5, and 10 ppb and for 48 h at 5 ppb. The thermal tolerance was lowered significantly for male and female G. affinis by the toxicants methyl parathion and chlorpyrifos at 5 and 10 ppb with 24 h exposure. Activity was restricted with fish exposed to methyl parathion and chlorpyrifos at concentrations of 10 ppb for 24 h and at 5 ppb for 48 h.     

慈竹构件和分株水平总黄酮含量的变化

黄酮类化合物是植物体内重要的次生代谢物质之一。本文采用AlCl3 比色法测定了慈竹构件和分株水平总黄酮含量的变化 ,以探讨其生理生态适应性。结果表明 ,在地上 3个构件中 ,叶的总黄酮含量显著大于枝和秆 ;1龄分株叶的总黄酮含量显著大于其它 4个龄级 ,而枝和秆的含量在 5个年龄间无显著差异 ;分株上层叶和枝条的总黄酮含量显著多于中下两层的相应构件。叶龄对慈竹叶总黄酮含量有显著的影响 ,1龄、 7龄和 9龄叶片的总黄酮含量明显高于其它 6个龄级 ,但是叶龄和总黄酮含量之间无显著线性相关。同时 ,叶总黄酮含量对季节的变化敏感 ,2、 4和 12月含量最高 ,5月和 8月含量最低。在分株水平 ,1龄分株的总黄酮含量显著大于其它 4个龄级。这些结果说明慈竹的总黄酮含量对环境变化具有可塑性 ,分株水平与叶构件水平总黄酮含量对分株年龄的反应格恐相同。     

慈竹构件和分株水平的可溶性糖含量研究

采用蒽酮比色法,测定了克隆植物慈竹构件和分株水平的可溶性糖含量．以探讨其对环境的生理适应性．结果表明,在构件水平,可溶性糖含量以慈竹叶最大,枝条次之,秆最小．不同构件的可溶性糖含量对分株年龄和分株部位的反应格局不同,1龄分株枝和秆的可溶性糖含量较高,而分株年龄对叶的可溶性糖含量影响不显著;分株下层叶和秆的可溶性糖含量大于上中层．高光条件下1龄分株叶的可溶性糖含量显著高于弱光条件下的1龄分株．叶可溶性糖含量受季节影响显著,1月最低,4月最高．但2龄和3龄分株间差异不显著．母分株和子分株上、中两层叶可溶性糖含量呈显著正相关,而下层相关性不显著．在分株水平,慈竹5个龄级间的可溶性糖含量无显著差异．总之,慈竹可溶性糖含量受生物和非生物因子的影响显著,且分株和构件层次存在差异．     

Spatial orientation in the bushcricket <Emphasis Type="Italic">Leptophyes punctatissima</Emphasis> (Phaneropterinae; Orthoptera): I. Phonotaxis to elevated and depressed sound sources

Many species of acoustically interacting insects live in a complex, arboreal or semi-arboreal habitat. Thus mate finding by phonotaxis requires sound localization in the horizontal and vertical plane. Here we investigated the ability of the duetting bushcricket Leptophyes punctatissima to orient to one of three speakers, positioned at different levels in an artificial grid system, where each point in space could be reached by the male with almost equal probability. The system was designed analogous to a spherical calotte model of bismuth, where, once the male arrived at any nodal point had to decide between only three directions: either up or down and/or left and right. This design does not favour any phonotactic path of the males. All 12 males tested reached the three speaker positions (one in the horzontal plane, one elevated by 45°, one depressed by 45° relative to the starting position) with only little deviation from the shortest possible path. There was no significant difference with respect to the whole phonotactic time needed, the number of segments passed, or the number of stimuli received for the different speaker positions. This remarkable spatial orientation is achieved although the insects have no specialized external ear structures such as mammals, or some owls.