风速和持续时间对树麻雀能量收支的影响

风是自然环境中常见的因子之一,会对动物的行为以及能量收支产生不同程度的影响。为探讨不同风速和持续时间对树麻雀能量收支的影响,以3种风速(0.2-0.4、1.2-1.4、3.2-3.6 m/s)和3种持续时间(1、2、4 h)的9组树麻雀进行为期1周的不同风环境驯化,测定其体重、体温和摄食量、摄水量、排泄粪量、排泄次数、摄入能、排泄粪能、排出水热能散失、消化能、同化能并计算消化率和同化率。去除初体重影响和双因素分析的结果发现,摄水量(排出水量)和排出水热能散失随着风速增大而显著减少(P < 0.001);持续时间与树麻雀的摄入能、粪能和散热调节的次数显著相关(P < 0.01),其能量收支最高和散热调节次数最多为2 h,最低(少)为4 h;双因素交互作用对树麻雀能量收支的影响不显著。3级风速(4 m/s)和持续时间4 h以内的风环境不会对树麻雀的能量收支产生显著影响。     

[树]麻雀羽再生的能量预算和水代谢散热调节

为探讨[树]麻雀的羽再生能力、能量预算对策和有效的散热调节方式,对3组(对照CF、去飞羽FF和去尾羽组TF)[树]麻雀(Passer montanus)进行4周驯养(Acclimation)。结果发现:[树]麻雀具有较强的羽再生能力和飞羽参与个体保温。羽再生[树]麻雀能量收支水平降低极显著(P﹤0.001),FF组和TF组比CF组减少依次为:摄入能19.77%和7.17%、消化能18.79%和6.47%、同化能18.73%和6.46%、粪能28.66%和13.35%、水代谢散热热能26.95%和7.43%、排泄次数33.71%和14.40%,增加依次为:消化率1.23%和0.78%、同化率1.35%和0.84%。个体能值水平,体重CF、TF和FF组(P﹤0.05)依次降低,体温组间变化不显著(P﹥0.05)。体内能量储备,血糖、肌糖原、体脂和水分含量组间差异不显著(P﹥0.05),肝糖原含量、体脂重组间差异显著(P﹤0.05)。器官水平包括心脏、肾脏、腺胃、小肠、盲肠和总消化道长度及质量出现积极的响应。日代谢水量组间差异极显著(P﹤0.001)。组间日排泄次数最少平均为56.11次和最多可达96.34次/只。结果表明:羽再生[树]麻雀分别选择了不同程度的降低能量收支水平,提高摄入食物的消化、吸收效率,动用体内能量储备来获取摄入能量不足部分,降低器官总能耗的能量预算对策和不同的新羽(再生羽枚数:飞羽部分和尾羽全部)再生的能量投资对策。泄殖腔排出(粪尿混合物)水是鸟类特有的、迅速的和有效的散热调节方式。     

树麻雀表型的环境适应进化

树麻雀(Passer montanus)分布范围广、海拔梯度大,也是人类活动的伴随物种。对中国837个样本的10个形态特征与温度、日照、海拔和风速等4个主要环境因子进行相关分析,结果显示:树麻雀的体重、嘴裂、翅长、尾长、跗跖长、脑骨宽、眼间距与日照因子显著相关(P0.05),体重、体长、翅长、尾长、跗跖长与海拔因子显著相关(P0.05),体重、嘴峰、翅长、脑骨长与温度因子显著相关(P0.05),表明树麻雀的形态指标易随环境因子的变化而变化。通过控制经度和海拔两个变量,对形态指标与纬度的偏相关分析表明,体重、翅长、脑骨长和脑骨宽与纬度呈显著正相关(P0.05),体表突出部分嘴峰、嘴裂与纬度呈显著负相关(P0.05),即随着纬度的升高,树麻雀身体逐渐变大,符合贝格曼规律;体表突出部分嘴峰和嘴裂随纬度升高变短,符合阿伦规律。飞行能力与海拔因子呈极显著正相关(n=92,r=0.217,P=0.038),表明树麻雀在高海拔地区具有更强的飞行能力,这也许是它成为广布种的重要原因。     

Habitat use of urban Tree Sparrows in the process of urbanization: Beijing as a case study

The Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus) is a dominant species in urban bird communities. With the development of urbanization, the habitats and sources of food for Tree Sparrows are decreasing. Can the urban Tree Sparrow adapt to changes in the urban environment? To answer this question, we studied the habitat use of Tree Sparrows in eight types of urban areas in Beijing. The results show that the number of both breeding and wintering Tree Sparrows decreased with increasing urbanization. The habitat use of Tree Sparrows, analyzed using stepwise discriminant analysis, was positively correlated with the number of brick bungalows, coniferous and broad-leaved trees and air conditioners. It was negatively correlated with the area of high buildings and hardened roads, pedestrian and automobile flux. This indicates that the Tree Sparrow had not adapted to rapid urbanization even though it is a generally adaptable species. Urban planning should take birds such as the Tree Sparrow into consideration. __________ Translated from Biodiversity Science, 2006, 14(5): 372–381 [译自:生物多样性]     

食物质量差异对树麻雀能量预算和消化道形态特征的影响

为比较小型鸟类对不同食物的能量预算策略,本文对3组树麻雀(Passer monanus)进行2周的食物质量差异性驯化(Acclimation)。结果表明,相同和较低的生存压力下,树麻雀体重、体温、体脂含量和水分含量表现出显著的组间差异。高能食物组摄入能和可消化能增加极显著,消化率和同化率增加不显著,体内能量储备增加;低能食物组摄入能、可消化能、消化率和同化率降低极显著,体内能量储备消耗极显著。小肠和总消化道长度以及肝脏重量出现极显著的表型可塑性响应。体内能量储备增减的预算,能量摄入和能量转化器官的功能能力与自身能耗之间的预算,以及摄食低能食物时的节能预算都是树麻雀能量预算策略的重要组成部分。总之,树麻雀对不同含能食物采用不同的能量预算策略,器官水平的表型可塑性(phenotypic plasticity)响应是个体能值出现显著变化的基础,也是个体能量预算策略成功的关键。对不同食物采用不同的能量预算策略是树麻雀重要的生存对策。     

Effects of partial dehydration of recalcitrant Haemanthus montanus zygotic embryos on vigour of recovered seedlings

Cryopreservation is the most promising route for the long-term conservation of recalcitrant seed germplasm. Partial dehydration is a standard pre-treatment for the cryopreservation of zygotic embryos or embryonic axes excised from recalcitrant seeds since it reduces the likelihood of lethal ice-crystal generation during cooling. However, there is presently little to no understanding of how pre-conditioning treatments such as partial dehydration imposed at the embryonic stage are translated or manifested during subsequent in and ex vitro seedling growth. The present study assessed the vigour of seedlings recovered from partially dried (D) zygotic embryos, excised from recalcitrant Haemanthus montanus (Baker) seeds. Seedlings recovered from fresh (F) and partially dried (D) embryos in vitro, were hardened-off ex vitro, and subsequently subjected to either 42 days of watering (W) or 42 days of water deficit (S). The adverse effects of partial dehydration on seedling dry mass accumulation observed after 60 days in vitro growth did not disappear with an extension of the in vitro growth period but did appear to be reversible during ex vitro growth. A water stress during ex vitro growth dominated over the effects of embryo pre-treatment with relative growth rates in FS-seedlings (recovered from fresh embryos and subsequently stressed) and DS-seedlings (recovered from dried embryos and subsequently stressed) being statistically comparable. D- and F-seedlings responded typically to the water stress but DS-, compared with FS-seedlings, appeared to have incurred permanent damage to their photosynthetic machinery, were exposed to lower predawn water potentials, were less efficient at adjusting leaf water potential to meet transpirational demands, did not exhibit signs of osmotic adjustment, failed to adopt growth patterns that reduce transpirational water loss, and were more susceptible to persistent turgor loss. It was therefore not surprising that ex vitro seedling mortality occurred in more DS- than FS-seedlings. These results suggest that partial dehydration of recalcitrant H. montanus zygotic embryos, even when not followed by cooling, can reduce the vigour and drought tolerance of recovered seedlings.     

Genetic variation and relationships in Laetiporus sulphureus s. lat., as determined by ITS rDNA sequences and in vitro growth rate

The aim of this study was to characterise the genetic variation and molecular relationships of the brown rot polypore, Laetiporus sulphureus s. lat., from Europe, South America, Africa, and Asia, using ITS sequences of the nu-rDNA and by comparing the growth rate in vitro. In a NJ analysis of the sequences of 130 individuals of L. sulphureus s. lat., eight distinct clusters emerged, supported by BS values of 70-100 %. Within each cluster, the ITS rDNA sequence variation was below 3 %. The sequences were also analysed together with Laetiporus sequences available from GenBank. Results demonstrated the possible presence of L. huroniensis in Europe (invalidly named L. montanus) and L. gilbertsonii in South America, and provided more information on the Pan-American and European distribution of one of the clades, currently known in North America as L. sulphureus. L. conifericola formed a separate distinct clade. Moreover, the analysis revealed two unknown Laetiporus taxa in Korea, one in South Africa, and one in Europe. As L. sulphureus is described from Europe (France), and we show that more than one taxon exist here, it is presently not possible to define L. sulphureus s. str. Certain biological differences between some of the clades (in vitro growth rates, chemical composition, and pigmentation) were demonstrated and discussed.     

Seasonal variation in the metabolism-temperature relation of House Sparrows (Passer domesticus) in KwaZulu-Natal,South Africa

Many birds exhibit considerable phenotypic flexibility in metabolism to maintain thermoregulation or to conserve energy. This flexibility usually includes seasonal variation in metabolic rate. Seasonal changes in physiology and behavior of birds are considered to be a part of their adaptive strategy for survival and reproductive success. House Sparrows (Passer domesticus) are small passerines from Europe that have been successfully introduced to many parts of the world, and thus may be expected to exhibit high phenotypic flexibility in metabolic rate. Mass specific Resting Metabolic Rate (RMR) and Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR) were significantly higher in winter compared with summer, although there was no significant difference between body mass in summer and winter. A similar, narrow thermal neutral zone (25–28 °C) was observed in both seasons. Winter elevation of metabolic rate in House Sparrows was presumably related to metabolic or morphological adjustments to meet the extra energy demands of cold winters. Overall, House Sparrows showed seasonal metabolic acclimatization similar to other temperate wintering passerines. The improved cold tolerance was associated with a significant increase in VO₂ in winter relative to summer. In addition, some summer birds died at 5 °C, whereas winter birds did not, further showing seasonal variation in cold tolerance. The increase in BMR of 120% in winter, compared to summer, is by far the highest recorded seasonal change so far in birds.     

Evolutionarily conserved thermal biology across continents: The North American lizard Plestiodon gilberti (Scincidae) compared to Asian Plestiodon

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The lizard genus Plestiodon (Scincidae; formerly Eumeces) is widespread in North America and Asia, but the thermal biology of only a few species has been studied.     

A molecular analysis of some Eastern Atlantic grouper from the Epinephelus and Mycteroperca genus

Mitochondrial cytochrome b (397 bp) and 16S rDNA (516 bp) sequences analysis was used to investigate the phylogenetic relationships among some Eastern Atlantic Epinephelinae species. Six species of Epinephelus (E. aeneus, E. caninus, E. costae, E. haifensis, E. marginatus and E. tauvina) and two species of Mycteroperca (M. rubra and M. fusca) were analysed. Neighbour-joining and maximum-parsimony analysis support the paraphyletic grouping of the Epinephelus and Mycteroperca analysed. The maximum pairwise nucleotide divergence value in cyt b among all taxa was 0.196 between E. aeneus and E. marginatus and the minimum value was 0.006 between E. costae and M. rubra. Meanwhile, in 16S sequence analysis, the maximum value is 0.093 between E. aeneus and E. tauvina and the minimum value is 0.011 between E. marginatus and M. rubra. Molecular clock estimates for the species suggest a divergence time of 20-24 mya, which coincides with the Miocene period. A molecular analysis was also conducted, using other Epinephelinae sequences from GenBank in order to improve our understanding of the phyletic status of the Epinephelus and Mycteroperca species analysed.     

The role of the pineal gland in the photoperiodic control of bird song frequency and repertoire in the house sparrow, Passer domesticus

Temperate zone birds are highly seasonal in many aspects of their physiology. In mammals, but not in birds, the pineal gland is an important component regulating seasonal patterns of primary gonadal functions. Pineal melatonin in birds instead affects seasonal changes in brain song control structures, suggesting the pineal gland regulates seasonal song behavior. The present study tests the hypothesis that the pineal gland transduces photoperiodic information to the control of seasonal song behavior to synchronize this important behavior to the appropriate phenology. House sparrows, Passer domesticus, expressed a rich array of vocalizations ranging from calls to multisyllabic songs and motifs of songs that varied under a regimen of different photoperiodic conditions that were simulated at different times of year. Control (SHAM) birds exhibited increases in song behavior when they were experimentally transferred from short days, simulating winter, to equinoctial and long days, simulating summer, and decreased vocalization when they were transferred back to short days. When maintained in long days for longer periods, the birds became reproductively photorefractory as measured by the yellowing of the birds' bills; however, song behavior persisted in the SHAM birds, suggesting a dissociation of reproduction from the song functions. Pinealectomized (PINX) birds expressed larger, more rapid increases in daily vocal rate and song repertoire size than did the SHAM birds during the long summer days. These increases gradually declined upon the extension of the long days and did not respond to the transfer to short days as was observed in the SHAM birds, suggesting that the pineal gland conveys photoperiodic information to the vocal control system, which in turn regulates song behavior.     

Response of two species of Indo-Pacific corals, Porites cylindrica and Stylophora pistillata, to short-term thermal stress: The host does matter in determining the tolerance of corals to bleaching

The role of both host and dinoflagellate symbionts was investigated in the response of reef-building corals to thermal stress in the light. Replicate coral nubbins of Stylophora pistillata and Porites cylindrica from the GBR were exposed to either 28 °C (control) or 32 °C for 5 days before being returned to an ambient reef temperature (28 °C). S. pistillata was found to contain either Symbiodinium genotype C1 or C8a, while P. cylindrica had type C15 based on ITS genotyping. Analysis of the quantum yield of photosystem (PS) II fluorescence of the symbionts in P. cylindrica showed that light-induced excitation pressure on the C15 Symbiodinium was significantly less, and the steady state quantum yield of PSII fluorescence at noon (ΔF/Fm′) greater, than that measured in C1/C8a Symbiodinium sp. from S. pistillata. Immunoblots of the PS II D1 protein were significantly lower in Symbiodinium from S. pistillata compared to those in P. cylindrica after exposure to thermal stress. The biochemical markers, heat-stress protein (HSP) 70 and superoxide dismutase (SOD), were significantly greater in P. cylindrica before the experiment, and both species of coral increased their biosynthesis of HSP 70 and SOD when exposed to thermal stress. Concentrations of MAAs, glycerol, and lipids were not significantly affected by thermal stress in these experiments, but DNA damage was greater in heat-stressed S. pistillata compared to P. cylindrica. There was minimal coral mucus, which accounts for up to half of the total energy budget of a coral and provides the first layer of defense for invading microbes, produced by S. pistillata after heat stress compared to P. cylindrica. It is concluded that P. cylindrica contains a heat resistant C15 Symbiodinium and critical host proteins are present at higher concentrations than observed for S. pistillata, the combination of which provides greater protection from bleaching conditions of high temperature in the light.     

Diversimorbus metrosiderotis gen. et sp. nov. and three new species of Holocryphia (Cryphonectriaceae) associated with cankers on native Metrosideros angustifolia trees in South Africa

The Cryphonectriaceae includes important tree pathogens, especially on the Myrtales. During a routine disease survey in the Western Cape Province of South Africa, a fungus resembling the Eucalyptus pathogen Holocryphia eucalypti was observed on native Metrosideros angustifolia (Myrtales). The aims of this study were to identify the fungus and to expand surveys for fungi in the Cryphonectriaceae on M. angustifolia. Fungi were identified based on DNA sequence comparisons and morphological features, and their pathogenicity was tested on M. angustifolia under field conditions. Based on morphology and multigene phylogenetic analyses of DNA sequence data from six gene regions, we describe a new genus including a single species and three new species of Holocryphia (Cryphonectriaceae) from M. angustifolia. These fungi are provided with the names Diversimorbus metrosiderotis gen. et sp. nov., Holocryphia capensis sp. nov., Holocryphia gleniana sp. nov., and Holocryphia mzansi sp. nov. We also revise H. eucalypti, the type of the genus, to include only isolates from Eucalyptus in South Africa. Research results indicated that H. mzansi may undergo host shifts between different tree genera in the Myrtaceae. Inoculation tests showed that isolates of all the newly described species can cause lesions on the branches of M. angustifolia, indicating that they are all pathogens of this tree.     

Sexual dimorphism of craniological characters in Eurasian badgers, Meles spp. (Carnivora, Mustelidae)

An analysis of 30 craniological characters of Eurasian badgers (Meles spp.) revealed different levels of sexual size dimorphism (SSD) and geographic variation in the three different species. SSD is displayed mostly in the general size of the skull (condylobasal length, zygomatic width, width of rostrum, and cranial height) and mandible (height of the vertical mandibular ramus, total length of the mandible, and length between the angular process and infradentale), and in some dental characters (length of the upper molar M¹). The most stable size dimorphism is manifested in the size of the canines, which is pronounced in all studied samples. SSD is not apparent in the length of the auditory bulla, the postorbital width, the minimum palatal width, the length of the lower molar M₂, and the talonid length of the lower carnassial tooth M₁.In both the European badgers, Meles meles, and the Asian badgers, Meles leucurus, two geographic forms that differ in the degree of SSD have been found. The most pronounced SSD of cranial characters is found in the Transcaucasian form of Meles meles and the Far-Eastern form of Meles leucurus. In the large European form of Meles meles, SSD is less pronounced in both absolute and relative criteria than in the smaller Transcaucasian form. An analogous situation is observed in the larger Siberian and smaller Far-Eastern forms of Meles leucurus. In the Japanese badgers, Meles anakuma, a downsizing of the skull is accompanied by a decrease in SSD (except in canine size) in comparison to the continental species. The significant differences in the manifestation of SSD in the Eurasian badgers support an earlier hypothesis (Abramov, 2001. Proc. Zool. Inst. Russ. Acad. Sci. 288, 221-233; Abramov, 2002. Russ. J. Theriol. 1 (1), 57-60; Abramov, 2003. Small Carnivore Conserv. 29, 5-7) that Meles meles, Meles leucurus, and Meles anakuma are separate species. The differences in the level of SSD among and within these three species of badgers may be attributed not to differences in the diet or social structure, but to the history of speciation events and formation of intraspecific distribution ranges.     

The influence of bioturbation by the sandprawn Callianassa kraussi on feeding and survival of the bivalve Eumarcia paupercula and the gastropod Nassarius kraussianus

Field observations and experimental evidence have shown that bioturbation by the southern African sandprawn Callianassa kraussi may significantly influence the abundance and distribution of the filter-feeding bivalve Eumarcia paupercula and the grazing gastropod Nassarius kraussianus. It was hypothesized that (1) sediment reworking by C. kraussi negatively affects microalgal growth on the sediment surface, leading to a reduction in food intake by N. kraussianus, (2) sediment deposited by C. kraussi will also diminish the food uptake of E. paupercula by interfering with its filtration mechanism. To test these hypotheses, manipulative field and laboratory experiments were undertaken in which N. kraussianus and E. paupercula were added to treatments with and without C. kraussi, and their survival and gut chlorophyll-a content measured. The effects of C. kraussi on sediment erodability and on condition of E. paupercula (tissue mass/shell length) were determined in a second experiment. In the presence of C. kraussi, (1) microalgal consumption by both N. kraussianus and E. paupercula was halved; (2) condition and survival of E. paupercula were significantly reduced but survival of N. kraussianus was unaffected; and (3) sediment erodability was increased. A significant negative relationship was established between sediment erodability and condition of E. paupercula. Evidently C. kraussi exerts a strongly negative influence on the feeding of E. paupercula and N. kraussianus, and this may explain the scarcity of these organisms in areas containing high densities of C. kraussi.     

The phenetic affinities of Rungwecebus kipunji

The kipunji, a recently discovered primate endemic to Tanzania's Southern Highlands and Udzungwa Mountains, was initially referred to the mangabey genus Lophocebus (Cercopithecinae: Papionini), but subsequent molecular analyses showed it to be more closely related to Papio. Its consequent referral to a new genus, Rungwecebus, has met with skepticism among papionin researchers, who have questioned both the robustness of the phylogenetic results and the kipunji's morphological distinctiveness. This circumstance has been exacerbated by the immaturity of the single available specimen (FMNH 187122), an M1-stage juvenile. Therefore, a geometric morphometric analysis of juvenile papionin cranial shape was used to explore the kipunji's phenetic affinities and evaluate morphological support for its separation from Lophocebus. Three-dimensional craniometric landmarks and semi-landmarks were collected on a sample of 124 subadult (dp4-M2 stage) cercopithecid crania. Traditional interlandmark distances were compared and a variety of multivariate statistical shape analyses were performed for the zygomaxillary region (diagnostic in mangabeys) and the cranium as a whole. Raw and size-adjusted interlandmark distances show the kipunji to have a relatively taller, shorter neurocranium and broader face and cranial base than is seen in M1-stage Lophocebus. Principal components and cluster analyses consistently unite the two Lophocebus species but group the kipunji with Cercocebus and/or Macaca. Morphological distances (Mahalanobis D²) between the kipunji and Lophocebus species are comparable to distances between recognized papionin genera. Discriminant function analyses suggest phenetic affinities between the kipunji and Cercocebus/Macaca and do not support the kipunji's classification to Lophocebus or to any other papionin taxon. In canonical plots, the kipunji occupies a region intermediate between macaques and African papionins or groups with Cercocebus, suggesting that it retains basal papionin shape characteristics. In shape comparisons among M1-stage papionins, the kipunji cranium is distinguished from Lophocebus by its relatively unrestricted suborbital fossa, more parasagittally oriented zygomatic arches, and longer auditory tube and from all papionins by its relatively tall, short neurocranium, broad face and cranial base, short nasals, dished nasal profile, and dorsally oriented rostrum. The kipunji is thus a cranially diagnosable phenon with a unique combination of cranial traits that cannot be accommodated within Lophocebus as currently defined. Based upon these results, Rungwecebus appears to be a valid and useful nomen that accurately reflects the morphological diversity of African papionins.