海拔对青藏高原东部毛茛科植物繁殖特征和资源分配的影响

通过野外采样对青藏高原东部高寒草甸上两个海拔间3种常见毛茛科植物条裂银莲花(Anemone trullifo-liavar.linearis)、粗距翠雀花(Delphinium pachycentrumHemsl.)和钝裂银莲花(Anemone obtusiloba)的繁殖性状和资源分配进行了研究,并对植物在极端环境下采取的繁殖策略及繁殖模式进行了探讨.结果显示:(1)3个物种的株高都随着海拔的升高而降低;同一物种的花大小在不同海拔间均无显著差异;条裂银莲花单个种子重随海拔的升高而增加,但虫食数/株、结籽率和种子数/株均随着海拔的升高而减少;钝裂银莲花的繁殖分配、虫食数/株、种子数/株和单个种子重均随着海拔的升高而减小.(2)不同海拔条裂银莲花的个体大小与单花重、雄蕊重、虫食数/株均呈显著正相关,且回归斜率在海拔间有显著差异.粗距翠雀花花期的雄蕊重与个体大小呈显著正相关,但这种异速关系不受海拔和个体大小的影响;钝裂银莲花的个体大小与花期的所有繁殖特征以及果期的种子重/果实均呈显著正相关,不同海拔间个体大小与种子重/果实的斜率差异显著,且与花期各繁殖性状异速关系的截距差异显著.研究表明海拔对植物的个体大小以及种群间的繁殖对策和繁殖成功率有着重要的影响.     

川西风毛菊花期资源分配随海拔的变化

以分布于青藏高原东缘的川西风毛菊(Saussurea dzeure)为试验材料, 研究了其位于不同海拔高度的16个种群的花期资源分配。结果显示: 1)花期植物个体大小、头状花序数量、繁殖器官及营养器官生物量、花瓣质量、雌蕊及雄蕊群质量均与海拔呈负相关关系, 每个头状花序质量与海拔呈正相关关系; 2)繁殖分配和雄性分配与海拔呈正相关关系, 营养分配和雌性分配与海拔呈负相关关系; 3)花期头状花序的数量和大小、繁殖分配和营养分配以及雄性分配和雌性分配之间均存在资源分配上的权衡。由此推论: 1)海拔作为外界因子对川西风毛菊花期各生物量及资源分配有显著的影响; 2)在资源有限的情况下, 川西风毛菊权衡对各结构的资源投入, 通过增加繁殖分配和雄性分配来适应胁迫环境, 提高繁殖的成功率。     

青藏高原3种风毛菊属植物的繁殖分配与海拔高度的相关性

对产于青藏高原东缘的风毛菊属植物柳叶菜风毛菊(Saussurea epilobioides)、尖苞风毛菊(S. subulisquama)和钝苞雪莲(S. nigrescens)的30个居群的繁殖分配及其与海拔间的相关性进行了初步研究。通过采样调查法和烘干重量法, 检测了不同海拔3种风毛菊属植物的繁殖分配。结果显示: 1)海拔与植株个体大小呈负相关关系; 2)海拔与繁殖分配呈正相关关系, 将个体大小作为协变量, 去除其影响, 海拔与繁殖分配仍呈正相关关系; 3)个体大小与繁殖分配呈负相关关系, 将海拔作为协变量, 去除其影响, 个体大小和繁殖分配的相关性消失。研究表明, 海拔作为外界因子对繁殖分配有显著的影响, 这种影响不依赖于植物的内部因素(如个体大小的差异)。     

利用腊叶标本初探豹子花属植物的性表达及其与个体大小的关系

植物性系统进化过程中很少有植物通过雌性败育的方式实现性系统由联合走向分离,然而雄花在百合科植物中大量存在,引起了研究者的关注。本研究利用百合科豹子花属植物的腊叶标本,获取它们的花性别表型、花大小、株高以及分布海拔等信息探讨豹子花属植物的性表达样式,并对样本量较多的开瓣豹子花、云南豹子花、多斑豹子花和豹子花四个种的性表达及其与个体大小的关系进行分析。研究结果表明:1)六种豹子花属植物标本中都有雄花存在;根据雄性花和两性花的不同组合,形成雄性个体、两性花个体,和雄花两性花同株个体三种植株类型;2)个体大小(株高)和分布海拔之间不存在相关关系,和植株性别类型相关,即雄性个体一般显著小于具有雌性功能的两性花个体和雄花两性花同株个体;3)个体大小与花大小、每个个体开花总数和雌花数量成显著的正相关关系,而与每个个体的雄花数量无显著的相关关系。本研究更正了一直以来对豹子花属植物性系统的错误认识,首次报道雄花在豹子花属植物中普遍存在,并指出雄花和雄性个体的出现是大小依赖性分配的结果。同时,以研究实例证明了利用腊叶标本开展植物性系统多样性的可行性。     

利用腊叶标本初探豹子花属植物的性表达及其与个体大小的关系?

植物性系统进化过程中很少有植物通过雌性败育的方式实现性系统由联合走向分离,然而雄花在百合科植物中大量存在,引起了研究者的关注。本研究利用百合科豹子花属植物的腊叶标本,获取它们的花性别表型、花大小、株高以及分布海拔等信息探讨豹子花属植物的性表达样式,并对样本量较多的开瓣豹子花、云南豹子花、多斑豹子花和豹子花四个种的性表达及其与个体大小的关系进行分析。研究结果表明：1)六种豹子花属植物标本中都有雄花存在;根据雄性花和两性花的不同组合,形成雄性个体、两性花个体,和雄花两性花同株个体三种植株类型;2)个体大小(株高)和分布海拔之间不存在相关关系,和植株性别类型相关,即雄性个体一般显著小于具有雌性功能的两性花个体和雄花两性花同株个体;3)个体大小与花大小、每个个体开花总数和雌花数量成显著的正相关关系,而与每个个体的雄花数量无显著的相关关系。本研究更正了一直以来对豹子花属植物性系统的错误认识,首次报道雄花在豹子花属植物中普遍存在,并指出雄花和雄性个体的出现是大小依赖性分配的结果。同时,以研究实例证明了利用腊叶标本开展植物性系统多样性的可行性。     

胡卢巴属4种短命植物个体大小依赖的繁殖输出与生活史对策

 对准噶尔荒漠中胡卢巴属(Trigonella)4种短命植物网脉胡卢巴（T． cancellata ）、单花胡卢巴（T. monantha）、直果胡卢巴（T. orthoceras）和弯果胡卢巴（T. arc uata）的物候特征及生物量分配进行了比较研究,结果表明：1）这4种植物的萌发对策多样,具有春 、夏、秋萌现象,但以春、秋季萌发为主。其萌发时间在种间差异不明显,而与温度、降水等环境因子密切相关;2）生长发育快,生活周期短,一次结实,在干热夏季来临前完成生活周期,因此属于典型的避旱型植物;3) 秋、春萌株在早春返青或种子萌发后,经过短暂的营养生长后很快进入生殖生长,通过物候期（尤其是营养生长与生殖生长阶段）的迅速转换来获得高的繁殖力,最后达到较高的繁殖产量;4）繁殖分配比率均较高,分别达62.3%、51.9 %、54.3%和58.3%,且其繁殖输出与植株大小呈正相关;5）萌发时间不同的植株（春、秋萌 株）在大小及繁殖输出上差异显著,但繁殖分配比率差异不显著,说明由萌发时间差异引起的繁殖输出差异归根结底是由植株大小差异引起的。最后探讨了胡卢巴属这4种短命植物的生活史对策以及因萌发时间不同产生的植株在个体大小、生存力和繁殖输出等方面的差异对准噶尔荒漠干旱环境的适应意义。     

展毛翠雀花期繁殖特征和生物量分配对放牧的响应

生物量分配影响植物生长和繁殖,是植物生活史研究的重要内容。为了了解植物生活史性状对放牧的响应,该研究以青藏高原高寒草甸毒杂草展毛翠雀为对象,分析了放牧干扰对展毛翠雀的花期繁殖分配和性分配的影响。结果表明:放牧显著降低了展毛翠雀的总生物量、个体大小和繁殖投入; 放牧未改变展毛翠雀的营养部分与繁殖部分的等速生长关系,但显著增加了繁殖部分的生物量分配和总花数; 展毛翠雀的个体大小与总花数呈显著的正相关关系,但与性分配呈显著的负相关关系; 展毛翠雀的总花数与单花大小、单花的花瓣比例均表现出负相关关系,表明总花数与单花大小之间、总花数与单花的花瓣比例之间均存在权衡。因此,在放牧条件下,展毛翠雀的繁殖分配和性分配均表现出显著的可塑性。     

花楸属3种植物的基因组大小与叶气孔特征分析

以糍粑沟花楸(Sorbus cibagouensis H.Peng&Z.J.Yin)、大理花楸(S.hypoglauca(Cardot)Hand.-Mazz.)和川滇花楸(S.vilmorinii C.K.Schneid.)为材料,采用流式细胞术对其基因组大小及倍性进行检测分析,同时应用光学显微镜和扫描电子显微镜对其气孔特征进行观察。结果显示,3种花楸属植物的基因组大小和倍性、气孔特征均存在一定差异。糍粑沟花楸、大理花楸和川滇花楸的基因组大小分别为:(1.480±0.039)pg、(1.513±0.041)pg、(2.675±0.065)pg,在此基础上推断糍粑沟花楸和大理花楸为二倍体、川滇花楸为四倍体植物。显微镜观测发现:3种花楸属植物的气孔器均分布于叶的下表皮,气孔不下陷,保卫细胞无“T”型加厚结构,气孔类型为无规则形;糍粑沟花楸和川滇花楸的气孔器外拱盖光滑,而大理花楸气孔器外拱盖具有短棒状蜡质纹饰;3种植物的气孔器大小存在极显著差异。研究结果表明花楸属植物的基因组大小与倍性呈显著正相关,可用于推断植物的倍性;而气孔器大小和密度与倍性的相关性不大,但气孔特性在种间变化显著,可为种的鉴定提供科学的理论依据。     

青藏高原东缘禾叶风毛菊的繁殖分配与海拔的相关性

通过采样调查法和烘干称重法,对分布在青藏高原东缘不同海拔高度的禾叶风毛菊的繁殖分配的特征进行研究。结果表明：（1）随着海拔的升高,禾叶风毛菊的个体大小、营养器官生物量、繁殖器官生物量、个体管状小花数目、雄蕊质量均与海拔呈负相关关系（P<0.01）;繁殖分配、管状小花生物量、雌蕊质量均与海拔呈正相关关系（P<0.01）;（2）繁殖分配是依赖个体大小的,个体越大,繁殖分配越小（P<0.01）;（3）禾叶风毛菊个体管状小花的数目及重量（P<0.05）、雌雄蕊重量（P<0.05）之间存在权衡关系。由此推论：（1）海拔作为外界因子对禾叶风毛菊花期各生物量及繁殖分配有显著的影响,但海拔并不是影响禾叶风毛菊繁殖分配唯一生态因子,植株个体大小也与其繁殖分配策略密切相关;（2）禾叶风毛菊的垂直分布的特征很有可能就是海拔通过影响植株个体大小变化来完成的。     

高山植物圆穗蓼的繁殖资源分配

于海北高寒草甸生态系统定位站附近的一个西向山坡上,以高寒灌丛草甸中海拔不同的4个地点的圆穗蓼为研究对象,分析圆穗蓼的繁殖特征在海拔梯度上的变化规律,以探讨高山植物在极端环境下的资源分配策略。结果发现:(1)随海拔升高,圆穗蓼的植株高度先增大后变小,营养器官生物量和繁殖器官生物量均呈现增加的趋势,但三者与海拔梯度的相关性不显著,而且繁殖分配在4个不同海拔取样地点间差异不显著;(2)个体越大,圆穗蓼分配到繁殖器官的绝对资源比例也显著增加,但在海拔较低的3个取样地点内,繁殖分配随海拔升高呈增加的趋势,这可能与高寒灌丛草甸土壤的潜在肥力较高而导致圆穗蓼不存在资源限制有关;(3)圆穗蓼在4个取样地点均存在繁殖阈值,繁殖阈值与海拔的相关性不显著,但仍然表现出随海拔升高而略有降低的趋势,表明海拔较高居群的植株达到开花繁殖需要的营养积累较小。研究表明,由于海北站的土壤肥力较高,4个取样地点的圆穗蓼不存在个体大小依赖性的繁殖分配和随海拔升高而增加的繁殖分配;而高海拔取样地点较低的繁殖阈值表明高山植物的有性繁殖比营养生长具有更为重要的意义,强调了有性繁殖对高山植物的重要性。     

Evidence for Strategic Sex Allocation in the Guppy (Poecilia reticulata): Brood Sex Ratio and Size Predict Subsequent Adult Male Mating Success

Sex allocation theory predicts that females should produce more sons when the reproductive success of sons is expected to be high, whereas they should produce more daughters, not daughters when the reproductive success of sons is expected to be low. The guppy (Poecilia reticulata) is a live‐bearing fish, and female guppies are known to produce broods with biased sex ratios. In this study, we examined the relationship between brood sex ratio and reproductive success of sons and daughters, to determine whether female guppies benefit from producing broods with biased sex ratios. We found that sons in male‐biased broods had greater mating success at maturity than sons in female‐biased broods when brood sizes were larger. On the other hand, the reproductive output of daughters was not significantly affected by brood sizes and sex ratios. Our results suggest that female guppies benefit from producing large, male‐biased brood when the reproductive success of sons is expected to be high.     

Geographic variation in reproductive traits and trade-offs between size and number of eggs of the Chinese cobra (Naja atra)

We collected gravid Chinese cobras (Naja atra) from one island (Dinghai) and three mainland (Yiwu, Lishui and Quanzhou) populations in south‐eastern China to study geographical variation in female reproductive traits and the trade‐off between the size and number of eggs. We then conducted an common experiment on cobras from two of the four populations to further identify factors contributing to the observed trade‐offs. The mean size (snout–vent length) of the smallest five reproductive females increased with increasing latitude. Oviposition occurred between late June and early August, with females from the warmer localities laying eggs earlier than those from the colder localities. Maternal size was a major determinant of the reproductive investment in all populations, with larger females producing not only more but also larger eggs. Clutch size was more variable than egg size within and among populations. The observed geographical variation in clutch size, egg size, clutch mass and post‐oviposition body condition was not a simple consequence of variation in maternal size among populations, because interpopulation differences in these traits were still evident when the influence of maternal size was removed. The upper limit to reproductive investment was more likely to be set by the space availability in the island population, but by the resource availability in the three mainland populations. Trade‐offs between size and number of eggs were detected in all populations, with females that had larger clutches for their size having smaller eggs. Egg size at any given level of relative fecundity differed among populations, primarily because of interpopulation differences in the resource availability rather than the space availability. Except for the timing date of oviposition and the mean size of the smallest five reproductive females, all other examined traits did not vary in a geographically continuous trend. The common garden experiment, which standardized environmental factors, synchronized the timing date of oviposition, but it did not modify the conclusion drawn from the gravid females collected from the field. The observed geographical variation in the female reproductive traits could be attributed to the consequence of the effects of either proximate or ultimate factors. © 2005 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2005, 85 , 27–40.     

Regulatory Mechanisms of Reproductive Effort in Plants II. Plasticity in Reproductive Energy Allocation and Propagule Output of Glycine max Merr. (Leguminosae) Cultivated at Varying Densities and Nitrogen Levels

Abstract Plasticity in growth, reproductive energy allocation (RA), and reproductive output were studied in Glycine max Merr. Cv. Enrei (Leguminosae) grown under varying densities and soil nitrogen levels.
Marked plastic responses were detected in individual biomass, the patterns of resource allocation to total reproductive structures (RA) and also to propagules, reproductive outputs, and propagule weight under changing densities and soil nitrogen levels. Plants cultivated at higher densities exhibited proportionately lower individual biomass, lower RA, lower seed output, and smaller seed size in response to increasing density and decreasing soil nitrogen levels, although some deviations were observed, especially in the highest density plot with no fertilization. Differences due to different N-levels were not as great as those to changing density, which may in part be due to the fact that soybean has nitrogen-fixing bacteria in root tubercles, just as in any other Leguminosae. Fecundity was also maintained at the similar high rates of 80–97% in all plots examined, although slight but steady decreases were noted with increasing density. This resemblance in fecundity may be due to its strong inbreeding system.
Another important finding was that seed production under limited resource availability, notably lack of ample solar radiation due to strong interference at higher density plots, is exceedingly costly. This was most clearly exhibited by a sharp increase in relative energy partitioning to a single propagule in response to the increased density, the relative energy cost to a single propagule (RA) increasing from one to seven-fold. The results obtained in this study coincide well with the findings made in other plants, e.g., Helianthus annuus, Oryza sativa , and Coix ma-yuen , with the same experimental designs.     

云南道地药材滇龙胆资源调查与评价

滇龙胆为云南重要道地药材,通过走访和实地调查对云南省38个县市龙胆资源分布范围及资源现状进行调查。结果表明,滇龙胆在云南省除昭通、德钦和西双版纳外,均有分布,适宜生境为海拔1350～2500m的荒坡或林下。所测种群滇龙胆根粗为0.33～0.44cm,根长7.03～19.79cm,根数为6.34～19.40,根生物量为0.27～1.40g,根中龙胆苦含量为3.56%～5.99%。聚类分析结果显示,除玉溪、昆明、楚雄等产区外,文山、怒江种群滇龙胆质量也较好,具较高开发、利用价值。目前野生滇龙胆生境遭到破坏,资源量锐减,亟待保护,本研究调查为云南滇龙胆资源的保护与利用提供建议和基础数据。     

Intraspecific variation in testis asymmetry in birds: evidence for naturally occurring compensation

In many taxa, the left and right testes often differ in size. The compensation hypothesis states that one testis of the pair serves as a ‘back-up’ for any reduced function in the other and provides a mechanism to explain intraspecific variation in degree and direction of gonad asymmetry. Although testis asymmetry is common in birds, evidence for natural testis compensation is unknown. Using a novel quantitative approach that can be applied to any bilateral organ or structure, we show that testis compensation occurs naturally in birds and can be complete when one testis fails to develop. Owing to a recurrent risk of testis impairment and an evolutionary trade-off between natural and sexual selections acting on the arrangement of internal organs in species with abdominal and/or seasonal testes, compensation adds an important, but neglected, dimension to measures of male reproductive investment.     

Reproductive allocation and reproductive ecology of seven species of Diptera

1. Variation in resource allocation to egg size and number was investigated in seven sympatric species of Piophilidae that oviposit on carcasses or discarded cervid antlers: Liopiophila varipes (Meigen), Prochyliza xanthostoma Walker, Protopiophila latipes (Meigen), Protopiophila litigata Bonduriansky, Stearibia nigriceps (Meigen), and two unidentified species of Parapiophila McAlpine. 2. Following optimal reproductive allocation theory, relatively larger, fewer eggs were expected in (1) species that oviposit on antlers, where larvae probably experience lower risk of predation and greater competition than larvae in carcasses, and (2) species with aggressive males and male-biased sex ratios on the oviposition substrate, where risk of injury during oviposition may have favoured females laying fewer eggs. 3. Variation in reproductive allocation strategies could not be explained by known differences in larval or adult environment, but congeneric species clustered by reproductive allocation patterns. The Parapiophila species produced larger, fewer eggs than the other species, and egg number increased slowly with body size. The Protopiophila species did not deviate from expected egg sizes and numbers, and egg number increased steeply with body size. 4. An interspecific egg size–egg number trade-off resulted in a tight linear scaling of ovary volume to body size, suggesting common physiological constraints on relative ovary mass. 5. Within each species, egg size was nearly constant whereas egg number increased with female body size, suggesting species-specific stabilising selection on egg size.     

Variable host quality, life-history invariants, and the reproductive strategy of a parasitoid wasp that produces single sex clutches

The parasitic wasp Achrysocharoides zwoelferi (Hymenoptera, Eulophidae) produces clutches consisting of only one sex. Moreover,male clutch size is invariably one while female clutches arein the range one to four. We designed field experiments todetermine the effect of host quality on clutch composition.We found that solitary male and solitary female clutches werereared from the same size mines, and that larger mines tendedto produce gregarious female clutches. A higher proportionof male clutches were placed in older hosts, despite theirlarge size. Variation in body size, both between and withinclutches, was measured in order to test the predictions of models that take into account the constraint that clutch size is aninteger trait, something of potential importance when absoluteclutch size is low. Our data supported several predictionsof these models, including the trade-off-invariant rule foroptimal offspring size developed by Charnov and Downhower.However, while most invertebrate clutch size models assume equal resource share among members of the same clutch, we found anincrease in inequality in larger clutches.