昆虫“绝顶聪明”：微小大脑能完成复杂行为

人们普遍认为昆虫是没有思维活动的低等动物。然而,别看昆虫的大脑小如针尖,它们的智力却一点不逊于体形庞大的高等动物。英国科学家最新研究发现,昆虫不仅有思维活动、会数数、懂得分门别类,甚至可以识别人脸。“消除偏见”来自英国玛丽女王学院、伦敦大学和剑桥大学的科学家用计算机模拟昆虫大脑开展实验。实验结果显示,昆虫的大脑容量足以使它们拥有思维活动。     

水域生态系统中的水生昆虫

<正> 在“陆地昆虫生态系统初探”一文中[见《昆虫知识》1982年20(6)],对昆虫在陆地生态系统中所占有的地位,它们通过食物链活动所造成的危害,或者是通过它们的生产活动,对人类的贡献及其经济意义,作了初步探讨。现就水域生态系统中水生和半水生昆虫(Aquaric andsemiaquatic insects)作一概述,作为前文的姐妹篇。     

怎样饲养昆虫

一、饲养昆虫的目的饲养昆虫主要是为了观察昆虫的生活史及其习性。在防治害虫时需要彻底了解昆虫一生的发育变化,掌握它们的生活规律,寻找其中弱点,使在防治上可加以利用。饲养昆虫也可使人能明了它们的发生季节,根据观察材料,预测害虫发生的时期,有时又因要进行各种试验研究,必须饲养大批昆虫,作为试验材料。此外在饲育过程中保留昆虫一生中各发育阶段的完整标本,作为进一步研究的材料。这种经过饲养而得到的标本,在平常采集时是不易得到的。     

昆虫水通道蛋白的研究进展

昆虫水通道蛋白(Aquaporins,AQPs)是一种膜蛋白,它们是昆虫维持体内水分平衡的必要蛋白,有关它们的研究不断深入。因此,本文对昆虫水通道蛋白的最新研究成果进行了概述,旨在引起人们对该类蛋白的兴趣,以便系统了解和研究该类蛋白。目前研究表明:昆虫典型的AQPs是由250-300个氨基酸残基组成,其分子量在23-35 k Da,包含6个疏水性横跨膜区域、两个NPA结构单元(asparagine-proline-alanine)等。系统发育分析发现:已知昆虫AQPs可分为5大类,分别为DRIP、BIB、PRIP、RPIPs和LHIPs。昆虫AQPs除了运送水分子外,还可以运输其他的一些小分子溶质,如尿素、甘油、海藻糖等。它们还具有组织特异性表达特性,可能在昆虫的多个生理活动中起到重要的作用,因此它们的功能仍需进一步研究证实。此外,昆虫AQPs的深入研究还将会给害虫综合治理提供新的思路。     

漫谈昆虫的体壁

我们如果解剖一种高等动物的身体,便可看到内部的各种器官和器官系统,它们在正常情况下总是互相配合来进行各种生命活动。如果要问哪些器官系统最重要,也许人们会马上想到控制机体活动的神经系统,或和新陈代谢关系最密切的呼吸系统、循环系统和消化系统等。但在昆虫中有一个器官系统非常特殊,在多方面影响着昆虫的生活,长期以来受到人们的重视;那就是昆虫的体壁。     

干热河谷麻疯树访花昆虫及主要传粉昆虫

膏桐为一种重要的油料作物,其种子可以提炼生物柴油,生物柴油在我国将成长为有一定规模的产业。为了增加膏桐结籽率,提高其产量,给膏桐规模化栽培方面提供传粉生物学的科学依据,于2006年对云南元江坝区半栽培膏桐(Jatropha curcas L.)居群的访花昆虫及主要传粉昆虫种类进行调查。膏桐开花示样醒目,具花香与蜜腺,花形态没有特化,这些特征使得它提供的酬物适合于不同的昆虫采食,其访花昆虫种类较丰富,共有35种访花昆虫,分属5目20科。综合访花昆虫的传粉数量,及传粉质量包括访花行为、访花频率与日活动规律等确定主要传粉昆虫,确定大头金蝇Chrysomya(Compsomyia)megacephala Fabricius、中华蜜蜂Apiscerana Fabricius、迁粉蝶(淡色型)Catopsilia pomona f.Crocale为该居群的主要传粉昆虫。3种传粉昆虫具有不同的访花习性和日活动规律。雌雄迁粉蝶日活动规律相似。访花者的组成受气象因素、开花示样及生境条件的影响。最后,探讨膏桐与访花昆虫的关系,以及主要传粉者的组成随时空变异而改变的规律。     

濒危植物柄扁桃的传粉者及其访花行为

对濒危植物柄扁桃(Amygdalus pedunculata)访花昆虫的种类、访花行为、访花频率和日活动规律进行了研究.结果表明:柄扁桃的访花昆虫有5目17科19属21种,其中传粉昆虫为3目11科13属15种,主要的传粉昆虫为黑颚条蜂(Anthophora melanognatha)、密林熊蜂(Bombus patagiatus)、大蜂虻(Bombylius major)、黄腿食蚜蝇(Syrphus ribesii)及红足隧蜂(Halictus rubicundus);主要传粉昆虫的日活动规律差异较大,活动高峰期彼此交错;黑颚条蜂具有体积大、携粉量大、小花停留时间短等特点,为柄扁桃传粉的效率最高,今后应加强其生物学、传粉生态学方面的研究.     

昆虫活动自动记录装置

昆虫活动的规律是比较难观察的,用肉眼观察时往往费时、费力,而且不易精确。 我们根据目前条件,参考Cloudsley-Thompson的昆虫活动记录器,经过边试验,边改进,设计出一种记录粘虫昼夜活动的自动装置。现在简单介绍于下。     

昆虫小分子量热激蛋白的研究进展

昆虫小分子量热激蛋白(Small heat shock proteins,s HSPs)是最早被发现的热激蛋白,但是有关它们的研究相对较少。本文对昆虫小分子量热激蛋白的最新研究成果进行了总结,旨在引起人们对该类蛋白的关注,以便进一步研究其功能,探讨其可能的应用前景。目前研究表明:昆虫小分子量热激蛋白是其所有热激蛋白中最不保守的家族。同时,它们通常拥有一个α-晶状体结构域;分子量范围一般在12~43 ku;具有分子伴侣的活性。每种昆虫体内拥有多种s HSPs,而且其功能也各不相同。这些热激蛋白在昆虫的生长发育、生殖以及滞育等重要生命活动中起着重要的作用;同时在抵御不良环境以及适应性进化中也具有重要意义。随着研究的深入,还将会有更多的昆虫s HSPs被鉴定,它们更多的功能也将被逐渐发掘。     

新疆维吾尔自治区的蝗虫研究:蝗虫的分布

解放以来,中国科学院昆虫研究所(1955)、中国科学院新疆综合考察队昆虫组(1956—1960)以及动物研究所(1967—1969、1974—1979)曾在新疆地区进行了多年的昆虫考察和蝗虫生态地理学的研究。 本篇报告系根据多年所获得的蝗虫材料,对新疆的蝗虫分布规律作出分析。 新疆的蝗虫分布规律与特点,可从三方面来分析,即区系分布、区域分布和生态地理分布。这三方面的相互联系,既有其普遍性,又有其特殊性。它们综合地反映着蝗虫种群和群落的结构在时间、数量、空间上的差异性和规律性。本文着重讨论新疆的蝗虫区系分布与区域分布。下篇讨论生态地理分布规律。     

Evolution of chain migration in an aerial insectivorous bird,the common swift Apus apus

Spectacular long-distance migration has evolved repeatedly in animals enabling exploration of resources separated in time and space. In birds, these patterns are largely driven by seasonality, cost of migration, and asymmetries in competition leading most often to leapfrog migration, where northern breeding populations winter furthest to the south. Here, we show that the highly aerial common swift Apus apus, spending the nonbreeding period on the wing, instead exhibits a rarely found chain migration pattern, where the most southern breeding populations in Europe migrate to wintering areas furthest to the south in Africa, whereas the northern populations winter to the north. The swifts concentrated in three major areas in sub-Saharan Africa during the nonbreeding period, with substantial overlap of nearby breeding populations. We found that the southern breeding swifts were larger, raised more young, and arrived to the wintering areas with higher seasonal variation in greenness (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index) earlier than the northern breeding swifts. This unusual chain migration pattern in common swifts is largely driven by differential annual timing and we suggest it evolves by prior occupancy and dominance by size in the breeding quarters and by prior occupancy combined with diffuse competition in the winter.     

Flight activity in pallid swifts Apus pallidus during the non‐breeding period

Flight activity recorders have recently confirmed that alpine and common swifts spend the majority of their non‐breeding period on the wing, which may last 6–10 months. Here we test the hypothesis that the closely related pallid swift, a species with a breeding distribution around the Mediterranean, lead a similar aerial life‐style during its migration and wintering periods. The pallid swift usually lays two clutches in one season and therefore spends more time in the breeding area than the common swift. We successfully tracked four pallid swifts with data loggers that record light for geolocation and acceleration every 5 min to monitor flight activity. The birds wintered south of the Sahel in west Africa from the Ivory Coast to Cameroon. The pallid swifts spent the majority of their non‐breeding time in flight, especially the first two months after leaving the breeding area in autumn, while a few landing events occurred during the winter. The total time grounded was < 1%, similar to that of the common and alpine swifts. The mass specific flight metabolic rate of swifts is similar to the average non‐breeding metabolic rate of a long distance terrestrial migrant, suggesting swifts are not more likely to procure oxidative damage as a consequence of continuous flight than other migrants. The open airspace used by swifts may provide a relatively safe habitat that explain the high survival rate found in swifts.     

Experimental Study of Nest-site Selection in the Biscutate Swift (Streptoprocne biscutata, Aves: Apodidae) in Southern Brazil

Biscutate swift Streptoprocne biscutata nests are usually built on protected rocky cliff walls. Birds often renest at the same location. Remains of previous nests may offer information about potential nests and quality of nest-sites. Here, we experimentally study nest-site selection to test the hypothesis that information from previous nests is used in current nest-site selection. We placed old nest material at artificial nest-sites to test whether new nest-sites are chosen based on the presence of nesting material. We also tested whether the use of natural nest-sites is influenced by nesting material by creating two types of natural sites: previously used natural nest-sites with vestiges of old nests removed and never used natural nest-sites to which vestiges of old nests were added. In the first experiment, in 139 nest-use opportunities, 16 artificial nest-sites were used, all of which included vestiges. In the second experiment, in 91 nest-use opportunities, four nests were in previously unused but natural locations to which vestiges had been added, 22 nests were in previously used sites without vestiges, and the remaining 65 nests remained unused. Two processes are apparently in action: first, prior experience and memory; second, vestiges indicate where nesting has occurred, possibly useful for first breeding, or for imperfect memory. Previous nesting information may explain why swifts use nesting locations for many years and why new nesting colonies seldom form. This transmission of information suggests that swifts tend to be conservative and nest where previous nesting has occurred.     

High ambient temperatures induce aggregations of chimney swifts Chaetura pelagica inside a roost

One proposed advantage of communal roosting in birds is a reduction in the costs of thermoregulation. As thermoregulatory benefits are directly linked to the distance between roosting birds, we examined whether temperature is related to inter‐bird spacing in roosting chimney swifts Chaetura pelagica. To test the hypothesis that huddling is used to reduce the costs of thermoregulation, we predicted that swifts would cluster more at colder temperatures. We mounted an all‐weather camera atop a 61 m tall industrial masonry chimney, one of the largest swift roosts in the study region. We deployed temperature loggers inside the chimney and obtained ambient air temperature from a nearby weather station. From 16 May–24 July 2013, we captured hourly images of the positions of roosting swifts at night. We used image analysis software to mark the angular positions of all roosting swifts, and calculated mean angles of orientation (preferred direction) inside the roost and the circular variance (i.e. the concentration of swifts around the mean angle). We used a Gamma regression to relate temperature inside and outside the roost to the clustering of swifts around the mean angle for 3 time periods (pre‐nesting, nesting, and post‐nesting). Converse to our prediction, swifts were closer together when ambient air temperatures were warmer in all periods (pre‐nesting (p < 0.001, n = 168), nesting (p < 0.001, n = 224), and post‐nesting (p < 0.001, n = 135)). Our findings suggest that swifts do not increase clustering intensity in response to colder temperatures, but instead they increase clustering intensity in response to the warmest ambient temperatures. This likely a metabolic response to reduced prey availability at higher temperatures and/or an attempt to reduce evaporative water loss. We suggest clustering may be used by chimney swifts as an energy saving mechanism during periods of lowered food availability.     

ASPECTS OF THE BREEDING BIOLOGY OF HERRING GULLS LARUS ARGENTATUS IN URBAN COLONIES

Herring Gulls nesting on rooftops in South Shields and Sunderland were observed during 1974–76. These colonies, then around 200 pairs in each town, have expanded rapidly despite culls. Ringing results identified the Forth area as an important source of recruits, and also suggested that females are more likely to breed away from their natal area than males. It is clear from the high breeding success that these towns provide favourable alternatives to more typical breeding sites. The gulls in the towns nest at low densities, other than on flat roofs. Their breeding success, averaging 1.2–1.6 chicks per pair, was higher than that recorded at more typical colonies, and on structurally isolated rooftop sites was almost double that on flat roofs. This high success is attributed to the absence of cannibalism in these small colonies and the lack of territorial aggression at the structurally isolated sites.     

BREEDING PERFORMANCE OF PUFFINS FRATERCULA ARCTICA IN RELATION TO NEST DENSITY, LAYING DATE AND YEAR

The paper presents data on the breeding and predation of Puffins in two areas of different nest density within a single colony on Dun, St Kilda group, Outer Hebrides in 1973-78.
Within a season birds laying early had a slightly higher nesting success than birds laying late, but laying date had little influence on the peak and fledging weights of young. The main disadvantage in late laying was a reduced chance of relaying if the first egg was lost.
Breeding success and chick weights varied from year to year. The 1974 season was the least successful with the lowest nesting success, lowest frequency of feeds, lowest calorific value of feeds, lightest chicks and slowest growth. Overall breeding performance was not related to the annual mean laying dates.
In all years pairs nesting in the area of high nest density did better than pairs nesting at low density. The effect is attributed to differential predation and disturbance by predatory gulls. At least 4.2% of adult Puffins breeding in the area of low burrow density were killed by gulls each breeding season; this is higher than the total annual mortality found in three other studies. Only 0.9% of adults from the high density area were found killed. The subpopulation in the low density area cannot survive without much immigration, yet there is no evidence that this happens.     

TIMING AND SPACING OF BROODS IN THE BLACK-HEADED GULL LARUS RIDIBUNDUS

The nests of the Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundus are closely aggregated into dense colonies and their use synchronized, these two phenomena together tending to produce a maximal clumping effect. Within such a colony however, nests were found to be spaced out to produce a non-random uniform distribution. The commonest distance between neighbouring nests was found to be about one metre, in contrast to related species. This study was concerned with two aspects of this distribution pattern; its survival value and its behavioural causation.
It was found that pairs nesting just outside the colony had a much lower breeding success than those nesting in the colony and that nests on the colony fringe had a slightly lower success than those in the centre. Pairs laying during the peak laying period had a higher breeding success than pairs laying either earlier or later in the season. Since by far the most important mortality agent was predation, it seems likely that both clustering and synchronization of nesting function as antipredator systems and arguments in favour of this are discussed.
Variations in nest-spacing within the colony were not correlated with variations in breeding success.
In the causation of the spacing between nests, territorial aggression was demonstrated to be an effective dispersion mechanism and the way in which this mechanism works was investigated in detail.
This spacing mechanism was not sufficient by itself to explain the observed densities, which were higher than one would expect from the aggression alone; there was also some tendency for birds establishing a new nest-site to cluster close to others. The interaction between this, the territorial aggression of the residents and the subsequent avoidance responses of the settling birds, can explain the nest spacing pattern and probably also the observed densities.     

OBSERVATIONS ON THE BREEDING OF THE PALILA PSITT1ROSTRA BA1LLEUI OF HAWAII

The behavioural ecology and breeding biology of the endangered Palila Psittirostra bailleui was studied from 1971 to 1975. The most intensive breeding occurred from June to August, and coincided with peak production of mamane Sophora chrysophylla seeds, the bir?s major food source. The Palila was able to make adjustments in its breeding to compensate for yearly differentiation in the timing and abundance of this food supply. Sexual chasing and courtship feeding were the most frequently encountered pre-nesting behaviours. Territory was a mate-defended area, which later in the nesting sequence was confined to the nest site. A total of 26 nests was found; most were placed on larger branches of mamane trees. Nest construction occurred primarily in the morning hours and lasted up to 20 days. Both sexes took part in nest construction, albeit the male role was minimal. Unless the nest was placed in the terminal fork of a tree, it usually contained a large stick base. The modal clutch size was two; eggs were laid early in the morning and in all cases one per day. Incubation sometimes began with the first egg and lasted 15–16 days. Only the female incubated, and she covered the eggs for about 75% of the daylight hours and throughout the night. Egg hatching was asynchronous, with the first young emerging early in the morning and the second not until later that same day. Only the female brooded, and the rate declined until day 15 when essentially it stopped. Both parents fed the young by regurgitation, and the number of feedings per hour decreased slightly over the nestling period. It is thought that insects and finely masticated plant material formed the bulk of the nestling diet until about day 5 when mamane seeds became important. Helpers were found at one nest. Young developed slowly and did not leave the nest until 21–27 days old. It is believed that these prolonged nestling periods were able to evolve because of the (former) absence of ground predators. After fledging, young remained with their parents for at least 30 days. Productivity was regulated by small clutch size, low population numbers and by the length of an individual nesting sequence (in that a pair could potentially raise only one brood each year). The primary reason for the endangered status of this bird appears to be the effect of habitat alteration upon a specialist, coupled with the fact that the small effective breeding population and low dis-persability of the species may have resulted in decreased genetic fitness.     

ASPECTS OF THE BREEDING STATUS AND ECOLOGY OF THE BATELEUR AND TAWNY EAGLE IN THE KALAHARI GEMSBOK NATIONAL PARK,SOUTH AFRICA

Herholdt, J.J., Kemp, A.C. & Du Plessis, D. 1996. Aspects of the breeding status and ecology of the Bateleur and Tawny Eagle in the Kalahari Gemsbok National Park. Ostrich 67:126-137.

The nesting success at 13 nesting territories of Bateleur Terathopius ecaudatus and 19 nesting territorites of Tawny Eagle Aquila rapax was monitored for seven successive years (1988–1994) in a protected area in the Kalahari desert of South Africa. On average Bateleurs laid one year in two (51/95 pair-years) and fledged 0.33 young/pair/year (31/95). Tawny Eagles laid, on average, in two out of three years (66/105), and fledged 0.4 young/pair/year (42/105). Most Bateleurs laid eggs in January and February, while Tawny Eagles mostly laid from May to June. Almost all Bateleur and Tawny Eagle nesting territories located were in the Acacia erioloba savanna in the dry Auob and Nossob riverbeds. Bateleur nesting territories were spaced at intervals of 7.2 km (2.5–14.6 km; n = 9) along the Nossob River. Tawny Eagle nesting territories were spaced at intervals of 17.6 km (6.1–32.7 km) in the Nossob River and 11.3 km (8–14 km) in the Auob River respectively. A total of 13 Bateleur and 30–40 Tawny Eagle nesting territories (27 known active nesting territories) respectively occurred in the Kalahari Gemsbok National Park during the study period. There was evidence of a 13% decline in active nesting territories of Bateleur during the seven year study, and at least a 40% decline over the previous 10 years. Vacated nesting territories were not reoccupied. There was no safe buffer zone around the Kalahari Gemsbok National Park and persecution in the adjacent farmlands, when foraging Bateleur from the protected Park enter these areas, as well as nesting site disturbance, could have been part of the reason for this decline. Poisoned and suspected poisoned Bateleurs have been found in the Park during the study period. There was no obvious decline in active Tawny Eagle nesting territories.     

Measuring disturbance at swift breeding colonies due to the visual aspects of a drone: a quasi-experiment study

There is a growing body of research indicating that drones can disturb animals. However, it is usually unclear whether the disturbance is due to visual or auditory cues. Here, we examined the effect of drone flights on the behavior of great dusky swifts Cypseloides senex and white-collared swifts Streptoprocne zonaris in 2 breeding sites where drone noise was obscured by environmental noise from waterfalls and any disturbance must be largely visual. We performed 12 experimental flights with a multirotor drone at different vertical, horizontal, and diagonal distances from the colonies. From all flights, 17% caused <1% of birds to temporarily abandon the breeding site, 50% caused half to abandon, and 33% caused more than half to abandon. We found that the diagonal distance explained 98.9% of the variability of the disturbance percentage and while at distances >50 m the disturbance percentage does not exceed 20%, at <40 m the disturbance percentage increase to > 60%. We recommend that flights with a multirotor drone during the breeding period should be conducted at a distance of >50 m and that recreational flights should be discouraged or conducted at larger distances (e.g. 100 m) in nesting birds areas such as waterfalls, canyons, and caves.