Seasonal and ontogenetic dynamics in trophic transmission of parasites

Transmission rates from the intermediate (amphipods) to the definitive hosts (fish) were quantified for two helminth species ( Cyathocephalus truncatus , Cestoda, and Cystidicola farionis , Nematoda) both seasonally and through the ontogeny of the final hosts (arctic charr, Salvelinus alpinus , and brown trout, Salmo trutta ). Amphipods ( Gammarus lacustris ) were important prey for both fish species, especially in the autumn. Both parasite species had low infection levels in amphipods compared to high abundance in fish. The seasonal variations in transmission rate of C. truncatus procercoids from amphipods to fish were in accordance with the observed abundance in fish hosts, being highest in the autumn and lowest during late winter and early summer. During summer, however, the estimated monthly transmission rates of C. truncatus were higher than the observed infection levels in the fish, suggesting restricted establishment success and shorter development time and longevity of the cestode in fish at higher temperatures. The accumulated transmission of C. farionis over the ontogeny of arctic charr was similar to the observed age-specific infection levels, reflecting a high establishment success and longevity of this parasite in charr. In contrast, brown trout exhibited an infection level that was much lower than the estimated transmission rates, suggesting a high resistance against C. farionis in these fish. The magnitudes of the estimated transmission rates were sufficient to explain the paradoxical contrast between low infection levels in the intermediate and high in the final hosts.     

Analysis of rabies in China: transmission dynamics and control

Human rabies is one of the major public-health problems in China. The number of human rabies cases has increased dramatically in the last 15 years, partially due to the poor understanding of the transmission dynamics of rabies and the lack of effective control measures of the disease. In this article, in order to explore effective control and prevention measures we propose a deterministic model to study the transmission dynamics of rabies in China. The model consists of susceptible, exposed, infectious, and recovered subpopulations of both dogs and humans and describes the spread of rabies among dogs and from infectious dogs to humans. The model simulations agree with the human rabies data reported by the Chinese Ministry of Health. We estimate that the basic reproduction number for the rabies transmission in China and predict that the number of the human rabies is decreasing but may reach another peak around 2030. We also perform some sensitivity analysis of in terms of the model parameters and compare the effects of culling and immunization of dogs. Our study demonstrates that (i) reducing dog birth rate and increasing dog immunization coverage rate are the most effective methods for controlling rabies in China; and (ii) large scale culling of susceptible dogs can be replaced by immunization of them.     

Seasonal dynamics and grazing rate of zooplankton in Yueqing Bay,China

The species composition,biomass,abundance,and species diversity of zooplankton were determined for samples collected from August 2002 to May 2003 from 14 stations in Yueqing Bay,China.Phytoplankton growth rate and microzooplankton grazing rate were obtained by using the dilution method developed by Landry and Hassett.The spatial and temporal variations of zooplankton and its relationship with environmental factors were also analyzed.The results showed that the zooplankton in the Yueqing Bay could be divided into four ecotypes,namely coastal low saline species,estuary brackish water species,offshore warm water species,and eurytopic species.A total of 75 species of zooplankton belonging to 56 genera and 17 groups of pelagic larva were identified in the Yueqing Bay.The coastal low saline species was the dominant ecotype in the study area,and the dominant species were Labidocera euchaeta,Acartia pacifica,Acrocalanus gibber,Pseudeuphausia sinica,and Sagitta bedoti among others.There was considerable seasonal variation in zooplankton biomass and abundance in the surveyed areas.The peak biomass appeared in August,descending in November and in May,and the lowest biomass appeared in February.Similarly,the highest abundance of zooplankton was observed in August,with the abundance descending in the following months:May,November,and February.There were similar horizontal distribution patterns for the biomass and the abundance of zooplankton.They both increased from the upper to the lower bay in February and May,but decreased from the upper to the lower bay in August.Biomass and abundance were evenly distributed in the Yueqing Bay in November.Moreover,there was marked seasonal variation in the species diversity of zooplankton,which conformed to the abundance of zooplankton.Results of the dilution experiments indicated that there was grazing pressure of microzooplankton on phytoplankton in the Yueqing Bay throughout the year though the rate of microzooplankton grazing on phytoplankton varied seasonally.Phytoplanktons were growing at 0.26-2.07/d and grazed by microzooplankton at a rate of 0.15--0.48/d in different seasons.     

Seasonal dynamics and grazing rate of zooplankton in Yueqing Bay, China

The species composition, biomass, abundance, and species diversity of zooplankton were determined for samples collected from August 2002 to May 2003 from 14 stations in Yueqing Bay, China. Phytoplankton growth rate and microzooplankton grazing rate were obtained by using the dilution method developed by Landry and Hassett. The spatial and temporal variations of zooplankton and its relationship with environmental factors were also analyzed. The results showed that the zooplankton in the Yueqing Bay could be divided into four ecotypes, namely coastal low saline species, estuary brackish water species, offshore warm water species, and eurytopic species. A total of 75 species of zooplankton belonging to 56 genera and 17 groups of pelagic larva were identified in the Yueqing Bay. The coastal low saline species was the dominant ecotype in the study area, and the dominant species were Labidocera euchaeta, Acartia pacifica, Acrocalanus gibber, Pseudeuphausia sinica, and Sagitta bedoti among others. There was considerable seasonal variation in zooplankton biomass and abundance in the surveyed areas. The peak biomass appeared in August, descending in November and in May, and the lowest biomass appeared in February. Similarly, the highest abundance of zooplankton was observed in August, with the abundance descending in the following months: May, November, and February. There were similar horizontal distribution patterns for the biomass and the abundance of zooplankton. They both increased from the upper to the lower bay in February and May, but decreased from the upper to the lower bay in August. Biomass and abundance were evenly distributed in the Yueqing Bay in November. Moreover, there was marked seasonal variation in the species diversity of zooplankton, which conformed to the abundance of zooplankton. Results of the dilution experiments indicated that there was grazing pressure of microzooplankton on phytoplankton in the Yueqing Bay throughout the year though the rate of microzooplankton grazing on phytoplankton varied seasonally. Phytoplanktons were growing at 0.26–2.07/d and grazed by microzooplankton at a rate of 0.15–0.48/d in different seasons. __________ Translated from Acta Ecologica Sinica, 2005, 25(8): 1853–1862 [译自: 生态学报, 2005, 25(8): 1853–1862]     

Patterns of density dependence in measles dynamics.

An important question in metapopulation dynamics is the influence of external perturbations on the population''s long-term dynamic behaviour. In this paper we address the question of how spatiotemporal variations in demographic parameters affect the dynamics of measles populations in England and Wales. Specifically, we use nonparametric statistical methods to analyse how birth rate and population size modulate the negative density dependence between successive epidemics as well as their periodicity. For the observed spatiotemporal data from 60 cities, and for simulated model data, the demographic variables act as bifurcation parameters on the joint density of the trade-off between successive epidemics. For increasing population size, a transition occurs from an irregular unpredictable pattern in small communities towards a regular, predictable endemic pattern in large places. Variations in the birth rate parameter lead to a bifurcation from annual towards biennial cyclicity in both observed data and model data.     

娘子关泉胶串珠藻生长和分布的季节动态

1992年9月至1994年6月间,对分布于山西娘子关泉的胶串珠藻(Batrachospermum gelatinosum)生长和分布的季节动态进行了研究．定期测定水温、pH值、流速、藻体出现频度、平均盖度和藻体的一些形态特征．结果表明,娘子关泉域水体温度、水体的pH值和流速季节变化幅度都不大;藻体出现频度和盖度有明显的季节性变化,从秋季到次年的春季逐渐增加,生长最旺盛的时期在5月;藻体生长发育有明显的季节性变化规律,在晚秋到早夏生长良好,在春末夏初生长达到高峰,而且藻体各部分的生长和发育基本上同步．     

Seasonal dynamics of the tick Haemaphysalis tibetensis in the Tibetan Plateau,China

The tick Haemaphysalis tibetensis (Acari: Ixodidae) Hoogstraal is an important arthropod vector widespread in the Qinghai‐Tibet Plateau, and knowledge of its seasonal dynamics is still poor. The current study investigated the seasonal dynamics of the parasitic and non‐parasitic H. tibetensis over a 2‐year period from March 2014 to February 2016 in the Tibetan Plateau, China. During this timeframe, non‐parasitic ticks were collected weekly by flag‐dragging in grassland and shrubland areas, and parasitic ticks were removed weekly from selected sheep. Plateau pikas were captured using traps and examined for immature ticks between May to September 2014. Results suggest that non‐parasitic H. tibetensis were mainly distributed in the grassland, and the parasitic adults and nymphs were found mostly on sheep. Larvae were usually found on Plateau pikas and the prevalence of infestation and mean parasitic intensity were 72.1 and 1.81%, respectively. Adults were observed from March to July with the major peak occurring in mid‐April. Nymphs were found from March to August and reached a peak in late June. Larvae were collected from April to September, and their numbers peaked in late May. In the parasitic and non‐parasitic period, the overall sex ratio of males to females was 1.62 and 1.30, respectively. Results show that H. tibetensis can complete one generation per year, with a population overlap between stages over the spring‐summer months. These findings provide additional information on the biology and ecology of H. tibetensis as well as insights on its control in the environment and on sheep.     

三门湾浮游动物的季节变动及微型浮游动物摄食影响

2002年8月、11月、2003年2月和5月,在三门湾进行了4个航次生物、化学和水文等专业综合调查。根据采集的浮游动物样品的分析鉴定及海上现场实验结果,对浮游动物的群落组成、生物量、丰度、多样性指数的分布和季节变动及其浮游动物对浮游植物的摄食影响进行研究。结果表明,三门湾浮游动物有67属,89种,16类浮游幼体,主要可划分为4个生态类群：以近岸低盐类群为主,其优势种为中华哲水蚤Calanus sinicus、真刺唇角水蚤Labidocera etwhaeta、捷氏歪水蚤Tortanus derjugini、太平洋纺锤水蚤Acartiapacifica、中华假磷虾Pseudeuphausia sinica和百陶箭虫Sagitta bedoti等。半咸水河口类群、暖水性外海类群和广布种相对较少。浮游动物生物量和丰度的平面分布趋势除了夏季有所差异外,其它季节基本一致。2月份和5月份,浮游动物生物量和丰度,从湾顶向湾口呈逐渐增加趋势;8月份,湾口区生物量最高,而丰度高值区出现在湾顶部;11月份,生物量和丰度的平面分布相对均匀。浮游动物种类多样性指数有明显的季节变化,其动态变化与浮游动物种数和丰度的变化一致。微型浮游动物对浮游植物存在摄食压力,且有季节变化,摄食率的变化在0．18．0．68d^-1,微型浮游动物的摄食率低于相同季节的浮游植物生长率。微型浮游动物对浮游植物摄食压力的变化范围为16．1％-49．1％d^-1,对初级生产力摄食压力的变化在58．3％-83．6％d^-1。11月份,微型浮游动物对浮游植物和初级生产力的摄食压力均出现最高值。     

Seasonal dynamics of active soil organic carbon in four subtropical forests in Southern China

Aims The objective of this paper was to quantify the seasonal variation of active soil organic carbon in the subtropical forests for better understanding of the underline mechanisms in controlling soil organic carbon storage and dynamics in natural and restored forests in the region. Methods The study was conducted in a one-hectare permanent plot at Dashanchong Forest Park in Changsha County, Hunan Province, China. Four types of subtropical forests were selected as our study sites: (1) Cunninghamia lanceolata plantation, (2) Pinus massoniana-Lithocarpus glaber mixed forest, (3) Choerospondias axillaries deciduous broad-leaved forest, and (4) L. glaber-Cyclobalanopsis glauca evergreen broad-leaved forest. The soil samples were taken from 0-15 cm and 15-30 cm depths within each of the forests from December 2011 to September 2012. Soil microbial biomass carbon (MBC), mineralized organic carbon (MOC), readily oxidized carbon (ROC), and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) were analyzed for their seasonal changes. Important findings There existed a considerable seasonal variations of soil MBC, MOC, ROC, DOC among the forests, with a similar patterns of active organic carbon fraction. Soil MBC, MOC and ROC were significantly higher in the summer and the autumn than those in the spring and winter, while soil DOC was higher in the spring, summer and winter than that in the autumn. The seasonal variations of different active organic carbon fractions appeared different within the same forest type. Significantly-positive correlations were found between soil MBC, MOC, ROC, DOC and soil moisture content, soil organic carbon (SOC), total N, hydrolysis N, total P (except for MBC, MOC and ROC in Cunninghamia lanceolata plantation), available P, but not between soil MBC, MOC, ROC, DOC concentrations and soil pH, total K and available K. The results indicated that the differences of exogenous carbon devotion, physicochemical properties were responsible for the significant differences of soil active organic carbon, and the growth rhythm of tree species, soil moisture content, the availability of nutrient (SOC, N and P), and the sources of soil active organic carbon fractions made a major contribution to seasonal variations of soil active organic carbon. Soil MBC, MOC, ROC, and DOC could be used as sensitivity indexes to assess the dynamics of soil C, N and P.     

Modeling the transmission dynamics and control of hepatitis B virus in China

Hepatitis B is a potentially life-threatening liver infection caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV) and is a major global health problem. HBV is the most common serious viral infection and a leading cause of death in mainland China. Around 130 million people in China are carriers of HBV, almost a third of the people infected with HBV worldwide and about 10% of the general population in the country; among them 30 million are chronically infected. Every year, 300,000 people die from HBV-related diseases in China, accounting for 40-50% of HBV-related deaths worldwide. Despite an effective vaccination program for newborn babies since the 1990s, which has reduced chronic HBV infection in children, the incidence of hepatitis B is still increasing in China. We propose a mathematical model to understand the transmission dynamics and prevalence of HBV infection in China. Based on the data reported by the Ministry of Health of China, the model provides an approximate estimate of the basic reproduction number R₀=2.406. This indicates that hepatitis B is endemic in China and is approaching its equilibrium with the current immunization program and control measures. Although China made a great progress in increasing coverage among infants with hepatitis B vaccine, it has a long and hard battle to fight in order to significantly reduce the incidence and eventually eradicate the virus.     

中亚热带4种森林类型土壤活性有机碳的季节动态特征

2011年12月至2012年9月, 在湘中丘陵区杉木(Cunninghamia lanceolata)人工林、马尾松(Pinus massoniana)-石栎(Lithocarpus glaber)针阔混交林、南酸枣(Choerospondias axillaries)落叶阔叶林、石栎(Lithocarpus glaber)-青冈(Cyclobalanopsis glauca)常绿阔叶林1 hm²的长期定位观测样地, 采集0-15 cm、15-30 cm土层土壤样品, 测定土壤微生物生物量碳(MBC)、可矿化有机碳(MOC)、易氧化有机碳(ROC)、水溶性有机碳(DOC)含量, 分析4种森林土壤MBC、MOC、ROC、DOC含量的季节变化特征, 为揭示天然林保护与恢复对土壤有机碳(SOC)库的影响机理过程提供基础数据。结果表明: 森林土壤MBC、MOC、ROC、DOC含量具有明显的季节动态, 且不同森林同一土壤活性有机碳组分的季节变化节律基本一致, MBC、MOC、ROC含量表现为夏、秋季较高, 春、冬季较低; DOC含量表现为春、夏、冬季较高, 秋季最低; 同一森林不同土壤活性有机碳组分含量的季节变化节律不同; 土壤MBC、MOC、ROC、DOC含量与土壤自然含水率、SOC、全N、水解N、全P (除杉木人工林土壤MBC、MOC、ROC外)、速效P含量显著或极显著正相关, 与土壤pH值、全K、速效K含量相关性不显著, 表明不同森林类型外源碳库投入和土壤理化性质的差异是导致不同森林类型土壤活性有机碳含量差异显著的主要原因, 该区域森林土壤活性有机碳各组分含量的季节变化与各森林类型组成树种生长节律及其土壤水分含量和SOC、N、P的可利用性, 以及土壤活性有机碳各组分的来源有关, 森林土壤MBC、MOC、ROC、DOC含量可作为衡量森林土壤C、N、P动态变化的敏感性指标。     

Seasonal population dynamics of Draeculacephala minerva (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) and transmission of Xylella fastidiosa

The grass sharpshooter, Draeculacephala minerva Ball (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae), is a very common and often abundant grass-feeding leafhopper in California. Its population dynamics and ability to transmit Xylella fastidiosa were monitored over a 2-yr period in California's San Joaquin Valley. Collections of individuals from natural populations in irrigated pastures and alfalfa, Medicago savita L. fields adjacent to X. fastidiosa-infected almond (Prunus spp.) orchards indicated the occurrence of three discrete generations per year that peaked during the summer. Population densities varied significantly among experimental field survey sites. Insects captured on intercepting mesh traps, yellow sticky cards, and UV-light traps indicated local movement of these insects into and surrounding X. fastidiosa-infected, almond orchards. Local movement and seasonal transmission of X. fastidiosa from infected almonds to Catharanthus roseus (L.) G. Don indicated that this insect may be partly responsible for the slow spread of almond leaf scorch now recently observed in California's San Joaquin Valley.     

Seasonal population dynamics of ticks,and its influence on infection transmission: A semi-discrete approach

In this paper, a simple semi-discrete (ticks’ feeding is assumed to occur only during the summers of each year) model for tick population dynamics is presented. Conditions for existence, uniqueness, and stability of a positive equilibrium are found; the system is then studied numerically using parameter estimates calibrated for the tick Ixodes ricinus in Trentino, Italy, and the sensitivity to parameters is examined. Then, this model is extended to consider a tick-transmitted infection of one species of hosts, while other hosts are incompetent to the infection. Assuming, for simplicity, that the infection is not affecting the total number either of hosts or ticks, a threshold condition for infection persistence is obtained. The dependence of the equilibrium infection prevalence on parameters is studied numerically; in particular, we considered how infection prevalence depends on host densities. This analysis reveals that a ‘dilution effect’ occurs both for competent and for incompetent hosts; this means that, besides a lower threshold for host densities for infection to persist, there exists also an upper threshold: if host densities were higher than the upper threshold, the infection would go to extinction. Numerically, it is found that, for realistic parameter values, the upper threshold is not much higher than observed densities.     

Seasonal population dynamics of ticks, and their influence on infection transmission: a semi-discrete approach

A semi-discrete model for tick population dynamics is presented, whereby tick feeding is assumed to occur only during summers of each year. Conditions for existence, uniqueness, and stability of a positive equilibrium were found; the system was then studied numerically using parameter estimates calibrated for the tick Ixodes ricinus in Trentino, Italy, and the sensitivity to parameters was examined. This model was then extended to consider tick-transmitted infection of one species of hosts, while other hosts are incompetent to the infection. Assuming, for simplicity, that the infection is not affecting the total number of either hosts or ticks, a threshold condition for infection persistence was obtained. The dependence of the equilibrium infection prevalence on parameters was studied numerically; in particular, we considered how infection prevalence depends on host densities. This analysis reveals that a dilution effect occurs both for competent and for incompetent hosts. This means that, besides a lower threshold for host densities for infection to persists, there also exists an upper threshold: if host densities were higher than the upper threshold, the infection would go to extinction. Numerically, it was found that the upper threshold was not much higher than observed densities for realistic parameter values.     

山合欢树干液流的季节变化

于2011-2012年干湿季典型月份,应用热扩散式探针法(TDP)对元谋干热河谷乡土树种山合欢进行了树干液流连续监测,并对周围气象要素、土壤水分等进行同步测定,结果表明:(1)山合欢树干液流存在明显“昼高夜低”的变化规律;(2)在湿季不同天气条件下,山合欢树干液流速率存在明显差异,晴天液流均值、峰值约为阴天2.8和2.4倍,雨天的7.5和7.8倍,3种天气中液流启动时间晴天比阴天早约3h,比雨天早约4h;(3)在晴天,山合欢南边液流速率均明显高于北边;而雨天或者无阳光时,南北方位液流速率基本相同;(4)比较山合欢干、湿季典型晴天树干液流峰值、均值、启动时间以及液流通量可知,湿季液流启动时间均早于干季1.5h左右,液流高峰时间段长于干季,峰值和均值约为干季的1.9和2.3倍;湿季液流通量明显高于干季,约为干季的2.3倍.(5)山合欢液流速率与光合辐射强度、大气温度、水汽压亏缺和风速呈极显著正相关,与相对湿度则呈极显著负相关(P＜0.001),气象因子与山合欢树干液流流速的相关性大小依次为:光合有效辐射＞水汽压亏缺＞大气温度＞相对湿度＞风速.     

Density-dependence in parasite transmission dynamics

The transmission of vector-borne parasites is complex, yet to a large extent this complexity can be unravelled through the insights gained from simple mathematical models of the transmission system. The principle is simple because the key question is merely "what is the rate of increase in numbers of hosts affected?" Clearly, if this rate of increase is greater than unity then the infection can spread, while if it is less than unity it will decline. Ronald Ross in 1911 was the first to formulate this idea for malarial(1) and malaria transmission has since attracted most attention from modellers of parasitic diseases(2-4). But although it is implicitly recognized that nothing- not even parasitic transmission - can increase indefinitely, the importance of some degree of density-dependence in regulating the system tends to be neglected (see Box 1). In this article, Klaus Dietz explores some classical ideas of modelling parasitic disease transmission, emphasizing not only the importance of density dependence but also the importance of knowing exactly where such effects operate in the system.     

娘子关泉胶串珠藻生长和分布的季节动态

1992年9月至199年6月间,对分布于山西娘子关泉的胶串珠藻(Batrachospermum gelatinosum)生长和分布的季节动态进行了研究.定期测定水温、pH值、流速、藻体出现频度、平均盖度和藻体的一些形态特征.结果表明,娘子关泉域水体温度、水体的pH值和流速季节变化幅度都不大;藻体出现频度和盖度有明显的季节性变化,从秋季到次年的春季逐渐增加,生长最旺盛的时期在5月;藻体生长发育有明显的季节性变化规律,在晚秋到早夏生长良好,在春末夏初生长达到高峰,而且藻体各部分的生长和发育基本上同步.     

Seasonal dynamics in an SIR epidemic system

We consider a seasonally forced SIR epidemic model where periodicity occurs in the contact rate. This periodical forcing represents successions of school terms and holidays. The epidemic dynamics are described by a switched system. Numerical studies in such a model have shown the existence of periodic solutions. First, we analytically prove the existence of an invariant domain $D$ containing all periodic (harmonic and subharmonic) orbits. Then, using different scales in time and variables, we rewrite the SIR model as a slow-fast dynamical system and we establish the existence of a macroscopic attractor domain $K$ , included in $D$ , for the switched dynamics. The existence of a unique harmonic solution is also proved for any value of the magnitude of the seasonal forcing term which can be interpreted as an annual infection. Subharmonic solutions can be seen as epidemic outbreaks. Our theoretical results allow us to exhibit quantitative characteristics about epidemics, such as the maximal period between major outbreaks and maximal prevalence.     

Seasonal dynamics of moss-dwelling chironomid communities

Chironomid communities of mosses in a small upland stream in central Germany were highly dynamic across the year with respect to their abundance, biomass and dominant taxa. During 1988 semi-submersed mosses near a main spring and those occurring some 700 m downstream were compared with permanently submersed mosses in immediate vicinity of the downstream site. All the chironomids sampled were conspicuously small, with nearly 98% being less than 5 mm in length. A total of 65 chironomid species from 26 genera were found, with a higher diversity occurring near the source and a change in dominant taxa along the upper stream section. The mean abundance in permanently submersed mosses (250 larvae/10 cm², n = 125) was about five times higher than in semi-submersed mosses. The maximum value of 830 larvae/10 cm² (n = 1) is the highest chironomid density ever reported, which is explained by the sampling method used. The mean standing crop was also highest in permanently submersed mosses (1.5 mg AFDW/10 cm² (n = 125)), even though the highest individual value was recorded in semi-submersed mosses near the spring (10.4 mg AFDW/10 cm²). The evidence suggested that the dominance of chironomid taxa depended mainly on the location of the moss along the stream, whereas abundance and biomass were determined mainly by constancy in the ambient discharge as well as the factors influenced by this (e.g. temperature, detritus deposition). A trend was seen towards a seasonal succession among the chironomid taxa colonizing lotic mosses.