共查询到20条相似文献,搜索用时 15 毫秒
1.
In recent years, it has been shown that animals can localize the geometric center of an area by reference to the shape of the environment. We trained a group of mice (experimental group) to search for a pellet hidden under sand in the center of a square-shaped dry maze. Three weeks later, they were tested in a triangular enclosure half the size of the training area and a circular enclosure double the size of the training area to see transfer to these enclosures. We compared their searching behavior with that of subjects that had received no training. The results show that the experimental group searched the geometric center of each enclosure in both transfer tests, while the untrained control group walked along the walls. This indicates that the experimental group localized the center not by reference to the absolute distance from the corners but by equal distances from all walls (geometric center). 相似文献
2.
Mannella F Baldassarre G 《Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences》2007,362(1479):383-401
Previous experiments have shown that when domestic chicks (Gallus gallus) are first trained to locate food elements hidden at the centre of a closed square arena and then are tested in a square arena of double the size, they search for food both at its centre and at a distance from walls similar to the distance of the centre from the walls experienced during training. This paper presents a computational model that successfully reproduces these behaviours. The model is based on a neural-network implementation of the reinforcement-learning actor - critic architecture (in this architecture the 'critic' learns to evaluate perceived states in terms of predicted future rewards, while the 'actor' learns to increase the probability of selecting the actions that lead to higher evaluations). The analysis of the model suggests which type of information and cognitive mechanisms might underlie chicks' behaviours: (i) the tendency to explore the area at a specific distance from walls might be based on the processing of the height of walls' horizontal edges, (ii) the capacity to generalize the search at the centre of square arenas independently of their size might be based on the processing of the relative position of walls' vertical edges on the horizontal plane (equalization of walls' width), and (iii) the whole behaviour exhibited in the large square arena can be reproduced by assuming the existence of an attention process that, at each time, focuses chicks' internal processing on either one of the two previously discussed information sources. The model also produces testable predictions regarding the generalization capabilities that real chicks should exhibit if trained in circular arenas of varying size. The paper also highlights the potentialities of the model to address other experiments on animals' navigation and analyses its strengths and weaknesses in comparison to other models. 相似文献
3.
V. O. Nams 《Oecologia》1997,110(3):440-448
The formation of search images can create density-dependent predation. Predators have been shown to form search images when
searching for many small prey items in one feeding session. This paper reports experiments that test whether striped skunks
can form olfactory search images in other situations: when prey are found over several days, when prey are large, and when
prey are found in certain habitats. Striped skunks were raised in captivity, and their reaction distance to food was measured
outside in a natural grassy area. In experiment 1 skunks were offered many small food items for several days in a row. From
one day to the next, skunks initially detected food from further away, they increased detection distance faster and their
maximum detection distance increased – i.e., they formed olfactory search images faster and stronger from one day to the next.
In experiment 2 skunks formed search images over several days when finding only one large food item per day. In experiment
3 skunks lost olfactory search images when they entered habitats in which they had previously searched for another type of
food. These long-term search images magnify the effects of short-term search images, extend the effects of short- term search
image to longer time spans, and affect different species from short-term search images.
Received: 26 July 1996 / Accepted: 13 December 1996 相似文献
4.
T. S. Collett K. Fauria K. Dale J. Baron 《Journal of comparative physiology. A, Neuroethology, sensory, neural, and behavioral physiology》1997,181(4):343-353
To investigate the priming of memories by contextual cues, bees were trained to negotiate two mazes in different places 25?m apart. In the first maze, bees flew leftwards when the inner wall of the maze was covered with 45° stripes or rightwards when the inner wall was coloured yellow. In the second maze, bees flew rightwards on viewing 135° diagonal stripes or leftwards on viewing blue. The trajectories evoked by 45° or 135° stripes were similar in both mazes. However, vertical stripes were treated like 45° stripes in maze 1 and like 135° stripes in maze 2. Contextual cues prime the response to stripes that are oriented in the training condition for that site so influencing responses to stripes in closely neighbouring orientations. What objects in a bee's surroundings determine its sense of place? Bees were trained to different visual patterns at two sites 40?m apart (A+ versus A– at site A, and E+ versus E– at site E). A+ was preferred over A– and E+ was preferred over E– at both training sites. A preference for A+ over E+ exhibited at site A dropped gradually with distance to suggest that spatial context includes both close and distant objects. 相似文献
5.
Discrimination of coloured stimuli by honeybees: alternative use of achromatic and chromatic signals
Martin Giurfa Misha Vorobyev Robert Brandt Britta Posner Randolf Menzel 《Journal of comparative physiology. A, Neuroethology, sensory, neural, and behavioral physiology》1997,180(3):235-243
Using a Y-maze experimental set-up, honeybees Apis mellifera were trained to a coloured disc presented against an achromatic background. In subsequent tests they were given a choice
between the trained disc and an alternative disc that differed either in its chromatic properties, or in the amount of achromatic
green contrast that it produced against the background. Tests were conducted in two experimental situations: one in which
discs subtended a visual angle of 30° (as viewed by the bee at the decision point in the Y-maze), and another in which the
angle was 6.5° or 5° (depending on the experiment). At the visual angle of 30°, the bees' choice behaviour was governed by
the differences in chromatic properties, and not by the differences in the amount of green contrast. With the 6.5°- and 5°-discs,
on the other hand, it was governed by the differences in the amount of green contrast, and not by the differences in chromatic
properties. Consequently, in the present discrimination task, bees use either chromatic or achromatic cues, depending on the
visual angle subtended by the stimuli at the eye. Results of a further experiment, in which the trained disc was tested against
discs that produced various amounts of green contrast, confirm the above conclusion and show, in addition, that bees learn
the green-contrast difference between a trained and a non-rewarded alternative.
Accepted: 25 October 1996 相似文献
6.
Tsukasa Fukushi 《Journal of comparative physiology. A, Neuroethology, sensory, neural, and behavioral physiology》1985,157(6):771-778
Summary The Australian sheep blowfliesLucilia cuprina were trained by presenting droplets of sugar solution on a light spot of blue (460 nm wavelength) or green (520 nm wavelength). During the test, the searching behaviour was elicited by sugar stimulation. Then, the flies were allowed to walk in the arena where four coloured spots (two blue and two green) with light intensities similar to the training light were exhibited. Visits at these coloured spots were recorded. The flies visited preferably the light spot of the colour to which they had been trained. Next, the flies were trained to a light spot of blue or green displayed in various intensities, and later tested to discriminate between these two colours displayed in fixed intensities. The flies preferred the trained colour over the untrained one irrespective of the intensity used during training. It was only at the lowest intensity that they showed random orientation. These results suggest that the flies can learn to visit a coloured spot, and that they can discriminate between colours on the basis of wavelength rather than intensity. Training caused the flies not only to increase the probability of visiting the trained colour, but also to extend the proboscis and to elicit a characteristic searching behaviour once they had reached the coloured spot. 相似文献
7.
Odour-mediated responses of phytophagous mites to conspecific and heterospecific competitors 总被引:8,自引:0,他引:8
Plants under herbivore attack produce volatiles, thus attracting natural enemies of the herbivores. However, in doing so,
the plant becomes more conspicuous to other herbivores. Herbivores may use the odours as a cue to refrain from visiting plants
that are already infested, thereby avoiding competition for food, or, alternatively, to visit plants with defences weakened
by earlier attacks. We investigated the response of one species of herbivore (the spider mite Tetranychus urticae) to odours emanating from cucumber plants infested by conspecific or heterospecific (the western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis) herbivores. Olfactometer experiments in the laboratory showed that spider mites have a slight, but significant, preference
for plants infested with conspecifics, but strongly avoid plants with thrips. These results were substantiated with greenhouse
experiments. We released spider mites on the soil in the centre of a circle of six plants, half of which were infested with
either conspecifics or heterospecifics (thrips), whereas the other half were uninfested. It was found that 60–70% of the mites
were recaptured on the plants within 5 h after release. Results of these experiments were in agreement with results of the
olfactometer experiments: (1) significantly fewer spider mites were found on plants infested with thrips than on uninfested
plants and (2) more mites were found on plants with conspecifics than on clean plants (although this difference was not significant).
From a functional point of view it makes sense that spider mites prefer clean plants over thrips-infested plants, since thrips
are not only competitors, but are also known as intraguild predators of spider mites. Possible reasons for the slight attraction
of spider mites to plants infested with conspecifics are discussed.
Received: 22 June 1996 / Accepted: 29 September 1996 相似文献
8.
Kathleen Donohue 《Oecologia》1997,110(4):520-527
A factorial design of three densities of siblings at three local distances from seed parents was employed to distinguish
effects of density from effects of dispersal distance on lifespan and fruit production of Cakile edentula var. lacustris, a plant with heteromorphic seeds. The segmented fruits produce two seed types: proximal and distal, with distal seeds having
greater mass and greater dispersibility. Effects of longer distances (0.5 km and 30 km) on lifespan and fruit production were
investigated using plants at low density. The prediction was tested that the greater seed mass of distal seeds increases fitness
when seeds are dispersed into sites of unknown quality away from the home site or when seeds are dispersed to low density.
High density caused earlier mortality and lower probability of reproduction. Distance from the maternal plant did not influence
lifespan or reproduction at distances of 15 m or less, but lifespan was longer 0.5 km from the home site. No interaction was
detected between the effects of density and distance on either lifespan or total fitness. Environmental conditions that influence
fitness did not vary as a function of dispersal distance in this system, and favorable conditions at the home site did not
persist between generations. Therefore, selection on dispersion patterns in natural conditions is likely to be through effects
of density rather than dispersal distance. Proximal seeds had greater reproduction than distal seeds at the home site, and
distal seeds had greater reproduction at the more distant sites (but not the most distant site), as expected, but these performance
differences could not be attributed to differences in mass between the two seed types. Reduced seed mass was favored at the
most distant site, but larger seed mass was favored most strongly at low density. Seeds that are dispersed to low density
are larger, suggesting that although kin selection may limit the effectiveness of individual selection to increase seed mass
under conditions of sibling competition, density-dependent individual selection on seed mass, rather than distant-dependent
selection, also contributes to the observed associations among seed type, seed mass and dispersal ability.
Received: 21 October 1996 / Accepted: 4 December 1996 相似文献
9.
M. Glagow J.-P. Ewert 《Journal of comparative physiology. A, Neuroethology, sensory, neural, and behavioral physiology》1996,180(1):1-9
This study confirms for a phylogenetically basal terrestrial vertebrate that dopaminergic modulations interfere with the
visually directed appetitive and consummatory feeding behaviors orienting and snapping, respectively. (1) In common toads
Bufo bufo, intralymphatic administration of the dopamine D2/D1-receptor agonist apomorphine led to a dose-dependent facilitation of prey-snapping in response to moving objects. The snapping
activity reached a maximum 15–35 min after apomorphine injection. (2) To changes in configurational stimulus features, the
basic pattern of discrimination was maintained; however, the acuity of discrimination was reduced due to the high snapping
response level. (3) The apomorphine-induced facilitation of snapping was accompanied by a suppression of prey-oriented lunging
and turning. Toads snapped only if prey occurred frontally in the visual field at a relatively short distance. The snapping
behavior was fixed in its form and stereotyped regarding its immediate release. (4) About 90 min after apomorphine administration,
prey-oriented turning behavior was restored and displayed a facilitatory rebound. (5) In comparative experiments with the
species B. marinus, both prey-oriented turning and snapping responses were suppressed by apomorphine in a dose-dependent manner. (6) After pre-treatment
with the dopamine antagonist haloperidol, apomorphine showed no measurable effect on the visual release of prey orienting
or snapping. (7) The results contribute to the sensorimotor and the motivation hypothesis of dopamine function proposed for
higher vertebrates and stimulate a comparative discussion of anatomic homologies and functional analogies.
Accepted: 10 July 1996 相似文献
10.
Oxygen consumption in the foraging honeybee depends on the reward rate at the food source 总被引:1,自引:1,他引:0
L. Moffatt Josué A. Núñez 《Journal of comparative physiology. B, Biochemical, systemic, and environmental physiology》1997,167(1):36-42
Oxygen consumption of the honeybee Apis mellifera ligustica was measured as a function of the flow rate supply of sucrose solution at an automatic feeder located inside a respirometric
chamber. Trained bees freely entered the respirometric chamber and collected the sucrose solution supplied. The mean value
of the O2 consumption rate per visit increased with the sucrose flow rate, and for a given flow rate, with increasing locomotor activity.
However, when no locomotor activity was displayed, O2 consumption also increased with increasing nectar flow rate. Crop load attained at the end of the visit showed a positive
relationship with the nectar flow rate; however, for a given flow rate, O2 consumption showed either no correlation or a negative one with the final crop load attained. It is concluded that the energy
expenditure of the foraging bee is controlled by a motivational drive whose intensity depends on the reward rate at the food
source.
Accepted: 30 July 1996 相似文献
11.
We test predictions about differences in the foraging behaviors of male and female giraffes (Giraffa camelopardalis tippelskirchi Matchie) that derive from a hypothesis linking sexual size dimorphism to foraging behavior. This body-size hypothesis predicts
that males will exhibit specific behaviors that increase their dry-matter intake rate relative to females. Foraging behavior
was examined at two hierarchical levels corresponding to two spatial and temporal scales, within patches and within habitats.
Patches are defined as individual trees or shrubs and habitats are defined as collections of patches within plant communities.
Males were predicted to increase dry-matter intake rate within patches by taking larger bites, cropping bites more quickly,
chewing less, and chewing faster. Within habitats, males were expected to increase intake rate by increasing the proportion
of foraging time devoted to food ingestion as opposed to inter-patch travel time and vigilance. The predictions were tested
in a free-ranging population of giraffes in Mikumi National Park, Tanzania. Males spent less total time foraging than females
but allocated a greater proportion of their foraging time to forage ingestion as opposed to travel between patches. There
was no sex difference in rumination time but males spent more time in activities other than foraging and rumination, such
as walking. Within patches, males took larger bites than females, but females cropped bites more quickly and chewed faster.
Males had longer per-bite handling times than females but had shorter handling times per gram of intake. Within habitats,
males had longer average patch residence times but there was no significant sex difference in inter-patch travel times. There
was no overall difference between sexes in vigilance while foraging, although there were significant sex by habitat and sex
by season interactions. Although not all the predictions were confirmed, overall the results agree qualitatively with the
body-size hypothesis. Sex-related differences in foraging behavior led to greater estimated intake rates for males at the
within-patch and within-habitat scales.
Received: 20 November 1995 / Accepted: 5 November 1996 相似文献
12.
S. B. Chaplin M. M. Munson S. T. Knuth 《Journal of comparative physiology. B, Biochemical, systemic, and environmental physiology》1997,167(3):197-203
The effect of various activity regimes on metabolism of pigeon pectoralis was examined by measurement of blood lactate following
exercise, total lactate dehydrogenase activity of pectoral muscle, and proportions of specific isoenzymes of pectoral muscle
lactate dehydrogenase. Sprint-trained birds had the highest pectoral muscle lactate dehydrogenase activity (1409 IU · g−1 wet tissue), while endurance-trained birds had the highest peak lactate levels (287 mg · dl−1, extrapolated from decay curves) and fastest half-time of the lactate response (4.8 min) following exercise, but the lowest
lactate dehydrogenase activity (115 IU · g−1 wet tissue). Immobilization of one wing for 3 weeks following endurance training produced a marked increase in lactate dehydrogenase
activity of the immobilized muscle, compared to that in the contralateral pectoralis and endurance-trained muscle. Aerobic
forms of the lactate dehydrogenase enzyme (that favor conversion of lactate to pyruvate) predominated in pectoral muscle of
endurance-trained birds, while cage-confined birds exhibited primarily the anaerobic isoenzymes. These results demonstrate
that conversion of pectoral muscle lactate dehydrogenase isoenzymes, total lactate dehydrogenase activity, and half-time of
lactate response after exercise is dependent on activity regime in pigeons. In this respect, pigeon pectoral muscle responds
to training and disuse in a manner similar to that of mammalian skeletal muscle.
Accepted: 10 September 1996 相似文献
13.
C. Traeholt 《Journal of comparative physiology. B, Biochemical, systemic, and environmental physiology》1997,167(3):177-184
Five water monitor lizards, Varanus salvator salvator, and four clouded monitor lizards, Varanus bengalensis nebulosus, were caught on Tioman island in Malaysia. A radio-thermistor transmitter was implanted into the buccal cavity of each animal,
and they were released into an enclosure measuring 5.5 × 6.5 metres. The lizards were observed for 9 and 8 days, respectively,
before and after the parietal eye was covered with aluminium foil. With uncovered parietal eye, both species showed a clear
diurnal rhythm, being active only during day time. After covering the parietal eye, the mean locomotor activity of five V. s. salvator decreased from 791 to 107 min · day–1 but remained unchanged around 850 min · day–1 for V. b. nebulosus. The mean duration of locomotor activity decreased in V. s. salvator and V. b. nebulosus after the parietal eye was covered, but V. b. nebulosus maintained its locomotor activity by increasing the number of locomotor bouts. The water monitor spent very little time on
thermoregulation. Its body temperature ranged between 26.3 and 28.4 °C, which decreased after the parietal eye was covered.
The clouded monitor thermoregulated around 28.8–36.0 °C, which remained unchanged after the parietal eye was covered. In both
species, there was a strong correlation between body temperature and ambient temperature. Behavioural abnormalities were recorded
among V. s. salvator with covered parietal eye. They were often observed to be active by night and often slept outside a burrow. The circadian
rhythm of V. b. nebulosus appeared unaffected by shielding of its parietal eye. Captivity combined with shielded parietal eye induced agonistic behaviour
in both species.
Accepted: 11 September 1996 相似文献
14.
T. Ruf A. I. Korytko A. Stieglitz K. R. Lavenburg J. L. Blank 《Journal of comparative physiology. B, Biochemical, systemic, and environmental physiology》1997,167(3):185-192
We investigated pineal function as well as reproductive and energetic characteristics in male deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus) that differentially respond to short photoperiod with full, partial or no gonadal regression. In mice at both high (23 °C)
and low temperature (1 °C), these phenotypic differences in reproductive responses to short days were not reflected by differences
in urinary excretion of 6-sulphatoxy-melatonin, the main metabolite of pineal melatonin. Neither duration nor amplitude or
phase-angle of nocturnal peaks in 6-sulphatoxymelatonin significantly differed between reproductive phenotypes at either temperature.
Differences in testis size were, however, associated with different energy requirements. In gonadally regressed males only,
food intake and body weight were significantly (P < 0.01) reduced by up to 29% and 13% respectively. Chronic cold exposure (5 °C) had no effect on the proportion of males
undergoing testicular regression under short days, but caused a general elevation in body weights among all mice (P < 0.05). Phenotypic differences in body weight and food intake were maintained in the cold. Together, these results suggest
that within-population variation of reproductive responses in male deer mice is based on post-pineal differences in the regulation of gonadal function, and that phenotypic characteristics in reproductive and energetic
responses to short days are largely unaffected by ambient temperature.
Accepted: 2 October 1995 相似文献
15.
Non-consumptive effects of larval Salamandra on crustacean prey: can eggs detect predators? 总被引:3,自引:0,他引:3
Leon Blaustein 《Oecologia》1997,110(2):212-217
Predators affect prey populations not only by prey consumption but also in nonconsumptive ways including modifying prey behavior.
I tested the effects of fire salamander larvae (Salamandra infraimmaculata) on populations of co-occurring crustacean species in artificial outdoor pools. I also tested whether these effects were
due entirely to prey consumption by Salamandra larvae or alternatively to some nonconsumptive effect. The soil (containing crustacean eggs) added to the artificial pools
was collected from a dried-out temporary pool that is inhabited by Salamandra during the early part of the hydroperiod. I randomly assigned the pools to one of three treatments: control, free Salamandra, or caged Salamandra. Free salamander larvae could roam the entire pool and prey upon crustaceans. Caged salamander larvae were placed within
a cage with having 250-μm mesh windows. They could not prey upon the crustaceans but could, for example, influence them by
chemical cues. Densities of the three dominant crustacean species (Arctodiaptomus similis, Ceriodaphnia quadrangula and Cyzicus sp.) were drastically reduced in both salamander treatments compared to the control. Crustacean densities, however, were
not significantly different between the two salamander treatments. One plausible explanation is that crustacean eggs can detect
the presence of this predator via chemical cues and delay hatching.
Received: 4 March 1996 / Accepted, 23 October 1996 相似文献
16.
J. Kohl E. A. Koller M. Brandenberger M. Cardenas U. Boutellier 《European journal of applied physiology and occupational physiology》1997,75(4):305-311
The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of exercise induced hyperventilation and hypocapnia on airway
resistance (R
aw), and to try to answer the question whether a reduction of R
aw is a mechanism contributing to the increase of endurance time associated with a reduction of exercise induced hyperventilation
as for example has been observed after respiratory training. Eight healthy volunteers of both sexes participated in the study.
Cycling endurance tests (CET) at 223 (SD 47) W, i.e. at 74 (SD 5)% of the subject's peak exercise intensity, breathing endurance
tests and body plethysmograph measurements of pre- and postexercise R
aw were carried out before and after a 4-week period of respiratory training. In one of the two CET before the respiratory training
CO2 was added to the inspired air to keep its end-tidal concentration at 5.4% to avoid hyperventilatory hypocapnia (CO2-test); the other test was the control. The pre-exercise values of specific expiratory R
aw were 8.1 (SD 2.8), 6.8 (SD 2.6) and 8.0 (SD 2.1) cm H2O · s and the postexercise values were 8.5 (SD 2.6), 7.4 (SD 1.9) and 8.0 (SD 2.7) cm H2O · s for control CET, CO2-CET and CET after respiratory training, respectively, all differences between these tests being nonsignificant. The respiratory
training significantly increased the respiratory endurance time during breathing of 70% of maximal voluntary ventilation from
5.8 (SD 2.9) min to 26.7 (SD 12.5) min. Mean values of the cycling endurance time (t
cend) were 22.7 (SD 6.5) min in the control, 19.4 (SD 5.4) min in the CO2-test and 18.4 (SD 6.0) min after respiratory training. Mean values of ventilation (
E) during the last 3␣min of CET were 123 (SD 35.8) l · min−1 in the control, 133.5 (SD 35.1) l · min−1 in the CO2-test and 130.9 (SD 29.1) l · min−1 after respiratory training. In fact, six subjects ventilated more and cycled for a shorter time, whereas two subjects ventilated
less and cycled for a longer time after the respiratory training than in the control CET. In general, the subjects cycled
longer the lower the
E, if all three CET are compared. It is concluded that R
aw measured immediately after exercise is independent of exercise-induced hyperventilation and hypocapnia and is probably not
involved in limiting t
cend, and that t
cend at a given exercise intensity is shorter when
E is higher, no matter whether the higher
E occurs before or after respiratory training or after CO2 inhalation.
Accepted: 11 September 1996 相似文献
17.
Ralph Beneke Katharina Meyer 《European journal of applied physiology and occupational physiology》1997,75(3):246-251
The effect of a 3-week exercise programme on performance and economy of walking was analysed in 16 male patients with chronic
heart failure [mean age 51.8 (SD 6.9) years, height 174.9 (SD 6.3) cm, body mass 75.3 (SD 11.5) kg, ejection fraction 20.8
(SD 5.0)%]. They were submitted to a cardiopulmonary exercise test on a cycle ergometer and a 6-min walking test on a treadmill
before and after the period of exercise training. The training programme consisted of interval cycle (five times a week for
15 min), and treadmill ergometer training (three times a week for 10 min) at approximately 70% cycling peak oxygen uptake
(O2peak) and supplementary exercises (three times a week for 20 min). Compared to the pre values cycling O2peak [11.9 (SD 2.9) vs 14.0 (SD 2.3) ml · kg–1 · min–1], maximal self paced walking speed [0.68 (SD 0.33) vs 1.16 (SD 0.30) m · s–1], and net walking power [2.16 (SD 0.89) vs 2.73 (SD 0.91) W · kg–1] had increased (P < 0.01) while net energy cost [3.31 (SD 0.66) vs 2.33 (SD 0.38) J · kg–1 · m–1] had decreased (P < 0.001) after the training period. Approximately 42% of the increase of walking speed resulted from a higher walking power
output, whereas approximately 58% corresponded to a positive effect on walking economy. The improvement in walking economy
was a function of an increase in walking velocity itself and a result of a more efficient walking technique. These results
would indicate that in patients with marked exercise intolerance, adequate exercise training programmes could contribute to
favourable metabolic changes with positive effects on the economy of motion.
Accepted: 29 August 1996 相似文献
18.
Background matching might lower the risk of seeds being eaten by seed predators that search visually. In aviary experiments,
we analyzed the selection of diff erent-colored seeds by ground-feeding finches (Fringillacoelebs and F.montifringilla) against four naturally occurring forest soil substrates. The substrates were fresh burn (black), 6-year-old burn (brown),
mineral soil (pale yellow) and Pleuroziumschreberi feather moss (green). We used color-sorted seeds of Pinussylvestris, a species with a large natural variation in seed color, ranging from pale yellow to black. Although seeds were scattered
on the substrates at a density of only 91 seeds m−2, birds removed seeds effectively. Both bird species found more pale than dark seeds on the fresh burn substrate. F. montifringilla also recovered more pale than dark seeds on the old burn, and more dark than pale seeds on mineral soil. In moss, the birds
found very few seeds compared to the other substrates, and there was no color discrimination. P.sylvestris is frequently regenerating after fire, suggesting that dark seeds would be favored under selection from visually searching
predators. Fire-adapted conifers with serotinous cones, e.g., Pinuscontorta ssp. latifolia, which spread their seeds primarily on freshly burnt surfaces, produce uniformly black or dark brown seeds. However, regeneration
of the non-serotinous P.sylvestris is often extended for several years after a fire, during which substrate color and structure change. This may have helped
to maintain variation in seed color. When regeneration of a plant species occurs on a substrate of uniform color, we believe
that selection by visually searching seed predators will result in the evolution of cryptic seed color.
Received: 16 August 1996 / Accepted: 30 November 1996 相似文献
19.
Food web analysis of southern California coastal wetlands using multiple stable isotopes 总被引:16,自引:0,他引:16
Carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur stable isotopes were used to characterize the food webs (i.e., sources of carbon and trophic
status of consumers) in Tijuana Estuary and San Dieguito Lagoon. Producer groups were most clearly differentiated by carbon,
then by sulfur, and least clearly by nitrogen isotope measurements. Consumer 15N isotopic enrichment suggested that there are four trophic levels in the Tijuana Estuary food web and three in San Dieguito
Lagoon. A significant difference in multiple isotope ratio distributions of fishes between wetlands suggested that the food
web of San Dieguito Lagoon is less complex than that of Tijuana Estuary. Associations among sources and consumers indicated
that inputs from intertidal macroalgae, marsh microalgae, and Spartina foliosa provide the organic matter that supports invertebrates, fishes, and the light-footed clapper rail (Rallus longirostris levipes). These three producers occupy tidal channels, low salt marsh, and mid salt marsh habitats. The only consumer sampled that
appears dependent upon primary productivity from high salt marsh habitat is the sora (Porzana carolina). Two- and three-source mixing models identified Spartina as the major organic matter source for fishes, and macroalgae for invertebrates and the light-footed clapper rail in Tijuana
Estuary. In San Dieguito Lagoon, a system lacking Spartina, inputs of macroalgae and microalgae support fishes. Salicornia virginica, S. subterminalis, Monanthochloe littoralis, sewage- derived organic matter, and suspended particulate organic matter were deductively excluded as dominant, direct influences
on the food web. The demonstration of a salt marsh–channel linkage in these systems affirms that these habitats should be
managed as a single ecosystem and that the restoration of intertidal marshes for endangered birds and other biota is compatible
with enhancement of coastal fish populations; heretofore, these have been considered to be competing objectives.
Received: 24 April 1996 / Accepted: 24 October 1996 相似文献
20.
Interference competition by aggressive foraging often explains resource partitioning, but mechanisms contributing to partitioning
have rarely been studied in Asian social bee guilds. Foraging of social bees at canopy flowers of Santiria laevigata (Burseraceae) and honey-water feeders was studied in a lowland mixed-dipterocarp forest in Sarawak, Malaysia. Four stingless
bee species (Apidae, Meliponinae), Trigona canifrons, T.␣fimbriata, T. apicalis and T. melina, aggressively defended flower patches and feeders. At the flowers, T.␣canifrons excluded other bees only in the morning when nectar flow peaked. At the feeders, the aggression resulted in asymmetric interference
competition, which produced a dominance hierarchy among seven social bee species. Interspecific partitioning of the feeders
was detected in time and height but not quality. Only time of the first arrival after feeder presentation was negatively correlated
with the dominance hierarchy: more aggressive species arrived at the feeders later than less aggressive species. This result
suggests that a trade-off between searching ability and defensive ability at flower patches gives rise to resource partitioning
in the social bee guild.
Received: 22 June 1996 / Accepted: 22 November 1996 相似文献