The Effects of Isolation,Grouping and Population Density on Fecundity of Bulinus truncatus

Summary

Bulinus truncatus is the intermediate host of Schistosoma haematobium, a trematode parasite causing bladder bilharziasis in man. In the struggle against this disease, control of snail populations is an important goal and expansion of our knowledge of the reproductive activity of Bulinus is relevant in this regard.

In this study the effects of various factors on the fecundity of Bulinus were investigated in specimens kept under continuous water refreshment conditions. The results are considered to be more indicative of the natural situation than results obtained under the current use of discontinuous water refreshment.

Isolated snails produce considerably higher numbers of egg masses and eggs than grouped snails. The effect of grouping on isolated snails, and the reverse situation, is very rapid, being fully effective within one week. The increase in fecundity of isolated snails is most probably caused by the absence of copulatory activity, since transfer of semen is known to curtail egg laying in freshwater pulmonate snails. Egg mass production was shown to decrease with increasing population density. This may be caused either by the difference in space available or by the possible difference in copulatory activity. Isolated snails showed a faster body growth than grouped snails.

The possible role of hormones involved in establishing the above effects and the consequences of the results for snail control programs are discussed.     

Effects of Host Resistance on the Fecundity of Globodera rostochiensis

The fecundity of Globodera rostochiensis (R₁A) females that developed on resistant Rosa and susceptible Katahdin potato cultivars were compared. Cysts collected from each cultivar were bulked, separated into four sizes (> 500 μm, 355-500 μm, 250-355 μm, and < 250 μm), and crushed to determine fecundity as measured by viable egg content (VEC). Fewer and generally smaller cysts developed on Rosa than on Katahdin. Although cyst size significantly (P = 0.01) influenced VEC, cyst age (8 or 13 weeks) had no effect. Regardless of size, cysts produced on Rosa contained significantly fewer viable eggs than did cysts produced on Katahdin. The fecundity of progeny from cysts produced on Rosa was significantly reduced compared with that of progeny from cysts produced on Katahdin. After two generations on Katahdin, the VEC of cysts from a population originating from Rosa was significantly less than that of cysts from a population originating from Katahdin, indicating that in the presence of a pure population of G. rostochiensis R₁A, the females that develop on the resistant cultivar Rosa represent a diminished rather than a superior selected population.     

Fecundity of the autumnal moth depends on pooled geometrid abundance without a time lag: implications for cyclic population dynamics

1. The abundance and fecundity-related body size variation of the cyclic autumnal moth Epirrita autumnata were monitored from the early increase phase and throughout the outbreak to the end of the density decline in northernmost Norway during 1999-2006. Another geometrid, the winter moth Operophtera brumata, did not increase in density until the autumnal moth had its post-peak in 2004, and was at its own peak concurrent with the steeply declining autumnal moth abundance in 2005-06. 2. The body size variables measured (forewing lengths of males and females and hind femur lengths of males) of the autumnal moth showed a similar density-dependent response, i.e. increasing density was associated with decreasing body size and fecundity. Nevertheless, regression analyses clearly ranked the pooled geometrid abundance without a time lag as the best predictor for the body size variation, ahead of the abundance of the autumnal moth or past abundance of all geometrids. 3. Nondelayed effects of lowered food quality and absolute shortage of foliage under congested conditions are the most plausible reasons for reduced body size. 4. Two most commonly proposed causal factors of the autumnal moth population cycle, i.e. delayed inducible resistance of the host plant (mountain birch Betula pubescens czerepanovii) and delayed density-dependent parasitism by specialized hymenopteran parasitoids, cannot easily explain the diverging population trends between the autumnal and winter moths. 5. We suggest that either the inducible resistance of the host tree or the host utilization of the most important parasitoids and/or pathogens have to be strictly species-specific between these closely related moth species to produce the population dynamics observed. That fecundity of the autumnal moth was best related to the pooled geometrid abundance weakens support for the former hypothesis, while our lack of host-specific information limits conclusions about the role of natural enemies.     

不同因素对金针菇原生质体制备和再生的影响

比较了不同浓度裂解酶及组合、渗透压稳定剂、酶解时间等因素对金针菇原生质体得率的影响以及不同渗透压稳定剂、培养基、接种方法等因素对金针菇原生质体再生的影响。试验结果表明:固体培养10d的金针菇菌丝,以0.5mol/L KCl作渗透压稳定剂,加入1%纤维素酶和1%溶菌酶在25℃下酶解1.5h,分离原生质体效果最佳,原生质体产量可达27.8×105个/ml以上;以0.5mol/L KCl作渗透压稳定剂,在25℃条件下,金针菇原生质体采用直接涂布法接种在RCM培养基上培养,再生率最高为0.5%。     

性畸变对腹足类生殖和种群的影响

具有内分泌干扰效应的三丁基锡能引起腹足类产生性畸变现象。在性畸变过程中 ,雌性个体会由于生殖孔口被前列腺取代或被输精管阻塞、贮精囊或卵囊腺开裂、卵囊腺内部被阻塞以及卵巢转化为精巢等多种原因而丧失生殖能力 ,甚至死亡。并由此引起雌、雄性比和幼、成年个体比的降低 ,导致种群衰退。有浮游幼体的种类可以通过外来种群的成功迁入使种群得以维持 ,而无浮游幼体的种类 ,由于幼体迁移能力差而最终导致种群的区域性灭绝。性畸变这种典型的功能效应对其他内分泌干扰物质的生态效应研究有启示作用。     

Effects of Castration on Growth and Reproduction of Helisoma duryi (Mollusca: Pulmonata)

Summary

Castration of Helisoma duryi disturbs the balance between growth and reproduction in favour of growth, as is evidenced by the stimulation of body and shell growth and reduction in egg mass production when compared with sham operated controls. Female accessory sex organ wet weight is increased in castrated and virgin snails. Male accessory sex organ wet weight is unaffected and female accessory sex organ wet weight is reduced by dorsal body ablation, suggesting that growth of differentiated female accessory sex organs is stimulated by the endocrine dorsal bodies. Albumen gland synthetic activity is inhibited in the absence of a functioning gonad. This inhibition may be due partly to the accumulation of secretory products within the glands and partly to the inactivation of the endocrine dorsal bodies and neurosecretory caudodorsal cells in the cerebral ganglia. The circulating levels of the vitellogenic protein ferritin are reduced by castration, and increased by injection and implantation of active gonadal tissue into castrates. This may be due to an indirect effect of gonadal factor (s) on the extragonadal synthesis of ferritin.     

饲粮蛋白质水平对蜂群繁殖性能的影响

本试验旨在研究饲料蛋白质水平对蜜蜂产浆期繁殖性能的影响。选择35群群势、蜂王年龄和质量一致的意大利蜜蜂Apis mellifera L.,随机分为7组,分别饲喂蛋白质水平为15%、20%、25%、30%、35%及40%的试验饲粮并以油菜花粉作为对照,测定各组蜂群的繁殖性能。结果表明,试验前期,饲粮蛋白质水平对蜂群群势有显著性影响,然而在试验中后期,则无显著影响(P>0.05);随着饲粮蛋白质水平的增加,蜂王产卵力和工蜂初生重呈先升高后降低的变化趋势,与对照组相比差异不显著(P>0.05)。     

pH值对大乳头水螅种群增长、无性生殖及3种抗氧化酶活力的影响

应用种群累积培养法,就培养液pH值对大乳头水螅（Hydra magnipapillata）的生存、种群增长、无性生殖以及水螅的超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）、过氧化氢酶（CAT）、谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶（GSH—PX）3种抗氧化酶活力的影响进行了探讨。结果表明,水螅存活的pH上限为10．5,下限为4．0,水螅存活的最适pH范围为5．5～9．5;pH值对水螅种群增长有显著影响,种群密度及种群瞬时增长率均随pH的不同而明显改变。培养15d后,除了pn4．0时水螅种群为负增长外,其他pH梯度下的水螅种群为正增长,其中pH6．5时水螅种群密度最高。以pH6．5为起始点,随着培养液酸性或碱性的增强,水螅种群密度整体都呈递减趋势。水螅SOD活力的转折点在pH6．5,当pH值偏离6．5时（酸性或碱性增强）,水螅SOD活力整体呈明显上升趋势;但水螅GSH—PX和CAT活力的转折点却在pH7．0,当pH值偏离7．0时（酸性或碱性增强）GSH—PX和CAT活力整体呈明显下降趋势。pH6．5时水螅SOD活力最低与pH6．5实验组水螅的无性出芽生殖率最高之间可能存在一定的内在联系。本文研究结果可为实验室培养水螅提供适宜的pH值指标。     

不同温度下球孢白僵菌对桃蚜生殖力及生命表参数的影响

对6日龄桃蚜Myzus persicae(Sulzer)用106孢子/mL球孢白僵菌Beauveria bassiana(Balsamo)Vuillemin悬浮液接种后,饲养于4组温度(18,21,25和28℃)下,相对湿度(RH)为85%的条件下,观察其生殖力及生命表参数的变化。结果显示,与对照相比,在观察时限的10d内接种蚜日均产仔数分别减少43%,31%,53%和61%,接种蚜的净生殖力R0下降57%,73%,74%,60%,内禀增长力rm下降30%,41%,36%,22%。这表明,球孢白僵菌对桃蚜种群增长具有一定的抑制作用,其作用在21、25℃下更为明显。     

Estimating Competition in Cladocerans Using Data on Dynamics of Clutch Size and Population Density

Negative correlations between clutch size and population density are proposed to be considered as indices of intra- and interspecific competition in cladocerans if they are revealed while analyzing population dynamics and clutch size and time lags are taken into account. The proper correlation analysis of summer populations of Diaphanosoma brachyurum, Bosmina coregoni, Daphnia cucullata and D. galeata from mesotrophic Lake Glubokoye (Moscow Region) in 1975, 1978, and 1979 indicates the important role of competition of both types for the community studied. High niche overlap in food and space in the four populations was also observed.     

温度对杀扑磷抗性奥氏钝绥螨Amblyseius womersleyi(Acari:Phytoseiidae)繁殖适合度的影响

研究了奥氏钝绥螨杀扑磷抗性种群在20℃、25℃与30℃温度下的繁殖适合度．结果表明,在20—30℃温度范围培养下,随着温度的升高,奥氏钝绥螨杀扑磷抗性种群的各发育历期缩短,雌性比降低,每雌日产卵量升高,但在25℃温度下每雌总产卵量均明显高于在20℃与30℃的每雌总产卵量．25℃温度是室内人工繁育奥氏钝绥螨杀扑磷抗性种群的最适温度。     

不同波长光照对草履虫增殖的影响及其感光蛋白基因克隆的初步探究

目的研究不同波长光照对草履虫增殖的影响,克隆草履虫感光蛋白基因.方法以双小核草履虫 Paramecium aureli为研究对象,分别置于黄色光(578～592 nm)、蓝色光(446～464 nm)、红色光(620～760 nm)、白光和自然光下,每隔1 h随机抽样法显微观察并计数;RT-PCR克隆草履虫感光蛋白基因.结果不同波长光的照射下,与自然光比较,第1天黄光组草履虫增殖显著上升(P<0.01),蓝光组和红光组草履虫增殖受到不同程度的抑制(P<0.01, P<0.05),白光组无明显差异(P>0.05);第2天,蓝光组、红光组和白光组草履虫增殖仍受到抑制(P<0.01),黄光组作用不显著(P>0.05).黄光组和白光组草履虫总RNA作为模板,克隆出大小约500 bp的rhodopsin-like基因cDNA片段, 5个不同光照组均克隆出大小约195 bp的Long wave sensitive opsin-like 基因cDNA片段.结论黄色光显著地促进草履虫增殖,蓝色光和红色光抑制其增殖;黄光和白光能诱导草履虫rhodopsin-like基因表达;Long wave sensitive opsin-like 基因在草履虫有表达.     

Temperature Effects on Development and Reproduction of Heterodera cajani on Pigeonpea

Effects of constant and fluctuating temperature on development and reproduction of Heterodera cajani were studied on pigeonpea cv. ICPL 87 in growth chambers at 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30 C and in a greenhouse fluctuating between 22.2 and 37.8 C. Nematode penetration was greatest (P = 0.001) in roots at 25 C; there was no penetration at 10 C. The basal threshold temperature for development was calculated to be 11 C. Completion of one H. cajani generation required 17, 28, 35, and 66 days (323, 392, 315, and 264 degree-days) at 30, 25, 20, and 15 C, respectively, and 19 days (356 degree-days) at a fluctuating temperature. Survival was greater at 20 and 25 C than at 15 and 30 C. The greatest (P = 0.05) number of females (17.9 females per root) were produced at 25 C, compared with 13.2 at 20 C, 7.9 at 30 C, and 2.5 females at 15 C. Nematode reproduction was 1.6 to 7.1 times greater at 25 C than at other temperatures. Emergence of juveniles from egg sacs and cysts was greater at 25 and 30 C than at 15 and 20 C. Equations were developed to predict nematode development rate, cumulative juvenile emergence from egg sacs and cysts, and population increases as influenced by temperature.     

Assessing Toxicant Effects in a Complex Estuary: A Case Study of Effects of Silver on Reproduction in the Bivalve,Potamocorbula amurensis,in San Francisco Bay

Contaminant exposures in natural systems can be highly variable. This variability is superimposed upon cyclic variability in biological processes. Together, these factors can confound determination of contaminant effects. Long term, multidisciplined studies with high frequency sampling can be effective in overcoming such obstacles. While studying trace metal contamination in the tissues of the clam, Potamocorbula amurensis, in the northern reach of San Francisco Bay, an episode of high Ag concentrations was identified (maximum of 5.5?µg g^?1) at two mid-estuary sites. High concentrations were not seen in clams up-estuary (maximum of 1.92?µg g^?1) from these sites and were reduced down-estuary (maximum of 2.67?µg g^?1). Silver is not common naturally in the environment, so its elevated presence is usually indicative of anthropogenic influences such as municipal and industrial discharge. Monthly sampling of reproductive status of clams characterized the reproductive cycle and differences in the patterns of reproductive activity that corresponded to changes in Ag tissue concentrations. The proportion of reproductive clams was less than 60% during periods when tissue concentrations were high (generally >2?µg g^?1). When tissue concentrations of Ag decreased (≤1?µg g^?1), the proportion of reproductive clams was 80 to 100%. A comparison between the annual proportion of reproductive clams and annual Ag tissue concentrations showed a significant negative correlation. No other measured environmental variables were correlated with reproductive impairment. The weight-of-evidence approach strongly supports a cause and effect relationship between Ag contamination and reduced reproductive activity in P. amurensis.     

Influence of Alfalfa Plant Growth on the Multiplication Rates and Ceiling Population Density of Meloidogyne hapla

The rates of reproduction and multiplication of Meloidogyne hapla decreased as a result of self-regulatory, density-dependent processes with time and nematode population increase in the soil and roots of Medicago sativa cv. Cuf 101. Juvenile, egg, and mature female population densities increased at a maximum rate until damage to the host resulted in alfalfa yield reductions. Temporal differences in multiplication and reproduction rates of M. hapla were observed to be a function of initial population density (Pi), host damage, and root biomass, indicating increased levels of competition for a constant but limited number of feeding sites. Over time, a log linear relationship emerged between multiplication rate of M. hapla and Pi. Slopes of -0.90953 for combined eggs and juveniles and -0.71349 for mature females indicated a gradual approach to ceiling densities. Reproductive rates decreased exponentially from an initial maximal value of 200 to a relatively constant rate of 53 eggs per female.     

Effects of tick population dynamics and host densities on the persistence of tick-borne infections

The transmission and the persistence of tick-borne infections are strongly influenced by the densities and the structure of host populations. By extending previous models and analysis, in this paper we analyse how the persistence of ticks and pathogens, is affected by the dynamics of tick populations, and by their host densities. The effect of host densities on infection persistence is explored through the analysis and simulation of a series of models that include different assumptions on tick-host dynamics and consider different routes of infection transmission. Ticks are assumed to feed on two types of host species which vary in their reservoir competence. Too low densities of competent hosts (i.e., hosts where transmission can occur) do not sustain the infection cycle, while too high densities of incompetent hosts may dilute the competent hosts so much to make infection persistence impossible. A dilution effect may occur also for competent hosts as a consequence of reduced tick to host ratio; this is possible only if the regulation of tick populations is such that tick density does not increase linearly with host densities.     

Implications of Fluctuations in Substitution Rates: Impact on the Uncertainty of Branch Lengths and on Relative-Rate Tests

Many tests of the lineage dependence of substitution rates, computations of the error of evolutionary distances, and simulations of molecular evolution assume that the rate of evolution is constant in time within each lineage descended from a common ancestor. However, estimates of the index of dispersion of numbers of mammalian substitutions suggest that the rate has time-dependent variations consistent with a fractal-Gaussian-rate Poisson process, which assumes common descent without assuming rate constancy. While this model does not affect certain relative-rate tests, it substantially increases the uncertainty of branch lengths. Thus, fluctuations in the rate of substitution cannot be neglected in calculations that rely on evolutionary distances, such as the confidence intervals of divergence times and certain phylogenetic reconstructions. The fractal-Gaussian-rate Poisson process is compared and contrasted with previous models of molecular evolution, including other Poisson processes, the fractal renewal process, a Lévy-stable process, a fractional-difference process, and a log-Brownian process. The fractal models are more compatible with mammalian data than the nonfractal models considered, and they may also be better supported by Darwinian theory. Although the fractal-Gaussian-rate Poisson process has not been proven to have better agreement with data or theory than the other fractal models, its Gaussian nature simplifies the exploration of its impact on evolutionary distance errors and relative-rate tests. Received: 29 September 1999 / Accepted: 20 January 2000     

Effects of Environments,Meloidogyne incognita Inoculum Levels,and Glycine max Genotype on Root-knot Nematode-Soybean Interactions in Field Microplots

Five soybean cultivars (Braxton, Gordon, Jeff, Bragg, and Wright) resistant to Meloidogyne incognita (Mi) and three susceptible cultivars (Coker 156, GaSoy 17, and Coker 237) were grown at two locations for four seasons in microplots with increasing initial soil population densities (Pi) of Mi. The resistant cultivars and Coker 156 yielded better than GaSoy 17 and Coker 237 at all Pi. Yield response was dependent on environmental conditions and at one location was stimulated on Braxton, Gordon, Jeff, and Bragg by low Pi. Although Mi reproduced well on all cultivars, the pattern of reproduction differed. Population densities of Mi leveled off after 90 days on GaSoy 17 and Coker 237 but were still increasing after 120 days on the resistant cultivars; population densities were lower on resistant than on the susceptible cultivars. The population density of Mi on Coker 156 after 120 days was intermediate between those on the other susceptible and on the resistant cultivars. Mi population densities followed the same pattern under varying environmental conditions.     

温度对微小花蝽生长发育和繁殖的影响

【目的】明确温度对微小花蝽Orius minutus生长发育和繁殖的影响。【方法】本研究以腐食酪螨Tyrophagus putresceniae为猎物,分别在5个恒温(15,20,25,30和35℃)条件下室内饲养,调查了温度对微小花蝽各虫态发育历期、存活率、成虫繁殖力以及种群参数的影响。【结果】在15~35℃范围内,各虫态平均发育历期均随温度升高而缩短,15℃下完成一个世代发育需要52.45 d,而35℃下仅需14.85 d。直线回归分析表明,微小花蝽世代发育起点温度为8.89℃,有效积温为359.20日·度。世代存活率和单雌平均产卵量均在25℃时最高,分别为17.07%和41.00粒。种群趋势指数在15℃和35℃下小于1,种群呈负增长;20~30℃下大于1,且25℃时最高,为3.92。净增殖率、内禀增长率和周限增长率均在25℃时最高,分别为3.32,0.04和1.04;种群世代周期以15℃时最长,为57.76 d,35℃时最短,为17.50 d。【结论】取食腐食酪螨的微小花蝽发育适宜温度范围为25~35℃,存活、繁殖和种群增长的最适温度均为25℃。这些结果为利用腐食酪螨人工饲养微小花蝽提供了基础参考数据。