醉马草水浸液对豌豆蚜触杀活性及种群增长的影响

为探讨醉马草水浸液对豌豆蚜触杀活性及种群增长的影响,采用带虫浸叶法比较不同生育期醉马草带菌（E+）和不带菌（E-）水浸液对豌豆蚜触杀活性及种群生命表,测定了豌豆蚜的死亡率及触杀后对其生殖期,平均繁殖力,繁殖率及生命表参数的影响。结果表明,不同生育期醉马草带菌（E+）水浸液触杀豌豆蚜后对其各项指标均有显著影响。在苗期时,E+水浸液触杀豌豆蚜后校正死亡率最高,繁殖力最低,内禀增长率（r_m=0.145 d^-1）和净生殖率（R₀=4.802头）均为最小值。在成熟期时,E+水浸液触杀豌豆蚜24 h、48 h和72 h后校正死亡率分别为26.15%,19.01%,9.07%;繁殖期（3.87 d）,平均繁殖力（8.80头）,繁殖率（1.40%）,内禀增长率（r_m=0.208 d^-1）和净生殖率（R₀=8.820头）。在枯黄期时,E+水浸液触杀豌豆蚜后校正死亡率最低,繁殖力最强,内禀增长率（r_m=0.247 d^-1）和净生殖率（R₀=13.647头）均为最大值。不同生育期醉马草E-水浸液触杀豌豆蚜后对其种群繁殖无显著影响,与对照差异不显著（P>0.05）。综上,苗期醉马草E+水浸液对豌豆蚜有较好的触杀效果,校正死亡率高,且触杀后当代繁殖力减弱,种群扩建时间延长,不利于其种群繁殖和增长;故苗期醉马草E+水浸液具有很好的杀虫潜力,所采用水浸液方法制备简单,成本低,可为新型植物源农药研发提供重要理论依据。     

“山水林田湖草生命共同体”要素关联性分析——以长白山地区为例

对“山水林田湖草生命共同体”各要素相互关系的深入理解是对其实行保护、系统治理的重要基础。本研究以长白山地区为研究对象,利用空间叠置分析法定量分析该地区“山水林田湖草生命共同体”各要素间的关联性,解构各要素的关系以及相互影响程度,并量化其依存关系。研究结果显示：研究区内各市人口数量、城镇面积与耕地面积呈显著正相关关系（人口数量：R²=0.789,P < 0.05; 城镇面积：R²=0.863,P < 0.05）;耕地的分布与地表水体的分布具有较高的空间相关性（r=0.812）,两者的数量关系也呈显著正相关（R²=0.96,P < 0.01）;区内河流分布、土壤类型与地形、地貌密切相关;区内各市水土流失面积与其森林覆盖率呈显著线性负相关关系（R²=0.824,P < 0.05）。由此可见,6个要素之间存在很明显的依存关系。因此,长白山地区“山水林田湖草生命共同体”的保护与修复应该重视各要素之间的联系,针对其系统性和整体性特征实施相应的保护和治理。     

河南济源马铁菊头蝠不同越冬期肠道寄生蠕虫群落比较

2005～2006年和2006～2007年冬季分别对济源市人工隧道马铁菊头蝠(Rhinolophusferrmequinum)越冬群消化道寄生蠕虫进行了调查并对其寄生蠕虫群落进行比较。结果显示,济源市人工隧道马铁菊头蝠越冬期消化道寄生蠕虫共有5种,2种吸虫,即济源中孔吸虫(Mesotretes jiyuanensis)和朝鲜斜睾吸虫(Plagiorchis koreanus),2种绦虫,即垦丁蝙蝠绦虫(Vampirolepis kengtingensis)和东北蝙蝠绦虫(V.toohokuensis),1种线虫,即比勒陀利亚圆钩线虫(Strongylacantha pretoriensis)。2006～2007年越冬期缺少了垦丁蝙蝠绦虫。2005～2006年越冬期总感染率为94.74%,吸虫和线虫的感染率分别为73.68%和63.18%,2006～2007年总感染率为91.30%,吸虫和线虫的感染率分别为78.26%和65.22%。两个越冬群感染平均强度和平均密度比较高的是济源中孔吸虫和比勒陀利亚圆钩线虫,优势种以济源中孔吸虫和比勒陀利亚圆钩线虫为主;所感染蝙蝠体内寄生2种蠕虫的蝙蝠个体在两个冬眠群中占蝙蝠总数的比例都比较高(约50%以上);虫体数量在30条以内的蝙蝠个体约占蝙蝠感染总数的75%以上。数量较多的朝鲜斜睾吸虫、济源中孔吸虫和比勒陀利亚圆钩线虫在越冬群马铁菊头蝠消化道内彼此间没有明显的协同或排斥作用,这3种寄生蠕虫的寄生事件应该是相互独立的。结果表明,济源市人工隧道越冬马铁菊头蝠群消化道寄生蠕虫感染率比较高,不同年度冬眠期消化道内寄生蠕虫除朝鲜斜睾吸虫的平均强度和平均密度差异显著之外,相同种类之间几乎没有差异,冬眠期蝙蝠寄生蠕虫的群落结构几乎没有变化。     

枯落物输入变化对云南松林地CO2释放的影响

为研究枯落物输入变化对云南松（Pinus yunnanensis）林地CO₂释放的影响。本研究于2018年3月至2020年2月,应用枯落物添加和去除实验（DIRT）,设置对照（CK）、双倍枯落物（DL）、去除枯落物（NL）、去除有机层和A层（O/A-Less）、去除根系（NR）和无输入（NI）6个处理水平,采用Li-6400便携式光合作用测量仪及TRIME-PICO 64/32土壤温度水分测定仪对不同处理样地每月的CO₂通量（R_s）、土壤温度和土壤水分（15cm）进行了测定。结果表明：（1）不同处理样地CO₂通量均呈现出明显的月变化,7至8月最高,1至4月最低,平均值表现为R_{s （DL）}=8.10 μmol m^-2 s^-1 > R_{s （CK）}=6.27 μmol m^-2 s^-1 > R_{s （NL）}=5.44 μmol m^-2 s^-1 > R_{s （NR）}=4.46 μmol m^-2 s^-1 > R_{s （O/A-Less）}=3.86 μmol m^-2 s^-1 > R_{s （NI）}=2.94 μmol m^-2 s^-1。（2）与CK相比,DL样地CO₂通量升高了29.12%,而去除地上枯落物和地下根系样地CO₂通量显著降低,CO₂通量平均变幅分别为α（NR）=-28.85%,α（NI）=-53.14%,α（O/A-Less）=-38.46%,α（NL）=-13.29%。（3）不同处理土壤水分和土壤温度均存在显著的月变化（P<0.01）,NL和O/A-Less的土壤水分显著低于CK,而其余处理与CK间无显著差异（P>0.05）;不同处理间土壤温度表现为NR和NI均显著高于CK,其余处理与CK间无显著差异（P>0.05）。（4）不同处理样地CO₂通量与土壤温度呈显著指数相关（P<0.01）,与土壤水分在NI和O/A-Less处理中无显著相关（P>0.05）;与CK相比,NI、O/A-Less和NL处理的Q₁₀增加,而NR和DL处理的Q₁₀则降低;不同处理林地CO₂通量与土壤水热因子双因素模型能更好的解释林地CO₂通量的变化。本研究表明枯落物不同处理通过改变土壤碳输入和土壤环境因子从而影响生态系统碳排放,研究结果可为未来气候变化和人为干扰下云南松林的碳循环提供基础数据。     

大兴安岭森林火烧恢复年限对土壤磷及其有效性的影响

林火是大兴安岭地区森林生态系统的重要影响因子,对地下土壤养分,特别是磷及其有效性变化长时间序列研究,将有助于林火后植被恢复管理、模型模拟及科学评价。选择呼中、南瓮河、双河、图强、塔河、加格达奇、满归等地区火后恢复2-50年样地48块,并以火烧区域周边相似地形地貌、未经火烧区域为配对对照样地,野外调查记录地形地貌和地理位置数据,室内分析土壤全磷和速效磷。配对t检验、冗余排序分析、趋势分析、离散性分析等处理相结合,试图找出火烧后土壤磷及其有效性变化特征。研究结果表明：（1）整体数据平均值及离散程度表明,火后全磷及速效磷均值均稍低于对照,火后二者的离散程度为37%-49%,低于对照样地6-22个百分点;区分不同恢复时间,配对t检验未发现火烧样地土壤磷与对照间的显著差异。（2）以火烧对照比值及差值进行趋势分析发现,相对于对照,火烧后全磷呈现先增加后降低的变化趋势（R²=0.89-0.95,P=0.07-0.15）,火后20-30年间开始低于对照样地。速效磷也呈类似变化趋势,但是相关性较低（R²=0.44-0.67,P=0.44-0.66）;速效磷占比年代变化趋势不明显（R²=0.08-0.12,P > 0.95）。（3）RDA排序分析表明,火烧导致恢复年限成为影响磷变化的最主要因素（15.3%）,其次是经度（10.7%）;而在对照样地中,纬度是土壤磷变化最关键影响因素,能够解释其变化总量的27.6%。研究结果为森林火后土壤养分管理以及森林演替生态评价提供重要参数。     

基于Illumina MiSeq测序技术对冰川棘豆(Oxytropis glacialis)不同组织内生菌多样性的研究

植物内生菌（Endophyte）在宿主植物组织中的分布规律是内生菌对外界适应的重要机制。基于Illumina MiSeq测序技术,对适应青藏高原极端环境的主要疯草植物-冰川棘豆叶和根组织中的内生菌16S rRNA、ITS rDNA进行高通量测序和生物信息学分析,通过明晰内生菌在冰川棘豆组织中的菌群结构、功能以及环境之间的关系,探讨了组织间内生菌的分布特征对冰川棘豆适应极端环境的可能影响。分析结果表明,冰川棘豆组织间共有菌属丰度占菌属总丰度90%以上,不同组织间形成了保守性内生细菌和特异性内生真菌共存的群落结构特点,植物组织结构和环境的影响可能为推动内生菌选择合适的组织生态位定植提供动力,其中土壤含水量显著影响内生细菌（R²=0.241,P=0.024）和内生真菌（R²=0.223,P=0.031）的组间Beta多样性,土壤pH值显著影响内生真菌（R²=0.571,P < 0.001）Alpha多样性丰富度指数,而环境因素对组织间存在显著差异的内生菌功能和营养型解释并不显著。综合认为,保守性与差异性的内生菌菌群结构和功能为植物不同组织适应极端环境提供帮助,这有利于冰川棘豆的生存与扩散。     

3种酰胺类稻田除草剂对克氏原螯虾的急性毒性

[目的] 研究稻虾共作模式条件下,稻田封闭除草剂对克氏原螯虾产生的急性毒性。[方法] 采用半静态试验方法,研究3种酰胺类除草剂（乙草胺、丙草胺和丁草胺）对克氏原螯虾的急性毒性,计算3种酰胺类除草剂对克氏原螯虾的安全浓度,并分析其LC₅₀衰减规律。[结果] 随着暴露时间和除草剂浓度的增加,虾体侧躺,步行足和游泳足活动频率降低,最终死亡。乙草胺对克氏原螯虾的96 h半致死浓度（LC₅₀）和安全浓度（SC）分别为0.0707和0.0146 mL·L^-1;丙草胺对克氏原螯虾的96 h LC₅₀和SC分别为0.0119和0.0021 mL·L^-1;丁草胺对克氏原螯虾的96h LC₅₀和SC分别为0.0073和0.0014 mL·L^-1。乙草胺、丙草胺及丁草胺除草剂LC₅₀随着暴露时间延长呈下降趋势,符合双曲线衰减模型,回归方程分别为：① y₁=2.0840x^-0.7380（R²=0.9973）;② y₂=0.1106x^-0.4930（R²=0.9872）;③ y₃=0.2236x^-0.7480（R²=0.9990）。克氏原螯虾对3种除草剂的敏感性由高到低依次为：丁草胺 > 丙草胺 > 乙草胺。[结论] 乙草胺和丙草胺可在稻田综合种养生产过程中按常规剂量使用,而丁草胺按常规剂量使用可能存在较大的风险。     

回声定位蝙蝠耳蜗毛细胞静纤毛的长度特征

描电子显微镜下观察爪哇大足鼠耳蝠(Myotis adversus)、白腹管鼻蝠(Murina leucogaster)、山蝠(Nyctalus plancyi)和马铁菊头蝠(Rhinolophus ferrumequinum)耳蜗毛细胞静纤毛, 测量其长度, 并与五种非回声定位哺乳动物耳蜗静纤毛长度进行比较. 研究发现: 回声定位蝙蝠耳蜗外毛细胞静纤毛较非回声定位哺乳动物相应位置的短; 回声定位蝙蝠耳蜗内毛细胞静纤毛长于其外毛细胞静纤毛, 而非回声定位哺乳动物内毛细胞静纤毛长度并无此规律. 我们认为, 回声定位蝙蝠耳蜗听毛细胞静纤毛长度的特点可能是对高频声波和回声定位适应的结果.     

谷物蛋白对白酒发酵过程中微生物群落及其代谢多样性的调控

[背景] 在白酒发酵过程中,原料中的谷物蛋白可为微生物的生长提供氮源等营养物质,进而形成多种代谢产物。谷物蛋白可分为清蛋白、球蛋白、醇溶蛋白和谷蛋白。然而,谷物蛋白对微生物多样性及其代谢产物多样性的调控尚不明确。[目的] 揭示白酒发酵过程中与微生物多样性及其代谢产物多样性显著相关的关键谷物蛋白种类及其调控作用。[方法] 通过Osborne法测定不同品种高粱中谷物蛋白的组成;采用多组学联用技术解析4种高粱在发酵过程中的微生物菌群多样性及代谢产物多样性;通过模拟发酵揭示原料中影响微生物群落及其代谢多样性的关键蛋白。[结果] 4种高粱中的谷物蛋白组成存在显著差异（ANOSIM：R=0.85,P=0.001）;4种高粱在发酵第5天时,S4高粱的细菌多样性显著（P<0.05）高于其他3种高粱,S3高粱中微生物的代谢产物多样性显著（P<0.05）高于其他3种高粱;清蛋白和球蛋白含量与发酵第5天的优势细菌多样性（R²=0.34,P<0.05;R²=0.58,P<0.05）和代谢产物多样性呈显著正相关（R²=0.58,P<0.05;R²=0.36,P<0.05）,被定义为关键蛋白;模拟发酵实验验证了优势细菌多样性和代谢产物多样性可随着2种关键蛋白即清蛋白和球蛋白含量的升高而升高。当清蛋白含量在3.0 g/L时,优势细菌多样性及代谢产物多样性可分别达到0.72和0.65;当球蛋白含量在3.0 g/L时,优势细菌多样性及代谢产物多样性可分别达到0.66和0.81。[结论] 研究揭示了酿造原料中的清蛋白和球蛋白对发酵过程中细菌多样性及代谢产物多样性的调控作用,为提高白酒发酵的可控性及质量提供了依据。     

雅砻江中游厚唇裸重唇鱼种群结构与生长特性

于2020年10月至2021年3月在四川省甘孜藏族自治州雅砻江江段（雅江县至新龙县）采集厚唇裸重唇鱼（Gymnodiptychus pachycheilus）样本189尾,用以研究雅砻江中游厚唇裸重唇鱼的种群结构与生长特性,分析其野生资源现状、影响因素及保护对策。结果显示雅砻江中游厚唇裸重唇鱼调查种群由3-9龄组成,其中优势年龄组为4-6龄,占样本总数的87.83%;种群平均体长和体重分别为264.1 mm和250.5 g,雌雄性比为1.48：1,雌性和雄性最小性成熟个体年龄均为4龄,对应体长分别为202.0 mm和220.0 mm,对应体重分别为105.0 g和133.0 g;种群的平均肥满度为1.22,体长（L）与体重（W）关系式为W=5.00×10^-6L^3.146（R²=0.948,n=189）,属于匀速生长类型;种群体长和体重的Von Bertalanffy生长方程分别为L_t=727.5[1-e^{-0.097（t-0.508）}],W_t=5224.9[1-e^{-0.097（t-0.508）}]^3.146;生长拐点年龄为12.4龄,对应的体长和体重分别为505.2 mm和1568.3 g。研究表明目前雅砻江中游厚唇裸重唇鱼表现出年龄结构趋于低龄化,体型趋于小型化的种群结构特点,且具有自然寿命较长、生长缓慢、渐近体长较大等生长特性,加之雅砻江饵料基础和水文条件较差等因素,推测雅砻江中游厚唇裸重唇鱼所具备的种群增长潜力较低,其野生资源的自然恢复面临挑战。因此,应尽快开展雅砻江流域厚唇裸重唇鱼野生资源的保护工作。     

Seasonal variation in use of winter roosts by five bat species in south-east Finland

We studied seasonal variation in the use of winter roosts by five bat species (Eptesicus nilssonii, Myotis brandtii/mystacinus, Myotis daubentonii and Plecotus auritus) in south-east Finland during the winters of 2003/2004 and 2004/2005. At the beginning of the bat hibernation season all species used higher temperatures and humidity than by the season’s end. Hibernacula were at their coldest in mid-hibernation season and became warmer towards the end of the season. However, no species hibernated in warmer locations at the end of the season than in mid-season. Results suggest that bats tend to use different strategies throughout the hibernation season, minimizing the cost of hibernation early in the season by hibernating in warmer locations and minimizing energy expenditure later in the season by hibernating in colder locations. M. brandtii/mystacinus were found in locations with stable temperature and humidity, moving to increasingly stable conditions (chambers, crevices, clusters, ceiling) towards spring. All other species hibernated in more variable microclimates throughout the hibernation season.     

Impact of predation by a cave-dwelling bat, Rhinolophus ferrumequinum, on the diapausing population of a troglophilic moth, Goniocraspidum preyeri

The predation pressure of the greater horseshoe bat, Rhinolophus ferrumequinum, on the diapausing population of the noctuid moth, Goniocraspidum preyeri, was examined at an abandoned mine in central Japan. These bats did not prey on the moths in summer. The number of moths preyed on was largest in March. More than 60% of the diapausing moths were eaten by only three or four bats, which accounted for over 90% of all the moth deaths. This moth was an important source of food at the end of the hibernating period when the bat had already used most of its stored subcutaneous fat. The predation on G. preyeri may have raised the overwintering success rate of R. ferrumequinum.     

Comparison of Brain Transcriptome of the Greater Horseshoe Bats (Rhinolophus ferrumequinum) in Active and Torpid Episodes

Hibernation is an energy-saving strategy which is widely adopted by heterothermic mammals to survive in the harsh environment. The greater horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus ferrumequinum) can hibernate for a long period in the hibernation season. However, the global gene expression changes between hibernation and non-hibernation season in the greater horseshoe bat remain largely unknown. We herein reported a comprehensive survey of differential gene expression in the brain between winter hibernating and summer active greater horseshoe bats using next-generation sequencing technology. A total of 90,314,174 reads were generated and we identified 1,573 differentially expressed genes between active and torpid states. Interestingly, we found that differentially expressed genes are over-represented in some GO categories (such as metabolic suppression, cellular stress responses and oxidative stress), which suggests neuroprotective strategies might play an important role in hibernation control mechanisms. Our results determined to what extent the brain tissue of the greater horseshoe bats differ in gene expression between summer active and winter hibernating states and provided comprehensive insights into the adaptive mechanisms of bat hibernation.     

Antioxidant Defenses in the Brains of Bats during Hibernation

Hibernation is a strategy used by some mammals to survive a cold winter. Small hibernating mammals, such as squirrels and hamsters, use species- and tissue-specific antioxidant defenses to cope with oxidative insults during hibernation. Little is known about antioxidant responses and their regulatory mechanisms in hibernating bats. We found that the total level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) in the brain of each of the two distantly related hibernating bats M. ricketti and R. ferrumequinum at arousal was lower than that at torpid or active state. We also found that the levels of malondialdehyde (product of lipid peroxidation) of the two hibernating species of bats were significantly lower than those of non-hibernating bats R. leschenaultia and C. sphinx. This observation suggests that bats maintain a basal level of ROS/RNS that does no harm to the brain during hibernation. Results of Western blotting showed that hibernating bats expressed higher amounts of antioxidant proteins than non-hibernating bats and that M. ricketti bats upregulated the expression of some enzymes to overcome oxidative stresses, such as superoxide dismutase, glutathione reductase, and catalase. In contrast, R. ferrumequinum bats maintained a relatively high level of superoxide dismutase 2, glutathione reductase, and thioredoxin-2 throughout the three different states of hibernation cycles. The levels of glutathione (GSH) were higher in M. ricketti bats than in R. ferrumequinum bats and were significantly elevated in R. ferrumequinum bats after torpor. These data suggest that M. ricketti bats use mainly antioxidant enzymes and R. ferrumequinum bats rely on both enzymes and low molecular weight antioxidants (e.g., glutathione) to avoid oxidative stresses during arousal. Furthermore, Nrf2 and FOXOs play major roles in the regulation of antioxidant defenses in the brains of bats during hibernation. Our study revealed strategies used by bats against oxidative insults during hibernation.     

Hibernation in warm hibernacula by free-ranging Formosan leaf-nosed bats, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Hipposideros terasensis</Emphasis>, in subtropical Taiwan

The subtropical Formosan leaf-nosed bats, Hipposideros terasensis (Hipposideridae), show little activity during winter. It has never been determined whether in winter they exhibit hibernation and multi-day periods of low body temperature. The objectives of this study were to understand the winter activity pattern of H. terasensis and to examine whether it enters hibernation during winter. We monitored the skin temperature (T _sk) of nine free-ranging H. terasensis by attaching temperature-sensitive transmitters during the winters of 2007–2008 and 2008–2009. The results showed that H. terasensis entered hibernation from late December to early March. H. terasensis, however, differs from temperate hibernating bats in several ways: (1) it is capable of hibernation at roost temperature (T _r) and T _sk > 20°C; (2) hibernation at high T _r and T _sk does not lead to a relatively high arousal frequency; and (3) adults do not increase body mass in autumn prior to hibernation. To test the hypothesis that H. terasensis feeds frequently during the hibernation period to compensate for the high energetic demands of hibernating in warm hibernacula, we recorded the number and timing of bats that emerged from and entered into a hibernaculum, which contained more than 1,000 bats. From 30 December 2007 to 29 February 2008, an average of only 8.4 bats (<1%) per night (29 nights) emerged from the hibernaculum. Adult bats lost an average of 13–14% of body mass during an approximately 70-day hibernation period. We suggest that H. terasensis might have remarkably low torpid metabolic rates during hibernation.     

Adaptation of Phenylalanine and Tyrosine Catabolic Pathway to Hibernation in Bats

Some mammals hibernate in response to harsh environments. Although hibernating mammals may metabolize proteins, the nitrogen metabolic pathways commonly activated during hibernation are not fully characterized. In contrast to the hypothesis of amino acid preservation, we found evidence of amino acid metabolism as three of five key enzymes, including phenylalanine hydroxylase (PAH), homogentisate 1,2-dioxygenase (HGD), fumarylacetoacetase (FAH), involved in phenylalanine and tyrosine catabolism were co-upregulated during hibernation in two distantly related species of bats, Myotis ricketti and Rhinolophus ferrumequinum. In addition, the levels of phenylalanine in the livers of these bats were significantly decreased during hibernation. Because phenylalanine and tyrosine are both glucogenic and ketogenic, these results indicate the role of this catabolic pathway in energy supply. Since any deficiency in the catabolism of these two amino acids can cause accumulations of toxic metabolites, these results also suggest the detoxification role of these enzymes during hibernation. A higher selective constraint on PAH, HPD, and HGD in hibernators than in non-hibernators was observed, and hibernators had more conserved amino acid residues in each of these enzymes than non-hibernators. These conserved amino acid residues are mostly located in positions critical for the structure and activity of the enzymes. Taken together, results of this work provide novel insights in nitrogen metabolism and removal of harmful metabolites during bat hibernation.     

Brevity is prevalent in bat short-range communication

Animal communication follows many coding schemes. Less is known about the coding strategy for signal length and rates of use in animal vocal communication. A generalized brevity (negative relation between signal length and frequency of use) is innovatively explored but remains controversial in animal vocal communication. We tested brevity for short-range social and distress sounds from four echolocating bats: adult black-bearded tomb bat Taphozous melanopogon, Mexican free-tailed bat Tadarida brasiliensis, adult greater horseshoe bat Rhinolophus ferrumequinum, and adult least horseshoe bat Rhinolophus pusillus. There was a negative association between duration and number of social but not distress calls emitted. The most frequently emitted social calls were brief, while most distress calls were long. Brevity or lengthiness was consistently selected in vocal communications for each species. Echolocating bats seem to have convergent coding strategy for communication calls. The results provide the evidence of efficient coding in bat social vocalizations, and lay the basis of future researches on the convergence for neural control on bats’ communication calls.     

Summer hibernation induced in ground squirrels (Citellus tridecemlineatus) by urine or plasma from hibernating bats (Myotis lucifugus or Eptesicus fuscus)

Summer hibernation induced in ground squirrels (Citellus tridecemlineatus) by urine or plasma from hibernating bats (Myotis lucifugus or Eptesicus fuscus). Summer hibernation in the thirteen-lined ground squirrel can be induced by intravenous injection of urine or blood plasma previously isolated from winter hibernating little brown bats (M. lucifugus) or big brown bats (E. fuscus). Urine- and plasma-injected ground squirrels kept at 8 °C hibernated earlier, longer, and deeper (as indicated by core temperature and respiratory rate measurements) than control ground squirrels injected with saline. This successful cross-order induction of hibernation demonstrates that the hibernation-inducing trigger (HIT) may be present in nonrodent mammals.     

Ecology of natural hibernation in the marsupial mountain pygmy-possum (Burramys parvus)

The hibernating marsupial mountain pygmy-possum (Burramys parvus, 40 g) has to raise its slow-growing offspring during a short alpine summer. Only females provide parental care, while after mating males emigrate to marginal habitats often at lower altitudes which can sustain only low possum densities. We predicted that the hibernation strategies in mountain pygmy-possums are distinct from those of similar-sized placental hibernators, because of the developmental constraints in marsupials and because hibernation differs between the sexes. Using temperature-sensitive radio transmitters, we studied the hibernation patterns of free-living male and female mountain pygmy-possums living in a north- and a south-facing boulder field (Kosciusko National Park) for two consecutive winters. Individual possums commenced hibernation several months before the snow season. As in other hibernators, torpor in the mountain pygmy-possum was interrupted by periodic arousals which occurred most often during the late afternoon. Torpor bouts initially lasted a few days when the hibernacula temperature (T _hib) ranged from 4 to 7°C. As the hibernation season progressed, torpor bouts became longer and possum body temperatures (T _b) approached 2°C. The T _bs of females were significantly lower and torpor bouts were longer in the second half of the hibernation season than in males. Between torpor bouts, both sexes were often active and left hibernacula for periods of up to 5 days. Especially during the first months of the hibernation season, possums also frequently changed hibernacula sites probably in an attempt to select a site with a more suitable microclimate. Emergence from hibernation was closely coupled with the disappearance of snow from the possum habitat (September 1995, October 1996) and the limited fat stores probably dictate an opportunistic spring emergence. However, in 1995, spring was early and males emerged significantly earlier than females. In 1996, when snow melt was delayed, this difference vanished. Testes are regressed in males during hibernation and the time needed for testes growth and spermatogenesis favours an earlier emergence for males which was probably achieved by their preference for the more sun exposed north-facing boulder field. A sexual dimorphism in hibernation strategies and spring emergence therefore enables mountain pygmy-possums to cope with their harsh alpine environment. Received: 22 May 1997 / Accepted: 21 August 1997