北草蜥个体发育过程中头部两性异形及食性的变化

报道了北草蜥（Ｔａｋｙｄｒｏｍｕｓ ｓｅｐｔｅｎｔｒｉｏｎａｌｉｓ）的头部大小两性异形和食性在个体发育过程中的变化,讨论该种两性异形的进化选择压力。北草晰成体体长无显著的两性差异,两性异形主要表现为雄性个体有较大的头部（头长和头宽）。头部大小的两性异形在孵出幼体就已经存在。头部随ＳＶＬ的增长速率在个体发育的不同联合体是不同的,并随个体发育的进行变得更为显著。协方差分析显示,成年雌体特定ＳＶＬ的头部     

南草蜥和南滑蜥断尾及再生的研究

研究肇庆地区南草蜥和南滑蜥断尾和再生形态特征, 结果显示, 断尾位置、再生时间以及两者的交互作用对南滑蜥和南草蜥的尾长均具有显著影响。在自然断尾下, 南滑蜥和南草蜥较多的断尾位置位于近基部(断尾1/2), 断尾个体分别约占29.3%(87/297)和49.2%(29/59)。实验表明, 二者的尾自切处在2 天后开始愈合并长出再生尾, 南滑蜥在远基部(全断尾)的再生速度最高, 而南草蜥则在近基部(断尾3/4), 其尾再生率都明显高于南滑蜥。     

新疆岩蜥的两性异形

为研究新疆岩蜥Laudakia stoliczkana的两性异形规律,采集新疆维吾尔自治区阿克苏地区温宿县24号成体标本进行12项形态学指标测量,采用独立样本t检验和协方差分析,同时基于几何形态学对其头部侧面形态进行分析。新疆岩蜥头体长在两性间无显著差异;协方差分析结果表明,两性个体的头部、附肢、尾长之间均没有显著差异,雌性腋跨距显著大于雄性（P<0.05）;几何形态学分析表明,两性个体的头侧几何形态没有显著差异。研究结果支持繁殖力选择是造成新疆岩蜥两性异形的主要原因。雌性新疆岩蜥倾向于通过更大的腋跨距增加怀卵数量来降低后代被捕食的概率。     

海南变色树蜥个体发育中形态和食性的变化

研究变色树蜥（Calotes versicolor)头,尾大小和食性在个体发育过程中的变化,以及头,尾大小两性异性的个体发生,成体体长（SVL）无显著的两性差异,两性异形主要表现为雄性个体有较大的头部（头长和头宽）和尾部。头,尾大小的两性异形在初生幼体就已存在,并随个体发育的进行变得更加显著。不同年龄组两性个体头长以及雌体头宽随SVL呈同速增长;雄性头宽随SVL呈异速增长,表现为雄性头宽的增长速率在个体发育过程中逐渐增大。头,尾部的相对大小在个体发育过程中有显著的变化,初生幼体头部相对较大,尾部相对较小,这种形态特征是胚胎优先保证生态学意义更为显著的部分（如头部）生长的结果,有利于初生幼体的早期生存和生长,不同性别和年龄组的变色树蜥摄入食物的种类及各种食物在摄入食物中所的比例有一定程度的差别,因而食物生态位宽度和重叠度有一定程度的差别,然而没有直接的证据表明头部大小的两性异形能导致两性食物生态位的明显分离。     

南草蜥核型的初步研究

南草蜥眼斑亚种 (Ｔａｋｙｄｒｏｍｕｓｓｅｘｌｉｎｅａｔｕｓｏｃｅｌｌａ ｔｕｓ)隶属于蜥蜴科 (Ｌａｃｅｒｔｉｄａｅ)草蜥属。该属我国已知有 8种〔1〕,其中只北草蜥 (Ｔ ｓｅｐｔｅｎｔｒｉｏｎａｌｉｓ) 〔2〕和白条草蜥 (Ｔ .ｗｏｌｔｅｒｉ) 〔3〕见有核型数据。南草蜥在我国分布于福建、湖南、贵州、云南、广东、海南和广西 ,其核型未见有人报道。本文对♂性南草蜥的核型作了初步研究。1　材料和方法实验动物南草蜥 2♂ ,采自福州仓山。采用骨髓细胞直接制备染色体标本。着丝粒位置按Ｌｅｖａｎ等(1 964 )的标准确定。2　结果和分…     

孵化温度对白条草蜥孵出幼体大小、形态和运动表现的影响

实验用白条草蜥(Takydrous wolteri）卵由1999年和2000年4月捕自安徽滁州的19条成年雌体产出。用4个恒定温度（24-33℃）孵化白条草蜥卵,检测孵化温度对孵出幼体大小、形态和运动表现的影响。孵化卵从环境中吸不导致生量增加,卵重量增加与卵初始重量和孵化温度有关。24、27、30和33℃孵化期的平均值分别为41.9、30.6、6.25和22.6d。温度显著影响孵化成功率及孵出幼体的湿重、躯干干重和剩余卵黄干重,但对孵出幼体的性别、体长、尾长和干重无显著影响。24℃和27℃孵出幼体湿重和躯干干重大于33℃孵出幼体,剩余卵黄干则小于33℃孵出幼体;30℃和33℃孵出幼体的湿重、躯干干重和剩余卵黄干重无显著差异。孵化温度显著影响孵出幼体一些局部形态特征：24℃和27℃孵出幼体头长和头宽矫正值显著大于高温（33℃）孵出幼体,24℃孵出幼体耳径正值一般小于较高温度孵出的幼体。疾跑速与幼体体长成正相关,与幼体尾长和状态无关。高温孵出幼体运动能力较差。雄笥幼体腹鳞行数少于雌性幼体,尾长和后肢长大于雌性幼体,这些特征的两性差异与孵化温度无关。孵化热环境能诱导白条草蜥部分表型特征的变异,这些特征的变异可能对个体的适应性具有长期的影响。     

广东肇庆北岭山南草蜥生态习性初步观察

2004～2005年观察研究了肇庆北岭山地区南草蜥（Takydromus sexlineatus meridionalis Gunther）的生态习性。成体全长（TL）245．104mm,尾长为体长的3．9倍,尾再生能力强。12月到翌年2月冬眠,14℃以下完全入眠,20℃以上陆续出蛰,3～5月为活动盛期。性成熟雌体年产多窝柔性壳卵,每窝2-4枚,卵重0．1773g,长径为8.855mm,短径为6．157mm,孵化期为40天左右,5月出现当年幼体。     

浙江丽水中国石龙子的食性、两性异形和雌性繁殖

丽水分布的中国石龙子（Ｅｕｍｅｃｅｓ ｃｈｉｎｅｎｓｉｓ）摄入的食物均为无脊椎动物,分别属于环节、软体和节肢动物,涉及３０余科,成体和幼体的食物生态位宽度分别为７．２６和６．６９,成体的幼体的食物生态们重叠度为０．５９。性成熟雄性个体大于雌体。成雄和幼体的头长和头宽随体长ＳＶＬ的增长速率大于成雌,成雄头长随ＳＶＬ的增长速度显著大于幼体,成雌和幼体的头长随ＳＶＬ的增长速率无显著差异。成雄头部大于成雌     

南草蜥和福建后棱蛇分布北扩至浙江

浙江省景宁畲族自治县,地处浙西南,望东洋(俗名懵懂洋)高山湿地位于该县南面,海拔1352 m,北纬27°42'30\"～27°45'20\",东经119°41'15\",属洞宫山脉中段,东临泰顺乌岩岭国家级自然保护区,南与福建省接壤,湿地四周山体环抱,形成椭圆形盘状,总面积60 hm2,是浙江省(亦是华东)最大的典型内陆丘陵高山湿地.     

吐鲁番沙虎头、体大小的两性异形及其食性的季节性变化

于2008年4月—2009年5月在新疆中国科学院吐鲁番沙漠植物园,捕获155号吐鲁番沙虎(Teratoscincus roborowskii)活体,对其两性异形和食性季节变化进行了研究,并收集单独暂养的吐鲁番沙虎粪便167份用于食性分析,同时测量各项形态学指标,切趾标记后放回原捕获地。结果表明:吐鲁番沙虎成体有两性异形,表现为雄性个体有较宽的头部,成体雌性具有较大的腋胯距;不同年龄组的两性个体头长和雄性个体的头宽随吻肛长都呈同速增长,只有雌性头宽的增长速率在个体发育过程中逐渐减小;吐鲁番沙虎摄入的动物性食物均为节肢动物,植物性食物为刺山柑果实。4—5月的生态位宽度为4.15,6—7月的生态位宽度为4.23,8—9月的生态位宽度为4.48。其中6—7月和8—9月的生态位重叠度最高。     

Geographical Variation in Body Size and Sexual Size Dimorphism in an Australian Lizard,Boulenger's Skink (Morethia boulengeri)

Ecogeographical rules help explain spatial and temporal patterns in intraspecific body size. However, many of these rules, when applied to ectothermic organisms such as reptiles, are controversial and require further investigation. To explore factors that influence body size in reptiles, we performed a heuristic study to examine body size variation in an Australian lizard, Boulenger''s Skink Morethia boulengeri from agricultural landscapes in southern New South Wales, south-eastern Australia. We collected tissue and morphological data on 337 adult lizards across a broad elevation and climate gradient. We used a model-selection procedure to determine if environmental or ecological variables best explained body size variation. We explored the relationship between morphology and phylogenetic structure before modeling candidate variables from four broad domains: (1) geography (latitude, longitude and elevation), (2) climate (temperature and rainfall), (3) habitat (vegetation type, number of logs and ground cover attributes), and (4) management (land use and grazing history). Broad phylogenetic structure was evident, but on a scale larger than our study area. Lizards were sexually dimorphic, whereby females had longer snout-vent length than males, providing support for the fecundity selection hypothesis. Body size variation in M. boulengeri was correlated with temperature and rainfall, a pattern consistent with larger individuals occupying cooler and more productive parts of the landscape. Climate change forecasts, which predict warmer temperature and increased aridity, may result in reduced lizard biomass and decoupling of trophic interactions with potential implications for community organization and ecosystem function.     

Molecular Phylogeny of Echiuran Worms (Phylum: Annelida) Reveals Evolutionary Pattern of Feeding Mode and Sexual Dimorphism

The Echiura, or spoon worms, are a group of marine worms, most of which live in burrows in soft sediments. This annelid-like animal group was once considered as a separate phylum because of the absence of segmentation, although recent molecular analyses have placed it within the annelids. In this study, we elucidate the interfamily relationships of echiuran worms and their evolutionary pattern of feeding mode and sexual dimorphism, by performing molecular phylogenetic analyses using four genes (18S, 28S, H3, and COI) of representatives of all extant echiuran families. Our results suggest that Echiura is monophyletic and comprises two unexpected groups: [Echiuridae+Urechidae+Thalassematidae] and [Bonelliidae+Ikedidae]. This grouping agrees with the presence/absence of marked sexual dimorphism involving dwarf males and the paired/non-paired configuration of the gonoducts (genital sacs). Furthermore, the data supports the sister group relationship of Echiuridae and Urechidae. These two families share the character of having anal chaetae rings around the posterior trunk as a synapomorphy. The analyses also suggest that deposit feeding is a basal feeding mode in echiurans and that filter feeding originated once in the common ancestor of Urechidae. Overall, our results contradict the currently accepted order-level classification, especially in that Echiuroinea is polyphyletic, and provide novel insights into the evolution of echiuran worms.     

Sexual Dimorphism and Population Differences in Structural Properties of Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) Wing and Tail Feathers

Sexual selection and aerodynamic forces affecting structural properties of the flight feathers of birds are poorly understood. Here, we compared the structural features of the innermost primary wing feather (P1) and the sexually dimorphic outermost (Ta6) and monomorphic second outermost (Ta5) tail feathers of barn swallows (Hirundo rustica) from a Romanian population to investigate how sexual selection and resistance to aerodynamic forces affect structural differences among these feathers. Furthermore, we compared structural properties of Ta6 of barn swallows from six European populations. Finally, we determined the relationship between feather growth bars width (GBW) and the structural properties of tail feathers. The structure of P1 indicates strong resistance against aerodynamic forces, while the narrow rachis, low vane density and low bending stiffness of tail feathers suggest reduced resistance against airflow. The highly elongated Ta6 is characterized by structural modifications such as large rachis width and increased barbule density in relation to the less elongated Ta5, which can be explained by increased length and/or high aerodynamic forces acting at the leading tail edge. However, these changes in Ta6 structure do not allow for full compensation of elongation, as reflected by the reduced bending stiffness of Ta6. Ta6 elongation in males resulted in feathers with reduced resistance, as shown by the low barb density and reduced bending stiffness compared to females. The inconsistency in sexual dimorphism and in change in quality traits of Ta6 among six European populations shows that multiple factors may contribute to shaping population differences. In general, the difference in quality traits between tail feathers cannot be explained by the GBW of feathers. Our results show that the material and structural properties of wing and tail feathers of barn swallows change as a result of aerodynamic forces and sexual selection, although the result of these changes can be contrasting.     

Feeding Habits and Interspecific Feeding Associations of Caranx Latus (Carangidae) in a Subtropical Reef

I studied the feeding behavior and diet of the carangid jack Caranx latus in a subtropical reef at Búzios Island on the southeastern Brazilian coast. Caranx latus foraged alone or in small groups of up to three individuals during daytime employing two main feeding styles: searching for prey while swimming in mid-water and following individuals of other fish species which disturbed the substrate while foraging among the rocks. The labrid wrasse Bodianus rufus was the main fish species followed by the jack. The jack feeds on crustaceans and fishes some of which are benthic rocky bottom dwellers and are caught during following. The behavioral flexibility of C. latus enables this fish to consume both crustaceans from the water column and benthic rocky dweller fishes. There is little dietary overlap between C. latus and the followed B. rufus. The interspecific feeding associations could be regarded as advantageous for C. latus allowing access to a broader range of prey categories and increasing the food intake through the consumption of large benthic fish prey     

Sexual Dimorphism,Female Reproductive Characteristics and Egg Incubation in an Oviparous Forest Skink(Sphenomorphus incognitus) from South China

We studied sexual dimorphism and female reproduction in an oviparous forest skink(Sphenomorphus incognitus)from South China.We incubated eggs under five thermal regimes(22,25,28,25±3 and 27±5°C)to examine the effects of constant versus fluctuating temperatures on incubation length and hatchling morphology.In our sample the largest male and female were 110 mm and 108 mm snout-vent length(SVL),respectively.Adult males and females did not differ in mean SVL;adult males were larger in head size(both length and width),longer in foreand hind-limb lengths and shorter in abdomen length than females of the same SVL.Accordingly,we conclude that S.incognitus is a sexually monomorphic species in terms of SVL but shows sexual dimorphism in head size,abdomen length and appendage length.Females laid a single clutch of 3-10 eggs per breeding season from early May to midAugust,with larger females generally laying more(but not always larger)eggs per clutch than did smaller ones.Embryonic stages at laying ranged from Dufaure and Hubert's(1961)stage 31 to 32,with a mean stage of 31.3.The positive relationship between clutch mass and female SVL was not significant.The offspring size-number trade-off does not exist in S.incognitus,as revealed by the fact that egg mass was independent of relative fecundity.Incubation length decreased as temperature increased,and stable temperatures resulted in delayed hatching.Hatchlings incubated under the five thermal regimes did not differ from each other in any examined trait,suggesting that S.incognitus is among oviparous reptilian species where incubation temperature has no role in modifying hatchling morphology as long as eggs are not exposed to extreme temperatures for prolonged periods of time.     

新疆阿勒泰地区粉红椋鸟的繁殖生态及雏鸟食性研究

研究了新疆阿勒泰地区粉红椋鸟的繁殖生态学及雏鸟的食性.粉红椋鸟每窝产卵数2～6枚不等,育雏高峰在每日的9:30～13:30,孵化率为96.45%±18.95%,雏鸟成活率为89.38%±14.99%,觅食范围在4 km半径范围内,雏鸟多以直翅目(蝗虫)为食(占94.07%),也有少量鳞翅目和鞘翅目昆虫.阿勒泰地区粉红椋鸟的产卵日期晚于其他地区,孵化率及雏鸟成活率高于其他地区.建议在草原上设置砖堆招引粉红椋鸟,其效果高于石堆巢.     

Genetic and Physiological Characterization of the Intestinal Bacterial Microbiota of Bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus) with Three Different Feeding Habits

Bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus) in Lake Biwa, Japan, feed on benthic invertebrates (benthivorous type), aquatic plants (herbivorous type), and zooplankton (planktivorous type). To evaluate the effect of food on intestinal bacterial microbiota, we characterized and compared the intestinal microbiota of these three types of bluegill in terms of community-level physiological profile (CLPP) and genetic structure. The CLPP was analyzed using Biolog MicroPlates (Biolog, Inc., Hayward, CA, USA), and multivariate analysis of variance revealed that the CLPP of intestinal microbiota differed significantly between any pairs of the three types of bluegill. The genetic profiles were analyzed by temperature gradient gel electrophoresis of polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-amplified 16S rDNA fragments, and multidimensional scaling indicated the existence of specific intestinal bacterial structures for both the benthivorous and the planktivorous types. These results suggest that the host's feeding habit can be one factor controlling the intestinal microbiota of fish in the natural environment.     

Sexual Dimorphism in Melanin Pigmentation,Feather Coloration and Its Heritability in the Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)

Melanin is the main pigment in animal coloration and considerable variation in the concentrations of the two melanin forms (pheo- and eumlanin) in pigmented tissues exists among populations and individuals. Melanin-based coloration is receiving increasing attention particularly in socio-sexual communication contexts because the melanocortin system has been hypothesized to provide a mechanistic basis for covariation between coloration and fitness traits. However, with few notable exceptions, little detailed information is available on inter-individual and inter-population variation in melanin pigmentation and on its environmental, genetic and ontogenetic components. Here, we investigate melanin-based coloration in an Italian population of a passerine bird, the barn swallow (Hirundo rustica rustica), its sex- and age-related variation, and heritability. The concentrations of eu- and pheomelanin in the throat (brown) and belly (white-to-brownish) feathers differed between sexes but not according to age. The relative concentration of either melanin (Pheo:Eu) differed between sexes in throat but not in belly feathers, and the concentrations in males compared to females were larger in belly than in throat feathers. There were weak correlations between the concentrations of melanins within as well as among plumage regions. Coloration of belly feathers was predicted by the concentration of both melanins whereas coloration of throat feathers was only predicted by pheomelanin in females. In addition, Pheo:Eu predicted coloration of throat feathers in females and that of belly feathers in males. Finally, we found high heritability of color of throat feathers. Melanization was found to differ from that recorded in Hirundo rustica rustica from Scotland or from H. r. erythrogaster from North America. Hence, present results show that pigmentation strategies vary in a complex manner according to sex and plumage region, and also among geographical populations, potentially reflecting adaptation to different natural and sexual selection regimes, and that some coloration components seem to be highly heritable.     

Feeding Habits of Percnon gibbesi (H. Milne Edwards, 1853) in the Sicily Strait

The subtropical grapsid crab Percnon gibbesi (H. Milne Edwards, 1853) is one of the most recent alien decapods found in the Mediterranean, where it was discovered at Linosa (Pelagie Islands, Sicily Strait) in summer 1999. At present, the invasion of this species has been recorded in several other insular localities. We studied the feeding habits of the crab in an attempt to understand its success in the Mediterranean. The morphological characteristics of the chela, the feeding adaptations of the gastric mill and the analysis of stomach contents indicate that P. gibbesi is a strictly herbivorous species, a characteristic not shared with any other large-sized infralittoral Mediterranean crab.     

Male-Biased Sexual Size Dimorphism,Resource Defense Polygyny,and Multiple Paternity in the Emei Moustache Toad (Leptobrachium boringii)

We tested the hypotheses that the Emei moustache toad (Leptobrachium boringii) exhibits resource defense polygyny and that combat led to the evolution of male-biased sexual size dimorphism. Between February and March of 2011 and 2012, 26 female and 55 male L. boringii from Mount Emei UNESCO World Heritage Site, Sichuan, China, were observed throughout the breeding season. Prior to the breeding season, males grow 10–16 keratinized maxillary nuptial spines, which fall off once the season has ended. Throughout this time, males construct and defend aquatic nests where they produce advertisement calls to attract females. In a natural setting, we documented 14 cases involving a total of 22 males where males used their moustaches for aggressive interaction, and nest takeover was observed on seven occasions. Males were also observed to possess injuries resulting from combat. Genetic analysis using microsatellite DNA markers revealed several cases of multiple paternity, both within nest and within clutch. This observation indicated that some alternative male reproductive strategy, such as satellite behaviour, is occurring, which may have led to the multiple paternity. Larger males were observed to mate more frequently, and in multiple nests, suggesting that females are selecting for larger males, or that larger males are more capable of defending high quality territories.