Increase in respiratory rate during feeding in larvae of the cinnabar moth Tyria jacobaeae

ABSTRACT. This study tested the effect of diet and phase of the feeding cycle on oxygen consumption by fifth-instar larvae of the cinnabar moth Tyria jacobaeae (L.) (Lepidoptera: Arctiidae). There was no significant variation in respiratory rates among larvae fed different diets, which were floral parts, upper, middle and lower leaves of the host plant tansy ragwort, Senecio jacobaea. The respiratory rates ( x ± 95% Cl μlO₂h^-1) of feeding larvae (279.5 ± 30.9) were higher than those of larvae at rest (179.7 ± 12.2), but were not significantly different from those of larvae in the post-ingestive phase (272.8 ± 35.8).
The respiratory rates of feeding larvae increased linearly with the ingestion rate, such that an additional 21.1 μl O₂ were consumed for every mg dry mass of plant material eaten per hour.     

The influence of nutritional and genetic factors on larval performance of the cinnabar moth, Tyria jacobaeae

In a laboratory experiment using full-sibs, 60% of the variation in pupal weight of the monophage Tyria jacobaeae L. (Lepidoptera, Arctiidae) could be explained by variation in the nitrogen concentration of the food plant, Senecio jacobaea L. and only 4% by variation in sugar concentration. Larval weight and growth rates of young and old larvae were also positively correlated with nitrogen and sugar concentration. Developmental time was negatively correlated with nitrogen concentration. In a second experiment full-sib families differed significantly in larval weight at day 7, mortality, growth rate and developmental time. Pupal weight did not differ significantly among families, but was positively correlated with nitrogen concentration of Senecio. Larval performance was not significantly influenced by concentrations of sugars or alkaloids. We conclude that larval performance of Tyria during most of the larval period is mainly determined by genetic factors, but pupal weights are primarily determined by nitrogen concentration of the food plant.     

A general theory of life table construction and a precise abridged life table method

"In this paper we lay the foundation of life table construction by unifying the existing life table methods. We also present a new method of constructing current (period) abridged life tables.... The development includes (1) a careful formulation and computation of age-specific death rates, (2) derivation of a new set of formulas for computing the survivorship function from the observed age-specific death rates and populations, (3) estimation of the main life table functions by spline interpolation, integration and differentiation, and (4) use of a quadratic and a Gompertz function to close the life table.... The method is illustrated with construction of abridged life tables using Canadian data."     

Model life table for captive chimpanzees

Mortality statistics from three captive populations of chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) were combined to generate standard model life tables for each sex in this species. The model is compared to an estimate of survivorship of a group of wild animals, and is applied to an incomplete data set to illustrate how the model may be used to extend estimates of mortality statistics to missing older ages. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

常见寿命数据类型及生命表的编制方法

生命表是描述种群死亡过程的有用工具,介绍了4种常见的寿命数据类型;寿终数据,右删失数据,左删失数据和区间型数据特征及其相应的数据分析处理方法即生命表法,乘积限估计和Turbull估计法,对生命表法和乘积限估计法应用上的特点进行了比较,同时还对特殊的寿命数据类型－－截断数据做了简要介绍。     

菊小长管蚜的实验种群生命表

用叶子圆片法饲养菊小长管蚜,组建了既考虑若蚜个体间不同发育速率又包括成蚜翅型差异的实验种群生命表。结果表明,这一方法不但清楚地揭示了蚜虫个体发育进度差异对种群生长的影响,而且还阐明了翅二型性对种群发展的重要作用。     

Population growth with stochastic fluctuations in the life table

Monte Carlo simulations with the Leslie matrix and similar population models show that as the variance in survivorship or fecundity increases, the expected population growth rate decreases. This is attributed to Jensen's inequality with the observation that the rate of increase is a concave function of age-specific survivorship and fertility rates. Applications of this observation are advised for demographic studies, population simulation, optimal harvest strategies, and natural selection for variance in fertility and survivorship rates.     

Gustatory responsiveness to pyrrolizidine alkaloids in the Senecio specialist, Tyria jacobaeae (Lepidoptera, Arctiidae)

Abstract.  Electrophysiological recordings from taste sensilla of the caterpillar Tyria jacobaeae with the pyrrolizidine alkaloids, characteristic compounds from their host plants, demonstrated sensitivity of a pyrrolizidine alkaloid-sensitive cell in the lateral galeal sensilla at concentrations as low as 1 × 10⁻¹¹ M. Another pyrrolizidine alkaloid-sensitive cell in the medial galeal sensilla responded at higher concentrations. Both pyrrolizidine alkaloid-cells were maximally sensitive to seneciphylline N -oxide and senecionine N -oxide. Seven other pyrrolizidine alkaloids were less stimulating. Monocrotaline N -oxide was the least stimulating. Observation experiments demonstrated that differences in sensitivity to different pyrrolizidine alkaloids at the electrophysiological level were correlated with differences in feeding behaviour; the first feeding bout was of longer duration on diet containing seneciphylline N -oxide than on diet containing monocrotaline N -oxide, and a plain diet was generally not accepted.     

暗黑齿爪鳃金龟室内种群生命表

组建了室内自然温湿条件下暗黑齿爪鳃金龟的生命期望表和生殖力表。室温下测得该虫的内禀增长率（rm）为0．0106,周限增长率（λ）为1．0107,净增殖率（R_0）为2．2277。模拟了该虫世代种群存活率曲线为Weibull分布曲线I型:Sp（t）＝exP[－（t／2．7082）~(4.6827],种群自然增长过程符合二次三项式,logy＝a＋bx＋cx~2。经验曲线方程：logy＝0．6689＋0．3264。－0．0243x~2。     

Pre-oviposition period of the ragwort seedfly,Pegohylemyia jacobaeae,introduced for the biological control of ragwort,Senecio jacobaea

Abstract

Laboratory studies on the effect of diet on the pre-oviposition period of the ragwort seedfly showed that ovarian development is not delayed by asynchrony between adult emergence and ragwort flowering, and that nutrients are required from sources other than ragwort The pre-oviposition period was, however, extended because of absence of oviposition sites. Day-degree summation (calculated from development rates measured in controlled conditions) indicated that, under temperatures in the field, females were gravid 2 weeks before oviposition sites became available. Eggs were laid on transplanted flowering ragwort before field plants flowered. Extended pre- oviposition period reduces effectiveness of ragwort seedfly as a biological control agent of ragwort as it results in poor synchronisation of seedhead damage.     

A life table study on three genetic strains of Ophryotrocha diadema (Polychaeta,Dorvilleidae)

A life-table study was performed on three strains of Ophryotrocha diadema. The wild type strain, YY (yellow eggs), was compared with a recessive mutant strain, ww (white eggs), and the F₁, hybrid, Yw.

The viability of the YY strain was greater than that of the ww strain. The hybrids were intermediate. Expectation of life. e., of zygotes were: YY 27.9, Yw 19.1, and ww 15.1 wk, respectively. The total outcome of reproduction followed the same pattern; the net reproductive rates, R ₀, were related as 1:0.62:0.47 for YY: Yw: ww.

Reproduction began in the fourth week. A maximum reproductive output during the next 4 wk was followed by a fast decline. The intrinsic rate of natural increase, r, was 0.880 per week for the YY strain, 0.903 for the Yw strain and 0.872 for the ww strain. For all strains, the first 7 wk of reproduction contributed more than 99% of the Lotka equation σ e ^?rx l _x m _x = l, i.e., l _x m _x values at older ages would not substantially affect population growth. In this 7–wk period (and the previous nonreproductive weeks), mortality differences were small among strains. During the period of maximum reproduction the average size of egg masses was approximately the same in all strains. The heterozygote superiority was due to shorter intervals between successive spawnings.

It is suggested that in the opportunistic species O. diadema deviations from an r–selected reproductive pattern are due to small adult size and to its ancestry from a mainly K–selected, very old polychaete group.

O. diadema has proven to be a useful test animal for marine pollution research. Observed effects on survival and reproduction have been summarized in a model to demonstrate population consequences of sublethal pollutant levels.     

Comparison of life table parameters for Maconellicoccus hirsutus, Anagyrus kamali, Cryptolaemus montrouzieri and Scymnus coccivora

The pink mealybug Maconellicoccushirsutus Green (Homoptera: Pseudococcidae) wasrecently introduced to Trinidad. M.hirsutus almost immediately attained peststatus and despite the implementation ofcultural and chemical control measures, thepopulation increased above the economic injurylevel. Three natural enemies, Anagyruskamali Moursi (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae), Cryptolaemus montrouzieri Mulsant (Coleoptera:Coccinellidae) and Scymnus coccivoraAyyar (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) were introduced.Life fecundity tables were constructed for thepest-natural enemies complex in the hope ofunderstanding the interaction of each naturalenemy with its host, and, in so doing, form acomparative approach to assessing theeffectiveness of each natural enemy. Thestudies were carried out in the laboratory at27.0 ± 3.0 °C and 58.0 ± 3.0%RH, which is within the average field conditions in Trinidad.The net reproductive rates (R_o), theinnate capacity for increase (r_m) and thefinite rate of increase () were found to behigher for the natural enemies compared to thepest. The doubling time for M. hirsutuswas 8.83 days, while A. kamali, C.montrouzieri and S. coccivora populationsdoubled in 2.09, 5.13 and 4.45 daysrespectively. The significantly higherpopulation parameters of the natural enemies,coupled with their shorter doubling times, meanthat their populations can grow faster and thusexert a controlling effect on pest numbers.     

Navajo tribal mortality: A life table analysis of the leading causes of death

Abstract

The five leading causes of death for Navajo males and females are analyzed by life table methods. Navajo male and female life expectancy at birth were 58.8 and 71.8 years, respectively. The greatest increase in Navajo male life expectancy would result from the elimination of motor vehicle accidents (5.17 years at birth, and 3.11 years for working ages 15–65). The life expectancy of Navajo females would be lengthened the most (3.70 years) by elimination of circulatory system disease. For working‐ages gains for both sexes, however, the greatest benefit would result from elimination of motor vehicle accidents. The implications of the results are discussed in relation to the various public health programs and health planning efforts for the Navajo Nation.     

甜菜夜蛾在四种寄主植物上的生命表参数比较研究

在控制条件下对甜菜夜蛾Spodoptera exigua(Hübner)在白菜、大葱、甘蓝和豇豆上的生命表参数进行了比较研究。结果表明,甜菜夜蛾幼虫在4种寄主植物上均为5个龄期。幼虫和蛹在大葱上的发育历期最长,在白菜上最短。甘蓝叶片饲养的甜菜夜蛾生殖力最高,单雌产卵量为1015.8粒,豇豆叶片上饲养的生殖力最低,为496.1粒。甜菜夜蛾在甘蓝上的内禀增长率和净增殖率最高,分别为0.237和287.82,在大葱上最低,分别为0.172和173.90。在大葱上甜菜夜蛾幼虫存活率较低,在其他3种寄主植物上较高。甜菜夜蛾的特定年龄生殖率在甘蓝叶片上最高,第22天单雌产卵量高达453.6粒。研究结果表明,在选取的4种植物中,甘蓝是甜菜夜蛾的最适寄主。     

A systematic review to calculate background miscarriage rates using life table analysis

The objectives of the current study were to calculate: (1) the expected rates of miscarriage by gestational week; (2) the cumulative risk of miscarriage; and (3) the remaining risk of miscarriage for gestational weeks five through 20, through a systematic review of the literature. We searched MEDLINE for articles published in English through the end of 2009. References of articles were also searched. Four studies were identified to have the three necessary pieces of information for the proposed calculations: (1) gestational age at study entry, (2) pregnancy outcome; and (3) the gestational age at which the pregnancy outcome occurred. Data were extracted from each study and Life Table Analysis Methods were conducted. Weekly miscarriage rates varied in the early gestational weeks with the highest rate documented at >20 miscarriages per 1000 women-weeks at each week of gestation prior to week 13. By week 14, the rate for all studies became relatively comparable and fell below 10 miscarriages per 1000 woman-weeks at risk and fell even lower through week 20. The cumulative risk of miscarriage for weeks 5 through 20 of gestation ranged from 11 miscarriages per 100 women to 22 miscarriages per 100 women (11-22%). Based on data from comparable study populations, a range of background miscarriage rates by week of gestation for weeks 5 through 20, the cumulative risk of miscarriage, and the remaining risk of miscarriage are presented. Wider variation of miscarriage rates and risks occurred early in gestation (<14 weeks).