Test for latitudinal variation of life history,behavior and mortality in the strictly univoltine damselfly Sympecma fusca (Zygoptera: Lestidae)

A wealth of evidence shows that combinations of ecological stressors interact in shaping life history traits, but little is known about how ecological stressors combine with different seasonal time constraints to shape life history, behavior and mortality across populations. We studied life history, behavior and mortality rate in two latitudinally distant populations of the strictly univoltine, adult‐overwintering damselfly Sympecma fusca. Results from laboratory common‐garden and outdoor experiments indicated countergradient variation of larval development time and growth rate: the more time‐constrained larvae showed faster development and a higher growth rate. This finding led to larger size at emergence in the more time‐constrained individuals. Under conditions of intraspecific interaction (outdoor experiment), northern individuals showed lower survival than southern ones, presumably due to cannibalism. In the absence of intraspecific interactions (laboratory experiment), northern and southern larvae did not differ in survival. Finally, laboratory‐grown northern and southern larvae did not differ in activity level. This is the first time that compensation for seasonal time constraints has been shown in a temperate odonate species that overwinters in the adult stage.     

The evolutionary dynamics of haplodiploidy: Genome architecture and haploid viability

Haplodiploid reproduction, in which males are haploid and females are diploid, is widespread among animals, yet we understand little about the forces responsible for its evolution. The current theory is that haplodiploidy has evolved through genetic conflicts, as it provides a transmission advantage to mothers. Male viability is thought to be a major limiting factor; diploid individuals tend to harbor many recessive lethal mutations. This theory predicts that the evolution of haplodiploidy is more likely in male heterogametic lineages with few chromosomes, as genes on the X chromosome are often expressed in a haploid environment, and the fewer the chromosome number, the greater the proportion of the total genome that is X‐linked. We test this prediction with comparative phylogenetic analyses of mites, among which haplodiploidy has evolved repeatedly. We recover a negative correlation between chromosome number and haplodiploidy, find evidence that low chromosome number evolved prior to haplodiploidy, and that it is unlikely that diplodiploidy has reevolved from haplodiploid lineages of mites. These results are consistent with the predicted importance of haploid male viability.     

Alternative life histories in Xiphophorus multilineatus: evidence for different ages at sexual maturity and growth responses in the wild

In order to examine potential trade-offs in alternative life histories of the high-backed pygmy swordtail Xiphophorus multilineatus, otoliths were used from wild-caught males to determine if sneaker males had the advantage of maturing earlier in natural environments. The sneakers matured significantly earlier than courters, but there was no difference among the three courter variants. In addition, analyses suggested that the effect of the pituitary locus on size at sexual maturity and growth rates was a consequence of age at sexual maturity. Finally, one of the courter variants had a significantly different relationship between age and size at sexual maturity than the other variants, suggesting that in this variant, age at sexual maturity may be more closely related to size and therefore may be less plastic in its growth responses.     

Photoperiod and variation in life history traits in core and peripheral populations in the damselfly Lestes sponsa

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The influence of different aphid prey species on the biology and life table parameters of Propylaea japonica

The influence of three aphid prey species – Aphis craccivora Koch, Megoura viciae Buckton and Rhopalosiphum maidis (Fitch) – on the biology of Propylaea japonica (Thunberg) was studied under laboratory conditions. The development, survivorship, longevity, reproduction and life table parameters of P. japonica differed significantly among different treatments. The shortest developmental period of P. japonica (from first-instar larvae to adult) was observed on A. craccivora, whereas the longest was observed on M. viciae. The highest survivorship was observed on A. craccivora, and the lowest survivorship was observed on M. viciae. The highest sex ratio, fecundity and the shortest pre-oviposition period were observed when A. craccivora was used as prey. The longevities of P. japonica females and males did not differ significantly when reared on different aphid species. The highest values of net reproductive rate, intrinsic rate of increase and finite rate of increase were observed on A. craccivora. The results suggest that A. craccivora is a suitable prey for P. japonica among the three aphid species tested and can serve as a diet for the mass rearing of P. japonica under laboratory conditions for possible use in integrated pest management.     

Rapid differentiation of plasticity in life history and morphology during invasive range expansion and concurrent local adaptation in the horned beetle Onthophagus taurus

Understanding the interplay between genetic differentiation, ancestral plasticity, and the evolution of plasticity during adaptation to environmental variation is critical to predict populations’ responses to environmental change. However, the role of plasticity in rapid adaptation in nature remains poorly understood. We here use the invasion of the horned beetle Onthophagus taurus in the United States during the last half century to study the contribution of ancestral plasticity and post-invasion evolution of plastic responses in rapid population differentiation. We document latitudinal variation in life history and morphology, including genetic compensation in development time and body size, likely adaptive responses to seasonal constraints in the North. However, clinal variation in development time and size was strongly dependent on rearing temperature, suggesting that population differentiation in plasticity played a critical role in successful adaptation on ecological timescales. Clinal variation in wing shape was independent of ancestral plasticity, but correlated with derived plasticity, consistent with evolutionary interdependence. In contrast, clinal variation in tibia shape aligned poorly with thermal plasticity. Overall, this study suggests that post-invasion evolution of plasticity contributed to range expansions and concurrent adaptation to novel climatic conditions.     

Comparison of the frequency of the growth hormone pseudogene between juvenile and adult female masu salmon Oncorhynchus masou

The proportions of individual masu salmon Oncorhynchus masou whose genotypic and phenotypic sex differed were compared among juvenile and adult fish in three rivers, and genotypically male but phenotypically female individuals were observed 6–16% more often among adults than among juveniles. This suggests that during the transition from juvenile to adult, survival rates of genotypically male but phenotypically female individuals are higher than those of normal females. In contrast, genotypically female but phenotypically male individuals were only found in the juvenile period, which suggests that they exhibit a decreased survival rate in comparison with normal males.     

喀斯特断陷盆地区不同恢复阶段群落物种组成与多样性特征

研究自然植被恢复过程中的物种组成、群落结构及生物多样性的变化,能够为人工促进植被恢复的树种选择与群落结构的优化配置提供重要依据。本研究以空间代替时间对喀斯特断陷盆地典型区云南省建水县不同天然植被(草丛、灌丛、乔木林)进行群落学调查,对不同恢复阶段的植物群落按乔木、灌木、草本进行分层,分析各恢复阶段植物群落的物种组成、水平和垂直结构、生物多样性。结果表明:在总面积为3200 m²的12个样地中,共记录43科72属94种维管束植物,优势种以壳斗科(Fagaceae)、鼠李科(Rhamnaceae)、紫金牛科(Myrsinaceae)、蔷薇科(Rosaceae)、木犀科(Oleaceae)等科的植物为主;在草丛→灌丛→乔木林的恢复过程中,群落物种组成中的科数、属数、种数逐渐增加,低矮和小径级植物个体数所占比例逐渐减少,但整体仍以低矮的小径级植物为主。草本植物的丰富度和Shannon指数在植被恢复的初期即草丛阶段最大,而均匀度指数则以灌丛阶段最大;木本植物的丰富度和Shannon指数随着植被的恢复逐渐增大,但均匀度指数随着植被的恢复逐渐下降;随着植被的恢复,草本层和乔木层...     

不同生殖方式对班氏跳小蜂寄生率和子代性比的影响

为了明确班氏跳小蜂不同生殖方式及雌蜂密度对种群的影响,研究了班氏跳小蜂在不同雌雄比例的两性生殖和孤雌生殖条件下以及不同雌蜂密度情况时,其寄生率及子代的雌性比例。结果表明:班氏跳小蜂可进行两性生殖和产雄孤雌生殖,不同雌雄比例的两性生殖及孤雌生殖的寄生率随着雌蜂数量的增加不断升高,雌雄比为20∶1时的寄生率最高,为49.13%;在两性生殖雌雄比为15∶1的情况下,其后代雌性最高;不同粉蚧密度条件下,2头雌蜂同时存在时,其寄生率和子代性比均最高。说明两性生殖(雌雄比为15∶1)和2头雌蜂同时存在条件下,更利于班氏跳小蜂种群发展。     

All in the ears: unlocking the early life history biology and spatial ecology of fishes

Obtaining biological and spatial information of the early life history (ELH) phases of fishes has been problematic, such that larval and juvenile phases are often referred to as the ‘black box’ of fish population biology and ecology. However, a potent source of life‐history data has been mined from the earstones (otoliths) of bony fishes. We systematically reviewed 476 empirical papers published between 2005 and 2012 (inclusive) that used otoliths to examine fish ELH phases, which has been an area of increasing attention over this period. We found that otolith‐based research during this period could be split into two broad themes according to whether studies examined: (i) biological objectives related to intrinsic processes such as larval and juvenile age, growth and mortality, and/or (ii) spatial objectives, such as habitat use, dispersal and migration. Surprisingly, just 24 studies (5%) explored a combined biological–spatial objective by simultaneously exploiting biological and spatial information from otoliths, suggesting much more scope for such integrated research objectives to be answered via the use of multiple otolith‐based techniques in a single study. Mapping otolith analytical techniques across these two approaches revealed that otolith structural analysis was mainly used to investigate biological processes, while otolith chemical analyses were most often applied to spatial questions. Heavy skew in research effort was apparent across biomes, with most (62%) publications specific to marine species, despite comparable levels of species richness and the importance of freshwater taxa (just 15% of papers). Indeed, around 1% (380 species) of a possible 31400+ extant species were examined in our surveyed papers, with a strong emphasis on temperate marine species of commercial value. Potential model species for otolith‐based ELH ecology research are arising, with the eel genus Anguilla (24 studies) and the European anchovy Engraulis encrasicolis (14 studies) attracting more research effort than most other taxa. While there is a preponderance of common techniques (e.g. daily otolith increment counts, increment widths), novel techniques such as transgenerational marking and computed X‐ray tomography, are increasingly being applied in published studies. The application of an integrative approach based on a combination of emerging techniques and traditional methods holds promise for major advances in our understanding of ELH fish ecology and to shine light into the ‘black box’ of fish ecology.     

Effects of toxic and non-toxic cyanobacteria on the life history of tropical and temperate cladocerans

1. This study compares the effects of four toxic strains of Microcystis aeruginosa on tropical and temperate Cladocera. Survival was tested in acute toxicity experiments using Microcystis alone or in mixtures with the edible green algae Ankistrodesmus falcatus. The effect of chronic exposure on population growth was estimated in life‐table experiments by varying the proportion of Microcystis and the green alga. Nutritional deficiency was assessed using a non‐toxic cyanobacterium in a zooplankton growth experiment. Feeding inhibition was tested using a C‐labelled green alga as a tracer in mixtures with toxic Microcystis.
2. Toxicity varied consistently between Microcystis strains, while sensitivity varied consistently between cladoceran species. However, no relationship was found between sensitivity and geographical origin or cladoceran body size. Two small‐bodied cladocerans from the same tropical lake, Ceriodaphnia cornuta and Moinodaphnia macleayi, were the least sensitive and most sensitive species, respectively.
3. Surprisingly, two small tropical cladocerans survived longer without food than did three large Daphnia species and a third small tropical species.
4. Each of the three tropical Microcystis strains strongly reduced the population growth rate (little ‘r’) and reproductive output of each cladoceran, this reduction being proportional to the percentage of toxic cells in the diet.
5. As the sole food source, the non‐toxic cyanobacterium, Synechococcus elongatus, supported poor growth in M. macleayi. The nutritional deficiency was overcome when Synechococcus was mixed with either Ankistrodesmus or an emulsion rich in omega‐3 fatty acids.
6. Microcystis inhibited the feeding rate of two cladocerans, even when it comprised only 5% of a mixture with the green algae A. falcatus.
7. Differences in sensitivity to the toxic cyanobacterium appear to be associated with differences in life history between the cladoceran species rather than differences between tropical and temperate taxa. Slow‐growing species that are resistant to starvation appear less sensitive to toxic Microcystis than fast‐growing species, which also tend to die more quickly in the absence of food.     

Ecological variations in adult life table attributes of Aedes aegypti (L.) from the desert and coastal regions of India

The ecological variation in biological and adult life-table attributes of two populations of Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) from the desert (Jodhpur) and coastal (Kolkata) regions of India are assessed to understand the reproductive and survival strategies. The results showed that females lived longer than males in both strains. The desert strain was more r-strategist because of its higher intrinsic rate of increase (r_m = 0.23), finite rate of increase (λ = 1.25), lower life expectancy of males (7.9 days) and females (14.4 days), mean generation time (T = 19.2 days) and doubling time (DT = 3.0 days). However, there was no difference in net reproductive rate (R₀) between the desert and coastal strains. The coastal strain showed a longer female life expectancy (22.0 days) than the desert strain (14.4 days). However, the fecundity (eggs/female/day) was lower in the coastal strain (11.4) than in the desert strain (15.1). Conclusively, the desert (Jodhpur) strain is adapted to a better r-strategy than the coastal (Kolkata) strain of Ae. aegypti, which might be helpful to flourish in harsh environmental conditions. This study may provide accurate predictions of Ae. aegypti population dynamics for vector management.     

Effects of four generations of density-dependent selection on life history traits and their plasticity in a clonally propagated plant

Life history evolution of many clonal plants takes place with long periods of exclusively clonal reproduction and under largely varying ramet densities resulting from clonal reproduction. We asked whether life history traits of the clonal herb Ranunculus reptans respond to density-dependent selection, and whether plasticity in these traits is adaptive. After four generations of exclusively clonal propagation of 16 low and 16 high ramet-density lines, we studied life history traits and their plasticities at two test ramet-densities. Plastic responses to higher test-density consisted of a shift from sexual to vegetative reproduction, and reduced flower production, plant size, branching frequency, and lengths of leaves and internodes. Plants of high-density lines tended to have longer leaves, and under high test-density branched less frequently than those of low-density lines. Directions of these selection responses indicate that the observed plastic branching response is adaptive, whereas the plastic leaf length response is not. The reverse branching frequency pattern at low test-density, where plants of high-density lines branched more frequently than those of low-density lines, indicates evolution of plasticity in branching. Moreover, when grown under less stressful low test-density, plants of high-density lines tended to grow larger than the ones of low-density lines. We conclude that ramet density affects clonal life-history evolution and that under exclusively clonal propagation clonal life-history traits and their plasticities evolve differently at different ramet densities.     

Sexual and geographical variation in life history parameters of the shorthorn sculpin

A total of 293 shorthorn sculpins Myoxocephalus scorpius from Tromsø, northern Norway, were sampled between November 1998 and April 1999 to determine sex, total length, age, growth, maturity and mortality. Females grew to larger sizes ( L _∞=26·9 v. 18·5 cm), matured later (2 v. 1 year of age) at larger size (maturation length=16 v. 14 cm L _T), and had lower instantaneous mortality rates (0·93 v. 1·20 year⁻¹) than males. The life history parameters of shorthorn sculpins in northern Norway were more similar to the parameters of short-lived central European populations than to the parameters of the long-lived population of Newfoundland. This study confirms that northern Norwegian shorthorn sculpins exhibit sexual dimorphism as in other shorthorn sculpin populations. The relationships between growth pattern, age at maturity and mortality rates observed in the Tromsø population and in other shorthorn sculpin populations, correspond well with the predictions from a published life history model.     

Generation time,life history and the substitution rate of neutral mutations

Our understanding of molecular evolution is hampered by a lack of quantitative predictions about how life-history (LH) traits should correlate with substitution rates. Comparative studies have shown that neutral substitution rates vary substantially between species, and evidence shows that much of this diversity is associated with variation in LH traits. However, while these studies often agree, some unexplained and contradictory results have emerged. Explaining these results is difficult without a clear theoretical understanding of the problem. In this study, we derive predictions for the relationships between LH traits and substitution rates in iteroparous species by using demographic theory to relate commonly measured life-history traits to genetic generation time, and by implication to neutral substitution rates. This provides some surprisingly simple explanations for otherwise confusing patterns, such as the association between fecundity and substitution rates. The same framework can be applied to more complex life histories if full life-tables are available.     

Microsatellite variation and evolutionary history of PCDHX/Y gene pair within the Xq21.3/Yp11.2 hominid-specific homology block

To better understand the evolutionary dynamics of repetitive sequences in human sex chromosomes, we have analyzed seven new X/Y homologous microsatellites located within PCDHX/Y, one of the two recently described gene pairs in the Xq21.3/Yp11.2 hominid-specific homology block, in samples from Portugal and Mozambique. Sharp differences were observed on X/Y allele distributions, concerning both the presence of private alleles and a different modal repeat length for X-linked and Y-linked markers, and this difference was statistically significant. Higher diversity was found in X-linked microsatellites than in their Y chromosome counterparts; when comparing populations, Mozambicans showed more allele diversity for the X chromosome, but the contrary was true for the Y chromosome microsatellites. Evolutionary patterns, relying on intragenic PCDHX/Y SNPs, also revealed distinct scenarios for X and Y chromosomes. Greater microsatellite diversity was displayed by African X chromosomes within the most common haplotypes shared by both populations, whereas higher microsatellite diversity was found in Portugal for the ancestral Y chromosome haplotype. The most frequent PCDHY haplotype in Portuguese was the derived one, and it was not found in Mozambicans. TMRCA estimated by the rho parameter resulted in 13,700 years (7,500-20,000 years), which is consistent with a recent, post-Out-of-Africa origin for this haplotype. In conclusion, the newly described microsatellite loci generally displayed greater X-linked to Y-linked diversity and this pattern was also detected with slower evolving markers, with a remarkable differentiation between populations observed for Y chromosome haplotypes and, thus, greater divergence among Y chromosomes in human populations.     

Unintentional selection,unanticipated insights: introductions,stocking and the evolutionary ecology of fishes

Natural environmental change has produced countless opportunities for species to disperse into and persist in habitats where they previously did not exist. Introduction and stocking programmes have facilitated similar sorts of colonization opportunities across considerably greater geographical scales and often in much shorter periods of time. Even though the mechanism of colonization differs, the result can be the same: evolutionary change in the colonizing population in response to novel selection pressures. As a consequence, some human‐mediated fish transfers have unintentionally yielded novel research opportunities to study how phenotypes and genes interact with their environment and affect ecological and evolutionary change. The primary purpose here is to explore how work, directly or indirectly involved with human‐mediated transfers, has unintentionally yielded novel research and research opportunities in fish ecology and evolution. Insights have produced new knowledge or altered previously held perceptions on topics such as local adaptation, rate of evolutionary change, phenotypic plasticity, alternative reproductive strategies, population structure and colonization probability. Well‐documented stocking programmes, especially in terms of history, numbers and original population sources, can provide highly fertile ground for generating further insights on the ecology and evolution of fishes and of the factors likely to influence the success of conservation‐based, restoration programmes.     

冬季饥饿再投喂对菲律宾蛤仔生长、存活和生化组成的影响

2007年12月—2008年4月,在冬季低温（水温3.0 ℃～4.2 ℃、盐度25～27、pH 7.90～8.16）条件下,采用饥饿时间不等、恢复投喂时间相同的方式,研究了饥饿再投喂对不同规格菲律宾蛤仔生长、存活及体组分的影响.结果表明：在冬季低温条件下,各试验组菲律宾蛤仔生长性状的差异不明显;其对饥饿的耐受能力随着蛤仔规格的增大而升高;存活率随着饥饿时间的延长而降低,但整个试验过程中未出现不可逆点.从较大规格菲律宾蛤仔（壳长7 mm）的体组分上看：菲律宾蛤仔水分、脂肪含量随着饥饿时间的延长而下降;蛋白质含量在饥饿前期随着脂肪的消耗而上升,后期因脂肪的过度消耗开始被利用而下降;灰分含量在整个试验过程中的变化不显著.     

Spatial scale and divergent patterns of variation in adapted traits in the ocean

The geography of adaptive genetic variation is crucial to species conservation yet poorly understood in marine systems. We analyse the spatial scale of genetic variation in traits that broadly display adaptation throughout the range of a highly dispersive marine species. We conducted common garden experiments on the Atlantic silverside, Menidia menidia, from 39 locations along its 3000 km range thereby mapping genetic variation for growth rate, vertebral number and sex determination. Each trait displayed unique clinal patterns, with significant differences (adaptive or not) occurring over very small distances. Breakpoints in the cline differed among traits, corresponding only partially with presumed eco-geographical boundaries. Because clinal patterns are unique to each selected character, neutral genes or those coding for a single character cannot serve as proxies for the genetic structure as a whole. Conservation plans designed to protect essential genetic subunits of a species will need to account for such complex spatial structures.