角百灵和小云雀的巢址选择与竞争共存

于 2 0 0 0— 2 0 0 2年的鸟类繁殖期在中国科学院海北高寒草甸生态系统定位站 ,测定了 2 7窝角百灵(Eremophilaalpestris)和 4 3窝小云雀 (Alaudagulgula)的巢址特征 ,观察了两者在繁殖期巢数的季节变化 ,并运用稳定性同位素技术测定了育雏食物 ,对两种百灵的巢址特征和食物重叠度进行了比较。结果表明两者的巢址特征存在着显著的不同 :角百灵的巢开放度为 92 16 % ,小云雀的为 34 6 1% ,前者的巢开放度显著大于后者(P <0 0 1) ;角百灵距巢 10 0cm范围内遮蔽物的数量为 0 0 7± 0 2 6 ,小云雀的为 2 5 7± 1 19,前者显著少于后者 (P <0 0 1) ;角百灵巢址植被的高度和盖度也显著小于小云雀的 (P <0 0 1)。角百灵和小云雀均以小型昆虫育雏 ,育雏食物的资源重叠程度很高 ,为 0 895 7;而且两者的繁殖季节和繁殖强度也是相互重叠的。这两种百灵鸟类在巢址的选择上存在着一种代价和利益的权衡关系 ,巢址选择是捕食压和热条件共同作用的结果。二者共存的机制是巢址上的分化     

两种山鹪莺的繁殖参数比较

生活史是鸟类生态学研究的重要内容之一,分析生活史的影响因子对于研究鸟类的生态适应具有重要意义。2007年3~9月,在广东省肇庆市江溪村对黄腹山鹪莺(Prinia flaviventris)和纯色山鹪莺(P.inornata)的繁殖参数进行了比较研究。结果表明:1)除筑巢集中期、窝卵数、巢捕食率和割草毁巢率外,两种山鹪莺各繁殖参数均存在显著性差异;2)黄腹山鹪莺的窝卵数相对较小,但卵重较大,而纯色山鹪莺则相反;3)与体重相似的9种雀形目鸟类相比,两种山鹪莺具有相对较高的年生产力;4)两种山鹪莺在部分繁殖参数上出现了分化,这可能是它们对不同巢捕食风险的响应,黄腹山鹪莺的巢捕食率相对较高,采取低窝卵数和高的卵重,而纯色山鹪莺则为高的窝卵数和低的卵重。     

赤狐气味对高原鼠兔繁殖的影响

在野外条件下,利用赤狐的粪尿气味增加高原鼠兔的捕食风险,研究捕食风险对高原鼠兔繁殖的影响。结果表明,作为衡量高原鼠兔繁殖投入大小的定量指标,成体高原鼠兔的体重变化在捕食风险处理样方与对照样方之间没有明显的不同,随着繁殖期的延长,两样方内雌雄个体的体重均显减少,说明捕食风险对高原鼠兔的繁殖投入无明显影响,因此,捕食风险对幼体的生长、发育也无明显的作用。捕食风险增加后,高原鼠兔平均每个雌性成体拥有的后代数目、性比和居留率与对照样方比较均无明显不同,但是由于扩散等原因使每个雄性成体拥有的后代数、繁殖期结束后幼体的性比有明显的差异。以上结果并未显示出捕食气味作为捕食风险对高原鼠兔的繁殖产生抑制作用,其主要原因是捕食风险的类型不同和研究期间高原鼠兔本身承受的捕食风险较大,高原鼠兔可能通过行为变化调节捕食风险增加对其产生的不利影响。     

捕食风险对红瘰疣螈幼体生长发育的影响

捕食风险是两栖动物幼体表型和生活史进化重要的选择压力之一。红瘰疣螈Tylototriton shanjing为云南山地环境中典型的有尾两栖类,山地环境水体水量的迅速减少常导致红瘰疣螈在幼体发育阶段捕食风险增加。本研究通过实验,观察红瘰疣螈幼体的体长和体质量在不同捕食风险环境中的变化、变态时体型以及完成变态发育的时间差异,探讨捕食风险对红瘰疣螈幼体个体早期发育的影响。实验设计4个不同的捕食风险处理:无任何捕食者的无捕食组、有同种个体化学信号的同种异体组、有同种尾受伤个体化学信号的断尾组、有入侵物种——克氏原螯虾Procambarus clarkii信息的外来物种组。结果显示,红瘰疣螈幼体在不同捕食风险环境中的生长发育过程不同。在生长发育前期,所有处理组的幼体生长均相似,而在中后期,有捕食风险存在的3个处理组生长发育显著加快,最终变态时的体长和体质量要比无捕食风险组更长和更重,体型更大。幼体在有捕食风险存在的处理组完成变态的时间要比无捕食风险组显著更短。这表明,红瘰疣螈幼体在面对捕食风险增加时,通过在胚后发育后期加快生长和缩短发育时间,尽快完成变态,离开幼体发育水体来适应高捕食风险的水环境。     

2004年第15届国际生物学奥林匹克竞赛理论试题B(2)

问题106-110．所有的生物通过无性或有性两个过程之一繁殖。这两个过程都涉及遗传物质的复制——在无性繁殖中产生与亲代完全一样的后代，在有性繁殖中产生与亲代不同后代(两个不同亲代的配子结合)。在真核细胞DNA繁殖由细胞周期控制。     

角百灵和小云雀的孵化行为

鸟类的个体发育是在双亲、雏鸟及巢组成的一种特殊环境中完成的,稳定的热环境是它们完成孵化和雏鸟生长发育的必要条件(White et al., 1974; Purdue, 1976; Ellis, 1982; Haftorn, 1983; Morton et al., 1985; Schnace et al., 1991; Vatnick et al., 1998; 张晓爱等,1995).因此亲鸟的伴巢行为及时间花费在保证繁殖成功中起重要作用.伴巢行为是指亲鸟在繁殖期间,为筑巢、防御、抱卵、孵雏及递食而出现在巢中或附近的所有行为(Oppenhaim, 1972).亲鸟拌巢的时间分配与巢环境有密切关系,已有大量的报道(如Purdue, 1976; Ellis,1982; Schnace et al., 1991;张晓爱等, 1995). 张晓爱等(1995)比较了高寒草甸地区的地面、灌丛及洞穴3种不同营巢类型亲鸟的伴巢时间分配模式,但是对亲缘关系较近,营巢生境相同鸟类之间的伴巢时间分配模式,以及坐巢行为与巢环境之间关系没有报道,国外对这方面的报道也甚少.本项研究选择高寒草甸的两种百灵科鸟:角百灵(Eremophila alpestris)和小云雀(Alauda gulgula)作为研究对象来比较亲鸟在孵化期坐巢行为与巢址微环境的关系,对研究鸟类繁殖行为与环境关系及从生活史进化角度研究相似种的共存机制提供理论依据.     

球虫感染与捕食对根田鼠繁殖性能的影响

在自然界,捕食者和寄生物是两种主要的种群外部调节因子,二者的交互作用会对猎物和宿主种群波动产生深远影响。较低的球虫感染强度与捕食对根田鼠（Alexandromys oeconomus）繁殖无显著的交互作用。自然界球虫感染存在季节性变化,秋季感染强度最高。为了探究较高感染强度下,球虫与捕食对根田鼠繁殖的主效应及交互作用,本研究采用2×2析因实验设计,在野外围栏中测定了根田鼠种群肠道内寄生物的感染率和感染强度、雄性睾丸指数、睾酮水平、精子密度、精子活力以及雌性卵巢指数。结果表明,较高的感染强度下,球虫能显著抑制根田鼠的繁殖性能,但球虫感染与捕食对根田鼠的繁殖无显著的交互作用,这可能与球虫感染和捕食效应在时间上的错配有关。本研究认为,球虫感染对繁殖期小哺乳动物种群的调节作用虽有限,但其可通过与捕食者的耦合来降低宿主越冬时的存活率,进而影响宿主种群波动。     

两种雀形目鸟类的窝雏数处理实验:检验Lack假说

于1997—1999年在位于青海省北部的中国科学院海北高寒草甸生态系统定位站进行。选择地面筑巢的小云雀(Alauda gulgula)和灌丛筑巢的黄嘴朱顶雀(Acanthis flavirostris)为代表进行窝雏数处理实验。根据Lack假说的预报检验(1)常见窝卵数是否是最大生产力窝卵数;(2)窝雏数处理对雏鸟质量和亲鸟投入是否产生影响;(3)两种鸟的响应方式是否相同。其结果如下：①小云雀和黄嘴朱顶雀的常见窝卵数分别是3和5枚。年间变化不明显,用幼鸟出飞率作为生产力,两种鸟的扩增窝幼鸟出飞率下降,常见窝卵数(分布频率最高)等同于最大生产力窝卵数;②小云雀的幼鸟的生长参数不随窝雏数的改变而变化．而黄嘴朱顶雀有明显变化．说明窝雏数处理对后者幼鸟质量有明显影响。③用递食率作为亲鸟投资指标,小云雀亲鸟的递食率随窝雏数的增加而增加,但雏期不变;而黄嘴朱顶雀递食率不变,但雏期延长。④扩增窝雏数后,两种亲鸟表现出不同的响应方式,小云雀表现为提高单位时间递食次数,而黄嘴朱顶雀延长育幼时间。这两种方式不是通过影响雏鸟质量就是通过影响亲鸟存活率来降低子代和亲代的适合度。结果支持了自然选择将窝卵数调节到亲鸟能喂活最大数量子代的限度。即常见窝卵数就是最大生产力窝卵数的Lack假说。     

舍曲林对蚤状溞诱导型反捕食防御代内与代际可塑性的干扰效应

表型可塑性是指生物(尤其是单一基因型)在适应异质环境时表达出不同表型的能力,并且有遗传基础。环境变化调控表型可塑性既可以发生在个体发育进程中(称为代内表型可塑性),也能够以可遗传表型响应的形式持续多个生物世代(称为代际表型可塑性)。浮游动物枝角类常常受到来自鱼类的捕食风险影响而表现出诱导型防御的表型可塑性。诱导型防御的表达在很大程度上受到代谢稳态控制,因此枝角类的诱导型防御的表达容易受到内稳态代谢干扰物(例如抗抑郁药舍曲林)的影响。考虑到舍曲林在水中生物活性高且难以被降解;同时,枝角类世代周期较短,因此需要评估连续多代舍曲林暴露对枝角类反捕食防御代内以及代际可塑性的影响。结果发现：在代内可塑性方面,连续两代的舍曲林暴露放大了鱼类信息素诱导的蚤状溞体长减小趋势以及相对尾刺长度增长趋势,但是对鱼类信息素作用下的种群适合度参数无明显干扰。在代际可塑性方面,随着连续两代舍曲林的浓度上升,亲代经历鱼类信息素产下的子代继续响应鱼类信息素时,体长减小、相对尾刺长度增大,说明形态防御得到加强;同时种群净繁殖量以及种群内禀增长率下降的趋势被放大,由此可能抑制鱼类捕食风险下蚤状溞的种群丰度。上述结果表明,...     

养殖水体中的微型裸腹溞对高浓度鱼类化学信息素的反应:以生命表研究为例

本文通过研究微型裸腹溞的生活史,探讨了当东湖养殖的鲢鳙密度进一步增大时,它们释放的化学信息素对微型裸腹溞的间接作用,同时也讨论了微型裸腹溞在高密度鱼类捕食下种群能够延续的可能机制。在淡水生态系统中,无视力的生物能通过化学物质的交流来感知环境中的捕食压力,从而作出相应的调整策略。本研究结果显示高浓度的鱼类化学信息素对微型裸腹溞的生活史并没有显著影响,意味着微型裸腹溞有可能通过与该鱼类的长期共存而适应了这类物质。但是我们的结果与前人的相比还是存在着很大的差异,尤其是明显提高的总的后代数、平均怀卵量和内禀增长力;另外短的世代时间、小的初次繁殖时的体长和年龄有可能也是微型裸腹溞在高密度鱼类捕食压力下占优势的良好证据。     

Parental investment strategies in two species of nuthatch vary with stage-specific predation risk and reproductive effort

Life-history theory predicts that differences in reproductive effort and residual reproductive value among species should result in differences in the level of risk that parents are willing to tolerate to themselves versus their offspring. Specifically, highly fecund and shorter-lived species are expected to place greater value in current offspring than themselves, whereas less fecund and longer-lived species are expected to place greater value in their own survival and future breeding opportunities. Here, we test the prediction that parental investment decisions are correlated with life histories by comparing risk-taking behaviour in two species of nuthatch that differ in reproductive effort: the white-breasted nuthatch, Sitta carolinensis (more fecund, lower survival) and the red-breasted nuthatch, S. canadensis (less fecund, higher survival). We experimentally manipulated stage-specific predation risk by presenting models of an adult predator (hawk) and an egg predator (wren) and measured the willingness of males to feed incubating females on the nest. We found that both species of nuthatch responded to predators by increasing the length of time between visits and aborting more visits to the nest. However, as predicted by their life histories, S. carolinensis displayed a significantly stronger response to the egg predator, whereas S. canadensis responded more strongly to the adult predator. Thus, species can differ in their willingness to tolerate risk to themselves and their young, and such differences appear to be related to differences in investment in current reproduction and the probability of future survival. Copyright 2000 The Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour.     

Within‐season increase in parental investment in a long‐lived bird species: investment shifts to maximize successful reproduction?

In nest‐building species predation of nest contents is a main cause of reproductive failure and parents have to trade off reproductive investment against antipredatory behaviours. While this trade‐off is modified by lifespan (short‐lived species prioritize current reproduction; long‐lived species prioritize future reproduction), it may vary within a breeding season, but this idea has only been tested in short‐lived species. Yet, life history theory does not make any prediction how long‐lived species should trade off current against future reproductive investment within a season. Here, we investigated this trade‐off through predator‐exposure experiments in a long‐lived bird species, the brown thornbill. We exposed breeding pairs that had no prior within‐season reproductive success to the models of a nest predator and a predator of adults during their first or second breeding attempt. Overall, parents reduced their feeding rate in the presence of a predator, but parents feeding second broods were more risk sensitive and almost ceased feeding when exposed to both types of predators. However, during second breeding attempts, parents had larger clutches and a higher feeding rate in the absence of predators than during first breeding attempts and approached both types of predators closer when mobbing. Our results suggest that the trade‐off between reproductive investment and risk‐taking can change in a long‐lived species within a breeding season depending on both prior nest predation and renesting opportunities. These patterns correspond to those in short‐lived species, raising the question of whether a within‐season shift in reproductive investment trade‐offs is independent of lifespan.     

Influence of Inter-Lake Variation in Natural Nest Predation Pressure on the Parental Care Behaviour of Smallmouth Bass (Micropterus dolomieu)

Predation risk has the ability to greatly influence the behaviour of reproducing individuals. In large long-lived species with low risk of predation for parents, reproductive behaviours often involve caring for offspring (i.e. defending broods from predators) and these behaviours are essential for offspring survival. Our objectives were to test for the presence of natural variation in nest predation pressure in an aquatic environment for a species that provides sole-paternal care, smallmouth bass ( Micropterus dolomieu ), and to determine if natural variation in predation pressure influences parental care behaviour. We used snorkeler observations and a series of metrics to assess predation pressure and parental care behaviour in six lakes within a narrow geographical range. Lakes differed in all predation pressure metrics: number of predators in proximity to nest when males were present, time to predator arrival and number of predators that consumed eggs when males were absent and total number of nests that was preyed upon. Similarly, parental behaviour varied between lakes. Parental smallmouth bass spent more time engaged in anti-predator defences in lakes with high predation pressure, while males from low predator pressure lakes remained close to their nest. Conversely, males from lakes with low and high predation pressure showed a similar willingness to defend their nests during simulated nest predation events. Our results show that natural variation in aquatic nest predation pressure across multiple lakes can be significant and has the ability to influence baseline parental care behaviour. Such variation provides opportunities to study the costs and consequences of parental care and to evaluate how this could influence demography and community interactions in aquatic systems.     

Limited Phylogeographic Signal in Sex-Linked and Autosomal Loci Despite Geographically,Ecologically, and Phenotypically Concordant Structure of mtDNA Variation in the Holarctic Avian Genus Eremophila

Phylogeographic studies of Holarctic birds are challenging because they involve vast geographic scale, complex glacial history, extensive phenotypic variation, and heterogeneous taxonomic treatment across countries, all of which require large sample sizes. Knowledge about the quality of phylogeographic information provided by different loci is crucial for study design. We use sequences of one mtDNA gene, one sex-linked intron, and one autosomal intron to elucidate large scale phylogeographic patterns in the Holarctic lark genus Eremophila. The mtDNA ND2 gene identified six geographically, ecologically, and phenotypically concordant clades in the Palearctic that diverged in the Early - Middle Pleistocene and suggested paraphyly of the horned lark (E. alpestris) with respect to the Temminck''s lark (E. bilopha). In the Nearctic, ND2 identified five subclades which diverged in the Late Pleistocene. They overlapped geographically and were not concordant phenotypically or ecologically. Nuclear alleles provided little information on geographic structuring of genetic variation in horned larks beyond supporting the monophyly of Eremophila and paraphyly of the horned lark. Multilocus species trees based on two nuclear or all three loci provided poor support for haplogroups identified by mtDNA. The node ages calculated using mtDNA were consistent with the available paleontological data, whereas individual nuclear loci and multilocus species trees appeared to underestimate node ages. We argue that mtDNA is capable of discovering independent evolutionary units within avian taxa and can provide a reasonable phylogeographic hypothesis when geographic scale, geologic history, and phenotypic variation in the study system are too complex for proposing reasonable a priori hypotheses required for multilocus methods. Finally, we suggest splitting the currently recognized horned lark into five Palearctic and one Nearctic species.     

Size dependent predatory pressure in the Japanese horned beetle,Allomyrina dichotoma L. (Coleoptera; Scarabaeidae)

We surveyed male survival and reproductive performances associated with dimorphism in the Japanese horned beetleAllomyrina dichotoma L. in a secondary forest in 1996. Morphological comparisons between living marked and prey individuals indicated that the larger horned males suffered higher predatory pressure than the smaller ones. The dominant predators of the beetles were suspected to be 2 crow species. The small-horned males showed lower recapture rates than the large-horned ones. This suggested that the former was more sensitive to disturbance, and/or dispersed more than the latter. Fighting behavior was rarely seen because of the low population density of the beetles in the study area. These results suggested that the large-horned males suffer not only the injury risk of intrasexual competition but also more predatory risk than the small-horned ones.     

Horn Length Is the Determining Factor in the Outcomes of Escalated Fights Among Male Japanese Horned Beetles, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Allomyrina dichotoma</Emphasis> L. (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae)

Male horn length in some horned beetles shows a sigmoidal relationship with body size. This has often been considered as the reflection of alternative reproductive tactics of males based on body size. Large males should possess long horns to acquire females through fights with other males using their horns, whereas small males do not require long horns because they usually avoid intermale fights and adopt alternative tactics such as sneaking. This may lead to a prediction that horn length is a reliable indicator of the fighting ability of the male. We examined the effects of both male horn length and body size of Allomyrina dichotoma on the outcomes of escalated fights. Results indicate that male horn length was more important than body size in predicting the outcomes of fight, and this may support the hypothesis that the evolution of the horn dimorphism in male horned beetles is the result of different reproductive tactics.     

Parental risk management in relation to offspring defence: bad news for kids

Do parents defend their offspring whenever necessary, and do self-sacrificing parents really exist? Studies recognized that parent defence is dynamic, mainly depending on the threat predators pose. In this context, parental risk management should consider the threat to themselves and to their offspring. Consequently, the observed defence should be a composite of both risk components. Surprisingly, no study so far has determined the influence of these two threat components on parental decision rules. In a field experiment, we investigated parental risk taking in relation to the threat posed to themselves and their offspring. To disentangle the two threat components, we examined defence behaviours of parent blue tits Cyanistes caeruleus towards three different predators and during different nestling developmental stages. Nest defence strategies in terms of alarm call intensity and nearest predator approach differed between the three predators. Defence intensity was only partly explained by threat level. Most importantly, parental risk management varied in relation to their own, but not offspring risk. Parent defence investment was independent of nestling risk when parents followed a high-risk strategy. However, parents considered nestling as well as parental risk when following a low-risk strategy. Our findings could have general implications for the economy of risk management and decision-making strategies in living beings, including humans.     

Dynamic switching in predator attack and maternal defence of prey

Predator and prey relationships are dynamic and interrelated. Thus, any offensive behaviour will vary according to differing defensive behaviours, or vice versa, within each species in any predator–prey system. However, most studies are one‐sided as they focus on just one behaviour, that of either the predator or prey. Here, we examine both predatory behaviour of an oophagus katydid and antipredator behaviour by a frog with egg‐stage parental care. Katydid offensive behaviour and predation success was greater in females and increased with predator maturity and size. Frog defensive behaviour was sex specific, probably because only mothers provide parental care. Defensive behaviour could be active, such as charging predators, or passive, such as sheltering eggs, with greater active defence against larger predators; neither was influenced by offspring age. These results are contrary to existing theory, which argues parental investment ought to be negatively correlated with parental predation risks and affected by offspring age. This study highlights the use of antipredator behaviour to test predictions of parental investment theories in amphibians. In addition, it illustrates the need to consider factors that influence both species concurrently when examining the complex interaction between predators and parents.     

Variable fledging age according to group size: trade-offs in a cooperatively breeding bird

Group living can provide individuals with several benefits, including cooperative vigilance and lower predation rates. Individuals in larger groups may be less vulnerable to predation due to dilution effects, efficient detection or greater ability to repel predators. Individuals in smaller groups may consequently employ alternative behavioural tactics to compensate for their greater vulnerability to predators. Here, we describe how pied babbler (Turdoides bicolor) fledging age varies with group size and the associated risk of nestling predation. Nestling predation is highest in smaller groups, but there is no effect of group size on fledgling predation. Consequently, small groups fledge young earlier, thereby reducing the risk of predation. However, there is a cost to this behaviour as younger fledglings are less mobile than older fledglings: they move shorter distances and are less likely to successfully reach the communal roost tree. The optimal age to fledge young appears to depend on the trade-off between reduced nestling predation and increased fledgling mobility. We suggest that such trade-offs may be common in species where group size critically affects individual survival and reproductive success.