Effects of re‐breeding rates on population size estimation of biennial breeders: results from a model based on albatrosses

Estimating total breeding populations (I) for species that exhibit biennial breeding is generally done from counts of individuals that breed in each year (N), but can be complicated by the fact that the proportion of individuals breeding varies from year to year. Partly, this reflects the proportion of individuals that re‐breed in successive years (re‐breeding rate, p), which is largely, although not exclusively, governed by reproductive failure. Here we show that variation in counts of breeding individuals not only reflects changes in total breeding population but can be sensitive to and powerfully driven by variation in p. A simulation of annual field counts of a bird exhibiting biennial breeding was constructed to explore the effect of re‐breeding attempts on estimations of the total breeding population. The model was used to simulate the consequences of adult mortality and different annual patterns of nesting failures on total breeding population estimates, and to explore the consequences of variation in p on N, when total breeding population remains constant. N is shown to be very sensitive to variations in p, so that even short‐term fluctuations in p can cause changes in N that oscillate for many years ahead. We compare our modelled results with real data for Grey‐headed Albatrosses Thalassarche chrysostoma and demonstrate that, when I is held constant in the model, actual counts may be simulated by variations in p only. Normally, I is unknown and is extrapolated from N on the assumption that N mirrors changes in the size of the total population. Consequently, applying average values of p can result in misleading estimates of total breeding population. We recommend that annual counts of breeding individuals are supplemented with annual estimates of p. Field protocols that aim to estimate annual breeding population size from counts of breeding individuals should be complemented by independent measures of rates of re‐breeding and nest failure.     

Insulin in Invertebrates and Cyclostomes

It seems increasingly clear that insulin is a hormone that doesnot occur exclusively in vertebrates. Several independent reportsnow exist giving evidence of insulin production in the digestivetissues of both deuterostomian and protostomian invertebrates.Cells with some light-microscopical and ultrastructural characteristicsof vertebrate B-cells have also been observed. Recently, evidencehas been obtained that insulin can act as a hypoglycemic hormone,promoting glycogen synthesis, also in a protostomian invertebrate,the gastropod mollusc, Strophocheilus oblongus. The endocrine pancreas of the cyclostomes occupies a key positionin the comparative endocrinology of the islet parenchyma andin the evolution of insulin production. It may represent anevolutionary link between the presumably gut-connected dispersedinsulin-producing cells of deuterostomian invertebrates andthe pancreatic islets of gnathostomian vertebrates. This hypothesiswas supported by the fact that cells with light-microscopicaland ultrastructural similarities to the islet B-cells were observedin the bile duct mucosa of the hagfish, Myxine glutinosa. However,immunofluorescent studies with antisera against human insulinand C-peptide did not show any immunoreactive material outsidethe B-cells of the endocrine pancreas. Particular attentionwas paid to elucidate the biological significance of the largecystic cavities that are so typical for the cyclostomian isletparenchyma. The working hypothesis that they may contain storedinsulin, proinsulin (or even "proto-proinsulin") was not supportedby immunofluorescence, autoradiographic, or ultrastructuralinvestigations, nor by proinsulin assays. It is possible thathagfish islet B-cells contain zinc, despite the fact that theamino acid residue in B₁₀-position is aspartic acid insteadof histidine. The biosynthesis of hagfish insulin shows a patternsimilar to that in gnathostomes. Its rate is related to theambient temperature and at 11 C the conversion of proinsulinto insulin lasts several days.     

马鞍菌属新种和新组合

本文报道了产于我国的马鞍菌属Helvella的三个新种及一新组合,它们是亚梭孢马鞍菌H.subfusispora Liu et Cao,太原马鞍菌H·taiyuanensis Liu,Du et Cao中国马鞍菌H.sinensis Liu et Cao以及紫棱柄马鞍菌H.purpurea(Zang)Liu et Cao。并附有我国马鞍菌种的检索表。     

Sp1蛋白锌指结构域及其模拟物的合成及与寡聚核苷酸结合能力的研究

用固相多肽合成方法首次合成转录因子Sp1的第2个锌指Sp1-ZF2及其突变体Sp1-ZF2/HT(E²⁰→H,R²³→T),模拟物ZF20和ZF15.CD谱及Co(Ⅱ)UV-可见光谱研究表明:当缺少足够的疏水氨基酸以及Cys与His距离改变时,锌指结构的形成将受到影响.凝胶阻滞电泳研究表明:突变的两位置显著影响特异识别.单个锌指肽可以与特异性寡聚核苷酸序列结合.     

我国第2次空间蛋白质晶体生长实验

1994年7月,在我国返回式卫星FSW-2上进行了第2次空间蛋白质结晶实验.该次实验中的晶体生长状况明显优于首次空间实验结果,参加实验的10种蛋白质中有9种蛋白质在空间长出了晶体,48个样品的单晶产生率达70％以上.其中3种蛋白质在空间长出较大单晶体,能用于X射线衍射实验和收集强度数据.这3种蛋白质中,除了在首次空间实验中长出较大晶体的溶菌酶,还有由于结晶条件优化而结晶效果明显改进的酸性磷脂酶A₂和斑头雁氧合血红蛋白.微重力条件对蛋白质晶体生长的良好效应在本次实验中得到进一步证实.     

腺苷酸激酶的脲激活及构象变化

用紫外吸收、圆二色、ANS结合外源荧光和小角X 射线散射等方法研究了腺苷酸激酶 (AK)的脲变性去折叠过程 .实验发现 :低浓度脲对酶有激活作用 ,最大激活的脲浓度是 1mol/L ;伴随着激活 ,酶分子的二级结构发生了微小的变化 ,但此时观察不到其整体结构的明显变化 .对照分析AK的晶体结构和催化反应机制 ,激活作用被认为是低浓度脲增加了酶分子活性部位的柔性 .AK与ANS结合荧光与脲浓度关系的研究支持了上述推论     

No evidence of past bottlenecks in two Danish mustelids: results of craniometric and genetic studies in time and space

A craniometric and molecular genetic investigation was conducted in Danish stoat (Mustela erminea) and weasel (Mustela nivalis) populations. Specimens used were collected over a wide time span (stoat: 1864–2002; weasel: 1863–1990) and from several geographical regions (Jutland peninsula and the two islands of Funen and Zealand). The study was made with a temporal and a spatial perspective, allowing the estimation of differences in genetic diversity and craniometrical trait means between geographical regions and through time with the use of ancient DNA techniques. Univariate statistics of 11 trait lengths did not reveal geographical differentiation in size and shape among the different regions for the stoat, but a geographical differentiation in shape was found for the weasel. There was evidence for reductions in skull size with the year of collection in male stoats, but not in females, which suggests that some selective pressures or environmental factors have affected male stoats to a greater extent than female stoats and the weasel. Relatively high values of heterozygosity were found in both the stoat and weasel, using microsatellite markers. The level of genetic variability of the stoat collected recently was compared with the level of genetic variability in the historical samples, demonstrating that the stoat has not suffered severe loss of genetic variability through the investigated period. A comparison of recent and historical genetic variability of the weasel was not possible because the ancient DNA extracted from the weasels was too degraded. Pairwise F_ST values and assignment tests showed small but significant genetic differentiation between the different geographical regions for both the stoat and weasel. No genetic differentiation between the recent and historical samples of the stoat was found. © 2006 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2006, 88 , 541–553.     

马鞍菌属新种和新记录(一)

有关马鞍菌属 Helvella 的历史,属种概念以及中国已知种的检索表已作过报道(刘波等,1985)。本文描述了近年来采到的两个新种:粘马鞍菌 Helvella glutinosa sp.nov.和伞形马鞍菌 H.galeriformis sp.nov.;四个新记录:白柄马鞍菌 H.albellu Quél.,小马鞍菌H.helvellula(Dur.et Mont.)Dissing,乳白马鞍菌 H.lactea Boud.和脉马鞍菌 H.phlebo-phora Pat.et Doass.。此外,斑点马鞍菌 H.maculata Weber 虽已作过报道和描述(李静丽等,1986),然而由于它是一个非常具特征性的种,而且有一限制的地理分布,因此本文也对它进行了更充分的描述和讨论。     

Effects of predation on clutch size and egg dispersion in the codling moth Laspeyresia pomonella

ABSTRACT.

• 1 The effects of predation on clutch size and egg dispersion in the codling moth Laspeyresia pomonella (L.) were experimentally studied in an orchard by recording survival of eggs glued onto different substrates.
• 2 Egg mortality due to sucking insects was readily distinguishable from that due to chewing insects.
• 3 In both the field and laboratory, females preferred to deposit eggs singly on the uppersides of leaves.
• 4 Eggs on the uppersides of leaves and on fruit survived significantly better than did those on the undersides of leaves or on twigs.
• 5 Egg losses were highest during the early part of the flight season.
• 6 The smallest (one egg) and largest (nine eggs) clutches, associated with one egg-bearing leaf per twig, both suffered the lowest rates of predation. Factors selecting against oviposition on fruits and production of large clutch sizes are presented and discussed.

     

稀土元素钬对蚕豆的细胞毒性和遗传毒性研究

运用氧化钬与稀硝酸反应制备结晶,以去离子水溶解并且稀释成梯度溶液,对蚕豆根尖染毒6 h,分别修复培养22h和24h,观察根尖变化,统计微核率、染色体畸变率及有丝分裂指数。结果表明,4mg/L（以氧化钬质量体积浓度计）以下剂量对根尖生长具有促进作用;随着浓度的递增,微核率、染色体畸变率逐步上升,有丝分裂指数逐步下降,表现出明显的剂量-效应关系,说明稀土元素钬具有一定的细胞毒性和遗传毒性。同时,不同修复组在微核率、染色体畸变率及有丝分裂指数上也存在一定差异,表现为微核率22h修复组低于24 h 修复组,而染色体畸变率和分裂指数均高于24h修复组。微核检测应在染色体畸变检测之后进行。 