Monitoring an invasive perennial at the landscape scale with remote sensing

Summary   Worldwide, invasive weeds threaten agricultural, natural and urban ecosystems. In Australia's agricultural and grazing regions, invasive species often establish across extensive areas where weed management is hampered by an inability to detect the location and timing of an outbreak. In these vast landscapes, an effective detection and monitoring system is required to delineate the extent of the invasion and identify spatial and temporal factors associated with weed establishment and thickening. In this study, we utilize a time series of remote sensing imagery to detect the spatial and temporal patterns of Prickly Acacia ( Acacia nilotica ) invasion in the Mitchell grass plains of North Queensland. We develop a spectral index from Landsat images which is applied to images from 1989 to 2004, in combination with a classification mask, to identify locations and monitor changes in Prickly Acacia density across 29 000 km² of Mitchell grass plains. The approach identified spectral and temporal signatures consistent with Prickly Acacia infestation on 1.9% of this landscape. Field checking of results confirmed presence of the weed in previously unrecorded locations. The approach may be used to evaluate future spread, or outcomes of management strategies for Prickly Acacia in this landscape and could be employed to detect and monitor invasions in other extensive landscapes.     

辛硫磷和溴氰菊酯混剂对家蝇抗性发展的影响

以家蝇(Musca domestica vicina Macquart)为试虫,用辛硫磷溴氰菊酯单剂及不同配比的混剂进行汰选试验。所有混剂选育的家蝇抗性发展都很缓慢,而单剂抗性发展都很快。增效试验表明,辛硫磷与溴氰菊酯混配有明显增效作用,特别是对抗性品系。生化分析结果表明,对澳氰菊酯的抗性发展与酯酶的酶活升高有关。对辛硫磷抗性发展与多功能氧化酶的酶活升高和乙酰胆碱酯酶敏感性降低有关。混剂选育的家蝇其对单剂的敏感性的变化及酶系的变化,随着混剂的配比而变化。     

Delayed egg production and a possible group effect in the blowfly Calliphora vicina

Abstract .Protein-fed Calliphora vicina , F₁ offspring of wild flies in two cages with lower and higher fly densities showed variable delay in starting oocyte vitellogenesis at ambient semi-natural temperatures in warm July–August weather in 1996 and 1997 at Durham in northern England (54°45' N). The high-density flies in 1996 showed no delay, in that the thermal sum (degree-days) experienced was 133, comparable to 18°C constant, assuming the lower threshold for egg maturation to be 5°C. Low-density cages and flies in a large outdoor cage (2 m³) in both years showed delays in production of first eggs of 34 days (thermal sum 293 degree-days) in 1996 and 32 days (396 degree-days) in 1997, and longer delays for other individuals. Delays in egg production at low densities relative to high densities seem to be a group effect of unknown mechanism.     

Somatic embryo and root regeneration from quince leaves cultured in ventilated vessels or under different oxygen and carbon dioxide levels

Summary The influence of the gaseous composition of the atmosphere inside culturing vessels on somatic embryogenesis and on adventitious root formation was investigated in the quince clone (Cydonia ablonga Mill.) BA29. Leaves taken from in vitro-grown shoots were cultured in glass Petri dishes and exposed to ventilation with atmospheric air (flow rate 25 ml min⁻¹) for 0, 5, 10, 20, and 40 d. Twenty days of ventilation reduced the frequency of embryogenic leaves and a further decrease was observed after 40d of treatment. Conversely, adventitious root formation in the ventilated dishes was never different from the untreated cultures. In a second test, leaves were incubated in atmospheres containing different levels of oxygen (0, 5.0, 10.0, and 21.0%) or carbon dioxide (0, 0.04, 0.15, 1.5, and 3.0%). Anoxia conditions almost completely inhibited somatic embryo and adventitious root formation, but without compromising callus formation and explant viability. In contrast, embryo and root regeneration occurred even in totally CO₂-free atmosphere. Oxygen seemed to influence somatic embryogenesis according to a quadratic response; a similar relationship was also observed for root regeneration. Instead, no clear trend could be inferred between embryo or root regeneration and CO₂ levels. Furthermore, in dishes flushed with gas mixtures containing oxygen or carbon dioxide somatic embryo formation was almost always lower than in confined dishes. A different result was observed for root regeneration, since the number of roots was never lower than in the control and increased appreciably with 3.0% CO₂. These results demonstrate that atmosphere composition of the culture head-space can influence somatic embryogenesis in quince. The finding that both vessel ventilation and atmosphere replacement with different gas mixtures reduced somatic embryo formation suggests that gaseous compounds, different from O₂ an CO₂, present in the gaseous environment may promote embryogenesis in this species.     

Competition by herbs as a limiting factor in shrub invasion in grassland: a test with different growth forms

Abstract. We tested the hypothesis that seedling establishment, the critical stage in the invasion of grassland by shrubs, is limited by competition with perennial grasses in seasonally wet/dry savannas. We placed seeds of two invasive exotic shrubs – Cryptostegia grandiflora, a woody vine, and Acacia nilotica, an arborescent legume – into pots with a wide range of existing above- and below-ground herbaceous biomass provided by either a tussock or a stoloniferous perennial grass. We also imposed different levels of watering frequency (5, 10 and 21 d), nutrient addition (+ and -) and grass clipping intensity (no clipping, clipped to 5 cm and clipped to 25 cm). There was no effect of any treatment on shrub seedling emergence or survival and all of the seedlings that emerged survived the 90-d growing period. Herbaceous competition also failed to have an effect on biomass accumulation in shrub seedlings. More frequent watering significantly increased above- and below-ground biomass accumulation for both shrub species and nutrient addition significantly increased Cryptostegia biomass accumulation. Based on these results, we question the proposition that reduction in competition by herbs via livestock grazing has been a significant factor in determining the rate or pattern of exotic shrub increase in the seasonally wet/dry tropics. We also question the suitability of the two-layer soil moisture hypothesis as a basis for management practices to control the ingress of woody species into grasslands and open savannas.     

苦杏仁精油的熏蒸杀虫活性研究

采用三角瓶密闭熏蒸法测定了苦杏仁精油对家蝇、白纹伊蚊、粘虫以及玉米象的熏蒸杀虫活性,结果显示:苦杏仁精油对各试虫均有较强的熏蒸杀虫活性,其中含HCN的精油对家蝇、白纹伊蚊、粘虫以及玉米象的LC50分别为3.09、0.63、4.63、12.03μL/L;除去HCN的精油对家蝇、白纹伊蚊、粘虫以及玉米象的LC50分别为3.53、0.52、4.08、23.46μL/L;熏蒸的时间效应试验结果表明,含有HCN的苦杏仁精油和不含HCN的苦杏仁精油对供试试虫的熏杀速度均较快,其中白纹伊蚊的反应最快,其次为家蝇、粘虫、玉米象.除玉米象外苦杏仁精油中所含的微量HCN对试虫的熏蒸活性影响不大,且2种处理的精油对同种试虫的致死中时差别范围不超过10 min.实验结果表明,苦杏仁精油可作为新型的杀虫活性物质,为苦杏仁精油作为植物源杀虫剂提供了依据.     

抑卵激素对家蝇卵巢周期性发育的调控

抑卵激素是调控家蝇Musca dorncstica vicina卵巢周期性发育的关键因子之一。在家蝇中,当第一个周期的卵母细胞处于卵黄发生期或卵黄发生后期时,其第二个周期的卵母细胞的发育不进入卵黄发生期。本文建立了家蝇抑卵激素的生物测定方法,即用一对卵巢提取物注射1头羽化后12h家蝇,并在羽化后60h观察卵母细胞的发育及卵黄蛋白的沉积情况。抑卵激素的作用首先是延缓了卵母细胞在卵黄发生前期的发育;其次,抑卵激素抑制脂肪体中卵黄蛋白的合成,导致血淋巴中卵黄蛋白含量的下降,从而抑制了卵母细胞的发育。抑卵激素并不抑制卵母细胞对卵黄原蛋白的摄取。卵发育神经激素可以颉抗抑卵激素的抑制作用。抑卵激素无种属特异性。     

拟黑多刺蚁成虫头部USP基因的定位与定量分析及其与EcR基因相关性

【目的】超气门蛋白（ultraspiracle protein, USP）是蜕皮激素作用靶标的重要组成部分。本研究拟通过分析在拟黑多刺蚁Polyrhachis vicina Roger USP基因PvUSP在不同品级成虫头部mRNA表达的差异,推测PvUSP对其脑神经功能或行为的影响;拟通过饲喂PvUSP dsRNA对拟黑多刺蚁不同品级成虫PvUSP进行RNA干扰（RNAi）,推测PvUSP对虫体生理功能的影响及其与蜕皮激素受体（ecdysone receptor, EcR）基因PvEcR之间功能的相关性。【方法】利用荧光原位杂交及荧光实时定量PCR技术对拟黑多刺蚁不同品级成虫头部PvUSP mRNA组织分布与表达水平进行检测;通过饲喂PvUSP dsRNA对拟黑多刺蚁不同品级成虫PvUSP进行RNAi,采用荧光实时定量PCR检测拟黑多刺蚁PvUSP与PvEcR表达水平的变化。【结果】PvUSP mRNA广泛表达于拟黑多刺蚁不同品级成虫头部（主要分布于蕈形体）,不同品级成虫头部PvUSP mRNA的表达量不同,工蚁头部表达量最高,雄蚁头部次之,雌蚁头部的表达量最低;RNAi沉默PvUSP后,与对照组相比,PvUSP mRNA在不同品级拟黑多刺蚁成虫体内表达量均明显降低,并存在显著差异(P<0.01);与对照组相比,PvEcR mRNA在各品级表达量均有增加,工蚁和雄蚁表达量变化不显著（P>0.05）,但雌蚁体内PvEcR mRNA表达量显著增加（P<0.05）。【结论】PvUSP基因对拟黑多刺蚁不同品级头部神经系统的构建、功能作用的发挥有关;拟黑多刺蚁PvUSP基因与PvEcR基因可能在异源二聚体形成过程中存在关联性或功能的互补性;PvUSP可能对雌蚁的生殖功能产生重要影响。     

艾蒿精油对家蝇的忌避及熏蒸活性

应用“Y”型嗅觉仪对家蝇进行了生物测定。结果表明,艾蒿(Artemisia vulgars L．)精油20μL和25μL剂量对家蝇Musca domestica rieina有很强的忌避活性,平均忌避活力分别为86％和88％,显著高于5和10μL剂量。植物精油对家蝇成虫具有很好的熏蒸活性。随着精油浓度的升高和熏蒸时间的延长,试虫的死亡率显著增加。艾蒿精油浓度为20μL／mL时,家蝇成虫的死亡率在24h后即达到100％;对照在24,48,72和96h时家蝇成虫的死亡率分别为0,0,5％和11％。     

Blow fly responses to semiochemicals produced by decaying carcasses

Volatiles from mouse carcasses in decay stages ranging from fresh to 33 days old were used to investigate oriented flight and landings in male and female blow flies of Calliphora vicina Robineau‐Desvoidy (Diptera: Calliphoridae). Oriented flight increased significantly from 36% towards fresh carcasses to 68%, 61% and 65% towards carcasses aged 3 days, 6 days and 9 days, respectively. Carcasses aged 20 days and 33 days were significantly less attractive, achieving 51% and 41% attraction, respectively. No differences emerged between the sexes in oriented flight, but a significant increase in female landings at the most attractive carcasses was observed. Headspace collections from the different stages of decay showed a succession in the volatile profile emitted from the carcasses and identified nine chemicals which peak in quantity in concurrence with the most attractive stages of decay. Three of these chemicals also showed dose–response effects as indicated by a significant correlation between the amount present and the proportion of flies responding. Blow flies are important pests and efficient traps are needed. The significant interaction between fly sex and carcass age highlights behavioural differences between male and female blow flies which can be exploited in blow fly trapping. Three new volatile chemicals, butylated hydroxyl toluene, 3‐hydroxy‐2‐butanone and nonanal, emitted from dead mice are suggested as potential attractants.