The semidian rhythm in flowering response of Pharbitis nil in relation to dark period time measurement and to a circadian rhythm

When seedlings of Pharbitis nil Choisy, cv. Violet, are exposed to a single inductive dark period at 27°C, brief interruptions with red light (R) can be promotive after 2–3 h of darkness but increasingly inhibitory to flowering up to the 8–9th h of darkness. This rhythmic response to R interruptions can be advanced in phase by > 1 h when the preceding light period is interrupted with far-red (FR) 2 h before darkness (FR -2 h) or with FR – 15 h, whereas FR –8 h or FR–22 h retard the rhythm. These shifts in the R interruption rhythm are paralleled by equal shifts in the length of the dark period required for flowering. Brief FR interruptions of darkness displayed a similar rhythm which was also advanced by FR –2 h and retarded by FR –8 h. We conclude therefore that the semidian rhythm in the light, which we have previously described, continues through at least the first 12 h of darkness, is manifested in the R interruption rhythm, and determines the critical night length. A circadian rhythm with a marked effect on flowering was also identified, but several lines of evidence suggest that the circadian and semidian rhythms have independent additive effects on flowering and do not appear to show phase interaction.     

Ant eating behavior of mountain gorillas

Eleven cases of feeding on driver ants (Dorylus sp.) by mountain gorillas (Gorilla gorilla beringei) are described. Ant eating provides the gorillas with more animal protein and other nutrients per unit feeding time than do other forms of insectivory that contribute to their diet, but it is so rare that it is unlikely to be of real nutritional significance. Gorillas obtain ants with their hands and do not use tools. Immature individuals (except infants) ate more ants than did adult females, and silverbacks were not seen to eat ants. These differences are more likely to reflect differences in individual taste and interest in novelty than differences in nutritional strategy. Not all gorillas in the Virungas population eat ants. Intra-population variability may be ecologically contingent, but ant eating appears to be a socially acquired and transmitted taste.     

Differences in Body Image and Depression Among Obese Women With and Without Binge Eating Disorder

Obese individuals with binge eating disorder (BED) differ from obese non-binge eating (NBE) individuals in a number of clinically relevant ways. This study examined attitudinal responses to various measures of body image in women seeking obesity treatment, by comparing NBE participants (n=80) to those with BED (n=48). It was hypothesized that women with BED would demonstrate greater attitudinal disturbance of body image compared to NBE individuals. It was further hypothesized that significant differences between groups would remain after statistically controlling for degree of depression. Consistent with the primary hypothesis, BED participants reported significantly increased attitudinal disturbance in body dissatisfaction and size perception compared to NBE participants. Although shared variance was observed between measures of depression and body image on some items, several aspects of increased body image disturbance remained after statistically controlling for depression. Treatment implications and recommendations for future research are discussed.     

Observations on the meat-eating behavior of wild bonobos (Pan paniscus) at Wamba,Republic of Zaire

Meat-eating behavior of wild bonobos (Pan paniscus) was witnessed on two occasions at Wamba, Republic of Zaire. Only flying squirrels were observed to be eaten by the bonobos. Several bonobos gathered around the possessor of the meat and showed interest in the meat on all occasions. Begging behavior was noted on one of the two occasions, but the possessor of the meat ignored it. No sharing of meat was seen on either occasion. The exclusive targets of hunting by bonobos are apparently small mammals, such as flying squirrels and infant duikers, since evidence of meat eating by wild bonobos, which have been studied for more than fifteen years, has been restricted to these mammals. The bonobos at Wamba may have a specialized “prey image”, as in the case of the chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) of the Tai forest, and certain medium-sized or small mammals may not conform to this image.     

人眼微光下夜近视机制的研究

本文利用激光散斑屈光测试系统详细探讨了夜近视(night myopia)的产生机制。夜近视在环境亮度降低到产生暗视觉时出现,并随亮度继续降低而增大,平均值为1.35D。实验证明眼睛球差和色差不是造成夜近视的主要因素。夜近视数值在暗适应过程中呈增大的趋势。在暗视觉时,由于视野中缺少适宜的刺激,眼睛处于暗焦(dark focus)休止状态,这是造成夜近视的主要原因。     

Activity and quantity of ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase-and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase-protein in two Crassulacean acid metabolism plants in relation to leaf age,nitrogen nutrition,and point in time during a day/night cycle

Activity of ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate (RuBP) carboxylase in leaf extracts of the constitutive Crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM) plant Kalanchoe pinnata (Lam.) Pers. decreased with increasing leaf age, whereas the activity of phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP) carboxylase increased. Changes in enzyme activities were associated with changes in the amount of enzyme proteins as determined by immunochemical analysis, sucrose density gradient centrifugation, and SDS gel electrophoresis of leaf extracts. Young developing leaves of plants which received high amounts of NO ₃ ^- during growth contained about 30% of the total soluble protein in the form of RuBP carboxylase; this value declined to about 17% in mature leaves. The level of PEP carboxylase in young leaves of plants at high NO ₃ ^- was an estimated 1% of the total soluble protein and increased to approximately 10% in mature leaves, which showed maximum capacity for dark CO₂ fixation. The growth of plants at low levels of NO ₃ ^- decreased the content of soluble protein per unit leaf area as well as the extractable activity and the percentage contribution of both RUBP carboxylase and PEP carboxylase to total soluble leaf protein. There was no definite change in the ratio of RuBP carboxylase to PEP carboxylase activity with a varying supply of NO ₃ ^- during growth. It has been suggested (e.g., Planta 144, 143–151, 1978) that a rhythmic pattern of synthesis and degradation of PEP carboxylase protein is involved in the regulation of -carboxylation during a day/night cycle in CAM. No such changes in the quantity of PEP carboxylase protein were observed in the leaves of Kalanchoe pinnata (Lam.) Pers. or in the leaves of the inducible CAM plant Mesembryanthemum crystallinum L.Abbreviations CAM Crassulacean acid metabolism - RuBP ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate - PEP phosphoenolpyruvate - G-6-P glucose-6-phosphate     

云南新平哀牢山秋季夜间网捕鸟类的影响因素

2007-09-05—2007-11-05和2008-09-03—2008-11-07期间,在云南省新平县哀牢山金山丫口（23º57’ N, 101º30’E）对影响秋季夜间网捕鸟类组成因素进行了调查。主要利用温湿度表和定性观察对各因素进行判断。其研究结果表明, 地理特点是影响夜间网捕鸟类种类的主要因素;气象条件是影响夜间网捕鸟类种类和数量的重要因素。气象条件中的风向、风力、雾以及月相周期对夜间网捕鸟类数量和种类的影响极其显著（P<0.01）。风向的影响比风力大,其中,在西南风大雾新月或者在西南风大雾残月期间,夜间网捕鸟类数量和种类最多;光也是夜间网捕鸟类的必要条件。然而,温湿度对夜间网捕鸟类数量和种类影响不显著。     

21世纪以来闽三角城市群人类景观开发强度的时空演变——基于能值-GIS方法

在快速的城市化进程中,城市群作为城市发展到成熟阶段的高级空间组织形式,其在推进城市群区域社会经济一体化的同时,也在一定程度上加剧了城市群的人地关系矛盾和景观开发强度。为量化城市群的人类景观开发强度,揭示自然环境对人类资源消耗过程的压力响应机制,选取闽三角城市群在2000、2005和2013年的夜间灯光数据(DMSP/OLS)作为刻画人类经济活动范围的基础数据,通过能值分析理论,耦合可更新能源(太阳能、风能、地热能和降雨化学能等)与基于统计数据的不可更新能源进行能值核算,并进一步描述人类景观开发强度(Landscape development intensity,LDI)的时空演变特征,基于人类活动对自然生态系统的干扰程度划分为5级进行空间展示与分析。结果表明:(1)在时间尺度上,闽三角城市群的年可更新能值密度均值在2000、2005和2013年,分别为9.42×10~(16) sej/hm~2、7.25×10~(16) sej/hm~2和7.88×10~(16) sej/hm~2,呈现出先减后增的趋势,在空间尺度上,闽三角城市群可更新资源由环海湾地带向内陆地区呈环形逐层增加,其中在2000年表现尤为明显;(2)在不可更新资源的利用上,闽三角城市群的本地不可更新能源能值投入在2000、2005和2013年,分别为4.64×10~(24) sej、4.63×10~(24) sej和4.66×10~(24) sej,只出现轻微浮动,而外部输入能源的能值投入则在2000、2005和2013年,分别为1.41×10~(24) sej、3.18×10~(24) sej和5.71×10~(24) sej呈现逐年上升趋势,且其中对原煤的需求表现最高,占比高达90%;(3)LDI在空间分布上,自内陆至沿海干扰等级逐渐上升,其中,强度干扰与剧烈干扰主要覆盖厦门市、龙海市、晋江市和石狮市;在时间分布上,呈现出强度干扰和剧烈干扰逐渐增大的趋势。研究有助于政府对不同干扰等级区域的城乡建设与规划管理提供决策依据,为实现城市群可持续发展提供数据参考。     

Impact of temperature and relative humidity on effectiveness of Metarhizium guizhouense PSUM02 against longkong bark eating caterpillar Cossus chloratus Swinhoe under laboratory and field conditions

The longkong bark eating caterpillar, Cossus chloratus Swinhoe (Cossidae: Lepidoptera), is a serious pest of longkong trees Lansium domesticum Corrêa that affects quality and quantity of the fruit. For eco-friendly management of this pest, Metarhizium guizhouense PSUM02, an entomopathogenic fungus, was tested under laboratory and field conditions of Thailand. Relative humidity (RH) more than 93% provides the highest virulence to M. guizhouense PSUM02 by reducing the survival of C. chloratus larvae to 0.0–18.0%. The average survival time (AST) of C. chloratus larvae infected with M. guizhouense PSUM02 at 100% RH showed the lowest AST of 3.9 ± 0.2 days. The optimum temperature for M. guizhouense PSUM02 to infect C. chloratus larvae was 25–30 °C with 2–20% survival after 10 days of treatment. The AST of C. chloratus larvae infected with M. guizhouense PSUM02 at 25 °C or 30 °C was 5.8 ± 0.6 or 3.4 ± 0.2 days, respectively, which was significantly lower than the AST observed at 20 °C and 35 °C temperatures. M. guizhouense PSUM02 showed effectiveness under field conditions by reducing the number of larvae of longkong bark eating caterpillar C. chloratus in treated longkong tree. The application of M. guizhouense PSUM02 could be an effective option for the eco-friendly management of longkong bark eating caterpillars in the longkong orchards of Thailand and other longkong producing countries.     

Gut microbiomes of sympatric Amazonian wood‐eating catfishes (Loricariidae) reflect host identity and little role in wood digestion

Neotropical wood‐eating catfishes (family Loricariidae) can occur in diverse assemblages with multiple genera and species feeding on the same woody detritus. As such, they present an intriguing system in which to examine the influence of host species identity on the vertebrate gut microbiome as well as to determine the potential role of gut bacteria in wood digestion. We characterized the gut microbiome of two co‐occurring catfish genera and four species: Panaqolus albomaculatus, Panaqolus gnomus, Panaqolus nocturnus, and Panaque bathyphilus, as well as that of submerged wood on which they feed. The gut bacterial community did not significantly vary across three gut regions (proximal, mid, distal) for any catfish species, although interspecific variation in the gut microbiome was significant, with magnitude of interspecific difference generally reflecting host phylogenetic proximity. Further, the gut microbiome of each species was significantly different to that present on the submerged wood. Inferring the genomic potential of the gut microbiome revealed that the majority of wood digesting pathways were at best equivalent to and more often depleted or nonexistent within the catfish gut compared to the submerged wood, suggesting a minimal role for the gut microbiome in wood digestion. Rather, these fishes are more likely reliant on fiber degradation performed by microbes in the environment, with their gut microbiome determined more by host identity and phylogenetic history.