Variation in the life history pattern of Tetranychus urticae (Acari: Tetranychidae) after selection for dispersal

The spider mite Tetranychus urticae shows variation in its dispersal capacity (i.e., the leaf quality at which a female decides to disperse). We were able to artificially select mites that had either a high or a low dispersal capacity, indicating that this trait was genetically controlled. We then compared correlated responses to this selection. Mites with a genetically high dispersal capacity (‘HD’ strains) had a higher diapause incidence and a lower performance compared to mites with a low dispersal capacity (‘LD’ strains). A possible effect of random genetic drift during the selection was negligible. Our results suggest that differential dispersal capacity is associated with contrasting life history patterns as a result of natural selection. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

The importance of growth and mortality costs in the evolution of the optimal life history

A central assumption of life history theory is that the evolution of the component traits is determined in part by trade-offs between these traits. Whereas the existence of such trade-offs has been well demonstrated, the relative importance of these remains unclear. In this paper we use optimality theory to test the hypothesis that the trade-off between present and future fecundity induced by the costs of continued growth is a sufficient explanation for the optimal age at first reproduction, alpha, and the optimal allocation to reproduction, G, in 38 populations of perch and Arctic char. This hypothesis is rejected for both traits and we conclude that this trade-off, by itself, is an insufficient explanation for the observed values of alpha and G. Similarly, a fitness function that assumes a mortality cost to reproduction but no growth cost cannot account for the observed values of alpha. In contrast, under the assumption that fitness is maximized, the observed life histories can be accounted for by the joint action of trade-offs between growth and reproductive allocation and between mortality and reproductive allocation (Individual Juvenile Mortality model). Although the ability of the growth/mortality model to fit the data does not prove that this is the mechanism driving the evolution of the optimal age at first reproduction and allocation to reproduction, the fit does demonstrate that the hypothesis is consistent with the data and hence cannot at this time be rejected. We also examine two simpler versions of this model, one in which adult mortality is a constant proportion of juvenile mortality [Proportional Juvenile Mortality (PJM) model] and one in which the proportionality is constant within but not necessarily between species [Specific Juvenile Mortality (SSJM) model]. We find that the PJM model is unacceptable but that the SSJM model produces fits suggesting that, within the two species studied, juvenile mortality is proportional to adult mortality but the value differs between the two species.     

Life cycle ofPseudodiamesa branickii (Chironomidae) in a small upland stream

The generation time ofP. branickii was studied using larval samples in conjunction with rearing experiments and continuous collection of egg masses across one year. This species produced three generations per year in a central German stream (280 m a.s.l., 50° 40 N). Its generation time was variable and obviously influenced by the photoperiod to which eggs and larvulae were subjected. It is thus concluded that two strains ofP. branickii were present in a single population, one bivoltine and the other trivoltine.     

Growth and derived life-history characteristics of the Brazilian electric ray Narcine brasiliensis

The majority of batoids are listed as Threatened (20.4%) or Data Deficient (41%) by the IUCN Red List. A key challenge to assessing Data-Deficient species is obtaining estimates of key life-history characteristics. Here, a Bayesian approach was used to estimate derived life-history characteristics from a growth model applied to the Data-Deficient Brazilian electric ray Narcine brasiliensis. The age of 170 specimens (107 females, 63 males) was estimated from vertebral centra, and total length, disc width, total weight and birth size were used in a joint estimation of sex-specific length-weight models and two-dimensional von Bertalanffy growth models. Estimates of age at length zero, age at maturity, longevity and mortality at age were derived simultaneously. The Bayesian joint modelling approach was robust to small sample sizes by adding a likelihood to constrain L₀ and sharing parameters, such as Brody growth coefficient between length measurements. The median growth parameter estimates were a shared L₀ = 38.8 mm, female L_∞ = 515 mm, 𝑘 = 0.125 and male L_∞ = 387 mm, 𝑘 = 0.194. Age at maturity was estimated to be 7.40–7.49 years for females and 4.45–4.47 years for males, whereas longevity was 22.5–22.6 years for females and 14.2 years for males depending on length measurement. Age-1 natural mortality was estimated to be 0.199–0.207 for females and 0.211–0.213 for males. The derived life-history characteristics indicate N. brasiliensis is earlier maturing, but slower growing relative to other Torpediniformes. These characteristics along with the species’ endemism to southern Brazil and high by-catch rates indicate that one of the IUCN Red List threatened categories may be more appropriate for the currently Data-Deficient status. The Bayesian approach used for N. brasiliensis can prove useful for utilizing limited age-growth data in other Data-Deficient batoid species to inform necessary life characteristics for conservation and management.     

Trait variations of ground flora species disentangle the effects of global change and altered land‐use in Swedish forests during 20 years

Northern forest ecosystems are exposed to a range of anthropogenic processes including global warming, atmospheric deposition, and changing land‐use. The vegetation of northern forests is composed of species with several functional traits related to these processes, whose effects may be difficult to disentangle. Here, we combined analyses of spatio‐temporal dynamics and functional traits of ground flora species, including morphological characteristics, responses to macro‐ and microclimate, soil conditions, and disturbance. Based on data from the Swedish National Forest Inventory, we compared changes in occurrence of a large number of ground flora species during a 20‐year period (1994–2013) in boreal and temperate Sweden respectively. Our results show that a majority of the common ground flora species have changed their overall frequency. Comparisons of functional traits between increasing and declining species, and of trends in mean trait values of sample plots, indicate that current floristic changes are caused by combined effects of climate warming, nitrogen deposition and changing land‐use. Changes and their relations with plant traits were generally larger in temperate southern Sweden. Nutrient‐demanding species with mesotrophic morphology were favored by ongoing eutrophication due to nitrogen deposition in the temperate zone, while dwarf shrubs with low demands on nitrogen decreased in frequency. An increase of species with less northern and less eastern distribution limits was also restricted to temperate Sweden, and indicates effects of a moister and milder macroclimate. A trend toward dense plantation forests is mirrored by a decrease of light‐demanding species in both vegetation zones, and a decrease of grassland species in the temperate zone. Although denser tree canopies may buffer effects of a warmer climate and of nitrogen deposition to some extent, traits related to these processes were weakly correlated in the group of species with changing frequency. Hence, our results indicate specific effects of these often confounded anthropogenic processes.     

Estimating changes in mean population age using the death distributions of live‐captured medflies

1. A simple, low‐cost approach to estimating population ageing was introduced based on a modified version of the captive cohort method – a technique developed earlier (Carey et al., Aging Cell, 7 , 426–437, 2008) in which information on the remaining lifespans of live‐captured medflies of unknown age is used to estimate the overall population age structure. 2. To test this approach approximately 1200 medflies near Volos, Greece were live captured from daily sampling over a 3‐month field season. 3. This simplified method reported: (i) an extraordinary post‐capture longevity of wild medflies in early season (>200 days in longest lived); (ii) a decrease of 50–75 days in the mean longevity from early‐season to late‐season flies; (iii) seasonality of frailty as indicated by the shorter‐lived flies in late autumn; (iv) cessation of fly emergence in late season as indicated by the absence of long‐lived individuals (indicating newly emerged at capture) sampled in the autumn; and (v) increase in mean age from about 20 days in early season to approximately 60 days in late season. 4. The applications of this simplified captive cohort method are discussed, including its use in the analysis of insect vector populations, Drosophila ecology and ageing in the wild, demographic toxicology, and age bias in sampling.     

Differential effects of circadian typology on sleep-related symptoms,physical fatigue and psychological well-being in relation to resilience

Various physiological and psychological functions are influenced by circadian typology (CT), which was reported to be related to resilience. However, few studies have assessed the effects of CT in relation to resilience. The aim of the present study was to assess the influence of CT on sleep-related symptoms, physical fatigue and psychological well-being in relation to resilience. The present study included a total of 1794 healthy hospital employees, and they completed the Morningness–Eveningness Questionnaire, Connor–Davidson Resilience Scale, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, Epworth Sleepiness Scale, Fatigue Severity Scale, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and World Health Organization Quality of Life Scale Abbreviated Version. Subjects with evening type showed lower sleep quality, more daytime sleepiness and physical fatigue than neither types and morning types. Additionally, evening types were more depressed and anxious and reported a poorer quality of life. CT was found to be a significant predictor of sleep quality, but CT was minimally associated with physical fatigue and psychological well-being in the regression analysis. Instead, resilience was substantially related to all of the variables measured. In conclusion, CT independently predicts sleep quality, but the effects of CT on physical fatigue and psychological well-being are negligible compared to those of resilience.     

Chronic toxicity of methylparathion to the rotifer Brachionus calyciflorus fed on Nannochloris oculata and Chlorella pyrenoidosa

The effect of sublethal levels of methylparathion (0, 1, 3, 5, 7 mg l^–1) on the freshwater rotifer, Brachionus calyciflorus, during their entire life cycle was studied. Rotifers were fed on two species of unicellular algae: Nannochloris oculata and Chlorella pyrenoidosa; both algal concentrations were 5 × 10⁵ cell ml^–1.The parameters used to determine the toxicity of this compound were survival, fecundity, net reproductive rate (R)_o, generation time (T), intrinsic rate of natural increase (r), reproductive value (V _x/V_o) and life expectancy at hatching (eo). All the demographic parameters studied were affected by methyl-parathion exposure on rotifers fed on both species of algae, but the toxic effect was larger when animals were fed on Chlorella pyrenoidosa; in this case, animals showed a decreased in fertility and also a delayed first reproduction. Sublethal methylparathion levels produced a reduction in most of the parameters selected, especially after exposure to 7 mg l^–1, where the animals died before reproducing.     

The devil in the details of life-history evolution: Instability and reversal of genetic correlations during selection on<Emphasis Type="Italic">Drosophila</Emphasis> development

The evolutionary relationships between three major components of Darwinian fitness, development rate, growth rate and preadult survival, were estimated using a comparison of 55 distinct populations ofDrosophila melanogaster variously selected for age-specific fertility, environmental-stress tolerance and accelerated development. Development rate displayed a strong net negative evolutionary correlation with weight at eclosion across all selection treatments, consistent with the existence of a size-versus-time tradeoff between these characters. However, within the data set, the magnitude of the evolutionary correlation depended upon the particular selection treatments contrasted. A previously proposed tradeoff between preadult viability and growth rate was apparent only under weak selection for juvenile fitness components. Direct selection for rapid development led to sharp reductions in both growth rates and viability. These data add to the mounting results from experimental evolution that illustrate the sensitivity of evolutionary correlations to (i) genotype-by-environment (G X E) interaction, (ii) complex functional-trait interactions, and (iii) character definition. Instability, disappearance and reversal of patterns of genetic covariation often occur over short evolutionary time frames and as the direct product of selection, rather than some stochastic process. We suggest that the functional architecture of fitness is a rapidly evolving matrix with reticulate properties, a matrix that we understand only poorly.     

沙蒿木蠹蛾生物学特性研究

沙蒿木蠹蛾Holcocerus artemisiae Chou et Hua是危害油蒿Artemisia ordosica Krasch和籽蒿A. sphaerocephala Krasch的重要钻蛀性害虫, 以幼虫蛀食根部, 导致寄主植物长势衰弱甚至死亡。为有效控制其危害, 我们对该虫形态和生物学特征结合野外调查和室内饲养观察进行了研究。结果表明： 在宁夏, 该虫2年发生1代, 以幼虫在被害油蒿根部越冬; 老熟幼虫于5月中旬从受害根部钻出, 在周围的沙土里结茧化蛹, 蛹期平均19.5±3.5 d; 成虫始见于6月初, 终见于8月末, 期间经历3次羽化高峰, 分别为6, 7, 8月的上旬。成虫羽化主要在14:00-17:00, 整个过程持续30~45 min; 羽化当日即可交配, 交配时间为20:00-21:00, 高峰期为20:30左右; 雄虫有2次交尾现象。雄虫寿命2~3 d, 雌虫寿命1~3 d, 极少4 d。雌雄性比约为1∶2.16。卵初见于6月中旬, 初孵幼虫初见于6月下旬。幼虫常单独危害, 且具有转移危害的习性, 蛀食坑道不规则。5-9月, 油蒿受害率为11%~44%, 平均24%, 株虫口密度为0.13头/株。幼虫对油蒿的树龄和地径有较明显的选择性, 主要危害1~4年生、 地径16~34 mm的油蒿。沙蒿木蠹蛾生物学特征的系统研究为其控制措施的制定提供了科学依据。