Sexual dimorphism and interpopulation differences in lizard hind limb length: locomotor performance or chemical signalling?

Intraspecific variation in morphology has often been related to fitness differences through its effects on performance. In lizards, variation in hind limb length can be shaped by natural selection for increased locomotor performance, sexual selection on the number or size of femoral pores involved in chemical signalling, or both. Here, we analyse the selective forces involved in sexual dimorphism and differences in hind limb length between two populations of Psammodromus algirus living at different elevation. Males were more robust and had longer hind limbs and limb segments than females, and low‐elevation lizards had longer limbs than high‐elevation lizards. However, differences in locomotor performance were small and non‐significant, making natural selection for faster runs an unlikely explanation for the observed pattern. On the other hand, males had more femoral pores than females, and lizards had more pores at lower elevation, although the difference was significant only for males (which invest more in chemical signalling). In males, the number of pores, which remains constant along a lizard's life, was not correlated with hind limb length. However, femur length was positively correlated with mean pore size, allowing low‐elevation males to have larger than expected pores, which could increase the effectiveness with which they spread their signals in a dry and warm habitat where chemicals become volatile rapidly. Also, saturation of the sexual coloration of the head was higher for low‐elevation males, suggesting that sexual selection pressures may be more intense. Overall, our results indicate that sexual selection plays a significant role in shaping intraspecific variation in hind limb length. © 2011 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2011, 104 , 318–329.     

Migratory movements of individual humpback whales photographed off the eastern coast of Australia

Humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) migrate long distances each year on a return journey from low‐latitude breeding grounds to high‐latitude feeding grounds. Migration is influenced by subtle and complex social behaviors and the assumption that whales transit directly through the migratory corridor off the east coast of Australia requires further investigation. From 2003 to 2005, we followed the movements of 99 individual whales within one migratory cycle from three locations, off Byron Bay during the whales' northern migration and in Hervey Bay and at Ballina during the southern migration. The median sighting interval of whales between Byron Bay and Hervey Bay (n = 26) was 52 d (IQR = 42.5–75.5); between Byron Bay and Ballina (n = 21) was 59 d (IQR = 47.0–70.0); and between Hervey Bay and Ballina (n = 33) was 9 d (8.0–14.0). The overall pattern observed from these resightings suggests that Group E1 humpback whales spend approximately two months in the northern quarter of their range during the austral winter months. Intraseason resightings of whales at Ballina (n = 13, median sighting interval = 7 d) also suggest that some individuals, particularly adult males, may circle back north during their general southward journey along this part of the coast, perhaps in an attempt to increase mating opportunities.     

温度对鳙幼鱼疲劳引起的生理变化和游泳能力的影响研究(英文)

鳙(花鲢)在自然环境中分布于中国南部流域至阿穆尔河,是重要的经济性鱼类,具江湖生殖洄游特性。大坝建设阻碍了其洄游产卵繁殖通道,导致自然环境中其繁殖力的下降,需要有效的过鱼设施帮助鳙通过大坝等水流屏障。为了设计高效的鱼道引导鳙通过,本文通过自制密封的鱼类游泳实验装置,研究了鳙幼鱼游泳能力。测定了5个温度(5、10、15、20和25℃)下鳙幼鱼的临界游泳速度。通过测定不同温度下,疲劳前后血清总蛋白(TP)、血糖(GLU)和甘油三酯(TG)含量,评价疲劳运动引起的生理胁迫。结果表明,在试验温度范围内,随着温度的升高,临界游泳速度显著提高(P0.05)。25℃时临界游泳速度最大,为7.01 BL/s(1.19 m/s)。在疲劳运动后,血清总蛋白、血糖和甘油三酯含量显著升高(P0.05)。水温低于15℃与高于15℃相比,鳙疲劳运动后血清总蛋白、血糖和甘油三酯含量显著升高。以鳙幼鱼为研究对象,研究了非适宜温度环境和疲劳运动胁迫下鱼类的生理反应。以期为鱼类生理学研究和渔业保护管理等领域提供理论依据,为制定有效的鱼道提供数据参考。     

Genetic effects on information processing speed are moderated by age – converging results from three samples

Information processing is a cognitive trait forming the basis of complex abilities like executive function. The Trail Making Test (TMT) is a well‐established test of information processing with moderate to high heritability. Age of the individual also plays an important role. A number of genetic association studies with the TMT have been performed, which, however, did not consider age as a moderating factor. We report the results of genome‐wide association studies (GWASs) on age‐independent and age‐dependent TMT performance in two population‐representative community samples (Munich Antidepressant Response Signature, MARS: N₁ = 540; Ludwig Maximilians University, LMU: N₂ = 350). Age‐dependent genome‐wide findings were then evaluated in a third sample of healthy elderly subjects (Sydney Memory and Ageing Study, Sydney MAS: N₃ = 448). While a meta‐analysis on the GWAS findings did not reveal age‐independent TMT associations withstanding correction for multiple testing, we found a genome‐wide significant age‐moderated effect between variants in the DSG1 gene region and TMT‐A performance predominantly reflecting visual processing speed (rs2199301, P_{meta‐analysis} = 1.3 × 10^?7). The direction of the interaction suggests for the minor allele a beneficial effect in younger adults turning into a detrimental effect in older adults. The detrimental effect of the missense single nucleotide polymorphism rs1426310 within the same DSG1 gene region could be replicated in Sydney MAS participants aged 70–79, but not in those aged 80 years and older, presumably a result of survivor bias. Our findings demonstrate opposing effects of DSG1 variants on information processing speed depending on age, which might be related to the complex processes that DSG1 is involved with, including cell adhesion and apoptosis.     

Examination of fine‐scale spatial‐temporal overlap and segregation between two closely related congeners Gadus morhua and Gadus ogac in coastal Newfoundland

The spatial and temporal movement patterns of sympatric juvenile Atlantic cod Gadus morhua and Greenland cod Gadus ogac were studied using high‐resolution radio‐acoustic positioning in a coastal area of Newfoundland during the summers of 2009 and 2010. A total of 20 fish (10 G. ogac and 10 G. morhua) were equipped with acoustic transmitters and monitored for periods up to 23 days. Most fishes showed high site fidelity with mean residence times of 12·4 (G. morhua) and 14·4 days (G. ogac). A few individuals showed a transient use of the study area, ranging distances up to c. 4 km. Mean daily home ranges [95% kernel utilization distributions (KUDs)] and core activity areas were significantly larger for G. morhua (3·8 and 0·5 ha) than for G. ogac (2·7 and 0·3 ha). Home ranges were not related to total length (L_T) for G. morhua but showed a weak positive relationship for G. ogac. Gadus morhua occupied larger areas during the day while G. ogac occupied slightly larger areas at night. Mean rates of movement for G. ogac and G. morhua ranged from 0·83 to 1·24 and 0·76 to 1·76 L_T s^?1, respectively, and were highest during crepuscular periods. Overall, G. morhua were wider ranging, moved at faster rates and were active throughout the diel cycle compared to G. ogac of the same size. It is suggested that differential use of space and activity periods plays an important role in the successful coexistence of these two species.     

遗传距离的错误观点和病毒进化踪迹的探索

通过对病毒基因序列的遗传距离(K)的演算,发现公式中的p和q应理解为转换率和颠换率;计算所得的K值是一个百分率,更适合于显示生物进化的时间概念.因此建议将遗传距离改名为进化率.并从进化率计算中的规律性变化,探索了病毒进化的信息.     

Body size effects on locomotion and load carriage in the highly polymorphic leaf-cutting ants Atta colombica and Atta cephalotes

Leaf-cutting ants reduce their walking speed under the weightof the leaf fragments they carry, an effect likely to havesome consequence for the foraging performance of a colony.I manipulated loads carried by workers from two Atta speciesto determine how load mass and body size affect walking speed.A comparison of speeds before and after load manipulation indicatesthat change in load mass has a linear effect on velocity. Several different regression models of speed as a function of loadsand body size have similar fit to the data, so a single bestmodel cannot easily be identified. However, there is statisticalevidence that the slope of the linear effect is more pronouncedfor smaller ants, an outcome most consistent with a regression model based on loading ratio, a metric that scales load massrelative to body mass. I then examined the effect of loadingratio on the leaf transport rate (the product of load massand carriage velocity). It has been claimed that this rateis maximized over a range of loading ratios that is the samefor all ants regardless of their size. However, I found thata latent body mass effect persists in the relation of transportrate to loading ratio, even though loading ratio is alreadyscaled relative to body mass. The maxima seem to be reachedonly at artificially elevated loading ratios, so that transportrates with natural fragments tend to be sub-maximal. This conclusionis in agreement with analytical predictions of rate-maximizingload masses derived from the regression models. Thus, loadingratio does not adequately scale load mass relative to bodysize when used in this context (effect on leaf transport rate),and should be used cautiously. Ants are likely to accommodateloads through modulation of both stride length and step frequency,but precisely how this takes place requires future study.     

离心力对制备沉积物间隙水中化合物浓度的影响

研究了离心力对间隙水化合物浓度的影响.将腐殖质掺入东湖沉积物样品,按泥:水=1:4(体积)比室温下静置30d,随后掺入铜,泥:水=1:4(体积)比静置10d,得到总有机碳含量在1.47%-.72%、铜含量在120-2700mg/kg(干重)的试验沉积物样品,用离心法制备沉积物中的间隙水.离心参数为3000r/min、200r/min、9000r/min、1000r/min和12000r/min,4 ℃下离心20min.间隙水中化合物浓度分析表明,随离心力升高,间隙水中铜、铁、总有机碳(TOC)含量逐渐降低,钙的含量略有增加,而锰的含量不受离心力变化的影响.根据上述分析结果,确定在腐殖质对沉积物中铜的毒性影响研究中,制备沉积物间隙水的适宜离心条件为:12000r/min、4℃下离心20min.       

稀疏植被区空气动力学粗糙度特征及遥感反演

应用中国西北半干旱区定西试验站2005年观测资料,估算了典型的稀疏农作物区空气动力学粗糙度,结合空气动力学模型分析了稀疏植被区空气动力学粗糙度的时间变化及其与风速、植株密度的关系,并得出空气动力学粗糙度的参数化方案;结合卫星遥感得到的植被叶面积指数资料,模拟了区域空气动力学粗糙度,得出:(1)空气动力学粗糙度的时间变化与风速变化规律有相反的特点;在稀疏植被区,粗糙单元分布密度对流场有一定影响,随粗糙单元密度的增加,空气动力学粗糙度将逐渐增大。(2)植株高度超过0.2m时,植被高度和植株密度、叶面积指数对空气动力学粗糙度的影响较大,当植株高度低于0.2m时,风速的影响较大。(3)结合遥感反演的叶面积指数,采用空气动力学粗糙度和叶面积指数及风速的关系,反演了空气动力学粗糙度,反演结果空间分布和误差都反映了实际空气动力学粗糙度的特征,证明空气动力学粗糙度遥感参数化比较成功。     

孵化温度对赤链蛇胚胎代谢和幼体行为的影响

研究了赤链蛇(Dinodon rufozonatum)在孵化过程中卵的生长、孵化期、胚胎代谢和孵出幼体行为表现的热依赖性。结果显示:孵化温度对孵化期、卵增重、孵化过程中消耗的总能量和孵出幼体的运动表现有显著影响,但不影响胚胎代谢率、孵化成功率和幼体吐信频次。孵化期随着孵化温度的升高而缩短,孵化过程中,24℃终末卵重和胚胎代谢率显著大于30℃,而27℃与其他两个温度没有差异;27℃孵出幼体游速较24℃快,30℃孵出幼体与其他两个温度孵出幼体的游速无显著差异。上述结果显示:24—30℃是赤链蛇适合的孵化温度范围,与赤链蛇所处的生境温度相近。