生境类型对啮齿动物扩散和贮藏栓皮栎坚果的影响

在河南省济源市王屋山地区,研究了次生林、灌丛、退耕地三个生境中啮齿动物对栓皮栎坚果的取食、
扩散与贮藏情况。结果表明:1)在研究地区,取食栓皮栎坚果的啮齿动物主要有大林姬鼠、社鼠和黑线姬鼠;
2)在次生林中,啮齿动物对坚果的搬运速率慢于在灌丛和退耕地生境中的搬运速率;3)次生林生境中,贮藏
坚果占被扩散坚果的比例高于灌丛和退耕地,而灌丛生境中被取食坚果占被扩散种子的比例高于退耕地和次生
林;4)栓皮栎坚果的中位存留时间在三个生境间有显著性差异。研究结果提示,在人工造林时,可通过对栓皮
栎坚果进行埋藏处理,以提高种子萌发率。     

The effectiveness of barriers to badger <Emphasis Type="Italic">Meles meles</Emphasis> immigration in the Irish Four Area project

This study’s objective was to estimate the permeability of barriers to badger immigration during the Irish Four Area project. These barriers were at the boundaries of removal areas, where there was proactive culling of badgers. Data from the last 3 years of the study were used. Each length of barrier was allocated a space within the removal area. These were further sub-divided into spaces of 0–2, 2–5 km and sometimes of more than 5 km from the edge of the removal area. It is assumed that all, or some, of the badgers caught within these spaces came across the barriers. The barriers were one of the following: external buffers, sea, rivers and political boundaries. The total lengths of the barriers in all areas were: external buffer 128.5 km; sea 70.9 km; river 78.6 km; political 32.2 km. We assume three scenarios: (1) all badgers caught in the final 3 years were immigrants, (2) 75% were immigrants or (3) 50% were immigrants. We test these scenarios using chi-square tests, applying internal buffers of 1 km to counter movements of badgers across zones. Using this approach and multivariate analysis, we found that the permeability of barrier types varied, with sea and external buffers being the most effective barriers. The combined capture data are further examined by the sex ratio in each range, and then the sex ratio in total. Equal numbers of males and females were found, but the source populations were probably predominantly female. If badger management options are to achieve maximum benefits, then the field effectiveness of such barriers needs to be understood.     

EVOLUTION OF GENETIC INTEGRATION BETWEEN DISPERSAL AND COLONIZATION ABILITY IN A BIRD

Discrete behavioral strategies comprise a suite of traits closely integrated in their expression with consistent natural selection for such coexpression leading to developmental and genetic integration of their components. However, behavioral traits are often also selected to respond rapidly to changing environments, which should both favor their context-dependent expression and inhibit evolution of genetic integration with other, less flexible traits. Here we use a multigeneration pedigree and long-term data on lifetime fitness to test whether behaviors comprising distinct dispersal strategies of western bluebirds—a species in which the propensity to disperse is functionally integrated with aggressive behavior—are genetically correlated. We further investigated whether selection favors flexibility in the expression of aggression in relation to current social context. We found a significant genetic correlation between aggression and dispersal that is concordant with consistent selection for coexpression of these behaviors. To a limited extent, individuals modified their aggression to match their mate; however, we found no fitness consequences on such adjustments. These results introduce a novel way of viewing behavioral strategies, where flexibility of behavior, while often aiding an organism's fit in its current environment, may be limited and thereby enable integration with less flexible traits.     

Identification of superior parents in a potato breeding programme

Summary An incomplete diallel cross was used to study components of genetic variation in potatoes for a range of characters after early and late harvest. The progenies were also used to evaluate five predictors of progeny performance, namely the mean seedling performance, the mid-parent value and the means of the selfed progenies, of the diploid progenies and of the test-cross progenies. For almost all characters, the general combining ability effects were predominant, although the specific combining ability effects present were greater at late than at early harvests. The seedling performance for tuber yield, number of tubers and average tuber weight did not show any relevant relationship to the field performance. The midparent value provided, in general, satisfactory predictions of the mean progeny performance obtained in the diallel, except for ware tuber yield. The selfed and the diploid progenies did not improve the prediction of progeny means compared to the mid-parent value. The predictions based on the test-crosses surpassed those of the mid-parent value, particularly for tuber yield at ware potato harvest. Methods to identify superior parents are discussed.     

基于创新能力培养的“微生物学”研究型教学模式探索

微生物学是生命科学的重要组成部分。随着科学技术的飞速发展,微生物学教学内容和教学方法都需要不断革新,以满足高素质人才培养的需求。华中农业大学在微生物学教学过程中积极开展基于创新能力培养的教学改革实践,课堂上通过推崇学科名人,弘扬科学精神;关注社会焦点,激发学习兴趣;引入学科前沿,培养创新意识等积极引导学生学习微生物学相关知识。通过翻转课堂、对分课堂,借助"微助教"微信公众平台等改变传统的教学模式与师生互动的方式,突破学生学习的时空局限,加强师生交流。依托农业微生物学国家重点实验室等高水平的科研平台,鼓励学生进入实验室运用微生物学知识开展科研实践,引导学生参加各类竞赛,实现理论知识学习向实践创新能力的转化。总之,学生不仅能够在"微生物学"课堂上牢固地掌握微生物学知识,创新思维也得到锻炼,创新能力显著增强。     

Discrimination between extreme chronotypes using the full and reduced version of the Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire

The aim of this study was to carry out a comparison of the ability to discriminate between extreme chronotypes, i.e., morning- and evening-types, among the Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire (MEQ) and its reduced version (rMEQ). To this end a secondary analysis of cohort studies, using two different approaches, was carried out. The first, subjective, relied on the computing of overlap between extreme chronotypes according to their hourly ideal bedtime, get-up time and midpoint of sleep reported at the MEQ and rMEQ, while the second, objective, on the corresponding actual-actigraphic times. At the subjective approach, 2706 participants filled in the MEQ, while 940 the rMEQ (age range of both groups: 18–30 years). The overlap was significantly lower among those who filled the rMEQ than MEQ when considering ideal midpoint of sleep (13.70% and 46.28%, respectively) and get-up time (47.04% and 62.34%, respectively). At the objective approach, 51 participants filled in the MEQ while 52 the rMEQ (age range: 19–30 years in both groups) at the end of one week of actigraphic recording. No significantly different overlap across those who filled the MEQ or rMEQ was observed with reference to the examined actigraphic times. Results of subjective assessment showed as rMEQ more clearly discriminated between extreme chronotypes than MEQ. The attempt to find an objective confirmation did not provide the same results, probably as a consequence of a masking effect by social rhythms.     

Sperm production and mating potential of males after a cold shock on pupae of the parasitoid wasp Dinarmus basalis (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae)

For ectothermic species, temperature is a key environmental factor influencing several aspects of their physiology and ecology, acting particularly on reproduction. To measure the consequences of a severe thermal stress during development on male reproduction, a cold shock (1h at -18 degrees C) was tested on Dinarmus basalis pupae. D. basalis (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) is a parasitoid wasp in which sperm management in both male and female is of prime importance. After a cold shock, developmental success was reduced, with a quarter of cold-shocked males not emerging correctly. The stress effects were estimated at the level of sperm stock in seminal vesicles of males at different ages and on the ability of 2-day-old males to access females in single and multiple mating and in male-male competition. Cold-shocked males had a reduced sperm stock compared to control males and this difference persisted with age. The rate of sperm production was similar in both groups. The consequences of a cold shock on male reproductive ability were perceptible in multiple mating and male-male competition but not in single mating. Cold-shocked males were at a disadvantage, inseminating fewer females and copulating less frequently. Finally, male pupae of D. basalis were able to withstand severe temperature stresses and their reproductive functions were partially preserved.     

缺磷或缺铁引起白羽扇豆锰中毒的机理

白羽扇豆在缺磷或缺铁条件下均有排根形成,并且根系还原力显著增加。缺磷、缺铁根系还原力在高峰期分别高于对照。缺磷与缺铁根系还原力高峰不仅出现的时期不同,而且还原力增加部位也不一样。缺磷处理的排根区具有很高的还原力,缺铁处理还原力较高的部位是在主根和侧根的根尖以及排根区。由于Ｍｎ４＋比Ｆｅ３＋更易被还原,致使根系还原力提高促使根际大量锰被还原,这是缺磷和缺铁造成白羽扇豆锰中毒的主要原因之一。     

Are “multiple cross-multiple pollen hybrids’ an answer for productive populations in Brassica campestris var. ‘brown sarson’?

Summary A set of complex crosses with multiple crosses as female parents were made using multiple pollen in turnip rape (Brassica campestris L.). These multiple cross — multiple pollen hybrids (mucromphs) were evaluated for a large number of quantitative characters including yield. New methods were proposed to study such genetic material in depth so as to formulate suitable strategies to breed for attractive seed yield.Part of the Ph. D. Thesis of junior author submitted to Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi