黄臀鹎禁食和夜间能量物质消耗的研究

本文报道分布于昆明地区的黄臀鹎Pycnonotus xanthorrhous在禁食和四季夜间能量物质——脂肪、蛋白质和糖的消耗情况。结果表明,在人为禁食条件下黄臀鹎的存活时间仅19小时,死亡时躯脂降低79％,去脂飞翔肌干重降低46％,肝糖降低96％。在夜间黄臀鹎消耗大量的储存脂肪,并以冬季的消耗量最大。肝糖提供的能量极少。在繁殖期和换羽期,储存的飞翔肌蛋白质在夜间大量分解以提供鸟体的需要。     

Predator-induced phenotypic plasticity in Daphnia pulex: uncoupling morphological defenses and life history shifts

Chemical cues from a predator Chaoborus sp. induce morphological defense (neck spine) and life history shifts (later reproduction, decreased fecundity but larger juvenile size) in the waterflea Daphnia pulex. These shifts have been interpreted either as costs of defense or as separate adaptation. In order to investigate if the life history shifts can be separated from the morphological defense, Daphnia pulex individuals were exposed to chemical cues from Chaoborus at different stages of life for variable periods. The daphnids that were exposed to Chaoborus started their reproduction later than the controls, although the differences were not statistically significant. Neck spine was induced only if daphnids were exposed to Chaoborus in an early stage of their life. Numbers of eggs produced were not affected by the different treatments, but egg mortality was higher in mothers exposed to Chaoborus. With these treatments it was possible to see neck spine induction without measurable life history changes or costs. On the other hand, irrespective of neck spine presence, the Chaoborus chemical(s) had an effect on Daphnia pulex mothers.Publication no 2159. Netherlands Institute of Ecology, Centre for LimnologyPublication no 2159. Netherlands Institute of Ecology, Centre for Limnology     

Integration time for short broad band clicks in echolocating FM-bats (Eptesicus fuscus)

Vespertilionid FM-bats (four Eptesicus fuscus and one Vespertilio murinus) were trained in an electronic phantom target simulator to detect synthetic echoes consisting of either one or two clicks. The threshold sound pressure for single clicks was around 47 dB peSPL for all five bats corresponding to a threshold energy of -95 dB re 1 Pa² * s. By varying the interclick interval, T, for double clicks it was shown that the threshold intensity was around — 3 dB relative to the threshold for single clicks at T up to 2.4 ms, indicating perfect power summation of both clicks. A threshold shift of -13.5 dB for a 1 ms train of 20 clicks (0.05 ms interclick interval) confirmed that the bats integrated the power of the stimuli. At T longer than around 2.5 ms the threshold for double clicks was the same as for single clicks. Thus, the bats performed like perfect energy detectors with an integration time of approximately 2.4 ms. This integration time is an order of magnitude shorter than that reported for bats listening passively for pure tones. In our setup the bats emitted sonar signals with durations of 2–3 ms. Hence, the results may indicate that while echolocating the bats integration time is adapted to the duration of the sonar emissions.Abbreviations AGC automatic gain control - FM frequency modulated - peSPL peak equivalent sound pressure level - rms root mean square - SD standard deviation - SE standard error of mean - T interclick interval     

福建武夷山甜槠群落能量的研究

在生物量、生产力研究基础上,对武夷山甜槠（Ｃａｓｔａｎｏｐｓｉｓ ｅｙｒｅｉ（Ｃｈａｍ ｐ．ｅｘ Ｂｅｎｔｈ．） Ｔｕｔｃｈ．）群落各组分的热值、群落能量现存量、能量年净固定量以及太阳能转化效率进行了研究。结果表明：（１）甜槠群落各组分样品的干重热值具有一定的差异,树皮热值最高,细根热值最低。（２）甜槠群落的能量现存量达７８０５８４．１ ｋＪ·ｍ － ２,其中地上部分为６７８９１３．８ ｋＪ·ｍ － ２,占总量的８６．９８％ ;地下部分为１０１６７０．３ ｋＪ·ｍ － ２,占１３．０２％ 。（３）甜槠群落的能量年净固定量（１９９２年）为２６８５６．２ ｋＪ·ｍ － ２·ａ－ １,林地太阳光合有效辐射能的转化效率为１．２９６％ 。     

蓝藻藻胆体与类囊体膜之间光能传递的研究

从嗜热蓝藻优雅粘囊藻（Ｍｙｘｏｓａｒｃｉｎａ ｃｏｎｃｉｎｎａ Ｐｒｉｎｔｚ．）中分离到具有放氧活性的藻胆体－类囊体膜复合物。它的吸收峰位于６８０、６２８、４９０、４３８和４２０ ｎｍ ,在低离子强度（０．１～０．４ ｍ ｏｌ／Ｌ）磷酸缓冲液中的６６４ ｎｍ 荧光发射峰随离子强度的降低而升高,７１８ ｎｍ 荧光发射峰与此相反（７７ 。Ｋ,Ｅｘ＝ ５８０ ｎｍ ）。当把游离的藻胆体和已解离去藻胆体的类囊体膜在蔗糖磷酸缓冲液中重组时,随时间延长（０～６０ ｍ ｉｎ）,７１８ ｎｍ 荧光发射峰逐渐升高,６８５ ｎｍ 荧光发射峰逐渐下降（７７ 。Ｋ,Ｅｘ ＝ ５８０ ｎｍ ）,表明藻胆体与类囊体之间的解离和结合对光能传递的影响     

白额鹱卵壳的扫描电镜观察

本文报道白额鹱卵壳的壳膜、孔锥层、海绵层、表层等的超微结构,并对卵壳元素进行ＴＮ－５５００能谱分析。     

Differences between observed and predicted energy costs at rest and during exercise in three subsistence-level populations

Estimates of daily energy expenditure are important for many areas of research in human ecology and adaptability. The most common technique for estimating human energy expenditure under field conditions, the factorial method, generally relies on activity-specific energy costs derived from published sources, based largely on North American and European subjects. There is concern that such data may not be appropriate for non-Western populations because of differences in metabolic costs. The present study addresses this concern by comparing measured vs. predicted energy costs at rest and during sub-maximal exercise in 83 subjects (52 males, 31 females) from three subsistence-level populations (Siberian herders and high-land and coastal Ecuadorian farmers). Energy costs at rest (i.e., lying, sitting and standing) and while performing a standard stepping exercise did not significantly differ among the three groups. However, resting energy costs were significantly elevated over predicted levels (+16% in men, +11% in women), whereas exercising costs were comparable to predicted values (?6% in men, +3% in women). Elevations in resting energy needs appear to reflect responses to thermal stress. These results indicate that temperature adjustments of resting energy costs are critical for accurately predicting daily energy needs among traditionally living populations. o 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Scaling sun and shade photosynthetic acclimation of Alocasia macrorrhiza to whole-plant performance – II. Simulation of carbon balance and growth at different photon flux densities

A whole-plant carbon balance model incorporating a light acclimation response was developed for Alocasia macrorrhiza based on empirical data and the current understanding of light acclimation in this species. The model was used to predict the relative growth rate (RGR) for plants that acclimated to photon flux density (PFD) by changing their leaf type, and for plants that produced only sun or shade leaves regardless of PFD. The predicted RGR was substantially higher for plants with shade leaves than for those with sun leaves at low PFD. However, the predicted RGR was not higher, and in fact was slightly lower, for plants with sun leaves than for those with shade leaves at high PFD. The decreased leaf area ratios (LARs) of the plants with sun leaves counteracted their higher photosynthetic capacities per unit leaf area (A_max). The model was manipulated by changing parameters to examine the sensitivity of RGR to variation in single factors. Overall, RGR was most sensitive to LAR and showed relatively little sensitivity to variation in A_max or maintenance respiration. Similarly, RGR was relatively insensitive to increases in leaf life-span beyond those observed. Respiration affected RGR only at low PFD, whereas A_max was moderately important only at high PFD.     

Is there an energy conservation “system” in brain that protects against the consequences of energy depletion?

A poorly understood marked decrease (circa 50% of control) in local cerebral glucose utilization is caused by sublethal doses of NaCN. The decrease is global, occurring in essentially all brain regions and is entirely reversible within hours, leaving no obvious pathology. This event is not unique to NaCN in so far as a strikingly similar pattern of decreased glucose utilization occus with some other toxins. Nor can it be attributed to a direct action of NaCN since local application by microdialysis to the striatum produces a global depression. These results imply that some widely distributed system or substance is involved. We speculate the existence of a system possibly related to the reticular activating system that senses a fall in energy production and acts globally to make cells quiescent and thus would give some protection from excitotoxic driven damage.Special issue dedicated to Dr. Sidney Ochs.     

Importance of fungi in the diet of Gammarus pulex and Asellus aquaticus

An important component of the interaction between macroinvertebrates and leaf litter in streams in the extent to which consumers can differentiate between undecomposed and decomposing leaves. The detritivores Gammarus pulex and Asellus aquaticus fed preferentially on conditioned rather on unconditioned leaf material. Growth in A. aquaticus was significantly reduced when unconditioned leaves were provided, but in G. pulex no significant effect of conditioning on growth was observed. The capacity of G. pulex to tolerate reductions in food quality seems to be a consequence of a compensatory system in which respiration rates change to compensate for reductions in food quality. In this way a constant growth rate is maintained. Increases in ingestion rates to compensate for low quality food were not observed.