Measurement of nutrient spiralling during a period of continuous surface flow in a Mediterranean temporary stream (Arroyo de La Montesina, Spain)

Uptake rate of calcium, potassium, nitrate-N and phosphorus were measured in a second order Mediterranean temporary stream, in February and March 1992. This study analyzed a period of continuous surface flow between two hydrologic disturbance events (flood and drought) of an annual hydrological cycle (1991–92).The lowest values of uptake length were recorded for nitrate-N in February 92 and calcium in March 92. Nitrate had the highest uptake rate in both release performances, and potassium showed the lowest uptake rate values. The increase of calcium and nitrate uptake rate between February 92 and March 92 suggested a higher ecosystem efficiency in nutrient retention with a higher temperature and light intensity and slower water velocity, discharge and water depth. These results obtained were similar to those reported in permanent streams, indicating that in periods of continuous surface flow (without extreme hydrologic disturbance), abiotic factors can influence nutrient retention in temporary streams.     

Brood size and the cost of provisioning nestlings: interpreting Lack's hypothesis

A recent model of parental provisioning (the tradeoff model) suggests that the maximum delivery rate of food to nestlings represents a tradeoff between parental residual reproductive value and nestling survival. In contrast, Lack's hypothesis suggests that maximum provisioning rate determines brood size and therefore delivery rates are limited by shortages of food or foraging time, not by tradeoffs of parental investment. Several authors have examined the shape of the per-nestling feeding curves to test the tradeoff model against Lack's hypothesis. We show that Lack's hypothesis can produce per-nestling feeding curves consistent with the tradeoff model. Therefore, the shape of the per-nestling feeding curve cannot be used to distinguish between the models.     

Calcium-sensitive cells of the pars intermedia and osmotic balance in the eel

Summary The structure of the PAS-positive calcium-sensitive (Ca-s) cells of the pars intermedia was investigated in eels kept in deionized water (DW) or fresh water (FW) supplemented with Ca²⁺ or Mg²⁺. Ca²⁺ (2mM) reduces considerably the response to DW; plasma osmolarity, Na⁺ and Ca²⁺ levels are not significantly affected. In eels adapted to DW for 21 or 28 days, showing highly stimulated Ca-s cells, an addition of CaCl₂ for 2 days inhibits the release of granules, but does not immediately block their synthesis and the mitotic activity. The nuclear area is reduced, osmolarity and plasma sodium increase, but the rise in calcium is not always significant. Magnesium, at a 10-fold greater concentration than in FW (2 mM), slightly inhibits the release of secretory granules without reducing other indicators of stimulation. In Ca-enriched FW, the Ca-s cells appear inactive. These data show that the PAS-positive cells in the pars intermedia of the eel are calcium-sensitive, similar to those of the goldfish; their role in calcium regulation is briefly discussed.     

Phenice's visual sexing technique for the os pubis: a critique

Innominate bones from 362 California Indians were sexed with Phenice's three non-metrical features of the os pubis. The frequencies of marked, intermediate, and absent cases of these three morphological features were tabulated in males and females to see if unambiguous and reliable distinctions were consistently available. The results suggest that Phenice's technique offered extremely reliable sex evaluations in this material.     

EFFECTS OF DISTURBANCE ON EPIPHYTIC COMMUNITY ARCHITECTURE1

Microdistributional patterns of attached algal communities on Cladophora and glass slides were compared under varying disturbance regimes in the Upper Mississippi River, using light and scanning electron microscopy. Localized physical disturbance, induced by boat traffic and wind-generated wave action in the main channel, inhibited development of complex attached algal communities and maintained an adnate flora with two-dimensional architecture. In contrast, communities protected from disturbance developed a more complex, three-dimensional architecture. A high degree of architectural similarity was observed between communities on Cladophora and glass substrates exposed to similar levels of disturbance. Communities exposed to severe disturbance resembled ones in early stages of colonization and development, whereas less disturbed communities were similar to ones in advanced stages of development. These results demonstrated that turbulence strongly influences the community structure of periphyton on both micro and macro scale levels.     

No evidence of inbreeding depression in fast declining herds of migratory caribou

Identifying inbreeding depression early in small and declining populations is essential for management and conservation decisions. Correlations between heterozygosity and fitness (HFCs) provide a way to identify inbreeding depression without prior knowledge of kinship among individuals. In Northern Quebec and Labrador, the size of two herds of migratory caribou (Rivière‐George, RG and Rivière‐aux‐Feuilles, RAF) has declined by one to two orders of magnitude in the last three decades. This raises the question of a possible increase in inbreeding depression originating from, and possibly contributing to, the demographic decline in those populations. Here, we tested for the association of genomic inbreeding indices (estimated with 22,073 SNPs) with body mass and survival in 400 caribou sampled in RG and RAF herds between 1996 and 2016. We found no association of individual heterozygosity or inbreeding coefficient with body mass or annual survival. Furthermore, those genomic inbreeding indices remained stable over the period monitored. These results suggest that the rapid and intense demographic decline of the herds did not cause inbreeding depression in those populations. Although we found no evidence for HFCs, if demographic decline continues, it is possible that such inbreeding depression would be triggered.     

人为干扰对武汉市城市绿地鸟类群落结构的影响

城市绿地生态系统是城市景观的重要组成部分,具有重要的生态与文化价值。鸟类是城市绿地生态系统的指示类群,研究人类活动对鸟类资源的影响能够为城市生态景观的建设与维护提供重要理论依据。本研究于2021年10月至2022年5月,采用样线法对武汉市不同干扰强度的城市绿地内林鸟群落进行调查。共记录到鸟类11目34科100种,其中国家二级重点保护鸟类9种,在物种组成上以雀形目为主(76种,占调查到总鸟种数的76%),在居留型上以留鸟为主(42种,42%),在区系上主要属于东洋界(45种,45%)。繁殖季鸟类物种数高于非繁殖季,主要是由于夏候鸟和旅鸟的增加导致。在不同干扰强度中,重度干扰斑块的平均鸟类个体数最多,轻度干扰斑块的鸟类物种丰富度、多样性指数和均匀度指数最高,而中度干扰斑块的鸟类个体数、物种丰富度、多样性指数和均匀度指数均为最低,且繁殖季和非繁殖季鸟类群落结构在不同人为干扰强度中的格局未发生变化。综上所述,武汉市城市绿地的鸟类多样性较为丰富,随着干扰强度增加,鸟类多样性出现非线性差异,揭示了人为干扰与自然干扰对生态影响的差异;在面积狭小、破碎化严重的斑块中,人为干扰可能有利于城市绿地鸟类多样性的维持。     

Sperm quality, secondary sexual characters and parasitism in roach (Rutilus rutilus L.)

According to sperm competition models, a male spawning in a disfavoured role should have spermatozoa with higher velocity but shorter longevity compared with a male spawning in a favoured role. Moreover, immunosuppressive androgens are needed to produce both secondary sexual characters and sperm cells. The 'sperm protection' hypothesis suggests that the immunosuppressive action of androgens has evolved to protect haploid spermatozoa, which are antigenic, from autoimmune attacks. Therefore, a male with high sexual ornamentation may be more susceptible to diseases but may possess better quality ejaculate than his less ornamented rival. We studied sexual ornamentation (breeding tubercles), ejaculation quality (sperm concentration, longevity and spermatozoal velocity) and intensity of parasitism in the cyprinid, Rutilus rutilus . Sperm longevity and spermatozoal velocity were positively correlated. Males having elaborated sexual ornamentation had longer-lived sperm and more Myxobolus mülleri parasites in the liver compared with males with low ornamentation. However, no difference was found between males with different degrees of ornamentation with respect to sperm concentration, spermatozoal velocity or other parasites. Since the highly ornamented males had higher sperm longevity, the present results are partly consistent with the predictions of the sperm competition models and the 'sperm protection' hypothesis.  © 2004 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2004, 81 , 111–117.