Increased signal complexity is associated with increased mating success

The evolution of complex signals has often been explored by testing multiple functional hypotheses regarding how independent signal components provide selective benefits to offset the costs of their production. In the present study, we take a different approach by exploring the function of complexity per se. We test the hypothesis that increased vibratory signal complexity—based on both proportional and temporal patterning—provides selective benefits to courting male Schizocosa stridulans wolf spiders. In support of this hypothesis, all of our quantified metrics of vibratory signal complexity predicted the mating success of male S. stridulans. The rate of visual signalling, which is mechanistically tied to vibratory signal production, was also associated with mating success. We additionally found evidence that males can dynamically adjust the complexity of their vibratory signalling. Together, our results suggest that complexity per se may be a target of female choice.     

Parents exposed to warming produce offspring lower in weight and condition

The parental environment can alter offspring phenotypes via the transfer of non‐genetic information. Parental effects may be viewed as an extension of (within‐generation) phenotypic plasticity. Smaller size, poorer physical condition, and skewed sex ratios are common responses of organisms to global warming, yet whether parental effects alleviate, exacerbate, or have no impact on these responses has not been widely tested. Further, the relative non‐genetic influence of mothers and fathers and ontogenetic timing of parental exposure to warming on offspring phenotypes is poorly understood. Here, we tested how maternal, paternal, and biparental exposure of a coral reef fish (Acanthochromis polyacanthus) to elevated temperature (+1.5°C) at different ontogenetic stages (development vs reproduction) influences offspring length, weight, condition, and sex. Fish were reared across two generations in present‐day and projected ocean warming in a full factorial design. As expected, offspring of parents exposed to present‐day control temperature that were reared in warmer water were shorter than their siblings reared in control temperature; however, within‐generation plasticity allowed maintenance of weight, resulting in a higher body condition. Parental exposure to warming, irrespective of ontogenetic timing and sex, resulted in decreased weight and condition in all offspring rearing temperatures. By contrast, offspring sex ratios were not strongly influenced by their rearing temperature or that of their parents. Together, our results reveal that phenotypic plasticity may help coral reef fishes maintain performance in a warm ocean within a generation, but could exacerbate the negative effects of warming between generations, regardless of when mothers and fathers are exposed to warming. Alternatively, the multigenerational impact on offspring weight and condition may be a necessary cost to adapt metabolism to increasing temperatures. This research highlights the importance of examining phenotypic plasticity within and between generations across a range of traits to accurately predict how organisms will respond to climate change.     

土壤水分条件对克隆植物互花米草表型可塑性的影响

在互花米草草滩挖掘沙蚕是海岸带常见的行为,会造成土壤结构松散,蓄水能力下降,局部土壤水分含量低.能否利用这些条件,降低互花米草种群的入侵性,并进而对互花米草的控制提供对策是一个重要的生态学命题.为此,实验模拟3种不同土壤蓄水条件,并测定互花米草在该条件下的形态与存活指标、克隆特征参数及生物量积累与分配格局.结果表明:土壤水分条件对互花米草的叶长和根状茎生物量均没有显著影响(p> 0.05);而其株高、分枝强度、克隆存活数、克隆存活率及地上生物量在各土壤水分条件间差异显著(p< 0.05);在低水分条件下,互花米草的芽数、基茎粗、地上生物量比和叶生物量比均显著低于其他两组处理(p< 0.05),地下生物量比则显著高于其他两组处理(p< 0.05);在中等水分条件下,互花米草的根状茎长、根状茎节数、地下生物量和茎生物量比与其他两组处理差异不显著(p> 0.05),而在其他两组处理间差异显著(p< 0.05);在高水分条件下,总生物量、茎生物量和根生物量显著高于其他两组处理(p< 0.05),根状茎生物量比则显著低于其他两组处理(p< 0.05),而这些指标在其他两组处理间均差异不显著(p> 0.05).由此推断,土壤水分条件适中有利于互花米草的生长扩张以占领有利的资源环境,而土壤水分条件低则抑制互花米草的生长繁殖,影响其种群延续.     

一个基于能量的突触可塑性模型

研究表明能量可能是支配神经元活动的统一原则,编码能力与能量成本的比率最大化被认为是突触连接在选择性压力下改变的关键原则之一,这意味着突触范围内能量的变化与突触可塑性有关。为此,建立一个基于能量的突触可塑性模型。当突触后膜瞬时功率高于功率阈值时突触权重增加,反之突触权重下降。该模型可再现脉冲频率依赖可塑性以及脉冲时间依赖可塑性这两种主要的突触可塑性实验结果,并且和其他公认的突触可塑性模型相比具有优越性。结果表明,能量是影响突触可塑性的关键因素,对进一步理解突触连接的选择性和神经网络动力学特征提供了一个新思路。     

辽东栎林下和开阔地上短柄五加(Acanthopanax brachpus)无性系种群生长的比较研究

研究了分布于开阔地和辽东栎林下短柄五加无性系种群拆散方式、无性系的形态可塑性和分株的死亡年龄,研究结果表明,开阔地上无性系分株的扩散方式为稀疏线型,根茎长度、无性系分株数目,林下和开阔地差异显著,根茎分枝角度、无性系根茎总长无显著性差异。林下分株的死亡年龄显著小于开阔地上无性系分株的死亡年龄。     

桉树枝瘿姬小蜂虫瘿解剖特征与寄主叶片生理指标的变化

采用人工接蜂、桉树组织石蜡切片和生化组分测定等方法研究了桉树受桉树枝瘿姬小蜂诱导后的生理生化响应机制.结果表明:DH201-2叶柄角质层厚度和油囊数量均较GL-UG9的厚、多,且差异均达到极显著水平(P角质层厚度=0.00001 ＜0.01,P油囊数量=0.00209＜0.01),但是GL-UG9叶柄表皮细胞厚度和维管束数量均较DH201-2厚、多,差异分别达到显著水平(P=0.015215＜0.05)和极显著水平(P=0.002375＜0.01),DH201-2茎皮层薄壁细胞厚度、油囊直径、维管束数量较GL-UG9厚、多,差异分别为显著(P皮层薄壁细胞厚度=0.04071 ＜0.05)、极显著(P油囊直径=000016＜0.05)、极显著(P维管束数量=0.00000＜0.01).而GLUG9茎角质层和表皮细胞厚度均较DH201-2厚,差异达到了极显著水平(P角质层厚度=0.00167,P表皮细胞厚度=0.00000＜0.01);桉树枝瘿姬小蜂虫瘿为组织瘿,由内到外可以分为:营养组织层、薄/厚壁组织层、维管束层、皮层、表皮等结构;接种桉树枝瘿姬小蜂成虫后,桉树叶片可溶性总糖、游离氨基酸、叶绿素含量均升高,差异达到了极显著水平(P＜0.01),但是蛋白质、pH值、类黄酮、总酚的变化没有达到显著水平(P＞0.05);吲哚乙酸氧化酶、过氧化物、过氧化氢酶活力均有不同程度的升高.研究显示桉树枝瘿姬小蜂入侵诱导了桉树一系列的生理生化变化,实验结果为抗桉树枝瘿姬小蜂桉树无性系的选育技术体系构建提供了理论基础.     

马尾松种源在异质养分环境中的觅养行为差异

选择广东信宜、福建武平、广西岑溪3个不同磷效率特性的马尾松种源,构建同质和异质两种养分环境开展盆栽实验,研究马尾松搜寻利用异质分布养分的获取机制及不同种源觅养行为差异。结果表明,与同质营养环境相比,异质营养环境中马尾松种源具有较高的苗高、地径生长量、较强光合速率和干物质生产能力。研究证实了根系形态可塑性和生理可塑性在马尾松获取异质分布养分中的重要性。马尾松可通过在富养斑块中须侧根的大量增生、对N、P、K等元素的有效吸收提高其觅养能力。马尾松在拓殖富养斑块的初期主要依靠新生侧根的增加和侧根的延长,在拓殖一段时期之后则主要靠新生侧根的生成和须根数量、须根密度的增加来搜寻异质分布养分。异质养分环境中的根系具有较高的养分吸收效率主要缘由在富养斑块中对N、P、K大量的吸收。综合比较分析认为,在3个参试种源中广西岑溪和福建武平种源在异质营养环境中拓殖富养斑块和觅养能力较强,广东信宜种源拓殖和觅养能力相对较弱。     

匍匐茎草本植物形态可塑性、整合作用与觅食行为研究进展

综述了匍匐茎型克隆植物在形态可塑性、整合作用及觅食行为方面的研究进展。资源斑块性分布是生境异质性的特征之一,适应于异质性生境,匍匐茎植物对环境资源表现了一系列可塑性反应。本文着重从匍匐茎植物对光、水、肥的可塑性反应及其整合作用以及觅食行为等方面的研究进行总结分析,以期对匍匐茎型克隆植物进行更广泛深入的研究。     

不同放牧强度下冷蒿(Artemisia frigida )、星毛委陵菜(Potentilla acaulis)的形态可塑

 研究了不同放牧强度下（不放牧、轻牧(1.33只羊/hm2)、中牧(4.00只羊/hm2)、重牧(6.67只羊/hm2)）冷蒿 (Artemisia frigida)、星毛委陵菜 (Potentilla acaulis)的克隆形态（间隔子长度、分枝强度）可塑性以及生物量分配格局。两种植物的间隔子长度、分枝强度沿放牧梯度具有显著的可塑性反应。冷蒿间隔子长度：不放牧>轻牧>重牧>中牧;分枝强度：重牧>中牧>轻牧>不放牧。星毛委陵菜间隔子长度:轻牧>不放牧>中牧>重牧;分枝强度:重牧>中牧>轻牧>不放牧。冷蒿种群