The biennial life strategy in a random environment

In a previous paper (J. Math. Biol. 26, 199–215 (1988)) we calculated the mean and variance of the long-run geometric growth rate of a discrete-time population model with two age classes in a random environment. The formula which was used in that paper as the starting point for the computation of the variance represents only the contribution of the one-period variances. Here we supplement these results by a calculation of the exact variance. All qualitative conclusions reached before are unaffected.     

Relationships among recent models for insect population dynamics with variable rates of development

A classification scheme for those population models which allow variation in development rates is proposed, based on two ways of modifying standard age-structured models. The resulting classes of models are termed development index models and sojourn time models. General formulations for the two classes of models are developed from two basic balance equations, and numerous specific models from the literature are shown to fit into the scheme. Concepts from competing risks theory are shown to be important in understanding the interplay between mortality and maturation. Relationships among the classes are investigated both for the most general forms of the models and for the simpler forms often used. The scheme can provide guidance in developing appropriate insect population models for specific modelling situations.Contribution 3878871     

What causes extended lows in microtine cycles?

Summary Synchronous declines of sympatric shrew and microtine populations in boreal regions of Fennoscandia have been claimed as evidence that predation deepens and extends the low phase of the microtine population cycles. Assuming that shrews and microtines have the same maximum intrinsic rate of increase, and that the predators kill the shrews and microtines that they encounter unselectively, this hypothesis predicts that sympatric shrew and microtine populations will decline and increase simultaneously. In this study conducted at 60°56N in southeast Norway, as well as in 13 of 15 other studies at sites in Fennoscandia, the shrew populations declined simultaneously with the sympatric microtine populations, but recovered sooner. The shrew-microtine ratio among animals trapped peaked about 2 years after the peak in the microtine population. The same pattern was found in the diet of raptors in Fennoscandia. Since the maximum intrinsic rate of increase does not seem to be higher in shrews than in microtines, the pattern suggests that either predation is not causing the extended lows in the microtine populations, or that the proportion of predators that selectively kill microtines fluctuates during the microtine cycle. The most likely candidates for selective killers are weasels.     

Structure and floristic composition of the lowland rain forest of Los Tuxtlas,Mexico

Physiognomy, structure and floristic composition of one hectare of lowland tropical rain forest was studied in detail at Los Tuxtlas, Mexico. Physiognomically, the Los Tuxtlas forest should be classified as lowland tropical high evergreen rain forest. The forest showed a closed canopy at 30–35 m. Of all woody, non-climbing species with a DBH1.0 cm 89.4% (94.5% of all individuals) were evergreen, 25.4% (59.5% of the individuals) had compound leaves, and over 80% of species (and individuals) had leaves in the notophyll and mesophyll size classes. The forest structure was characterized by a low density (2976 individuals with a DBH1.0 cm, 346 individuals with a DBH10.0 cm, per ha, excluding vines) with an average basal area (38.1 m², DBH1.0 cm, 34.9 m², DBH10.0 cm, per ha, excluding vines). This was attributed to the relative maturity of the forest on the study plot. The study plot contained 234 species (11 208 individuals with a height 0.5 m), of which 55.1% (34.8% of individuals) were trees, 9.4% (6.8%) shrubs, 3.4% (44.3%) palms, 20.1% (5.2%) vines, 6.8% (8.7%) herbs and 5.1% (0.3%) of unknown lifeform. Furthermore, 58 species of epiphytes and hemi-epiphytes were found. Diversity of trees, shrubs and palms with a DBH1.0 cm was calculated as Shannon-Wiener index (4.65), Equitability index (0.65), and Simpson index (0.10). The dominance-diversity curve showed a lognormal form, characteristic for tropical rain forest. The community structure was characterized by a relative dominance of Astrocaryum mexicanum in the understorey, Pseudolmedia oxyphyllaria in the middle storeys, and Nectandra ambigens in the canopy. Species population structures of 31 species showed three characteristic patterns, differentiated by recruitment: continuously high, discontinuously high, and continuously low recruitment. Height/diameter and crown cover/diameter diagrams suggested a very gradual shift from height growth to crown growth during tree development. Forest turnover was calculated as 138 years. Compared to other tropical rain forests the Los Tuxtlas forest had 1. similar leaf physiognomical characteristics, 2. a lower diversity, 3. a lower density, 4. an average basal area, and 5. a slow canopy turnover.     

藏马鸡(Crossoptilon crossoptilon)的繁殖生态研究

藏马鸡是典型高山地牺雉类,见于海拔3,500—3,900米的针叶林带。自4月中至7月底为繁殖期。一“夫”配一“妻”。营巢于海拔3,544—3,790米的岩洞、灌丛中或倒木下。共发现4巢,3巢已被破坏,成功率25％。近年来,由于过渡砍伐森林,天敌的伤害,自身弱点(繁殖率低,成熟期长(3年左右)以及其他因素,藏马鸡的数量日趋减少,正面临绝种的厄运。必须及时地采取有效保护措施。     

黄海车牛山岛白腰雨燕的繁殖习性及种群动态

本文为作者于1980—1981年对黄海车牛山岛白腰雨燕Apuspacificus pacificus (Latham)的初步研究。内容包括对繁殖习性的观察;对繁殖周期、卵孵化率、雏鸟成活串以及出生率等的统计。并对海岛生态环境下白腰雨燕种群数量的变动及其影响因素,作初步探讨。     

Interaction of silent and replacement changes in eukaryotic coding sequences

Summary We examined the codon usages in wellconserved and less-well-conserved regions of vertebrate protein genes and found them to be similar. Despite this similarity, there is a statistically significant decrease in codon bias in the less-well-conserved regions. Our analysis suggests that although those codon changes initially fixed under amino acid replacements tend to follow the overall codon usage pattern, they also reduce the bias in codon usage. This decrease in codon bias leads one to predict that the rate of change of synonymous codons should be greater in those regions that are less well conserved at the amino acid level than in the better-conserved regions. Our analysis supports this prediction. Furthermore, we demonstrate a significantly elevated rate of change of synonymous codons among the adjacent codons 5 to amino acid replacement positions. This provides further support for the idea that there are contextual constraints on the choice of synonymous codons in eukaryotes.     

Sampling bias in estimating Design II variance components with S1 families

Summary The use of several S₁ individuals to represent an S₀ individual permits the use of a Design II mating scheme for plants with only one pistillate flower per plant. Estimates of additive (V _A ) and dominance (V _D ) variance from this mating scheme will be biased upwards, when a small number (10) of individuals of each S₁ line are used. This bias can be computed, and the additive and dominance estimates can be corrected. Of particular interest is the observation that the additive genetic variance contributes to bias in estimates of V _D . When S₀ plants are non inbred and their selfedprogeny (S₁ lines) are used to represent them in developing families for use in the Design II, where m₁ is the number of individuals used to represent an S₁ line in developing half sib-families and m₂ is the number of individuals used to represent the S₁ line in making up full sib-families. For example, in a 3×3 Design II, with about 10 individuals used to represent each S₁ line in each cross, m₂ = 10 and m₁ = 30. When m₁ = m₂ = 1, and Joint contribution from Department of Agronomy, University of Nebraska 68583, and the S. S. Cameron Laboratory, Werribee, Victoria 3030, Australia. Published as paper No. 7395, Journal Series     

Vegetation study as a generator for population biological and physiological research on salt marshes

The paper deals with some views on the phytocoenose in relation to the functioning of vegetation and its plant-species populations in space and time. From these viewpoints the study of vegetation is seen as a field of tension between the organismic and reductionistic approaches. Both have their value, provided any dogmatism is avoided and either can be applied to the other.In the field of vegetation structure characteristic features of life-form spectra and species distribution, inversion phenomena in zonation, and community architecture in relation to production and decomposition are discussed. In this connection some remarks are made on habitat and niche differentiation with respect to the phytocoenose concept.Vegetation dynamics are discussed in relation to the introduction of Spartina anglica, the frequency of flooding by the tides, different environmental disturbances caused by heavy winter frost, rainfall and hot and dry periods, as well as to human interferences for agricultural and civil-technical purposes.It is suggested that salt-marsh plants may have found refuge areas in inland habitats as well as on more southerly coastal sites during glaciations.Nomenclature follows Tutin et al. (1964–1980).The author wishes to thank his collaborators Messrs B. P. Koutstaal and W. de Munck for much fieldwork, and Mrs M. J. van Leerdam-de Dreu and Messrs A. A. Bolsius and J. A. van den Ende for the preparation of text and figures.Communication No. 302 of the Delta Institute for Hydrobiological Research.     

Permanent coexistence in general models of three interacting species

We address the question of the long term coexistence of three interacting species whose dynamics are governed by the ordinary differential equations x _i = X _i f _i (i = 1, 2, 3). In order for any theory in this area to be useful in practice, it must utilize as little information as possible concerning the forms of the f _i , in view of the great difficulty of determining these experimentally. Here we obtain, under rather general conditions on the equations, a criterion for judging whether the species will coexist in a biologically realistic manner. This criterion depends only on the behaviour near the one or two species equilibria of the two dimensional subsystems, the behaviour there being relatively easy to examine experimentally. We show that with the exception of one class of cases, which is a generalization of a classical example of May and Leonard [21], invasibility at each such equilibrium suitably interpreted is both necessary and sufficient for a strong form of coexistence to hold. In the exceptional case, a single additional condition at the equilibria is enough to ensure coexistence.