适用于蚜虫等微小昆虫的飞行磨系统

介绍了一套采用计算机进行控制和数据采集的适用于蚜虫等微小昆虫的飞行磨系统。该系统能同时对32头昆虫进行飞行测试,并对测试数据进行自动分析处理。利用该飞行磨系统对不同日龄禾缢管蚜的飞行能力进行了初步测试。结果表明,禾缢管蚜在第1至第5日龄的飞行能力最强,明显高于第7和第9日龄。平均飞行时间在各日龄之间差异不显著,但平均飞行速度随日龄的增加而逐渐降低。本文对飞行磨结构、数据采集接口板电路原理和软件流程设计等方面均进行了较为详细的介绍。并简要介绍了不同日龄禾缢管蚜的飞行能力测试结果。对开展微小型昆虫的飞行行为学研究具有较为重要的参考价值。     

Real-time measurement of pheromone release from individual female moths and synthetic dispensers in a wind tunnel by recording of single receptor-neurone responses

Measurements of single neurone activity in the peripheral pheromone receptors of male Agrotis segetum (Denis & Schiffermüller) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) were performed in a wind tunnel using a portable electrophysiological recording unit. Filter paper and rubber septa loaded with synthetic sex pheromone, as well as individual conspecific female glands, were used as pheromone sources. Recordings, up to 3 h long, were analysed for temporal variation in spiking activity. The recordings were performed 2 m downwind of the source, where the pheromone plume had a width of approximately 12 cm, as could be measured with the single cell preparations. The system allowed reliable measurements of relative pheromone concentration with a 20-s time resolution. The release rate from rubber septa loaded with pheromone was more or less constant over time, whereas the release rate from filter paper loaded with pheromone decreased to one tenth of the initial value within 6 min from the application of the pheromone. The release of pheromone from female pheromone glands was pulsed with an interval of 2–10 min between bursts. This pulsing was not caused by retraction of the gland, as the glands were forcibly extruded during the entire experiment, but should reflect variation in transport of pheromone to the gland surface and subsequent release. The demonstrated stability of the preparations using tungsten electrodes, the reliable monitoring of female-produced pheromone plumes at several metres distance, and the time resolution obtained are important steps towards field monitoring of natural pheromone plumes, as well as pheromone concentration and distribution in applications for mating disruption.     

幼虫食物对甜菜夜蛾生长发育、繁殖及飞行的影响

报道了人工饲料、圆白菜和玉米苗三种食物对甜菜夜蛾Spodoptera exigua发育历期、蛹重以及成虫产卵和飞行能力的影响。幼虫取食人工饲料时发育历期最短,蛹最重(138 mg),产卵量最高(643粒);在12 h的吊飞测试中,成虫飞行距离最远(25.5 km),飞行时间最长(6.2 h),飞行超过10 km的个体占67.9%,超过5 h的占60.7%。幼虫取食玉米苗时发育历期最长,蛹最轻(52 mg),产卵量最低(416粒),成虫仅能飞行3.3 km,1.7 h,飞行超过10 km或5 h的个体均仅占4.2%,各项指标均显著低于人工饲料组。幼虫取食圆白菜时各项指标与人工饲料组基本相似(幼虫历期和蛹重除外),而显著优于玉米苗组(幼虫历期除外)。这些结果表明,幼虫食物对甜菜夜蛾的生长发育、产卵及飞行能力均有显著的影响,因而是影响其个体发育、种群增长及种群动态的重要因素之一。同时,由于取食本人工饲料的各项指标均优于其它两种食料植物,因而可作为饲养甜菜夜蛾的实用饲料。     

两种侵袭宿主方式的优势种马胃蝇飞行能力研究

为了解两种不同侵染宿主方式马胃蝇的飞行行为,本研究利用飞行磨系统测定了黑腹胃蝇Gasterophilus pecorum（以牧草为产卵载体）和肠胃蝇G. intestinalis（以宿主体毛为产卵载体）的飞行能力。结果表明:（1）肠胃蝇总飞行时间和距离均显著高于黑腹胃蝇,分别为后者的5.52倍和7.65倍,但平均飞行速度无显著性差异（P>0.05）。（2）黑腹胃蝇雌虫的飞行时间、距离和速度均略高于雄虫,而肠胃蝇雌虫除平均飞行速度外的飞行参数均低于雄虫。（3）肠胃蝇吊飞期间的体重消耗（24.38%）显著高于黑腹胃蝇（14.07%）;黑腹胃蝇雌雄成虫甘油三酯含量均显著下降,但两者差异不显著（P>0.05）。飞行距离差异反映了两种不同侵染宿主方式马胃蝇的飞行能力发生了适应性的变化,而总飞行时间为两种马胃蝇飞行距离差异的主导因素。     

Heterotrimeric collagen peptides containing functional epitopes. Synthesis of single‐stranded collagen type I peptides related to the collagenase cleavage site

Synthetic collagen peptides containing larger numbers of Gly‐Pro‐Hyp repeats are difficult to purify by standard chromatographic procedures. Therefore, efficient strategies are required for the synthesis of higher molecular weight collagen‐type peptides. Applying the Fmoc/tBu chemistry, a comparative analysis of the standard stepwise chain elongation procedure on solid support with the procedure based on the use of the synthons Fmoc‐Gly‐Pro‐Hyp(tBu)‐OH and Fmoc‐Pro‐Hyp‐Gly‐OH was performed. The crude products resulting from the stepwise elongation procedure and from the use of Fmoc‐Gly‐Pro‐Hyp(tBu)‐OH clearly revealed large amounts of microheterogeneities that result from incomplete imino acid acylation as well as from diketopiperazine formation with cleavage of Gly‐Pro units from the growing peptide chain. Conversely, by the use of the Fmoc‐Pro‐Hyp‐Gly‐OH synthon, the quality of the crude products was significantly improved; moreover, protection of the Hyp side chain hydroxyl function is not required using the Fmoc/tBu strategy. With this optimized synthetic procedure, relatively large collagen‐type peptides were obtained in satisfactory yields as highly homogeneous compounds. Copyright © 1999 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Personality and fitness consequences of flight initiation distance and mating behavior in subdominant male reindeer (Rangifer tarandus)

Animal personality has been studied extensively in recent years, yet multidimensionality in tendencies of risk‐related behavior, and the role of such consistency from a mating tactics perspective, is yet to be investigated. We used a semi‐domesticated herd of reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) to examine individual subdominant male propensity to risk mating attempts on guarded females, as well as flight initiation distance (FID), within the personality paradigm to elucidate potential fitness consequences of consistency from an adaptive perspective. Data were collected at the Kutuharju Reindeer Research Station in Kaamanen, Finland, where measures of personality were generated using field observation data based on the relative frequency of dominant male–subdominant male agonistic interactions over 4 years and subdominant males' FID measured over 1 year. Individual propensity for transient mating attempts was not significantly repeatable and did not significantly predict reproductive success or somatic cost during the mating season. Individuals varied consistently in FID, and although repeatable, FID was not related to reproductive success or somatic cost. Proximate state‐dependent or social mechanisms may be driving decision‐making with respect to mating effort, whereas consistent between‐individual differences in FID may be maintained by mechanisms unrelated to life‐history trade‐offs involving productivity.     

Pouncing spider, flying mosquito: blood acquisition increases predation risk in mosquitoes

Female mosquitoes dramatically increase their mass when bloodfeeding on their hosts. Such an increase could impact mosquitomortality risk by reducing escape speed and/or agility. We usedtwo laboratory-based experiments to test this notion. In thefirst, we allowed mature female Anopheles gambiae mosquitoesto feed from 0 to 4 min and then attacked those females withan artificial predator. We videotaped subsequent escape responseof each mosquito. Analysis of those responses clearly demonstratedan inverse relationship between increased mass and escape speed.In the second experiment, we exposed both blood-engorged andunfed A.gambiae females to single zebra spiders (Salticus scenicus)in small plexiglass cages. Here, we focused on mosquito escapesfrom searching and pouncing spiders. We found that engorgedmosquitoes were three times less likely to escape searchingspiders compared to unfed conspecifics. Thus we conclude thatblood feeding has substantial state-dependent risk both at thehost (experiment 1) and after feeding (experiment 2). Such riskcan be extended to a broad range of taxa.     

Can observation of climatic variables be used to predict the flight dispersal rates of Prostephanus truncatus?

Abstract 1 Attack by Prostephanus truncatus (Horn) (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae) on the maize and cassava stored by small‐holder farmers in Africa is sporadic, varying considerably within and between years. The risk that food in store will become infested is related to the number of beetles dispersing by flight. A means of predicting years with high dispersal rates is needed to warn farmers when to be vigilant. 2 The relationship between climatic variables and pheromone trap catches was observed in a forest‐savannah transition zone in Ghana. These observations were used to devise a model using a mix of biological and empirical rules that operate on temperature and humidity data. The predicted and actual trap catch deviated by only +5% to ?1% in years when there were high dispersal rates. 3 The first part of the model estimates the numbers of beetles with potential for dispersal. The second part predicts the proportion likely to disperse. This is based on the apparent effect that those P. truncatus developing under low temperature conditions (about 24 °C) have a lowered propensity for flight, a response previously observed in a related species. 4 The model was validated using climate data and trap catches from a woodland–savannah zone and a short grass steppe zone. With minor adjustment, the model worked well for these two habitats.     

Flying the North American Adirondack whitetail on instruments: A multi-parameter modeling approach to ecosystem-based wildlife management

We compare ecosystem-based wildlife management to instrument flight of aircraft. Airplanes cannot be controlled without visual ground reference, or if this is impossible to a cluster of flight instruments. Instrument pilots are trained to develop a rhythmic scan of the cluster to monitor and correct flight path and attitude. The untrained tendency is to fixate on a single gauge. Then, the aircraft deviates from its desired attitude and trajectory, and control may be lost. Fixation is like single-factor management wherein variables like habitat quality, recruitment, predator control, or harvest rates are singled out for adjustment without considering the others.

Ungulate populations are no less complex than aircraft in flight. They are multifactorial and move through time and space. To be managed effectively they must be guided in these movements through the monitoring and control instruments nature has provided. These are not necessarily proximate because populations are embedded in ecosystems and cannot be isolated from systemic complexity. Holistic management is needed, which requires a suite of monitoring and control parameters analogous to those in instrument flight.

We hold that every institution serving the interests of wise resource use should employ comprehensive, large-scale, ecosystem-based models built, tested, and perfected as a committed institutional activity over long periods of time. We call this Institutionalized Model-Making (IMM), and see models drawn from the collective expertise of scientists and their data in the same relation to nature as flight simulators are to actual aircraft. They mimic responses to control actions, and enable training in multifactorial management analogous to the instrument scans and control actions of the instrument pilot.

A model comprehensive enough for institutional use has not been built. We call attention to our efforts to develop such a model at the Huntington Wildlife Forest in New York's Adirondack Mountains. This is a model of the North American whitetail deer (Odocoileus virginianus Miller). It is too complex and incomplete for use in this paper, so a smaller-scale model is employed to make the case. In simulation trials parameters are ranked as to control sensitivity, then manipulated singly and multiply to demonstrate the superiority of the multiparameter approach.