Yangtze finless porpoises along the main channel of Poyang Lake,China: Implications for conservation

Poyang Lake is the largest freshwater lake in China and flows into the Yangtze River. It is a traditional habitat for the endangered Yangtze finless porpoise, which has not been well investigated. To reveal the distribution of the porpoise in Poyang Lake, 12 passive acoustic surveys were conducted along 123 km of the main channel of the lake during different seasons (spring transition season, wet season, autumn transition season, and dry season) from 2008 to 2012. We counted the number of phonating porpoises encountered and calculated the detection rate (encountered individuals detected per kilometer). The median porpoise detection rates ranged from 0 to 0.65 individuals per kilometer during the different surveys. The highest median detection rate of 0.50 was detected in the autumn transition season. The seasonal shrinking of the lake during the dry season may cause a concentration of porpoises in the narrow channels and a high incidence of collisions with cargo ships and fishing boats. Conservation actions should be focused on the main channel of the lake during the dry and transition seasons. In addition, the expansion of the existing reserve to include areas with high porpoise detection rates is necessary.     

Convergent evolution of sunbird pollination systems of Impatiens species in tropical Africa and hummingbird systems of the New World

The bird pollination systems of the New and Old Worlds evolved independently, and differ in many aspects. New World plants are often presented as those adapted to hovering birds while Old World plants to perching birds. Most Neotropical studies also demonstrate that in hummingbird species rich assemblages, only a small number of highly specialized birds exploits the most specialized plants with long corollas. Nevertheless, recent research on bird–plant pollination interactions suggest that sunbird pollination systems in the Old World have converged more with the highly specialized hummingbird pollination systems than previously thought. In this study we focus on the pollination systems of the bird pollination syndrome Impatiens species on Mt. Cameroon, West Africa. We show that despite the high diversity of sunbirds on Mt. Cameroon, only Cyanomitra oritis appear to be important pollinator of all Impatiens species. This asymmetry indicates the absence of pair wise co‐evolution and points to a diffuse co‐evolutionary process resulting in guilds of highly specialized plants and birds; a situation well known from hummingbirds and specialized plant communities of the New World. Additionally, the herbaceous habits of Impatiens species, the frequent adaptations to pollination by hovering birds, and the habitat preference for understory in tropical forests or epiphytic growth, resemble the highly specialized Neotropical plants. © 2015 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2015, 115 , 127–133.     

Dry season watering alters the significance of climate factors influencing phenology and growth of saplings of savanna woody species in central Zambia,southern Africa

Although tree growth in southern African savannas is correlated with rainfall in the wet season, some studies have shown that tree growth is controlled more by rainfall in the dry season. If more rainfall occurred in the dry season in future climates, it would affect the growth of savanna trees, especially saplings that have shallower roots which limit access to subsoil water during the dry season when leaf flush and shoot extension occur. Recent paleobotanical evidence has revealed that there was relatively more precipitation in the dry season in eastern Africa in the Eocene than under the current climate. Saplings therefore can be expected to respond more to water addition during the dry season than mature trees that have more stored water and deeper roots that access subsoil water. Accordingly, I hypothesized that irrigation in the dry season should (i) advance the onset of the growing season, (ii) increase growth rates and (iii) alter the growth responses of saplings to climate factors. To test these hypotheses saplings of five savanna woody species were irrigated during the hot‐dry season at a site in central Zambia and their monthly and annual growth rates compared to those of conspecifics growing under control conditions. Although the responses among the species were variable, all irrigated saplings had significantly higher monthly and annual growth rates than control plants. In addition, dry season watering significantly altered the climatic determinants of sapling growth by either strengthening the role of the same climatic factors that were important under control conditions or displacing them altogether. In conclusion, more precipitation during the hot‐dry season is likely to have significant positive effects on sapling growth and consequently reduce the sapling‐tree transition periods and promote future tree population recruitment in some southern African savanna tree species.     

The Lusitanian toadfish as bioindicator of estuarine sediment metal burden: The influence of gender and reproductive metabolism

Early diagenetic processes and anthropogenic activities are responsible for metal enrichment in estuarine sediments. The Tagus estuary (Portugal) is no exception, and as a result of past and present pressures, surface sediment contamination is still an issue in some areas. Since such metal loads may be incorporated by benthic organisms, this study analyzed the accumulation of trace metals in the Lusitanian toadfish (Halobatrachus didactylus) in the Tagus estuary. In order to determine the role played by the seasonal reproductive cycle of the Lusitanian toadfish in the bioaccumulation process of trace metals in its tissues, the concentrations of Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn were determined in the liver of male and female specimens captured during reproductive and non-reproductive periods. The results showed that metal accumulation in the liver was related simultaneously with gender and season, with females having higher levels of Cd, Cu and Zn during the reproductive period. The metabolic roles of Cu and Zn in embryonic development may explain such results, as both metals accumulated in the female liver to be transported to the gonads later on. Cd, on the other hand, does not have a metabolic role, and the higher concentrations of this metal found in spawning females could be related to the high affinity of Cd to vitellogenin, which is produced in the liver. To assess the species’ potential as an indicator of metal contamination, the concentrations of the seven elements were compared in the muscle tissue of adult, type I males (age ≥5), from two areas with distinct sediment metal loads. Non-essential metals in the muscle reflected the same differences between areas that were found in the sediment samples, evidencing H. didactylus as a potential indicator of those elements bioavailability from the sediment. The results showed that the muscle tissue of adult specimens of a relatively sedentary species such as H. didactylus is a useful indicator of long term accumulation of trace metals. On the contrary, liver concentrations of trace metals showed variation according to the reproductive status, which could lead to overestimate of the environmental status concerning trace metals bioavailability. Spawning season and liver tissue should thus be avoided in biomonitoring studies targeting this benthic fish.     

Comparative study on enzymatic digestibility of switchgrass varieties and harvests processed by leading pretreatment technologies

Feedstock quality of switchgrass for biofuel production depends on many factors such as morphological types, geographic origins, maturity, environmental and cultivation parameters, and storage. We report variability in compositions and enzymatic digestion efficiencies for three cultivars of switchgrass (Alamo, Dacotah and Shawnee), grown and harvested at different locations and seasons. Saccharification yields of switchgrass processed by different pretreatment technologies (AFEX, dilute sulfuric acid, liquid hot water, lime, and soaking in aqueous ammonia) are compared in regards to switchgrass genotypes and harvest seasons. Despite its higher cellulose content per dry mass, Dacotah switchgrass harvested after wintering consistently gave a lower saccharification yield than the other two varieties harvested in the fall. The recalcitrance of upland cultivars and over-wintered switchgrass may require more severe pretreatment conditions. We discuss the key features of different pretreatment technologies and differences in switchgrass cultivars and harvest seasons on hydrolysis performance for the applied pretreatment methods.     

Ignoring the challenge? Male black redstarts (Phoenicurus ochruros) do not increase testosterone levels during territorial conflicts but they do so in response to gonadotropin-releasing hormone

Competition elevates plasma testosterone in a wide variety of vertebrates, including humans. The ‘challenge hypothesis’ proposes that seasonal peaks in testosterone during breeding are caused by social challenges from other males. However, during experimentally induced male–male conflicts, testosterone increases only in a minority of songbird species tested so far. Why is this so? Comparative evidence suggests that species with a short breeding season may not elevate testosterone levels during territory defence. These species may even be limited in their physiological capability to increase testosterone levels, which can be tested by injecting birds with gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH). We studied two populations of black redstarts that differ in breeding altitude, morphology and the length of their breeding season. Unexpectedly, males of neither population increased testosterone in response to a simulated territorial intrusion, but injections with GnRH resulted in a major elevation of testosterone. Thus, black redstarts would have been capable of mounting a testosterone response during the male–male challenge. Our data show, for the first time, that the absence of an androgen response to male–male challenges is not owing to physiological limitations to increase testosterone. Furthermore, in contrast to comparative evidence between species, populations of black redstarts with a long breeding season do not show the expected elevation in testosterone during male–male challenges.     

滇龙胆中萜类物质积累的动态变化

滇龙胆（Gentiana rigescens）为传统中药材。采用单因素方差分析比较不同生长季节滇龙胆的根部及茎叶部位龙胆苦苷、獐牙菜苦苷及当药苷含量的动态变化。结果表明,在不同生长季节,滇龙胆的根部与茎叶部位3种有效成分的含量具明显差异。龙胆苦苷主要积累于根部;獐牙菜苦苷、当药苷主要积累于茎叶部位。相关性分析表明,龙胆苦苷含量受气候因子的影响,月平均温度与茎叶部位龙胆苦苷含量呈极显著负相关（R=-0.57,P〈0.01）,月降水量与根部、茎叶部位龙胆苦苷含量呈显著（R=-0.48,P〈0.05）或极显著（R=-0.74,P〈0.01）负相关;根中当药苷含量与獐牙菜苦苷含量呈极显著正相关（R=0.62,P〈0.01）,茎叶部位獐牙菜苦苷含量与当药苷含量呈显著正相关（R=0.38,P〈0.05）。研究结果表明,滇龙胆中龙胆苦苷含量受降水量和温度的影响;龙胆苦苷、獐牙菜苦苷及当药苷的含量变动具相关性;9-11月较适宜滇龙胆药材的采收。     

Phenology shifts at start vs. end of growing season in temperate vegetation over the Northern Hemisphere for the period 1982–2008

Changes in vegetative growing seasons are dominant indicators of the dynamic response of ecosystems to climate change. Therefore, knowledge of growing seasons over the past decades is essential to predict ecosystem changes. In this study, the long‐term changes in the growing seasons of temperate vegetation over the Northern Hemisphere were examined by analyzing satellite‐measured normalized difference vegetation index and reanalysis temperature during 1982–2008. Results showed that the length of the growing season (LOS) increased over the analysis period; however, the role of changes at the start of the growing season (SOS) and at the end of the growing season (EOS) differed depending on the time period. On a hemispheric scale, SOS advanced by 5.2 days in the early period (1982–1999) but advanced by only 0.2 days in the later period (2000–2008). EOS was delayed by 4.3 days in the early period, and it was further delayed by another 2.3 days in the later period. The difference between SOS and EOS in the later period was due to less warming during the preseason (January–April) before SOS compared with the magnitude of warming in the preseason (June–September) before EOS. At a regional scale, delayed EOS in later periods was shown. In North America, EOS was delayed by 8.1 days in the early period and delayed by another 1.3 days in the later period. In Europe, the delayed EOS by 8.2 days was more significant than the advanced SOS by 3.2 days in the later period. However, in East Asia, the overall increase in LOS during the early period was weakened in the later period. Admitting regional heterogeneity, changes in hemispheric features suggest that the longer‐lasting vegetation growth in recent decades can be attributed to extended leaf senescence in autumn rather than earlier spring leaf‐out.     

Genus Colocasiomyia (Drosophilidae: Diptera) in Sabah,Bornean Malaysia: High species diversity and use of host aroid inflorescences

A total of 21 Colocasiomyia species, including 17 undescribed species, are reported from Sabah (Mt. Kinabalu and neighboring areas), Malaysia, based on samples collected from inflorescences of 14 or 15 Araceae species. This number of species is the largest as a local fauna of this genus in the world. The high species diversity is attributed to 12 undescribed species belonging to the Colocasiomyia baechlii species group. A particular breeding habit of Colocasiomyia is sharing of the same inflorescence by a pair of species, with partial niche separation between them: one species uses exclusively the pistillate (lower female‐flower) section of the spadix for oviposition and larval development, whereas the other mostly uses the staminate (upper male‐flower) section. However, the baechlii group species show quite different patterns of host plant use: many (up to eight) species cohabit on the same inflorescence. It is unlikely that they separate their breeding niches micro‐allopatrically within an inflorescence. Instead, species composition and their proportions of individual numbers vary among different localities, seasons and host plants, with partial overlap among them. Such partial separations in local distribution, phenology and host selection would in combination contribute to their coexistence and promote the species diversity of this group.     

季节性雪被对青藏高原东缘高寒草甸2种优势植物碳、氮积累和分配的影响

依据2006~2008冬季的自然雪被分布状况,在青藏高原东缘的高寒草甸中设置3条样带（即深雪、中雪和浅雪）。在2009年的生长季,在3个雪梯度样带中,分别测定了2种优势植物圆穗蓼（Polygonum macrophyllum）和黑褐穗苔草（Carex atrofusca subsp. Minor）生物量和碳氮营养积累及分配的动态特征。结果表明,深雪能够促进圆穗蓼和黑褐穗苔草生物量和碳氮养分的积累,可能使它们产生的凋落物数量更多且质量更好。深雪更有利于圆穗蓼（非禾本科草本植物）根系生物量、碳氮养分的积累;深雪不仅同时促进黑褐穗苔草（禾本科植物）地上部分和根系生物量、碳氮积累,而且还使其种子产量增加和质量提高,潜在地增强了黑褐穗苔草种子的繁殖能力,可能使得黑褐穗苔草的种间竞争能力增强。可以预见,未来季节性雪被的变化,必定会引起青藏高原东缘高寒草甸的初级生物量及其结构、植物群落物种组成等均发生相应变化。