Spatial correlations between browsing on balsam fir by white‐tailed deer and the nutritional value of neighboring winter forage

Associational effects, that is, the influence of neighboring plants on herbivory suffered by a plant, are an outcome of forage selection. Although forage selection is a hierarchical process, few studies have investigated associational effects at multiple spatial scales. Because the nutritional quality of plants can be spatially structured, it might differently influence associational effects across multiple scales. Our objective was to determine the radius of influence of neighbor density and nutritional quality on balsam fir (Abies balsamea) herbivory by white‐tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) in winter. We quantified browsing rates on fir and the density and quality of neighboring trees in a series of 10‐year‐old cutovers on Anticosti Island (Canada). We used cross‐correlations to investigate relationships between browsing rates and the density and nutritional quality of neighboring trees at distances up to 1,000 m. Balsam fir and white spruce (Picea glauca) fiber content and dry matter in vitro true digestibility were correlated with fir browsing rate at the finest extra‐patch scale (across distance of up to 50 m) and between cutover areas (300–400 m). These correlations suggest associational effects, that is, low nutritional quality of neighbors reduces the likelihood of fir herbivory (associational defense). Our results may indicate associational effects mediated by intraspecific variation in plant quality and suggest that these effects could occur at scales from tens to hundreds of meters. Understanding associational effects could inform strategies for restoration or conservation; for example, planting of fir among existing natural regeneration could be concentrated in areas of low nutritional quality.     

Gravisensitivity of cress roots: investigations of threshold values under specific conditions of sensor physiology in microgravity

The minimum dose (dose = stimulus x time), one of three threshold values related to gravity, was determined under microgravity conditions for cress roots. Seedlings were cultivated on a 1g centrifuge in orbit and under microgravity, respectively. After continuous stimulation on a threshold centrifuge, minimum doses of 20-30 gs for microgravity roots and 50-60 gs for roots grown on a 1g centrifuge were estimated, which indicated that microgravity roots have a higher sensitivity than 1g roots. These results do not confirm the threshold value of 12gs which was determined for cress roots using the slow rotating clinostat. Following application of intermittent stimuli to microgravity-grown roots, gravitropic responses were observed after two stimuli of 13.5 gs separated by a stimulus-free interval of 118s. Generally, this demonstrates that higher plants are able to 'sum up' stimuli which are below the threshold value. Microscopic investigations of the cellular structure corresponding to stimulations in the range of the threshold value demonstrated a small displacement of statoliths in root statocytes. No significant correlation was observed between gravitropic curvature and statolith displacement. If the statolith theory is accepted, it can be concluded that stimulus transformation must occur in the cytoplasm in the near vicinity of the statoliths and that this transformation system--probably involving cytoskeletal elements--must have been affected during microgravity seedling cultivation.     

Thermal related variations of seasonal and daily spawning periodicity in Barbus barbus

In 1993, nocturnal spawning activities were observed in the diurnal spawning cyprinid Barbus barbus . This behaviour is interpreted as a response to exceptionally high daily thermal amplitudes, regarded as the sign of an unpredictable environment.     

Nonlinear estimation of specific growth rate for aerobic fermentation processes

The specific growth rate of the biomass, a very important parameter of almost every fermentation process, cannot be measured directly or estimated from related variables, as the concentrations of biomass, substrates, or products, due to the lack of reliable and cheap sensors. In this article a stable adaptive estimator of the specific growth rate is designed for those aerobic processes where the measurement of the oxygen uptake rate is available on-line. This particular approach can be applied also for other reaction rates if the model of the process satisfies some very general assumptions, which make the dynamics of the measured reaction rate a nonlinear function only of two unknown parameters, the specific growth rate and its time derivative. With respect to a previous similar approach, the new estimator has one additional parameter and a different nonlinear structure. From the analysis of the dynamics of the estimation error, a tuning criterion is derived, by which the two different algorithms can be compared under similar conditions. Simulation results show a good performance of both estimators for various kind of processes and disturbances. (c) 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

关于Taylor幂法则b值的不一致性问题讨论─—以菜蚜为研究事例

关于Ｔａｙｌｏｒ幂法则ｂ值的不一致性问题讨论─—以菜蚜为研究事例汪信庚,刘树生（浙江农业大学植保系,杭州３１００２９）ＤｉｓｃｕｓｓｉｏｎｏｎｔｈｅＩｎｃｏｎｓｔａｎｃｙｏｆｂＶａｌｕｅｉｎＴａｙｌｏｒ＇ｓＰｏｗｅｒＬａｗｗｉｔｈＳｐｅｃｉａｌＲｅｆ...     

关于质体随细胞分裂传递的数学模型

本文根据质体是具有遗传功能的细胞器这一事实出发,对质体传递规律首次进行了定量研究,建立了突变质体在细胞分裂中传递的全概率和条件概率公式．并对此公式的应用作了进一步的探讨．本文所提供的方法将为质体遗传开辟一条定量研究的新路．     

Genetics of adaptive radiation in Hawaiian and Cook Islands species of Tetramolopium (Asteraceae; Astereae). I. Nuclear RFLP marker diversity

Thirty-three nuclear RFLP (restriction fragment length polymorphism) probes were used to study genetic diversity in Hawaiian and Cook Islands species of Tetramolopium for comparison with previous morphological and isozyme studies and to provide greater resolution of the events associated with adaptive radiation in the genus. Levels of RFLP diversity are greater than those reported for isozymes, yet are still low in comparison to continental species. Genetic differentiation is greatest among species in sections rather than among sections and is concordant with the hypothesis of phyletic sorting of initial variability as suggested for morphological traits. Hypothesized introgression between T. lepidotum and T. filiforme is supported, but the evidence suggests bidirectional gene flow. Systematic relationships derived from the data agree with hypotheses based on morphology in the placement of populations within their respective species and the recognition of three main lineages within Hawaii. Inclusion of the Cook Islands species, however, renders section Tetramolopium paraphyletic, contradicting morphological, ecological, and crossing evidence. Interpreting these results in light of evidence from previous studies, the genetic diversity and relationships seen among species and sections of Hawaiian and Cook Islands Tetramolopium reflect the recent and rapid evolution of this group, limited addition of new variability, and phyletic sorting.     

儿茶酚胺激动剂和阻断剂对大鼠胃粘膜适应性细胞保护作用的影响

本文观察了儿茶酚胺激动剂和阻断剂对大鼠慢性应激诱发的胃粘膜适应性细胞保护作用的影响,并分析内源性生长抑素与保护作用的关系。结果表明,慢性应激诱导的大鼠胃粘膜适应性保护作用在交感神经切除后完全消失,多巴胺或异丙肾上腺素使保护作用部分恢复,去甲肾上腺素无作用;在交感神经完整大鼠,心得安或氟哌啶醇可抑制慢性应激诱发的保护作用,酚妥拉明无作用。血浆生长抑素在应激及交感神经切除后均无显著变化。提示慢性应激时交感肾上腺系统的激活参与了大鼠胃粘膜适应性保护作用,且可能通过多巴胺及肾上腺能β受体介导。     

粉刺侧孢霉产木质素过氧化物酶酶活性与pH值的关系

研究了粉刺侧孢霉 (Phanerochaetechrysosporium)在以微晶纤维素为C源时 ,木素过氧化酶与 pH值的关系 .试验采用 37～ 39°C下液体振荡培养 ,藜芦醇为产酶诱导剂 ,测试不同起始 pH值所得木素过氧化物酶活性 .结果表明 ,起始 pH值 6.0所得酶活最高达 0 .1 2 6U·ml- 1 ,说明以微晶纤维素代替葡萄糖为C源 ,其最佳 pH值相对较高 .菌丝球直径与酶活呈正相关 .