The occurrence of myxomycetes in wood

Although the fruiting bodies of myxomycetes are commonly found associated with coarse woody debris in forest ecosystems throughout the world, there is no direct evidence that these organisms actually live within wood. In the research reported herein, surface sterilisation of pieces of wood taken from the branches of eight different tree species and the subsequent culturing of slivers of wood collected from within the interior of those branches clearly revealed the presence of the amoeboflagellates of myxomycetes. No evidence of the occurrence of plasmodia within wood was found, but amoeboflagellates emerged from 47 % of the wood slivers placed in culture.     

Behavioural studies on the peppered moth Biston betularia and a discussion of the role of pollution and lichens in industrial melanism

We examined the resting behaviour during pairing and egg-laying of bred female Biston betularia (L.) after they were set free at wooded sites in Somerset and Cardiff. Moths were not released immediately on emergence but were held for three nights to overcome an initial period of flight activity. Females (N= 257) were placed on trunks, and on large and small branches of trees, especially oaks, over periods of several weeks in 1984, 1985 and 1986. Releases were not made within 50 m of any known survivor. One hundred and thirty-one pairings were observed. We also examined oviposition behaviour in a cage experiment using different types of branches. Our observations support Mikkola's earlier conclusion from cage experiments with male moths that the species rests predominantly on branches and shows an appropriately specialized resting attitude, demonstrated here in a series of photographs. Many moths will rest underneath, or on the side of, narrow branches in the canopy. Once released females had settled and paired they only moved quite short distances, but positioning and egg-laying were profoundly influenced by the presence of foliose lichens. Females of all phenotypes show a strong preference to oviposit beneath a thallus of foliose lichens. Their tendency to rest against or close to the lichen during the day could markedly influence their crypsis. In the absence of foliose lichens, eggs are laid in cracks in the bark. The survivorship of released females both in different pairing combinations and during their whole reproductive life-span is analysed. These preliminary data suggest that bird predation can give rise to differential mortality of different pairing combinations and of the phenotypes. This technique provides a powerful method of measuring the relative crypsis and differential mortality of phenotypes with living females in natural resting sites. The significance of our observations on resting behaviour is discussed with regard to the role of air pollution and epiphytes in industrial melanism. Particular attention is given to the causal mechanisms underlying recent declines in the frequency of carbonaria melanics in parts of Britain. One important factor is the new growth made by trees since the marked reduction in particulate air pollution in the 1960s. It is emphasized that we need to know much more about the interactions between pollution, epiphytes and resting backgrounds, especially in the canopy, before we can be confident of our understanding of the evolution of industrial melanism.     

水分浸泡过夜对刺槐枝条最大水分导度测定的影响及年龄差异

枝条最大水分导度是植物水分生理学研究中的核心指标之一，冲洗法是当前用来测定该指标最常用的方法，但在实验测定之前首先必须要找到获得稳定的最大水分导度的可靠方法。本研究中，我们以刺槐（Robinia pseudoacacia L.）不同年龄枝条为实验材料，通过枝条采集后立即用于实验测定和枝条经超纯水中浸泡过夜后再用于实验这两种不同处理方式对不同年龄枝条最大水分导度测定的影响，检测两种处理方式中枝条最大水分导度随冲洗时间的延长是否保持恒定来判断最大水分导度测定值的可靠性，探讨提高枝条最大水分导度测定结果稳定性的有效方法。结果显示：①未浸泡过夜的当年生枝条，经150 kPa压力冲洗达到最大导水率后，继续延长冲洗时间枝条导水率会呈近线性下降，而经超纯水浸泡过夜的当年生枝条以同样实验方法达到最大导水率后，继续延长冲洗时间枝条的导水率基本保持稳定。②二年生枝条无论是否经超纯水浸泡过夜处理，经150 kPa压力冲洗达到最大导水率后枝条的导水率都基本保持稳定，但经超纯水浸泡过夜后，二年生枝条达到最大导水率所需的冲洗时间明显比未浸泡处理短。③根据茎横截面上木质部面积所占百分比和枝条木质密度判断，实验期间当年生枝条的木质化程度明显比二年生枝条低。我们推测未经浸泡过夜的当年生枝条出现木质部水分导度随冲洗时间延长而下降是由于枝条遭受机械性损伤后产生的分泌物在冲洗过程中被引入导管堵塞导管腔所致，而超纯水浸泡枝条过夜可有效降低分泌物被引入导管的可能性。因此，我们认为超纯水浸泡枝条过夜，可提高枝条最大水分导度测定结果的稳定性。     

Cycad cone and angiosperm floral volatiles: Inferences for the evolution of insect pollination

The chemistry of the volatile emissions of male cones of four putatively insect-pollinated cycad (Cycadales) species and cones of both sexes of one wind-pollinated cycad species was analysed using GC-MS Zamia furfuracea, Macrozamia moorei, and Encephalartos altensteinii had blends consisting primarily of monoterpenoids, benzenoids, and in two causes, a di-unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbon, while that of Zamia pumila was dominated by methyl salicylate, with sesquiterpenes and aliphatic hydrocarbons also present. In contrast, the wind-pollinated Cycas rumphii contained a series of highly alcohols, ketones and esters. The compounds classes found in the cycads are potent herbivore deterrents, and there is no apparent difference in this regard between insect- and wind-pollinated species. The results suggest convergent evolution in the gymnospermous cycads and magnoliid angiosperms of the olfactory cues that attract pollinating insects; the data are consistent with the hypothesis that early chemical attractants for pollinators evolved from herbivore deterrents.     

Virologica Sinica

正Aims and Scope Virologica Sinica is an international journal which aims at presenting the cutting-edge basic and applied research on viruses all over the world.The journal publishes peer-reviewed original research articles and reviews,which concern the latest developments in all branches of virology,including the research on the viruses of animals,