The feeding strategy of dab Limanda limanda in the southern North Sea: linking stomach contents to prey availability in the environment

The feeding strategy of dab Limanda limanda was investigated within a predefined research area in the southern North Sea for 2 years. The aims were: 1) to establish the relationship between prey availability and dab abundance, distribution, body condition and prey selection, and 2) to determine the underlying functional processes of prey choice in dab. Temporal and spatial trends of prey availability in relation to dab abundances, distribution, condition and prey selection were analysed. Temporal trends in dab condition, percentage of empty stomachs and numbers of ingested prey were apparent. In particular in the winter period 2000–2001 dab were in poor condition and prey items were only rarely found in stomachs. Similarly prey availability decreased in the environment while the abundance of dab increased. Thus, temporal changes in the nutritive state were partly thought to be attributed to density‐dependent effects. The stomach composition of dab during the two consecutive summers was mainly dominated by Pariambus typicus and Ophiura albida while in the winter period only O. albida made a significant contribution to the stomach content. Analysis of prey characteristics indicated that only prey densities in the environment significantly influenced prey choice in dab, while other characteristics such as the position of the prey in the habitat, its palatability or mobility did not have significant effects. The feeding strategy of dab thus was highly opportunistic, although trends were apparent that suggested that buried living fauna was less likely to be ingested, which was also observed in previous studies.     

Hatching fraction and timing of resting stage production in seasonal environments: effects of density dependence and uncertain season length

Many organisms survive unfavourable seasons as resting stages, some of which hatch each favourable season. Hatching fraction and timing of resting stage production are important life history variables. We model life cycles of freshwater invertebrates in temporary pools, with various combinations of uncertain season length and density‐dependent fecundity. In deterministic density‐independent conditions, resting stage production begins suddenly. With uncertain season length and density independence, resting stage production begins earlier and gradually. A high energetic cost of resting stages favours later resting stage production and a lower hatching fraction. Deterministic environments with density dependence allow sets of coexisting strategies, dominated by pairs, each switching suddenly to resting stage production on a different date, usually earlier than without density dependence. Uncertain season length and density dependence allow a single evolutionarily stable strategy, around which we observe many mixed strategies with negatively associated yield (resting stages per initial active stage) and optimal hatching fraction.     

Patterns of Plant Invasions: A Case Example in Native Species Hotspots and Rare Habitats

Land managers require landscape-scale information on where exotic plant species have successfully established, to better guide research, control, and restoration efforts. We evaluated the vulnerability of various habitats to invasion by exotic plant species in a 100,000 ha area in the southeast corner of Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, Utah. For the 97 0.1-ha plots in 11 vegetation types, exotic species richness (log₁₀) was strongly negatively correlated to the cover of cryptobiotic soil crusts (r = −0.47, P < 0.001), and positively correlated to native species richness (r = 0.22, P < 0.03), native species cover (r = 0.23, P < 0.05), and total nitrogen in the soil (r = 0.40, P < 0.001). Exotic species cover was strongly positively correlated to exotic species richness (r = 0.68, P < 0.001). Only 6 of 97 plots did not contain at least one exotic species. Exotic species richness was particularly high in locally rare, mesic vegetation types and nitrogen rich soils. Dry, upland plots (n = 51) had less than half of the exotic species richness and cover compared to plots (n = 45) in washes and lowland depressions that collect water intermittently. Plots dominated by trees had significantly greater native and exotic species richness compared to plots dominated by shrubs. For the 97 plots combined, 33% of the variance in exotic species richness could be explained by a positive relationship with total plant cover, and negative relationships with the cover of cryptobiotic crusts and bare ground. There are several reasons for concern: (1) Exotic plant species are invading hot spots of native plant diversity and rare/unique habitats. (2) The foliar cover of exotic species was greatest in habitats that had been invaded by several exotic species.(3) Continued disturbance of fragile cryptobiotic crusts by livestock, people, and vehicles may facilitate the further invasion of exotic plant species. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Desmids from ephemeral pools and aerophytic habitats from the Czech Republic

The distribution and ecology of desmids in wetland habitats in the Czech Republic were studied during 2003–2007. Samples were taken also from various aerophytic habitats and temporary pools thet had not been sufficiently studied before. Altogether 110 desmids taxa were found in 31 samples which were ordinated on the basis of their desmid species composition using a multivariate statistic method. The discussion focuses on the most interesting findings and on the factors that influence the distribution of desmids in different types of aerophytic habitats. Presented at the International Symposium Biology and Taxonomy of Green Algae V, Smolenice, June 26–29, 2007, Slovakia.     

两种泥鳅不同核质关系下LDH同工酶基因表达的研究

采用聚丙烯酰胺不连续系统凝胶电泳方法分析了泥鳅和大鳞副泥鳅不同杂交组合不同核质关系下胚发育阶段（0－145h）中乳酸脱氢酶（LDH）同工酶的分化表达谱式,ＬＤＨ同工酶的基因表达随细胞质、细胞核不同及胚胎发育各个时期具有不同的个体发育谱式,以泥鳅卵子为细胞质的Ⅰ、Ⅱ两组,杂交组（Ⅱ）ＬＤＨ同工酶基因在受精后３min至原肠中期雄核基因参与表达与调控,部分基因位点比本交组（Ⅰ）启动与表达的时间要早,两组的管家酶主要来自细胞质。以大鳞副泥鳅为细胞质的Ⅲ、Ⅳ两组,各酶均以细胞质调控为主,其管家酶与泥鳅有很大不同。并具体分析和讨论了不同核质关系ＬＤＨ同工酶基因的表达和调控的时空顺序。     

沙拐枣果实形态变异的数值分析

研究利用新疆、甘肃河西、宁夏沙坡头地区采集的头状沙拐枣（Ｃalligonum caput-medusae)、红皮沙拐枣(C.rubicundum)、白皮沙拐枣（Ｃ.leucocladum)、泡果沙拐枣（Ｃ.junceum)、河西沙拐枣（C.potaninii)和蒙古沙拐枣（C.mongolicum)果实的形态性状指标,应用双因素重复方差分析法,对不同种群间果实的形态变异进行了研究,得出红皮沙拐枣、蒙古沙拐枣、白皮沙拐枣、泡果沙拐枣下不同种群间果实的形态变异差异显著,头状沙拐枣、河西沙拐枣果灾的形态变里差异不显著,用系统聚类分析,对各种群间的相似性进行了研究。     

不同播期夏玉米二代玉米螟幼虫为害特点与防治对策

系统调查表明 ,不同播期夏玉米上二代玉米螟幼虫为害情况存在一定差异 ,由此根据玉米螟发生期与玉米生育期的对应情况 ,提出了 3种类型田玉米螟的防治对策     

滨海盐地碱蓬不同生长阶段叶片C、N、P化学计量特征

盐地碱蓬(Suaeda salsa)是滨海湿地典型植被之一, 研究其化学计量特征变化对于了解滨海湿地植被健康状况具有重要意义。该文比较了盐地碱蓬生长期、成熟期和衰退期内叶片C、N、P营养元素的化学计量特征, 并做了相关性分析。结果表明, 叶片C含量在不同生长阶段差异性显著, 生长期最低, 衰退期最高; 叶片N含量在衰退期较生长期和成熟期显著降低; 叶片P含量较为稳定, 在不同生长阶段无显著性差异。C:N、C:P在植物整个生长发育期内呈现逐渐增大的趋势, 而N:P表现出逐渐减小的趋势。相关性分析显示, 在盐地碱蓬3个不同的生长阶段, C:N和C:P与相应的N、P含量呈显著负相关, 随着N、P的变化以对数方程的形式减小; N含量与P含量之间呈显著正相关, 体现了植物体内两营养元素含量需求变化的相对一致性。同时发现, N元素已经成为滨海湿地盐地碱蓬生长发育过程中的主要限制性因子。     

不同生长环境下水稻最上节间长度QTL定位研究

利用由98 个家系组成的 Nipponbare/Kasalath//Nipponbare 回交重组自交系(backcross inbred lines, BIL)作图群体(BC1F12和BC1F13)和复合区间作图方法(CIM), 在3种不同的生长环境下对水稻最上节间长度进行了 QTL 分析。结果表明, 3种不同的生长环境共检测到 13 个 QTL , 分布于第 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 10, 11 染色体上, 解释性状变异的 3.97%～15.21%。其中qUIL-6在3种不同生长环境中均检测到, qUIL-1a, qUIL-3a, qUIL-3b和 qUIL-10a 等4个位点在两种不同生长环境中均被检测到, 说明这些 QTL 位点受环境影响较小, 表达较为稳定。     

遗传学专业术语不规范化的现象探研—I.同名异义现象

对现行的遗传学教材中存在的专业术语同名异义现象进行探研,针对Y连锁遗传、限性遗传、从性遗传、单倍体、多倍性和累加作用等专业术语存在的表达不清,相互矛盾,同名异义等问题,进行分析探讨,并提出Y连锁遗传不能与限性遗传相混淆,限性遗传和从性遗传的基因是位于常染色体上,但二者存在区别。单倍体是指具有配子染色体数目的个体,但并不等同于一倍体。建议多倍体用染色体基数来表达,如三倍体用3X表示。 累加作用是指数量性状遗传基因间的相互累加作用。