Effect of plant barriers and citrus leaf age on dispersal of Diaphorina citri (Hemiptera: Liviidae)

Studies designed to measure dispersal capacity of Diaphorina citri Kuwayama (Hemiptera: Liviidae) are needed to provide the epidemiological knowledge necessary to improve management of citrus huanglongbing. In this study, a mark–release–recapture technique was used to investigate whether 1) host or non‐host plants of D. citri can act as barriers for dispersing insects and 2) presence or absence of young citrus leaves influence movement of D. citri towards citrus plants. The experimental field consisted of four circular and adjacent areas containing citrus trees, Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck cv. ‘Hamlin’, planted in concentric circles at 18, 24 and 30 m from the release centre. Insect activity was monitored by recapturing at each distance using yellow stick traps. Dense plantings of tall non‐host plants of D. citri such as corn had no effect on insect dispersal towards citrus plants when compared to a shorter cover crop such as grass. In contrast, suitable host plants acted as traps decreasing movement of D. citri. Diaphorina citri dispersed at greater speeds in the absence of young leaves reaching 140 m within 6 hours after release, whereas in the presence of young leaves, individuals reached at most 60 m at 1 day after release. Results suggest that D. citri control measures may be more efficient during periods of highest vegetative activity when insects are less active. Moreover, the use of suitable host plants for D. citri as trap plants may be a potential tactic to prevent movement of insects into the crop.     

Occurrence of 16SrIV Subgroup A Phytoplasmas in Roystonea regia and Acrocomia mexicana Palms with Lethal Yellowing‐like Syndromes in Yucatán,Mexico

The lethal yellowing (LY) disease and LY‐type syndromes affecting several palm species are associated with 16SrIV phytoplasmas in the Americas. In Mexico, palms of the species Roystonea regia and the native Acrocomia mexicana were found to exhibit LY‐type symptoms, including leaf decay, starting with mature leaves, necrosis and atrophy of inflorescences. DNA extracts obtained from these palms could be amplified by nested‐PCR using phytoplasma‐universal primer pair P1/P7 followed by LY‐group‐specific primer pair LY16Sr/LY16Sf. Blast analysis of the sequences obtained revealed an identity of 100% for R. regia and 99.27% for A. mexicana with 16SrIV‐A strain associated with LY in Florida, USA (Acc. AF498309 ). Computer‐simulated RFLP analysis showed that the patterns for the phytoplasma DNA of the two palm species were highly similar to that for 16SrIV subgroup A strain. A neighbour‐joining tree was constructed, and the sequences of the two palm species clustered in the same clade of group 16SrIV subgroup A. The results therefore support that LY‐type syndromes observed in palms of R. regia and A. mexicana in the Yucatan region of Mexico are associated with 16SrIV subgroup A phytoplasmas.     

Different susceptibility of indigenous populations of Lymantria dispar to the exotic entomopathogen Entomophaga maimaiga

The recovery of the host‐specific entomopathogen Entomophaga maimaiga is still limited to certain world areas, although it is recently spreading to Eastern Europe. This study evaluated the effectiveness and fitness of an E. maimaiga isolate from Balkans against Lymantria dispar populations collected along the Italian peninsula and main islands, where the fungus has never been reported. As a result of different bioassays, the pathogenicity against gypsy moth larvae was generally confirmed, although significant differences among insects feeding upon diverse forest plant species were observed. The lack of significant susceptibility of other lepidopteran species from the same areas is also reported.     

Olfactory cues explain differential attraction of the striped rice stem borer to different varieties of rice plant

In Iranian rice fields, different varieties of rice are cultivated which are differentially impacted by females of the rice stem borer, Chilo suppressalis. To elucidate the role odours may play in their host plant finding behaviour, female Ch. suppressalis were exposed to four varieties of rice plants and their volatiles in a four‐arm olfactometer. In whole plant tests, Ch. suppressalis were significantly attracted to the variety previously characterized as most susceptible, least attracted to one characterized as semisusceptible, and showed no attraction to those varieties characterized as semi‐ and highly resistant. Tests using headspace volatile extracts yielded similar results in the case of the most susceptible variety, but showed no attraction to the semisusceptible and highly resistant varieties, and low attraction to the semiresistant variety. Subsequent analysis of the volatile composition identified a panel of 27 components, some of which were either unique to, or abundantly present in, particular varieties, and may explain the observed variation in their attractiveness. Our findings show that rice plant volatiles can play a role in the host selection behaviour of this pest species, and we suggest compounds which may be important to this process and the future application of volatiles in rice pest management programs.     

Effect of host plants on the infectivity of nucleopolyhedrovirus to Spodoptera exigua larvae

Previous studies have shown that the infectivity of baculovirus to herbivores is affected by phytochemicals ingested during the acquisition of viral inoculum on the foliage of host plants. Here, we measured the effects of 14 host plant species on the infectivity of Spodoptera exigua nucleopolyhedrovirus (SeNPV) to its larvae. The order of the LD₅₀ values of SeNPV among the host plants was Ipomoea aquatica > Brassica oleracea > Raphanus sativus > Amaranthus tricolor > Spinacia oleracea > Vigna unguiculata > Solanum melongena > Capsicum annuum > Apium graveolens > Allium fistulosum > Lactuca sativa > Brassica chinensis > Zea mays > Glycine max, with 940.1 ± 2.26, 424.0 ± 0.60, 295.2 ± 1.13, 147.3 ± 0.63, 138.6 ± 0.22, 119.9 ± 0.07, 119.8 ± 0.02, 109.2 ± 0.18, 104.8 ± 0.62, 102.1 ± 0.66, 97.9 ± 0.22, 89.9 ± 0.32, 79.0 ± 0.13 and 64.0 ± 0.38 OBs per larva, respectively, and the values of mean time to death of virus‐infected larvae were 6.21 ± 0.11, 7.12 ± 0.10, 7.33 ± 0.21, 6.97 ± 0.02, 7.06 ± 0.01, 7.29 ± 0.03, 7.32 ± 0.05, 7.07 ± 0.08, 7.24 ± 0.11, 7.09 ± 0.13, 7.50 ± 0.06, 7.23 ± 0.01, 7.30 ± 0.02 and 7.19 ± 0.07 days, respectively. The mean time to death of larvae decreased with increasing viral dose, and corrected mortality decreased as the larval mean time to death increased. These findings have significance for understanding the effects of host plants on the infectivity of baculovirus to noctuids.     

Diamondback moth performance and preference for leaves of Brassica oleracea of different ages and strata

The preference–performance hypothesis predicts that moth behaviour links plant variations with caterpillar attack and distribution, and the plant‐age hypothesis states that specialist herbivores are more successful in exploring younger plant tissue. We integrated these predictions to investigate underlying mechanisms by which moths and caterpillars of Plutella xylostella L. (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae) track and exploit within‐plant variability of leaf age and stratification. We measured leaf proteins, glucosinolates and fibre, as well as larval choice, developmental performance, and moth oviposition preference with regard to leaf age classes (young, mature and senescent) of three varieties (collard, cauliflower and cabbage) of the main host plant Brassica oleracea L. Larvae consistently fit the prediction that specialist herbivores prefer and perform better on young, upper leaves that have the highest protein level, despite the highest content of defence compounds. Conversely, moths laid more eggs on fibrous and less nutritious leaves from the lower and senescent stratum. We argue that the leaf stratification of host plants imposes conflicting selective pressures concerning offspring feeding and protection on adult females. If egg mortality is catastrophic on the upper nutritious leaves in a particular microclimatic context (e.g. sun, heat, winds, drought or rain‐washing), then oviposition preference will remain for the suboptimal lower and senescent leaves. The ability of larvae to spread upwards over the plant to access the more nutritious leaf stratum is critical when eggs are preferentially laid on the protective low‐quality leaves.     

Responses of the distribution pattern of Quercus chenii to climate change following the Last Glacial Maximum

Aims Quercus chenii is a representative species of the flora in East China, with high ecological and economic values. Here, we aim to simulate the changes in the distribution pattern of this tree species following the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) and to explore how climatic factors constrain the potential distribution, so as to provide scientific basis for protection and management of the germplasm resources in Q. chenii.
Methods Based on 55 presence point records and data on eight environmental variables, we simulated the potential distribution of Q. chenii during the Last Glacial Maximum, mid-Holocene, present and the year 2070 (the scenario of greenhouse gas emission is Representative Concentration Pathway 8.5) with MaxEnt model. The novel climate area and main factors influencing the changes in distribution pattern were evaluated by multivariate environmental similarity surface analysis and the most dissimilar variable analysis. The importance of environmental variables was evaluated by percent contribution, permutation importance and Jackknife test. Response curves were used to estimate the suitable value range of each variable.
Important findings The accuracy of MaxEnt model is very high, as indicated by the value of the area under the receiver operator characteristic curve of 0.9869 ± 0.0045. The highly suitable region for the present distribution covers southern Anhui, western Zhejiang, northeastern Jiangxi and eastern Hubei. The main factors affecting the potential distribution of Q. chenii are temperature and precipitation, with the former being more important. Mean temperature of the driest quarter is likely the main factor restricting Q. chenii growing in the north. During the LGM, the East China Sea Shelf occurs as the highly suitable region for the distribution of Q. chenii. In the mid-Holocene, the outline of the suitable area for the distribution of Q. chenii is similar to the present. The potential distribution region will likely move northward and experience an area expansion under the climate condition in 2070. At that time, climate anomaly will also be most severe compared to the LGM, mid-Holocene and present. Temperature seasonality and precipitation seasonality may be the main climatic factors promoting changes in the distribution pattern of Q. chenii.     

注册分类改革视角下药品数据保护制度效应分析

在国际趋势的压力下,兼受跨太平洋伙伴关系协定（TPP）影响,我国实施药品数据保护制度已成大势所趋。鉴于药品数据保护与药品注册审批体系紧密相关,我国化学药注册分类改革后,药品数据保护对医药产业发展必然会带来不同影响。结合我国分类注册改革新标准,在理论上对数据保护制度实施效果进行研究,进而探讨新注册分类下数据保护的实施对1至4类药品及医药产业的影响。     

Constraint line methods and the applications in ecology北大核心CSCD

With increasing data availability in the big data era, many traditional statistical analyses based on the mean or median are insufficient or inappropriate to elucidate the complex patterns of variation. This is particularly the case when multiple factors are involved and the bivariate scatter occurs as scatter clouds. In such circumstances, constraint line (or envelope) method could be an alternative and effective tool to extract the data boundaries, thus improves our understanding of the complex relationships between limiting factor and response factor. Here, we synthesize the major findings and achievements in the field of applying the constraint line method in ecology. Specifically, we first describe the history and development of the constraint line method. We then discuss the techniques to establish the constraint lines with examples, and discuss the applications and implications of the constraint lines in species distribution, population performance, and optimization problem. We suggest simultaneously application of both constraint lines and regression techniques to the same datasets to achieve a comprehensive understanding of ecological process and underlying mechanisms. Such combined methods should be used with special attention to the role of spatial heterogeneity and scale dependency. We also discuss in detail the potential applicability of the constraint line method in studying the linkages between ecosystem services, and land system design.     

桂西南喀斯特季节性雨林枯立木的空间格局及生境关联性分析

枯立木是森林生态系统物质循环和能量流动的重要组成部分,对森林群落动态和演替具有重要作用。该研究以位于桂西南的弄岗北热带喀斯特季节性雨林15 hm~2森林动态监测样地为平台,以样地中2011年第一次植被调查数据胸径(diameter at breast height,DBH)≥1 cm的枯立木为研究对象,在充分考虑空间自相关的基础上分析其不同径级(小径级,1 cm≤DBH5 cm;中径级,5 cm≤DBH15 cm;大径级,15 cm≤DBH)的空间分布格局、枯立木多度与环境因子的相关性及生境关联性等。结果表明:枯立木所有个体和小径级分别在0~4 m和0~5 m尺度上表现为聚集分布,其它尺度为随机分布;中径级和大径级在0~30 m尺度上均为随机分布。大径级与凹凸度表现为显著负相关,所有个体和小径级与干旱度指数和样方内所有植株个体数为显著正相关,所有个体和小径级与样方内最大胸径和平均胸径呈显著负相关。所有个体和小径级与3种生境类型间的关联性并不显著;中径级与山坡呈正关联性、与山脊呈负关联性、与山谷无显著关联性;大径级与山谷呈正关联性、与山坡无显著关联性、与山脊呈负关联性。在喀斯特季节性雨林中,枯立木空间分布格局总体表现为随机分布,仅小径级在小尺度内聚集分布,而较大径级在样地中表现出一定的生境关联性;树木死亡过程可能是小尺度内密度制约、大尺度内生境过滤和个体自然衰老等生态学过程形成的。