On the heritability of blue‐green eggshell coloration

Abstract Avian blue‐green eggshell coloration has been proposed as a female signal of genetic or phenotypic quality to males. However, little is known about the relative importance of additive genetic and environmental effects as sources of eggshell colour variation in natural populations. Using 5 years of data and animal models, we explored these effects in a free‐living population of pied flycatchers. Permanent environmental and year effects were negligible, although year environmental variance (V_Year) was significant for all but one of the traits. However, we found high–moderate narrow‐sense heritabilities for some colour parameters. Within‐clutch colour variability showed the highest coefficient of additive genetic variation (i.e. evolvability). Previous evidence suggests that eggshell colour is sexually selected in this species, males enhancing parental effort in clutches with higher colour variability and peak values. Eggshell colour could be driven by good‐genes selection in pied flycatchers although further genetic studies should confirm this possibility.     

Low-quality females prefer low-quality males when choosing a mate

Mate choice studies routinely assume female preferences for indicators of high quality in males but rarely consider developmental causes of within-population variation in mating preferences. By contrast, recent mate choice models assume that costs and benefits of searching or competing for high-quality males depend on females'' phenotypic quality. A prediction following from these models is that manipulation of female quality should alter her choosiness or even the direction of her mating preferences. We here provide (to our knowledge) the first example where an experimental manipulation of female quality induced a mating preference for low-quality males. Zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata) reared in small or large experimental broods became high- or low-quality adults, respectively. Only high-quality females preferred high-quality males'' mate-advertising songs, while all low-quality females preferred low-quality males'' song. Subsequent breeding trials confirmed this pattern: latency until egg laying was shortest in quality-matched pairs, indicating that quality-matched birds were accepted faster as partners. Females produced larger eggs when mated with high-quality males, regardless of their own quality, indicating consensus regarding male quality despite the expression of different choices. Our results demonstrate the importance of considering the development of mating preferences to understand their within-population variation and environmentally induced change.     

Neotapirissus gen. nov. of the tribe Issini (Hemiptera: Fulgoromorpha: Issidae) from Hainan Island

Neotapirissus gen. nov. , in the tribe Issini (Hemiptera: Fulgoromorpha: Issidae), is described from China, and type species Neotapirissus reticularis sp. nov. (China: Hainan) is described and illustrated. The female internal reproductive organs of the new species are also described and illustrated. The new genus is compared to the superficially similar genus Tapirissus Gnezdilov. The morphological diversity of the issids distributed in Hainan Island is discussed briefly.     

The main neutrophil and neutrophil-related functions may compensate for each other following exercise-a finding from training in university judoists.

In order to clarify the relationship between exercise and neutrophil function, we measured three major neutrophil and neutrophil-related functions, viz. the reactive oxygen species (ROS) production capability and phagocytic activity (PA) of neutrophils and serum opsonic activity (SOA), simultaneously before and after a unified loading exercise under three different sets of conditions. Thirteen female collegiate judoists were examined with a unified exercise loading (2 h) immediately before and after a 64 day training period. Immediately thereafter, the athletes took part in a 6 day intensified training camp, following which the same exercise loading was repeated. Responses from circulating neutrophils were estimated by comparing the two sets of values obtained before and after the two instances of exercise loading. The parameters assessed included neutrophil count, SOA, PA and ROS production capability. ROS production increased after the exercise loading performed immediately before and after the 64 day training period just before the camp, (p < 0.01) but decreased following the exercise loading performed after the camp (p < 0.05). This suggested depressed bacteriocidal capability of the circulating neutrophils. PA decreased after the exercise loading sessions imposed prior to and after the 64 day training period (p < 0.01) but did not change in the loading session after the camp. No changes were seen in SOA produced with the loading exercise either before the 64 day exercise period or before the camp, but increased significantly following the post-camp session (p < 0.05). In conclusion, athletic training-induced changes in immune functional activities of neutrophils, such as ROS production and PA, and neutrophil-related factors, such as SOA, may compensate for each other to maintain the overall integrity of the neutrophil immune function.     

隆线溞孤雌溞和两性雌溞的蛋白质差异表达

本实验提取隆线溞孤雌溞和两性雌溞的可溶性蛋白进行双向电泳和质谱鉴定,分析隆线溞在两种生殖状态下蛋白质组的差异变化。聚丙烯酰胺凝胶SDS-PAGE结果表明:隆线溞在两种生殖状态下存在明显的蛋白质表达差异,孤雌溞的蛋白条带在分子量约50.6kD、36.2kD、32.1kD和25.7kD处表达量较两性雌溞明显;两性雌的蛋白条带在分子量约87.8kD、67.2kD、53.6kD和35.5kD处表达量较孤雌溞明显,其中35.5kD的蛋白条带为两性雌所特有。同时取两个样品的可溶性蛋白进行双向电泳,每个样品重复四次。双向电泳图谱经银染后利用软件分析可知,隆线孤雌平均可检测到约750个蛋白质点,两性雌溞平均可检测到约720个蛋白质点。同时利用软件对凝胶上的蛋白质点进行半定量分析,发现隆线溞从孤雌生殖转化为两性生殖后有18个蛋白质点呈现显著变化,其中14个点表达量明显下降,4个点表达量显著升高。实验结果具有较好的重复性。取4个表达量显著上升的蛋白质点进行质谱分析,得到两个蛋白质点(16号和17号)的测定结果。其中16号点为一类酸性脱氢酶(2I234),它在动物生长发育的各个阶段大量表达,这类蛋白质在隆线溞生殖转化过程中表达量变化尤为显著。本研究结果表明:隆线溞在孤雌生殖和两性生殖状态下存在明显的蛋白质表达差异。     

开口箭大小孢子发生及雌雄配子体发育

利用石蜡切片技术,对百合科植物开口箭(Tupistra chinensis Baker)大小孢子发生及雌雄配子体发育进程进行胚胎学观察分析,以明确开口箭胚胎发育的特征,为百合科植物的研究提供生殖生物学依据。结果表明:(1)开口箭花药具有4个药室,花药壁的发育方式为基本型,由表皮、药室内壁、中层及绒毡层组成;绒毡层发育类型为分泌型,到四分体花药阶段绒毡层细胞开始解体退化,花药成熟时完全消失。(2)花粉母细胞减数分裂为连续型,依次形成二分体、四分体,四分体为左右对称形;成熟花粉为2-细胞花粉,具单萌发沟。(3)子房3室,倒生型胚珠6枚,双珠被,薄珠心;在花部的分化早期,由珠心顶端表皮下方分化出雌性孢原细胞,孢原细胞经过一次平周分裂形成周缘细胞和造孢细胞,造孢细胞发育为大孢子母细胞;大孢子母细胞第一次减数分裂后形成二分体,珠孔端的二分体孢子退化,合点端的二分体孢子继续第二次分裂,形成两个子细胞依次发育为二核胚囊、四核胚囊和八核胚囊;开口箭的胚囊发育类型为葱型。     

狭叶柴胡大小孢子发生和雌雄配子体发育的研究

用石蜡切片法、半薄切片法对狭叶柴胡的大、小孢子发生和雌、雄配子体发育进行观察研究。结果显示:(1)狭叶柴胡花药壁的发育为双子叶型,腺质绒毡层;小孢子母细胞减数分裂过程中的胞质分裂为同时型,四分孢子为正四面体形;成熟的花粉粒为3-细胞型,具3个萌发孔。(2)倒生型胚珠,单珠被,薄珠心;大孢子母细胞常为一个雌性孢原直接发育而成,大孢子四分体呈线型,多数情况为合点端一个大孢子分化为功能大孢子;由功能大孢子发育为蓼型成熟胚囊。(3)八核胚囊时期,珠心基部和两侧的一些珠心细胞留存较久,成为珠心座细胞。此外,珠被内表皮细胞发育为珠被绒毡层。     

烟草大小孢子发生和雌雄配子体发育研究

采用卡宝品红染色压片和石蜡切片法对迪勃纳氏烟草(Nicotiana debneyi)大小孢子发生和雌雄配子体发育过程进行了研究.结果发现:(1)迪勃纳氏烟草为两性花,其小孢子发生和雄配子体发育早于大孢子.(2)迪勃纳氏烟草小孢子发生和发育过程基本正常,减数分裂过程有少数细胞出现滞后染色体、染色体断片和染色体桥等异常现象;其胞质分裂为同时型,四分体为十字交叉型和正四面体型,成熟的花粉粒为2细胞型.(3)迪勃纳氏烟草为2室子房,中轴胎座,倒生胚珠,胚珠多数,胚囊发育为蓼型,大孢子发生和发育过程未观察到异常现象.     

Big is better: the importance of size for reproductive success in male Pomatoschistus minutus (Pallas) (Pisces, Gobiidae)

The sand goby, Pomatoschistus minutus , was used in aquarium experiments to study the importance of body size for the ability of males to gain access to nest sites and mates. When several male and female P. minutus were allowed to reproduce together, on average, half of the males built nests, and half of those males obtained eggs in their nests. Males with nests were significantly larger than males without nests, and nests with eggs belonged to males larger than the males with empty nests. In another experiment, when two males were competing for one nest, the largest male occupied the nest when both fish were put into the aquarium simultaneously. However, when the smaller male had been allowed to establish a nest before the larger male was introduced, the small male could usually retain the nest. Males with a body length < 50 mm did not build nests at all in the early part of the breeding season. In female choice experiments, no preference for larger males was found. Thus, male-male competition for nest sites and behavioural differences between different sized males seem to be the main factors influencing the non-random mating success in male P. minutus.     

非笼养雌雄东北虎的行为时间分配和活动节律的比较

1998 年4 月至2001 年4 月, 采用随机取样法、目标取样法和扫描取样法对黑龙江东北虎林园的10 只(5 雌5 雄) 非笼养东北虎的昼间行为时间分配及活动节律进行了研究。结果表明, 雌雄东北虎的行为时间分配和活动节律均存在一定的差异。在时间分配方面, 雌性每天用于休息、社会和其它(包括饮水、排遗和修饰) 行为的时间多于雄性, 雌性每天用于活动和取食的时间少于雄性, 只有站立比较接近。对雌雄各种行为的单因素方差分析表明, 雌雄的休息、活动和其它行为存在极显著差异, 取食存在显著差异, 站立和社会行为不存在显著差异。在活动节律方面, 雌雄的活动变化规律相似, 仅在出现和持续时间及强度上存在差异。用单因素方差分析法对不同季节东北虎的各种行为进行检验, 发现季节因素对取食和社会行为影响极显著, 对休息、活动和站立影响显著。