Temperature‐dependent development of the European larch bark beetle,Ips cembrae

The temperature‐dependent development of the European larch bark beetle, Ips cembrae, was studied under long‐day conditions L:D 16:8 at three temperature regimes, 15°C, 20°C and 25°C, using the sandwich plate method. By observing the individual developmental progress, we calculated the developmental times and lower developmental thresholds of one entire generation and various ontogenetic stages. The mean developmental time of one generation was about 120, 64 and 37 days at 15°C, 20°C and 25°C, respectively. The egg stage comprised about 9% of the total development or about 16% of the pre‐imaginal development. The larval stages took about 39% of the entire and about 66% of the pre‐imaginal development. The pupal stage needed about 11% of the total or about 18% of the pre‐imaginal development. The lower developmental threshold for one generation was 11.2°C. The egg stage had the highest lower developmental threshold of 12.0°C, the pupa the lowest of 9.8°C and the total larval stages showed a value of 11.2°C. The thermal requirements for I. cembrae have never been studied in detail before. The results will be a valuable contribution for monitoring and risk assessment models to estimate the beetle's phenology and its potential impacts on forest ecosystems under changing climate conditions.     

Phylogeographic history of Patagonian lizards of the Liolaemus elongatus complex (Iguania: Liolaemini) based on mitochondrial and nuclear DNA sequences

In this study, we present a phylogeographic analysis of a group of lizards distributed in north‐western Patagonia, the Liolaemus elongatus complex. We sequenced 581 individuals for one mitochondrial gene (cytochrome‐b), and for a subset, we sequenced another mitochondrial gene (12S rRNA) and two nuclear genes: kinesin family member 24 (KIF24) and the anonymous nuclear locus LDAB1D. We estimated gene trees, mitochondrial and nuclear haploytpe networks, standard molecular diversity indices, genetic distances between lineages and Bayesian skyline plots. Our results provide evidence for recognition of seven species previously described within the L. elongatus complex: Liolaemus antumalguen, Liolaemus chillanensis, Liolaemus carlosgarini, Liolaemus burmeisteri, Liolaemus smaug, Liolaemus elongatus and Liolaemus crandalli, but we did not find sufficient evidence to support Liolaemus choique, Liolaemus shitan or Liolaemus sp. 6 as distinct species. We identified four candidate species (Liolaemus sp. 1, Liolaemus sp. 2, Liolaemus sp. 3 and Liolaemus sp. 7), and we discuss evolutionary processes that may have contributed to the origin of these lineages and their taxonomic and conservation implications.     

铜绿假单胞菌存活时间延长可提高生物燃料电池的产电量

铜绿假单胞菌产生的次生代谢产物吩嗪化合物具有电子传递作用,可用于构建微生物燃料电池。如何通过改进微生物自身性质来提升微生物燃料电池产电量是研究的热点与难点之一。本文以铜绿假单胞菌SJTD-1和其敲除突变株SJTD-1(ΔmvaT)为对象,研究了以其搭建的微生物燃料电池的放电过程,分析了影响其放电量的主要因素。结果显示,假单胞菌产生的吩嗪化合物和发酵系统中细菌的活性与存活数量均会直接影响燃料电池的产电量。敲除突变株SJTD-1(ΔmvaT)可产生较多的吩嗪化合物,在生物燃料电池系统可持续放电超过160 h,产生2.32 J的总电量;而野生菌株SJTD-1仅能放电90 h,产生1.30 J的总电量。细胞生长分析结果进一步显示,与野生菌株相比,突变菌株SJTD-1(ΔmvaT)在发酵过程中维持了较长的稳定期生长,细胞存活时间更长,放电时间更持久。因此,铜绿假单胞菌存活时间延长,可增加其在微生物燃料电池中的放电时间,从而提升微生物燃料电池的总产电量。本研究可为通过工程菌株改造来提升微生物燃料电池总产电量的研究提供思路,有利于推进微生物燃料电池的实际应用。     

香港大蹄蝠出飞时间及其季节变化

于2014年5月至2015年4月,对香港低海拔栖息地的大蹄蝠夜晚出飞活动时间进行了研究。结果显示大蹄蝠出飞时间平均为日落后（14.6±6.1) min,出飞时间与民用曙暮光呈强正相关（r = 0.968, P < 0.0001）,而出飞结束时刻同样与民用曙暮光时间呈现显着相关(r = 0. 977, P < 0. 0001)。。在一年中较冷的12月和1月则没有蝙蝠出飞记录。大蹄蝠虽然在亚洲分布广泛,但是相对于温带地区的蝙蝠物种来说, 关于该物种的基础生态学研究较少。本文对大蹄蝠的季节性出飞行为所开展研究工作,以利有关长远保育的深入研究。     

景宁木兰组织培养外植体选择与抗褐化研究

该研究以景宁木兰(Magnolia sinostellata)为材料,从外植体类型的选择、消毒时间、预处理方法、离体培养条件和抗褐化剂类型选择等方面进行综合研究,以期筛选出景宁木兰组织培养的最佳方案。结果表明:利用0.1%氯化汞(HgCl_2)浸泡处理14和8 min分别是景宁木兰叶片和带芽茎段、根部的最佳消毒时间;景宁木兰叶片及茎段的褐化率在暗培养7 d时,分别为60.00%和56.67%,14 d时显著升高,而根部则在暗培养14 d时褐化率最低(45%);利用1 g·L~(-1)聚乙烯吡咯烷酮(PVP)浸泡预处理景宁木兰外植体6 h可显著降低(P0.05)其褐化程度,处理后叶片、带芽茎段和根部的褐化率分别降至45.00%、28.33%和63.33%。不同的抗褐化剂均可减轻外植体的褐化程度,但针对不同外植体其效果不同。景宁木兰叶片最佳抗褐化剂为0.02 g·L~(-1)硝酸银(AgNO_3),可使其褐化率降低至16.67%,成活率为11.67%;带芽茎段和根部的最优抗褐化剂为2 g·L~(-1)柠檬酸(CA),褐化率分别降至30.00%和5.00%,成活率依次为50.00%和76.67%。综上所述,带芽茎段和根部抗褐化处理后褐化率较低且成活率较高,为景宁木兰组织培养最佳外植体。     

Strategic mate‐guarding behaviour in ladybirds

Mate‐guarding behaviour is regarded as a means of increasing paternity share by reducing sperm competition. It is known to be a plastic response which varies with operational sex ratios and competitor presence in the vicinity. In a recent study, prolonged mating duration in Menochilus sexmaculatus (Fabricius) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) has been found to incorporate mate‐guarding behaviour. The present investigation was conducted to assess its plasticity in the presence of competitors. The physical and chemical presence of competitors of both sexes at varying densities was provided to a pair of ladybirds, and their time to commence mating, latent period and mate‐guarding duration was observed. These were compared to a control treatment where other partners were absent. All treatments were conducted with sibling as well as non‐sibling competitors. It was our hypothesis that mate guarding would be increased in the presence of male competitors and would be reduced by female presence. The results revealed that while mate‐guarding duration was increased by the chemical presence of males it was decreased by their physical presence. The latter result was attributed to interference by other males who dislodge the mating male in order to access the female. Female chemical presence had no effect on mate guarding, while physical presence increased the duration of mate guarding. The reasons for the latter behaviour require further investigation. Responses were not significantly affected by the relationship between the focal pair and the competitor. The authenticity of the mate guarding in this ladybird is strongly affirmed by our results.     

A phylogeographic investigation of the kelp genus Laminaria (Laminariales,Phaeophyceae), with emphasis on the South Atlantic Ocean

The genus Laminaria has a wide distribution range compared with other kelp genera because it is found in both the North and the South Atlantic, on both sides of the North Pacific, as well as in the Mediterranean. Hypotheses behind this biogeographical pattern have been discussed by several authors but have not yet been fully evaluated with time‐calibrated phylogenies. Based on the analysis of four molecular markers (ITS2, rbcL, atp8 and trnWI), our goal was to reassess the Laminaria species diversity in South Africa, assess its relationship with the other species distributed in the South Atlantic and reconstruct the historical biogeography of the genus. Our results confirm the occurrence of a single species, L. pallida, in southern Africa, and its sister relationship with the North Atlantic L. ochroleuca. Both species belonged to a clade containing the other South Atlantic species: L. abyssalis from Brazil, and the Mediterranean L. rodriguezii. Our time‐calibrated phylogenies suggest that Laminaria originated in the northern Pacific around 25 mya, followed by at least two migration events through the Bering Strait after its opening (~5.32 mya). Today, the first is represented by L. solidungula in the Arctic, while the second gave rise to the rest of the Atlantic species. The colonization of the North Atlantic was followed by a gradual colonization southward along the west coast of Europe, into the Mediterranean (~2.07 mya) and two recent, but disconnected, migrations (~1.34 and 0.87 mya) across the equator, giving rise to L. abyssalis in Brazil and L. pallida in southern Africa, respectively.