Influence of fish on the breeding of the red-necked grebe Podiceps grisegena (Boddaert, 1783)

I determined whether selection of breeding sites by thered-neckedgrebe Podiceps grisegena (Boddaert, 1783) was affectedbycompetition for food with fish. During 1987–89, ten ponds inScania, southern Sweden were investigated, five with(breedingsites) and five without breeding red-necked grebe(non-breedingsites). I quantified the biomass of fish and macrozoans(here:larger invertebrates and small vertebrates) and measured thephysical and chemical conditions of the ponds.Breeding sites had significantly lower relative fish abundancethannon-breeding sites. They were either devoid of fish or hadonly nine-spined sticklebackPungitius pungitius. The biomass (dry weight) ofmacrozoans,many of which represent a food resource for grebes, was 16timesgreater at breeding than at non-breeding sites. The physicalandchemical conditions of the ponds did not differsignificantly.These results are consistent with the hypothesis thatcompetitionfor macrozoans occurs between red-necked grebe and fish andthat adense population of many fish species caused red-necked grebestoavoid otherwise acceptable breeding sites.     

Sequence Tag Site and Host Range Assays Demonstrate that Radapholus similis and R. citraphilus are not Reproductively Isolated

Males of citrus-parasitic Radopholus citrophilus (FL1) were mated with non-citrus-parasitic R. similis (FL5) females. Progeny inherited a 2.4-kb sequence tag site (DK#1) and the ability to reproduce in citrus from the paternal parent (FLl); both traits were absent in the maternal line (FL5). The hybrid progeny produced offspring in roots of citrus seedlings over an 8-month period and therefore were considered reproductively viable. Genomic DNA hybridization studies indicated that one or more copies of DK#1 were present in R. citrophilus FL1. It is not likely that DK#1 represents a citrus parasitism gene because it was amplified from some burrowing nematode isolates that did not parasitize citrus and because DK#1 contains no open reading frames. Inability to reliably test individual nematodes for their ability to parasitize citrus was a constraint to obtaining F2 data required for definitive genetic characterization of citrus parasitism in burrowing nematodes, and alternate approaches will be required. Although the physical relationship of DK#1 and the citrus parasitism locus remains undefined, results of controlled mating studies using these parameters as genetic markers enabled us to identify hybrid F₁ progeny. Therefore, R. similis and R. citrophilus are not sibling species since gene flow between the two does not appear to be restricted via geographic isolation (sympatric in Florida) or by genetics.     

中国东亚飞蝗新类型蝗区──海南热带稀树草原蝗区的生态地理特征及其与大沙河蝗区比较

本文系统地对海南热带稀树草原螟区的生态地理结构特征进行了分析,说明本蝗区是Ｕｖａｒｏｖ（１９３６）提出的飞蝗两类蝗区理论中．由于森林破坏而形成的一类蝗区,作者将它定名为＂热带稀树草原蝗区＂。这类蝗区在我国过去尚缺乏研究。文中进而根据本蝗区的成因、生态特征以及对蝗区的生态控制对策,分别与我国大陆的东亚飞蝗大沙河类型蝗区进行了比较。     

Quantitative assessment of pair formation behavior in captive whooping cranes (Grus americana)

Instantaneous scan sampling for mean distance and synchronous action patterns and all-occurrence sampling for unison call, dance, strut, and hoover-up behaviors were conducted for five potential whooping crane pairs at Patuxent Environmental Science Center, Laurel, Maryland. Dance, strut, and hoover-up differed among pairs, as did total frequency of social behaviors. It was unclear whether or not total frequency of social behaviors during pair formation can be used as an index for potential breeding success. The relative importance of different action patterns should be used as indices of pair compatibility in captive whooping cranes. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Philopatry in the alpine grasshopper, Podisma pedestris: a novel experimental and analytical method

Abstract.

• 1 Local dispersal and philopatric behaviour of the alpine grasshopper, Podisma pedestris, were studied at two sites in the Alpes Maritimes using a new mark—release—resight technique featuring marking in situ, and multiple resighting without handling. The time-consuming nature of the design was justified by the quantity and quality of the data yielded.
• 2 Philopatry is defined independently of any concept of home range as a phenomenon by which movements over longer periods are less than would be expected by extrapolation of measures over shorter periods.
• 3 By this definition, the grasshoppers are shown to exhibit philopatry. Nymphs comprise two heterogenous classes of those which move little and those which move considerable distances.
• 4 Daily dispersal estimates were obtained from movements of 1055 nymphs and adults at one site, and of 593 adults at another.
• 5 Differences are demonstrated in daily dispersal distances for age, sex and site combinations.
• 6 Some differences in microhabitat preference were observed.
• 7 The findings are compared with previous measurements of dispersal in this species, and the merits of the new technique are discussed.

     

Genetic monogamy in single-male groups of acorn woodpeckers, Melanerpes formicivorus

Acorn woodpeckers have one of the most complex social systems of any bird species. Breeding units range in size from monogamous pairs to groups of 15 birds that include multiple breeding males and females as well as nonreproductive helpers-at-the-nest. Groups form when young remain at their natal nest to help their parents breed or when single-sex coalitions of siblings disperse to fill a reproductive vacancy on another territory. Plural breeding and helping behaviour are thought to be favoured through indirect fitness benefits for individuals that would otherwise be unable to breed due to a shortage of reproductive vacancies on territories with acorn stores. We report the results of multi-locus DNA fingerprinting of 51 offspring from 18 nests of 16 socially monogamous pairs of acorn woodpeckers. If socially monogamous females mate outside the pair-bond, indirect fitness benefits for cobreeders and helpers will be significantly reduced. Monogamous pairs accounted for all but one of the 51 offspring we tested; the single exception was apparently sired by the putative father, but the putative mother was excluded from maternity. Our results indicate that individuals remaining on their natal territories as helpers are generally the genetic offspring of the pair they help. They also suggest that single-sex coalitions offspring dispersing together from nests of socially monogamous pairs will be full-siblings.     

高邮杂交鲫（鲫♀×白鲫）及其亲本血清生化组成的比较研究

本文对高邮杂交鲫（鲫♀×白鲫♂）及其亲本血清生化组成的定量分析。结果表明,在测定的血清总蛋白、白蛋白、胆固醇、尿素氮、葡萄糖、乳酸脱氢酶、ａ－羟丁酸脱氢酶、ａ－淀粉酶和谷草转氨酶等九个生化指标中,大部分指标高邮杂交鲫与母本无显著差异,而与父本则有极显著差异。这从代谢方面论证了高邮杂交鲫是一个偏向于母本的杂交种。     

猕猴桃种质资源保存及育种研究

收集保存猕猴桃属植物３５种或变种、变型,并将它们分为抗寒?喜凉、喜温３种类型。从保存的中华猕猴桃优株中系统选育出“武植２号”、“武植３号”２个优良品种。以中华猕猴桃为母本,毛花猕猴桃为父本进行种间杂交,从杂种Ｆ１代中培养出“江山娇”、“满天星”、“重瓣”３个具有园艺观赏价值的优良株系。这些研究工作为猕猴桃种质资源的保存及新品种的培育奠定了工作基础。     

Duration of the breeding season and response to reproductive manipulation in five breeds of sheep under northern prairie conditions

The breeding season was 157, 154, <126, 210 and 217 days for Rambouillet, Columbia, Suffolk, Rambouillet x Finnish Landrace and Columbia x Finnish Landrace ewes respectively. Treatment of cyclic ewes with pregnant mare serum gonadotropin (PMSG) (500 IU), following a 12-day treatment with progestin-containing intravaginal sponges, did not affect fertility, but did decrease the time from sponge removal to estrus, (control 48.0 +/- 3.1 hr; PMSG 39.4 +/- 1.8 hr) to the preovulatory surge of LH (control 52.7 +/- 2.8 hr; PMSG 39.0 +/- 1.7 hr) and FSH (control 52.3 +/- 2.9 hr; PMSG 42.8 +/- 1.6 hr) and caused an elevation of serum LH levels prior to the preovulatory surge (control 1.25 +/- 0.18 ng/ml; PMSG 2.31 +/- 0.22 ng/ml). Exposure of the purebred ewes to 18 hours of daylight in January, decreasing by 30 minutes a week subsequently, counteracted the seasonal reduction in the number of ewes lambing following induced breeding under natural daylight in May. Prolificacy was greatest in crossbred ewes and their fertility was not affected by season. Gestation period was longer for fall-bred ewes and varied with breed.