Impact of migratory snow geese on nitrogen and phosphorus dynamics in a freshwater reservoir

1. We examined impacts of nutrient loading, particularly of nitrogen and phosphorus, from greater snow geese (Chen caerulescens atlantica) on a reservoir in south‐eastern Pennsylvania, U.S.A. Approximately 100 000 geese use the reservoir for 2–6 weeks prior to their spring migration northward. 2. We estimated the magnitude of nutrient loading by geese during their presence and compared that to surface input and output rates. We also conducted nutrient limitation bioassay experiments to examine patterns of algal nutrient limitation upstream and downstream of the reservoir. 3. During their presence from 1 February to 27 March 2001, snow geese contributed 85–93% of the phosphorus and 33–44% of the nitrogen loaded to the reservoir. Both nutrients were exported from the reservoir slowly rather than as a quick pulse. Consequently, phosphorus concentrations in the outflow were higher than in the inflow from February to the end of July. However, nitrogen concentrations were consistently lower in the outflow than the inflow. 4. Nutrient limitation bioassays conducted in June and July indicated that primary production in the outflow was limited by nitrogen whereas the inflow was co‐limited by nitrogen and phosphorus. Further downstream from the reservoir, primary production was consistently phosphorus limited. Therefore, nitrogen limitation persisted long after the geese had left, but was relatively localised.     

Seasonal variation in detectability of butterflies surveyed with Pollard walks

Monitoring protocols should be designed to maximize the probability of detecting target species with limited resources. Most species are imperfectly detected, hence, they will often be overlooked at sites where they actually occur, resulting in false-negative errors (i.e. false absences). Uncertain detection of target species has profound implications for conservation, but can be dealt with by using adequate survey designs and statistical models. Butterflies often are monitored with repeated, fixed-route transect counts (Pollard walks). Even though this survey method is widely used in temperate regions, its efficiency in terms of detection probability has never been rigorously assessed in part owing to a lack of suitable analysis methods. Here, I use site-occupancy models to explore the seasonal patterns in detection probability of four California butterflies using Pollard walks. In an effort to inventory the butterfly fauna in two natural areas in the eastern foothills of the Santa Cruz mountains (California), I surveyed twelve 250 m long transects weekly for 22 weeks. I estimated the detection probability (the probability of recording a species during a single transect walk, given it is present) of four species. The probability of detecting each species depended mostly on the monitoring week. Average detection probability across the season was 64% for Cercyonis pegala, 56% for Limenitis lorquini, 76% for Euphydryas chalcedona, and 50% for Lycaena arota. Based on the mean detection probability, I then inferred the number of visits necessary to be statistically confident that a given species was indeed absent from a transect where it was not observed (i.e. obtaining a false absence rate <5%). Knowledge of detection probabilities is fundamental to the optimal design of monitoring programs and the interpretation of their results. The methods applied in this study provide an efficient and evidence-based method to optimally allocate butterfly monitoring resources across space (number of transects) and time (number and timing of visits).     

A familial case of visceral toxocariasis due to consumption of raw bovine liver

We present 3 adult cases of visceral toxocariasis from the same family, who each consumed thin slices of raw bovine liver weekly, and developed eosinophilia and multiple small lesions in their livers and lungs. Serological examinations using the larval excretory–secretory product of Toxocara canis strongly indicated infection with Toxocara species larvae. The patients responded well to treatment with albendazole. Ingestion of raw liver from paratenic animals is considered to be a common transmission route of human toxocariasis, especially in adults.     

Do migratory pathways affect the regional abundance of wintering birds? A test in northern Spain

Aim The abundance distribution of organisms at regional scales is commonly interpreted as the result of spatial variation in habitat suitability. However, the possibility that geography itself may affect patterns of distribution has received less attention. For example, the abundance of wintering bird populations might be influenced by the cost of reaching areas located far away from the main migratory pathways. We studied the abundance distribution of three common migratory passerines (meadow pipits, Anthus pratensis; common chaffinches, Fringilla coelebs; and European robins, Erithacus rubecula) wintering in farmlands located in the 600‐km long Cantabrian coastal sector of northern Spain, roughly perpendicular to the west Pyrenean migratory pathway that drives European migrant birds into the Iberian Peninsula. Location The study area occupies a belt located between the Atlantic coast and the Cantabrian Mountains in northern Spain. Methods We counted wintering and breeding birds and measured the structure of vegetation and environmental variables (altitude, rainfall, temperature) in 68 farmlands distributed at different distances from the west Pyrenean migratory flyway. We also studied the distribution of birds ringed in central and northern Europe and recovered in the study area between October and February. Analyses were based on single univariate statistics (chi‐square tests), ordination by principal components analysis and multiple regression. Results Controlling for the effects of climate, vegetation structure and local abundance of breeding conspecifics, the winter abundance of all three species decreased with the distance from their main migratory route in the western Pyrenees. Such patterns fitted well to the observed distribution of ringing recoveries. Main conclusions Our results support a link between the movements of birds along the Pyrenean migratory pathway and their winter abundance in northern Spain. According to this view, the sectors located near the migratory pathway seem to be more easily occupied by migrants, supporting the idea that proximity to passage areas may explain the fine‐grain regional patterning of species abundance in wintering grounds.     

缘脊叶蝉亚科生物地理学研究(同翅目,叶蝉科)

对缘脊叶蝉亚科的组成,族、属和种的地理分布,以及起源与扩散途径进行了研究.结果表明:缘脊叶蝉亚科由7族57属323种组成,只分布于旧世界(Old World).7个族在非洲区均有分布,古北区有4个族、东洋区3个族、澳洲区2个族.依种类分布情况对4大动物区的相似性分析表明,东洋区与古北区关系最为密切,其次是澳洲区,与非洲区的相关性较小,这与地球演化历史是相吻合的.通过对各族地理分布及起源时间分析,它们的起源时间依次是:Drabescini、Paraboloponini、Selenocephalini、Ianeirini、Adamini、Dwightiini和Hypacostemmini.文中给出了各族的地理分布图.     

Regulation of adult neural precursor cell migration

Adult neural precursor cells (NPCs) are predominantly located in the subventricular zone (SVZ) of the lateral ventricles or in the subgranular zone of the dentate gyrus. These NPCs produce neuroblasts that normally migrate and integrate into the olfactory bulb and hippocampus, respectively. Following CNS damage due to disease or injury, NPCs can also migrate to the site of damage. Enhancement of NPC migration to sites of neural damage may increase their potential for repair but requires an understanding of processes that regulate basal and injury-induced migration so we can harness this potential. This review highlights the extrinsic factors and major intrinsic signalling pathways that regulate endogenous basal NPC migration to the olfactory bulb and the role of inflammatory mediators and chemokines in disease and injury-induced NPC migration.     

Early marine migration of European silver eel Anguilla anguilla in northern Norway

To study the migratory behaviour in wild northern European silver eel Anguilla anguilla during sea entry and early marine migration, 32 individuals were tagged with acoustic transmitters and registered at four automatic listening station arrays from the mouth of the north Norwegian River Alta and throughout the Alta Fjord. The A. anguilla entered the fjord during all parts of the tidal cycle and did not seem to utilize the outgoing tidal currents. They migrated mainly during the night, in both the river mouth and the fjord. On average, they spent 2·7 days travelling from the river mouth to the outermost array, 31 km from the river mouth, corresponding to an average migratory speed of 0·5 km h(-1) . The A. anguilla generally migrated in the central part of the fjord and in the uppermost 10-25% of the water column, but with frequent dives to greater depths. Already 4 km after sea entry, A. anguilla were observed diving deeper than 130 m within 20-30 min periods. Hence, this study demonstrated that A. anguilla may perform an active diving behaviour during the early marine migration. The study took place in a pristine area with a minimum of anthropogenic interventions and by individuals from a population still uninfected by the introduced parasite Anguillicoloides crassus. The results may therefore be used as a baseline for future studies of the A. anguilla early marine migration.     

The role of tower height and guy wires on avian collisions with communication towers

Every year an estimated 4–5 million migratory birds collide with communication towers in the United States. We examined the relative risks that tower support systems and tower height pose to migrating and other birds. We collected data comparing tower support systems (guyed vs. unguyed) and tower height categories in Michigan during 20 days of the peak of songbird migration at 6 towers in September–October 2003, 23 towers in May 2004, 24 towers in September 2004, and 6 towers in both May and September 2005. We systematically and simultaneously searched for bird carcasses under each tower and measured carcass removal and observer detection rates each season. Of those towers, 21 were between 116 and 146 m above ground level (AGL, medium) and 3 were >305 m AGL (tall). During the five 20-day sample periods we found a mean of 8.2 bird carcasses per guyed medium tower and a mean of 0.5 bird carcasses under unguyed medium towers. During four 20-day sample periods we detected a mean of 34.7 birds per guyed tall tower. Using both parametric and nonparametric tests (Mann–Whitney U-test, Kruskal–Wallis test, and Tukey's Honestly Significant Difference multiple comparison procedure) we determined that unguyed medium towers were involved in significantly fewer fatalities than guyed medium towers. We detected 54–86% fewer fatalities at guyed medium towers than at guyed tall towers. We found 16 times more fatalities at guyed medium towers than at unguyed medium towers. Tall, guyed towers were responsible for 70 times as many bird fatalities as the unguyed medium towers and nearly five times as many as guyed medium towers. These findings will provide managers and regulators, such as the US Fish and Wildlife Service, with quantitative data; thereby, allowing them to effectively work with the Federal Communications Commission in siting and authorizing tower placement. © 2011 The Wildlife Society.     

白背飞虱的迁飞生物学:江苏苏州个例分析

对苏州市吴中区1984—2002年灯诱数据的分析表明,白背飞虱Sogatella furcifera(Horváth)的灯下始见期一般在6月上旬,而主迁峰日则一般出现在7月上旬。1996年后,始见期有提前的趋势。对18年灯诱虫量的时间序列分析表明,田间迁入代虫量与6月份的灯诱虫量相关,田间第1代虫量与迁入代虫量相关,第2代则只与田间第1代和8月份的诱虫量相关。对1986—2002年吴中区白背飞虱田间虫量的分析表明,白背飞虱在田间一般要完成2个世代,20世纪90年代中期之后会出现第3代,表现出低迁入率(平均百穴21头)、高增殖倍数(G1/G0在30～200倍左右)和高峰值密度(16年平均百穴3200头)的种群特征。此间白背飞虱长翅型成虫的比率不高,迁入后便像褐飞虱Nilaparvata lugens(Stl)那样形成了滞留本地的增殖代(7月20日到8月10日)和以本地滞留为害与部分迁出个体混合而成的主害代(8月15日到9月5日),直到8月下旬和9月上中旬,其长翅型比率才会有大幅回升开始回迁,呈现出翅型长-短-长的变化模式。     

飞蝗及沙漠蝗信息素概述

飞蝗和沙漠蝗自古以来就是重要的农业害虫,这与其生物学特性是密不可分的.信息素对飞蝗和沙漠蝗生物学特征的调节起到了非常重要的作用.到目前为止,沙漠蝗Schistocerca gregaria和飞蝗Locusta migratoria 的研究较为深入,本文对其主要成果进行了综述,以此作为以后飞蝗和沙漠蝗信息素进一步研究的参...