Red mangrove life history variables along latitudinal and anthropogenic stress gradients

Mangroves migrate northward in Florida and colonize marshes historically dominated by salt marsh species. In theory, this migration should be facilitated by greater numbers of propagules stemming from increased reproductive activity and greater genetic variability caused by outcrossing. We aimed to determine if stand reproduction and % outcrossing were affected by cold stress (stress increases with latitude), anthropogenic stress (human population density as a proxy), and years since a major hurricane. Further, we wished to determine if mutation rate varied with the stressors and if that affected stand reproduction. Both coasts of Florida from the southern Florida Keys to Tampa Bay on the Gulf of Mexico coast, and Merritt Island on the Atlantic coast. We conducted field surveys of frequency of reproducing trees (104,211 trees surveyed in 102 forested stands), incidence of trees showing albinism in propagules, and% outcrossing estimated from the ratio of albino:normal propagules. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to test a conceptual model that served as a multivariate hypothesis. Reproductive frequencies varied by site and increased with latitude although more strongly on the Gulf coast. Our SEM results indicate that outcrossing increases in this predominately selfing species under conditions of cold and anthropogenic stress, and that this increases reproductive output in the population. Further, we find that increased mutation rates suppress stand reproductive output but there is no significant relationship between outcrossing and mutation rate. Tree size responded to stressors but did not affect stand reproduction. Reproduction increased with years since major hurricane. Potential for colonization of northern Florida salt marshes by mangroves is enhanced by increased reproductive rates that provides more propagules and outcrossing that should enhance genetic variation thereby promoting adaptation to novel environmental conditions. Natural (cold) stress reduced mutation rate and increased stand reproductive output but anthropogenic stress did the opposite.     

Time scale matters: genetic analysis does not support adaptation‐by‐time as the mechanism for adaptive seasonal declines in kokanee reproductive life span

Seasonal declines of fitness‐related traits are often attributed to environmental effects or individual‐level decisions about reproductive timing and effort, but genetic variation may also play a role. In populations of Pacific salmon (Oncorhynchus spp.), seasonal declines in reproductive life span have been attributed to adaptation‐by‐time, in which divergent selection for different traits occurs among reproductively isolated temporal components of a population. We evaluated this hypothesis in kokanee (freshwater obligate Oncorhynchus nerka) by testing for temporal genetic structure in neutral and circadian‐linked loci. We detected no genetic differences in presumably neutral loci among kokanee with different arrival and maturation dates within a spawning season. Similarly, we detected no temporal genetic structure in OtsClock1b, Omy1009uw, or OmyFbxw11, candidate loci associated with circadian function. The genetic evidence from this study and others indicates a lack of support for adaptation‐by‐time as an important evolutionary mechanism underlying seasonal declines in reproductive life span and a need for greater consideration of other mechanisms such as time‐dependent, adaptive adjustment of reproductive effort.     

Effect of age‐based and environment‐based cues on reproductive investment in Gambusia affinis

We examined the multivariate life‐history trajectories of age 0 and age 1 female Gambusia affinis to determine relative effects of age‐based and environment‐based cues on reproductive investment. Age 0 females decreased reproductive investment prior to the onset of fall and winter months, while age 1 females increased reproductive investment as the summer progressed. The reproductive restraint and terminal investment patterns exhibited by age 0 and age 1 females, respectively, were consistent with the predictions from the cost of reproduction hypothesis. Age 0 females responded to environment‐based cues, decreasing reproductive investment to increase the probability of overwinter survival and subsequent reproductive opportunities in the following summer. Age 1 females responded to age‐based cues, or the proximity of death, increasing investment to current reproduction as future reproductive opportunities decreased late in life. Thus, individuals use multiple cues to determine the level of reproductive investment, and the response to each cue is dependent on the age of an individual.     

Litter loss triggers estrus in a nonsocial seasonal breeder

Sexually selected infanticide (SSI) is often presumed to be rare among seasonal breeders, because it would require a near immediate return to estrus after the loss of an entire litter during the mating season. We evaluated changes in reproductive strategies and the reproductive fate of females that experienced litter loss during the mating season in a seasonal breeder with strong evidence for SSI, the brown bear. First, we used a long‐term demographic dataset (1986–2011) to document that a large majority of females (>91%) that lose their entire litter during the mating season in fact do enter estrus, mate, and give birth during the subsequent birthing season. Second, we used high‐resolution movement data (2005–2011) to evaluate how females changed reproductive strategies after losing their entire litter during the mating season. We hypothesized that females would shift from the sedentary lifestyle typical for females with cubs‐of‐the‐year to a roam‐to‐mate behavior typical for receptive females in no more than a few (~3) days after litter loss. We found that females with cubs‐of‐the‐year moved at about 1/3 of the rate and in a less bimodal diurnal pattern than receptive females during the mating season. The probability of litter loss was positively related with movement rate, suggesting that being elusive and sedentary is a strategy to enhance cub survival rather than a relic of cub mobility itself. The movement patterns of receptive females and females after litter loss were indistinguishable within 1–2 days after the litter loss, and we illustrate that SSI can significantly reduce the female interbirth interval (50–85%). Our results suggest that SSI can also be advantageous for males in seasonally breeding mammals. We propose that infanticide as a male reproductive strategy is more prevalent among mammals with reproductive seasonality than observed or reported.     

花寿命的进化生态学意义

花寿命 (Floral longevity) 是指一朵花保持开放并具有功能的持续时间, 它作为一种重要的繁殖策略影响着植物的繁殖, 在植物繁殖策略的进化生态学研究中具有非常重要的意义。近年来, 进化生态学家开始重视花寿命的研究, 在传粉与非传粉因素对花寿命的影响、花展示和繁殖成功与花寿命的关系等方面取得了长足的进展。生活史进化模型表明, 最优花寿命取决于开花成本和两性适合度实现速率之间的权衡。大量的实验研究支持此模型。实验研究表明:授粉可导致某些植物的花寿命显著缩短, 但是, 花粉移除对花寿命一般没有显著影响;部分植物的花具有最短花寿命, 这可能是一种保证植物雄性适合度的机制;温度和水分等非传粉因素的变化, 因改变开花成本而影响到花寿命;在花的群体水平上, 植物根据传粉状况和资源状况, 会调节花序上不同花的开放时间, 进而改变花展示的结构和功能;长的花寿命是保障植物繁殖成功的重要机制之一, 但可能要付出一定的适合度代价。该文概述了花寿命进化生态学的理论和实验研究进展, 最后指出:在理论研究上, 雌雄利益冲突为理解花寿命的进化提供了新的视角。在实验研究中, 需要重视植物通过优化花寿命而增强雄性适合度的研究思路。对花寿命的成本-收益分析, 需要考虑单花与花展示的功能关系。     

风毛菊花序、种子大小和数量之间的权衡:资源条件的影响

繁殖器官的大小和数量之间的权衡是植物繁殖对策研究的重要问题之一, 但是支持权衡关系的实验研究非常有限。该文以青藏高原东缘高寒草甸菊科风毛菊属优势植物种风毛菊(Saussurea japonica)为材料, 通过不同光照和营养处理, 研究其花序、种子大小和数量之间的关系。结果表明: 光照和营养处理对花序数目没有显著影响, 但对花的大小, 以及种子大小和数量均有显著影响。大小和数量之间的关系同样会受到处理条件的影响: 在对照和低营养处理下, 花序、种子的大小和数量之间呈显著的正相关关系, 而在低光照处理和低光照低营养处理下, 花序、种子的大小和数量之间的关系变为显著负相关, 即出现大小和数量之间的权衡。结果表明: 环境胁迫(比如有限的土壤养分和光资源的抑制)加剧了花序、种子大小和数量之间的权衡。风毛菊花序和种子的大小和数量之间的权衡关系的环境依赖性, 使其能够对外界环境的变化做出响应, 这种繁殖对策能提高其适合度。     

莲草直胸跳甲生殖系统与繁殖特性研究

为了解与莲草直胸跳甲Agasicles hygrophila繁殖密切相关的结构与行为特性, 结合显微解剖和室内观察, 对该跳甲雌雄成虫的生殖系统构造、雌成虫卵巢发育进度以及繁殖特性进行了研究。结果表明：莲草直胸跳甲雌性生殖系统包括卵巢、侧输卵管、中输卵管、受精囊及其附腺, 左右卵巢一般不对称, 单侧有12~16根卵巢管, 受精囊豆芽状, 卵巢管为端滋式; 雄性生殖系统由睾丸、侧输精管及附腺、射精管和阳茎及附属器官组成, 阳基叉式。根据相关形态特征, 卵巢发育进度可分为发育初期(Ⅰ级)、卵黄沉积前期(Ⅱ级)、成熟待产期(Ⅲ级)、产卵盛期(Ⅳ级)和产卵末期(Ⅴ级)5个级别, 各等级在卵巢分区长度（原卵区、生长区和成熟区）及怀卵量上存在显著差异。成虫羽化2 d后即可进行交配, 16：00-18：00时为交配高峰期, 雌成虫产卵高峰期12：00-16：00时, 且偏好在寄主植株中部偏上叶片背部产卵; 22~32℃时, 雌性成虫的寿命和产卵总量随温度的上升而逐渐下降, 25~30℃间差异不显著, 但32℃时产卵前期延长至7.2 d, 寿命和产卵量显著下降, 表明32℃不利于莲草直胸跳甲繁殖。因此, 推测32℃及以上持续高温造成的子代卵量急剧减少, 可能是该跳甲夏季田间种群数量下降的原因之一。     

Landscape dynamics and evolution of colonizer syndromes: interactions between reproductive effortand dispersal in a metapopulation

The evolutionary consequences of changes in landscape dynamics for the evolution of life history syndromes are studied using a metapopulation model. We consider in turn the long-term effects of a change in the local disturbance rate, in the maximal local population persistence, in habitat productivity, and in habitat fragmentation. We examine the consequences of selective interactions between dispersal and reproductive effort by comparing the outcome of joint evolution to a situation where the species has lost the potential to evolve either its reproductive effort or its dispersal rate. We relax the classical assumption that any occupied site in the metapopulation reaches its carrying capacity immediately after recolonization. Our main conclusions are the following: (1) genetic diversity modifies the range of landscape parameters for which the metapopulation is viable, but it alters very little the qualitative evolutionary trends observed for each trait within this range. Although they are both part of a competition/colonization axis, reproductive effort and dispersal are not substitutable traits: their evolution reflects more directly the change in the landscape dynamics, than a selective interaction among them. (2) no general syndrome of covariation between reproductive effort and dispersal can be predicted: the pattern of association between the two traits depends on the type of change in landscape dynamics and on the saturation level. We review empirical evidence on colonizer syndromes and suggest lines for further empirical work. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

针叶小爪螨不同种群在针叶树和阔叶树上的生长发育和繁殖及其生殖隔离

报道丁针叶小爪螨Oligonychus ununguis (Jacobi）的4个种群在针叶树和阔叶树上的生长发育和繁殖及其生殖隔离的研究结果。饲养试验证明,针叶树(杉木)种群不能在板栗、麻栎等阔叶树上存活;阔叶树(板栗、麻栎)种群也不能在杉木、黑松、赤松等针叶树上存活。交配试验证明,针叶树种群和阔叶树种群虽有交配行为,但不能正常繁衍后代,两种群间存在着明显的生殖隔离。据此认为针叶树种群和阔叶树种群有可能为两个不同种。