Persistence of the flowerbud weevil Anthonomus santacruzi in optimal versus marginal areas: implications for the biological control of the invasive tree Solanum mauritianum in South Africa

Anthonomus santacruzi Hustache (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) was released in South Africa to offset the extensive reproductive output of the invasive tree Solanum mauritianum Scopoli (Solanaceae). Widespread establishment has occurred predominantly in the coastal areas of KwaZulu-Natal province, with limited success in higher-altitude inland areas. Irrespective of location, populations exhibit peaks in the austral autumn and decline during winter. In this study, we evaluated the persistence of A. santacruzi populations in climatically-optimal coastal areas versus climatically-marginal inland areas. The weevil’s pre- and post-winter abundance was surveyed at six coastal and six inland sites during 2018, and compared between areas and seasons. The 2018 pre-winter data were also compared to 2016 pre-winter data collected at the same sites. During 2018, pre- and post-winter numbers were six times and 22 times higher, respectively, at optimal sites than at marginal sites, with substantial winter declines at all sites. Post-winter weevil numbers at optimal sites were significantly higher than pre-winter numbers at marginal sites. Pre-winter numbers at optimal sites were not significantly different between 2016 and 2018, but at marginal sites were significantly lower in 2018. Inflorescences of S. mauritianum at marginal sites contained significantly more floral material and fruit than those at optimal sites, during both seasons in 2018. Significant negative correlations between A. santacruzi numbers and floral/fruit production suggest some impact on the reproductive output of S. mauritianum. Since A. santacruzi populations are barely persisting in marginal areas, releases in other South African provinces should target locations that are below 300?m in altitude.     

Genomic Basis of Circannual Rhythm in the European Corn Borer Moth

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Seasonal flight activity and genetic relatedness of Torymus species in Italy

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A comparative assessment of plant flammability through a functional approach: The case of woody species from Argentine Chaco region

Recent changes to fire regimes in many regions of the world have led to renewed interest in plant flammability experiments to understand and predict the consequences of such changes. These experiments require the development of practical and standardised flammability testing protocols. The research aims were (i) to compare plant flammability assessments carried out using two different approaches, namely functional trait analysis and testing with a shoot‐level device; and (ii) to evaluate the effect of disturbances and seasonal variability on flammability. The study area was located in the Western Chaco region, Argentina, and 11 species were selected based on their representativeness in forests. We studied six functional traits related to flammability, growth habit and foliar persistence, in forests without disturbances over the three last decades as well as in disturbed forests. The seasonal variation of these functional traits was evaluated over two consecutive years. Functional trait flammability index (FI) and shoot‐level measurements followed standard protocols. Sixty per cent of the species measured presented a high to very high FI. The results of both assessment methods were significantly correlated. Both methods identified the same species as having medium flammability, but differed in regards to the most flammable species. Senegalia gilliesii was identified as the most flammable species when using functional trait analysis, whereas shoot‐level assessments found Larrea divaricata and Schinus johnstonii to be the most flammable. There were no disturbance effects on the FI but there was seasonal variation. Our results validate the use of functional traits as a predictive method of flammability testing and represent the first global effort comparing flammability obtained through functional trait analysis with empirical measurements. The significant correlation between both methods allows the selection of the one that is more appropriate for the size of the area to be evaluated and for the availability of technical resources. Abstract in Spanish is available with online material.     

阿尔山不同时期落叶松根际土壤固氮菌的多样性研究

利用传统的细菌分离培养,结合16S rDNA序列分析等方法,对阿尔山地区不同时期落叶松根际可培养固氮菌群落的多样性进行分析,以揭示落叶松根际固氮菌的多样性及群落结构的季节变化规律,为森林生态系统的可持续发展提供理论依据。结果显示:(1)从阿尔山落叶松根际土壤中共计分离纯化细菌菌株112株,分属于14属41种,包括假单胞菌属、伯克氏菌属、根瘤菌属、叶杆菌属、节杆菌属、类芽孢杆菌属、沙雷菌属、欧文菌属、短小杆菌属、芽孢杆菌属、肠杆菌属、不动杆菌属、柄杆菌属、红球菌属;其中优势菌群为假单胞菌属,次优势菌群为叶杆菌属、伯克氏菌属和节杆菌属。(2)季节变化对落叶松固氮菌群的变化有显著影响,表现为4月份和10月份最优势类群为γ-变形菌纲(γ-proteobacteria)中的假单胞菌属,6月份和8月份的最优势类群相同,但组成有所差别,其中6月份优势菌群包括假单胞菌属、短小杆菌属、红球菌属、节杆菌属,8月份的优势菌群为假单胞菌属、不动杆菌属、肠杆菌属、短小杆菌属、红球菌属和节杆菌属。(3)不同时期的物种均匀度指数(McIntosh index)差异显著,8月份最大,4月份最小,变化范围在0.83～1.164之间;物种丰富度指数(Shannon-Wiener index) 6月份和8月份显著高于4月份和10月份;优势度指数(Simpson index) 4月份和10月份显著高于6月份和8月份。研究表明,阿尔山地区落叶松根际微生物的多样性较高,群落相对复杂,分离的14个菌属多为根际促生菌,且不同时期固氮菌的群落组成受季节的影响明显。     

四川格西沟国家级自然保护区鸟类多样性初探

鸟类多样性研究是国家级自然保护区的重要工作。2020年6月—2021年5月,采用样线法和样点法,调查了四川格西沟国家级自然保护区的鸟类多样性。结果显示:结合历史文献资料,保护区共有鸟类19目56科249种。其中,国家一级重点保护动物10种,国家二级重点保护动物35种,中国特有种11种。居留型以留鸟为主,共156种(62.65%),其次是夏候鸟60种(24.10%)、旅鸟19种(7.63%)、冬候鸟14种(5.62%)。区系组成以东洋界为主,共116种(46.59%),古北界103种(41.37%)、广布种30种(12.04%)。各生态系统中森林和灌丛生态系统Shannon-Wiener指数最高,其他生态系统最低,森林和灌丛生态系统的Sorenson相似性指数最高;夏、秋季的Shannon-Wiener指数和Pielou均匀度指数最高,冬季最低。建议保护区建立长期监测体系,并持续开展鸟类保护宣传活动,加大巡护和管控力度,降低保护区内的人为干扰,同时注重鸟类所利用栖息地的保护。     

生物结皮胞外多糖理化特性及菌群结构的季节动态

胞外多糖(EPS)是蓝藻重要抗逆物质,也是生物结皮中主要的碳储存形式,对结皮的物质循环、稳定度等具有重要作用。本研究以古尔班通古特沙漠不同季节(1月、4月、7月、10月)生物结皮为对象,对其EPS含量、组成、形貌特征及微生物群落结构进行了动态研究。结果表明: 1)EPS的分泌格局呈现明显的季节动态变化特征。1、4、7、10月EPS含量分别为81.72、52.46、76.77、70.54 μg·cm^-2,叶绿素a含量分别为2.7、4.94、4.2、5.98 μg·cm^-2,说明冬、夏两季蓝藻将固定的有机碳更多地分配给EPS,而春、秋两季则更多地用于自身生物量的积累。2)各个季节的EPS均由7种单糖组成,且葡萄糖和半乳糖的相对摩尔百分比之和为46%～56%,显著高于另外5种单糖;EPS的单糖组分与气温和降水之间具有显著的相关性;各季节EPS的傅里叶红外图谱无明显差别。3)原子力显微镜观测结果显示,7月、10月EPS具有更多的丝状及粗绳状结构,而1月、4月则呈块状结构。4)16S rDNA高通量测序结果表明,4个季节下蓝藻门和微鞘藻属始终为生物结皮优势细菌门和属,其相对丰度显著高于其他细菌门和属。变形菌门的相对丰度与岩藻糖和半乳糖的相对摩尔百分比呈显著正相关关系,说明单糖的百分比组成对结皮中异养细菌影响显著。在荒漠生境中,温度、水分等环境因子随季节变化显著,结皮胞外多糖理化特性及细菌群落的季节性变化受温度、水分、光照等气象因子的共同调控。     

西双版纳热带季雨林通量分配及能量平衡问题北大核心CSCD

为了探讨我国西双版纳热带季雨林的能量分配和平衡问题,利用涡度相关系统和常规气象仪器的连续监测结果,分析了不同季节的能量通量特征和闭合特点。结果表明,西双版纳热带季雨林全年的净辐射、潜热通量、显热通量、土壤热通量和热储存量分别是4546.07、2453.24、492.22、-10.47和45.93 MJ/m^(2),土壤为热源,潜热年总值占净辐射的54.0%,显热占10.8%,能量以蒸发散为主要的耗损形式。辐射和能量有明显的日变化和季节动态,各能量分量的日变化几乎都呈白天高夜间低的单峰趋势,反照率整体为0.10~0.12,波动不大;波文比季节差异明显,为0~0.8。热带季雨林的全年闭合度为0.67,未考虑热储量时,闭合度为0.51~0.79,考虑热储量为0.53~0.80。可见,在林冠茂密的热带季雨林中,热储量对能量闭合度的贡献不大,忽略热储量并不是导致能量不闭合的主要原因。     

Phlebotominae and Trichomyiinae (Diptera: Psychodidae) diversity in a tropical dry forest of central Mexico: a comparison of conserved and anthropized habitats

We recorded and analyzed the diversity of Phlebotominae and Trichomyiinae in two types of landscape (conserved and anthropized) over the course of three seasons (rainy, cold and dry) in southwestern Puebla, Mexico. A total of 578 specimens belonging to five genera and 10 species were obtained. Phlebotominae was represented by eight species, six of them new records for the state of Puebla, and for Trichomyiinae two species were recorded in the state of Puebla for the first time. There were eight species in the anthropized area and 10 species were recorded in the conservation area. The abundance of both subfamilies was high in the conservation area, representing 83.6% of the total sample, whereas in the anthropized area only 16.4% of the total sample was recorded. Eight species were found during the rainy and dry seasons, and seven species during the cold season. Abundance was highest in the dry season (76.30%), and lowest in the rainy season (5.9%). This kind of information is useful for understanding the transmission patterns of visceral leishmaniasis – endemic to central Mexico – by phlebotomine sand flies.     

Differences between temperate and tropical birds in seasonal acclimatization of thermoregulatory traits

Phenotypic flexibility can be an important determinant of fitness in variable environments. The climatic variability hypothesis (CVH) predicts that phenotypic flexibility in thermoregulatory traits will be greater in temperate species than tropical species as a means of coping with increased temperature seasonality at higher latitudes. However, support for the CVH has been mixed, and recent studies suggest that tropical birds are capable of substantial phenotypic flexibility. To test the generality of the CVH, we used flow‐through respirometry to quantify seasonal acclimatization in thermoregulatory traits in suites of temperate (n = 6) and tropical (n = 41) birds. We used W/S ratios (winter/summer trait values) to quantify the direction and magnitude of seasonal change (W/S ratio of 1 means no seasonal change). Temperate species exhibited coordinated changes in thermoregulatory traits in winter, including large increases in thermoneutral zone (TNZ) breadth and reductions in heat loss below the lower limit of the TNZ. Conversely, tropical species exhibited idiosyncratic seasonal thermoregulatory responses, and mean W/S ratios were close to 1 for all traits, indicative of little seasonal change and consistent with predictions of the CVH. Nevertheless, mean W/S ratios did not differ significantly between temperate and tropical species for either M_b or BMR, demonstrating that tropical birds can also exhibit substantial thermoregulatory flexibility. Our results highlight the need for complementary acclimation experiments to determine if latitudinal differences in seasonal acclimatization are due to inherent differences in capacity for flexibility.