Social interaction analysis in captive orcas (Orcinus orca)

The management of socially complex species in captivity is challenging. Research on their social behavior improves our understanding of interactions in captive animals and captive‐group management. We conducted a detailed analysis of social relationships shown by the orcas kept at Loro Parque zoo and their tendency to reconcile after aggressive episodes. Affiliative interactions were the most frequent social activities compared to agonistic or sexual interactions. Within affiliative behaviors, we documented the pattern “gentle tongue bite”, where an animal touches the other's tongue with his teeth but does not bite it. Affiliative interactions between a specific pair of orcas occurred significantly more often than expected by chance, and together with low levels of agonistic interactions, indicated particular affinity between some individuals. The most frequently observed low‐level agonistic relationship was that of the two older males (Tekoa–Keto); however, they also showed frequent sexual and affiliative interactions. Sexual‐like behaviors (pursuit, mount, and penis between males) were found in both sexes. Finally, the observed corrected conciliatory tendency (31.57%) was within the range described for other primate and cetacean species. This study provides a systematic way to assess social interactions as well as conflict management strategies in cetaceans housed in zoos and zoo‐like facilities and may help to improve animal welfare and management of animals in controlled environments.     

Timing and plasticity of shoaling behaviour in the zebrafish, Danio rerio

The zebrafish has become a major model system for biomedical research and is an emerging model for the study of behaviour. While adult zebrafish express a visually mediated shoaling preference, the onset of shoaling behaviour and of this preference is unknown. To assess the onset of these behaviours, we first manipulated the early social environment of larval zebrafish subjects, giving them three model shoaling partners of the same pigment phenotype. We then assayed the subjects' preferences using binary preference tests in which we presented subjects with two shoals, one shoal of fish exhibiting the same pigment pattern phenotype as their models and another shoal with a radically different pigment pattern. To determine whether or not the visually mediated preference could be altered once it was established, we further manipulated the social environment of a number of subjects, rearing them with one model shoal and testing them, then changing their social consorts and retesting them. Our results demonstrate that larval zebrafish shoal early in their development, but do not exhibit a shoaling preference until they are juveniles. Moreover, we find that the shoaling preference is stable, as changing the social environment of fish after they had acquired a preference did not change their preference. These data will facilitate investigations into the mechanisms underlying social behaviour in this vertebrate model system.     

烟粉虱热点问题研究进展

重大农业害虫烟粉虱Bemisia tabaci(Gennadius)在世界各地广泛分布传播,对农业生产造成了极大的经济损失。为了准确掌握烟粉虱研究的国际、国内状况和前沿动态,基于Web of Science引文数据库及中国知网CNKI数据库,对烟粉虱相关文献进行了分析,结果表明:国际、国内的烟粉虱发文量总体不断增长,研究队伍规模不断增大、基金项目不断增多,烟粉虱研究日益受到重视。纵观烟粉虱相关文献,国内外科学家的研究主要集中在烟粉虱的入侵与扩散、生物型/隐种、共生菌、抗药性、传播植物病毒、天敌等方面,本文就这些热点问题进行综述,以期为烟粉虱的进一步研究提供参考信息。     

猪几个血清蛋白质位点的等位基因频率在选育中的变化趋势

采用淀粉凝胶电泳测定了杜洛克猪的转铁蛋白(Tf)、前白蛋白(Pa)、血液结合素(Hpx)、铜兰蛋白(Cp)和淀粉酶(Am)多态性,统计和计算了表现型数和等位基因频率,并同1968年测得的基因频率进行了比较,揭示了杜洛克猪几个血清蛋白质位点的等位基因频率在长期选育中的变化趋势,即随着人们有目的地进行选育,这些血清蛋白质位点的等位基因数减少,基因频率向某个等位基因集中,形成优势等位基因。目前的优势等位基因是Tf^B、Pa^A、Hpx^3、Cp^B、Am^8。此外,将杜洛克猪的基因频率同湖南部分地方猪进行了比较,计算了它们的平均杂合度、遗传相似系数和遗传距离系数,并做了聚类分析。     

农业非点源污染控制中的最佳管理措施及其发展趋势

农业非点源污染是最主要的一类非点源污染,容易造成水体的富营养化,降低环境的质量,已经成为构成目前水质环境恶化的一大威胁。农业非点源污染具有随机性、广泛性等特点,因此对农业非点源污染的控制相对比较困难。最佳管理措施通过工程措施、耕种措施和管理措施共同作用控制农业非点源污染,可以取得良好的经济效益、社会效益和环境效益。其中工程措施有梯田与山边沟,草沟与植被过滤带、人工湿地、节水灌溉系统等,耕种措施有保护性耕作、等高线种植、合理轮作等,管理措施包括有害生物综合治理、综合肥力管理、农田灌溉制度等。最后,本文还对最佳管理措施的发展趋势作了展望。     

甘蓝粉虱入侵中国大陆

甘蓝粉虱是一种危险性入侵害虫,中国大陆于2012年7月在北京市朝阳区首次发现,寄主植物为抱茎苦买菜;翌年8月份又在新疆乌鲁木齐和吐鲁番发现,寄主植物为开花生菜和抱茎苦买菜。文章描述了甘蓝粉虱的危害方式、寄主植物、分布范围、识别特征、天敌种类以及传播扩散方式,并分析了在我国大陆的发展趋势和需要密切关注的区域。     

不产氧光合细菌的分类学进展

不产氧光合细菌(APB)一直是研究生命起源与进化、光合作用和固氮机理的良好模式生物.近年来,APB资源研究发展迅速,不断发现新的物种、模式种及特殊功能物种,不断提出新的分类单元,APB分类系统发生了较大变化,同时引起了一定混乱.本文对不产氧光合细菌定义、分类系统和分类指征最新进展进行了系统述评,对分类系统中存在的问题和发展趋势也进行了评述.     

pH Dependence of the Isomerase Activity of Protein Disulfide Isomerase: Insights into its Functional Relevance

The isomerase efficacy of the oxidoreductase, protein disulfide isomerase (PDI), has been examined by a simple method. Using this technique, the pH-dependence of relative efficiency of isomerization reactions by PDI has been evaluated and its impact on a key structure-forming step in the oxidative folding pathway of a model protein determined. Results reveal that PDI has a greater relative impact on thiol-disulfide reshuffling (isomerization) reactions and consequently the structure-forming step in oxidative folding at pH 7, as opposed to pH’s 8 and 9. These results suggest that PDI, which possesses an anomalously low thiol pKa, is fine-tuned to catalyze oxidative folding in the lumen of the endoplasmic reticulum where the ambient pH of ∼7 would otherwise retard thiol-disulfide exchange reactions and hinder acquisition of the native fold. The pH-dependent impact on isomerization catalysis has important implications for the development of synthetic chaperones for in vivo and in vitro applications.     

六星黑点豹蠹蛾成虫生殖行为特征与性趋向

六星黑点豹蠹蛾Zeuzera leuconotum Butler (Lepidoptera: Cossidae)是一种重要的园林害虫。在光周期L:D=14:10、温度19-32 ℃、相对湿度75%-85%条件下,对六星黑点豹蠹蛾的羽化、性比、交配行为及能力进行了观察,利用风洞技术和林间诱蛾试验验证了其性趋向。结果表明:六星黑点豹蠹蛾羽化期60 d左右,6月下旬为羽化高峰期,日羽化高峰出现在傍晚17:00-18:00,占全天羽化量的55.4%;雌雄性比为1:1.03;交配高峰期发生在进入暗期5-7 h,成虫1日龄后性成熟,一生交配1次;随雌蛾日龄增加,其交配率逐渐下降,交配时间提前,交配持续时间逐渐加长;雌蛾一生平均产卵378个,孵化率80%,未交配雌蛾平均产卵426个,孵化率0%;未交配雌蛾和雄蛾的平均寿命分别为5.56 d和3.83 d,交配过的雌蛾和雄蛾平均寿命分别为5.66 d和2.41 d,交配缩短雄蛾寿命;六星黑点豹蠹蛾种内个体间引诱作用主要为雌蛾引诱雄蛾,同性间不存在聚集行为;2-3日龄未交配雌蛾林间诱蛾量最高,显著高于1日龄和4-6日龄(P＜0.01)。依据研究结果,分析讨论了应用性信息素防治六星黑点豹蠹蛾的可行性,说明六星黑点豹蠹蛾是可利用性信息素进行防控的理想对象。     

活跃性和社会性对中华倒刺鲃集群行为的影响

为考察群体中不同的个性组成对鱼类集群行为的影响及其内在机制,选取中华倒刺鲃(Spinibarbus sinensis)幼鱼为实验对象,依次测定其活跃性和社会性,随后分别根据活跃性和社会性的高低分为高、低和混合活跃性(或社会性)鱼群,考察鱼群中不同个性组成对集群时的整体运动特征以及每尾鱼的个体运动特征的影响。研究发现：(1)中华倒刺鲃的个性特征稳定且个体间变异较大;(2)高活跃性鱼群的运动时间比和速度同步性均大于低活跃性鱼群,而混合鱼群位于二者之间且与两个同质性鱼群均无显著差异;高社会性鱼群速度同步性显著小于低社会性和混合社会性鱼群,而后两者之间没有显著差异。(3)活跃性特征与集群运动时每尾鱼的运动特征(速度及其同步性等)相关,社会性特征不仅与上述运动特征关联,还与凝聚力大小(距鱼群质心距离)相关。研究表明：(1)鱼群的活跃性和社会性组成均对集群行为产生重要影响,但其内在机制截然不同。主要表现为：就活跃性而言,群体的运动状态是由群体中所有成员共同决定(平均决定机制);就社会性而言,少数低社会性成员对鱼群的运动水平表现有着主导作用(少数决定机制);(2)实验鱼的活跃性在集群行为中得到了较大...