Behavioural response to song and genetic divergence in two subspecies of white‐crowned sparrows (Zonotrichia leucophrys)

Divergence in sexual signals may drive reproductive isolation between lineages, but behavioural barriers can weaken in contact zones. Here, we investigate the role of song as a behavioural and genetic barrier in a contact zone between two subspecies of white‐crowned sparrows (Zonotrichia leucophrys). We employed a reduced genomic data set to assess population structure and infer the history underlying divergence, gene flow and hybridization. We also measured divergence in song and tested behavioural responses to song using playback experiments within and outside the contact zone. We found that the subspecies form distinct genetic clusters, and demographic inference supported a model of secondary contact. Song phenotype, particularly length of the first note (a whistle), was a significant predictor of genetic subspecies identity and genetic distance along the hybrid zone, suggesting a close link between song and genetic divergence in this system. Individuals from both parental and admixed localities responded significantly more strongly to their own song than to the other subspecies song, supporting song as a behavioural barrier. Putative parental and admixed individuals were not significantly different in their strength of discrimination between own and other songs; however, individuals from admixed localities tended to discriminate less strongly, and this difference in discrimination strength was explained by song dissimilarity as well as genetic distance. Therefore, we find that song acts as a reproductive isolating mechanism that is potentially weakening in a contact zone between the subspecies. Our findings also support the hypothesis that intraspecific song variation can reduce gene flow between populations.     

Inheritance of trunk coloration in the three-spot gourami, Trichogaster trichopterus Pallas

Trunk coloration in Trichogaster trichopterus Pallas is controlled by two autosomal loci acting in a complementary fashion with dominance at both loci required for the expression of the blue sumatranus phenotype.     

黑果枸杞在新疆的适宜分布模拟与局部环境适应性分化

黑果枸杞(Lycium ruthenicum)是重要的药食同源植物, 在干旱荒漠区发挥着防风固沙的重要生态功能, 但目前片段化分布日趋严重。该研究利用黑果枸杞在新疆的87个自然分布点和基准气候(1971-2000年)下的19个气候变量, 利用GIS空间分析和R软件Biomod2建模平台, 模拟分析黑果枸杞在新疆的适宜分布范围、空间分布特征及其关键限制因子; 并结合研究区土地利用/土地覆被现状, 评价其分布潜力; 同时对黑果枸杞的南北疆种群进行分组建模, 分析该植物的生态位分化。研究结果表明: (1)组合模型的真实技巧统计(TSS)均高于0.75、接收工作机特征曲线下的面积(AUC)均高于0.85, 模拟精度相比单个模型有明显提高; 组合模型得到的种下分组建模的模拟准确性较物种水平有显著提升, TSS均高于0.78、AUC均高于0.88; (2)根据组合模型的模拟结果, 黑果枸杞在新疆的适宜生境面积占比为36.72%, 主要分布于准噶尔盆地、天山北坡及塔里木盆地西北缘和西南缘; 其中, 高度适生区面积占比为5.19%, 集中于福海县、塔城地区东部、天山北坡博乐至阜康一线、库尔勒、柯坪县及塔里木盆地西南缘。高度与中度适生区与研究区耕地的重叠率达80.6%和50.8%; (3)南北疆黑果枸杞种群存在显著的生态位分化, 最暖季平均气温、等温性、降水季节性是驱动黑果枸杞局部环境适应性分化的主要因子。     

中国颊脊隐翅虫属比桑颊脊隐翅虫群三新亚种(鞘翅目,隐翅虫科,隐翅虫亚科)

记述中国四川颊脊隐翅虫属Quedius比桑颊脊隐翅虫群(beesoni group) 3新亚种,北川颊脊隐翅虫Q. (M.)noboruitoi beichuanensis,片口颊脊隐翅虫Q. (M.)noboruitoi piankouatilis,二郎山颊脊隐翅虫Q.(M.)noboruitoi erlangshanus。首次记录来自中国重庆的比桑颊脊隐翅虫Q. (M.)beesoni Cameron。列出了比桑颊脊隐翅虫群中国已知种和亚种检索表。     

Close and distant: Contrasting the metabolism of two closely related subspecies of Scots pine under the effects of folivory and summer drought

Metabolomes, as chemical phenotypes of organisms, are likely not only shaped by the environment but also by common ancestry. If this is the case, we expect that closely related species of pines will tend to reach similar metabolomic solutions to the same environmental stressors. We examined the metabolomes of two sympatric subspecies of Pinus sylvestris in Sierra Nevada (southern Iberian Peninsula), in summer and winter and exposed to folivory by the pine processionary moth. The overall metabolomes differed between the subspecies but both tended to respond more similarly to folivory. The metabolomes of the subspecies were more dissimilar in summer than in winter, and iberica trees had higher concentrations of metabolites directly related to drought stress. Our results are consistent with the notion that certain plant metabolic responses associated with folivory have been phylogenetically conserved. The larger divergence between subspecies metabolomes in summer is likely due to the warmer and drier conditions that the northern iberica subspecies experience in Sierra Nevada. Our results provide crucial insights into how iberica populations would respond to the predicted conditions of climate change under an increased defoliation in the Mediterranean Basin.     

Complete loss of MHC genetic diversity in the Common Hamster (Cricetus cricetus) population in The Netherlands. Consequences for conservation strategies

The Common Hamster (Cricetus cricetus L.)has suffered from changes in agriculturalpractices. In some Western European countriesthe populations have become so small andscattered that they are threatened withextinction. We studied the genetic diversity ofmitochondrial and major histoincompatibilitycomplex (MHC) loci in the few animals left inthe South of the Netherlands and in threeanimals from the Alsace region in France, andcompared it to the diversity in Dutch animalsin the past (samples taken from stuffed animalsin museum collections dating back to the period1924–1956) and in a large present-daypopulation from Czech Republic. For themitochondrial cytochrome b gene, SNP mappingdemonstrated a total of nine alleles among 14Czech samples, of which one (possibly two) waspresent in the Dutch museum samples, and onlyone in the current Dutch animals. For the MHCgenes, DQA exon 2 and 3 showed no variation,while 14 different alleles were found at DRBexon 2. The Czech population contained 13different alleles in 15 animals sampled, andmost animals were heterozygous (H_o = 0.80,H_e = 0.91). Therefore, the solitary livingHamster maintains, in nature, a large diversityat this MHC locus. The Dutch museum samplescontained eight different alleles in 20 samples, and they were slightly less heterozygous (H_o = 0.60, H_e = 0.75). All but one ofthese alleles were also found in the Czechsamples. In contrast, the present Dutch andFrench animals (a total of 16 samples)contained only one of these alleles, and allanimals were genetically identical andhomozygous. We conclude that the remaininganimals have lost all diversity at this MHClocus. This is probably the result of a severebottleneck, which may have been quite severe,reducing diversity in many loci. In addition,the remaining Dutch animals are partly derivedfrom one family. These animals are now part ofa breeding program. Options for restocking thegenetic diversity are discussed.     

Effects of cholesteryl ester transfer protein inhibition on apolipoprotein A-II-containing HDL subspecies and apolipoprotein A-II metabolism

This study was designed to establish the mechanism responsible for the increased apolipoprotein (apo) A-II levels caused by the cholesteryl ester transfer protein inhibitor torcetrapib. Nineteen subjects with low HDL cholesterol (<40 mg/dl), nine of whom were also treated with 20 mg of atorvastatin daily, received placebo for 4 weeks, followed by 120 mg of torcetrapib daily for the next 4 weeks. Six subjects in the nonatorvastatin cohort participated in a third phase, in which they received 120 mg of torcetrapib twice daily for 4 weeks. At the end of each phase, subjects underwent a primed-constant infusion of [5,5,5-²H₃]l-leucine to determine the kinetics of HDL apoA-II. Relative to placebo, torcetrapib significantly increased apoA-II concentrations by reducing HDL apoA-II catabolism in the atorvastatin (−9.4%, P < 0.003) and nonatorvastatin once- (−9.9%, P = 0.02) and twice- (−13.2%, P = 0.02) daily cohorts. Torcetrapib significantly increased the amount of apoA-II in the α-2-migrating subpopulation of HDL when given as monotherapy (27%, P < 0.02; 57%, P < 0.003) or on a background of atorvastatin (28%, P < 0.01). In contrast, torcetrapib reduced concentrations of apoA-II in α-3-migrating HDL, with mean reductions of −14% (P = 0.23), −18% (P < 0.02), and −18% (P < 0.01) noted during the atorvastatin and nonatorvastatin 120 mg once- and twice-daily phases, respectively. Our findings indicate that CETP inhibition increases plasma concentrations of apoA-II by delaying HDL apoA-II catabolism and significantly alters the remodeling of apoA-II-containing HDL subpopulations.     

泰国的苏铁

介绍泰国现存苏铁属10个种和2个亚种的分布与生境、形态特征及栽培技术要点,并介绍该属植物的授粉方式及虫害情况。     

New approaches in hominoid taxonomy: morphometrics

We report here on new cranial data relevant to hominoid taxonomic analyses, based on a study of 438 skulls belonging to 13 nonhuman living hominoid taxa. Nineteen landmarks were selected to describe the overall shape of the maxillofacial complex, in order to investigate its discriminative power in taxonomic analyses. We used a geometric morphometrics approach to depict morphological variation from the genus down to the subspecific level, and we evaluated whether our morphologic criteria are relevant to discriminating species and subspecies among living hominoids. Considering previous genetic studies, we discuss whether our results can be extrapolated to the hominin fossil record, providing a reference for species and subspecies morphologic differentiation. Our results indicate that the relative warp method, as applied to facial landmarks, provides a powerful tool to discriminate taxa down to a subspecific level. Results show a noticeable divergence of P. t. verus compared to P. t. troglodytes and P. t. schweinfurthii. According to our data, the distance between eastern and western gorilla populations as well as between Bornean and Sumatran orangutan subspecies is as great as between the two species of Pan. In the same manner, differences between Hylobates and Symphalangus are similar to those between Pan and Gorilla genera. Congruence between the morphological distances computed in this study and previous morphological and genetical studies strongly supports their relevance for morphological species recognition in paleoanthropology. Our data provide an objective standard for assessing taxonomic differences among hominoids, and will enable us to define more precisely the significance of morphological differences in the fossil record.