Taxonomic diversity within the Japanese green lacewing, Chrysoperla carnea (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae), identified by courtship song analyses and crossing tests

The green lacewing, Chrysoperla carnea (Stephens), is an important natural enemy of various crop pests, especially aphids. In the Japanese fauna, there are two types of larval forms, A and B, characterized by different head capsule markings. The Type A form is distributed throughout Japan, but the Type B form has a more limited distribution. Adults use abdominal vibration as a communication signal (courtship song) during mating. We analyzed oscillograms of these songs among several Japanese populations of C. carnea. The courtship songs of types A and B are distinctly different from one another. We then performed crossing tests between the two types. Copulation between same-type pairings was much more likely than between different-type pairings. We also analyzed courtship songs of European C. carnea sensu stricti, introduced to Japan as a natural enemy of crop pests. The song of these introduced green lacewings appeared to differ from either type of Japanese C. carnea. The two types of C. carnea are likely to be different species, and also distinct from C. carnea sensu stricti of Europe.     

解除模拟失重后清醒大鼠血压信号的谱分析

本文旨在观察模拟失重28 d大鼠解除尾部悬吊前、后(2 h内),清醒自由活动状态下动脉收缩压(systolic bloodpressure,SBP)、舒张压(diastolic blood pressure,DBP)和心率(heart rate,HR)的变化.采用自回归模型法对不同时间点的收缩压变异性(SBP variability,SBPV)和心率变异性(HR variability,HRV)进行自谱与互谱分析,并比较自回归法与周期图法的自谱分析结果:由传递函数分析得到反映压力感受器-心率反射敏感性(baroreceptor-heart rate reflex sensitivity,BRS)变化的有关数据.结果显示,用自回归模型法对清醒大鼠血压信号进行短时程谱分析可得到较为平滑、谱峰清楚的谱估计曲线.28 d模拟失重大鼠解除尾部悬吊前、后,SBP、DBP和HR及其主要谱指标,以及高、低频段传递函数的平均增益均无显著性变化,不同时间点的谱指标也无显著差别;但模拟失重组的SBP、DBP和HR却显著高于对照组.上述结果提示,中期模拟失重大鼠恢复正常体位后,其清醒状态的BPV与HR均处于升高状态,但其短时程BPV与HRV谱及BRS均无显著变化,与最近报道的航天员HRV与BRS无显著改变一致.     

机械振荡对猕猴桃愈伤组织ATP含量的影响

采用不同频率的往复机械振荡,以木质藤本植物中华猕猴桃(Actinidia chinensis)茎段的愈伤组织为实验材料,测定．ATP含量的变化,并通过与对照组(CK)相应值的比较,研究振荡刺激对植物能量代谢的影响。结果表明,机械振荡对猕猴桃愈伤组织ATP的含量有着比较明显的增强或抑制的双重效应,适度的振荡刺激将有利于提高植物的能量代谢水平,促进植物的生长发育,其中最适的振荡频率为3Hz左右。还从细胞和分子生物学的角度对环境应力影响植物能量代谢的可能机理进行了探讨。     

桔小实蝇雄成虫联系性嗅觉学习

【目的】为了探究桔小实蝇 Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel)雄成虫的嗅觉学习能力。【方法】本研究采用经典性嗅觉条件反射训练法（classical olfactory conditioning）在室内对固定的羽化后14-17日龄的桔小实蝇雄成虫进行气味与食物的联合学习训练, 即薄荷精油和10%蔗糖溶液联合的奖赏性训练（appetitive conditioning）以及甲基丁香酚(methyl eugenol, ME)和饱和盐溶液联合的惩罚性训练（aversive conditioning）,并以伸喙反射行为（proboscis extension reflex, PER）作为学习与否的判定标准。【结果】经过奖赏性训练后,桔小实蝇雄成虫对薄荷精油的伸喙反射率可从0%增加至68%;而经过惩罚性训练后,桔小实蝇对甲基丁香酚的伸喙反射率可从100%降低至36.54%,且这种伸喙反射率的变化是通过气味条件刺激（conditioned stimulus）和食物非条件刺激（unconditioned stimulus）的对称性联合而产生的。【结论】结果表明,桔小实蝇雄性成虫具有较强的联系性嗅觉学习能力,并且两种刺激的联合是形成学习记忆的必要条件。     

Electromagnetic cellular interactions

Chemical and electrical interaction within and between cells is well established. Just the opposite is true about cellular interactions via other physical fields. The most probable candidate for an other form of cellular interaction is the electromagnetic field. We review theories and experiments on how cells can generate and detect electromagnetic fields generally, and if the cell-generated electromagnetic field can mediate cellular interactions. We do not limit here ourselves to specialized electro-excitable cells. Rather we describe physical processes that are of a more general nature and probably present in almost every type of living cell. The spectral range included is broad; from kHz to the visible part of the electromagnetic spectrum. We show that there is a rather large number of theories on how cells can generate and detect electromagnetic fields and discuss experimental evidence on electromagnetic cellular interactions in the modern scientific literature. Although small, it is continuously accumulating.     

Nonlinear analysis of lipid tubules by nonlocal beam model

Postbuckling, nonlinear bending and nonlinear vibration analyses are presented for lipid tubules. The lipid tubule is modeled as a nonlocal micro/nano-beam which contains small scale effect. The material properties are assumed to be size-dependent. The governing equation is solved by a two-step perturbation technique. The numerical results reveal that the small scale parameter e₀a reduces the postbuckling equilibrium paths, the static large deflections and natural frequencies of lipid tubules. In contrast, it increases the nonlinear to linear frequency ratios slightly for the lipid tubule with immovable end conditions.     

亚致死剂量杀虫剂对意蜂工蜂嗅觉敏感性的影响

喙伸反应(PER)试验适用于评价杀虫剂对蜜蜂行为的影响。本实验利用喙伸反应研究了亚致死剂量(LD50/100～LD50/10)溴氰菊酯和吡虫啉对意蜂Apis mellifera ligustica L.工蜂嗅觉敏感性的影响。结果发现,经口饲喂溴氰菊酯5ng和10ng后,工蜂对0.1%的蔗糖溶液的敏感性显著下降(P<0.05),水应激指数降低,但对0.3%,1%,3%,10%和30%的蔗糖溶液的敏感性没有显著变化;而经口饲喂吡虫啉0.3ng和0.6ng后,工蜂对上述各浓度蔗糖溶液的敏感性变化不明显,但其水应激指数升高。     

Intrinsic and Extrinsic Factors Influence Expression of Defensive Behavior in Plains Hog‐Nosed Snakes (Heterodon nasicus)

Animals failing to deter predation are eaten. Among the many deterrents to predation, antipredator behaviors are perhaps the most variable, ranging from active (fight or flight) to passive (immobility). We assessed variation in the expression of a passive defensive behavior, death‐feigning, in Plains Hog‐nosed Snakes (Heterodon nasicus) and predicted that intrinsic and extrinsic factors would influence the duration of this behavior and the latency to its onset. We simulated predatory attacks on 27 snakes encountered in the field, and analyzed the behavioral responses of snakes as a function of differences among individuals (sex and size) and environmental factors (temperature and microhabitat). Larger snakes death‐feigned for longer durations than smaller ones; this relationship was stronger for female snakes than for males. Death feints were initiated sooner when snakes were encountered at higher temperatures. Extrinsic factors had a greater influence on latency to death‐feigning behavior, whereas intrinsic factors more strongly influenced its duration. Because our results involved wild snakes, they provide an improved, highly relevant understanding of individual and environmental factors that regulate the expression of immobile defensive behavior. Furthermore, additional hypotheses can now be proposed that address the evolution of defensive behaviors that leave animals prone to attack.     

Residency Duration and Shelter Quality Influence Vibratory Signalling Displays in A Territorial Caterpillar

Residents are more likely to win territorial disputes than intruders. One explanation for this prior resident advantage is that residents place a higher value on the resource and are therefore more motivated to win. Although value asymmetry models of animal contests often assume that contestants use information about resource value, information on the proximate cues affecting territorial behaviour is often lacking. We use a simple model system – territorial behaviour in the masked birch caterpillar (Drepana arcuata) to identify factors that affect territorial behaviour. Late instar caterpillars occupy solitary silken leaf shelters, which they defend against wandering conspecifics with a vibratory display. We evaluated how a caterpillar identifies itself as the owner and the factors that influence a resident's motivation to signal. To do so, we conducted three experiments between size‐matched residents and intruders to assess how residency duration and shelter quality independently affected territorial displays during the early stages of a contest. Experiment 1 (Time Exp.) demonstrated that resident signalling rates increase with increased duration on the leaf prior to introducing the intruder. Residents also signal more than intruders after residency periods of 1–3 min and longer, demonstrating that residents gather information about resource value shortly after occupying a leaf. Experiment 2 (Squatter Exp.) aimed to disentangle the effects of time on the leaf and silk accumulation. Squatters (individuals in a shelter made by another) placed for 1–3 min on a leaf containing a full silk shelter signalled more to intruders than did caterpillars placed on a fresh leaf for 1–3 min. Experiment 3 (Shelter Removal Exp.) showed that residents whose shelters had been removed signal less than those occupying an intact shelter, despite an equal length of time investing in them. Our experiment is the first to covary both prior residency duration and territory quality, and we find that the motivation of caterpillars to signal is a function of both of these attributes.