Begging, food provisioning, and nestling competition in great tit broods infested with ectoparasites

Ectoparasites are a ubiquitous environmental component of breedingbirds, and it has repeatedly been shown that hematoph-agousectoparasites such as fleas and mites reduce the quality andnumber of offspring of bird hosts, thereby lowering the valueof a current brood. Selection acting on the hosts will favorphysiological and behavioral responses that will reduce theparasites' impact. However, the results of the few bird studiesthat addressed the question of whether parasitism leads to ahigher rate of food provisioning are equivocal, and the beggingresponse to infestation has rarely been quantified. A changein begging activity and parental rate of food provisioning couldbe predicted in either direction: parents could reduce theirinvestment in the brood in order to invest more in future broods,or they could increase their investment in order to compensatefor the parasites' effect on the current brood. Since the nestlingsare weakened by the ectoparasites they may beg less, but onthe other hand they may beg more in order to obtain more food.In this study we show experimentally that (1) hen fleas (Ceratophyllusgallinae) reduce the body mass and size of great tit (Parusmajor) nestlings, (2) nestlings of parasitized broods more thandouble their begging rate, (3) the male parents increase thefrequency of feeding trips by over 50%, (4) the females do notadjust feeding rate to the lowered nutritional state of nestlings,and (5) food competition among siblings of parasitized broodsis increased. Ultimately the difference in the parental feedingresponse may be understood as the result of a sex-related differencein the trade-off of i0vesting in current versus future broods.     

Gibbard's evolutionary theory of rationality and its ethical implications

Gibbard's theory of rationality is evolutionary in terms of its result as well as its underpinning argument. The result is that judgments about what is rational are analyzed as being similar to judgments of morality — in view of what Darwin suggests concerning the latter. According to the Darwinian theory, moral judgments are based on sentiments which evolve to promote the survival and welfare of human societies. On Gibbard's theory, rationality judgments should be similarly regarded as expressing emotional attachments to behavioral norms which originate and function to coordinate social interaction. Consequently, Gibbard's theory of rationality might be used to illuminate Darwin's theory of morality, and vice versa. Additionally, as argued in the present essay, both can be further elaborated, and defended, by developing related themes in philosophical ethics: viz., connected with Hume and 20th-century emotivists. The main problem is that this general Darwinian approach faces widespread opposition nowadays, not only in ethics but in philosophy of science. The purpose of this essay is to analyze Gibbard's theory, critically and constructively, with emphasis on the pertinent commonalities in Darwin, Hume and the emotivists, while also critically addressing their common enemies. The pervasive methodological orientation is to relate this analysis to (philosophy of) science in general, and biological science in particular.     

Chemical equilibrium and E value of Zn (ZnE) in inceptisols and entisols of tropical india

Summary The chemical equilibrium and E value for Zn was calculated in 9 soils of Haryana (India) which represented mainly entisol and inceptisols. The rate of isotopic exchange between⁶⁵Zn and native soil Zn was quite rapid and radioactivity reduced to about 0.2 per cent of initial activity after 3 days but total Zn concentration in soil solution did not decrease. In 5 out of 9 soils equilibrium was established in 2 to 3 days. In typic ustochrepts having high clay content (3,4) equilibrium was attained in two days. In typic udipsamments (2), typic camborthids (8) and aquic vertic ustichrepts (9) it took 3 days to set equilibrium. Typic ustochrepts (5) took 5 days for equilibrium whereas typic ustipssaments (6) and typic camborthids of high O.C. did not attain equilibrium even in 7 days. This indicated that the chemistry and availability of Zn in soil would depend on soil types. When Zn_E was estimated by applying activity after equilibrium with carrier Zn and by applying activity with carrier Zn before equilibrium was set, there was no agreement in Zn_E in two methods. Increasing Zn_E with increasing Zn dose was observed by both methods only in alkaline typic ustochrept (4). In some soils higher E values than added amounts were observed, whereas, in soil 8 negative E values were obtained. The E values become erratic and are over estimated where complex reactions take place due to high pH, high O.C. and high complex forming elements.     

呼包鄂榆城市群生态系统服务价值驱动因素及其交互效应

增强呼包鄂榆城市群生态系统服务功能,对于推动黄河流域生态保护和高质量发展具有重要意义。基于研究区1990-2020年土地利用类型评价了生态系统服务价值(ESV),耦合随机森林模型与沙普利加性解释(SHAP)方法分析ESV驱动因素的重要程度、变化响应特征及其交互效应,采用偏最小二乘路径模型识别驱动因素的交互路径。结果表明:(1)研究期内耕地、草地和水域面积整体呈先增后减趋势,建设用地面积持续增加;ESV呈先减后增趋势且总体增加了62.28亿元,ESV的增长主要是林地向耕地和草地扩张的结果。(2)最主要的ESV驱动因素为土地利用类型,其贡献度达到61.24%,其次是地形和气象,贡献度分别为17.59%和17.05%,社会经济的贡献度最低,仅为1.73%;ESV对驱动因素的响应呈非线性变化特征。(3)水域比例是最重要的交互项,交互作用在因素处于不同范围内表现出不同的交互效应。土地利用直接影响ESV,而地形、气象、土壤和社会经济因素主要通过影响土地利用进而间接影响ESV,社会经济因素对ESV的直接和间接影响分别是负和正效应。研究建议通过完善城市群国土空间规划,重点加强草地、林地和水域等生态空间保护并协调好与城镇建设、矿产资源开发的关系,以提升生态系统服务功能为导向实施区域生态系统多因素协同管控。     

基于水供需服务流及外溢价值核算的太湖流域横向生态补偿机制

通过生态补偿协调流域内经济发展与生态保护的关系、缓解上下游利益相关者之间的矛盾是保障流域经济社会可持续发展的关键措施,而流域生态补偿核定的关键在于两点:一是如何模拟并量化水供需服务流动的流向、流量、流速及路径以明确供需双方及其空间关系;二是如何实现栅格尺度-地理单元-行政单元的尺度推演以实现不同行政单元之间生态系统服务的盈余、占用、外溢核算。整合卫星遥感、经济社会统计、水文气象观测等多源异构数据,集成水量平衡、水供需服务流动、生态价值核算等方法,构建了基于水供需流动及其外溢价值核算的流域横向生态补偿标准核定框架,利用D8流向法解决了水供需服务流动的流向、流量、流速及路径模拟与量化,实现了"栅格尺度-地形单元-行政单元"空间尺度推演的外溢价值核算,形成了流域内横向水生态补偿资金收取与分配方案。以太湖流域为例,在全面分析水资源外溢、占用及其价值的基础上,解析了县域尺度的水供需时空关系、流动路径及属性特征,辅以水质指标进而明确界定了责任方与补偿对象,形成了补偿资金收取与分配方案。结果表明,太湖流域水供需双方界线清晰、服务流近似于自然汇流过程,供给方以流域西部、西南部、中部县域为主,特别是西部至中部的县域,应受偿资金较多,平均各县应受偿资金比例超过2%/a,应受偿资金最多的嘉善区,比例超过19.66%/a;需求方聚集于流域中部、东部,特别是黄浦江自然汇流沿岸县域,应收取补偿资金较多,平均各县应收取资金比例超过5%/a,应收取最多的浦东新区,比例超过15.48%/a;净补偿资金基本呈现西高东低的分布特征,流域的大部分城市核心区的县域净补偿资金为负值。研究的核定框架、量化核算方法、资金统筹方案可应用到其他流域的横向生态补偿机制构建,实现流域内部与流域之间生态保护和经济发展的整体协调。     

生态产品价值实现模式应用场景及其运行机制——基于典型案例文本数据的实证分析

因地制宜选择实现模式是建立健全生态产品价值实现机制、践行"两山理论"的重要举措。利用自然资源部和生态环境部推介的生态产品价值实现典型案例文本词频数据,采用随机森林分析方法,从自然资本、生态服务和参与主体三个角度,实证总结了不同价值实现模式的应用场景及其运行机制。研究表明:生态产业化经营模式主要是用于农地自然资本,通过市场手段激励农户等经营主体参与,提升农地供给生态产品的功能。生态资源指标及产权交易模式主要是用于林地自然资本,通过生态权益交易,协调公共和私人部门之间的利益,以保护森林的调节服务功能。生态补偿模式主要是用于水域自然资本,通过建立受益者和保护者之间的补偿机制,提升水域的调节和供给服务功能。生态修复及价值提升模式主要是用于废弃工矿用地自然资本,通过政府部门和市场主体联合开展修复整治,提升废弃工矿用地的文化服务和供给功能。研究结果为因地制宜建立生态产品价值实现推进机制提供政策参考。     

长江三角洲核心区绿地系统时空演变特征及生态服务价值评估

在经济建设与环境保护矛盾突出的背景下,研究区域绿地系统时空演化特征,探讨人为因素对绿地系统生态服务的影响,对于改善绿地资源管理、促进区域永续协调发展具有重要意义。本研究基于景观生态学研究方法和生态服务价值当量因子评估法,运用ArcGIS 10.2软件的空间分析功能,对1990—2015年长江三角洲核心区绿地系统时空演化特征及生态服务价值进行了分析。结果表明:(1)长三角核心区绿地景观规模随时间的变化具有阶段性特征,呈现先扩大后缩减的态势;绿地景观与其他土地利用类型的转移存在阶段性与指向性特征;绿地景观格局总体上表现为初期集聚同质化、后期破碎异质化。(2)长三角核心区绿地系统生态服务价值随时间变化明显,不同绿地景观类型有不同的阶段性特征;长三角核心区绿地系统生态服务类型中,调节服务对于绿地系统整体生态服务价值贡献最大。(3)长三角核心区绿地系统生态服务价值在空间上呈现南北不均衡的特征,总体上呈南高北低态势,其中杭州市绿地系统生态服务价值在不同阶段均最高。区域地形地貌是影响区域生态服务价值的一个重要因素。     

山东强筋和中筋小麦品质形成的气象条件及区划

1999—2003年选用4个强筋小麦品种和12个中筋小麦品种在山东省的31个县进行试验,以各试验点当地气象站观测的小麦开花至成熟期的气象资料为依据,采用逐步回归和一元非线性回归模型进行分析.结果表明:平均气温分别为20.0℃和20.5℃时,有利于强筋和中筋小麦面团稳定时间的延长;气温日较差分别为12.7℃和11.7℃时,有利于强筋和中筋小麦籽粒蛋白质含量的提高;降水量分别为48.6mm和52.1mm,日照时数分别为297h和299h时,有利于强筋和中筋小麦沉降值的提高;降水量分别为53.5mm和53.9mm,日照时数分别为295h和298h时,有利于强筋和中筋小麦面团稳定时间的延长.单一气象因子对小麦籽粒蛋白质含量、沉降值和面团稳定时间的影响不完全同步.依据对各地气象条件进行综合评价的结果,将山东省划分为胶东与鲁中强筋、中筋小麦适宜区,鲁西北和鲁西南强筋、中筋小麦次适宜区,鲁南强筋小麦次适宜、中筋小麦适宜区.     

听神经元的频率调谐

频率作为声音的一个重要参数,在听敏感神经元对声音进行分析和编码过程中扮演重要角色。一般用频率调谐曲线来表示听敏感神经元的频率调谐特性,并用Qn(10,30,50)值表达频率调谐曲线的尖锐程度,Qn值越大,频率调谐曲线也越尖锐,神经元的频率调谐能力越好,对频率的分辨能力越高。从听觉外周到中枢,听敏感神经元的频率调谐逐级锐化,而这种锐化主要是由听中枢的多种抑制性神经递质的作用而产生的,其中起主要作用的是GABA能和甘氨酸能神经递质。此外,离皮层调控,双侧下丘间的联合投射以及弱噪声前掩蔽等因素也会影响听敏感神经元的频率调谐特性。     

The influence of locus number and information content on species delimitation: an empirical test case in an endangered Mexican salamander

Perhaps the most important recent advance in species delimitation has been the development of model‐based approaches to objectively diagnose species diversity from genetic data. Additionally, the growing accessibility of next‐generation sequence data sets provides powerful insights into genome‐wide patterns of divergence during speciation. However, applying complex models to large data sets is time‐consuming and computationally costly, requiring careful consideration of the influence of both individual and population sampling, as well as the number and informativeness of loci on species delimitation conclusions. Here, we investigated how locus number and information content affect species delimitation results for an endangered Mexican salamander species, Ambystoma ordinarium. We compared results for an eight‐locus, 137‐individual data set and an 89‐locus, seven‐individual data set. For both data sets, we used species discovery methods to define delimitation models and species validation methods to rigorously test these hypotheses. We also used integrated demographic model selection tools to choose among delimitation models, while accounting for gene flow. Our results indicate that while cryptic lineages may be delimited with relatively few loci, sampling larger numbers of loci may be required to ensure that enough informative loci are available to accurately identify and validate shallow‐scale divergences. These analyses highlight the importance of striking a balance between dense sampling of loci and individuals, particularly in shallowly diverged lineages. They also suggest the presence of a currently unrecognized, endangered species in the western part of A. ordinarium's range.