Reduction in the metabolic levels due to phenotypic plasticity in the Pyrenean newt,Calotriton asper,during cave colonization

According to theories on cave adaptation, cave organisms are expected to develop a lower metabolic rate compared to surface organisms as an adaptation to food scarcity in the subterranean environments. To test this hypothesis, we compared the oxygen consumption rates of the surface and subterranean populations of a surface‐dwelling species, the newt Calotriton asper, occasionally found in caves. In this study, we designed a new experimental setup in which animals with free movement were monitored for several days in a respirometer. First, we measured the metabolic rates of individuals from the surface and subterranean populations, both maintained for eight years in captivity in a natural cave. We then tested individuals from these populations immediately after they were caught and one year later while being maintained in the cave. We found that the surface individuals that acclimated to the cave significantly reduced their oxygen consumption, whereas individuals from the subterranean population maintained in the cave under a light/dark cycle did not significantly modify their metabolic rates. Second, we compared these metabolic rates to those of an obligate subterranean salamander (Proteus anguinus), a surface aquatic Urodel (Ambystoma mexicanum), and a fish species (Gobio occitaniae) as references for surface organisms from different phyla. As predicted, we found differences between the subterranean and surface species, and the metabolic rates of surface and subterranean C. asper populations were between those of the obligate subterranean and surface species. These results suggest that the plasticity of the metabolism observed in surface C. asper was neither directly due to food availability in our experiments nor the light/dark conditions, but due to static temperatures. Moreover, we suggest that this adjustment of the metabolic level at a temperature close to the thermal optimum may further allow individual species to cope with the food limitations of the subterranean environment.     

Colonization Characteristics and Diversity of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi in the Rhizosphere of <i>Iris lactea</i> in Songnen Saline-alkaline Grassland

To understand arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi resources and develop AM fungal species in ornamental plants with saline-alkaline tolerances, Iris lactea, which grows in the Songnen saline-alkaline grassland with a high ornamental value, was selected as the experimental material, and the colonization characteristics of its roots and the AM fungal diversity in its rhizosphere were explored. The results of the observations and calculations of mycorrhizae from ten different samples showed that AM fungi colonized the roots of I. lactea and formed Arum-type mycorrhizal structures. There was a significant correlation between soil spore density and pH value, while the colonization rate showed a fluctuating trend with increasing pH values. The observed colonization intensities were of Levels II (1%–10%) or III (11%–50%), and the vesicle abundances were of grades A₂ or A₃ among different sites. AM fungi produced a large number of mycelia and vesicles in the roots of I. lactea after colonization. Thirty-seven species belonging to 15 genera of AM fungi were isolated from the rhizosphere of I. lactea and identified by morphological identification. Funneliformis and Glomus were the dominant genera, accounting for 21.79% and 20.85% of the total number, respectively. F. mosseae and Rhizophagus intraradices were isolated in all samples with importance values of 58.62 and 51.19, respectively. These results are expected to provide a theoretical basis for the analysis of the salt tolerance mechanism of I. lactea and for the discovery, exploration and further screening of AM fungal resources with salinity tolerances in saline-alkaline soils.     

三级串联垂直潜流人工湿地的脱氮性能及微生物学特征

探究了3种水力负荷(HLR)下三级串联垂直潜流人工湿地(T-VFCWs)对农村生活污水的处理效果,并解析了系统中的氮素转化机制。结果表明: 当系统HLR由0.10增至0.20 m³·m^-2·d^-1时,T-VFCWs始终保持着对农村生活污水高效的处理效果,系统出水水质满足《城镇污水处理厂污染物排放标准》(GB 18918—2002)一级A标准。T-VFCWs中顺次连接的3个VFCW单元(标记为V-1、V-2和V-3)在限氧环境下因其进水水质的差异可形成各自不同的氮素转化途径,并通过协同作用实现系统的高效脱氮。当T-VFCWs在试验期间连续运行时,V-1、V-2和V-3中主要的脱氮途径分别为短程硝化/反硝化作用、基于亚硝化的全程自养脱氮(CANON)作用和反硝化作用,上述3单元对进水中总氮(TN)和NH₄⁺-N去除的贡献率分别为(51.3±4.4)%和(63.7±2.6)%、(30.9±4.8)%和(35.5±4.5)%、(17.8±5.0)%和(0.8±0.1)%。该研究可为组合式人工湿地的研发及工程化应用提供科学依据和技术支撑。     

鼎湖山南亚热带常绿阔叶林植物功能性状变异与不同垂直层次个体生长的关联

建立植物功能性状与群落动态之间的关联是功能生态学的核心问题之一。本文基于鼎湖山1.44 ha塔吊样地的两次调查数据, 通过采集样地内所有4,142株个体的6种植物功能性状, 对比分析了个体水平植物功能性状和物种水平功能性状均值对不同垂直层次(灌木层、亚冠层和林冠层)个体生长的影响差异。首先, 分析了不同垂直层次下各植物功能性状的变化趋势; 其次, 计算了不同垂直层次下各植物功能性状的种内和种间变异水平; 最后, 运用结构方程模型探讨了植物功能性状、光竞争以及地下竞争对不同垂直层次树木生长的影响。结果表明: (1)不同垂直层次下的植物功能性状表现出明显的分异, 由灌木层至林冠层, 叶面积、比叶面积和能量供求关系指数显著降低, 而叶片厚度和叶片干物质含量显著升高; (2)不同垂直层次下植物功能性状的种间变异均大于种内变异, 且林冠层的种内功能性状变异均大于灌木层和亚冠层; (3)基于个体水平植物功能性状的结构方程模型较物种水平功能性状均值对生长具有更高的解释程度, 且个体水平植物功能性状的引入更有利于提高对灌木层个体生长的预测能力; (4)光竞争和地下竞争主要通过影响功能性状间接影响植物生长。由灌木层至林冠层, 同种间的相互作用逐渐减弱, 异种间的相互作用逐渐增强。综上, 将个体水平植物功能性状纳入分析有助于更好地理解群落的结构和动态。     

Geographical pattern of genetic diversity in Capsella bursa‐pastoris (Brassicaceae)—A global perspective

We analyzed the global genetic variation pattern of Capsella bursa‐pastoris (Brassicaceae) as expressed in allozymic (within‐locus) diversity and isozymic (between‐locus) diversity. Results are based on a global sampling of more than 20,000 C. bursa‐pastoris individuals randomly taken from 1,469 natural provenances in the native and introduced range, covering a broad spectrum of the species’ geographic distribution. We evaluated data for population genetic parameters and F‐statistics, and Mantel tests and AMOVA were performed. Geographical distribution patterns of alleles and multilocus genotypes are shown in maps and tables. Genetic diversity of introduced populations is only moderately reduced in comparison with native populations. Global population structure was analyzed with structure, and the obtained cluster affiliation was tested independently with classification approaches and macroclimatic data using species distribution modeling. Analyses revealed two main clusters: one distributed predominantly in warm arid to semiarid climate regions and the other predominantly in more temperate humid to semihumid climate regions. We observed admixture between the two lineages predominantly in regions with intermediate humidity in both the native and non‐native ranges. The genetically derived clusters are strongly supported in macroclimatic data space. The worldwide distribution patterns of genetic variation in the range of C. bursa‐pastoris can be explained by intensive intra‐ and intercontinental migration, but environmental filtering due to climate preadaption seems also involved. Multiple independent introductions of genotypes from different source regions are obvious. “Endemic” genotypes might be the outcome of admixture or of de novo mutation. We conclude that today's successfully established Capsella genotypes were preadapted and found matching niche conditions in the colonized range parts.     

Establishing Restoration Strategy of Eastern Oyster via a Coupled Biophysical Transport Model

For marine fish and invertebrates, larval dispersal plays a critical role in determining connections among source and sink habitats, and the lack of a predictive understanding of larval dispersal is a fundamental obstacle to the development of spatially explicit restoration plans for marine populations. We investigated larval dispersal patterns of eastern oyster in an estuary along the Northern Gulf of Mexico under different simulation scenarios of tidal amplitude and phase, river discharge, wind direction, and larval vertical migration, using a coupled biophysical transport model. We focused on the dispersal of larvae released from the commercially exploited (Cedar Point, CP) and non‐exploited (Bon Secour Bay, BSB) oyster populations. We found that high flushing rates through the dominant inlet prevented larval exchange between the commercially exploited and non‐exploited populations, resulting in negligible connectivity between them. Variations in tidal amplitude, river discharge and wind direction played a more important role in the amount of larvae retained in Mobile Bay when they are released from CP than from BSB. Under most of the scenarios, larvae from BSB were retained around the spawning area, while larvae from CP showed a predominant westward flow. Net sinking behavior of late‐stage larvae increased larval retention in the bay, but physical transport showed a higher impact in the amount of larvae retained. These findings have enhanced our understanding of larval dispersal of eastern oyster in a wide, shallow estuarine system, and been used to establish spatially explicit strategies for oyster restoration in the Mobile Bay system, Alabama.     

Predation,cover, and convergent evolution in epipelagic oceans

The factor of most importance to the structure of epipelagic oceanic communities is the absence of cover and the inability to hide from predators in surface waters during the day (Elton, 1939). Visual predation in an environment devoid of cover has resulted in convergent evolution into only six modal adaptive patterns. Large, fast, visual predators roam the water, 1) alone or in 2) schools, and they eat anything of appropriate size that they see. Prey escape only by dint of 3) very small size, 4) invisibility due to tissue transparency, 5) diurnal vertical migration, or by 6) exploitation of the sea surface. The sensory ecology and physiology of zooplankton are different from that of all other animal categories in all other habitats. Epipelagic zooplankton are either extremely small animals, with small and structurally simple sense organs, or they are large, with gelatinous, transparent bodies which often lack sense organs.     

Species- and clone-specific responses to environmental stimuli in the cladocerans Bosmina cornuta and B. pellucida - a comparison with Daphnia

We studied the variation of small-scale swimming behaviour in eight Bosmina cornuta and ten B. pellucida clones in response to key environmental factors to test whether swimming behaviour and genotypes are linked in non-Daphnia cladocerans. We quantified (1) the short-term responses to changes in temperature, light intensity and pH, (2) the response to long-term temperature acclimation, and (3) the pH-related survival rates. Vertical swimming activity S was quantified in cuvette experiments as crossings of a line at 2 cm height per individual an hour. S differed significantly among species and conspecific clones. At any temperature, light intensity and pH tested, B. cornuta (clone variation: 40-58 crossings/ind.- h) showed a higher vertical swimming activity than B. pellucida (clone variation: 25-48 crossings/ind.- h). A short-term change of water temperature (range tested: 10-25C) only affected S of B. cornuta, whereas that of B. pellucida remained unaltered. In contrast, S increased with rising temperature following long-term temperature acclimation (range tested: 10-20C) in both species. Swimming activity was inversely related to the light intensity (range tested: 60-60,000 lux), but decrease of activity was stronger in B. pellucida (44′ 12 crossings/ind - h) than in B. cornuta (50′ 40 crossings/ind.- h). Short-term changes of pH (range tested: 4-6) did not influence swimming activity in any species, although a prolonged exposure (24 h) to pH 4 was lethal. Thus, Bosmina showed behavioural responses which permit to distinguish between the species and which are related to their seasonal succession and distribution pattern.     

Sustainable control of mosquito larvae in the field by the combined actions of the biological insecticide Bti and natural competitors

Integrated management of mosquitoes is becoming increasingly important, particularly in relation to avoiding recolonization of ponds after larvicide treatment. We conducted for the first time field experiments that involved exposing natural populations of the mosquito species Culex pipiens to: a) application of the biological insecticide Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (Bti), b) the introduction of natural competitors (a crustacean community composed mainly of Daphnia spp.), or c) a combined treatment that involved both introduction of a crustacean community and the application of Bti. The treatment that involved only the introduction of crustaceans had no significant effect on mosquito larval populations, while treatment with Bti alone caused only a significant reduction in the abundance of mosquito larvae in the short‐term (within 3–10 days after treatment). In contrast, the combined treatment rapidly reduced the abundance of mosquito larvae, which remained low throughout the entire observation period of 28 days. Growth of the introduced crustacean communities was favored by the immediate reduction in the abundance of mosquito larvae following Bti administration, thus preventing recolonization of ponds by mosquito larvae at the late period (days 14–28 after treatment). Both competition and the temporal order of establishment of different species are hence important mechanisms for efficient and sustainable mosquito control.