The role of epiphytism in architecture and evolutionary constraint within mycorrhizal networks of tropical orchids

Characterizing the architecture of bipartite networks is increasingly used as a framework to study biotic interactions within their ecological context and to assess the extent to which evolutionary constraint shape them. Orchid mycorrhizal symbioses are particularly interesting as they are viewed as more beneficial for plants than for fungi, a situation expected to result in an asymmetry of biological constraint. This study addressed the architecture and phylogenetic constraint in these associations in tropical context. We identified a bipartite network including 73 orchid species and 95 taxonomic units of mycorrhizal fungi across the natural habitats of Reunion Island. Unlike some recent evidence for nestedness in mycorrhizal symbioses, we found a highly modular architecture that largely reflected an ecological barrier between epiphytic and terrestrial subnetworks. By testing for phylogenetic signal, the overall signal was stronger for both partners in the epiphytic subnetwork. Moreover, in the subnetwork of epiphytic angraecoid orchids, the signal in orchid phylogeny was stronger than the signal in fungal phylogeny. Epiphytic associations are therefore more conservative and may co‐evolve more than terrestrial ones. We suggest that such tighter phylogenetic specialization may have been driven by stressful life conditions in the epiphytic niches. In addition to paralleling recent insights into mycorrhizal networks, this study furthermore provides support for epiphytism as a major factor affecting ecological assemblage and evolutionary constraint in tropical mycorrhizal symbioses.     

Entomofauna resource distribution associated with pig cadavers in Bogotá DC

A cadaver represents a temporal energy‐loaded resource, which provides arthropods with food, protection and a place in which to find a mate. Insects are usually the first organisms to discover and colonize a cadaver; as decomposition progresses, insects colonize cadavers in a predictable sequence. This work aimed to establish cadaverous entomofauna relationships with regard to stages of decomposition and environmental conditions using multiple correspondence analysis and thereby to identify the way in which insects distribute a perishable and changing resource. Entomofauna were thus collected in a semi‐rural area near Bogotá from the cadavers of three pigs (Sus scrofa L.) which had been shot. Environmental variables were recorded for each sampling. Multiple correspondence analyses were carried out for adult forms belonging to Diptera and Coleoptera families and stages of decomposition, and for Diptera and Coleoptera adult forms and environmental conditions. Stages of decomposition were a primary determining factor for structuring four guilds of entomofauna. However, environmental conditions influenced insect activity and were therefore a relevant factor in the structure of the entomofauna community. The results showed that the insects' distribution of available resources was related to changes in the stage of decomposition.     

Farms,pastures and woodlands: the fine‐scale distribution of Palearctic Culicoides spp. biting midges along an agro‐ecological gradient

The spatial epidemiology of Bluetongue virus (BTV) at the landscape level relates to the fine‐scale distribution and dispersal capacities of its vectors, midges belonging to the genus Culicoides Latreille (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae). Although many previous researches have carried out Culicoides sampling on farms, little is known of the fine‐scale distribution of Culicoides in the landscape immediately surrounding farms. The aim of this study was to gain a better understanding of Culicoides populations at increasing distances from typical dairy farms in north‐west Europe, through the use of eight Onderstepoort‐type black‐light traps positioned along linear transects departing from farms, going through pastures and entering woodlands. A total of 16 902 Culicoides were collected in autumn 2008 and spring 2009. The majority were females, of which more than 97% were recognized as potential vectors. In pastures, we found decreasing numbers of female Culicoides as a function of the distance to the farm. This pattern was modelled by leptokurtic models, with parameters depending on season and species. By contrast, the low number of male Culicoides caught were homogeneously distributed along the transects. When transects entered woodlands, we found a higher abundance of Culicoides than expected considering the distance of the sampling sites to the farm, although this varied according to species.     

Localization of sources of thalamic inputs into the sensorimotor cortex in the rabbit using retrograde axonal transport technique

It was shown that the rabbit sensorimotor cortex received afferent fibers from neurons located in the specific, nonspecific, and association thalamic nuclei using the retrograde axonal transport technique. The distribution, dimensions, and shape of the somata of relay neurons spread through the thalamic nuclei were analyzed. The total number of neurons sending out thalamo-sensorimotor-cortical fibers was calculated and the coordinates of loci with the highest density of these cells in each thalamic nucleus were identified. Multipolar and stellate cells with somata measuring 12–20 µm and 10–15 µm in diameter, respectively, prevailed amongst relay neurons. Amongst the specific nuclei, the majority of afferent fibers are sent out by the ventrolateral, ventral anterior, and anterior ventral nuclei. A comparable number of afferent fibers are sent out by the mediodorsal and paracentral nuclei; these split up among the association nuclei and paracentral nuclei, respectively. It is suggested that afferents from many different groups of thalamic nuclei are essential for the sensorimotor cortex to participate in thalamocortical interaction.Institute of Higher Nervous Activity and Neurophysiology, Academy of Sciences of the USSR, Moscow. Translated from Neirofiziologiya, Vol. 19, No. 1, pp. 87–94, January–February, 1987.     

褐稻虱取食试验及防治探讨

本文用茚三酮法, 以褐稻虱Nilaparvata lugens(stal)排泄的蜜露面积来测定其相对取食量.试验表明:取食量随虫期增大, 逐日取食分布各虫期呈现明显的峰期(图3);发育历期与累积取食量成幂函数关系: N(t)=0.0531t^2.298式中N(t)=累积取食量, t=发育历期(天);褐稻虱各虫期取食率的变化;若以一龄若虫为1计算, 一一四龄若虫取食量比分别为1:1.66:2.10:3.16:10.26, 成虫为73.19;羽化后8天, 短翅型雌虫日均取食量比长翅型雄虫大6.33倍;按褐稻虱的取食行为, 化学防治适期以世代成虫初见期为宜.     

Effects of Growth Regulators and Glutamine on In Vitro Development of Zygotic Embryos of Taro (Colocasia esculenta var. antiquorum)

Zygotic embryos of taro, Colocasia esculenta var. antiquorumcultured on Linsmaier-Skoog (LS) medium without the additionof hormones develop into mature plants only in the presenceof endosperm tissue. Growth is usually evident within the firstweek of culture when embryos swell and become green. Embryosexcised from endosperm and cultured on LS containing 0-01 mg1^–1 naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA), and 0–01 mg 1^–16-dimethylaminopurine (6-DMAP) grow at a rate comparable withcontrols for the first week of culture. During the second week,growth rates are higher than controls primarily because embryosform elongated hypocotyl regions which often produce swollentissues and/or callus. In the presence of 200 mg 1^–1 glutamineand a range of concentrations of 6-dimethylaminopurine, benzyladenine,or NAA, elongation of the hypocotyl axis is inhibited, and acompact callus may develop. Embryos grown on LS containing 200mg 1^–1 glutamine and 2.0 mg 1^–1 2, 4, 5-trichlorophenoxyaceticacid form friable callus which was used to generate short-livedsuspension cultures. Growth Regulators, Glutamine, tygotic embryos, Colocasia esculenta, endosperm     

5—羟色胺对大鼠下丘脑脑薄片室旁核神经元自发电活动的作用

在20个下丘脑脑片上,用玻璃微电极细胞外记录了46个室旁核神经元的自发放电单位,观察了5-羟色胺对它们的作用。当薄片用含5-羟色胺(10~(-6)mol/L)的人工脑脊液灌流后,有16个单位放电频率明显增加,反应的潜伏期为1.21±1.21 min。这种反应可被5-羟色胺的阻断剂噻庚啶所阻断。3个单位放电频率明显减少,27个单位无明显反应。实验结果表明约1/3的下丘脑室旁核神经元能被5-羟色胺所激活。     

稻虱跗(虫扇)的个体发生研究:生活史和寄生作用

稻虱跗蝙Elenchinus japonicus Esaki et Hashimoto属(捻翅目)跗蝙科,在稻田寄生于白背稻虱、褐稻虱和灰稻虱.稻虱跗蝙在母体血腔中发育、孵化产生三爪蚴,三爪蚴通过生殖沟、生殖孔、育道和育道开口离开母体.三爪蚴离开母体在稻株上活动.一旦靠近寄主,用足抓住寄主,爬在它们身上.它通过节间膜进入寄主,变成蛆状蚴,开始取食.幼虫在寄主体内继续发育,达到足够大小,它们羽化成虫.雌成虫留在寄主体内,仅露出“帽子”(即头胸部),雄虫离开寄主,自由飞翔、雄成虫寿命很短(<12小时),它们积极寻找雌虫,进行交配,发现交配位置在育道口,支配时间约1—2秒钟.雄成虫体长1.33mm;展翅约2.25mm;雌成虫体长1.6—2.6mm,宽0.88—1.35mm;头胸部长0.2mm;育道口宽0.15mm,卵在雌成虫体内形成,而卵母细胞在雌幼虫体内发育.卵长75μm×宽40μm.第1期幼虫(三爪蚴):体长0.2mm;尾须为体长1/3.第Ⅱ期幼虫(蛆伏蚴)足和附肢都退化;第Ⅱ期幼虫分成4个龄期,具口和消化道,蛹属围蛹.卵历期7—8天,而三爪蚴历期仅1天.蛆状蚴(2—5龄)历期10—11天,蛹历期约3—4天,雌成虫历期7—8天.在实验室,每世代历期约20—23天.稻虱跗蝙的寄生作用较低,由于三爪蚴找不到稻虱很快死亡.在浙江1983—1986年调查,稻虱跗蝙对白背稻虱成、若虫寄生率5—7%,灰稻虱的寄生率为2%,褐稻虱为1%.有时白背稻虱的寄生率可达20—40%.     

云南省厉螨科一新属新种（蜱螨亚纲：革螨股）

在云南陇川县的蟋蟀Gryllus sp.体上采得一种革螨,系厉螨科Ltelapidae Berlese中未曾描述过的种类,并为之建立新属,订名为滇厉螨属Dianolaelaps gen.nov.,属模标本为蟋蟀滇厉螨Dianolaelaps gryllus sp.nov.。新属的主要鉴别特征是:雌螨螯钳动趾端部分三叉;颚角内侧有沟漕并具齿突;口下片末端,在颚角与下咽间有长圆形结构,其内缘并具透明的尖齿列;涎针有膜状结构包绕;足Ⅰ—Ⅲ基节各具一棘,各基节远端侧具细小毛列。