The coevolution of long‐term pair bonds and cooperation

The evolution of social traits may not only depend on but also change the social structure of the population. In particular, the evolution of pairwise cooperation, such as biparental care, depends on the pair‐matching distribution of the population, and the latter often emerges as a collective outcome of individual pair‐bonding traits, which are also under selection. Here, we develop an analytical model and individual‐based simulations to study the coevolution of long‐term pair bonds and cooperation in parental care, where partners play a Snowdrift game in each breeding season. We illustrate that long‐term pair bonds may coevolve with cooperation when bonding cost is below a threshold. As long‐term pair bonds lead to assortative interactions through pair‐matching dynamics, they may promote the prevalence of cooperation. In addition to the pay‐off matrix of a single game, the evolutionarily stable equilibrium also depends on bonding cost and accidental divorce rate, and it is determined by a form of balancing selection because the benefit from pair‐bond maintenance diminishes as the frequency of cooperators increases. Our findings highlight the importance of ecological factors affecting social bonding cost and stability in understanding the coevolution of social behaviour and social structures, which may lead to the diversity of biological social systems.     

Fortuitous Introduction and Successful Establishment ofTrichopoda pennipesF.: Adult Parasitoid ofNezara viridula(L.)

While the accidental introduction of insect pests is becoming increasingly common due to intense and rapid commercial exchanges, the incidence of accidental introduction of their parasitoids seems to be much less frequent or is overlooked. The case reported here, for a tachinid Phasiinae, is both fortuitous and fortunate since the parasitoid has been carried from the New World by a pest that is already present in the new country, Italy, where there are virtually no competitors. Establishment and specificity of the parasitoid was confirmed by the first follow-up studies immediately after its discovery.     

Density of Ixodes scapularis ticks on Monhegan Island after complete deer removal: A question of avian importation?

Questing adult blacklegged tick (Ixodes scapularis Say) abundance declined markedly three years after the 1999 removal of white‐tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus Zimmermann) from Monhegan Island, ME. Since 2000, subadult ticks have not been found on Norway rats (Rattus norvegicus Berkenhout); questing nymphs have not been found since 2002. This suggested I. scapularis was reintroduced annually via bird importation of subadult ticks, but unable to complete its two‐year life cycle on the island due to lack of deer. To investigate this, we used uncertainty analysis to estimate 1) questing adult ticks/ha that would result from avian importation of nymphs, and 2) questing adult ticks/ha on Monhegan Island, using bird capture and tick burden data from Appledore Island, ME, flagged tick data from Monhegan Island, and ten uncertain parameters. During the deer‐fed period (1990–2001), estimated tick density on Monhegan Island was 18 times greater than that of imported ticks. During the post‐deer‐fed period (2002–2008), Monhegan Island tick density was equivalent to imported tick density. This supported the premise that all I. scapularis ticks on Monhegan Island have been bird‐derived since 2002.     

Evidence for fatal collisions and kleptoparasitism while plunge‐diving in Gannets

Plunge‐diving is a highly successful strategy for dealing with the challenges confronting birds feeding on pelagic prey. We tested for evidence of fatal injuries due to collision between conspecifics in plunge‐diving Australasian Gannets Morus serrator and Cape Gannets Morus capensis, respectively, by performing post‐mortem examinations of carcasses recovered from New Zealand waters and analysing video footage of Cape Gannet foraging events from South Africa. We found evidence of accidental collisions between Gannets and also observed a case of attempted kleptoparasitism, in which a diving Cape Gannet targeted a previously captured fish in the beak of a conspecific.     

Genetic study reveals close link between Irish and Northern Spanish specimens of the protected Lusitanian slug Geomalacus maculosus

The slug Geomalacus maculosus is a prominent member of the Lusitanian fauna. As its global distribution is restricted to western Ireland and northern Iberia, it is protected under EU legislation. Nothing is known about the genetic variability and population structure of this species, so, with a special view to shedding light on the origin of the Irish G. maculosus, tissue samples from 78 specimens were collected from 13 locations within Ireland and ten locations within Iberia and partial sequences of the mitochondrial 16S rRNA and cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 (COI) and from the nuclear internal transcribed spacer 1 region (ITS‐1) were compared. The genetic diversity of the Irish G. maculosus was found to be greatly reduced compared with the Iberian populations, with only one (16S rRNA) and two (COI) mitochondrial haplotypes identified respectively. No private Irish ITS‐1 haplotype was found. Based on the COI sequences, the Irish specimens clustered closest to Spanish specimens from Northern Asturias and Cantabria, and the bGMYC analysis identified five further Iberian clades that were highly genetically differentiated suggesting long‐term allopatric divergence.     

Biocultural interpretations of trauma in two prehistoric Pacific Island populations from Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands

Two Pacific Island skeletal samples originating from the inland site of Nebira, Papua New Guinea (1230–1650) and a coastal site on the small island of Taumako, Solomon Islands (1530–1698) were examined for evidence of skeletal trauma using a biocultural approach. The types of trauma identified were cranial trauma, postcranial fractures, and piercing and sharp force trauma. Both samples exhibit trauma (Nebira, n = 9/28, 32.1%; Taumako, n = 17/133, 12.8%). Postcranial fractures are significantly higher in males from Nebira (Fisher Exact P value = 0.025). The prevalence of cranial trauma (n = 6/28, 21.4%) is significantly higher in Nebira individuals (Fisher Exact P value = 0.007). There is no conclusive evidence of piercing trauma at Nebira unlike Taumako, which has four individuals with evidence of piercing or sharp force trauma. Both samples show evidence of interpersonal violence and warfare. The results suggest the environment may have contributed to the pattern of trauma at these sites. These patterns are discussed within their cultural and environmental contexts. Am J Phys Anthropol 142:509–518, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

两例事故受照者染色体畸变分析及生物剂量估算

应用外周血淋巴细胞染色体畸变形和CB微核分析方法,对2000年河南许昌“3.06”^60Co辐射事故1例受照（A）和2000年河南开封“6.26”辐射事故一例过量放射性核素内污染致γ射线照射受照（B）的生物剂量进行估算。结果表明,“A”和“B”两例受照依据双＋环率估算的剂量分别为1.44Gy和0.15Gy,CB微核率估算的剂量分别为1.43Gy和0.22Gy,与用物理方法估算的剂量比较接近,亦与放射损伤的临床诊断一致。泊松分布检验证实,“A”偏离泊松分布,受到不均匀照射。提示染色体畸变和CB微核分析是非常可靠的生物计量估算方法。     

Substantial identity and the right to life: a rejoinder to Dean Stretton

In this article, I reply to criticisms of Dean Stretton of the pro-life argument from substantial identity. When the criterion for the right to life proposed by most proponents of the pro-life position is rightly understood--being a person, a distinct substance of a rational nature--this position does not lead to the difficulties Stretton claims it does.     

东江下游流域突发性重金属复合污染生态风险评价

流域突发性重金属污染事件发生不确定性较高,难以预测和防控,严重威胁流域生态安全、人群健康乃至社会稳定。本研究以东江下游流域为研究区开展生态风险评价,基于“多风险源(危险性)-多胁迫因子(联合暴露)-多风险受体(脆弱性)-生态风险”的风险传递框架,运用贝叶斯网络,计算东江下游流域突发性Cr⁶⁺-Hg²⁺复合污染生态风险,概率化表征风险不确定性,进而提出流域风险防控与管理措施。结果表明：(1)东江下游深莞惠地区67家涉重金属风险源均会对其子流域造成生态风险,惠州市的生态风险明显高于深圳市和东莞市;(2)东江下游西枝江子流域的生态风险最为显著,其次是东江下游干流子流域和东江下游河网区子流域;(3)基于敏感性分析,“河流水体脆弱性”是造成东江下游流域生态风险的主导因子。研究结果可为东江下游流域生态风险防控与管理提供理论支持。