贵州紫云坝寨上泥盆统弗拉阶中的放射虫Helenifore robustum动物群

作者在贵州紫云县坝寨上泥盆统弗拉阶响水洞组硅质岩中发现了Helenifore robustum放射虫动物群,共描述7属13种,其中包括1个未定种和2个新种.作者还讨论了这个动物群的特征及与国内外的对比关系,并指出产于我国云南、贵州、广西和泰国北部的这个动物群是属于古特提斯洋中原地型浮游动物群,而在美国内华达州Roberts 山脉推覆体的硅质岩和澳大利亚东部新英格兰造山带的硅质粉砂岩中发现的这个动物群是后来的板块运动把这些含有H.robustum动物群的地层碎块拼贴到北美和东澳大陆上去的结果,属于异地型动物群.     

多胞锈菌属（锈菌目，多胞锈菌科）3新种和两中国新记录

报道了多胞锈菌属Phragmidium(多胞锈菌科Phragmidiaceae)的3个新种和两中国新记录。新种是采自香莓Rubus pungens var. oldhamii上的多隔多胞锈菌P.multiseptatum、采自峨眉蔷薇Rosa omeiensis上的粗壮多胞锈菌P. robustum以及采自华中悬钩子Rubus cockburnianus上的西藏多胞锈菌P. tibeticum。中国新记录是二花悬钩子Rubus biflorus和掌叶悬钩子R. pentagonus上的八室多胞锈菌P. octoloculare以及秀丽悬钩子Rubus amabilis、香莓R.pungens var.oldhamii、柔毛针刺悬钩子R.pungens var. villosus和西藏悬钩子R. thibetanus上的香莓多胞锈菌P. rubi-oldhami。     

Asexual endophytes and associated alkaloids alter arthropod community structure and increase herbivore abundances on a native grass

Despite their minute biomass, microbial symbionts of plants potentially alter herbivory, diversity and community structure. Infection of grasses by asexual endophytic fungi often decreases herbivore loads and alters arthropod diversity. However, most studies to date have involved agronomic grasses and often consider only infection status (infected vs. uninfected), without explicitly measuring endophyte-produced alkaloids, which vary among endophyte isolates and may impact consumers. We combined field experiments and population surveys to investigate how endophyte infection and associated alkaloids influence abundances, species richness, evenness and guild structure of arthropod communities on a native grass, Achnatherum robustum (sleepygrass). Surprisingly, we found that endophyte-produced alkaloids were associated with increased herbivore abundances and species richness. Our results suggest that, unlike what has been found in agronomic grass systems, high alkaloid levels in native grasses may not protect host grasses from arthropod herbivores, and may instead more negatively affect natural enemies of herbivores.
Ecology Letters (2010) 13: 106–117     

Field-cage experiments on host fidelity in a pair of sympatric phytophagous ladybird beetles

Using field cages, we tested the hypothesis that two phytophagous ladybird beetles, Henosepilachna niponica (Lewis) and Henosepilachna yasutomii Katakura (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae: Epilachninae), are reproductively isolated from each other by their host fidelity alone. We planted host plants of the two species [the thistle Cirsium alpicola Nakai (Asteraceae) for H. niponica and the blue cohosh, Caulophyllum robustum Maxim. (Berberidaceae), for H. yasutomii] in 7 × 7 m cages (BT cages), and planted the two host plants and the beetles’ common food plant, the Japanese nightshade, Solanum japonense Nakai (Solanaceae), in other cages (BJT cages). We then released overwintered reproducing beetles into these cages and recorded their dispersal, the distribution of egg masses, and the incidence of copulations. In BT cages, the beetles moved almost exclusively between their own host plants, and all females laid eggs exclusively on their own host plants. In BJT cages, the beetles moved between their own host plants and the Japanese nightshade, resulting in occasional interspecific mating on the same nightshade plant. Females of both species laid eggs on their own host plants as well as on the Japanese nightshade. These results indicate that host fidelity functions as a strong barrier against gene flow between H. niponica and H. yasutomii. However, this barrier can easily be broken down if a third plant species bridges the beetle populations.     

Territoriality and microhabitat selection in two intertidal New Zealand fish

Aspects of territoriality and microhabitat selection in Acanthoclinus fuscus and Forsterygion nigripenne robustum were studied in intra- and interspecific confrontation experiments under tidal and constant conditions. In both species aggressive responses were closely related to activity with maximal frequencies during the first 2 h of the experiments. Under tidal conditions activity was higher than at constant water level. Size predominantly affected contest outcome in both species. Initiation of the first bout and past experience were further important factors, whereas prior residence did not influence dominance relationships. Dominant individuals defended access to shelter and low tide pools as critical resources. A. fuscus preferred tubes matching the body size for cover, whereas F. n. robustum spent more time in caves and on open areas. Furthermore, A. fuscus preferred shallower water and was able to sustain long periods out of water. The different microhabitat preferences may reduce interspecific competition. Although A. fuscus did not win significantly more trials, higher aggressive tendencies were observed in this species.     

Gut passage effect of the introduced red‐whiskered bulbul (Pycnonotus jocosus) on germination of invasive plant species in Mauritius

In Mauritius, many of the worst invasive plant species have fleshy fruits and rely on animals for dispersal. The introduced red‐whiskered bulbul (Pycnonotus jocosus) feeds on many fleshy‐fruited species, and often moves from invaded and degraded habitats into higher quality native forests, thus potentially acting as a mediator of continued plant invasion into these areas. Furthermore, gut passage may influence seed germination. To investigate this, we fed fleshy fruits of two invasive plant species, Ligustrum robustum and Clidemia hirta, to red‐whiskered bulbuls. Gut passage times of seeds were recorded. Gut‐passed seeds were sown and their germination rate and germination success compared with that of hand‐cleaned seeds, as well as that of seeds in whole fruits. Gut passage and hand‐cleaning had significant positive effects on germination of both species. Gut‐passed seeds of both C. hirta and L. robustum germinated faster than hand‐cleaned seeds. However, for L. robustum, this was only true when compared with hand‐cleaned seeds with intact endocarp; when compared with hand‐cleaned seeds without endocarp, there was no difference. For overall germination success, there was a positive effect of gut passage for C. hirta, but not for L. robustum. For both C. hirta and L. robustum, no seeds in intact fruits geminated, suggesting that removal of pulp is essential for germination. Our results suggest that, first, the initial invasion of native forests in Mauritius may not have happened so rapidly without efficient avian seed dispersers like the red‐whiskered bulbul. Second, the bulbul is likely to be a major factor in the continued re‐invasion of C. hirta and L. robustum into weeded and restored conservation management areas.     

Detection of ecological hybrid inviability in a pair of sympatric phytophagous ladybird beetles (Henosepilachna spp.)

Ecological speciation is a process by which reproductive isolation evolves as the result of divergent natural selection between populations inhabiting distinct environments or exploiting alternative resources. Ecological hybrid inviability provides direct evidence for ecological speciation. To detect ecological hybrid inviability, we examined survival rates to the second instar of F1 hybrids and backcross hybrids in a pair of sympatric phytophagous ladybird beetles, Henosepilachna niponica Lewis and Henosepilachna yasutomii Katakura (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae: Epilachninae), reared on their respective host plants, thistle [Cirsium alpicola Nakai (Asteraceae)] and blue cohosh [Caulophyllum robustum Maxim. (Berberidaceae)], and on a common food plant, Japanese nightshade [Solanum japonense Nakai (Solanaceae)]. Hybrid larvae reared on leaves of the Japanese nightshade always had high rates of survival, irrespective of the crossing type of their parents, suggesting a lack of intrinsic hybrid inviability between the two species. In contrast, survival rates on thistle and blue cohosh varied greatly. On blue cohosh, the survival rate of F1 hybrids was nearly as high as that of H. yasutomii, but on thistle, survival was significantly lower than of H. niponica. Survival rates of backcross hybrids on the two host plants were intermediate between those of the parents, showing a reversed rank order of different types of backcross hybrids on the two food plant species. These results suggest that ecological hybrid inviability exists between H. niponica and H. yasutomii, although the two species do not show intrinsic hybrid inviability. Thus, our study supports the hypothesis that H. niponica and H. yasutomii underwent ecological speciation by divergent selection.