Neural inhibition sharpens auditory spatial selectivity of bat inferior collicular neurons

This study examines the role of neural inhibition in auditory spatial selectivity of inferior collicular neurons of the big brown bat, Eptesicus fuscus, using a two-tone inhibition paradigm. Two-tone inhibition decreases auditory spatial response areas but increases the slopes of directional sensitivity curves of inferior collicular neurons. Inferior collicular neurons have either directionally-selective or hemifield directional sensitivity curves. A directionally-selective curve always has a peak which is at least 50% larger than the minimum. A hemifield directional sensitivity curve rises from an ipsilateral angle by more than 50% and either reaches a plateau or declines by less than 50% over a range of contralateral angles. Two-tone inhibition does not change directionally-selective curves but changes most hemifield directional sensitivity curves into directionally-selective curves. Auditory spatial selectivity determined both with and without two-tone inhibition increases with increasing best-excitatory frequency. Sharpening of auditory spatial selectivity by two-tone inhibition is larger for neurons with smaller differences between excitatory and inhibitory best frequencies. The effect of two-tone inhibition on auditory spatial selectivity increases with increasing inhibitory tone intensity but decreases with increasing intertone interval. The implications of these findings in bat echolocation are discussed. Accepted: 18 January 2000     

Some New Aspects of 2 × 2 Table Measures and Their Applications

The paper deals with the analysis of 2 × 2 table measures and describes several new possibilities for applying them. An estimate is given for HELLMICH's asymmetric K-measure and a possible extension of the contingency concept in a special 2×2 case is presented. The concept introduced and the recommended computer application of the 2×2 table measures is supported by new results obtained for the relationship between jaw joint pains and noises examined earlier by F. SCHMID and C. ZSCHEGE. With a larger number of observations the opportunity arises for a deeper analysis of this dental problem using path analysis. The plan of evaluation and the conncetion between the variables examined is illustrated by a path-diagram. The association tables determined on the basis of the (C) values introduced during the examination of jaw joint disturbances using association analysis draw attention to the special role of the left side of mastication. The paper raises ideas for further generalisations and indicates where further research is needed.     

A new dissimilarity measure and a new optimality criterion in phytosociological classification

A new dissimilarity measure, Uppsala dissimilarity, is proposed. It is a Manhattan-type measure in between the Canberra and Gower measures, based on the differences between scores in relevés compared, but it also takes both the sums of scores and the difference between maximum and minimum score into account. The measure is considered realistic for phytosociological material.A new optimality criterion has been developed after unsatisfactory results had been obtained with the DOL criterion (Popma et al. 1983) which was developed previously by our group. Problems with DOL were especially met when the criterion was applied to the distribution of only one species over the cluster array obtained. The new criterion takes both internal cluster homogeneity and between-cluster dissimilarity into account. Between-cluster dissimilarity is calculated for all other clusters and not only for the nearest neighbour, as in DOL. The new criterion has both an unweighted form: SOM, and a form with weighting for cluster size: SWOM.This new criterion was successfully applied to the evaluation of the sharpness of distribution of individual species over cluster arrays, under the name of SIM: species indication measure and SWIM, species weighted indication measure.The measures were applied to some test data. Differences between the unweighted and weighted forms were found which could not be easily interpreted.Some remarks are made on the coherence of d-SAHN and h-SAHN approaches in agglomerative clustering within the new strategy proposed.Abbreviations DOL = Detection of Optimal Level - S(W)IM = Species (Weighted) Indication Measure - S(W)OM = Standardized (Weighted) Optimality Measure - UD = Uppsala Dissimilarity measure - WPGMA = Weighted Pair-Group Method Average linking clustering - SAHN = Sequential Agglomerative Hierarchical Non-overlapping clustering     

The fecundity patterns of S and L type rotifers of Brachionus plicatilis

Fecundity patterns of S and L type rotifers Brachionus plicatilis, which were previously found to have distinct growth ability, were analyzed using data of age-specific fecundity. The data were obtained by individual cultures of S and L type strains at 17, 24 and 34 °C. The pattern was analyzed by using normal probability functions. When the age was transformed into logarithmic value, the S and L types had an identical pattern of fecundity at every temperature. This fact indicates that the difference of the growth response to the temperature between S and L type strains stemmed only from the differences in net reproduction rate, not from the pattern.     

Feedback inhibition of sodium uptake in K+-depolarized toad urinary bladders

Ouabain-blocked toad urinary bladders were maintained in Na⁺-free mucosal solutions, and a depolarizing solution of high K⁺ activity containing only 5 mM Na⁺ on the serosal side. Exposure to mucosal sodium (20 mM activity) evoked a transient amiloride-blockable inward current, which decayed to near zero within one hour. The apical sodium conductance increased in the initial phase of the current decay and decreased in the second phase. The conductance decrease required Ca²⁺ to be present on the serosal side and was more rapid when the mucosal Na⁺ activity was higher. At 20 mM mucosal Na⁺ and 3 mM serosal Ca²⁺ the initial (maximal) rate of inhibition amounted to 20% in 10 min. The conductance decrease could be accelerated by raising the serosal Ca²⁺ activity to 10 mM. The inhibition reversed on lowering the serosal Ca²⁺ to 3 μM and, in addition, the mucosal Na⁺ to zero. Exposure of the mucosal surface to the ionophore nystatin abolished the Ca²⁺ sensitivity of the transcellular conductance, showing that the Ca²⁺-sensitive conductance resides in the apical membrane. The data imply that in the K⁺-depolarized epithelia, cellular Ca²⁺, taken up from the serosal medium by means of a Na⁺-Ca²⁺ antiport, cause feedback inhibition by blockage of apical Na⁺ channels. However, the rate of inhibition is small, such that this regulatory mechanism will have little effect at 1 mM serosal Ca²⁺ and less than 20 mM cellular Na⁺.     

Downhill movement of litter and its implication for ecological studies in three types of forest in Japan

The amount of litter moving down the slope was measured in three types of forest, together with an examination of rain as a factor in bringing this about. The three forest types were a natural mixed stand ofPinus densiflora and hardwood trees (plot A), aCryptomeria japonica plantation (plot S) and aChamaecyparis obtusa plantation (plot H). The amount of moved litter was quite large in plots A and H, but relatively small in plot S. The rain factor had little influence on litter movement in plot A, but was the main cause of movement in plot S and (especially) plot H. It is suggested that measurement of litter input and output not only by traps above ground level, but also by ones on the ground is essential for determining the cycling of elements inC. obtusa forests. It is also suggested that the decomposition of leaf litter should be studied both on the soil surface and in the soil inC. obtusa forests.     

1980—2018年祁连山南坡土地利用变化及其驱动力

祁连山是我国第一阶梯和第二阶梯的分界线,生态环境脆弱,对过渡地带土地利用变化及其驱动力研究具有重要的生态意义。本研究以祁连山南坡为研究区,基于1980—2018年遥感影像数据,运用空间自相关分析法、ArcGIS空间分析方法和主成分分析法分析了土地利用的时空变化特征及其驱动力。结果表明: 1980—2018年,草地是研究区土地利用类型的主体,建设用地所占比重最小,水域、草地表现为下降趋势,未利用土地、建设用地和耕地均呈现出增长态势,林地变化较小。不同地类单一土地利用动态度从大到小依次为:建设用地＞水域＞耕地＞未利用土地＞林地＞草地,综合土地利用动态度为0.9%。不同土地利用类型空间分布表现出空间集聚性特征。耕地增加的区域和林地、草地减少的区域主要分布在门源县城所处大通河谷地西北侧,天峻县东北部大通河上游地区存在工矿建设用地占用草地的现象。土地利用变化驱动力主要为人口数量、科技、城市化、经济发展水平和政策。本研究结果可为政府合理规划和利用土地资源提供依据,对祁连山南坡生态环境保护和社会经济可持续发展具有重大意义。     

坡向和坡位对四川夹金山灌丛群落结构与物种多样性特征的影响

研究不同坡向、坡位夹金山灌丛群落结构和物种多样性特征。结果表明: 在 24 个样地中,共有维管植物 186 种,隶属于 50 科 127 属。其中,灌木层有 32 种,隶属于 14 科 22 属,阴坡下坡位物种数最多;草本层有 154 种,隶属于 43 科 109 属,阴坡物种数最少。灌木层的平均高度表现为阳坡>半阳坡>阴坡,平均密度则相反;草本层平均高度表现为阴坡>半阳坡>阳坡,平均密度无显著变化。坡位仅对阳坡草本层平均高度有显著影响,灌木层物种多样性在阴坡较高,草本层物种多样性在阳坡下坡位和阴坡中坡位较高。坡向对灌木层和草本层 Shannon多样性指数、Simpson优势度指数、物种丰富度指数、Pielou均匀度指数影响显著(除草本层 Simpson 指数),坡位对灌木层和草本层物种多样性指数均无显著影响,坡向和坡位的交互作用对草本层物种多样性的影响大于灌木层。冗余分析(RDA)表明,物种多样性不仅与坡向正弦值、坡向余弦值相关,也与群落结构特征相关性较大。