A total of 900 soil samples were collected from five habitats,including primary coniferous broad-leaved mixed forests,secondary coniferous broad-leaved mixed forests,secondary broad-leaved forests,secondary shrub fore...A total of 900 soil samples were collected from five habitats,including primary coniferous broad-leaved mixed forests,secondary coniferous broad-leaved mixed forests,secondary broad-leaved forests,secondary shrub forests,and cutover lands in spring,summer,and autumn to quantify responses of soil Collembolans(springtails)to the restoration of vegetation of temperate coniferous and broad-leaved mixed forests.The results reveal that the taxonomic composition of Collembolans varied in the different stages of vegetation restoration.Seasonal variations were in regard to their abundance and richness.High similarities existed in Collembola communities at different stages of vegetation restoration,and distribution patterns of Collembola taxa displayed an evenness throughout all habitats.Soil Collembolans tended to gather on litter layers and soil surface;the highest abundance was found in the upper 5 cm soil layer during the initial stages of vegetation recovery.Tomocerus,Proisotoma,and Folsomia genera responded positively to the restoration of vegetation.However,responses of Ceratophysella and Parisotoma genera were negative.In addition,the Onychiuridae family did not respond to the vegetation restoration process.It was concluded that restoration of vegetative cover can increase the abundance of soil Collembolans,but different genera respond differently.展开更多
Elm （Ulmus pumila）, widely distributed in the north temperate zone, contributes to a special savanna-like woodland in typical grassland region in the northeastern China. This woodland performs a variety of ecologica...Elm （Ulmus pumila）, widely distributed in the north temperate zone, contributes to a special savanna-like woodland in typical grassland region in the northeastern China. This woodland performs a variety of ecological functions and environmental signifi- cance, such as decreasing soil erosion, stabilizing sand dunes, preserving species diversity. However, in the last approximate 30 years, the species composition, productivity and distribution area of elm woodland has decreased severely. A series of studies have been carried out to find out whether the climate changes or human disturbances caused the degradation of elm woodland and how these factors af- fected elm woodland. In this study, undisturbed, plowing and grazing elm woodland were investigated in 1983 and 2011 by using Point-Centered Quarter method. The relationship between vegetation changes and environmental factors was analyzed by Bray-Curtis ordination. The results show that in 2011, species diversity and understory productivity of undisturbed elm woodland decrease slightly compared to those of undisturbed elm woodland in 1983. However, nearly 60% of the species is lost in the plowing and grazing elm woodland relative to the species undisturbed elm woodland in 1983. Interestingly, plowing stimulates the growth of elm and certain understory species through furrowing soil and accelerating soil nutrient turnover rate. Grazing disturbance not only leads to species loss and productivity decrease, but also induces changes in elm growth （small, short and twisted）. The mean age of the elm was 29 -4- 2 yr in undisturbed and plowing elm woodland, while only 15 yr in the grazing elm woodland. The results of Bray-Curtis ordination analysis show that all sample stands clustered to three groups： Group I including the undisturbed sample stands of 83UE （undisturbed elm wood- land in 1983） and l lUE （undisturbed elm woodland in 2011）; Group II including sample stands of PE （elm woodland disturbed by plowing）; Group III including samples stands of GE （elm woodland disturbed by grazing）. The results indicate that the long time distur- bance of the plowing and grazing have converted elm woodland to different community types. Climate change is not the primary reason causing the degradation of elm woodland, but plowing and grazing disturbance. Both plowing and grazing decrease the vegetation composition and species diversity. Grazing further decreases vegetation productivity and inhibits the growth of elm tree. Therefore, we suggest that reasonable plowing and exclusive grazing would be favorable for future regeneration of degraded elm woodland.展开更多
In insects,the number and specificity of antennal lobe glomeruli often reflect the number and diversity of expressed chemosensory genes,which are linked to its ecological niche and specific olfactory needs.The orienta...In insects,the number and specificity of antennal lobe glomeruli often reflect the number and diversity of expressed chemosensory genes,which are linked to its ecological niche and specific olfactory needs.The oriental armyworm,Mythimna separata,is an important and common lepidopteran pest of cereal crops.Given its reliance on the olfactory system for crucial behaviors,understanding the evolutionary potential of this system requires a thorough characterization of the anatomical structure of the primary olfactory center.Here,we systematically identified all antennal lobe glomeruli of M.separata based on synaptic antibody immunostaining and mass staining of the olfactory sensory neurons.A total of 69 glomeruli were identified in females and 65 in males,and an intuitive nomenclature based on glomerular positions was applied.Our findings uncovered some sex-specific glomeruli in this species.There were ten female-specific glomeruli and three male-specific glomeruli,except for the macroglomerular complex(MGC)units,with a notable observation that the female labial pit organ glomerulus was larger than its male counterpart.Additionally,we identified four antennal-lobe tracts(ALTs)and retrograde labeling from the calyx revealed that all glomeruli were innervated by the medial ALT projection neurons.The comparison of the olfactory system structures between M.separata and sympatric moths supports their evolutionary convergence in noctuid moths.These results collectively lay the foundation for future studies on olfactory processing in M.separata.展开更多
Understanding how summer warming influences the parent and daughter shoot production in a perennial clonal grass is vital for comprehending the response of grassland productivity to global warming.Here,we conducted a s...Understanding how summer warming influences the parent and daughter shoot production in a perennial clonal grass is vital for comprehending the response of grassland productivity to global warming.Here,we conducted a simulated experiment using potted Leymus chinensis,to study the relationship between the photosynthetic activ-ity of parent shoots and the production of daughter shoots under a whole(90 days)summer warming scenario(+3°C).The results showed that the biomass of parents and buds decreased by 25.52%and 33.45%,respectively,under warming conditions.The reduction in parent shoot biomass due to warming directly resulted from decreased leaf area(18.03%),chlorophyll a(18.27%),chlorophyll b(29.21%)content,as well as a reduction in net photosynthetic rate(7.32%)and the maximum quantum efficiency of photosystem II(PSII)photochemistry(4.29%).The decline in daughter shoot biomass was linked to a decrease in daughter shoot number(33.33%)by warming.However,the number of belowground buds increased by 46.43%.The results indicated that long-term summer warming reduces biomass accumulation in parent shoot by increasing both limitation of stoma and non-stoma.Consequently,the parent shoot allocates relatively more biomass to the belowground organs to maintain the survival and growth of buds.Overall,buds,as a potential aboveground population,could remedy for the cur-rent loss of parent shoot density by increasing the number of future daughter shoots if summer warming subsides.展开更多
Water is a restrictive factor for plant growth and ecosystem stability in arid and semiarid areas. The dynamics of water availability in soils and water use by plants are consequently critical to ecosystem functions, ...Water is a restrictive factor for plant growth and ecosystem stability in arid and semiarid areas. The dynamics of water availability in soils and water use by plants are consequently critical to ecosystem functions, e.g. maintaining a high resistance to the changing climate. Plant water use strategies, including water-use efficiency （WUE） and the main water source that a plant species utilizes, play an important role in the evaluation of stability and sustainability of a plantation. The water use strategies of desert plants （Tamarix chinensis, Alhagi sparsifolia, Elaeagnus angustifolia, Sophora alopecuroides, Bassia dasyphylla and Nitraria sphaerocarpa） in three different habitats （saline land, sandy land and Gobi） in Dunhuang （located in the typical arid area of northwestern China） were studied. The stable isotope of oxygen was used to determine the main water source and leaf carbon isotope discrimination was used to estimate the long-term WUE of plant species in the summer of 2010. The results suggest that： 1） the studied desert plants took up soil water below the depth of 80 cm; 2） T. chinensis in the three habitats used deeper soil water and T. chinensis in the Gobi site had higher WUE than those in the saline land and the sandy land. The results indicated that desert plants in Dunhuang depended on stable water source and maintained high WUE to survive in water limited environments.展开更多
Stomata control carbon and water vapor exchange between the leaves and the atmosphere,thus infl uencing photosynthesis and transpiration.Combinations of forest patches with different stand ages are common in nature,ho...Stomata control carbon and water vapor exchange between the leaves and the atmosphere,thus infl uencing photosynthesis and transpiration.Combinations of forest patches with different stand ages are common in nature,however,information of which stomatal traits vary among these stands and how,remains limited.Here,seven different aged forest stands(6,14,25,36,45,55,and 100 years)were selected in typical temperate,mixed broadleaf-conifer forests of northeast China.Stomatal density,size and relative area of 624 species,including the same species in stands of different ages were selected.Stomatal density,size and relative area were distributed log-normally,differing across all species and plant functional groups.Stomatal density ranged from 4.2 to 1276.7 stomata mm^(–2),stomatal size ranged from 66.6 to 8315.7μm^(2),and stomatal relative area 0.1–93.3%.There was a significant negative relationship between density and size at the species and functional group levels,while the relative stomatal area was positively correlated with density and size.Stomatal traits of dominant species were relatively stable across different stand ages but were significantly different for herbs.The results suggest that stomatal traits remain relatively stable for dominant species in natural forests and therefore,spatial variation in stomatal traits across forest patches does not need to be incorporated in future ecological models.展开更多
Chenopodiaceae is one of the most important families in arid and saline environments. Several studies have observed the mycorrhizal structure in Chenopodiaceae plants（i.e., chenopods）, but the mycorrhizal colonizati...Chenopodiaceae is one of the most important families in arid and saline environments. Several studies have observed the mycorrhizal structure in Chenopodiaceae plants（i.e., chenopods）, but the mycorrhizal colonization status of chenopods in saline habitats and the influencing factors are still not well understood. The mycorrhizal colonization of twenty chenopod species in three different saline habitats（a saline alkaline meadow in the Songnen Plain of northeastern China, a saline desert in the Junggar Basin of northwestern China, and a saline alpine meadow in the Tibetan Plateau of western China） and the chenopod-associated environmental factors（including soil moisture, soil available phosphorous（P） concentration, pH, and salt content） were analyzed. Our results showed that approximately 60% of the studied chenopods were colonized by arbuscular mycorrhizal（AM） fungi with a colonization percentage ranging from 5% to 33%. Structural analysis of mycorrhizal association indicated that vesicles were quite common, while arbuscules and hyphal coils were relatively rare. In addition, a positive correlation between mycorrhizal colonization rate and soil electrical conductivity（r=0.920, P〈0.01） and two negative correlations of mycorrhizal colonization rates with soil moisture（r= –0.818, P〈0.01） and the soil available P concentration（r= –0.876, P〈0.01） confirmed that mycorrhizal colonization rate in the roots of chenopods was environment-dependent.展开更多
In this paper,we reviewed the progress in the application of stable isotope techniques to the study of soil salinization.As a powerful technique,stable isotopes have been widely used in the studies of soil water evapo...In this paper,we reviewed the progress in the application of stable isotope techniques to the study of soil salinization.As a powerful technique,stable isotopes have been widely used in the studies of soil water evaporation,the dynamics of soil salinization and salt-tolerant plant breeding.The impact of single environmental factors on plant isotope composition has been the focus of previous studies.However,the impact of multiple environmental factors on plant isotope composition remains unclear and needs to be carefully studied.In order to gain insights into soil salinization and amelioration,especially soil salinization in arid and semiarid areas,it is essential to employ stable isotope techniques and combine them with other methods,such as located field observation and remote sensing technology.展开更多
Remote sensing image segmentation is the basis of image understanding and analysis. However,the precision and the speed of segmentation can not meet the need of image analysis,due to strong uncertainty and rich textur...Remote sensing image segmentation is the basis of image understanding and analysis. However,the precision and the speed of segmentation can not meet the need of image analysis,due to strong uncertainty and rich texture details of remote sensing images. We proposed a new segmentation method based on Adaptive Genetic Algorithm(AGA) and Alternative Fuzzy C-Means(AFCM) . Segmentation thresholds were identified by AGA. Then the image was segmented by AFCM. The results indicate that the precision and the speed of segmentation have been greatly increased,and the accuracy of threshold selection is much higher compared with traditional Otsu and Fuzzy C-Means(FCM) segmentation methods. The segmentation results also show that multi-thresholds segmentation has been achieved by combining AGA with AFCM.展开更多
[ Objective] To study the germination characteristics of Hordeum brevisubulatum seeds in the Songnen Plains of China under different conditions and find out the optimum conditions for germination. [ Method] A total of...[ Objective] To study the germination characteristics of Hordeum brevisubulatum seeds in the Songnen Plains of China under different conditions and find out the optimum conditions for germination. [ Method] A total of five variable temperatures including 15/25, 20/30, 15/30, 20/25 and 15/20 ℃, five concentrations of sodium chloride solutions including 0, 75, 85, 95 and 105 mmol/L, and five concentrations of CS2 strain （the A values were 0, 0.500 0, 0.050 0, 0.005 0 and 0.000 5, respectively） were studied by orthogonal experimental design. [ Result] The germination rate, germination energy and germination index were significantly （ P 〈 0.05） affected by the temperature and sodium chloride concentration, but rarely affected by the CS2 strain concentration. Moreover, the germination rate, germination potential and germination index were all decreased with the increasing of sodium chloride concentration. [ Conclusion] The optimal germination conditions of Hordeum brevisubulatum are as follows： temperatures of 15/25 ℃ and 15/30℃, 0 mmoVL of sodium chloride concentration.展开更多
Using the young inflorescence segments of Freesia refracta as explants, indirect somatic embryogenesis of somatic cells was induced in a N6 medium supplemented with some exogenous hormones. SDS-polyacrylamide gel elec...Using the young inflorescence segments of Freesia refracta as explants, indirect somatic embryogenesis of somatic cells was induced in a N6 medium supplemented with some exogenous hormones. SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis（SDS-PAGE） was used for the analysis of soluble proteins produced during the somatic embryogenesis of this plant. There are six polypeptides, which might play some roles in the process of somatic embryo development. Tltree polypeptides（45, 53 and 55 kD） were detected in the stages of embryogenic callus, globular embryoid, and embryoid with coleoptiles, except the embryoid with leaf. One polypeptide（ 83 kD） was specific for the stages of embryoid with eoleoptiles and embryoid with leaf. One polypeptide（37 kD） was detected in the first two stages, namely, embryogenic callus and globular embryoid. One polypeptide（35 kD） was regularly synthesized in each stage, from embryogenic callus to embryoid with leaf.展开更多
Ramet modules in a certain population differ in terms of functions,which accounts for different contributions of the same ramets.Shortening heading time brings about different contributions of such modules.Ramets head...Ramet modules in a certain population differ in terms of functions,which accounts for different contributions of the same ramets.Shortening heading time brings about different contributions of such modules.Ramets heading one after another were treated as a continuum in respective cohorts of Elymus cylindricus aged two.The reproductive ramets that head earlier were marked with tags every four days during the whole heading stage from the beginning to the end,after which all the labeled ramets at the maturity period were gathered.The results showed that,the height and biomass of ramets,the length and biomass of inflorescences,percentage of inflorescence length to ramet height,percentage of inflorescence biomass to ramet biomass,the number and biomass of seeds,seed-setting rate,and percentage of seed biomass to ramet biomass declined with the increasing intensity of heading time shortening as displayed with linear or quadratic function.Ramet characteristics weakened remarkably when shortened heading time added up to 17 days.The biomass distribution in relation to inflorescence and seed maintain a stable rate at the early heading stage and dwindled quickly at the near-end stage,but the biomass of ramets remain constant throughout the entire heading stage.The ramets with earlier heading time make greater contribution to the survival of population than the shortened heading time in this species of bunchgrass.展开更多
In this paper, we adopted simulation method to discuss influences of litter layer on plants habitat in grassland. Results indicated that ground surface evaporation, soil moisture, surface temperature, soil pH, soil bu...In this paper, we adopted simulation method to discuss influences of litter layer on plants habitat in grassland. Results indicated that ground surface evaporation, soil moisture, surface temperature, soil pH, soil bulk density and soil porosity were all strongly related to the litter quantity. Potassium （K） and organic materials in the soil covered by litter layer were higher than those in the soil uncovered by litter layer. With 100 g.ln-z increase of litter, the percentage of organic materials increased by 17.9%, nitrogen （N） increased by 7.6%, phosphor （P） increased by 26.4%, and K increased by 3.8%. With the litter accumulation amounting up to 600 g-m-2, the percentage of organic materials increased by 1.8 times, N increased by 81.5%, P increased by 1.8 times and K increased by 26.4%. According to the expected coefficient method of optimization, a mathematical model was established about the optimal accumulation quantity of litter.展开更多
Reduction in vegetation cover caused by human activities has a great impact on soil temperature. It is important to assess how soil temperature responds to reduction of vegetation height and density. In this paper we ...Reduction in vegetation cover caused by human activities has a great impact on soil temperature. It is important to assess how soil temperature responds to reduction of vegetation height and density. In this paper we first report the trends of mean annual soil surface and air temperatures recorded at the meteorological stations near the Ecological Research Station for Grassland Farming (ERSGF) from 1961 to 2007, then we setup an experiment using reed (Phragmites australis) stalks with different heights and densities to simulate effects of different vegetation height and density on soil and air temperatures. The warming rates of the mean annual soil and air temperatures were 0.043 and 0.041C a 1 , respectively. Changes of soil temperature were characterized by both increased mean annual maximum and minimum soil temperatures. At the experimental site, mean daily temperature, mean daily maximum soil and air temperatures increased significantly. In contrast, mean daily minimum soil temperature increased significantly while mean daily minimum air temperature decreased significantly as the height and density of reed stalks reduced during the experimental period. Mean diurnal soil temperature ranges were smaller than mean diurnal air temperature ranges. These results highlight that the importance of vegetation cover on soil and air temperatures.展开更多
Nitrogen(N)fixation by legumes and nitrogen transfer to cereals have been considered as important pathways for overyielding and higher N use efficiency in cereal/legume intercropping systems.However,the extent to whic...Nitrogen(N)fixation by legumes and nitrogen transfer to cereals have been considered as important pathways for overyielding and higher N use efficiency in cereal/legume intercropping systems.However,the extent to which root morphology contributes to N fixation and transfer is unclear.A two-factorial greenhouse experiment was conducted to quantify the N fixation,transfer and root morphology characteristics of the maize/alfalfa intercropping system in two consecutive years using the 15N-urea leaf labeling method,and combining two N levels with three root separation techniques.N application could inhibit N fixation and transfer in a maize/alfalfa intercropping system.Irrespective of the N application level,compared with plastic sheet separation(PSS),no separation(NS)and nylon mesh separation(NNS)significantly increased the total biomass(36%)and total N content(28%),while the N fixation rate also sharply increased by 75 to 134%,and the amount of N transferred with no root barrier was 1.24–1.42 times greater than that with a mesh barrier.Redundancy analysis(RDA)showed that the crown root dry weight(CRDW)of maize and lateral root number(LRN)of alfalfa showed the strongest associations with N fixation and transfer.Our results highlight the importance of root contact for the enhancement of N fixation and transfer via changes in root morphology in maize/alfalfa intercropping systems,and the overyielding system was achieved via increases in maize growth,at the cost of smaller decreases in alfalfa biomass production.展开更多
Evidence-based selective cutting at prescribed intervals as part of good forest management can enhance the carbon sequestration capacity of the forest.The effect of forest management on carbon sequestration has,howeve...Evidence-based selective cutting at prescribed intervals as part of good forest management can enhance the carbon sequestration capacity of the forest.The effect of forest management on carbon sequestration has,however,not been quantified.Thus,carbon content of various organs was measured for 323 tree species,247 shrub species,and233 herb species in seven temperate coniferous and broadleaved mixed forests that were subjected to selective cutting with restoration durations of 100,55,45,36,25,14,and6 years to explore dynamic changes in carbon storage.The results showed that biomass carbon allocation in different organs followed a pattern:trunk>root>branch>leaf for all forests.With longer restoration durations,more carbon accumulated in different organs and in soils.Interestingly,when the restoration duration exceeded 50 years,carbon storage in ecosystem was larger than that in primary forests with 100-year cutting intervals,suggesting that a reasonable selective cutting interval can increase forest carbon sequestration.Mean diameter at breast height(DBH)and forest carbon storage were significantly positively correlated,and carbon storage of selectively cut forests exceeded that of primary forests when the stand mean DBH exceeded 15.66 cm.Therefore,mean DBH of forests can be an indicator for combining sustainable forest management and forest carbon sequestration.Additionally,the classic coefficients of 0.45 and 0.50 used to estimate carbon sequestration underestimated values by 2.65%and overestimated by 8.16%,respectively,in comparison with the measured carbon content from different plant organs.展开更多
Microbial metabolic quotient(MMQ) is the rate of soil microbial respiration per unit of microbial biomass, and represents the capacity of soil microbes to utilize soil organic matter.Understanding the regional variati...Microbial metabolic quotient(MMQ) is the rate of soil microbial respiration per unit of microbial biomass, and represents the capacity of soil microbes to utilize soil organic matter.Understanding the regional variation and determinants of MMQ can help predict the responses of soil respiration rate to global climate change.Accordingly, we measured and analyzed MMQ-related data(e.g., soil basic respiration rate at 20℃ and soil microbial biomass) from 17 grassland sites, which located in meadow steppe, typical steppe, and desert steppe along a 1000-km transect across the Inner Mongolian grasslands, China.Results showed that MMQ varied significantly among the different grassland types(P < 0.05;desert > typical > meadow) and decreased from southwest to northeast(r =–0.81) with increasing latitude(r = – 0.50), and with increasing mean annual precipitation(r = –0.69).Precipitation accounted for 56% of the total variation in MMQ, whereas temperature accounted for 26%.MMQ was negatively correlated with precipitation across the Inner Mongolian grasslands.Therefore, climate change, especially in regard to precipitation, may influence soil microbial respiration and soil carbon dynamics through altering MMQ.These results highlighted the importance of spatial patterns in MMQ for accurately evaluating the responses of soil respiration to climate change at regional and global scales.展开更多
Background:Brood parasitic birds such as cuckoos(Cuculus spp.)can reduce their host’s reproductive success.Such selection pressure on the hosts has driven the evolution of defense behaviors such as egg rejection agai...Background:Brood parasitic birds such as cuckoos(Cuculus spp.)can reduce their host’s reproductive success.Such selection pressure on the hosts has driven the evolution of defense behaviors such as egg rejection against cuckoo parasitism.Studies have shown that Cinereous Tits(Parus cinereus)in China have a good ability for recognizing foreign eggs.However,it is unclear whether egg spots play a role in egg recognition.The aims of our study were to investigate the egg recognition ability of two Cinereous Tit populations in China and to explore the role of spots in egg recognition.Methods:To test the effect of eggshell spots on egg recognition,pure white eggs of the White-rumped Munia(Lonchura striata)and eggs of White-rumped Munia painted with red brown spots were used to simulate experimental parasitism.Results:Egg experiments showed that Cinereous Tits rejected 51.5%of pure white eggs of the White-rumped Munia,but only 14.3%of spotted eggs of the White-rumped Munia.There was a significant difference in egg recognition and rejection rate between the two egg types.Conclusions:We conclude that eggshell spots on Cinereous Tit eggs had a signaling function and may be essential to tits for recognizing and rejecting parasitic eggs.展开更多
Background:For secondary cavity-nesting bird species that do not add lining materials to nests,the presence of old nest material or organic remains that have accumulated within nest cavities from previous breeding eve...Background:For secondary cavity-nesting bird species that do not add lining materials to nests,the presence of old nest material or organic remains that have accumulated within nest cavities from previous breeding events may be a cue of nest-site quality.These materials potentially contain information about past breeding success in con-and heterospecifics and may improve the thermal insulation of eggs during incubation.However,few studies have addressed whether the presence of old nest materials serves as a cue for cavity-nesting raptors when choosing specific nest sites.Methods:We conducted a 9-year nest box experiment to test whether old nest materials from con-and heterospecifics serve as informative cues to the European Kestrel(Falco tinnunculus)when making nest selection decisions,as this species uses nest boxes without adding nesting material.Results:The presence of old nest materials and entrance size best discriminated nest boxes occupied by European Kestrels from unoccupied boxes.Nest boxes containing conspecific organic remains,artificial dry leaf and branch material,and material left behind by Great Tits(Parus major)were reused at higher rates,especially those containing conspecific nest material,than nest boxes containing true or simulated nest materials from predators.In 2010,no single nest box was occupied by the same banded individual that occupied the box in the previous year(10 females and 2 males were banded in 2009).Conclusions:European Kestrels preferred nest boxes containing old nest material over empty boxes,which is consistent with previous findings that they exploit con-and heterospecific cues when deciding where to settle and breed,as old nest or organic material provides substrate for incubating females.Kestrels may be able to assess the predation risks associated with a specific nest site based on experience or the presence of prey remains.The repeated use of nest boxes across breeding seasons by kestrels cannot be entirely ascribed to philopatry.This study provides evidence that old nest materials are potentially used as informative cues when making nest-site selection decisions in European Kestrels.展开更多
The Indian meal moth,Plodia interpunctella(Lepidoptera:Pyralidae),a globally distributed storage pest,relies on odors that are emitted from stored foods to select a suitable substrate for oviposition.However,the molec...The Indian meal moth,Plodia interpunctella(Lepidoptera:Pyralidae),a globally distributed storage pest,relies on odors that are emitted from stored foods to select a suitable substrate for oviposition.However,the molecular mechanism underlying the chemical communication between P.interpunctella and its host remains elusive.In this study,130 chemosensory genes were identified from the transcriptomes of 7 P.interpunctella tissues,and the quantitative expression levels of all 56 P.interpunctella odorant receptor genes(PintORs)were validated using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction.The functional characteristics of 5 PintORs with female antennae-biased expression were investigated using 2-electrode voltage clamp recordings in Xenopus laevis oocytes.PintOR23 was found to be specifically tuned to acetophenone.Acetophenone could elicit a significant electrophysiological response and only attracted mated females when compared with males and virgin females.In addition,molecular docking predicted that the hydrogen bonding sites,TRP-335 and ALA-167,might play key roles in the binding of PintOR23 to acetophenone.Our study provides valuable insights into the olfactory mechanism of oviposition substrate detection and localization in P.interpunctella and points toward the possibility of developing eco-friendly odorant agents to control pests of stored products.展开更多
基金We express our sincere thanks to Dr.Ernest Bernard(University of Tennessee,Knoxville,USA)for his kind help.At the same time,we would like to thank Dr.Xiaoqiang Li,Dr.Zhenghai Wang,Huiying Han,Hongyue Li,Wenli Xue,Yumei Guo,and Xinchang Kou for their help with field work and laboratory analyses。
文摘A total of 900 soil samples were collected from five habitats,including primary coniferous broad-leaved mixed forests,secondary coniferous broad-leaved mixed forests,secondary broad-leaved forests,secondary shrub forests,and cutover lands in spring,summer,and autumn to quantify responses of soil Collembolans(springtails)to the restoration of vegetation of temperate coniferous and broad-leaved mixed forests.The results reveal that the taxonomic composition of Collembolans varied in the different stages of vegetation restoration.Seasonal variations were in regard to their abundance and richness.High similarities existed in Collembola communities at different stages of vegetation restoration,and distribution patterns of Collembola taxa displayed an evenness throughout all habitats.Soil Collembolans tended to gather on litter layers and soil surface;the highest abundance was found in the upper 5 cm soil layer during the initial stages of vegetation recovery.Tomocerus,Proisotoma,and Folsomia genera responded positively to the restoration of vegetation.However,responses of Ceratophysella and Parisotoma genera were negative.In addition,the Onychiuridae family did not respond to the vegetation restoration process.It was concluded that restoration of vegetative cover can increase the abundance of soil Collembolans,but different genera respond differently.
基金Under the auspices of the Seventh Framework Programme(European Commission,No.226818)National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.31070294,31072070,31100331)
文摘Elm （Ulmus pumila）, widely distributed in the north temperate zone, contributes to a special savanna-like woodland in typical grassland region in the northeastern China. This woodland performs a variety of ecological functions and environmental signifi- cance, such as decreasing soil erosion, stabilizing sand dunes, preserving species diversity. However, in the last approximate 30 years, the species composition, productivity and distribution area of elm woodland has decreased severely. A series of studies have been carried out to find out whether the climate changes or human disturbances caused the degradation of elm woodland and how these factors af- fected elm woodland. In this study, undisturbed, plowing and grazing elm woodland were investigated in 1983 and 2011 by using Point-Centered Quarter method. The relationship between vegetation changes and environmental factors was analyzed by Bray-Curtis ordination. The results show that in 2011, species diversity and understory productivity of undisturbed elm woodland decrease slightly compared to those of undisturbed elm woodland in 1983. However, nearly 60% of the species is lost in the plowing and grazing elm woodland relative to the species undisturbed elm woodland in 1983. Interestingly, plowing stimulates the growth of elm and certain understory species through furrowing soil and accelerating soil nutrient turnover rate. Grazing disturbance not only leads to species loss and productivity decrease, but also induces changes in elm growth （small, short and twisted）. The mean age of the elm was 29 -4- 2 yr in undisturbed and plowing elm woodland, while only 15 yr in the grazing elm woodland. The results of Bray-Curtis ordination analysis show that all sample stands clustered to three groups： Group I including the undisturbed sample stands of 83UE （undisturbed elm wood- land in 1983） and l lUE （undisturbed elm woodland in 2011）; Group II including sample stands of PE （elm woodland disturbed by plowing）; Group III including samples stands of GE （elm woodland disturbed by grazing）. The results indicate that the long time distur- bance of the plowing and grazing have converted elm woodland to different community types. Climate change is not the primary reason causing the degradation of elm woodland, but plowing and grazing disturbance. Both plowing and grazing decrease the vegetation composition and species diversity. Grazing further decreases vegetation productivity and inhibits the growth of elm tree. Therefore, we suggest that reasonable plowing and exclusive grazing would be favorable for future regeneration of degraded elm woodland.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(32130089)the Norwegian Research Council(324379)。
文摘In insects,the number and specificity of antennal lobe glomeruli often reflect the number and diversity of expressed chemosensory genes,which are linked to its ecological niche and specific olfactory needs.The oriental armyworm,Mythimna separata,is an important and common lepidopteran pest of cereal crops.Given its reliance on the olfactory system for crucial behaviors,understanding the evolutionary potential of this system requires a thorough characterization of the anatomical structure of the primary olfactory center.Here,we systematically identified all antennal lobe glomeruli of M.separata based on synaptic antibody immunostaining and mass staining of the olfactory sensory neurons.A total of 69 glomeruli were identified in females and 65 in males,and an intuitive nomenclature based on glomerular positions was applied.Our findings uncovered some sex-specific glomeruli in this species.There were ten female-specific glomeruli and three male-specific glomeruli,except for the macroglomerular complex(MGC)units,with a notable observation that the female labial pit organ glomerulus was larger than its male counterpart.Additionally,we identified four antennal-lobe tracts(ALTs)and retrograde labeling from the calyx revealed that all glomeruli were innervated by the medial ALT projection neurons.The comparison of the olfactory system structures between M.separata and sympatric moths supports their evolutionary convergence in noctuid moths.These results collectively lay the foundation for future studies on olfactory processing in M.separata.
基金funded by the NSFC(32371669)the Science and Technology Talent Project for Distinguished Young Scholars of Jilin Province(20240602009RC)+1 种基金the NSF of Jilin Province(20240101207JC)the Scientific Research Project of the Department of Education,Jilin Province(JJKH20230687KJ).
文摘Understanding how summer warming influences the parent and daughter shoot production in a perennial clonal grass is vital for comprehending the response of grassland productivity to global warming.Here,we conducted a simulated experiment using potted Leymus chinensis,to study the relationship between the photosynthetic activ-ity of parent shoots and the production of daughter shoots under a whole(90 days)summer warming scenario(+3°C).The results showed that the biomass of parents and buds decreased by 25.52%and 33.45%,respectively,under warming conditions.The reduction in parent shoot biomass due to warming directly resulted from decreased leaf area(18.03%),chlorophyll a(18.27%),chlorophyll b(29.21%)content,as well as a reduction in net photosynthetic rate(7.32%)and the maximum quantum efficiency of photosystem II(PSII)photochemistry(4.29%).The decline in daughter shoot biomass was linked to a decrease in daughter shoot number(33.33%)by warming.However,the number of belowground buds increased by 46.43%.The results indicated that long-term summer warming reduces biomass accumulation in parent shoot by increasing both limitation of stoma and non-stoma.Consequently,the parent shoot allocates relatively more biomass to the belowground organs to maintain the survival and growth of buds.Overall,buds,as a potential aboveground population,could remedy for the cur-rent loss of parent shoot density by increasing the number of future daughter shoots if summer warming subsides.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (41071032, 31270445)the Program for New Century Excellent Talents in University (NCET-12-084)+1 种基金the Thousand Talents Program of China (2013)the West Light Foundation of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (2009)
文摘Water is a restrictive factor for plant growth and ecosystem stability in arid and semiarid areas. The dynamics of water availability in soils and water use by plants are consequently critical to ecosystem functions, e.g. maintaining a high resistance to the changing climate. Plant water use strategies, including water-use efficiency （WUE） and the main water source that a plant species utilizes, play an important role in the evaluation of stability and sustainability of a plantation. The water use strategies of desert plants （Tamarix chinensis, Alhagi sparsifolia, Elaeagnus angustifolia, Sophora alopecuroides, Bassia dasyphylla and Nitraria sphaerocarpa） in three different habitats （saline land, sandy land and Gobi） in Dunhuang （located in the typical arid area of northwestern China） were studied. The stable isotope of oxygen was used to determine the main water source and leaf carbon isotope discrimination was used to estimate the long-term WUE of plant species in the summer of 2010. The results suggest that： 1） the studied desert plants took up soil water below the depth of 80 cm; 2） T. chinensis in the three habitats used deeper soil water and T. chinensis in the Gobi site had higher WUE than those in the saline land and the sandy land. The results indicated that desert plants in Dunhuang depended on stable water source and maintained high WUE to survive in water limited environments.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(31,872,683,31,800,368,31,872,690)the National Key Research Project of China(2017YFC0504004,2016YFC0500202)the program of Youth Innovation Research Team Project(LENOM2016Q0005)。
文摘Stomata control carbon and water vapor exchange between the leaves and the atmosphere,thus infl uencing photosynthesis and transpiration.Combinations of forest patches with different stand ages are common in nature,however,information of which stomatal traits vary among these stands and how,remains limited.Here,seven different aged forest stands(6,14,25,36,45,55,and 100 years)were selected in typical temperate,mixed broadleaf-conifer forests of northeast China.Stomatal density,size and relative area of 624 species,including the same species in stands of different ages were selected.Stomatal density,size and relative area were distributed log-normally,differing across all species and plant functional groups.Stomatal density ranged from 4.2 to 1276.7 stomata mm^(–2),stomatal size ranged from 66.6 to 8315.7μm^(2),and stomatal relative area 0.1–93.3%.There was a significant negative relationship between density and size at the species and functional group levels,while the relative stomatal area was positively correlated with density and size.Stomatal traits of dominant species were relatively stable across different stand ages but were significantly different for herbs.The results suggest that stomatal traits remain relatively stable for dominant species in natural forests and therefore,spatial variation in stomatal traits across forest patches does not need to be incorporated in future ecological models.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (31300097, 31470405)the Foundation of Jilin Provincial Education Department and the China Scholarship Council (201506625023)
文摘Chenopodiaceae is one of the most important families in arid and saline environments. Several studies have observed the mycorrhizal structure in Chenopodiaceae plants（i.e., chenopods）, but the mycorrhizal colonization status of chenopods in saline habitats and the influencing factors are still not well understood. The mycorrhizal colonization of twenty chenopod species in three different saline habitats（a saline alkaline meadow in the Songnen Plain of northeastern China, a saline desert in the Junggar Basin of northwestern China, and a saline alpine meadow in the Tibetan Plateau of western China） and the chenopod-associated environmental factors（including soil moisture, soil available phosphorous（P） concentration, pH, and salt content） were analyzed. Our results showed that approximately 60% of the studied chenopods were colonized by arbuscular mycorrhizal（AM） fungi with a colonization percentage ranging from 5% to 33%. Structural analysis of mycorrhizal association indicated that vesicles were quite common, while arbuscules and hyphal coils were relatively rare. In addition, a positive correlation between mycorrhizal colonization rate and soil electrical conductivity（r=0.920, P〈0.01） and two negative correlations of mycorrhizal colonization rates with soil moisture（r= –0.818, P〈0.01） and the soil available P concentration（r= –0.876, P〈0.01） confirmed that mycorrhizal colonization rate in the roots of chenopods was environment-dependent.
基金supported by the National Basic Research Program of China (2009CB825101)the National Natural Science Foundation of China (41071032)the West Light Foundation of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (2009)
文摘In this paper,we reviewed the progress in the application of stable isotope techniques to the study of soil salinization.As a powerful technique,stable isotopes have been widely used in the studies of soil water evaporation,the dynamics of soil salinization and salt-tolerant plant breeding.The impact of single environmental factors on plant isotope composition has been the focus of previous studies.However,the impact of multiple environmental factors on plant isotope composition remains unclear and needs to be carefully studied.In order to gain insights into soil salinization and amelioration,especially soil salinization in arid and semiarid areas,it is essential to employ stable isotope techniques and combine them with other methods,such as located field observation and remote sensing technology.
基金Under the auspices of National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 30370267)Key Project of Jilin Provincial Science & Technology Department (No. 20075014)
文摘Remote sensing image segmentation is the basis of image understanding and analysis. However,the precision and the speed of segmentation can not meet the need of image analysis,due to strong uncertainty and rich texture details of remote sensing images. We proposed a new segmentation method based on Adaptive Genetic Algorithm(AGA) and Alternative Fuzzy C-Means(AFCM) . Segmentation thresholds were identified by AGA. Then the image was segmented by AFCM. The results indicate that the precision and the speed of segmentation have been greatly increased,and the accuracy of threshold selection is much higher compared with traditional Otsu and Fuzzy C-Means(FCM) segmentation methods. The segmentation results also show that multi-thresholds segmentation has been achieved by combining AGA with AFCM.
基金The authors would like to acknowledge funding from the National High Technology Research and Development Program of China (863 Program) (2008AA10Z224)National Natural Science Foundation of China (30700055,30960261)Doctoral Foundation of Ministry of Education of China (20070200005)
文摘[ Objective] To study the germination characteristics of Hordeum brevisubulatum seeds in the Songnen Plains of China under different conditions and find out the optimum conditions for germination. [ Method] A total of five variable temperatures including 15/25, 20/30, 15/30, 20/25 and 15/20 ℃, five concentrations of sodium chloride solutions including 0, 75, 85, 95 and 105 mmol/L, and five concentrations of CS2 strain （the A values were 0, 0.500 0, 0.050 0, 0.005 0 and 0.000 5, respectively） were studied by orthogonal experimental design. [ Result] The germination rate, germination energy and germination index were significantly （ P 〈 0.05） affected by the temperature and sodium chloride concentration, but rarely affected by the CS2 strain concentration. Moreover, the germination rate, germination potential and germination index were all decreased with the increasing of sodium chloride concentration. [ Conclusion] The optimal germination conditions of Hordeum brevisubulatum are as follows： temperatures of 15/25 ℃ and 15/30℃, 0 mmoVL of sodium chloride concentration.
基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No 30570170)Science and Technology Department of Jinlin Province, P.R.China(No 20050218)+1 种基金Jingyue Zone of Changchun City, P.R.China(No 2005D007) the Program for Changjiang Scholars and Innovative Research Team(PCSIRT) in Universities of P. R.China
文摘Using the young inflorescence segments of Freesia refracta as explants, indirect somatic embryogenesis of somatic cells was induced in a N6 medium supplemented with some exogenous hormones. SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis（SDS-PAGE） was used for the analysis of soluble proteins produced during the somatic embryogenesis of this plant. There are six polypeptides, which might play some roles in the process of somatic embryo development. Tltree polypeptides（45, 53 and 55 kD） were detected in the stages of embryogenic callus, globular embryoid, and embryoid with coleoptiles, except the embryoid with leaf. One polypeptide（ 83 kD） was specific for the stages of embryoid with eoleoptiles and embryoid with leaf. One polypeptide（37 kD） was detected in the first two stages, namely, embryogenic callus and globular embryoid. One polypeptide（35 kD） was regularly synthesized in each stage, from embryogenic callus to embryoid with leaf.
基金This work was funded under the auspices of the Natural Key Research and Development Program of China(2016YFC0500602)National Natural Science Foundation of China(31672471,31472134,www.nsfc.gov.cn,YFY+1 种基金31570332,www.nsfc.gov.cn,CZ)the Program of Introducing Talents of Discipline to Universities(B16011).
文摘Ramet modules in a certain population differ in terms of functions,which accounts for different contributions of the same ramets.Shortening heading time brings about different contributions of such modules.Ramets heading one after another were treated as a continuum in respective cohorts of Elymus cylindricus aged two.The reproductive ramets that head earlier were marked with tags every four days during the whole heading stage from the beginning to the end,after which all the labeled ramets at the maturity period were gathered.The results showed that,the height and biomass of ramets,the length and biomass of inflorescences,percentage of inflorescence length to ramet height,percentage of inflorescence biomass to ramet biomass,the number and biomass of seeds,seed-setting rate,and percentage of seed biomass to ramet biomass declined with the increasing intensity of heading time shortening as displayed with linear or quadratic function.Ramet characteristics weakened remarkably when shortened heading time added up to 17 days.The biomass distribution in relation to inflorescence and seed maintain a stable rate at the early heading stage and dwindled quickly at the near-end stage,but the biomass of ramets remain constant throughout the entire heading stage.The ramets with earlier heading time make greater contribution to the survival of population than the shortened heading time in this species of bunchgrass.
基金Acknowledgements： This research work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China （No. 30590382 and No. 30570273） and Science Foundation for Young Teachers of Northeast Normal University （No. 20070502）.
文摘In this paper, we adopted simulation method to discuss influences of litter layer on plants habitat in grassland. Results indicated that ground surface evaporation, soil moisture, surface temperature, soil pH, soil bulk density and soil porosity were all strongly related to the litter quantity. Potassium （K） and organic materials in the soil covered by litter layer were higher than those in the soil uncovered by litter layer. With 100 g.ln-z increase of litter, the percentage of organic materials increased by 17.9%, nitrogen （N） increased by 7.6%, phosphor （P） increased by 26.4%, and K increased by 3.8%. With the litter accumulation amounting up to 600 g-m-2, the percentage of organic materials increased by 1.8 times, N increased by 81.5%, P increased by 1.8 times and K increased by 26.4%. According to the expected coefficient method of optimization, a mathematical model was established about the optimal accumulation quantity of litter.
基金supported by the National Basic Research Program of China(2011CB403200, 2011CB403203)
文摘Reduction in vegetation cover caused by human activities has a great impact on soil temperature. It is important to assess how soil temperature responds to reduction of vegetation height and density. In this paper we first report the trends of mean annual soil surface and air temperatures recorded at the meteorological stations near the Ecological Research Station for Grassland Farming (ERSGF) from 1961 to 2007, then we setup an experiment using reed (Phragmites australis) stalks with different heights and densities to simulate effects of different vegetation height and density on soil and air temperatures. The warming rates of the mean annual soil and air temperatures were 0.043 and 0.041C a 1 , respectively. Changes of soil temperature were characterized by both increased mean annual maximum and minimum soil temperatures. At the experimental site, mean daily temperature, mean daily maximum soil and air temperatures increased significantly. In contrast, mean daily minimum soil temperature increased significantly while mean daily minimum air temperature decreased significantly as the height and density of reed stalks reduced during the experimental period. Mean diurnal soil temperature ranges were smaller than mean diurnal air temperature ranges. These results highlight that the importance of vegetation cover on soil and air temperatures.
基金This study was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(31471945)。
文摘Nitrogen(N)fixation by legumes and nitrogen transfer to cereals have been considered as important pathways for overyielding and higher N use efficiency in cereal/legume intercropping systems.However,the extent to which root morphology contributes to N fixation and transfer is unclear.A two-factorial greenhouse experiment was conducted to quantify the N fixation,transfer and root morphology characteristics of the maize/alfalfa intercropping system in two consecutive years using the 15N-urea leaf labeling method,and combining two N levels with three root separation techniques.N application could inhibit N fixation and transfer in a maize/alfalfa intercropping system.Irrespective of the N application level,compared with plastic sheet separation(PSS),no separation(NS)and nylon mesh separation(NNS)significantly increased the total biomass(36%)and total N content(28%),while the N fixation rate also sharply increased by 75 to 134%,and the amount of N transferred with no root barrier was 1.24–1.42 times greater than that with a mesh barrier.Redundancy analysis(RDA)showed that the crown root dry weight(CRDW)of maize and lateral root number(LRN)of alfalfa showed the strongest associations with N fixation and transfer.Our results highlight the importance of root contact for the enhancement of N fixation and transfer via changes in root morphology in maize/alfalfa intercropping systems,and the overyielding system was achieved via increases in maize growth,at the cost of smaller decreases in alfalfa biomass production.
基金supported financially by the Natural Science Foundation of China(31,800,368,31,872,683)the National Key R&D program of China(2017YFC0504004)by the program of Youth Innovation Research Team Project(LENOM2016Q0005)。
文摘Evidence-based selective cutting at prescribed intervals as part of good forest management can enhance the carbon sequestration capacity of the forest.The effect of forest management on carbon sequestration has,however,not been quantified.Thus,carbon content of various organs was measured for 323 tree species,247 shrub species,and233 herb species in seven temperate coniferous and broadleaved mixed forests that were subjected to selective cutting with restoration durations of 100,55,45,36,25,14,and6 years to explore dynamic changes in carbon storage.The results showed that biomass carbon allocation in different organs followed a pattern:trunk>root>branch>leaf for all forests.With longer restoration durations,more carbon accumulated in different organs and in soils.Interestingly,when the restoration duration exceeded 50 years,carbon storage in ecosystem was larger than that in primary forests with 100-year cutting intervals,suggesting that a reasonable selective cutting interval can increase forest carbon sequestration.Mean diameter at breast height(DBH)and forest carbon storage were significantly positively correlated,and carbon storage of selectively cut forests exceeded that of primary forests when the stand mean DBH exceeded 15.66 cm.Therefore,mean DBH of forests can be an indicator for combining sustainable forest management and forest carbon sequestration.Additionally,the classic coefficients of 0.45 and 0.50 used to estimate carbon sequestration underestimated values by 2.65%and overestimated by 8.16%,respectively,in comparison with the measured carbon content from different plant organs.
基金Under the auspices of National Key R&D Program of China(No.2016YFA0600104,2016YFC0500102,2017YFD0200604)National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.31770655,41671045,31772235)
文摘Microbial metabolic quotient(MMQ) is the rate of soil microbial respiration per unit of microbial biomass, and represents the capacity of soil microbes to utilize soil organic matter.Understanding the regional variation and determinants of MMQ can help predict the responses of soil respiration rate to global climate change.Accordingly, we measured and analyzed MMQ-related data(e.g., soil basic respiration rate at 20℃ and soil microbial biomass) from 17 grassland sites, which located in meadow steppe, typical steppe, and desert steppe along a 1000-km transect across the Inner Mongolian grasslands, China.Results showed that MMQ varied significantly among the different grassland types(P < 0.05;desert > typical > meadow) and decreased from southwest to northeast(r =–0.81) with increasing latitude(r = – 0.50), and with increasing mean annual precipitation(r = –0.69).Precipitation accounted for 56% of the total variation in MMQ, whereas temperature accounted for 26%.MMQ was negatively correlated with precipitation across the Inner Mongolian grasslands.Therefore, climate change, especially in regard to precipitation, may influence soil microbial respiration and soil carbon dynamics through altering MMQ.These results highlighted the importance of spatial patterns in MMQ for accurately evaluating the responses of soil respiration to climate change at regional and global scales.
基金funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.31772453 and 31970427 to WL,No.31672303 to CY and No.31770419 to HW)
文摘Background:Brood parasitic birds such as cuckoos(Cuculus spp.)can reduce their host’s reproductive success.Such selection pressure on the hosts has driven the evolution of defense behaviors such as egg rejection against cuckoo parasitism.Studies have shown that Cinereous Tits(Parus cinereus)in China have a good ability for recognizing foreign eggs.However,it is unclear whether egg spots play a role in egg recognition.The aims of our study were to investigate the egg recognition ability of two Cinereous Tit populations in China and to explore the role of spots in egg recognition.Methods:To test the effect of eggshell spots on egg recognition,pure white eggs of the White-rumped Munia(Lonchura striata)and eggs of White-rumped Munia painted with red brown spots were used to simulate experimental parasitism.Results:Egg experiments showed that Cinereous Tits rejected 51.5%of pure white eggs of the White-rumped Munia,but only 14.3%of spotted eggs of the White-rumped Munia.There was a significant difference in egg recognition and rejection rate between the two egg types.Conclusions:We conclude that eggshell spots on Cinereous Tit eggs had a signaling function and may be essential to tits for recognizing and rejecting parasitic eggs.
基金financed by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.31770419,31272331,30970375,30400047 to HW)the Postdoctoral Program of Agricultural Science and Technology Innovation Center in North-east China(No.150482 to WO)
文摘Background:For secondary cavity-nesting bird species that do not add lining materials to nests,the presence of old nest material or organic remains that have accumulated within nest cavities from previous breeding events may be a cue of nest-site quality.These materials potentially contain information about past breeding success in con-and heterospecifics and may improve the thermal insulation of eggs during incubation.However,few studies have addressed whether the presence of old nest materials serves as a cue for cavity-nesting raptors when choosing specific nest sites.Methods:We conducted a 9-year nest box experiment to test whether old nest materials from con-and heterospecifics serve as informative cues to the European Kestrel(Falco tinnunculus)when making nest selection decisions,as this species uses nest boxes without adding nesting material.Results:The presence of old nest materials and entrance size best discriminated nest boxes occupied by European Kestrels from unoccupied boxes.Nest boxes containing conspecific organic remains,artificial dry leaf and branch material,and material left behind by Great Tits(Parus major)were reused at higher rates,especially those containing conspecific nest material,than nest boxes containing true or simulated nest materials from predators.In 2010,no single nest box was occupied by the same banded individual that occupied the box in the previous year(10 females and 2 males were banded in 2009).Conclusions:European Kestrels preferred nest boxes containing old nest material over empty boxes,which is consistent with previous findings that they exploit con-and heterospecific cues when deciding where to settle and breed,as old nest or organic material provides substrate for incubating females.Kestrels may be able to assess the predation risks associated with a specific nest site based on experience or the presence of prey remains.The repeated use of nest boxes across breeding seasons by kestrels cannot be entirely ascribed to philopatry.This study provides evidence that old nest materials are potentially used as informative cues when making nest-site selection decisions in European Kestrels.
基金This research was supported by the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation(2021M690588)the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(135111010)+1 种基金the Young Science and Technology Talent Support Project of Jilin Province(QT202121)The authors would like to thank all the reviewers who participated in the review,as well as MJEditor(www.mjeditor.com)for providing English editing services during the preparation of this manuscript.
文摘The Indian meal moth,Plodia interpunctella(Lepidoptera:Pyralidae),a globally distributed storage pest,relies on odors that are emitted from stored foods to select a suitable substrate for oviposition.However,the molecular mechanism underlying the chemical communication between P.interpunctella and its host remains elusive.In this study,130 chemosensory genes were identified from the transcriptomes of 7 P.interpunctella tissues,and the quantitative expression levels of all 56 P.interpunctella odorant receptor genes(PintORs)were validated using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction.The functional characteristics of 5 PintORs with female antennae-biased expression were investigated using 2-electrode voltage clamp recordings in Xenopus laevis oocytes.PintOR23 was found to be specifically tuned to acetophenone.Acetophenone could elicit a significant electrophysiological response and only attracted mated females when compared with males and virgin females.In addition,molecular docking predicted that the hydrogen bonding sites,TRP-335 and ALA-167,might play key roles in the binding of PintOR23 to acetophenone.Our study provides valuable insights into the olfactory mechanism of oviposition substrate detection and localization in P.interpunctella and points toward the possibility of developing eco-friendly odorant agents to control pests of stored products.
