The complete diallel cross design was employed to estimate the genetic parameters of the growth of Japanese flounder （Paralichthys olivaceus）. A total of 60 full-sib families were cultivated and two growth-related t...The complete diallel cross design was employed to estimate the genetic parameters of the growth of Japanese flounder （Paralichthys olivaceus）. A total of 60 full-sib families were cultivated and two growth-related traits, body weight （BW） and body length （BL）, were examined at average 2, 3 and 8 months of age respectively, with 1 800 individuals measured in each age group （30 per family）. Based on the additive-dominance-maternal-effect genetic analysis model, the restricted maximum likelihood approach was used to estimate various （co）variance components. The results showed that narrow-sense heritability estimates of BW and BL were respectively： 0.29 ± 0.01 and 0.22 ± 0.02 at 2 months of age, 0.32 ± 0.02 and 0.30 ± 0.04 at 3 months of age, 0.48 ± 0.04 and 0.40 ± 0.05 at 8 months of age; broad-sense heritability estimates were respectively： 0.44 ± 0.02 and 0.54 ± 0.04 at 2 months of age, 0.35 ± 0.01 and 0.36 ± 0.03 at 3 months of age, 0.49 ± 0.03 and 0.45 ± 0.04. All heritabilities were statistically significant （P 0.05）. Additive genetic correlations between BW and BL at 2, 3 and 8 months of age were consistently positive and highly significant （P 0.01）： 0.93 ± 0.02, 0.95 ± 0.03 and 0.92 ± 0.03 respectively. Maternal effect was significant （P 0.05） only at 2 months of age, and was not detected at 3 and 8 months of age. According to the heritability estimates, the mass selection strategy should be efficient for the breeding of Japanese flounder.展开更多
The use of multisensory cues to locate mates can increase an organism＇s success by acting as a back-up plan when one system fails, by providing additional information to the receiver, and by increasing their ability ...The use of multisensory cues to locate mates can increase an organism＇s success by acting as a back-up plan when one system fails, by providing additional information to the receiver, and by increasing their ability to detect mates using senses that have different ranges in a variable aquatic environment. In this contribution we review the sensory cues that male horseshoe crabs Lirnulus polyphemus are known to use when locating mates and then provide new data that shed light on this subject. Dur- ing the breeding season, females migrate into shore during high tides to spawn. Males attach to females as they approach the beach or are attracted to pairs already spawning. Vision is well established as an important cue in attracting males. Although chemoreception is well known in other marine arthropods, and horseshoe crabs have the anatomy available, there are few studies on chemical cues in this species. Experiments are presented here that provide evidence for chemical cue use. We show that the attraction, and retention, of attached and satellite males to actively spawning females and mating pairs involves multimodal cues展开更多
Nanomedicine has made great progress in the targeted therapy of cancer. Here, we established a novel drug-mate strategy by studying the formulation of nanodrugs at the molecular level. In the drug-mate combination, th...Nanomedicine has made great progress in the targeted therapy of cancer. Here, we established a novel drug-mate strategy by studying the formulation of nanodrugs at the molecular level. In the drug-mate combination, the drug is a hydrophobic drug that is poorly soluble in water, and the mate is an amphiphilic small molecule (SMA) that has both hydrophilic and lipophilic properties. We proposed that the hydrophobic drug could co-assemble with a suitable SMA on a nanoscale without additive agents. The proof-ofconcept methodology and results were presented to support our hypothesis. We selected five hydrophobic drugs and more than ten amphiphilic small molecules to construct a library. Through molecular dynamic simulation and quantum chemistry computation,we speculated that the formation of nanoassemblies was related to the binding energy of the drug-mate, and the drug-mate interaction must overcome drug-drug interaction.Furthermore, the obtained SF/VECOONa nanoassemblieswas selected as a model, which had an ultra-high drug loading content (46%), improved pharmacokinetics, increased bioavailability, and enhanced therapeutic efficacy. In summary, the drug-mate strategy is an essential resource to design exact SMA for many hydrophobic drugs and provides a reference for the design of a carrier-free drug delivery system.展开更多
Cicadas usually sing and mate in the higher parts of trees.Studies addressing the effects of different acoustic signals on mate choice in Cicadidae are very limited.We investigated the effects of both acoustical featu...Cicadas usually sing and mate in the higher parts of trees.Studies addressing the effects of different acoustic signals on mate choice in Cicadidae are very limited.We investigated the effects of both acoustical features and morphological traits on mate choice in an East Asian cicada Platypleura kaempferi.Males produce high-rate calling songs that attract females,then produce low-rate courtship songs to secure mating when a female is attracted.Higher calling song rate(CR),shorter single-pulse duration,and shorter pulse period of the calling song,together with lower courtship song rate and longer echeme period of the courtship song,are the most desirable traits used by females to choose a mate.These traits indicate that the more amale can raise the rate of song production,the higher the probability he is sexually selected by the female.No correlation was found between morphological traits and mating success.After mating,a minority of males started emitting calling songs again,but the CR was significantly lower than before mating and none of them attracted a new mate later.This promotes females mating with unmated males.We hypothesize that P.kaempferi may have the best of both worlds due to the unique song modulation and the mechanism of female mate choice:males change energetically,costly acoustic signals to achieve mates,while females choose a mate based on males’acoustic properties.Our results contribute to better understanding the diversity of mating preference and enrich the mechanism of mate choice in acoustic insects.展开更多
Outcrossing rate in a natural population of Caldesia grandis was estimated by the dominant random amplified polymorphism DNA （RAPD） marker using 10 open-pollinated progeny arrays of 24 individuals. The multilocus ou...Outcrossing rate in a natural population of Caldesia grandis was estimated by the dominant random amplified polymorphism DNA （RAPD） marker using 10 open-pollinated progeny arrays of 24 individuals. The multilocus outcrossing rate estimated based on all 25 RAPD loci was 0.872 ±0.033 and the single-locus outcrossing rate was 0.795 ±0.032. Multilocus esti- mates did not differ significantly from the single-locus estimates. The fixation index, F, in the progeny estimated from RAPD data was -0.142 ±0.000. The estimates of multilocus outcrossing rates （tm） and single-locus outcrossing rates （ts） obtained from MLDT clearly indicate that outcrossing is predominant in the open-pollinated C. grandis population. An empirical analysis suggests that 15 should be the minimum number of dominant marker loci necessary to achieve robust estimates of tm.展开更多
Lekking males aggregate to attract females and contribute solely to egg fer- tilization, without any further parental care. Evolutionary theory therefore predicts them to be nonchoosy toward their mates, because any l...Lekking males aggregate to attract females and contribute solely to egg fer- tilization, without any further parental care. Evolutionary theory therefore predicts them to be nonchoosy toward their mates, because any lost mating opportunities would out- weigh the benefits associated with such preferences. Nevertheless, due to time costs, the production of energetically costly sexual displays, and potential sperm limitation, the mat- ing effort of lekking males is often considerable. These factors, combined with the fact that many females of varying quality are likely to visit leks, could favor the evolution of male mate preferences. Here, we show that males of the lekking lesser wax moth, Achroia grisella, were indeed more likely to mate with heavier females in choice experiments, even at their virgin mating （i.e., when their reproductive resources have not yet been depleted by previous matings）. This differential female mating success could not be attributed to female behavior as heavy and light females showed similar motivation to mate （i.e., la- tency to approach the males） and time to copulate. Males seem to benefit from mating with heavier females, as fecundity positively correlated with female mass. This new em- pirical evidence shows that male mate choice may have been tmderestimated in lekking species展开更多
Aggression,an evolutionarily conserved social behavior,is essential for animals to compete for valuable resources like food,territory,and mates,and to protect kin.Although aggression is required for the survival of bo...Aggression,an evolutionarily conserved social behavior,is essential for animals to compete for valuable resources like food,territory,and mates,and to protect kin.Although aggression is required for the survival of both sexes,it is often displayed in a sexually dimorphic manner,with males typically exhibiting higher levels of aggression than females.展开更多
Mating patterns in angiosperms are typically nonrandom,yet the mechanisms driving nonrandom mating remain unclear,especially regarding the effects of quantitative floral traits on plant mating success across male and ...Mating patterns in angiosperms are typically nonrandom,yet the mechanisms driving nonrandom mating remain unclear,especially regarding the effects of quantitative floral traits on plant mating success across male and female functions.In this study,we investigated how variation in spur length and flower number per plant influences mating patterns in Aquilegia rockii within a natural population.Using marker-based paternity analyses and manipulative experiments,we assessed the role of these traits in mating success across both sexual functions.We found significant variation in the mate composition between male and female function,with spur-length frequency positively associated with female outcrossing rate and mate number,but not with male outcrossing or mate number.Most mating events occurred within 10 m,and spur-length frequency positively correlated with mating distance.Regardless of selfing,there was evidence for assortative mating for spur length.Although spur length did not correlate with pollinator visitation,plants with mid-length spurs had higher seed set than those with shorter or longer spurs when autonomous selfing was excluded.Flowers number per plant was only associated with mating distance and female outcrossing rate.Our results suggest that spur length plays a key role in nonrandom mating by frequency-dependent mating,with implications for stabilizing selection and maintenance of genetic diversity.This study advances our understanding of floral diversity by dissecting the role of quantitative floral traits in plant mating through both female and male functions.展开更多
Mounting evidence suggests that male sperm may be gradually depleted after consecutive matings,resulting in the decline of female reproductive output in insect species.It is predicted that females may employ adaptive ...Mounting evidence suggests that male sperm may be gradually depleted after consecutive matings,resulting in the decline of female reproductive output in insect species.It is predicted that females may employ adaptive strategies to avoid the sperm-depleted males,such as mating multiply with different males and/or discriminating against previously mated males(MMs).Similarly,males may exhibit adaptive behaviors toward females varying in mating status.However,in spiders with males lacking primary copulatory organs and their pedipalps modified to transfer sperm,there are few studies on male mating potential and previous mating experience on their subsequent mate choice.In this study,we used a polyandrous crab spider,Ebrechtella tricuspidata,a sit-and-wait predator with female-biased sex ratio as a model system to ascertain whether 1)male mating experiences influence female reproductive fitness;2)females respond differently to males varying in mating status;and 3)males respond differently to females varying in mating status.Our results showed that female fecundity was independent of male mating experiences,but female fertility markedly declined with the increase of male previous mating experiences in the first eggsac.Counter to our predictions,females preferred to choose and mate with the larger males,regardless of their mating status.In contrast,male mating status influenced their mating preference toward females.Virgin males did not show any preference between virgin and mated females;however,MMs were more likely to prefer the virgin females over the mated ones.Overall,our results indicated that female choice depended primarily on male relative size rather than male mating status,whereas male choice depended on female mating status,Depending on the investigation of reproductive dynamics and mate choice in E.tricuspidata,the study will provide valuable insights into the adaptive behaviors of both males and females exhibiting toward mates varying inmating status.展开更多
The fall armyworm(Spodoptera frugiperda)is an invasive species and a destructive pest of maize,which significantly impacts native species and communities via complex mechanisms like competition for resources.However,t...The fall armyworm(Spodoptera frugiperda)is an invasive species and a destructive pest of maize,which significantly impacts native species and communities via complex mechanisms like competition for resources.However,the interaction between S.frugiperda and local pests remains unclear.In this study,we determined that Oriental armyworm(Mythimna separata)females with different mating status displayed different approach-avoidance behaviors towards maize which was infested by S.frugiperda larvae.The virgin M.separata females were repelled,while the mated females were attracted by the S.frugiperda-infested maize.To further understand the olfactory mechanism of this phenomenon,seven volatiles induced by S.frugiperda in maize were characterized by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry(GC-MS),including trans-2-hexenal,linalool,trans-β-farnesene,cis-3-hexenyl acetate,β-caryophyllene,trans-α-bergamotene,and isopentyl acetate.Additionally,electrophysiological and behavioral assays of the seven compounds were performed using both virgin and mated females of M.separata.We determined that virgin and mated females displayed different responses to the herbivore-induced plant volatile(HIPV).Trans-β-farnesene was the core compound for repelling virgin females,and trans-2-hexenal was the key attractant for oviposition in mated female M.separata individuals.These findings help our comprehension of the relationships between maize pests and offer new possibilities for controlling them by olfactory-based strategies.展开更多
The multiscale computational method with asymptotic analysis and reduced-order homogenization(ROH)gives a practical numerical solution for engineering problems,especially composite materials.Under the ROH framework,a ...The multiscale computational method with asymptotic analysis and reduced-order homogenization(ROH)gives a practical numerical solution for engineering problems,especially composite materials.Under the ROH framework,a partition-based unitcell structure at the mesoscale is utilized to give a mechanical state at the macro-scale quadrature point with pre-evaluated influence functions.In the past,the“1-phase,1-partition”rule was usually adopted in numerical analysis,where one constituent phase at the mesoscale formed one partition.The numerical cost then is significantly reduced by introducing an assumption that the mechanical responses are the same all the time at the same constituent,while it also introduces numerical inaccuracy.This study proposes a new partitioning method for fibrous unitcells under a reduced-order homogenization methodology.In this method,the fiber phase remains 1 partition,but the matrix phase is divided into 2 partitions,which refers to the“12”partitioning scheme.Analytical elastic influence+functions are derived by introducing the elastic strain energy equivalence(Hill-Mandel condition).This research also obtains the analytical eigenstrain influence functions by alleviating the so-called“inclusion-locking”phenomenon.In addition,a numerical approach to minimize the error of strain energy density is introduced to determine the partitioning of the matrix phase.Several numerical examples are presented to compare the differences among direct numerical simulation(DNS),“11”,and“12”partitioning schemes.The numerical simulations show improved++numerical accuracy by the“12”partitioning scheme.展开更多
Brain size varies dramatically across populations and species in anuran species.The differences in structure,function,or size of brains are linked to processing specific cognitive tasks by different behaviors.In parti...Brain size varies dramatically across populations and species in anuran species.The differences in structure,function,or size of brains are linked to processing specific cognitive tasks by different behaviors.In particular,the causes of how male-male competition promotes the increased cognitive abilities to increase brains are as yet unexplored in anurans.To evaluate the effect of male-male competition on variation in brain size in B.andrewsi,we compared the differences in relative brain size between mated males and unpaired males under natural and experimental conditions.We found that mated males had relatively larger brains than unpaired males in a natural population when controlling the effect of body size.Likewise,we also found that there were larger brains in mated males than in unpaired males in both experiment 1 where two males competed for a female and experiment 2 where three males competed for a female,suggesting that males with mating success during male-male competition possess increased brain size and cognitive abilities.When we compared difference in relative brain size in mated males between experiment2 and experiment 1 we found that males experiencing more intense competition did not display larger brains than males experiencing relatively weak competition,suggesting that low intensity competition is already enough to trigger the increase in relative brain size in B.andrewsi.展开更多
Tracking and mating data of Common Terns(Sterna hirundo)breeding in a single colony in north-eastern Germany were used to test for assortative mating in regards to migratory phenotypes.These birds use the eastern and ...Tracking and mating data of Common Terns(Sterna hirundo)breeding in a single colony in north-eastern Germany were used to test for assortative mating in regards to migratory phenotypes.These birds use the eastern and western African migration routes and three different wintering areas along the African coast.However,no assortative mating was found for either migratory route or wintering area,as birds using both flyways and all three wintering areas paired randomly,which might be explained by a lack of difference in the arrival date at the colony between the groups.These results might indicate a low degree of genetic fixation of migratory route and wintering area in the Common Tern,which might hint that migratory direction and wintering sites could be passed to young terns via social learning,either by joining the parents or migratory flocks of conspecifics.If migratory phenotypes are passed on by a parent,it seems more likely that it is passed from father to young,as female Common Terns tend to leave the colony earlier and males provide the majority of post-fledging care.展开更多
基金Special Fund for Agro-scientific Research in the Public Interest of China under contract No.200903046Research Foundation of Zhejiang Province,China under contract No.2009C12078+1 种基金National Sparking Plan Project of China under contract No.2010GA700010Taishan Scholar Project of Shandong Province,China
文摘The complete diallel cross design was employed to estimate the genetic parameters of the growth of Japanese flounder （Paralichthys olivaceus）. A total of 60 full-sib families were cultivated and two growth-related traits, body weight （BW） and body length （BL）, were examined at average 2, 3 and 8 months of age respectively, with 1 800 individuals measured in each age group （30 per family）. Based on the additive-dominance-maternal-effect genetic analysis model, the restricted maximum likelihood approach was used to estimate various （co）variance components. The results showed that narrow-sense heritability estimates of BW and BL were respectively： 0.29 ± 0.01 and 0.22 ± 0.02 at 2 months of age, 0.32 ± 0.02 and 0.30 ± 0.04 at 3 months of age, 0.48 ± 0.04 and 0.40 ± 0.05 at 8 months of age; broad-sense heritability estimates were respectively： 0.44 ± 0.02 and 0.54 ± 0.04 at 2 months of age, 0.35 ± 0.01 and 0.36 ± 0.03 at 3 months of age, 0.49 ± 0.03 and 0.45 ± 0.04. All heritabilities were statistically significant （P 0.05）. Additive genetic correlations between BW and BL at 2, 3 and 8 months of age were consistently positive and highly significant （P 0.01）： 0.93 ± 0.02, 0.95 ± 0.03 and 0.92 ± 0.03 respectively. Maternal effect was significant （P 0.05） only at 2 months of age, and was not detected at 3 and 8 months of age. According to the heritability estimates, the mass selection strategy should be efficient for the breeding of Japanese flounder.
基金supported by the National Science Foundation IOB-0641750
文摘The use of multisensory cues to locate mates can increase an organism＇s success by acting as a back-up plan when one system fails, by providing additional information to the receiver, and by increasing their ability to detect mates using senses that have different ranges in a variable aquatic environment. In this contribution we review the sensory cues that male horseshoe crabs Lirnulus polyphemus are known to use when locating mates and then provide new data that shed light on this subject. Dur- ing the breeding season, females migrate into shore during high tides to spawn. Males attach to females as they approach the beach or are attracted to pairs already spawning. Vision is well established as an important cue in attracting males. Although chemoreception is well known in other marine arthropods, and horseshoe crabs have the anatomy available, there are few studies on chemical cues in this species. Experiments are presented here that provide evidence for chemical cue use. We show that the attraction, and retention, of attached and satellite males to actively spawning females and mating pairs involves multimodal cues
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (grant numbers:81974498)Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province (grant numbers:ZR2019BH079)。
文摘Nanomedicine has made great progress in the targeted therapy of cancer. Here, we established a novel drug-mate strategy by studying the formulation of nanodrugs at the molecular level. In the drug-mate combination, the drug is a hydrophobic drug that is poorly soluble in water, and the mate is an amphiphilic small molecule (SMA) that has both hydrophilic and lipophilic properties. We proposed that the hydrophobic drug could co-assemble with a suitable SMA on a nanoscale without additive agents. The proof-ofconcept methodology and results were presented to support our hypothesis. We selected five hydrophobic drugs and more than ten amphiphilic small molecules to construct a library. Through molecular dynamic simulation and quantum chemistry computation,we speculated that the formation of nanoassemblies was related to the binding energy of the drug-mate, and the drug-mate interaction must overcome drug-drug interaction.Furthermore, the obtained SF/VECOONa nanoassemblieswas selected as a model, which had an ultra-high drug loading content (46%), improved pharmacokinetics, increased bioavailability, and enhanced therapeutic efficacy. In summary, the drug-mate strategy is an essential resource to design exact SMA for many hydrophobic drugs and provides a reference for the design of a carrier-free drug delivery system.
基金This study was funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant numbers 31772505 and 32070476).
文摘Cicadas usually sing and mate in the higher parts of trees.Studies addressing the effects of different acoustic signals on mate choice in Cicadidae are very limited.We investigated the effects of both acoustical features and morphological traits on mate choice in an East Asian cicada Platypleura kaempferi.Males produce high-rate calling songs that attract females,then produce low-rate courtship songs to secure mating when a female is attracted.Higher calling song rate(CR),shorter single-pulse duration,and shorter pulse period of the calling song,together with lower courtship song rate and longer echeme period of the courtship song,are the most desirable traits used by females to choose a mate.These traits indicate that the more amale can raise the rate of song production,the higher the probability he is sexually selected by the female.No correlation was found between morphological traits and mating success.After mating,a minority of males started emitting calling songs again,but the CR was significantly lower than before mating and none of them attracted a new mate later.This promotes females mating with unmated males.We hypothesize that P.kaempferi may have the best of both worlds due to the unique song modulation and the mechanism of female mate choice:males change energetically,costly acoustic signals to achieve mates,while females choose a mate based on males’acoustic properties.Our results contribute to better understanding the diversity of mating preference and enrich the mechanism of mate choice in acoustic insects.
基金Supported by the State Key Basic Research and Develop-ment Plan (G2000046805)the National Natural Science Foundation of China (30370098, 30570111)
文摘Outcrossing rate in a natural population of Caldesia grandis was estimated by the dominant random amplified polymorphism DNA （RAPD） marker using 10 open-pollinated progeny arrays of 24 individuals. The multilocus outcrossing rate estimated based on all 25 RAPD loci was 0.872 ±0.033 and the single-locus outcrossing rate was 0.795 ±0.032. Multilocus esti- mates did not differ significantly from the single-locus estimates. The fixation index, F, in the progeny estimated from RAPD data was -0.142 ±0.000. The estimates of multilocus outcrossing rates （tm） and single-locus outcrossing rates （ts） obtained from MLDT clearly indicate that outcrossing is predominant in the open-pollinated C. grandis population. An empirical analysis suggests that 15 should be the minimum number of dominant marker loci necessary to achieve robust estimates of tm.
文摘Lekking males aggregate to attract females and contribute solely to egg fer- tilization, without any further parental care. Evolutionary theory therefore predicts them to be nonchoosy toward their mates, because any lost mating opportunities would out- weigh the benefits associated with such preferences. Nevertheless, due to time costs, the production of energetically costly sexual displays, and potential sperm limitation, the mat- ing effort of lekking males is often considerable. These factors, combined with the fact that many females of varying quality are likely to visit leks, could favor the evolution of male mate preferences. Here, we show that males of the lekking lesser wax moth, Achroia grisella, were indeed more likely to mate with heavier females in choice experiments, even at their virgin mating （i.e., when their reproductive resources have not yet been depleted by previous matings）. This differential female mating success could not be attributed to female behavior as heavy and light females showed similar motivation to mate （i.e., la- tency to approach the males） and time to copulate. Males seem to benefit from mating with heavier females, as fecundity positively correlated with female mass. This new em- pirical evidence shows that male mate choice may have been tmderestimated in lekking species
基金supported by the New Cornerstone Science Foundation and the Key R&D Program of Zhejiang(2024SSYS0016).
文摘Aggression,an evolutionarily conserved social behavior,is essential for animals to compete for valuable resources like food,territory,and mates,and to protect kin.Although aggression is required for the survival of both sexes,it is often displayed in a sexually dimorphic manner,with males typically exhibiting higher levels of aggression than females.
基金financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(32271693)the Cultivating Plan Program for the Leader in Science and Technology of Yunnan Province(202405AC350111)to ZQZ.
文摘Mating patterns in angiosperms are typically nonrandom,yet the mechanisms driving nonrandom mating remain unclear,especially regarding the effects of quantitative floral traits on plant mating success across male and female functions.In this study,we investigated how variation in spur length and flower number per plant influences mating patterns in Aquilegia rockii within a natural population.Using marker-based paternity analyses and manipulative experiments,we assessed the role of these traits in mating success across both sexual functions.We found significant variation in the mate composition between male and female function,with spur-length frequency positively associated with female outcrossing rate and mate number,but not with male outcrossing or mate number.Most mating events occurred within 10 m,and spur-length frequency positively correlated with mating distance.Regardless of selfing,there was evidence for assortative mating for spur length.Although spur length did not correlate with pollinator visitation,plants with mid-length spurs had higher seed set than those with shorter or longer spurs when autonomous selfing was excluded.Flowers number per plant was only associated with mating distance and female outcrossing rate.Our results suggest that spur length plays a key role in nonrandom mating by frequency-dependent mating,with implications for stabilizing selection and maintenance of genetic diversity.This study advances our understanding of floral diversity by dissecting the role of quantitative floral traits in plant mating through both female and male functions.
基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China(30800121).
文摘Mounting evidence suggests that male sperm may be gradually depleted after consecutive matings,resulting in the decline of female reproductive output in insect species.It is predicted that females may employ adaptive strategies to avoid the sperm-depleted males,such as mating multiply with different males and/or discriminating against previously mated males(MMs).Similarly,males may exhibit adaptive behaviors toward females varying in mating status.However,in spiders with males lacking primary copulatory organs and their pedipalps modified to transfer sperm,there are few studies on male mating potential and previous mating experience on their subsequent mate choice.In this study,we used a polyandrous crab spider,Ebrechtella tricuspidata,a sit-and-wait predator with female-biased sex ratio as a model system to ascertain whether 1)male mating experiences influence female reproductive fitness;2)females respond differently to males varying in mating status;and 3)males respond differently to females varying in mating status.Our results showed that female fecundity was independent of male mating experiences,but female fertility markedly declined with the increase of male previous mating experiences in the first eggsac.Counter to our predictions,females preferred to choose and mate with the larger males,regardless of their mating status.In contrast,male mating status influenced their mating preference toward females.Virgin males did not show any preference between virgin and mated females;however,MMs were more likely to prefer the virgin females over the mated ones.Overall,our results indicated that female choice depended primarily on male relative size rather than male mating status,whereas male choice depended on female mating status,Depending on the investigation of reproductive dynamics and mate choice in E.tricuspidata,the study will provide valuable insights into the adaptive behaviors of both males and females exhibiting toward mates varying inmating status.
基金supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China(2021YFD1400700)the Natural Science Foundation of Anhui Province,China(2308085MC89)the Agricultural Science and Technology Innovation Program of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences(ASTIP)。
文摘The fall armyworm(Spodoptera frugiperda)is an invasive species and a destructive pest of maize,which significantly impacts native species and communities via complex mechanisms like competition for resources.However,the interaction between S.frugiperda and local pests remains unclear.In this study,we determined that Oriental armyworm(Mythimna separata)females with different mating status displayed different approach-avoidance behaviors towards maize which was infested by S.frugiperda larvae.The virgin M.separata females were repelled,while the mated females were attracted by the S.frugiperda-infested maize.To further understand the olfactory mechanism of this phenomenon,seven volatiles induced by S.frugiperda in maize were characterized by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry(GC-MS),including trans-2-hexenal,linalool,trans-β-farnesene,cis-3-hexenyl acetate,β-caryophyllene,trans-α-bergamotene,and isopentyl acetate.Additionally,electrophysiological and behavioral assays of the seven compounds were performed using both virgin and mated females of M.separata.We determined that virgin and mated females displayed different responses to the herbivore-induced plant volatile(HIPV).Trans-β-farnesene was the core compound for repelling virgin females,and trans-2-hexenal was the key attractant for oviposition in mated female M.separata individuals.These findings help our comprehension of the relationships between maize pests and offer new possibilities for controlling them by olfactory-based strategies.
基金funded by the National Key R&D Program of China(Grant No.2023YFA1008901)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.11988102,12172009)“The Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities,Peking University”.
文摘The multiscale computational method with asymptotic analysis and reduced-order homogenization(ROH)gives a practical numerical solution for engineering problems,especially composite materials.Under the ROH framework,a partition-based unitcell structure at the mesoscale is utilized to give a mechanical state at the macro-scale quadrature point with pre-evaluated influence functions.In the past,the“1-phase,1-partition”rule was usually adopted in numerical analysis,where one constituent phase at the mesoscale formed one partition.The numerical cost then is significantly reduced by introducing an assumption that the mechanical responses are the same all the time at the same constituent,while it also introduces numerical inaccuracy.This study proposes a new partitioning method for fibrous unitcells under a reduced-order homogenization methodology.In this method,the fiber phase remains 1 partition,but the matrix phase is divided into 2 partitions,which refers to the“12”partitioning scheme.Analytical elastic influence+functions are derived by introducing the elastic strain energy equivalence(Hill-Mandel condition).This research also obtains the analytical eigenstrain influence functions by alleviating the so-called“inclusion-locking”phenomenon.In addition,a numerical approach to minimize the error of strain energy density is introduced to determine the partitioning of the matrix phase.Several numerical examples are presented to compare the differences among direct numerical simulation(DNS),“11”,and“12”partitioning schemes.The numerical simulations show improved++numerical accuracy by the“12”partitioning scheme.
基金funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (32370456)the Key Project of Natural Sciences Foundation of Sichuan Province (22NSFSC0011)。
文摘Brain size varies dramatically across populations and species in anuran species.The differences in structure,function,or size of brains are linked to processing specific cognitive tasks by different behaviors.In particular,the causes of how male-male competition promotes the increased cognitive abilities to increase brains are as yet unexplored in anurans.To evaluate the effect of male-male competition on variation in brain size in B.andrewsi,we compared the differences in relative brain size between mated males and unpaired males under natural and experimental conditions.We found that mated males had relatively larger brains than unpaired males in a natural population when controlling the effect of body size.Likewise,we also found that there were larger brains in mated males than in unpaired males in both experiment 1 where two males competed for a female and experiment 2 where three males competed for a female,suggesting that males with mating success during male-male competition possess increased brain size and cognitive abilities.When we compared difference in relative brain size in mated males between experiment2 and experiment 1 we found that males experiencing more intense competition did not display larger brains than males experiencing relatively weak competition,suggesting that low intensity competition is already enough to trigger the increase in relative brain size in B.andrewsi.
基金the Landesamt für Umwelt,Naturschutz und Geologie Mecklenburg-Vorpommern(LUNG M-V)the Orthop?die+Vital Zentrum Piro GmbH+2 种基金the Institut für Vogelforschung“Vogelwarte Helgoland”(IfV)the German Ornithologists’Society(DO-G,project“Migration behaviour of Western Pomeranian terns”)the University of Greifswald(“AG Vogelwarte”)。
文摘Tracking and mating data of Common Terns(Sterna hirundo)breeding in a single colony in north-eastern Germany were used to test for assortative mating in regards to migratory phenotypes.These birds use the eastern and western African migration routes and three different wintering areas along the African coast.However,no assortative mating was found for either migratory route or wintering area,as birds using both flyways and all three wintering areas paired randomly,which might be explained by a lack of difference in the arrival date at the colony between the groups.These results might indicate a low degree of genetic fixation of migratory route and wintering area in the Common Tern,which might hint that migratory direction and wintering sites could be passed to young terns via social learning,either by joining the parents or migratory flocks of conspecifics.If migratory phenotypes are passed on by a parent,it seems more likely that it is passed from father to young,as female Common Terns tend to leave the colony earlier and males provide the majority of post-fledging care.
