Historical and current climate impacts reshape the evolutionary trajectory and ecological dynamics of entire vegetative communities,which can drive insect species distribution.Understanding the spatial distribution of...Historical and current climate impacts reshape the evolutionary trajectory and ecological dynamics of entire vegetative communities,which can drive insect species distribution.Understanding the spatial distribution of insects can enhance forest management effectiveness.The effects of historical and current climates in the spatial distribution of herbivorous tree insects in China were explored.A species distribution model simulated insect spatial distribution based on 596 species and the distribution probability and richness of these species were assessed in forest ecoregions.The explanatory power of the historical climate was stronger than that of the current climate,particularly historical annual precipitation and annual mean temperatures,for the distribution of herbivorous insects.Under both historical and current climatic conditions,herbivorous tree insects were and are mainly distributed in the North China Plain and the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River Plain,namely in the Huang He Plain mixed forests,Changjiang Plain evergreen forests,and Sichuan Basin evergreen broadleaf forests.The Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau and northeast China are regions with large impact differences between historical and current climates.The findings of this study provide valuable insights into herbivorous insect responses to sustained climate change and may contribute to long-term biodiversity conservation activities.展开更多
The decline in herbivorous fishes is an important contributing factor to the degradation of coral reefs, because their reduction contributes to macro algae overgrowth, which can have harmful effects on corals. Herbivo...The decline in herbivorous fishes is an important contributing factor to the degradation of coral reefs, because their reduction contributes to macro algae overgrowth, which can have harmful effects on corals. Herbivorous fish often form mixed-species groups to locate foraging sites and for defense. The movements and compositions of these groups are dependent on the relative numbers of different species present. Some species, such as the striped parrotfish (Scarus iserti) and ocean surgeonfish (Acanthurus bahianus), serve as core species that lead mixed-species groups. Others, such as the redband (Sparisoma aurofrenatum) and stoplight parrotfishes (Sparisoma viride), follow core species as their associates. Despite the potential importance and abundance of mixed-species groups on reefs, little attention has been given to their composition and movements. Our intent was to determine whether the social dynamics of mixed-species groups in Jamaica were similar to those of Grand Cayman. The overall sizes of mixed-species groups were smaller in Grand Cayman. Focal striped parrotfish in Grand Cayman formed smaller groups, changed composition less, and moved less frequently than in Jamaica. Although probably more abundant than striped parrotfish, the ocean surgeonfish in Grand Cayman did not function as a core species but rather attached themselves as associates to the smaller striped parrotfish groups. Redband parrotfish moved less often in Grand Cayman, and appeared to be more dependent on striped parrotfish groups than stoplight parrotfish. While previous studies on herbivorous reef fish have shown that changes in foraging patterns can change with location, perhaps related to structural heterogeneity and resource distribution, this study illustrates that social interactions between common members of mixed-species groups also change. We suggest that the intra and interspecific social interactions in Grand Cayman are less attuned to finding erratically located high quality resources than those in Jamaica. Other plausible explanations are also considered.展开更多
●Long-term organic fertilization promoted the positive rhizosphere effects on r-strategist bacteria and K-strategist bacterivorous nematodes.●Long-term inorganic fertilization facilitated the positive rhizosphere ef...●Long-term organic fertilization promoted the positive rhizosphere effects on r-strategist bacteria and K-strategist bacterivorous nematodes.●Long-term inorganic fertilization facilitated the positive rhizosphere effects on K-strategist bacteria and r-strategist bacterivorous nematodes.●The r/K-strategist bacteria interact with r/K-strategist bacterivorous nematodes to suppress herbivorous nematodes abundances.Microbial food web organisms’responses to fertilization are influenced by their r/K-strategies.The roles of r/K-strategist microbes and their associated microbivorous nematodes in regulating herbivorous nematodes abundances remain unexplored,especially under different fertilization regimes.Filling this knowledge gap is critical for enhancing agricultural sustainability through optimization of microbial food web.Here,the microbial food web community structure was analyzed in two soil compartments(bulk/rhizosphere soil)from oilseed rape(Brassica napusL.)season to investigate interactions between r/K-strategist microbes and nematodes under organic and inorganic fertilization regimes.Fertilization regimes,rather than soil compartments,predominantly controlled the microbial food web community structure.Under organic fertilization,the relative abundances of r-strategist bacteria and bacterivores of cp-3 guild were greater in the rhizosphere than in the bulk soil.In contrast,under inorganic fertilization regimes,K-strategist bacteria and bacterivores of cp-2 guild were enriched in the rhizosphere versus the bulk soil.Differential r/K-strategist bacteria controlled the microbial food web network,with r-and K-strategist bacteria predominating under organic and inorganic fertilization,respectively.Soil organic carbon from organic fertilization stimulated the growth of r-strategist bacteria,which interacted with bacterivores of cp-3 guild to reduce the relative abundance of herbivores in the rhizosphere soil.Acidification from inorganic fertilization enriched K-strategist bacteria,which interacted with bacterivores cp-2 or cp-3 guilds to suppress herbivores abundances in the rhizosphere soil.Overall,our findings highlight the importance of cross-kingdom interactions among r/K-strategist organisms for the biocontrol of herbivores,providing guidance for harnessing microbial food web to create a healthy plant rhizosphere.展开更多
Monsoon has an important impact on the development of vegetation that subsequently has significant influence on the evolution of plant consumers.The diversities of forest dwellers or herbivores follow the evolution of...Monsoon has an important impact on the development of vegetation that subsequently has significant influence on the evolution of plant consumers.The diversities of forest dwellers or herbivores follow the evolution of the vegetation,and it is therefore possible to take such diversities as forest or vegetation dynamic proxies.The present work selected 36 Pleistocene faunas of large mammals from monsoon-dominated provinces in China as materials and calculated the diversities of forest dwellers and herbivores with different approaches,as well as the consensus gradient coefficients of all the selected faunas in different flora regionalized subkingdoms.The results show that with the evolution and transitions of the East Asian summer and winter monsoon intensities,the forest vitality decreased while steppe vitality increased gradually in a fluctuated way from the Early Pleistocene to the Late Pleistocene,especially in the provinces north of the Qinling-Huaihe Line.The analyses of such diversities of the faunas can help to determine the forest dynamic proxies.Moreover,the correlation of such proxies to loess-paleosol sequences and marine isotope stages can in turn help to improve the accuracy of dating fauna ages and paleoenvironment reconstruction.展开更多
The response of plant functional diversity to external disturbances not only effectively predicts changes in the ecosystem but it also reflects how plant communities use external environmental resources.However,resear...The response of plant functional diversity to external disturbances not only effectively predicts changes in the ecosystem but it also reflects how plant communities use external environmental resources.However,research on how different herbivore assemblages affect plant functional diversity is limited.Therefore,this study systematically explored the effects of three typical herbivore assemblages(yak grazing,Tibetan sheep grazing,and mixed grazing by yaks and Tibetan sheep)on species richness,plant functional diversity,and soil physicochemical properties in alpine grasslands on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau,China.This study further investigated the primary mechanisms driving the changes in plant functional diversity.The results indicate four key aspects of this system:(1)Grazing significantly enhanced plant functional diversity,particularly when the mixed grazing by yaks and Tibetan sheep was applied at a ratio of 1:2.This ratio showed the most substantial improvement in the functional dispersion index and Rao's quadratic entropy index.(2)Compared to enclosed treatments,grazing increased species richness andβ-diversity,contributing to higher plant functional diversity.(3)Grazing treatments affected various plant traits,such as reducing plant community height and leaf thickness while increasing specific leaf area.However,the impact on plant functional diversity was most pronounced under the mixed grazing by yaks and Tibetan sheep at a ratio of 1:2.(4)Speciesα-diversity was positively correlated with plant functional diversity.Changes in plant functional diversity were primarily regulated by variations in soil physicochemical properties.Specifically,increases in soil available nitrogen significantly promoted changes in plant functional diversity,while increases in soil available potassium and bulk density had a significant inhibitory effect on these changes.Long-term grazing significantly reduced the height of plant communities in alpine meadows,while a balanced mixture of yak and Tibetan sheep grazing,especially at a ratio of 1:2,enhanced plant functional diversity the most.This suggests that,under these conditions,the use of external environmental resources by the plant community is optimized.展开更多
The oral secretions of insect herbivores are complex mixtures of organic and inorganic solutes and enzymes that are deposited onto plant tissues during the feeding process.Some specific components of insect oral secre...The oral secretions of insect herbivores are complex mixtures of organic and inorganic solutes and enzymes that are deposited onto plant tissues during the feeding process.Some specific components of insect oral secretions have been shown to confer important functions in mediating plant–insect interactions at the molecular level.In this review,we examined the biochemical studies of insect oral secretions to summarize the current knowledge of their compositions.We then moved beyond the functional studies of components of oral secretions,and focused on the literature that pinpointed specific molecular targets of these compounds.Finally,we highlighted the investigations of oral secretion components in the context of insect physiology,which shed light on the potential evolutionary trajectory of these multi-functional molecules.展开更多
The changes of hydrogen peroxide （H2O2） metabolism and antioxidant enzyme activities in a hybrid poplar （Populus simonii xp. pyramidalis ＇Opera 8277＇） in response to rnechanical damage （MD） and herbivore wound...The changes of hydrogen peroxide （H2O2） metabolism and antioxidant enzyme activities in a hybrid poplar （Populus simonii xp. pyramidalis ＇Opera 8277＇） in response to rnechanical damage （MD） and herbivore wounding （HW） were investigated to determine whether H2O2 could function as the secondary messenger in the signaling of systemic resistance. Results show that H2O2 was generated in wounded leaves through MD and HW treatments and systemically in unwounded leaves around the wounded leaves. The activities of antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase （SOD）, catalase （CAT） and ascorbate peroxidase （APX） were also enhanced. However, the H2O2 accumulation and antioxidant enzyme activities were inhibited in MD leaves through the pretreatment with DPI （which is a specific inhibitor of NADPH oxidase）. The results of this study suggest that H2O2 could be systemically induced by MD and HW treatments, and H2O2 metabolism was closely related to the change in SOD, APX and CAT activities. A high level of antioxidant enzymes could decrease membrane lipid peroxidation levels and effectively induce plant defense responses.展开更多
The diet of from the lower Djoue River was determined by the size of the specimens and the sampling season. Stomach contents of 662 specimens caught monthly from September 2012 to August 2013 were examined. The size o...The diet of from the lower Djoue River was determined by the size of the specimens and the sampling season. Stomach contents of 662 specimens caught monthly from September 2012 to August 2013 were examined. The size of the individuals varies between 15.37 and 109.52 mm, for a mean 49.95 ± 8.3. Of the stomachs analyzed, 145 were empty, representing a vacuity coefficient of 22%. The food spectrum of C. polli consists mainly of algaes (Ip = 65%) and plant debris (Ip = 11%). A plasticity of the diet is observed according to the size, at sizes greater than 69.17mm (Classes 5-7), a gradual change in diet was observed with entomophagous and ichthyophagous tendency. The diet varies little according to the seasons;the algaes are the main preys in the dry season and insects during the rainy season. The food composition and the intestinal coefficient value showed that Ctenochromis polli is herbivorous.展开更多
Nitrogen is one of the most important factors in development of herbivore populations. The application of nitrogen fertilizer in plants can normally increase herbivore feeding preference, food consumption, survival, g...Nitrogen is one of the most important factors in development of herbivore populations. The application of nitrogen fertilizer in plants can normally increase herbivore feeding preference, food consumption, survival, growth, reproduction, and population density, except few examples that nitrogen fertilizer reduces the herbivore performances. In most of the rice growing areas in Asia, the great increases in populations of major insect pests of rice, including planthoppers （Nilaparvata lugens and Sogatella furcifera）, leaffolder （ Cnaphalocrocis rnedinalis）, and stem borers （Scirpophaga incertulas, Chilo suppressalis, S. innotata, C. polychrysus and Sesarnia inferens） were closely related to the long-term excessive application of nitrogen fertilizers. The optimal regime of nitrogen fertilizer in irrigated paddy fields is proposed to improve the fertilizer-nitrogen use efficiency and reduce the environmental pollution.展开更多
Plants have sophisticated defense systems to fend off insect herbivores. How plants defend against herbivores in dicotyledonous plants, such as Arabidopsis and tobacco, have been relatively well studied, yet little is...Plants have sophisticated defense systems to fend off insect herbivores. How plants defend against herbivores in dicotyledonous plants, such as Arabidopsis and tobacco, have been relatively well studied, yet little is known about the defense responses in monocotyledons. Here, we review the current un- derstanding of rice （Oryza sativa） and maize （Zea rnays） defense against insects. In rice and maize, elicitors derived from insect herbivore oral secretions or oviposition fluids activate phytohormone signaling, and transcriptomic changes mediated mainly by transcription factors lead to accumulation of defense-related secondary metabolites. Direct defenses, such as trypsin protein inhibitors in rice and benzoxazinoids in maize, have anti-digestive or toxic effects on insect herbivores. Herbivory-induced plant volatiles, such as terpenes, are indirect defenses, which attract the natural enemies of herbivores. R gene-mediated defenses against herbivores are also discussed.展开更多
Mixed cultivation of fast-growing grasses and nitrogen(N)-fixing legumes for forage production is widely considered effective for obtaining sustained high forage yields without depleting soil N levels.However,the effe...Mixed cultivation of fast-growing grasses and nitrogen(N)-fixing legumes for forage production is widely considered effective for obtaining sustained high forage yields without depleting soil N levels.However,the effects of monoculture and mixed culture of these species on soil food webs are poorly understood.In this study,soil nematode communities were examined as indicators of the soil food web structure of monoculture and mixed culture of grass and legume at three N levels,i.e.,338(low),450(moderate),and 675(high)kg N ha-1 year-1,across 2 years in wet and dry seasons,using the grass Paspalum wetsfeteini and the legume Medicago sativa(alfalfa),both commonly cultivated worldwide.Repeated-measures analysis of covariance showed that compared with grass monoculture,legume monoculture and grass-legume mixture increased abundances of herbivorous,bacterivorous,and fungivorous nematodes in the soil food web under the low and moderate N fertilization levels.Principal response curve results showed that the abundance of Helicotylenchus,a plant parasite,was significantly higher under legume monoculture than other planting systems at the low N fertilization level.Structural equation model analysis indicated that the legume increased bacterivore abundance,while increasing N fertilization decreased omnivore abundance.The legume might increase the quantity and quality of food resources for soil biota,resulting in the bottom-up control of soil nematode communities.Our results indicate that targeted control of a soilborne pathogen,Helicotylenchus,is required in alfalfa-based planting systems.In addition,high inorganic N application,which is detrimental to legume-rhizobia symbiosis,nullified the otherwise positive effects of legumes on soil nematodes.展开更多
The changes of hydrogen peroxide(H2O2) metabolism and antioxidant enzyme activities in a hybrid poplar(Populus simonii ×P.pyramidalis ‘Opera 8277') in response to mechanical damage(MD) and herbivore wounding...The changes of hydrogen peroxide(H2O2) metabolism and antioxidant enzyme activities in a hybrid poplar(Populus simonii ×P.pyramidalis ‘Opera 8277') in response to mechanical damage(MD) and herbivore wounding(HW) were investigated to determine whether H2O2 could function as the secondary messenger in the signaling of systemic resistance.Results show that H2O2 was generated in wounded leaves through MD and HW treatments and systemically in unwounded leaves around the wounded leaves.The activities of antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase(SOD), catalase(CAT) and ascorbate peroxidase(APX) were also enhanced.However, the H2O2 accumulation and antioxidant enzyme activities were inhibited in MD leaves through the pretreatment with DPI(which is a specific inhibitor of NADPH oxidase).The results of this study suggest that H2O2 could be systemically induced by MD and HW treatments, and H2O2 metabolism was closely related to the change in SOD, APX and CAT activities.A high level of antioxidant enzymes could decrease membrane lipid peroxidation levels and effectively induce plant defense responses.展开更多
Jasmonic acid(JA)plays important roles in plant resistance to insect herbivores.One important derivative of JA is 12-OH-JA,which is produced by two independent pathways:direct hydroxylation of JA by jasmonate-induced ...Jasmonic acid(JA)plays important roles in plant resistance to insect herbivores.One important derivative of JA is 12-OH-JA,which is produced by two independent pathways:direct hydroxylation of JA by jasmonate-induced oxygenases(JOXs)or hydrolyzation of 12-OH-JA-Ile.Yet the function of 12-OH-JA in plant-herbivore interactions remains largely unknown.In this study,we silenced four JOX homologs independently in the wild tobacco Nicotiana attenuata by virus-induced gene silencing(VIGS),and found that all four JOX homologs are involved in JA hydroxylation.Simultaneously silencing the four JA hydroxylases in VIGS-NaJOXs plants decreased herbivory-induced 12-OH-JA by 33%,but JA and JA-Ile levels increased by 45%and 30%,respectively,compared to those in control plants.Compared to direct hydroxylation from JA,hydrolyzation from 12-OH-JA-Ile is equally important for herbivory-induced 12-OHJA accumulation:in the 12-OH-JA-Ile deficient irJAR4/6 plants,12-OH-JA decreased 34%.Moreover,VIGSNaJOXs plants exhibited enhanced resistance to the generalist herbivore Spodoptera litura.The poor larval performance was strongly correlated with high levels of several JA-Ile-dependent direct defense metabolites in the VIGS-NaJOXs plants.When we simultaneously silenced all four JA hydroxylases in the JAIle-deficient irJAR4/6 background,the enhanced herbivore resistance diminished,demonstrating that enhanced herbivore resistance resulted from elevated JA-Ile levels.Given that silencing these NaJOX-like genes did not detectably alter plant growth but highly increased plant defense levels,we propose that JOX genes are potential targets for genetic improvement of herbivore-resistant crops.展开更多
The enduring discussion,why plants produce secondary metabolites with pharmacologically and toxicologically active towards mammals traces back to the eminent role of medicinal plants in the millennia-old history of ma...The enduring discussion,why plants produce secondary metabolites with pharmacologically and toxicologically active towards mammals traces back to the eminent role of medicinal plants in the millennia-old history of manhood.In recent years,the concept of an animal plant warfare emerged,which focused on the co-evolution between plants and herbivores.As a reaction to herbivory,plants developed mechanical defenses such as thorns and hard shells,which paved the way for adapted animal physiques.Plants evolved further defense systems by producing chemicals that exert toxic effects on the animals that ingest them.As a result of this selective pressure,animals developed special enzymes,e.g.cytochrome P450 monooxigenases(CYP450)that metabolize xenobiotic phytochemicals.As a next step in the evolutionary competition between plants and animals,plants evolved to produce non-toxic pro-drugs,which become toxic only after ingestion by animals through metabolization by enzymes such as CYP450.Because these sequestered evolutionary developments call to mind an arms race,the term animal plant warfare has been coined.The evolutionary competition between plants and animals may help to better understand the modes of action of medicinal plants and to foster the efficient and safe use of phytotherapy nowadays.展开更多
Plagiodera versicolora Laicharting is a highly damaging leaf beetle foraging on willow leaves.In willow germplasm collections,observation has shown that Salix suchowensis Cheng was severely foraged by this leaf beetle...Plagiodera versicolora Laicharting is a highly damaging leaf beetle foraging on willow leaves.In willow germplasm collections,observation has shown that Salix suchowensis Cheng was severely foraged by this leaf beetle while Salix triandra L.was damage free or only slightly damaged.Results of olfactometer bioassays show that the headspace volatiles from leaves of S.triandra significantly repelled adult beetles,suggesting that this species produces volatile repellents against P.versicolora.S.suchowensis had no effect on the beetles.Gas chromatography-mass spec-trometry was carried out to profile the headspace volatile organic compounds and 23 compounds from leaves of the alternate species in significantly different concentrations were detected.The effects of 20 chemical analogs on host discrimination were examined.Olfactory response to these chemicals showed that o-cymene,a S.suchowensis specific constituent,significantly attracted adult P.versicolora.In contrast,cis-3-hexenyl acetate,a constituent concentrated more in S.triandra than in S.suchowensis,significantly repelled beetles.Mixing o-cymene and cis-3-hexenyl acetate in comparable concentrations as in the volatiles of S.suchowensis demonstrated that the latter could mask the attracting effect of the former,causing a neutral response by adult beetles to leaves of S.suchowensis against clean air.In addition,chemical analogs have the same effect as plants when resembling volatile organic compounds in real samples.Two volatile metabolites were detected triggering host discrimination by one of the most damaging insect pests to host and non-host willows.The two metabolites are of considerable potential for use as olfactory signs in manag-ing the beetles.展开更多
To determine the effects of sika deer (Cervus nippon) browsing on the physical defences of the Japanese pricklyash “Zanthoxylum ailanthoides Sieb. et Zucc.” (Rutaceae), we compared the length and density of prickles...To determine the effects of sika deer (Cervus nippon) browsing on the physical defences of the Japanese pricklyash “Zanthoxylum ailanthoides Sieb. et Zucc.” (Rutaceae), we compared the length and density of prickles on Japanese islands which were under different browsing pressures. We measured the length and density of prickles on the midribs, leaf rachis, and stems. We found that the prickles of Z. ailanthoides on Kashima island were not significantly longer or at higher densities than those in the neighbouring areas;the longest pickles at the highest densities were found on Akune island. The density of sika deer on Akune (ca. 520-600/km2) was higher than that on Kashima (ca. 38.5/km2), and consequently, Akune was under greater browsing pressure. Our results suggest that the increased length and density of prickles on Akune is a response by Z. ailanthoides to the high density of sika deer found on the island.展开更多
At present,Sri Lanka is home to about 5,000-6,000 wild elephants roaming over close to 70%of the country’s land.Despite this blessing,around 150 elephants die each year due to many reasons.The main reasons for the al...At present,Sri Lanka is home to about 5,000-6,000 wild elephants roaming over close to 70%of the country’s land.Despite this blessing,around 150 elephants die each year due to many reasons.The main reasons for the altercations between humans and elephants are the drastic increase in the human population,human encroachment upon elephant territory for agriculture and settlements and unplanned development and transportation efforts.Elephants are long lived herbivores,and their survival depends upon regular migration over large distances to search for food,water,and social and reproductive partners.According to the Sri Lanka railways the average number of elephants that get killed due to elephant-railway accidents is about 9 per year.As a solution for this problem,we have proposed a novel system to pass a signal to indicate the train arrival.The proposed system detects the vibration of the locomotives and after detecting the vibration,alarm system will generate a high frequency signal within the frequency range,where the elephants are sensitive.The proposed system is a low cost device and this can be placed anywhere at any time.Moreover,this project aims to protect elephants from being harmed which usually happen due to various human activities.展开更多
Geophagy is the deliberate consumption of earth materials such as soils,clays or sediments by human and animals.The ingested soil is chosen based on its physical,chemical,and mineralogical nature.Early studies reveal ...Geophagy is the deliberate consumption of earth materials such as soils,clays or sediments by human and animals.The ingested soil is chosen based on its physical,chemical,and mineralogical nature.Early studies reveal that geophagy functions through(1) adsorption/absorption of ingested toxic plant compounds onto clay particles,(2)mineral supplementation (Na,Mn,K,and S as the possible candidates),and(3)展开更多
Population management of herbivores is widely applied to decrease damage to forests in the northern hemisphere. Culling more antlerless deer, including females and fawns, is an effective means of reducing the populati...Population management of herbivores is widely applied to decrease damage to forests in the northern hemisphere. Culling more antlerless deer, including females and fawns, is an effective means of reducing the population and helps to improve management efficiency. To increase the efficiency of antlerless-biased culling, we assessed the spatiotemporal distribution of the antlerless ratio in culled sika deer (Cervus nippon) in relation to population density. We hypothesized that the antlerless ratio is higher at the center of the distribution than at the margins of the deer’s range, because dispersal processes differ according to sex and age: Young male deer first disperse into an unoccupied area, and then males may become established in the new area for approximately 10–15 years before the number of females increases. A statistical model revealed spatiotemporal changes in the antlerless ratio of culled sika deer. The change in the ratio basically fit the density distribution of the deer, which was estimated independently on the basis of fecal pellet count surveys. The antlerless ratio estimated from the model increased asymptotically as deer density rose. The results support our hypothesis and suggest that antlerless sika deer will be more easily culled at the center rather than at the margins of the distribution range. These findings should help to increase the efficiency of managing the deer via antlerless-biased culling.展开更多
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.31800449 and 31800464)。
文摘Historical and current climate impacts reshape the evolutionary trajectory and ecological dynamics of entire vegetative communities,which can drive insect species distribution.Understanding the spatial distribution of insects can enhance forest management effectiveness.The effects of historical and current climates in the spatial distribution of herbivorous tree insects in China were explored.A species distribution model simulated insect spatial distribution based on 596 species and the distribution probability and richness of these species were assessed in forest ecoregions.The explanatory power of the historical climate was stronger than that of the current climate,particularly historical annual precipitation and annual mean temperatures,for the distribution of herbivorous insects.Under both historical and current climatic conditions,herbivorous tree insects were and are mainly distributed in the North China Plain and the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River Plain,namely in the Huang He Plain mixed forests,Changjiang Plain evergreen forests,and Sichuan Basin evergreen broadleaf forests.The Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau and northeast China are regions with large impact differences between historical and current climates.The findings of this study provide valuable insights into herbivorous insect responses to sustained climate change and may contribute to long-term biodiversity conservation activities.
文摘The decline in herbivorous fishes is an important contributing factor to the degradation of coral reefs, because their reduction contributes to macro algae overgrowth, which can have harmful effects on corals. Herbivorous fish often form mixed-species groups to locate foraging sites and for defense. The movements and compositions of these groups are dependent on the relative numbers of different species present. Some species, such as the striped parrotfish (Scarus iserti) and ocean surgeonfish (Acanthurus bahianus), serve as core species that lead mixed-species groups. Others, such as the redband (Sparisoma aurofrenatum) and stoplight parrotfishes (Sparisoma viride), follow core species as their associates. Despite the potential importance and abundance of mixed-species groups on reefs, little attention has been given to their composition and movements. Our intent was to determine whether the social dynamics of mixed-species groups in Jamaica were similar to those of Grand Cayman. The overall sizes of mixed-species groups were smaller in Grand Cayman. Focal striped parrotfish in Grand Cayman formed smaller groups, changed composition less, and moved less frequently than in Jamaica. Although probably more abundant than striped parrotfish, the ocean surgeonfish in Grand Cayman did not function as a core species but rather attached themselves as associates to the smaller striped parrotfish groups. Redband parrotfish moved less often in Grand Cayman, and appeared to be more dependent on striped parrotfish groups than stoplight parrotfish. While previous studies on herbivorous reef fish have shown that changes in foraging patterns can change with location, perhaps related to structural heterogeneity and resource distribution, this study illustrates that social interactions between common members of mixed-species groups also change. We suggest that the intra and interspecific social interactions in Grand Cayman are less attuned to finding erratically located high quality resources than those in Jamaica. Other plausible explanations are also considered.
基金supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China(Grant No.2018YFD0800202)the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(Grant No.226-2024-00052)+2 种基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.42007083)the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation(Grant No.2020M671736)supported by a Royal Society University Research Fellowship(Grant No.URF150571)。
文摘●Long-term organic fertilization promoted the positive rhizosphere effects on r-strategist bacteria and K-strategist bacterivorous nematodes.●Long-term inorganic fertilization facilitated the positive rhizosphere effects on K-strategist bacteria and r-strategist bacterivorous nematodes.●The r/K-strategist bacteria interact with r/K-strategist bacterivorous nematodes to suppress herbivorous nematodes abundances.Microbial food web organisms’responses to fertilization are influenced by their r/K-strategies.The roles of r/K-strategist microbes and their associated microbivorous nematodes in regulating herbivorous nematodes abundances remain unexplored,especially under different fertilization regimes.Filling this knowledge gap is critical for enhancing agricultural sustainability through optimization of microbial food web.Here,the microbial food web community structure was analyzed in two soil compartments(bulk/rhizosphere soil)from oilseed rape(Brassica napusL.)season to investigate interactions between r/K-strategist microbes and nematodes under organic and inorganic fertilization regimes.Fertilization regimes,rather than soil compartments,predominantly controlled the microbial food web community structure.Under organic fertilization,the relative abundances of r-strategist bacteria and bacterivores of cp-3 guild were greater in the rhizosphere than in the bulk soil.In contrast,under inorganic fertilization regimes,K-strategist bacteria and bacterivores of cp-2 guild were enriched in the rhizosphere versus the bulk soil.Differential r/K-strategist bacteria controlled the microbial food web network,with r-and K-strategist bacteria predominating under organic and inorganic fertilization,respectively.Soil organic carbon from organic fertilization stimulated the growth of r-strategist bacteria,which interacted with bacterivores of cp-3 guild to reduce the relative abundance of herbivores in the rhizosphere soil.Acidification from inorganic fertilization enriched K-strategist bacteria,which interacted with bacterivores cp-2 or cp-3 guilds to suppress herbivores abundances in the rhizosphere soil.Overall,our findings highlight the importance of cross-kingdom interactions among r/K-strategist organisms for the biocontrol of herbivores,providing guidance for harnessing microbial food web to create a healthy plant rhizosphere.
文摘Monsoon has an important impact on the development of vegetation that subsequently has significant influence on the evolution of plant consumers.The diversities of forest dwellers or herbivores follow the evolution of the vegetation,and it is therefore possible to take such diversities as forest or vegetation dynamic proxies.The present work selected 36 Pleistocene faunas of large mammals from monsoon-dominated provinces in China as materials and calculated the diversities of forest dwellers and herbivores with different approaches,as well as the consensus gradient coefficients of all the selected faunas in different flora regionalized subkingdoms.The results show that with the evolution and transitions of the East Asian summer and winter monsoon intensities,the forest vitality decreased while steppe vitality increased gradually in a fluctuated way from the Early Pleistocene to the Late Pleistocene,especially in the provinces north of the Qinling-Huaihe Line.The analyses of such diversities of the faunas can help to determine the forest dynamic proxies.Moreover,the correlation of such proxies to loess-paleosol sequences and marine isotope stages can in turn help to improve the accuracy of dating fauna ages and paleoenvironment reconstruction.
基金financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(U20A2007 and 32160343)the Open Project of Key Laboratory of the Alpine Grassland Ecology in the Three Rivers Region(Qinghai University),Ministry of Education of China(2023-SJY-KF-02)the West Light Foundation of the Chinese Academy of Sciences。
文摘The response of plant functional diversity to external disturbances not only effectively predicts changes in the ecosystem but it also reflects how plant communities use external environmental resources.However,research on how different herbivore assemblages affect plant functional diversity is limited.Therefore,this study systematically explored the effects of three typical herbivore assemblages(yak grazing,Tibetan sheep grazing,and mixed grazing by yaks and Tibetan sheep)on species richness,plant functional diversity,and soil physicochemical properties in alpine grasslands on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau,China.This study further investigated the primary mechanisms driving the changes in plant functional diversity.The results indicate four key aspects of this system:(1)Grazing significantly enhanced plant functional diversity,particularly when the mixed grazing by yaks and Tibetan sheep was applied at a ratio of 1:2.This ratio showed the most substantial improvement in the functional dispersion index and Rao's quadratic entropy index.(2)Compared to enclosed treatments,grazing increased species richness andβ-diversity,contributing to higher plant functional diversity.(3)Grazing treatments affected various plant traits,such as reducing plant community height and leaf thickness while increasing specific leaf area.However,the impact on plant functional diversity was most pronounced under the mixed grazing by yaks and Tibetan sheep at a ratio of 1:2.(4)Speciesα-diversity was positively correlated with plant functional diversity.Changes in plant functional diversity were primarily regulated by variations in soil physicochemical properties.Specifically,increases in soil available nitrogen significantly promoted changes in plant functional diversity,while increases in soil available potassium and bulk density had a significant inhibitory effect on these changes.Long-term grazing significantly reduced the height of plant communities in alpine meadows,while a balanced mixture of yak and Tibetan sheep grazing,especially at a ratio of 1:2,enhanced plant functional diversity the most.This suggests that,under these conditions,the use of external environmental resources by the plant community is optimized.
基金received financial support from the Shenzhen Science and Technology Program,China(KQTD20180411143628272)the special funds for Science Technology Innovation and Industrial Development of Shenzhen Dapeng New District,China(PT202101-02)。
文摘The oral secretions of insect herbivores are complex mixtures of organic and inorganic solutes and enzymes that are deposited onto plant tissues during the feeding process.Some specific components of insect oral secretions have been shown to confer important functions in mediating plant–insect interactions at the molecular level.In this review,we examined the biochemical studies of insect oral secretions to summarize the current knowledge of their compositions.We then moved beyond the functional studies of components of oral secretions,and focused on the literature that pinpointed specific molecular targets of these compounds.Finally,we highlighted the investigations of oral secretion components in the context of insect physiology,which shed light on the potential evolutionary trajectory of these multi-functional molecules.
文摘The changes of hydrogen peroxide （H2O2） metabolism and antioxidant enzyme activities in a hybrid poplar （Populus simonii xp. pyramidalis ＇Opera 8277＇） in response to rnechanical damage （MD） and herbivore wounding （HW） were investigated to determine whether H2O2 could function as the secondary messenger in the signaling of systemic resistance. Results show that H2O2 was generated in wounded leaves through MD and HW treatments and systemically in unwounded leaves around the wounded leaves. The activities of antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase （SOD）, catalase （CAT） and ascorbate peroxidase （APX） were also enhanced. However, the H2O2 accumulation and antioxidant enzyme activities were inhibited in MD leaves through the pretreatment with DPI （which is a specific inhibitor of NADPH oxidase）. The results of this study suggest that H2O2 could be systemically induced by MD and HW treatments, and H2O2 metabolism was closely related to the change in SOD, APX and CAT activities. A high level of antioxidant enzymes could decrease membrane lipid peroxidation levels and effectively induce plant defense responses.
文摘The diet of from the lower Djoue River was determined by the size of the specimens and the sampling season. Stomach contents of 662 specimens caught monthly from September 2012 to August 2013 were examined. The size of the individuals varies between 15.37 and 109.52 mm, for a mean 49.95 ± 8.3. Of the stomachs analyzed, 145 were empty, representing a vacuity coefficient of 22%. The food spectrum of C. polli consists mainly of algaes (Ip = 65%) and plant debris (Ip = 11%). A plasticity of the diet is observed according to the size, at sizes greater than 69.17mm (Classes 5-7), a gradual change in diet was observed with entomophagous and ichthyophagous tendency. The diet varies little according to the seasons;the algaes are the main preys in the dry season and insects during the rainy season. The food composition and the intestinal coefficient value showed that Ctenochromis polli is herbivorous.
基金This paper was translated from its Chinese version in Chinese Journal of Rice Science.
文摘Nitrogen is one of the most important factors in development of herbivore populations. The application of nitrogen fertilizer in plants can normally increase herbivore feeding preference, food consumption, survival, growth, reproduction, and population density, except few examples that nitrogen fertilizer reduces the herbivore performances. In most of the rice growing areas in Asia, the great increases in populations of major insect pests of rice, including planthoppers （Nilaparvata lugens and Sogatella furcifera）, leaffolder （ Cnaphalocrocis rnedinalis）, and stem borers （Scirpophaga incertulas, Chilo suppressalis, S. innotata, C. polychrysus and Sesarnia inferens） were closely related to the long-term excessive application of nitrogen fertilizers. The optimal regime of nitrogen fertilizer in irrigated paddy fields is proposed to improve the fertilizer-nitrogen use efficiency and reduce the environmental pollution.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.31772179,U1502263,31600213,31470369,and 31770301)
文摘Plants have sophisticated defense systems to fend off insect herbivores. How plants defend against herbivores in dicotyledonous plants, such as Arabidopsis and tobacco, have been relatively well studied, yet little is known about the defense responses in monocotyledons. Here, we review the current un- derstanding of rice （Oryza sativa） and maize （Zea rnays） defense against insects. In rice and maize, elicitors derived from insect herbivore oral secretions or oviposition fluids activate phytohormone signaling, and transcriptomic changes mediated mainly by transcription factors lead to accumulation of defense-related secondary metabolites. Direct defenses, such as trypsin protein inhibitors in rice and benzoxazinoids in maize, have anti-digestive or toxic effects on insect herbivores. Herbivory-induced plant volatiles, such as terpenes, are indirect defenses, which attract the natural enemies of herbivores. R gene-mediated defenses against herbivores are also discussed.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.41877055,31870454,and 41930652)the Strategic Priority Research Program of Chinese Academy of Sciences(No.XDA23060103)+3 种基金the Guangxi Natural Science Foundation,China(No.2018GXNSFAA281008)the Program of the Youth Innovation Promotion Association of Chinese Academy of Sciences(No.Y201969)the Foundation for Young Scholars in Western China of Chinese Academy of Sciences given to Dr.Jie Zhaothe Youth Innovation Team Project of Institute of Subtropical Agriculture,Chinese Academy of Sciences(No.2017QNCXTD_ZJ)
文摘Mixed cultivation of fast-growing grasses and nitrogen(N)-fixing legumes for forage production is widely considered effective for obtaining sustained high forage yields without depleting soil N levels.However,the effects of monoculture and mixed culture of these species on soil food webs are poorly understood.In this study,soil nematode communities were examined as indicators of the soil food web structure of monoculture and mixed culture of grass and legume at three N levels,i.e.,338(low),450(moderate),and 675(high)kg N ha-1 year-1,across 2 years in wet and dry seasons,using the grass Paspalum wetsfeteini and the legume Medicago sativa(alfalfa),both commonly cultivated worldwide.Repeated-measures analysis of covariance showed that compared with grass monoculture,legume monoculture and grass-legume mixture increased abundances of herbivorous,bacterivorous,and fungivorous nematodes in the soil food web under the low and moderate N fertilization levels.Principal response curve results showed that the abundance of Helicotylenchus,a plant parasite,was significantly higher under legume monoculture than other planting systems at the low N fertilization level.Structural equation model analysis indicated that the legume increased bacterivore abundance,while increasing N fertilization decreased omnivore abundance.The legume might increase the quantity and quality of food resources for soil biota,resulting in the bottom-up control of soil nematode communities.Our results indicate that targeted control of a soilborne pathogen,Helicotylenchus,is required in alfalfa-based planting systems.In addition,high inorganic N application,which is detrimental to legume-rhizobia symbiosis,nullified the otherwise positive effects of legumes on soil nematodes.
基金supported by the Key Science Pro-gram of the Sate Forestry Administration of China (2006-59)the National Key Project of Scientific and Technical Supporting Programs Funded by Ministry of Science & Technology of China(2006BAD01A15 2006BAD24B04).
文摘The changes of hydrogen peroxide(H2O2) metabolism and antioxidant enzyme activities in a hybrid poplar(Populus simonii ×P.pyramidalis ‘Opera 8277') in response to mechanical damage(MD) and herbivore wounding(HW) were investigated to determine whether H2O2 could function as the secondary messenger in the signaling of systemic resistance.Results show that H2O2 was generated in wounded leaves through MD and HW treatments and systemically in unwounded leaves around the wounded leaves.The activities of antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase(SOD), catalase(CAT) and ascorbate peroxidase(APX) were also enhanced.However, the H2O2 accumulation and antioxidant enzyme activities were inhibited in MD leaves through the pretreatment with DPI(which is a specific inhibitor of NADPH oxidase).The results of this study suggest that H2O2 could be systemically induced by MD and HW treatments, and H2O2 metabolism was closely related to the change in SOD, APX and CAT activities.A high level of antioxidant enzymes could decrease membrane lipid peroxidation levels and effectively induce plant defense responses.
基金supported by the Key Project of Applied Basic Research Program of Yunnan(2017FA015)the Young Academic and Technical Leader Raising Foundation of Yunnan Province(no. 2017HB063)+1 种基金the Yunnan Academy of Tobacco Agricultural Sciences(2018530000241002 and 2019530000241003)the Biotechnology Experimental Center at the Kunming Institute of Botany,CAS,for supporting plant cultivation.
文摘Jasmonic acid(JA)plays important roles in plant resistance to insect herbivores.One important derivative of JA is 12-OH-JA,which is produced by two independent pathways:direct hydroxylation of JA by jasmonate-induced oxygenases(JOXs)or hydrolyzation of 12-OH-JA-Ile.Yet the function of 12-OH-JA in plant-herbivore interactions remains largely unknown.In this study,we silenced four JOX homologs independently in the wild tobacco Nicotiana attenuata by virus-induced gene silencing(VIGS),and found that all four JOX homologs are involved in JA hydroxylation.Simultaneously silencing the four JA hydroxylases in VIGS-NaJOXs plants decreased herbivory-induced 12-OH-JA by 33%,but JA and JA-Ile levels increased by 45%and 30%,respectively,compared to those in control plants.Compared to direct hydroxylation from JA,hydrolyzation from 12-OH-JA-Ile is equally important for herbivory-induced 12-OHJA accumulation:in the 12-OH-JA-Ile deficient irJAR4/6 plants,12-OH-JA decreased 34%.Moreover,VIGSNaJOXs plants exhibited enhanced resistance to the generalist herbivore Spodoptera litura.The poor larval performance was strongly correlated with high levels of several JA-Ile-dependent direct defense metabolites in the VIGS-NaJOXs plants.When we simultaneously silenced all four JA hydroxylases in the JAIle-deficient irJAR4/6 background,the enhanced herbivore resistance diminished,demonstrating that enhanced herbivore resistance resulted from elevated JA-Ile levels.Given that silencing these NaJOX-like genes did not detectably alter plant growth but highly increased plant defense levels,we propose that JOX genes are potential targets for genetic improvement of herbivore-resistant crops.
文摘The enduring discussion,why plants produce secondary metabolites with pharmacologically and toxicologically active towards mammals traces back to the eminent role of medicinal plants in the millennia-old history of manhood.In recent years,the concept of an animal plant warfare emerged,which focused on the co-evolution between plants and herbivores.As a reaction to herbivory,plants developed mechanical defenses such as thorns and hard shells,which paved the way for adapted animal physiques.Plants evolved further defense systems by producing chemicals that exert toxic effects on the animals that ingest them.As a result of this selective pressure,animals developed special enzymes,e.g.cytochrome P450 monooxigenases(CYP450)that metabolize xenobiotic phytochemicals.As a next step in the evolutionary competition between plants and animals,plants evolved to produce non-toxic pro-drugs,which become toxic only after ingestion by animals through metabolization by enzymes such as CYP450.Because these sequestered evolutionary developments call to mind an arms race,the term animal plant warfare has been coined.The evolutionary competition between plants and animals may help to better understand the modes of action of medicinal plants and to foster the efficient and safe use of phytotherapy nowadays.
基金The work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(grants 31570662 and 31500533)It was also enabled by the priority academic program development at Nanjing Forestry University.
文摘Plagiodera versicolora Laicharting is a highly damaging leaf beetle foraging on willow leaves.In willow germplasm collections,observation has shown that Salix suchowensis Cheng was severely foraged by this leaf beetle while Salix triandra L.was damage free or only slightly damaged.Results of olfactometer bioassays show that the headspace volatiles from leaves of S.triandra significantly repelled adult beetles,suggesting that this species produces volatile repellents against P.versicolora.S.suchowensis had no effect on the beetles.Gas chromatography-mass spec-trometry was carried out to profile the headspace volatile organic compounds and 23 compounds from leaves of the alternate species in significantly different concentrations were detected.The effects of 20 chemical analogs on host discrimination were examined.Olfactory response to these chemicals showed that o-cymene,a S.suchowensis specific constituent,significantly attracted adult P.versicolora.In contrast,cis-3-hexenyl acetate,a constituent concentrated more in S.triandra than in S.suchowensis,significantly repelled beetles.Mixing o-cymene and cis-3-hexenyl acetate in comparable concentrations as in the volatiles of S.suchowensis demonstrated that the latter could mask the attracting effect of the former,causing a neutral response by adult beetles to leaves of S.suchowensis against clean air.In addition,chemical analogs have the same effect as plants when resembling volatile organic compounds in real samples.Two volatile metabolites were detected triggering host discrimination by one of the most damaging insect pests to host and non-host willows.The two metabolites are of considerable potential for use as olfactory signs in manag-ing the beetles.
文摘To determine the effects of sika deer (Cervus nippon) browsing on the physical defences of the Japanese pricklyash “Zanthoxylum ailanthoides Sieb. et Zucc.” (Rutaceae), we compared the length and density of prickles on Japanese islands which were under different browsing pressures. We measured the length and density of prickles on the midribs, leaf rachis, and stems. We found that the prickles of Z. ailanthoides on Kashima island were not significantly longer or at higher densities than those in the neighbouring areas;the longest pickles at the highest densities were found on Akune island. The density of sika deer on Akune (ca. 520-600/km2) was higher than that on Kashima (ca. 38.5/km2), and consequently, Akune was under greater browsing pressure. Our results suggest that the increased length and density of prickles on Akune is a response by Z. ailanthoides to the high density of sika deer found on the island.
文摘At present,Sri Lanka is home to about 5,000-6,000 wild elephants roaming over close to 70%of the country’s land.Despite this blessing,around 150 elephants die each year due to many reasons.The main reasons for the altercations between humans and elephants are the drastic increase in the human population,human encroachment upon elephant territory for agriculture and settlements and unplanned development and transportation efforts.Elephants are long lived herbivores,and their survival depends upon regular migration over large distances to search for food,water,and social and reproductive partners.According to the Sri Lanka railways the average number of elephants that get killed due to elephant-railway accidents is about 9 per year.As a solution for this problem,we have proposed a novel system to pass a signal to indicate the train arrival.The proposed system detects the vibration of the locomotives and after detecting the vibration,alarm system will generate a high frequency signal within the frequency range,where the elephants are sensitive.The proposed system is a low cost device and this can be placed anywhere at any time.Moreover,this project aims to protect elephants from being harmed which usually happen due to various human activities.
文摘Geophagy is the deliberate consumption of earth materials such as soils,clays or sediments by human and animals.The ingested soil is chosen based on its physical,chemical,and mineralogical nature.Early studies reveal that geophagy functions through(1) adsorption/absorption of ingested toxic plant compounds onto clay particles,(2)mineral supplementation (Na,Mn,K,and S as the possible candidates),and(3)
文摘Population management of herbivores is widely applied to decrease damage to forests in the northern hemisphere. Culling more antlerless deer, including females and fawns, is an effective means of reducing the population and helps to improve management efficiency. To increase the efficiency of antlerless-biased culling, we assessed the spatiotemporal distribution of the antlerless ratio in culled sika deer (Cervus nippon) in relation to population density. We hypothesized that the antlerless ratio is higher at the center of the distribution than at the margins of the deer’s range, because dispersal processes differ according to sex and age: Young male deer first disperse into an unoccupied area, and then males may become established in the new area for approximately 10–15 years before the number of females increases. A statistical model revealed spatiotemporal changes in the antlerless ratio of culled sika deer. The change in the ratio basically fit the density distribution of the deer, which was estimated independently on the basis of fecal pellet count surveys. The antlerless ratio estimated from the model increased asymptotically as deer density rose. The results support our hypothesis and suggest that antlerless sika deer will be more easily culled at the center rather than at the margins of the distribution range. These findings should help to increase the efficiency of managing the deer via antlerless-biased culling.
