Ecological stoichiometry provides a framework for the balance and flow of elements between organisms and ecosystems.Elemental phenotypes have an important influence on the environmental adaptation and ecological evolu...Ecological stoichiometry provides a framework for the balance and flow of elements between organisms and ecosystems.Elemental phenotypes have an important influence on the environmental adaptation and ecological evolution of plants.There have been few reports on inter-and intra-specific phenotypic variations of ecological stoichiometric traits for congeneric species in a mixed forest although such variations are well-documented at the species level at global,regional and local scales.In this study,total carbon(TC),nitrogen(TN),phosphorus(TP)and potassium(TK)were measured in leaves and the elemental phenotypes were statistically analyzed in four species of oaks—Quercus fabri,Q.serrata var.glandulifera,Q.acutissima and Q.variabilis—in a mixed-oak secondary forest in Yushan,Jiangsu,China.The average element concentrations in the four oak species were not relatively higher than previously reported for oaks from world and Chinese flora.Ecological stoichiometry traits were correlated with tree height and diameter at breast height,indicating that phosphorous and potassium were positively correlated with tree size,while carbon was negatively correlated,especially the relationship between oak growth and total carbon or total phosphorus was obvious,and the study concluded that this was because plant growth depended on phosphorus storage and had opposite effects on leaf carbon accumulation.Based on tree plasticity index and the coefficient of variation,there was medium variation in element concentrations.The plasticity index of total carbon levels was the lowest,and that of potassium the highest.Principal component analysis and cluster analysis showed that the intra-specific variation among the four oak species was higher than inter-specific variation.From the perspective of nutrient supply and ecological adaptation,this study creates a foundation for the management of secondary oak forest stands.展开更多
In this paper,we proposed an innovation diffusion model with three compartments to investigate the diffusion of an innovation(product)in a particular region.The model exhibits two equilibria,namely,the adopter-free an...In this paper,we proposed an innovation diffusion model with three compartments to investigate the diffusion of an innovation(product)in a particular region.The model exhibits two equilibria,namely,the adopter-free and an interior equilibrium.The existence and local stability of the adopter-free and interior equilibria are explored in terms of the effective Basic Influence Number(BIN)R_(A).It is investigated that the adopter free steady-state is stable if R_(A)<1.By consideringτ(the adoption experience of the adopters)as the bifurcation parameter,we have been able to obtain the critical value ofτresponsible for the periodic solutions due to Hopf bifurcation.The direction and stability analysis of bifurcating periodic solutions has been performed by using the arguments of normal form theory and the center manifold theorem.Exhaustive numerical simulations in the support of analytical results have been presented.展开更多
Elaeagnus angustifolia Linn. has various ecological, medicinal and economical uses. An approach was established using RP-HPLC （reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography） to classify and analyse the intra...Elaeagnus angustifolia Linn. has various ecological, medicinal and economical uses. An approach was established using RP-HPLC （reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography） to classify and analyse the intra-specific genetic relationships of seventeen populations of E. angustifolia, collected from the Xinjiang areas of China. Chromatograms of alcohol-soluble proteins produced by seventeen populations of E. angustifolia, were compared. Each chromatogram of alcohol-soluble proteins came from a single seed of one wild plant only. The results showed that when using a Waters Delta Pak. C 18, 5μm particle size reversed phase column （150 mm×3.9mm）, a linear gradient of 25%-60% solvent B with flow rate of 1 ml/min and run time of 67 min, the chromatography yielded optimum separation of E. angustifolia alcohol-soluble proteins. Representative peaks in each population were chosen according to peak area and occurrence in every seed. The converted data on the elution peaks of each population were different and could be used to represent those populations. GSC （genetic similarity coefficients） of 41% to 62% showed a medium degree of genetic diversity among the populations in these eco-areas. Cluster analysis showed that the seventeen populations orE. angustifolia could be divided into six clusters at the GSC=0.535 level and indicated the general and unique biochemical markers of these clusters. We suggest that E. angustifolia distribution in these eco-areas could be classified into six variable species. RP-HPLC was shown to be a rapid, repeatable and reliable method for E. angustifolia classification and identification and for analysis of genetic diversity.展开更多
One of the main hypotheses proposed to explain the evolution of fruit color deals with a preference of avian frugivores for specific colors,mainly black and red,which are the most common fruit colors in many of the st...One of the main hypotheses proposed to explain the evolution of fruit color deals with a preference of avian frugivores for specific colors,mainly black and red,which are the most common fruit colors in many of the studied habitats.I analyzed fruit color preferences by wild birds belonging to 2 species of the highly frugivorous genus Turdus(Eurasian Blackbird Turdus merula Linnaeus,1758 and Redwing Turdus iliacus Linnaeus,1758)by means of captivity experiments with artificial fruits.Despite important within-individual(i.e.temporal)and among-individual variability,consistent patterns of species-specific color preferences emerged.Eurasian Blackbirds tended to prefer red over blue,green and black,whereas Redwings seemed to prefer black over the rest.Green was systematically avoided by both species,suggesting that it might signal unripeness of fruits.Both preferred colors have been previously reported as the most common among fleshy-fruited plants.The high variability,both within and between individuals,in preferences suggests that they can be subject to changes through experience and learning and,therefore,are not likely to drive the evolution of fruit color.The main differences between both species could be related to the most common fruit color they fed upon during the last months before capture.展开更多
Many territorial animals exhibit reduced aggression towards neighbours. Known as ＂the dear enemy effect＂, this phenomenon has been documented among conspecific animals across a wide range of animal taxa. In theory, ...Many territorial animals exhibit reduced aggression towards neighbours. Known as ＂the dear enemy effect＂, this phenomenon has been documented among conspecific animals across a wide range of animal taxa. In theory, the dear enemy ef- fect can also exist between individuals of different species, particularly when those species compete for shared resources. To date, a heterospecific dear enemy effects has only been documented in ants. In this study, we test for both a conspecific and heterospe- cific dear enemy effect in neotropical rufous-and-white wrens Thryophilus rufalbus. This species competes for resources with banded wrens Thryophilus pleurostictus, a closely related sympatric congener. We used acoustic playback to simulate ruf- ous-and-white wren and banded wren neighbours and non-neighbours at the edges of rufous-and-white wren territories. Ruf- ous-and-white wrens responded more strongly to signals from their own species, demonstrating that resident males discriminate between conspecific and heterospecific rivals. They did not, however, exhibit a conspecific dear enemy effect. Further, they did not exhibit a heterospecific dear enemy effect. This could be due to neighbours and non-neighbours posing similar levels of threat in this system, to the possibility that playback from the edges of the subjects＇ large territories did not simulate a threatening signal, or to other factors. Our study provides the first test of a heterospecific dear enemy effect in vertebrates, and presents a valuable experimental approach for testing for a heterospecific dear enemy effect in other animals [Current Zoology 61 （1）： 23-33, 2015].展开更多
We tested the use of otolith shape analysis to discriminate between species and stocks of five goby species( Ctenotrypauchen chinensis, Odontamblyopus lacepedii, Amblychaeturichthys hexanema, Chaeturichthys stigmatias...We tested the use of otolith shape analysis to discriminate between species and stocks of five goby species( Ctenotrypauchen chinensis, Odontamblyopus lacepedii, Amblychaeturichthys hexanema, Chaeturichthys stigmatias, and Acanthogobius hasta) found in northern Chinese coastal waters. The five species were well differentiated with high overall classification success using shape indices(83.7%), elliptic Fourier coefficients(98.6%), or the combination of both methods(94.9%). However, shape analysis alone was only moderately successful at discriminating among the four stocks(Liaodong Bay, LD; Bohai Bay, BH; Huanghe(Yellow) River estuary HRE, and Jiaozhou Bay, JZ stocks) of A. hasta(50%–54%) and C. stigmatias(65.7%–75.8%). For these two species, shape analysis was moderately successful at discriminating the HRE or JZ stocks from other stocks, but failed to effectively identify the LD and BH stocks. A large number of otoliths were misclassified between the HRE and JZ stocks, which are geographically well separated. The classification success for stock discrimination was higher using elliptic Fourier coefficients alone(70.2%) or in combination with shape indices(75.8%) than using only shape indices(65.7%) in C. stigmatias whereas there was little difference among the three methods for A. hasta. Our results supported the common belief that otolith shape analysis is generally more effective for interspecific identification than intraspecific discrimination. Moreover, compared with shape indices analysis, Fourier analysis improves classification success during inter- and intra-species discrimination by otolith shape analysis, although this did not necessarily always occur in all fish species.展开更多
Brood parasites such as the common cuckoo Cuculus canorus exploit the parental abilities of their hosts,hosts avoid brood parasitism and predation by showing specific behavior such as loss of feathers,emission of fear...Brood parasites such as the common cuckoo Cuculus canorus exploit the parental abilities of their hosts,hosts avoid brood parasitism and predation by showing specific behavior such as loss of feathers,emission of fear screams and contact calls,displaying wriggle behavior to avoid hosts or potential prey,pecking at hosts and prey,and expressing tonic immobility(showing behavior like feigning death or rapid escape from predators and brood parasites).These aspects of escape behavior are consistent for individuals but also among sites,seasons,and years.Escape behavior expressed in response to a broad range of cuckoo hosts and prey are consistently used against capture by humans,but also hosts and brood parasites and predators and their prey.An interspecific comparative phylogenetic analysis of escape behavior by hosts and their brood parasites and prey and their predators revealed evidence of consistent behavior when encountering potential parasites or predators.We hypothesize that personality axes such as those ranging from fearfulness to being bold,and from neophobic to curiosity response in brood parasites constitute important components of defense against brood parasitism that reduces the overall risk of parasitism.展开更多
Typically, Japanese macaques are thought to avoid encountering other groups wherever possible. Intergroup relations between macaques on Shodoshima Island, however, appear exceptional. We show that neighboring groups o...Typically, Japanese macaques are thought to avoid encountering other groups wherever possible. Intergroup relations between macaques on Shodoshima Island, however, appear exceptional. We show that neighboring groups of Shodoshima mon-keys spent 32.8% of their active time in proximity to （〈100 m） and even foraged simultaneously at the same provisioning site with another group. The average duration and rate of intergroup encounters at Shodoshima （59.8 rain, 0.33 times/hour, n=269） were approximately ten times longer and 16.5 times more frequent than those at Jigokudani （6.1 rain, 0.02 times/hour, n--14）. Since both populations have similar provisioning and ecological conditions, such variation cannot be explained by the socioecol- ogy model alone. Compared with other populations of Japanese macaques, intergroup relations of Shodoshima monkeys are also characterized by more frequent neutral encounters, less frequent agonistic encounters, more frequent unsuccessful displacement, a lower intensity of aggression, and more frequent counter-aggression between groups. These characteristics suggest that intergroup relationships on Shodoshima Island are more tolerant than those in other Japanese macaque populations. This study reveals con- siderable differences in intergroup encounters within local populations of Japanese macaques living in similar environments, and emphasizes the role of social factors in such intra-specific variation [Current Zoology 58 （4）： 517-524, 2012].展开更多
To determine a suitable DNA barcode for the genus Neonectria,the internal transcribed spacer rDNA,β-tubulin,EF-1α,and RPB2 genes were selected as candidate markers.A total of 205 sequences from 19 species of the gen...To determine a suitable DNA barcode for the genus Neonectria,the internal transcribed spacer rDNA,β-tubulin,EF-1α,and RPB2 genes were selected as candidate markers.A total of 205 sequences from 19 species of the genus were analyzed.Intra-and inter-specific divergences and the ease of nucleotide sequence acquisition were treated as criteria to evaluate the feasibility of a DNA barcode.Our results indicated that any single gene among the candidate markers failed to serve as a successful barcode,while the combination of the partial EF-1α and RPB2 genes recognized all species tested.We tentatively propose the combined partial EF-1α and RPB2 genes as a DNA barcode for the genus.During this study,two cryptic species were discovered,based on the combined data of morphology and DNA barcode information.We described and named these two new species N.ditissimopsis and N.microconidia.展开更多
This paper considers the combined effects of the nonlinear intra-specific regulation and maturation delays on the two-species competition model. Dynamical behaviors of the model are studied, and sharp global asymptoti...This paper considers the combined effects of the nonlinear intra-specific regulation and maturation delays on the two-species competition model. Dynamical behaviors of the model are studied, and sharp global asymptotical stability criteria for the coexistence equilibrium as well as the excluding equilibria are established. It is shown that increase of the maturation delay of one species has negative effect on its permanence and a sufficiently large maturation delay will directly lead to its extinction, and that variation of the intra-specific regulation parameter of one species may change the surviving or extinction behaviors of its competitor.展开更多
基金The work was supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China(No 3177030224)Jiangsu Forestry Science and Technology Innovation and Promotion Project(LYKJ[2017]025).
文摘Ecological stoichiometry provides a framework for the balance and flow of elements between organisms and ecosystems.Elemental phenotypes have an important influence on the environmental adaptation and ecological evolution of plants.There have been few reports on inter-and intra-specific phenotypic variations of ecological stoichiometric traits for congeneric species in a mixed forest although such variations are well-documented at the species level at global,regional and local scales.In this study,total carbon(TC),nitrogen(TN),phosphorus(TP)and potassium(TK)were measured in leaves and the elemental phenotypes were statistically analyzed in four species of oaks—Quercus fabri,Q.serrata var.glandulifera,Q.acutissima and Q.variabilis—in a mixed-oak secondary forest in Yushan,Jiangsu,China.The average element concentrations in the four oak species were not relatively higher than previously reported for oaks from world and Chinese flora.Ecological stoichiometry traits were correlated with tree height and diameter at breast height,indicating that phosphorous and potassium were positively correlated with tree size,while carbon was negatively correlated,especially the relationship between oak growth and total carbon or total phosphorus was obvious,and the study concluded that this was because plant growth depended on phosphorus storage and had opposite effects on leaf carbon accumulation.Based on tree plasticity index and the coefficient of variation,there was medium variation in element concentrations.The plasticity index of total carbon levels was the lowest,and that of potassium the highest.Principal component analysis and cluster analysis showed that the intra-specific variation among the four oak species was higher than inter-specific variation.From the perspective of nutrient supply and ecological adaptation,this study creates a foundation for the management of secondary oak forest stands.
文摘In this paper,we proposed an innovation diffusion model with three compartments to investigate the diffusion of an innovation(product)in a particular region.The model exhibits two equilibria,namely,the adopter-free and an interior equilibrium.The existence and local stability of the adopter-free and interior equilibria are explored in terms of the effective Basic Influence Number(BIN)R_(A).It is investigated that the adopter free steady-state is stable if R_(A)<1.By consideringτ(the adoption experience of the adopters)as the bifurcation parameter,we have been able to obtain the critical value ofτresponsible for the periodic solutions due to Hopf bifurcation.The direction and stability analysis of bifurcating periodic solutions has been performed by using the arguments of normal form theory and the center manifold theorem.Exhaustive numerical simulations in the support of analytical results have been presented.
基金Project (Nos. 30470330 and 30100126) supported by the NationalNatural Science Foundation of China
文摘Elaeagnus angustifolia Linn. has various ecological, medicinal and economical uses. An approach was established using RP-HPLC （reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography） to classify and analyse the intra-specific genetic relationships of seventeen populations of E. angustifolia, collected from the Xinjiang areas of China. Chromatograms of alcohol-soluble proteins produced by seventeen populations of E. angustifolia, were compared. Each chromatogram of alcohol-soluble proteins came from a single seed of one wild plant only. The results showed that when using a Waters Delta Pak. C 18, 5μm particle size reversed phase column （150 mm×3.9mm）, a linear gradient of 25%-60% solvent B with flow rate of 1 ml/min and run time of 67 min, the chromatography yielded optimum separation of E. angustifolia alcohol-soluble proteins. Representative peaks in each population were chosen according to peak area and occurrence in every seed. The converted data on the elution peaks of each population were different and could be used to represent those populations. GSC （genetic similarity coefficients） of 41% to 62% showed a medium degree of genetic diversity among the populations in these eco-areas. Cluster analysis showed that the seventeen populations orE. angustifolia could be divided into six clusters at the GSC=0.535 level and indicated the general and unique biochemical markers of these clusters. We suggest that E. angustifolia distribution in these eco-areas could be classified into six variable species. RP-HPLC was shown to be a rapid, repeatable and reliable method for E. angustifolia classification and identification and for analysis of genetic diversity.
文摘One of the main hypotheses proposed to explain the evolution of fruit color deals with a preference of avian frugivores for specific colors,mainly black and red,which are the most common fruit colors in many of the studied habitats.I analyzed fruit color preferences by wild birds belonging to 2 species of the highly frugivorous genus Turdus(Eurasian Blackbird Turdus merula Linnaeus,1758 and Redwing Turdus iliacus Linnaeus,1758)by means of captivity experiments with artificial fruits.Despite important within-individual(i.e.temporal)and among-individual variability,consistent patterns of species-specific color preferences emerged.Eurasian Blackbirds tended to prefer red over blue,green and black,whereas Redwings seemed to prefer black over the rest.Green was systematically avoided by both species,suggesting that it might signal unripeness of fruits.Both preferred colors have been previously reported as the most common among fleshy-fruited plants.The high variability,both within and between individuals,in preferences suggests that they can be subject to changes through experience and learning and,therefore,are not likely to drive the evolution of fruit color.The main differences between both species could be related to the most common fruit color they fed upon during the last months before capture.
文摘Many territorial animals exhibit reduced aggression towards neighbours. Known as ＂the dear enemy effect＂, this phenomenon has been documented among conspecific animals across a wide range of animal taxa. In theory, the dear enemy ef- fect can also exist between individuals of different species, particularly when those species compete for shared resources. To date, a heterospecific dear enemy effects has only been documented in ants. In this study, we test for both a conspecific and heterospe- cific dear enemy effect in neotropical rufous-and-white wrens Thryophilus rufalbus. This species competes for resources with banded wrens Thryophilus pleurostictus, a closely related sympatric congener. We used acoustic playback to simulate ruf- ous-and-white wren and banded wren neighbours and non-neighbours at the edges of rufous-and-white wren territories. Ruf- ous-and-white wrens responded more strongly to signals from their own species, demonstrating that resident males discriminate between conspecific and heterospecific rivals. They did not, however, exhibit a conspecific dear enemy effect. Further, they did not exhibit a heterospecific dear enemy effect. This could be due to neighbours and non-neighbours posing similar levels of threat in this system, to the possibility that playback from the edges of the subjects＇ large territories did not simulate a threatening signal, or to other factors. Our study provides the first test of a heterospecific dear enemy effect in vertebrates, and presents a valuable experimental approach for testing for a heterospecific dear enemy effect in other animals [Current Zoology 61 （1）： 23-33, 2015].
基金Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(NSFC)(Nos.40976084,U1406403,41121064)
文摘We tested the use of otolith shape analysis to discriminate between species and stocks of five goby species( Ctenotrypauchen chinensis, Odontamblyopus lacepedii, Amblychaeturichthys hexanema, Chaeturichthys stigmatias, and Acanthogobius hasta) found in northern Chinese coastal waters. The five species were well differentiated with high overall classification success using shape indices(83.7%), elliptic Fourier coefficients(98.6%), or the combination of both methods(94.9%). However, shape analysis alone was only moderately successful at discriminating among the four stocks(Liaodong Bay, LD; Bohai Bay, BH; Huanghe(Yellow) River estuary HRE, and Jiaozhou Bay, JZ stocks) of A. hasta(50%–54%) and C. stigmatias(65.7%–75.8%). For these two species, shape analysis was moderately successful at discriminating the HRE or JZ stocks from other stocks, but failed to effectively identify the LD and BH stocks. A large number of otoliths were misclassified between the HRE and JZ stocks, which are geographically well separated. The classification success for stock discrimination was higher using elliptic Fourier coefficients alone(70.2%) or in combination with shape indices(75.8%) than using only shape indices(65.7%) in C. stigmatias whereas there was little difference among the three methods for A. hasta. Our results supported the common belief that otolith shape analysis is generally more effective for interspecific identification than intraspecific discrimination. Moreover, compared with shape indices analysis, Fourier analysis improves classification success during inter- and intra-species discrimination by otolith shape analysis, although this did not necessarily always occur in all fish species.
文摘Brood parasites such as the common cuckoo Cuculus canorus exploit the parental abilities of their hosts,hosts avoid brood parasitism and predation by showing specific behavior such as loss of feathers,emission of fear screams and contact calls,displaying wriggle behavior to avoid hosts or potential prey,pecking at hosts and prey,and expressing tonic immobility(showing behavior like feigning death or rapid escape from predators and brood parasites).These aspects of escape behavior are consistent for individuals but also among sites,seasons,and years.Escape behavior expressed in response to a broad range of cuckoo hosts and prey are consistently used against capture by humans,but also hosts and brood parasites and predators and their prey.An interspecific comparative phylogenetic analysis of escape behavior by hosts and their brood parasites and prey and their predators revealed evidence of consistent behavior when encountering potential parasites or predators.We hypothesize that personality axes such as those ranging from fearfulness to being bold,and from neophobic to curiosity response in brood parasites constitute important components of defense against brood parasitism that reduces the overall risk of parasitism.
基金The study was supported by the Na- tional Natural Science Foundation of China （31000175）, the Grant-In-Aid from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science （JSPS： P09103） and the Kiriyama Foundation of Ja-pan. We are grateful to the Choshikei Monkey Park and Jigo-kudani Monkey Park for granting permission to carry out this research, special thanks to Mr. Eishi Tokida for his kind aids in our study. We thank Dr. Andrew J. Macintosh for reading and commenting on a previous draft of this manuscript. We thank all members of the Anthropology Department, Sun Yat-sen University, China and the Social Ecology Department at the Primate Research Institute, Kyoto University, for their helpful comments on this research. The research and care of the monkeys under study abides by the national and institu- tional guidelines for the care and management of primates established by the Primate Research Institute, Kyoto Univer- sity, Japan.
文摘Typically, Japanese macaques are thought to avoid encountering other groups wherever possible. Intergroup relations between macaques on Shodoshima Island, however, appear exceptional. We show that neighboring groups of Shodoshima mon-keys spent 32.8% of their active time in proximity to （〈100 m） and even foraged simultaneously at the same provisioning site with another group. The average duration and rate of intergroup encounters at Shodoshima （59.8 rain, 0.33 times/hour, n=269） were approximately ten times longer and 16.5 times more frequent than those at Jigokudani （6.1 rain, 0.02 times/hour, n--14）. Since both populations have similar provisioning and ecological conditions, such variation cannot be explained by the socioecol- ogy model alone. Compared with other populations of Japanese macaques, intergroup relations of Shodoshima monkeys are also characterized by more frequent neutral encounters, less frequent agonistic encounters, more frequent unsuccessful displacement, a lower intensity of aggression, and more frequent counter-aggression between groups. These characteristics suggest that intergroup relationships on Shodoshima Island are more tolerant than those in other Japanese macaque populations. This study reveals con- siderable differences in intergroup encounters within local populations of Japanese macaques living in similar environments, and emphasizes the role of social factors in such intra-specific variation [Current Zoology 58 （4）： 517-524, 2012].
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 31070015 and 31000009)the Knowledge Innovation Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (Grant No. KSCX2-EW-J-6)Research on Network of Applied Microbes of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (Grant No. KSCX2-YW-G-068)
文摘To determine a suitable DNA barcode for the genus Neonectria,the internal transcribed spacer rDNA,β-tubulin,EF-1α,and RPB2 genes were selected as candidate markers.A total of 205 sequences from 19 species of the genus were analyzed.Intra-and inter-specific divergences and the ease of nucleotide sequence acquisition were treated as criteria to evaluate the feasibility of a DNA barcode.Our results indicated that any single gene among the candidate markers failed to serve as a successful barcode,while the combination of the partial EF-1α and RPB2 genes recognized all species tested.We tentatively propose the combined partial EF-1α and RPB2 genes as a DNA barcode for the genus.During this study,two cryptic species were discovered,based on the combined data of morphology and DNA barcode information.We described and named these two new species N.ditissimopsis and N.microconidia.
文摘This paper considers the combined effects of the nonlinear intra-specific regulation and maturation delays on the two-species competition model. Dynamical behaviors of the model are studied, and sharp global asymptotical stability criteria for the coexistence equilibrium as well as the excluding equilibria are established. It is shown that increase of the maturation delay of one species has negative effect on its permanence and a sufficiently large maturation delay will directly lead to its extinction, and that variation of the intra-specific regulation parameter of one species may change the surviving or extinction behaviors of its competitor.
