Speciation by host switch in brood parasitic indigobirds

A growing body of empirical and theoretical work supports the plausibility of sympatric speciation, but there remain few examples in which all the essential components of the process are well understood. The African indigobirds Vidua spp. are host-specific brood parasites. Indigobird nestlings are reared along with host young, and mimic the mouth markings of their respective hosts. As adults, male indigobirds mimic host song, whereas females use these songs to choose both their mates and the nests they parasitize. These behavioural mechanisms promote the cohesion of indigobird populations associated with a given host species, and provide a mechanism for reproductive isolation after a new host is colonized. Here we show that all indigobird species are similar genetically, but are significantly differentiated in both mitochondrial haplotype and nuclear allele frequencies. These data support a model of recent sympatric speciation. In contrast to the cuckoo Cuculus canorus, in which only female lineages are faithful to specific hosts, host switches have led to speciation in indigobirds because both males and females imprint on their hosts.     

湖南鱼类鲌亚科寄生两种指环虫的记述

描述了湖南省沅水流域亚科鱼类寄生两种指环虫 ,即 :嘉鱼指环虫DactylogyrusjiayuensisZhangetJi,1980 ,拟尖头红为其宿主新记录 ;大钩指环虫Dactylogyrusmagni hamatusAchmerow ,195 2 ,似和青梢红为其宿主新记录 .并比较了不同宿主鳃上同种虫体几丁质结构的形态学差异     

青海湖鱼类寄生棘头虫在宿主肠中的位置选择

青海湖裸鲤和高原硬刺条鳅的肠道寄生有２种棘头虫——青海新棘吻虫和湟鱼棘头虫，在青海湖裸鲤的肠道中，湟鱼棘头虫分布在前，青海新棘吻虫在后；在条鳅肠中，２种棘头虫分布的前后关系不明显。２种棘头虫在青海湖裸鲤中共同感染时：青海新棘吻虫的位置明显后移；它们在条鳅中共同感染时：青海棘吻虫的感染强度显著下降；２种棘头虫在两宿主中的生态位重叠值都因共同感染而下降，其种间协调关系不显著。     

The effect of migration on local adaptation in a coevolving host-parasite system

Antagonistic coevolution between hosts and parasites in spatially structured populations can result in local adaptation of parasites; that is, the greater infectivity of local parasites than foreign parasites on local hosts. Such parasite specialization on local hosts has implications for human health and agriculture. By contrast with classic single-species population-genetic models, theory indicates that parasite migration between subpopulations might increase parasite local adaptation, as long as migration does not completely homogenize populations. To test this hypothesis we developed a system-specific mathematical model and then coevolved replicate populations of the bacterium Pseudomonas fluorescens and a parasitic bacteriophage with parasite only, with host only or with no migration. Here we show that patterns of local adaptation have considerable temporal and spatial variation and that, in the absence of migration, parasites tend to be locally maladapted. However, in accord with our model, parasite migration results in parasite local adaptation, but host migration alone has no significant effect.     

Egg recognition and counting reduce costs of avian conspecific brood parasitism

Birds parasitized by interspecific brood parasites often adopt defences based on egg recognition but such behaviours are puzzlingly rare in species parasitized by members of the same species. Here I show that conspecific egg recognition is frequent, accurate and used in three defences that reduce the high costs of conspecific brood parasitism in American coots. Hosts recognized and rejected many parasitic eggs, reducing the fitness costs of parasitism by half. Recognition without rejection also occurred and some hosts banished parasitic eggs to inferior outer incubation positions. Clutch size comparisons revealed that females combine egg recognition and counting to make clutch size decisions--by counting their own eggs, while ignoring distinctive parasitic eggs, females avoid a maladaptive clutch size reduction. This is clear evidence that female birds use visual rather than tactile cues to regulate their clutch sizes, and provides a rare example of the ecological and evolutionary context of counting in animals.     

Ecology: Darwin's naturalization hypothesis challenged

Naturalized plants can have a significant ecological and economic impact, yet they comprise only a fraction ot the plant species introduced by humans. Darwin proposed that introduced plant species will be less likely to establish a self-sustaining wild population in places with congeneric native species because the introduced plants have to compete with their close relatives, or are more likely to be attacked by native herbivores or pathogens, a theory known as Darwin's naturalization hypothesis. Here we analyze a complete list of seed-plant species that have been introduced to New Zealand and find that those with congeneric relatives are significantly more, not less, likely to naturalize--perhaps because they share with their native relatives traits that pre-adapt them to their new environment.     

Insect defences: taste alteration and endoparasites

Taste sensation and food selection by animals can change adaptively in response to experience, for example to redress specific nutrient deficiencies. We show here, in two species of caterpillar, that infection by lethal parasites alters the taste of specific phytochemicals for the larvae. Given that these compounds are toxic to the parasites and are found in plants eaten by the caterpillars, their changed taste may encourage parasitized caterpillars to increase consumption of plants that provide a biochemical defence against the invaders.     

外睾吸虫种群动态研究

外睾吸虫(Exorchis sp.)是控制日本血吸虫(Schistosoma ja ponicum)在其宿主钉螺(Oncomelania hupensis)体内发育的一个有利用价值的生物资源.掌握外睾吸虫种群的变化规律,对于进一步研究血吸虫病的生物防治有着重要的意义.对鲶鱼(Silurus asotus)肠道内寄生的外睾吸虫的种群动态进行研究,研究结果表明,不同月份外睾吸虫在鲶鱼体内的感染率、种群平均密度和感染强度无明显的变化规律.外睾吸虫在不同体长宿主体内的感染率变化范围在65.38％～91.98％,宿主体长在270mm以下时,外睾吸虫的感染率随着宿主体长的增加而逐渐增大.外睾吸虫在宿主体内的频率分布表明,多数宿主只感染少量的外睾吸虫,而较大量的外睾吸虫只感染少数的宿主.吸虫种群在不同月份和不同体长宿主体内的分布类型均属于聚集分布,在不同体长组宿主中聚集强度随着种群密度增加而增强.     

鲻长尾吸虫种群生态研究

鲻鱼肠道内的鲻长尾吸虫（Ｅｌｏｎｇｉｎｕｒｕｓ ｍｕｉｇｌｕｓ Ｌｕ,１９９５）,随着宿主体长的生长,其感染的变动范围在２８．８９％－３１．９３％之间,而感染强度和种群工呈现有规则的变动;体长在４０－１６０ｍｍ范围内,种群平均拥挤度,扩散性指标则随着体长的生长有逐渐增加的趋势,而负二项参数则逐渐降低,在不同的月份中,吸虫在宿主体内的感染率,感染强度和种群平均密度呈不稳定的波动,吸虫群在不同体长组和     

Coevolution in multidimensional trait space favours escape from parasites and pathogens

Almost all species are subject to continuous attack by parasites and pathogens. Because parasites and pathogens tend to have shorter generation times and often experience stronger selection due to interaction than their victims do, it is frequently argued that they should evolve more rapidly and thus maintain an advantage in the evolutionary race between defence and counter-defence. This prediction generates an apparent paradox: how do victim species survive and even thrive in the face of a continuous onslaught of more rapidly evolving enemies? One potential explanation is that defence is physiologically, mechanically or behaviourally easier than attack, so that evolution is less constrained for victims than for parasites or pathogens. Another possible explanation is that parasites and pathogens have enemies themselves and that victim species persist because parasites and pathogens are regulated from the top down and thus generally have only modest demographic impacts on victim populations. Here we explore a third possibility: that victim species are not as evolutionarily impotent as conventional wisdom holds, but instead have unique evolutionary advantages that help to level the playing field. We use quantitative genetic analysis and individual-based simulations to show that victims can achieve such an advantage when coevolution involves multiple traits in both the host and the parasite.     

温州海区长蛇鲻寄生线虫幼虫的分布模式

作者对温州海区常见30多种经济鱼类作为中间宿主感染寄生虫的情况进行了调查,结果表明15．2％的被检鱼类寄生单殖吸虫,而63．6％的被检鱼类有线虫寄生,文中着重对不同体长组长蛇鲻体内寄生线虫的状况进行研究,随着宿主体长的增长,其感染强度和平均密度有逐渐增加的趋势,宿主体内寄生率及密度占绝对优势的Anisakis simplex幼虫和Contracaecumsp,幼虫在宿主体内的频率分布,表明多数宿主不感染或只感染少量的线虫幼虫,少数宿主感染线虫幼虫数量较大,线虫幼虫在宿主种群的分布格局类型均为聚集分布。     

Genetic variation increases during biological invasion by a Cuban lizard

A genetic paradox exists in invasion biology: how do introduced populations, whose genetic variation has probably been depleted by population bottlenecks, persist and adapt to new conditions? Lessons from conservation genetics show that reduced genetic variation due to genetic drift and founder effects limits the ability of a population to adapt, and small population size increases the risk of extinction. Nonetheless, many introduced species experiencing these same conditions during initial introductions persist, expand their ranges, evolve rapidly and become invasive. To address this issue, we studied the brown anole, a worldwide invasive lizard. Genetic analyses indicate that at least eight introductions have occurred in Florida from across this lizard's native range, blending genetic variation from different geographic source populations and producing populations that contain substantially more, not less, genetic variation than native populations. Moreover, recently introduced brown anole populations around the world originate from Florida, and some have maintained these elevated levels of genetic variation. Here we show that one key to invasion success may be the occurrence of multiple introductions that transform among-population variation in native ranges to within-population variation in introduced areas. Furthermore, these genetically variable populations may be particularly potent sources for introductions elsewhere. The growing problem of invasive species introductions brings considerable economic and biological costs. If these costs are to be mitigated, a greater understanding of the causes, progression and consequences of biological invasions is needed.     

四线天竺鲷肠道内天竺鲷八睾吸虫种群动态研究

对四线天竺鲷（Ａｐｏｇｏｎ ｑｕａｄｒｉｆａｓｃｉａｔｕｓ）肠道内的天竺鲷八睾吸虫（Ｏｃｔｏｔｅｓｔｉｓ ａｐｏｇｏｎｉ Ｌｕ,１９９５）进行研究,随着宿主体长的生长,其感染强度和丰盛度有逐渐增加的趋势,而在宿主体长为３０－７０ｍｍ范围内,其感染率和平均拥挤度也有所增加;１０－１２月,吸虫在宿主体内的感染率,感染强度和丰盛度亦有逐渐增加的趋势,其余各月份的感染率,感染强度和丰盛度均呈不规则的波动;     

灰飞虱Wolbachia群体生物学的遗传特性研究

Ｗｏｌｂａｃｈｉａ是存在于多种昆虫生殖器官的一类共生菌,它可能在宿 主群体中引起细菌质不亲和性而给宿 主带来生殖优势。对灰飞虱体内的Ｗｏｌｂａｃｈｉａｆｊｔｆｄｇｐｗ,ｖ ｇｍ ｐｇｃｆｍｗ ｑｎｎｋｕｄｙｊｒ ｄｏ ｎｕｉ     

Parasite adaptation to locally common host genotypes

According to the Red Queen hypothesis--which states that interactions among species (such as hosts and parasites) lead to constant natural selection for adaptation and counter-adaptation--the disproportionate evolutionary success of parasites on common host genotypes leads to correlated selection for sexual reproduction and local adaptation by the parasite population. Here we determined whether local adaptation is due to disproportionate infection of common host genotypes, and, if so, whether infection of common host genotypes is due to commonness per se, or some other aspect of these genotypes. In a reciprocal cross-inoculation experiment parasites occupying the same geographical area (sympatric) infected locally common host genotypes significantly more often than rare host genotypes, whereas parasites occupying separate geographical areas (allopatric) showed no such significant difference. A mixed source of parasites (containing F1 hybrids) also showed no difference in infection between rare and common host genotypes. These results show that local adaptation results from parasite tracking of locally common host genotypes, and, as such, a necessary condition of the Red Queen hypothesis is met.     

An ecological and evolutionary perspective on human-microbe mutualism and disease

The microbial communities of humans are characteristic and complex mixtures of microorganisms that have co-evolved with their human hosts. The species that make up these communities vary between hosts as a result of restricted migration of microorganisms between hosts and strong ecological interactions within hosts, as well as host variability in terms of diet, genotype and colonization history. The shared evolutionary fate of humans and their symbiotic bacteria has selected for mutualistic interactions that are essential for human health, and ecological or genetic changes that uncouple this shared fate can result in disease. In this way, looking to ecological and evolutionary principles might provide new strategies for restoring and maintaining human health.     

The role of parasites in sympatric and allopatric host diversification

Exploiters (parasites and predators) are thought to play a significant role in diversification, and ultimately speciation, of their hosts or prey. Exploiters may drive sympatric (within-population) diversification if there are a variety of exploiter-resistance strategies or fitness costs associated with exploiter resistance. Exploiters may also drive allopatric (between-population) diversification by creating different selection pressures and increasing the rate of random divergence. We examined the effect of a virulent viral parasite (phage) on the diversification of the bacterium Pseudomonas fluorescens in spatially structured microcosms. Here we show that in the absence of phages, bacteria rapidly diversified into spatial niche specialists with similar patterns of diversity across replicate populations. In the presence of phages, sympatric diversity was greatly reduced, as a result of phage-imposed reductions in host density decreasing competition for resources. In contrast, allopatric diversity was greatly increased as a result of phage-imposed selection for resistance, which caused populations to follow divergent evolutionary trajectories. These results show that exploiters can drive diversification between populations, but may inhibit diversification within populations by opposing diversifying selection that arises from resource competition.     

斑点叉尾鮰寄生单殖吸虫中国一新纪录属(锚首虫科)

记述了锚首虫科Ancyrocephalidae 单殖吸虫中国1外来属、外来种, 即寄生于斑点叉尾鮰Ictalurus punctatus鳃上的趋鮰虫属Ligictaluridus Beverley-Burton, 1984, 普氏趋鮰虫Ligictaluridus pricei (Mueller, 1936) Beverley-Burton, 1984. 所获标本与Mueller (1936)、Mizelle ＆ Cronin (1943)、Mizelle ＆ Regensberger (1945)、Prost (1973)、Klassen ＆Beverley-Burton(1985)的描述基本一致。趋鮰虫属和普氏趋鮰虫均为我国首次报道.     

单殖吸虫中国一新记录属（锚首虫科）

记述了锚首虫科Ancyrocephalidae 单殖吸虫中国1外来属，1外来种，即寄生在神仙鱼Pterophyllum scalare 鳃上的伞片虫属Sciadicleithrum Kritsky， Thatcher Boeger,1989 ，强壮伞片虫Sciadicleithrum iphthimum Kritsky，Thatcher Boeger，1989；对外来种进行形态描述并给出特征图.     

Predicting the potential distribution of invasive exotic species using GIS and information-theoretic approaches： A case of ragweed （Ambrosia artemisiifolia L.） distribution in China

Invasive exotic species pose a growing threat to the economy,public health,and ecological integrity of nations worldwide. Explaining and predicting the spatial distribution of invasive exotic species is of great importance to prevention and early warning efforts. We are investigating the potential distribution of invasive exotic species,the environmental factors that influence these distributions,and the ability to predict them using statistical and information-theoretic approaches. For some species,detailed presence/absence occurrence data are available,allowing the use of a variety of standard statistical techniques. However,for most species,absence data are not available. Presented with the challenge of developing a model based on presence-only information,we developed an improved logistic regres-sion approach using Information Theory and Frequency Statistics to produce a relative suitability map. This paper generated a variety of distributions of ragweed(Ambrosia artemisiifolia L.) from logistic regression models applied to herbarium specimen location data and a suite of GIS layers including climatic,topographic,and land cover information. Our logistic regression model was based on Akaike's Information Criterion(AIC) from a suite of ecologically reasonable predictor variables. Based on the results we provided a new Frequency Statistical method to compartmentalize habitat-suitability in the native range. Finally,we used the model and the compartmentalized criterion developed in native ranges to “project” a potential distribution onto the exotic ranges to build habitat-suitability maps.