Antennae and the role of olfaction and contact stimulation in mate recognition by males of the pollinating fig wasp Ceratosolen gravelyi (Hymenoptera: Agaonidae)

Finding a mate is a crucial step in sexual reproduction. The mutualism between figs and their pollinators is exploited by many figwasps that develop within their galls and attain sexual maturity simultaneously. Male pollinators carry the specific burden of detecting and opening mating holes in galls containing conspecific females before mating with them. The mating behaviourand antennal sensilla of male pollinators associated with Ficus semicordata was investigated to understand mate recognition. Male Ceratosolen gravelyi located female-containing galls from a distance, but only attempted to chew a mating hole after antennal contact with the gall surface was made. They showed similar responses to females and body extracts but failed to respond to washed female bodies. This behaviour indicates that unidentified chemicals present on the body surfaces of females are sufficient to elicit olfactory attraction and tactile confirmation. Multiporous plate sensilla are candidates for olfactory reception from a distance while basiconic sensilla may be involved in contact chemoreceptor. All of the sensilla are highly localised, on the distal part of the terminal flagellomere, suggesting a response to selection for strong directionality in the complex odour environment of the fig in which messages produced by hundreds of females may confuse precise mate localisation.     

Breeding biology of the Pale-bellied Tyrant-manakin Neopelma pallescens (Aves: Pipridae) in south-eastern Brazil

The Pale-bellied Tyrant-manakin (Neopelma pallescens) inhabits semi-deciduous and riparian forests in central-north South America. Contrary to most manakins, there is no evident sexual dichromatism in the species and little is known about its breeding biology. We studied the breeding biology of a colour-banded population of the species from August to December 2016 and from August to October 2017 in the Campus Florestal of the Universidade Federal de Viçosa, south-eastern Brazil. The breeding season extended from early September to late November. The species is promiscuous, with males exhibiting simple courtship displays (exploded leks) in individual arenas. The nest (n = 13) is a cup attached by its top lip between forked branches and is very simple, with a structural layer made with dry grass stems and heads, attached to the branch with spider silk. The outer and lining layers are absent. The mean clutch size was 1.8 eggs (n = 11), which are oval and pale coloured, covered with spots of different shades of brown, often concentrated in the larger pole. Mean egg length and width (± SD) were 21.0 ± 0.9 × 15.8 ± 0.7 mm (n = 14) and the mean weight was 2.8 ± 0.4 g (n = 10). The incubation period could not be estimated, but the nestling period was 15 days (n = 2). The simple percentage of successful nests was 15.4%, with 76.9% of the nests depredated and 7.7% abandoned. This is the first detailed study about the breeding biology of any Neopelma species, providing relevant data for the study of the evolution of life history strategies not only for the genus, but for the whole family Pipridae.     

智慧图书馆人才队伍建设初探

介绍了智慧图书馆的理论研究现状及构建路径,分析了智慧图书馆人才队伍建设中存在的问题,对智慧图书馆员的培养目标及培养策略进行了探讨。     

基于多目标离散粒子群的产品服务系统方案配置规则提取

为有效辅助工程师将顾客需求转化为产品服务系统方案,针对其技术特征,提出一种离散粒子群优化算法(DPSO)与帕累托(Pareto)结合的配置规则提取方法.该方法包括建立产品服务系统配置规则模型及构造Pareto-DPSO算法模型.Pareto-DPSO算法基于Sobol序列的频率初始化方法及离散化粒子更新方式,将连续粒子映射到十进制离散空间;并利用Pareto进行多目标下粒子优劣性评价,以获取非支配的最优规则集.以汽车产品服务系统方案配置设计为例,经与常规多目标粒子群算法及DPSO算法对比,验证了该方法对于解决多维空间内产品服务配置规则挖掘的可行性及有效性.     

透水性沥青混合料目标空隙率的确定方法

为了有效减少路面地表径流,发挥透水性沥青路面的透水功能,明确空隙率、有效空隙率及渗透系数三者之间的关系,以便确定符合地域降雨特点的透水性沥青混合料目标空隙率,依据水量平衡原理和水力学理论,建立了基于有效控制路面地表径流的透水性沥青路面的渗透-蓄水简化模型。通过试验分析,明确了透水性沥青混合料的空隙率、有效空隙率及渗透系数有很好的线性相关关系。通过设计降雨量、透水性沥青路面计算面积和路面综合坡度等为计算参数,得到了透水性沥青混合料的目标空隙率计算方法。该方法能够针对不同地区的降雨特点,计算出满足透水功能的透水性沥青混合料的目标空隙率。     

就业导向机制下的安徽高校社会体育专业人才培养模式改革--以淮南师范学院为例

以淮南师范学院社会体育专业人才培养模式为个案,运用文献资料法、调查、访谈法,对安徽省高校社会体育专业办学存在的问题进行研究。结果表明：1)该院社会体育专业培养目标定位高且不具针对性,不符合社会实际;2)在课程设置上,课程内容与就业选择之间没有较大关联性,理论课内容陈旧且重复率较高,而技能课程则仍以传统项目为主,不符合市场需求,且专项技能学习时间短,不利于提高;3)课程结构不尽合理,开设的必修与选修、基础与专业、限选与任选课程,授课学时有限,且学时比例分配不合理;4)就业实习不具针对性,毕业生就业对口率低。通过总结安徽高校社会体育专业人才培养模式现存的问题,提出一定的优化方案,为提高社会体育专业高校人才培养质量提供一定的理论支持。     

How Stomaphis aphids use their giant proboscides

To penetrate tree bark, arboreal aphids of the genus Stomaphis Walk. (Hemiptera: Aphididae: Lachninae) have proboscides up to three times their body length. Our observations of S. quercus (L.) complement a recent analysis of the anatomy and function of these mouthparts by clarifying how these relatively short-legged aphids move their proboscides between the resting position, pointing back, and the prognathous working position. The absence of crumenae in Stomaphis aphids and their feeding technique are discussed.     

Baronia brevicornis caterpillars build shelters to avoid predation

In at least 18 Lepidoptera families, caterpillars build shelters that mainly serve to regulate microclimate (humidity, temperature) and/or to avoid predation. We aimed to explore the function of the tubular structures built with the leaves of the host plant, Acacia cochliacantha Humboldt and Bonpland ex Willdenow (Fabaceae), by a lepidopteran endemic to Mexico, Baronia brevicornis Salvin. We experimentally evaluated whether tubular structure building behaviour is induced by high temperature or predator odour, and if shelters reduce or enhance predation of B. brevicornis caterpillars. We used Calosoma angulatum as predator. Our analyses showed that caterpillars did not make the tubular structures in response to high temperature. We also found no difference in predators’ visual recognition of sheltered versus unsheltered caterpillars. Caterpillars did not build shelters but they moved more often when exposed to predator odour. Unsheltered caterpillars were more frequently consumed when predators were allowed to interact with sheltered and unsheltered caterpillars. Hence, the tubular structures built by B. brevicornis are most likely a strategy for reducing predation, for example by C. angulatum.     

向量多项式优化问题的数值方法

向量多项式优化问题中的目标函数和约束条件都是由多项式描述的.先将多目标多项式函数分别通过主要目标法、线性加权和法和理想点法等转化为单目标多项式函数,再利用Lasserre松弛方法求解该多项式优化问题,从而得到原向量多项式优化问题的弱有效解或有效解.数值实验结果表明该数值方法是有效的.     

Observations on the behaviour of the Cape girdled lizard Cordylus cordylus (Reptilia: Cordylidae)

Cape girdled lizards Cordylus cordylus are social and territorial. Behaviour observed in captivity revealed at least 24 distinct postures and displays. Thermoregulatory behaviour was the most frequent of all behaviours observed (66·7%). Of the social behaviours, aggression was observed most frequently (72·1%). Six behavioural postures are not known to have been described before. This species has no bright colours or contrasting markings to use in displays to conspecifics.