Evolutionary and ecological implications of cardenolide sequestration in the monarch butterfly

Summary Monarch butterflies sequester cardenolides from their larval host plants in the milkweed genusAsclepias for use in defense against predation. Of 108Asclepias species in North America, monarchs are known to feed as larvae on 27. Research on 11 of these has shown that monarchs sequester cardenolides most effectively, to an asymptote of approximately 350 g/0.1 g dry butterfly, from plants with intermediate cardenolide contents rather than from those with very high or very low cardenolide contents. SinceAsclepias host plant species are distributed widely in space and time across the continent, monarchs exploit them by migration between breeding and overwintering areas. After overwintering in central Mexico, spring migrants east of the Rocky Mountains exploit three predominantAsclepias species in the southern USA that have moderately high cardenolide contents. Monarchs sequester cardenolides very effectively from these species. First generation butterflies are thus well protected against predators and continue the migration north. Across the northern USA and southern Canada most summer breeding occurs on a fourthAsclepias species and in autumn most of these monarchs migrate back to Mexican overwintering sites. The ecological implications of this cycle of cardenolide sequestration for the evolution of monarch migration are discussed.     

‘Chloride-cell’ — like mitochondria-rich cells of salamander larva gill epithelium

Summary Two types of mitochondria-rich cells (MRC) are described ultrastructurally in the gill epithelium of salamander larva. They resemble MRC found in larval ventral epidermis. Histochemical localization of carbonic anhydrase indicated numerous positive reacting cells, most of them flask-shaped. Morphological and functional similarities to fish chloride cells are discussed.     

两栖爬行动物性别决定的研究进展

两栖爬行动物性别决定的方式有基因型性别决定和环境型性别决定两种类型。本文综述了两种类型的最新研究进展，推测两种性别决定机制在分子水平上可能是一致的，对进一步研究存在的问题作了一定的分析。     

Amphipod crustaceans and environmental disturbance: a review

This review of the literature shows that amphipod crustaceans create disturbance through predation on commercial harvests, attacks on macroalgae, introductions as exotic species, and interference competition. Amphipods are also affected by disturbance events, both man-made and natural. Anthropogenic disturbance includes environmental alteration by toxins, oil, organic enrichment, acidification, salinity alteration, and ships' wakes. Natural disturbances are space clearance by the feeding activities of other fauna, and physical disturbance by sediment erosion and ice scour.     

The green June beetle (Cotinis nitida) (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae): local variation in the beetle’s major avian predators and in the competition for mates

The green June beetle (Cotinis nitida) was observed in northern Virginia for a second and third flight season. The study yielded some results that were consistent with earlier findings, namely that mate-locating beetles were vulnerable to attack by avian predators and matings occurred primarily early in the flight season. Novel findings included the following: (1) blue jays (Cyanocitta cristata) were the major predators, not common grackles (Quiscalus quiscala), (2) some jays appeared to selectively prey on female beetles, (3) competition for mates among male beetles could be so intense that some males attempted to copulate with already mated (unreceptive) females, and (4) the sex ratio of the beetle population feeding on wild blackberries remained near equality late in the flight season despite the fact that the sex ratio of the population of beetles at the emergence site became highly female-biased over time.     

云南部分地区两栖类寄生吸虫初步调查

通过对云南部分地区的两栖类动物寄生吸虫进行调查,共采集到2目6科6属9种两栖动物,在解剖的228号标本中,仅在无尾目的 4种192只蛙体内查到吸虫13种,其中单殖目吸虫1科1属3种,复殖目吸虫5科6属10种.在滇蛙(Rana.Pleuraden Boulenger)直肠、小肠、膀胱内检获吸虫10种,其中重盘吸虫属2种(Diplodiscus spp.);在云南双团棘胸蛙(Rana yunnanensis)膀胱内检获拟发状吸虫属1种(Gorgoderidae spp.);在无指盘臭蛙(Rana.grahami Boulenger)、日本林蛙昭觉亚种(Rana.japonica chaochiaoensis Liu)中分别检获多盘属吸虫各1种(Polystoma spp.).     

Ants feeding on anal exudate from tortricid larvae: a new type of trophobiosis

A new type of trophobiosis between tortricid larvae of a hitherto unknown genus and species, and various ant species of the subfamilies Formicinae, Dolichoderinae and Myrmicinae, was found in Malaysia. The larvae live in silken shelters fixed to the leaves of bamboo. In response to mechanical stimuli from the ants, they discharge from the anus a liquid containing sugar and amino acids and/or protein. The tortricid is described as Semutophila saccharopa gen. nov., sp. nov.; a second species, S. susurra sp. nov., is described from New Guinea.     

Predation on eggs of Schneider’s dwarf caiman,Paleosuchus trigonatus (Schneider, 1807), by armadillos and other predators

Nests of Schneider’s dwarf caiman, Paleosuchus trigonatus, were located in the forests around three streams that drain into the Xingu River, Brazilian Amazonia, in October 2014. Camera traps were installed at the edge of four nests to document predators and female parental care. At two nests, females unsuccessfully defended their nests against one or more giant armadillos, Priodontes maximus, and nine-banded armadillos, Dasypus novemcinctus. Both armadillo species responded to the attack by fleeing and returning on the opposite side of the nest by going around the tree under which the nest was located. Giant armadillos have never before been recorded consuming caiman eggs and their diet has been described as consisting mostly of ants and termites. Another species of armadillo, Cabassous unicinctus, was also registered digging into a nest and probably consuming eggs, though it is generally considered to be primarily insectivorous. A tayra (Eira barbara), lizard (Tupinambis teguixin) and coati (Nasua nasua) were also registered taking eggs from nests during the day, but we obtained no registers of nest defence by caimans during the day. The three nests were attacked after 60 days of incubation, when the eggs were well developed.     

Orb‐web spiders (Araneae: Araneomorphae; Orbiculariae) captured by hunting‐wasps (Hymenoptera: Sphecidae) in an area of Atlantic Forest in south‐eastern Brazil

Members of two hunting‐wasp families, Pompilidae and Sphecidae, are among the major predators of orb‐web spiders. In this study, we collected paralysed spiders from natural nests and trap‐nests provisioned by sphecids in an area of Brazilian Atlantic Forest, and compared these data with the composition of species collected by visual searching during one year. Prey preferences were analysed based on the relative abundance of spider species, their size and web characteristics. We also compiled a list of orb‐weavers captured by four sphecid genera reported in 40 other studies. A large number of prey was obtained from natural nests of Trypoxylon (Trypargilum) albonigrum in Parque Estadual Intervales, especially species of Eustala, Parawixia, and Araneus (Araneidae). Other prey, stored in trap‐nests by T. lactitarse and unidentified hunting‐wasp species, included Nephila (Tetragnathidae), Parawixia, Ocrepeira, Mecynogea, Acacesia (Araneidae), and other spider species that were less abundant. All the species that were heavily preyed upon had a relatively lower abundance in our samples of prey availability. The range of body sizes of spiders captured by Trypoxylon in our study area include the size of some abundant orb‐weavers always absent in their nests. These results indicate that factors other than abundance in the field and the spider's size influence prey selection or susceptibility to attack.