Effect of Apis mellifera on community composition of local pollinator bees and their pollination network in Qinling Mountains and surrounding areas

The Qinling Mountains, known for their rich vegetation and diverse pollinating insects, have seen a significant decline in bee species richness and abundance over recent decades, largely due to the introduction and spread of Apis mellifera. This decline has caused cascading effects on the region's community structure and ecosystem stability. To improve the protection of native bees in the natural and agricultural landscape of the Qinling Mountains and its surrounding areas, we investigated 33 sampling sites within three habitats: forest, forest-agriculture ecotones, and farmland. Using a generalized linear mixing model, t-test, and other data analysis methods, we explored the impact of Apis mellifera on local pollinator bee richness, abundance, and the pollination network in different habitats in these regional areas. The results show that(1)Apis mellifera significantly negatively affects the abundance and richness of wild pollinator bees,while Apis cerana abundance is also affected by beekeeping conditions.(2)There are significant negative effects of Apis mellifera on the community structure of pollinator bees in the Qinling Mountains and its surrounding areas: the Shannon-Wiener diversity index, Pielou evenness index, and Margalef richness index of bee communities at sites with Apis mellifera influence were significantly lower than those at sites without Apis mellifera influence.(3)The underlying driver of this effect is the monopolization of flowering resources by Apis mellifera. This species tends to visit flowering plants with large nectar sources, which constitute a significant portion of the local plant community. By maintaining a dominant role in the bee-plant pollination network, Apis mellifera competitively displaces native pollinator bees, reducing their access to floral resources. This ultimately leads to a reduction in local bee-plant interactions, decreasing the complexity and stability of the pollination network. These findings highlight the need for targeted conservation efforts to protect native pollinator species and maintain the ecological balance in the Qinling Mountains.

Further Studies of the Cap Pushing Response in Honey Bees (Apis mellifera)

The Cap Pushing Response (CPR) is a free-flying technique used to study learning and memory in honey bees (Apis mellifera). The series of experiments outlined in this paper aimed to test whether honey bees exhibit the cognitive concept of “expectancy” utilizing the CPR in a weight differentiation paradigm. Five previous experiments in our laboratory have explored whether the concept of expectancy can account for honey bee performance and have all failed to support the cognitive interpretation. The first experiment examined if bees could differentiate between the two caps in the amount of force they used to push the cap and the distance the cap was pushed when the caps were presented one at a time. The second experiment explored cap weight preference by presenting bees with a choice between the two caps. The third and fourth experiments tested the bee’s ability to expect reward or punishment based on cap weight. Results revealed that bees were found to have a strong preference for the light cap and therefore were not able to expect reward or punishment based on cap weight. These experiments contribute to the debate on whether bees have “cognitive” representations and continue to support the behaviorist interpretation.

Maximizing Resource Efficiency in Cloud Data Centers through Knowledge-Based Flower Pollination Algorithm (KB-FPA)

Cloud computing is a dynamic and rapidly evolving field,where the demand for resources fluctuates continuously.This paper delves into the imperative need for adaptability in the allocation of resources to applications and services within cloud computing environments.The motivation stems from the pressing issue of accommodating fluctuating levels of user demand efficiently.By adhering to the proposed resource allocation method,we aim to achieve a substantial reduction in energy consumption.This reduction hinges on the precise and efficient allocation of resources to the tasks that require those most,aligning with the broader goal of sustainable and eco-friendly cloud computing systems.To enhance the resource allocation process,we introduce a novel knowledge-based optimization algorithm.In this study,we rigorously evaluate its efficacy by comparing it to existing algorithms,including the Flower Pollination Algorithm(FPA),Spark Lion Whale Optimization(SLWO),and Firefly Algo-rithm.Our findings reveal that our proposed algorithm,Knowledge Based Flower Pollination Algorithm(KB-FPA),consistently outperforms these conventional methods in both resource allocation efficiency and energy consumption reduction.This paper underscores the profound significance of resource allocation in the realm of cloud computing.By addressing the critical issue of adaptability and energy efficiency,it lays the groundwork for a more sustainable future in cloud computing systems.Our contribution to the field lies in the introduction of a new resource allocation strategy,offering the potential for significantly improved efficiency and sustainability within cloud computing infrastructures.

Pollination Effects of Pear Trees by Honeybee and Its Influencing Factors

[Objectives]To improve the yield and quality of different pear varieties by supplementary pollination.[Methods]The effects of bee pollination were compared with other pollination methods,and the effects of different factors on honeybee pollination were studied through experiments.[Results]Honeybee pollination significantly increased the number of fruit per inflorescence.In addition,it could improve the single fruit weight,fruit shape and other quality indicators of fruit.The pollination effect of honeybee was the best in all supplementary pollination measures.Honeybee pollination had good fruit setting effect on different pear varieties,but there were some differences in the effect of quality improvement.Spraying lime sulfur mixture and other measures could significantly affect the effects of honeybee pollination.[Conclusions]The research results prove the effectiveness of honeybee pollination technology in Hebei Province,and provide a certain reference for the establishment of a simple and practical artificial assisted pollination technology system.

Expression of Ethylene Biosynthetic Genes Regulated by Pollination associated Factors in Doritaenopsis hybrida Flowers

Pollination of flowers initiates postpollination development in orchid (Doritaenopsis hybrida Hort.) flowers, including perianth senescence, stigma closure, and ovary development. Because ethylene is thought to play a key role in coordinating these developmental changes, the authors studied the temporal and spatial patterns of expression of genes encoding 1 aminocyclopropane 1 carboxylic acid (ACC) synthase and ACC oxidase following pollination associated factor treatments in orchid flowers. Both ACC synthase and ACC oxidase mRNA accumulation in the various parts of the flowers is induced by auxin, and ethylene, but not by emasculation. The patterns of both ACC synthase and ACC oxidase mRNA accumulation are similar in all floral organs following auxin and ethylene treatments. Further, in situ hybridization analysis indicates that the ACC oxidase mRNA is localized in epidermal and parenchyma cells of the stigma after auxin and ethylene treatments. The putative roles of auxin, ethylene and emasculation are discussed in terms of the regulation of ACC synthase and ACC oxidase gene expression in flowers.

西方蜜蜂AKHR基因的生物信息学及表达模式分析

本研究对西方蜜蜂Apis mellifera脂动激素受体(Adipokinetic hormone receptor,AKHR)基因AmAKHR CDS区进行RT-PCR扩增和生物信息学分析,并测定了AmAKHR在工蜂不同组织和不同发育阶段的表达模式,旨在为进一步的功能研究提供参考和基础。通过PCR扩增AmAKHR的CDS,使用相关软件预测AmAKHR蛋白的理化性质、分子特征及蛋白互作网络。采用RT-qPCR技术检测AmAKHR在工蜂不同组织和不同发育阶段的相对表达量。结果表明,AmAKHR基因CDS长度为1050 bp,编码349个氨基酸;AmAKHR的相对分子量约为40.63 kDa,分子式为C1873H2939N471O484S26,含39个磷酸化位点,7个α-跨膜螺旋结构及8个保守基序,不含信号肽,主要分布于质膜;AmAKHR与小蜜蜂Apis florea的AKHR在进化树上聚为一支;AmAKHR的二级结构包含127个无规则卷曲,124个α-螺旋,87条延伸链和11个β-转角;AmAKHR与卵黄原蛋白和神经肽Corazonin等10个蛋白构成1个互作网络;AmAKHR在西方蜜蜂工蜂的毒腺、中肠、咽下腺、脂肪体、脑和触角等6个组织中差异表达,在脂肪体中的表达量最高,而在中肠中的表达量最低;AmAKHR在西方蜜蜂工蜂1日龄幼虫、3日龄幼虫、5日龄幼虫、2日龄预蛹、1日龄蛹中均有表达,且表达量随着日龄的增长而持续上调。研究结果揭示AmAKHR为疏水性蛋白和膜蛋白,并与卵黄原蛋白和神经肽等10个蛋白潜在互作,AmAKHR可能在西方蜜蜂工蜂的能量代谢、脂类分解和变态发育中发挥作用。

Effects of Supplementary Pollination by Single-rotor Agricultural Unmanned Aerial Vehicle in Hybrid Rice Seed Production

In 2012-2015, under the conditions of different natural wind speeds, the single-rotor agricultural unmanned aerial vehicle was used for the supplementary pollination during seed production of 10 hybrid combinations with big parental row ratios in the hybrid rice seed production bases of Hunan, Hainan and Guangdong Province, and the pollination effects were studied through the investigation of pollen density in the field, outcrossing seeding rate of female parent and seed production yield. The results showed that under the parental row ratio of 6：（40-60）, the seed setting rate and yields of the supplementary pollination by single-rotor agricultural UAV could reach and even higher than those of artificial pollination, indicating the single-rotor agricultural UAV could be used in supplementary pollination for hybdd rice seed production, which could promote the whole-process mechanization of seed production.

越冬初期和中期西方蜜蜂四个亚种的miRNA及其靶mRNA的比较分析

【目的】明确西方蜜蜂Apis mellifera微小RNA(microRNA,miRNA)在越冬期间的表达量变化,揭示miRNA及其靶mRNA与抗寒性的潜在关系,在miRNA组学层面进一步揭示西方蜜蜂抗寒性的分子机理。【方法】利用sRNA-seq技术鉴定西方蜜蜂4个亚种意大利蜜蜂A.m.ligustica、欧洲黑蜂A.m.mellifera、高加索蜂A.m.caucasica和卡尼鄂拉蜂A.m.carnica在越冬期初期和越冬中期的miRNA;根据P≤0.05且|log 2fold change|≥1标准筛选4个亚种在越冬不同时期的差异表达miRNA(differentially expressed miRNAs,DEmiRNAs)。利用相关生物信息学软件对筛选出的miRNA的靶mRNA进行预测,并对靶mRNA进行GO及KEGG数据库注释。根据靶向结合关系构建DEmiRNA和靶mRNA的调控网络,并利用Cytoscape进行可视化。随机选取ame-miR-263a-5p,ame-miR-184-3p,ame-miR-263b-5p,ame-miR-190-5p,ame-miR-6052-5p,ame-miR-9a-5p,ame-miR-100-5p和ame-miR-306-5p等8个DEmiRNA进行RT-qPCR验证。【结果】鉴定获得越冬期西方蜜蜂4个亚种210个miRNA,包括178个保守的miRNA和32个新的miRNA,长度介于18~30 nt,分布数量最多的长度为22和23 nt,首位碱基为U的miRNA数量最多。西方蜜蜂4个亚种在越冬初期和越冬中期表达量最高的DEmiRNAs为ame-miR-1-3p,ame-miR-276-3p和ame-miR-184-3p。意大利蜜蜂越冬初期vs越冬中期共筛选出22个DEmiRNA,可靶向调控394条mRNA,这些mRNA分别注释到161个GO功能条目和16条KEGG通路上;欧洲黑蜂越冬初期vs越冬中期共筛选出28个DEmiRNA,可靶向调控415条mRNA,这些mRNA分别注释到147个GO功能条目和15条KEGG通路上;高加索蜂越冬初期vs越冬中期共筛选67个DEmiRNA,可靶向调控1021条mRNA,这些mRNA分别注释到171个GO功能条目和21条KEGG通路上;卡尼鄂拉蜂越冬初期vs越冬中期共筛选18个DEmiRNA,可靶向调控330条mRNA,这些mRNA分别注释到147个GO功能条目和13条KEGG通路上。西方蜜蜂4个亚种DEmiRNA与靶mRNA之间形成较为复杂的调控网络。RT-qPCR结果显示8个DEmiRNA的表达趋势与测序数据一致,证实了本研究中测序数据的可靠性。【结论】本研究明确西方蜜蜂4个亚种越冬不同时期的miRNA表达量变化,筛选出多个潜在调控西方蜜蜂越冬期抗寒性的分子候选靶标miRNA,其中ame-miR-14-3p和ame-miR-3786-5p在欧洲黑蜂、高加索蜂和卡尼鄂拉蜂中负调控多个mRNA的表达,在意大利蜜蜂中并没有参与;miRNA通过调控靶基因的表达参与甘油磷酸脂代谢、MAPK信号通路和mTOR等关键信号通路参与西方蜜蜂的抗寒性。

意大利蜜蜂工蜂幼虫肠道发育过程中lncRNA的表达谱和调控作用

【目的】解析意大利蜜蜂Apis mellifera ligustica工蜂幼虫肠道发育过程中的长链非编码RNA(long non-coding RNA,lncRNA)差异表达谱,并揭示差异表达lncRNA(differentially expressed lncRNA,DElncRNA)在幼虫肠道发育中的调控作用。【方法】基于前期获得的意大利蜜蜂工蜂4,5和6日龄幼虫肠道转录组数据(分别为Am4,Am5和Am6),利用相关软件筛选Am4 vs Am5比较组和Am5 vs Am6比较组中的DElncRNA,分析DElncRNA和两个比较组中共同上调和下调lncRNA的顺式调控作用及竞争性内源RNA(competing endogenous RNA,ceRNA)的调控作用。通过RT-qPCR验证转录组数据的可靠性。【结果】在Am4 vs Am5比较组中筛选出214条上调和251条下调lncRNA,在Am5 vs Am6比较组中筛选出141条上调和332条下调lncRNA;两个比较组共有的上调和下调lncRNA分别为7和16条。Am4 vs Am5比较组中的DElncRNA潜在调控250个邻近基因,涉及细胞进程等28个GO条目及Wnt信号通路等58条KEGG通路;Am5 vs Am6比较组中的DElncRNA潜在调控295个邻近基因,涉及细胞部分等35个GO条目及FoxO信号通路等73条KEGG通路;上述两个比较组中共有的7个上调lncRNA潜在调控10个邻近基因,涉及1个GO条目及代谢通路、谷胱甘肽代谢和核质转运等7条KEGG通路。共有的16个下调lncRNA潜在调控27个邻近基因,涉及8个GO条目及精氨酸生物合成、谷胱甘肽代谢和代谢通路等13条KEGG通路。此外,Am4 vs Am5比较组中的49条DElncRNA可靶向16个差异表达miRNA(differentially expressed miRNA,DEmiRNA)进而靶向122条差异表达mRNA(differentially expressed mRNA,DEmRNA),可注释到代谢进程等24个GO条目和Wnt信号通路等21条KEGG通路。Am5 vs Am6比较组中的38条DElncRNA可靶向8条DEmiRNA进而靶向67条DEmRNA,可注释到催化活性等21个GO条目和FoxO信号通路等10条KEGG通路;上述两个比较组共有的1条下调lncRNA MSTRG.10589.2可靶向ame-miR-6052和miR-511-y,进而靶向29条DEmRNA。RT-qPCR结果显示随机选取的7条DElncRNA的相对表达量与测序数据一致,证实了所用转录组数据的可靠性。【结论】意大利蜜蜂工蜂幼虫肠道发育过程伴随着lncRNA的动态差异表达,DElncRNA可通过顺式作用和ceRNA网络潜在参与对幼虫肠道发育的调控,在幼虫肠道发育中潜在发挥重要的调控作用。

Foraging and Pollination Behaviour of Apis mellifera adansonii Latreille （Hymenoptera, Apidae） on Gossypium hirsutum （Malvaceae） Flowers at Dang （Ngaoundere, Cameroon）

To evaluate Apis mellifera adansonii Latreille impact on fruit and seed yields of Gossypium hirsutum L., its foraging and pollinating activities were studied in Ngaoundere for two seasons. Observations were made on 340 flowers each year and divided in three treatments. The treatments included unlimited flowers access by all visitors; bagged flowers to deny all visits and limited visits by Apis mellifera adansonii only. The worker bees seasonal rhythm of activity, its foraging behaviour, its pollination efficiency, the fruiting rate, the number of seeds per fruit and the percentage of normal seeds were evaluated. Results show that this bee foraged G. hirsutum flowers throughout the whole blooming period. This bee species intensely harvested pollen and nectar. The mean foraging speed was 9.41 flowers per rain in 2009 and 8.41 flowers per min in 2010. The fruiting rate, the number of seeds per fruit and the percentage of normal seeds of unprotected flowers were significantly higher than those of flowers protected from insects. Through its pollination efficiency, Apis mellifera adansonii provoked a significant increment of the fruiting rate by 60.84% in 2009 and 36.48% in 2010, as well as the number of seeds per fruit by 94.16% in 2009 and 31.41% in 2010, and the percentage of normal seeds by 94.23% in 2009 and 33.49% in 2010. The installation ofA. m. adansonii colonies close to G. hirsutum fields could be recommended to increase fruit, seed and honey yields, and pollen production as a hive product in the region.

Pollination Biology of the Endangered Herbal Medicines Dendrobium chrysotoxum(Orchidaceae)

Pollination biology studies of the endangered herbal medicines Dendrobium chrysotoxum were conducted in natural pollination conditions using flower observation,pollinator observation and artificial pollination experiments.Populations of D.chrysotoxum with fragrance and nectar were pollinated by Ctenoplectra davidi Valhalla(Hymenoptera:Apidae)species.The floral structure of D.chrysotoxum adapted precisely to its pollinators.Flowers had a low capsule setting(0.17%)under natural conditions.However,compared to open pollination,artificial pollination experiments showed a significant increase in capsule setting,and D.chrysotoxum was cross-compatible and self-compatible,but there was pollinator limitation also.This study will provide important information for the preservation of this endangered species.

Towards a Modeling of the Impacts of Road Verge Management on the Pollination Service Using System Dynamics: A Case Study in France

Several research studies have proven that eliciting and predicting the impact of human activity on ecosystem services will be crucial to support stakeholders’ awareness and to decide how to interact with the environment in a more sustainable manner. In this sense, the ecosystems known as road verges are particularly important because of their length and surface at an international scale, and their role in mitigating the damage done by roads. Plant pollination by insects is one of the most important ecosystem services. Because of its nature and the fact that they extend across a variety of landscapes, roadside can contribute to the maintenance of healthy ecosystems, under the condition of adapted management practices. This research is the first attempt to develop a System Dynamics-based aiming to estimate the ecological and economic impact of maintenance on the road verge pollination service in France. Maintenance strategies of road verges are simulated to compare their performance. The results show that there are ways to improve current maintenance strategies in terms of pollination value, but also that the model needs to consider other ecosystem services and synergistic effects that could further affect pollination to obtain more accurate estimations.

Shea Parklands Pollination in Burkina Faso, Some Techniques to Improve the Production

Shea tree is a major economic plant contributing to household income through the sale of edible fruits, kernels and shea butter. Shea butter is used industrially in the production of cosmetic products, chocolates and margarines. Fruits are used by human and also by birds. This study aimed to explore strategies for the improvement of shea yield through pollination. Two types of pollination (manual and natural pollination) were applied for the comparison of fruits set and their ripening. The fruits set and ripening index as well as average weight of ripe fruits and kernels were estimated. The results showed a significant difference between the fruits set Index of manual pollination and natural pollination (H(1) = 33.437, p = 7.361 × 10-9). Similarly, there was a significant difference between the ripening Index of manual pollination and natural pollination (H(1) = 4.5113, p = 0.03367). However, the mode of pollination did not influence the weight of ripe fruits and kernels. Therefore, the manual pollination enhances pollen supply to receptive stigmas for fertilization and improved fruit yield in Vitellaria paradoxa.

西方蜜蜂AmAGO1蛋白的分子特性、时空表达谱及抗体制备

【目的】Argonaute(AGO)家族是一类在进化上高度保守的蛋白家族,其在真核生物中主要参与形成RNA诱导沉默复合体(RNA-induced silencing complex,RISC),进而通过沉默基因表达参与诸多生物学过程。蜜蜂AGO蛋白的相关研究迄今仍然缺失。本研究拟通过预测西方蜜蜂Apis mellifera的AGO1(AmAGO1)理化性质和分子特性,解析AmAGO1在西方蜜蜂中的时空表达谱,并制备AmAGO1的多克隆抗体,为深入开展AmAGO1的功能与机制研究提供参考和基础。【方法】PCR扩增西方蜜蜂AmAGO1的编码序列(coding sequence,CDS);通过生物信息学预测AmAGO1蛋白的理化性质和分子特性;利用RT-qPCR检测AmAGO1在西方蜜蜂工蜂卵、3日龄幼虫、7日龄预蛹、8日龄预蛹、12日龄蛹以及1,2,6,12,15和18日龄成虫以及工蜂成虫触角、咽下腺、脑、表皮、中肠、脂肪体和毒腺中的表达量;构建原核表达质粒后诱导表达AmAGO1融合蛋白,并鉴定其表达形式;制备AmAGO1多克隆抗体,利用ELISA,Western blot和免疫沉淀(immunoprecipitation,IP)分别检测抗体效价、灵敏度和特异性。【结果】成功克隆到西方蜜蜂AmAGO1的CDS;AmAGO1含928个氨基酸,分子式为C4624H7332N1316O1325S51,分子量约为104.2 kD,等电点为9.31,平均亲水系数为-0.2965,含86个磷酸化位点及典型的PAZ结构域和PIWI结构域,但不存在典型的信号肽;AGO1在智人Homo sapiens、斑马鱼Danio rerio、黑腹果蝇Drosophila melanogaster、家蚕Bombyx mori、西方蜜蜂、东方蜜蜂A.cerana和欧洲熊蜂Bombus terrestris中具有较高的氨基酸序列一致性;西方蜜蜂和东方蜜蜂的AGO1聚为一支,同源性最高。AmAGO1在西方蜜蜂工蜂卵、幼虫、预蛹、蛹和成虫中均有表达但表达量存在差异,3日龄幼虫和7日龄预蛹中AmAGO1的表达量显著低于卵中的表达量,而8日龄预蛹和12日龄蛹中AmAGO1的表达量显著高于卵中的表达量;AmAGO1在1,2,6,12,15和18日龄工蜂体内均有表达但表达量也存在差异,其中1日龄成虫体内AmAGO1的表达量显著高于其他日龄成虫体内的表达量;AmAGO1在工蜂成虫触角、毒腺、脑、中肠、咽下腺、脂肪体和表皮中均有表达但表达量存在差异,触角中AmAGO1的表达量与咽下腺中的相差无几,但二者均显著高于毒腺、脑、中肠、脂肪体和表皮中AmAGO1的表达量;AmAGO1融合蛋白的表达形式为包涵体;制备的AmAGO1多克隆抗体具有较高的效价、灵敏度和特异性。【结论】AmAGO1可能是亲水性胞内蛋白,含有典型的PAZ结构域和PIWI结构域;AmAGO1在西方蜜蜂工蜂不同组织和不同发育阶段发挥潜在的重要功能;成功制备出高效价、高灵敏度和强特异性的AGO1多克隆抗体。

Feature Selection for Detecting ICMPv6-Based DDoS Attacks Using Binary Flower Pollination Algorithm

Internet Protocol version 6(IPv6)is the latest version of IP that goal to host 3.4×10^(38)unique IP addresses of devices in the network.IPv6 has introduced new features like Neighbour Discovery Protocol(NDP)and Address Auto-configuration Scheme.IPv6 needed several protocols like the Address Auto-configuration Scheme and Internet Control Message Protocol(ICMPv6).IPv6 is vulnerable to numerous attacks like Denial of Service(DoS)and Distributed Denial of Service(DDoS)which is one of the most dangerous attacks executed through ICMPv6 messages that impose security and financial implications.Therefore,an Intrusion Detection System(IDS)is a monitoring system of the security of a network that detects suspicious activities and deals with amassive amount of data comprised of repetitive and inappropriate features which affect the detection rate.A feature selection(FS)technique helps to reduce the computation time and complexity by selecting the optimum subset of features.This paper proposes a method for detecting DDoS flooding attacks(FA)based on ICMPv6 messages using a Binary Flower PollinationAlgorithm(BFPA-FA).The proposed method(BFPA-FA)employs FS technology with a support vector machine(SVM)to identify the most relevant,influential features.Moreover,The ICMPv6-DDoS dataset was used to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method through different attack scenarios.The results show that the proposed method BFPAFA achieved the best accuracy rate(97.96%)for the ICMPv6 DDoS detection with a reduced number of features(9)to half the total(19)features.The proven proposed method BFPA-FAis effective in the ICMPv6 DDoS attacks via IDS.

梅氏热厉螨(Tropilaelapsmercedesae)研究进展

梅氏热厉螨是亚洲地区西方蜜蜂的主要螨害之一,相对于狄斯瓦螨(Varroa destructor),其个体较小、行动迅速、繁殖能力强,对蜂群危害极大。梅氏热厉螨会对西方蜜蜂幼虫和成虫造成不同程度危害,且会影响其肠道微生物组成,并降低蜜蜂寿命。同时梅氏热厉螨作为蜜蜂病毒载体,会在蜂群中传播蜜蜂病毒。本文主要从梅氏热厉螨对西方蜜蜂的影响、与蜜蜂病毒的关系、扩散风险和防治手段四个方面进行了概述,为梅氏热厉螨的危害机理和防控措施研究提供理论参考。

Patterns and drivers of plant sexual systems in the dry-hot valley region of southwestern China

Sexual systems play important roles in angiosperm evolution and exhibit substantial variations among different floras. Thus, studying their evolution in a whole flora is crucial for understanding the formation and maintenance of plant biodiversity and predicting its responses to environmental change. In this study, we determined the patterns of plant sexual systems and their associations with geographic elements and various life-history traits in dry-hot valley region of southwestern China, an extremely vulnerable ecosystem. Of the 3166 angiosperm species recorded in this area, 74.5% were hermaphroditic,13.5% were monoecious and 12% were dioecious, showing a high incidence of diclinous species. Diclinous species were strongly associated with tropical elements, whereas hermaphroditic species were strongly associated with temperate and cosmopolitan elements. We also found that hermaphroditism was strongly associated with showy floral displays, specialist entomophily, dry fruits and herbaceous plants.Dioecy was strongly associated with inconspicuous, pale-colored flowers, generalist entomophily, fleshy fruits, and woody plants, whereas monoecy was strongly associated with inconspicuous, pale-colored flowers, anemophily, dry fruits, and herbaceous plants. In addition, hermaphroditic species with generalist entomophily tended to flower in the dry season, whereas diclinous species with specialist entomophily tended to flower in the rainy season. However, independent of sexual systems, plants that produce dry fruits tended to flower in the rainy season and set fruits in the dry season, but the opposite pattern was found for fleshy fruit-producing plants. Our results suggest that in the dry-hot valleys, plant sexual systems are associated with geographic elements as well as various life-history traits that are sensitive to environmental change.

Enhanced and asymmetric signatures of hybridization at climatic margins: Evidence from closely related dioecious fig species

Hybridization plays a significant role in biological evolution. However, it is not clear whether ecological contingency differentially influences likelihood of hybridization, particularly at ecological margins where parental species may exhibit reduced fitnesses. Moreover, it is unknown whether future ecosystem change will increase the prevalence of hybridization. Ficus heterostyla and F. squamosa are closely related species co-distributed from southern Thailand to southwest China where hybridization, yielding viable seeds, has been documented. As a robust test of ecological factors driving hybridization, we investigated spatial hybridization signatures based on nuclear microsatellites from extensive population sampling across a widespread contact range. Both species showed high population differentiation and strong patterns of isolation by distance. Admixture estimates exposed asymmetric interspecific gene flow.Signatures of hybridization increase significantly towards higher latitude zones, peaking at the northern climatic margins. Geographic variation in reproductive phenology combined with ecologically challenging marginal habitats may promote this phenomenon. Our work is a first systematic evaluation of such patterns in a comprehensive, latitudinally-based clinal context, and indicates that tendency to hybridize appears strongly influenced by environmental conditions. Moreover, that future climate change scenarios will likely alter and possibly augment cases of hybridization at ecosystem scales.

Intraspecific floral colour variation in three Pedicularis species

Flower constancy describes the phenomenon that pollinators tend to successively visit flowers of a single species during foraging,reducing reproductive interference in natural communities.The extent of flower constancy is largely determined by the floral traits of co-flowering species.Both higher inter-specific and lower intraspecific differences of floral traits should contribute to a higher level of flower constancy.However,previous studies mainly focused on interspecific difference,and the intraspecific variation(consistency)of floral traits received much less attention.We hypothesise that selection may favour lower intraspecific floral trait variation in communities composed of multiple co-flowering congeners.We investigated the floral colour variation of three focal Pedicularis species that share pollinators in 19communities composed of either single or multiple Pedicularis species.Colour was quantified using image-based colour analysis as perceived by pollinators.We found that most of the intrapopulation floral colour variation was below the colour discrimination threshold of bumblebees,implying strongly constrained by the visual selection by pollinators.Contrary to the hypothesis,there is no significant difference in intraspecific floral colour variation between different community contexts.It may be due to the relatively large interspecific floral colour differences of most co-flowering species.The influence of community context on intraspecific variation may be reflected in floral traits other than colours.

Twenty-Three Years of Insect Pollinator-Dependent Crop Studies in Agro-Ecological Zones of Cameroon (2011-2020)

Cultivation of pollinator-dependent crops has expanded globally, increasing our reliance on insect pollination. This essential ecosystem service is provided by a wide range of managed and wild pollinators whose abundance and diversity are thought to be in decline, threatening sustainable food production. In Cameroon, several studies on pollinator-dependent crops carried out in different agro-ecological zones (AEZ) have been published in national and international journals, in order to present the importance and impact of flowering insects on fruit and seed yields of plant species. We proposed to produce a review article highlighting the different flowering insects and their importance for different plants according to AEZ, without however focusing on the quality of the journal (predator or non-predator) and how the different insects were identified (scientific names given in the publications). Thus, from 1997 to 2020, we collected 116 published papers from which only 26 were kept for this review. The results show that Hymenoptera, including the Apidae, followed by Megachilidae, are the most excellent pollinators of plant species in Cameroon, and they are present in different agro-ecological zones. The majority of publications focused on bees, particularly the honeybee Apis mellifera.