Predation of Pardosa pseudoannulata and Pardosa procurva Against Plutella xylostella

[Objective] This study was conducted to explore the predation of Pardosa pseudoannulata and Pirata procurva_ on Plutela xylostela larvae. [Method] The quantities of P. xylostela larvae predated by the two spider species at different temperatures and the quantities of P. xylostela larvae predated by P. pseudoannula-ta_in different volumes were analyzed. Based on three factors at five levels, the quadratic general regression rotation combination design was used to study the combined control effect of the two spider species on P. xylostela_larvae and the control effect of P. pseudoannulata on the larvae of P. xylostela and Spodoptera litura. [Result] The quantities of P. xylostela_ larvae predated by the two spider species increased first and then decreased with the increase of temperature, and the functional predation response of P. pseudoannulata and P. procurva_ on the fourth instar larvae of P. xylostela_fitted the Hol ing-Ⅱ model, and the Hol ing-Ⅲmodel could perfect the evaluation on the predation effect. Volume had great effect on the feeding of P. pseudoannulata. lnstantaneous attack ability （a’）, the time to handle one prey （Th） and predation function （a’/Th） in a smal er volume were al higher than that in a larger volume. The predation of the two spider species on P. xylostela_larvae was positively correlated with their densities. The overal effect of the three factors was： the density of P. xylostela＆gt;the density of P. procurva＆gt;the density of P. pseudoannulata. The densities of P. xylostela and S. litura larvae could affect the feeding amount of P. pseudoannulata. But there was no predation preference for P. pseudoannulata on the larvae of P. xylostela and S. litura. [Con-clusion] The results wil provide a reference for the evaluation of control effect of_P. xylostela_by P. pseudoannulata_and P. procurva in the field.

西太平洋帕劳砗磲高分辨率氧同位素记录及其指示的气候环境变化

砗磲是海洋中最大的双壳类贝壳,其碳酸盐壳体通常具有年纹层和天纹层,是一种理想的高分辨率古气候研究载体。氧同位素是砗磲古气候研究中最常用的指标之一,但在将其应用于古气候重建之前,通常需要对其现代地球化学过程进行准确的校准。帕劳群岛位于西太平洋暖池西北边缘,其珊瑚礁盘具有丰富的砗磲壳体资源,为开展古气候研究提供了丰富的材料。在本次研究中,对采自帕劳群岛的现代活体库氏砗磲(Tridacna gigas)PL-1的内层壳体进行了高分辨率氧同位素分析,同时利用该砗磲较为清晰的天生长纹层对氧同位素的年代学框架进行了标定。结果表明,该砗磲壳体的氧同位素没有明显的变化趋势,说明砗磲个体的生命效应对氧同位素没有显著影响;砗磲壳体氧同位素没有清晰的年周期变化,常出现不规则的毛刺状峰值。结合现代器测资料分析发现,帕劳砗磲内层壳体的氧同位素记录了热带太平洋ENSO活动对该区域水文气候变化的影响。该研究结果表明,帕劳砗磲内层壳体天生长纹层和氧同位素,具有用于开展高分辨率古气候研究的潜力。

The function of animal ‘eyespots’:Conspicuousness but not eye mimicry is key

Many animals are marked with conspicuous circular features often called ＇eyespots＇, which intimidate predators, preventing or halting an attack. It has long been assumed that eyespots work by mimicking the eyes of larger animals, but recent experiments have indicated that conspicuousness and contrast is important in eyespot function, and not eye mimicry. We undertake two further experiments to distinguish between the conspicuousness and mimicry hypotheses, by using artificial prey presented to wild avian predators in the field. In experiment 1, we test if eyespot effectiveness depends on the marking shape （bar or circle） and arrangement （eye-like and non-eye-like positions）. We find no difference between shapes or arrangement; all spots were equally effective in scaring birds. In experiment 2, we test if the often yellow and black colors of eyespots mimic the eyes of birds of prey. We find no effect of shape, and no advantage to yellow and black spots over non-eye-like but equally conspicuous colors. The consistent finding is that eyespot function lies in being a conspicuous signal to predators, and not necessarily due to eye mimicry [ Current Zoology 55 （5） ： 319 - 326, 2009].

Comparison of Gas Distribution Properties of Conventional and High Capacity Structured Packings

This paper presents the results of an experimental study carried out using large scale equipment to observe the effect of geometry on gas distribution properties of a high capacity corrugated sheet structured packing （Montz-pak B 1-250M） and to compare it with that of its conventional counterpart （Montz-pak B1-250）. Although the high capacity packing exhibits a significantly lower overall pressure drop, the gas distribution performance is similar to that of the conventional packing, and in both cases consistently good one.

Serpentinization, abiogenic organic compounds, and deep life

The hydrocarbons and other organic compounds generated through abiogenic or inorganic processes are closely related to two science subjects, i.e., energy resources and life＇s origin and evolution. ＂The earth＇s primordial abiogenic hydrocarbon theory＂ and ＂the serpentinization of abiogenic hydrocarbon theory＂ are the two mainstream theories in the field of related studies. Ser- pentinizafion generally occurs in slow expanding mid-ocean ridges and continental ophiolites tectonic environment, etc. The abiogenic hydrocarbons and other organic compounds formed through the serpentinization of ultramafic rocks provide energy and raw materials to support chemosynthetic microbial communities, which probably was the most important hydration reac- tion for the origin and early evolution of life. The superposition of biological and abiological processes creates big challenge to the identification of the abiogenic organic materials in serpentinite-hosted ecosystem. Whether abiotic （inorganic） process can form oil and gas resource is a difficult question that has been explored continuously by scientific community for more than a century but has not yet been solved. However, some important progress has been made. The prospecting practice of abiogenic hydrocarbons in commercial gases from the Songliao Basin, China, provides an important example for exploring abiogenic natural gas resources.