A vegetation evolution model influenced by a degeneration of soil ecological functions was set up. Three ideal communities of a) trees, b) shrubs, and c) herbage populations were first simulated. Then numerical simula...A vegetation evolution model influenced by a degeneration of soil ecological functions was set up. Three ideal communities of a) trees, b) shrubs, and c) herbage populations were first simulated. Then numerical simulations of the evolutionary and developmental processes of a natural forest community, which is composed of over 100 species,were conducted. Results of the study showed that a) in all communities, soil degeneration not only drove some weaker species to extinction, but also a few dominant ones; b) there were different response scales with species in an ideal tree metapopulation that could persist as long as a thousand years, with shrubs in an ideal shrub metapopulation that could persevere for several hundred years, and with species in an ideal herbage metapopulation that could become extinct within 10 years; and c) each metapopulation experienced three evolutionary stages during adaptation to the environment: a) the stage of compelled adaptation or resistance, b) the adjusted stage, and c) the stabilized stage.展开更多
A trajectory generator based on vehicle kinematics model was presented and an integrated navigation simulation system was designed.Considering that the tight relation between vehicle motion and topography,a new trajec...A trajectory generator based on vehicle kinematics model was presented and an integrated navigation simulation system was designed.Considering that the tight relation between vehicle motion and topography,a new trajectory generator for vehicle was proposed for more actual simulation.Firstly,a vehicle kinematics model was built based on conversion of attitude vector in different coordinate systems.Then,the principle of common trajectory generators was analyzed.Besides,combining the vehicle kinematics model with the principle of dead reckoning,a new vehicle trajectory generator was presented,which can provide process parameters of carrier anytime and achieve simulation of typical actions of running vehicle.Moreover,IMU(inertial measurement unit) elements were simulated,including accelerometer and gyroscope.After setting up the simulation conditions,the integrated navigation simulation system was verified by final performance test.The result proves the validity and flexibility of this design.展开更多
Batesian mimics are harmless prey species that resemble dangerous ones (models), and thus receive protection from predators. How such adaptive resemblances evolve is a classical problem in evolutionary biology. Mimi...Batesian mimics are harmless prey species that resemble dangerous ones (models), and thus receive protection from predators. How such adaptive resemblances evolve is a classical problem in evolutionary biology. Mimicry is typically thought to be difficult to evolve, especially if the model and mimic produce the convergent phenotype through different proximate mecha- nisms. However, mimicry may evolve more readily if mimic and model share similar pathways for producing the convergent phenotype. In such cases, these pathways can be co-opted in ancestral mimic populations to produce high-fidelity mimicry with- out the need for major evolutionary innovations. Here, we show that a Batesian mimic, the scarlet kingsnake Larnpropeltis elap-soides, produces its coloration using the same physiological mechanisms as does its model, the eastern coral snake Micrurus fulvius. Therefore, precise color mimicry may have been able to evolve easily in this system. Generally, we know relatively little about the proximate mechanisms underlying mimicry .展开更多
Soil respiration(SR) is a major process of carbon loss from dryland soils, and it is closely linked to precipitation which often occurs as a discrete episodic event. However, knowledge on the dynamic patterns of SR of...Soil respiration(SR) is a major process of carbon loss from dryland soils, and it is closely linked to precipitation which often occurs as a discrete episodic event. However, knowledge on the dynamic patterns of SR of biologically-crusted soils in response to precipitation pulses remains limited. In this study, we investigated CO_2 emissions from a moss-crusted soil(MCS) and a cyanobacterialichen-crusted soil(CLCS) after 2, 4, 8, 16, and 32 mm precipitation during the dry season in the Tengger Desert, northern China.Results showed that 2 h after precipitation, the SR rates of both MCS and CLCS increased up to 18-fold compared with those before rewetting, and then gradually declined to background levels; the decrease was faster at lower precipitation amount and slower at higher precipitation amount. The peak and average SR rates over the first 2 h in MCS increased with increasing precipitation amount, but did not vary in CLCS. Total CO_2 emission during the experiment(72 h) ranged from 1.35 to 5.67 g C m-2 in MCS, and from 1.11 to3.19 g Cm^(-2) in CLCS. Peak and average SR rates, as well as total carbon loss, were greater in MCS than in CLCS. Soil respiration rates of both MCS and CLCS were logarithmically correlated with gravimetric soil water content. Comparisons of SR among different precipitation events, together with the analysis of long-term precipitation data, suggest that small-size precipitation events have the potential for large short-term carbon losses, and that biological soil crusts might significantly contribute to soil CO_2 emission in the water-limited desert ecosystem.展开更多
The diversity of anti-predator adaptations in the natural world has long been an active area of research in evolutionary and behavioural biology. A common visually-obvious feature found on prey are 'eyespots', being...The diversity of anti-predator adaptations in the natural world has long been an active area of research in evolutionary and behavioural biology. A common visually-obvious feature found on prey are 'eyespots', being approximately circular mark- ings often with concentric rings and conspicuous colours. These are found on a range of animals, especially adult and larval Lepidoptera and fish. One of the most widespread functions of eyespots seems to be to intimidate or startle predators: delaying, preventing or halting an attack. However, while the fact that they can influence predators in this way is tmcuntroversial, the mechanism(s) behind why they are effective is debated. Traditionally, they have been assumed to work by mimicking the eyes of the predator's own enemies, and much research in this field is conducted under the implicit or explicit assumption that this theory is correct. However, eyespots might work simply by being highly salient stimuli that promote sensory overload, biases, or neo- phobic reactions in predators. A range of recent studies has aimed to test these alternatives. Here, we critically evaluate this work and what it tells us about the mechanisms underlying eyespot function. We conclude that although eye mimicry is plausible, there remains a lack of evidence to support it and most observations are at least equally consistent with alternative mechanisms. Finally we also discuss how the debate can be resolved展开更多
基金Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 40371108) the National "211" Key Project of China: The environmental evolution and ecological construction on multi-spatio-temporal scales.
文摘A vegetation evolution model influenced by a degeneration of soil ecological functions was set up. Three ideal communities of a) trees, b) shrubs, and c) herbage populations were first simulated. Then numerical simulations of the evolutionary and developmental processes of a natural forest community, which is composed of over 100 species,were conducted. Results of the study showed that a) in all communities, soil degeneration not only drove some weaker species to extinction, but also a few dominant ones; b) there were different response scales with species in an ideal tree metapopulation that could persist as long as a thousand years, with shrubs in an ideal shrub metapopulation that could persevere for several hundred years, and with species in an ideal herbage metapopulation that could become extinct within 10 years; and c) each metapopulation experienced three evolutionary stages during adaptation to the environment: a) the stage of compelled adaptation or resistance, b) the adjusted stage, and c) the stabilized stage.
基金Projects(90820302, 60805027, 61175064) supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of ChinaProject(2011ssxt231) supported by the Master Degree Thesis Innovation Project Foundation of Central South University, China+1 种基金Project(200805330005) supported by the Research Fund for the Doctoral Program of Higher Education, ChinaProject(2011FJ4043) supported by the Academician Foundation of Hunan Province, China
文摘A trajectory generator based on vehicle kinematics model was presented and an integrated navigation simulation system was designed.Considering that the tight relation between vehicle motion and topography,a new trajectory generator for vehicle was proposed for more actual simulation.Firstly,a vehicle kinematics model was built based on conversion of attitude vector in different coordinate systems.Then,the principle of common trajectory generators was analyzed.Besides,combining the vehicle kinematics model with the principle of dead reckoning,a new vehicle trajectory generator was presented,which can provide process parameters of carrier anytime and achieve simulation of typical actions of running vehicle.Moreover,IMU(inertial measurement unit) elements were simulated,including accelerometer and gyroscope.After setting up the simulation conditions,the integrated navigation simulation system was verified by final performance test.The result proves the validity and flexibility of this design.
基金We thank Karin Pfennig, Ver6nica Rodriguez-Moncalvo, Lisa Bono, and three anonymous refe-rees for helpful comments. Antonio Serrato helped with specimen collection. Chris Willett and Erin Burch aided with spectroscopy, and Vicky Madden and Steven Ray provided TEM services. Ken Wray kindly furnished coral snake speci-mens. Animal research was conducted under UNC IACUC permit 11-108. Funding was provided by the National Science Foundation (DEB-1110385 and DEB - 1019479).
文摘Batesian mimics are harmless prey species that resemble dangerous ones (models), and thus receive protection from predators. How such adaptive resemblances evolve is a classical problem in evolutionary biology. Mimicry is typically thought to be difficult to evolve, especially if the model and mimic produce the convergent phenotype through different proximate mecha- nisms. However, mimicry may evolve more readily if mimic and model share similar pathways for producing the convergent phenotype. In such cases, these pathways can be co-opted in ancestral mimic populations to produce high-fidelity mimicry with- out the need for major evolutionary innovations. Here, we show that a Batesian mimic, the scarlet kingsnake Larnpropeltis elap-soides, produces its coloration using the same physiological mechanisms as does its model, the eastern coral snake Micrurus fulvius. Therefore, precise color mimicry may have been able to evolve easily in this system. Generally, we know relatively little about the proximate mechanisms underlying mimicry .
基金financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 41171078)the Main Direction Program of Knowledge Innovation of Chinese Academy of Sciences (No. KZCX2-EW-301-2)
文摘Soil respiration(SR) is a major process of carbon loss from dryland soils, and it is closely linked to precipitation which often occurs as a discrete episodic event. However, knowledge on the dynamic patterns of SR of biologically-crusted soils in response to precipitation pulses remains limited. In this study, we investigated CO_2 emissions from a moss-crusted soil(MCS) and a cyanobacterialichen-crusted soil(CLCS) after 2, 4, 8, 16, and 32 mm precipitation during the dry season in the Tengger Desert, northern China.Results showed that 2 h after precipitation, the SR rates of both MCS and CLCS increased up to 18-fold compared with those before rewetting, and then gradually declined to background levels; the decrease was faster at lower precipitation amount and slower at higher precipitation amount. The peak and average SR rates over the first 2 h in MCS increased with increasing precipitation amount, but did not vary in CLCS. Total CO_2 emission during the experiment(72 h) ranged from 1.35 to 5.67 g C m-2 in MCS, and from 1.11 to3.19 g Cm^(-2) in CLCS. Peak and average SR rates, as well as total carbon loss, were greater in MCS than in CLCS. Soil respiration rates of both MCS and CLCS were logarithmically correlated with gravimetric soil water content. Comparisons of SR among different precipitation events, together with the analysis of long-term precipitation data, suggest that small-size precipitation events have the potential for large short-term carbon losses, and that biological soil crusts might significantly contribute to soil CO_2 emission in the water-limited desert ecosystem.
文摘The diversity of anti-predator adaptations in the natural world has long been an active area of research in evolutionary and behavioural biology. A common visually-obvious feature found on prey are 'eyespots', being approximately circular mark- ings often with concentric rings and conspicuous colours. These are found on a range of animals, especially adult and larval Lepidoptera and fish. One of the most widespread functions of eyespots seems to be to intimidate or startle predators: delaying, preventing or halting an attack. However, while the fact that they can influence predators in this way is tmcuntroversial, the mechanism(s) behind why they are effective is debated. Traditionally, they have been assumed to work by mimicking the eyes of the predator's own enemies, and much research in this field is conducted under the implicit or explicit assumption that this theory is correct. However, eyespots might work simply by being highly salient stimuli that promote sensory overload, biases, or neo- phobic reactions in predators. A range of recent studies has aimed to test these alternatives. Here, we critically evaluate this work and what it tells us about the mechanisms underlying eyespot function. We conclude that although eye mimicry is plausible, there remains a lack of evidence to support it and most observations are at least equally consistent with alternative mechanisms. Finally we also discuss how the debate can be resolved