Correlation of personality with individual reproductive success in shrub-nesting birds depends on their life history style

Two questions in the research of animal personality—whether there is a correlation between a personality trait and individual reproductive success,and what is the genetic basis underlying a personality trait—remain unresolved.We addressed these two questions in three shrub-nesting birds,the Azure-winged Magpie(Cyanopica cyanus,AM),White-collared Blackbird(Turdus albocinctus,WB),and Brown-cheeked Laughingthrush(Trochalopteron henrici,BL).The personality type of an individual was first identified according to its response to a territorial intruder.Then,we compared the fleeing distance,breeding parameters,and differential expressed genes(DEGs) in the brain transcriptome between bold and shy breeders.In the three species,bold breeders exhibited more aggressiveness towards an intruder of their territory than did shy breeders.The reproductive success of bold breeders was significantly higher than that of shy breeders in AM but not in WB and BL.The three species shared one DEG,crabp1,which was up-regulated in bold relative to in shy individuals.By regulating the expression of corticotropin-releasing hormone,higher crabp1 gene expression can decrease cellular response to retinoic acid.Therefore,bold individuals are insensitive to external stresses and able to exhibit more aggressiveness to intruders than their shier counterparts.Aggressiveness is beneficial to bold individuals in AM but not in WB and BL because the former could evoke neighbors to make the same response of defending against intruders but the latter could not.Although a personality trait may have the same genetic basis across species,its correlation with reproductive success depends largely on the life history style of a species.

A preliminary study on life history of marine red alga Stylonema alsidii(Zandardini)Drew f.ramosum Zheng et Li

Stylonema alsidii(Zandardini)Drew f.ramosum Zheng et Li is a common species in the genus Stylonema,but there are limited reports on morphological taxonomy and a lack of studies on life history and the regulation of early development.The early development,discoid formation,and erect thallus growth of Stylonema alsidii f.ramosum were observed under laboratory conditions.In addition,the influence of main environmental factors such as temperature and light intensity on its development was briefly studied,and various stages of its life history were observed.The result shows:(1)there are two reproductive modes:asexual reproduction and sexual reproduction;(2)the morphology of this species varies in different degrees under laboratory culture conditions;(3)sexual reproduction and asexual reproduction can coexist under suitable conditions.Five pathways of life history were inferred from experimental phenomena.Mature sporophytes form mature gametophytes by producing initially isolated or initially attached monospore,and mature gametophytes form mature sporophytes by fertilization of eggs and sperms.The sexual and asexual reproduction processes of Stylonema alsidii f.ramosum were reported for the first time,and this is also the first report on sexual reproduction in the genus Stylonema.

Re-identifying Grateloupia yangjiangensis(Rhodophyta, Halymeniaceae) based on morphological observations, life history and rbcL sequence analyses

On the basis of morphological observations, life history and molecular phylogeny, Grateloupia yangjiangensis, which is similar to G. filicina, G. orientalis, G. catenata, and G. ramosissima in appearance, was re-examined. The results are as follows：（1） the auxiliary-cell ampullae of G. yangjiangensis were of Grateloupia type, thalli was fleshy and gelatinous in texture, and the erect axes were compressed; the cortex was 0.25–0.30 mm thick, consisting of five to seven outer layers, and there were five inner layers of triangular or stellate cells;（2） there was no filamentous stage in the development of the carpospores;（3） the ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase gene（rbcL） sequence of four G. yangjiangensis examined showed that there was no intergeneric divergence among them, and for the phylogenetic tree, four sequences of G. yangjiangensis formed a single monophyletic subclade within the large Grateloupia clade of Halymeniaceae. In conclusion, G. yangjiangensis was a single species within the genus Grateloupia. This research provided criterion for identification and cultivation of G. yangjiangensis.

Early development,life history and ecological habits of Grateloupia constricata Li et Ding

As the largest genus of Halymeniaceae,Grateloupia has been widely reported.Here,we observed the life history and early development of Grateloupia constricata Li et Ding and investigated the effects of temperature,irradiance,and photoperiod on the discoid crust and sporeling development of G.constricata under laboratory conditions.We observed that the type of carpospore development was“mediate discal type”.The life history included homotypic gametophyte(haploid),carposporophyte(diploid),and tetrasporophyte(diploid),with typical isomorphic alternation of generations.The results of double factorial analysis showed that both single factorial effects and interaction among temperature,photoperiod,and irradiance were obviously significant on the discoid crust and sporeling development.Furthermore,we found that the optimum combination of condition for the early growth and development of G.constricata was temperature 20°C,irradiance 80μmol photons/(m^2·s)and photoperiod 16L:8D.This study provides the theoretical basis and technical support for the conservation of the Grateloupia germplasm,artificial breeding,large-scale cultivation and sustainable development.

Study on fish life history traits and variation in the Taiwan Strait and its adjacent waters

Large portions of the world＇s fishery resources are overexploited. Life history traits of fish species are important indicators to reveal different life history strategies and to indicate population responses to fishing pressures. For this study, empirical data on fishing grounds located in the coastal area between Fujian Coast and Taiwan Island were collected. These areas have experienced severe overfishing in the past 30 years, leading to changes in the structure and function of the fish communities. Fifty-one commercial fish species in this fishing ground were selected to study the life history traits. Using the life history traits, all the species were grouped into five different life history strategies by principle component analysis. More than 60% of the species were categorized in Group 5 that was similar to r-strategists. Twenty-five commercial species were selected for further analysis of changes in life history variables, and to discuss the population responses to exploitation. Results showed that most of the species appeared to become smaller size, shorter life, earlier maturation and faster growing under long-term exploitation. The exploitation rate of each species was also calculated to further discuss the impacts of fishing pressures to fish populations. Four species were found with the severest changes on life history traits indicating some of the species might be more susceptible to exploitation. This study on fish life history traits and their long-term variations under fishing pressures could provide important scientific implications for fishery management and conservation.

Isoenergetic-practical and semi-purified diets for protein requirement determination in Hermetia illucens larvae:consequences on life history traits

Background:Black soldier fly(BSF)is one of the most promising species for the intensive breeding of insects given its adaptability and its efficiency in the conversion of waste.To maximize the production and use waste as substrates,it is essential to determine the larvae nutritional requirements.The study aims to evaluate the effects of5 practical,semi-purified and isoenergetic diets(PSPID)with increasing protein levels(10%,CP10;14%,CP14;16%,CP16;19%,CP19)on BSF life history traits.A total of 2000 six-day-old larvae were weighed and divided into groups of 100(4 replicates/treatment[PSPID and Gainesville diet(GA)used as environmental control]).In larva-prepupa stage,sampling was carried out on 30 individuals/replicate,while in prepupa-adult stage on 35.Results:In the whole larval stage,the CP16 treatment performed better when compared to the other groups.At18 days old,the CP14 treatment showed a higher weight than the CP19(P<0.01),while the CP10 and CP16weights were intermediate.On the contrary,the CP10 prepupae weight was higher than the CP19(P<0.01).The CP10 and CP14 pupae performed better in terms of weight when compared to the others(P<0.01).The dietary treatments did not affect the adult parameters.The sex significantly influenced both the exuvia weight,which was the greatest in females(P<0.001),and the fly lifespan,longest in males(P<0.05).Fly lifespan was also influenced by the interaction between treatment and sex,with the CP19 females showing a longer life than the others(P<0.05).Conclusions:In conclusion,the optimal protein level considering the whole larval stage is 16%on dry matter(DM).At 18 days old,looking at the size intended for the meal production,it can be considered 14%on DM.The result obtained on adult emergence in PSPID may not be attributable to the protein content.Further researches on macronutrients requirements determination have to be conducted to evaluate the substrates composition effects on BSF life history traits.

Life History Traits and Mechanisms of Endangerment in Ranalisma rostratum

Ranalisma rostratum (Alismataceae) is an endangered aquatic plant, and now there is only one population existing in China. In its natural habitat, Huli marsh in Chaling, Hunan province, the best growing plants have been observed at microsites where the water depth is 5～10cm, and the plants grow in emergent form.R. rostratum reproduces asexually or sexually. The recruitment of asexual propagules into population is a very important way to maintain the natural population size. Although seed production does not appear to limitR. rostratum, restricted dispersal of propagules and seeds, low seed viability, low germinability, slow growth of seedlings under all conditions, and habitat loss due to agriculture appear to be more important reasons for the endangerment of this plant.

Early life history affects fish size mainly by indirectly regulating the growth during each stage:a case study in a demersal fish

The complex life histories of demersal fishes are artificially separated into multiple stages along with changes in morphology and habitat.It is worth exploring whether the phenotypes expressed earlier and later during the life cycle are related or decoupled.The life stages of first year Pacific cod(Gadus macrocephalus)were tracked over different hatch years and regions to test whether the early life history had a long-lasting effect on subsequent growth.We further explored the contribution of growth in the early and subsequent life history stages to body size at the end of each stage.In addition to the accessory growth centre and the first annual ring,the other two checks on the otolith possibly related to settlement and entering deeper waters were identified in 75 Pacific cod individuals.The direct and indirect relationships among the life history stages was interpreted based on path analysis.The results showed that growth prior to the formation of the accessory growth centre had a significant effect on the absolute growth of the fish before and after settlement and migration to deep water.However,there was no or moderate evidence that early growth affected the body size at each stage,which was mainly regulated by growth during the stage.This study supports the lasting effect of early growth and clarifies that it affects size mainly by indirectly regulating staged growth.Quantifying the phenotype relationships and identifying the internal mechanisms form the basis for assessing population dynamics and understanding the processes behind the changes.

Preliminary age-based life history characteristics of the dogtooth tuna,Gymnosarda unicolor(Ruppell,1838),in the southwest Pacific Ocean

Dogtooth tuna,Gymnosarda unicolor were sampled off the east coast of Australia(southwest Pacific Ocean)from 2007 to 2012.Ages were determined by examining thin transverse sections of their sagittal otoliths and were based on counts of alternating opaque and translucent zones(annual growth increments).Growth was rapid during the first year of life,after which growth in length was much reduced.Parameters of the constrained von Bertalanffy growth function(fork length-at-age)were L∞=1164.77(mm,FL)and K=0.44 year^(-1).Preliminary estimates of longevity indicate a maximum observed age of at least 20 years.There was a high degree of variation in the observed length and age of sexual maturity for G.unicolor.Despite this variation,the size at 50%maturity for female G.unicolor estimated in this study was 713 mm FL(<2 years of age).The diet of G.unicolor is very broad and covers a range of fish species.The life history characteristics of G.unicolor overall,indicate that this species may be somewhat resilient to fishing.However,reports of localised depletions,in association with heavy targeting by sports fishers,low effective population sizes and patchy recruitment indicate that this species is particularly vulnerable to overfishing.

Textual research on Xu Chunfu's life

Xu Chunfu was a famous medical expert in the Ming Dynasty, who authored the Gu Jin Yi Tong Da Quan and the Yi Xue Zhi Nan Jie Jing Liu Shu. This paper uses the Xu family genealogy, literature catalog, historical records to study the Xu family’s life and deeds. Xu Chunfu was born in the second year of the Jiajing reign of the Ming Dynasty (1523) and passed away in the 24th year of the Wanli reign of the Ming Dynasty (1596). He served as an official in the Tai Hospital for about 20 years. His work Gu Jin Yi Tong Da Quan was written around the 43rd year of the Jiajing reign of the Ming Dynasty (1556), with a lower limit of the fifth year of the Longqing reign of the Ming Dynasty (1571), and the initial engraving time was not earlier than the eighth year of the Wanli reign of the Ming Dynasty (1580). This paper corrects the shortcomings and errors in previous research, and provides a comprehensive and systematic examination of Xu Chunfu’s life and works.

Life history tradeoffs of pathogens and the treatment principle of antibiogenesis

There are no eternal individual lives so life continues by relaying with reproduction.Consequently,lifespan and fecundity are two essential genetic traits of life.The life history tradeoffs theory holds that there is an inverse relationship between lifespan and fecundity.This paper proposes two new concepts,i.e.,“lifespan of pathogens”and treatment of infections by“antibiogenesis”.The lifespan of pathogens is the time limitation of those tiny lives just as other large creatures.Notably,the lifespan of bacterium is the time interval from the cell division by which it is produced to next division by then its life ends and transforms to two new lives,or dies.Antibiogenesis means inhibiting generation of new lives.By the principle of life history tradeoffs,the lifespan of pathogens determines the speed of their proliferations and consequently the modality of infection.The treatment principle of antibiogenesis requires the duration of treatment to be determined by the lifespan of infected pathogens.The life history tradeoffs theory and the two concepts are helpful to understanding the pathobiology and shaping the clinical aspects of infectious diseases.

Phenotypic Plasticity of Life History Characteristics: Quantitative Analysis of Delayed Reproduction of Green Foxtail (Setaria viridis) in the Songnen Plain of China

Green foxtail （Setaria viridis L.） is a common weed species in temperate regions. Research on the effect of delayed reproduction on the phenotypic plasticity and regularity of the vegetative and reproductive growth is of vital significance for understanding population regulation and control of the weed in the growing season. Green foxtail seeds were sown every 10 days from 25 June to 24 August of 2004. The growth and production metrics were measured via harvesting tufts and statistical analysis was carried out. The results showed that the reproductive tillers, seed number, seed biomass and one thousand-seed weight of plants at the first sowing （25 June） approximately increased 28.8, 7 827.0, 1 104,0 and 12.3 times compared with that at the last sowing （24 August）, respectively. Total tillers, reproductive tillers and height increased linearly as the reproductive period delayed, however, biomass increased exponentially. Quadratic equations best explained the relationships between the delayed reproductive period and seed number, inflorescence length, one thousand-seed weight, seed biomass. Based on the quantity and quality of seed production, weeding young seedlings emerging before July can be the most effective weed-control strategy in the Songnen Plain.

Impact of a novel Rickettsia symbiont on the life history and virus transmission capacity of its host whitefly(Bemisia tabaci)

Rickettsia consists of some of the most prevalent symbionts of insects and often plays a significant role in the biology of its hosts.Recently,a maternally inherited Torix group Rickettsia,provisionally named as RiTBt,was recorded in a species of notorious pest whitefly,tentatively named as Asia II 1,from the Bemisia tabaci complex.The role of this Rickettsia in the biology of its host is unknown.Here we investigated the impact of RiTBt on the performance and virus transmission capacity of Asia II 1.RiTBt did not significantly affect the life history parameters of the whitefly when the host insect was reared on tobacco,tomato,and cotton,three host plants with relatively low,medium and high suitability to the whitefly.Intriguingly,RiTBt slightly enhanced whitefly transmission of cotton leaf curl Multan virus(CLCuMuV),a virus that is transmitted by the whitefly in the field and has caused extensive damage to cotton production.Specifically,compared with whiteflies without RiTBt,following a 48 h virus acquisition whiteflies with RiTBt had higher titer of virus and showed higher efficiency of virus transmission.A rickettsial secretory protein BtR242 was identified as a putative virus-binding protein,and was observed to interact with the coat protein of CLCuMuV in vitro.Viral infection of the whitefly downregulated gene transcript levels of the BtR242 gene.These observations indicate that RiTBt has limited impact on the biology of the Asia II 1 whitefly,and whether this symbiont has functions in the biology of other host whiteflies warrants future investigation.

Can soil microbial diversity influence plant metabolites and life history traits of a rhizophagous insect？ A demonstration in oilseed rape

Interactions between plants and phytophagous insects play an important part in shaping the biochemical composition of plants. Reciprocally plant metabolites can influ- ence major life history traits in these insects and largely contribute to their fitness. Plant rhizospheric microorganisms are an important biotic factor modulating plant metabolites and adaptation to stress. While plant-insects or plant-microorganisms interactions and their consequences on the plant metabolite signature are well-documented, the impact of soil microbial communities on plant defenses against phytophagous insects remains poorly known. In this study, we used oilseed rape （Brassica napus） and the cabbage root fly （Delia radicum） as biological models to tackle this question. Even though D. radicum is a belowground herbivore as a larva, its adult life history traits depend on aboveground signals. We therefore tested whether soil microbial diversity influenced emergence rate and fitness but also fly oviposition behavior, and tried to link possible effects to modifications in leaf and root metabolites. Through a removal-recolonization experiment, 3 soil microbial modalities （＂high,＂ ＂medium,＂ ＂low＂） were established and assessed through amplicon sequencing of 16S and 18S ribosomal RNA genes. The ＂medium＂ modality in the rhizosphere significantly improved insect development traits. Plant-microorganism interactions were marginally associated to modulations of root metabolites profiles, which could partly explain these results. We highlighted the potential role of plant-microbial interaction in plant defenses against Delia radicum. Rhizospheric microbial communities must be taken into account when analyzing plant defenses against herbivores, being either below or aboveground.

Life history pattern and fitness of an endangered Hainan Eld’s deer population

Understanding life history patterns,individual fitness and population fitness can assist with conservation of endangered species.Field data on life history traits(i.e.age specific fecundity,age specific mortality,age at first reproduction,litter size and adult life expectancy)were collected from 121 Hainan Eld’s deer(Cervus eldi hainanus Thomas,1918),an in situ herd of an endemic,rare and endangered cervid inhabiting Bangxi Natural Reserve of Hainan Island,from 1990 to 2002.First,we constructed a dynamic life table to analyze the life history pattern of the population,which showed that the difference between the average lifespan of males and females was not significant(P>0.05),and that the difference between the average lifespan of the whole Hainan Eld’s deer population and that of other Eld’s deer populations living in South Asia(P>0.05),North America(P>0.05)and Europe(P>0.05)was not significant.Second,we used individual reproductive success or number of offspring of a male over its lifetime to estimate male individual fitness.Statistic analysis showed that male individual fitness was not significantly correlated with total antler velvet mass.Third,we used the population intrinsic rate of increase to measure population fitness,and population fitness of Hainan Eld’s deer was compared with similar indexes of 5 other cervid species.Hainan Eld’s deer population fitness index was 0.012,the second lowest value relative to other cervids.Results indicated that this rare species is still endangered and is in need of additional protection.

Life-history dependent relationships between plasma alkaline phosphatase activity and body condition in male Eurasian Tree Sparrows

Background: In temperate-breeding birds, individuals must adjust their physiological states from one life-history stage to another in response to changing conditions to maximize ecological fitness. Previous evidences have shown that body mass, size-corrected mass(SCM), and hematocrit(Hct) could be used as estimates of the energetic state of individuals to illustrate life-history trade-offs and individual quality in field physiology. Plasma alkaline phosphatase(ALP) plays critical roles in regulating the metabolism of energy but very limited information is known on its link with body mass or Hct.Methods: We determined the changes of plasma ALP levels in both early breeding and wintering stages of male Eurasian Tree Sparrows(Passer montanus), and examined the relationships between ALP and body mass, SCM, and Hct of the birds.Results: Our study showed that(1) in male Eurasian Tree Sparrows, body mass did not vary with life-history stage but plasma ALP activity significantly increased in the wintering stage compared to the breeding stage;(2) ALP activity was not correlated with individual body mass but was positively correlated with individual SCM and Hct. Such positive correlations, however, only occurred in the wintering but not in the breeding stages.Conclusions: Our results suggest that plasma ALP activities in free-living birds can be used as one of the indicators o body condition or nutritional status for analyzing individual variation in the wintering but not in the breeding stages. The life-history dependent relationships between plasma ALP activity and body condition may contribute to our better understanding of the trade-off between individual survival and reproduction in free-living animals.

Linking behavior,life history and food supply with the population dynamics of white-footed mice(Peromyscus leucopus)

In this paper we review and integrate key aspects of behavioral and life history traits, food supply and populationdynamics of the white-footed mouse (Peromyscus leucopus), a species that is abundant and widely distributedacross much of eastern North America. Results are based largely on a 33-year mark-and-recapture study in a forestfragment in northwest Ohio, USA. Behavioral plasticity in such reproductive traits as mating system and parentalcare allows this species to adjust quickly to changing environments. The species has a relatively “fast” life history,with rapid attainment of sexual maturity and high fecundity in the face of high mortality rates. Maximal reproductiveeffort early in life enables a rapid population response. Food supply, in the form of mast, determines thesize of the reproducing population in early spring, which, in turn, influences the size of the late summer peak population.The peak population size is also affected by short-term weather events possibly acting via the food supply.The effects of weather and food on population growth are in part mediated through competition, including defenseof space and suppression of reproduction. The inelasticity of female territories appears to set an upper limit topopulation density.

Oxidative stress physiology in relation to life history traits of a free-living vertebrate:the spotted snow skink,Niveoscincus ocellatus

Recent research suggests that oxidative stress,via its links to metabolism and senescence,is a key mechanism linking life history traits such as fecundity and growth with survival;however,this has rarely been put under empirical scrutiny within free-living populations.Using a wild population of live-bearing skinks,we explored how plasma antioxidant activity(OXY),reactive oxidative metabolites(ROM),and the estimated oxidative stress index are associated with female and male life history.We found that male skinks have a significantly higher ROM and estimated oxidative stress index than female skinks,but this was not accompanied by a sex difference in mortality.Both sexes showed a non-linear association between OXY and age,indicating that the oldest and youngest individuals had the lowest OXY.Interestingly,female skinks with high OXY showed a decreased probability of survival to the following season.However,we found no significant associations between female reproductive investment(litter size or litter mass)or parturition date(i.e.metabolism)and oxidative status.Combined,our results offer mixed support for a role of oxidative stress in mediating life history traits and suggest that future studies need to explore oxidative stress during vitellogenesis in addition to using an intra-individual approach to understand the cost of reproduction and patterns of aging.

Contrasting levels of genotype by environment interaction for life history and morphological traits in invasive populations of Zaprionus indianus(Diptera:Drosophilidae)

It has been demonstrated that phenotypic plasticity and genotype by envi-ronment interaction are important for coping with new and heterogeneous environments during invasions.Zaprionus indianus Gupta(Diptera:Drosophilidae)is an Afrotropical invasive fly species introduced to the South American continent in 1999.This species is generalist and polyphagous,since it develops and feeds in several different fruit species.These characteristics of Z.indianus suggest that phenotypic plasticity and genotype by environment interaction may be important in this species invasion process.In this sense,our aim was to investigate the role of genetic variation for phenotypic plasticity(geno-type by environment interaction)in Z.indianus invasion of the South American continent.Specifically,we quantified quantitative genetic variation and genotype by environment in-teractions of morphological and life history traits in different developmental environments,that is,host fruits.This was done in different populations in the invasive range of Z.indi-anus in Argentina.Results showed that Z.indianus populations have considerable amounts of quantitative genetic variation.Also,genotype by environment interactions was detected for the different traits analyzed in response to the different developmental environments.Interestingly,the amounts and patterns of these parameters differed between populations.We interpreled these results as the existence of diferences in evolutionary potential be-tween populations that have an important role in the short-and long-term success of the Z.indianus invasion process.

Population life tables for the invasive fall armyworm,Spodoptera frugiperda fed on major oil crops planted in China

The fall armyworm(FAW),Spodoptera frugiperda,is a newly invasive,widespread agricultural pest in China.Understanding the suitability of the main field crops in Chinese agricultural system as host for this polyphagous herbivore is especially important for making control strategy.Here,after FAWs were fed three important oil-bearing crops(oilseed rape,soybean and sunflower)planted in China and resultant population parameters were compared using the age-stage,two-sex life table method,survival of larvae on soybean was significantly lower than that on oilseed rape and sunflower.Developmental duration of larvae on soybean was also the longest(23.3 days).The highest pupation rate was recorded on sunflower.The highest pupal mass(0.19 g)was attained on oilseed rape,significantly higher than on the other host plants;the lowest mass was on soybean(0.15 g).On soybean,oilseed rape and sunflower,respectively,the average generation period was 42.21,39.10 and 40.44 d;the intrinsic rate of increase(r)was 0.0844,0.1041 and 0.1134;the finite rate of increase(λ)was 1.0881,1.1098 and 1.1202.While the most suitable host plant overall was sunflower,S.frugiperda completed development and increased its population on all three host plants.Thus,soybean,oilseed rape and sunflower were all suitable for FAW,and population monitoring and management of FAW in these crops should be increased.