We reexamined sexual dimorphism and female reproduction in the Many-Lined Sun Skink Eutropis multifasciata from Hainan,China. Our data confirm that adults are sexually dimorphic in body size and shape,with males being...We reexamined sexual dimorphism and female reproduction in the Many-Lined Sun Skink Eutropis multifasciata from Hainan,China. Our data confirm that adults are sexually dimorphic in body size and shape,with males being the larger sex and larger in head size but shorter in abdomen length than females of the same snoutvent length(SVL). The rate at which head width increased with SVL was greater in males as opposed to the previous conclusion that the rate does not differ between the sexes. Maternal size was the main determinant of reproductive investment,with larger females generally producing more,as well as larger,offspring. Females produced up to nine offspring per litter as opposed to the previously reported 2–7. Most females gave birth between March and August,a time period approximately four months longer than that(May–June) reported previously. Females with a higher fecundity tended to produce smaller offspring as opposed to the previous conclusion that females do not tradeoff offspring size against number. Litter size,neonate mass and litter mass remained remarkably constant among years,and litter mass was more tightly related to female body size than litter size or neonate mass. Smaller females could produce relatively heavier litters without a concomitant reduction in postpartum body condition.展开更多
The anthropophilic and peridomestic female Aedes aegypti bites humans to suck blood to maturate fertilized eggs, which are laid in appropriate recipients (breeding sites). These eggs can hatch in contact with water re...The anthropophilic and peridomestic female Aedes aegypti bites humans to suck blood to maturate fertilized eggs, which are laid in appropriate recipients (breeding sites). These eggs can hatch in contact with water releasing larvae, or can be stored in a dormant state (quiescence), which last for extended periods. Taking into account this ability of eggs of A. aegypti mosquitoes, mathematical model is developed taking into account four successive quiescence stages. The analysis of the model shows that the ability of the eggs surviving in dormant state in adverse abiotic conditions, depending on the model parameters, can increase the fitness of mosquito population;in other words, the capacity of the mosquitoes generating offsprings is increased.展开更多
基金supported by the grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (30670281 and 31060064)the Priority Academic Program Development of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions (CXLX11_0885)the Hainan Key Program of Science and Technology (ZDXM20110008)
文摘We reexamined sexual dimorphism and female reproduction in the Many-Lined Sun Skink Eutropis multifasciata from Hainan,China. Our data confirm that adults are sexually dimorphic in body size and shape,with males being the larger sex and larger in head size but shorter in abdomen length than females of the same snoutvent length(SVL). The rate at which head width increased with SVL was greater in males as opposed to the previous conclusion that the rate does not differ between the sexes. Maternal size was the main determinant of reproductive investment,with larger females generally producing more,as well as larger,offspring. Females produced up to nine offspring per litter as opposed to the previously reported 2–7. Most females gave birth between March and August,a time period approximately four months longer than that(May–June) reported previously. Females with a higher fecundity tended to produce smaller offspring as opposed to the previous conclusion that females do not tradeoff offspring size against number. Litter size,neonate mass and litter mass remained remarkably constant among years,and litter mass was more tightly related to female body size than litter size or neonate mass. Smaller females could produce relatively heavier litters without a concomitant reduction in postpartum body condition.
文摘The anthropophilic and peridomestic female Aedes aegypti bites humans to suck blood to maturate fertilized eggs, which are laid in appropriate recipients (breeding sites). These eggs can hatch in contact with water releasing larvae, or can be stored in a dormant state (quiescence), which last for extended periods. Taking into account this ability of eggs of A. aegypti mosquitoes, mathematical model is developed taking into account four successive quiescence stages. The analysis of the model shows that the ability of the eggs surviving in dormant state in adverse abiotic conditions, depending on the model parameters, can increase the fitness of mosquito population;in other words, the capacity of the mosquitoes generating offsprings is increased.
