AN UPPER BOUNDARY FOR THE SEX RATIO IN A HAPLODIPLOID INSECT

1976 ◽  
Vol 108 (12) ◽  
pp. 1399-1402 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Mackauer

AbstractMated females of the aphid parasite Aphidius smithi produced only unfertilized eggs (i.e. sons) for the first 2–3 h after copulation and a variable proportion of fertilized eggs (i.e. daughters) thereafter. As a result, the mean proportion of daughters among the offspring of single females was always less than unity, even in a highly favourable environment; the limiting value of the sex ratio was estimated at approximately 85% females. An argument is presented that in haplodiploid species with a variable and environmentally controlled sex ratio a male-producing mechanism is required to ensure the production of a sufficient number of males for the fertilization of all females.

Parasitology ◽  
1941 ◽  
Vol 33 (2) ◽  
pp. 224-242 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. A. Buxton

1. In three previous papers (1936, 1938b, 1940a) the author has discussed the distribution of head-lice among their human hosts, his material being nearly 3000 complete crops of hair. The present paper deals with the strictly entomological side of the inquiry, that is to say, with the study of the populations of head-lice themselves. The total amount of material is the lice from 858 infestations from six places; from each of four places there were less than 100 infestations.2. In about two-thirds of the infestations there were ten lice or less, the proportion of low infestations varying considerably from place to place (Table 1). Infestations over 100 never formed more than 10% of all the infestations in a place.3. In a single head the proportion of the sexes is often far from equal; indeed, in light infestations it is common to find that all the adults are of one sex. Taking all the heads from one place, the total number of males and females differs significantly from equality, an excess of males occurring in one place, of females in another (Table 2). In all heads from one place the coefficient of correlation between the number of males and females is high, about 0·8–0·9. As the density of the louse population, does not generally affect the sex ratio, the correlation is approximately linear. But when the density is unusually high, as it is in some heads from Colombo, the proportion of males rises progressively. This is the only case known, in spite of much searching, in which sex ratio of the louse is affected by an environmental factor.4. In the matter of the number of larvae per female, there are great individual differences between heads, though the coefficient of correlation, worked on all the heads from one place is as high as 0·7 or 0·9. Taking all the heads from one place, the mean number of larvae per female ranges between 5·4 and 10·9; many of the differences between places are significant. I have failed to find any explanation of these differences, and they do not seem to be affected by any environmental factor. The fact that the larvae are always more numerous than the females, indicates that there is a high mortality during the course of larval life; the author has failed to make a more precise estimate of the proportion which die.5. A small part of the material was specially examined, and every larva referred to its instar. In this sample of 502 larvae it was found that the death-rate was higher in the third instar than in the other two, a state of affairs the reverse of what occurs in body-lice reared in boxes.


2018 ◽  
Vol 934 (4) ◽  
pp. 59-62
Author(s):  
V.I. Salnikov

The question of calculating the limiting values of residuals in geodesic constructions is considered in the case when the limiting value for measurement errors is assumed equal to 3m, ie ∆рred = 3m, where m is the mean square error of the measurement. Larger errors are rejected. At present, the limiting value for the residual is calculated by the formula 3m√n, where n is the number of measurements. The article draws attention to two contradictions between theory and practice arising from the use of this formula. First, the formula is derived from the classical law of the normal Gaussian distribution, and it is applied to the truncated law of the normal distribution. And, secondly, as shown in [1], when ∆рred = 2m, the sums of errors naturally take the value equal to ?pred, after which the number of errors in the sum starts anew. This article establishes its validity for ∆рred = 3m. A table of comparative values of the tolerances valid and recommended for more stringent ones is given. The article gives a graph of applied and recommended tolerances for ∆рred = 3m.


There have not appeared recently any new determinations of the rate of change of the volume coefficient of expansion of condensable gases at pressures in the neighbourhood of a half to one metre. The work of Henning and Heuse and Heuse and Otto has been confined to a study of the permanent gases, their results leading to the conclusion that up to a pressure of 1 metre the rate of change of either the pressure or volume coefficient is a linear function of the pressure. Our knowledge of the behaviour of the condensable gases in this connection rests almost entirely on the very careful work of Chappuis, who in 1907 made a series of accurate determinations of the volume coefficient of expansion of carbon dioxide at a series of pressures from 1500 mm. to 500 mm. and over several temperature ranges. The investigation led to one unexpected conclusion which Chappuis left largely unexplained. On linear extrapolation to zero pressure of the graph of pressure against the mean coefficient of expansion over temperature intervals 0-20º, 0-40º, 0-100ºC., the limiting value of the coefficient rose from the normal value of 0.003661 for the 0-20º determinations to 0.003671 for those made over the range 0-100ºC. Chappuis concludes "that condensation on the reservoir surface plays a part in the irregularities but it is difficult to obtain a satisfactory explanation." As far back as 1853 Magnus demonstrated that the adsorption of sukphur dioxide on glass was sufficient to affect measurements of the expansion coefficient of gasses, and the importance of this error was recognized by Chappuis who in 1879 applied a correction to Regnault's measurements. Richards and Mark and Baly and Ramsay have pointed out the necessity for a knowledge of the amount of adsorption on the walls of the containing vessels when undertaking such determinations.


1987 ◽  
Vol 65 (4) ◽  
pp. 1021-1027 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christian Lydersen ◽  
Ian Gjertz

Samples were taken from 284 ringed seals (Phoca hispida) in the Svalbard area during April–July 1981 and March–April 1982. The age of 283 seals was determined by reading annuli in the cementum of the canine teeth. The mean age of the males was 11.3 years, and of the females, 14.9 years. Females were found to be significantly older than males. The mean length of sexually mature ringed seals was 128.9 cm for both sexes. The mean weight of adult males and females was 53.5 and 61.4 kg, respectively. Females were found to be significantly heavier than males. The sex ratio was 47.8% males and 52.2% females. Studies of microscopic sections of testis and epididymis from ringed seal males showed that 63, 75, and 80% of 5-, 6-, and 7-year-old animals, respectively, were sexually mature. The weights of testis and epididymis, diameters of tubuli, and the size of testis all showed a marked increase in the 5-year age-class. Macroscopic sections of ovaries from ringed seal females showed that 20, 60, and 80% of 3-, 4-, and 5-year-old animals, respectively, were sexually mature. The size of the ovaries showed a marked increase in the 5-year age-class. The ovulation rate of ringed seals from Svalbard was calculated to be 0.91.


2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 31
Author(s):  
Ismaïla NDIAYE ◽  
Alassane SARR ◽  
Alioune FAYE ◽  
Modou THIAW ◽  
Malick DIOUF ◽  
...  

In this study, a total of 1068 specimens Sardinella aurita of which 553 females and 515 males were examined. The objectif of this study was to determine the reproductive parameters of Sardinella aurita. The sex ratio was significantly in favor of females (55%). The size at first sexual maturity was estimated at 18.9 cm for females and 18.0 cm for males. The monthly variation of sexual maturity stages and gonado-somatic index (GSI) allowed to locate the reproduction periods from February to June and from September to December. The mean absolute fecundity was estimated at 110.794 ± 7582 oocytes whereas relative fecundity was about 422 ± 26 oocytes per gram of female.


2011 ◽  
Vol 46 (6) ◽  
pp. 669-671 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adrise Medeiros Nunes ◽  
Dori Edson Nava ◽  
Fernanda Appel Müller ◽  
Rafael da Silva Gonçalves ◽  
Mauro Silveira Garcia

The objective of this work was to study the biology and parasitic potential of Doryctobracon areolatus on larvae of Anastrepha fraterculus. The egg-adult period, the sex ratio, the longevity, the pupal viability, and the parasitism rate of D. areolatus were determined in laboratory, using A. fraterculus as host. The parasitoid development from oviposition to adult emergence required 25.00±1.70 days, the sex ratio was 0.62±0.09, and the mean longevity was 16.36±3.62 days for males and 10.24±1.71 days for females. The mean parasitism rate was 53.50±8.93%, varying from 41.60 to 68.60%, which shows the potential of this parasitoid for biological control of A. fraterculus.


2006 ◽  
Vol 63 (3) ◽  
pp. 271-277 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aneta Peric ◽  
Marija Toskic-Radojicic

Background/Aim. The use and adverse effects of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in outpatients with rheumatic diseases has not yet been studied enough. The aim of this study was to evaluate the data about the efficacy and safety of NSAIDs obtained from the questionnaires submitted to the outpatients receiving these drugs. Methods. The patients who had been prescribed any of NSAIDs within the period from June to September, 2004 were included in the study. The answers obtained from the questionnaires were statistically analyzed by means of ?2-test. Results. At the time of the study, 150 patients had been prescribed ibuprofen or some other NSAID. Out of the total number of dispensed questionnaires (n = 150), only 45 (30%) were shown to be correctly filled-in. Their analysis showed that 64.4% of the patients had suffered from rheumatic diseases for more than five years, and had regularly used NSAIDs. The average age of these patients was about 70 years, and the number of females was double as high as that of the males. The most frequently used NSAIDs were diclofenac and ibuprofen (46.14%, and 23.24%, respectively). According to the answers given by the patients, the most often adverse reactions were gastric complaints such as nausea (11.1%), and stomach pain (8.9%). Due to this, the majority of the patients (64.4%) used some of the antiulcer drugs, most often ranitidine (31.1%). Conclusion. The results of this pilot study revealed that among the outpatients suffering from rheumatic diseases, the number of females was double as high as the number of males, that these patients were of the mean age of 70 years, and that their diseases lasted longer than five years. Gastric complains such as nausea and gastric pain of mild intensity were the most often adverse effects of NSAIDs reported by our patients. It could be the consequence of the predominant use of diclofenac and ibuprofen, NSAIDs with mild to moderate ulcerogenic potential, as well as the concomitant use of H2-receptor antagonists.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tchin Darre ◽  
Toukilnan Djiwa ◽  
Gado Napo-Koura

Abstract Objectives: The purpose of the study was to determine the circumstances of occurrence of these sudden deaths, risk factors, to identify the causes of sudden death in adults at autopsy. Results: A total of 318 sudden death cases were recorded. The sex ratio (M/F) was 1.8, and the mean age was 43 ± 0.36 years. Sudden deaths were the second most common reason for autopsies after traffic accidents. The place of death was home in 76.7% of cases and in hospitals in 23.3%. Obesity was noted in 59.4%, with an umbilical adipose panicle varying between 7 and 12 cm thick. Cardiovascular causes excluding cerebral involvement (n=173cases, 54.40%) followed by pulmonary causes (n=100 cases, 31.44%) were the most common cause of sudden death. The predominant cardiac pathology was infarction accounting for 32.07% of all causes of sudden death, and pulmonary embolism with 19.49% was the leading cause at the pulmonary level.


2006 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 405-409 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hipólito Ferreira Paulino Neto ◽  
Reinaldo Chaves Teixeira

Annona dioica St. Hil. is a species that grows to approximately 2 m tall and is very widespread in the cerrados. Individual plants of this androdioecious species produce numerous hermaphroditic or male flowers, but few fruits. The aim of this study was to determine the sex ratio among the plants and to compare the frequency of herbivory between male and hermaphroditic flowers. The fieldwork was done by studying flowering plants in grasslands used as pasture for cattle at Fazenda Nhumirim. One hundred and forty-seven male plants and 71 hermaphroditic plants were examined and produced a total of 194 and 94 flowers, respectively, during the study period. The male:hermaphrodite sex ratio was 2.07:1, and was similar to the male:hermaphrodite flower ratio of 2.06:1. The frequency of florivory rate in hermaphrodites was significantly higher than in male flowers (33.0%, n = 31, and 25.7%, n = 50, respectively; G = 14.83; d.f. = 1; p < 0.001). The mean fresh weights of male and hermaphroditic flowers were significantly different (8.38 ± 2.40 g vs. 6.93 ± 2.68 g, respectively; 0 ± SEM; n = 50 each; t = 2.479; d.f. = 49; p = 0.017). These results indicate that the low fruit set in this species can be explained by the sex ratio, the greater herbivory of hermaphroditic flowers and the probable absence of pollinators.


1991 ◽  
Vol 23 (04) ◽  
pp. 667-682
Author(s):  
J. M. McNamara ◽  
S. Merad ◽  
E. J. Collins

This paper considers a version of the Hawk–Dove game of Maynard Smith and Price (1973) in which animals compete for a sequence of food items. Actions may depend on an animal's energy reserves. Costs and transition probabilities under a given policy depend on the mean level of aggressiveness, p, of the rest of the population. We find the optimal policy for a single animal under an average cost criterion when ρ is constant over time. We then consider the whole interacting population when individual members follow the same stationary policy. It is shown that the mean aggressiveness, p, asymptotically approaches a limiting value in this population. We then consider the existence of evolutionarily stable strategies for the population. It is shown that such strategies always exist but may not be unique.


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