動物學

The skin of amphibians can secrete poisons from glands which reduces Palatability or sometimes result in rejection by predators. My research serves to confim the hypothesis that the pair of glands located on the ventral side of Rana Chalconota Tadpoles acts as an anti-presatory structure. Their palatability was measured by the consumption of them at developmental stages intermediate and post-metamorphic by Channa gachua and Giant Dragonfly Nymph. A known-palatable tadpole, Rana malesiana, was used as a control.

The purpose of this project is to control the Aphis craccivora Koch. on the cow pea Vigna unguiculata (L.) by using two predators, the earwigs (black) beetle, Proeus simulans Stallan and the ladybird beetle, Micraspis discolor (F.). The experiments were carried out in the closed system in the laboratory and in the opened field with various ages of Proeus simulans Stallan and Micraspis discolor (F.) from the 1st - 4th stage of embryo to the adult form. Prior to the study in the field, the capability of the predators, Proeus simulans Stallan and Micraspis discolor (F.), that can eat the Aphis craccivora Koch. within a period of time was set up in the laboratory. The result showed that the 1st-4th stage of embryo of Micraspis discolor (F.) can eat 8.46+1.25 – 12.50+0.60, at 95% confidence, Aphis craccivora Koch. per day, while its adult can eat at the average number of 43.66 + 0.78, at 95% confidence, per day. The 1st–3rd stage of Proeus simulans Stallan embryo and the adult form can eat Aphis craccivora Koch. at the average number of 2.37+0.33 – 3.74+0.29 and 9.84+0.36, at 95% confidence, per day, respectively. This data showed that Micraspis discolor (F.) was more efficiency as predator than Proeus simulans Stallan. The insecticide activity of these two predators in the closed field (8 m x 9 m) was then determined. The number of Aphis craccivora Koch. on the plant was randomly counted everyweek for 10 weeks. It was found that the number of Aphis on the experimented and control groups were 16.20+4.30 and 2,582.00+102.40, at 95% confidence, per plant, respectively. The result support the efficiency of the two predators in controlling the pest. When the experiment was set up at the two opened field (6 m x 30 m, each field), 27.51+2.74 and 52.11+5.21, at 95% confidence, of Aphis craccivora Koch. were found on the plant of experimented and control groups, respectively, at the 10th week. The lower number of Aphis on the control plant might possilbly due to the interference from natural predators. From this study, the biological control of Aphis craccivora Koch. on the cow pea Vigna unguiculata (L.) could be achieved by using Proeus simulans Stallan and Micraspis discolor (F.). To avoid the use of chemical insecticides, biological control should be trained to farmers to help reduce the environmental problem.

本實驗中我們利用廣鹽性吳郭魚進行氯離子調節機制的研究，探討廣鹽性吳郭魚如何能在不同環境中維持體內氯離子恆定，進而適應生存環境。我門想要探討：『是否NKCC 這種蛋白質在淡水吳郭魚MR 細胞中扮演吸收 Cl- 的角色? 如果是，吳郭魚又如何藉NKCC 的調節適應環境中 Cl- 的變化呢？』我們利用細胞免疫螢光染色法、西方墨點法和共軛焦顯微鏡觀察分析NKCC 在不同 Cl- 濃度人工淡水馴養的吳郭魚MR 細胞上的表現量，結果發現 NKCC 分布於頂端細胞膜(又稱為細胞開口)，及其附近的細胞質內；環境中 Na+ 濃度的差異對NKCC 在MR 細胞上的表現影響不大，但低 Cl- 環境馴養的吳郭魚，NKCC 表現量都高出其他組很多。顯示NKCC 參與了氯吸收的機制。另一個實驗中，我們將吳郭魚由淡水中轉移至海水以分析它們在適應海水的過程中NKCC 的表現變化。結果發現在馴養初期（16 小時內），圓點狀NKCC 仍然可以在MR 細胞的開口附近觀察到，但到了24 小時後，NKCC 在開口的表現就明顯減少甚至消失，取而代之的是轉移到底側邊細胞膜上的NKCC。此實驗證實了NKCC 這一個與Cl-運送相關的蛋白質，在廣鹽性吳郭魚氯離子調節中扮演了很重要的角色。 Euryhaline tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus) is capable of maintaining internal ion constant ineither hypertonic or hypotonic environments (fresh water or seawater).MR cells in the gills of tilapia play critical role in absorbing Cl- from fresh water or pumping redundant Cl- from body fluid into seawater. Chloride transporter (NKCC) which distributed in basolateral membrane of MR cells is involved in Cl- secretion of seawater teleost. However, the mechanism of Cl- absorption in fresh water MR cells is still unclear. Whether NKCC is also involved in Cl- absorption and how do tilapia regulate Cl- absorption are the questions this study aim to answer. By using immunofluorescent staining, western blot, and confocal microscopy, the distribution and expression level of NKCC in fresh water MR cells were examined. We found that NKCC is distributed on the apical membrane of freshwater MR cells where is known to be the site for active Cl- absorption of MR cells. We compared the expression level of NKCC in MR cells from tilapia acclimated in high, normal, and low Cl- artificial water for 7 days. The results showed that NKCC is induced by ambient low Cl- , and in contrast suppressed by high Cl- water, indicating NKCC might be involved in Cl- absorption of freshwater MR cells and up-or down-regulated to maintain Cl- uptake constant. In addition, we also examine the expression pattern of NKCC in MR cells from tilapia transferred from fresh water to seawater. Confocal images show that apical expressed NKCC disappear gradually within 24h seawater acclimation and is substituted by basolateral expressed NKCC. This study provides a novel regulatory mechanism of NKCC in Cl- transporter of MR cells.

This study is to discuss the reason that interfere the fish schooling behavior " adult fish surround the young fish ". I use mathematic simulation, to observe the result when the fishes are stimulated, due to the body size , the speed of swimming , the difference of sensitivity will make different reaction. We predict the motion dots of fish when the hunter appears on the block paper, then analyzes the motion of adult fish and young fish in dot to determine if the result remind "adult fish surround the young fish "structure. The conclusion shown that natural reaction physiologically on fish will show "Adult fish surround the young fish "results, so, the factor that interfere the structure of fish group is not so called "group defense by ethnologist".本研究目的，在探討影響魚群「成魚圍繞著幼魚游」的行為。本研究是以數學模擬法，依觀察結果，設定魚在受到刺激後，因體型大小、游速的快慢、靈敏度的差異等，所產生的不同的反應。再在方格紙上模擬魚群在捕食者出現時，游開的動線。最後分析成魚幼魚的動線分布情形，是否仍是「成魚游在幼魚外圍」的魚群結構。研究結果發現，依魚類的生理條件所設定的條件下模擬，自然形成「成魚游在幼魚外圍」的魚群結構。所以，影響魚群結構的因素，的確不是行為學家所說的防禦行為。

Feeding behavior is the action which animals depend on maintain livelihood. Snakes usually use the three following ways to catch their preys: winding, venom-releasing and pressing their game to death. However, previews study is rare about the feeding behavior of Ramphotyphlops braminus. This puzzles us, prompting us to do in-depth research on it. When performing an experiment, we will use the camera with infrared function to record entire experiment and the obtained data will transform the graph. Our result shows the feeding behavior of R.braminus is a new way to catch their game, and the minute process of this special way is also written down in our report. We hope that the result can let everyone be clear about Ramphotyphlops braminus of soil ecosystem status, and it is an essential contribution for building the archive of Family Typhlopidae. 攝食行為是動物賴以維生的行為。在蛇類中，常見的捕捉方式有：纏繞、 使用毒液、壓斃等三種類型。但，文獻中卻沒有任何有關於鉤盲蛇(Ramphotyphlops braminus)的捕食行為。這使我們感到疑惑，並想深入探討。在實驗進行當中，我們使用紅外線攝影機將實驗全程錄製下來，並將所得的數據轉化成圖表。而其結果顯示鉤盲蛇(Ramphotyphlops braminus)的捕食行為是一種全新的模式，這種模式的詳細過程也被我們全部收錄到報告中。我們希望做出來的結果能讓大家對鉤盲蛇(Ramphotyphlops braminus)在土壤生態系中的地位更加了解，而且對於建立盲蛇科(Typhlopidae)資料庫有實質的貢獻。

本研究以攝影紀錄的方式，透過電腦進行影像分析，記錄不同刺激下美洲蜚蠊(Periplaneta americana)的觸角擺動模式，計算出各項觸角運動的參數，以瞭解光線(光刺激或光適應)、震動刺激、喝水與進食對其觸角行為的影響。我們發現在不同因子的刺激下，觸角擺動的模式具有差異，若兩種不同的刺激同時發生，蜚蠊觸角的行為亦具整合性的反應。蜚蠊於不同狀態下(如喝水或進食)，對相同的刺激有不同的反應，證明蜚蠊觸角的行為模式，受環境因子與個體狀態調節。透過掃瞄式電子顯微鏡的觀察，也發現觸角具多種感覺毛，且雌雄的感覺毛的分佈與數量具有差異。綜合以上發現，證明觸角除了為敏感的受器，亦為能反映出生理與環境狀態的動器，同時也適合進行發展檢測器的仿生學應用，用來檢測環境中物理及化學因子。The aim of this study is to investigate the different swing motion modes of antennae of American cockroach (Periplaneta americana) by computer-aided Imaging Analysis. The parameters of each swing movement were calculated in order to analyze how light (including light stimulation or light adaptation), vibration, food and drinking water may affect the antennae behavior of American cockroach. It was found that the antennae swing motion modes were significantly different under different types of stimulus. If two different types of stimulus occurred at the same time, the reactions of antennae motion may become conformable. Under different environmental conditions (such as food or water), same stimulus may result in different reactions. The antennae behavior has shown to be significantly affected by environmental conditions and individual physiological status. Through the observation with scanning electron microscope (SEM), it was found that the antennae has many types of sensilla; and the distribution and quantity of these sensilla are significant different between sexes. In conclusion, not only the antennae are considered as the sensitive receptors, but also they are the important effectors to reflect physiological status and environmental conditions. The current model is suitable for the development of specific detectors in the applications of Bionics to detect the physical and chemical factors in certain environments.

The spiders, Neoscona nautica, often appear in groups, but individuals have their own sense of territory.They usually spin webs among branches during 6:00~ 8:00 in the evening. When building webs, they will first start with bridges and then spin Y-shaped spokes. Next, they spin meshe of net, silk frame, spokes, spirals and free-zone in order. After finishing webs, they will wait for prey on the free-zone or meshe of net. If they find something inanimate on the web, they will break the spiral attached with the inanimate object that is later removed. If the meshe of net is broken, they will fix it immediately. For them, the time to take webs back is during 2:30~ 6:00 in the morning. Most time they use the first pair and the second pair of legs to take webs back and swallow the webs. Sometimes, they break the spirals by the last pair of legs. The sequence to take webs back is : lower right section, lower middle section, lower left section, upper left section, and upper right section. At last, one thread of bridge will be left. Every early mornings they take webs back and swallow them. The next evening they rebuild webs. Possibly there are two reasons to explain why spiders eat their webs: (1).They swallow webs to get protein. (2).The web threads are easily polluted by dust and humidity and reduce stickiness. The web may also reduce the probability of capturing prey. The body length of them is not related to effective web dimensions. However, the web sizes depend on the width of web-building location. The study shows linear relation among body length, meshe of net and dimensions of free-zone. The linear relation represents that the meshe of net and free-zone have ecological or survival meaning for them. We expect that this study of Neoscona nautica can be helpful to build spider ecological database in Taiwan.簷下姬鬼蛛常成群出現，但個體卻有很強的領域性；常於下午6：00 至8：00 結網於樹枝間，結網時，先以橋絲為出發，織出一Y 形的縱絲，再由此依序織出中空網眼、絲框、縱絲、橫絲、棲息圈，網結好後，簷下姬鬼蛛則在棲息圈或網眼靜候獵物，若發現網上有非生物之異物，則將黏住異物的橫絲弄斷，再把網上的異物丟棄；若網眼被破壞，則會立即修補。收網時間為凌晨2：30 至凌晨6：00，收網時，大部分由第一、二對步足進行收網，偶爾會用最後一對步足將橫絲弄斷，一邊收網一邊將網吞食，收網的順序為：右下、中下、左下、左上、右上，最後留下一條橋絲。簷下姬鬼蛛每天清晨都會收網，並將網吃掉，翌日傍晚再重新結網，其可能原因有兩點：(1)將網吃掉以補充蛋白質。(2)蛛絲容易受灰塵、水氣之污染而減小黏性，降低獵捕功效。簷下姬鬼蛛體長與有效網面積無關，但網的大小視其結網地點寬敞程度而定。體長與網眼、棲息圈面積呈線性關係，表示網眼和棲息圈對簷下姬鬼蛛具有生態或生存意義。我們對簷下姬鬼蛛生態調查之結果，希望能幫助台灣的蜘蛛生態資料庫之建立。

本研究利用麥克風與相關電腦設備，結合成自製頻譜儀用以觀測多種情況下蜜蜂的聲音頻率。若將蜜蜂的翅膀加以修剪，可測得有不同的頻率，解析頻率發現「翅膀為主要發聲點，但去除翅膀仍有高頻的發聲，且有三種不同的頻率。」將蜜蜂置於不同溫度下，解析頻率得知「一定溫度範圍內，溫度越高蜜蜂發聲頻率越高，反之亦然。」幼期在胸部塗顏料使絨毛無法生長，去除雙翅後，仍有頻率相近的發聲，得知「胸部絨毛不是造成高頻的原因。」靜置５分鐘，待蜜蜂停止發聲後，剪去腳、挑弄蜜蜂會發出高頻，得知「情緒是引起高頻的原因。」將蜜蜂的翅膀加以修剪，分別放回蜂窩口，發現「同一族群蜜蜂可用發聲頻率來辨別同伴。」比較義大利蜂及中華蜜蜂，得知「在多種情況下中華蜜蜂發聲頻率皆較義大利蜂高約７０Hz。」因此本實驗之結論並不受蜂種影響。The study, capitalizing on a hand-made frequency divider, the microphone and computerized equipment, observes a variety of frequency of sound given off by bees. We read different frequencies from the apparatus when the bee’s wings were trimmed. Analyzing it, we discover that the bee’s winds are major source of its sound, but it still gives out high-frequency sound when the wings were completely cut off.” After analyzing the frequency, we discover that within a certain temperature range the higher the temperature is, the higher the frequency is, and vice versa. In one experiment, we painted the thorax at its pupal stage to stop the bee from growing fine hairs. Even though the wings had been removed, it still gave out high-frequency sound. We, therefore, conclude that fine hairs on the thorax have nothing to do with the making of the sound. In another experiment, bees were placed in an undisturbed environment until they are completely silent. Then, some of the bee’s legs were cut off, while others were provoked. And all the bees make high-frequency sound in the process. We make a hypothesis that emotion could be the cause of bees’ sound-making. The bees with different trimmed wings were put back to the beehive; the bees can still recognize one another by the different sound frequencies. If we compare A. m. ligustica with A. c. cerana under different conditions, we find that the frequency from the latter is about 70 Hz higher than that form the former.

The purpose of the research was to find the relationship between the fruit fly’s attraction to light (or heliotaxis) and their genes. Fruit flies, because of their short life span of approximately two weeks, and their simple requirements for survival, are ideal candidates for the study. With a specially designed device "Mi Gong" for the experiments, fruit flies could be separated and cultivated in accordance to their preference to specific wavelengths of light. They received cross-breeding and were studied to learn the ratio of the resulting offspring in their preference to the light. It was observed that the majority of the fruit flies were more attracted to violet light. It was also found that the next generation of the fruit fly inherited higher sensitivity to the light than their parents. Knowing that there could be potential margin of errors in the experiments, the results of the study demonstrated that light, as an external source, had limited impact to heliotaxis of fruit fly. The study suggested that insects with heliotaxis, including fruit fly, inherited heliotaxis in their genes. The study also pointed out the potential benefits of employing heliotaxis in many areas especially in the agricultural development. Furthermore, heliotaxis can be utilized to study the difference in the behavior of nightlife insects before and after the invention of manmade light source.這項研究，主要是在探討果蠅的趨光性和遺傳的關係。很多種昆蟲都具備趨光性，我們之所以以果蠅作實驗，主要是因為其生活週期短，大約兩週，且易於培養。實驗內容是以「迷宮器材」來鑑別果蠅對某一特殊色光的偏好，將該群果蠅分離出來培養，令其繁衍後代，觀察其後代對此一色光偏好的比率，我們所用的果蠅大致上對綠色光較敏感，而其子代的敏感度較親代高。因此，我們推論趨光性會遺傳，且受光影響，但並非全由光影響，故這可能是實驗中的誤差成因。雖然此實驗是以果蠅為對象，但亦可假設其它具趨光性的昆蟲，也可能是因遺傳而導致其子代有趨光性，而我們可利用其趨光的一些特性，減少農作物因害蟲類的果蠅而損失，並且希望可以得知,在人造光源還未出現在世上時，夜行性昆蟲是否有差異。

In this study, we try to know how ectopic eye genes: eyeless(ey), eye gone(eyg), twin of eyeless(toy), twin of eye gone(toe) act cooperatively, and look for some unknown genes which affect the function of eyg. First, through human trans gene screening, we find two human genes change the phenotype of ey>eyg into dorsal out-growth when they co-express with eyg (ey>eyg+X). It means the two genes may relate to cell proliferation. Second, by sequencing the insert genes of mutant fly which was found by EP screening, the result shows the site of the insertion is the same as effete (eff) gene. eff translated wrong proteins which differ from functional ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme may be the major cause of the mutant eye . 本研究係探討果蠅複眼異位基因eyeless(ey)、eye gone(eyg)、twin of eyeless(toy)、 twin of eye gone(toe)間的協同作用，並尋找與eyg 有交互作用的基因、突變株。藉由人類基因轉殖篩選，找到兩株人類基因轉殖株，當其與eyg 共同表現時(ey>eyg+X)，會改變ey>eyg 的複眼性狀，造成dorsal out-growth，顯示這兩個基因可能與細胞增生有關，此外，藉由EP screening 複眼發生突變的果蠅之UAS 下游基因經比對後，位置與effete（eff）部分契合，推測複眼發生突變的原因是eff 的功能發生異常，致使細胞內蛋白質代謝失常所致。