大鳳蝶衣櫥裡的祕密-大鳳蝶母蝶的型態研究
Swallowtail species, Papilio memnon heronus Fruhstorfer, demonstrates sexual dimorphism with four forms in females: melanism with tails, melanism without tails, albinism with tails, and albinism without tails. This study is to understand whether environment or genetics causes the differences. Besides, we hope to discover any possible link between characteristics of larvae and the morphology of adults. We understand it is the genetic factor that controls the expression of different morphologies. The two characteristics (body color and existence of tails) are controlled by two separate genes located on different chromosomes, and the inheritance pattern is consistent with that of Mendel’s law of inheritance. As for the observation in larva stage, we fail to notice any characteristics can indicate the future morphology of a particular larva. 本研究主要是在探討為何大鳳蝶雌蝶會有四種不同的形態:1.有尾白化2.有尾黑化3. 無尾白化4.無尾黑化,而造成此形態差異的原因又是什麼?探討造成此形態差異的成因分 為兩種:1.環境因子造成的2.遺傳因子造成的,我們也就是從這兩大方向去做實驗,對於環 境因子,我們的實驗設計是列出可能影響的因子(例:光照、溫度),而我們第一個探討的 因子就是光照,然而,後來發現有尾黑化的雌蝶,其子代在有光照及無光照的環境下皆有 無尾黑化、無尾白化、有尾黑化的雌蝶出現,而且可以從實驗很明顯的看出有尾的雌蝶, 生下無尾的雌蝶為多數而非定值,故我們可以確定造成此形態差異的因子不是環境,所以 我們又趕快從遺傳因子去做探討是何種遺傳類型造成的,實驗結果確定影響翅色及尾突的 遺傳皆為孟德爾遺傳。
Chitosan Defies Death
Gangrene is the death of tissue of certain parts of the body. In Indonesia, people who suffer from Diabetes will also often suffer from Gangrene, which usually affects a patient’s feet. The medication for it is not affordable for everybody. I have chosen the Horseshoe Crab, simply because it’s known widely in Indonesian and can be found easily. Also, due to the fact that, among all crustaceans, the Horseshoe Crab contains the highest levels of Chitin. By using the Chitin found in the shell of the Horseshoe Crab, I shall endeavor to heal the Gangrene of Diabetic Patients.
Gannet Investigation: Survivng an Unnatural Disaster
For a unique marine bird, so magnificent and accessible to the public, the Australasian Gannet (Morus serrator) colony found at Cape Kidnappers, 紐西蘭, significantly lacks research. Knowledge of gannet behaviour and how humans could best sustain a relationship with them remains unstudied. M. serrator are colonial monogamous breeders and produce a single chick each breeding season (Ismar, S.M.H. 2013). With the same mate over breeding seasons, pairs work cooperatively sharing the energy input into a single chick. Such parental care leads to highly territorial behaviour (McMeekan, C. P. & Wodzicki, K. A. 1946). This suggests more dominant gannets would claim larger territories to have a greater distance between nests of other birds, to increase the survival of their offspring. With a land-based colony this means the gannets are at risk from land and airborne predators, suggesting more dominant birds will claim territories in the central area as it offers greater safety from predator pressures (Minias, P. 2014). It was hypothesised that birds in the centre will have a greater distance between their nests and have a smaller height compared to those around the periphery of the Plateau Colony. The distances between nests and the heights of nests were recorded in the centre and around the periphery of the colony to determine if there was a correlation between the variables. It was found that centre nests had a greater distance between them and were of a smaller nest height when compared to those around the periphery. Anthropogenic influences from tourism and conservation has the potential to change the evolutionary trajectory of managed populations. This colony is protected by predator control programs. Altering this significant selection pressure has the potential to change the nesting behaviour of this species. Monitoring annual nesting distribution patterns and colony numbers over time, may enable informed development of more sustainable ecotourism and protection of the colony. This investigation provides baseline data to support further research on this colony.