Beautiful,complicated—and intelligent? Novel aspects of the thigmonastic stamen movement in Loasaceae

In a recent study we investigated the complex mechanisms regulating the pollen release via thigmonastic stamen movement found exclusively in Loasaceae subfamily Loasoideae. We demonstrated that stamen movement is modulated by abiotic (light and temperature) as well as biotic stimuli (pollinator availability and visitation frequency). This is explained as a mechanism to adjust the rate of stamen movement and thus pollen dispensation to different environmental conditions in order to optimize pollen transfer. Stamen movement is rapid and thus a near-immediate response to pollinator visits. However, Loasaceae flowers also show a response to biotic stimuli on a longer time scale, by adjusting the duration of both the staminate and the carpellate phase of the anthesis. We here present two additional data sets on species not previously studied, underscoring the shortening of the staminate phase in the presence of pollinator visits vs. their absence and the shortening of the carpellate phase after pollination. Overall, the plant shows not only a rapid but an “intelligent” reaction to its environment in adjusting anthesis and pollen presentation to a range of factors. The physiological and morphological bases of the stamen movement are poorly understood. Our previous study showed that there is no direct spatial relationship between the place of stimulation in the flower and the stamen bundle activated. We here further show the morphological basis for stamen movement from a reflexed into an erect position: Only the basal part of the filament curves around the receptacle, while the upper part of the filament retains its shape. We hypothesize that the stimulus is transmitted over the entire receptacle and the place of reaction is determined by stamen maturity, not the location of the stimulus.     

Migratory Disturbance Thresholds with Mule Deer and Energy Development

Fine-scale movement data has transformed our knowledge of ungulate migration ecology and now provides accurate, spatially explicit maps of migratory routes that can inform planning and management at local, state, and federal levels. Among the most challenging land use planning issues has been developing energy resources on public lands that overlap with important ungulate habitat, including the migratory routes of mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus). We generally know that less development is better for minimizing negative effects and maintaining habitat function, but we lack information on the amount of disturbance that animals can tolerate before reducing use of or abandoning migratory habitat. We used global positioning system data from 56 deer across 15 years to evaluate how surface disturbance from natural gas well pads and access roads in western Wyoming, USA, affected habitat selection of mule deer during migration and whether any disturbance threshold(s) existed beyond which use of migratory habitat declined. We used resource and step selection functions to examine disturbance thresholds at 3 different spatial scales. Overall, migratory use by mule deer declined as surface disturbance increased. Based on the weight of evidence from our 3 independent but complementary metrics, declines in migratory use related to surface disturbance were non-linear, where migratory use sharply declined when surface disturbance from energy development exceeded 3%. Disturbance thresholds may vary across regions, species, or migratory habitats (e.g., stopover sites). Such information can help with management and land use decisions related to mineral leasing and energy development that overlap with the migratory routes of ungulates. © 2020 The Wildlife Society.     

Peculiar tooth renewal in a Jurassic ray-finned fish (Lepisosteiformes, †Scheenstia sp.)

Tooth replacement in vertebrates is extremely diverse, and its study in extinct taxa gives insights into the evolution of the different dental renewal modes. Based on μ-CT scans of a left lower jaw of the extinct fish †Scheenstia (Actinopterygii, Lepisosteiformes), we describe in detail a peculiar tooth replacement mode that is, as far as we could ascertain from the literature, unique among vertebrates. The formation of the replacement teeth comprises a 180° rotation of their acrodin cap that occurs intraosseously within bony crypts, and their setting up appears to be synchronous. We propose a model for the dental renewal process and identify complementary anatomical features visible in the tomography such as the junction between the different tooth-bearing bones (prearticular–coronoid and dentary), as well as cavities corresponding to intraosseous crypts, nervous and/or vascular canals. The location of the cavities and their subsequent identification (e.g. Meckel's cavity, mandibular sensory canal) help us to identify the function of pores visible on the bone surface and understand their relation to internal anatomical features. Finally, recognition of this tooth replacement mode raises the question of whether it is specific to †Scheenstia or related to a particular dentition type and thus potentially occurs in other lineages.     

Use of Upland and Riparian Areas by Wintering Bald Eagles and Implications for Wind Energy

Weather can shape movements of animals and alter their exposure to anthropogenic threats. Bald eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) are increasingly at risk from collision with turbines used in onshore wind energy generation. In the midwestern United States, development of this energy source typically occurs in upland areas that bald eagles use only intermittently. Our objective was to determine the factors that cause wintering bald eagles to occupy riparian areas and riskier, upland areas. We tracked 20 bald eagles using telemetry in the Upper Midwest (MN, IA, MO, WI, IL, USA) during winter 2014–2015 and 2015–2016 and evaluated habitat use by eagles in response to variation in weather and time of year. Eagles used riparian areas more when wind speed and atmospheric pressure were low. Exclusive use of uplands was more frequent during weather systems with low pressure and high humidity and after long periods of cold weather. There was a non-linear response to time of year (measured by days before migration) in the frequency of exclusive use of uplands or riparian areas. Probability of exclusive use of either landscape was generally constant within 95 days prior to migration. The probability of use of riparian areas, however, was markedly less during dates >100 days before migration. Our results suggest that eagles are most likely to be exposed to wind energy developments located in upland areas during low pressure systems, after long periods of cold weather, and several months before the onset of spring migration. This information helps to better understand the factors influencing bald eagle habitat use in winter and will be useful to managers and developers wishing to establish effective strategies to avoid, minimize, and mitigate take, and to survey for mortalities at wind energy developments. © 2020 The Wildlife Society.     

Assessment of the efficacy of the utilisation of conventional and electric toothbrushes by the older adults

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of electric and conventional toothbrushes for a group of elderly individuals. Background: Although the electric toothbrush has been recommended for elderly individuals, there had previously never been a study regarding its efficacy. Material and methods: Sixty independent elders of both genders with different oral conditions from the Center Adult Day Vitória, Espírito Santo, Brazil, were randomly divided into two groups of 30 individuals. One group received the Oral B CrossAction Power electric toothbrush, whereas the other received a conventional Bitufo Class 32 soft toothbrush to perform oral hygiene. The bacterial plaque index (O’Leary Plaque Index) and DMFT index were assessed as a measure of oral hygiene and oral health. The data were analysed using the Shapiro–Wilk, Mann–Whitney and Wilcoxon tests. Results: The results of the efficacy of the Oral B Cross Action Power electric toothbrush demonstrated that on the 7th and 15th days, the bacterial plaque indexes were 24.91 ± 12.81 and 22.11 ± 14.46, respectively, which corresponds to a 50.24% removal of bacterial plaque on the 7th and 55.83% on the 15th days. Although the electric toothbrush removed more bacterial plaque than the conventional toothbrush, the difference was not statistically significant. Conclusion: Both the conventional and the electric toothbrushes were effective in removing bacterial plaque within the elderly group. More studies are necessary to test the efficacy of electric toothbrushes in relation to conventional toothbrushes for elderly patients.     

Circadian emergence and movement of captive juvenile tuatara (Sphenodon spp.)

Abstract

Knowledge of the circadian behaviour of young tuatara (Sphenodon spp.) is relatively scarce because tuatara are difficult to observe in the wild. We document diurnal, nocturnal and crepuscular emergence and movements (half‐body movement, walking and running) of three groups of captive juvenile tuatara (2‐ and 3‐year‐old Sphenodon guntheri, and 5‐year‐old S. punctatus). Juvenile tuatara emerge predominantly at night, but move around above ground, mainly during the day and around sunset. Differences in emergence andmove‐ment scores between the three study groups were evident, probably linked with age, species or housing conditions, which were inevitably coupled in our study. We found that 2‐year‐old tuatara in captive conditions emerged less frequently than, but once above ground, moved more than 3‐ and 5‐year‐olds in semi‐captive conditions. Activities in semi‐captive conditions were not correlated with temperature, light or humidity. We conclude that young tuatara may be primarily adapted to nocturnal activity, but thermal restrictions and possible hardwired adaptations to avoid predators and conspecifics may make day‐time movements safer.     

Prairie grass phytolith hardness and the evolution of ungulate hypsodonty

Silica phytoliths in grasses are thought to serve as a defence mechanism against grazing ungulates by causing excessive tooth wear. It is posited that they contributed to the evolution of hypsodonty in these animals. However, some have questioned whether grass phytoliths can abrade enamel. Here Mohs hardness testing was conducted on Blue Grama grass (Bouteloua gracilis) to determine phytolith hardness. Microindentation was performed on horse and American bison molars to establish dental constituent hardness values. To infer the phytoliths' abrasion capacity, the hardness values were contrasted. Phytolith hardness ranged from 18.0 to 191.5 HV. This is considerably softer than the values obtained for ungulate enamel, which range from 332.6 to 363.4 HV, but harder than the other dental constituents. Although Blue Grama phytoliths are incapable of directly abrading enamel, when viewed in conjunction with other data on phytolith hardness, there is considerable variation across grass species and some phytoliths are actually harder than ungulate enamel. Blue Grama grass phytoliths may even promote enamel wear due to pressure accentuation caused by the recession of softer tissues. Given these findings and considerations, it is plausible phytoliths served an integral role in the co-evolution of grasses and herbivorous ungulates, although more testing is needed to bear this out.     

Functional tooth units and nutritional status of older people in care homes in Indonesia

Gerodontology 2012; doi: 10.1111/j.1741‐2358.2012.00673.x Functional tooth units and nutritional status of older people in care homes in Indonesia Objectives: To investigate the relationship between functional tooth units (FTUs) and nutritional status. Methods: One hundred females (mean age: 72.4 ± 8.2 years) at four private care homes in Jakarta, Indonesia were interviewed and clinically examined. The oral examination included the assessment of teeth, prosthetic status, and number of FTUs. The total number of FTUs was further divided by tooth composition: natural tooth against natural tooth (NN‐FTUs), natural tooth against denture (ND‐FTUs), and denture against denture (DD‐FTUs). Nutritional status was evaluated using the body mass index (BMI) and the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA). Results: The mean numbers of teeth present, NN‐FTUs, ND‐FTUs, DD‐FTUs, and total FTUs were 13.1 ± 10.4, 1.7 ± 3.0, 1.2 ± 3.3, 0.4 ± 1.2 and 3.3 ± 4.4, respectively. The mean BMI and MNA scores were 24.8 ± 5.0 and 22.6 ± 2.8, respectively. Subjects with a normal BMI had a significantly higher total number of FTUs (3.6 ± 4.6) compared with underweight subjects (0.1 ± 0.3). Subjects with a normal MNA had a significantly higher number of NN‐FTU (2.6 ± 3.7) compared to those who were at risk or in a state of under‐nutrition (1.2 ± 2.4). Conclusion: This study revealed significant relationships between the number of FTUs and nutritional status. Keeping the posterior occlusion should be emphasized in order to maintain good nutritional status in older subjects.