Functionalization of poly(amidoamine) dendrimer‐based nano‐architectures using a naphthalimide derivative and their fluorescent,dyeing and antimicrobial properties on wool fibers

Novel naphthalimide–poly(amidoamine) dendrimer fluorescent dyes were synthesized, and their structures were identified and confirmed using different characterization methods such as Fourier transform infrared, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, differential scanning calorimetry, elemental analysis and UV–vis spectroscopy. The spectrophotometric studies demonstrated absorption maxima (λ_max) and extinction coefficient (ε_max) values in the ranges of 429–438 nm and 25,635–88,618 L/mol/cm, respectively. The dyeing, fastness and antimicrobial properties of dyed wool fibers were examined. Colorimetric measurements demonstrated a greenish‐yellow hue with remarkable fluorescence intensity on dyed wool. Although the fastness properties of naphthalimide dye on wool fibers were poor/moderate, color fastness was appreciably improved through modification of the dye using dendrimers. The results revealed that the newly synthesized dyes are potent antimicrobial agents on wool fibers. Overall, it was deduced that poly(amidoamine) (PAMAM) dendrimers could be exploited as a promising tool in tailoring the different properties of naphthalimide dyes, being suitable for dyeing and antimicrobial finishing agents for wool fibers. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Hexylthiophene‐Featured D–A–π–A Structural Indoline Chromophores for Coadsorbent‐Free and Panchromatic Dye‐Sensitized Solar Cells

For a sensitizer with a strong π‐conjugation system, a coadsorbent is needed to hinder dye aggregation. However, coadsorption always brings a decrease in dye coverage on the TiO₂ surface. Organic ‘‘D–A–π–A’’ dyes, WS‐6 and WS‐11, are designed and synthesized based on the known WS‐2 material for coadsorbent‐free, dye‐sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). Compared with the traditional D–π–A structure, these D–A–π–A indoline dyes, with the additional incorporated acceptor unit of benzothiadiazole in the π‐conjugation, exhibit a broad photoresponse, high redox stability, and convenient energy‐level tuning. The attached n‐hexyl chains in both dyes are effective to suppress charge recombination, resulting in a decreased dark current and enhanced open‐circuit voltage. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy studies indicate that both the resistance for charge recombination and the electron lifetime are increased after the introduction of alkyl chains to the dye molecules. Without deoxycholic acid coadsorption, the power‐conversion efficiency of WS‐6 (7.76%) on a 16 μm‐thick TiO₂ film device is 45% higher than that of WS‐2 (5.31%) under the same conditions. The additional n‐hexylthiophene in WS‐11 extends the photoresponse to a panchromatic spectrum but causes a low incident photon‐to‐current conversion efficiency.     

Biodegradation of C.I. Reactive Red 195 by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Enterococcus faecalis</Emphasis> strain YZ66

Synthetic dyes are extensively used in textile dyeing, paper, printing, colour photography, pharmaceutics, cosmetics and other industries. Among these, azodyes represents the largest and most versatile class of synthetic dyes. As high as 50% of the dyes are released into the environment during manufacture and usage. Traditional methods of treatment are found to be expensive and have operational problems. Biological decolourization has been investigated as a method to transform, degrade or mineralize azo dyes. In the present studies bacteria from soil from dye waste area, dye waste, sewage and dung were subjected to acclimatization with C.I. Reactive Red 195 an azo dye, in the basal nutrient media. The most promising bacterial isolate was used for further dye degradation studies. The 16s rRNA gene sequencing and biochemical characteristics revealed the isolated organism as Enterococcus faecalis strain YZ66. The strain showed 99.5% decolourization of the selected dye (Reactive Red 195–50 mg/l) within one and half hour in static anoxic condition. The optimum pH and temperature for the decolourization was 5.0 and 40°C respectively. The biodegradation was monitored by UV–Vis, FTIR, TLC and HPLC. The final products were characterized by Gas chromatography and Mass Spectrophotometry. Toxicity study demonstrated no toxicity of the biodegradation product. The results suggest that the isolated organism E. faecalis strain YZ 66 can be used as a useful tool to treat waste water containing reactive dyes.     

Redox-mediated decolorization of recalcitrant textile dyes by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Trichoderma harzianum</Emphasis> WL1 laccase

The efficiency of crude and partially purified Trichoderma harzianum WL1 laccase for the decolorization of synthetic dyes (Rhodamine 6G, Erioglaucine and Trypan blue) with complex aromatic structures were evaluated. Selection of dyes was based on their extensive usage in local dyeing and textile industries around the study area. Studies on the role of redox potential of laccases on dye decolorization are rarely discussed and hence, for the first time we have shown the redox mediated dye decolorizing efficiency of T. harzianum WL1 laccase with the commonly employed redox mediator 1-hydroxybenzotriazole (HBT). The process parameters such as initial dye concentration, enzyme load and HBT concentration were studied and found that they had a great influence on dye removal process. When the dyes were treated with increased concentration of enzyme, it showed a greater percentage of decolorization. Compared to the crude laccase, partially purified laccase accounts for maximum decolorization of all the dyes studied. In addition, the rate of dye decolorization was considerably enhanced in presence of 4 mM HBT. Maximum and minimum decolorization were recorded for Rhodamine 6G and Trypan blue, respectively. The results of this study further confirmed that, T. harzianum laccase was found to be suitable with HBT and this laccase-mediator system (LMS) could be applied for the decolorization of various classes of dyes.     

Adsorption and decolorization of dyes using solid residues from Pleurotus ostreatus mushroom production

We investigated the use of solid residues from Pleurotus ostreatus mushroom production in adsorbing and decolorizing different dyes. The solid residue used in this study was composed of hemicellulose and cellulose (52.81 %), acid-insoluble lignin (25.42%), chitin (6.5%), and water extractives (14.82%). After incubating 14% (wt/vol) solid residue in distilled water for 4 h, laccase and manganese peroxidase (MnP) activities were 0.5 U/g and 12 mU/g, respectively. Enzymatic decolorization percentages were up to 100 for azure B (heterocyclic dye) and indigo carmine (indigoid dye), 74.5 for malachite green (MG) (triphenylmethane dye), and zero for xylidine (azoic dye). The optimum temperature for decolorization was in the range of 26 ∼ 36°C for all dyes. Data obtained on adsorption (enzymatic decolorization was prevented with sodium azide) at different dye concentrations and in a pH range of 3 ∼ 7 were used to plot Freundlich isotherms. The spent fungal substrate (SFS) displayed large differences in adsorption capacity, depending on the dye tested. The highest adsorption capacity was observed at pH 3 for MG, while xylidine was slightly adsorbed at pH 3 and 4 and not adsorbed at higher pH values. Laccase and MnP production were affected by the presence of the dyes. The highest enzyme levels were observed in the presence of MG, when laccase and MnP increased 1.39- and 2.13-fold, respectively. Decolorization and adsorption to SFS are both important processes in removing dyes from aqueous solutions. The application of this spent substrate for wastewater treatment will be able to take advantage of both of these dye removal processes. An important problem in bioremediation processes involving microorganisms is the amount of time required for their growth. In this report, we used the spent substrates from mushroom cultivation in wastewater treatment, thus solving the problem of waiting for microorganisms to grow.     

Decolorization of Turquoise Blue HFG by Coprinus plicatilis for Water Bioremediation

Synthetic dyes are extensively used in textile dyeing, paper printing, color photography, and the pharmaceutical, food, cosmetic, and leather industries. Most synthetic dyes are toxic and highly resistant to removal due to their complex chemical structures. There is a need for investigation of the biological treatment of synthetic dyes at a low cost and in the shortest possible time; synthetic dyes are used especially in the dye and textile industries and are an important polluting agent in the wastewater dumped into the environment by these industries. White rot fungus contains a variety of extracellular enzymes, and these enzymes are used for biological degradation of organic matter. The aim of the present work is to evaluate removal of the textile dye Turquoise Blue HFG by Coprinus plicatilis. Coprinus plicatilis was able to enzymatically decolorize 100% of the dye (dye concentration 10.0 and 25.0 mg L^?1). Ultraviolet–visible (UV-vis) spectrophotometric analyses, before and after decolorization, suggest that decolorization was due to biodegradation. There was an attempt to identify metabolites with Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) at the end of the decolorization process. These results indicate that the samples did not include any detectable metabolite. Therefore, this fungus can be used as an economical and eco-friendly tool to minimize the pollution by industries to a significant extent.     

Spectral and fluorescent study of the interaction of squarylium dyes,derivatives of 3<Emphasis Type="Italic">H</Emphasis>-indolium,with albumins

Noncovalent interaction of intraionic squarylium dyes, derivatives of 3H-indolium, as well as the structurally analogous ionic indodicarbocyanine dye with serum albumins (human, bovine, rat) and, for comparison, with ovalbumin has been studied by spectral and fluorescent methods. The hydrophilic squarylium dye with sulfonate groups was found to interact with albumins more efficiently, which is probably due to the double negative charge on the dye molecule at the expense of the sulfonate groups and the ability to form hydrogen bonds with albumin. The hydrophilic indodicarbocyanine dye without the squarylium group in its structure binds to albumins much weaker than the structurally analogous squarylium dye. The dyes bind to ovalbumin less efficiently than to serum albumins. Along with the binding of monomeric dye molecules, the aggregation of the dyes on albumins is also observed. The hydrophobic squarylium dye without sulfonate groups tends to form aggregates in aqueous solutions, which partially decompose upon the introduction of albumin into the solution. The hydrophilic squarylium dye with sulfonate groups can be recommended for tests as a spectral-fluorescent probe for serum albumins in extracellular media of living organisms.     

Induced optical activity in the complex of poly(L-arginine) with azo dyes

The absorption and CD spectra of the complexes of poly(L -arginine) (PLA) and azo dyes have been measured in aqueous solution. On complexation, Blue-shifted additional absorption bands were observed. In the wide pH 4–11 range, induced CD was observed at the visible wavelengths corresponding to the blue-shifted absorption bands. The induced CD arose from the dimeric dye molecules bound to PLA in the α-helical structure. When a modified analysis of induced CE is made by the excition chirality method, the origin of the induced CD can be assigned to the dipole coupling. The PLA–dye complexes showed the counterlockwise (negative, S) chirality of the transition dipole moments of dyes.     

A Novel Technique for Viable Cell Determinations

We have developed a simple method to determine cell viability using two fluorescent dyes, Hoechst 33258 and acridine orange. When these dyes are used in combination, dead cells fluoresce brilliant blue and live cells fluoresce green. This method works over a range of dye concentrations (Hoechst 33258, 0.25-2 μg/ml; acridine orange, 1-5.0 μg/ml) and the fluorescence spectra of the two dyes are such that only one set of filters is required to visualize the effects of both dyes simultaneously. It is insensitive to a wide range of exogenous serum concentrations and is read with greater uniformity by different observers.     

A novel technique for viable cell determinations

We have developed a simple method to determine cell viability using two fluorescent dyes, Hoechst 33258 and acridine orange. When these dyes are used in combination, dead cells fluoresce brilliant blue and live cells fluoresce green. This method works over a range of dye concentrations (Hoechst 33258, 0.25-2 micrograms/ml; acridine orange, 1-5.0 micrograms/ml) and the fluorescence spectra of the two dyes are such that only one set of filters is required to visualize the effects of both dyes simultaneously. It is insensitive to a wide range of exogenous serum concentrations and is read with greater uniformity by different observers.     

The size–distance relationship in the wood ant Formica rufa

1. The size–distance relationship among honeydew‐collecting foragers of the red wood ant Formica rufa was investigated. Within the colony territory, the size (as measured by head width) and fresh weight of samples of foragers were determined for ants ascending and descending trees near, and farther from, the central nest mound. 2. The mean size of the ants was significantly higher at far trees than at near trees in six out of the seven colonies investigated, confirming the general presence of the size–distance relationship. 3. In three colonies, a load–distance relationship was also found. For a given head width, honeydew‐carrying ants descending far trees were significantly heavier than those descending near trees (i.e. they were carrying heavier loads from trees farther away from the central nest mound). 4. This is the first time that both load–distance and size–distance relationships have been reported in foraging workers from the same ant colony. 5. The combined effects of these characteristics suggest that colony foraging efficiency is enhanced by far trees being visited by the larger workers that then return with heavier loads of honeydew.     

Dye distance mapping using waveguide evanescent field fluorescence microscopy and its application to cell biology

Previous studies have measured the distance between cells and the substratum at sites of adhesion via the emission of a fluorescent dye and waveguide methods. Here, we demonstrate a novel approach to measure the position of fluorescent dyes above a waveguide surface in the 10–200 nm distance range throughout an entire area, yielding a 2D dye distance map or a 3D contour plot. The dye is located in a multilayered Langmuir Blodgett (LB) film or in the plasma membrane of a cell. Waveguide evanescent field fluorescence (WEFF) images obtained using two different waveguide modes are employed allowing, with a simple mathematical approach, the calculation of dye distance maps. Ultra‐thin steps made using LB technology, adhesion distances and the bending of the plasma membrane between focal adhesions of osteoblastic cells are shown as examples. The errors are discussed.

False color representation of a dye distance map with four osteoblasts. The inset represents an overexposed WEFF image of the same field of view.     

Mechanism of connective tissue techniques I. The effect of dye concentration and staining time on anionic dye procedures

Summary Anionic dye connective tissue procedures were performed by staining for 5 min and 24 h with (a) 0.00018m and 0.0018m solutions of 28 dyes, and 0.018m solutions of 21 dyes in saturated picric acid (SPA), and (b) 0.0018m and 0.018m solutions of 20 dyes in 1% (w/v) phosphomolybdic acid (PMA). The staining obtained with dyes in SPA was classified as selective (no cytoplasmic staining), moderately selective (traces of cytoplasmic staining) and non-selective (all other staining patterns). The staining of collagen and cytoplasm with dyes in PMA was separately classified on a scale of 1–5 (1 = no staining, 5 = maximum staining). The selectivity of the staining obtained with SPA with solutions of dyes at concentrations of 0.00018m and 0.0018m, and both staining times, was correlated (p < 0.001) with an empirical sulphonic acid constant (SAC) defined as the (number of dye sulphonic acid groups/dye molecular weight) × 10³. Correlation with molecular weight was poor and was significant only when staining was performed with 0.00018m dye solutions for 24 h. The dyes were divisible into three groups: group 1 (selectivity independent, or almost independent of staining time), group 2 (selective to moderately selective when staining was performed for 5 min), and group 3 (non-selective). The SAC of the group 1 dyes differed significantly from those of the group 2 and 3 dyes. Selectivity was essentially lost at dye concentrations of 0.018m. The staining with acidic dyes (no amines or substituted amines) in PMA differed significantly (p < 0.001) from that obtained with amphoteric dyes (containing basic substituents). In general, acidic dyes stained cytoplasm. Amphoteric dyes with the exception of indigocarmine stained collagen. However, most of these dyes also stained cytoplasm. In contrast to the results obtained with dyes in SPA, selectivity correlated strongly with molecular weight and only poorly with the SAC. Staining time and dye concentration affected selectivity only when the acidic dyes were used for 5 min at concentrations of 0.0018m and 0.018m. The data obtained do not permit a clear distinction between the rate control and chemical affinity models for the mechanism of staining with anionic dyes. However, it seems possible that different groups of dyes stain by different mechanisms. Part of this work was performed by M.I., S.N., M.J. and L.M. in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the completion of Pathology 438. A partial account of this work was presented at the annual convention of the British Columbia Society of Medical Technology, Victoria, British Columbia, October 1991.     

A quantitative resolution of the spectra of a membrane potential indicator,diS-C3-(5), bound to cell components and to red blood cells

Summary Cationic cyanine dyes have been widely used to measure electrical potentials of red blood cells and other membrane preparations. A quantitative analysis of the binding of the most extensively studied of these dyes, diS-C₃-(5), to red blood cells and their constituents is presented here. Absorption spectra were recorded for the dye in suspensions of isolated red cell membranes and in solutions of cell lysate. The dependence of the spectra on the concentrations of dye and cell constituents shows that the dye binds to these membranes as monomers with an absorbance maximum at 670 nm instead of 650 nm as for free aqueous dye and that the dye binds to oxyhaemoglobin partly as monomer but primarily as dimer, with absorbance maxima ca. 670 and 595 nm, respectively. Quantitative estimates are derived for all binding constants and extinction coefficients. These estimates are applied to suspensions of whole cells to predict the dye binding, absorbance spectra, and calibration curves of binding and fluorescencevs. membrane voltage. Satisfactory agreement is found with binding and absorbance data for whole cells at zero membrane potential and with the binding and fluorescence data reported by Hladky and Rink (J. Physiol. (London) 263:287, 1976) for cells driven to positive and negative potentials using valinomycin. The marked tendency of oxyhaemoglobin to bind dye as dimer is not shared by some other proteins tested, including deocyhaemoglobin and oxymyoglobin.     

Decolourisation of reactive textile dyes Drimarene Blue X3LR and Remazol Brilliant Blue R by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Funalia trogii</Emphasis> ATCC 200800

Decolourisation of reactive dyes Drimarene Blue X3LR and Remazol Brilliant Blue R by white rot fungi Funalia trogii was studied under static conditions. The effect of various conditions such as mycelial age, initial dye and glucose concentrations on decolourisation were also investigated. Decolourisation activity of F. trogii was compared with Phanerochaete chrysosporium known as test microorganism. It was found that 7-day-old cultures were more effective than 5-day-old cultures of F. trogii for decolourisation of these dyes. Decolourisations by F. trogii of both dyes were increased with glucose concentration decreasing. In contrast, decolourisations by P. chrysosporium were decreased. F. trogii decolourised 92–98% of both dyes within 4–10 h. However, P. chrysosporium partially decolourised (11–20%) these dyes during 10days incubation period under the same conditions.     

Degradation of Remazol Red dye by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Galactomyces geotrichum</Emphasis> MTCC 1360 leading to increased iron uptake in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Sorghum vulgare</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Phaseolus mungo</Emphasis> from soil

Removal of azo dyes from the effluent generated by textile industries is rather difficult. Azo dyes represent a major class of synthetic colorants that are both mutagenic and carcinogenic. Galactomyces geotrichum MTCC 1360, a yeast species, showed more than 96% decolorization of the azo dye Remazol Red (50 mg/L) within 36 h at 30°C and pH 11.0 under static condition with a significant reduction in the chemical oxygen demand (62%) and total organic carbon (41%). Peptone (5.0 g/L), rice husk (10 g/L extract), and ammonium chloride (5.0 g/L) were found to be more significant among the carbon and nitrogen sources used. The presence of tyrosinase, NADH-DCIP reductase, riboflavin reductase and induction in azo reductase and laccase activity during decolorization indicated their role in degradation. High performance thin layer chromatography analysis revealed the degradation of Remazol Red into different metabolites. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and high performance liquid chromatography analysis of samples before and after decolorization confirmed the biotransformation of dye. Atomic absorption spectroscopy analysis revealed a less toxic effect of the metabolites on iron uptake by Sorghum vulgare and Phaseolus mungo than Remazol Red dye. Remazol Red showed an inhibitory effect on iron uptake by chelation and an immobilization of iron, whereas its metabolites showed no chelation as well as immobilization of iron. Phytotoxicity study indicated the conversion of complex dye molecules into simpler oxidizable products which had a less toxic nature.     

Home‐range size and habitat use of European Nightjars Caprimulgus europaeus nesting in a complex plantation‐forest landscape

In Europe, the consequences of commercial plantation management for birds of conservation concern are poorly understood. The European Nightjar Caprimulgus europaeus is a species of conservation concern across Europe due to population depletion through habitat loss. Pine plantation‐forest is now a key Nightjar nesting habitat, particularly in northwestern Europe, and increased understanding of foraging habitat selection is required. We radiotracked 31 Nightjars in an extensive (185‐km²) complex conifer plantation landscape in 2009 and 2010. Home‐range 95% kernels for females, paired males and unpaired males were an order of magnitude larger than song territories of paired males, emphasizing the importance of habitats beyond the song territory. Nightjars travelled a mean maximum distance of 747 m from the territory centre each night. Home‐range placement relative to landscape composition was examined by compositional analysis. Pre‐closure canopy forest (aged 5–10 years) was selected at all scales (MCP, 95% and 50% kernels), with newly planted forest (aged 0–4 years) also selected within 50% kernels. For telemetry fixes relative to habitat composition within 2 km of their territory centre, individuals again selected pre‐closure and newly planted forest, and also grazed grass heath. Open ungrazed habitat was not selected, with implications for open habitat planning for biodiversity conservation within public‐owned forests. Despite the Nightjars’ selection for younger growth, moth biomass was greater in older forest stands, suggesting that foraging site selection reflects ease of prey capture rather than prey abundance. Within large plantation‐forest landscapes, a variety of growth stages is important for this species and our results suggest that grazing of open habitats within and adjacent to forest will additionally benefit the European Nightjar.     

Territorial Organization of the White Fronted Bee-eater in Kenya

White fronted bee-eaters (Merops bullockoides) live in extended family clans that aggregate to roost and nest in large colonies. Members of a given clan also share a common foraging territory, spatially segregated from the colony, to which they commute daily. The size of this foraging territory is positively related to clan size. Clan foraging territories are divided into a number of loosely overlapping foraging home ranges (FHRs), each occupied by an individual or mated pair of birds. Bee-eaters feed solitarily, flycatching to snap up large insects from widely dispersed perches. Each bird tolerates intrusion on its FHR by various members of its own clan, but aggressively excludes individuals belonging to other clans. Birds defend only their own FHR; however, because of the high amount of FHR overlap, the result is a loose form of group defense of the larger clan feeding area. For this reason we refer to the system as one of clan foraging territories. Birds occupying clan foraging territories located more than 1.5 to 2 km from a colony temporarily abandoned them while feeding nestlings. At such times, these birds provisioned their young by foraging near the colony. Birds that abandoned territories foraged less efficiently, provisioned nestlings at a lower rate, and had lower breeding success than did birds that continued use of their foraging territories. A model is developed relating territory abandonment to the energetics of central place foraging. Bee-eaters typically shift colony locations between successive breeding seasons. Foraging territory locations, in contrast, remain largely stable, resulting in large and unpredictable changes in the quality of any given foraging territory across years (quality being defined as distance from the currently active nesting colony). When a pair bond forms in bee-eaters, one member typically remains in its natal clan while the other moves into the clan of its partner. At this time, the new pair also establishes its own FHR, generally located within or on the periphery of the clan foraging territory of the natal member. The result of this settlement pattern is that white fronted bee-eaters live their lives spatially surrounded by members of their natal or their matrimonial clan. This, in turn, increases the likelihood of both mutualistic and nepotistic interactions among clan members. Such benefits include shared territory defense, enhanced security against predation, and maintenance of close social bonds with potential helpers. We hypothesize that the adaptive value of clan foraging territories lies in long-term familiarity with a foraging area. Such familiarity was demonstrated to lead to improved foraging efficiency and hypothesized to provide both increased security from predation and a more accurate means of monitoring temporal changes in environmental quality. The system of clan foraging territories found in white fronted bee-eaters differs from the all-purpose group territories of most other cooperative breeders studied to date in two important ways. First, foraging territories were not limiting in the sense of restricting dispersal and “forcing” offspring to remain with their natal clans. Unoccupied areas of seemingly suitable habitat were present throughout the study area at all times. Birds also showed no tendency to expand their boundaries or move into areas vacated when neighboring clans decreased in size or died off. Second, breeding status and foraging territory ownership are not linked in Merops bullockoides. All pairs defended foraging areas, yet only about 3/4 of them bred in any given year. This percentage did not differ significantly between pairs occupying high quality foraging territories (located near the active nesting colony) and pairs forced to abandon low quality foraging territories located more distantly. We conclude that foraging territories are not a critical ecological constraining factor for white fronted bee-eaters in Kenya.     

Interspecific territoriality in males of the tube blenny <Emphasis Type="Italic">Neoclinus bryope</Emphasis> (Actinopterygii: Chaenopsidae)

Territoriality was investigated in the tube blenny Neoclinus bryope (Actinopterygii: Chaenopsidae) at rocky intertidal areas of Banda Beach, Tateyama Bay, central Japan. Males used small holes as spawning nests, usually staying at the nest and maintaining the area while showing exclusive behaviors. Their home ranges were limited to areas within 30 cm distance from the nest for over 2 months. Four heterospecific fishes were threatened when they approached to within 6–14 cm of the nest holes, and two species of carnivorous snails were removed at points 0–30 cm from the nest entrance. There were no significant differences between the distances from the nest entrances to the points defended against fish and those used for foraging. As the four heterospecific species have similar feeding habits to those of N. bryope, the area defended against fishes may function as a foraging territory. At 24 h following the removal of nest owners, carnivorous snails had gathered to actively prey on eggs, indicating that the area defended against snails may function as a territory for protection against egg predators. Although the positions of females where males started courtship displays were significantly farther than the foraging points and the positions of threatened fishes, males displayed no territoriality against conspecific males. The fact that males did not leave the nest hole during the courtship suggests that it may be costly to maintain a courtship territory. These results show that males of tube blenny maintain territories for egg guarding and for protecting food resources around their nest holes in the spawning season.     

A technological approach to the description of group foraging in the ant <Emphasis Type="Italic">Myrmica rubra</Emphasis>

Group foraging in Myrmica rubra ants is considered as a cyclic process in which transition from one phase to another is determined by summation of actions of individual ants inside the nest and in the foraging territory. In its turn, individual behavior is considered as a labile sequence of tasks, such as territory exploration, acquiring and transportation of food, the completeness of the sequence depending on the individual experience. Data on foraging of three experimental M. rubra colonies were represented as a relational database in MS Access 2007, and the database tools were used to study the interrelated characteristics of the two levels of the foraging process (group and individual) and to analyze the quantitative parameters of individual and group behavior.