THE FOOD OF RED GROUSE CHICKS LAGOPUS L. SCOTICUS

The diet of young Red Grouse was studied from the crop contents of 211 chicks caught on a moor in northeast Scotland. The food was more varied than that of adults, but shoot tips of heather usually formed at least 75% (by dry weight) of their diet, as in adults. Arthropods, particularly Diptera, were taken frequently by chicks up to three weeks old, but they formed less than 5% (by dry weight) of the diet then. The chicks ate more invertebrates when more were available. There was no evidence that chick survival was related to the abundance of invertebrates. The chicks ate heather containing more nitrogen and phosphorus than that eaten by adults at the same time of year.     

The management of rice straw,fertilisers and leaf litters in rice cropping systems in Northeast Thailand.

The maintenance of soil organic matter (SOM) and the balancing of nutrient flows into and out of the rainfed rice cropping systems in Northeast Thailand is of paramount importance to arresting the decline in soil fertility and crop yields. A system where small applications of leaf litters from locally grown trees are applied annually to rice paddy soils prior to transplanting is described. The annual application of 1500 kg/ha of Cajanus cajan, Acacia auriculiformis, Phyllanthus taxodifolius and Samanea saman for five seasons resulted in increases in rice grain yield of 48, 35, 32 and 23% above the no-leaf litter control, respectively. Average annual nutrient inputs from the leaf litters, in kg/ha, ranged from 62.7 N, 3.9 P, 17.9 K, and 3.5 S for Cajanus cajan to 24.5 N, 1.5 P, 8.1 K and 2.0 S for Acacia auriculiformis. Nutrient balances, determined by the difference between the inputs (fertiliser and added leaf litters) and outputs (grain and straw) indicated net positive N and P balances of up to 457 and 60 kg/ha. respectively, after five seasons of leaf litter applications. Sulfur and potassium balances resulted in net deficits of up to −3 and −52 kg S and K/ha, respectively, where no leaf litter was applied and rice straw was removed following harvest. Calculated apparent nutrient recoveries reflected the decomposition rate of the added residues and were highest for P and K, reflecting their higher soil residual value than mobile nutrients such as N and S. Sustainable farming systems will require that crop yields are stable through the maintenance of soil fertility and the balance of nutrients in the system. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

The influence of rainfall on diet and reproduction in four African rodent species

Arvicanthis nitoticus was found, during two seasons of the study, to begin breeding some two to three months after the start of the rains; at this time weed seeds first appeared in the stomach contents. Breeding continued during the rains and into the early part of the dry season while weed seeds and cereals formed the major part of the diet. Breeding declined during the early part of the dry season, and fat was laid down while weed seeds and cereals were still present but less abundant in the diet. Later in the dry season, breeding ceased and the diet was switched dramatically, first to the leaves and stems of dicotyledonous plants then almost exclusively to grass, and fat deposits were rapidly utilized. Arvicanthis living in an area where cereals were artifically supplied bred almost continuously. Mastomys natalensis also bred when seeds and cereals were most plentiful, but, by ranging widely over open ground, often managed to continue to find these foods, and insects, during the dry season. Supplied cereals failed to produce a reproductive response in Mastomys –instead, unprecedented fat deposits developed. Unseasonal reproduction in this species was, however, observed in an unseasonal wheat crop. Rhabdomys pumilio bred when cereals were plentiful but was also found breeding when its diet was mainly clover–a crop that is noted for its high crude protein content. The herbivorous Otomys angoniensis bred throughout the year and was unaffected by supplied cereals. It seems clear that the food supply of grani-vorous species is dependent on rainfall, and that prolongation of the normal rainy season may generate excess food and cover, resulting in and extended breeding season and unusually large numbers of these rodents.     

The food of suburban foxes (Vulpes vulpes), with special reference to London

The food of foxes in suburban London was examined using stomach contents and den litter analysis. A great diversity of food was taken. Adult foxes killed nearer to the city centre were found to eat significantly fewer earthworms, domestic pets and wild mammals, but more scavenged food items, than foxes killed closer to the suburban fringe. Cubs killed closer to the city centre ate significantly fewer earthworms and insects, and more pet birds, pet mammals and scavenged food items than cubs killed nearer the periphery of the suburban area. Although seasonal trends in food selection were apparent, they were not as pronounced as those observed in studies of rural foxes. At no time of the year did a single food item predominate in the diet of adult foxes. Passeriformes were the most important single food item in the diet of young cubs, but there was no correlation between the number of Passeriformes eaten and their abundance, nor between annual changes in the abundance of small birds and mean fox birth litter size and productivity. Most foxes examined were in good body condition; there was no seasonal variation in body weight, although fat content did vary seasonally. A complementary survey in Bristol on losses of domestic pets to foxes revealed that 07% of pet cats and 80% of other pets kept outdoors were killed in a year. Damage to garden Crops was negligible.     

Trophic structure of coastal freshwater stream fishes from an Atlantic rainforest: evidence of the importance of protected and forest-covered areas to fish diet

The role of riparian forests in the functioning of aquatic ecosystems is well known, and they are recognized as an important food source for riverine fauna. This study investigates the trophic structure of coastal freshwater stream fishes from a large conservation area in an Atlantic rainforest using stomach content and food availability analyses. Four samples were collected from 19 sample sites. Fishes were caught with electrofishing. Prey were sampled with trays, Surber, traps, and electrofishing to evaluate the availability of food resources. The diets of 20 fish species were determined from the stomach contents of 1691 individuals. Terrestrial and aquatic insects and detritus were the most consumed items. Fish diet and prey availability were not seasonally dependent. A cluster analysis showed five trophic functional groups: terrestrial insectivores, aquatic insectivores, detritivores, carnivores, and omnivores. Insectivores predominated in species richness (60%), abundance (47%) and biomass (39%). Allochthonous and autochthonous items were found in similar proportions in the environment; however, allochthonous items were representative for insectivores and detritivores, whereas autochthonous items were important for primarily aquatic insectivores. The preference for certain insects by insectivorous fishes was associated with food selectivity rather than the availability of the resource and demonstrated the strong relationship between feeding behavior and food preference. The absence of seasonal variation in the diets of the fishes was possibly related to the consistent food supply. Our results confirm the role of the forest as a food provider for stream fishes, such as terrestrial insects and plant debris/detritus (also consumed by aquatic insects, which subsequently serve as food for fish), highlighting the importance of conserving the Brazilian Atlantic rainforests.     

Role of granivory and insectivory in the life cycle of the carabid beetle Amara similata

1. The cereal field carabid beetle Amara similata was selected to elucidate the role of seeds and insects as food sources. Three experiments were performed to rank different weed seeds and insects in terms of food value: (i) fecundity in relation to adult diet, (ii) larval survival in relation to diet and (iii) larval survival in relation to parental diet.
2. Seeds were found to be of high value and insects of low value both for adults and larvae. Adding insects to a seed diet gave no significant improvement. The value of single species of seeds varied within adults and larvae, but also between adults and larvae. This is the first report that Amara larvae are granivorous.
3. The value of different insects varied by species. Cereal aphid species were of the lowest value both for adult and larval beetles. On a diet of mixed insects, the adults were able to produce a low number of eggs but the larvae all died before pupation.
4. There was no simple relation between survival of the larvae and the quality of the parents' diet.     

Fleshy fruits of indigenous and adventive plants in the diet of birds in forest remnants, Nelson, New Zealand

The relationship between fleshy-fruited indigenous species and adventive weeds in the diet of 500 mist-netted birds was studied in forest remnants of differing size and degree of modification. Fruit abundance Peaked in March and April, and most fruit was either red/orange or purple/black. The physical parameters of adventive and indigenous fruits were not significantly different. Six of the 15 passerine species netted are frugivores, and of those netted 77% had eaten fruit. They were divisible into three groups: endemic (bellbirds, Anthornis melanura; tuis, Prosthemadera novaeseelandiae), non-endemic but indigenous (silvereyes, Zosterops lateralis), and adventive (blackbirds, Turdus merula; song thrushes, T. philomelos; starlings, Sturnus vulgaris). Bird diets varied between the groups and according to fruit availability as determined by sires and seasons. Endemic birds ate the least adventive fruit; bellbirds ate mainly Podocarpus hallii and Coprosma robusta fruits at all sites. Tuis had a varied diet, including some adventive fruits. Silvereyes ate the widest range of indigenous and adventive fruits. Blackbirds and, to a smaller extent, song thrushes ate many of the same indigenous fruits as the other bird groups, but their diet included more adventive fruits, e.g., Berberis glaucocarpa. Starlings were caught only when they fed on Sambucus nigra, but they also ate a few indigenous fruits. There was little seasonal variation in bird numbers caught. Adventive species extended the seasonal availability of fruits into winter, particularly in the forest remnant closest to a town, which had the highest proportion of adventive fruits. Several weed species distributed mainly by non-endemic and adventive birds are forming new secondary vegetation. Some have large fruit crops which generally offer little food for endemic birds. Where fruiting weeds pre-empt sites that may have been occupied by native species, they create an inferior habitat for endemic birds. However, the non-endemic and adventive birds also disperse indigenous fruits into early successional vegetation, and the importance of their seed rain for conservation of biodiversity will therefore depend on the site.     

Seasonal change in the composition of the diet of eastern lowland gorillas

Details are presented of the composition of the diet of eastern lowland gorillas, derived mainly from a study of their fresh trails and fecal analysis, during the course of an entire year in the tropical lowland forests of the Itebero region, Zaire. Gorillas ate 194 plant foods from 121 species and 45 families. They consumed 48 species of fruits; and 89% of fecal samples contained fruit seeds, but fruits were a relatively small part (25%) of the total number of food items. The composition of their diet changed seasonally. When consumption of fruit decreased in the long rainy and the long dry seasons, the gorillas ate, in addition to Zingiberaceae and Marantaceae, many kinds of leaf and bark, which may be an important buffer against the shortage of fruits. Gorillas also fed regularly on ants (Ponerinae), and the frequency of consumption showed small seasonal variations. From a comparison of diet composition, eastern lowland gorillas appeared to be intermediate between the other two subspecies. The choice of food showed differences in preference of fruits and insects between subspecies and may reflect high similarities within subspecies in lowland and montane forests.     

Seeing red: the origin of grain pigmentation in US weedy rice

Weedy forms of crop species infest agricultural fields worldwide and are a leading cause of crop losses, yet little is known about how these weeds evolve. Red rice (Oryza sativa), a major weed of cultivated rice fields in the US, is recognized by the dark‐pigmented grain that gives it its common name. Studies using neutral molecular markers have indicated a close relationship between US red rice and domesticated rice, suggesting that the weed may have originated through reversion of domesticated rice to a feral form. We have tested this reversion hypothesis by examining molecular variation at Rc, the regulatory gene responsible for grain pigmentation differences between domesticated and wild rice. Loss‐of‐function mutations at Rc account for the absence of proanthocyanidin pigments in cultivated rice grains, and the major rc domestication allele has been shown to be capable of spontaneous reversion to a functional form through additional mutations at the Rc locus. Using a diverse sample of 156 weedy, domesticated and wild Oryzas, we analysed DNA sequence variation at Rc and its surrounding 4 Mb genomic region. We find that reversion of domestication alleles does not account for the pigmented grains of weed accessions; moreover, we find that haplotypes characterizing the weed are either absent or very rare in cultivated rice. Sequences from genomic regions flanking Rc are consistent with a genomic footprint of the rc selective sweep in cultivated rice, and they are compatible with a close relationship of red rice to Asian Oryzas that have never been cultivated in the US.     

绿色食品生产中土壤作物系统铅的积累与迁移研究

研究了Pb在土壤-作物生态系统中的积累和迁移,并结合水稻绿色食品生产,进行了无机肥、有机肥和生物菌肥及其配比试验．结果表明,土壤全Pb含量随土层的加深而逐渐递减,收获后土壤全Pb含量在0～15和15～30cm分别为11．14和9．37mg·kg^-1．水稻根从土壤中吸收Pb,并向茎、叶和籽粒中迁移．在同一生长期,水稻植株不同部位全Pb累积态势为：根>茎叶>籽粒．在不同生长期,随水稻生长发育,全Pb含量缓慢增加,至收获时,606—14和辽粳294籽粒中全Pb含量分别为0．008和0．007mg·kg^-1,均低于绿色食品标准．方差分析表明,品种间产量差异显著;不同处理间产量差异不显著．试验结果表明。可以用有机肥或生物菌肥来代替无机肥进行水稻生产．     

黑线仓鼠的食物与食量

作者从1983年至1989年,在河北省三个不同的气候区,对农田中的黑线仓鼠(Cricetulus,bara-bensis)的食物与食量进行了调查。结果表明,黑线仓鼠主要取食农作物种子。同时取食草籽和根、茎、叶、花、果实及动物性食物。不同地区、不同作物地、不同季节和年度、不同性别鼠的食物差异显著。食物差异与鼠的种群繁值及数量动态有关。月夹捕率与颊囊中食物的总检出率和种子检出率正相关非常显著。直线回归方程式分别为y=38.388+2.866x n=60 r=0.343>r_(0.01)=0.325和y=29.734+2.669x r=0.394>r_(0.01360)=0.325。黑线仓鼠对食物的选择,主要受到食物质量的影响,同时也受到食物频度、作物的物候变化、动物的群落结构、种群密度、种内与种间竞争等多种因素的综合影响。在不同的时间和栖息地影响它食物选择的主要因素不同。日食量4-5g。     

Variation in the harvest index of tropical maize: evaluation of recent evidence from Mexico and Malawi

In temperate zones, the potential grain yield of wheat has increased during the twentieth century owing to progressive increases in the harvest index of new varieties, which are principally associated with reduction in plant stature. Crop biomass has not increased substantially. In contrast, the potential grain yield of maize in the USA has increased owing to progressive increases in biomass, principally associated with selection for grain yield at higher population density. Harvest index was already around 0.5 for recommended varieties in 1930, and has not increased significantly since. However, for both crops, the harvest index of a given variety has proved to be a highly‐heritable character, except under severe stress. Less is known about the physiology of tropical maize. This paper reviews evidence from Mexico and Malawi that tropical maize can respond to selection for reduced stature following the same pattern as temperate wheat, but, under other circumstances, the magnitude of harvest index is not highly heritable, varying inconsistently with season, management and environment. It is proposed that these differences arise out of the unique vulnerability of the grain‐setting process around flowering. The plasticity of harvest index under long, favourable conditions, however, remains to be explained, although it is probably also related to the events around grain setting. Nevertheless, to the subsistence farmer, higher harvest index may not be a high priority in crop improvement, because of the need for large quantities of high‐quality stover.     

土壤含水量与头季稻和再生稻产量的关系

土壤含水量与头季稻和再生稻产量的关系熊洪ＳｏｍｂａｔＣｈｉｎａｗｏｎｇ（四川省农科院水稻高粱所,泸州６４６１００）（ＫａｓｅｔｓａｒｔＵｎｉｖｅｒｓｉｔｙ,Ｂａｎｇｋｏｋ７３１４０）ＲｅｌａｔｉｏｎｓｈｉｐＢｅｔｗｅｅｎＳｏｉｌＷａｔｅｒＣｏｎｔｅｎ...     

Developing a set of simulation-based indicators to assess harmfulness and contribution to biodiversity of weed communities in cropping systems

Weeds are both harmful for agricultural production and an essential component of biodiversity in agricultural landscapes. Therefore, new cropping systems aiming at both maximising weed-related biodiversity and minimising weed harmfulness are needed. New cropping systems are now increasingly designed with weed dynamics models but these usually only consider weed densities or crop yield losses. The present paper proposed a set of indicators for assessing the impact on crop production and biodiversity of weed communities simulated with a cropping system model. Five harmfulness indicators were developed to take account of the criteria most frequently listed by farmers via an internet survey: (1) crop yield loss, (2) harvest pollution by weed seeds, stems and leaves, (3) harvesting problems due to green weed biomass blocking the combine, and (4) field infestation represented by weed biomass averaged over cropping seasons. A fifth indicator was added, i.e. (5) the increase in crop disease (i.e. take-all disease of cereals) in the presence of weeds. The biodiversity indicators were chosen in collaboration with ecologists. Two indicators reflect the weed contribution to vegetal biodiversity: (1) species richness and (2) Pielou's index for species equitability. Three other indicators were developed to assess weeds as a trophic resource for other organisms in the agro-ecosystems: (3) the number of weed seeds present on soil surface in autumn and winter to feed field birds, (4) lipid-rich seeds on soil surface in summer to feed insects such as carabids, and (5) weed flowers in spring and summer to feed domestic bees. These indicators were tested in a series of contrasted cropping systems identified in farm surveys and simulated with FlorSys. Analyses of variance showed that the cropping system and the crop sequence presented the highest impact on indicator values. Weather scenario and pedoclimate had little effect. Antagonisms and synergies between weed-related harmfulness and biodiversity were identified with Spearman correlations. Harmfulness indicators were all positively correlated, except for additional disease risk which was at best poorly correlated with other indicators. Most weed-related biodiversity indicators were also positively correlated, except species richness which was negatively correlated with species equitability, bird resource and insect resource. Weed harmfulness generally increased with increasing weed-related biodiversity. These correlations were though weak, and others were negative, showing that increased biodiversity could occur with decreased harmfulness (e.g. trophic resource for insects vs. yield loss or field infestation). Consequently, there are cropping systems that reconcile agricultural production and biodiversity.     

Habitat and diet of young grouse broods: resource partitioning between Capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus) and Black Grouse (Tetrao tetrix) in boreal forests

We compared habitat use and diets of young Capercaillie and Black Grouse broods in a boreal forest in southeast Norway. We used pointing dogs to search for broods (N = 83) in mature “natural” forest types and examined the crop content of 66 chicks 1–9 weeks old. We also measured the abundance of insects in the habitats where broods were found. Although overlapping substantially in both habitat and diets, there were notable differences: Capercaillie broods were more frequently recorded in bilberry-dominated forest types, whereas Black Grouse preferentially used pine bog forest, a more open habitat with little bilberry. Capercaillie chicks ate proportionally more insects, particularly lepidopteran larvae, and insects dominated their diet for a longer period of time (until age 28–29 days) than in Black Grouse (14–15 days). After reaching their peaks, the quantity of insects in the crops declined rapidly especially in Capercaillie, and in one of 2 years this occurred at a time when insects, including larvae, were still abundant in the habitats. Among plant foods, both species ate large amounts of Bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus) and Bog Whortleberry (V. uliginosum). The main difference between species was a large proportion of both over-wintered and new, not yet ripe, berries of Cranberry (Oxycoccus quadripetalus) in Black Grouse, and a higher proportion of the forb Melampyrum sylvaticum in Capercaillie. The difference in diets reflected their differential use of habitats; the Vaccinium-preferred habitats of Capercaillie were richer in insects, particularly larvae, than the pine bog habitat preferred by Black Grouse. Because insects, especially larvae, comprised a larger proportion of the diet of Capercaillie chicks and chicks of this species need more food to sustain their rapid growth, Capercaillie is likely to be more sensitive to variation in insect food than Black Grouse. Also, by reducing the abundance of bilberry, the main host plant of larvae chick food, clearcutting forestry has negative effects on the brood habitat quality of both species.     

Influence of long-term different fertilization on soil weed seed bank diversity of a paddy soil under rice/rape rotation

A long-term fertilized paddy field under rice/ rape rotation in the Taihu Lake Region was selected to investigate the dynamics of soil weed seed diversity.Four fertilizer treatments were performed,including non-fert-ilizer (NF),chemical fertilizer only (CF),chemical fert-ilizer combined with pig manure (CMF) and chemical fertilizer plus crop stalk (CSF).We recorded the seed numbers and crop yields,estimated the weed seed bank density and identified the kinds of weed seeds in the top-soil (0-15 cm) in the study area using a stereomicroscope.Based on the records,we analyzed the effect of long-term fertilization on soil weed seed bank diversity and the rela-tionship between weed seed diversity and crop yields.Comparing the four treatments,it was found that in the cultivating seasons of both rice and rape,the density of soil weed seed bank was the lowest with the treatment of chemical fertilizer plus crop stalk.Whereas,the total num-ber of species and the weed seed bank diversity was the highest.Furthermore,the crop yields were at maximum and kept constant with this treatment.There was a def-inite correlation between fertilizer treatment and soil weed seed bank diversity and crop yields.It was concluded that balancing the fertilizer management was helpful in main-taining soil weed seed bank diversity,increasing crop yields and alleviating crop yield fluctuation.Therefore,among the four fertilizer treatments,chemical fertilizer plus rice crop stalk treatment was the best one to stimulate the productivity of agricultural ecosystems and simulta-neously protect biodiversity.     

Does weed suppression by high crop density depend on crop spatial pattern and soil water availability?

Size-asymmetric competition, in which larger plants obtain a disproportionally larger share of contested resources, can be applied in agriculture to suppress weeds by increasing crop density and spatial uniformity, as these practices enhance the initial size-asymmetric competitive advantages of crop seedlings over weed seedlings early in the growing season. We do not yet know how agronomic factors influence weed suppression at high crop density. We performed a field experiment to ask how crop density, spatial pattern and irrigation interact to influence weed suppression and grain yield in semi-arid croplands. The experimental was a factorial design with 4 factors: wheat cultivar (Ningchun4, Xihan2), irrigation level (control, irrigated), sowing density (low, 196 seeds m⁻²; moderate, 400 seeds m^-2; high, 625 seeds m⁻²), and spatial sowing pattern (rows, uniform). Weed growth was effectively suppressed by increased crop density and spatial uniformity. Effects of crop density on weed suppression and grain yield were more pronounced in the uniform pattern than in crop rows. Weed biomass was 55.7% lower and grain yield increased 29.7% higher in the high density uniform pattern compared to the low density and row pattern. Crop density interacted with cultivar in determining both weed biomass and grain yield, potentially reflecting different traits regulating crop competitive ability. Irrigation and crop density had additive effects on weed biomass but interacted to influence grain yield. Our findings support the idea that increased crop density and spatial uniformity can make a valuable and environmentally friendly contribution to weed control in wheat, reducing the need for chemical or mechanical weed control. We need a better understanding of the interactions among climate, agricultural management and crop genotype to improve our ability to effectively suppress weeds with high crop density and spatial uniformity.     

Dietary differences between neighboring Cebus capucinus groups: local traditions, food availability or responses to food profitability?

The feeding patterns of three neighboring groups of Cebus capucinus were documented over a 3-year period in Santa Rosa National Park, Costa Rica. We describe the diets of the three groups and examine whether dietary differences between groups could be attributed to environmental differences in food abundances, to differences in the profitability of what was available or to learned local traditions. Diets were variable among groups; group A primarily ate fruit (81.2% of feeding time) and spent little time eating insects (16.9%), while group C was more heavily reliant on insects (44.3%) and ate less fruit (53.0%). Group B had a diet that was somewhat intermediate (69.8% fruit, 29.0% insects). By measuring the densities of all major plant foods, we were able to determine that many of the dietary differences between groups could not be attributed to simple measures of food abundance, but we could not distinguish between the food profitability hypothesis and local tradition hypothesis.     

Herbicide resistant rice (Oryza sativa L.): Global implications for weedy rice and weed management*

Rice cultivars resistant to broad‐spectrum herbicides have been developed and their commercial release is imminent, especially for imidazolinone and glufosinate resistant varieties in the USA and Latin America. Glyphosate‐resistant rice should follow within a few years. Rice growers throughout the world could benefit from the introduction of herbicide‐resistant rice cultivars that would allow in‐crop, selective control of weedy Oryza species. Other perceived benefits are the possibility to control ‘hard‐to‐kill’ weed species and weed populations that have already evolved resistance to herbicides currently used in rice production, especially those of the Echinochloa species complex. Weed management could also be improved by more efficient post‐emergence control. Introduction of herbicide resistant rice could also bring areas heavily infested with weedy rice that have been abandoned back to rice production, allow longer term crop rotations, reduce consumption of fossil fuels, promote the replacement of traditional chemicals by more environmentally benign products, and provide more rice grain without adding new land to production. There are also concerns, however, about the impact of releasing herbicide‐resistant rice on weed problems. Of most concern is the possibility of rapid transfer of the resistance trait to compatible weedy Oryza species. Development of such herbicide resistant weedy rice populations would substantially limit the chemical weed management options for farmers. Herbicide‐resistant rice volunteers also could become problematic, and added selection pressure to weed populations could aggravate already serious weed resistance problems. Because of the risk of weedy Oryza species becoming resistant to broad‐spectrum herbicides, mitigating measures to prevent gene flow, eventually attainable by both conventional breeding and molecular genetics, have been proposed. With commercialisation of the first herbicide resistant varieties planned for 2001, these mitigating measures will not be available for use with this first generation of herbicide resistant rice products. Release of herbicide resistant rice should depend on a thorough risk assessment especially in areas infested with con‐specific weedy rice or intercrossing weedy Oryza species. Regulators will have to balance risks and benefits based on local needs and conditions before allowing commercialisation of herbicide‐resistant rice varieties. If accepted, these varieties should be considered as components of integrated weed management, and a rational herbicide use and weedy rice control should be promoted to prevent losing this novel tool.     

Insects as Food: A Case Study from the Northwest Amazon

In this article I examine the use of insects as food by Tukanoan Indians in the Northwest Amazon and discuss both the characteristics of the species exploited and their significance in the diet. Data on insect collection were obtained from harvest records and participant-observation. Dietary intake was determined from weighed food intake records. The insects collected belonged to over 20 species. The most important in the diet were those which formed large, highly predictable aggregations: beetle larvae (genus Rhynchophorus), ants (genus Atta), termites (genus Syntermes), and caterpillars (families Noctuidae and Saturniidae). The composition of insects is similar to that of other animal foods. Their inclusion in the diet was frequent and inversely related to the consumption of fish and game. They provided up to 12% of the crude protein derived from animal foods in men's diets and 26% in women's diets during one season of the year.