A test of the dear enemy phenomenon in the Eurasian beaver

We tested the hypothesis that Eurasian beavers, Castor fiber, display the dear enemy phenomenon; that is, they respond less aggressively to intrusions by their territorial neighbours than to intrusions by nonterritorial floaters (strangers). This ability could be advantageous in facilitating differential treatment of wandering strangers versus established neighbours. Territorial beavers were presented with scent from neighbouring and stranger adult males. Thirty-nine different active beaver families, 18 in 1998 and 21 in 1999, were presented with a two-way choice between two pairs of experimental scent mounds; mounds with castoreum from a neighbour and a stranger, and mounds with anal gland secretion from a neighbour and a stranger. Direct observations of the families during evenings showed that: (1) beavers sniffed both castoreum and anal gland secretion from a stranger significantly longer than from a neighbour, and (2) beavers responded aggressively (stood on the mound on their hind feet, pawing and/or overmarking) significantly longer to castoreum, but not to anal gland secretion, from a stranger than from a neighbour. When experimental scent mounds were allowed to remain overnight and the beavers' responses were measured the following morning, the beavers' responses were significantly stronger to both castoreum and anal gland secretion from a stranger than from a neighbour. These findings indicate that Eurasian beavers can use scent to discriminate between neighbours and strangers, thereby supporting existence of the dear enemy phenomenon in this species. Copyright 2002 The Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.     

Incidence of active tuberculosis in the native population of Canada.

We analysed the incidence rates of active tuberculosis reported between 1970 and 1981 in three groups of people born in Canada: Inuit, registered Indians and others (mainly of European origin). While the rates of tuberculosis were quite low in the last group, which constitutes about 82% of the population of Canada, they were 16 times higher among Indians and 24 times higher among Inuit. Some 20 to 30 years ago the Inuit had the highest recorded rate of tuberculosis in the world; with an intensive program the rate decreased sharply. Such a program has not been implemented among the Indian population, and the incidence rate has not decreased as rapidly. A major effort is required to satisfactorily control tuberculosis among Indians. In addition, we must not allow our efforts to slacken in the control of tuberculosis among the Inuit.     

Trophic niche and diet composition of the northernmost population of the Mediterranean horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus euryale) with conservation implications

Mammal Research - The diet of Rhinolophus euryale was studied in southeastern Slovakia by an analysis of faeces collected from netted bats. Prey availability was studied using light traps, counting...     

Three-rooted mandibular first permanent molars and the question of American Indian origins

Three-rooted mandibular first molars (3RM1) are characteristic of Asian and Asian-derived populations, particularly Aleuts (whose 3RM1 frequency is the highest in the world) and Eskimos. Similarities in the frequency of these teeth between American Indians and contemporary peoples of southeastern Asia indicate a closer relation between these groups than between American Indians and Aleut-Eskimos. Three-rooted mandibular first molar frequency does not differ significantly in males and females except in Aleut-Eskimos. Bilateral asymmetry of 3RM1 is relatively frequent in both sexes and all groups. All American Indian groups examined have a low frequency of 3RM1 pointing to a single Asian origin, except Athabaskan-speaking Arizona Navajos, whose 3RM1 frequency approaches that of Aleut-Eskimos. There is no evidence at present of any significant local microevolution of 3RM1 in two testable prehistoric American Indian groups, although genetic drift had possibly occurred in a few series of 3RM1-deficient southwestern U. S. prehistoric Western Pueblo Indians. No adaptive value can be found for 3RM1 in Indians. In prehistoric western U. S. Indians geographic frequency variation is only slightly greater than the very slight (and non-significant) testable temporal variation. Three migrations from Asia seem best to explain New World 3RM1 frequency variation.     

Efficiency of Malaise traps and colored pan traps for collecting flower visiting insects from three forested ecosystems

Pan and Malaise traps have been used widely to sample insect abundance and diversity, but no studies have compared their performance for sampling pollinators in forested ecosystems. Malaise trap design and color of pan traps are important parameters that influence insect pollinator catches. We compared pan trap (blue, yellow, white, and red) and Malaise trap catches from forests in three physiographic provinces (Piedmont, Coastal Plain, and Blue Ridge) of the southeastern United States. Similarities in trap performance between sites were observed with blue pan traps being most effective overall. Our results showed that various pollinator groups preferred certain pan trap colors and that adding color to Malaise traps influenced insect pollinator catches. However, pan traps generally caught more pollinators than Malaise traps. Because of their low cost and simplicity, using several colors of pan traps is an effective way to sample relative abundance and species richness of flower-visiting insects.     

Some ring-trap mutants of the fungusDactylella brochopaga drechsler

Mutagenesis with nitrosoguanidine yielded two classes of ring trap mutants in the predacious HyphomyceteDactylella brochopaga: strains which could make no traps and those with a proportion of giant, functional traps. A third strain, derived from a trapless strain made abnormally small functional traps. The giant traps are described, together with developmental abnormalities they sometimes display. The characteristics of the chief mutant strains are discussed.This research was supported by a grant from the National Research Council of Canada which is gratefully acknowledged     

Efficacy of multifunnel traps for capturing emerald ash borer (Coleoptera: Buprestidae): effect of color, glue, and other trap coatings

Tens of thousands of adhesive-coated purple prism traps are deployed annually in the United States to survey for the invasive emerald ash borer, Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire (Coleoptera: Buprestidae). A reusable, more user-friendly trap is desired by program managers, surveyors, and researchers. Field assays were conducted in southeastern Michigan to ascertain the feasibility of using nonsticky traps as survey and detection tools for emerald ash borer. Three nonsticky trap designs, including multifunnel (Lindgren), modified intercept panel, and drainpipe (all painted purple) were compared with the standard purple prism trap; no statistical differences in capture of emerald ash borer adults were detected between the multifunnel design and the prism. In subsequent color comparison assays, both green- and purple-painted multifunnel traps (and later, plastic versions of these colors) performed as well or better than the prism traps. Multifunnel traps coated with spray-on adhesive caught more beetles than untreated traps. The increased catch, however, occurred in the traps' collection cups and not on the trap surface. In a separate assay, there was no significant difference detected between glue-coated traps and Rain-X (normally a glass treatment)-coated traps, but both caught significantly more A. planipennis adults than untreated traps.     

Bark beetle pheromones and pine volatiles: attractant kairomone lure blend for longhorn beetles (Cerambycidae) in pine stands of the southeastern United States

In 2006, we examined the flight responses of 43 species of longhorn beetles (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) to multiple-funnel traps baited with binary lure blends of (1) ipsenol + ipsdienol, (2) ethanol + alpha-pinene, and a quaternary lure blend of (3) ipsenol + ipsdienol + ethanol + alpha-pinene in the southeastern United States. In addition, we monitored responses of Buprestidae, Elateridae, and Curculionidae commonly associated with pine longhorn beetles. Field trials were conducted in mature pine (Pinus pp.) stands in Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, and Virginia. The following species preferred traps baited with the quaternary blend over those baited with ethanol + alpha-pinene: Acanthocinus nodosus (F.), Acanthocinus obsoletus (Olivier), Astylopsis arcuata (LeConte), Astylopsis sexguttata (Say), Monochamus scutellatus (Say), Monochamus titillator (F.) complex, Rhagium inquisitor (L.) (Cerambycidae), Buprestis consularis Gory, Buprestis lineata F. (Buprestidae), Ips avulsus (Eichhoff), Ips calligraphus (Germar), Ips grandicollis (Eichhoff), Orthotomicus caelatus (Eichhoff), and Gnathotrichus materiarus (Fitch) (Curculionidae). The addition ofipsenol and ipsdienol had no effect on catches of 17 other species of bark and wood boring beetles in traps baited with ethanol and a-pinene. Ethanol + alpha-pinene interrupted the attraction of Ips avulsus, I. grandicollis, and Pityophthorus Eichhoff spp. (but not I. calligraphus) (Curculionidae) to traps baited with ipsenol + ipsdienol. Our results support the use of traps baited with a quaternary blend of ipsenol + ipsdienol + ethanol + alpha-pinene for common saproxylic beetles in pine forests of the southeastern United States.     

Blackfoot Indian utilization of the flora of the northwestern great plains

The Blackfoot Indians occupied the northwestern plains along and adjacent to the eastern base of the Rocky Mountains in present-day southern Alberta, Canada, and western Montana, V. S. A. Climate and topography and, hence, vegetation of the region are diverse. Although primarily meat-eaters, the Blackfoot consumed some vegetable foods. They had a knowledge of plant medicines, which they used in the treatment of both humans and horses. Plants were used for other purposes including the production of dyes and perfumes, the manufacture of weapons, and as construction materials. The Blackfoot Indians utilized 185 species belonging to 140 genera of plants distributed among 57 families.     

Hemoglobin variant found in Koreans, Chinese, and North American Indians: alpha-2 beta-2 22 Glu Ala

Hemoglobin G Taegu, an electrophoretically slow hemoglobin variant found in four among 6700 apparently normal Korean subjects, has been shown to have a structural anomaly at position 22 of the beta-chain where an alanyl residue occurs in place of the glutamyl group normally found at that position in Hemoglobin A. The same structural anomaly initially was established by other workers in slow hemoglobin variants occurring in North American Indians and more recently has been reported in a Northern Chinese subject. The identical hemoglobins in the three ethnic groups are Hemoglobins G Coushatta, found in several Alabama-Coushatta Indians in Tex.; G Saskatoon, seen in a few descendants of Santee Indians currently living in Canada; G Hsin-Chu, in a Chinese from the northern province of Liaoning and currently living in Taiwan; and G Taegu in Koreans. It is assumed that the Chinese and Korean subjects have the same hemoglobin variant because of gene flow. No similar assumption connecting these two groups with the North American Indian subjects is considered warranted with the presently limited available information.     

Human botulism in Canada (1919-1973)

Since 1919, in Canada, 62 authenticated outbreaks of human botulism have affected 181 persons, with 83 deaths, a fatality rate of 46%. Among these, 41 outbreaks were bacteriologically determined (31 in one laboratory) as six type A, four type B, one both A and B, and 30 type E. About two thirds of the total outbreaks, cases and deaths involved Eskimos and Pacific coast Indians consuming raw marine mammal products and salmon eggs, respectively. Other parts of Canada recorded seven occurrences due to miscellaneous vehicles, three being type B. Since January 1961 there have been 38 outbreaks, involving 94 cases with 33 deaths. These include 18 outbreaks among Eskimos, affecting 51 persons (of whom 24 died) in Labrador, southern Baffin Island, northern Quebec, and the Mackenzie area. Also, putrid salmon eggs caused 15 outbreaks among Pacific coast Indians, totalling 35 cases, of whom only six died, the low fatality rate reflecting the introduction of type E botulinus antitoxin during 1961.     

Complex Population Structure of Borrelia burgdorferi in Southeastern and South Central Canada as Revealed by Phylogeographic Analysis

Lyme disease, caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto, is an emerging zoonotic disease in Canada and is vectored by the blacklegged tick, Ixodes scapularis. Here we used Bayesian analyses of sequence types (STs), determined by multilocus sequence typing (MLST), to investigate the phylogeography of B. burgdorferi populations in southern Canada and the United States by analyzing MLST data from 564 B. burgdorferi-positive samples collected during surveillance. A total of 107 Canadian samples from field sites were characterized as part of this study, and these data were combined with existing MLST data for samples from the United States and Canada. Only 17% of STs were common between both countries, while 49% occurred only in the United States, and 34% occurred only in Canada. However, STs in southeastern Ontario and southwestern Quebec were typically identical to those in the northeastern United States, suggesting a recent introduction into this region from the United States. In contrast, STs in other locations in Canada (the Maritimes; Long Point, Ontario; and southeastern Manitoba) were frequently unique to those locations but were putative descendants of STs previously found in the United States. The picture in Canada is consistent with relatively recent introductions from multiple refugial populations in the United States. These data thus point to a geographic pattern of populations of B. burgdorferi in North America that may be more complex than simply comprising northeastern, midwestern, and Californian groups. We speculate that this reflects the complex ecology and spatial distribution of key reservoir hosts.     

Seeking the Spirit: Plains Indians in Russia.

Seeking the Spirit: Plains Indians in Russia. 1997. Approximately 40 minutes, color. film by Beatrice Medicine and Liucija Baskauskas. For more information in the U.S.A, contact Documentary Educational Resources, 101 Morse St., Watertown, MA 02172, or in Canada, V-Tape, 101 Richmond Street, Suite 452, Toronto, Ontario M5V 3A8.     

Active abdominal tuberculosis in Canada in 1970-81.

We reviewed all 341 cases of abdominal tuberculosis reported in Canada between 1970 and 1981. Over the study period abdominal tuberculosis accounted for a stable proportion (0.8%) of all reported cases of tuberculosis in Canada. Its incidence declined steadily. It was more common in women, in native Indians and in people born in Asia. Detailed records of the 55 cases reported to Statistics Canada from British Columbia and of an additional 31 cases not reported to Statistics Canada (usually because they involved concomitant disease elsewhere, notably the lungs) were studied. Five of the 55 cases reported to Statistics Canada had been reported incorrectly. Of the 81 cases in British Columbia 51% involved peritonitis, 21% ileocecal disease, 20% anorectal disease, 10% mesenteric lymphadenitis, 1% disease of the sigmoid colon and 1% disease of the liver. The rate of bacteriologic confirmation was low (51%).     

Coquille flora (Louisiana): An ethnobotanical reconstruction

Investigations and findings of a floristic study at Coquille, an archaeological site in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, are reported. In contrast with the surrounding marsh and swamp, there is a distinctive diversity in the vegetation at the site. Most of the plants are native species that have been reported as ethnobotahically important to the southeastern Indians. It is postulated that if the plant community present at Coquille today were present in prehistory, this area was rich in botanical species potentially useful for foods, medicines, and other material resources.     

Cardiovascular risk in young apparently healthy descendents from Asian Indian migrants in the Netherlands: the SHIVA study

Background.Asian Indian migrants in the Western world are highly susceptible for ischaemic heart disease (IHD). Until now, most IHD risk studies were performed in first and second generation Asian Indian expatriates. For optimal prevention, knowledge of the cardiovascular risk profile of younger generations is crucial. Method.In a cross-sectional study we assessed the prevalence of conventional IHD risk factors and Framingham risk score in asymptomatic third to seventh generation Asian Indian descendants, compared with Europeans. Subjects were classified as asymptomatic if they did not have documented IHD, diabetes, hypertension or high cholesterol. Results.A total of 1790 Asian Indians (45% men, age 35.9±10.7 years) and 370 native Dutch hospital employees (23% men, age 40.8±10.1 years) were recruited. Asian Indians had higher levels of total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein, triglycerides, and lower high-density lipoprotein levels than the Dutch. Glucose intolerance was present in 7.1 vs. 0.5% men, and in 6.1 vs. 1.4% women (both p<0.001). Asian Indian women were more frequently obese (12 vs. 5%; p<0.001), and centrally obese (44 vs. 25%; p<0.001) as compared with the Dutch women. Prevalence of most of the conventional and modifiable cardiovascular risk factors in each ten-year age group was higher in Asian Indians compared with controls, which reflected in higher Framingham risk scores. Conclusion.This study demonstrates the persistence of an unfavourable cardiovascular risk profile in young, third to seventh generation migrated Asian Indians and supports an aggressive screening and intervention strategy. (Neth Heart J 2009;17:155–61.)     

Efficiency of modifications in the design and use of submerged funnel traps for sampling Chironomidae (Diptera)

The effects of three modifications in design and use of submerged funnel traps on capture efficiencies for emerging Chironomidae were examined in a recently-created reservoir in northern Manitoba, Canada. The experiments showed that: (1) Sample counts were higher in traps suspended just below the surface of the water than in traps suspended 1.5 m deeper, just above the lake bottom, probably owing to difficulties in handling the deep traps. (2) Sample counts were lower in traps with small cones inserted into the neck of the collecting bottle than in traps without these cones, although the differences were not significant. Bottles fitted with mini-cones usually retained higher numbers of other invertebrates which destroyed much of the chironomid catch. (3) Sample counts were proportionally higher in traps with a basal area of 0.283 m² compared to traps of 0.1 m² area.     

The nuclei of the giant traps of a mutant of Monacrosporium bembicodes (Drechsler) Subram (Dactylella brochopaga Drechsler)

A mutant strain, MG-20, of the predacious hyphomycete Monacrosporium bembicodes (Drechsler) Subram (Dactylella brochopaga Drechsler) develops gaint ring traps, as well as normal ones when supplied with prey. Both types are functional. Giant traps contain more nuclei per cell than normal ones, and as they age, all their nuclei break into fragments which persist in the cell. These findings are briefly discussed.This research was supported by a grant from the National Research Council of Canada which is gratefully acknowledged.     

Phenology of Lygus lineolaris (Hemiptera: Miridae) in Minnesota June-bearing strawberries: comparison of sampling methods and habitats

Field studies were conducted in southeastern Minnesota from 2000 to 2002 to determine the phenology of Lygus lineolaris in various habitats and to compare yellow and white sticky traps as a sampling method for adult L. lineolaris. Strawberry fields were sampled for L. lineolaris adults using yellow sticky traps, and nymphs were sampled using the standard white pan beat method. Adult L. lineolaris abundance in alfalfa, an adjacent fence-row, and a wooded habitat were also compared. The nonlinear relationship between cumulative trap catch and cumulative degree-days was modeled with a two-parameter cumulative Weibull function to predict early-season adult capture using yellow sticky traps. Adult L. lineolaris were detected in bearing-year strawberries at the onset of vegetative growth in all years. Yellow sticky traps caught significantly higher densities of adult L. lineolaris than white sticky traps. The Weibull model predicted 50% capture at 10 DD (>12.4 degrees C), which corresponds to the vegetative strawberry growth stage. L. lineolaris nymphs were not detected until the blossom stage. Alfalfa harbored significantly higher densities of L. lineolaris than other habitats during early-season sampling (i.e., March-June). Late-season sampling (July-September) revealed significantly higher densities in bearing-year strawberries. These results suggest that monitoring at the onset of vegetative growth, using yellow sticky traps, will be an efficient method for detecting early L. lineolaris adult activity.