Vom Ruhr Zoo zur ZOOM Erlebniswelt III: Der Bauabschnitt Asien

In the Zoom Erlebniswelt Gelsenkirchen the third and last biogeographical area dedicated to the Asian fauna was opened in March 2010 covering a total area of five hectares. In May 2013 a new enclosure for tigers was added. The emphasis of the Asia area lies on a 4700 m² tropical hall with mammals and birds, and Asian gastronomic facilities as well. Included is a mixed species exhibit for orangutans (Pongo abelii), northern plains grey langurs (Semnopithecus entellus) and Asian small clawed otters (Aonyx cinerea). Along a 1.3 km outside path enclosures for some species of colder climates were built, too. The transformation of the former Ruhr Zoo Gelsenkirchen to the modern ZOOM Erlebniswelt herewith is brought to a close.     

Effects of learning experience on behaviour of the generalist parasitoid Sclerodermus pupariae to novel hosts

Massicus raddei Blessig (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae), also referred to as the oak long‐horned beetle (OLB), is a non‐natural host for the generalist parasitoid Sclerodermus pupariae Yang et Yao (Hymenoptera: Bethylidae). To determine whether this generalist parasitoid might be a suitable agent for the control of OLB, the adaptive learning experience of adult female parasitoids to OLB larvae was investigated in the laboratory. A Y‐tube olfactometer bioassay was used to examine the effects of adaptive learning experience on the foraging ability of parasitoids for OLB larvae. The results indicated that parasitoids were significantly attracted by the volatiles of ash bark, Fraxinus velutina, with emerald ash borer (EAB), Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) larvae and larval frass, after exposure to ash bark mixed with EAB larval frass (learning condition A). In contrast, after exposure to oak bark, Quercus liaotungensis, mixed with OLB larval frass (learning condition C), parasitoids showed significant preference for the volatiles of oak bark with OLB larvae and larval frass. On the basis of the results of no‐choice tests, we found that parasitoids exposed to learning condition C had greater paralysis efficiency and higher OLB larvae parasitism rates than those exposed to learning condition A or no experience. Furthermore, parasitoids fed on OLB larvae in learning condition C had significantly greater paralysis efficiency and higher OLB larvae parasitism rates than other parasitoids tested. Parasitoids fed on EAB larvae in learning condition A had the lowest paralysis efficiency and OLB larvae parasitism rates among the parasitoids tested. These findings suggested that adaptive learning significantly enhanced the ability of a generalist parasitoid to utilize a novel host. This may provide a new approach to controlling non‐natural hosts using generalist parasitoids.     

The genera Stegastopsis Kraatz, 1865 and Orostegastopsis Koch, 1962 with description of O. planioculata sp. n. from Oman (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Tentyriini)

The first Asian member of Orostegastopsis Koch, 1962 Koch, C. (1962): Vierter taxonomischer Beitrag zur Kenntnis der Tenebrioniden Somalias: Über die von Prof. G. Scortecci 1953 und 1957 in der Migiurtinia-Provinz gesammelten Arten. 1. Teil. Atti della Società Italiana di Scienze Naturali, 51, 237–270. [Google Scholar] is described and figured: O. planioculata sp. n., which can be easily distinguished from the two Somalian species O. scorteccii Koch, 1962 Koch, C. (1962): Vierter taxonomischer Beitrag zur Kenntnis der Tenebrioniden Somalias: Über die von Prof. G. Scortecci 1953 und 1957 in der Migiurtinia-Provinz gesammelten Arten. 1. Teil. Atti della Società Italiana di Scienze Naturali, 51, 237–270. [Google Scholar] and O. kaszabi (Bremer, 1985 Bremer, H. J. (1985): Eine neue Stegastopsis-Art (Coleopt., Tenebrionidae, Tentyriini) aus Somalia. Entomologische Blätter, 81, 59–61. [Google Scholar]) comb. nov. by the shallow eyes. According to the shape of the clypeus, Stegastopsis kaszabi Bremer, 1985 Bremer, H. J. (1985): Eine neue Stegastopsis-Art (Coleopt., Tenebrionidae, Tentyriini) aus Somalia. Entomologische Blätter, 81, 59–61. [Google Scholar] is transferred from the genus Stegastopsis Kraatz to the genus Orostegastopsis Koch as was already indicated by Bremer (1985 Bremer, H. J. (1985): Eine neue Stegastopsis-Art (Coleopt., Tenebrionidae, Tentyriini) aus Somalia. Entomologische Blätter, 81, 59–61. [Google Scholar]) who treated Orostegastopsis as a subgenus of Stegastopsis: Orostegastopsis kaszabi (Bremer, 1985 Bremer, H. J. (1985): Eine neue Stegastopsis-Art (Coleopt., Tenebrionidae, Tentyriini) aus Somalia. Entomologische Blätter, 81, 59–61. [Google Scholar]) comb. nov. Keys to the species of Stegastopsis and Orostegastopsis are given.     

Metabolism of Thiophene-2-carboxylate by a Photosynthetic Bacterium

A photosynthetic bacterium, which can grow photosynthetically on benzoate, was isolated from sewage mud. Various kinds of aromatic compounds including heterocyclic aromatic compounds were photometabolized by the washed cells grown photosynthetically on benzoate with no lag period. Among these, thiophene-2-carboxylate was metabolized most rapidly to its (+)-tetrahydro derivative. The same strain could also grow on succinate under photosynthetic conditions. However, thiophene-2-carboxylate was only photometabolized after a long lag period by the washed cells grown photosynthetically on succinate, and the metabolite was not its (+)-tetrahydro derivative but (+)-3-hydroxytetrahydrothiophene-2-carboxylate. In the presence of chloramphenicol, an inhibitor of protein synthesis, the photometabolism of thiophene-2-carboxylate by the washed cells grown photosynthetically on benzoate was not affected at all, but the photometabolism of the same substrate by the washed cells grown photosynthetically on succinate was completely inhibited. These results indicate that a reduction system of broad substrate specificity for aromatic rings is already present in the benzoate-grown cells but absent in the succinate-grown cells. It seems that such a reduction system for aromatic rings is induced by an aromatic substrate.     

Molecular identification of the prey range of the invasive Asian paper wasp

The prey range of the invasive Asian paper wasp, Polistes chinensis antennalis, was studied using molecular diagnostics. Nests of paper wasps were collected from urban residential and salt marsh habitats, larvae were removed and dissected, and DNA in the gut of the paper wasp larvae was amplified and sequenced with cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI). Seventy percent of samples (211/299) yielded medium‐to high‐quality sequences, and prey identification was achieved using BLAST searches in BOLD. A total of 42 taxa were identified from 211 samples. Lepidoptera were the majority of prey, with 39 taxa from 91% of samples. Diptera was a relatively small component of prey (three taxa, 19 samples). Conclusive species‐level identification of prey was possible for 67% of samples, and genus‐level identification, for another 12% of samples. The composition of prey taken was different between the two habitats, with 2.5× more native prey species being taken in salt marsh compared with urban habitats. The results greatly extend the prey range of this invasive species. The technique is a more effective and efficient approach than relying on the collection of “prey balls”, or morphological identification of prey, for the study of paper wasps.     

Wild Asian elephants distinguish aggressive tiger and leopard growls according to perceived danger

Prey species exhibit antipredator behaviours such as alertness, aggression and flight, among others, in response to predators. The nature of this response is variable, with animals reacting more strongly in situations of increased vulnerability. Our research described here is the first formal study to investigate night-time antipredator behaviour in any species of elephants, Asian or African. We examined the provocative effects of elephant-triggered tiger and leopard growls while elephants attempted to crop-raid. Tigers opportunistically prey on elephant calves, whereas leopards pose no threat; therefore, we predicted that the elephant response would be reflective of this difference. Elephants reacted similarly cautiously to the simulated presence of felids of both species by eventually moving away, but differed markedly in their more immediate behavioural responses. Elephants retreated silently to tiger-growl playbacks, whereas they responded with aggressive vocalizations, such as trumpets and grunts, to leopard-growl playbacks. Elephants also lingered in the area and displayed alert or investigative behaviours in response to leopard growls when compared with tiger growls. We anticipate that the methods outlined here will promote further study of elephant antipredator behaviour in a naturalistic context, with applications for conservation efforts as well.     

Saccharide-mediated antagonistic effects of bark beetle fungal associates on larvae

Bark beetles are among the most destructive of pine forest pests and they form close symbiotic relationships with ophiostomatoid fungi. Although some fungi are considered to be mutualistic symbionts of bark beetles with respect to the supply of nutrients, detrimental effects of fungal symbionts on larval growth have also been frequently reported. The mechanisms of such antagonistic effects are hypothesized to be a decrease in nutritional resources caused by competition for saccharides by the fungi. Here, we provide experimental evidence that three beetle-associated fungi modify the nutritional content of an artificial phloem diet, leading to a detrimental effect on the growth of Dendroctonus valens larvae. When larvae were fed a diet of pine phloem in agar medium colonized with any of these fungi, feeding activity was not affected but weight significantly decreased. Additional analysis showed that fungi depleted the fructose and glucose concentrations in the phloem media. Furthermore, these detrimental effects were neutralized by supplementing the media with fructose or glucose, suggesting that fungi may affect larval growth by modifying diet saccharide contents. These data indicate that fungus-induced nutritional changes in bark beetle diet can affect larval growth, and that the mechanism involves fungus-induced saccharide depletion from the larval diet.     

Interactive effects of pests increase seed yield

Loss in seed yield and therefore decrease in plant fitness due to simultaneous attacks by multiple herbivores is not necessarily additive, as demonstrated in evolutionary studies on wild plants. However, it is not clear how this transfers to crop plants that grow in very different conditions compared to wild plants. Nevertheless, loss in crop seed yield caused by any single pest is most often studied in isolation although crop plants are attacked by many pests that can cause substantial yield losses. This is especially important for crops able to compensate and even overcompensate for the damage. We investigated the interactive impacts on crop yield of four insect pests attacking different plant parts at different times during the cropping season. In 15 oilseed rape fields in Sweden, we estimated the damage caused by seed and stem weevils, pollen beetles, and pod midges. Pest pressure varied drastically among fields with very low correlation among pests, allowing us to explore interactive impacts on yield from attacks by multiple species. The plant damage caused by each pest species individually had, as expected, either no, or a negative impact on seed yield and the strongest negative effect was caused by pollen beetles. However, seed yield increased when plant damage caused by both seed and stem weevils was high, presumably due to the joint plant compensatory reaction to insect attack leading to overcompensation. Hence, attacks by several pests can change the impact on yield of individual pest species. Economic thresholds based on single species, on which pest management decisions currently rely, may therefore result in economically suboptimal choices being made and unnecessary excessive use of insecticides.     

Ethnic culture and social mobility among second-generation Asian Americans

ABSTRACT

This review engages with Jennifer Lee and Min Zhou’s The Asian American Achievement Paradox to consider how ethnic culture matters for social mobility among the immigrant second generation. It describes the strengths and contributions of the book, connects it to broader debates on culture, poverty, and mobility, and draws on my own research on the second generation in New York City. It highlights three additional cultural mechanisms that underlie the Chinese (or Asian) second-generation advantage: social class heterogeneity in the co-ethnic community, intergenerational support in the immigrant family, and the belief in achievements as redemption for parental sacrifice. While pointing out the similarities and differences between Los Angeles and New York, it also suggests possible applications of these cultural mechanisms in explaining second-generation achievements.     

Flowering mechanisms,pollination strategies and floral scent analyses of syntopically co‐flowering Homalomena spp. (Araceae) on Borneo

In this study, the flowering mechanisms and pollination strategies of seven species of the highly diverse genus Homalomena (Araceae) were investigated in native populations of West Sarawak, Borneo. The floral scent compositions were also recorded for six of these species. The selected taxa belong to three out of four complexes of the section Cyrtocladon (Hanneae, Giamensis and Borneensis). The species belonging to the Hanneae complex exhibited longer anthesis (53–62 h) than those of the Giamensis and Borneensis complexes (ca. 30 h). Species belonging to the Hanneae complex underwent two floral scent emission events in consecutive days, during the pistillate and staminate phases of anthesis. In species belonging to the Giamensis and Borneensis complexes, floral scent emission was only evident to the human nose during the pistillate phase. A total of 33 volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were detected in floral scent analyses of species belonging to the Hanneae complex, whereas 26 VOCs were found in samples of those belonging to the Giamensis complex. The floral scent blends contained uncommon compounds in high concentration, which could ensure pollinator discrimination. Our observations indicate that scarab beetles (Parastasia gestroi and P. nigripennis; Scarabaeidae, Rutelinae) are the pollinators of the investigated species of Homalomena, with Chaloenus schawalleri (Chrysomelidae, Galeuricinae) acting as a secondary pollinator. The pollinators utilise the inflorescence for food, mating opportunities and safe mating arena as rewards. Flower‐breeding flies (Colocasiomyia nigricauda and C. aff. heterodonta; Diptera, Drosophilidae) and terrestrial hydrophilid beetles (Cycreon sp.; Coleoptera, Hydrophilidae) were also frequently recovered from inflorescences belonging to all studied species (except H. velutipedunculata), but they probably do not act as efficient pollinators. Future studies should investigate the post‐mating isolating barriers among syntopically co‐flowering Homalomena sharing the same visiting insects.