Differential herbivory of the specialist beetle Stolas punicea on chemical phenotypes of its host Mikania micrantha

We assessed the preference of two populations of the specialist beetle Stolas punicea, on plants from three phytochemically differentiated geographical mosaics of the American weed Mikania micrantha. Our results show a significant geographic variation in host preference in S. punicea that could affect its success as a biocontrol agent.     

Skeletochronological estimation of age and growth of loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) in the western South Atlantic Ocean

Age and growth are important parameters for better understanding of life history and population dynamics of animal species, as well as for formulating management strategies. However, these data are difficult to obtain for sea turtles because of overall slow growth, delayed maturation and highly migratory behaviour. The loggerhead sea turtle, Caretta caretta, is a widely distributed species, globally listed as endangered. Although the species has been well‐studied in some regions, little is known about various aspects of its biology in other populations, such as those in the waters of the western South Atlantic Ocean, especially outside nesting areas. To address age and growth, loggerhead turtles found dead stranded on the northern coast of the state of Rio Grande do Sul during a period of 16 years (1994–2010) were utilized for estimation of age and growth rates using skeletochronology. The individuals analyzed were predominantly neritic juveniles, ranging from 53 to 101 cm curved carapace length (CCL; mean = 71 cm), with estimated ages between 10 and 29 years (mean = 15 years). Mean estimated annual growth rate was 2.1 cm CCL year^?1 (1.9 cm SCL yr^?1), showing large variation among individuals and between successive years in the same individual. Generalized additive mixed models analysis indicated that growth response was influenced by age, CCL and year. The results demonstrated that the southern coast of Brazil is an important area for the development of neritic juveniles of this species, which appear to recruit to this region beginning at about 12 years of age and sizes greater than 55 cm CCL.     

Vertical stratification of beetles in tropical rainforests as sampled by light traps in North Queensland,Australia

How arthropods are distributed within the vertical structure of tropical rainforests is of considerable interest to ecologists. Here, we examine how light trapped beetles are distributed in tropical rainforest in North Queensland, Australia. In January and July 2012, traps were suspended 0 m, 10 m, 20 m and 30 m above the ground in five locations with no more than one trap at any single location on any night. Maximum canopy height at the sites was 35 m. A total of 7299 individuals of 492 morphospecies and 66 families were collected. The species abundance‐based coverage estimator predicted a total species richness of 765. Sample completeness decreases with increasing height from the ground suggesting higher strata were less well sampled. Distance‐based redundancy analysis showed species richness was significantly different between 30 m and all other levels but not between other paired strata. In contrast, both species composition and family composition were significantly distinct for all strata pairs except 10 m with 20 m, and 20 m with 30 m, suggesting that the most distinct strata were 0 m and 30 m. The first two axes of ordination and hierarchical clustering accounted for 46.5% and 17.4% of species composition variation corresponding with season and stratum, respectively. Family level analyses gave similar results to those at the species level. We found stratification of different feeding guilds with herbivores comprising a larger percentage of species in higher strata, whereas saprophages were restricted to the lower strata, reflecting the availability of key resources for these guilds. Fewer species or families were found to be indicators of strata, as measured using IndVal, than for Malaise and flight interception traps (FIT). Dytiscidae and Hydraenidae were abundant but had not been collected using Malaise and FIT. Which species or families are indicators of strata depends on sampling method suggesting multiple sampling methods should be used to establish indicators.     

桃蚜取食行为对大气CO_2浓度升高的响应

【目的】近年来随着人类活动的增加,温室气体尤其是大气CO_2浓度升高造成的虫害爆发已成为国际上关注的焦点,因此,研究拟南芥Arabidopsis thaliana上桃蚜取食行为的变化对大气CO_2浓度升高的响应意义重大。【方法】本研究以拟南芥和绿色桃蚜Myzus persicae为研究对象,利用野生型拟南芥Col-0,茉莉酸途径信号传导缺失突变体(jar1)、水杨酸途径信号传导缺失突变体(npr1)、乙烯途径信号传导缺失突变体(ein2-5)为材料,以大气CO_2浓度升高为影响因子,利用刺吸式电位仪(EPG)记录了桃蚜在不同处理的拟南芥上的取食波形。【结果】研究结果发现:CO_2浓度升高缩短了Col-0和jar1植株上蚜虫首次刺探时间和首次到达韧皮部的时间,却延长了npr1和ein2-5上蚜虫首次到达韧皮部的时间,降低了jar1植株上蚜虫总的刺探时间且增加了其总的取食韧皮部时间,但没有改变其它基因型植株上蚜虫总的刺探和取食时间;同时增加了野生型植株上蚜虫的刺探频率,却没有影响其它基因型植株上的刺探频率。【结论】CO_2浓度升高降低了野生型植株和jar1植株抗性,有利于蚜虫到达韧皮部;却增加了npr1和ein2-5上的植物抗性,从而不利于蚜虫到达韧皮部。     

Biological mechanisms related to differences in residual feed intake in dairy cows

Residual feed intake (RFI), defined as the difference between an animal’s actual feed intake and expected feed intake over a specific period, is an inheritable character of feed conversion efficiency in dairy cows. Research has shown that a lower RFI could improve the profitability of milk production. This study explored variation in RFI by comparing the differences in body size, milk performance, feeding behavior, and serum metabolites in 29 Holstein cows in mid lactation. The cows were selected from a total of 84 animals based on their RFI following feedlot tests. Selected cows were ranked into high RFI (RFI >1 SD above the mean, n=14) and low RFI (RFI<1 SD below the mean, n=15). The low RFI cows (more efficient) consumed 1.59 kg/day less dry matter than the high RFI group (P<0.01), while they produced nearly equal 4% fat-corrected milk. The milk : feed ratio was higher for the low RFI group than for the high RFI group (P<0.05). The levels of milk protein (P<0.01), total solids (P<0.05), and nonfat solids (P<0.05) were also higher for the low RFI group, whereas milk urea nitrogen was lower (P<0.01). The daily feeding duration was shorter for the low RFI group than for the high RFI group (P<0.01). No significant differences were found in levels of glucose, β-hydroxybutyrate, prolactin, insulin, IGF-1, growth hormone or ghrelin, but the level of neuropeptide Y was higher (P<0.01) and levels of leptin and non-esterified fatty acid (P<0.05) were lower for the low RFI group than for the high RFI group. There were substantial differences between cows with different RFI, which might affect the efficiency of milk protein metabolism and fat mobilization.     

Effects of live weight adjusted feeding strategy on plasma indicators of energy balance in Holstein cows managed for extended lactation

In early lactation, most of the dairy cows are in negative energy balance; the extent and duration depend in part on the feeding strategy. Previous studies showed an increased lactation milk yield by use of a live weight (LW) adjusted feeding strategy with a high energy diet before and a reduced energy diet after LW nadir compared with a standard diet throughout lactation. The objective of the present study was to examine how such an individualized feeding strategy affects plasma indicators of energy status. It was hypothesized that an energy-enriched diet until LW nadir will reduce the severity of the negative energy balance, and that the reduction in diet energy concentration from LW nadir will extend the negative energy balance period further. Sixty-two Holstein cows (30% first parity) were managed for 16 months extended lactation and randomly allocated to one of two feeding strategies at calving. Two partially mixed rations were used, one with a high energy density (HD) and a 50 : 50 forage : concentrate ratio, and one with a lower energy density (LD, control diet) and a 60 : 40 forage : concentrate ratio. Half of the cows were offered the HD diet until they reached at least 42 days in milk and a LW gain⩾0 kg/day based on a 5-days LW average, and were then shifted to the LD diet (strategy HD-LD). The other half of the cows were offered the LD diet throughout lactation (control strategy LD-LD). Weekly blood samples were drawn for analysis of plasma metabolites and hormones. Before the shift in diet, the HD-LD cows had higher glucose and lower beta-hydroxybutyrate and non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) concentrations than the LD-LD cows. After the shift until 36 weeks after calving, plasma NEFA was higher in HD-LD than LD-LD cows. Insulin and insulin-like growth factor-1 were not affected by the feeding strategy. To conclude, in early lactation, the energy-enriched diet reduced the negative energy balance. Plasma NEFA was higher in HD-LD than LD-LD cows from diet shift until 36 weeks after calving, indicating a carry-over effect of the early lactation HD diet to late lactation metabolism.     

朱红毛斑蛾嗜食性的研究

通过野外调查和室内选择实验,研究了朱红毛斑蛾的食性。自然条件下,朱红毛斑蛾为害榕属植物中的小叶榕和垂叶榕,为害率分别为67.39%和47.61%。在T50时,朱红毛斑蛾对印度榕、对叶榕、无花果、黄葛树、高山榕、小叶榕和垂叶榕的平均取食量分别为0、0、0、0、0、8.62±1.6 cm2和3.79±1.8 cm2;平均取食选择指数分别为0、0、0、0、0、0.69和0.31,说明朱红毛斑蛾仅为害小叶榕和垂叶榕,且对小叶榕有明显偏好性。研究结果证明朱红毛斑蛾为寡食性害虫,提示在园林绿化过程中应尽可能避免选择易受害的单一树种大面积栽种。     

Tree colonization by the Asian longhorn beetle,Anoplophora glabripennis (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae): effect of habitat and tree suitability

Tree colonization and feeding activity of the invasive wood‐borer Asian longhorn beetle (Anoplophora glabripennis), an Asian pest introduced into North America and Europe, was studied in a newly invaded area in Italy. The hypothesis being tested was that the reproductive success of the insect depend on habitat type and tree suitability. Adult beetles were caged on branches of host and nonhost species, in both urban and forest habitats. Two months later, number and size of feeding patches on plant tissues, eggs laid, and surviving larvae were assessed. Bark concentration of C and N was also measured from the same trees. Results indicated that the mean area of plant tissues consumed by adult feeding was significantly larger on trees growing in forest than in urban habitat, although within the same habitat there were no differences between susceptible and nonsusceptible trees. ALB tree colonization, in terms of number of eggs laid and young larvae survival, was not affected by habitat while it was higher on susceptible trees. Although trees growing in forests had a lower nitrogen concentration, they allowed colonization rates similar to those of trees growing in the urban habitat. Hence, the amount of carbon and nitrogen did not fully explain tree suitability or habitat selection. We suggest compensatory feeding as a potential mechanism that might explain this peculiar situation, as supported by a more intensive feeding activity recorded on trees in the forest. Suitability of different trees may be due to other factors, such as secondary chemical compounds.     

Feeding and oviposition preference of the Sakhalin pine sawyer Monochamus saltuarius (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) for various tree species

Monochamus saltuarius was recently identified as an important vector of Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, the cause of pine wilt disease. In this study, M. saltuarius adults preferred different species of tree based on the longevity, ingested amount and wounded area that were determined for 90 d. Among eight tree species, the longevity of feeding by M. saltuarius was not significantly different except when feeding in Sciadopitys verticillata. However, the highest ingested amounts with the largest wounded areas were associated with Pinus koraiensis. The highest oviposition preference was in P. densiflora for the first 20 d. However, after 40 d, the oviposition highest preference was noted in P. koraiensis. For oviposition activities, M. saltuarius preferred the tree species in the following order: P. densiflora > P. koraiensis > P. rigida > Larix leptolepis. Although many oviposition scars were observed, M. saltuarius laid fewer eggs in P. rigida than other species of pine, which was related to the bark thickness. The oviposition frequencies were highest with bark 2.0–2.5 mm thick and with tree diameters of 110–130 mm. The current study increased understanding of the ecology of M. saltuarius by identifying specific tree preferences.     

The occurrence of apical labial sensilla in the Aleyrodidae and evidence for a contact chemosensory function

Scanning electron microscopy of the apex of the labium of six species of whitefly [Aleurothrixus floccosus (Maskell), Aleyrodes spiraeoides Quaintance, Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius), Dialeurodes citri (Ashmead), Parabemisia myricae (Kuwana), and Trialeurodes vaporariorum (Westwood)], revealed that all possess seven pairs of sensilla symmetrically positioned on either side of the labial groove. Transmission electron microscopy revealed that in P. myricae, sensilla 1, 5, 6 & 7 are innervated each by a single dendrite, sensilla 2 & 4 are innervated by three dendrites each, and sensillum 3 is innervated by four dendrites. Multiple innervation of sensilla 2, 3 & 4 suggests a chemosensory or mechano-chemosensory function. Longitudinal sections of sensilla 2 & 4 showed that the sensilla were hollow with an apical pore, providing further morphological evidence for a chemosensory function. One dendrite appeared to end at the base of sensillum 2, suggesting that at least sensillum 2 has a dual mechano-chemosensory function. The presence of contact chemoreceptors on the labial tip may help explain how P. myricae can discriminate between hosts before probing.

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Zusammenfassung Untersuchungen mit dem Rasterelektronenmikroskop an sechs Spezies von Weißen Fliegen [Aleurothrixus floccusus (Maskell), Aleyrodes spiraeoides Quaintance, Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius), Dialeurodes citri (Ashmead), Parabemisia myricae (Kuwana), und Trialeurodes vaporariorum (Westwood)] zeigten, daß bei allen Arten die Spitze des Labiums mit sieben Paaren von Sensillen versehen ist, die symmetrisch auf jeder Seite der Lippenspalte angeordnet sind. Die Sensillen sind klein (ca. 1–4 m lang, 0.1–0.6 m breit) und in beiden Geschlechtern aller Arten ähnlich gestaltet. Mittels Transmissionelektronenmikroskopie wurde gezeigt, daß in P. myricae die Sensillen 1, 5, 6 & 7 durch jeweils einen einzigen, die Sensillen 2 & 4 durch jeweils drei und die Sensille 3 durch vier Dendriten innerviert werden. Die multiple Innervierung der Sensillen 2, 3 & 4 läßt eine chemosensorische oder mechanisch-chemosensorische Funktion vermuten. Längsschnitte durch die Sensillen 2 & 4 lieferten weitere Hinweise auf eine chemosensorische Funktion: die Sensillen sind hohl und an der Spitze mit einer Pore versehen. Wir erhielten keine schlüssigen Beweise für die Existenz von apikalen Poren an den anderen Sensillen. Einer der Dendriten an der Sensille 2 scheint an der Sensillenbasis zu enden; dies deutet darauf hin, daß zumindest diese Sensille ein Rezeptor sowohl für mechanische als auch für chemische Reize ist. Die Existenz dieser Kontakt-Chemorezeptoren an der Labiumspitze könnte erklären, wie P. myricae bereits vor dem Probestich zwischen Wirtspflanzen zu unterscheiden vermag. Diese Ergebnisse lassen außerdem vermuten, daß die sensorischen Aspekte des Wirtsfindung bei Weißen Fliegen grundsätzlich verschieden sind von denjenigen bei Blattläusen, welche nur über mechanische Rezeptoren an der Spitze der Unterlippe verfügen.