scholarly journals Comparative Prey Spectra Analyses on the Endangered Aquatic Carnivorous Waterwheel Plant (Aldrovanda vesiculosa, Droseraceae) at Several Naturalized Microsites in the Czech Republic and Germany

2019 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
M Horstmann ◽  
L Heier ◽  
S Kruppert ◽  
L C Weiss ◽  
R Tollrian ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Prey Species ◽  
Prey Capture ◽  
Trapping Efficiency ◽  
The Czech Republic ◽  
Prey Specificity ◽  
Different Populations ◽  
Trap Size ◽  
Taxonomic Groups ◽  
Prey Mobility ◽  
Successful Capture

Synopsis The critically endangered carnivorous waterwheel plant (Aldrovanda vesiculosa, Droseraceae) possesses underwater snap traps for capturing small aquatic animals, but knowledge on the exact prey species is limited. Such information would be essential for continuing ecological research, drawing conclusions regarding trapping efficiency and trap evolution, and eventually, for conservation. Therefore, we performed comparative trap size measurements and snapshot prey analyses at seven Czech and one German naturalized microsites on plants originating from at least two different populations. One Czech site was sampled twice during 2017. We recorded seven main prey taxonomic groups, that is, Cladocera, Copepoda, Ostracoda, Ephemeroptera, Nematocera, Hydrachnidia, and Pulmonata. In total, we recorded 43 different prey taxa in 445 prey-filled traps, containing in sum 461 prey items. With one exception, prey spectra did not correlate with site conditions (e.g. water depth) or trap size. Our data indicate that A. vesiculosa shows no prey specificity but catches opportunistically, independent of prey species, prey mobility mode (swimming or substrate-bound), and speed of movement. Even in cases where the prey size exceeded trap size, successful capture was accomplished by clamping the animal between the traps’ lobes. As we found a wide prey range that was attracted, it appears unlikely that the capture is enhanced by specialized chemical- or mimicry-based attraction mechanisms. However, for animals seeking shelter, a place to rest, or a substrate to graze on, A. vesiculosa may indirectly attract prey organisms in the vicinity, whereas other prey capture events (like that of comparably large notonectids) may also be purely coincidental.

scholarly journals The birth prevalence of lysosomal storage disorders in the Czech Republic: comparison with data in different populations

2010 ◽  
Vol 33 (4) ◽  
pp. 387-396 ◽  
Author(s):  
Helena Poupětová ◽  
Jana Ledvinová ◽  
Linda Berná ◽  
Lenka Dvořáková ◽  
Viktor Kožich ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Czech Republic ◽  
Lysosomal Storage Disorders ◽  
Lysosomal Storage ◽  
The Czech Republic ◽  
Birth Prevalence ◽  
Different Populations ◽  
Storage Disorders

scholarly journals Solenodon genome reveals convergent evolution of venom in eulipotyphlan mammals

2019 ◽  
Vol 116 (51) ◽  
pp. 25745-25755 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicholas R. Casewell ◽  
Daniel Petras ◽  
Daren C. Card ◽  
Vivek Suranse ◽  
Alexis M. Mychajliw ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Serine Proteases ◽  
Prey Capture ◽  
Convincing Evidence ◽  
Model Systems ◽  
Ancestral State ◽  
Origin And Evolution ◽  
Physiological Processes ◽  
A Genome ◽  
Taxonomic Groups

Venom systems are key adaptations that have evolved throughout the tree of life and typically facilitate predation or defense. Despite venoms being model systems for studying a variety of evolutionary and physiological processes, many taxonomic groups remain understudied, including venomous mammals. Within the order Eulipotyphla, multiple shrew species and solenodons have oral venom systems. Despite morphological variation of their delivery systems, it remains unclear whether venom represents the ancestral state in this group or is the result of multiple independent origins. We investigated the origin and evolution of venom in eulipotyphlans by characterizing the venom system of the endangered Hispaniolan solenodon (Solenodon paradoxus). We constructed a genome to underpin proteomic identifications of solenodon venom toxins, before undertaking evolutionary analyses of those constituents, and functional assessments of the secreted venom. Our findings show that solenodon venom consists of multiple paralogous kallikrein 1 (KLK1) serine proteases, which cause hypotensive effects in vivo, and seem likely to have evolved to facilitate vertebrate prey capture. Comparative analyses provide convincing evidence that the oral venom systems of solenodons and shrews have evolved convergently, with the 4 independent origins of venom in eulipotyphlans outnumbering all other venom origins in mammals. We find thatKLK1s have been independently coopted into the venom of shrews and solenodons following their divergence during the late Cretaceous, suggesting that evolutionary constraints may be acting on these genes. Consequently, our findings represent a striking example of convergent molecular evolution and demonstrate that distinct structural backgrounds can yield equivalent functions.

Effect of Trap Size on Efficiency of Yellow Sticky Traps for Sampling Western Corn Rootworm (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) Adults in Corn

1996 ◽  
Vol 31 (3) ◽  
pp. 277-285 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. R. Youngman ◽  
T. P. Kuhar ◽  
D. G. Midgarden
Keyword(s):  
Unit Area ◽  
Field Studies ◽  
Diabrotica Virgifera Virgifera ◽  
Western Corn Rootworm ◽  
Trapping Efficiency ◽  
Corn Rootworm ◽  
Sticky Traps ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Trap Size ◽  
Yellow Sticky Traps

Field studies were conducted in Virginia cornfields in 1990 and 1991 to evaluate the effect of trap size on numbers of Diabrotica virgifera virgifera LeConte adults caught on unbaited Pherocon AM and Olson yellow sticky traps. No significant differences in trapping efficiency (i.e., catch per unit area) were detected on Pherocon AM traps whose sizes had been reduced by either 50% or 75% when compared with standard Pherocon AM no-bait traps. Likewise, no significant difference in trapping efficiency was detected between Olson traps whose sizes had been reduced 50% and full-size Olson traps (212.9 cm2). However, significantly more western corn rootworm adults per unit area were caught on Olson yellow sticky traps compared to Pherocon AM traps whose sizes had been reduced 50%. Comparative costs and precision values for reduced-size Pherocon AM and Olson yellow sticky traps are discussed.

scholarly journals Introduced and invasive insect species in the Czech Republic and their economic and ecological impact (Insecta)

2005 ◽  
Vol 53 (5) ◽  
pp. 151-158 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hana Šefrová
Keyword(s):  
Invasive Species ◽  
Czech Republic ◽  
Ecological Impact ◽  
Outdoor Environment ◽  
Insect Species ◽  
Local Fauna ◽  
The Czech Republic ◽  
Non Invasive ◽  
Alien Insect ◽  
Taxonomic Groups

A total of 383 alien insect species were registered in the Czech Republic, which represents 1.4% of local fauna. The most numerous taxonomic groups are Homoptera (116 species, 30.3%), Coleoptera (110; 28.7%) and Lepidoptera (37; 9.7%). The occurrence of 200 species (52.2%) are limited to closed heated spaces, casual aliens (28; 7.3%) infiltrate the outdoor environment for a short term only, 36 (9.4%) naturalized non-invasive species do not spread from the location of introduction, 50 (13.1%) species are post-invasive and 69 (18.0%) invasive. From the species registered, 61 (15.9%) are stored product pests (especially Coleoptera 36 species, Psocoptera 11, and Lepidoptera 9), 50 (13.1%) are plant pests indoors (especially Coccinea 33 species, Aphidinea 7, and Thysanoptera 6), 25 (i.e. 6.5% of aliens) are pests in agriculture, forestry, and in ornamental cultures, 15 species (3.9%) are important animal parasites, and 5 species (1.3%) can affect biodiversity. Of the remaining 227 species (59.3%), no economic or ecological effects were found. The origin of most of the species living eusynanthropically is in the tropics and subtropics; of the 155 naturalized (non-invasive, post-invasive, and invasive) species, 42 (27.1%) originate from the Mediterranean, 36 (23.2%) from North America, 28 (18.1%) from Central to Southwest Asia, 14 (9.0%) from East Asia, 13 (8.4%) from South and Southeast Asia, with the remaining 22 species (14.2%) coming from other areas.

scholarly journals Effect of pitcher age on trapping efficiency and natural prey capture in carnivorous Nepenthes rafflesiana plants

2009 ◽  
Vol 103 (8) ◽  
pp. 1219-1226 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ulrike Bauer ◽  
Christoph Willmes ◽  
Walter Federle
Keyword(s):  
Prey Capture ◽  
Trapping Efficiency ◽  
Natural Prey

scholarly journals Diet Breadth Mediates the Prey Specificity of Venom Potency in Snakes

Toxins ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 74 ◽  
Author(s):  
Keith Lyons ◽  
Michel M. Dugon ◽  
Kevin Healy
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Prey Species ◽  
Taxonomic Diversity ◽  
Diet Breadth ◽  
Specific Pattern ◽  
Changing Environments ◽  
Physiological Diversity ◽  
Prey Specificity ◽  
Prey Items

Venoms are best known for their ability to incapacitate prey. In predatory groups, venom potency is predicted to reflect ecological and evolutionary drivers relating to diet. While venoms have been found to have prey-specific potencies, the role of diet breadth on venom potencies has yet to be tested at large macroecological scales. Here, using a comparative analysis of 100 snake species, we show that the evolution of prey-specific venom potencies is contingent on the breadth of a species’ diet. We find that while snake venom is more potent when tested on species closely related to natural prey items, we only find this prey-specific pattern in species with taxonomically narrow diets. While we find that the taxonomic diversity of a snakes’ diet mediates the prey specificity of its venom, the species richness of its diet was not found to affect these prey-specific potency patterns. This indicates that the physiological diversity of a species’ diet is an important driver of the evolution of generalist venom potencies. These findings suggest that the venoms of species with taxonomically diverse diets may be better suited to incapacitating novel prey species and hence play an important role for species within changing environments.

scholarly journals Host specialization of different populations  of ergot fungus (Claviceps purpurea)

2012 ◽  
Vol 38 (No. 2) ◽  
pp. 75-81 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Pažoutová ◽  
B. Cagaš ◽  
R. Kolínská ◽  
A. Honzátko
Keyword(s):  
Salt Marshes ◽  
Host Species ◽  
Poa Pratensis ◽  
Host Specialization ◽  
Claviceps Purpurea ◽  
The Czech Republic ◽  
Coastal Salt Marshes ◽  
Elytrigia Repens ◽  
Different Populations ◽  
Avenella Flexuosa

In our previous study of Claviceps purpurea three populations were found: G1 on open localities, G2 from shady or wet habitats and G3 on Spartina stands of coastal salt marshes. The latter two are also chemoraces. In the Czech Republic, isolates of G1 and G2 were found. The ability of four isolates representing these populations to infect and develop sclerotia on different host species (Holcus lanatus, Helictotrichon pubescens, Phalaris arundinacea, Dactylis glomerata, Arrhenatherum elatius, Bromus inermis, Bromus erectus, Elytrigia repens, Avenella flexuosa, Lolium perenne, Poa nemoralis, Poa annua, and different cultivars of Poa pratensis) was studied along with their alkaloid production. P. pratensis and D. glomerata were infected by all the isolates and sclerotia were formed by isolates 207 (G1) and 434 (G2), and on two P. pratensis cultivars even by 481 (G3). Infection ability (formation of sphacelial stage and honeydew) was less host-restricted than formation of mature sclerotia. G2 and G3 strains infected A. flexuosa without sclerotia formation. L. perenne was infected only once by strain 207 (G1) without sclerotia formation. P. annua (natural host of G2), was infected by all isolates, but no sclerotia were formed even with G2 strains. From the two G2 isolates, strain 434 from Dactylis formed sclerotia on five host species, whereas isolate 475 originating from Phragmites stand formed only sphacelia. Composition of alkaloid mixture produced in sclerotia of the same strain from various hosts confirmed that host plant does not influence the type of alkaloids produced, only their ratio.

scholarly journals Past thermal conditions affect hunting behaviour in larval antlions

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (6) ◽  
pp. 210163
Author(s):  
Krzysztof Miler ◽  
Marcin Czarnoleski
Keyword(s):  
Elevated Temperatures ◽  
Prey Capture ◽  
Thermal Conditions ◽  
Thermal Exposure ◽  
Hunting Behaviour ◽  
Abiotic And Biotic Factors ◽  
Trap Size ◽  
Harsh Conditions ◽  
Antlion Larvae ◽  
Past Conditions

Some sit-and-wait predators, such as antlion larvae, construct traps to capture passing prey. The location of these traps depends on many abiotic and biotic factors, including temperature and the presence of conspecifics, which probably stimulate behaviours that minimize the costs and maximize the benefits of trap building. Here, we exposed second instar antlion larvae to elevated temperatures of 25°C (mild treatment) or 31°C (harsh treatment) for one month and then transferred them to common conditions (20°C) to examine the effects of previous thermal treatment on aggregation tendency and trap size. We predicted that antlions that experienced harsh conditions would subsequently increase the neighbouring distance and trap diameter to reduce competition with conspecifics and improve prey capture success, compensating for past conditions. In contrast with these predictions, antlions exposed to harsh conditions displayed a trend in the opposite direction, towards the decreased neighbouring distance. Furthermore, some of these antlions also built smaller traps. We discuss possible reasons for our results. The effects of previous thermal exposure have rarely been considered in terms of trap construction in antlions. Described effects may possibly apply to other sit-and-wait predators and are significant considering that many of these predators are long-lived.

scholarly journals Dynamic aging chain of the Czech Republic population

2011 ◽  
Vol 59 (7) ◽  
pp. 209-216
Author(s):  
Igor Krejčí ◽  
Romana Kvasnička ◽  
Jaroslav Švasta
Keyword(s):  
Czech Republic ◽  
Demographic Data ◽  
Good Practice ◽  
Flow Diagram ◽  
Chain Molecule ◽  
The Czech Republic ◽  
Age Cohorts ◽  
Proposed Model ◽  
Complex Models ◽  
Different Populations

System dynamics is a method enabling simulation and subsequent analysis of various socio-economic problems. Even though it was founded about fifty years ago, it is relatively new and little used in the Czech Republic. It has a good practice to make use of molecules, standard partial modelling structures which make the modelling processes easier and more effective. The objective of this article is to introduce and provide such molecule of an aging chain for the Czech Republic population. To increase its usefulness the aging chain is disaggregated and divided into two chains, one for each sex. The aging chain molecule consists of stock and flow diagram, a system of differential equations and parameters quantified on the basis of demographic data for Czech Republic. Proposed model of aging chain also capture a special phenomenon of the Czech population – the postponing of motherhood and thus the increase in average age of mothers. This fact led to special model structure that is uncommon for existing aging chains of different populations.The model is constructed on the basis of official demographic data of the Czech Statistical Office and the results of the simulation are compared with the surveyed data. The intersection of data sources resulted into disaggregation of population into twelve age cohorts. The chain is created to serve as a molecule for more complex models. Therefore, variables functioning as interface for implementation into such models are indicated in the text.

scholarly journals Discriminating predation attempt outcomes during natural foraging using the post-buzz pause in Japanese large-footed bat Myotis macrodactylus

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuuka Mizuguchi ◽  
Emyo Fujioka ◽  
Olga Heim ◽  
Dai Fukui ◽  
Shizuko Hiryu
Keyword(s):  
Foraging Behavior ◽  
Prey Capture ◽  
Foraging Efficiency ◽  
Silent Interval ◽  
Echolocation Calls ◽  
Acoustic Data ◽  
Video Recordings ◽  
Feeding Habitat ◽  
Summary Statement ◽  
Successful Capture

AbstractBats emit a series of echolocation calls with an increasing repetition rate (the terminal buzz), when attempting to capture prey. This is often used as an acoustic indicator of prey-capture attempts. However, because it is directly linked to foraging efficiency, predation success is a more useful measure than predation attempts in ecological research. The characteristics of echolocation calls that consistently signify predation success across different situations have not been identified. Due to additional influencing factors, identification of these characteristics is particularly challenging for wild bats foraging in their natural environment compared to those in flight chambers. This study documented the natural foraging behavior of wild Japanese large-footed bat Myotis macrodactylus using synchronized acoustic and video recordings. From the video recordings, we could assign 137 attacks to three outcome categories: prey captured (51.8%), prey dropped (29.2%), and failed attempt (19%). Based on previous indications from laboratory studies that the length of the silent interval following the terminal buzz (post-buzz pause) might reflect the prey capture outcome, we compared post-buzz pause durations among categories of attack outcomes. The post-buzz pause was longest in the case of successful capture, suggesting that the length of the post-buzz pause is a useful acoustic indicator of predation success during natural foraging in M. macrodactylus. Our finding will advance the study of bat foraging behavior using acoustic data, including estimations of foraging efficiency and analyses of feeding habitat quality.Summary statementWe investigated the natural foraging behavior of wild Myotis macrodactylus and found that the length of the post-buzz pause is a useful acoustic indicator of predation success.

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