scholarly journals Interspecific hierarchies from aggressiveness and body size among the invasive alien hornet, Vespa velutina nigrithorax, and five native hornets in South Korea

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ohseok Kwon ◽  
Moon Bo Choi

AbstractThe range of the invasive alien hornet, Vespa velutina nigrithorax, has been continuously expanding since its invasion of Korea in 2003. Here, we compared the aggressive behaviors and body size of V. velutina nigrithorax with five native hornet species to identify the interspecific hierarchies that contributes to the spread of this species. Aggressive behaviors were classified into 11 categories and each interaction was scored as a win, loss, or tie. As a result, V. velutina was superior to V. simillima in 153 fights where V. velutina won 71% and showed a high incidence of threatening behavior. V. mandarinia outperformed V. velutina in 104 fights where V. mandarinia won 91% and grappling behavior was common. V. analis was superior to V. velutina in 67 fights where V. analis won 76% and showed a high amount of threatening behavior. V. crabro was superior to V. velutina in 93 fights where V. crabro won 73% and showed a high rate of threatening behavior. V. dybowskii was superior to V. velutina in 132 fights where V. dybowskii won 91%, and showed a high rate of threatening and grappling behaviors. The body size of V. velutina was larger than V. simillima (although not statistically significant) and smaller than all other Vespa species. Therefore, according to the results of this study, the low interspecific hierarchies of V. velutina seems to be a major cause of slower spreading rates than it has shown in Europe. However, over time, its density has gradually increased within the forest, in which it seems to be overcoming its disadvantages and expanding its range, possibly as large colonies and good flying abilities make it easier to secure food.

Water ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 1405
Author(s):  
Kaja Balazy ◽  
Emilia Trudnowska ◽  
Katarzyna Błachowiak-Samołyk

Populations dynamics of key zooplankton species in the European Arctic, Calanus finmarchicus and Calanus glacialis (hereafter defined as Calanus) may be sensitive to climate changes, which in turn is of great importance for higher trophic levels. The aim of this study was to investigate the complete copepodite structure and dynamics of Calanus populations in terms of body size, phenology and their relative role in the zooplankton community over time in different hydrographic conditions (two fjords on the West Spitsbergen Shelf, cold Hornsund vs. warm Kongsfjorden), from the perspective of their planktivorous predator, the little auk. High-resolution zooplankton measurements (taken by nets and a laser optical plankton counter) were adapted to the timing of bird’s breeding in the 2015 and 2016 summer seasons, and to their maximal diving depth (≤50 m). In Hornsund, the share of the Calanus in zooplankton community was greater and the copepodite structure was progressively older over time, matching the little auks timing. The importance of Calanus was much lower in Kongsfjorden, as represented mainly by younger copepodites, presumably due to the Atlantic water advections, thus making this area a less favourable feeding ground. Our results highlight the need for further studies on the match/mismatch between Calanus and little auks, because the observed trend of altered age structure towards a domination of young copepodites and the body size reduction of Calanus associated with higher seawater temperatures may result in insufficient food availability for these seabirds in the future.


Paleobiology ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 41 (3) ◽  
pp. 479-490 ◽  
Author(s):  
Catalina Pimiento ◽  
Meghan A. Balk

AbstractThe extinct sharkCarcharocles megalodonis one of the largest marine apex predators ever to exist. Nonetheless, little is known about its body-size variations through time and space. Here, we studied the body-size trends ofC. megalodonthrough its temporal and geographic range to better understand its ecology and evolution. Given that this species was the last of the megatooth lineage, a group of species that shows a purported size increase through time, we hypothesized thatC. megalodonalso displayed this trend, increasing in size over time and reaching its largest size prior to extinction. We found thatC. megalodonbody-size distribution was left-skewed (suggesting a long-term selective pressure favoring larger individuals), and presented significant geographic variation (possibly as a result of the heterogeneous ecological constraints of this cosmopolitan species) over geologic time. Finally, we found that stasis was the general mode of size evolution ofC. megalodon(i.e., no net changes over time), contrasting with the trends of the megatooth lineage and our hypothesis. Given thatC. megalodonis a relatively long-lived species with a widely distributed fossil record, we further used this study system to provide a deep-time perspective to the understanding of the body-size trends of marine apex predators. For instance, our results suggest that (1) a selective pressure in predatory sharks for consuming a broader range of prey may favor larger individuals and produce left-skewed distributions on a geologic time scale; (2) body-size variations in cosmopolitan apex marine predators may depend on their interactions with geographically discrete communities; and (3) the inherent characteristics of shark species can produce stable sizes over geologic time, regardless of the size trends of their lineages.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Wereszczuk ◽  
Tim R. Hofmeester ◽  
Alexander Csanády ◽  
Tomislav Dumić ◽  
Morten Elmeros ◽  
...  

AbstractMany species show spatial variation in body size, often associated with climatic patterns. Studying species with contrasting geographical patterns related to climate might help elucidate the role of different drivers. We analysed changes in the body mass of two sympatric medium-sized carnivores—pine marten (Martes martes) and stone marten (Martes foina)—across Europe over 59 years. The body mass of pine marten increased with decreasing latitude, whereas stone marten body mass varied in a more complex pattern across its geographic range. Over time, the average body mass of pine martens increased by 255 g (24%), while stone marten by 86 g (6%). The greatest increase of body mass along both martens’ geographic range was observed in central and southern Europe, where both species occur in sympatry. The body mass increase slowed down over time, especially in allopatric regions. The average pine/stone marten body mass ratio increased from 0.87 in 1960 to 0.99 in 2019, potentially strengthening the competition between them. Thus, a differential response in body size to several drivers over time might have led to an adaptive advantage for pine martens. This highlights the importance of considering different responses among interacting species when studying animal adaptation to climate change.


2017 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 161
Author(s):  
Sławomir Mitrus ◽  
Bartłomiej Najbar ◽  
Adam Kotowicz ◽  
Anna Najbar
Keyword(s):  
The Body ◽  

2009 ◽  
Vol 12 (7) ◽  
pp. 953-956 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lynne M Boddy ◽  
Allan F Hackett ◽  
Gareth Stratton

AbstractObjectiveTo estimate the prevalence of underweight between 1998 and 2006 in Liverpool schoolchildren aged 9–10 years using recently published underweight cut-off points.Design and settingStature and body mass data collected at the LiverpoolSportsLinx project’s fitness testing sessions were used to calculate BMI.SubjectsData were available on 26 782 (n13 637 boys, 13 145 girls) participants.ResultsOverall underweight declined in boys from 10·3 % in 1998–1999 to 6·9 % in 2005–2006, and all sub-classifications of underweight declined, in particular grade 3 underweight, with the most recent prevalence being 0·1 %. In girls, the prevalence of underweight declined from 10·8 % in 1998–1999 to 7·5 % in 2005–2006. The prevalence of all grades of underweight was higher in girls than in boys. Underweight showed a fluctuating pattern across all grades over time for boys and girls, and overall prevalence in 2005–2006 represents over 200 children across the city.ConclusionsUnderweight may have reduced slightly from baseline, but remains a substantial problem in Liverpool, with the prevalence of overall underweight being relatively similar to the prevalence of obesity. The present study highlights the requirement for policy makers and funders to consider both ends of the body mass spectrum when fixing priorities in child health.


Analytica ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 66-75
Author(s):  
Toshiki Horikoshi ◽  
Chihiro Kitaoka ◽  
Yosuke Fujii ◽  
Takashi Asano ◽  
Jiawei Xu ◽  
...  

The ingredients of an antipyretic (acetaminophen, AAP) and their metabolites excreted into fingerprint were detected by surface-assisted laser desorption ionization (SALDI) mass spectrometry using zeolite. In the fingerprint taken 4 h after AAP ingestion, not only AAP but also the glucuronic acid conjugate of AAP (GAAP), caffeine (Caf), ethenzamide (Eth), salicylamide (Sala; a metabolite of Eth), and urea were detected. Fingerprints were collected over time to determine how the amounts of AAP and its metabolite changed with time, and the time dependence of the peak intensities of protonated AAP and GAAP was measured. It was found that the increase of [GAAP+H]+ peak started later than that of [AAP+H]+ peak, reflecting the metabolism of AAP. Both AAP and GAAP reached maximum concentrations approximately 3 h after ingestion, and were excreted from the body with a half-life of approximately 3.3 h. In addition, fingerprint preservation was confirmed by optical microscopy, and fingerprint shape was retained even after laser irradiation of the fingerprint. Our method may be used in fingerprint analysis.


Author(s):  
Adrian Marciszak ◽  
Yuriy Semenov ◽  
Piotr Portnicki ◽  
Tamara Derkach

AbstractCranial material ofPachycrocuta brevirostrisfrom the late Early Pleistocene site of Nogaisk is the first record of this species in Ukraine. This large hyena was a representative of the Tamanian faunal complex and a single specialised scavenger in these faunas. The revisited European records list ofP.brevirostrisdocumented the presence of this species in 101 sites, dated in the range of 3.5–0.4 Ma. This species first disappeared in Africa, survived in Europe until ca. 0.8–0.7 Ma, and its last, relict occurrence was known from south-eastern Asia. The main reason of extinction ofP.brevirostrisprobably was the competition withCrocuta crocuta. The cave hyena was smaller, but its teeth were proportionally larger to the body size, better adapted to crushing bones and slicing meat, and could also hunt united in larger groups.


Hydrobiologia ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rungtip Wonglersak ◽  
Phillip B. Fenberg ◽  
Peter G. Langdon ◽  
Stephen J. Brooks ◽  
Benjamin W. Price

AbstractChironomids are a useful group for investigating body size responses to warming due to their high local abundance and sensitivity to environmental change. We collected specimens of six species of chironomids every 2 weeks over a 2-year period (2017–2018) from mesocosm experiments using five ponds at ambient temperature and five ponds at 4°C higher than ambient temperature. We investigated (1) wing length responses to temperature within species and between sexes using a regression analysis, (2) interspecific body size responses to test whether the body size of species influences sensitivity to warming, and (3) the correlation between emergence date and wing length. We found a significantly shorter wing length with increasing temperature in both sexes of Procladius crassinervis and Tanytarsus nemorosus, in males of Polypedilum sordens, but no significant relationship in the other three species studied. The average body size of a species affects the magnitude of the temperature-size responses in both sexes, with larger species shrinking disproportionately more with increasing temperature. There was a significant decline in wing length with emergence date across most species studied (excluding Polypedilum nubeculosum and P. sordens), indicating that individuals emerging later in the season tend to be smaller.


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