scholarly journals Experimental indications of gardeners’ anecdotes that snails interfere with invasive slugs

PeerJ ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
pp. e11309
Author(s):  
Daniel Dörler ◽  
Verena Dorn ◽  
Theresia Widhalm ◽  
Micha Horacek ◽  
Florian Heigl ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Mass ◽  
Helix Pomatia ◽  
Single Species ◽  
Snail Species ◽  
Pest Species ◽  
Stable Isotope Labelling ◽  
Important Pest ◽  
Arion Vulgaris ◽  
Negative Effect ◽  
Gain Loss

The invasive Spanish slug (Arion vulgaris) is an important pest species in agriculture and horticulture in Europe. In the last decades it has spread across the continent where it outcompetes native slug and snail species, thus posing a threat for biodiversity. A popular anecdote suggests to promote Roman snails (Helix pomatia) in gardens because they are able to control A. vulgaris. We examined a potential interrelationship between these two species using a mesocosm experiment with lettuce plants. 13C-15N stable isotope labelling of lettuce allowed us to investigate interactions between Helix and Arion on weight gain/loss and herbivory. Additionally, we wanted to know whether different watering regimes (daily vs. every 3rd day watering of weekly amount) and earthworms alter these interactions. Egg predation of Helix on Arion eggs was further tested in a food-choice experiment. Arion showed a five times higher herbivory per body mass than Helix in a single-species setting. However, in mesocosms containing both species percentage of herbivory per body mass was significantly lower than in Arion-only mesocosms, especially when watered every three days. Overall isotope uptake via eaten lettuce was unaffected by the presence of the other species. Only very little predation (three out of 200 eggs) of Helix on Arion eggs was observed. Our results provide no evidence for a clear dismissal or confirmation of the popular gardener’s anecdote that Helix snails have a negative effect on Arion abundance or herbivory.

Percussion signals of Lygus rugulipennis Poppius (Heteroptera: Miridae)

2014 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 543-549
Author(s):  
Sándor Koczor ◽  
Andrej Cokl
Keyword(s):  
Dominant Frequency ◽  
Laser Vibrometer ◽  
Pest Species ◽  
Adult Males ◽  
Tarnished Plant Bug ◽  
Lygus Rugulipennis ◽  
Important Pest ◽  
Low Pass ◽  
Males And Females ◽  
Study Laboratory

AbstractThe European tarnished plant bug (Lygus rugulipennis Poppius) is among the most serious pests in the family Miridae, and therefore there is increasing interest in understanding the behaviour of this species. In the present study, laboratory recordings were taken using a laser vibrometer on adult males and females to ascertain whether acoustic signals are involved in intraspecific communication. Recordings were both carried out on plant and loudspeaker membrane substrates. Males and females emitted vibratory signals and the present results indicate that these signals are important during courtship. The basic signal characteristics measured were the dominant frequency, pulse duration, repetition time and number of pulses per group within the signal. Male and female signals did not differ in respect to any of these characteristics. Plant recorded signals were longer because of different mechanical properties of substrates. Additionally, the high frequency components were attenuated due to the low-pass filtering properties of plants. As this is the first study on vibratory communication of the European tarnished plant bug, we believe these findings may contribute considerably to the better understanding of the mating behavior of this important pest species.

scholarly journals Socioeconomic Status, Institutional Power, and Body Mass Index among Chinese Adults

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (20) ◽  
pp. 10620
Author(s):  
Weidong Li ◽  
Shuzhuo Li ◽  
Marcus W. Feldman
Keyword(s):  
Body Mass Index ◽  
Socioeconomic Status ◽  
Body Mass ◽  
Positive Association ◽  
Chinese Adults ◽  
State Institutions ◽  
Force Dynamics ◽  
Institutional Power ◽  
Negative Effect ◽  
Positive Effect

Despite the vast literature on the socioeconomic status (SES) gradient of obesity among adult people, no study has investigated the relationship between institutional power and body mass index. Using national survey data from the “China Labor-force Dynamics Survey 2016” (CLDS 2016), multistage cluster-stratified probability proportional to size (PPS) sampling was employed to select cases from 29 provinces, cities, and autonomous regions in China. This study adopts an institutional approach to explore the influences of SES and institutional power on the state of being overweight or severely overweight (obese) among Chinese adults. It is shown that SES has a non-linear influence on being overweight or obese, higher education has a negative effect on being overweight or obese, income has an inverted U-shaped effect on being overweight or obese, and having a managerial or administrative job has a positive effect on being overweight but less so on obesity. These findings reveal that disparities in health outcome and risks are due to inequality in SES. The work unit is a stronger predictor of adults being overweight or obese than occupation. Working in the public sector has a positive effect on being overweight relative to working in the private sector, and only state institutions and government departments have a positive association with obesity. Our results indicate that institutional structure still has effects on individuals’ life chances in the era of China’s market transition.

scholarly journals School bags and associated back pain

2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 10-19
Author(s):  
Amra Mačak Hadžiomerović ◽  
Amila Jaganjac ◽  
Dijana Avdic ◽  
Emira švraka ◽  
Arzija Pašalić ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Back Pain ◽  
Body Mass ◽  
Sixth Grade ◽  
Total Sample ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
The Body ◽  
Fifth Grade ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Negative Effect ◽  
Type Of School

Introduction: The most common health problem associated with the negative effect of heavy school bags is back pain, and non-specific back pain is frequently observed in childhood. The prevalence of back pain in schoolchildren varies from 12% to 92%, depending on the age and affected region of the back. To prevent the occurrence of back pain in schoolchildren, the weight of school bag should not exceed 10% of the child’s body mass.Methods: This was a descriptive, cross-sectional study conducted in April 2017. We included 79 students of the fifth and sixth grade from the elementary school in Sarajevo. Information on the weight and type of school bag, method of carrying a school bag, and feelings of pain and tiredness due to school bag were obtained by questionnaire.Results: In the total sample, the majority of the students (64.6%) reported occasional back pain while carrying the bag, 20.3% of students reported no back pain, and 11.4% of students experienced frequent back pain. The mean school bag weight in the fifth grade was 4.01 ± 0.57 kg, and it was significantly higher (4.61 ± 0.86 kg) in the sixth grade. About 48.5% of the students in the fifth and 50% in the sixth grade carried school bags weighing more than 10% of the body mass. A higher mean weight of school bag was significantly more frequent in students who reported always feeling tired (11.03 ± 2.74%) compared to those who did not feel tired while carrying the school bag (8.41 ± 2%).Conclusions: Overall, more frequent occurrence of back pain and tiredness in schoolchildren was associated with heavier school bags (>10% of the body mass), and the occurrence of back pain due to school bag was related to gender (i.e., back pain was more common in girls compared to boys).

scholarly journals Cryptic Diversity Hidden within the Leafminer Genus Liriomyza (Diptera: Agromyzidae)

Genes ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (11) ◽  
pp. 554 ◽  
Author(s):  
Antonio Carapelli ◽  
Abir Soltani ◽  
Chiara Leo ◽  
Matteo Vitale ◽  
Moez Amri ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Population Genetics ◽  
Species Delimitation ◽  
Decisive Role ◽  
Molecular Data ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Species Differentiation ◽  
Pest Species ◽  
Human Diet ◽  
Important Pest ◽  
Highly Uniform

Leafminer insects of the genus Liriomyza are small flies whose larvae feed on the internal tissue of some of the most important crop plants for the human diet. Several of these pest species are highly uniform from the morphological point of view, meaning molecular data represents the only reliable taxonomic tool useful to define cryptic boundaries. In this study, both mitochondrial and nuclear molecular markers have been applied to investigate the population genetics of some Tunisian populations of the polyphagous species Liriomyza cicerina, one of the most important pest of chickpea cultivars in the whole Mediterranean region. Molecular data have been collected on larvae isolated from chickpea, faba bean, and lentil leaves, and used for population genetics, phylogenetics, and species delimitation analyses. Results point toward high differentiation levels between specimens collected on the three different legume crops, which, according to the species delimitation methods, are also sufficient to define incipient species differentiation and cryptic species occurrence, apparently tied up with host choice. Genetic data have also been applied for a phylogenetic comparison among Liriomyza species, further confirming their decisive role in the systematic studies of the genus.

scholarly journals Effect of Body Mass Index on Auricular Morphology and Auditory Functions

2019 ◽  
Vol 98 (7) ◽  
pp. E81-E86 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mehmet Surmeli ◽  
Ildem Deveci ◽  
Hasan Canakci ◽  
Mustafa Salih Canpolat ◽  
Burak Karabulut ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Mass Index ◽  
Soft Tissue ◽  
Body Mass ◽  
Significant Negative Correlation ◽  
The Body ◽  
Sulcus Angle ◽  
Soft Tissue Thickness ◽  
Negative Effect ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Auditory Functions

In this study, we aimed to investigate the relationship between the body mass index (BMI) and the morphometric properties of auricula and its acoustic gain characteristics. A total of 45 participants between 18 and 45 years of age were enrolled into the study. Participants’ height and weight measurements were recorded for the BMI calculation. On both sides, the morphometric properties of the auricula were measured and recorded. Additionally, the participants were subjected to multidirectional dynamic real ear measurements (REMs) to specify the intensity and frequency values of the maximum hearing gain. Participants consisted of 24 women and 21 men. The mean BMI was 23.42. The mean auricular area was 22.70 cm2. Statistically significant positive correlation was found between the auricular area and BMI ( r = 0.427, P = .03). The mean postauricular sulcus angle was 20.99°. The mastoid-helix distance was 16.07 mm. There was no statistically significant correlation between BMI level and postauricular sulcus angle and mastoid-helix distance ( P > .05). The mean dynamic REM measurement was evaluated. The maximum acoustic gain at anterior, lateral, and posterior vectorial stimulation was calculated as 20.9, 24.2, and 20.7 dB Sound Presure Level (SPL), respectively. Statistically significant negative correlation was found between the three directions acoustic gain level and BMI in the statistical examination ( r = −0.365, r = −0.386, r = −0.453, respectively, and P < .05 for all). The results of acoustic gain frequency were 2967.4, 2963, and 2934 Hz, respectively. There was no statistically significant correlation between acoustic gain frequency and BMI ( P > .05). When participants were grouped according to their BMI, participants with a BMI >25 had a statistically significantly bigger auricular area and lower maximum acoustic gain when compared with those with BMI <25 ( P < .05). We found that the auricular area increased with BMI. We think that this is related to soft tissue thickening of the auricula related to high BMI. In addition, we found that the acoustic gain level decreased inversely with BMI. We believe that the decrease in acoustic gain is due to the increase of acoustic resistance after the increase of soft tissue thickness. In conclusion, we think that BMI has a negative effect on auditory function according to findings in our study.

scholarly journals Investigation upon the Edible Snail’s Potential as Source of Selenium for Human Health and Nutrition Observing its Food Chemical Contaminant Risk Factor with Heavy Metals

1970 ◽  
Vol 66 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Adrian TOADER-WILLIAMS ◽  
Nadezhda GOLUBKINA
Keyword(s):  
Heavy Metals ◽  
Agricultural Land ◽  
Helix Pomatia ◽  
Selenium Concentration ◽  
Food Product ◽  
Human Consumption ◽  
Snail Species ◽  
Agricultural Activity ◽  
Lead And Cadmium ◽  
Terrestrial Snails

Being much appreciated all over the world for their high nutritional values, escargots or terrestrial snails are farmed in many countries. Within the last few years, snail farming started to become a very popular activity in Romania too. It represents an ecological type of agricultural activity that can also be certified as biological, organic farming if the soil’s conditions and the technology are as such. Extensive amount of research offers details on the physiology of the edible snail species as well as regarding their biochemical content and their nutritional value. No much research reflects snail’s ability to bioaccumulate selenium. In the same time, a lot of research demonstrated the snail’s ability to accumulate contaminants such as heavy metals. Using fluorimetric analysis, we investigated selenium accumulation in meat and shell of edible terrestrial snails Helix pomatia and Eobania vermiculata Muller gathered from different regions of Moldova Republic, Ukraine and Russia. The meat selenium concentration in terrestrial snails reflects the ability of those invertebrates to accumulate high selenium contents. Based on the intake recommendations, snails can be a very good source of selenium for human consumption. Depending upon the soil mineral content and level of contamination, the snails will accumulate large quantities of heavy metals such as lead and cadmium, therefore making the snails a very high-risk food product. Therefore, it is very important a careful selection of the agricultural land designated for snail farming. Additives containing selenium may be a way to supplement snail’s diet.

Children Exposed or Unexposed to Human Immunodeficiency Virus: Weight, Height, and Body Mass Index During the First 5 Years of Life—A Danish Nationwide Cohort

2019 ◽  
Vol 70 (10) ◽  
pp. 2168-2177
Author(s):  
Ellen Moseholm ◽  
Marie Helleberg ◽  
Håkon Sandholdt ◽  
Terese L Katzenstein ◽  
Merete Storgaard ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Mass Index ◽  
Body Mass ◽  
Well Being ◽  
World Health ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Growth Chart ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Negative Effect ◽  
Z Scores ◽  
Health Organization

Abstract Background Exposures to human immunodeficiency (HIV) and antiretroviral therapy in utero may have adverse effects on infant growth. Among children born in Denmark and aged 0–5 years, we aimed to compare anthropometric outcomes in HIV-exposed but uninfected (HEU) children with those in children not exposed to HIV. Methods In a nationwide register-based study we included all singleton HEU children born in Denmark in 2000–2016. HEU children were individually matched by child sex, parity, and maternal place of birth to 5 singleton controls born to mothers without HIV. Weight-for-age z (WAZ) scores, length-for-age z (LAZ) scores, and weight-for-length or body mass index–for–age z scores were generated according to the World Health Organization standards and the Fenton growth chart for premature infants. Differences in mean z scores were analyzed using linear mixed models, both univariate and adjusted for social and maternal factors. Results In total, 485 HEU children and 2495 HIV-unexposed controls were included. Compared with controls, HEU children were smaller at birth, with an adjusted difference in mean WAZ and LAZ scores of −0.29 (95% confidence interval [CI], −.46 to −.12) and −0.51 (95% CI, −.71 to −.31), respectively (both P ≤ .001). Over time, there was a trend toward increasing WAZ and LAZ scores in HEU children, and there was no significant difference in adjusted WAZ scores after age 14 days (−0.13 [95% CI, −.27 to .01]; P = .07) and LAZ scores after age 6 months (−0.15 [95% CI, −.32 to .02]; P = .08). Conclusion Compared with a matched control group, HEU children were smaller at birth, but this difference decreased with time and is not considered to have a negative effect on the health and well-being of HEU children during early childhood.

Important pest species of the Spodoptera complex: Biology, thermal requirements and ecological zoning

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
José Roberto Postali Parra ◽  
Aloisio Coelho ◽  
Johanna Bajonero Cuervo-Rugno ◽  
Adriano Gomes Garcia ◽  
Rafael de Andrade Moral ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pest Species ◽  
Thermal Requirements ◽  
Important Pest

Production of Natural Bioceramic from Land Snails

2011 ◽  
Vol 493-494 ◽  
pp. 287-292 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Kel ◽  
Hasan Gökçe ◽  
D. Bilgiç ◽  
D. Ağaoğulları ◽  
I. Duman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Helix Pomatia ◽  
Land Snail ◽  
Land Snails ◽  
Snail Species ◽  
Growing Up ◽  
Limited Information ◽  
X Ray Diffraction ◽  
Ultrasonic Equipment ◽  
Liquid Part ◽  
Commercially Important

There are thousands of land snail species, ranging in size from 1 mm to the Giant African Snail growing up to a foot long. Two species, known as escargot, helix aspersa and helix pomatia, are commercially important. Helix pomatia is abundant in Turkey. Those snails are exported usually without shells. Shells are damped to trash sites or used as substitute food for animals. The shell is rich in calcium carbonate and some other minor minerals. Thus, snails’ shells can be used as a source for bioceramic production. So far, in the literature there are lot of papers about converting calcite and aragonite structures to hydroxyapatite (HA), like corals, sea shells, sea urchin and other sea creatures. However, there is very limited information about converting land snail shells to HA and other bioceramic phases. The aim of this work was to produce various phases of bioceramic materials from land snails’ shells which are left as a residue waste after their export procedures. Empty local land snails’ shells (helix pomatia) were collected in Istanbul. They were washed, dried, crushed and ball milled until a powder of 100 µm particles size was obtained. Raw powders were stirred at 80°C for 15 min on a hotplate. A second part of the raw powder was stirred with an ultrasonic stirrer at 80°C for 15 min in an ultrasonic equipment. Equivalent amount of H3PO4 was added drop by drop into the solution. The reaction lasted for 8h. Then, to evaporate the liquid part, the mixtures were put into an incubator at 100°C for 24 h and the resultant dried sediments were collected. The produced powders were analyzed with X-ray diffraction, IR and scanning electron microscope (SEM). The experimental results confirmed the formation of various Ca-phosphates, specifically monetite, fluorapatite and some other minor calcium phosphate phases. Bioceramic production from land snail is a reliable and economic way comparing to other tedious methods of producing synthetic HA and other various bioceramics phases.

Experimental assessment of the effects of gastrointestinal parasites on offspring quality in chinstrap penguins (Pygoscelis antarctica)

Parasitology ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 139 (6) ◽  
pp. 819-824 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. J. PALACIOS ◽  
F. VALERA ◽  
A. BARBOSA
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Body Mass ◽  
Strong Relationship ◽  
Chinstrap Penguin ◽  
Gastrointestinal Parasites ◽  
Helminth Parasites ◽  
Offspring Quality ◽  
Host Fitness ◽  
Pygoscelis Antarctica ◽  
Negative Effect

SUMMARYParasites reduce host fitness and consequently impose strong selection pressures on their hosts. It has been hypothesized that parasites are scarcer and their overall effect on hosts is weaker at higher latitudes. Although Antarctic birds have relatively low numbers of parasites, their effect on host fitness has rarely been investigated. The effect of helminth parasitism on growth rate was experimentally studied in chinstrap penguin (Pygoscelis antarctica) nestlings. In a total of 22 two-nestling broods, 1 nestling was treated with anthelminthics (for cestodes and nematodes) while its sibling was left as a control. Increased growth rate was predicted in de-wormed nestlings compared to their siblings. As expected, 15 days after treatment, the experimental nestlings had increased body mass more than their siblings. These results show a non-negligible negative effect of helminth parasites on nestling body condition that would presumably affect future survival and thus fitness, and it has been suggested there is a strong relationship between body mass and mortality in chinstrap penguins.

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