scholarly journals Prey-tracking behavior and prey preferences in a tree-climbing firefly

PeerJ ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. e8080 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nozomu Sato
Keyword(s):  
Single Species ◽  
Food Choices ◽  
Land Snails ◽  
Snail Species ◽  
Larval Food ◽  
Climbing Behavior ◽  
Prey Preferences ◽  
The Family ◽  
Alternative Choice ◽  
Tracking Behavior

Prey-tracking behavior is common in snail-killing predators, but in the family Lampyridae, this behavior has been validated in only a single species even though this Coleopteran family includes many specialist snail predators. The endemic firefly Pyrocoelia atripennis is a major snail-killing predator in the Yaeyama Islands of Japan, and the larvae often climb on the trees and grasses at night. This tree-climbing behavior is relevant to larval food choices and anti-predatory defenses of land snails. This study examined whether lampyrid larvae can track snail mucus trails and examined larval prey preferences using alternative choice experiments. In addition, predation trials were conducted to evaluate which snail species are potential prey. P. atripennis larvae significantly selected mucous trails over distilled water or control (no-trail) treatments. In addition, a semi-arboreal species was preferred over a ground-dwelling species. In predation trials, the larvae preyed on five out of 10 endemic snail species, all of which were semi-arboreal or arboreal species. Ground-dwelling Cyclophoridae and Aegista species have effective anti-predatory defenses consisting of an operculum or “foamy-lid” that fills the shell aperture. Whether the prey has a lid affects the predation success of lampyrid larvae, and larval tree-climbing behavior may be an adaptation used to search for semi-arboreal and arboreal land snails that lack defensive lids. Furthermore, snail mucus left on the plant stem may help the lampyrid larvae to locate their prey.

Complete Field Guide to Butterflies of Australia

2004 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael F Braby
Keyword(s):  
Single Species ◽  
Food Plants ◽  
Butterfly Species ◽  
Distribution Map ◽  
Larval Food ◽  
Field Guide ◽  
The Family ◽  
Complete Field ◽  
Remote Islands ◽  
Scientific Name

This is the first complete field guide to all butterfly species on Australia’s mainland and its remote islands. Written by one of Australia's leading lepidopterists, it is stunningly illustrated with colour photographs of each of the 416 currently identified species. There is also a distribution map for each species on the Australian mainland. It covers the five major family groups: Hesperiidae, Paplionidae, Pieridae, Nymphalidae and Lycaenidae, as well as the family Riodinidae, which has but a single species in Australia. The introduction covers adult structure, classification, distribution and habitats, and life cycle and behaviour. This is followed by accounts of each of the 416 species, giving common name, scientific name, and other names (if any), as well as details of behaviour, habitat, status, and larval food plants. Accompanying each species is a distribution map, and photographs of the upperside and underside of both male and female specimens. The book also contains a checklist of all species, a list of entomological contacts, a glossary, a bibliography, an index of common names and an index of scientific names.

Interactions between the land snails Theba pisana and Cernuella virgata in the laboratory

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Geoff H Baker
Keyword(s):  
Laboratory Experiments ◽  
Distribution Patterns ◽  
Land Snails ◽  
Snail Species ◽  
Agricultural Pests ◽  
Large Numbers ◽  
Small Scales ◽  
Novel Method ◽  
Theba Pisana ◽  
Inhibitory Components

ABSTRACT Two Mediterranean snails, Theba pisana and Cernuella virgata, are agricultural pests in southern Australia. The two species are rarely found together in large numbers in the field, at small scales (<1 m2). In laboratory experiments, the presence of T. pisana reduced the survival of C. virgata, but only when food (carrot + lettuce) was provided. When C. virgata was exposed to only the mucus trails and faeces of T. pisana, produced while feeding on lettuce, both the survival and activity of C. virgata were reduced. When carrot was substituted for lettuce, there was less effect. In addition, when C. virgata was exposed to T. pisana’s faeces only, derived from access to a mix of lettuce and carrot, there was no effect on C. virgata’s survival. The observed reductions in the survival of C. virgata were stronger in autumn (the breeding season for both snail species) compared with spring. Inhibitory components within the mucus trails of T. pisana may (1) help explain the observed distribution patterns of the two species at small scales in the field and (2) provide a novel method for control of pest populations of C. virgata, in some situations.

scholarly journals Snail mucus from the mantle and foot of two land snails, Lissachatina fulica and Hemiplecta distincta, exhibits different protein profile and biological activity

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nattaphop Noothuan ◽  
Kantamas Apitanyasai ◽  
Somsak Panha ◽  
Anchalee Tassanakajon
Keyword(s):  
Biological Activities ◽  
Protein Pattern ◽  
Protein Profile ◽  
Antibacterial Properties ◽  
Biological Properties ◽  
Specific Protein ◽  
Land Snails ◽  
Snail Species ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Different Types

Abstract Objective Snails secrete different types of mucus that serve several functions, and are increasingly being exploited for medical and cosmetic applications. In this study, we explored the protein pattern and compared the biological properties of the mucus secreted from the mantle collar and foot of two snail species, Lissachatina fulica and Hemiplecta distincta. Result Protein profile showed a different pattern between the two species and between the two secretory parts. The mantle-specific protein bands were further characterized and among them was an antibacterial protein, achacin. Accordingly, the mucus from the mantle exhibited the higher antibacterial activity than that from the foot in both snail species. The mucus from H. distincta, first reported here, also showed antibacterial properties, but with a lower activity compared to that for L. fulica. Snail mucus also exhibited anti-tyrosinase activity and antioxidant activity but with no significant difference between the foot and mantle mucus. These results indicate some different protein compositions and biological activities of snail slime from the mantle and foot, which might be associated with their specific functions in the animal and are useful for medical applications.

scholarly journals Sequence data from isolated lichen-associated melanized fungi enhance delimitation of two new lineages within Chaetothyriomycetidae

2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (7) ◽  
pp. 911-927
Author(s):  
Lucia Muggia ◽  
Yu Quan ◽  
Cécile Gueidan ◽  
Abdullah M. S. Al-Hatmi ◽  
Martin Grube ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sequence Data ◽  
Single Species ◽  
Sister Group ◽  
Asexual Propagation ◽  
Dna Sequence Data ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
The Family ◽  
Rock Inhabiting Fungi ◽  
Stable Habitat

AbstractLichen thalli provide a long-lived and stable habitat for colonization by a wide range of microorganisms. Increased interest in these lichen-associated microbial communities has revealed an impressive diversity of fungi, including several novel lineages which still await formal taxonomic recognition. Among these, members of the Eurotiomycetes and Dothideomycetes usually occur asymptomatically in the lichen thalli, even if they share ancestry with fungi that may be parasitic on their host. Mycelia of the isolates are characterized by melanized cell walls and the fungi display exclusively asexual propagation. Their taxonomic placement requires, therefore, the use of DNA sequence data. Here, we consider recently published sequence data from lichen-associated fungi and characterize and formally describe two new, individually monophyletic lineages at family, genus, and species levels. The Pleostigmataceae fam. nov. and Melanina gen. nov. both comprise rock-inhabiting fungi that associate with epilithic, crust-forming lichens in subalpine habitats. The phylogenetic placement and the monophyly of Pleostigmataceae lack statistical support, but the family was resolved as sister to the order Verrucariales. This family comprises the species Pleostigma alpinum sp. nov., P. frigidum sp. nov., P. jungermannicola, and P. lichenophilum sp. nov. The placement of the genus Melanina is supported as a lineage within the Chaetothyriales. To date, this genus comprises the single species M. gunde-cimermaniae sp. nov. and forms a sister group to a large lineage including Herpotrichiellaceae, Chaetothyriaceae, Cyphellophoraceae, and Trichomeriaceae. The new phylogenetic analysis of the subclass Chaetothyiomycetidae provides new insight into genus and family level delimitation and classification of this ecologically diverse group of fungi.

Two new species of stalked crinoids from the northeastern Pacific in the genera Gephyrocrinus and Ptilocrinus (Echinodermata, Crinoidea, Hyocrinidae). Effects of ontogeny and variability on hyocrinid taxonomy

Zootaxa ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 2825 (1) ◽  
pp. 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
MICHEL ROUX ◽  
PHILIP LAMBERT
Keyword(s):  
British Columbia ◽  
New Species ◽  
Single Species ◽  
Depth Range ◽  
Evolutionary Trend ◽  
Exceptional Collection ◽  
The Family ◽  
Two New Species ◽  
Northeastern Pacific ◽  
Stalked Crinoids

Two new species of deep-sea stalked crinoids belonging to the family Hyocrinidae were collected in the northeastern Pacific. The descriptions contain detailed information on character variations and ontogeny. The five specimens of Gephyrocrinus messingi n. sp. lived at depths ranging from 1,777 m to 2,110 m off British Columbia and California. This new species is the first record of the genus Gephyrocrinus in the Pacific Ocean, which was previously known from only a single species, G. grimaldii, from the northeastern Atlantic at the same depth range. The two species illustrate opposing phenotypes within the same genus. Fifty-eight specimens of the second new species, Ptilocrinus clarki n. sp., were dredged off British Columbia close to the type-locality of P. pinnatus, the type species of the genus Ptilocrinus, but at shallower depths ranging from 1,178 to 1,986 m. This exceptional collection provides significant data on intraspecific variation in the main morphological characters, especially arm pattern. The ontogeny of stalk articulations and the main traits of adoral plate differentiation are described in detail. A complementary investigation on P. pinnatus was conducted using specimens collected by the “Albatross” expedition at a depth of 2,906 m. Despite similarities in external morphology, tegmen and cover plates, the two ptilocrinid species display significant differences in pinnule architecture, aboral cup and stalk articulations. From comparison with Gephyrocrinus messingi n. sp. and Ptilocrinus clarki n. sp., G. grimaldii and P. pinnatus are interpreted as the result of heterochronic development by paedomorphy after ecological or geographic isolation. Pinnule architecture in the two new species suggests first steps in an evolutionary trend toward a rigid box which protects gonad inflation in the proximal part of the pinnule. These new data on Ptilocrinus and Gephyrocrinus create problems in the current taxonomy of the family Hyocrinidae. The main derived characters, especially in pinnule and arm pattern, are used to propose new hypotheses for hyocrinid phylogeny.

scholarly journals Fish Diversity in Huchharayanakere, Shikaripura, Shivamogga District, Karnataka, India

2016 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. 11-22
Author(s):  
H M Ashashree ◽  
H A Sayeswara ◽  
K L Naik ◽  
N Kumara Swamy ◽  
Nafeesa Begum
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Fish Fauna ◽  
Single Species ◽  
Economic Importance ◽  
Fish Diversity ◽  
Fish Health ◽  
Chemical Condition ◽  
Physico Chemical ◽  
The Family ◽  
Faunal Diversity

Fresh water wetlands are fragile ecosystems, which are fast deterioring and shrinking due to manmade activities. The fish composition of Huchharayanakere of Shikaripura was studied for a period of twelve months from January to December 2015. The icthyo-faunal diversity of this pond confirmed the occurrence of 13 species of fishes belonging to 5 families. The family Cyprinidae represented by 9 species. Families Anabantidae, Bagridae, Clupeidae and Notopteridae were represented by only a single species. Simultaneously the physico-chemical condition of the water body revealed that water quality is suitable for fish culture. The study of fish fauna of an aquatic body is useful for planning of fisheries development. The pond needs proper management and utilization of this fish wealth and sustainable steps to monitor and conserve the fish health. The present study revealed that Huchharayanakere of Shikaripura harbors wide varieties of fish with economic importance in local and global trade. The study will provide future strategies for development and fish conservation.

scholarly journals An Ecological Study of the Brown Garden snail Cornu aspersum (Müller, 1774) from selected habitats in Jadiriya in Baghdad vicinity.

2010 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 223-232
Author(s):  
Baghdad Science Journal
Keyword(s):  
Land Snails ◽  
Parasitic Nematodes ◽  
Ecological Indicator ◽  
Snail Species ◽  
The World ◽  
Cornu Aspersum ◽  
Healing Wounds ◽  
Medical Importance ◽  
The One ◽  
Scientific Attention

The present study is considered a pioneer investigation that deal with the terrestrial brown garden snail Cornu aspersum (Müller), in Iraq. Cornu aspersum however is considered an exotic species in many parts of the world ,The species is most probably infiltrates with plants transferred from one place to another. The species has gained importance in many ways. Nutritionally, the species is consumed as food item in many countries, but in other cases it is considered as pest for the damage it causes when feeding on valuable plant shoots. It also has medical importance for its role and ability in healing wounds, burns and remedy of other skin problems. This snail species however may act as a vector for some parasitic nematodes that cause serious diseases. The species is also important in scientific research, usually referred to as ‘ecological indicator’ employed in environmental pollution problems such as the one caused by heavy metals. A great deal of research on this species has been carried out in different parts of the world, however, in Iraq, the scientific attention given to land snails in general and to Cornu aspersum in particular is rare and may be negligible in comparison with the research carried out on aquatic Mollusca species. A total of 1880 individuals of Cornu aspersum were collected from all sampling sites. The study was carried out for the period November 2007 to November 2008 on three sites within the Jadiriya district in Baghdad.. Growth, size classes and shell dimensions of Cornu aspersum populations, and their relationship with major environmental factors; ambient temperature; soil pH, moisture, texture; and the soil content of organic matter have been also investigated. Identification of the species was confirmed by the British Natural History Museum.The data were analyzed by means of standard statistical procedures.

Detecting Prey Preferences and Prey Switching

2021 ◽  
pp. 89-100
Author(s):  
John P. DeLong
Keyword(s):  
Functional Response ◽  
Single Species ◽  
Prey Choice ◽  
Prey Switching ◽  
Prey Preferences ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Simplified Analysis

In this chapter I consider the question of whether predators switch their preference for different types of prey as those prey change in abundance. There are numerous experiments in the literature focusing on this, but generally they have focused on a simplified analysis that ignores the functional response. Here I show why the functional response is crucial for understanding prey choice, and I show that null expectations considering a multi-species functional response lead to different interpretations than standard null expectations. I also derive null expectations for the proportion of prey consumed given the single-species functional response.

scholarly journals Two new frog species (Microhylidae: Cophixalus) from the Australian Wet Tropics region, and redescription of Cophixalus ornatus

Zootaxa ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 3271 (1) ◽  
pp. 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
CONRAD J. HOSKIN
Keyword(s):  
Single Species ◽  
Biological Species ◽  
Tropical Rainforests ◽  
Genetic Lineages ◽  
North East ◽  
The North ◽  
Mating Call ◽  
The Family ◽  
Wet Tropics ◽  
Multiple Species

In Australia the frog family Microhylidae is largely restricted to tropical rainforests of the Wet Tropics region in the north-east of the country, but in that region the family is diverse. Only one species, Cophixalus ornatus, is widespread in the WetTropics but there has been suspicion that it may comprise multiple species. A recent study (Hoskin et al. 2011) assessedgenetic and phenotypic variation across the range of C. ornatus, finding three deeply divergent genetic lineages that differin mating call and some aspects of morphology. Two of these lineages abutt in the central Wet Tropics and in that areahybridization was found to be very limited despite sympatry at high densities. Based on multiple lines of data, Hoskin etal. (2011) concluded that the three genetic lineages represent biological species. The taxonomy of these three lineages isresolved here. I describe two new species, Cophixalus australis sp. nov. and Cophixalus hinchinbrookensis sp. nov., andredescribe C. ornatus. The three species are not distinguishable based on any single morphological or call trait and arebest identified by genetics or locality. The distributions of the three species are largely allopatric. Cophixalus ornatus isfound in rainforest in the northern Wet Tropics, C. australis sp. nov. occurs in rainforest and adjacent wet sclerophyllforests in the central and southern Wet Tropics, and C. hinchinbrookensis sp. nov. inhabits rainforest and montane heathon Hinchinbrook Island. All three species are common. Cophixalus australis sp. nov. contains three genetic subgroupsthat are considered a single species based on phenotypic similarity and high levels of hybridization at contact zones. Thedescription of Cophixalus australis sp. nov. and Cophixalus hinchinbrookensis sp. nov. brings the number of Australian Cophixalus species to 18, 15 of which are restricted to the Wet Tropics region.

Urochordeumatidae Silvestri, 1909, a millipede family endemic to Washington State, USA (Chordeumatida, Striariidea, Striarioidea)

Zootaxa ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 4657 (2) ◽  
pp. 352-360
Author(s):  
WILLIAM A. SHEAR ◽  
PAUL E. MAREK
Keyword(s):  
Single Species ◽  
Washington State ◽  
Range Extension ◽  
North Cascades ◽  
The North ◽  
The Family ◽  
Whatcom County ◽  
Subjective Synonym

Urochordeumatidae Silvestri, 1909 includes a single species, Urochordeuma bumpusi Silvestri, 1909, with U. porona Chamberlin, 1941 as a new junior subjective synonym. The family Urochordeumatidae is removed from the superfamily Caseyoidea and transferred to the superfamily Striarioidea. The species is known only from four counties in Washington State in the North Cascades: Pierce, King, Thurston and Whatcom. The occurrence of U. bumpusi from Whatcom County is a significant range extension. 

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