Insect faunas associated with Pinus sylvestris L. from the mid-Holocene of the Humberhead Levels, Yorkshire, U.K

This paper presents the results of recent palaeoentomological research carried out in the Humberhead Levels, South Yorkshire, UK, including the discovery of fossils of five species of beetle previously unknown in the British Isles. The significance of these and other Urwaldrelikt species is discussed in relation to the fragmentation of forest habitats, particularly those associated with Pinus sylvestris L. The Holocene history of this tree and its associated taxa is examined. The importance of fire habitats and the dependence of some pinicolous taxa on these habitats suggests that the decline of fire ecosystems may have had some impact on the changing biogeography of some species.

Fasciola hepatica: Histology of the testis in egg-producing adults of several laboratory-maintained isolates of flukes grown to maturity in cattle and sheep and in flukes from naturally infected hosts

A total of 8 calves approximately 6 months old and 22 lambs of similar age were infected with metacercariae of Fasciola hepatica of various laboratory-maintained isolates including: Cullompton (sensitive to triclabendazole) and Sligo, Oberon and Leon (reported as resistant to triclabendazole). Ten to 16 weeks after infection, flukes were harvested from these experimental animals and the histology of the testis tissue was examined in a representative sample of flukes from each population. Adult wild-type flukes were also collected from 5 chronically infected cattle and 7 chronically infected sheep identified at post-mortem inspection. The testis tissue of these flukes was compared with that of the various laboratory-maintained isolates. Whilst the testes of the wild-type, Oberon and Leon flukes displayed all the usual cell types associated with spermatogenesis in Fasciola hepatica (spermatogonia, spermatocytes, spermatids and mature sperm), the Cullompton flukes from both cattle and sheep showed arrested spermatogenesis, with no stages later than primary spermatocytes represented in the testis profiles. The presence of numerous eosinophilic apoptotic bodies and nuclear fragments suggested that meiotic division was anomalous and incomplete. In contrast to the wild-type flukes, no mature spermatozoa were present in the testes or amongst the shelled eggs in the uterus. A high proportion of the eggs collected from these flukes hatched to release normal-appearing miracidia after an appropriate incubation period, as indeed was the case with all isolates examined and the wild-type flukes. It is concluded that the eggs of Cullompton flukes are capable of development without fertilization, i.e. are parthenogenetic. The implications of this for rapid evolution of resistant clones following an anthelmintic selection event are discussed. Amongst the Sligo flukes examined, two subtypes were recognised, namely, those flukes with all stages of spermatogenesis and mature spermatozoa present in the testes (type 1), and those flukes with all stages of spermatogenesis up to spermatids present, but no maturing spermatozoa in the testes (type 2). Each sheep infected with the Sligo isolate had both type 1 (approximately 60%) and type 2 (approximately 40%) flukes present in the population. Spermatozoa were found amongst the eggs in the uterus in 64% of flukes and this did not necessarily reflect the occurrence of spermatozoa in the testis profiles of particular flukes, suggesting that cross-fertilization had occurred. The apparent disruption of meiosis in the spermatocytes of the Cullompton flukes is consistent with reports that Cullompton flukes are triploid (3n = 30), whereas the Sligo and wild-type flukes are diploid (2n = 20). In the Sligo flukes the populations are apparently genetically heterogenous, with a proportion of the flukes unable to produce fully formed spermatozoa perhaps because of a failure in spermiogenesis involving elongation of the nucleus during morphogenesis. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

The effect of stress on egg quality in farmed Atlantic Cod (Gadus morhua L.)

Dissertação de mestrado, Aquacultura, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade do Algarve, 2011

Selected aspects of common tern reproductive biology

Several factors influencing reproductive success were investigated at a Common Tern colony at Port Colborne, Ontario in 1976. In general three egg clutches hatched better than two egg clutches and early started clutches hatched eggs and fledged chicks better than late clutches; the fledging success of two and three egg clutches was similar. Early clutches took longer to hatch and hatched more synchronously than did late clutches. While hatching success differed with nesting substrate used fledging success' did not* No relationship was found between either incubation attentiveness and reproductive success or between incubation attentiveness and clutch size* At no time did food availability appear to be a factor limiting the successful upbringing of two chick broods. While fCf chicks (i.e. chicks hatching from the last laid eggs of three egg clutches) generally survived and grew poorly relative to their brood mates they grew best when they originated from clutches that hatched relatively asynchronously.

Developmental, morphological, and behavioural plasticity in the reproductive strategies of stink bugs and their egg parasitoids

L’environnement façonne la physiologie, la morphologie et le comportement des organismes par l’entremise de processus écologiques et évolutifs complexes et multidimensionnels. Le succès reproducteur des animaux est déterminé par la valeur adaptative d’un phénotype dans un environnement en modification constante selon une échelle temporelle d’une à plusieurs générations. De plus, les phénotypes sont façonnés par l’environnement, ce qui entraine des modifications adaptatives des stratégies de reproduction tout en imposant des contraintes. Dans cette thèse, considérant des punaises et leurs parasitoïdes comme organismes modèles, j’ai investigué comment plusieurs types de plasticité peuvent interagir pour influencer la valeur adaptative, et comment la plasticité des stratégies de reproduction répond à plusieurs composantes des changements environnementaux (qualité de l’hôte, radiation ultraviolette, température, invasion biologique). Premièrement, j’ai comparé la réponse comportementale et de traits d’histoire de vie à la variation de taille corporelle chez le parasitoïde Telenomus podisi Ashmead (Hymenoptera : Platygastridae), démontrant que les normes de réaction des comportements étaient plus souvent positives que celles des traits d’histoires de vie. Ensuite, j’ai démontré que la punaise prédatrice Podisus maculiventris Say (Hemiptera : Pentatomidae) peut contrôler la couleur de ses œufs, et que la pigmentation des œufs protège les embryons du rayonnement ultraviolet; une composante d’une stratégie complexe de ponte qui a évoluée en réponse à une multitude de facteurs environnementaux. Puis, j’ai testé comment le stress thermique affectait la dynamique de la mémoire du parasitoïde Trissolcus basalis (Wollaston) (Hymenoptera : Platygastridae) lors de l’apprentissage de la fiabilité des traces chimiques laissées par son hôte. Ces expériences ont révélé que des températures hautes et basses prévenaient l’oubli, affectant ainsi l’allocation du temps passé par les parasitoïdes dans des agrégats d’hôtes contenant des traces chimiques. J’ai aussi développé un cadre théorique général pour classifier les effets de la température sur l’ensemble des aspects comportementaux des ectothermes, distinguant les contraintes des adaptations. Finalement, j’ai testé l’habileté d’un parasitoïde indigène (T. podisi) à exploiter les œufs d’un nouveau ravageur invasif en agriculture, Halyomorpha halys Stål (Hemiptera : Pentatomidae). Les résultats ont montré que T. podisi attaque les œufs de H. halys, mais qu’il ne peut s’y développer, indiquant que le ravageur invasif s’avère un « piège évolutif » pour ce parasitoïde. Cela pourrait indirectement bénéficier aux espèces indigènes de punaises en agissant comme un puits écologique de ressources (œufs) et de temps pour le parasitoïde. Ces résultats ont des implications importantes sur la réponse des insectes, incluant ceux impliqués dans les programmes de lutte biologique, face aux changements environnementaux.

Chemical Evaluation of Selected Organics and Trace Metals in the Mangrove Macroflora Of Cochin

Mangroves are considered to play a significant role in global carbon cycling. Themangrove forests would fix CO2 by photosynthesis into mangrove lumber and thus decrease the possibility of a catastrophic series of events - global warming by atmospheric CO2, melting of the polar ice caps, and inundation of the great coastal cities of the world. The leaf litter and roots are the main contributors to mangrove sediments, though algal production and allochthonous detritus can also be trapped (Kristensen et al, 2008) by mangroves due to their high organic matter content and reducing nature are excellent metal retainers. Environmental pollution due to metals is of major concern. This is due to the basic fact that metals are not biodegradable or perishable the way most organic pollutants are. While most organic toxicants can be destroyed by combustion and converted into compounds such as C0, C02, SOX, NOX, metals can't be destroyed. At the most the valance and physical form of metals may change. Concentration of metals present naturally in air, water and soil is very low. Metals released into the environment through anthropogenic activities such as burning of fossils fuels, discharge of industrial effluents, mining, dumping of sewage etc leads to the development of higher than tolerable or toxic levels of metals in the environment leading to metal pollution. Of course, a large number of heavy metals such as Fe, Mn, Cu, Ni, Zn, Co, Cr, Mo, and V are essential to plants and animals and deficiency of these metals may lead to diseases, but at higher levels, it would lead to metal toxicity. Almost all industrial processes and urban activities involve release of at least trace quantities of half a dozen metals in different forms. Heavy metal pollution in the environment can remain dormant for a long time and surface with a vengeance. Once an area gets toxified with metals, it is almost impossible to detoxify it. The symptoms of metal toxicity are often quite similar to the symptoms of other common diseases such as respiratory problems, digestive disorders, skin diseases, hypertension, diabetes, jaundice etc making it all the more difficult to diagnose metal poisoning. For example the Minamata disease caused by mercury pollution in addition to affecting the nervous system can disturb liver function and cause diabetes and hypertension. The damage caused by heavy metals does not end up with the affected person. The harmful effects can be transferred to the person's progenies. Ironically heavy metal pollution is a direct offshoot of our increasing ability to mass produce metals and use them in all spheres of existence. Along with conventional physico- chemical methods, biosystem approachment is also being constantly used for combating metal pollution

New evidence for the antiquity of the intestinal parasite Trichuris (whipworm) in Europe

The whipworm, Trichuris trichiura L., is one of the most common human intestinal parasites worldwide, yet little is known of its origin and global spread. Archaeological records for this nematode have all been of Neolithic or later date, suggesting a possible association between the spread of pastoral farming and human acquisition of whipworm. This paper reports the discovery of eggs of the genus Trichuris in late Mesolithic deposits from south Wales, indicating that whipworm was present in Europe before the arrival of agriculture. This raises the possibility that human infection by Trichuris arose through contact with wild animals in parts of the landscape frequented by both human and animal groups.

Late Pleistocene climate change and the global expansion of anatomically modern humans

The extent to which past climate change has dictated the pattern and timing of the out-of-Africa expansion by anatomically modern humans is currently unclear [Stewart JR, Stringer CB (2012) Science 335:1317–1321]. In particular, the incompleteness of the fossil record makes it difficult to quantify the effect of climate. Here, we take a different approach to this problem; rather than relying on the appearance of fossils or archaeological evidence to determine arrival times in different parts of the world, we use patterns of genetic variation in modern human populations to determine the plausibility of past demographic parameters. We develop a spatially explicit model of the expansion of anatomically modern humans and use climate reconstructions over the past 120 ky based on the Hadley Centre global climate model HadCM3 to quantify the possible effects of climate on human demography. The combinations of demographic parameters compatible with the current genetic makeup of worldwide populations indicate a clear effect of climate on past population densities. Our estimates of this effect, based on population genetics, capture the observed relationship between current climate and population density in modern hunter–gatherers worldwide, providing supporting evidence for the realism of our approach. Furthermore, although we did not use any archaeological and anthropological data to inform the model, the arrival times in different continents predicted by our model are also broadly consistent with the fossil and archaeological records. Our framework provides the most accurate spatiotemporal reconstruction of human demographic history available at present and will allow for a greater integration of genetic and archaeological evidence.

Embryonic Development of Ampheres leucopheus and lporangaia pustulosa (Arachnida: Opiliones: Gonyleptidae)

The first studies concerning the embryonic development of harvestmen started in the late 19th century, and focused mostly on holarctic species, and only three species of the suborder Laniatores (the largest, among the four suborders considered presently) were studied. Moreover, the last studies on embryology of harvestmen were made during the late 1970s. This study focused on the embryonic development of Ampheres leucopheus (Gonyleptidae, Caelopyginae) and Iporangaia pustulosa (Gonyleptidae, Progonyleptoidellinae). The embryonic development was followed in the field, by taking daily photographs of different eggs during about 2 months. When laid, eggs of A. leucopheus and I pustulosa have approximately 1.13 and 1.30 mm in diameter, respectively, and the second is embedded in a large amount of mucus. The eggs grow, mainly due to water absorption at the beginning of the process, and they reach a diameter of about 1.35 and 1.59 mm, respectively, close to hatching. It took, respectively, 29-56 days and 35-66 days from egg laying to hatching. For the description of the embryonic development, we use photographs from the field, SEM micrographs, and histological analysis. This allowed us, for instance, to document the progression of structures and pigmentation directly from live embryos in the field, and to record microstructures, such as the presence of perforations in the cuticle of the embryo in the place where eyes are developing. Yet, contrary to what was expected in the literature, we record an egg tooth in one of the studied laniatoreans. J. Exp. Zool. (Mol. Dev. Evol) 314B:489-502, 2010. (C) 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

ESR dating of pleistocene mammal teeth and its implications for the biostratigraphy and geological evolution of the coastal plain, Rio Grande do Sul, southern Brazil

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Evaluation of the possible role of ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) as mechanical vectors of nematodes and protists

Os Nematoda e Protista podem ser transmitidos ao homem de diversas maneiras, mas pouca ênfase é dada para a transmissão mecânica por intermédio de formigas. Assim, esse trabalho procurou investigar a transmissão mecânica de ovos de Ascaris lumbricoides e cistos de Entamoeba coli pelos Formicidae. Através de experimentos com espécies mantidas em ninhos no laboratório (Tapinoma melanocephalum, Linepithema humile e Monomorium pharaonis) e com 17 espécies de formigas de uma área antropizada na região de Mogi as Cruzes (SP), foi possível constar que os ovos A. lumbricoides foram transportados por L. humile, tanto no campo (1 operária) como no laboratório (1 operária), por Camponotus rufipes (2), por Solenopsis saevissima (1) e por Acromyrmrex niger (1). em três operárias de C. rufipes foram encontrados cistos de E. coli. Apesar da baixa incidência de transporte, as três primeiras espécies pelo fato de viverem muito próximas ao ser humano, podem levar para dentro do ambiente domiciliar patógenos de Nematoda e Protista.

Biological aspects of the immature stages of Ceraeochrysa everes (Banks) (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae)

Para o estabelecimento de um programa de controle biológico, o conhecimento de alguns aspectos biológicos e de comportamento dos inimigos naturais é de extrema importância. Os aspectos biológicos do desenvolvimento larval e pupal do predador Ceraeochrysa everes (Banks) foram estudados. Larvas oriundas de adultos da geração F1 foram mantidas em laboratório a 25 ± 21°C, 70 ± 10 % UR e fotofase 14 horas, sendo alimentadas com ovos de Sitotroga cerealella (Olivier). A duração e viabilidade do período embrionário, estágios imaturos de desenvolvimento e o período de ovo a adulto foram avaliados. O período embrionário foi em média de 5,0 dias, enquanto que as durações médias para o primeiro, segundo e terceiro instares foram de 5,1 ± 0,03; 4,3 ± 0,05 e 4,5 ± 0,05 dias, respectivamente, com viabilidade superior a 90 %. Os estágios larval, pré-pupal e pupal apresentaram duração média de 13,9 ± 0,07; 5,7 ± 0,07 e 9,6 ± 0,12 dias, respectivamente. A duração do ciclo biológico foi de 34 ± 0,11 dias em média. Ovos de S. cerelella não foram adequados para a manutenção de C. everes em laboratório, por interferir no desenvolvimento do predador.

Subdosages of Bacillus thuringiensis on Plutella xylostella) (Lepepidoptera: plutellidae) and Trichogramma pretiosum (Hymenoptera: trichogrammatidae)

The aim of this paper was to evaluate the biological aspects of Plutella xylostella and Trichogramma pretiosum in eggs of the F2 generation of P. xylostella under the influence of Bacillus thuringiensis in laboratory conditions. The experiment was conducted in the Laboratorio de Biologia and Criacao de Insetos of Faculdade de Ciencias Agrarias e Veterinarias de Jaboticabal - UNESP reen collars contaminated with strains and commercial product based on B. thuringiensis in the laboratory. The eggs obtained from the F2 generation of P. xylostella evaluated the biological parameters of T. pretiosum. It was observed that some biological characteristics of P. xylostella showed changes by the treatment with B. thuringiensis. The viability of the larvae and pupae stages, pupae weight were the biological parameters more influenced by treatments, with values significantly reduced when compared to control. However, the larvae length and pupae stages and sex ratio were similar in all treatments, with no significant biological variations. Thus, this bacterium isolated from this behavior may provide greater exposure of larvae to other natural enemies as well as generation of adults less viable, which makes them potential programs in pest control, since the interaction of the methods of control is one of the main ways to enhance the biological control of insect pests. It was observed sublethal effects on P. xylostella biology, and B. thuringiensis negative influence on the parasitism capacity and emergency of T. pretiosum.

Fecundity and pre-imaginal period of Chrysoperla externa (hagen) (neuroptera: chrysopidae) under different populations and laboratory generations

The lacewings appear in many agroecosystems, preying several species of agricultural pests. They have great search capability, high voracity, high reproductive potential and are easily maintained in laboratory conditions. In laboratory rearing, to avoid problems in the mass production are recommended adjustments in the type and quality of prey to be used in order to obtain individuals with desirable characteristics. It is necessary special care with the laboratory populations, avoiding problems from inbreeding. Larvae were reared individually in Petri dishes (9.0 cm diameter) and fed with eggs of Sitotroga cerealella (Olivier, 1789) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae), in the amount of 25 mg / larva, while the adults were kept in PVC cylindrical cages (10 cm x 30 cm). Thus, the study analyzed the influence of the size of the population of Chrysoperla externa (Hagen, 1861) (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) on the pre-imaginal period (egg to adult) and reproductive capacity of this specie come from different populations and generations of laboratory. To this end, we used two populations, one of Jaboticabal (F-8 and F-21) and one of Piracicaba (F-6 and F-15), and subpopulations of 1, 5, 10, 15 and 20 couples, analyzing the incubation of eggs and the number of eggs per female in each population, generation and subpopulation. The pre-imaginal period (egg to adult) and the number of eggs per female of C. externa are influenced by the generation and the number of founding individuals, being these parameters favored when laboratory populations are established with the largest number of couples.

Interspecific interaction between Telenomus remus (Hymenoptera: Platygastridae) and Trichogramma pretiosum (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) on Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) eggs

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)