Calibration of trap catches and net catches for estimating population densities of the bush fly Musca vetustissima (Diptera: Muscidae)

1992 ◽  
Vol 82 (4) ◽  
pp. 539-546 ◽  
Author(s):  
W.G. Vogt

AbstractPopulation densities of male and female Musca vetustissima Walker were estimated from recapture rates of marked flies in baited fly traps. Marked flies of laboratory and field origin were equally trappable. Trap catches of field flies were also compared with net catches for which the human collector was the source of attraction, and relationships are presented for estimating population densities based on both sampling methods. Estimates of fly density from trap and net catches at fixed locations have similar precision, coefficients of variation being approximately 55% for both males and females of M. vetustissima. Comparison of estimated fly densities (flies/ha) and annoyance indices, estimated numbers of flies approaching a collector each minute at 29.5°C, in ‘good’ and ‘bad’ fly years suggests that M. vetustissima is a potential nuisance whenever population densities exceed 1000 flies/ha.

1985 ◽  
Vol 75 (2) ◽  
pp. 315-320 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. G. Vogt ◽  
T. L. Woodburn ◽  
R. Morton ◽  
B. A. Ellem

AbstractDifferences in responses of males and females of Lucilia cuprina (Wiedemann) to carrion-baited traps were examined in Australia in relation to time of day, temperature, wind speed, relative humidity and solar radiation. The differences were small compared with responses obtained for the combined sexes (total catch), but the results were inconsistent over the four seasons of trapping. The seasons with most data (1975–1976 and 1981–1982) gave reasonably consistent results. Seasonal differences, although significant, were small enough to neglect for the purpose of standardizing trap catches. Time-of-day effects were also unimportant, except that males tended to be less active than females during the early morning (dawn-0900 h) and more active than females during the late afternoon (1500 h-dusk). Separate models are presented for standardization of male and female catch rates; the estimates differ from those obtained from total catches, but the differences are small compared to the observed day-to-day variation in catch rates.


2002 ◽  
Vol 53 (8) ◽  
pp. 1143 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. E. Ziegler ◽  
S. D. Frusher ◽  
C. R. Johnson ◽  
C. Gardner

Seasonal variation in catchability of the southern rock lobster Jasus edwardsii, was estimated in a scientific reserve in south-east Tasmania by comparing estimates of lobster density based on direct visual observations underwater with concomitant estimates from trapping surveys. Underwater density estimates of undersized and legal-sized male and female lobsters >80 mm carapace length, did not change significantly over the 14-month study period, with the exception of undersized males (≤110 mm carapace length). Sex ratios remained constant at approximately 1 : 1. In marked contrast, catch rates of males and females and the sex ratio of trapped lobsters varied strongly with season, implying that catchability varies seasonally and with sex. Catchability of males and females was highest in early summer and lowest in winter. Impact of capture on subsequent catchability appeared to be weak, since the ratios of tagged animals in the population observed underwater generally reflected recapture rates of tagged animals in trap catches. Recapture rates increased with size and were higher for medium-sized and large males than for similar-sized females. However, for each particular sex-size group, recapture rates remained relatively constant throughout the study period.


2015 ◽  
Vol 41 (2) ◽  
pp. 233-243
Author(s):  
Mahruma Aktar ◽  
Rasel Ahammed ◽  
M Monirul H Khan ◽  
MM Kabir

This research was conducted to document behavioral patterns of the barking deer, Muntiacus muntjak (Zimmermann 1780) in captivity. All-occurrence and ad libitum sampling methods were used opportunistically to observe 15 barking deer at Dhaka Zoo in Bangladesh from April to November, 2011.A total of 54 behavioral patterns of the barking deer was recorded and described under 13 major heads. Of which, 41 behavioral patterns were similar for males and females and 13 were sex different. The highest observation was recorded for self-directed behaviors (21.55%) followed by consuming behaviors (20.84%), investigative behaviors (17.65%), scent markings and depositions (14.53%), relaxed states (13.98%), agonistic interactions (2.63%), foraging behaviors (2.31%), sexual behaviors (1.83%), submissive behaviors (1.66%), elimination (1.25%), movements (1.23%), vocalization (0.3%) and affinitive interactions (0.23%). The behavioral patterns were almost similar for male and female with several patterns showing variations. Females consumed food and took rest more frequently than males, who spent more time in foraging and movement. Males also showed higher frequency of sexual behaviors and less submissive behaviors. Environmental sniffing (n=792) was the most frequently encountered behavior and preaching (n=l) was the least. The present findings reveal that majority of the behaviors resemble that of other cervids, but nibbling and barking are unique to this species. Asiat. Soc. Bangladesh, Sci. 41(2): 233-243, December 2015


1994 ◽  
Vol 34 (5) ◽  
pp. 595 ◽  
Author(s):  
WG Vogt ◽  
TL Woodburn

Daily catches of the Australian sheep blowfly, Lucilia cuprina, in Western Australian blowfly traps were not significantly affected by exposing the baits in traps for up to 3 days in the field before trapping. Exposure of the baits for longer periods significantly increased the daily catch totals of both sexes. Baits with a mean exposure time before trapping of 7 days (old baits) returned significantly higher catches than baits with a zero exposure time (fresh baits): 5-fold and 3-fold increases, respectively, for males and females. Exposure of baits for only 1 day was sufficient to produce significant changes in the reproductive age composition of female catches; proportions of newly emerged females increased and proportions of gravid females decreased. Coefficients of variation for old bait/new bait catch ratios were small, 16.4% for males and 12.3% for females, which confirmed that both baits exhibited consistent levels of attractiveness on different trapping dates. Procedures are suggested for estimating population densities of L. cuprina based on trap catches using fresh and old baits.


1968 ◽  
Vol 58 (4) ◽  
pp. 600-612 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert Boyd ◽  
Donald C. Johnson

ABSTRACT The effects of various doses of testosterone propionate (TP) upon the release of luteinizing hormone (LH or ICSH) from the hypophysis of a gonadectomized male or female rat were compared. Prostate weight in hypophysectomized male parabiotic partners was used to evaluate the quantity of circulating LH. Hypophyseal LH was measured by the ovarian ascorbic acid depletion method. Males castrated when 45 days old secreted significantly more LH and had three times the amount of pituitary LH as ovariectomized females. Administration of 25 μg TP daily reduced the amount of LH in the plasma, and increased the amount in the pituitary gland, in both sexes. Treatment with 50 μg caused a further reduction in plasma LH in males, but not in females, while pituitary levels in both were equal to that of their respective controls. LH fell to the same low level in partners of males or females receiving 100 μg TP. When gonadectomized at 39 days, males and females had the same amount of plasma LH, but males had more stored hormone. Pituitary levels were unchanged from controls following treatment with 12.5, 25 or 50 μg TP daily, but plasma values dropped an equal amount in both sexes with the latter two doses. Androgenized males or females, gonadectomized when 39 days old, were very sensitive to the effects of TP and plasma LH was significantly reduced with 12.5 μg daily. Pituitary LH in androgenized males was higher than that of normal males but was reduced to normal by small amounts of TP. The amount of stored LH in androgenized females was not different from that of normal females and it was unchanged by any dose of TP tested. Results are consistent with the conclusion that the male hypothalamic-hypophyseal axis is at least as sensitive as the female axis to the negative feedback effects of TP. Androgenization increases the sensitivity to TP in both males and females.


2015 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kyle Landon Jossy

This study looked at how males and females were portrayed, based on the amount of skin shown in the clothing worn.  A Content analysis was performed on a sample of 20 randomly selected popular comics from the last 3 years.  Both male and female characters were rated on how much skin they showed in three clothing categories; neck line, sleeve length, and lower body.  Results showed that in all 3 categories, women consistently wore more revealing clothing.  The findings demonstraetd that the comic book industry is comparable to other forms of media, in the sexualization of female characters, by having them wear more revealing clothing.


Metabolites ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 206
Author(s):  
Leon Deutsch ◽  
Damjan Osredkar ◽  
Janez Plavec ◽  
Blaž Stres

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a genetically heterogeneous group of rare neuromuscular diseases and was until recently the most common genetic cause of death in children. The effects of 2-month nusinersen therapy on urine, serum, and liquor 1H-NMR metabolomes in SMA males and females were not explored yet, especially not in comparison to the urine 1H-NMR metabolomes of matching male and female cohorts. In this prospective, single-centered study, urine, serum, and liquor samples were collected from 25 male and female pediatric patients with SMA before and after 2 months of nusinersen therapy and urine samples from a matching healthy cohort (n = 125). Nusinersen intrathecal application was the first therapy for the treatment of SMA by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Medicines Agency (EMA). Metabolomes were analyzed using targeted metabolomics utilizing 600 MHz 1H-NMR, parametric and nonparametric multivariate statistical analyses, machine learning, and modeling. Medical assessment before and after nusinersen therapy showed significant improvements of movement, posture, and strength according to various medical tests. No significant differences were found in metabolomes before and after nusinersen therapy in urine, serum, and liquor samples using an ensemble of statistical and machine learning approaches. In comparison to a healthy cohort, 1H-NMR metabolomes of SMA patients contained a reduced number and concentration of urine metabolites and differed significantly between males and females as well. Significantly larger data scatter was observed for SMA patients in comparison to matched healthy controls. Machine learning confirmed urinary creatinine as the most significant, distinguishing SMA patients from the healthy cohort. The positive effects of nusinersen therapy clearly preceded or took place devoid of significant rearrangements in the 1H-NMR metabolomic makeup of serum, urine, and liquor. Urine creatinine was successful at distinguishing SMA patients from the matched healthy cohort, which is a simple systemic novelty linking creatinine and SMA to the physiology of inactivity and diabetes, and it facilitates the monitoring of SMA disease in pediatric patients through non-invasive urine collection.


2021 ◽  
pp. svn-2020-000834
Author(s):  
Koteswara Rao Nalamolu ◽  
Bharath Chelluboina ◽  
Casimir A Fornal ◽  
Siva Reddy Challa ◽  
David M Pinson ◽  
...  

Background and purposeThe therapeutic potential of different stem cells for ischaemic stroke treatment is intriguing and somewhat controversial. Recent results from our laboratory have demonstrated the potential benefits of human umbilical cord blood-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) in a rodent stroke model. We hypothesised that MSC treatment would effectively promote the recovery of sensory and motor function in both males and females, despite any apparent sex differences in post stroke brain injury.MethodsTransient focal cerebral ischaemia was induced in adult Sprague-Dawley rats by occlusion of the middle cerebral artery. Following the procedure, male and female rats of the untreated group were euthanised 1 day after reperfusion and their brains were used to estimate the resulting infarct volume and tissue swelling. Additional groups of stroke-induced male and female rats were treated with MSC or vehicle and were subsequently subjected to a battery of standard neurological/neurobehavioral tests (Modified Neurological Severity Score assessment, adhesive tape removal, beam walk and rotarod). The tests were administered at regular intervals (at days 1, 3, 5, 7 and 14) after reperfusion to determine the time course of neurological and functional recovery after stroke.ResultsThe infarct volume and extent of swelling of the ischaemic brain were similar in males and females. Despite similar pathological stroke lesions, the clinical manifestations of stroke were more pronounced in males than females, as indicated by the neurological scores and other tests. MSC treatment significantly improved the recovery of sensory and motor function in both sexes, and it demonstrated efficacy in both moderate stroke (females) and severe stroke (males).ConclusionsDespite sex differences in the severity of post stroke outcomes, MSC treatment promoted the recovery of sensory and motor function in male and female rats, suggesting that it may be a promising treatment for stroke.


2020 ◽  
Vol 75 (9-10) ◽  
pp. 339-351
Author(s):  
Barend V. Burger ◽  
Desmond Slade ◽  
Marlize Z. Bekker ◽  
Aron H. Goitom

AbstractUsing gas chromatography (GC) in conjunction with electron impact mass spectrometry and retention-time comparison, 94 compounds, ranging from 2-methyl-2-propenal to octadecanoic acid, were identified in the interdigital secretions of male and female black wildebeests, Connochaetes gnou (also known as the white-tailed gnu). The constituents of these secretions belong to many different compound classes, including hydrocarbons, alcohols, aromatics and aliphatic carbonyl compounds including carboxylic acids as well as carboxylic acid esters. Relatively small quantitative differences were found between the male and female interdigital secretions. It was concluded that these compounds probably do not play a significant role in territorial marking or in chemical communication between males and females of the species, but they could be involved in preserving the remarkably strong attachment between members of social subgroups in black wildebeest populations.


Author(s):  
Max I. Phukan ◽  
Rohit K. Thapa ◽  
Gopal Kumar ◽  
Chris Bishop ◽  
Helmi Chaabene ◽  
...  

This study aimed to examine inter-limb jump asymmetries and their association with sport-specific performance in young swimmers. Thirty-eight (male, n = 19; female, n = 19) regional/national level young swimmers (age: 12.3 ± 1.2 years; height: 159.6 ± 8.2 cm; body mass: 52.5 ± 9.2 kg) participated in this study. Inter-limb asymmetries were assessed for single-leg countermovement jump (SLCMJ) and single-leg standing long jump (SLSLJ). Sport-specific performance was evaluated using front crawl (i.e., 50 m and 25 m) and front crawl kick (i.e., 50 m and 25 m). The kappa coefficient revealed a “slight” level of agreement (Κ = 0.156, 0.184, and 0.197 for female, male, and all, respectively) between the direction of asymmetry for SLCMJ and SLSLJ, indicating that asymmetries rarely favored the same limb during both tests. A paired sample t-test showed a significant difference (p = 0.025) between asymmetry scores obtained in SLCMJ and SLSLJ. No significant difference was found in asymmetry scores between males and females (p = 0.099 to 0.977). Additionally, no association between asymmetry scores and sport-specific performance was observed (p > 0.05). Our findings highlight the independent nature of inter-limb asymmetries derived from SLCMJ and SLSLJ among young male and female swimmers. Further, our results suggest no association between jumping asymmetries and sport-specific performance.


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