scholarly journals Parasite avoidance behaviours in aquatic environments

2018 ◽  
Vol 373 (1751) ◽  
pp. 20170202 ◽  
Author(s):  
Donald C. Behringer ◽  
Anssi Karvonen ◽  
Jamie Bojko
Keyword(s):  
Disease Ecology ◽  
Aquatic Systems ◽  
Aquatic Environments ◽  
Defence Mechanism ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Behavioural Avoidance ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
Heavy Burden ◽  
Freshwater Environments ◽  
Parasite Avoidance

Parasites, including macroparasites, protists, fungi, bacteria and viruses, can impose a heavy burden upon host animals. However, hosts are not without defences. One aspect of host defence, behavioural avoidance, has been studied in the terrestrial realm for over 50 years, but was first reported from the aquatic environment approximately 20 years ago. Evidence has mounted on the importance of parasite avoidance behaviours and it is increasingly apparent that there are core similarities in the function and benefit of this defence mechanism between terrestrial and aquatic systems. However, there are also stark differences driven by the unique biotic and abiotic characteristics of terrestrial and aquatic (marine and freshwater) environments. Here, we review avoidance behaviours in a comparative framework and highlight the characteristics of each environment that drive differences in the suite of mechanisms and cues that animals use to avoid parasites. We then explore trade-offs, potential negative effects of avoidance behaviour and the influence of human activities on avoidance behaviours. We conclude that avoidance behaviours are understudied in aquatic environments but can have significant implications for disease ecology and epidemiology, especially considering the accelerating emergence and re-emergence of parasites. This article is part of the Theo Murphy meeting issue ‘Evolution of pathogen and parasite avoidance behaviours'.

scholarly journals The effects of modern war and military activities on biodiversity and the environment

2015 ◽  
Vol 23 (4) ◽  
pp. 443-460 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael J. Lawrence ◽  
Holly L.J. Stemberger ◽  
Aaron J. Zolderdo ◽  
Daniel P. Struthers ◽  
Steven J. Cooke
Keyword(s):  
Military Training ◽  
Structure And Function ◽  
Aquatic Systems ◽  
Ecosystem Structure ◽  
Population Declines ◽  
Exclusion Zone ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
And Function ◽  
Ecosystem Structure And Function ◽  
Modern War

War is an ever-present force that has the potential to alter the biosphere. Here we review the potential consequences of modern war and military activities on ecosystem structure and function. We focus on the effects of direct conflict, nuclear weapons, military training, and military produced contaminants. Overall, the aforementioned activities were found to have overwhelmingly negative effects on ecosystem structure and function. Dramatic habitat alteration, environmental pollution, and disturbance contributed to population declines and biodiversity losses arising from both acute and chronic effects in both terrestrial and aquatic systems. In some instances, even in the face of massive alterations to ecosystem structure, recovery was possible. Interestingly, military activity was beneficial under specific conditions, such as when an exclusion zone was generated that generally resulted in population increases and (or) population recovery; an observation noted in both terrestrial and aquatic systems. Additionally, military technological advances (e.g., GPS technology, drone technology, biotelemetry) have provided conservation scientists with novel tools for research. Because of the challenges associated with conducting research in areas with military activities (e.g., restricted access, hazardous conditions), information pertaining to military impacts on the environment are relatively scarce and are often studied years after military activities have ceased and with no knowledge of baseline conditions. Additional research would help to elucidate the environmental consequences (positive and negative) and thus reveal opportunities for mitigating negative effects while informing the development of optimal strategies for rehabilitation and recovery.

scholarly journals Are Honey Bees at Risk from Microplastics?

Toxics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 109
Author(s):  
Yahya Al Naggar ◽  
Markus Brinkmann ◽  
Christie M. Sayes ◽  
Saad N. AL-Kahtani ◽  
Showket A. Dar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Gut Microbiota ◽  
Honey Bees ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Aquatic Systems ◽  
Wide Spread ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Potential Threat ◽  
Persistent Pollutants ◽  
Research Questions

Microplastics (MPs) are ubiquitous and persistent pollutants, and have been detected in a wide variety of media, from soils to aquatic systems. MPs, consisting primarily of polyethylene, polypropylene, and polyacrylamide polymers, have recently been found in 12% of samples of honey collected in Ecuador. Recently, MPs have also been identified in honey bees collected from apiaries in Copenhagen, Denmark, as well as nearby semiurban and rural areas. Given these documented exposures, assessment of their effects is critical for understanding the risks of MP exposure to honey bees. Exposure to polystyrene (PS)-MPs decreased diversity of the honey bee gut microbiota, followed by changes in gene expression related to oxidative damage, detoxification, and immunity. As a result, the aim of this perspective was to investigate whether wide-spread prevalence of MPs might have unintended negative effects on health and fitness of honey bees, as well as to draw the scientific community’s attention to the possible risks of MPs to the fitness of honey bees. Several research questions must be answered before MPs can be considered a potential threat to bees.

scholarly journals The Relationship between Dissolution Behavior and the Toxicity of Silver Nanoparticles on Zebrafish Embryos in Different Ionic Environments

Nanomaterials ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (9) ◽  
pp. 652 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wang Lee ◽  
Eungwang Kim ◽  
Hyun-Ju Cho ◽  
Taejoon Kang ◽  
Bongsoo Kim ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Silver Nanoparticles ◽  
Polyethylene Glycol ◽  
Zebrafish Embryo ◽  
Antibacterial Properties ◽  
Dissolution Behavior ◽  
Aquatic Environments ◽  
Zebrafish Embryos ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Water Filters

A silver nanoparticle is one of the representative engineered nanomaterials with excellent optical, electrical, antibacterial properties. Silver nanoparticles are being increasingly used for medical products, water filters, and cosmetics, etc. However, silver nanoparticles are known to cause adverse effects on the ecosystem and human health. To utilize silver nanoparticles with minimized negative effects, it is important to understand the behavior of silver nanoparticles released to the environment. In this study, we compared toxicity behaviors of citrate-stabilized silver nanoparticles with polyethylene glycol coated silver nanoparticles in two different ionic environments, which are aquatic environments for developing zebrafish embryo. Depending on the composition of the ionic environment, citrate-stabilized silver nanoparticles and polyethylene glycol coated silver nanoparticles exhibited different behaviors in dissolution, aggregation, or precipitation, which governed the toxicity of silver nanoparticles on zebrafish embryos.

Using sediment cores to establish targets for the remediation of aquatic environments

2015 ◽  
Vol 73 (3) ◽  
pp. 628-635 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Lintern ◽  
Marion Anderson ◽  
Paul Leahy ◽  
Ana Deletic ◽  
David McCarthy
Keyword(s):  
Sediment Cores ◽  
Sediment Quality ◽  
Aquatic Systems ◽  
Quality Data ◽  
Aquatic Environments ◽  
Site Specific ◽  
European Settlement ◽  
Quality Guidelines ◽  
Water And Sediment ◽  
Water And Sediment Quality

When assigning site-specific restoration targets for deteriorating aquatic systems, it is necessary to have an understanding of the undisturbed or background state of the system. However, the site-specific characteristics of aquatic systems prior to disturbance are mostly unknown, due to the lack of historical water and sediment quality data. This study aims to introduce a method for filling this gap in our understanding, using dated sediment cores from the beds of aquatic environments. We used Bolin Billabong, a floodplain lake of the Yarra River (South-East Australia), as a case study to demonstrate the application of this method. We identified the concentrations of aluminium, cadmium, chromium, copper, iron, lead, manganese, nickel, tin and zinc at 8 cm intervals through the sediment core. This showed that aluminium, chromium, copper, iron, lead, nickel, tin and zinc concentrations in Bolin Billabong sediments significantly increased after European settlement in the river catchment in the mid-19th century. The differences between current Australian sediment quality guidelines trigger values and the background metal concentrations in Bolin Billabong sediments underscore the value of using locally relevant background toxicant concentrations when setting water and sediment quality targets.

scholarly journals Transgenerational fitness effects of lifespan extension by dietary restriction in Caenorhabditis elegans

2021 ◽  
Vol 288 (1950) ◽  
Author(s):  
Edward R. Ivimey-Cook ◽  
Kris Sales ◽  
Hanne Carlsson ◽  
Simone Immler ◽  
Tracey Chapman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Caenorhabditis Elegans ◽  
Dietary Restriction ◽  
Mortality Risk ◽  
Lifespan Extension ◽  
Dietary Interventions ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Broad Variety

Dietary restriction (DR) increases lifespan in a broad variety of organisms and improves health in humans. However, long-term transgenerational consequences of dietary interventions are poorly understood. Here, we investigated the effect of DR by temporary fasting (TF) on mortality risk, age-specific reproduction and fitness across three generations of descendants in Caenorhabditis elegans . We show that while TF robustly reduces mortality risk and improves late-life reproduction of the individuals subject to TF (P 0 ), it has a wide range of both positive and negative effects on their descendants (F 1 –F 3 ). Remarkably, great-grandparental exposure to TF in early life reduces fitness and increases mortality risk of F 3 descendants to such an extent that TF no longer promotes a lifespan extension. These findings reveal that transgenerational trade-offs accompany the instant benefits of DR, underscoring the need to consider fitness of future generations in pursuit of healthy ageing.

scholarly journals Evolution of pathogen and parasite avoidance behaviours

2018 ◽  
Vol 373 (1751) ◽  
pp. 20170256 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cecile Sarabian ◽  
Val Curtis ◽  
Rachel McMullan
Keyword(s):  
Avoidance Behaviour ◽  
Disease Avoidance ◽  
Behavioural Science ◽  
Free Living ◽  
Society Meeting ◽  
Neural Architecture ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Parasite Avoidance ◽  
Behavioural Adaptations

All free-living animals are subject to intense selection pressure from parasites and pathogens resulting in behavioural adaptations that can help potential hosts to avoid falling prey to parasites. This special issue on the evolution of parasite avoidance behaviour was compiled following a Royal Society meeting in 2017. Here we have assembled contributions from a wide range of disciplines including genetics, ecology, parasitology, behavioural science, ecology, psychology and epidemiology on the disease avoidance behaviour of a wide range of species. Taking an interdisciplinary and cross-species perspective allows us to sketch out the strategies, mechanisms and consequences of parasite avoidance and to identify gaps and further questions. Parasite avoidance strategies must include avoiding parasites themselves and cues to their presence in conspecifics, heterospecifics, foods and habitat. Further, parasite avoidance behaviour can be directed at constructing parasite-retardant niches. Mechanisms of parasite avoidance behaviour are generally less well characterized, though nematodes, rodents and human studies are beginning to elucidate the genetic, hormonal and neural architecture that allows animals to recognize and respond to cues of parasite threat. While the consequences of infection are well characterized in humans, we still have much to learn about the epidemiology of parasites of other species, as well as the trade-offs that hosts make in parasite defence versus other beneficial investments like mating and foraging. Finally, in this overview we conclude that it is legitimate to use the word ‘ disgust' to describe parasite avoidance systems, in the same way that ‘fear' is used to describe animal predator avoidance systems. Understanding disgust across species offers an excellent system for investigating the strategies, mechanisms and consequences of behaviour and could be a vital contribution towards the understanding and conservation of our planet's ecosystems. This article is part of the Theo Murphy meeting issue ‘Evolution of pathogen and parasite avoidance behaviours'.

scholarly journals Anti-parasite behaviour of birds

2018 ◽  
Vol 373 (1751) ◽  
pp. 20170196 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah E. Bush ◽  
Dale H. Clayton
Keyword(s):  
Immune Responses ◽  
Adaptive Significance ◽  
Additional Research ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Host Fitness ◽  
Nest Maintenance ◽  
Bacteria And Fungi ◽  
Parasite Avoidance

Birds have many kinds of internal and external parasites, including viruses, bacteria and fungi, as well as protozoa, helminths and arthropods. Because parasites have negative effects on host fitness, selection favours the evolution of anti-parasite defences, many of which involve behaviour. We provide a brief review of anti-parasite behaviours in birds, divided into five major categories: (i) body maintenance, (ii) nest maintenance, (iii) avoidance of parasitized prey, (iv) migration and (v) tolerance. We evaluate the adaptive significance of the different behaviours and note cases in which additional research is particularly needed. We briefly consider the interaction of different behaviours, such as sunning and preening, and how behavioural defences may interact with other forms of defence, such as immune responses. We conclude by suggesting some general questions that need to be addressed concerning the nature of anti-parasite behaviour in birds. This article is part of the Theo Murphy meeting issue ‘Evolution of pathogen and parasite avoidance behaviours’.

scholarly journals Positive Correlation between Pesticide Consumption and Longevity in Solitary Bees: Are We Overlooking Fitness Trade-Offs?

Insects ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (11) ◽  
pp. 819
Author(s):  
Verena Strobl ◽  
Domenic Camenzind ◽  
Angela Minnameyer ◽  
Stephanie Walker ◽  
Michael Eyer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Food Consumption ◽  
False Negative ◽  
Solitary Bees ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Physiological Factors ◽  
Positive Correlation ◽  
Agricultural Pesticides ◽  
Negative Results ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
Survival And Reproduction

The ubiquitous use of pesticides is one major driver for the current loss of biodiversity, and the common practice of simultaneously applying multiple agrochemicals may further contribute. Insect toxicology currently has a strong focus on survival to determine the potential hazards of a chemical routinely used in risk evaluations. However, studies revealing no effect on survival or even indicating enhanced survival are likely to be misleading, if potential trade-offs between survival and other physiological factors are overlooked. Here, we used standard laboratory experiments to investigate the sublethal (i.e., food consumption) and lethal (i.e., survival) effects of two common agricultural pesticides (Roundup® and clothianidin) on adult female solitary bees, Osmia bicornis. The data showed no significant effect of the treatment on cumulative survival; however, a significant positive correlation between herbicide and insecticide exposure and age was revealed, i.e., bees exposed to higher dosages lived longer. As no significant differences in daily food consumption were observed across treatment groups, increased food intake can be excluded as a factor leading to the prolonged survival. While this study does not provide data on fitness effects, two previous studies using solitary bees observed significant negative effects of neonicotinoid insecticides on fitness, yet not on survival. Thus, we conjecture that the observed non-significant effects on longevity may result from a trade-off between survival and reproduction. The data suggest that a focus on survival can lead to false-negative results and it appears inevitable to include fitness or at least tokens of fitness at the earliest stage in future risk assessments.

The double-edged effects of guanxi on partner opportunism

2019 ◽  
Vol 34 (6) ◽  
pp. 1313-1322 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lu Shen ◽  
Chuang Zhang ◽  
Wenbo Teng
Keyword(s):  
Empirical Test ◽  
Asset Specificity ◽  
Sales Manager ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Control Mechanisms ◽  
Moderating Effects ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
Matched Data

Purpose This study aims to examine the double-edged effects of guanxi on opportunism and the moderating effects of legal enforceability and partner asset specificity. It thus differs from the current literature, which primarily focuses on the benevolent effects of guanxi. Design/methodology/approach Based on matched data collected from 268 sales manager and salesperson dyads, this study tested hypotheses using hierarchical regressions. Findings The empirical test supports the conceptual model and demonstrates two findings. First, guanxi between boundary spanners follows an inverted U-shaped relationship with inter-firm opportunism. Second, both the benefits and drawbacks of guanxi are stronger under the condition of low legal enforceability and high partner asset specificity. Research limitations/implications The study did not untangle guanxi into different dimensions and did not investigate how firms should make trade-offs between the benefits and drawbacks of guanxi. Therefore, future research could further explore this question by using a multidimensional approach. Practical implications The study alerts managers that guanxi is a double-edged sword, so they should complement it with formal control mechanisms, particularly when they are operating in legally inefficient regions or when their partner firm’s asset specificity is high. Originality/value The study offers a more balanced view of guanxi by showing both its positive and negative effects on opportunism. It also uncovers legal enforceability and partner asset specificity as two boundary conditions that influence the curvilinear effects of guanxi on opportunism.

Redox chemistry of CeO2 nanoparticles in aquatic systems containing Cr(vi)(aq) and Fe2+ ions

2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (7) ◽  
pp. 2269-2280
Author(s):  
Jessica R. Ray ◽  
Xuanhao Wu ◽  
Chelsea W. Neil ◽  
Haesung Jung ◽  
Zhichao Li ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Surface Chemistry ◽  
Redox Chemistry ◽  
Industrial Applications ◽  
Active Species ◽  
Ceo2 Nanoparticles ◽  
Aquatic Systems ◽  
Aquatic Environments ◽  
Catalytic Activities ◽  
Redox Active

CeO2 nanoparticles are extensively used in industrial applications owing to their high redox-catalytic activities and, as a result, may appear in aquatic environments where they undergo significant surface chemistry transformation with other redox-active species.

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