Adaptation to Heat and Water Shortage in Large, Arid-Zone Mammals

Physiology ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 29 (3) ◽  
pp. 159-167 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea Fuller ◽  
Robyn S. Hetem ◽  
Shane K. Maloney ◽  
Duncan Mitchell
Keyword(s):  
Arid Zone ◽  
Water Shortage ◽  
Large Mammals ◽  
Laboratory Studies ◽  
Selective Brain Cooling ◽  
Thermoregulatory Behavior ◽  
Natural Habitats ◽  
Free Living ◽  
Physiological Capacity ◽  
Adaptation To Heat

Although laboratory studies of large mammals have revealed valuable information on thermoregulation, such studies cannot predict accurately how animals respond in their natural habitats. Through insights obtained on thermoregulatory behavior, body temperature variability, and selective brain cooling in free-living mammals, we show here how we can better understand the physiological capacity of large mammals to cope with hotter and drier arid-zone habitats likely with climate change.

Aspects of the Water, Electrolyte and Carbohydrate Physiology of the Silvereye, Zosterops Lateralis (Aves).

1983 ◽  
Vol 31 (5) ◽  
pp. 695 ◽  
Author(s):  
IJ Rooke ◽  
SD Bradshaw ◽  
RA Langworthy
Keyword(s):  
Natural Habitat ◽  
Tritiated Water ◽  
Free Water ◽  
Laboratory Studies ◽  
Turnover Rates ◽  
Natural Habitats ◽  
Water Influx ◽  
Zosterops Lateralis ◽  
Total Body ◽  
Free Ranging

Total body water content (TBW) and TBW turnover were measured by means of tritiated water (HTO) in free-ranging populations of silvereyes, Zosterops lateralis, near Margaret River, W.A. Birds were studied in their natural habitats during spring and summer, and compared with a vineyard population in summer. In the natural habitat TBW content was found to be 77.6% in spring, which was not significantly different from that measured in summer (78.3%). Birds in vineyards in summer, however, were dehydrated, with a TBW content of 69.4%. Calculated rates of water influx for spring, summer and summer vineyards birds were 1.44,2.20 and 0.65 ml g.day-' respectively. These water turnover rates are much higher than those of any other bird yet studied. Dehydration was marked in the vineyard birds, with a significantly lower TBW content and an average net water loss of 0.63 ml day-'. Laboratory studies showed that silvereyes have a low tolerance to sodium loading. Their tolerance is, however, quite adequate for them to drink the most concentrated free water available to them in the field. Ingestion of concentrated sugar solutions of up to 25% did not provoke an osmotic diuresis and thus cannot account for the dehydration and negative water balance of vineyard birds.

A field study of reproductive interactions in Bosca's newt, Triturus boscai

1995 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. 357-374 ◽  
Author(s):  
Manuel Mouta Faria
Keyword(s):  
Field Study ◽  
Natural Population ◽  
Wild Population ◽  
Short Circuit ◽  
The Other ◽  
Courtship Behaviour ◽  
Laboratory Studies ◽  
Free Living ◽  
Spermatophore Transfer ◽  
Sexual Interference

AbstractObservations of a free-living population of Bosca's newt, Triturus boscai, show that courtship behaviour in nature is similar to the behaviour observed in earlier laboratory studies. Complementary evidence was obtained on the behaviour called flick, which is sometimes inserted at the end of the static display phase, and may be viewed as an equivalent behaviour to the retreat display of the other small-bodied newt species. Sexual interference in the natural population was mainly caused by males. Two characteristic male behaviour patterns were recognised, the waiting position and the push-tail. Females tend to withdraw from situations of interference. Courtship sequences solely consisting of orientation and spermatophore transfer phases, so-called short-circuit sequences, may be interpreted as a male strategy to avoid the very severe male-to-male interference that exists in a wild population.

Occurrence of a tumour-like abnormality in the telson skeleton of the brine shrimp Artemia (Branchiopoda, Anostraca)

Crustaceana ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 92 (2) ◽  
pp. 247-251
Author(s):  
Z.-C. Wang ◽  
J.-Y. Wu ◽  
Alireza Asem
Keyword(s):  
Brine Shrimp ◽  
Compound Eyes ◽  
Laboratory Studies ◽  
Natural Habitats ◽  
Morphological Abnormalities

Abstract Malformations of crustaceans have been observed in their natural habitats as well as in laboratory studies. Two patterns of morphological abnormalities have been recorded in species of the brine shrimp genus Artemia, including a gynandromorphic pattern and a specimen with three compound eyes. Here we report a hitherto unknown pattern of morphological deformation, viz., a tumour-like abnormality that occurred in the telson skeleton of a specimen of Artemia from China.

Contributions to the Biology of Mulga. II. Germination

1971 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 39 ◽  
Author(s):  
PB Preece
Keyword(s):  
Arid Zone ◽  
New South ◽  
Germination Rate ◽  
Ambient Air ◽  
Laboratory Studies ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Carbon Dioxide Concentrations ◽  
Germination Behaviour ◽  
One Year ◽  
Acacia Aneura

Investigations into the germination behaviour of seed of the widespread Australian arid zone leguminous tree Acacia aneura Benth. are described. Hardseededness has been overcome in routine laboratory studies, but attempts to understand the mechanism by which it is overcome in nature were unsuccessful. The seed germinates equally well in the dark and in the light within the temperature range 15-36°C. Temperatures between 20 and 30° are optimal for germination, and carbon dioxide concentrations up to 5 % increase the germination rate above that displayed in ambient air. A simple model has been developed which suggests that seed of this species should have been available and should have germinated in c. one year in every nine, since records began in parts of western New South Wales where mulga regeneration is absent.

scholarly journals Faunistic study on the freshwater ciliates from Delhi, India

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeeva Susan Abraham ◽  
Renu Gupta ◽  
Sripoorna Somasundaram ◽  
Ilmas Naqvi ◽  
Swati Maurya ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Arid Zone ◽  
Lower Proportion ◽  
Free Living ◽  
The Past ◽  
Soil Ciliates ◽  
Ciliate Species ◽  
Freshwater Bodies ◽  
Staining Methods ◽  
River Yamuna ◽  
Freshwater Ciliates

AbstractThe ciliated protist communities show richness as well as uniqueness. This is true both for aquatic and soil ciliates. Delhi region lies in the subtropical semi-arid zone wherein the temperatures are highest in May-June and lowest in January. It also receives its monsoonal rainfall during the month of July-August. Thus, the region offers ideal conditions for the growth and proliferation of aquatic living beings. During the past three decades, a series of investigation has been carried out on the freshwater free-living ciliate fauna from fourteen sites at the river Yamuna and different freshwater bodies in Delhi. Samples were brought to the laboratory, ciliates were identified using live-cell observations and silver staining methods. A large number of Spirotrich species and a lower proportion belonging to class Heterotrichea, Litostomaea, Phyllopharyngea, Oligohymenophorea, Prostomatea, and Colpodea were identified. A total of 55 species belonging to 7 classes, 16 orders, 26 families, 40 genera were identified and documented. Ciliate diversity was found to be highest in the water sample from Okhla bird sanctuary (OBS). All ciliate species recorded during the present study have been listed and their general characteristics have been discussed.

scholarly journals Pets becoming established in the wild: free–living Vietnamese potbellied pigs in Spain

2013 ◽  
Vol 36 (2) ◽  
pp. 209-215
Author(s):  
M. Delibes–Mateos ◽  
◽  
A. Delibes ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Wild Boar ◽  
Sus Scrofa ◽  
Species Abundance ◽  
Crop Damage ◽  
Wild Boar Population ◽  
Natural Habitats ◽  
Free Living ◽  
In The Wild ◽  
Google Search ◽  
Adequate Management

Vietnamese potbellied (VPB) pigs (Sus scrofa) are a common pet in North America and Europe, but their recent decrease in popularity has increased their abandonment. Our main aim was to identify potential cases of free–living VPB pigs in Spain through an in–depth Google search. We identified 42 cases of free–living VPB pigs distributed throughout the country. The number of free–living VPB pigs reported increased by year but the species abundance still seems to be low. Signs of VPB pig reproduction and possible hybrids between VPB pigs and wild boar or feral pigs have been also reported. Free–living VPB pigs could erode the gene pool of the Spanish wild boar population and exacerbate the damage (e.g. crop damage or spread of diseases) already caused by wild board. Urgent evaluation and adequate management of wild VPB pig sightings is needed to prevent their establishment in natural habitats.

scholarly journals Metagenomic analysis of acquired antibiotic resistance determinants in the gut microbiota of wild boars (Sus scrofa) – preliminary results

2020 ◽  
Vol 64 (1) ◽  
pp. 111-118
Author(s):  
Balázs Libisch ◽  
Tibor Keresztény ◽  
Zoltán Kerényi ◽  
Róbert Kocsis ◽  
Rita Sipos ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Antibiotic Resistance ◽  
Gut Microbiota ◽  
Wild Boar ◽  
Natural Habitats ◽  
Free Living ◽  
Wild Boars ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Resistance Determinants ◽  
Faecal Microbiome ◽  
Acquired Antibiotic Resistance

AbstractIntroductionLand application of manure that contains antibiotics and resistant bacteria may facilitate the establishment of an environmental reservoir of antibiotic-resistant microbes, promoting their dissemination into agricultural and natural habitats. The main objective of this study was to search for acquired antibiotic resistance determinants in the gut microbiota of wild boar populations living in natural habitats.Material and MethodsGastrointestinal samples of free-living wild boars were collected in the Zemplén Mountains in Hungary and were characterised by culture-based, metagenomic, and molecular microbiological methods. Bioinformatic analysis of the faecal microbiome of a hunted wild boar from Japan was used for comparative studies. Also, shotgun metagenomic sequencing data of two untreated sewage wastewater samples from North Pest (Hungary) from 2016 were analysed by bioinformatic methods. Minimum spanning tree diagrams for seven-gene MLST profiles of 104 E. coli strains isolated in Europe from wild boars and domestic pigs were generated in Enterobase.ResultsIn the ileum of a diarrhoeic boar, a dominant E. coli O112ab:H2 strain with intermediate resistance to gentamicin, tobramycin, and amikacin was identified, displaying sequence type ST388 and harbouring the EAST1 toxin astA gene. Metagenomic analyses of the colon and rectum digesta revealed the presence of the tetQ, tetW, tetO, and mefA antibiotic resistance genes that were also detected in the gut microbiome of four other wild boars from the mountains. Furthermore, the tetQ and cfxA genes were identified in the faecal microbiome of a hunted wild boar from Japan.ConclusionThe gastrointestinal microbiota of the free-living wild boars examined in this study carried acquired antibiotic resistance determinants that are highly prevalent among domestic livestock populations.

The development and mortality of the non-infective free-living stages of Ostertagia ostertagi in the field and in laboratory culture

Parasitology ◽  
1986 ◽  
Vol 92 (2) ◽  
pp. 471-482 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Smith ◽  
B. T. Grenfell ◽  
R. M. Anderson
Keyword(s):  
Population Biology ◽  
Deterministic Model ◽  
Field Studies ◽  
Laboratory Culture ◽  
Model Parameters ◽  
Laboratory Studies ◽  
Free Living ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Ostertagia Ostertagi ◽  
Two Parameter

SUMMARYA deterministic model of the population biology of the non-infective free-living phase of Ostertagia ostertagi is described and tested. A comparison of field and laboratory studies indicates that the pre-infective larvae of O. ostertagi spend about twice as long in this phase in the field as in laboratory culture (13 days and 7 days respectively at 15 °C), and that the subsequent transition (i.e. second moult) to the infective phase also proceeds at a much slower rate (about 10 times less at 15 °C) in the field. Because of this discrepancy, estimates of model parameters are based entirely on measurements from field studies. A two-parameter model of pre-infective development in the field is derived. It describes egg and larval development as a direct non-linear function of air temperature. We also show that the mortality of the eggs and pre.infective larvae increases with temperature (although this relationship probably also subsumes a dependence on faecal moisture content). The model is shown to be a good mimic of the population dynamics of the non-infective free-living phase when tested against an independent data set, and is the basis of a larger model of the epidemiology of ostertagiasis.

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