EPG combined with micro-CT and video recording reveals new insights on the feeding behavior of Philaenus spumarius

Animals, from insects to humans, exhibit obvious diurnal rhythmicity of feeding behavior. Serving as a genetic animal model, Drosophila has been reported to display feeding rhythms; however, related investigations are limited due to the lack of suitable and practical methods. Here, we present a video recording-based analytical method, namely, Drosophila Feeding Rhythm Analysis Method (dFRAME). Using our newly developed computer program, FlyFeeding, we extracted the movement track of individual flies and characterized their food-approaching behavior. To distinguish feeding and no-feeding events, we utilized high-magnification video recording to optimize our method by setting cut-off thresholds to eliminate the interference of no-feeding events. Furthermore, we verified that this method is applicable to both female and male flies and for all periods of the day. Using this method, we analyzed long-term feeding status of wild-type and period mutant flies. The results recaptured previously reported feeding rhythms and revealed detailed profiles of feeding patterns in these flies under either light/dark cycles or constant dark environments. Together, our dFRAME method enables a long-term, stable, reliable, and subtle analysis of feeding behavior in Drosophila. High-throughput studies in this powerful genetic animal model will gain great insights into the molecular and neural mechanisms of feeding rhythms.

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Sensory Receptors Associated with the Labial Tip and Precibarium of Philaenus spumarius L. (Hemiptera: Aphrophoride)

Microscopy and Microanalysis ◽

10.1017/s1431927619015125 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 26 (1) ◽

pp. 173-181

Author(s):

Emanuele Ranieri ◽

Sara Ruschioni ◽

Paola Riolo ◽

Nunzio Isidoro ◽

Roberto Romani

Keyword(s):

Feeding Behavior ◽

Pathogen Transmission ◽

Plant Diseases ◽

Host Plant Selection ◽

Philaenus Spumarius ◽

Sensilla Trichodea ◽

Transmission Electron ◽

Sensory Structures ◽

Olive Quick Decline Syndrome

AbstractThe meadow spittlebug, Philaenus spumarius (Linnaeus) (Hemiptera: Aphrophoridae), is an important vector for the xylem-limited bacterium Xylella fastidiosa (Wells, Raju, Hung, Weisburg, Mandelco-Paul, and Brenner), which is associated with olive quick decline syndrome in southern Italy. The mouthparts of Hemiptera have important roles in host plant selection, feeding behavior and for vectoring pathogens that cause plant diseases. In this study, the functional morphology of the sensory structures located on the labium tip and precibarium of P. spumarius was investigated using scanning and transmission electron microscopy. The labium tip is composed of two symmetrical sensory complexes, each with five different types of sensilla: aporous sensilla trichodea type 1 and 2; uniporous sensilla chaetica type 1 and 2; and multiporous sensilla basiconica. The precibarium of P. spumarius has two kinds of sensory structures: bulbous sensilla and papillae sensilla. In particular, two groups of sensilla are located on the epipharynx: a distal group that consists of ten papillae sensilla and a proximal group composed of six papillae sensilla and two bulbous sensilla, while the hypopharynx has only two papillae sensilla. The involvement of these sensory structures in the context of feeding behavior and pathogen transmission is discussed.

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Notes on natural history and behavior of Monodelphis glirina (Didelphimorphia, Didelphidae) and sympatry with congeners

Acta Amazonica ◽

10.1590/1809-4392202002012 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 50 (4) ◽

pp. 309-312

Author(s):

Marcus Vinicius BRANDÃO ◽

Harley SEBASTIÃO ◽

Adriana Akemi KUNIY ◽

Soraya CAVALIERI ◽

Leandro Perez GODOY

Keyword(s):

Natural History ◽

Sex Ratio ◽

Feeding Behavior ◽

Rainy Season ◽

Video Recording ◽

Pitfall Traps ◽

Mato Grosso ◽

Life Habits ◽

Lactating Females ◽

And Behavior

ABSTRACT Monodelphis glirina is endemic to the Amazon and its life habits and natural history are poorly known. Data on the species were collected in northern Mato Grosso, Brazil, including observations on its behavior and simpatry with congeners. During 10 expeditions and with an effort of 3,680 buckets-day, 29 M. glirina, three M. saci and one M. emiliae individuals were captured. Adults accounted for 82.8% of M. glirina captures, with a sex ratio of three males for each female. Capture of young and lactating females was seasonal, as both were captured only in the rainy season. We observed three events of M. glirina preying on rodents in pitfall traps, all with the same feeding behavior. We also report an individual climbing a tree at night, including a video recording. Our report contributes to a better understanding of the ecology of this highly diversified and still poorly known genus.

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The relationship between creep feeding behavior of piglets and adaptation to weaning: Effect of diet quality

Canadian Journal of Animal Science ◽

10.4141/cjas94-001 ◽

1994 ◽

Vol 74 (1) ◽

pp. 1-6 ◽

Cited By ~ 35

Author(s):

David Fraser ◽

E. A. Pajor ◽

J. J. R. Feddes

Keyword(s):

Feeding Behavior ◽

Diet Quality ◽

Soybean Meal ◽

Individual Variation ◽

Video Recording ◽

Low Complexity ◽

High Complexity ◽

Creep Feeding ◽

Commercial Diet ◽

Creep Feed

Individual variation in creep feed intake and its relation to adaptation to weaning were studied in piglets weaned at 4 wk of age. The animals received either a "low-complexity" creep-starter diet based on corn, barley and soybean meal (12 litters), or a "high-complexity", medicated, commercial diet without soybean meal (12 litters). Diets were fed as creep feed during the 2 wk before weaning, and as the sole diet during the 2 wk after weaning. Creep feeding behavior of piglets was monitored by video recording. Pigs fed the high-complexity diet consumed more creep feed (P < 0.05), tended to gain more during the week before weaning (P < 0.10), and converted feed more efficiently and gained more weight in the 2 wk after weaning (P < 0.01). Use of creep feed varied greatly among individual littermates. Multiple regression analysis showed that on the high-complexity diet, pigs that used creep feed more than their littermates tended to be those with low gains in weeks 1–3 after birth (P < 0.001), and tended to gain more weight during the week before and during the 2 wk after weaning (P < 0.01). The trends were consistent but weaker with the low-complexity diet. However, predictive power was low, with creep feeding accounting for only 4% of individual variation in post-weaning gain on the high-complexity diet and 1% on the low. Regardless of diet quality, therefore, creep feeding remained highly variable and only weakly related to weight gains during the 2 wk after weaning. Key words: Piglets, creep feed, weaning, feeding behavior

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The cibarial pump of the xylem-feeding froghopper Philaenus spumarius produces negative pressures exceeding 1 MPa

Proceedings of The Royal Society B Biological Sciences ◽

10.1098/rspb.2021.0731 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 288 (1954) ◽

pp. 20210731

Author(s):

Elisabeth A. Bergman ◽

Emma L. Green ◽

Philip G. D. Matthews

Keyword(s):

Vascular Plants ◽

Sarcomere Length ◽

Excretion Rate ◽

Xylem Sap ◽

Energetic Cost ◽

Micro Ct ◽

Philaenus Spumarius ◽

Gain Energy ◽

Negative Pressures ◽

Hydroponically Grown

The xylem sap of vascular plants is an unlikely source of nutrition, being both nutrient poor and held under tensions (negative pressures) that can exceed 1 MPa. But some insects feed on xylem sap exclusively, extracting copious quantities using a muscular cibarial pump. However, neither the strength of the insect's suction, nor the direct energetic cost of xylem ingestion, have ever been quantified. Philaenus spumarius froghoppers were used to address these gaps in our knowledge. Micro-CT scans of its cibarium and measurements of cibarial muscle sarcomere length revealed that P. spumarius can generate a maximum tension of 1.3 ± 0.2 MPa within its cibarium. The energetic cost of xylem extraction was quantified using respirometry to measure the metabolic rate (MR) of P. spumarius while they fed on hydroponically grown legumes, while xylem sap excretion rate and cibarial pumping frequency were simultaneously recorded. Increasing the plants' xylem tensions up to 1.1 MPa by exposing their roots to polyethylene glycol did not reduce the insects’ rate of xylem excretion, but significantly increased both MR and pumping frequency. We conclude that P. spumarius can gain energy feeding on xylem sap containing previously reported energy densities and at xylem tensions up to their maximum suction capacity.

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Enhancing Clinical Supervision Using High-Definition Real-Time Digital Recording, Annotation, and Bluetooth Technology

Perspectives of the ASHA Special Interest Groups ◽

10.1044/2019_pers-sig11-2018-0020 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 4 (2) ◽

pp. 356-362

Author(s):

Jennifer W. Means ◽

Casey McCaffrey

Keyword(s):

Graduate Students ◽

Data Collection ◽

Real Time ◽

Clinical Supervision ◽

Video Recording ◽

Advanced Technology ◽

High Definition ◽

Recording Technology ◽

Self Confidence ◽

Additional Data Collection

Purpose The use of real-time recording technology for clinical instruction allows student clinicians to more easily collect data, self-reflect, and move toward independence as supervisors continue to provide continuation of supportive methods. This article discusses how the use of high-definition real-time recording, Bluetooth technology, and embedded annotation may enhance the supervisory process. It also reports results of graduate students' perception of the benefits and satisfaction with the types of technology used. Method Survey data were collected from graduate students about their use and perceived benefits of advanced technology to support supervision during their 1st clinical experience. Results Survey results indicate that students found the use of their video recordings useful for self-evaluation, data collection, and therapy preparation. The students also perceived an increase in self-confidence through the use of the Bluetooth headsets as their supervisors could provide guidance and encouragement without interrupting the flow of their therapy sessions by entering the room to redirect them. Conclusions The use of video recording technology can provide opportunities for students to review: videos of prospective clients they will be treating, their treatment videos for self-assessment purposes, and for additional data collection. Bluetooth technology provides immediate communication between the clinical educator and the student. Students reported that the result of that communication can improve their self-confidence, perceived performance, and subsequent shift toward independence.

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