scholarly journals Comparison of the nest materials of Polistes Gallicus (L.), Polistes dominulus (Christ) and Polistes nimpha (Christ) (Hymenoptera: Vespidae)

2012 ◽  
Vol 64 (3) ◽  
pp. 1079-1084 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nil Bagriaçik

The aim of this study was to determine and compare the nest materials and some physical features and elemental composition of the nests of Polistes gallicus (L.), Polistes dominulus (Christ) and Polistes nimpha (Christ) collected in similar ecological conditions. The nest architectures of the three species were similar. In the P. gallicus nest, the average thickness of the fibers was 5.73 ?m, the nitrogen concentration was 26.14%, and percentages of the fibers and saliva were 77% and 23%, respectively. In the P. dominulus nest, the average thickness of the fibers was 8.7 ?m, and the nitrogen concentration was 27.42%; the percentages of fiber and saliva were 78% and 22%, respectively. In the P. nimpha nest, the average thickness of the fibers was 9.04 ?m, the nitrogen concentration was 25.82%, and the percentages of the fiber and saliva were 42% and 58%, respectively. There were differences in the amount of saliva and nitrogen concentrations.

2011 ◽  
Vol 63 (2) ◽  
pp. 449-455 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nil Bagriaçik

The aim of this study was to determine the nest materials and some physical features and elemental composition of Vespa orientalis and Vespa crabro nests. The nest surfaces were observed with a stereomicroscope and scanning electron microscope (SEM). In the V. orientalis nest, the average thickness of the fibers was 13.47?m, the nitrogen concentration was 18.75%, the percentages of the fibers, saliva, soil and the water absorption capacity were calculated to be 20%, 20%, 60% and 91%, respectively. In the V. crabro nest, the average thickness of the fibers was 11.48?m and the nitrogen concentration was 27.93%. The percentages of fiber, saliva and the water absorption capacity were calculated to be 23%, 77% and 100%, respectively.


2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 147470492110323
Author(s):  
Ray Garza ◽  
Farid Pazhoohi ◽  
Jennifer Byrd-Craven

Ecological conditions provide information about available resources for one’s environment. In humans, this has been shown to influence reproductive behavior, as individuals may engage in trade-offs between partner quality and investment. For instance, many women may trade-off preferences for men with physical features indicative of social dominance and health over physical features indicative of commitment and investment. The current study explored women’s preferences for formidable men under safe vs. harsh ecological conditions. Across three studies, U.S. university women ( N = 1,098) were randomly assigned to a perceived harsh or safe ecological condition. They were asked to rate the attractiveness of men’s body types (i.e., muscular vs. less muscular). Findings revealed that in general, women rated stronger men as more attractive than weaker men irrespective of the ecological condition. Evidence for preference as a function of ecology appeared only when a two-alternative forced-choice task was used (Study 3), but not in rating tasks (Studies 1 and 2). Study 3 showed that women had a relatively stronger preference for stronger men for short-term relationships in a resource scarce ecological condition. This research provides some evidence that perceived ecological conditions can drive women’s preferences for men with enhanced secondary sex characteristics as a function of mating context. These findings are consistent with previous research indicating the importance of physical characteristics in men’s attractiveness, and it adds to the existing literature on ecological factors and mating preferences.


1994 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 399-416 ◽  
Author(s):  
Barrios E. ◽  
Herrera R.

ABSTRACTSeasonally flooded forests represent a transition between terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. The Mapire river, a tributary of the Orinoco river, floods its surrounding forests during the wet season (May–December). The soils are very acid and the total nitrogen concentration (0.1%) is only half that found in nearby soils flooded by Orinoco waters. Ammonium-nitrogen predominates in the soil during the flooded period while nitrate-nitrogen concentrations are higher in the dry period. Wide fluctuations in the inorganic nitrogen fractions did not considerably affect the annual course of soil nitrogen.The predominance of mineralization versus nitrification (56 and 5 μgsoil month−1respectively) and possibly the synchronization of nitrogen availability with plant demand could be considered as nitrogen conserving mechanisms.In synchrony with the hydrologic cycle, the seasonally flooded forest studied shows a nitrogencycle where inputs and accumulation are maximized when the system is under minimum stress (dry season). During flooding, the system enters a period of dormancy making minimal use of nutrient and energy to avoid or tolerate anaerobiosis.


2013 ◽  
Vol 80 (2) ◽  
pp. 704-713 ◽  
Author(s):  
Estéfani García-Ríos ◽  
Alicia Gutiérrez ◽  
Zoel Salvadó ◽  
Francisco Noé Arroyo-López ◽  
José Manuel Guillamon

ABSTRACTThe effect of the main environmental factors governing wine fermentation on the fitness of industrial yeast strains has barely received attention. In this study, we used the concept of fitness advantage to measure how increasing nitrogen concentrations (0 to 200 mg N/liter), ethanol (0 to 20%), and temperature (4 to 45°C) affects competition among four commercial wine yeast strains (PDM, ARM, RVA, and TTA). We used a mathematical approach to model the hypothetical time needed for the control strain (PDM) to out-compete the other three strains in a theoretical mixed population. The theoretical values obtained were subsequently verified by competitive mixed fermentations in both synthetic and natural musts, which showed a good fit between the theoretical and experimental data. Specifically, the data show that the increase in nitrogen concentration and temperature values improved the fitness advantage of the PDM strain, whereas the presence of ethanol significantly reduced its competitiveness. However, the RVA strain proved to be the most competitive yeast for the three enological parameters assayed. The study of the fitness of these industrial strains is of paramount interest for the wine industry, which uses them as starters of their fermentations. Here, we propose a very simple method to model the fitness advantage, which allows the prediction of the competitiveness of one strain with respect to different abiotic factors.


Bragantia ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 71 (3) ◽  
pp. 394-399 ◽  
Author(s):  
Djeimi Isabel Janisch ◽  
Jerônimo Luiz Andriolo ◽  
Vinícius Toso ◽  
Kamila Gabriele Ferreira dos Santos ◽  
Jéssica Maronez de Souza

The objective of this research was to determine growth and dry matter partitioning among organs of strawberry stock plants under five Nitrogen concentrations in the nutrient solution and its effects on emission and growth of runner tips. The experiment was carried out under greenhouse conditions, from September 2010 to March 2011, in a soilless system with Oso Grande and Camino Real cultivars. Nitrogen concentrations of 5.12, 7.6, 10.12 (control), 12.62 and 15.12 mmol L-1 in the nutrient solution were studied in a 5x2 factorial randomised experimental design. All runner tips bearing at least one expanded leaf (patent requested) were collected weekly and counted during the growth period. The number of leaves, dry matter (DM) of leaves, crown and root, specific leaf area and leaf area index (LAI) was determined at the final harvest. Increasing N concentration in the nutrient solution from 5.12 to 15.12 mmol L-1 reduces growth of crown, roots and LAI of strawberry stock plants but did not affect emission and growth of runner tips. It was concluded that for the commercial production of plug plants the optimal nitrogen concentration in the nutrient solution should be 5.12 mmol L-1.


1982 ◽  
Vol 28 (8) ◽  
pp. 959-975 ◽  
Author(s):  
Colin R. Bell ◽  
Maxine A. Holder-Franklin ◽  
Mervyn Franklin

Forty-eight continuous culture enrichments were performed on summer and winter water samples from two contrasting rivers. The cell output from each chemostat was dependant on the temperature and nitrogen concentration of each enrichment. The diversity of the populations from the continuous cultures, as assessed by species diversity analysis, was always greater than populations obtained on agar plates. However, the species isolated exclusively by continuous culture in these experiments were not unique to the chemostat. All of these species had been isolated at some time on plates directly. High nitrogen concentrations were found to decrease diversity. Populations sampled during the winter were influenced primarily by the concentration of nitrogen. Summer isolates were affected mainly by the temperature of the culture medium. The nutritional versatility of the population was not affected by enrichment of the continuous culture.


2020 ◽  
Vol 36 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Itaruã Machri Colla ◽  
Olavo Bilac Quaresma de Oliveira Filho ◽  
Janyeli Dorini Silva de Freitas ◽  
Míria Benetati Delgado Bertéli ◽  
Giani Andrea Linde ◽  
...  

Lentinus crinitus is a medicinal basidiomycete, little studied regarding the basic cultivation conditions, which is used in bioremediation and consumed by native Indians from the Brazilian Amazon. Also, it produces a fungal secondary metabolite panepoxydone that has been described as an essential regulator of the inflammatory and immune response. This study aimed to evaluate basic conditions of temperature, pH, and nitrogen concentration and source in the cultivation of L. crinitus mycelial biomass. In order to evaluate fungal growth temperature, 2% malt extract agar (MEA) medium, pH 5.5, was utilized from 19 to 40 °C. For pH, MEA had pH adjusted from 2 to 11 and cultivated at 28 °C. Urea or soybean meal was added to MEA to obtain final concentration from 0.5 and 16 g/L of nitrogen, pH of 5.5, cultivated at 28 °C. The best temperature growth varies from 31 to 34 ºC and the optimal one is 32.7º C, and the best pH ranges from 4.5 to 6.5 and the optimal one is 6.1. Protein or non-protein nitrogen concentration is inversely proportional to the mycelial biomass growth. Nitrogen concentrations of 2.0 g/L soybean meal and urea inhibit mycelial biomass growth in 11% and 12%, respectively, but high concentrations of 16.0 g/L nitrogen inhibit the growth in 46% and 95%, respectively. The fungus is robust and grows under extreme conditions of temperature and pH, but smaller adaptation with increasing nitrogen concentrations in the cultivation medium, mainly non-protein nitrogen.


2013 ◽  
Vol 864-867 ◽  
pp. 239-242
Author(s):  
Wen Juan Ding ◽  
Hua Yong Zhang ◽  
Fang Juan Zhang

This study examined the effects of submergence and nitrogen concentration on biomass allocation and nutrients utilization of an invasive plant Alternanthera philoxeroides. In the experiment, A. philoxeroides was applied to two water level treatments (0 and 25cm above the surface) across with two nitrogen concentrations (0 and 10 mg/l N). The results showed that submergence decreased leaf fraction and increased stem fraction, but high N changed this situation. In submergence, high N increased leaf fraction but decreased stem fraction due to leaves survival and maintenance. Submergence decreased root fraction and the content of soluble sugar in stem. The results suggested that high N concentration could counteract the negative effects of submergence. Therefore, the risk of A. philoxeroides invasion might be enhanced by nitrogen pollution in fluctuating water bodies, and should be attention intensely.


2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (4) ◽  
pp. 1484-1492
Author(s):  
Denny Helard ◽  
Shinta Indah ◽  
Michella Oktavia

Abstract The objective of this study is to analyze the spatial variability of ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate concentrations along the Batang Arau River, one of the most important rivers in West Sumatera, Indonesia. The results showed that the ammonium, nitrite, and nitrate concentrations were in the range of 0.180–0.510 mg/L, 0.0–0.178 mg/L, and 0.675–1.165 mg/L, respectively. The ammonium and nitrate concentrations were still below the maximum permissible concentrations for the river water quality standard of class II established by the Regulation Governor of West Sumatera at all of the sampling locations, except at midstream for ammonium, while the nitrite concentration had exceeded the quality standard from midstream to downstream of the river. The increase of the nitrogen concentration was observed from upstream to downstream of the river. Spatial analysis shows significant differences in nitrogen concentrations were obtained between the upstream and the midstream of the Batang Arau River (p < 0.05) but were not observed between the midstream and the downstream. This indicates the effect of different anthropogenic activities along the river. Based on the obtained results, for an effective monitoring program of the nitrogen concentration along the Batang Arau River, reducing the sampling locations from eight to five could be implemented.


1981 ◽  
Vol 27 (3) ◽  
pp. 480-485 ◽  
Author(s):  
Z L Bandi ◽  
J B Fuller ◽  
D E Bee ◽  
G P James

Abstract We followed the "abbreviated precision protocol" of the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards for the evaluation of precision, accuracy, and carryover in analysis for urea nitrogen with the multilayer film analysis system ("Ektachem"). We analyzed 456 clinical samples with this instrument, by the manual urease/glucose dehydrogenase method, and with the Beckman System I GLU/BUN Analyzer. Precision and accuracy were estimated for 50, 220, 270, and 500 mg/L urea nitrogen concentrations in 100, 30, or 20 microL of serum. Potential interference of 15 compounds was evaluated. Random error (defined as 1.965 X SD) was 7, 10, 12, and 18 mg/L. Systematic error was 3, 4, 5, and 15 mg/L. Total analytical error was 11, 14, 17, and 34 mg/L for analysis of 100 microL of serum at the above-stated urea nitrogen concentrations. The greatest interference (6 mg/L) was caused by ethanol (300 mg/L) and by hemoglobin (500 mg/L) in the urea nitrogen (at 260 mg/L) determination. Urea nitrogen concentration, as determined with the Ektachem was linearly related to the expected concentration, at least up to 1187 mg/L. Carryover was not statistically significant.


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