Pollination by Flies

2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pat Willmer
Keyword(s):  
Strong Preference ◽  
Diverse Group ◽  
Feeding Apparatus ◽  
Nectar Feeding ◽  
Fly Pollination ◽  
Adult Diet

This chapter focuses on pollination by flies, a very diverse group of insects of the order Diptera. Many types of fly have the ability to regurgitate saliva onto potential foodstuffs, making the material more liquid and manageable, and some use “bubbling” behavior to speed evaporation of excessively dilute fluids. Many groups have a strong preference for sugary fluids, and therefore commonly take some nectar as part of their adult diet; others feed on pollen. The chapter first provides an overview of the fly’s feeding apparatus as well as its sensory and behavioral capacities before discussing generalist flowers that are favored by a multitude of flies. It then considers specialist flower types that attract nectar-feeding flies, hoverfly flower types, and carrion-fly flower types. It concludes with an analysis of some other specialist cases of fly pollination of flowers.

scholarly journals Relating form to function in the hummingbird feeding apparatus

PeerJ ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
pp. e3449 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alejandro Rico-Guevara
Keyword(s):  
Ex Vivo ◽  
Main Tool ◽  
Feeding Apparatus ◽  
Tissue Architecture ◽  
Complete Understanding ◽  
Nectar Feeding ◽  
Puzzle Piece ◽  
Oropharyngeal Cavity ◽  
Feeding Process ◽  
Rostral Portion

A complete understanding of the feeding structures is fundamental in order to study how animals survive. Some birds use long and protrusible tongues as the main tool to collect their central caloric source (e.g., woodpeckers and nectarivores). Hummingbirds are the oldest and most diverse clade of nectarivorous vertebrates, being a perfect subject to study tongue specializations. Their tongue functions to intraorally transport arthropods through their long bills and enables them to exploit the nectarivorous niche by collecting small amounts of liquid, therefore it is of vital importance to study its anatomy and structure at various scales. I focused on the portions of the hummingbird tongue that have been shown to be key for understanding their feeding mechanisms. I used histology, transmission and scanning electron microscopy, microCT, andex-vivoexperiments in order to advance the comprehension of the morphology and functioning of the hummingbird feeding apparatus. I found that hummingbird tongues are composed mainly of thin cornified epithelium, lack papillae, and completely fill the internal cast of the rostral oropharyngeal cavity. Understanding this puzzle-piece match between bill and tongue will be essential for the study of intraoral transport of nectar. Likewise, I found that the structural composition and tissue architecture of the tongue groove walls provide the rostral portion of the tongue with elastic properties that are central to the study of tongue-nectar interactions during the feeding process. Detailed studies on hummingbirds set the basis for comparisons with other nectar-feeding birds and contribute to comprehend the natural solutions to collecting liquids in the most efficient way possible.

scholarly journals Sharing the load: How a personally coloured calculator for grapheme-colour synaesthetes can reduce processing costs

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (9) ◽  
pp. e0257713
Author(s):  
Joshua J. Berger ◽  
Irina M. Harris ◽  
Karen M. Whittingham ◽  
Zoe Terpening ◽  
John D. G. Watson
Keyword(s):  
Strong Preference ◽  
Diverse Group ◽  
End Effect ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Initial Cost ◽  
Processing Cost ◽  
Additional Processing ◽  
Normal Perception

Synaesthesia refers to a diverse group of perceptions. These unusual perceptions are defined by the experience of concurrents; these are conscious experiences that are catalysed by attention to some normally unrelated stimulus, the inducer. In grapheme-colour synaesthesia numbers, letters, and words can all cause colour concurrents, and these are independent of the actual colour with which the graphemes are displayed. For example, when seeing the numeral ‘3’ a person with synaesthesia might experience green as the concurrent irrespective of whether the numeral is printed in blue, black, or red. As a trait, synaesthesia has the potential to cause both positive and negative effects. However, regardless of the end effect, synaesthesia incurs an initial cost when compared with its equivalent example from normal perception; this is the additional processing cost needed to generate the information on the concurrent. We contend that this cost can be reduced by mirroring the concurrent in the environment. We designed the Digital-Colour Calculator (DCC) app, allowing each user to personalise and select the colours with which it displays its digits; it is the first reported example of a device/approach that leverages the concurrent. In this article we report on the reactions to the DCC for a sample of fifty-three synaesthetes and thirty-five non-synaesthetes. The synaesthetes showed a strong preference for the DCC over its normal counterpart. The non-synaesthetes showed no obvious preference. When using the DCC a subsample of the synaesthete group showed consistent improvement in task speed (around 8%) whereas no synaesthete showed a decrement in their speed.

scholarly journals Relating form to function in the hummingbird feeding apparatus

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alejandro Rico-Guevara
Keyword(s):  
Ex Vivo ◽  
Main Tool ◽  
Feeding Apparatus ◽  
Tissue Architecture ◽  
Complete Understanding ◽  
Nectar Feeding ◽  
Puzzle Piece ◽  
Oropharyngeal Cavity ◽  
Feeding Process ◽  
Rostral Portion

A complete understanding of the feeding structures is fundamental in order to study how animals survive. Some birds use long and protrusible tongues as the main tool to collect their central caloric source (e.g. woodpeckers and nectarivores). Hummingbirds are the oldest and most diverse clade of nectarivorous vertebrates, being a perfect subject to study tongue specializations. Their tongue functions to intraorally transport arthropods through their long bills and enables them to exploit the nectarivorous niche by collecting small amounts of liquid, therefore it is of vital importance to study its anatomy and structure at various scales. I focused on the portions of the hummingbird tongue that have been shown to be key for understanding their feeding mechanisms. I used histology, transmission and scanning electron microscopy, microCT, and ex-vivo experiments in order to advance the comprehension of the morphology and functioning of the hummingbird feeding apparatus. I found that hummingbird tongues are composed mainly of thin cornified epithelium, lack papillae, and completely fill the internal cast of the rostral oropharyngeal cavity. Understanding this puzzle-piece match between bill and tongue will be essential for the study of intraoral transport of nectar. Likewise, I found that the structural composition and tissue architecture of the tongue groove walls provide the rostral portion of the tongue with elastic properties that are central to the study of tongue-nectar interactions during the feeding process. Detailed studies on hummingbirds set the basis for comparisons with other nectar-feeding birds and contribute to comprehend the natural solutions to collecting liquids in the most efficient way possible.

scholarly journals Relating form to function in the hummingbird feeding apparatus

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alejandro Rico-Guevara
Keyword(s):  
Ex Vivo ◽  
Main Tool ◽  
Feeding Apparatus ◽  
Tissue Architecture ◽  
Complete Understanding ◽  
Nectar Feeding ◽  
Puzzle Piece ◽  
Oropharyngeal Cavity ◽  
Feeding Process ◽  
Rostral Portion

A complete understanding of the feeding structures is fundamental in order to study how animals survive. Some birds use long and protrusible tongues as the main tool to collect their central caloric source (e.g. woodpeckers and nectarivores). Hummingbirds are the oldest and most diverse clade of nectarivorous vertebrates, being a perfect subject to study tongue specializations. Their tongue functions to intraorally transport arthropods through their long bills and enables them to exploit the nectarivorous niche by collecting small amounts of liquid, therefore it is of vital importance to study its anatomy and structure at various scales. I focused on the portions of the hummingbird tongue that have been shown to be key for understanding their feeding mechanisms. I used histology, transmission and scanning electron microscopy, microCT, and ex-vivo experiments in order to advance the comprehension of the morphology and functioning of the hummingbird feeding apparatus. I found that hummingbird tongues are composed mainly of thin cornified epithelium, lack papillae, and completely fill the internal cast of the rostral oropharyngeal cavity. Understanding this puzzle-piece match between bill and tongue will be essential for the study of intraoral transport of nectar. Likewise, I found that the structural composition and tissue architecture of the tongue groove walls provide the rostral portion of the tongue with elastic properties that are central to the study of tongue-nectar interactions during the feeding process. Detailed studies on hummingbirds set the basis for comparisons with other nectar-feeding birds and contribute to comprehend the natural solutions to collecting liquids in the most efficient way possible.

Structural Aspects of Phonological Development

1988 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 5-16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karen E. Pollock ◽  
Richard G. Schwartz
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Management ◽  
Structural Complexity ◽  
Strong Preference ◽  
Phonological Development ◽  
Structural Position ◽  
Phonological Disorders ◽  
Syllabic Structure ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Structural Aspects ◽  
Target Words

The relationship between syllabic structure and segmental development was examined longitudinally in a child with a severe phonological disorder. Six speech samples were collected over a 4-year period (3:5 to 7:3). Analyses revealed gradual increases in the complexity and diversity of the syllable structures produced, and positional preferences for sounds within these forms. With a strong preference for [d] and [n] at the beginning of syllables, other consonants appeared first at the end of syllables. Implications for clinical management of phonological disorders include the need to consider both structural position and structural complexity in assessing segmental skills and in choosing target words for intervention.

The psychology of extended search in nectar-feeding bees

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fred C. Dyer ◽  
John Townsend-Mehler
Keyword(s):  
Nectar Feeding

CONTRIBUIÇÃO AO CONHECIMENTO DA AVIFAUNA DO MUNICÍPIO DE TAQUARA, RIO GRANDE DO SUL

2019 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
pp. 28
Author(s):  
Marcelo Pereira de Barros ◽  
Ana Paula Lima da Silveira ◽  
Bruna Reis Ferreira
Keyword(s):  
Rural Areas ◽  
Rio Grande ◽  
Bird Community ◽  
Frequency Of Occurrence ◽  
Diverse Group ◽  
Rio Grande Do Sul ◽  
Natural Ecosystems ◽  
Environmental Disturbances ◽  
Environmental Pressures ◽  
Hydrographic Basin

As aves destacam-se dentro dos vertebrados por serem um grupo diverso e adaptado a diferentes ambientes, a composição da comunidade de aves de um determinado local é um importante bioindicador ambiental, pois ela reflete alterações recentes ou pretéritas de determinada área. Na Bacia Hidrográfica do Rio dos Sinos, as pressões sobre os remanescentes de ecossistemas naturais são intensas em decorrência da urbanização crescente, do estabelecimento de indústrias e da ampliação das fronteiras agrícolas, esses fatores associados geram a redução e fragmentação de habitats, com impactos irrecuperáveis para a flora e a fauna. Devido à escassez de dados sobre a avifauna do município de Taquara, o presente estudo teve como objetivo levantar informações sobre o grupo, listando as espécies de aves locais. Entre agosto de 2016 e junho de 2017 foram realizadas quatro amostragens mensais em duas áreas rurais do município, totalizando 44 campanhas de observação e 132 horas de esforço amostral. As espécies foram identificadas e classificadas conforme sua frequência de ocorrência mensal, em espécies comuns e raras. Foram registradas 133 espécies distribuídas em 47 famílias, o que representa mais de 20% das espécies ocorrentes para o estado. Ao longo do período amostrado, 90 espécies foram classificadas como comuns e 47 consideradas raras para as áreas pesquisadas.Palavras-chave: Aves. Bacia hidrográfica do Rio dos Sinos. Preservação.ABSTRACTBirds stand out within vertebrates because they are a diverse group adapted to different environments. The composition of the bird community of a certain place is an important environmental bioindicator since it reflects recent or previous environmental disturbances of a certain area. In the Sinos River Basin, environmental pressures on the remnants of natural ecosystems are intense as a result of increasing urbanization, the establishment of industries and expansion of agricultural frontiers which generate habitat reduction and fragmentation with irrecoverable damages on flora and fauna. Due to the scarcity of data on the avifauna of the municipality of Taquara, the present study aimed to gather information and list the species of local birds. Between August 2016 and June 2017, four monthly samplings were carried out in two rural areas of the municipality, totaling 44 observation campaigns and 132 hours of sample effort. The species were identified and classified as common and rare according to their frequency of occurrence. There were 133 species distributed in 47 families, representing more than 20% of the species that occurred in the state. During the sampled period, 90 species were classified as common and 47 were considered rare for the areas surveyed.Keywords: Birds. Hydrographic basin of Sinos River. Preservation.

Strain and Within‐Season Variability of Various Allelochemics Within A Diverse Group of Cottons 1

Crop Science ◽  
1982 ◽  
Vol 22 (6) ◽  
pp. 1235-1238 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. H. White ◽  
J. N. Jenkins ◽  
W. L. Parrott ◽  
J. C. McCarty ◽  
D. H. Collum ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Diverse Group

The “Islamization of America”?

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Muna Ali
Keyword(s):  
Diverse Group ◽  
Religious Leaders

In addition to the diverse Muslims who invoke the narrative of “pure/true” Islam, there is an unlikely group of non-Muslims Americans who argue that rather than fringe extremist Muslims perverting Islam, it is actually the “pure/true” Islam followers who threaten America and Europe. This alarmist group consists of some conservatives, some political and religious leaders, some new atheist icons, and a cadre of former and current Muslims, many of whom claim to be feminists. This chapter examines the different ideological trends within this diverse group and explores how its members have constructed a narrative of the “Islamization of America.” Through a case study, the chapter demonstrates how this discourse shifted from the margins to the mainstream. It explores whether the rhetoric and actions this narrative inspires is Islamophobia, anti-Muslim racism, or merely a legitimate critique of Muslims and Islam; and the chapter argues that this narrative serves as a strong instrument in the racialization process of Muslims.

scholarly journals Annelid Diversity: Historical Overview and Future Perspectives

Diversity ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 129
Author(s):  
María Capa ◽  
Pat Hutchings
Keyword(s):  
State Of The Art ◽  
Molecular Taxonomy ◽  
Evolutionary Relationships ◽  
Diverse Group ◽  
Future Perspectives ◽  
Special Issue ◽  
Species Numbers ◽  
Species Complexes ◽  
Taxonomic Groups ◽  
A New Species

Annelida is a ubiquitous, common and diverse group of organisms, found in terrestrial, fresh waters and marine environments. Despite the large efforts put into resolving the evolutionary relationships of these and other Lophotrochozoa, and the delineation of the basal nodes within the group, these are still unanswered. Annelida holds an enormous diversity of forms and biological strategies alongside a large number of species, following Arthropoda, Mollusca, Vertebrata and perhaps Platyhelminthes, among the species most rich in phyla within Metazoa. The number of currently accepted annelid species changes rapidly when taxonomic groups are revised due to synonymies and descriptions of a new species. The group is also experiencing a recent increase in species numbers as a consequence of the use of molecular taxonomy methods, which allows the delineation of the entities within species complexes. This review aims at succinctly reviewing the state-of-the-art of annelid diversity and summarizing the main systematic revisions carried out in the group. Moreover, it should be considered as the introduction to the papers that form this Special Issue on Systematics and Biodiversity of Annelids.

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