scholarly journals Temporal Variation in Toxic Bait, Carbohydrate and Protein Preference and Toxic Bait Efficacy in Argentine (Linepithema Humile) and Darwin’s Ants (Doleromyrma Darwiniana)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Melissa Rubina Mathieson
Keyword(s):  
Mortality Rate ◽  
Temporal Variation ◽  
Food Preferences ◽  
Linepithema Humile ◽  
Time Frame ◽  
Food Type ◽  
Late Winter ◽  
Argentine Ants ◽  
Ant Colonies ◽  
Laboratory Colonies

<p>By determining if there is any temporal variation in toxic bait, carbohydrate and protein preference in Argentine and Darwin’s ants, we can provide better control options because we can identify with more accuracy when ants will be foraging for one food type over another. Improving our understanding is also fundamental as we can improve future bait formulations, bait application and timing, and increase levels of bait uptake. I have two aims in this thesis. First, I investigated toxic bait, carbohydrate and protein preferences for Argentine ants (Linepithema humile) and Darwin's ant (Doleromyrma darwiniana). The second aim in my thesis was to examine the efficacy of toxic baits in laboratory colonies of Argentine ants. Food preferences varied between species and within species considerably throughout the year, although Darwin's ant consistently favoured foods higher in carbohydrates. Argentine ants showed a significant preference for protein over carbohydrates during December and January. Despite differences in carbohydrate and protein preferences the preference for individual toxic baits showed little temporal variation. The toxic bait efficacy experiment revealed that Xstinguish™ and Exterm-an-Ant® baits produced the highest mortality rate. Other commercially available toxic baits had little effect on workers or queens. The efficacy of the toxic baits was influenced by the starvation level of the ant colonies, and only the colonies that were starved for 48 hours experienced a 100% mortality rate. Due to these results, I recommend that bait application with Xstinguish™ and Exterm-an-Ant® in late winter-spring would be optimal as this time frame is when ants are likely to be starved, and when foraging activity is increasing, thus maximising the chances of bait uptake. A second round of baiting treatment with both baits (Xstinguish™ and Exterm-an-Ant®) in summer when Argentine ants have been shown to undergo a second wave of reproduction could also be beneficial.</p>

scholarly journals Temporal Variation in Toxic Bait, Carbohydrate and Protein Preference and Toxic Bait Efficacy in Argentine (Linepithema Humile) and Darwin’s Ants (Doleromyrma Darwiniana)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Melissa Rubina Mathieson
Keyword(s):  
Mortality Rate ◽  
Temporal Variation ◽  
Food Preferences ◽  
Linepithema Humile ◽  
Time Frame ◽  
Food Type ◽  
Late Winter ◽  
Argentine Ants ◽  
Ant Colonies ◽  
Laboratory Colonies

<p>By determining if there is any temporal variation in toxic bait, carbohydrate and protein preference in Argentine and Darwin’s ants, we can provide better control options because we can identify with more accuracy when ants will be foraging for one food type over another. Improving our understanding is also fundamental as we can improve future bait formulations, bait application and timing, and increase levels of bait uptake. I have two aims in this thesis. First, I investigated toxic bait, carbohydrate and protein preferences for Argentine ants (Linepithema humile) and Darwin's ant (Doleromyrma darwiniana). The second aim in my thesis was to examine the efficacy of toxic baits in laboratory colonies of Argentine ants. Food preferences varied between species and within species considerably throughout the year, although Darwin's ant consistently favoured foods higher in carbohydrates. Argentine ants showed a significant preference for protein over carbohydrates during December and January. Despite differences in carbohydrate and protein preferences the preference for individual toxic baits showed little temporal variation. The toxic bait efficacy experiment revealed that Xstinguish™ and Exterm-an-Ant® baits produced the highest mortality rate. Other commercially available toxic baits had little effect on workers or queens. The efficacy of the toxic baits was influenced by the starvation level of the ant colonies, and only the colonies that were starved for 48 hours experienced a 100% mortality rate. Due to these results, I recommend that bait application with Xstinguish™ and Exterm-an-Ant® in late winter-spring would be optimal as this time frame is when ants are likely to be starved, and when foraging activity is increasing, thus maximising the chances of bait uptake. A second round of baiting treatment with both baits (Xstinguish™ and Exterm-an-Ant®) in summer when Argentine ants have been shown to undergo a second wave of reproduction could also be beneficial.</p>

scholarly journals An ordination technique for fish diet comparisons

2000 ◽  
Vol 43 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tadeusz Penczak ◽  
Angelo A. Agostinho ◽  
Norma S. Hahn
Keyword(s):  
Solar Energy ◽  
Temporal Variation ◽  
Fish Species ◽  
Feeding Ecology ◽  
Food Preferences ◽  
Food Type ◽  
Spatial And Temporal Variation ◽  
Fish Diet ◽  
Taxonomic Affinity ◽  
Herbivorous Species

The frequency of nine food types in the guts of 58 fish species from the Paraná River and its floodplain was compared using similarity definition. A synthetic table ordered on the basis of this definition, with fish species on axis y, and food types on axis x, enabled easy reading numerous kinds of information on feeding ecology of fish in the catchment. For example: 1) which fish species were generalists, specialists or opportunists, 2) those classified as herbivorous species consumed small amounts of animal food, 3) that fish consumed any food type that contained transformed solar energy and matter, 4) what are food preferences dependent on fish taxonomic affinity. The possibility of employing synthetic tables for investigating spatial and temporal variation in fish diet has also been indicated.

scholarly journals Urban Infestation Patterns of Argentine Ants,Linepithema humile, in Los Angeles

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Smadar Gilboa ◽  
John H. Klotz ◽  
Peter Nonacs
Keyword(s):  
Los Angeles ◽  
Negative Relationship ◽  
Linepithema Humile ◽  
Water Source ◽  
Maximum Temperature ◽  
Argentine Ants ◽  
Ant Colonies ◽  
Foraging Area ◽  
Significant Negative Relationship ◽  
The University

Infestations of buildings by Argentine ants,Linepithema humile(Mayr), were monitored on the campus of the University of California, Los Angeles. Foraging ant activity peaked during the hotter months of the year. The mean monthly maximum temperature, but not rainfall, positively correlated with indoor infestation frequency. Neither garden size nor the predominant groundcover vegetation correlated with the number of foraging ants at baits within gardens. Although the number of foraging ants outside a building varied over 40-fold, ant density in gardens did not predict the likelihood of infestation within the building. Also, the type of vegetative groundcover employed did not predict infestation frequency. There was, however, a significant negative relationship between the size of the garden outside of a building and the number of infestations. Given the large foraging area ofL. humileworkers, buildings next to small gardens may be infested simply because they lie within the “normal” foraging area of a colony. The best predictor of which rooms were infested within buildings was the presence of a water source. Thus providing water for ant colonies outside and away from buildings may be one method of integrated pest management to reduce the proclivity of ants to infest structures.

scholarly journals Influence of the Number of Queens on Nest Establishment: Native and Invasive Ant Species

Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 591
Author(s):  
Irene Castañeda ◽  
Elsa Bonnaud ◽  
Franck Courchamp ◽  
Gloria Luque
Keyword(s):  
Species Differences ◽  
Argentine Ants ◽  
Invasive Ant ◽  
Internal Factors ◽  
Ant Colonies ◽  
Worker Behavior ◽  
Key Factor ◽  
Nest Maintenance ◽  
Set Up ◽  
Tapinoma Nigerrimum

As a critical stage in the life cycle of ant colonies, nest establishment depends on external and internal factors. This study investigates the effect of the number of queens on queen and worker behavior during nest establishment in invasive Argentine ants (Linepitema humile) and native Mediterranean Tapinoma nigerrimum. We set up experimental colonies with the same number of workers but with one or six queens. At different time points, we recorded the positions of queens and workers inside and outside the nest. Our results highlight the influence of the number of queens on the position of queens and workers with between-species differences. Queens of both species entered the nests more quickly when there were six queens. During nest establishment, more workers were inside nests with six queens for both species, with this effect being greater for T. nigerrimum. Once nests were established, fewer workers of both species were engaged in nest maintenance and feeding in nests with six queens; T. nigerrimum had fewer workers engaged in patrolling. These results suggest that the number of queens is a key factor driving queen and worker behavior during and after nest establishment with different species responses.

scholarly journals Drug Overdose Trends among Black Indiana Residents: 2013-2017

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Raven Helmick
Keyword(s):  
Mortality Rate ◽  
Drug Overdose ◽  
Rate Increase ◽  
Mortality Rates ◽  
Time Frame ◽  
Minority Population ◽  
Racial Inequalities ◽  
Specific Mortality ◽  
Overdose Mortality ◽  
Overdose Deaths

ObjectiveTo understand trends in race-specific mortality rates between blacks and whites to discover any racial inequalities that might exist for drug overdose deaths. To delve into the types of drugs that are prominently involved in black drug overdose deaths from 2013-2017 in the state of Indiana.IntroductionBlack Hoosiers, the largest minority population in Indiana, make up almost 10% of the state’s population, and accounted for 8% of the total resident drug overdose deaths from 2013-2017 compared to whites at 91%. However, a closer look at race-specific mortality rates might reveal racial inequalities. Therefore, the purpose of this project was to analyze drug overdose morality rates among white and black Hoosiers to discover possible racial inequalities and to discover trends in drug involvement in overdose deaths among blacks.MethodsDrug overdose deaths that occurred in Indiana between 2013 and 2017 were identified using the underlying and contributing cause of death ICD-10 codes and abstracted from the Indiana State Department of Health’s annual finalized mortality dataset. Race-specific drug overdose death rates were calculated and compared among racial groups. Drug overdose deaths in blacks were examined for trends over time and by the types of drugs involved.ResultsBetween 2013 and 2017, drug overdose mortality rates for whites increased from 17.05 to 27.28 per 100,000. Blacks saw a higher rate increase during this same time frame: from 10.74 to 30.62 per 100,000, surpassing the mortality rate of whites by the end of 2017. Drug overdose deaths in blacks increased 197% from 2013-2017 and drug specific mortality rate increases were seen across all drug category’s. Opioids, which were involved in 61% of the 2017 drug overdose deaths among blacks, had a rate increase from 3.05 to 18.62 per 100,000 between 2013 and 2017. Drug specific overdose mortality rate increases were also seen for overdoses involving cocaine (1.76 to 10.62 per 100,000), benzodiazepines (0.32 to 3.08 per 100,000), and psychostimulants other than cocaine (0.16 to 1.69 per 100,000) such as amphetamines.ConclusionsWhile white Hoosiers had higher drug overdose mortality rates between 2013 and 2016, black Hoosiers had a greater mortality rate increase and surpassed the mortality rate in whites in 2017. Opioids, the most frequently involved substance in overdose deaths among blacks from 2013-2017, showed increasing rates during this time period. However, increases in drug specific overdose mortality rates for cocaine, benzodiazepines, and psychostimulants other than cocaine also call for public health attention. These results promote the inclusion of minority health experts in drug overdose prevention efforts and issue a call for future prevention efforts to be targeted toward the state’s largest minority population. 

Do cows regulate diet choice within the short-term time frame of a meal?

2003 ◽  
Vol 2003 ◽  
pp. 6-6
Author(s):  
M. P. Yeates ◽  
B. J. Tolkamp ◽  
I. Kyriazakis
Keyword(s):  
Feeding Behaviour ◽  
Time Frame ◽  
Food Type ◽  
Direct Result ◽  
Diet Choice ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Biological Unit

When cows are offered a choice of foods they are able to select a consistent combination of these foods over long periods of time. Consistent long-term diet choice (DC) is the result of feeding behaviour, which may be regulated in the short-term. The shortest unit of feeding that can be measured is often a visit to a feeder supplying one food type only. These visits are usually clustered into meals, which are the shortest biological unit in which DC can be expressed. Previous work led us to hypothesise that animals may select a consistent diet within meals, thus ensuring nutrient synchronisation in the short-term. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate whether long-term average DC was a direct result of cows selecting a consistent diet within meals.

Pediatric Trauma Deaths: A Three-Part Analysis from a Nonacademic Trauma Center

2006 ◽  
Vol 72 (3) ◽  
pp. 249-259
Author(s):  
Mary O. Aaland ◽  
Thein Hlaing
Keyword(s):  
Mortality Rate ◽  
Trauma Center ◽  
Pediatric Trauma ◽  
Trauma System ◽  
Time Frame ◽  
Level Ii ◽  
Liver Injuries ◽  
Depth Analysis ◽  
Trauma Mortality ◽  
Trauma Deaths

A three-part analysis was undertaken to assess pediatric trauma mortality in a nonacademic Level II trauma center at Parkview Hospital in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Part I was a comparison of Parkview trauma registry data collected from 1999 through 2003 with those of pediatric and adult trauma centers in Pennsylvania. The same methodology used in Pennsylvania was used for the initial evaluation of pediatric deaths from trauma in our trauma center. Part II was a formal in-depth analysis of all individual pediatric deaths as well as surgical cases with head, spleen, and liver injuries from the same time frame. Part III proposes a new methodology to calculate a risk-adjusted mortality rate based on the TRISS model for the evaluation of a trauma system. The use of specific mortality and surgical intervention rates was not an accurate reflection of trauma center outcome. The proposed risk-adjusted mortality rate calculation is perhaps an effective outcome measure to assess patient care in a trauma system.

The Effect of Hunger On the Learning of New Food Preferences in the Mongolian Gerbil

Behaviour ◽  
1995 ◽  
Vol 132 (7-8) ◽  
pp. 627-639 ◽  
Author(s):  
Björn Forkman
Keyword(s):  
Food Preferences ◽  
Meriones Unguiculatus ◽  
Food Shortage ◽  
Food Type ◽  
Absolute Amount ◽  
Mongolian Gerbils ◽  
Additional Experiment ◽  
Total Intake ◽  
Rate Of Learning ◽  
Natural Situation

AbstractA new and more profitable food type was introduced to three groups of Mongolian gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus). When first presented with the new food one group was sated, another was hungry and the third group was hungry and expected a food shortage. In addition to the new food all groups had access to familiar food during the experimental sessions. The group that expected a food shortage had a lower intake of new food than either of the other groups, both in absolute and relative numbers. Both the sated and the hungry group ate the same absolute amount of new food during the first presentation, but since the sated animals had a lower total intake, the new food represented a higher proportion of the intake for these animals. The animals were then tested during the subsequent days (all groups now hungry). Thc group that had been sated showed a stronger preference for the new and profitable food than the hungry group, which in turn showed a stronger preference than the expected food shortage group. This means that in a semi-natural situation a strong need may actually decrease the rate of learning. The results can be explained in terms of risk prone/risk aversive behaviour along the lines of previous studies of risk sensitivity in optimal foraging. In an additional experiment it was shown that sated individuals will decrease their total intake of food when presented with both new and familiar food, in comparison with when only familiar food is present. This may have the effect of enhancing learning about the new food.

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