scholarly journals Comparative study of biology on ground beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae) - flight ability, feeding habits and fecundity

2019 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sonomi Shibuya
Keyword(s):  
Body Size ◽  
Flight Muscle ◽  
Feeding Habits ◽  
Ground Beetles ◽  
The Other ◽  
Basic Knowledge ◽  
Reproductive Phenology ◽  
Flight Ability ◽  
Key Species ◽  
Flight Muscles

We studied flight ability, feeding habits and fecundity in carabids. Based on these traits, we investigated characteristics of five species of Harpalus, Synuchus and Carabus as bioindicators of changing environments. Three species of Harpalus, H. griseus, H. eous and H. tridens, showed different degrees of flight ability. We examined the morphology and the length of hind wings, and also investigated by dissection the phenology of flight muscles. The ratio of hind wing to body length (HWBL) was 0.93 in H. tridens, 0.99 in H. eous and 1.02 in H. griseus. The aerial catches ratio to total catches (aerial / aerial+ pitfall traps) of H. tridens was lower (16%) than the other two (72, 76%), and the proportion of individuals with flight muscles of H. tridens (29%) was lower than the other two (71, 77%), indicating H. tridens has lowest flight ability. All three species exhibited flight muscle polymorphism. The hind wings of Synuchus cycloderus were mono-morphic macropterous with 0.75 (HWBL). However, no individuals were caught by aerial traps, and none possessed the flight muscles, indicating this species does not fly. The hind wings of Carabus procerulus were mono-morphic stick-shaped brachyptery without the flight muscle. Flight is important trait for food searching and dispersal. Gut dissection revealed that three Harpalus species depended mainly on seeds and partly on arthropods. The fact that animal fragments were found more frequently in the guts of H. tridens than the other two indicated a close relationship between flight ability and diet. Through gut dissection, we found S. cycloderus was a generalist predator. It preys not only on larvae but also adults of small arthropods including collembola. The food remains of guts of C. procerulus consisted of amorphous fluid, and cuticles were hardly detected. It suggested that the inside of prey was exclusively consumed by extra-oral digestion rather than chewing. Fecundity was assessed by gonad dissection through the number of ovarian eggs and their size. S. cycloderus had many eggs with small size, by contrast C. procerulus and three Harpalus species had few-large eggs. Many studies have shown that ground beetles responded differently to vegetation disturbances. We interpreted these results from their ecological traits. Our previous study of the vegetation disturbance effects on ground beetles demonstrated that C. procerulus declined in number was accompanied with decline in body size. Food shortage induced the reduction in both number and body size of C. procerulus. On the other hand, the number of S. cycloderus significantly increased. Although some of their prey were reduced, as generalist predators, they alternatively consumed other prey that has increased greatly in number. The trait of S. cycloderus with many eggs has also great potential for population explosion. The numbers of H. griseus and H. eous were not affected by the disturbance, while H. tridens decreased. Shortage of prey organisms caused negative effects on H. tridens compared to H. griseus and H. eous which depend more on seeds. We have been studying ground beetles in Japan, and already have some basic knowledge, such as hind wings, flight ability, feeding habits, reproductive phenology and seasonal activity for 78 key species. Ground beetles are excellent bioindicators. Our bottom up approach by the dissection of ground beetles collected periodically through the year would be essential when we have to face with extreme conditions, such as global warning.

Flight muscle and flight activity of melon fly, Bactrocera cucurbitae (Diptera: Tephritidae)

2021 ◽  
Vol 30 (2) ◽  
pp. 179-185
Author(s):  
Farhana Ferdousi ◽  
Shanjida Sultana ◽  
Tangin Akter ◽  
Pinakshi Roy ◽  
Shefali Begum
Keyword(s):  
Longitudinal Muscle ◽  
Flight Muscle ◽  
Flight Activity ◽  
The Other ◽  
Bactrocera Cucurbitae ◽  
Male And Female ◽  
Melon Fly ◽  
Length Width ◽  
Flight Muscles ◽  
The Mean

The flight activity and flight muscle of the melon fly, Bactrocera cucurbitae (Coquillett) (Diptera: Tephritidae) were observed. The Tethered technique was used to observe the flight activity in this study. The flight activity, and wing and flight muscles were compared between male and female melon flies. The results indicate that the female was relatively better and strong flier than the male. The mean duration of the flight activity of the females was 13.90 min/hour and of the males was 7.12 min./hour. The mean length, width, volume of wings of the males were 6.07 mm, 2.67 mm and 10.99 mm³, respectively. On the other hand, the mean length, width and volume of the wings of females were 7.07 mm, 2.87 mm and 15.60 mm³, respectively. In case of wing muscles, the mean volume of dorsal longitudinal muscle (DLM) in male and female was found 5.20 mm³ and 5.67 mm³, respectively. The mean length of flight wing muscle of male and female was 2.22 and 2.23 mm, respectively and the mean breadth of male and female was 1.65 and 1.77 mm, respectively. Dhaka Univ. J. Biol. Sci. 30(2): 179-185, 2021 (July)

scholarly journals Flying High—Muscle-Specific Underreplication in Drosophila

Genes ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 246 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Spencer Johnston ◽  
Mary E. Zapalac ◽  
Carl E. Hjelmen
Keyword(s):  
Flow Cytometry ◽  
Dna Synthesis ◽  
Salivary Glands ◽  
Genome Size ◽  
Flight Muscle ◽  
S Phase ◽  
The Other ◽  
Tissue Type ◽  
Flight Muscles ◽  
Longitudinal Muscles

Drosophila underreplicate the DNA of thoracic nuclei, stalling during S phase at a point that is proportional to the total genome size in each species. In polytene tissues, such as the Drosophila salivary glands, all of the nuclei initiate multiple rounds of DNA synthesis and underreplicate. Yet, only half of the nuclei isolated from the thorax stall; the other half do not initiate S phase. Our question was, why half? To address this question, we use flow cytometry to compare underreplication phenotypes between thoracic tissues. When individual thoracic tissues are dissected and the proportion of stalled DNA synthesis is scored in each tissue type, we find that underreplication occurs in the indirect flight muscle, with the majority of underreplicated nuclei in the dorsal longitudinal muscles (DLM). Half of the DNA in the DLM nuclei stall at S phase between the unreplicated G0 and fully replicated G1. The dorsal ventral flight muscle provides the other source of underreplication, and yet, there, the replication stall point is earlier (less DNA replicated), and the endocycle is initiated. The differences in underreplication and ploidy in the indirect flight muscles provide a new tool to study heterochromatin, underreplication and endocycle control.

scholarly journals Ground beetles (Coleoptera, Carabidae) of Kunashir Island’s fumarole fields, Kuril Archipelago

2019 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kirill Makarov ◽  
Yurii Sundukov ◽  
Andrey Matalin
Keyword(s):  
Body Size ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
Ground Beetles ◽  
Sulfur Compounds ◽  
The Body ◽  
The Other ◽  
Mountain Ranges ◽  
Number Of Species ◽  
Extreme Factors ◽  
Kunashir Island

Fumarole fields on the Kunashir Island are confined to the main mountain ranges formed by the Ruruy, Mendeleev and Golovnin volcanoes. Due to residual volcanism, their soil, water and air are enriched with sulfur compounds, the vegetation is strongly depressed and degraded, while the temperature of soil and subsoil air is markedly increased (Zharkov 2014). Only a few publications are specifically devoted to the fauna of fumarolic sites (Konakov 1956). Based on repeated collections in 2008 to 2018, a complex of ground beetles living in these particular conditions was revealed and studied. Among the approximately 170 species of ground beetles recorded from the Kunashir Island (Sundukov and Makarov 2016), only five appear to be permanent inhabitants of fumarole fields: Cicindela (Cicindela) sachalinensis sachalinensis A. Mor., 1862, Cylindera (Eugrapha) elisae (Motsch., 1859), Bembidion (Ocydromus) dolorosum (Motsch., 1850), Bembidion (Peryphanes) cf. sanatum Bates, 1883 and Poecilus (Poecilus) samurai (Lutsh., 1916). Two species (C. sachalinensis and B. dolorosum) are found on all volcanoes studied, while the other species are narrowly localized. For example, C. elisae occurs on the Mendeleev and Ruruy volcanoes alone, B. cf. sanatum inhabits only the Mendeleev volcano, whereas the widespread P. samurai lives solely on the fumaroles of the Ruruy volcano. The species that populate both fumarole fields and other habitats react differently to particular conditions. In C. sachalinensis and P. samurai, the proportions of melanistic specimens at the fumaroles are increased, in the latter species the body size being significantly increased as well. The most interesting is the variability of B. dolorosum. With an increase in temperature and acidity of the habitat, this species becomes increasingly small, elongated, flattened and partially unpigmented. Such individuals are phenotypically indistinguishable from Bembidion (Ocydromus) negrei Habu, 1958 (= B. kuznetsovi Lafer, 2002), with transitions from the typical B. dolorosum to a form imitating B. negrei which can be observed even in tens of meters apart. Thus, only a few species have been capable of getting adapted to fumarolic field environments, but even they change significantly under the influence of extreme factors. At the same time, we believe that thermal (including fumarole) fields could have ensured the survival of a number of species under the conditions of temperature pessima during the Pleistocene and Holocene. Such a scenario was considered by us earlier for Bembidion (? Nipponobembidion) ruruy Makarov et Sundukov, 2014 (Makarov and Sundukov 2014) and some other beetles (Shavrin and Makarov 2019). The features of morphology and distribution of B. cf. sanatum also seem to favour this hypothesis. Interestingly, C. elisae is represented on the Kunashir Island both by the relict C. elisae kunashirensis (Putz et Wiesner, 1994) that inhabits only the Mendeleev volcano (Fig. 1) and by a form that populates only the Ruruy volcano, the latter form being morphologically more similar to the nominative subspecies than to C. elisae novitia (Bates, 1883) from northern Hokkaido.

scholarly journals COVID-19: systematic learning across boundaries requires a conceptual agreement

2021 ◽  
pp. 140349482110270
Author(s):  
Knut Ole Sundnes ◽  
Geir Sverre Braut
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Knowledge Base ◽  
External Validity ◽  
Evaluation Research ◽  
The Other ◽  
Basic Knowledge ◽  
Early Publication ◽  
Number Of Publications ◽  
Short Time

The COVID-19 epidemic has revealed a shortage of basic knowledge and understanding of pandemics, especially regarding their dynamics and how to contain them. The results are a host of governments’ decrees and instructions, one replacing the other, often within the same week. It has further, in a truly short time, resulted in an overwhelming number of publications, many of them prioritising early publication over quality. This commentary addresses the concept of structured research related to disasters and how the use of endorsed guidelines will facilitate well-designed evaluation research with improved rigour and external validity, even if applied retrospectively. The outcome should be a solidified knowledge base. Further, the important role of public health efforts is to be highlighted, as their role has proved crucial during the COVID-19 pandemic.

scholarly journals Characterization of components of Z-bands in the fibrillar flight muscle of Drosophila melanogaster.

1989 ◽  
Vol 109 (5) ◽  
pp. 2157-2167 ◽  
Author(s):  
J D Saide ◽  
S Chin-Bow ◽  
J Hogan-Sheldon ◽  
L Busquets-Turner ◽  
J O Vigoreaux ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Drosophila Melanogaster ◽  
Monoclonal Antibodies ◽  
Flight Muscle ◽  
Cross Reactivity ◽  
Antigenic Determinants ◽  
Immunogold Staining ◽  
Thick Filaments ◽  
The Matrix ◽  
Flight Muscles

Twelve monoclonal antibodies have been raised against proteins in preparations of Z-disks isolated from Drosophila melanogaster flight muscle. The monoclonal antibodies that recognized Z-band components were identified by immunofluorescence microscopy of flight muscle myofibrils. These antibodies have identified three Z-disk antigens on immunoblots of myofibrillar proteins. Monoclonal antibodies alpha:1-4 recognize a 90-100-kD protein which we identify as alpha-actinin on the basis of cross-reactivity with antibodies raised against honeybee and vertebrate alpha-actinins. Monoclonal antibodies P:1-4 bind to the high molecular mass protein, projectin, a component of connecting filaments that link the ends of thick filaments to the Z-band in insect asynchronous flight muscles. The anti-projectin antibodies also stain synchronous muscle, but, surprisingly, the epitopes here are within the A-bands, not between the A- and Z-bands, as in flight muscle. Monoclonal antibodies Z(210):1-4 recognize a 210-kD protein that has not been previously shown to be a Z-band structural component. A fourth antigen, resolved as a doublet (approximately 400/600 kD) on immunoblots of Drosophila fibrillar proteins, is detected by a cross reacting antibody, Z(400):2, raised against a protein in isolated honeybee Z-disks. On Lowicryl sections of asynchronous flight muscle, indirect immunogold staining has localized alpha-actinin and the 210-kD protein throughout the matrix of the Z-band, projectin between the Z- and A-bands, and the 400/600-kD components at the I-band/Z-band junction. Drosophila alpha-actinin, projectin, and the 400/600-kD components share some antigenic determinants with corresponding honeybee proteins, but no honeybee protein interacts with any of the Z(210) antibodies.

scholarly journals Multiple actins in drosophila melanogaster

1979 ◽  
Vol 82 (1) ◽  
pp. 86-92 ◽  
Author(s):  
SJ Horovitch ◽  
RV Storti ◽  
A Rich ◽  
ML Pardue
Keyword(s):  
Body Wall ◽  
Flight Muscle ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Major Product ◽  
The Other ◽  
Stable Form ◽  
Larval Body ◽  
Drosophila Cell ◽  
Muscle Tissues ◽  
Adult Abdomen

The tissue and developmental specificities of the three Drosophila isoactins, originally identified in primary myogenic cultures and in the permanent Schneider L-2 cell line, have been investigated. Of these three isoactins (I, II, and III), actins I and II are stable and actin III is unstable. Two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoretic analyses of total cellular extracts after 1-h [(35)S]methionine pulses were performed on a large variety of embryonic, larval, and adult muscle and nonmuscle tissues. The results suggest that isoactins II and III are generalized cellular actins found in all drosophila cell types. Actin I, on the other hand, is muscle-associated and is found exclusively in supercontractile muscle (such as larval body wall and larval and adult viscera) including primary myogenic cell cultures. Although actin I synthesis is not detectable during very early embryogenesis, it is detectable by 25 h and actin I is a major stable actin in all larval muscle tissues. Actin I is synthesized in reduced amounts relative to the other actins in late third instar larvae but is again a major product of actin synthesis in the adult abdomen. A stable actin species with the same pI as actin III has been identified in the adult thorax and appears to be unique to flight muscle tissue. This new stable form of thoracic actin may be the result of a stabilization of the actin III found in other tissues or may be an entirely separate gene product.

scholarly journals Diet composition and feeding habits of the eyespot skate, Atlantoraja cyclophora (Elasmobranchii: Arhynchobatidae), off Uruguay and northern Argentina

2016 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Santiago A. Barbini ◽  
Luis O. Lucifora
Keyword(s):  
Body Size ◽  
Diet Composition ◽  
Prey Size ◽  
Prey Availability ◽  
Feeding Habits ◽  
Warm Season ◽  
Cold Season ◽  
The North ◽  
Multiple Hypothesis ◽  
Modelling Approach

ABSTRACT The eyespot skate, Atlantoraja cyclophora, is an endemic species from the southwestern Atlantic, occurring from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to northern Patagonia, Argentina. The feeding habits of this species, from off Uruguay and north Argentina, were evaluated using a multiple hypothesis modelling approach. In general, the diet was composed mainly of decapod crustaceans, followed by teleost fishes. Molluscs, mysidaceans, amphipods, isopods, lancelets and elasmobranchs were consumed in lower proportion. The consumption of shrimps drecreased with increasing body size of A. cyclophora. On the other hand, the consumption of teleosts increased with body size. Mature individuals preyed more heavily on crabs than immature individuals. Teleosts were consumed more in the south region (34º - 38ºS) and crabs in the north region (38º - 41ºS). Shrimps were eaten more in the warm season than in the cold season. Prey size increased with increasing body size of A. cyclophora , but large individuals also consumed small teleosts and crabs. Atlantoraja cyclophora has demersal-benthic feeding habits, shifts its diet with increasing body size and in response to seasonal and regional changes in prey availability and distribution.

Effect of behavioral variables on cooling rate of man in cold water

1975 ◽  
Vol 38 (6) ◽  
pp. 1073-1077 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. S. Hayward ◽  
J. D. Eckerson ◽  
M. L. Collis
Keyword(s):  
Body Size ◽  
Cooling Rate ◽  
Rectal Temperature ◽  
Body Surface ◽  
Cold Water ◽  
The Other ◽  
Ocean Water ◽  
Protective Behaviors ◽  
Control Behavior ◽  
Behavioral Variables

Five different behaviors of man while in cold ocean water (9–10 degrees C) were assessed for their effect on rate of progress into hypothermia. With subjects wearing lifejackets, two thermally protective behaviors were studied which reduce exposure to the water of areas of body surface with high relative heat loss potential. One was huddling of three persons and the other a self-huddle behavior (HELP or Heat Escape Lessening Posture). These two behaviors resulted in significant reductions of rectal temperature cooling rate of 66 per cent and 69 per cent, respectively, of that of a control behavior. With no flotation available, two survival swimming behaviors (treading water and drownproofing) were shown to result in significant increases in cooling rate to 134 per cent and 182 per cent, respectively, of the control behavior. Potential swimming distance of subjects wearing a life-jacket was 0.85 miles in water near 12 degrees C before predicted incapacitation by hypothermia. It was concluded that behavioral variables can be of major importance in determining survival time in cold water through modulation of cooling rate associated with other variables such as fatness, body size, and clothing.

scholarly journals The Hippo pathway controls myofibril assembly and muscle fiber growth by regulating sarcomeric gene expression

eLife ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aynur Kaya-Çopur ◽  
Fabio Marchiano ◽  
Marco Y Hein ◽  
Daniel Alpern ◽  
Julie Russeil ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Muscle Fiber ◽  
Flight Muscle ◽  
Hippo Pathway ◽  
Muscle Fibers ◽  
Muscle Growth ◽  
Fiber Growth ◽  
Flight Muscles ◽  
Sarcomeric Gene ◽  
The Hippo Pathway

Skeletal muscles are composed of gigantic cells called muscle fibers, packed with force-producing myofibrils. During development the size of individual muscle fibers must dramatically enlarge to match with skeletal growth. How muscle growth is coordinated with growth of the contractile apparatus is not understood. Here, we use the large Drosophila flight muscles to mechanistically decipher how muscle fiber growth is controlled. We find that regulated activity of core members of the Hippo pathway is required to support flight muscle growth. Interestingly, we identify Dlg5 and Slmap as regulators of the STRIPAK phosphatase, which negatively regulates Hippo to enable post-mitotic muscle growth. Mechanistically, we show that the Hippo pathway controls timing and levels of sarcomeric gene expression during development and thus regulates the key components that physically mediate muscle growth. Since Dlg5, STRIPAK and the Hippo pathway are conserved a similar mechanism may contribute to muscle or cardiomyocyte growth in humans.

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