Edible Insects and the Genus Homo

Author(s):  
Julie J. Lesnik

In this second paleoanthropology chapter, the focus shifts to later human evolution with members of the genus Homo. Over the evolution of our genus, morphology and behaviors emerge that are more similar to our own. In reconstructing the insect portion of the diet for these hominins, present-day foragers provide a better-fit model than nonhuman primates. The genus Homo was the first to colonize outside of Africa, and as humans began to occupy the far reaches of the world, environmental conditions were less suitable for insect eating in some regions over others. Outside of the tropics, the predictability and reliability of insects as a food source is greatly reduced, so the absence of insect eating in these regions today may have a deep history.

Author(s):  
Debora Pagliuso ◽  
Adriana Grandis ◽  
Janaina Silva Fortirer ◽  
Plinio Camargo ◽  
Eny Ioshevet Floh ◽  
...  

Duckweeds are the smallest flowering plants on Earth. They grow fast on water's surface and produce large amounts of biomass. Further, duckweeds display high adaptability, and species are found around the globe growing under different environmental conditions. In this work, we report the composition of 21 ecotypes of fourteen species of duckweeds belonging to the two sub-families of the group (Lemnoideae and Wolffioideae). It is reported the presence of starch and the composition of soluble sugars, cell walls, amino acids, phenolics, and tannins. These data were combined with literature data recovered from 85 publications to produce a compiled analysis that affords the examination of duckweeds as possible food sources for human consumption. We compare duckweeds compositions with some of the most common food sources and conclude that duckweed, which is already in use as food in Asia, can be an interesting food source anywhere in the world.


1932 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 281-293 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Edwards

A Fresh milk supply is as essential in the tropics as it is in the more temperate regions of the world. The most fundamental of the many problems connected with tropical dairying is that concerned with the establishment of breeds of dairy cattle which will live and thrive in their environment, and produce milk; the intensity of the problem varies with the degree of severity of the climatic and environmental conditions. The manner in which this problem has been dealt with at the Government Stock Farms at Kingston, Jamaica, together with the results, is discussed in the following study. The data were collected by Mr J. Hammond from the records of the herds at these farms. To Mr H. H. Cousins, the Director of Agriculture, who has not only built up the herd to its present state of excellence but has kept also a complete record of the pedigrees and performances of all the animals, and to Dr S. Lockett, Veterinary Officer for the Department, our thanks are due for having put these records at our disposal and for communicating to us the results of their experience.


Forests ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 820 ◽  
Author(s):  
Liz Ota ◽  
Robin L. Chazdon ◽  
John Herbohn ◽  
Nestor Gregorio ◽  
Sharif A. Mukul ◽  
...  

Forest and landscape restoration (FLR) is being carried out across the world to meet ambitious global goals. However, the scale of these efforts combined with the timeframe in which they are supposed to take place may compromise the quality of restoration, and thus limit the persistence of restoration on the landscape. This paper presents a synthesis of ten case studies identified as FLR to critically analyse implemented initiatives, their outcomes, and main challenges, with an eye to improving future efforts. The identified FLR projects are diverse in terms of their spatial coverage, objectives; types of interventions; and initial socioeconomic, institutional, and environmental conditions. The six principles of FLR—which have been widely adopted in theory by large global organisations—are inadequately addressed across the initiatives presented here. The identified FLR project or interventions, although expected to offer diverse benefits, face many challenges including the lack of long-term sustainability of project interventions, limited uptake by regional and national agencies, limited monitoring, reporting and learning, poor governance structures, and technical barriers, which are mainly owing to institutional weaknesses. On the basis of these cases, we propose that the best pathway to achieving FLR is via an incremental process in which a smaller number of more achievable objectives are set and implemented over time, rather than setting highly ambitious targets that implementers struggle to achieve.


Author(s):  
Isao Okayasu ◽  
Chi-Ok Oh ◽  
Duarte B Morais

Running is one of the most popular activities in the world. Runners’ attitudes and behaviors vary depending on their running style. This study aims to construct different measures of running specialization based on the theory of specialization. This study also tests a runner’s stage of specialization segmentation based on recreation specialization and examines the predictive relationship between a runner’s specialization and event attachment. Three groups of sampling data assess the performance of diverse specialization measures for running in three marathon events. First, two surveys were conducted with marathon participants to assess the performance of diverse specialization measures for runners. Second, the third dataset was used to examine the relationship between a runner’s recreation specialization and event attachment.The study results showed that the 15 measures of specialization showed a good fit to the data. Our research showed how runners’ recreation specialization is connected to their event attachment. In addition, this study suggested event management for subdivisions of runners. Its practical implication is that recreation specialization for running can help us understand event attachment.


Insects ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 472
Author(s):  
Fabio Verneau ◽  
Mario Amato ◽  
Francesco La La Barbera

Starting in 2008 and lasting up until 2011, the crisis in agricultural and, in particular, cereal prices triggered a period of riots that spread from the Mediterranean basin to the rest of the world, reaching from Asia to Central America and the African continent. [...]


2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 24-36
Author(s):  
Raquel P. F. Guiné ◽  
Paula Correia ◽  
Catarina Coelho ◽  
Cristina A. Costa

Abstract This review is focused on the utilization of insects as a new opportunity in food and feed products, including their commercialization both in traditional and new markets. It has been suggested that insects are considerably more sustainable when compared with other sources of animal protein, thus alleviating the pressure over the environment and the planet facing the necessity to feed the world population, constantly increasing. Many chefs have adhered to the trend of using insects in their culinary preparations, bringing insects to the plan of top gastronomy, highlighting their organoleptic qualities allied to a recognized high nutritional value. However, in some markets, insects or insect-based products are not readily accepted because of neophobia and disgust. Moreover, the insect markets, farming, and commercialization are experiencing a huge growth, in which the domain of animal feed is undoubtedly a very strong component. The future of insects as human food and animal feed seems promising in view of the recent trends and challenges.


Foods ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 766
Author(s):  
Magdalena Skotnicka ◽  
Kaja Karwowska ◽  
Filip Kłobukowski ◽  
Aleksandra Borkowska ◽  
Magdalena Pieszko

All over the world, a large proportion of the population consume insects as part of their diet. In Western countries, however, the consumption of insects is perceived as a negative phenomenon. The consumption of insects worldwide can be considered in two ways: on the one hand, as a source of protein in countries affected by hunger, while, on the other, as an alternative protein in highly-developed regions, in response to the need for implementing policies of sustainable development. This review focused on both the regulations concerning the production and marketing of insects in Europe and the characteristics of edible insects that are most likely to establish a presence on the European market. The paper indicates numerous advantages of the consumption of insects, not only as a valuable source of protein but also as a raw material rich in valuable fatty acids, vitamins, and mineral salts. Attention was paid to the functional properties of proteins derived from insects, and to the possibility for using them in the production of functional food. The study also addresses the hazards which undoubtedly contribute to the mistrust and lowered acceptance of European consumers and points to the potential gaps in the knowledge concerning the breeding conditions, raw material processing and health safety. This set of analyzed data allows us to look optimistically at the possibilities for the development of edible insect-based foods, particularly in Europe.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  

Abstract There is little published information on this plant pathogenic fungus, which is limited to parts of North, Central and South America. It infects Rubus spp., which exist in other regions of the world with similar environmental conditions, therefore this species may pose a threat to native or agricultural plants if introduced.


2012 ◽  
Vol 9 (8) ◽  
pp. 3113-3130 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Lombardozzi ◽  
S. Levis ◽  
G. Bonan ◽  
J. P. Sparks

Abstract. Plants exchange greenhouse gases carbon dioxide and water with the atmosphere through the processes of photosynthesis and transpiration, making them essential in climate regulation. Carbon dioxide and water exchange are typically coupled through the control of stomatal conductance, and the parameterization in many models often predict conductance based on photosynthesis values. Some environmental conditions, like exposure to high ozone (O3) concentrations, alter photosynthesis independent of stomatal conductance, so models that couple these processes cannot accurately predict both. The goals of this study were to test direct and indirect photosynthesis and stomatal conductance modifications based on O3 damage to tulip poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera) in a coupled Farquhar/Ball-Berry model. The same modifications were then tested in the Community Land Model (CLM) to determine the impacts on gross primary productivity (GPP) and transpiration at a constant O3 concentration of 100 parts per billion (ppb). Modifying the Vcmax parameter and directly modifying stomatal conductance best predicts photosynthesis and stomatal conductance responses to chronic O3 over a range of environmental conditions. On a global scale, directly modifying conductance reduces the effect of O3 on both transpiration and GPP compared to indirectly modifying conductance, particularly in the tropics. The results of this study suggest that independently modifying stomatal conductance can improve the ability of models to predict hydrologic cycling, and therefore improve future climate predictions.


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