scholarly journals Anti-predator defences of a bombardier beetle: is bombing essential for successful escape from frogs?

PeerJ ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
pp. e5942 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shinji Sugiura
Keyword(s):  
Physical Characteristics ◽  
Generalist Predator ◽  
Potential Prey ◽  
Chemical Defences ◽  
Laboratory Conditions ◽  
Predatory Attack ◽  
The Dead ◽  
Noxious Chemicals ◽  
Almost All ◽  
Pelophylax Nigromaculatus

Some animals, such as the bombardier beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Brachinini), have evolved chemical defences against predators. When attacked, bombardier beetles can discharge noxious chemicals at temperatures of approximately 100 °C from the tip of their abdomens, “bombing” their attackers. Although many studies to date have investigated how bombardier beetles discharge defensive chemicals against predators, relatively little research has examined how predators modify their attacks on bombardier beetles to avoid being bombed. In this study, I observed the black-spotted pond frog Pelophylax nigromaculatus (Anura: Ranidae) attacking the bombardier beetle Pheropsophus jessoensis under laboratory conditions. In Japan, Pe. nigromaculatus is a generalist predator in grasslands where the bombardier beetle frequently occurs. Almost all the frogs (92.9%) observed rejected live bombardier beetles; 67.9% stopped their attacks once their tongues touched the beetles, and 25.0% spat out the beetles immediately after taking the beetles into their mouths. No beetle bombed a frog before being taken into a frog’s mouth. All beetles taken into mouths bombed the frogs. Only 7.1% of the frogs swallowed live bombardier beetles after being bombed in the mouth. When dead beetles were provided instead, 85.7% of the frogs rejected the dead beetles, 71.4% stopped their attacks after their tongues touched the beetles, and 14.3% spat out the beetles. Only 14.3% of the frogs swallowed the dead beetles. The results suggest that the frogs tended to stop their predatory attack before receiving a bombing response from the beetles. Therefore, bombing was not essential for the beetles to successfully defend against the frogs. Using its tongue, Pe. nigromaculatus may be able to rapidly detect a deterrent chemical or physical characteristics of its potential prey Ph. jessoensis and thus avoid injury by stopping its predatory attack before the beetle bombs it.

Culture in Early Aboriginal Australia

1996 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-36 ◽  
Author(s):  
Josephine Flood
Keyword(s):  
Special Focus ◽  
Self Awareness ◽  
Archaeological Evidence ◽  
Aboriginal Australia ◽  
Cognitive Archaeology ◽  
Australian Continent ◽  
The Dead ◽  
High Level ◽  
Almost All ◽  
Rock Shelters

On the basis of recent archaeological evidence it seems that humans first entered the Australian continent about 60,000 years ago. These first ocean-going mariners had a high level of technological and economic skill, and had spread right across Australia into a wide variety of environments by about 35,000 years ago. Pigment showing clear signs of use occurs in almost all Australia's oldest known occupation sites, and evidence of self-awareness such as necklaces and beads has been found in several Pleistocene rock shelters. Rituals were carried out in connection with disposal of the dead, for at Lake Mungo there is a 25,000-year-old cremation, and ochre was scattered onto the corpse in a 30,000-year-old inhumation. Complex symbolic behaviour is attested at least 40,000 years ago by petroglyphs in the Olary district, and other evidence suggests a similar antiquity for rock paintings. The special focus of this article is cognitive archaeology, the study of past ways of thought as derived from material remains, particularly the development of early Australian artistic systems.

Assessment of prey-mediated effects of the coleopteran-specific toxin Cry3Bb1 on the generalist predator Atheta coriaria (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae)

2011 ◽  
Vol 102 (3) ◽  
pp. 293-302 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. García ◽  
F. Ortego ◽  
P. Castañera ◽  
G.P. Farinós
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control Agent ◽  
Control Agent ◽  
Generalist Predator ◽  
Trophic Chain ◽  
Reproductive Parameters ◽  
Potential Prey ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Bt Maize ◽  
Mediated Effects ◽  
Atheta Coriaria

AbstractA laboratory study was carried out to assess the potential prey-mediated effects of Cry3Bb1-expressing Bt maize on the fitness and predatory ability of Atheta coriaria Kraatz (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae), using Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae) as prey. The concentration of Cry3Bb1 toxin through the trophic chain significantly decreased from Bt maize (21.7 μg g−1 FW) to mites (5.6 μg g−1 FW) and then to A. coriaria adults (1.4 μg g−1 FW), but not from mites to A. coriaria L1–L3 larvae (4.1–4.6 μg g−1 FW). Interestingly, the toxin levels detected in A. coriaria larvae represent more than 20% of the concentration found in Bt maize, and the toxin was detected up to 48 h after exposure. To our knowledge, this is the highest level of exposure ever reported in a predatory beetle to the Cry3Bb1 protein. When A. coriaria larvae were reared on Bt-fed mites, Bt-free mites or rearing food, no significant differences among treatments were observed in development, morphological measurements of sclerotized structures and body weight. Moreover, no negative effects on reproductive parameters were reported in adults feeding on Bt-fed prey after 30 days of treatment, and survival was not affected after 60 days of exposure. Similarly, predatory ability and prey consumption of A. coriaria larvae and adults were not affected by exposure to the toxin. All together, these results indicate a lack of adverse effects on A. coriaria, a species commonly used as a biological control agent. The use of A. coriaria as a surrogate species for risk assessment of GM crops that express insecticidal proteins is discussed.

scholarly journals Predation by invasive Platydemus manokwari flatworms: a laboratory study

2019 ◽  
Vol 54 (1) ◽  
pp. 47-60 ◽  
Author(s):  
Justin Gerlach
Keyword(s):  
Laboratory Study ◽  
Climatic Factors ◽  
Generalist Predator ◽  
Predatory Behaviour ◽  
Chemical Defences ◽  
The Pacific ◽  
The Pacific Ocean ◽  
The Tropics ◽  
Air Circulation ◽  
Predation Rates

Abstract Platydemus manokwari de Beauchamp, 1963 is an invasive flatworm found on islands in the tropics, especially in the Pacific Ocean. It has been implicated in the decline of several snail populations, including the extinction of some Partula species. Its predatory behaviour was investigated to quantify predation rates and elucidate climatic influences. This laboratory study of the invasive flatworm confirms earlier reports that P. manokwari is a generalist predator of snails. It prefers small prey and avoids species defended by copious mucus, chemical defences or a tough integument. Prey are found by following damp mucus trails up to 15 h old. Flatworm activity is limited by temperature and humidity, with peak feeding at 24–30°C and 85–95% humidity. This determines the geographical spread of the species and probably also the effectiveness of arboreal predation. Aboveground air circulation leads to drying, reducing the ability of the flatworms to locate trails and remain active high off the ground. Local climatic factors may dictate how significantly P. manokwari affects snail populations.

scholarly journals The DEAD box RNA helicase Ddx39a is essential for myocyte and lens development in zebrafish

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Linlin Zhang ◽  
Beibei Li ◽  
Yuxi Yang ◽  
Ian C. Scott ◽  
Xin Lou
Keyword(s):  
Heart Development ◽  
Rna Helicase ◽  
Lens Fiber ◽  
Rna Helicases ◽  
Gene Encoding ◽  
Animal Development ◽  
Fiber Cells ◽  
Dead Box ◽  
The Dead ◽  
Almost All

AbstractRNA helicases from the DEAD-box family are found in almost all organisms and have important roles in RNA metabolism including RNA synthesis, processing and degradation. The function and mechanism of action of most of these helicases in animal development and human disease are largely unexplored. In a zebrafish mutagenesis screen to identify genes essential for heart development we identified a zebrafish mutant, which disrupts the gene encoding the RNA helicase DEAD-box 39a (ddx39a).Homozygous ddx39a mutant embryos exhibit profound cardiac and trunk muscle dystrophy, along with lens abnormalities caused by abrupt terminal differentiation of cardiomyocyte, myoblast and lens fiber cells. Further investigation indicated that loss of ddx39a hindered mRNA splicing of members of the kmt2 gene family, leading to mis-regulation of structural gene expression in cardiomyocyte, myoblast and lens fiber cells. Taken together, these results show that Ddx39a plays an essential role in establishment of proper epigenetic status during cell differentiation.

12. The greatest manuscript discovery

2017 ◽  
pp. 123-126
Author(s):  
Timothy H. Lim
Keyword(s):  
Old Testament ◽  
Public Perception ◽  
Dead Sea Scrolls ◽  
Dead Sea ◽  
Biblical Studies ◽  
Second Temple Period ◽  
Early Christian ◽  
Canonical Process ◽  
The Dead ◽  
Almost All

Are the Dead Sea Scrolls the greatest manuscript discovery of the 20th century? The public perception of this question differs greatly from the scholarly view. ‘The greatest manuscript discovery’ concludes that, for Jewish studies of the Second Temple period and biblical studies, they are. The Dead Sea Scrolls provide the earliest Hebrew and Aramaic manuscripts of almost all the biblical books—illuminating the canonical process; dual pattern of scripture and tradition; and graded authority of compositions: biblical, non-biblical, and sectarian. The scrolls are the oldest examples of Old Testament texts, but they also act as a foil bringing out new insights into the early Christian church and New Testament.

scholarly journals JEWISH WOMEN IN OCCUPATION AND EVACUATION: DIFFERENT SURVIVAL STRATEGIES (FOR EXAMPLE, REPRESENTATIVES OF THE RABINOVICH FAMILY)

2018 ◽  
pp. 251-263
Author(s):  
Олена Анатоліївна Геча
Keyword(s):  
Medical Staff ◽  
Jewish Population ◽  
Survival Strategies ◽  
Jewish Women ◽  
The Holocaust ◽  
The Family ◽  
The Dead ◽  
Almost All ◽  
Moral Blame

Women's history as a relatively new trend in historical studies is being replenished by new researchers and interesting works every year. Women's fate in a war is a separate topic, which has a large number of aspects that require detailed study, new reading and rethinking. Women were forced to go through a trial of occupation and evacuation. One of the most difficult practices for women was the front experience, both in military and in the medical staff. The view on a woman as a resource in a war was inherent in both the Soviet and Nazi totalitarian authorities.Similar experiences and peculiarities of performing non-peculiar roles require additional researches. In the proposed article on the example of the representatives of one family - Rabinovyches, was made an attempt to trace various strategies and practices of life / survival / of women in the war. The role of a woman in evacuation in Soviet realms remained on the verge of official representations of events and commeratural practices, therefore the article examines the survival experience of Raisa Rabinovich. Investigating the experience of being evacuated through his sources of optics can recreate individual episodes of life, from which formed strategies of survival not only of one woman, but a group of people who were unable to solve domestic and other problems without her.The Holocaust trial also fell on Jewish women. The symbol of the Holocaust in Ukraine was Babyn Yar, in its territory almost all Jewish population of Kyiv was shot. In Babyn Yar from the family of Rabinovich nine people of Rabinovich family died - the parents of Leonid Volynsky (Rabinovich) and his aunt Faiga's family. Those remaining among the living, were forced to bear their cross of moral blame before the dead.

scholarly journals IDENTIFIKASI ALUN-ALUN KUDUS SEBAGAI FASILITAS RUANG TERBUKA PUBLIK DI TINJAU TERHADAP PENDEKATAN DIMENSI FUNGSI DAN DIMENSI SOSIAL

2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 34
Author(s):  
Rizqi Jamalludin
Keyword(s):  
Urban Design ◽  
Urban Space ◽  
Open Space ◽  
Physical Characteristics ◽  
Central Java ◽  
Sports Venues ◽  
Almost All ◽  
The City ◽  
Analyze Case ◽  
Holy City

ABSTRACT: In a city it is the most complicated creation, taste, intention, and human work throughout civilization. The city can be regarded as a crowded place and inhabited by heterogeneous (diversified) people in terms of livelihood, religion, customs and culture. On a network of custom houses with high population with socio-economic strata. The physical characteristics of a city vary greatly but the physical characteristics of a design city must have economic facilities such as markets or supermarkets, adequate parking space, recreational and sports venues, squares, government buildings, Kudus is the city with all its beauty . Of the 35 cities and regencies in Central Java, Kudus has an area of 425.5 sq. Km. One of the most unfortunate ones is the open space or open space that can be used publicly. Kudus city has an open space which is also owned by other cities, namely the square which is one of the landmarks that exist in the sanctuary. Being in the middle of the city makes this Kudus square always crowded in the place of people from various cities because almost all the way is centered to this square. Various elements which is the most important element in the arrangement of urban space. It is interesting to be studied because there are still many things that need to be studied and meticulously in the square kudus. Analyze case studies on the researchers will use 2 (two) theory. The goal is to know what elements of the elements exist in the city zone in the holy city. The author conducts research in the field with the aim of collecting data contained in and assisted by the literature and others.Keywords: Kudus Square, Urban Dimension, Urban Space      ABSTRAKDalam sebuah kotamerupakan hasil cipta, rasa, karsa, dan karya manusia yang paling rumit sepanjang peradaban. Kota bisa dibilang sebagai tempat yang padat dan dihuni oleh orang-orang yang heterogen (beraneka ragam)baik dalam hal mata pencaharian, agama, adat, dan kebudayaan. Pada sebuah kota kesatuan jaringan kehidupan manusia ditandai dengan kepadatan penduduk yang tinggi disertai dengan strata sosial ekonomi. Ciri fisik sebuah kota sangat beragam akan tetapi ciri fisik sebuah kota jika dilihat dari seorang urban design harus mempunyai Sarana perekonomian seperti pasar atau supermarket, Tempat parkir yang memadai, Tempat rekreasi dan olahraga,  Alun-alun, Gedung-gedung pemerintahan, Kudus adalah kota dengan segala keindahannya. Dari 35 kota dan kabupaten di Jawa Tengah, Kudus memiliki luas 425,5 km persegi. Salah satu unsur yang penting dalam suatu kota adalah ruang terbuka atau open space yang dapat digunakan untuk aktivitas umum. Kota kudus memiliki ruang terbuka yang juga dipunyai oleh kota-kota lain, yaitu alun alun alun alun kudus sendiri merupakan salah satu landmark yang ada di kudus. Berada pada tengah kota membuat alun alun kudus ini selalu ramai di kunjungi masyarakat dari berbagai kota karena hampir semua jalan terpusat ke Taman alun alun kudus ini. Terdapat berbagai macam elemen yang dimana merupakan elemen terpenting dalam menataan urban space.Hal ini menarik untuk diteliti dikarenakan masih banyak hal hal yang perlu dipelajari dan di teliti di alun-alun kudus.Dalam menganalisa studi kasus di atas peneliti akan mengunakan 2 (dua) teori . Tujuan penulis adalah untuk mengetahui elemen elemen apa saja yang terdapat pada kawasan kawasan yang ada di kota kudus. Penulis melakukan observasi singkat dilapangan dengan tujuan mengumpulkan data kongkrit yang berada di sana dan dibantu oleh literature dan sumber yang lain.Kata kunci: Alun-Alun Kudus, Dimensi perkotaan, Urban Space.

The Virtual Disappearance of the White Male Sprinter in the United States: A Speculative Essay

1994 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 70-78 ◽  
Author(s):  
John George
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Racial Differences ◽  
White Male ◽  
The United States ◽  
Physical Characteristics ◽  
The Past ◽  
World Class ◽  
The 1960S ◽  
Almost All

Over the past 30 years almost all world-class United States sprinters have been black. There were also many fast black sprinters in the United States before the 1960s, but in addition there were a considerable number of world-class white sprinters. In fact, during the 1940s and 1950s the fastest men were white. This was not the case during the 1930s, when the best male sprinters were black. This essay discusses the phenomenon and attempts to give reasons for it. Sociological explanations seem considerably more plausible than physical characteristics based on perceived racial differences.

scholarly journals Recommendations for the Use of Testosterone in Male Transgender

2018 ◽  
Vol 40 (05) ◽  
pp. 275-280 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura Bregieiro Costa ◽  
Ana Rosa-e-Silva ◽  
Sebastião Medeiros ◽  
Andrea Nacul ◽  
Bruno Carvalho ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hormonal Treatment ◽  
Hormone Treatment ◽  
Physical Characteristics ◽  
Biological Sex ◽  
Gender Affirmation ◽  
Depression Disorders ◽  
Testosterone Administration ◽  
Almost All ◽  
Individual Self ◽  
Transgender Men

AbstractGender incongruence is defined as a condition in which an individual self-identifies and desires to have physical characteristics and social roles that connote the opposite biological sex. Gender dysphoria is when an individual displays the anxiety and/or depression disorders that result from the incongruity between the gender identity and the biological sex. The gender affirmation process must be performed by a multidisciplinary team. The main goal of the hormone treatment is to start the development of male physical characteristics by means of testosterone administration that may be offered to transgender men who are 18 years old or over. The use of testosterone is usually well tolerated and improves the quality of life. However, there is still lack of evidence regarding the effects and risks of the long-term use of this hormone. Many different pharmacological formulations have been used in the transsexualization process. The most commonly used formulation is the intramuscular testosterone esters in a short-term release injection, followed by testosterone cypionate or testosterone enanthate. In the majority of testosterone therapy protocols, the male physical characteristics can be seen in almost all users after 6 months of therapy, and the maximum virilization effects are usually achieved after 3 to 5 years of regular use of the hormone. To minimize risks, plasmatic testosterone levels should be kept within male physiological ranges (300 to 1,000 ng/dl) during hormonal treatment. It is recommended that transgender men under androgen therapy be monitored every 3 months during the 1st year of treatment and then, every 6 to 12 months.

OBSERVATIONS ON NUDIBRANCH BEHAVIOUR PATTERNS UNDER LABORATORY CONDITIONS

2016 ◽  
Vol 78 (11) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ali Alqudah ◽  
Shahbudin Saad ◽  
Deny Susanti ◽  
Noor Faizul Hadry ◽  
Mohd Fikri Akmal Khodzori ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Surface ◽  
Mating Behaviour ◽  
Reproductive Organs ◽  
Egg Laying ◽  
The Body ◽  
Natural Behavior ◽  
Laboratory Conditions ◽  
Egg Deposition ◽  
Mantle Edge ◽  
Noxious Chemicals

Phyllidiid Nudibranchs Phyllidia varicosa and Phyllidiella pustulosa were observed under laboratory conditions and abnormal behaviours were recorded. This study described the manoeuvering, mating behaviour, egg laying and abnormal activities.  Some abnormal behaviours were recorded while retaining the sample in the aquarium such as emitting noxious chemicals, lifting up the mantle edge to expose the gills and crawling towards the water surface and lie there.  Maneuvering behaviour was distinguished when two individuals were interacting with each other before the mating. Mating behaviour started by extending and joining the reproductive organs followed by gamete exchange for several minutes. During the mating behaviour, there was a limited movement like contracting of the body and hiding the rhinophores into the rhino-tube. Egg deposition was observed in the aquarium as natural behavior after mating and as a stress response after placing the sample in the captivity. 

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