How to build a puncture- and breakage-resistant eggshell? Mechanical and structural analyses of avian brood parasites and their hosts

Evolved eggshell strength is greater in several lineages of obligate avian brood parasites (birds that lay their eggs in other species’ nests) compared to their hosts. Greater strength is typically indirectly implied by eggshell thickness comparisons between parasites and hosts. Nevertheless, there is strong evidence that the eggshell structural organization differentially influences its mechanical properties. Using instrumental puncture tests and SEM/EBSD and XRD techniques, we studied the most relevant eggshell mechanical, textural, ultra- and microstructural features between several host species and their parasitic cowbirds (Molothrus spp.) that display different egg destructive behaviors reducing host reproductive fitness, and include the more frequently host-egg puncturer M. rufoaxillaris and M. bonariensis, and the host-egg remover M. ater. The results, analyzed using a phylogenetic comparative approach, showed interspecific patterns in the mechanical and structural features. Overall, eggshell of both species of the two egg-puncturer parasites (but not of M. ater) were stronger, stiffer, and required greater stress to produce its fracture than the respective hosts’ eggs. These features were affected by eggshell micro- and ultrastructures, related to the increased of the intercrystalline boundary network acting in cooperation with the increased of the palisade layers' thickness. Both of these structural traits generate more options and greater lengths of intercrystalline paths, increasing the energy consumed in crack or fissure propagation. The reported patterns of all these diverse eggshell features support a new set of interpretations, confirming several hypotheses regarding the impacts of both reproductive strategies (parasitic vs. parental) and parasitic egg destruction behaviors (more vs. less frequently puncturing).

A qualitative study of community perspectives surrounding cleaning practices in the context of Zika prevention in El Salvador: implications for community-based Aedes aegypti control

Background In El Salvador, Aedes aegypti mosquitoes transmitting Zika and other arboviruses use water storage containers as important oviposition sites. Promotion of water storage container cleaning is a key element of prevention programs. We explored community perceptions surrounding cleaning practices among pregnant women, male partners of pregnant women, and women likely to become pregnant. Methods Researchers conducted 11 focus groups and 12 in-depth interviews which included individual elicitations of Zika prevention measures practiced in the community. Focus group participants rated 18 images depicting Zika-related behaviors according to effectiveness and feasibility in the community context, discussed influencing determinants, voted on community intentions to perform prevention behaviors, and performed washbasin cleaning simulations. In-depth interviews with male partners of pregnant women used projective techniques with images to explore their perceptions on a subset of Zika prevention behaviors. Results General cleaning of the home, to ensure a healthy environment, was a strong community norm. In this context, participants gave water storage container cleaning a high rating, for both its effectiveness and feasibility. Participants were convinced that they cleaned their water storage containers effectively against Zika, but their actual skills were inadequate to destroy Aedes aegypti eggs. A further constraint was the schedule of water availability. Even during pregnancy, male partners rarely cleaned water storage containers because water became available in homes when they were at work. Furthermore, prevailing gender norms did not foster male participation in domestic cleaning activities. Despite these factors, many men were willing to provide substantial support with cleaning when their partners were pregnant, in order to protect their family. Conclusions Behavior change programs for the prevention of Zika and other arboviruses need to improve community members’ mosquito egg destruction skills rather than perpetuate the promotion of non-specific cleaning in and around the home as effective. Egg elimination must be clearly identified as the objective of water storage container maintenance and programs should highlight the effective techniques to achieve this goal. In addition, programs must build the skills of family members who support pregnant women to maintain the frequency of effective egg destruction in all water storage containers of the home.

Female-Male and Female-Female Social Interactions of Captive Kept Capercaillie (Tetrao Urogallus) and Its Consequences in Planning Breeding Programs

Capercaillie behavior, both in the wild and in captivity, is poorly known due to this species’ secretive way of life. Female-male and female–female social organization and interactions are especially poorly documented. The research was conducted in Capercaillie Breeding Center in Wisła Forestry District where a breeding flock is kept throughout the year. Thanks to video monitoring, we were able to observe mate choice, and then later, female–female interactions during laying and incubation period. Male individual variation in tooting latency and duration were recorded. Females’ interest in males was related to males’ tooting activity, but when males became too insistent and started to chase the females, the females avoided contact with them. There was a significant relationship between calendar date and when tooting starts, and between the tooting duration the female spent with a male. Two incidents of female-male aggression caused by competition for food were observed. Female intruder presence and competition for nesting place was observed in 66.67% nests. Most female–female interactions were limited to threat posturing, but fights and attempts to push out the intruder from the nest occurred as well. Such interactions may lead to nest abandonment and egg destruction, lowering the breeding success.

Facilitated harvesting of eggs from laboratory-reared Chrysoperla externa (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae)

Chrysoperla externa (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) eggs are attached to the oviposition substrate by long silk stalks. The complete removal of these stalks is crucial for efficient egg release in biological control programs. The present study aimed at establishing an appropriate oviposition substrate and determining the best embryonic stage for submission of C. externa eggs to manual destalking and harvesting. Eggs oviposited on bond or chamois paper substrates were transferred from rearing cages and incubated in a growth chamber under controlled conditions for 24, 48, 72 or 96 hours according to the embryonic stage development required. Substrates were positioned in an inclined tray and softly brushed with a folded rectangle of soft muslin cloth. Destalked eggs were placed individually in microtiter plates and incubated in a growth chamber until hatching. Egg destruction at all embryonic stages and oviposition on the chamois substrate were considerably higher as compared to those from bond paper. Young eggs harvested from chamois paper were particularly susceptible and exhibited 88 % destruction, whereas eggs aged 48, 72 or 96 hours showed < 10 % destruction on both substrates. Viability of eggs collected at 24 hours for both substrates was significantly different from the observed for the other embryonic stages. The method described will contribute to improve the efficiency of manual harvesting of C. externa eggs and can be employed as an alternative to chemical techniques of destalking in mass rearing.

The Process of Aphid Egg-Laying and the Little Known Role of the Coccinellidae in Aphid Egg Destruction in Poland – Preliminary Results

No detailed studies have been conducted in Poland with regard to aphid eggs or egg survival in particular. So far, no studies have been conducted concerning the role of ladybird beetles in reducing the number of aphid eggs in spring, before the development of leaves, and in autumn, after the leaves have been shed. At these times, other developmental stages of aphids are unavailable as food for the ladybirds. The paper presents the preliminary results of a three-year study on the process of aphid egg-laying (especially Chaetosiphon tetrarhodum, Macrosiphum rosae, Metopolophium dirhodum, and Maculolachnus submacula). The paper also deals with the little known role of ladybirds in aphid egg destruction. Research was conducted in Otrębusy (Western Mazovia), Poland, in the years 2008-2010, on the rugosa rose and on the dog rose. In the years 2011-2013, in Otrębusy, the occurrence of M. submacula was also observed on the ornamental grandiflora rose. Furthermore, in the years 2003-2004, observations were conducted on the pedunculate oak in Polesie National Park and in the town of Puławy (Lublin Region), Poland. The observations which took place in Puławy focused on egglaying of aphids representing the genera Phylloxera and Lachnus. The study investigated aphid oviposition sites. Data was collected on the number of aphid eggs noted on the studied plants. The study also showed, that sometimes winter eggs of aphids could provide nutrition for ladybirds. This was especially true in autumn when ladybird beetles were preparing for hibernation.

Predatory activity of chlamydospores of the fungusPochonia chlamydosporia on Toxocara caniseggs under laboratory conditions

The objective of this study was to use chlamydospores of the fungusPochonia chlamydosporia (isolates VC1 and VC4) against Toxocara canis eggs in a 15-day in vitro assay. One thousand T. canis eggs were placed in Petri dishes containing 2% water agar medium with different concentrations of chlamydospores (1,000, 10,000 or 100,000) of each fungal isolate of P. chlamydosporia (treated groups) and 1,000 eggs in Petri dishes without fungus (control group). Egg counts were performed to determine the ovicidal activity, which was classified as three effect levels: type 1, type 2 and type 3. Significant differences (P < 0.01) in egg destruction were found in comparison with the control group. The highest percentage of egg destruction was found in plates containing 100,000 chlamydospores (68.5% for VC1 and 70.5% for VC4). Chlamydospores of P. chlamydosporiawere effective in destroying T. canis eggs and may contribute in the future towards combating the eggs of this parasite.

Increase of clutch size triggers clutch destruction behaviour in common moorhens (Gallinula chloropus) during the incubation period

Conspecific brood parasitism (CBP) is common in a variety of animal taxa, including birds. In coots (Fulica spp.), and the closely related moorhens (Gallinula spp.), such parasitism is especially common, and hosts experience considerable costs through increased chick competition soon after hatching. Hence, these birds have evolved egg recognition and rejection abilities, e.g., egg counting, burying the foreign eggs, assigning them suboptimal positions within the mixed clutch, or deserting parasitized clutches. For common moorhens (Gallinula chloropus) it has been shown that desertion of parasitized nests pays most at the early egg laying stage. Later on, the costs of desertion exceed the costs of brood parasitism and acceptance is favoured. Here we tested moorhen egg discrimination behaviour during the incubation stage when acceptance of foreign eggs is expected. Four treatments were applied: (1) single added non-mimetic pale blue egg, (2) single added non-mimetic white chicken egg, (3) four foreign conspecific eggs added to the clutch and (4) four foreign conspecific eggs exchanged for four host eggs. Moorhens responded by egg destruction (47%) only to the increased clutch size but not to foreign egg colour and size match. In three nests where egg destruction occurred, all the eggs in the mixed clutch were destroyed by pecking, in two other nests one of the foreign eggs were pecked, while two other nests were deserted. These results are puzzling since moorhens have been shown to possess refined egg recognition abilities. To our knowledge, such destruction of parasitized clutches by moorhens during incubation has not previously been reported. We suggest that after clutch completion, moorhens use increase in clutch size as a cue to determine if they have been parasitized, and some individuals choose to reject parasitic eggs by deserting or destroying the whole clutch.