Gut content analysis of cattle egrets (Bubulcus ibis) in Asam Kumbang Crocodile Park, North Sumatra

Cattle egret (Bubulcus ibis) is a widespread avian species inhabiting a variety of natural and artificial sites. Asam Kumbang Crocodile Park is one of establishments that occupied some portions of B. ibis habitat with no recent information on the food resource and prey availability for the viability of B. ibis. To this aim, we collected 10 random individuals of B. ibis to be sacrificed for gut content analysis of prey species. A total of 19 taxa was found as prey items in the gut of B. ibis with the dominant group from insects (Orthoptera, Scolopendromorpha). The diversity of prey species was categorized as moderate with intraspecific diet variation which formed four guilds that fed on specific taxa namely Group 1 (Haplotaxida, Lepidoptera, Anurans), Group 2 (Blattodea, Coleoptera, Araneae), Group 3 (Orthoptera, Scolopendromorpha); and Group 4 (Dermaptera, Squamata). Oxya chinensis and Oxya velox are important rice grasshopper pests that were also found in the gut of B. ibis reflecting their potential function as biological control agent.

Dietary Overlap between Native and Exotic Fishes revealed through Gut Content Analysis at Head Baloki, Punjab, Pakistan

An imminent threat to indigenous freshwater ichthyofauna is the introduction of alien fishes that can alter the behavior, population dynamics and native community structure. Thus, it is necessary to understand their feeding behaviour to avoid any unwanted incalculable loss. At sampling site, Head Baloki feeding habits both of native (L. calbasu, C. catla, L. rohita and C. mrigala) and alien (H. nobilis, H. molitrix, C. carpio, C. idella, C. auratus, O. aureus, O. niloticus and O. mozambicus) species were analyzed through frequency of occurrence and percentage by number from January 2017-December 2019. Results indicated that L. rohita remained herbivorous while L. calbasu, C. catla, C. idella and both C. carpio and C. mrigala were detritivore, planktivore, phytoplanktivore and generalist feeders, respectively. H. molitrix and C. auratus showed planktivorus and generalist feeding behaviour, respectively. Tilapia species enlisted as detritivores Whereas, H. nobilis was generalist feeder. Complex dietary overlap has been observed between different co-existing species. Current study has uncovered some surprising results where diet of O. niloticus was altered as detritus feeder. Change in feeding habit of alien fishes is the strategy to make them successful that is in line with current findings from freshwater ecosystem of Punjab, Pakistan.

“Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum” infection of commercial tomatillo, Physalis ixocarpa Brot. (Solanales: Solanaceae) in Saltillo, Mexico

The potato psyllid, Bactericera cockerelli (Šulc), (Hemiptera: Triozidae) is a pest of Solanaceous crops (Solanales) including potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) and tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.). Feeding by high populations of nymphs causes psyllid yellows while adults and nymphs are vectors of the plant pathogen, “Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum” (Lso). Foliar symptoms that were consistent with either Lso-infection or psyllid yellows were observed in 2019 on tomatillo (Physalis ixocarpa Brot.; Solanaceae) grown within an experimental plot located near Saltillo, Mexico. This study had three primary objectives: 1) determine whether the foliar symptoms observed on tomatillo were associated with Lso infection, 2) identify the haplotypes of Lso and potato psyllids present in the symptomatic plot, and 3) use gut content analysis to infer the plant sources of Lso-infected psyllids. Results confirmed that 71% of symptomatic plants and 71% of psyllids collected from the plants were infected with Lso. The detection of Lso in plants and psyllids, and the lack of nymphal populations associated with psyllid yellows strongly suggests that the observed foliar symptoms were caused by Lso infection. All infected plants and insects harbored the more virulent Lso haplotype B, but one psyllid was also co-infected with haplotype A. The potato psyllids were predominantly of the central haplotype, but one psyllid was identified as the western haplotype. Molecular gut content analysis of psyllids confirmed the movement of psyllids between non-crop habitats and tomatillo and indicated that Lso infection of psyllids was associated with increased plant diversity in their diet.

Studies on Tropics of Fish Along Upper Tungabhadra Channel, Ballari District, Karnataka

Gut analysis is the tool to understand the feeding patterns of fishes and is an important aspect of fisheries management. It also provides the basis for understanding trophic interactions in aquatic food webs and to investigate the most frequently consumed prey or to determine the relative importance of different food types to fish nutrition. In the present study the gut content analysis was performed in Garra, Gobi, Notopterus and Tilapia fishes collected from Tungabhadra upper irrigation channel at Ballari, Karnataka.Bacillariophyceae showed maximum number in all the four fish species. Over all it showed 40% followed by Detritus (30%), Chlorophyceae (17%), Cyanophyceae(7%) and Zooplankton (6%). Among fishes Garrashowed maximum food items (2272) followed by Glossogobiusgiuris(1538), Notopterusnotopterus (996) and Oreochromismossambicus (769). The relative abundance of food items in the guts also revealed the Garragotylastenorhynchus Oreochromismossambicus. The variation is due to availability of foodorganisms during the study period and anthropogenic influence on channel water.