From Disaster to Belief

Throughout history, climate-related disasters commonly had wide-ranging religious consequences. As climate conditions have changed over time, they have affected human affairs and shaped attitudes. At times those conditions might have promoted prosperity, abundant food supplies, fertility, and general contentment. Quite frequently, though, we can identify periods of acute harm, either short-lived, such as that of 1739–1742, or much longer-lasting, such as the repeated hammer blows during the prolonged cooling period that has been termed the Little Ice Age. This chapter describes the complex means by which climate affects human societies and thereby drives religious change, often on a revolutionary scale. It especially stresses the “apocalyptic” consequences: famine, plague, war, and death.

Are the effects of hunger stage-specific? A case study in an aphidophagous ladybird beetle

Food availability is a fundamental factor determining an animal's potential fitness. Carry-over effects of food limitation from development to adulthood are known to influence reproduction, ageing, and tolerance to stress. We have examined the effect of stage-specific variation (before adult emergence or pre-emergence, post-emergence and post-mating) in food availability in Propylea dissecta (Mulsant). Larvae were reared separately on two different pre-emergence food regimes (abundant or restricted) until pupation. Newly emerged adults were further split into two groups and placed on abundant or restricted post-emergence regimes. After mating, females were split and reared on any one of two post-mating regimes. The results revealed that: (i) time to commence mating declined with increased food availability in pre- and post-emergence stages, (ii) mating duration increased with food availability post-emergence, (iii) highest reproduction output was observed in individuals who had abundant food pre- and post-emergence. However, food availability at the time of oviposition also had a strong influence on fecundity. Solo bouts of scarcity, regardless of which stage suffered them, were effectively managed in at least two of the three stages (pre-emergence, post-emergence, post-mating) had abundant food.

Monitoring Change in Biodiversity of Kingdom Animalia Though Composite Indices at the Jungchon Stream, Korea

Species diversity varies dramatically among regions and among localities within regions.This study is to investigate the biodiversity of animal kingdoms at four regions on the Jungchon Stream in Korea. Mammals accounted for nine taxa for four seasons within the studied areas. Invertebrates exhibited the greatest species diversity with 17 taxa identified, followed by birds (Aves) (15 taxa). The mean numbers of species were 40 taxa within the St. A, 40 taxa within the St. B, 41 taxa within the St. C, and 44 taxa within the St. D. Many individuals of fish and invertebrates were found in this area because the abundant food and water supply by junction of two rivers.The mean of Shannon-Weaver index (H´) of diversity for mammals was varied from 1.170 (St. D) to 2.002 (St. A).St. A was also considerable high H´ in birds andreptiles/amphibians. Berger-Parker’s index (BPI) for mammalswas varied from 0.201 (Station A) to 0.294 (Station C).For the community as a whole, the values of ß-diversity were the low (from 0.170 for St. D to 0.232 for St. C). Clustering of four stations, using the NJ algorithm, was performed based on the matrix of calculated distances. Four stations of the Jungchon Stream were well separated each other.

Quantifying dominance of adult female white-tailed deer in the presence of abundant food

Dominance is a behavioural mechanism that allows individuals to access and monopolize resources which should ultimately improve their fitness. Hierarchy strength should be strongest when resources are limited; however, this relationship is not consistent. We provided abundant food to assess whether hierarchy strength was consistent with resource abundance using 9 groups of captive female white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus). We further assessed how body mass, age and testosterone levels were associated with rank position. Deer displayed a weak hierarchy with a mean linearity () of 0.39 (SD = 0.09) and a mean directional consistency index of 0.83 (SD = 0.06). Rank was related to body mass (, slope = 0.011), but not age or testosterone levels (). We demonstrate that hierarchy strength was weak in the presence of abundant food resources and suggest the possibility that dominance is a plastic behaviour that may vary with resource abundance.

Spider-Ant Associations: An Updated Review of Myrmecomorphy, Myrmecophily, and Myrmecophagy in Spiders

This paper provides a summary of the extensive theoretical and empirical work that has been carried out in recent years testing the adaptational significance of various spider-ant associations. Hundreds of species of spiders have evolved close relationships with ants and can be classified as myrmecomorphs, myrmecophiles, or myrmecophages. Myrmecomorphs are Batesian mimics. Their close morphological and behavioral resemblance to ants confers strong survival advantages against visually hunting predators. Some species of spiders have become integrated into the ant society as myrmecophiles or symbionts. These spider myrmecophiles gain protection against their own predators, live in an environment with a stable climate, and are typically surrounded by abundant food resources. The adaptations by which this integration is made possible are poorly known, although it is hypothesized that most spider myrmecophiles are chemical mimics and some are even phoretic on their hosts. The third type of spider-ant association discussed is myrmecophagy—or predatory specialization on ants. A table of known spider myrmecophages is provided as is information on their biology and hunting strategies. Myrmecophagy provides these predators with an essentially unlimited food supply and may even confer other protections to the spiders.