Insects: Functional Morphology, Biomechanics and Biomimetics

Insects are the most diverse animal taxon, both in terms of the number of species and the number of individuals [...]

Weakly Supervised Faster-RCNN+FPN to classify small animals in camera trap images

<div>Camera traps have revolutionized animal research of many species that were previously nearly impossible to observe due to their habitat or behavior.</div><div>Deep learning has the potential to overcome the workload to the class automatically those images according to taxon or empty images. However, a standard deep neural network classifier fails because animals often represent a small portion of the high-definition images. Therefore, we propose a workflow named Weakly Object Detection Faster-RCNN+FPN which suits this challenge. The model is weakly supervised because it requires only the animal taxon label per image but doesn't require any manual bounding box annotations. First, it automatically performs the weakly supervised bounding box annotation using the motion from multiple frames. Then, it trains a Faster-RCNN+FPN model using this weak supervision.<br></div><div>Experimental results have been obtained on two datasets and an easily reproducible testbed.</div>

Weakly Supervised Faster-RCNN+FPN to classify small animals in camera trap images

<div>Camera traps have revolutionized animal research of many species that were previously nearly impossible to observe due to their habitat or behavior.</div><div>Deep learning has the potential to overcome the workload to the class automatically those images according to taxon or empty images. However, a standard deep neural network classifier fails because animals often represent a small portion of the high-definition images. Therefore, we propose a workflow named Weakly Object Detection Faster-RCNN+FPN which suits this challenge. The model is weakly supervised because it requires only the animal taxon label per image but doesn't require any manual bounding box annotations. First, it automatically performs the weakly supervised bounding box annotation using the motion from multiple frames. Then, it trains a Faster-RCNN+FPN model using this weak supervision.<br></div><div>Experimental results have been obtained on two datasets and an easily reproducible testbed.</div>

Did Cavemen Boil Their Food? A Remote Sensing Based Evidence of Hydrothermal Landscape of Prehistoric Mongoloid Pawon Man 9.5 ka Occupancy at Pawon Cave of West Java

Relationship between caveman prehistoric life in terms of heat induced food processing and its geological ecosystems have received many attentions. Previous studies have investigated the sources of heat included using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and biomarker approaches. Here this study proposes the use of remote sensing to identify the relationship of 9500 year old (9.5 ka) prehistoric mongoloid occupancy with hydrothermal manifestations at Pawon cave of West Java. The hydrothermal manifestations around Pawon cave were identified using Landsat 8 band combinations, land surface temperature, and sedimentary lithology. The results showed the hydrothermal manifestations surrounding Pawon cave were within a distance of 0.5-2 km. The results also showed bones representing 12 animal taxon groups with high abundance of rodents. To conclude this study sheds the light of proximity and preferences of mongoloid prehistoric occupancy towards hydrothermal landscape due to its advantage as heat sources for food processing purposes.

Not Much Ado about Mollusks

This chapter discusses the ways mollusks were differentially integrated into plantation foodways practices at Betty’s Hope. The focus on mollusk data is significant because it is frequently overlooked in historical zooarchaeology and was the animal taxon that demonstrated the most dramatic difference in use along the race- and class-based divisions of those who lived and worked at Betty’s Hope. In this case, mollusks were least abundant in the Great House, while the faunal assemblage associated with enslaved African contexts were almost entirely comprised of mollusk material.

A problematic animal fossil from the early Cambrian Hetang Formation, South China

The lower-middle Hetang Formation (Cambrian Stage 2–3) deposited in slope-basinal facies in South China is well known for its preservation of the earliest articulated sponge fossils, providing an important taphonomic window into the Cambrian Explosion. However, the Hetang Formation also hosts a number of problematic animal fossils that have not been systematically described. This omission results in an incomplete picture of the Hetang biota and limits its contribution to the understanding of the early evolution of animals. Here we describe a new animal taxon, Cambrowania ovata Tang and Xiao, new genus new species, from the middle Hetang Formation in the Lantian area of southern Anhui Province, South China. Specimens are preserved as carbonaceous compressions, although some are secondarily mineralized. A comprehensive analysis using reflected light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and micro-CT reveals that the new species is characterized by a spheroidal to fusoidal truss-like structure consisting of rafter-like crossbars, some of which are secondarily baritized and may have been internally hollow. Some specimens have aperture-like structures that are broadly similar to oscula of sponges, whereas others show evidence of a medial split reminiscent of gaping carapaces. While the phylogenetic affinity of Cambrowania ovata Tang and Xiao, n. gen. n. sp. remains problematic, we propose that it may represent carapaces of bivalved arthropods or more likely sponges in early life stages. Along with other problematic metazoan fossils such as hyolithids and sphenothallids, Cambrowania ovata Tang and Xiao, n. gen. n. sp. adds to the diversity of the sponge-dominated Hetang biota in an early Cambrian deepwater slope-basinal environment.UUID: http://zoobank.org/44de9472-7e3f-42d1-9554-7b3434df91d9

ORTHOSCOPE Analysis Reveals the Presence of the Cellulose Synthase Gene in All Tunicate Genomes but Not in Other Animal Genomes

Tunicates or urochordates—comprising ascidians, larvaceans, and salps—are the only metazoans that can synthesize cellulose, a biological function usually associated with bacteria and plants but not animals. Tunicate cellulose or tunicine is a major component of the outer acellular coverage (tunic) of the entire body of these organisms. Previous studies have suggested that the prokaryotic cellulose synthase gene (CesA) was horizontally transferred into the genome of a tunicate ancestor. However, no convenient tools have been devised to determine whether only tunicates harbor CesA. ORTHOSCOPE is a recently developed tool used to identify orthologous genes and to examine the phylogenic relationship of molecules within major metazoan taxa. The present analysis with this tool revealed the presence of CesA orthologs in all sequenced tunicate genomes but an absence in other metazoan genomes. This supports an evolutionary origin of animal cellulose and provides insights into the evolution of this animal taxon.

Enigmatic encrusting fossils from the Upper Devonian of Russia: probable Rothpletzella microproblematica preserved in three dimensions

Intriguing microfossils encrusting certain Upper Devonian brachiopod shells from the Central Devonian Field, Russia, are reported for the first time. The fossils are pyritized, have fan-shaped morphologies and are formed by tightly-packed branches which divide dichotomously at different points in their development. The organisms preserved grew horizontally on shelly substrates. Comparisons with similar fossils known from the literature indicate that they do not represent any animal taxon commonly encrusting hard substrates. Instead, the morphology, organization and growth mode of these fossils are most similar to microfossils known under the name Rothpletzella, which so far have only been known from thin sections. Rothpletzella is a problematicum for which algal affinities have been proposed. The preserved branches of the fossils described here are too large for cyanobacterial cells. Their large size suggests their placement, along with other described Rothpletzella fossils, within the green algae order Bryopsidales. It is suggested that originally, these organisms possessed thalli encased within a thin, delicate calcified sheath. After burial the thalli underwent pyritization via sulphate reduction mediated by bacterial activity within low pH, dysoxic microenvironment, and their sheath dissolved. As three-dimensionally preserved, these algae provide a new, previously unrecognized, component within the Devonian encrusting communities.

Origin and macroevolution of micro-moths on sunken Hawaiian Islands

The origins and evolution of Hawaiian biodiversity are a matter of controversy, and the mechanisms of lineage diversification for many organisms on this remote archipelago remain unclear. Here we focus on the poorly known endemic leaf-mining moth genus Philodoria (Lepidoptera, Gracillariidae), whose species feed on a diversity of Hawaiian plant lineages, many of which are critically endangered. We use anchored hybrid enrichment to assemble the first phylogenomic dataset (507 loci) for any Hawaiian animal taxon. To uncover the timing and pattern of diversification of these moths, we apply two frequently used dating calibration strategies, biogeographic calibrations and secondary calibrations. Island calibrations on their own resulted in much younger and unrealistic dates compared to strategies that relied on secondary calibrations. Philodoria probably originated on the now partially sunken islands of Laysan or Lisianski, approximately 21 Ma, and were associated with host plants in the families Ebenaceae, Malvaceae or Primulaceae. Major feeding groups associated with specific host-plant families originated soon after the plants colonized the islands. Allopatric isolation and host shifts, in concert and independently, probably play major roles in the diversification of Philodoria . Our dating results indicate that Philodoria is among the oldest known Hawaiian arthropod lineages, and that island calibrations alone can lead to unrealistically young dates.

HEMATOLOGI PERBANDINGAN HEWAN VERTEBRATA: LELE (Clarias batracus), KATAK (Rana sp.), KADAL (Eutropis multifasciata), MERPATI (Columba livia) DAN MENCIT (Mus musculus)

ABSTRACTHematology studies between Vertebrate classes can provide supporting data related to animal activities and adaptation to their habitat. Low Vertebrate ektoterm showed different hemotological profil than endoderm Vertebrate. The aims of this study is to compare hematological profile between Vertebrate which includes five classes animal taxon. Animal species was taken randomly, considered to represent the five classes taxon: Clarias batracus from Class Pisces, Rana sp. from Class Amphibia, Eutropis multifasciata from Class Reptilia, Columba livia from Class Aves and Mus musculus from Class Mammalia. Hematology parameters were observed was hemoglobins, HCT, erythrocyte count, leukocyte count, leukocyte differential, MCV, MCH and MCHC. The result showed Vertebrate from Class Pisces (catfish), amphibian (frogs) and reptiles (lizards) had hemoglobin, hematocrit, erythrocytes higher than Aves and Mammals. Leucocytes count in Class Pisces, Amphibians, Reptiles and Aves range 12.000-19.000 cells/mL higher than mammal leukocyte 5000 cells/mL. Differential leukocyte in catfish, frogs, lizards, pigeons and mice have the highest percentage of lymphocytes (37-62%). Keywords: catfish, frog, hematology, lizard, mice, pigeon, vertebrate ABSTRAKStudi hematologi hewan kelas Vertebrata dapat memberikan data pendukung terkait aktivitas hewan dan adaptasi terhadap habitatnya. Hewan Vertebrata tingkat rendah yang ektoterm mempunyai profil hematologi yang berbeda dengan Vertebrata tinggi yang sebagian besar endoterm. Tujuan dari penelitian ini adalah untuk membandingkan profil hematologi antar hewan Vertebrata yang meliputi lima kelas hewan takson. Hewan sampel diambil secara acak dari populasi hewan yang mewakili lima kelas takson: Clarias batracus dari kelas Pisces, Rana sp. dari kelas Amfibi, Eutropis multifasciata dari kelas Reptil, Columba livia dari kelas Aves dan Mus musculus dari kelas Mammalia. Parameter hematologi yang diamati adalah hemoglobin, hematokrit, jumlah eritrosit, jumlah leukosit, leukosit diferensial, MCV, MCH dan MCHC. Hasil pengukuran hematologi menunjukkan Vertebrata dari kelas Pisces (lele), Amfibi (katak) dan Reptil (kadal) memiliki hemoglobin, hematokrit, eritrosit lebih tinggi dari pada Aves dan Mamalia. Jumlah leukosit di kelas Pisces, Amfibi, Reptil, dan Aves berkisar 12.000-19.000 sel/mL lebih tinggi dari leukosit mamalia yakni 5000 sel/mL. Pengamatan leukosit diferensial pada ikan lele, katak, kadal, merpati, dan tikus menunjukkan persentase limfosit tertinggi (37-62%) dibanding jenis leukosit lain. Kata kunci: ikan lele, katak, hematologi, kadal, mencit, merpati, vertebrata