Investigation of the Behavioural Response of a Colony of Group-Housed Hamadryas Baboons (Papio Cynocephalus Hamadryas) to Relocation to a More Naturalistic Enclosure

<p>As part of Wellington Zoo’s current management philosophy to reduce the number of species and increase enclosure size, quality and appropriateness for those remaining animals, the zoo’s colony of hamadryas baboons (Papio cynocephalus hamadryas) was relocated within the zoo to a purpose-designed and more naturalistic exhibit. The primary objective of this investigation was to determine group and individual responses of five of these baboons to their new enclosure. In so doing, this investigation was intended to address the shortage of quantitative, species-specific information on environmental enrichment for Papio baboons (Kessel and Brent 1996). The data collection method used in this investigation consisted of fifteen-minute focal sampling of each of the five focal animals in the two months before and the month following the colony’s relocation. For the purposes of this investigation, these focal samples were initially analysed together, prior to each focal animal being considered independently. Analysis of data extracted from these focal samples included consideration of: • The overall occurrence of individual behaviours between the former and new enclosures; • Additions to the animals’ behavioural repertoires upon relocation; and, • Time the animals spent alone and interacting socially. Upon the colony’s relocation, changes in the combined focal animals’ behaviour were anticipated as a result of greater space, areas of privacy, and increased environmental variation. Focal sampling revealed increasingly naturalistic behaviours, including a reduction in vacuum and vestigial behaviours, and an increase in speciestypical behaviour. Results also indicated that the combined focal animals experienced unexpectedly low levels of “agonistic” (i.e. aggressive) behaviour in both enclosures. However, there was a reduction in some associated behaviours upon the colony’s relocation. This included a decline in male rivalry over females. Differences in the responses of individual focal animals to relocation were also anticipated. Of particular interest were results indicating an increasing similarity of individual roles within one-male units to those of free-ranging hamadryas baboons. These roles were associated with both age and sex. This study raises implications for improving the current management of the Wellington Zoo colony and other captive hamadryas baboon colonies. These include emphasising the importance of appropriate husbandry and feeding schedules. It also raises implications for the future management of other captive Papio baboon colonies in terms of enclosure redesign. These include the benefit of incorporating naturally occurring environmental factors, such as natural leaf litter. This study is also of value from a management perspective as a baseline for future investigations. Such investigations could include long-term monitoring of this colony’s use of environmental enrichment in the new enclosure and consideration of the animals’ behaviour as the colony is encouraged to expand.</p>

Artificial Phylloplanes Resembling Physicochemical Characteristics of Selected Fresh Produce and Their Use in Bacteria Attachment/Removal Studies

The recurrence of food-borne illness outbreaks caused by consumption of fresh produce highlights the importance of developing a good understanding of the bacteria-leaf-surfaces interactions. In this study, we proposed and developed a new method to fabricate artificial phylloplanes that mimic the topographical and epicuticular characteristics of fresh produce, to be used as a platform for the development of food safety interventions for fresh produce. Romaine lettuce and spinach were selected to create phylloplane replicas using a double-cast procedure. The surface hydrophobicity of the artificial phylloplanes made from polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) was modified by adding a non-ionic surfactant with different hydrophilic-lipophilic balance (HLB) values to match the hydrophobicity of produce leaves. Key epicuticular wax compounds identified from the natural spinach and lettuce leaves were coated on the leaf replica to mimic the chemical composition of natural leaf surfaces. These surrogate surfaces were used to study the attachment Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Listeria innocua. In addition, these surfaces are reusable, and have surface hydrophobicity, surface roughness values and epicuticular wax compositions similar to fresh produce. The artificial phylloplanes of fresh produce can be used as a platform for studying the interactions between human pathogens with produce surfaces and for developing new sanitation strategies.

Investigation of the Behavioural Response of a Colony of Group-Housed Hamadryas Baboons (Papio Cynocephalus Hamadryas) to Relocation to a More Naturalistic Enclosure

<p>As part of Wellington Zoo’s current management philosophy to reduce the number of species and increase enclosure size, quality and appropriateness for those remaining animals, the zoo’s colony of hamadryas baboons (Papio cynocephalus hamadryas) was relocated within the zoo to a purpose-designed and more naturalistic exhibit. The primary objective of this investigation was to determine group and individual responses of five of these baboons to their new enclosure. In so doing, this investigation was intended to address the shortage of quantitative, species-specific information on environmental enrichment for Papio baboons (Kessel and Brent 1996). The data collection method used in this investigation consisted of fifteen-minute focal sampling of each of the five focal animals in the two months before and the month following the colony’s relocation. For the purposes of this investigation, these focal samples were initially analysed together, prior to each focal animal being considered independently. Analysis of data extracted from these focal samples included consideration of: • The overall occurrence of individual behaviours between the former and new enclosures; • Additions to the animals’ behavioural repertoires upon relocation; and, • Time the animals spent alone and interacting socially. Upon the colony’s relocation, changes in the combined focal animals’ behaviour were anticipated as a result of greater space, areas of privacy, and increased environmental variation. Focal sampling revealed increasingly naturalistic behaviours, including a reduction in vacuum and vestigial behaviours, and an increase in speciestypical behaviour. Results also indicated that the combined focal animals experienced unexpectedly low levels of “agonistic” (i.e. aggressive) behaviour in both enclosures. However, there was a reduction in some associated behaviours upon the colony’s relocation. This included a decline in male rivalry over females. Differences in the responses of individual focal animals to relocation were also anticipated. Of particular interest were results indicating an increasing similarity of individual roles within one-male units to those of free-ranging hamadryas baboons. These roles were associated with both age and sex. This study raises implications for improving the current management of the Wellington Zoo colony and other captive hamadryas baboon colonies. These include emphasising the importance of appropriate husbandry and feeding schedules. It also raises implications for the future management of other captive Papio baboon colonies in terms of enclosure redesign. These include the benefit of incorporating naturally occurring environmental factors, such as natural leaf litter. This study is also of value from a management perspective as a baseline for future investigations. Such investigations could include long-term monitoring of this colony’s use of environmental enrichment in the new enclosure and consideration of the animals’ behaviour as the colony is encouraged to expand.</p>

The Sisal Virome: Uncovering the Viral Diversity of Agave Varieties Reveals New and Organ-Specific Viruses

Sisal is a common name for different plant varieties in the genus Agave (especially Agave sisalana) used for high-quality natural leaf fiber extraction. Despite the economic value of these plants, we still lack information about the diversity of viruses (virome) in non-tequilana species from the genus Agave. In this work, by associating RNA and DNA deep sequencing we were able to identify 25 putative viral species infecting A. sisalana, A. fourcroydes, and Agave hybrid 11648, including one strain of Cowpea Mild Mottle Virus (CPMMV) and 24 elements likely representing new viruses. Phylogenetic analysis indicated they belong to at least six viral families: Alphaflexiviridae, Betaflexiviridae, Botourmiaviridae, Closteroviridae, Partitiviridae, Virgaviridae, and three distinct unclassified groups. We observed higher viral taxa richness in roots when compared to leaves and stems. Furthermore, leaves and stems are very similar diversity-wise, with a lower number of taxa and dominance of a single viral species. Finally, approximately 50% of the identified viruses were found in all Agave organs investigated, which suggests that they likely produce a systemic infection. This is the first metatranscriptomics study focused on viral identification in species from the genus Agave. Despite having analyzed symptomless individuals, we identified several viruses supposedly infecting Agave species, including organ-specific and systemic species. Surprisingly, some of these putative viruses are probably infecting microorganisms composing the plant microbiota. Altogether, our results reinforce the importance of unbiased strategies for the identification and monitoring of viruses in plant species, including those with asymptomatic phenotypes.

Enhancement of Nicotiana tabacum Resistance Against Dehydration-Induced Leaf Senescence via Metabolite/Phytohormone-Gene Regulatory Networks Modulated by Melatonin

Melatonin (MEL) is a pleiotropic agent with crucial functions reported in a variety of stress responses and developmental processes. Although MEL involvement in plant defense against natural leaf senescence has been widely reported, the precise regulatory mechanisms by which it delays stress-induced senescence remain unclear. In this study, we found that foliar spraying of melatonin markedly ameliorated dehydration-induced leaf senescence in Nicotiana tabacum, accompanied by attenuated oxidative damage, expression of senescence-related genes, and reduced endogenous ABA production. Metabolite profiling indicated that melatonin-treated plants accumulated higher concentrations of sugars, sugar alcohol, and organic acids, but fewer concentrations of amino acids in the leaves, than untreated plants after exposure to dehydration. Gene expression analysis revealed that the delayed senescence of stressed plants achieved by melatonin treatment might be partially ascribed to the upregulated expression of genes involved in ROS scavenging, chlorophyll biosynthesis, photosynthesis, and carbon/nitrogen balances, and downregulated expression of senescence-associated genes. Furthermore, hormone responses showed an extensively modulated expression, complemented by carotenoid biosynthesis regulation to achieve growth acceleration in melatonin-treated plants upon exposure to dehydration stress. These findings may provide more comprehensive insights into the role of melatonin in alleviating leaf senescence and enhancing dehydration resistance.

Identification of WRKY transcription factors associated with leaf and corolla senescence in Petunia hybrida

Several families of transcription factors (TFs) control the progression of senescence. Many key TFs belonging to the WRKY family have been described to play crucial roles in the regulation of leaf senescence, mainly in Arabidopsis. However, little is known about senescence-associated WRKY members in floricultural species. Delay of senescence in leaves and petals of Petunia hybrida, a worldwide ornamental crop are highly appreciated traits. In this work, starting from 28 differentially expressed WRKY genes of Arabidopsis during the progression of leaf senescence, we identified the orthologous in P. hybrida and explored the expression profiles of 20 PhWRKY genes during the progression of natural (age-related) leaf and corolla senescence as well as in the corollas of flowers undergoing pollination-induced senescence. Simultaneous visualization showed consistent and similar expression profiles of PhWRKYs during natural leaf and corolla senescence, although weak expression changes were observed during pollination-induced senescence. Comparable expression trends between PhWRKYs and the corresponding genes of Arabidopsis were observed during leaf senescence, although more divergences were found in petals of pollinated petunia flowers. Integration of expression data with phylogenetics, conserved motif and cis-regulatory element analyses were used to establish a list of solid candidates that could regulate more than one senescence process. Our results suggest that several members of the WRKY family of TFs are tightly linked to the regulation of senescence in P. hybrida.