Hasil untuk "Zoology"

Al Viandari Nourma, Suswatiningsih Tri Endar, Hindarwati Yulis et al.

Nutrient application into soil with the right dose and time will support growth and increase rice yield. This study aimed to determine the nutrient management based on differences in the frequency and timing of application in supporting plant growth and increasing rice productivity in dry land. The study was conducted in dry land Gunungkidul, D.I. Yogyakarta, Indonesia, during dry season. NPK 15-15-15 fertilizer at the dose of 300 kg ha-1 and N 46% at the dose of 200 kg ha-1 were used in this research. Nutrient management with three fertilizer applications was compared with farmer practices with two fertilizer applications, repeated 11 times. The results showed that nutrient management increased grain productivity by 1.16 times compared to farmer practices, and straw productivity by 1.02 times. Nutrient management reduced the percentage of empty grain, by 33.63% compared to farmer practice. Nutrient management also increased the tiller number at harvest, and carbon absorption in grain and straw. Adoption of nutrient management at farmer level is user-friendly and gives beneficial impact on nutrient. Nutrient management application can be suitable strategy to support dry land agriculture.

Jaime Sarmiento, Soraya Barrera, Stéphane Saj et al.

After over a hundred and twenty years, we here report a new record of Oroperipatus balzani (Camerano, 1997) in western Bolivia's lower Yungas of La Paz department. Six specimens of this species, first collected in 1891 by the Italian explorer L. Balzan, were observed at the Sara Ana Station (15°27′36″S, 67°28′17″W; 390 m above sea level) within both secondary forests and agricultural systems between October 2018 and December 2021. Oroperipatus balzani come from a mid-altitude forest of the eastern Andean slopes, and the specimen here reported was found at less than 500 m s.n.m., representing a notable altitude extension of the known range. The current record marks only the second documented occurrence of this species in Bolivia. Currently, three species (Oroperipatus, balzani, O. intermedius, and O. soratanus) are known in the country. All three species correspond to the Andean clade of Neotropical Onychophora. A checklist from Bolivia was updated. Furthermore, we discuss the distribution of Onychophora species in Bolivia.

Toshkov Nesho, Kodinova Siyka, Simitchiev Apostol et al.

Watermelon (Citrullus vulgaris) seeds which are considered as waste have a high nutritional value due to the high content of proteins, minerals and unsaturated fatty acids and for that reason they are suitable for production of functional extruded products. Therefore the focus of this experiment is to investigate the effect of watermelon seed flour content, temperature of the matrix and moisture content on the density and expansion ratio of extrudates from corn grits. A single screw extruder Brabender 20 DN was used for the extrusion cooking. A full factorial experiment 23 with independent parameters watermelon seed flour content (3 % and 10 %), temperature of the matrix (160 °C and 180 °C) and moisture content (14 % and 18 %) was applied. The expansion ratio varies between 1.76 and 2.56 while the density change from 0.103 g/cm3 to 0.159 g/cm3 respectively. The statistical analysis showed that the expansion ratio decrease with the increase of the moisture content and watermelon seed flour content while the density increase.

Caroline Gérard, Flora Pennec, Jean-Pascal Guéry et al.

Understanding food selection and preference factors is a major challenge for species conservation, both in situ and ex situ, as it helps to improve the well-being of individuals housed in zoos. In bonobos (Pan paniscus), a species endemic to the Democratic Republic of Congo and classified as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), little is known about these selection factors. Indeed, study sites in the wild are few and difficult to access and studies on these issues in captivity are rare. The aim of this study was to characterize the opportunistic food consumption of a community of 17 bonobos housed at La Vallée des Singes (Romagne, France) with access to a 0.8-hectare outdoor enclosure covered of local vegetation, in order to study the nutritional and ecological determinants of this behavior. Thanks to a multi-disciplinary methodology combining individual behavioral observations, botanical census, nutritional analyses (macro and micronutrients) and interviews with caretakers, this three-season study revealed the consumption of 46 foods belonging to 26 plant species, with significant seasonal variability. Bonobos seem to avoid the most fibrous food when availability in the enclosure allows it. This behavior seems to bring a nutritional supplement to the daily ration (particularly fiber and calcium), but also a behavioral enrichment, with a reduction of abnormal regurgitation-reingestion behaviors. This study, which complements those carried out in the wild to identify food selection mechanisms, highlights the importance of better understanding this behavior in zoos to improve the nutrition and well-being of the species housed there.

N. S. O. Sousa, E. S. Souza, E. S. M. Canto et al.

Abstract This review article explores the potential of fermentations in the Amazon region as catalysts for economic and social development. It highlights the rich cultural and gastronomic diversity of the Amazon, focusing on indigenous fermented products. Two main products, tucupi and caxiri, are discussed in detail, emphasizing their significance in local cuisine and culture. The review examines the challenges and opportunities for industrial applications of these products, as well as their potential for social technology initiatives, particularly in the context of family farming. The sustainable production of native fermented products in the Amazon is seen as a means to preserve biodiversity, empower local communities, and promote cultural heritage. The article concludes that both industrial and social technologies have complementary roles in promoting economic growth, cultural preservation, and the well-being of the Amazon region, making it a promising hub for innovative and sustainable fermented food products on a global scale.

Jinzhou Zhang, Heming Wang, Shuaitao Meng et al.

This paper aims to identify <i>Poria cocos</i> polysaccharides (PCPs) as a potential feed additive used for swine production; thus, we explored the effects of different dietary inclusion levels of PCP on growth performance, immunity, and cecal microflora composition in weaned piglets. For this, a total of 120 28-day-old Duroc × Landrace × Yorkshire weaned piglets (8.51 ± 0.19 kg; 28 ± 1 days of age) were randomly allocated to five groups that were fed a basal diet supplemented with 0, 0.025%, 0.05%, 0.1%, and 0.2% PCP, respectively, for 42 days. The results indicated that the average daily gain (ADG) and gain/feed ratio were higher in the PCP treatment groups than in the control group, with a linear effect. The serum concentrations of IgG, IgA, IL-2, IFN-γ, the number of CD4⁺ T cells, and the CD4⁺-to-CD8⁺ T-cell ratio (CD4⁺/CD8⁺) were increased, while the levels of IL-6 and TNF-α were decreased in the PCP supplementation groups compared with those in the control group. Furthermore, the cytokine mRNA expression levels exhibited a similar trend in the spleen. PCP supplementation also reduced the abundance of <i>Escherichia coli</i> and <i>Salmonella</i> and enhanced that of <i>Lactobacilli</i> and <i>Bifidobacteria</i> in the cecum. In summary, dietary PCP inclusion exerted positive effects on the growth performance, immunity, and cecal microbiota of piglets and showed potential for use as a feed additive for improving the health of weaned piglets, with 0.1% being the optimal dosage.

Jack Van Allsburg, Timothy A. Shahan

Abstract Optimal foraging theory suggests that animals make decisions which maximize their food intake per unit time when foraging, but the mechanisms animals use to track the value of behavioral alternatives and choose between them remain unclear. Several models for how animals integrate past experience have been suggested. However, these models make differential predictions for the occurrence of spontaneous recovery of choice: a behavioral phenomenon in which a hiatus from the experimental environment results in animals reverting to a behavioral allocation consistent with a reward distribution from the more distant past, rather than one consistent with their most recently experienced distribution. To explore this phenomenon and compare these models, three free-operant experiments with rats were conducted using a serial reversal design. In Phase 1, two responses (A and B) were baited with pellets on concurrent variable interval schedules, favoring option A. In Phase 2, lever baiting was reversed to favor option B. Rats then entered a delay period, where they were maintained at weight in their home cages and no experimental sessions took place. Following this delay, preference was assessed using initial responding in test sessions where levers were presented, but not baited. Models were compared in performance, including an exponentially weighted moving average, the Temporal Weighting Rule, and variants of these models. While the data provided strong evidence of spontaneous recovery of choice, the form and extent of recovery was inconsistent with the models under investigation. Potential interpretations are discussed in relation to both the decision rule and valuation functions employed.

Angelo J. Ávila-Jiménez , Ricardo Martínez-Gamba

Mining is a process with great environmental impact that implies important consequences for biodiversity, including its loss. Here, we present a list of 13 species of ants that were collected in a high-impact mining exploitation area of Quipama, Boyacá, Colombia. Notably, the records of Pheidole subarmata Mayr, 1884 and Camponotus ager (Smith, 1858) are new for the department. Although the presence of these species indicates serious disturbance by human activity in the area, there is still a considerable diversity of ants. This study highlights the need for actions to ensure the management and rehabilitation of areas affected by mining.

Andrew M. Campbell, Mallory G. Anderson, Leonie Jacobs

Commercial housing conditions may contribute to chronic negative stress in broiler chickens, reducing their animal welfare. The objective of this study was to determine how secretory (fecal) and plasma immunoglobulin-A (IgA) levels in fast-growing broilers respond to positive and negative housing conditions. In three replicated experiments, male Ross 708 broilers (<i>n</i> = 1650/experiment) were housed in a 2 × 2 factorial study of high or low environmental complexity and high or low stocking density. In experiments 1 and 3 but not in experiment 2, high complexity tended to positively impact day 48 plasma IgA concentrations. When three experiments were combined, high complexity positively impacted day 48 plasma IgA concentrations. Stocking density and the complexity × density interaction did not impact day 48 plasma IgA concentrations. Environmental complexity and the complexity × density interaction did not impact day 48 secretory IgA concentrations. A high stocking density negatively impacted day 48 secretory IgA concentrations overall but not in individual experiments. These results suggest that environmental complexity decreased chronic stress, while a high stocking density increased chronic stress. Thus, plasma IgA levels increased under high-complexity housing conditions (at day 48), and secretory IgA levels (at day 48) decreased under high-density conditions, suggesting that chronic stress differed among treatments. Therefore, these measures may be useful for quantifying chronic stress but only if the statistical power is high. Future research should replicate these findings under similar and different housing conditions to confirm the suitability of IgA as a measure of chronic stress in broiler chickens.

Jessica Peruzzo, Marco Vicariotto

A remarkably early nesting of a pair of White-throated Dipper (Cinclus cinclus) in December 2021 in northeastern Italy is reported and discussed by considering factors that may have influenced the breeding onset.

Hanamant M. Halli, Sanganabasappa Angadi, Prabhu Govindasamy et al.

The aim of this study was to explore the effect of sowing methods and deficit irrigation on weed dynamics, yield and water-use efficiency (WUE) of the maize–cowpea system during the summer and monsoon seasons, respectively. The field experiment was carried out for two years (2015 and 2016) using a split design with three replicates under irrigated (maize) and rainfed (cowpea) conditions on vertisols of a semi-arid region. Treatments included three sowing methods [i.e., broad bed and furrow (BBF), corrugated furrow (CF) and ridges and furrow (RF)] and four irrigation levels [i.e., irrigation once in 10 days (I_10D), irrigation at 40% (I₄₀), at 50% (I₅₀) and at 60% (I₆₀) depletion]. The results indicated that, regardless of weed flora (monocots, dicots and sedges), the RF method produced higher weed density (2.09–2.98 No. m⁻²) compared to CF (2.00–2.80 No. m⁻²) and BBF (1.85–2.64 No. m⁻²) in maize at 30 and 60 days after sowing (DAS). The RF method with irrigation at I₄₀ and I₅₀ recorded significantly higher weed density, followed by the CF and BBF method. A similar trend was also observed with dry weight of weeds (monocot; 24.19%, dicot; 25.52%, and sedges; 29.80%) in maize at 30 and 60 DAS. Higher weed density and dry weight of weeds in the RF method with I₄₀ was due to higher soil moisture availability and higher nutrient uptake due to larger lateral wetting of the soil and greater water use (29.27%). However, the BBF method favoured the growth of weeds (9.33–16.60%) in cowpea at 55 DAS and coped under rain-fed situation over CF and RF. The CF with moderate depletion (I₅₀) method produced significantly higher maize equivalent yield (MEY) of cowpea (10,000 kg ha⁻¹) with considerable reduction in the total water usage (19.33%). Therefore, under a water scarcity situation, growers can practice CF and I₅₀ for higher yield and WUE of maize–cowpea sequence cropping.

Carlos Leal-Bastidas, Luis Vargas-Chacoff, Natalia Sandoval et al.

Los ríos de la Patagonia son uno de los ecosistemas acuáticos mejor conservados en América del Sur. Sin embargo, debido al creciente desarrollo económico en la región, numerosos cuerpos de agua se han visto amenazados por actividades humanas. Analizamos la calidad del agua y la estructura del ensamble de macroinvertebrados en ocho estaciones a lo largo del río Palena, en el sector alto de la cuenca con mínima perturbación y sector bajo para aquellas estaciones perturbadas por actividades humanas. El muestreo abarcó cuatro estaciones del año (septiembre 2013 a mayo 2014). La temperatura, conductividad eléctrica, pH, oxígeno disuelto, dureza total, sílice, aluminio y fierro mostraron diferencias significativas (p < 0,05) entre la parte alta y baja de la cuenca y entre estaciones del año. Se registraron 30 familias de macroinvertebrados (90% larvas de insectos), siendo el Orden Diptera el más diverso (8 familias). La familia Leptophlebiidae (Ephemeroptera) fue la más abundante en las cuatro estaciones del año. Diferencias significativas en el ensamble de macroinvertebrados se registraron entre estaciones del año, agrupándose en dos grupos: verano-otoño y invierno-primavera, pero no entre la estructura del ensamble entre la zona alta y baja de la cuenca. Estos resultados indican que la estacionalidad tiene un efecto sobre la composición del ensamble de macroinvertebrados por sobre diferencias espaciales en la cuenca. Por otro lado, la alta diversidad de macroinvertebrados registradas en el río Palena, y buena calidad del agua, indican que las actividades antrópicas aún no son un riesgo para el ecosistema acuático.

Gureev Ivan

The aim of the research was to improve the technology for the production of winter wheat in Central Chernozem Region (CChR) by increasing the efficiency of the application of modern micronutrient fertilizers in conjunction with seed disinfectants and foliar dressing. To achieve this goal, the representative of FSBSI Kursk Federal Agricultural Research Center with the participation of specialists of Central Chernozem Machine Testing Station developed a technology and conducted field experiments on slightly leached medium loamy chernozem with pHKCl = 5.1 and humus content of 5.0%. For the first time on a scientific basis, a significant reserve for saving fertilizer resources has been realized through the use of synergy of interaction between nutrients. For this, the nomenclature and the ratio of the components of the nutritional mixture for foliar applications were established by an innovative method of functional foliar diagnostics using the Aquadonis device. Micronutrient fertilizer Aquamix ST (100 g/t) was applied to the seeds together with various seed disinfectants. As a control, we used a Lamador seed disinfectant (0.2 l /t), as well as new seed disinfectant: Scenic Combi (1.5 l/t), Baritone (1.5 l/t) + Nuprid (0.6 l/t) , Redigo (0.55 l/t) + Nuprid (0.6 l/t). Positive annual total cost savings of 119 rubles per 1 ton of produced grain was shown by the variant of seed treatment with a combination of Aquamix ST + Lamador. Other variants with the same agronomical efficiency, but with more expensive new seed disinfectants, turned out to be unprofitable. When evaluating the methods of foliar dressing, the highest yield of winter wheat at 3.98 t/ha was obtained using the innovative method of functional foliar diagnostics. The best indicators of the economic efficiency of the improved technology for the production of winter wheat were established in the variant of seed treatment Aquamix ST + Lamador with the application of foliar dressing using an innovative method. At the same time, the annual savings in total costs amounted to 476 rubles/t, which is 1.34 times higher than the variant with standard fertilizing with complex fertilizer Aquarin 5.

Shyun Chou, Nobumoto Izawa, Kazunori Ike et al.

The genus Eumonospora Allen, 1933 (Apicomplexa: Sarcocystidae), an avian coccidia, is characterized by monosporocystic and octasporozoic oocysts without Stieda and substieda bodies. Some members of Eumonospora, which infect several raptor species, exhibit high levels of pathogenicity, making eumonosporiosis the leading cause of death in captive-bred raptors. The host specificity of these species appears to be mesostenoxenous, as evidenced by unsuccessful transmission between different orders of avian hosts. However, several studies have detected Eumonospora spp. in taxonomically distant avian hosts, indicating that some of these species may be euryxenous. In the current study, diarrheic fecal examination of a captive-bred juvenile merlin (Falconiformes: Aves) in Tokyo, Japan, was conducted, and a large number of oocysts were morphologically and molecularly identified as E. henryae (Yakimoff and Matschulsky, 1932), a coccidia species reported only in Strigiformes. This is a new recorded host for this coccidia. Phylogenetic analyses via Bayesian inference and maximum likelihood methods using concatenated genomic datasets consisting of nuclear 18S rDNA, nuclear 28S rDNA and mitochondrial cytochrome C oxidase subunit 1 gene, revealed a well-supported monophyletic clade of Eumonospora spp. belonging to the family Sarcocystidae Poche 1913, which largely corresponded to the avian host phylogram. Therefore, based on distinguishable oocyst morphology, a new subfamily, Eumonosporinae, within the family Sarcocystidae, is proposed, and a reconsideration of the definition of Sarcocystidae is suggested. Further molecular characterization of this emerging pathogen, as well as clarification of its complete life cycle, including cyst-forming ability, is required for more appropriate generic assessment.

Zhi-Min Chang, Lin Yang, Jian-Kun Long et al.

The diagnostic characters of the Chinese planthopper genus Sinonissus Wang, Shi &amp;amp; Bourgoin, 2018 are redefined. Three new species of this genus, S. daozhenensis Chang &amp;amp; Chen, sp. nov. (Guizhou), S. hamulatus Chang &amp;amp; Chen, sp. nov. (Guizhou) and S. longicaudus Chang &amp;amp; Chen, sp. nov. (Sichuan) are described and illustrated, and their female genitalia compared. A checklist and key to the Chinese species of Sinonissus are given.

Savita Rani , Resha K.

In India, phytonematodes are reported to cause about 10-40 %yield loss in sugarcane. In India, Uttar Pradesh is the major sugarcane growing state, contributing about 48% of the area and 40% of the production. The present study was undertaken to record biodiversity, to correlate the soil major edaphic factors (temperature & moisture). The study was also centered on to reveal the edaphic factors affecting sex ratio fluctuation of the dominant phytonematodes. Soil temperature, which changes constantly, is a major factor influencing nematode development. Temperature is an important environmental factor for organisms. Different organisms have their own optimal temperatures for normal activities and high and low temperature limits they can tolerate. Diurnal fluctuations in temperature vary in extent and depend upon soil type, texture, moisture, atmospheric conditions, latitude, elevation, season and soil cover. Cool climate species often develop slowly in winter and become more active when temperatures rise in spring season and in this season plant parasitic nematodes population decrease. Moisture plays an important role in the movement of the soil organism. The findings indicated that during winter period when moisture and humidity is high in soil environment conditions. Populations of plant parasitic nematodes were highest in this season.

Abdelmalik Ibrahim Khalafalla, Ramadan Omer Ramadan, Annabel Rector et al.

We investigated two outbreaks of papillomatosis between 2013 and 2015 in Al Ahsa region of eastern Saudi Arabia involving fourteen dromedary camels. The disease affected both young and adult animals and occurred in coincidence with demodectic mange infestation. Diagnosis was made based on gross and histopathological characteristics of the wart lesion and was confirmed by PCR. Rolling circle amplification followed by degenerate primer PCR and sequencing of the amplicons revealed the presence of both Camelus dromedarius papillomavirus types 1 and 2, previously identified in infected dromedaries in Sudan.

VG. Castro, LS. Castilho, A. D'Fonseca