The expression of sexually dimorphic phenotypes from a shared genome between males and females is a longstanding puzzle in evolutionary biology. Increasingly, research has made use of transcriptomic technology to examine the molecular basis of sexual dimorphism through gene expression studies, but even this level of detail misses the metabolic processes that ultimately link gene expression with the whole organism phenotype. We use metabolic profiling in Drosophila melanogaster to complete this missing step, with a view to examining variation in male and female metabolic profiles, or metabolomes, throughout development. We show that the metabolome varies considerably throughout larval, pupal and adult stages. We also find significant sexual dimorphism in the metabolome, although only in pupae and adults, and the extent of dimorphism increases throughout development. We compare this to transcriptomic data from the same population and find that the general pattern of increasing sex differences throughout development is mirrored in RNA expression. We discuss our results in terms of the usefulness of metabolic profiling in linking genotype and phenotype to more fully understand the basis of sexually dimorphic phenotypes., Fiona C. Ingleby, Edward H. Morrow., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Helminths often occupy defined niches in the gut of their definitive hosts. In the dioecious acanthocephalans, adult males and females usually have similar gut distributions, but sexual site segregation has been reported in at least some species. We studied the intestinal distribution of the acanthocephalan Echinorhynchus borealis von Linstow, 1901 (syn. of E. cinctulus Porta, 1905) in its definitive host, burbot (Lota lota Linnaeus). Over 80% of female worms were found in the pyloric caeca, whereas the majority of males were in the anterior two-thirds of the intestine. This difference was relatively consistent between individual fish hosts. Worms from different parts of the gut did not differ in length, so site segregation was not obviously related to worm growth or age. We found proportionally more males in the caeca when a larger fraction of the females were found there, suggesting mating opportunities influence gut distribution. However, this result relied on a single parasite infrapopulation and is thus tentative. We discuss how mating strategies and/or sexual differences in life history might explain why males and females occupy different parts of the burbot gut., Arto Tuomainen, E. Tellervo Valtonen, Daniel P. Benesh., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Galleria mellonella larvae spin protective tubes, which they use until they finish feeding, when they spin cocoons. A feeding choice experiment showed that some of the silk produced by feeding larvae was consumed in addition to the standard diet (STD). To determine the effect of feeding on silk, last instar larvae were fed for 24 h on foods based on STD but modified by replacing the dry milk component (10% of the diet) with equal amounts of different kinds of silk. While each control larva consumed 21 ± 0.5 mg of the STD and produced 4.5 ± 0.1 mg of silk, larvae that ate the food that contained larval silk consumed 10 ± 0.4 mg of food and produced 6.1 ± 0.1 mg silk; the percentage ratio of silk produced to diet consumed was 21% and 61%, respectively. A more pronounced reduction in food consumption occurred when larvae were supplied with Galleria "cocoon" silk or the sericin fraction of such silk, and only 3.8 mg/larva was ingested of the diet containing Bombyx mori cocoon silk or its sericin fraction. Silk production expressed in terms of percentage of diet consumed was always higher than that recorded for larvae fed STD. We conclude that G. mellonella larvae recycle part of the silk that they produce during feeding. Presence of silk in the diet reduces food intake but increases the ratio of silk production to diet consumption. Sericin fraction of the cocoon silk seems to deter feeding., Haq Abdul Shaik, Archana Mishra, František Sehnal., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Male dimorphism in insects is often accompanied by alternative mating tactics, which may, together with morphological traits, determine fitness of the different male morphs. Fitness consequences of male head horn size, male-male competition and male nest-staying behaviour were experimentally assessed in Copris acutidens, in which major and minor males can co-occur in nests. Possible differences in their reproductive behaviour and breeding success were assayed in a breeding experiment, in which females were paired with one major male, one minor male, or a pair of major and minor males. The advantage of major males staying in a nest along with a rival male is that major males are reproductively more successful than minor males in this species. The weight of dung transported into nests was significantly less in rearing containers containing two males than in those with a single male of either morph, although it did not differ between major and minor males when kept alone. The results indicate that the presence of a rival male negatively affects male provisioning due to interference from rival males. In contrast, in the present study, an increased incidence of male nest-staying behaviour was recorded in the two- male and one minor male treatment than in the one major male treatment. These results indicate that because of the risk of sperm competition, major males stay longer in nests if a rival male is present. Furthermore, minor males (which are subject to a higher risk of sperm competition) stay longer than major males in nests without a rival male. In other words, the present study revealed an alternative behaviour during the post-copulatory stage associated with horn dimorphism and the presence or absence of a rival male., Mayumi Akamine., and Obsahuje bibliografii
The ongoing process of climate change will result in higher temperatures during winter and therefore might increase the survival of overwintering invertebrates. However, the process may also lead to a reduction in snow cover and expose overwintering invertebrates to lower temperatures, which could result in higher mortality. During a field experiment, I investigated the effects of a reduction in snow cover on the survival of the ant Temnothorax crassispinus, which overwinters in nests located on the ground. Ant colonies differed in the survival rate of the workers in the experimental (from which snow cover was removed) and control group. In the control group, the survival rate was unrelated to colony size. However, in the experimental group, from which snow was removed after each heavy snowfall, worker survival was lower in small colonies. Such colony size related mortality may affect the fusion of colonies before winter. and Sławomir Mitrus.
Twenty species (sixteen adult and four larval) of parasitic nematodes belonging to the Ascaridoidea, Camallanoidea, Cosmocercoidea, Dioctophymatoidea, Habronematoidea, Oxyuroidea, Seuratoidea, and Thelazioidea were collected from freshwater fishes of the Congo River basin in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Central African Republic in 2008 and 2012, respectively. Based on light and scanning electron microscopical examination, many species are redescribed in detail. This material also contained four previously unknown species, Labeonema longispiculatum sp. n. from Synodontis acanthomias Boulenger, Gendria longispiculata sp. n. from Schilbe grenfelli (Boulenger), G. sanghaensis sp. n. from Schilbe marmoratus Boulenger, and Cucullanus congolensis sp. n. from Auchenoglanis occidentalis (Valenciennes). The new species L. longispiculatum is mainly characterised by conspicuously long (210-228 µm) spicules, approximately twice as long as those in other congeners, the length (45-48 µm) of the gubernaculum and the host family (Mochokidae), whereas G. longispiculata by very long (1.2 mm) spicules, the shape of the oesophagus and cephalic vesicle, distribution of postanal papillae and the host family (Schilbeidae). Main characteristic features of G. sanghaensis are the presence of a hexagonal oral aperture surrounded by lip-like structures, the posterior portion of the oesophagus moderately expanded, spicules and the gubernaculum 414-438 µm and 54-57 µm long, respectively, deirids located at the level of the posterior end of the oesophagus and the absence of cervical alae. Cucullanus congolensis differs from congeneric species parasitising African freshwater and brackish-water fishes mainly in the absence of a ventral precloacal sucker and lateral preanal papillae, the presence of a large median precloacal papilla-like formation, spicules 480-489 µm long and the location of the excretory pore in the regio, František Moravec, Miloslav Jirků., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Based on material collected from Rhinella cf. margaritifera (Laurenti) and Rhi. marina (Linnaeus) (Anura: Bufonidae) during a parasite survey of the herpetofauna of French Guiana, updated descriptions of Rhabdias androgyna Kloss, 1971 and R. fuelleborni Travassos, 1926 are presented. In addition to metrical data, which may overlap in closely related species, emphasis is placed on qualitative characters. Rhabdias androgyna is distinguished by the unique presence of an outer and inner cephalic cuticular inflation, a shoulder-like broadening of the body at the anterior end, a wide and shallow buccal capsule (average buccal ratio 0.36) with serrated lumen in apical view, a prominent anterior dilatation of the oesophagus, and the presence of an additional posterior dilatation anterior to the oesophageal bulb. Characters that may help to differentiate R. fuelleborni from closely related species parasitising the Rhi. marina species group are the presence of six relatively uniform lips, and the division of the buccal capsule into an anterior and posterior segment, with differently structured walls. Both the presence of R. androgyna and R. fuelleborni in French Guiana constitute new geographic records. A single specimen of Rhabdias sp. is described from Pristimantis chiastonotus (Lynch et Hoegmood) (Anura: Craugastoridae). This species differs from all its Neotropical congeners by the distinct globular swelling of its head, similar to that seen in only one Palaearctic and one Afrotropical Rhabdias species. A list of species of Rhabdias parasitising amphibians in the Netropical Realm is also provided., Yuriy Kuzmin, Louis H. du Preez, Kerstin Junker., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Fourteen species (twelve adult and two larval) of nematodes belonging to the Ascaridoidea, Camallanoidea, Cosmocercoidea, Habronematoidea, Oxyuroidea, Seuratoidea and Trichinelloidea were collected from fishes in the Sudan (River Nile and Atbara Dam Lake), whereas only four species (one adult and three larval) of the Ascaridoidea, Camallanoidea, Dioctophymatoidea and Trichinelloideafrom fishes in Ethiopia (Lake Tana). The Sudanese material also contained two previously unknown species, Cucullanus mormyri sp. n. from Mormyrus caschive Linnaeus (type host), Mormyrus sp. and Marcusenius cyprinoides (Linnaeus) (all Mormyridae), and Procamallanus (Spirocamallanus) pseudospiralis sp. n. from Synodontis schall (Bloch et Schneider) (type host), S. frontosus Vaillant and S. nigrita Valenciennes (all Mochokidae), which are described based on light and scanning electron microscopical studies. Cucullanus baylisi Campana-Rouget, 1961, a little-known parasite of Synodontis spp., is redescribed in detail. A key to Procamallanus (Spirocamallanus) spp. from African inland fishes is provided. Falcaustra guiersi Vassiliadès, 1973 is considered a junior synonym of F. hexapapillata (Khalil, 1962). The findings represent several new host and geographical records. Cucullanus baylisi Lakshmi, 2000 (= a homonym to C. baylisi Campana-Rouget, 1961) is re-named as C. dubius nom. n. and is considered a species inquirenda., František Moravec, Tomáš Scholz., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Spiders are generalist predators that contribute to the control of pests in agroecosystems. Land use management determines habitats including refuges for hibernation and aestivation. The availability of shelters on the ground can be crucial for maintaining populations of spider within crops. We studied the effect of the number of stones on the surface of the soil on the spider community in selected olive groves in Trás-os-Montes (northeastern Portugal). The number of stones significantly influenced the overall diversity of spiders, abundance of immature individuals and abundance of ground hunters. Agricultural management practices aimed at the conservation of soil microhabitats such as hedgerows, stonewalls and stones on the ground should be promoted in order to maintain or increase the number of shelters for potential natural enemies of pests., Jacinto Benhadi-Marín, José A. Pereira, José A. Barrientos, José P. Sousa, Sónia A.P. Santos., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Faecal samples were collected from cats kept as pets (n = 120) and stray cats (n = 135) in Central Europe (Czech Republic, Poland and Slovakia) and screened for the presence of Cryptosporidium spp., Giardia intestinalis (Kunstler, 1882), Encephalitozoon spp. and Enterocytozoon bieneusi Desportes, Le Charpentier, Galian, Bernard, Cochand-Priollet, Lavergne, Ravisse et Modigliani, 1985 by PCR analysis of the small-subunit of rRNA (Cryptosporidium spp. and G. intestinalis) and ITS (microsporidia) genes. Sequence analysis of targeted genes revealed the presence of C. felis Iseki, 1979, G. intestinalis assemblage F, E. cuniculi Levaditi, Nicolau et Schoen, 1923 genotype II, and E. bieneusi genotype D. There was no correlation between the occurrence of detected parasites and sex, presence of diarrhoea or drug treatment (drug containing pyrantel and praziquantel). Compared to pet cats (7%), stray cats (30%) were statistically more frequently infected with protist parasites and overall may present a greater risk to human health., Martin Kváč, Lada Hofmannová, Ynes Ortega, Nikola Holubová, Michaela Horčičková, Marta Kicia, Lenka Hlásková, Dana Květoňová, Bohumil Sak, John McEvoy., and Obsahuje bibliografii