Academic literature on the topic 'Cave insects'
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Journal articles on the topic "Cave insects"
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Singh, Dhyani, Kokate, Chakraborty, and Nimsadkar. "Deterioration of World Heritage Cave Monument of Ajanta, India: Insights to Important Biological Agents and Environment Friendly Solutions." Heritage 2, no. 3 (2019): 2545–54. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/heritage2030156.
Full textAbstract:
Heritage monuments across the world are affected by a variety of physical and biological stresses. Damage to heritage monuments due to insects and pests is growing with increasing anthropogenic pressure and changing climatic conditions. Cave monuments are habitats to microbes, algae, fungi, and insects, and are unique biodiversity sites due to their low temperature, little to no sunlight, and high moisture conditions. This study takes stock of available information on important factors that facilitate the growth of insect pests and degrade heritage monuments. Ajanta Caves, a UNESCO world heritage site in India, is a human marvel, important archaeological and heritage site of immense cultural and historic values. The present paper is an attempt to understand a variety of stresses and factors with a focus on insect pests that have substantially affected Ajanta cave paintings in the last few decades. The study also provides information on available approaches for damage control including the need for an integrated insect pest management for protecting cave monuments against rapid degradation across the country in general and Ajanta caves in particular. A light-based approach is the key highlight of the study that can be used as an effective and efficient approach to protect archaeological sites especially cave paintings from insect pests without disturbing the pollinator diversity and surrounding environment.
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Maher, Louis J. "Environmental information from guano palynology of insectivorous bats of the central part of the United States of America." Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 237, no. 1 (2006): 19–31. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.13483629.
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(Uploaded by Plazi for the Bat Literature Project) Bat droppings accumulate in caves, and the resultant guano contains a stratigraphic record of the environment analogous to the record from lake sediment and peat. The bats forage at night for insects; they return to the cave during the day to sleep and care for their young. They attach themselves to suitable perches in the cave ceiling, and their excrement accumulates on the floor below. Flying requires a lot of energy, and bats of temperate regions consume large numbers of night-flying insects. In some situations the guano can reach a depth of meters in hundreds to thousands of years, and it has a valuable chronostratigraphy. The bat scats occur as small pellets that represent the non-digestible portion of the animal's diet in the preceding few hours; hence the diet provides information about the time of the year the feeding occurred. Bat guano contains, among other things, insect fragments, hair, pollen, and mineral matter. Night-flying insects do not normally visit flowers for the pollen; many species do not eat during the flying phase of their life cycle, and those that do generally are nectar feeders. Although the insects are not after the pollen, they do fly through a pollen-laden environment, and the pollen and dust adheres to their bodies. The insects essentially act as living traps for airborne debris. The bats also are furry pollen traps; during grooming they ingest pollen and dust enmeshed in their fur, and this also is excreted. The pollen in an individual scat contains a record of the atmospheric pollen during a single day in the past. This kind of detail is rarely available from lake sediment. Chemical analysis of individual bat scats in a time series can chart the changing environment caused by agriculture, industry, volcanic dust, and a host of other details that depend only on the cleverness of the researcher. Careful 14C analysis can isolate the times when bats did not use the cave, and that may be useful in interpreting past conditions. If the insect types in the guano change over time, that may provide evidence of changing climate. Pollen was analyzed from guano samples taken from Tumbling Creek Cave near Protem, Missouri, USA. The cave contains a maternal colony of the Grey Bat (Myotis grisescens) that occupies the cave for a short time each year. Scats collected from the base of a 70 cm thick cone of guano yielded an AMS 14C date of 2810 ± 40 yr BP. The fecal material has a crumbly structure below the surface; it was of mahogany color (7.5 YR 2/1 to 3/2) and had no noticeable odor. Guano can be processed like normal sediment, but simple washing in a weak detergent solution followed by acetolysis appears adequate.
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Maher, Louis J. "Environmental information from guano palynology of insectivorous bats of the central part of the United States of America." Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 237, no. 1 (2006): 19–31. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.13483629.
Full textAbstract:
(Uploaded by Plazi for the Bat Literature Project) Bat droppings accumulate in caves, and the resultant guano contains a stratigraphic record of the environment analogous to the record from lake sediment and peat. The bats forage at night for insects; they return to the cave during the day to sleep and care for their young. They attach themselves to suitable perches in the cave ceiling, and their excrement accumulates on the floor below. Flying requires a lot of energy, and bats of temperate regions consume large numbers of night-flying insects. In some situations the guano can reach a depth of meters in hundreds to thousands of years, and it has a valuable chronostratigraphy. The bat scats occur as small pellets that represent the non-digestible portion of the animal's diet in the preceding few hours; hence the diet provides information about the time of the year the feeding occurred. Bat guano contains, among other things, insect fragments, hair, pollen, and mineral matter. Night-flying insects do not normally visit flowers for the pollen; many species do not eat during the flying phase of their life cycle, and those that do generally are nectar feeders. Although the insects are not after the pollen, they do fly through a pollen-laden environment, and the pollen and dust adheres to their bodies. The insects essentially act as living traps for airborne debris. The bats also are furry pollen traps; during grooming they ingest pollen and dust enmeshed in their fur, and this also is excreted. The pollen in an individual scat contains a record of the atmospheric pollen during a single day in the past. This kind of detail is rarely available from lake sediment. Chemical analysis of individual bat scats in a time series can chart the changing environment caused by agriculture, industry, volcanic dust, and a host of other details that depend only on the cleverness of the researcher. Careful 14C analysis can isolate the times when bats did not use the cave, and that may be useful in interpreting past conditions. If the insect types in the guano change over time, that may provide evidence of changing climate. Pollen was analyzed from guano samples taken from Tumbling Creek Cave near Protem, Missouri, USA. The cave contains a maternal colony of the Grey Bat (Myotis grisescens) that occupies the cave for a short time each year. Scats collected from the base of a 70 cm thick cone of guano yielded an AMS 14C date of 2810 ± 40 yr BP. The fecal material has a crumbly structure below the surface; it was of mahogany color (7.5 YR 2/1 to 3/2) and had no noticeable odor. Guano can be processed like normal sediment, but simple washing in a weak detergent solution followed by acetolysis appears adequate.
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Toshkova, Nia, Katrin Dimitrova, Mario Langourov, et al. "Snacking during hibernation? Winter bat diet and prey availabilities, a case study from Iskar Gorge, Bulgaria." Historia naturalis bulgarica 45, no. 5 (2023): 125–42. http://dx.doi.org/10.48027/hnb.45.053.
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Better empirical knowledge of how bat and insect phenology are influenced by seasonal environmental conditions and how this may affect fitness is essential in the face of changing climatic conditions. We examined the winter diet of the Schreibers’ bent-winged bat Miniopterus schreibersii (Kuhl, 1817) from Razhishkata Cave, Balkan Mountains, Bulgaria during four sampling periods in the winter of 2021 (end of January - end of March). We used a combination of DNA metabarcoding and a microscope-based morphological analyses of bats droppings. Additionally, we tracked prey availability in the studied area using insect flight interception traps (FIT). The species was actively feeding outside the cave and did not use the cave fauna. Our samples indicate a shift in the winter diet of the bats throughout the studied periods. Even though Diptera was the most abundant order of insects during two of the study periods, bats were preying predominantly on Lepidoptera and Hymenoptera. The metabarcoding also supported this with data for the presence of insects with diurnal activity in the samples. The temperature loggers showed a strong correlation between the outside temperature and the temperature in the cave where the colony was located, probably impacting the activity patterns of the bats. To our knowledge, this is the first study of winter bat activity and diet in Bulgaria. Our research can serve as a potential framework for studying winter bat activity and insect activity during this sensitive period.
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Toshkova, Nia, Katrin Dimitrova, Mario Langourov, et al. "Snacking during hibernation? Winter bat diet and prey availabilities, a case study from Iskar Gorge, Bulgaria." Historia naturalis bulgarica 45, no. 5 (2023): 125–42. https://doi.org/10.48027/hnb.45.053.
Full textAbstract:
Better empirical knowledge of how bat and insect phenology are influenced by seasonal environmental conditions and how this may affect fitness is essential in the face of changing climatic conditions. We examined the winter diet of the Schreibers’ bent-winged bat Miniopterus schreibersii (Kuhl, 1817) from Razhishkata Cave, Balkan Mountains, Bulgaria during four sampling periods in the winter of 2021 (end of January - end of March). We used a combination of DNA metabarcoding and a microscope-based morphological analyses of bats droppings. Additionally, we tracked prey availability in the studied area using insect flight interception traps (FIT). The species was actively feeding outside the cave and did not use the cave fauna. Our samples indicate a shift in the winter diet of the bats throughout the studied periods. Even though Diptera was the most abundant order of insects during two of the study periods, bats were preying predominantly on Lepidoptera and Hymenoptera. The metabarcoding also supported this with data for the presence of insects with diurnal activity in the samples. The temperature loggers showed a strong correlation between the outside temperature and the temperature in the cave where the colony was located, probably impacting the activity patterns of the bats. To our knowledge, this is the first study of winter bat activity and diet in Bulgaria. Our research can serve as a potential framework for studying winter bat activity and insect activity during this sensitive period.
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Pokhrel, Santosh, and Prem B. Budha. "Key to Identify Insects from Droppings of Some Insectivorous Bats of Nepal." Journal of Institute of Science and Technology 19, no. 1 (2015): 129–36. http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/jist.v19i1.13838.
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Food habit of insectivorous bats was studied using fecal analysis. The fresh bat dropping samples from Mahendra cave, Pokhara and Nagarjun cave, Kathmandu were collected in March and September 2011. Bat droppings were moistened in hot water, separated into fine pieces and observed under stereoscope. The recovered insects and insect parts were mounted in slide, photographed and identified up to Order and Family level. Altogether ten insect orders viz. Coleoptera, Diptera, Hemiptera, Homoptera, Odonata, Hymenoptera, Lepidoptera, Orthoptera, Trichoptera and Thysanoptera and 25 families were identified. In addition, spider and mites were also reported. The identification key to Order and Family level has been prepared based on the studied characters compared with taxonomic characters from literature.Journal of Institute of Science and Technology, 2014, 19(1): 129-136
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Pokhrel, Santosh, and Prem B. Budha. "Key to Identify Insects from Droppings of Some Insectivorous Bats of Nepal." Journal of Institute of Science and Technology 19, no. 1 (2015): 129–36. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.14820331.
Full textAbstract:
(Uploaded by Plazi for the Bat Literature Project) Food habit of insectivorous bats was studied using fecal analysis. The fresh bat dropping samples from Mahendra cave, Pokhara and Nagarjun cave, Kathmandu were collected in March and September 2011. Bat droppings were moistened in hot water, separated into fine pieces and observed under stereoscope. The recovered insects and insect parts were mounted in slide, photographed and identified up to Order and Family level. Altogether ten insect orders viz. Coleoptera, Diptera, Hemiptera, Homoptera, Odonata, Hymenoptera, Lepidoptera, Orthoptera, Trichoptera and Thysanoptera and 25 families were identified. In addition, spider and mites were also reported. The identification key to Order and Family level has been prepared based on the studied characters compared with taxonomic characters from literature.
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Severina, I. Yu, E. S. Novikova, and M. I. Zhukovskaya. "Insect ocelli: ecology, physiology, and morphology of the accessory visual system." Сенсорные системы 38, no. 2 (2024): 35–53. http://dx.doi.org/10.31857/s0235009224020033.
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The peripheral photoreceptor system of adult insects and insect larvae of hemimetabolous insects consists of a pair of compound facet eyes and several simple chamber eyes, the ocelli. The origin of the ocelli is attributed to the simple eyes of crustacean larvae; the ocelli, along with the compound eyes, present the basic plan of the photosensitive system of insects. The evolution of these light-sensitive organs is closely related to flight, allowing to maintain the position of the body in relation to the horizon, they have high sensitivity and fast signal processing, which is critical for small animals easily carried away by air currents. In low light conditions, ocelli increase in size and in some cases also increase light sensitivity through light-reflecting tapetum, loss of polarization sensitivity and color separation. When light intensity is reduced below a critical level, such as in cave dwellers, ocelli disappear. In actively moving diurnal insects, ocelli can acquire polarization sensitivity, features of object vision, and several, mostly two, spectral types of photoreceptors. The high speed of the ocellar visual system is ensured by a small number of synaptic connections projecting to motor circuits.
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Strauß, Johannes, and Nataša Stritih. "Neuronal Regression of Internal Leg Vibroreceptor Organs in a Cave-Dwelling Insect (Orthoptera: Rhaphidophoridae: Dolichopoda araneiformis)." Brain, Behavior and Evolution 89, no. 2 (2017): 104–16. http://dx.doi.org/10.1159/000462957.
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Animals' adaptations to cave habitats generally include elaboration of extraoptic senses, and in insects the receptor structures located on the legs are supposed to become more prominent in response to constant darkness. The receptors for detecting substrate vibrations are often highly sensitive scolopidial sensilla localized within the legs or the body. For troglobitic insects the evolutionary changes in vibroreceptor organs have not been studied. Since rock is an extremely unfavorable medium for vibration transmission, selection on vibration receptors may be weakened in caves, and these sensory organs may undergo regressive evolution. We investigated the anatomy of the most elaborate internal vibration detection system in orthopteroid insects, the scolopidial subgenual organ complex in the cave cricket Dolichopoda araneiformis (Orthoptera: Ensifera: Rhaphidophoridae). This is a suitable model species which shows high levels of adaptation to cave life in terms of both phenotypic and life cycle characteristics. We compared our data with data on the anatomy and physiology of the subgenual organ complex from the related troglophilic species Troglophilus neglectus. In D. araneiformis, the subgenual organ complex contains three scolopidial organs: the subgenual organ, the intermediate organ, and the accessory organ. The presence of individual organs and their innervation pattern are identical to those found in T. neglectus, while the subgenual organ and the accessory organ of D. araneiformis contain about 50% fewer scolopidial sensilla than in T. neglectus. This suggests neuronal regression of these organs in D. araneiformis, which may reflect a relaxed selection pressure for vibration detection in caves. At the same time, a high level of overall neuroanatomical conservation of the intermediate organ in this species suggests persistence of the selection pressure maintaining this particular organ. While regressive evolution of chordotonal organs has been documented for insect auditory organs, this study shows for the first time that internal vibroreceptors can also be affected.
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Ji, Ai Hong, Wan Fu Wang, Jun Feng Yan, and Fa Si Wu. "Locomotive and Adhesive Behavior of Apopestes spectrum on Murals in Mogao Grottoes, Dunhuang." Applied Mechanics and Materials 461 (November 2013): 235–40. http://dx.doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/amm.461.235.
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Adhesion of insects on murals is one of key factors leading to the biological diseases of wall paintings in cave temples. Murals in Mogao Grottoes, Dunhuang is art treasures. It is very important to study insects damage on murals for Mogao Grottoes preservation. We recorded locomotion and adhesive behavior of Apopestes spectrum on murals in Mogao Grottoes and simulated murals. The insects can creep steadily on inclined mural surfaces which angle of slopes are 90°, 135° and 180°, respectively. Its gait parameters were adjusted with the change of angle of slope. Apopestes spectrum adjust their locomotive and adhesive patterns on vertical murals with the change of roughness of the murals surface. The insects cant adhere on two kinds of simulated mural surfaces in ultramarine and realgar color whose roughness are 1.154~1.156 μm. And they can adhere on seven kinds of simulated surfaces in iron yellow, indigo, white lead, red lead, orpiment, vermilion and yellow lead color whose roughness are 1.319~2.714 μm depending on the mechanism of mechanical interlocking between claws and substrates. With the help of wing flapping, the insects can creep on these simulated murals. Apopestes spectrum can freely move and stably adhere by claws on other seven kinds of simulated surfaces in atacamite, ink, talc, gypsum, natural red soil, azurite and malachite color whose roughness are 3.129~6.662 μm. When insects climb on murals, their claw tips flip on the substrates and damage the surface the murals. Keywords: insect, locomotion, adhesion, mural, claw
Dissertations / Theses on the topic "Cave insects"
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Muwanga-Zake, Johnnie Wycliffe Frank. "Insect herbivores associated with Senecio pterophorus and Senecio inaequidens at Butterworth, South Africa." Thesis, Rhodes University, 1995. http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1005402.
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This study lists and compares insect herbivores of Senecio inaequidens and of Senecio pterophorus around Butterworth by 18 Tables and 38 Figures. The two plant species are widely distributed around Southern Africa. Samples were taken during a month of each of the four main seasons of the year, which in Butterworth did not show much difference in temperature. The two plant species shared generalist insect herbivores most of which were also on other surrounding plant species. The population of most of the herbivores was affected by the seasons while the two plant species were not seasonal, thus the correlation between insect herbivores and the two plant species was not significant. The heavier, and apparently chemically protected species, Senecio pterophorus, accommodated borers and supported a wider variety of but fewer individual insects. Senecio pterophorus could be having more defences but had more serious herbivores. There were no serious insect herbivores that could control the abundance of the two plant species around Butterworth. Anatomical differences between S. pterophorus and S. inaequidens could be highlighted by the kind and number of insect herbivores found upon them. Similarities were more difficult to identify through studying their insect herbivores. The biology of one serious weed, Lixus sp., on Senecio pterophorus was studied in more detail. The life cycle of the weevil was found to be synchronised with that of the host. This weevil shared the stems with other species of weevils with no indication of competition.
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Hepburn, Colleen. "Composition and phenology of insect pests of Capsicum (Solanaceae) cultivated in the Makana District, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa." Thesis, Rhodes University, 2008. http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1005339.
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Capsicum baccatum var. pendulum was first grown in the Makana District in 2005. Extremely little was known about best practices for cultivation or the insects and diseases associated with the crop in this area. The study was conducted during the second year of production, November 2005 and November 2006, in an attempt to identify the composition and phenology of insects occurring on C. baccatum. In the more rural parts of the Eastern Cape, and more particularly in Grahamstown, there are very few industries. With the advent of this new agricultural venture, a processing factory has been opened in Grahamstown creating more than 600 seasonal jobs in the factory and 1000 seasonal jobs on farms for local people. This business enterprise has not only brought about the creation of jobs, but also training and skills development and empowerment, generating much-needed income in this area. An extensive literature review yielded limited information on insect pests associated with Capsicum. Data from a pilot sampling trial undertaken were statistically analyzed to establish the number of plants to be scouted per site and the most effective scouting techniques to use. Based on the data available and insects collected during the pilot sampling trial, a surveillance programme was designed. Five different types of monitoring traps were placed in each of the eight study sites. Collection of trap catches and scouting of fifteen individual plants per site was undertaken on a weekly basis over the 52-week study period. The most commonly occurring potential insect pests were African Bollworm Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner), False Codling Moth Thaumatotibia leucotreta (= Cryptophlebia leucotreta) (Meyrick), Mediterranean Fruit Fly Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann) and several species of thrips. Population densities of these pests and their phenology on Capsicum were determined. Statistical analyses established the efficacy of the monitoring traps for each pest, tested for differences among and between study sites, calculated an estimate of the number of pods damaged and a measure of plant damage.The results show that the majority of damage caused to the Capsicum baccatum cropping system was due to Mediterranean Fruit Fly populations. It was established that, although African Bollworm and False Codling Moth were present during the study period, their numbers were negligible and only nominal damage was caused by these pests. Damage caused by thrips species was apparent but not quantifiable. Intervention strategies using an Integrated Pest Management approach, are discussed.
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Gilbert, James David Jensen. "The evolution of parental care in insects." Thesis, University of Cambridge, 2007. https://www.repository.cam.ac.uk/handle/1810/265485.
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This thesis concentrates on evolutionary costs and benefits of insect parental care. I use phylogenetic methods to test large-scale hypotheses, and field studies to test proximate hypotheses. Initially I look at the evolution of variation in the sex performing care, reconstructing transitions across insect evolutionary history. Consistent with theory, early insects had no care, and their descendants evolved either male care, or female care followed sometimes by biparental care. Secondly, I investigate parental care trade-offs. I find that in insects, care is associated positively with offspring survival but negatively with fecundity, suggesting a general trade-off between current and future reproduction. In the second part of the thesis, I use the assassin bug genus Rhinocoris to investigate proximate costs and benefits influencing male care, the rarest form of care. High density is predicted to favour male care; I investigate why male-caring Rhinocoris live at high density on the plant Stylosanthes. Plant preference is rare in predators and I show that the plant protects eggs from predators as well as harbouring favourable prey, factors not usually linked to parental care. Lastly I investigate an unstudied sexual conflict in male-carers. If females prefer caring males, males should be selected to display their eggs conspicuously. Conspicuousness may carry costs to eggs, so females should prefer inconspicuous locations. In the field this conflict exists for one Rhinocoris species but is absent in a sister species, showing that parental care can have complex effects. My results show that while broad patterns of costs and benefits largely follow theory, finer patterns depend on subtle ecological factors.
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Utsunomia, Camila 1989. "Impacto da expressão heteróloga de xilose redutases e xilitol desidrogenases de diferentes leveduras na produção de etanol por Saccharomyces cerevisiae." [s.n.], 2014. http://repositorio.unicamp.br/jspui/handle/REPOSIP/316808.
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Orientadores: Gustavo Henrique Goldman, Juliana Velasco de Castro Oliveira<br>Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Biologia<br>Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-25T09:59:21Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1
Utsunomia_Camila_M.pdf: 2245062 bytes, checksum: 1803b81f54da154433e6d40c34e2b884 (MD5)
Previous issue date: 2014<br>Resumo: A produção de etanol a partir de resíduos agrícolas, denominada Etanol de Segunda Geração ou Etanol Lignocelulósico, surge como uma alternativa para aumentar a produção de etanol sem necessariamente expandir as áreas destinadas ao cultivo da matéria-prima. A conversão da biomassa em etanol não é economicamente favorável a não ser que a hemicelulose seja utilizada juntamente com a celulose. Entretanto, a levedura Saccharomyces cerevisiae é incapaz de fermentar pentoses, açúcares liberados pela hidrólise da hemicelulose, principalmente xilose. Uma alternativa para que S. cerevisiae produza etanol utilizando pentoses seria modificá-la geneticamente através do uso de genes provenientes de micro-organismos que naturalmente realizam esta conversão. Com o intuito de encontrar novas leveduras assimiladoras de xilose, prospectamos o trato intestinal de larvas de seis insetos parasitas da cana-de-açúcar e dornas de fermentação alcoólica, identificando 49 isolados, dentre eles as leveduras Rhodotorula mucilaginosa UC11 e Ogataea polymorpha FT212L. Neste trabalho, foi feito o isolamento e a caracterização dos genes xyl1 e xyl2, que codificam respectivamente à xilose redutase (XR) e à xilitol desidrogenase (XDH) dessas duas leveduras, assim como a clonagem e a superexpressão de tais genes na cepa industrial de S. cerevisiae Pedra-2 (PE-2). Rhodotorula mucilaginosa UC11 e O. polymorpha FT212L foram avaliadas quanto a habilidade de crescerem em xilose, a expressão dos genes xyl1 e xyl2 e a medição das atividades das enzimas XR e XDH. E pela primeira vez XR e XDH de ambas as leveduras foram expressas heterologamente em S. cerevisiae PE-2 gerando as cepas PE-2 Rm, PE-2 Op 1 e PE-2 Op 2, que foram testadas quanto a capacidade de utilizar xilose para crescimento. Adicionalmente, neste trabalho também foi construída pela primeira vez uma cepa S. cerevisiae PE-2 contendo os genes de Scheffersomyces stipitis, uma vez que esta é uma das melhores leveduras conhecidas capazes de utilizar xilose. Para isso a cepa PE-2 foi modificada geneticamente com o plasmídio pRH 274, contendo os genes superexpressos de xyl1 e xyl2 de S. stipitis e o gene xks1 de S. cerevisiae, que codifica à xilulose quinase (XK), gerando a cepa denominada PE-2 274. Esta levedura recombinante foi caracterizada através de ensaios de curva de crescimento, medição das atividades de XR e XDH e capacidade de co-fermentar xilose e glicose a etanol em biorreator. A cepa PE-2 274 mostrou ser uma cepa de grande potencial para a produção de etanol a partir de meio contendo xilose e glicose, podendo ser a base para a geração de uma cepa competitiva em ambiente industrial visando à produção do etanol de segunda geração<br>Abstract: The ethanol production from agricultural residues, called Second Generation Ethanol or Lignocellulosic Ethanol, arises as an alternative to increase the ethanol production without necessarily expanding the areas for raw material cultivation. The biomass conversion to ethanol is not economically feasible unless hemicellulose is used in addition to cellulose. However, the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae is unable to ferment pentoses, released sugars from hemicellulose hydrolysis, mainly xylose. An alternative to S. cerevisiae produces ethanol from pentose is the genetic engineering with genes from microorganisms which naturally perform this conversion. In order to find new yeasts capable to use xylose, we prospected the gut of sugarcane parasitic insects larvae and alcoholic fermentation tanks, identifying 49 isolates, among them the yeasts Rhodotorula mucilaginosa UC11 e Ogataea polymorpha FT212L. In this work were made the isolation and characterization of xyl1 and xyl2 genes, which encode xylose reductase (XR) and xylitol dehydrogenase (XDH), respectively, from these two yeasts, and the cloning and overexpression of these genes in the industrial S. cerevisiae strain Pedra-2 (PE-2). Rhodotorula mucilaginosa UC11 and O. polymorpha FT212L were evaluated over the ability to grow on xylose, xyl1 and xyl2 expression analysis and XR and XDH activity. And for the first time XR and XDH from both yeasts were heterologous expressed in S. cerevisiae PE-2 generating PE-2 Rm, PE-2 Op 1 and PE-2 Op 2 strains, which were tested by the capability to grow on xylose. Additionally, in this work was constructed also for the first time a S. cerevisiae PE-2 strain with genes from Scheffersomyces stipitis, since this is one of the best known yeasts capable of utilizing xylose. For this, PE-2 was engineered with pRH 274 plasmid, containing xyl1 and xyl2 from S. stipitis and xks1 from S. cerevisiae, which encodes xylulokinase (XK), generating the PE-2 274 strain. This recombinant strain was characterized through xylose growing assays, XR and XDH activity and xylose/glucose co-fermentation to ethanol in bioreactor. PE-2 274 showed a high potential to produce ethanol from xylose and glucose, and could be the basis for the generation of industrially competitive yeast aiming the second generation ethanol production<br>Mestrado<br>Microbiologia<br>Mestra em Genética e Biologia Molecular
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Booth, David. "Sensory ecology of nocturnal insects : two evolutionary case studies." Thesis, University of Sussex, 2004. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.404156.
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Apinda-Legnouo, Emelie Arlette. "The conservation value of artificial ponds in the Western Cape Province for aquatic beetles and bugs." Thesis, Link to the online version, 2007. http://hdl.handle.net/10019/587.
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Weyl, Philip Sebastian Richard. ""Is more, less?" : insect-insect interactions in a biological control context using water hyacinth as a model." Thesis, Rhodes University, 2012. http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1005410.
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Interactions between insects have been shown to be important regulators of population abundances and dynamics as well as drivers of spatial segregation and distribution. These are important aspects of the ecology of insects used in biological control and may have implications for the overall success of a particular programme. In the history of biological control there has been a tendency to release a suite of agents against a weed, which in some cases has increased the level of success, while in others little change has been observed. In most of these cases the implications of increasing the level of complexity of the system is not taken into account and there is little research on the effect of releasing another agent into the system. A brief meta-analysis was done on all the biological control programmes initiated in South Africa. Emphasis was placed on multi-species releases and the effects that overlapping niches were having on the number of agents responsible for the success of a programme. Where overlapping niches were present among agents released the number of agents responsible for success was lower than the number established. Water hyacinth, Eichhornia crassipes (Martius) Solms-Laubach in South Africa has more arthropod agents released against it than anywhere else in the world, yet control has been variable. If the biology and host utilisation of all the agents against water hyacinth is considered, a definite overlap of niches is apparent in at least one life stage of all the agents. Therefore the probability of these insects interacting is high, especially if they are established at the same site in the field. Three of the insects released in South Africa have been selected to investigate possible interactions. They are Neochetina eichhorniae Warner, Neochetina bruchi Hustache and Eccritotarsus catarinensis (Carvalho). Y-tube olfactometer bioassays were used to measure responses of these insects to water hyacinth with prior feeding damage by either conspecifics or heterospecifics. This was done to determine whether olfactory cues played a role in host acceptability and avoidance of conspecifics or heterospecifics. The insects were given a choice between damaged and undamaged plants in various combinations. There was a significant preference for the undamaged plants when given a choice between undamaged and damaged plants. However when the insects were given a choice between two damaged plants there was no discrimination between heterospecific or conspecific damaged plants. This may indicate that there is little or no ecological cost for the insect to share a plant with other insects utilising a similar resource. Insect – insect interactions were investigated in a common garden plot experiment to measure the impact that pairwise combinations of the insect may have on their performance. There was a significant interaction between the mirid E. catarinensis and the weevil N. eichhorniae, with the weevil not performing as well when in combination with the mirid than when alone. Interestingly there was a negative interaction between the two weevil species when in combination, however it was impossible to determine which species was being affected if not both. None of the insects performed significantly better when in combination with another insect. A field study on Wriggleswade Dam in the Eastern Cape, South Africa was initiated to determine whether the relationship between the mirid E. catarinensis and the weevil N. eichhorniae could be determined in the field. The performance of the insects at the different sites in the field suggests that there was an interaction between the agents. This interaction did not limit the establishment of either insect at a site, but it did result in one insect dominating at a site over another. Interactions between the three species of insect tested in this thesis suggest that there are both negative and neutral relationships between them. A basic comparison between the insect performances from 15 sites around the country was done to determine if the spatial segregation observed in the field could be extrapolated to the natural South African situation. The interaction observed between N. eichhorniae and E. catarinensis does seem to extrapolate to the general South African situation where there is definite spatial segregation on a landscape level. The co–occurrence of the two Neochetina weevils at these sites suggests that the negative relationship observed between them in the common garden experiment does not extrapolate to the field. The results from this thesis suggest that the interactions between the agents tested would not limit establishment or have significant ramifications on performance. However, there may be spatial and temporal segregation of these species in the introduced range.
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Salvador, Gabriela. "Regulação da atividade do tecido adiposo de Diatraea saccharalis (Fabricius) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) parasitada por Cotesia flavipes (Cameron) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae)." Universidade de São Paulo, 2010. http://www.teses.usp.br/teses/disponiveis/11/11146/tde-19042010-151948/.
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Ao longo do processo evolutivo, parasitóides desenvolveram a habilidade de manipular inúmeros processos fisiológicos de seus hospedeiros. Entre os efeitos induzidos pelo parasitismo, incluem-se alterações no ambiente nutricional, sistema endócrino e imunológico do hospedeiro, além da manipulação da capacidade de síntese protéica de seus tecidos. O tecido adiposo é o principal órgão de síntese de proteínas em insetos e a manipulação de sua atividade é de fundamental importância para o sucesso do parasitismo. Este trabalho teve por objetivo avaliar a expressão gênica do tecido adiposo de Diatraea saccharalis (Fabricius) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) parasitada por Cotesia flavipes (Cameron) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), visando à obtenção de dados para o desenvolvimento de novas estratégias de controle da broca da cana-deaçúcar. Lagartas de D. saccharalis na pré-muda para o último ínstar foram separadas, sendo parte delas sujeita ao parasitismo por C. flavipes, enquanto outra foi mantida como controle. O tecido adiposo de hospedeiros sadios e parasitados foi coletado 1, 3, 5, 7 e 9 dias após o parasitismo e submetido a extração de RNA, síntese de cDNA e análise de expressão gênica diferencial via DD-PCR (Differential Display PCR). Fragmentos expressos diferencialmente entre os tratamentos foram selecionados, clonados e sequenciados. As sequências obtidas foram comparadas àquelas disponíveis em banco de dados. C. flavipes induziu alterações na expressão de um transcrito codificador de uma proteína de armazenamento logo no início do parasitismo. As proteínas de armazenamento, ou hexamerinas, apresentam grande importância no desenvolvimento de insetos, atuando como fonte de aminoácidos a serem utilizados pela pupa e adulto durante a metamorfose e reprodução. Dada a importância desta proteína, o cDNA responsável por sua codificação foi caracterizado via extensão das porções terminais 5 e 3. A sequência completa do cDNA apresentou 2.353 pb, e o polipeptídeo deduzido, 745 aminoácidos. O conteúdo de metionina e aminoácidos aromáticos, bem como a análise filogenética realizada, indicaram que a hexamerina identificada em D. saccharalis é uma proteína rica em metionina. A identificação e caracterização da hexamerina de D.saccharalis podem representar o primeiro passo para o desenvolvimento de novos métodos de controle da broca da cana-de-açúcar, baseados nas interações hospedeiro-parasitóide<br>During evolution, parasitoids evolved the ability to manipulate the physiology of their hosts. Among the common effects of the parasitism, hosts may show an alteration of their hemolymph composition (parasitoid nutritional environment), endocrine and immune systems, and protein synthesis activity of host tissues. The fat body is the main organ of protein synthesis of insects and the manipulation of its activity is key for parasitoid successful development. The goal of this study was to evaluate the effects of parasitization by Cotesia flavipes (Cameron) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) on the gene expression activity of the fat body of Diatraea saccharalis (Fabricius) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae), to provide additional information on key regulatory pathways to control host metabolism as a step forward for the development of new control strategies based on parasitoid host regulation strategies. Fifth-instars of D. saccharalis at the head slippage stage were isolated and separated in two different groups. One group was individually parasitized by C. flavipes, and the other was kept as control. The fat bodies of parasitized and non-parasitized hosts were collected 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9 days after parasitism, subjected to RNA extraction, cDNA synthesis and differential gene expression analysis by DD-PCR (Differential Display PCR). Transcripts that were differentially expressed between treatments were selected, cloned and sequenced. The obtained sequences were compared to those available at the NCBi data bank. C. flavipes up-regulated the expression of a transcript enconding for a storage protein soon after parasitization. The storage proteins, or hexamerins, are essential for insect development, acting as a reservoir of aminoacids and nitrogen to be used by the pupa and adults during metamorphosis and reproduction. Due to the importance of these proteins, the cDNA encoding this protein was characterized by the amplification of 5 and 3 terminal ends. The complete cDNA has 2,353 bp and the deduced aminoacid sequence is 745 aa long. The methionine and aromatic aminoacids content, as well as phylogenetic analysis, indicated that the hexamerin identified in D. saccharalis is a methionine-rich protein. The identification and characterization of the hexamerin identified in D. saccharalis is the first step towards to the development of new control strategies based on host-parasitoid interactions.
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Contador, Mejías Tamara Andrea. "Benthic Macroinvertebrates of Temperate, Sub-Antarctic Streams: The Effects of Altitudinal Zoning and Temperature on the Phenology of Aquatic Insects Associated to the Robalo River, Navarino Island (55°S), Chile." Thesis, University of North Texas, 2011. https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc103303/.
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The Cape Horn Biosphere Reserve, within the remote Sub-Antarctic ecoregion is a reservoir of expressions of biological and cultural diversity. Although it is considered one of 24 wilderness areas remaining in the world, it is not free from local and global threats, such as invasive species, and climate change. Field biologists and philosophers associated to the Sub-Antarctic Biocultural Conservation Program and the Omora Ethnobotanical Park, have worked to describe the region’s biocultural diversity, linking ecological and philosophical research into education, ecotourism, and conservation, through a methodology called field environmental philosophy (FEP), which integrates ecological sciences and environmental ethics through a 4-step cycle consisting of: 1) interdisciplinary research; 2) composition of metaphors; 3) design of field activities with an ecological and ethical orientation; and 4) implementation of in situ conservation areas. In this context, the purposes of this dissertation were to: 1) provide a comprehensive review of publications regarding the conservation status of aquatic and terrestrial insects at a global scale and with an emphasis in southern South America; 2) study the distribution of benthic macroinvertebrates through the sharp altitudinal gradient of the Róbalo River watershed; 3) describe the life histories of Gigantodax sp (Simuliidae: Diptera) and Meridialaris chiloeense (Leptophlebiidae: Ephemeroptera) in the Róbalo River and to assess the potential effects of climate change on their phenology; and 4) to apply FEP methodology in order to better understand and communicate the intrinsic and instrumental values of freshwater invertebrates in the Cape Horn Biosphere Reserve.
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DeWildt, Chris. "Conservation Studies of Insect Cave Faunas in Mammoth Cave National Park and Ghana, West Africa." TopSCHOLAR®, 2007. http://digitalcommons.wku.edu/theses/393.
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As part of a long term ecological monitoring effort at Mammoth Cave National Park, a blind cave beetle, Neaphaenops tellkampfi, was collected and data on populations trends gathered from September 2005 through December 2006 in Great Onyx Cave. The sex and age of each individual in each of 15 sites were determined and density trends of the entire population was measured. The species was chosen due to its role as an indicator species, since potential anthropogenic threats to the environment can be detected via population response. This was the initial implementation of a new monitoring method and a test of its efficacy was conducted by comparing observed trends to those of past studies. Of interest were changes in density, sex ratio, habitat preferences between sexes, and sclerotization class through five seasons. Population trends were congruent with the results of previous studies in this cave. There was a shift from the previously reported constant 1:1 sex ratio to one of female dominance in spring 2006. It was also discovered that males and females of both sclerotization classes utilize habitats among seasons similarly and display greatest trap abundance near large patches of sandy substrate. It was concluded that the ethod is an efficient evaluation tool though recommendations are made for its refinement as it is extended to additional sites. The first survey of the caves of Ghana was conducted in January of 2006. All insects observed were collected and identified in the laboratory to as specific a level as possible. The fauna appears to be more troglophilic rather than troglobytic and is likely that many of the species found inside the caves are likely to occur outside this habitat too.
Books on the topic "Cave insects"
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Rodriguez, Ana Maria. Vampire bats, giant insects, and other mysterious animals of the darkest caves. Enslow, 2012.
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Wilson, Edward Osborne. Success and dominance in ecosystems: The case of the social insects. Ecology Institute, 1990.
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Wilson, Edward Osborne. Success and dominance in ecosystems: The case of social insects. Ecology Insitute, 1990.
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Wilson, Edward Osborne. Success and dominance in ecosystems: The case of the social insects. Ecology Institute, 1990.
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Wilson, Edward Osborne. Success and dominance in ecosystems: The case of the social insects. Ecology Institute, 1990.
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Wilson, Edward Osborne. Success and dominance in ecosystems: The case of the social insects. Ecology Institute, 1990.
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Zakowski, Connie. The insect book: A basic guide to the collection and care of common insects for young children. Rainbow Books, 1997.
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Kasina, John Muo. Bee pollinators and economic importance of pollination in crop production: Case of Kakamega, Western Kenya. Zentrum für Entwicklungsforschung (ZEF), Abteilung Ökologie und Ressourcennutung (ZEFc), 2007.
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Gadagkar, Raghavendra. Insect species diversity in the tropics: Sampling methods and a case study. Indian Institute of Science, Centre for Ecological Sciences, 1989.
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Goodman, Gregg B. Information resources on the care and use of insects: 1968-2004. U.S.Dept. of Agriculture, Agriculture Research Service, National Agricultural Library, Animal Welfare Information Center, 2004.
Find full textBook chapters on the topic "Cave insects"
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Gabrys, Beata, John L. Capinera, Jesusa C. Legaspi, et al. "Cave Adapted Insects." In Encyclopedia of Entomology. Springer Netherlands, 2008. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-6359-6_545.
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Culver, David C., and Tanja Pipan. "Insects in Caves." In Insect Biodiversity. John Wiley & Sons, Ltd, 2018. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/9781118945582.ch6.
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Ohba, Shin-ya, José Ricardo I. Ribeiro, and Melania Santer. "Paternal Care in Giant Water Bugs." In Aquatic Insects. Springer International Publishing, 2019. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-16327-3_12.
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Hjältén, Joakim, Jari Kouki, Anne Tolvanen, Jörgen Sjögren, and Martijn Versluijs. "Ecological Restoration of the Boreal Forest in Fennoscandia." In Advances in Global Change Research. Springer International Publishing, 2023. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-15988-6_18.
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AbstractMixed-severity disturbances have historically shaped boreal forests, creating a dynamic mosaic landscape. In Fennoscandia, however, intensive even-aged forest management has simplified the forest landscape, threatening biodiversity. To safeguard this biodiversity, we therefore need to restore structural complexity in hitherto managed forests. Knowledge generated from relevant case studies on natural disturbance emulation–based ecological restoration suggests that prescribed burning positively affects many early-successional organisms. Gap cutting benefits some insects and wood fungi but has a limited effect on birds, bryophytes, and vascular plants. Restoration of deciduous forests appears to benefit light- and deciduous tree–associated insect species and some forest birds.
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Meunier, Joël, Maximilian Körner, and Jos Kramer. "Parental Care." In Reproductive Strategies in Insects. CRC Press, 2022. http://dx.doi.org/10.1201/9781003043195-17.
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Brockerhoff, Eckehard G., Juan C. Corley, Hervé Jactel, Daniel R. Miller, Robert J. Rabaglia, and Jon Sweeney. "Monitoring and Surveillance of Forest Insects." In Forest Entomology and Pathology. Springer International Publishing, 2023. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-11553-0_19.
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AbstractMonitoring of insect populations is widely used in forest entomology in the context of biodiversity studies, as an aspect of pest management, and for the detection and surveillance of non-native invasive species. In particular, monitoring is undertaken to obtain information on the presence or abundance of particular species, to study their phenology (e.g. the time of oviposition or flight periods), to predict pest population size, spread and damage, or to determine if pest management activities are required. A wide variety of methods are being used for these purposes including physical surveys, the use of insect traps, molecular methods, as well as aerial surveys and remote sensing. This chapter focusses on some of the more important methods to provide an overview of the objectives and applications of monitoring and surveillance of forest insects. The principles of each method and common uses are explained and illustrated with case studies on prominent forest insects including the pine processionary moth (Thaumetopoea pityocampa), the Sirex wood wasp (Sirex noctilio), spongy moth (Lymantria dispar), bark beetles such as Ips typographus, and the brown spruce longhorn beetle (Tetropium fuscum). The chapter also explores statistical considerations and issues such as imperfect relationships between trap catch and the local population size of target species. Niche methods that are not widely used but have strengths in some situations (e.g. detector dogs for detection of Anoplophora glabripennis and other invasive species) or are still in development (e.g. e-noses and acoustic detection) are also discussed.
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Allsopp, Michael H. "Cape Honey Bee." In Encyclopedia of Social Insects. Springer International Publishing, 2021. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-28102-1_18.
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Allsopp, Mike. "Cape Honey Bee." In Encyclopedia of Social Insects. Springer International Publishing, 2020. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-90306-4_18-1.
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Edgington, Matthew P., and Luke Alphey. "Modelling Threshold-Dependent Gene Drives: a Case Study Using Engineered Underdominance." In Transgenic Insects, 2nd ed. CABI, 2022. http://dx.doi.org/10.1079/9781800621176.0012.
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Gnatzy, Werner, and Jürgen Tautz. "Body Care." In Insects - Successful Models of Evolution. Springer Berlin Heidelberg, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-71029-6_5.
Full textConference papers on the topic "Cave insects"
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Curtin, Thomas, Sharon Mellings, Ivan Karayan, Robert Adey, Joe Indeck, and Ethan Moore. "Fatigue Loading of Test Specimens with Galvanically Induced Corrosion Damage Provides New Insight to Guide Fracture Mechanics Modeling." In CONFERENCE 2024. AMPP, 2024. https://doi.org/10.5006/c2024-20989.
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Abstract Airframe structural components commonly experience galvanic damage at dissimilar metal connections following deterioration of insulating sealants or breakdown in coating protection systems. Of particular concern is the often-hidden corrosion damage that occurs inside fastener holes. Aggressive electrolytes can develop in these occluded spaces leading to the formation of multiple crack initiation sites and a compromise in the structural integrity of the component. To investigate this type of damage, laboratory testing was undertaken to evaluate fatigue life in AA 7075-T651 dog-bone specimens that included side holes fitted with CFRP inserts. The CFRP insert was used to introduce galvanic damage under thin film atmospheric corrosion conditions but removed prior to actual fatigue testing. Fatigue tests were conducted under constant amplitude loading, at R-ratios of 0.05, 0.6, and 0.89, in both air and 4.5M NaCl solution. Using a three-dimensional, fatigue crack growth (FCG) program, BEASY, complex crack propagation path evolution, and transition from surface flaw to through-crack was accurately represented. By selecting appropriate crack growth kinetics, the environmental effects on fatigue life were quantitatively determined for different modeling scenarios. Fractographic images of crack initiating features (corrosion pits, constituent particle clusters) were used to guide the location and sizing of initial flaws. Fatigue crack growth kinetic data, collected in both air and NaCl solution, was used to drive crack growth simulations. Modeling scenarios included the propagation of both single dominant flaws and multiple interacting flaws; the FCG life was evaluated for each case. This modeling work provides new insight for understanding how advanced fracture mechanics modeling capability can be used to improve life prediction of corroded components.
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De Causmaecker, L. "DEVELOPMENT OF A CONTROL SYSTEM TO EVALUATE THE IMPACT OF ARTIFICIAL LIGHT MODULATION ON INSECTS." In CIE Symposium on Advances on the Measurement of Temporal Light Modulation. International Commission on Illumination (CIE), 2022. http://dx.doi.org/10.25039/x49.2022.p07.
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By 2030, all public lighting in Flanders, Belgium will be replaced by LED technology. However, artificial lighting properties, such as flickering due to light modulation, influence nocturnal insects. This research describes the development of a novel measurement device that can control the flickering frequency, luminous flux and correlated color temperature (CCT) of an LED light box. This to evaluate the impact of artificial light modulation on insects. A case study has been developed using four identical setups that were placed on the university campus. For each setup, the flickering frequency can be varied (f = 0 Hz, 80 Hz, 120 Hz, 150 Hz) while other parameters are unchanged. When an insect is detected, an image is taken which allows further determination. In this paper, descriptive statistics on the number of detected insects are presented. The results of the prototype and measurement setup are promising for further research in different areas of biology.
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Gorb, E., N. Hosoda, and S. Gorb. "Nano-Porous Substrates Reduce Beetle Attachment Force." In ASME 2008 9th Biennial Conference on Engineering Systems Design and Analysis. ASMEDC, 2008. http://dx.doi.org/10.1115/esda2008-59173.
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Traction experiments with the seven-spotted ladybird beetles Coccinella septempunctata (L.) (Coleoptera, Coccinellidae) were carried out to study the influence of surface structure on insect attachment. Force measurements were performed with tethered walking insects using a load cell force transducer. For each beetle, forces were measured on five different substrates: (1) smooth glass plate; (2) smooth solid Al2O3 (sapphire) disc; (3 – 5) porous Al2O3 discs (anodiscs, back side) with the same pore diameter (220 – 235 nm), but different porosity (28, 42 and 51%). Males (N = 10) and females (N = 10) were used in experiments (10 single runs on each surface). Additionally, inversion tests were performed after each traction force measurement. The force ranged from 0.368 to 10.370 mN in males and from 0.514 to 6.262 mN in females. In both sexes, the highest force values were obtained on the smooth glass and sapphire surfaces, where males generated considerably higher forces compared to females. On all three porous substrates, forces were significantly reduced in both males and females, and the only difference for surfaces was obtained between two extremes: anodiscs with the highest (51%) and lowest (28%) porosity. Males produced essentially lower forces than females on anodiscs samples. Experimental insects performed well and showed normal locomotion on both smooth surfaces. On all anodiscs samples, beetles usually were not able to get a grip and slid over the surface, refused to walk and came to a standstill or even turned over on their backs. When substrates were inverted to 90° and 180°, insects were still able to remain attached to both the glass and sapphire samples, but failed on anodiscs. The reduction of insect attachment on anodiscs surfaces is explained by (1) possible absorption of the secretory fluid from insect pads by porous media and (2) effect of surface roughness.
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Hernandez, Isabella V., Bryan C. Watson, Marc Weissburg, and Bert Bras. "Learning From Insects to Increase Multi-Agent System Resilience: Functional Decomposition and Transfer to Support Biologically Inspired Design." In ASME 2021 International Design Engineering Technical Conferences and Computers and Information in Engineering Conference. American Society of Mechanical Engineers, 2021. http://dx.doi.org/10.1115/detc2021-67788.
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Abstract Resilience is an emergent property of complex systems that describes the ability to detect, respond, and recover from adversity. Much of the modern world consists of multiple, interacting, and independent agents (i.e. Multi-Agent Systems). However, the process of improving Multi-Agent System resilience is not well understood. We seek to address this gap by applying Biologically Inspired Design to increase complex system resilience. Eusocial insect colonies are an ideal case study for system resilience. Although individual insects have low computing power, the colonies collectively perform complex tasks and demonstrate resilience. Therefore, analyzing key elements of eusocial insect colonies may offer insight on how to increase Multi-Agent System resilience. Before the strategies used in eusocial insects can be adapted for Multi-Agent Systems, however, the existing research must be identified and transferred from the biological sciences to the engineering field. These transfers often hinder or limit biologically inspired design. This paper translates the biological investigation of individual insects and colony network behavior into strategies that can be tested to increase Multi-Agent System resilience. These strategies are formulated to be applied to Agent-Based Modeling. Agent-Based Modeling has been applied to many Multi-Agent Systems including epidemiology, traffic management, and marketing. This provides a key step in the design-by-analogy process: Identifying and decoding analogies from their original context. The design principles proposed in this work provide a foundation for future testing and eventual implementation into Multi-Agent Systems.
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Almalki, Ahmed, Ali Rajhi, Hussam Noor, Animesh Kundu, and John Coulter. "Experimental Investigation of the Robustness of Bulk Metallic Glass-Based Tooling for Microinjection Molding." In ASME 2022 International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition. American Society of Mechanical Engineers, 2022. http://dx.doi.org/10.1115/imece2022-94888.
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Abstract The primary objective of this research was to experimentally investigate the robustness of a commercially available zirconium-based bulk metallic glass material (Zr-based BMG) for microinjection molding (μIM) tooling. The focused ion beam (FIB) direct milling process was utilized to fabricate microfeatures onto two BMG-based mold inserts. Uncoated and Ti-coated inserts were inspected through molding cycles utilizing SEM. Additionally, TPU molded samples were characterized to quantify the replication quality of the inserts through molding cycles. This is to understand the polymer melt effect of the tooling during molding conditions. The uncoated BMG insert was utilized for more than 1000 molding cycles regardless of the potential crystallization. No signs of any crack initiation were observed in any part of the BMG insert. Through molding process, the replication quality degraded due to the polymer adhesion to the microcavity base. In the case of the coated BMG insert, the coating could not withstand the high ejection force during demolding stage. The adhesion between the coating and the BMG surface was insufficient to survive molding conditions. This resulted in disintegrated coating that was bonded into molded samples.
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Lima, Ramsés Otto Cunha, and Anderson Clayton Alves de Melo. "Hot Milling: A Proposal to Minimize Thermal Cracks Formation in Cemented Carbide Tools." In ASME 2013 International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition. American Society of Mechanical Engineers, 2013. http://dx.doi.org/10.1115/imece2013-62092.
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It is well known that milling is a rotating and interrupted cutting process in which the milling cutter is made up of a number of inserts placed around its body and that each insert has the function of removing an amount of material from the workpiece per revolution. This feature induces the cyclic thermal loading in the cutting tool edge leading the insert to thermal fatigue, which induces nucleation and propagation of thermal cracks and accelerates the process of tool wear. This paper proposes a method to minimize this thermal cycling effect. In this case, hot air was blown into the idle phase of the milling cutter during face milling of an AISI 1045 steel with coated cemented carbide inserts. The main goal was to make the process quasi-continuous from the thermal viewpoint. Trials were carried out dry, at room temperature and with hot air applied at 100, 350 and 580°C, and wet at room temperature and 580°C. In this last case, an MQL (Minimum Quantity of Lubricant) system was used to create a spray of cutting fluid. After milling trials, the inserts were taken to a scanning electron microscope where the number of thermal cracks, wear and other damage was analyzed. It was observed that the heating of the idle phase helped reducing the number of thermal cracks and tool wear.
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Liao, Jiankan, Robert De Kleine, Jason Powell, and Daniel Cooper. "The Economic and Environmental Sustainability of Additive Manufacturing for Tooling: A Case Study on Using Laser Powder Bed Fusion for Making Injection Molding Tool Inserts." In ASME 2023 International Design Engineering Technical Conferences and Computers and Information in Engineering Conference. American Society of Mechanical Engineers, 2023. http://dx.doi.org/10.1115/detc2023-112462.
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Abstract Laser powder bed fusion (L-PBF) can make injection molding tools with conformal cooling channels that can reduce plastic part warpage and production cycle times. In this study, we define the design space in which L-PBF tools are economically and environmentally beneficial compared to traditional toolmaking methods. We develop mechanistic production cost, lead time, and cradle-to-grave life cycle assessment models of the cumulative energy demand (CED) and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with injection molding (IM) tool inserts made from tool steel using a Renishaw AM500Q L-PBF machine versus conventional 3-axis machining of equivalent beryllium copper (BeCu) inserts. These models are applied to a set of seven tool inserts used to make glass fiber reinforced plastic engine intake filter housings. The models are informed using insert build time and electrical power measurements on the L-PBF machine. Across all the inserts, using L-PBF was found to be slower, costlier, and more energy and emissions intensive than conventional mold making. However, benefits from reduced IM cycle times and plastic part rejection rates when using the L-PBF inserts can lead to whole life cycle improvements. We calculate how the breakeven plastic part production volumes (above which L-PBF inserts are faster, cheaper, and more environmentally benign over the life cycle) change for varying cycle time and part reject rate improvements. Assuming the L-PBF inserts result in 15% and 2.5% reductions in cycle time and part rejects respectively, then the breakeven production volumes are 60,000 parts for lead time, 4,000 parts for CED and GHG emissions, and greater than the likely mold lifespan (100,000 parts) for cost.
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Kocić, Veroslava, Sanja Perić, and Milić Vojinović. "THE EFFECTIVENESS OF APPLYING BIOLOGICAL MEASURES TO PROTECT APPLES TO REDUCE TREATMENT WITH INSECTICIDES." In Global Challenges Through the Prism of Rural Development in the Sector of Agriculture and Tourism GIRR 2024. Academy of Applied Studies Šabac, 2025. https://doi.org/10.46793/girr25.181k.
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The ecological approach to the maintenance and care of perennial fruit plantations is being applied more and more. In agriculture, biological control of plant diseases and pests is one of the key measures for organic food production. Apple is the most commonly grown fruit species in Serbia. For the production of quality fruits, it is necessary, in addition to regular maintenance, to control pests in the orchard. Damage to apples is caused by several types of insects, the most important of which are: Cydia pomonella, Aphis pomi, Eriosoma lanigerum, Tropinota hirta, Anthonomus pomorum. Larvae and adults also cause damage by feeding on leaves, flowers or young shoots. The goal of the work is to examine the possibility of reducing the presence of the mentioned harmful insects by non-invasive methods, that is, to reduce the number of chemical treatments of apples. The research was conducted in the apple orchard of the Toplica Academy of Vocational Studies. Blue and pink hunting traps have been set. Anise flavorings were added to the aqueous food coloring solution. Hunting traps made of pleated cardboard were placed on ten apple trees, and the weedy inter-row proctor was not mowed during the flowering period of the dandelion Taraxacum officinale. The appearance and abundance of current insects is monitored with blue and pink water traps. By increasing the number of suitable water traps, the intensity of the attack is reduced. The pleated patch served as an alternative for the pupation and development of Cydia pomonella, while the unmown dandelion flower prevented the attack of the root beetle Tropinota hirta and the flower eater Anthonomus pomorum. Pheromone traps, for reducing the number of insects, are one of the more modern methods in fruit growing and plant protection in general. Their role is to use aggregation pheromones to attract and retain as many individuals as possible. There are a solid number of models on the market, and testing their effectiveness is of utmost importance. The results of the research on the effectiveness of the barrier traps showed that there is a possibility of a significant reduction in the population of harmful insects. Inevitably, the presence of individuals of non-target insects was also recorded, with the largest number of individuals belonging to the Coleoptera order. Manipulations with wet traps provide more information about insects that damage apples and apple fruit species. The results showed that the use of biological agents should become an integral part of insect control, which could improve the overall effects of plant production. It should also be borne in mind that many insects are carriers of infections and plant diseases. Biological control, as part of integral protection, aims to maintain pest populations at an economically acceptable level.
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Anandan, Srinivasan, Murty Srirangam, and Joshua D. Summers. "A Case Study in the Use of Design Exemplar as a Search and Retrieval Tool." In ASME 2008 International Design Engineering Technical Conferences and Computers and Information in Engineering Conference. ASMEDC, 2008. http://dx.doi.org/10.1115/detc2008-49975.
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This paper presents a case study examining the utility of design exemplar technology as a search and retrieval tool with respect to retrieving mold inserts for a tire manufacturing company. Limitations of using the geometric-based exemplar approach such as tediousness of authoring exemplars and time complexity are identified. These limitations are addressed by developing a new parametric-based exemplar approach. This approach calculates a set of maxima and minima based on the specifications of the query mold insert. The design exemplar is essentially useful to prototype the query mechanism. However due to time complexity, the parametric approach was implemented as a dedicated software package.
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Ge, Xiaohong, Shaolan Wu, Hui Li, and Hongwu Huang. "Research on General Model of Hot Runner Mould for Transparent and Complex Plastic Knobs." In ASME 2009 International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition. ASMEDC, 2009. http://dx.doi.org/10.1115/imece2009-12113.
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In order to improve the manufacturing efficiency and product quality of transparent and complex plastic knobs, a hot runner injection mold is introduced in this paper. Based on a shared hot runner system and a module combination of the mold holders, inserts and the beryllium-copper cored cooling components, an effective general model for hot runner injection molding is developed. The beryllium copper insert extrusion process is employed to copy with the requirements of great variety, high quality, low price and short producing cycle for knob products. The results of CAE analysis and production validation for typical knobs and insert extrusion process demonstrate the effectiveness of the newly developed hot runner injection molding and that the product quality fulfill the requirements of real manufacturing process.
Reports on the topic "Cave insects"
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Lovera, Andrea, Mariano Belaich, Cindy Mejía, Laura Villamizar, Manuel A. Patarroyo,, and Gloria Barrera. Characterization of chitinases of Beauveria bassiana (Bv ) induced in semisolid-state fermentation. Corporación Colombiana de Investigación Agropecuaria - AGROSAVIA, 2012. http://dx.doi.org/10.21930/agrosavia.poster.2012.11.
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A major consideration in the development of biopesticides based on entomopathogenic fungi has been the virulence and pathogenicity in terms of mean time of mortality and mean lethal concentration against the target insect. Virulence factors as chitinases degrade insect chitin facilitating the hyphal penetration through the cuticle. In this sense, Beauveria bassiana chitinases are an important cuticle-degrading group of enzymes implicated in the pathogenesis to insects, with high potential to develop biotechnological tools for in pest control. The aim of this study was to characterize chitinases produced by a Colombian strain of B. bassiana (Bv062) isolated from a Diatraea sp. larvae naturally infected in a sugar cane crop.
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Jung, Carina, Matthew Carr, Denise Lindsay, Eric Fleischman, and Chandler Roesch. Microbiome perturbations during domestication of the green June beetle (Cotinis nitida). Engineer Research and Development Center (U.S.), 2022. http://dx.doi.org/10.21079/11681/43342.
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Animal-associated microbiomes are critical to the well-being and proper functioning of the animal host, but only limited studies have examined in-sect microbiomes across different developmental stages. These studies revealed large shifts in microbiome communities, often because of significant shifts in diet during insects’ life cycle. Establishing insect colonies as model laboratory organisms and understanding how to properly feed and care for animals with complex and dynamic life cycles requires improved data. This study examined laboratory raised green June beetles (Cotinis nitida) captured from the field upon emergence from pupae. Starting with wild-caught adults, two generations of beetles were reared in the laboratory, ending with an entirely laboratory raised generation of larvae. The study compared the microbiomes of each generation and the microbiomes of larvae to adults. This study suggests that a diet of commercial, washed fruit for adults and commercial, packaged, organic alfalfa meal for larvae resulted in depauperate gut microbiome communities. Fermentative yeasts were completely absent in the laboratory-raised adults, and major bacterial population shifts occurred from one generation to the next, coupled with high morbidity and mortality in the laboratory-raised generation. Providing laboratory-raised beetles fresh-collected fruit and the larvae field-harvested detritus may therefore vastly improve their health and survival.
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Poellnitz, Reginald. Pyramiding for Durable Insect Resistance: A Case Study of Developing Soybean Cultivars with Stable Aphid Resistance. Iowa State University, 2019. http://dx.doi.org/10.31274/cc-20240624-1176.
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Johnson, Ginger. Viral haemorrhagic fevers question bank: Qualitative questions for understanding transmission dynamics and experiences of care. Institute of Development Studies, 2025. https://doi.org/10.19088/sshap.2024.066.
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Viral haemorrhagic fevers (VHFs) are a group of severe illnesses caused by viruses that affect multiple organ systems and damage the cardiovascular system. VHFs include Ebola virus disease and Marburg virus disease. There is wide variation in how VHFs are diagnosed, how pathogenic they are, their geographic distribution, their known reservoirs (i.e., animals or insects that spread the disease) and the availability of vaccines or treatments. When using this Question Bank for a specific public health emergency in connection with an identified VHF, consider these factors in addition to an updated country context analysis and the clinical progression of disease among at-risk populations. The development of this Question Bank has been based on over 10 years of extensive social science research conducted during outbreaks of VHFs and other public health emergencies involving infectious diseases. Many of the thematic areas covered by this Question Bank will be relevant to outbreaks of VHFs where person-to-person transmission has been identified as a significant contributor to the spread of the outbreak and where patient experiences of care must be understood for a community-centred response. The questions must be adapted for the specific VHF, the country context and the respondent population.
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Jinawath, Supatra, Dujreutai Pongkao Kachima, and Pornapa Sujaridworakun. Preparation of bioceramic specimens for medical application : report on. Chulalongkorn University, 2006. https://doi.org/10.58837/chula.res.2006.37.
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HA (hydroxyapatite, Ca [subscript 10](PO[subscript 4])[subscript 6](OH)[subscript 2], Ca/P = 1.67) and composite TCP/HA (Tricalcium phosphate, Ca [subscript 3] (PO [subscript 4]) [subscript 2], Ca/P = 1.5) were synthesized in our laboratory from bovine bone ash or the waste from the manufacture of products derived from it and fabricated into porous bar and disc shaped specimens (30-34 v% porosity, flexural strength of 17 MPa, pore diameters <5-30 [mu]) for in vivo histological study and clinical trial, repectively. The histological results of the 3- and 6-month in vivo tests in canines were positive and successful. The clinical trials using titanium D-cages with HA inserts after 3-6 months were also proved positive, and with a satisfactory result. This also proved our belief that the practical limit of the smallest pore size for blood vessel or bone tissue ingrowth could be smaller than 100[mu] (macropore) in the case of resorbable HA ceramic with interconnected micro-to-mesopores (estimated as <1, 5-30 [mu]). To explore into a broader application, a coating of biological HA layer on Ti alloy implant was also studied and the results were discussed.
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Chamovitz, A. Daniel, and Georg Jander. Genetic and biochemical analysis of glucosinolate breakdown: The effects of indole-3-carbinol on plant physiology and development. United States Department of Agriculture, 2012. http://dx.doi.org/10.32747/2012.7597917.bard.
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Genetic and biochemical analysis of glucosinolate breakdown: The effects of indole-3-carbinol on plant physiology and development Glucosinolates are a class of defense-related secondary metabolites found in all crucifers, including important oilseed and vegetable crops in the Brassica genus and the well-studied model plant Arabidopsis thaliana. Upon tissue damage, such as that provided by insect feeding, glucosinolates are subjected to catalysis and spontaneous degradation to form a variety of breakdown products. These breakdown products typically have a deterrent effect on generalist herbivores. Glucosinolate breakdown products also contribute to the anti-carcinogenic effects of eating cabbage, broccoli and related cruciferous vegetables. Indole-3-carbinol, a breakdown product of indol-3-ylmethylglucosinolate, forms conjugates with several other plant metabolites. Although some indole-3-carbinol conjugates have known functions in defense against herbivores and pathogens, most play as yet unidentified roles in plant metabolism, and possibly also plant development. At the outset, our proposal had three main hypotheses: (1) There is a specific detoxification pathway for indole-3-carbinol; (2) Metabolites derived from indole-3-carbinol are phloem-mobile and serve as signaling molecules; and (3) Indole-3-carbinol affects plant cell cycle and cell-differentiation pathways. The experiments were designed to enable us to elucidate how indole-3-carbinol and related metabolites affect plants and their interactions with herbivorous insects. We discovered that indole-3- carbinol rapidly and reversibly inhibits root elongation in a dose-dependent manner, and that this inhibition is accompanied by a loss of auxin activity in the root meristem. A direct interaction between indole-3-carbinol and the auxin perception machinery was suggested, as application of indole-3-carbinol rescued auxin-induced root phenotypes. In vitro and yeast-based protein interaction studies showed that indole-3-carbinol perturbs the auxin-dependent interaction of TIR1 with Aux/IAA proteins, supporting the notion that indole-3-carbinol acts as an auxin antagonist. Furthermore, transcript profiling experiments revealed the influence of indole-3-carbinol on auxin signaling in root tips, and indole-3-carbinol also affected auxin transporters. Brief treatment with indole-3-carbinol led to a reduction in the amount of PIN1 and to mislocalization of PIN2. The results indicate that chemicals induced by herbivory, such as indole-3-carbinol, function not only to repel herbivores, but also as signaling molecules that directly compete with auxin to fine tune plant growth and development, which implies transport of indole-3- carbinol that we are as yet unsuccessful in detecting. Our results indicate that plant defensive metabolites also have secondary functions in regulating aspects of plant metabolism, thereby providing diversity in defense-related plant signaling pathways. Such diversity of of signaling by defensive metabolites would be beneficial for the plant, as herbivores and pathogens would be less likely to mount effective countermeasures. We propose that growth arrest can be mediated directly by the herbivory-induced chemicals, in our case, indole-3-carbinol. Thus, glucosinolate breakdown to I3C following herbivory would have two outcomes: (1) Indole-3-carbinaol would inhibit the herbivore, while (2) at the same time inducing growth arrest within the plant. Thus, our results indicate that I3C is a defensive phytohormone that modulates auxin signaling, leading to growth arrest.
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Tanny, Josef, Gabriel Katul, Shabtai Cohen, and Meir Teitel. Micrometeorological methods for inferring whole canopy evapotranspiration in large agricultural structures: measurements and modeling. United States Department of Agriculture, 2015. http://dx.doi.org/10.32747/2015.7594402.bard.
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Original objectives and revisions The original objectives as stated in the approved proposal were: (1) To establish guidelines for the use of micrometeorological techniques as accurate, reliable and low-cost tools for continuous monitoring of whole canopy ET of common crops grown in large agricultural structures. (2) To adapt existing methods for protected cultivation environments. (3) To combine previously derived theoretical models of air flow and scalar fluxes in large agricultural structures (an outcome of our previous BARD project) with ET data derived from application of turbulent transport techniques for different crops and structure types. All the objectives have been successfully addressed. The study was focused on both screenhouses and naturally ventilated greenhouses, and all proposed methods were examined. Background to the topic Our previous BARD project established that the eddy covariance (EC) technique is suitable for whole canopy evapotranspiration measurements in large agricultural screenhouses. Nevertheless, the eddy covariance technique remains difficult to apply in the farm due to costs, operational complexity, and post-processing of data – thereby inviting alternative techniques to be developed. The subject of this project was: 1) the evaluation of four turbulent transport (TT) techniques, namely, Surface Renewal (SR), Flux-Variance (FV), Half-order Time Derivative (HTD) and Bowen Ratio (BR), whose instrumentation needs and operational demands are not as elaborate as the EC, to estimate evapotranspiration within large agricultural structures; and 2) the development of mathematical models able to predict water savings and account for the external environmental conditions, physiological properties of the plant, and structure properties as well as to evaluate the necessary micrometeorological conditions for utilizing the above turbulent transfer methods in such protected environments. Major conclusions and achievements The major conclusions are: (i) the SR and FV techniques were suitable for reliable estimates of ET in shading and insect-proof screenhouses; (ii) The BR technique was reliable in shading screenhouses; (iii) HTD provided reasonable results in the shading and insect proof screenhouses; (iv) Quality control analysis of the EC method showed that conditions in the shading and insect proof screenhouses were reasonable for flux measurements. However, in the plastic covered greenhouse energy balance closure was poor. Therefore, the alternative methods could not be analyzed in the greenhouse; (v) A multi-layered flux footprint model was developed for a ‘generic’ crop canopy situated within a protected environment such as a large screenhouse. The new model accounts for the vertically distributed sources and sinks within the canopy volume as well as for modifications introduced by the screen on the flow field and microenvironment. The effect of the screen on fetch as a function of its relative height above the canopy is then studied for the first time and compared to the case where the screen is absent. The model calculations agreed with field experiments based on EC measurements from two screenhouse experiments. Implications, both scientific and agricultural The study established for the first time, both experimentally and theoretically, the use of four simple TT techniques for ET estimates within large agricultural screenhouses. Such measurements, along with reliable theoretical models, will enable the future development of lowcost ET monitoring system which will be attainable for day-to-day use by growers in improving irrigation management.
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Adelberg, Jeff, Halina Skorupska, Bill Rhodes, Yigal Cohen, and Rafael Perl-Treves. Interploid Hybridization of Cucumis melo and C. metuliferus. United States Department of Agriculture, 1999. http://dx.doi.org/10.32747/1999.7580673.bard.
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The long-term motivation for this research is to transfer useful traits from a broad based gene pool of wild species into the narrow base of a cultivated crop in Cucumis. Our primary focus was to use polyploid prior to fertilization as a tool to overcome fertility barriers in the cross between C. melo and C. metuliferus. In conducting this research, we explored all combinations of tetraploid and diploid parents, in reciprocal combinations. Pollinations were made in both the field and greenhouse, using emasculated flowers, moneocious females, and open pollination by insect vectors, with morphological selection criteria. After observations of thousands of ovaries, we still have no definitive proof that this hybridization yielded viable embryos. The most promising results came from using tetraploid C. metuliferus, as the maternal parent in the interspecific hybridization, that set fruit were seeds contained small embryos that did not germinate. To obtain fruit set, it was important to rear plants in a cooler sunny greenhouse, as would be found in late winter/early spring. A second interspecific hybrid between wild and cultivated Cucumis, C. hystrix x C. sativus, yielded fertile progeny for the first time, while concomitantly working toward our primary goal. Two distinct treatments were necessary; 1) special plant husbandry was necessary to have the wild species produce fruit in cultivation, and 2) embryo rescue followed by chromosome doubling in vitro was required for fertility restoration. Backcrosses to crop species and resistance to nematodes are compelling areas for further work.
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Bloch, G., and H. S. Woodard. regulation of size related division of labor in a key pollinator and its impact on crop pollination efficacy. United States-Israel Binational Agricultural Research and Development Fund, 2021. http://dx.doi.org/10.32747/2021.8134168.bard.
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Despite the rapid increase in reliance on bumble bees for food production and security, there are many critical knowledge gaps in our understanding of bumble bee biology that limit their colony production, commercial management, and pollination services. Our project focuses on the social, endocrine, and molecular processes regulating body size in the two bumble bee species most important to agriculture: Bombus terrestris in Israel, and B. impatiens in the USA. Variation in body size underline both caste (queen/worker) differentiation and division of labor among workers (foragers are typically larger than nest bees), two hallmarks of insect sociality which are also crucial for the commercial rearing and crop pollination services of bumble bees. Our project has generated several fundamental new insights into the biology of bumble bees, which can be integrated into science-based management strategies for commercial pollination. Using transcriptomic and behavioral approaches we show that in spite of high flexibility, task performance (brood care or foraging) in bumble bee colonies is associated with physiological variation and differential brain gene expression and RNA editing patterns. We further showed that interactions between the brood, the queen, and the workers determine the developmental program of the larva. We identified two important periods. The first is a critical period during the first few days after hatching. Larvae fed by queens during this period develop over less days, are not likely to develop into gynes, and commonly reach a smaller ultimate body size compared to workers reared mostly or solely by workers. The facial exocrine (mandibular and hypopharangeal) glands are involved in this queen effect on larva development. The second period is important for determining the ultimate body size which is positively regulated by the number of tending workers. The presence of the queen during this stage has little, if at all, influence. We further show that stressors such as agrochemicals that interfere with foraging or brood care specific processes can compromise bumble bee colony development and their pollination performance. We also developed new technology (an RFID system) for automated collection of foraging trip data, for future deployment in agroecosystems. In spite of many similarities, our findings suggest important differences between the Eurasian model species (B. terrestris) and the North American model species (B. impatiens) that impact how management strategies translate across the two species. For example, there is a similar influence of the queen on offspring body size in both species, but this effect does not appear to be mediated by development time in B. impatiens as it is in B. terrestris. Taken together, our collaboration highlights the power of comparative work, to show that considerable differences that exist between these two key pollinator species, and in the organization of young bumble bee nests (wherein queens provide the majority of care and then transition away from brood care) relative to later stages of nest development.
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Tanny, Josef, Gabriel Katul, Shabtai Cohen, and Meir Teitel. Application of Turbulent Transport Techniques for Quantifying Whole Canopy Evapotranspiration in Large Agricultural Structures: Measurement and Theory. United States Department of Agriculture, 2011. http://dx.doi.org/10.32747/2011.7592121.bard.
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Original objectives and revisions The original objectives of this research, as stated in the approved proposal were: 1. To establish guidelines for the use of turbulent transport techniques as accurate and reliable tool for continuous measurements of whole canopy ET and other scalar fluxes (e.g. heat and CO2) in large agricultural structures. 2. To conduct a detailed experimental study of flow patterns and turbulence characteristics in agricultural structures. 3. To derive theoretical models of air flow and scalar fluxes in agricultural structures that can guide the interpretation of TT measurements for a wide range of conditions. All the objectives have been successfully addressed within the project. The only modification was that the study focused on screenhouses only, while it was originally planned to study large greenhouses as well. This was decided due to the large amount of field and theoretical work required to meet the objectives within screenhouses. Background In agricultural structures such as screenhouses and greenhouses, evapotranspiration (ET) is currently measured using lysimeters or sap flow gauges. These measurements provide ET estimates at the single-plant scale that must then be extrapolated, often statistically or empirically, to the whole canopy for irrigation scheduling purposes. On the other hand, turbulent transport techniques, like the eddy covariance, have become the standard for measuring whole canopy evapotranspiration in the open, but their applicability to agricultural structures has not yet been established. The subject of this project is the application of turbulent transport techniques to estimate ET for irrigation scheduling within large agricultural structures. Major conclusions and achievements The major conclusions of this project are: (i) the eddy covariance technique is suitable for reliable measurements of scalar fluxes (e.g., evapotranspiration, sensible heat, CO2) in most types of large screenhouses under all climatic conditions tested. All studies resulted with fair energy balance closures; (ii) comparison between measurements and theory show that the model is capable in reliably predicting the turbulent flow characteristics and surface fluxes within screenhouses; (iii) flow characteristics within the screenhouse, like flux-variance similarity and turbulence intensity were valid for the application of the eddy covariance technique in screenhouses of relatively dilute screens used for moderate shading and wind breaking. In more dense screens, usually used for insect exclusions, development of turbulent conditions was marginal; (iv) installation of the sensors requires that the system’s footprint will be within the limits of the screenhouse under study, as is the case in the open. A footprint model available in the literature was found to be reliable in assessing the footprint under screenhouse conditions. Implications, both scientific and agricultural The study established for the first time, both experimentally and theoretically, the use of the eddy covariance technique for flux measurements within agricultural screenhouses. Such measurements, along with reliable theoretical models, will enable more accurate assessments of crop water use which may lead to improved crop water management and increased water use efficiency of screenhouse crops.