Host Finding and Recognition by \u3cem\u3ePapilio Polyxenes\u3c/em\u3e (Lepidoptera: Papilionidae): The Effects of Three Host Cues and of Host-Plant Experience on Oviposition Behavior

Herbivorous insects are rarely able to eat all kinds of available plant material. The majority of phytophagous insects are oligophagous, feeding on a variety of host plants that are botanically and/or chemically related (Strong, et al. 1984; Jermy, et al. 1990; Bemays and Chapman 1994). This provides these insects the flexibility to exploit a variety of plant species; however, even closely-related plants can differ in such phenotypic characters as growth form, leaf shape, and chemistry. How then can we account for the fidelity of oligophagous insects for a particular set of plants growing in complex vegetation? Clearly, host-finding responses to at least some plant traits must have a heritable component, and may be subject to experience-induced modification. Remarkably, little is known of the relative roles of nature and nurture in host-finding by herbivorous insects

Other-regarding preferences and pro-environmental behaviour: an interdisciplinary review of experimental studies

Pro-environmental behaviour (PEB) is often promoted by reinforcing or highlighting own benefits. However, considering that actors also care about the outcomes for others (i.e. they hold other-regarding preferences), PEB may also be encouraged by addressing these other-regarding preferences. In this paper, we review the results from social science experiments where interventions addressing other-regarding preferences were used to promote PEB. Based on our synthesis, we conclude that addressing other-regarding preferences can be effective in promoting (various types of) PEB in some, but not in all instances. Whether an intervention was effective depended inter alia on the pre-established preferences, cost structures and the perceived cooperation of others. Effective interventions included the provision of information on behavioural consequences, perspective-taking, direct appeals, framing and re-categorization. The interventions worked by activating other-regarding preferences, raising awareness about adverse consequences, evoking empathic concern and expanding the moral circle. We propose to take these findings as an impulse to examine policy instruments and institutions in terms of whether they activate and strengthen other-regarding preferences, thereby enabling collective engagement in PEB

Perspective-taking with affected others to promote climate change mitigation

Prior evidence suggests that perspective-taking may promote pro-environmental behavior, at least for low-cost behaviors or local environmental problems. Climate change, however, requires costly mitigation efforts and is a global problem. Thus, in this study, we examine whether perspective-taking in the context of climate change is effective in promoting mitigation behaviors, including actual and/or costly behaviors, the mechanisms through which perspective-taking works, and if the distance to the person adversely affected by climate change matters for the effect. We conducted an online experiment with a non-student sample from Germany (n = 557), utilizing a 2 × 2 factorial design, to investigate the impact of perspective-taking and distance on three outcome measures: a climate donation, signing a petition, and approval of mitigation policies. We find that perspective-taking does not promote these mitigation behaviors, yet it raises the degree perspective-takers value and – for close others – feel connected with the affected person. Exploratory analysis shows that dispositional perspective-taking and empathic concern are correlated with mitigation behaviors

Distance to climate change consequences reduces willingness to engage in low-cost mitigation actions-Results from an experimental online study from Germany

Adverse consequences of climate change often affect people and places far away from those that have the greatest capacity for mitigation. Several correlational and some experimental studies suggest that the willingness to take mitigation actions may diminish with increasing distance. However, the empirical findings are ambiguous. In order to investigate if and how socio-spatial distance to climate change effects plays a role for the willingness to engage in mitigation actions, we conducted an online experiment with a German population sample (n = 383). We find that the willingness to sign a petition for climate protection was significantly reduced when a person in India with a name of Indian origin was affected by flooding, as compared to a person in Germany with a name of German origin. Distance did not affect donating money to climate protection or approving of mitigation policies. Our results provide evidence for the existence of a negative effect of distance to climate change consequences on the willingness to engage in low-cost mitigation actions. Investigating explanations for such an effect, we find that it can be attributed to the spatial rather than the social dimension of distance. Moreover, we find some cautious evidence that people with strong racist attitudes react differently to the distance manipulations, suggesting a form of environmental racism that could also reduce mitigation action in the case of climate change

Perspective-taking with affected others to promote climate change mitigation

Prior evidence suggests that perspective-taking may promote pro-environmental behavior, at least for low-cost behaviors or local environmental problems. Climate change, however, requires costly mitigation efforts and is a global problem. Thus, in this study, we examine whether perspective-taking in the context of climate change is effective in promoting mitigation behaviors, including actual and/or costly behaviors, the mechanisms through which perspective-taking works, and if the distance to the person adversely affected by climate change matters for the effect. We conducted an online experiment with a non-student sample from Germany (n = 557), utilizing a 2 × 2 factorial design, to investigate the impact of perspective-taking and distance on three outcome measures: a climate donation, signing a petition, and approval of mitigation policies. We find that perspective-taking does not promote these mitigation behaviors, yet it raises the degree perspective-takers value and – for close others – feel connected with the affected person. Exploratory analysis shows that dispositional perspective-taking and empathic concern are correlated with mitigation behaviors

Effects of Quercetin Supplementation on Innate Immune Function and Inflammation in Female Human Subjects

PURPOSE: Quercetin, a flavonoid found in fruits and vegetables, is a strong antioxidant with anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and immune-modulating properties. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of long-term quercetin supplementation on innate immune function and inflammation in human subjects. STUDY DESIGN: Female subjects (N=120, ages 30-79 years) were recruited from the community and randomized to one of three groups, with supplements administered using double-blinded procedures: Q-500 (500 mg/day quercetin, N=38), Q-1000 (1000 mg/day quercetin, N=40), or placebo (N=42). Subjects ingested two soft chew supplements twice daily during the twelve-week study period. Fasting blood samples were obtained pre- and post-study and were analyzed for plasma quercetin, interleukin (IL)-6, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-a, and leukocyte subset cell counts. Natural killer cell activity (NKCA) and lymphocyte subsets were assessed on a subset of seventy-four subjects. Granulocyte oxidative burst activity (GOBA) and phagocytosis were assessed on sixty-four subjects. Eighteen subjects had overlapping data. RESULTS: Quercetin supplementation at 500 and 1000 mg/day increased plasma quercetin (interaction effect, P<0.001) compared to placebo but had no significant influence on blood leukocyte or lymphocyte subset concentration, plasma IL-6 or TNF-a concentration, NKCA, GOBA, or granulocyte phagocytosis. NKCA was inversely correlated with BMI (r=-0.25, P=0.035) and body fat percentage (r=-0.38, P=0.001), and positively correlated with self-reported physical fitness level (r=0.24, P=0.032). CONCLUSIONS: Results from this double-blinded, placebo-controlled, randomized trial indicate that quercetin supplementation at 500 and 1000 mg/day for twelve weeks significantly increased plasma quercetin levels but had no influence on measures of innate immune function or inflammation in community-dwelling adult females