Hemiptera community and species responses to grassland sward islets

Sward islet is a term that has been used to describe a patch of longer vegetation in a pasture produced by a reduction in cattle grazing around their dung. They are known to affect the abundance and distribution of grassland arthropods. Hemiptera, like other groups, are found in higher densities within islets than the surrounding sward. Does this modify the community composition or is there just a density effect? Evidence from a paired (islets, non-islets) study at an Irish cattle-grazed site, would suggest that although a change in the density of species explains much of the patterns observed, some species respond to islets in different ways. Grassland Auchenorrhyncha were dominated by two genera, Javesella (mostly J. obscurella and to a lesser extent J. pellucida) and Macrosteles (mostly M. viridigriseus with some M. laevis and M. sexnotatus). The nymphs and to a lesser extent the adults, showed contrasting distribution patterns in relation to islets. Javesella were more common in the islets, whereas Macrosteles showed little difference between the two sub-habitats. Possible reasons for the difference in sub-habitat choice between these two Auchenorrhyncha taxa are discussed

The community ecology of Ribautodelphax imitans (RIBAUT, 1953) (Hemiptera: Delphacidae), a rare UK planthopper in a distinct grassland habitat

Ribautodelphax imitans Ribaut. (Hemiptera: Delphacidae) is a rare planthopper throughout its recorded range, and in the UK where it is afforded conservation priority status. Following the discovery of this species on a site in Cambridgeshire, UK in 2010 a study was designed to understand the population status of R. imitans and its place in the Auchenorrhyncha community structure. The species was found not to be rare within the community – in fact it was one of the most abundant delphacids on the site. However, the community was dominated by Javesella pellucida (Fab.). Although the reason for the general rarity of R. imitans on a national scale is still unclear, evidence from the community structure suggests that strong interspecies interactions between other species that it is phenologically synchronous with may be a factor

A new hotspot for Temminck’s Red Colobus (Piliocolobus badius temminckii) in The Gambia: the feasibility of a community approach to conservation

The geographic range and abundance of Temminck’s red colobus, Piliocolobus badius temminckii, in The Gambia is not well documented. In March 2019, line transect surveys were conducted at a number of data deficient forests in The Gambia to establish species presence or absence, contribute to a greater understanding of the species at a national scale and identify prior- ity sites for conservation. One area around Sambel Kunda in the Central River Region was found to be exceptionally productive with an observed Temminck’s red colobus population of 587 individuals, a maximum group size of 60, and connectivity to robust populations along a riparian corridor to the east. Surveys were supported by the collation of community perceptions using prin- ciples of Rapid Assessment Program (RAP) methodology to evaluate the feasibility of an integrated community development and primate conservation project. The results of interviews and meetings in the Sambel Kunda area revealed an absence of hunting and increasing population trends for all primate species, including red colobus. Excepting the Central River Region, Temminck’s red colobus populations were otherwise in decline or locally extinct, predominantly as a result of indiscriminate hunting to protect agricultural crops. Meetings with the Village Development Committees confirmed that the greatest proximal threat to red colobus in the study area was the rapid escalation in forest clearance to produce charcoal for local markets and timber for export to offset climate-change-induced declines in agricultural revenues. Local Gambians are aware that they urgently need to adopt sustainable forestry practices to mitigate climate change impacts and protect timber and non-timber resources but are currently unsure how they would develop and implement such a model. Given the uncertainty and complex nature of the range-wide threats facing the red colobus populations, we suggest prioritizing the Sambel Kunda area as a site of international importance for the protection and recovery of this Critically Endangered species. A community approach to the conservation of red colobus in the Sambel Kunda area should be implemented without delay through site designation, capacity building for biodiversity monitoring, sustainable for- estry practices, community engagement and education and by growing awareness of Temminck’s red colobus as a flagship species

Can monophagous specialists mediate host plant choices in generalist planthoppers (Hemiptera: Delphacidae)?

A preference experiment was set up with two planthopper species (Hemiptera: Delphacidae) to test the influence of competition on host plant choice. The delphacid Javesella pellucida was chosen as a generalist and the rarer Ribautodelphax imitans as a monophagous specialist, which feeds on the grass, tall fescue Schedonorus arundinaceus. In the absence of the specialist, the generalist showed a marked preference for tall fescue. In some experiments, however, the introduction of the specialist resulted in a shift of preference to an alternative plant if the specialist was established prior to the introduction of the generalist. This experiment supports the hypothesis that specialist herbivores can potentially alter the host plant choices of generalists, which may lead to differing host plant use patterns in insect communities

Extreme positive allometry of animal adhesive pads and the size limits of adhesion-based climbing

Organismal functions are size-dependent whenever body surfaces supply body volumes. Larger organisms can develop strongly folded internal surfaces for enhanced diffusion, but in many cases areas cannot be folded so that their enlargement is constrained by anatomy, presenting a problem for larger animals. Here, we study the allometry of adhesive pad area in 225 climbing animal species, covering more than seven orders of magnitude in weight. Across all taxa, adhesive pad area showed extreme positive allometry and scaled with weight, implying a 200-fold increase of relative pad area from mites to geckos. However, allometric scaling coefficients for pad area systematically decreased with taxonomic level, and were close to isometry when evolutionary history was accounted for, indicating that the substantial anatomical changes required to achieve this increase in relative pad area are limited by phylogenetic constraints. Using a comparative phylogenetic approach, we found that the departure from isometry is almost exclusively caused by large differences in size-corrected pad area between arthropods and vertebrates. To mitigate the expected decrease of weight-specific adhesion within closely related taxa where pad area scaled close to isometry, data for several taxa suggest that the pads’ adhesive strength increased for larger animals. The combination of adjustments in relative pad area for distantly related taxa and changes in adhesive strength for closely related groups helps explain how climbing with adhesive pads has evolved in animals varying over seven orders of magnitude in body weight. Our results illustrate the size limits of adhesion-based climbing, with profound implications for large-scale bio-inspired adhesives.We are sincerely grateful to all our colleagues who readily shared published and unpublished data with us: Aaron M. Bauer, Jon Barnes, Niall Crawford, Thomas Endlein, Hanns Hagen Goetzke, Thomas E. Macrini, Anthony P. Russell & Joanna M. Smith. We also thank Casey Gilman, Dylan Briggs, Irina Showalter, Dan King and Mike Imburgia for their assistance with the collection of gecko toepad data. This study was supported by research grants from the UK Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BB/I008667/1) to WF, the Human Frontier Science Programme (RGP0034/2012) to DI, AJC and WF, the Denman Baynes Senior Research Fellowship to DL and a Discovery Early Career Research Fellowship (DE120101503) to CJC.This is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from the National Academy of Sciences via http://dx.doi.org/ 10.1073/pnas.151945911

Effectiveness of insecticides, physical barriers and size of planting stock against damage by the pine weevil (Hylobius abietis)

A series of five trials was established in Great Britain to test the effectiveness of fourteen treatments and a control on reducing mortality and damage by pine weevil (Hylobius abietis) on recently replanted Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis). Overall percentage mortality and damage was significantly different between trials, varying from a median of 24%–100%. The most effective treatments in reducing mortality were insecticides and physical barriers, with insecticides being most cost effective. Low volume applications of insecticides were found to be as effective as higher doses. Using larger trees did not reduce mortality compared to the control, nor did application of a controlled release fertiliser. At Auchencairn, the trial where mortality was highest no treatment provided protection and so there is a need to develop an effective and integrated approach to reducing damage by pine weevil

Feeding behavior of Mangalarga Marchador foals under food offers and nocturne stabled

The objective this study was identifies the feeding behavior of Mangalarga Marchador foals on the stable at night and full time at the limpograss  (Hemarthria altissima cv. Flórida). This experiment took place in Haras Jump ,Curitiba - PR,  from 09/29/07 to 02/28/08. The treatments were diets compound by haygrass (5,0 kg) and commercial concentrate (2,5 kg) offered on the stable during night and at the pasture during daylight (T100C), haygrass (2,5 kg) and commercial concentrate (1,25 kg) offered on the stable during night and at the pasture during daylight (T50C), and only limpograss pasture (TP). The feeding behavior was measured by focal animal sampling, each 10 minutes, on 12/07/2007, 01/30/2008 and 02/19/2008, during 24 hours. The development was control by weight gain and body score. The results were analyzed by Statistica, version 5.5, program. The foals of TP treatments (only limpograss) feeding how long during day that nocturne stabled foals. The stable influenced the foals feeding behavior at the pasture, because the time feeding morning was smaller (p<0.05) than afternoon and TP treatments.The speed of grazing during daylight was higher (p<0.05) than stabled treatments. The development and body score of the foals were satisfactory since the weight gain of the TP treatments was higher (p<0,05). It suggests that adequate mass forage allow to the foals ingest nutrients necessary to the development.Objetivou-se neste experimento avaliar o comportamento alimentar de potros da raça Mangalarga Marchador, submetidos a dietas em cocheira e em pastagem de Hemarthria altíssima cv. Flórida, no período de 29/09/2007 à 29/02/2008. O experimento foi realizado no Haras Jump localizado na região metropolitana de Curitiba. Os tratamentos utilizados foram dietas compostas de 5 kg feno e 2,5 Kg de concentrado comercial oferecido na cocheira durante noite e pastejo durante o dia (T100C), 2,5 Kg feno e 1,250 Kg de concentrado comercial oferecido na cocheira durante a noite e pastejo durante o dia (T50C), e somente alimento na forma de pasto (TP). O comportamento alimentar foi monitorado nos dias 07/12/2007, 30/01/2008 e 19/02/2008, quantificando-se o tempo de alimentação durante 24 horas, por meio de amostragem focal, a cada 10 minutos. Os resultados foram submetidos à análise de variância e as medias comparadas pelo teste de Duncan, pelo programa Statistica versão 5.5. Os animais do tratamento TP apresentaram maior tempo de ingestão de alimento no dia. O comportamento de pastejo dos potros, alimentados na cocheira a noite, foi influenciado pelo confinamento, o que determinou menor (P<0,05) tempo de ingestão no período da manhã, assim como o incremento no período da tarde, relativo à manhã. A velocidade de colheita da forragem, no período diurno, foi maior (P<0,05) para os animais do tratamento T50C e T100C. O peso e escore corporal dos potros no período experimental foram satisfatórios para os três tratamentos. O confinamento de potros no período noturno, suplementados com concentrado e feno a vontade, promove diminuição do tempo de ingestão alimentar diário

Psychometric Evaluation of the Altered States of Consciousness Rating Scale (OAV)

BACKGROUND: The OAV questionnaire has been developed to integrate research on altered states of consciousness (ASC). It measures three primary and one secondary dimensions of ASC that are hypothesized to be invariant across ASC induction methods. The OAV rating scale has been in use for more than 20 years and applied internationally in a broad range of research fields, yet its factorial structure has never been tested by structural equation modeling techniques and its psychometric properties have never been examined in large samples of experimentally induced ASC. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: The present study conducted a psychometric evaluation of the OAV in a sample of psilocybin (n = 327), ketamine (n = 162), and MDMA (n = 102) induced ASC that was obtained by pooling data from 43 experimental studies. The factorial structure was examined by confirmatory factor analysis, exploratory structural equation modeling, hierarchical item clustering (ICLUST), and multiple indicators multiple causes (MIMIC) modeling. The originally proposed model did not fit the data well even if zero-constraints on non-target factor loadings and residual correlations were relaxed. Furthermore, ICLUST suggested that the "oceanic boundlessness" and "visionary restructuralization" factors could be combined on a high level of the construct hierarchy. However, because these factors were multidimensional, we extracted and examined 11 new lower order factors. MIMIC modeling indicated that these factors were highly measurement invariant across drugs, settings, questionnaire versions, and sexes. The new factors were also demonstrated to have improved homogeneities, satisfactory reliabilities, discriminant and convergent validities, and to differentiate well among the three drug groups. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: The original scales of the OAV were shown to be multidimensional constructs. Eleven new lower order scales were constructed and demonstrated to have desirable psychometric properties. The new lower order scales are most likely better suited to assess drug induced ASC

Prediction of Psilocybin Response in Healthy Volunteers

Responses to hallucinogenic drugs, such as psilocybin, are believed to be critically dependent on the user's personality, current mood state, drug pre-experiences, expectancies, and social and environmental variables. However, little is known about the order of importance of these variables and their effect sizes in comparison to drug dose. Hence, this study investigated the effects of 24 predictor variables, including age, sex, education, personality traits, drug pre-experience, mental state before drug intake, experimental setting, and drug dose on the acute response to psilocybin. The analysis was based on the pooled data of 23 controlled experimental studies involving 409 psilocybin administrations to 261 healthy volunteers. Multiple linear mixed effects models were fitted for each of 15 response variables. Although drug dose was clearly the most important predictor for all measured response variables, several non-pharmacological variables significantly contributed to the effects of psilocybin. Specifically, having a high score in the personality trait of Absorption, being in an emotionally excitable and active state immediately before drug intake, and having experienced few psychological problems in past weeks were most strongly associated with pleasant and mystical-type experiences, whereas high Emotional Excitability, low age, and an experimental setting involving positron emission tomography most strongly predicted unpleasant and/or anxious reactions to psilocybin. The results confirm that non-pharmacological variables play an important role in the effects of psilocybin