57 research outputs found
Neural Correlates of Ongoing Conscious Experience: Both Task-Unrelatedness and Stimulus-Independence Are Related to Default Network Activity
The default mode network (DMN) is a set of brain regions that consistently shows higher activity at rest compared to tasks requiring sustained focused attention toward externally presented stimuli. The cognitive processes that the DMN possibly underlies remain a matter of debate. It has alternately been proposed that DMN activity reflects unfocused attention toward external stimuli or the occurrence of internally generated thoughts. The present study aimed at clarifying this issue by investigating the neural correlates of the various kinds of conscious experiences that can occur during task performance. Four classes of conscious experiences (i.e., being fully focused on the task, distractions by irrelevant sensations/perceptions, interfering thoughts related to the appraisal of the task, and mind-wandering) that varied along two dimensions (“task-relatedness” and “stimulus-dependency”) were sampled using thought-probes while the participants performed a go/no-go task. Analyses performed on the intervals preceding each probe according to the reported subjective experience revealed that both dimensions are relevant to explain activity in several regions of the DMN, namely the medial prefrontal cortex, posterior cingulate cortex/precuneus, and posterior inferior parietal lobe. Notably, an additive effect of the two dimensions was demonstrated for midline DMN regions. On the other hand, lateral temporal regions (also part of the DMN) were specifically related to stimulus-independent reports. These results suggest that midline DMN regions underlie cognitive processes that are active during both internal thoughts and external unfocused attention. They also strengthen the view that the DMN can be fractionated into different subcomponents and reveal the necessity to consider both the stimulus-dependent and the task-related dimensions of conscious experiences when studying the possible functional roles of the DMN
How a slow-ovipositing parasitoid can succed as a biological control agent of the invasive mealybug Phenacoccus peruvianus: implications for future classical and conservation biological control programs
[EN] Phenaccocus peruvianus Granara de Willink (Hemiptera: pseudococcidae) is an invasive mealybug that has become a pest of ornamental plants in Europe and has recently been detected in California, USA. In this work, we studied the tritrophic interaction among this mealybug, its main parasitoid Acerophagus n. sp. near coccois (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) and tending ants to disclose the success of this parasitoid controlling P. peruvianus. Acerophagus n. sp. near coccois accepted mealybugs for parasitism regardless of their size but did not hostfeed. We recorded three active defenses of P. peruvianus. Host handling time-consuming process that required more than 30 min. Tending ants, Lasius grandis (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae), reduced the time spent by parasitoids in a patch and disrupted oviposition attempts. The low numbers of ants tending mealybugs colonies in Spain and France could explain why this parasitoid, with a long handling time, is an efficient biological control agent for P. peruvianus.Beltrà Ivars, A.; Soto Sánchez, AI.; Tena Barreda, A. (2015). How a slow-ovipositing parasitoid can succed as a biological control agent of the invasive mealybug Phenacoccus peruvianus: implications for future classical and conservation biological control programs. BioControl. 60(4):473-484. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10526-015-9663-6S473484604Arakelian G (2013) Bougainvillea mealybug (Phenacoccus peruvianus). Factsheet 2013. County of Los Angeles. Department of agricultural commissioner/weights and measures, USABartlett BR (1961) The influence of ants upon parasites, predators, and scale insects. Ann Entomol Soc Am 54:543–551Bartlett BR (1978) Pseudococcidae. In: Clausen CP (ed) Introduced parasites and predators of arthropod pests and weeds: a world review, 1st edn. Agricultural Research Service USDA, Washington, USA, pp 137–170Barzman MS, Daane KM (2001) Host-handling behaviors in parasitoids of black scale, Saissetia oleae (Homoptera: Coccidae): a case for ant-mediated evolution. J Anim Ecol 70:237–247Beltrà A, Soto A, Germain JF, Matile-Ferrero D, Mazzeo G, Pellizzari G, Russo A, Franco JC, Williams DJ (2010) The Bougainvillea mealybug Phenacoccus peruvianus, a rapid invader from South America to Europe. Entomol Hell 19:137–143Beltrà A, Garcia-Marí F, Soto A (2013a) Seasonal phenology, spatial distribution, and sampling plan for the invasive mealybug Phenacoccus peruvianus (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae). J Econ Entomol 106:1486–1494Beltrà A, Tena A, Soto A (2013b) Fortuitous biological control of the invasive mealybug Phenacoccus peruvianus in Southern Europe. BioControl 58:309–317Beltrà A, Tena A, Soto A (2013c) Reproductive strategies and food sources used by Acerophagus n. sp. near coccois, a new successful parasitoid of the invasive mealybug Phenacoccus peruvianus. J Pest Sci 86:253–259Berlinger MJ, Golberg AM (1978) The effect of the fruit sepals on the citrus mealybug population and on its parasite. Entomol Exp Appl 24:238–243Blumstein DT, Daniel JC (2007) Quantifying behavior the JWatcher way. Sinauer Associates Inc., Sunderland, UKBoavida C, Ahounou M, Vos M, Neuenschwander P, van Alphen JJM (1995) Host stage selection and sex allocation by Gyranusoidea tebygi (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae), a parasitoid of the mango mealybug, Rastrococcus invadens (Homoptera: Pseudococcidae). Biol Control 5:487–496Bokonon-Ganta AH, Neuenschwander P, van Alphen JJM, Vos M (1995) Host stage selection and sex allocation by Anagyrus mangicola (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae), a parasitoid of the mango mealybug, Rastrococcus invadens (Homoptera: Pseudococcidae). Biol Control 5:479–486Bugila AAA, Franco JC, Borges da Silva E, Branco M (2014a) Defense response of native and alien mealybugs (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) against the solitary parasitoid Anagyrus sp. nr. pseudococci (Girault) (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae). J Insect Behav 27:439–453Bugila AAA, Branco M, Borges da Silva E, Franco JC (2014b) Host selection behavior and specificity of the solitary parasitoid of mealybugs Anagyrus sp. nr. pseudococci (Girault) (Hymenoptera, Encyrtidae). Biocontrol Sci Techn 24:22–38Bynum EK (1937) Pseudococcobius terryi Fullaway, a Hawaiian parasite of Gray Sugarcane mealybug in the United States. J Econ Entomol 30:756–761Cadée N, van Alphen JJM (1997) Host selection and sex allocation in Leptomastidea abnormis, a parasitoid of the citrus mealybug Planococcus citri. Entomol Exp Appl 83:277–284Clausen CP (1924) The parasites of Pseudococcus maritimus (Ehrhorn) in California (Hymenoptera, Chalcidoidea). Part II. Biological studies and life histories. UC Pub Entomol 3:253–288Daane KM, Barzman MS, Caltagirone LE, Hagen KS (2000) Metaphycus anneckei and Metaphycus hageni: two discrete species parasitic on black scale, Saissetia oleae. BioControl 45:269–284Daane KM, Bentley WJ, Walton VM, Malakar-Kuenen R, Millar JC, Ingels CA, Weber EA, Gispert C (2006) New controls investigated for vine mealybug. Calif Agric 60:31–38Daane KM, Sime KR, Fallon J, Cooper ML (2007) Impacts of Argentine ants on mealybugs and their natural enemies in California’s coastal vineyards. Ecol Entomol 32:583–596De Farias AM, Hopper KR (1999) Oviposition behavior of Aphelinus asychis (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) and Aphidius matricariae (Hymenoptera: Aphidiidae) and defense behavior of their host Diuraphis noxia (Homoptera: Aphididae). Environ Entomol 28:858–862Dorn B, Mattiacci L, Bellotti AC, Dorn S (2001) Host specificity and comparative foraging behavior of Aenasius vexans and Acerophagus coccois, two endo-parasitoids of the cassava mealybug. Entomol Exp Appl 99:331–339Eisner T, Silberglied RE (1988) A chrysopid larva that cloaks itself in mealybug wax. Psyche 95:15–20Flanders SE (1963) Predation by parasitic Hymenoptera, the basis of ant-induced outbreaks of a host species. J Econ Entomol 56:116Foldi I (1983) Structure et fonctions des glandes tégumentaires de cochenilles Pseudococcines et de leurs secretions. Ann Soc Entomol Fr 19:155–156Foldi I (1997) Defense strategies in scale insects: phylogenetic inference and evolutionary scenarios (Hemiptera, Coccoidea). In: Grandcolas P (ed) The origin of biodiversity in insects: phylogenetic tests of evolutionary scenarios, 1st edn. Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Paris, France, pp 203–230Godfray HCJ (1994) Parasitoids: behavioral and evolutionary ecology. Princeton University Press, Princeton, USAGonzález-Hernández H, Johnson MW, Reimer NJ (1999) Impact of Pheidole megacephala (F.) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) on the biological control of Dysmicoccus brevipes (Cockerell) (Homoptera: Pseudococcidae). Biol Control 15:145–152Gross P (1993) Insect behavioral and morphological defenses against parasitoids. Annu Rev Entomol 38:251–273Gullan PJ (1997) Relationships with ants. In: Ben-Dov Y, Hodgson CJ (eds) Soft scale insects—their biology natural enemies and control, 1st edn. Elsevier, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, pp 351–373Gullan PJ, Kosztarab M (1997) Adaptations in scale insects. Annu Rev Entomol 42:23–50Hcidari M, Jahan M (2000) A study of ovipositional behavior of Anagyrus pseudococci a parasitoid of mealybugs. J Agric Sci Technol 2:49–53Honda JY, Luck RF (1995) Scale morphology effects on feeding behavior and biological control potential of Rhyzobius lophanthae (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae). Ann Entomol Soc Am 88:441–450Joyce AL, Hoddle MS, Bellows TS, Gonzalez D (2001) Oviposition behavior of Coccidoxenoides peregrinus, a parasitoid of Planococcus ficus. Entomol Exp Appl 98:49–57Karamaouna F (1999) Biology of the parasitoids Leptomastix epona (Walker) and Pseudaphycus flavidulus (Brèthes) and behavioural interactions with the host mealybug Pseudococcus viburni (Signoret). Ph.D. Thesis, University of London, UK, p 333Karamaouna F, Copland MJ (2000) Oviposition behavior, influence of experience on host size selection, and niche overlap of the solitary Leptomastix epona and the gregarious Pseudaphycus flavidulus, two endoparasitoids of the mealybug Pseudococcus viburni. Entomol Exp Appl 97:301–308Klotz JH, Hansen L, Pospischil R, Rust M (2008) Urban ants of North America and Europe. Cornell University Press, Ithaca, USAMailleux AC, Deneubourg JL, Detrain C (2003) Regulation of ants foraging to resource productivity. P R Soc Lond B Bio 270:1609–1616Majerus ME, Sloggett JJ, Godeau JF, Hemptinne JL (2007) Interactions between ants and aphidophagous and coccidophagous ladybirds. Popul Ecol 49:15–27Mgocheki N, Addison P (2009) Interference of ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) with biological control of the vine mealybug Planococcus ficus (Signoret) (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae). Biol Control 49:180–185Moore D (1988) Agents used for biological control of mealybugs (Pseudococcidae). Biocontrol News Inf 9:209–225Paris CI, Espadaler X (2009) Honeydew collection by the invasive garden ant Lasius neglectus versus the native ant L grandis. Arthropod Plant Interact 3:75–85Pekas A, Tena A, Aguilar A, Garcia-Marí F (2011) Spatio-temporal patterns and interactions with honeydew-producing Hemiptera of ants in a Mediterranean citrus orchard. Agric Forest Entomol 13:89–97Pennacchio F, Strand MR (2006) Evolution of developmental strategies in parasitic Hymenoptera. Annu Rev Entomol 51:233–258Pijls JW, Hofker KD, Staalduinen MJ, van Alphen JJM (1995) Interspecific host discrimination and competition in Apoanagyrus (Epidinocarsis) lopezi and A(E) diversicornis parasitoids of the cassava mealybug Phenacoccus manihoti. Ecol Entomol 20:326–332Robert Y (1987) Dispersion and migration. In: Minks AK, Harrewijn P (eds) Aphids—their biology, natural enemies and control, 1st edn. Elsevier, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, pp 299–313Sandanayaka WRM, Charles JG, Allan DJ (2009) Aspects of the reproductive biology of Pseudaphycus maculipennis (Hym: Encyrtidae), a parasitoid of obscure mealybug, Pseudococcus viburni (Hem: Pseudococcidae). Biol Control 48:30–35Sarkar D (2008) Lattice: multivariate data visualization with R. Springer, New York, USASime KR, Daane KM (2014) Rapid, non-discriminatory oviposition behaviors are favored in mealybug parasitoids when Argentine ants are present. Environ Entomol 43:995–1002Tena A, Garcia-Marí F (2008) Suitability of citricola scale Coccus pseudomagnoliarum (Hemiptera: Coccidae) as host of Metaphycus helvolus (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae): Influence of host size and encapsulation. Biol Control 46:341–347Tena A, Hoddle CD, Hoddle MS (2013) Competition between honeydew producers in an ant–hemipteran interaction may enhance biological control of an invasive pest. Bull Entomol Res 103:714–723The R Core Team (2011) R: a language and environment for statistical computing. R Foundation for Statistical Computing, Vienna, Austriavan Driesche RG, Belloti A, Herrera CJ, Castello JA (1987a) Host preferences of two encyrtid parasitoids for the Columbian Phenacoccus spp. of cassava mealybugs. Entomol Exp Appl 43:261–266van Driesche RG, Belloti A, Herrera CJ, Castello JA (1987b) Host feeding and ovipositor insertion as sources of mortality in the mealybug Phenacoccus herreni caused by two encyrtids Epidinocarsis diversicornis and Acerophagus coccois. Entomol Exp Appl 44:97–100Vet LE, Dicke M (1992) Ecology of infochemical use by natural enemies in a tritrophic context. Annu Rev Entomol 37:141–172Völkl W, Woodring J, Fischer M, Lorenz MW, Hoffmann KH (1999) Ant-aphid mutualisms: the impact of honeydew production and honeydew sugar composition on ant preferences. Oecologia 118:483–491Wajnberg E (1989) Analysis of variations of handling-time in Trichogramma maidis. Entomophaga 34:397–407Way MJ (1963) Mutualism between ants and honeydew-producing Homoptera. Annu Rev Entomol 8:307–344Weiss MR (2006) Defecation behavior and ecology of insects. Annu Rev Entomol 51:635–661Wyckhuys KAG, Stone L, Desneux N, Hoelmer KA, Hopper KR, Heimpel GE (2008) Parasitism of the soybean aphid Aphis glycines by Binodoxys communis: the role of aphid defensive behavior and parasitoid reproductive performance. Bull Entomol Res 98:361–370Zain-ul-Abdin, Arif MJ, Suhail A, Gogi MD, Arshad M, Wakil W, Abbas SK, Altaf A, Shaina H, Manzoor A (2012) Molecular analysis of the venom of mealybug parasitoid Aenasius bambawalei Hayat (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae). Pak Entomol 34:189–193Zinna G (1959) Specializzazione entomoparassitica negli Encyrtidae: studio morfologico etologico e fisiologico del Leptomastix dactylopii. Howard Boll Lab agr Filippo Silvestri 18:1–14
Stereochemical Insignificance Discovered in Acinetobacter baumannii Quorum Sensing
Stereochemistry is a key aspect of molecular recognition for biological systems. As such, receptors and enzymes are often highly stereospecific, only recognizing one stereoisomer of a ligand. Recently, the quorum sensing signaling molecules used by the nosocomial opportunistic pathogen, Acinetobacter baumannii, were identified, and the primary signaling molecule isolated from this species was N-(3-hydroxydodecanoyl)-l-homoserine lactone. A plethora of bacterial species have been demonstrated to utilize 3-hydroxy-acylhomoserine lactone autoinducers, and in virtually all cases, the (R)-stereoisomer was identified as the natural ligand and exhibited greater autoinducer activity than the corresponding (S)-stereoisomer. Using chemical synthesis and biochemical assays, we have uncovered a case of stereochemical insignificance in A. baumannii and provide a unique example where stereochemistry appears nonessential for acylhomoserine lactone-mediated quorum sensing signaling. Based on previously reported phylogenetic studies, we suggest that A. baumannii has evolutionarily adopted this unique, yet promiscuous quorum sensing system to ensure its survival, particularly in the presence of other proteobacteria
The diversity of reproductive parasites among arthropods: Wolbachia do not walk alone
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Inherited bacteria have come to be recognised as important components of arthropod biology. In addition to mutualistic symbioses, a range of other inherited bacteria are known to act either as reproductive parasites or as secondary symbionts. Whilst the incidence of the α-proteobacterium <it>Wolbachia </it>is relatively well established, the current knowledge of other inherited bacteria is much weaker. Here, we tested 136 arthropod species for a range of inherited bacteria known to demonstrate reproductive parasitism, sampling each species more intensively than in past surveys.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The inclusion of inherited bacteria other than <it>Wolbachia </it>increased the number of infections recorded in our sample from 33 to 57, and the proportion of species infected from 22.8% to 32.4%. Thus, whilst <it>Wolbachia </it>remained the dominant inherited bacterium, it alone was responsible for around half of all inherited infections of the bacteria sampled, with members of the <it>Cardinium</it>, <it>Arsenophonus </it>and <it>Spiroplasma ixodetis </it>clades each occurring in 4% to 7% of all species. The observation that infection was sometimes rare within host populations, and that there was variation in presence of symbionts between populations indicates that our survey will itself underscore incidence.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>This extensive survey demonstrates that at least a third of arthropod species are infected by a diverse assemblage of maternally inherited bacteria that are likely to strongly influence their hosts' biology, and indicates an urgent need to establish the nature of the interaction between non-<it>Wolbachia </it>bacteria and their hosts.</p
Melanism in Peromyscus Is Caused by Independent Mutations in Agouti
Identifying the molecular basis of phenotypes that have evolved independently can provide insight into the ways genetic and developmental constraints influence the maintenance of phenotypic diversity. Melanic (darkly pigmented) phenotypes in mammals provide a potent system in which to study the genetic basis of naturally occurring mutant phenotypes because melanism occurs in many mammals, and the mammalian pigmentation pathway is well understood. Spontaneous alleles of a few key pigmentation loci are known to cause melanism in domestic or laboratory populations of mammals, but in natural populations, mutations at one gene, the melanocortin-1 receptor (Mc1r), have been implicated in the vast majority of cases, possibly due to its minimal pleiotropic effects. To investigate whether mutations in this or other genes cause melanism in the wild, we investigated the genetic basis of melanism in the rodent genus Peromyscus, in which melanic mice have been reported in several populations. We focused on two genes known to cause melanism in other taxa, Mc1r and its antagonist, the agouti signaling protein (Agouti). While variation in the Mc1r coding region does not correlate with melanism in any population, in a New Hampshire population, we find that a 125-kb deletion, which includes the upstream regulatory region and exons 1 and 2 of Agouti, results in a loss of Agouti expression and is perfectly associated with melanic color. In a second population from Alaska, we find that a premature stop codon in exon 3 of Agouti is associated with a similar melanic phenotype. These results show that melanism has evolved independently in these populations through mutations in the same gene, and suggest that melanism produced by mutations in genes other than Mc1r may be more common than previously thought
A review on the eco-epidemiology and clinical management of human granulocytic anaplasmosis and its agent in Europe
Anaplasma phagocytophilum is the agent of tick-borne fever, equine, canine and human granulocytic anaplasmosis. The common route of A. phagocytophilum transmission is through a tick bite, the main vector in Europe being Ixodes ricinus. Despite the apparently ubiquitous presence of the pathogen A. phagocytophilum in ticks and various wild and domestic animals from Europe, up to date published clinical cases of human granulocytic anaplasmosis (HGA) remain rare compared to the worldwide status. It is unclear if this reflects the epidemiological dynamics of the human infection in Europe or if the disease is underdiagnosed or underreported. Epidemiologic studies in Europe have suggested an increased occupational risk of infection for forestry workers, hunters, veterinarians, and farmers with a tick-bite history and living in endemic areas. Although the overall genetic diversity of A. phagocytophilum in Europe is higher than in the USA, the strains responsible for the human infections are related on both continents. However, the study of the genetic variability and assessment of the difference of pathogenicity and infectivity between strains to various hosts has been insufficiently explored to date. Most of the European HGA cases presented as a mild infection, common clinical signs being pyrexia, headache, myalgia and arthralgia. The diagnosis of HGA in the USA was recommended to be based on clinical signs and the patient’s history and later confirmed using specialized laboratory tests. However, in Europe since the majority of cases are presenting as mild infection, laboratory tests may be performed before the treatment in order to avoid antibiotic overuse. The drug of choice for HGA is doxycycline and because of potential for serious complication the treatment should be instituted on clinical suspicion alone
Invasion success of a widespread invasive predator may be explained by a high predatory efficacy but may be influenced by pathogen infection
Invasive alien species (IAS) can drive community change through ecological interactions. Parasites and pathogens can play an important role in community function including mitigating or enhancing IAS impacts. Despite this, the degree to which pathogen pressure influences IAS impacts remains poorly understood. We quantified the predatory behaviour of the highly invasive alien harlequin ladybird (Harmonia axyridis) and two UK native species, the 7-spot (Coccinella septempunctata) and 2-spot (Adalia bipunctata) ladybirds, using comparative functional response experiments. We investigated the impacts of pathogen infection on the predatory ability of the ladybirds by exposing individuals to Beauveria bassiana, a widespread entomopathogen. Invasive H. axyridis was a more efficient predator than both the native A. bipunctata and C. septempunctata, often having higher attack and/or lower prey handling time coefficients, whereas native A. bipunctata were the least efficient predators. These differences were found in both adult and larval life-stages. Beauveria bassiana infection significantly altered the predatory efficiency of adult and larval ladybird predators. The effects of pathogenic infection differed between species and life-stage but in many cases infection resulted in a reduced predatory ability. We suggest that the interactions between IAS and pathogens are integral to determining invasion success and impact
Invasion success of a widespread invasive predator may be explained by a high predatory efficacy but may be influenced by pathogen infection
Invasive alien species (IAS) can drive community change through ecological interactions. Parasites and pathogens can play an important role in community function including mitigating or enhancing IAS impacts. Despite this, the degree to which pathogen pressure influences IAS impacts remains poorly understood. We quantified the predatory behaviour of the highly invasive alien harlequin ladybird (Harmonia axyridis) and two UK native species, the 7-spot (Coccinella septempunctata) and 2-spot (Adalia bipunctata) ladybirds, using comparative functional response experiments. We investigated the impacts of pathogen infection on the predatory ability of the ladybirds by exposing individuals to Beauveria bassiana, a widespread entomopathogen. Invasive H. axyridis was a more efficient predator than both the native A. bipunctata and C. septempunctata, often having higher attack and/or lower prey handling time coefficients, whereas native A. bipunctata were the least efficient predators. These differences were found in both adult and larval life-stages. Beauveria bassiana infection significantly altered the predatory efficiency of adult and larval ladybird predators. The effects of pathogenic infection differed between species and life-stage but in many cases infection resulted in a reduced predatory ability. We suggest that the interactions between IAS and pathogens are integral to determining invasion success and impact
- …