Response of development and body mass to daily temperature fluctuations : a study on Tribolium castaneum

Differences in thermal regimes are of paramount importance in insect development. However, experiments that examine trait development under constant temperature conditions may yield less evolutionarily relevant results than those that take naturally occurring temperature fluctuations into account. We investigated the effect of different temperature regimes (constant 30 °C, constant 35 °C, fluctuating with a daily mean of 30 °C, or fluctuating with a daily mean of 35 °C) on sex-specific development time and body mass in Tribolium castaneum. Using a half-sib breeding design, we also examined whether there is any evidence for genotype-by-environment interactions (GEI) for the studied traits. In response to fluctuating temperature regimes, beetles demonstrated reaction norm patterns in which thermal fluctuations influenced traits negatively above the species’ thermal optimum but had little to no effect close to the thermal optimum. Estimated heritabilities of development time were in general low and non-significant. In case of body mass of pupae and adults, despite significant genetic variance, we did not find any GEI due to crossing of reaction norms, both between temperatures and between variability treatments. We have observed a weak tendency towards higher heritabilities of adult and pupa body mass in optimal fluctuating thermal conditions. Thus, we have not found any biasing effect of stable thermal conditions as compared to fluctuating temperatures on the breeding values of heritable body-size traits. Contrary to this we have observed a strong population-wide effect of thermal fluctuations, indicated by the significant temperature-fluctuations interaction in both adult and pupa mass. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s11692-016-9375-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users

Reproductive status of Tribolium castaneum (Coleoptera : Tenebrionidae) affects its response to infection by Steinernema feltiae (Rhabditida : Steinernematidae)

Gender-specific reproductive roles are important factors determining sexual dimorphism. Here, we investigate the effects of sex-based differences and reproductive status on the defence of Tribolium castaneum (Herbst, 1797) (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) against infection by Steinernema feltiae (Filipjev, 1934) (Rhabditida: Steinernematidae). Female and male beetles, either virgin or post-copulation, were exposed individually to nematodes. Individuals were then sampled every 12 h, dissected, and checked for the presence of nematodes; we also measured their phenoloxidase (PO) activity. Reproductive status affected resistance to nematodes and PO activity as infected virgin individuals had a higher PO activity and lower mortality than reproducing individuals, with no differences between sexes. Mortality also increased with time, while PO activity did not change. Parasite load was related to reproductive status and sex, with reproducing females with the highest parasite loads in all treatments, and virgin males with more nematodes than sexually active males. Our results indicate that the costs of reproduction impair the immunological system of T. castaneum similarly in both sexes. It is possible, however, that other components of the immunological system that we did not measure, such as lysozyme activity, are impaired by infection with S. feltiae in a sex-specific way

Does temperature and oxygen affect duration of intramarsupial development and juvenile growth in the terrestrial isopod Porcellio scaber (Crustacea, Malacostraca)?

According to the temperature-size rule (TSR), ectotherms developing under cold conditions experience slower growth as juveniles but reach a larger size at maturity. Whether temperature alone causes this phenomenon is unknown, but oxygen limitation can play a role in the temperature-size relationship. Oxygen may become limited under warm conditions when the resulting higher metabolism creates a greater demand for oxygen, especially in larger individuals. We examined the independent effects of oxygen concentration (10% and 22% O_{2}) and temperature (15 ^{\circ}C and 22 ^{\circ}C) on duration of ontogenic development, which takes place within the maternal brood pouch (marsupium), and juvenile growth in the terrestrial isopod common rough woodlouse (Porcellio scaber). Individuals inside the marsupium undergo the change from the aqueous to the gaseous environment. Under hypoxia, woodlice hatched from the marsupium sooner, but their subsequent growth was not affected by the level of oxygen. Marsupial development and juvenile growth were almost three times slower at low temperature, and marsupial development was longer in larger females but only in the cold treatment. These results show that temperature and oxygen are important ecological factors affecting developmental time and that the strength of the effect likely depends on the availability of oxygen in the environment

Mechanical thrombectomy in acute stroke – Five years of experience in Poland

Objectives Mechanical thrombectomy (MT) is not reimbursed by the Polish public health system. We present a description of 5 years of experience with MT in acute stroke in Comprehensive Stroke Centers (CSCs) in Poland. Methods and results We retrospectively analyzed the results of a structured questionnaire from 23 out of 25 identified CSCs and 22 data sets that include 61 clinical, radiological and outcome measures. Results Most of the CSCs (74%) were founded at University Hospitals and most (65.2%) work round the clock. In 78.3% of them, the working teams are composed of neurologists and neuro-radiologists. All CSCs perform CT and angio-CT before MT. In total 586 patients were subjected to MT and data from 531 of them were analyzed. Mean time laps from stroke onset to groin puncture was 250±99min. 90.3% of the studied patients had MT within 6h from stroke onset; 59.3% of them were treated with IV rt-PA prior to MT; 15.1% had IA rt-PA during MT and 4.7% – emergent stenting of a large vessel. M1 of MCA was occluded in 47.8% of cases. The Solitaire device was used in 53% of cases. Successful recanalization (TICI2b–TICI3) was achieved in 64.6% of cases and 53.4% of patients did not experience hemorrhagic transformation. Clinical improvement on discharge was noticed in 53.7% of cases, futile recanalization – in 30.7%, mRS of 0–2 – in 31.4% and mRS of 6 in 22% of cases. Conclusion Our results can help harmonize standards for MT in Poland according to international guidelines

Zróżnicowanie przestrzenne rozwoju społecznogospodarczego powiatów województw podkarpackiego i małopolskiego o dużym rozdrobnieniu agrarnym

The aim of research was to assess spatial diversity of social and economic development of the districts of Lesser Poland and Subcarpathian Voivodeship, characterized by the highest land fragmentation in Poland. The studies showed that barriers of social and economic development of the examined Voivodeships are mainly condition of local economy and quality of life of the local communities. Structure of spatial diversity of social and economic development can suggest the existence of impact of natural conditions on the directions of development of area of research

Uwarunkowania i ekonomiczne znaczenie produkcji ziarna kakaowca w krajach Afryki Zachodniej

The purpose of this paper was to describe economic significance of cocoa production in West Africa region. West African countries are the leading world’s producers of cocoa beans. Share in world merchandise trade of Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire exceeds 50%. Yields variability (susceptible of disease and changing weather conditions) can wield influence on economic situation in mentioned countries. However cocoa trade is ceaselessly the basis of economic development in this region. / Synopsis. Kraje Afryki Zachodniej takie jak Ghana, Wybrzeże Kości Słoniowej należą do największych światowych producentów i eksporterów ziarna kakaowca z łącznym udziałem przekraczającym 50% światowego eksportu. Zmienność wielkości produkcji w zależności od warunków klimatycznych i wewnętrznych problemów politycznych w gospodarkach uzależnionych od eksportu kakao, może stanowić przyczynę wahań koniunktury gospodarczej. Jednocześnie produkcja i obrót ziarnem kakaowca stanowi podstawę budowania strategii rozwoju tych terenów. Celem artykułu była analiza ekonomicznego znaczenia produkcji ziarna kakaowca w krajach Afryki Zachodniej

THE PERCEPTION OF POLISH AGRICULTURE BY FOOD CONSUMERS

The aim of the study was to determine the factors determining the perception of Polish agriculture by food consumers. With intensive changes in the methods of agricultural production, the progressive digitalization of agriculture, more and more frequent discussion of the issue of social responsibility of agriculture (in the context of caring about the condition of the natural environment or ensuring the welfare of farm animals), streams of much, often contradictory, information appearing in the media make some consumers unable to express their opinions on the condition of Polish agriculture unequivocally. The research has shown that factors such as trust, the state of knowledge or feeling of being properly informed about the course of agricultural production have a clear influence on the formation of a consumer’s positive or negative attitude towards Polish agriculture, as well as on the assessment of its modernity. The key in shaping respondent opinions turned out to be the possession of information and the inclination to obtain it