Effects of canopy coverage on the immature stages of the Clouded Apollo butterfly [Parnassius mnemosyne (L.)] with observations on larval behaviour

The immature stages of the Clouded Apollo (Parnassius mnemosyne) are assumed to be thermophilic due to the possible time limitations and variable weather conditions during their development. Thus, the degree of canopy coverage may affect habitat use by the species. We explored the spatial distribution of larvae and the development time of pupae under variable canopy coverage conditions. Larvae were most abundant in the areas exposed to direct sunlight, although the last instar larvae are mobile. Larvae also basked under litter between their for aging periods, probably to enhance digestion and the food intake rate. Moreover, pupal developmentwas retarded by increasing canopy coverage. Prolonged pupal development and larval avoidance of Corydalis growths under tree canopies indicate that the species suffers from overgrowing and consequently increasing canopy coverage

Occurrence and experimental introduction of Capricornia boisduvaliana (Duponchel, 1836) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) in Finland

The rapid decline of Capricornia boisduvaliana in Finland during the past two decades is summarised. The only known occupied meadow is located in northern Finland, in the vicinity of Rovaniemi. The distribution of the species in two provinces (Oba and Obb) was surveyed in 1998 by searching through 95 sites. No other occupied sites were found. The biology of the species was also studied. Larvae overwinter as half-grown and feed on Trifolium pratense L. close to the ground, where they spin silken webs around the base of the food plant and among protective litter. In Finland, the species is currently critically threatened, and restoration of habitat and experimental introductions were, therefore, started in the summer 1999 in Rovaniemen mlk. close to the known occupied site. The eggs produced by 15 females were divided into three groups and transported onto three restored meadows. Habitat restoration at three other sites was also started in the same summer. The next summer, reinforcement + introductions were carried out. After the first two years, both larvae and adults were observed at two introduction sites. Restoration of habitats continued in 2001

A new efficient bait-trap model for Lepidoptera surveys – the “Oulu” model

To get reliable estimates of biodiversity or relative population sizes, it is important to develop and properly test new survey tools in comparison with previous methods. Here, we introduce a new, effective bait-trap model, viz. the “Oulu” model, for Lepidoptera surveys and monitoring schemes. An extensive field experiment showed that the new bait-trap model captures more individuals and more species than the widely-used “Jalas”model, while the species richness and species composition of the total catches did not differ between the trap models. The differences between the trap models were consistent over time and habitats. We suggest that the “Oulu” model yields high catches because few individuals can escape from the trap. It is thus an effective tool to be used in Lepidoptera surveys and studies

Milloin Turku perustettiin? Kaupungin historian muistaminen uuden ajan alun historiankirjoituksessa ja tulkinta kaupungin perustamisajankohdasta

The article examines the historiography of the founding of Turku, the oldest town in Finland. The early phases of urbanization and the year of founding have a widely discussed background, which derives from early modern historical writings. A recent discovery of a 17th century document from Hague which mentions the foundation on the town in 1310 is compared to a thorough analysis of the 16th and 17th century chronicles and other writing of history. Our key conclusion is that the early modern historical texts share a common understanding that the town was founded around the year 1300, possibly based on a local tradition. There are also some evidence that the town could have been founded in 1310 as the 17th century document mentions. These dates concur with the prevailing archaeological view on the begin of urban settlement in Turku.</p

From feces to data : A metabarcoding method for analyzing consumed and available prey in a bird-insect food web

Diets play a key role in understanding trophic interactions. Knowing the actual structure of food webs contributes greatly to our understanding of biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. The research of prey preferences of different predators requires knowledge not only of the prey consumed, but also of what is available. In this study, we applied DNA metabarcoding to analyze the diet of 4 bird species (willow tits Poecile montanus, Siberian tits Poecile cinctus, great tits Parus major and blue tits Cyanistes caeruleus) by using the feces of nestlings. The availability of their assumed prey (Lepidoptera) was determined from feces of larvae (frass) collected from the main foraging habitat, birch (Betula spp.) canopy. We identified 53 prey species from the nestling feces, of which 11 (21%) were also detected from the frass samples (eight lepidopterans). Approximately 80% of identified prey species in the nestling feces represented lepidopterans, which is in line with the earlier studies on the parids' diet. A subsequent laboratory experiment showed a threshold for fecal sample size and the barcoding success, suggesting that the smallest frass samples do not contain enough larval DNA to be detected by high-throughput sequencing. To summarize, we apply metabarcoding for the first time in a combined approach to identify available prey (through frass) and consumed prey (via nestling feces), expanding the scope and precision for future dietary studies on insectivorous birds.Peer reviewe

Phytochemical shift from condensed tannins to flavonoids in transgenic Betula pendula decreases consumption and growth but improves growth efficiency of Epirrita autumnata larvae

Despite active research, antiherbivore activity of specific plant phenolics remains largely unresolved. We constructed silver birch (Betula pendula) lines with modified phenolic metabolism to study the effects of foliar flavonoids and condensed tannins on consumption and growth of larvae of a generalist herbivore, the autumnal moth (Epirrita autumnata). We conducted a feeding experiment using birch lines in which expression of dihydroflavonol reductase (DFR), anthocyanidin synthase (ANS) or anthocyanidin reductase (ANR) had been decreased by RNA interference. Modification-specific effects on plant phenolics, nutrients and phenotype, and on larval consumption and growth were analyzed using uni- and multivariate methods. Inhibiting DFR expression increased the concentration of flavonoids at the expense of condensed tannins, and silencing DFR and ANR decreased leaf and plant size. E. autumnata larvae consumed on average 82% less of DFRi plants than of unmodified controls, suggesting that flavonoids or glandular trichomes deter larval feeding. However, larval growth efficiency was highest on low-tannin DFRi plants, indicating that condensed tannins (or their monomers) are physiologically more harmful than non-tannin flavonoids for E. autumnata larvae. Our results show that genetic manipulation of the flavonoid pathway in plants can effectively be used to produce altered phenolic profiles required for elucidating the roles of low-molecular weight phenolics and condensed tannins in plant–herbivore relationships, and suggest that phenolic secondary metabolites participate in regulation of plant growth.</p

Immune profiles in acute myeloid leukemia bone marrow associate with patient age, T-cell receptor clonality, and survival

The immunologic microenvironment in various solid tumors is aberrant and correlates with clinical survival. Here, we present a comprehensive analysis of the immune environment of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) bone marrow (BM) at diagnosis. We compared the immunologic landscape of formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded BM trephine samples from AML (n = 69), chronic myeloid leukemia (CML; n = 56), and B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) patients (n 5 52) at diagnosis to controls (n = 12) with 30 immunophenotype markers using multiplex immunohistochemistry and computerized image analysis. We identified distinct immunologic profiles specific for leukemia subtypes and controls enabling accurate classification of AML (area under the curve [AUC] = 1.0), CML (AUC = 0.99), B-ALL (AUC = 0.96), and control subjects (AUC = 1.0). Interestingly, 2 major immunologic AML clusters differing in age, T-cell receptor clonality, and survival were discovered. A low proportion of regulatory T cells and pSTAT(+)cMAF(-) monocytes were identified as novel biomarkers of superior event-free survival in intensively treated AML patients. Moreover, we demonstrated that AML BM and peripheral blood samples are dissimilar in terms of immune cell phenotypes. To conclude, our study shows that the immunologic landscape considerably varies by leukemia subtype suggesting disease-specific immunoregulation. Furthermore, the association of the AML immune microenvironment with clinical parameters suggests a rationale for including immunologic parameters to improve disease classification or even patient risk stratification.Peer reviewe

The Glanville fritillary genome retains ancient karyotype and reveals selective chromosomal fusions in Lepidoptera

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Reproductive tactics in butterflies – the adaptive significance of monandry versus polyandry in <em>Pieris napi</em>

Abstract Females may either mate with one (monandry) or several (polyandry) males during a single breeding season. The polyandrous mating system has prompted numerous studies since the recognition of a widespread occurrence of mixed paternity among animals. Consequently, the benefits of polyandry have become well-established, and the female role in sexual selection upgraded. Females may gain both material and genetic benefits from multiple mating. Hence, the occurrence of polyandry is understandable, whereas monandry remains an evolutionary puzzle especially among species with male nutrient provisioning. I studied both the life history variation among female mating tactics and the adaptive significance of monandry in varying environmental conditions in the green-veined white butterfly [Pieris napi, (L. 1758)], which is a predominantly polyandrous species with nuptial feeding. I used a combination of explicit laboratory experiments and field studies. My results show that monandry and degrees of polyandry are distinct strategies with life history differences reaching beyond mating frequencies. Polyandry corresponded with a higher lifetime fecundity than monandry in P. napi. Polyandry was, however, associated with relatively low fecundity during the early days of reproduction. Thus, monandry is beneficial if time for reproduction is limited severely enough or other female traits or behaviours associated with polyandry are traded off against longevity. Due to temporal variation in reproductive rate among mating tactics, offspring of polyandrous females have less time to complete development. Accordingly, polyandrous females developed at a faster rate as larvae than monandrous ones under optimal conditions. Despite growth rate variation, monandrous females were more likely to contribute to additional summer generation in conditions that allow production of only a partial second generation, and thus monandry is favoured under these conditions. Genetic variation in female mating tactics will not only prevail if environmental conditions do not allow all individuals to contribute evenly to the directly breeding generation in bivoltine populations, but also if even the production of a single generation per year is time-limited. A general conclusion would be that seasonality and unpredictability of fitness in the wild drives the evolution of optimal female mating tactics and promotes the maintenance genetic variation in mating frequencies, regardless of the direct benefits of nuptial feeding. Even if a high degree of polyandry would be the most profitable mating tactic in an average year, strong annual variation in weather conditions and the duration of summer may create possibilities for a temporally fluctuating selection that promotes a co-existence of different mating tactics because variance of fitness is likely increase with an increasing mating frequency