Life strategy of honeybee larvae orphaned at different age

Trabalho de projeto do mestrado em Economia (Economia do Crescimento e das Políticas Estruturais), apresentado à Faculdade de Economia da Universidade de Coimbra, sob a orientação de Adelaide Duarte.A China tem experimentado um crescimento vibrante desde as reformas económicas iniciadas em 1979 e o IDE tem desempenhado um papel crucial nesse processo. Ao mesmo tempo as reformas económicas orientadas para o mercado iniciaram-se apenas em algumas províncias da região leste da China. Por isso, queremos identificar o papel desempenhado pelo IDE no desenvolvimento das 31 províncias Chinesas e entre as províncias das três regiões – este, oeste e central, nos últimos 20 anos. Desenvolvemos uma análise em dois passos; primeiro descrevemos quantitativamente as províncias e as regiões através de indicadores económicos relevantes. Depois, com o auxílio de modelos de painel estático, estimamos equações de beta-convergência quer absoluta, quer condicionada. Os nossos resultados confirmam a beta convergência absoluta para a amostra total e também para as regiões oeste e central. Estes resultados são confirmados pelas estimações de beta convergência condicionada mas o papel positivo desempenhado pelo IDE no crescimento económico é apenas confirmado para a amostra global e para a região central

Cephalopods in the food of Weddell seals from the Admiralty Bay (King George Island, South Shetland Islands)

It has been a long known fact that Weddell seals eat cephalopods. Bertram (1940) has found that Weddell seals from Graham Land fed equally on fish and cephalopods. Deaborn (1965) has observed that Weddell seals from the surroundings of McMudro Sound fed mainly on fish (97% of stomachs with food). Cephalopods were found in 14% of stomachs. These were octopuses from the subfamily Eledoninae, not identified any further. In one of the stomachs there were 7 octopuses and 42 beaks. Wilton (1908) and Pohle (1927) have pointed out the significance of squids (Teuthoidea) in the food of Weddell seals

Morphology of caterpillars and pupae of European Maculinea species (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae) with an identification table

Ofthe four recognized Maculinea species that occur in Europe, three (M. teleius, M. nausitlzous, and M. alcon) are found on damp meadows, and may co-occur; sometimes their larval instars even occupy the same host ant nest. It is, therefore, important to be able to distinguish between the caterpillars of these species for effective conservation. We present the morphology of the larvae and pupae of these three species, and a simple key to their identification. Inter-specific differences among larvae and pupae, and within-species differences among larval instars, are underlined in order to enable their proper identification. The length, colour and distribution of bristles are considered the best features for species and instar identification. The morphology ofthe described species is compared with that of the other European species, M. arion

CR1 clade of non-LTR retrotransposons from Maculinea butterflies (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae): evidence for recent horizontal transmission

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Non-long terminal repeat (non-LTR) retrotransposons are mobile genetic elements that propagate themselves by reverse transcription of an RNA intermediate. Non-LTR retrotransposons are known to evolve mainly via vertical transmission and random loss. Horizontal transmission is believed to be a very rare event in non-LTR retrotransposons. Our knowledge of distribution and diversity of insect non-LTR retrotransposons is limited to a few species – mainly model organisms such as dipteran genera <it>Drosophila</it>, <it>Anopheles</it>, and <it>Aedes</it>. However, diversity of non-LTR retroelements in arthropods seems to be much richer. The present study extends the analysis of non-LTR retroelements to CR1 clade from four butterfly species of genus <it>Maculinea </it>(Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae).</p> <p>The lycaenid genus <it>Maculinea</it>, the object of interest for evolutionary biologists and also a model group for European biodiversity studies, possesses a unique, specialized myrmecophilous lifestyle at larval stage. Their caterpillars, after three weeks of phytophagous life on specific food plants drop to the ground where they are adopted to the ant nest by <it>Myrmica </it>foraging workers.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We found that the genome of <it>Maculinea </it>butterflies contains multiple CR1 lineages of non-LTR retrotransposons, including those from MacCR1A, MacCR1B and T1Q families. A comparative analysis of RT nucleotide sequences demonstrated an extremely high similarity among elements both in interspecific and intraspecific comparisons. CR1A-like elements were found only in family Lycaenidae. In contrast, MacCR1B lineage clones were extremely similar to CR1B non-LTR retrotransposons from Bombycidae moths: silkworm <it>Bombyx mori </it>and <it>Oberthueria caeca</it>.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The degree of coding sequence similarity of the studied elements, their discontinuous distribution, and results of divergence-versus-age analysis make it highly unlikely that these sequences diverged at the same time as their host taxa. The only reasonable alternative explanation is horizontal transfer. In addition, phylogenetic markers for population analysis of <it>Maculinea </it>could be developed based on the described non-LTR retrotransposons.</p

Developing European conservation and mitigation tools for pollination services: approaches of the STEP (Status and Trends of European Pollinators) project

Pollinating insects form a key component of European biodiversity, and provide a vital ecosystem service to crops and wild plants. There is growing evidence of declines in both wild and domesticated pollinators, and parallel declines in plants relying upon them. The STEP project (Status and Trends of European Pollinators, 2010-2015, www.stepproject.net) is documenting critical elements in the nature and extent of these declines, examining key functional traits associated with pollination deficits, and developing a Red List for some European pollinator groups. Together these activities are laying the groundwork for future pollinator monitoring programmes. STEP is also assessing the relative importance of potential drivers of pollinator declines, including climate change, habitat loss and fragmentation, agrochemicals, pathogens, alien species, light pollution, and their interactions. We are measuring the ecological and economic impacts of declining pollinator services and floral resources, including effects on wild plant populations, crop production and human nutrition. STEP is reviewing existing and potential mitigation options, and providing novel tests of their effectiveness across Europe. Our work is building upon existing and newly developed datasets and models, complemented by spatially-replicated campaigns of field research to fill gaps in current knowledge. Findings are being integrated into a policy-relevant framework to create evidence-based decision support tools. STEP is establishing communication links to a wide range of stakeholders across Europe and beyond, including policy makers, beekeepers, farmers, academics and the general public. Taken together, the STEP research programme aims to improve our understanding of the nature, causes, consequences and potential mitigation of declines in pollination services at local, national, continental and global scales

Mite species inhabiting commercial bumblebee (Bombus terrestris) nests in Polish greenhouses

Nests of social insects are usually inhabited by various mite species that feed on pollen, other micro-arthropods or are parasitic. Well-known negative effects of worldwide economic importance are caused by mites parasitizing honeybee colonies. Lately, attention has focused on the endoparasitic mite Locustacarus buchneri that has been found in commercial bumblebees. However, little is known of other mites associated with commercial bumblebee nests. Transportation of commercial bumblebee colonies with unwanted residents may introduce foreign mite species to new localities. In this study, we assessed the prevalence and species composition of mites associated with commercial bumblebee nests and determined if the mites are foreign species for Poland and for Europe. The study was conducted on 37 commercial bumblebee nests from two companies (Dutch and Israeli), originating from two greenhouses in southern Poland, and on 20 commercial bumblebee colonies obtained directly from suppliers. The species composition and abundance of mites inhabiting commercial bumblebee nests were determined. Seven mite species from three families were found in nests after greenhouse exploitation. The predominant mite species was Tyrophagus putrescentiae (Acaridae) that was a 100-fold more numerous than representatives of the family Laelapidae (Hypoaspis marginepilosa, H. hyatti, H. bombicolens). Representatives of Parasitidae (Parasitellus fucorum, P. crinitus, P. ignotus) were least numerous. All identified mite species are common throughout Europe, foreign species were not found. Mites were not detected in nests obtained directly from suppliers. We conclude that probably bumblebee nests are invaded by local mite species during greenhouse exploitation