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200 papers
Bony injuries in a Late Triassic forerunner of mammals from Brazil.
Doneda AL, Roese-Miron L, Kerber L
Naturwissenschaften · 2025 May · PMID 40327109 · Publisher ↗
Traversodontidae is a clade of non-mammaliaform cynodonts within the Cynognathia lineage, representing the most successful herbivorous/omnivorous group of the Triassic period. Here, we describe bony injuries in the ribs...
Traversodontidae is a clade of non-mammaliaform cynodonts within the Cynognathia lineage, representing the most successful herbivorous/omnivorous group of the Triassic period. Here, we describe bony injuries in the ribs of a ~ 228-million-year-old traversodontid from Brazil. The specimen, assigned to Exaeretodon riograndensis, was discovered in Upper Triassic strata of the Santa Maria Supersequence, Paraná Basin. Macroscopic analysis, supported by micro-computed tomography, revealed the presence of bony calluses in the ribs, indicative of a transverse traumatic fracture, likely caused by a fall or an interaction (either intra- or interspecific) during the individual's lifetime. Such trauma would have likely hindered its locomotion, impacting foraging efficiency and predator evasion. However, this species was possibly gregarious, which may have helped mitigate the injury's impact on survival through group behavior. This finding represents a rare documented case of paleopathology in non-mammaliaform cynodonts, contributing to discussions on their behavior and paleoecology during the Triassic.
Three new species from the Middle Jurassic of China provide insights on wing spots diversity of Bittacidae (Insecta: Mecoptera).
Yu J, Wang J, Zhang Y … +4 more , Shih C, Ren D, Lin X, Yang H
Naturwissenschaften · 2025 Apr · PMID 40299070 · Publisher ↗
Three new species, Antiquanabittacus punctatus Yu, Ren, Lin and Yang sp. nov., Composibittacus retroflexus Yu, Ren, Lin and Yang sp. nov. and Formosibittacus multifarius Yu, Ren, Lin and Yang sp. nov., with special wing...
Three new species, Antiquanabittacus punctatus Yu, Ren, Lin and Yang sp. nov., Composibittacus retroflexus Yu, Ren, Lin and Yang sp. nov. and Formosibittacus multifarius Yu, Ren, Lin and Yang sp. nov., with special wing spots are described and assigned to Bittacidae, based on well-preserved specimens from the Middle Jurassic of China. Antiquanabittacus punctatus sp. nov., the earliest fossil record of Antiquanabittacus, shows new genital characteristics that enhance our understanding of the early morphology of hangingflies. Two morphological types of wing spots are categorized by summarizing all fossil records of Bittacidae, which can be beneficial to classifications and identifications in species level. Wing spots of Type 1, disturbing the overall outline of insect body, and wing spots of Type 2, simulating the spots of light through leaves, may be conducive to conceal hangingflies from predators and improve their capability to ambush preys.
Peculiar structural features of midgut symbiotic organ in the early development of the stinkbug Plautia stali Scott, 1874 (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae).
Harumoto T, Moriyama M, Fukatsu T
Naturwissenschaften · 2025 Apr · PMID 40299062 · Publisher ↗
Many insects have symbiotic microorganisms within their body. Such microbial symbiosis underpins the survival and prosperity of insects through multiple means. The brown-winged green stinkbug Plautia stali, which is noto...
Many insects have symbiotic microorganisms within their body. Such microbial symbiosis underpins the survival and prosperity of insects through multiple means. The brown-winged green stinkbug Plautia stali, which is notorious as an agricultural pest and utilized as an experimental model insect, harbors a bacterial symbiont Pantoea in a posterior part of the midgut, which is essential for the host's development and reproduction. From both basic and applied research perspectives, it is important to investigate the mechanistic bases underpinning the insect-microbe symbiotic association. Here, we performed detailed electron and optical microscopic analyses of the early nymphal midguts to reveal the type of cellular structure and property that orchestrates the symbiont colonization in the restricted part of the midgut. We identified two peculiar structural features of the nymphal midgut that develop in a region-restricted manner: long and heterogenous cellular protrusions (microvilli) solely emerged in the midgut symbiotic region and highly developed circular muscle cell layers specifically observed in the junction of non-symbiotic and symbiotic regions of the midgut. We discuss the potential roles of these unique structures in the midgut bacterial symbiosis.
Many problems for a solo mother: maternal care efficiency of the ghost spider of new genus Eldar (Araneae: Anyphaenidae, Anyphaeninae) against new species Pseudogaurax Malloch (Diptera: Chloropidae).
Villanueva-Bonilla GA, de Oliveira LFM, Brescovit AD … +3 more , Riccardi PR, de Andrade Santiago L, Vasconcellos-Neto J
Naturwissenschaften · 2025 Apr · PMID 40257606 · Publisher ↗
Parental care in nature can present itself in different forms and vary in intensities and strategies, being maternal care one of the widely observed patterns in animals. In spiders, parental investment is carried out mai...
Parental care in nature can present itself in different forms and vary in intensities and strategies, being maternal care one of the widely observed patterns in animals. In spiders, parental investment is carried out mainly by females. Despite this, newly hatched eggs can still be targets of a series of natural enemies. In a remnant of Atlantic Forest in Brazil, females of the spider Eldar galadrielae sp. nov., family Anyphaenidae, build nests at the forest's edge by folding plant leaves. However, information about the plants chosen for nest, the importance of maternal care by females in offspring survival, and predators are completely unknown. In this study, we (1) presented new information about the nest built by females of Eldar galadrielae sp. nov.; (2) compared the predation rate on eggs of the spider Eldar galadrielae in nests with and without the presence of the female; (3) provided morphological descriptions and distribution maps to the genus Eldar gen. nov. as well as presenting; and (4) the described Pseudogaurax vasconcellosi sp. nov. as the predator of the spider eggs. This is the first report on an interaction between Pseudogaurax flies and Anyphaenidae spiders. Our results support predation rates higher in female-less Eldar galadrielae sp. nov. nests. Although egg consumption was 100% in nests attacked by flies, overall nest predation rate was low, as flies were only recorded in three of the 12 nests that maintained female care, indicating that active protection of egg sacs by females can increase the offspring's chances of survival.
Exploring the potential of essential oils against airborne fungi from cultural heritage conservation premises.
Savković Ž, Džamić A, Veselinović J … +2 more , Grbić ML, Stupar M
Naturwissenschaften · 2025 Apr · PMID 40227350 · Publisher ↗
The activity of six essential oils was investigated against eight fungal isolates (four Aspergillus and four Penicillium species) isolated from cultural heritage conservation premises in Serbia. To analyze the chemical c...
The activity of six essential oils was investigated against eight fungal isolates (four Aspergillus and four Penicillium species) isolated from cultural heritage conservation premises in Serbia. To analyze the chemical composition of essential oils (EOs), gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry was employed. The antifungal activity of selected EOs was investigated using microdilution and microatmosphere methods while the commercial biocide benzalkonium chloride (BAC) was used as a control. Furthermore, molecular docking was used as an efficacious in silico method for the determination of interaction between dominant EO compounds and enzyme CYP51, essential for fungal ergosterol synthesis. It was demonstrated that BAC, Cinnamomum zeylanicum, and Gaultheria procumbens EOs had the strongest antifungal activity, which is in concordance with the results of molecular docking. Namely, the highest energy of enzyme-cofactor interaction was obtained for eugenol (the dominant component of Syzygium aromaticum and C. zeylanicum EOs). Moreover, it was found that the most resistant fungal isolates were A. flavus and A. niger, while A. sydowii and P. citrinum were the most susceptible. The results of our study point to the possibility of using studied environmentally friendly biocides of biological origin for the preservation of historical monuments and artifacts.
Craniofacial lesions in the earliest predatory dinosaurs indicate intraspecific agonistic behaviour at the dawn of the dinosaur era.
Garcia MS, Martínez RN, Müller RT
Naturwissenschaften · 2025 Mar · PMID 40138005 · Publisher ↗
Herrerasauridae were among the first large carnivorous dinosaurs. Although their anatomy and phylogenetic relationships have been previously studied, little is known about their paleobiology. Bone pathologies provide clu...
Herrerasauridae were among the first large carnivorous dinosaurs. Although their anatomy and phylogenetic relationships have been previously studied, little is known about their paleobiology. Bone pathologies provide clues about the behaviour of ancient organisms, and this study evaluates presumed craniofacial pathologies in herrerasaurid specimens to infer their etiology and implications. Our analysis reveals that the craniofacial marks analysed are most likely pathological in nature and possibly result from intraspecific agonistic interactions, rather than post-mortem alterations. The relatively high frequency of lesions identified supports this claim. In the sample of herrerasaurids with preserved skulls analysed, nearly half presented craniofacial lesions. The bone traumas identified here are the oldest evidence of pathology in dinosaurs. Identification and analysis of pathologies in early dinosaurs can provide insights into their paleobiology and evolution of behavioural characteristics.
Rapid decline of male honey bees in summer: the potential impact of Japanese barn swallows on high male loss.
Hayashi S, Suematsu T, Itoh T
Naturwissenschaften · 2025 Mar · PMID 40137995 · Publisher ↗
Given the population size of eusocial hymenopteran insects, particular emphasis is placed on evaluating the number of reproductive female individuals (queen). However, male production also accounts for a substantial part...
Given the population size of eusocial hymenopteran insects, particular emphasis is placed on evaluating the number of reproductive female individuals (queen). However, male production also accounts for a substantial part of the reproductive output of a colony. The number of breeding males in the mating population plays a vital role in the health of a colony and, ultimately, a population size by influencing the mating status of the queen. The lifespan of male honey bees (Apis mellifera) varies considerably, influencing their dynamics in a population. However, studies on the factors that cause male mortality are limited. This study evaluated the cohort survival of male honey bees and the relationship between the activity of males and Japanese barn swallows (Hirundo rustica gutturalis), a potential predator that significantly influences male honey bee survival. The majority of male loss in colonies was observed around the ages when flight was first initiated, particularly in the summer. Swallows frequently visited the apiary in the afternoon and preyed on the bees. The daily activity of swallows was closely linked to the activity of male honey bees, which was high in the summer. A hazard model analysis revealed that the risk of male honey bee loss increased by approximately 40% with an increasing number of swallows. The observed significant relationship between swallows and males presents the possibility that swallows are key factors causing the high loss of males during summer.
Release of ice-nucleating particles from leaves during rainfall.
Conen F, Einbock A
Naturwissenschaften · 2025 Mar · PMID 40131494 · Full text
Plant surfaces are a major source of particles able to initiate ice formation in clouds little below 0 °C. Rainfall promotes the release of such ice-nucleating particles (INPs) from vegetation. However, the pattern of th...
Plant surfaces are a major source of particles able to initiate ice formation in clouds little below 0 °C. Rainfall promotes the release of such ice-nucleating particles (INPs) from vegetation. However, the pattern of their release throughout rain events remains unexplored. Here, we investigate at a high temporal resolution INP dynamics in rain impacting and running off single leaflets of Juglans regia during two rain events and relate the results to total INP inventories on the leaflets. Throughout both events, leaf runoff was distinctly enriched in INPs as compared with rainwater. A large fraction of INPs washed off during rainfall was released already at the beginning of the events. Except for the highest temperature interval, less than 40% of detachable INPs from leaf surfaces had been removed after the rain events. We hypothesise that surfactant excretion of INP-producing bacteria shapes the observed pattern of release.
New proterochampsid remains from the Middle Triassic of Brazil enhance the group's diversity during its origins.
Müller RT
Naturwissenschaften · 2025 Mar · PMID 40126648 · Publisher ↗
Proterochampsidae is a clade of archosauriform reptiles that lived during the Triassic Period, with notable fossil records in South America. Among these, Ladinian deposits in Brazil have yielded the oldest proterochampsi...
Proterochampsidae is a clade of archosauriform reptiles that lived during the Triassic Period, with notable fossil records in South America. Among these, Ladinian deposits in Brazil have yielded the oldest proterochampsids worldwide, offering insights into the origins of the group. However, their record from this interval remains scarce, with only two species previously described: Pinheirochampsa rodriguesi and Retymaijychampsa beckerorum. Here, I report the first proterochampsid specimen from the Posto site (Pinheiros-Chiniquá Sequence; Dinodontosaurus Assemblage Zone) in Dona Francisca, Rio Grande do Sul. The new specimen, CAPPA/UFSM 0459, comprises the anterior tip of a rostrum, identified as a proterochampsid based on its dorsoventrally flattened premaxilla with a dorsally facing external naris and anterior narial fossa. Despite its fragmentary nature, CAPPA/UFSM 0459 represents the first non-archosaur archosauriform identified at the Posto site, suggesting a small carnivorous member of this local fauna. Comparisons indicate it is unlikely to belong to any previously described species. This finding highlights the diversity and ecological significance of early proterochampsids within Middle Triassic ecosystems dominated by therapsids, pseudosuchians, and early dinosauromorphs.
Nearly complete late Eocene skull from the North Pacific elucidates the cranial morphology and affinities of the penguin-like Plotopteridae.
Mayr G, Goedert JL, Richter A
Naturwissenschaften · 2025 Mar · PMID 40111588 · Full text
The extinct Plotopteridae were penguin-like, wing-propelled diving birds of the North Pacific. Recently, the oldest and most complete plotopterid skull has been discovered in the late Eocene lower part of the Lincoln Cre...
The extinct Plotopteridae were penguin-like, wing-propelled diving birds of the North Pacific. Recently, the oldest and most complete plotopterid skull has been discovered in the late Eocene lower part of the Lincoln Creek Formation, southern Olympic Peninsula (Washington State, USA), and informs the poorly known cranial morphology of these birds. This skull is somewhat larger than previously described partial skulls from the Oligocene Pysht Formation of the northern Olympic Peninsula, from which it also differs in the shape of the nostrils. It may represent the genus Klallamornis, but a definitive taxonomic assignment is not yet possible. The specimen corroborates a sister group relationship of plotopterids to the suliform Suloidea and exhibits a notable character mosaic. Whereas the long rostrum most closely resembles that of the Fregatidae and some Phalacrocoracidae, the neurocranium is more similar to that of the Sulidae. An arcuate rostral ridge of the basicranium is otherwise only known from the Sphenisciformes, and a pair of prominent longitudinal ridges along the ventral surface of the rostrum is an autapomorphy of plotopterids. The small nostrils are situated at the caudal ends of conspicuous sulci, which are interpreted as vestiges of long, slit-like nostrils and are much less pronounced in extant Suliformes. Long, slit-like nostrils occur in stem group Sphenisciformes and may also have been present in stem group Fregatidae, in which case the nostrils were reduced twice within Suliformes, presumably to prevent salt water influx into the nasal cavity.
Pomphorhynchus laevis host manipulation regardless of presence of gammarid conspecifics or predator cues.
Fanton H, Franquet E, Kaldonski N
Naturwissenschaften · 2025 Mar · PMID 40047942 · Publisher ↗
Pomphorhynchus laevis is a freshwater heteroxenous parasite that infects Gammarus pulex as intermediate host and Squalius cephalus as definitive host. This acanthocephalan parasite is able to manipulate the behavior of G...
Pomphorhynchus laevis is a freshwater heteroxenous parasite that infects Gammarus pulex as intermediate host and Squalius cephalus as definitive host. This acanthocephalan parasite is able to manipulate the behavior of G. pulex to increase probability of transmission between G. pulex prey and S. cephalus predator. Manipulation results from complex interactions and could be triggered or enhanced by biotic parameters. This experimental study investigated the effect of the presence both of G. pulex conspecifics and of S. cephalus cues on the behavior of P. laevis-infected and uninfected G. pulex in flowing water. The presence of G. pulex conspecifics increased the distance covered by both uninfected and P. laevis-infected gammarids in the artificial stream, whereas S. cephalus cues did not influence the distance covered by either. In static water, S. cephalus cues significantly decreased G. pulex attraction to light, regardless of infection status. Our results show that P. laevis manipulates distance covered regardless of the presence of either G. pulex conspecifics or S. cephalus cues. We discuss how these two biological parameters affect uninfected G. pulex and other factors involved in P. laevis manipulation of its gammarid host.
Soil-adhesive or water repellent properties of the surface of cicada exuviae.
Murayama J, Yamazaki K, Ogasawara H … +1 more , Moriwaki H
Naturwissenschaften · 2025 Mar · PMID 40035877 · Publisher ↗
Although the biology of cicadas is generally well known, knowledge about their exuviae is limited. The exuviae of the Kaempfer cicada is covered with soil, but the exuviae of the black giant cicada has almost no soil att...
Although the biology of cicadas is generally well known, knowledge about their exuviae is limited. The exuviae of the Kaempfer cicada is covered with soil, but the exuviae of the black giant cicada has almost no soil attached to it. We have focus on the surface structure of cicada exuviae, especially the soil adhesion and water repellency of the exuviae surface. The substance that adheres the soil to the exuviae surface of the Kaempfer cicada was extracted and isolated. We found that mucin contributes to the soil adhesion of the larvae surface of the Kaempfer cicada. The surface of the Kaempfer cicada shell has more hairs than that of the black giant cicada, also contributing to soil adhesion. We also show the abdominal part of the exuviae of both species exhibiting water repellency. The fact that water repellency located around the spiracles suggests that it is a feature that ensures breathing. Interestingly, the structure of this part was similar to that of the surface of a lotus leaf.
Host associations of Brazilian Darwin wasps: current knowledge and the IchHostBR dataset.
Dos Santos AD, Brandão CRF, Onody HC
Naturwissenschaften · 2025 Feb · PMID 40014103 · Publisher ↗
Darwin wasps (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) are among the most diverse and ecologically important groups of parasitoid insects, with more than 25,000 valid species and many more yet to be discovered. As the most speciose f...
Darwin wasps (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) are among the most diverse and ecologically important groups of parasitoid insects, with more than 25,000 valid species and many more yet to be discovered. As the most speciose family within the order Hymenoptera, their remarkable evolutionary success is primarily attributed to their parasitic life history, which enables them to exploit a vast array of hosts and ecological niches. Despite their pivotal role in regulating host populations and maintaining ecosystem balance, host association data for Ichneumonidae remain significantly underexplored. This article presents IchHostBR, a comprehensive dataset compiling host-parasitoid records for Brazilian Darwin wasps. The dataset integrates 342 host-parasitoid associations sourced from 156 journal articles, encompassing 16 subfamilies, 74 genera, and 93 species of Ichneumonidae, as well as six host orders and 121 host species. The methodology involved rigorous data collection, cleaning, and standardization ensuring accuracy and usability. The primary aim of this initiative is to establish a robust, accessible, and continuously updated online platform that supports research and conservation efforts. In addition to introducing the dataset, the article provides a state-of-the-art review of current knowledge on Ichneumonid host associations, identifies key gaps in our knowledge and hopefully lays a foundation for advancing studies on Ichneumonidae host interactions in Brazil.
The left-right-handedness of the cylindrical spathe correlates with the phyllotactic spiral direction in Arisaema (Araceae).
Matsumoto TK, Sato KN, Ohno J … +2 more , Hiramatsu T, Murata J
Naturwissenschaften · 2025 Feb · PMID 40009195 · Publisher ↗
A left-right asymmetry of plants has attracted attention in various study areas (e.g., developmental biology, ethology, and evolutionary biology); however, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. In the genus Arisaema...
A left-right asymmetry of plants has attracted attention in various study areas (e.g., developmental biology, ethology, and evolutionary biology); however, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. In the genus Arisaema (Araceae), each plant possesses a cylindrical spathe that exhibits the left-right-handedness in the folding direction. As the spathe is a modified leaf, a phyllotactic spiral (clockwise or counter-clockwise directions) in vegetative organs may affect this dimorphism. In this study, we aimed to examine (1) interannual changes in the spathe folding direction in the same individuals, (2) the effect of phyllotactic spirals on the left-right-handedness of the spathe, (3) the abundance ratio of left- and right-folded spathes in several Arisaema species, and (4) the relationship between the coiling direction of young folded leaves and phyllotactic spirals in other aroid genera. The spathe folding direction changed annually and was significantly related to the phyllotactic spiral direction. The left-right-handedness prevailed among the 27 tested Arisaema species, and frequencies of left- and right-folded spathes were mostly similar. In the five aroid genera, the phyllotaxis was clearly correlated with the leaf coiling direction. These results imply that the phyllotactic spiral affects the spathe folding direction of Arisaema and the leaf coiling direction of aroids. Considering developmental studies on asymmetric leaves in other taxa, the left-right-handedness of the spathe in Arisaema is possibly a consequence of the phyllotactic pattern formation.
Breeding behaviour, visual communication and male combat of Philothamnus occidentalis and Philothamnus natalensis.
Kyle KJ, Downs CT
Naturwissenschaften · 2025 Feb · PMID 39998636 · Full text
Western Natal green snakes (Philothamnus occidentalis) are a relatively common and widely distributed snake across the eastern half of South Africa. Little is known about their reproduction other than information that ha...
Western Natal green snakes (Philothamnus occidentalis) are a relatively common and widely distributed snake across the eastern half of South Africa. Little is known about their reproduction other than information that has been gleaned from others in the genus. We document several separate cases of communal breeding, as well as both aggressive and reproductive visual communication, all of which are new information for this species. This study also documents a breeding event for the eastern Natal green snake (Philothamnus natalensis), which shows different behaviours supporting the recent species split.
A quick and non-destructive approach to combat timber adulteration using attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and chemometrics.
Yadav A, Nimi C, Kapoor M … +1 more , Singh R
Naturwissenschaften · 2025 Feb · PMID 39982486 · Publisher ↗
Timber adulteration, illegal harvesting, and logging of legally protected timber species are a major threat to biodiversity. Identifying and differentiating low-value timber species from high-grade ones is a prerequisite...
Timber adulteration, illegal harvesting, and logging of legally protected timber species are a major threat to biodiversity. Identifying and differentiating low-value timber species from high-grade ones is a prerequisite to combat timber-related crimes. Timber adulteration can be detected by techniques such as DNA barcoding. However, these techniques have some drawbacks as they are time-consuming and destructive. To address all these issues, in this study, a quick and non-destructive approach has been used to detect timber adulteration by identifying and discriminating selective timber species using vibrational spectroscopy along chemometric methods such as principal component analysis (PCA), linear discriminant analysis (LDA), and partial least square discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) that successfully differentiated Tectona grandis (teak) from Magnolia champaca (champ) with 96.25% accuracy, Swietenia macrophylla (mahogany) from Magnolia champaca with 97.5% accuracy, and Artocarpus heterophyllus (Jack) from Mangifera indica (mango) with 100% PCA LDA training accuracies. Partial least square discriminant analysis successfully differentiated the timber species with 100% accuracy. ATR-FTIR spectroscopy and chemometric tools proved to be effective in detecting timber adulteration, which will help the investigating agencies combat timber-related crimes.
The effectiveness of pollinators and their foraging behavior on Neustanthus phaseoloides (Fabaceae).
Paul S, Singha T, Roy R … +5 more , Tayeng O, Sangdo E, Debbarma P, Dholakia BB, Datta BK
Naturwissenschaften · 2025 Feb · PMID 39976682 · Publisher ↗
Insect pollination is critical for the reproduction of crops and wild plants, yet the efficiency of pollinators varies widely across species. Hence, it is essential to study the visitation behavior and pollination effect...
Insect pollination is critical for the reproduction of crops and wild plants, yet the efficiency of pollinators varies widely across species. Hence, it is essential to study the visitation behavior and pollination effectiveness of the floral visitors. Neustanthus phaseoloides is an agro-ecologically and medicinally important plant occurring in Tripura, Northeast India. We selected it for the present investigation as its distinct floral morphology might impact the pollinator visitation behaviors and subsequent pollination success. A total of 12 insect foragers visited the flowers of N. phaseoloides. Among them, 10 generalist pollinators were observed depositing conspecific pollen along with some amount of heterospecific pollen grains on the stigma. Although the pollen deposition efficiency varied significantly among pollinator species, the bees were the most effective in pollen deposition and subsequent reproductive outputs. All pollinators contributed to the fruit and seed production at varying degrees, indicating their effectiveness in reproductive success. The mating system studies indicated that the species was self-compatible and dependent on pollinators for increased reproductive success. Furthermore, some degree of pollination deficit was detected in our study population, suggesting that the increased visitation of effective pollinators might enhance the reproductive outputs. Overall, this first report on the pollination effectiveness of N. phaseoloides will improve our understanding of the reproductive success in a medicinally useful wild plant.
Correction: The long proboscis of the aphid Stomaphis yanonis (Aphididae Lachninae) is advantageous for avoiding predation by tending ants.
Matsuura T, Nakamura S, Yamamoto T … +2 more , Toji T, Itino T
Naturwissenschaften · 2025 Feb · PMID 39969666 · Full text
Abstract loading — click title to view on PubMed.
Innate floral object identification in a solitary pollinator employs a combination of both visual and olfactory cues.
Mishra A, Jain A, Iyer PS … +3 more , Suryanarayanan A, Nordström K, Olsson SB
Naturwissenschaften · 2025 Feb · PMID 39960519 · Full text
Object identification is fundamental to animal behaviour and identifying nutritive objects is key for survival. Solitary insects emerging far from food sources and without access to social learning must therefore employ...
Object identification is fundamental to animal behaviour and identifying nutritive objects is key for survival. Solitary insects emerging far from food sources and without access to social learning must therefore employ innate identification of food cues to locate relevant nutritive objects from a distance. Such innate preferences for food cues should be both specific enough to allow discrimination between food and non-food objects and general enough to allow for the variety of food objects relevant to the insect species. Here, we examined innate floral object identification behaviour in solitary generalist insect pollinator Eristalinus aeneus using an artificial floral object with both visual and olfactory cues previously found to be attractive to several hoverfly species across multiple environments. We used a subtractive two choice assay to present flower-naïve E. aeneus with a choice between this object and a similar object that differed in either a single visual or olfactory cue. We found that innate floral choices of the hoverfly E. aeneus are a product of broad, plant-based olfactory cues and visual cues, where a combination of radial symmetry and reflectance in the 300-400 nm and 500-700 nm wavelength range was particularly important for innate floral object preference. Our study, therefore, shows how solitary animals without prior experience can efficiently employ multimodal cues to identify multiple relevant nutritive objects.
Unsuspected diversity and multiple origins of the frog legs imported to Switzerland for human consumption, as determined by DNA barcoding and morphology.
Dubey S, Pellaud S, Furrer S … +1 more , Dufresnes C
Naturwissenschaften · 2025 Feb · PMID 39945845 · Full text
The frog leg industry relies on a global, largely underregulated market with potentially important ecological impact such as the uncontrolled harvest of declining wild populations and the introduction of invasive species...
The frog leg industry relies on a global, largely underregulated market with potentially important ecological impact such as the uncontrolled harvest of declining wild populations and the introduction of invasive species. Here, we inferred the taxonomic nature and geographic origins of frog legs imported to Switzerland by DNA barcoding. Out of 34 samples, we retrieved eight distinct lineages attributed to five species from four genera, namely Hoplobatrachus rugulosus from Vietnam, Fejervarya cancrivora from Indonesia (invasive on several Pacific islands), two phylogeographic lineages of Limnonectes macrodon from Western and Central Java, L. kadarsani from eastern Indonesia, and three phylogeographic lineages of Pelophylax ridibundus from northern and central southern Turkey (invasive in Western Europe). Only the first two species were correctly declared, which is particularly problematic to track down harvests of the declining and geographically restricted Limnonectes taxa. In this respect, we show that the three Asian genera can be reliably distinguished by basic measurements of the frog legs, which could be used in future forensic controls. Our study calls for more stringent international regulations of the frog trade, including shipment monitoring to document the relative abundance of harvested species and ensure the sustainability of their wild populations.
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