Pacific Northwest Forest and Rangeland Soil Organism Symposium
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Intra-Guild Predation and Cannibalism of Harmonia Axyridis and Adalia Bipunctata in Choice Conditions
Bulletin of Insectology 56 (2): 207-210, 2003 ISSN 1721-8861 Intra-guild predation and cannibalism of Harmonia axyridis and Adalia bipunctata in choice conditions Fabrizio SANTI, Giovanni BURGIO, Stefano MAINI Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Agroambientali - Entomologia, Università di Bologna, Italy Abstract A laboratory experiment was carried out to examine intra-guild predation and cannibalism of exotic Harmonia axyridis (Pallas) and the native species Adalia bipunctata L. (Coleoptera Coccinellidae) in choice condition. Experiments were carried out in glass petri dishes at 25°C, 70% RH, using a 5x4 grid with 10 eggs of exotic and 10 of natives arranged alternatively. One larva or adult of coccinellid was put in the arena and was observed for one hour. Each experiment was replicated 15 times. H. axyridis larvae and adults, and A. bipunctata adults, showed a preference to prey and eat their own eggs rather than interspecific eggs; these dif- ferences were detected for both naive and experienced females and larvae. For A. bipunctata larvae no differences were observed between IGP and CANN in choice conditions. The results indicate a tendency for both species to attack and eat their own eggs rather than interspecific eggs. The risk of introduction of exotic generalist predators is discussed, with particular attention to coc- cinellids. Laboratory experiments on intra-guild predation could give a preliminary indication of the potential for competition between an exotic ladybird and a native one. Key words: Adalia bipunctata, cannibalism, choice test, Harmonia axyridis, intra-guild predation, biological control. Introduction cinellidae) were examined in laboratory experiments in no choice condition on eggs and on larvae (Burgio et The Asiatic polyphagous ladybird Harmonia axyridis al., 2002; Burgio et al., submitted for publication). -
Topic: Soil Classification
Programme: M.Sc.(Environmental Science) Course: Soil Science Semester: IV Code: MSESC4007E04 Topic: Soil Classification Prof. Umesh Kumar Singh Department of Environmental Science School of Earth, Environmental and Biological Sciences Central University of South Bihar, Gaya Note: These materials are only for classroom teaching purpose at Central University of South Bihar. All the data/figures/materials are taken from several research articles/e-books/text books including Wikipedia and other online resources. 1 • Pedology: The origin of the soil , its classification, and its description are examined in pedology (pedon-soil or earth in greek). Pedology is the study of the soil as a natural body and does not focus primarily on the soil’s immediate practical use. A pedologist studies, examines, and classifies soils as they occur in their natural environment. • Edaphology (concerned with the influence of soils on living things, particularly plants ) is the study of soil from the stand point of higher plants. Edaphologist considers the various properties of soil in relation to plant production. • Soil Profile: specific series of layers of soil called soil horizons from soil surface down to the unaltered parent material. 2 • By area Soil – can be small or few hectares. • Smallest representative unit – k.a. Pedon • Polypedon • Bordered by its side by the vertical section of soil …the soil profile. • Soil profile – characterize the pedon. So it defines the soil. • Horizon tell- soil properties- colour, texture, structure, permeability, drainage, bio-activity etc. • 6 groups of horizons k.a. master horizons. O,A,E,B,C &R. 3 Soil Sampling and Mapping Units 4 Typical soil profile 5 O • OM deposits (decomposed, partially decomposed) • Lie above mineral horizon • Histic epipedon (Histos Gr. -
Backyard Food
Suggested Grades: 2nd - 5th BACKYARD FOOD WEB Wildlife Champions at Home Science Experiment 2-LS4-1: Make observations of plants and animals to compare the diversity of life in different habitats. What is a food web? All living things on earth are either producers, consumers or decomposers. Producers are organisms that create their own food through the process of photosynthesis. Photosynthesis is when a living thing uses sunlight, water and nutrients from the soil to create its food. Most plants are producers. Consumers get their energy by eating other living things. Consumers can be either herbivores (eat only plants – like deer), carnivores (eat only meat – like wolves) or omnivores (eat both plants and meat - like humans!) Decomposers are organisms that get their energy by eating dead plants or animals. After a living thing dies, decomposers will break down the body and turn it into nutritious soil for plants to use. Mushrooms, worms and bacteria are all examples of decomposers. A food web is a picture that shows how energy (food) passes through an ecosystem. The easiest way to build a food web is by starting with the producers. Every ecosystem has plants that make their own food through photosynthesis. These plants are eaten by herbivorous consumers. These herbivores are then hunted by carnivorous consumers. Eventually, these carnivores die of illness or old age and become food for decomposers. As decomposers break down the carnivore’s body, they create delicious nutrients in the soil which plants will use to live and grow! When drawing a food web, it is important to show the flow of energy (food) using arrows. -
Body Size and Biomass Distributions of Carrion Visiting Beetles: Do Cities Host Smaller Species?
Ecol Res (2008) 23: 241–248 DOI 10.1007/s11284-007-0369-9 ORIGINAL ARTICLE Werner Ulrich Æ Karol Komosin´ski Æ Marcin Zalewski Body size and biomass distributions of carrion visiting beetles: do cities host smaller species? Received: 15 November 2006 / Accepted: 14 February 2007 / Published online: 28 March 2007 Ó The Ecological Society of Japan 2007 Abstract The question how animal body size changes Introduction along urban–rural gradients has received much attention from carabidologists, who noticed that cities harbour Animal and plant body size is correlated with many smaller species than natural sites. For Carabidae this aspects of life history traits and species interactions pattern is frequently connected with increasing distur- (dispersal, reproduction, energy intake, competition; bance regimes towards cities, which favour smaller Brown et al. 2004; Brose et al. 2006). Therefore, species winged species of higher dispersal ability. However, body size distributions (here understood as the fre- whether changes in body size distributions can be gen- quency distribution of log body size classes, SSDs) are eralised and whether common patterns exist are largely often used to infer patterns of species assembly and unknown. Here we report on body size distributions of energy use (Peters 1983; Calder 1984; Holling 1992; carcass-visiting beetles along an urban–rural gradient in Gotelli and Graves 1996; Etienne and Olff 2004; Ulrich northern Poland. Based on samplings of 58 necrophages 2005a, 2006). and 43 predatory beetle species, mainly of the families Many of the studies on local SSDs focused on the Catopidae, Silphidae, and Staphylinidae, we found number of modes and the shape. -
Soils Section
Soils Section 2003 Florida Envirothon Study Sections Soil Key Points SOIL KEY POINTS • Recognize soil as an important dynamic resource. • Describe basic soil properties and soil formation factors. • Understand soil drainage classes and know how wetlands are defined. • Determine basic soil properties and limitations, such as mottling and permeability by observing a soil pit or soil profile. • Identify types of soil erosion and discuss methods for reducing erosion. • Use soil information, including a soil survey, in land use planning discussions. • Discuss how soil is a factor in, or is impacted by, nonpoint and point source pollution. Florida’s State Soil Florida has the largest total acreage of sandy, siliceous, hyperthermic Aeric Haplaquods in the nation. This is commonly called Myakka fine sand. It does not occur anywhere else in the United States. There are more than 1.5 million acres of Myakka fine sand in Florida. On May 22, 1989, Governor Bob Martinez signed Senate Bill 525 into law making Myakka fine sand Florida’s official state soil. iii Florida Envirothon Study Packet — Soils Section iv Contents CONTENTS INTRODUCTION .........................................................................................................................1 WHAT IS SOIL AND HOW IS SOIL FORMED? .....................................................................3 SOIL CHARACTERISTICS..........................................................................................................7 Texture......................................................................................................................................7 -
Effects of Human Disturbance on Terrestrial Apex Predators
diversity Review Effects of Human Disturbance on Terrestrial Apex Predators Andrés Ordiz 1,2,* , Malin Aronsson 1,3, Jens Persson 1 , Ole-Gunnar Støen 4, Jon E. Swenson 2 and Jonas Kindberg 4,5 1 Grimsö Wildlife Research Station, Department of Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, SE-730 91 Riddarhyttan, Sweden; [email protected] (M.A.); [email protected] (J.P.) 2 Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Postbox 5003, NO-1432 Ås, Norway; [email protected] 3 Department of Zoology, Stockholm University, SE-10691 Stockholm, Sweden 4 Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, NO-7485 Trondheim, Norway; [email protected] (O.-G.S.); [email protected] (J.K.) 5 Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Environmental Studies, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, SE-901 83 Umeå, Sweden * Correspondence: [email protected] Abstract: The effects of human disturbance spread over virtually all ecosystems and ecological communities on Earth. In this review, we focus on the effects of human disturbance on terrestrial apex predators. We summarize their ecological role in nature and how they respond to different sources of human disturbance. Apex predators control their prey and smaller predators numerically and via behavioral changes to avoid predation risk, which in turn can affect lower trophic levels. Crucially, reducing population numbers and triggering behavioral responses are also the effects that human disturbance causes to apex predators, which may in turn influence their ecological role. Some populations continue to be at the brink of extinction, but others are partially recovering former ranges, via natural recolonization and through reintroductions. -
Blood Mushroom
Bleeding-Tooth Fungus Hydnellum Peckii Genus: Hydnellum Family: Bankeraceae Also known as: Strawberries and Cream Fungus, Bleeding Hydnellum, Red-Juice Tooth, or Devil’s Tooth. If you occasionally enjoy an unusual or weird sight in nature, we have one for you. Bleeding-Tooth Fungus fits this description with its strange colors and textures. This fungus is not toxic, but it is considered inedible because of its extremely bitter taste. Hydnoid species of fungus produce their spores on spines or “teeth”; these are reproductive structures. This fungus “bleeds” bright red droplets down the spines, so that it looks a little like blood against the whitish fungus. This liquid actually has an anticoagulant property similar to the medicine heparin; it keeps human or animal blood from clotting. This fungus turns brown with age. Bloody-Tooth Fungus establishes a relationship with the roots of certain trees, so you will find it lower down on the tree’s trunk. The fungus exchanges the minerals and amino acids it has extracted from the soil with its enzymes, for oxygen and carbon within the host tree that allow the fungus to flourish. It’s a great partnership that benefits both, called symbiosis. The picture above was taken at Kings Corner at the pine trees on the west side of the property. It was taken in early to mid-autumn. This part of the woods is moist enough to grow some really beautiful mushrooms and fungi. Come and see—but don’t touch or destroy. Fungi should be respected for the role they play in the woods ecology. -
Regular Article Proximate and Chemical Properties of Some
REGULAR ARTICLE PROXIMATE AND CHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF SOME UNDERUTILIZED NIGERIAN WILD MUSHROOMS Mobolaji Adenike Titilawo*1,2, Anthonia Olufunke Oluduro2, Olu Odeyemi2 Address(es): Mobolaji Adenike Titilawo, PhD 1Department of Microbiology, Osun State University, Oke-Baale, Osogbo, Nigeria 2Department of Microbiology, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria *Corresponding author: [email protected] ABSTRACT This investigation aims at determining the nutritional value of twenty-three underutilized wild macrofungi from a biodiversity forest in Southwest Nigeria. The mushroom species collected across the ligneous (woody) and terrestrial (soil) habitats were analysed for proximate (moisture, protein, fibre, lipid, ash and carbohydrate), minerals (potassium, sodium, phosphorus, magnesium, calcium, iron and zinc) and vitamins A and C content following standard analytical procedures. Interestingly, all the mushrooms had high moisture (>80.91%) and those harvested from soil debris in the terrestrial habitat contained significantly high protein content (26.80 - 48.68%). Dietary fibre was in the range of 0.20 and 42.37%; low lipid (0.12 - 9.89%) and ash (1.25 - 14.08%) were also recorded. Furthermore, all the samples contained high carbohydrate except Macrolepiota procera (2.01%). Minerals varied across the habitats and ranged as follows: potassium (268.13 - 8972.00 mg. 100 g-1), sodium (89.36 - 425.92 mg. 100 g-1), phosphorus (0.32 - 375.51 mg. 100 g-1), magnesium (9.39 - 19.32 mg. 100 g-1) and calcium (7.98 - 37.82 mg. 100 g-1). Low iron (0.55 - 1.32 mg. 100 g-1) and zinc (2.21 - 4.98 mg. 100 g-1) were obtained. -
Fisheries in Large Marine Ecosystems: Descriptions and Diagnoses
Fisheries in Large Marine Ecosystems: Descriptions and Diagnoses D. Pauly, J. Alder, S. Booth, W.W.L. Cheung, V. Christensen, C. Close, U.R. Sumaila, W. Swartz, A. Tavakolie, R. Watson, L. Wood and D. Zeller Abstract We present a rationale for the description and diagnosis of fisheries at the level of Large Marine Ecosystems (LMEs), which is relatively new, and encompasses a series of concepts and indicators different from those typically used to describe fisheries at the stock level. We then document how catch data, which are usually available on a smaller scale, are mapped by the Sea Around Us Project (see www.seaaroundus.org) on a worldwide grid of half-degree lat.-long. cells. The time series of catches thus obtained for over 180,000 half-degree cells can be regrouped on any larger scale, here that of LMEs. This yields catch time series by species (groups) and LME, which began in 1950 when the FAO started collecting global fisheries statistics, and ends in 2004 with the last update of these datasets. The catch data by species, multiplied by ex-vessel price data and then summed, yield the value of the fishery for each LME, here presented as time series by higher (i.e., commercial) groups. Also, these catch data can be used to evaluate the primary production required (PPR) to sustain fisheries catches. PPR, when related to observed primary production, provides another index for assessing the impact of the countries fishing in LMEs. The mean trophic level of species caught by fisheries (or ‘Marine Trophic Index’) is also used, in conjunction with a related indicator, the Fishing-in-Balance Index (FiB), to assess changes in the species composition of the fisheries in LMEs. -
Seventh Grade
Name: _____________________ Maui Ocean Center Learning Worksheet Seventh Grade Our mission is to foster understanding, wonder and respect for Hawai‘i’s Marine Life. Based on benchmarks SC.6.3.1, SC. 7.3.1, SC. 7.3.2, SC. 7.5.4 Maui Ocean Center SEVENTH GRADE 1 Interdependent Relationships Relationships A food web (or chain) shows how each living thing gets its food. Some animals eat plants and some animals eat other animals. For example, a simple food chain links plants, cows (that eat plants), and humans (that eat cows). Each link in this chain is food for the next link. A food chain always starts with plant life and ends with an animal. Plants are called producers (they are also autotrophs) because they are able to use light energy from the sun to produce food (sugar) from carbon dioxide and water. Animals cannot make their own food so they must eat plants and/or other animals. They are called consumers (they are also heterotrophs). There are three groups of consumers. Animals that eat only plants are called herbivores. Animals that eat other animals are called carnivores. Animals and people who eat both animals and plants are called omnivores. Decomposers (bacteria and fungi) feed on decaying matter. These decomposers speed up the decaying process that releases minerals back into the food chain for absorption by plants as nutrients. Do you know why there are more herbivores than carnivores? In a food chain, energy is passed from one link to another. When a herbivore eats, only a fraction of the energy (that it gets from the plant food) becomes new body mass; the rest of the energy is lost as waste or used up (by the herbivore as it moves). -
Aerobic Respiration
Life is based on redox • All energy generation in biological systems is due to redox (reduction-oxidation) reactions Aerobic Respiration: + - C6H12O6 + 6 H2O ==> 6 CO2 + 24 H +24 e oxidation electron donor (aka energy source) + - (O2+ 4H + 4e ==> 2H2O) x6 reduction electron acceptor --------------------------------------- C6H12O6 + 6 O2 ==> 6 CO2 + 6 H2O overall reaction (24 electrons) Types of bacterial metabolisms • While eukaryotes only reduce O2 and oxidize organic compounds, prokaryotes can use a variety of electron donors and acceptors, organic and inorganic. - • Aerobic respiration: e acceptor is O2 - • Anaerobic respiration: e acceptor is not O2 • Fermentation: e- donor and acceptor are organic molecules • Chemolithotrophy: e- donor and acceptor are inorganic molecules • Phototrophy: e- donor is light and e- acceptor is either organic or inorganic all microorganisms energy source? chemical light chemotroph phototroph carbon source? carbon source? organic organic CO CO compound 2 compound 2 chemoheterotroph chemoautotroph photoheterotroph photoautotroph e- acceptor? Nitrifying and sulfur- use H O to reduce CO ? oxidizing bacteria 2 2 green non-sulfur and O Other than O 2 2 purple non-sulfur bacteria anoxygenic oxygenic photosynthesis: photosynthesis: green sulfur and most bacteria Organic Inorganic cyanobacteria compound compound purple sulfur bacteria fermentative organism anaerobic respiration: nitrate, sulfate, Fe(III) Aerobic or anaerobic respiration Chemolithotrophy Important molecules Redox Electron Carrier: for example the -
Metabolites from Nematophagous Fungi and Nematicidal Natural Products from Fungi As an Alternative for Biological Control
Appl Microbiol Biotechnol (2016) 100:3799–3812 DOI 10.1007/s00253-015-7233-6 MINI-REVIEW Metabolites from nematophagous fungi and nematicidal natural products from fungi as an alternative for biological control. Part I: metabolites from nematophagous ascomycetes Thomas Degenkolb1 & Andreas Vilcinskas1,2 Received: 4 October 2015 /Revised: 29 November 2015 /Accepted: 2 December 2015 /Published online: 29 December 2015 # The Author(s) 2015. This article is published with open access at Springerlink.com Abstract Plant-parasitic nematodes are estimated to cause Keywords Phytoparasitic nematodes . Nematicides . global annual losses of more than US$ 100 billion. The num- Oligosporon-type antibiotics . Nematophagous fungi . ber of registered nematicides has declined substantially over Secondary metabolites . Biocontrol the last 25 years due to concerns about their non-specific mechanisms of action and hence their potential toxicity and likelihood to cause environmental damage. Environmentally Introduction beneficial and inexpensive alternatives to chemicals, which do not affect vertebrates, crops, and other non-target organisms, Nematodes as economically important crop pests are therefore urgently required. Nematophagous fungi are nat- ural antagonists of nematode parasites, and these offer an eco- Among more than 26,000 known species of nematodes, 8000 physiological source of novel biocontrol strategies. In this first are parasites of vertebrates (Hugot et al. 2001), whereas 4100 section of a two-part review article, we discuss 83 nematicidal are parasites of plants, mostly soil-borne root pathogens and non-nematicidal primary and secondary metabolites (Nicol et al. 2011). Approximately 100 species in this latter found in nematophagous ascomycetes. Some of these sub- group are considered economically important phytoparasites stances exhibit nematicidal activities, namely oligosporon, of crops.