Animal Matter Research Articles

Decaying animal matter prevents sprouting in Trifolium repens with no effect on adult plant growth

Decaying animal matter prevents sprouting in Trifolium repens with no effect on adult plant growth

Enhanced harm detection following maternal separation: Transgenerational transmission and reversibility by inhaled amiloride.

Early-life adversities are associated with altered defensive responses. Here, we demonstrate that the repeated cross-fostering (RCF) paradigm of early maternal separation is associated with enhancements of distinct homeostatic reactions: hyperventilation in response to hypercapnia and nociceptive sensitivity, among the first generation of RCF-exposed animals, as well as among two successive generations of their normally reared offspring, through matrilineal transmission. Parallel enhancements of acid-sensing ion channel 1 (ASIC1), ASIC2, and ASIC3 messenger RNA transcripts were detected transgenerationally in central neurons, in the medulla oblongata, and in periaqueductal gray matter of RCF-lineage animals. A single, nebulized dose of the ASIC-antagonist amiloride renormalized respiratory and nociceptive responsiveness across the entire RCF lineage. These findings reveal how, following an early-life adversity, a biological memory reducible to a molecular sensor unfolds, shaping adaptation mechanisms over three generations. Our findings are entwined with multiple correlates of human anxiety and pain conditions and suggest nebulized amiloride as a therapeutic avenue.

Evaluation of diets for mass rearing of the predatory bug Nesidiocoris tenuis (Hemiptera, Heteroptera, Miridae)

Nesidiocoris tenuis (Hemiptera, Miridae) is a predatory bug which is widely used in biocontrol. This bug can consume both plant and animal matter. In the present paper, three alternative diets were evaluated in mass rearing of nymphs of N tenuis maintained in cages on tobacco plants: eggs of the grain moth Sitotroga cerealella, cysts of Artemia salina, and bee-collected pollen. Adults of N tenuis were fed a mixture of grain moth eggs and pollen during oviposition. The type of diet did not effect the survival of nymph. Output of adults was higher when nymphs were fed grain moth eggs than Artemia cysts while the body weight of adult bugs did not differ.

Trophic Resource Use by Sympatric vs. Allopatric Pelomedusid Turtles in West African Forest Waterbodies.

Organisms that are similar in size, morphological characteristics, and adaptations, including vertebrates, often coexist by partitioning the available resources (food, space, and time). So, studies of the dynamics of these cases of coexistence are scientifically interesting. Here, we study a coexistence case of two species of freshwater turtles inhabiting the forest waterbodies of West Africa, focusing on the dietary habits of the two species. We found that both turtle species are omnivorous generalists, eating both vegetal and animal matter abundantly. However, there were clear interspecific differences, with the larger of the two species (P. cupulatta) eating more vertebrates (mainly fish but occasionally other vertebrates), whereas P. castaneus consumed more invertebrates. These patterns appeared consistently within the species and across sites, highlighting that the same patterns were likely in other conspecific populations from the Upper Guinean forest streams (Côte d'Ivoire and Liberia). Our study also showed that interspecific competition for food does not occur between these two species; instead, previous studies uncovered that a clear partitioning of the habitat niche occurs. We conclude that the food resource is likely unlimited in the study areas, as it is not the case in more arid environments (since food shortages may occur during the dry season). We anticipate that, within the Pelomedusidae communities throughout Africa, intense competition for food probably occurs in the Sahel and Sudanian vegetation zones, particularly during the dry months, but is unlikely within the Guinea and wet savannah region and even less likely in the Guineo-Congolian rainforest region.

Feeding of Cows for Different Physiological Groups

The consumption of dry matter in animals adapted to heat stress as a result of feeding with a complex of bioactive compounds and their effect on metabolic processes was studied. The effect of feed additives on the milk productivity of cows, the quality of milk and the fatness of cows during the period of adaptation to heat stress was studied. The Flavo Vital complex of bioactive compounds was used as an additive, as well as corn silage, dry clover grass, barley, wheat bran, sifted wheat, soybean meal, corn grain and husk.

Nasal anatomy and sniffing in respiration and olfaction of wild and domestic animals.

Animals have been widely utilized as surrogate models for humans in exposure testing, infectious disease experiments, and immunology studies. However, respiratory diseases affect both humans and animals. These disorders can spontaneously affect wild and domestic animals, impacting their quality and quantity of life. The origin of such responses can primarily be traced back to the pathogens deposited in the respiratory tract. There is a lack of understanding of the transport and deposition of respirable particulate matter (bio-aerosols or viruses) in either wild or domestic animals. Moreover, local dosimetry is more relevant than the total or regionally averaged doses in assessing exposure risks or therapeutic outcomes. An accurate prediction of the total and local dosimetry is the crucial first step to quantifying the dose-response relationship, which in turn necessitates detailed knowledge of animals' respiratory tract and flow/aerosol dynamics within it. In this review, we examined the nasal anatomy and physiology (i.e., structure-function relationship) of different animals, including the dog, rat, rabbit, deer, rhombus monkey, cat, and other domestic and wild animals. Special attention was paid to the similarities and differences in the vestibular, respiratory, and olfactory regions among different species. The ventilation airflow and behaviors of inhaled aerosols were described as pertinent to the animals' mechanisms for ventilation modulation and olfaction enhancement. In particular, sniffing, a breathing maneuver that animals often practice enhancing olfaction, was examined in detail in different animals. Animal models used in COVID-19 research were discussed. The advances and challenges of using numerical modeling in place of animal studies were discussed. The application of this technique in animals is relevant for bidirectional improvements in animal and human health.

A REVIEW OF THE FUTURE OF BIOMASS-BASED FERTILIZER IN INDONESIA

Biomass-based fertilizers, derived from plant or animal matter, are a sustainable alternative to synthetic fertilizers, derived from renewable sources and encouraging sustainable agricultural practices. Biofertilizers, which contain beneficial microorganisms, increase nutrient absorption and promote plant growth. Biomass-based fertilizers offer numerous advantages over synthetic fertilizers, including organic matter and nutrient enrichment, reliance on renewable sources, soil health and conservation of biodiversity, and reducing agricultures reliance on chemical inputs. By promoting sustainable agricultural practices and reducing reliance on synthetic fertilizers, Indonesia can achieve its agricultural development goals. However, Indonesia faces challenges in feedstock availability, collection, processing infrastructure, quality control, farmer education, and economic viability. Challenges include improving organic waste management, establishing processing infrastructure, ensuring consistent quality control and standardization, increasing farmer awareness, and addressing economic viability and market development. The future of biomass-based fertilizers in Indonesia holds great potential, with research and development efforts resulting in innovations in production processes, feedstock management, and nutrient formulation. Government support and policy, integration with circular economy practices, and export potential are also key future prospects. KEYWORDS: Biomass; circular economy; fertilizer; sustainability; waste management

Large as life: Francis Bacon on the animate matter of plants

As paradigmatic instantiations of animate matter, plants are natural specimens of both large and long life in Francis Bacon's philosophy. More than animals do, they display the power of physical growth and temporal continuity. More than the minerals do, they boost connectivity and fluidity. As a direct expression of animate matter, the life of plants is bountiful, real and supple. The way they grow redefines the very norms of measure and form in nature. Here the adjective ‘large’, when used to qualify the life of plants, indicates that such variables as size, proportion and hierarchy may vary dramatically when matter takes on the state of vegetal animation. Bacon is certainly aware of the threatening impact that this view may have on the way in which we understand and handle reality: nature, which does not listen to human reason, has within itself the potential to grow out of proportion, ignoring the laws of form, order and measure. In this respect, plants set a bad example as they display remarkable powers of plasticity and metamorphosis in matter. Bacon, however, is more interested in the observable and experimental reality of plants, for this aspect of the investigation could have decisive implications within the greater scheme of the Great Instauration.

To litter or not to litter that is the question, or the impact of tourist litter pollution on the macrofauna

Discarded bottles abandoned by tourists in forests pose a considerable threat to invertebrates that has not been adequately researched to date. In order to investigate this matter, empty PET bottles and aluminium cans containing small amounts of 5 qualitatively different beverages they were originally filled with were placed simultaneously in forests. They were subsequently collected, 3 bottles/cans of each type, during three site inspections to analyze mortality of the macrofauna inside them. The composition of macrofauna may be affected by the presence of Anoplotrupes stercorosus, which occasionally feeds on dead animal matter. Therefore, the study consisted of 2 stages, the aim being to identify patterns of invertebrate mortality in bottles when A. Stercorosus presence was limited (stage 1) and not limited (stage 2). The effect of certain beverages on macrofauna mortality was also studied. Stage 2 additionally involved 4 variants of habitat fertility. The most marked differences compared with invertebrate mortality in mineral water bottles (control) were noted for beer cans, which was attributed to the dark insides of the latter. The sequence of appearance of isopods, predators and different developmental stages of dipterans inside the cans indicated the presence of an operational detritus mini ecosystem. Invertebrate mortality in empty bottles originally containing caffeine and a high amount of sugar was also different from the patterns identified in the control bottles (mineral water). This was thought to be related to the luring „power” of sugar. The highest mortality of the macrofauna was recorded in a moderately fertile forest habitat, followed by the most fertile habitat. This was believed to be related to the well-developed vertical structure of the moderately fertile habitat. Altogether, this study shows that litter collecting campaigns in forest and other valuable natural habitats is an aesthetic procedure that also protects the macrofauna of the litter and soil representing a range of diversified trophic preferences.

Description of Diplectrona aiensis Kobayashi, 1987 (Trichoptera: Hydropsychidae) larvae from Yata Hills, Nara Prefecture, Japan, with notes on habitat and ecology

We conducted a field survey and rearing experiment to investigate habitat, larval morphology, and ecology of Diplectrona aiensis Kobayashi, 1987. Larvae of this species look similar to those of D. takaii Nozaki, 2021, originally described as Diplectrona sp. DC by Akagi (1956); however, they can be distinguished by shape of the secondary setae on the head, thoracic nota, and abdominal segments. Our results revealed that generations of D. aiensis have overwintering and non-overwintering cohorts. Larvae build their retreat and capture nets on boulders and among leaf patches and prefer lower water velocity (mean: 22.2 cm/s, range: 1.3 ≦ 52.4 cm/s). Until the third instar, they feed only on detritus and after that, they feed on both animal and plant matter. This is the first study to report morphology, habitat, and ecology of D. aiensis.

Factors Affecting Enteric Emission Methane and Predictive Models for Dairy Cows.

Enteric methane emission is the main source of greenhouse gas contribution from dairy cattle. Therefore, it is essential to evaluate drivers and develop more accurate predictive models for such emissions. In this study, we built a large and intercontinental experimental dataset to: (1) explain the effect of enteric methane emission yield (g methane/kg diet intake) and feed conversion (kg diet intake/kg milk yield) on enteric methane emission intensity (g methane/kg milk yield); (2) develop six models for predicting enteric methane emissions (g/cow/day) using animal, diet, and dry matter intake as inputs; and to (3) compare these 6 models with 43 models from the literature. Feed conversion contributed more to enteric methane emission (EME) intensity than EME yield. Increasing the milk yield reduced EME intensity, due more to feed conversion enhancement rather than EME yield. Our models predicted methane emissions better than most external models, with the exception of only two other models which had similar adequacy. Improved productivity of dairy cows reduces emission intensity by enhancing feed conversion. Improvement in feed conversion should be prioritized for reducing methane emissions in dairy cattle systems.

Comparing diet, seed size and richness in fruit ingested by red howler monkeys (<i>Alouatta juara<i></i></i>) in two habitat types in Central Amazonia


 
 
 Primates within the Alouatta genus (howler monkeys) inhabit a wide range of environments due to their flexible folivorous-frugivorous diet. However, the feeding ecology of Alouatta species that inhabit continuous and difficult-to-access forest environments, such as the Amazon, is poorly known. In this study, we compared diet composition, seed size, and richness of fruits ingested by Juruá red howler monkeys (Alouatta juara) in white-water flooded forest and upland for- est. Our analysis was based on 47 stomachs donated by subsistence hunters of central Amazonia in Brazil. We found no difference in the proportion of structural parts, reproductive parts, and animal matter (arthropods) ingested between these environments. However, we found a positive relationship between the richness of ingested seeds and the water level for the white-water flooded forest. This correlation was not observed for upland forest, where other environmental factors such as precipitation may influence tree phenology. The stomach analysis revealed a high diversity of seeds and a substantial percentage of whole seeds (73%) in the red-howler monkeys’ stomachs. This suggests that they have the potential to be effective seed dispersers for at least 40 taxa in the white-water flooded forest and 14 in the upland forest. The population decline or extinction of this species could have an impact on seed dispersal services, particularly for plant species with seeds larger than 20 mm of diameter, as the number of dispersing agents tends to be limited. Further studies are needed to investigate the environmental dynamics involved in the feeding ecology of red howler monkeys. These studies would help to understand the ecological impacts of local subsistence hunting and wild meat trading on seed dispersal, as well as the economic implications for human populations.
 
 

Armadillos under the Microscope

In the nineteenth century, an animal from the Americas known as the armadillo offered an extraordinary subject for zoologists engaged in the study of the outer covering of four-limbed vertebrates and its components. The armadillo, a cuirassed living mammal, had excited the curiosity of European naturalists since the early sixteenth century, and their shells had thus become a common sight in collections. The armadillo’s carapace provided a structure that could be scrutinized in order to understand animal materials, one that afforded the use of microscopes and chemistry in the emerging life sciences that tried to understand the relationship between form and function and the chemical composition of animated matter. The carapace of the armadillo moved from the culture of curiosity in which it was first collected into the new field of animal chemistry, a key move that is crucial for historians to understand the emergence of the study of animal materials. Armadillos accompanied the expansion of chemistry, microscopy, and physics as they were used to study the materials that constituted the mammals’ dermal coverings. This paper mines nineteenth-century publications for episodes connected to the long story of the study of this shell’s anatomical and chemical contrivances, and the crucial role it played both in the emergence of new scientific knowledge and in the discovery of new bio-inspired materials still derived from this animal today. This paper is part of a special issue entitled “Making Animal Materials in Time,” edited by Laurence Douny and Lisa Onaga.

The ethics of sustainable AI: Why animals (should) matter for a sustainable use of AI

AbstractTechnologies equipped with artificial intelligence (AI) influence our everyday lives in a variety of ways. Due to their contribution to greenhouse gas emissions, their high use of energy, but also their impact on fairness issues, these technologies are increasingly discussed in the “sustainable AI” discourse. However, current “sustainable AI” approaches remain anthropocentric. In this article, we argue from the perspective of applied ethics that such anthropocentric outlook falls short. We present a sentientist approach, arguing that the normative foundation of sustainability and sustainable development—that is, theories of intra‐ and intergenerational justice—should include sentient animals. Consequently, theories of sustainable AI must also be non‐anthropocentric. Moreover, we investigate consequences of our approach for applying AI technologies in a sustainable way.

Topical issue “Dynamics of systems on the nanoscale (2021)”

Exploration of the structure formation and dynamics of animate and inanimate matter on the nanometer scale is a highly interdisciplinary field of rapidly emerging research. It is relevant for various molecular and nanoscale systems of different origins and compositions and concerns numerous phenomena originating from physics, chemistry, biology, and materials science. This topical issue presents a collection of research papers devoted to different aspects of the Dynamics of Systems on the Nanoscale. Some of the contributions discuss specific applications of the research results in several modern and emerging technologies, such as controlled nanofabrication with charged particle beams or the design and practical realization of novel gamma-ray crystal-based light sources. Most works presented in this Topical Issue were reported at the joint Sixth International Conference “Dynamics of Systems on the Nanoscale” and the tenth International Symposium “Atomic Cluster Collisions” (DySoN–ISACC 2021), which were held in Santa Margherita Ligure, Italy, in October 2021.

Comparative gastrointestinal organ lengths among Amazonian primates (Primates: Platyrrhini).

The morphological features of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) in mammals reflect a species' food niche breadth and dietary adaptations. For many wild mammals, the relationship between the structure of the GIT and diet is still poorly understood, for example, the GIT for frugivorous primates is usually classified as unspecialized and homogeneous. Here, we compare the GIT structure of 13 primate species from the three families of extant platyrrhines (Atelidae, Pitheciidae, and Cebidae) in Amazonia, and discuss possible evolutionary adaptations to different diets and trophic niches. We measured the length of the esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, cecum, colon, and rectum of the digestive tracts of 289 primate specimens. We determined the allometric relationships of the different tubular organs with the total length of the GIT as a proxy of specimen body size. Allometric parameters were used to establish the quotients of differentiation of every organ for each primate specimen. There was a high differentiation in structure of the digestive organs among genera. Alouatta specimens clearly separated from the other genera based on dissimilarities in gastric, colonic, and rectal quotients, likely linked to the fermentation of plant contents. In contrast, all cebines (Sapajus, Cebus, and Saimiri) and Cacajao species had similar small intestine quotients, which is expected due to their high rates of animal matter consumed. We show that diverse adaptations in digestive structure exist among frugivorous primates, which in turn reflect different dietary patterns within this group that may enable the geographic coexistence of different primate species.

Investigation of the Characteristics of the Milichiidae Family (Arthropoda: Insecta: Diptera)

Most Milichiidae species are very small and dark. Details of their biology have not been properly studied. It is known that the Milichiidae are associated with decomposing plant and animal matter, including animal and human corpses, a reason that has potential importance in their forensic importance; several species are myrmecophilous predators, pollinators and phoretic vectors. This journal aimed to investigate the bioecology, the bionomy, the biography and systematics of the Milichiidae family (Arthropoda: Insecta: Diptera). The research was carried out based on its systematic aspects and family characteristics. The review was inventoried from works published in national and international journals.

The prevalence of parasitic infections among slaughtered animals in mechanical abattoir

Gastrointestinal parasites, such as helminths and protozoa, are abundant parasitic agents of livestock, particularly ruminants. The current study aims to determine the prevalence rate of parasitic infections in large ruminate animals slaughtered in the mechanical abattoir in Alexandria governorate, Egypt. The prevalence was identified through the records of parasitic infections detected in the fecal matter of large ruminate animals in addition to the recorded postmortem examination findings. Three hundred sixty-four slaughtered large ruminant animals were selected, labeled, and subjected to fecal sampling and postmortem examination. Each fecal sample was tested by three different techniques; the formalin-ether concentration, Ziehl-Neelsen hot-stained, and saturated saline flotation to diagnose all parasite types. One hundred thirty positive cases (35.71%) were determined during the fecal sample examination, and 76 cases (20.87%) were found in postmortem examination. Formalin-ether processing of fecal samples yielded the highest number of pathogens; Entamoeba species were detected in 98 fecal samples (26.69%), and Fasciola species eggs were detected in 14 samples (3.84%). The postmortem examination revealed Fasciola hepatica and F. gigantica in 13 animals (3.57%), mixed lung and liver hydatid cysts in 32 animals (8.79%), whereas liver hydatid cysts only were identified in 15 animals (4.12%). Finally, Sarcocystosis infection was detected in 3.57%. In conclusion, the parasitic infections of large ruminant animals are a leading cause of pathogenicity in large animals, leading to economic losses. Prevention and control measures must be implemented by mechanical abattoirs according to the Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point system.

How Should We Improve How Medical and Veterinary Students Learn About Human and Nonhuman Animals?

This article presents 5 general points that every clinician should know about animals, health, and the environment, focusing on why animals matter for their own sakes, why animals matter for health and environmental threats, why health and environmental threats matter for animals, and how the medical and veterinary industries interact with animals. This article then offers practical advice about how to address these issues.

An Experimental Study in Wild Wood Mice Testing Elemental and Isotope Analysis in Faeces to Determine Variations in Food Intake Amount

The analysis of carbon and nitrogen elemental (C, N) and isotopic compositions (δ13C, δ15N) in faeces are considered reliable methodologies for the study of diet in wildlife. Here, we tested the suitability of these techniques to detect variations in the amount of food intake. We captured wild wood mice (Apodemus sylvaticus) with Sherman live traps where bait access was initially free, and later it was experimentally limited inside by four different devices to cause intended variations in the amount ingested. The total C and N (%) and stable δ13C and δ15N isotopic values were determined for the bait and in mice faecal samples. Faecal values were lower than bait ones except for N, likely due to animal matter ingested before capture. No significant differences in total C, N and δ13C were found due to individual traits. However, breeding males showed higher δ15N values than breeding females, probably due to differences in energy and protein demands between both sexes during the breeding season. Only δ13C detected food intake variations (≥2 g). Despite further research being needed, these results initially support the potential of δ13C to provide information on the amount ingested, thus being useful to complement trophic ecology studies.