Breeding Habits Research Articles

Coexistence of territorial competitor ants in fragmented boreal forest landscape

The distribution of species in a patchy habitat may be influenced by competitive interactions. The dominant and highly competitive boreal ant species belong to the Formica rufa group. A pair of species, Formica aquilonia and Formica polyctena, require extensive territories due to their multi-nest breeding habits. The coexistence and habitat patterns of these two wood ant species in the boreal forest landscape were investigated. Forest characteristics in the vicinity of nests in forest patches were similar for both species, but they did not coexist in the same sampling plots of 0.79 ha in forest patches, indicating competitive exclusion. The sampling plots in large forest patches were more occupied by F. aquilonia, while no such association was found for F. polyctena. At a larger spatial scale (78.5 ha), we found that F. polyctena was more tolerant of smaller forest patches than F. aquilonia suggesting that these two ant species can coexist in moderately fragmented forest landscapes. However, forest habitat loss, fragmentation and climate-induced changes in forest tree structure may shift the species balance in favour of F. polyctena over F. aquilonia in the future.

Impact of Urban Expansion on Migratory Birds in the Lagos Wetlands: Breeding Habits and Population Dynamics

This research delves into the complex interactions between urban expansion and migratory bird populations in the Lagos wetlands, specifically examining how changes in urban landscapes influence breeding habits and population dynamics. The rapid and extensive urbanization in Lagos has resulted in considerable habitat fragmentation and environmental degradation, leading to significant disruptions in the ecological functions vital for the sustenance of migratory bird species. This study conducts a thorough analysis of existing conservation measures, assessing their effectiveness and identifying gaps in current practices. Building on this analysis, the research proposes a suite of integrated strategies for sustainable urban planning that emphasizes wildlife preservation. These strategies include the development of green infrastructure, the establishment of ecological corridors, enhanced community involvement in conservation efforts, and the integration of robust environmental policies into urban planning frameworks. The study underscores the critical need for a holistic and scalable approach to urban planning, one that effectively balances human development with the preservation of biodiversity. The findings advocate for a multi-faceted response to urban impacts, suggesting that while current conservation efforts provide a foundation, they require significant expansion and reinforcement to safeguard the migratory bird populations and maintain the ecological health of the Lagos wetlands in the face of ongoing urban challenges.

Spatial modeling of the relative abundance of wading birds in peninsular Florida using citizen science data

AbstractRecent literature has shown citizen science data that include reported counts, such as observations from the eBird database, can be used to model the relative abundance of selected species. The objective of our study was to extend on both the methodology and the range of species considered by previous research on relative abundance modeling; we selected the Floridian peninsula as our geographical area of interest. We confirmed that, much like for other bird species and geographical areas, modeling such data with a classic Poisson generalized linear model was not appropriate due to overdispersion. Moreover, assuming linearity for the effects of all environmental and observer effort covariates on relative abundance was shown to be overly simplistic. These concerns led us to consider a variety of potentially suitable modeling techniques; the quasi‐Poisson generalized additive model displayed the best combination of flexibility, strong predictive performance, and ease of interpretation. Expanding on previous research for eBird data, we chose to explicitly incorporate spatial dependence into the modeling task by performing hierarchical generalized additive modeling with a spatial conditional autoregressive structure for random effects. This practice allows us to account for spatial factors not represented by model covariates, such as species dispersal patterns or colonial breeding habits. After conducting appropriate testing procedures and fitting spatially explicit models, we found that our data contain moderate spatial dependence and that spatially explicit models have overall superior predictive performance to models that do not account for spatial dependence. Upon closer inspection, spatially explicit models perform especially well compared with their nonspatial counterparts in identifying situations with low abundance, with a negligible trade‐off in prediction accuracy for situations with high abundance. We conclude that quasi‐Poisson hierarchical generalized additive models with spatial random effects provide the best representation of the relative abundance of bird populations. Moreover, our spatially explicit models are more realistic based on domain knowledge when regarding the impact of environmental covariates, which is important when considering conservation implications and future projections.

Reproductive processes of the edible snails Helix lucorum (Linnaeus, 1758) and Eobania vermiculata (O.F. Müller, 1774) in their natural habitats

ABSTRACT The purpose of this study is to describe the reproductive processes of the snails Helix lucorum and Eobania vermiculata, which are abundant in Diyarbakır, SE Turkey. Reproductive behaviours and eggs of E. vermiculata and H. lucorum were monitored in the gardens of the Commodity Exchange Building, and Hevsel Gardens. The habitats of the species were observed over a one-year period (2022–2023). Helix lucorum reproduction takes place at the age of three to four years, from late October to December. The weight of the adult snails was 22 ± 4 g. The snails laid an average of 82 ± 12 eggs, with a weight of 0.23 ± 0.03 mg, and diameter of 5 mm; they hatched in 30 ± 4 days. Eobania vermiculata reproduction takes place at the age of two years, and breeding is mainly from early October to early December. The adult snails weighed 12 ± 4 g, and laid an average of 70 ± 14 eggs, with each egg weighing 0.16 ± 0.04 mg and measuring 3 mm in diameter. They hatched in 32 ± 5 days. In summary, the study offers details on the reproductive processes of two commercially significant snails, whose breeding habits may vary based on local climatic conditions.

Observation and Simulation of Mosquito Breeding Site Water Temperature for Malaria Transmission at Kaita Local Governmet Township of Katsina State, Nigeria

Studies showed that transmission of malaria is influenced by environmental factors such as temperature. This work is aimed at finding the impact of mosquito's breeding site water temperature on mosquito's larva development time. An artificial mosquito's breeding habitat was created. The water temperature of the habitat was measured at an hourly interval, then it is averaged into daily time scale. Weather variables of the experimental site were inpu into the the energy balance model to simulate the breeding habit water temperature. The mosquito's larva development time was then predicted by inputting both the observed water and simulated water temperature into the vector borne disease community model (VECTRI) .The daily maximum, and minimum observed water temperatures were 27.9°C, 32.6°C and 21.7°C, respectively. The daily mean, maximum, and minimum simulated water temperatures were 29.8°C, 35.6°C, and 23.5°C respectively. These temperatures are within the temperature range that supports mosquito’s larva development. Mosquito's larva development was predicted using the VECTRI model. According to this study larva development reached completion in 7.1 days using the observed water temperature, 6.03 days using the simulated water temperature and 8.01days using the observed air temperature. This energy balance model is an improved water temperature scheme over the assumption that air temperature is equal to air temperature. This work shows the importance of water temperature and the value of degree day required for emergence of an adult mosquito in the simulation of aquatic stage development. Both the observed water and simulated water temperatures are higher than the on observed air temperature, thus air temperature cannot be used as the water temperature in the simulation of the mosquito’s larva development time. The finding of the work can be used as source toward mosquito's larval control through water temperature. It is however clear from the finding that could be as result of temperature due to shorter time predicted for mosquito's larval development.

Comparative Mitogenomics of Flesh Flies: Implications for Phylogeny.

Simple SummaryFlesh flies (Diptera: Sarcophagidae) make up the second-largest family of Oestroidea. They are well known for their veterinary, forensic, and medical importance due to their extremely diverse feeding habits, making them a hotspot in dipterology research. Therefore, efforts have been devoted to accumulating the mitochondrial genomes of Sarcophagidae. However, the mitogenome of flesh flies has mostly been sequenced for the genus Sarcophaga of the subfamily Sarcophaginae, and the other two subfamilies, Miltogramminae and Paramacronychiinae, have barely been touched. Here, we sequenced the mitochondrial genomes of five sarcophagid species from four genera representing all three subfamilies and investigated the phylogeny and evolution of flesh flies from the perspective of the mitogenome via comprehensive comparative analyses employing all mitogenomic data. This study will broaden our knowledge of flesh flies and make contributions to forensics, veterinary science, entomology, and ecology.Flesh flies (Diptera: Sarcophagidae) represent a rapid radiation belonging to the Calyptratae. With more than 3000 known species, they are extraordinarily diverse in terms of their breeding habits and are therefore of particular importance in human and veterinary medicine, forensics, and ecology. To better comprehend the phylogenetic relationships and evolutionary characteristics of the Sarcophagidae, we sequenced the complete mitochondrial genomes of five species of flesh flies and performed mitogenomic comparisons amongst the three subfamilies. The mitochondrial genomes match the hypothetical condition of the insect ancestor in terms of gene content and gene arrangement. The evolutionary rates of the subfamilies of Sarcophagidae differ significantly, with Miltogramminae exhibiting a higher rate than the other two subfamilies. The monophyly of the Sarcophagidae and each subfamily is strongly supported by phylogenetic analysis, with the subfamily-level relationship inferred as (Sarcophaginae, (Miltogramminae, Paramacronychiinae)). This study suggests that phylogenetic analysis based on mitochondrial genomes may not be appropriate for rapidly evolving groups such as Miltogramminae and that the third-codon positions could play a considerable role in reconstructing the phylogeny of Sarcophagidae. The protein-coding genes ND2 and ND6 have the potential to be employed as DNA markers for species identification and delimitation in flesh flies.

Nesting habits of grey crowned craneBalearica regulorumin Lake Ol’ Bolossat basin, Kenya

AbstractInformation on breeding habits of grey crowned crane (Balearica regulorum) in Kenya is currently lacking. Investigations were therefore carried out between 2017 and 2020 to determine its nesting habits in Lake Ol’ Bolossat basin including nest‐site features, number and distribution of territorial pairs, clutch size, eggs, and duration of breeding cycle. While 103 pairs were observed in the lake marshlands (mean density 5.00 pairs/km2), only 20 were found in upland wetlands. The number of pairs and densities (pairs/km2) in each of the lake's sections were as follows: north (24; 3.23), middle (47; 5.42), and south (32; 6.24). During this study, 61% (n = 63) of the lake marshland pairs attempted to breed compared to 80% (n = 16) in the upland wetlands. A mean of 2.23 eggs/clutch and a modal clutch of three eggs was recorded in 33 accessible nests. The range of influential factors in nest‐site selection were as follows: water depth (50–100 cm), vegetation height around the nest (60–90 cm), and an offshore distance of >100 m. Breeding cycle showed phenotypic plasticity in response to variations in local weather conditions. The number and density of cranes in this study area show its importance in the recovery and survival of the species, and which should subsequently be accorded effective protection.

Coexistence mechanisms of Colocasiomyia species (Diptera: Drosophilidae) sharing inflorescences of Alocasia odora (Araceae) as a host plant: Comparison between two‐ and three‐species systems

AbstractThere are two pollination‐mutualistic systems between Colocasiomyia flies and Alocasia odora. The two systems are different in the number of fly species involved. One is a two‐to‐one system, where C. xenalocasiae and C. alocasiae share inflorescences/infructescences of A. odora in the Ryukyu Islands (Japan), Taiwan, Guangdong, and Guangxi (China). The other system, which additionally involves the third species, C. grandis, is seen from southern Yunnan (China) to northern Vietnam. To reveal coexistence mechanisms in these systems, we compared breeding habits of the component species between the two‐ and three‐species systems in natural conditions, and undertook a field experiment to test a hypothesis whether oviposition sites of the component species are affected by interference competition between them. The observations under natural conditions confirmed the breeding niche separation of component species in the two‐species system: C. xenalocasiae uses mostly the pistillate region of spadix, whereas C. alocasiae uses mostly the staminate region, with partial overlap of their oviposition sites in the lower intermediate region. In the three‐species system, however, these two species separated their oviposition sites nearly completely from each other, suggesting that they are excluded from the lower intermediate region by the third species, C. grandis, which monopolizes there. The result of field experiments did not support this hypothesis: neither C. xenalocasiae nor C. alocasiae changed oviposition behavior regardless of the absence or the presence of C. grandis. Therefore, we propose an alternative hypothesis that the oviposition site segregation among the three species has evolved as a consequence of the past and/or ongoing competition of larvae.

Catch trends of bottom trawl fauna with an emphasis on prawns and stomatopods, off Goa, India

Catch trends of bottom trawl fauna off Goa, India were investigated at fortnightly intervals from February 2006 – May 2008 with the exception of June – October months (monsoon). Inter-comparison of faunal abundance data obtained during February to April months of 2006, 2007 and 2008 indicated that abundance during 2006 and 2008 were significantly higher as compared to 2007. Available fish landing data for the region also corroborated this trend. The dominance of sub-adults among stomatopods during post-monsoon season (November – January), juveniles and sub-adults among prawns during pre-monsoon (February – May), indicated recruitment to the fishery. Comparison with 40-year-old published data indicated significant reduction in the overall yield (P = 0.043; α = 0.05). Additionally, yields of 12 out of 15 fish groups across the demersal trophic spectrum decreased significantly (P = 0.031; α = 0.05). However, catches of miscellaneous species increased 17 times, and were dominated by pufferfishes. The profusion of pufferfish is attributed to the perennial breeding habit of these fishes combined with increased removal of potential predators such as sharks and catfishes. Marine Trophic Index (MTI) and Fishing-in-Balance Index (FiB) decreased at rates of 0.017 and 0.016 per decade, respectively, implying sustained fishing pressure over the next few decades that could lead to potential trophic cascade and dominance of resilient opportunistic species such as puffers.&nbsp

Genetic characteristics of yellow seabream Acanthopagrus latus (Houttuyn, 1782) (Teleostei: Sparidae) after stock enhancement in southeastern China coastal waters

Yellowfin seabream is an important economic fish that is widely distributed in the East and South China seas. Many attempts to enhance stocks of yellowfin seabream have occurred in China, but a lack of genetic information for this species after stock release represents an obstacle to its management and conservation. To provide scientific guidance for sustainable germplasm resource development, we sequence the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) control region (CR) of 123 yellowfin seabream from 6 sample populations (Xiamen, Dongshan I, Dongshan II, Yangjiang, Fangchenggang, and Beibu Gulf). Populations of both wild and cultured yellowfin seabream have high genetic diversity, which we relate to their breeding habits and growth rate. A neighbor-joining tree of CR haplotypes reveals no specific phylogenetic structure corresponding to location of fish capture. Both neutral test and nucleotide mismatch distribution analyses suggest that yellowfin seabream have experienced population expansion events. Pleistocene glacial periods and recent stock releases have played important roles in the formation of present-day phylogeographical patterns. Our study provides baseline information which will assist future research on genetic structure, genetic diversity, and historical demography of yellowfin seabream after stock release in southeast China coastal waters. The use of exotic seeds should be avoided in stock breeding and release, and relevant follow-up surveys and genetic monitoring should be undertaken to clarify the genetic impact of exotic seed use on wild populations.

Genetic diversity of the yellowfin seabream, Acanthopagrus latus (Actinopterygii: Perciformes: Sparidae)—An enhancement species in Dongshan Bay

Dongshan Bay is located on the west side of the Taiwan Strait, which had abundant fishery resources in the past. With the increase in fishing pressure, resources have declined. To restore the fishery resources in Dongshan Bay and to increase fishing yield, much enhancement and release work has been carried out in Dongshan Bay. The yellowfin seabream, Acanthopagrus latus (Houttuyn, 1782), is an important enhancement species in Dongshan Bay that is also frequently captured. Due to yearly progress in enhancement and release, it is necessary to study the current status of the genetic diversity of yellowfin seabream in Dongshan Bay. The results show that all yellowfin seabream populations have high genetic diversity, which is mainly related to its breeding habits and growth rate, and this ensures a large recruitment stock in the natural seas. The current population has differentiated from the historical population due to a change in genetic structure, and many historical haplotypes have been lost. The results of this study provide a reference for fishery management departments to formulate management measures and conservation policies specifically for yellowfin seabream. In particular, yellowfin seabream is a hermaphroditic and protandrous species. Targeting an older age group as the main fishing subject is not conducive to its breeding protection and resource growth, and therefore, fishing of an older age group should be restricted in fishery production.

Biometrics, distribution, and breeding notes of Savanna Nightjar (Caprimulgus affinis) in several islands of Indonesia

Abstract. Widodo W, Sulistyadi E. 2021. Biometrics, distribution, and breeding notes of Savanna Nightjar (Caprimulgus affinis) in several islands of Indonesia. Biodiversitas 22: 2756-2762. The Savanna Nightjar Caprimulgus affinis Horsfield, 1821, a member of the family Caprimulgidae, is a sexually dimorphic, insectivorous nightjar species commonly found in Southeast Asia, including Indonesia. A least-concern species, Savanna Nightjar has diverse habitats from grasslands to shrubs to high-rise rooftops in the middle of the city. Yet, its breeding habits, particularly in urban areas, remain obscure. The purpose of the research is to discuss the biometric measurement, distribution pattern and notes of the breeding of Savanna Nightjar, through analyzing 50 specimens originating from Java, Sumatra, Billiton, Borneo, and Nusa Tenggara Islands belonging to the Museum of Zoology Bogor (MZB) in Cibinong and through a series of observation. The morphological measurements of specimens include the measurements of the length of the bodies, the wings, the tails, the bills, and the tarsi. One-way ANOVA analysis showed that the length of the body and the tail of Savanna Nightjar in Nusa Tenggara are significantly longer than those of Savanna Nightjar in Java, Sumatra, Billiton, or Borneo islands. The biometric differences could have been contributed to different habitat characteristics. Additionally, it was found the likelihood of breeding habit of Savanna Nightjar in urban areas with that of the countrysides because of the resemblance of semi-natural ecosystems in the city such as artificial rivers, small lakes, and parks to Nightjar’s open landscape natural habitats, which facilitates the breeding habits. Still, the migration of Savanna Nightjar from open country-landscapes to the metropolitan areas remains elusive and requires a more detailed study

Discovery of Two Lineages of Hynobius tsuensis (Amphibia, Caudata) Endemic to Tsushima Island, Japan.

The Tsushima salamander, Hynobius tsuensis, is a lotic-breeding species endemic to Tsushima Island, Japan. We investigated genetic variation in this species using samples covering all known localities on the island. Phylogenetic analyses based on mitochondrial cytochrome b gene sequences divided H. tsuensis populations into two genetic groups: true H. tsuensis and an unknown species (Hynobius sp.) showing a closer relationship to Hynobius nebulosus than to H. tsuensis. The genetic distance between the two groups was greater than the genetic distances between different species of Hynobius. Both groups were found to breed in mountain streams, sometimes in the same streams syntopically. Population structure analysis based on several nuclear microsatellite loci strongly indicated reproductive isolation between the two groups in the syntopic localities. This is the first report confirming the syntopic occurrence of two lotic salamanders of Hynobius on a small island. We propose that the lotic breeding habits of the two salamanders were independently acquired.

Knowledge, practices and health seeking behaviour regarding dengue among household in an urban slum of Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh

Background: Dengue/dengue hemorrhagic fever is an emergent disease in India. It is a mosquito-borne viral disease. The aim of this study is to assess the knowledge, attitude and practice regarding dengue among households in urban slum area and to find out the health seeking behavior of respondent during first episodes of fever. Methods: This study was a descriptive cross sectional study undertaken in field practice area of UHTC of GITAM institute of medical science, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. The sampling technique was two stage simple random sampling. Face-to-face interview based on a pre-designed and pretested questionnaire. The data was compiled and analyzed.Results: Out of total 262 individual were interviewed, 69.8% were aware about dengue. The major source of information was TV/radio (74.4%). The most common health seeking behaviour for first episode of fever was nearby UHTC and then government hospital.Conclusions: The knowledge and awareness regarding dengue was satisfactory in the study population but the knowledge about the mode of transmission and breeding habit is still lacking. More awareness campaign and health education will improve.

Effect of community-based intervention on awareness of dengue and its prevention among urban poor community in India: a systematic review approach

Owing to increased epidemic activity and difficulties in controlling the insect vector, dengue has become a major public health problem globally. The prevention and control of dengue rely mainly on vector control methods. A systematic review was conducted using four databases (PubMed, Cochrane, Google Scholar and Scopus) and a manual search of the reference lists of the identified studies. Data from included studies were extracted, analyzed. Applying all inclusion and exclusion criteria 23 articles was included. Further relevant articles using this keywords Aedes dengue breeding habits housing and community intervention were selected. Eight studies combined community participation programme with dengue control tools. Findings of the published literature indicate that at baseline, almost half the respondents did not know that dengue is serious but preventable, or that it is transmitted by mosquitoes. The analysis showed that dengue vector control is carried out by vertically structured programmes of national, state, and local administrative bodies through fogging and larval control, without any involvement of community-based organizations, and that vector control efforts were conducted in an isolated and irregular way. The most productive container types for Aedes pupae were cement tanks, drums, and discarded containers. Evidence that community-based dengue control programmes alone and in combination with other control activities can enhance the effectiveness of dengue control programmes is weak. This review demonstrates a paucity of reliable evidence for the effectiveness of any dengue vector control method. Standardized studies of higher quality to evaluate and compare methods must be prioritized to optimize cost-effective dengue prevention. Clear best practice guidelines for the methodology of entomological studies should be developed.

Contributions to Lycodon zawi, a little-known colubrid snake (Reptilia: Serpentes: Colubridae)

Since the original description of Lycodon zawi almost two decades ago from Myanmar and Northeast India, little is known on the systematics, distributional range as well as the natural history of the species. Hence, this paper attempts to contribute updated information to enhance the genetic data, morphology, distributional records, and natural history on its feeding and the hitherto unknown breeding habit of this species from Mizoram State, Northeast India.

Space, density and extra‐pair matings have opposing impacts on male and female reproductive success

AbstractMany territorial species have a mating system characterized by males establishing home ranges in the breeding grounds prior to females, resulting in males competing for territories and females choosing a mate upon their arrival. It remains unknown, however, how the outcomes of decisions surrounding territory establishment and mate choice are influenced by the spatial configuration of the breeding grounds. We use a spatially explicit, individual‐based model to investigate the sex‐specific effects of these decisions on reproductive success. In our model, males that arrive earlier obtain higher quality territories and improve their chances for extra‐pair copulations. Females can choose their mate to maximize the quality of the male or to attempt to minimize the density of other females near their nesting site to avoid competition. Females therefore face a tradeoff between high‐density regions around high‐quality males and low‐quality males in areas of low competition. Our model predicts a negative correlation between male and female reproductive success under a wide range of conditions when the majority of the territories are on the margins of the breeding area. Most notably, this sexual conflict arises as an edge effect suggesting that fragmentation of breeding habitats could impact the consequences of mate choice in many species with territorial breeding habits.

Risk Factors of Dengue Fever Outbreak in Karo District, North Sumatera, Indonesia

Dengue fever (DF) infection continues to present a seriuos public health problem in North Sumatera, Indonesia. A DF outbreak was reported in Merek Sub-district, Karo District which is one tourist destination in North Sumatera during April-May 2017. An epidemiological investigation was conducted to identify the risk factors and recommend control measures. An observational study with a matched case control design was conducted. A case was defined as any resident of Merek sub-district who had suffer major clinical symptoms of DF such as fever, severe headache, pain behind eyes, muscle and joint pains, and rash from April – May, 2017. A control was defined as neighbors of cases who did not have clinical signs and symptoms of DF and were matched for age and sex. We interviewed 37 cases and 37 controls. Age cases ranged from 2 year to 37 years (median= 12 years). The multivariate analyses showed that presence of mosquito breeding sites (OR=4.87, 95%CI=1.33-17.85) and habit of hanging worn clothes (OR=5.12, 95%CI=1.25-21.03) were significant risk factors. It is recommended to eliminate mosquito breeding sites routinely, avoid habit of hanging worn clothes, and conduct strict surveillance of DF continously.

Nootes on Population Status, Breeding Habits and Conservation of Canadian Goose ( Branta Canadensis ) In Central New Jersey, USA

Nootes on Population Status, Breeding Habits and Conservation of Canadian Goose ( Branta Canadensis ) In Central New Jersey, USA

Meiotic correlations and bound arm associations between the diploid and autotetraploid of Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal, and implications on genetic stability

Artificial polyploidy could be an important means of genetic enhancement in the species where plant biomass is the source of economic product. However, success of polyploidy approach becomes limited if the seeds are the principal means of reproduction, since the seeds so produced could be genetically imbalanced owing to disturbances in meiosis. The present study provides an illustrated account of successful induction of autotetraploidy, morphometric details of the induced polyploid, and its stability over generations through seed progenies in an important medicinal plant, Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal (fam. Solanaceae). Meiotic analyses of the progenitor diploid and its derived autotetraploid revealed that the induced tetraploid sports high bivalent pairing in the C0 generation and its subsequent enhancement over subsequent generations (C1, C2), coupled with reduced genetic segregation. Detailed analysis of meiotic configurations show that low chiasmate association in the progenitor diploid facilitates high bivalent pairing in the autotetraploid, and thus balanced meiosis and improved seed fertility in the tetraploid. Further, the perennial breeding habit of W. somnifera and tetrasomic pattern of inheritance in the induced tetraploid offer a unique opportunity for fixation of heterozygosity by way of using C0 as a the nuclear stock to realize C1 seeds for propagation without losing polyploid heterosis.