Adult Density Research Articles

Evaluation of sampling methods of Diaphorina citri Kuwayama (Hemiptera: Liviidae) in two citrus growing areas

Efficient, easy to implement and low-cost monitoring methodologies are necessary to obtain information on arthropod pest populations and to implement the most convenient and timely phytosanitary control practices. To optimize the sampling and monitoring of the Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri (Hemiptera: Liviidae), an insect associated with the transmission of Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus and Ca. L. americanus, which cause Huanglongbing (HLB), a disease with a great impact on citrus orchards, three methods of adult sampling (yellow sticky traps, sweep net, and stem tap) were evaluated. For immature sampling, vegetative shoots were checked. The results demonstrate that the population density at the time of sampling affects the effectiveness and sensitivity of the sampling methods. Yellow sticky traps capture more adults and are the only effective method at low psyllid densities. Stem tap and sweep net are less expensive methods; however, they do not detect adults nor correlate with the number of nymphs and eggs in vegetative shoots when adult density is low. For adults, an optimal sample size was determined for each method. For yellow sticky traps, 3 to 5 traps for a 2-hectare plot with weekly frequency are recommended. For immatures, it is recommended to estimate the percentage of infestation by inspecting 45 to 55 vegetative shoots well-distributed within a 2-hectare plot, as a practical measure for farmers and extensionists to monitor D. citri.

Post-fire clumping of seedlings of Cape Proteaceae species: ecological, evolutionary and conservation implications

Background Spatial clumping of plants results in intense competition. Aims We analysed the extent of clumping of Proteaceae seedlings across the Cape Floristic Region after fire. Methods To demonstrate the extent of clumping in 23 species, we analysed the seedling and adult densities in 290 post-fire surveys each of 100 × 1 m2 plots using standard indices of clumping. Key results We detected clumping of Cape Proteaceae seedlings, whereas parent plants were less clumped. The clumping is not due to limited safe sites for seedlings because the number of plots at a site with at least one seedling was positively related to the number of seedlings at the site. Sites with seedlings were enriched in nutrients relative to those without. Conclusions The possible benefits of clumping are saturation of granivores and co-location of buried seeds with nutrient-rich patches of fire-derived ash and debris. A cause of clumping is seeds sticking together. Clumping, which is strongly intraspecific, has implications for trait evolution and the dominance of reseeders over resprouters. Strong clumping reduces the usefulness of the widely used seedling:parent index to determine whether fires were favourable or not. Implications Clumping has implications for understanding seed dispersal distances, seedling versus adult traits, fire responses and demography.

Abalone recruitment patterns before and after sea urchin barrens formation in northern California: incorporating climate change

ABSTRACT Understanding the recruitment dynamics of invertebrates in kelp forests is critical to informing climate-ready restoration. Here we examine abalone and sea urchin recruitment (3–20 mm in size) patterns in northern California across a period of drastic change. Annual surveys were conducted before, during and after the MHW (2014–2016), the loss of a major predatory sea star (2012–2016) and the collapse of a bull kelp forest in 2014. Divers surveyed artificial reef recruitment modules (n = 12) over 20 years in an area that once supported dense bull kelp, Nereocystis leutkeana, forests and the world's largest recreational abalone fishery. From 2016 to 2022, we tracked the decline of red abalone, Haliotis rufescens, recruitment and the rise of purple sea urchin, Strongylocentrotus purpuratus, recruitment. Adult densities of purple sea urchins increased as did newly settled sea urchins (<3 mm), while adult and newly settled red abalone declined. Eight years after the kelp forest collapse, red abalone recruitment remained low and sea urchin recruitment continued to increase. Recruitment patterns can inform both abalone restoration targets and sea urchin dynamics as part of a more holistic kelp forest recovery plan that is responsive to climate change drivers.

Displaced juvenile and subadult Caribbean spiny lobsters show strong orientation toward home dens

Caribbean spiny lobsters are known to undergo migration as adults, but the dispersal and homing ability of subadults and juveniles is not well characterized. Given that settlement habitat for juveniles is inshore seagrass / hardbottom and reproductive habitat is offshore coral reefs, dispersal during ontogeny serves as a bottleneck potentially limiting adult population density. Previous studies have examined factors associated with movement and den selection by juvenile lobsters such as shelter type, predators, and conspecific density. Their attraction to odors of healthy conspecifics plays a significant role in aggregation of lobsters in casitas and traps. But what is unknown is whether juvenile lobsters possess the map and compass orientation found in adults. To examine the ontogeny of homing ability, we conducted multiple mark / displace tracking studies using acoustic telemetry in juvenile hardbottom and subadult coral patch reef habitats. All lobsters regardless of size tend to relocate to new crevice shelters when handled, even if returned to their original shelter. Thus, for non-displaced lobsters tagged and returned to their point of capture, distance and angle travelled appears to be random with distance increasing as function of body size. However, for juvenile and subadult lobsters tagged and displaced away from their point of capture, the distance and angle travelled when released is significantly directed toward the point of capture. Thus, it appears that the map and compass ability of Caribbean spiny lobsters appears early in ontogeny and may allow for individuals to safely explore unfamiliar locations while retaining knowledge of how to return to known shelter. This ability to expand their known habitat map while maintaining knowledge of critical diurnal shelter locations is expected to facilitate their ontogenetic dispersal to adult habitat.

Assessing the effectiveness of selected reduced-risk insecticides and malathion on blueberry gall midge (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) and key parasitoids

The blueberry gall midge, Dasineura oxycoccana, is a major blueberry pest in Florida and North America, primarily controlled with insecticides. However, their efficacy on D. oxycoccana and impact on natural enemies are poorly documented. We compared the effects of seven reduced-risk insecticides with malathion on larval and adult D. oxycoccana in laboratory bioassays. Acetamiprid showed the highest larval mortality, similar to malathion. Imidacloprid was effective after 2 h, while spirotetramat was effective after 3 h. On adults, cyantraniliprole and acetamiprid were as effective as malathion. Flupyradifurone began showing comparable lethality at 3 h, while spirotetramat, imidacloprid, and tolfenpyrad began inducing comparable mortality 6 h post-application. The same insecticides were evaluated for their effects on D. oxycoccana and their key parasitoids in two southern highbush blueberry plantings in North-central and Central Florida. A wetter-spreader adjuvant was added to spirotetramat as a ninth treatment. Spirotetramat + adjuvant effectively reduced adults and larval densities by up to 100% in the first year and adults by 59% and larvae by 56% in the second year. Acetamiprid reduced adult densities by 65% in 2019. Spinetoram reduced adults by 77% and larvae by 100% in 2019, while flupyradifurone reduced adults by 77% and larvae by 37% in 2020. These insecticides had minimal adverse effects on Platygaster spp. and overall parasitoid densities for both years. Based on these findings, there is potential for incorporating spirotetramat + adjuvant, flupyradifurone, spinetoram, or acetamiprid into a strategic rotational program with minimal impacts on natural enemies of D. oxycoccana.

Buckwheat as a companion plant in soybean fields: Implications for management of major pests

Abstract Many studies have explored the potential of companion plants to manage pests through top–down or bottom–up effects in agricultural fields. Buckwheat is known as a good candidate for companion planting with various crops to enhance pest management, but rarely in soybeans. We investigated the impact of planting buckwheat as a new companion plant on the population dynamics of major soybean pests and their natural enemies in soybean fields in Andong, Republic of Korea. We recorded numbers of pests and natural enemies at 9–10‐day intervals from 20 soybean plants each in eight small experimental fields throughout the cropping season. Significant reduction in pests, such as Riptortus pedestris (F.) (Hemiptera: Alydidae) adults, and a significant increase in natural enemies, such as Orius species (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae) and crab spiders (Araneae: Thomisidae), were observed in the buckwheat treatment plots. However, there were significant increases in other pests, such as leafminers and leafhoppers, in the buckwheat treatment plots. While we observed effects on R. pedestris adult density, we did not find significant effects on other developmental stages of this pest or its parasitoids. Although there were some concerns in the buckwheat treatment plots, the positive effects of buckwheat in soybean fields appear to outweigh the drawbacks. Buckwheat is likely a suitable companion plant for use in soybeans to manage pests.

Effects of the maternal social environment on the mating signals and mate preferences of adult offspring in Enchenopa treehoppers.

Much is known about how the maternal environment can shape offspring traits via intergenerational effects. It is less clear, however, whether such effects may reach adult offspring sexual traits, with potential consequences for sexual selection and speciation. Here, we report effects of adult female aggregation density on the mating signals and mate preferences of their offspring in an insect that communicates via plant-borne vibrational signals. We experimentally manipulated the density of aggregations experienced by egg-laying mothers, reared the offspring in standard densities, and tested for corresponding differences in their signals and preferences. We detected a strong effect in male signals, with sons of mothers that experienced low aggregation density signalling more. We also detected a weak effect on female mate preferences, with daughters of mothers that experienced low aggregation density being less selective. These adjustments may help males and females find mates and secure matings in low densities, if the conditions they encounter correspond to those their mothers experienced. Our results thus extend theory regarding adjustments to the social environment to the scale of intergenerational effects, with maternal social environments influencing the expression of the sexual traits of adult offspring.

Spatial distribution of the ethnomedicinal plant Aglaonema simplex at the Sakaerat Environmental Research Station, Northeastern Thailand

Abstract. O-thong N, Tasen W, Marod D, Thinkampheang S, Phumphuang W. 2024. Spatial distribution of the ethnomedicinal plant Aglaonema simplex at the Sakaerat Environmental Research Station, Northeastern Thailand. Biodiversitas 25: 3043-3050. Aglaonema simplex Blume (Araceae) is an evergreen herbaceous plant used ornamentally and in traditional medicine. Although the usefulness of this plant has been widely studied and reported, its ecology remains poorly understood. In this study, we examined the effects of various environmental factors on the spatial distribution of A. simplex in a Dry Evergreen Forest (DEF) at the Sakaerat Environmental Research Station (SERS) in Northeastern Thailand. All individual plants were counted; their positions were recorded within a 16-ha Forest Dynamics Plot (FDP), and their distribution pattern was analyzed using Ripley's K function. The spatial distribution of A. simplex was determined using a generalized linear model that incorporated plant density and topographic and edaphic variables within the 16-ha study plot. We found a total of 11,232 A. simplex individuals with a density of 702 individuals ha-1, with a clumped distribution pattern. The modeling results showed that the spatial distribution of A. simplex was positively influenced by soil clay content, soil pH, exchangeable magnesium, and adult tree density; it was negatively influenced by sapling density and rocky outcrops. These findings contribute to the broader understanding of the ecological niche of A. simplex. They can be used to design integrated land management approaches that balance ecological conservation with economic development goals.

Coral reef fish density at a tourist destination responded rapidly to COVID-19 restrictions.

Throughout the world, anthropogenic pressure on natural ecosystems is intensifying, notably through urbanisation, economic development, and tourism. Coral reefs have become exposed to stressors related to tourism. To reveal the impact of human activities on fish communities, we used COVID-19-related social restrictions in 2021. In French Polynesia, from February to December 2021, there was a series of restrictions on local activities and international tourism. We assessed the response of fish populations in terms of changes in the species richness and density of fish in the lagoon of Bora-Bora (French Polynesia). We selected sites with varying human pressures-some dedicated to tourism activities, others affected by boat traffic, and control sites with little human presence. Underwater visual surveys demonstrated that fish density and richness differed spatially and temporally. They were lowest on sites affected by boat traffic regardless of pandemic-related restrictions, and when activities were authorised; they were highest during lockdowns. Adult fish density increased threefold on sites usually affected by boat traffic during lockdowns and increased 2.7-fold on eco-tourism sites during international travel bans. Human activities are major drivers of fish density and species richness spatially across the lagoon of Bora-Bora but also temporally across pandemic-related restrictions, with dynamic responses to different restrictions. These results highlight the opportunity provided by pauses in human activities to assess their impact on the environment and confirm the need for sustainable lagoon management in Bora-Bora and similar coral reef settings affected by tourism and boat traffic.

Chronic changes in developmental oxygen have little effect on mitochondria and tracheal density in the endothermic moth Manduca sexta.

Oxygen availability during development is known to impact the development of insect respiratory and metabolic systems. Drosophila adult tracheal density exhibits developmental plasticity in response to hypoxic or hyperoxic oxygen levels during larval development. Respiratory systems of insects with higher aerobic demands, such as those that are facultative endotherms, may be even more responsive to oxygen levels above or below normoxia during development. The moth Manduca sexta is a large endothermic flying insect that serves as a good study system to start answering questions about developmental plasticity. In this study, we examined the effect of developmental oxygen levels (hypoxia: 10% oxygen, and hyperoxia: 30% oxygen) on the respiratory and metabolic phenotype of adult moths, focusing on morphological and physiological cellular and intercellular changes in phenotype. Mitochondrial respiration rate in permeabilized and isolated flight muscle was measured in adults. We found that permeabilized flight muscle fibers from the hypoxic group had increased mitochondrial oxygen consumption, but this was not replicated in isolated flight muscle mitochondria. Morphological changes in the trachea were examined using confocal imaging. We used transmission electron microscopy to quantify muscle and mitochondrial density in the flight muscle. The respiratory morphology was not significantly different between developmental oxygen groups. These results suggest that the developing M. sexta trachea and mitochondrial respiration have limited developmental plasticity when faced with rearing at 10% or 30% oxygen.

Assessment of Indoor and Outdoor Resting Adult Female Mosquitoes Density Exhibiting Vectorial Portent, Insight from Kano State, Nigeria

Mosquito proliferation has been on the increase in most communities of Kano State, leading to a high rate of mosquito-borne diseases, pregnant women, and infant mortality. Mosquitoes spend the daytime resting in human dwellings, frequent survey of these mosquitoes is needed in vector control for breaking disease transmission. Despite this, data on mosquitos’ density are frequently missing. In this study, we have collected and identified all samples of indoor and outdoor resting mosquito species to assess female density. A longitudinal survey was carried out in three different sentinel sites (Darmanawa, Wudil, and Baba Ruga) for the period of 6 months (August 2023 to March 2024). Indoor mosquitoes were collected using the pyrethrum spray Method, while the outdoor mosquitoes were collected using a cardboard box. The knockdown mosquitoes were transported to the laboratory for identification, using a digital LCD microscope to gender and species level with the aid of different taxonomic guides. A total of one thousand and five (1005) female mosquitoes belonging to 5 genera and 21 species were caught. The result showed a significant influence (p &lt; 0.05) of species, months, resting behavior, and season on the density of adult female mosquitoes while collection sites do not influence adult female mosquitoes (p &gt; 0.05). We concluded that adult female mosquitos’ density is affected by species, months of the year, resting behavior, and season, as well as the high density of An. gambiae and Cx. quinnquefasciatus recorded is a bio-portent of malaria and filariasis spotlight in these communities.

The portfolio approach: a way forward for restoration of native Olympia oysters in a dynamic urban estuary

Native Olympia oysters (Ostrea lurida) occur in remnant natural populations throughout San Francisco Bay (SFB), California, United States, where managers have been working to restore oysters since 2002. Environmental conditions vary substantially along the estuarine gradient in the bay, such that oysters are exposed to different stressors in different locations and years. We monitored oysters that naturally recruited to experimental restoration substrates over 10 years at two sites on this gradient. We found that recruitment rates and adult densities varied over time and had different trajectories at the study locations. We found gradients in predation, space competition, and physical stressors between sites and along a tidal elevation span that corresponded with differences in adult densities. We documented mass mortality resulting from an extreme low‐salinity event at one site and subsequent recovery later that year. Our results, combined with data from natural populations at multiple sites, suggest that restoration outcomes within SFB could be improved by building and strengthening a connected portfolio of sites that are not simultaneously exposed to the same stressors. We recommend siting restoration projects across locations that represent a range of environmental conditions but that are sufficiently close for larval exchange. Unlike typical restoration approaches that use site selection to identify the best locations, the portfolio approach, just like the economic investment principle, would employ a diversity of environmental conditions. Because these environmental conditions can change over time, this approach can reap the greatest rewards over the long run precisely because of that diversity.

Can the Culture Density of the Marine Copepod Pseudodiaptomus nihonkaiensis be Improved by Installing an Artificial Substrate?

The understanding of the increasing population density of copepods in culture tanks contributes to establish their stable cultures at high productions for aquaculture industry, which are preferred live feeds for fish larvae. In the present study, the semi-benthic copepod Pseudodiaptomus nihonkaiensis were used as target species. This genus is often found from brackish water and its tolerance to a wide range of salinity and water quality has attracted attention as a potential commercial live feed for aquaculture. Population growth and egg production in the semi-benthic copepod P. nihonkaiensis are investigated. Copepods were cultured in tanks without mesh, with mesh lining tank walls, and with 2, 4 or 8 mesh partitions in each tank to identify the effect of substratum surface area on copepod population density. Linear regression revealed peaks in nauplius, copepodite, adult and total densities, and the cumulative number of eggs for all sampling events to correlate positively with substratum surface area (p&lt;0.01). Greater substratum area within a culture tank may improve egg production by increasing habitat for ovigerous females. The simple installation of inexpensive artificial substrata in existing copepod culture tanks might improve the feasibility of using copepods as a live food in commercial-scale aquaculture.

Spatial differences in recruit density, survival, and size structure prevent population growth of stony coral assemblages in southeast Florida

The size structure of stony coral populations can reveal underlying demographic barriers to population growth or recovery. Recent declines in coral cover from acute disturbances are well documented, but few studies have assessed size structure and the demographic processes that determine population growth. Vital rates, such as recruitment and survival, vary spatially and temporally in response to environmental conditions, in turn influencing assemblage composition. The Southeast Florida Coral Reef Ecosystem Conservation Area (Coral ECA) is a high-latitude reef system offshore of a heavily urbanized coastline. Consecutive heat stress events, stony coral tissue loss disease (SCTLD), and Hurricane Irma caused significant declines in stony coral cover and density from 2014 to 2018. The recovery potential of stony coral assemblages is influenced by their composition, the size structure of the remnant populations, and population growth during inter-disturbance periods. To assess the viability of the remaining stony coral assemblages in the Coral ECA, we quantified variation in stony coral recruit density, abundance, size structure, and assemblage composition across depth and latitude at permanent sites over 3 years (2019–2022) when no disturbances occurred. We found spatial decoupling in recruit density, adult colony density, and cover that maintains a preponderance of small colonies and skewed size structure. At sites close to shore where recruit density was higher, there was limited evidence of survival and growth of recruits, while at sites where large colonies were sampled or cover was relatively high, there was limited recruitment. The majority (&amp;gt;75%) of recruits sampled were Siderastrea siderea, but size frequency distributions were positively skewed and the coefficient of variation was high, suggesting high recruit/juvenile colony mortality and little growth into larger size classes. Porites astreoides size structure was generally lognormal and mesokurtic, particularly closer to shore, suggesting a transition between size classes. Skewness decreased moving offshore in Montastraea cavernosa and S. siderea, suggesting a transition between size classes. Recruit and adult diversity also increased moving offshore, but recruits of most species were uncommon throughout the study area. We suggest that low recruitment and high mortality, particularly in small colonies and inshore, even during inter-disturbance periods, limit the population growth of stony coral assemblages in southeast Florida.

Spatial analysis of dengue transmission in an endemic city in Brazil reveals high spatial structuring on local dengue transmission dynamics.

In the last decades, dengue has become one of the most widespread mosquito-borne arboviruses in the world, with an increasing incidence in tropical and temperate regions. The mosquito Aedes aegypti is the dengue primary vector and is more abundant in highly urbanized areas. Traditional vector control methods have showing limited efficacy in sustaining mosquito population at low levels to prevent dengue virus outbreaks. Considering disease transmission is not evenly distributed in the territory, one perspective to enhance vector control efficacy relies on identifying the areas that concentrate arbovirus transmission within an endemic city, i.e., the hotspots. Herein, we used a 13-month timescale during the SARS-Cov-2 pandemic and its forced reduction in human mobility and social isolation to investigate the spatiotemporal association between dengue transmission in children and entomological indexes based on adult Ae. aegypti trapping. Dengue cases and the indexes Trap Positive Index (TPI) and Adult Density Index (ADI) varied seasonally, as expected: more than 51% of cases were notified on the first 2months of the study, and higher infestation was observed in warmer months. The Moran's Eigenvector Maps (MEM) and Generalized Linear Models (GLM) revealed a strong large-scale spatial structuring in the positive dengue cases, with an unexpected negative correlation between dengue transmission and ADI. Overall, the global model and the purely spatial model presented a better fit to data. Our results show high spatial structure and low correlation between entomological and epidemiological data in Foz do Iguaçu dengue transmission dynamics, suggesting the role of human mobility might be overestimated and that other factors not evaluated herein could be playing a significant role in governing dengue transmission.

Aftereffects of Hurricanes Irma and Ian on queen conch Aliger gigas in the Florida Keys, USA

Hurricanes can have substantial impacts on shallow-water marine habitats and species. Populations of slow-moving benthic species that are subject to depensation such as the queen conch Aliger gigas may be particularly vulnerable to hurricanes. The species is protected in Florida (USA), which allowed us to investigate the effects of Hurricanes Irma (2017) and Ian (2022) on the population without the confounding effects of fishing. Adult queen conch density had declined over 80% at sites resurveyed immediately after the passage of Hurricane Irma. Additionally, the sites closest to the eye of Hurricane Irma had a significant increase in the percent cover of sand. The sand mobilized by the storm likely buried numerous conch and caused mortality. Subsequent Florida Keys-wide annual monitoring did not show any substantial recovery in adult density prior to Hurricane Ian. Adult density had declined by &amp;#126;45% at sites resurveyed after Hurricane Ian. Unlike after Irma, we did not detect any significant correlation in the change to the percent cover of sand with distance from Ian. This was probably because the eye of Hurricane Ian was farther away from the main portion of the Keys than that of Hurricane Irma. Nevertheless, after both hurricanes, adult density dropped below the minimum threshold for mating in the Keys, demonstrating the depensatory implications of hurricanes for conch populations. Consequently, fishery managers must consider the synergistic effects of hurricanes and harvest on exploited populations, especially since the intensity, longevity, and frequency of hurricanes are expected to increase due to climate change.

Development and field evaluation of a novel sugar bait device for controlling residential vector mosquitoes in Zhejiang Province, China.

Mosquito-borne diseases pose serious public health threats in Zhejiang Province, China, and vector control is believed to be the primary method for reducing transmission. Due to severe resistance problems, effective and sustainable methods without chemical insecticides are urgently required to control mosquito vectors. Attractive toxic sugar baits (ATSB) are newly developed methods to control mosquitoes in recent decades with the core element sugar bait, which was invented according to the sugar-feeding behavior of mosquitoes. In this study, we developed a Novel Sugar Bait Device (NSBD) trap by combining sugar bait and physical adhesive capture technology. The study aimed to evaluate the effect of the NSBD trap on controlling mosquitoes in residential environments and to identify the optimal sugar solution concentration in the sugar bait of the NSBD for real use. Four residential villages in Ningbo City with similar geographic environments and mosquito densities were selected for field trials in 2022. One village (site 1) was designated as the control group, and three villages (sites 2-4) served as the test groups to assess the effectiveness of NSBD traps with different sugar solution concentrations (6, 8, and 10%) in the sugar bait. Larval and adult mosquito densities were monitored monthly before and semi-monthly after the trials using the CDC light trap and larval pipette method. Before the trials, we monitored mosquito density for 3 months to confirm the baseline mosquito density among the four sites, and no statistical differences in adult and larval mosquitoes were found (adult, F = 3.047, p > 0.05; larvae, F = 0.436, p > 0.05). After the trials, all NCBD traps effectively controlled larval and adult mosquito densities, with the highest standard decrease rates of larval and adult mosquito densities at 57.80 and 86.31%, respectively, observed in site 4. The most suitable sugar solution concentration in the sugar bait was 10%. NSBD traps effectively controlled mosquitoes in residential environments during field trials. Without the use of insecticides, this may be a promising choice for mosquito vector control to prevent mosquito-borne diseases.

Relationship between blood cadmium levels and bone mineral density in adults: a cross-sectional study.

Osteoporosis, a disease of reduced bone mass and microstructural deterioration leading to fragility fractures, is becoming more prevalent as aging progresses, significantly increasing the socioeconomic burden. In past studies, there has been a growing awareness of the harmful effects of heavy metals on bone, with cadmium being a significant exposure factor. The purpose of this study was to look into the association between adult bone mineral density(BMD) and blood cadmium levels. Based on information from the 2013-2014, 2017-2018 NHANES, weighted multiple regression, generalized weighted modeling, and smoothed curve fitting were utilized to investigate the association between blood cadmium and femur BMD. Furthermore, subgroup analyses were conducted to investigate any differences in the associations between age, sex, race, chronic kidney disease, and diabetes. In 2,146 participants, blood cadmium levels and total femur [-0.02 (-0.03, -0.01), 0.0027], femoral neck [-0.01 (-0.02, -0.00), 0.0240], femoral trochanter [-0.01 (-0.02, -0.00), 0.0042], and intertrochanteric femoral trochanter [-0.02 (-0.03, -0.00), 0.0101] BMD were negatively correlated. Subgroup analyses showed that this association was more pronounced in women, non-Hispanic white people and other Hispanics, and those with chronic kidney disease and diabetes. Our results pointed to a negative relationship between femoral BMD and blood cadmium. This negative association varied by age, sex, race, diabetes, and chronic kidney disease. In particular, bone mineral density was more significantly negatively affected by blood cadmium levels in groups with diabetes and chronic kidney disease. Our findings demonstrated a significant negative association between blood cadmium levels and bone mineral density in a population of U.S. adults.

Optimising the surveillance of Aedes aegypti in Brazil by selecting smaller representative areas within an endemic city.

Arboviruses, such as dengue (DENV), zika (ZIKV), and chikungunya (CHIKV), constitute a growing urban public health threat. Focusing on Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, their primary vectors, is crucial for mitigation. While traditional immature-stage mosquito surveillance has limitations, capturing adult mosquitoes through traps yields more accurate data on disease transmission. However, deploying traps presents logistical and financial challenges, demonstrating effective temporal predictions but lacking spatial accuracy. Our goal is to identify smaller representative areas within cities to enhance the early warning system for DENV outbreaks. We created Sentinel Geographic Units (SGUs), smaller areas of 1 km2 within each stratum, larger areas, with the aim of aligning the Trap Positivity Index (TPI) and Adult Density Index (ADI) with their respective strata. We conducted a two-step evaluation of SGUs. First, we examined the equivalence of TPI and ADI between SGUs and strata from January 2017 to July 2022. Second, we assessed the ability of SGU's TPI and ADI to predict DENV outbreaks in comparison to Foz do Iguaçu's Early-Warning System, which forecasts outbreaks up to 4 weeks ahead. Spatial and temporal analyses were carried out, including data interpolation and model selection based on Akaike information criteria (AIC). Entomological indicators produced in small SGUs can effectively replace larger sentinel areas to access dengue outbreaks. Based on historical data, the best predictive capability is achieved 2 weeks after infestation verification. Implementing the SGU strategy with more frequent sampling can provide more precise space-time estimates and enhance dengue control. The implementation of SGUs offers an efficient way to monitor mosquito populations, reducing the need for extensive resources. This approach has the potential to improve dengue transmission management and enhance the public health response in endemic cities.

Epidemiological etiology of Erysiphe sp. and putative viral and phytoplasma-like symptoms in Ayocote bean (Phaseolus coccineus)

Introduction/Objective. Ayocote bean (Phaseolus coccineus) has potential as a source of resistance in breeding programs because it exhibits greater tolerance to plant pathogens than P. vulgaris. However, its sanitary characterization is insipient; therefore, the purpose of this work was to carry out an etiological-epidemiological diagnosis, with emphasis on presumptive symptoms of viral and phytoplasmic organisms, and a typical fungal signs of powdery mildew. Materials and Methods. A plot (50 x 62 m) of flowering Ayocote bean was selected. It was divided into 80 (8 x 10) quadrats (6 x 6 m) and 720 subquadrats (2 x 2 m). From 25 plants with powdery-mildew-type leaf symptoms, mycelium was collected with adhesive tape for light microscopy observation and taxonomic identification. Length-width measurements were made on 60 conidia. Pure mycelium collected in situ and ex situ from 1-5 leaflets/plant was used for genomic analysis by PCR with universal primers ITS1 and ITS4. Samples were sequenced in Macrogen Inc. Korea. A total of 63 plants and 121 trifoliate leaves with viral and phytoplasmic symptoms were collected by direct sampling. In 88/121 samples, genomic analysis was performed by PCR with universal primers for Potyvirus (1), Begomovirus (2), and Phytoplasmas (1). Sequence editing and analysis were performed in SeqAssem and BLASTn/GenBank. Phylogenetic constructions were developed in Mega 11 with MUSCLE, Maximum Likelihood (ML), and HKY substitution model (1000-Bootstrap). Putative powdery mildew severity (%), flower damage (%), Macrodactylus sp. adult density, and plant vigor (%) were evaluated in 80 quadrats (3subquadrats/quadrat) with App-Monitor®v1.1 configured with a 5-class scale. In GoldenSurfer® v10, Kriging geostatistical analysis was performed to determine the spatial interrelationship between these variables. Results. Erysiphe vignae was identified as associated with powdery mildew of P. coccineus. The fungus, with hyaline, ovoid to ellipsoid conidia measuring 31.74 ± 0.3419 μm x 15.11 ± 0.1579 μm, without the presence of fibrosin bodies, had 100% genomic homology. This is the first report in Mexico. With average July-August temperature and relative humidity of 16.3 °C (±5.8) and 92.8 % (±10.7), respectively, powdery mildew leaf incidence and severity were 65.3 and 22.7 % (±16.9, range: 0 - 66.5 %), respectively. The most inductive focus (60-80 % severity) had an aggregate e 4-quadrat pattern (96 m2, lag = 4 and σ2-s = 450). Inoculum dispersal was significantly associated with dominant North-South winds and plant vigor (lag = 4 and σ2-s = 470). Flower damage was inconclusive in its spatial association with powdery mildew and Macrodactylus sp. suggesting uncorrelated events. No Potyvirus, Begomovirus, or Phytoplasmas were detected associated with yellowing, leaf distortion, mosaic, internode shortening, and other symptoms observed in situ. This confirms the relative tolerance/resistance reported for P. coccineus. Conclusion. E. vignae (Erysiphales: Erysiphaceae) associated with P. coccineus is reported for the first time in Mexico with moderate to intense epidemic level, which indicates its susceptible condition to this fungus. However, negative results for Potyvirus, Begomovirus, and Phytoplasmas, validate the apparent tolerance/resistance of P. coccineus to these organisms.