Insect Availability Research Articles

Migratory and winter activity of bats in Yellowstone National Park

A substantial body of work exists describing timing of migration and hibernation among bats in eastern North America, but less is known about these events among bats inhabiting the Rocky Mountain region. Yellowstone National Park is a geothermally influenced landscape comprised of diverse habitats, creating the opportunity for unique behaviors to develop among local bat populations. We identified the timing of migration for the local bat community and determined if bats overwinter in Yellowstone. To accomplish this, we radiotracked 7 little brown myotis ( Myotis lucifugus ), 5 western long-eared myotis ( M. evotis ), 4 big brown bats ( Eptesicus fuscus ), 4 silver-haired bats ( Lasionycteris noctivagans ), and 1 western small-footed myotis ( M. ciliolabrum ) from August to September 2010 and September to October 2011. We also used acoustic detectors to record bat activity from November through April 2011–2014 and sampled abundance of nocturnal insects using black-light traps from 2011 to 2012. Although availability of insects declined rapidly during August and afterward, several bat species remained active throughout autumn and winter. Bat activity was recorded during all months, even during periods of extreme cold. Radiotagged big brown bats, little brown myotis, and western small-footed myotis remained active in the study area throughout October, after the 1st snowfall of the season. While data for activity patterns in late autumn and winter prevented an estimation of the onset of hibernation, spring emergence occurred in April despite persistence of winter conditions. These data provide insights into the migration and hibernation strategies of bat populations in the Rocky Mountains and highlight gaps in our understanding of seasonal changes in these species.

Activity patterns of two syntopic and closely related aerial-hawking bat species during breeding season in Bia\u0142owie\u017ca Primaeval Forest

Temporal and spatial activity of bats is species specific and shaped by many factors such as energy requirements, climate conditions and food distribution. Pregnancy and lactation are the most energy-demanding periods throughout the female life cycle. During these periods, females have to optimize their activity patterns to maximize foraging success; however, they simultaneously need to take care of their young. In addition, daily and seasonal fluctuations of insect availability strongly affect bat foraging activity. If females, which are under strong energy constraints, belong to closely related species, they may potentially suffer from competition. One of the mechanisms that allows them to avoid competition is temporal and spatial niche partitioning. Noctule and Leisler’s bats are closely related forest-dwelling species whose diet is similar and consists mainly of ephemeral insects. The aim of our study was to test if they exhibit similar patterns in relation to the time and duration of their nocturnal activity. In Białowieża Forest, we demonstrated that female nocturnal activity of both noctule and Leisler’s bats was shaped mostly by reproductive period and ambient temperature. We did not observe significant differences in the activity patterns of the two noctule species, which suggests that physiological constraints connected with reproduction and environmental conditions affect these species in a similar way and outweigh the competition between species.

Hominin interbreeding and the evolution of human variation.

Mitochondrial Eve confirms the “out of Africa” theory, but the evidence also supports interbreeding between Homo sapiens and other hominins: Neanderthals, Denisovans, and Homo heidelbergensis. This article explains how interbreeding between early H. sapiens and archaic hominins occurred. The availability of edible insects in East Asia aided the spread of the unaggressive, highly cooperative Neanderthals, who interbred with H. sapiens in Asia, resulting in a higher admixture of Neanderthal DNA in East Asian populations. Geographical variation in degree of interbreeding between H. sapiens and Neanderthals likely contributed to neurological and behavioral differences in modern humans. Similarly, people with Denisovan genetic admixture were better able to dwell in mountainous regions, allowing their genetic legacy to cross the Himalayas and persist in Southeast Asian and Oceanian H. sapiens. In the Sub-Saharan region, unaffected by Denisovan or Neanderthal interbreeding, H. sapiens interbred with H. heidelbergensis, because high humidity militated against fire-making and allowed the survival of these non-fire-making hominins.

Wintering Habitat Selection by Eurasian WrynecksJynx torquillain the West of the Iberian Peninsula

Summary. The Iberian Peninsula is a wintering area for an estimated 300 million birds. Most insectivorous birds winter in the southern half of the Peninsula, where mild mid-winter temperatures ensure the availability of insects. However, case studies of habitat use by specific species during winter are still rare. A species of particular interest is the Eurasian wryneck Jynx torquilla, the only long-distance migratory woodpecker in Europe that feeds almost exclusively on ants. Its European populations have declined throughout Europe over recent decades. Wrynecks are known to winter in the Iberian Peninsula but it has only recently been shown that at least some of these birds originate from Central European breeding populations. Hitherto, the habitats they select in winter have remained unknown although it is plausible to think that they are habitat specific given the birds' strong reliance on ants as their main food source. We studied the wintering habitat selection by wrynecks in northern Extremadura, Sp...

Molecular analysis of nestling diet in a long-distance Neotropical migrant, the Louisiana Waterthrush (Parkesia motacilla)

ABSTRACT Elucidating the diet of Neotropical migratory birds is essential to our understanding of their ecology and to their long-term conservation. Reductions in prey availability negatively impact Neotropical migrants by affecting their survival as both nestlings and adults. Beyond broad taxonomic or morphological categories, however, the diet of Neotropical migrants is poorly documented. Using the molecular techniques of DNA barcoding and next-generation sequencing, we elucidated the diet of Louisiana Waterthrush (Parkesia motacilla) nestlings in Arkansas and Pennsylvania, USA. Waterthrush have been shown to respond negatively to the reduced availability of aquatic insects in the orders Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, and Trichoptera (EPT taxa). We hypothesized that Louisiana Waterthrush nestling diet would be primarily composed of these pollution-sensitive aquatic taxa, and that changes in the riparian insect community would be reflected in their diet. Unexpectedly, the orders Lepidoptera (92%) and Diptera...

Coleoptera in the Diet of the Asian badger (Meles leucurus Hodgson 1847, Carnivora, Mustelidae) in Forest-steppe Zone of Urals

We studied the remains of Coleoptera in Asian badger (Meles leucurus Hodgson, 1847) scats collected during 6years in the northern forest-steppe zone of Urals region (Sverdlovsk Region). Species list and also ecological (habitat) groups and size classes' ratios were compared with the results of censuses of insects made by pitfall traps in the same study area and with literature data for the southern taiga and the northern forest-steppe zones of Urals region. Badgers consumed mainly the beetles living in the ground and herbal layers. The highest number of individuals was observed for big beetles (15–30mm), while the highest number of species was found for small beetles (5–10mm). Ecological (habitat) groups and size classes' ratios were different for the insects consumed by badger and those caught in pitfall traps. Such differences should be taken into account in the studies where predators' food remains are the main (or the only) source of information about the insect fauna. Assessments of the availability of insects for badgers cannot be based only on the data of pitfall-trap censuses, but other entomological methods should be used as well.

Post-wildfire physiological ecology of an Australian microbat.

Historical patterns of wildfires are being altered as a result of changing climate and therefore are becoming an increasingly pressing global issue. How small mammals deal physiologically with changes in landscape and food availability due to fire remains largely unknown, although recent studies on small heterothermic terrestrial mammals have shown an increase in post-fire torpor use to reduce energy and foraging requirements. However, data on the behavioural and physiological responses of bats after fires are scarce, although potentially these volant species may differ from terrestrial mammals. Therefore, we investigated the post-fire thermal biology and activity of lesser long-eared bats (Nyctophilus geoffroyi) using temperature-telemetry in Warrumbungle National Park, NSW, which experienced a devastating wildfire in 2013. The study comprised two field seasons, one in 2013 within 4months after the fire, and one in 2015 twoyears after the fire to identify potential changes in behaviour and physiology. Interestingly, soon after the fire, bats showed significantly shorter torpor bout duration (11.8±12.5h) and longer normothermia duration (8.7±4.6h) in comparison to those in 2015 (torpor bout duration: 24.1±23.5h; normothermia duration: 2.5±1.5h). Insect availability was significantly (20-fold) higher in 2013 than in 2015, which was likely an important factor resulting in the short average torpor bout duration by N. geoffroyi after the fire. Our data indicate that volant bats appear to show the opposite post-fire behavioural and physiological responses to small terrestrial mammals, showing longer normothermic and active periods and shorter torpor bouts to capitalise on an increase in available post-fire resources.

Do predator energy demands or previous exposure influence protection by aposematic coloration of prey?

Growing evidence exists that aposematic and toxic prey may be included in a predator’s diet when the predator experiences physiological stress. The tree sparrow Passer montanus is known to have a significant portion of aposematic and toxic ladybirds in its natural diet. Here, we present experiments testing the attack and eating rate of the tree sparrow toward the invasive aposematic harlequin ladybird Harmonia axyridis. We wondered whether the sparrow’s ability to prey on native ladybirds predisposes them to also prey on harlequin ladybirds. We compared the attack and eating rates of tree sparrows of particular age and/or experience classes to test for any changes during ontogeny (hand-reared × young wild-caught ×adult wild-caught) and with differing perceived levels of physiological stress (summer adult × winter adult). Winter adult tree sparrows commonly attacked and ate the offered ladybirds with no evidence of disgust or metabolic difficulties after ingestion. Naïve and wild immature tree sparrows attacked the ladybirds but hesitated to eat them. Adult tree sparrows caught in the summer avoided attacking the ladybirds. These results suggest that tree sparrows are able to cope with chemicals ingested along with the ladybirds. This pre-adaptation enables them to include ladybirds in their diet; though they commonly do this only in times of shortage in insect availability (winter). Young sparrows showed avoidance toward the chemical protection of the ladybirds.

Efeito da seca e da variação espacial na abundí­¢ncia de indiví­­duos nas guildas tróficas da ictiofauna em um reservatório no Semiárido Brasileiro

A abundí­¢ncia de indiví­­duos que compõem as guildas tróficas de peixes pode ser regida por modificações temporais e espaciais, considerando que perí­­odos e locais distintos dispõem de diferentes condições bióticas e abióticas. Assim, verificou-se o efeito da seca e das diferenças espaciais na abundí­¢ncia de indiví­­duos nas guildas tróficas da ictiofauna do reservatório de Pau dos Ferros, Rio Grande do Norte. Foram coletados peixes em quatro pontos, nos meses de fevereiro, maio, agosto e novembro de 2012. Após a captura, identificação e biometria, os itens alimentares dos estômagos e intestinos foram identificados e os seus volumes, estimados. Foi calculado o Índice Alimentar (IAi), sendo seus valores utilizados para determinar as guildas tróficas. Depois, verificou-se a similaridade entre as espécies das guildas tróficas. O número de indiví­­duos que compõem as guildas foi utilizado em uma matriz de similaridade, e os resultados desse procedimento foram ordenados em análises de escalonamento multidimensional não métrico (NMDS), para avaliar a distribuição temporal e espacial das guildas. As espécies foram classificadas em quatro guildas tróficas: insetí­­vora, detrití­­vora/iliófaga, herbí­­vora e piscí­­vora. Com base nessa classificação foi constatado que o perí­­odo de seca e a estrutura dos pontos de coleta favoreceram o estabelecimento das guildas insetí­­vora e detrití­­vora/iliófaga ao longo dos meses e pontos estudados, uma vez que o reservatório de Pau dos Ferros é um ambiente eutrofizado e de baixa profundidade, com alta produtividade primária e grande disponibilidade de insetos, detritos e sedimentos.

Breeding ecology of the endemic Black Lark Melanocorypha yeltoniensis on natural steppe and abandoned croplands in post-Soviet Kazakhstan

Since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, the abundance and distribution of many central Asian steppe birds have been affected by changes in agricultural land management, such as the abandonment of large areas of cropland and changing grazing patterns. However, the underlying population processes that drive patterns of abundance and distribution are poorly understood. We compared the population ecology of the Black Lark Melanocorypha yeltoniensis on natural steppe and abandoned cropland. Between 2009 and 2013, we used distance sampling to quantify Black Lark population density, monitored 220 nests to assess reproductive performance, and modelled habitat selection at several scales. Arthropod food availability was compared using pitfall traps. Mean population densities were three times higher on abandoned cropland compared to those in steppe, and varied with time since abandonment. Nest survival rates were significantly lower on abandoned cropland compared to steppe, probably due to higher predation pressure. Chick growth rates were also lower on abandoned cropland, despite higher insect availability in this habitat. Habitat selection was strongly influenced by grazing intensity and vegetation structure. We suggest that Black Larks are generally attracted to abandoned cropland because of its suitable vegetation structure and higher food availability. The results of a fecundity model suggested that the number of breeding attempts on abandoned cropland necessary to produce the same number of fledglings as one nesting attempt in steppe habitat was 2.04 in 2011 and 3.62 in 2013. However, a phenological analysis revealed that there were only two peaks in first egg dates, making more than two re-nesting attempts per year unlikely. Therefore, abandoned cropland could, at least in some years, be an ecological trap for the species. Our results illustrate that the effects of land-use change on animal populations should not only be assessed using species densities, but also incorporate detailed demographic analyses. If current densities in steppe habitat corresponded to maximum carrying capacity, overall population densities of Black Larks are likely to decline in the near future as availability of abandoned cropland as nesting habitat is currently decreasing.

Long-Term Variation in Laying Date and Clutch Size of the Great TitParus majorin Central Poland: A Comparison between Urban Parkland and Deciduous Forest

Numerous studies from different locations in Europe show that nest-box populations of tits in urban areas lay earlier and produce fewer eggs than do tits in rural areas. We collected data on laying dates and clutch size in two great tit Parus major populations nesting in oak deciduous forest and urban parkland areas, only about 10 km apart, in central Poland over 11 years. The abundance of caterpillars, the optimal food of breeding tits, at both breeding areas was also quantified. We analysed long-term trends in the timing of egg laying and clutch size. We focused on the effects of year, habitat type, insect availability and weather conditions shortly before egg laying on the patterns of variation in laying date and clutch size. In general, our study supports earlier generalisations on urban and rural tit populations. In particular, our finding that great tits initiated breeding consistently earlier in the urban site than in the forest area supports earlier studies on urbanised birds. The mean laying date was strongly and negatively associated with air temperature between 15 March and 15 April in both habitats. Mean clutch size was lower in the parkland than in the forest population, at least partly in response to the greater abundance of caterpillars in the forest. A novel result of this study is that clutch size differed between habitats to a varying degree in different years, in association with a stronger response to caterpillar abundance in the forest than in the park. Clutch size tended to decline with the progress of the breeding season within years in the parkland site, especially in “early years”, but not in the forest habitat.

Influence of hydrological regime and land cover on traits and potential export capacity of adult aquatic insects from river channels.

Despite many studies highlighting the widespread occurrence and effects of resource movement between ecosystems, comparatively little is known about how anthropogenic alterations to ecosystems affect the strength, direction and importance of such fluxes. Hydrological regime and riparian land use cause well-documented changes in riverine larval invertebrate communities. Using a dataset from 66 sites collected over 20 years, we showed that such effects led to spatial and temporal differences in the density and type of larvae with winged adults within a river reach, altering the size and composition of the source pool from which adult aquatic insects can emerge. Mean annual larval densities varied 33-fold and the temporal range varied more than 20-fold between sites, associated with the hydrological regime and land cover and antecedent high and low flows, respectively. Densities of larvae with winged adults were greater in sites that had more algal coverage, agricultural land use, seasonally predictable flow regimes and faster water velocities. More interestingly, by influencing larval communities, riparian land use and the magnitude and frequency of high and low flows affected the size structure, dispersal ability and longevity of adults available to emerge from river reaches, potentially influencing the spatial extent and type of terrestrial consumers supported by aquatic prey. This suggests that anthropogenic alterations to land use or river flows will have both spatial and temporal effects on the flux and potential availability of adult aquatic insects to terrestrial consumers in many rivers.

Insect Consumption to Address Undernutrition, a National Survey on the Prevalence of Insect Consumption among Adults and Vendors in Laos.

BackgroundInsect consumption (entomophagy) is a potentially high nutritious and healthy source of food with high fat, protein, vitamin, fiber and micronutrient content. At least 2 billion people globally eat insects (over 1900 edible species) though this habit is regarded negatively by others. There is a limited amount of data on the perception and consumption of insects. We conducted a national cross-sectional survey in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Laos) to assess the prevalence and characteristics of insect consumption among adult lay people and insect vendors.MethodsWe conducted a multi stage randomized national survey in 1303 households in 96 villages in 16 Lao provinces. Three insect vendors or collectors per village were also included. A standardized pretested questionnaire addressed the following issues: socioeconomic characteristics, type of insects consumed and frequency of consumption, reasons and trends in consumption as well as reports on side effects, over the last 10 years.ResultsA total of 1059 adults (Sex ratio F/M: 1.2, 30 ethnic groups), and 256 vendors were enrolled. A total of 1025 (96.8%) lay people were currently insect consumers, 135 (13.0%) daily or weekly consumers, and 322 (31.1%) consumed several times per month. For the majority (575, 55.6%) the consumption was infrequent (less than a few times per year) and only 22 (2%) had never eaten insects. Consumption started in childhood. Insect availability was seasonal (670, 63.2%) and respondents would have eaten more insects, if they had been more available (919, 86.7%). Hmong and Leu ethnic groups had significantly lower consumption levels than the general population. Eggs of weaver ants, short-tailed crickets, crickets, grasshoppers, and cicadas were the top 5 insects consumed. Consumption had decreased in the last decade, mostly due to less availability (869; 84.0%) and change of life (29; 5.5%). Of 1059, 80 (7.5%) reported allergy problems and 106 (10.0%) reported some use in traditional medicine. A total of 874 (82.6%) were regular collectors.Insect vendors (Sex ratio F/M: 5.3) were also collectors (185; 72.2%). They dedicated a mean time of 4.7 hours during the last harvesting period. The majority sold insects at markets (141, 55.0%). They had earned, on average, USD 6.0 the day before. Five insects (weaver ant eggs; bamboo worms; short-tailed crickets; crickets; wasps) represented 85% of the market.ConclusionEntomophagy is general in Laos, and well accepted despite a decreasing trend in consumption over the last decade. Its contribution to the Lao diet is limited to a minority of frequent consumers. Income through insect sales benefits mostly women. Consumption varies according to ethnicity, residence and season. Development of insect farming is still at an early stage. It could however increase availability of insects and contribute to the generation of income.

Activity of the insectivorous batPteronotus parnelliirelative to insect resources and vegetation structure

Riparian areas often are assumed to be necessary sites for foraging by insectivorous bats because of high insect availability and ease of movement and echolocation in the forest. However, effects of vegetation clutter and insect availability on bat activity have not been compared between riparian and nonriparian areas. We used autonomous recorders to evaluate the effects of vegetation structure, insect mass, and assemblage composition on the activity of the aerial insectivorous bat Pteronotus parnellii along stream channels and nonriparian areas in a tropical rainforest in central Brazilian Amazonia. We quantified vegetation clutter using horizontal photographs, captured nocturnal insects with light traps, and recorded bat activity for 110 nights (1,320 h) in 22 sampling plots. Pteronotus parnellii was more active in sites with dense understory vegetation, which were more common away from riparian zones. Bat activity was related to insect availability (mass and composition), independent of the habitat typ...

Strong cascading effect of weather conditions on prey availability and annual breeding performance in European bee-eaters Merops apiaster

Aerial insectivorous birds depend highly on favourable weather conditions for successful foraging because flight activity of insects is constrained by daily weather. Thus, the variation in weather conditions during reproduction, mediated by prey limitations, should be mirrored in annual reproduction performance, and finally in annual breeding success. We analysed the effect of local weather conditions on the availability of airborne insects and on the variation in brood size and nestling condition of European bee-eaters Merops apiaster at the northern edge of their range where years with adverse weather frequently occur. The availability of large flying insects, the common prey of bee-eaters, increased with air temperatures and duration of daily sunshine. As predicted, local weather conditions affected reproductive performance with annual breeding success (mean 3.7 nestlings per breeding pair, range 1.7–4.9 nestlings) being up to 32 % higher in extraordinary dry and hot summers. Additionally, a nestling's body condition (residual mass) was also affected by sunshine duration during their growth period and internally was co-affected by the number of siblings and the individual rank within the sibling hierarchy. Thus, a prolonged duration of daily sunshine causes a cascade from higher insect flight activity, and, thus, higher food availability for chick-rearing bee-eaters, which finally translates into better chick body conditions and higher annual breeding success. Consequently reproduction and population development of European bee-eaters might be especially susceptible to regional changes in weather and climatic conditions.

Inter-annual and inter-habitat variation in breeding performance of Blue Tits (Cyanistes caeruleus) in central Poland

Studies at various locations in Europe show that nest-box populations of tits in urban areas lay earlier and produce fewer eggs than do birds in rural areas. Long-term data on laying date and clutch size were studied for Blue Tit (Cyanistes caeruleus) populations in two, structurally and floristically contrasting sites (an urban parkland and a rich decidu-ous forest, located only 10 km apart) in central Poland. The peak abundance of caterpillars, the optimal food of breeding tits, was also studied at both breeding areas. We focused on four environmental factors; year, site, insect availability and ambient temperature. Birds initiated breeding earlier in the urban area compared to the forest area and the laying date was highly correlated with air temperature during the period between 15 March and 15 April. At both study areas there was a similar negative temporal trend – birds started breeding earlier with later years. The number of eggs laid per breeding pair tended to be lower in the parkland than in the forest and it is likely that this is due to the habitat-specific pattern of food abundance and patchy environment in the parkland. This study provides new data on the reproductive biology of a model species and also fills up some knowledge gaps concerning inter-habitat and macro-geographic patterns.

Insects as food and feed in the Asia Pacific region: current perspectives and future directions

Western cultures currently struggle to have insects accepted as a human food. This barrier is not as high in many parts of the Asia Pacific region because entomophagy is (or was until recent times) a part of their accepted diets. The region is comprised of many different cultural groups and the degree to which they embraced entomophagy has been determined by dietary needs, cultural considerations, and the availability of insects. While entomophagy has decreased in westernised societies, the demand for edible insects has increased in parts of Asia in association with rising standards of living. An assessment of the use of insects as food and feed in the Asia Pacific region is provided and important knowledge gaps are identified. Edible insects are sourced by three main strategies: wild harvesting, semi-domestication of insects in the wild, and farming. Semi-domestication and farming have the potential to provide a more sustainable food supply, but globally 92% of species are wild harvested. The harvested insects come from all trophic levels, although most of the terrestrial edible insect species are herbivores and most species of edible aquatic species are predators. The increased demand for edible insects puts pressure on the source populations because new technologies are now used to harvest insects more efficiently and to store them safely for longer periods, facilitating the harvesting of greater amounts of insects. This, in combination with either loss of natural habitats or changes to the environment, puts even more pressure on insect populations. The over harvesting of edible insects from different trophic levels could have long term adverse implications for ecosystem processes in Asia Pacific and other regions.

Plasticity in the diet of an insectivorous Characin from a coastal stream of south-east Brazil: effects of riparian canopy cover in the diet and prey selectivity

Event Abstract Back to Event Plasticity in the diet of an insectivorous Characin from a coastal stream of south-east Brazil: effects of riparian canopy cover in the diet and prey selectivity Paula B. Mazzoni1* and Rosana Mazzoni1 1 UERJ, Ecology, Brazil Riparian zones are intimately linked to aquatic ecosystems and affect a number of processes including the maintenance of many fishes species that feed directly on insect prey of both allo and autochtonous origin. Mimagoniates microlepis is a Glandulocaudinae species whose diet is broadly based on unsects. Registers mentioned that Mimagoniates species are generally opportunistic foragers, consuming prey approximately in proportion to what is available in the environment. Coastal streams from Mata Atlântica in the east cost of South America has been suffering drastic losses of natural cover because of forest cutting to supply the growing demands for food, development of agricultural fields, intensive cultivation of sugar cane and soya beans. In the present study we aimed to access how much the availability of insect prey changes along the stream course of a coastal stream from Mata Atlântica (southeast Brazil). We addressed if changes in the availability of prey insects are reflected in the diet of Mimagoniates populations occurring in different sites along the stream. We sampled prey availability and fishes at five sites with different degrees of canopy coverture (shaded vs. non shaded sites). We found that prey availability changes according to physical environmental variables (coverture, water velocity and substratum). Although adaptable to prey availability, relative importance of different insect groups changed in the diet of individuals according to sampling site, M. microlepis was not registered in sites without canopy coverture and allochthonous insect prey. References BARRETO, Almir P.; ARANHA, José M. R.. Alimentação de quatro espécies de Characiformes de um riacho da Floresta Atlântica, Guaraqueçaba, Paraná, Brasil. Revista Brasileira de Zoologia, Paraná, v.23. BRAGA, Almir P.; ARANHA, José Marcelo Rocha; VITULE, Jean Ricardo. Reproduction Period of Mimagoniates microlepis, from an Atlantic Forest Stream in Southern Brazil. Keywords: Stream, Mata Atlântica, rain forest, feeding ecology, Allochthonous matter Conference: XV European Congress of Ichthyology, Porto, Portugal, 7 Sep - 11 Sep, 2015. Presentation Type: Poster Presentation Topic: Ecology, Conservation and Invasive Species Citation: Mazzoni PB and Mazzoni R (2015). Plasticity in the diet of an insectivorous Characin from a coastal stream of south-east Brazil: effects of riparian canopy cover in the diet and prey selectivity. Front. Mar. Sci. Conference Abstract: XV European Congress of Ichthyology. doi: 10.3389/conf.FMARS.2015.03.00210 Copyright: The abstracts in this collection have not been subject to any Frontiers peer review or checks, and are not endorsed by Frontiers. They are made available through the Frontiers publishing platform as a service to conference organizers and presenters. The copyright in the individual abstracts is owned by the author of each abstract or his/her employer unless otherwise stated. Each abstract, as well as the collection of abstracts, are published under a Creative Commons CC-BY 4.0 (attribution) licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) and may thus be reproduced, translated, adapted and be the subject of derivative works provided the authors and Frontiers are attributed. For Frontiers’ terms and conditions please see https://www.frontiersin.org/legal/terms-and-conditions. Received: 07 Dec 2015; Published Online: 07 Dec 2015. * Correspondence: Mrs. Paula B Mazzoni, UERJ, Ecology, Rio de Janeiro, 20550013, Brazil, paulabmazzoni@yahoo.com.br Login Required This action requires you to be registered with Frontiers and logged in. To register or login click here. Abstract Info Abstract The Authors in Frontiers Paula B Mazzoni Rosana Mazzoni Google Paula B Mazzoni Rosana Mazzoni Google Scholar Paula B Mazzoni Rosana Mazzoni PubMed Paula B Mazzoni Rosana Mazzoni Related Article in Frontiers Google Scholar PubMed Abstract Close Back to top Javascript is disabled. Please enable Javascript in your browser settings in order to see all the content on this page.

La reproduction de l’Hirondelle rustique (Hirundo rustica) dans un milieu urbain nord-africain: quel impact des conditions climatiques et de l’application des insecticides ?

Breeding performance of the Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) in a North African urban area : what are the impacts of climatic conditions and insecticide applications ? The present study examined the effects of climate conditions (temperature, precipitation and wind speed) and human activity (insecticide treatment) on clutch size, number of hatchlings and total productivity of the Barn Swallow in a North African urban area (Guelma, Algeria). Our results demonstrated that climatic conditions did not clearly affect reproductive parameters of this Hirundinidae, unlike insecticide treatments inside nesting-buildings. A seasonal decline of the three studied parameters was recorded. The number of hatchlings and total productivity were greater for first than for second clutches. Likewise, productivity significantly decreased in 2013 compared to 2012. Further research on other environmental factors such as : (i) insect availability ; (ii) agricultural activity and (iii) adverse weather events, are an essential track for the implementation of management measures to improve local breeding conditions of this North African urban population.

Wild harvesting declines as pesticides and imports rise: the collection and consumption of insects in contemporary rural Japan

Entomophagy is a traditional element of the Japanese diet. This is also the case in other Asian countries, where there is an increase in demand for edible insects. However, in Westernised countries in a similar economic position to contemporary Japan, cultural prejudices against traditional entomophagy remain strong. This article offers an overview of the current situation regarding entomophagy in rural Japan, a country with a high gross domestic product per capita that has undergone a degree of Westernisation in recent decades. Data collected during 12 months of fieldwork in rural central Japan shows that traditional entomophagy is still present, but the diversity of species consumed has seen a marked decrease when compared to studies undertaken in the 1980s. Grasshoppers (Oxya spp.) and wasp larvae (Vespula spp.) are the main insects consumed in Japan today. Insects hold some negative connotations, especially among younger Japanese. Elderly people are more likely to have consumed edible insects, and contend that the availability of wild insects, particularly grasshoppers, has declined considerably since their childhood. Sellers of edible insects also report a decrease in availability within Japan, and now turn to imported insects to meet domestic demand, which is increasing. Both sellers and consumers attribute this trend to the use of pesticides in the final quarter of the twentieth century. Further research is required to evaluate the potential of domestic insects to meet the rising demand for edible insects in contemporary Japan.