Major Food Items Research Articles

전라남도 일부 지역 노인들의 신체적·정신적 기능 원활 정도에 따른 식생활 패턴의 차이

This study investigated dietary patterns among the elderly over 75 years old living in Jeollanam-do area in May 2012. Although structured interviews were conducted with 236 consenting subjects, only 194 who completed the ADL, IADL, and K-MMSE tests were used for statistical data analysis. Using ADL, IADL, K-MMSE scores, cluster analysis was first performed and resulted in two groups: IFG (Insufficiently Functioning Group) and SFG (Sufficiently Functioning Group). Chi-square tests for nominal scales, Mann-Whitney tests for ordinal scales, and ANOVAs and t-tests for interval and ratio scales were conducted to compare two groups. More than 70% of IFG were illiterates compared to 28.1% of SFG. 'Excessive eating', 'appetite', 'digestion', and 'balanced diet' did not differ between groups. SFG more frequently had snacks and ate out and were more likely to take health supplements than IFG. Among the 100 major food items, consumption frequencies of several foods differed between groups. Study implications and limitations were discussed.

Digestive Physiology of Three Species of Decapod Crustaceans of Argentina

This review has the available information about the digestive physiology and morphology of three decapod species from Argentina: Pleoticus muelleri, Artemesia longinaris, and Neohelice granulata. The anatomy of the foregut may be modified in closely related species with similar feeding habits; however, the main features of the decapod crustacean digestive tract are similar to other species. Crustaceans express a set of highly active digestive enzymes that hydrolyze the major food items and include proteinases, lipases, esterases, and glucanases. The close relationship between diet and the range of digestive enzymes produced is well documented; however, digestive responses to specific nutrients differ widely among the species. Variations in digestive enzyme expression during early development reflect changes in digestive capabilities and can be used to identify early developmental feeding transitions. This information provides a deeper insight into nutrition, dietary preferences, and strategies of resource utilization, making possible the development of new aquacultural practices and providing data about the ecological niche that species occupy in aquatic systems. There is no doubt that the occurrence and activity of digestive enzymes are influenced by many internal and external factors, such as diet, molting, and development. The research of three Argentine decapod species is discussed in this review and provides a better understanding of basic digestive physiology. This information important to investigations of nutrition and feeding ecology of crustaceans.

Food and fish feeding habits in Anwai stream ichthyofauna, Niger-Delta

The food and feeding habits of some fish fauna in Anwai stream were investigated. Fish samples (160 individual fish in 19 species) were collected using combination of traps, gill nets of various mesh sizes and baited hooks and lines in the three zones (upper, middle and lower reaches) of the stream. Stomach content analysis was carried out using frequency of occurrence, numerical analysis and volumetric analysis. It was observed that Hemichromis Fasciatus competed with fish species of commercial importance viz Tilapia zilli, Christinus guentheri and Oreochromis niloticus for major food items (100 F% of blue green algae, green algae and diatom). Feeding intensity (absolute importance index) of Hemichromini bimasculatus (700) and O. niloticus (801) remain relatively higher than that of the other fish species during the study. Key words: Stomach content analysis, frequency of occurrence, absolute importance index, Anwai stream.

International Food Price Volatility: Transmission to Domestic Prices and Policy Response in Bolivia and Peru

World food prices surged strongly in recent years, with two waves of rising prices in 2007-08 and 2010-11. For food-importing countries affected at the same time by significant levels of undernourishment and malnutrition, sudden rises in the international price of food may have a strong impact on domestic prices and greatly affect access to food. Such is the case of two South American countries: Bolivia and Peru, which pursued quite different policies affecting the transmission of international commodity price changes into domestic consumer prices for major food items. This paper examines policies enacted in both countries at the macroeconomic and sectoral level, and the outcome in terms of domestic prices.

Combined usage of stable isotopes and GPS-based telemetry to understand the feeding ecology of an omnivorous bird, the Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis)

The aim of the present study was to investigate the feeding ecology of an omnivorous bird, the Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis Ord, 1815), breeding in a highly urbanized and heterogeneous landscape (Montréal area, Quebec, Canada). We used gastrointestinal (G.I.) tract content analysis, GPS-based tracking information, and stable isotope profiles of carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen (δ15N) in selected tissues and major food items. Based on GPS tracking data (1–3 days), Ring-billed Gulls were categorized according to their use of three main foraging habitats: agricultural, St. Lawrence River, and anthropogenic (comprising urban areas, landfills, and wastewater treatment plant basins). Ring-billed Gulls that foraged predominantly in anthropogenic habitats exhibited significantly lower δ15N in blood cells and higher total C to N ratios (C:N) in liver. These lower δ15N and higher C:N ratios were characteristic of profiles determined in food items consumed by Ring-billed Gulls at these urbanized sites (e.g., processed foods). The strong positive correlations between δ13C and δ15N in Ring-billed Gull tissues (plasma, blood cells, and liver) that differed in isotopic turnover times, as well as the strong positive correlations in both δ13C and δ15N between tissue pairs, indicated that Ring-billed Gulls exhibited conserved dietary habits throughout the nesting period. This study demonstrates that combining conventional dietary examination, tissue stable isotope analysis, and fine-scale GPS tracking information may improve our understanding of the large intrapopulation variations in foraging behaviour (and isotopic profiles) commonly observed in omnivorous birds.

Dynamics of grazing protozoa follow that of microalgae in natural biofilm communities

This study investigates the dynamics of protozoan community in biofilms formed on inert artificial surfaces suspended in various freshwater environments. The results also test the hypothesis that the dynamics of protozoan and microalgal communities in biofilms are interdependent because the latter form one of the major food items of benthic protozoa. Cleaned glass slides were suspended in surface waters at four sampling locations to collect biofilm communities. The glass slides after retrieval were observed under a microscope for diatom and protozoan density and their generic composition. Members of protozoa belonging to phylum Sarcomastigophora dominated the protozoan community followed by phylum Ciliophora in all sampling locations. The variation of protozoan feeding groups showed an initial abundance of autotrophs/holophytes which gave way to heterotrophs, predators, and bacterivores towards the end of the study. The density and generic composition of protozoa varied significantly with the age of biofilm and sampling location. The density variation of protozoa followed that of diatoms in all four sampling locations and this has resulted in a significant positive correlation between diatom and protozoan densities. This suggests the dependency and/or food web connectedness of these two communities in natural biofilms.

Food and Feeding Habits of the Mola Carplet Amblypharyngodon mola (Hamilton, 1822) in Rice Field Ecosystem with Consideration of Water Quality Parameters

The present investigation was conducted in the Agronomy field laboratory of Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh, Bangladesh during May 1999 to August 1999 to reveal the food and feeding habits of Amblypharyngodon mola in the rice field ecosystem. Percentage of frequency of occurrence and percentage in number methods were used for the qualitative and quantitative estimation of plankton population. Results showed that, during the present study, the water quality parameters were within the suitable range for optimal fish growth and plankton population was abundant in the water of the rice plots. Gut content analysis of A. mola revealed a sum of 32 genera of phytoplankton belonging to Chlorophyceae (17), Euglenophyceae (2), Cyanophyceae (7) and Bacillariophyceae (6) and 8 genera of zooplankton under Rotifera (3), Cladocera (2) and Copepoda (3). In general, Navicula, Fragilaria, Chlorella, Chrysococcus, Closterium, Oscillatoria and Gomphosphaeria were found abundant both in the water of the rice plots and in the gut contents of A. mola indicating that, these genera are preferred food of this fish in the rice field ecosystem. Gut content analysis also exposed that, phytoplankton was the major food item constituting 94.38% of the gut contents’ composition of A. mola whereas zooplankton comprised only 5.62%. The results of this study conclude that, the A. mola is planktivorous in nature, feeding mostly on phytoplankton and could be a suitable species for integrated rice-fish farming.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/on.v11i1.8245 Our Nature Vol.11(1) 2013: 61-75

Foraging and reproductive behavior of Arizona gray squirrels (Sciurus arizonensis): impacts of climatic variation

Optimal timing of reproduction is critical to ensure adequate conditions for raising young. However, factors influencing timing of reproduction may differ between sexes. Harsh seasonal environments offer unique opportunities to link timing with resource availability and strategies of the sexes. The Arizona gray squirrel (Sciurus arizonensis) inhabits arid forests in which precipitation is highly seasonal and exceptionally variable; however, no data are available on diet or reproduction. We investigated annual variation in foraging and reproductive habits of Arizona gray squirrels to assess responses to extreme seasonality. We found that Arizona gray squirrels have a diverse diet, with consumption of major food items shifting between years. Reproduction also varies between years. Reproductive output was greater in 2008, with more females successfully reproducing and males remaining in reproductive condition for extended periods. Males shifted timing of reproductive behaviors in response to female receptivity, which tracked food availability. This shift likely reflects variation in food production due to precipitation, because rainfall varied greatly, with most years prior to and during our study recording below-average rainfall. With drought conditions and extreme rainfall events predicted to increase with climate change, understanding the relationship between climatic events, phenology of food production, and impacts on reproduction is critical when attempting to manage and conserve species.

Making Interventions in Indian Food Market: When and How?

Food inflation in India, measured by movement of wholesale and consumer prices indices, has been consistently increasing for last several months, rather for several years, with a few exceptions. Such exceptions (short term negative movement in food prices) are not common, and in addition the decline is seemingly because of seasonality factor and or a very high base in the preceding year. What is, however, important here is that such short term development does not necessarily imply that prices have fallen in real terms in all state or regional markets throughout the country, in four different zones: east, west, north and south. The paper makes an attempt to understand functioning of food markets in four different zones covering six major food items, consumption of which is not seasonal and these are staples in nature. These include cereals (rice and wheat), vegetables (potato, onion and chickpeas), and sugar. To understand zone wise price behaviour, one major market from each of the four zones in India has been selected. These include Patna (in the east); Mumbai (in the west); Delhi (in the north); and Chennai (in the south). The period selected for the study is 2006 to 2011. In addition, the paper also attempts to establish interrelationship between food prices and implementation of the model APMC by different states, especially the four states which are the focus of the paper. Linking the adoption of the model APMC by the four states (markets of which have been analysed in this paper) and the price behaviour of agricultural produce establish the fact that price behaviour has no relation with the adoption to the model APMC Act. Rather, one can also say that, the relationship, if at all, is negative, implying that higher the level of reform implementation, higher the volatility in the market. By this interpretation, Mumbai market which has fully adopted the model APMC is the most volatile. This is despite the fact that in some produce, it accounts for a significant share in India’s total production, and show relatively low vulnerability ratio. In comparison, Patna market, which repealed APMC in 2006, appears to be the least volatile. The findings of the paper need to be probed further to establish credible evidence of its relationship with retail price movement.

Food and Feeding Habits of the Mudskipper, <i>Boleophthalmus boddarti</i> (Pallas, 1770) from Pichavaram Mangroves, Southeast Coast of India

The mudskipper, Boleophthalmus boddarti (Pallas) (Order Perciformes: Family Gobiidae) are found distributed along the mudflats of estuary and mangroves where they construct burrows. Being amphibious and locomotive in nature, mudskippers feed very actively in the mudflats during low tide. A total of 156 fishes (juveniles, males and females) were randomly caught using cast net and hand nets and they were immediately preserved in formalin. In the present study, the food and feeding habits and feeding intensities of the mudskipper, B. boddarti from the Pichavaram mangroves were determined following points and volumetric methods. The results revealed that diatoms formed the major food item in the gut of B. boddarti and found around 55% of its diet throughout the year. Nematodes, polychaetes, algae and fish eggs were also found constituting lower percentage during the study period. Detritus and mud/sand particles were present in moderate percentages in all the seasons. Active feeding was noticed during January (post monsoon to May (summer) but it was below 50% during June (summer) to September (premonsoon), whereas during October and monsoon the feeding intensities were found very low. The poor feeding may be due to flood in the mudflats during monsoon season.

Distribution, den characteristics and diet of the Indian Fox Vulpes bengalensis (Mammalia: Canidae) in Karnataka, India: preliminary observations

The Indian Fox Vulpes bengalensis inhabits relatively dry areas with scrub thorn forests, deciduous forests, short grasslands and marginal croplands. Since it is a widely distributed species, especially in the dry tracts, very little attention has been paid to it by researchers and wildlife managers. We conducted an extensive survey in the south Indian state of Karnataka to determine the conservation status of the Indian Fox. We also carried out a more detailed observation in a small region called “Jayamangali Blackbuck Block” (JBB) and surrounding private lands to study the den site characteristics of the species. Except for a few districts in the Western Ghats and the west coastal region, the fox was present throughout Karnataka. Relatively higher encounter rates were observed in regions with extensive grasslands. We located 52 dens during the study in JBB which provide a minimum of 12dens/km2 with 1.33/km2 active dens. Circumference of den sites were smaller in JBB than in the adjoining private lands indicating that foxes frequently shifted dens in this area. The number of openings and active openings increased as the circumference of the den site increased. Fecal analysis revealed remains of certain species of plants, vertebrates and invertebrates, with arthropods as the major food items of the fox.

Development of atopic dermatitis according to age of onset and association with early-life exposures

Environmental factors can affect the development of atopic dermatitis, and this was described to be already effective during pregnancy and in early life. An important early postnatal exposure is nutrition, although its association with allergic disease remains unclear. We sought to determine prospectively whether early postnatal exposures, such as the introduction to complementary food in the first year of life, are associated with the development of atopic dermatitis, taking into account the reverse causality. One thousand forty-one children who participated in the Protection Against Allergy-Study in Rural Environments birth cohort study were included in the current study. Atopic dermatitis was defined by a doctor's diagnosis reported by the parents of children up to 4 years of age, by questionnaires, and/or by positive SCORAD scores from 1 year of age and according to the age of onset within or after the first year of life. Feeding practices were reported by parents in monthly diaries between the 3rd and 12th months of life. The diversity of introduction of complementary food in the first year of life was associated with a reduction in the risk of having atopic dermatitis with onset after the first year of life (adjusted odds ratio for atopic dermatitis with each additional major food item introduced, 0.76; 95% CI, 0.65-0.88). The introduction of yogurt in the first year of life also reduced the risk for atopic dermatitis (adjusted odds ratio, 0.41; 95% CI, 0.23-0.73). As early-life exposure, the introduction of yogurt and the diversity of food introduced in the first year of life might have a protective effect against atopic dermatitis.

Diet ofGazella subgutturosa(Güldenstaedt, 1780) and food overlap with domestic sheep in Xinjiang, China

The natural diet of goitred gazelle (Gazella subgutturosa) was studied over the period of a year in northern Xinjiang, China using microhistological analysis. The winter food habits of the goitred gazelle and domestic sheep were also compared. The microhistological analysis method demonstrated that gazelle ate 47 species of plants during the year. Chenopodiaceae and Poaceae were major foods, and ephemeral plants were used mostly during spring. Stipa glareosa was a major food item of gazelle throughout the year, Ceratoides latens was mainly used in spring and summer, whereas in autumn and winter, gazelles consumed a large amount of Haloxylon ammodendron. Because of the extremely warm and dry weather during summer and autumn, succulent plants like Allium polyrhizum, Zygophyllum rosovii, Salsola subcrassa were favored by gazelles. In winter, goitred gazelle and domestic sheep in Kalamaili reserve had strong food competition; with an overlap in diet of 0.77. The number of sheep in the reserve should be reduced to lessen the pressure of competition.

Estimated phytanic acid intake and prostate cancer risk: A prospective cohort study

Phytanic acid is a saturated fatty acid found predominantly in red meat and dairy products and may contribute to increases in prostate cancer risk that are observed with higher intakes of these foods. We constructed a novel summary measure of phytanic acid intake and prospectively examined its association with prostate cancer risk in the Alpha-Tocopherol, Beta-Carotene Cancer Prevention Study--a cohort of Finnish male smokers aged 50-69 years. Diet was assessed at baseline in 27,111 participants using a validated 276-item dietary questionnaire. Since phytanic acid is not currently included in food composition tables, we used the published phytanic acid content of 151 major food items to estimate total daily intake. During up to 21 years of follow-up, a total of 1,929 incident prostate cancer cases (including 438 advanced cases) were identified. Higher phytanic acid intake, though unrelated to the risk of localized disease [relative risks (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for increasing quartiles of intake = 1.00 (ref), 0.83 (0.68-1.01), 0.76 (0.62-0.94) and 0.91 (0.74-1.13); p trend = 0.23], was associated with increased risks of advanced prostate cancer [RR and 95% CI = 1.00 (ref), 1.43 (1.09-1.89), 1.31 (0.99-1.75) and 1.38 (1.02-1.89); p trend = 0.06]. This association appeared to be driven predominantly by phytanic acid obtained from dairy products (particularly butter). Our study indicates that phytanic acid may contribute to previously observed associations between high-fat animal foods (particularly dairy products) and prostate cancer risk, although some caution is warranted as it may be acting as a surrogate marker of dairy fat.

A preliminary study on the length-weight relationship of Sacura boulengeri (Heemstra, 1973) from Indian waters

Sacura boulengeri (Heemstra, 1973) is a rare serranid fish (Subfamily: Anthiinae) having very disjunct distribution in the western Indian Ocean. The rarity of the species is evident from earlier reports and, so far, no related studies on the species have been published except on taxonomy and distributional records. In the present investigation, the length-weight relationship of Sacura boulengeri was estimated to be W = 0.0777 × L2.690 (with 95% confidence intervals for b and r2). An analysis of the stomach contents revealed that sergestid shrimps and copepods were the major food items of the diet.

Food production and consumption pattern in Pakistan during 1979 to 2010

The paper is about change in food production and consumption pattern in Pakistan. Food availability per capita per annum in Pakistan increased from 298.1 kg in 1979 to 1980 to 414.8 kg in 2007 to 2008 at a rate slower than Population growth (from 85.09 million to 163.8 million over the same period) (Government of Pakistan, 2010). Food consumption pattern in Pakistan are exception and changing by weight nearly three quarters of the diet is made up of cereals and milk product. In addition over half of the expenditure for major food items is on cereals, and milk products (Walters and Mehmood, 1990). The food production (Cereals, Gram, Pulses, Vegetables, Potatoes, and Fruits, Animal product Poultry Product, Sugar and Veg.Ghee) was increased by 52% in 1990 to 2000 over the 1979 to 1990 and by 34.9% in 2000 to 2010 over the 1990s. The annual rate of growth in overall food production rose to 3.9, 4.2 and 2.8% in the 1980s, 1990s and last recent decade against 3.1, 2.4 and 1.9% growth of population in same time period. Food grain production was increased by 32.8 to 29.5% during last thirty years. Key words: Food production, food consumption, food consumption statistics, food grains, population growth, Cobb Douglas type production function.

Consequences of Avian Flu for Growth and Poverty: A CGE Analysis for Kenya

Abstract: Like many African countries, Kenya is vulnerable to avian flu given its position along migratory bird routes and proximity to other high risk countries. This raises concern about the effect of an outbreak on rural livelihoods. We use a dynamic computable general equilibrium model of Kenya to simulate outbreaks of different severities, durations and geographic spreads. Results indicate that even a severe outbreak does not greatly reduce economic growth. It does, however, have larger implications for poverty, since poultry is an income source for many poor farmers and a major food item in poor consumers’ baskets. Reducing an outbreak's duration and spatial transmission substantially reduces economic losses, although losses still occur when poultry demand falls, even without a confirmed outbreak. Continued monitoring of poultry production and trade is therefore needed, even if an outbreak has not yet occurred. Efforts to enhance government capacity to respond rapidly to infections and improve farmers’ and consumers’ awareness of avian flu are also needed.

Changes in Tundra SwanCygnus columbianus bewickiidistribution and abundance in the Yangtze River floodplain

Approximately 75% of the East Asian Flyway Tundra SwanCygnus columbianus bewickiipopulation winters in the Yangtze River floodplain, China. Historically the species was more widely distributed throughout the floodplain but now most of the population is confined to five wetlands in Anhui Province and to Poyang Lake in Jiangxi Province, where the majority (up to 113,000 birds) occur. Within-winter counts suggest that swans congregate at Poyang Lake before dispersing to other sites later in the winter. Counts show large between-year fluctuations, but suggest declines at Shengjin and Fengsha Lakes (both in Anhui) during the last five years. Declines at Shengjin Lake are likely due to decreases in submerged vegetation (particularly tuber-producingVallisneria,a major food item) perhaps linked to eutrophication. Range contractions throughout the floodplain may also be linked to reductions in submerged vegetation coverage elsewhere. Changes in water quality and lake hydrology post-Three Gorges Dam may have adversely affected submerged vegetation productivity. Key information needs for the effective implementation of conservation measures for Tundra Swans include: (1) annual surveys of all major wintering sites throughout each winter to establish the importance of different sites during the non-breeding period; (2) more information on swan diets at important sites; and (3) an assessment of adverse effects of water quality and lake water levels post-Three Gorges Dam on submerged vegetation productivity at Poyang Lake and other important sites.

Antarctic krill 454 pyrosequencing reveals chaperone and stress transcriptome.

BackgroundThe Antarctic krill Euphausia superba is a keystone species in the Antarctic food chain. Not only is it a significant grazer of phytoplankton, but it is also a major food item for charismatic megafauna such as whales and seals and an important Southern Ocean fisheries crop. Ecological data suggest that this species is being affected by climate change and this will have considerable consequences for the balance of the Southern Ocean ecosystem. Hence, understanding how this organism functions is a priority area and will provide fundamental data for life history studies, energy budget calculations and food web models.Methodology/Principal FindingsThe assembly of the 454 transcriptome of E. superba resulted in 22,177 contigs with an average size of 492bp (ranging between 137 and 8515bp). In depth analysis of the data revealed an extensive catalogue of the cellular chaperone systems and the major antioxidant proteins. Full length sequences were characterised for the chaperones HSP70, HSP90 and the super-oxide dismutase antioxidants, with the discovery of potentially novel duplications of these genes. The sequence data contained 41,470 microsatellites and 17,776 Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs/INDELS), providing a resource for population and also gene function studies.ConclusionsThis paper details the first 454 generated data for a pelagic Antarctic species or any pelagic crustacean globally. The classical “stress proteins”, such as HSP70, HSP90, ferritin and GST were all highly expressed. These genes were shown to be over expressed in the transcriptomes of Antarctic notothenioid fish and hypothesized as adaptations to living in the cold, with the associated problems of decreased protein folding efficiency and increased vulnerability to damage by reactive oxygen species. Hence, these data will provide a major resource for future physiological work on krill, but in particular a suite of “stress” genes for studies understanding marine ectotherms' capacities to cope with environmental change.

Bionomics of a lesser known goby, Stenogobius gymnopomus (Bleeker, 1853) (Perciformes: Gobiidae) from southern Kerala, India

The biology of a lesser known goby, Stenogobius gymnopomus was studied from the freshwater systems of southern Kerala. Dietary analysis showed that S. gymnopomus is a euryphagous feeder and an omnivore. Cladocerans, together with fish eggs and scales, constituted the major food items. The minimum size at first maturity for male S. gymnopomus is 78mm and for females 72mm. This species was found to be a batch spawner with a prolonged spawning season extending from August to December. Fecundity ranged from 46,323 to 61,291 eggs. Sex ratios revealed that local populations of S. gymnopomus are male dominated.