Natural Food Items Research Articles

How does anthropogenic food influence the trophic ecology of Rocky Mountain Red Fox?

Abstract Providing novel food subsidies to wildlife can influence behavior, resource use, disease dynamics, and food web interactions. Studies examining impacts of anthropogenic food have primarily occurred in urban landscapes where anthropogenic resources are consistently accessible. National parks, however, experience similar issues regarding wildlife exploiting anthropogenic food, but access to anthropogenic food is contingent on human visitation, which can fluctuate dramatically between seasons. We evaluated how fluctuating availability of anthropogenic food and demographic factors influenced the isotopic niche of Rocky Mountain Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes macroura) at the population and individual level in Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming. From 2016 to 2021, we assessed diet-related questions by collecting 55 whisker samples and 52 hair samples from 40 unique individuals and analyzed them using stable isotope analysis (δ13C and δ15N). We discovered that Rocky Mountain red foxes have a broad isotopic niche, with seasonal differences in their consumption of anthropogenic food. Contrary to our expectations, foxes demonstrated increased reliance on anthropogenic food (higher δ13C values) during winter months, whereas natural food consumption or dietary mixing was more prominent in summer months. Natural food scarcity could be driving foxes to seek out more anthropogenic food in the winter, whereas the increased abundance of natural food items in the summer could result in a lower need for foxes to supplement their diet with anthropogenic food. Adults had consistently higher δ13C values relative to juveniles, indicating either intraspecific variation in boldness or dominance leading to increased exploitation of anthropogenic food, which could be a learned behavior coinciding with habituation. Finally, we observed that increasing densities of human features within the home range of a fox was a strong predictor of anthropogenic food reliance at the individual level. Our work provided a deeper understanding of the trophic ecology of Rocky Mountain Red Fox in relation to human activity in a nature preserve, and equipped managers with insight into potential patterns associated with food-conditioned foxes.

Spatio‐temporal differences in the diet and trophic ecology of Kelp Gulls (Larus dominicanus) in South Africa

Opportunistic species, including some gulls (Laridae), can benefit from urbanization and increased anthropogenic food resources. Knowledge of the level of exploitation of anthropogenic resources by gulls is crucial to understand how changes in food availability might affect their populations, which in turn may impact other species. The Kelp Gull Larus dominicanus is widely distributed in the southern hemisphere and consumes a wide variety of resources, from waste in landfills to seabirds. We assessed if proximity to landfills influenced the diet and trophic ecology of Kelp Gull incubating adults and chicks using a combination of conventional diet sampling (stomach contents, regurgitated pellets), and carbon and nitrogen stable isotope analysis of blood plasma in seven colonies over two consecutive years in South Africa. Kelp Gulls consumed a variety of resources, including marine (e.g. fish), coastal (e.g. molluscs), terrestrial natural (e.g. insects, mammals), or terrestrial anthropogenic (e.g. chicken, bread) items. Inter‐annual differences were most apparent among gulls breeding next to a seabird colony, whereas gulls breeding at other colonies were more consistent in diet and trophic ecology. At most colonies, chicks were fed more natural and higher trophic level food items than were consumed by incubating adults. Overall, distance to landfill did not strongly affect the diet and trophic ecology and our results suggest that the Kelp Gull's broad feeding ecology allows it to buffer changes in food availability by switching among food resources. However, such dietary changes triggered by human actions may impact other species, including threatened seabirds.

Merging the spring onion extract into soft cheese as a rich natural phenolic ingredient to improve its antioxidant, functional, and sensory properties

The dairy industry has added a wide range of useful ingredients to its dairy products in response to consumers’ shifting lifestyles and desire for healthier diets. Despite the extensive usage of preservatives and antioxidants, the dairy industry is coming to understand the demand for natural food items free of synthetic additives. The current study aim to determine the impact of spring onion (Allium fistulosum) extract on the antioxidant, functional, and sensory aspects of ultrafiltration cheese (UF-soft cheese).Spring onion extracts are incorporated into UF-soft cheese at levels of (0.1, 0.3, and 0.5%). HPLC was used to determine the total phenolic compounds and water-soluble vitamin content of spring onion extract samples, using an Agilent 1260 series HPLC. To separate phenolic chemicals, the Eclipse C18 column (4.6 mm x 250 mm ID x 5 m) was employed. Furthermore, chemicals, colors, acetaldehyde and diacetyl components, total phenol, antioxidant content, and sensory qualities were evaluated during one month of cold storage. The chlorogenic (1021.22 µg/g) and gallic acid (915.83 µg/g) levels were found to have the greatest phenolic components in spring onion ethanol extract. Moreover, the extract is very high in some vitamins, particularly vitamin C (771.15 g/g) and vitamin B6 (254.85 g/g). The chemical properties, total phenol content, antioxidant activity, and sensory scores of cheese were improved by the incorporation of spring onion extract compared to control cheese. During storage, the taste and flavor of all cheese treatments were enhanced, with T2 having the best taste and flavor, and the total sensory score is listed in descending order of acceptability for cheese: T2 > T3 > T1 > Control. Therefore, the addition of spring onion extract as a rich source of natural antioxidant agents can provide nutritional value and a unique appealing flavor profile to the cheese, making it more healthy and enjoyable for consumers.

Synthetic routes to access dicarbonylated aryls and heteroaryls.

1,2-Dicarbonyl compounds are privileged functionalities found in natural products, pharmaceuticals, bioactive molecules, and food items, and are important precursors in catalysis, asymmetric synthesis, polymer chemistry and synthesizing functionalized heterocycles. Herein, this comprehensive review focuses on various approaches for synthesizing 1,2-dicarbonylated aryls and heteroaryls in both intermolecular and intramolecular fashion, covering the dicarbonylation of indoles, imidazoheterocycles, indolizines, aminopyrazoles, pyrroloisoquinolines, coumarins, furan, anilines, phenols, anthranils, and benzil synthesis over the last decade (since 2015). Also, the present review highlights the scope and future perspectives of the approach.

Impact of thermal cooking processes on organochlorine pesticide residues (OCPs) in the edible green seaweed, Ulva lactuca, and associated human health risk assessment

Seaweeds are emerging natural food items in different countries. However, they are known to be potentially contaminated by chemical residues. This study examined the impact of domestic cooking methods such as boiling, steaming, and microwave cooking on reduction of organochlorine pesticide (OCP) level in edible green seaweed Ulva lactuca. Thermal cooking processes significantly influences the OCP residues in U. lactuca. The OCP residue concentration decreased after boiling, steaming, and microwave cooking compared to raw seaweed. The total OCP residue concentration in raw seaweed was 0.707 mg/kg, which reduced to 0.168, 0.178, and 0.241 mg/kg after boiling, microwaving, and steam cooking, respectively. Aldrin, endrin, DDT, and endosulfan were predominant OCPs in raw and processed seaweeds. Health risk due to OCP residues was evaluated using food consumption data, acceptable daily intake, and safety indices such as hazard quotient (HQ) and hazard index (HI). The HQ and HI values did not exceed the unit value (HQ, HI < 1), indicating that the level of OCP residues in U. lactuca does not pose any appreciable risk to the consumers. Therefore, the research finding establishes that different thermal cooking processes reduce the OCP residue concentration in U. lactuca.

Trends of Nanoencapsulation Strategy for Natural Compounds in the Food Industry

Nanotechnology is an emerging field in the food industry that will be important for future industrial production to address rising customer concerns and expectations for natural, nutritious, and healthful food items. People are increasingly motivated to purchase unprocessed food or even high-quality processed foods with minimum chemical additives, highlighting the need to investigate natural alternatives for commercial purposes. Natural compounds are becoming more popular among consumers since they are safer than synthetic chemical additions; however, their most functional compounds are sensitive to the adverse conditions of processing and the digestive tract, impairing their use in food matrices, and industrial-scale applications. Nowadays, nanoencapsulation of natural products can be the most suitable nanotechnology to improve stability, solubility, and bioavailability. The nanostructure can be incorporated into food during production, processing, packaging, and security. Despite the many studies on nanoencapsulation, there is still some misunderstanding about nanoencapsulation systems and preparation techniques. This review aims to categorize different nanoencapsulation techniques (chemical, physicochemical, and physicomechanical), highlight eco-friendly methods, and classify the nanoencapsulation systems as groups (polymer, lipidic and metallic). The current review summarizes recent data on the nanoencapsulation of natural compounds in the food industry that has been published since 2015 until now. Finally, this review presents the challenges and future perspectives on the nanoencapsulation of bioactive compounds in food science.

A first step to assess suspended microplastics in a freshwater wetland from the coastal region of Ecuador

Introduction: La Segua is an important wetland in Ecuador, recognized as a Ramsar site and of great ecological relevance. Currently, La Segua is threatened by human pressures and unsustainable landscape use associated with agriculture and aquaculture. This study is the first approach to the occurrence of suspended microplastics (SMPs) in an Ecuadorian lentic waterbody and the estimated potential threat of these on the filter and suspension feeders in aquatic food webs.Methods: Surface water samples were collected at 16 sampling points in the wetland to analyze the occurrence, concentration, and horizontal distribution of Suspected Suspended Microplastics (SSMPs) and zooplankton.Results and discussion: SSMPs were found in all sampling sites, and concentrations were between 313 and 490 particles/liter. Fragments were the most abundant category, followed by fibers, films, and pellets. The highest concentration of SSMPs was found in sampled sites on the east coast and in the middle of the wetland. The frequency and concentration of categories of SSMps found in surface water largely reflect the reality of local human activity around the La Segua wetland. Only rotifers and copepod nauplii were found in the zooplankton. The SSMMPs to zooplankton ratio varied between 0.3 and 441 particles/individuals.The SSMPs/zooplankton ratio indicates that fish and other filter and suspension feeders of aquatic food webs could be more likely to feed on suspended microplastics than natural food items around the wetland. SSMPs indicate that microplastics may represent.

Feeding trial evaluation of supplemental sodium and calcium use by pigeons

AbstractThe Pacific Coast band‐tailed pigeon's (Patagioenas fasciata monilis) conspicuous and well documented use of supplemental minerals has allowed wildlife managers to conduct counts of pigeons at sites with minerals to index their abundance; but despite at least 9 associated peer‐reviewed research publications since 1998, the reason that band‐tailed pigeons use mineral sites and necessity of that use remains unknown. I conducted feeding trials with pigeons during summers of 2009 and 2010 to evaluate maintenance and reproductive performance associated with access to supplemental minerals: one with 24 pairs of wild‐caught band‐tailed pigeons, and one with 30 pairs of wild‐caught rock pigeons (Columba livia). Data indicate that red elderberry (Sambucus racemosa var. arborescens) and cascara (Rhamnus purshiana) berries (natural food items) are high energy food sources for band‐tailed pigeons, and that band‐tailed pigeons can thrive on these berries without access to supplemental sodium and calcium. However, access to supplemental sodium could offer band‐tailed pigeons advantages in body weight maintenance or gain when consuming a diet low in sodium and high in potassium. Band‐tailed pigeons did not nest in this study; thus, it remains unknown if there are benefits to reproductive performance from access to supplemental minerals. Rock pigeons with access to supplemental sodium fledged ≥33% more young than those pigeons without access to supplemental sodium, and this was primarily associated with the increased number of clutches and increased fledging rate. Also, fledgling mass was greater ( ± SE = 35.5 ± 7.9 g, 95% CI = 19.3–51.8) for rock pigeons with access to supplemental sodium at fledging in 2010, but the difference was not statistically significant in 2009 (5.9 ± 22.9, 95% CI = − 43.2–55.0) possibly because of the nutritionally limited diet that year. Access to supplemental sodium could offer band‐tailed pigeons advantages in fecundity and hatchling survival rates (recruitment) through increased efficiency in food conversion. Natural mineral sites used by band‐tailed pigeons should be conserved until additional information is available for evaluation. Also, comparison of counts of band‐tailed pigeons at mineral sites over time and among sites must be interpreted cautiously until the factors (e.g., diet, weather, accessibility, supplemental mineral concentration, etc.) that influence the proportion of the local band‐tailed pigeon population that uses mineral sites can be determined.

Confidence in evaluations and value-based decisions reflects variation in experienced values.

Evaluations and value-based decisions are often accompanied by a feeling of confidence about whether or not the evaluation or decision is accurate. We argue that this feeling of confidence reflects the variation of an underlying value distribution and that this value distribution represents previously experienced values related to an object. Two preregistered experiments in which the variation of such value distributions was systematically varied provide causal evidence in favor of this hypothesis. A third preregistered experiment showed that, for natural food items with uncontrolled prior experiences, confidence in evaluations is again related to the variation of individuals' self-reported value distributions. Similarly, for choices between items, the variation of experienced values related to a choice pair influenced confidence in the perceived correctness of the choice. These findings converge with other domains of decision making showing that confidence tracks the variation of the underlying probability distribution of the evidence that a decision is based on, which in the case of value-based decisions, is informed by a value distribution reflecting priorly experienced values. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

An approach to assess the quality of honey using partial least square method

&lt;p&gt;The objective of the present study is to obtain the quantity of honey components such as moisture, glucose, fructose and sucrose in order to access the quality of honey. The tested honey samples are authenticated if the characteristics of a pure honey. The average ratio of 56% fructose to 44% glucose, but the ratios in the individual honeys ranged from a high of 64% fructose and 36% glucose to a low of 50% fructose and 50% glucose. The contents such as fructose and sucrose in honey is due to the presence of invertase enzymes. The organic acids present in the honey is responsible for the flavor and stability against the contamination of honey due to microorganisms. The natural food items are adulterated intentionally to increase the quantity and there by the quality gets affected. The main adulterants added in honey are sucrose, corn syrup, sugar syrup and jaggery syrup. The quantification deals in finding out the amount of basic constituents present in pure honey and adulterated honey using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometer with the multivariate analysis and validating the same using chemical analysis method. The partial least square model is used in predicting the constituents of the samples.&lt;/p&gt;

Healthy or not: Influencing attention to bias food choices

Previous work has shown that people are more likely to choose a food item that was cued by an arrow briefly presented before the presentation of two options. This preference for cued over uncued items could be explained by a shift of attention. In the current study, we investigated whether we could nudge people towards making more healthy decisions by manipulating attention using directional cues. First, we created a stimulus set with pictures of Natural and Ultra-Processed Food (NUPF) items, which were rated on several scales, including affective and motivational measures (n = 160; the stimuli and ratings are made freely available and make up the new NUPF stimulus database). Second, we asked a different set of participants (n = 292) to rate these food items with regards to how much they would like to eat each of the shown items. During the following choice phase, directional cues (i.e., an arrow pointing left or right), and neutral cues (arrows pointing left and right) were presented before participants were given the choice between two food items. Even though the cues were not relevant for task performance and could potentially even guide attention towards non-preferred items, participants chose the cued items more often than uncued or neutral items and were faster in doing so. The cues biased participants choices irrespective of healthiness, suggesting that external cues could potentially be employed to direct attention and to promote healthy decision-making.

Bioactive Betalain Extracts from Cactus Pear Fruit Pulp, Beetroot Tubers, and Amaranth Leaves.

Natural food items and the additional benefits they provide have received considerable attention in recent years. Betalains are nutritious pigments which have valuable biological properties, e.g., antioxidant and free radical scavenging activity. In this study, aqueous betalain extracts were obtained from different coloured cactus pears (purple, red/pink, and orange), amaranth, and beetroot, with and without the addition of ascorbic acid, microwave-heated, and freeze-dried and subsequently analysed by thin layer chromatography (TLC). Beetroot samples without the addition of ascorbic acid (AA) had lower phenols, flavonoids, and ascorbic acid content than beetroot samples extracted with the addition of AA. Amaranth had significantly higher contents of antioxidants than all the other plants. Results for phenolic compounds showed that there were no significant differences between cactus pear cultivars, however, significant differences were seen between the two beetroot samples (microwave-heated with and without AA) as well as amaranth. For flavonoid compounds, amaranth had significantly higher values than all other samples. The lowest flavonoid content was found in beetroot without AA (0.49 mgCE/g). For ascorbic acid, significant differences were noticed between amaranth (71.71 mg/100 g) and samples from cactus pear and beetroot. TLC results showed that purple and red cactus pear samples had the most vivid colours, a reflection of the high betacyanin and betaxanthin contents in the cultivars. Moreover, extracts from cactus pear, beetroot, and amaranth were classified according to a decision tree which was designed by the Code of Federal Regulations/Food Additives Regulation of the EU. The classification of betalain pigment extracts as colouring foods was achieved through enrichment factor calculations and the colourant decision tree. The results showed that the betalain pigment extraction method used is inexpensive, time-saving, energy-saving, non-toxic, and chemical solvent free and yields high concentrations of betalains.

Naturalising diet to reduce stereotypic behaviours in slow lorises rescued from wildlife trade

Providing a natural diet is a key component to improving animal welfare and potentially reducing stereotypic behaviours in captivity. Wild slow lorises (Nycticebus spp.) are threatened by illegal wildlife trade, and in Thailand, confiscations from trade have led to a large number of Bengal (Nycticebus bengalensis) and greater slow lorises (N. coucang) in rescue centers such as Bang Phra Wildlife Domestic Research Station (Bang Phra). Due to limited enclosure space and availability of natural food items, welfare may be compromised for these confiscated animals. Slow lorises in most rescue centres including Bang Phra are mainly fed with fruit and vegetables rather than their natural diet of exudates, nectar and insects. Our project aimed to increase wild-type activities and reduce stereotypic behaviours in captive slow lorises at Bang Phra by modifying the diet (especially adding exudates of gum Arabic) using environmental enrichment devices. From May to August 2019, we implemented four diet conditions on 30 individuals: baseline, gum presented in two feeding devices and insects presented in a box. Diet conditions changed individual behaviours, with more time spent feeding and foraging, less time spent resting, and less stereotypic behaviours. Fixed gum was the most successful device to encourage increased feeding (40.4 % vs ∼ 3.5 % during baseline conditions) and foraging (16.3 % vs ∼2.5 % during baseline conditions), whilst significantly decreasing stereotypic behaviours (3.2 % vs ∼16.5 % during baseline conditions). Animals with small body sizes are often placed in small cages in rescue centres despite their needs in the wild. At the same time, species with specialist diets may not thrive in rescue centres that lack the funds or infrastructure to procure food items perceived to be specialised. With wild numbers declining rapidly, rescue centres must provide adequate space and wild type diets to ensure the health and well-being of these globally threatened primates.

Foraging in landfills: Feeding behavior of the White Stork (Ciconia ciconia) and kleptoparasitism by Black Kites (Milvus migrans)

The decline of the White Stork (Ciconia ciconia) in the Iberian Peninsula was averted within the last 30 years, partially due to an increase in food availability in landfills. In this study, we compared 2 colonies located at different distances from a landfill in southern Portugal, with the aim of assessing differences in stork diets. We also compared our current results with data from the same colonies before the landfill was built. Additionally, we studied storks' exposure to kleptoparasitism by Black Kites (Milvus migrans) as a potential factor affecting their feeding behavior in landfills. We analyzed 182 pellets collected in 2005 and 2010 in non-landfill colonies and from landfills only in 2010. We carried out >47 h of focal observations of storks feeding at the landfill. Pellet contents are primarily insects (15 families from 5 orders) as well as unidentified and inorganic materials. Our analyses of variance revealed significant local, seasonal, and annual differences in Coleoptera, Orthoptera, Hymenoptera, and total number of insects. Our observations at the landfill showed that storks feed on large amounts of organic material, mostly fresh meat and fish, which means that observational data differs from pellet data. Black Kites kleptoparasitize White Storks mainly at the beginning and end of the morning limiting their food intake and increasing the amount of time storks spend at the landfill. We conclude that foraging in landfills has provoked an important shift in the White Stork's diet, partially replacing these birds' natural food items and exposing them to potential new threats such as the ingestion of inorganic material and exposure to kleptoparasitism by kites.

Nutritional value of the amphipod Bemlos quadrimanus sp. grown in shrimp biofloc ponds as influenced by different carbon sources

Natural food items like amphipods in bioflocs have been shown to provide a nutrient-rich live feed for aquaculture species. In the present study, we aimed to identify the major species of amphipods in the biofloc technology shrimp ponds at Shrimp Village, Surat-Thani, Thailand, determine its nutritional values, and enrich the amphipods in the biofloc technology system (BFS). Breeder stage amphipods were cultured in BFS with different carbon sources; molasses, rice bran, and corn flour at a carbon: nitrogen (C:N) ratio of 16:1 for 4 weeks. The number and the growth of spawned juveniles, and the nutritional compositions of the amphipods enriched bioflocs were examined. We found that the major species of amphipods in bioflocs produced in the cultured shrimp ponds was Bemlos quadrimanus sp. Proximate analysis revealed that the juvenile stage B. quadrimanus had higher levels of protein and lipid contents than those in other stages. Moreover, their essential amino acid index (EAAI) and ratios of polyunsaturated fatty acid/saturated fatty acid (PUFA/SFA) and docosahexaenoic acid/eicosapentaenoic acid (DHA/EPA) were similar to those values in fishmeal. The bioflocs produced with corn flour enhanced the growth and increased the number of juvenile amphipods greater than in bioflocs produced with the other two carbon sources, and had the highest levels of crude protein and lipid. In summary, this study demonstrates that amphipod B. quadrimanus provide an important source of protein that shows potential to replace fishmeal in shrimp feed, and reveals the benefit of a culture of amphipods with BFS in the aquaculture industry.

Seasonality, local resources and environmental factors influence patterns of brown bear damages: implications for management

AbstractCoexistence of humans and large carnivores is a major challenge for conservation and management, especially in human‐modified landscapes. Ongoing recovery of some large carnivore populations is good conservation news, but it also brings about increased levels of conflict with humans. Compensation payments and preventive measures are used worldwide as part of conservation programmes with the aim of reducing such conflicts and improving public attitude towards large carnivores. However, understanding the drivers triggering conflicts is a conservation priority, which helps prevent and reduce damages. Here, we have analysed the spatio‐temporal patterns of brown bear Ursus arctos damages to apiaries, crops and livestock in the two small, isolated and endangered bear populations in northern Spain. The increase in the number of damages varied in parallel with the increase in bear numbers, which is probably a primary cause determining the occurrence on damages. Damages also varied among years, seasons and bear populations and seemed to mainly depend on the local availability of natural food items, weather conditions and the availability of apiaries and livestock. Fluctuating availability of food items may explain the frequency of conflicts, which is yet another call to apply preventive measures in carnivore damage to human property in seasons and years when natural food availability is lower than usual. Understanding and preventing damage is in turn essential to mitigate conflicts where humans and large carnivores share the same landscape.

Effect of an Aquaculture Freshwater Body on the Behavior and Growth of European Perch

The spatial structure of the population of European perch is transformed and the behavior, diet, and size–weight characteristics of perch individuals change in aquaculture conditions. Instead of an individual diffuse behavior, fish form large aggregations in a cage zone. Active consumption of high-calorie trout feed leads to a reduction in the proportion of natural food items, in particular, zoobenthos. The size and weight of individuals significantly increase. The high density of the fish community in a small part of the water area allows older perch to more successfully hunt, thereby leading to a naturally untypical acceleration of their growth rates.

Health and nutrition related claims of non-alcoholic beverage labels in supermarkets: their compliance with Sri Lanka Food Labelling and Advertising Regulations

Introduction: The main legislation governing food labelling in Sri Lanka is the Food Act which is implemented by health authorities. Food labels provide information to help consumers make healthier and safe food choices. Objectives: To assess the compliance of health and nutrition claims of labels of non-alcoholic beverages with food labelling regulation Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out in all 18 supermarkets in the Kandy Municipal Council Area. Non-alcoholic beverages were assessed. A judgmentally validated pre-tested checklist containing provisions of the labelling regulation was used as the study instrument. Data collection was done by four trained data collectors. Results: Of the 214 beverages assessed, 5.1% (n=11) did not have the common name in two languages. Claims or pictures to the effect that the beverage is recommended by medical practitioners or a professional association was present in 8.1% (n=19). Of the 56 milk products and health drinks, 8.9% (n=5) made claims that dietary fats benefit heart patients. Claim of food being an aid for slimming or weight reduction was found in 14% (n=9) of the 64 milk products, health drinks and green tea surveyed. Of the 36 beverages which made special claims, 30 (83%) did not have declarations that the natural food items also have the same characteristic. Conclusions: Labels of considerable proportions of beverages contravene the provisions of the food labelling regulation, indicating the importance of proper implementation of the regulation.

Do whitefish (Coregonus lavaretus) larvae show adaptive variation in the avoidance of microplastic ingestion?

The presence of microplastics in aquatic ecosystems has recently received increased attention. Small plastic particles may resemble natural food items of larval fish and other aquatic organisms, and create strong selective pressures on the feeding traits in exposed populations. Here, we examined if larval ingestion of 90 μm polystyrene microspheres, in the presence of zooplankton (Artemia nauplii, mean length = 433 μm), shows adaptive variation in the European whitefish (Coregonus lavaretus). A full-factorial experimental breeding design allowed us to estimate the relative contributions of male (sire) and female (dam) parents and full-sib family variance in early feeding traits, and also genetic (co)variation between these traits. We also monitored the magnitude of intake and elimination of microplastics from the alimentary tracts of the larvae. In general, larval whitefish ingested small numbers of microplastics (mean = 1.8, range = 0–26 particles per larva), but ingestion was marginally affected by the dam, and more strongly by the full-sib family variation. Microsphere ingestion showed no statistically significant additive genetic variation, and thus, no heritability. Moreover, microsphere ingestion rate covaried positively with the ingestion of Artemia, further suggesting that larvae cannot adaptively avoid microsphere ingestion. Together with the detected strong genetic correlation between food intake and microplastic intake, the results suggest that larval fish do not readily possess additive genetic variation that would help them to adapt to the increasing pollution by microplastics. The conflict between feeding on natural food and avoiding microplastics deserves further attention.

Aktivitas Makan Monyet Ekor Panjang (Macaca fascicularis) di Bumi Perkemahan Pramuka, Cibubur, Jakarta

Long-tailed macaque (Macaca fascicularis) is one of the non human primates which is widely distributed. Long-tailed macaques live in a group consisted of multimales and multifemales. The group size was determined by predator, food resources, and foraging efficiency. Bumi Perkemahan Pramuka Cibubur is a habitat for long-tailed macaques. This place is a camp area and tourism site, which is predominated by akasia (Acacia auriculiformis). This research is aimed to study feeding activity of long-tailed macaque in Bumi Perkemahan Pramuka, Cibubur, Jakarta. Methods used in this research were habituation, census, ad libitum sampling, focal animal sampling, and scan sampling. The identification of food items was carried out by means of direct observation, interview, specimen collection, and identification of plant species. Feeding activities of long-tailed macaques constituted 9.01% of the total daily activities. Food consumed consists of natural and non natural food. Natural food items were leaf buds of awi tali (Gigantochloa apus) 34.76%, jukut pait (Axonopus compressus) 22.61%, and fig (Ficus benjamina) 7.15%, respectively. Furthermore, non natural food items were food leftovers of visitors 29.00% and peanuts 15.52%, respectively. In general, natural food (74.02%) was consumed more frequent than those of non natural food (25.98%).