Preferred Food Research Articles

Periphyton: A natural fish food item for replacement of feed at optimized substrate surface area for cost-effective production in brackishwater polyculture

Periphyton community grown on submerged substrate in water could serve as a preferred natural food item to herbivorous and omnivorous fish and crustacean species. To determine the optimum substrate area for the growth of periphyton biomass serving as natural food and to reduce the requirement of pellet feed quantity, a 150-day pond experiment was conducted with four treatments of brackishwater polyculture: total feeding and no periphyton substrate (P0), and partial feeding with periphyton grown on nylon net substrate equivalent to 50 (P50), 75 (P75) and 100 (P100) % of pond surface area. Each treatment had three randomly assigned replicate ponds (50 m2). After 15 days of substrate fixation in the surface layer of ponds up to 50 cm water depth, stocking was made with seeds of Mugil cephalus Linnaeus, 1758, Planiliza parsia (Hamilton, 1822), Chanos chanos (Forsskål, 1775) and Penaeus monodon Fabricius, 1798 at 1800, 18000, 2000 and 30,000 number ha−1, respectively. A low-cost pellet feed (30.76% crude protein) was provided at 6–3% of fish biomass per day. Dry matter (DM) of periphyton biomass was estimated from each replicate pond under P50, P75 and P100 from 15 × 15 cm2 net substrate, and then total periphyton DM was calculated according to the substrate surface area at 15-day intervals. Then, the total periphyton biomass was divided to find out daily DM availability. The feed amount in P50, P75 and P100 ponds was reduced proportionately to the equivalent daily periphyton DM availability and the feeding at this reduced quantity was continued for 15 days. The experiment revealed significantly lower levels of nitrogenous and phosphorus compounds, and dissolved organic carbon content in water of P75 and P100, compared to that of P0 and P50 (P < 0.05) and there were interaction effects of experimental period and periphyton substrate area on these parameters. All the species had an increasing growth pattern with experimental period and there was an interaction effect of experimental period and periphyton substrate area on growth of these species, indicating periphyton had positive effects. The highest specific growth rate was recorded in P. monodon and the lowest was in M. cephalus. Pooled survival of fishes and shrimp, and total productivity did not differ among treatments (P > 0.05). Although, the highest level of feed reduction (42%) by the utilization of periphyton biomass was in P100, P75 performed better in terms of productivity and economic return with 30% feed reduction in polyculture. Similarly, there was 26–41% reduction in feed conversion ratio with the highest level being in P100 (41%), followed by P75 (40%) in comparison to P0. Moreover, carcass composition of cultured fishes and shrimp indicated that periphyton based systems with partial feeding could meet up the nutrient requirement of the animals with no negative effects in comparison to the feed-based system. Therefore, this study suggests that provision of periphyton substrate equivalent to 75% of pond surface area along with partial feeding is the most appropriate approach for achieving higher return with environmental sustainability in brackishwater polyculture.

Increasing intensity of deimatic behaviour in response to repeated simulated attacks: a case study on the mountain katydid (Acripeza reticulata)

How and when deimatic behaviours are performed can change during encounters between predators and prey. Some predators attack repeatedly, investigating and manipulating prey, and in response, an individual’s deimatic behaviour may intensify or may diminish in favour of escaping. The presence of a resource can further force a trade-off between displaying and escaping. Here, we examined the intensity of the katydid’s deimatic behaviour, a visual display, the propensity of their escape response under repeated simulated attacks, and how these responses change in the presence of foraging resources. We found that display intensity increased with repeated simulated attacks and that females displayed at a greater intensity than males. The presence of their preferred food plant had no significant effect on display intensity, but reduced escape probability in both sexes. Some katydids were predictable in their display intensity and at the population level we found that strong display intensity is moderately repeatable. Overall, our results suggest that 1) display intensity increases with repeated attacks and might indicate a cost in performing at maximum intensity upon first attack, 2) deploying a deimatic display while feeding can reduce the need to flee a rich foraging patch and 3) some individuals are consistent in their display intensities. Future experiments that aim to determine causal mechanisms such as limitations to perception of predators, sensitisation to stimuli and physiological constraints to display intensity will provide necessary insight into how deimatic displays function.Significance statementThough often regarded as success or failure, interactions between predators and prey during the attack phase of a predation event are complex, especially when predators make repeated investigative attacks in quick succession. Our study shows that in mountain katydids, intensity of deimatic behaviour increases with repeated attacks, perhaps indicating that prey sensitise or that maximal displays during initial attacks carry high costs such as conspicuousness. The intensity of the display does not change with the introduction of a valuable food resource, but the probability of fleeing decreased, suggesting that displaying may reduce the opportunity costs of leaving a patch. We also show that individuals vary in the repeatability of their display, suggesting that deimatic display may be highly adaptable, nuanced and targeted.

Food Preferences of Mediterranean Cold-Water Corals in Captivity

Cold-water coral (CWC) systems are hotspots of biodiversity that need protection from the increasing human impacts and global climate change. The restoration of degraded cold-water coral reefs may be conducted through transplantation of nubbins. To do so, we need to set up the optimal conditions for CWCs livelihood in an aquarium setting. Here we investigated the food selection of three cold-water coral species inhabiting the NE Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea to identify the optimal feeding conditions to rear corals, by means of stable isotope analysis (δ15N and δ13C) and of prey-capture rates. Colonies of Desmophyllum pertusum, Madrepora oculata and Dendrophyllia cornigera were collected in the Mediterranean Sea and nourished in mesocosms with a) nauplii of Artemia salina, b) the green algae Tetraselmis subcordiformis, c) two rotifer species (Brachionus plicatilisand B. rotundiformis) and d) mysids of the species Mysis relicta. Prey-capture rates coupled with isotope analysis revealed that M. relictawas the preferred food source even if it was provided as a frozen item, followed by the live-items A. salina and Brachionus spp. Isotopic analyses allowed to determine that Particulate Organic Matter (POM) appears to contribe to a large portion of the isotopic composition of the coral tissue and also suggested that M. oculata has the most opportunistic behaviour among the three target coral species. This study confirms that it is possible to optimize CWCs livelihood in aquaria choosing the right food sources during their maintenance, also in preparation to their transplant in degraded habitats during future projects of active restoration.

Marine rocky reef assemblages and lithological properties of substrates are connected at different ecological levels

Recent studies suggest that the lithological properties of hard substrates play an important role in influencing the diversity and structure of marine assemblages involving macroalgae, sessile organisms and vagile animals like heterobranchs gastropods and fishes. The present study aims at exploring whether the influence of different substrates (limestone vs granite) could drive the occurrence of different vagile groups (crustacean decapods, echinoderms and fishes). The study was carried out at the “Tavolara-Punta Coda Cavallo” Marine Protected Area (NE Sardinia, Mediterranean Sea) where substrates of different lithology, namely granites and limestones, occur on a local spatial scale. The diversity and the abundance of 16 vagile species (four crustaceans, seven echinoderms and five fishes) were investigated by the analysis of photographs (2352 images) collected in 20 sites (10 limestones and 10 granites), between 30 and 50 m depth. Statistical analyses showed a clear-cut separation between the assemblages assessed on the two lithological substrate types, with assemblages on granites that were tightly grouped and those on limestones more dispersed. The total species richness did not significantly vary between limestones and granites. Galathea strigosa and Marthasterias glacialis were exclusively recorded on granites, while Palinurus elephas, Scyllarides latus, Arbacia lixula, Ophidiaster ophidianus and Serranus scriba were exclusively found on limestones. The observed patterns could be partially explained by multiple factors related to lithology: i) the different availability of preferred food sources, potentially influenced by substrate type; ii) the site geomorphology, that could provide different dens and refuges (in terms of quantity and types of shelters) suitable for different species; iii) the colour of different substrates enhancing the mimicry of different species according to their livery and camouflage ability. Our and literature data suggest that the substrate type in rocky reefs could interact with other environmental factors (i.e., light intensity related to depth) in shaping the structure of rocky-reef assemblages.

Consumers' Perception About Front of Package Food Labels (FOPL) in India: A Survey of 14 States.

IntroductionFront of Package Food Labels (FoP) help consumers make healthier food choices at the point of purchase by giving details about the nutrients available in the packaged food items.Aim and ObjectiveA prospective multi-centric cross-sectional study was conducted in 2021 across India to evaluate the existing knowledge and attitude regarding food labels on packaged foods and beverages. Also, the objective understanding of the consumers' knowledge on different types of FoP label practiced across the world was determined.MethodologyA self-administered questionnaire was given to the respondents to gather their attitudes regarding the FoP label. Besides, they were given colored pictures of different FoP labels to seek their perception and preference for different FoP label designs.ResultsResults found that packaged food and beverages were consumed by 91.3% of the participants. Awareness about the food package labeling was widely held by 95% of the participants and 88.6% of them considered this information helpful. Over half (55.4%) of the respondents considered packaged foods as healthy. Warning Labels (WL) were the most preferred food labels (93%), followed by Multiple Traffic Lights (MTL) and the difference between the two was statistically significant (p-value < 0.05).ConclusionsThe awareness about FoP labels is low among the consumers.RecommendationsEvidence-based research is recommended regarding the knowledge and perception of people on the feasibility of FoP label design which may lay a foundation to formulate laws and policies regarding the front of pack labeling.

Modelling the distribution of a key habitat feature to guide future on‐ground habitat assessment for an endangered specialist songbird

AbstractSpecies distribution models (SDMs) are often used during the planning stage of reintroduction programmes to model species' occurrence with the aim of selecting potential release sites. However, for many endangered species, only a low number of records are available, leading to models with low accuracy. When planning reintroductions for rare species, an alternative approach may be to model surrogate species that are more abundant or easier to locate. Here, we modelled the distribution of white gum (Eucalyptus viminalis), the preferred food tree of the forty‐spotted pardalote (Pardalotus quadragintus), a rare songbird for which reintroduction has been proposed. Using boosted regression trees, we modelled white gum distribution under current and future climate conditions with the aim of identifying areas of high probability of occurrence that later can be used to plan on ground habitat assessments for reintroductions. Our model show areas with high probability of white gum occurrence outside its currently mapped distribution, indicating that there may be opportunities for reintroduction of pardalotes beyond their current range. Predictions of future climate scenarios showed climate space shifts, not only with some decrease but also with substantial increase in the probability of suitability for occurrence under some scenarios. Our spatial predictions for white gum may be used to design a survey to ground‐truth our model and undertake a comprehensive habitat assessment for other habitat features forty‐spotted pardalotes need to persist. The approach used in our study may be used for other highly specialized species, not only in the context of reintroduction planning but also in the general management of data‐poor specialist species that depend on a more common resource.

Alangan Mangyans’ Household Coping Strategy During Food Shortage in Occidental Mindoro, Philippines

The study was conducted to determine the household coping strategy employed by the Alangan Mangyans during food shortage in Sablayan &amp; Sta Cruz, Occidental Mindoro, Philippines. The study employed a descriptive design. The research instrument used were the Radimer/Cornell Hunger and Food Insecurity Instrument and Coping Strategy Index (CSI). The Alangans are middle-aged with an average age of 41 years old. They have medium average household sizes of five persons per household, had only reached lower secondary education. They experienced “food insecure without hunger,” which resulted to employing dietary change. The Alangan Mangyan households are considered poor due to low agricultural production and lack of diversified sources of income which resulted in the adequate food supply in the household. The low agricultural production is the “highly serious problem” related to food security because of this, they change their diet relying on less preferred plant food sources and cheaper instant foods readily available in the community.

Pathways to food insecurity in the context of conflict: the case of the occupied Palestinian territory

BackgroundConflict reduces availability of production input and income, increases the number of days households had to rely on less preferred foods, and limits the variety of foods eaten and the portion size of meals consumed. While existing studies examine the impact of conflict on different food security measures (e.g., Food Consumption Score, Food Insecurity Experience Scale), the relationship between these measures as well as their relationship with political, economic, and agricultural factors remain under explored. Food insecurity may not only be an externality of conflict but also food deprivation may be utilized as a weapon to discourage residency in contested territories or to incentivize rebellions.MethodologyThis paper examines the association between political factors (e.g., violence, policies that require permit for passage in one’s own hometown), economic factors (e.g., loss of assets, unemployment), agricultural factors (e.g., shortage of water, poor weather conditions), and food insecurity experience and dietary diversity in a conflict setting—that of the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt). The study employs generalized structural equation models to analyze the ‘Survey on socio-economic conditions for Palestinian households 2014’ dataset compiled by the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics—which contains a representative sample of the population in the oPt at governorate and locality levels.ResultsWe find that in the West Bank, residence in Area C—administered by Israel in both civil and security issues and contains illegal Israeli settlements and outposts—is associated with a higher level of agricultural hardship (p < 0.01) but lower economic hardship (p < 0.01) and a higher dietary diversity (p < 0.001), as compared to those living outside of Area C. In the Gaza Strip, living within one kilometer to a buffer zone is associated with lower dietary diversity (p < 0.01), higher level of political hardship (p < 0.01), and higher level food insecurity experience (p < 0.01) compared to not living in close proximity to a buffer zone. Concomitantly, in the Gaza Strip, food insecurity experience is associated with approximately a one-point reduction in dietary diversity as measured by the food consumption score (p < 0.01).ConclusionsThe results suggest that broader socio-political conditions in the oPt impact different aspects of food security through augmenting the economic and agricultural hardships that are experienced by the residents. As such, it is important to address these broader political and economic structures in order to have more sustainable interventions in reducing food insecurity.

Diet of eiders and body condition change from the late 1980s to the mid 2010s

Food and foraging decisions are fundamental drivers of the population dynamics of bird species. Eider Somateria mollissima was sampled in Danish marine waters during the non-breeding season in 1986–1990 and in 2010–2017 in order to analyze changes in diet and body condition between the two periods. The food items found were among those commonly consumed by eiders. Between the late 1980s and the mid 2010s there was a decrease in the number of blue mussels Mytilus edulis, cockles Cerastoderma edule and common whelks Buccinum undatum in the diet, and an increase in the number of razor clam Ensis directus. Blue mussel was the most abundant prey. When present, this prey item occurred almost exclusively in the eiders' digestive tract and was negatively correlated with the numbers of other prey items. Eiders with blue mussels, other bivalves and shore crabs in the gizzard had better body condition than eiders with other food items. Blue mussel was a preferred food item and is important for the build-up of body condition. Body condition increased between the late 1980s and the mid 2010s. We assume that this increase in body condition has occurred in parallel with a decrease in the size of the population of the Baltic/Wadden Sea flyway.

Seasonal variations in Home Range Size of Capped Langur (Trachypithecus pileatus) in a degraded habitat in Assam, India

A group of capped langurs, Trachypithecus pileatus comprising eight individuals was studied in Sri Surya Pahar, a degraded habitat in Goalpara district of Assam to record the seasonal variations in distance travelled, home range, and habitat utilization through direct observation supplemented by Geographical Information system (GIS). Scan sampling method was followed to record data on ranging behaviour. Seasonality in the home range size was evident and significant (P&lt;0.01), it was 20 ha in winter, 17 ha in pre-monsoon, 17.75 ha in monsoon and 16.25 ha in retreating monsoon. The mean daily travel distance varied significantly (P&lt;0.01), it was 375 m in retreating monsoon to 490 m in winter. The mean daily travel length was 439 m and the total annual home range size was 38.25 ha. The variation of home range size was correlated with the distribution and abundance of food resources. Home range size and daily travel distance showed significant seasonal variations. In both the cases the ranging patterns were longer during the winter season. This may be due to shortage of new leaves during winter, which is the preferred food item of capped langur. Spatial availability of the different food resources over different seasons may also be a reason for significant changes in ranging pattern during different seasons. The present data on home range size and ranging pattern of capped langur in degraded habitat could be useful for improvement of habitat and the conservation of this endangered species in Assam.

Assessment of Hydrobiological and Soil Characteristics of Non-Fertilized, Earthen Fish Ponds in Sindh (Pakistan), Supplied with Seawater from Tidal Creeks

In this study, the suitability of four earthen, seawater ponds located in the Thatta district of Sindh province (Pakistan) was evaluated for the purpose of semi-intensive mariculture, which remains to be a severely underdeveloped branch of the agricultural industry of this populous Asian country. Initial pond soil probes were promising, as they showed a high clay and silt content. Monthly water samples were obtained in the year 2019 (from January to December), which allowed for the monitoring of water parameters, as well as the identification and relative quantification of planktic populations. As a result, the monthly variations of basic water parameters were found within optimal ranges for planktic growth (water temperature, salinity, pH, transparency, and dissolved oxygen). Bacillariophyta was the largest phytoplanktic group, with the most dominant species being Sundstroemia setigera, followed by the cyanobacteria Oscillatoria limosa. Copepoda was the most numerous group of identified zooplankton, followed by tintinnids and foraminiferans. Total suspended solids (TSS) calculations indicated up to nine-fold month-to-month reductions of planktic biomass, observed in the form of diminishing Bacillariophyta (December) and Copepoda (June and December). In conclusion, the studied ponds appear to be suitable for semi-intensive mariculture activity due to the abundance of diverse planktic forms (mainly Copepoda—preferable natural food for commercially important fish species), which was achieved even without the use of fertilizers. However, significant drops of planktic biomass may still occur, which implies the need for regular water monitoring procedures, which would in turn allow fish producers to implement periodical adjustments to the administered feeding rates with artificial diets.

Impact of Mekong River biodiversity on the food culture of women and children in Prey Veng, Cambodia

AbstractSituated in the heart of the Mekong River basin, the biodiversity of Cambodian freshwaters is high, with around 475 fish species. Fisheries have shaped Cambodian culture, including traditional diets. Fish and other aquatic animals are the main and culturally preferred animal-source foods in a population vulnerable to food insecurity and malnutrition. The food culture of consuming fish with the bones and head is nutritionally valuable, providing high-quality nutrients. The objective of this study was to assess the consumption of fish and other aquatic animals among mothers and their young children, with details on species, types of processing, and parts consumed. We interviewed 100 mothers in Prey Veng Province, Cambodia, on fish and other aquatic animals consumed by themselves and their children (one child per mother) during the preceding rainy season. To support recall of fish consumption, we used 157 cards with pictures of fish and other aquatic animal species and 11 cards with processed fish. Our results showed that species diversity in mothers’ diets was higher than that of their children; on average, mothers and children consumed 69 and 14 species of fish, eight and one species of other aquatic animals, respectively, in the preceding rainy season. On average, mothers reported they knew of 113 fish species and 14 other species available in their surrounding environments. Consuming fish with the head and bones is common among mothers but not children. Our study showed that the rich biodiversity of aquatic animals in the Mekong River is reflected in the food culture of mothers, but not in children. Consequently, children in their most critical period, do not harness the nutritional benefits from the rich aquatic biodiversity. We suggest policymakers recommend feeding young children with a larger diversity of aquatic animals and promoting fish processing to allow young children to benefit from the rich aquatic diversity and their nutrient-rich parts.

The Efficacy of Hot Water Treatments Against Fusarium Fujikuroi: The Fungal Agent of Bakanae Disease

Rice is one of the most grown agricultural products in the world. It is the most preferred food item in the Turkish diet. One of the most important fungal diseases of rice is Bakanae disease. It is a seed-borne and complex disease caused by the Fusarium species. Fusarium fujikuroi is the most virulent and widespread species. The excessive use of fungicides has raised concerns such as a decrease in the fungicide sensitivity of F. fujikuroi in the world. For this reason, alternative methods are being investigated to control the disease. In this study, the therapeutic effect of hot water treatment on contaminated seeds was investigated. Trials were carried out under in vitro and in vivo conditions, to determine the effects of hot water treatment on the germination rate of rice seeds. Hot water treatments at 55 °C and 57 °C were the most effective treatments against pathogen. However, pathogen was not inhibited at 50 °C. The lowest disease severity was determined at 57 °C (2.5%) and this was followed by hot water treatments at 55 °C (22.33%) and 52 °C (77.30%) in vivo tests, respectively. No disease symptoms were observed in the negative control plants. According to evaluations, the disease incidence decreased when treatment temperature was increased, resulting in a slightly reduced germination rate.

Preference of Broiler Chicken for Cassava-Moringa Based Diet

The poultry industry is under pressure from the rising cost of imported feed ingredients. In order for the industry to be profitable and sustainable, it has to reduce the cost of production by using locally available feedstuff. A study was carried out to evaluate feed preference of broiler chicken for cassava root chip, for three diets made by mixing different proportion in percentage of cassava root chip and ground Moringa leaf (90:10, 80:20, 70:30) and compare it to the preference for commercial starter diet. These diets were offered as free choice to five 20-days old chicken, one at a time over a period of five days. The three feed preference criteria assessed were (i) the visiting frequency to each diet station, (ii) time spent feed at each diet station, and (iii) amount of different treatment diet consumed. The hypothesis is that the preferred food will be visited more often; the chicken will spend longer time feeding on it and therefore consume it more. We found that broiler chicken consumed cassava root chip the least (2 g), visited it less often (9 visits) and spent less time (3.5 minutes) feeding on it. In contrast, feed consumption (6.12 g) and time spent (17 minutes) was highest for mixed diet containing 80% cassava and 20% Moringa leaf meal. Visiting frequency was highest for commercial starter diet (29 visits) and second highest (24 visits) for mixed diet of 80% cassava: 20% Moringa and 70% cassava: 30% Moringa. It is concluded that broiler chicken preferred the diet containing 80% cassava root chip and 20% Moringa leaf meal among all diets on offer.

The Pregnancy care and baby parenting patterns in toraja ethnics

One of the causes of the high maternal mortality rate in Indonesia is the limited knowledge of the community and the existence of cultural influences. This study aims to analyze in depth the pattern of maternity care and infant care patterns in the Toraja ethnicity in the working area of ​​the Mekar Public Health Center, Kendari City. The type of research used is qualitative research with a phenomenological approach. The results showed that the pattern of maternity care and baby care in terms of elemental assessment in the Toraja tribe, namely the behavior that was more recommended, namely moving a lot, light exercise and walking; abstained behavior is not allowed to cut nails, cut hair, bathe after 4 pm, not allowed to sit at the door, not allowed to put a towel around his neck; preferred foods are katuk leaves and nuts; The foods that are abstained are bananas, pineapples, and durians, spicy foods and coconut milk. In terms of the prescriptive elements in the Toraja tribe, namely pregnancy checks, infant feeding, namely breastfeeding and complementary feeding such as red flour porridge, Ambon banana and mixed porridge after 6 months and over, and massage therapy. In terms of cognitive elements, the Toraja tribe has trust during pregnancy, but in terms of baby care, they have certain trust in baby caretakers in terms of views about the placenta, namely aluk ma'lolo. Therefore, education with a local culture approach can still be carried out as long as safe for mother and children

Effect of combined treatment including Litsea cubeba essential oil and wood smoke on Aspergillus niger development and consumer acceptability of dried catfish (Ariidae)

SummaryDried fish exports generate massive revenue. These exports are in highest demand in the world market. However, dried fish can quickly become spoiled by mould. This creates foul odours that may affect consumer acceptance. Dried fish requires natural antimicrobial agents to improve shelf life. This study aimed to control mould growth and improve the organoleptic properties of dried fish using Litsea cubeba oil vapour in combination with wood smoke. In addition, to understand consumer acceptability, the treated dried fish was used to test consumer brain responses using electroencephalography (EEG). The participants who were able to eat dried fish preferred smoked food and had no history of allergies to dried fish, and essential oils were selected for this test. The combined treatment of the L. cubeba oil vapour at ≥60 μL and smoke for 30 s completely controlled the growth of A. niger at least 6 Log10 CFU g−1 and extended the shelf life of dried fish to 7 days at 30 ± 2 °C compared with the control (3 days). The panellists preferred the dried fish treated with the combined treatment more than the untreated fish (P &lt; 0.05). The consumption (smelling, eating and swallowing) of the treated fish by the participants increased the alpha wave activity in their brains to increase the activation of the neural circuits for attention, working memory, active stage and sensory‐motor integration. These findings can be helpful for smoke‐dried fish product development and dried fish preservation.

Eating behaviors in children with Down syndrome: Results of a home-use test.

Children with Down syndrome (DS) display a disproportionate number of health challenges, including feeding and swallowing difficulties and food texture sensitivities. To start addressing food texture challenges early in life, the aim of this research was to understand mealtime behaviors and identify preferred food textures of children with DS. Children (aged 11 to 58 months) with DS (n= 111) and without (typically developing, TD; n= 107) participated in a home use test evaluating snack products of varying textures. Parents recorded their children's reactions to each food product; a panel of trained coders coded videos for mealtime behaviors. Children were also identified as food texture sensitive (TS) or non-texture sensitive (NTS). Results showed that age, TS, the presence of a DS diagnosis and the TS*DS interaction influenced the child's behaviors to the food products. Children with DS were more likely to increase distance from the food, mouth/suck on the food, and less likely to chew/much on the food compared to children TD. Children with DS also ate significantly less than typically developing children. Similar mealtime behaviors were observed between the children with TD/<30 months of age and children with DS regardless of age (p< .05). While children with DS/TS had a higher disposition for the dissolvable texture, along with products that were salty and cheesy, children with DS/NTS had a greater tolerance for more textures in general, including crunchy and grainy. Overall, this research identified mealtime behaviors in children with DS, determined overall disposition of children with DS to foods of differences sensory properties, and demonstrated the influence of TS on a child's disposition to a food. This research will be extended to develop acceptable and innovative food products for children with DS/TS.

Diet and feeding behavior of a group of high-altitude rhesus macaques: high adaptation to food shortages and seasonal fluctuations.

Diet and feeding behavior data are crucial to a deep understanding of the behavioral response and adaptation of primates to a high-altitude environment. From August 2019 to June 2021, we collected data on the feeding behavior of a high-altitude rhesus macaque Macaca mulatta group from Yajiang County, Western Sichuan Plateau, which has an altitude of over 3,500 m. The results showed that feeding (33.0 ± 1.8%) and moving (28.3 ± 2.6%) were the dominant behavior of rhesus macaques. Macaques ate 193 food items, comprising 11 food categories from 90 species. Our study found that plant roots (30.9 ± 30.1%) and young leaves (28.0 ± 33.1%) were the main foods eaten by macaques. The preferred foods of rhesus macaques were young leaves, fruits, and seeds, and the consumption of these items was positively correlated with its food availability. When the availability of preferred foods was low, macaques took plant roots, barks, and fallen leaves as fallback foods. In particular, roots were a dominant food item in winter, and this way of feeding became a key survival strategy. Our results suggest that, facing the relative scarcity and strong seasonal fluctuations of food resources in high-altitude habitat, macaques adopt active foraging strategies, relying on a variety of food species and adjusting flexibly their food choices based on food availability, which may help to maximize the energy efficiency of high-altitude macaques.

Individual characteristics, including olfactory efficiency, age, body mass index, smoking and the sex hormones status, and food preferences of women in Poland.

BackgroundFood choices made by most people mainly depend on food preferences. Knowing how certain factors affect food preferences can help dietitians working with women to understand the relationship between individual factors and the challenges faced by the women in changing eating habits. The aim of the study was to examine the food preferences of women and to assess the impact of the sense of smell, age, body mass index (BMI), smoking and hormonal status (phase of the menstrual cycle, hormonal contraception) on the declared pleasure derived from eating various types of food.MethodsA total of 190 women living in the Górnośląsko-Zagłębiowska Metropolis in Poland aged 18–75 (19.29–26.71 RNO) years participated in the study. The collected survey data included age, BMI, smoking, phase of the menstrual cycle and hormonal contraception. Olfactory sensitivity was measured by T08 olfactometer. Additionally, food preferences were assessed, using 24 different food types, which were presented as pictures. To evaluate food preferences 10 cm visual analogue scale was used.ResultsThe most liked foods were: fruits (M = 8.81, SD = 1.67), sweet desserts (M = 8.44, SD = 2.30), vegetables and salads (M = 8.08, SD = 2.24), chocolate (M = 7.84, SD = 2.76), and poultry (M = 7.30, SD = 2.47). The least liked foods were: salty products (M = 4.98, SD = 3.03), milk soup (M = 3.30, SD = 3.13), and seafood (M = 2.99, SD = 3.28). The influence of the analyzed factors on the degree of liking six food types was shown. Women with better ability to name scents preferred sausages/ham and beef/pork. Women with a higher BMI had lower preference for jellybeans and broth. Women who were heavier smokers had lower preference for milk soup. In women using hormonal contraception, pleasure from eating sausages and ham was higher than compared to women in all phases of the monthly cycle. In women in the follicular phase the pleasure from eating pasta was lower when compared to women in the ovulatory phase, the luteal phase and those using hormonal contraception. In women in the ovulatory phase the pleasure from eating candies and jellybeans was lower when compared to women in the follicular phase, the luteal phase and those using hormonal contraception. In women in the ovulatory phase, also pleasure from eating broth was lower when compared to women in the luteal phase and those using hormonal contraception.ConclusionsAmong women in Poland, the top five preferred food types are fruits, sweet desserts, vegetables/salads, chocolate and poultry. To confirm the extent to which the declared pleasure derived from eating these food types translates into health condition, further research on the consumption of these food types is necessary. The impact of the sense of smell, BMI, smoking, or menstrual cycle phase and hormonal contraception on the declared pleasure derived from eating was observed for six out of twenty-four food types. The hormonal status was the factor most significantly influencing food preferences.

Experience-based food insecurity and agricultural productivity in Nigeria

In this study, we use panel data, three waves (2010–2016), to investigate the impact of agricultural productivity on experience-based measures of food security among Nigerian households. Experience-based measures of food security capture the diversity of diets, food shortage, and other aspects of food security, including psychological and behavioral manifestations of insecure food access. In Nigeria, the agricultural sector contributed about 22.35% to the nation's gross domestic product during 2021. In addition, almost 70% of Nigerians engage in farming for subsistence purposes, with climate change and poor irrigation systems affecting their agricultural productivity. Consistent with previous work linking higher agricultural productivity with better welfare outcomes among Nigerian households, we find that an increase in agricultural productivity increases food security as measured by experience-based indicators. Specifically, a 10% growth in agricultural productivity decreases the likelihood of (i) relying on less preferred foods, (ii) limiting the variety of food eaten, and (iii) limiting portion size at mealtimes by 3.7%, 3.9%, and 1.9%, respectively.