Dietary Variables Research Articles

Environmental stress differentially affects phenotypic modularity and fluctuating asymmetry in generalist and specialist cactophilic Drosophila.

Modularity and developmental (in)stability have the potential to influence phenotype production and, consequently, the evolutionary trajectories of species. Depending on the environmental factors involved and the buffering capacity of an organism, different developmental outcomes are expected. Cactophilic Drosophila species provide an established eco-evolutionary model with well-studied ecological conditions, making them ideal for studying these phenomena. Here, we investigated how variations in larval diet and exposure to alkaloids on primary and secondary host plants affect the degree of integration/modularity and fluctuating asymmetry (a proxy for developmental instability) of wing shape in two sibling species with different degrees of specialization: D. buzzatii (generalist) and D. koepferae (specialist). Additionally, we compared the anterior-posterior modular configuration with a recently proposed proximal-distal modular configuration. Our results revealed greater independence among proximal-distal modules compared to anterior-posterior modules. Moreover, we observed sex-specific responses, with males exhibiting greater susceptibility to stressful environments than females. Each species showed a particular trait pattern across treatments: D. buzzatii showed increased integration and fluctuating asymmetry when reared in a nutrient-poor, alkaloid-rich secondary host, while D. koepferae displayed similar responses in novel environments characterized by double doses of alkaloids on the secondary host plant. These findings align with the generalist-specialist paradigm, suggesting that specialists may be challenged by novel environments, whereas generalists may be more affected by stressful conditions. Our study highlights the importance of considering each part of the proximal-distal wing axis independently, and the need to consider ecological-evolutionary history when investigating the relationship between complex phenotypic traits and environmental stress.

Secondary bile acid derivatives are contributors to the fecal bile acid pool and associated with bile acid modulating nutrients.

Accumulation of hydrophobic bile acids is linked with cancer development. However, derivatives of deoxycholic acid (DCA) and lithocholic acid (LCA) produced via bacterial metabolism may mitigate the proinflammatory and cytotoxic effects of hydrophobic bile acids. The impact of diet on secondary bile acid (BA) derivative production has not been determined. Therefore, associations between BA modulating nutrients and the composition of secondary BAs and their derivatives were investigated. Stool and blood were collected from 138 participants aged 45-75 years that self-identified as Black or non-Hispanic White. BAs were extracted from stool and serum and quantified using LC/ESI-MS/MS. Energy, macronutrients, micronutrients, and specific dietary nutrients were estimated from two 24-hour diet recalls. The abundance of genes for microbial BA metabolism were assessed from stool metagenomes. Kendall's tau correlation and regression-based modeling was performed to determine associations between BA categories, microbial genes, and select energy adjusted dietary variables (alcohol, calcium, coffee, fiber, fat, protein). Participants had a mean age of 60 years and a mean BMI of 31 kg/m2. BA derivatives were present in all participant stools, with lagodeoxycholic acid being the most abundant derivative quantified. Analysis of stool microbial metagenomes revealed the presence of genes for secondary BA derivative production in all participants. Protein is positively associated with the accumulation of secondary BAs. Monounsaturated fatty acids were negatively associated with high abundant derivatives of deoxycholic acid in regression models. Total fiber and coffee intake were positively correlated with increased conversion of BAs to derivatives. Race and smoking status were significant predictors of associations between dietary variables and BA derivatives. Protein, monounsaturated fatty acids, total fiber and coffee were significantly associated with concentrations of secondary BAs and their derivatives. Future work should account for social and structural influences on dietary intake and its relationship with BA elicited cancer risk.

Changes in the Activities of Antioxidant Enzymes in the Fat Body and Hemolymph of Apis mellifera L. Due to Pollen Monodiets

The increasing prevalence of monocultures has reduced floral diversity, diminishing pollen diet variety for bees. This study examines the impact of monofloral pollen diets (hazel, rapeseed, pine, buckwheat, Phacelia, goldenrod) on the antioxidant enzyme activities in the fat body from tergite 3, tergite 5, sternite, and hemolymph of honey bees. We show that pollen from plants such as rapeseed, Phacelia, buckwheat, and goldenrod (rich in phenolic compounds and flavonoids) increases the activities of SOD, CAT, GST, and GPx in the fat body and hemolymph compared to the control group. Although it is commonly known that a monodiet is one of the stress factors for bees, the increase in the activities of these enzymes in the hemolymph and fat body of workers fed with pollen candy compared to those fed only sugar candy has a positive (although inconclusive) effect. These activities in the hemolymph and fat body of bees fed with pollen from anemophilous plants are usually lower compared to those in bees fed with candy containing 10% pollen from rapeseed, Phacelia, buckwheat, or goldenrod. Further research is needed to fully understand the complex interactions among monofloral pollen diets, antioxidant enzyme activities, and the overall physiology of honey bees.

A simple inland culture system provides insights into ascidian post-embryonic developmental physiology.

Maintenance and breeding of experimental organisms are fundamental to life sciences, but both initial and running costs, and hands-on zootechnical demands can be challenging for many laboratories. Here, we first aimed to further develop a simple protocol for reliable inland culture of tunicate model species of the Ciona genus. We cultured both Ciona robusta and Ciona intestinalis in controlled experimental conditions, with a focus on dietary variables, and quantified growth and maturation parameters. From statistical analysis of these standardized datasets, we gained insights into the post-embryonic developmental physiology of Ciona and inferred an improved diet and culturing conditions for sexual maturation. We showed that body length is a critical determinant of both somatic and sexual maturation, which suggests the existence of systemic control mechanisms of resource allocation towards somatic growth or maturation and supports applying size selection as a predictor of reproductive fitness in our inland culture to keep the healthiest animals at low density in the system. In the end, we successfully established a new protocol, including size selection, to promote both sperm and egg production. Our protocol using small tanks will empower researchers to initiate inland Ciona cultures with low costs and reduced space constraints.

Macro- and microscopic anatomy of the digestive tract in the red-eared slider (Emydidae: Trachemys scripta elegans).

The red-eared sliders (Emydidae: Trachemys scripta) is characterised by a high adaptability to a variety of environment and threatens the habitat of Japanese native species. The ability to digest a variety of diets may attribute to the high adaptive capacity of this species to various environments, however, the digestive morphology remains scarcely described in red-eared sliders. In this study, we investigated the macro- and microscopic anatomy of the esophagus, stomach, small intestine, and large intestine in red-eared sliders. All segments of the digestive tract had longitudinal mucosal folds, the height and width of which varied in each segment of the digestive tract. The stomach had the highest and widest mucosal folds. The mucosal folds in the proximal-to-middle small intestine exhibited a zigzag shape, whereas those in the distal small intestine were linear. The wall of the digestive tract regularly consisted of mucosa, submucosa, tunica muscularis, and tunica adventitia or serosa. In each segment of the digestive tract, the epithelial structure was different. The esophagus and small intestine were lined by the pseudostratified columnar epithelium. In both segments, the basal part of the pseudostratified epithelium included proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA)-positive proliferating cells. The stomach and large intestine were lined by the simple columnar epithelium. In the stomach and large intestine, PCNA-positive proliferating cells were present in the neck of the proper gastric gland and crypt-like structures, respectively. The proper gastric gland was composed of oxynticopeptic and mucous cells. This study revealed the detailed macro- and microscopic anatomy of the digestive tract in red-eared sliders. Overall, our findings may provide an anatomical basis for understanding the relationship between morphology and function in the digestive tract of turtles.

Beyond the herd: investigating livestock feeding strategies in the Iron Age Iberian Peninsula (3rd c. BC) through a multi-isotope analysis

During the Iron Age, north-eastern Iberian communities relied on crop cultivation and animal husbandry for their subsistence. The latter was mainly focused on caprine, with sheep being prominent due to their suitability to the Mediterranean climate, orography, and environment. Despite the pivotal role of sheep in livestock husbandry, information on Iberian communities’ feeding strategies for this species is limited. To address this lacuna, this study investigates the livestock feeding habits at four Catalan sites dating back to the 3rd century BC: Mas Castellar de Pontós, Tossal de Baltarga, Sant Esteve d’Olius, and Turó de la Rovira. Bulk carbon and nitrogen isotope analyses (δ13C and δ15N) of bone collagen and sequential carbon and oxygen analyses (δ13C and δ18O) of dental enamel were performed on 74 remains (43 bones, 31 teeth) from 51 sheep. Additionally, 153 bone remains from other domestic and wild species from the four sites were analysed. Our results revealed the complex and adaptive livestock feeding strategies of Iron Age Iberian populations. Sheep exhibited minimal diet variations, mainly consuming C3 plants across the four sites. Nevertheless, their feeding habits changed seasonally depending on pasture availability and settlement requirements. The other main domestic species were subject to individualised and variable feeding strategies within the same settlement. This diversified feeding management unveiled the complex and adaptive nature of the husbandry practices employed by Iron Age Iberian communities. Finally, the extensive number of remains analysed provides the first data on livestock feeding strategies for the Middle/Late Iron Age in the north-eastern Iberian Peninsula.

The association between dietary diversity and patterns in Chinese university students with abnormal uterine bleeding: a cross-sectional study

BackgroundAbnormal uterine bleeding (AUB) is a common gynecological issue during reproductive years. Researches on how dietary diversity and patterns influence AUB in Chinese university students are limited, with some studies not clearly defining irregular menstruation. This research investigated the incidence of AUB according to the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics criteria and sought to identify preventative factors via online questionnaires.MethodsFood intake was assessed via factor analysis. This study analyzed the relationships among the dietary diversity score (DDS), dietary patterns, and AUB via univariate and multivariate binary logistic regression models and generalized additive models.ResultsThe sample consisted of 698 students, with 434 (62.2%) having experienced AUB. Among them, 87 (20.05%) reported abnormal frequency, 250 (57.60%) reported irregular menstrual cycle, 41 (9.45%) reported prolonged duration, and 268 (61.75%) reported abnormal flow volume. A 1-unit increase in the DDS was linked to a 22% lower risk of AUB (odds ratio 0.78, 95% CI: 0.67, 0.90). A high DDS (≥ 6) was consistently associated with a lower risk of AUB across all the models. Using a two-piecewise linear regression model and recursive algorithm, a nonlinear, reverse L-shaped relationship was identified between the “low fat plant-based” dietary pattern factor score (FAC4) and AUB, with an inflection point of 1.45. Before this point, FAC4 had a protective effect on AUB (odds ratio 0.42, 95% CI: 0.21, 0.84).ConclusionsOur study underscores the importance of a varied diet as a preventive measure for AUB, utilizing a DDS to quantify the relationship between dietary diversity and AUB. According to our findings, higher dietary diversity and moderate adherence to a “low fat plant-based” dietary pattern may be significant protective factors against AUB in university students.

Beyond Hunger: A Connection Between Diet and Gonadal Development of a Ladybird Beetle.

Food availability shapes morphology, physiology, growth, reproduction, and overall fitness of insects. Countless research in coccinellids reported the effect of diet in terms of quality and quantity on reproductive output. But fewer studies have reported the direct effects of food on the gonadal development in both sexes. In nature, ladybird beetle Cheilomenes sexmaculata exhibit food preference, favouring Aphis craccivora (nutritious prey) over Aphis nerii (poor prey). We hypothesized that beetles consuming nutritious prey in abundant quantity will have larger and heavier gonads. The current study assessed the effect of food preferred and its fluctuations on the gonadal development of C. sexmaculata. First instars were collected randomly from experimental stock and reared on two different diet regimes for a lifetime. After eclosion, beetles from each dietary regime were dissected daily to assess gonadal development until maturity. Here, we documented total developmental duration, body weight, weight of gonads, GSI, total area of gonads, length, and number of testicular lobules/ovarioles across different treatments. Both quality and quantity of diet significantly affected development period, body weight, and gonadal parameters in both sexes except for GSI in males and number of ovarioles in females that reared on varied diet quality, which were found to be similar. Aphis craccivora in abundant supply positively affected the growth and development of the gonads in C. sexmaculata. Beetles reared on the abundant supply of nutritious prey with larger and heavier gonads than those reared on limited supply or poor prey. This study improves our understanding of the development of gonads in ladybird beetles, which may be helpful in improving the mass rearing of ladybird beetles.

Dietary diversity and its associated factors among adolescent girls in Ethiopia: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BackgroundEven though fragmented and inconsistent findings have been reported in Ethiopia, adolescence is a period of rapid growth following infancy and is severely affected by micronutrient deficiencies, food insecurity, and poor-quality diets. Therefore, the aim of this meta-analysis was to estimate the pooled prevalence of dietary diversity and its associated factors among adolescent girls in Ethiopia.MethodsInternational databases such as EMBASE, Hinari, Scopus, PubMed, Google Scholar, and direct Google searches were systematically used to search for articles and reports. The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale, modified as appropriate, was used for cross-sectional studies to assess the quality of the included articles and reports. A Microsoft Excel sheet was used for data extraction and then exported into STATA version 17 for further analysis. The pooled prevalence of dietary diversity was estimated using a random effects meta-analysis approach. Egger’s and Begg’s tests were employed to evaluate publication bias.ResultsThe pooled prevalence of minimum dietary diversity among adolescent girls in Ethiopia was 43% (95% CI: 30, 56) with significant heterogeneity (I2 = 99.2%, p = 0.00). Urban residence (OR: 2.46), mother being a government employee (OR: 2.31), attending a private school (OR: 6.24), adolescent having formal maternal education (OR: 4.49), adolescent having formal paternal education (OR: 3.26), father being a government employee (OR: 3.50), father being a merchant employee (OR: 2.51), middle family wealth index (OR: 1.76), household food security (OR: 3.96), receiving nutrition counseling (OR: 2.46), and higher meal frequency (OR: 7.35) were significantly associated with minimum dietary diversity.ConclusionThe pooled prevalence of dietary diversity among adolescent girls was low. Factors significantly associated with achieving minimum dietary diversity included urban residence, higher parental education and employment in government, private school attendance, household wealth, food security, receiving nutrition counseling, and higher meal frequency. These findings emphasize the need to improve dietary diversity among rural adolescent girls and food insecure households. Establishing nutrition counseling services could enhance understanding and skills related to a varied diet.

Long-term adaptation to dietary shifts of gut microbiota in gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata)

In many meta-analyses and literature reviews on fish microbiota, the provenance of the animals (farmed vs. wild) is often overlooked. Given the well-established role of diet as a key factor in shaping gut microbiota, this study investigates the impact of dietary nature by comparing the microbiota of gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata) fed a commercial diet versus a wild-type diet, all reared within a recirculating aquaculture system. Over a 60-day period, we tracked changes in gut bacterial diversity, structure, and composition following a shift from a commercial feed to a diet exclusively based on pink shrimp (Parapenaeus longirostris). Gut bacterial communities were assessed using 16S rRNA gene sequencing (Illumina MiSeq platform) with primers targeting the V3-V4 hypervariable regions. Twenty days after the dietary change, microbial diversity (Shannon index) increased in fish fed the shrimp diet compared to those fed the commercial diet, while Dominance index values decreased. Additionally, inter-individual (beta-) diversity based on Bray-Curtis distances also differed between dietary treatments. These results support further that microbiota comparisons between farmed/captive and wild fish are challenging due to the unpredictable feeding regimes and dietary variations in wild fish. However, the diet impact on microbiota diminished over time, with the differences in intra- and inter-individual diversity being reduced after 40 days, which suggests an adaptation of microbial communities to dietary changes. At this point, gut microbial communities also showed a similar taxonomical composition. Moreover, a core microbiota consisting of species belonging to the genera Ralstonia, Paraburkholderia, Fulvimonas, Pseudomonas, and Cutibacterium was maintained in all sampling times under both dietary treatments. Overall, this study serves as a conceptual approach that shows a long-term adaptation of the gut microbiota after a radical dietary change, probably driven by host-inherent factors. Furthermore, these results may be a valuable insight for feed manufacturers aiming to develop sustainable and cost-effective ingredients since they suggest that some alternative feeds and ingredients do not have adverse long-term effects on fish gut microbiota.

An ichthyosaur rostrum from the uppermost Albian of Saskatchewan (Canada) represents the youngest diagnosable Canadian ichthyosaur prior to their demise

A partial ichthyosaur rostrum from Albian-aged Ashville Formation deposits in southern Saskatchewan is described here. Previously referred to Platypterygius americanus, the well-preserved rostrum includes the snout tip and several articulated teeth. Based on the unique anteroventral curvature of the snout and proportions of the premaxilla, dentary, and teeth, the specimen is reaffirmed as P. americanus with diagnostic traits in spite of the lower Cenomanian age for the type and previously referred material for this taxon. The Saskatchewan specimen extends P. americanus to the late Albian, and the species would have inhabited the Western Interior Seaway along with other marine predators with varied diets. The teeth of the Saskatchewan specimen are generalist in morphology due to their large size and robust crows. Further research is required to shed light on ichthyosaur snout anatomy and evolution immediately prior to their extinction by the Late Cenomanian.

Evaluation of a Specialist Nurse-Led Post-Coronary Heart Disease Support Program: A Prospective Pre–Post Interventional Study

Introduction: The impact of multidisciplinary supervised cardiac rehabilitation programs on reducing the risk of having heart problems in the future is well documented. However, little is known about nurse-led post-coronary heart disease (post-CHD). Purpose: Our aim was to evaluate the effectiveness of an educational and counseling-structured nurse-led post-CHD support program by assessing the prediction of psychological, behavioral and dietary variables in relation to adherence to a care plan in a single hospital in Athens (Greece). Method: A prospective follow-up comparative approach in a single group of CHD patients was applied. The structured nurse-led program included eight topics (management of anxiety, physical activity, dietary habits, weight control, smoking cessation, alcohol moderation, family engagement and adherence to a care plan). Participants received tailored nursing interventions focused on psychological and behavioral needs and dietary habits by a CHD-specialized nurse based on patients’ medical prescriptions and/or instructions. A modified clinical assessment questionnaire by the European Society of Cardiology was applied to identify pre–post clinical baseline measurements. A nurse-led post-coronary Heart Disease Support Program was evaluated by assessing the predictivity (effect) of specific interventions on adherence to a care plan by employing a logistic regression beta coefficient (Generalized Estimating Equations model). Results: The sample consisted of 275 patients (66.2% male), with a mean age of 68.5 ± 12.5 years old. CHD patients presented significantly lower anxiety rates (54.27 [1st m] vs. 49.63 [2nd m], p < 0.05). In addition, significant differences were observed between the first and the second measurements of total cholesterol (163.27 [1rst m] vs. 134.44 [2nd m], p < 0.001), BMI (obesity) (33.69 [1rst m] vs. 32.79 [2nd m], p < 0.001), smoking (42.18 [1rst m] vs. 22.55 [2nd m], p < 0.001) and adherence to a care plan (78.90 [1rst m] vs. 89.10 [2nd m], p < 0.001). A Generalized Estimating Equations model revealed that participants with higher levels of anxiety showed significantly lower adherence to a care plan (beta −0.10, p < 0.001) and those with family history of CHD (beta −0.71, p = 0.04) in comparison to those with no CHD history. No significant differences were observed in the predictive variables of smoking (beta 0.08, p = 0.69), alcohol consumption (beta 0.09, p = 0.79) and family engagement (beta −0.11, p = 069) with respect to adherence to a care plan, even after adjusting for age, sex and history of CHD. Conclusion: Our findings indicate that the nurse-led post-CHD support program was found to be partially feasible and effective in our single-group study, emphasizing the need for effective training and retention strategies to enhance the specialization of nurses providing post-CHD care and support.

Trophic niche variation driven by water level fluctuations facilitates the co-occurrence of invasive tilapia species in a subtropical reservoir in China.

Investigating how multiple invasive fish species with similar ecological traits respond to different environmental conditions is crucial to understanding their successful invasion and coexistence. Here, we used stomach content analysis and stable isotope analysis to analyse the effects of water level fluctuation on the trophic niche plasticity of three dominant co-occurring invasive tilapia species (Coptodon zillii, Sarotherodon galilaeus, and Oreochromis niloticus) in the Shanmei Reservoir, southern China. We found that the tilapia species exhibited an iliophagous habit with dietary variations between the high-water (HW) and low-water (LW) level periods. During the LW period, tilapia fishes primarily fed on periphytic algae, whereas during the HW period, they reduced their consumption of epiphytic algae and increased their intake of plant remains. Biofilms were the most assimilated resource by the species during the LW period, whereas riparian plants dominated during the HW period. The niche width and niche overlap of the three tilapia species were significantly greater in the HW period than in the LW period. However, their trophic positions were not significantly affected by water level fluctuations. Our findings indicate that temporal variation in diet composition and trophic niche, driven by water level fluctuations, may favor food resource partitioning and facilitate the coexistence of these invasive tilapia species.

Diet-Induced Obesity Modulates Close-Packing of Triacylglycerols in Lipid Droplets of Adipose Tissue.

Adipose-derived lipid droplets (LDs) are rich in triacylglycerols (TAGs), which regulate essential cellular processes, such as energy storage. Although TAG accumulation and LD expansion in adipocytes occur during obesity, how LDs dynamically package TAGs in response to excessive nutrients remains elusive. Here, we found that LD lipidomes display a remarkable increase in TAG acyl chain saturation under calorie-dense diets, turning them conducive to close-packing. Using high-resolution X-ray diffraction, solid-state NMR, and imaging, we show that beyond size expansion LDs from mice under varied obesogenic diets govern fat accumulation by packing TAGs in different crystalline polymorphs. Consistently, LDs and tissue stiffen for high-calorie-fed mice with more than a 2-fold increase in elastic moduli compared to normal diet. Our data suggest that in addition to expanding, adipocyte LDs undergo structural remodeling by close-packing rigid and highly saturated TAGs in response to caloric overload, as opposed to liquid TAGs in a low-calorie diet. This work provides insights into how lipid packing within LDs can allow for the rapid and optimal expansion of fat during the initial stages of obesity.

An Overview on Iron Deficiency Anaemia

"Anaemia’’ is defined as a collection of disorders caused by erythropoietin tissues' incapacity to maintain normal haemoglobin concentration due to insufficient availability of one or more nutrients, which lowers the amount of haemoglobin in circulation overall. It can be brought on by a poor vegetarian diet, iron malabsorption, hookworm infections, profuse bleeding during menstruation, or childbirth.Low birth weight, decreased immunological function, poor cognitive development, behavioural issues, decreased job ability, and maternal mortality are among the negative outcomes of anaemia. The most popular and sensitive initial diagnostic test for IDA is serum ferritin. The most effective methods of treating iron deficiency anaemia include dietary variety, supplementation, fortification of staple foods, and nutrition education. Keywords: Anaemia, iron deficiency, micronutrient deficiency, nutritional anaemia

Quantity and variety of food groups consumption and the risk of hypertension in adults: a prospective cohort study.

The prospective association of dietary diversity and different food groups with the risk of hypertension in the general Chinese adults has not been evaluated. We aimed to evaluate the relationship of variety and quantity of 12 major food groups with new-onset hypertension in the Chinese adults. A total of 11,118 adults from the China Health and Nutrition Survey (CHNS) were included. The study outcome was new-onset hypertension, defined as systolic blood pressure (SBP) ≥ 140 mmHg or diastolic blood pressure (DBP) ≥ 90 mmHg or diagnosed hypertension by physician or under antihypertensive treatment during the follow-up. During a median follow-up period of 6.0 years, 3867 participants occurred new-onset hypertension. There was a L-shaped relationship of dietary variety score with new-onset hypertension (P for nonlinearity < 0.001). Compared with those in the quartile 1 of dietary variety score, participants in the quartile 2-4 were associated with a significantly lower risk of hypertension (HR, 0.64; 95% CI: 0.59, 0.69). In addition, there were U-shaped associations of dairy products, vegetables, aquatic products, nuts, red meat, whole grains, refined grains, processed meat, and poultry intake with new-onset hypertension, and L-shaped associations of fruits, legumes, and eggs intake with new-onset hypertension (all P for nonlinearity < 0.001). In conclusion, there was an inverse association of dietary variety score with new-onset hypertension in the Chinese adults. Furthermore, there was a negative association between different food group intake and new-onset hypertension when food group intake was relatively low; however, the risk of hypertension increased or plateaued when the intake exceeded a certain threshold.

DNA metabarcoding reveals dietary divergence among sympatric swallows and flycatchers

Abstract Aerial insectivore (AI) populations have been in steep decline in North America since the 1970s, with swallows, swifts, and nightjars declining more rapidly than flycatchers. As AI share a common diet of flying insects, reductions in insect abundance are likely one of the major factors driving population decline. Previous studies have shown major dietary differences between swallows and flycatchers; flycatchers have exhibited more diverse, generalist diets than swallows. However, no study has directly compared the diets of sympatric swallows and flycatchers using the same method of dietary analysis. To investigate these differences, we compared the diets of six AI species living in sympatry during the breeding season. We collected fecal samples from adult Riparia riparia (Bank Swallow), Hirundo rustica (Barn Swallow), Petrochelidon pyrrhonota (Cliff Swallow), Tachycineta bicolor (Tree Swallow), Empidonax alnorum (Alder Flycatcher), and E. minimus (Least Flycatcher). We used DNA metabarcoding to identify the taxonomic composition of invertebrates in the feces and compared the richness of genera by insect order, insect family, and dipteran family between all species. Through a Bray-Curtis distance-based redundancy analysis, we identified significant differences in dietary composition between bird species at all three levels; however, the greatest amount of dissimilarity is seen in the dipterans consumed. Empidonax alnorum, E. minimus, H. rustica, and T. bicolor had broader, more generalist diets than P. pyrrhonota and R. riparia. By comparing the diets between multiple species living in sympatry, our study improves our understanding of a possible cause of disproportionate population declines observed among AI species.

Validation and application of stable isotope analysis of dugong tusks to determine long‐term shifts in foraging patterns

AbstractUnderstanding the capacity of animals to shift diet in times of food shortage is crucial in assessing their resilience to climate change. Dugongs are specialist herbivores that live in genetically discrete populations and forage locally. This study validated the use of stable isotope analysis of collagen from the permanent, continuously growing tusks of dugongs to assess potential trophic and/or spatial shifts in foraging. Tusks were accessed from museum collections and included five locations spanning the dugong's Australian subtropical to tropical distribution. Collagen from tusk growth layers deposited during three life stages (nursing calf, subadult, and adult) and two seasons (winter, summer) were analyzed for δ15N and δ13C. In tropical Australia, mean δ15N values decreased significantly from calves to adults reflecting the ontogenetic dietary shift from milk to seagrass. In contrast, δ15N was significantly enriched in adult dugongs in subtropical Moreton Bay suggesting omnivory. δ13C values in tusks did not change with geographic location. Season did not appear to have a significant impact on δ15N or δ13C values in either tropical or subtropical locations, but dietary variation was greatest in the subtropics. Stable isotope analysis of tusks appears to be a useful method of investigating dietary/trophic shifts over a dugong's lifetime.

The development of orofacial complex in bats: Implications for orofacial clefting.

Orofacial morphology in mammals plays a critical role in essential life functions such as feeding and communication, which are influenced by the shapes of these anatomical structures. Bats are known to exhibit highly diversified orofacial morphotypes within their clade, reflecting their varied diets and echolocation behaviors. The presence of bony discontinuities between the premaxilla and maxilla or among the premaxillae is a notable feature of bat orofacial morphology, observed in certain lineages. It is suggested that these unique orofacial morphotypes, not generally found in other mammals, have evolved in relation to dietary adaptations rather than merely for echolocation mode. Until now, the developmental background of the bony discontinuities in the bat orofacial complex has been insufficiently investigated. Here, we present a comparative study of the chondrocranium and epithelial organs in the orofacial complex of three bat species: Cynopterus sphinx, Rhinolophus malayanus, and Vespertilio sinensis. Our observations indicate that the preceding morphogenesis of orofacial cartilage and epithelial structures is remarkably different among these three species. In C. sphinx and V. sinensis, the region forming from the regression of the palatine process of the premaxilla was filled with orofacial cartilage and epithelial structures. We also found that the clefted morphology observed in R. malayanus and V. sinensis was formed via contrastingly divergent developmental processes. Midline clefts among Yangochiroptera have been previously categorized to represent a uniform morphotype, but our study highlights that attributing midline clefts into a singular category should be revisited, advocating for a nuanced categorization of cleft morphology based on their morphogenetic patterns. Further research on the bat orofacial complex may enhance our understanding of bat evolutionary diversification and offer insights into the developmental mechanisms of human cleft palate.

Dietary variety and the relationship between polypharmacy and incident disability among Japanese community-dwelling older adults: A longitudinal study.

This study examined the association between polypharmacy and incident disability across the dietary variety score (DVS) strata among community-dwelling older adults. A prospective cohort study with community-dwelling adults aged ≥65 in Aichi, Japan. Polypharmacy was defined as ≥5 concomitant prescription drugs per day. Participants were classified as having non-polypharmacy or polypharmacy and a lower, moderate, or high DVS. Cox proportional hazard regression models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for incident disability among the polypharmacy groups after adjusting for potentially confounding variables. The analysis included 5254 older adults (55.7% female; average age 74.0±5.5years) with a mean follow-up time of 34.7±5.9months. Among them, 4842 remained disability-free, while 412 (7.8%) developed a disability during follow-up. The potential confounder-adjusted disability HR for participants in the polypharmacy group was 1.37 (CI: 1.07-1.75; p=0.011). In the stratified analyses, polypharmacy in the lower DVS group was significantly associated with higher HRs for incident disability (1.62 [1.11-2.37; p=0.013]), and no significant association between polypharmacy and incident disability was observed in the higher DVS group (1.12 [0.74-1.71; p=0.590]). Polypharmacy was positively associated with disability incidence, with a more pronounced effect in participants with a lower DVS. Polypharmacy patients may have different reasons for not being able to have a higher variety diet from non-polypharmacy people.