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Sample records for dietas enterais antes

  1. Qualidade nutricional e microbiológica de dietas enterais artesanais padronizadas preparadas nas residências de pacientes em terapia nutricional domiciliar

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    Valdirene Francisca Neves dos Santos

    2013-04-01

    Full Text Available OBJETIVO: Avaliar as propriedades físico-químicas, microbiológicas e nutricionais de dietas enterais artesanais padronizadas preparadas nos domicílios de pacientes em terapia nutricional domiciliar. MÉTODOS: Foram desenvolvidas duas formulações de dietas enterais (F1=1,2kcal/mL e F2=1,5kcal/mL, elaboradas com maltodextrina (155/155g, concentrado proteico de soro de leite (30/15g e óleos vegetais (30/60g dissolvidos em água (q.s.p.1000mL. Os cuidadores receberam os ingredientes e as medidas padrão e foram orientados quanto ao preparo e às boas práticas de manipulação. O estudo teve duração de quatro meses, e amostras das dietas preparadas nos domicílios de 33 pacientes foram coletadas e analisadas no início e no final deste período. As amostras foram avaliadas quanto à sua adequação percentual em relação aos valores prescritos de macronutrientes e energia, bem como aos padrões microbiológicos estabelecidos pela legislação vigente. RESULTADOS: As dietas formuladas (Formulação 1/Formulação 2 apresentaram os seguintes teores de macronutrientes, energia e osmolalidade: água - 73,5/70,0%; proteína - 4,4/6,0%; lipídeo - 4,3/6,6%; carboidrato - 16,9/16,4%; energia - 120/150kcal/100mL; osmolalidade - 440/450mOsm/kg.H2O. As variações nas adequações percentuais das amostras domiciliares foram menores que 20,0% tanto na primeira quanto na última amostragem. As proporções de amostras em desacordo com os padrões legais foram significantemente menores nas amostras finais, 24,0% e 36,0% para bactérias mesófilas e coliformes, respectivamente. CONCLUSÃO: O preparo das dietas nos domicílios apresentou boa reprodutibilidade; no entanto, a qualidade microbiológica ainda permanece uma questão preocupante, exigindo uma atuação cuidadosa do profissional de saúde nos domicílios.

  2. Validation of a predictive model describing growth of Salmonella in enteral feeds Validação de um modelo preditivo para descrever o crescimento de Salmonella em dietas enterais

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    Roberta Ribeiro Silva

    2009-03-01

    Full Text Available The growth of Salmonella enterica subs. enterica sorovar Typhimurium at 25°C was monitored in industrialized and hospital formulated enteral feeds and the results were used to validate the mathematical model of Salmonella growth presented by the Pathogen Modeling Program (PMP 7.0 (USDA-USA. The generation time of Salmonella in enteral feeds ranged from 21 to 34.8 min and, the maximum growth rate (µmax varied from 1.28 to 1.95 h-1, resulting in a population increase from 5 to 6 log10 cycles within 14 to 24 h incubation. Growth was faster in the hospital formulated feed containing vegetables and eggs. The growth kinetic's parameters as lag phase; µmax and maximum population density (MPD were similar to those predicted by the PMP 7.0, with exception of lag phase in enteral diet at pH 6.3. The results of this study validated the PMP 7.0 model for describe Salmonella growth in enteral feeds and demonstrates the appropriateness of use such model to determine the pathogen behavior in a wide range of storage conditions in this food.O crescimento de Salmonella enterica subs. enterica sorovar Typhimurium a 25°C foi determinado em dietas enterais industrializadas e formuladas em hospital e os resultados obtidos foram usados para validar um modelo matemático de crescimento de Salmonella apresentado no Programa de Modelagem de Patógenos (PMP, versão 7,0 (USDA-EUA. O tempo de geração de Salmonella em dietas enterais variou de 21 a 34,8 min e a velocidade específica máxima de crescimento (µmax foi de 1,28 a 1,95 h-1, resultando em aumento de 5 a 6 ciclos logarítimos em um período de 14 a 24 h de incubação. O crescimento foi mais rápido na dieta formulada em hospital contendo vegetais e ovos. Os parâmetros cinéticos como fase lag, µmax e densidade populacional máxima (MDP foram similares aqueles previstos no PMP 7.0, com exceção da fase lag em dietas enteral com pH 6,3. Os resultados deste estudo validaram o modelo do PMP 7,0 para

  3. Qualidade microbiológica e temperatura de dietas enterais antes e após implantação do sistema de análise de perigos e pontos críticos de controle Microbiological quality and temperatures of enteral feedings before and after implementation of hazard analysis and critical control point

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    Miriam Isabel Souza dos Santos Simon

    2007-04-01

    Full Text Available OBJETIVOS: Avaliar a qualidade microbiológica e a temperatura de dietas enterais antes e após a implementação do sistema Análise de Perigos e Pontos Críticos de Controle na Central de Produção de Alimentação Enteral do Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre. MÉTODOS: Durante o período de setembro de 2001 a janeiro de 2002, foram coletadas 320 amostras de 4 tipos de dietas enterais produzidas na Central de Produção de Alimentação Enteral (dietas padrão I, II, III e dieta especial, as quais foram submetidas a análises microbiológicas e de temperatura. As amostras foram coletadas semanalmente em dois pontos do processo: logo após o preparo e após 16 horas de armazenamento refrigerado. Para comparação dos dados pré e pós análise dos perigos em pontos criticos e de controle, utilizou-se o teste "t" de Wilcoxon para amostras pareadas (teste não-paramétrico equivalente ao teste "t" de Student para amostras pareadas com nível de significância de 0,05. RESULTADOS: Antes da análise de perigos e pontos críticos de controle, 92% das temperaturas de armazenamento estavam acima dos valores de refererência vigentes. Após a implantação da análise de perigos e pontos críticos de controle, houve reduções significantes (pOBJECTIVE: This study evaluated microbiological quality and temperature of enteral formulas before and after the implementation of the Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points system at the Central of Enteral Feedings of Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre. METHODS: During the period of September 2001 and January 2002, 320 samples of four kinds of enteral feeding identified as diets I, II, III, and Special diet were collected and submitted to temperature and microbiological analysis. Samples were collected weekly in two steps of the flow chart of production: immediately after preparation and after 16 hours of storage at refrigeration. For statistical analysis, the Wilcoxon's test was used. RESULTS: Before

  4. CARACTERÍSTICAS FÍSICO QUÍMICAS DE DIETAS ENTERAIS ARTESANAIS COM HIDROLISADO PROTÉICO DE CARNE

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    M. C. B. C. VON ATZINGEN

    2008-11-01

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    A nutrição enteral consiste em uma opção terapêutica que visa a manutenção ou recuperação do estado nutricional. Formulações para nutrição enteral não-industrializadas são preparações à base de alimentos in natura ou de mesclas de produtos não-industrializados com módulos de nutrientes. Entretanto, as informações existentes sobre suas características físico-químicas são escassas. O objetivo do presente estudo foi determinar osmolalidade, viscosidade, fluidez e pH de dietas enterais artesanais com hidrolisado protéico de carne. As dietas tiveram como fonte protéica os hidrolisados de carne bovina, de frango e de peru. A osmolalidade foi determinada em osmômetro por método crioscópico, a viscosidade por fluxo através de tubo capilar em viscosímetro digital programável Brookfield modelo DV-II e o pH em potenciômetro DMPH-2. Os valores de osmolalidade e viscosidade das dietas elaboradas com os hidrolisados de carne bovina, frango e peru foram respectivamente: 411 ± 0,0 mosm/ Kg e 43,9cP; 438,5 ± 0,7 mosm/Kg e 65,3cP; 415 ± 0,0 mosm/ Kg e 57,1cP. As dietas elaboradas com os três hidrolisados apresentaram pH de 6,1, valor considerado não interferente na motilidade gástrica. As fórmulas desenvolvidas foram classificadas como levemente hipertônicas, com viscosidade, fluidez e pH dentro do preconizado, o que é indicativo de sua administração sem intercorrências significativas.

  5. Antibiotic resistance of Staphylococcus aureus isolated from enteral diets in a public hospital of Minas Gerais Resistência a antibióticos de Staphylococcus aureus isolados de dietas enterais em um hospital público de Minas Gerais

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    Nélio José de Andrade

    2007-10-01

    Full Text Available Enteral diets constitute an excellent means for microbial growth due to its composition rich in nutrients and its time of exposure to room temperature during application. Among the pathogenic bacteria there is the Staphylococcus aureus that is an opportunist microorganism found in the humans’ mucous membrane (buccal, nasal and oral. Samples of enteral diet after application as well as of the environment used for the preparation of the diets, were collected in a public hospital in Minas Gerais and analyzed for the presence of S. aureus. The contamination by S. aureus was evidenced in 83% of the enteral diet samples. As for the environment, the values found were in conformity with APHA recommendation. The isolated strains were submitted to the evaluation of the resistance to different antibiotics. Resistance was observed for tetracycline (100%, erythromycin (90,9%, chloramphenicol (59,1%, estreptomycin (22,72%, penicillin 18,8%, vancomycin (13,63%, ampicillin (13,63%, amoxilin (9,09% and gentamicin (4,54%. Due to the versatility in the resistance development to several antibiotics the S. aureus survives in hospital environments and can be diffused among patients. Dietas enterais constituem um excelente meio para crescimento microbiano, devido à sua composição rica em nutrientes e ao tempo de exposição à temperatura ambiente durante a administração. Dentre as bactérias patogênicas que podem ser encontradas nessas dietas, cita-se o Staphylococcus aureus, microrganismo oportunista encontrado na microbiota da membrana mucosa (bucal, nasal e oral em seres humanos. Amostras de dieta enteral pós-administração e do ambiente utilizado para o seu preparo foram coletadas em um hospital público e analisadas quanto à presença de S. aureus. A contaminação foi evidenciada em 83% das amostras de dietas enterais, e, quanto ao ambiente, os valores encontrados se apresentam de acordo com a recomendação da APHA. As cepas isoladas foram

  6. Calidad de la dieta "antes y durante" un tratamiento de pérdida de peso basado en dieta mediterránea, terapia conductual y educación nutricional

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    Eva María Morales-Falo; Carmen Sánchez-Moreno; Alberto Esteban; Juan José Alburquerque; Marta Garaulet

    2013-01-01

    Introducción: El método de pérdida de peso (dieta mediterránea, terapia de comportamiento y educación nutricional) ha mostrado ser efectivo en el tratamiento de la obesidad. Objetivo: El objetivo del presente trabajo es evaluar y comparar la calidad de las dietas ingeridas antes y durante el tratamiento mediante el Índice de Alimentación Saludable (IAS) y su relación con diferentes variables. Materiales y métodos: La muestra fue de 392 pacientes (330 mujeres, 62 hombres), edad 39,3 ± 11,5 año...

  7. Translocation of Klebsiella sp. in mice fed an enteral diet containing prebiotics Translocação de Klebsiella sp. em camundongos alimentados com dieta enteral contendo prebióticos

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    Daniele Ferreira da Silva

    2009-04-01

    Full Text Available OBJECTIVE: This work aimed to evaluate the effect of fructooligosaccharide and inulin added to an enteral diet on the translocation of Klebsiella sp. in mice. METHODS: Four- to six-week-old Swiss albino mice were divided into nine groups and fed enteral diets containing different combinations of fructooligosaccharide, inulin, antibiotic and corticoid, inoculated or not with Klebsiella pneumoniae. On day 5, the animals of four groups were fed an enteral diet contaminated with approximately 10(10CFU/g of K. pneumoniae. At defined times, two animals of each group were sacrificed and their organs (spleen, heart, liver, lungs, and kidneys were aseptically collected, weighed, and analyzed for the presence of typical Klebsiella sp. colonies. RESULTS: A higher number of CFU/g of Klebsiella was detected in the organs of the animals in the immune-suppressed group fed the diet contaminated with K. pneumoniae and without prebiotics. Animals fed the diet enriched with fructooligosaccharide and inulin, at a concentration of 15.3mg/g of body weight, had a shorter period of Klebsiella sp. translocation, compared with those not fed prebiotics in the diet. CONCLUSION: The addition of fructooligosacharide and inulin in enterais diets at a concentration of 15.3mg/g of body weight resulted in the reduction of translocation of Klebsiella for spleen, heart, liver, lung and kidneys of mice that had received the diet contaminated associated or not with antibiotic and imunodepressor drug.OBJETIVO: Avaliar o efeito da administração de frutooligossacarídeo e inulina, adicionados à dieta enteral, na translocação de Klebsiella sp. em camundongos. MÉTODOS: Camundongos albinos suíços, com quatro a seis semanas de vida, foram divididos em nove grupos e tratados com dietas enterais contendo diferentes combinações de frutooligossacarídeos, inulina, antibiótico e corticóide, inoculadas ou não com Klebsiella pneumoniae. No quinto dia de experimento, os animais dos

  8. Dietas enterais não industrializadas: análise microbiológica e verificação de boas práticas de preparação Non industrialized enteral diets: microbiological analysis and verification of good preparation practices

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    Angélica Aparecida Maurício

    2008-02-01

    Full Text Available OBJETIVO: Verificar a adequação das áreas de produção e o nível de contaminação microbiana de dietas enterais utilizadas em três hospitais privados da Região Noroeste do Paraná. MÉTODOS: A análise das Boas Práticas de Preparação da Nutrição Enteral seguiu a Resolução da Diretoria Colegiada nº 63/2000, da Agência Nacional de Vigilância Sanitária, e as análises microbiológicas das 15 amostras de dietas enterais seguiram as recomendações da Resolução da Diretoria Colegiada nº 12/2001, da Agência Nacional de Vigilância Sanitária, nas quais foram pesquisados bolores e leveduras, bactérias mesófilas, coliformes a 35 e 45ºC, Estafilococos coagulase positiva, Salmonella sp. e Bacillus cereus. RESULTADOS: A maior porcentagem para as Não Conformidades foi do hospital HS (61% e a menor do hospital HT (43,5%. Foi observada, em 100% das amostras dos hospitais HP e HT, contaminação por coliformes a 45ºC acima do padrão de referência da Resolução da Diretoria Colegiada nº 12/2001 e 60% das amostras do hospital HS apresentaram contaminação por coliformes a 35ºC acima do limite aceitável. As amostras encontravam-se dentro dos padrões para Estafilococos coagulase positiva, Salmonella sp., Bacillus cereus e bactérias mesófilas. Nos hospitais HT e HP a contaminação por bolores e leveduras estava acima do padrão permitido pela legislação. Os resultados das análises mostraram que a contaminação das dietas está relacionada ao tipo de ingrediente utilizado e ao excesso de manipulação. CONCLUSÃO: Conclui-se que as boas práticas de preparação da nutrição enteral não estavam de acordo com a Resolução da Diretoria Colegiada nº 63/2000 e que os hospitais estavam inadequados para preparar esse tipo de alimento.OBJECTIVE: To verify the degree of suitability of production areas and the level of microbial contamination in enteral diets used in three private hospitals in the Northwest region of Paran

  9. Reproducción y dieta de Liolaemus koslowskyi Etheridge 1993

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    Aun, Liliana

    1998-01-01

    Full Text Available Se describe el ciclo reproductivo y la dieta de una población de Liolaemus koslowskyi, de la localidad de Pomán, Departamento de Pomán, Catamarca, Argentina. Esta especie presenta un ciclo reproductivo estacional con dos posturas al año, en primavera y a principios del verano. El tamaño de la carnada es de 3-9 huevos por postura. La dieta tanto para machos como para hembras consiste en hormigas, coleópteros, hemípteros, larvas, pupas y arañas. Numéricamente las hormigas son las más abundantes y la mayor contribución en volumen es el de los coleópteros. The reproductive cycle and diet are described for a population Liolaernus koslowskyi studied at Pomán, Departamento Pomán, Catamarca, Argentina. This species has a seasonal reproductive cycle with egg production occurring in spring and early summer. Females may produce two clutches of eggs each year. Clutch size vares from 3-9 eggs and is correlated with female snout-vent length. The diet of males and females consists of ants, beetles, hemipterans, larvae, pupae, and spiders. Numerically, ants are most abundant in the diet whereas volumetrically, beetles contribute the most.

  10. Obesidade e a substituição de macronutrientes da dieta Obesity and diet macronutrients substitution

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    Eliane Lopes ROSADO

    2001-08-01

    Full Text Available Os fatores envolvidos na gênese da obesidade não são conclusivos, incluindo o papel dos macronutrientes da dieta na suscetibilidade ao ganho de peso. O carboidrato pode ser considerado um componente importante na saciedade. Sua substituição pelo adoçante, reduz o valor energético da dieta, reduzindo a massa corporal. Os efeitos dos adoçantes sobre o apetite dependem da natureza e da densidade dos nutrientes consumidos simultaneamente. Não existem evidencias suficientes que mostrem que os adoçantes causam ganho de peso, mas seu uso pode resultar em compensação energética com alimentos ricos em lipídios. Os lipídios tendem a aumentar a densidade energética da dieta promovendo o superconsumo passivo de energia, além de apresentar baixa prioridade oxidativa, estando associado à baixa saciedade. Sua substituição tem sido relacionada à compensação da ingestão energética, principalmente por carboidratos. Um plano alimentar disciplinado deve incluir alimentos que reduzam a densidade energética da dieta, sem promoção do consumo alimentar.The factors involved in obesity genesis are not conclusive, including the function of diet macronutrients concerning susceptibility of weight gain. Carbohydrate can be considered an important component in satiety. Its substitution for sweeteners decreases the diet caloric value, consequently decreasing body mass. The effects of sweeteners on appetite rely on nature and density of the nutrients that are consumed simultaneously with sweeteners. There are no sufficient evidences showing that sweeteners cause weight gain, but the use of sweeteners may result on energetic compensation with lipid-rich foods. Lipids tend to increase diet energetic density promoting high passive consumption of energy, besides its low oxidative priority, which is associated with low satiety. Lipid substitution has been related to caloric ingestion compensation, mainly for carbohydrates. A disciplined dietetic plan

  11. Perfil das interações medicamentosas solicitadas ao Centro de Informações sobre Medicamentos de hospital universitário

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    Luciana Santos

    2011-10-01

    Full Text Available Introdução: O Centro de Informações sobre Medicamentos (CIM busca, através de suas fontes de pesquisa, identificar as possíveis interações medicamentosas que possam prejudicar ou não o paciente no momento da administração. Objetivo: Descrever as interações medicamentosas solicitadas ao CIM pelos profissionais internos de hospital universitário. Método: Foi realizado estudo descritivo, no período de janeiro de 2009 a maio de 2011, das solicitações relacionadas com interações medicamento x medicamento, medicamento x alimentos e sondas enterais e incompatibilidades medicamentosas. Das solicitações, verificou-se a disponibilidade de informação na literatura e a orientação fornecida ao solicitante. Resultados: Das solicitações envolvendo interações medicamentosas, dos 55 medicamentos foram informadas 19 interações, na sua maioria moderadas (61% e de efeito tardio (50%. Das interações medicamento x alimentos (15, 26,7% apresentaram efeitos de alteração na farmacocinética dos medicamentos. Para interações envolvendo medicamentos e dietas enterais, 58,3% dos fármacos não apresentavam interação, 25% não foram testados com dietas enterais e 16,7% foram considerados contraindicados. Em relação às incompatibilidades medicamentosas, dos medicamentos solicitados, 52,8% foram compatíveis e 16,1%, incompatíveis. Conclusão: O CIM vem auxiliando na resolução de dúvidas, mas a indisponibilidade de informações na literatura nem sempre permite uma prática segura e correta no momento da administração dos medicamentos.

  12. Hiperalimentação enteral em traumatismos crânio-encefálicos agudos reposição ou dietoterapia?

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    Arthur Schelp

    1992-06-01

    Full Text Available Os autores apresentam revisão geral sobre a fisiopatogenia do trauma, ressaltando os estados de hipereatabolismo e hipermetabolismo, suas consequências nutricionais, com as particularidades do trauma encefálico. São feitas, também, considerações sobre as vias, composição e volumes das dietas enterais a serem administradas a pacientes com trauma agudo encefálico, assim como são apontadas questões a serem melhor elucidadas.

  13. Dieta elevada em carboidratos complexos minimiza necessidade de suplementação durante jogo-treino de rúgbi: foco no sistema imune

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    Cândido, Rafael Frata; Barboza, Saulo Delfino; Rogerio, Alexandre de Paula; Mota, Gustavo Ribeiro da; Mendes, Edmar Lacerda

    2017-01-01

    Resumo O estudo analisou a imunidade oral após treino de rúgbi em atletas submetidos à dieta com alto teor de carboidratos (DATC). Em estudo randomizado, duplo-cego e placebo controlado, 20 atletas consumiram DATC por três dias antes do experimento. Os atletas receberam aleatoriamente bebida carboidratada (CHO) ou placebo (PLA) e participaram de duas sessões de treino de rúgbi, separados por sete dias. Coletas de saliva foram feitas antes (Pré-E), imediatamente após (Pós-E) e 1 h após (1 h Pó...

  14. Dieta enteral prescrita versus dieta infundida Prescribed enteral diet versus infused diet

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    Silvana Aparecida Ribeiro Simões

    2017-07-01

    Full Text Available Objetivo: Avaliar o volume prescrito de dieta enteral versus o volume infundido, identificando as causas de interrupção da dieta e os gastos gerados por essas interrupções. Métodos: Estudo observacional, com pacientes adultos e idosos, recebendo nutrição enteral em um hospital particular de São Paulo. A coleta de dados foi realizada por meio de prontuário eletrônico. Resultados: O volume infundido foi significantemente menor que o volume prescrito, nos cinco dias de acompanhamento, em toda a amostra. A principal intercorrência na administração da dieta foi a diarreia. Os gastos com a não administração da dieta somam 41,4% do valor despendido para esse serviço. Conclusão: Este estudo contribui para a atuação e desempenho do nutricionista em conjunto com a Equipe Multidisciplinar em Terapia Nutricional visando a melhora do paciente.

  15. INLUÊNCIA DO TEMPO DE DESCANSO “ANTE MORTEM” E DIETA DE MELAÇO SOBRE OS NÍVEIS DE GLICOGÊNIO MUSCULAR NA CARNE DE EQÜINOS (Equus caballus INFLUENCE OF “ANTE MORTEM” RESTING TIME AND MOLASSES DIET UPON MUSCULAR GLYCOGEN LEVELS IN EQUINES MEAT (Equus caballus

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    César Augusto Garcia

    2007-09-01

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    Foram coletadas 48 amostras de músculos tríceps braquial e bíceps femural de vinte e quatro eqüinos machos, sem raça definida, adultos e com pesos aproximadamente iguais. Antes do abate, os animais foram divididos em seis lotes que tiveram descanso ante mortem de zero, seis, quatorze, dezoito e vinte e quatro horas respectivamente. O lote de animais que descansou por dezoito horas foi subdividido em dois sublotes, sendo que um deles recebeu dieta de solução aquosa a 5% de melaço. Todos os outros animais só receberam água e ficaram em jejum. Não se observou influência sobre o pH. O glicogênio foi dosado pelos métodos de Pfluger e Nelson. O lote que apresentou menores índices de glicogênio foi o que descansou por zero hora, enquanto que o lote que apresentou maiores índices de glicogênio foi o que descansou por vinte e quatro horas.

    Influence of “ante mortem” resting time and molasses diet upon muscular glycogen levels in equines meat (Equus caballus were studied. Forty-eight samples of triceps brachial and biceps femoral muscles of twenty-four adults and hybrids equines with approximately the same weights were analyzed. The animals were divided before death, in six groups with “ante mortem” resting time of zero, six, fourteen, eighteen and twenty-four hours, respectively. The animal groups with eighteen hours of rest were divided in two sub-groups and one received water solution with 5% of molasses. Alteration in pH levels were not observed. The glycogen was measured by Pfluger and Nelson’s methods. The group with smaller glycogen level was the group with zero hour of “ante mortem” rest, while the group with higher glycogen levels was the group with twenty-four hours of rest.

  16. Parâmetros clínicos, hematológicos e bioquímicos de novilhas com hipocalcemia subclínica pré-parto suplementadas com dieta aniônica

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    C. Pizoni

    Full Text Available RESUMO A hipótese do presente estudo consiste em que uma dieta aniônica prolongada acarretaria uma mobilização mais rápida do cálcio sanguíneo. O objetivo proposto foi avaliar parâmetros clínicos, hematológicos e bioquímicos de novilhas, com hipocalcemia subclínica, submetidas a diferentes períodos de fornecimento de dieta aniônica no pré-parto. Foram utilizadas nove novilhas da raça Holandês induzidas à hipocalcemia subclínica no pré-parto, divididas em três grupos: G0 = sem dieta aniônica antes da indução; G11 = 11 dias de dieta aniônica pré-indução; e G15 = 15 dias de dieta aniônica pré-indução. Foi realizado exame clínico antes e depois da indução, e avaliaram-se cálcio total e ionizado, magnésio e albumina nos dias -2, 0, 1, 2 e 3 (dia 0 = momento da indução e parâmetros hematológicos nos dias 0, 1, 2 e 3. O G11 apresentou maiores concentrações de cálcio total e ionizado que o G0 e maiores níveis de cálcio total que o G15 (P<0,01. O magnésio teve maiores valores no G15 quando comparado aos outros grupos (P<0,01. O G0 apresentou os maiores valores de monócitos e neutrófilos bastonetes (P<0,01. A dieta aniônica por 11 dias é suficiente para manter a homeostase do cálcio e a resposta leucocitária em novilhas desafiadas a uma diminuição do cálcio sanguíneo.

  17. Caractereisticas de la dieta de una muestra de adolescentes con sobrepeso y obesidad: estudio EVASYON

    OpenAIRE

    Suárez, N.; Wärnberg, Julia; Zapatera, Belén; Campoy, Cristina; Martí, Amelia; Garragori, J. M.; Marcos, Ascensión

    2014-01-01

    La prevalencia de sobrepeso y obesidad en niños y adolescentes ha aumentado en los últimos años en nuestro país, liderando la prevalencia europea de obesidad infantil. El propósito de este estudio es obtener información sobre la calidad de la dieta de una muestra de adolescentes con sobrepeso y obesidad antes de comenzar un estudio de intervención integral de nutrición, actividad física y psicología EVASYON es un estudio multicéntrico realizado en 5 hospitales españoles (Granada, Madrid, Pamp...

  18. Dieta cetogênica: como o uso de uma dieta pode interferir em mecanismos neuropatológicos

    OpenAIRE

    Pereira, Érica Silva; Alves, Marion; Sacramento, Thaiana; Rocha, Vera Lúcia

    2010-01-01

    p. 78-82 A dieta cetogênica tem sido usada de forma ampla e com sucesso para o tratamento de crianças com epilepsia de difícil controle desde a década de 1920. Mas foi somente há uma década que a dieta cetogênica deixou de ser vista como um tratamento alternativo ou de última escolha para estes pacientes e seu uso tem sido considerado em todo o mundo. O objetivo deste trabalho foi revisar o conhecimento disponível acerca da dieta cetogênica: mecanismo de ação, eficácia, tolerabili...

  19. Aspectos nutricionales de la dieta mediterránea

    OpenAIRE

    Mariné Font, Abel; Vidal, M. Carmen

    1999-01-01

    Se realiza un anàlisis de los orígenes de la dieta mediterránea, los cuales se remontan a las grandes culturas clásicas de la Edad Antigua. Además, se describe lo que hoy en dia cabe entender como dieta mediterránea y se analiza el valor nutritivo de los alimentos que integran los diversos tipos de dietas mediterrdneas. Finalmente, se realizan algunas consideraciones sobre la bondad de la dieta mediterránea, que, sin ser una panacea, es lo suficientemente equilibrada y agradable para consider...

  20. Salud y dietas hiperproteicas

    OpenAIRE

    Rodrigo Barriuso, Ana

    2016-01-01

    Introducción: La actual globalización y cultura de masas ha popularizado la aplicación de las dietas hiperproteicas (ingesta diaria superior a 0,8g/kg de peso corporal) en diversos campos. Su consumo en exceso, si no es necesario terapéuticamente, puede generar a nivel óseo, hemodinámico, endocrino y renal, efectos negativos sobre la salud. Justificación: El uso de dietas altas en proteínas, ha planteado la necesidad de programas educativos y de divulgación, donde puede ser ...

  1. Dieta

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Alfredo Darío Espinosa Brito

    2010-12-01

    Full Text Available Este artículo presenta la dieta adecuada que debe ingerirse según los componentes diarios de los nutrientes, tanto por las personas sanas como por aquellas que presentan alguna enfermedad dentro de las crónicas no transmisibles. Se exponen elementos para el consumo mínimo y máximo de grasas, carbohidratos y proteínas según los requerimientos energéticos de las personas. Se informa sobre el contenido de colesterol, fibras dietéticas y sal para algunos tipos de alimentos y se recomiendan dietas para reducir las principales causas de morbilidad y mortalidad por enfermedades crónicas no transmisibles.This article presents the appropriate diet for healthy people and for those suffering from some of the chronic non-communicable diseases, according to daily nutrients that should be included. Elements for the minimum and maximum consumption of fats, carbohydrates and proteins as to energy requirements of individuals are provided as well as content charts on cholesterol, dietary fiber and salt, according to different types of food. Special diets to reduce the leading causes of morbidity and mortality for chronic non-communicable diseases are recommended.

  2. Development of Myrmeleon brasiliensis (Navás (Neuroptera, Myrmeleontidae, in laboratory, with different natural diets Desenvolvimento de Myrmeleon brasiliensis (Navás (Neuroptera, Myrmeleontidae, em laboratório, com diferentes dietas naturais

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Giani L. B. Missirian

    2006-12-01

    Full Text Available Antlions larvae are sit-and-wait predators that capture arthropod prey in conical sand pits. The aim of this paper were to determine the effect of different natural diets [leaf-cutting ants (Atta spp., fruit fly larvae (Anastrepha spp. and Ceratitis capitata and mixed diet (Atta spp. plus fruit fly larvae] on the development of larvae and pupae of M. brasiliensis (Navás, 1914 and to estimate the number and size of prey caught in each instar and on each kind of diet. The average duration (days of the second and third instars of M. brasiliensis was longer when larvae of antlion were fed with leaf-cutting ants. The diets did not affect the duration of the pupal stage nor the pupae size. The different diets did not affect the mean width of head capsule (mm, the mean weight (mg or the mean body size (mm in the different instars of M. brasiliensis. In the second and third instars, the larvae of M. brasiliensis fed with leaf-cutting ants consumed more prey than larvae kept on other diets. Adults whose larvae were fed fruit fly larvae were larger than adults on other diets. Although Myrmeleontidae are few studied in Brazil, these results contribute to knowledge of M. brasiliensis biology, but also suggest the need of studies about the development of larvae and pupae in natural environments.Larvas de formiga-leão são conhecidas por suas armadilhas ("funis" que constroem em solo arenoso, sob as quais esperam por suas presas. Este trabalho teve como objetivos verificar o efeito de diferentes dietas naturais [formigas-cortadeiras (Atta spp., larvas de moscas-das-frutas (Anastrepha spp. e Ceratitis capitata e dieta mista (Atta spp. e larvas de moscas-das-frutas] sobre o desenvolvimento larval e pupal de M. brasiliensis (Navás, 1914 e estimar o número e tamanho de presas capturadas, por instar larval, em cada dieta. No segundo e terceiro instares, as larvas de M. brasiliensis alimentadas com formigas-cortadeiras consumiram um número maior de presas e a

  3. Las dietas cetogénicas: potenciales efectos saludables de la Dieta Cetogénica Mediterránea Española

    OpenAIRE

    Pérez-Guisado, Joaquín

    2014-01-01

    Las dietas cetogénicas han demostrado ser una manera sana y efectiva de perder peso ya que promueven un perfil lipídico no aterogénico, disminuyen la presión arterial y la resistencia a la insulina y además son capaces de mejorar los niveles sanguíneos de glucosa e insulina. Por otro lado, la dieta mediterránea es bien conocida por sus saludables propiedades, siendo ingredientes fundamentales de esta dieta el aceite de oliva, el vino tinto y los vegetales. En España, el pescado...

  4. Dieta cetogénica como tratamiento de la epilepsia refractaria

    OpenAIRE

    Barrena Barbadillo, Rocío

    2016-01-01

    Trabajo final de máster en el que se analiza la efectividad de la dieta cetogénica como tratamiento para la epilepsia refractaria a fármacos. Análisis de las diferentes dietas cetogénicas existentes, mecanismo de acción, efectividad, indicaciones, contraindicaciones efectos adversos e implementación de la dieta. Treball final de màster en el qual s'analitza l'efectivitat de la dieta cetogènica com a tractament per l'epilèpsia refractària a fàrmacs. Anàlisi de les diferents dietes cetogèniq...

  5. Evidencias científicas sobre la eficacia y seguridad de la dieta proteinada. Dieta proteinada y ejercicio físico

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    J. Saura

    2014-03-01

    Full Text Available La obesidad se ha convertido en una pandemia a nivel mundial, 2,8 millones de personas mueren cada año como resultado de padecer sobrepeso u obesidad, según ha declarado la Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS. Dentro del marco de las estrategias para combatir la obesidad, encontramos diferentes propuestas dietéticas y de actividad física. En el marco de las dietas muy bajas en calorías (VLCD, encontramos la dieta proteinada, una variedad de dieta cetogénica (KD con un aporte mínimo de grasas, de acuerdo a las indicaciones del grupo de consenso y cooperación de los estados miembros en materia de examen científico sobre cuestiones relacionadas con los alimentos (SCOOP para la aplicación de una dieta muy baja en calorías. El objetivo de esta revisión científica es recopilar las evidencias científicas que valoren la efectividad, seguridad y mantenimiento a largo plazo de los efectos de las VLCD, y en concreto de la dieta proteinada, aplicada en el marco de un método multidisciplinar como el método Pronokal®, sobre el sobrepeso y la obesidad y su relación con el ejercicio físico.

  6. Epilepsia e dieta cetogénica

    OpenAIRE

    Oliveira, Tiago Carvalheira Côrte-Real

    2003-01-01

    Resumo da tese: Aproximadamente 1 em cada 5 pessoas com epilepsia tem crises persistentes que não respondem ao tratamento farmacológico. A dieta cetogénica, introduzida por Wilder em 1921, continua a ser uma das terapias com maior eficácia no tratamento das crises epilépticas fármaco-ressistentes. É uma dieta rica em gordura e pobre em hidratos de carbono e proteína, desenhada com o objectivo de simular um jejum prolongado. Apesar de não ser conhecido o seu mecanismo de acção, acredita-se que...

  7. Dieta Cetogénica - Abordagem Nutricional

    OpenAIRE

    Vasconcelos, Carla

    2014-01-01

    A dieta cetogénica, proposta por Wilder em 1921, é um tratamento não farmacológico utilizado na epilepsia refratária à terapêutica anti-epiléptica em indivíduos com esta patologia, essencialmente crianças. Caracteriza-se por uma dieta rica em gordura e pobre em hidratos de carbono, com o fim de simular o estado de jejum prolongado. O seu mecanismo de acção não está completamente desvendado, porém são evidentes os efeitos anti-epilépticos observados. Cerca de um terço a metade dos doentes trat...

  8. Efeitos de uma dieta hiperproteica a nível renal

    OpenAIRE

    Oliveira, Hugo Manuel Pedrosa de

    2008-01-01

    Apesar de já existirem há vários anos, a popularidade das dietas hiperproteicas tem vindo a aumentar devido às proporções epidémicas da obesidade a nível mundial. Mesmo com o seu uso generalizado, existem preocupações válidas de que estas dietas possam induzir alteração clinicamente importantes a nível da função e da saúde renal. O uso destas dieta têm sido correlacionado com hiperfiltração glomerular e hiperemia, aceleração do declínio de doença renal crónica, aumento da pr...

  9. Ant- and Ant-Colony-Inspired ALife Visual Art.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Greenfield, Gary; Machado, Penousal

    2015-01-01

    Ant- and ant-colony-inspired ALife art is characterized by the artistic exploration of the emerging collective behavior of computational agents, developed using ants as a metaphor. We present a chronology that documents the emergence and history of such visual art, contextualize ant- and ant-colony-inspired art within generative art practices, and consider how it relates to other ALife art. We survey many of the algorithms that artists have used in this genre, address some of their aims, and explore the relationships between ant- and ant-colony-inspired art and research on ant and ant colony behavior.

  10. ANT

    DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

    van der Duim, René; Ren, Carina Bregnholm; Jóhannesson, Gunnar Thór

    2017-01-01

    Ten years ago actor-network theory (ANT) entered this journal. To illustrate how the relational ontology and sensibilities of ANT lend themselves to particular kinds of research, we first interrogate the main controversies as a way to open up and discuss the main premises of ANT. These debates...... concern the status and agency of objects and non-humans, ANT’s denial of the explanatory power of social structures, and the political implications of ANT. Second we present ANT’s relevance for tourism studies and discuss what ANT ‘does’ in practice. After summarizing a decade of relations between ANT...... and tourism, we conclude by tracing three future trajectories of how we have ‘moved away with’ ANT into new areas of discovery....

  11. Dieta Mediterránea, una historia de sabor, salud y sostenibilidad

    OpenAIRE

    Carbajal Azcona, Ángeles

    2015-01-01

    Existe abundante evidencia científica del papel de la Dieta Mediterránea tradicional y de sus componentes en la Salud y la Sostenibiliad. La Dieta Mediterránea es un dieta sana, nutritiva y palatable, relacionada con la prevención de las enfermedades crónicas y con una menor morbi-mortalidad y mayor esperanza y calidad de vida. Pero no sólo es un modelo de alimentación sana para el hombre sino también para el medio ambiente. Por estar basada fundamentalmente en el consumo de alimentos de orig...

  12. Dieta afro-bahiana, estrés oxidativo y ejercício físico Afro-bahian diet, stress and exercise

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Mírian Rocha Vázquez

    2006-12-01

    Full Text Available OBJETIVO: El objetivo de este trabajo fue estudiar el efecto de la dieta afro-bahiana sobre el estrés oxidativo inducido por el ejercicio físico extenuante en 17 individuos jóvenes y saludables. MÉTODOS: La dieta afro-bahiana se compone principalmente de carne roja, aceite de palma, zumo de frutas, raíces, harina de mandioca y cereales. El control alimenticio se extendió por 4 meses. Antes del control alimenticio, se retiraron muestras de sangre en estado basal y cinco minutos después de un ejercicio físico extenuante en tapiz rodante. El mismo procedimiento fue seguido después del control alimenticio. Para analizar el efecto de la dieta y del ejercicio físico extenuante se compararon los indicadores antioxidantes, catalasa y superóxido dismutasa y el estrés oxidativo por la peroxidación lipídica, determinada por el análisis del malonaldeído en eritrocitos. RESULTADOS: Los resultados muestran que la dieta, en condición de reposo, no influenció significativamente el estatus antioxidante de las enzimas catalasa y superóxido dismutasa ni la concentración de análisis del malonaldeído. Se observa, no obstante, que después de un ejercicio físico extenuante, la actividad de la catalasa, tanto con dieta libre como después de la dieta afro-bahiana, aumentó de forma significativa (pOBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to observe the protective role of a diet based on the culinary culture of Bahia State against an oxidative stress induced by strenuous exercise in 17 young and healthy individuals. METHODS: Meat, palm oil, fruit juices, roots, manioc flour and cereals are the main constituents of this diet. Dietary control had a span of four months. Before the dietetic regime started blood samples were collected from each individual both at rest and also five minutes after a bout of strenuous exercise. Samples were collected again both at rest and after the bout of strenuous exercise at the end of the dietary intervention. RESULTS

  13. Dietas terapéuticas, conceptos, controversias y errores

    OpenAIRE

    Alemany, Marià, 1946-

    1998-01-01

    Las dietas terapéuticas, utilizadas para el tratamiento de la obesidad representan siempre un compromiso de limitación del aporte energético creando los menos problemas posibles, para que el margen de utilidad sea efectivo se requiere que el aporte calórico sea muy bajo para combatir la caida del gasto energético que lleva aparejada su utilización, pero esto afecta negativamente el metabolismo nitrogenado, por lo que la utifización de estas dietas viene limitado en el tiempo. Su efectividad a...

  14. Dietas a base de forraje tradicional y nopal (Opuntia spp. enriquecido con proteínas para alimentar cabras

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Arnoldo Flores-Hernández

    2017-01-01

    Full Text Available El objetivo fue determinar la composición química de las dietas y su efecto en la ganancia de peso vivo, consumo y rechazo de alimento. El estudio se realizó mediante un diseño completamente azar con tres repeticiones y como factor principal tres dietas cuyos componentes fueron : dieta 1 40% heno de alfalfa + 60% heno de sorgo, dieta 2 40% nopal seco natural + 60 % heno de sorgo y dieta 3 40% nopal seco enriquecido co n proteínas + 60% heno de sorgo . Los resultados mostraron que la dieta de nopal enriquecido con proteínas y la dieta de nopal seco natural poseen una calidad nutritiva mayor, pero las condiciones de secado y/o almacenamiento tuvieron efecto en la calidad de l os componentes de las dietas evaluadas. La ganancia de peso vivo fue mayor en cabras alimentadas con la dieta de nopal - E , pero el porcentaje de alimento rechazado (menor palatabili dad fue mayor para esta dieta. La ganancia de peso vivo fue menor en alfalfa y nopal seco natural , respectivamente . La ganancia de peso y el tiempo de alimentación mostraron correlación positiva y significativa ; sin embargo, se debe determinar el tiempo óptimo de alimentación y evaluar el costo - beneficio de las dietas utilizadas.

  15. Intervenções em Dieta e Pressão Arterial na América Latina - Revisão Sistemática e Meta-Análise

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Caroline Cantalejo Mazzaro

    2014-04-01

    Full Text Available Fundamento: Pressão arterial elevada é o principal fator de risco para doenças cardiovasculares. Baixos índices de controle da pressão arterial em populações latino-americanas reforçam a necessidade de reunir evidências sobre terapias eficazes. Objetivo: Avaliar o efeito das intervenções de modificações de dietas sobre pressão arterial em populações latino-americanas. Métodos: Revisão sistemática. Foram pesquisadas diversas bases de dados (MEDLINE-PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, CINAHL, Web of Science, Scopus, SciELO, LILACS e BVS e realizada busca manual até abril de 2013. Foram incluídos estudos paralelos de intervenções em dieta em populações adultas da América Latina reportando pressão arterial (em mmHg antes e após a intervenção. Resultados: Dos 405 estudos encontrados, 10 ensaios clínicos randomizados foram incluídos e divididos em 3 subgrupos, de acordo com a dieta proposta como intervenção. Houve redução não significativa da pressão arterial sistólica nos subgrupos de substituição mineral -4,82 (IC 95%: -11,36 a 1,73 mmHg e padrões complexos -3,17 (IC 95%: -7,62 a 1,28 mmHg. Para a pressão arterial diastólica, com exceção do subgrupo de dietas hiperproteicas, todos os subgrupos apresentaram redução significativa, com -4,66 (IC 95%: -9,21 a -0,12 mmHg e -4,55 (IC 95%: -7,04 a -2,06 mmHg para substituição mineral e padrões complexos, respectivamente. Conclusão: A evidência disponível sobre os efeitos de alterações de dieta na pressão arterial em populações latino-americanas indica um efeito homogêneo, porém não significativo, para pressão arterial sistólica. Estudos maiores e com maior rigor metodológico são necessários para construção de evidência robusta.

  16. CÁNCER DE MAMA Y DIETA: REVISIÓN

    OpenAIRE

    Fernández Ortega, Jairo Alejandro

    2010-01-01

    El cáncer es una de las principales causas de mortalidad y el número total de casos está aumentando en todo el mundo. En las mujeres, el cáncer de mama es el segundo cáncer más frecuente, su aparición está asociada a varios factores de riesgo: como estilos de vida poco sanos (consumo de tabaco y alcohol, dieta inadecuada, falta de actividad física) y exposición a carcinógenos. El propósito de este estudio es identificar y comprender las relaciones entre la dieta y el riesgo de cáncer de mama....

  17. Alterações clínicas e laboratoriais em equinos adaptados a dieta com nível elevado de concentrado e submetidos à sobrecarga dietética com amido

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Tiago Marques dos Santos

    2011-04-01

    Full Text Available Este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar o efeito da sobrecarga dietética com amido em equinos adaptados a dieta com nível elevado de concentrado. Seis equinos adultos foram previamente adaptados à dieta composta por feno de coast cross e concentrado na proporção de 60:40 e, posteriormente submetidos à infusão gástrica de 17,6 g amido/kg de peso corporal. Os equinos foram avaliados por meio de exames clínicos e laboratoriais até 36 horas após a sobrecarga. Um equino veio a óbito 32 horas após a sobrecarga, apresentando quadro clínico de endotoxemia e laminite. Não houve diferença (P > 0,05 nas frequências cardíaca e respiratória, temperatura retal, tempo de preenchimento capilar e temperatura superficial dos cascos dos equinos durante o experimento. Houve tendência ao aumento na motilidade intestinal, seguido de aumento na fluidez das fezes. O volume globular e a concentração de proteína plasmática total aumentaram (P < 0,05 24 horas após a sobrecarga quando comparados aos valores basais, de 26,7 a 32,0% e de 7,1 e 8,1 g/dL, respectivamente. Os neutrófilos bastonetes aumentaram (P < 0,05 durante o período de avaliação, com valores variando de 0,1 a 0,7 x 10(3/µL antes da sobrecarga e 24 horas após, respectivamente, enquanto os eosinófilos apresentaram redução. A concentração plasmática de lactato teve aumento discreto com diferença (P < 0,05 antes, 20 e 28 horas após a sobrecarga, com valores de 0,7, 1,0 e 1,2 mmol/L, respectivamente. Conclui-se que equinos consumindo dieta com elevado nível de concentrado e submetidos à sobrecarga dietética com amido apresentam alterações clínicas e laboratoriais moderadas, porém, casos graves, seguidos do óbito, podem ocorrer devido à variação individual.

  18. Efeito da dieta hiperlipídico-protéica no metabolismo de ratos wistar adultos

    OpenAIRE

    Borba, Alberto José de

    2008-01-01

    O consumo de dietas com pouco carboidrato e rica em proteínas e gorduras faz parte do rol de dietas usadas para a perda de peso. A princípio, essas dietas levam à mobilização de triglicerídeos para a produção de corpos cetônicos e manutenção das funções corporais. O presente trabalho testou o efeito de uma dieta hiperlipídico-protéica (HLP) com baixo teor de carboidrato sobre o peso corporal, peso dos órgãos, consumo de ração, parâmetros bioquímicos séricos e alterações histopatológicas...

  19. Estudo randomizado para avaliação da dieta hipolipídica nos sintomas digestivos no pós-operatório imediato da colecistectomia por videolaparoscopia

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Hunaldo Lima de Menezes

    Full Text Available OBJETIVO: Validar a necessidade da prescrição da dieta hipolipídica na prevenção ou redução dos sintomas dispépticos no período pós-operatório de pacientes submetidos à colecistectomia por videolaparoscopia. MÉTODOS: Foram selecionados 40 pacientes, distribuídos em dois grupos, isentos de doenças hepáticas, pancreáticas, litíase da via biliar, gastrite, úlcera, diabetes e dislipidemia. Foi realizado anamnese alimentar, identificação de dispepsias antes do aparecimento da colelitíase e orientações sobre a conduta alimentar no pós-operatório (normal ou hipolipídica. Foi utilizado o teste chi-square e a correlação de Pearson, considerando pd"0,05 como significância estatística. RESULTADOS: Comparando-se os dois grupos de pacientes sem dispepsias no pré-operatório, observou-se que no grupo I, sete pacientes (63,6% permaneceram assintomáticos e no grupo II, quatro (66,7%. No grupo I, em quatro (36,4% houve aparecimento de sintomas e no grupo II, em dois (33,3%, logo p=0,684. Correlacionando-se os dois grupos dispépticos no pré-operatório, observou-se que houve permanência, aparecimento ou desaparecimento dos sintomas no pós-operatório, sendo p=0,114. CONCLUSÃO: Não houve repercussão significativa da dieta hipolipídica na prevenção dos sintomas dispépticos, principalmente nos pacientes assintomáticos no pré-operatório. Sendo assim, não há necessidade em se orientar uma dieta hipolipídica. De modo que, cabe ao cirurgião avaliar cada paciente individualmente e ajustar a dieta às necessidades do paciente e às condições clínicas associadas.

  20. Dieta habitual e fatores de risco para doenças cardiovasculares

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Ana Maria Cervato

    1997-06-01

    Full Text Available INTRODUÇÃO: Estudo descritivo por amostragem em munícípio do Estado de São Paulo, Brasil, em 1990, com objetivo de analisar, mediante entrevistas domiciliares, a dieta habitual e fatores de risco para doenças cardiovasculares em indivíduos maiores de 20 anos. METODOLOGIA: Foram entrevistados 557 indivíduos, de idade entre 20 e 88 anos, que fazem parte de subamostra de um estudo global na região. A dieta habitual, identificada pelo histórico alimentar foi comparada às recomendações da OMS e os fatores de risco estudados (obesidade, dislipidemias, diabetes melito diagnosticados pelo Índice de Massa Corpórea e dosagens bioquímicas. RESULTADOS E CONCLUSÕES: Observou-se que 60% da população consome dieta com energia total abaixo da estimativa das necessidades e que a contribuição calórica dos carboidratos foi de 56%, dos lipídios de 29% e das proteínas de 15%. Entretanto, na análise por percentil, a contribuição calórica dos lipídios e das proteínas encontra-se muito acima dos padrões recomendados em detrimento dos carboidratos. A energia, distribuição calórica e quantidade de colesterol foi adequada em apenas 5% das dietas. Dentre os fatores de risco para doenças cardiovasculares estudados observou-se a prevalência de obesidade em 38% dos indivíduos, de dislipidemias em 26% e de diabetes melito em 5%. A atividade física leve preponderante com dieta inadequada, tanto em termos de qualitativos quanto quantitativos, agravam ainda mais esse quadro.

  1. Qualidade da dieta de adolescentes e fatores associados

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Loiva Lide Wendpap

    2014-01-01

    Full Text Available Analisar a qualidade da dieta de adolescentes pelo Índice de Qualidade da Dieta Revisado (IQD-R e os fatores associados. Foi realizado estudo transversal com 1.326 adolescentes de escolas públicas e privadas. O consumo alimentar foi obtido utilizando-se questionário de frequência alimentar. Utilizou-se razão de prevalência para avaliar a associação entre o IQD-R elevado (≥ percentil 75 e as variáveis independentes. Variáveis com valor de p <0,20 foram incluídas na regressão de Poisson. A média do IQD-R foi de 75,1 pontos (IC95%: 74,8-75,5. Tempo ≤ 2 horas diárias gasto em atividades sedentárias como assistir televisão, usar computador ou games; tempo ≥ 300 minutos por semana de atividade física e excesso de peso dos adolescentes foram associados a maiores pontuações do IQD-R. Estilo de vida saudável foi associado à dieta de melhor qualidade. Destaca-se a importância do incentivo à prática de atividade física, redução do número de horas diárias em atividades sedentárias e intervenção na prática alimentar dos adolescentes.

  2. Atividade da amilase no intestino delgado de coelhos alimentados com dietas contendo diferentes níveis de amido antes e após desmame = Amylase activity in the small intestine of rabbits fed with diets containing starch levels before and after weaning

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Haroldo Garcia de Faria

    2006-07-01

    Full Text Available Para avaliar a atividade amilásica em coelhos após a desmama, foram utilizados 200 animais da Raça Nova Zelândia Branco, submetidos a diferentes padrões de alimentação desde a fase de lactação. Quarenta deles foram abatidos aos 35 dias de idade e 80, aos 50 e aos 70 dias de idade. Para modular o padrão de consumo de leite e ração antes da desmama, as ninhadas equalizadas em 8 láparos do nascimento até ao 16º dia de idade, a partir desta idade, até a desmama, foram submetidos à alta e baixa disponibilidade de leite, mantendo ninhadas com 4 ou 8 láparos recebendo dietas com nível normal (15% e alto (24% de amido. A partir da desmama, os animais de cada um dos 4 padrões de alimentação até a desmama passaram a receber as mesmasdietas com níveis normal e alto de amido, em um esquema fatorial 2x2x2 (ninhadas submetidas à baixa e alta disponibilidade de leite versus dois níveis de amido na dieta até a desmama versus doisníveis de amido na dieta após a desmama. Os resultados mostraram que a manutenção de ninhadas com 4 ou 8 animais entre o 16º e 35º dia de lactação não modificou (P>0,05 a atividade da amilase em qualquer das idades avaliadas após o desmame. O uso de dietas com alto teor de amido durante a lactação aumentou (POne experiment was carried out to study the amylase activity in the small intestine (jejunum and ileum of rabbits from litters maintained on different feeding patterns. Two hundred White New Zealand rabbits were analyzed, out of which 40 35- days-old rabbits, 80 50-days-old rabbits and 80 70-days-old rabbits were slaughtered. To modulate the pattern of feed and milk intake before weaning, the litters were modulated for eight young rabbits until 16 days old. From 16 days until weaning, they were submitted to low or high milkavailability, litters maintained with four or eight young rabbits receiving diets containing normal or high starch level. The animals were distributed in a factorial design 2

  3. Variaciones en la dieta de universitarios gallegos (campus de Ourense) con relación al patrón cardioprotector de la dieta mediterránea

    OpenAIRE

    Montserrat Míguez Bernárdez; Laura Castro Sobrino; Ashleigh Collins Greene; Julia de la Montaña Miguélez

    2013-01-01

    Diversos estudios epidemiológicos previos han postulado que una alta adecuación a la dieta Mediterránea está asociada con un menor riesgo cardiovascular, pero también se evidenciaron, en la literatura científica, cambios en los hábitos dietéticos de los países mediterráneos que ponen de manifiesto un alejamiento de los patrones mediterráneos. El objetivo de este trabajo fue estudiar las variaciones en la dieta de universitarios gallegos (Campus de Ourense), entre 2011 y 2013, con relación a l...

  4. Sustitución de alimento concentrado, con morera fresca (Morus alba, en la dieta de vacas lecheras

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    Carlos Boschini

    2003-01-01

    Full Text Available Se experimentaron cuatro dietas balanceadas con sustitución de alimento concentrado por la inclusión de 0, 20, 40 y 60% de materia seca de hojas de morera de 84 días. El consumo de materia seca total fue de 3,12 a 3,24% con relación al peso vivo. No se apreciaron diferencias importantes (P≥0,05 en el consumo total de MS entre vacas dentro de un mismo tratamiento. En la dieta sin morera (0%, el forraje constituyó el 42% y en la dieta con 60% de morera constituyó el 86% de la materia seca. El consumo de morera fue cercano a 2% en la dieta con 60%. La tasa de sustitución fue de 677 g/animal- /día de materia seca de concentrado por cada kilogramo de materia seca de morera agregada a la dieta, más la sustitución de 323 g/animal/día del sorgo negro forrajero y de la soja en mezcla para los dietas que contienen esta última. El reemplazo de proteína fue de 576 g/animal/día del concentrado y 424 g/animal/día del sorgo negro forrajero y soja por cada kilogramo de proteína cruda de morera adicionada. Cada megacalor ía de energía digestible de morera agregada a la dieta sustituyó 0,675 mcal/animal/día de energía del concentrado y 0,325 mcal/animal/día de la mezcla sorgo negro forrajero y soja. Se encontraron diferencias (P0,05 entre el peso inicial y final de los animales y las variaciones de producción de leche diaria fueron de pequeña magnitud dentro de dietas.

  5. Dietas larvais alternativas para criação massal da mosca da bicheira, Cochliomyia hominivorax

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    Thiago Mastrangelo

    2014-04-01

    Full Text Available A criação massal da mosca da bicheira, Cochliomyia hominivorax (Diptera: Calliphoridae, para programas que utilizam a Técnica do Inseto Estéril nas Américas faz parte de um dos maiores programas do mundo de criação de insetos em larga escala. A maior parte do custo e do trabalho necessários para a produção massal está relacionada com a dieta larval, o que torna importante o seu aprimoramento levando-se em conta sua eficiência, custo e praticidade. Neste trabalho, foram realizados dois bioensaios com dietas alternativas feitas a partir de produtos disponíveis no mercado brasileiro com o objetivo de avaliar a viabilidade e eficiência dessas dietas para criações de mosca da bicheira no Brasil. Foram testadas duas dietas líquidas (tendo como bulking agents bagaço de cana ou fibra de coco, uma de carne, e outra de gel. Os parâmetros biológicos (peso das larvas, viabilidade larval, peso de pupas, porcentagem de emergência de adultos e razão sexual estiveram, em todos os casos, dentro de parâmetros satisfatórios para a criação laboratorial de C. hominivorax e as dietas não diferiram estatisticamente entre si. Devido a vantagens importantes, como alta viabilidade larval e menor custo, recomenda-se a dieta de gel para as criações de larvas da mosca da bicheira no Brasil.

  6. Teores proteicos em dietas para vacas Holandesas leiteiras em confinamento

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    V.R. Paiva

    2013-08-01

    Full Text Available Avaliou-se o efeito de dietas com níveis de proteína bruta ‒ PB (10, 12, 14 e 16% na matéria seca ‒ MS em vacas Holandesas mestiças com produção de leite médio (PL de 13kg/dia. Utilizou-se silagem de milho como volumoso, e a relação volumoso:concentrado foi de 75:25. Houve aumento linear para o consumo de todos os componentes da dieta, exceto para o consumo de carboidratos totais e carboidratos não fibrosos (CNF, que reduziram linearmente. O consumo dos nutrientes digestíveis totais (NDT apresentou comportamento quadrático, com valor máximo estimado de 10,13kg/dia, na dose de 15,62% de PB na dieta. As digestibilidades de PB, EE, FDN e FDNcp aumentaram linearmente. Já os valores de digestibilidade de MS, MO, CNF e NDT apresentaram efeito quadrático, estimando-se ponto de máximo de 65,09; 67,23; 78,35 e 67,92 nas doses de 15,39; 15,22; 15,62 e 15,68% de PB, respectivamente. A PL, sem e com correção para 3,5% de gordura, a variação de peso corporal e a composição do leite aumentaram linearmente, exceto para lactose, que não apresentou efeito. O nível de 14% de PB na dieta é o mais indicado para alimentação de vacas com produção média de 13kg/dia de leite.

  7. Ant-plant mutualism: a dietary by-product of a tropical ant's macronutrient requirements.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Arcila Hernández, Lina M; Sanders, Jon G; Miller, Gabriel A; Ravenscraft, Alison; Frederickson, Megan E

    2017-12-01

    Many arboreal ants depend on myrmecophytic plants for both food and shelter; in return, these ants defend their host plants against herbivores, which are often insects. Ant-plant and other mutualisms do not necessarily involve the exchange of costly rewards or services; they may instead result from by-product benefits, or positive outcomes that do not entail a cost for one or both partners. Here, we examined whether the plant-ant Allomerus octoarticulatus pays a short-term cost to defend their host plants against herbivores, or whether plant defense is a by-product benefit of ant foraging for insect prey. Because the food offered by ant-plants is usually nitrogen-poor, arboreal ants may balance their diets by consuming insect prey or associating with microbial symbionts to acquire nitrogen, potentially shifting the costs and benefits of plant defense for the ant partner. To determine the effect of ant diet on an ant-plant mutualism, we compared the behavior, morphology, fitness, stable isotope signatures, and gaster microbiomes of A. octoarticulatus ants nesting in Cordia nodosa trees maintained for nearly a year with or without insect herbivores. At the end of the experiment, ants from herbivore exclosures preferred protein-rich baits more than ants in the control (i.e., herbivores present) treatment. Furthermore, workers in the control treatment were heavier than in the herbivore-exclusion treatment, and worker mass predicted reproductive output, suggesting that foraging for insect prey directly increased ant colony fitness. The gaster microbiome of ants was not significantly affected by the herbivore exclusion treatment. We conclude that the defensive behavior of some phytoecious ants is a by-product of their need for external protein sources; thus, the consumption of insect herbivores by ants benefits both the ant colony and the host plant. © 2017 by the Ecological Society of America.

  8. Ant Larval Demand Reduces Aphid Colony Growth Rates in an Ant-Aphid Interaction

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    James M. Cook

    2012-02-01

    Full Text Available Ants often form mutualistic interactions with aphids, soliciting honeydew in return for protective services. Under certain circumstances, however, ants will prey upon aphids. In addition, in the presence of ants aphids may increase the quantity or quality of honeydew produced, which is costly. Through these mechanisms, ant attendance can reduce aphid colony growth rates. However, it is unknown whether demand from within the ant colony can affect the ant-aphid interaction. In a factorial experiment, we tested whether the presence of larvae in Lasius niger ant colonies affected the growth rate of Aphis fabae colonies. Other explanatory variables tested were the origin of ant colonies (two separate colonies were used and previous diet (sugar only or sugar and protein. We found that the presence of larvae in the ant colony significantly reduced the growth rate of aphid colonies. Previous diet and colony origin did not affect aphid colony growth rates. Our results suggest that ant colonies balance the flow of two separate resources from aphid colonies- renewable sugars or a protein-rich meal, depending on demand from ant larvae within the nest. Aphid payoffs from the ant-aphid interaction may change on a seasonal basis, as the demand from larvae within the ant colony waxes and wanes.

  9. Aporte de Minerales del mate cocido a la dieta

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    Lorena Francini

    2011-04-01

    Full Text Available Este trabajo surgió como la continuación del trabajo "YERBA MATE... ¿SIMPLEMENTE UN HABITO O UN BUEN ALIMENTO?" en el cual se analizó el contenido total de: K, Mn, Mg, Ca, Fe, Zn, Na, Cu y Ni en once yerbas comercializadas en Uruguay.En la región comprendida por Argentina, Uruguay, Brasil y Paraguay la yerba mate se consume mayoritariamente como mate (extracción en caliente, tereré (extracción en frío y mate cocido (infusión caliente. A los efectos de conocer el aporte de minerales de la yerba a la dieta diaria, se analizó el contenido de K, Mn, Mg, Fe y Zn (por ser los presentes en mayor cantidad en la yerba mate en una simulación de mate cocido, con lo que se determinó que porcentaje de estos es extraído en dicha infusión.Para realizar la simulación de mate cocido, se colocaron 50g de yerba mate en 1L de agua desionizada y se calentó en plancha con agitación hasta alcanzar una temperatura de 99°C. La solución sobrenadante fue filtrada en caliente en filtro de papel de 640W y luego en frío a través de filtro de membrana de 0,45 µm. Los minerales antes mencionados fueron determinados por espectroscopía de emisión óptica (PERKIN ELMER OPTIMA 2100. Obteniéndose como resultado Zn= 2,9mg/L, Fe= 0,36mg/L, Mn= 57mg/L, K= 848mg/L en el extracto preparado como se mencionó anteriormente. Representando una extracción del contenido total de la yerba mate cercano al 100% para potasio y cinc, del 70% para el manganeso y del 2% para el hierro.De los resultados obtenidos se concluye que de consumirse un litro de mate cocido diario preparado en forma similar a la de este trabajo, se cubrirían ampliamente los requerimientos diarios de manganeso, se cubriría el 50% de los requerimientos diarios de magnesio, el 20% de los de potasio y cinc y el 6% de los de hierro.La yerba mate es un alimento ampliamente difundido y en los estratos sociales más bajos llega a sustituir una o más comidas diarias, lo que convierte a la I

  10. AVALIAÇÃO DA ADIÇÃO DO KEFIR EM DIETA HOSPITALAR

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    Joice de Fátima Laureano Martins

    2012-06-01

    Full Text Available Os grãos de kefir são utilizados na elaboração de um produto lácteo fermentado o qual denominamos kefir. Sua introdução em dietas hospitalares promove vários benefícios aos pacientes e possui grande capacidade de estimular o sistema imunológico. Objetivou-se verificar a aceitação de diferentes formulações tendo como ingrediente o kefir. Os grãos de kefir (5 % foram cultivados por 24 horas à temperatura de 22º C. Em seguida, foram preparadas quatro formulações. Formulação 1 - 50 % de kefir cultivado em leite de vaca integral com 50 % de polpa de morango e adoçante (0,2 mL/100 mL; formulação 2 - 50 % de kefir cultivado em leite de vaca desnatado com 50 % de polpa de morango e adoçante (0,2 mL/100 mL; formulação 3 - 50 % de kefir cultivado em leite de vaca integral com 50 % de polpa de morango e 10 % de sacarose e formulação 4 - 50 % de kefir cultivado em leite de vaca desnatado com 50 % de polpa de morango e 10 % de sacarose. A análise sensorial foi realizada em um hospital do município de Viçosa-MG, tendo como provadores acompanhantes de pacientes internados e funcionários. Verificou-se a aceitação das formulações e utilizouse a escala hedônica de nove pontos. Todas as formulações apresentaram considerável aceitação enquadrando-se com maior frequência entre os escores «gostei moderadamente» a «gostei muito». Estes formulados apresentaram grande potencial para serem introduzidos em dietoterapia e poderão atuar tanto como adjunto ao tratamento de patologias gastrintestinais, como no controle glicêmico e hipercolesterolêmico.

  11. Proteínas da soja processadas de diferentes modos em dietas para desmame de leitões

    OpenAIRE

    Bertol,Teresinha Marisa; Mores,Nelson; Ludke,Jorge Vítor; Franke,Márcia Regina

    2001-01-01

    Foi realizado um experimento para avaliar a substituição parcial do farelo de soja (FS) por outros subprodutos da soja obtidos por intermédio de diferentes tipos de processamento, bem como comparar estes subprodutos entre si, como fonte protéica na dieta de leitões desmamados aos 21 dias de idade. Com este objetivo foram comparados quatro tratamentos: T1 - dieta controle, com FS como única fonte protéica; T2, T3 e T4 -- 50% do FS da dieta controle foi substituído por soja integral extrusada (...

  12. Zeólita na dieta de bovinos de corte

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    L.R.A Câmara

    2012-06-01

    Full Text Available Avaliou-se o efeito da inclusão de zeólita na dieta de bovinos de corte sobre os parâmetros ruminais, as digestibilidades total e parcial, a produção de nitrogênio, a eficiência microbiana e as características do sangue. Os tratamentos, com base na matéria seca (MS da dieta, foram: 0; 0,75; 1,5; 2,25 e 3,0% de zeólita. Utilizaram-se cinco bovinos machos mestiços, fistulados no rúmen e abomaso, alimentados com silagem de milho e concentrado, representando 65% de volumoso e 35% de concentrado. O delineamento utilizado foi em quadrado latino 5×5, com cinco períodos de 15 dias. Os animais receberam 15g de dióxido de titânio (TiO2 do terceiro ao 12º dia de cada período. Houve efeito (P<0,05 sobre o consumo diário (kg/dia de proteína bruta (PB e efeito (P<0,05 sobre o consumo de MS e de fibra em detergente neutro corrigida para cinza e proteína, expresso em g/kg de peso. A digestibilidade total dos nutrientes digestíveis totais (NDT foi influenciada pelos tratamentos (P<0,05. A digestibilidade ruminal dos carboidratos não fibrosos (CNF foi afetada quadraticamente (P<0,05, assim como a intestinal da PB e dos CNF. A ingestão e a excreção fecal de nitrogênio (g/dia foram influenciadas linearmente (P<0,05 pela inclusão de zeólita. Concluiu-se que a adição de zeólita na dieta, embora tenha aumentado os consumos de MS e de FDN, não melhorou a utilização da ureia em dietas de bovinos de corte.

  13. Fuentes de Carbohidratos no tradicionales y su efecto en la digestibilidad de dietas para camarones litopenaeus vannamei

    OpenAIRE

    Gómez, Mauricio; Molina, César

    2001-01-01

    Fuentes de carbohidratos no tradicionales y su efecto en la digestibilidad de dietas para camarones Litopenaeus vannamei Hasta la fecha los alimentos para organismos acuáticos han sido generalmente evaluados en términos de crecimiento y de composición corporal de los animales, confiriendo poca atención a la digestibilidad de los ingredientes o de las dietas compuestas y mucho menos a las posibles interacciones que pueden darse entre niveles de nutrientes presentes en la dieta.

  14. Fire Ant Bites

    Science.gov (United States)

    ... Favorite Name: Category: Share: Yes No, Keep Private Fire Ant Bites Share | Fire ants are aggressive, venomous insects that have pinching ... across the United States, even into Puerto Rico. Fire ant stings usually occur on the feet or ...

  15. Consumo e desempenho produtivo de ovinos alimentados com dietas que continham coprodutos do desfibramento do sisal

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    R.D. Santos

    2011-12-01

    Full Text Available Avaliaram-se o desempenho produtivo e o consumo de nutrientes e frações fibrosas em ovinos alimentados com dietas contendo coprodutos do desfibramento do sisal, Agave sisalana. Foram utilizados 24 ovinos, machos, alojados em baias individuais. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi o inteiramente ao acaso, com quatro tratamentos e seis repetições. Os tratamentos consistiram em quatro dietas isoproteicas, em que: i dieta padrão, contendo 38% de volumoso (silagem de milheto e 62% de concentrado (milho, farelo de soja e ureia; ii inclusão de 20% da silagem de mucilagem do sisal em substituição à silagem de milheto; iii inclusão de 20% da silagem de mucilagem associada ao pó da batedeira como aditivo em substituição à silagem de milheto; iv inclusão de 20% do feno da mucilagem em substituição à silagem de milheto. O peso corporal final, os ganhos médio diário e total e a conversão alimentar dos ovinos não foram influenciados pelas dietas avaliadas (P>0,05. Os consumos dos nutrientes, em g/dia e em %PC e g/kg0,75, não sofreram influência das dietas. Os resultados indicam que as dietas à base de coprodutos do sisal podem ser utilizadas como alternativa volumosa, além de possibilitar o aumento da rentabilidade da atividade na região semiárida brasileira.

  16. FONTES PROTÉICAS DE ORIGEM VEGETAL EM DIETAS PARA JUVENIS DE CARPA HÚNGARA (Cyprinus carpio)

    OpenAIRE

    Giovani Taffarel Bergamin

    2009-01-01

    O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a resposta de diferentes fontes protéicas de origem vegetal em substituição à farinha de carne suína da dieta, sobre o crescimento, rendimento e qualidade de carcaça, parâmetros sangüíneos e avaliação sensorial dos filés de juvenis de carpa húngara. Foram realizados dois experimentos, utilizando sistema de recirculação de água com 15 unidades experimentais (280L). No experimento 1, foram avaliadas cinco dietas experimentais. Uma dieta controle (FCS) co...

  17. Las grasas en la dieta materna, edad gestacional y peso al nacer

    OpenAIRE

    Rodríguez Enríquez, Yanik; Pita Rodríguez, Gisela; González, Isabel Martín; Ferret Martínez, Ana; Puentes Márquez, Ileana

    2004-01-01

    Las grasas en la dieta materna tienen funciones determinantes en el desarrollo de un embarazo normal, en la estructuración de un adecuado flujo útero-placentario, la formación de membranas celulares, el crecimiento intrauterino del feto y el desarrollo del sistema nervioso central. El objetivo de este trabajo fue medir la relación entre la composición de ácidos grasos en la dieta materna atendiendo a la edad gestacional y el peso al nacer de los recién nacidos. Se realizó un estudio transvers...

  18. AVALIAÇÃO DA DISPONIBILIDADE DO FERRO EM DIETA COMPLEMENTADA COM COUVE MANTEIGA

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    K. OLIVEIRA-CALHEIROS

    2008-12-01

    Full Text Available

    O objetivo desse trabalho foi avaliar a disponibilidade de ferro em uma dieta típica consumida em restaurantes tipo self-service no Estado de São Paulo e verificar se a adição de porções de couve manteiga nesta dieta aumenta a disponibilidade de ferro dietético. Foi determinada a composição centesimal, teor de fi bras, ferro e diálise de ferro in vitro da dieta e suas misturas com couve crua ou cozida em diferentes porções (0,5, 1,0, 1,5 e 2,0. Os resultados da composição centesimal evidenciaram diferenças entre tratamentos, com ênfase para os teores de fi bras com a adição de couve crua (p=0,05, sendo maior em relação à adição de couve cozida. Ocorreram aumentos signifi cativos dos teores de lipídios, proteína e cinzas, com o aumento de porções de couve. O teor e a disponibilidade de ferro no tratamento com couve crua se apresentaram superiores. A comparação entre couve crua e cozida também demonstrou maior disponibilidade de ferro para couve crua. A dieta sem adição de couve apresentou disponibilidade de 0,18% para ferro enquanto que com a adição de couve crua apresentou disponibilidade de 0,30%. Conclui-se que a introdução de couve manteiga na dieta pode trazer benefícios como aumento do teor e da disponibilidade de ferro.

  19. La dieta en el tratamiento de la litiasis renal: Bases fisiopatológicas

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    Armando L. Negri

    2013-06-01

    Full Text Available La composición de la orina está influenciada por la dieta y la variación de factores dietarios han sido propuestos para modificar el riesgo de nefrolitiasis recurrente. Los nutrientes que han sido implicados incluyen el calcio, el oxalato, el sodio, las proteínas de origen animal, el magnesio y el potasio. Hay evidencias significativas que demuestran que una dieta alta en calcio se asocia con una reducción del riesgo litogénico. Uno de los posibles mecanismos para explicar esta aparente paradoja, es que la mayor ingesta de calcio se une en el intestino al oxalato dietario, reduciendo la absorción del mismo y su excreción urinaria. El oxalato de la dieta parece aportar solo una pequeña contribución a su excreción y es conveniente una restricción dietética sólo en aquellos con hiperoxaluria e hiperabsorción. Los estudios observacionales han mostrado una asociación positiva e independiente entre el consumo de sodio y la formación de nuevos cálculos renales. El consumo de proteínas de origen animal genera una carga ácida que aumenta la excreción urinaria de calcio y ácido úrico y reduce la de citrato, todos factores que podrían participar en la génesis de la litiasis. Alimentos ricos en potasio aumentan el citrato urinario debido a su contenido de álcalis. En estudios observacionales prospectivos, las dietas ricas en magnesio se asociaron con un menor riesgo de formación de cálculos renales en hombres. En conclusión, la dieta es un elemento central en el control del paciente con cálculos renales, pero siempre subordinada a los factores de riesgo metabólico hallados.

  20. Proteínas da soja processadas de diferentes modos em dietas para desmame de leitões

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Bertol Teresinha Marisa

    2001-01-01

    Full Text Available Foi realizado um experimento para avaliar a substituição parcial do farelo de soja (FS por outros subprodutos da soja obtidos por intermédio de diferentes tipos de processamento, bem como comparar estes subprodutos entre si, como fonte protéica na dieta de leitões desmamados aos 21 dias de idade. Com este objetivo foram comparados quatro tratamentos: T1 - dieta controle, com FS como única fonte protéica; T2, T3 e T4 -- 50% do FS da dieta controle foi substituído por soja integral extrusada (SIE, proteína texturizada de soja (PTS e proteína concentrada de soja (PCS, respectivamente. As dietas foram isocalóricas, isolisínicas, contendo o mesmo nível de produtos lácteos e fornecidas do dia do desmame até 14 dias após. A substituição parcial do FS por qualquer um dos subprodutos avaliados melhorou o ganho de peso diário (GPD, o consumo diário de ração (CRD e a conversão alimentar (CA no período de fornecimento das dietas. No período total da creche, a substituição parcial do FS proporcionou melhoria no GPD e CRD, mas a CA não foi afetada. A incidência de diarréia e a morfologia da mucosa intestinal não foram influenciadas pelos diferentes subprodutos da soja. A substituição de 50% do FS da dieta de desmame pela SIE, PTS ou PCS proporcionou melhor desempenho, com ganhos adicionais de 1 a 2 kg a mais por leitão no final da fase de creche. A SIE, PTS e PCS não apresentam diferenças entre si como substitutos parciais do FS na dieta de leitões desmamados com 21 dias de idade.

  1. Ant aggression and evolutionary stability in plant-ant and plant-pollinator mutualistic interactions.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Oña, L; Lachmann, M

    2011-03-01

    Mutualistic partners derive a benefit from their interaction, but this benefit can come at a cost. This is the case for plant-ant and plant-pollinator mutualistic associations. In exchange for protection from herbivores provided by the resident ants, plants supply various kinds of resources or nests to the ants. Most ant-myrmecophyte mutualisms are horizontally transmitted, and therefore, partners share an interest in growth but not in reproduction. This lack of alignment in fitness interests between plants and ants drives a conflict between them: ants can attack pollinators that cross-fertilize the host plants. Using a mathematical model, we define a threshold in ant aggressiveness determining pollinator survival or elimination on the host plant. In our model we observed that, all else being equal, facultative interactions result in pollinator extinction for lower levels of ant aggressiveness than obligatory interactions. We propose that the capacity to discriminate pollinators from herbivores should not often evolve in ants, and when it does it will be when the plants exhibit limited dispersal in an environment that is not seed saturated so that each seed produced can effectively generate a new offspring or if ants acquire an extra benefit from pollination (e.g. if ants eat fruit). We suggest specific mutualism examples where these hypotheses can be tested empirically. © 2010 The Authors. Journal of Evolutionary Biology © 2010 European Society For Evolutionary Biology.

  2. AntStar: Enhancing Optimization Problems by Integrating an Ant System and A⁎ Algorithm

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Mohammed Faisal

    2016-01-01

    Full Text Available Recently, nature-inspired techniques have become valuable to many intelligent systems in different fields of technology and science. Among these techniques, Ant Systems (AS have become a valuable technique for intelligent systems in different fields. AS is a computational system inspired by the foraging behavior of ants and intended to solve practical optimization problems. In this paper, we introduce the AntStar algorithm, which is swarm intelligence based. AntStar enhances the optimization and performance of an AS by integrating the AS and A⁎ algorithm. Applying the AntStar algorithm to the single-source shortest-path problem has been done to ensure the efficiency of the proposed AntStar algorithm. The experimental result of the proposed algorithm illustrated the robustness and accuracy of the AntStar algorithm.

  3. Runtime analysis of the 1-ANT ant colony optimizer

    DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

    Doerr, Benjamin; Neumann, Frank; Sudholt, Dirk

    2011-01-01

    The runtime analysis of randomized search heuristics is a growing field where, in the last two decades, many rigorous results have been obtained. First runtime analyses of ant colony optimization (ACO) have been conducted only recently. In these studies simple ACO algorithms such as the 1-ANT...... that give us a more detailed impression of the 1-ANT’s performance. Furthermore, the experiments also deal with the question whether using many ant solutions in one iteration can decrease the total runtime....

  4. Microorganisms transported by ants induce changes in floral nectar composition of an ant-pollinated plant.

    Science.gov (United States)

    de Vega, Clara; Herrera, Carlos M

    2013-04-01

    Interactions between plants and ants abound in nature and have significant consequences for ecosystem functioning. Recently, it has been suggested that nectar-foraging ants transport microorganisms to flowers; more specifically, they transport yeasts, which can potentially consume sugars and alter nectar composition. Therefore, ants could indirectly change nectar sugar profile, an important floral feature involved in the plant-pollinator mutualism. But this novel role for ants has never been tested. We here investigate the effects of nectarivorous ants and their associated yeasts on the floral nectar sugar composition of an ant-pollinated plant. Differences in the nectar sugar composition of ant-excluded and ant-visited flowers were examined in 278 samples by using high-performance liquid-chromatography. The importance of the genetic identity and density of ant-transported basidiomycetous and ascomycetous yeasts on the variation of nectar traits was also evaluated. Ant visitation had significant effects on nectar sugar composition. The nectar of ant-visited flowers contained significantly more fructose, more glucose, and less sucrose than the nectar of ant-excluded flowers, but these effects were context dependent. Nectar changes were correlated with the density of yeast cells in nectar. The magnitude of the effects of ant-transported ascomycetes was much higher than that of basiodiomycetes. Ants and their associated yeasts induce changes in nectar sugar traits, reducing the chemical control of the plant over this important floral trait. The potential relevance of this new role for ants as indirect nectar modifiers is a rich topic for future research into the ecology of ant-flower interactions.

  5. Estado oxidante-antioxidante en pacientes obesas antes y después de una dieta y ejercicio : cambios estructurales de la insulina expuesta a sangre de pacientes obesas

    OpenAIRE

    Gutiérrez López, Liliana

    2012-01-01

    Programa de Doctorado en Alto Rendimiento Deportivo Introducción: Varios estudios han mostrado que la dieta y el ejercicio son importantes en el tratamiento de la obesidad. De hecho, el estado de estrés oxidativo del paciente obeso mejora después del ejercicio de moderada intensidad; lo cual pone de manifiesto la importancia de ambos para disminuir los efectos adversos del estrés oxidativo durante el tratamiento de la obesidad. El objetivo de este trabajo fue determinar si el tratamiento c...

  6. Mananoligossacarídeos em dietas para frangos de corte Mannanoligosaccharides in diets for broilers

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Nei André Arruda Barbosa

    2011-12-01

    Full Text Available Objetivou-se avaliar dietas contendo mananoligossacarídeos (MOS como aditivo alternativo aos promotores de crescimento por meio do estudo da morfometria do intestino e do desempenho de frangos de corte. Para tanto, 1280 pintos de corte foram distribuídos em delineamento inteiramente casualizado com quatro tratamentos (controle negativo, CN: dieta isenta de antibiótico; controle positivo, CP: dieta contendo antibiótico e duas dietas, MOS 1 e MOS 2, nas quais foram adicionadas ao CN duas fontes distintas de MOS e oito repetições, sendo a unidade experimental composta por 40 aves. Para submeter as aves ao desafio sanitário, foi formulada uma dieta basal com milho, farelo de soja e farinha de carne e ossos. Adotou-se cama reutilizada, limpeza dos bebedouros duas vezes por semana e oferta semanal de água contaminada com cama. Foram avaliadas altura de vilo e profundidade de cripta do duodeno, jejuno e íleo, consumo da dieta, peso médio, ganho de peso e conversão alimentar das aves. Houve melhora na profundidade de cripta no jejuno e na altura de vilo no íleo das aves alimentadas com dietas contendo MOS. A adição de MOS, independente da fonte, resultou em melhor conversão alimentar em relação às aves do CN, sendo similares às aves do CP. Os mananoligossacarídeos podem ser utilizados como aditivo alternativo aos promotores de crescimento em dietas para frangos de corte, porém, dependendo da fonte, esta pode acarretar em pequenas diferenças no desempenho das aves.This study aimed to evaluate mannan oligosaccharides (MOS as an alternative additive to growth promoters in broiler diets by studying the morphology of the intestine and the performance. For this purpose, 1280 broiler chicks were distributed in a completely randomized design with four treatments (negative control, NC: diet free of antibiotics; positive control, PC: diet with antibiotic and two diets, MOS 1 and MOS 2, in which were added to NC two distinct sources of MOS

  7. Dietas vegetarianas e desempenho esportivo Vegetarian diets and sports performance

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Lucas Guimarães Ferreira

    2006-08-01

    Full Text Available As evidências atuais apontam benefícios da dieta vegetariana para a saúde humana. Contudo, a partir da adoção de práticas vegetarianas mais restritivas, confirmam-se os riscos à saúde. As dietas vegetarianas são caracterizadas pelo elevado consumo de carboidratos, fibras, magnésio, potássio, folato e antioxidantes, podendo apresentar deficiências em aminoácidos e ácidos graxos essenciais, cálcio, zinco, ferro e cobalamina. Pesquisas experimentais em humanos indicam que vegetarianos e não-vegetarianos apresentam capacidade aeróbica semelhante. Em relação ao desempenho em atividades de força e potência muscular, as pesquisas são escassas, mas as existentes não apontam diferenças significativas. Situações de risco cardiovascular têm sido confirmadas, devido ao provável quadro de hiperhomocisteinemia, em decorrência da baixa ingestão de cobalamina. As dietas vegetarianas são isentas de creatina, o que resulta em estoques musculares mais baixos nessa população. Possivelmente ocorrem alterações hormonais e metabólicas em resposta às dietas vegetarianas, como baixos níveis de testosterona e androstenediona. A função imune parece não ser prejudicada. Dessa forma, a prática de dietas vegetarianas apresenta-se compatível com a prática esportiva cotidiana, desde que bem planejada para evitar deficiências nutricionais.Current evidences show benefits of a vegetarian diet for human health. However, when a stricter vegetarian diet is adopted, health risks are confirmed. Vegetarian diets are characterized by a high intake of carbohydrates, fibers, magnesium, potassium, folate and antioxidants and may result in a low intake of amino acids, essential fatty acids, calcium, zinc, iron and cobalamin. Experimental human researches indicate that both vegetarians and non-vegetarians present similar aerobic capacity. Regarding muscular strength and power, researches are scarce but the existent ones do not report significant

  8. Ácidos grasos en la dieta diabetes mellitus e insulino resistencia

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Clara Eugenia Pérez G.

    2006-04-01

    Full Text Available La resistencia a la insulina es característica de la diabetes mellitus tipo 2. Como parte del tratamiento se recomienda los diabéticos, sustituir en las dietas los ácidos grasos saturados y el colesterol por ácidos grasos monoinsaturados; sin que estén del todo claro los mecanismos bioquímicos que beneficiarían a los pacientes. Es probable, entre otros mecanismos, que los ácidos grasos monoin­saturados aumenten la sensibilidad a la insulina. Esta revisión analiza la relación entre el tipo de ácido graso en la dieta y la resistencia a insulina en la diabetes mellitus tipo 2.

  9. Dieta de Leptodactylus latrans (Steffen, 1815 na Serra do Sudeste, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Daiane Maria Melo Pazinato

    2011-08-01

    Full Text Available http://dx.doi.org/10.5007/2175-7925.2011v24n4p147 Esse trabalho descreve a dieta de Leptodactylus latrans baseado no conteúdo estomacal de 37 espécimes procedentes do município de Caçapava do Sul, RS, tendo como objetivo analisar qualitativa e quantitativamente essa dieta. As amostras foram coletadas no período de janeiro de 2007 a fevereiro de 2008. A composição da dieta foi analisada sob estereomicroscópio e identificada até o nível de ordem, estando composta por 17 categorias de presas. Coleoptera e Aranae foram os itens mais frequentes com 55% e 22,5% respectivamente. Volumetricamente os itens mais importantes foram Crustacea, Decapoda (15,5% e Amphibia (13,59%.

  10. Dieta del Cernícalo Americano (Falco sparverius Linnaeus, 1758 en dos hábitats interandinos del norte de Ecuador

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Glenda M. Pozo-Zamora

    2017-07-01

    Full Text Available El cernícalo americano es una especie de ave rapaz ampliamente distribuida desde Alaska hasta Tierra de Fuego en Argentina. Su dieta generalista está basada principalmente en invertebrados. En Ecuador existe escasa información biológica de ésta especie, desconociéndose aspectos de alimentación. En el presente trabajo se da a conocer la dieta del cernícalo americano, por medio del análisis de egagrópilas colectadas en dos hábitats ubicados en la región interandina en el norte de Ecuador. Los ítems más representativos para Sangolquí y Tababela fueron los coleópteros (48.4 y 39.5%, seguidos por orthópteros (31.3 y 30.7 % respectivamente. En términos de biomasa, los mamíferos son los más importantes dentro de la dieta del cernícalo americano con el 40.3% para Sangolquí y el 70.8% en Tababela. El índice de Shannon (H´= 1.894 indica una mediana diversidad de presas, y la amplitud de dieta (0.26 indica que ésta especie presenta una dieta especialista, difiriendo de otros hábitats donde presenta dieta generalista.

  11. Uso de alimento vivo como dieta inicial no treinamento alimentar de juvenis de pirarucu.

    OpenAIRE

    CAVERO, B.A.S.; ITUASSÚ, D.R.; PEREIRA-FILHO, M.; ROUBACH, R.; BORDINHON, A.M.; FONSECA, F.A.L. da; ONO, E.A.

    2003-01-01

    O objetivo deste trabalho foi testar a eficiência do alimento vivo como dieta inicial no treinamento alimentar de juvenis de pirarucu, Arapaima gigas. Foram usados dois tratamentos, Artemia sp. e mistura de zooplâncton nativo. O ganho de peso, a porcentagem de comedores e a sobrevivência não apresentaram diferença estatística significativa entre os tratamentos (p>0,05). A dieta inicial, à base de alimento vivo, é eficiente no treinamento alimentar de juvenis de pirarucu.

  12. Dieta cetogênica para epilepsia intratável em crianças e adolescentes: relato de seis casos

    OpenAIRE

    Vasconcelos,Marcio M.; Azevedo,Patricia M. Couto; Esteves,Lívia; Brito,Adriana R.; Olivaes,Maria Cecílea D. de; Herdy,Gesmar V. Haddad

    2004-01-01

    OBJETIVO: Descrever a introdução e o manejo da dieta cetogênica em um grupo de seis crianças e adolescentes com epilepsia refratária. MÉTODOS: Os autores reviram o prontuário médico de cada paciente menor de 15 anos submetido à dieta cetogênica entre abril de 1999 e julho de 2003 e compararam os resultados terapêuticos e efeitos adversos e benéficos com a literatura pertinente. RESULTADOS: A dieta cetogênica foi introduzida para seis pacientes, com idade mediana de sete anos (faixa: 1,8-12,2)...

  13. Harnessing ant defence at fruits reduces bruchid seed predation in a symbiotic ant-plant mutualism.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Pringle, Elizabeth G

    2014-06-22

    In horizontally transmitted mutualisms, mutualists disperse separately and reassemble in each generation with partners genetically unrelated to those in the previous generation. Because of this, there should be no selection on either partner to enhance the other's reproductive output directly. In symbiotic ant-plant mutualisms, myrmecophytic plants host defensive ant colonies, and ants defend the plants from herbivores. Plants and ants disperse separately, and, although ant defence can indirectly increase plant reproduction by reducing folivory, it is unclear whether ants can also directly increase plant reproduction by defending seeds. The neotropical tree Cordia alliodora hosts colonies of Azteca pittieri ants. The trees produce domatia where ants nest at stem nodes and also at the node between the peduncle and the rachides of the infloresence. Unlike the stem domatia, these reproductive domatia senesce after the tree fruits each year. In this study, I show that the tree's resident ant colony moves into these ephemeral reproductive domatia, where they tend honeydew-producing scale insects and patrol the nearby developing fruits. The presence of ants significantly reduced pre-dispersal seed predation by Amblycerus bruchid beetles, thereby directly increasing plant reproductive output.

  14. "Ant-egg" cataract revisited

    DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

    Clemmensen, Kåre; Enghild, Jan J; Ivarsen, Anders

    2017-01-01

    -ray scans and electron microscopy. The purpose of this study was to further characterize "ant-egg" cataract using modern technology and display the history of the "ant-eggs" after cataract extraction. METHODS: "Ant-eggs" were examined using Heidelberg SPECTRALIS Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT...

  15. ACEPTACIÓN DE UNA DIETA ARTIFICIAL POR LARVAS DE LA MARIPOSA BATTUS POLYDAMAS POLYDAMAS (LEPIDOPTERA: PAPILIONIDAE

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Ricardo Augusto Claro Carrascal

    2010-01-01

    Full Text Available Se evalúo la aceptabilidad de una dieta artificial utilizada en la alimentación del estado larval de la mariposa Battus polydamas polydamas (Lepidoptera: Papilionidae, bajo condiciones de laboratorio.  A las larvas se les ofreció una dieta en diferentes presentaciones y composiciones, de acuerdo con ensayos previos y con los análisis nutricionales desarrollados a larvas maduras y a hojas de la  planta hospedera, Aristolochia maxima (Aristolochiaceae.  La longevidad, en estado larval, de B. polydamas criadas en laboratorio, se ve afectada significativamente por los diferentes tratamientos de alimentación. La curva de sobrevivencia no presento diferencias significativas entre las larvas alimentadas con solamente hojas jóvenes de la planta y aquellas que se alimentaron con dieta esparcida. En contraste, las tasas de crecimiento larval, fueron significativamente afectadas según el tratamiento.  Se sustenta la cría de mariposas de la especie B. polydamas bajo una dieta artificial con condiciones de temperatura, humedad y luminosidad controlada, con propósitos de investigación o futuros planes de manejo y conservación.

  16. A variedade da dieta é fator protetor para a pressão arterial sistólica elevada

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Erick Prado de Oliveira

    2012-04-01

    Full Text Available FUNDAMENTO: A dieta influencia diretamente a hipertensão arterial (HAS, que é um dos principais fatores de risco da doença cardiovascular. OBJETIVO: Associar a HAS com fatores dietéticos de adultos clinicamente selecionados para programa de mudança de estilo de vida. MÉTODOS: Estudo transversal composto por 335 indivíduos, com idade entre 44 e 65 anos, clinicamente selecionados para um programa de mudança de estilo de vida. Foram avaliados os dados antropométricos (IMC, % de gordura e circunferência abdominal, os componentes bioquímicos (concentrações plasmáticas de glicose, triglicerídeos, colesterol total, HDL-c e LDL-c e a dieta, por meio do recordatório de 24 horas. A qualidade da dieta foi avaliada pelo Índice de Alimentação Saudável. A pressão arterial foi mensurada de acordo com a V Diretriz Brasileira de Hipertensão Arterial e classificada de acordo com o NCEP-ATPIII. A regressão logística foi realizada para determinar a probabilidade de alterações na PAS e PAD de acordo com a ingestão dietética. Adotou-se como significante o valor de p < 0,05. RESULTADOS: Observou-se correlação positiva da pressão arterial diastólica com o consumo de colesterol e açúcar; e negativa com a ingestão de fibras, porções de óleo e qualidade da dieta. A variedade da dieta ≥ 8 itens alimentares apresentou efeito protetor para alterações da pressão arterial sistólica; OR = 0,361 (0,148-0,878. CONCLUSÃO: A maior variedade da dieta ofereceu efeito protetor para alteração da pressão arterial sistólica.

  17. How ants drop out: ant abundance on tropical mountains.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Longino, John T; Branstetter, Michael G; Colwell, Robert K

    2014-01-01

    In tropical wet forests, ants are a large proportion of the animal biomass, but the factors determining abundance are not well understood. We characterized ant abundance in the litter layer of 41 mature wet forest sites spread throughout Central America (Chiapas, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica) and examined the impact of elevation (as a proxy for temperature) and community species richness. Sites were intentionally chosen to minimize variation in precipitation and seasonality. From sea level to 1500 m ant abundance very gradually declined, community richness declined more rapidly than abundance, and the local frequency of the locally most common species increased. These results suggest that within this elevational zone, density compensation is acting, maintaining high ant abundance as richness declines. In contrast, in sites above 1500 m, ant abundance dropped abruptly to much lower levels. Among these high montane sites, community richness explained much more of the variation in abundance than elevation, and there was no evidence of density compensation. The relative stability of abundance below 1500 m may be caused by opposing effects of temperature on productivity and metabolism. Lower temperatures may decrease productivity and thus the amount of food available for consumers, but slower metabolisms of consumers may allow maintenance of higher biomass at lower resource supply rates. Ant communities at these lower elevations may be highly interactive, the result of continuous habitat presence over geological time. High montane sites may be ephemeral in geological time, resulting in non-interactive communities dominated by historical and stochastic processes. Abundance in these sites may be determined by the number of species that manage to colonize and/or avoid extinction on mountaintops.

  18. How ants drop out: ant abundance on tropical mountains.

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    John T Longino

    Full Text Available In tropical wet forests, ants are a large proportion of the animal biomass, but the factors determining abundance are not well understood. We characterized ant abundance in the litter layer of 41 mature wet forest sites spread throughout Central America (Chiapas, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica and examined the impact of elevation (as a proxy for temperature and community species richness. Sites were intentionally chosen to minimize variation in precipitation and seasonality. From sea level to 1500 m ant abundance very gradually declined, community richness declined more rapidly than abundance, and the local frequency of the locally most common species increased. These results suggest that within this elevational zone, density compensation is acting, maintaining high ant abundance as richness declines. In contrast, in sites above 1500 m, ant abundance dropped abruptly to much lower levels. Among these high montane sites, community richness explained much more of the variation in abundance than elevation, and there was no evidence of density compensation. The relative stability of abundance below 1500 m may be caused by opposing effects of temperature on productivity and metabolism. Lower temperatures may decrease productivity and thus the amount of food available for consumers, but slower metabolisms of consumers may allow maintenance of higher biomass at lower resource supply rates. Ant communities at these lower elevations may be highly interactive, the result of continuous habitat presence over geological time. High montane sites may be ephemeral in geological time, resulting in non-interactive communities dominated by historical and stochastic processes. Abundance in these sites may be determined by the number of species that manage to colonize and/or avoid extinction on mountaintops.

  19. Pest repelling properties of ant pheromones

    DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

    Offenberg, Joachim

    2014-01-01

    Ants control pests via predation and physical deterrence; however, ant communication is based on chemical cues which may serve as warning signals to potential prey and other intruders. The presence of ant pheromones may, thus, be sufficient to repel pests from ant territories. This mini-review sh......-review shows that four out of five tested ant species deposit pheromones that repel herbivorous prey from their host plants.......Ants control pests via predation and physical deterrence; however, ant communication is based on chemical cues which may serve as warning signals to potential prey and other intruders. The presence of ant pheromones may, thus, be sufficient to repel pests from ant territories. This mini...

  20. Nectar Theft and Floral Ant-Repellence: A Link between Nectar Volume and Ant-Repellent Traits?

    Science.gov (United States)

    Ballantyne, Gavin; Willmer, Pat

    2012-01-01

    As flower visitors, ants rarely benefit a plant. They are poor pollinators, and can also disrupt pollination by deterring other flower visitors, or by stealing nectar. Some plant species therefore possess floral ant-repelling traits. But why do particular species have such traits when others do not? In a dry forest in Costa Rica, of 49 plant species around a third were ant-repellent at very close proximity to a common generalist ant species, usually via repellent pollen. Repellence was positively correlated with the presence of large nectar volumes. Repellent traits affected ant species differently, some influencing the behaviour of just a few species and others producing more generalised ant-repellence. Our results suggest that ant-repellent floral traits may often not be pleiotropic, but instead could have been selected for as a defence against ant thieves in plant species that invest in large volumes of nectar. This conclusion highlights to the importance of research into the cost of nectar production in future studies into ant-flower interactions. PMID:22952793

  1. Uso de alimento vivo como dieta inicial no treinamento alimentar de juvenis de pirarucu

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Cavero Bruno Adan Sagratzki

    2003-01-01

    Full Text Available O objetivo deste trabalho foi testar a eficiência do alimento vivo como dieta inicial no treinamento alimentar de juvenis de pirarucu, Arapaima gigas. Foram usados dois tratamentos, Artemia sp. e mistura de zooplâncton nativo. O ganho de peso, a porcentagem de comedores e a sobrevivência não apresentaram diferença estatística significativa entre os tratamentos (p>0,05. A dieta inicial, à base de alimento vivo, é eficiente no treinamento alimentar de juvenis de pirarucu.

  2. Densidade energética da dieta e ingestão energética total segundo consumo de adoçantes e/ou alimentos processados com adoçantes

    OpenAIRE

    Carolina Faria Tavares

    2013-01-01

    Introdução. O consumo de açúcares aumentou consideravelmente nas últimas décadas, bem como a incidência e a prevalência da obesidade, gerando a elaboração de recomendações para moderá-lo. Os açúcares contribuem para a palatabilidade dos alimentos, podendo também aumentar sua densidade energética (DE), outro fator de risco para obesidade. Uma alternativa seria a substituição por adoçantes não calóricos, que também aumentam a palatabilidade dos alimentos, porém são isentos calorias. No entanto,...

  3. Pest repellent properties of ant pheromones

    DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

    Offenberg, Joachim

    2012-01-01

    of ant pheromones may be sufficient to repel pest insects from ant territories. The study of ant semiochemicals is in its infancy, yet, evidence for their potential use in pest management is starting to build up. Pheromones from four of five tested ant species have been shown to deter herbivorous insect...... prey and competing ant species are also deterred by ant deposits, whereas ant symbionts may be attracted to them. Based on these promising initial findings, it seems advisable to further elucidate the signaling properties of ant pheromones and to test and develop their use in future pest management....

  4. Casca de soja em dietas para ovinos Soybean hulls in sheep diets

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    José Walter dos Santos

    2008-11-01

    Full Text Available Objetivou-se avaliar a utilização de quatro níveis de casca de soja (0; 8,0; 16,0 ou 24,0% em substituição ao fubá de milho (0, 25, 50 e 75% em dietas para ovinos em confinamento. Avaliaram-se o consumo e a digestibilidade dos nutrientes, o desempenho animal, a conversão alimentar e os custos com a dieta. Vinte cordeiros da raça Santa Inês com peso vivo médio inicial de 32,96 kg foram distribuídos em delineamento inteiramente casualizado com quatro tratamentos e cinco repetições. A dieta foi composta de 50% de volumoso (50% de silagem de milho e 50% de cana-de-açúcar picada e 50% de concentrado. Os concentrados foram compostos de fubá de milho, farelo de soja, mistura mineral e uréia, de modo que o fubá de milho foi gradativamente substituído pela casca de soja. Os animais foram mantidos em baias individuais com comedouro e bebedouro. Não foram observados efeitos dos níveis de casca de soja da dieta sobre o consumo de nutrientes, exceto o de FDN, que aumentou linearmente de acordo com o nível de casca de soja na dieta. Os níveis de casca de soja não influenciaram a digestibilidade dos nutrientes, o ganho de peso (0,215 kg/animal/dia e a conversão alimentar dos animais (6,20 kg MS/kg peso ganho. O aumento do nível de casca de soja de 0 e 75% na dieta reduziu os gastos com alimentação e aumentou a margem bruta de R$ 10,89 para R$ 18,63 por animal. A substituição de até 75% do fubá de milho por casca de soja na dieta não afeta o desempenho de ovinos em terminação em confinamento.The objective was to evaluate the use of four levels of soybean hulls (0.0, 8.0, 16.0 and 24.0% to replace the corn meal (0.0, 25, 50 and 75% in the diet of sheep in feedlot. Performance, nutrient digestibilities and feeding costs were evaluated. Twenty Santa Inez breed lambs with 32.96 kg BW were distributed to a completely randomized design with four diets and five replications. The diet was composed of 50% forage (50% of corn silage and

  5. Estudos para Composição de uma Dieta Referência Semipurificada para Avaliação de Exigências Nutricionais em Juvenis de Pirapitinga, Piaractus brachypomus (Cuvier, 1818

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Vásquez-Torres Wálter

    2002-01-01

    Full Text Available Foram realizados dois experimentos com o objetivo de definir uma dieta referência para estudos de exigências nutricionais em Piaractus brachypomus. No primeiro experimento, foram testadas quatro dietas com ingredientes semipurificados (H-440 com 47% PB, C-102 com 41% PB, NRC com 37% PB e IALL-1 com 32% de PB e uma dieta controle (32% de PB com ingredientes comuns. No segundo experimento, foi usada a dieta IALL-1, como base para a formulação de três dietas experimentais. A dieta 2 foi suplementada com vitamina C e uma pré-mistura de macrominerais, enquanto na dieta 3 o óleo vegetal foi substituído por óleo de peixe. O ganho de peso foi usado como critério básico para medir os efeitos das dietas, sendo também considerados consumo de alimento, taxa específica de crescimento (SGR, conversão alimentar aparente (FCR, eficiência de utilização da proteína (PER e retenção de proteína (%PPV e de energia (%RE. Entre as dietas semipurificadas, o melhor desempenho de crescimento e de utilização dos nutrientes foi observado para as dietas NRC e IALL-1, que não diferiram entre si. No segundo experimento, o grupo de peixes alimentados com a dieta 2 apresentou crescimento 42% maior que o observado com as dietas sem suplementação. As outras variáveis analisadas, FCR, SGR, PER e %PPV, também foram significativamente melhoradas. Os resultados em conjunto indicam que a dieta IALL-1 suplementada com macrominerais e vitamina C pode ser considerada adequada como dieta referência semipurificada para estudos de nutrição de Piaractus brachypomus.

  6. Efeito da suplementação com pupunha como fonte de vitamina A em dieta: estudo em ratos

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Lucia K.O. Yuyama

    1996-02-01

    Full Text Available Foi estudado o efeito da suplementação com pupunha (Bactris gasipaes H.B.K., polpa cozida e transformada em farinha, como fonte de vitamina A, em dieta regional de Manaus, AM,Brasil, por meio do ensaio biológico com ratos. A metodologia utilizada foi da depleção dos animais em zinco e vitamina A, seguida da repleção com a dieta regional (DR, DR + pupunha, DR + vitamina A e dieta controle (DC. A dieta foi elaborada para famílias com rendimentos inferiores a dois salários-mínimos. Foram utilizadas ratas albinas adultas pós-parto, cada qual com 6 filhotes machos, que receberam ração à base de caseína lavada com EDTA a 1%, sem adição de Zn e vitamina A, por 25 dias, com a finalidade de obtenção de animais recém-desmamados deficientes nestes dois nutrientes. O período de repleção dos animais, recém-desmamados, foi de 30 dias e o delineamento foi inteiramente casualizado com 4 tratamentos de 8 animais cada. A suplementação efetuada seguiu as recomendações do "Committee on Laboratory Animal Diets". Os parâmetros empregados para a avaliação da utilização de vitamina A foram as concentrações de vitamina A no fígado e plasma e o crescimento dos animais. Ao final do experimento, observou-se que os animais que consumiram a ração à base da dieta regional de Manaus, suplementada com pupunha e vitamina A, apresentaram, respectivamente, concentração significativamente maior de vitamina A no fígado, 43,3 ± 6,5 µg/g e 42,0 ± 4,3 µg/g em relação à dieta regional, 5,5 ± 1,1 µg/g (p<0,05. A quantidade de zinco presente na dieta regional de Manaus, 10,7 mg diários, foi biodisponível quando avaliada pela concentração de zinco nos fêmures. Os resultados sugerem que existe necessidade de suplementação da dieta regional de Manaus com vitamina A para a manutenção das reservas hepáticas, podendo, para tanto, ser utilizada a fonte natural da pupunha.

  7. Desenvolvimento pós-embrionário de Pattonella intermutans (Thomson (Diptera: Sarcophagidae em diferentes dietas Post-embryonary development of Pattonella intermutans (Thomson, 1869 in different diets

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Marcio S. Loureiro

    2005-03-01

    Full Text Available A proposta deste estudo foi de avaliar o desenvolvimento pós-embrionário de Pattonella intermutans (Thomson, 1869 em dietas artificiais preparadas com agar-agar. Dieta D1: leite em pó integral + fermento biológico; Dieta D2: leite em pó integral + fermento biológico + caseína; Dieta D3: leite em pó integral + ovo cru; Dieta D4: carne bovina moída (dieta controle. A carne bovina moída foi a dieta mais eficiente (peso larval de 195,63 mg e viabilidade de neolarva a adulto de 86,5%, quando comparada com as dietas artificiais. Os seguintes resultados foram obtidos para o grupo experimental: Dieta D3: 180,15 mg e 63,5%; Dieta D2: 141,07 mg e 61% e na Dieta D1: 147,98 mg e 51,5%.The purpose of this study was to evaluate the post-embryonary development of Pattonella intermutans (Thomson, 1969 in artificial diets composed of agar-agar. Diet D1: whole dried milk + dried brewer's yeast; Diet D2: whole dried milk + dried brewer's yeast+ casein; Diet D3: whole dried milk + whole egg; Diet D4: bovine meal (control diet. The bovine meat was the best diet (larval weight 195.63mg and viability from larvae to adult 86,5%, when compared to all other artificial diets. The following performances were obtained for experimental groups: diet D3: 180.15 mg and 63.5%; diet D2: 141.07 mg and 61% and diet D1: 147.98 mg e 51.5%.

  8. Valoración de una dieta hipercalórica en el desarrollo de osteoporosis en ratas Sprague-Dawley gonadectomizadas

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    Mónica A. Gutiérrez

    1995-09-01

    Full Text Available El trabajo se inició con 34 ratas Sprague-Dawley de siete semanas de edad, de las cuales 26 se sometieron a gonadectomía bilateral para inducirles la menopausia. El grupo control quedó constituido por las restantes 8 ratas no gonadectomizadas. Para evaluar la influencia de la dieta hipercalórica en el desarrollo de osteoporosis, a 13 ratas gonadectomizadas se les suministró una dieta rica en grasa (grupo A, mientras que las otras 13 ratas (grupo B y el grupo control recibieron una dieta regular. Cinco meses después de la ovariectomía, la dieta hipercalórica causó la disminución del contenido de calcio en vértebras lumbares (L3, L4 y L5, mostrándose el efecto de la dieta en cuanto a que, bajo la ingesta de los demás nutrientes, se modificó su utilización, causando una desnutrición generalizada y cooperando así con el proceso de génesis de la osteoporosis. La ovariectomía indujo cambios hormonales que favorecieron el proceso de desmineralización condicionante de osteoporosis, validándose así el modelo experimental.

  9. Modulación de la respuesta alérgica por los carotenoides de la dieta

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    Andrés Ernesto Merlano-Barón

    2016-01-01

    Evidencia epidemiológica y básica experimental emergente señala que los carotenoides de la dieta participan en la regulación de la inflamación alérgica, y por ello se postulan como coadyuvantes en la terapia de tales padecimientos. En el presente artículo se revisará el estado del arte en relación a los efectos de los carotenoides de la dieta sobre la patología alérgica.

  10. Dieta, obesidad y sedentarismo como factores de riesgo del cáncer de mama

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    Carlos Antonio Oliva Anaya

    Full Text Available El cáncer de mama es la primera causa de muerte por tumores malignos entre las mujeres. Una dieta no saludable, el sedentarismo y la obesidad son factores de riesgo importantes para padecer cáncer de mama, sobre todo en mujeres posmenopáusicas. El objetivo del presente trabajo es revisar los estudios epidemiológicos más relevantes sobre dieta, obesidad y cáncer de mama en las mujeres. Se estableció una estrategia de información, educación y comunicación social como apoyo a las acciones del Programa Nacional de Control de Cáncer Mamario. Para la prevención y tratamiento de la obesidad e incidencia de cáncer de mama es necesario actividades de educación nutricional, para producir cambios en los patrones y hábitos alimentarios y por consiguiente de estilos de vida, que promuevan una dieta más variada y el aumento del ejercicio físico, entre otros aspectos.

  11. Índice de Qualidade da Dieta Revisado para população brasileira Índice de Calidad de la Dieta Revisado para población brasileña A revised version of the Healthy Eating Index for the Brazilian population

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Ágatha Nogueira Previdelli

    2011-08-01

    Full Text Available O Índice de Qualidade da Dieta Revisado é um indicador de qualidade da dieta desenvolvido consoante com as recomendações nutricionais vigentes. Os dados dietéticos foram provenientes do estudo de base-populacional, Inquérito de Saúde e Alimentação (ISA-Capital-2003. O Índice contém 12 componentes, sendo nove fundamentados nos grupos de alimentos do Guia Alimentar Brasileiro de 2006, cujas porções diárias são expressas em densidade energética; dois nutrientes (sódio e gordura saturada; e Gord_AA (calorias provenientes de gordura sólida, álcool e açúcar de adição. O Índice de Qualidade da Dieta Revisado propicia mensurar variados fatores de riscos dietéticos para doenças crônicas, permitindo, simultaneamente, avaliar e monitorar a dieta em nível individual ou populacional.El Índice de Calidad de la Dieta Revisado es un indicador de calidad de la dieta desarrollado cónsono con las recomendaciones nutricionales vigentes. Los datos dietéticos fueron provenientes del estudio de base poblacional Inquérito de Saúde e Alimentação (ISA - Pesquisa de Salud y Alimentación-Capital-2003. El Índice contiene 12 componentes, siendo nueve fundamentados en los grupos de alimentos de la Guía Alimentaria Brasileña de 2006, cuyas porciones diarias son expresadas en densidad energética; dos nutrientes (sodio y grasa saturada; y Gord_AA (calorías provenientes de grasa sólida, alcohol y azúcar de adición. El Índice de Calidad de la Dieta Revisado propicia medir varios factores de riesgos dietéticos para enfermedades crónicas, permitiendo, simultáneamente, evaluar y monitorear la dieta en nivel individual o poblacional.The revised version of the Brazilian Healthy Eating Index is an indicator of dietary quality developed according to current nutritional recommendations. Dietary data were obtained from a population-based survey, the 2003 Inquérito de Saúde e Alimentação (ISA - Health and Diet Survey-Capital. The Revised

  12. Redução de fósforo em dietas para frangos com base em valores de equivalência da fitase

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    Luciana de Paula Naves

    2014-01-01

    Full Text Available O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o uso de valores de equivalência da fitase como base para redução de fósforo disponível (P-disp em dietas para frangos. Foram avaliados dez planos nutricionais com seis repetições de 15 aves cada uma. Avaliaram-se: desempenho, teor de cinzas na tíbia e custo da ração. De 1 a 7 e de 36 a 42 dias de idade, as aves receberam dieta basal; de 8 a 21 dias, dieta sem fitase contendo 3,9 g kg-1 de P-disp e quatro dietas com fitase contendo de 1,1 a 2,5 g kg-1 de P-disp; e de 22 a 35 dias, dieta sem fitase contendo 3,4 g kg-1 de P-disp mais dieta com fitase contendo 1,6 g kg-1 de P-disp. O melhor plano nutricional foi composto pelas dietas: 4,7 g kg-1 de P-disp sem fitase (1 a 7 dias; 2,0 g kg-1 de P-disp suplementada com fitase (8 a 21 dias; 3,4 g kg-1 de P-disp em ração sem fitase (22 a 35 dias; e 3,0 g kg-1 de P-disp em ração sem fitase (36 a 42 dias. A redução do P-disp ocorre no período de 8 a 21 dias de idade e corresponde a 2,0 g kg-1 de ração suplementada com fitase.

  13. Dieta mediterránea y enfermedad cardiovascular

    OpenAIRE

    Carasa López, Irene

    2016-01-01

    La Enfermedad cardiovascular es uno de los grandes problemas sanitarios de la sociedad, puesto que es la principal causa de mortalidad en el mundo. De ahí la importancia de estudiar que la desencadena y, sobre todo, como prevenir su aparición. Numerosos estudios han demostrado que la Dieta Mediterránea tiene un efecto cardioprotector. Como alimentos propios de ella, aceite de oliva (ácido oleico), frutos secos, legumbres, cereales, pescado, vegetales, hortalizas, frutas y vino tinto, contr...

  14. Evaluación de harina de yuca (20% en combinación con diferentes fuentes protéicas en dietas para pollos de engorde

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    Gómez de Martínez Carmen E.

    1989-06-01

    Full Text Available Se realizó un experimento para evaluar el efecto del nivel óptimo de inclusión (20% de harina de yuca en dietas para pollos de engorde en combinación con tres fuentes proteicas, sobre los rendimientos biológicos y sus resultados económicos. Las variables experimentales consistieron en 4 dietas (tratamientos que presentaron como fuente de variación los ingredientes proteicos; la dieta 10% de harina de yuca y tres fuentes de proteína (torta de soya, harina de pescado y torta de algodón, la dieta 2 con 20% de harina de yuca y las tres fuentes de proteína (torta de soya, harina de pescado y torta de algodón, la dieta 3 con 20% de harina de yuca y dos fuentes de proteína (torta de soya, harina de pescado y la dieta 4 con 20% de harina de yuca y una fuente de proteína (torta de soya. En el período de la 0-7 semanas, hubo comportamiento estadísticamente similar entre las dietas 1 y 2 (ganancia de peso: 1.679 vs 1.678 g; consumo de alimento: 3.521 vs 3A83 g; conversión: 2.09 vs 2.07. La dieta 3 aunque no presentó diferencias estadísticas con las anteriores, produjo menos ganancia de peso. La dieta 4 presentó. más bajas ganancias de peso (1.433 g y el menor consumo de alimento (2.972 g. El peso promedio final de los pollos fue de 1.986 g. (dieta 1, 1.991 (dieta 2, 1.994 (dieta 3 y 1.734 g. (dieta 4. El máximo beneficio neto se obtuvo con la dieta 2.An experiment was carried out to evaluate the effect of including the optimum level (20 % of cassava flour in diets for feed chicken in combination with three sources of protein, on the biological yields and their economic results. The experimental varieties were made up of 4 diets (treatments which varied in terms of the source protein: diet 1, 0% of cassava flour, and cottonseed meal, diet 2 with 20% cassava flour and three sources of protein (soybean meal, fish flour and cottonseed meal, diet 3 with 20% cassava flour and two sources of protein (soybean meal and fish flour, and diet 4

  15. Plant lock and ant key: pairwise coevolution of an exclusion filter in an ant-plant mutualism.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Brouat, C; Garcia, N; Andary, C; McKey, D

    2001-10-22

    Although observations suggest pairwise coevolution in specific ant-plant symbioses, coevolutionary processes have rarely been demonstrated. We report on, what is to the authors' knowledge, the strongest evidence yet for reciprocal adaptation of morphological characters in a species-specific ant-plant mutualism. The plant character is the prostoma, which is a small unlignified organ at the apex of the domatia in which symbiotic ants excavate an entrance hole. Each myrmecophyte in the genus Leonardoxa has evolved a prostoma with a different shape. By performing precise measurements on the prostomata of three related myrmecophytes, on their specific associated ants and on the entrance holes excavated by symbiotic ants at the prostomata, we showed that correspondence of the plant and ant traits forms a morphological and behavioural filter. We have strong evidence for coevolution between the dimensions and shape of the symbiotic ants and the prostoma in one of the three ant-Leonardoxa associations.

  16. Beyond ANT

    DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

    Jansen, Till

    2017-01-01

    Actor-Network-Theory (ANT) offers an ‘infra-language’ of the social that allows one to trace social relations very dynamically, while at the same time dissolving human agency, thus providing a flat and de-centred way into sociology. However, ANT struggles with its theoretical design that may lead...... us to reduce agency to causation and to conceptualize actor-networks as homogeneous ontologies of force. This article proposes to regard ANT’s inability to conceptualize reflexivity and the interrelatedness of different ontologies as the fundamental problem of the theory. Drawing on Günther......, it offers an ‘infra-language’ of reflexive relations while maintaining ANT’s de-centred approach. This would enable us to conceptualize actor-networks as non-homogeneous, dynamic and connecting different societal rationales while maintaining the main strengths of ANT....

  17. Dynamics of an ant-plant-pollinator model

    Science.gov (United States)

    Wang, Yuanshi; DeAngelis, Donald L.; Nathaniel Holland, J.

    2015-03-01

    In this paper, we consider plant-pollinator-ant systems in which plant-pollinator interaction and plant-ant interaction are both mutualistic, but there also exists interference of pollinators by ants. The plant-pollinator interaction can be described by a Beddington-DeAngelis formula, so we extend the formula to characterize plant-pollinator mutualisms, including the interference by ants, and form a plant-pollinator-ant model. Using dynamical systems theory, we show uniform persistence of the model. Moreover, we demonstrate conditions under which boundary equilibria are globally asymptotically stable. The dynamics exhibit mechanisms by which the three species could coexist when ants interfere with pollinators. We define a threshold in ant interference. When ant interference is strong, it can drive plant-pollinator mutualisms to extinction. Furthermore, if the ants depend on pollination mutualism for their persistence, then sufficiently strong ant interference could lead to their own extinction as well. Yet, when ant interference is weak, plant-ant and plant-pollinator mutualisms can promote the persistence of one another.

  18. Using Ants as bioindicators: Multiscale Issues in Ant Community Ecology

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    Alan Andersen

    1997-06-01

    Full Text Available Ecological patterns and processes are characteristically scale dependent, and research findings often cannot be translated easily from one scale to another. Conservation biology is challenged by a lack of congruence between the spatial scales of ecological research (typically involving small plots and land management (typically involving whole landscapes. Here, I discuss spatial scaling issues as they relate to an understanding of ant communities and, consequently, their use as bioindicators in land management. Our perceptions of fundamental patterns and processes in ant communities depend on scale: taxa that are behaviorally dominant at one scale are not necessarily so at others, functional groups recognized at one scale are often inappropriate for others, and the role of competition in community structure depends on the scale of analysis. Patterns of species richness and composition, and the ability of total richness to be estimated by surrogates, are all also scale dependent. Ant community ecology has a tradition of detailed studies in small plots, but the use of ants as bioindicators requires a predictive understanding of community structure and dynamics at a range of spatial scales. Such an appreciation of ant communities and their most effective use as bioindicators is best served by studies integrating results from plot-scale research with the broad-scale paradigms of biogeography, systematics, and evolutionary biology.

  19. Dieta cetogénica. A experiência de um Serviço de Pediatria

    OpenAIRE

    Marçal, Mónica; Deuchande, Sofia; Lima, Sofia; Vale, Gorete; Alves, Eduarda; Carlos Ferreira, José; Cabral, Pedro; Carlos Guimarães, José

    2014-01-01

    Introdução: A dieta cetogénica consiste num regime alimentar normoproteíco, rico em lípidos e pobre em hidratos de carbono, que mimetiza a resposta do organismo ao jejum prolongado. Tem sido utilizada no tratamento de crianças com epilepsia refractária.Metodologia: Análise retrospectiva de 27 crianças com epilepsia refractária, acompanhadas em Consulta de Neurologia Pediátrica de um Hospital de nível III e submetidas a dieta cetogénica. Caracterização da amostra no que diz respeito à distribu...

  20. Ecosystem services delivered by weaver ants

    DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

    Offenberg, Joachim

    Weaver ants (Oecopgylla spp.) are increasingly being utilized as efficient biocontrol agents in a number of tropical tree crops, as they prey on pest insects and increase yields. However, recent studies and a review of the literature reveal that a number of other services may derive from the pres......Weaver ants (Oecopgylla spp.) are increasingly being utilized as efficient biocontrol agents in a number of tropical tree crops, as they prey on pest insects and increase yields. However, recent studies and a review of the literature reveal that a number of other services may derive from...... the presence of these ants. First of all, the chemical footprint left by the high density of ants in managed host trees may results in additional benefits. (i) Ant deposits may lead to improved fruit quality, e.g. increased sugar content, (ii) ant deposits may deter important pests (chemical deterrence) from...... crops, and lastly, (iii) ant waste products deposited ias anal spots contain urea that may be taken up by plant leaves and in this way fertilize ant-plants. On top of chemical services, weaver ants have been shown to reduce plant disease incidence via competitive exclusion of other ant species because...

  1. Ensayo de diferentes lecitinas en la dieta de juveniles de Penaeus vannamei (Crustacea: Decapoda

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Ana Denisse Re-Araujo

    2003-09-01

    Full Text Available Para comparar diferentes niveles y calidades de lecitina se hizo un bioensayo nutricional con dietas isoenergéticas; para medir el crecimiento, la tasa de conversión alimenticia y sobrevivencia de juveniles de P. vannamei (290 mg ± 0.02. Las lecitinas experimentales fueron de calamar, lecitina liquida de soya (7%, lecitina desaceitada de soya (3.48% en combinación con aceite de pescado o lípidos neutros de calamar, en una formula parcialmente desaceitada. Las cinco dietas fueron administradas ad libitum con cuatro replicas (estanques de 15 camarones cada uno (5 x 4 x 15, durante 28 días. La mayor ganancia en peso fue (191% y FCR (1.69±0.041 fueron obtenidos con la dieta que contenía 7% de lecitina cruda de soya como única fuente de lípidos, seguida por la dieta que contenía 3.94% de lecitina desaceitada y 2.24% de aceite Menhaiden (172% y 2.03±0.054 respectivamente. Como se esperaba los resultados menos propicios fueron con la dieta que no contenía lecitina (121% y 2.42±0.129. La lecitina cruda de soya, cubrió los requerimientos de fosfolípidos y de lípidos neutrales, tanto como la dieta con lecitina desaceitada de soya con aceite de pescado o aceite de calamarThe effect of different lecithin sources and presentations on growth, food conversion ratio and survival of P. vannamei (290 mg ± 0.02 was studied. The bioassay was designed in order to compare different dietary levels and different quality of lecithin. Squid lecithin, crude soybean (7%, deoiled soybean lecithin (3.48% in combination with fish oil or squid neutral lipids, in a partially dilapidate formula. The isoenergetic diets were fed ad libitum to four replicate groups (tanks of 15 shrimps each (5 x 4 x 15, during 28 days. The result of the bioassay with the partially dilapidate formulas was; the best growth rate (191% and FCR (1.69±0.041 were obtained with the diet containing 7% of soybean crude lecithin as the unique lipid source. Followed by the diet countering 3

  2. Efeito da inclusão de nitrato na dieta sobre a fermentação ruminal, a emissão de metano entérico e o desempenho de ovinos

    OpenAIRE

    Hani Mohammed Mohammed El-zaiat

    2013-01-01

    Objetivou-se avaliar os efeitos da inclusão de nitrato encapsulado na dieta sobre a fermentação ruminal, a emissão de metano enterico e o desempenho de ovinos. Foram utilizados 18 cordeiros Santa Inês (peso vivo médio de 27 ± 5,55 kg) designados em blocos casualizados por peso, sendo oferecida uma dieta 40:60 feno/concentrado, como dieta basal e alocados a um dos seguintes tratamentos: dieta controle (dieta basal com 1,50% de uréia), Nitrato (dieta basal com 4,51% nitrato encapsulado) e Nitra...

  3. Ant-lepidopteran associations along African forest edges

    Science.gov (United States)

    Dejean, Alain; Azémar, Frédéric; Libert, Michel; Compin, Arthur; Hérault, Bruno; Orivel, Jérôme; Bouyer, Thierry; Corbara, Bruno

    2017-02-01

    Working along forest edges, we aimed to determine how some caterpillars can co-exist with territorially dominant arboreal ants (TDAAs) in tropical Africa. We recorded caterpillars from 22 lepidopteran species living in the presence of five TDAA species. Among the defoliator and/or nectarivorous caterpillars that live on tree foliage, the Pyralidae and Nymphalidae use their silk to protect themselves from ant attacks. The Notodontidae and lycaenid Polyommatinae and Theclinae live in direct contact with ants; the Theclinae even reward ants with abundant secretions from their Newcomer gland. Lichen feeders (lycaenid; Poritiinae), protected by long bristles, also live among ants. Some lycaenid Miletinae caterpillars feed on ant-attended membracids, including in the shelters where the ants attend them; Lachnocnema caterpillars use their forelegs to obtain trophallaxis from their host ants. Caterpillars from other species live inside weaver ant nests. Those of the genus Euliphyra (Miletinae) feed on ant prey and brood and can obtain trophallaxis, while those from an Eberidae species only prey on host ant eggs. Eublemma albifascia (Erebidae) caterpillars use their thoracic legs to obtain trophallaxis and trophic eggs from ants. Through transfer bioassays of last instars, we noted that herbivorous caterpillars living in contact with ants were always accepted by alien conspecific ants; this is likely due to an intrinsic appeasing odor. Yet, caterpillars living in ant shelters or ant nests probably acquire cues from their host colonies because they were considered aliens and killed. We conclude that co-evolution with ants occurred similarly in the Heterocera and Rhopalocera.

  4. The metapleural gland of ants

    DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

    Yek, Sze Huei; Mueller, Ulrich G

    2011-01-01

    The metapleural gland (MG) is a complex glandular structure unique to ants, suggesting a critical role in their origin and ecological success. We synthesize the current understanding of the adaptive function, morphology, evolutionary history, and chemical properties of the MG. Two functions......-compressible invagination of the integument and the secretion is thought to ooze out passively through the non-closable opening of the MG or is groomed off by the legs and applied to target surfaces. MG loss has occurred repeatedly among the ants, particularly in the subfamilies Formicinae and Myrmicinae, and the MG...... is more commonly absent in males than in workers. MG chemistry has been characterized mostly in derived ant lineages with unique biologies (e.g. leafcutter ants, fire ants), currently precluding any inferences about MG chemistry at the origin of the ants. A synthetic approach integrating functional...

  5. Consumo e digestibilidade aparente em bezerros da raça holandesa alimentados com dietas contendo diferentes níveis de volumoso

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Ricardo Dias Signoretti

    1999-02-01

    Full Text Available O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o efeito de diferentes níveis de volumoso nas dietas sobre os consumos e as digestibilidades aparentes de matéria seca (MS, matéria orgânica (MO, proteína bruta (PB, extrato etéreo (EE, fibra em detergente neutro (FDN, carboidratos totais (CHOT e energia bruta (EB e sobre os consumos de nutrientes digestíveis totais (NDT. Trinta e cinco bezerros da raça Holandesa puros por cruzamento, não-castrados, com idade média de 60 dias e peso vivo inicial de 78 kg, foram distribuídos em delineamento inteiramente casualizado, com nove repetições por dieta, exceto para a dieta com 10% de volumoso, com oito repetições. Os animais foram alimentados à vontade com dietas contendo níveis de 10, 25, 40 e 55% de volumoso, na base da MS, usando-se feno de capim coast-cross (Cynodon dactylon, fubá de milho e farelo de soja, os quais constituíram dietas com aproximadamente 16% de PB. O óxido crômico foi usado para obtenção das estimativas dos fluxos de MS fecal. Os carboidratos totais foram obtidos por 100 - (%PB + %EE + %Cinzas. O consumo de NDT foi obtido por (cPB - PBf + 2,25 (cEE - EEf + (cCHOT - CHOTf, em que c significa consumo e f, excreção fecal. Não houve efeito dos níveis de volumoso nas dietas sobre os consumos de MS e MO (kg/dia, % PV e g/kg0,75 e de PB e CHOT (kg/dia e % PV. O consumo de FDN (kg/dia, %PV e g/kg0,75 aumentou, enquanto o consumo de EE e NDT (em kg/dia e %PV reduziu linearmente em função dos níveis de volumoso na dieta. Houve efeito linear decrescente sobre as digestibilidades aparentes de MS, MO, PB, EE, CHOT e EB, em função do aumento dos níveis de volumoso nas dietas, enquanto a digestibilidade aparente da FDN não foi influenciada. Os consumos de EE, FDN e NDT e as digestibilidades aparentes de MS, MO, EE, PB, CHOT e EB foram influenciados pelos níveis de volumoso nas dietas.

  6. Estudo sobre a ocorrência de fungos e aflatoxina B1 na dieta de bovinos leiteiros em São Paulo

    OpenAIRE

    Motta, Thiago P.; Frizzarin, Adriana; Martins, Thamires; Miranda, Mariana S.; Arcaro, Juliana R.P.; Ambrósio, Luiz A.; Pozzi, Claudia R.

    2015-01-01

    A qualidade da dieta ofertada às vacas em lactação é uma preocupação dos agentes de saúde devido à possibilidade da detecção de micotoxinas prejudiciais a saúde humana e animal. Os objetivos do trabalho foram avaliar o perfil da micobiota, determinar a atividade de água (Aa) e a ocorrência natural de aflatoxina B1 (AFB1) em dietas ofertadas a vacas em lactação de fazendas leiteiras no estado de São Paulo, Brasil. As amostragens das dietas foram realizadas diretamente dos cochos de lote de 15 ...

  7. DIETAS DE ALTA PROPORÇÃO DE CONCENTRADO PARA BOVINOS DE CORTE CONFINADOS

    OpenAIRE

    SILVA, Hélio Lourêdo da

    2009-01-01

    O objetivo deste trabalho foi de avaliar os efeitos de dietas de alta proporção de concentrado, sobre os desempenhos e características de carcaça, comportamento ingestivo e indicadores fecais de 20 bovinos Nelore, com idade de 28 meses. As dietas DT+BIN (10% de bagaço de cana in natura , 54,52% de sorgo moído, 10,94% de caroço de algodão, 18% de casca de soja, 2,54% de farelo de soja e 4% de núcleo farelado), MGI (10% de casca de soja, 75% de milho grão e 15% de núcleo peletizado) e DT (44,4...

  8. Desempenho de vacas em lactação alimentadas com dietas contendo torta de macaúba

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    R.A. Azevedo

    2014-02-01

    Full Text Available Avaliaram-se o consumo de nutrientes e a produção e composição do leite de vacas da raça Holandesa alimentadas com dietas contendo diferentes quantidades de inclusão de torta de macaúba. Oito animais foram distribuídos em dois quadrados latinos 4x4, sendo quatro tratamentos, 0, 100, 200 e 300g kg-1 de TM na matéria seca da dieta, e quatro períodos experimentais de 21 dias, 14 de adaptação e sete de avaliações. A adição de quantidades crescentes de torta de macaúba à dieta alterou o consumo de matéria seca, matéria orgânica, proteína bruta, extrato etéreo, fibra em detergente neutro, carboidratos não fibrosos, produção e os teores de lactose, extrato seco desengordurado e sólidos totais do leite, bem como a eficiência alimentar e a digestibilidade da matéria seca. Por outro lado, não foi verificada diferença nos teores de gordura do leite. A adição da TM em até 300g kg-1 da dieta comprometeu o consumo e o desempenho produtivo dos animais.

  9. Foliar uptake of nitrogen from ant fecal droplets: an overlooked service to ant plants

    DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

    Pinkalski, Christian Alexander Stidsen; Jensen, Karl-Martin Vagn; Damgaard, Christian Frølund

    2018-01-01

    and subsequently deposited fecal droplets on the seedlings, coffee leaves showed increased levels of 15N and total N compared to control plants without ants. This was evident for both exposed leaves and leaves covered in plastic bags (i.e. not directly exposed to ants). Thus, N from ant excretions was absorbed...

  10. Índices dietéticos para avaliação da qualidade de dietas Dietetic indices for assessment of diet quality

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Ana Carolina Pinheiro Volp

    2010-04-01

    Full Text Available A relação entre dieta e saúde pode ser avaliada pelo nível de alguns componentes do alimento (nutrientes, tipos de alimento, grupo ou grupos de alimentos e padrões alimentares. A associação entre estes parâmetros e várias doenças crônicas pode ser analisada por meio da adoção de instrumentos dietéticos de avaliação global de dietas e, para tanto, vários índices têm sido propostos. Este trabalho tem como objetivo descrever os diferentes índices para avaliação da qualidade de dietas, incluindo o Índice de Nutrientes, Escore da Variedade da Dieta, Escore da Diversidade da Dieta, Índice de Qualidade da Dieta, Índice de Alimentação Saudável, Índice de Qualidade da Dieta Revisado, Índice de Alimentação Saudável Alternativo, Contagem de Alimentos Recomendados e Escore da Dieta Mediterrânea Alternativo, bem como suas derivações. Esses índices apresentam uma evolução do conceito de qualidade, enfatizando as propriedades funcionais dos fatores dietéticos relacionados à redução do risco das doenças mais prevalentes na atualidade.The relation between diet and health can be evaluated by the level of some food components (nutrients, kinds of food, group or food groups and eating patterns. The association between these parameters and some chronic diseases can be examined by dietary instruments of global diet assessments and some indices have been considered for this end. The aim of this work was to describe the different indices for assessing diet quality, including the Index of Nutrients, Dietary Variety Score, Dietary Diversity Score, Diet Quality Index, Healthy Eating Index, Diet Quality Index Revised, Alternative Healthy Eating Index, Recommended Food Score, Alternative Mediterranean Diet Score, as well as their derivations. These indices show an improvement in the concept of quality, emphasizing the functional properties of food components related to risk reduction of the most prevalent diseases nowadays.

  11. Acumulación/eliminación de oxitetraciclina en el camarón blanco, lv y su residualidad en dietas artificiales

    OpenAIRE

    Montoya, Nelson; Reyes, Eduardo

    2002-01-01

    Acumulación/eliminación de oxitetraciclina en el camarón blanco, LV y su residualidad en dietas artificiales Acumulación/eliminación de oxitetraciclina en el camarón blanco, LV y su residualidad en dietas artificiales

  12. Odorous house ants (Tapinoma sessile as back-seat drivers of localized ant decline in urban habitats.

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Adam Salyer

    Full Text Available Invasive species and habitat disturbance threaten biodiversity worldwide by modifying ecosystem performance and displacing native organisms. Similar homogenization impacts manifest locally when urbanization forces native species to relocate or reinvade perpetually altered habitat. This study investigated correlations between ant richness and abundance in response to urbanization and the nearby presence of invasive ant species, odorous house ants (Tapinoma sessile, within its native region. Surveying localized ant composition within natural, semi-natural, and urban habitat supported efforts to determine whether T. sessile appear to be primary (drivers threats as instigators or secondary (passengers threats as inheritors of indigenous ant decline. Sampling 180 sites, evenly split between all habitats with and without T. sessile present, yielded 45 total species. Although urbanization and T. sessile presence factors were significantly linked to ant decline, their interaction correlated to the greatest reduction of total ant richness (74% and abundance (81%. Total richness appeared to decrease from 27 species to 18 when natural habitat is urbanized and from 18 species to 7 with T. sessile present in urban plots. Odorous house ant presence minimally influenced ant communities within natural and semi-natural habitat, highlighting the importance of habitat alteration and T. sessile presence interactions. Results suggest urbanization releases T. sessile from unknown constraints by decreasing ant richness and competition. Within urban environment, T. sessile are pre-adapted to quickly exploit new resources and grow to supercolony strength wherein T. sessile drive adjacent biodiversity loss. Odorous house ants act as passengers and drivers of ecological change throughout different phases of urban 'invasion'. This progression through surviving habitat alteration, exploiting new resources, thriving, and further reducing interspecific competition supports a

  13. Papel protector de la dieta Mediterránea sobre el Índice de Hígado Graso. Estudio PREDIMED-Málaga

    OpenAIRE

    Cueto Galán, Raquel

    2016-01-01

    ANTECEDENTES La dieta Mediterránea está asociada con una disminución en la prevalencia del síndrome metabólico donde el hígado graso es el componente hepático. No obstante, los efectos de esta dieta sobre las enzimas hepáticas y el hígado graso apenas están explorados, es más, los mecanismos subyacentes en relación con el hígado graso y una dieta Mediterránea enriquecida con aceite de oliva o frutos secos no han sido aún estudiados. El Índice de Hígado Graso (FLI, Fatty Liver Index), ha si...

  14. Desempenho de cordeiros alimentados com inclusão de torta de macaúba na dieta

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Rafael Alves de Azevedo

    2012-11-01

    Full Text Available O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o consumo de nutrientes e o desempenho produtivo e econômico de ovinos confinados da raça Santa Inês, alimentados com dietas com diferentes taxas de inclusão de torta de macaúba. Os animais (24 foram distribuídos em delineamento de blocos ao acaso, nos tratamentos com 0, 100, 200 e 300 g kg-1 de torta de macaúba na matéria seca da dieta, em seis repetições, durante 60 dias de confinamento. A adição de torta de macaúba a taxas crescentes à dieta aumentou linearmente o consumo de proteína bruta, extrato etéreo, fibra em detergente neutro e a conversão alimentar. Não houve diferença no consumo de matéria seca, ganho médio diário e ganho de peso vivo total com a adição da torta. O tratamento com inclusão de 100 g kg-1 apresentou a melhor relação custo:benefício na avaliação das receitas bruta e líquida obtidas com a venda dos animais vivos e abatidos. A adição da torta de macaúba em até 300 g kg-1 da dieta não altera o desempenho produtivo dos animais, entretanto, a inclusão de 100 g kg-1 proporciona melhor retorno econômico.

  15. Microsatellite primers for fungus-growing ants

    DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

    Villesen, Palle; Gertsch, P J; Boomsma, JJ

    2002-01-01

    We isolated five polymorphic microsatellite loci from a library of two thousand recombinant clones of two fungus-growing ant species, Cyphomyrmex longiscapus and Trachymyrmex cf. zeteki. Amplification and heterozygosity were tested in five species of higher attine ants using both the newly...... developed primers and earlier published primers that were developed for fungus-growing ants. A total of 20 variable microsatellite loci, developed for six different species of fungus-growing ants, are now available for studying the population genetics and colony kin-structure of these ants....

  16. Microsatellite Primers for Fungus-Growing Ants

    DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

    Villesen Fredsted, Palle; Gertsch, Pia J.; Boomsma, Jacobus Jan (Koos)

    2002-01-01

    We isolated five polymorphic microsatellite loci from a library of two thousand recombinant clones of two fungus-growing ant species, Cyphomyrmex longiscapus and Trachymyrmex cf. zeteki. Amplification and heterozygosity were tested in five species of higher attine ants using both the newly...... developed primers and earlier published primers that were developed for fungus-growing ants. A total of 20 variable microsatellite loci, developed for six different species of fungus-growing ants, are now available for studying the population genetics and colony kin-structure of these ants....

  17. Meta-análise da digestibilidade ileal de aminoácidos e minerais em suínos alimentados com dietas contendo enzimas

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Cheila Roberta Lehnen

    2011-04-01

    Full Text Available O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar, por meio da meta-análise, o efeito da fitase e da xilanase sobre a digestibilidade ileal aparente (DIa de aminoácidos, cálcio e fósforo, em suínos em fase de crescimento. A base de dados consistiu de 21 artigos publicados entre 1998 e 2009, no total de 82 tratamentos e 644 suínos. A meta-análise foi realizada por análise gráfica, de correlação, de variância-covariância. As concentrações de fósforo fítico e as frações fibra em detergente neutro, fibra em detergente ácido e lignina em detergente ácido, nas dietas, apresentaram correlações baixas e negativas com a DIa do cálcio, fósforo e aminoácidos. A adição de fitase às dietas aumentou em 2% a DIa da arginina, em 14% a do cálcio e em 34% a do fósforo. A DIa da arginina, fenilalanina, isoleucina e lisina foi 3,3% superior em suínos alimentados com dietas com xilanase, em relação às dietas sem a enzima. O fósforo fítico e as fibras, nas dietas, reduzem a DIa do cálcio, do fósforo e dos aminoácidos essenciais. O uso de fitase e xilanase, nas dietas, melhora o aproveitamento de cálcio, fósforo e alguns aminoácidos. No entanto, o excesso de cálcio e fósforo nas dietas reduz a ação da fitase sobre a digestibilidade ileal dos nutrientes.

  18. Ant Colony Optimization for Control

    NARCIS (Netherlands)

    Van Ast, J.M.

    2010-01-01

    The very basis of this thesis is the collective behavior of ants in colonies. Ants are an excellent example of how rather simple behavior on a local level can lead to complex behavior on a global level that is beneficial for the individuals. The key in the self-organization of ants is communication

  19. Las dietas cetogénicas: fundamentos y eficacia para la pérdida de peso

    OpenAIRE

    Pérez-Guisado, Joaquín

    2008-01-01

    El consenso internacional es que los carbohidratos son la base de la pirámide alimenticia de una dieta saludable, de tal forma que la mayoría de los especialistas de hoy en día piensan que la mejor forma de perder peso es mediante una reducción en el número total de calorías ingeridas diariamente, principalmente las que vienen en forma de grasa. No obstante, esta revisión intentará demostrar que las dietas cetogénicas son desde un punto de vista fisiológico, bioquímico y ...

  20. Acne e dieta: verdade ou mito? Acne and diet: truth or myth?

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Adilson Costa

    2010-06-01

    Full Text Available Nos últimos 50 anos, foram publicados inúmeros estudos com a finalidade de comprovar se a dieta está relacionada à etiologia da acne. Embora existam estudos antigos, que são bem difundidos entre os dermatologistas e negam a associação entre acne e dieta, seu delineamento científico é pobre. Recentemente, novos artigos demonstraram evidências contrárias às publicações anteriores. Sendo assim, os autores realizaram esta revisão bibliográfica com o intuito de averiguar se a dieta influencia direta ou indiretamente um ou mais dos quatro pilares etiopatogênicos fundamentais da acne: (1 hiperproliferação dos queratinócitos basais, (2 aumento da produção sebácea, (3 colonização pelo Propionibacterium acnes e (4 inflamação.Numerous studies were published over the last 50 years to investigate whether diet is associated with the etiology of acne. Although older studies well known by dermatologists that refute the association between acne and diet exist, their scientific foundation is weak. New articles have recently brought to light evidence contrary to previous findings. Therefore, we would like to investigate whether diet, directly or indirectly, influences one or more of the four fundamental etiopathogenic pillars of acne: (1 hyperproliferation of basal keratinocytes, (2 increase of sebaceous production, (3 colonization by Propionibacterium acnes, and (4 inflammation.

  1. Partial incompatibility between ants and symbiotic fungi in two sympatric species of Acromyrmex leaf-cutting ants.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Bot, A N; Rehner, S A; Boomsma, J J

    2001-10-01

    We investigate the nature and duration of incompatibility between certain combinations of Acromyrmex leaf-cutting ants and symbiotic fungi, taken from sympatric colonies of the same or a related species. Ant-fungus incompatibility appeared to be largely independent of the ant species involved, but could be explained partly by genetic differences among the fungus cultivars. Following current theoretical considerations, we develop a hypothesis, originally proposed by S. A. Frank, that the observed incompatibilities are ultimately due to competitive interactions between genetically different fungal lineages, and we predict that the ants should have evolved mechanisms to prevent such competition between cultivars within a single garden. This requires that the ants are able to recognize unfamiliar fungi, and we show that this is indeed the case. Amplified fragment length polymorphism genotyping further shows that the two sympatric Acromyrmex species share each other's major lineages of cultivar, confirming that horizontal transfer does occasionally take place. We argue and provide some evidence that chemical substances produced by the fungus garden may mediate recognition of alien fungi by the ants. We show that incompatibility between ants and transplanted, genetically different cultivars is indeed due to active killing of the novel cultivar by the ants. This incompatibility disappears when ants are force-fed the novel cultivar for about a week, a result that is consistent with our hypothesis of recognition induced by the resident fungus and eventual replacement of incompatibility compounds during force-feeding.

  2. Sick ants become unsociable

    DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

    Bos, Nicky Peter Maria; Lefevre, T.; Jensen, A.B.

    2012-01-01

    Parasites represent a severe threat to social insects, which form high-density colonies of related individuals, and selection should favour host traits that reduce infection risk. Here, using a carpenter ant (Camponotus aethiops) and a generalist insect pathogenic fungus (Metarhizium brunneum), we...... show that infected ants radically change their behaviour over time to reduce the risk of colony infection. Infected individuals (i) performed less social interactions than their uninfected counterparts, (ii) did not interact with brood anymore and (iii) spent most of their time outside the nest from...... day 3 post-infection until death. Furthermore, infected ants displayed an increased aggressiveness towards non-nestmates. Finally, infected ants did not alter their cuticular chemical profile, suggesting that infected individuals do not signal their physiological status to nestmates. Our results...

  3. Interactive effects of soil-dwelling ants, ant mounds and simulated grazing on local plant community composition

    NARCIS (Netherlands)

    Veen, G.F.; Olff, H.

    2011-01-01

    Interactions between aboveground vertebrate herbivores and subterranean yellow meadow ants (Lasius flavus) can drive plant community patterns in grassland ecosystems. Here, we study the relative importance of the presence of ants (L. flavus) and ant mounds under different simulated grazing regimes

  4. Dieta de Tropidurus Itambere Rodrigues (Sauria ; Iguanidae) na Fazenda Manga, Municipio de Valinhos, São Paulo

    OpenAIRE

    Monique Van Sluys

    1991-01-01

    Resumo: Foi estudada a dieta de Tropidurus itambere, na Fazenda Manga, Valinhos, São Paulo. Os animais foram coletados mensalmente com laço, mortos e fixados no campo. No laboratório processou-se a triagem do conteúdo estomacal, sob lupa. Também foram coletados artrópodos no ambiente para estimativa da disponibilidade relativa de presas. A dieta de T. itambere é onívora, sendo constituída basicamente por formigas (98,3% dos estômagos analisados). Outras presas bastante freqüentes são aranhas,...

  5. Roadside Survey of Ants on Oahu, Hawaii

    Science.gov (United States)

    Tong, Reina L.; Grace, J. Kenneth; Krushelnycky, Paul D.

    2018-01-01

    Hawaii is home to over 60 ant species, including five of the six most damaging invasive ants. Although there have been many surveys of ants in Hawaii, the last island-wide hand-collection survey of ants on Oahu was conducted in 1988–1994. In 2012, a timed hand-collection of ants was made at 44 sites in a systematic, roadside survey throughout Oahu. Ants were identified and species distribution in relation to elevation, precipitation and soil type was analyzed. To assess possible convenience sampling bias, 15 additional sites were sampled further from roads to compare with the samples near roads. Twenty-four species of ants were found and mapped; Pheidole megacephala (F.), Ochetellus glaber (Mayr), and Technomyrmex difficilis Forel were the most frequently encountered ants. For six ant species, a logistic regression was performed with elevation, average annual precipitation, and soil order as explanatory variables. O. glaber was found in areas with lower precipitation around Oahu. Paratrechina longicornis (Latrielle) and Tetramorium simillimum (Smith, F.) were found more often in lower elevations and in areas with the Mollisol soil order. Elevation, precipitation, and soil type were not significant sources of variation for P. megacephala, Plagiolepis alluaudi Emery, and T. difficilis. P. megacephala was associated with fewer mean numbers of ants where it occurred. Ant assemblages near and far from roads did not significantly differ. Many species of ants remain established on Oahu, and recent invaders are spreading throughout the island. Mapping ant distributions contributes to continued documentation and understanding of these pests. PMID:29439503

  6. Dealing with water deficit in Atta ant colonies: large ants scout for water while small ants transport it

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Antonio Carlos Da-Silva

    2012-07-01

    Leafcutter ants (Atta sexdens rubropilosa (Forel 1908 have an elaborate social organization, complete with caste divisions. Activities carried out by specialist groups contribute to the overall success and survival of the colony when it is confronted with environmental challenges such as dehydration. Ants detect variations in humidity inside the nest and react by activating several types of behavior that enhance water uptake and decrease water loss, but it is not clear whether or not a single caste collects water regardless of the cost of bringing this resource back to the colony. Accordingly, we investigated water collection activities in three colonies of Atta sexdens rubropilosa experimentally exposed to water stress. Specifically, we analyzed whether or not the same ant caste foraged for water, regardless of the absolute energetic cost (distance of transporting this resource back to the colony. Our experimental design offered water sources at 0 m, 1 m and 10 m from the nest. We studied the body size of ants near the water sources from the initial offer of water (time  =  0 to 120 min, and tested for specialization. We observed a reduction in the average size and variance of ants that corroborated the specialization hypothesis. Although the temporal course of specialization changed with distance, the final outcome was similar among distances. Thus, we conclude that, for this species, a specialist (our use of the word “specialist” does not mean exclusive task force is responsible for collecting water, regardless of the cost of transporting water back to the colony.

  7. con dietas suplementadas con Cromo-L-metionina

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Ram\\u00F3n Garc\\u00EDa-Castillo

    2006-01-01

    Full Text Available Un total de 48 cerdos (Sus scrofa domesticus; 24 machos castrados y 24 hembras cruzados (Yorkshire, Hampshire, Duroc y Landrace de 3,5 a 4,0 meses de edad y 60,0 ± 5,0 kg PV en finalización. Se alimentaron con dietas isoproteícas (14,5 % PC e isoenergéticas (3.400 kcal EM/kg de MS, adicionadas con Cr-L-metionina (MiCroPlex® (0, 200, 400 y 600 ppb. El experimento tuvo una duración de 45 días y se realizó de agosto a noviembre del 2002 en las instalaciones de la Universidad Autónoma Agraria Antonio Narro, localizada en Saltillo, Coahuila, México. Al tener los animales aproximadamente 95 kg PV, se tomó muestra de 15 ml de sangre por cada animal para determinar la concentración de glucosa, ácido úrico, creatinina, urea, proteinas totales y colesterol. Se aplicó un diseño completamente al azar con arreglo factorial 2 x 4; dos para el factor sexo y cuatro para nivel de cromo. Los metabolitos en suero no fueron afectados (P>0,05 por el factor sexo. La glucosa en suero disminuyó (P<0,05 y el colesterol incrementó (P<0,05 con cromo en la dieta. Se concluye que el Cr incrementa el metabolismo de glucosa y disminuye el de colesterol, con lo cual puede haber energía disponible para síntesis de proteína la cual es necesaria para el crecimiento de los animales

  8. The evolution of genome size in ants

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Spagna Joseph C

    2008-02-01

    Full Text Available Abstract Background Despite the economic and ecological importance of ants, genomic tools for this family (Formicidae remain woefully scarce. Knowledge of genome size, for example, is a useful and necessary prerequisite for the development of many genomic resources, yet it has been reported for only one ant species (Solenopsis invicta, and the two published estimates for this species differ by 146.7 Mb (0.15 pg. Results Here, we report the genome size for 40 species of ants distributed across 10 of the 20 currently recognized subfamilies, thus making Formicidae the 4th most surveyed insect family and elevating the Hymenoptera to the 5th most surveyed insect order. Our analysis spans much of the ant phylogeny, from the less derived Amblyoponinae and Ponerinae to the more derived Myrmicinae, Formicinae and Dolichoderinae. We include a number of interesting and important taxa, including the invasive Argentine ant (Linepithema humile, Neotropical army ants (genera Eciton and Labidus, trapjaw ants (Odontomachus, fungus-growing ants (Apterostigma, Atta and Sericomyrmex, harvester ants (Messor, Pheidole and Pogonomyrmex, carpenter ants (Camponotus, a fire ant (Solenopsis, and a bulldog ant (Myrmecia. Our results show that ants possess small genomes relative to most other insects, yet genome size varies three-fold across this insect family. Moreover, our data suggest that two whole-genome duplications may have occurred in the ancestors of the modern Ectatomma and Apterostigma. Although some previous studies of other taxa have revealed a relationship between genome size and body size, our phylogenetically-controlled analysis of this correlation did not reveal a significant relationship. Conclusion This is the first analysis of genome size in ants (Formicidae and the first across multiple species of social insects. We show that genome size is a variable trait that can evolve gradually over long time spans, as well as rapidly, through processes that may

  9. Are ant feces nutrients for plants? A metabolomics approach to elucidate the nutritional effects on plants hosting weaver ants

    DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

    Vidkjær, Nanna Hjort; Wollenweber, Bernd; Gislum, René

    2015-01-01

    Weaver ants (genus Oecophylla) are tropical carnivorous ant species living in high numbers in the canopies of trees. The ants excrete copious amounts of fecal matter on leaf surfaces, and these feces may provide nutrients to host trees. This hypothesis is supported by studies of ant......-plant interactions involving other ant species that have demonstrated the transfer of nutrients from ants to plants. In this 7-months study, a GC–MS-based metabolomics approach along with an analysis of total nitrogen and carbon levels was used to study metabolic changes in ant-hosting Coffea arabica plants compared...... with control plants. The results showed elevated levels of total nitrogen, amino acids, fatty acids, caffeine, and secondary metabolites of the phenylpropanoid pathway in leaves from ant-hosting plants. Minor effects were observed for sugars, whereas little or no effect was observed for organic acids, despite...

  10. The interactions of ants with their biotic environment.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Chomicki, Guillaume; Renner, Susanne S

    2017-03-15

    This s pecial feature results from the symposium 'Ants 2016: ant interactions with their biotic environments' held in Munich in May 2016 and deals with the interactions between ants and other insects, plants, microbes and fungi, studied at micro- and macroevolutionary levels with a wide range of approaches, from field ecology to next-generation sequencing, chemical ecology and molecular genetics. In this paper, we review key aspects of these biotic interactions to provide background information for the papers of this s pecial feature After listing the major types of biotic interactions that ants engage in, we present a brief overview of ant/ant communication, ant/plant interactions, ant/fungus symbioses, and recent insights about ants and their endosymbionts. Using a large molecular clock-dated Formicidae phylogeny, we map the evolutionary origins of different ant clades' interactions with plants, fungi and hemiptera. Ants' biotic interactions provide ideal systems to address fundamental ecological and evolutionary questions about mutualism, coevolution, adaptation and animal communication. © 2017 The Author(s).

  11. Variables antropométricas, hábitos y dietas alimentarias en adolescentes y jóvenes: diferencias en función del sexo

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Carmen Maganto

    Full Text Available Resumen El estudio tuvo como objetivo analizar las diferencias entre sexos en variables antropométricas (reales, percibidas y deseadas, en hábitos alimentarios, y en el uso de dietas alimentarias. Los participantes fueron 1.075 adolescentes y jóvenes de 14 a 25 años (49.9 % varones, 50.1 % mujeres. Con un diseño descriptivo y comparativo, se administraron tres instrumentos de evaluación. Los resultados confirman muchas diferencias significativas entre sexos. En variables antropométricas las chicas se perciben más obesas de lo que están y desean estar más delgadas; los chicos se perciben igual o más delgados de lo que están y desean tener un volumen corporal superior. Los chicos desean tener un Índice de Masa Corporal (IMC superior y las chicas inferior. Las chicas obtienen puntuaciones significativamente superiores en hábitos alimentarios, aunque los chicos perciben que tienen una alimentación más equilibrada. Las chicas han realizado más dietas y creen necesitarlas más. Las razones para engordar en los chicos son biológicas y en las chicas hábitos alimentarios inadecuados. Las chicas realizan más dietas tanto saludables como no recomendables. Las razones para comenzar una dieta son en las chicas la imagen corporal y en los chicos ser aceptado por los iguales. El abandono de las dietas los chicos lo atribuyen a la dieta y las chicas a sí mismas. El estudio aporta datos relevantes para el diseño de programas preventivos y/o de tratamiento con adolescentes/jóvenes con problemas alimentarios, bien por alteraciones de la imagen corporal, hábitos alimentarios inadecuados y/o por el uso indebido de dietas alimentarias.

  12. Chemically armed mercenary ants protect fungus-farming societies

    DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

    Adams, Rachelle Martha Marie; Liberti, Joanito; Illum, Anders A.

    2013-01-01

    guest ants are sufficient to kill raiders that invariably exterminate host nests without a cohabiting guest ant colony. We also show that the odor of guest ants discourages raider scouts from recruiting nestmates to host colonies. Our results imply that Sericomyrmex fungus-growers obtain a net benefit......The ants are extraordinary in having evolved many lineages that exploit closely related ant societies as social parasites, but social parasitism by distantly related ants is rare. Here we document the interaction dynamics among a Sericomyrmex fungus-growing ant host, a permanently associated...... parasitic guest ant of the genus Megalomyrmex, and a raiding agro-predator of the genus Gnamptogenys. We show experimentally that the guest ants protect their host colonies against agro-predator raids using alkaloid venom that is much more potent than the biting defenses of the host ants. Relatively few...

  13. Ratos tratados com dieta cetogênica apresentam aumento de tecido adiposo mediado pela elevação da atividade da fosfoenolpiruvato carboxicinase

    OpenAIRE

    Leticia Carina Ribeiro

    2005-01-01

    A Dieta Cetogênica é caracterizada pelo alto teor de gordura e baixo teor de carboidratos e proteínas, e tem sido proposta como benéfica em crianças com desordens epiléticas que não respondem ao tratamento convencional de drogas anti-epiléticas. O retardo de crescimento é um importante inconveniente desta dieta e as causas metabólicas ainda não estão bem caracterizadas. O objetivo desse estudo é examinar a variação de peso corporal e de tecido adiposo de ratos Wistar tratados com a dieta ceto...

  14. Las dietas cetogénicas: fundamentos y eficacia para la pérdida de peso

    OpenAIRE

    Pérez-Guisado, Joaquín

    2008-01-01

    El consenso internacional es que los carbohidratos son la base de la pirámide alimenticia de una dieta saludable, de tal forma que la mayoría de los especialistas de hoy en día piensan que la mejor forma de perder peso es mediante una reducción en el número total de calorías ingeridas diariamente, principalmente las que vienen en forma de grasa. No obstante, esta revisión intentará demostrar que las dietas cetogénicas son desde un punto de vista fisiológico, bioquímico y práctico, un camino m...

  15. A cellular automata model for ant trails

    Indian Academy of Sciences (India)

    In this study, the unidirectional ant traffic flow with U-turn in an ant trail was inves- tigated using ... the literature, it was considered in the model that (i) ant colony consists of two kinds of ants, good- ... ponents without a central controller [8].

  16. Using pleometrosis (multiple queens) and pupae transplantation to boost weaver ant (Oecophylla smaragdina) colony growth in ant nurseries

    DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

    Offenberg, Hans Joachim; Nielsen, Mogens Gissel; Peng, Renkang

    2011-01-01

    Weaver ants (Oecophylla spp.) are increasingly being used for biocontrol and are targeted for future production of insect protein in ant farms. An efficient production of live ant colonies may facilitate the utilization of these ants but the production of mature colonies is hampered by the long...... and no transplantation. Thus, in ant nurseries the use of multiple queens during nest founding as well as transplantation of pupae from foreign colonies may be utilised to decrease the time it takes to produce a colony ready for implementation....

  17. Ant-plants and fungi: a new threeway symbiosis.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Defossez, Emmanuel; Selosse, Marc-André; Dubois, Marie-Pierre; Mondolot, Laurence; Faccio, Antonella; Djieto-Lordon, Champlain; McKey, Doyle; Blatrix, Rumsaïs

    2009-06-01

    Symbioses between plants and fungi, fungi and ants, and ants and plants all play important roles in ecosystems. Symbioses involving all three partners appear to be rare. Here, we describe a novel tripartite symbiosis in which ants and a fungus inhabit domatia of an ant-plant, and present evidence that such interactions are widespread. We investigated 139 individuals of the African ant-plant Leonardoxa africana for occurrence of fungus. Behaviour of mutualist ants toward the fungus within domatia was observed using a video camera fitted with an endoscope. Fungi were identified by sequencing a fragment of their ribosomal DNA. Fungi were always present in domatia occupied by mutualist ants but never in domatia occupied by opportunistic or parasitic ants. Ants appear to favour the propagation, removal and maintenance of the fungus. Similar fungi were associated with other ant-plants in Cameroon. All belong to the ascomycete order Chaetothyriales; those from L. africana formed a monophyletic clade. These new plant-ant-fungus associations seem to be specific, as demonstrated within Leonardoxa and as suggested by fungal phyletic identities. Such tripartite associations are widespread in African ant-plants but have long been overlooked. Taking fungal partners into account will greatly enhance our understanding of symbiotic ant-plant mutualisms.

  18. Food source quality and ant dominance hierarchy influence the outcomes of ant-plant interactions in an arid environment

    Science.gov (United States)

    Flores-Flores, Rocío Vianey; Aguirre, Armando; Anjos, Diego V.; Neves, Frederico S.; Campos, Ricardo I.; Dáttilo, Wesley

    2018-02-01

    In this study, we conducted a series of experiments in a population of Vachellia constricta (Fabaceae) in the arid Tehuacan-Cuicatláan valley, Mexico, in order to evaluate if the food source quality and ant dominance hierarchy influence the outcomes of ant-plant interactions. Using an experiment with artificial nectaries, we observed that ants foraging on food sources with higher concentration of sugar are quicker in finding and attacking potential herbivorous insects. More specifically, we found that the same ant species may increase their defence effectiveness according to the quality of food available. These findings indicate that ant effectiveness in plant protection is context-dependent and may vary according to specific individual characteristics of plants. In addition, we showed that competitively superior ant species tend to dominate plants in periods with high nectar activity, emphasizing the role of the dominance hierarchy structuring ant-plant interactions. However, when high sugar food sources were experimentally available ad libitum, the nocturnal and competitively superior ant species, Camponotus atriceps, did not dominate the artificial nectaries during the day possibly due to limitation of its thermal tolerance. Therefore, temporal niche partitioning may be allowing the coexistence of two dominant ant species (Camponotus rubritorax during the day and C. atriceps at night) on V. constricta. Our findings indicate that the quality of the food source, and temporal shifts in ant dominance are key factors which structure the biotic plant defences in an arid environment.

  19. DIETA Y PREVENCIÓN SECUNDARIA DE LA ENFERMEDAD CARDIOVASCULAR

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Luis Alberto Ángel Arango

    2011-01-01

    Conclusiones. Las dietas de tipo mediterráneo y reductora del colesterol ricas en ácidos grasos omega-3 probablemente tienen un efecto favorable en la prevención cardiovascular secundaria (B-IIa, este efecto desaparece si se asocia con tratamiento farmacológico de los factores cardiovasculares de riesgo (B-III. Los ácidos grasos omega-3 probablemente incrementan la mortalidad en pacientes con angina y favorecen la recurrencia de arritmias ventriculares (B-III.

  20. Dietas artificiais para a criação de larvas e adultos da mosca-das-frutas sul-americana

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Adrise Medeiros Nunes

    2013-10-01

    Full Text Available O objetivo deste trabalho foi adequar as dietas artificiais para o desenvolvimento dos estágios de larva e adulto da mosca-das-frutas sul-americana (Anastrepha fraterculus. Para o estágio larval, foram testadas as seguintes dietas: D1, original, com 10 g de ágar; D2, modificada, com 3,6 g de ágar; e, D3, modificada, com bagaço seco de cana-de-açúcar. Para os adultos, foram testadas quatro dietas: A, levedura de cerveja + mel (2:1; B, açúcar refinado + extrato de levedura + gérmen de trigo cru (3:1:1; C, extrato de soja + açúcar mascavo + gérmen de trigo cru (3:1:1; e D, levedura seca de cervejaria + mel (2:1. Avaliaram-se os parâmetros biológicos de duração do período ovo-pupa, duração e viabilidade do estágio de pupa, massa média de pupas, razão sexual e duração e viabilidade do período ovo-adulto. O desenvolvimento larval em D1 e D2 foi semelhante e indicou que a criação de larvas pode ser realizada com 1/3 da quantidade de ágar da utilizada em D1. A utilização do bagaço seco de cana-de-açúcar, na dieta artificial, afetou negativamente o desenvolvimento larval. As dietas artificiais com levedura de cerveja + mel e com açúcar refinado + extrato de levedura + gérmen de trigo cru são as mais adequadas para a criação de adultos.

  1. Persistence of pollination mutualisms in the presence of ants.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Wang, Yuanshi; Wang, Shikun

    2015-01-01

    This paper considers plant-pollinator-ant systems in which the plant-pollinator interaction is mutualistic but ants have both positive and negative effects on plants. The ants also interfere with pollinators by preventing them from accessing plants. While a Beddington-DeAngelis (BD) formula can describe the plant-pollinator interaction, the formula is extended in this paper to characterize the pollination mutualism under the ant interference. Then, a plant-pollinator-ant system with the extended BD functional response is discussed, and global dynamics of the model demonstrate the mechanisms by which pollination mutualism can persist in the presence of ants. When the ant interference is strong, it can result in extinction of pollinators. Moreover, if the ants depend on pollination mutualism for survival, the strong interference could drive pollinators into extinction, which consequently lead to extinction of the ants themselves. When the ant interference is weak, a cooperation between plant-ant and plant-pollinator mutualisms could occur, which promotes survival of both ants and pollinators, especially in the case that ants (respectively, pollinators) cannot survive in the absence of pollinators (respectively, ants). Even when the level of ant interference remains invariant, varying ants' negative effect on plants can result in survival/extinction of both ants and pollinators. Therefore, our results provide an explanation for the persistence of pollination mutualism when there exist ants.

  2. Riding with the ants

    NARCIS (Netherlands)

    Duarte, A. P. M.; Attili-Angelis, D.; Baron, N. C.; Groenewald, Johannes Z.; Crous, Pedro W.; Pagnocca, F. C.

    Isolates of Teratosphaeriaceae have frequently been found in the integument of attine ants, proving to be common and diverse in this microenvironment. The LSU phylogeny of the ant-isolated strains studied revealed that they cluster in two main lineages. The first was associated with the genus

  3. Qualidade da dieta de pré-escolares de 2 a 5 anos residentes na área urbana da cidade de Pelotas, RS

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Katharine Konrad Leal

    2015-09-01

    Full Text Available ResumoObjetivo:Avaliar a qualidade da dieta de pré-escolares residentes na área urbana da cidade de Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil.Métodos:A qualidade da dieta foi avaliada de acordo com o Índice de Alimentação Saudável (IAS, adaptado para o Brasil. O consumo alimentar foi medido por meio de Questionário de Frequência Alimentar. O escore do índice foi obtido por uma pontuação distribuída em 13 grupos alimentares, que caracterizam diferentes aspectos de uma dieta saudável, variação de 0 a 100 pontos. Quanto mais próximo de 100, melhor será a qualidade da dieta.Resultados:A qualidade da dieta foi avaliada em 556 pré-escolares. O valor médio do escore do IAS foi de 74,4 pontos. Isso indica que as dietas necessitam ser melhoradas. As médias dos escores foram significativamente maiores entre as meninas e entre crianças provenientes de famílias com renda familiar entre um e menos de três salários mínimos mensais.Conclusões:As crianças apresentaram consumo de verduras e legumes abaixo da recomendação, enquanto os alimentos do grupo dos óleos e gorduras, bem como do grupo dos açúcares, balas, chocolates e salgadinhos, foram consumidos em excesso. É importante reforçar orientações para promover um hábito alimentar mais saudável, que poderá perdurar em etapas posteriores da vida

  4. Dietas Cetogénicas en el siglo XXI: ¿ Una alternativa terapéutica de la obesidad?

    OpenAIRE

    Sánchez Almeida, Marta

    2015-01-01

    En el último siglo la obesidad y el sobrepeso se han convertido en una epidemia a nivel mundial según la OMS. Estas dos enfermedades acarrean otra serie de patologías como el síndrome metabólico y enfermedades cardiovasculares. Es necesario, llevar a cabo un seguimiento continuo y hacer una educación para la salud adecuada que conlleve la modificación del estilo de vida (dieta, ejercicio) para poder prevenir este problema. En la última década, se han difundido las dietas proteinadas par...

  5. The importance of ants in cave ecology, with new records and behavioral observations of ants in Arizona caves

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Robert B. Pape

    2016-09-01

    Full Text Available The importance of ants as elements in cave ecology has been mostly unrecognized. A global list of ant species recorded from caves, compiled from a review of existing literature, is presented. This paper also reviews what is currently known about ants occurring in Arizona (USA caves. The diversity and distribution represented in these records suggests ants are relatively common cave visitors (trogloxenes. A general utilization of caves by ants within both temperate and tropical latitudes may be inferred from this combined evidence. Observations of ant behavior in Arizona caves demonstrate a low level and sporadic, but persistent, use of these habitats and their contained resources by individual ant colonies. Documentation of Neivamyrmex sp. preying on cave-inhabiting arthropods is reported here for the first time. Observations of hypogeic army ants in caves suggests they may not penetrate to great vertical depth in search of prey, but can be persistent occupants in relatively shallow, horizontal sections of caves where they may prey on endemic cave animals. First cave records for ten ant species are reported from Arizona caves. These include two species of Neivamyrmex (N. nigrescens Cresson and Neivamyrmex sp.; Formicidae: Dorylinae, four myrmicines (Pheidole portalensis Wilson, Pheidole cf. porcula Wheeler, Solenopsis aurea Wheeler and Stenamma sp. Westwood, one dolichoderine (Forelius keiferi Wheeler and three formicines (Lasius arizonicus Wheeler, L. sitiens Wilson, and Camponotus sp. Mayr.

  6. EFECTO DE LA PROPORCIÓN CONCENTRADO / FORRAJE DE LA DIETA, SOBRE LAS POBLACIONES DE BACTERIAS UTILIZADORAS DE HIDRÓGENO DEL RUMEN

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Alcantar Díaz BE

    2010-07-01

    Full Text Available Las Archae metanogénicas, las bacterias Acetogénicas y Sulfato reductoras son los tres grupos últimos de microorganismos dentro de la cadena de degradación de los sustratos en el ecosistema del rumen y la manipulación del tamaño de estas poblaciones es benéfica para la maximización de la energía en el rumiante. Para evaluar el efecto de dietas con diferente proporción de forraje/concentrado, sobre el número de bacterias utilizadoras de hidrógeno en el rumen in vivo, 16 ovino machos fueron colocados en cajas metabólicas y se alimentaron con cuatro dietas a base forraje de maíz más con- centrado en las proporciones: C20, C40, C60 y C80. El concentrado fue a base de maíz molido, harina de soya y trigo. Se tomaron muestras de contenido del rumen cada dos horas durante 24 horas, para determinar número de bacterias, concentraciones de acetato, propionato, amonio y pH. El número de bacterias se determinó por el método del número más probable. El diseño en cuadro latino fue para evaluar el efecto del factor A=4 dietas, el factor B los tiempos de incubación, el factor C cuatro repeticiones y sus interacciones. La proporción forraje: concentrado de la dieta, muestra diferencia significativas (p<0.001 entre el número de bacterias metanogénicas y acetogénicas y sulfato reductoras. Las dietas C60 y C80, tienen el mayor número de bacterias acetogénicas. El efecto de la dieta y tiempo de fermentación, también presentó diferencias en los valores de acetato (p<0.0006, propionato (p< 0.0001, amonio (p<0.0001 y pH (p<0.0001. La manipulación de la proporción forraje: concentrado de la dieta usada en la alimentación de rumiantes es una estrategia para establecer determinado grupo de bacterias utilizadoras de hidrogeno y las propiedades del ambiente en el rumen.

  7. Ant-plant-homopteran mutualism: how the third partner affects the interaction between a plant-specialist ant and its myrmecophyte host

    Science.gov (United States)

    Gaume, L.; McKey, D.; Terrin, S.

    1998-01-01

    By estimating relative costs and benefits, we explored the role of the homopteran partner in the protection mutualism between the myrmecophyte Leonardoxa africana T3, the ant Aphomomyrmex afer, and sap-sucking homopterans tended by ants in the tree's swollen hollow twigs. The ants obtain nest sites and food from their host-plant (food is obtained either directly by extrafloral nectar or indirectly via homopterans). Aphomomyrmex workers patrol the young leaves of L. africana T3 and protect them against phytophagous insects. Because ants tended, either solely or primarily, coccids in some trees and pseudococcids in others, we were able to study whether the nature of the interaction was dependent on the identity of the third partner. First, the type of homopteran affects the benefits to the tree of maintaining a large ant colony. Larger colony size (relative to tree size) confers greater protection against herbivory; this relationship is more pronounced for trees whose ants tend pseudococcids than for those in which ants tend coccids. Second, for trees (and associated ant colonies) of comparable size, homopteran biomass was much larger in trees harbouring coccids than in trees with pseudococcids. Thus, the cost to the tree of maintaining ants may be greater when ants are associated with coccids. The net benefits to the plant of maintaining ants appear to be much greater with pseudococcids as the third partner. To explore how the type of homopteran affects functioning of the system, we attempted to determine which of the resources (nest sites, extrafloral nectar, and homopterans) is likely to limit ant colony size. In trees where ants tended coccids, ant-colony biomass was strongly dependent on the number of extrafloral nectaries. In contrast, in trees whose ants tended only pseudococcids, colony biomass was not related to the number of nectaries and was most strongly determined by the volume of available nest sites. We present hypotheses to explain how the type of

  8. Estudo sobre a ocorrência de fungos e aflatoxina B1 na dieta de bovinos leiteiros em São Paulo

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Thiago P. Motta

    2015-01-01

    Full Text Available A qualidade da dieta ofertada às vacas em lactação é uma preocupação dos agentes de saúde devido à possibilidade da detecção de micotoxinas prejudiciais a saúde humana e animal. Os objetivos do trabalho foram avaliar o perfil da micobiota, determinar a atividade de água (Aa e a ocorrência natural de aflatoxina B1 (AFB1 em dietas ofertadas a vacas em lactação de fazendas leiteiras no estado de São Paulo, Brasil. As amostragens das dietas foram realizadas diretamente dos cochos de lote de 15 vacas, em dois dias consecutivos com intervalos de 24h e a cada 15 dias, perfazendo um período de 45 dias de amostragens por fazenda. A purificação e determinação de AFB1 foram realizadas em colunas de imunoafinidade e Cromatografia Líquida de Alta Eficiência (CLAE. O estudo da micobiota presente nas amostras das dietas (288 revelou que as leveduras foram predominantes em todas as dietas (83,97 a 99,98%. Foram isolados 15 gêneros de fungos filamentosos, com os gêneros Aspergillus spp (20,09%, Fusarium spp (14,16% e Penicillium spp (11,48% os mais prevalentes. As contagens de Unidades Formadoras de Colônias por grama de alimento (UFC. g-1 variaram de 102 a 1011. A atividade de água das amostras variou entre 0,91 a 0,98. Foi detectada a presença de AFB1 em 31,44% das amostras com teores entre 1,68 a 194,51μg.kg-1. Medidas de boas práticas de produção, estocagem e utilização devem ser tomadas para diminuir a ocorrência de AFB1 nas dietas ofertadas às vacas em lactação.

  9. Recria e terminação de borregas mestiças em confinamento alimentadas com níveis crescentes de concentrado na dieta

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Caroline Bertholini Ribeiro

    2016-12-01

    Full Text Available Objetivou-se avaliar dietas com níveis crescentes de concentrado para borregas confinadas e estabelecer a proporção de concentrado ideal para maximizar a utilização dos nutrientes e o desempenho durante as fases de recria e terminação. Foram confinadas 24 borregas alimentadas com feno de capim-Tifton e níveis crescentes de concentrado na dieta (20, 40, 60 e 80% para avaliação individual do consumo de matéria seca (CMS, digestibilidade dos nutrientes das dietas, ganho médio diário (GMD e eficiência alimentar (EA. As borregas foram abatidas com 47 kg. Na fase de recria, o CMS não foi alterado (P>0,05 pela inclusão de concentrado nas dietas (1176 g/dia. Foi observado efeito quadrático dos níveis de concentrado (P0,05. O CDMS e o valor de NDT apresentaram comportamento quadrático (P0,05. Recomenda-se a inclusão de 71,50% de concentrado na dieta de borregas para maximizar o aproveitamento dos nutrientes e o desempenho na fase de recria e 72,3% de concentrado para fase de terminação.

  10. The distribution of weaver ant pheromones on host trees

    DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

    Offenberg, Joachim

    2007-01-01

    The visible anal spots deposited by Oecophylla smaragdina ants have been suggested to deter ant prey, affect interspecific competition and facilitate mutualists and parasites in tracking down Oecophylla ants. I measured the density of anal spots on host trees with and without ants and tested for ...... to leaves. Also there was a positive correlation between spot density and the likelihood of being detected by ants. Anal spots may thus function as reliable cues to interacting species and be an important factor in shaping the community around Oecophylla colonies.......The visible anal spots deposited by Oecophylla smaragdina ants have been suggested to deter ant prey, affect interspecific competition and facilitate mutualists and parasites in tracking down Oecophylla ants. I measured the density of anal spots on host trees with and without ants and tested...... for correlations between spot density, ant activity and the likelihood of being detected by an ant. Spots were only found on trees with ants. On ant-trees, spots were distributed throughout the trees but with higher densities in areas with high ant activity and pheromone densities were higher on twigs compared...

  11. EFECTO DEL GENOTIPO Y DE LA DIETA EN LA DIGESTIBILIDAD RECTAL DE NUTRIENTES Y SALIDA FECAL DE CERDOS CRIOLLO CUBANO

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Julio Ly

    2011-03-01

    Full Text Available Se usaron cuatro cerdos Criollo Cubanos y cuatro cerdos Cubanos CC21, machos y con un peso inicial de 30 kg de acuerdo con un diseño de cambio en arreglo factorial 2 x 2 para estudiar el efecto del genotipo y de una dieta basada en cereales y granos conteniendo 6 o 12% de fibra cruda, en la digestibilidad rectal y salida fecal de materiales. El consumo de alimento fue igual a 100 g MS/kgPV0.75 por día, suministrado a las 9:00 h am en una sola ración. La fuente de fibra fue palmiche (fruto de palma real, Roystonea regia H.B.K. Cook suministrado seco y molido incluida al 20% al alimento. Los cerdos Criollo Cubanos fueron de la reserva genética localizada en el centro de Cuba (Cabaiguán y no estaban sujetos a ningún programa de mejoramiento genético. No hubo efecto significativo (P>0.05 de la interacción genotipo x dieta en ninguna medida. No se observaron diferencias (P>0.05 en la digestibilidad rectal de la MS, cenizas, materia orgánica, fibra cruda y nitrógeno entre los genotipos de cerdos; los promedios sólo muestran diferencias numéricas en favor de los cerdos CC21. De una manera similar, se halló que la dieta que contenía 12% de fibra, determinó un incremento no significativo (P>0.05 de la digestibilidad rectal de la fibra cruda o una reducción no significativa (P>0.05 de la digestibilidad rectal de la MS, materia orgánica y nitrógeno con respecto a la dieta sin harina de palmiche. La salida fecal de material fresco fue numéricamente mayor en los cerdos Criollo Cubanos y en la dieta con 12% de fibra (675 y 570 g/kg MS ingerida, pero sin efecto significativo (P>0.05. Se considera que la digestibilidad rectal de dietas basadas en granos y cereales que contengan 20% de harina de palmiche pudiera ser mayor en los cerdos Criollo Cubanos que en los mejorados, exóticos, en comparación con lo que ocurre con dietas suministrada ad libitum en animales alimentados con melaza de caña de az

  12. Relative effects of disturbance on red imported fire ants and native ant species in a longleaf pine ecosystem

    DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

    Stuble, Katharine L.; Kirkman, L. Katherine; Carroll, C. Ronald

    2011-01-01

    and cases in which non-native species become established in intact (lacking extensive anthropogenic soil disturbance) communities and subsequently diminish the abundance and richness of native species is challenging on the basis of observation alone. The red imported fire ant (Solenopsis invicta......), an invasive species that occurs throughout much of the southeastern United States, is such an example. Rather than competitively displacing native species, fire ants may become established only in disturbed areas in which native species richness and abundance are already reduced. We used insecticide to reduce......, the abundance of native ants increased to levels comparable to those in control plots after 1 year. Our findings suggest that factors other than large reductions in ant abundance and species density (number of species per unit area) may affect the establishment of fire ants and that the response of native ants...

  13. Chemically armed mercenary ants protect fungus-farming societies

    Science.gov (United States)

    Adams, Rachelle M. M.; Liberti, Joanito; Illum, Anders A.; Jones, Tappey H.; Nash, David R.; Boomsma, Jacobus J.

    2013-01-01

    The ants are extraordinary in having evolved many lineages that exploit closely related ant societies as social parasites, but social parasitism by distantly related ants is rare. Here we document the interaction dynamics among a Sericomyrmex fungus-growing ant host, a permanently associated parasitic guest ant of the genus Megalomyrmex, and a raiding agro-predator of the genus Gnamptogenys. We show experimentally that the guest ants protect their host colonies against agro-predator raids using alkaloid venom that is much more potent than the biting defenses of the host ants. Relatively few guest ants are sufficient to kill raiders that invariably exterminate host nests without a cohabiting guest ant colony. We also show that the odor of guest ants discourages raider scouts from recruiting nestmates to host colonies. Our results imply that Sericomyrmex fungus-growers obtain a net benefit from their costly guest ants behaving as a functional soldier caste to meet lethal threats from agro-predator raiders. The fundamentally different life histories of the agro-predators and guest ants appear to facilitate their coexistence in a negative frequency-dependent manner. Because a guest ant colony is committed for life to a single host colony, the guests would harm their own interests by not defending the host that they continue to exploit. This conditional mutualism is analogous to chronic sickle cell anemia enhancing the resistance to malaria and to episodes in human history when mercenary city defenders offered either net benefits or imposed net costs, depending on the level of threat from invading armies. PMID:24019482

  14. Chemically armed mercenary ants protect fungus-farming societies.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Adams, Rachelle M M; Liberti, Joanito; Illum, Anders A; Jones, Tappey H; Nash, David R; Boomsma, Jacobus J

    2013-09-24

    The ants are extraordinary in having evolved many lineages that exploit closely related ant societies as social parasites, but social parasitism by distantly related ants is rare. Here we document the interaction dynamics among a Sericomyrmex fungus-growing ant host, a permanently associated parasitic guest ant of the genus Megalomyrmex, and a raiding agro-predator of the genus Gnamptogenys. We show experimentally that the guest ants protect their host colonies against agro-predator raids using alkaloid venom that is much more potent than the biting defenses of the host ants. Relatively few guest ants are sufficient to kill raiders that invariably exterminate host nests without a cohabiting guest ant colony. We also show that the odor of guest ants discourages raider scouts from recruiting nestmates to host colonies. Our results imply that Sericomyrmex fungus-growers obtain a net benefit from their costly guest ants behaving as a functional soldier caste to meet lethal threats from agro-predator raiders. The fundamentally different life histories of the agro-predators and guest ants appear to facilitate their coexistence in a negative frequency-dependent manner. Because a guest ant colony is committed for life to a single host colony, the guests would harm their own interests by not defending the host that they continue to exploit. This conditional mutualism is analogous to chronic sickle cell anemia enhancing the resistance to malaria and to episodes in human history when mercenary city defenders offered either net benefits or imposed net costs, depending on the level of threat from invading armies.

  15. Dieta del Suri, Rhea pennata (Orbigny, 1834 (Aves: Rheidae, en ecosistemas altoandinos de Moquegua, Perú

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Marli Echaccaya

    2017-07-01

    Full Text Available Se estudió la dieta del suri Rhea pennata en la región de Moquegua al sur de Perú, mediante el análisis de heces. Esta especie considerada en “Peligro Crítico” en el Perú se mostró como estrictamente herbívora, principalmente folívora. Se identificaron 44 morfoespecies de plantas en su dieta, de las cuales Oxychloe andina (una especie de Juncaceae dominante en bofedales disturbados presentó los mayores valores relativos de densidad, peso, volumen y frecuencia. A pesar de la aparente selectividad, esta especie presenta una dieta muy diversa que le permitiría adaptarse a las carencias nutricionales en el hábitat que ocupa. Los datos obtenidos en diferentes hábitats que ocupa el Suri, muestran que en zonas más áridas existe la tendencia a una mayor selectividad debido a la presencia de plantas con compuestos secundarios (fenoles, terpenos y alcaloides para evitar la herbivoría, mientras que en ambientes con bofedales (como el del presente estudio la selectividad disminuye, tendiendo a alimentarse de las especies dominantes.

  16. Produção de leite de vacas alimentadas com alta proporção de forragem em dietas

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Moreira V.R.

    2003-01-01

    Full Text Available Vinte e duas vacas primíparas e 26 multíparas da raça Holandesa foram distribuídas em três tratamentos em um delineamento inteiramente ao acaso. As dietas testadas consistiram de duas proporções forragem:concentrado, 55:45 (RCS e 75:25 (RCSH, para silagem de milho comum, e 75:25 (BMR para outra dieta baseada no híbrido bm3. Não houve interação entre tratamentos e ordem de lactação. A proporção silagem de alfafa:silagem de milho na porção forrageira da dieta foi de 47,7:53,3. A ingestão (kg/dia de matéria seca e de proteína bruta foi superior para BMR e RCS (19,5 e 19,5; 3,41 e 3,42, respectivamente em relação à ingestão para RCSH (17,6 e 3,14, enquanto que a de fibra em detergente neutro foi maior para BMR (6,61 e menor para RCSH e RCS (6,08 e 5,40, respectivamente. O consumo de fibra em detergente ácido (kg/dia foi maior para BMR e RCSH (4,88 e 4,73 e menor para RCS (4,02. A produção de leite foi superior para o tratamento com maior proporção de concentrados (35,7kg/vaca/dia, seguida pelo tratamento BMR (34,1kg/vaca/dia e finalmente por RCSH, com a menor produção (32,1kg/vaca/dia. O teor de gordura no leite foi superior nos tratamentos com alto conteúdo de forragem na dieta, enquanto que a porcentagem de proteína seguiu padrão oposto. O híbrido bm3, em dieta contendo alta proporção de forragem, foi eficiente em manter o nível de desempenho de vacas de alta produção em comparação à dietas com relações forragem:concentrado normal ou alta e baseadas em híbridos contendo diferente genética de milho.

  17. Monoculture of leafcutter ant gardens.

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Ulrich G Mueller

    2010-09-01

    Full Text Available Leafcutter ants depend on the cultivation of symbiotic Attamyces fungi for food, which are thought to be grown by the ants in single-strain, clonal monoculture throughout the hundreds to thousands of gardens within a leafcutter nest. Monoculture eliminates cultivar-cultivar competition that would select for competitive fungal traits that are detrimental to the ants, whereas polyculture of several fungi could increase nutritional diversity and disease resistance of genetically variable gardens.Using three experimental approaches, we assessed cultivar diversity within nests of Atta leafcutter ants, which are most likely among all fungus-growing ants to cultivate distinct cultivar genotypes per nest because of the nests' enormous sizes (up to 5000 gardens and extended lifespans (10-20 years. In Atta texana and in A. cephalotes, we resampled nests over a 5-year period to test for persistence of resident cultivar genotypes within each nest, and we tested for genetic differences between fungi from different nest sectors accessed through excavation. In A. texana, we also determined the number of Attamyces cells carried as a starter inoculum by a dispersing queens (minimally several thousand Attamyces cells, and we tested for genetic differences between Attamyces carried by sister queens dispersing from the same nest. Except for mutational variation arising during clonal Attamyces propagation, DNA fingerprinting revealed no evidence for fungal polyculture and no genotype turnover during the 5-year surveys.Atta leafcutter ants can achieve stable, fungal monoculture over many years. Mutational variation emerging within an Attamyces monoculture could provide genetic diversity for symbiont choice (gardening biases of the ants favoring specific mutational variants, an analog of artificial selection.

  18. The distribution and diversity of insular ants

    DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

    Roura-Pascual, Núria; Sanders, Nate; Hui, Cang

    2016-01-01

    Aim: To examine the relationship between island characteristics (area, distance to the nearest continent, climate and human population size) and ant species richness, as well as the factors underlying global geographical clustering of native and exotic ant composition on islands. Location: One...... hundred and two islands from 20 island groups around the world. Methods: We used spatial linear models that consider the spatial structure of islands to examine patterns of ant species richness. We also performed modularity analyses to identify clusters of islands hosting a similar suite of species...... and constructed conditional inference trees to assess the characteristics of islands that explain the formation of these island-ant groups. Results: Island area was the best predictor of ant species richness. However, distance to the nearest continent was an important predictor of native ant species richness...

  19. Antígona y la muerte

    OpenAIRE

    Pérez Alcolea, Simona Micaela

    2012-01-01

    La ponencia analiza la muerte de Antígona en la obra de Sófocles. Se propone que su suicidio es un acto consciente de voluntad preanunciado a lo largo de toda la obra y no una medida desesperada. Con ese fin se exploran las posibles motivaciones de Antígona para poner fin a su vida. En el análisis se proponen tres respuestas (no necesariamente excluyentes): -Antígona responde a la ética homérica. Está en lucha con Creón, y su suicidio es su golpe de gracia al poder del rey. -Antígona...

  20. From Ant Trails to Pedestrian Dynamics

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Andreas Schadschneider

    2003-01-01

    Full Text Available This paper presents a model for the simulation of pedestrian dynamics inspired by the behaviour of ants in ant trails. Ants communicate by producing a pheromone that can be smelled by other ants. In this model, pedestrians produce a virtual pheromone that influences the motion of others. In this way all interactions are strictly local, and so even large crowds can be simulated very efficiently. Nevertheless, the model is able to reproduce the collective effects observed empirically, eg the formation of lanes in counterflow. As an application, we reproduce a surprising result found in experiments of evacuation from an aircraft.

  1. Ants defend aphids against lethal disease

    Science.gov (United States)

    Nielsen, Charlotte; Agrawal, Anurag A.; Hajek, Ann E.

    2010-01-01

    Social insects defend their own colonies and some species also protect their mutualist partners. In mutualisms with aphids, ants typically feed on honeydew produced by aphids and, in turn guard and shelter aphid colonies from insect natural enemies. Here we report that Formica podzolica ants tending milkweed aphids, Aphis asclepiadis, protect aphid colonies from lethal fungal infections caused by an obligate aphid pathogen, Pandora neoaphidis. In field experiments, bodies of fungal-killed aphids were quickly removed from ant-tended aphid colonies. Ant workers were also able to detect infective conidia on the cuticle of living aphids and responded by either removing or grooming these aphids. Our results extend the long-standing view of ants as mutualists and protectors of aphids by demonstrating focused sanitizing and quarantining behaviour that may lead to reduced disease transmission in aphid colonies. PMID:19923138

  2. Uso de óleo essencial de orégano, salinomicina e bacitracina de zinco na dieta de frangos de corte

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Patricia Maria Meneghetti Pulici

    2014-09-01

    Full Text Available O presente trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar dietas com óleo essencial de orégano, associado ou não com salinomicina, como alternativa à bacitracina de zinco sobre o desempenho zootécnico de frangos de corte. Foram utilizados 600 pintos de um dia de idade, machos, da linhagem Cobb® 500, criados até 42 dias de idade em boxes com cama de casca de arroz providos de comedouros tubulares e bebedouros nipple. O delineamento foi inteiramente casualizado, com seis dietas e 10 repetições de 10 aves cada. As dietas experimentais à base de milho e farelo de soja foram: controle positivo – antibiótico (bacitracina de zinco + 0,05% de anticoccidiano (salinomicina, controle negativo – dieta basal (DB sem aditivos, DB + 0,05% de salinomicina e 0,03% de óleo essencial de orégano (Orego-Stim®, DB + 0,03% de óleo essencial de orégano, DB + 0,05% de salinomicina e 0,05% de óleo essencial de orégano, DB + 0,05% de óleo essencial de orégano. Não foi encontrado efeito da utilização do óleo de orégano até 21 dias no desempenho das aves. Nos demais períodos, aos 35 e 42 dias, o desempenho das aves tratadas com 0,03% de óleo essencial de orégano + salinomicina apresentou resultados semelhantes ao controle positivo, levando à conclusão de que a dose de 0,03% de óleo essencial de orégano + salinomicina pode substituir a bacitracina de zinco + salinomicina em dietas para frangos de corte.

  3. Collective search by ants in microgravity

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Stefanie M. Countryman

    2015-03-01

    Full Text Available The problem of collective search is a tradeoff between searching thoroughly and covering as much area as possible. This tradeoff depends on the density of searchers. Solutions to the problem of collective search are currently of much interest in robotics and in the study of distributed algorithms, for example to design ways that without central control robots can use local information to perform search and rescue operations. Ant colonies operate without central control. Because they can perceive only local, mostly chemical and tactile cues, they must search collectively to find resources and to monitor the colony's environment. Examining how ants in diverse environments solve the problem of collective search can elucidate how evolution has led to diverse forms of collective behavior. An experiment on the International Space Station in January 2014 examined how ants (Tetramorium caespitum perform collective search in microgravity. In the ISS experiment, the ants explored a small arena in which a barrier was lowered to increase the area and thus lower ant density. In microgravity, relative to ground controls, ants explored the area less thoroughly and took more convoluted paths. It appears that the difficulty of holding on to the surface interfered with the ants’ ability to search collectively. Ants frequently lost contact with the surface, but showed a remarkable ability to regain contact with the surface.

  4. Frecuencia del consumo de alimentos industrializados modernos en la dieta habitual de comunidades mayas de Yucatán, México

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Odette Pérez Izquierdo

    2012-01-01

    Full Text Available El objetivo del trabajo fue identificar la introducción de alimentos industrializados modernos en la dieta habitual de dos comunidades mayas de Yucatán, México, así como algunos factores que, en la escala comunitaria y la de los hogares, podrían explicar la inclusión. Se trata de un estudio de tipo transversal en el que participaron 51 familias seleccionadas a través de un muestreo sistemático sin reemplazo. La información se obtuvo de una entrevista estructurada que incluyó información de variables socioeconómicas, dieta habitual, frecuencia del consumo de alimentos, actividades productivas, disponibilidad de alimentos y apoyos gubernamentales. Se usaron pruebas estadísticas paramétricas para identificar diferencias entre comunidades y familias respecto al consumo de alimentos industrialzados modernos. Los resultados evidencian el consumo de alimentos industrializados de corte moderno en la dieta habitual de ambas comunidades, sin diferencias significativas en esta escala, pero se registraron diferencias en la escala de los hogares. Se discute el papel de la emigración y los programas sociales en la incorporación de alimentos industrializados modernos en la dieta habitual de los hogares mayas de estas comunidades.

  5. Pericarpial nectary-visiting ants do not provide fruit protection against pre-dispersal seed predators regardless of ant species composition and resource availability.

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Priscila Andre Sanz-Veiga

    Full Text Available Extrafloral nectaries can occur in both vegetative and reproductive plant structures. In many Rubiaceae species in the Brazilian Cerrado, after corolla abscission, the floral nectary continues to secret nectar throughout fruit development originating post-floral pericarpial nectaries which commonly attract many ant species. The occurrence of such nectar secreting structures might be strategic for fruit protection against seed predators, as plants are expected to invest higher on more valuable and vulnerable parts. Here, we performed ant exclusion experiments to investigate whether the interaction with ants mediated by the pericarpial nectaries of Tocoyena formosa affects plant reproductive success by reducing the number of pre-dispersal seed predators. We also assessed whether ant protection was dependent on ant species composition and resource availability. Although most of the plants were visited by large and aggressive ant species, such as Ectatomma tuberculatum and species of the genus Camponotus, ants did not protect fruits against seed predators. Furthermore, the result of the interaction was neither related to ant species composition nor to the availability of resources. We suggest that these results may be related to the nature and behavior of the most important seed predators, like Hemicolpus abdominalis weevil which the exoskeleton toughness prevent it from being predated by most ant species. On the other hand, not explored factors, such as reward quality, local ant abundance, ant colony characteristics and/or the presence of alternative energetic sources could also account for variations in ant frequency, composition, and finally ant protective effects, highlighting the conditionality of facultative plant-ant mutualisms.

  6. Estudio descriptivo de las principales dietas proteinadas que existen en la actualidad para el tratamiento de la obesidad

    OpenAIRE

    Franguillo Fernández, Raquel

    2014-01-01

    El propósito de este trabajo es conocer algunas de las distintas dietas proteinadas que se están utilizando en la actualidad como tratamiento en la obesidad. El problema de la obesidad, como indican los últimos cálculos de la Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS) realizados en 2010 (1), estima que esta enfermedad ha alcanzado proporciones epidémicas a nivel mundial y de seguir en esta línea en 2040 la totalidad de la población europea tendrá sobrepeso (2). Las dietas proteinadas son un...

  7. The Biochemical Toxin Arsenal from Ant Venoms

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Axel Touchard

    2016-01-01

    Full Text Available Ants (Formicidae represent a taxonomically diverse group of hymenopterans with over 13,000 extant species, the majority of which inject or spray secretions from a venom gland. The evolutionary success of ants is mostly due to their unique eusociality that has permitted them to develop complex collaborative strategies, partly involving their venom secretions, to defend their nest against predators, microbial pathogens, ant competitors, and to hunt prey. Activities of ant venom include paralytic, cytolytic, haemolytic, allergenic, pro-inflammatory, insecticidal, antimicrobial, and pain-producing pharmacologic activities, while non-toxic functions include roles in chemical communication involving trail and sex pheromones, deterrents, and aggregators. While these diverse activities in ant venoms have until now been largely understudied due to the small venom yield from ants, modern analytical and venomic techniques are beginning to reveal the diversity of toxin structure and function. As such, ant venoms are distinct from other venomous animals, not only rich in linear, dimeric and disulfide-bonded peptides and bioactive proteins, but also other volatile and non-volatile compounds such as alkaloids and hydrocarbons. The present review details the unique structures and pharmacologies of known ant venom proteinaceous and alkaloidal toxins and their potential as a source of novel bioinsecticides and therapeutic agents.

  8. The Biochemical Toxin Arsenal from Ant Venoms

    Science.gov (United States)

    Touchard, Axel; Aili, Samira R.; Fox, Eduardo Gonçalves Paterson; Escoubas, Pierre; Orivel, Jérôme; Nicholson, Graham M.; Dejean, Alain

    2016-01-01

    Ants (Formicidae) represent a taxonomically diverse group of hymenopterans with over 13,000 extant species, the majority of which inject or spray secretions from a venom gland. The evolutionary success of ants is mostly due to their unique eusociality that has permitted them to develop complex collaborative strategies, partly involving their venom secretions, to defend their nest against predators, microbial pathogens, ant competitors, and to hunt prey. Activities of ant venom include paralytic, cytolytic, haemolytic, allergenic, pro-inflammatory, insecticidal, antimicrobial, and pain-producing pharmacologic activities, while non-toxic functions include roles in chemical communication involving trail and sex pheromones, deterrents, and aggregators. While these diverse activities in ant venoms have until now been largely understudied due to the small venom yield from ants, modern analytical and venomic techniques are beginning to reveal the diversity of toxin structure and function. As such, ant venoms are distinct from other venomous animals, not only rich in linear, dimeric and disulfide-bonded peptides and bioactive proteins, but also other volatile and non-volatile compounds such as alkaloids and hydrocarbons. The present review details the unique structures and pharmacologies of known ant venom proteinaceous and alkaloidal toxins and their potential as a source of novel bioinsecticides and therapeutic agents. PMID:26805882

  9. Consumo e Digestibilidades Aparentes Totais e Parciais de Nutrientes em Novilhos Alimentados com Dietas Contendo Vários Níveis de Concentrado

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Luís Carlos Vinhas Ítavo

    2002-06-01

    Full Text Available Objetivou-se estudar o consumo e as digestibilidades totais e parciais de nutrientes em bovinos. Foram utilizados cinco bovinos da raça Nelore, não-castrados, com 165 kg, fistulados no rúmen, abomaso e íleo. O delineamento foi em blocos casualizados, com quatro tratamentos e cinco períodos de coleta. Os tratamentos consistiram de quatro níveis de concentrado na dieta (20, 40, 60 e 80%. O volumoso utilizado foi feno de capim-Tifton 85 (Cynodon dactylon (L. Pers.. Somente os consumos de FDN e FDA apresentaram redução linear com o aumento do nível de concentrado da dieta. Os consumos de MS e NDT foram em média de 3,45 e 2,24 kg/dia, respectivamente. Os coeficientes de digestibilidade aparente da MS, MO e CHOT aumentaram linearmente, em função do nível de concentrado na dieta. Enquanto as digestibilidades aparentes da PB e EE apresentaram média de 59,50 e 70,81%, respectivamente. Houve redução linear nos coeficientes de digestibilidade da FDN e FDA. O nível de concentrado não afetou a digestão ruminal da PB e EE, cujas médias foram 4,80 e 1,41%, respectivamente. A digestibilidade ruminal da FDN apresentou redução linear com o aumento do nível de concentrado na dieta. No intestino delgado, a digestibilidade máxima da MS de 34,89% foi estimada com 49,01% de concentrado na dieta; a digestibilidade da MO aumentou linearmente e as digestibilidades da PB, FDN, EE e CHOT não foram influenciadas pela inclusão de concentrado na dieta. Não houve efeito dos níveis de concentrado sobre as digestibilidades no intestino grosso para MS, MO, PB, EE e CHOT, cujas médias foram 17,98; 12,48; 10,53; -2,84 e 11,08%, respectivamente.

  10. Aphid egg protection by ants: a novel aspect of the mutualism between the tree-feeding aphid Stomaphis hirukawai and its attendant ant Lasius productus

    Science.gov (United States)

    Matsuura, Kenji; Yashiro, Toshihisa

    2006-10-01

    Aphids often form mutualistic associations with ants, in which the aphids provide the ants with honeydew and the ants defend the aphids from predators. In this paper, we report aphid egg protection by ants as a novel aspect of the deeply interdependent relationship between a tree-feeding aphid and its attendant ant. The ant Lasius productus harbours oviparous females, males, and eggs of the hinoki cypress-feeding aphid Stomaphis hirukawai in its nests in winter. We investigated the behaviour of ants kept with aphid eggs in petri dishes to examine whether the ants recognise the aphid eggs and tend them or only provide a refuge for the aphids. Workers carried almost all of the aphid eggs into the nest within 24 h. The ants indiscriminately tended aphid eggs collected from their own colonies and those from other ant colonies. The ants cleaned the eggs and piled them up in the nest, and egg tending by ants dramatically increased aphid egg survival rates. Starving the ants showed no significant effect on aphid egg survivorship. Without ants, aphid eggs were rapidly killed by fungi. These results suggested that grooming by the ants protected the aphid eggs, at least, against pathogenic fungi. This hygienic service afforded by the ants seems indispensable for egg survival of these aphids in an environment rich in potentially pathogenic microorganisms.

  11. Fire ants perpetually rebuild sinking towers

    Science.gov (United States)

    Phonekeo, Sulisay; Mlot, Nathan; Monaenkova, Daria; Hu, David L.; Tovey, Craig

    2017-07-01

    In the aftermath of a flood, fire ants, Solenopsis invicta, cluster into temporary encampments. The encampments can contain hundreds of thousands of ants and reach over 30 ants high. How do ants build such tall structures without being crushed? In this combined experimental and theoretical study, we investigate the shape and rate of construction of ant towers around a central support. The towers are bell shaped, consistent with towers of constant strength such as the Eiffel tower, where each element bears an equal load. However, unlike the Eiffel tower, the ant tower is built through a process of trial and error, whereby failed portions avalanche until the final shape emerges. High-speed and novel X-ray videography reveal that the tower constantly sinks and is rebuilt, reminiscent of large multicellular systems such as human skin. We combine the behavioural rules that produce rafts on water with measurements of adhesion and attachment strength to model the rate of growth of the tower. The model correctly predicts that the growth rate decreases as the support diameter increases. This work may inspire the design of synthetic swarms capable of building in vertical layers.

  12. Ants Orase kultuurisõnum

    Index Scriptorium Estoniae

    2007-01-01

    26. jaanuaril toimub Tallinna Ülikooli Akadeemilises Raamatukogus seminar silmapaistvast Eesti teadlasest ja tõlkijast Ants Orasest. Esinevad kirjandusteadlased Tallinna Ülikoolist, Tartu Ülikoolist ja Eesti Kirjandusmuuseumist. Avaettekandeks on sõna Oklahoma Ülikooli professoril Vincent B. Leitchil, kes oli Ants Orase viimaseks juhendatavaks doktorandiks. Seminari korraldavad Tallinna Ülikool ja Eesti Kirjandusmuuseum. Vt ka Postimees, 26, jaan., lk. 18

  13. Ant-plant symbioses: Stalking the chuyachaqui.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Davidson, D W; McKey, D

    1993-09-01

    According to Quechua-speaking peoples, orchard-like stands ('Supay Chacras') of two Amazonian ant-plant species are cultivated by the devil, or 'Chuyachaqui'. These "devil gardens" offer extreme examples of specializations that have evolved repeatedly in ant-plant associations. Numerous investigations are beginning to disclose the identity of the Chuyachaqui - the forces behind evolutionary specialization in ant-plant symbioses. These developments have important implications for our understanding of modes of coevolution in symbiotic mutualism, remarkable convergent similarities in the form of ant-plant symbioses on different continents, and pronounced intercontinental differences in the diversity and taxonomic composition of associates. Copyright © 1993. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

  14. Dieta de roedores sigmodontinos (Cricetidae en los bosques montanos tropicales de Huánuco, Perú

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Maggie C. Noblecilla

    2013-06-01

    Full Text Available Se analizó el contenido estomacal de cinco especies de roedores sigmodontinos: Akodon orophilus, Microry-zomys altissimus, M. minutus, Thomasomys notatus yT. kalinowskii, procedentes de los bosques montanos de Huánuco, Perú (2564 - 3850 m de altitud. Concluimos que A. orophiluses insectívora por haber presentado un alto volumen de artrópodos (adultos y larvas en el contenido estomacal (90,1%; mientras que T. notatusy T. kalinowskiison principalmente herbívoras por el alto volumen de materia vegetal, 89% y 67,75% respectiva-mente; y que M. altissimusy M. minutusson omnívoras por presentar volúmenes similares tanto para vegetales como para artrópodos. Thomasomys kalinowskiies considerada generalista por la mayor amplitud de nicho (4,61, mientras A. orophiluses considerada especialista por el menor valor (1,70. Akodon orophilusmostró una preferencia por el consumo de artrópodos adultos al tener un bajo coeficiente de variación (CV= 20% y también un significativo aumento en el consumo de larvas de artrópodos en la época húmeda, siendo la única especie con variación estacional en la dieta. Por otro lado, la sobreposición de nicho fue menor a 0,75 en el 80% de los pares de especies comparados, indicando una baja similitud en la dieta. La mayor similitud en la dieta se observó entre M. altissimus- T. notatus(0,822 y M. minutus - T. kalinowskii(0,816. Se concluye que estos roedores sigmodontinos, simpátricos en los bosques montanos de Huánuco, exhiben dietas disímiles, probablemente como una estrategia para evitar o aminorar la competencia interespecífica.

  15. Avaliação de dietas para eqüinos de uso militar em atividade física moderada Evaluation of diets for military horses in moderate activity

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Patrícia Maia Galvão

    2004-12-01

    Full Text Available Objetivou-se, com o presente trabalho, avaliar dietas de cavalos de uso militar em atividade física moderada. O experimento foi realizado no Regimento Escola de Cavalaria do Exército Brasileiro, onde foram avaliadas as dietas dos eqüinos do Esquadrão de Cerimonial. No ensaio de desempenho, foi utilizado delineamento experimental em blocos casualizados, compostos de três tratamentos, sendo o bloco a idade dos animais e os tratamentos, as dietas experimentais. Na dieta I, quinze animais receberam dietas com ração comercial com feno de alfafa e coastcross incorporados ao pelete; na dieta II, quinze animais receberam ração comercial peletizada e, na dieta III, quatorze animais receberam ração comercial peletizada semelhante à dieta II, acrescida de 3,0 kg de aveia hidropônica. Em todas as dietas, foram adicionados 3,0 kg de feno de coastcross. Em seguida, foi conduzido o ensaio de digestão em delineamento inteiramente casualizado, com os três tratamentos supracitados e quatro repetições, além da coleta total de fezes, para avaliação da digestibilidade dos nutrientes das dietas experimentais. Os valores obtidos foram submetidos à análise de variância e as médias, comparadas pelo teste de Tukey, a 5% de probabilidade. Os animais alimentados com as dietas experimentais tiveram o peso vivo e escore corporal inalterados pelas variações dos conteúdos de nutrientes das mesmas. Os coeficientes de digestibilidade foram afetados pela dietas experimentais e, de acordo com os resultados observados, a dieta contendo ração comercial com feno incorporado ao pelete, mostrou-se mais digestível. O consumo de energia e proteína digestível nas dietas avaliadas foi adequado às atividades militares e o consumo de fibra dietética (expressa em FDN e FDA foi adequado às recomendações mínimas necessárias para os eqüinos.This study aims to evaluate diets for military horses in moderate activity. This experiment was conducted at Cavalry

  16. Dieta de murciélagos nectarívoros del Parque Nacional Cerros de Amotape, Tumbes

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Edith Arias

    2011-07-01

    Full Text Available En el Perú se reporta la presencia de 18 especies de murciélagos nectarívoros, sin embargo se cuenta con poca información sobre la dieta de estas especies. En este estudio se reporta por primera vez la dieta de los nectarívoros Glossophaga soricina, Lonchophylla hesperia y Anoura geoffroyi en el bosque seco ecuatorial y del bosque tropical del Pacífico del Parque Nacional Cerros de Amotape, Tumbes. Analizamos 21 contenidos gastrointestinales e identificamos ocho morfotipos de polen pertenecientes a las familias Bombacaceae, Cactaceae, Fabaceae, Solanaceae, Rubiaceae, Myrtaceae, Malvaceae y Rosaceae. Encontramos evidencia del síndrome de quiropterofilia en Bombacaceae, Cactaceae, Fabaceae, Solanaceae y Rubiaceae. Observamos que A. geoffroyi consume polen de Ceiba trichistandra, Solanaceae y Rubiacea; G. soricina consume de Abutilon reflexum, Armathocereus cartwrightianus, C. trichistandra y Rubiaceae; y L. hesperia de A. cartwrightianus, Eriobotrya japonica, Fabaceae y Psidium sp.; sugiriendo una dieta generalista en estas especies. Los murciélagos G. soricina y A. geoffroyi comparten el consumo del ceibo C. trichistandra y de la Rubiaceae, mientras que G. soricina comparte con L. hesperia el consumo del cactus A. cartwrightianus. Los otros morfotipos de polen no fueron compartidos entre murciélagos. Se encuentra además que el ceibo C. trichistandra fue la especie más consumida, especialmente por G. soricina.

  17. Pollination and facultative ant-association in the African leopard ...

    African Journals Online (AJOL)

    The role of extra-floral nectar appears to be recruitment of foraging ants to tend the flowers resulting in a facultative ant-association between the orchid and gregarious ants. Four different ant species were found to forage on A. africana's inflorescences. Ant-tended inflorescences suffered significantly less damage by insects.

  18. ANT, tourism and situated globality

    DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

    Jóhannesson, Gunnar Thór; Ren, Carina Bregnholm; van der Duim, René

    2015-01-01

    viable descriptions of the collective condition of humans and more-than-humans in the Anthropocene. Also and moving past a merely descriptive approach, it discusses it as a useful tool to engage with the situated globalities which come into being through the socio-spatial coupling of tourism......In recent years Actor-network theory (ANT) has increasingly been felt in the field of tourism studies (Van der Duim, Ren, & Jóhannesson, 2012). An important implication of the meeting between ANT and tourism studies is the notion of tourism being described as a heterogeneous assemblage of what we...... are used to define as the separate spheres of nature and culture. This paper explores and relates the central tenets of ANT in tourism with regard to the concept of the Anthropocene. It presents the ANT approach as a flat and object-oriented ontology and methodology and explores its potentials to carve out...

  19. Recurrence analysis of ant activity patterns.

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Felipe Marcel Neves

    Full Text Available In this study, we used recurrence quantification analysis (RQA and recurrence plots (RPs to compare the movement activity of individual workers of three ant species, as well as a gregarious beetle species. RQA and RPs quantify the number and duration of recurrences of a dynamical system, including a detailed quantification of signals that could be stochastic, deterministic, or both. First, we found substantial differences between the activity dynamics of beetles and ants, with the results suggesting that the beetles have quasi-periodic dynamics and the ants do not. Second, workers from different ant species varied with respect to their dynamics, presenting degrees of predictability as well as stochastic signals. Finally, differences were found among minor and major caste of the same (dimorphic ant species. Our results underscore the potential of RQA and RPs in the analysis of complex behavioral patterns, as well as in general inferences on animal behavior and other biological phenomena.

  20. Symbiotic mutualism with a community of opportunistic ants: protection, competition, and ant occupancy of the myrmecophyte Barteria nigritana (Passifloraceae)

    Science.gov (United States)

    Djiéto-Lordon, Champlain; Dejean, Alain; Gibernau, Marc; Hossaert-McKey, Martine; McKey, Doyle

    2004-10-01

    Barteria nigritana is a myrmecophyte tree of Lower Guinea coastal vegetation. Unlike the more specialised B. fistulosa, which harbours a single host-specific mutualistic ant, B. nigritana is associated with several opportunistic ants. Such symbiotic, yet opportunistic, ant-plant associations have been little studied. On 113 clumps of B. nigritana, we censused ant associates and herbivores and compared herbivory on plants occupied by different ants. In addition to these correlative data, protection conferred by different ant species was compared by herbivore-placement experiments. Identity of ant associate changed predictably over plant ontogeny. Pheidole megacephala was restricted to very small plants; saplings were occupied by either Oecophylla longinoda or Crematogaster sp., and the latter species was the sole occupant of larger trees. Damage by caterpillars of the nymphalid butterfly Acraea zetes accounted for much of the herbivory to leaves. Ant species differed in the protection provided to hosts. While P. megacephala provided no significant protection, plants occupied by O. longinoda and Crematogaster sp. suffered less damage than did unoccupied plants or those occupied by P. megacephala. Furthermore, O. longinoda provided more effective protection than did Crematogaster sp. Herbivore-placement experiments confirmed these results. Workers of O. longinoda killed or removed all larval instars of A. zetes. Crematogaster preyed on only the two first larval instars, and P. megacephala preyed mainly on eggs, only rarely attacking the two first larval instars. Opportunistic ants provided significant protection to this relatively unspecialised myrmecophyte. The usual associate of mature trees was not the species that provided most protection.

  1. Plant-ants use symbiotic fungi as a food source: new insight into the nutritional ecology of ant-plant interactions.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Blatrix, Rumsaïs; Djiéto-Lordon, Champlain; Mondolot, Laurence; La Fisca, Philippe; Voglmayr, Hermann; McKey, Doyle

    2012-10-07

    Usually studied as pairwise interactions, mutualisms often involve networks of interacting species. Numerous tropical arboreal ants are specialist inhabitants of myrmecophytes (plants bearing domatia, i.e. hollow structures specialized to host ants) and are thought to rely almost exclusively on resources derived from the host plant. Recent studies, following up on century-old reports, have shown that fungi of the ascomycete order Chaetothyriales live in symbiosis with plant-ants within domatia. We tested the hypothesis that ants use domatia-inhabiting fungi as food in three ant-plant symbioses: Petalomyrmex phylax/Leonardoxa africana, Tetraponera aethiops/Barteria fistulosa and Pseudomyrmex penetrator/Tachigali sp. Labelling domatia fungal patches in the field with either a fluorescent dye or (15)N showed that larvae ingested domatia fungi. Furthermore, when the natural fungal patch was replaced with a piece of a (15)N-labelled pure culture of either of two Chaetothyriales strains isolated from T. aethiops colonies, these fungi were also consumed. These two fungi often co-occur in the same ant colony. Interestingly, T. aethiops workers and larvae ingested preferentially one of the two strains. Our results add a new piece in the puzzle of the nutritional ecology of plant-ants.

  2. Las dietas cetogénicas: beneficios adicionales a la pérdida de peso y efectos secundarios infundados

    OpenAIRE

    Pérez-Guisado, Joaquín

    2008-01-01

    Además de la pérdida de peso, también es importante enfatizar que las dietas cetogénicas son saludables cardiovascularmente y para el metabolismo glucídico, ya que promueven un perfil lipídico no aterogénico, el descenso de la presión arterial y disminuyen la resistencia a la insulina con una mejora en los niveles plasmáticos de glucosa e insulina. Estas dietas podrían tener efectos anticancerígenos, no tienen efectos perniciosos sobre el hígado o el riñón, no se asocian ...

  3. Óleo funcional na dieta de vacas leiteiras

    OpenAIRE

    Jesus, Elmeson Ferreira de [UNESP

    2015-01-01

    O presente estudo teve como objetivo avaliar os efeitos da inclusão de óleo funcional composto de ácido anacárdico, cardol e cardanol (óleo da castanha de cajú) e ácido ricinoleico (óleo de mamona) na dieta de vacas em lactação sobre consumo, digestibilidade aparente total da matéria seca e nutrientes, fermentação ruminal, produção e composição do leite, síntese de proteína microbiana, perfil metabólico, balanço de nitrogênio e energia. Foram utilizadas vinte e quatro vacas pluriparas da raça...

  4. Pheromone disruption of Argentine ant trail integrity

    Science.gov (United States)

    Suckling, D.M.; Peck, R.W.; Manning, L.M.; Stringer, L.D.; Cappadonna, J.; El-Sayed, A. M.

    2008-01-01

    Disruption of Argentine ant trail following and reduced ability to forage (measured by bait location success) was achieved after presentation of an oversupply of trail pheromone, (Z)-9-hexadecenal. Experiments tested single pheromone point sources and dispersion of a formulation in small field plots. Ant walking behavior was recorded and digitized by using video tracking, before and after presentation of trail pheromone. Ants showed changes in three parameters within seconds of treatment: (1) Ants on trails normally showed a unimodal frequency distribution of walking track angles, but this pattern disappeared after presentation of the trail pheromone; (2) ants showed initial high trail integrity on a range of untreated substrates from painted walls to wooden or concrete floors, but this was significantly reduced following presentation of a point source of pheromone; (3) the number of ants in the pheromone-treated area increased over time, as recruitment apparently exceeded departures. To test trail disruption in small outdoor plots, the trail pheromone was formulated with carnuba wax-coated quartz laboratory sand (1 g quartz sand/0.2 g wax/1 mg pheromone). The pheromone formulation, with a half-life of 30 h, was applied by rotary spreader at four rates (0, 2.5, 7.5, and 25 mg pheromone/m2) to 1- and 4-m2 plots in Volcanoes National Park, Hawaii. Ant counts at bait cards in treated plots were significantly reduced compared to controls on the day of treatment, and there was a significant reduction in ant foraging for 2 days. These results show that trail pheromone disruption of Argentine ants is possible, but a much more durable formulation is needed before nest-level impacts can be expected. ?? 2008 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC.

  5. Arroz integral, seleno-levedura e acetato de alfa-tocoferol na dieta de frangos de corte: efeitos sobre a qualidade da carne

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Aline Arassiana Piccini Roll

    2017-05-01

    Full Text Available Foram estudados os efeitos da suplementação com acetato de alfa-tocoferol (VE e seleno-levedura (SeL Sel-Plex, Alltech® Inc, sobre o pH, a capacidade de retenção de água (CRA, perdas por cocção (PC, perdas por gotejamento (PG, cor do músculo e a concentração de selênio no peito de frangos alimentados com dietas a base de milho ou arroz. A partir de 21 dias de idade 200 frangos de corte Cobb foram alojados em 38 boxes (unidade experimental num delineamento casualizado num arranjo fatorial 2x2x2 em que foram fixados os níveis de suplementação “on top” de VE (0 e 200 mg/kg, SeL (0 e 0,3 ppm e dois ingredientes da dieta (100% milho e 100% arroz integral totalizando oito tratamentos: T1 milho + 0SeL + 0VE (controle; T2 milho + 200mg/kg VE + 0SeL; T3 milho + 0VE + 0,3ppm SeL; T4 milho + 200mg/kg VE + 0,3ppm SeL; T5 arroz + 0VE +0SeL; T6 arroz + 200mg/kg VE + 0SeL; T7 arroz + 0VE + 0,3ppm SeL; T8 arroz + 200mg/kg VE + 0,3ppm SeL. A quantidade de selênio no peito foi maior (P < 0,0001 com a inclusão de 200mg/kg de VE, em comparação com os demais tratamentos. Entretanto, observou-se uma interação positiva entre VE e SeL na dieta sobre a quantidade de selênio recuperada na carne (P = 0,06. Foi encontrada melhor CRA com a inclusão de SeL e VE em dietas a base de arroz. A substituição do milho por arroz nas dietas reduziu a cor amarela na carne (P < 0,05. PC e PG não foram significativamente afetadas pelos tratamentos. O pH da carne do peito foi significativamente mais elevado nas aves recebendo dietas suplementadas de SeL. Em conclusão, a interação entre VE e SeL aumenta o selênio na carne, porém, melhorando a CRA somente em dietas a base de arroz. A substituição de milho por arroz integral reduz a intensidade da coloração amarela da carne do peito de frangos.

  6. Cytokine profile of rats fed a diet containing shrimp Perfil das citocinas de ratos alimentados com dieta de camarão

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Elizabeth Lage Borges

    2013-02-01

    Full Text Available OBJECTIVE: Studies have shown that shrimps reduced the tensile strength of scars in rat skin. The aim of the present study was to assess the cytokine profile of rats fed shrimp. METHODS: Group 1 (control received a regular diet and Group 2 (experimental received a diet containing 33% shrimp for nine days. The two diets contained the same amounts of proteins, fats and carbohydrates. Serum cytokine levels were determined by ELISA and a segment of the jejunum was taken to investigate its histological morphology and eosinophil infiltrate. RESULTS: The experimental group had lower serum levels of interleukin-4 (IL-4 (14.4±1.9 versus 18.11±2.6pg/mL; pOBJETIVO: Estudos mostraram que a dieta suplementada com camarão reduziu a resistência cicatricial na pele de ratos. Nesse contexto, o objetivo do presente estudo foi avaliar o perfil das citocinas de ratos que receberam dieta adicionada com camarão. MÉTODOS: Foram comparados um grupo controle e um grupo experimental, que receberam uma dieta enriquecida com camarão (33% durante nove dias. As duas dietas continham quantidades semelhantes de proteínas, lipídeos, e carboidratos. Os níveis séricos de citocinas foram avaliados por ELISA, assim como um segmento de jejuno foi obtido para exame histológico da morfologia e infiltrado de eosinófilos. RESULTADOS: A dieta adicionada com camarão diminuiu os níveis séricos de IL-4 (14,4±1,9 versus 18,11±2,6pg/mL, p<0,05 e IL-10 (5,0±0,98 versus 7,5±1,2pg/mL, p<0,05 e aumentou os níveis séricos de IL-6 (3,2±0,4 versus 17,8±2,3pg/mL, p<0,001 quando comparada com os animais controle. Morfologicamente, a dieta adicionada com camarão causou uma desorganização da arquitetura da mucosa intestinal, juntamente com uma abundância de eosinófilos nas vilosidades jejunais. CONCLUSÃO: Os dados sugerem que a ingestão de dieta adicionada com camarão leva a um aumento significativo da citocina IL-6, juntamente com uma diminuição da citocina

  7. Congestion and communication in confined ant traffic

    Science.gov (United States)

    Gravish, Nick; Gold, Gregory; Zangwill, Andrew; Goodisman, Michael A. D.; Goldman, Daniel I.

    2014-03-01

    Many social animals move and communicate within confined spaces. In subterranean fire ants Solenopsis invicta, mobility within crowded nest tunnels is important for resource and information transport. Within confined tunnels, communication and traffic flow are at odds: trafficking ants communicate through tactile interactions while stopped, yet ants that stop to communicate impose physical obstacles on the traffic. We monitor the bi-directional flow of fire ant workers in laboratory tunnels of varied diameter D. The persistence time of communicating ant aggregations, τ, increases approximately linearly with the number of participating ants, n. The sensitivity of traffic flow increases as D decreases and diverges at a minimum diameter, Dc. A cellular automata model incorporating minimal traffic features--excluded volume and communication duration--reproduces features of the experiment. From the model we identify a competition between information transfer and the need to maintain jam-free traffic flow. We show that by balancing information transfer and traffic flow demands, an optimum group strategy exists which maximizes information throughput. We acknowledge funding from NSF PoLS #0957659 and #PHY-1205878.

  8. Selenium exposure results in reduced reproduction in an invasive ant species and altered competitive behavior for a native ant species

    International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

    De La Riva, Deborah G.; Trumble, John T.

    2016-01-01

    Competitive ability and numerical dominance are important factors contributing to the ability of invasive ant species to establish and expand their ranges in new habitats. However, few studies have investigated the impact of environmental contamination on competitive behavior in ants as a potential factor influencing dynamics between invasive and native ant species. Here we investigated the widespread contaminant selenium to investigate its potential influence on invasion by the exotic Argentine ant, Linepithema humile, through effects on reproduction and competitive behavior. For the fecundity experiment, treatments were provided to Argentine ant colonies via to sugar water solutions containing one of three concentrations of selenium (0, 5 and 10 μg Se mL −1 ) that fall within the range found in soil and plants growing in contaminated areas. Competition experiments included both the Argentine ant and the native Dorymyrmex bicolor to determine the impact of selenium exposure (0 or 15 μg Se mL −1 ) on exploitation- and interference-competition between ant species. The results of the fecundity experiment revealed that selenium negatively impacted queen survival and brood production of Argentine ants. Viability of the developing brood was also affected in that offspring reached adulthood only in colonies that were not given selenium, whereas those in treated colonies died in their larval stages. Selenium exposure did not alter direct competitive behaviors for either species, but selenium exposure contributed to an increased bait discovery time for D. bicolor. Our results suggest that environmental toxins may not only pose problems for native ant species, but may also serve as a potential obstacle for establishment among exotic species. - Highlights: • Argentine ant colonies exposed to selenium had reduced fecundity compared to unexposed colonies. • Viability of offspring was negatively impacted by selenium. • Queen survival was reduced in colonies

  9. Improved Ant Colony Clustering Algorithm and Its Performance Study

    Science.gov (United States)

    Gao, Wei

    2016-01-01

    Clustering analysis is used in many disciplines and applications; it is an important tool that descriptively identifies homogeneous groups of objects based on attribute values. The ant colony clustering algorithm is a swarm-intelligent method used for clustering problems that is inspired by the behavior of ant colonies that cluster their corpses and sort their larvae. A new abstraction ant colony clustering algorithm using a data combination mechanism is proposed to improve the computational efficiency and accuracy of the ant colony clustering algorithm. The abstraction ant colony clustering algorithm is used to cluster benchmark problems, and its performance is compared with the ant colony clustering algorithm and other methods used in existing literature. Based on similar computational difficulties and complexities, the results show that the abstraction ant colony clustering algorithm produces results that are not only more accurate but also more efficiently determined than the ant colony clustering algorithm and the other methods. Thus, the abstraction ant colony clustering algorithm can be used for efficient multivariate data clustering. PMID:26839533

  10. Current and potential ant impacts in the Pacific region

    Science.gov (United States)

    Loope, Lloyd L.; Krushelnycky, Paul D.

    2007-01-01

    Worldwide, ants are a powerful ecological force, and they appear to be dominant components of animal communities of many tropical and temperate ecosystems in terms of biomass and numbers of individuals (Bluthgen et al. 2000). For example, ants comprise up to 94% of arthropod individuals in fogging samples taken from diverse lowland tropical rainforest canopies, and 86% of the biomass (Davidson et al. 2003). The majority of these ant species and individuals obtain carbohydrates either from extrafloral nectaries or from sap-feeding Hemiptera that pass carbohydrate-rich “honeydew” to attending ants while concentrating nitrogen (N) from N-poor plant sap (Davidson et al. 2003). Honeydew and nectar represent key resources for arboreal ant species, although most ant species are at least partly carnivorous or scavengers (Bluthgen et al. 2004). In contrast to most of the terrestrial world, the biotas of many Pacific islands evolved without ants. Whereas endemic ant species are found in New Zealand (ca. 10 spp.), Tonga (ca. 10 spp.), and Samoa (ca. 12 spp.), other islands of Polynesia and parts of Micronesia likely lack native ants (Wilson and Taylor 1967, Wetterer 2002, Wetterer and Vargo 2003). About 20 Indo-Australian and western Pacific ant species range to the east and north of Samoa, but it is unclear how many of these were transported there by humans at some time (Wilson and Taylor 1967). Most of the remainder of the ant species currently found on Pacific islands are widespread species that fall in the category of “tramp species,” dispersed by recent human commerce and generally closely tied to human activity and urban areas (Wilson and Taylor 1967, McGlynn 1999). In Pacific island situations, some of these tramp ant species are able to thrive beyond areas of human activity. Relatively few ant species have been successful invaders of native communities on continents, and these include most of the species that pose the greatest problems for Pacific islands

  11. Oecophylla smaragdina food conversion efficiency: prospects for ant farming

    DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

    Offenberg, Hans Joachim

    2011-01-01

    can be combined with the use of the ants in biological control programmes in tropical plantations where pest insects are converted into ant biomass. To assess the cost-benefits of ant farming based on artificial feeding, food consumption and food conversion efficiency (ECI) of Oecophylla smaragdina......Oecophylla ants are sold at high prices on several commercial markets as a human delicacy, as pet food or as traditional medicine. Currently markets are supplied by ants collected from the wild; however, an increasing interest in ant farming exists as all harvest is easily sold and as ant farming...... selling prices these efficiencies led to rates of return from 1.52 to 4.56, respectively, if: (i) protein is supplied from commercial products; or (ii) alternatively supplied from free sources such as insects and kitchen waste. These results suggest that Oecophylla ant farming may become highly profitable...

  12. A cellular automata model for ant trails

    Indian Academy of Sciences (India)

    In this study, the unidirectional ant traffic flow with U-turn in an ant trail was investigated using one-dimensional cellular automata model. It is known that ants communicate with each other by dropping a chemical, called pheromone, on the substrate. Apart from the studies in the literature, it was considered in the model that ...

  13. Ant-Related Oviposition and Larval Performance in a Myrmecophilous Lycaenid

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Matthew D. Trager

    2013-01-01

    Full Text Available We experimentally assessed ant-related oviposition and larval performance in the Miami blue butterfly (Cyclargus thomasi bethunebakeri. Ant tending had sex-dependent effects on most measures of larval growth: female larvae generally benefitted from increased tending frequency whereas male larvae were usually unaffected. The larger size of female larvae tended by ants resulted in a substantial predicted increase in lifetime egg production. Oviposition by adult females that were tended by C. floridanus ants as larvae was similar between host plants with or without ants. However, they laid relatively more eggs on plants with ants than did females raised without ants, which laid less than a third of their eggs on plants with ants present. In summary, we found conditional benefits for larvae tended by ants that were not accompanied by oviposition preference for plants with ants present, which is a reasonable result for a system in which ant presence at the time of oviposition is not a reliable indicator of future ant presence. More broadly, our results emphasize the importance of considering the consequences of variation in interspecific interactions, life history traits, and multiple measures of performance when evaluating the costs and benefits of mutualistic relationships.

  14. Ants as tools in sustainable agriculture

    DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

    Offenberg, Joachim

    2015-01-01

    1. With an expanding human population placing increasing pressure on the environment, agriculture needs sustainable production that can match conventional methods. Integrated pest management (IPM) is more sustainable, but not necessarily as efficient as conventional non-sustainable measures. 2...... in multiple crops. Their efficiency is comparable to chemical pesticides or higher, while at lower costs. They provide a rare example of documented efficient conservation biological control. 3. Weaver ants share beneficial traits with almost 13 000 other ant species and are unlikely to be unique...... of agricultural systems, this review emphasizes the potential of managing ants to achieve sustainable pest management solutions. The synthesis suggests future directions and may catalyse a research agenda on the utilization of ants, not only against arthropod pests, but also against weeds and plant diseases...

  15. Dieta y disponibilidad de forraje del venado cola blanca Odocoileus virginianus thomasi (Artiodactyla: Cervidae en un campo experimental de Campeche, México

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Danilo Granados

    2014-08-01

    Full Text Available En Campeche, México no existen estudios de la dieta de Odocoileus virginianus thomasi; a pesar de la existencia de 122 Unidades de Manejo para la Conservación de la Vida Silvestre (UMAS en donde se realiza aprovechamiento del venado cola blanca. Los objetivos del trabajo fueron conocer la composición botánica de la dieta y su cambio estacional, la disponibilidad de forraje, la capacidad de carga y carga animal de O. virginianus thomasi. El trabajo se realizó de octubre 2010 a mayo 2012 en el Campo Experimental del Colegio de Postgraduados en Campeche, México. La composición de la dieta se determinó mediante el análisis de heces de venado y material de referencia con la técnica microhistológica; la disponibilidad de forraje se estimó con el método de Adelaide; la capacidad de carga utilizando la presión de pastoreo y la carga animal considerando el forraje disponible y 35% de eficiencia de utilización. La dieta incluyó 40 especies de 15 familias. La riqueza de especies más alta fue de 29 especies en la época de lluvia; las arbustivas fueron preferidas en las tres épocas del año y las herbáceas en la época de lluvia. La composición de la dieta, disponibilidad de forraje, la capacidad de carga y carga animal variaron a través del año. La capacidad de carga fluctuó entre 0.04 a 1.08 venados/ha.

  16. Níveis decrescentes de proteína em dietas suplementadas com complexo enzimático para coelhos em crescimento. 1. Desempenho produtivo

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Dias J.C.C.A.

    2000-01-01

    Full Text Available Estudou-se o efeito da redução do nível protéico da dieta, com e sem suplementação enzimática, sobre o desempenho produtivo de coelhos em crescimento. Em um delineamento inteiramente ao acaso, utilizaram-se 54 coelhos da raça Nova Zelândia Branco, de ambos os sexos, desmamados aos 35 dias de idade e divididos em cinco grupos (tratamentos, quatro de 11 e um de 10 coelhos. Os tratamentos constituíram-se de dietas calculadas como isoenergéticas e isoaminoacídicas com 17, 16, 15 e 14% de proteína bruta (PB, suplementadas com 0,05% de um complexo enzimático comercial (VegproÒ , com atividade de protease e de celulase, e uma dieta controle com 17% de PB sem adição de complexo enzimático. Os animais submetidos aos tratamentos com 14 e 15% PB apresentaram melhores resultados no ensaio de crescimento, observando-se influência significativa (P<0,05 do teor de PB sobre o peso vivo final, peso vivo final metabólico, ganho de peso diário, consumo diário de dieta, consumo diário de proteína bruta e conversão alimentar. A redução do nível de proteína bruta da dieta para 14% com suplementação enzimática e corrigida quanto aos aminoácidos mais limitantes para os teores recomendados pela literatura não influenciou negativamente as características estudadas.

  17. ADAPTIVE ANT COLONY OPTIMIZATION BASED GRADIENT FOR EDGE DETECTION

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Febri Liantoni

    2014-08-01

    Full Text Available Ant Colony Optimization (ACO is a nature-inspired optimization algorithm which is motivated by ants foraging behavior. Due to its favorable advantages, ACO has been widely used to solve several NP-hard problems, including edge detection. Since ACO initially distributes ants at random, it may cause imbalance ant distribution which later affects path discovery process. In this paper an adaptive ACO is proposed to optimize edge detection by adaptively distributing ant according to gradient analysis. Ants are adaptively distributed according to gradient ratio of each image regions. Region which has bigger gradient ratio, will have bigger number of ant distribution. Experiments are conducted using images from various datasets. Precision and recall are used to quantitatively evaluate performance of the proposed algorithm. Precision and recall of adaptive ACO reaches 76.98 % and 96.8 %. Whereas highest precision and recall for standard ACO are 69.74 % and 74.85 %. Experimental results show that the adaptive ACO outperforms standard ACO which randomly distributes ants.

  18. Fungal Adaptations to Mutualistic Life with Ants

    DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

    Kooij, Pepijn Wilhelmus

    Fungus-growing ants (Attini) feed off a fungus they cultivate in a mutualistic symbiosis in underground chambers by providing it substrate they collect outside the colony. The tribe of Attine ants ranges from small colonies of the paleo- and basal Attine species with a few hundred workers that fo...... that the fungus evolved some incredible adaptations to a mutualistic life with the ants....

  19. Fast and flexible: argentine ants recruit from nearby trails.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Flanagan, Tatiana P; Pinter-Wollman, Noa M; Moses, Melanie E; Gordon, Deborah M

    2013-01-01

    Argentine ants (Linepithema humile) live in groups of nests connected by trails to each other and to stable food sources. In a field study, we investigated whether some ants recruit directly from established, persistent trails to food sources, thus accelerating food collection. Our results indicate that Argentine ants recruit nestmates to food directly from persistent trails, and that the exponential increase in the arrival rate of ants at baits is faster than would be possible if recruited ants traveled from distant nests. Once ants find a new food source, they walk back and forth between the bait and sometimes share food by trophallaxis with nestmates on the trail. Recruiting ants from nearby persistent trails creates a dynamic circuit, like those found in other distributed systems, which facilitates a quick response to changes in available resources.

  20. Influência da fitase na utilização de nutrientes em dietas compostas por milho e farelo de soja para suínos em crescimento

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Lüdke Maria do Carmo Mohaupt Marques

    2000-01-01

    Full Text Available O objetivo deste trabalho foi determinar o nível adequado de fitase (0, 300, 600 e 900 UF/kg da dieta a ser adicionado em dietas contendo milho e farelo de soja com dois níveis de proteína bruta (PB, um na exigência do animal (18% e outro em nível menor (16%, para a mais efetiva biodisponibilidade do nitrogênio, da energia e dos macrominerais, e também verificar em qual destes níveis de proteína da dieta a fitase tem maior efeito. Foram utilizados 24 leitões com peso médio inicial de 18,4 kg, alojados em gaiolas metabólicas, para ensaio de metabolismo do nitrogênio, da energia bruta, do fósforo e cálcio, por intermédio do método com marcador óxido férrico. As dietas foram fornecidas de acordo com o peso metabólico dos animais e foram isoenergéticas com 3295 kcal de EM/kg. Foram avaliados os parâmetros de desempenho dos animais, a digestibilidade do nitrogênio (DN, a retenção de nitrogênio (RN, a energia digestível (ED, a energia metabolizável (EM, a digestibilidade do fósforo (DP, a retenção do fósforo (RP, a digestibilidade do cálcio (DCa e a retenção do cálcio (RCa. Foi observado aumento na biodisponibilidade dos nutrientes, ao ser adicionada fitase nos níveis entre 220 e 508 UF/kg da dieta, exceto no desempenho dos animais, que aumentou linearmente. A eficiência da enzima foi melhor, quando adicionada em dietas contendo nível de proteína marginal (16% de PB comparado às dietas com 18% de proteína bruta, ao avaliar a energia.

  1. Fitasa y enzimas fibrolíticas en dietas para cerdos con diferentes sustratos

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Mario Alberto Ávalos Castro

    2011-01-01

    Full Text Available El objetivo del estudio fue evaluar la adición de fitasa (F y actividades de pectinasa, glucanasa y hemicelulasa (PGH en dietas sorgo-soya-canola, y xilanasa (X en dietas con grano seco de destilería con solubles (GSDS sobre la digestibilidad ileal y fecal de nutrientes (Exp 1 y el comportamiento productivo (Exp 2 en cerdos en crecimiento finalización. En el Exp 1 se formularon dos dietas basales (B1, sorgo-soya-canola y B2, sorgo-soya-canola + GSDS y los tratamientos fueron, 1 B1+F, 2 B1+F+PGH, 3 B2+F, 4 B2+F+PGH, 5 B2+F+X, y 6 B2+F+PGH+X. El Exp 2 incluyó cuatro tratamientos, 1 Testigo positivo (sorgosoya- canola con energía normal, 2 Igual que 1, pero bajo en energía, 3 Igual que 2 +F+PGH, 4 Igual que 3 +GSDS +X. En el Exp 1, la digestibilidad de la energía a nivel ileal se mejoró (P<0.05 con +F+PGH, +F+X y +F+PGH+X, y a nivel fecal se mejoró (P<0.05 con +F+X. La PGH liberó 122 kcal a nivel ileal y la X liberó 147 y 132 kcal de ED/kg de alimento a nivel ileal y fecal. En el Exp 2, la eficiencia alimenticia fue mayor (P<0.01 en el testigo positivo y el tratamiento bajo en energía +F+PGH, pero este último tuvo mayor (P<0.05 eficiencia energética. El valor energético de los GSDS se mejoró por la adición de F, PGH y X, pero la respuesta en crecimiento observada en el presente trabajo no fue consistente.

  2. Hey! A Fire Ant Stung Me!

    Science.gov (United States)

    ... Videos for Educators Search English Español Hey! A Fire Ant Stung Me! KidsHealth / For Kids / Hey! A ... Me picó una roja o colorada! What's a Fire Ant? There are many different types of fire ...

  3. Estudo sobre a ocorrência de fungos e aflatoxina B1 na dieta de bovinos leiteiros em São Paulo

    OpenAIRE

    Motta,Thiago P.; Frizzarin,Adriana; Martins,Thamires; Miranda,Mariana S.; Arcaro,Juliana R.P.; Ambrósio,Luiz A.; Pozzi,Claudia R.

    2015-01-01

    A qualidade da dieta ofertada às vacas em lactação é uma preocupação dos agentes de saúde devido à possibilidade da detecção de micotoxinas prejudiciais a saúde humana e animal. Os objetivos do trabalho foram avaliar o perfil da micobiota, determinar a atividade de água (Aa) e a ocorrência natural de aflatoxina B1 (AFB1) em dietas ofertadas a vacas em lactação de fazendas leiteiras no estado de São Paulo, Brasil. ...

  4. Fast and flexible: argentine ants recruit from nearby trails.

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Tatiana P Flanagan

    Full Text Available Argentine ants (Linepithema humile live in groups of nests connected by trails to each other and to stable food sources. In a field study, we investigated whether some ants recruit directly from established, persistent trails to food sources, thus accelerating food collection. Our results indicate that Argentine ants recruit nestmates to food directly from persistent trails, and that the exponential increase in the arrival rate of ants at baits is faster than would be possible if recruited ants traveled from distant nests. Once ants find a new food source, they walk back and forth between the bait and sometimes share food by trophallaxis with nestmates on the trail. Recruiting ants from nearby persistent trails creates a dynamic circuit, like those found in other distributed systems, which facilitates a quick response to changes in available resources.

  5. Las dietas hiperproteicas y sus consecuencias metabólicas

    OpenAIRE

    López-Luzardo, Michelle

    2009-01-01

    El consumo excesivo de proteínas produce un incremento en la excreción neta de ácidos, lo cual a su vez aumenta la excreción urinaria de calcio. Los efectos de la dieta sobre la excreción urinaria de ácidos y de calcio no sólo dependen de la cantidad de proteínas, sino que también pueden ser modificados por otros constituyentes de la alimentación, tales como el potasio y los equivalentes alcalinos de bicarbonato contenidos en las frutas y hortalizas. La deficiencia de estas bases de potasio e...

  6. Cinética de fermentación y degradabilidad ruminal in vitro de dietas con diferente fuente de nitrógeno

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Carlos Aguirre Valverde

    2017-12-01

    Full Text Available El objetivo de este trabajo fue determinar la cinética de fermentación y degradabilidad ruminal in vitro de dietas con diferente fuente de nitrógeno para alimentación de rumiantes. Se formularon tres dietas (D con diferentes fuentes de nitrógeno D1 (harina de pescado, D2 (pasta de soya y D3 (urea, estas fueron iso-calóricas con 2900 kilocalorías de energía digestible en materia seca (kcal ED/MS e iso-proteícas 13% proteína bruta (PB. Los periodos de incubación utilizados fueron 0, 2, 4, 8, 12, 24, 48 y 72 horas. En la evolución del Ph en la cinética ruminal de las tres dietas con diferentes fuentes de nitrógenos, se puede determinar que la D3 y D1 registraron el mayor pH (P

  7. Dieta cetogênica no tratamento de epilepsias farmacorresistentes

    OpenAIRE

    Nonino-Borges,Carla Barbosa; Bustamante,Vera Cristina Terra; Rabito,Estela Iraci; Inuzuka,Luciana Midoro; Sakamoto,Américo Ceike; Marchini,Júlio Sérgio

    2004-01-01

    A epilepsia é uma condição clínica crônica correspondente a um grupo de doenças que tem em comum crises epilépticas; ela atinge de 0,5% a 1,0% da população dos países desenvolvidos, podendo esta prevalência ser maior nos países em desenvolvimento. Aproximadamente um terço dos pacientes evolui com crises epilépticas intratáveis com medicamentos; em alguns casos, é possível o tratamento cirúrgico. Nos pacientes em que cirurgia não é possível, a dieta cetogênica passa a ser uma opção terapêutica...

  8. Cryptococcus neoformans carried by Odontomachus bauri ants

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Mariana Santos de Jesus

    2012-06-01

    Full Text Available Cryptococcus neoformans is the most common causative agent of cryptococcosis worldwide. Although this fungus has been isolated from a variety of organic substrates, several studies suggest that hollow trees constitute an important natural niche for C. neoformans. A previously surveyed hollow of a living pink shower tree (Cassia grandis positive for C. neoformans in the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, was chosen for further investigation. Odontomachus bauri ants (trap-jaw ants found inside the hollow were collected for evaluation as possible carriers of Cryptococcus spp. Two out of 10 ants were found to carry phenoloxidase-positive colonies identified as C. neoformans molecular types VNI and VNII. The ants may have acted as a mechanical vector of C. neoformans and possibly contributed to the dispersal of the fungi from one substrate to another. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on the association of C. neoformans with ants of the genus Odontomachus.

  9. [Ants as carriers of microorganisms in hospital environments].

    Science.gov (United States)

    Pereira, Rogério Dos Santos; Ueno, Mariko

    2008-01-01

    Concern exists regarding the real possibility of public health threats caused by pathogenic agents that are carried by urban ants. The present study had the objective of isolating and identifying the microorganisms that are associated with ants in hospital environments. One hundred and twenty-five ants of the same species were collected from different units of a university hospital. Each ant was collected using a swab soaked with physiological solution and was transferred to a tube containing brain heart infusion broth and incubated at 35 degrees C for 24 hours. From each tube, with growth, inoculations were made into specific culturing media, to isolate any microorganisms. The ants presented a high capacity for carrying microorganism groups: spore-producing Gram-positive bacilli 63.5%, Gram-negative bacilli 6.3%, Gram-positive cocci 23.1%, filamentous fungi 6.7% and yeast 0.5%. Thus, it can be inferred that ants may be one of the agents responsible for disseminating microorganisms in hospital environments.

  10. Cuando dialogan dos Antígonas: La tumba de Antígona de María Zambrano y Antígona furiosa de Griselda Gambaro

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Rose Duroux

    2012-08-01

    Full Text Available Antígona ha sido un tópico por más de 2.000 años, participando de una historia que siempre puede ser reconocida. Tanto la Guerra Civil española como la dictadura argentina vieron surgir Antígonas en busca de justicia. A partir de los trabajos de María Zambrano y Griselda Gambaro, este artículo busca rehabilitar discursivamente estas versiones. Por un lado, la filósofa española nunca regresó del exilio iniciado en 1939 y defendió hasta el final los valores republicanos. Cuando asumió que su expatriación era irreversible, ingresó en un exilio profundo del cual Antígona revela lo esencial, pasando de la "privación" a la "revelación" tanto en un modo filosófico como en el poético, tanto en sus ensayos como en su única pieza teatral, La Tumba de Antígona [1967], una significativa metáfora de la guerra fratricida y del exilio. Por otro, Antígona furiosa [1986] de Gambaro, reescribe la tragedia de Sófocles cuando denuncia el terrorismo de estado argentino en una furiosa Antígona. Gambaro, hermana y madre de desaparecidos de la guerra sucia eleva su grito por justicia en nombre de la fraternidad humanaAntigone has been a topical figure for more than 2,000 years. She plays a part in a story that one can always identify. Spanish Civil War and Argentine dictatorship saw the birth of many Antigones seeking justice. Starting from the M. Zambrano and G. Gambaro's creations, this work rehabilitates the speech and the incarnations of the Iberian and Ibero-american Antigone. On the one hand, Spanish philosopher María Zambrano never came out of the exodus which began in 1939, and she defended the values of the Republic all the way. Once she acknowledged that expatriation was irreversible, she entered a profound exile of which Antigone reveals the essence, going from "deprivation" to "revelation" in a philosophical as well as a poetical manner, both in her essays and in her unique play, La Tumba de Antígona [1967], a striking metaphor

  11. Novos conceitos em nutrição: reflexões a respeito do elo dieta e saúde

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    ANGELIS Rebeca Carlota de

    2001-01-01

    Full Text Available A respeito do elo dieta-saúde, discutem-se os efeitos fisiológicos de alguns alimentos na redução de riscos de doenças degenerativas tais como enfermidades cardiovasculares e certos tipos de câncer. O novo conceito de alimento funcional com efeitos protetores e preventivos é apresentado com alguns exemplos altamente estudados cientificamente . Entre estes a proteção de osteoporose, através de fitoestrôgenos da soja, os aspectos protetores do azeite de oliva e as interferências do método de extração do azeite. Sumarizam-se algumas condutas gerais para obter os nutrientes adequados e suficientes para uma dieta saudável, protetora e preventiva.

  12. Shrimp diet and skin healing strength in rats Dieta com camarão e resistência cicatricial da pele, em ratos

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Elizabeth Lage Borges

    2007-06-01

    Full Text Available OBJECTIVE: Surgical scar tensile strength may be influenced by several factors such as drugs, hormones and diet. The purpose of the present study was to determine the influence of a shrimp-enriched diet on the tensile strength of rat scars. METHODS: Forty male Wistar rats were submitted to a 4 cm dorsal skin incision and the wounds were sutured with 5-0 nylon interrupted suture. The animals were divided into two groups: Group 1 (control received a regular diet, and Group 2 (experimental received a shrimp-enriched diet. The two diets contained the same amounts of proteins, lipids and carbohydrates. The rats in each group were divided into two subgroups according to the time of assessment of the scar tensile strength: subgroup A, studied on the 5th postoperative day, and subgroup B, studied on the 21st postoperative day. RESULTS: The tensile strength of the scar on the 5th postoperative day was lower in the animals that received the shrimp-enriched-diet (303.0, standard error of mean= 34.1 than in the control group (460.1, SEM = 56.7 (pOBJETIVO: A resistência cicatricial da pele pode ser influenciada por diversos fatores como medicamentos, hormônios e dieta. Este trabalho foi delineado para determinar a influência da dieta com camarão na resistência cicatricial na pele. MÉTODOS: Quarenta ratos machos Wistar foram submetidos a incisão (4cm e suturas interrompidas da pele dorsal, com fio de nylon 5-0, e foram divididos em dois grupos: o Grupo 1 (controle recebeu uma dieta convencional e Grupo 2 (experimental, recebeu dieta com adição de com camarão. As duas dietas continham quantidades semelhantes de proteína, lipídeos, e carboidratos. Os ratos de cada grupo foram divididos em dois subgrupos de acordo com os distintos períodos pós-operatórios de avaliação da resistência tecidual: subgrupo A, estudado no 5° dia pós-operatório, e subgrupo B, estudado no 21° dia pós-operatório. RESULTADOS: A resistência cicatricial da pele no 5

  13. Predaceous ants, beach replenishment, and nest placement by sea turtles.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Wetterer, James K; Wood, Lawrence D; Johnson, Chris; Krahe, Holly; Fitchett, Stephanie

    2007-10-01

    Ants known for attacking and killing hatchling birds and reptiles include the red imported fire ant (Solenopsis invicta Buren), tropical fire ant [Solenopsis geminata (Fabr.)], and little fire ant [Wasmannia auropunctata (Roger)]. We tested whether sea turtle nest placement influenced exposure to predaceous ants. In 2000 and 2001, we surveyed ants along a Florida beach where green turtles (Chelonia mydas L.), leatherbacks (Dermochelys coriacea Vandelli), and loggerheads (Caretta caretta L.) nest. Part of the beach was artificially replenished between our two surveys. As a result, mean beach width experienced by nesting turtles differed greatly between the two nesting seasons. We surveyed 1,548 sea turtle nests (2000: 909 nests; 2001: 639 nests) and found 22 ant species. S. invicta was by far the most common species (on 431 nests); S. geminata and W. auropunctata were uncommon (on 3 and 16 nests, respectively). In 2000, 62.5% of nests had ants present (35.9% with S. invicta), but in 2001, only 30.5% of the nests had ants present (16.4% with S. invicta). Turtle nests closer to dune vegetation had significantly greater exposure to ants. Differences in ant presence on turtle nests between years and among turtle species were closely related to differences in nest placement relative to dune vegetation. Beach replenishment significantly lowered exposure of nests to ants because on the wider beaches turtles nested farther from the dune vegetation. Selective pressures on nesting sea turtles are altered both by the presence of predaceous ants and the practice of beach replenishment.

  14. Farelo de arroz em dietas para ovinos Rice meal in sheep diet

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Alexandre Lima de Souza

    2010-03-01

    Full Text Available Avaliou-se o consumo e a digestibilidade aparente dos nutrientes em ovinos submetidos a dietas com diferentes níveis de farelo de arroz (0, 7, 14 e 21%, em substituição ao milho na ração concentrada. Foram utilizados 20 ovinos da raça Santa Inês, machos não-castrados, com peso vivo médio inicial de 23,00 ± 1,6kg, em delineamento inteiramente casualizado com quatro tratamentos e cinco repetições. Os animais foram mantidos em gaiolas metabólicas, por um período de 21 dias, de forma que 14 dias foram destinados à adaptação e sete para coletas de sobras e amostras fecais. As dietas eram isoproteicas com 13,3% de proteína bruta, compostas por 50% de concentrado e 50% de volumoso (50% de cana-de-açúcar in natura + 50% de silagem de milho com base na matéria seca, e fornecidas ad libitum permitindo sobras de 10%. O consumo de matéria seca foi obtido pela diferença entre a dieta e as sobras, e, assim como os nutrientes digestíveis totais, foi reduzido em 8,7 e 3,4g/dia por unidade percentual de farelo de arroz adicionado à dieta. Não foi observado efeito do farelo de arroz sobre a digestibilidade dos nutrientes, e os valores médios foram de 71,57; 73,26 e 47,00%, respectivamente, para o DMS, DCT e DFDN.The intake and nutrients digestibility of the diets content different levels of rice meal (0, 7, 14 and 21% in substitution to corn in concentrate ration were evaluated for sheep. Twenty sheep, not castrated, Santa Inês breed, with initial average body weight of 23±1,6kg were used, on the completely randomized design with four treatments and five repetitions. The animals were kept in individual metabolic cages, for a period of 21 days, have been the initial 14 days used to animal adaptation and seven days for orts and fecal samples collections. The diets were isonitrogenous with 13.3% of crude protein, haved roughage:concentrate ration of 50:50, based on dry matter provided ad libitum, allowing orts of 10%. The dry matter

  15. Evaluación de dietas artificiales con artemia adulta en la maduración y reproducción de penaeus vannamei

    OpenAIRE

    Zambrano Carranza, Byron R.

    1999-01-01

    Evaluación de dietas artificiales con Artemia adulta en la maduración y reproducción de Penaeus vannamei Un experimento de maduración y reproducción de P. vannamei fue llevado a cabo en tanques de 18 toneladas para (a) comprobar los efectos de la Artemia adulta como ingrediente principal en dietas artificiales, (b) investigar si existen diferencias entre la implementación de liofilizado de Artemia adulta y Artemia adulta congelada, y finalmente (c), comparar estos efectos y resultados con ...

  16. Enzimas exógenas em dietas de frangos de corte: desempenho Exogenous enzymes in broilers fed diets: performance

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Nei André Arruda Barbosa

    2012-08-01

    Full Text Available O experimento foi conduzido para avaliar a eficiência de enzimas exógenas em dietas sobre o desempenho de frangos de corte. Um total de 1440 pintos de corte machos (Cobb 500® foram distribuídos em um delineamento inteiramente casualizado em esquema fatorial 2x2 (duas dietas com diferentes densidades nutricionais; com e sem a adição enzimática com 8 repetições de 45 aves em cada unidade experimental. As dietas com diferentes densidades nutricionais foram: controle positivo (níveis normais e um controle negativo (com redução de 4,3 e 4,5% de energia metabolizável; 16,7 e 17,7% de cálcio e 35 e 42,7% de fósforo, nas fases inicial e de crescimento, respectivamente. A suplementação enzimática consistiu da combinação das enzimas fitase (100g t-1 e amilase, xilanase e protease (500g t-1. Foi avaliado o desempenho das aves nas fases de 1 a 21 e 1 a 42 dias de idade. Na fase total de criação, as aves alimentadas com a dieta controle negativo com adição enzimática tiveram consumo de ração (5,97%, peso médio (8,47%, ganho de peso (8,64% e conversão alimentar (2,92% melhores (P0,05 ao grupo alimentado com a dieta controle positivo com ou sem enzima. A adição de enzimas exógenas em dieta de frangos de corte com redução de energia metabolizável, cálcio e fósforo, proporciona um consumo de ração, peso vivo médio e ganho de peso similar a uma dieta com níveis nutricionais adequados.The experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of enzyme efficiency in diets with and without nutrient reduction on the performance of broilers. Thousand and hundred forty male broiler chicks (Cobb 500® were distributed in a completely randomized design with 4 treatments in a factorial 2x2 (two diets with different nutrient densities, with and without enzyme with 8 replications of 45 birds. The diets were: positive control (normal and a negative control (with a reduction of 4.3% and 4.5% of metabolizable energy, 16.7% and 17.7% of

  17. Desenvolvimento pós-embrionário de Cochliomyia macellaria (Fabricius (Diptera: Calliphoridae, criada em duas dietas naturais, sob condições controladas

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Débora Cardoso

    2012-08-01

    Cochliomyia macellaria tem interese médico e médico veterinário por ser veiculadora de enteropatógenos e causadora de miíase secundária. A busca por dietas com baixo custo que mantenham a qualidade da criação torna-se necessária. Objetivou-se avaliar a dieta moela de frango no desenvolvimento pós-embrionário de C. macellaria, comparada a carne bovina. Quarenta neolarvas (3ª geração foram transferidas para 80g de dieta (quatro repetições/tratamento. Foi registrada a massa corporal das larvas maduras, e estas transferidas para tubos de ensaio e mantidas a T 30ºC dia/28ºC noite, UR 70±10% e 12h de fotofase. As observações foram diárias. Houve diferença significativa entre a massa corporal das larvas criadas na dieta moela de frango (0,067g e carne bovina (0,062g. Não houve diferença significativa entre a duração média em dias do estágio larval (4,00; 4,17, pupal (4,09; 4,04; de neolarva a adulto (8,07 e 8,16, para moela e carne, respectivamente. A viabilidade média larval, pupal e total (> 85% não diferiram estatisticamente pelo teste t de Student, 5% de significância. Não houve desvio da razão sexual e não foi observada anormalidade dos adultos. A dieta moela de frango é uma alternativa eficaz e de baixo custo para criação de C. macellaria em laboratório.

  18. Diets based on soybean protein for Mediterranean fruit fly Dietas baseadas em proteína de soja para moscas do Mediterrâneo

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Raimundo Braga Sobrinho

    2006-04-01

    Full Text Available The objective of this work was to develop suitable and economic diets for mass rearing Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata (Diptera: Tephritidae. Diets containing sugar beet bagase, wheat bran, brewer yeast, and others with wheat bran and palletized soybean protein from Brazil were tested. Diets based on soybean protein have shown promising results regarding pupal recovery, pupal weight and adult emergence. Soybean bagase in the form of pellets with 60% of protein can be a very important substitute for other expensive sources of protein.O objetivo deste trabalho foi desenvolver dietas adequadas e econômicas para a criação massal de moscas de frutas do Mediterrâneo, Ceratitis capitata (Diptera: Tephritidae. Foram testados dietas com bagaço de beterraba açucareira, farelo de trigo, levedura de cerveja e outras dietas de farelo de trigo e proteína de soja prensada brasileira. Dietas compostas por proteína de soja apresentaram resultados positivos de recuperação de pupas, pesos de pupa e emergência de adultos. O bagaço de soja, na forma de pellet com 60% de proteína, pode ser um importante substituto de outras fontes de proteína.

  19. Influencia do tempo de exposicao a obesidade induzida por dieta hiperlipidica sobre os colagenos tipo I e III miocardico

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Danielle Cristina Tomaz da Silva

    2014-03-01

    Full Text Available FUNDAMENTO: A obesidade é um fator de risco para muitas complicações médicas; a pesquisa médica demonstrou que as alterações hemodinâmicas, morfológicas e funcionais estão correlacionadas com a duração e gravidade da obesidade. OBJETIVO: O presente estudo determinou a influência do tempo de exposição à obesidade induzida por dieta com alto teor de gordura no colágenos tipo I e III miocárdico. MÉTODOS: Ratos machos com trinta dias de idade, da raça Wistar, foram distribuídos aleatoriamente em dois grupos: um grupo de controle (C alimentado com ração padrão e um grupo de ratos obesos (Ob alternadamente alimentados com uma de quatro dietas palatáveis ricas em gordura. Cada dieta foi mudada diariamente, e os ratos foram mantidos em suas respectivas dietas por 15 (C15 e Ob15 e 30 (C30 e Ob30 semanas consecutivas. A obesidade foi determinada pelo índice de adiposidade. RESULTADOS: O grupo Ob15 foi similar ao grupo C15 em relação à expressão de colágeno miocárdico tipo I; contudo, a expressão no grupo Ob30 foi menor do que no grupo C30. O tempo de exposição à obesidade foi associado com uma redução de colágeno do tipo I no grupo Ob30, quando comparado com o Ob15. A obesidade não afetou a expressão do colágeno tipo III. CONCLUSÃO: Este estudo mostrou que o tempo de exposição à obesidade por 30 semanas induzida por uma dieta rica em gordura insaturada causou uma redução na expressão do colágeno miocárdico tipo I em ratos obesos. No entanto, nenhum efeito foi observado em relação à expressão do colágeno miocárdico tipo III

  20. Studies on the environmental implications of ants (Hymenoptera ...

    African Journals Online (AJOL)

    A study of ants associated wh two synanthropcenvironments in Awka was carried out in 2008 using pitfall and bait traps. The study yelded a total of 561 ants wth 409 obtaned from the hemisynanthrophic environment while 192 ants were collected from the endophilic environment. The percentage occurrence, total dstribution ...

  1. Qualidade da carne de fêmeas suínas alimentadas com diferentes concentrações de ractopamina na dieta

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    P.H. Watanabe

    2012-10-01

    Full Text Available Analisaram-se as qualidades física, química e sensorial, bem como o perfil de ácidos graxos da carne de fêmeas suínas alimentadas com dietas com concentrações crescentes de ractopamina. Foram utilizadas 468 fêmeas, com peso inicial de 84,77±7,20kg, alojadas em 36 baias e alimentadas com dietas contendo 0, 5, 10 ou 15mg de ractopamina/kg. Após o período de 28 dias, dois animais de cada baia, depois de passarem por 15 horas de jejum sólido, foram abatidos. Uma amostra do músculo Longissimus da meia carcaça direita foi colhida para se avaliar as características de qualidade da carne. Não houve efeito (P>0,05 da adição de ractopamina às dietas sobre o pH, capacidade de retenção de água, força de cisalhamento, cor e oxidação lipídica da carne. Observou-se efeito quadrático (P0,05 na análise sensorial da carne. Também não foi observado efeito (P>0,05 sobre a composição em ácidos graxos e sobre a relação entre ácidos graxos saturados:insaturados. A adição de até 15mg de ractopamina/kg de dieta não altera as características físicas, sensoriais e o perfil de ácidos graxos da carne de fêmeas suínas abatidas com 110kg de peso.

  2. Uma ferramenta para avaliação de resultados de diversos modelos de otimização de dietas

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Anderson Amendoeira Namen

    2004-12-01

    Full Text Available O presente trabalho visa apresentar uma ferramenta para avaliação de modelos matemáticos relacionados à otimização do planejamento de dietas. Inicialmente, o problema original da dieta é caracterizado, bem como sua importância para o desenvolvimento da Pesquisa Operacional, seus desdobramentos e aplicações posteriores. Em seguida, são apresentados os diversos enfoques e técnicas adotadas para a elaboração de dietas para seres humanos. Alguns desses modelos são então implementados, efetuando-se uma análise comparativa dos resultados obtidos. Para isso, é utilizado um software que permite a definição de parâmetros relacionados às demandas humanas, restrições adicionais relacionadas às quantidades de alimentos e escolha de alguns dos modelos apresentados. Finalmente, o estudo é concluído constatando-se a utilidade e a aplicação da ferramenta não somente para o planejamento de dietas, mas também para a área de ensino de Pesquisa Operacional.This paper presents an interactive tool which allows the comparison of different mathematical models for the menu planning problem. First, the original diet problem is characterized, as well as its importance to the development of operational research, its evolution and later applications. Several models for the diet problem are presented. Models are run and results are compared. This is done using an interactive tool which allows the definition of factors related to human needs, additional restrictions related to the amount of food and the selection of appropriate models. This tool may also be used for teaching purposes.

  3. Tracing the rise of ants - out of the ground.

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Andrea Lucky

    Full Text Available The evolution of ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae is increasingly well-understood due to recent phylogenetic analyses, along with estimates of divergence times and diversification rates. Yet, leading hypotheses regarding the ancestral habitat of ants conflict with new findings that early ant lineages are cryptic and subterranean. Where the ants evolved, in respect to habitat, and how habitat shifts took place over time have not been formally tested. Here, we reconstruct the habitat transitions of crown-group ants through time, focusing on where they nest and forage (in the canopy, litter, or soil. Based on ancestral character reconstructions, we show that in contrast to the current consensus based on verbal arguments that ants evolved in tropical leaf litter, the soil is supported as the ancestral stratum of all ants. We also find subsequent movements up into the litter and, in some cases, into the canopy. Given the global importance of ants, because of their diversity, ecological influence and status as the most successful eusocial lineage on Earth, understanding the early evolution of this lineage provides insight into the factors that made this group so successful today.

  4. Insecticide transfer efficiency and lethal load in Argentine ants

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Hooper-Bui, L.M. [Department of Environmental Science, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803 (United States); Department of Entomology, University of California, Riverside, CA 92521 (United States); Kwok, E.S.C. [Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, University of California, Riverside, CA 92521 (United States); Buchholz, B.A., E-mail: buchholz2@llnl.gov [Center for Accelerator Mass Spectrometry, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, CA 94551 (United States); Department of Environmental Toxicology, University of California, Davis, CA 95616 (United States); Rust, M.K. [Department of Entomology, University of California, Riverside, CA 92521 (United States); Eastmond, D.A. [Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, University of California, Riverside, CA 92521 (United States); Vogel, J.S. [Center for Accelerator Mass Spectrometry, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, CA 94551 (United States)

    2015-10-15

    Trophallaxis between individual worker ants and the toxicant load in dead and live Argentine ants (Linepithema humile) in colonies exposed to fipronil and hydramethylnon experimental baits were examined using accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS). About 50% of the content of the crop containing trace levels of {sup 14}C-sucrose, {sup 14}C-hydramethylnon, and {sup 14}C-fipronil was shared between single donor and recipient ants. Dead workers and queens contained significantly more hydramethylnon (122.7 and 22.4 amol/μg ant, respectively) than did live workers and queens (96.3 and 10.4 amol/μg ant, respectively). Dead workers had significantly more fipronil (420.3 amol/μg ant) than did live workers (208.5 amol/μg ant), but dead and live queens had equal fipronil levels (59.5 and 54.3 amol/μg ant, respectively). The distribution of fipronil differed within the bodies of dead and live queens; the highest amounts of fipronil were recovered in the thorax of dead queens whereas live queens had the highest levels in the head. Resurgence of polygynous ant colonies treated with hydramethylnon baits may be explained by queen survival resulting from sublethal doses due to a slowing of trophallaxis throughout the colony. Bait strategies and dose levels for controlling insect pests need to be based on the specific toxicant properties and trophic strategies for targeting the entire colony.

  5. Insecticide transfer efficiency and lethal load in Argentine ants

    International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

    Hooper-Bui, L.M.; Kwok, E.S.C.; Buchholz, B.A.; Rust, M.K.; Eastmond, D.A.; Vogel, J.S.

    2015-01-01

    Trophallaxis between individual worker ants and the toxicant load in dead and live Argentine ants (Linepithema humile) in colonies exposed to fipronil and hydramethylnon experimental baits were examined using accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS). About 50% of the content of the crop containing trace levels of 14 C-sucrose, 14 C-hydramethylnon, and 14 C-fipronil was shared between single donor and recipient ants. Dead workers and queens contained significantly more hydramethylnon (122.7 and 22.4 amol/μg ant, respectively) than did live workers and queens (96.3 and 10.4 amol/μg ant, respectively). Dead workers had significantly more fipronil (420.3 amol/μg ant) than did live workers (208.5 amol/μg ant), but dead and live queens had equal fipronil levels (59.5 and 54.3 amol/μg ant, respectively). The distribution of fipronil differed within the bodies of dead and live queens; the highest amounts of fipronil were recovered in the thorax of dead queens whereas live queens had the highest levels in the head. Resurgence of polygynous ant colonies treated with hydramethylnon baits may be explained by queen survival resulting from sublethal doses due to a slowing of trophallaxis throughout the colony. Bait strategies and dose levels for controlling insect pests need to be based on the specific toxicant properties and trophic strategies for targeting the entire colony.

  6. The Pied Piper: A Parasitic Beetle's Melodies Modulate Ant Behaviours.

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Andrea Di Giulio

    Full Text Available Ants use various communication channels to regulate their social organisation. The main channel that drives almost all the ants' activities and behaviours is the chemical one, but it is long acknowledged that the acoustic channel also plays an important role. However, very little is known regarding exploitation of the acoustical channel by myrmecophile parasites to infiltrate the ant society. Among social parasites, the ant nest beetles (Paussus are obligate myrmecophiles able to move throughout the colony at will and prey on the ants, surprisingly never eliciting aggression from the colonies. It has been recently postulated that stridulatory organs in Paussus might be evolved as an acoustic mechanism to interact with ants. Here, we survey the role of acoustic signals employed in the Paussus beetle-Pheidole ant system. Ants parasitised by Paussus beetles produce caste-specific stridulations. We found that Paussus can "speak" three different "languages", each similar to sounds produced by different ant castes (workers, soldiers, queen. Playback experiments were used to test how host ants respond to the sounds emitted by Paussus. Our data suggest that, by mimicking the stridulations of the queen, Paussus is able to dupe the workers of its host and to be treated as royalty. This is the first report of acoustic mimicry in a beetle parasite of ants.

  7. Ant species confer different partner benefits on two neotropical myrmecophytes.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Frederickson, Megan E

    2005-04-01

    The dynamics of mutualistic interactions involving more than a single pair of species depend on the relative costs and benefits of interaction among alternative partners. The neotropical myrmecophytes Cordia nodosa and Duroia hirsuta associate with several species of obligately symbiotic ants. I compared the ant partners of Cordia and Duroia with respect to two benefits known to be important in ant-myrmecophyte interactions: protection against herbivores provided by ants, and protection against encroaching vegetation provided by ants. Azteca spp., Myrmelachista schumanni, and Allomerus octoarticulatus demerarae ants all provide the leaves of Cordia and Duroia some protection against herbivores. However, Azteca and Allomerus provide more protection than does Myrmelachista to the leaves of their host plants. Although Allomerus protects the leaves of its hosts, plants occupied by Allomerus suffer more attacks by herbivores to their stems than do plants occupied by other ants. Relative to Azteca or Allomerus, Myrmelachista ants provide better protection against encroaching vegetation, increasing canopy openness over their host plants. These differences in benefits among the ant partners of Cordia and Duroia are reflected in the effect of each ant species on host plant size, growth rate, and reproduction. The results of this study show how mutualistic ant partners can differ with respect to both the magnitude and type of benefits they provide to the same species of myrmecophytic host.

  8. Life-Histories of Sub-Arctic Ants

    OpenAIRE

    Heinze, Jürgen

    1993-01-01

    Ant species belonging to seven genera occur in habitats near the tree line in the Northern Hemisphere. An analysis of colony founding strategies suggests that in addition to physiological cold resistance, behavioral and sociometric adaptations might be important for survival and propagation of ants in subarctic biomes.

  9. Edge detection in digital images using Ant Colony Optimization

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Marjan Kuchaki Rafsanjani

    2015-11-01

    Full Text Available Ant Colony Optimization (ACO is an optimization algorithm inspired by the behavior of real ant colonies to approximate the solutions of difficult optimization problems. In this paper, ACO is introduced to tackle the image edge detection problem. The proposed approach is based on the distribution of ants on an image; ants try to find possible edges by using a state transition function. Experimental results show that the proposed method compared to standard edge detectors is less sensitive to Gaussian noise and gives finer details and thinner edges when compared to earlier ant-based approaches.

  10. Exercicio fisico associado a diferentes teores de proteina na dieta : estudo das alterações bioquimicas e corporais em ratos adultos

    OpenAIRE

    Marcelina Rodrigues Parreira

    1993-01-01

    Resumo:O presente trabalho foi realizado com o objetivo de estudar a influência do conteúdo protéico da dieta associado ao exercício físico intenso, sobre o metabolismo protéico de ratos adultos. Ratos Wistar machos (90 dias de idade), treinados em esteira rolante e controles (sedentários), foram alimentados com dietas semipurificadas contendo 6% (hipoprotéica), 25% (normoprotéica) e 35% (hiperprotéica)de caseína. Em nossas condições experimentais, verificou-se que os animais do grupo hipopro...

  11. Stealthy invaders: the biology of Cardiocondyla tramp ants

    DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

    Heinze, J.; Cremer, Sylvia; Eckl, N.

    2006-01-01

    Many invasive ant species, such as the Argentine ant or the red imported fire ant, have huge colonies with thousands of mass-foraging workers, which quickly monopolise resources and therefore represent a considerable threat to the native ant fauna. Cardiocondyla obscurior and several other specie...

  12. The AINTEGUMENTA genes, MdANT1 and MdANT2, are associated with the regulation of cell production during fruit growth in apple (Malus × domestica Borkh.).

    Science.gov (United States)

    Dash, Madhumita; Malladi, Anish

    2012-06-25

    Fruit growth in apple (Malus × domestica Borkh.) is mediated by cell production and expansion. Genes involved in regulating these processes and thereby fruit growth, are not well characterized. We hypothesized that the apple homolog(s) of AINTEGUMENTA (ANT), an APETALA2-repeat containing transcription factor, regulates cell production during fruit growth in apple. Two ANT genes, MdANT1 and MdANT2, were isolated from apple and their expression was studied during multiple stages of fruit development. MdANT1 and MdANT2 expression was high during early fruit growth coincident with the period of cell production, rapidly declined during exit from cell production, and remained low during the rest of fruit development. The effects of increase in carbohydrate availability during fruit growth were characterized. Increase in carbohydrate availability enhanced fruit growth largely through an increase in cell production. Expression of MdANT1 and MdANT2 increased sharply by up to around 5-fold in response to an increase in carbohydrate availability. Expression of the ANT genes was compared across two apple genotypes, 'Gala' and 'Golden Delicious Smoothee' (GS), which differ in the extent of fruit growth, largely due to differences in cell production. In comparison to 'Gala', the larger fruit-size genotype, GS, displayed higher levels and a longer duration of MdANT1 and MdANT2 expression. Expression of the ANTs and cell cycle genes in the fruit core and cortex tissues isolated using laser capture microdissection was studied. During early fruit growth, expression of the MdANTs was higher within the cortex, the tissue that constitutes the majority of the fruit. Additionally, MdANT1 and MdANT2 expression was positively correlated with that of A- and B-type CYCLINS, B-type CYCLIN-DEPENDENT-KINASES (CDKBs) and MdDEL1. Multiple lines of evidence from this study suggest that MdANT1 and MdANT2 regulate cell production during fruit growth in apple. ANTs may coordinate the expression of

  13. Current issues in the evolutionary ecology of ant-plant symbioses.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Mayer, Veronika E; Frederickson, Megan E; McKey, Doyle; Blatrix, Rumsaïs

    2014-05-01

    Ant-plant symbioses involve plants that provide hollow structures specialized for housing ants and often food to ants. In return, the inhabiting ants protect plants against herbivores and sometimes provide them with nutrients. Here, we review recent advances in ant-plant symbioses, focusing on three areas. First, the nutritional ecology of plant-ants, which is based not only on plant-derived food rewards, but also on inputs from other symbiotic partners, in particular fungi and possibly bacteria. Food and protection are the most important 'currencies' exchanged between partners and they drive the nature and evolution of the relationships. Secondly, studies of conflict and cooperation in ant-plant symbioses have contributed key insights into the evolution and maintenance of mutualism, particularly how partner-mediated feedbacks affect the specificity and stability of mutualisms. There is little evidence that mutualistic ants or plants are under selection to cheat, but the costs and benefits of ant-plant interactions do vary with environmental factors, making them vulnerable to natural or anthropogenic environmental change. Thus, thirdly, ant-plant symbioses should be considered good models for investigating the effects of global change on the outcome of mutualistic interactions. © 2014 The Authors. New Phytologist © 2014 New Phytologist Trust.

  14. Utilización del cobre en dietas hipograsas

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Aguirre, M.

    1996-12-01

    Full Text Available The objective of this study was to investigate both the dietary copper utilization and the body copper content in rats fed either low fat diets (2% or normal fat diets (8% containing olive oil, sunflower oil and palm oil (olein fraction, by two different balance techniques. Seven groups of Wistar rats were used. One group was killed on the first experimental day being utilized as control of initial body copper content. Six groups of rats were fed, over 15 days, semipurified diets varying only in the fat level, three of them containing 8% of fat, and the other three 2%. The overall copper balance was studied by calculating differences between the initial and final body copper content. During the last week, another copper balance was carried out by monitoring intake and faecal copper excretion. Body mass, and liver, spleen, skin, erythrocytes and serum copper contents were also examined. The copper utilization was lower in 2% fat rats, this was caused by food intake decrease but also by the lower copper bioavailability in 2% fat diets. The corporal, liver and spleen copper contents were reduced, and liver, skin and serum copper concentrations also decreased in the rats fed on 2% fat diets. Palm olein (8% versus olive and sunflower oil produced a lower efficiency of copper absorption.

    Se propuso estudiar la influencia del consumo de dietas pobres en grasa a base de aceite de oliva, girasol o aceite de palma (fracción oleína sobre la utilización del cobre dietético por dos técnicas diferentes de balance, así como sobre sus contenidos corporales. Se utilizaron siete grupos de ratas Wistar, uno de ellos sacrificado el día primero del experimento, sirvió como control del contenido cúprico corporal inicial; seis grupos de ratas fueron alimentadas durante 15 días con dietas semisintéticas, tres de ellos con las grasas al 8% y los otros tres al 2%. En ellos se estudió el balance global del cobre mediante diferencia entre los

  15. The use of weaver ants (Oecophylla spp.) in tropical agriculture

    DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

    Offenberg, Hans Joachim

    2011-01-01

    by the consumed pest insects, can be harvested and utilised for nutrition as they are tasty and high in proteins, vitamins and minerals. Thus, plantations may function as ant farms and in addition to plant production also hosts the production of edible animal protein. In this setup harmful pest insects are turned...... farming as a way forward to solve an increasing future demand for protein. Weaver ant farming may build on natural food collected by the ants or alternatively be boosted by feeding the ant colonies actively with protein and sugar. In both cases, when ant biocontrol is combined with ant farming......, the environmental cost of protein production may fall even lower than for other insects as the ants feed on pests that would otherwise reduce the plant yield and since the farming area is simultaneously in use for plant production. In this presentation I provide data showing (i) how the harvest of ants can...

  16. Toxic industrial deposit remediation by ant activity

    Science.gov (United States)

    Jilkova, Veronika; Frouz, Jan

    2016-04-01

    Toxic industrial deposits are often contaminated by heavy metals and the substrates have low pH values. In such systems, soil development is thus slowed down by high toxicity and acidic conditions which are unfavourable to soil fauna. Ants (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) are considered tolerant to heavy metal pollution and are known to increase organic matter content and microbial activity in their nests. Here, we focused on soil remediation caused by three ant species (Formica sanguinea, Lasius niger, and Tetramorium sp.) in an ore-washery sedimentation basin near Chvaletice (Czech Republic). Soil samples were taken from the centre of ant nests and from the nest surroundings (>3 m from nests). Samples were then analyzed for microbial activity and biomass and contents of organic matter and nutrients. As a result, ant species that most influenced soil properties was F. sanguinea as there were higher microbial activity and total nitrogen and ammonia contents in ant nests than in the surrounding soil. We expected such a result because F. sanguinea builds conspicuous large nests and is a carnivorous species that brings substantial amounts of nitrogen in insect prey to their nests. Effects of the other two ant species might be lower because of smaller nests and different feeding habits as they rely mainly on honeydew from aphids or on plant seeds that do not contain much nutrients.

  17. Heat-induced symmetry breaking in ant (Hymenoptera: Formicidae escape behavior.

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Yuan-Kai Chung

    Full Text Available The collective egress of social insects is important in dangerous situations such as natural disasters or enemy attacks. Some studies have described the phenomenon of symmetry breaking in ants, with two exits induced by a repellent. However, whether symmetry breaking occurs under high temperature conditions, which are a common abiotic stress, remains unknown. In our study, we deposited a group of Polyrhachis dives ants on a heated platform and counted the number of escaping ants with two identical exits. We discovered that ants asymmetrically escaped through two exits when the temperature of the heated platform was >32.75°C. The degree of asymmetry increased linearly with the temperature of the platform. Furthermore, the higher the temperature of heated platform was, the more ants escaped from the heated platform. However, the number of escaping ants decreased for 3 min when the temperature was higher than the critical thermal limit (39.46°C, which is the threshold for ants to endure high temperature without a loss of performance. Moreover, the ants tended to form small groups to escape from the thermal stress. A preparatory formation of ant grouping was observed before they reached the exit, indicating that the ants actively clustered rather than accidentally gathered at the exits to escape. We suggest that a combination of individual and grouping ants may help to optimize the likelihood of survival during evacuation.

  18. Distribución y comentarios sobre la dieta de Rhinella azarai (Anura, Bufonidae en Corrientes, Argentina

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Etchepare, Eduardo G.

    2012-03-01

    Full Text Available En esta contribución se dan a conocer nuevas poblaciones de R. azarai para la provincia de Corrientes (Argentina, y se brinda información sobre la composición de la dieta de una de ellas.

  19. Ants Orasest ja Anne Lange monograafiast / Jüri Talvet

    Index Scriptorium Estoniae

    Talvet, Jüri, 1945-

    2005-01-01

    Arvustus: Oras, Ants. Luulekool. I, Apoloogia / koostajad Hando Runnel ja Jaak Rähesoo. Tartu : Ilmamaa, 2003 ; Oras, Ants. Luulekool II, Meistriklass. Tartu : Ilmamaa, 2004 ; Lange, Anne. Ants Oras : [kirjandusteadlane, -kriitik ja tõlkija (1900-1982)]. Tartu : Ilmamaa, 2004

  20. Ant tending influences soldier production in a social aphid.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Shingleton, A W; Foster, W A

    2000-09-22

    The aphid Pseudoregma sundanica (Van der Goot) (Homoptera: Aphididae) has two defence strategies. It is obligatorily tended by various species of ant and also produces sterile soldiers. We investigated how they allocate their investment in these two strategies. We measured the size, number of soldiers, number and species of tending ant, and number and species of predators in P. sundanica populations. We found that the level of ant tending correlated negatively with soldier investment in P. sundanica. The species of tending ant also influenced soldier investment. We excluded ants from aphid populations and recorded changes in population size and structure over four weeks. Ant exclusion led to population decline and extinction. At the same time, surviving populations showed a significant increase in soldier investment. The data demonstrate that social aphids can adjust their investment in soldiers in direct response to environmental change.

  1. Efecto de Gentianella alborosea en esteatosis hepática no alcohólica inducida por dieta hiperlipídica en ratas holtzman hembras

    OpenAIRE

    L Ugaz-Soto; JH Zafra-Tanaka; María E. Tapia Vicente

    2013-01-01

    Objetivo: Determinar el efecto del extracto de Gentianella alborosea como tratamiento contra esteatosis hepática no alcohólica (EHNA)  inducida por dieta hiperlipídica en ratas Holtzman hembras. Métodos: Diseño: Estudio experimental incompleto. Lugar: Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Lima, Perú. Participantes: Ratas Holtzman hembras. Intervenciones: Se utilizó 32 ratas repartidas en 4 grupos (n=8) distribuidos aleatoriamente: grupo control negativo, control positivo con dieta hiperli...

  2. Do herbivores eavesdrop on ant chemical communication to avoid predation?

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    David J Gonthier

    Full Text Available Strong effects of predator chemical cues on prey are common in aquatic and marine ecosystems, but are thought to be rare in terrestrial systems and specifically for arthropods. For ants, herbivores are hypothesized to eavesdrop on ant chemical communication and thereby avoid predation or confrontation. Here I tested the effect of ant chemical cues on herbivore choice and herbivory. Using Margaridisa sp. flea beetles and leaves from the host tree (Conostegia xalapensis, I performed paired-leaf choice feeding experiments. Coating leaves with crushed ant liquids (Azteca instabilis, exposing leaves to ant patrolling prior to choice tests (A. instabilis and Camponotus textor and comparing leaves from trees with and without A. instabilis nests resulted in more herbivores and herbivory on control (no ant-treatment relative to ant-treatment leaves. In contrast to A. instabilis and C. textor, leaves previously patrolled by Solenopsis geminata had no difference in beetle number and damage compared to control leaves. Altering the time A. instabilis patrolled treatment leaves prior to choice tests (0-, 5-, 30-, 90-, 180-min. revealed treatment effects were only statistically significant after 90- and 180-min. of prior leaf exposure. This study suggests, for two ecologically important and taxonomically diverse genera (Azteca and Camponotus, ant chemical cues have important effects on herbivores and that these effects may be widespread across the ant family. It suggests that the effect of chemical cues on herbivores may only appear after substantial previous ant activity has occurred on plant tissues. Furthermore, it supports the hypothesis that herbivores use ant chemical communication to avoid predation or confrontation with ants.

  3. Consuming fire ants reduces northern bobwhite survival and weight gain

    Science.gov (United States)

    Myers, P.E.; Allen, Craig R.; Birge, Hannah E.

    2014-01-01

    Northern bobwhite quail, Colinus virginianus (L.) (Galliformes: Odontophoridae), population declines are well documented, but pinpointing the reasons for these decreases has proven elusive. Bobwhite population declines are attributed primarily to loss of habitat and land use changes. This, however, does not entirely explain population declines in areas intensively managed for bobwhites. Although previous research demonstrates the negative impact of red imported fire ant (Solenopsis invicta Buren) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) on northern bobwhites, the mechanisms underlying this effect are largely unknown. To meet the protein demands of early growth and development, bobwhite chicks predominantly consume small insects, of which ants are a substantial proportion. Fire ants alter ant community dynamics by often reducing native ant diversity and abundance while concurrently increasing the abundance of individuals. Fire ants have negative effects on chicks, but they are also a large potential protein source, making it difficult to disentangle their net effect on bobwhite chicks. To help investigate these effects, we conducted a laboratory experiment to understand (1) whether or not bobwhites consume fire ants, and (2) how the benefits of this consumption compare to the deleterious impacts of bobwhite chick exposure to fire ants. Sixty bobwhite chicks were separated into two groups of 30; one group was provided with starter feed only and the second group was provided with feed and fire ants. Bobwhite chicks were observed feeding on fire ants. Chicks that fed on fire ants had reduced survival and weight gain. Our results show that, while fire ants increase potential food sources for northern bobwhite, their net effect on bobwhite chicks is deleterious. This information will help inform land managers and commercial bobwhite rearing operations.

  4. Efetividade da "multimistura" como suplemento de dietas deficientes em vitaminas e/ou minerais na recuperação ponderal de ratos submetidos à desnutrição pós-natal

    OpenAIRE

    Ferreira,Haroldo da Silva; Assunção,Monica Lopes de; França,Adijane Oliveira Santos de; Cardoso,Eliana Paiva Cunha; Moura,Fabiana Andréa

    2005-01-01

    OBJETIVO: Avaliar a efetividade da "multimistura", usada como suplemento de dietas deficientes em vitaminas, deficientes em minerais, ou deficientes em vitaminas e minerais, na recuperação ponderal de ratos desnutridos. MÉTODOS: Após o desmame, 56 ratos Wistar, submetidos à desnutrição pós-natal, foram aleatoriamente distribuídos em 7 grupos diferenciados segundo o tipo de dieta oferecida: controle, dietas deficientes em vitaminas, deficientes em minerais, deficientes em vitaminas e minerais ...

  5. Substituição de farinhas de origem animal por ingredientes de origem vegetal em dietas para frangos de corte Substitution of animal by-product meals by vegetable ingredients in diets for broilers

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Claudio Bellaver

    2005-06-01

    Full Text Available Devido às exigências de alguns importadores, por motivação cultural ou devido a zoonoses recém acontecidas na Europa, tem havido um direcionamento para fabricação de rações vegetais com base em milho e farelo de soja (FS. Esse direcionamento traz conseqüências na produção e por isso, objetivou-se avaliar a resposta de frangos de corte alimentados com dietas contendo farinhas de carne e ossos (FCO e farinha de vísceras de aves (FV e dietas contendo milho e FS. As dietas foram calculadas para conterem 3.050 e 3.150 kcal EM/kg de ração nas fases inicial e de crescimento, respectivamente, e com os demais nutrientes calculados para atenderem às exigências das aves. A substituição de ingredientes foi testada variando-se os níveis de proteina nas fases inicial e de crescimento respectivamente, da seguinte forma: 1. Dieta com inclusão de 4% de FCO suína e 3% de FV, calculada por proteína ideal, com 22% (inicial e 20 % de PB (crescimento; 2. Dieta semelhante à dieta 1, sem farinhas de origem animal, formulada a base de milho e FS, com PB e lisina digestível semelhantes à dieta 1; 3. Dieta semelhante à dieta 2, com 23% (inicial e 21% de PB (crescimento e lisina digestível semelhante a dieta 1; 4. Dieta semelhante à dieta 2, com 24% (inicial e 22% de PB (crescimento e lisina digestível 6% e 5% superiores à dieta 1. Houve diminuição significativa da matéria seca da cama das aves devido à presença de ingredientes exclusivamente vegetais e aumento do teor de proteína das dietas (P0,05; havendo, porém, maior peso dos pés (PThe demand of some importers due to cultural reasons or to zoonosis that recently emerged in Europe, there has been a trend to manufacture vegetable feeds based on corn and soybean meal (SBM. This influences live production, and therefore, this study aimed at evaluating the response of broilers fed diets containing either meat and bone meal (MBM and offal meal (OM, or vegetable diets based on corn and

  6. Extended phenotype: nematodes turn ants into bird-dispersed fruits

    DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

    Hughes, D P; Kronauer, D J C; Boomsma, J J

    2008-01-01

    A recent study has discovered a novel extended phenotype of a nematode which alters its ant host to resemble ripe fruit. The infected ants are in turn eaten by frugivorous birds that disperse the nematode's eggs.......A recent study has discovered a novel extended phenotype of a nematode which alters its ant host to resemble ripe fruit. The infected ants are in turn eaten by frugivorous birds that disperse the nematode's eggs....

  7. Histologia do fígado de tilápia do Nilo ( Oreochromis niloticus alimentados com dietas contendo silagem biológica de pescado

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Claucia A. Honorato

    2014-12-01

    Full Text Available Resumo: Este estudo teve como objetivo avaliar as possíveis alterações histopatológicas hepática de tilápias do Nilo alimentadas com dietas contendo silagem biológica de pescado com diferentes concentrações protéicas. Foram utilizados 180 juvenis alimentados com dietas contendo três níveis de proteína (20, 24 and 28% PB, e duas proporções de silagem biológica (¼ e ½ durante 75 dias. Os fragementos de fígado foram fixados em Bouin e inclusos em Histosec®. Posteriorente foram cortados em microtomo com espessura de 2 a 5μm. O método utilizado para coloração foi hematoxilina/eosina e PAS. Os cortes histológicos foram analisados em microscopio de luz. O desarranjo na morfologia do fígado dos peixes alimentados com silagem biológica foi influenciado pelos altos níveis protéicos, e pelo aumento ½ de proporções de proteínas de origem animal das dietas. Foi observado que a variação dos hepatócitos está diretamente ligada com o tipo da dieta fornecida para os peixes. Nos peixes alimentados com as dietas contendo 28% PB, o fígado apresentou desarranjo da estrutura cordonal dos hepatócitos, pontos de necrose e deslocamento do núcleo para periferia. Níveis elevados de silagem biológica de pescado provoca alterações deletérias no fígado. O nível de proteína adequado para manter o desenvolvimento associado à saúde do peixe é de 24%PB.

  8. Fungal enzymes in the attine ant symbiosis

    DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

    de Fine Licht, Henrik Hjarvard; Schiøtt, Morten; Boomsma, Jacobus Jan

    the more basal attine genera use substrates such as flowers, plant debris, small twigs, insect feces and insect carcasses. This diverse array of fungal substrates across the attine lineage implies that the symbiotic fungus needs different enzymes to break down the plant material that the ants provide...... or different efficiencies of enzyme function. Fungal enzymes that degrade plant cell walls may have functionally co-evolved with the ants in this scenario. We explore this hypothesis with direct measurements of enzyme activity in fungus gardens in 12 species across 8 genera spanning the entire phylogeny...... and diversity of life-styles within the attine clade. We find significant differences in enzyme activity between different genera and life-styles of the ants. How these findings relate to attine ant coevolution and crop optimization are discussed....

  9. The invasive ant, Solenopsis invicta, reduces herpetofauna richness and abundance

    Science.gov (United States)

    Allen, Craig R.; Birge, Hannah E.; Slater, J.; Wiggers, E.

    2017-01-01

    Amphibians and reptiles are declining globally. One potential cause of this decline includes impacts resulting from co-occurrence with non-native red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta. Although a growing body of anecdotal and observational evidence from laboratory experiments supports this hypothesis, there remains a lack of field scale manipulations testing the effect of fire ants on reptile and amphibian communities. We addressed this gap by measuring reptile and amphibian (“herpetofauna”) community response to successful fire ant reductions over the course of 2 years following hydramethylnon application to five 100–200 ha plots in southeastern coastal South Carolina. By assessing changes in relative abundance and species richness of herpetofauna in response to fire ant reductions, we were able to assess whether some species were particularly vulnerable to fire ant presence, and whether this sensitivity manifested at the community level. We found that herpetofauna abundance and species richness responded positively to fire ant reductions. Our results document that even moderate populations of red imported fire ants decrease both the abundance and diversity of herpetofauna. Given global herpetofauna population declines and continued spread of fire ants, there is urgency to understand the impacts of fire ants beyond anecdotal and singles species studies. Our results provides the first community level investigation addressing these dynamics, by manipulating fire ant abundance to reveal a response in herpetofauna species abundance and richness.

  10. Dieta de Leopardus colocolo (Carnivora: Felidae en la Reserva Nacional de Junín, Junín, Perú

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Ursula Fajardo

    2014-05-01

    Full Text Available Este estudio caracteriza la dieta de Leopardus colocolo en los alrededores del lago Junín, en el centro del Perú, a partir de los restos de las presas presentes en 43 heces. El origen de las heces del predador se determinó a partir del ADN mitocondrial de las células epiteliales intestinales adheridas a la superficie de las heces, utilizando como marcador la región de control. Los restos de las presas fueron identificados utilizando literatura especializada y la comparación con especímenes de colección, identificando un total of 14 ítems alimenticios pertenecientes a mamíferos de las familias Cricetidae (6, Chinchillidae (1 y Caviidae (1 y aves de las familias Anatidae (3 y Rallidae (2, y un grupo de aves no identificadas (1. Los roedores fueron el principal componente de la dieta de L. colocolo, en frecuencia y biomasa, seguido por las aves. Entre los ítems alimenticios consumidos, el roedor cricétido pequeño Calomys sp. fue el más frecuente; sin embargo, el mayor aporte de biomasa relativa fue proporcionado por el roedor mediano Cavia tschudii. La amplitud de nicho obtenida fue baja (Bsta= 0.17, indicando una dieta especializada. Nuestros resultados confirman que, como ocurre con la mayoría de felinos pequeños neotropicales, L. colocolo es un predador especializado en la captura de vertebrados, principalmente mamíferos pequeños. No se registró variación estacional en la dieta y el análisis de las clases de edad de los roedores cricétidos mostró que los adultos fueron los más consumidos. Se infiere que L. colocolo tiene un patrón de actividad diurno y nocturno.

  11. Red imported fire ant impacts on upland arthropods in Southern Mississippi

    Science.gov (United States)

    Epperson, D.M.; Allen, Craig R.

    2010-01-01

    Red imported fire ants (Solenopsis invicta) have negative impacts on a broad array of invertebrate species. We investigated the impacts of fire ants on the upland arthropod community on 20???40 ha study sites in southern Mississippi. Study sites were sampled from 19972000 before, during, and after fire ant bait treatments to reduce fire ant populations. Fire ant abundance was assessed with bait transects on all sites, and fire ant population indices were estimated on a subset of study sites. Species richness and diversity of other ant species was also assessed from bait transects. Insect biomass and diversity was determined from light trap samples. Following treatments, fire ant abundance and population indices were significantly reduced, and ant species diversity and richness were greater on treated sites. Arthropod biomass, species diversity and species richness estimated from light trap samples were negatively correlated with fire ant abundance, but there were no observable treatment effects. Solenopsis invicta has the potential to negatively impact native arthropod communities resulting in a potential loss of both species and function.

  12. Host ant independent oviposition in the parasitic butterfly Maculinea alcon

    DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

    Fürst, Matthias A; Nash, David Richard

    2010-01-01

    to host-ant nests and non-host-ant nests, and the number and position of eggs attached were assessed. Our results show no evidence for host-ant-based oviposition in M. alcon, but support an oviposition strategy based on plant characteristics. This suggests that careful management of host-ant distribution......Parasitic Maculinea alcon butterflies can only develop in nests of a subset of available Myrmica ant species, so female butterflies have been hypothesized to preferentially lay eggs on plants close to colonies of the correct host ants. Previous correlational investigations of host......-ant-dependent oviposition in this and other Maculinea species have, however, shown equivocal results, leading to a long-term controversy over support for this hypothesis. We therefore conducted a controlled field experiment to study the egg-laying behaviour of M. alcon. Matched potted Gentiana plants were set out close...

  13. Crescimento, conversão alimentar e rendimento de carcaça de bezerros da raça holandesa alimentados com dietas contendo diferentes níveis de volumoso

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Ricardo Dias Signoretti

    1999-02-01

    Full Text Available Este trabalho foi conduzido para avaliar o efeito dos diferentes níveis de volumoso nas dietas sobre o consumo médio diário de matéria seca total (CDMST, o ganho médio de peso, a conversão alimentar e o rendimento de carcaça. Trinta e seis bezerros da raça Holandesa puros por cruzamento, com idade média de 60 dias e peso vivo (PV inicial de 78 kg, foram distribuídos em delineamento inteiramente casualizado. Os animais foram alimentados à vontade com dietas contendo níveis de 10, 25, 40 e 55% de volumoso, na base da MS, usando-se feno de capim coast-cross (Cynodon dactylon, fubá de milho e farelo de soja, os quais constituíram dietas com aproximadamente 16% de PB. Os animais foram pesados a cada periodo de 28 dias, com pesagens mais freqüentes para os animais que se aproximavam dos pesos de abate pré-estabelecidos, de 190 ± 10 kg e 300 ± 10 kg, para os grupos 1 e 2, respectivamente. O consumo de matéria seca não foi influenciado pelos níveis de volumoso nas dietas para ambos os grupos. Houve efeito linear crescente para conversão alimentar expressa em PV e peso corporal vazio (PCVZ. Os ganhos médios de peso diários expressos em PV e PCVZ decresceram linearmente, em função dos níveis de volumoso nas dietas. O peso da carcaça quente e o rendimento de carcaça quente para os animais de grupo 2 não foram influenciados, enquanto o rendimento de carcaça quente dos animais do grupo 1 decresceu linearmente, com o aumento de volumoso nas dietas. Os ganhos médios de pesos diários aos 28 e 56 dias, para o grupo 1, e aos 28, 56, 84 e 112 dias, para o grupo 2, reduziram linearmente com a elevação dos níveis de volumoso nas dietas. O desempenho dos bezerros de ambos os grupos de abate foi maior com uso de menores níveis de volumoso na dieta, porém, acima de 5 meses de idade, o uso de maiores níveis de volumoso não acarretou prejuízos à performance dos animais.

  14. Ractopamina e fitase em dietas para suínos na fase de terminação Ractopamine and phytase in diets for finishing pigs

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Anderson Corassa

    2009-11-01

    Full Text Available O objetivo neste estudo foi avaliar os efeitos da ractopamina e da enzima fitase sobre o desempenho e as características de carcaça de suínos na fase de terminação. Foram utilizados 354 suínos machos castrados do tipo comercial, de mesma origem e com peso inicial de 94,1 ± 5,7 kg, distribuídos em delineamento experimental de blocos ao acaso, com seis tratamentos e cinco repetições. A unidade experimental continha 11 ou 12 animais. Como tratamentos, avaliaram-se as seguintes dietas: controle, formulada com base na tabela de necessidades nutricionais; dieta A, controle com ajuste nutricional para uso de ractopamina; dieta A com fitase; dieta A com ractopamina; dieta A com ractopamina e fitase; e dieta A com ractopamina e fitase com parte das exigências de cálcio e fósforo disponível atendida pela enzima. O experimento durou 21 dias e ao final os animais foram abatidos para avaliação de carcaças. Os resultados foram comparados por contrastes ortogonais. O consumo de ração não foi influenciado pelas dietas. A dieta com níveis proteico e aminoacídico ajustados e sem ractopamina não melhorou o desempenho dos animais em comparação à dieta controle. A ractopamina teve efeito no ganho de peso e na conversão alimentar ao final do período de 21 dias, além do peso pré-abate, peso de carcaça quente, rendimento de carcaça, carne magra total e índice de bonificação. A inclusão de fitase em dietas contendo ractopamina de forma a fornecer cálcio e fósforo disponível acima das exigências de suínos em terminação não alterou o ganho de peso, a conversão alimentar e as características de carcaça. A ractopamina melhora o desempenho e as características de carcaça. A utilização de fitase em dietas contendo ractopamina em substituição parcial a fontes inorgânicas de minerais possibilita manter o desempenho e as características de carcaça dos animais.The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of

  15. What do myrmecophagous geckos eat when ants are not available ...

    African Journals Online (AJOL)

    Like other Pristurus species, P. samhaensis on Samha and P. sokotranus on Socotra were highly myrmecophagous (76.7% and 38.6% ants, respectively). However, ants were absent from the diet of P. samhaensis on Darsa. In contrast to the rich native ant fauna of the other islands, only one ant species was reported for ...

  16. Signals can trump rewards in attracting seed-dispersing ants.

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Kyle M Turner

    Full Text Available Both rewards and signals are important in mutualisms. In myrmecochory, or seed dispersal by ants, the benefits to plants are relatively well studied, but less is known about why ants pick up and move seeds. We examined seed dispersal by the ant Aphaenogaster rudis of four co-occurring species of plants, and tested whether morphology, chemical signaling, or the nutritional quality of fatty seed appendages called elaiosomes influenced dispersal rates. In removal trials, ants quickly collected diaspores (seeds plus elaiosomes of Asarum canadense, Trillium grandiflorum, and Sanguinaria canadensis, but largely neglected those of T. erectum. This discrepancy was not explained by differences in the bulk cost-benefit ratio, as assessed by the ratio of seed to elaiosome mass. We also provisioned colonies with diaspores from one of these four plant species or no diaspores as a control. Colonies performed best when fed S. canadensis diaspores, worst when fed T. grandiflorum, and intermediately when fed A. canadense, T. erectum, or no diaspores. Thus, the nutritional rewards in elaiosomes affected colony performance, but did not completely predict seed removal. Instead, high levels of oleic acid in T. grandiflorum elaiosomes may explain why ants disperse these diaspores even though they reduce ant colony performance. We show for the first time that different elaiosome-bearing plants provide rewards of different quality to ant colonies, but also that ants appear unable to accurately assess reward quality when encountering seeds. Instead, we suggest that signals can trump rewards as attractants of ants to seeds.

  17. Consumo e Absorção Aparente de Macroelementos Minerais, em Bezerros Alimentados com Dietas Contendo Diferentes Níveis de Volumoso

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Araújo Gherman Garcia Leal de

    2001-01-01

    Full Text Available Avaliaram-se os efeitos de diferentes níveis de volumoso nas dietas sobre o consumo e a absorção aparente (AP de cálcio (Ca, fósforo (P, magnésio (Mg, sódio (Na e potássio (K. Utilizaram-se 40 bezerros, com peso vivo médio inicial de 60 kg, distribuídos em delineamento inteiramente casualizado e alimentados à vontade com rações na base da MS, com níveis crescentes de 10, 25, 40, 55 e 90% de feno de capim-coastcross (Cynodon dactylon picado. Os coeficientes de absorção aparente foram obtidos por intermédio de ensaios de digestibilidade, realizados aos 120 e 180 dias de idade dos animais, sendo usado como indicador o óxido crômico para estimar a excreção fecal. Os consumos de Ca, P, Mg, Na e K, expressos em g/dia, sofreram efeito quadrático, estimando-se os respectivos consumos máximos com os níveis de 47,0; 30,0; 45,3; 41,0; e 51,8% de volumoso na dieta. As absorções aparentes do Ca, P e K foram afetadas pelos níveis de volumoso nas dietas, que apresentaram comportamento quadrático e máximas absorções de 58,7; 56,1; e 78,3% para os níveis de 20,3; 23,1; e 45,2% de volumoso nas dietas, respectivamente.

  18. Fuzzy Rules for Ant Based Clustering Algorithm

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Amira Hamdi

    2016-01-01

    Full Text Available This paper provides a new intelligent technique for semisupervised data clustering problem that combines the Ant System (AS algorithm with the fuzzy c-means (FCM clustering algorithm. Our proposed approach, called F-ASClass algorithm, is a distributed algorithm inspired by foraging behavior observed in ant colonyT. The ability of ants to find the shortest path forms the basis of our proposed approach. In the first step, several colonies of cooperating entities, called artificial ants, are used to find shortest paths in a complete graph that we called graph-data. The number of colonies used in F-ASClass is equal to the number of clusters in dataset. Hence, the partition matrix of dataset founded by artificial ants is given in the second step, to the fuzzy c-means technique in order to assign unclassified objects generated in the first step. The proposed approach is tested on artificial and real datasets, and its performance is compared with those of K-means, K-medoid, and FCM algorithms. Experimental section shows that F-ASClass performs better according to the error rate classification, accuracy, and separation index.

  19. The direct and ecological costs of an ant-plant symbiosis.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Frederickson, Megan E; Ravenscraft, Alison; Miller, Gabriel A; Arcila Hernández, Lina M; Booth, Gregory; Pierce, Naomi E

    2012-06-01

    How strong is selection for cheating in mutualisms? The answer depends on the type and magnitude of the costs of the mutualism. Here we investigated the direct and ecological costs of plant defense by ants in the association between Cordia nodosa, a myrmecophytic plant, and Allomerus octoarticulatus, a phytoecious ant. Cordia nodosa trees produce food and housing to reward ants that protect them against herbivores. For nearly 1 year, we manipulated the presence of A. octoarticulatus ants and most insect herbivores on C. nodosa in a full-factorial experiment. Ants increased plant growth when herbivores were present but decreased plant growth when herbivores were absent, indicating that hosting ants can be costly to plants. However, we did not detect a cost to ant colonies of defending host plants against herbivores. Although this asymmetry in costs suggests that the plants may be under stronger selection than the ants to cheat by withholding investment in their partner, the costs to C. nodosa are probably at least partly ecological, arising because ants tend scale insects on their host plants. We argue that ecological costs should favor resistance or traits other than cheating and thus that neither partner may face much temptation to cheat.

  20. Competitive assembly of South Pacific invasive ant communities

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Sarty Megan

    2009-01-01

    Full Text Available Abstract Background The relative importance of chance and determinism in structuring ecological communities has been debated for nearly a century. Evidence for determinism or assembly rules is often evaluated with null models that randomize the occurrence of species in particular locales. However, analyses of the presence or absence of species ignores the potential influence of species abundances, which have long been considered of major importance on community structure. Here, we test for community assembly rules in ant communities on small islands of the Tokelau archipelago using both presence-absence and abundance data. We conducted three sets of analyses on two spatial scales using three years of sampling data from 39 plots on 11 islands. Results First, traditional null model tests showed support for negative species co-occurrence patterns among plots within islands, but not among islands. A plausible explanation for this result is that analyses at larger spatial scales merge heterogeneous habitats that have considerable effects on species occurrences. Second, analyses of ant abundances showed that samples with high ant abundances had fewer species than expected by chance, both within and among islands. One ant species, the invasive yellow crazy ant Anoplolepis gracilipes, appeared to have a particularly strong effect on community structure correlated with its abundance. Third, abundances of most ant species were inversely correlated with the abundances of all other ants at both spatial scales. This result is consistent with competition theory, which predicts species distributions are affected by diffuse competition with suites of co-occurring species. Conclusion Our results support a pluralistic explanation for ant species abundances and assembly. Both stochastic and deterministic processes interact to determine ant community assembly, though abundance patterns clearly drive the deterministic patterns in this community. These deterministic

  1. Substituição da farinha de carne suína por fontes vegetais em dietas para carpa-húngara.

    OpenAIRE

    BERGAMIN, G. T.; RADUNZ NETO, J.; EMANUELLI, T.; LAZZARI, R.; MASCHIO, D.; KNAPP, V.

    2011-01-01

    O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o crescimento e a qualidade de carcaça de carpa-húngara alimentada com dietas em que houve substituição da farinha de carne suína por farelos de soja e canola, bem como determinar parâmetros bioquímicos do metabolismo dos peixes e a qualidade sensorial do filé. Cada um dos farelos contribuiu com 50% da proteína na mistura. Cinco dietas foram avaliadas, com níveis de substituição (0, 25, 50, 75 e 100%) da proteína da farinha de carne suína pela mistura das...

  2. Exploring with PAM: Prospecting ANTS Missions for Solar System Surveys

    Science.gov (United States)

    Clark, P. E.; Rilee, M. L.; Curtis, S. A.

    2003-01-01

    ANTS (Autonomous Nano-Technology Swarm), a large (1000 member) swarm of nano to picoclass (10 to 1 kg) totally autonomous spacecraft, are being developed as a NASA advanced mission concept. ANTS, based on a hierarchical insect social order, use an evolvable, self-similar, hierarchical neural system in which individual spacecraft represent the highest level nodes. ANTS uses swarm intelligence attained through collective, cooperative interactions of the nodes at all levels of the system. At the highest levels this can take the form of cooperative, collective behavior among the individual spacecraft in a very large constellation. The ANTS neural architecture is designed for totally autonomous operation of complex systems including spacecraft constellations. The ANTS (Autonomous Nano Technology Swarm) concept has a number of possible applications. A version of ANTS designed for surveying and determining the resource potential of the asteroid belt, called PAM (Prospecting ANTS Mission), is examined here.

  3. EFECTO DEL USO DE ADITIVOS EN DIETAS DE CODORNICES REPRODUCTORES (Coturnix coturnix japonica) BAJO CONDICIONES DE VERANO EN LA COSTA CENTRAL

    OpenAIRE

    Ciriaco Castañeda, Pedro; Facultad Zootecnia, Dpto. de Produccion Animal de la Universidad Nacional Agraria La Molina (Perú).; Roncal Ñañez, Henry David; Ing. Zootecnista (Perú).

    2016-01-01

    Se evaluaron los efectos de la adición en la dieta de 0.05% del Complejo B, 0.05% de Vitamina C, 0.2% de Bicarbonato de Sodio y 0.05% de Ácido Acetil Salicílico, sobre los parámetros productivos y reproductivos de codornices japonesas en época de verano en la costa central del Perú (Lima), con temperatura ambiental promedio de 25°C. Codornices reproductores (270 hembras y 90 machos) de 48 días de edad, fueron distribuidas en cinco tratamientos (4 con aditivos y una dieta control) con tres rep...

  4. Desempenho produtivo de tambacus alimentados com dietas suplementadas com vitamina E Productive performance of tambacus fed diets supplemented with vitamin E

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Antônio Carlos Silveira Gonçalves

    2010-09-01

    Full Text Available O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar os efeitos da suplementação da dieta de tambacus com concentrações de vitamina E sobre variáveis de desempenho e hematológicas, bem como determinar a relação da atividade da glutationa peroxidase com a inclusão de vitamina E e selênio na dieta. Foram utilizados 250 juvenis de tambacu, divididos em 25 aquários. A dieta basal constituiu-se de ração peletizada com 32% de proteína bruta e 3.300 kcal kg-1 de energia digestível, e inclusão de 0,40 mg kg-1 de Se. As dietas-teste - isoprotéicas e isoenergéticas - foram compostas da dieta basal com diferentes concentrações de vitamina E (0, 100, 200, 300, 400 mg kg-1, em delineamento inteiramente ao acaso, com cinco tratamentos e cinco repetições. Não foi observado efeito significativo da suplementação com vitamina E sobre o comprimento total, volume corpuscular médio, concentração de hemoglobina corpuscular média e número de eritrócitos, nem sobre a atividade da glutationa peroxidase. Peso final e conversão alimentar aparente, no entanto, sofreram efeito dos tratamentos suplementados. O teor de 400 mg kg-1 de vitamina E melhorou o comprimento padrão e ganho de peso. A suplementação da dieta com vitamina E resulta em melhor desempenho produtivo de tambacus.The objective of this work was to evaluate the effects of tambacu vitamin E dietary supplementation on performance and hematological variables, and determine the relationship of glutathione peroxidase activity with vitamin E and selenium suplementation. Two hundred and fifty juvenile tambacus were used, divided into 25 aquaria. The basal diet was pelleted with 32% of crude protein and 3,300 kcal kg-1 of digestible energy, with 0.40 mg kg-1 Se. Test diets - isoproteic and isocaloric - were composed of the basal diet with increasing vitamin E concentrations (0, 100, 200, 300, 400 mg kg-1, in a completely randomized design, with five treatments and five replications. No significant

  5. Species diversity and distribution patterns of the ants of Amazonian Ecuador.

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    Kari T Ryder Wilkie

    2010-10-01

    Full Text Available Ants are among the most diverse, abundant and ecologically significant organisms on earth. Although their species richness appears to be greatest in the New World tropics, global patterns of ant diversity and distribution are not well understood. We comprehensively surveyed ant diversity in a lowland primary rainforest in Western Amazonia, Ecuador using canopy fogging, pitfall traps, baits, hand collecting, mini-Winkler devices and subterranean probes to sample ants. A total of 489 ant species comprising 64 genera in nine subfamilies were identified from samples collected in only 0.16 square kilometers. The most species-rich genera were Camponotus, Pheidole, Pseudomyrmex, Pachycondyla, Brachymyrmex, and Crematogaster. Camponotus and Pseudomyrmex were most diverse in the canopy, while Pheidole was most diverse on the ground. The three most abundant ground-dwelling ant genera were Pheidole, Solenopsis and Pyramica. Crematogaster carinata was the most abundant ant species in the canopy; Wasmannia auropunctata was most abundant on the ground, and the army ant Labidus coecus was the most abundant subterranean species. Ant species composition among strata was significantly different: 80% of species were found in only one stratum, 17% in two strata, and 3% in all three strata. Elevation and the number of logs and twigs available as nest sites were significant predictors of ground-dwelling ant species richness. Canopy species richness was not correlated with any ecological variable measured. Subterranean species richness was negatively correlated with depth in the soil. When ant species were categorized using a functional group matrix based on diet, nest-site preference and foraging ecology, the greatest diversity was found in Omnivorous Canopy Nesters. Our study indicates ant species richness is exceptionally high at Tiputini. We project 647-736 ant species in this global hotspot of biodiversity. Considering the relatively small area surveyed, this

  6. Analisi comparativa della dieta di alcuni carnivori opportunisti (Vulpes vulpes, Martes foina, Meles meles in Europa

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    Anna Maria De Marinis

    2003-10-01

    Full Text Available L'ecologia alimentare della volpe, del tasso ed in misura minore della faina è stata ampiamente studiata in diverse aree comprese all'interno degli areali di queste 3 specie. La variazione geografica delle abitudini alimentari di questi carnivori definiti opportunisti è al contrario decisamente poco nota. Scopo del presente lavoro è la descrizione della variazione della dieta di faina, tasso e volpe attraverso l'Europa ed in secondo luogo l'analisi comparativa delle strategie alimentari adottate da questi carnivori. Sono stati analizzati 19 studi per la volpe, 11 per la faina e 23 per il tasso. Sono stati presi in considerazione soltanto gli studi della durata di almeno un anno nei quali la composizione della dieta, determinata tramite analisi delle feci, fosse espressa in percentuale di volume o biomassa e le categorie alimentari fossero dettagliatamente descritte. Gli studi sono stati divisi in gruppi in base alla regione climatica di appartenenza (mediterranea, centroeuropea, atlantica e boreale. Le categorie alimentari utilizzate nell'analisi della variabilità geografica sono: mammiferi, uccelli, anfibi, artropodi, lombrichi, altro animale, frutta, cereali, rifiuti. L'analisi delle componenti principali, condotta separatamente sulle 3 specie, ha consentito l'individuazione su di un grafico bidimensionale di due gruppi riferibili all'Europa centro-settentrionale ed alla regione mediterranea, con una percentuale di variabilità spiegata > 76% per ognuna delle 3 specie. La composizione della dieta del primo gruppo risulta caratterizzata da elevate percentuali di mammiferi e secondariamente uccelli per la volpe, uccelli ed altro animale per la faina e lombrichi, cereali ed anfibi per il tasso. La composizione della dieta nella regione mediterranea risulta invece caratterizzata da elevate percentuali di artropodi e frutta per tutte e 3 le specie di carnivori. L'analisi dicriminante ha consentito di differenziare gli studi condotti in ambiente

  7. Eficacia de dos fitasas bacterianas en la liberación de fósforo en dietas para pollos de engorda en crecimiento

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    María Liliana Diosdado Espinoza

    2017-04-01

    Full Text Available La eficacia de dos fitasas (Citrobacter brakii y E. Coli utilizadas en diferentes dosis (500 y 1,000 FTU se evaluaron en una dieta deficiente en fósforo (0.15% P disponible formulada a base de sorgo-soya. Para la estimación de la eficacia en la liberación de P de las fitasas evaluadas se utilizó como referencia fósforo inorgánico suplementado a través de fosfato monodicálcico (FMD, para alcanzar una concentración final de P disponible de 0.23, 0.31 y 0.39 %. Para lo anterior la dieta basal deficiente en P se suplementó como sigue: 1 sin fitasas, sin FMD; 2 0.08% FMD; 3 0.16% FMD; 4 0.24% PMD; 5 citrobacter-500 FTU; 6 coli-500 FTU; 7 citrobacter-1,000 FTU y 8 coli-1,000 FTU. Los tratamientos se aplicaron a 216 pollos de la estirpe Ross (27 pollos/tratamiento de los 7 a 21 días de edad. La ganancia de peso, eficiencia alimenticia y concentración de ceniza y P en tibias fue mayor en los pollos que recibieron 0.39% PMD y los 1,000 FTU de ambas fitasas, no existiendo diferencias en estos niveles entre los tratamientos FMD y fitasas. La cantidad de fósforo liberado no se afectó (P>0.05 por el tipo de fitasa (promedio 0.142 %, pero sí por el nivel de fitasa utilizado (0.102 vs 0.182 % para 500 y 1,000 FTU respectivamente. Los resultados indican que la suplementación con 1,000 FTU/kg de ambas fitasas en dietas deficientes en P resulta en ganancias y eficiencias alimenticias similares cuando las dietas se suplementan hasta 0.24 % de FMD. Ambas fitasas mejoraron en 78.4 % el aprovechamiento del fósforo fítico en dietas sorgo-soya para pollos en crecimiento.

  8. Egg-laying butterflies distinguish predaceous ants by sight.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Sendoya, Sebastián F; Freitas, André V L; Oliveira, Paulo S

    2009-07-01

    Information about predation risks is critical for herbivorous insects, and natural selection favors their ability to detect predators before oviposition and to select enemy-free foliage when offspring mortality risk is high. Food plants are selected by ovipositing butterflies, and offspring survival frequently varies among plants because of variation in the presence of predators. Eunica bechina butterflies oviposit on Caryocar brasiliense, an ant-defended plant. Experiments with dried Camponotus and Cephalotes ants pinned to leaves revealed that butterflies use ant size and form as visual cues to avoid ovipositing on plant parts occupied by ants more likely to kill larval offspring. Presence of sap-sucking bugs did not affect butterfly oviposition. This is the first demonstration that visual recognition of predators can mediate egg-laying decisions by an insect herbivore and that an insect will discriminate among different species of potential predators. This unusual behavioral capability permits specialization on a risky, ant-defended food plant.

  9. Protection of Vochysia elliptica (Vochysiaceae by a nectar-thieving ant

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    G. Q. ROMERO

    Full Text Available Vochysia elliptica (Vochysiaceae is a shrubby plant, which does not have EFNs. Camponotus ants thieve nectar, and can decrease plant fitness by making flowers less attractive to pollinators. However, ants remove herbivores, wich can be beneficial. Results show that plants from which ants were excluded had lower rates of termite (simulated herbivore removal than did plants visited by ants. Plants accessible to ants showed higher rates of termite removal in the base of leaves and in the inflorescence, than in the tip of leaves. This occurs because ants must pass through the principal axis to reach the inflorescence. Conclusive results of this cost/benefit analysis of the Camponotus sp. presence for V. elliptica can be obtained, with experimental manipulations.

  10. Benefits conferred by "timid" ants: active anti-herbivore protection of the rainforest tree Leonardoxa africana by the minute ant Petalomyrmex phylax.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Gaume, Laurence; McKey, Doyle; Anstett, Marie-Charlotte

    1997-10-01

    In this study, we demonstrate that an important benefit provided by the small host-specific ant Petalomyrmex phylax to its host plant Leonardoxa africana is efficient protection against herbivores. We estimate that in the absence of ants, insect herbivory would reduce the leaf area by about one-third. This contributes considerably to the fitness of the plant. Our estimates take into account not only direct damage, such as removal of leaf surface by chewing insects, but also the effects of sucking insects on leaf growth and expansion. Sucking insects are numerically predominant in this system, and the hitherto cryptic effects of ant protection against the growth-reducing effects of sucking insects accounted for half of the total estimated benefit of ant protection. We propose that the small size of workers confers a distinct advantage in this system. Assuming that resource limitation implies a trade off between size and number of ants, and given the small size of phytophagous insects that attack Leonardoxa, we conclude that fine-grained patrolling by a large number of small workers maximises protection of young leaves of this plant. Since herbivores are small and must complete their development on the young leaves of Leonardoxa, and since a high patrolling density is required for a fine-grained search for these enemies, numerous small ants should provide the most effective protection of young leaves of Leonardoxa. We also discuss other factors that may have influenced worker size in this ant.

  11. Avaliação nutricional de coprodutos da extração de óleos vegetais em dieta de ovinos

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Patrícia Brás

    2014-02-01

    Full Text Available A busca por fontes alternativas de produção de energia é uma necessidade em sistemas de produção sustentável, pois além de contribuir com o meio ambiente, pode proporcionar a produção de alimentos alternativos para animais. O presente trabalho teve como objetivo estudar a composição química das tortas oriundas da prensagem dos grãos de cártamo, nabo forrageiro, girassol e crambe, adicionadas em dietas de ovinos; estimar o valor nutricional em ensaios de degradabilidade ruminal in situ, avaliando os efeitos das dietas sob os parâmetros ruminais e sanguíneos, também estimar através da técnica in vitro a produção de gases de efeito estufa. Os tratamentos foram: silagem de milho como volumoso oferecido ad libitum, juntamente com 100g de grãos de milho moído e 100 g/dia de proteína bruta (PB, proveniente da torta a ser testada nos diferentes tratamentos. A quantidade de torta fornecida em cada tratamento foi a seguinte: T1-cártamo: 440g; T2-nabo forrageiro: 240g; T3-girassol: 452g e T4-crambe: 405g e foi equivalente a 100g de proteína. Foram utilizados quatro ovinos fistulados no rúmen, mantidos em baias individualizadas, distribuídos em quadrado latino 4 x 4. Os animais alimentados com as tortas de nabo forrageiro e crambe apresentaram menor consumo de matéria seca e perda de peso. O pH ruminal e as concentrações de AGCC não diferiram (P>0,05 entre os tratamentos. Maiores teores de N-NH3 foram observados nos animais alimentados com a torta de nabo forrageiro na dieta, que também apresentaram maiores degradabilidades potencial e efetiva da MS (88,62 e 83,25%. Na dieta com torta de cártamo foram observados maiores teores de FDA e lignina, menor degradabilidade efetiva da MS e PB (40,46 e 74,32%, menor produção total de gases in vitro (10,42 mL/g MS e menor degradabilidade da MS e MO (671 e 556,95 g/kg, respectivamente, enquanto na dieta com torta de nabo forrageiro foram obtidos os maiores valores destas fra

  12. O uso do carboidrato antes da atividade física como recurso ergogênico: revisão sistemática

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    Jeniffer dos Santos Fontan

    2015-04-01

    Full Text Available A dieta dos atletas requer aporte energético adequado, sendo a principal fonte energética os carboidratos CHO que são encontrados livremente na corrente sanguínea ou armazenados nos músculos e no fígado. Com base na rotina de treinos e competições, ou mesmo na quantidade exacerbada de energia necessária, é comum a necessidade de suplementação de CHO, seja na forma de bebidas, géis, barras ou balas energéticas, antes, durante ou depois da atividade física. Devido à importância dos CHO foram reunidos estudos que testaram a suplementação com diferentes CHO antes do exercício para aumento da performance. Foram investigados artigos e teses cuja publicação ocorreu a partir de 2006 em bases científicas eletrônicas e banco de teses de faculdades renomadas na área. Os CHO podem ser divididos segundo a quantidade de moléculas que o compõem, as quais também são diferenciadas também por digestão, absorção, viscosidade, dulçor, índice glicêmico IG e oxidação durante a atividade. Comparando-se a taxa de oxidação, foram encontrados melhores resultados quando os CHO ingeridos são de alto teor de IG glicose e sacarose e baixo teor de IG frutose ao se realizar atividade de média a alta intensidade de longa duração. A ingestão de CHO antes do exercício mostrou-se eficiente nos nove estudos analisados, sendo que dois deles apresentaram relevância p < 0,005. Mesmo com a ingestão de CHO com diferentes IG, observou-se melhora, não sendo relatada hipoglicemia de rebote como teorizado na literatura. A suplementação de CHO com a composição e administração apropriadas mostrou-se eficiente para aumento do desempenho físico.

  13. Uso de harina de cabeza de camarón como reemplazo proteico de harina de pescado en dietas balanceadas para juveniles de Totoaba macdonaldi (Gilbert, 1890

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    Luis Daniel Espinosa-Chaurand

    2015-07-01

    Full Text Available En dietas para juveniles de Totoaba macdonaldi (26,3 ± 4,7 g y 13,6 ± 1 cm se evaluó la sustitución proteica parcial de harina de pescado (HP por harinas de cabeza de camarón (HCC, sobre su crecimiento, sobrevivencia, factor de conversión alimenticia (FCA y composición química de tejidos, y el coeficiente de digestibilidad aparente de materia seca (CDA, proteínas (CDAP y lípidos (CDAL de estas dietas. Se utilizó HCC de cabezas enteras deshidratadas al sol (F y HCC de cabezas maceradas y deshidratadas en secador de aire (M. Las dietas fueron isoproteicas (55,5% de proteína cruda, isolipídicas (15% de lípidos e isoenergéticas (4,6 Kcal g-1 remplazando el 0% (dieta control; DC, 15% (F15 y M15 y 30% (F30 y M3ü de la proteína de la HP por la de HCC. Después de 57 días la sobrevivencia con HCC (99.44 ± 1.92% fue mayor que DC (88,89 ± 3,85%. El peso ganado, crecimiento específico en peso (TCE y el consumo total no presentaron diferencias estadísticas (P > 0,05 entre los organismos alimentados con HCC. No obstante, la dieta M30 presentó un promedio mayor en TCE (0,99 ± 0,06 y crecimiento (19,82 ± 1.64 g/pez. La dieta M30 significativamente tuvo la mejor FCA (1,61 ± 0,13 y las más altas CDA (66,18 ± 1,28, CDAP (86,51 ± 0,53 y CDAL (72,29 ± 1,10. Se concluye que la sustitución proteica de HP por HCC en alimento para juveniles de totoabas mejoró los parámetros productivos y los CDAs, obteniéndose mejores resultados con la inclusión de HCC macerada y niveles de sustitución de 30%.

  14. Competence of Litter Ants for Rapid Biodiversity Assessments

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    T. H. Saumya E. Silva

    2017-01-01

    Full Text Available Rapid Biodiversity Assessment approaches associated with focusing taxa have overcome many of the problems related to large scale surveys. This study examined the suitability of litter ants as a focusing taxon by checking whether diversity and species assemblages of litter ants reflect the overall picture of arthropod diversity and assemblages in leaf litter in two vegetation types: secondary forest and pine plantation in Upper Hanthana forest reserve, Sri Lanka. In each vegetation type, arthropods were sampled using three sampling methods (Winkler extraction, hand collection, and pitfall traps along three 100 m line transects. From the two sites, 1887 litter ants (34 species and 3488 litter arthropods (52 species were collected. Species assemblages composition of both ants and other arthropods differed significantly between the two sites (ANOSIM, p=0.001 with both groups generating distinct clusters for the two sites (SIMPROF, p=0.001. But there was no significant correlation (p>0.05 between abundance and richness of litter ants and those of other arthropods in both vegetation types. The overall finding suggests that the litter ants do not reflect the holistic picture of arthropod diversity and assemblages in leaf litter, but the quality of the habitat for the survival of all litter arthropods.

  15. Asymmetric dispersal and colonization success of Amazonian plant-ants queens.

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    Emilio M Bruna

    Full Text Available The dispersal ability of queens is central to understanding ant life-history evolution, and plays a fundamental role in ant population and community dynamics, the maintenance of genetic diversity, and the spread of invasive ants. In tropical ecosystems, species from over 40 genera of ants establish colonies in the stems, hollow thorns, or leaf pouches of specialized plants. However, little is known about the relative dispersal ability of queens competing for access to the same host plants.We used empirical data and inverse modeling--a technique developed by plant ecologists to model seed dispersal--to quantify and compare the dispersal kernels of queens from three Amazonian ant species that compete for access to host-plants. We found that the modal colonization distance of queens varied 8-fold, with the generalist ant species (Crematogaster laevis having a greater modal distance than two specialists (Pheidole minutula, Azteca sp. that use the same host-plants. However, our results also suggest that queens of Azteca sp. have maximal distances that are four-sixteen times greater than those of its competitors.We found large differences between ant species in both the modal and maximal distance ant queens disperse to find vacant seedlings used to found new colonies. These differences could result from interspecific differences in queen body size, and hence wing musculature, or because queens differ in their ability to identify potential host plants while in flight. Our results provide support for one of the necessary conditions underlying several of the hypothesized mechanisms promoting coexistence in tropical plant-ants. They also suggest that for some ant species limited dispersal capability could pose a significant barrier to the rescue of populations in isolated forest fragments. Finally, we demonstrate that inverse models parameterized with field data are an excellent means of quantifying the dispersal of ant queens.

  16. Disease dynamics in a specialized parasite of ant societies

    DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

    Andersen, Sandra Breum; Ferrari, Matthew; Evans, Harry C.

    2012-01-01

    Coevolution between ant colonies and their rare specialized parasites are intriguing, because lethal infections of workers may correspond to tolerable chronic diseases of colonies, but the parasite adaptations that allow stable coexistence with ants are virtually unknown. We explore the trade......-offs experienced by Ophiocordyceps parasites manipulating ants into dying in nearby graveyards. We used field data from Brazil and Thailand to parameterize and fit a model for the growth rate of graveyards. We show that parasite pressure is much lower than the abundance of ant cadavers suggests...

  17. Dieta cetogênica no tratamento de epilepsias farmacorresistentes The ketogenic diet on the treatment of drug resistant epilepsies

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Carla Barbosa Nonino-Borges

    2004-12-01

    Full Text Available A epilepsia é uma condição clínica crônica correspondente a um grupo de doenças que tem em comum crises epilépticas; ela atinge de 0,5% a 1,0% da população dos países desenvolvidos, podendo esta prevalência ser maior nos países em desenvolvimento. Aproximadamente um terço dos pacientes evolui com crises epilépticas intratáveis com medicamentos; em alguns casos, é possível o tratamento cirúrgico. Nos pacientes em que cirurgia não é possível, a dieta cetogênica passa a ser uma opção terapêutica, principalmente em crianças. Espera-se que esta terapia seja eficaz para, pelo menos, um terço dos pacientes, resultando em redução ou controle das crises. No presente trabalho, apresentamos métodos para o preparo e uso a dieta cetogênica. O planejamento da dieta é individualizado, seguindo-se recomendações para o consumo energético e proporções de gorduras, proteínas e carboidratos específicos. Sempre que introduzida a dieta, o paciente deve ser monitorizado, devido à possibilidade de efeitos adversos. A orientação dos pais ou responsáveis sobre a dieta cetogênica, e como ela funciona, proporciona maior aceitação e aderência a esta forma de tratamento da epilepsia.Epilepsy is a chronic condition that affects 0.5% to 1.0% of the population in developed countries. This prevalence may be higher in developing countries. A significant proportion of the patients, nearly one third of them will have their condition evolved into a stage of uncontrolled crises, in some cases, surgical procedure may be indicated. However, for several patients, surgery is not possible. In these cases, ketogenic diet is a therapeutic option, especially for children. It is supposed that nearly one third of the patients that use the ketogenic diet, experience seizure control or reduction in the number of seizures. The current study presents methods of preparing and using ketogenic diet. The diet must be individualized, considering the

  18. Density-dependent benefits in ant-hemipteran mutualism? The case of the ghost ant Tapinoma melanocephalum (Hymenoptera: Formicidae and the invasive mealybug Phenacoccus solenopsis (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae.

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Aiming Zhou

    Full Text Available Although density-dependent benefits to hemipterans from ant tending have been measured many times, few studies have focused on integrated effects such as interactions between ant tending, natural enemy density, and hemipteran density. In this study, we tested whether the invasive mealybug Phenacoccus solenopsis is affected by tending by ghost ants (Tapinoma melanocephalum, the presence of parasitoids, mealybug density, parasitoid density and interactions among these factors. Our results showed that mealybug colony growth rate and percentage parasitism were significantly affected by ant tending, parasitoid presence, and initial mealybug density separately. However, there were no interactions among the independent factors. There were also no significant interactions between ant tending and parasitoid density on either mealybug colony growth rate or percentage parasitism. Mealybug colony growth rate showed a negative linear relationship with initial mealybug density but a positive linear relationship with the level of ant tending. These results suggest that benefits to mealybugs are density-independent and are affected by ant tending level.

  19. Ant exclusion in citrus over an 8-year period reveals a pervasive yet changing effect of ants on a Mediterranean spider assemblage.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Mestre, L; Piñol, J; Barrientos, J A; Espadaler, X

    2013-09-01

    Ants and spiders are ubiquitous generalist predators that exert top-down control on herbivore populations. Research shows that intraguild interactions between ants and spiders can negatively affect spider populations, but there is a lack of long-term research documenting the strength of such interactions and the potentially different effects of ants on the diverse array of species in a spider assemblage. Similarly, the suitability of family-level surrogates for finding patterns revealed by species-level data (taxonomic sufficiency) has almost never been tested in spider assemblages. We present a long-term study in which we tested the impact of ants on the spider assemblage of a Mediterranean citrus grove by performing sequential 1-year experimental exclusions on tree canopies for 8 years. We found that ants had a widespread influence on the spider assemblage, although the effect was only evident in the last 5 years of the study. During those years, ants negatively affected many spiders, and effects were especially strong for sedentary spiders. Analyses at the family level also detected assemblage differences between treatments, but they concealed the different responses to ant exclusion shown by some related spider species. Our findings show that the effects of experimental manipulations in ecology can vary greatly over time and highlight the need for long-term studies to document species interactions.

  20. Just follow your nose: homing by olfactory cues in ants.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Steck, Kathrin

    2012-04-01

    How is an ant-equipped with a brain that barely exceeds the size of a pinhead-capable of achieving navigational marvels? Even though evidences suggest that navigation is a multimodal process, ants heavily depend on olfactory cues-of pheromonal and non-pheromonal nature-for foraging and orientation. Recent studies have directed their attention to the efficiency of pheromone trail networks. Advances in neurophysiological techniques make it possible to investigate trail pheromone processing in the ant's brain. In addition to relying on pheromone odours, ants also make use of volatiles emanating from the nest surroundings. Deposited in the vicinity of the nest, these home-range markings help the ants to home after a foraging run. Furthermore, olfactory landmarks associated with the nest enhance ants' homing abilities. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  1. Efeitos do centeio, do trigo e da suplementação com xilanases sobre o valor nutricional de dietas e o desempenho de frangos corte Effects of rye, wheat and xylanase supplementation on diet nutritive value and broiler chicken performance

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    José Luís Teixeira de Abreu Medeiros Mourão

    2009-12-01

    Full Text Available Três experimentos foram realizados para avaliar os efeitos de dietas formuladas com 53% de trigo ou centeio, suplementadas ou não com a enzima xilanase (0,06%, sobre a digestibilidade de nutrientes e a energia metabolizável das dietas e sobre o desempenho e desenvolvimento do trato digestivo de frangos de corte. Como testemunha foi usada uma dieta com 53% de milho. No primeiro experimento, as digestibilidades da matéria seca, matéria orgânica e gordura e energia metabolizável corrigida para o nitrogênio (EMAn das dietas com centeio foram menores que daquelas com trigo (2.556 kcal/kg vs 2.842 kcal/kg e menores no conjunto dessas dietas que na dieta com milho (2.684 kcal/kg vs 3.010 kcal/kg. A digestibilidade da matéria orgânica e a EMAn das dietas com centeio também foi inferior às da dieta com trigo. A suplementação com xilanases não afetou a utilização digestiva das dietas com centeio ou com trigo. No segundo experimento, nos frangos alimentados com as dietas com centeio, o menor ganho de peso e consumo de EMAn e a pior conversão alimentar ocorreram entre os 8 e os 35 dias de idade. A conversão alimentar foi de 2,17 para as dietas com centeio e 1,88 para a dieta com milho. A adição de xilanases às dietas com centeio ou trigo não melhorou a conversão alimentar. Nos frangos alimentados com as dietas com centeio durante 31 dias, o duodeno-jejuno e íleo foram maiores e o rendimento de carcaça menor que nos frangos alimentados com a dieta testemunha (71,6% vs 74,4%. As dietas com trigo não afetaram essas características. Os pesos do pâncreas e do fígado também não foram alterados pelas dietas.Three trials with were conducted to evaluate the effects of diets with 53% rye (diet C or 53% wheat (diet T supplemented or not with xylanase enzymes (0.06% on nutrient digestibility and metabolizable energy and the performance and development of the broiler chicken digestive tract. A diet with 53% corn was used as control. In

  2. Behind every great ant, there is a great gut

    DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

    Poulsen, Michael; Sapountzis, Panagiotis

    2012-01-01

    on the potential contribution of the ants’ gut symbionts. This issue of Molecular Ecology contains a study by Anderson et al. (2012), who take a comparative approach to explore the link between trophic levels and ant microbiomes, specifically, to address three main questions: (i) Do closely related herbivorous...... conserved gut microbiomes, suggesting symbiont functions that directly relate to dietary preference of the ant host. These findings suggest an ecological role of gut symbionts in ants, for example, in metabolism and/or protection, and the comparative approach taken supports a model of co-evolution between...... ant species and specific core symbiont microbiomes. This study, thereby, highlights the omnipresence and importance of gut symbioses—also in the Hymenoptera—and suggests that these hitherto overlooked microbes likely have contributed to the ecological success of the ants....

  3. Arboreal ant colonies as 'hot-points' of cryptic diversity for myrmecophiles: the weaver ant Camponotus sp. aff. textor and its interaction network with its associates.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Pérez-Lachaud, Gabriela; Lachaud, Jean-Paul

    2014-01-01

    Systematic surveys of macrofaunal diversity within ant colonies are lacking, particularly for ants nesting in microhabitats that are difficult to sample. Species associated with ants are generally small and rarely collected organisms, which makes them more likely to be unnoticed. We assumed that this tendency is greater for arthropod communities in microhabitats with low accessibility, such as those found in the nests of arboreal ants that may constitute a source of cryptic biodiversity. We investigated the invertebrate diversity associated with an undescribed, but already threatened, Neotropical Camponotus weaver ant. As most of the common sampling methods used in studies of ant diversity are not suited for evaluating myrmecophile diversity within ant nests, we evaluated the macrofauna within ant nests through exhaustive colony sampling of three nests and examination of more than 80,000 individuals. We identified invertebrates from three classes belonging to 18 taxa, some of which were new to science, and recorded the first instance of the co-occurrence of two brood parasitoid wasp families attacking the same ant host colony. This diversity of ant associates corresponded to a highly complex interaction network. Agonistic interactions prevailed, but the prevalence of myrmecophiles was remarkably low. Our data support the hypothesis of the evolution of low virulence in a variety of symbionts associated with large insect societies. Because most myrmecophiles found in this work are rare, strictly specific, and exhibit highly specialized biology, the risk of extinction for these hitherto unknown invertebrates and their natural enemies is high. The cryptic, far unappreciated diversity within arboreal ant nests in areas at high risk of habitat loss qualifies these nests as 'hot-points' of biodiversity that urgently require special attention as a component of conservation and management programs.

  4. Arboreal ant colonies as 'hot-points' of cryptic diversity for myrmecophiles: the weaver ant Camponotus sp. aff. textor and its interaction network with its associates.

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Gabriela Pérez-Lachaud

    Full Text Available INTRODUCTION: Systematic surveys of macrofaunal diversity within ant colonies are lacking, particularly for ants nesting in microhabitats that are difficult to sample. Species associated with ants are generally small and rarely collected organisms, which makes them more likely to be unnoticed. We assumed that this tendency is greater for arthropod communities in microhabitats with low accessibility, such as those found in the nests of arboreal ants that may constitute a source of cryptic biodiversity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We investigated the invertebrate diversity associated with an undescribed, but already threatened, Neotropical Camponotus weaver ant. As most of the common sampling methods used in studies of ant diversity are not suited for evaluating myrmecophile diversity within ant nests, we evaluated the macrofauna within ant nests through exhaustive colony sampling of three nests and examination of more than 80,000 individuals. RESULTS: We identified invertebrates from three classes belonging to 18 taxa, some of which were new to science, and recorded the first instance of the co-occurrence of two brood parasitoid wasp families attacking the same ant host colony. This diversity of ant associates corresponded to a highly complex interaction network. Agonistic interactions prevailed, but the prevalence of myrmecophiles was remarkably low. CONCLUSIONS: Our data support the hypothesis of the evolution of low virulence in a variety of symbionts associated with large insect societies. Because most myrmecophiles found in this work are rare, strictly specific, and exhibit highly specialized biology, the risk of extinction for these hitherto unknown invertebrates and their natural enemies is high. The cryptic, far unappreciated diversity within arboreal ant nests in areas at high risk of habitat loss qualifies these nests as 'hot-points' of biodiversity that urgently require special attention as a component of conservation and management

  5. Vitamina A em dieta de juvenis de pacu cultivados em tanques-rede

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    Arcangelo Augusto Signor

    2013-08-01

    Full Text Available O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o efeito da suplementação de vitamina A na alimentação de juvenis de pacu cultivados em tanques-rede. Foram utilizados 2.000 peixes, com peso inicial médio de 66,93±15,03 g, distribuídos em delineamento inteiramente casualizado, em 20 tanques-rede de 5,0 m³, com cinco tratamentos e quatro repetições. As rações foram formuladas com 0, 3.000, 6.000, 9.000 e 12.000 UI de vitamina A por quilograma de dieta, por meio da suplementação com acetato de retinol. O arraçoamento foi realizado às 8:30, 13:30 e 17:30 h, até a saciedade aparente dos animais. Não foram observadas diferenças quanto aos parâmetros de desempenho produtivo, rendimento e composição química da carcaça, e aos parâmetros hematológicos e lipídios no fígado dos peixes que foram alimentados com diferentes níveis de vitamina A. A suplementação de vitamina A em dietas para juvenis de pacu criados em tanques-rede não influencia o desempenho produtivo dos peixes.

  6. EFECTO DE GENTIANELLA ALBOROSEA EN ESTEATOSIS HEPÁTICA NO ALCOHÓLICA INDUCIDA POR DIETA HIPERLIPÍDICA EN RATAS HOLTZMAN HEMBRAS

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    L. Ugaz-Soto

    2012-01-01

    Full Text Available Objetivo: Determinar el efecto del extracto de Gentianella alborosea como tratamiento contra esteatosis hepática no alcohólica (EHNA inducida por dieta hiperlipídica en ratas Holtzman hembras. Métodos: Diseño: Estudio experimental incompleto. Lugar: Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Lima, Perú. Participantes: Ratas Holtzman hembras. Intervenciones: Se utilizó 32 ratas repartidas en 4 grupos (n=8 distribuidos aleatoriamente: grupo control negativo, control positivo con dieta hiperlipídica, dosis 1 (35 mg/kg y dosis 2 (70 mg/kg. Se indujo EHNA con dieta hiperlipídica (Carbohidratos: 26%, Lípidos: 59% y Proteínas: 15% Calorías durante un período de 21 días, ad libitum. Luego, se administró el extracto acuoso de Gentianella alborosea por 4 días. Finalmente, se extrajeron los hígados para evaluar las alteraciones histopatológicas del parénquima hepático. Principales medidas de resultados: Se realizó el conteo microscópico de hepatocitos afectados con macrovacuolas, y los resultados fueron comparados mediante las pruebas de ANOVA (p<0,05 y HSD de Tukey (p<0,05. Resultados: Se encontró diferencias significativas (p<0.05 en el porcentaje de hepatocitos afectados entre los grupos dosis 1 (3.25 ± 2.27 y el control positivo (7.50 ± 3.76. Además, no se encontró diferencia significativa entre los grupos dosis 1 y dosis 2. Conclusiones: No se pudo determinar el efecto de Gentianella alborosea sobre la esteatosis hepática no alcohólica inducida por dieta hiperlipídica en ratas Holtzman hembra, por lo que se recomiendan estudios posteriores.

  7. Porfirio Díaz y la “Gran Dieta Simbólica”: ¿La masonería mexicana bajo control?

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    Rogelio Aragón

    2015-01-01

    Full Text Available Las fuentes más consultadas para la historia de la masonería en México durante el período conocido como"Porfiriato" apuntan a que fue, precisamente, el presidente Porfirio Díaz el artífice de la unificación de lamasonería bajo la llamada "Gran Dieta Simbólica". Sin embargo, el intercambio epistolar entre el generalDíaz y Ermilio Cantón -que más bien fue monólogo epistolar de este último-, dirigente de facto de la GranDieta, apunta en una dirección distinta. El presente artículo contrapone la información proporcionada por lasfuentes bibliográficas con la correspondencia del presidente.

  8. Observaciones histopatologicas de juveniles penaeus vannamei sometidos a dietas artificiales con diferentes concentraciones de una sal de ácido ascórbico (vitamina c)

    OpenAIRE

    Vera Muñoz, L.

    1995-01-01

    Observaciones histopatologicas de juveniles Penaeus Vannamei sometidos a dietas artificiales con diferentes concentraciones de una sal de ácido ascórbico (vitamina C) Se realizaron análisis histológicos y comprobación mediante métodos histoquímicos de la presencia de melanina, a juveniles Penaeus vannamei sometidos a cinco dietas experimentales con diferentes concentraciones de una sal de L-Ascorbato-2-Fosfato de Mg (APM) usada como fuente de ácido ascórbico (AA).

  9. Dieta hiperlipídica e capacidade secretória de insulina em ratos High-fat diet and secretory capacity of insulin in rats

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Ana Cláudia Garcia de Oliveira Duarte

    2006-06-01

    Full Text Available OBJETIVOS: Este estudo investigou, em ratos, os efeitos da administração crônica de uma dieta hiperlipídica palatável sobre: ganho de peso, adiposidade, conteúdos de glicogênio hepático e muscular, glicemia e insulinemia, morfologia do pâncreas e secreção de insulina por ilhotas isoladas, incubadas in vitro. MÉTODOS: Ratos Wistar machos (21 dias de idade foram alimentados com dieta hiperlipídica palatável ou com dieta padrão, durante 15 semanas. Peso corporal e consumo de ração foram avaliados diariamente, glicose e insulina plasmática foram avaliadas semanalmente. Após o sacrifício, pâncreas, fígado, gastrocnêmio e tecidos adiposos foram coletados e pesados. Cortes do pâncreas foram analisados por microscopia ótica comum. Insulina plasmática e a secretada por ilhotas isoladas, após incubação na presença de diferentes concentrações de glicose, foram avaliadas por radioimunoensaio. RESULTADOS: A dieta hiperlipídica palatável aumentou a adiposidade, a percentagem do ganho de peso corporal e o conteúdo do glicogênio hepático, quando comparada à dos animais alimentados com dieta padrão. Glicemias e insulinemias de jejum não diferiram entre os grupos. A secreção de insulina das ilhotas isoladas dos ratos aumentou, nos tratados com dieta hiperlipídica, apenas em presença de concentrações fisiológicas de glicose (G= 8,3mM. A dieta hiperlipídica reduziu o tamanho do pâncreas, mas aumentou o número de células beta. Além disso, o lúmen dos vasos sangüíneos pancreáticos apresentou-se reduzido, quando comparado aos controles. CONCLUSÃO: A obesidade provocada pela dieta hiperlipídica não alterou os níveis de glicose e insulina de jejum desses animais. Apesar das alterações morfológicas do pâncreas, a manutenção da normoglicemia dos ratos tratados com dieta hiperlipídica, provavelmente, deveu-se à capacidade preservada de suas ilhotas em secretar insulina.OBJECTIVES: This study investigated

  10. Histrionicotoxin alkaloids finally detected in an ant

    DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

    Jones, Tappey H.; Adams, Rachelle Martha Marie; Spande, Thomas F.

    2012-01-01

    Workers of the ant Carebarella bicolor collected in Panama were found to have two major poison-frog alkaloids, cis- and trans-fused decahydroquinolines (DHQs) of the 269AB type, four minor 269AB isomers, two minor 269B isomers, and three isomers of DHQ 271D. For the first time in an ant, however......) sp., were found to have a very similar DHQ complex but failed to show HTXs. Several new DHQ alkaloids of MW 271 (named in the frog as 271G) are reported from the above ants that have both m/z 202 and 204 as major fragment ions, unlike the spectrum seen for the poison-frog alkaloid 271D, which has...... only an m/z 204 base peak. Found also for the first time in skin extracts from the comparison frog Oophaga granulifera of Costa Rica is a trace DHQ of MW 273. It is coded as 273F in the frog; a different isomer is found in the ant....

  11. Estudo de fibras alimentares em frutas e hortaliças para uso em nutrição enteral ou oral Study of dietary fibre in fruits and vegetables for use in oral or enteral diets

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Edma Maria de Araújo

    2010-03-01

    Full Text Available Dietas enterais com alimentos convencionais são usadas em nutrição domiciliar para fornecer macronutrientes, obter dietas individualizadas e de menor custo. O objetivo deste trabalho foi estudar frutas e hortaliças (alface, berinjela, cenoura, chicória, goiaba e tamarindo como fontes de fibras alimentares solúveis e insolúveis para serem usadas em nutrição enteral ou suplemento nutricional oral. As hortaliças e frutas foram adicionadas a uma formulação enteral domiciliar e também preparadas em solução com água. Foram determinadas a composição centesimal, as fibras solúveis e insolúveis dos alimentos, a atividade de água e o pH das formulações. Foram realizados testes de gotejamento das formulações com os alimentos experimentais. A melhor proporção de alimento/dieta enteral domiciliar foi de 100 g/2 L para dieta enteral e de 150 g/2 L para suplemento nutricional oral (ingestão por boca. As quantidades de cada alimento adicionadas à formulação enteral equivalem a duas porções (100 g diárias de cada alimento para 2 L e 2000 kcal. A maior contribuição para aumentar a quantidade de fibras foi da goiaba e a menor, da berinjela. Os valores de atividade de água ficaram entre 0,95 e 1,00, indicando que as dietas são susceptíveis à contaminação microbiana. Nessas condições, devem ser consumidas imediatamente após o preparo.Enteral diets based on conventional foods are used in domestic nutritional therapy to provide macronutrients, obtain individualised diets and to lower costs. Eggplant, carrot, chicory, lettuce, guava and tamarind were studied as sources of soluble and insoluble fibers for use in enteral diets or as oral nutritional supplements, added to a domestic enteral formulation and also prepared in aqueous solution. The following physical-chemical characteristics were determined: soluble and insoluble fibers, proximate composition, pH and water activity. Drip tests were carried out with the formulas

  12. Ractopamina y nivel de proteína de la dieta, respuesta productiva y características de la carcasa de cuyes (Cavia porcellus)

    OpenAIRE

    García Leandro, Madeline Victoria

    2017-01-01

    Universidad Nacional Agraria La Molina. Escuela de Posgrado. Maestría en Nutrición El objetivo del presente trabajo fue determinar el efecto del Clorhidrato de Ractopamina (RAC) y el nivel de proteína de la dieta sobre la respuesta productiva y características de la carcasa de cuyes (Cavia porcellus). Se emplearon 96 cuyes machos de 49 días de edad que se distribuyeron en 24 pozas. Cada poza fue una unidad experimental con cuatro cuyes. Se les administró seis dietas con dos niveles de RAC ...

  13. Neuromodulation of Nestmate Recognition Decisions by Pavement Ants.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Bubak, Andrew N; Yaeger, Jazmine D W; Renner, Kenneth J; Swallow, John G; Greene, Michael J

    2016-01-01

    Ant colonies are distributed systems that are regulated in a non-hierarchical manner. Without a central authority, individuals inform their decisions by comparing information in local cues to a set of inherent behavioral rules. Individual behavioral decisions collectively change colony behavior and lead to self-organization capable of solving complex problems such as the decision to engage in aggressive societal conflicts with neighbors. Despite the relevance to colony fitness, the mechanisms that drive individual decisions leading to cooperative behavior are not well understood. Here we show how sensory information, both tactile and chemical, and social context-isolation, nestmate interaction, or fighting non-nestmates-affects brain monoamine levels in pavement ants (Tetramorium caespitum). Our results provide evidence that changes in octopamine and serotonin in the brains of individuals are sufficient to alter the decision by pavement ants to be aggressive towards non-nestmate ants whereas increased brain levels of dopamine correlate to physical fighting. We propose a model in which the changes in brain states of many workers collectively lead to the self-organization of societal aggression between neighboring colonies of pavement ants.

  14. Antílope

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Pedro Anderson Martinho Moçambique

    2015-10-01

    Full Text Available Essa espécie de antílope só é encontrada em território angolano, sendo assim um símbolo nacional. Segundo a mitologia africana é símbolo de vivacidade, velocidade e beleza - Angola.

  15. Antílope

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Pedro Anderson Martinho Moçambique

    2011-04-01

    Full Text Available Essa espécie de antílope só é encontrada em território angolano, sendo assim um símbolo nacional. Segundo a mitologia africana é símbolo de vivacidade, velocidade e beleza - Angola.

  16. Evaluación del crecimiento del pulpo común Octopus mimus del norte de Chile alimentado con dietas formuladas Growth evaluation of octopus (Octopus mimus from northern Chile fed with formulated diets

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Oscar Zúñiga

    2011-11-01

    Full Text Available Durante 57 días se comparó el crecimiento y sobreviviencia de pulpos juveniles Octopus mimus del norte de Chile alimentados con tres diferentes dietas: dos dietas húmedas (A y B aglutinadas con solución de gelatina embutidas en tripa de cordero y una dieta control (C natural. La dieta (A fue elaborada en base a una mezcla de filete triturado del pescado Cheilodactylus variegatus con harina de pellet para salmón, la dieta (B con pasta de almeja (Protothaca thaca mezclada con filete de Ch. variegatus y la dieta control consistió en el suministro de almejas frescas congeladas (C. Basado en un diseño experimental de medidas repetidas, los pulpos se mantuvieron individualmente en estanques de 70 L con circulación de agua de mar y aireación permanente. Los pulpos que consumieron la dieta B no experimentaron mortalidad y la dieta control C presentó mortalidad del 16,7%, sus crecimiento fueron similares (P > 0,05 con tasas de crecimiento absoluta (AGR de 7,0 ± 0,91 (g d-1 y 6,6 ± 1,10 (g d-1 respectivamente. Los pulpos alimentados con la dieta A registraron mortalidad de 33,3% y tasa de crecimiento absoluta negativa, AGR= -1,70 ± 0,37 (g d-1. La dieta A que contenía como ingrediente pellet para salmón molido como harina no tuvo una adecuada aceptación y los ejemplares experimentaron disminución de su peso. La dieta B preparada con gelatina de origen animal como aglutinante, no implicó un efecto negativo en la palatabilidad y aceptabilidad en comparación al control basada en almeja fresca congelada, incluso los organismos lograron crecimientos similares. Los resultados permitirán a futuro mejorar la calidad nutricional de dietas artificiales para maximizar el crecimiento de O. mimus en cautiverio.The growth and survival of juvenile octopus, Octopus mimus, from northern Chile, fed three different diets were analyze during 57 days. Two of the diets (A and B were wet diets stuffed in lamb gut with a gelatin solution, and the third (C was

  17. Application of an Image Tracking Algorithm in Fire Ant Motion Experiment

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    Lichuan Gui

    2009-04-01

    Full Text Available An image tracking algorithm, which was originally used with the particle image velocimetry (PIV to determine velocities of buoyant solid particles in water, is modified and applied in the presented work to detect motion of fire ant on a planar surface. A group of fire ant workers are put to the bottom of a tub and excited with vibration of selected frequency and intensity. The moving fire ants are captured with an image system that successively acquires image frames of high digital resolution. The background noise in the imaging recordings is extracted by averaging hundreds of frames and removed from each frame. The individual fire ant images are identified with a recursive digital filter, and then they are tracked between frames according to the size, brightness, shape, and orientation angle of the ant image. The speed of an individual ant is determined with the displacement of its images and the time interval between frames. The trail of the individual fire ant is determined with the image tracking results, and a statistical analysis is conducted for all the fire ants in the group. The purpose of the experiment is to investigate the response of fire ants to the substrate vibration. Test results indicate that the fire ants move faster after being excited, but the number of active ones are not increased even after a strong excitation.

  18. Interactions Increase Forager Availability and Activity in Harvester Ants.

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    Evlyn Pless

    Full Text Available Social insect colonies use interactions among workers to regulate collective behavior. Harvester ant foragers interact in a chamber just inside the nest entrance, here called the 'entrance chamber'. Previous studies of the activation of foragers in red harvester ants show that an outgoing forager inside the nest experiences an increase in brief antennal contacts before it leaves the nest to forage. Here we compare the interaction rate experienced by foragers that left the nest and ants that did not. We found that ants in the entrance chamber that leave the nest to forage experienced more interactions than ants that descend to the deeper nest without foraging. Additionally, we found that the availability of foragers in the entrance chamber is associated with the rate of forager return. An increase in the rate of forager return leads to an increase in the rate at which ants descend to the deeper nest, which then stimulates more ants to ascend into the entrance chamber. Thus a higher rate of forager return leads to more available foragers in the entrance chamber. The highest density of interactions occurs near the nest entrance and the entrances of the tunnels from the entrance chamber to the deeper nest. Local interactions with returning foragers regulate both the activation of waiting foragers and the number of foragers available to be activated.

  19. Fluid intake rates in ants correlate with their feeding habits.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Paul, J; Roces, F

    2003-04-01

    This study investigates the techniques of nectar feeding in 11 different ant species, and quantitatively compares fluid intake rates over a wide range of nectar concentrations in four species that largely differ in their feeding habits. Ants were observed to employ two different techniques for liquid food intake, in which the glossa works either as a passive duct-like structure (sucking), or as an up- and downwards moving shovel (licking). The technique employed for collecting fluids at ad libitum food sources was observed to be species-specific and to correlate with the presence or absence of a well-developed crop in the species under scrutiny. Workers of ponerine ants licked fluid food during foraging and transported it as a droplet between their mandibles, whereas workers of species belonging to phylogenetically more advanced subfamilies, with a crop capable of storing liquids, sucked the fluid food, such as formicine ants of the genus Camponotus. In order to evaluate the performance of fluid collection during foraging, intake rates for sucrose solutions of different concentrations were measured in four ant species that differ in their foraging ecology. Scaling functions between fluid intake rates and ant size were first established for the polymorphic species, so as to compare ants of different size across species. Results showed that fluid intake rate depended, as expected and previously reported in the literature, on sugar concentration and the associated fluid viscosity. It also depended on both the species-specific feeding technique and the extent of specialization on foraging on liquid food. For similarly-sized ants, workers of two nectar-feeding ant species, Camponotus rufipes (Formicinae) and Pachycondyla villosa (Ponerinae), collected fluids with the highest intake rates, while workers of the leaf-cutting ant Atta sexdens (Myrmicinae) and a predatory ant from the Rhytidoponera impressa-complex (Ponerinae) did so with the lowest rate. Calculating the

  20. The regulation of ant colony foraging activity without spatial information.

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    Balaji Prabhakar

    Full Text Available Many dynamical networks, such as the ones that produce the collective behavior of social insects, operate without any central control, instead arising from local interactions among individuals. A well-studied example is the formation of recruitment trails in ant colonies, but many ant species do not use pheromone trails. We present a model of the regulation of foraging by harvester ant (Pogonomyrmex barbatus colonies. This species forages for scattered seeds that one ant can retrieve on its own, so there is no need for spatial information such as pheromone trails that lead ants to specific locations. Previous work shows that colony foraging activity, the rate at which ants go out to search individually for seeds, is regulated in response to current food availability throughout the colony's foraging area. Ants use the rate of brief antennal contacts inside the nest between foragers returning with food and outgoing foragers available to leave the nest on the next foraging trip. Here we present a feedback-based algorithm that captures the main features of data from field experiments in which the rate of returning foragers was manipulated. The algorithm draws on our finding that the distribution of intervals between successive ants returning to the nest is a Poisson process. We fitted the parameter that estimates the effect of each returning forager on the rate at which outgoing foragers leave the nest. We found that correlations between observed rates of returning foragers and simulated rates of outgoing foragers, using our model, were similar to those in the data. Our simple stochastic model shows how the regulation of ant colony foraging can operate without spatial information, describing a process at the level of individual ants that predicts the overall foraging activity of the colony.

  1. Efecto de la administración subcrónica de glucosamina oral en la regulación del peso corporal, glucemia y dislipidemias provocada por una dieta hipercalórica en rata Wistar

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Cornelio Barrientos Alvarado

    2014-12-01

    Full Text Available Objetivo: Este estudio evaluó el efecto de la glucosamina oral en el sobrepeso y dislipidemia provocada por una dieta hipercalórica en ratas. Métodos: En 4 grupos de ratas Wistar: alimentados con dieta comercial para roedores y agua de beber sin grupo de control y con glucosamina (500 mg/kg-1 por día grupo glucosamina y con dieta hipercalórica enriquecida al 24% (g/g compuesta por manteca de cerdo y agua de beber sin grupo hipercalórico y con glucosamina grupo hipercalórico + grupo glucosamina, durante 22 semanas, se evaluaron el peso corporal, grasa abdominal, niveles de glucemia, triglicéridos, colesterol total y lipoproteínas de alta densidad en suero. Resultados: Se observó un aumento del peso corporal y glucemia en suero con dislipidemias en el grupo con dieta hipercalórica grupo hipercalórico versus grupo de controle (p0.05 y regulándose el peso corporal, las lipoproteínas de alta densidad y la glucemia basal (p<0.05. Conclusion: La glucosamina reguló el peso corporal y la glucemia en sangre y minimizó las dislipidemias provocadas por la dieta hipercalórica, favoreciendo el aumento de colesterol lipoproteínas de alta densidad en las ratas. No afectó el peso corporal y el metabolismo lipídico cuando se administró con dieta comercial.

  2. Arboreal Ant Colonies as ‘Hot-Points’ of Cryptic Diversity for Myrmecophiles: The Weaver Ant Camponotus sp. aff. textor and Its Interaction Network with Its Associates

    Science.gov (United States)

    Pérez-Lachaud, Gabriela; Lachaud, Jean-Paul

    2014-01-01

    Introduction Systematic surveys of macrofaunal diversity within ant colonies are lacking, particularly for ants nesting in microhabitats that are difficult to sample. Species associated with ants are generally small and rarely collected organisms, which makes them more likely to be unnoticed. We assumed that this tendency is greater for arthropod communities in microhabitats with low accessibility, such as those found in the nests of arboreal ants that may constitute a source of cryptic biodiversity. Materials and Methods We investigated the invertebrate diversity associated with an undescribed, but already threatened, Neotropical Camponotus weaver ant. As most of the common sampling methods used in studies of ant diversity are not suited for evaluating myrmecophile diversity within ant nests, we evaluated the macrofauna within ant nests through exhaustive colony sampling of three nests and examination of more than 80,000 individuals. Results We identified invertebrates from three classes belonging to 18 taxa, some of which were new to science, and recorded the first instance of the co-occurrence of two brood parasitoid wasp families attacking the same ant host colony. This diversity of ant associates corresponded to a highly complex interaction network. Agonistic interactions prevailed, but the prevalence of myrmecophiles was remarkably low. Conclusions Our data support the hypothesis of the evolution of low virulence in a variety of symbionts associated with large insect societies. Because most myrmecophiles found in this work are rare, strictly specific, and exhibit highly specialized biology, the risk of extinction for these hitherto unknown invertebrates and their natural enemies is high. The cryptic, far unappreciated diversity within arboreal ant nests in areas at high risk of habitat loss qualifies these nests as ‘hot-points’ of biodiversity that urgently require special attention as a component of conservation and management programs. PMID:24941047

  3. Endophytic fungi reduce leaf-cutting ant damage to seedlings

    Science.gov (United States)

    Bittleston, L. S.; Brockmann, F.; Wcislo, W.; Van Bael, S. A.

    2011-01-01

    Our study examines how the mutualism between Atta colombica leaf-cutting ants and their cultivated fungus is influenced by the presence of diverse foliar endophytic fungi (endophytes) at high densities in tropical leaf tissues. We conducted laboratory choice trials in which ant colonies chose between Cordia alliodora seedlings with high (Ehigh) or low (Elow) densities of endophytes. The Ehigh seedlings contained 5.5 times higher endophyte content and a greater diversity of fungal morphospecies than the Elow treatment, and endophyte content was not correlated with leaf toughness or thickness. Leaf-cutting ants cut over 2.5 times the leaf area from Elow relative to Ehigh seedlings and had a tendency to recruit more ants to Elow plants. Our findings suggest that leaf-cutting ants may incur costs from cutting and processing leaves with high endophyte loads, which could impact Neotropical forests by causing variable damage rates within plant communities. PMID:20610420

  4. Efeito de dietas semi-simplificadas formuladas com subprodutos de mandioca ensilados ou não sobre o desempenho e características de carcaça de coelhos = Effect of half-simplified diets formulated with cassava by-product ensiled or not on performance and carcass characteristics of rabbits

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Andréia Fróes Galuci Oliveira

    2011-01-01

    Full Text Available Foram avaliados o desempenho da desmama ao abate e as características de carcaça de 144 coelhos da raça Nova Zelândia Branco, oriundos de matrizes alimentadas com dietas referência ou semi-simplificada com 79,83% de subprodutos de mandioca, distribuídos em gaiolas, em esquema fatorial 2 x 3 (duas rações fornecidas às matrizes e láparos até a desmama versus três rações fornecidas aos animais da desmama até o abate com 12 repetições e dois animais por unidade experimental. As dietas fornecidas, após a desmama, consistiram de umareferência e duas semi-simplificadas com 81,63% de subprodutos de mandioca ensilados ou não antes da sua incorporação. Coelhos cujas mães foram alimentadas com dieta semi-simplificadas se apresentaram mais leves à desmama que os desmamados com dieta-referência. Observou-se menor consumo de ração para os coelhos que receberam a dieta maternidade semi-simplificada até a desmama, resultando em melhor conversão alimentar. Os pesos da carcaça e dos cortes comerciais foram maiores nos animais alimentados com as rações referência maternidade e referência crescimento. O uso de dietas semi-simplificadas com subprodutos de mandioca ensilados ou não, da desmama ao abate, reduziu o ganho de peso diário e o consumo de ração,porém melhorou a conversão alimentar e diminuiu o custo de ração. A utilização das rações semi-simplificadas apresenta-se como alternativa interessante para a produção de coelhos.This study evaluated the performance from weaning to slaughter and carcass characteristics of 144 New Zealand White rabbits, from does fed with a reference diet or half-simplified diet containing 79.83% cassava by-product, allocated in iron cages, in a 2 x 3 factorialarrangement (two diets used for does and litters until weaning versus three diets supplied for animals from weaning to slaughter with 12 replications and two animals per experimental unit. The supplied diets after weaning consisted

  5. Diversity of Species and Behavior of Hymenopteran Parasitoids of Ants: A Review

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    Jean-Paul Lachaud

    2012-01-01

    Full Text Available Reports of hymenopterans associated with ants involve more than 500 species, but only a fraction unambiguously pertain to actual parasitoids. In this paper, we attempt to provide an overview of both the diversity of these parasitoid wasps and the diversity of the types of interactions they have formed with their ant hosts. The reliable list of parasitoid wasps using ants as primary hosts includes at least 138 species, reported between 1852 and 2011, distributed among 9 families from 3 superfamilies. These parasitoids exhibit a wide array of biologies and developmental strategies: ecto- or endoparasitism, solitary or gregarious, and idio- or koinobiosis. All castes of ants and all developmental stages, excepting eggs, are possible targets. Some species parasitize adult worker ants while foraging or performing other activities outside the nest; however, in most cases, parasitoids attack ant larvae either inside or outside their nests. Based on their abundance and success in attacking ants, some parasitoid wasps like diapriids and eucharitids seem excellent potential models to explore how parasitoids impact ant colony demography, population biology, and ant community structure. Despite a significant increase in our knowledge of hymenopteran parasitoids of ants, most of them remain to be discovered.

  6. Entomopathogens Isolated from Invasive Ants and Tests of Their Pathogenicity

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    Maria Fernanda Miori de Zarzuela

    2012-01-01

    Full Text Available Some ant species cause severe ecological and health impact in urban areas. Many attempts have been tested to control such species, although they do not always succeed. Biological control is an alternative to chemical control and has gained great prominence in research, and fungi and nematodes are among the successful organisms controlling insects. This study aimed to clarify some questions regarding the biological control of ants. Invasive ant species in Brazil had their nests evaluated for the presence of entomopathogens. Isolated entomopathogens were later applied in colonies of Monomorium floricola under laboratory conditions to evaluate their effectiveness and the behavior of the ant colonies after treatment. The entomopathogenic nematodes Heterorhabditis sp. and Steinernema sp. and the fungi Beauveria bassiana, Metarhizium anisopliae, and Paecilomyces sp. were isolated from the invasive ant nests. M. floricola colonies treated with Steinernema sp. and Heterorhabditis sp. showed a higher mortality of workers than control. The fungus Beauveria bassiana caused higher mortality of M. floricola workers. However, no colony reduction or elimination was observed in any treatment. The defensive behaviors of ants, such as grooming behavior and colony budding, must be considered when using fungi and nematodes for biological control of ants.

  7. Kin-informative recognition cues in ants

    DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

    Nehring, Volker; Evison, Sophie E F; Santorelli, Lorenzo A

    2011-01-01

    behaviour is thought to be rare in one of the classic examples of cooperation--social insect colonies--because the colony-level costs of individual selfishness select against cues that would allow workers to recognize their closest relatives. In accord with this, previous studies of wasps and ants have...... found little or no kin information in recognition cues. Here, we test the hypothesis that social insects do not have kin-informative recognition cues by investigating the recognition cues and relatedness of workers from four colonies of the ant Acromyrmex octospinosus. Contrary to the theoretical...... prediction, we show that the cuticular hydrocarbons of ant workers in all four colonies are informative enough to allow full-sisters to be distinguished from half-sisters with a high accuracy. These results contradict the hypothesis of non-heritable recognition cues and suggest that there is more potential...

  8. Regulation and specificity of antifungal metapleural gland secretion in leaf-cutting ants

    DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

    Yek, Sze Huei; Nash, David Richard; Jensen, Annette Bruun

    2012-01-01

    significantly larger for ants challenged with virulent and mild pathogens/weeds than for controls and Escovopsis-challenged ants. We conclude that the MG defence system of leaf-cutting ants has characteristics reminiscent of an additional cuticular immune system, with specific and non-specific components......Ants have paired metapleural glands (MGs) to produce secretions for prophylactic hygiene. These exocrine glands are particularly well developed in leaf-cutting ants, but whether the ants can actively regulate MG secretion is unknown. In a set of controlled experiments using conidia of five fungi...

  9. Insatisfação corporal, prática de dietas e comportamentos de risco para transtornos alimentares em mães residentes em Santos

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Fernanda Baeza Scagliusi

    2012-01-01

    Full Text Available OBJETIVO: Avaliar a insatisfação corporal, a prática de dietas e os comportamentos de risco para transtornos alimentares em uma amostra de mães residentes no município de Santos. MÉTODOS: Foi realizado um estudo transversal, de base populacional, com 453 mães de filhos com até 10 anos de idade. As mães responderam ao Teste de Atitudes Alimentares (EAT-26, à Escala de Figuras de Stunkard e a uma questão sobre a prática atual de dietas. RESULTADOS: Das mães, 29,9% apresentaram escore positivo para os comportamentos de risco para transtornos alimentares e 21,8% estavam fazendo dieta para emagrecer no momento da entrevista. No tocante à imagem corporal, 17,5% das mães estavam satisfeitas com o seu tamanho corporal, 71,5% gostariam de diminuir seu tamanho corporal e 11,0% gostariam de aumentá-lo. Os comportamentos de risco para transtornos alimentares foram mais frequentes nas mães insatisfeitas com seus tamanhos corporais (p < 0,0001. CONCLUSÃO: A maioria das mães investigadas estava insatisfeita com os seus tamanhos corporais. A frequência de mães que praticavam dietas ou tinham comportamentos de risco para transtornos alimentares foi similar ou superior aos demais estudos nacionais, conduzidos, em sua maioria, com populações consideradas de risco, como meninas adolescentes e jovens universitárias.

  10. Crescimento e estruturas do sistema digestório de larvas de pacu alimentadas com dieta microencapsulada produzida experimentalmente Growth and structure of the digestive system of pacu larvae fed microencapsulated diet produced experimentally

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Olívia Cristina Camilo Menossi

    2012-01-01

    Full Text Available Foram comparados os efeitos de diferentes dietas e da transição alimentar sobre o desempenho zootécnico e a morfologia do trato digestório de larvas de pacu alimentadas com duas dietas comerciais e uma dieta experimental microencapsulada produzida por gelificação interna. Larvas com quatro dias de vida receberam os seguintes protocolos alimentares: somente náuplios de artêmia em quantidades crescentes (controle positivo; larvas mantidas em jejum (controle negativo; três tipos de alimento formulado durante todo o experimento (dieta experimental microencapsulada, dieta comercial NRD1.2/2.0, Inve, USA, e dieta Poli-Peixe 450F, PoliNutri, Brasil; e três protocolos de transição alimentar com náuplios de artêmia durante os seis primeiros dias, seis dias de coalimentação, e somente as respectivas dietas formuladas após esse período. O experimento foi conduzido por 23 dias em delineamento inteiramente casualizado, com avaliações periódicas do crescimento e do sistema digestório. A taxa de sobrevivência foi determinada ao final do experimento. Os melhores desempenhos de crescimento e sobrevivência, assim como mais acelerada organogênese do sistema digestório, foram verificados entre os animais que receberam alimento vivo. As larvas que passaram pela transição alimentar apresentaram médias intermediárias de crescimento e sobrevivência e não diferiram entre si. Entre os grupos que receberam apenas dieta inerte, somente naquele alimentado com a dieta nacional houve sobrevivência até o final do experimento. Nenhuma das dietas formuladas é adequada para uso como alimento exclusivo para larvas de pacu. Na fase de transição alimentar, a dieta experimental microencapsulada proporciona resultados de sobrevivência e crescimento semelhantes aos obtidos com dietas comerciais.The effects of different diets and dietary transition on the performance and morphology of the digestive tract of pacu larvae fed two commercial formulated

  11. Hidden diversity behind the zombie-ant fungus Ophiocordyceps unilateralis: four new species described from carpenter ants in Minas Gerais, Brazil.

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    Harry C Evans

    Full Text Available BACKGROUND: Ophiocordyceps unilateralis (Clavicipitaceae: Hypocreales is a fungal pathogen specific to ants of the tribe Camponotini (Formicinae: Formicidae with a pantropical distribution. This so-called zombie or brain-manipulating fungus alters the behaviour of the ant host, causing it to die in an exposed position, typically clinging onto and biting into the adaxial surface of shrub leaves. We (HCE and DPH are currently undertaking a worldwide survey to assess the taxonomy and ecology of this highly variable species. METHODS: We formally describe and name four new species belonging to the O. unilateralis species complex collected from remnant Atlantic rainforest in the south-eastern region (Zona da Mata of the State of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Fully illustrated descriptions of both the asexual (anamorph and sexual (teleomorph stages are provided for each species. The new names are registered in Index Fungorum (registration.indexfungorum.org and have received IF numbers. This paper is also a test case for the electronic publication of new names in mycology. CONCLUSIONS: We are only just beginning to understand the taxonomy and ecology of the Ophiocordyceps unilateralis species complex associated with carpenter ants; macroscopically characterised by a single stalk arising from the dorsal neck region of the ant host on which the anamorph occupies the terminal region and the teleomorph occurs as lateral cushions or plates. Each of the four ant species collected--Camponotus rufipes, C. balzani, C. melanoticus and C. novogranadensis--is attacked by a distinct species of Ophiocordyceps readily separated using traditional micromorphology. The new taxa are named according to their ant host.

  12. Aversive learning of odor-heat associations in ants.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Desmedt, Lucie; Baracchi, David; Devaud, Jean-Marc; Giurfa, Martin; d'Ettorre, Patrizia

    2017-12-15

    Ants have recently emerged as useful models for the study of olfactory learning. In this framework, the development of a protocol for the appetitive conditioning of the maxilla-labium extension response (MaLER) provided the possibility of studying Pavlovian odor-food learning in a controlled environment. Here we extend these studies by introducing the first Pavlovian aversive learning protocol for harnessed ants in the laboratory. We worked with carpenter ants Camponotus aethiops and first determined the capacity of different temperatures applied to the body surface to elicit the typical aversive mandible opening response (MOR). We determined that 75°C is the optimal temperature to induce MOR and chose the hind legs as the stimulated body region because of their high sensitivity. We then studied the ability of ants to learn and remember odor-heat associations using 75°C as the unconditioned stimulus. We studied learning and short-term retention after absolute (one odor paired with heat) and differential conditioning (a punished odor versus an unpunished odor). Our results show that ants successfully learn the odor-heat association under a differential-conditioning regime and thus exhibit a conditioned MOR to the punished odor. Yet, their performance under an absolute-conditioning regime is poor. These results demonstrate that ants are capable of aversive learning and confirm previous findings about the different attentional resources solicited by differential and absolute conditioning in general. © 2017. Published by The Company of Biologists Ltd.

  13. Neuromodulation of Nestmate Recognition Decisions by Pavement Ants.

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    Andrew N Bubak

    Full Text Available Ant colonies are distributed systems that are regulated in a non-hierarchical manner. Without a central authority, individuals inform their decisions by comparing information in local cues to a set of inherent behavioral rules. Individual behavioral decisions collectively change colony behavior and lead to self-organization capable of solving complex problems such as the decision to engage in aggressive societal conflicts with neighbors. Despite the relevance to colony fitness, the mechanisms that drive individual decisions leading to cooperative behavior are not well understood. Here we show how sensory information, both tactile and chemical, and social context-isolation, nestmate interaction, or fighting non-nestmates-affects brain monoamine levels in pavement ants (Tetramorium caespitum. Our results provide evidence that changes in octopamine and serotonin in the brains of individuals are sufficient to alter the decision by pavement ants to be aggressive towards non-nestmate ants whereas increased brain levels of dopamine correlate to physical fighting. We propose a model in which the changes in brain states of many workers collectively lead to the self-organization of societal aggression between neighboring colonies of pavement ants.

  14. Efecto de la suplementación con concentrado en la fermentación in vitro de dietas para vacas lecheras en silvopastoreo

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    O López

    Full Text Available Se evaluó el efecto de la suplementación con concentrado (C0: control; C5: 5 % de los requerimientos de EM; C10: 10 % de los requerimientos de EM en la degradabilidad ruminal de dietas para vacas lecheras basadas en Panicum maximum y Leucaena leucocephala, mediante la técnica de producción de gas (PG in vitro. Para formular las dietas se asumió que los animales pesaban 480 kg, que estaban en su tercera lactancia y producían 10 kg de leche diarios, lo cual es representativo de la vaquería donde se tomaron las muestras de alimento. Se estimó la PG in vitro, los parámetros de la producción de gas (b, c, L, la digestibilidad in vitro de la materia seca (DIVMS, la energía metabolizable (EM y los ácidos grasos de cadena corta (AGCC, los cuales se compararon mediante un análisis de varianza, en un diseño completamente aleatorizado con tres tratamientos y tres repeticiones. Las dietas se incubaron in vitro, y para ello se utilizó inóculo ruminal de vacas Limousine, clínicamente sanas. La suplementación con concentrado incrementó linealmente (p < 0,01 la producción de gas a las 24 h y a las 48 h; mientras que a las 96 h el efecto fue cuadrático (p < 0,05, con el menor valor para C5. La DIVMS y la EM (p < 0,001, así como los AGCC (p < 0,05, se incrementaron linealmente con el aumento del concentrado, aunque en C10 la DIVMS fue menor; sin embargo, se incrementó la EM y los AGCC. Se concluye que en dietas basadas en P. maximum y L. leucocephala la adición de concentrado en un 5 % no tuvo efecto en la EM ni en la producción de AGCC, por lo que es necesario adicionar al menos un 10 % de este suplemento a la dieta, con base en los requerimientos de EM de los animales.

  15. Sperm length evolution in the fungus-growing ants

    DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

    Baer, B.; Dijkstra, M. B.; Mueller, U. G.

    2009-01-01

    -growing ants, representing 9 of the 12 recognized genera, and mapped these onto the ant phylogeny. We show that average sperm length across species is highly variable and decreases with mature colony size in basal genera with singly mated queens, suggesting that sperm production or storage constraints affect...... the evolution of sperm length. Sperm length does not decrease further in multiply mating leaf-cutting ants, despite substantial further increases in colony size. In a combined analysis, sexual dimorphism explained 63.1% of the variance in sperm length between species. As colony size was not a significant...... predictor in this analysis, we conclude that sperm production trade-offs in males have been the major selective force affecting sperm length across the fungus-growing ants, rather than storage constraints in females. The relationship between sperm length and sexual dimorphism remained robust...

  16. The invasion biology and sociogenetics of pharaoh ants

    DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

    Schmidt, Anna Mosegaard

    Social insect colonies perform a number of tasks affecting the environments they live in. Some unintentionally introduced species have attracted the attention of scientists and general public alike when causing a number of changes to the composition and functioning of ecosystems. Such ?invaders...... laboratory lineages, thus building the foundation for future research on the species. In addition, I have started a selection experiment (still ongoing in collaboration with Dr. T. Linksvayer) using pharaoh ants, which is the first time artificial selection is attempted in an ant species. Pharaoh ants have...

  17. Desert ants learn vibration and magnetic landmarks.

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Cornelia Buehlmann

    Full Text Available The desert ants Cataglyphis navigate not only by path integration but also by using visual and olfactory landmarks to pinpoint the nest entrance. Here we show that Cataglyphis noda can additionally use magnetic and vibrational landmarks as nest-defining cues. The magnetic field may typically provide directional rather than positional information, and vibrational signals so far have been shown to be involved in social behavior. Thus it remains questionable if magnetic and vibration landmarks are usually provided by the ants' habitat as nest-defining cues. However, our results point to the flexibility of the ants' navigational system, which even makes use of cues that are probably most often sensed in a different context.

  18. Population Development of Several Species of Ants on the Cocoa Trees in South Sulawesi

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Fatahuddin Fatahuddin

    2010-08-01

    Full Text Available Several species of ants with different behavior have been found in cocoa plantations and their behavior is important to be considered because it might be correlated with the degree of protection of cocoa plant from cocoa pests. The aim of this research is to manipulate and to develop ants population in environment, so they are able to establish permanently in cocoa trees. This research was conducted in Papakaju Regions Luwu Regency in Juli to November 2009. In this study, 10 cocoa trees with ants were sampled (each species of ant in 10 cocoa trees. A control of 10 tree samples without ant was also taken. In order to assess the abundance of ant population, it was grouped based on scoring, which score 1 for less than 20 ants, score 2 for 21–50 ants, score 3 for 51–200 ants, score 4 for 201–1000 ants, and score 5 for more than 1000 per tree. The results indicated that average of population score of the three ants species reached the highest population for the Oecophylla. smaragdina with average score 4.85 (>1000 ants, Dolichoderus thoracicus, with average score 3.90 (> 200 ants and Crematogaster. difformis with average score 3.10 (>200 ants. This research indicated that three species of ants, Oecophylla smaragdina (weaver ant, Dolichoderus thoracicus (cocoa black ant and Crematogaster difformis (cracking ant. in farmer cocoa plantations in South Sulawesi giving better performance against major pests of cocoa in particular cocoa pod borer (CPB. Key words: Ant Population, Oecophylla smaragdina, Dolichoderus thoracicus, Crematogaster difformis, artificial nest, cocoa.

  19. When invasive ants meet: effects of outbreeding on queen performance in the tramp ant Cardiocondyla itsukii.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Heinze, Jürgen; Frohschammer, Sabine; Bernadou, Abel

    2017-08-18

    Most disturbed habitats in the tropics and subtropics harbor numerous species of invasive ants, and occasionally the same species has been introduced repeatedly from multiple geographical sources. We examined how experimental crossbreeding between sexuals from different populations affects the fitness of queens of the tramp ant Cardiocondyla itsukii, which is widely distributed in Asia and the Pacific Islands. Eggs laid by queens that mated with nestmate males had a higher hatching rate than eggs laid by queens mated to males from neighboring (Hawaii × Kauai) or distant introduced populations (Hawaii/Kauai × Okinawa). Furthermore, inbreeding queens had a longer lifespan and produced a less female-biased offspring sex ratio than queens from allopatric mating. This suggests that the genetic divergence between different source populations may already be so large that in case of multiple invasions eventual crossbreeding might negatively affect the fitness of tramp ants. © 2017 Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences.

  20. Conflict over reproduction in an ant-plant symbiosis: why Allomerus octoarticulatus ants sterilize Cordia nodosa trees.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Frederickson, Megan E

    2009-05-01

    The evolutionary stability of mutualism is thought to depend on how well the fitness interests of partners are aligned. Because most ant-myrmecophyte mutualisms are persistent and horizontally transmitted, partners share an interest in growth but not in reproduction. Resources invested in reproduction are unavailable for growth, giving rise to a conflict of interest between partners. I investigated whether this explains why Allomerus octoarticulatus ants sterilize Cordia nodosa trees. Allomerus octoarticulatus nests in the hollow stem domatia of C. nodosa. Workers protect C. nodosa leaves against herbivores but destroy inflorescences. Using C. nodosa trees with Azteca ants, which do not sterilize their hosts, I cut inflorescences off trees to simulate sterilization by A. octoarticulatus. Sterilized C. nodosa grew faster than control trees, providing evidence for a trade-off between growth and reproduction. Allomerus octoarticulatus manipulates this trade-off to its advantage; sterilized trees produce more domatia and can house larger, more fecund colonies.

  1. Fire Ant Allergy

    Science.gov (United States)

    ... venom in a fire ant sting will kill bacteria and some of your skin cells. This results in the formation of a blister that fills with a cloudy white material in about 24 hours. While this looks like a pus-filled lesion that should be drained, ...

  2. Adaptive Radiation in Socially Advanced Stem-Group Ants from the Cretaceous.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Barden, Phillip; Grimaldi, David A

    2016-02-22

    Across terrestrial ecosystems, modern ants are ubiquitous. As many as 94 out of every 100 individual arthropods in rainforests are ants, and they constitute up to 15% of animal biomass in the Amazon. Moreover, ants are pervasive agents of natural selection as over 10,000 arthropod species are specialized inquilines or myrmecomorphs living among ants or defending themselves through mimicry. Such impact is traditionally explained by sociality: ants are the first major group of ground-dwelling predatory insects to become eusocial, increasing efficiency of tasks and establishing competitive superiority over solitary species. A wealth of specimens from rich deposits of 99 million-year-old Burmese amber resolves ambiguity regarding sociality and diversity in the earliest ants. The stem-group genus Gerontoformica maintained distinct reproductive castes including morphotypes unknown in solitary aculeate (stinging) wasps, providing insight into early behavior. We present rare aggregations of workers, indicating group recruitment as well as an instance of interspecific combat; such aggression is a social feature of modern ants. Two species and an unusual new genus are described, further expanding the remarkable diversity of early ants. Stem-group ants are recovered as a paraphyletic assemblage at the base of modern lineages varying greatly in size, form, and mouthpart structure, interpreted here as an adaptive radiation. Though Cretaceous stem-group ants were eusocial and adaptively diverse, we hypothesize that their extinction resulted from the rise of competitively superior crown-group taxa that today form massive colonies, consistent with Wilson and Hölldobler's concept of "dynastic succession." Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  3. Efecto de los aceites y semillas en dietas para rumiantes sobre el perfil de ácidos grasos de la leche. Revisión

    OpenAIRE

    Andrés L. Martínez Marín; Manuel Pérez Hernández; Luis M. Pérez Alba; Domingo Carrión Pardo; Gustavo Gómez Castro; Ana I. Garzón Sígler

    2013-01-01

    Este trabajo presenta una revisión del efecto de la adición de aceites y semillas ricos en ácidos grasos insaturados, a la dieta de las hembras rumiantes, sobre el contenido de ácidos grasos de la grasa láctea. Cuando se incluyen aceites y semillas en la dieta, los cambios del perfil de ácidos grasos de la leche ocurren en el mismo sentido en vacas, ovejas y cabras. Algunos de los efectos observados son comunes a todos los aceites y semillas con independencia del ácido graso mayoritario que a...

  4. The genome of the fire ant Solenopsis invicta

    DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

    Wurm, Yannick; Wang, John; Riba-Grognuz, Oksana

    2011-01-01

    Ants have evolved very complex societies and are key ecosystem members. Some ants, such as the fire ant Solenopsis invicta, are also major pests. Here, we present a draft genome of S. invicta, assembled from Roche 454 and Illumina sequencing reads obtained from a focal haploid male and his brothe...

  5. Ant colony search algorithm for optimal reactive power optimization

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Lenin K.

    2006-01-01

    Full Text Available The paper presents an (ACSA Ant colony search Algorithm for Optimal Reactive Power Optimization and voltage control of power systems. ACSA is a new co-operative agents’ approach, which is inspired by the observation of the behavior of real ant colonies on the topic of ant trial formation and foraging methods. Hence, in the ACSA a set of co-operative agents called "Ants" co-operates to find good solution for Reactive Power Optimization problem. The ACSA is applied for optimal reactive power optimization is evaluated on standard IEEE, 30, 57, 191 (practical test bus system. The proposed approach is tested and compared to genetic algorithm (GA, Adaptive Genetic Algorithm (AGA.

  6. Mananoligossacarídeo em dietas para larvas de tilápia Mannanoligosaccharides in diets for tilapia larvae

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Kátia Kalko Schwarz

    2011-12-01

    Full Text Available Este experimento foi realizado para avaliar níveis crescentes de mananoligossacarídeo (MOS na dieta de larvas de tilápias-do-nilo (linhagem Supreme® na fase de reversão sexual durante 30 dias. Larvas de tilápia-do-nilo (n=1500, P=0,01 g ± 0,001 g foram distribuídas aleatoriamente em 30 tanques de 100 litros. Os peixes foram distribuídos em delineamento inteiramente casualizado, composto por seis tratamentos e cinco repetições. A dieta controle (isenta de MOS foi elaborada para conter aproximadamente 35% de proteína bruta e 3.100 kcal de ED/kg. As demais foram suplementadas com 0; 0,15; 0,30; 0,45; 0,60 e 0,75% de MOS em substituição ao milho da dieta controle. Com o aumento nos níveis de MOS nas dietas, foi observado aumento linear sobre o comprimento do intestino, a altura das vilosidades intestinais e a densidade dos vilos. Não houve diferença na composição corporal, no ganho em peso, no peso final, no comprimento final, no fator de condição, na taxa de sobrevivência e no número de células caliciformes do intestino das larvas. Os níveis de MOS tiveram efeito quadrático sobre a conversão alimentar, cujos melhores resultados foram obtidos com 0,34% de MOS. A utilização de MOS no nível de 0,34% em dietas para larvas de tilápia-do-nilo melhora a conversão alimentar e promove aumento do comprimento do intestino, da altura das vilosidades e da densidade de vilos intestinal.This experiment was conducted to evaluate increasing levels of mannanoligosaccharides (MOS in the diet of Nile tilapia larvae (Supreme® at the sex reversal stage for 30 days. Nile tilapia larvae (n = 1500, p = 0.01 ± 0.001 g, were randomly distributed in 30 tanks of 100 liters each, for 30 days. The fish were distributed in a randomized design with six treatments and five replicates. The control diet (no MOS was elaborated to contain approximately 35% of crude protein and 3,100 kcal DE/kg. Mannanoligosaccharides were included in the other diets

  7. Individual-based ant-plant networks: diurnal-nocturnal structure and species-area relationship.

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Wesley Dáttilo

    Full Text Available Despite the importance and increasing knowledge of ecological networks, sampling effort and intrapopulation variation has been widely overlooked. Using continuous daily sampling of ants visiting three plant species in the Brazilian Neotropical savanna, we evaluated for the first time the topological structure over 24 h and species-area relationships (based on the number of extrafloral nectaries available in individual-based ant-plant networks. We observed that diurnal and nocturnal ant-plant networks exhibited the same pattern of interactions: a nested and non-modular pattern and an average level of network specialization. Despite the high similarity in the ants' composition between the two collection periods, ant species found in the central core of highly interacting species totally changed between diurnal and nocturnal sampling for all plant species. In other words, this "night-turnover" suggests that the ecological dynamics of these ant-plant interactions can be temporally partitioned (day and night at a small spatial scale. Thus, it is possible that in some cases processes shaping mutualistic networks formed by protective ants and plants may be underestimated by diurnal sampling alone. Moreover, we did not observe any effect of the number of extrafloral nectaries on ant richness and their foraging on such plants in any of the studied ant-plant networks. We hypothesize that competitively superior ants could monopolize individual plants and allow the coexistence of only a few other ant species, however, other alternative hypotheses are also discussed. Thus, sampling period and species-area relationship produces basic information that increases our confidence in how individual-based ant-plant networks are structured, and the need to consider nocturnal records in ant-plant network sampling design so as to decrease inappropriate inferences.

  8. Evaluación de cuatro tipos de leche en la dieta larvaria de Cochliomyia hominivorax (coquerel

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Andrés Álvarez Jiménez

    2005-12-01

    Full Text Available La Comisión México Americana para la Erradicación del Gusano Barrenador del Ganado produce actualmente un promedio de 100 millones de moscas estériles a la semana, para ser enviadas a los centros de dispersión de Panamá, Aruba y Jamaica, en los cuales se espera erradicar al Gusano Barrenador del Ganado (GBG. Por esto, y pensando en los países que en un futuro requieran de estas moscas estériles para la erradicación del GBG, la Comisión México Americana se encuentra en una constante búsqueda de mejoras en el proceso de producción. Para lograr este objetivo cuenta con una unidad de investigación en el departamento de desarrollo de métodos, donde se encargan de mantener la cepa de la mosca y de realizar diferentes tipos de pruebas que buscan mejorar la producción masiva de moscas estériles del GBG. La comisión recibió de la compañía Purina cuatro muestras de sustituto de leche en polvo para su uso en la dieta del Gusano Barrenador (Nodricina 200, Nodricina Premium 20/20, Nodricina Plus 20-20 y sustituto de leche para becerros, estas se evaluaron en una prueba completa para determinar la existencia de diferencias significativas en el desempeño de la larva en dietas que incluyan a estos componentes. Se realizaron cinco réplicas, con tres charolas de 16 L por tratamiento para un total de 15 charolas por réplica. Midiendo y evaluando los parámetros de la cepa Jamaica 03 del Gusano Barrenador del Ganado para determinar el comportamiento de estos sustitutos en la dieta larvaria, y evaluar la posible utilización de los mismos.

  9. No sex in fungus-farming ants or their crops.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Himler, Anna G; Caldera, Eric J; Baer, Boris C; Fernández-Marín, Hermógenes; Mueller, Ulrich G

    2009-07-22

    Asexual reproduction imposes evolutionary handicaps on asexual species, rendering them prone to extinction, because asexual reproduction generates novel genotypes and purges deleterious mutations at lower rates than sexual reproduction. Here, we report the first case of complete asexuality in ants, the fungus-growing ant Mycocepurus smithii, where queens reproduce asexually but workers are sterile, which is doubly enigmatic because the clonal colonies of M. smithii also depend on clonal fungi for food. Degenerate female mating anatomy, extensive field and laboratory surveys, and DNA fingerprinting implicate complete asexuality in this widespread ant species. Maternally inherited bacteria (e.g. Wolbachia, Cardinium) and the fungal cultivars can be ruled out as agents inducing asexuality. M. smithii societies of clonal females provide a unique system to test theories of parent-offspring conflict and reproductive policing in social insects. Asexuality of both ant farmer and fungal crop challenges traditional views proposing that sexual farmer ants outpace coevolving sexual crop pathogens, and thus compensate for vulnerabilities of their asexual crops. Either the double asexuality of both farmer and crop may permit the host to fully exploit advantages of asexuality for unknown reasons or frequent switching between crops (symbiont reassociation) generates novel ant-fungus combinations, which may compensate for any evolutionary handicaps of asexuality in M. smithii.

  10. Morus alba o Hibiscus rosa-sinensis como sustituto parcial de soya en dietas integrales para conejos

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    P. E. Lara

    2012-01-01

    Full Text Available Los conejos pueden aprovechar los nutrientes contenidos en los forrajes y subproductos agrícolas eficientemente gracias a la fermentación cecal y a la cecotrofía. Los objetivos del presente trabajo fueron: evaluar la tasa de crecimiento y el rendimiento de la canal en conejos alimentados con minibloques de harina de morera (Morus alba o tulipán (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis en sustitución parcial de pasta de soya; y determinar el consumo y digestibilidad de la dieta. Para esto, se utilizaron 18 conejos de 30 días de edad, distribuidos al azar en tres dietas experimentales (n=6, ac (alimento convencional, mbm (minibloque con 30% de morera y, mbt (minibloque con 27% de tulipán, durante nueve semanas. La ganancia diaria y el rendimiento en canal fue mejor (p0.10 en los tres grupos. Es factible sustituir parcialmente la proteína de la soya por harina de hojas de morera o tulipán, aunque presentan una menor respuesta productiva con respecto a la alimentación convencional.

  11. A Theoretic Basis for IS? The Contribution of ANT

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Jim Underwood

    2002-11-01

    Full Text Available Representation is a key issue of IS design and operation that is often ignored. Actor-network theory (ANT, a semiotic theory of stakeholders, provides a way of dealing with representation. Combining aspects of ANT and Foucault's discourse theory allows us to include concepts as actors and promises a flexible and durable foundation for IS practice, but ANT itself indicates that the search for a purely theoretical foundation for IS is misguided.

  12. ¿Podemos mejorar la dieta triturada en personas de la tercera edad?

    OpenAIRE

    Gutiérrez Yáñez, María del Mar

    2015-01-01

    El problema de la disfagia afecta en la actualidad a un gran número de personas. Este trabajo se centra en el colectivo de la tercera edad. El envejecimiento por sí mismo no causa disfagia, pero sí cambios asociados al mismo, que además influyen negativamente en el estado nutricional de este colectivo. La dieta y el estado nutricional en términos generales son de gran influencia en la prevención y tratamiento de muchas enfermedades, especialmente en este grupo de población más vulnerable....

  13. The diversity of microorganisms associated with Acromyrmex leafcutter ants

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Boomsma Jacobus J

    2002-05-01

    Full Text Available Abstract Background Molecular biological techniques are dramatically changing our view of microbial diversity in almost any environment that has so far been investigated. This study presents a systematic survey of the microbial diversity associated with a population of Acromyrmex leafcutter ants. In contrast to previous studies on social insects, which targeted specific groups of symbionts occurring in the gut (termites, Tetraponera ants or in specialised cells (Camponotus ants the objective of our present study was to do a total screening of all possible micro-organisms that can be found inside the bodies of these leafcutter ants. Results We amplified, cloned and sequenced SSU rRNA encoding gene fragments from 9 microbial groups known to have insect-associated representatives, and show that: (1 representatives of 5 out of 9 tested groups are present, (2 mostly several strains per group are present, adding up to a total of 33 different taxa. We present the microbial taxa associated with Acromymex ants in a phylogenetic context (using sequences from GenBank to assess and illustrate to which known microorganisms they are closely related. The observed microbial diversity is discussed in the light of present knowledge on the evolutionary history of Acromyrmex leafcutter ants and their known mutualistic and parasitic symbionts. Conclusions The major merits of the screening approach documented here is its high sensitivity and specificity, which allowed us to identify several microorganisms that are promising candidates for further study of their interactions with Acromyrmex leafcutter ants or their gardens.

  14. Graveyards on the Move: The Spatio-Temporal Distribution of Dead Ophiocordyceps-Infected Ants

    DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

    Pontoppidan, Maj-Britt; Himaman, Winanda; Hywel-Jones, Nigel L.

    2009-01-01

    rainforest. We established that high density aggregations exist (up to 26 dead ants/m2), which we coined graveyards. We further established that graveyards are patchily distributed in a landscape with no or very few O. unilateralis-killed ants. At some, but not all, spatial scales of analysis the density...... unilateralis, which is pan-tropical in distribution, causes infected worker ants to leave their nest and die under leaves in the understory of tropical rainforests. Working in a forest dynamic plot in Southern Thailand we mapped the occurrence of these dead ants by examining every leaf in 1,360 m2 of primary...... of dead ants correlated with temperature, humidity and vegetation cover. Remarkably, having found 2243 dead ants inside graveyards we only found 2 live ants of the principal host, ant Camponotus leonardi, suggesting that foraging host ants actively avoid graveyards. We discovered that the principal host...

  15. Ants recognize foes and not friends

    Science.gov (United States)

    Guerrieri, Fernando J.; Nehring, Volker; Jørgensen, Charlotte G.; Nielsen, John; Galizia, C. Giovanni; d'Ettorre, Patrizia

    2009-01-01

    Discriminating among individuals and rejecting non-group members is essential for the evolution and stability of animal societies. Ants are good models for studying recognition mechanisms, because they are typically very efficient in discriminating ‘friends’ (nest-mates) from ‘foes’ (non-nest-mates). Recognition in ants involves multicomponent cues encoded in cuticular hydrocarbon profiles. Here, we tested whether workers of the carpenter ant Camponotus herculeanus use the presence and/or absence of cuticular hydrocarbons to discriminate between nest-mates and non-nest-mates. We supplemented the cuticular profile with synthetic hydrocarbons mixed to liquid food and then assessed behavioural responses using two different bioassays. Our results show that (i) the presence, but not the absence, of an additional hydrocarbon elicited aggression and that (ii) among the three classes of hydrocarbons tested (unbranched, mono-methylated and dimethylated alkanes; for mono-methylated alkanes, we present a new synthetic pathway), only the dimethylated alkane was effective in eliciting aggression. Our results suggest that carpenter ants use a fundamentally different mechanism for nest-mate recognition than previously thought. They do not specifically recognize nest-mates, but rather recognize and reject non-nest-mates bearing odour cues that are novel to their own colony cuticular hydrocarbon profile. This begs for a reappraisal of the mechanisms underlying recognition systems in social insects. PMID:19364750

  16. Trail Pheromone Disruption of Argentine Ant Trail Formation and Foraging

    Science.gov (United States)

    Suckling, D.M.; Peck, R.W.; Stringer, L.D.; Snook, K.; Banko, P.C.

    2010-01-01

    Trail pheromone disruption of invasive ants is a novel tactic that builds on the development of pheromone-based pest management in other insects. Argentine ant trail pheromone, (Z)-9-hexadecenal, was formulated as a micro-encapsulated sprayable particle and applied against Argentine ant populations in 400 m2 field plots in Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park. A widely dispersed point source strategy for trail pheromone disruption was used. Traffic rates of ants in bioassays of treated filter paper, protected from rainfall and sunlight, indicated the presence of behaviorally significant quantities of pheromone being released from the formulation for up to 59 days. The proportion of plots, under trade wind conditions (2-3 m s-1), with visible trails was reduced for up to 14 days following treatment, and the number of foraging ants at randomly placed tuna-bait cards was similarly reduced. The success of these trail pheromone disruption trials in a natural ecosystem highlights the potential of this method for control of invasive ant species in this and other environments. ?? Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2010.

  17. Water stress strengthens mutualism among ants, trees, and scale insects.

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Elizabeth G Pringle

    2013-11-01

    Full Text Available Abiotic environmental variables strongly affect the outcomes of species interactions. For example, mutualistic interactions between species are often stronger when resources are limited. The effect might be indirect: water stress on plants can lead to carbon stress, which could alter carbon-mediated plant mutualisms. In mutualistic ant-plant symbioses, plants host ant colonies that defend them against herbivores. Here we show that the partners' investments in a widespread ant-plant symbiosis increase with water stress across 26 sites along a Mesoamerican precipitation gradient. At lower precipitation levels, Cordia alliodora trees invest more carbon in Azteca ants via phloem-feeding scale insects that provide the ants with sugars, and the ants provide better defense of the carbon-producing leaves. Under water stress, the trees have smaller carbon pools. A model of the carbon trade-offs for the mutualistic partners shows that the observed strategies can arise from the carbon costs of rare but extreme events of herbivory in the rainy season. Thus, water limitation, together with the risk of herbivory, increases the strength of a carbon-based mutualism.

  18. Water stress strengthens mutualism among ants, trees, and scale insects.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Pringle, Elizabeth G; Akçay, Erol; Raab, Ted K; Dirzo, Rodolfo; Gordon, Deborah M

    2013-11-01

    Abiotic environmental variables strongly affect the outcomes of species interactions. For example, mutualistic interactions between species are often stronger when resources are limited. The effect might be indirect: water stress on plants can lead to carbon stress, which could alter carbon-mediated plant mutualisms. In mutualistic ant-plant symbioses, plants host ant colonies that defend them against herbivores. Here we show that the partners' investments in a widespread ant-plant symbiosis increase with water stress across 26 sites along a Mesoamerican precipitation gradient. At lower precipitation levels, Cordia alliodora trees invest more carbon in Azteca ants via phloem-feeding scale insects that provide the ants with sugars, and the ants provide better defense of the carbon-producing leaves. Under water stress, the trees have smaller carbon pools. A model of the carbon trade-offs for the mutualistic partners shows that the observed strategies can arise from the carbon costs of rare but extreme events of herbivory in the rainy season. Thus, water limitation, together with the risk of herbivory, increases the strength of a carbon-based mutualism.

  19. Ant colony algorithm for clustering in portfolio optimization

    Science.gov (United States)

    Subekti, R.; Sari, E. R.; Kusumawati, R.

    2018-03-01

    This research aims to describe portfolio optimization using clustering methods with ant colony approach. Two stock portfolios of LQ45 Indonesia is proposed based on the cluster results obtained from ant colony optimization (ACO). The first portfolio consists of assets with ant colony displacement opportunities beyond the defined probability limits of the researcher, where the weight of each asset is determined by mean-variance method. The second portfolio consists of two assets with the assumption that each asset is a cluster formed from ACO. The first portfolio has a better performance compared to the second portfolio seen from the Sharpe index.

  20. Automating ActionScript Projects with Eclipse and Ant

    CERN Document Server

    Koning, Sidney

    2011-01-01

    Automating repetitive programming tasks is easier than many Flash/AS3 developers think. With the Ant build tool, the Eclipse IDE, and this concise guide, you can set up your own "ultimate development machine" to code, compile, debug, and deploy projects faster. You'll also get started with versioning systems, such as Subversion and Git. Create a consistent workflow for multiple machines, or even complete departments, with the help of extensive Ant code samples. If you want to work smarter and take your skills to a new level, this book will get you on the road to automation-with Ant. Set up y

  1. Carbohydrate supply limits invasion of natural communities by Argentine ants.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Rowles, Alexei D; Silverman, Jules

    2009-08-01

    The ability of species to invade new habitats is often limited by various biotic and physical factors or interactions between the two. Invasive ants, frequently associated with human activities, flourish in disturbed urban and agricultural environments. However, their ability to invade and establish in natural habitats is more variable. This is particularly so for the invasive Argentine ant (Linepithema humile). While biotic resistance and low soil moisture limits their invasion of natural habitats in some instances, the effect of food availability has been poorly explored. We conducted field experiments to determine if resource availability limits the spread and persistence of Argentine ants in remnant natural forest in North Carolina. Replicated transects paired with and without sucrose solution feeding stations were run from invaded urban edges into forest remnants and compared over time using baits and direct counts at feeding stations. Repeated under different timing regimes in 2006 and 2007, access to sucrose increased local Argentine ant abundances (1.6-2.5 fold) and facilitated their progression into the forest up to 73 +/- 21% of 50-m transects. Resource removal caused an expected decrease in Argentine ant densities in 2006, in conjunction with their retreat to the urban/forest boundary. However, in 2007, Argentine ant numbers unexpectedly continued to increase in the absence of sugar stations, possibly through access to alternative resources or conditions not available the previous year such as honeydew-excreting Hemiptera. Our results showed that supplementing carbohydrate supply facilitates invasion of natural habitat by Argentine ants. This is particularly evident where Argentine ants continued to thrive following sugar station removal.

  2. Exotic ants (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) of Ohio

    OpenAIRE

    Ivanov,Kal

    2016-01-01

    The worldwide transfer of plants and animals outside their native ranges is an ever increasing problem for global biodiversity. Ants are no exception and many species have been transported to new locations often with profound negative impacts on local biota. The current study is based on data gathered since the publication of the “Ants of Ohio” in 2005. Here I expand on our knowledge of Ohio’s myrmecofauna by contributing new records, new distributional information and natural history notes. ...

  3. Individual Rules for Trail Pattern Formation in Argentine Ants (Linepithema humile)

    OpenAIRE

    Perna, Andrea; Granovskiy, Boris; Garnier, Simon; Nicolis, Stamatios C.; Labédan, Marjorie; Theraulaz, Guy; Fourcassié, Vincent; Sumpter, David J. T.

    2012-01-01

    We studied the formation of trail patterns by Argentine ants exploring an empty arena. Using a novel imaging and analysis technique we estimated pheromone concentrations at all spatial positions in the experimental arena and at different times. Then we derived the response function of individual ants to pheromone concentrations by looking at correlations between concentrations and changes in speed or direction of the ants. Ants were found to turn in response to local pheromone concentrations,...

  4. Ant-mediated effects on spruce litter decomposition, solution chemistry, and microbial activity

    DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

    Stadler, B.; Schramm, Andreas; Kalbitz, K.

    2006-01-01

    the effects of ants and aphid honeydew on litter solution of Norway spruce, microbial enzyme activities, and needle decomposition in a field and greenhouse experiment during summer 2003. In the field, low ant densities had relatively little effects on litter solution 30 cm away from a tree trunk...... and %N were not affected by ants or honeydew. Our results suggest that ants have a distinct and immediate effect on solution composition and microbial activity in the litter layer indicating accelerated litter decay whereas the effect of honeydew was insignificant. Keywords: Ants; Decomposition; Formica......Forest management practices often generate clear-cut patches, which may be colonized by ants not present in the same densities in mature forests. In addition to the associated changes in abiotic conditions ants can initiate processes, which do not occur in old-growth stands. Here, we analyse...

  5. Utilização da Energia de Dietas para Frangos de Corte Formuladas com Óleo Ácido de Soja

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Vieira SL

    2002-01-01

    Full Text Available O produto comercialmente chamado "óleo ácido de soja", resulta da acidificação da borra residual do processo de refino do óleo de soja. Este tem sido muito utilizado na indústria de rações animais, ainda que com vários questinamentos a cerca de sua eficiência, tais como a adulteração com outros ácidos graxos de baixo valor nutricional, nível de peroxidação, presença de impurezas, e valores energéticos não confiáveis. Neste estudo, foi avaliado o desempenho de frangos de corte consumindo dietas contendo óleo de soja ou óleo ácido de soja nos níveis de 4 e 8% ou a mistura das duas fontes em partes iguais de 2 e 4% cada. Essas dietas foram fornecidas para frangos de corte alojados em baterias climatizadas a partir dos 7 dias de idade. As aves que receberam misturas equivalentes de óleo ácido de soja e óleo de soja apresentaram menor peso corporal no final do experimento (aos 42 dias quando comparadas com aquelas que consumiram apenas óleo ou óleo ácido de soja, independentemente do nível adicionado. O nível de inclusão de óleo de soja ou óleo ácido de soja não influenciou o peso final das aves. Foi verificado maior consumo de ração pelos animais que receberam dietas de menor nível de inclusão, o que contribuiu para piorar a conversão alimentar dos mesmos. O óleo ácido de soja demonstrou ser uma fonte energética alternativa de alto potencial econômico para uso em dietas comerciais para frangos de corte, apresentando valor energético de 8.114 kcal EMAn/kg de MS, valor 5% inferior ao determinado para o óleo de soja degomado.

  6. Utilización de la proteína dietaría por alevinos de la gamitana, Colossoma macropomum, alimentados con dietas isocalóricas

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Félix Walter Gutiérrez

    2011-05-01

    Full Text Available Un experimento fue conducido para evaluar los efectos de cinco niveles de proteína (25,27, 29, 31 y 33% sobre el comportamiento productivo de alevinos de la gamitana, Colossoma macropomum Cuvier 1818, alimentados con dietas isocalóricas (2,7 kcal de ED/g. Los parámetros medidos fueron ganancia de peso (GP, conversión alimenticia (CA, proteína retenida (PR, razón de eficiencia proteica (REP y energía retenida (ER. En la preparación de las dietas experimentales se utilizaron como fuentes de proteína harina de anchoveta y harina de torta de soya y como fuentes de energía maíz amarillo duro, subproducto de trigo y aceite de pescado. Se encontraron diferencias significativas (P<0,05 entre tratamientos para los parámetros GP, PR, REP y ER. No se encontraron diferencias significativas para la CA. Los mejores rendimientos fueron obtenidos cuando las gamitanas fueron alimentadas con niveles dietarios de 25, 27 y 33% de proteína cruda. También se encontró que a medida que se elevó el nivel de proteína de la dieta, la REP decreció significativamente. Tomando en cuenta el costo de la proteína en la dieta, se concluye que la alimentación de la gamitana con niveles dietarios de 25 ó 27% de proteína cruda y 2,7 kcal de ED/g, garantizarán su exitoso crecimiento.

  7. Ants: Major Functional Elements in Fruit Agro-Ecosystems and Biological Control Agents

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Lamine Diamé

    2017-12-01

    Full Text Available Ants are a very diverse taxonomic group. They display remarkable social organization that has enabled them to be ubiquitous throughout the world. They make up approximately 10% of the world’s animal biomass. Ants provide ecosystem services in agrosystems by playing a major role in plant pollination, soil bioturbation, bioindication, and the regulation of crop-damaging insects. Over recent decades, there have been numerous studies in ant ecology and the focus on tree cropping systems has given added importance to ant ecology knowledge. The only missing point in this knowledge is the reasons underlying difference between the positive and negative effects of ants in tree cropping systems. This review article provides an overview of knowledge of the roles played by ants in orchards as functional elements, and on the potential of Oecophylla weaver ants as biological control agents. It also shows the potential and relevance of using ants as an agro-ecological diagnosis tool in orchards. Lastly, it demonstrates the potential elements which may determine the divergent negative and positive of their effects on cropping systems.

  8. Efecto de la adición de nopal ( Opuntia ficus - indica a la dieta de cerdas lactantes sobre la producción y calidad de la leche

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Ruy Ortiz - Rodríguez

    2017-01-01

    Full Text Available Se evaluó el efecto de la adición de nopal ( Opuntia ficus - indica a la dieta de cerdas lactantes sobre la producción y calidad de la lech e. 22 cerdas hibridas (Yorkshire x Landrace x Pietrain, próximas al parto fueron seleccionadas al azar , con las que se formaron dos grupos (G: G testigo (GT (n=11 cerdas que recibieron alimento balanceado ad libitum y G experimental (GE (n=11 cerdas que recibieron 1% d - 1 de nopal cerda - 1 ( con respecto al peso corporal de la cerda antes del parto más alimento balanceado ad libitum durante 21 días de lactación. Las variables evaluadas fueron: producción láctea en lo s días 6, 10 y 15 postparto, así como los porcentajes de: lactosa, proteína y grasa en leche en los días 3, 11 y 17 de lactación. La información recabada se analizó mediante la metodología de mediciones repetidas y las diferencias entre grupos se obtuviero n a través de medias de mínimos cuadrados. No se encontró efecto de grupo sobre la producción láctea ( P = 0. 4904 . S in embargo , el pico de producción láctea fue a l 15 vo día de lactación: 9.1 y 8.7 kg de leche para GE y GT, respectivamente. Los promedio s (% general es de los componentes físico - quimicos de la leche: lactosa (6.6±0. 5 7 , proteína (4.5±0.4 0 y grasa (7.9±1.6 no fue ron afectado s por el grupo (P>0.05. La adición de nopal a la dieta de cerdas lactantes no modifica la producción ni los componen tes físico - químicos (proteína, lactosa y grasa de la leche de las cerdas lo que asegura el desarrollo del lechón del nacimiento al destete (21 días de edad .

  9. Economy of scale: third partner strengthens a keystone ant-plant mutualism.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Prior, Kirsten M; Palmer, Todd M

    2018-02-01

    While foundation species can stabilize ecosystems at landscape scales, their ability to persist is often underlain by keystone interactions occurring at smaller scales. Acacia drepanolobium is a foundation tree, comprising >95% of woody cover in East African black-cotton savanna ecosystems. Its dominance is underlain by a keystone mutualistic interaction with several symbiotic ant species in which it provides housing (swollen thorns) and carbohydrate-rich nectar from extra-floral nectaries (EFN). In return, it gains protection from catastrophic damage from mega-herbivores. Crematogaster mimosae is the ecologically dominant symbiotic ant in this system, also providing the highest protection services. In addition to tending EFN, C. mimosae tend scale insects for carbohydrate-rich honeydew. We investigated the role of scale insects in this specialized ant-plant interaction. Specifically, does this putatively redundant third partner strengthen the ant-plant mutualism by making the ant a better protector of the tree? Or does it weaken the mutualism by being costly to the tree while providing no additional benefit to the ant-plant mutualism? We coupled observational surveys with two scale-manipulation experiments and found evidence that this third partner strengthens the ant-plant mutualism. Trees with scale insects experimentally removed experienced a 2.5X increase in elephant damage compared to trees with scale insects present over 10 months. Reduced protection was driven by scale removal causing a decrease in ant colony size and per capita baseline activity and defensive behavior. We also found that ants increased scale-tending and the density of scale insects on trees when EFN were experimentally reduced. Thus, in this system, scale insects and EFN are likely complementary, rather than redundant, resources with scale insects benefitting ants when EFN production is low (such as during annual dry periods in this semi-arid ecosystem). This study reveals that a third

  10. An invasive slug exploits an ant-seed dispersal mutualism.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Meadley Dunphy, Shannon A; Prior, Kirsten M; Frederickson, Megan E

    2016-05-01

    Plant-animal mutualisms, such as seed dispersal, are often vulnerable to disruption by invasive species. Here, we show for the first time how a non-ant invasive species negatively affects seed dispersal by ants. We examined the effects of several animal species that co-occur in a temperate deciduous forest-including native and invasive seed-dispersing ants (Aphaenogaster rudis and Myrmica rubra, respectively), an invasive slug (Arion subfuscus), and native rodents-on a native myrmecochorous plant, Asarum canadense. We experimentally manipulated ant, slug, and rodent access to seed depots and measured seed removal. We also video-recorded depots to determine which other taxa interact with seeds. We found that A. rudis was the main disperser of seeds and that A. subfuscus consumed elaiosomes without dispersing seeds. Rodent visitation was rare, and rodent exclusion had no significant effect on seed or elaiosome removal. We then used data obtained from laboratory and field mesocosm experiments to determine how elaiosome robbing by A. subfuscus affects seed dispersal by A. rudis and M. rubra. We found that elaiosome robbing by slugs reduced seed dispersal by ants, especially in mesocosms with A. rudis, which picks up seeds more slowly than M. rubra. Taken together, our results show that elaiosome robbing by an invasive slug reduces seed dispersal by ants, suggesting that invasive slugs can have profound negative effects on seed dispersal mutualisms.

  11. Olfactory memory established during trophallaxis affects food search behaviour in ants

    OpenAIRE

    Provecho, Y.; Josens, R.

    2009-01-01

    Camponotus mus ants can associate sucrose and odour at the source during successive foraging cycles and use this memory to locate the nectar in the absence of other cues. These ants perform conspicuous trophallactic behaviour during recruitment while foraging for nectar. In this work, we studied whether Camponotus mus ants are able to establish this odour-sucrose association in the social context of trophallaxis and we evaluated this memory in another context previously experienced by the ant...

  12. Plant genotype shapes ant-aphid interactions: implications for community structure and indirect plant defense.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Mooney, Kailen A; Agrawal, Anurag A

    2008-06-01

    Little is known about the mechanisms by which plant genotype shapes arthropod community structure. In a field experiment, we measured the effects of milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) genotype and ants on milkweed arthropods. Populations of the ant-tended aphid Aphis asclepiadis and the untended aphid Myzocallis asclepiadis varied eight- to 18-fold among milkweed genotypes, depending on aphid species and whether ants were present. There was no milkweed effect on predatory arthropods. Ants increased Aphis abundance 59%, decreased Myzocallis abundance 52%, and decreased predator abundance 56%. Milkweed genotype indirectly influenced ants via direct effects on Aphis and Myzocallis abundance. Milkweed genotype also modified ant-aphid interactions, influencing the number of ants attracted per Aphis and Myzocallis. While ant effects on Myzocallis were consistently negative, effects on Aphis ranged from antagonistic to mutualistic among milkweed genotypes. As a consequence of milkweed effects on ant-aphid interactions, ant abundance varied 13-fold among milkweed genotypes, and monarch caterpillar survival was negatively correlated with genetic variation in ant abundance. We speculate that heritable variation in milkweed phloem sap drives these effects on aphids, ants, and caterpillars. In summary, milkweed exerts genetic control over the interactions between aphids and an ant that provides defense against foliage-feeding caterpillars.

  13. Commentary: Warring ants

    Indian Academy of Sciences (India)

    Home; Journals; Journal of Biosciences; Volume 27; Issue 2. Commentary: Warring ants: Lessons from Lanchester's laws of combat? Renee M Borges. Volume 27 Issue 2 March 2002 pp 75-78. Fulltext. Click here to view fulltext PDF. Permanent link: https://www.ias.ac.in/article/fulltext/jbsc/027/02/0075-0078 ...

  14. El uso de granos secos de destilería con solubles (DDGS) en dietas sorgo-soya para pollos de engorda y gallinas de postura

    OpenAIRE

    Arturo Cortes Cuevas; César A. Esparza Carrillo; Gonzalo Sanabria Elizalde; Jorge Miguel Iriarte; Manuel Ornelas Roac; Ernesto Ávila González

    2012-01-01

    Para estudiar el comportamiento productivo en pollos y gallinas con dietas adicionadass con granos secos de destilería con solubles (DDGS), se realizaron dos experimentos. En el primero se emplearon 704 pollos Ross de 1 a 49 días de edad, distribuidos en cuatro tratamientos con ocho repeticiones de 22 pollos cada uno. Se empleó un diseño completamente al azar. Los tratamientos fueron: 1) dieta basal sorgo-soya, T2) como 1+7% DDGS, T3) como 1+14% de DDGS, T4) como 1+21% de DDGS. En el segundo ...

  15. Individual Rules for Trail Pattern Formation in Argentine Ants (Linepithema humile)

    Science.gov (United States)

    Perna, Andrea; Granovskiy, Boris; Garnier, Simon; Nicolis, Stamatios C.; Labédan, Marjorie; Theraulaz, Guy; Fourcassié, Vincent; Sumpter, David J. T.

    2012-01-01

    We studied the formation of trail patterns by Argentine ants exploring an empty arena. Using a novel imaging and analysis technique we estimated pheromone concentrations at all spatial positions in the experimental arena and at different times. Then we derived the response function of individual ants to pheromone concentrations by looking at correlations between concentrations and changes in speed or direction of the ants. Ants were found to turn in response to local pheromone concentrations, while their speed was largely unaffected by these concentrations. Ants did not integrate pheromone concentrations over time, with the concentration of pheromone in a 1 cm radius in front of the ant determining the turning angle. The response to pheromone was found to follow a Weber's Law, such that the difference between quantities of pheromone on the two sides of the ant divided by their sum determines the magnitude of the turning angle. This proportional response is in apparent contradiction with the well-established non-linear choice function used in the literature to model the results of binary bridge experiments in ant colonies (Deneubourg et al. 1990). However, agent based simulations implementing the Weber's Law response function led to the formation of trails and reproduced results reported in the literature. We show analytically that a sigmoidal response, analogous to that in the classical Deneubourg model for collective decision making, can be derived from the individual Weber-type response to pheromone concentrations that we have established in our experiments when directional noise around the preferred direction of movement of the ants is assumed. PMID:22829756

  16. Individual rules for trail pattern formation in Argentine ants (Linepithema humile.

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Andrea Perna

    Full Text Available We studied the formation of trail patterns by Argentine ants exploring an empty arena. Using a novel imaging and analysis technique we estimated pheromone concentrations at all spatial positions in the experimental arena and at different times. Then we derived the response function of individual ants to pheromone concentrations by looking at correlations between concentrations and changes in speed or direction of the ants. Ants were found to turn in response to local pheromone concentrations, while their speed was largely unaffected by these concentrations. Ants did not integrate pheromone concentrations over time, with the concentration of pheromone in a 1 cm radius in front of the ant determining the turning angle. The response to pheromone was found to follow a Weber's Law, such that the difference between quantities of pheromone on the two sides of the ant divided by their sum determines the magnitude of the turning angle. This proportional response is in apparent contradiction with the well-established non-linear choice function used in the literature to model the results of binary bridge experiments in ant colonies (Deneubourg et al. 1990. However, agent based simulations implementing the Weber's Law response function led to the formation of trails and reproduced results reported in the literature. We show analytically that a sigmoidal response, analogous to that in the classical Deneubourg model for collective decision making, can be derived from the individual Weber-type response to pheromone concentrations that we have established in our experiments when directional noise around the preferred direction of movement of the ants is assumed.

  17. Molecular structure and diversity of PBAN/Pyrokinin family peptides in ants

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Man-Yeon eChoi

    2012-02-01

    Full Text Available Neuropeptides are the largest group of insect hormones. They are produced in the central and peripheral nervous systems and affect insect development, reproduction, feeding and behavior. A variety of neuropeptide families have been identified in insects. One of these families is the PBAN/pyrokinin family defined by a common FXPRLamide or similar amino acid fragment at the C-terminal end. These peptides, found in all insects studied thus far, have been conserved throughout evolution. The most well studied physiological function is regulation of moth sex pheromone biosynthesis through the Pheromone Biosynthesis Activating Neurohormone (PBAN, although several developmental functions have also been reported. Over the past years we have extended knowledge of the PBAN/pyrokinin family of peptides to ants, focusing mainly on the fire ant, Solenopsis invicta. The fire ant is one of the most studied social insects and over the last 60 years a great deal has been learned about many aspects of this ant, including the behaviors and chemistry of pheromone communication. However, virtually nothing is known about the regulation of these pheromone systems. Recently, we demonstrated the presence of PBAN/pyrokinin immunoreactive neurons in the fire ant, and identified and characterized PBAN and additional neuropeptides. We have mapped the fire ant PBAN gene structure and determined the tissue expression level in the central nervous system of the ant. We review here our research to date on the molecular structure and diversity of ant PBAN/pyrokinin peptides in preparation for determining the function of the neuropeptides in ants and other social insects.

  18. Ultrastructure of antennal sensillae of the samsum ant ...

    African Journals Online (AJOL)

    Black ant (Samsum), Pachycodyla sennarrensis, stings and injects venom and inflicts allergy (a rare clinical problem) due to its local and systemic reaction, which is considered as a health hazard amongst Saudi society. Thus, black ant is a source of serious concern for the government and experts as well.

  19. Crecimiento de alevines de Cichlasoma urophthalmus con dietas basadas en diferentes niveles de inclusión de proteína de soya y gluten de trigo

    OpenAIRE

    Villarreal, C; Gelabert, R; Gaxiola, G; Cuzon, G; Amador, LE; Guevara, E; Brito, R

    2011-01-01

    Se determinó el efecto de seis dietas con diferente contenido de proteína de origen vegetal sobre el crecimiento de alevines de Cichlasoma urophthalmus. Se utilizaron dietas isoenergéticas e isolipídicas con contenido de proteína entre 10% y 60%, empleando soya y gluten de trigo como las principales fuentes proteicas. Los tratamientos no afectaron la supervivencia, la cual fue superior al 80% en todos los casos. Los índices de crecimiento variaron significativamente de acuerdo al contenido pr...

  20. The effect of diet and opponent size on aggressive interactions involving caribbean crazy ants (Nylanderia fulva.

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Katherine C Horn

    Full Text Available Biotic interactions are often important in the establishment and spread of invasive species. In particular, competition between introduced and native species can strongly influence the distribution and spread of exotic species and in some cases competition among introduced species can be important. The Caribbean crazy ant, Nylanderia fulva, was recently introduced to the Gulf Coast of Texas, and appears to be spreading inland. It has been hypothesized that competition with the red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta, may be an important factor in the spread of crazy ants. We investigated the potential of interspecific competition among these two introduced ants by measuring interspecific aggression between Caribbean crazy ant workers and workers of Solenopsis invicta. Specifically, we examined the effect of body size and diet on individual-level aggressive interactions among crazy ant workers and fire ants. We found that differences in diet did not alter interactions between crazy ant workers from different nests, but carbohydrate level did play an important role in antagonistic interactions with fire ants: crazy ants on low sugar diets were more aggressive and less likely to be killed in aggressive encounters with fire ants. We found that large fire ants engaged in fewer fights with crazy ants than small fire ants, but fire ant size affected neither fire ant nor crazy ant mortality. Overall, crazy ants experienced higher mortality than fire ants after aggressive encounters. Our findings suggest that fire ant workers might outcompete crazy ant workers on an individual level, providing some biotic resistance to crazy ant range expansion. However, this resistance may be overcome by crazy ants that have a restricted sugar intake, which may occur when crazy ants are excluded from resources by fire ants.

  1. Weaver Ants to Control Fruit Fly Damage to Tanzanian Mangoes

    DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

    Kirkegaard, Nina

    in Australia and West Africa. In this study, small scale farmers did not think weaver ants protected their mangoes from fruit flies. Observational studies confirmed the farmers’ views. No volatile compounds, likely to be responsible for the weaver ants’ deterrent effect, were identified. This study focused...... mangoes varied a lot with zero infestation in some fruits and more than 100 pupae emerging from other fruits, indicating that other factors than the presence of weaver ants affect the fruit flies’ decision on where to oviposit. It was not uncommon for farmers to place newly harvested mangoes below mango...... not shown to be effectively deterring fruit flies, there is no great motivation for farmers to adopt weaver ants. Assuming the weaver ants could be managed in a way that made weaver ants deter fruit flies effectively there are still some economic aspects which should be studied further. It is necessary...

  2. Advances in Research on the Venom Chemistry of Imported Fire Ants

    Science.gov (United States)

    Workers of the imported fire ants, including red imported fire ants, Solenopsis invicta Buren, black imported fire ants, S. richteri Forel, and their hybrid (S. invicta × S. richteri), are vicious stingers. Since the venomous sting is a significant medical problem to humans, the chemistry of import...

  3. Comparing different methods to assess weaver ant abundance in plantation trees

    DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

    Wargui, Rosine; Offenberg, Joachim; Sinzogan, Antonio

    2015-01-01

    Weaver ants (Oecophylla spp.) are widely used as effective biological control agents. In order to optimize their use, ant abundance needs to be tracked. As several methods have been used to estimate ant abundance on plantation trees, abundances are not comparable between studies and no guideline...... is available on which method to apply in a particular study. This study compared four existing methods: three methods based on the number of ant trails on the main branches of a tree (called the Peng 1, Peng 2 and Offenberg index) and one method based on the number of ant nests per tree. Branch indices did...... not produce equal scores and cannot be compared directly. The Peng 1 index was the fastest to assess, but showed only limited seasonal fluctuations when ant abundance was high, because it approached its upper limit. The Peng 2 and Offenberg indices were lower and not close to the upper limit and therefore...

  4. Various chemical strategies to deceive ants in three Arhopala species (lepidoptera: Lycaenidae exploiting Macaranga myrmecophytes.

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Yoko Inui

    Full Text Available Macaranga myrmecophytes (ant-plants are generally well protected from herbivore attacks by their symbiotic ants (plant-ants. However, larvae of Arhopala (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae species survive and develop on specific Macaranga ant-plant species without being attacked by the plant-ants of their host species. We hypothesized that Arhopala larvae chemically mimic or camouflage themselves with the ants on their host plant so that the larvae are accepted by the plant-ant species of their host. Chemical analyses of cuticular hydrocarbons showed that chemical congruency varied among Arhopala species; A. dajagaka matched well the host plant-ants, A. amphimuta did not match, and unexpectedly, A. zylda lacked hydrocarbons. Behaviorally, the larvae and dummies coated with cuticular chemicals of A. dajagaka were well attended by the plant-ants, especially by those of the host. A. amphimuta was often attacked by all plant-ants except for the host plant-ants toward the larvae, and those of A. zylda were ignored by all plant-ants. Our results suggested that conspicuous variations exist in the chemical strategies used by the myrmecophilous butterflies that allow them to avoid ant attack and be accepted by the plant-ant colonies.

  5. Cercomacra and related antbirds (Aves, Formicariidae as army ant followers

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Edwin O. Willis

    1984-01-01

    Full Text Available Cercomacra and Schistocichla antbirds (Formicariidae favor dense foliage and seldom follow army ants for flushed prey, since the ants move through open forest understory as well as through dense zones. Two other lineages, the Drymophila-Hypocnemis lineage (of dense woodland understory and the Formicivora lineage (of dense bushes in dry or semiopen zones, also cannot follow ants regularly through open forest understory.

  6. Uni-directional trail sharing by two species of ants a Monte Carlo study

    International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

    Kunduraci, T; Kayacan, O

    2015-01-01

    We study insect traffic, specifically ant traffic on a uni-directional trail which is shared by two species of ants, one of which is ‘good’ at smelling and the other ‘poor’. The two distinct species of ants are placed mixed on the same trail and individuals of both are permitted to make a U-turn when they encounter another ant in front of them. The theoretical scheme for the ant traffic is based on an asymmetric simple exclusion model. The ant traffic on the uni-directional trail is studied as a function of the number of ‘good-smelling’ ants and the evaporation probability of pheromones by keeping the number of ‘poor-smelling ants’ constant during Monte Carlo simulations. (paper)

  7. Fontes de óleo na dieta e sua influência no desempenho e na imunidade de frangos de corte

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Marcos F. Pinto

    2014-05-01

    Full Text Available A composição de ácidos graxos da dieta pode influenciar o desempenho produtivo e o sistema imune de frangos de corte. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o efeito do consumo de óleos ricos em ácidos graxos poli-insaturados ômega-6 (PUFAs n-6 e ômega-3 (PUFAs n-3 sobre o desempenho e a resposta imunológica de frangos de corte frente a um desafio antigênico. Foram comparadas dietas formuladas com 7% de óleo de soja (OS, linhaça (OL ou sardinha (OP, fornecidas a 240 frangos da linhagem Cobb, divididos em 24 grupos de 10 aves cada, num arranjo experimental 3x2 (3 tipos de óleo e aves vacinadas ou não vacinadas e 4 repetições. O óleo de soja é rico em ácido linoleico, um PUFA n-6, o óleo de linhaça é fonte de ácido alfa-linolênico, um PUFA n-3, e o óleo de sardinha, de outros PUFAs n-3, como os ácidos eicosapentaenoico e docosahexaenoico. O consumo de ração, o ganho de peso e a conversão alimentar foram avaliados aos 21, 35 e 42 dias. Aos 7 e aos 21 dias de idade, metade das aves recebeu vacina contra doença de Newcastle. Quinze dias após a imunização, avaliou-se a produção de anticorpos pelo método de ELISA, expressa pela densidade óptica a 450 nm (D.O. 450nm. Apenas as aves alimentadas com ração contendo OS apresentaram maior imunidade humoral (P0,05. Entre as aves que receberam dieta com OS, as aves vacinadas apresentaram pior conversão alimentar (P0,05, considerando todo o período experimental. A utilização de óleo rico em PUFA n-6 na dieta de frangos de corte aumentou a resposta humoral, mas não influenciou a resposta celular frente a um desafio antigênico.

  8. Improving Emergency Management by Modeling Ant Colonies

    Science.gov (United States)

    2015-03-01

    perform functions such as nursing the brood or maintaining the nest. The more mature workers will begin to travel outside the nest to perform foraging...small sized ants predominantly act in functional roles such as nurses or transport services within the nest. The larger sizes predominantly function...stages: the founding stage, the ergonomic stage, and the reproductive stage. The founding stage is marked by a queen ant successful mating and laying

  9. Efecto de diferentes niveles de proteína de la dieta sobre el crecimiento de juveniles del pez neón Paracheirodon innesi (pisces:characidae

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Jorge Luna-Figueroa

    2016-03-01

    Full Text Available Se evaluó el efecto de alimentos con diferente concentración de proteína (53,5%, 50,0%, 41,6% y 30,0% sobre las tasas de crecimiento absoluto (TCA, relativo (TCR y específico (TCE de juveniles de P. innesi. El incremento en peso y en longitud total, así como las tasas de crecimiento fueron mayores en los peces alimentados con la dieta I (53,5% proteína y decrecieron conforme disminuyó la concentración de proteínas en el alimento (P<0,05. Las diferencias porcentuales promedio referentes al peso fueron 65,15% TCA, 63,69% TCR y 45,85% TEC, mientras que para la longitud total fueron 57,41% TCA, 59,00% TCR y 52,25% TCE mayores (P<0,05 en los peces alimentados con la dieta I respecto de la II, III y IV. Finalmente, los resultados de la presente investigación indican que el nivel de proteína de la dieta que produce máximo crecimiento en P. innesi es 53,5%.

  10. Revolutionizing Remote Exploration with ANTS

    Science.gov (United States)

    Clark, P. E.; Rilee, M. L.; Curtis, S.; Truszkowski, W.

    2002-05-01

    We are developing the Autonomous Nano-Technology Swarm (ANTS) architecture based on an insect colony analogue for the cost-effective, efficient, systematic survey of remote or inaccessible areas with multiple object targets, including planetary surface, marine, airborne, and space environments. The mission context is the exploration in the 2020s of the most compelling remaining targets in the solar system: main belt asteroids. Main belt asteroids harbor important clues to Solar System origins and evolution which are central to NASA's goals in Space Science. Asteroids are smaller than planets, but their number is far greater, and their combined surface area likely dwarfs the Earth's. An asteroid survey will dramatically increase our understanding of the local resources available for the Human Exploration and Development of Space. During the mission composition, shape, gravity, and orbit parameters could be returned to Earth for perhaps several thousand asteroids. A survey of this area will rival the great explorations that encircled this globe, opened up the New World, and laid the groundwork for the progress and challenges of the last centuries. The ANTS architecture for a main belt survey consists of a swarm of as many as a thousand or more highly specialized pico-spacecraft that form teams to survey as many as one hundred asteroids a month. Multi-level autonomy is critical for ANTS and the objective of the proposed study is to work through the implications and constraints this entails. ANTS couples biologically inspired autonomic control for basic functions to higher level artificial intelligence that together enable individual spacecraft to operate as specialized, cooperative, social agents. This revolutionary approach postulates highly advanced, but familiar, components integrated and operated in a way that uniquely transcends any evolutionary extrapolation of existing trends and enables thousand-spacecraft missions.

  11. Urban habitat complexity affects species richness but not environmental filtering of morphologically-diverse ants

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Alessandro Ossola

    2015-10-01

    Full Text Available Habitat complexity is a major determinant of structure and diversity of ant assemblages. Following the size-grain hypothesis, smaller ant species are likely to be advantaged in more complex habitats compared to larger species. Habitat complexity can act as an environmental filter based on species size and morphological traits, therefore affecting the overall structure and diversity of ant assemblages. In natural and semi-natural ecosystems, habitat complexity is principally regulated by ecological successions or disturbance such as fire and grazing. Urban ecosystems provide an opportunity to test relationships between habitat, ant assemblage structure and ant traits using novel combinations of habitat complexity generated and sustained by human management. We sampled ant assemblages in low-complexity and high-complexity parks, and high-complexity woodland remnants, hypothesizing that (i ant abundance and species richness would be higher in high-complexity urban habitats, (ii ant assemblages would differ between low- and high-complexity habitats and (iii ants living in high-complexity habitats would be smaller than those living in low-complexity habitats. Contrary to our hypothesis, ant species richness was higher in low-complexity habitats compared to high-complexity habitats. Overall, ant assemblages were significantly different among the habitat complexity types investigated, although ant size and morphology remained the same. Habitat complexity appears to affect the structure of ant assemblages in urban ecosystems as previously observed in natural and semi-natural ecosystems. However, the habitat complexity filter does not seem to be linked to ant morphological traits related to body size.

  12. Urban habitat complexity affects species richness but not environmental filtering of morphologically-diverse ants

    Science.gov (United States)

    Nash, Michael A.; Christie, Fiona J.; Hahs, Amy K.; Livesley, Stephen J.

    2015-01-01

    Habitat complexity is a major determinant of structure and diversity of ant assemblages. Following the size-grain hypothesis, smaller ant species are likely to be advantaged in more complex habitats compared to larger species. Habitat complexity can act as an environmental filter based on species size and morphological traits, therefore affecting the overall structure and diversity of ant assemblages. In natural and semi-natural ecosystems, habitat complexity is principally regulated by ecological successions or disturbance such as fire and grazing. Urban ecosystems provide an opportunity to test relationships between habitat, ant assemblage structure and ant traits using novel combinations of habitat complexity generated and sustained by human management. We sampled ant assemblages in low-complexity and high-complexity parks, and high-complexity woodland remnants, hypothesizing that (i) ant abundance and species richness would be higher in high-complexity urban habitats, (ii) ant assemblages would differ between low- and high-complexity habitats and (iii) ants living in high-complexity habitats would be smaller than those living in low-complexity habitats. Contrary to our hypothesis, ant species richness was higher in low-complexity habitats compared to high-complexity habitats. Overall, ant assemblages were significantly different among the habitat complexity types investigated, although ant size and morphology remained the same. Habitat complexity appears to affect the structure of ant assemblages in urban ecosystems as previously observed in natural and semi-natural ecosystems. However, the habitat complexity filter does not seem to be linked to ant morphological traits related to body size. PMID:26528416

  13. Species-Specific Effects of Ant Inhabitants on Bromeliad Nutrition.

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Ana Z Gonçalves

    Full Text Available Predator activities may lead to the accumulation of nutrients in specific areas of terrestrial habitats where they dispose of prey carcasses. In their feeding sites, predators may increase nutrient availability in the soil and favor plant nutrition and growth. However, the translocation of nutrients from one habitat to another may depend on predator identity and diet, as well as on the amount of prey intake. Here we used isotopic (15N and physiological methods in greenhouse experiments to evaluate the effects of the identity of predatory ants (i.e., the consumption of prey and nest sites on the nutrition and growth of the bromeliad Quesnelia arvensis. We showed that predatory ants with protein-based nutrition (i.e., Odontomachus hastatus, Gnamptogenys moelleri improved the performance of their host bromeliads (i.e., increased foliar N, production of soluble proteins and growth. On the other hand, the contribution of Camponotus crassus for the nutritional status of bromeliads did not differ from bromeliads without ants, possibly because this ant does not have arthropod prey as a preferred food source. Our results show, for the first time, that predatory ants can translocate nutrients from one habitat to another within forests, accumulating nutrients in their feeding sites that become available to bromeliads. Additionally, we highlight that ant contribution to plant nutrition may depend on predator identity and its dietary requirements. Nest debris may be especially important for epiphytic and terrestrial bromeliads in nutrient-poor environments.

  14. Dietary soybean meal on growth and intestinal morphology of South American catfish, Rhamdia quelen, larvae Farelo de soja em dietas para larvas de jundiá (Rhamdia quelen sobre o crescimento e morfologia intestinal

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    David Roque Hernández

    2012-09-01

    Full Text Available The effects of the replacement of bread yeast by soybean meal in diets for Rhamdia quelen larvae on growth, survival, and intestinal morphology were analysed. Larvae were fed for 20 days with five diets: a control diet formulated with 57% of bread yeast, and other four diets in which soybean meal at concentrations of 14.25, 28.5, 42.75 and 57% was added to obtain 25, 50, 75 and 100% of bread yeast replacement. Growth and survival parameters were negatively affected by dietary soybean meal inclusion. Larvae fed control diet showed significantly higher mean weight, specific growth rate, final biomass, and survival rate than larvae from other treatments. Enterocyte height and fold width of the posterior intestine showed highest values in the control group, and an inverse linear relationship with the level of dietary soybean meal inclusion was observed, however, in the anterior intestine the morphology parameters were not affected by the diet. These results indicate that inclusion of soybean meal in diets for R. quelen larvae negatively affects growth and survival, as well as the capacity for digestion and absorption of nutrients, mainly in the posterior intestine.Neste estudo, foi analisado o efeito da substituição de levedura de pão por farelo de soja em dietas para larvas de Rhamdia quelen no crescimento, sobrevivência e morfologia intestinal. As larvas foram alimentadas durante 20 dias com cinco dietas experimentais: uma dieta controle formulada com 57% de levedura de pão e quatro dietas em que o farelo de soja foi adicionado em 14,25, 28,5, 42,75 e 57% para obter 25, 50, 75 e 100% de substituição de levedura de pão. As variáveis de crescimento e sobrevivência foram negativamente afetadas pela inclusão da soja na dieta. As larvas alimentadas com a dieta controle apresentaram maior peso médio, taxa de crescimento específico, biomassa final e sobrevivência, diferindo significativamente dos demais tratamentos. A altura dos enter

  15. New fossil ants in French Cretaceous amber (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

    Science.gov (United States)

    Perrichot, Vincent; Nel, André; Néraudeau, Didier; Lacau, Sébastien; Guyot, Thierry

    2008-02-01

    Recent studies on the ant phylogeny are mainly based on the molecular analyses of extant subfamilies and do not include the extinct, only Cretaceous subfamily Sphecomyrminae. However, the latter is of major importance for ant relationships, as it is considered the most basal subfamily. Therefore, each new discovery of a Mesozoic ant is of high interest for improving our understanding of their early history and basal relationships. In this paper, a new sphecomyrmine ant, allied to the Burmese amber genus Haidomyrmex, is described from mid-Cretaceous amber of France as Haidomyrmodes mammuthus gen. and sp. n. The diagnosis of the tribe Haidomyrmecini is emended based on the new type material, which includes a gyne (alate female) and two incomplete workers. The genus Sphecomyrmodes, hitherto known by a single species from Burmese amber, is also reported and a new species described as S. occidentalis sp. n. after two workers remarkably preserved in a single piece of Early Cenomanian French amber. The new fossils provide additional information on early ant diversity and relationships and demonstrate that the monophyly of the Sphecomyrminae, as currently defined, is still weakly supported.

  16. Ants farm subterranean aphids mostly in single clone groups

    DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

    Ivens, Aniek B.F.; Kronauer, Daniel Jan Christoph; Pen, Ido

    2012-01-01

    mutualisms have been studied in sufficient genetic detail to address these issues, so we decided to characterize symbiont diversity in the complex mutualism between multiple root aphid species and Lasius flavus ants. After showing elsewhere that three of these aphid species have low dispersal and mostly...... if not exclusively asexual reproduction, we here investigate aphid diversity within and between ant nest mounds. Results The three focal species (Geoica utricularia, Forda marginata and Tetraneura ulmi) had considerable clonal diversity at the population level. Yet more than half of the ant mounds contained just....... The ants appear to eat most of the early instar aphids, so that adult aphids are unlikely to face limited phloem resources and scramble competition with other aphids. We suggest that such culling of carbohydrate-providing symbionts for protein ingestion may maintain maximal host yield per aphid while also...

  17. Novel fungal disease in complex leaf-cutting ant societies

    DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

    Hughes, David Peter; Evans, Harry C.; Hywel-Jones, Nigel

    2009-01-01

    1. The leaf-cutting ants practise an advanced system of mycophagy where they grow a fungus as a food source. As a consequence of parasite threats to their crops, they have evolved a system of morphological, behavioural, and chemical defences, particularly against fungal pathogens (mycopathogens). 2....... Specific fungal diseases of the leaf-cutting ants themselves have not been described, possibly because broad spectrum anti-fungal defences against mycopathogens have reduced their susceptibility to entomopathogens. 3. Using morphological and molecular tools, the present study documents three rare infection...... events of Acromyrmex and Atta leaf-cutting ants by Ophiocordyceps fungi, agenus of entomopathogens that is normally highly specific in its host choice. 4. As leaf-cutting ants have been intensively studied, the absence of prior records of Ophiocordyceps suggests that these infections may be a novel event...

  18. Operant conditioning in the ant Myrmica sabuleti.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Cammaerts, M C

    2004-11-30

    Operant conditioning could be obtained in the ant Myrmica sabuleti by presenting to the workers, during a six-day period, an apparatus containing either sugared water or meat as a reward. The conditioning obtained using sugared water as a reward was short lasting. A reconditioning was more persistent and lasted four hours. The ants' response was very precise, since they exhibited it only in front of an apparatus identical to that used during the training phase. Operant conditioning obtained using meat as a reward was more pronounced than that obtained by using sugared water, probably because meat is more valuable as a reward than sugar for the species studied, which is essentially a carnivorous one. Such a conditioning was rather persistent. Indeed, a first operant conditioning obtained by using meat as a reward could still be detected after seven hours, and a reconditioning was still significant after eight hours. One day after this eight-hour period without rewarding the ants, the response was higher again and a further day later, it was still significant. Since the operant conditioning is easy to perform and quantify and since the ants' response is very precise, such a conditioning can be used for further studying M. sabuleti workers' visual perception.

  19. Evaluación nutricional de harina de nopal en dietas para borregos.

    OpenAIRE

    Muciño Castillo, Gabriela

    2014-01-01

    La deshidratación del nopal es un método de conservación para alargar su vida útil y para mejorar su utilización como forraje en la alimentación de borregos. Los objetivos de este estudio fueron evaluar: 1) el contenido nutrimental, la degradación de la MS y la producción de gas in vitro de harinas de Opuntia robusta, Opuntia ficus indica var Copena F1, Opuntia albicarpa var Blanca San Martín, Opuntia megacantha var Roja San Martín y Opuntia ficus indica var Atlixco, y de dietas totalmente me...

  20. Ant parasite queens revert to mating singly

    DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

    Sumner, Seirian; Hughes, William Owen Hamar; Pedersen, Jes Søe

    2004-01-01

    quantified and they tend to be similar in related species. Here we compare the mating strategies of the leaf-cutting ant Acromyrmex echinatior and its recently derived social parasite Acromyrmex insinuator, which is also its closest relative 2 (see Fig. 1 ). We find that although the host queens mate with up......A parasitic ant has abandoned the multiple mating habit of the queens of its related host. Multiple mating (polyandry) is widespread among animal groups, particularly insects 1 . But the factors that maintain it and underlie its evolution are hard to verify because benefits and costs are not easily...... to a dozen different males, the social parasite mates only singly. This rapid and surprising reversion to single mating in a socially parasitic ant indicates that the costs of polyandry are probably specific to a free-living lifestyle....

  1. The worldwide expansion of the Argentine ant

    DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

    Vogel, Valerie; Pedersen, Jes Søe; Giraud, Tatiana

    2010-01-01

    Aim The aim of this study was to determine the number of successful establishments of the invasive Argentine ant outside native range and to see whether introduced supercolonies have resulted from single or multiple introductions. We also compared the genetic diversity of native versus introduced...... supercolonies to assess the size of the propagules (i.e. the number of founding individuals) at the origin of the introduced supercolonies. Location Global. Methods We used mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) markers and microsatellite loci to study 39 supercolonies of the Argentine ant Linepithema humile covering both......) and secondary introductions (from sites with established invasive supercolonies) were important in the global expansion of the Argentine ant. In combination with the similar social organization of colonies in the native and introduced range, this indicates that invasiveness did not evolve recently as a unique...

  2. Análise do extrato aquoso de Arachis hipoagea L. no combate à dislipidemia e ao ganho ponderal de ratos Wistar submetidos à dieta hiperlipídica1

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Thárcia K.B. de Oliveira

    Full Text Available RESUMO: O objetivo desse estudo foi avaliar os efeitos do Extrato Aquoso de Amendoim (EAA no peso, bioquímica sérica e na histologia hepática de ratos Wistar submetidos a dietas normo e hiperlipídicas. A pesquisa foi realizada utilizando 40 ratos Wistar machos, divididos em quatro grupos (n=10: GA (dieta hiperlipídica, GB (dieta hiperlipídica +EAA, GC (dieta normolipídica e GD (dieta normolipídica +EAA. Após 8 semanas, os animais foram eutanasiados e foram coletadas amostras sanguíneas para a avaliação de dados bioquímicos (Colesterol total e suas frações, triglicerídeos, uréia, creatinina, AST, ALT e glicemia e fragmentos do fígado para análise histológica. Os animais do grupo GB tiveram um ganho de peso inferior quando comparados ao GA (XGB= versus XGA= p<0,05, já os grupos GC e GD não obtiveram diferenças estatísticas. Os animais que receberam o EAA tiveram uma redução nos níveis de colesterol (XGB= versus XGA= p<0,05 e XGD= versus XGA= p<0,01, dos triglicerídeos (XGB= versus XGA e XGD= versus XGA= p<0,001 e mais discretamente dos níveis de ALT. A glicemia, uréia e creatina permaneceram dentro dos valores de referência. As amostras hepáticas analisadas, dos ratos dos diferentes grupos, não apresentaram alterações histopatológicas. Conclui-se que O EAA apresentou efeitos preventivos sobre o ganho ponderal e dislipidemia.

  3. Urban physiology: city ants possess high heat tolerance.

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Michael J Angilletta

    Full Text Available Urbanization has caused regional increases in temperature that exceed those measured on a global scale, leading to urban heat islands as much as 12 degrees C hotter than their surroundings. Optimality models predict ectotherms in urban areas should tolerate heat better and cold worse than ectotherms in rural areas. We tested these predications by measuring heat and cold tolerances of leaf-cutter ants from South America's largest city (São Paulo, Brazil. Specifically, we compared thermal tolerances of ants from inside and outside of the city. Knock-down resistance and chill-coma recovery were used as indicators of heat and cold tolerances, respectively. Ants from within the city took 20% longer to lose mobility at 42 degrees C than ants from outside the city. Interestingly, greater heat tolerance came at no obvious expense of cold tolerance; hence, our observations only partially support current theory. Our results indicate that thermal tolerances of some organisms can respond to rapid changes in climate. Predictive models should account for acclimatory and evolutionary responses during climate change.

  4. Extrafloral nectar fuels ant life in deserts

    OpenAIRE

    Aranda-Rickert, Adriana; Diez, Patricia; Marazzi, Brigitte

    2014-01-01

    Interactions mediated by extrafloral nectary (EFN)-bearing plants that reward ants with a sweet liquid secretion are well documented in temperate and tropical habitats. However, their distribution and abundance in deserts are poorly known. In this study, we test the predictions that biotic interactions between EFN plants and ants are abundant and common also in arid communities and that EFNs are only functional when new vegetative and reproductive structures are developing. In a seasonal dese...

  5. Antígonas. Una visión intertextual

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Elena Cano Turrión

    2011-04-01

    Full Text Available In this article and from an intertextual point of view, we will try to examine how theSophoclean hypotext has generated three very different hypertexts. The first one is the short story“Antígona o la elección” by M. Yourcenar, which goes further the religious motivation in the originaltext; then, there is an essay written as a dialogue by Maria Zambrano, entitled La tumba de Antígonawhich main topics are confrontation against power, lack of freedom and destiny and faith in humanconscience. Finally, Luis Riaza’s Antígona…¡Cerda! Appears closer to its hypotext but at the same timesemantic deviation becomes more relevant.

  6. Efecto de Gentianella alborosea en esteatosis hepática no alcohólica inducida por dieta hiperlipídica en ratas holtzman hembras

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    L Ugaz-Soto

    2013-01-01

    Full Text Available Objetivo: Determinar el efecto del extracto de Gentianella alborosea como tratamiento contra esteatosis hepática no alcohólica (EHNA  inducida por dieta hiperlipídica en ratas Holtzman hembras. Métodos: Diseño: Estudio experimental incompleto. Lugar: Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Lima, Perú. Participantes: Ratas Holtzman hembras. Intervenciones: Se utilizó 32 ratas repartidas en 4 grupos (n=8 distribuidos aleatoriamente: grupo control negativo, control positivo con dieta hiperlipídica, dosis 1 (35 mg/kg y dosis 2 (70 mg/kg. Se indujo EHNA con dieta hiperlipídica (Carbohidratos: 26%, Lípidos: 59% y Proteínas: 15% Calorías durante un período de 21 días, ad libitum. Luego, se administró el extracto acuoso de Gentianella alborosea por 4 días. Finalmente, se extrajeron los hígados para evaluar las alteraciones histopatológicas del parénquima hepático. Principales medidas de resultados: Se realizó el conteo microscópico de hepatocitos afectados con macrovacuolas, y los resultados fueron comparados mediante las pruebas de ANOVA (p<0,05 y HSD de Tukey (p<0,05. Resultados: Se encontró diferencias significativas (p<0.05 en el porcentaje de hepatocitos afectados entre los grupos dosis 1 (3.25 ± 2.27 y el control positivo (7.50 ± 3.76. Además, no se encontró diferencia significativa entre los grupos dosis 1 y dosis 2. Conclusiones: No se pudo determinar el efecto de Gentianella alborosea sobre la esteatosis hepática no alcohólica inducida por dieta hiperlipídica en ratas Holtzman hembra, por lo que se recomiendan estudios posteriores.

  7. Reaction of mutualistic and granivorous ants to ulex elaiosome chemicals.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Gammans, Nicola; Bullock, James M; Gibbons, Hannah; Schönrogge, Karsten

    2006-09-01

    It has been proposed that chemicals on plant elaiosomes aid seed detection by seed-dispersing ants. We hypothesized that the chemical interaction between ants and elaiosomes is more intimate than a generic attraction, and that elaiosome chemicals will attract mutualistic but not granivorous ant species. We investigated this by using two gorse species, Ulex minor and U. europaeus, and two associated ant species from European heathlands, the mutualist Myrmica ruginodis and the granivore Tetramorium caespitum. Behavioral studies were conducted with laboratory nests and foraging arenas. Both ants will take Ulex seeds, but while M. ruginodis showed increased antennation toward ether extracts of elaiosome surface chemicals compared with controls, T. caespitum showed no response. Elaiosome extracts were separated into seven lipid fractions. M. ruginodis showed increased antennation only toward the diglyceride fractions of both Ulex species, whereas T. caespitum showed no consistent reaction. This indicates that M. ruginodis can detect the elaiosome by responding to its surface chemicals, but T. caespitum is unresponsive to these chemicals. Responses to surface chemicals could increase the rate of seed detection in the field, and so these results suggest that Ulex elaiosomes produce chemicals that facilitate attraction of mutualistic rather than granivorous ant species. This could reduce seed predation and increase Ulex fitness.

  8. [Syagrus romanzoffiana (Arecaceae) seed utilization by ants in a secondary forest in South Brazil].

    Science.gov (United States)

    Silva, Fernanda R; Begnini, Romualdo M; Klier, Vinícius A; Scherer, Karla Z; Lopes, Benedito C; Castellani, Tânia T

    2009-01-01

    Ants can nest in a wide variety of substracts. This paper shows Syagrus romanzoffiana seed utilization by ants in an Atlantic secondary forest. We report 29 seeds occupied by small-bodied ants, with 27 of them showing at least two ant development stages. Although a large number of seeds were sampled, a low level of ant occupation was observed.

  9. Recognition of social identity in ants

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Nick eBos

    2012-03-01

    Full Text Available Recognizing the identity of others, from the individual to the group level, is a hallmark of society. Ants, and other social insects, have evolved advanced societies characterized by efficient social recognition systems. Colony identity is mediated by colony specific signature mixtures, a blend of hydrocarbons present on the cuticle of every individual (the label. Recognition occurs when an ant encounters another individual, and compares the label it perceives to an internal representation of its own colony odor (the template. A mismatch between label and template leads to rejection of the encountered individual. Although advances have been made in our understanding of how the label is produced and acquired, contradictory evidence exists about information processing of recognition cues. Here, we review the literature on template acquisition in ants and address how and when the template is formed, where in the nervous system it is localized, and the possible role of learning. We combine seemingly contradictory evidence in to a novel, parsimonious theory for the information processing of nestmate recognition cues.

  10. Comportamento ingestivo e parâmetros sanguíneos em ovinos que receberam dietas contendo aditivos à base de extratos de própolis em pó

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    O.P. Prado-Calixto

    Full Text Available RESUMO Objetivou-se avaliar os efeitos do extrato de própolis (LLOSC2 sobre o comportamento ingestivo e os parâmetros sanguíneos em cordeiros alimentados com dieta concentrada. Foram utilizados quatro cordeiros machos, castrados, sem raça definida e com peso médio inicial de 32±1,92kg, mantidos em gaiolas metabólicas individuais durante todo o período experimental. O delineamento experimental foi em quadrado latino 4x4, com quatro animais, quatro dietas e quatro períodos experimentais. As dietas diferiram em relação à adição ou não de extratos de própolis à ração. As dietas testadas diferiam na adição de zero (controle, 1(88,16mg/g de flavonoides, duas (176,32mg/g de flavonoides ou três (264,48mg/g de flavonoides doses de aditivo à base de extrato de própolis LLOSC2. A dieta tinha relação volumoso:concentrado de 40:60 e foi formulada para ganhos de 250g. A ração concentrada era composta de milho e farelo de soja. O comportamento ingestivo dos animais foi observado por 24 horas, divididas em quatro períodos de seis horas. As coletas de sangue eram realizadas no último dia do período. Não houve efeito das doses LLOSC2 sobre o tempo despendido em alimentação, ruminação, ócio e ingestão de água. A duração do ciclo ruminativo foi maior nos animais que receberam duas doses de LLOSC2, e o número de movimentos mastigatórios também tendeu a aumentar no período que compreendia das 13 às 19h. Já a dieta contendo uma dose de LLOSC2 aumentou a duração da ruminação do bolo bem como o seu número total de mastigações no período de uma a sete horas. Houve uma diminuição nos níveis séricos de cortisol com a adição de três doses de LLOSC2. O hemograma, o leucograma, o perfil bioquímico e as imunoglobulinas não foram afetados pela inclusão das doses de LLSOC2. A administração de extrato de própolis LLOSC2 à dieta de ovinos não afetou seu comportamento ingestivo, os parâmetros hematol

  11. In vitro studies of ante-mortem proliferation kinetics

    International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

    McBride, W.H.; Withers, H.R.

    1986-01-01

    Using K562 human erythroblastoid cells, it was concluded that dose fractionation has no discrepant effect on the ante-mortem proliferation kinetics of doomed cells as opposed to clonogenic cell survival and that effects on ante-mortem proliferation kinetics cannot be solely responsible for the differences in fractionation response between early and late responding tissues. (UK)

  12. Bacteria may contribute to distant species recognition in ant-aphid mutualistic relationships.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Fischer, Christophe Y; Detrain, Claire; Thonart, Philippe; Haubruge, Eric; Francis, Frédéric; Verheggen, François J; Lognay, Georges C

    2017-04-01

    Mutualistic interactions between ant and aphid species have been the subject of considerable historical and contemporary investigations, the primary benefits being cleaning and protection for the aphids and carbohydrate-rich honeydew for the ants. Questions remained, however, as to the volatile semiochemical factor influencing this relationship. A recent study highlighted the role of bacterial honeydew volatile compounds in ant attraction. Here, ant's ability to distantly discriminate 2 aphid species was investigated based on bacterial honeydew semiochemicals emissions using a two-way olfactometer. Both the mutualistic aphid Aphis fabae L. and the nonmyrmecophilous aphid Acyrthosiphon pisum Harris were found to be attractive for the ant Lasius niger L. The level of attraction was similar in both assays (control vs. one of the aphid species). However, when given a choice between these 2 aphid species, ants showed a significant preference for Aphis fabae. Honeydew volatiles, mostly from bacterial origins, are known to be a key element in ant attraction. Using the same olfactometry protocol, the relative attractiveness of volatiles emitted by honeydews collected from each aphid species and by bacteria isolated from each honeydew was investigated. Again, ants significantly preferred volatiles released by Aphis fabae honeydew and bacteria. This information suggests that microbial honeydew volatiles enable ants to distantly discriminate aphid species. These results strengthen the interest of studying the occurrence and potential impact of microorganisms in insect symbioses. © 2015 Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences.

  13. Eficacia de una dieta mediterránea en la prevención primaria de insuficiencia cardiaca y fibrilación auricular en hipertensos de alto riesgo cardiovascular

    OpenAIRE

    Lozano Rodríguez, Jesús Manuel

    2016-01-01

    Falta palabras clave Objetivos: Principal. Estudiar el efecto de una dieta mediterránea (DTM), en comparación con una dieta baja en grasas (DBG), sobre la incidencia de insuficiencia cardiaca (IC), fibrilación auricular (FA), ictus y cardiopatía isquémica (CI) en pacientes hipertensos de alto riesgo cardiovascular, que reciben tratamiento farmacológico antihipertensivo y que aún no han presentado ninguna manifestación clínica de enfermedad del aparato circulatorio y no tienen FA. Secundari...

  14. Targeted removal of ant colonies in ecological experiments, using hot water.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Tschinkel, Walter R; King, Joshua R

    2007-01-01

    Ecological experiments on fire ants cannot, or should not, use poison baits to eliminate the fire ants because such baits are not specific to fire ants, or even to ants. Hot water is an extremely effective and specific killing agent for fire ant colonies, but producing large amounts of hot water in the field, and making the production apparatus mobile have been problematical. The construction and use of a charcoal-fired kiln made from a 55-gal. oil drum lined with a sand-fireclay mixture is described. An automobile heater fan powered from a 12-v battery provided a draft. Dual bilge pumps pumped water from a large tank through a long coil of copper tubing within the kiln to produce 4 to 5 l. of hot water per min. The hot water was collected in 20 l. buckets and poured into fire ant nests previously opened by piercing with a stick. The entire assembly was transported in and operated from the back of a pickup truck. Five experimental plots containing 32 to 38 colonies of the fire ant, Solenopsis invicta, Buren (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), were treated with hot water over a period of two years. All colonies on the treatment plots were treated twice with hot water early in 2004, reducing their numbers to zero. However new colonies were formed, and mature colonies expanded into the plots. A third treatment was made in the spring of 2005, after which fire ant populations were suppressed for over a year. Whereas the 5 control plots contained a total of 166 mostly large colonies, the 5 treatment plots contained no live colonies at all. Averaged over a two-year period, a 70% reduction in total number of colonies was achieved (P ants.

  15. The genomic impact of 100 million years of social evolution in seven ant species

    DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

    Gadau, Jürgen; Helmkampf, Martin; Nygaard, Sanne

    2012-01-01

    Ants (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) represent one of the most successful eusocial taxa in terms of both their geographic distribution and species number. The publication of seven ant genomes within the past year was a quantum leap for socio- and ant genomics. The diversity of social organization in ants...... between social and solitary insects, as well as among ant species. Altogether, these seven ant genomes open exciting new research avenues and opportunities for understanding the genetic basis and regulation of social species, and adaptive complex systems in general....... makes them excellent model organisms to study the evolution of social systems. Comparing the ant genomes with those of the honeybee, a lineage that evolved eusociality independently from ants, and solitary insects suggests that there are significant differences in key aspects of genome organization...

  16. Two castes sizes of leafcutter ants in task partitioning in foraging activity

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Marcelo Arruda de Toledo

    Full Text Available ABSTRACT: Task partitioning in eusocial animals is most likely an evolutionary adaptation that optimizes the efficiency of the colony to grow and reproduce. It was investigated indirect task partitioning in two castes sizes; this involves task partitioning in which the material transported is not transferred directly from one individual to another, but where it is dropped by one ant to be picked up by another. In two separate approaches, it was confirmed previous results pertaining to leaf caching activities among Atta colombica with task partitioning activities involving leaf dropping among Atta sexdens rubropilosa , in which there is a correlation between the size of an individual ant and the leaf fragment it transports. It was also suggested that this correlation exists only in individual ants that cut and transport (CaT the same fragment to the nest. When task partitioning occurs and individual ants transporting (T leaf fragments cut by other ants, the correlation becomes looser or disappears. We also observed that CaT ants are smaller than T ants.

  17. Infection of army ant pupae by two new parasitoid mites (Mesostigmata: Uropodina

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Adrian Brückner

    2017-10-01

    Full Text Available A great variety of parasites and parasitoids exploit ant societies. Among them are the Mesostigmata mites, a particularly common and diverse group of ant-associated arthropods. While parasitism is ubiquitous in Mesostigmata, parasitoidism has only been described in the genus Macrodinychus. Yet information about the basic biology of most Macrodinychus species is lacking. Out of 24 formally described species, information about basic life-history traits is only available for three species. Here we formally describe two new Macrodinychus species, i.e. Macrodinychus hilpertae and Macrodinychus derbyensis. In both species, immature stages developed as ecto-parasitoids on ant pupae of the South-East Asian army ant Leptogenys distinguenda. By piercing the developing ant with their chelicera, the mites apparently suck ant hemolymph, ultimately killing host individuals. We compare infection rates among all studied Macrodinychus species and discuss possible host countermeasures against parasitoidism. The cryptic lifestyle of living inside ant nests has certainly hampered the scientific discovery of Macrodinychus mites and we expect that many more macrodinychid species await scientific discovery and description.

  18. Infection of army ant pupae by two new parasitoid mites (Mesostigmata: Uropodina).

    Science.gov (United States)

    Brückner, Adrian; Klompen, Hans; Bruce, Andrew Iain; Hashim, Rosli; von Beeren, Christoph

    2017-01-01

    A great variety of parasites and parasitoids exploit ant societies. Among them are the Mesostigmata mites, a particularly common and diverse group of ant-associated arthropods. While parasitism is ubiquitous in Mesostigmata, parasitoidism has only been described in the genus Macrodinychus . Yet information about the basic biology of most Macrodinychus species is lacking. Out of 24 formally described species, information about basic life-history traits is only available for three species. Here we formally describe two new Macrodinychus species, i.e. Macrodinychus hilpertae and Macrodinychus derbyensis . In both species, immature stages developed as ecto-parasitoids on ant pupae of the South-East Asian army ant Leptogenys distinguenda . By piercing the developing ant with their chelicera, the mites apparently suck ant hemolymph, ultimately killing host individuals. We compare infection rates among all studied Macrodinychus species and discuss possible host countermeasures against parasitoidism. The cryptic lifestyle of living inside ant nests has certainly hampered the scientific discovery of Macrodinychus mites and we expect that many more macrodinychid species await scientific discovery and description.

  19. Evidences that human disturbance simplify the ant fauna associated a Stachytarpheta glabra Cham. (Verbenaceae compromising the benefits of ant-plant mutualism

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    BC. Barbosa

    Full Text Available Interaction among species, like ants and plants through extrafloral nectaries (EFNs, are important components of ecological communities’ evolution. However, the effect of human disturbance on such specific interactions and its ecological consequences is poorly understood. This study evaluated the outcomes of mutualism between ants and the EFN-bearing plant Stachytarpheta glabra under anthropogenic disturbance. We compared the arthropod fauna composition between two groups of twenty plant individuals, one in an area disturbed by human activities and one in a preserved area. We also check the plant investment in herbivory defense and the consequential leaf damage by herbivore. Our results indicate that such disturbances cause simplification of the associated fauna and lack of proper ant mutualist. This led to four times more herbivory on plants of disturbed areas, despite the equal amount of EFN and ant visitors and low abundance of herbivores. The high pressure of herbivory may difficult the re-establishment of S. glabra, an important pioneer species in ferruginous fields, therefore it may affect resilience of this fragile ecological community.

  20. Olfactory memory established during trophallaxis affects food search behaviour in ants.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Provecho, Yael; Josens, Roxana

    2009-10-01

    Camponotus mus ants can associate sucrose and odour at the source during successive foraging cycles and use this memory to locate the nectar in the absence of other cues. These ants perform conspicuous trophallactic behaviour during recruitment while foraging for nectar. In this work, we studied whether Camponotus mus ants are able to establish this odour-sucrose association in the social context of trophallaxis and we evaluated this memory in another context previously experienced by the ant, as a nectar source. After a single trophallaxis of a scented solution, the receiver ant was tested in a Y-maze without any reward, where two scents were presented: in one arm, the solution scent and in the other, a new scent. Ants consistently chose the arm with the solution scent and stayed longer therein. Trophallaxis duration had no effect on the arm choice or with the time spent in each arm. Workers are able to associate an odour (conditioned stimulus) with the sucrose (unconditioned stimulus) they receive through a social interaction and use this memory as choice criteria during food searching.

  1. Experiencia con la dieta cetogénica como tratamiento en la epilepsia refractaria

    OpenAIRE

    Ramírez Camacho, Alia; Meavilla, Silvia; Catalán, Natalia; Gutiérrez, Alejandra; Campistol Plana, Jaume

    2011-01-01

    Introducción: La epilepsia es una enfermedad neurológica que se controla con fármacos antiepilépticos en la mayoría de casos. Sin embargo, aproximadamente un 25% de epilepsias son refractarias al tratamiento farmacológico. La dieta cetogénica es una de las opciones terapéuticas para este tipo de epilepsia. A pesar del aumento en los últimos años de la popularidad de ésta como tratamiento anticonvulsivo, no se ha establecido un consenso internacional para sus indicaciones y manejo. Objetivo: E...

  2. USING ANT COMMUNITIES FOR RAPID ASSESSMENT OF TERRESTRIAL ECOSYSTEM HEALTH

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Wike, L; Doug Martin, D; Michael Paller, M; Eric Nelson, E

    2007-01-12

    Ecosystem health with its near infinite number of variables is difficult to measure, and there are many opinions as to which variables are most important, most easily measured, and most robust, Bioassessment avoids the controversy of choosing which physical and chemical parameters to measure because it uses responses of a community of organisms that integrate all aspects of the system in question. A variety of bioassessment methods have been successfully applied to aquatic ecosystems using fish and macroinvertebrate communities. Terrestrial biotic index methods are less developed than those for aquatic systems and we are seeking to address this problem here. This study had as its objective to examine the baseline differences in ant communities at different seral stages from clear cut back to mature pine plantation as a precursor to developing a bioassessment protocol. Comparative sampling was conducted at four seral stages; clearcut, 5 year, 15 year and mature pine plantation stands. Soil and vegetation data were collected at each site. All ants collected were preserved in 70% ethyl alcohol and identified to genus. Analysis of the ant data indicates that ants respond strongly to the habitat changes that accompany ecological succession in managed pine forests and that individual genera as well as ant community structure can be used as an indicator of successional change. Ants exhibited relatively high diversity in both early and mature seral stages. High ant diversity in the mature seral stages was likely related to conditions on the forest floor which favored litter dwelling and cool climate specialists.

  3. Novel Phialophora species from leaf-cutting ants (tribe Attini)

    NARCIS (Netherlands)

    Attili-Angelis, D.; Duarte, A.P.M.; Pagnocca, F.C.; Nagamoto, N.S.; de Vries, M.; Stielow, J.B.; de Hoog, G.S.

    2014-01-01

    Ants in the tribe Attini (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) maintain a 50 million-year-old lifestyle of co-evolution with symbiotic basidiomycetous fungi which they cultivate as essential source of nutrition. However, other microorganisms have been reported from ant habitats indicating a higher diversity of

  4. Why do house-hunting ants recruit in both directions?

    NARCIS (Netherlands)

    Planqué, R.; Dechaume-Moncharmont, F.-X.; Franks, N.R.; Kovacs, T.; Marshall, J.A.R.

    2007-01-01

    To perform tasks, organisms often use multiple procedures. Explaining the breadth of such behavioural repertoires is not always straightforward. During house hunting, colonies of Temnothorax albipennis ants use a range of behaviours to organise their emigrations. In particular, the ants use tandem

  5. AntBot: Anti-pollution peer-to-peer botnets

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Yan, Guanhua [Los Alamos National Laboratory; Eidenbenz, Stephan [Los Alamos National Laboratory; Ha, Duc T [UNIV. AT BUFFALO

    2009-01-01

    Botnets, which are responsible for many email sparnming and DDoS (Distributed Denial of Service) attacks in the current Internet, have emerged as one of most severe cyber-threats in recent years. To evade detection and improve resistance against countermeasures, botnets have evolved from the first generation that relies on IRC chat channels to deliver commands to the current generation that uses highly resilient P2P (Peer-to-Peer) protocols to spread their C&C (Command and Control) information. It is, however, revealed that P2P botnets, although relieved from the single point of failure that IRC botnets suffer, can be easily disrupted using pollution-based mitigation schemes [15]. In this paper, we play the devil's advocate and propose a new type of hypothetical botnets called AntBot, which aim to propagate their C&C information to individual bots even though there exists an adversary that persistently pollutes keys used by seized bots to search the command information. The key idea of AntBot is a tree-like structure that bots use to deliver the command so that captured bots reveal only limited information. To evaluate effectiveness of AntBot against pollution-based mitigation in a virtual environment, we develop a distributed P2P botnet simulator. Using extensive experiments, we demonstrate that AntBot operates resiliently against pollution-based mitigation. We further present a few potential defense schemes that could effectively disrupt AntBot operations.

  6. Intrapopulation differences in ant eating in the mountain gorillas of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Uganda.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Ganas, Jessica; Robbins, Martha M

    2004-10-01

    Variability in ant eating has been observed in several populations of eastern and western gorillas. We investigated the occurrence of ant (Dorylus sp.) eating in two groups of mountain gorillas (Gorilla beringei beringei) with overlapping home ranges within Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Uganda from September 2001 to August 2002. We calculated the frequency of ant eating by an indirect method of analyzing fecal samples from silverbacks, adult females, and juveniles. One group consumed ants significantly more often than the other (3.3 vs 17.6% of days sampled). Furthermore, the group that consumed ants more often also consumed them on a seasonal basis (September-February monthly range: 0-8%; March-August monthly range: 30-42.9%). Finally, females and juveniles of this group consumed ants significantly more often than did the silverback (total samples containing ants: silverback, 2.1%; adult female, 13.2%; juvenile, 11.2%). Differences in ant eating between groups are likely due to variability in use of habitats where ants occur (particularly secondary forests). Surveys of ant densities in differing habitats, nutritional analysis of ants, and quantification of the amount of ants in their diets are necessary to understand if ant consumption is due to availability, nutritional value, group traditions, or taste preference.

  7. Seasonal dynamics of ant community structure in the Moroccan Argan Forest.

    Science.gov (United States)

    El Keroumi, Abderrahim; Naamani, Khalid; Soummane, Hassna; Dahbi, Abdallah

    2012-01-01

    In this study we describe the structure and composition of ant communities in the endemic Moroccan Argan forest, using pitfall traps sampling technique throughout the four seasons between May 2006 and February 2007. The study focused on two distinct climatic habitats within the Essaouira Argan forest, a semi-continental site at Lahssinate, and a coastal site at Boutazarte. Thirteen different ant species were identified, belonging to seven genera. Monomorium subopacum Smith and Tapinoma simrothi Krausse-Heldrungen (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) were the most abundant and behaviorally dominant ant species in the arganeraie. In addition, more specimens were captured in the semi-continental site than in the coastal area. However, no significant difference was observed in species richness, evenness, or diversity between both sites. Composition and community structure showed clear seasonal dynamics. The number of species, their abundance, their diversity, and their evenness per Argan tree were significantly dissimilar among seasons. The richness (except between summer and autumn), and the abundance and the evenness of ant species among communities, showed a significant difference between the dry period (summer and spring) and the rainy period (winter and autumn). Higher abundance and richness values occurred in the dry period of the year. Ant species dominance and seasonal climatic variations in the arganeraie might be among the main factors affecting the composition, structure, and foraging activity of ant communities. This study, together with recent findings on ant predation behavior below Argan trees, highlights the promising use of dominant ant species as potential agents of Mediterranean fruit fly bio-control in the Argan forest and surrounding ecosystems.

  8. Trail pheromone of the Argentine ant, Linepithema humile (Mayr (Hymenoptera: Formicidae.

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Dong-Hwan Choe

    Full Text Available The Argentine ant (Linepithema humile is recognized as one of the world's most damaging invasive species. One reason for the ecological dominance of introduced Argentine ant populations is their ability to dominate food and habitat resources through the rapid mobilization and recruitment of thousands of workers. More than 30 years ago, studies showed that (Z-9-hexadecenal strongly attracted Argentine ant workers in a multi-choice olfactometer, suggesting that (Z-9-hexadecenal might be the trail pheromone, or a component of a trail pheromone mixture. Since then, numerous studies have considered (Z-9-hexadecenal as the key component of the Argentine ant trails. Here, we report the first chemical analyses of the trails laid by living Argentine ants and find that (Z-9-hexadecenal is not present in a detectible quantity. Instead, two iridoids, dolichodial and iridomyrmecin, appear to be the primary chemical constituents of the trails. Laboratory choice tests confirmed that Argentine ants were attracted to artificial trails comprised of these two chemicals significantly more often than control trails. Although (Z-9-hexadecenal was not detected in natural trails, supplementation of artificial dolichodial+iridomyrmecin trails with an extremely low concentraion of (Z-9-hexadecenal did increase the efficacy of the trail-following behavior. In stark contrast with previous dogma, our study suggests that dolichodial and iridomyrmecin are major components of the Argentine ant trail pheromone. (Z-9-hexadecenal may act in an additive manner with these iridoids, but it does not occur in detectable quantities in Argentine ant recruitment trails.

  9. The effects of ant nests on soil fertility and plant performance: a meta-analysis.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Farji-Brener, Alejandro G; Werenkraut, Victoria

    2017-07-01

    Ants are recognized as one of the major sources of soil disturbance world-wide. However, this view is largely based on isolated studies and qualitative reviews. Here, for the first time, we quantitatively determined whether ant nests affect soil fertility and plant performance, and identified the possible sources of variation of these effects. Using Bayesian mixed-models meta-analysis, we tested the hypotheses that ant effects on soil fertility and plant performance depend on the substrate sampled, ant feeding type, latitude, habitat and the plant response variable measured. Ant nests showed higher nutrient and cation content than adjacent non-nest soil samples, but similar pH. Nutrient content was higher in ant refuse materials than in nest soils. The fertilizer effect of ant nests was also higher in dry habitats than in grasslands or savannas. Cation content was higher in nests of plant-feeding ants than in nests of omnivorous species, and lower in nests from agro-ecosystems than in nests from any other habitat. Plants showed higher green/root biomass and fitness on ant nests soils than in adjacent, non-nest sites; but plant density and diversity were unaffected by the presence of ant nests. Root growth was particularly higher in refuse materials than in ant nest soils, in leaf-cutting ant nests and in deserts habitats. Our results confirm the major role of ant nests in influencing soil fertility and vegetation patterns and provide information about the factors that mediate these effects. First, ant nests improve soil fertility mainly through the accumulation of refuse materials. Thus, different refuse dump locations (external or in underground nest chambers) could benefit different vegetation life-forms. Second, ant nests could increase plant diversity at larger spatial scales only if the identity of favoured plants changes along environmental gradients (i.e. enhancing β-diversity). Third, ant species that feed on plants play a relevant role fertilizing soils

  10. Specialized Fungal Parasites and Opportunistic Fungi in Gardens of Attine Ants

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Fernando C. Pagnocca

    2012-01-01

    Full Text Available Ants in the tribe Attini (Hymenoptera: Formicidae comprise about 230 described species that share the same characteristic: all coevolved in an ancient mutualism with basidiomycetous fungi cultivated for food. In this paper we focused on fungi other than the mutualistic cultivar and their roles in the attine ant symbiosis. Specialized fungal parasites in the genus Escovopsis negatively impact the fungus gardens. Many fungal parasites may have small impacts on the ants' fungal colony when the colony is balanced, but then may opportunistically shift to having large impacts if the ants' colony becomes unbalanced.

  11. Ant-caterpillar antagonism at the community level: interhabitat variation of tritrophic interactions in a neotropical savanna.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Sendoya, Sebastián F; Oliveira, Paulo S

    2015-03-01

    Ant foraging on foliage can substantially affect how phytophagous insects use host plants and represents a high predation risk for caterpillars, which are important folivores. Ant-plant-herbivore interactions are especially pervasive in cerrado savanna due to continuous ant visitation to liquid food sources on foliage (extrafloral nectaries, insect honeydew). While searching for liquid rewards on plants, aggressive ants frequently attack or kill insect herbivores, decreasing their numbers. Because ants vary in diet and aggressiveness, their effect on herbivores also varies. Additionally, the differential occurrence of ant attractants (plant and insect exudates) on foliage produces variable levels of ant foraging within local floras and among localities. Here, we investigate how variation of ant communities and of traits among host plant species (presence or absence of ant attractants) can change the effect of carnivores (predatory ants) on herbivore communities (caterpillars) in a cerrado savanna landscape. We sampled caterpillars and foliage-foraging ants in four cerrado localities (70-460 km apart). We found that: (i) caterpillar infestation was negatively related with ant visitation to plants; (ii) this relationship depended on local ant abundance and species composition, and on local preference by ants for plants with liquid attractants; (iii) this was not related to local plant richness or plant size; (iv) the relationship between the presence of ant attractants and caterpillar abundance varied among sites from negative to neutral; and (v) caterpillars feeding on plants with ant attractants are more resistant to ant predation than those feeding on plants lacking attractants. Liquid food on foliage mediates host plant quality for lepidopterans by promoting generalized ant-caterpillar antagonism. Our study in cerrado shows that the negative effects of generalist predatory ants on herbivores are detectable at a community level, affecting patterns of abundance and

  12. Freqüência de consumo de dietas ricas em gordura e pobres em fibra entre adolescentes Frequency of high-fat and low-fiber diets among adolescents

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Marilda Borges Neutzling

    2007-06-01

    Full Text Available OBJETIVO: Descrever a freqüência e os fatores associados ao consumo de dietas ricas em gordura e pobres em fibra em adolescentes. MÉTODOS: Estudo de delineamento transversal com adolescentes de 10 a 12 anos, realizado em 2004/2005, em Pelotas, RS. A freqüência alimentar no ano anterior à pesquisa foi avaliada pelo questionário de Block, composto por 24 itens alimentares, pontuados de acordo com a freqüência de consumo de alimentos ricos em fibras e gorduras. Na análise bruta, as prevalências de dietas ricas em gordura e pobres em fibra foram comparadas conforme sub-grupos das variáveis independentes (sexo, cor da pele, nível socioeconômico, escolaridade materna e estado nutricional do adolescente. Para controle de fatores de confusão, uma análise multivariável por regressão de Poisson foi realizada para cada desfecho. RESULTADOS: Foram encontrados 4.452 adolescentes, representando 87,5% da coorte original. A maioria dos jovens (83,9% consumia dieta pobre em fibra, e mais de um terço deles (36,6% consumia dieta rica em gordura. O nível socioeconômico e a escolaridade materna mostraram-se diretamente associados com a prevalência de consumo de dietas ricas em gordura. Jovens dos níveis socioeconômicos A+B e C apresentaram menor freqüência de consumo de dietas pobres em fibra. CONCLUSÕES: A prevalência de dietas ricas em gordura e pobres em fibra foi elevada nessa população de adolescentes. Políticas públicas dirigidas aos determinantes dos hábitos alimentares são necessárias e urgentes.OBJECTIVE: To describe the frequency and associated factors of high-fat and low-fiber diets among adolescents. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out in adolescents aged 10-12 years in Pelotas, southern Brazil, in 2004 and 2005. Dietary patterns in the previous 12 months were evaluated using the Block questionnaire comprising 24 food items scored according to the frequency of consumption of high-fat and low-fiber food. In

  13. Myrmeciza and related antbirds (Aves, Formicariidae as army ant followers

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Edwin O. Willis

    1984-01-01

    Full Text Available Antbirds of the genera Myrmeciza (including Sipia and Myrmoborus, Gymnocichla, and Sclateria hop near or on the ground in fairly dense vegetation, "pounding" their tails downward. Where dense understory vegetation is widespread and ants move in it for long distances, certain of these antbirds become regular ant followers: M. immaculata and M. fortis in cluttered moist foothill forest from Costa Rica to upper Amazonia; Gymnocichla nudiceps in moist cluttered second growth of Central America to Colombia. Where the forest understory is more open, Myrmeciza species follow ants mainly in cluttered patches: M. exsul in lowland forest west of the Andes, M. myotherina east of the Andes. Myrmeciza or relatives that specialize on water-edge or very dense zones rarely follow ants.

  14. Edge Effects on Community and Social Structure of Northern Temperate Deciduous Forest Ants

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Valerie S. Banschbach

    2012-01-01

    Full Text Available Determining how ant communities are impacted by challenges from habitat fragmentation, such as edge effects, will help us understand how ants may be used as a bioindicator taxon. To assess the impacts of edge effects upon the ant community in a northern temperate deciduous forest, we studied edge and interior sites in Jericho, VT, USA. The edges we focused upon were created by recreational trails. We censused the ants at these sites for two consecutive growing seasons using pitfall traps and litter plot excavations. We also collected nests of the most common ant species at our study sites, Aphaenogaster rudis, for study of colony demography. Significantly greater total numbers of ants and ant nests were found in the edge sites compared to the interior sites but rarefaction analysis showed no significant difference in species richness. Aphaenogaster rudis was the numerically dominant ant in the habitats sampled but had a greater relative abundance in the interior sites than in the edge sites both in pitfall and litter plot data. Queen number of A. rudis significantly differed between the nests collected in the edge versus the interior sites. Habitat-dependent changes in social structure of ants represent another possible indicator of ecosystem health.

  15. Reciprocal genomic evolution in the ant-fungus agricultural symbiosis

    DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

    Nygaard, Sanne; Hu, Haofu; Li, Cai

    2016-01-01

    The attine ant-fungus agricultural symbiosis evolved over tens of millions of years, producing complex societies with industrial-scale farming analogous to that of humans. Here we document reciprocal shifts in the genomes and transcriptomes of seven fungus-farming ant species and their fungal...

  16. Patterns of male parentage in the fungus-growing ants

    DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

    Villesen, Palle; Boomsma, JJ

    2003-01-01

    Ant queens from eight species, covering three genera of lower and two genera of higher attine ants, have exclusively or predominantly single mating. The ensuing full-sib colonies thus have a strong potential reproductive conflict between the queen and the workers over male production...

  17. Ant Systems for a Dynamic TSP - Ants Caught in a Traffic Jam

    NARCIS (Netherlands)

    Eyckelhof, C.J.; Dorigo, M.; Caro Di, G.; Snoek, M.; Sampels, M.

    2002-01-01

    In this paper we present a new Ants System approach to a dynamic Travelling Salesman Problem. Here the travel times between the cities are subject to change. To handle this dynamism several ways of adapting the pheromone matrix both locally and globally are considered. We show that the strategy of

  18. Comparative studies of the secretome of fungus-growing ants

    DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

    Linde, Tore; Grell, Morten Nedergaard; Schiøtt, Morten

    2009-01-01

    Leafcutter ants of the species Acromyrmex echinatior live in symbiosis with the fungus Leucoagaricus gongylophorus. The ants harvest fragments of leaves and carry them to the nest where they place the material on the fungal colony. The fungus secretes a wide array of proteins to degrade the leaves...... into nutrients that the ants can feed on. The focus of this study is to discover, characterize and compare the secreted proteins. In order to do so cDNA libraries are constructed from mRNA extracted from the fungus material. The most efficient technology to screen cDNA libraries selectively for secreted...

  19. Digestibilidad in situ de dietas con harina de nopal deshidratado conteniendo un preparado de enzimas fibrolíticas exógenas In situ digestibility in dehydrated ground prickly pear diets containing a fybrolitic enzymes product

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Marco Medina Romo

    2006-07-01

    Full Text Available Se evaluó el efecto de un preparado de enzimas fibrolíticas exógenas (celulasas y xilanasas en la degradabilidad in situ de la materia seca (DisMS, fibra detergente neutro (DFDNr y fibra detergente ácido residual (DFDAr, en dietas altas o bajas en harina de nopal deshidratado. Se aplicaron concentraciones de 0, 1, 2 y 3 g de enzima por kilogramo de materia seca al inicio y 24 horas antes de la degradación in situ. Se determinó la concentración de ácidos grasos volátiles totales y de nitrógeno amoniacal a las 0, 3, 6, 9, 12 y 24 horas después de aplicarse la enzima. No se observaron efectos en DisMS, DFDNr y DFDAr; la aplicación al inicio de la degradación in situ mostró valores más altos que a 24 horas para DisMS y DFDNr, pero fue menor para DFDAr. No se observaron diferencias en las interacciones entre niveles de enzima, tipo de dieta y tiempo de pretratamiento. La aplicación de 1 y 3 g de enzima, en la dieta con bajo contenido de harina de nopal, tuvo efectos en el incremento de los ácidos grasos volátiles totales; para el nitrógeno amoniacal, los mejores resultados ocurrieron con 0 y 1 g de enzima.It was evaluated the effect of a fybrolitic enzyme product (cellulases and xylanases on in situ digestibility of dry matter (DisMS, residual neutral detergent fiber (DFDNr and acid detergent fiber (DFDAr, in dehydrated ground prickly pear diets with a low or high level. Enzyme concentrations of 0, 1, 2, and 3 g kg-1 of dry matter applied at the beginning (0 hour and 24 hours before starting in situ digestibility were used. Total volatile fatty acids and ammonia nitrogen were determined at: 0, 3, 6, 9, 12, and 24 hours after the enzyme application. There were no effects on DisMS, DFDNr, and DFDAr. Initial application of enzyme concentrations (0 hour was higher than 24 hours for DisMS and DFDNr but lower for DFDAr. No differences were observed in interactions among enzyme level, diet and application time. Application of 1 and 3 g of

  20. PARAMETER ESTIMATION OF VALVE STICTION USING ANT COLONY OPTIMIZATION

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    S. Kalaivani

    2012-07-01

    Full Text Available In this paper, a procedure for quantifying valve stiction in control loops based on ant colony optimization has been proposed. Pneumatic control valves are widely used in the process industry. The control valve contains non-linearities such as stiction, backlash, and deadband that in turn cause oscillations in the process output. Stiction is one of the long-standing problems and it is the most severe problem in the control valves. Thus the measurement data from an oscillating control loop can be used as a possible diagnostic signal to provide an estimate of the stiction magnitude. Quantification of control valve stiction is still a challenging issue. Prior to doing stiction detection and quantification, it is necessary to choose a suitable model structure to describe control-valve stiction. To understand the stiction phenomenon, the Stenman model is used. Ant Colony Optimization (ACO, an intelligent swarm algorithm, proves effective in various fields. The ACO algorithm is inspired from the natural trail following behaviour of ants. The parameters of the Stenman model are estimated using ant colony optimization, from the input-output data by minimizing the error between the actual stiction model output and the simulated stiction model output. Using ant colony optimization, Stenman model with known nonlinear structure and unknown parameters can be estimated.

  1. Nutritional ecology and digestive response to dietary shift in the large South American fox, Pseudalopex culpaeus Ecología nutricional y respuesta digestiva a cambios en la dieta en el zorro sudamericano grande, Pseudalopex culpaeus

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    SERGIO I. SILVA

    2005-06-01

    Full Text Available We tested the role of dietary shifts (from rodents to fruits and to mixed diets on the nutritional ecology of the culpeo fox Pseudalopex culpaeus, a native canid of South America. We studied the effects of food quality on digestive processes, nutrition, and mass balance, and the implications of diet quality for fox survival. We observed at the end of the nutritional trials that body mass differed significantly between the three diet groups (fruits, rats and mixed diets, while percentage of body mass change differed significantly only in the fruit diet treatment. Foxes fed with fruits consumed more food to meet their dietary and metabolic needs. Across diets, dry-matter as well as energy digestibility increased significantly with diet quality. Also, mean retention time was negatively and significantly correlated with dry-matter intake. We put forth that mixed diet may yield higher assimilation efficiencies and hence higher nutrient intakes than those predicted from the ingestion and assimilation of pure diets (i.e,. only rats, only fruits. We hypothesize that during periods of low availability of mammalian prey, a mixed diet should yield a positive energy/mass balance for the fox. We conclude that temporal and spatial variation in nutrient, energy, and water contents of prey available in a given habitat could have an important effect on fox nutrition, energy use, and mass balance. Finally, we postulate that P. culpaeus could not survive on fruits only past seven daysSometimos a prueba el papel del cambio de dieta (desde roedores a frutos y dieta mixta sobre la ecología nutricional del zorro culpeo Pseudalopex culpaeus, especie nativa de Sudamérica. Estudiamos el efecto de la calidad del alimento sobre los procesos digestivos, nutrición, balance de masas y las implicancias de la calidad de la dieta sobre la sobrevivencia de los zorros. La masa corporal al final de los ensayos nutricionales difirió significativamente entre los tres grupos de

  2. Effects of dam-induced landscape fragmentation on amazonian ant-plant mutualistic networks.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Emer, Carine; Venticinque, Eduardo Martins; Fonseca, Carlos Roberto

    2013-08-01

    Mutualistic networks are critical to biological diversity maintenance; however, their structures and functionality may be threatened by a swiftly changing world. In the Amazon, the increasing number of dams poses a large threat to biological diversity because they greatly alter and fragment the surrounding landscape. Tight coevolutionary interactions typical of tropical forests, such as the ant-myrmecophyte mutualism, where the myrmecophyte plants provide domatia nesting space to their symbiotic ants, may be jeopardized by the landscape changes caused by dams. We analyzed 31 ant-myrmecophyte mutualistic networks in undisturbed and disturbed sites surrounding Balbina, the largest Central Amazonian dam. We tested how ant-myrmecophyte networks differ among dam-induced islands, lake edges, and undisturbed forests in terms of species richness, composition, structure, and robustness (number of species remaining in the network after partner extinctions). We also tested how landscape configuration in terms of area, isolation, shape, and neighborhood alters the structure of the ant-myrmecophyte networks on islands. Ant-myrmecophytic networks were highly compartmentalized in undisturbed forests, and the compartments had few strongly connected mutualistic partners. In contrast, networks at lake edges and on islands were not compartmentalized and were negatively affected by island area and isolation in terms of species richness, density, and composition. Habitat loss and fragmentation led to coextinction cascades that contributed to the elimination of entire ant-plant compartments. Furthermore, many myrmecophytic plants in disturbed sites lost their mutualistic ant partners or were colonized by opportunistic, nonspecialized ants. Robustness of ant-myrmecophyte networks on islands was lower than robustness near lake edges and in undisturbed forest and was particularly susceptible to the extinction of plants. Beyond the immediate habitat loss caused by the building of large dams

  3. Hybridization in East African swarm-raiding army ants

    DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

    Kronauer, Daniel Jc; Peters, Marcell K; Schöning, Caspar

    2011-01-01

    Hybridization can have complex effects on evolutionary dynamics in ants because of the combination of haplodiploid sex-determination and eusociality. While hybrid non-reproductive workers have been found in a range of species, examples of gene-flow via hybrid queens and males are rare. We studied...... hybridization in East African army ants (Dorylus subgenus Anomma) using morphology, mitochondrial DNA sequences, and nuclear microsatellites....

  4. Ants at Ton Nga Chang Wildlife Sanctuary, Songkhla

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Watanasit, S.

    2005-03-01

    Full Text Available The aim of this study was to investigate diversity of ant at Ton Nga Chang Wildlife Sanctuary, Hat Yai, Songkhla. Three line transects (100 m each were randomly set up in 2 types of forest area, disturbed and undisturbed. Hand collecting (HC and leaf litter sampling (LL were applied for ant collection within a time limit of 30 minutes for each method. This study was carried out every month during Febuary 2002- Febuary 2003. The results showed that 206 species were placed under 8 subfamilies: Aenictinae, Cerapachyinae, Dolichoderinae, Formicinae, Leptanillinae, Myrmicinae, Ponerinae and Pseudomyrmecinae. Study sites and collection methods could divide ant species into 2 groups, whereas seasonal change could not distinguish the groups by DCA of multivariate analysis.

  5. Visual cues for the retrieval of landmark memories by navigating wood ants.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Harris, Robert A; Graham, Paul; Collett, Thomas S

    2007-01-23

    Even on short routes, ants can be guided by multiple visual memories. We investigate here the cues controlling memory retrieval as wood ants approach a one- or two-edged landmark to collect sucrose at a point along its base. In such tasks, ants store the desired retinal position of landmark edges at several points along their route. They guide subsequent trips by retrieving the appropriate memory and moving to bring the edges in the scene toward the stored positions. The apparent width of the landmark turns out to be a powerful cue for retrieving the desired retinal position of a landmark edge. Two other potential cues, the landmark's apparent height and the distance that the ant walks, have little effect on memory retrieval. A simple model encapsulates these conclusions and reproduces the ants' routes in several conditions. According to this model, the ant stores a look-up table. Each entry contains the apparent width of the landmark and the desired retinal position of vertical edges. The currently perceived width provides an index for retrieving the associated stored edge positions. The model accounts for the population behavior of ants and the idiosyncratic training routes of individual ants. Our results imply binding between the edge of a shape and its width and, further, imply that assessing the width of a shape does not depend on the presence of any particular local feature, such as a landmark edge. This property makes the ant's retrieval and guidance system relatively robust to edge occlusions.

  6. Análisis de la ingesta y adherencia a la dieta mediterránea en un grupo de estudiantes universitarios: Comparación entre deportistas y sedentarios.

    OpenAIRE

    Fernández McPhee, Marina

    2015-01-01

    El patrón alimentario actual de las sociedades desarrolladas se ha asociado con el aumento en la prevalencia de enfermedades crónicas no transmisibles. La alimentación de los jóvenes universitarios se aleja cada vez más de la dieta mediterránea, incorporando alimentos procesados, un exceso de carnes, comidas rápidas y bebidas azucaradas, propios de un modelo de dieta occidental. El binomio alimentación y actividad física es fundamental para mantener un adecuado estado de sal...

  7. Ant-inspired density estimation via random walks.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Musco, Cameron; Su, Hsin-Hao; Lynch, Nancy A

    2017-10-03

    Many ant species use distributed population density estimation in applications ranging from quorum sensing, to task allocation, to appraisal of enemy colony strength. It has been shown that ants estimate local population density by tracking encounter rates: The higher the density, the more often the ants bump into each other. We study distributed density estimation from a theoretical perspective. We prove that a group of anonymous agents randomly walking on a grid are able to estimate their density within a small multiplicative error in few steps by measuring their rates of encounter with other agents. Despite dependencies inherent in the fact that nearby agents may collide repeatedly (and, worse, cannot recognize when this happens), our bound nearly matches what would be required to estimate density by independently sampling grid locations. From a biological perspective, our work helps shed light on how ants and other social insects can obtain relatively accurate density estimates via encounter rates. From a technical perspective, our analysis provides tools for understanding complex dependencies in the collision probabilities of multiple random walks. We bound the strength of these dependencies using local mixing properties of the underlying graph. Our results extend beyond the grid to more general graphs, and we discuss applications to size estimation for social networks, density estimation for robot swarms, and random walk-based sampling for sensor networks.

  8. A global database of ant species abundances

    Science.gov (United States)

    Gibb, Heloise; Dunn, Rob R.; Sanders, Nathan J.; Grossman, Blair F.; Photakis, Manoli; Abril, Silvia; Agosti, Donat; Andersen, Alan N.; Angulo, Elena; Armbrecht, Ingre; Arnan, Xavier; Baccaro, Fabricio B.; Bishop, Tom R.; Boulay, Raphael; Bruhl, Carsten; Castracani, Cristina; Cerda, Xim; Del Toro, Israel; Delsinne, Thibaut; Diaz, Mireia; Donoso, David A.; Ellison, Aaron M.; Enriquez, Martha L.; Fayle, Tom M.; Feener Jr., Donald H.; Fisher, Brian L.; Fisher, Robert N.; Fitpatrick, Matthew C.; Gomez, Cristanto; Gotelli, Nicholas J.; Gove, Aaron; Grasso, Donato A.; Groc, Sarah; Guenard, Benoit; Gunawardene, Nihara; Heterick, Brian; Hoffmann, Benjamin; Janda, Milan; Jenkins, Clinton; Kaspari, Michael; Klimes, Petr; Lach, Lori; Laeger, Thomas; Lattke, John; Leponce, Maurice; Lessard, Jean-Philippe; Longino, John; Lucky, Andrea; Luke, Sarah H.; Majer, Jonathan; McGlynn, Terrence P.; Menke, Sean; Mezger, Dirk; Mori, Alessandra; Moses, Jimmy; Munyai, Thinandavha Caswell; Pacheco, Renata; Paknia, Omid; Pearce-Duvet, Jessica; Pfeiffer, Martin; Philpott, Stacy M.; Resasco, Julian; Retana, Javier; Silva, Rogerio R.; Sorger, Magdalena D.; Souza, Jorge; Suarez, Andrew V.; Tista, Melanie; Vasconcelos, Heraldo L.; Vonshak, Merav; Weiser, Michael D.; Yates, Michelle; Parr, Catherine L.

    2017-01-01

    What forces structure ecological assemblages? A key limitation to general insights about assemblage structure is the availability of data that are collected at a small spatial grain (local assemblages) and a large spatial extent (global coverage). Here, we present published and unpublished data from 51,388 ant abundance and occurrence records of more than 2693 species and 7953 morphospecies from local assemblages collected at 4212 locations around the world. Ants were selected because they are diverse and abundant globally, comprise a large fraction of animal biomass in most terrestrial communities, and are key contributors to a range of ecosystem functions. Data were collected between 1949 and 2014, and include, for each geo-referenced sampling site, both the identity of the ants collected and details of sampling design, habitat type and degree of disturbance. The aim of compiling this dataset was to provide comprehensive species abundance data in order to test relationships between assemblage structure and environmental and biogeographic factors. Data were collected using a variety of standardised methods, such as pitfall and Winkler traps, and will be valuable for studies investigating large-scale forces structuring local assemblages. Understanding such relationships is particularly critical under current rates of global change. We encourage authors holding additional data on systematically collected ant assemblages, especially those in dry and cold, and remote areas, to contact us and contribute their data to this growing dataset.

  9. Effects of invasive European fire ants (Myrmica rubra on herring gull (Larus argentatus reproduction.

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Luke E DeFisher

    Full Text Available Various invasive ant species have negatively affected reproductive success in birds by disrupting nest site selection, incubation patterns, food supply, and by direct predation on nestlings. Impacts can be particularly severe when non-native ants colonize seabird nesting islands where thousands of birds may nest in high densities on the ground or in burrows or crevices. Here we report on the first documented effects of Myrmica rubra, the European fire ant, on the reproduction of birds in its non-native range. We documented herring gulls (Larus argentatus on Appledore Island, Maine, engaging in more erratic incubation behaviors at nests infested by the ants. Newly-hatched chicks in some nests were swarmed by ants, leading to rapid chick death. Due to high overall rates of chick mortality, survival probabilities did not vary between nests with and without ant activity, however chick growth rates were slower at nests with ants than at ant-free nests. Ant infestation likely leads to longer-term fitness consequences because slower growth rates early in life may ultimately lead to lower post-fledging survival probabilities.

  10. Studies of laboulbeniales (Fungi, Ascomycota) on myrmica ants (II)

    NARCIS (Netherlands)

    Haelewaters, Danny; Boer, Peter; Gort, Gerrit; Noordijk, Jinze

    2015-01-01

    One group of important insect parasites are the Laboulbeniales (Ascomycota), microscopic fungi that live attached to the exterior of their hosts, mainly beetles, but also mites, millipedes, earwigs, and ants. Rickia wasmannii is a common fungus in Europe and is limited to the ant genus Myrmica

  11. Disease dynamics in a specialized parasite of ant societies.

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Sandra B Andersen

    Full Text Available Coevolution between ant colonies and their rare specialized parasites are intriguing, because lethal infections of workers may correspond to tolerable chronic diseases of colonies, but the parasite adaptations that allow stable coexistence with ants are virtually unknown. We explore the trade-offs experienced by Ophiocordyceps parasites manipulating ants into dying in nearby graveyards. We used field data from Brazil and Thailand to parameterize and fit a model for the growth rate of graveyards. We show that parasite pressure is much lower than the abundance of ant cadavers suggests and that hyperparasites often castrate Ophiocordyceps. However, once fruiting bodies become sexually mature they appear robust. Such parasite life-history traits are consistent with iteroparity--a reproductive strategy rarely considered in fungi. We discuss how tropical habitats with high biodiversity of hyperparasites and high spore mortality has likely been crucial for the evolution and maintenance of iteroparity in parasites with low dispersal potential.

  12. A new fire ant (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) bait base carrier for moist conditions.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Kafle, Lekhnath; Wu, Wen-Jer; Shih, Cheng-Jen

    2010-10-01

    A new water-resistant fire ant bait (T-bait; cypermethrin 0.128%) consisting of dried distillers grains with solubles (DDGS) as a carrier was developed and evaluated against a standard commercial bait (Advion; indoxacarb 0.045%) under both laboratory and field conditions. When applying the normal T-bait or Advion in the laboratory, 100% of Solenopsis invicta Buren worker ants were killed within 4 days. However, when the T-bait and Advion were wetted, 70.6 and 39.7% of the ants were killed respectively. Under field conditions, dry T-bait and dry Advion had almost the same efficacy against ant colonies. However, when T-bait and Advion came in contact with water, the former's ability to kill S. invicta colonies in the field was only marginally reduced, while Advion lost virtually all of its activity. In addition, DDGS was also shown to be compatible with a number of other insecticides, such as d-allethrin, permethrin and pyrethrin. Based on its properties of remaining attractive to the fire ants when wetted, combined with its ant-killing abilities both in the laboratory and in the field, T-bait is an efficient fire ant bait, especially under moist conditions.

  13. Coevolved crypts and exocrine glands support mutualistic bacteria in fungus-growing ants

    DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

    Currie, Cameron R; Poulsen, Michael; Mendenhall, John

    2006-01-01

    Attine ants engage in a quadripartite symbiosis with fungi they cultivate for food, specialized garden parasites, and parasite-inhibiting bacteria. Molecular phylogenetic evidence supports an ancient host-pathogen association between the ant-cultivar mutualism and the garden parasite. Here we show...... that ants rear the antibiotic-producing bacteria in elaborate cuticular crypts, supported by unique exocrine glands, and that these structures have been highly modified across the ants' evolutionary history. This specialized structural evolution, together with the absence of these bacteria and modifications...

  14. Digestibilidade aparente dos nutrientes de dietas simplificadas baseadas em forragens para coelhos em crescimento Apparent digestibility of nutrients of simplified diets based on forages for growing rabbits

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    W.M. Ferreira

    2007-04-01

    Full Text Available Avaliaram-se os efeitos de dietas simplificadas à base de forragens sobre a digestibilidade aparente dos nutrientes em coelhos Nova Zelândia branco. As dietas experimentais foram: referência (REF, feno de alfafa (FAL, feno das folhas de rami (FRA, feno das folhas de amoreira (FAM e feno do terço superior da rama da mandioca (FMA. A digestibilidade das dietas foi influenciada pelo tipo de alimento estudado; a FMA apresentou coeficientes de digestibilidade inferiores às demais dietas para todos os princípios nutritivos analisados. Para a dieta FAM, os coeficientes de digestibilidade aparente dos princípios nutritivos foram maiores (P0,05. Os valores estimados de energia digestível (kcal ED/kg MS e proteína digestível (%PD/MS foram, respectivamente, para o feno de alfafa: 2285,27 e 16,04; feno das folhas de rami: 1857,88 e 16,37; feno das folhas de amoreira: 2838,48 e 15,12 e feno do terço superior da mandioca: 2155,55 e 10,57.The effect of simplified diets based on forages on the apparent digestibility in white New Zealand rabbits was evaluated. The treatments were based on the following diets: reference (REF, hay of alfalfa (FAL, hay of rami leaves (FRA, hay of mulberry leaves (FAM and hay of upper to 1/3 aereal part of cassava (FMA. The type of food affected the digestibility of the diets. The FMA diet showed low coefficients of digestibility in comparison to the other diets for all the analyzed nutrients. For the FAM diet the coefficients of apparent digestibility of the nutrients had higher values (P0.05. The estimated values of digestible energy (kcal DE/kg DM and digestible protein (%DP/DM were, respectively, 2285.27 and 16.04 for alfalfa hay, 1857.88 and 16.37 for hay of rami leaves, 2838.48 and 15.12 for hay of mulberry leaves and 2155.55 and 10.57 for hay of upper to 1/3 aereal part of cassava.

  15. Dieta habitual e fatores de risco para doenças cardiovasculares Habitual diet and cardiovascular disease risk factors

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Ana Maria Cervato

    1997-06-01

    Full Text Available INTRODUÇÃO: Estudo descritivo por amostragem em munícípio do Estado de São Paulo, Brasil, em 1990, com objetivo de analisar, mediante entrevistas domiciliares, a dieta habitual e fatores de risco para doenças cardiovasculares em indivíduos maiores de 20 anos. METODOLOGIA: Foram entrevistados 557 indivíduos, de idade entre 20 e 88 anos, que fazem parte de subamostra de um estudo global na região. A dieta habitual, identificada pelo histórico alimentar foi comparada às recomendações da OMS e os fatores de risco estudados (obesidade, dislipidemias, diabetes melito diagnosticados pelo Índice de Massa Corpórea e dosagens bioquímicas. RESULTADOS E CONCLUSÕES: Observou-se que 60% da população consome dieta com energia total abaixo da estimativa das necessidades e que a contribuição calórica dos carboidratos foi de 56%, dos lipídios de 29% e das proteínas de 15%. Entretanto, na análise por percentil, a contribuição calórica dos lipídios e das proteínas encontra-se muito acima dos padrões recomendados em detrimento dos carboidratos. A energia, distribuição calórica e quantidade de colesterol foi adequada em apenas 5% das dietas. Dentre os fatores de risco para doenças cardiovasculares estudados observou-se a prevalência de obesidade em 38% dos indivíduos, de dislipidemias em 26% e de diabetes melito em 5%. A atividade física leve preponderante com dieta inadequada, tanto em termos de qualitativos quanto quantitativos, agravam ainda mais esse quadro.INTRODUCTION: A survey by sampling in a county of the State of S. Paulo in 1990 sought, by means of home interviews, to analyse the habitual diet and risk factors for cardiovascular disease of people over 20 years of age. METHODOLOGY: Of the sub-specimen of a comprehensive study population, 557 individuals, aged between 20 and 88, were interviewed. The habitual diet, characterized by the dietary history, was compared with the recommendations on energy and nutrients of the

  16. Absence of jamming in ant trails: feedback control of self-propulsion and noise.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Chaudhuri, Debasish; Nagar, Apoorva

    2015-01-01

    We present a model of ant traffic considering individual ants as self-propelled particles undergoing single-file motion on a one-dimensional trail. Recent experiments on unidirectional ant traffic in well-formed natural trails showed that the collective velocity of ants remains approximately unchanged, leading to the absence of jamming even at very high densities [John et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 102, 108001 (2009)]. Assuming a feedback control mechanism of self-propulsion force generated by each ant using information about the distance from the ant in front, our model captures all the main features observed in the experiment. The distance headway distribution shows a maximum corresponding to separations within clusters. The position of this maximum remains independent of average number density. We find a non-equilibrium first-order transition, with the formation of an infinite cluster at a threshold density where all the ants in the system suddenly become part of a single cluster.

  17. Influencia de un patrón de dieta mediterránea en la distribución de la grasa corporal en pacientes canarios con riesgo cardiovascular

    OpenAIRE

    Álvarez-Pérez, J.

    2013-01-01

    Programa de doctorado: Salud pública (epidemilogía, planificación y nutrición) [ES] La dieta Mediterránea (DMed) es considerada como uno de los patrones dietéticos más saludables, debido a su relación con una baja morbilidad y mortalidad para algunas enfermedades crónicas. El ojetivo es analizar el efecto de tres intervenciones dietéticas: un patrón de Dieta Mediterránea en los parámetros antropométricos: peso, Índice da Masa Corporal (IMC), y circunferencia de la cintura (CC), y en la com...

  18. Macrodinychus mites as parasitoids of invasive ants: an overlooked parasitic association.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Lachaud, Jean-Paul; Klompen, Hans; Pérez-Lachaud, Gabriela

    2016-07-21

    Mites are frequent ant symbionts, yet the exact nature of their interactions with their hosts is poorly known. Generally, myrmecophilous mites show adaptations for dispersal through phoresis, but species that lack such an adaptation may have evolved unusual specialized relationships with their hosts. The immature stages of Macrodinychus multispinosus develop as ectoparasitoids of pupae of the invasive ant Paratrechina longicornis. Feeding stages show regressed locomotor appendages. These mites complete their development on a single host, sucking all of its body content and therefore killing it. Locally high proportions of parasitized host pupae suggest that M. multispinosus could serve as a biological control agent. This is the ninth species of Macrodinychus reported as ant parasite, and the third known as parasitoid of invasive ants, confirming a unique habit in the evolution of mite feeding strategies and suggesting that the entire genus might be parasitic on ants. Several mites' characteristics, such as their protective morphology, possible viviparity, lack of a specialized stage for phoretic dispersal, and low host specificity, combined with both the general low aggressiveness of invasive P. longicornis towards other ants and its possible susceptibility to generalist ectoparasites would account for the host shift in native macrodinychid mites.

  19. Valor nutritivo de dietas contendo torta de mamona submetida a métodos alternativos de destoxificação para ovinos

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    R.N. Furtado

    2012-02-01

    Full Text Available Avaliaram-se o consumo e a digestibilidade de nutrientes por ovinos alimentados com rações contendo torta de mamona sem tratamento (NT, tratadas com calcário calcítico (CC, ureia (UR, fosfato monobicálcico (FOS e por autoclave (ACL. Foram utilizados 20 ovinos em delineamento em blocos ao acaso, sendo 10 machos inteiros e 10 fêmeas, mestiços de raça Morada Nova. As dietas foram isoproteicas e isoenergéticas. A ricina foi parcialmente desnaturada pelos tratamentos de destoxificação da torta de mamona. Não houve efeito dos tratamentos de destoxificação da torta de mamona sobre o consumo de nutrientes. A digestibilidade da fibra em detergente neutro no tratamento NT foi de 57,5%, maior que no tratamento CC, de 52,4%. A digestibilidade do extrato etéreo foi mais alta no tratamento CC, média de 71,3%, em relação ao tratamento FOS, de 68,2%. Houve maior consumo de fibra em detergente neutro e fibra em detergente ácido dos machos em relação às fêmeas quando o consumo foi expresso em g/dia. A torta de mamona NT pode ser utilizada em dietas de ovinos como alimento proteico alternativo, participando em até 8% da dieta total, sem ocasionar redução expressiva no consumo e na digestibilidade.

  20. Tree-Dwelling Ants: Contrasting Two Brazilian Cerrado Plant Species without Extrafloral Nectaries

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Jonas Maravalhas

    2012-01-01

    Full Text Available Ants dominate vegetation stratum, exploiting resources like extrafloral nectaries (EFNs and insect honeydew. These interactions are frequent in Brazilian cerrado and are well known, but few studies compare ant fauna and explored resources between plant species. We surveyed two cerrado plants without EFNs, Roupala montana (found on preserved environments of our study area and Solanum lycocarpum (disturbed ones. Ants were collected and identified, and resources on each plant noted. Ant frequency and richness were higher on R. montana (67%; 35 spp than S. lycocarpum (52%; 26, the occurrence of the common ant species varied between them, and similarity was low. Resources were explored mainly by Camponotus crassus and consisted of scale insects, aphids, and floral nectaries on R. montana and two treehopper species on S. lycocarpum. Ants have a high diversity on cerrado plants, exploring liquid and prey-based resources that vary in time and space and affect their presence on plants.

  1. Ants use partner specific odors to learn to recognize a mutualistic partner.

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Masaru K Hojo

    Full Text Available Regulation via interspecific communication is an important for the maintenance of many mutualisms. However, mechanisms underlying the evolution of partner communication are poorly understood for many mutualisms. Here we show, in an ant-lycaenid butterfly mutualism, that attendant ants selectively learn to recognize and interact cooperatively with a partner. Workers of the ant Pristomyrmex punctatus learn to associate cuticular hydrocarbons of mutualistic Narathura japonica caterpillars with food rewards and, as a result, are more likely to tend the caterpillars. However, the workers do not learn to associate the cuticular hydrocarbons of caterpillars of a non-ant-associated lycaenid, Lycaena phlaeas, with artificial food rewards. Chemical analysis revealed cuticular hydrocarbon profiles of the mutualistic caterpillars were complex compared with those of non-ant-associated caterpillars. Our results suggest that partner-recognition based on partner-specific chemical signals and cognitive abilities of workers are important mechanisms underlying the evolution and maintenance of mutualism with ants.

  2. A diverse ant fauna from the mid-cretaceous of Myanmar (Hymenoptera: Formicidae.

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Phillip Barden

    Full Text Available A new collection of 24 wingless ant specimens from mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber (Albian-Cenomanian, 99 Ma comprises nine new species belonging to the genus Sphecomyrmodes Engel and Grimaldi. Described taxa vary considerably with regard to total size, head and body proportion, cuticular sculpturing, and petiole structure while all species are unified by a distinct shared character. The assemblage represents the largest known diversification of closely related Cretaceous ants with respect to species number. These stem-group ants exhibit some characteristics previously known only from their extant counterparts along with presumed plesiomorphic morphology. Consequently, their morphology may inform hypotheses relating to basal relationships and general patterns of ant evolution. These and other uncovered Cretaceous species indicate that stem-group ants are not simply wasp-like, transitional formicids, but rather a group of considerable adaptive diversity, exhibiting innovations analogous to what crown-group ants would echo 100 million years later.

  3. A preliminary checklist of the ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of ...

    African Journals Online (AJOL)

    A preliminary species checklist of the ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of. Kakamega Forest, Western Kenya, is presented. The species list is based on specimens sampled from 1999 until 2009, which are deposited in the ant collection of the Zoological Research Museum Koenig, Bonn, Germany, and the Natural History ...

  4. El uso de granos secos de destilería con solubles (DDGS en dietas sorgo-soya para pollos de engorda y gallinas de postura

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Arturo Cortes Cuevas

    2012-01-01

    Full Text Available Para estudiar el comportamiento productivo en pollos y gallinas con dietas adicionadass con granos secos de destilería con solubles (DDGS, se realizaron dos experimentos. En el primero se emplearon 704 pollos Ross de 1 a 49 días de edad, distribuidos en cuatro tratamientos con ocho repeticiones de 22 pollos cada uno. Se empleó un diseño completamente al azar. Los tratamientos fueron: 1 dieta basal sorgo-soya, T2 como 1+7% DDGS, T3 como 1+14% de DDGS, T4 como 1+21% de DDGS. En el segundo experimento, se utilizaron 288 gallinas Bovans White de 35 semanas de edad, alojadas en jaulas durante 56 días de experimentación. Se usó un diseño completamente al azar de cuatro tratamientos con tres repeticiones de 12 gallinas cada una. Los tratamientos fueron: 1 dieta basal sorgo-soya, 2 como 1+3% DDGS, 3 como 1+6 % de DDGS, 4 como 1+9% de DDGS. Los resultados del Exp 1, indicaron que la adición del 7% de DDGS, no afectó el comportamiento productivo y de la canal (P>0.05. Los resultados en el Exp 2, mostraron que el empleo de 3, 6 y 9 % de DDGS no afectó el comportamiento productivo (P>0.05. Hubo un efecto benéfico (P<0.05 en la pigmentación de la yema del huevo, siendo mayor en los tratamientos con DDGS. Con los resultados obtenidos en este estudio, se puede concluir que la adición de DDGS en dietas sorgo-soya de hasta el 7 % en pollos de engorda y hasta 9 % en gallinas de postura, es una fuente alternativa de proteína y energía.

  5. ENRIQUECIMIENTO DE HUEVOS CON ÁCIDOS GRASOS OMEGA-3 MEDIANTE LA SUPLEMENTACIÓN CON SEMILLA DE LINO (Linum usitatissimum EN LA DIETA

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Gonzalo Díaz

    2009-04-01

    Full Text Available Objetivo. Enriquecer los huevos de gallina con ácidos grasos omega-3 (n-3 mediante la inclusión de semillas de lino en la dieta. Materiales y métodos. La dieta de las aves fue formulada con niveles de 0 (L0, 10 (L10, 15 (L15 y 20% (L20 de linaza. Se determinó la composición de ácidos grasos por cromatografía de gases y se evaluó la producción y calidad del huevo. Resultados. El porcentaje de producción de huevo fue superior en los grupos L0 y L15 (p<0.05 con 93,0 y 91,5% de producción comparada con 86,0 % en los grupos L10 y L20. La mejor conversión de alimento se presentó también en los grupos L0 y L15. Con la inclusión de semilla de lino, se incrementó el contenido de ácidos grasos n-3 desde 3,0 % en el grupo L0 hasta 12,6 % en el grupo L20, siendo los ácidos grasos n-3 á-linolénico (C18:3, n-3 y docosahexahenóico (DHA, C22:6, n-3 los hallados en mayor concentración. Con la inclusión de linaza en la dieta de las gallinas ponedoras se redujo el contenido de acido linoleico (C18:2n-6, lo cual resultó en una disminución en la relación n-6: n-3. Conclusiones. Con base en la evaluación económica se concluye que es posible enriquecer la yema de huevo de gallina hasta con un 10,1 % de ácidos grasos n-3 mediante la inclusión de un 15 % de linaza en la dieta de las gallinas, sin embargo, esto representó un sobrecosto de producción del 12%.

  6. Avaliação da casca proteinada de soja em dietas para ovinos = Evaluation of soybean protein hulls in diets for sheep

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Vanessa Peripolli

    2011-04-01

    Full Text Available Foi avaliada a utilização de cinco níveis de casca proteinada de soja (0, 4, 8, 12 e 16% em substituição ao farelo de soja em dietas para ovinos em confinamento. Foram avaliados o desempenho, o consumo, a digestibilidade dos nutrientes e os balanços energético e nitrogenado em função da dieta. Vinte cordeiros da raça Texel, com peso vivo médio inicial de 28 kg, foram distribuídos em delineamento inteiramente casualizado com cinco tratamentos e quatro repetições. A dieta foi composta de 30% de volumoso e 70% de concentrado. O farelo de soja dos concentrados foi gradativamente substituído pela cascaproteinada de soja (CPS. O consumo de nutrientes, a conversão alimentar e o ganho de peso não foram influenciados pelo aumento do nível de inclusão da CPS na dieta. Os níveis de CPS também não influenciaram as digestibilidades da MS, MO, N (PB, FDN e EB e osbalanços energético e nitrogenado. The aim was to evaluate the use of five levels of soybean protein hulls (0, 4, 8, 12 and 16% in place of soybean meal in diets for sheep in confinement. We evaluated the performance, intake, nutrient digestibility and, energy and nitrogen balance in terms of diet. Twenty Texel lambs with an average weight of 28 kg were distributed in a completely randomized design with four replications. The diet consisted of 30% roughage and 70% concentrate. The soybean meal in the concentrates was gradually replaced by soybean protein hulls (SPH. Nutrient intake, feed-to-gain ratio and weight gain were not affected by increasing the inclusion level of SPH en the diet. SPH levels also did not influence the digestibility of DM, OM, N (CP,NDF and GE and the energy and nitrogen balance.

  7. Automatic optimization of a nuclear reactor reload using the algorithm Ant-Q; A otimizacao automatica da recarga nuclear utilizando o algoritmo Ant-Q

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Machado, Liana; Schirru, Roberto [Universidade Federal, Rio de Janeiro, RJ (Brazil). Coordenacao dos Programas de Pos-graduacao de Engenharia. Programa de Engenharia Nuclear

    2002-07-01

    The nuclear fuel reload optimization is a NP-Complete combinatorial optimization problem. For decades this problem was solved using an expert's knowledge. From the eighties, however there have been efforts to automatic fuel reload and the more recent ones show the Genetic Algorithm's (GA) efficiency on this problem. Following this trend, our aim is to optimization nuclear fuel reload using Ant-Q, artificial theory based algorithms. Ant-Q's results on the Traveling salesman Problem, which is conceptuality similar to fuel reload, are better than GA's. Ant-Q was tested in real application on the cycle 7 reload of Angra I. Comparing Ant-Q result with the GA's, it can be verified that, even without a local heuristics, the former algorithm, as it superiority comparing the GA in Angra I show. Is a valid technique to solve the nuclear fuel reload problem. (author)

  8. Characterization of actinobacteria associated with three ant-plant mutualisms.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Hanshew, Alissa S; McDonald, Bradon R; Díaz Díaz, Carol; Djiéto-Lordon, Champlain; Blatrix, Rumsaïs; Currie, Cameron R

    2015-01-01

    Ant-plant mutualisms are conspicuous and ecologically important components of tropical ecosystems that remain largely unexplored in terms of insect-associated microbial communities. Recent work has revealed that ants in some ant-plant systems cultivate fungi (Chaetothyriales) within their domatia, which are fed to larvae. Using Pseudomyrmex penetrator/Tachigali sp. from French Guiana and Petalomyrmex phylax/Leonardoxa africana and Crematogaster margaritae/Keetia hispida, both from Cameroon, as models, we tested the hypothesis that ant-plant-fungus mutualisms co-occur with culturable Actinobacteria. Using selective media, we isolated 861 putative Actinobacteria from the three systems. All C. margaritae/K. hispida samples had culturable Actinobacteria with a mean of 10.0 colony forming units (CFUs) per sample, while 26 % of P. penetrator/Tachigali samples (mean CFUs 1.3) and 67 % of P. phylax/L. africana samples (mean CFUs 3.6) yielded Actinobacteria. The largest number of CFUs was obtained from P. penetrator workers, P. phylax alates, and C. margaritae pupae. 16S rRNA gene sequencing and phylogenetic analysis revealed the presence of four main clades of Streptomyces and one clade of Nocardioides within these three ant-plant mutualisms. Streptomyces with antifungal properties were isolated from all three systems, suggesting that they could serve as protective symbionts, as found in other insects. In addition, a number of isolates from a clade of Streptomyces associated with P. phylax/L. africana and C. margaritae/K. hispida were capable of degrading cellulose, suggesting that Streptomyces in these systems may serve a nutritional role. Repeated isolation of particular clades of Actinobacteria from two geographically distant locations supports these isolates as residents in ant-plant-fungi niches.

  9. Hybrid Bee Ant Colony Algorithm for Effective Load Balancing And ...

    African Journals Online (AJOL)

    PROF. OLIVER OSUAGWA

    Ant Colony algorithm is used in this hybrid Bee Ant Colony algorithm to solve load balancing issues ... Genetic Algorithm (MO-GA) for dynamic job scheduling that .... Information Networking and Applications Workshops. [7]. M. Dorigo & T.

  10. The interplay between scent trails and group-mass recruitment systems in ants

    NARCIS (Netherlands)

    Planque, R.; van den Berg, G.J.B.; Franks, N.R.

    2013-01-01

    Large ant colonies invariably use effective scent trails to guide copious ant numbers to food sources. The success of mass recruitment hinges on the involvement of many colony members to lay powerful trails. However, many ant colonies start off as single queens. How do these same colonies forage

  11. Evolution of Fungal enzymes in the attine ant symbiosis

    DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

    de Fine Licht, Henrik Hjarvard; Schiøtt, Morten; Boomsma, Jacobus Jan

    The attine ant symbiosis is characterized by ancient but varying degrees of diffuse co-evolution between the ants and their fungal cultivars. Domesticated fungi became dependent on vertical transmission by queens and the ant colonies came to rely on their symbiotic fungus for food and thus...... as garden substrate, whereas the more basal genera use leaf litter, insect feces and insect carcasses. We hypothesized that enzyme activity of fungal symbionts has co-evolved with substrate use and we measured enzyme activities of fungus gardens in the field to test this, focusing particularly on plant...... essential for the symbiosis in general, but have contributed specifically to the evolution of the symbiosis....

  12. Social context predicts recognition systems in ant queens

    DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

    Dreier, Stéphanie Agnès Jeanine; d'Ettorre, Patrizia

    2009-01-01

    Recognition of group-members is a key feature of sociality. Ants use chemical communication to discriminate nestmates from intruders, enhancing kin cooperation and preventing parasitism. The recognition code is embedded in their cuticular chemical profile, which typically varies between colonies....... We predicted that ants might be capable of accurate recognition in unusual situations when few individuals interact repeatedly, as new colonies started by two to three queens. Individual recognition would be favoured by selection when queens establish dominance hierarchies, because repeated fights...... for dominance are costly; but it would not evolve in absence of hierarchies. We previously showed that Pachycondyla co-founding queens, which form dominance hierarchies, have accurate individual recognition based on chemical cues. Here, we used the ant Lasius niger to test the null hypothesis that individual...

  13. Ant colonies prefer infected over uninfected nest sites

    DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

    Pontieri, Luigi; Vojvodic, Svjetlana; Graham, Riley

    2014-01-01

    with sporulating mycelium of the entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium brunneum (infected nests), nests containing nestmates killed by freezing (uninfected nests), and empty nests. In contrast to the expectation pharaoh ant colonies preferentially (84%) moved into the infected nest when presented with the choice...... the high risk of epidemics in group-living animals. Choosing nest sites free of pathogens is hypothesized to be highly efficient in invasive ants as each of their introduced populations is often an open network of nests exchanging individuals (unicolonial) with frequent relocation into new nest sites...... and low genetic diversity, likely making these species particularly vulnerable to parasites and diseases. We investigated the nest site preference of the invasive pharaoh ant, Monomorium pharaonis, through binary choice tests between three nest types: nests containing dead nestmates overgrown...

  14. Alterações vasculares em ratos obesos por dieta rica em gordura: papel da Via L-arginina/NO Endotelial

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Thiago Bruder Nascimento

    2011-07-01

    Full Text Available FUNDAMENTO: Mecanismos subjacentes a anormalidades vasculares na obesidade ainda não estão completamente esclarecidos. OBJETIVO: Foi avaliada a via do óxido nítrico/L-arginina na resposta vascular de ratos obesos por dieta rica em gordura, enfocando as células endoteliais e do músculo liso. MÉTODOS: Ratos com 30 dias de vida foram divididos em 2 grupos: controle (C e obeso (OB, ratos sob dieta rica em gordura por 30 semanas. Após 30 semanas, foram registrados o peso corporal, índice de adiposidade, pressão arterial e perfis metabólicos e endócrinos dos animais. Foram obtidas curvas para noradrelanina na ausência e presença de inibidor de óxido nítrico sintase (L-NAME, 3x10-4M em aorta torácica intacta e com desnudamento em ratos C e OB. RESULTADOS: As medidas de peso corporal, índice de adiposidade, leptina e insulina aumentaram nos ratos OB, enquanto a pressão arterial permaneceu inalterada. A obesidade também produziu tolerância à glicose e resistência à insulina. A reatividade à noradrenalina da aorta intacta foi similar em ratos C e OB. A presença de L-NAME produziu um aumento similar nas respostas máximas, mas um desvio maior à esquerda das respostas nas aortas intactas dos ratos C em relação aos ratos OB [EC50 (x10-7M: C = 1,84 (0,83-4,07, O = 2,49 (1,41-4,38; presença de L-NAME C = 0,02 (0,01-0,04*, O = 0,21 (0,11-0,40*†,*p < 0,05 vs controle respectivo,†p < 0,05 vs controle mais L-NAME, n = 6-7]. Nenhum dos protocolos alterou a reatividade à noradrenalina de aortas com desnudamento. CONCLUSÃO: A obesidade induzida por dieta rica em gordura promove alterações metabólicas e vasculares. A alteração vascular envolveu uma melhora da via endotelial L-arginina/NO provavelmente relacionada à hiperinsulinemia e hiperleptinemia induzidas por dieta. A maior resistência aos efeitos do L-NAME na aorta de ratos obesos diz respeito a menor vulnerabilidade de indivíduos obesos na presença de patologias

  15. Co-evolution of enzyme function in the attine ant-fungus symbiosis

    DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

    de Fine Licht, Henrik Hjarvard; Schiøtt, Morten; Boomsma, Jacobus Jan

    Introduction: Fungus-growing ants cultivate specialized fungi in the tribe Leucocoprineae (Lepiotaceae: Basidiomycota) inside their nests. The conspicuous leaf-cutting ants in the genus Atta build huge nests displacing several cubic meters of soil, whereas lower attine genera such as Cyphomyrmex ...... garden. This system can be viewed as ant induced crop optimization similar to human agricultural practices....... have small nests with a fungus garden the size of a table-tennis ball. Only the leaf-cutting ants are specialized on using fresh leaves as substrate for their fungus gardens, whereas the more basal attine genera use substrates such as dry plant material (leaf litter and small twigs) and also insect...... feces and insect carcasses. This diverse array of fungal substrates across the attine lineage implies that the symbiotic fungus needs different enzymes to break down the plant material that the ants provide or different efficiencies of enzyme function. Methods: (1.) We made a literature survey...

  16. Leaf endophyte load influences fungal garden development in leaf-cutting ants

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Van Bael Sunshine A

    2012-11-01

    Full Text Available Abstract Background Previous work has shown that leaf-cutting ants prefer to cut leaf material with relatively low fungal endophyte content. This preference suggests that fungal endophytes exact a cost on the ants or on the development of their colonies. We hypothesized that endophytes may play a role in their host plants’ defense against leaf-cutting ants. To measure the long-term cost to the ant colony of fungal endophytes in their forage material, we conducted a 20-week laboratory experiment to measure fungal garden development for colonies that foraged on leaves with low or high endophyte content. Results Colony mass and the fungal garden dry mass did not differ significantly between the low and high endophyte feeding treatments. There was, however, a marginally significant trend toward greater mass of fungal garden per ant worker in the low relative to the high endophyte treatment. This trend was driven by differences in the fungal garden mass per worker from the earliest samples, when leaf-cutting ants had been foraging on low or high endophyte leaf material for only 2 weeks. At two weeks of foraging, the mean fungal garden mass per worker was 77% greater for colonies foraging on leaves with low relative to high endophyte loads. Conclusions Our data suggest that the cost of endophyte presence in ant forage material may be greatest to fungal colony development in its earliest stages, when there are few workers available to forage and to clean leaf material. This coincides with a period of high mortality for incipient colonies in the field. We discuss how the endophyte-leaf-cutter ant interaction may parallel constitutive defenses in plants, whereby endophytes reduce the rate of colony development when its risk of mortality is greatest.

  17. Disentangling the diversity of arboreal ant communities in tropical forest trees.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Klimes, Petr; Fibich, Pavel; Idigel, Cliffson; Rimandai, Maling

    2015-01-01

    Tropical canopies are known for their high abundance and diversity of ants. However, the factors which enable coexistence of so many species in trees, and in particular, the role of foragers in determining local diversity, are not well understood. We censused nesting and foraging arboreal ant communities in two 0.32 ha plots of primary and secondary lowland rainforest in New Guinea and explored their species diversity and composition. Null models were used to test if the records of species foraging (but not nesting) in a tree were dependent on the spatial distribution of nests in surrounding trees. In total, 102 ant species from 389 trees occurred in the primary plot compared with only 50 species from 295 trees in the secondary forest plot. However, there was only a small difference in mean ant richness per tree between primary and secondary forest (3.8 and 3.3 sp. respectively) and considerably lower richness per tree was found only when nests were considered (1.5 sp. in both forests). About half of foraging individuals collected in a tree belonged to species which were not nesting in that tree. Null models showed that the ants foraging but not nesting in a tree are more likely to nest in nearby trees than would be expected at random. The effects of both forest stage and tree size traits were similar regardless of whether only foragers, only nests, or both datasets combined were considered. However, relative abundance distributions of species differed between foraging and nesting communities. The primary forest plot was dominated by native ant species, whereas invasive species were common in secondary forest. This study demonstrates the high contribution of foragers to arboreal ant diversity, indicating an important role of connectivity between trees, and also highlights the importance of primary vegetation for the conservation of native ant communities.

  18. A phylogenetic perspective on the association between ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) and black yeasts (Ascomycota: Chaetothyriales).

    Science.gov (United States)

    Vasse, Marie; Voglmayr, Hermann; Mayer, Veronika; Gueidan, Cécile; Nepel, Maximilian; Moreno, Leandro; de Hoog, Sybren; Selosse, Marc-André; McKey, Doyle; Blatrix, Rumsaïs

    2017-03-15

    The frequency and the geographical extent of symbiotic associations between ants and fungi of the order Chaetothyriales have been highlighted only recently. Using a phylogenetic approach based on seven molecular markers, we showed that ant-associated Chaetothyriales are scattered through the phylogeny of this order. There was no clustering according to geographical origin or to the taxonomy of the ant host. However, strains tended to be clustered according to the type of association with ants: strains from ant-made carton and strains from plant cavities occupied by ants ('domatia') rarely clustered together. Defining molecular operational taxonomic units (MOTUs) with an internal transcribed spacer sequence similarity cut-off of 99% revealed that a single MOTU could be composed of strains collected from various ant species and from several continents. Some ant-associated MOTUs also contained strains isolated from habitats other than ant-associated structures. Altogether, our results suggest that the degree of specialization of the interactions between ants and their fungal partners is highly variable. A better knowledge of the ecology of these interactions and a more comprehensive sampling of the fungal order are needed to elucidate the evolutionary history of mutualistic symbioses between ants and Chaetothyriales. © 2017 The Author(s).

  19. Plant-ants feed their host plant, but above all a fungal symbiont to recycle nitrogen.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Defossez, Emmanuel; Djiéto-Lordon, Champlain; McKey, Doyle; Selosse, Marc-André; Blatrix, Rumsaïs

    2011-05-07

    In ant-plant symbioses, plants provide symbiotic ants with food and specialized nesting cavities (called domatia). In many ant-plant symbioses, a fungal patch grows within each domatium. The symbiotic nature of the fungal association has been shown in the ant-plant Leonardoxa africana and its protective mutualist ant Petalomyrmex phylax. To decipher trophic fluxes among the three partners, food enriched in (13)C and (15)N was given to the ants and tracked in the different parts of the symbiosis up to 660 days later. The plant received a small, but significant, amount of nitrogen from the ants. However, the ants fed more intensively the fungus. The pattern of isotope enrichment in the system indicated an ant behaviour that functions specifically to feed the fungus. After 660 days, the introduced nitrogen was still present in the system and homogeneously distributed among ant, plant and fungal compartments, indicating efficient recycling within the symbiosis. Another experiment showed that the plant surface absorbed nutrients (in the form of simple molecules) whether or not it is coated by fungus. Our study provides arguments for a mutualistic status of the fungal associate and a framework for investigating the previously unsuspected complexity of food webs in ant-plant mutualisms.

  20. Dispersal for survival: some observations on the trunk ant (Formica truncorum Fabricius)

    NARCIS (Netherlands)

    Mabelis, A.A.; Korczynska, J.

    2001-01-01

    The survival chance of the trunk ant (Formica truncorum) is compared with the survival chance of two other species of red wood ants: F.rufa and F.polyctena. Nest populations of F.truncorum are much smaller than nest populations of the other red wood ant species, which makes the species a weaker

  1. Behavioral mechanisms and morphological symptoms of zombie ants dying from fungal infection

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Himaman Winanda

    2011-05-01

    Full Text Available Abstract Background Parasites that manipulate host behavior can provide prominent examples of extended phenotypes: parasite genomes controlling host behavior. Here we focus on one of the most dramatic examples of behavioral manipulation, the death grip of ants infected by Ophiocordyceps fungi. We studied the interaction between O. unilateralis s.l. and its host ant Camponotus leonardi in a Thai rainforest, where infected ants descend from their canopy nests down to understory vegetation to bite into abaxial leaf veins before dying. Host mortality is concentrated in patches (graveyards where ants die on sapling leaves ca. 25 cm above the soil surface where conditions for parasite development are optimal. Here we address whether the sequence of ant behaviors leading to the final death grip can also be interpreted as parasite adaptations and describe some of the morphological changes inside the heads of infected workers that mediate the expression of the death grip phenotype. Results We found that infected ants behave as zombies and display predictable stereotypical behaviors of random rather than directional walking, and of repeated convulsions that make them fall down and thus precludes returning to the canopy. Transitions from erratic wandering to death grips on a leaf vein were abrupt and synchronized around solar noon. We show that the mandibles of ants penetrate deeply into vein tissue and that this is accompanied by extensive atrophy of the mandibular muscles. This lock-jaw means the ant will remain attached to the leaf after death. We further present histological data to show that a high density of single celled stages of the parasite within the head capsule of dying ants are likely to be responsible for this muscular atrophy. Conclusions Extended phenotypes in ants induced by fungal infections are a complex example of behavioral manipulation requiring coordinated changes of host behavior and morphology. Future work should address the

  2. A associação dietética de mananoligossacarídeos e frutoligossacarídeos modifica o metabolismo nitrogenado em cães

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Karla dos Santos Felssner

    2016-10-01

    Full Text Available Neste trabalho, objetivou-se avaliar os efeitos de uma mistura de mannan-oligossacarídeos (MOS e frutoligossacarídeos (FOS, na proporção de 1:1 adicionados a uma dieta para cães, antes ou após o processo de extrusão, sobre os coeficientes de digestibilidade aparente das dietas, energia metabolizável, metabolismo do nitrogênio (curva de uréia sérica pós-prandial, balanço orgânico de nitrogênio, concentração fecal de amônia e excreção de uréia urinária e parâmetros fermentativos fecais (pH fecal e concentrações de ácidos graxos de cadeia curta. Foram utilizados 18 cães adultos da raça Beagle, distribuídos ao acaso em três tratamentos, sendo uma ração controle mais duas dietas em que a mistura dos prebióticos foram adicionados antes ou após o processo de extrusão das rações. Não houve diferença na digestibilidade, energia metabolizável, teor de amônia fecal e de ácidos graxos de cadeia curta (acético, propiônico e butírico entre as dietas controle e com adição dos prebióticos. Entretanto, os cães suplementados com prebiótico, antes ou após a extrusão, apresentaram menor pH fecal (p < 0,05 em relação à dieta controle e foi observado ainda redução na concentração pós-prandial de uréia sérica (p < 0,01 nos animais que receberam prebióticos, observados pelas áreas abaixo da curva de uréia e do seu incremento. O processo de extrusão não afetou os efeitos biológicos destes prebióticos sobre os parâmetros avaliados nos cães. Possíveis mecanismos implicados no efeito dos prebióticos sobre a redução nas concentrações de uréia sérica são a diminuição na formação e absorção intestinal de amônia, favorecidas pela redução no pH intestinal. Estes achados podem ser considerados no uso de prebióticos em nutrição clínica.

  3. Evolutionary transition from single to multiple mating in fungus-growing ants

    DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

    Villesen, Palle; Gertsch, P J; Frydenberg, Jane

    1999-01-01

    Queens of leafcutter ants exhibit the highest known levels of multiple mating (up to 10 mates per queen) among ants. Multiple mating may have been selected to increase genetic diversity among nestmate workers, which is hypothesized to be critical in social systems with large, long-lived colonies...... under severe pressure of pathogens. Advanced fungus-growing (leafcutter) ants have large numbers (104-106 workers) and long-lived colonies, whereas basal genera in the attine tribe have small (... to have lower queen mating frequencies, similar to those found in most other ants. We tested this prediction by analysing queen mating frequency and colony kin structure in three basal attine species: Myrmicocrypta ednaella, Apterostigma collare and Cyphomyrmex longiscapus. Microsatellite marker analyses...

  4. Modeling no-jam traffic in ant trails: a pheromone-controlled approach

    Science.gov (United States)

    Guo, Ning; Hu, Mao-Bin; Jiang, Rui; Ding, Jianxun; Ling, Xiang

    2018-05-01

    The experiment in John et al (2009 Phys. Rev. Lett. 102 108001) shows that when ants move in a single-file trail, no jam emerges even at very high densities. We propose a self-propelled model of ant traffic to reproduce the fundamental diagram without a jammed branch. In this model, ants can adjust their desired velocities actively by perceiving pheromone concentration near the front of the trail. Moreover, ants will bear the repulsive force when they have physical contact with neighbors. The velocity in the simulation decreases slightly with increasing density, which captures the main feature observed in the experiment. Distributions of velocity and distance headway basically also conform to the experimental ones.

  5. Isolation of a pyrazine alarm pheromone component from the fire ant, Solenopsis invicta.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Vander Meer, Robert K; Preston, Catherine A; Choi, Man-Yeon

    2010-02-01

    Alarm pheromones in social insects are an essential part of a complex of pheromone interactions that contribute to the maintenance of colony integrity and sociality. The alarm pheromones of ants were among the first examples of animal pheromones identified, primarily because of the large amount of chemical produced and the distinctive responses of ants to the pheromone. However, the alarm pheromone of the fire ant, Solenopsis invicta, eluded identification for over four decades. We identified 2-ethyl-3,6-dimethylpyrazine as an alarm pheromone component of S. invicta. Worker fire ants detect the pyrazine alarm pheromone at 30 pg/ml, which is comparable to alarm pheromone sensitivities reported for other ant species. The source of this alarm pheromone are the mandibular glands, which, in fire ants, are not well developed and contain only about 300 pg of the compound, much less than the microgram quantities of alarm pheromones reported for several other ant species. Female and male sexuals and workers produce the pyrazine, which suggests that it may be involved in fire ant mating flight initiation, as well as the typical worker alarm response. This is the first report of 2-ethyl-3,6-dimethylpyrazine from a Solenopsis species and the first example of this alkaloid functioning as an alarm pheromone.

  6. Canopy cover negatively affects arboreal ant species richness in a tropical open habitat

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    A. C. M. Queiroz

    Full Text Available Abstract We tested the hypothesis of a negative relationship between vegetation characteristics and ant species richness in a Brazilian open vegetation habitat, called candeial. We set up arboreal pitfalls to sample arboreal ants and measured the following environmental variables, which were used as surrogate of environmental heterogeneity: tree richness, tree density, tree height, circumference at the base of the plants, and canopy cover. Only canopy cover had a negative effect on the arboreal ant species richness. Vegetation characteristics and plant species composition are probably homogeneous in candeial, which explains the lack of relationship between other environmental variables and ant richness. Open vegetation habitats harbor a large number of opportunistic and generalist species, besides specialist ants from habitats with high temperatures. An increase in canopy cover decreases sunlight incidence and may cause local microclimatic differences, which negatively affect the species richness of specialist ants from open areas. Canopy cover regulates the richness of arboreal ants in open areas, since only few ant species are able to colonize sites with dense vegetation; most species are present in sites with high temperature and luminosity. Within open vegetation habitats the relationship between vegetation characteristics and species richness seems to be the opposite from closed vegetation areas, like forests.

  7. Salticid predation as one potential driving force of ant mimicry in jumping spiders

    Science.gov (United States)

    Huang, Jin-Nan; Cheng, Ren-Chung; Li, Daiqin; Tso, I-Min

    2011-01-01

    Many spiders possess myrmecomorphy, and species of the jumping spider genus Myrmarachne exhibit nearly perfect ant mimicry. Most salticids are diurnal predators with unusually high visual acuity that prey on various arthropods, including conspecifics. In this study, we tested whether predation pressure from large jumping spiders is one possible driving force of perfect ant mimicry in jumping spiders. The results showed that small non-ant-mimicking jumping spiders were readily treated as prey by large ones (no matter whether heterospecific or conspecific) and suffered high attack and mortality rates. The size difference between small and large jumping spiders significantly affected the outcomes of predatory interactions between them: the smaller the juvenile jumping spiders, the higher the predation risk from large ones. The attack and mortality rates of ant-mimicking jumping spiders were significantly lower than those of non-ant-mimicking jumping spiders, indicating that a resemblance to ants could provide protection against salticid predation. However, results of multivariate behavioural analyses showed that the responses of large jumping spiders to ants and ant-mimicking salticids differed significantly. Results of this study indicate that predation pressure from large jumping spiders might be one selection force driving the evolution of nearly perfect myrmecomorphy in spiders and other arthropods. PMID:20961898

  8. Diferencias sociodemográficas en la adhesión al patrón de dieta mediterránea en poblaciones de España

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    González C.A.

    2002-01-01

    Full Text Available Objetivos: Los grupos de nivel social más bajo tienen habitualmente una dieta menos saludable. El objetivo de este estudio es comparar la adhesión al patrón de dieta mediterránea entre diferentes grupos demográficos y sociales de la población adulta. Métodos: Se realizó un estudio transversal en regiones del sur y norte de España, en voluntarios sanos (15.634 varones y 25.812 mujeres de 29 a 69 años de edad, miembros de la cohorte EPIC en España. Se tuvo en cuenta el consumo de nueve grupos de alimentos para definir el patrón de dieta mediterránea: vegetales, frutas, legumbres, cereales, carne roja, pescado, aceite de oliva, leche y productos lácteos y vino. Se aplicaron dos técnicas de análisis: comparación de la media diaria de consumo de cada grupo, y el cálculo de un escore global para todos los alimentos, por nivel educacional y clase social de origen. Resultados: Los grupos de nivel educacional más bajo consumen mas cereales y legumbres, pero menos vegetales, aceite de oliva (las mujeres, leche y productos lácteos (los varones. El consumo de vino está positivamente asociado con la educación en las mujeres y negativamente asociado en los varones. Calculando una puntuación para medir la adhesión global al patrón de dieta mediterránea, las diferencias por cada grupo de alimentos se compensan, y no hay variaciones según el nivel educacional, aunque existen pequeñas diferencias en la clase social de origen (22,52 en la clase más baja y 21,98 en la clase más alta. El índice de adhesión es más bajo en los adultos jóvenes y mujeres, y ligeramente más alto en las poblaciones del sur (23,53 en Murcia que en las del norte de España (21,64 en Asturias. Conclusiones: Los resultados sugieren que el patrón de dieta mediterránea es bastante uniforme, al menos en las poblaciones adultas de las áreas incluidas en el estudio.

  9. An ant-plant mutualism through the lens of cGMP-dependent kinase genes.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Malé, Pierre-Jean G; Turner, Kyle M; Doha, Manjima; Anreiter, Ina; Allen, Aaron M; Sokolowski, Marla B; Frederickson, Megan E

    2017-09-13

    In plant-animal mutualisms, how an animal forages often determines how much benefit its plant partner receives. In many animals, foraging behaviour changes in response to foraging gene expression or activation of the cGMP-dependent protein kinase (PKG) that foraging encodes. Here, we show that this highly conserved molecular mechanism affects the outcome of a plant-animal mutualism. We studied the two PKG genes of Allomerus octoarticulatus, an Amazonian ant that defends the ant-plant Cordia nodosa against herbivores. Some ant colonies are better 'bodyguards' than others. Working in the field in Peru, we found that colonies fed with a PKG activator recruited more workers to attack herbivores than control colonies. This resulted in less herbivore damage. PKG gene expression in ant workers correlated with whether an ant colony discovered an herbivore and how much damage herbivores inflicted on leaves in a complex way; natural variation in expression levels of the two genes had significant interaction effects on ant behaviour and herbivory. Our results suggest a molecular basis for ant protection of plants in this mutualism. © 2017 The Author(s).

  10. Temporal Variation in the Abundance and Richness of Foliage-Dwelling Ants Mediated by Extrafloral Nectar.

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Ceres Belchior

    Full Text Available Plants bearing extrafloral nectaries (EFNs are common in the Brazilian cerrado savanna, where climatic conditions having marked seasonality influence arboreal ant fauna organization. These ant-plant interactions have rarely been studied at community level. Here, we tested whether: 1 EFN-bearing plants are more visited by ants than EFN-lacking plants; 2 ant visitation is higher in the rainy season than in dry season; 3 plants producing young leaves are more visited than those lacking young leaves in the rainy season; 4 during the dry season, plants with old leaves and flowers are more visited than plants with young leaves and bare of leaves or flowers; 5 the composition of visiting ant fauna differs between plants with and without EFNs. Field work was done in a cerrado reserve near Uberlândia, MG State, Brazil, along ten transects (total area 3,000 m2, in the rainy (October-January and dry seasons (April-July of 2010-2011. Plants (72 species; 762 individuals were checked three times per season for ant presence. Results showed that 21 species (29% and 266 individuals (35% possessed EFNs. These plants attracted 38 ant species (36 in rainy, 26 in dry season. In the rainy season, plants with EFNs had higher ant abundance/richness than plants without EFNs, but in the dry season, EFN presence did not influence ant visitation. Plant phenology affected ant richness and abundance in different ways: plants with young leaves possessed higher ant richness in the rainy season, but in the dry season ant abundance was higher on plants possessing old leaves or flowers. The species composition of plant-associated ant communities, however, did not differ between plants with and without EFNs in either season. These findings suggest that the effect of EFN presence on a community of plant-visiting ants is context dependent, being conditioned to seasonal variation.

  11. Temporal Variation in the Abundance and Richness of Foliage-Dwelling Ants Mediated by Extrafloral Nectar.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Belchior, Ceres; Sendoya, Sebastián F; Del-Claro, Kleber

    2016-01-01

    Plants bearing extrafloral nectaries (EFNs) are common in the Brazilian cerrado savanna, where climatic conditions having marked seasonality influence arboreal ant fauna organization. These ant-plant interactions have rarely been studied at community level. Here, we tested whether: 1) EFN-bearing plants are more visited by ants than EFN-lacking plants; 2) ant visitation is higher in the rainy season than in dry season; 3) plants producing young leaves are more visited than those lacking young leaves in the rainy season; 4) during the dry season, plants with old leaves and flowers are more visited than plants with young leaves and bare of leaves or flowers; 5) the composition of visiting ant fauna differs between plants with and without EFNs. Field work was done in a cerrado reserve near Uberlândia, MG State, Brazil, along ten transects (total area 3,000 m2), in the rainy (October-January) and dry seasons (April-July) of 2010-2011. Plants (72 species; 762 individuals) were checked three times per season for ant presence. Results showed that 21 species (29%) and 266 individuals (35%) possessed EFNs. These plants attracted 38 ant species (36 in rainy, 26 in dry season). In the rainy season, plants with EFNs had higher ant abundance/richness than plants without EFNs, but in the dry season, EFN presence did not influence ant visitation. Plant phenology affected ant richness and abundance in different ways: plants with young leaves possessed higher ant richness in the rainy season, but in the dry season ant abundance was higher on plants possessing old leaves or flowers. The species composition of plant-associated ant communities, however, did not differ between plants with and without EFNs in either season. These findings suggest that the effect of EFN presence on a community of plant-visiting ants is context dependent, being conditioned to seasonal variation.

  12. Different tolerances of symbiotic and nonsymbiotic ant-plant networks to species extinctions

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Wesley Dattilo

    2012-12-01

    Full Text Available The knowledge of the mechanisms that shape biodiversity-stability relationships is essential to understand ecological and evolutionary dynamics of interacting species. However, most studies focus only on species loss and ignore the loss of interactions. In this study, I evaluated the topological structure of two different ant-plant networks: symbiotic (ants and myrmecophytes and nonsymbiotic (ants and plants with extrafloral nectaries. Moreover, I also evaluated in both networks the tolerance to plant and ant species extinction using a new approach. For this, I used models based on simulations of cumulative removals of species from the network at random. Both networks were fundamentally different in the interaction and extinction patterns. The symbiotic network was more specialized and less robust to species extinction. On the other hand, the nonsymbiotic network tends to be functionally redundant and more robust to species extinction. The difference for food resource utilization and ant nesting in both ant-plant interactions can explain the observed pattern. In short, I contributed in this manner to our understanding of the biodiversity maintenance and coevolutionary processes in facultative and obligate mutualisms.

  13. Symbiont recognition of mutualistic bacteria by Acromyrmex leaf-cutting ants

    DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

    Zhang, Mingzi; Poulsen, Michael; Currie, Cameron R

    2007-01-01

    Symbiont choice has been proposed to play an important role in shaping many symbiotic relationships, including the fungus-growing ant-microbe mutualism. Over millions of years, fungus-growing ants have defended their fungus gardens from specialized parasites with antibiotics produced...

  14. Volatile chemicals in glands of the carpenter ant, Camponotus ...

    African Journals Online (AJOL)

    Volatile chemicals in glands of the carpenter ant, Camponotus arminius. J.M. Brand, L.V. Mabinya, E.D. Morgan. Abstract. Camponotus arminius is a large black carpenter ant that occurs in tropical and sub-tropical Africa and has extensive foraging trails both in trees and on the ground. Analysis of excised mandibular glands ...

  15. Ants of the Peloponnese, Greece (Hymenoptera: Formicidae

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Borowiec Lech

    2017-09-01

    Full Text Available This paper relates to material obtained during two field trips to the Peloponnese in 2013 and 2016. With the inclusion of some hitherto unpublished ant material, it gives new records from a total of 92 sampling localities. 129 species (including morphospecies not attributed to any known taxon of ants have been recorded from the Peloponnese (southern Greece, 27 of which have been recorded from this region for the first time. Lasius reginae and 5 other morphospecies attributed only to species complexes are new to Greece.

  16. Variación espacial y temporal en la composición de la dieta de peces invertívoros en un río neotropical, Venezuela

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    Mario Ortaz

    2011-09-01

    Full Text Available La ictiofauna invertívora es un componente importante en los ríos neotropicales y representa un enlace entre los invertebrados acuáticos y los piscívoros. En el presente trabajo se evaluó la amplitud y sobreposición interespecífica de dieta de nueve especies de peces invertívoros durante tres fases hidrológicas consecutivas: descenso (diciembre/07, enero/08, febrero/08, marzo/08, aguas bajas (abril/08 y ascenso de aguas (junio/08 en dos secciones de un río venezolano ubicadas a distinta altitud (subcuenca alta, SA y subcuenca baja, SB. Los peces se recolectaron con una red de cerco (0.5cm entrenudos entre las 8:00 y 11:00 horas. La dieta de cada especie se evaluó usando un índice de importancia relativa (IIR que incluyó el número, peso y frecuencia de ocurrencia de los items consumidos. Para estimar la amplitud y sobreposición interespecífica de dieta se emplearon los índices de Levín (Bi y Morisita (IM, respectivamente. Todas las estimaciones se realizaron con la frecuencia numérica de las presas consumidas. Se capturaron nueve especies, ocho Characiformes, tres en SA (Knodus deuteronoides, Creagrutus bolivari y C. melasma y cinco en SB (Thoracocharax stellatus, Moenkhausia lepidura, Cheirodon pulcher, Ctenobrycon spilurus y Aphyocharax alburnus y un Cyprinodontiformes (Poecilia reticulata, capturada en SA. En SA el principal recurso consumido fueron insectos acuáticos mientras que el material vegetal y los artrópodos terrestres fueron recursos secundarios. En SB, las especies consumieron estos items además de zooplancton (Copepoda, Cladocera y estadios larvales de crustáceos Decapoda, pero hubo una sustitución temporal con un predominio de zooplancton en descenso y aguas bajas. En general, la amplitud de la dieta disminuyó en descenso de aguas en ambas secciones e incrementó en ascenso de aguas. Sin embargo, la amplitud promedio fue mayor en SA. La sobreposición interespecífica de dieta fue alta en SA mientras que

  17. Density-dependent effects of ants on selection for bumble bee pollination in Polemonium viscosum.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Galen, Candace; Geib, Jennifer C

    2007-05-01

    Mutualisms are commonly exploited by cheater species that usurp rewards without providing reciprocal benefits. Yet most studies of selection between mutualist partners ignore interactions with third species and consequently overlook the impact of cheaters on evolution in the mutualism. Here, we explicitly investigate how the abundance of nectar-thieving ants (cheaters) influences selection in a pollination mutualism between bumble bees and the alpine skypilot, Polemonium viscosum. As suggested in past work with this species, bumble bees accounted for most of the seed production (78% +/- 6% [mean +/- SE]) in our high tundra study population and, in the absence of ants, exerted strong selection for large flowers. We tested for indirect effects of ant abundance on seed set through bumble bee pollination services (pollen delivery and pollen export) and a direct effect through flower damage. Ants reduced seed set per flower by 20% via flower damage. As ant density increased within experimental patches, the rate of flower damage rose, but pollen delivery and export did not vary significantly, showing that indirect effects of increased cheater abundance on pollinator service are negligible in this system. To address how ants affect selection for plant participation in the pollination mutualism we tested the impact of ant abundance on selection for bumble bee-mediated pollination. Results show that the impact of ants on fitness (seed set) accruing under bumble bee pollination is density dependent in P. viscosum. Selection for bumble bee pollination declined with increasing ant abundance in experimental patches, as predicted if cheaters constrain fitness returns of mutualist partner services. We also examined how ant abundance influences selection on flower size, a key component of plant investment in bumble bee pollination. We predicted that direct effects of ants would constrain bumble bee selection for large flowers. However, selection on flower size was significantly

  18. Dietas para frangos de corte contendo quirera de arroz Performance of broiler feed with broken rice in diets

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Berilo de Souza Brum Júnior

    2007-10-01

    Full Text Available O experimento foi realizado para avaliar o uso da quirera de arroz na dieta de frangos de corte. Foram utilizados 240 pintos machos, alojados em galpão, contendo 12 boxes de 2m² de área. Cada box continha comedouro tubular, bebedouro pendular e campânula nos 21 dias iniciais. As aves foram distribuídas em um delineamento inteiramente casualizado, com três tratamentos e quatro repetições, as quais receberam dietas contendo 0, 20 e 40% de inclusão de quirera de arroz. Os dados foram submetidos à análise de regressão e à análise de variância e, quando houve diferença, aplicou-se o teste de Tukey. O ganho de peso, o consumo de ração e a conversão alimentar de 1-21, 1-35 e 1-42 dias (P>0,05 não foram afetados pela substituição do milho por quirera de arroz. A umidade de cama, o índice de eficiência produtivo, o rendimento de carcaça quente, de fígado, coração, coxa, sobre-coxa e peito não apresentaram diferença (P>0,05. No entanto, os rendimentos de moela, bem como a pigmentação da canela e do bico, diminuíram linearmente com o aumento do nível de quirera de arroz na dieta. Conclui-se que a quirera de arroz pode ser incluída nas dieta, substituindo o milho, para frangos de corte.An experiment was carried to evaluate the performance of broilers fed with diferent levels of broken rice. The experiment was conducted with 240 males broilers chicks, Cobb 500, were distributed in floor pens of 2m² each, with one tubular feeder, one pendular drinker, an electrical brooder and on the top of rice hulls. An entirely randomized experimental design was used, with 3 treatments and 4 replicates with 20 birds each, which received, diets containing 0, 20 and 40% of broken rice. Data were submitted to Analisis of regression. Weight gain, feed intake, feed conversion to the1- 21, 1- 35 and 1-42 days of age, litter humidity, carcass, liver, breast, thigh and drumstick yield did not present significant difference. The gizzard and the

  19. Efecto del nivel de clorhidrato de ractopamina y proteína en la dieta sobre el desempeño productivo y rendimiento en canal de pavos comerciales

    OpenAIRE

    Pool Ordóñez, Agustín; Santos Ricalde, Ronald; Carvajal Hernandez, Melinda; Medrano Lizama, Gonzalo; Segura Correa, José

    2009-01-01

    Se evaluó el efecto del nivel de clorhidrato de ractopamina (0, 5 o 10 ppm) y proteína (22% y 24%) en la dieta sobre el desempeño productivo y rendimiento en canal de pavos comerciales. Se utilizaron 72 pavos machos de la línea Nicholas-700 de 14 semanas de edad. Los pavos se alimentaron ad libitum con dietas experimentales durante 28 días. Se encontró que los pavos asignados a los tratamientos con clorhidrato de ractopamina (CLRP) tuvieron mayores ganancias diarias de peso (0.139, 0.154 y 0....

  20. Respuesta clínica en pacientes mexicanos con síndrome de intestino irritable tratados con dieta baja en carbohidratos fermentables (FODMAP

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    N. Pérez y López

    2015-07-01

    Conclusiones: En este primer estudio en población mexicana con SII se observó mejoría significativa de los principales síntomas incluyendo dolor, distensión y flatulencia tras una dieta baja FODMAP.

  1. Resultado de la intervención Enseñanza: dieta prescrita en la consulta de enfermedad renal crónica avanzada

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    M.ª Carmen Torres Torradeflot

    2016-03-01

    Full Text Available En la consulta de enfermedad renal crónica avanzada (ERCA, se proporcionan cuidados a los pacientes con enfermedad renal crónica con un filtrado glomerular (FG < 30 ml/min. Estos incluyen diferentes intervenciones de enfermería. Una de ellas es la intervención 5614 Enseñanza: dieta prescrita. Objetivo: Analizar la eficacia de la intervención 5614 Enseñanza: dieta prescrita, en pacientes ERCA realizada en la consulta de enfermería, en la primera visita. Material y métodos: Estudio cuasiexperimental. Se incluyeron 92 pacientes incidentes en la consulta ERCA en 2014. Se realizó la intervención 5614 Enseñanza: dieta prescrita y se evaluaron indicadores de resultado 1004 Estado nutricional a los 2 meses de la intervención. Se llevó a cabo una estadística descriptiva de las variables pre y post intervención. Resultados: Edad media 69,5±15 años, 64,1% (n=59 hombres, 35,9% (n=33 mujeres, 41,3% diabéticos. Después de la intervención el 62% de los pacientes disminuyeron el valor del K, el 54,3% el del P, el 55,4% el del colesterol total, el 59,8% el del colesterol-LDL, y el 44,6% el del ácido úrico. El 67,4% de los pacientes presentó pérdida ponderal. En estos pacientes la variación media de la albúmina fue -0,005±0,0028 mg/dL. El FG permaneció estable en el 63% de los pacientes. La PAS media disminuye en el 42,4% de los pacientes y la PAD media en el 38%. Conclusiones: Tras la intervención 5614 Enseñanza: dieta prescrita realizada a los pacientes ERCA en la primera visita, se observa disminución del peso y valores plasmáticos de P, K, colesterol- LDL, colesterol total y ácido úrico. La Función renal permanece estable. La concentración de albúmina en los pacientes que perdieron peso se mantiene estable. La diferencia de la media para los valores de K y colesterol total fue estadísticamente significativa.

  2. Níveis decrescentes de proteína em dietas suplementadas com complexo enzimático, para coelhos em crescimento. 2. Parâmetros digestivos e composição química do conteúdo cecal

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Santiago G.S.

    2000-01-01

    Full Text Available Estudou-se o efeito da redução do nível protéico da dieta, com e sem suplementação enzimática, sobre as características digestivas e composição do conteúdo cecal de coelhos em crescimento. Usou-se um delineamento inteiramente ao acaso, com 54 coelhos da raça Nova Zelândia Branco, de ambos os sexos, desmamados com 35 dias de idade, e divididos em cinco grupos (tratamentos, quatro de 11 e um de 10 coelhos. Os tratamentos constituíram-se de dietas calculadas como isoenergéticas e isoaminoacídicas, com 17, 16, 15 e 14% de proteína bruta (PB, suplementadas com 0,05% de um complexo enzimático comercial (Vegproâ com atividades de protease e celulase e uma dieta controle com 17% PB sem adição do complexo enzimático. Os pesos do trato digestivo cheio, ceco cheio, ceco vazio e conteúdo cecal foram significativamente afetados pelo nível de PB da dieta. Das frações químicas do conteúdo cecal (matéria seca, proteína bruta, fibra em detergente ácido, matéria orgânica e nitrogênio amoniacal, matéria orgânica, nitrogênio amoniacal e proporções molares dos ácidos acético e propiônico foram significativamente afetadas pelo nível de PB da dieta. Os resultados permitem concluir que a redução do nível de PB da dieta para 14 % não influenciou negativamente as características estudadas.

  3. Relación de la carga ácida de la dieta y el estado acido-base en niños con Enfermedad Renal Crónica

    OpenAIRE

    Lugo, Gustavo; Moreno, Greysi; Marcano, Gilmary; López, Michelle

    2016-01-01

    La progresión de la Enfermedad Renal Crónica (ERC) es acelerada por la acidosis metabólica, la cual puede ser agravada por la dieta. El objetivo del presente trabajo fue determinar la Carga Acida Potencial Renal (CAPR) de la dieta en niños con ERC y establecer su relación con el estado ácido base. MÉTODOS: Se incluyeron 26 pacientes (10 meses-17 años) con ERC atendidos en la consulta del Servicio de Nefrología del Hospital de Niños JM de los Ríos entre Junio 2014 y Enero 2016. Para la evaluac...

  4. Heavy metal pollution disturbs immune response in wild ant populations

    International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

    Sorvari, Jouni; Rantala, Liisa M.; Rantala, Markus J.; Hakkarainen, Harri; Eeva, Tapio

    2007-01-01

    Concern about the effects of environmental contaminants on immune function in both humans and wildlife is growing and practically nothing is known about this impact on terrestrial invertebrates, even though they are known to easily accumulate pollutants. We studied the effect of industrial heavy metal contamination on immune defense of a free-living wood ant (Formica aquilonia). To find out whether ants show an adapted immune function in a polluted environment, we compared encapsulation responses between local and translocated colonies. Local colonies showed higher heavy metal levels than the translocated ones but the encapsulation response was similar between the two groups, indicating that the immune system of local ants has not adapted to high contamination level. The encapsulation response was elevated in moderate whereas suppressed in high heavy metal levels suggesting higher risk for infections in heavily polluted areas. - Heavy metal pollution affects immune function in ants

  5. Nine novel microsatellite markers for the army ant Simopelta pergandei (subfamily Ponerinae)

    DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

    Kronauer, D.J.C.; Boomsma, J.J.; Pierce, N.E.

    2011-01-01

    Simopelta (subfamily Ponerinae) army ants are specialized predators of other ants in New World tropical forests. Although they show a striking convergence in overall life-history with the well known army ants of the subfamilies Aenictinae, Dorylinae, and Ecitoninae, the genus has been little...... studied. We developed and characterized nine novel microsatellite loci for S. pergandei with 2-8 observed alleles (mean: 5.2) and expected heterozygosities between 0.16 and 0.87 (mean: 0.68). Three of these loci reliably cross-amplified in a second species, S. pentadentata, with 4-8 alleles (mean: 8.......0) and expected heterozygosities between 0.32 and 0.85 (mean: 0.65). These genetic markers will be useful in studying the sociobiology and molecular ecology of Simopelta army ants and in elucidating convergent evolutionary trajectories that have culminated in the army ant lifestyle...

  6. Uso do Índice de Qualidade da Dieta Infantil Revisado para avaliar a dieta alimentar de pré-escolares, seus preditores sociodemográficos e sua associação com peso corporal Use of the Revised Children's Diet Quality Index to assess preschooler's diet quality, its sociodemographic predictors, and its association with body weight status

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Sibylle Kranz

    2008-02-01

    Full Text Available OBJETIVO: Determinar o nível de qualidade global da dieta, preditores sociodemográficos de qualidade da dieta e a associação entre qualidade da dieta e peso corporal em uma amostra nacionalmente representativa de pré-escolares. MÉTODOS: Estudo transversal utilizando uma amostra de crianças de 2 a 5 anos com dados sociodemográficos, alimentares e antropométricos (n = 1.521 do National Health and Examination Survey 1999-2002. A qualidade global da dieta foi determinada através do Índice de Qualidade da Dieta Infantil Revisado. Preditores sociodemográficos (idade, sexo, grupo sociodemográfico e étnico, renda domiciliar, freqüência escolar, participação em programa federal de alimentação de qualidade da dieta foram determinados através de modelos de regressão linear múltipla na amostra total e estratificados por renda domiciliar para aquelas elegíveis no programa Food Stamp (OBJECTIVE: To determine the level of overall diet quality, sociodemographic predictors of diet quality, and the association between diet quality and body weight status in a nationally representative sample of preschoolers. METHODS: Cross-sectional study using a sample of 2-5 years old with sociodemographic, dietary, and anthropometric data (n = 1,521 in the National Health and Examination Survey 1999-2002. Overall diet quality was determined using the Revised Children's Diet Quality Index. Sociodemographic predictors (age, sex, sociodemographic, ethnic group, household income, preschool attendance, federal food program participation of diet quality were determined using multiple linear regression models in the total sample and stratified by household income for Food Stamp eligible (< 1.3 of the poverty income ratio or Special Supplemental Program for Women, Infants, and Children eligible (poverty income ratio < 1.85. Association between diet quality and prevalence of childhood obesity was assessed with Pearson chi-square tests. Statistical significance

  7. Ants avoid superinfections by performing risk-adjusted sanitary care.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Konrad, Matthias; Pull, Christopher D; Metzler, Sina; Seif, Katharina; Naderlinger, Elisabeth; Grasse, Anna V; Cremer, Sylvia

    2018-03-13

    Being cared for when sick is a benefit of sociality that can reduce disease and improve survival of group members. However, individuals providing care risk contracting infectious diseases themselves. If they contract a low pathogen dose, they may develop low-level infections that do not cause disease but still affect host immunity by either decreasing or increasing the host's vulnerability to subsequent infections. Caring for contagious individuals can thus significantly alter the future disease susceptibility of caregivers. Using ants and their fungal pathogens as a model system, we tested if the altered disease susceptibility of experienced caregivers, in turn, affects their expression of sanitary care behavior. We found that low-level infections contracted during sanitary care had protective or neutral effects on secondary exposure to the same (homologous) pathogen but consistently caused high mortality on superinfection with a different (heterologous) pathogen. In response to this risk, the ants selectively adjusted the expression of their sanitary care. Specifically, the ants performed less grooming and more antimicrobial disinfection when caring for nestmates contaminated with heterologous pathogens compared with homologous ones. By modulating the components of sanitary care in this way the ants acquired less infectious particles of the heterologous pathogens, resulting in reduced superinfection. The performance of risk-adjusted sanitary care reveals the remarkable capacity of ants to react to changes in their disease susceptibility, according to their own infection history and to flexibly adjust collective care to individual risk.

  8. Stigmergic construction and topochemical information shape ant nest architecture.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Khuong, Anaïs; Gautrais, Jacques; Perna, Andrea; Sbaï, Chaker; Combe, Maud; Kuntz, Pascale; Jost, Christian; Theraulaz, Guy

    2016-02-02

    The nests of social insects are not only impressive because of their sheer complexity but also because they are built from individuals whose work is not centrally coordinated. A key question is how groups of insects coordinate their building actions. Here, we use a combination of experimental and modeling approaches to investigate nest construction in the ant Lasius niger. We quantify the construction dynamics and the 3D structures built by ants. Then, we characterize individual behaviors and the interactions of ants with the structures they build. We show that two main interactions are involved in the coordination of building actions: (i) a stigmergic-based interaction that controls the amplification of depositions at some locations and is attributable to a pheromone added by ants to the building material; and (ii) a template-based interaction in which ants use their body size as a cue to control the height at which they start to build a roof from existing pillars. We then develop a 3D stochastic model based on these individual behaviors to analyze the effect of pheromone presence and strength on construction dynamics. We show that the model can quantitatively reproduce key features of construction dynamics, including a large-scale pattern of regularly spaced pillars, the formation and merging of caps over the pillars, and the remodeling of built structures. Finally, our model suggests that the lifetime of the pheromone is a highly influential parameter that controls the growth and form of nest architecture.

  9. The cavity-nest ant Temnothorax crassispinus prefers larger nests.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Mitrus, S

    Colonies of the ant Temnothorax crassispinus inhabit mostly cavities in wood and hollow acorns. Typically in the field, nest sites that can be used by the ant are a limited resource. In a field experiment, it was investigated whether the ants prefer a specific size of nest, when different ones are available. In July 2011, a total of 160 artificial nests were placed in a beech-pine forest. Four artificial nests (pieces of wood with volume cavities, ca 415, 605, 730, and 980 mm 3 , respectively) were located on each square meter of the experimental plot. One year later, shortly before the emergence of new sexuals, the nests were collected. In July 2012, colonies inhabited more frequently bigger nests. Among queenright colonies, the ones which inhabited bigger nests had more workers. However, there was no relationship between volume of nest and number of workers for queenless colonies. Queenright colonies from bigger nests produced more sexual individuals, but there was no correlation between number of workers and sex allocation ratio, or between volume of nest and sex allocation ratio. In a laboratory experiment where ant colonies were kept in 470 and 860 mm 3 nests, larger colonies allocated more energy to produce sexual individuals. The results of this study show the selectivity of T. crassispinus ants regarding the size of nest cavity, and that the nest volume has an impact on life history parameters.

  10. Symmetry breaking on density in escaping ants: experiment and alarm pheromone model.

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Geng Li

    Full Text Available The symmetry breaking observed in nature is fascinating. This symmetry breaking is observed in both human crowds and ant colonies. In such cases, when escaping from a closed space with two symmetrically located exits, one exit is used more often than the other. Group size and density have been reported as having no significant impact on symmetry breaking, and the alignment rule has been used to model symmetry breaking. Density usually plays important roles in collective behavior. However, density is not well-studied in symmetry breaking, which forms the major basis of this paper. The experiment described in this paper on an ant colony displays an increase then decrease of symmetry breaking versus ant density. This result suggests that a Vicsek-like model with an alignment rule may not be the correct model for escaping ants. Based on biological facts that ants use pheromones to communicate, rather than seeing how other individuals move, we propose a simple yet effective alarm pheromone model. The model results agree well with the experimental outcomes. As a measure, this paper redefines symmetry breaking as the collective asymmetry by deducing the random fluctuations. This research indicates that ants deposit and respond to the alarm pheromone, and the accumulation of this biased information sharing leads to symmetry breaking, which suggests true fundamental rules of collective escape behavior in ants.

  11. The role of ant-tended extrafloral nectaries in the protection and benefit of a Neotropical rainforest tree.

    Science.gov (United States)

    de la Fuente, Marie Ann S; Marquis, Robert J

    1999-02-01

    One possible function of extrafloral nectaries is to attract insects, particularly ants, which defend plants from herbivores. We determined whether ants visiting saplings of the tree Stryphnodendronmicrostachyum (Leguminosae) provide protection (decreased plant damage due to ant molestation or killing of herbivores) and benefit (increased plant growth and reproduction associated with ant presence) to the plant. We compared ant and herbivore abundance, herbivore damage and growth of ant-visited plants and ant-excluded plants grown in sun and shade microhabitats of a 6-ha plantation in Costa Rica over a 7-month period. Results show that ants provided protection to plants not by reducing herbivore numbers but by molesting herbivores. Ants also reduced the incidence of pathogen attack on leaves. Protection was greater in the shade than in the sun, probably due to lower herbivore attack in the sun. Protection was also variable within sun and shade habitats, and this variability appeared to be related to variable ant visitation. Results also indicate that ant presence benefits the plant: ant-visited plants grew significantly more in height than ant-excluded plants. The cultivation of ants may serve as an important natural biological control in tropical forestry and agroforestry systems, where increased plant density can otherwise lead to increased herbivore attack.

  12. Farinha do subproduto de feijão Phaseolus vulgaris em dietas para juvenis de tilápia do Nilo

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    K. S. P. Azevedo

    2017-07-01

    Full Text Available A procura por fontes proteicas alternativas em dietas para peixes é necessária, pois alguns ingredientes proteicos tradicionais apresentam grande variação no preço e disponibilidade. Um experimento de 45 dias foi conduzido em um sistema de recirculação de água com juvenis de tilápia do Nilo (peso inicial de 16,2 ± 0,1 g para avaliar os efeitos da inclusão de farinha do subproduto de feijão Phaseolus vulgaris sobre os índices produtivos e composição corporal. Três dietas isonitrogenadas (35% de proteína bruta e isocalóricas (3.100 kcal/kg de energia digestível foram preparadas para incluir 0%; 6,2% e 12,4% de farinha do subproduto de feijão substituindo 0%; 10% e 20% da proteína bruta do farelo de soja, em um delineamento inteiramente casualizado (n=4. O peso final, ganho de peso, taxa de crescimento específico, índice de consumo alimentar, taxa de eficiência proteica e sobrevivência foram similares (P>0,05 entre os peixes alimentados com as dietas experimentais. Nenhuma diferença (P>0,05 foi registrada no teor de proteína bruta, cinzas e extrato etéreo corporais dos peixes. O valor produtivo da proteína bruta e a matéria seca corporal diminuíram (P<0,05 nos peixes alimentados com 12,4% da farinha do subproduto de feijão. A inclusão de farinha do subproduto de feijão até 6,2% como substituto do farelo de soja não diminui o desempenho produtivo e a composição corporal dos peixes.

  13. Host-ant specificity of endangered large blue butterflies (Phengaris spp., Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae) in Japan.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Ueda, Shouhei; Komatsu, Takashi; Itino, Takao; Arai, Ryusuke; Sakamoto, Hironori

    2016-11-03

    Large blue butterflies, Phengaris (Maculinea), are an important focus of endangered-species conservation in Eurasia. Later-instar Phengaris caterpillars live in Myrmica ant nests and exploit the ant colony's resources, and they are specialized to specific host-ant species. For example, local extinction of P. arion in the U. K. is thought to have been due to the replacement of its host-ant species with a less-suitable congener, as a result of changes in habitat. In Japan, Myrmica kotokui hosts P. teleius and P. arionides caterpillars. We recently showed, however, that the morphological species M. kotokui actually comprises four genetic clades. Therefore, to determine to which group of ants the hosts of these two Japanese Phengaris species belong, we used mitochondrial COI-barcoding of M. kotokui specimens from colonies in the habitats of P. teleius and P. arionides to identify the ant clade actually parasitized by the caterpillars of each species. We found that these two butterfly species parasitize different ant clades within M. kotokui.

  14. Polarized light use in the nocturnal bull ant, Myrmecia midas.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Freas, Cody A; Narendra, Ajay; Lemesle, Corentin; Cheng, Ken

    2017-08-01

    Solitary foraging ants have a navigational toolkit, which includes the use of both terrestrial and celestial visual cues, allowing individuals to successfully pilot between food sources and their nest. One such celestial cue is the polarization pattern in the overhead sky. Here, we explore the use of polarized light during outbound and inbound journeys and with different home vectors in the nocturnal bull ant, Myrmecia midas . We tested foragers on both portions of the foraging trip by rotating the overhead polarization pattern by ±45°. Both outbound and inbound foragers responded to the polarized light change, but the extent to which they responded to the rotation varied. Outbound ants, both close to and further from the nest, compensated for the change in the overhead e-vector by about half of the manipulation, suggesting that outbound ants choose a compromise heading between the celestial and terrestrial compass cues. However, ants returning home compensated for the change in the e-vector by about half of the manipulation when the remaining home vector was short (1-2 m) and by more than half of the manipulation when the remaining vector was long (more than 4 m). We report these findings and discuss why weighting on polarization cues change in different contexts.

  15. Autonomous Agents on Expedition: Humans and Progenitor Ants and Planetary Exploration

    Science.gov (United States)

    Rilee, M. L.; Clark, P. E.; Curtis, S. A.; Truszkowski, W. F.

    2002-01-01

    The Autonomous Nano-Technology Swarm (ANTS) is an advanced mission architecture based on a social insect analog of many specialized spacecraft working together to achieve mission goals. The principal mission concept driving the ANTS architecture is a Main Belt Asteroid Survey in the 2020s that will involve a thousand or more nano-technology enabled, artificially intelligent, autonomous pico-spacecraft (architecture. High level, mission-oriented behaviors are to be managed by a control / communications layer of the swarm, whereas common low level functions required of all spacecraft, e.g. attitude control and guidance and navigation, are handled autonomically on each spacecraft. At the higher levels of mission planning and social interaction deliberative techniques are to be used. For the asteroid survey, ANTS acts as a large community of cooperative agents while for precursor missions there arises the intriguing possibility of Progenitor ANTS and humans acting together as agents. For optimal efficiency and responsiveness for individual spacecraft at the lowest levels of control we have been studying control methods based on nonlinear dynamical systems. We describe the critically important autonomous control architecture of the ANTS mission concept and a sequence of partial implementations that feature increasingly autonomous behaviors. The scientific and engineering roles that these Progenitor ANTS could play in human missions or remote missions with near real time human interactions, particularly to the Moon and Mars, will be discussed.

  16. Nonintegrated Host Association of Myrmecophilus tetramorii, a Specialist Myrmecophilous Ant Cricket (Orthoptera: Myrmecophilidae

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Takashi Komatsu

    2013-01-01

    Full Text Available Myrmecophilus ant crickets (Orthoptera: Myrmecophilidae are typical ant guests. In Japan, about 10 species are recognized on the basis of morphological and molecular phylogenetic frameworks. Some of these species have restricted host ranges and behave intimately toward their host ant species (i.e., they are host specialist. We focused on one species, M. tetramorii, which uses the myrmicine ant Tetramorium tsushimae as its main host. All but one M. tetramorii individuals were collected specifically from nests of T. tsushimae in the field. However, behavioral observation showed that all individuals used in the experiment received hostile reactions from the host ants. There were no signs of intimate behaviors such as grooming of hosts or receipt of mouth-to-mouth feeding from hosts, which are seen in some host-specialist Myrmecophilus species among obligate host-ant species. Therefore, it may be that M. tetramorii is the species that is specialized to exploit the host by means other than chemical integration.

  17. Are ant assemblages of Brazilian veredas characterised by location or habitat type?

    Science.gov (United States)

    Costa-Milanez, C B; Lourenço-Silva, G; Castro, P T A; Majer, J D; Ribeiro, S P

    2014-02-01

    Wetland areas in the Brazilian Cerrado, known as "veredas", represent ecosystems formed on sandy soils with high concentrations of peat, and are responsible for the recharge of aquiferous reservoirs. They are currently under threat by various human activities, most notably the clearing of vegetation for Eucalyptus plantations. Despite their ecological importance and high conservation value, little is known about the actual effects of human disturbance on the animal community. To assess how habitat within different veredas, and plantations surrounding them affect ant assemblages, we selected four independent vereda locations, two being impacted by Eucalyptus monoculture (one younger and one mature plantation) and two controls, where the wetland was surrounded by cerrado vegetation. Ant sampling was conducted in May 2010 (dry season) using three complementary methods, namely baits, pitfall traps, and hand collection, in the wetland and in the surrounding habitats. A total of 7,575 ants were sampled, belonging to seven subfamilies, 32 genera and 124 species. Ant species richness and abundance did not differ between vereda locations, but did between the habitats. When impacted by the monoculture, ant species richness and abundance decreased in wetlands, but were less affected in the cerrado habitat. Ant species composition differed between the three habitats and between vereda locations. Eucalyptus plantations had an ant species composition defined by high dominance of Pheidole sp. and Solenopsis invicta, while natural habitats were defined by Camponotus and Crematogaster species. Atta sexdens was strictly confined to native habitats of non-impacted "veredas". Eucalyptus monocultures require high quantities of water in the early stages, which may have caused a decrease in groundwater level in the wetland, allowing hypogeic ants such as Labidus praedator to colonise this habitat.

  18. Effect of irradiation on queen survivorship and reproduction in the invasive fire ant Solenopsis invicta,(Hymenoptera: Formicidae) and a generic phytosanitary irradiation treatment for ants

    Science.gov (United States)

    Ants are common hitchhiker pests on traded agricultural commodities that could be controlled by postharvest irradiation treatment. We studied radiation tolerance in queens of the red imported fire ant Solenopsis invicta Buren to determine the dose sufficient for its control. Virgin or fertile queens...

  19. Ant Colony Optimization ACO For The Traveling Salesman Problem TSP Using Partitioning

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Alok Bajpai

    2015-08-01

    Full Text Available Abstract An ant colony optimization is a technique which was introduced in 1990s and which can be applied to a variety of discrete combinatorial optimization problem and to continuous optimization. The ACO algorithm is simulated with the foraging behavior of the real ants to find the incremental solution constructions and to realize a pheromone laying-and-following mechanism. This pheromone is the indirect communication among the ants. In this paper we introduces the partitioning technique based on the divide and conquer strategy for the traveling salesman problem which is one of the most important combinatorial problem in which the original problem is partitioned into the group of sub problems. And then we apply the ant colony algorithm using candidate list strategy for each smaller sub problems. After that by applying the local optimization and combining the sub problems to find the good solution for the original problem by improving the exploration efficiency of the ants. At the end of this paper we have also be presented the comparison of result with the normal ant colony system for finding the optimal solution to the traveling salesman problem.

  20. Using ant-behavior-based simulation model AntWeb to improve website organization

    Science.gov (United States)

    Li, Weigang; Pinheiro Dib, Marcos V.; Teles, Wesley M.; Morais de Andrade, Vlaudemir; Alves de Melo, Alba C. M.; Cariolano, Judas T.

    2002-03-01

    Some web usage mining algorithms showed the potential application to find the difference among the organizations expected by visitors to the website. However, there are still no efficient method and criterion for a web administrator to measure the performance of the modification. In this paper, we developed an AntWeb, a model inspired by ants' behavior to simulate the sequence of visiting the website, in order to measure the efficient of the web structure. We implemented a web usage mining algorithm using backtrack to the intranet website of the Politec Informatic Ltd., Brazil. We defined throughput (the number of visitors to reach their target pages per time unit relates to the total number of visitors) as an index to measure the website's performance. We also used the link in a web page to represent the effect of visitors' pheromone trails. For every modification in the website organization, for example, putting a link from the expected location to the target object, the simulation reported the value of throughput as a quick answer about this modification. The experiment showed the stability of our simulation model, and a positive modification to the intranet website of the Politec.

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