Search results for " zoology"
showing 10 items of 2242 documents
A Revised Phylogeny of Discocerinini (Diptera: Ephydridae) with an Emphasis on Structures of the Proboscis
2016
Supplementary diagnostic characters of genera in the tribe Discocerinini are suggested. A new genus Aquachasma Zatwarnicki, type species: Discocerina leucoprocta Loew, 1861 is described with 24 new combinations of all included species. Genus Polytrichophora is divided into the nominate subgenus and a new subgenus Sklodowskopa Zatwarnicki, type species: Clasiopa duplosetosa Becker, 1896. Genus Orasiopa is divided into the nominate subgenus and a new subgenus Reymontopa Zatwarnicki, type species: Discocerina mera Cresson, 1939. The shape of the proboscis of all genera of Discocerinini is provided, including variability of cibarium and pseudotracheae. The ventral receptacles of 6 genera (Aquac…
Species interactions, environmental gradients and body size shape population niche width
2021
1. Competition for shared resources is commonly assumed to restrict population-level niche width of coexisting species. However, the identity and abundance of coexisting species, the prevailing environmental conditions, and the individual body size may shape the effects of interspecific interactions on species’ niche width. 2. Here we study the effects of interspecific and intraspecific interactions, lake area and altitude, and fish body size on the trophic niche width and resource use of a generalist predator, the littoral-dwelling large, sparsely rakered morph of European whitefish (Coregonus lavaretus; hereafter LSR whitefish). We use stable isotope, diet and survey fishing data from 14 …
Continuous wildlife monitoring using blimps as an aerial platform: a case study observing marine megafauna
2020
ABSTRACT Aerial surveys are a powerful means of collecting ecological data in terrestrial and marine systems that may otherwise be difficult to acquire. Increasingly aerial observations are made with Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), such as drones. As this technology has improved in reliability and affordability it has replaced the traditional use of fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters. Drones do, however, have limitations; primarily in their limited flight duration, potential to disturb wildlife and concerns over safety. Here we introduce an aerostat, a ground tethered blimp, as a logistically simple and economical alternative to drones and other aircraft. Blimps differ from drones by usin…
Evidence of cytotoxic activity against mammalian red blood cell of Na+ channel neurotoxin (Ae1) from sea anemone (Actinia equina)
2016
The diversification of anthozoan toxins played an important role in the ability to colonize various ecological niches. In this study we evaluated the hemolytic activity of HPLC separated fraction of tentacle extracts of sea anemone Actinia equina. Toxic components from acid tissue tentacle extracts were investigated by size exclusion and reverse phase HPLC to characterize cytolytic molecules. A novel low molecular weight active fraction was sequenced by MALDI TOF analysis and a protein correspondent to 5.4 kDa Sodium channel neurotoxin (Ae1) from A. equina was identified. Synthetic Ae1 was assayed and it showed an hemolytic activity against mammalian erythrocytes in a dose dependent manner.…
Computer-assisted sperm analysis and reproductive science; a gift for understanding gamete biology from multidisciplinary perspectives
2018
The science of reproductive biology has been a source of fascination for centuries and has been marked both by important landmarks of discovery and influential, but persistent, errors of fact. The first century physician and philosopher, Galen of Pergamum, carried out empirical investigations on both humans and animals and proposed that conception required a combination of both male and female ‘principles’…
Numerous Fasciola plasminogen-binding proteins may underlie blood-brain barrier leakage and explain neurological disorder complexity and heterogeneit…
2019
15 páginas, 5 figuras y 1 tabla
Genome-wide analyses reveal the regions involved in the phenotypic diversity in Sicilian pigs.
2019
Nero Siciliano (Sicilian Black, SB) is a local pig breed generally of uniform black color. In addition to this officially recognized breed, there are animals showing morphological characteristics resembling the SB but with gray hair (Sicilian Grey, SG). The SG, compared with the SB, also shows a more compact structure with greater transverse diameters, higher average daily gains and lower thickness of the back fat. In this study, using the Illumina PorcineSNP60 BeadChip, we run genome-wide analyses to identify regions that may explain the phenotypic differences between SB (n = 21) and SG (n = 27) individuals. Combining the results of the two case–control approaches (GWAS and FST), we identi…
Genome-wide association study reveals the locus responsible for microtia in Valle del Belice sheep breed.
2018
Microtia is a congenital deformity of the outer ear with phenotypes varying from a small auricle to total absence (anotia). The genetic basis is still poorly understood, and very few studies have been performed in sheep. Valle del Belice sheep is a breed showing microtia. The aim of this study was to identify the potential genomic regions involved in microtia in sheep. A total of 40 individuals, 20 with microtia and 20 normal, were genotyped with the Illumina OvineSNP50 BeadChip. The comparison among the results from a genome-wide association study, Fisher's exact test and FST analysis revealed a single strong association signal: rs419889303 on chromosome 1, located within intron 3 of the C…
Genome-wide scan for runs of homozygosity identifies potential candidate genes associated with local adaptation in Valle del Belice sheep
2017
Background Because very large numbers of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are now available throughout the genome, they are particularly suitable for the detection of genomic regions where a reduction in heterozygosity has occurred and they offer new opportunities to improve the accuracy of inbreeding (\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \usepackage{amsmath} \usepackage{wasysym} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \usepackage{upgreek} \setlength{\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \begin{document}$$F$$\end{document}F) estimates. Runs of homozygosity (ROH) are contiguous lengths of homozygous segments of the genome where the two haplotypes inherited from t…
Association study between beta-defensin gene polymorphisms and mastitis resistance in Valle del Belice dairy sheep breed
2016
Abstract Mastitis is generally caused by bacteria, and it is the most common disease in livestock species. Defensins are peptides with a broad spectrum of antimicrobial activity and β-defensin genes have been studied in several livestock species due to their important role in the innate immune response. The aim of this study was to establish an association between polymorphisms in the β-defensin 1 and 2 genes and mastitis resistance in the Valle del Belice dairy sheep. Data consisted of 1855 and 2804 observations for case and control group, respectively. Six single nucleotide polymorphisms and seven haplotypes were selected for association studies with mastitis. In particular, polymorphism …