Search results for "PTE"

Not just the sum of its parts : Geographic variation and nonadditive effects of pyrazines in the chemical defence of an aposematic moth

2022

Chemical defences often vary within and between populations both in quantity and quality, which is puzzling if prey survival is dependent on the strength of the defence. We investigated the within- and between-population variability in chemical defence of the wood tiger moth (Arctia plantaginis). The major components of its defences, SBMP (2-sec-butyl-3-methoxypyrazine) and IBMP (2-isobutyl-3-methoxypyrazine), are volatiles that deter bird attacks. We hypothesized that (1) variation in the chemical defences of male wood tiger moths reflects the local predation pressure; (2) observed differences in quantity and quality of defence among populations have a genetic basis; and (3) increasing con…

Size-related mortality during overwintering in cavity-nesting ant colonies (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

2016

The ongoing process of climate change will result in higher temperatures during winter and therefore might increase the survival of overwintering invertebrates. However, the process may also lead to a reduction in snow cover and expose overwintering invertebrates to lower temperatures, which could result in higher mortality. During a field experiment, I investigated the effects of a reduction in snow cover on the survival of the ant Temnothorax crassispinus, which overwinters in nests located on the ground. Ant colonies differed in the survival rate of the workers in the experimental (from which snow cover was removed) and control group. In the control group, the survival rate was unrelated…

A dark-septate fungus is the dominant endophyte in roots of the halophite Inula Crithmoides. Does habitat-adapted symbiosis operate in salt-adapted p…

2009

Host Searching by Egg Parasitoids: Exploitation of Host Chemical Cues

2010

Insect parasitoids are considered “keystone species” in many ecosystems in terms of biodiversity, ecological impact and economic importance (Vinson 1985, LaSalle and Gauld 1993, Hawkins et al. 1999). In the last decades, several reviews have been published on the relationships among plants, hosts and parasitoids, which reflect a strong interest in these insects both as models for behavioral ecologists and as important organisms for classical and applied biological control programs (Hawkins et al. 1999, Vet 1999, Bale et al. 2008). The majority of these studies have considered the larval parasitoid s, besides the extensive use of egg parasitoids in biological control (Hawkins et al. 1999). I…

Priorities and gaps in Mediterranean bat research evidence: a systematic review for the early twenty-first century

2022

Bat conservation is one of the top global concerns for research today; however, conservation efforts may still be limited and impotent due to inadequacy and scarcity of data. Hence, identifying research trends, threatening factors, species status, and geographical priorities is an essential tool for future conservation, protection and prioritization. Here we conduct a comprehensive systematic review to identify current research priorities, trends, general patterns and gaps regarding Mediterranean bat researches. A total of 97 studies were found in the years spanning between 2000 and 2021. There were 18 studies with sufficient data for qualitative statistical analysis to investigate the impa…

Une nouvelle approche de classification de personnes à partir d'une plate-forme multi-kinect

2015

International audience; Dans ce papier nous présentons un descripteur 3D original pour la classification de personnes. Nous avons réalisé une plate-forme multi-kinect qui fait l'acquisition de nuages de points complets (c'est à dire selon une vue à 360°). Un post-traitement (suppression d'arrière-plan) isole les éléments qui sont candidats à représenter une personne. Notre descripteur exploite ces données et permet, au travers d'un classifieur SVM (Support Vector Machine), de classifier les personnes et de déterminer l'orientation du plan frontal de la personne. Il utilise la répartition spatiale et l'orientation des normales aux surfaces dans un procédé dérivé de celui des HOG (Histogram o…

Analysis of the crane flies (Diptera, Tipuloidea) subfamilies relationships using molecular sequence data

2008

Expression hétérologue, repliement in vitro et caractérisation biophysique du domaine N-terminal de la sous-unité T1R3 du récepteur humain au goût su…

2010

The sweet taste receptor is a heterodimer composed of two subunits called T1R2 and T1R3. Each subunit belongs to the class C of G protein-coupled receptors and is constituted by a large extracellular N-terminal domain (NTD) linked to the transmembrane domain by a cysteine-rich region. It has been shown that T1R2 and T1R3 NTDs are both able to bind natural sugars and sucralose with distinct affinities and undergo ligand-dependent conformational change (Nie et al., Curr Biol, 2005). However, the binding properties of T1R3 NTD and the relative contribution of the two subunits to the heterodimeric receptor function remained largely unknown. To characterize the binding properties of each subunit…

Role of odorant-binding proteins in Drosophila melanogaster chemosensory perception

2019

Chemoperception is used by animals to detect nutritive food and avoid toxic compounds. It also allows animals to identify suitable ecological niche and mating partners. Like many other insects, Drosophila melanogaster possesses a very sensitive chemosensory ability and can detect and discriminate a wide panel of semiochemicals. Chemosensory detection is mostly mediated by olfactory and gustatory systems involving several multigene chemoreceptor families. Volatile and non-volatile chemical compounds entering the sensory organ (sensillum) must be solubilized before being transported through the hydrophilic sensillum lymph bathing the dendrites of chemosensory neurons. These perireceptor event…

The identity of the tropical African

2016

Abstract Polichne mukonja Griffini, 1908 from Cameroon was hitherto known only from the holotype preserved at the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, Brussels. This was probably due to the fact that the genus Polichne Stål, 1874 distributed only in Australia and Papua New Guinea. In view of this distribution, the tropical African species was therefore overlooked in the African literature. The recent discovery of two specimens at the Naturhistorisches Museum, Vienna, now provides us with a better understanding of the identity of this taxon, which is related to the African genus Catoptropteryx Karsch, 1890. Polichne mukonja is here transferred to a new genus Griffinipteryx and both t…