Tropical ZoologyPub Date : 2016-01-02DOI: 10.1080/03946975.2016.1139394
L. C. B. Martins, J. Delabie, J. Serrão
{"title":"The function of intramandibular glands of the ant Neoponera villosa (Fabricius, 1804) (Hymenoptera: Ponerinae)","authors":"L. C. B. Martins, J. Delabie, J. Serrão","doi":"10.1080/03946975.2016.1139394","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/03946975.2016.1139394","url":null,"abstract":"In social insects, secretions of the exocrine gland may modulate their behavior. Although many glands have their functions elucidated, this is absent for the intramandibular glands in ants. To study the function of intramandibular gland secretions in the ant Neoponera villosa, its compounds were subjected to behavioral analyses. These analyses revealed a significant increase in the walking time of ants exposed to the nestmate mandible extract. The results suggest that intramandibular gland compounds of N. villosa may play the role of alarm or scent trial pheromones.","PeriodicalId":54409,"journal":{"name":"Tropical Zoology","volume":"29 1","pages":"10 - 15"},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2016-01-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/03946975.2016.1139394","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"59382566","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Tropical ZoologyPub Date : 2016-01-02DOI: 10.1080/03946975.2015.1119006
Pataporn Kuanui, S. Chavanich, V. Viyakarn, Heung-Sik Park, M. Omori
{"title":"Feeding behaviors of three tropical scleractinian corals in captivity","authors":"Pataporn Kuanui, S. Chavanich, V. Viyakarn, Heung-Sik Park, M. Omori","doi":"10.1080/03946975.2015.1119006","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/03946975.2015.1119006","url":null,"abstract":"This study examined the capture rates and prey digestion of three corals species in two genera (Acropora and Pocillopora) found dominantly in Thailand and the Federated States of Micronesia using Artemia salina nauplii as a food source. In addition, feeding during day and night times of corals was investigated. Results showed that all three coral species, namely, Acropora millepora, Acropora nobilis, and Pocillopora damicornis captured and consumed A. salina nauplii under both light and dark conditions. The capture rates of the three species ranged between 0.44 and 2.39 individuals/polyp/12 h. The results also showed complete digestions of A. salina nauplii by A. millepora and A. nobilis after 2 h, whereas P. damicornis took 2.5 h to complete the prey digestion. Even though feeding corals with Artemia is not a novel implication since this is widely used, the results of optimum daily feeding frequency of corals by Artemia may be applied for optimum corals growth and survival in captivity or aquarium.","PeriodicalId":54409,"journal":{"name":"Tropical Zoology","volume":"29 1","pages":"1 - 9"},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2016-01-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/03946975.2015.1119006","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"59382550","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Tropical ZoologyPub Date : 2016-01-02DOI: 10.1080/03946975.2016.1145399
Deepak Singh, Raghvendra Singh, C. Tripathi
{"title":"Effect of host density on life table statistics of Bracon hebetor Say, 1836 (Hymenoptera: Braconidae)","authors":"Deepak Singh, Raghvendra Singh, C. Tripathi","doi":"10.1080/03946975.2016.1145399","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/03946975.2016.1145399","url":null,"abstract":"Bracon hebetor Say shows high fecundity and natural rate of increase which makes it a promising enemy against Corcyra cephalonica, a very common stored grain pest. The functional response of the parasitoid can determine potential of a species to act as a biocontrol agent; it defines parasitoid’s searching efficiency and provides an understanding of host–parasitoid interaction. The mean longevity of female parasitoids had no significant difference when maintained at different densities of host insects. However, progeny sex ratio was significantly affected when different host densities were maintained during its adult life. The net fecundity rate (R0) and total fecundity rate (Rt) were highest when host density was five hosts per reproductive chamber. The mean length of generation time (T.c.) was higher on host density one compared to other densities. The intrinsic rate of increase (rm) was highest when the host density was five and lowest on 20 hosts per reproductive chamber. Other life table parameters were also affected significantly. On the basis of life table statistics, we can say that this type of density-responsive behaviour can be considered to be the most stabilizing one.","PeriodicalId":54409,"journal":{"name":"Tropical Zoology","volume":"22 1","pages":"44 - 51"},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2016-01-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/03946975.2016.1145399","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"59382619","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Tropical ZoologyPub Date : 2016-01-02DOI: 10.1080/03946975.2016.1142308
M. Pitzalis, V. Amore, F. Montalto, L. Luiselli, M. Bologna
{"title":"What is driving the community structure of insects in arid ecosystems of Southern Africa? An example with blister beetles (Coleoptera: Meloidae)","authors":"M. Pitzalis, V. Amore, F. Montalto, L. Luiselli, M. Bologna","doi":"10.1080/03946975.2016.1142308","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/03946975.2016.1142308","url":null,"abstract":"A considerable part of community ecology literature questioned what are the main drivers of ecological relationships in an organismal community. We analysed this focal question by studying blister beetle (Meloidae) assemblages in Southern Africa. We explored the ecological distribution of 48 species across underlying bioclimatic (e.g. temperatures and precipitation regimes), environmental factors (biomes, vegetation structure) and the taxonomic heterogeneity of each groups inhabiting major biomes of Namibia across their main biological and ecological traits, by Canonical Correspondence in order to get an ordination plot. Monte Carlo methods were used to test for randomness of the data ordination. Ordination plot identified three main assemblages, one being constituted by strictly semiarid savannah species (camelthorn, mountain, karstweld, thornbush, mixed tree and shrub, dwarf shrub, mopane and forest savannahs), one much larger and less homogenous second assemblage, inclusive of more generalist species from Karoo and semi-desert habitats, living also in arid savannahs, and the third one including Nama Karoo species. All the three assemblages were taxonomically very heterogeneous, showing that phylogenetic relationships are probably less relevant than interspecific ecological relationships among species of the same group to determine present-day community structure in these animals.","PeriodicalId":54409,"journal":{"name":"Tropical Zoology","volume":"29 1","pages":"16 - 43"},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2016-01-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/03946975.2016.1142308","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"59382606","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Tropical ZoologyPub Date : 2015-10-02DOI: 10.1080/03946975.2015.1078568
Emanuel H. Martin, Nathalie Cavada, V. Ndibalema, F. Rovero
{"title":"Modelling fine-scale habitat associations of medium-to-large forest mammals in the Udzungwa Mountains of Tanzania using camera trapping","authors":"Emanuel H. Martin, Nathalie Cavada, V. Ndibalema, F. Rovero","doi":"10.1080/03946975.2015.1078568","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/03946975.2015.1078568","url":null,"abstract":"We used camera trap data collected in 2013 from 60 locations in the Udzungwa Mountains of Tanzania to determine fine-scale habitat associations for medium-to-large mammal species. The area is outstanding for biodiversity and endemism in Africa, particularly for mammals. Each camera trap sampled for 30 days and the survey yielded 12,911 images of 26 species. We used generalized linear modelling to determine relationships between camera-trapping events and vegetation and other habitat variables, and obtained satisfactory model fit for 9 out of the 11 most recorded species, with explained model deviance up to 63.7%. Results provide novel insights into the ecology of target species. For example, the event count of the IUCN-endangered Abbott's duiker (Cephalophus spadix) was positively correlated with distance to the park border, indicating preference for interior forest and avoidance of disturbance. The event count of the Eastern Arc-endemic Lowe's servaline genet (Genetta servalina lowei) was positively correlated with diversity of large trees but negatively correlated with visibility and herbaceous cover, indicating preference for mature forest habitat. Our study validates the usefulness of camera trapping to assess communities of forest mammals, especially as related to habitat associations, providing data that are of relevance to their conservation management.","PeriodicalId":54409,"journal":{"name":"Tropical Zoology","volume":"28 1","pages":"137 - 151"},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2015-10-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/03946975.2015.1078568","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"59382884","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Tropical ZoologyPub Date : 2015-10-02DOI: 10.1080/03946975.2015.1107346
J. Mawdsley
{"title":"Cladistic analysis and evolutionary relationships of the “Megaxylocopa clade” of the genus Xylocopa Latreille, 1802 (Insecta: Hymenoptera: Apidae)","authors":"J. Mawdsley","doi":"10.1080/03946975.2015.1107346","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/03946975.2015.1107346","url":null,"abstract":"Computerized cladistic analysis was used to (1) develop a hypothesis of phylogenetic relationships among the three species of the well-defined “Megaxylocopa clade” within subgenus Neoxylocopa Michener, of the genus Xylocopa Latreille, and (2) examine relationships between the members of this clade and other species in the subgenus Neoxylocopa. Twenty-four adult morphological characters were scored for the three species in the “Megaxylocopa clade” plus 10 outgroup taxa from subgenus Neoxylocopa Michener. Xylocopa (Xylocopoides) virginica (Linnaeus) was used as a distant outgroup taxon to root the tree. A single most parsimonious tree was recovered by cladistic analysis using the computer software program TNT. The three species of the “Megaxylocopa clade” form a well-supported monophyletic group that is the sister-lineage of another monophyletic group that includes the other 10 species of subgenus Neoxylocopa. Within the “Megaxylocopa clade,” Xylocopa nautlana Cockerell and X. frontalis (Olivier) are sister-species, relative to X. fimbriata Fabricius.","PeriodicalId":54409,"journal":{"name":"Tropical Zoology","volume":"96 1","pages":"163 - 171"},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2015-10-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/03946975.2015.1107346","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"59382456","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Tropical ZoologyPub Date : 2015-10-02DOI: 10.1080/03946975.2015.1076661
O. Ayanda, S. J. Oniye, J. Auta, V. Ajibola
{"title":"Acute toxicity of glyphosate and paraquat to the African catfish (Clarias gariepinus, Teugels 1986) using some biochemical indicators","authors":"O. Ayanda, S. J. Oniye, J. Auta, V. Ajibola","doi":"10.1080/03946975.2015.1076661","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/03946975.2015.1076661","url":null,"abstract":"The impact of acute exposure of Clarias gariepinus juveniles to commonly used herbicides, glyphosate and paraquat was evaluated through changes in fish mortality and biochemical indeces. Juveniles of the African catfish were exposed to varying acute concentration of glyphosate and paraquat. After 96 h of exposure, the 96 h LC50 for paraquat was found to be 0.07 mg/l while that of glyphosate was found to be 0.530 mg/l. After the exposure period, some enzymes were assayed for in fish liver using a combination of conventional methods and commercially available kits. Comparing with the control, ANOVA analysis revealed that there were significant (p < 0.05) increases in the activities of all enzymes assayed for alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP). There were also significant (p < 0.05) increases in the activities of the antioxidant enzymes: catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and in lipid peroxidation, which was measured by thiobarbituric acid substances (TBARS). The result revealed that glyphosate and paraquat have the ability to modulate certain fish biochemical parameters and can therefore serve as reliable indicators of toxicity in environmental impact assessment programmes.","PeriodicalId":54409,"journal":{"name":"Tropical Zoology","volume":"28 1","pages":"152 - 162"},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2015-10-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/03946975.2015.1076661","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"59382585","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Tropical ZoologyPub Date : 2015-07-03DOI: 10.1080/03946975.2015.1057435
K. P. Vairo, M. Queiroz, P. M. Mendonça, R. R. Barbosa, C. D. de Carvalho
{"title":"Description of immature stages of the flesh fly Peckia (Sarcodexia) lambens (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Sarcophagidae) provides better resolution for taxonomy and forensics","authors":"K. P. Vairo, M. Queiroz, P. M. Mendonça, R. R. Barbosa, C. D. de Carvalho","doi":"10.1080/03946975.2015.1057435","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/03946975.2015.1057435","url":null,"abstract":"The necrophagous and saprophagous flesh fly Peckia (Sarcodexia) lambens and other flesh flies are similar to one another in general external morphology. Owing to these similarities, larvae are often misidentified, which cause errors in forensic analysis. Here, to resolve these potential problems, we describe immature stages of Peckia (Sarcodexia) lambens using scanning and optical microscopy, in which we emphasize conspicuous characters for possible identification. The dorsal bridge reaches the parastomal bars in first instar larvae (in contrast with some other flesh flies). Additionally, in other larval stages, mouthhook shape, pseudocephalon, distribution of spines and the anal segment may be important characters to identify species. Figures are also included for characters clarification.","PeriodicalId":54409,"journal":{"name":"Tropical Zoology","volume":"28 1","pages":"114 - 125"},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2015-07-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/03946975.2015.1057435","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"59381988","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Tropical ZoologyPub Date : 2015-07-03DOI: 10.1080/03946975.2015.1077042
L. C. da Silva, M. Nunes, José Valdecir De Lucca, O. Rocha
{"title":"Life cycle of Paracyclops pilosus Dussart, 1983 (Crustacea: Copepoda: Cyclopoida) and first record in Brazil","authors":"L. C. da Silva, M. Nunes, José Valdecir De Lucca, O. Rocha","doi":"10.1080/03946975.2015.1077042","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/03946975.2015.1077042","url":null,"abstract":"Paracyclops pilosus (Copepoda, Cyclopoida) is a typical benthic organism that also occurs in the water column. In this study, we report the first occurrence of this species in Brazil. Live adult individuals were acquired and maintained in laboratory cultures. Experiments were performed to address the parameters of the life cycle of this species. Adult males and females were maintained in water from the Negro River that was previously filtered in growth chambers, and were fed with the microalgae Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata and Ceriodaphnia silvestrii neonates. In these conditions, P. pilosus exhibited a short life cycle with an average duration of 12.8 days from egg-hatching to the adult stage. The developmental characteristics were similar to those that have been reported for other species of Cyclopoida; however, the duration we obtained for its post-embryonic development was longer than those that have been reported for other cyclopoid species at 25°C. Because this species is adapted to high temperatures, it is possible that its optimum development occurs at temperatures greater than 25°C. P. pilosus may be more widely distributed in the Amazon region than previously reported because this species may have been overlooked due to its small size and cryptic benthic habits.","PeriodicalId":54409,"journal":{"name":"Tropical Zoology","volume":"9 1","pages":"126 - 135"},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2015-07-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/03946975.2015.1077042","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"59382810","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Tropical ZoologyPub Date : 2015-06-11DOI: 10.1080/03946975.2015.1049084
F. Petrozzi, G. Akani, N. Amadi, E. Eniang, S. Gippoliti, L. Luiselli
{"title":"Surveys of mammal communities in a system of five forest reserves suggest an ongoing biotic homogenization process for the Niger Delta (Nigeria)","authors":"F. Petrozzi, G. Akani, N. Amadi, E. Eniang, S. Gippoliti, L. Luiselli","doi":"10.1080/03946975.2015.1049084","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/03946975.2015.1049084","url":null,"abstract":"Community composition and an index of relative abundance were analyzed for mammals (excluding most rodents, shrews and bats) of five forest reserves in the Niger Delta (Southern Nigeria). Twenty-nine species were recorded, 86.2% of them being found in all protected areas. Although most of the species were already known from the study area, there were unexpected patterns concerning the duikers. Indeed, the presence of only one species (Philantomba walteri) (CH Smith, 1827) was confirmed, whereas at least five additional duiker species were reported for the study area by earlier authorities. Another duiker species (Cephalophus niger Gray, 1846) was recorded once during the present surveys and is not known whether it represents a stabilized presence in the Niger Delta. The empirical Abundance Index suggested that only three species were very rare (Trichechus senegalensis (Link, 1795), C. niger, and Pan troglodytes (Blumenbach, 1775)). Diversity-dominance diagrams showed that the evenness profiles were similar across study areas. Linear distance (Km) between the barycenters of forest reserves was significantly positively correlated with relative community composition dissimilarity. Overall, a biotic homogenization process for the mammal communities of the five forest reserves was observed, likely as an outcome of the high deforestation of the last 50 years.","PeriodicalId":54409,"journal":{"name":"Tropical Zoology","volume":"93 1","pages":"113 - 95"},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2015-06-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/03946975.2015.1049084","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"59382372","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}