Since their official eradication from the US in 1943, the cattle-tick species Boophilus microplus and Boophilus annulatus, vectors of bovine babesiosis, frequently have penetrated a quarantine zone established along the Texas–Mexico border designed to exclude them. Inspection and quarantine procedures have eradicated reinfestations successfully within the US, but increasing acaricide resistance in Mexican B. microplus populations poses a threat to future eradication efforts. Better understanding of interrelationships among Boophilus populations, their hosts, and vegetation communities in south Texas could improve prediction of the behavior of reintroduced Boophilus populations and increase management options. To this end, we constructed a simulation model to evaluate how microclimate, habitat (i.e. vegetation) heterogeneity, and within-pasture cattle movement may influence dynamics of Boophilus ticks in south Texas. Unlike previous Boophilus tick models, this model simulates dynamics at an hourly time-step, calculates all off-host dynamics as functions of temperature and relative humidity, and runs with ground-level microclimate data collected bi-hourly in three different habitat types. Sensitivity analysis of the model showed that temperatures and relative humidities created by habitat type, as well as engorged female mass, influenced tick population dynamics most strongly. Host habitat selection, initial number of larvae per cow, and the number of cells into which the simulated pasture was divided also had a strong influence. Population dynamics appeared moderately sensitive to the proportion of Bos indicus in cattle genotypes and the larval attachment rate, while appearing relatively insensitive to factors such as mortality rate of engorged females. When used to simulate laboratory experiments from the literature, the model predicted most observed life-history characteristics fairly well; however, it tended to underestimate oviposition duration, incubation duration, and egg mortality and overestimate larval longevity, especially at low temperatures and high humidities. Use of the model to predict Boophilus population dynamics in hypothetical south Texas pastures showed that it reasonably generated qualitative patterns of stage-wise abundances but tended to overestimate on-host tick burdens. Collection and incorporation of data that appear not to exist for Boophilus ticks, such as larval lipid content and lipid-use rates, may improve model accuracy. Though this model needs refinements such as a smaller spatial resolution, it provides insight into responses of B. microplus or B. annulatus populations to specific weather patterns, habitat heterogeneity, and host movement. 相似文献
There is accumulating evidence that females may preferentially select parasite-free or -resistant males. Minimal attention
has, however, been paid to the mate preferences and responses of the parasitized male hosts themselves. Here, we considered
the effects of parasitic infection on male host mate responses, the neuromodulatory correlates of these responses, and the
relations of these responses to female mate choice. Using an odor “preference” test, we examined the effects of different
stages of an acute, sub-clinical infection with the naturally occurring, enteric, single host, protozoan parasite, Eimeria vermiformis, on the responses of male mice, Mus musculus domesticus, to the odors of estrous females along with the responses of uninfected females to the parasitized males. At 4 days post-infection
(non-infective, pre-patent stage) E. vermiformis-infected male mice showed a significantly decreased preference for the odors of estrous females, whereas at 10 days post-infection
(infective, patent stage) infected males showed a significantly increased preference for the odors of estrous females. Parasitized
males displayed no significant changes in their responses to the odors of non-estrous females, supporting effects on the reproductively
related responses of the host. In parallel, estrous females displayed a reduced interest in the odors of infected males. Least
interest was expressed in the odors of the patent, infective males, consistent with the avoidance of contagion. Using selective
opioid peptide receptor agonists and antagonists we found evidence that enhanced kappa opioid peptide (e.g., dynorphin) activity
was related to the decreased sexual interest of the pre-infective males, while augmented delta opioid peptide (e.g., enkephalin)
activity was associated with the enhanced responses of the infective males to females. We further showed that acute kappa
opiate administration reduced the responses of uninfected males to females and that uninfected females displayed modified
responses to the odors of uninfected males subject to acute modifications of opioid activity. We suggest that these differential
shifts in endogenous opioid activity in the parasitized males are associated with and, or related to alterations in neuro-immune
and endocrine functions. These findings show that parasitic infection can have, depending on the stage of infection and associated
neuromodulatory changes, either significant facilitatory or inhibitory effects on male host preferences for and responses
to females.
Received: 22 April 1996 / Accepted after revision: 15 March 1997 相似文献
Abstract: Marking animals so that they are uniquely identifiable provides information that may assist conservation efforts. Nevertheless, some methods used to mark animals can be harmful. We used mathematical methods to assess the trade‐off between the impact of marking threatened species and the value of the information gained. We considered the case where 2 management strategies, each aiming to improve a species' survival rate, are implemented in an experimental phase. The results of the experiment were applied in a postexperimental management phase. We expressed the expected number of survivors in both phases mathematically, accounting for any mortality caused by the experiment, and determined the proportion of animals to mark to maximize this number. The optimal number of animals to mark increased with the number of individuals available for the experiment and with the number of individuals to be managed in the future. The optimal solution was to mark only 25% of the animals when there were 1000 individuals available for the experiment, the results were used to manage 2000 individuals, and marking caused mortality of 1%. Fewer animals were marked when there were fewer animals in either phase or when marking caused higher mortality. In the case of the Helmeted Honeyeater (Lichenostomus melanops cassidix), the optimal proportion to mark was <1 if the mortality rate was >0.15%–1%, with the threshold depending on the number of animals in the experimental and postexperimental phases. The trade‐off between gaining more information about a species and possibly harming individuals of that species by marking them is difficult to assess subjectively. We show how to determine objectively the optimal proportion of animals to mark to enhance the management of threatened species.相似文献
Objective: The probability of crash occurrence on horizontal curves is 1.5 to 4 times higher than that on tangent sections. A majority of these crashes are associated with human errors. Therefore, human behavior in curves needs to be corrected.
Methodology: In this study, 2 different road marking treatments, optical circles and herringbone patterns, were used to influence driver behavior while entering a curve on a 2-lane rural road section. A driving simulator was used to perform the experiment. The simulated road sections are replicas of 2 real road sections in Flanders.
Results: Both treatments were found to reduce speed before entering the curve. However, speed reduction was more gradual when optical circles were used. A herringbone pattern had more influence on lateral position than optical circles by forcing drivers to maintain a safe distance from opposing traffic in the adjacent lane.
Conclusion: The study concluded that among other low-cost speed reduction methods, optical circles are effective tools to reduce speed and increase drivers’ attention. Moreover, a herringbone pattern can be used to reduce crashes on curves, mainly for head-on crashes where the main problem is inappropriate lateral position. 相似文献
Ticks act as vectors of pathogens that can be harmful to animals and/or humans. Epidemiological models can be useful tools to investigate the potential effects of control strategies on diseases such as tick-borne diseases. The modelling of tick population dynamics is a prerequisite to simulating tick-borne diseases and the corresponding spread of the pathogen. We have developed a dynamic model to simulate changes in tick density at different stages (egg, larva, nymph and adult) under the influence of temperature. We have focused on the tick Ixodes ricinus, which is widespread in Europe. The main processes governing the biological cycles of ticks were taken into account: egg laying, hatching, development, host (small, mainly rodents, or large, like deer and cattle, mammals) questing, feeding and mortality. This model was first applied to a homogeneous habitat, where simulations showed the ability of the model to reproduce the general patterns of tick population dynamics. We considered thereafter a multi-habitat model, where three different habitats (woodland, ecotone and meadow) were connected through host migration. Based on this second application, it appears that migration from woodland, via the ecotone, is necessary to sustain the presence of ticks in the meadow. Woodland can therefore be considered as a source of ticks for the meadow, which in turn can be regarded as a sink. The influence of woodland on surrounding tick densities increases in line with the area of this habitat before reaching a plateau. A sensitivity analysis to parameter values was carried out and demonstrated that demographic parameters (sex ratio, development, mortality during feeding and questing, host finding) played a crucial role in the determination of questing nymph densities. This type of modelling approach provides insight into the influence of spatial heterogeneity on tick population dynamics. 相似文献
Olfactory learning may occur at different stages of insect ontogeny. In parasitoid wasps, it has been mostly shown at adult
emergence, whilst it remains controversial at pre-imaginal stages. We followed larval growth of the parasitoid wasp, Aphidius ervi Haliday, inside the host aphid, Acyrthosiphom pisum Harris, and characterised in detail the behaviour of third instar larvae. We found that just before cocoon spinning begins,
the third instar larva bites a hole through the ventral side of the mummified aphid exoskeleton. We then evaluated whether
this period of exposure to the external environment represented a sensitive stage for olfactory learning. In our first experiment,
the third instar larvae were allowed to spin their cocoon on the host plant (Vicia faba L.) surface or on a plastic plate covering the portion of the host plant exposed to the ventral opening. Recently emerged
adults of the first group showed a preference for plant volatiles in a glass Y-olfactometer, whereas no preference was found
in adults of the second group. In a second experiment, during the period in which the aphid carcass remains open or is being
sealed by cocoon spinning, third instar larvae were exposed for 24 h to either vanilla odours or water vapours as control.
In this experiment, half of the parasitoid larvae were later excised from the mummy to avoid further exposure to vanilla.
Adult parasitoids exposed to vanilla during the larval ventral opening of the mummy showed a significant preference for vanilla
odours in the olfactometer, regardless of excision from the mummy. The larval behaviour described and the results of the manipulations
performed are discussed as evidences for the acquisition of olfactory memory during the larval stage and its persistence through
metamorphosis. 相似文献
Although studies classify the polygynous mating system of a given species into female defense polygyny (FDP) or resource defense
polygyny (RDP), the boundary between these two categories is often slight. Males of some species may even shift between these
two types of polygyny in response to temporal variation in social and environmental conditions. Here, we examine the mating
system of the Neotropical harvestman Acutisoma proximum and, in order to assess if mate acquisition in males corresponds to FDP or RDP, we tested four contrasting predictions derived
from the mating system theory. At the beginning of the reproductive season, males fight with other males for the possession
of territories on the vegetation where females will later oviposit, as expected in RDP. Females present a marked preference
for specific host plant species, and males establish their territories in areas where these host plants are specially abundant,
which is also expected in RDP. Later in the reproductive season, males reduce their patrolling activity and focus on defending
individual females that are ovipositing inside their territories, as what occurs in FDP. This is the first described case
of an arachnid that exhibits a shift in mating system over the reproductive season, revealing that we should be cautious when
defining the mating system of a species based on few observations concentrated in a brief period.
Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users. 相似文献
We investigated the effects of ambient ultraviolet (UV) radiation on (i) the performance and chemistry of soybean plants, (ii) the performance of Spodoptera frugiperda and (iii) the foraging behavior of the herbivore's natural enemy Cotesia marginiventris which exploits herbivore-induced plant volatiles (VOC) for host location. The accumulation of protective phenolics was faster in plants receiving ambient UV than in controls exposed to sun light lacking UV. Accordingly, isorhamnetin- and quercetin-based flavonoids were increased in UV exposed plants. No UV effects were found on the performance and feeding behavior of S. frugiperda. Herbivore-damaged plants emitted the same VOC when grown under ambient or attenuated UV for 5, 10 or 30 days. Consequently, C. marginiventris was attracted but did not discriminate between exposed and unexposed soybeans. In summary, ambient UV radiation affected soybean morphology and physiology but did not destabilize interactions between trophic levels. 相似文献