1
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Barman M, Tenhaken R, Dötterl S. Negative and sex-specific effects of drought on flower production, resources and pollinator visitation, but not on floral scent in monoecious Cucurbita pepo. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2024. [PMID: 39117354 DOI: 10.1111/nph.20016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2024] [Accepted: 04/10/2024] [Indexed: 08/10/2024]
Abstract
The globally changing climatic condition is increasing the incidences of drought in several parts of the world. This is predicted and already shown to not only impact plant growth and flower development, but also plant-pollinator interactions and the pollination success of entomophilous plants. However, there is a large gap in our understanding of how drought affects the different flowers and pollen transfer among flowers in sexually polymorphic species. Here, we evaluated in monoecious Styrian oil pumpkin, and separately for female and male flowers, the responses of drought stress on flower production, petal size, nectar, floral scent and visitation by bumblebee pollinators. Drought stress adversely affected all floral traits studied, except floral scent. Although both flower sexes were adversely affected by drought stress, the effects were more severe on female flowers, with most of the female flowers even aborted before opening. The drought had negative effects on floral visitation by the pollinators, which generally preferred female flowers. Overall, our study highlights that the two flower sexes of a monoecious plant species are differently affected by drought stress and calls for further investigations to better understand the cues used by the pollinators to discriminate against male flowers and against flowers of drought-stressed plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monica Barman
- Department of Environment and Biodiversity, Paris Lodron University of Salzburg, Hellbrunnerstrasse 34, Salzburg, 5020, Austria
- Leibniz Institute of Vegetable and Ornamental Crops (IGZ), Theodor-Echtermeyer-Weg 1, Großbeeren, 14979, Germany
| | - Raimund Tenhaken
- Department of Environment and Biodiversity, Paris Lodron University of Salzburg, Hellbrunnerstrasse 34, Salzburg, 5020, Austria
| | - Stefan Dötterl
- Department of Environment and Biodiversity, Paris Lodron University of Salzburg, Hellbrunnerstrasse 34, Salzburg, 5020, Austria
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2
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Brebner JS, Loconsole M, Hanley D, Vasas V. Through an animal's eye: the implications of diverse sensory systems in scientific experimentation. Proc Biol Sci 2024; 291:20240022. [PMID: 39016597 PMCID: PMC11253838 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2024.0022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2023] [Revised: 03/01/2024] [Accepted: 06/19/2024] [Indexed: 07/18/2024] Open
Abstract
'Accounting for the sensory abilities of animals is critical in experimental design.' No researcher would disagree with this statement, yet it is often the case that we inadvertently fall for anthropocentric biases and use ourselves as the reference point. This paper discusses the risks of adopting an anthropocentric view when working with non-human animals, and the unintended consequences this has on our experimental designs and results. To this aim, we provide general examples of anthropocentric bias from different fields of animal research, with a particular focus on animal cognition and behaviour, and lay out the potential consequences of adopting a human-based perspective. Knowledge of the sensory abilities, both in terms of similarities to humans and peculiarities of the investigated species, is crucial to ensure solid conclusions. A more careful consideration of the diverse sensory systems of animals would improve many scientific fields and enhance animal welfare in the laboratory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanna S. Brebner
- Research Centre on Animal Cognition (CRCA), Centre for Integrative Biology (CBI); CNRS, University Paul Sabatier – Toulouse III, Toulouse, France
| | - Maria Loconsole
- School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
- Department of General Psychology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Daniel Hanley
- Department of Biology, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, USA
| | - Vera Vasas
- School of Life Sciences, University of Sussex, BrightonBN1 9RH, UK
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3
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Meza-Figueroa D, Berrellez-Reyes F, Schiavo B, Morton-Bermea O, Gonzalez-Grijalva B, Inguaggiato C, Silva-Campa E. Tracking fine particles in urban and rural environments using honey bees as biosamplers in Mexico. CHEMOSPHERE 2024; 363:142881. [PMID: 39032733 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.142881] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2024] [Revised: 07/14/2024] [Accepted: 07/15/2024] [Indexed: 07/23/2024]
Abstract
This work explores the efficiency of honey bees (Apis mellifera) as biosamplers of metal pollution. To understand this, we selected two cities with different urbanization (a medium-sized city and a megacity), and we collected urban dust and honey bees captured during flight. We sampled two villages and a university campus as control areas. The metal content in dust was analyzed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) and Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were used to investigate the shape and size distribution of the particles, and to characterize the semiquantitative chemical composition of particles adhered to honey bee's wings. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) shows a distinctive urban dust geochemical signature for each city, with component 1 defining V-Cr-Ni-Tl-Pt-Pb-Sb as characteristic of Mexico City and Ce-As-Zr for dust from Hermosillo. Particle count using SEM indicates that 69% and 63.4% of the resuspended dust from Hermosillo and Mexico City, respectively, corresponds to PM2.5. Instead, the particle count measured on the honey bee wings from Hermosillo and Mexico City is mainly PM2.5, 91.4% and 88.9%, respectively. The wings from honey bees collected in the villages and the university campus show much lower particle amounts. AFM-histograms confirmed that the particles identified in Mexico City have even smaller sizes (between 60 and 480 nm) than those in Hermosillo (between 400 and 1400 nm). Particles enriched in As, Zr, and Ce mixed with geogenic elements such as Si, Ca, Mg, K, and Na dominate honey bee' wings collected in Hermosillo. In contrast, those particles collected from Mexico City contain V, Cr, Ni, Tl, Pt, Pb, and Sb. Such results agree with the urban dust data. This work shows that honey bees are suitable biosamplers for the characterization of fine dust fractions by microscopy techniques and reflect the urban pollution of the sites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana Meza-Figueroa
- Departamento de Geología, División de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Sonora, Rosales y Encinas, Centro, Hermosillo, 83000, Sonora, Mexico.
| | - Francisco Berrellez-Reyes
- Departamento de Geología, División de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Sonora, Rosales y Encinas, Centro, Hermosillo, 83000, Sonora, Mexico
| | - Benedetto Schiavo
- Instituto de Geofísica, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, 04510, Mexico
| | - Ofelia Morton-Bermea
- Instituto de Geofísica, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, 04510, Mexico
| | - Belem Gonzalez-Grijalva
- Departamento de Geología, División de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Sonora, Rosales y Encinas, Centro, Hermosillo, 83000, Sonora, Mexico
| | - Claudio Inguaggiato
- Departamento de Geología, Centro de Investigación Científica y de Educación Superior de Ensenada (CICESE), Carretera Ensenada-Tijuana, 3918, Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico
| | - Erika Silva-Campa
- Departamento de Investigación en Física, Universidad de Sonora, Rosales y Encinas, Centro, Hermosillo, 83000, Sonora, Mexico
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4
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England SJ, Robert D. Electrostatic pollination by butterflies and moths. J R Soc Interface 2024; 21:20240156. [PMID: 39044626 PMCID: PMC11267234 DOI: 10.1098/rsif.2024.0156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2024] [Revised: 04/19/2024] [Accepted: 05/30/2024] [Indexed: 07/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Animals, most notably insects, generally seem to accumulate electrostatic charge in nature. These electrostatic charges will exert forces on other charges in these animals' environments and therefore have the potential to attract or repel other objects, for example, pollen from flowers. Here, we show that butterflies and moths (Lepidoptera) accumulate electrostatic charge while in flight. Then, using finite element analysis, we demonstrate that when within millimetres of a flower, the electrostatic charge of a lepidopteran generates an electric field in excess of 5 kV m-1, and that an electric field of this magnitude is sufficient to elicit contactless pollen transfer from flowers across air gaps onto the body of a butterfly or moth. Furthermore, we see that phylogenetic variations exist in the magnitude and polarity of net charge between different species and families and Lepidoptera. These phylogenetic variations in electrostatic charging correlate with morphological, biogeographical and ecological differences between different clades. Such correlations with biogeographical and ecological differences may reflect evolutionary adaptations towards maximizing or minimizing charge accumulation, in relation to pollination, predation and parasitism, and thus we introduce the idea that electrostatic charging may be a trait upon which evolution can act.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sam J. England
- School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Daniel Robert
- School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
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5
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England SJ, Robert D. Prey can detect predators via electroreception in air. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2322674121. [PMID: 38768327 PMCID: PMC11161757 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2322674121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 05/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Predators and prey benefit from detecting sensory cues of each other's presence. As they move through their environment, terrestrial animals accumulate electrostatic charge. Because electric charges exert forces at a distance, a prey animal could conceivably sense electrical forces to detect an approaching predator. Here, we report such a case of a terrestrial animal detecting its predators by electroreception. We show that predatory wasps are charged, thus emit electric fields, and that caterpillars respond to such fields with defensive behaviors. Furthermore, the mechanosensory setae of caterpillars are deflected by these electrostatic forces and are tuned to the wingbeat frequency of their insect predators. This ability unveils a dimension of the sensory interactions between prey and predators and is likely widespread among terrestrial animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sam J. England
- School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Bristol, BristolBS8 1TQ, United Kingdom
- Department of Evolutionary Morphology, Museum für Naturkunde–Leibniz Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity Science, Berlin10115, Germany
| | - Daniel Robert
- School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Bristol, BristolBS8 1TQ, United Kingdom
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6
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Sundar PS, Chowdhury C, Kamarthi S. Analysis of Pollination Process between Flowers and Honeybees to Derive Insights for the Design of Microrobots. Biomimetics (Basel) 2024; 9:235. [PMID: 38667246 PMCID: PMC11048599 DOI: 10.3390/biomimetics9040235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2024] [Revised: 03/31/2024] [Accepted: 04/09/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Pollination is a crucial ecological process with far-reaching impacts on natural and agricultural systems. Approximately 85% of flowering plants depend on animal pollinators for successful reproduction. Over 75% of global food crops rely on pollinators, making them indispensable for sustaining human populations. Wind, water, insects, birds, bats, mammals, amphibians, and mollusks accomplish the pollination process. The design features of flowers and pollinators in angiosperms make the pollination process functionally effective and efficient. In this paper, we analyze the design aspects of the honeybee-enabled flower pollination process using the axiomatic design methodology. We tabulate functional requirements (FRs) of flower and honeybee components and map them onto nature-chosen design parameters (DPs). We apply the "independence axiom" of the axiomatic design methodology to identify couplings and to evaluate if the features of a flower and a honeybee form a good design (i.e., uncoupled design) or an underperforming design (i.e., coupled design). We also apply the axiomatic design methodology's "information axiom" to assess the pollination process's robustness and reliability. Through this exploration, we observed that the pollination process is not only a good design but also a robust design. This approach to assessing whether nature's processes are good or bad designs can be valuable for biomimicry studies. This approach can also inform design considerations for bio-inspired innovations such as microrobots.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pratap Sriram Sundar
- Munjal Institute for Global Manufacturing and Punj Lloyd Institute of Infrastructure Management, Indian School of Business, Mohali 140306, India;
| | - Chandan Chowdhury
- Munjal Institute for Global Manufacturing and Punj Lloyd Institute of Infrastructure Management, Indian School of Business, Gachibowli, Hyderabad 500111, India;
| | - Sagar Kamarthi
- College of Engineering, Northeastern University, 360 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA
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7
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Melrose J. Keratan sulfate, an electrosensory neurosentient bioresponsive cell instructive glycosaminoglycan. Glycobiology 2024; 34:cwae014. [PMID: 38376199 PMCID: PMC10987296 DOI: 10.1093/glycob/cwae014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2024] [Revised: 02/12/2024] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 02/21/2024] Open
Abstract
The roles of keratan sulfate (KS) as a proton detection glycosaminoglycan in neurosensory processes in the central and peripheral nervous systems is reviewed. The functional properties of the KS-proteoglycans aggrecan, phosphacan, podocalyxcin as components of perineuronal nets in neurosensory processes in neuronal plasticity, cognitive learning and memory are also discussed. KS-glycoconjugate neurosensory gels used in electrolocation in elasmobranch fish species and KS substituted mucin like conjugates in some tissue contexts in mammals need to be considered in sensory signalling. Parallels are drawn between KS's roles in elasmobranch fish neurosensory processes and its roles in mammalian electro mechanical transduction of acoustic liquid displacement signals in the cochlea by the tectorial membrane and stereocilia of sensory inner and outer hair cells into neural signals for sound interpretation. The sophisticated structural and functional proteins which maintain the unique high precision physical properties of stereocilia in the detection, transmittance and interpretation of acoustic signals in the hearing process are important. The maintenance of the material properties of stereocilia are essential in sound transmission processes. Specific, emerging roles for low sulfation KS in sensory bioregulation are contrasted with the properties of high charge density KS isoforms. Some speculations are made on how the molecular and electrical properties of KS may be of potential application in futuristic nanoelectronic, memristor technology in advanced ultrafast computing devices with low energy requirements in nanomachines, nanobots or molecular switches which could be potentially useful in artificial synapse development. Application of KS in such innovative areas in bioregulation are eagerly awaited.
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Affiliation(s)
- James Melrose
- Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
- Raymond Purves Laboratory, Institute of Bone and Joint Research, Kolling Institute of Medical Research, Northern Sydney Local Health District, Royal North Shore Hospital, St. Leonards, NSW 2065, Australia
- Sydney Medical School, Northern, University of Sydney at Royal North Shore Hospital, St. Leonards, NSW 2065, Australia
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8
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Degirmenci A, Yildiz O, Boyraci GM, Er Kemal M, Simsek O. The process of pollen transformation into bee bread: changes in bioactivity, bioaccessibility, and microbial dynamics. Food Funct 2024; 15:2550-2562. [PMID: 38348773 DOI: 10.1039/d3fo04466a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/05/2024]
Abstract
Bee pollen and bee bread go hand in hand with health-promoting functional food consumption. Although many studies report high bioactivities of those products, the biotransformation of pollen into bee bread has not been fully understood. Limited findings are available about polyphenol bioaccessibility and microbiological interactions during the fermentation process. This study evaluated the microbial flora, antioxidant properties, and polyphenol and soluble protein bioaccessibility of pollen and bee bread harvested from the same apiary over a certain timeline. Total phenolic content, antioxidant activity and soluble protein content were reported using an in vitro digestion model involving post-gastric, serum-available, and colon-available fractions. The results obtained with the in vitro digestion model refer to the effect of the harvesting period on greater bioaccessibility of polyphenols in bee bread than in pollen at the same apiary. Lactic acid bacteria and yeast found in the samples were mostly identified as Lactobacillus kunkeei, Leuconostoc pseudomesenteroides, and Candida magnoliae using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). The discrimination between the pollen and bee bread samples collected in the same apiary and at different harvesting periods was also revealed by Principal Component Analysis (PCA). A harvesting time-based approach was applied to the biotransformation process of pollen and bee bread, and insights into microbial dynamics and bioaccessibility were revealed for the first time under the same beehive conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Atiye Degirmenci
- Department of Food Processing, Maçka Vocational School, Karadeniz Technical University, 61750, Macka, Trabzon, Turkey
| | - Oktay Yildiz
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Karadeniz Technical University, 61080, Trabzon, Turkey.
- Okta Natural R&D Engineering Services Inc., 61080, Trabzon, Turkey
| | - Gulsum Merve Boyraci
- Department of Food Processing, Maçka Vocational School, Karadeniz Technical University, 61750, Macka, Trabzon, Turkey
| | - Mehtap Er Kemal
- Department of Food Processing, Maçka Vocational School, Karadeniz Technical University, 61750, Macka, Trabzon, Turkey
| | - Omer Simsek
- Department of Food Engineering, Faculty of Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering, Yıldız Technical University, 34210, İstanbul, Turkey
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9
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Qiao J, Zhang Y, Haubruge E, Wang K, El-Seedi HR, Dong J, Xu X, Zhang H. New insights into bee pollen: Nutrients, phytochemicals, functions and wall-disruption. Food Res Int 2024; 178:113934. [PMID: 38309905 DOI: 10.1016/j.foodres.2024.113934] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2023] [Revised: 12/27/2023] [Accepted: 01/02/2024] [Indexed: 02/05/2024]
Abstract
Bee pollen is hailed as a treasure trove of human nutrition and has progressively emerged as the source of functional food and medicine. This review conducts a compilation of nutrients and phytochemicals in bee pollen, with particular emphasis on some ubiquitous and unique phenolamides and flavonoid glycosides. Additionally, it provides a concise overview of the diverse health benefits and therapeutic properties of bee pollen, particularly anti-prostatitis and anti-tyrosinase effects. Furthermore, based on the distinctive structural characteristics of pollen walls, a substantial debate has persisted in the past concerning the necessity of wall-disruption. This review provides a comprehensive survey on the necessity of wall-disruption, the impact of wall-disruption on the release and digestion of nutrients, and wall-disruption techniques in industrial production. Wall-disruption appears effective in releasing and digesting nutrients and exploiting bee pollen's bioactivities. Finally, the review underscores the need for future studies to elucidate the mechanisms of beneficial effects. This paper will likely help us gain better insight into bee pollen to develop further functional foods, personalized nutraceuticals, cosmetics products, and medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiangtao Qiao
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100093, China; Terra Research Center, Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, University of Liege, Gembloux 5030, Belgium
| | - Yu Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100093, China
| | - Eric Haubruge
- Terra Research Center, Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, University of Liege, Gembloux 5030, Belgium
| | - Kai Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100093, China; Terra Research Center, Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, University of Liege, Gembloux 5030, Belgium
| | - Hesham R El-Seedi
- Pharmacognosy Group, Department of Pharmaceutical Biosciences, BMC, Uppsala University, Box 591, SE 751 24 Uppsala, Sweden; International Research Center for Food Nutrition and Safety, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China; Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Islamic University of Madinah, Madinah 42351, Saudi Arabia
| | - Jie Dong
- Key Laboratory of Bee Products for Quality and Safety Control, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing 100093, China
| | - Xiang Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100093, China.
| | - Hongcheng Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Bee Products for Quality and Safety Control, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing 100093, China.
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10
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Ortega-Jimenez VM, Gardner AM, Burton JC. Ticks' attraction to electrically charged hosts. Trends Parasitol 2023; 39:806-807. [PMID: 37573176 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2023.08.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2023] [Accepted: 08/01/2023] [Indexed: 08/14/2023]
Abstract
Ticks are blood-feeding parasites with limited locomotion, known for transmitting multiple pathogens to vertebrates. England et al. suggest that ticks can be easily pulled, via electrostatic induction, toward charged hosts with fluffy coats that are prone to accumulate higher electrostatic potentials. Thus, static electricity may influence ticks' ecology and management.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Allison M Gardner
- School of Biology and Ecology, University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469, USA
| | - Justin C Burton
- Department of Physics, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
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11
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Rands SA, Whitney HM, Hempel de Ibarra N. Multimodal floral recognition by bumblebees. CURRENT OPINION IN INSECT SCIENCE 2023; 59:101086. [PMID: 37468044 DOI: 10.1016/j.cois.2023.101086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2022] [Revised: 07/10/2023] [Accepted: 07/13/2023] [Indexed: 07/21/2023]
Abstract
Flowers present information to their insect visitors in multiple simultaneous sensory modalities. Research has commonly focussed on information presented in visual and olfactory modalities. Recently, focus has shifted towards additional 'invisible' information, and whether information presented in multiple modalities enhances the interaction between flowers and their visitors. In this review, we highlight work that addresses how multimodality influences behaviour, focussing on work conducted on bumblebees (Bombus spp.), which are often used due to both their learning abilities and their ability to use multiple sensory modes to identify and differentiate between flowers. We review the evidence for bumblebees being able to use humidity, electrical potential, surface texture and temperature as additional modalities, and consider how multimodality enhances their performance. We consider mechanisms, including the cross-modal transfer of learning that occurs when bees are able to transfer patterns learnt in one modality to an additional modality without additional learning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sean A Rands
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TQ, United Kingdom.
| | - Heather M Whitney
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TQ, United Kingdom
| | - Natalie Hempel de Ibarra
- Centre for Research in Animal Behaviour, Psychology, University of Exeter, Exeter EX4 4QG, United Kingdom
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12
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Palmer RA, O’Reilly LJ, Carpenter J, Chenchiah IV, Robert D. An analysis of time-varying dynamics in electrically sensitive arthropod hairs to understand real-world electrical sensing. J R Soc Interface 2023; 20:20230177. [PMID: 37553992 PMCID: PMC10410214 DOI: 10.1098/rsif.2023.0177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 07/17/2023] [Indexed: 08/10/2023] Open
Abstract
With increasing evidence of electroreception in terrestrial arthropods, an understanding of receptor level processes is vital to appreciating the capabilities and limits of this sense. Here, we examine the spatio-temporal sensitivity of mechanoreceptive filiform hairs in detecting electrical fields. We first present empirical data, highlighting the time-varying characteristics of biological electrical signals. After which, we explore how electrically sensitive hairs may respond to such stimuli. The main findings are: (i) oscillatory signals (elicited by wingbeats) influence the spatial sensitivity of hairs, unveiling an inextricable spatio-temporal link; (ii) wingbeat direction modulates spatial sensitivity; (iii) electrical wingbeats can be approximated by sinusoidally modulated DC signals; and (iv) for a moving point charge, maximum sensitivity occurs at a faster timescale than a hair's frequency-based tuning. Our results show that electro-mechanical sensory hairs may capture different spatio-temporal information, depending on an object's movement and wingbeat and in comparison with aero-acoustic stimuli. Crucially, we suggest that electrostatic and aero-acoustic signals may provide distinguishable channels of information for arthropods. Given the pervasiveness of electric fields in nature, our results suggest further study to understand electrostatics in the ecology of arthropods and to reveal unknown ecological relationships and novel interactions between species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan A. Palmer
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Life Sciences Building, 24 Tyndall Avenue, Bristol BS8 1TQ, UK
- School of Mathematics, University of Bristol, Fry Building, Woodland Road, Bristol BS8 1UG, UK
| | - Liam J. O’Reilly
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Life Sciences Building, 24 Tyndall Avenue, Bristol BS8 1TQ, UK
| | - Jacob Carpenter
- School of Mathematics, University of Bristol, Fry Building, Woodland Road, Bristol BS8 1UG, UK
| | - Isaac V. Chenchiah
- School of Mathematics, University of Bristol, Fry Building, Woodland Road, Bristol BS8 1UG, UK
| | - Daniel Robert
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Life Sciences Building, 24 Tyndall Avenue, Bristol BS8 1TQ, UK
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13
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England SJ, Lihou K, Robert D. Static electricity passively attracts ticks onto hosts. Curr Biol 2023:S0960-9822(23)00772-8. [PMID: 37392744 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2023.06.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2023] [Revised: 05/12/2023] [Accepted: 06/07/2023] [Indexed: 07/03/2023]
Abstract
Most terrestrial animals naturally accumulate electrostatic charges, meaning that they will generate electric forces that interact with other charges in their environment, including those on or within other organisms. However, how this naturally occurring static electricity influences the ecology and life history of organisms remains largely unknown.1 Mammals, birds, and reptiles are known to carry appreciable net electrostatic charges, equivalent to surface potentials on the order of hundreds to tens of thousands of volts.1,2,3,4,5,6,7 Therefore, we hypothesize that their parasites, such as ticks, are passively attracted onto their surfaces by electrostatic forces acting across air gaps. This biophysical mechanism is proposed by us to assist these ectoparasites in making contact with their hosts, increasing their effective "reach" because they are otherwise incapable of jumping. Herein, experimental and theoretical evidence show that the tick Ixodes ricinus (Figure 1A) can close the gap to their hosts using ecologically relevant electric fields. We also find that this electrostatic interaction is not significantly influenced by the polarity of the electric field, revealing that the mechanism of attraction relies upon induction of an electrical polarization within the tick, as opposed to a static charge on its surface. These findings open a new dimension to our understanding of how ticks, and possibly many other terrestrial organisms, find and attach to their hosts or vectors. Furthermore, this discovery may inspire novel solutions for mitigating the notable and often devastating economic, social, and public health impacts of ticks on humans and livestock.8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sam J England
- School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Bristol, 24 Tyndall Avenue, BS8 1TQ Bristol, UK; Museum für Naturkunde - Leibniz Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity Science, Invalidenstraße 43, 10115 Berlin, Germany.
| | - Katie Lihou
- School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Bristol, 24 Tyndall Avenue, BS8 1TQ Bristol, UK
| | - Daniel Robert
- School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Bristol, 24 Tyndall Avenue, BS8 1TQ Bristol, UK
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14
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Chiba T, Okumura E, Nishigami Y, Nakagaki T, Sugi T, Sato K. Caenorhabditis elegans transfers across a gap under an electric field as dispersal behavior. Curr Biol 2023:S0960-9822(23)00674-7. [PMID: 37348502 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2023.05.042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2022] [Revised: 04/04/2023] [Accepted: 05/17/2023] [Indexed: 06/24/2023]
Abstract
Interactions between different animal species are a critical determinant of each species' evolution and range expansion. Chemical, visual, and mechanical interactions have been abundantly reported, but the importance of electric interactions is not well understood. Here, we report the discovery that the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans transfers across electric fields to achieve phoretic attachment to insects. First, we found that dauer larvae of C. elegans nictating on a substrate in a Petri dish moved directly to the lid through the air due to the electrostatic force from the lid. To more systematically investigate the transfer behavior, we constructed an assay system with well-controlled electric fields: the worms flew up regardless of whether a positive or negative electric field was applied, suggesting that an induced charge within the worm is related to this transfer. The mean take-off speed is 0.86 m/s, and the worm flies up under an electric field exceeding 200 kV/m. This worm transfer occurs even when the worms form a nictation column composed of up to 100 worms; we term this behavior "multiworm transfer." These observations led us to conclude that C. elegans can transfer and attach to the bumblebee Bombus terrestris, which was charged by rubbing with flower pollen in the lab. The charge on the bumblebee was measured with a coulomb-meter to be 806 pC, which was within the range of bumblebee charges and of the same order of flying insect charges observed in nature, suggesting that electrical interactions occur among different species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takuya Chiba
- Graduate School of Life Science, Hokkaido University, Kita 8 Nishi 5, Kita-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido 060-0810, Japan
| | - Etsuko Okumura
- Yokkaichi Tech. Department, TEISO TOYOKA CO, LTD 4005-1 Shiohama, Yokkaichi, Mie 510-0863, Japan
| | - Yukinori Nishigami
- Research Center of Mathematics for Social Creativity, Research Institute for Electronic Science, Hokkaido University, Kita20, Nishi 10, Kita-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido 001-0020, Japan; Global Station for Soft Matter, Global Institution for Collaborative Research and Education, Hokkaido University, Kita 21 Nishi 11, Kita-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido 001-0021, Japan
| | - Toshiyuki Nakagaki
- Research Center of Mathematics for Social Creativity, Research Institute for Electronic Science, Hokkaido University, Kita20, Nishi 10, Kita-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido 001-0020, Japan; Global Station for Soft Matter, Global Institution for Collaborative Research and Education, Hokkaido University, Kita 21 Nishi 11, Kita-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido 001-0021, Japan
| | - Takuma Sugi
- Program of Biomedical Science, Graduate School of Integrated Sciences for Life, Hiroshima University, Higashi-Hiroshima, Hiroshima 739-0046, Japan.
| | - Katsuhiko Sato
- Research Center of Mathematics for Social Creativity, Research Institute for Electronic Science, Hokkaido University, Kita20, Nishi 10, Kita-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido 001-0020, Japan; Global Station for Soft Matter, Global Institution for Collaborative Research and Education, Hokkaido University, Kita 21 Nishi 11, Kita-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido 001-0021, Japan.
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15
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Kim J, Kim J, Kim Y, Go T, Lee SJ. Accelerated settling velocity of airborne particulate matter on hairy plant leaves. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2023; 332:117313. [PMID: 36716541 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.117313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2022] [Revised: 12/31/2022] [Accepted: 01/14/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Phytoremediation has emerged as an ecofriendly technique to reduce hazardous particulate matter (PM) in the air. Although previous studies have conducted statistical analyses to reveal PM removal capabilities of various plant species according to their leaf characteristics, the underlying physical mechanism of PM adsorption of plants remains unclear. Conventional methodologies for measuring PM accumulation usually require long-term field tests and provide limited understanding on PM removal effects of individual leaf traits of various plants. In this study, we propose a novel methodology which can compare the electrostatic interactions between PMs and plant leaves according to their trichome structures by using digital in-line holographic microscopy (DIHM). Surface characteristics of Perilla frutescens and Capsicum annuum leaves are measured to examine electrostatic effects according to the morphological features of trichomes. 3D settling motions of PMs near the microstructures of trichomes of the two plant species are compared in detail. To validate the PM removal effect of the hairy microstructures, a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) replica model of a P. frutescens leaf is fabricated to demonstrate accelerated settling velocities of PMs near trichome-like microstructures. The size and electric charge distributions of PMs with irregular shapes are analyzed using DIHM. Numerical simulation of the PM deposition near a trichome-like structure is conducted to verify the empirical results. As a result, the settling velocities of PMs on P. frutescens leaves and a PDMS replica sample are 12.11 ± 1.88% and 34.06 ± 4.19% faster than those on C. annuum leaves and a flat PDMS sample, respectively. These findings indicate that the curved microstructures of hairy trichomes of plant leaves increase the ability to capture PMs by enhancing the electric field intensity just near trichomes. Compared with conventional methods, the proposed methodology can quantitatively evaluate the settling velocity of PMs on various plant leaves according to the morphological structure and density of trichomes within a short period of time. The present research findings would be widely utilized in the selection of suitable air-purifying plants for sustainable removal of harmful air pollutants in urban and indoor environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jihwan Kim
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology, Pohang, 37673, Republic of Korea
| | - Jeongju Kim
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology, Pohang, 37673, Republic of Korea
| | - Youngdo Kim
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology, Pohang, 37673, Republic of Korea
| | - Taesik Go
- Division of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, Jeonbuk National University, 567 Baekje-daero, Deokjin-gu, Jeonju-si, Jeollabuk-do, 54896, Republic of Korea
| | - Sang Joon Lee
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology, Pohang, 37673, Republic of Korea.
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16
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Digestive enzymes and sphingomyelinase D in spiders without venom (Uloboridae). Sci Rep 2023; 13:2661. [PMID: 36792649 PMCID: PMC9932164 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-29828-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2022] [Accepted: 02/10/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Spiders have distinct predatory behaviours selected along Araneae's evolutionary history but are mainly based on the use of venom for prey paralysis. Uloboridae spiders have lost their venom glands secondarily during evolution. Because of this, they immobilise their prey by extensively wrapping, and digestion starts with the addition of digestive fluid. During the extra-oral digestion, the digestive fluid liquefies both the prey and the AcSp2 spidroins from the web fibres. Despite the efficiency of this process, the cocktail of enzymes involved in digestion in Uloboridae spiders remains unknown. In this study, the protein content in the midgut of Uloborus sp. was evaluated through enzymatic, proteomic, and phylogenetic analysis. Hydrolases such as peptidases (endo and exopeptidases: cysteine, serine, and metallopeptidases), carbohydrases (alpha-amylase, chitinase, and alpha-mannosidase), and lipases were biochemically assayed, and 50 proteins (annotated as enzymes, structural proteins, and toxins) were identified, evidencing the identity between the digestive enzymes present in venomous and non-venomous spiders. Even enzymes thought to be unique to venom, including enzymes such as sphingomyelinase D, were found in the digestive system of non-venomous spiders, suggesting a common origin between digestive enzymes and enzymes present in venoms. This is the first characterization of the molecules involved in the digestive process and the midgut protein content of a non-venomous spider.
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17
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Passive electrolocation in terrestrial arthropods: Theoretical modelling of location detection. J Theor Biol 2023; 558:111357. [PMID: 36410450 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtbi.2022.111357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2022] [Revised: 10/23/2022] [Accepted: 11/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The recent discovery that some terrestrial arthropods can detect, use, and learn from weak electrical fields adds a new dimension to our understanding of how organisms explore and interact with their environments. For bees and spiders, the filiform mechanosensory systems enable this novel sensory modality by carrying electric charge and deflecting in response to electrical fields. This mode of information acquisition opens avenues for previously unrealised sensory dynamics and capabilities. In this paper, we study one such potential: the possibility for an arthropod to locate electrically charged objects. We begin by illustrating how electrostatic interactions between hairs and surrounding electrical fields enable the process of location detection. After which we examine three scenarios: (1) the determination of the location and magnitude of multiple point charges through a single observation, (2) the learning of electrical and mechanical sensor properties and the characteristics of an electrical field through several observations, (3) the possibility that an observer can infer their location and orientation in a fixed and known electrical field (akin to "stellar navigation"). To conclude, we discuss the potential of electroreception to endow an animal with thus far unappreciated sensory capabilities, such as the mapping of electrical environments. Electroreception by terrestrial arthropods offers a renewed understanding of the sensory processes carried out by filiform hairs, adding to aero-acoustic sensing and opening up the possibility of new emergent collective dynamics and information acquisition by distributed hair sensors.
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18
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Pophof B, Henschenmacher B, Kattnig DR, Kuhne J, Vian A, Ziegelberger G. Biological Effects of Electric, Magnetic, and Electromagnetic Fields from 0 to 100 MHz on Fauna and Flora: Workshop Report. HEALTH PHYSICS 2023; 124:39-52. [PMID: 36480584 PMCID: PMC9722389 DOI: 10.1097/hp.0000000000001624] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
This report summarizes effects of anthropogenic electric, magnetic, and electromagnetic fields in the frequency range from 0 to 100 MHz on flora and fauna, as presented at an international workshop held on 5-7 November in 2019 in Munich, Germany. Such fields may originate from overhead powerlines, earth or sea cables, and from wireless charging systems. Animals and plants react differentially to anthropogenic fields; the mechanisms underlying these responses are still researched actively. Radical pairs and magnetite are discussed mechanisms of magnetoreception in insects, birds, and mammals. Moreover, several insects as well as marine species possess specialized electroreceptors, and behavioral reactions to anthropogenic fields have been reported. Plants react to experimental modifications of their magnetic environment by growth changes. Strong adverse effects of anthropogenic fields have not been described, but knowledge gaps were identified; further studies, aiming at the identification of the interaction mechanisms and the ecological consequences, are recommended.
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Affiliation(s)
- Blanka Pophof
- Competence Centre for Electromagnetic Fields, Department of Effects and Risks of Ionizing and Non-Ionizing Radiation, Federal Office for Radiation Protection, 85764 Oberschleißheim, Germany
| | - Bernd Henschenmacher
- Competence Centre for Electromagnetic Fields, Department of Effects and Risks of Ionizing and Non-Ionizing Radiation, Federal Office for Radiation Protection, 85764 Oberschleißheim, Germany
| | - Daniel R. Kattnig
- Department of Physics and Living Systems Institute, University of Exeter, Stocker Road, Exeter, EX4 4QD, United Kingdom
| | - Jens Kuhne
- Competence Centre for Electromagnetic Fields, Department of Effects and Risks of Ionizing and Non-Ionizing Radiation, Federal Office for Radiation Protection, 85764 Oberschleißheim, Germany
| | - Alain Vian
- Univ Angers, Institut Agro, INRAE, IRHS, SFR QUASAV, F-49000 Angers, France
| | - Gunde Ziegelberger
- Competence Centre for Electromagnetic Fields, Department of Effects and Risks of Ionizing and Non-Ionizing Radiation, Federal Office for Radiation Protection, 85764 Oberschleißheim, Germany
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19
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Hunting ER, England SJ, Koh K, Lawson DA, Brun NR, Robert D. Synthetic fertilizers alter floral biophysical cues and bumblebee foraging behavior. PNAS NEXUS 2022; 1:pgac230. [PMID: 36712354 PMCID: PMC9802097 DOI: 10.1093/pnasnexus/pgac230] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2022] [Accepted: 10/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
The use of agrochemicals is increasingly recognized as interfering with pollination services due to its detrimental effects on pollinators. Compared to the relatively well-studied chemical toxicity of agrochemicals, little is known on how they influence various biophysical floral cues that are used by pollinating insects to identify floral rewards. Here, we show that widely used horticultural and agricultural synthetic fertilizers affect bumblebee foraging behavior by altering a complex set of interlinked biophysical properties of the flower. We provide empirical and model-based evidence that synthetic fertilizers recurrently alter the magnitude and dynamics of floral electrical cues, and that similar responses can be observed with the neonicotinoid pesticide imidacloprid. We show that biophysical responses interact in modifying floral electric fields and that such changes reduce bumblebee foraging, reflecting a perturbation in the sensory events experienced by bees during flower visitation. This unveils a previously unappreciated anthropogenic interference elicited by agrochemicals within the electric landscape that is likely relevant for a wide range of chemicals and organisms that rely on naturally occurring electric fields.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sam J England
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TQ, UK
| | - Kuang Koh
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TQ, UK
| | - Dave A Lawson
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TQ, UK
| | | | - Daniel Robert
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TQ, UK
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20
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Harrison AS, Rands SA. The Ability of Bumblebees Bombus terrestris (Hymenoptera: Apidae) to Detect Floral Humidity is Dependent Upon Environmental Humidity. ENVIRONMENTAL ENTOMOLOGY 2022; 51:1010-1019. [PMID: 35899458 PMCID: PMC9585368 DOI: 10.1093/ee/nvac049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2021] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Flowers produce local humidity that is often greater than that of the surrounding environment, and studies have shown that insect pollinators may be able to use this humidity difference to locate and identify suitable flowers. However, environmental humidity is highly heterogeneous, and is likely to affect the detectability of floral humidity, potentially constraining the contexts in which it can be used as a salient communication pathway between plants and their pollinators. In this study, we use differential conditioning techniques on bumblebees Bombus terrestris audax (Harris) to explore the detectability of an elevated floral humidity signal when presented against different levels of environmental noise. Artificial flowers were constructed that could be either dry or humid, and individual bumblebees were presented with consistent rewards in either the humid or dry flowers presented in an environment with four levels of constant humidity, ranging from low (~20% RH) to highly saturated (~95% RH). Ability to learn was dependent upon both the rewarding flower type and the environment: the bumblebees were able to learn rewarding dry flowers in all environments, but their ability to learn humid rewarding flowers was dependent on the environmental humidity, and they were unable to learn humid rewarding flowers when the environment was highly saturated. This suggests that floral humidity might be masked from bumblebees in humid environments, suggesting that it may be a more useful signal to insect pollinators in arid environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy S Harrison
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Life Sciences Building, Tyndall Avenue, Bristol BS8 1TQ, United Kingdom
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21
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Levitt BB, Lai HC, Manville AM. Effects of non-ionizing electromagnetic fields on flora and fauna, Part 2 impacts: how species interact with natural and man-made EMF. REVIEWS ON ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH 2022; 37:327-406. [PMID: 34243228 DOI: 10.1515/reveh-2021-0050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2021] [Accepted: 05/26/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Ambient levels of nonionizing electromagnetic fields (EMF) have risen sharply in the last five decades to become a ubiquitous, continuous, biologically active environmental pollutant, even in rural and remote areas. Many species of flora and fauna, because of unique physiologies and habitats, are sensitive to exogenous EMF in ways that surpass human reactivity. This can lead to complex endogenous reactions that are highly variable, largely unseen, and a possible contributing factor in species extinctions, sometimes localized. Non-human magnetoreception mechanisms are explored. Numerous studies across all frequencies and taxa indicate that current low-level anthropogenic EMF can have myriad adverse and synergistic effects, including on orientation and migration, food finding, reproduction, mating, nest and den building, territorial maintenance and defense, and on vitality, longevity and survivorship itself. Effects have been observed in mammals such as bats, cervids, cetaceans, and pinnipeds among others, and on birds, insects, amphibians, reptiles, microbes and many species of flora. Cyto- and geno-toxic effects have long been observed in laboratory research on animal models that can be extrapolated to wildlife. Unusual multi-system mechanisms can come into play with non-human species - including in aquatic environments - that rely on the Earth's natural geomagnetic fields for critical life-sustaining information. Part 2 of this 3-part series includes four online supplement tables of effects seen in animals from both ELF and RFR at vanishingly low intensities. Taken as a whole, this indicates enough information to raise concerns about ambient exposures to nonionizing radiation at ecosystem levels. Wildlife loss is often unseen and undocumented until tipping points are reached. It is time to recognize ambient EMF as a novel form of pollution and develop rules at regulatory agencies that designate air as 'habitat' so EMF can be regulated like other pollutants. Long-term chronic low-level EMF exposure standards, which do not now exist, should be set accordingly for wildlife, and environmental laws should be strictly enforced - a subject explored in Part 3.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Henry C Lai
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Albert M Manville
- Advanced Academic Programs, Krieger School of Arts and Sciences, Environmental Sciences and Policy, Johns Hopkins University, Washington DC Campus, USA
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22
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French F. Expanding Aesthetics. Front Vet Sci 2022; 9:855087. [PMID: 35601399 PMCID: PMC9114928 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2022.855087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2022] [Accepted: 03/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
This paper seeks to expand traditional aesthetic dimensions of design beyond the limits of human capability in order to encompass other species' sensory modalities. To accomplish this, the idea of inclusivity is extended beyond human cultural and personal identities and needs, to embrace multi-species experiences of places, events and interactions in the world. This involves drawing together academic perspectives from ecology, neuroscience, anthropology, philosophy and interaction design, as well as exploring artistic perspectives and demonstrating how these different frames of reference can inspire and complement each other. This begins with a rationale for the existence of non-human aesthetics, followed by an overview of existing research into non-human aesthetic dimensions. Novel aesthetic categories are proposed and the challenge of how to include non-human aesthetic sensibility in design is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fiona French
- School of Computing and Digital Media, London Metropolitan University, London, United Kingdom
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23
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Palmer RA, Chenchiah IV, Robert D. The mechanics and interactions of electrically sensitive mechanoreceptive hair arrays of arthropods. J R Soc Interface 2022; 19:20220053. [PMID: 35317646 PMCID: PMC8941402 DOI: 10.1098/rsif.2022.0053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent investigations highlight the possibility of electroreception within arthropods through charged mechanosensory hairs. This discovery raises questions about the influence of electrostatic interaction between hairs and surrounding electrical fields within this sensory modality. Here, we investigate these questions by studying electrostatic coupling in arrays of hairs. We establish the notion of sensitivity contours that indicate regions within which point charges deflect hairs beyond a given threshold. We then examine how the contour’s shape and size and the overall hair behaviour change in response to variations in the coupling between hairs. This investigation unveils synergistic behaviours whereby the sensitivity of hairs is enhanced or inhibited by neighbouring hairs. The hair spacing and ratio of a system’s electrical parameters to its mechanical parameters influence this behaviour. Our results indicate that electrostatic interaction between hairs leads to emergent sensory properties for biologically relevant parameter values. The analysis raises new questions around the impact of electrostatic interaction on the current understanding of sensory hair processes, such as acoustic sensing, unveiling new sensory capabilities within electroreception such as amplification of hair sensitivity and location detection of charges in the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan A Palmer
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Life Sciences Building, 24 Tyndall Avenue, Bristol BS8 1TQ, UK.,School of Mathematics, University of Bristol, Fry Building, Woodland Road, Bristol BS8 1UG, UK
| | - Isaac V Chenchiah
- School of Mathematics, University of Bristol, Fry Building, Woodland Road, Bristol BS8 1UG, UK
| | - Daniel Robert
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Life Sciences Building, 24 Tyndall Avenue, Bristol BS8 1TQ, UK
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24
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Palmer RA, Chenchiah IV, Robert D. Analysis of aerodynamic and electrostatic sensing in mechanoreceptor arthropod hairs. J Theor Biol 2021; 530:110871. [PMID: 34411607 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtbi.2021.110871] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2021] [Revised: 06/29/2021] [Accepted: 08/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
We study the mechanics of mechanoreceptor hairs in response to electro- and acousto-stimuli to expand the theory of tuning within filiform mechano-sensory systems and show the physical, biological and parametric feasibility of electroreception in comparison to aerodynamic sensing. We begin by analysing two well-known mechanosensory systems, the MeD1 spider trichobothria and the cricket cercal hair, offering a systematic appraisal of the physics of mechanosensory hair motion. Then we explore the biologically relevant parameter space of mechanoreceptor hairs by varying each oscillator parameter, thereby extending the theory to general arthropods. In doing so, we readily identify combinations of parameters for which a hair shows an enhanced or distinct response to either electric or aerodynamic stimuli. Overall, we find distinct behaviours in the two systems with novel insight provided through the parameter-space analysis. We show how the parameter space and balance of parameters therein of the resonant spider system are organised to produce a highly tuneable hair system through variation of hair length, whilst the broader parameter space of the non-resonant cricket system responds equally to a wider range of driving frequencies with increased capacity for high temporal resolution. From our analysis, we hypothesise the existence of two distinct types of mechanoreceptive system: the general system where hairs of all lengths are poised to detect both electro- and acousto- stimuli, and a stimuli-specific system where the sensitivity and specificity of the hairs to the different stimuli changes with length.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan A Palmer
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Life Sciences Building, 24 Tyndall Avenue, Bristol BS8 1TQ, United Kingdom; School of Mathematics, University of Bristol, Fry Building, Woodland Road, Bristol BS8 1UG, United Kingdom.
| | - Isaac V Chenchiah
- School of Mathematics, University of Bristol, Fry Building, Woodland Road, Bristol BS8 1UG, United Kingdom
| | - Daniel Robert
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Life Sciences Building, 24 Tyndall Avenue, Bristol BS8 1TQ, United Kingdom
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25
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England SJ, Robert D. The ecology of electricity and electroreception. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2021; 97:383-413. [PMID: 34643022 DOI: 10.1111/brv.12804] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2021] [Revised: 09/27/2021] [Accepted: 09/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Electricity, the interaction between electrically charged objects, is widely known to be fundamental to the functioning of living systems. However, this appreciation has largely been restricted to the scale of atoms, molecules, and cells. By contrast, the role of electricity at the ecological scale has historically been largely neglected, characterised by punctuated islands of research infrequently connected to one another. Recently, however, an understanding of the ubiquity of electrical forces within the natural environment has begun to grow, along with a realisation of the multitude of ecological interactions that these forces may influence. Herein, we provide the first comprehensive collation and synthesis of research in this emerging field of electric ecology. This includes assessments of the role electricity plays in the natural ecology of predator-prey interactions, pollination, and animal dispersal, among many others, as well as the impact of anthropogenic activity on these systems. A detailed introduction to the ecology and physiology of electroreception - the biological detection of ecologically relevant electric fields - is also provided. Further to this, we suggest avenues for future research that show particular promise, most notably those investigating the recently discovered sense of aerial electroreception.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sam J England
- School of Biological Sciences, Life Sciences Building, University of Bristol, 24 Tyndall Avenue, Bristol, BS8 1TQ, U.K
| | - Daniel Robert
- School of Biological Sciences, Life Sciences Building, University of Bristol, 24 Tyndall Avenue, Bristol, BS8 1TQ, U.K
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26
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Khan SA, Khan KA, Kubik S, Ahmad S, Ghramh HA, Ahmad A, Skalicky M, Naveed Z, Malik S, Khalofah A, Aljedani DM. Electric field detection as floral cue in hoverfly pollination. Sci Rep 2021; 11:18781. [PMID: 34548579 PMCID: PMC8455601 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-98371-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2021] [Accepted: 09/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Pollinators can detect the color, shape, scent, and even temperature of the flowers they want to visit. Here, we present the previously unappreciated capacity of hoverflies (Eristalis tenax and Cheilosia albipila) to detect the electric field surrounding flowers. Using hoverflies as key dipteran pollinators, we explored the electrical interactions between flies and flowers-how a hoverfly acquired a charge and how their electrical sensing ability for target flowers contributed to nectar identification and pollination. This study revealed that rapid variations in a floral electric field were related to a nectar reward and increased the likelihood of the fly's return visits. We found that thoracic hairs played a role in the polarity of hoverfly charge, revealing their electro-mechanosensory capability, as in bumblebees (Bombus terrestris). Electrophysiological analysis of the hoverfly's antennae did not reveal neural sensitivity to the electric field, which favors the mechanosensory hairs as putative electroreceptive organs in both species of hoverflies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shahmshad Ahmed Khan
- Laboratory of Apiculture, Department of Entomology, Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi, 46000, Pakistan
| | - Khalid Ali Khan
- Research Center for Advanced Materials Science (RCAMS), King Khalid University, P.O. Box 9004, Abha, 61413, Saudi Arabia.
- Unit of Bee Research and Honey Production, Faculty of Science, King Khalid University, P.O. Box 9004, Abha, 61413, Saudi Arabia.
- Biology Department, Faculty of Science, King Khalid University, P.O. Box 9004, Abha, 61413, Saudi Arabia.
| | - Stepan Kubik
- Department of Zoology and Fisheries, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food, and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Kamycka 129, 165 00, Praha 6-Suchdol, Czech Republic
| | - Saboor Ahmad
- Laboratory of Apiculture, Department of Entomology, Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi, 46000, Pakistan.
- Institute of Apicultural Research/Key Laboratory of Pollinating Insect Biology, Ministry of Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100093, China.
| | - Hamed A Ghramh
- Research Center for Advanced Materials Science (RCAMS), King Khalid University, P.O. Box 9004, Abha, 61413, Saudi Arabia
- Unit of Bee Research and Honey Production, Faculty of Science, King Khalid University, P.O. Box 9004, Abha, 61413, Saudi Arabia
- Biology Department, Faculty of Science, King Khalid University, P.O. Box 9004, Abha, 61413, Saudi Arabia
| | - Afzal Ahmad
- Department of Physics, Allama Iqbal Open University, Islamabad, 44000, Pakistan
| | - Milan Skalicky
- Department of Botany and Plant Physiology, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food, and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Kamycka 129, 165 00, Prague, Czechia
| | - Zeenat Naveed
- Department of Botany, University of Gujarat, Gujarat, 50700, Pakistan
| | - Sadia Malik
- Department of Biotechnology, Fatima Jinnah Women University, Rawalpindi, Pakistan
| | - Ahlam Khalofah
- Research Center for Advanced Materials Science (RCAMS), King Khalid University, P.O. Box 9004, Abha, 61413, Saudi Arabia
- Biology Department, Faculty of Science, King Khalid University, P.O. Box 9004, Abha, 61413, Saudi Arabia
| | - Dalal M Aljedani
- Department of Biological Sciences, College of Science, University of Jeddah, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
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Bee Products: A Representation of Biodiversity, Sustainability, and Health. Life (Basel) 2021; 11:life11090970. [PMID: 34575119 PMCID: PMC8464958 DOI: 10.3390/life11090970] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2021] [Revised: 09/06/2021] [Accepted: 09/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Biodiversity strengthens the productivity of any ecosystem (agricultural land, forest, lake, etc.). The loss of biodiversity contributes to food and energy insecurity; increases vulnerability to natural disasters, such as floods or tropical storms; and decreases the quality of both life and health. Wild and managed bees play a key role in maintaining the biodiversity and in the recovery and restoration of degraded habitats. The novelty character of this perspective is to give an updated representation of bee products’ biodiversity, sustainability, and health relationship. The role of bees as bioindicators, their importance in the conservation of biodiversity, their ecosystem services, and the variety of the bee products are described herein. An overview of the main components of bee products, their biological potentials, and health is highlighted and detailed as follows: (i) nutritional value of bee products, (ii) bioactive profile of bee products and the related beneficial properties; (iii) focus on honey and health through a literature quantitative analysis, and (iv) bee products explored through databases. Moreover, as an example of the interconnection between health, biodiversity, and sustainability, a case study, namely the “Cellulose Park”, realized in Rome (Italy), is presented here. This case study highlights how bee activities can be used to assess and track changes in the quality of agricultural ecosystems—hive products could be valid indicators of the quality and health of the surrounding environment, as well as the changes induced by the biotic and abiotic factors that impact the sustainability of agricultural production and biodiversity conservation in peri-urban areas.
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Montgomery C, Vuts J, Woodcock CM, Withall DM, Birkett MA, Pickett JA, Robert D. Bumblebee electric charge stimulates floral volatile emissions in Petunia integrifolia but not in Antirrhinum majus. THE SCIENCE OF NATURE - NATURWISSENSCHAFTEN 2021; 108:44. [PMID: 34519874 PMCID: PMC8440258 DOI: 10.1007/s00114-021-01740-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2020] [Revised: 03/19/2021] [Accepted: 06/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
The timing of volatile organic compound (VOC) emission by flowering plants often coincides with pollinator foraging activity. Volatile emission is often considered to be paced by environmental variables, such as light intensity, and/or by circadian rhythmicity. The question arises as to what extent pollinators themselves provide information about their presence, in keeping with their long co-evolution with flowering plants. Bumblebees are electrically charged and provide electrical stimulation when visiting plants, as measured via the depolarisation of electric potential in the stem of flowers. Here we test the hypothesis that the electric charge of foraging bumblebees increases the floral volatile emissions of bee pollinated plants. We investigate the change in VOC emissions of two bee-pollinated plants (Petunia integrifolia and Antirrhinum majus) exposed to the electric charge typical of foraging bumblebees. P. integrifolia slightly increases its emissions of a behaviorally and physiologically active compound in response to visits by foraging bumblebees, presenting on average 121 pC of electric charge. We show that for P. integrifolia, strong electrical stimulation (600–700 pC) promotes increased volatile emissions, but this is not found when using weaker electrical charges more representative of flying pollinators (100 pC). Floral volatile emissions of A. majus were not affected by either strong (600–700 pC) or weak electric charges (100 pC). This study opens a new area of research whereby the electrical charge of flying insects may provide information to plants on the presence and phenology of their pollinators. As a form of electroreception, this sensory process would bear adaptive value, enabling plants to better ensure that their attractive chemical messages are released when a potential recipient is present.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clara Montgomery
- School of Biological Sciences, Life Sciences Building, University of Bristol, 24 Tyndall Avenue, Bristol, BS8 1TQ, UK.
| | - Jozsef Vuts
- Department of Biointeractions and Crop Protection, Rothamsted Research, West Common, Harpenden, AL5 2JQ, UK
| | - Christine M Woodcock
- Department of Biointeractions and Crop Protection, Rothamsted Research, West Common, Harpenden, AL5 2JQ, UK
| | - David M Withall
- Department of Biointeractions and Crop Protection, Rothamsted Research, West Common, Harpenden, AL5 2JQ, UK
| | - Michael A Birkett
- Department of Biointeractions and Crop Protection, Rothamsted Research, West Common, Harpenden, AL5 2JQ, UK
| | - John A Pickett
- School of Chemistry, Cardiff University, Cardiff, CF10 3AT, UK
| | - Daniel Robert
- School of Biological Sciences, Life Sciences Building, University of Bristol, 24 Tyndall Avenue, Bristol, BS8 1TQ, UK
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29
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Liang JH, Liang WH, Deng YQ, Fu ZG, Deng JL, Chen YH. Vibrio vulnificus infection attributed to bee sting: a case report. Emerg Microbes Infect 2021; 10:1890-1895. [PMID: 34487488 PMCID: PMC8477795 DOI: 10.1080/22221751.2021.1977589] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Vibrio vulnificus is a pathogenic marine bacteria associated with high mortality. Changes in climate and the global seafood trade have increased the prevalence of marine and freshwater systems affected by V. vulnificus. As a result, the incidence of land animals, plants, and insects contacting V. vulnificus and acting as disease vectors is on the rise. We report the case of a 53-year-old male who was infected with V. vulnificus as the result of a bee sting. The patient had no history of contact with the sea or fresh water or aquatic organisms or products. Due to bacterial pathogenicity and the patient’s underlying diseases, his condition deteriorated rapidly and eventually resulted in death. Here, we review the pathogenic mechanisms and treatment of V. vulnificus. We determined that V. vulnificus has spread from seawater to freshwater and that individuals may become infected from insects, even in the absence of direct contact with infected water. This case report will inform clinicians about the possible sources of V. vulnificus infection and indicates the possibility that more insects may transmit V. vulnificus in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie-Heng Liang
- The Seventh People's Hospital of Nanhai, Foshan, Guangdong, People's Republic of China
| | - Wen-Huan Liang
- The Seventh People's Hospital of Nanhai, Foshan, Guangdong, People's Republic of China
| | - Yun-Qi Deng
- The Seventh People's Hospital of Nanhai, Foshan, Guangdong, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhi-Gang Fu
- The Seventh People's Hospital of Nanhai, Foshan, Guangdong, People's Republic of China
| | - Jun-Li Deng
- The Seventh People's Hospital of Nanhai, Foshan, Guangdong, People's Republic of China
| | - Yong-Hua Chen
- The Seventh People's Hospital of Nanhai, Foshan, Guangdong, People's Republic of China
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Dobránszki J. Application of naturally occurring mechanical forces in in vitro plant tissue culture and biotechnology. PLANT SIGNALING & BEHAVIOR 2021; 16:1902656. [PMID: 33902398 PMCID: PMC8143234 DOI: 10.1080/15592324.2021.1902656] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2021] [Revised: 03/08/2021] [Accepted: 03/09/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Cues and signals of the environment in nature can be either beneficial or detrimental from the growth and developmental perspectives. Plants, despite their limited spatial mobility, have developed advanced strategies to overcome the various and changing environmental impacts including stresses. In vitro plantlets, tissues and cells are constantly exposed to the influence of their environment that is well controlled. Light has a widely known morphogenetic effect on plants; however, other physical cues and signals are at least as important but were often neglected. In this review, I summarize our knowledge about the role of the mechanical stimuli, like sound, ultrasound, touch, or wounding in in vitro plant cultures. I summarize the molecular, biochemical, physiological, growth, and developmental changes they cause and how these processes are controlled; moreover, how their regulating or stimulating roles are applied in various plant biotechnological applications. Recent studies revealed that mechanical forces can be used for affecting the plant development and growth in plant tissue culture efficiently, and for increasing the efficacy of other plant biotechnological methods, like genetic transformation and secondary metabolite production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Judit Dobránszki
- Centre for Agricultural Genomics and Biotechnology, FAFSEM, University of Debrecen, Nyíregyháza, Hungary
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31
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Gillanders RN, Glackin JM, Babić Z, Muštra M, Simić M, Kezić N, Turnbull GA, Filipi J. Biomonitoring for wide area surveying in landmine detection using honeybees and optical sensing. CHEMOSPHERE 2021; 273:129646. [PMID: 33493813 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.129646] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2020] [Revised: 01/11/2021] [Accepted: 01/12/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Humanitarian demining is a worldwide effort and the range of climates and environments prevent any one detection method being suitable for all sites, so more tools are required for safe and efficient explosives sensing. Landmines emit a chemical flux over time, and honeybees can collect the trace residues of explosives (as particles or as vapour) on their body hairs. This capability was exploited using a passive method allowing the honeybees to freely forage in a mined area, where trace explosives present in the environment stuck to the honeybee body, which were subsequently transferred onto an adsorbent material for analysis by a fluorescent polymer sensor. Potential false positive sources were investigated, namely common bee pheromones, the anti-varroa pesticide Amitraz, and the environment around a clean apiary, and no significant response was found to any from the sensor. The mined site gave a substantial response in the optical sensor films, with quenching efficiencies of up to 38%. A model was adapted to estimate the mass of explosives returned to the colony, which may be useful for estimating the number of mines in a given area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ross N Gillanders
- Organic Semiconductor Centre, SUPA, School of Physics & Astronomy, University of St Andrews, Fife, KY16 9SS, Scotland.
| | - James Me Glackin
- Organic Semiconductor Centre, SUPA, School of Physics & Astronomy, University of St Andrews, Fife, KY16 9SS, Scotland
| | - Zdenka Babić
- Faculty of Electrical Engineering, University of Banja Luka, Patre 5, 78000, Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina
| | - Mario Muštra
- University of Zagreb, Faculty of Transport and Traffic Sciences, Vukelićeva 4, HR, 10000, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Mitar Simić
- Faculty of Electrical Engineering, University of Banja Luka, Patre 5, 78000, Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina
| | - Nikola Kezić
- University of Zagreb, Faculty of Agriculture, Svetošimunska Cesta 25, 10000, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Graham A Turnbull
- Organic Semiconductor Centre, SUPA, School of Physics & Astronomy, University of St Andrews, Fife, KY16 9SS, Scotland
| | - Janja Filipi
- Department of Ecology, Agronomy and Aquaculture, University of Zadar, Trg Kneza Višeslava 9, 23000, Zadar, Croatia.
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32
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Paffhausen BH, Petrasch J, Greggers U, Duer A, Wang Z, Menzel S, Stieber P, Haink K, Geldenhuys M, Čavojská J, Stein TA, Wutke S, Voigt A, Coburn J, Menzel R. The Electronic Bee Spy: Eavesdropping on Honeybee Communication via Electrostatic Field Recordings. Front Behav Neurosci 2021; 15:647224. [PMID: 33994968 PMCID: PMC8115936 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2021.647224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2020] [Accepted: 04/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
As a canary in a coalmine warns of dwindling breathable air, the honeybee can indicate the health of an ecosystem. Honeybees are the most important pollinators of fruit-bearing flowers, and share similar ecological niches with many other pollinators; therefore, the health of a honeybee colony can reflect the conditions of a whole ecosystem. The health of a colony may be mirrored in social signals that bees exchange during their sophisticated body movements such as the waggle dance. To observe these changes, we developed an automatic system that records and quantifies social signals under normal beekeeping conditions. Here, we describe the system and report representative cases of normal social behavior in honeybees. Our approach utilizes the fact that honeybee bodies are electrically charged by friction during flight and inside the colony, and thus they emanate characteristic electrostatic fields when they move their bodies. These signals, together with physical measurements inside and outside the colony (temperature, humidity, weight of the hive, and activity at the hive entrance) will allow quantification of normal and detrimental conditions of the whole colony. The information provided instructs how to setup the recording device, how to install it in a normal bee colony, and how to interpret its data.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Julian Petrasch
- Department Information Science, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Uwe Greggers
- Department Biology, Neurobiology, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Aron Duer
- Department Biology, Neurobiology, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Zhengwei Wang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Forest Ecology, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China
| | - Simon Menzel
- Department Biology, Neurobiology, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Peter Stieber
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Forest Ecology, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China
| | - Karén Haink
- Department Biology, Neurobiology, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Jana Čavojská
- Department Information Science, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Timo A Stein
- Complex and Distributed IT Systems, Technische Universtät Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Sophia Wutke
- Department Biology, Neurobiology, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Anja Voigt
- Department Biology, Neurobiology, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Josephine Coburn
- Department Biology, Neurobiology, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Randolf Menzel
- Department Biology, Neurobiology, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
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33
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Rands SA, Harrap MJM. Phylogenetic signal in floral temperature patterns. BMC Res Notes 2021; 14:39. [PMID: 33509265 PMCID: PMC7844958 DOI: 10.1186/s13104-021-05455-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2020] [Accepted: 01/16/2021] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Floral structures may be warmer than their environment, and can show thermal patterning, where individual floral structures show different temperatures across their surface. Pollinators can differentiate between artificial flowers that mimic both naturally warmed and thermally patterned ones, but it has yet to be demonstrated that these patterns are biologically meaningful. To explore the relationship between pollinators and temperature patterning, we need to know whether there is diversity in patterning, and that these patterns are not simply a by-product of floral architecture constrained by ancestry. We analysed a dataset of 97 species to explore whether intrafloral temperature differences were correlated within clades (phylogenetic signal), or whether the variation seen was diverse enough to suggest that floral temperature patterns are influenced by the abiotic or pollinator-related niches to which plant species are adapted. RESULTS Some phylogenetic signal was observed, with both the Asteraceae and species of Pelargonium being more similar than expected by chance, but with other species surveyed not showing signal. The Asteraceae tend to have large temperature differences across the floral surface, which may be due to floral architecture constraints within the family. Other families show no correlation, suggesting that patterning is influenced by pollinators and the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sean A Rands
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Life Sciences Building, Tyndall Avenue, Bristol, BS8 1TQ, UK.
| | - Michael J M Harrap
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Life Sciences Building, Tyndall Avenue, Bristol, BS8 1TQ, UK
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34
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Fdez-Arroyabe P, Kourtidis K, Haldoupis C, Savoska S, Matthews J, Mir LM, Kassomenos P, Cifra M, Barbosa S, Chen X, Dragovic S, Consoulas C, Hunting ER, Robert D, van der Velde OA, Apollonio F, Odzimek A, Chilingarian A, Royé D, Mkrtchyan H, Price C, Bór J, Oikonomou C, Birsan MV, Crespo-Facorro B, Djordjevic M, Salcines C, López-Jiménez A, Donner RV, Vana M, Pedersen JOP, Vorenhout M, Rycroft M. Glossary on atmospheric electricity and its effects on biology. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOMETEOROLOGY 2021; 65:5-29. [PMID: 33025117 DOI: 10.1007/s00484-020-02013-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2019] [Revised: 08/31/2020] [Accepted: 08/31/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
There is an increasing interest to study the interactions between atmospheric electrical parameters and living organisms at multiple scales. So far, relatively few studies have been published that focus on possible biological effects of atmospheric electric and magnetic fields. To foster future work in this area of multidisciplinary research, here we present a glossary of relevant terms. Its main purpose is to facilitate the process of learning and communication among the different scientific disciplines working on this topic. While some definitions come from existing sources, other concepts have been re-defined to better reflect the existing and emerging scientific needs of this multidisciplinary and transdisciplinary area of research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pablo Fdez-Arroyabe
- Geography and Planning Department, Universidad de Cantabria, 39005, Santander, Spain.
| | - Konstantinos Kourtidis
- Dept. of Environmental Engineering, Democritus University of Thrace, 67100, Xanthi, Greece
- Environmental and Networking Technologies and Applications Unit (ENTA), Athena Research and Innovation Center, 67100, Xanthi, Greece
| | - Christos Haldoupis
- Department of Physics, University of Crete, 71003 Heraklion, Crete, Greece
| | - Snezana Savoska
- Faculty of Information and Communication Technologies, University "St. Kliment Ohridski", Bitola, North Macedonia
| | - James Matthews
- School of Chemistry, Cantocks Close University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1TS, UK
| | - Lluis M Mir
- Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS Institut Gustave Roussy, Metabolic and systemic aspects of oncogenesis (METSY), 94805, Villejuif, France
| | - Pavlos Kassomenos
- Department of Physics, Lab. of Meteorology, University Campus, University of Ioannina, 45100, Ioannina, Greece
| | - Michal Cifra
- Institute of Photonics and Electronics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Chaberská 1014, /57 182 51, Prague, Czechia
| | - Susana Barbosa
- INESC Technology and Science - INESC TEC, Porto, Portugal
| | - Xuemeng Chen
- Institute of Physics, University of Tartu, W. Ostwaldi 1, EE-50411, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Snezana Dragovic
- University of Belgrade, Vinca Institute of Nuclear Sciences, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Christos Consoulas
- Laboratory of Experimental Physiology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Ellard R Hunting
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Daniel Robert
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Oscar A van der Velde
- Lightning Research Group, Electrical Engineering Department, Polytechnic University of Catalonia - BarcelonaTech, Colon 1, 08222, Terrassa, Spain
| | - Francesca Apollonio
- Department of Information Engineering, Electronics and Telecommunications, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Anna Odzimek
- Institute of Geophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | | | - Dominic Royé
- Department of Geography, University of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago, Spain
| | | | - Colin Price
- Department of Geophysics, Porter School of the Environment and Earth Sciences, Tel Aviv University, 6997801, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - József Bór
- Geodetic and Geophysical Institute, Research Centre for Astronomy and Earth Sciences, Sopron, Hungary
| | - Christina Oikonomou
- Frederick University 7, Y. Frederickou Str. Pallouriotisa, 1036, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Marius-Victor Birsan
- Department of Research and Meteo Infrastructure Projects, Meteo Romania (National Meteorological Administration), Bucharest, Romania
| | - Benedicto Crespo-Facorro
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Sevilla, HU Virgen del Rocio IBIS, CIBERSAM, Seville, Spain
| | - Milan Djordjevic
- Department of Geography, Faculty of Sciences and Mathematics, University of Niš, Niš, Serbia
| | - Ciro Salcines
- Health and Safety Unit, Infrastructure Service, University of Cantabria, Avd. de los Castros, 54 39005, Santander, Cantabria, Spain
| | - Amparo López-Jiménez
- Hydraulic and Environmental Engineering Department, Universitat Politécnica de Valencia, Camino de Vera s/n 46022, Valencia, Spain
| | - Reik V Donner
- Department of Water, Environment, Construction and Safety, Magdeburg-Stendal University of Applied Sciences, Breitscheidstr. 2, 39114, Magdeburg, Germany
- Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) - Member of the Leibniz Association, Telegrafenberg A31, 14773, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Marko Vana
- Institute of Physics, University of Tartu, W. Ostwaldi 1, EE-50411, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Jens Olaf Pepke Pedersen
- National Space Institute, DTU Space, Technical University of Denmark, Centrifugevej 356, DK-2800, Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | | | - Michael Rycroft
- CAESAR Consultancy, 35 Millington Road, Cambridge, CB3 9HW, UK
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Hunting ER, Matthews J, de Arróyabe Hernáez PF, England SJ, Kourtidis K, Koh K, Nicoll K, Harrison RG, Manser K, Price C, Dragovic S, Cifra M, Odzimek A, Robert D. Challenges in coupling atmospheric electricity with biological systems. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOMETEOROLOGY 2021; 65:45-58. [PMID: 32666310 PMCID: PMC7782408 DOI: 10.1007/s00484-020-01960-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2019] [Revised: 05/29/2020] [Accepted: 06/26/2020] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
The atmosphere is host to a complex electric environment, ranging from a global electric circuit generating fluctuating atmospheric electric fields to local lightning strikes and ions. While research on interactions of organisms with their electrical environment is deeply rooted in the aquatic environment, it has hitherto been confined to interactions with local electrical phenomena and organismal perception of electric fields. However, there is emerging evidence of coupling between large- and small-scale atmospheric electrical phenomena and various biological processes in terrestrial environments that even appear to be tied to continental waters. Here, we synthesize our current understanding of this connectivity, discussing how atmospheric electricity can affect various levels of biological organization across multiple ecosystems. We identify opportunities for research, highlighting its complexity and interdisciplinary nature and draw attention to both conceptual and technical challenges lying ahead of our future understanding of the relationship between atmospheric electricity and the organization and functioning of biological systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ellard R Hunting
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.
| | | | | | - Sam J England
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Konstantinos Kourtidis
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Demokritus University of Thrace, Xanthi, Greece
- ISLP Xanthi Branch, ENTA Unit, ATHENA Research and Innovation Center, Xanthi, Greece
| | - Kuang Koh
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Keri Nicoll
- Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering, University of Bath, Bath, UK
- Department of Meteorology, University of Reading, Reading, UK
| | | | | | - Colin Price
- Department of Geophysics. Porter School of the Environment and Earth Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Snezana Dragovic
- Vinča Institute of Nuclear Sciences, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Michal Cifra
- Institute of Photonics and Electronics, Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czechia
| | - Anna Odzimek
- Institute of Geophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Daniel Robert
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.
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36
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Contribution of Extensive Farming Practices to the Supply of Floral Resources for Pollinators. INSECTS 2020; 11:insects11110818. [PMID: 33233506 PMCID: PMC7699504 DOI: 10.3390/insects11110818] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2020] [Revised: 11/13/2020] [Accepted: 11/17/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Simple Summary One of the causes of pollinator decline is the decreased availability of flower resources, that constitute their nutritional requirements. In particular, the intensification of agricultural practices has led to a loss of flower resources. For many years, as part of the Common Agricultural Policy and the efforts to preserve biodiversity, several Agri-Environmental Schemes (AESs) and extensive farming practices have been promoted in Europe. To assess the relative contribution of extensive farming practices such as hedgerows, organic crops and extensive grasslands, we compared pairs of agricultural landscapes in Belgium. We recorded the densities of the insect-pollinated plant species per biotope and per month, the abundance and diversity of the main visiting insects. In April, hedgerows and forest edges constituted the main nectar resources. In May, most of the nectar resources were produced by grasslands and mass-flowering crops. In June, extensive grasslands and organic crops contributed to nectar resources, contrarily to intensive agricultural elements. Extensive and diverse agricultural practices should therefore be encouraged to provide less fluctuating nectar resources on a landscape scale. Abstract Intensification of agricultural practices leads to a loss of floral resources and drives pollinator decline. Extensive agricultural practices are encouraged in Europe and contribute to the preservation of biodiversity. We compared three agricultural landscapes without extensive farming practices with three adjacent landscapes containing organic crops and extensively managed grasslands in Belgium. Nectar resource availability and plant–pollinator interactions were monitored from April to June. Flower density per plant species and plant–pollinator interactions were recorded in different landscape elements. In April, the main nectar resources were provided by linear elements such as hedgerows and forest edges. Nectar production peaked in May, driven by intensive grasslands and mass-flowering crops. Occurrence of extensive grasslands and organic crops significantly alleviated the nectar resource gap observed in June. Our results underscore the importance of maintaining landscape heterogeneity for continuous flower resources and highlight the specific role of extensive grasslands and organic crops in June.
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Lapidot O, Bechar A, Ronen B, Ribak G. Can electrostatic fields limit the take-off of tiny whiteflies (Bemisia tabaci)? J Comp Physiol A Neuroethol Sens Neural Behav Physiol 2020; 206:809-817. [PMID: 32725264 DOI: 10.1007/s00359-020-01439-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2020] [Revised: 07/11/2020] [Accepted: 07/15/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Electrostatic fields are abundant in the natural environment. We tested the idea that electrostatic attraction forces between tiny whiteflies (Bemisia tabaci) and the substrate could be substantial to the point of limiting their take-off. These insects are characterized by a very small body mass and powerful take-offs that are executed by jumping into the air with the wings closed. Wing opening and transition to active flight occur after the jump distanced the insect several body lengths away from the substrate. Using high-speed cameras, we captured the take-off behavior inside a uniform electrostatic field apparatus and used dead insects to calculate the electric charge that these tiny insects can carry. We show that electrostatic forces stimulate the opening of the insect's wings and can attract the whole insect toward the opposite charge. We also found that whiteflies can carry and hold an electrical charge of up to 3.5 pC. With such a charge the electrostatic field required to impede take-off is much stronger than those typically found in the natural environment. Nevertheless, our results demonstrate that artificial electrostatic fields can be effectively used to suppress flight of whiteflies, thus providing options for pest control applications in greenhouses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Omri Lapidot
- School of Zoology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, 6997801, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Avital Bechar
- Institute of Agricultural Engineering, Agricultural Research Organization, Volcani Center, Bet Dagan, Israel
| | - Beni Ronen
- Institute of Agricultural Engineering, Agricultural Research Organization, Volcani Center, Bet Dagan, Israel
| | - Gal Ribak
- School of Zoology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, 6997801, Tel Aviv, Israel.
- The Steinhardt Museum of Natural History, National Center for Biodiversity Studies, 6997801, Tel Aviv, Israel.
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38
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Koh K, Robert D. Bumblebee hairs as electric and air motion sensors: theoretical analysis of an isolated hair. J R Soc Interface 2020; 17:20200146. [PMID: 32634368 PMCID: PMC7423416 DOI: 10.1098/rsif.2020.0146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Foraging bumblebees are electrically charged. Charge accumulation has been proposed to enable their ability to detect and react to electrical cues. One mechanism suggested for bumblebee electro-sensing is the interaction between external electric fields and electric charges accumulating on fine hairs on the cuticular body. Such hairs exhibit several functional adaptations, for example, thermal insulation, pollen capture and notably, the sensing of air motion such as flow currents or low frequency sound particle velocity. Both air motion and electric fields are ubiquitous in the sensory ecology of terrestrial arthropods, raising the question as to whether cuticular hairs respond to both stimuli. Here, a model-theoretical approach is taken to investigate the capacity of bumblebee filiform hairs as electric sensors and compare it to their response to air motion. We find that oscillating air motion and electric fields generate different mechanical responses, depending on stimulus frequency and body geometry. Further, hair morphology can enhance one sensing mode over the other; specifically, higher surface area favours electric sensitivity. Assuming a maximum stable charge on the hair that is limited only by electric breakdown of air, it is expected that an applied oscillating electric field strength of approximately 300 V m−1 produces comparable mechanical response on the hair as a 35 mm s−1 air flow oscillating at 130 Hz—an air disturbance signal similar to that produced by wingbeats of insects within a few bodylengths of the bumblebee. This analysis reveals that bumblebee filiform hairs can operate as bi-modal sensors, responding to both oscillating electric and air motion stimuli in the context of ecologically relevant scenarios.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Koh
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - D Robert
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
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Bauer U, Poppinga S, Müller UK. Mechanical Ecology-Taking Biomechanics to the Field. Integr Comp Biol 2020; 60:820-828. [PMID: 32275745 DOI: 10.1093/icb/icaa018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Synopsis Interdisciplinary research can have strong and surprising synergistic effects, leading to rapid knowledge gains. Equally important, it can help to reintegrate fragmented fields across increasingly isolated specialist sub-disciplines. However, the lack of a common identifier for research "in between fields" can make it difficult to find relevant research outputs and network effectively. We illustrate and address this issue for the emerging interdisciplinary hotspot of "mechanical ecology," which we define here as the intersection of quantitative biomechanics and field ecology at the organism level. We show that an integrative approach crucially advances our understanding in both disciplines by (1) putting biomechanical mechanisms into a biologically meaningful ecological context and (2) addressing the largely neglected influence of mechanical factors in organismal and behavioral ecology. We call for the foundation of knowledge exchange platforms such as meeting symposia, special issues in journals, and focus groups dedicated to mechanical ecology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ulrike Bauer
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Simon Poppinga
- Plant Biomechanics Group, Botanic Garden, University of Freiburg, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany.,Freiburg Materials Research Center (FMF), University of Freiburg, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
| | - Ulrike K Müller
- Department of Biology, California State University Fresno, Fresno, CA, USA
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41
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Lynn A, Piotter E, Harrison E, Galen C. Sexual and natural selection on pollen morphology in Taraxacum. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF BOTANY 2020; 107:364-374. [PMID: 32052420 DOI: 10.1002/ajb2.1428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2019] [Accepted: 10/10/2019] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
PREMISE Spiny pollen has evolved independently in multiple entomophilous lineages. Sexual selection may act on exine traits that facilitate male mating success by influencing the transfer of pollen from the anther to the body of the pollinator, while natural selection acts to increase pollen survival. We postulated that relative to sexual congeners, apomictic dandelions undergo relaxed selection on traits associated with male mating success. METHODS We explored sexual selection on exine traits by measuring the propensity for Taraxacum spp. pollen to attach to hairs of flower-visiting bumblebees (Bombus spp.) or flies (Diptera: Syrphidae and Muscoidea) and assessed natural selection by testing whether pollen traits defend against consumption. RESULTS Pollen picked up by bumblebees exhibited a narrower subset of spine-spacing phenotypes, consistent with stabilizing selection. Flies picked up larger pollen from flowers than expected at random. Surveys of corbiculae (pollen basket) contents from foraging bumblebees and feces of flies showed that pollen grains consumed by both kinds of visitors are similar in spine characteristics and size to those produced by the donor. When bees visit inflorescences of apomictic T. officinale, they pick up pollen with spine-spacing phenotypes above the mean and shifted toward those of sexual T. ceratophorum. CONCLUSIONS We demonstrate that traits under sexual selection during pollen pickup vary among pollinators, while natural selection for pollen defense is nil in T. ceratophorum. In hybrid zones between apomictic and sexual dandelions, pollen traits place apomictic donors at a dispersal disadvantage, potentially reinforcing reproductive isolation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Austin Lynn
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, 65202, USA
| | - Emelyn Piotter
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, 65202, USA
| | - Ellie Harrison
- Warner College of Natural Resources, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, 80523, USA
| | - Candace Galen
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, 65202, USA
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42
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Hooven LA, Chakrabarti P, Harper BJ, Sagili RR, Harper SL. Potential Risk to Pollinators from Nanotechnology-Based Pesticides. Molecules 2019; 24:E4458. [PMID: 31817417 PMCID: PMC6943562 DOI: 10.3390/molecules24244458] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2019] [Revised: 11/24/2019] [Accepted: 12/02/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The decline in populations of insect pollinators is a global concern. While multiple factors are implicated, there is uncertainty surrounding the contribution of certain groups of pesticides to losses in wild and managed bees. Nanotechnology-based pesticides (NBPs) are formulations based on multiple particle sizes and types. By packaging active ingredients in engineered particles, NBPs offer many benefits and novel functions, but may also exhibit different properties in the environment when compared with older pesticide formulations. These new properties raise questions about the environmental disposition and fate of NBPs and their exposure to pollinators. Pollinators such as honey bees have evolved structural adaptations to collect pollen, but also inadvertently gather other types of environmental particles which may accumulate in hive materials. Knowledge of the interaction between pollinators, NBPs, and other types of particles is needed to better understand their exposure to pesticides, and essential for characterizing risk from diverse environmental contaminants. The present review discusses the properties, benefits and types of nanotechnology-based pesticides, the propensity of bees to collect such particles and potential impacts on bee pollinators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louisa A. Hooven
- Department of Horticulture, Oregon State University, 4017 Agriculture and Life Science Building, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA;
| | - Priyadarshini Chakrabarti
- Department of Horticulture, Oregon State University, 4017 Agriculture and Life Science Building, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA;
| | - Bryan J. Harper
- Department of Environmental and Molecular Toxicology, Oregon State University, 4017 Agriculture and Life Science Building, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA;
| | - Ramesh R. Sagili
- Department of Horticulture, Oregon State University, 4017 Agriculture and Life Science Building, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA;
| | - Stacey L. Harper
- School of Chemical, Biological and Environmental Engineering, Oregon State University, 116 Johnson Hall, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA
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Melrose J. Functional Consequences of Keratan Sulfate Sulfation in Electrosensory Tissues and in Neuronal Regulation. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2019; 3:e1800327. [PMID: 32627425 DOI: 10.1002/adbi.201800327] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2018] [Revised: 01/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Keratan sulfate (KS) is a functional electrosensory and neuro-instructive molecule. Recent studies have identified novel low sulfation KS in auditory and sensory tissues such as the tectorial membrane of the organ of Corti and the Ampullae of Lorenzini in elasmobranch fish. These are extremely sensitive proton gradient detection systems that send signals to neural interfaces to facilitate audition and electrolocation. High and low sulfation KS have differential functional roles in song learning in the immature male zebra song-finch with high charge density KS in song nuclei promoting brain development and cognitive learning. The conductive properties of KS are relevant to the excitable neural phenotype. High sulfation KS interacts with a large number of guidance and neuroregulatory proteins. The KS proteoglycan microtubule associated protein-1B (MAP1B) stabilizes actin and tubulin cytoskeletal development during neuritogenesis. A second 12 span transmembrane synaptic vesicle associated KS proteoglycan (SV2) provides a smart gel storage matrix for the storage of neurotransmitters. MAP1B and SV2 have prominent roles to play in neuroregulation. Aggrecan and phosphacan have roles in perineuronal net formation and in neuroregulation. A greater understanding of the biology of KS may be insightful as to how neural repair might be improved.
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Affiliation(s)
- James Melrose
- Raymond Purves Bone and Joint Research Laboratories, Kolling Institute of Medical Research, Royal North Shore Hospital and University of Sydney, St. Leonards, NSW, 2065, Australia.,Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia.,Sydney Medical School, Northern, Sydney University, Royal North Shore Hospital, St. Leonards, NSW, 2065, Australia.,Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Royal North Shore Hospital, St. Leonards, NSW, 2065, Australia
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Inchaussandague M, Skigin D, Dolinko A, Tellería MC, Barreda V, Palazzesi L. Spines, microspines and electric fields: a new look at the possible significance of sculpture in pollen of basal and derived Asteraceae. Biol J Linn Soc Lond 2018. [DOI: 10.1093/biolinnean/bly171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Marina Inchaussandague
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Departamento de Física, Grupo de Electromagnetismo Aplicado, Ciudad Universitaria, Pabellón, Argentina
- CONICET—Universidad de Buenos Aires, Instituto de Física de Buenos Aires (IFIBA), Ciudad Universitaria, Pabellón, Argentina
| | - Diana Skigin
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Departamento de Física, Grupo de Electromagnetismo Aplicado, Ciudad Universitaria, Pabellón, Argentina
- CONICET—Universidad de Buenos Aires, Instituto de Física de Buenos Aires (IFIBA), Ciudad Universitaria, Pabellón, Argentina
| | - Andrés Dolinko
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Departamento de Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental, Ciudad Universitaria, Pabellón, Argentina
- CONICET, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Argentina
| | - María C Tellería
- CONICET, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Argentina
- Laboratorio de Sistemática y Biología Evolutiva, Museo de La Plata, Paseo del Bosque s/n°, La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Viviana Barreda
- CONICET, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Argentina
- Sección Paleopalinología, División Paleobotánica, Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Luis Palazzesi
- CONICET, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Argentina
- Sección Paleopalinología, División Paleobotánica, Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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Baluška F, Miller, Jr WB. Senomic view of the cell: Senome versus Genome. Commun Integr Biol 2018; 11:1-9. [PMID: 30214674 PMCID: PMC6132427 DOI: 10.1080/19420889.2018.1489184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2018] [Accepted: 06/11/2018] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
In the legacy of Thomas Henry Huxley, and his 'epigenetic' philosophy of biology, cells are proposed to represent a trinity of three memory-storing media: Senome, Epigenome, and Genome that together comprise a cell-wide informational architecture. Our current preferential focus on the Genome needs to be complemented by a similar focus on the Epigenome and a here proposed Senome, representing the sum of all the sensory experiences of the cognitive cell and its sensing apparatus. Only then will biology be in a position to embrace the whole complexity of the eukaryotic cell, understanding its true nature which allows the communicative assembly of cells in the form of sentient multicellular organisms.
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Electric Fields Elicit Ballooning in Spiders. Curr Biol 2018; 28:2324-2330.e2. [PMID: 29983315 PMCID: PMC6065530 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2018.05.057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2017] [Revised: 05/04/2018] [Accepted: 05/18/2018] [Indexed: 12/05/2022]
Abstract
When one thinks of airborne organisms, spiders do not usually come to mind. However, these wingless arthropods have been found 4 km up in the sky [1], dispersing hundreds of kilometers [2]. To disperse, spiders “balloon,” whereby they climb to the top of a prominence, let out silk, and float away. The prevailing view is that drag forces from light wind allow spiders to become airborne [3], yet ballooning mechanisms are not fully explained by current aerodynamic models [4, 5]. The global atmospheric electric circuit and the resulting atmospheric potential gradient (APG) [6] provide an additional force that has been proposed to explain ballooning [7]. Here, we test the hypothesis that electric fields (e-fields) commensurate with the APG can be detected by spiders and are sufficient to stimulate ballooning. We find that the presence of a vertical e-field elicits ballooning behavior and takeoff in spiders. We also investigate the mechanical response of putative sensory receivers in response to both e-field and air-flow stimuli, showing that spider mechanosensory hairs are mechanically activated by weak e-fields. Altogether, the evidence gathered reveals an electric driving force that is sufficient for ballooning. These results also suggest that the APG, as additional meteorological information, can reveal the auspicious time to engage in ballooning. We propose that atmospheric electricity adds key information to our understanding and predictive capability of the ecologically important mass migration patterns of arthropod fauna [8]. Video Abstract
Spiders detect electric fields at levels found under natural atmospheric conditions Ballooning behavior is triggered by such electric fields Trichobothria mechanically respond to such electric fields, as well as to air flow Electric field and air flow stimuli elicit distinct displacements of trichobothria
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