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Zhou Z, Mang D, Smagghe G, Liu Y, Mu Y, Yang L, Wang X, Chen X. A Farnesyl Pyrophosphate Synthase Gene Is Expressed in Fat Body Regulates Cantharidin Synthesis in Male Epicauta impressicornis Blister Beetle. JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY 2024; 72:12935-12945. [PMID: 38822796 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.4c00116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/03/2024]
Abstract
Blister beetles of Epicauta impressicornis have attracted attention because they contain a large amount of cantharidin (CTD). To date, however, the synthesis and transfer of CTD in adults of E. impressicornis are largely unknown. Here, we showed that the larvae E. impressicornis are capable of synthesizing CTD and they consume CTD during pupation. Before sexual maturity, both male and female adults synthesized a small amount of CTD, while after sexual maturity, males produced larger amounts of CTD, but females did not. The newly synthesized CTD in males first appeared in the hemolymph and then accumulated in the reproductive system. During the mating, the males transferred CTD to the reproductive system of females. In addition, a farnesyl pyrophosphate synthase (FPPS) gene was identified in male E. impressicornis. RNA-seq analysis, quantitative RT-PCR, and RNA interference analyses were conducted to investigate expression patterns and the functional roles of E. impressicornis FPPS (EiFPPS). Our results indicate that EiFPPS is highly expressed in the fat body of males. Moreover, the knock-down of EiFPPS led to a significant decrease in CTD synthesis. The current study indicates that EiFPPS is expressed in the fat body to regulate CTD synthesis in male E. impressicornis blister beetles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhicheng Zhou
- Institute of Entomology and Special Key Laboratory for Development and Utilization of Insect Resources of Guizhou, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China
| | - Dingze Mang
- School of Life Sciences/Hebei Basic Science Center for Biotic Interaction, Hebei University, Baoding 071002, China
- Graduate School of Bio-Application and Systems Engineering, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Koganei 2-24-16, Tokyo 184-8588, Japan
| | - Guy Smagghe
- Institute of Entomology and Special Key Laboratory for Development and Utilization of Insect Resources of Guizhou, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China
- Department of Plants and Crops, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Biology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Yangyang Liu
- Guizhou Provincial Key Laboratory for Rare Animal and Economic Insect of the Mountainous Region, Guiyang University, Guiyang, 550005, China
| | - Yinlin Mu
- Institute of Entomology and Special Key Laboratory for Development and Utilization of Insect Resources of Guizhou, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China
| | - Lin Yang
- Institute of Entomology and Special Key Laboratory for Development and Utilization of Insect Resources of Guizhou, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China
| | - Xuewen Wang
- Health Science Center, University of North Texas, Fort Worth, Texas 76107, United States
| | - Xiangsheng Chen
- Institute of Entomology and Special Key Laboratory for Development and Utilization of Insect Resources of Guizhou, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China
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2
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Bautista-Sopelana LM, Bolívar P, Gómez-Muñoz MT, Martínez-Díaz RA, Andrés MF, Alonso JC, Bravo C, González-Coloma A. Bioactivity of plants eaten by wild birds against laboratory models of parasites and pathogens. Front Ecol Evol 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2022.1027201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Plants are not only used as energy and nutrient resources for herbivores. Plants can be ingested because of their activity against host parasites and other pathogens. This so-called medicinal role of plants is well reported in ethnopharmacology and under-reported in wild animals. More studies on wild animals are needed because any plant in the world contains bioactive compounds, and probably all plants, no matter how toxic they are, experience herbivory. For example, we tested the activity of extracts and essential oils from Papaver rhoeas and Echium plantagineum against a selection of laboratory pathogens because Great bustards Otis tarda preferred these plants during the mating season, with male fecal droppings showing a higher frequency of P. rhoeas particles than the fecal droppings of females. We hypothesized that P. rhoeas could be helpful for males in the mating season if any part of this plant harbors bioactivity against parasites and other pathogens. Males’ immune system is weakened during the mating season because of their investment in secondary sexual characters and sexual display. As a first exploration of the bioactivity of these plants, we evaluated extracts of both plants against a sample of laboratory models, including a flagellated protozoon (Trichomonas gallinae), a nematode (Meloidogyne javanica) and a fungus (Aspergillus niger). Non-polar and polar extracts of the aerial parts of P. rhoeas, especially the extracts of flowers and capsules, and the extracts of leaves and flowers of E. plantagineum showed activity against nematodes and trichomonads. The bioactivity of plants against parasites could explain the foraging behavior of stressed animals. The chemical communication underpinning the capacity of fauna to recognize those plants is far less known.
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3
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Townsend AK, Sewall KB, Leonard AS, Hawley DM. Infectious disease and cognition in wild populations. Trends Ecol Evol 2022; 37:899-910. [PMID: 35872026 DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2022.06.005] [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: 03/31/2022] [Revised: 06/08/2022] [Accepted: 06/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Infectious disease is linked to impaired cognition across a breadth of host taxa and cognitive abilities, potentially contributing to variation in cognitive performance within and among populations. Impaired cognitive performance can stem from direct damage by the parasite, the host immune response, or lost opportunities for learning. Moreover, cognitive impairment could be compounded by factors that simultaneously increase infection risk and impair cognition directly, such as stress and malnutrition. As highlighted in this review, however, answers to fundamental questions remain unresolved, including the frequency, duration, and fitness consequences of infection-linked cognitive impairment in wild animal populations, the cognitive abilities most likely to be affected, and the potential for adaptive evolution of cognition in response to accelerating emergence of infectious disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea K Townsend
- Department of Biology, Hamilton College, 198 College Hill Road, Clinton, NY 13323, USA.
| | - Kendra B Sewall
- Department of Biological Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
| | - Anne S Leonard
- Department of Biology, University of Nevada, Reno, NV 89557, USA
| | - Dana M Hawley
- Department of Biological Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
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4
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Lever D, Rush LV, Thorogood R, Gotanda KM. Darwin's small and medium ground finches might have taste preferences, but not for human foods. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2022; 9:211198. [PMID: 35116148 PMCID: PMC8790341 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.211198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2021] [Accepted: 12/22/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Urbanization is rapidly changing ecological niches. On the inhabited Galapagos Islands, Darwin's finches consume human-introduced foods preferentially; however, it remains unclear why. Here, we presented pastry with flavour profiles typical of human foods (oily, salty and sweet) to small ground finches (Geospiza fuliginosa) and medium ground finches (Geospiza fortis) to test if latent taste preferences might drive the selection of human foods. If human food flavours were consumed more than a neutral or bitter control only at sites with human foods, then we predicted tastes were acquired after urbanization; however, if no site differences were found then this would indicate latent taste preferences. Contrary to both predictions, we found little evidence that human food flavours were preferred compared with control flavours at any site. Instead, finches showed a weak aversion to oily foods, but only at remote (no human foods present) sites. This was further supported by behavioural responses, with beak-wiping occurring more often at remote sites after finches tasted flavours associated with human foods. Our results suggest, therefore, that while Darwin's finches regularly exposed to human foods might have acquired a tolerance to human food flavours, latent taste preferences are unlikely to have played a major role in their dietary response to increased urbanization.
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Affiliation(s)
- D. Lever
- Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EJ, UK
| | - L. V. Rush
- Department of Geology, Laurentian University, 935 Ramsey Lake Rd, Sudbury, Ontario P3E 2C6, Canada
| | - R. Thorogood
- Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EJ, UK
- Helsinki Institute of Life Science (HiLIFE), Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki 00014, Finland
- Research Program in Organismal and Evolutionary Biology, Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki 00014, Finland
| | - K. M. Gotanda
- Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EJ, UK
- Départment de Biologie, Université de Sherbrooke, 2500, boul de l'Université, Sherbrooke, Québec J1K 2R1, Canada
- Department of Biological Sciences, Brock University, 1812 Sir Isaac Brock Way, St Catharine's, Ontario L2S 3A1, Canada
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5
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Cabodevilla X, Mougeot F, Bota G, Mañosa S, Cuscó F, Martínez-García J, Arroyo B, Madeira MJ. Metabarcoding insights into the diet and trophic diversity of six declining farmland birds. Sci Rep 2021; 11:21131. [PMID: 34702920 PMCID: PMC8548310 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-00519-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2021] [Accepted: 10/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Knowledge of feeding ecology of declining species, such as farmland birds, is essential to address their conservation requirements, especially when their habitats are suffering important reductions of trophic resources. In this study, we apply a metabarcoding approach to describe the diet composition of six of the most significant farmland birds inhabiting European cereal pseudo-steppes: little bustard, great bustard, pin-tailed sandgrouse, black-bellied sandgrouse, red-legged partridge, and common quail. We further studied seasonal diet variations (autumn to spring) in all species but the common quail, whose diet was studied during spring and summer. We show that study species´ diets mostly consisted of plants, although in the case of little bustard and great bustard arthropods are also highly relevant. Among arthropods, we found high proportions of thrips, arachnids, and springtails, which were previously unreported in their diet, and some taxa that could be used as antiparasitic food. Moreover, we report that little bustard's diet is the least rich of that of all studied species, and that diet of all these species is less diverse in winter than in autumn and spring. Diet composition of these declining species supports the importance of natural and semi-natural vegetation and landscape mosaics that can provide a wide variety of arthropods, plants, and seeds all year-round.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xabier Cabodevilla
- Department of Zoology and Animal Cell Biology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Paseo de la Universidad 7, 01006, Vitoria-Gasteiz, Alava, Spain.
- Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos (IREC) (CSIC-UCLM-JCCM), Ronda de Toledo 12, 13005, Ciudad Real, Spain.
| | - François Mougeot
- Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos (IREC) (CSIC-UCLM-JCCM), Ronda de Toledo 12, 13005, Ciudad Real, Spain
| | - Gerard Bota
- Landscape Dynamics and Biodiversity Programme, Forest Science and Technology Center of Catalonia (CTFC), Solsona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Santi Mañosa
- Departament de Biologia Evolutiva, Ecologia I Ciències Ambientals, Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBio), Universitat de Barcelona, Avinguda Diagonal 643, 08028, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Francesc Cuscó
- Departament de Biologia Evolutiva, Ecologia I Ciències Ambientals, Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBio), Universitat de Barcelona, Avinguda Diagonal 643, 08028, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Julen Martínez-García
- Department of Zoology and Animal Cell Biology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Paseo de la Universidad 7, 01006, Vitoria-Gasteiz, Alava, Spain
| | - Beatriz Arroyo
- Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos (IREC) (CSIC-UCLM-JCCM), Ronda de Toledo 12, 13005, Ciudad Real, Spain
| | - María J Madeira
- Department of Zoology and Animal Cell Biology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Paseo de la Universidad 7, 01006, Vitoria-Gasteiz, Alava, Spain
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6
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Díaz-Navarro M, Bolívar P, Andrés MF, Gómez-Muñoz MT, Martínez-Díaz RA, Valcárcel F, García-París M, Bautista LM, González-Coloma A. Antiparasitic Effects of Potentially Toxic Beetles (Tenebrionidae and Meloidae) from Steppe Zones. Toxins (Basel) 2021; 13:toxins13070489. [PMID: 34357960 PMCID: PMC8310226 DOI: 10.3390/toxins13070489] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2021] [Revised: 07/09/2021] [Accepted: 07/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Arthropods and specifically beetles can synthesize and/or sequester metabolites from dietary sources. In beetle families such as Tenebrionidae and Meloidae, a few studies have reported species with toxic defensive substances and antiparasitic properties that are consumed by birds. Here we have studied the antiparasitic activity of extracts from beetle species present in the habitat of the Great Bustard (Otis tarda) against four pathogen models (Aspergillus niger, Meloidogyne javanica, Hyalomma lusitanicum, and Trichomonas gallinae). The insect species extracted were Tentyria peiroleri, Scaurus uncinus, Blaps lethifera (Tenebrionidae), and Mylabris quadripunctata (Meloidae). M. quadripunctata exhibited potent activity against M. javanica and T. gallinae, while T. peiroleri exhibited moderate antiprotozoal activity. The chemical composition of the insect extracts was studied by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis. The most abundant compounds in the four beetle extracts were hydrocarbons and fatty acids such as palmitic acid, myristic acid and methyl linoleate, which are characteristic of insect cuticles. The presence of cantharidin (CTD) in the M. quadripunctata meloid and ethyl oleate (EO) in T. peiroleri accounted for the bioactivity of their extracts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Díaz-Navarro
- Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, CSIC, José Gutiérrez Abascal 2, 28006 Madrid, Spain; (M.D.-N.); (P.B.); (M.G.-P.); (L.M.B.)
- Instituto de Ciencias Agrarias, CSIC, Serrano 115-dpdo, 28006 Madrid, Spain;
| | - Paula Bolívar
- Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, CSIC, José Gutiérrez Abascal 2, 28006 Madrid, Spain; (M.D.-N.); (P.B.); (M.G.-P.); (L.M.B.)
- Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM), 28040 Madrid, Spain;
| | - María Fe Andrés
- Instituto de Ciencias Agrarias, CSIC, Serrano 115-dpdo, 28006 Madrid, Spain;
| | | | - Rafael A. Martínez-Díaz
- Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (UAM), Arzobispo Morcillo S/N, 28029 Madrid, Spain;
| | - Félix Valcárcel
- Grupo de Parasitología Animal, Departamento de Reproducción Animal, CSIC-INIA, 28040 Madrid, Spain;
| | - Mario García-París
- Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, CSIC, José Gutiérrez Abascal 2, 28006 Madrid, Spain; (M.D.-N.); (P.B.); (M.G.-P.); (L.M.B.)
| | - Luis M. Bautista
- Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, CSIC, José Gutiérrez Abascal 2, 28006 Madrid, Spain; (M.D.-N.); (P.B.); (M.G.-P.); (L.M.B.)
| | - Azucena González-Coloma
- Instituto de Ciencias Agrarias, CSIC, Serrano 115-dpdo, 28006 Madrid, Spain;
- Correspondence:
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7
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Rosas-Ramos N, Rodríguez-Flores PC, García-París M. Proctodeal extrusion as a defensive behavioral response in blister beetles (Coleoptera: Meloidae). Naturwissenschaften 2021; 108:19. [PMID: 33900461 DOI: 10.1007/s00114-021-01728-y] [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: 12/04/2020] [Revised: 03/14/2021] [Accepted: 03/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Defensive mechanisms in blister beetles (Coleoptera: Meloidae) include a wide variety of behavioral responses, chemical defense, and conspicuous external colorations. Although some of these mechanisms have been previously described, proctodeal extrusion, a defensive behavior involving the extrusion of inner abdominal membranes from the proctodeal region which appear intensely red or orange colored when the hemolymph is seen through them, has not been reported to date. Here, we tested the ability to display proctodeal extrusion in response to threat stimuli in wild populations of three blister beetle species inhabiting Central Spain: Berberomeloe majalis (Linnaeus, 1758), Berberomeloe comunero Sánchez-Vialas, García-París, Ruiz & Recuero, 2020, and Physomeloe corallifer (Germar, 1818). In addition, we observed and recorded various other defensive behaviors such as immobility, antennal threat display, autohemorrhage (reflex bleeding), defecation, and thanatosis (death feigning). The frequency at which proctodeal extrusion was observed differed among species, as did the stress intensity needed for extrusion and the probability of proctodeal extrusion in response to a particular threatening stimulus. Our findings indicate that, although proctodeal extrusion might be a widespread potential defensive mechanism in Meloidae, the ability to elicit it is not generalized across lineages. Physomeloe and Berberomeloe are endemic to the semi-arid Mediterranean region, and species adapted to such a climate would have developed strategies that limit hydric stress such as proctodeal extrusion, which mirrors the effect of autohemorrhage but without the fluid loss.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalia Rosas-Ramos
- Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (MNCN-CSIC), Madrid, Spain. .,Departamento de Biología Animal (Área de Zoología), Universidad de Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain.
| | - Paula C Rodríguez-Flores
- Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (MNCN-CSIC), Madrid, Spain.,Centre D'Estudis Avançats de Blanes (CEAB-CSIC), Blanes, Spain
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8
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Jakovac-Strajn B, Brozić D, Tavčar-Kalcher G, Babič J, Trilar T, Vengust M. Entomological Surveillance and Cantharidin Concentrations in Mylabris variabilis and Epicauta rufidorsum Blister Beetles in Slovenia. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:220. [PMID: 33477415 PMCID: PMC7830541 DOI: 10.3390/ani11010220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2020] [Revised: 12/20/2020] [Accepted: 01/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
True blister beetles (genus Epicauta, family Meloidae) produce cantharidin, which can cause toxicosis in humans and animals. Some recent reports suggest that poisoning by the blister beetle has occurred in the Mediterranean part of Slovenia, which has never been reported before. Drought and modern harvesting techniques are thought to increase the likelihood of blister beetle forage contamination and cantharidin intoxication in animals. A survey of fields associated with blister beetle contamination was conducted and the Meloid species present were identified. Entomological surveillance was conducted for Mylabris variabilis and Epicauta rufidorsum. Cantharidin concentrations were also measured in both blister beetle species. Cantharidin concentration in Mylabris variabilis (n = 17) ranged from 0.038 to 0.354 µg/mg (mean 0.151 µg/mg). Cantharidin concentration in Epicauta rufidorsum (n = 36) ranged from 0.055 to 0.341 µg/mg (mean 0.142 µg/mg). Both species exhibited variable concentrations of cantharidin that could not be associated with their biology, sex, age, size, and/or reproductive status. Epicauta rufidorsum have never previously been studied as a possible source of forage contamination, nor have cantharidin concentrations been determined in this species. It is the most likely source of forage contamination due to its abundance in the investigated fields, its swarming activity, and its tendency to reside in the green parts of plants immediately after cutting. Delaying the simultaneous processing and storage of forage after cutting would reduce the likelihood of forage contamination by blister beetles, as they can then retreat to the ground or fly away.
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Affiliation(s)
- Breda Jakovac-Strajn
- Veterinary Faculty, University of Ljubljana, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (B.J.-S.); (G.T.-K.); (J.B.)
| | - Diana Brozić
- Department of Animal Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Heinzelova 55, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia;
| | - Gabrijela Tavčar-Kalcher
- Veterinary Faculty, University of Ljubljana, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (B.J.-S.); (G.T.-K.); (J.B.)
| | - Janja Babič
- Veterinary Faculty, University of Ljubljana, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (B.J.-S.); (G.T.-K.); (J.B.)
| | - Tomi Trilar
- Slovenian Museum of Natural History, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia;
| | - Modest Vengust
- Veterinary Faculty, University of Ljubljana, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (B.J.-S.); (G.T.-K.); (J.B.)
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9
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Liu G, Meng D, Gong M, Li H, Wen W, Wang Y, Zhou J. Effects of Sex and Diet on Gut Microbiota of Farmland-Dependent Wintering Birds. Front Microbiol 2020; 11:587873. [PMID: 33262746 PMCID: PMC7688461 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.587873] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2020] [Accepted: 10/19/2020] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Gut microbiota plays an important role for bird biological and ecological properties, and sex and diet may be important intrinsic and extrinsic factors influencing gut microbial communities. However, sex difference of gut microbiota has been rarely investigated in free-living birds, and it remains unclear how sex and diet interactively affect avian gut microbiota composition and diversity, particularly under natural conditions. Here we used non-invasive molecular sexing technique to sex the fecal samples collected from two wintering sites of Great Bustard, which is the most sexually dimorphic among birds, as well as a typical farmland-dependent wintering bird. High-throughput sequencing of 16S was applied to identify the gut microbiota communities for both sexes under two diets (wheat_corn and rice_peanut). The results showed that 9.74% of common microbiota taxa was shared among four groups (sex vs. diet), revealing the conservatism of gut microbiota. Microbiota diversity, composition and abundance varied on different diets for male and female Great Bustards, suggesting that the gut microbiota was interactively influenced by both sex and diet. Under the wheat_corn diet, females had higher abundances of the phylum Verrucomicrobia than males, but lower Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes compared to males; meanwhile, the microbiota diversity and evenness were higher for males than females. In contrast, under the rice_peanut diet, females were more colonized by the phylum Firmicutes than males, but less by the phylum Bacteroidetes; while males had lower microbiota diversity and evenness than females. This study investigated the impacts of sex and diet on microbiota of Great Bustards, and highlights the need of new studies, perhaps with the same methodology, taking into account bird ages, flock size, breeding or health status, which will contribute to the understanding of ecology and conservation of this vulnerable species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gang Liu
- Research Institute of Wetland, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing, China.,Beijing Key Laboratory of Wetland Services and Restoration, Beijing, China
| | - Derong Meng
- Biology Department of Cangzhou Normal College, Cangzhou, China
| | - Minghao Gong
- Research Institute of Wetland, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing, China.,Beijing Key Laboratory of Wetland Services and Restoration, Beijing, China
| | - Huixin Li
- Research Institute of Wetland, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing, China.,Beijing Key Laboratory of Wetland Services and Restoration, Beijing, China
| | - Wanyu Wen
- Research Institute of Wetland, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing, China.,Beijing Key Laboratory of Wetland Services and Restoration, Beijing, China
| | - Yuhang Wang
- Research Institute of Wetland, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing, China.,Beijing Key Laboratory of Wetland Services and Restoration, Beijing, China
| | - Jingying Zhou
- Tumuji National Nature Reserve, Inner Mongolia, China
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10
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Bravo C, Bautista LM, Ponce C, Alonso JC. Feeding functional responses in a sexually size-dimorphic bird. ACTA OECOLOGICA-INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ECOLOGY 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.actao.2019.103487] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
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11
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Antiparasitic Properties of Cantharidin and the Blister Beetle Berberomeloe majalis (Coleoptera: Meloidae). Toxins (Basel) 2019; 11:toxins11040234. [PMID: 31013660 PMCID: PMC6521026 DOI: 10.3390/toxins11040234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2019] [Revised: 04/16/2019] [Accepted: 04/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Cantharidin (CTD) is a toxic monoterpene produced by blister beetles (Fam. Meloidae) as a chemical defense against predators. Although CTD is highly poisonous to many predator species, some have evolved the ability to feed on poisonous Meloidae, or otherwise beneficially use blister beetles. Great Bustards, Otis tarda, eat CTD-containing Berberomeloe majalis blister beetles, and it has been hypothesized that beetle consumption by these birds reduces parasite load (a case of self-medication). We examined this hypothesis by testing diverse organisms against CTD and extracts of B. majalis hemolymph and bodies. Our results show that all three preparations (CTD and extracts of B. majalis) were toxic to a protozoan (Trichomonas vaginalis), a nematode (Meloidogyne javanica), two insects (Myzus persicae and Rhopalosiphum padi) and a tick (Hyalomma lusitanicum). This not only supports the anti-parasitic hypothesis for beetle consumption, but suggests potential new roles for CTD, under certain conditions.
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Masello JF, Martínez J, Calderón L, Wink M, Quillfeldt P, Sanz V, Theuerkauf J, Ortiz-Catedral L, Berkunsky I, Brunton D, Díaz-Luque JA, Hauber ME, Ojeda V, Barnaud A, Casalins L, Jackson B, Mijares A, Rosales R, Seixas G, Serafini P, Silva-Iturriza A, Sipinski E, Vásquez RA, Widmann P, Widmann I, Merino S. Can the intake of antiparasitic secondary metabolites explain the low prevalence of hemoparasites among wild Psittaciformes? Parasit Vectors 2018; 11:357. [PMID: 29921331 PMCID: PMC6008929 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-018-2940-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2018] [Accepted: 06/06/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Parasites can exert selection pressure on their hosts through effects on survival, on reproductive success, on sexually selected ornament, with important ecological and evolutionary consequences, such as changes in population viability. Consequently, hemoparasites have become the focus of recent avian studies. Infection varies significantly among taxa. Various factors might explain the differences in infection among taxa, including habitat, climate, host density, the presence of vectors, life history and immune defence. Feeding behaviour can also be relevant both through increased exposure to vectors and consumption of secondary metabolites with preventative or therapeutic effects that can reduce parasite load. However, the latter has been little investigated. Psittaciformes (parrots and cockatoos) are a good model to investigate these topics, as they are known to use biological control against ectoparasites and to feed on toxic food. We investigated the presence of avian malaria parasites (Plasmodium), intracellular haemosporidians (Haemoproteus, Leucocytozoon), unicellular flagellate protozoans (Trypanosoma) and microfilariae in 19 Psittaciformes species from a range of habitats in the Indo-Malayan, Australasian and Neotropical regions. We gathered additional data on hemoparasites in wild Psittaciformes from the literature. We considered factors that may control the presence of hemoparasites in the Psittaciformes, compiling information on diet, habitat, and climate. Furthermore, we investigated the role of diet in providing antiparasitic secondary metabolites that could be used as self-medication to reduce parasite load. Results We found hemoparasites in only two of 19 species sampled. Among them, all species that consume at least one food item known for its secondary metabolites with antimalarial, trypanocidal or general antiparasitic properties, were free from hemoparasites. In contrast, the infected parrots do not consume food items with antimalarial or even general antiparasitic properties. We found that the two infected species in this study consumed omnivorous diets. When we combined our data with data from studies previously investigating blood parasites in wild parrots, the positive relationship between omnivorous diets and hemoparasite infestation was confirmed. Individuals from open habitats were less infected than those from forests. Conclusions The consumption of food items known for their secondary metabolites with antimalarial, trypanocidal or general antiparasitic properties, as well as the higher proportion of infected species among omnivorous parrots, could explain the low prevalence of hemoparasites reported in many vertebrates. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s13071-018-2940-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan F Masello
- Department of Animal Ecology and Systematics, Justus-Liebig Universität Gießen, Heinrich-Buff-Ring 26, D-35392, Gießen, Germany.
| | - Javier Martínez
- Departamento de Biomedicina y Biotecnologıía, Area Parasitologıía, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Alcalá (UAH), NII Km 33.600, 28805 Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain
| | - Luciano Calderón
- Department of Animal Ecology and Systematics, Justus-Liebig Universität Gießen, Heinrich-Buff-Ring 26, D-35392, Gießen, Germany
| | - Michael Wink
- Institute of Pharmacy and Molecular Biotechnology, Heidelberg University, INF 364, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Petra Quillfeldt
- Department of Animal Ecology and Systematics, Justus-Liebig Universität Gießen, Heinrich-Buff-Ring 26, D-35392, Gießen, Germany
| | - Virginia Sanz
- Centro de Ecología, Instituto Venezolano de Investigaciones Científicas, Altos de Pipe, Venezuela
| | - Jörn Theuerkauf
- Museum and Institute of Zoology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Wilcza 64, 00-679, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Luis Ortiz-Catedral
- Institute of Natural and Mathematical Sciences, Massey University, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Igor Berkunsky
- Instituto Multidisciplinario sobre Ecosistemas y Desarrollo Sustentable, Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires, Tandil, Argentina
| | - Dianne Brunton
- Institute of Natural and Mathematical Sciences, Massey University, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - José A Díaz-Luque
- Fundación para la Investigación y la Conservación de los Loros en Bolivia (CLB), Avenida Francisco Mora, Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia.,Centro de Conservación de Loros Silvestres (CREA), Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia
| | - Mark E Hauber
- Department of Animal Biology, School of Integrative Biology, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, IL, 61801, USA
| | - Valeria Ojeda
- ZoologyDepartment (CRUB-UNCo), INIBIOMA (Universidad Nacional del Comahue-CONICET), 8400, Bariloche, Argentina
| | - Antoine Barnaud
- Province des Iles Loyauté, Direction du Développement Economique, BP 50 98820, Wé, Lifou, New Caledonia
| | - Laura Casalins
- ZoologyDepartment (CRUB-UNCo), INIBIOMA (Universidad Nacional del Comahue-CONICET), 8400, Bariloche, Argentina
| | - Bethany Jackson
- Auckland Zoological Park, Motions Road, Western Springs, Auckland, 1022, New Zealand.,School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Alfredo Mijares
- Centro de Bioquímica y Biofísica, Instituto Venezolano de Investigaciones Científicas, Altos de Pipe, Venezuela
| | - Romel Rosales
- Centro de Bioquímica y Biofísica, Instituto Venezolano de Investigaciones Científicas, Altos de Pipe, Venezuela
| | - Gláucia Seixas
- Projeto Papagaio-verdadeiro, Fundação Neotropica do Brasil, Campo Grande, Brazil
| | - Patricia Serafini
- Base Multifuncional do CEMAVE em Florianópolis/SC, Estação Ecológica Carijós - ICMBio, Florianópolis, Brazil
| | - Adriana Silva-Iturriza
- Centro de Bioquímica y Biofísica, Instituto Venezolano de Investigaciones Científicas, Altos de Pipe, Venezuela
| | - Elenise Sipinski
- Projeto de Conservação do papagaio-de-cara-roxa, SPVS - Sociedade de Pesquisa em Vida Selvagem e Educação Ambiental, Curitiba, Brazil
| | - Rodrigo A Vásquez
- Institute of Ecology and Biodiversity, Departamento de Ciencias Ecológicas, Facultad de Ciencias Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Peter Widmann
- Katala Foundation, Inc., Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, Philippines
| | - Indira Widmann
- Katala Foundation, Inc., Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, Philippines
| | - Santiago Merino
- Departamento de Ecología Evolutiva, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, 28006, Madrid, Spain
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Buck JC, Weinstein SB, Young HS. Ecological and Evolutionary Consequences of Parasite Avoidance. Trends Ecol Evol 2018; 33:619-632. [PMID: 29807838 DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2018.05.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2018] [Revised: 05/01/2018] [Accepted: 05/03/2018] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Predators often cause prey to adopt defensive strategies that reduce predation risk. The 'ecology of fear' examines these trait changes and their consequences. Similarly, parasites can cause hosts to adopt defensive strategies that reduce infection risk. However the ecological and evolutionary consequences of these behaviors (the 'ecology of disgust') are seldom considered. Here we identify direct and indirect effects of parasite avoidance on hosts and parasites, and examine differences between predators and parasites in terms of cost, detectability, and aggregation. We suggest that the nonconsumptive effects of parasites might overshadow their consumptive effects, as has been shown for predators. We emphasize the value of uniting predator-prey and parasite-host theory under a general consumer-resource framework.
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Affiliation(s)
- J C Buck
- Ecology, Evolution and Marine Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, USA; Department of Biology and Marine Biology, University of North Carolina Wilmington, Wilmington, NC, USA.
| | - S B Weinstein
- Department of Biology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Center for Conservation Genomics, Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, National Zoological Park, Washington, DC 20008, USA
| | - H S Young
- Ecology, Evolution and Marine Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, USA
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Coogan SCP, Raubenheimer D, Zantis SP, Machovsky‐Capuska GE. Multidimensional nutritional ecology and urban birds. Ecosphere 2018. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.2177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Sean C. P. Coogan
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences and the Charles Perkins Centre University of Sydney Sydney NSW 2006 Australia
- Department of Renewable Resources University of Alberta Edmonton Alberta T6G 2H1 Canada
| | - David Raubenheimer
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences and the Charles Perkins Centre University of Sydney Sydney NSW 2006 Australia
| | - Simon P. Zantis
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences and the Charles Perkins Centre University of Sydney Sydney NSW 2006 Australia
| | - Gabriel E. Machovsky‐Capuska
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences and the Charles Perkins Centre University of Sydney Sydney NSW 2006 Australia
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Bravo C, Mas-Peinado P, Bautista LM, Blanco G, Alonso JC, García-París M. Cantharidin is conserved across phylogeographic lineages and present in both morphs of Iberian Berberomeloe blister beetles (Coleoptera, Meloidae). Zool J Linn Soc 2017. [DOI: 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlw016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
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