This paper reviews the historical application,primary species,and efficacy of predatory ants in pest management,and systematically elucidates their core mechanisms,including direct predation,non-lethal deterrence,and ...This paper reviews the historical application,primary species,and efficacy of predatory ants in pest management,and systematically elucidates their core mechanisms,including direct predation,non-lethal deterrence,and ecological regulation,as well as two application models:forest land introduction and farmland conservation.Meanwhile,the negative impacts on other arthropods,population diffusion,and management challenges in current applications are analyzed.Future research directions,such as precise assessment and risk control,integrated pest management(IPM)strategies integrating multiple technologies,and applications of molecular ecology,are clarified.The aim is to provide a reference for the in-depth research,promotion,and application of this type of natural enemy insect in sustainable IPM of agriculture and forestry.展开更多
A 2-yr field study was conducted to assess the effects of transgenic japonica rice（KMD1 and KMD2） with a synthetic cry1 Ab gene from Bacillus thuingiensis Berliner on population dynamics and seasonal average densiti...A 2-yr field study was conducted to assess the effects of transgenic japonica rice（KMD1 and KMD2） with a synthetic cry1 Ab gene from Bacillus thuingiensis Berliner on population dynamics and seasonal average densities of five thrips species including Stenchaetothrips biformis（Bagnall）,Frankliniella intonsa（Trybom）,F.tenuicornis（Uzel）,Haplothrips aculeatus（Fabricius）,Haplothrips tritici（Kurd） and their general predatory flower bug,Orius similis Zheng as compared to the parental control rice line using the white,blue and yellow sticky card traps.Population dynamics and seasonal average densities of these five thrips species and their general predatory flower bug were not significantly affected by rice type.Additionally,the white sticky card trap was suggested to be the most suitable for monitoring the population of these five thrips species and their general predator.These results show that our tested Bt rice lines do not interrupt the population of non-target thrips species and their general predatory flower bug in the field,and also cannot result in more occurrence of these thrips species in the rice ecosystem.展开更多
Distinction of predator＇s diet and prey choice preference is a hot topic of current investigations. Spider being generalist predator and cosmopoliter in nature acts as biological control agent in many agro-ecosystems...Distinction of predator＇s diet and prey choice preference is a hot topic of current investigations. Spider being generalist predator and cosmopoliter in nature acts as biological control agent in many agro-ecosystems. In the current study, predatory efficacy of five spiders （Pardosa birmanica, Cyclosa insulana, Thomisus projectus, Plexippus paykulli and Lycosa terrestris） inhabiting the cotton fieldevaluated in the laboratory conditions maintained at （27＋2）℃ temperature, 65%-5% relative humidity and 12 ： 12 h of light and dark photoperiod. Four key cotton pests＇ viz. Bemisiatabaci, Amrascaderastans Thripstabaci and Helicoverpa armigera were utilized in the choice and no-choice predatory studies. The findings of current investigation revealed that each predatory spider utilized at least one pest species. Predation rate was found higher in the no-choice predation because of unavailability of substitutes feeding source. The investigation also indicated each predatory spider killed more pests than consumed. The findings of this study support the predatory role of spiders in controlling the cotton major pests.展开更多
In this paper the nature of predatory pricing is analyzed with genetic algorithms. It is found that, even under the same payoff structure, the results of the coevolution of weak monopolists and entrants are sensitive ...In this paper the nature of predatory pricing is analyzed with genetic algorithms. It is found that, even under the same payoff structure, the results of the coevolution of weak monopolists and entrants are sensitive to the representationof the decisionmaking process. Two representations are studied in this paper. One is the actionbased representation and the other the strategybased representation. The former is to represent a naive mind and the latter is to capture a sophisticated mind. For the actionbased representation, the convergence results are easily obtained and predatory pricing is only temporary in all simulations. However, for the strategybased representation, predatory pricing is not a rare phenomenon and its appearance is cyclical but not regular. Therefore, the snowball effect of a little craziness observed in the experimental game theory wins its support from this representation. Furthermore, the nature of predatory pricing has something to do with the evolution of the sophisticated rather than the naive minds.展开更多
Pine wilt is a serious and fatal disease in pine forests. It is caused by the pine wood nematode, Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, transmitted by the Japanese saw beetle Monochamus alternatus. Control of this disease depen...Pine wilt is a serious and fatal disease in pine forests. It is caused by the pine wood nematode, Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, transmitted by the Japanese saw beetle Monochamus alternatus. Control of this disease depends on reducing its vector population. The public is demanding environmentally friendly control methods and biological control has become increasingly seen as an impor-tant, safe and effective approach. Through our investigations both in the field and by breeding in our laboratory, a new predator of M. alternatus, Tetrigus lewisi （Coleoptera： Elateridae）, was found for the first time in China. Given our continuous observations, we are assured that the predatory behavior of the elater can be separated into four parts, i.e., foraging and sensing, killing, eating and excre-tion. They always took several hours to eat the preys that have been killed momentarily. We finally found that most of the elaters preferably attacked in the stomach and abdomen of the larva of M. alternatus.展开更多
Many species have been drastically affected by rapid urbanization.Harris' s hawks from their natural habitat of open spaces and a supply of rodents,lizards and other small prey have been forced to change their nat...Many species have been drastically affected by rapid urbanization.Harris' s hawks from their natural habitat of open spaces and a supply of rodents,lizards and other small prey have been forced to change their natural environment adapting to living in open spaces in sub-and periurban areas.Specific areas include playgrounds,parks and school courtyards.The migration of this predatory species into these areas poses a risk to individuals,and especially the children are often attacked by claws,talons and beaks intentionally or as collateral damage while attacking rodent prey.In addition,the diverse micro-organisms harbored in the beaks and talons can result in wound infections,presenting a challenge to clinical management.Here we would like to present a case of an 80-year-old man with cellulitis of bom hands after sustaining minor injuries from the talons of a Harris s hawk and review the management options.We would also like to draw attention to the matter that,even though previously a rarity,more cases of injuries caused by birds of prey may be seen in hospital settings.展开更多
Predatory hunting is an important type of innate behavior evolutionarily conserved across the animal king-dom.It is typically composed of a set of sequential actions,including prey search,pursuit,attack,and consumptio...Predatory hunting is an important type of innate behavior evolutionarily conserved across the animal king-dom.It is typically composed of a set of sequential actions,including prey search,pursuit,attack,and consumption.This behavior is subject to control by the nervous system.Early studies used toads as a model to probe the neuroethology of hunting,which led to the proposal of a sensory-triggered release mechanism for hunting actions.More recent stud-ies have used genetically-trackable zebrafish and rodents and have made breakthrough discoveries in the neuroethol-ogy and neurocircuits underlying this behavior.Here,we review the sophisticated neurocircuitry involved in hunting and summarize the detailed mechanism for the circuitry to encode various aspects of hunting neuroethology,including sensory processing,sensorimotor transformation,motivation,and sequential encoding of hunting actions.We also discuss the overlapping brain circuits for hunting and feeding and point out the limitations of current studies.We propose that hunting is an ideal behavioral paradigm in which to study the neuroethology of motivated behaviors,which may shed new light on epidemic disorders,including bingeeating,obesity,and obsessive-compulsive disorders.展开更多
This paper develops a game-theory model for predatory pricing via in-depth analyses of three case studies:Brooke Group Ltd.v.Brown&Williamson Tobacco Corp.,Matsushita Electric Industries Co.v.Zenith Radio Corporat...This paper develops a game-theory model for predatory pricing via in-depth analyses of three case studies:Brooke Group Ltd.v.Brown&Williamson Tobacco Corp.,Matsushita Electric Industries Co.v.Zenith Radio Corporation,and AKZO Chemie BV v.Commission of the European Communities.This model is based on subsequent action game theory models and rational economics behavior,offering a chronological outline of the“predation”stages.It presents the predator’s decisions,the prey’s potential responses,possible loops,and the two distinctive outcomes.The analysis of the model in context of the three case studies demonstrates its practicality in assessing real-life predatory pricing scenarios and players’strategies.It’s flexibility also allows applications in related fields.Overall,this paper offers a comprehensive framework that bridges the gap between law,economics,and game theory in the study of predatory pricing,informing future research in this area.展开更多
Piscicidal effects of several solvent extarcts(distilled water,50%ethanol,absolute ethanol and 80%methanol)of Terminalia arjuna leaves,barks and fruits were studied against a common fresh water predatory fish,Heteropn...Piscicidal effects of several solvent extarcts(distilled water,50%ethanol,absolute ethanol and 80%methanol)of Terminalia arjuna leaves,barks and fruits were studied against a common fresh water predatory fish,Heteropneustes fossilis under laboratory conditions in terms of Behavior and mortality of fishes after 24 h.Fishes exposed to plant extracts showed agitating movement with quick surfacing,loss of balance,mucus secretion,and finally died.The LC50 values of distilled water,50%ethanol,absolute ethanol and 80%methanol extracts were found to be 311.726,236.141,183.541,478.794 ppm for leaves,117.894,96.998,38.990,304.193 ppm for barks and 1400.033,949.209,555.201,875.158 ppm for fruits,respectively.Chi-square values were found to be insignificant at P<0.05 in almost all plant extracts,indicating that observed and expected mortalities did not vary significantly in relation to doses,except 80%methanol extract of barks and absolute ethanol extract of fruits.The F-values of treatments were significant at P<0.01,except 80%methanol extract of fruits,in which F-values were insignificant in all replicates at P>0.01.Based on LC50 values,order of piscicidal activity followed the pattern,bark>leaf>fruit extracts.Order of piscicidal activity for the extracts was like absolute ethanol>50%ethanol>distilled water>80%methanol for leaf and bark,while for fruit extracts,trend was like absolute ethanol>80%methanol>50%ethanol>distilled water.展开更多
Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria(PGPR)have been widely used for the promotion of plant performance.Predatory protists can influence the taxonomic and functional composition of rhizosphere bacteria.However,research...Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria(PGPR)have been widely used for the promotion of plant performance.Predatory protists can influence the taxonomic and functional composition of rhizosphere bacteria.However,research on the impact of the interaction between protist and PGPR on plant performance remains at a very early stage.Here,we examined the impacts of individual inoculation of protist(Colpoda inflata,Dimastigella trypaniformis,or Vermamoeba vermiformis)or the PGPR strain Bacillus velezensis SQR9 as well as the co-inoculation of the protist C.inflata and B.velezensis SQR9 on the growth of tomato plants.We found that all individual protists and Bacillus could promote plant growth compared to the control with no microbe inoculation,with the co-inoculation of C.inflata and B.velezensis SQR9 achieving the greatest performance,including plant height,fresh weight,and dry weight.Different protists harbored distinct rhizosphere bacterial communities,with the co-inoculation of protist and Bacillus resulting in the lowest bacterial diversity and driving significant changes in community structure and composition,particularly by increasing the relative abundance of Proteobacteria.Random forest model highlighted Cellvibrio as the most important bacterial predictor of plant growth,which was enriched after protist inoculation,especially after the mixed inoculation of protist and Bacillus.We further found that bacterial functional genes of nitrogen metabolism were the key determinants of plant growth.These results indicate that the interaction between protists and Bacillus can support plant growth by reshaping rhizosphere bacterial community composition and function.Understanding the interaction mechanisms between protist and PGPR is crucial for their effective utilization in sustainable agriculture.展开更多
[Objective] This study was conducted to explore the predation of Pardosa pseudoannulata and Pirata procurva_ on Plutela xylostela larvae. [Method] The quantities of P. xylostela larvae predated by the two spider speci...[Objective] This study was conducted to explore the predation of Pardosa pseudoannulata and Pirata procurva_ on Plutela xylostela larvae. [Method] The quantities of P. xylostela larvae predated by the two spider species at different temperatures and the quantities of P. xylostela larvae predated by P. pseudoannula-ta_in different volumes were analyzed. Based on three factors at five levels, the quadratic general regression rotation combination design was used to study the combined control effect of the two spider species on P. xylostela_larvae and the control effect of P. pseudoannulata on the larvae of P. xylostela and Spodoptera litura. [Result] The quantities of P. xylostela_ larvae predated by the two spider species increased first and then decreased with the increase of temperature, and the functional predation response of P. pseudoannulata and P. procurva_ on the fourth instar larvae of P. xylostela_fitted the Hol ing-Ⅱ model, and the Hol ing-Ⅲmodel could perfect the evaluation on the predation effect. Volume had great effect on the feeding of P. pseudoannulata. lnstantaneous attack ability （a’）, the time to handle one prey （Th） and predation function （a’/Th） in a smal er volume were al higher than that in a larger volume. The predation of the two spider species on P. xylostela_larvae was positively correlated with their densities. The overal effect of the three factors was： the density of P. xylostela＆gt;the density of P. procurva＆gt;the density of P. pseudoannulata. The densities of P. xylostela and S. litura larvae could affect the feeding amount of P. pseudoannulata. But there was no predation preference for P. pseudoannulata on the larvae of P. xylostela and S. litura. [Con-clusion] The results wil provide a reference for the evaluation of control effect of_P. xylostela_by P. pseudoannulata_and P. procurva in the field.展开更多
Phytoseiulus persimilis is an important biological control agent, commercially produced worldwide. To increase understandings of its reproduction, herein we provided quantitative descriptions of the inflation and defl...Phytoseiulus persimilis is an important biological control agent, commercially produced worldwide. To increase understandings of its reproduction, herein we provided quantitative descriptions of the inflation and deflation of its spermathecae as a function of time and copulation duration, and the quantitative impact of copulation termination on volume of spermatheca vesicle, fecundity, and offspring sex ratio. After mating started, at least one spermatheca started to inflate immediately, but no egg was produced until spermatheca volume reached 1 021 μm3. Beyond this size, cumulative fecundity was linearly correlated with vesicle volume. Producing one egg required 36 μm3 volume increase of the vesicle. Each spermatheca vesicle reached its peak size at the end of mating duration(ca. 2.38 h after mating started), and started to shrink immediately. In 24 h, ca. 71% individuals had one completely shriveled spermatheca, while in 72 h all individuals had at least one shriveled spermatheca. The estimated maximum cumulative fecundity per female after a single mating is(69.4±7.7) eggs. No significant impact of mating termination on offspring sex ratio was observed after mating duration reached 60 min, while higher proportion of male offspring was observed when mating duration is 15 or 30 min. This study is the first step to investigate possible male impact on offspring sex ratio in P. persimilis. Our results suggested the number of sperms received during mating be a restriction factor of P. persimilis offspring sex ratio regulation.展开更多
Highly precise and reliable determination of heavy metals in soil micro-arthropod tissues remains a challenge because of the small size of the animals and their typical low abundance in metal-contaminated agricultural...Highly precise and reliable determination of heavy metals in soil micro-arthropod tissues remains a challenge because of the small size of the animals and their typical low abundance in metal-contaminated agricultural soils. The present study sought to develop a method for cadmium （Cd） determination in soil micro-arthropods by optimizing the sample digestion procedure, reducing sample weight, modifying sample pre-treatment and validating the methodology with field samples. The optimized digestion conditions comprised a sample mass of 50-150 μg, digestion reagent of nitric acid：hydrogen peroxide （3：1）, digestion temperature of 105 ℃, digestion period of 3 h and digestion volume of 30 μL. Defecation of the standard Collembola Folsomia candida （92 h） and the indigenous Collembola Onychiurus yodai （42 h） and ultrasonic cleaning of F. candida increased the accuracy of Cd determination. The recovery of Cd using the refined procedure was 98.9% and the limits of detection and quantification were 0.002 and 0.008 μg L-1, respectively. The within-batch precision values were 〈 3%. The Cd concentrations in the tissues of the Collembola Isotorna sp. collected from a range of metal-contaminated fields determined by the improved method were consistent with the Cd concentrations in the field soils. The results indicate that the optimized method can be used for more accurate or reliable determination of Cd concentrations in soil micro-arthropod tissues.展开更多
Brain asymmetry for processing visual information is widespread in animals.However,it is still unknown how the complexity of the underlying neural network activities represents this asymmetrical pattern in the brain.I...Brain asymmetry for processing visual information is widespread in animals.However,it is still unknown how the complexity of the underlying neural network activities represents this asymmetrical pattern in the brain.In the present study,we investigated this complexity using the approximate entropy(ApEn)protocol for electroencephalogram(EEG)recordings from the forebrain and midbrain while the music frogs(Nidirana daunchina)attacked prey stimulus.The results showed that(1)more significant prey responses were evoked by the prey stimulus presented in the right visual field than that in the left visual field,consistent with the idea that right-eye preferences for predatory behaviors exist in animals including anurans;(2)in general,the ApEn value of the left hemisphere(especially the left mesencephalon)was greatest under various stimulus conditions,suggesting that visual lateralization could be reflected by the dynamics of underlying neural network activities and that the stable left-hemisphere dominance of EEG ApEn may play an important role in maintaining this brain asymmetry.展开更多
In the view of the disadvantages of complex method (CM) and electromagnetism-like algorithm (EM), complex electromagnetism-like hybrid algorithm (CEM) was proposed by embedding complex method into electromagnetism-lik...In the view of the disadvantages of complex method (CM) and electromagnetism-like algorithm (EM), complex electromagnetism-like hybrid algorithm (CEM) was proposed by embedding complex method into electromagnetism-like algorithm as local optimization algorithm. CEM was adopted to search the minimum safety factor in slope stability analysis and the results show that CEM holds advantages over EM and CM. It combines the merits of two and is more stable and efficient. For further improvement, two CEM hybrid algorithms based on predatory search (PS) strategies were proposed, both of which consist of modified algorithms and the search area of which is dynamically adjusted by changing restriction. The CEM-PS1 adopts theoretical framework of original predatory search strategy. The CEM-PS2 employs the idea of area-restricted search learned from predatory search strategy, but the algorithm structure is simpler. Both the CEM-PS1 and CEM-PS2 have been demonstrated more effective and efficient than the others. As for complex method which locates in hybrid algorithm, the optimization can be achieved at a convergence precision of 1×10-3, which is recommended to use.展开更多
The predatory mite, Phytoseius plumifer （Canestrini ＆ Fanzago）, is one of the most abundant natural enemies and efficient predator of phytophagous mites in Iran. The miticides hexythiazox （Nisorun, EC 10%）, fenpy...The predatory mite, Phytoseius plumifer （Canestrini ＆ Fanzago）, is one of the most abundant natural enemies and efficient predator of phytophagous mites in Iran. The miticides hexythiazox （Nisorun, EC 10%）, fenpyroximate （Ortus, SC 5%）, and abamectin （Vertimec, EC 1.8%） were tested in the laboratory for their side effects on P. plumifer. The miticides were applied at the highest field recommended concentration （N） to detached leaves using a Potter Tower to deposit 2 mg spray solution per cm2. Percent predator mortality was evaluated from the protonymph up to the adult stage including the first five days of the oviposition period. Analysis of data showed that the total effect values of hexythiazox were below the lower threshold, and thus it could be considered to be a harmless miticide to P. plumifer. In contrast, the total effects of fenpyroximate and abamectin were found harmful to the predatory mite at the highest field recommended concentrations.展开更多
Purpose:This article explores the implications of publication requirements for the research output of Ukrainian academics in Scopus in 1999-2019.As such it contributes to the existing body of knowledge on quantitative...Purpose:This article explores the implications of publication requirements for the research output of Ukrainian academics in Scopus in 1999-2019.As such it contributes to the existing body of knowledge on quantitative and qualitative effects of research evaluation policies.Design/methodology/approach:Three metrics were chosen to analyse the implications of publication requirements for the quality of research output:publications in predatory journals,publications in local journals and publications per SNIP quartile from the disciplinary perspective.Findings:Study results highlight,that,firstly,publications of Ukrainian authors in predatory journals rose to 1%in 2019.Secondly,the share of publications in local journals reached the peak of 47.3%in 2015.In 2019 it fell to 31.8%.Thirdly,though the total number of publications has risen dramatically since 2011,but the share of Q3+Q4 has exceeded the share of Q1+Q2.To summarise,the study findings highligh,that research evaluation policies are required to contain not only quantitative but also qualitative criteria.Research limitation:The study does not explore in detail the effects of a particular type of publication requirements.Practical implications:The findings of the study have practical implications for policymakers and university managers aimed to develop research evaluation policies.Originality/value:This paper gains insights into the effects of publication requirements on the research output of Ukrainian academics in Scopus.展开更多
The genus Neoseiulus Hughes,1948 is one of the largest genera in Phytoseiidae and contains more than 364 valid species in the world.In this paper,a new species N.setarius Ma,Meng&Fan,sp.nov.is described based on b...The genus Neoseiulus Hughes,1948 is one of the largest genera in Phytoseiidae and contains more than 364 valid species in the world.In this paper,a new species N.setarius Ma,Meng&Fan,sp.nov.is described based on both adult female and male specimens collected from Setaria viridis(L.)Beauv.(Gramineae),in Inner Mongolia of China.The adult females of the new species are characterized by having a fully reticulated dorsal shield,barbed Z5,bellshaped spermathecal calyx with a short basal stalk.Furthermore,seta R1 is off dorsal idiosomal shield in adult males.展开更多
Edaphic biota significantly affects several essential ecological functions such as C-storage, nutrient turnover, and productivity.However, it is not completely understood how belowground animal contribution to these f...Edaphic biota significantly affects several essential ecological functions such as C-storage, nutrient turnover, and productivity.However, it is not completely understood how belowground animal contribution to these functions changes in grasslands subject to different land use types. A microcosm experiment was carried out to test the effect of a tritrophic food chain on CO_2 release from grassland soils. Soil was collected from three differently managed grassland systems(meadow, pasture, and mown pasture) located in three distinct German regions that cover a north-south gradient of approximately 500 km. The tritrophic food chain comprised natural edaphic microflora, nematodes, and predatory gamasid mites. The experimental design involved a full factorial combination of the presence and absence of nematodes and gamasid mites. Nematodes significantly increased the CO_2 emissions in most treatments,but the extent of this effect varied with land use type. The fact that grazing by nematodes stimulated the metabolic activity of the edaphic microflora over a wide range of grassland soils highlighted the critical impact of the microfauna on ecosystem services associated with soil organic matter dynamics. Gamasids slightly amplified the effect of nematodes on microbial metabolic activity,but only in the pastures. This effect was most probably due to the control of nematode abundance. The fact that gamasid addition also augmented the impact of environmental conditions on nematode-induced modulation of soil respiration highlighted the need for including land use differences while evaluating soil fauna contribution to soil processes. To conclude, the differential response of the investigated tritrophic food chain to different grassland management systems suggests that adverse effects of land use intensification on important soil processes such as atmospheric C-release could potentially be reduced by using management methods that preserve essential features of the belowground food web.展开更多
基金Supported by National Innovation and Entrepreneurship Training Program for College Students(202410580010)Key Projects of the Second Round Project of High-quality Development in Hundred Counties,Thousands Towns and Ten Thousand Villages for Rural Science and Technology Special Commissioners Dispatched by the Guangdong Provincial Department of Science and Technology(KTP20240684)+1 种基金the 2025 Science and Technology Innovation Guidance Project of Zhaoqing(241223100090425)Doctoral Scientific Research Initiation Fund Project of Zhaoqing University(611/230009).
文摘This paper reviews the historical application,primary species,and efficacy of predatory ants in pest management,and systematically elucidates their core mechanisms,including direct predation,non-lethal deterrence,and ecological regulation,as well as two application models:forest land introduction and farmland conservation.Meanwhile,the negative impacts on other arthropods,population diffusion,and management challenges in current applications are analyzed.Future research directions,such as precise assessment and risk control,integrated pest management(IPM)strategies integrating multiple technologies,and applications of molecular ecology,are clarified.The aim is to provide a reference for the in-depth research,promotion,and application of this type of natural enemy insect in sustainable IPM of agriculture and forestry.
基金Financial supports were provided from the Special Research Projects for Developing Transgenic Plants,China(2013ZX08011-001)the China National Science Fund for Innovative Research Groups of Biological Control(31021003)the National 973 Program of China(2007CB109202)
文摘A 2-yr field study was conducted to assess the effects of transgenic japonica rice（KMD1 and KMD2） with a synthetic cry1 Ab gene from Bacillus thuingiensis Berliner on population dynamics and seasonal average densities of five thrips species including Stenchaetothrips biformis（Bagnall）,Frankliniella intonsa（Trybom）,F.tenuicornis（Uzel）,Haplothrips aculeatus（Fabricius）,Haplothrips tritici（Kurd） and their general predatory flower bug,Orius similis Zheng as compared to the parental control rice line using the white,blue and yellow sticky card traps.Population dynamics and seasonal average densities of these five thrips species and their general predatory flower bug were not significantly affected by rice type.Additionally,the white sticky card trap was suggested to be the most suitable for monitoring the population of these five thrips species and their general predator.These results show that our tested Bt rice lines do not interrupt the population of non-target thrips species and their general predatory flower bug in the field,and also cannot result in more occurrence of these thrips species in the rice ecosystem.
文摘Distinction of predator＇s diet and prey choice preference is a hot topic of current investigations. Spider being generalist predator and cosmopoliter in nature acts as biological control agent in many agro-ecosystems. In the current study, predatory efficacy of five spiders （Pardosa birmanica, Cyclosa insulana, Thomisus projectus, Plexippus paykulli and Lycosa terrestris） inhabiting the cotton fieldevaluated in the laboratory conditions maintained at （27＋2）℃ temperature, 65%-5% relative humidity and 12 ： 12 h of light and dark photoperiod. Four key cotton pests＇ viz. Bemisiatabaci, Amrascaderastans Thripstabaci and Helicoverpa armigera were utilized in the choice and no-choice predatory studies. The findings of current investigation revealed that each predatory spider utilized at least one pest species. Predation rate was found higher in the no-choice predation because of unavailability of substitutes feeding source. The investigation also indicated each predatory spider killed more pests than consumed. The findings of this study support the predatory role of spiders in controlling the cotton major pests.
文摘In this paper the nature of predatory pricing is analyzed with genetic algorithms. It is found that, even under the same payoff structure, the results of the coevolution of weak monopolists and entrants are sensitive to the representationof the decisionmaking process. Two representations are studied in this paper. One is the actionbased representation and the other the strategybased representation. The former is to represent a naive mind and the latter is to capture a sophisticated mind. For the actionbased representation, the convergence results are easily obtained and predatory pricing is only temporary in all simulations. However, for the strategybased representation, predatory pricing is not a rare phenomenon and its appearance is cyclical but not regular. Therefore, the snowball effect of a little craziness observed in the experimental game theory wins its support from this representation. Furthermore, the nature of predatory pricing has something to do with the evolution of the sophisticated rather than the naive minds.
文摘Pine wilt is a serious and fatal disease in pine forests. It is caused by the pine wood nematode, Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, transmitted by the Japanese saw beetle Monochamus alternatus. Control of this disease depends on reducing its vector population. The public is demanding environmentally friendly control methods and biological control has become increasingly seen as an impor-tant, safe and effective approach. Through our investigations both in the field and by breeding in our laboratory, a new predator of M. alternatus, Tetrigus lewisi （Coleoptera： Elateridae）, was found for the first time in China. Given our continuous observations, we are assured that the predatory behavior of the elater can be separated into four parts, i.e., foraging and sensing, killing, eating and excre-tion. They always took several hours to eat the preys that have been killed momentarily. We finally found that most of the elaters preferably attacked in the stomach and abdomen of the larva of M. alternatus.
文摘Many species have been drastically affected by rapid urbanization.Harris' s hawks from their natural habitat of open spaces and a supply of rodents,lizards and other small prey have been forced to change their natural environment adapting to living in open spaces in sub-and periurban areas.Specific areas include playgrounds,parks and school courtyards.The migration of this predatory species into these areas poses a risk to individuals,and especially the children are often attacked by claws,talons and beaks intentionally or as collateral damage while attacking rodent prey.In addition,the diverse micro-organisms harbored in the beaks and talons can result in wound infections,presenting a challenge to clinical management.Here we would like to present a case of an 80-year-old man with cellulitis of bom hands after sustaining minor injuries from the talons of a Harris s hawk and review the management options.We would also like to draw attention to the matter that,even though previously a rarity,more cases of injuries caused by birds of prey may be seen in hospital settings.
文摘Predatory hunting is an important type of innate behavior evolutionarily conserved across the animal king-dom.It is typically composed of a set of sequential actions,including prey search,pursuit,attack,and consumption.This behavior is subject to control by the nervous system.Early studies used toads as a model to probe the neuroethology of hunting,which led to the proposal of a sensory-triggered release mechanism for hunting actions.More recent stud-ies have used genetically-trackable zebrafish and rodents and have made breakthrough discoveries in the neuroethol-ogy and neurocircuits underlying this behavior.Here,we review the sophisticated neurocircuitry involved in hunting and summarize the detailed mechanism for the circuitry to encode various aspects of hunting neuroethology,including sensory processing,sensorimotor transformation,motivation,and sequential encoding of hunting actions.We also discuss the overlapping brain circuits for hunting and feeding and point out the limitations of current studies.We propose that hunting is an ideal behavioral paradigm in which to study the neuroethology of motivated behaviors,which may shed new light on epidemic disorders,including bingeeating,obesity,and obsessive-compulsive disorders.
文摘This paper develops a game-theory model for predatory pricing via in-depth analyses of three case studies:Brooke Group Ltd.v.Brown&Williamson Tobacco Corp.,Matsushita Electric Industries Co.v.Zenith Radio Corporation,and AKZO Chemie BV v.Commission of the European Communities.This model is based on subsequent action game theory models and rational economics behavior,offering a chronological outline of the“predation”stages.It presents the predator’s decisions,the prey’s potential responses,possible loops,and the two distinctive outcomes.The analysis of the model in context of the three case studies demonstrates its practicality in assessing real-life predatory pricing scenarios and players’strategies.It’s flexibility also allows applications in related fields.Overall,this paper offers a comprehensive framework that bridges the gap between law,economics,and game theory in the study of predatory pricing,informing future research in this area.
基金We acknowledge funding supports of the National Key R&D Program of China(Grant No.2017YFC1600806)National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.31972042,31950410550 and 31571806)+1 种基金China Postdoctoral Science Foundation(Grant Nos.2019T120402 and 2017M621657)High-level talents project of Six Talent Peaks in Jiangsu Province of China(Grant No.SWYY-018).
文摘Piscicidal effects of several solvent extarcts(distilled water,50%ethanol,absolute ethanol and 80%methanol)of Terminalia arjuna leaves,barks and fruits were studied against a common fresh water predatory fish,Heteropneustes fossilis under laboratory conditions in terms of Behavior and mortality of fishes after 24 h.Fishes exposed to plant extracts showed agitating movement with quick surfacing,loss of balance,mucus secretion,and finally died.The LC50 values of distilled water,50%ethanol,absolute ethanol and 80%methanol extracts were found to be 311.726,236.141,183.541,478.794 ppm for leaves,117.894,96.998,38.990,304.193 ppm for barks and 1400.033,949.209,555.201,875.158 ppm for fruits,respectively.Chi-square values were found to be insignificant at P<0.05 in almost all plant extracts,indicating that observed and expected mortalities did not vary significantly in relation to doses,except 80%methanol extract of barks and absolute ethanol extract of fruits.The F-values of treatments were significant at P<0.01,except 80%methanol extract of fruits,in which F-values were insignificant in all replicates at P>0.01.Based on LC50 values,order of piscicidal activity followed the pattern,bark>leaf>fruit extracts.Order of piscicidal activity for the extracts was like absolute ethanol>50%ethanol>distilled water>80%methanol for leaf and bark,while for fruit extracts,trend was like absolute ethanol>80%methanol>50%ethanol>distilled water.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.42377296 and 42107141)the National Key Research and Development Program of China(Nos.2023YFD1901402 and 2023YFD1901105)the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities,China(No.YDZX2025046).
文摘Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria(PGPR)have been widely used for the promotion of plant performance.Predatory protists can influence the taxonomic and functional composition of rhizosphere bacteria.However,research on the impact of the interaction between protist and PGPR on plant performance remains at a very early stage.Here,we examined the impacts of individual inoculation of protist(Colpoda inflata,Dimastigella trypaniformis,or Vermamoeba vermiformis)or the PGPR strain Bacillus velezensis SQR9 as well as the co-inoculation of the protist C.inflata and B.velezensis SQR9 on the growth of tomato plants.We found that all individual protists and Bacillus could promote plant growth compared to the control with no microbe inoculation,with the co-inoculation of C.inflata and B.velezensis SQR9 achieving the greatest performance,including plant height,fresh weight,and dry weight.Different protists harbored distinct rhizosphere bacterial communities,with the co-inoculation of protist and Bacillus resulting in the lowest bacterial diversity and driving significant changes in community structure and composition,particularly by increasing the relative abundance of Proteobacteria.Random forest model highlighted Cellvibrio as the most important bacterial predictor of plant growth,which was enriched after protist inoculation,especially after the mixed inoculation of protist and Bacillus.We further found that bacterial functional genes of nitrogen metabolism were the key determinants of plant growth.These results indicate that the interaction between protists and Bacillus can support plant growth by reshaping rhizosphere bacterial community composition and function.Understanding the interaction mechanisms between protist and PGPR is crucial for their effective utilization in sustainable agriculture.
基金Supported by the Science and Technology Innovation Program of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences(ASTIP-IBFC09)Technical System of Vegetable Industry of Hunan Province+1 种基金National Natural Science Foundation of China(31501653)Earmarked fund for Modern Agro-industry Technology Research System of China(CARS-19-E09)~~
文摘[Objective] This study was conducted to explore the predation of Pardosa pseudoannulata and Pirata procurva_ on Plutela xylostela larvae. [Method] The quantities of P. xylostela larvae predated by the two spider species at different temperatures and the quantities of P. xylostela larvae predated by P. pseudoannula-ta_in different volumes were analyzed. Based on three factors at five levels, the quadratic general regression rotation combination design was used to study the combined control effect of the two spider species on P. xylostela_larvae and the control effect of P. pseudoannulata on the larvae of P. xylostela and Spodoptera litura. [Result] The quantities of P. xylostela_ larvae predated by the two spider species increased first and then decreased with the increase of temperature, and the functional predation response of P. pseudoannulata and P. procurva_ on the fourth instar larvae of P. xylostela_fitted the Hol ing-Ⅱ model, and the Hol ing-Ⅲmodel could perfect the evaluation on the predation effect. Volume had great effect on the feeding of P. pseudoannulata. lnstantaneous attack ability （a’）, the time to handle one prey （Th） and predation function （a’/Th） in a smal er volume were al higher than that in a larger volume. The predation of the two spider species on P. xylostela_larvae was positively correlated with their densities. The overal effect of the three factors was： the density of P. xylostela＆gt;the density of P. procurva＆gt;the density of P. pseudoannulata. The densities of P. xylostela and S. litura larvae could affect the feeding amount of P. pseudoannulata. But there was no predation preference for P. pseudoannulata on the larvae of P. xylostela and S. litura. [Con-clusion] The results wil provide a reference for the evaluation of control effect of_P. xylostela_by P. pseudoannulata_and P. procurva in the field.
基金supported by the National Key R&D Program of China(2017YFD0200400)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(31701850)the Basal Research Fund of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences(Y2016PT13)
文摘Phytoseiulus persimilis is an important biological control agent, commercially produced worldwide. To increase understandings of its reproduction, herein we provided quantitative descriptions of the inflation and deflation of its spermathecae as a function of time and copulation duration, and the quantitative impact of copulation termination on volume of spermatheca vesicle, fecundity, and offspring sex ratio. After mating started, at least one spermatheca started to inflate immediately, but no egg was produced until spermatheca volume reached 1 021 μm3. Beyond this size, cumulative fecundity was linearly correlated with vesicle volume. Producing one egg required 36 μm3 volume increase of the vesicle. Each spermatheca vesicle reached its peak size at the end of mating duration(ca. 2.38 h after mating started), and started to shrink immediately. In 24 h, ca. 71% individuals had one completely shriveled spermatheca, while in 72 h all individuals had at least one shriveled spermatheca. The estimated maximum cumulative fecundity per female after a single mating is(69.4±7.7) eggs. No significant impact of mating termination on offspring sex ratio was observed after mating duration reached 60 min, while higher proportion of male offspring was observed when mating duration is 15 or 30 min. This study is the first step to investigate possible male impact on offspring sex ratio in P. persimilis. Our results suggested the number of sperms received during mating be a restriction factor of P. persimilis offspring sex ratio regulation.
基金supported by the National High Technology Research and Development Program of China (No. 2012AA101402-2)the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 41271264, 41325003)
文摘Highly precise and reliable determination of heavy metals in soil micro-arthropod tissues remains a challenge because of the small size of the animals and their typical low abundance in metal-contaminated agricultural soils. The present study sought to develop a method for cadmium （Cd） determination in soil micro-arthropods by optimizing the sample digestion procedure, reducing sample weight, modifying sample pre-treatment and validating the methodology with field samples. The optimized digestion conditions comprised a sample mass of 50-150 μg, digestion reagent of nitric acid：hydrogen peroxide （3：1）, digestion temperature of 105 ℃, digestion period of 3 h and digestion volume of 30 μL. Defecation of the standard Collembola Folsomia candida （92 h） and the indigenous Collembola Onychiurus yodai （42 h） and ultrasonic cleaning of F. candida increased the accuracy of Cd determination. The recovery of Cd using the refined procedure was 98.9% and the limits of detection and quantification were 0.002 and 0.008 μg L-1, respectively. The within-batch precision values were 〈 3%. The Cd concentrations in the tissues of the Collembola Isotorna sp. collected from a range of metal-contaminated fields determined by the improved method were consistent with the Cd concentrations in the field soils. The results indicate that the optimized method can be used for more accurate or reliable determination of Cd concentrations in soil micro-arthropod tissues.
基金supported by the grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.31970422,No.31672305 and No.31372217 to Guangzhan Fang)the Key Research Project of Education Department of Sichuan Province(No.18ZA0321 to Yansu Liu)。
文摘Brain asymmetry for processing visual information is widespread in animals.However,it is still unknown how the complexity of the underlying neural network activities represents this asymmetrical pattern in the brain.In the present study,we investigated this complexity using the approximate entropy(ApEn)protocol for electroencephalogram(EEG)recordings from the forebrain and midbrain while the music frogs(Nidirana daunchina)attacked prey stimulus.The results showed that(1)more significant prey responses were evoked by the prey stimulus presented in the right visual field than that in the left visual field,consistent with the idea that right-eye preferences for predatory behaviors exist in animals including anurans;(2)in general,the ApEn value of the left hemisphere(especially the left mesencephalon)was greatest under various stimulus conditions,suggesting that visual lateralization could be reflected by the dynamics of underlying neural network activities and that the stable left-hemisphere dominance of EEG ApEn may play an important role in maintaining this brain asymmetry.
基金Project(10972238) supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of ChinaProject(2010ssxt237) supported by Graduate Student Innovation Foundation of Central South University, ChinaProject supported by Excellent Doctoral Thesis Support Program of Central South University, China
文摘In the view of the disadvantages of complex method (CM) and electromagnetism-like algorithm (EM), complex electromagnetism-like hybrid algorithm (CEM) was proposed by embedding complex method into electromagnetism-like algorithm as local optimization algorithm. CEM was adopted to search the minimum safety factor in slope stability analysis and the results show that CEM holds advantages over EM and CM. It combines the merits of two and is more stable and efficient. For further improvement, two CEM hybrid algorithms based on predatory search (PS) strategies were proposed, both of which consist of modified algorithms and the search area of which is dynamically adjusted by changing restriction. The CEM-PS1 adopts theoretical framework of original predatory search strategy. The CEM-PS2 employs the idea of area-restricted search learned from predatory search strategy, but the algorithm structure is simpler. Both the CEM-PS1 and CEM-PS2 have been demonstrated more effective and efficient than the others. As for complex method which locates in hybrid algorithm, the optimization can be achieved at a convergence precision of 1×10-3, which is recommended to use.
基金partly supported by Iran National Science Foundation (84-63)
文摘The predatory mite, Phytoseius plumifer （Canestrini ＆ Fanzago）, is one of the most abundant natural enemies and efficient predator of phytophagous mites in Iran. The miticides hexythiazox （Nisorun, EC 10%）, fenpyroximate （Ortus, SC 5%）, and abamectin （Vertimec, EC 1.8%） were tested in the laboratory for their side effects on P. plumifer. The miticides were applied at the highest field recommended concentration （N） to detached leaves using a Potter Tower to deposit 2 mg spray solution per cm2. Percent predator mortality was evaluated from the protonymph up to the adult stage including the first five days of the oviposition period. Analysis of data showed that the total effect values of hexythiazox were below the lower threshold, and thus it could be considered to be a harmless miticide to P. plumifer. In contrast, the total effects of fenpyroximate and abamectin were found harmful to the predatory mite at the highest field recommended concentrations.
文摘Purpose:This article explores the implications of publication requirements for the research output of Ukrainian academics in Scopus in 1999-2019.As such it contributes to the existing body of knowledge on quantitative and qualitative effects of research evaluation policies.Design/methodology/approach:Three metrics were chosen to analyse the implications of publication requirements for the quality of research output:publications in predatory journals,publications in local journals and publications per SNIP quartile from the disciplinary perspective.Findings:Study results highlight,that,firstly,publications of Ukrainian authors in predatory journals rose to 1%in 2019.Secondly,the share of publications in local journals reached the peak of 47.3%in 2015.In 2019 it fell to 31.8%.Thirdly,though the total number of publications has risen dramatically since 2011,but the share of Q3+Q4 has exceeded the share of Q1+Q2.To summarise,the study findings highligh,that research evaluation policies are required to contain not only quantitative but also qualitative criteria.Research limitation:The study does not explore in detail the effects of a particular type of publication requirements.Practical implications:The findings of the study have practical implications for policymakers and university managers aimed to develop research evaluation policies.Originality/value:This paper gains insights into the effects of publication requirements on the research output of Ukrainian academics in Scopus.
基金supported by Science and Technology Planning Project of Inner Mongolia(2020GG0065)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(32060636)+1 种基金Natural Science Foundation of Inner Mongolia(2019MS03018)Shanxi Scholarship Council of China(HGKY2019044)。
文摘The genus Neoseiulus Hughes,1948 is one of the largest genera in Phytoseiidae and contains more than 364 valid species in the world.In this paper,a new species N.setarius Ma,Meng&Fan,sp.nov.is described based on both adult female and male specimens collected from Setaria viridis(L.)Beauv.(Gramineae),in Inner Mongolia of China.The adult females of the new species are characterized by having a fully reticulated dorsal shield,barbed Z5,bellshaped spermathecal calyx with a short basal stalk.Furthermore,seta R1 is off dorsal idiosomal shield in adult males.
基金funded by the German Research Society (DFG) Priority Program 1374 "InfrastructureBiodiversity-Exploratories" (DFG-Ref. No. 1374)the "The functional role of soil biodiversity in grassland habitats: effects of land use and climate on niche properties, decomposition and greenhouse gas fluxes" (SOILFUN) project
文摘Edaphic biota significantly affects several essential ecological functions such as C-storage, nutrient turnover, and productivity.However, it is not completely understood how belowground animal contribution to these functions changes in grasslands subject to different land use types. A microcosm experiment was carried out to test the effect of a tritrophic food chain on CO_2 release from grassland soils. Soil was collected from three differently managed grassland systems(meadow, pasture, and mown pasture) located in three distinct German regions that cover a north-south gradient of approximately 500 km. The tritrophic food chain comprised natural edaphic microflora, nematodes, and predatory gamasid mites. The experimental design involved a full factorial combination of the presence and absence of nematodes and gamasid mites. Nematodes significantly increased the CO_2 emissions in most treatments,but the extent of this effect varied with land use type. The fact that grazing by nematodes stimulated the metabolic activity of the edaphic microflora over a wide range of grassland soils highlighted the critical impact of the microfauna on ecosystem services associated with soil organic matter dynamics. Gamasids slightly amplified the effect of nematodes on microbial metabolic activity,but only in the pastures. This effect was most probably due to the control of nematode abundance. The fact that gamasid addition also augmented the impact of environmental conditions on nematode-induced modulation of soil respiration highlighted the need for including land use differences while evaluating soil fauna contribution to soil processes. To conclude, the differential response of the investigated tritrophic food chain to different grassland management systems suggests that adverse effects of land use intensification on important soil processes such as atmospheric C-release could potentially be reduced by using management methods that preserve essential features of the belowground food web.
