Search Results (4,079)

Hemipteran plant sap feeders acquire food by inserting their piercing–sucking mouthparts into the apoplast (xylem sap feeders) or symplast (phloem sap feeders). When feeding, these insects seal their stylets inside the plant with a salivary sheath, minimising embolisms. The main impact of the insect on the host or food plant consists of sucking plant sap, transmitting phytopathogenic agents, or triggering galls as hypertrophic and/or hyperplastic neoformations. This paper proposes a rapid method for locating and counting the salivary sheaths of Philaenus spumarius (the Meadow Spittlebug), the primary Italian vector of Xylella fastidiosa, at the feeding point on its host or food plants. Hand-sliced stems of herbs hosting juveniles and olive twigs or leaves feeding the adult spittlebug, preserved while mounted in 75% ethanol (v/v), show the salivary sheaths. Alternative dyeing with acid fuchsin, chlorazol black, or phloroglucinol, and diaphanisation with Essig’s fluid alone or in combination with benzyl alcohol, may help with observations. The 75% EtOH solution provides a better compromise, yielding rapid evidence. The other methods offer similar outcomes but require more time and effort and expose the operator to harmful dyes. Assessing vectors’ access to plants may enable us to quantify the potential number of pathogen transmission events or to spot rejecting clones, thereby advancing the development of robust, effective control strategies that incorporate resistance. Full article

The ascomycete fungus Clonostachys rosea is a promising biocontrol agent against root-knot nematodes. To develop a more effective and stable biocontrol strategy, we rationally constructed a co-culture system by partnering C. rosea with the plant growth-promoting bacterium Bacillus velezensis. Through systematic optimization of the medium and inoculation protocol, the co-culture demonstrated significantly enhanced performance, achieving 95.3% mortality of Meloidogyne incognita juveniles, a 78.0% increase in tomato shoot dry weight, and 69.2% disease control efficacy in pot trials. Metabolomic profiling indicated that the co-culture triggered a distinct metabolic profile compared to the respective monocultures. The enhanced efficacy was associated with the accumulation of two functional metabolite groups. First, the co-culture synergistically accumulated direct-effect compounds with reported nematicidal (e.g., daidzin, L-tryptophan) and plant-growth-promoting (e.g., isopentenyladenine, melatonin, and indole-3-propionic acid) activities. In parallel, L-proline emerged as a critical microbial interaction modulator. Targeted quantification showed a clear proline abundance gradient: highest in the C. rosea monoculture, intermediate in co-culture, and lowest in the B. velezensis monoculture. This gradient suggests that proline produced by C. rosea is likely utilized by B. velezensis, a finding further supported by the observation that proline enhanced bacterial biofilm formation and upregulated the matrix genes epsC and tasA. Accordingly, the co-culture itself formed significantly more robust biofilms. Thus, the enhanced biocontrol can be attributed to synergistic metabolite accumulation together with proline-mediated fitness gains in the bacterial partner, establishing a metabolic basis for rationally engineering microbial consortia. Full article

Many species within the family Moronidae possess biological traits that facilitate their success as invasive species in freshwater ecosystems. In Iowa, USA, non-native Yellow Bass (Morone mississippiensis) have expanded their range into at least 19 glacial natural lakes, yet their trophic interactions in these complex systems remain poorly understood. From 2018 to 2020, we evaluated the open-water diet composition of 1300 Yellow Bass across six Iowa natural lakes to quantify diet composition, feeding intensity, and ontogenetic dietary shifts. While zooplankton numerically dominated diets across most systems (>80% by number) biomass was driven primarily by benthic invertebrates and fish. Feeding intensity was not uniform, characterized by a distinct suppression of foraging during late spring followed by intense feeding in early summer. Overall, we found that Yellow Bass foraging is highly plastic but heavily constrained by spatial (lake identity, season, and year) and biological (ontogeny, age, and sex) filters. Spatial heterogeneity was the primary driver of diet composition ${(R}^2=0.407)$, with individual lakes explaining the largest portion of variance ${(R}^2=0.126)$. The interaction between lake size and population history ${(R}^2=0.054)$ was also significant, highlighting that the ecological impact of Yellow Bass is context-dependent, differing among established populations in small lakes versus recent invasions in large lakes. We identified distinct ontogenetic breakpoints at 114 mm and 252 mm; fish < 114 mm were obligate zooplanktivores, while significant piscivory was restricted to large adults (>252 mm). These results suggest that the successful colonization of Yellow Bass is supported by high dietary plasticity, which may lead to intensive resource competition with native juveniles. Our findings provide a critical baseline for fisheries managers to assess the ecological risks associated with Yellow Bass expansion and emphasize the importance of monitoring trophic shifts to preserve the integrity of native fish communities in the Midwest. Full article

The Brown Planthopper, Nilaparvata lugens (Stål.) (Hemiptera: Delphinidae), is one of the most destructive pests of rice. Its reproductive and developmental traits are influenced by various environmental and biological factors including endosymbiotic microorganisms. Arsenophonus, a widespread endosymbiotic bacterium of insects, can affect host fitness and metabolic processes. This study investigates the role of Arsenophonus in modulating the developmental and reproductive traits of N. lugens fed on transgenic cry30Fa1 rice (KF30-14) and its parent variety Minghui 86 (MH86). Life table analysis revealed that Arsenophonus infection (Ars⁺) increased the development time and reduced the reproductive capacity of N. lugens, especially those feeding on KF30-14. The first-instar nymphs in MH86 Ars⁺ (infected) exhibited slower development compared to MH86 Ars⁻ (uninfected). Similarly, the third and fourth-instar nymphs in KF30-14 Ars⁺ exhibited prolonged development time compared to KF30-14 Ars⁻. In addition, KF30-14 Ars⁺ females had significantly reduced reproductive capacity, smaller ovarian tubules and lower relative expression levels of reproduction-related genes including Trehalose transporter (Tret), Vitellogenin (Vg) and Cytochrome P450 hydroxylase (cyp314a1), while Juvenile hormone acid methyltransferase (JHAMT) expression was upregulated. RNA sequencing and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis revealed significant enrichment of genes involved in lipid, amino acid, and vitamin metabolisms, with Long-chain acyl-CoA synthetase implicated as a key regulator of lipid metabolism and reproductive fitness. These results highlight the complex interactions between endosymbionts, host plants and pest biology, offering a solid foundation for sustainable approaches to control N. lugens in rice production systems. Full article

The lemur tree frog (Agalychnis lemur), a critically endangered species, can benefit from ex situ conservation programs; however, managing amphibians under human care presents challenges, including the provision of appropriate nutrition. House crickets (Acheta domesticus), a common feeder insect, have an inverse calcium to phosphorus ratio (Ca:P; 0.15:1) and low calcium content (<0.3%). While gut-loading crickets with an 8% calcium diet can improve their calcium concentrations, no study has assessed the effects of dietary calcium on bone development in Agalychnis spp. Moreover, no study has examined how diet impacts the gut–skin axis and skin microbiome of these frogs. This study examined how crickets gut-loaded with either a 1.3% or 8% calcium diet affected lemur tree frog bone density and skin microbiome. We hypothesized that frogs consuming the 8% calcium diet would exhibit significantly higher Hounsfield units (HU; bone density) over time, as measured by micro-computed tomography (mCT), and that dietary calcium concentration would have no effect on skin bacterial and fungi microbiomes. Eleven juvenile lemur tree frogs underwent mCT scans at baseline and 90 and 180 days. Total body volume of interest analysis showed a significant increase in HU in the 8% calcium group compared to the 1.3% group (F = 9.9, p = 0.01). There was no significant difference noted in the alpha or beta diversities for the bacterial and fungal microbiomes between dietary groups. This study provides the first evidence of dietary calcium’s impact on bone density in lemur tree frogs, offering valuable insights for improving ex situ management of this species. Full article

The coastal zone of the Gulf of Guinea is characterised by the intensive harvesting of Crassostrea tulipa oysters, locally known as ‘Adakpin’ or ‘Atcha’, which serve as a vital source of income for local communities. This study aims to identify the optimal areas, depths, and seasonal periods that favour the growth of juvenile C. tulipa oysters in the coastal lagoon waters of southern Benin. Relatively uniform juvenile oysters were cultured at three depths (surface, mid-water, and bottom) in three production zones (Ahouandji, Dégouè, and Djondji) over the course of one year, covering the four climatic seasons of southern Benin. Juvenile oyster growth (in length, width, height, and weight) was monitored monthly. Simultaneously, key environmental variables (salinity, temperature, pH, water transparency, and dissolved oxygen) were measured in situ to evaluate their influence. A three-way ANOVA revealed that the month of the year had a significant main effect on oyster growth, defining two main growth periods: from October to December 2022 and from March to May 2023. Growth rates decreased during December 2022 to January 2023 and showed no growth from January to March 2023. Growth stopped again from May to September 2023, after the second growth period. Although the main effects of the farming level and production zone were not individually significant, significant two-way interactions were found for ‘Month × Depth’ and ‘Month × Production Zone’. This indicates that the effect of the month on growth depended on both the depth (farming level) and the location (production zone). Survival was highest at the mid-water column (97%) and at the surface (95%). Throughout the study period, survival rates remained consistently high, with the lowest monthly value at or above 80%. Full article

N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) is a relatively toxic and environmentally persistent carcinogen, posing potential threats to the sustainability of freshwater ecosystems, but relevant research on the toxic effects of NDMA in China is relatively scarce. Taking juvenile crucian carp, a key economic and ecological native fish species in China, as the experimental organism, this study explored the acute toxicity and oxidative stress effects of NDMA through semi-static acute toxicity tests combined with 5-day exposure experiments, determining the protein content, superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT) activities in fish. The study provides a reference for ecological risk assessments and pollution control of NDMA in freshwater environments. Results showed that NDMA exerted significant acute toxicity to juvenile crucian carp, with 24, 48, 72, and 96 h half lethal concentrations (LC₅₀) of 9.83, 9.14, 8.11, and 7.05 mg/L, respectively, and a safe concentration (SC) of 0.705 mg/L (classified as medium toxic). NDMA exhibited distinct concentration- and time-dependent effects on the indicators. Protein content showed a consistent induction effect. Low concentrations (1.18, 1.76 mg/L) induced SOD activity, while high concentrations (3.68 mg/L) significantly inhibited it. CAT activity was mainly induced but inhibited in the 3.68 mg/L group at 3–5 days. The inhibition rate order of NDMA on the indicators was SOD > CAT > protein content. This study, through the aforementioned exploration, further supplements domestic toxicological research on NDMA regarding native freshwater fish, clarifies the key acute toxicity parameters and physiological-biochemical response patterns of NDMA on juvenile crucian carp, screens SOD and CAT as potential biomarkers for NDMA pollution monitoring in freshwater environments, and also provides basic data support for the sustainable management of disinfection by-products. Full article

This study examines risky decision-making in a free-ranging population of Balinese long-tailed macaques (Macaca fascicularis fascicularis), addressing gaps in research that have largely focused on captive primates and have rarely considered individual differences by age and sex. Thirty-three macaques of different age–sex classes were tested using a choice task contrasting a guaranteed small reward with a probabilistic larger reward. At the group level, macaques showed no preference for safe or risky options. However, substantial individual variation emerged: some individuals were risk-prone, others risk-averse, and many indifferent. Notably, age and sex interacted in shaping risk preferences. Among males, adults and juveniles were more risk-prone than younger adults, whereas among females, adults were more risk-prone than juveniles. Juveniles also displayed outcome-dependent flexibility, choosing the risky option more often after a previous successful risky choice, consistent with a win–stay strategy. Like in rodents, this pattern may reflect adaptive learning during developmental transitions. Importantly, the observed behavioral differences were not due to misunderstanding of the task, as macaques reliably chose the larger option when outcomes were visible. This pronounced individual variability in primate risk preferences underscore the importance of considering demographic factors when characterizing species-typical risk preferences. Full article

Aquaculture output, sustainability, and profitability can be enhanced by using functional feed additives. The effect of supplementation with two different dietary levels of propylene glycol (PG) and essential oils (EOs) was evaluated in Nile tilapia. A total of 150 juvenile fish were randomly allocated into five groups. Growth performance, feed utilization, serum biochemistry, hematology, and gene expression were assessed. PG supplementation significantly improved growth performance, feed conversion, protein efficiency, and energy utilization. Both additives significantly reduced cortisol and glucose levels and altered liver enzymes and lipid profiles. PG improved immunological indices, while hematological responses were dose-dependent; both EOs and PG increased hematocrit, mean corpuscular volume (MCV), and mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH). Moreover, the high PG dose significantly increased platelet counts, reduced hemoglobin (Hb), and elevated hematocrit. Additionally, EOs significantly upregulated antifreeze protein IV (AFPIV) and fat metabolism-related genes in a dose-dependent manner, indicating a potential role in lipid mobilization and stress tolerance. Expression analysis of the immunoglobulin H (IGMH) gene revealed a significant increase in PG-supplemented groups, suggesting its immunostimulatory potential. Overall, PG enhanced immunity and growth performance, while EOs promoted AFPIV and fat metabolism gene expression. Therefore, PG and EO supplementation could serve as an effective functional strategy to enhance O. niloticus growth, stress adaptation, and immune resilience. Full article

Spent coffee grounds (SCGs) represent a globally abundant agro-industrial byproduct with underexploited potential in circular bioeconomy applications. This study investigates the extraction, characterization and functional integration of SCG protein concentrate into aquafeed formulations for common carp (Cyprinus carpio). Protein was recovered through alkaline extraction followed by isoelectric precipitation, yielding a concentrate incorporated at 5% into a mixed plant and fishmeal diet produced by cold pelletizing. Compositional analysis performed by FT-NIR showed 33.6% crude protein, 7.24% lipids and 7.85% fiber, while ICP-OES confirmed substantial levels of essential minerals including Ca, P, K and Mg (15.3, 8.4, 10.4 and 2.3 g/kg). SCGs contributed bioactive compounds, with total polyphenols reaching 1.521 ± 0.065 mg GAE/g DM and an antioxidant capacity of 3.35 ± 0.03 mg TE/g DM. Pellets exhibited high water stability (91.8% retention after 30 min), and a short-term feeding test demonstrated strong acceptance by juvenile carp (91.2 ± 2.1%) consumption. Residual caffeine levels remained low (3.5 mg per g dry weight) and within safe exposure margins for freshwater fish. The results demonstrate the technical feasibility of incorporating SCG protein concentrate into compound aquafeeds without compromising pellet integrity or short-term palatability, while increasing feed-level antioxidant potential. However, the findings represent a proof-of-concept evaluation. Further research involving longer-term feeding trials, digestibility assessment, and amino acid profiling of complete diets is required to validate nutritional performance and optimize inclusion strategies for sustainable aquaculture. Full article

The Pantanos de Villa wetland, a protected Ramsar site in Lima, Peru, faces significant pressure from invasive species and urban pollution. This study provides a comprehensive evaluation of microhabitat use and trace-element bioaccumulation in the invasive crayfish Procambarus clarkii (Girard, 1852). We analyzed the physicochemical parameters of the microhabitat and measured the concentrations of macroelements (Na, Mg, P), trace metals (Cu, Zn, Al, Ni, Ti, Pb), and a metalloid (B) in water, sediment, and crayfish tissues (gill, hepatopancreas, and muscle) using ICP-OES. Additionally, we examined the growth pattern of P. clarkii through its length–weight relationships. A total of 171 individuals were recorded: 99 males and 72 females. Males were longer (13–15 cm), while females were heavier (18–21 g). Additionally, a positive correlation was observed in females between the size and weight of the hepatopancreas and abdominal muscle, whereas no significant link was found in males. Sediments had higher levels of the evaluated chemical elements, with Cu (28.26 mg kg⁻¹) and Zn (66.88 mg kg⁻¹) exceeding international quality guidelines, indicating a possible ecotoxicological risk. The significant negative correlation between dissolved oxygen and the abundance of P. clarkii suggests that higher D.O. is associated with less bioturbation and more predators, making the microhabitat less suitable for juveniles. We conclude that P. clarkii serves as an essential bioindicator and potential vector for the relocation of the trace in an urban wetland, highlighting the need for integrated management strategies to reduce the ecological impacts of this invasive species. Full article

This study evaluated the effects of replacing fish meal (FM) with corn peptide (CP) in juvenile tiger puffer in indoor tanks. Four diets were formulated for a 53-day feeding trial: a control group (CP0), and diets with 5% (CP5), 10% (CP10), and 15% (CP15) CP replacing FM. Each diet was fed to triplicate tanks. No significant difference in weight gain was observed between CP5 and control (p > 0.05). However, when the CP inclusion level exceeded 10%, growth performance began to decline, with the CP15 group being significantly lower than the control. The feed intake was linearly increased by CP. The proximate body composition revealed no significant difference among treatments. The CP10 group showed significantly higher serum malondialdehyde content than the control. Significantly lower muscle fiber density was observed in CP10 and CP15 compared to the control. The taurine content was significantly reduced in CP10, while no significant differences were found for other amino acids. Compared with the control group, the CP5 group showed significantly elevated levels of free proline and glutamic acid. The intestinal expression of the peptide transporter gene pept1 was significantly up-regulated by CP. In conclusion, the appropriate inclusion level of corn peptide was 5% for juvenile tiger puffer. Full article

Background/Objectives: Intra-oral aggressive fibromatosis (IOAF) is a rare, locally invasive soft tissue tumor originating from fibroblasts. Despite its benign histological nature, IOAF exhibits a high recurrence rate and presents significant diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. This systematic review aims to synthesize the available literature on IOAF, focusing on clinical presentation, radiological and histological features, treatment modalities, and recurrence rates. Methods: A comprehensive systematic search was conducted, following PRISMA guidelines, across Pubmed, Cochrane, and ScienceDirect for case reports and series detailing IOAF published up to October 2025. This review was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42024586634). Data were extracted on demographics, clinical presentation, radiographic and histological findings, treatment strategies, and follow-up outcomes. Quality of included studies was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) tools. Results: A total of 27 studies were included, encompassing 33 cases. IOAF predominantly affected males (54.5%) with a mean age of 13.15 years. The mandible was the most common site (69.7%). Painless swelling was the most frequent clinical feature (72.7%). Radiological findings were primarily ill-defined radiolucency in 54.5% of the cases. Histopathologically, spindle-shaped fibroblasts and collagen fibers were present in 90% of cases. En bloc resection was the most common treatment (60.6%), followed by excision (27.3%). Recurrence was observed in 12.1% of cases, primarily following conservative treatments. Conclusions: IOAF remains a challenging condition due to its locally aggressive nature and potential for recurrence. Surgical resection remains the primary treatment modality, with en bloc resection yielding the lowest recurrence rates. Further research into molecular pathogenesis and targeted therapies is needed to optimize treatment outcomes. Full article

Shelters can enhance the growth efficiency of sea cucumbers, while the preference of sea cucumbers for shelters varies among individuals. Therefore, this study investigated the behavioral and physiological requirements of the sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicus for artificial shelters. In this experiment, we considered sea cucumbers that spent more than 80% of their time (2880 s) inside the shelter as the sheltered sea cucumbers and those that spent less than 20% of their time (720 s) inside the shelter as the non-sheltered sea cucumbers. We found that mouth tentacle grasping times in the sheltered group were significantly lower than in the non-sheltered group, while foraging selections of both groups were not significantly different. This indicates that feeding is the behavioral requirement for the sheltered group instead of foraging. The height of the intestinal crease was significantly shorter in the sheltered group than in the non-sheltered group. Further, the defecation rate and 5-HT content in the intestinal tract of the non-sheltered group were significantly lower than those of the sheltered group. This indicates that the sheltered group has a greater demand for food digestion than the non-sheltered group. Compared with the non-sheltered group, the sheltered group showed higher relative abundances of Gammaproteobacteria and Bacteroidia in the gut microbiota. The thermal tolerance was significantly worse in the sheltered group. Furthermore, there was no significant difference in movement distance after mechanical disturbance between the two groups. Cortisol content showed no significant difference either. These indicate that the sheltered sea cucumbers do not require shelters for stress relief in the absence of external handling stress. This study clarified the behavioral and physiological requirements of sea cucumbers on shelters and enriched our understanding of the shelter dependence of sea cucumbers. Full article

The lateral line is a highly differentiated skin sensory organ in fish, but few studies have explored the relationship between stocking density and the physiological responses of the lateral line in different species. In this study, grass carp, turbot and leopard coral grouper were cultured at different stocking densities for 6, 8 or 10 weeks. The results indicate that high stocking densities reduced weight gain and feed efficiency, increased serum cortisol, malondialdehyde contents, and superoxide dismutase activity, and caused oxidative damage in juvenile grass carp (2.04 kg/m³) and turbot (12.61 kg/m³), but did not affect these indicators in juvenile leopard coral grouper (2.33 kg/m³). Meanwhile, high stocking densities did not affect the survival rate and feed intake of the fish, but decreased the viscerosomatic index in all three fish species. In the lateral line skin, high stocking densities upregulated the expression of genes related to glucocorticoid secretion, hypoxia, and oxidative stress in grass carp and turbot, and altered circadian rhythm-related gene expression in leopard coral grouper. The study shows that growth, cortisol level, and oxidative damage can serve as effective indicators for monitoring fish in high-density cultures, and demonstrates that optimal stocking density should be determined based on the farming system, fish species, and developmental stage. Full article