Research on feeding habits and stomach fungi in Eothenomys miletus from Hengduan mountain regions

Eothenomys miletus(E.miletus)is one of the rodent species found in Yunnan,and it has caused significant harm to local agricultural production.In this study,we aimed to investigate the differences in feeding habits and stomach fungi of E.miletus across different areas in the Hengduan mountain regions.By exploring the main factors affecting the feeding habits and fungi of E.miletus,this study provides a theoretical basis for the prevention and control of this species.We collected E.miletus specimens from five regions,namely Deqin,Xianggelila,Lijiang,Jianchuan,and Ailaoshan.We measured their feeding habits and the types of fungi in their stomachs using high-throughput sequencing technology.The results showed that E.miletus primarily fed on Poaceae,Oxalidaceae,Asteraceae,and Fabaceae.Food diversity of E.miletus in Ailaoshan and Jianchuan was significantly lower than in the other three regions.As for stomach fungi,Ascomycota and Basidiomycota were the absolute dominant sectors.Changes in the diversity of fungi in different regions were consistent with changes in food diversity.The diversity of fungi in Ailaoshan and Jianchuan regions was lower than in the other three regions.These findings suggest that the feeding habits of E.miletus in different regions were affected by plant species,which,in turn,affects the diversity of fungi in their stomachs.

Effect of Transgenic Corn Cultivation and Sampling Location on Feeding Habits of Collembola

Transgenic corn was modified to combat lepidopteran pests, herbicide and other deteriorate environmental factors. However, fewer studies concerned the effects of transgenic corn cultivation on the soil Collembola in black soil region in China. In Jilin black soil region, a six treatments study including three corn varieties （transgenic corn, control and local variety） and two sampling locations （in rizhosphere and in between plants） were deployed to study the effect of transgenic corn cultivation and sampling location on densities, species richness and community structure of Collembola. We found that root biomass was marginally decreased in transgenic corn and control variety when compared to local variety. Collembola significantly affected by sampling location treatments. Densities and species richness of collembolans significantly decreased in ＂between plants＂ than in ＂rizhosphere＂. Densities of Collembola were impacted by corn varieties. In the whole growing season, densities of Collembola significantly decreased in control than in local variety. Collembolans in transgenic variety only slightly decreased in ＂jointing stage＂ than local variety. Collembolans adversely affected in ＂between plants＂ when compared to ＂in rhizosphere＂ in ＂seeding stage＂ but not other stages. These variations of collembolans were in lines with the trend of corn root biomass. It is indicated that Collembola variations could be caused by food resources （root biomass） but not corn varieties （transgenic, control and local）.

Nestling discrimination and feeding habits during brooding of Chestnut Thrushes

Background:Nestling discrimination and feeding habits during brooding are important factors affecting host selec-tion of parasitic birds.Some host birds can avoid being parasitized by discriminating their nestlings or feeding food not suitable for parasitic nestlings.Thrushes are common medium-sized birds with widespread distribution and an open nesting habit,but they are rarely parasitized.It remains controversial whether this is due to feeding habits and/or nestling discrimination.Methods:In this study,we tested the nestling discrimination ability and feeding habits of Chestnut Thrushes(Turdus rubrocanus)which is distributed in China’s multi-cuckoo parasitism system.Their nestling discriminability and feeding habits during brooding were studied by cross-fostering experiments and video recording to examine evolutionary restrictions on nestling discrimination and whether feeding habits are consistent with the growth of cuckoo nestlings.Results:Our results indicate that Chestnut Thrushes using earthworms as the main brooding food can feed and maintain cuckoo nestlings and show no nestling discrimination.Conclusions:The present study confirms that feeding habits cannot be regarded as the main factor affecting Chestnut Thrushes being rarely parasitized by cuckoos but suggests that egg rejection is likely to limit the evolution of nestling discrimination in thrushes.

Feeding Habits of the Copper Shark, Carcharhinus brachyurus （Gunther, 1870） from Ain EI-Ghazala Lagoon, Eastern Libya during the Period from February till June 2013

The feeding habits of 140 specimens of Carcharhinus brachyurus （Fam. Carcharhinidae） inhabiting Ain-EI-Ghazala lagoon on the Mediterranean Sea, eastern Libya were studied monthly from February to June 2013. The annual diet composition, monthly variations in the diet composition, the variations of diet with length and the intensity of feeding were studied. Carcharhinus brachyurus feed on a wide variety of prey types： Pelagic bony fishes （54.5%）, benthic bony fishes （36.4%）, Cephalopods （6.8%）, Cartilaginous fishes （1.7%） and Fish parts （0.6%）. The Pelagic bony fishes and benthic bony fishes were the major food items during the study period in question, and they were found in all length groups. According to the results that were gleamed from this study, when the size of the sharks increased, the proportion of pelagic bony fishes within the sharks＇ stomachs grew in size, while the benthic bony fishes and Cephalopods decreased in size. The feeding intensity was quite high during the winter, spring and summer, this study is the first to study the Elasmobranchs in Libya, and it will be good base to study another species, specifically.

Studies on Feeding Habits and Parasitological Status of Red Fox, Golden Jackal, Wild Cat and Stone Marten in Sredna Gora, Bulgaria

In order to define the role of wild carnivores in the epidemiology of parasitoses with veterinary and medical importance their parasitological status and feeding habits were studied. In the period 2001-2006 the feeding habits of 167 foxes, 78 jackals, 40 wild cats and 23 stone martens from the area of Sredna Gora, Bulgaria were investigated. 113 of the foxes, 56 of the jackals, 22 of the wild cats and 21 of the martens were subjected to helminthological study. 147 wild boars and 26 badgers from the same area were subjected to trichinelloscopy. Rodents were the main food of the wild cats （82.7%）, martens （52%） and foxes （50%）. The main food of the jackals was carrion from domestic and wild animals （79.5%）. 95.5% of the foxes, 100% of the jackals, 95.5% of the wild cats and 89% of the stone martens were infected with one or more helminth species. The prevalence of the most important helminths： Trichinella spp., Taenia spp. and Ancylostoma spp. was high in all carnivores examined. In the infected with Trichinella spp. animals only T. britovi was demonstrated. The wild boars and badgers were not infected with Trichinella spp. The correlation between the feeding habits and parasitological status is discussed.

Feeding Habits of the Red Porgy Pagrus Pagrus （Linnaeus, 1758） from Benghazi Coasts, Libya

The feeding habits of 500 specimens of Pagrus pagrus （family： Sparidae）, inhabiting Benghazi Mediterranean Coast, were studied monthly from January to December 2008. The annual diet composition, monthly variations in the diet composition, the variations of diet with length and the intensity of feeding were studied. Pagruspagrus feed on a wide variety of prey types： crustaceans （38.3%）, molluscs （13.2 %）, echinoderms （11.4%）, polychaetes （10.7%）, digestive food （10.3%）, fish parts （7.1%）, seagrasses （6.4%） and sediments （2.7%）. The crustacean was the major food item all year round and it was found in all length groups. In the present study crustaceans, polycheates, seagrasses and sediments decreased as the size increased while molluscs, echinoderms, digestive food and fish parts increased as the fish size increased. The feeding intensity was quite high during the summer and early autumn.

Feeding Habits of the Bogue, Boops boops （Linnaeus, 1758） （Teleostei： Sparidae）in Benghazi Coast, Eastern Libya

The feeding habits of 500 specimens ofBoops boops （family： Sparidae）, inhabiting Benghazi Mediterranean coast, were studied monthly from November 2012 to October 2013. The annual diet composition, monthly variations in the diet composition, the variations of diet with length and the intensity of feeding were studied. Boops hoops feed on a wide variety of prey types： Crustacean （49.0%）, Porifera （22.7%）, Coelenterate （10.2%）, Seagrasses （9.2%）, Mollusca （8.1%） and Protozoa （0.9%）. The Crustacean, Porifera, Coelenterate, Seagrasses and Mollusca were the major food item all year round and it was found in all length groups. In the present study, Crustacean, Porifera, Seagrasses and Mollusca increased as the size increased while Coelenterate and Protozoa decreased as the fish size increased. The feeding intensity was quite high during the autumn and summer.

Comparative analysis of the intestinal tract microbiota and feeding habits of five sympatric flycatchers

Gut microbiota and host interactions co-evolve and develop into stably adapted microbial communities and play vital roles in maintaining the health of organisms.Diet is supposed to be an important driver of differences in gut microbiota,but previous studies would commonly use literature depictions,which are essential but inaccurate,to explain the effects of diet on the gut microbiota of wild birds.In this study,we collected intestinal samples from five sympatric flycatchers to compare the gut microbial differences using bacterial 16S rRNA genes from Illumina MiSeq platform.Over 1,642,482 quality-filtered sequences from 1816S rRNA libraries were obtained and distinct compositions and diversities of gut microbiota were found in five flycatchers.Their gut microbiota is mainly from the four bacterial phyla of Proteobacteria,Firmicutes,Actinomycetes,and Bacteroidetes,but at the genus level showed a significant difference.Functional predictions revealed that the metabolic capacity of the gut microbiota of five flycatchers is greatly distinguished at KEGG level 3.And multiple food fragments showed a significant correlation with gut microbiota.Besides,the significant differences in the specific composition of the diets of the five insectivorous flycatchers indicated the differentiation of dietary niches.The study of the gut microbiota and feeding habits of sympatric flycatchers would increase the understanding of the gut microbial diversity of wild birds,and also improve our cognition of the co-evolution and co-adaptation within the host gut microbiota relations.

Preliminary Study on Feeding Habits of Anthocidaris crassispina

Abstract Employing experimental-ecological methods, the feeding and vitality of adult Anthocidaris crassispina were investigated. The results showed that A. cras- sispina exhibited an obvious preference on five different seaweeds, with the preference order of Betaphycus gelatinum 〉 Sargassum hemiphyllum 〉 Gelidium amansii 〉 Ulva lactuca 〉 Codium fragile. The daily feed intake of A. crassispina differed among U. lactuca, S. hemiphyllum and B. gelatinum. The feeding was affected by water temperature, seaweed species and body weight. The optimal vitality and feed intake were observed under 23 -27℃, which were inhibited under whether too higher or too lower temperature. Under the optimal temperature for feeding, the daily feed intake of adult A. crassispina assumed an exponentially-decreasing trend with increase of body weight.

Responses of protists with different feeding habits to the changes of activated sludge conditions:A study based on biomass data

Changes of protists, which were categorized into different functional groups primarily according to their feeding habits, in two full-scale municipal wastewater treatment systems experiencing sludge bulking were investigated over a period of 14 months. Protist biomass represented 3.7% to 5.2% of total biomass on average under normal sludge conditions, and the percentage increased significantly （p 〈 0.05） under sludge bulking conditions. The biomass of Chilodonella spp., capable of eating filamentous bacteria, tended to decrease in both systems when sludge bulking occurred, showing that the abnormal growth of filamentous bacteria did not lead to a biomass bloom of this group of protists. On the other hand, the bactivorous protists represented more than 96% of total protist biomass, and the biomass of this group, particularly the attached ciliates, increased significantly （p 〈 0.05） when sludge bulking occurred. The significant increase of the attached ciliates may have possibly facilitated the growth of filamentous bacteria through selectively preying on non-filamentous bacteria and further exacerbated sludge bulking. The redundancy analysis and correlation analysis results showed that the biomass changes of the attached ciliates were primarily related to the sludge volume index and to some extent related to five-day biochemical oxygen demand loading and hydraulic retention time.

Research Advances in Gene Regulation and Genetic Improvement of Fish Feeding

Feeding habit which is regulated by many factors including the intrinsic and external factors, such as appetite, structure of the digestive tract and feed palatability, is an important content in the study of genetic improvement. The genetic regulation is one of the major parts among the researches. This research reported the progress of the polymorphism of genes associated with appetite and its correla- tion with feeding habits, and summarized the studies on improvements of fish feed- ing and protein sources of the artificial feeding in order to provide theoretic basis for cultivating the improved varieties in feeding habit.

Study on the feeding habit and trophic level of main economic invertebrates in the Huanghai Sea

The stomach contents of 14 main invertebrates in the Huanghai Sea are analyzed. The results indicate that: (1) the examined predator species were all omnivore with wide md range, showing no obvious selection for specific fed items, (2) on the basis of their ecological habitat, the predators could be classified into 5 different types, i.e., benthoelagic and planktopelagic animals, nektopelagic and planktopelagic animals, benthopelagic animals, nektopelagic and benthopelagic animals, and nektopelagic animals and (3) the trophic level of the 11 predator species, including Crangon affinis, Palaemon gravieri, Penaeus orientalis, Trachypenaeus curvirostris, Metapenaeopsis dalei, Portunus trituberculatus, Charybdis bimaculata, Oratosquilta oratoria, Sepia andreana, Loligo beka and L. japonica ranged from 2. 30 to 2. 72, belonging to low carnivore (trophic level: 2. 0~ 2. 8), whereas that of the other 3 predator species, including Sepia esculenta, Sepiella maindroni and Todarodes pacificus were in the range of 2. 86~ 2. 97, belonging to mid-carnivore (trophic level: 2. 9 ~3. 4).

Transcriptome analysis of the Chinese grass shrimp Palaemonetes sinensis(Sollaud 1911) and its predicted feeding habit

Chinese grass shrimp P alaemonetes sinensis is an economically important freshwater shrimp in China. However, wild resources of grass shrimp have declined dramatically due to overfishing and environmental destruction. Previous studies of P. sinensis are basic and sparse due to the lack of genomic data. In this study, the first transcriptome dataset of P. sinensis was obtained by performing de novo RNA sequencing. A total of 100 644 unigenes and 17 019 simple sequence repeats were identified. Potential genes and their functions were annotated by analysis of public databases. Genes encoding digestive enzymes in P. sinensis, including those specific for proteinase, carbohydrase, lipidase, as well as other related important genes, are described. The first transcriptomic investigation of P. sinensis may provide comprehensive sequence resources for grass shrimp study. Additionally, the data generated here will contribute to the identification of biomarkers for grass shrimp, and may help in understanding the links between digestive enzymes and food habit.

Feeding habit and seasonal variation of stomach contents of sand dabs, Pseudopleuronectes yokohamae, in the South Bohai Sea

Sand dabs, an important commercial flatfish in the Bohai Sea, has recently decreased gradually in biomass, resulting from overfishing and marine pollution. Artificial culture and multiplication of sand dabs are essential and practical in China. The present paper examines the food habitof this fish to provide detailed information for its culture and multiplication.

Blue-eared Pheasant:a forest bird endemic to China

The Blue-eared Pheasant (Crossoptilon auritum) is an important bird species,endemic to China and is ranked as a second grade key protected wildlife species in China.These birds are only found in the mountainous regions of Qinghai,Gansu and Sichuan provinces and the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region.In order to understand systematically the existing information on the biology of the Blue-eared Pheasant,we provide updated information on its habitat,activity,nest-site features,breeding biology,feeding habits,population status and conservation of this pheasant by integrating published data with the information from our field surveys,conducted from 2006 to 2008 in the Gaihai-zecha National Nature Reserve,Gansu.

Three new species of Parandrexis(Coleoptera:Parandrexidae) from the Middle Jurassic Jiulongshan Formation of Inner Mongolia,China

Three well-preserved fossil species ofParandrexis longicornis Lu, Shih ＆ Ren sp. nov., P. agilis Lu, Shih ＆ Ren sp. nov. and P. oblongis Lu, Shih ＆ Ren sp. nov. are described and illustrated from the late Middle Jurassic Jiulongshan Formation of Daohugou in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China. These new species are distinguished from other described species of Parandrexis by body size, head dimension （ratio of length to width）, pronotum shape, and antennal characters. Based on new morphological data, we emend the generic diagnosis. These findings support the sexual size dimorphism of parandrexids and suggest a gymnosperm sap feeding habit by Parandrexis.

Diet, Food Intake of Phrynocephalus frontalis (Agamidae) and Its Potential Role in Desert Habitat

We examined the dietary diversity and food intake of Phrynocephalus frontalis, compared the difference of insect diversity in the natural habitats with different lizard densities, and discussed the potential role of this lizard in the desert ecosystem. The results show that： （1） arthropodans of the orders Coleoptera, Hymenoptera and Hemiptera were major dietary components of P. frontalis; （2） coleoptera larvae always formed the predominant component of lizard diets; （3） dietary diversities of P. frontalis were not significantly different between summer and autumn or between the two sexes; （4） the similarity in trophic niches between seasons was 0.756, whereas the similarity in trophic niches between sexes was 0.994; （5） stomach content weight of lizards varied significantly among different seasons, but there was no significant difference in stomach content weight between sexes; （6） insect diversity differed significantly among the groups of the habitat with different degrees of lizard density, and the habitat with moderate lizards density had the highest insect diversity. We infer that P. frontalis prey mainly on insects and change their diet and food intake with season; males and females consumed similar preys in types and weights. As an important predator, P. frontalis could affect the insect community in the arid ecosystem of Hunshandak Desert on the Mongolian Plateau.

Domesticated Feed of Tetrao parvirostris

The digestive characteristics,wild feeding habits and food nutrients of Tetrao parvirostris were analyzed,in order to develop the feed that could meet the nutritional needs of T.parvirostris.

Poverty as a Determinant of Marital Status in the Douala Metropolis of Cameroon

This paper examines how poverty determines people’s marital status and their participation in the desired leading values of the metropolitan city of Douala.We used the quota sampling method in which the number of respondents selected from each division was determined by its population size,and then we divided the various divisions into clusters(neighbourhoods).We employed a systematic sampling method in the clusters in which we started with an nth subject and then selected every twentieth unit after the first.We sampled everyone:the married,divorcees,single and cohabiting people in order to understand how poverty determines their different marital statuses.We discovered that the more prestigious jobs people do,the more they earn and the higher the probability that they are married and either rent or own more expensive homes.Equally,the more people become jobless and have precarious jobs,the higher the rate of divorce,single,separated and cohabitating persons and the higher the probability that they are either dependent or homeless.However,marriage constrains people’s participation in the main values of their society,that is why married people diversify less their meals and leisure activities as compared to separated and engaged persons.

Inferring trophic variation for Antarctic krill(Euphausia superba) in the Antarctic Peninsula from the austral fall to early winter using stable isotope analysis

The Antarctic krill（Euphausia superba） is a key species in the Southern Ocean ecosystem and an important link in the food web of the Antarctic ecosystem. The trophic information for this species during the transition from the austral fall to the winter is important to understand its poorly known overwintering mechanisms. However, the few studies on the topic differ in their results, in terms of both spatial and temporal variables. We investigated the size dependence and monthly and regional variation in δ^（13） C and δ^（15） N values of adult krill in the Antarctic Peninsula, in the austral fall（April to May） and the early winter（June）. We aimed to examine the trophic variations of krill occurred during this period, and the relationship between krill and their feeding environment in the Antarctic marine ecosystem. The following results were obtained：（1） no significant relationship was observed between size and the δ13 C value of krill, but the δ15 N value of krill presented a remarkable association with size;（2）the δ13 C values of krill increased during the austral fall, but no remarkable variation existed at the onset of winter,and the δ15 N values were not significant different during this period;（3） mean δ15 N values of krill differed significantly between the Bransfield Strait and the South Shetland Islands. Our data imply that adult krill present size-, season-, and region-dependent trophic variation during the transition from austral fall to early winter in the Antarctic Peninsula.