Feeding behaviour Research Papers - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

The feeding guilds of four communities of molluscs living in the intertidal zone of Enseada in Caraguatatuba Bay and Barra Velha and Araçá beaches along the São Sebastião Channel were identified. Three-letter codes were assigned to each... more

The feeding guilds of four communities of molluscs living in the intertidal zone of Enseada in Caraguatatuba Bay and Barra Velha and Araçá beaches along the São Sebastião Channel were identified. Three-letter codes were assigned to each feeding guild, identifying the feeding habit, mobility patterns related to feeding, and food-capturing structures. Data were obtained from qualitative analyses of the digestive tract contents and from observations on the feeding behaviour of the gastropod Olivella minuta and the bivalves Tagelus plebeius, Macoma constricta, Tellina lineata, and T. versicolor. These data were complemented by published information on the feeding of congeneric or confamilial species. Six feeding guilds were identified. The SDS (suspension-feeder, discreetly motile, inhalant siphon and ctenidia) and DDS (deposit-feeder, discreetly motile, inhalant siphon and ctenidia) groups were more abundant. Suspension-feeding bivalves showed higher Trophic Importance Index (TI) values in all the study areas. Deposit-feeders showed high TI values only at Barra Velha beach. The species in the SDS feeding guild tended to occur in areas with lower salinity and moderately to well-sorted sediments with very fine sand predominating. The distribution of the feeding guilds correlated best with salinity, particle size distribution, and the contents of silt-clay and organic matter in the sediment.

This study examined the effects of Ramadan fasting on various training regimes, running endurance performance and recovery in a controlled environment. Twenty male athletes (fasting and non-fasting) performed a 20m shuttle run test... more

This study examined the effects of Ramadan fasting on various training regimes, running endurance performance and recovery in a controlled environment. Twenty male athletes (fasting and non-fasting) performed a 20m shuttle run test (20SRT) pre and post a 4-week periodized training programme. Training loads from various types of exercises, ratings of perceived exertions (RPE), total quality recovery (TQR) and heart rates were daily monitored. No significant differences existed between groups for SRT, heart rates, training volume and RPE. A strong relationship (r=0.88; p<0.05) was evident between TQR and recovery duration (modalities: stretching, cool down, swimming, whirlpool and sauna) for fasting athletes. In conclusion, Ramadan fasting does not affect the achievement of daily training goals and the improvement of endurance performance throughout a mixed endurance and strength training programme where daily undulating periodized models are used. Allowing athletes to freely select from various recovery modalities above the 26 min span daily, can eventually increase their training recovery under Ramadan fasting conditions.

Ticks and tick-borne diseases affect animal and human health worldwide and are the cause of significant economic losses. Approximately 10% of the currently known 867 tick species act as vectors of a broad range of pathogens of domestic... more

Ticks and tick-borne diseases affect animal and human health worldwide and are the cause of significant economic losses. Approximately 10% of the currently known 867 tick species act as vectors of a broad range of pathogens of domestic animals and humans and are also responsible for damage directly due to their feeding behaviour. The most important tick species and the effects they cause are listed. The impact on the global economy is considered to be high and although some estimates are given, there is a lack of reliable data. The impact of ticks and tick-borne diseases on animal production and public health and their control are discussed.

Cattle exposed to high environmental temperatures develop behavioural strategies meant to ease their thermoregulatory process. The animals eat less in order to reduce the metabolic heat production; also, they prefer grain concentrates and... more

Cattle exposed to high environmental temperatures develop behavioural strategies meant to ease their thermoregulatory process. The animals eat less in order to reduce the metabolic heat production; also, they prefer grain concentrates and silage rather than hay. In a favorable physical environment, Romanian Black Spotted heifers spend about 6,5 hours per day eating and about 8 hours ruminating. The total feeding time decreased by 32% under severe thermal stress (36-420C) and by 10% when heifers were exposed to 30-360C. Feeding and other general activities were shifted to the cooler early morning, late evening, or night hours. Water intake lasts usually about 8-9 min. per day. When heifers have been exposed to heat stress, the total drinking time increased by 43- 210%.

Megamelus scutellaris Berg (Delphacidae) and Taosa (Cuernavaca) longula Remes Lenicov (Dictyopharidae) are specialist planthoppers that feed and reproduce on the invasive aquatic weed, Eichhornia crassipes (Martius) Solms-Laubach... more

Megamelus scutellaris Berg (Delphacidae) and Taosa (Cuernavaca) longula Remes Lenicov (Dictyopharidae) are specialist planthoppers that feed and reproduce on the invasive aquatic weed, Eichhornia crassipes (Martius) Solms-Laubach (Pontederiaceae). They overlap geographically in several regions of South America and may, therefore, interact and compete for food and microhabitat. Preliminary observations indicated that both species do not feed on the same part of the plant. We hypothesized that they partition the resource; hence, we studied (1) the feeding mechanism at the tissue level and (2) the spatial distribution of both species on the water hyacinth plant. Salivary sheaths were detected through histological sections of plant tissues using light microscopy. The location of either planthopper species on the plant was recorded when in the presence or absence of the other species. Both species produced true salivary sheaths, mostly branched (M. scutellaris: 82%; T. longula: 84%), ending in phloem (M. scutellaris: 56%; T. longula: 52%), and xylem tissues (M. scutellaris: 24%; T. longula: 28%). They resided on different parts of the water hyacinth plant even when they did not coexist; nymphs of T. longula occurred primarily on the back side of the leaf laminas, while nymphs of M. scutellaris occupied the basal zone of the petioles. This study shows that these planthoppers complement each other and could be used in combination as control agents for water hyacinth. Further experimental studies and field observations are necessary to quantify interactions.

The inflorescences of 53 plant species in a variety of habitats were examined for the presence of adult hymenopteran parasitoids (‘Parasitica’ only), and the wasps observed for feeding behaviour. At inflorescences of 32 of the plant... more

The inflorescences of 53 plant species in a variety of habitats were examined for the presence of adult hymenopteran parasitoids (‘Parasitica’ only), and the wasps observed for feeding behaviour. At inflorescences of 32 of the plant species examined, over 1000 parasitoid individuals were observed displaying feeding behaviour (either feeding at nectaries or displaying behaviour associated with searching for food). Over 900 individuals were collected. Around 250 species belonging to 15 families of Hymenoptera were represented. The taxonomic, behavioural and ecological significance of known parasitoid-food plant associations are discussed, and the literature reviewed.

Hone, D.W.E. & Rauhut, O.W.M. 2009: Feeding behaviour and bone utilization by theropod dinosaurs. Lethaia, Vol. 43, pp. 232–244.Examples of bone exploitation by carnivorous theropod dinosaurs are relatively rare, representing an apparent... more

Hone, D.W.E. & Rauhut, O.W.M. 2009: Feeding behaviour and bone utilization by theropod dinosaurs. Lethaia, Vol. 43, pp. 232–244.Examples of bone exploitation by carnivorous theropod dinosaurs are relatively rare, representing an apparent waste of both mineral and energetic resources. A review of the known incidences and possible ecological implications of theropod bone use concludes that there is currently no definitive evidence supporting the regular deliberate ingestion of bone by these predators. However, further investigation is required as the small bones of juvenile dinosaurs missing from the fossil record may be absent as a result of theropods preferentially hunting and consuming juveniles. We discuss implications for both hunting and feeding in theropods based on the existing data. We conclude that, like modern predators, theropods preferentially hunted and ate juvenile animals leading to the absence of small, and especially young, dinosaurs in the fossil record. The traditional view of large theropods hunting the adults of large or giant dinosaur species is therefore considered unlikely and such events rare. □Behaviour, carnivory, palaeoecology, predation, resource utilization.