Article
Forestry
Izabela Sondej, Timo Domisch
Summary: This study compares the species composition of seedlings germinated on abandoned Formica polyctena nests with active nests and the forest floor composition. The results suggest that abandoned nests can serve as regeneration niches, ensuring genetic diversity in plant populations.
Article
Forestry
Adam Vele, Jan Frouz
Summary: Central European coniferous forests are experiencing a severe bark beetle outbreak, leading to the creation of large clearings and changes in environmental parameters. Our study focused on the impact of these changes on wood ant nests. We found that wood ant nests were less likely to survive in bark beetle-affected forests, with the Formica rufa species being more affected. The bark beetle attack was correlated with increases in understory vegetation, which negatively affected wood ant survival.
Article
Entomology
Mogens Gissel Nielsen
Summary: This review summarizes the distribution and biology of mangrove ants, focusing on their adaptations and survival strategies in extreme environments.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Andrew Z. Dong, Nural Cokcetin, Dee A. Carter, Kenya E. Fernandes
Summary: This study investigates the antimicrobial activity and chemical properties of honey produced by the Australian honeypot ant. Results show that the honeypot ant honey has strong activity against Staphylococcus aureus but not other bacteria, and strong non-peroxide activity against Cryptococcus and Aspergillus sp. The antimicrobial activity and chemical properties of honeypot ant honey differ significantly from jarrah and manuka honey produced by honey bees. The bacterial microbiome of honeypot ants is dominated by Candidatus Blochmannia, while the fungal microbiome is dominated by the plant-associated genus Neocelosporium.
Review
Construction & Building Technology
Guanghong Yang, Wei Zhou, Wenjun Qu, Wu Yao, Peng Zhu, Jing Xu
Summary: This paper discusses the latest progress in research on ant nests and explores innovative scientific concepts associated with underground ant nests from the perspective of bionics. The methods used by scholars to study the structure of ant nests and the interaction between the structure itself and the individual ants are investigated. The structural characteristics of the ant nest, its internal environment and ventilation characteristics are discussed in detail. In addition, practical examples of the application of the structural and inter-relational aspects of subterranean ant nests in the field of architectural bionics are provided.
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Kristian Kumbier, Michael G. Hughes, Kerrylee Rogers, Colin D. Woodroffe
Summary: Tidal inundation is a major driver of intertidal wetland functioning, with differences in inundation characteristics between mangroves and saltmarshes depending on wetland microtopography and site-specific tidal regimes. Understanding these contemporary dynamics can help support wetland response to sea-level rise and restoration practices.
ESTUARINE COASTAL AND SHELF SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Thienthanh Trinh, Renee Ouellette, Charissa de Bekker
Summary: Parasites manipulate host behavior for successful transmission, affecting host circadian clock, olfaction, and communication, ultimately reducing ant foraging activity and effectiveness. Ophiocordyceps-infected ants lose activity rhythm, display decreased foraging abilities, and exhibit weakened communication with nestmates compared to healthy ants.
Article
Entomology
Gabriela Perez-Lachaud, Franklin H. H. Rocha, Jean-Paul Lachaud
Summary: We report the occurrence of Horismenus floridensis attacking Camponotus atriceps in southern Mexico, expanding the distribution and potential host range for this eulophid wasp. This is the second host ant ever recorded for H. floridensis and the first reliable record of C. atriceps as a host for this eulophid wasp.
NEOTROPICAL ENTOMOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biology
Johanna Tross, Harald Wolf, Sarah Elisabeth Pfeffer
Summary: This study investigates the locomotion behavior of different worker subcastes and males in Camponotus fellah ants. The results show that body size and shape have varying effects on locomotion behavior, with minor workers exhibiting the highest relative velocities and males having lower walking speeds.
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Katia K. A. Sousa, Roberto S. Camargo, Nadia Caldato, Adriano P. Farias, Marcus V. C. Calca, Alexandre Dal Pai, Carlos A. O. Matos, Jose C. Zanuncio, Isabel C. L. Santos, Luiz C. Forti
Summary: This study found that nesting for Atta sexdens queens is better in shaded environments. The stable temperature and lower solar irradiance in shaded environments are advantageous for queen survival and the formation and development of colonies.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Priscila Bruno Cardoso, Eduardo Soares Calixto, Helena Maura Torezan-Silingardi, Kleber Del-Claro
Summary: In plant-ant mutualisms, the behavior of visiting ants can deter hummingbirds and disrupt pollination, directly influencing fruit production. However, this influence is species-specific, with large predatory ants having a negative impact on hummingbird behavior while mid-sized ants show no effects.
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Jose Roberto Aparecido dos Santos-Pinto, Franciele Grego Esteves, Claudio Francisco Tormena, Amilcar Perez-Riverol, Alexis Musacchio Lasa, Odair Correa Bueno, Mario Sergio Palma
Summary: The study investigated the fibroin-based silk fibers from weaver ants and provided a structural characterization of these fibers. It identified a glycoprotein with a molecular weight of around 40 kDa in the ant silk fibers and revealed a 3D structure predominantly composed of coiled-coil secondary units. The findings contribute to the development of new approaches for the production of silk-based polymers for biomedical applications.
JOURNAL OF PROTEOMICS
(2022)
Article
Biology
Wendy Moore, Giulia Scarparo, Andrea Di Giulio
Summary: Ant nest beetles are parasitic insects that use complex strategies to deceive and profit from ants' nests.
CURRENT OPINION IN INSECT SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Matthew Ware, Simona Ceriani, Joseph Long, Mariana Fuentes
Summary: Wave wash-over poses a significant threat to sea turtle nests, with potential impact on hatching success and hatchling productivity. Assessment of wave exposure and identification of priority locations for protection or management strategies are crucial for sea turtle conservation efforts.
Article
Oncology
Wei Zou, Haram Kim, Eric S. Diffenderfer, David J. Carlson, Cameron J. Koch, Ying Xiao, BoonKeng K. Teo, Michele M. Kim, James M. Metz, Yi Fan, Amit Maity, Costas Koumenis, Theresa M. Busch, Rodney Wiersma, Keith A. Cengel, Lei Dong
Summary: In this study, the heterogeneous oxygen depletion in tissue surrounding the vessels was simulated and the proton FLASH effective-dose-modifying factor (FEDMF) was calculated. The study provides a theoretical basis for biology-based treatment planning.
FRONTIERS IN ONCOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Erin L. Westerhuis, Catherine E. M. Nano, Stephen R. Morton, Keith A. Christian, Christine A. Schlesinger
Article
Ecology
Georgia K. Kosmala, Gregory P. Brown, Richard Shine, Keith Christian
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2020)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Christine A. Schlesinger, Mirjam Kaestli, Keith A. Christian, Shane Muldoon
GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION
(2020)
Article
Ecology
Keith Christian, Richard Shine, Kimberley A. Day, Mirjam Kaestli, Karen Gibb, Catherine M. Shilton, Gregory P. Brown
Summary: Experimental studies have shown that reducing the microbiota on the skin can lead to higher infection rates of lungworms, while higher concentrations of microbial DNA are associated with lower rates of lungworm entry. This suggests that microbial activity on the skin plays an important role in defending against attacks by parasites and other microbes.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR PARASITOLOGY-PARASITES AND WILDLIFE
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
William L. King, Mirjam Kaestli, Nachshon Siboni, Anna Padovan, Keith Christian, David Mills, Justin Seymour, Karen Gibb
Summary: The study found significant heterogeneity in bacterial composition between different pearl oyster tissues, with each tissue type representing a unique microenvironment for bacterial colonization. Additionally, the inside shell swab bacterial composition may serve as a source of microbial spillover biofilm into the solid pearl oyster tissues, showing potential for useful predictive sampling environment.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yusuke Fukuda, Craig Moritz, Namchul Jang, Grahame Webb, Hamish Campbell, Keith Christian, Garry Lindner, Sam Banks
Summary: This study used landscape genetics approaches to examine the dispersal patterns of saltwater crocodiles and found that both environmental resistance and characteristics of breeding habitat influenced dispersal events. Competition for habitat and environmental resistance to movement were identified as important factors affecting emigration and settlement choices. The study also revealed that a significant proportion of crocodiles migrated from populations outside their sampling locations, with a range of travel distances observed.
Article
Ecology
Lee A. Lemenager, Christopher R. Tracy, Keith A. Christian, C. Richard Tracy
Summary: Previous research on water exchange in frogs has focused on blood osmotic potential as the driving force, but this study reveals that the seat patch and other cutaneous water uptake sites act as separate compartments with their own water potential control. The water potential of these compartments can drive water exchange between the frog and its environment. Different frog species have different water potentials in their seat patches, and some frogs can adjust the hydric conductance of their skin to absorb water from dilute solutions. These findings highlight physiological mechanisms that control water potential at cutaneous water uptake sites among frog species with different ecological habits.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Amelie Corriveau, Marcel Klaassen, Stephen T. Garnett, Mirjam Kaestli, Matthew W. Power, Mahsa Mousavi-Derazmahalleh, Megan L. Coghlan, Keith Christian, Michael Bunce, Hamish A. Campbell
Summary: The study examines the dietary composition of a tropical magpie goose species in northern Australia using DNA metabarcoding and morphometric measurements. The geese consume both agricultural and natural plants, with variations in dietary composition across different locations and time. The findings suggest alternative strategies for mitigating conflicts between geese and agriculture, such as providing disturbance-free alternative foraging areas or minimizing the attractiveness of targeted agricultural fields.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED ECOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Amelie Corriveau, Marcel Klaassen, Stephen T. Garnett, Mirjam Kaestli, Keith Christian, Tara L. Crewe, David A. Loewensteiner, Hamish A. Campbell
Summary: Negative interactions between waterbirds and people are increasing. This study investigates the space use and habitat selection of magpie geese, an endemic waterbird in Australia and southern Papua New Guinea. The findings suggest that management of geese should be coordinated at the local or regional scale to effectively address conflicts with farmers.
JOURNAL OF WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Karla Cardenas Gomez, Alea Rose, Karen Susanne Gibb, Keith A. Christian
Summary: This study found that the microbial communities in the mounds of the orange-footed scrubfowl were different from those in the surrounding soils and the scrubfowl's feces. The results suggest that the scrubfowls do not use their feces to inoculate their mounds, and the microbial community structure in the mounds is significantly different from the adjacent soils.
Article
Zoology
Simon Booth, Laurence Taplin, Matthew Brien, Hamish Campbell, Keith Christian
Summary: This study assessed the interaction between the presence and sightability of Estuarine Crocodiles after aversive conditioning. The results showed that larger crocodiles became less visible in traditional spotlight surveys after aversive conditioning, and the movement patterns of two tagged crocodiles changed. This suggests that aversive conditioning has a short-term impact on crocodile behavior and makes them more challenging to detect in traditional surveys.
HERPETOLOGICAL CONSERVATION AND BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Ecology
A. Rose, A. Padovan, K. Christian, J. van de Kamp, M. Kaestli, S. Tsoukalis, L. Bodrossy, K. Gibb
Summary: Research in the tropical savanna of northern Australia identified diverse microbial communities responsible for nitrogen cycling in a wastewater stabilization system, showing complex and dynamic responses to changing pond conditions.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Erin L. Westerhuis, Stephen R. Morton, Keith A. Christian, Christine A. Schlesinger
Summary: Insectivorous bats play an important role in mammalian diversity in central Australia, with a focus on riparian woodlands due to the presence of tree hollows, suitable foraging habitats, and abundant invertebrate biomass. Bat activity was higher in riparian woodlands compared to nearby vegetation, particularly during hot and dry summers. Larger species with an 'open space' foraging guild were more active in riparian woodlands, while smaller vespertilionid species showed no significant difference in activity between habitats. Bat activity was highest in summer and lowest in winter, with canopy cover and location affecting activity patterns within river channels. The findings highlight the significance of riparian woodlands for bats in arid environments, emphasizing potential impacts from climate change and fire degradation.
PACIFIC CONSERVATION BIOLOGY
(2021)
Letter
Immunology
Chava L. Weitzman, Mirjam Kaestli, Karen Gibb, Gregory P. Brown, Richard Shine, Keith Christian
EMERGING INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2019)
Article
Zoology
George A. Brusch, Keith Christian, Gregory P. Brown, Richard Shine, Dale F. DeNardo
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL ZOOLOGY PART A-ECOLOGICAL AND INTEGRATIVE PHYSIOLOGY
(2019)