Article
Plant Sciences
Femke de Jong, Teun Munnik
Summary: Membranes are crucial for cell and organelle functions, providing electrochemical energy, creating compartmentalized microenvironments, and facilitating molecule transport and cell signaling. Advances in protein crystallography, lipid-binding studies, and subcellular localization analyses have greatly enhanced our understanding of membrane functions and signaling pathways.
Article
Plant Sciences
Matthias Freund, Dorothea Graus, Andreas Fleischmann, Kadeem J. Gilbert, Qianshi Lin, Tanya Renner, Christian Stigloher, Victor Albert, Rainer Hedrich, Kenji Fukushima
Summary: To survive in nutrient-poor environments, carnivorous plants have developed traps analogous to animal digestive systems to capture and digest small organisms. These traps modify plant-specific organs, such as leaves, to acquire the ability to break down and absorb nutrients. Digestive glands in carnivorous plants secrete enzymes and other substances to digest prey, while absorbing the released compounds for nutrient uptake.
Article
Biology
Roger D. Santer, Otar Akanyeti, John A. Endler, Ismael Galvan, Michael N. Okal
Summary: Diurnal biting flies are strongly attracted to blue objects, potentially due to the resemblance of blue objects to animal hosts. Artificial neural networks trained to distinguish animals from leaf backgrounds and shaded from unshaded surfaces using fly sensory information accurately classified blue objects used in fly control. The blue-gree opponency was found to be the most effective means of discriminating animals from leaf backgrounds.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Optics
Dong-Dong Han, Yong -Lai Zhang, Zhao-Di Chen, Ji-Chao Li, Jia-Nan Ma, Jiang -Wei Mao, Hao Zhou, Hong -Bo Sun
Summary: This article reports a moisture responsive shape-morphing slippery surface that enables simultaneous moisture responsive shape-morphing and oil-lubricated water repellency. It is prepared by creating biomimetic microstructures on graphene oxide membrane and subsequent lubricating with a thin layer of oil on the laser structured reduced GO surface. The integration of this surface with an LRGO/GO bilayer actuator enables droplet sliding ability and enhanced moisture deformation performance, demonstrating versatility for active/passive trapping, droplet manipulation, and sensing.
OPTO-ELECTRONIC ADVANCES
(2023)
Editorial Material
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Kenji Fukushima
Summary: A recent study utilizes computational models to investigate the functional morphology of carnivorous trapping pitchers in Nepenthes, with a focus on the peristome. The study explores new dimensions in the relationship between form and function, offering theoretical insights into the role of complex trap morphology.
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Luisa Gilardini, Raffaella Cancello, Luca Cavaggioni, Amalia Bruno, Margherita Novelli, Sara P. Mambrini, Gianluca Castelnuovo, Simona Bertoli
Summary: This study investigated the behaviors of individuals with obesity towards medical care during the COVID-19 pandemic and their interest in remotely delivered weight loss programs. The findings revealed that some individuals with obesity cancelled scheduled clinical assessments, but over half of the respondents expressed a preference for remotely delivered lifestyle interventions, particularly with the involvement of well-known health professionals. A portion of the respondents showed favorability towards participating in remote psychological support and nutritional intervention, while 60% were willing to engage in physical activity using online tools. Male subjects and the elderly were less attracted to online psychological support.
Article
Ecology
Amanda Lo Cascio, Sabine Kasel, Greg Ford
Summary: Passive acoustic detectors are increasingly used for monitoring biodiversity, particularly for echolocating bat species. This study presents a supervised classification model that identifies bat species from large acoustic datasets by setting species-specific thresholds for accepting identifications.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Anne Fabricant, Geoffrey Z. Iwata, Soenke Scherzer, Lykourgos Bougas, Katharina Rolfs, Anna Jodko-Wladzinska, Jens Voigt, Rainer Hedrich, Dmitry Budker
Summary: Upon stimulation, plants can produce electrical signals analogous to the animal nervous system, and these signals can generate measurable magnetic fields in multicellular plant systems. Researchers have recorded biomagnetism associated with electrical activity in the carnivorous Venus flytrap, paving the way for understanding the molecular basis of biomagnetism in living plants.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Biology
Inon Scharf, Tomer Gilad, Yuval Taichman, Aziz Subach
Summary: Wormlions are small fly larvae that dig pit-traps in loose soil to hunt ants and other prey. They are often found closer to walls, but the reasons vary by location; experimental results suggest that wormlions near walls prefer their location.
Review
Plant Sciences
Andrej Pavlovic
Summary: Carnivorous plants rely on photosynthetic assimilation of carbon dioxide, but have lower photosynthesis rates due to low nitrogen and phosphorus content and the cost of carnivory in their traps. However, nutrient uptake from prey after digestion can increase photosynthesis rate. During prey capture and digestion, carnivorous plants show changes in photosynthesis and respiration rate. Some carnivorous plants are aquatic, with different survival demands from terrestrial plants. The plastid genomes of carnivorous plants resemble those of parasitic and mycoheterotrophic plants.
CRITICAL REVIEWS IN PLANT SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Gunnar Brehm, Julia Niermann, Luisa Maria Jaimes Nino, David Enseling, Thomas Juestel, Jan Christoph Axmacher, Eric Warrant, Konrad Fiedler
Summary: The research found that moths are primarily attracted to ultraviolet and blue light, indicating that reducing the use of these lights should be a priority in lighting planning.
INSECT CONSERVATION AND DIVERSITY
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Daniel A. Bastias, Emma R. Applegate, Linda J. Johnson, Stuart D. Card
Summary: This study assessed the impact of bacterial relationships on plant performance in mutualistic and antagonistic fungal associations. It found that the performance gain provided by bacteria may be influenced by the functional traits of the symbiont, the type of bacterial protection against antagonistic fungi, and the presence of biotic or abiotic stresses.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Corentin Dupont, Bruno Buatois, Jean-Marie Bessiere, Claire Villemant, Tom Hattermann, Doris Gomez, Laurence Gaume
Summary: The odours of pitcher plants are associated with the type of prey they capture. The study measured the odour and prey compositions of different Sarracenia taxa and found significant differences. The results suggest that odours play a crucial role in the diet composition of pitcher plants.
Article
Plant Sciences
Jennifer Boehm, Soenke Scherzer
Summary: The article summarizes the significant advances in plant electrical signal transduction, focusing on the carnivorous Venus flytrap. It examines different types of electrical signals, their underlying ion fluxes, and summarizes the carnivorous processes downstream of the electrical signals.
Article
Fisheries
Charlie Huveneers, Yuri Niella, Michael Drew, Joshua Dennis, Thomas M. Clarke, Alison Wright, Simon Bryars, Matias Braccini, Chris Dowling, Stephen J. Newman, Paul Butcher, Scott Dalton
Summary: This study assessed the impact of an aquaculture pen on the residency and abundance of bronze whalers and white sharks. The results showed that the pen had no significant effect on the sharks, likely due to low fish biomass, shallow location, migratory behavior of local shark species, and good husbandry practices.
MARINE AND FRESHWATER RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Fisheries
Marcus Fritze, Sebastien J. Puechmaille, David Costantini, Jorns Fickel, Christian C. Voigt, Gabor A. Czirjak
Summary: European greater mouse-eared bats tolerate Pd infections during torpor by utilizing selected acute phase response parameters at baseline levels, without arousing from torpor or synthesizing additional immune molecules.
DEVELOPMENTAL AND COMPARATIVE IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Letter
Infectious Diseases
Sebastien J. Puechmaille, Meriadeg Ar Gouilh, Dina Dechmann, Brock Fenton, Cullen Geiselman, Rodrigo Medellin, Russell Mittermeier, Paul Racey, DeeAnn M. Reeder, Juliane Schaer, Amanda Vicente-Santos, Wes Sechrest, Luis Viquez-R, Natalie Weber
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Zoology
Fabien Claireau, Christian Kerbiriou, Flavien Charton, Cedric De Almeida Braga, Thibaut Ferraille, Jean-Francois Julien, Nathalie Machon, Benjamin Allegrini, Sebastien J. Puechmaille, Yves Bas
Summary: Roads have negative effects on wildlife, including bat casualties due to collisions. Bat overpasses are proposed as an improvement to increase bat flight height and reduce collision risk, but their effectiveness is rarely tested. In this study, the installation of a bat overpass significantly increased bat flight height, suggesting further investigation into the mitigation measure in different road construction contexts.
ACTA CHIROPTEROLOGICA
(2021)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Judith M. Varkevisser, Ralph Simon, Ezequiel Mendoza, Martin How, Idse van Hijlkema, Rozanda Jin, Qiaoyi Liang, Constance Scharff, Wouter H. Halfwerk, Katharina Riebel
Summary: Bird song and human speech are learned early in life through interaction with live social tutors, which generally leads to better learning outcomes. However, higher engagement with realistic audio-visual stimuli did not necessarily result in enhanced vocal learning, suggesting that other factors such as lack of three-dimensionality or meaningful social interaction may play a role in facilitating song learning.
Review
Microbiology
Flora Whiting-Fawcett, Kenneth A. Field, Sebastien J. Puechmaille, Anna S. Blomberg, Thomas M. Lilley
Summary: During hibernation, bats with suppressed immunity and low body temperatures are at risk of colonization by Pseudogymnoascus destructans, leading to severe disease in susceptible species. However, resistant species can rely on innate immunity to control infections with local inflammation. Ineffective adaptive immune mechanisms may be activated if infections are not controlled before emergence from hibernation, causing immunopathology in susceptible bat species.
CURRENT OPINION IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Lisa Lehnen, Pierre-Loup Jan, Anne-Laure Besnard, Damien Fourcy, Gerald Kerth, Martin Biedermann, Pierrette Nyssen, Wigbert Schorcht, Eric J. Petit, Sebastien J. Puechmaille
Summary: Genetic diversity within species is essential for population and ecosystem persistence and integrity, influenced significantly by factors such as population size and connectivity. This study highlights the importance of historic bottlenecks, contemporary colony size, and connectivity in shaping genetic diversity, with contemporary connectivity having the most profound impact at a large geographic scale. Understanding the relative importance of these factors over time is crucial for effective conservation planning.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Tim Huettner, Sandra Dollhaeupl, Ralph Simon, Katrin Baumgartner, Lorenzo von Fersen
Summary: The study showed that the activity budgets of dolphins are significantly affected by individual and external factors, and construction noise can alter dolphin behavior. Behavioral observations are crucial welfare indicators, especially when used in conjunction with other measures, providing important information about the welfare status of animals.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Nicola M. Fischer, Andrea Altewischer, Surendra Ranpal, Serena Dool, Gerald Kerth, Sebastien J. Puechmaille
Summary: Emerging infectious diseases pose a major threat to human, animal, and plant health. A study found that hibernacula walls are the main environmental reservoir of the White-Nose disease fungus, with each hibernaculum having a unique fungal population.
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Ralph Simon, Karol Bakunowski, Angel Eduardo Reyes-Vasques, Marco Tschapka, Mirjam Knoernschild, Jan Steckel, Dan Stowell
Summary: This study compared the acoustics and morphology of flowers from plants with different pollination syndromes, finding that bat-pollinated flowers have higher acoustic reflectivity and are easier to classify. It was discovered that bat-pollinated flowers developed specialized echoic floral parts to attract their nocturnal pollinators.
PLOS COMPUTATIONAL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Daniela Rickert, Ralph Simon, Lorenzo von Fersen, Katrin Baumgartner, Thomas Bertsch, Clemens Kirschbaum, Michael Erhard
Summary: Animal welfare assessments are crucial in zoos and aquaria, and behavioral observations and stress hormone measurements are commonly used tools. This study found that the way blood samples are taken can affect cortisol levels in bottlenose dolphins, with lower levels during voluntary medical training compared to sampling on a lifting platform. There was no correlation between saliva cortisol and blood cortisol values, and saliva cortisol values increased significantly after feeding. Caution is recommended when sampling saliva and interpreting cortisol values.
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Judith M. Varkevisser, Ezequiel Mendoza, Ralph Simon, Maeva Manet, Wouter Halfwerk, Constance Scharff, Katharina Riebel
Summary: The study on zebra finches demonstrates the importance of visual cues in addition to auditory exposure in affecting the timing and quantity of vocal learning.
Article
Entomology
Julien L. Bota, Michael G. Schoener, Caroline R. Schoener, Monika J. B. Eberhard
Summary: Interactions between ants and plants involve cooperation, with the ants providing protection for the plants and the plants providing shelter and food for the ants. Alarm signals consisting of vibrational and chemical components are used by ants to coordinate attacks. In the case of two ant species inhabiting the leaf sheaths of a rattan palm, their signals differ fundamentally. The plant's structure is capable of converting airborne sound into substrate vibrations, acting as a mediator between the ants' vibratory signals. The ants' vibratory signal is hypothesized to have multiple functions, including alerting conspecifics and deterring predators or herbivores.
ARTHROPOD STRUCTURE & DEVELOPMENT
(2022)
Article
Biology
Ralph Simon, Felix Matt, Vinicio Santilla, Marco Tschapka, Merlin Tuttle, Wouter Halfwerk
Summary: Flowering plants have developed various signaling traits, including visual, chemical, and acoustic signals, to attract pollinators. This study focuses on the acoustic signals of bat-pollinated plants and describes a new mechanism where the flowers absorb ultrasound, thereby enhancing the acoustic contrast with the background echo. The researchers found that a hairy inflorescence zone in a bat-pollinated cactus acts as a strong ultrasound absorber, attenuating the sound by -14 dB, particularly at the echolocation call frequencies of approaching bats.
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Ralph Simon, Judith Varkevisser, Ezequiel Mendoza, Klaus Hochradel, Rogier Elsinga, Peter G. G. Wiersma, Esmee Middelburg, Eva Zoeter, Constance Scharff, Katharina Riebel, Wouter Halfwerk
Summary: Singing in birds is accompanied by beak, head and throat movements. The role of these visual cues has long been hypothesised to be an important facilitator in vocal communication, but has seen little experimental study. In this study, researchers created an adult-mimicking robot called RoboFinch to investigate the relevance of audio-visual cues in birdsong. By synchronising the robot's beak movements to the song of juvenile zebra finches, they found that the birds in the synchronised group increased their singing time and actively listened during tutor song playback. This study provides a valuable tool for studying the functionality and integration of audio-visual cues in song behavior.
METHODS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Ralph Simon, Alrike Dreissen, Helene Leroy, Matty P. Berg, Wouter Halfwerk
Summary: Body size is important in predator-prey dynamics as it affects detection and success in capture or escape. Larger prey are at higher risk of detection by predators, leading to stronger selection pressure on their anti-predator traits. Nocturnal moths vary in body size and bigger moths return stronger echoes for echolocating bats. To compensate for increased predation risk, larger moths are expected to have improved anti-predator defenses. Moths have scales that can absorb ultrasound, providing acoustic camouflage. This study investigated whether moths differ in their acoustic camouflage in a size-dependent way.
JOURNAL OF ANIMAL ECOLOGY
(2023)