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Consumption Rate (consumption + rate)
Kinds of Consumption Rate Selected AbstractsUnderstanding biodiversity effects on prey in multi-enemy systemsECOLOGY LETTERS, Issue 9 2006Paolo Casula Abstract Biodiversity,ecosystem functioning theory would predict that increasing natural enemy richness should enhance prey consumption rate due to functional complementarity of enemy species. However, several studies show that ecological interactions among natural enemies may result in complex effects of enemy diversity on prey consumption. Therefore, the challenge in understanding natural enemy diversity effects is to predict consumption rates of multiple enemies taking into account effects arising from patterns of prey use together with species interactions. Here, we show how complementary and redundant prey use patterns result in additive and saturating effects, respectively, and how ecological interactions such as phenotypic niche shifts, synergy and intraguild predation enlarge the range of outcomes to include null, synergistic and antagonistic effects. This study provides a simple theoretical framework that can be applied to experimental studies to infer the biological mechanisms underlying natural enemy diversity effects on prey. [source] O -Acylated 2-Phosphanylphenol Derivatives , Useful Ligands in the Nickel-Catalyzed Polymerization of EthyleneEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF INORGANIC CHEMISTRY, Issue 9 2009Dmitry G. Yakhvarov Abstract The title ligands were prepared by O -acylation of 2-diphenylphosphanyl-4-methylphenol (1) or directly by double lithiation of 2-bromo-4-methylphenol and stepwise coupling with ClPPh2 and ClP(O)Ph2 or RC(O)Cl (R = Me, tBu, Ph, 4-MeOC6H4) to afford diphenylphosphinate 2 and carboxylic esters 3a,d. X-ray crystal structure analyses of 3b,d show conformations in which the P -phenyl substituents are rotated away from the ester group and the C(O)O , planes are nearly perpendicular to the phenol ring , plane. O -Acylated phosphanylphenols 2 and 3a,d form highly active catalysts with Ni(1,5-cod)2 (as does 1) for polymerization of ethylene, whereas phosphanylphenyl ethers do not give catalysts under the same conditions. The reason is the cleavage of the O -acyl bond upon heating with nickel(0) precursor compounds in the presence of ethylene. The precursors are P-coordinated Ni0 complexes, which are formed at room temperature, such as 4d obtained from 3d and Ni(cod)2 (in a 2:1 molar ratio), and characterized by multinuclear NMR spectroscopy. Upon heating in the presence of ethylene, the precatalysts are activated. Catalysts 2Ni and 3a,dNi convert ethylene nearly quantitatively, 2Ni slowly, and 3a,dNi rapidly, into linear polyethylene with vinyl and methyl end groups, and in the latter case, C(O)R end groups are also detectable. This proves insertion of Ni0 into the O,C(O)R bond of 3a,d ligands for formation of the primary catalyst. Termination of the first chain growing cycle by ,-hydride elimination changes the mechanism to the phosphanylphenolate,NiH initiated polymerization providing the main body of the polymer. A small retardation in the ethylene consumption rate with 3a,dNi catalysts relative to that observed for 1Ni and stabilization of the catalyst, which gives rise to reproducibly high ethylene conversion, is observed. (© Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2009) [source] Allosteric activation of pyruvate kinase via NAD+ in rat liver cellsFEBS JOURNAL, Issue 14 2001Anne Devin In isolated rat hepatocytes, it has previously been reported that a rise in the ATP content induces a proportional increase in cytosolic NAD+ concentration [Devin, A., Guérin, B. & Rigoulet, M. (1997) FEBS Lett.410, 329,332]. This occurs under physiological conditions such as various substrates or different energetic states. To investigate the effect of a physiological rise in cytosolic [NAD+] per se on glycolysis and gluconeogenesis, an increase in [NAD+] induced by exogenous nicotinamide addition was obtained without a change in redox potential, ATP/ADP ratio and ATP concentration. Using dihydroxyacetone as substrate, we found that an increase in cytosolic [NAD+] decreases gluconeogenesis and enhances glycolysis without significant alteration of dihydroxyacetone consumption rate. These modifications are the consequence of an allosteric activation of pyruvate kinase via cytosolic NAD+ content. Thus, in addition to the well-known thermodynamic control of glycolysis by pyridine-nucleotide redox status, our study points to a new mechanism of glycolytic flux regulation by NAD+ concentration at the level of pyruvate kinase activity. [source] Regulation of expression of terminal oxidases in Paracoccus denitrificansFEBS JOURNAL, Issue 8 2001Marijke F. Otten In order to study the induction of terminal oxidases in Paracoccus denitrificans, their promoters were fused to the lacZ reporter gene and analysed in the wild-type strain, in an FnrP-negative mutant, in a cytochrome bc1 -negative mutant, and in six single or double oxidase-negative mutant strains. The strains were grown under aerobic, semi-aerobic, and denitrifying conditions. The oxygen-sensing transcriptional-regulatory protein FnrP negatively regulated the activity of the qox promoter, which controls expression of the ba3 -type quinol oxidase, while it positively regulated the activity of the cco promoter, which controls expression of the cbb3 -type cytochrome c oxidase. The ctaDII and ctaC promoters, which control the expression of the aa3 -type cytochrome c oxidase subunits I and II, respectively, were not regulated by FnrP. The activities of the latter two promoters, however, did decrease with decreasing oxygen concentrations in the growth medium, suggesting that an additional oxygen-sensing mechanism exists that regulates transcription of ctaDII and ctaC. Apparently, the intracellular oxygen concentration (as sensed by FnrP) was not the only signal to which the oxidase promoters responded. At given extracellular oxygen status, both the qox and the cco promoters responded to mutations in terminal oxidase genes, whereas the ctaDII and ctaC promoters did not. The change of electron distribution through the respiratory network, resulting from elimination of one or more oxidase genes, may have changed intracellular signals that affect the activities of the qox and cco promoters. On the other hand, the re-routing of electron distribution in the respiratory mutants hardly affected the oxygen consumption rate as compared to that of the wild-type. This suggests that the mutants adapted their respiratory network in such a way that they were able to consume oxygen at a rate similar to that of the wild-type strain. [source] Trophodynamic modeling of walleye pollock (Theragra chalcogramma) in the Doto area, northern Japan: model description and baseline simulationsFISHERIES OCEANOGRAPHY, Issue 2004ORIO YAMAMURA Abstract An age-structured trophodynamic model was constructed to quantitatively analyze factors affecting post-settlement mortality and growth of walleye pollock (Theragra chalcogramma) in the Doto area, the main nursery ground of the Japan Pacific population. The model included (i) multiple age classes of pollock, (ii) a generic predator, (iii) fisheries, and (iv) major prey of pollock. Major processes considered were (i) recruitment, (ii) bottom-up control of somatic growth, (iii) mortality because of predation, cannibalism and fishing, (iv) size-selective prey selection, (v) temperature-dependent bioenergetics such as conversion efficiency and daily consumption rate, and (vi) production and advective supply of prey. By assuming that pollock select prey based upon both relative abundance and predator,prey size relationships, the model accurately simulated seasonal and ontogenetic variations in the diet. However considering ontogenetic segregation, the model showed that, due to cannibalism, newly recruited fish would be totally consumed within 6 months after settlement. By considering segregation (10% overlap during spring and 0.1% during other seasons), an agreement of diet between the simulation and empirical data averaged 82.7% for the different seasons and fish sizes. Euphausiids, the most important prey of pollock, suffered the highest predation impact (22.2 ± 5.3 WWg m,2 yr,1) exceeding annual production in the model domain (17.2 ± 0.1 WWg m,2 yr,1), indicating that an advective supply of prey is necessary to support the pollock population. The daily ration of pollock during spring and summer averaged at 1.2 and 0.6% BW day,1 for small (,200 mm) and large (>200 mm) pollock, respectively; this daily ration was reduced by half during autumn and winter. [source] Differences in temperature, organic carbon and oxygen consumption among lowland streamsFRESHWATER BIOLOGY, Issue 12 2005KAJ SAND-JENSEN Summary 1. Temperature, organic carbon and oxygen consumption were measured over a year at 13 sites in four lowlands streams within the same region in North Zealand, Denmark with the objectives of determining: (i) spatial and seasonal differences between open streams, forest streams and streams with or without lakes, (ii) factors influencing the temperature dependence of oxygen consumption rate, (iii) consequences of higher temperature and organic content in lake outlets on oxygen consumption rate, and (iv) possible consequences of forecasted global warming on degradation of organic matter. 2. High concentrations of easily degradable dissolved (DOC) and particulate organic carbon (POC) were found in open streams downstream of plankton-rich lakes, while high concentrations of recalcitrant DOC were found in a forest brook draining a forest swamp. Concentrations of predominantly recalcitrant POC and DOC were low in a groundwater-fed forest spring. Overall, DOC concentration was two to 18 times higher than POC concentrations. 3. Oxygen consumption rate at 20 °C was higher during summer than winter, higher in open than shaded streams and higher in lake outlets than inlets. Rate was closely related to concentrations of chlorophyll and POC but not to DOC. The ratio of oxygen consumption rate to total organic concentrations (DOC + POC), serving as a measure of organic degradability, was highest downstream of lakes, intermediate in open streams and lowest in forest streams. 4. Temperature coefficients describing the exponential increase of oxygen consumption rate between 4 and 20 °C averaged 0.121 °C,1 (Q10 of 3.35) in 70 measurements and showed no significant variations between seasons and stream sites or correlations with ambient temperature and organic content. 5. Oxygen consumption rate was enhanced downstream of lakes during summer because of higher temperature and, more significantly, greater concentrations of degradable organic carbon. Oxygen consumption rates were up to seven times higher in the stream with three impoundments than in a neighbouring unshaded stream and 21 times higher than in the groundwater-fed forest spring. 6. A regional climate model has calculated a dramatic 4,5 °C rise in air temperature over Denmark by 2070,2100. If this is realised, unshaded streams are estimated to become 2,3 °C warmer in summer and winter and 5,7 °C warmer in spring and, thereby, increase oxygen consumption rates at ambient temperature by 30,40% and 80,130%, respectively. Faster consumption of organic matter and dissolved oxygen downstream of point sources should increase the likelihood of oxygen stress of the stream biota and lead to the export of less organic matter but more mineralised nutrients to the coastal waters. [source] Leaf dry matter content as an integrative expression of plant palatability: the case of freshwater macrophytesFUNCTIONAL ECOLOGY, Issue 1 2003A. Elger Summary 1We examined the possibility of using the dry matter content (DMC) of macrophytes (the ratio of dry mass to wet mass) as an integrative variable to predict their palatability to generalist invertebrate grazers. 2We assessed the palatability of 20 macrophyte species, using the snail Lymnaea stagnalis (L.) in non-choice feeding experiments. Three of the species were studied at two different dates in the year, at two or four sites. 3The average dry mass consumed by L. stagnalis ranged widely between species, and was negatively correlated to plant DMC. At the intraspecific level, the dry mass consumed varied over time but was not related to site location. Again, the dry mass consumed was negatively correlated to plant DMC. 4The DMC of the macrophytes studied explained about 30% of interspecific variability, and >80% of seasonal variability, in snail consumption rate. Therefore this trait could be used as a shortcut to predict variations in macrophyte palatability, especially at the intraspecific level. At the interspecific level, the relationship between DMC and palatability might be weakened by the presence in some plants of low molecular weight chemical deterrents. [source] Do elevated atmospheric CO2 and O3 affect food quality and performance of folivorous insects on silver birch?GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY, Issue 3 2010PETRI A. PELTONEN Abstract The individual and combined effects of elevated CO2 and O3 on the foliar chemistry of silver birch (Betula pendula Roth) and on the performance of five potential birch-defoliating insect herbivore species (two geometrid moths, one lymantrid moth and two weevils) were examined. Elevated CO2 decreased the water concentration in both short- and long-shoot leaves, but the effect of CO2 on the concentration of nitrogen and individual phenolic compounds was mediated by O3 treatment, tree genotype and leaf type. Elevated O3 increased the total carbon concentration only in short-shoot leaves. Bioassays showed that elevated CO2 increased the food consumption rate of juvenile Epirrita autumnata and Rheumaptera hastata larvae fed with short- and long-shoot leaves in spring and mid-summer, respectively, but had no effect on the growth of larvae. The contribution of leaf quality variables to the observed CO2 effects indicate that insect compensatory consumption may be related to leaf age. Elevated CO2 increased the food preference of only two tested species: Phyllobius argentatus (CO2 alone) and R. hastata (CO2 combined with O3). The observed stimulus was dependent on tree genotype and the measured leaf quality variables explained only a portion of the stimulus. Elevated O3 decreased the growth of flush-feeding young E. autumnata larvae, irrespective of CO2 concentration, apparently via reductions in general food quality. Therefore, the increasing tropospheric O3 concentration could pose a health risk for juvenile early-season birch folivores in future. In conclusion, the effects of elevated O3 were found to be detrimental to the performance of early-season insect herbivores in birch whereas elevated CO2 had only minor effects on insect performance despite changes in food quality related foliar chemistry. [source] Leptodora kindti and Flexible Foraging Behaviour of Fish , Factors behind the Delayed Biomass Peak of Cladocerans in Lake HiidenvesiINTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF HYDROBIOLOGY, Issue 1 2003Laura Uusitalo Abstract In the eutrophic L. Hiidenvesi, the spring biomass maximum of cladoceran zooplankton is missing and the highest biomass takes place in July,August. The factors behind the delayed biomass peak were studied in four different basins of the lake with concomitant data on cladocerans assemblages, density of the predatory cladoceran Leptodora kindti and food composition of fish. In all the basins, the abundance of Leptodora peaked in June, being highest (up to 800 ind. m,3) in the two most shallow basins (max depth < 4 m). The duration of the high population density was short and in July-August Leptodora density stayed below 200 ind. m,3, although the water temperature was still favourable. The collapse of the Leptodora population coincided with the change in the feeding habits of fish. In early summer, fish predation was targeted mainly on copepods and zoobenthos, while in high summer Leptodora was one of the main preys of perch, white bream and bleak. The biomass of herbivorous cladocerans was below 10 ,g C l,1 in June, and climbed to a maximum in August in the two most shallow basins (34 and 76 ,g C l,1), in July in the deepest basin (27 ,g C l,1), and in September in the intermediate basin (55 ,g C l,1). In the two most shallow basins, the death rate of the dominating cladoceran, Daphnia cristata, closely followed the food consumption rate by the Leptodora population. In the deeper basins, the agreement was not so close, smelts (Osmerus eperlanus) and chaoborids being important predators of herbivores. The duration of the period of high Leptodora density thus depended on the predation pressure by fish, while the increased fish predation on Leptodora in July,August allowed the elevation of the biomass of herbivorous cladocerans. [source] Nutritional value of cannibalism and the role of starvation and nutrient imbalance for cannibalistic tendencies in a generalist predatorJOURNAL OF ANIMAL ECOLOGY, Issue 1 2006DAVID MAYNTZ Summary 1Cannibalism is considered an adaptive foraging strategy for animals of various trophic positions, including carnivores. However, previous studies on wolf spiders have questioned the high nutritional value of cannibalism. We therefore analysed two different aspects of nutritional quality of conspecifics in the wolf spider Pardosa prativaga: their value for survival, growth and development; and the growth efficiency of feeding on conspecifics. We also measured the propensity for cannibalistic attacks and the consumption rate of conspecifics in an experiment where hunger level and nutrient balance were manipulated. In all experiments, cannibalism was compared with predation on fruit flies as control prey. 2The growth experiment gave ambiguous results regarding the nutritional quality of conspecifics. Spiders on pure cannibalistic diets split into two distinct groups, one performing much better and the other much worse than spiders on fruit fly diets. We discuss the possibility that the population is dimorphic in its cannibalistic propensity, with the latter group of individuals showing a high level of inhibition against cannibalistic attacks in spite of a high nutritional value of cannibalism. 3The food utilization experiment confirmed the high nutritional quality of conspecifics, as cannibalistic spiders had the same growth rate as spiders fed insect prey in spite of a much lower consumption rate. 4Inhibition against cannibalistic attacks was demonstrated in medium-sized juveniles: only half of the spiders attacked a prescribed victim of 50% the size of their opponents, and the latency for those that did attack was more than half an hour, compared with a few minutes for spiders fed fruit flies. 5Nutrient-imbalanced spiders utilized an alternative insect diet less efficiently than balanced spiders, whereas no difference was present in efficiency of utilizing conspecifics. This result indicates that spiders can remedy at least part of a nutrient imbalance through cannibalism. 6As spiders can escape nutritional imbalance as well as restore energy reserves through cannibalism, we predicted both nutrient imbalance and hunger to stimulate cannibalism. This prediction was confirmed only with respect to hunger. Nutrient-imbalanced spiders had reduced cannibalistic consumption, perhaps due to lowered predatory aggressiveness as a result of bad condition. [source] Host preference and performance of lichenivorous Eilema spp. larvae in relation to lichen secondary metabolitesJOURNAL OF ANIMAL ECOLOGY, Issue 3 2003Heikki Pöykkö Summary 1We compared the larval host preference of four lichenivorous Eilema (Lepidoptera, Arctiidae) species on four common epiphytic lichen species including Hypogymnia physodes, Melanelia exasperata, Vulpicida pinastri and Xanthoria parietina. Survival and growth of larvae on different species were monitored and correlation to qualitative and quantitative variation in lichen secondary compounds was analysed. 2All moth species preferred M. exasperata, which does not contain polyphenolic substances, over other lichens, but also foraged on other lichens in the food preference experiment. All larvae reared on V. pinastri and H. physodes died during the growth and survival experiment. Survival of larvae on X. parietina and M. exasperata were equal. Larvae grew faster and and bigger on M. exasperata than on other lichens. 3Consumption and utilization measurements also revealed that M. exasperata was of the highest quality, although the relative consumption rate was highest on X. parietina. Our results indicate that different secondary chemicals have different effect against lichenivores or that larvae are either well adapted to certain chemicals or that these chemicals may have other roles than antiherbivore function for lichens. 4It is suggested that lichenivorous lepidopteran species may have different adaptations, such as dietary mixing to receive nutrients in optimal proportions or compensatory feeding ability to ensure the maximal growth efficiency on a suboptimal host. [source] Response of multiple generations of cotton bollworm Helicoverpa armigera Hübner, feeding on spring wheat, to elevated CO2JOURNAL OF APPLIED ENTOMOLOGY, Issue 1 2006G. Wu Abstract:, The growth, development and consumption of three successive generations of cotton bollworm, Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner), reared on milky grains of spring wheat grown under elevated CO2 (double-ambient vs. ambient) in open-top chambers (OTCs) were examined. Decreases in protein, total amino acid, water and nitrogen content, and increases in total non-structure carbohydrates (TNCs) and ratio of TNC : nitrogen were found in wheat milky grains grown under elevated CO2 conditions. Changes in quality of wheat grains affected the growth, development and food utilization of H. armigera. Significantly longer larval lifespan for the third generation and lower pupal weight for all generations were observed in cotton bollworm fed on milky grains of spring wheat grown under elevated CO2 conditions. Bollworm fecundity was significantly decreased for the second and third generations under elevated CO2 levels. The consumption, frass per larva and relative consumption rate significantly increased in elevated CO2 compared with ambient CO2 conditions. However, the potential population consumption was significant reduced by elevated CO2 in the second and third generations. The results of this study indicate that elevated CO2 levels adversely affect grain quality, resulting in consistently increased consumption per larva for a longer period to produce less fecund bollworm through generations, suggesting that net damage of cotton bollworm on wheat will be less under elevated atmospheric CO2 levels because increased consumption is offset by slower development and reduced fecundity. [source] Response of beech (Fagus sylvatica) to elevated CO2 and N: Influence on larval performance of the gypsy moth Lymantria dispar (Lep., Lymantriidae)JOURNAL OF APPLIED ENTOMOLOGY, Issue 9-10 2001M. W. Henn Two-year-old beech seedlings were kept from germination to bioassays with Lymantriadispar under the following conditions: ambient CO2/low N, elevated CO2/low N, ambient CO2/elevated N, and elevated CO2/elevated N. The effect of these growing conditions of the trees on the performance of the defoliator L. dispar was studied 2 years after initiating the tree cultivation. The developmental success of third-instar larvae of L. dispar was characterized by the weight gained, percentage of weight gain, relative growth rate (RGR), relative consumption rate (RCR), and efficiency of conversion of ingested food into body substance (ECI). Contrary to our expectations, additional N-fertilization did not increase and elevated CO2 did not delay larval growth rate. However, the environmental treatments of the beech seedlings were found to affect the larval performance. Larvae consumed significantly higher amounts of foliage (RCR) on beech trees under controlled conditions (ambient CO2 and low N) compared to those under elevated CO2 and enhanced N. The opposite was true for ECI. The lowest efficacy to convert consumed food to body substance was observed under control conditions and the highest when the larvae were kept on beech trees grown under elevated CO2 and additional N-fertilization. These opposite effects resulted in the weight gain-based parameters (absolute growth, percentage of growth, and RGR) of the gypsy moth larvae remaining unaffected. The results indicate that the gypsy moth larvae are able to change their ECI and RCR to obtain a specific growth rate. This is discussed as an adaptation to specific food qualities. [source] The effect of some water parameters on the oxygen consumption rate of embryos and larvae of the Chinese Sturgeon (Acipenser sinensis)JOURNAL OF APPLIED ICHTHYOLOGY, Issue 2006Jian-Yi. First page of article [source] Antarctic fish can survive prolonged exposure to elevated temperaturesJOURNAL OF FISH BIOLOGY, Issue 7 2008E. Robinson The Antarctic notothenioid Pagothenia borchgrevinki was collected from the stenothermal waters of McMurdo Sound in the summers of 2004, 2005 and 2006. Acclimation ability at 4° C was tested in healthy P. borchgrevinki and in individuals infected with x-cell gill disease. All healthy fish successfully acclimated to 4° C, establishing compensatory changes in resting oxygen consumption rate (Rrest) and critical swimming speed (Ucrit) during a 1 month acclimation period, which were maintained during a longer, 6 month acclimation period. In contrast, individuals infected with x-cell disease were unable to acclimate to 4° C, demonstrating significantly reduced survival rates compared with healthy individuals at 4° C. Measurements of Rrest suggest that limitations in the ability of x-cell fish to uptake oxygen from the external milieu may have a negative effect on their survival at 4° C. [source] Functional response of juvenile pink and chum salmon: effects of consumer size and two types of zooplankton preyJOURNAL OF FISH BIOLOGY, Issue 2 2007J. H. Moss Feeding rate experiments were conducted for pink salmon Oncorhynchus gorbuscha fry [mean fork length (LF) 39 mm], juveniles (103,104 mm LF) and juvenile chum salmon Oncorhynchus keta (106,107 mm LF). Fishes were presented with small copepod (Tisbi sp.) or larger mysid shrimp (Mysidopsis bahia) prey at varying densities ranging from 1 to 235 prey l,1 in feeding rate experiments conducted at water temperatures ranging from 10·5 to 12·0° C under high light levels and low turbidity conditions. Juvenile pink and chum salmon demonstrated a type II functional response to mysid and copepod prey. Mysid prey was readily selected by both species whereas the smaller bodied copepod prey was not. When offered copepods, pink salmon fry fed at a higher maximum consumption rate (2·5 copepods min,1) than larger juvenile pink salmon (0·4 copepods min,1), whereas larger juvenile chum salmon exhibited the highest feeding rate (3·8 copepods min,1). When feeding on mysids, the maximum feeding rate for larger juvenile pink (12·3 mysids min,1) and chum (11·5 mysids min,1) salmon were similar in magnitude, and higher than feeding rates on copepods. Functional response models parameterized for specific sizes of juvenile salmon and zooplankton prey provide an important tool for linking feeding rates to ambient foraging conditions in marine environments, and can enable mechanistic predictions for how feeding and growth should respond to spatial-temporal variability in biological and physical conditions during early marine life stages. [source] Prey consumption rates and growth of piscivorous brown trout in a subarctic watercourseJOURNAL OF FISH BIOLOGY, Issue 3 2006H. Jensen Prey consumption rates of piscivorous brown trout Salmo trutta were studied in the Pasvik watercourse, which forms the border between Norway and Russia. Estimates of food consumption in the field were similar to or slightly less than maximum values from a bioenergetic model. The piscivore diet consisted mainly of vendace Coregonus albula with a smaller number of whitefish Coregonus lavaretus. Individual brown trout had an estimated mean daily intake of c. 1·5 vendace and 0·4 whitefish, and a rapid annual growth increment of 7,8 cm year,1. The total population of brown trout >25 cm total length was estimated as 8445 individuals (0·6 individuals ha,1), giving a mean ± s.e. annual consumption of 1553880 ± 405360 vendace and 439140 ± 287130 whitefish for the whole watercourse. The rapid growth in summer of brown trout >25 cm indicated a high prey consumption rate. [source] Laboratory evaluation of two bioenergetics models applied to yellow perch: identification of a major source of systematic errorJOURNAL OF FISH BIOLOGY, Issue 2 2003P. G. Bajer Laboratory growth and food consumption data for two size classes of age 2 year yellow perch Perca flavescens, each fed on two distinct feeding schedules at 21° C, were used to evaluate the abilities of the Wisconsin (WI) and Karas,Thoresson (KT) bioenergetics models to predict fish growth and cumulative consumption. Neither model exhibited consistently better performance for predicting fish body masses across all four fish size and feeding regime combinations. Results indicated deficiencies in estimates of resting routine metabolism by both models. Both the WI and KT models exhibited errors for predicting growth rates, which were strongly correlated with food consumption rate. Consumption-dependent prediction errors may be common in bioenergetics models and are probably the result of deficiencies in parameter values or assumptions within the models for calculating energy costs of specific dynamic action, feeding activity metabolism or egestion and excretion. Inter-model differences in growth and consumption predictions were primarily the result of differences in egestion and excretion costs calculated by the two models. The results highlighted the potential importance of parameters describing egestion and excretion costs to the accuracy of bioenergetics model predictions, even though bioenergetics models are generally regarded as being insensitive to these parameters. The findings strongly emphasize the utility and necessity of performing laboratory evaluations of all bioenergetics models for assurance of model accuracy and for facilitation of model refinement. [source] EFFECT OF ARTIFICIAL FEEDING ON DIGESTIVE EFFICIENCY, GROWTH AND QUALITIES OF MUSCLE AND OOCYTE OF MATURING ATLANTIC MACKEREL (SCOMBER SCOMBRUS L.)JOURNAL OF FOOD BIOCHEMISTRY, Issue 6 2007KRISNA RUNGRUANGSAK-TORRISSEN ABSTRACT Maturing Atlantic mackerel with and without artificial feeding, kept in sea pens (September to May), showed differences in digestive efficiency (protease activity ratio of trypsin to chymotrypsin), muscle growth (concentrations of RNA, protein, RNA/protein ratio and free amino acids [FAA]) and oocyte quality (trypsin-like specific activity, and concentrations of RNA, RNA/protein ratio and FAA). The artificially fed mackerel had higher body weights (1.7 times) but with less white muscle protein concentration (0.5 time), compared to the control group. Both groups showed higher levels of capacity for protein synthesis in the oocytes than in the white muscle, but it was about two times higher in the artificially fed fish whereas about four times higher in the control group. This indicated that, during maturation, development of oocytes and muscle for growth occurred concurrently in higher growth mackerel, while development of oocytes dominated in slower growth fish. A higher trypsin-like specific activity with higher FAA levels in the oocytes from females fed with an artificial diet, compared to the control group, suggested differences in development and quality between the gametes of the fish with different feedings. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS The work illustrates differences in digestive efficiency and the quality of growth performance (growth and protein metabolism in muscle and oocytes) in fish with different feedings. The use of various methods for evaluating digestive efficiency and the quality of fish growth performance could provide reasonable information for some important biological differences between fish groups, especially when the number of samples are low. It is more advantageous to apply different methods simultaneously than using growth parameter alone in order to study for precise evaluation of the quality of fish growth performance. The methods are very practical for studying food utilization and growth quality of fish in different environmental conditions and with different behaviors in aquaculture as well as in natural ecosystem where food consumption rate and feeding regime cannot be under control. [source] Longevity and fecundity of Eulophus pennicornis, an ectoparasitoid of the tomato moth Lacanobia oleracea, is affected by nutritional state and diet qualityAGRICULTURAL AND FOREST ENTOMOLOGY, Issue 1 2010Maureen E. Wakefield 1Adult female Eulophus pennicornis require a source of nutrition, provided by sources such as pollen, nectar and honeydew or by host feeding, to promote longevity and facilitate egg production. There is potential for parasitoids to be exposed directly to contaminants, including gene products in transgenic crops, through feeding on plant materials, honeydew or hosts. Among such potential contaminants are lectins such as Galanthus nivalis agglutinin (GNA) and concanavalin agglutinin (Con A). 2The effect of direct exposure to honey diets containing GNA and Con A on the longevity and fecundity of E. pennicornis was examined. These lectins have been expressed in a number of plant species for the control for various insect pests. Both GNA and Con A significantly reduced longevity and fecundity at the highest concentration used (0.5% w/v). The effect on fecundity was shown to be related to a reduction in longevity. 3Examination of the gustatory response of adult female E. pennicornis to honey diet containing 1% w/v GNA or Con A revealed no significant differences in consumption rate on first exposure. A significant reduction in the time spent feeding on diet containing 1% Con A was found on the second exposure to the diet. This could have been the result of either a conditioned aversion response or the intoxication of the insect. The effect of Con A on longevity and fecundity could have been, in part, a result of reduced food intake. 4Studies on nutrition and egg resorption demonstrated that the availability of honey solution prolongs the longevity of E. pennicornis and the lack of a source of nutrition promotes oosorption. 5A greater understanding of feeding behaviour and ovigeny is required to understand fully the potential ecological consequence of transgenic crops on parasitoid species through routes of direct exposure to transgene products. [source] Comparison of Assays for Metmyoglobin Reducing Ability in Beef Inside and Outside Semimembranosus MuscleJOURNAL OF FOOD SCIENCE, Issue 3 2002L.M. Sammel ABSTRACT: The relationships of 6 assays for metmyoglobin (Metmb) reducing ability to color stability and the chemical differences between the inside (ISM) and outside (OSM) beef semimembranosus (SM) muscle after 5 or 14 d storage were investigated. The ISM had less (p < 0.05) color stability than the OSM regardless of time post mortem, and both muscle portions were more color-stable when stored for 5 d rather than 14 d. Among the assays, aerobic reducing ability correlated best with visual color scores (r =,0.58) and Metmb accumulation (r =,0.61) in the SM. The ISM had less reducing ability than the OSM, which can be attributed partially to lower oxygen consumption rate and NAD concentrations (p < 0.05). [source] Reactive Oxygen Species Scavenging Enzymes and Down-Adjustment of Metabolism Level in Mitochondria Associated with Desiccation-Tolerance Acquisition of Maize EmbryoJOURNAL OF INTEGRATIVE PLANT BIOLOGY, Issue 7 2009Jing-Hua Wu Abstract It is a well-known fact that a mature seed can survive losing most of its water, yet how seeds acquire desiccation-tolerance is not well understood. Through sampling maize embryos of different developmental stages and comparatively studying the integrity, oxygen consumption rate and activities of antioxidant enzymes in the mitochondria, the main origin site of reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in seed cells, we found that before an embryo achieves desiccation-tolerance, its mitochondria shows a more active metabolism, and might produce more ROS and therefore need a more effective ROS scavenging system. However, embryo dehydration in this developmental stage declined the activities of most main antioxidant enzymes and accumulated thiobarbituric acid-reactive products in mitochondria, and then destroyed the structure and functional integrity of mitochondria. In physiologically-matured embryos (dehydration-tolerant), mitochondria showed lower metabolism levels, and no decline in ROS scavenging enzyme activities and less accumulation of thiobarbituric acid-reactive products after embryo dehydration. These data indicate that seed desiccation-tolerance acquisition might be associated with down-adjustment of the metabolism level in the late development stage, resulting in less ROS production, and ROS scavenging enzymes becoming desiccation-tolerant and then ensuring the structure and functional integrity of mitochondria. [source] Factors associated with childhood constipationJOURNAL OF PAEDIATRICS AND CHILD HEALTH, Issue 10 2007Mustafa Inan Aim: To evaluate factors associated with constipation, determine its risk factors and identify common methods of managing constipation among schoolchildren from ages 7,12 in Edirne, Turkey. Methods: This was a cross-sectional and descriptive study and 1900 children were stratified by the school population, age and gender. The questionnaire collected information from parents about the prevalence of constipation and associated factors as well. It asked about bowel movements, socio-demographic data, personal and family stressors, parental concern about constipation, and treatment methods. Results: The overall prevalence of constipation was 7.2%. It was 7.3% in boys and 7.2% in girls (P > 0.05). The parameters of siblings with health problems, constipation history in family members, abnormal oral habits, and little regular sporting activity were more common in constipated children than in non-constipated ones (P < 0.05). In the logistic regression analysis, never having used school toilets (OR: 5.9) and having problem to control their bowel after 2 years of age (OR: 3.1) were found to be major risk factors for constipation in schoolchildren ages 7,12 years. Constipated children had a lower consumption rate of fruits and vegetables and a higher consumption rate of milk-group foods, biscuits and macaroni than non-constipated children. Parental concern was at 90% and the rate of medical consultation was 23.2% for constipated children. Conclusions: The risk factors for childhood constipation may be genetic, psychological or organic. Bowel functions may be affected by dietary habits. Parents, health and education professionals should give special attention to childhood constipation. [source] Magnetic field effects on the copolymerization of water-soluble and ionic monomersJOURNAL OF POLYMER SCIENCE (IN TWO SECTIONS), Issue 2 2009Ignacio Rintoul Abstract The effect of magnetic field (MF) on the radical copolymerization of a series of water-soluble and ionic monomers is presented including acrylamide (AM), acrylic acid (AA), its ionized form acrylate (A,), and diallyldimethylammonium chloride (DADMAC). The following combinations have been studied: AM/AA, AM/A,, AM/DADMAC, and AA/DADMAC. In addition to the MF, strong electrostatic interactions are present for the majority of monomer combinations and conditions. Although the monomer consumption rate (Rp) increased up to 65% applying a MF of 0.1 Tesla, the composition of the resulting copolymers was not affected under such conditions. Despite this increase of Rp by MF, the electrostatic repulsion between ionic monomers and charged growing radicals dominates Rp and governs the copolymer composition with and without MF. The order of the experimentally obtained reactivity ratios reflects the extent of electrostatic interaction: rAM/AA (1.41) < r (3.10) < rAA/DADMAC (4.25) < rAM/DADMAC (6.95) and rAA/AM (2.20) > rDADMAC/AA (0.25) > r (0.17) > rDADMAC/AM (0.03). Overall, weak MF offers to reduce the production time without modifying the product composition. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 373,383, 2009 [source] Mullitization from a Multicomponent Oxide System in the Temperature Range 1200°,1500°CJOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CERAMIC SOCIETY, Issue 5 2000Hyunho Shin Mullitization from a multicomponent oxide system (alumina,kaolin,quartz,feldspar,talc) was analyzed as a function of firing temperature from 1200° to 1500°C based on quantitative XRD and SEM. In the present study, whisker forms of mullite grew in three characteristic stages. In the first stage (1255°,1295°C), mullitization (nucleation) took place from glass via alumina dissolution into glass under the condition of no apparent change in glass content. The reaction in this stage was rate-limited by alumina dissolution into glass. Extensive mullitization occurred in the 1295°,1335°C range (second stage) directly from glass. Unlike in the sol,gel-based binary system, alumina dissolution into glass was not shown to be the rate-controlling mechanism during this extensive mullitization stage. Finally (>1335°C, third stage), the reaction was saturated, accompanied by an apparent decrease in glass consumption rate. The impingement of mullite whiskers by other whiskers and crystals was speculated to cause mullite to grow in the transverse direction, yielding a diminished reaction rate in the final stage. Mullitization stages in this work were compared with those of the alumina,silica binary system shown in the literature. [source] A method of measuring oil consumption by labelling with radioactive bromineLUBRICATION SCIENCE, Issue 3 2000H. Zellbeck Abstract A method of determining the oil consumption rate of combustion engines is presented. It is based on labelling the individual oil fractions of engine oil with radioactive bromine isotope82 Br and on the quantitative absorption of radioactive bromine compounds in the exhaust gas in an aqueous solution of nitric acid and silver nitrate. The advantages of this method are that the oil that is consumed in the exhaust gas can be directly measured, without the fluctuating amounts of oil in the sump influencing the result, and the behaviour of the individual components of the oil in the consumption process can be determined. The test is quick, only twenty minutes being required to detect oil consumption at one operating point; and with a single labelling, the oil consumption at a great number of working engine points can be measured 82 Br has a short half-life of only 36 h, so that compliance with radiation protection measures is inexpensive and investigations can be carried out using a conventional testing device. As part of the research project, a study was made of the influence of different base oil types, with and without polymer additives, on consumption. Results showed that Noack evaporation loss correlated with oil consumption only with boiling fractions of exactly the same base oil, and not with different, in particular synthetic, base oils; that polymer additives (VI improvers) significantly reduced the rate of oil consumption; and that the polymer additive and the type of base oil both had more influence on oil consumption than viscosity. [source] Metallocene Combinations in Ethylene Polymerization: A Cyclic and Differential Pulse Voltammetry StudyMACROMOLECULAR REACTION ENGINEERING, Issue 3 2008Fernando Silveira Abstract A series of metallocenes, namely [Cp2ZrCl2], [(MeCp)2ZrCl2], [(nBuCp)2ZrCl2], [(iBuCp)2ZrCl2], [(tBuCp)2ZrCl2], [Cp2TiCl2], [Et(Ind)2ZrCl2], [Et(IndH4)2ZrCl2] and [MeSi2(Ind)2ZrCl2)], were combined in a 1:1 molar ratio within a reactor for ethylene polymerization, with MAO as the cocatalyst. The catalysts were characterized by cyclic and differential pulse voltammetry. The combined systems that showed the highest and lowest activities were combined in 1:3 and 3:1 molar ratios. The catalyst activity in the ethylene polymerization reaction is discussed in terms of the estimated consumption rate, decomposition rate constant and half-life of the metallocene species formed with MAO in an ethylene atmosphere. [source] Cardiac 17O MRI: Toward direct quantification of myocardial oxygen consumptionMAGNETIC RESONANCE IN MEDICINE, Issue 6 2010Kyle S. McCommis Abstract A new 17O-labeled blood contrast agent was injected intravenously in control dogs. Electrocardiogram (ECG)-triggered myocardial T1, imaging was performed to obtain spin-locking T1,-weighted myocardial signals for the detection of resultant metabolite H217O water in the heart. Bolus and slow injection methods of various doses of the 17O-labeled and 16O-labeled agents were carried out in order to evaluate the sensitivity of this method and determine the optimal injection method. Bolus injection provided approximately 1% signal reduction, whereas slow injection with larger amount of agent yielded 11.9 ± 0.6% signal reduction. Myocardial oxygen consumption rate was determined by a technique to quantify cerebral oxygenation consumption rate previously developed in 17O brain studies. With either injection method, myocardial oxygen consumption rate at rest was 5.0 , 5.6 ,mol/g/min. Therefore, it appears feasible to detect metabolically generated HO water in vivo in the heart, using the 17O-labeled blood tracer. Myocardial oxygen consumption rate can then be quantified in vivo, which may open new doors for the assessment of myocardial metabolism. Magn Reson Med 63:1442,1447, 2010. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] EPR oximetry in the beating heart: Myocardial oxygen consumption rate as an index of postischemic recoveryMAGNETIC RESONANCE IN MEDICINE, Issue 4 2004Govindasamy Ilangovan Abstract Oxygen plays a critical role in the pathophysiology of myocardial injury during both ischemia and subsequent reperfusion (I/R). Thus, oxygen concentration is an important variable to measure during I/R. In the present work, electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR)-based oximetry was used to measure the oxygen concentration during a series of I/R episodes and oxygenation levels were correlated with the contractile and hemodynamic functions of the heart. A custom-developed electronically tunable surface coil resonator working at 1.1 GHz was used to determine tissue pO2 in the beating heart. Microcrystalline particulate of lithium phthalocyanine was used as an EPR oximetry probe. Isolated and perfused rat hearts were subjected to 1 or 3 hr durations of preischemic perfusion, followed by 15-min I/R cycles. In hearts perfused for 3 hr prior to 15-min I/R cycles, the myocardial pO2 decreased gradually on subsequent reperfusions of three successive I/R cycles. However, in hearts perfused for 1 hr there was almost 100% recovery of myocardial pO2 in all three I/R cycles. The extent of oxygenation recovered in each reperfusion cycle correlated with the recovery of hemodynamic and contractile function. The results also showed that the oxygen consumption rate of the heart at the end of each I/R episode decreased in direct proportion to the functional recovery. In summary, it was observed that the amount of myocardial oxygen consumption during I/R could provide a reliable index of functional impairment in the heart. Magn Reson Med 51:835,842, 2004. © 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] REDUCTIONS IN OXYGEN CONSUMPTION DURING DIVES AND ESTIMATED SUBMERGENCE LIMITATIONS OF STELLER SEA LIONS (EUMETOPIAS JUBATUS)MARINE MAMMAL SCIENCE, Issue 2 2007Gordon D. Hastie Abstract Accurate estimates of diving metabolic rate are central to assessing the energy needs of marine mammals. To circumvent some of the limitations inherent with conducting energy studies in both the wild and captivity, we measured diving oxygen consumption of two trained Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus) in the open ocean. The animals dived to predetermined depths (5,30 m) for controlled periods of time (50,200 s). Rates of oxygen consumption were measured using open-circuit respirometry before and after each dive. Mean resting rates of oxygen consumption prior to the dives were 1.34 (±0.18) and 1.95 (±0.19) liter/min for individual sea lions. Mean rates of oxygen consumption during the dives were 0.71 (±0.24) and 1.10 (±0.39) liter/min, respectively. Overall, rates of oxygen consumption during dives were significantly lower (45% and 41%) than the corresponding rates measured before dives. These results provide the first estimates of diving oxygen consumption rate for Steller sea lions and show that this species can exhibit a marked decrease in oxygen consumption relative to surface rates while submerged. This has important consequences in the evaluation of physiological limitations associated with diving such as dive duration and subsequent interpretations of diving behavior in the wild. [source] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||