CONTENT - International Society of Zoological Sciences

S18 ICZ2008 - Abstracts
Reproductive potential of an entomopathogenic nematode,
Steinernema feltiae, on different hosts (Galleria mellonella,
Hyphantria cunea and Leptinotarsa decemlineata)
Nona Mikaia
Dept. of Biology, Sukhumi University, 9, Jikia, Tbilisi 0186, Georgia
Research into the comparative efficiency of reproduction of an
entomopathogenic nematode, Steinernema feltiae, on several
insect species (the wax moth Galleria mellonella, the fall webworm
Hyphantria cunea and the Colorado potato beetle Leptinotarsa
decemlineata) has been carried out. Experiments were performed
under laboratory conditions at 25 0 С and 75% relative humidity. For
nematode (n) infection of these insect by S. feltiae, 150 insects
were used, with 10 individuals of each species in a total of 15 Petri
dishes. Consequently, insects of each species were present in 5
Petri dishes, using nematode densities of 10 n/ml, 20 n/ml, 50 n/ml,
100 n/ml and 120 n/ml in the 5 dishes. At such concentrations the
nematode suspension has been applied to each insect species.
Death of the insects occurred within 48 hours. After 48 hours the
dead insects were placed on a white trap and the nematodes
started replication. The output increased with time, with invasive
nematode larvae emerging from the host insect into distilled water
during 12 days from G. mellonella, 11 days from H. cunea, and 14
days from adults of L. decemlineata. Continuous records of
nematode emergence from the dead insect’s bodies showed that
the greatest numbers (91.8%) of nematodes were obtained on
days 4-7 from larvae G. mellonella, 94.5% on days 2-7 from larvae
of H. cunea, and 98.4% on days 1, 2, 4 and 7 from L.
decemlineata adults.
On the basis of the data for the reproduction of S. feltiae on its
generally accepted host G. mellonella, it is concluded that
laboratory populations of H. cunea and L. decemlineata may
alternatively be used.
Raven’s (Corbus corax) body temperature change during
annual life cycle
Nadejda I. Mordosova and Andrey I. Anufriev
Institute of Biological Problems of Criolitozone SD RAS, Lenina pr.,
41, 677980, Yakutsk, Russia
Yakutia is situated in the north-east of Siberia and it is one of the
coldest regions in Russia. Annual range of temperature changes is
over 100ºC according to absolute value, in winter temperature falls
to - 60 0 C. The data presented in the report show raven’s body
temperature changes during annual life cycle in conditions of
natural temperature background. The thermograph DS 1922 L-F5
was inserted into its front part of body between wings. The body
temperature was measured once in 60 minutes. 8062
measurements of temperature were analyzed during 11 months.
During the annual cycle raven’s body temperature was stable and
it remained on a relatively high level. The average day body
temperature changed in the following way: the highest temperature
was registered in summer months: May (39.63 ± 0.044°C), June
(39.89 ± 0.040°C), July (39.62 ± 0.096°C), after the average day
temperature was lowering, reaching the minimum temperature in
January (38.51 ± 0.057 0 C). The absolute low body temperatures of
raven (35,5-36°C) were registered at night time from December to
February, the highest temperatures (42.0-42.5°C) were registered
in daytime during the whole year. Annual dynamics of the average
daily body temperature had the same direction with the
temperature of environment. The daily dynamics of body
temperature during the whole year remained the same: high
temperature in daytime and low temperature at night. In summer
months the body temperature was higher than in winter according
to absolute value. The daily dynamics in winter and summer were
5-6°C at absolute value. Thus, the raven’s body temperature
remains on a relatively high level during the whole year. This
species demonstrates high degree of adaptation to the wide range
of environmental temperatures in cold climatic conditions of
Yakutia.
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Quantifying the dynamics of marine invertebrate
metacommunities: what processes can maintain high
diversity with low densities in the Mediterranean Sea?
Charlotte Moritz 1,2 , Nicolas Loeuille 3,4 , Jean-Marc Guarini 1,2 and
Katell Guizien 1,2
1 UPMC Univ Paris 06, UMR 7621, LOBB, Observatoire
océanographique, F-66651, Banyuls/mer, France ; 2 CNRS, UMR
7621, LOBB, Observatoire océanographique, F-66651, Banyuls/
mer, France ; 3 UPMC Univ Paris 06, UMR 7625, Ecologie et
Evolution, F-75005, Paris, France ; 4 CNRS, UMR 7625, Ecologie
et Evolution, F-75005, Paris, France
The Mediterranean Sea hosts 5.6% of the world benthic
invertebrate species on 0.82% of the ocean surface. In addition,
Mediterranean ecosystems are characterized by low densities (and
biomasses) compared to other oceans, a feature often attributed to
their oligotrophic environment. Oligotrophic conditions can induce
reduced growth rates and increased mortality rates through
increased competition for food between individuals. To study the
diversity vs. density patterns in benthic invertebrate populations, a
theoretical model was developed. This model simulates benthic
coastal ecosystems, composed of a mosaic of habitats, in which
populations of different species of invertebrates are structured in a
metacommunity. The connectivity between communities is
ensured by passive larval dispersal favoured by exchanges
between benthic and pelagic compartments due to hydrodynamics.
In the Mediterranean Sea, the microtidal regime induces a lower
and more variable coastal connectivity compared to macrotidal
basins. The model describes minimal population dynamics
including basic processes (growth, mortality, reproduction and
effects of interactions between individuals) and incorporating
fluxes of larvae (finally recruited as juveniles) between the patches
of the metacommunity. Mathematical analysis of model properties
revealed that negative interactions (intra- and interspecific
competitions) have a stabilizing effect on interacting organisms
when gains by recruitment are higher than losses by mortality.
In addition, low mortality rates and low connectivity which
decreases negative local interactions maintain high regional
species diversity with low local densities. This property suggested
that oligotrophy cannot be the only factor leading to the high
diversity-low density pattern observed in the Mediterranean Sea.
Use of intensive sampling methods for evaluating wolf
abundance and population trends in small areas: possible
applications in management at broader scales
Vicente Palacios 1 , Victor Sazatornil 2 , Ana Guerra 3 , Mónica
Almeida 4 and Emilio J. García 1
1
A.RE.NA. Asesores en Recursos Naturales, S. L., C/ Perpetuo
Socorro, 12 - entlo B, 27003, Lugo, Spain
2
C/9, nº 69, Turó de Sant Pau, 08193 Cerdanyola del Vallès,
Barcelona. Spain
3
R. Manuel Marques, 15-1-frente. 1750-169 Lisboa. Portugal
4
R. António José de Almeida. Lote 1137-A, Quinta do Conde 2,
2975-316 Quinta do Conde. Portugal
Animal abundance and population trends are two of the most
important parameters for the conservation and management of a
species. Estimating animal abundance requires standardized
application of a technique allowing researchers to detect changes
with an appropriate accuracy. Sierra de la Culebra is a hunting
reserve in north-western Iberian Peninsula. We conducted an
intensive survey consisting in sampling transects along roadways
in part of the reserve to detect wolf scats in the winter of 2008. In
this small area, five wolf litters were born in the summer of 2007.
The study area was divided into 51 square cells (4 km 2 ) and the
sampling transects covered 3.5 km/cell. The transects were
sampled in February and four weeks later. We obtained an index
reflecting the rate at which scats are deposited along established
roadways (0.019 scats/km/day). Representing the scat index by
cell and analyzing spatial distribution of scats, we could define 4 to
5 areas with higher scat concentrations, corresponding to the
places where the wolves were more frequently seen during the
winter. These results suggest that these intensive surveys in small
areas could be useful in estimating the number of packs living in a
determinate area.