Despite object categorization being an important ability for the survival of wild animals, the principles behind this ability have been only scarcely studied using wild-ranging, untrained animals. Reiterating our previous study undertaken with wild-ranging titmice on winter feeders (Nováková et al. Behav Process 143:7-12, 2017), we aimed to test two hypotheses of object recognition proposed by animal psychology studies: the particulate feature theory and recognition by components in the methodological paradigm of nest defence. We tested whether the parents of the red-backed shrike (Lanius collurio) recognize the dummies of the common kestrel (Falco tinnunculus), which is a potential predator of large chicks or fledglings, as a threat in case when their body parts are scrambled. The kestrel dummy was presented with the head at the top, in the middle, and at the bottom of the body. We showed that the shrikes did not consider dummies of a kestrel with an inappropriately placed head as a threat to the nest and attacked it equally scarcely as the harmless control. These results support the theory of recognition by components, presuming that the mutual position of body parts is essential for appropriate recognition of the object. When the body parts were scrambled, most of shrikes were not able to identify the kestrel in such an object despite all local features (eye, beak, colouration, and claws) being present. Nevertheless, shrikes did not consider the scrambled dummies as completely harmless, because they fed their chicks in their presence significantly less often than in the presence of harmless control.

• MeSH
• Animals, Wild MeSH
• Falconiformes * MeSH
• Passeriformes * MeSH
• Seasons MeSH
• Recognition, Psychology MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH

Due to the extensive use of copper (Cu) in various commercial products, its existence in aquatic bodies (freshwater and marine) is not unusual. Cu is well known for its effect on the olfactory physiology of fish. However, there are limited studies on the effect of Cu on important ecological functions in fish (predator-prey dynamics) that are primarily influenced by olfaction. In a series of experiments, we studied the effect of Cu exposure on the chemoreceptive behavior of the prey fish, Lepidocephalichthys thermalis. Prey fishes were exposed to an environmentally relevant concentration (5 μg/L) of Cu for 3 h and the anti-predator responses against native (Channa gachua) and alien predatory fish (tilapia) were quantified using an ethological assay. Cu exposed prey fishes did not recognize the native predator and had a lower survival rate than control (unexposed) fishes in predation trials. Cu exposed prey fishes have failed to learn associatively to detect a non-native predator resulting in higher mortality in prey population in direct encounters with tilapia. However, such a lack of predator recognition was found to be short-term and the treated prey fishes recovered anti-predator responses within 72 h. In addition, Cu inactivated the alarm cue which acts as a signal for the presence of predators and ensures associative learning and therefore it was considered to be an 'info-disruptor' in the present study. These outcomes together demonstrate that even at low concentration, Cu influences ecological decisions and survival against predators. Owing to the ubiquitous occurrence of Cu in water bodies, the present investigation will contribute to the knowledge of how environmental stressors alter the crucial ecological decisions of prey individuals in aquatic ecosystems. In addition, we suggest that freshwater reservoirs containing high levels of Cu could be unsuitable for the long-term survival of prey fishes and freshwater biodiversity.

• MeSH
• Ecosystem MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Cypriniformes * MeSH
• Copper * toxicity   MeSH
• Predatory Behavior MeSH
• Fishes MeSH
• Fresh Water MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH

BACKGROUND: Localised patterns of species diversity can be influenced by many factors, including regional species pools, biogeographic features and interspecific interactions. Despite recognition of these issues, we still know surprisingly little about how invertebrate biodiversity is structured across geographic scales. In particular, there have been few studies of how insect communities vary geographically while using the same plant host. We compared the composition (species, genera) and functional structure (guilds) of the chalcid wasp communities associated with the widespread fig tree, Ficus benjamina, towards the northern (Hainan province, China) and southern (Queensland, Australia) edges of its natural range. Sequence data were generated for nuclear and mtDNA markers and used to delimit species, and Bayesian divergence analyses were used to test patterns of community cohesion through evolutionary time. RESULTS: Both communities host at least 14 fig wasp species, but no species are shared across continents. Community composition is similar at the genus level, with six genera shared although some differ in species diversity between China and Australia; a further three genera occur in only China or Australia. Community functional structure remains very similar in terms of numbers of species in each ecological guild despite community composition differing a little (genera) or a lot (species), depending on taxonomic level. Bayesian clustering analyses favour a single community divergence event across continents over multiple events for different ecological guilds. Molecular dating estimates of lineage splits between nearest inter-continental species pairs are broadly consistent with a scenario of synchronous community divergence from a shared "ancestral community". CONCLUSIONS: Fig wasp community structure and genus-level composition are largely conserved in a wide geographic comparison between China and Australia. Moreover, dating analyses suggest that the functional community structure has remained stable for long periods during historic range expansions. This suggests that ecological interactions between species may play a persistent role in shaping these communities, in contrast to findings in some comparable temperate systems.

• MeSH
• Biological Evolution * MeSH
• Ficus growth & development   MeSH
• Phylogeny MeSH
• Insect Proteins analysis   MeSH
• DNA, Ribosomal Spacer analysis   MeSH
• Food Chain * MeSH
• Electron Transport Complex IV analysis   MeSH
• Sequence Analysis, DNA MeSH
• Biota * MeSH
• Wasps genetics   physiology   MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Geographicals
• Australia MeSH
• China MeSH

• MeSH
• Cells * MeSH
• Molecular Biology MeSH

• Conspectus
• Biochemie. Molekulární biologie. Biofyzika
• NML Fields
• molekulární biologie, molekulární medicína
• NML Publication type
• učebnice vysokých škol

It is supposed that body size serves as an important cue in the recognition of relevant stimuli in nature. As predators of varying body size pose differing levels of threat, their potential prey should be able to discriminate between them. We tested the reaction of great tits (Parus major) to the dummies of their common predator (the European sparrowhawk-Accipiter nisus) in natural and reduced body sizes under laboratory conditions. All of the tested dummies possessed local raptor-specific features (hooked beak, claws with talons, and conspicuous eyes), but differed in global species-specific features: body size (large - the size of a sparrowhawk, small - the size of a great tit) and colouration (sparrowhawk, great tit, robin, and pigeon). The sparrowhawk-coloured dummies evoked fear regardless of their size while both great tit- and pigeon-coloured dummies evoked no fear reaction. The body size was used as the cue only for the discrimination of the robin-coloured dummies. The differences in reactions to the dummies with robin colouration (species unimportant to the great tits) could be explained as that the tits are able to recognize these birds in nature, but not so undoubtedly as the predator or the conspecific.

• MeSH
• Behavior, Animal physiology   MeSH
• Passeriformes physiology   MeSH
• Predatory Behavior physiology   MeSH
• Pattern Recognition, Visual physiology   MeSH
• Body Size physiology   MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH

We compared the responses of the nesting red-backed shrikes (Lanius collurio) to three dummies of a common nest predator, the Eurasian jay (Garrulus glandarius), each made from a different material (stuffed, plush, and silicone). The shrikes performed defensive behaviour including attacks on all three dummies. Nevertheless, the number of attacks significantly decreased from the stuffed dummy through the plush dummy and finally to the silicone dummy. Our results show that wild birds use not only colours but also other surface features as important cues for recognition and categorization of other bird species. Moreover, the silicone dummy was attacked only when presented after the stuffed or plush dummy. Thus, we concluded that the shrikes recognized the jay only the stuffed (with feathered surface) and plush (with hairy surface) dummies during the first encounter. Recognition of the silicon dummy (with glossy surface) was facilitated by previous encounters with the more accurate model. This process resembles the effect of perceptual priming, which is widely described in the literature on humans.

• MeSH
• Nesting Behavior MeSH
• Repetition Priming * MeSH
• Predatory Behavior * MeSH
• Recognition, Psychology * MeSH
• Songbirds * MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Male MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH

Recognition of the environmental role of photoheterotrophic bacteria has been one of the main themes of aquatic microbiology over the last 15 years. Aside from cyanobacteria and proteorhodopsin-containing bacteria, aerobic anoxygenic phototrophic (AAP) bacteria are the third most numerous group of phototrophic prokaryotes in the ocean. This functional group represents a diverse assembly of species which taxonomically belong to various subgroups of Alpha-, Beta- and Gammaproteobacteria. AAP bacteria are facultative photoheterotrophs which use bacteriochlorophyll-containing reaction centers to harvest light energy. The light-derived energy increases their bacterial growth efficiency, which provides a competitive advantage over heterotrophic species. Thanks to their enzymatic machinery AAP bacteria are active, rapidly growing organisms which contribute significantly to the recycling of organic matter. This chapter summarizes the current knowledge of the ecology of AAP bacteria in aquatic environments, implying their specific role in the microbial loop.

• MeSH
• Bacteria, Aerobic physiology   MeSH
• Biodiversity MeSH
• Ecology MeSH
• Phototrophic Processes physiology   MeSH
• Water Microbiology * MeSH
• Oceans and Seas MeSH
• Food Chain MeSH
• Aquatic Organisms physiology   MeSH
• Environment * MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Review MeSH
• Geographicals
• Oceans and Seas MeSH

Immunity exhibits extraordinarily high levels of variation. Evolution of the immune system in response to host-pathogen interactions in particular ecological contexts appears to be frequently associated with diversifying selection increasing the genetic variability. Many studies have documented that immunologically relevant polymorphism observed today may be tens of millions years old and may predate the emergence of present species. This pattern can be explained by the concept of trans-species polymorphism (TSP) predicting the maintenance and sharing of favourable functionally important alleles of immune-related genes between species due to ongoing balancing selection. Despite the generality of this concept explaining the long-lasting adaptive variation inherited from ancestors, current research in TSP has vastly focused only on major histocompatibility complex (MHC). In this review we summarise the evidence available on TSP in human and animal immune genes to reveal that TSP is not a MHC-specific evolutionary pattern. Further research should clearly pay more attention to the investigation of TSP in innate immune genes and especially pattern recognition receptors which are promising candidates for this type of evolution. More effort should also be made to distinguish TSP from convergent evolution and adaptive introgression. Identification of balanced TSP variants may represent an accurate approach in evolutionary medicine to recognise disease-resistance alleles.

• MeSH
• Alleles MeSH
• Major Histocompatibility Complex genetics   immunology   MeSH
• Host-Pathogen Interactions genetics   immunology   MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Evolution, Molecular MeSH
• Polymorphism, Genetic genetics   immunology   MeSH
• Immunity, Innate genetics   immunology   MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Review MeSH

Nemoci ledvin mohou graviditě předcházet nebo se manifestují až v jejím průběhu. V prvním trimestru vzniká akutní poškození ledvin nejčastěji následkem hyperemesis gravidarum, ektopické gravidity nebo potratu. Ve druhém a třetím trimestru jsou nejčastějšími příčinami akutního poškození ledvin těžké formy preeklampsie, HELLP syndrom, akutní těhotenská steatóza a trombotická mikroangiopatie. Stanovení dia­gnózy u těchto stavů je často problematické. Kortikální nekróza a obstrukční uropatie mohou též vést k akutnímu poškození ledvin. Včasné rozpoznání těchto poruch je nezbytnou podmínkou včasného zahájení léčby a zlepšení prognózy těhotné ženy i plodu. U žen s preexistujícím onemocněním ledvin, zejména chronickou glomerulonefritidou, diabetickou nefropatií a lupusovou nefritidou, závisí výsledky těhotenství i na stupni stupni poškození ledvin, tíži proteinurie a závažnosti hypertenze. U většiny pacientek s mírnou poruchou funkce ledvin a dobrou korekcí hypertenze je prognóza těhotenství i renálních funkcí pacientky dobrá. U nemocných se středně těžkou nebo těžkou poruchou funkce ledvin jsou však výsledky těhotenství horší. V posledních letech naše znalosti v problematice interakce renálních funkcí a gravidity výrazně pokročily, což umožnilo zlepšení výsledků těhotenství u nefrologických pacientek. Přibývají případy úspěšných těhotenství u pacientek v konečném stadiu selhání ledvin, na dialyzační léčbě a po transplantaci ledviny. U těhotných pacientek po transplantaci ledviny je nutné speciální plánování farmakoterapie.

Kidney disease and pregnancy may exist in two general settings: acute kidney injury that develops during pregnancy, and chronic kidney disease that predates conception. In the first trimester of pregnancy, acute kidney injury is most often the result of hyperemesis gravidarum, ectopic pregnancy, or miscarriage. In the second and third trimesters, the common causes of acute kidney injury are severe preeclampsia; haemolysis, elevated liver enzymes and low platelets syndrome; acute fatty liver of pregnancy; and thrombotic microangiopathies, which may pose diagnostic challenges to the clinician. Cortical necrosis and obstructive uropathy are other conditions that may lead to acute kidney injury in these trimesters. Early recognition of these disorders is essential to timely treatment and can improve both maternal and foetal outcomes. In women with preexisting kidney disease, mainly including chronic glomerulonephritis diabetic nephropathy and lupus nephritis, pregnancy‑related outcomes depend upon the degree of renal impairment, the amount of proteinuria, and the severity of hypertension. In the majority of patients with mild renal function impairment, and well‑controlled blood pressure, pregnancy is usually successful and does not alter the natural course of maternal renal disease. Conversely, fetal outcome and long‑term maternal renal function might be seriously threatened by pregnancy in women with moderate or severe renal function impairment. During the last few years, advances in our knowledge about the interaction of pregnancy and renal function has resulted in the improvement of foetal outcome in patients with chronic renal failure and also in the management of pregnant women with end‑stage renal disease (ESRD) maintained on dialysis. Neonatal and maternal outcomes in pregnancies among renal transplant patients are generally good if the mother has normal baseline allograft function. Common renally active drugs and immunosuppressant medications must be prescribed, with special considerations in pregnant patients.

• MeSH
• Acute Kidney Injury etiology   complications   MeSH
• Kidney Failure, Chronic etiology   complications   MeSH
• Dialysis MeSH
• HELLP Syndrome MeSH
• Hemodynamics MeSH
• Hypertension, Pregnancy-Induced drug therapy   MeSH
• Hypertension drug therapy   complications   MeSH
• Pregnancy Complications * MeSH
• Kidney physiology   MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Kidney Diseases * complications   MeSH
• Pre-Eclampsia physiopathology   therapy   MeSH
• Proteinuria etiology   complications   therapy   MeSH
• Renal Insufficiency complications   MeSH
• Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic complications   MeSH
• Pregnancy physiology   MeSH
• Kidney Transplantation MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Pregnancy physiology   MeSH
• Female MeSH

We develop a decision tree based game-theoretical approach for constructing functional responses in multi-prey/multi-patch environments and for finding the corresponding optimal foraging strategies. Decision trees provide a way to describe details of predator foraging behavior, based on the predator's sequence of choices at different decision points, that facilitates writing down the corresponding functional response. It is shown that the optimal foraging behavior that maximizes predator energy intake per unit time is a Nash equilibrium of the underlying optimal foraging game. We apply these game-theoretical methods to three scenarios: the classical diet choice model with two types of prey and sequential prey encounters, the diet choice model with simultaneous prey encounters, and a model in which the predator requires a positive recognition time to identify the type of prey encountered. For both diet choice models, it is shown that every Nash equilibrium yields optimal foraging behavior. Although suboptimal Nash equilibrium outcomes may exist when prey recognition time is included, only optimal foraging behavior is stable under evolutionary learning processes.

• MeSH
• Predatory Behavior MeSH
• Models, Theoretical * MeSH
• Game Theory * MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH