Diversity of methanogens in the hindgut of captive white rhinoceroses, Ceratotherium simum.

Background: The white rhinoceros is on the verge of extinction with less than 20,200 animals remaining in the wild. In order to better protect these endangered animals, it is necessary to better understand their digestive physiology and nutritional requirements. The gut microbiota is nutritionally important for herbivorous animals.

Responses of queenright and queenless workers of Apis cerana to 9-keto-2(E)-decenoic acid, a pheromonal constituent of the mandibular gland.

In dequeened honeybee colonies ovarian activation occurs in some workers, and the pheromonal bouquets of these laying workers become more queen-like. In the Asiatic honeybee, Apis cerana, we compared the amount of 9-keto-2(E)-decenoic acid (9-ODA), a mandibular gland pheromone component, between non-laying workers from queenright colonies and laying workers from queenless colonies, and further, applied synthetic 9-ODA to workers to determine whether they discriminate workers with activated ovaries based on the level of this compound. Levels of 9-ODA were higher in laying workers from dequeened colonies than in non-laying workers from queenright colonies.

Comb construction in mixed-species colonies of honeybees, Apis cerana and Apis mellifera.

Comb building in mixed-species colonies of Apis cerana and Apis mellifera was studied. Two types of cell-size foundation were made from the waxes of these species and inserted into mixed colonies headed either by an A. cerana or an A.

Thermoregulation in mixed-species colonies of honeybees (Apis cerana and Apis mellifera).

Apis cerana and Apis mellifera normally display different strategies in cooling hive temperature, raising the question whether they would coordinate their efforts in to achieve stable thermoregulation in mixed colonies. The results show that the normal temperatures in the brood area in mixed colonies are more similar to those of pure A. cerana colonies than pure A.