Glyphosate formulations cause mortality and diverse sublethal defects during embryonic development of the amphibian Xenopuslaevis.

The human impact on environmental landscapes, such as land use, climate change or pollution, is threatening global biodiversity and ecosystems maintenance. Pesticides like the herbicide glyphosate have garnered considerable attention due to their well-documented harmful effects on non-target species. During application, the active ingredient glyphosate is utilized in various formulations, each containing different additive adjuvants.

Geometrical multiscale tortuosity of desert ant walking trajectories.

Desert ants stand out as some of the most intriguing insect navigators, having captured the attention of scientists for decades. This includes the structure of walking trajectories during goal approach and search behaviour for the nest and familiar feeding sites. In the present study, we analysed such trajectories with regard to changes in walking direction.

Fine mapping of major QTL qshgd1 for spontaneous haploid genome doubling in maize (Zea mays L.).

A large-effect QTL was fine mapped, which revealed 79 gene models, with 10 promising candidate genes, along with a novel inversion. In commercial maize breeding, doubled haploid (DH) technology is arguably the most efficient resource for rapidly developing novel, completely homozygous lines. However, the DH strategy, using in vivo haploid induction, currently requires the use of mutagenic agents which can be not only hazardous, but laborious.

Geometrical multiscale tortuosity of desert ant walking trajectories.

Desert ants stand out as some of the most intriguing insect navigators, having captured the attention of scientists for decades. This includes the structure of walking trajectories during goal approach and search behaviour for the nest and familiar feeding sites. In the present study, we analysed such trajectories with regard to changes in walking direction.

Flupyradifurone negatively affects survival, physical condition and mobility in the two-spotted lady beetle (Adalia bipunctata).

Lady beetles play a crucial role in natural ecosystems and agricultural settings. Unfortunately, these insects and more specifically the two-spotted lady beetle (Adalia bipunctata) are currently facing a severe decline in populations due to various stressors, with pesticide exposure being a significant threat. Flupyradifurone is a relatively newly introduced insecticide and as existing research is mainly elucidating its effects on bees there remains a limited understanding of its effects on non-hymenopteran insects, including lady beetles.

Influence of the pesticide flupyradifurone on mobility and physical condition of larval green lacewings.

Global pesticide use in agriculture is one reason for the rapid insect decline in recent years. The relatively new pesticide flupyradifurone is neurotoxic to pest insects but considered harmless to bees according to previous risk assessments. With this study, we aim to investigate lethal and sublethal effects of flupyradifurone on larvae of the beneficial arthropod Chrysoperla carnea.

The neonicotinoid thiacloprid leads to multiple defects during early embryogenesis of the South African clawed frog (Xenopuslaevis).

There is increasing concern about the health effects of pesticides that pollute natural waters. In particular, the use of neonicotinoids, such as thiacloprid (THD), is causing unease. THD is considered non-toxic to non-target vertebrates.

Influence of caste and subcaste characteristics on locomotion in the ant Camponotus fellah.

Worker polymorphism in ants has evolved repeatedly, with considerable differences in the morphometry of worker subcastes. Such body size differences and especially caste- and subcaste-specific characteristics might significantly influence locomotion. Therefore, we performed a comprehensive locomotion analysis along gradients in both body size and walking speed of Camponotus fellah worker subcastes, and of males, which have rarely been studied to date because of their short life spans associated with mating flights.

Locomotion in the pseudoscorpion Chelifer cancroides: forward, backward and upside-down walking in an eight-legged arthropod.

While insect locomotion has been intensively studied, there are comparably few studies investigating octopedal walking behaviour, and very little is known about pseudoscorpions in particular. Therefore, we performed an extensive locomotion analysis during forward, backward and upside-down walking in the cosmopolitan pseudoscorpion Chelifer cancroides. During forward locomotion, we observed C.

Impact of glyphosate-based herbicide on early embryonic development of the amphibian Xenopus laevis.

Background: Worldwide, amphibian populations are declining drastically. One reason might be the use of pesticides including herbicides. The herbicide glyphosate is an inhibitor of the 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate (EPSP) synthase of the plant shikimate pathway, preventing the formation of aromatic amino acids and thus inducing plant death.

Anatomy of the Nervous System in (Arachnida: Pseudoscorpiones) with a Distinct Sensory Pathway Associated with the Pedipalps.

Many arachnid taxa have evolved unique, highly specialized sensory structures such as antenniform legs in Amblypygi (whip spiders), for instance, or mesosomal pectines in scorpions. Knowledge of the neuroanatomy as well as functional aspects of these sensory organs is rather scarce, especially in comparison to other arthropod clades. In pseudoscorpions, no special sensory structures have been discovered so far.

Allometry in desert ant locomotion (Cataglyphis albicans and Cataglyphis bicolor) - does body size matter?

Desert ants show a large range of adaptations to their habitats. They can reach extremely high running speeds, for example, to shorten heat stress during foraging trips. It has recently been examined how fast walking speeds are achieved in different desert ant species.

Arthropod spatial cognition.

The feats of arthropods, and of the well-studied insects and crustaceans in particular, have fascinated scientists and laymen alike for centuries. Arthropods show a diverse repertoire of cognitive feats, of often unexpected sophistication. Despite their smaller brains and resulting lower neuronal capacity, the cognitive abilities of arthropods are comparable to, or may even exceed, those of vertebrates, depending on the species compared.

Accuracy and spread of nest search behaviour in the Saharan silver ant, Cataglyphis bombycina, and in the salt pan species, Cataglyphis fortis.

Desert ants of the genus Cataglyphis are renowned for their navigation abilities, especially for their beeline homing after meandering foraging excursions reaching several hundreds of meters in length. A spiralling nest search is performed when an ant misses the nest entrance upon completing its homebound travel. We examined the nest search behaviours of two desert ant species dwelling in different habitats-Cataglyphis bombycina living in the dunes of the Sahara and Cataglyphis fortis found in the salt pans of North Africa.

High-speed locomotion in the Saharan silver ant, .

The diurnal thermophilic Saharan silver ant, , is the fastest of the North African desert ant species. These highly mobile ants endure the extreme temperatures of their sand dune environment with outstanding behavioural, physiological and morphological adaptations. Surprisingly, has comparatively shorter legs than its well-studied sister species from salt pan habitats.

Two distance memories in desert ants-Modes of interaction.

Navigation plays an essential role for many animals leading a mobile mode of life, and for central place foragers in particular. One important prerequisite for navigation is the ability to estimate distances covered during locomotion. It has been shown that Cataglyphis desert ants, well-established model organisms in insect navigation, use two odometer mechanisms, namely, stride and optic flow integration.

Complete Genome Sequence of Strain SC-3B.

This study reports the release of the complete nucleotide sequence of SC-3B, a new efficient producer of cellulose. Elucidation of the genome may provide more information to aid in understanding the genes necessary for cellulose biosynthesis.

Complete Genome Sequence of LMG 23726.

This study reports the release of the complete nucleotide sequence of LMG 23726 This organism is a cellulose producer, and its genome may provide more information to aid in the understanding of the genes necessary for cellulose biosynthesis.

Complete Genome Sequence of Strain HUM-1.

This study reports the release of the complete nucleotide sequence of HUM-1, a new efficient producer of cellulose. Elucidation of the genome may provide more information to aid in understanding the genes necessary for cellulose biosynthesis.

Naturalistic path integration of desert ants on an air-cushioned lightweight spherical treadmill.

Air-cushioned spheres are widely used as treadmills to study behavioural and neurophysiological questions in numerous species. We describe an improved spherical treadmill design that reliably registers the path and walking behaviour of an animal walking on top of the sphere. The simple and robust set-up consists of a very light hollowed styrofoam ball supported by an air stream in a hollow half sphere and can be used indoors and outdoors.

Optic flow odometry operates independently of stride integration in carried ants.

Cataglyphis desert ants are impressive navigators. When the foragers roam the desert, they employ path integration. For these ants, distance estimation is one key challenge.

Complete Genome Sequence of a Novel Strain of Cyanobacterium, Anabaena sp. 4-3.

We report the complete nucleotide sequence of Anabaena sp. 4-3, an efficient producer of sucrose. It was isolated from salt flats near the University of Texas Marine Science Institute in Port Aransas, Texas.

Complete Genome Sequence of the Cyanobacterium Anabaena sp. 33047.

This study presents the complete nucleotide sequence of Anabaena sp. ATCC 33047 (Anabaena CA), a filamentous, nitrogen-fixing marine cyanobacterium, which under salt stress conditions accumulates sucrose internally. The elucidation of the genome will contribute to the understanding of cyanobacterial diversity.

Complete Genome Sequence of a Gluconacetobacter hansenii ATCC 23769 Isolate, AY201, Producer of Bacterial Cellulose and Important Model Organism for the Study of Cellulose Biosynthesis.

The cellulose producer and model organism used for the study of cellulose biosynthesis, Gluconacetobacter hansenii AY201, is a variant of G. hansenii ATCC 23769. We report here the complete nucleotide sequence of G.

Complete Genome Sequence of Gluconacetobacter hansenii Strain NQ5 (ATCC 53582), an Efficient Producer of Bacterial Cellulose.

This study reports the release of the complete nucleotide sequence of Gluconacetobacter hansenii strain NQ5 (ATCC 53582). This strain was isolated by R. Malcolm Brown, Jr.