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Animal Sciences Commons

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2013

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Articles 1141 - 1169 of 1169

Full-Text Articles in Animal Sciences

Terminal Atrial Standstill With Ventricular Escape Rhythm In A Neonatal Calf With Acute Diarrhea, Abdullah Başoğlu, Uğur Aydoğdu Jan 2013

Terminal Atrial Standstill With Ventricular Escape Rhythm In A Neonatal Calf With Acute Diarrhea, Abdullah Başoğlu, Uğur Aydoğdu

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

Here we present a case of terminal atrial standstill with ventricular escape rhythm associated with hyperkalemia and metabolic acidosis contributed to by diarrhea and lactate in a neonatal calf. This life-threatening arrhythmia disappeared and sinus rhythm was obtained by fluid therapy consisting of isotonic saline with NaHCO_3 and epinephrine.


A Comparative Study Of Some Blood Factors In Male And Female Caspian Kutum (Rutilus Frisii Kutum) Broodstock From The Southern Basin Of The Caspian Sea, Farid Firouzbakhsh, Zeynab Abedi, Hossain Rahmani, Mohammad K. Khalesi Jan 2013

A Comparative Study Of Some Blood Factors In Male And Female Caspian Kutum (Rutilus Frisii Kutum) Broodstock From The Southern Basin Of The Caspian Sea, Farid Firouzbakhsh, Zeynab Abedi, Hossain Rahmani, Mohammad K. Khalesi

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

In this study, some serum factors in male and female Caspian kutum (Rutilus frisii kutum) broodstocks were investigated. The estimated values were compared between male and female fish of various age groups. A total of 80 mature fish (40 males and 40 females) were randomly caught from the Shirood and Tajen rivers (southern Caspian Sea) during spawning season. Blood samples were then taken from the caudal peduncles and the serum biochemical parameters were measured according to common laboratory methods. Cholesterol levels showed significant differences (P < 0.05) between male and female broodstocks from the Tajen River, as well as between male and female kutum of the Tajen and Shirood rivers. Comparison of the estimated serum factors with the fish ages revealed no significant changes (P > 0.05). A high correlation was found between total protein and weight in fish from both …


Fattening Performance And Carcass Traits Of Lambs Obtained By Crossing The Hasmer And Hasak Sheep Types With The Akkaraman Breed, Mehmet Çolak, Mehmet Emi̇n Teki̇n, Ahmet Hamdi̇ Aktaş, Necdet Akay, Tülay Canatan Yilmaz Jan 2013

Fattening Performance And Carcass Traits Of Lambs Obtained By Crossing The Hasmer And Hasak Sheep Types With The Akkaraman Breed, Mehmet Çolak, Mehmet Emi̇n Teki̇n, Ahmet Hamdi̇ Aktaş, Necdet Akay, Tülay Canatan Yilmaz

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

The present study investigated the fattening performance and carcass traits of lambs obtained by the crossing of the Hasak and Hasmer sheep types, developed at the Bahri Dağdaş International Agricultural Research Institute, with publicly owned Akkaraman sheep. Of each of these groups, 7 male and 7 female lambs of approximately 75 days of age were raised under an intensive feedlot system. The fattening period lasted 70 days, and, at the end of this period, 5 lambs were slaughtered from each group with the aim of determining carcass traits. In conclusion, the percentage of tail fat was reduced with the decreasing …


High Clinical Disturbance And Mortality In Pigeon Flocks Caused By Hadjelia Truncata Infection In Sistan, Iran, Reza Nabavi, Javad Khedri, Mehdi Jahantigh Jan 2013

High Clinical Disturbance And Mortality In Pigeon Flocks Caused By Hadjelia Truncata Infection In Sistan, Iran, Reza Nabavi, Javad Khedri, Mehdi Jahantigh

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

A large number of birds in 3 pigeon flocks (containing 637 individuals) were severely affected by Hadjelia truncata. This was observed in April 2011 in Sistan District in Iran. In the affected birds, progressive weight loss, weakness, and death were observed. In the necropsy of 8 cases the gizzards were larger and softer than normal and in all of them distortion was detected. Stool examination by the Clayton Lane method revealed 72% infection among domestic pigeons. The hematological analysis of affected birds showed signs of decline in hematocrit and total protein volume. A levamisole treatment program could successfully remove the …


Presence Of Mycoplasmas In The Respiratory System Of Small Ruminants Managed Under An Extensive Production System, Zinka Maksimovic, Christian De La Fe, Maid Rifatbegovic Jan 2013

Presence Of Mycoplasmas In The Respiratory System Of Small Ruminants Managed Under An Extensive Production System, Zinka Maksimovic, Christian De La Fe, Maid Rifatbegovic

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

The objective of this study was to investigate the presence of mycoplasmas in the respiratory system of sheep and goat populations managed under extensive production systems. Specific culture and polymerase chain reaction techniques were performed on a total of 88 lung tissue samples and 142 nasal swabs obtained from multiple herds in Bosnia and Herzegovina. A total of 29 samples (12.6%) were found to be positive for mycoplasmas. Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae was detected in the nasal swabs and lungs of affected sheep (n = 19) and in the lungs of asymptomatic goat kids (n = 2), while M. arginini (n = …


Use Of A Gracilis Myocutaneous Flap For Reconstruction Of A Perineal Defect In A Dog: Case Report, Suyoung Heo, Haebeom Lee, Nam Soo Kim Jan 2013

Use Of A Gracilis Myocutaneous Flap For Reconstruction Of A Perineal Defect In A Dog: Case Report, Suyoung Heo, Haebeom Lee, Nam Soo Kim

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

A male Beagle dog was referred with a perineal wound after perineal herniorrhaphy. Open wound management was performed, using wet-to-dry contact dressing with daily debridement and lavage for 7 days. The wound was reconstructed with an island gracilis myocutaneous flap (GMCF). The wound healed without any complications, while limb and pelvic function were uncompromised. Based on the outcome of the present case, it is proposed that transposition of the GMCF can be an effective alternative for reconstruction of soft tissue defects in the perineal area.


Checklist Of Small Ruminant Gastrointestinal Nematodes And Their Geographical Distribution In Turkey, Feri̇de Sevi̇mli̇ Jan 2013

Checklist Of Small Ruminant Gastrointestinal Nematodes And Their Geographical Distribution In Turkey, Feri̇de Sevi̇mli̇

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

This review presents a search of the literature about gastrointestinal nematodosis of small ruminants. The search was performed on 58 articles published on necropsied sheep and goats between 1937 and 2011 in Turkey. This review identified 43 nematode species belonging to sheep and goats, assessed the prevalence of infection in different regions of Turkey, and evaluated the effect of age, sex, race, nutrition, and seasonal condition. This is the first review that specifically evaluated the gastrointestinal nematodes of small ruminants for 74 annual periods in Turkey.


Immunokinetics Of Theileria Equi Specific Antibodies: A Comparison In Serial And Single Dilution Elisa Antibody End Titres, Yogesh Kumar, Dharam Vir Malhotra, Anil Kumar Nichani, Ashok Kumar, Shruti Dhar, Sanjay Kumar Jan 2013

Immunokinetics Of Theileria Equi Specific Antibodies: A Comparison In Serial And Single Dilution Elisa Antibody End Titres, Yogesh Kumar, Dharam Vir Malhotra, Anil Kumar Nichani, Ashok Kumar, Shruti Dhar, Sanjay Kumar

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

Theileria equi, a haemoprotozoan of equids, is responsible for endemic infection/latency in tropical/subtropical parts of the world. The present study investigated the immunokinetics of T. equi infection in experimental animals and the diagnostic applicability of single dilution ELISA vis-à-vis conventional serial dilution ELISA. Sequential serum samples were collected up to 90 days postinfection (PI) from 4 donkeys experimentally infected with T. equi. Immunokinetics of T. equi antibodies end titre were determined by serial and single dilution ELISA. A significant rise in initial ELISA antibody end titre (1:800 in serial dilution ELISA and from 1:600 to 1:650 in single dilution ELISA) …


Oral Abscess Associated With Cranial Tooth Loss In Green Iguana (Iguana Iguana), Tzvetan Chaprazov, Rosen Dimitrov, Kamelia Stamatova Yovcheva Jan 2013

Oral Abscess Associated With Cranial Tooth Loss In Green Iguana (Iguana Iguana), Tzvetan Chaprazov, Rosen Dimitrov, Kamelia Stamatova Yovcheva

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

The aim of this study was to describe the morphology and results of treatment of an iguana’s oral abscess. A case of unilateral oral abscesses with tooth loss in a male green iguana (Iguana iguana) was presented. Gingival necrosis and a pocket of caseous yellow-gray pus were visible in the soft tissues. Some cranial teeth were found loose within the necrotic tissue. Radiographic study showed decreased bone density. Treatment of the abscess involved opening up the pus-filled abscess and manually cleaning it out. The bacteriology confirmed a culture of Pseudomonas aeruginosa sensitive to enrofloxacin, gentamicin, and chloramphenicol.


Atp-Induced Changes In F-Actin Expression Via P2x7, Taylor Hircock Jan 2013

Atp-Induced Changes In F-Actin Expression Via P2x7, Taylor Hircock

Honors Program Theses

The purpose of this research project was to study the effects that extracellular ATP has on F-actin levels in cells containing the P2X7 purinergic receptor. MAC-T cells which express the receptor were exposed to various levels of ATP and stained to undergo flow cytometry. In this case, F-actin was labeled with 488 phalloidin which was able to be detected by the flow cytometer. This was done in conjuction with controls to show how ATP exposure affected Factin levels. Based on these results, the cytoskeletal changes taking place in the cell in response to ATP were able to be measured and …


Cooperative Breeding And Long-Distance Dispersal: A Test Using Vagrant Records, Caroline L. Rusk, Eric L. Walters, Walter D. Koenig Jan 2013

Cooperative Breeding And Long-Distance Dispersal: A Test Using Vagrant Records, Caroline L. Rusk, Eric L. Walters, Walter D. Koenig

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Cooperative breeding is generally associated with increased philopatry and sedentariness, presumably because short-distance dispersal facilitates the maintenance of kin groups. There are, however, few data on long-distance dispersal in cooperative breeders-the variable likely to be important for genetic diversification and speciation. We tested the hypothesis that cooperative breeders are less likely to engage in long-distance dispersal events by comparing records of vagrants outside their normal geographic range for matched pairs (cooperatively vs. non-cooperatively breeding) of North American species of birds. Results failed to support the hypothesis of reduced long-distance dispersal among cooperative breeders. Thus, our results counter the conclusion that …


Does Pitcher Plant Morphology Affect Spider Residency?, Marc A. Milne, Deborah A. Waller Jan 2013

Does Pitcher Plant Morphology Affect Spider Residency?, Marc A. Milne, Deborah A. Waller

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Spiders are often found as residents in association with Sarracenia purpurea ( Purple Pitcher Plant). Many spiders choose web locations based on environmental cues such as vegetation structure and composition, prey density, temperature, and humidity. To determine if spiders use cues from the Purple Pitcher Plant to build their webs, we conducted a field study using variants of the plant that separated various morphological features: nectar, pigment, and the presence of prey. There was no difference in spider residency across all treatments and no difference in male/female or mature/immature residency. Linyphiids were the most common residents, possibly due to pitcher …


Chemical Defense Of An Asian Snake Reflects Local Availability Of Toxic Prey And Hatchling Diet, D. A. Hutchinson, A. H. Savitzky, G. M. Burghardt, C. Nguyen, J. Meinwald, F. C. Schroeder, A. Mori Jan 2013

Chemical Defense Of An Asian Snake Reflects Local Availability Of Toxic Prey And Hatchling Diet, D. A. Hutchinson, A. H. Savitzky, G. M. Burghardt, C. Nguyen, J. Meinwald, F. C. Schroeder, A. Mori

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Species that sequester toxins from prey for their own defense against predators may exhibit population-level variation in their chemical arsenal that reflects the availability of chemically defended prey in their habitat. Rhabdophis tigrinus is an Asian snake that possesses defensive glands in the skin of its neck (nuchal glands'), which typically contain toxic bufadienolide steroids that the snakes sequester from consumed toads. In this study, we compared the chemistry of the nuchal gland fluid of R.tigrinus from toad-rich and toad-free islands in Japan and determined the effect of diet on the nuchal gland constituents. Our findings demonstrate that captive-hatched juveniles …


Evaluation Of A Pilot Land-Based Marine Integrated Aquaculture System, Suzanne Boxman Jan 2013

Evaluation Of A Pilot Land-Based Marine Integrated Aquaculture System, Suzanne Boxman

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) produce aquaculture products on land with minimal discharge of waste products and minimal water loss. High costs associated with waste treatment for RAS have triggered the growth of integrated aquaculture systems (IAS) which incorporate macrophytes (aquatic plants) into the treatment train. The objective of this research was to examine a pilot scale inland marine IAS with three different methods for solids treatment: a sand filter followed by a plant bed, only a plant bed, and geotextile bags. Florida Pompano (Trachinotus carolinus) were grown along with Smooth Cordgrass (Spartina alterniflora), Black Needle Rush …


Relative Survival Of Gags Mycteroperca Microlepis Released Within A Recreational Hook-And-Line Fishery: Application Of The Cox Regression Model To Control For Heterogeneity In A Large-Scale Mark-Recapture Study, Beverly J. Sauls Jan 2013

Relative Survival Of Gags Mycteroperca Microlepis Released Within A Recreational Hook-And-Line Fishery: Application Of The Cox Regression Model To Control For Heterogeneity In A Large-Scale Mark-Recapture Study, Beverly J. Sauls

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The objectives of this study were to measure injuries and impairments directly observed from gags Mycteroperca microlepis caught and released within a large-scale recreational fishery, develop methods that may be used to rapidly assess the condition of reef fish discards, and estimate the total portion of discards in the fishery that suffer latent mortality. Fishery observers were placed on for-hire charter and headboat vessels operating in the Gulf of Mexico from June 2009 through December 2012 to directly observe reef fishes as they were caught by recreational anglers fishing with hook-and-line gear. Fish that were not retained by anglers were …


Variations Of Ghrelin, Growth Hormone, And Insulin-Like Growth Factor I In The West Indian Manatee (Trichechus Manatus), Rachel Lynn Cimino Jan 2013

Variations Of Ghrelin, Growth Hormone, And Insulin-Like Growth Factor I In The West Indian Manatee (Trichechus Manatus), Rachel Lynn Cimino

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The metabolic hormones ghrelin, growth hormone, and insulin-like growth factor I are influenced by developmental age, sex, and nutritional status in domestic and free-ranging species. However the role these hormones play has not previously been explored in sub-tropical/ tropical mammals. Furthermore, the seasonality of species with less dynamic environmental cues, such as the West Indian manatee, have not been studied. The West Indian manatee is and endangered species distributed in the southeastern United States and throughout the Caribbean basin, and its nutritional physiology is influenced by environmental factors. Understanding the hormone response to nutritional status in this species and its …


Commentary Managing Risk From Bears And Other Potentially Lethal Wildlife: Predictability, Accountability, And Liability, Stephen Stringham Jan 2013

Commentary Managing Risk From Bears And Other Potentially Lethal Wildlife: Predictability, Accountability, And Liability, Stephen Stringham

Human–Wildlife Interactions

No abstract provided.


Commentary Rethinking Airport Land-Cover Paradigms: Agriculture, Grass, And Wildlife Hazards, Travis L. Devault, Michael J. Begier, Jerrold L. Belant, Bradley F. Blackwell, Richard A. Dolbeer, James A. Martin, Thomas W. Seamans, Brian E. Washburn Jan 2013

Commentary Rethinking Airport Land-Cover Paradigms: Agriculture, Grass, And Wildlife Hazards, Travis L. Devault, Michael J. Begier, Jerrold L. Belant, Bradley F. Blackwell, Richard A. Dolbeer, James A. Martin, Thomas W. Seamans, Brian E. Washburn

Human–Wildlife Interactions

No abstract provided.


Generational Habituation And Current Bald Eagle Populations, Jeremy E. Guinn Jan 2013

Generational Habituation And Current Bald Eagle Populations, Jeremy E. Guinn

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) populations have expanded, even as increasing human presence and activity near nesting sites has increased. The generational habituation hypothesis may explain current bald eagle behaviors associated with human presence. Generational habituation begins when a juvenile imprints on a nest area near human activity, then selects a similar nest site when it is reproductively mature. Successive generations also may imprint on nest sites near human activity, expanding the population into areas that once were considered suboptimal nesting habitat. Generational habituation has implications in several areas important to basic and applied ecology in a wide range …


Influence Of Removal Sampling Of Small Mammals On Abundance And Diversity Attributes: Scientific Implications, Thomas P. Sullivan, Druscilla S. Sullivan Jan 2013

Influence Of Removal Sampling Of Small Mammals On Abundance And Diversity Attributes: Scientific Implications, Thomas P. Sullivan, Druscilla S. Sullivan

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Terrestrial small mammals occupy a variety of temperate and boreal forests in North America and Eurasia and contribute to biodiversity within these ecosystems. Researchers commonly use a variation of removal trapping to sample small-mammal populations and communities in these systems. However, it is not known if recurrent removal sampling might bias abundance estimates or alter the very populations under study. We addressed 2 questions: (1) are estimates of population size and species richness and diversity gained from removal trapping different from those based on live-trapping? and (2) what residual impact does removal trapping have on small-mammal populations and communities, as …


Consumption Of Whole Cottonseed By White-Tailed Deer And Nontarget Species, Benjamin D. Taylor, Eddie Lyons, Dale Rollins, Cody B. Scott, James E. Huston, Charles A. Taylor Jan 2013

Consumption Of Whole Cottonseed By White-Tailed Deer And Nontarget Species, Benjamin D. Taylor, Eddie Lyons, Dale Rollins, Cody B. Scott, James E. Huston, Charles A. Taylor

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Supplementing diets of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) with pelleted rations is an increasingly common practice aimed at increasing deer antler size on rangelands in Texas. Feed loss to consumption by various nontarget species (e.g., raccoons [Procyon lotor] and feral pigs [Sus scrofa]) raises both ecological and economic concerns. Whole cottonseed is a feedstuff that may afford a more targeted supplemental feeding effort. Accordingly, we determined: (1) consumption rates of whole cottonseed by feral pigs and raccoons in captivity; and (2) species visitation at feed sites and preference for whole cottonseed relative to whole corn …


Potential Role Of Wildlife In Pathogenic Contamination Of Fresh Produce, Jeff A. Langholz, Michele T. Jay-Russell Jan 2013

Potential Role Of Wildlife In Pathogenic Contamination Of Fresh Produce, Jeff A. Langholz, Michele T. Jay-Russell

Human–Wildlife Interactions

The safety of fresh produce is an important concern in the United States, especially in the wake of recent national foodborne illness outbreaks. The agricultural industry has implemented steps to enhance food safety along the entire farm-to-fork supply chain. This includes on-farm measures to exclude wildlife and to remove its habitat in and around fields. Farmers and others from across the United States have expressed concern about the ecological consequences and uncertain food safety benefits of such practices. This article reviews the scientific rationale behind management of wildlife and its habitat as part of good agriculture practices for enhancing food …


Avian Diets In A Saline Ecosystem: Great Salt Lake, Utah, Usa, Anthony J. Roberts Jan 2013

Avian Diets In A Saline Ecosystem: Great Salt Lake, Utah, Usa, Anthony J. Roberts

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Saline lakes provide a prey-rich, predator-free environment for birds to utilize during migration and stopover periods. The Great Salt Lake (GSL), Utah is the largest salt lake in North America and is utilized by millions of migratory birds. It also is host to multiple commercial endeavors. Proposed expansion of commercial use of the GSL would result in increased impounded area and water extraction for mineral production, which may increase the GSL’s salinity and negatively impact invertebrate abundance. I review previous literature and synthesize diets of avian species utilizing the GSL to determine the importance of each invertebrate species, including brine …


In The News, Joe N. Caudell Jan 2013

In The News, Joe N. Caudell

Human–Wildlife Interactions

No abstract provided.


Beware The Boojum: Caveats And Strengths Of Avian Radar, Robert C. Beason, Tim J. Nohara, Peter Weber Jan 2013

Beware The Boojum: Caveats And Strengths Of Avian Radar, Robert C. Beason, Tim J. Nohara, Peter Weber

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Radar provides a useful and powerful tool to wildlife biologists and ornithologists. However, radar also has the potential for errors on a scale not previously possible. In this paper, we focus on the strengths and limitations of avian surveillance radars that use marine radar front-ends integrated with digital radar processors to provide 360° of coverage. Modern digital radar processors automatically extract target information, including such various target attributes as location, speed, heading, intensity, and radar cross-section (size) as functions of time. Such data can be stored indefinitely, providing a rich resource for ornithologists and wildlife managers. Interpreting these attributes in …


Effects Of Site Characteristics, Pinyon-Juniper Management, And Precipitation On Habitat Quality For Mule Deer In New Mexico, Louis C. Bender, Jon C. Boren, Heather Halbritter, Shad Cox Jan 2013

Effects Of Site Characteristics, Pinyon-Juniper Management, And Precipitation On Habitat Quality For Mule Deer In New Mexico, Louis C. Bender, Jon C. Boren, Heather Halbritter, Shad Cox

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Wildlife enterprises are increasingly important to ranch income in the western United States. Habitat management practices that facilitate wildlife are needed for optimal management of multiple-use ranches, particularly for economically important species, such as mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus), that are declining throughout much of their range. We tested the effects of vegetation cover type, site characteristics, pinyon-juniper management treatments, and precipitation on body condition and size of spring-summer-autumn (SSA) home ranges of mule deer to assess habitat quality on the Corona Range and Livestock Research Center (CRLRC), a multiple-use research ranch in east central New Mexico. Accrual of …


Jaguar And Puma Attacks On Livestock In Costa Rica, Ronit Amit, Elias José Gordillo-Chávez, Raquel Bone Jan 2013

Jaguar And Puma Attacks On Livestock In Costa Rica, Ronit Amit, Elias José Gordillo-Chávez, Raquel Bone

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Human–felid conflicts threaten long-term conservation of jaguars (Panthera onca) and pumas (Puma concolor). We interviewed ranchers from 50 ranches and inspected farms in northern Costa Rica that reported recent attacks on livestock by these 2 felids. We analyzed ranch characteristics, livestock management practices, details of predation, estimated market-value of economic losses, and ranchers’ perception of damage. Ranchers reported 81 felid attacks on livestock, including 60 head of cattle, 16 horses, 3 sheep, 1 pig, and 1 goat. Mean size of ranches was 233 km2, and mean livestock herd size was 109, including cattle, horses, …


Deer-Activated Bioacoustic Frightening Device Deters White-Tailed Deer, Aaron M. Hildreth, Scott E. Hygnstrom, Kurt C. Vercauteren Jan 2013

Deer-Activated Bioacoustic Frightening Device Deters White-Tailed Deer, Aaron M. Hildreth, Scott E. Hygnstrom, Kurt C. Vercauteren

Human–Wildlife Interactions

White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) damage urban and suburban plantings, as well as crops and stored feed. We tested the efficacy of a frightening device that played pre-recorded distress calls of adult female white-tailed deer when activated by an infrared motion sensor for a period of 13 days. This deer-activated bioacoustic frightening device reduced deer entry into protected sites by 99% (δ = -558, P = 0.09) and bait consumption by 100% (δ = -75, P = 0.06). The frightening device that we evaluated demonstrated potential for reducing damage in disturbed environments and agricultural settings.


Exploring The Sulfide Tolerance Of Ectosymbiotic Niphargus Amphipods From The Frasassi Caves, Central Italy, Jan Bauermeister, Karoline Assig, Sharmishtha Dattagupta Jan 2013

Exploring The Sulfide Tolerance Of Ectosymbiotic Niphargus Amphipods From The Frasassi Caves, Central Italy, Jan Bauermeister, Karoline Assig, Sharmishtha Dattagupta

International Journal of Speleology

Two species of the crustacean amphipod genus Niphargus inhabit the sulfidic groundwaters of the Frasassi caves in central Italy, and both harbor filamentous, sulfide-oxidizing Thiothrix ectosymbionts. As sulfide is toxic to most aerobic organisms, it appeared possible that the ectosymbionts could help their Niphargus hosts with detoxification processes. In this study, mortality due to sulfide was compared between Niphargus individuals with ectosymbionts and individuals whose ectosymbionts had been killed by antibiotic treatment. Both Frasassi-dwelling Niphargus species revealed exceptionally high tolerances to sulfide compared to other amphipod species studied so far. Niphargus individuals without viable ectosymbionts tolerated sulfide levels exceeding those …