Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Zoology Commons™

Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

10,513 Full-Text Articles 13,595 Authors 4,374,313 Downloads 177 Institutions

All Articles in Zoology

Faceted Search

10,513 full-text articles. Page 52 of 331.

Effects Of Climate Change And Landscape-Scale Forest Management On Avian Communities, Abundance, And Nest Success In The Appalachian Mountains, Hannah L. Clipp 2023 West Virginia University

Effects Of Climate Change And Landscape-Scale Forest Management On Avian Communities, Abundance, And Nest Success In The Appalachian Mountains, Hannah L. Clipp

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Birds are integral components of ecosystems and account for billions of dollars in tangible benefits to humans. As such, recent continental declines of bird species have ecological and economic consequences, providing the impetus for my dissertation research. I identified knowledge gaps and proposed novel questions about how birds in the Appalachian Mountains are influenced by changing environmental conditions due to climate change and forest management. The Appalachian Mountains encompass an important biogeographical region with high conservation value due to its myriad habitats and corresponding bird species diversity. Thus, there is a critical need to evaluate the effects of shifting climate …


Skeletochronology In Long Tubular Bones Of The Javan Water Monitor Lizard, Varanus Salvator Bivittatus In The Juvenile Stage (Lacertilia: Varanidae), HELLEN KURNIATI, NI LUH PUTU RISCHA PHADMACANTY, GONO SEMIADI 2023 TÜBİTAK

Skeletochronology In Long Tubular Bones Of The Javan Water Monitor Lizard, Varanus Salvator Bivittatus In The Juvenile Stage (Lacertilia: Varanidae), Hellen Kurniati, Ni Luh Putu Rischa Phadmacanty, Gono Semiadi

Turkish Journal of Zoology

Age estimation of the juvenile stage of Varanus salvator bivittatus using limb bones, namely the big long tubular bones (femur, tibia, humerus) and the small long tubular bones (fibula, radius, ulna, phalanx), was performed using the skeletochronological method. Samples were from Java Island, Indonesia and provided by the pet exporters. Lines of arrested growth (LAG) were present and the first growth mark was visible on a female with a snout-vent length (SVL) of 18.8 cm, and a male with SVL of 19.3 cm. The process of resorption begins in the juvenile stage, and resorption occurs in all long tubular bones. …


The Impact Of Wheat Resistance And Bio-Rational Insecticides Toxicity Against Cherry-Oat Aphid, Rhopalosiphum Padi L. (Hemiptera: Aphididae), ANISA HAQ, WAHEED MURAD, SARIR AHMAD 2023 TÜBİTAK

The Impact Of Wheat Resistance And Bio-Rational Insecticides Toxicity Against Cherry-Oat Aphid, Rhopalosiphum Padi L. (Hemiptera: Aphididae), Anisa Haq, Waheed Murad, Sarir Ahmad

Turkish Journal of Zoology

Aphids cause substantial damage to the wheat crop. In order to determine how host plant resistance and insecticides manage the Rhopalosiphum padi L. Current experiments were carried out to find the influence of host plant resistance and bio-rational insecticides against aphids in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) crop. Field experiments were carried out for two growing years (2017/18 and 2018/19) to access the resistance of wheat against the aphids. The field resistance of wheat is highly expressed in Pirsabak-08 variety (infestation range = 1-2.5) while the most susceptible variety is Faisalabad-08 (infestation range > 10). The varietal preference experiment results revealed …


Population Abundance And Growth Parameters Of An Exotic Bivalve Species, Anadara Kagoshimensis, In The Southwestern Black Sea, MURAT DAĞTEKİN, GÖKTUĞ DALGIÇ, MURAT ERBAY, İLKAY ÖZCAN AKPINAR, MEHMET AYDIN, SÜLEYMAN ÖZDEMİR, AYŞE CEBECİ, SEDAT KARAYÜCEL 2023 TÜBİTAK

Population Abundance And Growth Parameters Of An Exotic Bivalve Species, Anadara Kagoshimensis, In The Southwestern Black Sea, Murat Dağteki̇n, Göktuğ Dalgiç, Murat Erbay, İlkay Özcan Akpinar, Mehmet Aydin, Süleyman Özdemi̇r, Ayşe Cebeci̇, Sedat Karayücel

Turkish Journal of Zoology

Blood cockle (Anadara kagoshimensis) is an Indo-Pacific species that later entered the Black Sea. The abundance of A. kagoshimensis, which is not subjected to commercial fishing, is important in terms of food competition with other bivalvia species. Baby clam (Chamelea gallina) together with the A. kagoshimensis are dominant bivalve species found in the sandy and muddy areas off the coastal waters of the Black Sea. In this study, specimens of A. kagoshimensis have been recognized by morphological analysis and also confirmed by molecular characterization. Furthermore, the abundance and growth parameters of A. kagoshimensis were investigated in the …


Ecological Factors Influencing The Breeding Performance Of Great Tits (Parus Major) In Artificial Nest Boxes, DONG-HO LEE, JAE-KANG LEE, TAE-KYUNG EOM, HO-KYOUNG BAE, HYEONGYU KO, SHIN-JAE RHIM 2023 TÜBİTAK

Ecological Factors Influencing The Breeding Performance Of Great Tits (Parus Major) In Artificial Nest Boxes, Dong-Ho Lee, Jae-Kang Lee, Tae-Kyung Eom, Ho-Kyoung Bae, Hyeongyu Ko, Shin-Jae Rhim

Turkish Journal of Zoology

Installing an artificial nest box has a positive effect on the cavity nesters such as great tit (Parus major). Beyond the process of installing an artificial nest box, a study on the effect of ecological factors on breeding performance is necessary. This study was conducted to evaluate the ecological factors influencing breeding performance of great tits (Parus major) in artificial nest boxes in temperate mixed forests. In this study, the first egg-laying date and percentage of shrub were closely related among ecological factors. Variable influencing clutch size was date of first egg-laying date. Percentage of shrub …


The Red-Footed Falcon Falco Vespertinus Population In The Danube Delta And Its Habitat Selection For Breeding, LUCIAN-EUGEN BOLBOACA, ALEXANDRU-CATALIN DOROSENCU, MIHAI MARINOV, MARTA PERAITA, MAXYM YAKOVLIEV, VASILE ALEXE 2023 TÜBİTAK

The Red-Footed Falcon Falco Vespertinus Population In The Danube Delta And Its Habitat Selection For Breeding, Lucian-Eugen Bolboaca, Alexandru-Catalin Dorosencu, Mihai Marinov, Marta Peraita, Maxym Yakovliev, Vasile Alexe

Turkish Journal of Zoology

The Danube Delta is an atypical and complex ecosystem on the border of the slowly shrinking breeding distribution of Falco vespertinus. In this paper, we study the population that breeds in this area and intend to understand its relationship with the environment in these circumstances. We registered 231 breeding pairs (bp), with a local density of 0.034 bp/km$^{2}$. We made a Nearest Neighbour Analysis which confirmed the natural condition of the facultative colonial nesting character of this species. In addition, in order to study its habitat preferences for nesting we did a binary logistic regression model and complemented its …


Redescription Of A Little-Known Species, Cryptocephalus Surdus Rapilly, 1980 (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Cryptocephalinae), With Notes On New Distribution Localities And Habitat Preference In Türkiye, ALİ GÖK, ABDULLAH HASBENLİ, İSMAİL ŞEN 2023 TÜBİTAK

Redescription Of A Little-Known Species, Cryptocephalus Surdus Rapilly, 1980 (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Cryptocephalinae), With Notes On New Distribution Localities And Habitat Preference In Türkiye, Ali̇ Gök, Abdullah Hasbenli̇, İsmai̇l Şen

Turkish Journal of Zoology

Cryptocephalus surdus Rapilly, 1980 is a little-known species which was described based on specimens collected from Iran. Due to the fact that the species was described very briefly in its original description, the taxonomic features of the species are redescribed in here. In addition, information about additional taxonomic characters, habitats and distribution in Türkiye of this little-known species are given for the first time in this study. Habitus and genital features of the species are photographed. Habitat preference and a map showing the previous and new distribution localities of the species are provided.


Diversity Rhythm In Pontellid Copepods (Pontellidae: Copepoda) From The Covelong Coast Pre- And Post-Covid-19 Lockdown, Bay Of Bengal, MD ANWAR NAWAZ, SIVAKUMAR KANDHASAMY, BASKAR GURUNATHAN, VIJAYARAJ RADHA 2023 TÜBİTAK

Diversity Rhythm In Pontellid Copepods (Pontellidae: Copepoda) From The Covelong Coast Pre- And Post-Covid-19 Lockdown, Bay Of Bengal, Md Anwar Nawaz, Sivakumar Kandhasamy, Baskar Gurunathan, Vijayaraj Radha

Turkish Journal of Zoology

Copepods act as indicators of the aquatic ecosystem since they rapidly respond to changes in nutrient content of the environment. Plankton samples were collected for two years from the Covelong coast, India (January to December 2019 and January to December 2021). The diversity patterns of pontellid copepods before and after the COVID-19 lockdown were analyzed. Physicochemical parameters like temperature, salinity, pH, dissolved oxygen, calcium, magnesium, nitrite, phosphate, and ammonia level for both years were measured to compare and contrast the coastal health before and after the lockdown. Six species of pontellid copepods were reported before the lockdown period and 10 …


Lethal And Sublethal Effects Of Exposure To Roundup 360 Plus For The Chaoborus Flavicans Larvae (Diptera: Chaoboridae), ZBIGNIEW ADAMSKI, ALEKSANDRA DZIEGELEWSKA, PAULINA JAKUBIAK, PIOTR KLIMASZYK 2023 TÜBİTAK

Lethal And Sublethal Effects Of Exposure To Roundup 360 Plus For The Chaoborus Flavicans Larvae (Diptera: Chaoboridae), Zbigniew Adamski, Aleksandra Dziegelewska, Paulina Jakubiak, Piotr Klimaszyk

Turkish Journal of Zoology

The lethal and sublethal effects of Roundup (active substance glyphosate herbicide on phantom midge (Chaoborus flavicans, Meigen, 1830) larvae were checked in the range of concentrations from 20 to 2000 μg/L, in the five-day long tests. The herbicide caused the mortality of insects, with the LC$_{50}$ values ranging from 357.2 to 120.9 μg of glyphosate/L, for one and five days, respectively. The correlation coefficient >0.9 indicated a strong positive correlation between the concentration of Roundup in water and the mortality of C. flavicans. Also, the LT50 values indicate the toxic activity of the herbicide for the larvae. …


Distribution And Population Density Of Halyomorpha Halys (Stål, 1855) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) In Black Sea Region Of Türkiye, KİBAR AK, MANSUR ULUCA, CELAL TUNÇER 2023 TÜBİTAK

Distribution And Population Density Of Halyomorpha Halys (Stål, 1855) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) In Black Sea Region Of Türkiye, Ki̇bar Ak, Mansur Uluca, Celal Tunçer

Turkish Journal of Zoology

Brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB), Halyomorpha halys, is a polyphagous invasive pest whose spread and damage are increasing with global commercial activities. In this study, following the invasion of Black Sea Region in 2018, spread, population density and change of the pest were investigated in the years 2019, 2020, and 2021, possible causes of spread and measures to be taken were evaluated. Course of population was monitored with pheromone traps placed in 141, 120, and 162 locations in 8 provinces along the coastline of Black Sea Region. High population density was detected at all locations of Artvin and Rize …


Molecular Phylogenetics Of Aedes Aegypti (L., 1762) (Diptera: Culicidae) In Eastern Black Sea Area Of Turkey And Possible Relations With The Caucasian Invasion, MURAT ÖZTÜRK, MUHAMMET MUSTAFA AKINER 2023 TÜBİTAK

Molecular Phylogenetics Of Aedes Aegypti (L., 1762) (Diptera: Culicidae) In Eastern Black Sea Area Of Turkey And Possible Relations With The Caucasian Invasion, Murat Öztürk, Muhammet Mustafa Akiner

Turkish Journal of Zoology

Aedes aegypti (L., 1762) (Diptera: Culicidae) is an important pest for human health. It vectors many diseases, including yellow fever (YF), dengue (DENV), and chikungunya (CHIKV). This species has invaded numerous countries including Balkan and Caucasian countries few past decades. The established populations of species were found in Turkey in 2015. We investigated the genetic variation, molecular phylogenetics, and differences between samples from Turkey and Georgia using four mitochondrial and one genomic DNA markers. The possible origin of the species was determined separately for each gene region using maximum likelihood trees. The ML analysis showed a close relation with the …


The Importance Of Shape Analysis Of The First Upper Molar In The Separation Of Two Subspecies Of The Hazel Dormouse (Muscardinus Avellanarius (Linnaeus, 1758)) In Northern Anatolia, GÜLİZ YAVUZ, HATİCE MUTLU EYİSON, ERKUT KIVANÇ, ENGİN SELVİ, NURİ YİĞİT, ERCÜMENT ÇOLAK 2023 TÜBİTAK

The Importance Of Shape Analysis Of The First Upper Molar In The Separation Of Two Subspecies Of The Hazel Dormouse (Muscardinus Avellanarius (Linnaeus, 1758)) In Northern Anatolia, Güli̇z Yavuz, Hati̇ce Mutlu Eyi̇son, Erkut Kivanç, Engi̇n Selvi̇, Nuri̇ Yi̇ği̇t, Ercüment Çolak

Turkish Journal of Zoology

Morphological features are important for intraspecific and interspecific variation. Teeth are important taxonomical characteristics because they can differ according to diet. Shape analysis of the first upper molar (M1) was used to determine geographical variations and effects of ecological changes on the population structure of Hazel dormice (Muscardinus avellanarius) living in Turkey. Both outline and landmark analysis, as well as a canonical variates analysis, showed significant differences in teeth shape between populations. With this technique, we separated out two subspecies: M. a. trapezius and M. a. abanticus.


Postmucilage Biodiversity Of Shallow Water Fish Assemblages: A Case Study In The Marmara Sea, Turkey, İSMAİL BURAK DABAN, YUSUF ŞEN, ADNAN AYAZ, UĞUR ALTINAĞAÇ, ALKAN ÖZTEKİN, UĞUR ÖZEKİNCİ, ALİ İŞMEN, FİKRET ÇAKIR, AHSEN YÜKSEK, TEKİN DEMİRKIRAN, OĞUZHAN AYAZ, GENÇTAN ERMAN UĞUR, BUMİNHAN BURKAY SELÇUK 2023 TÜBİTAK

Postmucilage Biodiversity Of Shallow Water Fish Assemblages: A Case Study In The Marmara Sea, Turkey, İsmai̇l Burak Daban, Yusuf Şen, Adnan Ayaz, Uğur Altinağaç, Alkan Özteki̇n, Uğur Özeki̇nci̇, Ali̇ İşmen, Fi̇kret Çakir, Ahsen Yüksek, Teki̇n Demi̇rkiran, Oğuzhan Ayaz, Gençtan Erman Uğur, Bumi̇nhan Burkay Selçuk

Turkish Journal of Zoology

A dense mucilage event occurred between November 2020 and August 2021 in the Marmara Sea, Turkey. In this study, the aim was to understand the effect of mucilage on coastal fish biodiversity. For this purpose, juvenile and small-sized adult fish species were sampled with an experimental beach seine at 12 equally-spaced stations around the Marmara Sea between November 2021 and April 2022. In total, 34 species belonging to 19 families were sampled. Approximately 70% of the total fish abundance were Atherina boyeri Risso, 1810, Chelon auratus (Risso, 1810) and Chelon saliens (Risso, 1810). Highest abundance was detected from S5 …


Interactions Between Environmental Factors And The Mesozooplankton Community From The Romanian Black Sea Waters, ELENA BISINICU, GEORGE-EMANUEL HARCOTA, LUMINITA LAZAR 2023 TÜBİTAK

Interactions Between Environmental Factors And The Mesozooplankton Community From The Romanian Black Sea Waters, Elena Bisinicu, George-Emanuel Harcota, Luminita Lazar

Turkish Journal of Zoology

The aim of the study was to trace the influence of several abiotic factors on the distribution of the mesozooplankton community from the Black Sea. Sampling was performed in cold and warm seasons of 2013-2020, from stations located on the three sectors of the Romanian Black Sea coast (northern-N, central-C, and southern-S). After determining the species composition, abundance, and biomass, the results were subjected to statistical analysis. A total of 25 taxa were identified, Copepoda representing the bulk of the community. The analysis of the main components explains, through the first two identified factors-temperature and salinity, the variation of environmental …


Length-Weight Relationships And Relative Condition Factors Of Three Coral-Associated Lutjanus Species From Terengganu Waters Of The South China Sea, Malaysia, MD. MOSHIUR RAHMAN, NUR ASMA ARIFFIN, YING GIAT SEAH, TUN NURUL AIMI MAT JAAFAR, AHASAN HABIB 2023 TÜBİTAK

Length-Weight Relationships And Relative Condition Factors Of Three Coral-Associated Lutjanus Species From Terengganu Waters Of The South China Sea, Malaysia, Md. Moshiur Rahman, Nur Asma Ariffin, Ying Giat Seah, Tun Nurul Aimi Mat Jaafar, Ahasan Habib

Turkish Journal of Zoology

The present study offers the first report of length-weight relationships (LWRs) and relative condition factor (K$_{n}$) of coralassociated snapper fishes namely: Lutjanus johnii, L. quinquelineatus, and L. xanthopinnis collected from Pulau Kambing fish landing port, Terengganu waters of South China Sea, Malaysia. This study also offers a new maximum total length of 26.8 cm (standard length of 21.3 cm) for L. xanthopinnis. A total of 861 specimens were collected monthly from March 2022 to February 2023 that were caught by using different types of fishing gear such as gill nets (mesh size 45-48 mm), hooks (numbers 9-12), and …


Ecomorphological Patterns And Shape Indices Of Otoliths In The Pagellus Acarne (Actinopterygii, Sparidae) From The Aegean And Marmara Seas, SERDAR YEDİER, SEDA KONTAŞ YALÇINKAYA, DİLEK TÜRKER, DERYA BOSTANCI 2023 TÜBİTAK

Ecomorphological Patterns And Shape Indices Of Otoliths In The Pagellus Acarne (Actinopterygii, Sparidae) From The Aegean And Marmara Seas, Serdar Yedi̇er, Seda Kontaş Yalçinkaya, Di̇lek Türker, Derya Bostanci

Turkish Journal of Zoology

Pagellus acarne is found in coastal waters worldwide and it includes important species of commercial and recreational fisheries. In this study, 16 morphometric variables of the sagittal otolith, including six morphometric characters, six shape indices, and four ecomorphological indexes, were investigated for the first time among P. acarne stocks collected from the Aegean and Marmara Seas coasts of Turkey. Statistically significant differences were found between the right and left otolith variables of P. acarne individuals in both stocks (p < 0.05). Similarly, significant differences were observed on the same side between stocks (p < 0.05). The right otoliths exhibited higher discrimination power than the left within the two stocks. The PCA showed that only five (31.25%) (otolith area, otolith perimeter, form factor, roundness, and edge complexity index) out of the sixteen variables were quite important characters in the differentiation between stocks. These otolith characters demonstrated a very high rate of accurate discrimination (99.0%) between stocks. The results indicated otolith morphometric characters, shape indices, and ecomorphological indexes can be used as suitable tools to discriminate P. acarne stocks. This is the first study to include all otolith characters such as morphometrics, shape, and ecomorphological indices that …


Discrimination Between Six Commercially Relevant And Ecologically Diverse Fish Species Across The Gulf Of Tunis Using Fatty Acid Composition And Otolith Shape Analyses, NAWZET BOURIGA, WAFA RJIBA BAHRI, SAFA BEJAOUI, MADEL F. ADJIBAYO HOUETO, ADEL A. BASYOUNY SHAHIN, JEAN-PIERRE QUIGANRD, MONIA TRABELSI, ABDERRAOUF BEN FALEH 2023 TÜBİTAK

Discrimination Between Six Commercially Relevant And Ecologically Diverse Fish Species Across The Gulf Of Tunis Using Fatty Acid Composition And Otolith Shape Analyses, Nawzet Bouriga, Wafa Rjiba Bahri, Safa Bejaoui, Madel F. Adjibayo Houeto, Adel A. Basyouny Shahin, Jean-Pierre Quiganrd, Monia Trabelsi, Abderraouf Ben Faleh

Turkish Journal of Zoology

Fatty acid composition and otolith shape variation of six commercially important fishes, which differ ecologically in their living and feeding habits across the Gulf of Tunis, Tunisia, were analyzed. The aims were to investigate the discrimination and relationship between the six species using both fatty acid composition and otolith shape to examine whether variability in fatty acid composition is consistent with variation in otolith shape and check whether otoliths shape and fatty acids composition have combined characteristic signals for these species. Tukey's test with one-way ANOVA indicated significant differences in total percentages of saturated (SFAs), polyunsaturated (PUFAs), and monounsaturated (MUFAs) …


Discovering Underground Bat Hibernacula In Lowland Eastern Europe, LENA GODLEVSKA, ALIAKSEI SHPAK, MARIIA SAVCHENKO, PAVLO VOROBEI 2023 TÜBİTAK

Discovering Underground Bat Hibernacula In Lowland Eastern Europe, Lena Godlevska, Aliaksei Shpak, Mariia Savchenko, Pavlo Vorobei

Turkish Journal of Zoology

The importance of underground hibernacula for the conservation of bats and monitoring their populations is well-recognized. However, the lowland territory of Belarus, with absent natural caves and suitable for bats mines, was one of the least surveyed European regions in terms of underground bat sites, and especially hibernacula. To address this knowledge gap, in 2020, we conducted a broadscale one winter bat survey, exploring 90 underground sites (basements, cellars, church crypts, fortifications, and facilities of abandoned Soviet missile bases) in various parts of Belarus. To our knowledge, none of these sites had been examined for bats before. In 56 of …


Diversity And Prevalence Of Ornithophilic Louse Flies (Diptera: Hippoboscidae: Ornithomyinae) In Serbia, TIBOR REKECKI, DRAZENKO RAJKOVIC 2023 TÜBİTAK

Diversity And Prevalence Of Ornithophilic Louse Flies (Diptera: Hippoboscidae: Ornithomyinae) In Serbia, Tibor Rekecki, Drazenko Rajkovic

Turkish Journal of Zoology

Ectoparasites are diverse organisms that exploit animal hosts using various strategies. One such group represents the louse flies (Hippoboscidae) from the subfamily Ornithomyinae, which are permanent, highly specialised, hematophagous ectoparasites of poultry and wild birds found worldwide. The main objective of this research is to examine the mean abundance, prevalence, and diversity of ornithophilic louse flies in Serbia. They have been detected through visual inspection or fumigation of caught birds. In total, 79 louse flies belonging to four genera and six species were collected from 62 individuals within 26 host species. A single louse fly infested the bulk of captured …


สัณฐานวิทยาเชิงเปรียบเทียบของระบบย่อยอาหารในอ้นเล็ก Cannomys Badius (Hodgson, 1841) ในความสัมพันธ์กับอาหารและการขจัดพิษจากไซยาไนด์, เจตพล ลิขิตกาญจนากรกิจ 2023 คณะวิทยาศาสตร์

สัณฐานวิทยาเชิงเปรียบเทียบของระบบย่อยอาหารในอ้นเล็ก Cannomys Badius (Hodgson, 1841) ในความสัมพันธ์กับอาหารและการขจัดพิษจากไซยาไนด์, เจตพล ลิขิตกาญจนากรกิจ

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

อ้นเล็ก Cannomys badius เป็นสัตว์ฟันแทะกินพืชในวงศ์ Spalacidae ที่ขุดโพรงอาศัยอยู่ใต้ดิน มีการกระจายตัวในประเทศแถบคาบสมุทรอินโดจีน ชนิดของอาหารที่อ้นเล็กกินยังมีความคลุมเครือ บางรายงานกล่าวว่าอ้นเล็กกินพืชที่มีองค์ประกอบเป็นเส้นใยสูง จัดเป็น specialist herbivore แต่บางรายงานจัดว่าอ้นเล็กเป็น generalist herbivore ที่สามารถกินผลไม้และเมล็ดพืชได้หลายหลากชนิด นอกจากนี้จากการสังเกตอ้นเล็กในกรงเลี้ยงพบว่า อ้นเล็กสามารถกินพืชที่มีองค์ประกอบของไซยาไนด์สูงได้ เช่น มันสำปะหลังดิบ ซึ่งปกติจะเป็นพิษต่อสัตว์ส่วนใหญ่ ในการศึกษาครั้งนี้ใช้อ้นเล็กจำนวน 14 ตัว เพื่อศึกษาสัณฐานวิทยาของระบบย่อยอาหาร และนำข้อมูลที่ได้มาอนุมานชนิดของอาหารที่อ้นเล็กกิน รวมถึงอธิบายความสามารถในการกินพืชที่มีไซยาไนด์ของอ้นเล็ก โดยอวัยวะในระบบย่อยอาหารถูกนำมาศึกษามหกายวิภาคศาสตร์ และมิญชวิทยาด้วยสีย้อม hematoxylin & eosin และ Masson’s trichrome รวมถึงศึกษาการแสดงออกของเอนไซม์ mercaptopyruvate sulfurtransferase (MPST) ซึ่งช่วยลดความเป็นพิษของไซยาไนด์ด้วยวิธีอิมมูโนฮิสโตเคมี ผลการศึกษาพบว่า หลอดอาหารมีเนื้อเยื่อบุผิวแบบ stratified squamous ที่มีชั้นเคอราทินหนา กระเพาะอาหารมีลักษณะเป็น 1 ห้อง (unilocular stomach) พบเนื้อเยื่อบุผิวแบบ stratified squamous ที่มีชั้นเคอราทินในส่วน fundus และเนื้อเยื่อบุผิวแบบต่อมในบริเวณอื่น สัดส่วนความยาวของลำไส้เล็กต่อลำไส้ทั้งหมดมีค่าน้อยเมื่อเทียบกับสัตว์ฟันแทะชนิดอื่น ๆ ซีกัมประกอบด้วย haustra 5-7 อัน มีเนื้อเยื่อน้ำเหลืองมากแต่ไม่พบไส้ติ่ง ผนังภายในโคลอนประกอบด้วยสันนูนตามยาว 2 อัน แล้วตามด้วยสันนูนรูปตัว V ที่เรียงซ้อนกันคล้ายก้างปลา มี goblet cells จำนวนมาก ในส่วนของต่อมเสริมพบว่า ตับมีจำนวน 5 พู มีถุงน้ำดี และตับอ่อนมีลักษณะแผ่ออกเป็นริ้ว ในการศึกษาตำแหน่งของ MPST ในเซลล์พบว่า มีการแสดงออกใน parietal cells ของกระเพาะอาหาร เซลล์เนื้อเยื่อบุผิวของซีกัมและโคลอน hepatocyte ของตับ เซลล์ใน islets of Langerhans ของตับอ่อน เซลล์กล้ามเนื้อลายและกล้ามเนื้อเรียบในทางเดินอาหาร การศึกษาครั้งนี้แสดงให้เห็นว่า อ้นเล็กเป็นสัตว์กินพืชที่มีกระบวนการหมักอาหารโดยจุลชีพเกิดขึ้นในลำไส้ใหญ่ และสามารถกินพืชที่ความสากและแข็ง ซึ่งเป็นลักษณะของอาหารที่มีเส้นใยสูงได้ จึงคาดว่าอ้นเล็กน่าจะเป็น …


Digital Commons powered by bepress