Cockroach microbiome studies generally focus on pest cockroach species belonging to the Blattidae and Ectobiidae families. There are no reports characterizing the gut microbiome of non-pest cockroach species Blaberus discoidalis (family Blaberidae), which is commonly used as a food source for insectivorous animals. We discovered the parasitic nematode Leidynema appendiculata in the B. discoidalis hindgut during initial work characterizing the gut microbiome of this organism. To determine the proportion of the B. discoidalis colony that was colonized by L. appendiculata, 28S rDNA was amplified using two methods: endpoint polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP). B. discoidalis colonies were raised on three diet types (control, high fibre, and high fat and salt) for 21 days before dissection. Each individual was sexed during dissection to identify potential sex-based effects of colonization. Data collected were analysed to determine if diet and sex impacted parasite colonization patterns. LAMP detected a higher proportion of parasite positive samples when compared to endpoint PCR. No sex- or diet-based differences in L. appendiculata colonization were found. This study adds to the limited existing knowledge of the B. discoidalis gut microbiome.
Physella wrighti Te and Clarke, 1985 is an Endangered freshwater snail endemic to the Liard Hot Springs. The thermal characteristics of its environment suggest water temperature (WT) is essential in the snail’s survival. Initially, P. wrighti’s preferred WT was assessed, with 23°C preferred. To determine if WT influenced the snail, the activity level, behaviour, survivability, number of egg masses (EM) produced, number of eggs per mass (EPM), egg volume, egg mass viability, and incubation period (IP) were examined in 13°C, 23°C (preferred WT), and 33°C water. No differences were found in activity level, but snails in 33°C left the water more frequently, experienced total mortality, had the shortest survival length, produced the fewest EMs, however, had the shortest IP. Snails in 13°C survived the longest, produced the most EPM, but had the lowest viability. Snails in 23°C produced the most EMs and had the greatest viability, EPM did not differ from 33°C, and IP was between 13°C and 33°C. These data indicate P. wrighti benefits more from WTs in the lower range of its habitat and has implications for its ecology and conservation.
Formicidae are one of the most diverse groups that, along with termites, make up one third of the total animal biomass on Earth. Contributing to their success is the large variety of foraging behaviours and morphologies ants have evolved in response to various food supplies. On the world continent Gondwana, Myrmeciinae, were the dominant group with many characters considered primitive or ancestral within Formicidae. The Myrmecia gulosa group retains ancestral traits of the Myrmeciinae, now found only in Australia. This research aims to a review the facial morphologies and foraging behaviours of the M. gulosa group to better understand their unique success in Australia, compared to their demise elsewhere. Evaluation of jaw morphology, foraging behaviour, and geographical distribution revealed a narrow range of morphologies and consistent foraging behaviour across 41 of 42 studied species all over Australia. Based on similar morphologies of 41 species and behaviours of eleven, eight of which were considered well researched, it is possible that understudied M. gulosa species will demonstrate traits similar to well-researched species. It appears that M. gulosa species maintained ancestral traits that failed to allow the present-day success of Myrmeciinae elsewhere, and likely allowed the diversification of other ant genera. The following collated results suggests, members of the M. gulosa species group appear not to face the same food resource selective pressures that led to diversification in other ant genera and further supports food resources as an important selective pressure for other ant genera that M. gulosa possibly failed to adapt to.
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