Choose an application

• Reference Manager
• EndNote
• RefWorks (Direct export to RefWorks)

Phenotypic variation within populations are essential for biological evolution. Indeed, phenotypic variation can serve as the raw products upon which natural selection acts. Accordingly, we might question if the level of morphological variation (i.e.disparity) might vary over the ontogeny of one species. Here, I test the hypothetical variation of body shape disparity level between post-larval and adult stages in coral reef fishes. Landmark-based geometric morphometrics methods were used to quantify body shapevariation during ontogeny for four species from Moorea Island (French Polynesia) : the surgeonfishes Acanthurus triostegus and Ctenochaetus striatus, the damselfish Chromis viridis, and the cardinalfish Pristiapogon exostigma. First, post-larvae and adults significantly differ in their body shape, and these variations were discussed in a ecomorphological context. Except C.viridis, all the species showed a higher level of morphological disparity at adult stage than at larval stage. This could be explained by a hyper-specialization of C.viridis in the adult stage for habitat use while the other species can use more habitats in the adult stage than in the post-larval stage.

Geometric morphometrics, shape disparity, body shape variation, habitat change, ontogeny, reef fish,, population recruitment. --- Sciences du vivant > Sciences aquatiques & océanologie

Choose an application

• Reference Manager
• EndNote
• RefWorks (Direct export to RefWorks)

At a time when a sixth mass extinction is about to hit our planet, protection and conservation strategies are the best chances of survival of some wildlife populations. But for those strategies to be effective, the use of reliable monitoring techniques is essential to assess the distribution, dynamic and status of the targeted species. Considering the cost of direct observations and that of invasive high-tech tools, such as camera traps and GPS, collars can be, the use of tracks is a low-cost non-invasive alternative to study elusive species such as carnivores. 
In the present study, we evaluate the possibility of identifying the anteroposterior (front or hind) and mediolateral (right or left) position of spotted hyena tracks from their digital models created from field photography. Several combinations of data recording and feature extraction methods were tested so that we could compare the accuracy of prediction of their identification algorithm and determine which combination is the most reliable.
Track sampling, which consisted of photographing encountered tracks, took place in Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park, in South Africa. 2D and 3D models of 80 tracks (20 from each position) were constructed using ImageJ and Photoscan software respectively. Landmarks were digitized on the models so that different types of measurements could be extracted by conducting either traditional or geometric morphometrics. Using extracted morphological features, Linear Discriminant Analyses (LDA) generated identification algorithms for each combination of methods. In total, the algorithms of 31 different scenarios were compared, each of which involved (i) a type of model (2D or 3D), (ii) a feature extraction method (traditional or geometric morphometrics), (iii) the types of landmarks used to characterize the form of the models (fixed, fixed and curve-sliders, or fixed and curve- and surface-sliders), (iv) a type of object on which statistical analyses were conducted (independent pads or entire track) , and (v) a type of variables taken into account by the algorithms (shape, size, or both).
Nine of the thirty-one scenarios were able to provide algorithms with accuracies of prediction > 95%. It appeared that the relative position of the pads within a track (i.e. the information provided by the “entire track” objects) as well as their sizes are two pieces of information that are essential for the position identification of spotted hyena track. However, before being able to establish which type of model and which type of landmarks provide the most accurate algorithm, the manipulator bias of each method should be quantified and used as a second evaluation criteria. The track modelling process should also be made more effective both in term of time and manipulator bias.

tracks --- digital 2D model --- digital 3D model --- traditional morphometrics --- geometric morphometrics --- position identification of tracks --- ecological monitoring --- spotted hyenas --- Crocuta crocuta --- Sciences du vivant > Sciences de l'environnement & écologie

Choose an application

• Reference Manager
• EndNote
• RefWorks (Direct export to RefWorks)

Consumers in the EU and beyond are increasingly concerned about the impact of pesticides on the environment and human health. In the context of EU phytosanitary and environmental policies, the common EU challenge is to reduce dependence on chemicals, improve food quality and increase the potential for developing more bio-based production systems. Therefore, novel control methods and new strategies that reduce the current dependence on insecticides need to be developed, applied and disseminated among stakeholders. As a cornerstone of sustainable agriculture, integrated pest management (IPM) aims to improve farmers' practices to achieve higher profits while improving environmental quality. Implementing the principles of IPM in agricultural production requires new and up-to-date knowledge generated by science and accepted by farmers. In this Special Issue, we focus on recent advances and methods for IPM in field crops. It contains eight original research articles and two review articles dealing with different aspects of IPM in some of the major field crops: Potato, Maize, Soybean, Sugar Beet, Barley, Rice, Eggplant and Quinoa as well as farmer education issues on IPM. The studies published refer to all the basic principles of IPM and give examples of their implementation in different crops and cropping systems. Research on various aspects of the implementation of IPM in crop production is a continuous need. The research presented helps to provide a mosaic picture with examples of how crop-specific, site-specific and knowledge-intensive IPM practices should be considered and translated into workable practices.

Research & information: general --- Biology, life sciences --- Technology, engineering, agriculture --- Spodoptera frugiperda --- farmers’ knowledge --- perception --- pest management practices --- maize yield losses --- damage severity --- fall armyworm --- sugar beet --- degradation --- residues --- neonicotinoids --- imidacloprid --- thiamethoxam --- malt barley --- barley net blotch --- barley leaf scald --- nitrogen rate --- genotype --- crop residues --- biodiversity --- biopesticides --- conventional insecticides --- crop farming --- ecosystem health --- environmental protection --- insect ecology --- natural enemies --- pest control --- sustainable agriculture --- quinoa --- Eurysacca melanocampta --- Macrosiphum euphorbiae --- Liriomyza huidobrensis --- Frankliniella occidentalis --- IPM --- Peru --- antibiosis --- antixenosis --- tolerance --- eggplant cultivars --- green peach aphid --- alien pest --- Italy --- Oryza sativa --- phytosanitary measures --- rice root-knot nematode --- trap crop technique --- upland rice cultivation --- click beetle --- crop damage --- integrated pest management --- risk assessment --- pest monitoring --- biocontrol --- landscape feature --- habitat manipulation --- companion plant --- mutual fund --- soybean --- pre-sowing soil activities --- soil fauna --- ground beetles --- dominance --- frequency --- Diabrotica virgifera virgifera --- Bt toxins --- resistance --- geometric morphometrics --- SNPs --- n/a --- farmers' knowledge

Choose an application

• Reference Manager
• EndNote
• RefWorks (Direct export to RefWorks)

Consumers in the EU and beyond are increasingly concerned about the impact of pesticides on the environment and human health. In the context of EU phytosanitary and environmental policies, the common EU challenge is to reduce dependence on chemicals, improve food quality and increase the potential for developing more bio-based production systems. Therefore, novel control methods and new strategies that reduce the current dependence on insecticides need to be developed, applied and disseminated among stakeholders. As a cornerstone of sustainable agriculture, integrated pest management (IPM) aims to improve farmers' practices to achieve higher profits while improving environmental quality. Implementing the principles of IPM in agricultural production requires new and up-to-date knowledge generated by science and accepted by farmers. In this Special Issue, we focus on recent advances and methods for IPM in field crops. It contains eight original research articles and two review articles dealing with different aspects of IPM in some of the major field crops: Potato, Maize, Soybean, Sugar Beet, Barley, Rice, Eggplant and Quinoa as well as farmer education issues on IPM. The studies published refer to all the basic principles of IPM and give examples of their implementation in different crops and cropping systems. Research on various aspects of the implementation of IPM in crop production is a continuous need. The research presented helps to provide a mosaic picture with examples of how crop-specific, site-specific and knowledge-intensive IPM practices should be considered and translated into workable practices.

Research & information: general --- Biology, life sciences --- Technology, engineering, agriculture --- Spodoptera frugiperda --- farmers' knowledge --- perception --- pest management practices --- maize yield losses --- damage severity --- fall armyworm --- sugar beet --- degradation --- residues --- neonicotinoids --- imidacloprid --- thiamethoxam --- malt barley --- barley net blotch --- barley leaf scald --- nitrogen rate --- genotype --- crop residues --- biodiversity --- biopesticides --- conventional insecticides --- crop farming --- ecosystem health --- environmental protection --- insect ecology --- natural enemies --- pest control --- sustainable agriculture --- quinoa --- Eurysacca melanocampta --- Macrosiphum euphorbiae --- Liriomyza huidobrensis --- Frankliniella occidentalis --- IPM --- Peru --- antibiosis --- antixenosis --- tolerance --- eggplant cultivars --- green peach aphid --- alien pest --- Italy --- Oryza sativa --- phytosanitary measures --- rice root-knot nematode --- trap crop technique --- upland rice cultivation --- click beetle --- crop damage --- integrated pest management --- risk assessment --- pest monitoring --- biocontrol --- landscape feature --- habitat manipulation --- companion plant --- mutual fund --- soybean --- pre-sowing soil activities --- soil fauna --- ground beetles --- dominance --- frequency --- Diabrotica virgifera virgifera --- Bt toxins --- resistance --- geometric morphometrics --- SNPs --- Spodoptera frugiperda --- farmers' knowledge --- perception --- pest management practices --- maize yield losses --- damage severity --- fall armyworm --- sugar beet --- degradation --- residues --- neonicotinoids --- imidacloprid --- thiamethoxam --- malt barley --- barley net blotch --- barley leaf scald --- nitrogen rate --- genotype --- crop residues --- biodiversity --- biopesticides --- conventional insecticides --- crop farming --- ecosystem health --- environmental protection --- insect ecology --- natural enemies --- pest control --- sustainable agriculture --- quinoa --- Eurysacca melanocampta --- Macrosiphum euphorbiae --- Liriomyza huidobrensis --- Frankliniella occidentalis --- IPM --- Peru --- antibiosis --- antixenosis --- tolerance --- eggplant cultivars --- green peach aphid --- alien pest --- Italy --- Oryza sativa --- phytosanitary measures --- rice root-knot nematode --- trap crop technique --- upland rice cultivation --- click beetle --- crop damage --- integrated pest management --- risk assessment --- pest monitoring --- biocontrol --- landscape feature --- habitat manipulation --- companion plant --- mutual fund --- soybean --- pre-sowing soil activities --- soil fauna --- ground beetles --- dominance --- frequency --- Diabrotica virgifera virgifera --- Bt toxins --- resistance --- geometric morphometrics --- SNPs