BioShorts
2025, Volume 1, Issue 2 - In Progress
Online: ISSN 3050-2535
Print: ISSN 3050-2527
Marieke Singels-Taylor | Rinke Vinkenoog
Pages: 22-27 ⏐ Published: 21 Feb 2025 ⏐ Full Text
DOI: https://doi.org/10.70145/BiSh0006
Abstract
Adequate understanding of plant-pollinator dynamics should be included in any planning of urban green areas so that pollinator biodiversity is supported. Among the factors contributing to plant-pollinator dynamics, this preliminary study specifically examined the impact of corolla tube dimensions on the frequency of insect visitations for foraging. This was accomplished by measuring the corolla dimensions of different Asteraceae species within Ridley Park, UK, and conducting 36 days of non-consecutive observational surveys. Insect identity and visitation frequency to forage on the focal Asteraceae species were recorded. Insect visitors were categorised into three broad taxonomic groups according to comparative proboscis lengths: bumblebees (longer), flies (shorter), and other insects (various; control). The results revealed that Diptera (flies) accounted for the majority of visits, with significant associations found between fly visitation rates and shorter corolla tube lengths/widths. For bumblebees, although trends suggested a potential association between increased visitation rates and larger corolla sizes, no statistically significant relationships were observed for either ray or disk corolla tube lengths. The findings indicate that corolla morphology may play a role in shaping insect foraging in urban green areas. By increasing plant diversity, particularly by incorporating species with a range of corolla dimensions, it may be possible to support a broader spectrum of pollinators. These insights can assist urban park authorities in selecting plant species that promote pollinator biodiversity, contributing to healthier and more resilient urban ecosystems.
Keywords: pollination, corolla length, urban green area, Bombus, Diptera, Asteraceae
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Emily Nelsey | David P.C. Severino | Sophie A Wilson | Ashleigh K. Bell | Mirela Cuculescu-Santana
Pages: 15-19 ⏐ Published: 09 Dec 2024 ⏐ Full Text
DOI: https://doi.org/10.70145/BiSh0005
Abstract
The influence of visual enrichment on the behaviour and welfare of captive animals is still little studied for many species due to variations in ability to distinguish colours. Common marmosets make an interesting model of study because all males are dichromats and cannot distinguish red from green and only some females have trichromatic vision.
The behaviour of six common marmosets at Tynemouth Aquarium, UK (three males, three females) was monitored under standard structural and feeding enrichment conditions and in the presence of a mirror and 12 coloured puzzle feeder balls, with and without food, using continuous scan observation with one-zero recording rule (6 hrs/ condition). The number of interactions with each item was also recorded. The relative frequency of exploring increased and that of social interaction decreased significantly in the presence of the new enrichment items. The mirror attracted around ten times more interest than any colour on days with empty feeder balls. However, the food-filled balls attracted up to five times more interest than the mirror, with the red, orange and pink balls tallying the largest number of interactions (555, 369 and 176, respectively) followed by the green (116), yellow (99) and blue (90) balls, suggesting the presence of trichromacy in at least one of the females in the group.
This study added to the existing evidence that mirrors and coloured puzzle feeder balls can provide additional cognitive stimulation and represent effective enrichment items for increasing exploring behaviour and possibly improving the welfare of captive New World primates.
Keywords: common marmoset, zoo, aquaria, welfare, enrichment, Callithrix jacchus
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Jessica M Newby | Ashleigh K Bell | Sophie A Wilson | Mirela Cuculescu-Santana
Pages: 10-14 ⏐ Published: 28 Oct 2024 ⏐ Full Text
DOI: https://doi.org/10.70145/BiSh0004
Abstract
Environmental enrichment is used in zoos and aquaria to improve animal welfare through the stimulation of naturalistic behaviours and reduction of stereotypic behaviours. This study investigated the impact of new enrichment items on the behaviour of a group of captive adult harbour seals. Data were collected in summer-autumn 2023 using continuous scan sampling and all behaviours one-zero recording method for 1-minute intervals (4 hours/day, 8 days).
Under standard enrichment conditions, more than 90% of the seals’ behavioural budget was represented by naturalistic behaviours, with low levels of pattern group swimming, which occurred mainly before the two daily shows. Group swimming decreased and random swimming increased before the seal shows on days with new enrichment, but these differences were not statistically significant. The presence of new enrichment items led to a significant increase in exploration and a significant decrease in group swimming only during the morning periods when the new items were actually present in the enclosure (p<0.05, Kruskal Wallis test). During these periods the seals interacted most frequently with the submersed fish-filled puzzle feeders and least frequently with the floating artificial seaweed.
This study concluded that new environmental enrichment may be beneficial even for seals displaying low levels of stereotypic behaviours as it provides more behavioural choices and helps promote active naturalistic exploratory behaviours which may alleviate captivity induced stress and improve welfare.
Keywords: harbour Seals, zoo, aquaria, welfare, enrichment, phoca vitulina
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An automated separator to exclude lumpfish with deformed suckers
Karolina Yague-Barantchikova | Carlos Garcia de Leaniz
Pages: 6-9 ⏐ Published: 26 Aug 2024 ⏐ Full Text
DOI: https://doi.org/10.70145/BiSh0003
Abstract
Salmon farming is threatened by sea lice infestations, which impact fish health, compromise welfare and reduce market value. The use of lumpfish as cleaner fish offers a natural solution for sea lice control, but the delousing efficacy of lumpfish can be hindered by morphological deformities, particularly in the ventral suckers (suction cups) of the fish. Sucker deformities increase mortality rates, hamper welfare and impose a substantial financial burden. Deformed lumpfish, therefore, are typically removed before they are deployed in salmon pens, but this is done manually by visual inspection, which is laborious and time consuming, prompting the exploration of alternative exclusion solutions. We tested a novel automated separator designed to sort juvenile lumpfish based on sucker deformities, aiming at streamlining production in lumpfish hatcheries. The prototype, featuring two chambers and an air-driven rotating drum, was tested across five trials involving 293 juvenile lumpfish with varying sucker deformities. The separator was able to separate 78% of lumpfish with good functional suckers, and to exclude 79% of deformed individuals. Sorting was swift and ~50% of lumpfish were sorted within 2 minutes. Binary logistic regression indicates that the probability of being sorted decreased significantly with the extent of sucker deformity and with lumpfish size. Around 22% of lumpfish with good functional suckers were not sorted by the separator likely due to behavioural avoidance, which warrants further study. Given the welfare and financial implications of having to exclude deformed lumpfish, the use of an automated separator as described here may contribute to increase the sustainability of lumpfish production for sea lice control in salmon farming.
Keywords: salmon farming, lumpfish, welfare, deformities, sea lice, cleaner fish
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Eloïse Boblin
Pages: 2-5 ⏐ Published: 18 Aug 2024 ⏐ Full Text
DOI: https://doi.org/10.70145/BiSh0002
Abstract
Microplastic fibres (MPF), pervasive in marine environments due to their persistent nature and diminutive size, pose ecological threats as potential targets for ingestion by native species. This study contributes to the ongoing data collection effort on MPF prevalence in marine wildlife by investigating MPF presence in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) of juvenile Pleuronectes platessa (European plaice) and Merlangius merlangus (whiting) fish samples from the Swansea Bay ecosystem. Specimens were collected using beam trawl and their GITs were dissected and probed for MPF presence. Among all analysed specimens, 35.9% contained fibres, with a significantly higher average number of MPF/GIT in the whiting population (49.2% with MPF; 0.92 MPF/GIT) than plaice (21.4% with MPF; 0.29 MPF/GIT). Both fish consume plankton and planktotrophic fish. Plankton are prone to MPF ingestion, attributed to the resemblance of MPF to their natural diet, and so it was hypothesised that trophic transfer of MPF had occurred. Whiting generally consumes a wider variety of planktonic organisms, potentially explaining the elevated MPF prevalence observed in the whiting specimen compared to the plaice. While this research served only as a preliminary study (and thus, potentially confounding factors were not considered), these results demonstrate the presence of microplastics in this Swansea Bay ecosystem and highlight concerns regarding microplastic bioaccumulation and trophic transfer.
Keywords: microplastic fibres, Pleuronectes platessa, Merlangius merlangus
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