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Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution Apr 2024The evolution of several orthopteran groups, especially within the grasshopper family Acrididae, remains poorly understood. This is particularly true for the subfamily...
The evolution of several orthopteran groups, especially within the grasshopper family Acrididae, remains poorly understood. This is particularly true for the subfamily Gomphocerinae, which comprises cryptic sympatric and syntopic species. Previous mitochondrial studies have highlighted major discrepancies between taxonomic and phylogenetic hypotheses, thereby emphasizing the necessity of genome-wide approaches. In this study, we employ double-digest restriction site-associated DNA sequencing (ddRADseq) to reconstruct the evolution of Central European Chorthippus and Pseudochorthippus species, especially C.smardai, P.tatrae and the C.biguttulus group. Our phylogenomic analyses recovered deep discordance with mitochondrial DNA barcoding, emphasizing its unreliability in Gomphocerinae grasshoppers. Specifically, our data robustly distinguished the C.biguttulus group and confirmed the distinctiveness of C.eisentrauti, also shedding light on its presence in the Berchtesgaden Alps. Moreover, our results support the reclassification of C.smardai to the genus Pseudochorthippus and of P.tatrae to the genus Chorthippus. Our study demonstrates the efficiency of high-throughput genomic methods such as RADseq without prior optimization to elucidate the complex evolution of grasshopper radiations with direct taxonomic implications. While RADseq has predominantly been utilized for population genomics and within-genus phylogenomics, its application extends to resolve relationships between deeply-diverged clades representative of distinct genera.
Topics: Animals; Grasshoppers; Phylogeny; Chromosomes; DNA, Mitochondrial; Sequence Analysis, DNA
PubMed: 38224796
DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2024.108012 -
Food Chemistry May 2024House crickets are expected to play a significant role in the future food sector. Electrohydrodynamic (EHD) drying offers an environmentally friendly alternative to...
House crickets are expected to play a significant role in the future food sector. Electrohydrodynamic (EHD) drying offers an environmentally friendly alternative to conventional drying methods. Pulsed electric fields (PEF) is a non-thermal process that facilitates conventional processes. EHD was applied to house crickets with and without PEF pretreatment, and the effect of PEF and EHD on the quality of the insects was evaluated. PEF pretreatment positively affected the oven drying at 60 °C by reducing its duration and thus decreasing the energy consumption by 14.22%. Moisture removal of EHD was not sufficient to replace oven drying, but when combined with oven drying, the overall energy consumption was reduced by >50%. PEF processing also increased the protein solubility (53.07% higher than the respective control) and antioxidant activity (24.05% higher than the respective control) of the oven-dried samples and reduced the histamine content of the EHD-dried samples (25.87% lower than the respective control).
Topics: Animals; Gryllidae; Flour; Desiccation; Antioxidants; Solubility
PubMed: 38215501
DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2023.138276 -
Scientific Reports Jan 2024Detection and classification of epileptic seizures from the EEG signals have gained significant attention in recent decades. Among other signals, EEG signals are...
Detection and classification of epileptic seizures from the EEG signals have gained significant attention in recent decades. Among other signals, EEG signals are extensively used by medical experts for diagnosing purposes. So, most of the existing research works developed automated mechanisms for designing an EEG-based epileptic seizure detection system. Machine learning techniques are highly used for reduced time consumption, high accuracy, and optimal performance. Still, it limits by the issues of high complexity in algorithm design, increased error value, and reduced detection efficacy. Thus, the proposed work intends to develop an automated epileptic seizure detection system with an improved performance rate. Here, the Finite Linear Haar wavelet-based Filtering (FLHF) technique is used to filter the input signals and the relevant set of features are extracted from the normalized output with the help of Fractal Dimension (FD) analysis. Then, the Grasshopper Bio-Inspired Swarm Optimization (GBSO) technique is employed to select the optimal features by computing the best fitness value and the Temporal Activation Expansive Neural Network (TAENN) mechanism is used for classifying the EEG signals to determine whether normal or seizure affected. Numerous intelligence algorithms, such as preprocessing, optimization, and classification, are used in the literature to identify epileptic seizures based on EEG signals. The primary issues facing the majority of optimization approaches are reduced convergence rates and higher computational complexity. Furthermore, the problems with machine learning approaches include a significant method complexity, intricate mathematical calculations, and a decreased training speed. Therefore, the goal of the proposed work is to put into practice efficient algorithms for the recognition and categorization of epileptic seizures based on EEG signals. The combined effect of the proposed FLHF, FD, GBSO, and TAENN models might dramatically improve disease detection accuracy while decreasing complexity of system along with time consumption as compared to the prior techniques. By using the proposed methodology, the overall average epileptic seizure detection performance is increased to 99.6% with f-measure of 99% and G-mean of 98.9% values.
Topics: Animals; Seizures; Epilepsy; Neural Networks, Computer; Grasshoppers; Electroencephalography
PubMed: 38191643
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-51337-8 -
Mitochondrial DNA. Part B, Resources 2023The authors sequenced the complete mitochondrial (mt) genomes of the band-legged ground cricket ( Matsumura, 1904) and a temperate form of the lawn ground cricket (...
The authors sequenced the complete mitochondrial (mt) genomes of the band-legged ground cricket ( Matsumura, 1904) and a temperate form of the lawn ground cricket ( Walker, 1869), collected in Japan. The length of the mt genome sequences was 15,354 bp in and 16,063 bp in . Annotation of the mt genome sequences revealed 13 protein-coding genes, two rRNA genes, and 22 tRNA genes. The orientation of the genes was the same as in other Grylloidea species, and the order was the same as in other Trigonidiidae species. In our phylogenetic analysis, formed a clade with collected in China, and the temperate form of formed a clade with collected in China. Comparison of the numbers of positions with different amino acid residues encoded by the protein-coding genes implied the separate species status of each member of each of the two pairs of ground crickets. The mt genome sequences of and will contribute to phylogenetic and taxonomic studies of the Trigonidiidae.
PubMed: 38173920
DOI: 10.1080/23802359.2023.2285400 -
PloS One 2024Infectious disease data can often involve complex spatial patterns intermixed with temporal trends. Archetypal Analysis is a method to mine complex spatio-temporal data,...
Infectious disease data can often involve complex spatial patterns intermixed with temporal trends. Archetypal Analysis is a method to mine complex spatio-temporal data, and can be used to discover the dynamics of spatial patterns. The application of Archetypal Analysis to epidemiological data is relatively new, and here we present one of the first applications on COVID-19 data from March 13, 2020 to April 26, 2022, for the counties of Montana, USA. We present three views of the data set decomposed with Archetypal Analysis. First, we evaluate the entire 56 county data set. Second, we use a mutual information calculation to remove counties whose dynamics are mainly independent from the other counties, reducing the set to 17 counties. Finally, we analyze the top ten counties in terms of population size to focus on the dynamics in the large cities in the state. For each data set, we analyze four significant disease outbreaks across Montana. Archetypal Analysis uncovers distinct spatial patterns for each outbreak and demonstrates that each has a unique trajectory across the state.
Topics: Animals; Humans; COVID-19; Montana; Disease Outbreaks; Population Density; Cities; Orthoptera
PubMed: 38170725
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0283265 -
Current Research in Insect Science 2023Locusts are grasshoppers that migrate and devastate food security, yet little is known about the nutritional needs of marching bands in nature. While it has been...
Locusts are grasshoppers that migrate and devastate food security, yet little is known about the nutritional needs of marching bands in nature. While it has been hypothesized that protein limitation promotes locust marching behavior, migration is fueled by dietary carbohydrates. We studied South American Locust () bands at eight sites across Argentina, Bolivia, and Paraguay. Bands ate most frequently from dishes containing carbohydrate artificial diets and minimally from balanced, protein, or control (vitamins and salts) dishes-indicating carbohydrate hunger. This hunger for carbohydrates is likely explained by the observation that local vegetation was generally protein-biased relative to locusts' preferred protein to carbohydrate ratio. This study highlights the importance of studying the nutritional ecology of animals in their environment and suggests that carbohydrate limitation may be a common pattern for migrating insect herbivores.
PubMed: 38161992
DOI: 10.1016/j.cris.2023.100069 -
ZooKeys 2023The Eastern common groundhopper, , is a pygmy grasshopper species widely distributed in the Eastern Palearctic region, and shows a high degree of phenotypic variation....
The Eastern common groundhopper, , is a pygmy grasshopper species widely distributed in the Eastern Palearctic region, and shows a high degree of phenotypic variation. The classification of is difficult and frequently involved errors. Among the many species of Tetrigidae that have been described in China within the last decades, many synonyms of were found. The type specimens of many species deposited in the Chinese museums have been re-examined and as a result, is systematically revised. Based on the results of this review, 23 new synonyms of are proposed: Zheng & Deng, 2004, ; Zheng, Lin & Zhang, 2012, ; Zheng, 2005, ; Zheng, Zeng & Ou, 2011, ; Zheng & Jiang, 2006, ; Zheng & Jiang, 2000, ; Yao & Zheng, 2006, ; Zheng & Jiang, 2006, ; Zheng & Nie, 2005, ; Zheng, Jiang & Liu, 2005, ; Zheng & Deng, 2004, .; Zheng, 1996, ; Zheng, 1994, ; Zheng, 2005, ; Cao & Zheng, 2011, ; Deng, Zheng & Wei, 2007, ; Zheng, Huo & Zhang, 2000, ; Zheng & Jiang, 2004, ; Liang, 1998, ; Zheng, 1996, ; Deng, Zheng & Wei, 2007, ; Zheng & Mao, 2002, ; Gao, Liu & Yin, 2022, It is expected that there will be the discoveries of more synonyms of this and other Tetriginae species from the Eastern Palearctic.
PubMed: 38161717
DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1187.110067 -
Current Biology : CB Jan 2024The initial process by which novel sexual signals evolve remains unclear, because rare new variants are susceptible to loss by drift or counterselection imposed by...
The initial process by which novel sexual signals evolve remains unclear, because rare new variants are susceptible to loss by drift or counterselection imposed by prevailing female preferences. We describe the diversification of an acoustic male courtship signal in Hawaiian populations of the field cricket Teleogryllus oceanicus, which was brought about by the evolution of a brachypterous wing morph ("small-wing") only 6 years ago. Small-wing has a genetic basis and causes silence or reduced-amplitude signaling by miniaturizing male forewings, conferring protection against an eavesdropping parasitoid, Ormia ochracea. We found that wing reduction notably increases the fundamental frequency of courtship song from an average of 5.1 kHz to 6.4 kHz. It also de-canalizes male song, broadening the range of peak signal frequencies well outside normal song character space. As courtship song prompts female mounting and is sexually selected, we evaluated two scenarios to test the fate of these new signal values. Females might show reduced acceptance of small-wing males, imposing counterselection via prevailing preferences. Alternatively, females might accept small-wing males as readily as long-wing males if their window of preference is sufficiently wide. Our results support the latter. Females preferred males who produced some signal over none, but they mounted sound-producing small-wing males as often as sound-producing long-wing males. Indiscriminate mating can facilitate the persistence of rare, novel signal values. If female permissiveness is a general characteristic of the earliest stages of sexual signal evolution, then taxa with low female mate acceptance thresholds should be more prone to diversification via sexual selection.
Topics: Animals; Male; Female; Sexual Behavior, Animal; Wings, Animal; Hawaii; Sound; Acoustics; Gryllidae
PubMed: 38141618
DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2023.11.063 -
Nutrients Dec 2023Research on the acceptance of consuming insects in one's diet shows the increasing importance of this issue in the context of a sustainable food chain and ecology....
Research on the acceptance of consuming insects in one's diet shows the increasing importance of this issue in the context of a sustainable food chain and ecology. Insects represent a promising food source due to their high nutritional value, efficiency in production, and minimal environmental impact, as well as the growing awareness of ecological issues. Despite these benefits, cultural and psychological barriers hinder the acceptance of consuming insects in Western countries. In this study, an assessment was made of the acceptance level of cream-type soups made from tomatoes and white vegetables with the addition of 20% flour from four insect species: mealworm (; house cricket (); buffalo worm (); and grasshopper (), compared to a control sample. One hundred and four subjects (55 seniors and 49 young adults) participated in this study. The acceptance level of various soups with insect flour was evaluated, considering different sensory parameters such as appearance, smell, taste, and texture. The research showed that older people have a lower acceptance for dishes containing insects compared to young adults, but the differences in the responses given were not statistically significant ( = 0.05), rejecting the assumption that insect-based products should be mainly targeted at young people. Of all the proposed test samples, the mealworm () was the most acceptable insect species in the tests in both taste versions for both age groups. The average score was 6.63 points on a 10-point scale. The products with the addition of grasshopper () were rated the lowest. The acceptance level ranged between 4.23 and 4.38 points. A multiple regression analysis showed that taste and texture had the strongest influence on the overall acceptance of these dishes, and the results obtained were highly correlated with the general opinion of the testers. The increasing acceptance level and growing interest in this type of food can be a positive step towards sustainable and efficient food production.
Topics: Humans; Animals; Young Adult; Aged; Adolescent; Tenebrio; Grasshoppers; Edible Insects; Buffaloes; Gryllidae; Poland; Insecta; Flour
PubMed: 38140306
DOI: 10.3390/nu15245047 -
Insects Dec 2023Habitat destruction and fragmentation are among the major current threats to global biodiversity. Fragmentation may also affect species with good dispersal abilities. We...
Habitat destruction and fragmentation are among the major current threats to global biodiversity. Fragmentation may also affect species with good dispersal abilities. We study the heath bushcricket , a specialist of steppe-like habitats across Europe that are highly fragmented, investigating if these isolated populations can be distinguished using population genomics and if there are any traces of admixture or dispersal among them. We try to answer these questions using genome-wide SNP data generated with ddRAD sequencing. We calculated F-statistics and visualized differentiation using STRUCTURE plots. While limited by the difficulty of sampling this threatened species, our results show that all populations except one that was represented by a singleton were clearly distinct, with pairwise F values between 0.010 and 0.181. STRUCTURE indicated limited but visible admixture across most populations and probably also an exchange of individuals between populations of Germany and The Netherlands. We conclude that in , a certain amount of gene flow has persisted, at least in the past, also among populations that are isolated today. We also detect a possibly more recent dispersal event between a population in The Netherlands and one in Germany, which may be human aided. We suggest that the conservation of larger populations should be maintained, that efforts should be taken to restore abandoned habitat, that the preservation even of small habitat fragments may be beneficial for the conservation of this species, and that these habitats should be regularly monitored for possible (re-)colonization.
PubMed: 38132619
DOI: 10.3390/insects14120946