background: prelacteal feeding is an underestimated problem in a developing country like india, where infant mortality rate is quite high. the present study tried to find out the factors determining prelacteal feeding in rural areas of north india. methods: a crosssectional study was conducted among recently delivered women of rural uttar pradesh, india. multistage random sampling was used for ...

Sulfurous volatiles have been shown to elicit avoidance behavior by snow geese (Chen caerulescens Linnaeus), possibly because of their association with potentially toxic levels of selenium in some plant species. We questioned whether an avoidance response to sulfur and sulfur-based products might be exhibited by other avian species, specifically European starlings (Sturnus vulgaris L.) and whet...

The host ranges of several insects that are specialists on crucifers (Brassicaceae) are closely linked to the presence of glucosinolates in these plants. These glycosides often serve as stimulants for oviposition and/or feeding, while their volatile hydrolysis products may be attractants for several species. However, many crucifers produce additional secondary compounds that act as repellents, ...

Structures on the surfaces of leaves, such as dense layers of non-glandular trichomes, strongly affect phylloplane mite activities. On the other hand the feeding of eriophyoid mites on leaf surfaces can cause hyperplasia of leaf trichomes (erinea formation). In many cases the hyperplasia is accompanied by the accumulation of pigments within trichome cells, causing an impressive red-brown colour...

1. Herbivory on freshwater macrophytes has been assumed to be insignificant and rare. More recent evidence suggests herbivory is common and the impact of invasive invertebrate herbivores can be substantial. However, little is known about consumption of macrophytes by fish. 2. We performed a series of feeding assays, based on the consumption by common carp (Cyprinus carpio), to determine if any ...

It is widely assumed that the production of secondary metabolites against grazing and fouling is costly for seaweeds in terms of metabolic energy and should therefore be reduced under conditions of resource limitation. Here we tested the hypothesis that anti-herbivore defenses and bioactivity against mussels in 4 brown seaweeds from northern-central Chile will be reduced when light is limited. ...

Toxin production is widespread among aquatic microalgae, suggesting a functional advantage for organisms producing toxic compounds. However, the biological role of algal toxin production is only vaguely understood. Here, we show that excretion of a toxic substance in the phagotrophic phytoflagellate Prymnesium parvum (Prymnesiophyceae) constitutes a mechanism to immobilize and seize motile prey...

The Arabidopsis Ca(2+)/calmodulin (CaM)-binding transcription factor SIGNAL RESPONSIVE1 (AtSR1/CAMTA3) was previously identified as a key negative regulator of plant immune responses. Here, we report a new role for AtSR1 as a critical component of plant defense against insect herbivory. Loss of AtSR1 function impairs tolerance to feeding by the generalist herbivore Trichoplusia ni as well as wo...