Evidence of venom variability associated with venom extraction interval in the monocled cobra (Naja kaouthia)

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  Evidence of venom variability associated with venom extraction interval in the monocled cobra (Naja kaouthia) Abstract Snake venom variability is a critical factor in antivenom production. Although several influencing factors have been studied, the impact of extraction interval on venom properties remains poorly understood. This study evaluated the effects of various extraction intervals on venom yield, the percentage of dry weight (%Dw), and composition in the monocled cobra ( Naja kaouthia ). Twenty-five captive snakes were randomly allocated to five groups, each undergoing a control extraction followed by a repeated extraction at 1, 4, 7, 10, or 14 days. Venom profiles were characterized using reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) and Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Results indicated that while fresh venom yield remained stable across all intervals, %Dw significantly decreased in extractions performed between 1 and 10 days, ...

Seasonal variation of arthropod diversity in agroforestry systems in the humid tropics of Mexico

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Seasonal variation of arthropod diversity in agroforestry systems in the humid tropics of Mexico

Abstract

Agroforestry systems in the tropics exhibit high heterogeneity in plant species composition and structural configuration. However, few studies evaluated the seasonal shift in arthropod alpha diversity and abundance in agroforestry systems in the tropics. This study was designed to analyze the composition, abundance, and alpha diversity of arthropod orders in five agroforestry systems in the humid tropic of Tabasco, Mexico. The agroforestry systems compared were shade trees in plantations (ShTP), living fences (LF), alley farming (AF), slash-and-burn agriculture (SBA), and grazing plantations (GP) during dry and rainy seasons. Arthropods were collected using pitfall traps, classified at the order level, and counted to estimate the abundance. A total of 10,271 arthropod individuals were collected that belong to seven orders. Hymenoptera was the most abundant group, accounting for 64.7% of the total count, followed by Coleoptera, Collembola, Araneae, Hemiptera, Diptera, and Orthoptera. Arthropod alpha diversity and abundance varied significantly among the agroforestry systems and between the rainy and dry seasons. The agroforestry systems AF, GP, and ShTP showed a higher diversity (Shannon index) and dominant orders (Simpson index) in the rainy season compared to the dry season. The seasonal shift of the different arthropod orders varied among agroforestry systems, while the Orthoptera did seasonally vary across the agroforestry systems. This study suggests the interactive effects of seasons and agroforestry systems on arthropod abundance and diversity.

Lara-Pérez, L.A., Villanueva-López, G., Oros-Ortega, I. et al. Seasonal variation of arthropod diversity in agroforestry systems in the humid tropics of Mexico. Arthropod-Plant Interactions (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11829-023-10001-0