Perch, Perca fluviatilis show a directional preference for, but do not increase attacks toward, prey in response to water-borne cortisol.

In freshwater environments, chemosensory cues play an important role in predator-prey interactions. Prey use a variety of chemosensory cues to detect and avoid predators. However, whether predators use the chemical cues released by disturbed or stressed prey has received less attention. Here we tested the hypothesis that the disturbance cue cortisol, in conjunction with visual cues of prey, elevates predatory behavior. We presented predators (perch, Perca fluviatilis) with three chemosensory choice tests and recorded their location, orientation, and aggressive behavior. We compared the responses of predators when provided with (i) visual cues of prey only (two adjacent tanks containing sticklebacks); (ii) visual and natural chemical cues of prey vs. visual cues only; and (iii) visual cues of prey with cortisol vs. visual cues only. Perch spent a significantly higher proportion of time in proximity to prey, and orientated toward prey more, when presented with a cortisol stimulus plus visual cues, relative to presentations of visual and natural chemical cues of prey, or visual cues of prey only. There was a trend that perch directed a higher proportion of predatory behaviors (number of lunges) toward sticklebacks when presented with a cortisol stimulus plus visual cues, relative to the other chemosensory conditions. But they did not show a significant increase in total predatory behavior in response to cortisol. Therefore, it is not clear whether water-borne cortisol, in conjunction with visual cues of prey, affects predatory behavior. Our results provide evidence that cortisol could be a source of public information about prey state and/or disturbance, but further work is required to confirm this.

Zoonotic diseases: sharing insights from interdisciplinary research.

Researchers and others involved with the Zoonoses and Emerging Livestock Systems (ZELS) initiative gathered in Tanzania earlier this year to discuss progress with projects being carried out as part of the five- year programme. Mary Ryan and Sarah Cleaveland report.

Au nanostructures by colloidal lithography: from quenching to extensive fluorescence enhancement.

Enhanced local electric fields are created by nanoparticles when pumped at wavelengths corresponding to Localised Surface Plasmon Resonance (LSPR) modes, leading to Metal Induced Fluorescence Enhancement (MIFE). This paper describes the fluorescent enhancement due to reproducible and tuneable Au nanostructures on glass substrates fabricated over large areas by colloidal lithography. Interparticle separation, particle resonance, and the fluorescent dye properties (quantum yield and emission/excitation wavelengths) are all important factors influencing the fluorescent enhancement. A maximum fluorescence enhancement of 69 times from near infra-red (NIR) dye Alexa Fluor® 790 was observed.