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Foraging activity and food preferences of odorous house ants (Tapinoma sessile (SAY)) were investigated in both the field and laboratory. Foraging activity was examined in the field from April to September 2001 by attracting T. sessile to feeding stations containing a 20% sucrose solution. Ant foraging activity was recorded over a twenty-four hour period along with ambient temperature to examine possible correlations with ant activity patterns. Results indicate that foraging activity may be influenced by both time and temperature. In April and May when temperatures dropped below approximately 10 C, little or no foraging activity was observed. However, in the summer when temperatures were generally higher, foraging activity was greater during relatively cooler times of the day and night. Under laboratory conditions, T. sessile was attracted to feeding stations and foraged throughout the day and night at a constant temperature of approximately 25 C. Evaluations of seasonal food preferences using carbohydrate, protein and lipid samples were also conducted throughout the spring and summer. Results indicated no seasonal shifts in food preference in foraging ants; T sessile consistently preferred sugar and protein rewards over lipids. Macronutrient choice assays were preformed on T. sessile to evaluate specific food preferences. Several different carbohydrates, proteins, lipids and salts were tested in both liquid and gel formulation. Results indicated significantly greater consumption of sucrose solution at a concentration of approximately 20% compared with other sugars tested (fructose, glucose, trehalose and maltose). In addition, strong feeding responses were observed to both casein hydrolysate and lactalbumin hydrolysate at a 5% concentration. The addition of NaCl to 15% sucrose gel samples also enhanced feeding responses. Lipids were generally ignored by T. sessile and in most cases decreased consumption of the sample. Various amino acids did not enhance feeding responses and were similar to water. / Master of Science

The purpose of the present study was to study differences between cancer patients and noncancer patients in taste acuity and in salivation to food and stimuli associated with food. Subjects were twenty male cancer patients and eighteen patients hospitalized for noncancer-related illnesses. All cancer patients were tested prior to chemotherapy or radiation therapy. The study was conducted on two consecutive days. On Day 1 taste acuity was measured to bitter, sweet, sour and salty flavors using the forced choice three-stimulus drop technique on concentration from 6-2000 mm/l. Subjects completed a questionnaire on appetite difficulties, the Multiple Adjective Affect Check List (MAACL), and rated a list of snacks on a 5-point scale. On Day 2 salivary responding (using the Strongin-Hinsie Peck Test) was measured after subjects were told to expect food, after the presentation of food and after ingestion. For each subject, testing occurred in the morning and in the afternoon to high and low preferred foods. Cancer patients were significantly more likely than noncancer patients to report appetite difficulties which included premature satiety, decreased appetite, and changes in food preference. Cancer and noncancer patients did not differ reliably on the MAACL or in taste acuity. In salivation testing, the presentation of food increased salivation in noncancer patients but decreased salivation in cancer patients. However, the differences between cancer and noncancer patients was not reliable. The interaction between illness condition and test trials during the presentation of food did approach significance. The lack of reliable effects for illness condition may have occurred because the interval of food deprivation was too short to elicit reliable increases in salivation and external and social cues which normally accompany mealtime were not present during testing. / Ph. D.

Call number: LD2668 .T4 1984 P73 / Master of Science

Call number: LD2668 .T4 1985 T65 / Master of Science

At present, the process of parental modelling of eating behaviours and attitudes has received limited research interest. While often mentioned as a possible factor in relation to child feeding and the development of eating behaviours, only a few studies have explicitly researched parental modelling. The main aims of this thesis were to develop a new measure to assess modelling multidimensionally and to explore the relationships between parental modelling of eating behaviours with a variety of parent and child factors. Initially, a parental self-report measure (the Parental Modelling of Eating Behaviours Scale; PARM) was developed, validated and piloted as part of a series of studies exploring the associations between modelling and a range of self-reported parental and child factors. To provide further validation for the PARM, an observational coding scheme was developed, based on the newly developed modelling measure, and this was utilised in two further studies which looked at self-reported and observed parent and child factors. The key findings from this thesis suggest a number of beneficial relationships. For example, maternal modelling was positively correlated with healthy food intake in both mothers and their children. In addition, both maternal and paternal modelling were associated with children s increased enjoyment of food and lower levels of food fussiness. Observations of maternal modelling were also found to be positively related to other observed adaptive, non-directive feeding practices, such as encouragement to eat. However, less positive relationships were also identified, with modelling being related to parents mental health symptoms and to unhealthy food intake in both mothers and their children. In conclusion, this thesis has identified three distinct facets of modelling and highlighted factors which might be linked to parental role modelling around eating behaviours. While much of the research within this thesis is exploratory, and the findings require replication, they would suggest that parental modelling has the potential to positively influence children s eating behaviours. However, parents should also be made aware of the potential detrimental effect that modelling less adaptive eating behaviours may have on their children s food intake, particularly those eating behaviours that parents may be unaware of modelling.

Traditionally children with developmental disabilities who develop feeding issues can be at great risk for malnutrition. Failure to eat adequate amounts of food and/or insistence on eating a limited range of foods can be detrimental to a child's health and can lead to other behavioral difficulties. Feeding problems are difficult to treat because high levels of physical prompting can quickly create an aversion to eating as well as cause stress for both parents and children. Behavioral problems that range from moderate to extremely maladaptive can ensue. The question the present study addressed was whether or not a treatment package including only positive reinforcement and fading for a non-preferred food would result in independent eating of the targeted non-preferred food.

The current study assessed the effectiveness of a training package, delivered in the form of a manual, to teach a parent to increase the variety and amount of food consumed by her son. The participant was a 5-year-old boy with Pervasive Developmental Disorder and limited food consumption. A changing criterion design across two variables, variety of food and quantity of food, was used. Results were that the parent who used the manual, with limited assistance from the experimenter, did succeed in increasing food variety and quantity of target foods.

In mountain lakes, which were affected by acidification in the past or in the present, invertebrate species have become top predators and they influence the whole community. This thesis deals with foraging strategies of three of these predators, Cyclops abyssorum and Heterocope saliens (Crustacea: Copepoda) and Glaenocorisa propinqua (Insecta: Heteroptera) in the model localities Černé lake, Plešné lake and Prášilské lake. The main aim was the determination of food composition and food preferences of these predators. The quality and quantity of consumed food I investigated with a microscope using a method which has not been published yet. To make a microscope preparation I used Potassium hydroxide or Lactic acid in order to dissolve soft organic matter, so that the chitinous particles were well visible. The found food of animal origin was subsequently compared with the prey availability with the use of Jacobs' index. In addition to this research, a feeding experiment with G. propinqua was carried out. The food of all the invertebrate predators was dependent on food availability or eventually on the season of the year. G. propinqua mostly preferred as a prey members of Daphniidae family and then the species Polyphemus pediculus (Cladocera), if they were available (Prášilské lake). In Plešné lake,...

The present work aims to familiarize students with current representatives of naked snails. In the Czech Republic there are five families of naked snails (Agriolimacidae, Arionidae, Boettgerillidae, Limacidae and Milacidae) and all their representatives are characterized by the loss of a secondary shell. Working closely represents ten of them. Part of the work is simplified determination dichotomous key and atlas. Basis of the thesis is a proposal of nine laboratory exercises, observations and experiments that pose naked snails from many angles, from basic observation of the external morphology through the food demands and sensory perception until after the autopsy. Tasks are designed for use in high school; Simplified variant may serve základoškolským hours practically oriented science. Some of the presented tasks (monitoring food preferences, sensory perception and response to stimuli) can be extended to a project day or protracted class of biologically oriented project. All designed tasks were tested. The most important model species of this thesis is the Spanish slug (Arion vulgaris (Moquin-Tandon, 1855)). It is a Czech non-native, invasive representative of the family Arionidae. Thanks laboratory exercises contained in the work of pupils, it is possible that the snail introduce in detail and...