Animals are a major group of organisms, classified as the kingdom Animalia or Meta­zoa. In general they are multi­cellular, capable of locomotion, responsive to their environment, and feed by consuming other organisms. Their body plan becomes fixed as they develop, usually early on in their development as embryos, although some undergo a process of metamorphosis later on.

The word "animal" comes from the Latin word animal, of which animalia is the plural, and ultimately from anima, meaning vital breath or soul.

Characteristics

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Animals have several characteristics that set them apart from other living things. Animals are eukaryotic and usually multicellular (although see Myxozoa), which separates them from bacteria and most protists. They are heterotrophic, generally digesting food in an internal chamber, which separates them from plants and algae. They are also distinguished from plants, algae, and fungi by lacking cell walls.

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USDA Agricultural Research Service

New Bait Lures Varroa Mite to its Doom
Wed, 01 Jul 2009 09:14:00 -0500
Read the magazine story to find out more. ARS scientists have developed a new bait that may help control varroa mites, the top pest of honey bees. Click the image for more information about it. Finding out how genes govern bees' lives   The latest buzz on Russian bees   New test on tap for detecting pesticide-resistant mites New Bait Lures Varroa Mite to its Doom By Jan Suszkiw July 1, 2009 Varroa mites could literally be walking into a trap—thanks to a new attractant developed by Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists in Gainesville, Fla. The 1/16-inch long parasite, Varroa destructor, is a top pest of honey bees nationwide, hindering the beneficial insects' ability to pollinate almonds, blueberries, apples, zucchini and many other flowering crops. At the ARS Chemistry Research Unit in Gainesville, research leader Peter Teal and colleagues are testing a bait-and-kill approach using sticky boards and natural chemical attractants called semiochemicals. In nature, Varroa mites rely on these semiochemicals to locate—and then feed on—the bloodlike hemolymph of both adult honey bees and their brood. Severe infestations can decimate an affected hive within several months—and rob the beekeeper of profits from honey or pollinating services. But in this case, the mites encounter a more heady bouquet of honey bee odors that lure the parasites away from their intended hosts and onto the sticky boards, where they starve. In preliminary tests, 35 to 50 percent of mites dropped off the bees when exposed to the attractants. Free-roving mites found the semiochemicals even more attractive, according to Teal. Moreover, the extra dose of semiochemicals wafting through hives didn't appear to significantly interfere with the honey bees' normal behavior or activity, added Teal who, along with postdoctoral associate Adrian Duehl and University of Florida collaborator Mark Carroll, reported the results this past January at the 2009 North American Beekeeping Conference in Reno, Nev. The team hopes ARS' patenting of the Varroa mite attractants will encourage an industrial partner to develop the technology further. Read more about the research in the July 2009 issue of Agricultural Research magazine. ARS is the principal intramural scientific research agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Spraying Herbicide on Invasive Weeds Doesn't Always Pay
Tue, 30 Jun 2009 09:52:00 -0500
It may not always pay for ranchers to use herbicides to kill exotic invasive weeds on the range, according to a new study. Click the image for more information about it. Knowing where to look for invasive leafy spurge   Seeded pastures can sustain cattle-and native rangelands   USDA Livestock and Range Research Lab expansion unveiled Spraying Herbicide on Invasive Weeds Doesn't Always Pay, Study Shows By Don Comis June 30, 2009 It may not always pay for ranchers to use herbicides to kill exotic invasive weeds such as leafy spurge, according to a 16-year study by the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) and colleagues. Rangeland ecologist Matt Rinella at the ARS Fort Keogh Livestock and Range Research Laboratory in Miles City, MT, and colleagues conducted the study. Data they collected 16 years after a one-time aerial spraying of herbicide showed that the invasive leafy spurge (Euphorbia esula L) may have ultimately increased due to spraying. Conversely, several desirable native forbs were still suffering the effects of spraying 16 years after spraying. Although the herbicide would have dissipated within a few years, it seemed to cause a long-term plant community shift. Any increase in grass production from the herbicide spraying only lasted a year or two. The study was done on the N-Bar Ranch in Montana. Each plot was either grazed and sprayed, grazed but not sprayed, not grazed but sprayed or not grazed or sprayed. Cattle grazing helped maintain native plant numbers when herbicide was used. Cattle grazing can help native forbs thrive because cattle prefer grasses over forbs, and cattle trample soil, loosening soil for seeds that the animals inadvertently plant when seeds are caught in their hooves or fur. That said, when herbicide wasn't used, most native forbs did as well with or without cattle grazing. Herbicide caused the native plants Missouri goldenrod and yarrow to become rarer over the 16-year study period. Barring herbicides, these two species proved capable of co-existing indefinitely with the exotics. Four native perennials became rarer in sprayed plots, but only when grazing was excluded: velvety goldenrod, white prairie aster, vetch, and prairie sagewort. Herbicide spraying caused no long-term harm to four other native perennials. Rockjasmine and other plants belonging to the Androsace spp. group were not affected by the herbicide even initially. The study suggests that applying herbicides over large areas of land containing herbicide-sensitive native plants is sometimes ill-advised. The research was published in the journal Ecological Applications. ARS is the principal intramural scientific research agency in the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Shedding Light on Fescue Toxicosis
Mon, 29 Jun 2009 09:22:00 -0500
New research is shedding light on how endophytic fungus-infected fescue causes fescue toxicosis--a disease that affects grazing animals and costs the U.S. cattle industry an estimated $600 million annually. Click the image for more information about it. Food for thought: forage   A forage laboratory for America's Mid-South   Connecting the Dots for Alkaloids, Toxicosis Symptoms By Laura McGinnis June 29, 2009 New research from Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists and their university colleagues is shedding light on the relationship between chemical compounds and fescue toxicosis—a disease that affects grazing animals and costs the U.S. cattle industry an estimated $600 million annually. Fescue toxicosis is a major problem for producers whose herds graze on tall fescue. A major forage grass in many states, tall fescue can cause toxicosis in cattle and other ruminants if it's infected with endophytic fungus. The disease causes lameness and reduced production efficiency, and can even be fatal if infected animals are subjected to stressful situations, such as extreme heat or long-distance transport. Scientists believe many symptoms of toxicosis are caused by chemical compounds known as ergot alkaloids, but much is still unknown about how they cause clinical signs to develop. Led by ARS animal scientist James Klotz, scientists at the ARS Forage Animal Production Research Unit in Lexington, Ky., and the University of Kentucky are investigating the physiological responses of ruminants to tall fescue alkaloids. One sign of toxicosis is a narrowing of blood vessels. Using a model that predicts changes in blood flow in the limbs of cattle, Klotz and his colleagues examined the influence of specific alkaloids—both individually and in combination. Of the three alkaloids tested, ergovaline was the most effective at making the veins contract. The others, N-acetylloline and lysergic acid, had little effect on vein contraction. The results also showed that combining two alkaloids did not increase the toxicity of either—at least in terms of vein contraction. Further research is underway to determine how these alkaloids influence other tissues, organs and physiological systems. In one study, the scientists showed that ergovaline, but not lysergic acid, can bioaccumulate in vitro, suggesting that ergovaline may be more likely to induce toxicosis. Research like this is essential for understanding exactly how endophyte-infected tall fescue influences grazing animals. Eventually, this information could help scientists determine which compounds are most toxic and how to protect cattle from them. These studies were published in the Journal of Animal Science. ARS is the principal intramural scientific research agency for the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

USDA - Agriculture

Remarks by First Lady Michelle Obama at the U.S. Department Of Agriculture

Transcript: Secretary Tom Vilsack Hosts News Conference Call with Reporters

Johanns Signs Framework Agreement with United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization Director General Diouf Johanns' One Year Report on Avian Influenza Actions
Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns and Director-General Jacques Diouf of the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) today signed a Framework Agreement to coordinate technical assistance between USDA and the FAO. The agreement will help to address issues important to agriculture, such as chronic hunger, plant and animal diseases including avian influenza, conservation, genetic resources and the growing demand for renewable energy resources.

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