Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Avoiding Competition? Site Use, Diet and Foraging Behaviours in Two Similarly Sized Geese Wintering in China

Competition may occur when two species with similar feeding ecologies exploit the same limited resources in time and space. In recent years, the Eastern Tundra Bean Goose Anser fabalis serrirostris and Greater White-fronted Goose Anser albifrons frontalis have increased in wintering numbers at Shengjin Lake, China. To examine the potential for coexistence and possible avoidance strategies, we studied (1) their habitat use, (2) foraging behaviours and (3) diets of birds foraging in mixed- and single-species flocks. Both species extensively exploited sedge meadows, where they showed considerable overlap in spatial distribution and diet. The percentage feeding time and diet of both species were unaffected by the presence of the other. Greater White-fronted Geese appeared diurnal sedge meadow specialists, almost never feeding in other habitats. Eastern Tundra Bean Geese were less selective, exploiting other habitats, which they increasingly exploited at night in mid-winter. The use of alternative habitats and night feeding may have avoided interspecific competition. While the specialised feeding ecology of Greater White-fronted Geese may make them particularly vulnerable to loss of sedge meadow habitat, Eastern Tundra Bean Geese may be able to adjust because of their use of alternative habitats and a less restricted diet.
Evaluation of feeds from tropical origin for in vitro methane production potential and rumen fermentation in vitro

Enteric methane arising due to fermentation of feeds in the rumen contributes substantially to the greenhouse gas emissions. Thus, like evaluation of chemical composition and nutritive values of feeds, methane production potential of each feed should be determined. This experiment was conducted to evaluate several feeds for methane production potential and rumen fermentation using in vitro gas production technique so that low methane producing feeds could be utilized to feed ruminants. Protein- and energy-rich concentrates (n=11), cereal and grass forages (n=11), and different straws and shrubs (n=12), which are commonly fed to ruminants in India, were collected from a number of locations. Gas production kinetics, methane production, degradability and rumen fermentation greatly varied ( p <0.01) among feeds depending upon the chemical composition. Methane production (mL/g of degraded organic matter) was lower ( p <0.01) for concentrate than forages, and straws and shrubs. Among shrubs and straws, methane production was lower ( p <0.01) for shrubs than straws. Methane production was correlated ( p <0.05) with concentrations of crude protein (CP), ether extract and non-fibrous carbohydrate (NFC) negatively, and with neutral detergent (NDF) and acid detergent fiber (ADF) positively. Potential gas production was negatively correlated ( p =0.04) with ADF, but positively ( p <0.01) with NFC content. Rate of gas production and ammonia concentration were influenced by CP content positively ( p <0.05), but by NDF and ADF negatively ( p <0.05). Total volatile fatty acid concentration and organic matter degradability were correlated ( p <0.05) positively with CP and NFC content, but negatively with NDF and ADF content. The results suggest that incorporation of concentrates and shrubs replacing straws and forages in the diets of ruminants may decrease methane production.
Evaluation of ICARDA barley genotypes for yield stability and lodging resistance in southeastern Ethiopia highlands.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the genotype yield stability and identify lodging resistant ICARDA barley genotypes for future breeding. Fifteen semi-dwarf ICARDA barley genotypes were tested across 11 environments in randomized complete block design in four replications in Bale highlands of Southeastern Ethiopia. The analysis of variance showed that total yield variation has been significantly (P<0.01) influenced by environment (72.9%), genotype by environment interaction (GEI) (11.4%) and genotype (2.1%), signifying the importance of GEI effect as compared to genotype effect. From high yielding and stable ICARDA barley genotypes, 27th IBON 73/99, F2 (S X S) 237/99 and F2 (S X S) 222/99) showed about 35% yield advantage over the lowest yielding checks (Aruso and Dimtu), and about 15% better yield than the higher yielding check, Dinsho. The result reveals that the ICARDA barley genotypes were shorter in height and better lodging resistant than checks. And, the ICARDA semi-dwarf material would be useful in crossing program with local barley landraces to develop promising genotypes for high yielding potential, lodging resistance and better adaptability.
The effects of drought, waterlogging and heat stress on tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicon L.)

of the thesis submitted to fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy. The effects of drought, waterlogging and heat stress on tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicon L.) by Kim Hian Seng Field production of tomatoes generally involves exposure to various sub optimal environmental conditions and environmental stress factors including high temperature, scarcity of water or excessive water. This study investigated morphological, physiological and biochemical responses to water stress (water deficit and waterlogging) of two tomato (Solanum lycopersicon L.) cultivars ('Best Boy Bush' and 'Scoresby Dwarf') at three developmental stages (vegetative, flowering and fruiting) in the glasshouse, and at the fruiting stage in a kinetic study in the field. These cultivars, together with the cultivar 'Soprano' were further investigated in a heat stress experiment (at 40/30 °C day/ night temperatures). Generally, growth parameters including leaf length and leaf area as well as plant biomass accumulation were reduced by the three stress factors. The reduction in growth-related traits was more pronounced at the earlier stages of plant development (i.e. the vegetative stage). The impact of heat stress was characterised by a significant increase in the number of abscised flowers (5.4 fold) and of flowers with stigma tube elongation (3.5 fold), as well as the prevention of fruit set. Trials to examine physiological responses to water stress showed reductions in plant water status (leaf relative water content and leaf water potential) and leaf gas exchange (photosynthesis, stomatal conductance and transpiration). Osmotic adjustment was observed under water deficit by virtue of a reduction in adjusted osmotic potential and an increase in proline production. For instance, adjusted osmotic potential decreased by 29%, and proline levels increased by 48% in the leaves and by 65% in the roots in plants subjected to drought stress in the glasshouse study. A reduction of osmotic potential (-91%) and an accummulation of free proline (from Day 2 to Day 8) were also observed in drought treated plants in the field trial. In contrast, free proline levels decreased under waterlogging. Tomato plants responded to both water stress treatments with the accumulation of hydrogen peroxides, which resulted in oxidative stress. High levels of H2O2 were observed in leaves and roots of water-stressed plants in the glasshouse and field trials. However, the H2O2 levels in the roots of plants subjected to waterlogging were slightly lower in the glasshouse trial. As a consequence of the elevated oxidative load (H2O2 production), there was greater damage to lipids, proteins and DNA in water-stressed plants. The activities of enzymatic antioxidants were all increased under drought stress but were inactivated in plants at the reproductive developmental stage under waterlogging conditions in the glasshouse trial. As a result, activities
Effects of Boron Fertilization on the Yield and Some Yield Components of Bread and Durum Wheat

A greenhouse and a 1-year field study were conducted during the cropping season on the effects of B on yield and some yield components of bread (Triticum aestivum L, cv. Bezostaja) and durum (Triticum durum L. cv. Kiziltan) wheat cultivars in a B-deficient soil (0.68 mg kg-1, NH4OAc extractable). Boron was applied as H3BO3 at 0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0 and 2.5 mg B kg-1 in the greenhouse study and 0, 1.0, 2.0, 3.0, 4.0 and 5.0 kg B ha-1 in the field study. Shoot dry weights of Bezostaja and Kiziltan significantly increased regardless of the applied B levels in the greenhouse study. In the field study, grain yield increased from 3668 to 5475 kg ha-1 at 4.0 kg B ha-1 in Bezostaja and 4668 to 5360 kg ha-1 at 2.0 kg B ha-1 in Kiziltan. At higher levels of B application, the grain yields of the cultivars decreased. Boron concentration in the shoots and grains of both cultivars, and spike number m-2, spike length, number of sterile spikelets per spike, grain yield per spike and harvest index for Bezostaja, and number of fertile spikelets per spike and number of grain per spike for Kiziltan responded to B fertilization in field conditions. The results of this study show that B fertilization should be taken into consideration in fertilizer recommendations after additional research under different soil, genotype, and environmental conditions.
Isolation and Identification of the Reaction Product of α-Hydroxy-γ-Carboxymuconic ε-Semialdehyde Dehydrogenase

: The reaction product of enzymic dehydrogenation of alpha-hydroxy-gamma-carboxymuconic epsilon-semialdehyde (HCMS) was isolated. The analytical data (elemental analyses, IR spectra, mass spectra, proton NMR spectra, and UV spectra) showed that the product was not alpha-hydroxy-gamma-carboxymuconic acid (HCMA), the expected primary product of HCMS dehydrogenation, but a lactone of HCMA. The structure of the lactone was tentatively determined as alpha-pyrone-4,6-dicarboxylic acid. HCMS was converted stoichiometrically to the lactone by the purified NAD(P)-linked HCMS dehydrogenase. The lactone was actively metabolized by a cell-free extract prepared from Pseudomonas ochraceae grown on phthalic acid, suggesting that it may be a metabolic intermediate in the bacterial metabolism of protocatechuic acid. Furthermore, a method for the chemical synthesis of the lactose of HCMA is presented and some of its chemical and biochemical properties are described.
Effects of Seasonal Variations, Thyroid and Steroid Hormones, and Carp Pituitary Extract on the Artificial Production of Channel Catfish Ictalurus punctatus× Blue Catfish I. furcatus Hybrids

The primary objective was to compare thyroid hormones and levels of carp pituitary extract for the artificial production of female Ictalurus punctatus× male I. furcatus hybrid catfish. The effects of different carp pituitary extract dosage rates (5, 6, 9, and 10 mg/kg), carp pituitary extract (6 and 10 mg/kg) supplemented with the thyroid hormones thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3), or pregnenolone (DHP) were determined for inducing ovulation of female channel catfish, fertilization of channel catfish eggs with male blue catfish sperm, and hatching rate of these embryos. Hormone treatments thyroxine and tri-iodothyronine with carp pituitary extract, carp pituitary extract alone, and pregnenolone with carp pituitary extract used to artificially produce hybrid catfish were not different in terms of ovulation rates, eggs/kg, fry/kg body weight of female channel catfish, fertilization rates, or hatching rates (P > 0.05). These findings suggest that lower amounts of carp pituitary extract may be used to induce spawn of female channel catfish for production of channel-blue catfish hybrids and the addition of thyroid and steroid hormones is ineffective at the rates used in this study.
POTENCIAL HÍDRICO XILEMÁTICO EN CUATRO ESPECIES ARBUSTIVAS NATIVAS DEL NORESTE DE MÉXICO

Since water stress is the most limiting factor in this region, the aim of the current study was to establish how the xylem water potential (Ψ) in native shrubs such as Celtis pallida (Ulmaceae), Acacia amentacea (Leguminosae) Forestiera angustifolia (Oleaceae), and Parkinsonia texana (Leguminosae) is influenced by soil water content, air temperature, relative humidity, and rainfall. The study was carried out in an area located the municipality of China, state of Nuevo Leon. Using a Scholander pressure bomb the Ψ were estimated at 15 days intervals between January 15 and September 28, 2009 in five different plants per species at 06:00 h (predawn) and 14:00 h (midday). At the wettest period, Ψ oscillated from -0.30 (C. pallida) to -0.90 MPa (P. texana) at predawn, in contrast, at the driest period, Ψ oscillated from -2.18 (P. texana) to -3.94 MPa (F. angustifolia) at predawn. At midday, P. texana and F. angustifolia achieved the highest (-1.14 MPa) and lowest (-3.38 MPa) Ψ values, respectively. Average soil water content at depth profile 0-50cm showed between 82 and 33 % of the variation of Ψ at predawn. Soil water content at different soil depths, and relative humidity were significantly and positively correlated with Ψ at predawn; whereas air temperature and vapor pressure deficit was negatively correlated. A. amentacea and P. texana maintainedhigh values in Ψ at predawn and midday under water stress conditions, so these species may be considered as drought tolerant species. Revista Chapingo Serie Ciencias Forestales y del Ambiente, Volumen XVII, Edición Especial: 97-109, 2011. Potencial hídrico. González Rodríguez, et. al.
The in situ analysis of the microbial community associated with footrot of sheep

Footrot (FR) is a highly infectious and debilitating disease of sheep, which has a significant economic impact on the sheep farming industry, in the UK and worldwide and causes significant suffering of sheep. Despite some recent advances, FR remains a scientifically challenging disease to understand. To help improve our understanding of disease pathogenesis, two culture-independent techniques were developed to examine the microbial succession events between the causative agent, Dichelobacter nodosus and an accessory agent, Fusobacterium necrophorum, the latter also postulated to be involved in disease initiation. The two populations were monitored in relation to disease initiation and progression during a longitudinal study and disease presentation in tissue biopsies (in situ). Finally, the distribution of these two species of bacteria in the environment was examined to highlight possible sources of infection. The work in this thesis has demonstrated that FR is a disease where expression is related to D. nodosus load present in the ovine interdigital space. D. nodosus (rpoD) load increased from that on a healthy foot to one presenting with interdigital dermatitis (ID) and feet with a higher D. nodosus (rpoD) load were more likely to go on to develop FR one week later. FISH analysis of the D. nodosus population present within the epidermis also revealed similar findings; D. nodosus cell counts increased during stages of ID, but the organism was less frequently detected in biopsies from feet with FR. Suggesting that ID might be the most infectious stage of the disease process. A fact that needs to be highlighted to farmers to encourage treatment at this stage of disease. In contrast, F. necrophorum (rpoB) load did not correlate with ID presentation or prior to the development of FR, but increased the week of FR onset. FISH analysis also revealed that F. necrophorum cell counts were higher in feet with FR than those with ID. It is possible therefore that F. necrophorum may thrive in the altered environment of a foot presenting with FR, possibly contributing to disease persistence and severity. Finally, both pathogens were detected in a range of environmental samples from a farm with endemic FR, highlighting possible sources of infection and material, which once contaminated with D. nodosus and F. necrophorum may contribute to the spread of FR. This study has provided an improved understanding of the microbial population dynamics involved in the development of ID and FR in sheep, which may have implications for control and treatment practices not only in the UK, but world-wide.
Similar patterns of patterns of community organization characterize distinct groups of different trophic levels in the plankton of the NW Mediterranean Sea

Abstract. Planktonic populations were sampled over a 4 week period in the NW Mediterranean, at a site subject to little vertical advection during the Dynaproc 2 cruise in 2004. The characteristics of the phytoplankton, the tintinnid community and the zooplankton have recently been described in detail. Based on these studies, we compared the characteristics of 3 well-circumscribed assemblages of different trophic levels: Ceratium of the phytoplankton, herbivorous tintinnids of the microzooplankton, and large (>500 μm) omnivorous and carnivorous copepods of the metazoan zooplankton. In all three groups, diversity as H' or species richness, was less variable than concentration of organisms. Plotting time against species accumulation, the curves approached plateau values for Ceratium spp, tintinnids and large copepods but only a small number of species were consistently present (core species) and these accounted for most of the populations. For Ceratium core species numbered 10, for tintinnids 11 species, and for large copepods, core species numbered 4 during the day and 16 at night. Ceratium, tintinnids and large copepods showed some similar patterns of community structure in terms of species abundance distributions. Ceratium species were distributed in a log-normal pattern. Tintinnid species showed a log-series distribution. Large copepod assemblages were highly dominated with night samples showing much higher abundances and greater species richness than day samples. However, species abundance distributions were similar between day and night and were mostly log-normal. The paradox of the plankton, describing phytoplankton communities as super-saturated with species, extends to the microzooplankton and zooplankton.
Assessment of seedling storability of Quercus robur and Pinus sylvestris

Pedunculate oak (Quercus robur L.) and Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) seedlings were lifted on several occasions during autumn 1997 to determine the relationships between storability and frost hardiness. On each lifting date their physiological status was determined by assessment of shoot and root electrolyte leakage and frost hardiness, assessed as freeze-induced electrolyte leakage. Additional seedlings were simultaneously cold-stored for field planting and assessment of preplanting root growth potential in April 1998. First year field performance was determined the following winter. Storability and cold acclimation patterns differed between the two species. Both were negatively affected by early lifting, but oak was less sensitive with respect to survival, and pine attained tolerance to cold storage more rapidly and earlier with respect to growth increment. The correlations between shoot frost hardiness and performance suggest that freeze-induced shoot electrolyte leakage (SELdiff−20) below a threshold of 5% is a good storability predictor for Scots pine in Denmark. A completely reliable criterion for pedunculate oak could not be established.
Growth of an Isolated Elk Population

This paper reports on the growth of an isolated elk (Cervus elaphus nelsoni) population that became established naturally in a large block of shrub-steppe habitat in eastern Washington. Habitat quality in the area was high as was the potential for achieving maximum or near-maximum rates of sustained population growth. Nearly 20 years of trend data on the population yielded an overall rate of increase of 20% per year. A high annual survival (0.98) was calculated. An initially high calf-cow ratio was reduced in later years of the study, but causes could not be determined. The reproductive and survival data indicate a maximum rate of increase of 24% per year, and the data were used to show that a feasible maximum sustainable rate for elk may be as high as 28%.
Genetic analysis of growth and feed intake patterns in pigs

Objective of this thesis was to quantify genetic differences in performance patterns of pigs by means of random regression models. Emphasis was on growth and feed intake patterns in pigs. Genetic parameters for weight, daily gain and daily feed intake were estimated using random regression models, where traits were modelled on a continuous scale, i.e. age, days on test or weight. Interactions between weight, daily gain, and daily feed intake during a trajectory were studied. The possibilities to change (part of) performance pattern of pigs through selection were investigated using simulation. Random regression models provide a method to analyse longitudinal records in animal breeding that reveal specific patterns of change over a trajectory. Advantages of the application of random regression models were a higher accuracy of selection, the use of information of the course of traits, and the possibility to change the course of a trait through selection. Measurements of live weight, daily gain, and daily feed intake taken at different points along this trajectory cannot be regarded as repeated measurements of the same trait. It is possible to change patterns of weight, daily feed intake, and daily gain over an age trajectory through genetic selection; the extent of change depends on the genetic correlation structure. A set of multivariate random regression models can be set up, yielding estimated breeding values for traits of interest along a trajectory, e.g. a weight - or age trajectory. These estimated breeding values for different points along a trajectory can be considered as estimated breeding values of separate traits. A breeding goal that incorporates all these traits can be set up, putting more emphasis on that part of the trajectory that we want to change. Random regression models are a helpful tool in identifying and selecting animals that show desired patterns for a combination of traits
The Immune Response to Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 Infection in Susceptible Mice is a Major Cause of CNS Pathology Resulting in Fatal Encephalitis

This study was undertaken to investigate possible immune mechanisms in fatal HSV-1 encephalitis (HSE) after HSV-1 corneal inoculation. Susceptible 129S6 (129) but not resistant C57BL/6 (B6) mice developed intense focal inflammatory brainstem lesions of primarily F4/80+ macrophages and Gr-1+ neutrophils detectable by MRI as early as day 6 post infection (PI). Depletion of macrophages and neutrophils significantly enhanced survival of infected 129 mice. Immunodeficient B6 (IL-7R-/-Kitw41/w41) mice lacking adaptive cells (B6-E mice) transplanted with 129 bone marrow showed significantly accelerated fatal HSE compared to B6-E mice transplanted with B6 marrow or control non-transplanted B6-E mice. In contrast, there was no difference in ocular viral shedding in B6-E mice transplanted with 129 bone marrow or B6 bone marrow. Acyclovir treatment of 129 mice beginning day 4 PI (24 h after HSV-1 first reaches the brain stem) reduced nervous system viral titers to undetectable levels but did not alter brainstem inflammation or mortality. We conclude that fatal HSE in 129 mice results from widespread damage in the brainstem caused by destructive inflammatory responses initiated early in infection by massive infiltration of innate cells.