Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Drosophila suzukii infestation in ripe and ripening caneberries

Drosophila suzukii (Matsumura) is a highly invasive vinegar fly that was first detected in the continental United States in 2008. Females use their saw-like ovipositor to lay eggs in soft-skinned fruits and severely threaten the viability of raspberry, blackberry, blueberry, cherry, and strawberry production. In a recent study, females in nochoice laboratory bioassays laid eggs in ripening blueberries and blackberries. However, most of the eggs failed to develop, perhaps because the ripening process was interrupted in the prematurely-harvested fruit. We hypothesized that eggs laid in ripening fruit in a field may be able to complete development as the fruit continues to ripen. To test this hypothesis, we used fine mesh cages to prevent later egg laying by D. suzukii in fruit at several ripeness stages: green-pink, pink, and ripe raspberries and in green-pink, red, purple, and ripe blackberries. We collected the fruit once they were ripe, and reared out and counted all D. suzukii present. This experiment was conducted at two locations during 2013 and 2014, one with very high fly populations and one with low populations. Very few flies emerged from blackberry clusters that were bagged at the green-pink stage, and in general, more flies emerged from clusters bagged at later stages of ripening (purple and red blackberries and pink raspberries) than from green-pink fruit. Knowing what ripeness stages are susceptible to D. suzukii infestation will help growers to better pinpoint when to begin applying management tools.
Revised estimate of numbers of wintering Red-throated Divers Gavia stellata in Great Britain

Capsule An estimated 17 000 Red-throated Divers winter around Great Britain. Aim To produce an up-to-date assessment of the numbers of Red-throated Divers wintering around Great Britain. Methods A revised Great Britain (GB) wintering population estimate for Red-throated Divers was compiled using data primarily from systematic line transect surveys by aircraft over marine nearshore areas conducted during 2001–06, supplemented with county bird records and Wetland Bird Survey (WeBS) counts, both from 1995 to 2005. Population estimates for each survey area around GB were calculated as the mean of either annual means (aerial surveys) or annual maxima (WeBS, county bird records) of all data collected within January and February of each year. These were summed to give a revised GB wintering population estimate. Results A total of 17116 (13198–21034, 95% confidence interval) Red-throated Divers were estimated to winter around GB. Distribution was uneven. By far the greatest numbers were found off southeast and east Britain (59.3% of the total was between Flamborough Head, Yorkshire, and Dungeness, Kent), with large concentrations off the English south coast (10.9%), north Wales and Liverpool Bay (9.8%), and eastern Scotland (6.1%). Conclusion This is a minimum plausible population estimate and the true population size may be larger. The new 1% of population threshold for statutory conservation work is 170 birds.
Metabolism, personality and pace of life in the Trinidadian guppy, Poecilia reticulata

While among-individual variation in behaviour, or personality, is common across taxa, its mechanistic underpinnings are poorly understood. The Pace of Life syndrome (POLS) provides one possible explanation for maintenance of personality differences. POLS predicts that metabolic differences will covary with behavioural variation, with high metabolism associated with risk prone behaviour and ‘faster’ life histories (e.g., high growth, early maturation). We used a repeated measures approach, assaying metabolic traits (rate and scope), behaviour and growth to test these predictions in the Trinidadian guppy, Poecilia reticulata . We found that while individuals varied significantly in their behaviour and growth rate, more risk prone individuals did not grow significantly faster. Furthermore, after accounting for body size there was no support for among-individual variation in metabolic traits. Thus, while personality differences are clearly present in this population, they do not covary with metabolism and the POLS framework is not supported.
Comparison of Paclobutrazol, Flurprimidol, and Tetcyclacis for Controlling Poinsettia Height

Growth retarding activities of paclobutrazol, flurprimidol, and tetcyclacis were compared on ‘Eckespoint C-l Red’, ‘Annette Hegg Dark Red’, and ‘Gutbier V-14 Glory’ poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima Willd.). Paclobutrazol effectively controlled height of all cultivars at 0.50 mg per pot as soil drenches and at 25-50 mg°liter−1 as foliar applications. Flurprimidol soil drenches of 0.03-0.06 mg per pot and foliar sprays of 25 mg°liter−1 were equally effective in reducing plant heights of all cultivars. Tetcyclacis soil drenches and granular applications of 10-20 mg per pot provided similar reductions of plant heights on the cultivars tested. Chemical names used: α-(l-methylethyl)-α-[4-(trifluoromethoxy)phenyl]-5-pyrimidinemethanol (flurprimidol); (R*,R*)-(±)-β-[(4-chlorophenyl)methyl]-α-(1,1-dimethylethyl)-1H-l,2,4-triazole-1-ethanol (paclobutrazol); and 5-(4-chlorophenyl)-3,4,5,9,10-pentaza-tetracyclo-5,4,102,6,08,11, dodeca-3, 9-diene (tetcyclacis).
Growth performance, immune response, blood serum parameters, nutrient digestibility and carcass traits of broiler chicken as affected by dietary supplementation of garlic extract (allicin).

Two hundred day old chicks were used and allotted into equal five groups fed on the basal diet supplemented by 0.0, 25, 50, 75 and 100 mg allicin/Kg diet respectively for five continuous weeks. Dietary allicin supplementation at 25, 50 and 75mg/kg diet significantly (P≤0.05) improved final body weight and total gain by about (6.87%, 12.76% and, 10.13%) and (6.9%, 13.03% and 10.3%) respectively when compared with control broiler chick group. In contrast high level (100mg/Kg) addition of allicin non significantly (P≥0.05) decreased final body weight and total gain of broiler chicks by about 1.13 % and 1.2% respectively, when compared with control one. Allicin supplementation increased feed intake of broiler chicken while, 25, 50 or 75 mg allicin/Kg diet improved feed conversion ratio, protein efficiency ratio, efficiency of energy utilization and performance index when compared with control. In contrast high inclusion rate of allicin deteriorate the mentioned parameters. Allicin supplementation at different levels in broiler chicken ration had no significant effect on WBCs counts, and increased RBCs, Hb%, PCV%, blood serum units and reduced blood serum triglycerides and total cholesterol concentrations when compared with the control. On the other hand, allicin supplementation at 25, 50 or 75 mg/Kg diet improve kidney and liver functions through reduction of blood serum creatnine, GOT, GPT and ALP concentrations when compared with the control, while higher level showed adverse effect. Moreover, it was observed that allicin supplementation improved broiler chicken immune response through increased nutrophil percentage and weight of immune organs when compared with the control one. Dietary allicin supplementation at 25, 50 or 75 mg/Kg diet improved organic matter, crude protein and ether extract digestion, while high inclusion level exhibited lower digestibility percentage and numerically improved dressing percentage of broiler chicken, while had no effect on liver, gizzard, heart weight when compared with the control. Allicin supplementation at 50 mg/Kg diet improved economic efficiency of broiler chick's production.
A review of garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata, Brassicaceae) as an allelopathic plant

Abstract Alliaria petiolata is a widespread biennial herb from Eurasia that is one of the most recognizable invasive plants of forests in the eastern United States and southern Canada. After two decades of intensive study on its physiology, ecology, and impacts, this plant has come to be known in both the scientific and gray literature as an allelopathic plant capable of exerting negative, chemically mediated effects on plants and microbes in its environment. A critical review of the literature reveals that there is evidence both supporting and failing to support this assertion, and that conclusions can be affected greatly by the experimental approaches taken, the target species examined, the sources of allelopathic inputs, and environmental factors. The objective of this review is to provide a history of allelopathy research in A. petiolata, describing the various approaches that have been taken and conclusions drawn, and to summarize the current standing of A. petiolata as an allelopathic plant using the most ecologically relevant data on this phenomenon. Finally, we discuss the degree to which allelopathy, versus other mechanisms, may contribute to the invasive success of this plant.
Tissue-Dependent Plastid RNA Splici Transcripts from Four Plastid Genes Unspliced in Leaf Meristems and Roots

Most plastid gene products do not accumulate to high levels in meristem proplastids or in the specialized plastids of roots. To asses whether a modulation of plastid splicing activities might play a role in this tissue-dependent expression of the plastid genome, the ratio of spliced to unspliced transcripts from the atpF, petB, petD, and rp116 genes was compared between several tissues of maize. Although these transcripts are predominantly spliced in green leaf tissue (both bundle sheath and mesophyll cells), spliced atpF, pet6, and petD transcripts are underrepresented relative to their unspliced precursors in roots and leaf meristems. The ratio of spliced to unspliced rp116 transcripts varies in a similar fashion, but the magnitude of the differences between tissues is not as great. The proportion of RNA that is spliced reflects the tissue of origin and not photosynthetic competency, chlorophyll content, or exposure to light since the leaves of photosynthetic mutants and of seedlings grown in the absence of light contain spliced and unspliced transcripts in normal ratios. These results raise the possibility that low RNA splicing activities are in part responsible for the limited expression of the plastid genome in meristematic and root tissue.
Performance of Sweetpotato Cultivars Grown Using Biodegradable Black Plastic Mulch in New Hampshire

S UMMARY . We evaluated the performance of several sweetpotato ( Ipomoea batatas ) cultivars grown on raised beds covered with biodegradable black mulch in New Hampshire. Six cultivars were evaluated over 4 years, and an additional four cultivars were evaluated in 2 or 3 years. Cultivars showed signiﬁcant differences in marketable yield, percent cull, and percent small roots. The cultivars Covington and B94-14 Beauregard consistently produced high yields, whereas Vardaman consis- tently produced the lowest yields. ‘Georgia Jet’ exhibited variable performance, with marketable yields among the highest in 1 year and the lowest in another, largely because of a high percentage of cull roots due to severe cracking. Yields measured in our study compare favorably with average U.S. yields, with several cultivars producing over 400 50-lb bushels/acre in all years in which they were grown. In a 2-year study with the cultivar Beauregard, biodegradable mulch increased overall yields (marketable, cull, and small roots) as compared with bare ground production on raised beds. However, the percentage of culled roots was higher in mulch treatments, primarily due to breakage during digging, and the observed increases in marketable yields were not statistically signiﬁcant.
Vegetative Growth of Three Southern Highbush Blueberry Cultivars Obtained from Micropropagation and Softwood Cuttings in Two Florida Locations

Field performance of southern highbush blueberry ( Vaccinium corymbosum L. interspeciﬁc hybrids) cultivars Emerald, Jewel, and Primadonna derived from softwood cuttings (SW) and tissue culture (TC) was evaluated in Citra and Haines City, FL, in 2010–12. Both ﬁelds were planted in Apr. 2010 on sandy soil amended with pine bark. Plant height and width were recorded at both locations, from which plant canopy volume was calculated. Additionally, whole plants were harvested at planting and after the ﬁrst growing season, after the ﬁrst fruit harvest, and after the second growing season. Average plant height and width, number of major canes, and total shoot number were determined at each sampling date. Dry weights for roots, crowns, canes, shoots, and leaves were obtained. Although propagation method affected plant canopy volume during the ﬁrst season, no effects were observed by the end of the second growing season. At planting and after the ﬁrst and second growing seasons, TC plants of the three cultivars had more major canes. Total shoot number per plant was greater for TC ‘Jewel’ at all dates but ‘Emerald’ TC plants had more shoots only at planting and after the ﬁrst growing and harvest seasons. Tissue culture resulted in increased plant dry weights of ‘Jewel’ and ‘Emerald’ after the ﬁrst and second growing seasons. There were no signiﬁcant differences in total number of shoots or plant dry weight between TC and SW-derived ‘Primadonna’ plants at any point during the study.
Food abundance and weather modify reproduction of two arboreal squirrel species

The importance of weather in relation to food resources, in determining reproduction, remains poorly understood for mammals, particularly for species that do not depend on food resources limited by spring weather conditions. We studied the effects that weather and food supply had on timing of spring reproduction and observed litter size in 2 squirrel species, the Siberian flying squirrel and the European red squirrel, using long-term data sets spanning 20–30 years. Both species subsist on foods from tree masting, and these are available for squirrels from autumn until early spring. Good food conditions in winter and spring before reproduction had positive effects on spring reproduction in both species by advancing the onset of reproduction, and in flying squirrels, slightly increasing litter size. Higher temperature in late winter and, surprisingly, increased precipitation in late winter resulted in early reproduction in flying squirrels and red squirrels, respectively. In addition, higher early spring temperature was positively related to litter size in red squirrels, likely reflecting low survival of small juveniles in cold weather. Our study supports the view that spring reproduction in these species is determined by food supply before breeding. Our results also highlight the fact that reproduction is also dependent on weather.
USDA 97l63, 97l66, and 97l97 : Tomato breeding lines with high fruit beta-carotene content

Received for publication 1 Dec. 1999. Accepted for publication 13 June 2000. We thank Lipton Foods, Campbell Soup Co., and Heinz USA for inclusion of these lines in their trials. The cost of publishing this paper was defrayed in part by the payment of page charges. Under postal regulations, this paper therefore must be hereby marked advertisement solely to indicate this fact. E-mail address: stommelj@ba.ars. usda.gov USDA 97L63, 97L66, and 97L97: Tomato Breeding Lines with High Fruit Beta-carotene Content
Cockroaches in French Guiana Icteridae birds nests

We present here the cockroaches found in 55 nests of Icteridae birds in French Guiana in July 1998. Five species of cockroaches were found, Schultesia nitor (Zetoborinae), Phoetalia pallida (Blaberinae), Pelmatosilpha guianae (Blattinae), Chorisoneura n.sp. aff. gatunae (Pseudophyllodromiidae) and Epilampra grisea (Epilamprinae). The two dominant species, S. nitor and P. pallida, were found together in the same nests, and seem to be scavengers. The ecology of S. nitor was compared with those of S. lampyridformis, a sister species found in the same type of habitat in Brazil.
Sugar Content, Compartmentation, and Efflux in Strawberry Tissue

Using the compartmental analysis method, the distribution of sucrose, glucose, and fructose and their efflux fro the free space, cytoplasm, and vacuole were determined in Nyoho strawberries ( Fragaria ×ananassa Duch.) picked 25 or 35 days after pollination (DAP). At both stages, >70% of total sugar accumulated in the vacuole. Concentration of sug in the free space increased from 167 m M in fruit at 25 DAP to 217 mM at 35 DAP, whereas that within the cell (cytoplasm + vacuole) increased from 233 to 352 m M. Permeability of the plasma membrane to sucrose, glucose, and fructose w higher than that of the tonoplast and, except for that of fructose, the permeability of the plasma membrane to suga increased with fruit maturation. ABA at 10 M compared to 10 M restricted the release of all sugars from fruit discs and was due mainly to reduced efflux across the plasma membrane rather than the tonoplast. Thus ABA may stimulate t accumulation of sugars in fruit flesh by restricting their efflux. Chemical name used: abscisic acid (ABA). ytoet al., ems n of the wth erry : 1 lesis, cle omcycle tors ary ts. 5 nt. 0 g, and the ere ent, ed to lease dium
Carbonic anaerobiosis of Muscat grape. 2 - Changes in the distribution of free and bound terpenols

Des baies de raisin de la variete Muscat de Frontignan sont soumises a une anaerobiose carbonique (AC), a 32 °C durant 9 jours. Les terpenols, libres et lies, sont quantifies dans le jus et le marc obtenus apres pressurage. Les resultats, tres proches sur les deux annees d'experimentation, montrent clairement des evolutions dans la distribution des terpenols. Une moyenne de 46 p. 100 d'augmentation (3,55 a 5,19 mg kg -1 ) est observee apres 9 jours de AC. Alors qu'une diminution (sur l'ensemble des terpenols libres et lies) de 14 p. 100 est observee sur le marc, une forte augmentation (85 p. 100) est enregistree dans le jus. Les deux formes libres et liees des terpenols augmentent dans cette derniere fraction ; les taux correspondant aux valeurs apres 9 jours d'AC rapportees aux valeurs initiales sont respectivement de 1,76 et 1,93. Donc, l'AC augmente clairement le potentiel aromatique du jus. Elle peut egalement avoir un impact positit sur les aromes directement perceptibles. La migration des deux formes de terpenols de la phase solide a la phase liquide des baies et leur recuperation accrue dans les jus obtenus a partir d'echantillons AC peuvent expliquer les variations dans la distribution des terpenols. Concernant les terpenols pris individuellement, des variations signiticatives dans leur concentration induisent une evolution tavorable de la balance aromatique globale des cinq terpenols principaux (linalol, geraniol, nerol, α-terpineol et citronellol). Un comportement particulier de l'α-terpineol libre est mis en evidence : sa concentration augmente fortement a la fois dans le jus et dans le marc des baies.
Population analysis of Aedes albopictus (Skuse) (Diptera:Culicidae) under uncontrolled laboratory conditions

A semi laboratory experiment using 3 cohorts of Aedes albopictus adults was performed to obtain age-specific mortality and fecundity information and to derive statistical estimates of some population growth parameters. Life expectancy was calculated for both males and females. The following population parameters were estimated: intrinsic rate of increase (rm= 0.21), net reproductive (replacement) rate (Ro= 68.70), age at mean cohort reproduction (To=10.55 days), birth rate (B=0.23), death rate (D=0.02) and generation time (G=20.14 days). The high rm/B (0.91) and B/D (11.50) ratios indicated the high colonizing ability of Ae. albopictus in nature.
Depredation of Patagonian toothfish (Dissostichus eleginoides) by two sympatrically occurring killer whale (Orcinus orca) ecotypes: Insights on the behavior of the rarely observed type D killer whales

Sympatric forms of ecologically distinctive killer whales (Orcinus orca) have been documented worldwide. This study focused on a new case of such sympatric occurrence of the “Crozet” type and the recently described “type D” killer whales off the Crozet Islands. The two ecotypes are morphologically and genetically distinct, but they both depredate the same local longline fishery. We used observational, photo-identification, and fishing data, collected between 2003 and 2015, to examine differences in their patterns of depredation. Of the 828 sets where ecotype could be confirmed, type D killer whales interacted with 82 (11%) of the sets, including 9 (1%) sets that were simultaneously depredated by both ecotypes. Associations between the two types were never observed. Type D killer whales typically occurred in larger groups and both ecotypes preferentially depredated Patagonian toothfish (Dissostichus eleginoides). GLMM modeling revealed that the probability of type D depredation significantly increased throughout the study period, especially in deep waters, and photo-identification data suggested that a subset of all individuals were habituating to depredation. This study documents the partitioning of resources between two distinct ecotypes of killer whales and provides preliminary insight into the feeding ecology of the rare type D killer whale.
Acoustic positioning and movement patterns of red snapper Lutjanus campechanus around artificial reefs in the northern Gulf of Mexico

The majority of mark-recapture studies are in ABSTRACT: Over a 3 yr period fine-scale (m) movements of red snapper Lutjanus campechanus were estimated with the Vemco VR2W Positioning System (VPS) on 3 artificial reefs, and wider scale (km) movements were estimated with surrounding receivers (n = 23). Tagged red snapper (n = 56) were tracked for extended periods (17–1096 d). Residency (23 mo) and site fidelity (82% yr −1 ) showed that red snapper maintained a close association with the artificial reef structure (34.5 ± 44.0 m). Fine-scale monthly home range (95% kernel density estimates [KDE]) and core areas (50% KDE) were positively correlated with water temperature. In the winter, all red snapper showed less movement, and during the warmer months most (63%, 29 out of 46) fish used a secondary reef site. Over diel periods, fish showed significantly greater movements during day hours on 2 reef sites and during night hours on 1 reef site. The surrounding receiver array validated 88% (15 of 17 fish) of the VPS-determined emigrations. Many (53%, n = 9) fish moved short distances (~1.5 km) to nearby reefs, and some red snappers (n = 3) that emigrated returned to their original release site. Red snapper showed some prey-like behaviors, e.g. close association with reef structure, quick movements over open habitat, and paired emigrations to nearby sites. These behaviors suggested that red snapper are subject to predation by larger apex predators, and as stocks increase, such factors will become increasingly more important for future management.
Cortical excitability controls the strength of mental imagery

Mental imagery provides an essential simulation tool for remembering the past and planning the future, with its strength affecting both cognition and mental health. Research suggests that neural activity spanning prefrontal, parietal, temporal, and visual areas supports the generation of mental images. Exactly how this network controls the strength of visual imagery remains unknown. Here, brain imaging and transcranial magnetic phosphene data show that lower resting activity and excitability levels in early visual cortex (V1-V3) predict stronger sensory imagery. Electrically decreasing visual cortex excitability using tDCS increases imagery strength, demonstrating a causative role of visual cortex excitability in controlling visual imagery. These data suggest a neurophysiological mechanism of cortical excitability involved in controlling the strength of mental images.