Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The rates of dry matter and nutrient loss from decomposing Potamogeton pectinatus in a brackish south‐temperate coastal lake

SUMMARY. Decomposition of Potamogeton pectinatus in Swartvlei, a southern African coastal lake, followed an exponential pattern of decay. The rale constant was 0.0205 day−1 and decay was virtually complete after 158 days. The original stock of ash, phosphorus and potassium was lost more rapidly than dry matter in the initial stages of decomposition due to leaching. Almost the entire stock of potassium and 60% of the phosphorus was lost in the first 7 days. The proportions of N and P in the decomposing detritus increase significantly in the final stages of decomposition, providing a rich food source for the abundant filter-feeding animals of the littoral zone. The decomposition rate of P. pectinatus is compared with that of other aquatic macrophytes and the significance of the relatively rapid decay rate of this species in the ecology of Swartvlei lake is discussed.
Mercado consumidor de carne suína e derivados em Belo Horizonte

This study aimed to assess the behavior of the consumer in relation to pork and pork products. Four hundred and one consumers, men and women over 19 years old, were randomly sampled from the residents of Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, to supply information about pork and pork products consumption, besides school background, occupation and family income. Consumption of fresh pork was directly affected by concepts related to health. The consumers considered pork eating dangerous to health due to an excess of fat, high level of cholesterol and the possibility of diseases transmission. The results suggest that population, even worried about the concepts of healthy and safety feeding, do not know the meaning and the function of the programs of meat quality and origin certification. The importance of the trademarks, which provide reliability and quality of the product, was emphasized. In order to create a program on the certification of pork and pork products in the State of Minas Gerais, it is necessary to run an effective campaign against the pork prejudice.
Foliar epidermis and petiole anatomy of four species of Celosia L. in Nigeria

The foliar anatomy of four Celosia species occurring in southwestern Nigeria is described. The distinguishing characteristics of taxonomic value include the petiole shapes in distal, median and proximal regions, arrangement of vascular supply to the petioles, presence or absence of protuberances on the polar ends of the stomata and size as well as the arrangement of crystals in the leaf blade. The use of anatomy in distinguishing two closely related species C. argentea and C, cristata is discussed. Von vier Arten der Gattung Celosia aus dem Sudwesten Nigerias wird die Blattanatomie beschrieben. Die unterscheidenden Merkmale umfassen die Form des Blattstiels distal, median und proximal, die Anordnung der Gefase im Blattstiel, das Auftreten oder Fehlen von Protuberanzen am polaren Ende der Stomata und die Grose sowie Anordnung von Kristallen in der Blattspreite. Der Wert der Anatomie zur Trennung der zwei eng verwandten Arten C. argentea und C. cristata wird diskutiert.
Feeding Habits of Walleye Larvae and Juveniles: Comparative Laboratory and Field Studies

Abstract The feeding habits of larval and juvenile walleyes Stizostedion vitreum were examined in the field and laboratory. Walleyes are “strike” feeders and rely on vision to capture food. The mouth, jaws, and teeth are strongly developed by the time feeding begins about 5 days after hatching, but the gill rakers do not develop a filtering function until the juveniles are 20–30 mm long. The preferred food of postlarvae was crustacean zooplankton, about 1.2 mm in total length. Rotifers were not consumed at normal pond densities. Size selection of prey was more important than species selection. During the juvenile stage, walleye food preference shifted from zooplankton to larger, faster prey; first to Chaoborus sp. and mayflies, later to Gammarus lacuatris and fish. The rate of food consumption by juveniles varied with food preference; it was highest with Chaoborus sp. and fish, lower with Daphnia pulex, and lowest with Gammarus lacustris. The food consumption rate was linearly proportional to food density.
Control of seed‐borne Sclerotinia sclerotiorum by fungicidal treatment of sunflower seed

Treatment of sunflower seeds with benomyl, vinclozolin, iprodione or procymidone virtually eliminated seed-borne Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. Applications of fungicides increased the number of surviving seedlings when seeds were sown in vermiculite or in steam-sterilized soil. With the exception of benomyl, fungicides were significantly more effective when applied in acetone solutions than when 100 g a.i./100 kg of seed was applied as conventional dry dressings. There was no difference in effectiveness between the two application methods when the dry dressings were applied at 200 g a.i/100 kg of seed. The acetone infusion method had no deleterious effects on germination of disease-free seed nor on seedling vigour. For a comparable level of control, less fungicide was needed in the infusion treatment than in the dust treatment. If fungicidal treatment of sunflower seeds is used routinely then the introduction of S. sclerotiorum into uninfested land could be controlled.
Differentiation of Bacillus globisporus, Bacillus marinus comb. nov. , Bacillus aminovorans, and Bacillus insolitus

The type strains of Bacillus globisporus subsp. globisporus and B. globisporus subsp. marinus were shown to have only 20% deoxyribonucleic acid homology. These two organisms could be differentiated by 15 physiological characteristics, including salt requirements, production of β-galactosidase, digestion of urea and esculin, fermentation of carbohydrates, and utilization of carbohydrates as sole carbon sources. Therefore, B. globisporus subsp. marinus is elevated to species rank as Bacillus marinus. The type strain of B. globisporus, strain ATCC 23301, and B. globisporus ATCC 23304 (ex “Bacillus psychrophilus” type strain) showed only 50% deoxyribonucleic acid homology, but these strains could not be differentiated phenotypically and are still considered members of the same species, B. globisporus. Deoxyribonucleic acid homology data and phenotypic properties confirmed that Bacillus aminovorans, Bacillus insolitus, B. globisporus, and B. marinus are separate species.
New Species of Rails (Aves: Rallidae) from an Archaeological Site on Huahine, Society Islands1

ABSTRACT We examined 50 bones previously assigned to “Gallirallus new sp. ” from the prehistoric (1,250–750 yr B.P.) Fa‘ahia archaeological site on Huahine, Society Islands. Most of these specimens (n = 47), representing nearly all major cranial and postcranial skeletal elements, belong to a medium-sized flightless rail that we name Gallirallus storrsolsoni. Three femora represent a second species of extinct rail that we name Porphyrio mcnabi. With the description of these two species of rails, the total number of extinct species of land birds from the Fa‘ahia site stands at seven, consisting of two rails, two doves, two parrots, and a starling. Fa‘ahia also has yielded bones of six other species of land birds that no longer exist on Huahine but survive elsewhere in Oceania.
Leaving misleading legacies behind in plankton ecosystem modelling

The value of mechanistic ecosystem modelling has long been appreciated, and in connection with trait-based approaches it has recently stimulated a more process-based understanding of adaptive capacities and trade-offs. Notwithstanding recent advances, even sophisticated state-of-the-art models of plankton ecosystems, some of which include hundreds of idealized species, do not accurately represent the great biodiversity of plankton, or the associated flexible adaptive response of plankton communities. We build on previous reviews to suggest that it may be necessary to discard some common assumptions and try new approaches in order to construct models that can make new and testable predictions about the ``adaptive capacity'' of plankton ecosystems. Major challenges remain unresolved for modelling interacting communities of producers and consumers. Rather than the common approach of mixing and matching existing model components, each laden with its own legacy assumptions, we suggest that a judicious combination of innovative, mechanistic approaches that combine traits and trade-offs will likely better address such challenges.
Population analyses of microfauna at a Water treatment Plant at Shebeen Alkoom, Minufeya, Egypt.

Safe Drinking water is a priority for human health all over the world. Accordingly, the microfauna of raw, filtered, treated, and tap water were investigated in this study. The results proved the efficiency of the Water Plant, but slight occurrence of non-pathogenic bacteria in tap water, indicated the necessity to renovate the distribution system. Most of the physico-chemical characters are within the standards for drinking water apart from phosphate, nitrate, iron and manganese. Raw water samples only were positive for E. coli, T. & F. coliform, Salmonella and Shigella. This could be referred to the illegal discharge of sewage and other organic pollutants into the water source. Sixty one protozoan genera were identified only in raw water which can be attributed to the influence of chlorination during water treatment. Ciliated protozoan densities proved seasonal variation with highest values during Autumn. Protozoan monthly densities showed significant correlations with certain physical and chemical parameters. Therefore ciliates are considered as bio-indicators for pollution in various aquatic habitats. Simultaneously, rotifers can be used to indicate the performance level of certain stages of water treatment process as they showed significant correlations with different ecological factors.
Biodiversity consequences of predation and host plant hybridization on an aphid-ant mutualism

We examined the hypothesis that mutualists, predators, and host plant quality act in concert to determine the distribution and abundance of a common herbivore. The aphid, Chaitophorus populicola, is found only in association with ants, which provide tending services and protection from predators. As a consequence, aphid abundance declined by 88% on host plants located ? 6 m from an ant mound. Differences in host plant quality resulted in aphid fecundity being greatest on narrowleaf cottonwoods, 7-22% less on back- cross hybrids, 37-46% less on F1 hybrids, and 57-61% less on Fremont cottonwoods. Due to the combined effects of these factors, we found that the realized aphid habitat was only 21% of their potential habitat. On trees where aphids and tending ants are present, aphids and ants greatly outnumber any other arthropod species; therefore, we examined the hypothesis that the factors affecting aphid density and distribution are also determinants of arthropod community structure. On a per-tree basis, observational data showed that arthropod species richness was 51% greater and abundance was 67% greater on trees where aphid-ant mutualists were absent relative to trees where they were present. When aphids were experimentally removed and ants abandoned the tree, we found the same pattern. On a per-tree basis, arthropod species richness increased by 57%, and abundance increased by 80% where aphid-ant mutualists were removed, relative to control trees. Overall, a total of 90 arthropod species were examined in this study: 56% were found only on trees without aphid-ant mutualists, 12% were found only on trees with aphid-ant mutualists, and 32% were common to both. Specific guilds were also affected; the aphid-ant mutualism had a negative effect on herbivores, generalist predators, and other species of tending ants, and a positive effect on specialist enemies of aphids. These results suggest that, by examining the factors responsible for the population dynamics of a common herbivore, we may also uncover mechanisms that de- termine arthropod community structure. Furthermore, studies that address the role of mu- tualism in shaping communities are underrepresented in the literature; these results em- phasize the importance of mutualism in ecological communities.
Chilling injury induction and water deficiency is accompanied by changes on the photosynthetic apparatus and antioxidant response in primary Tagetes leaves

Plants are often subjected to the changes in temperature in their environment. Chilling stress is a complex phenomenon which reflects various changes in their function and structure. The destructive effect of chilling temperatures is visible not only in disturbances of physiological metabolic processes, but also in generating reactive oxygen species (H2O2, O2 - , OH). These conditions of chilling stress (like other kind of stresses) results to an increase of active oxygen species (AOS) such as hydrogen peroxide. Water deficits is one of the common environmental factor limiting crop productivity. It brings about changes in membranes properties and produce O * 2 and other reactive oxygen species. It is now becoming clear that oxidants are important in signal transduction processes. The high level of ROS in the cells of the plants is the reason of the occurrence of oxidative stress conditions there. The antioxidative system that includes low-molecular antioxidants (glutathione, ascorbate, cysteine) and antioxidative enzymes (superoxide dismutase-SOD, catalase-CAT, peroxidase- POX) is the mechanism protecting ROS. In the conducted research, we have demonstrate that H2O2 and peroxidase activity increased in leaves and especially when the plants were treated with low temperature and water deficit simultaneously. In this study also the changes in the levels of some stress markers (products of lipid peroxidation, of malondialdehyde equivalents, (MDA), hydrogen peroxide) and activities of stress defence enzymes (catalase, peroxidase, superoxide dismutase). The plants were grown under laboratory controlled conditions (growth chamber) as soil culture in plastic pots (30x30x10 cm). In the stress conditions the chlorophyll, protein contents significantly declined. Our results indicate specific responses of the antioxidant enzymes under stress conditions and a possible synergetic action of water stress and chilling causing intense changes in membrane properties, compared to samples exposed to either of the stresses individually. We concluded that it is the concerned action of antioxidants, and not an antioxidant alone, which confers protection from oxidative stress in chloroplasts of chilling stressed plants.
Habitat selection and reproductive success of Ortolan Buntings Emberiza hortulana on farmland in central Sweden – the importance of habitat heterogeneity

Many granivorous birds have shown severe population declines in Europe during recent decades. The aim of the present study was to analyse habitat preferences and reproductive success of one such species, the Ortolan Bunting Emberiza hortulana , in different farmland habitats in south-central Sweden. Four seemingly different land-use types were preferred: permanent set-asides, short rotation coppice, and grazed and unmanaged semi-natural pastures. Territories and random sites differed considerably in the proportion of these preferred land-use types; 39% of territories had > 70% preferred habitat (at the 100-m scale) compared to 5% of random sites. In contrast, 22% of territories and 65% of random sites had no preferred habitats. All the preferred habitats had heterogeneous ground vegetation characterized by patches with bare ground, or at least sparse ground vegetation, intermixed with patches with taller vegetation. Ortolan Buntings also preferred a heterogeneous habitat structure with occurrence of field islets, shrubby edges, barns and electric wires, which could act as song posts or suitable nest-sites, in 88% of territories. At a larger (1-km square) scale, territories occupied by pairs aggregated strongly in areas with high proportions of preferred habitats. The number of territories with single males correlated positively with the number of pairs, which suggests that conspecific attraction may influence territory distribution. No measured habitat factors were related to reproductive success. However, due to habitat preferences and the higher proportion of paired males in one habitat type (set-aside), the production of young (fledglings/ha) is expected to be higher in set-asides, as well as in short-rotation coppices and semi-natural pastures. Thus, these habitats are important for the conservation of the Ortolan Bunting. Large areas with habitat structures such as field islets are especially important because the Ortolan Bunting breeds in aggregations in these areas.
Alleviation of salt stress by seed treatment with abscisic acid (ABA), 6-benzylaminopurine (BA) and chlormequat chloride (CCC) optimizes ion and organic matter accumulation and increases yield of rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Soil salinity is an increasing problem for agricultural production worldwide. Plant growth regulator (PGR)-treated seeds have the potential to produce plants with a greater salt tolerance as salt tolerance in established plants is greater than in germinating seeds. This study aimed at evaluating the effect of seed pre-soaking with abscisic acid (ABA), 6-benzylaminopurine (BA) and chlormequat chloride (CCC) on the amelioration of salt stress in rice cv. IR-6 in hydroponic culture and in saline field conditions. The study placed particular emphasis on osmoregulation and accumulation/partitioning of ions and organic osmotic matters. We found that the addition of PGRs as seed treatment agents or chemicals to rice cv. IR-6 has a significant role in reducing salinity stress. ABA was the most effective PGR in reducing Na + and Cl - concentrations and Na + /K + ratio, increasing K + and Ca 2+ concentrations, proline accumulation, soluble sugar content and grain yield. BA had the largest positive effect on soluble protein content. The three PGRs all had a significant positive effect on the grain yield of rice. Compared to control, ABA, BA and CCC treatments increased grain yield by 21%, 17% and 12%, respectively. Our results suggest that ABA was more effective than BA and CCC to ameliorate the toxic effects of salt stress in rice. It is economic to use these PGRs in the production system. Since they were used only for seed treatment and at very low concentration (10 -5 or 10 -6 M) their possible negative impact on human health can be avoided.
ECOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF POROID HYMENOCHAETALES (BASIDIOMYCOTA, FUNGI) IN ATLANTIC FOREST REMAINS OF THE STATE OF PERNAMBUCO, NORTHEAST BRAZIL.

The order Hymenochaetales groups species of fungi with smooth, lamellate or mainly poroid hymenial surface. The majority of species inhabit dead wood, but some species may be found on soil. Recently it was confirmed that some species of Coltricia and Coltriciella are capable to establish ectomycorrhizal associations (Tadersoo et al., 007). These fungi occur in almost all ecosystems of the world, where play an important role due to their capability to decay dead wood. With other species previously classified in the order Aphyllophorales they are among the few organisms able to decompose lignin, playing an essential role in the nutrient cycle (Alexopoulos et al., 996).
Use of isotopic sulfur to determine whitebark pine consumption by Yellowstone bears: A reassessment

Use of naturally occurring stable isotopes to estimate assimilated diet of bears is one of the single greatest breakthroughs in nutritional ecology during the past 20 years. Previous research in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (GYE), USA, established a positive relationship between the stable isotope of sulfur (δ34S) and consumption of whitebark pine (Pinus albicaulis) seeds. That work combined a limited sample of hair, blood clots, and serum. Here we use a much larger sample to reassess those findings. We contrasted δ34S values in spring hair and serum with abundance of seeds of whitebark pine in samples collected from grizzly (Ursus arctos) and American black bears (U. americanus) in the GYE during 2000–2010. Although we found a positive relationship between δ34S values in spring hair and pine seed abundance for grizzly bears, the coefficients of determination were small (R2 ≤ 0.097); we failed to find a similar relationship with black bears. Values of δ34S in spring hair were larger in black bears and δ34S values in serum of grizzly bears were lowest in September and October, a time when we expect δ34S to peak if whitebark pine seeds were the sole source of high δ34S. The relationship between δ34S in bear tissue and the consumption of whitebark pine seeds, as originally reported, may not be as clean a method as proposed. Data we present here suggest other foods have high values of δ34S, and there is spatial heterogeneity affecting the δ34S values in whitebark pine, which must be addressed. Published 2014. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.
encoded by genetically distinct subfamilies

Granzymes are a family of granule serine proteases found specifically in the cytotoxic granules of cytotoxic T lymphocytes and natural killer cells. Granzymes have features that are strongly conserved including: consensus sequences at their N-termini and around the three catalytic residues, activation from zymogemc forms, and con- served disuiphide bridges. However, there is good genetic evidence to suggest that three distinct sub- families of granzymes have coevolved. These sub- families are most strikingly depicted by their distinct chromosomal loci and gene organization, dividing the granzyme family into subfamilies ofthe following: tryptases (human chromosome 5); chymotrypsin- like proteases (human chromosome 14); and a Met- ase amongst a cluster of elastase-like proteases (human chromosome 19). Modeling and mutational