Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects of Life‐History Traits on Responses of Plant Species to Forest Fragmentation

Abstract: Knowing the general principles of plant‐environment relationships is required to be able to predict changes in species occurrence and abundance in changing landscapes. Because habitat fragmentation may affect the dispersal, establishment, and persistence of species in various ways, we expected associations between species life‐history traits related to these processes and their responses to fragmentation. We tested (1) whether groups of plant species with specific biological attributes are especially affected by forest fragmentation and (2) whether regionally rare species are more negatively affected than more common species. We surveyed 145 deciduous forest patches in northwestern Germany for the presence of a large set of forest plant species. For each of 82 species, we collected data on eight life‐history traits and estimated species' responses to decreased patch size and increased distance to other occupied forest patches. We classified species into two emergent groups that differed strongly with respect to most considered life‐history traits. The group of species that was more negatively affected by isolation mostly consisted of clonal forest specialist species characterized by few and heavy diaspores, lack of dispersal structures, small size, short‐lived seeds, and insect pollination. There was no effect of patch area. Univariate analyses revealed (marginally) significant relationships between species' responses to isolation and diaspore number and mass, plant height, and habitat preference and between responses to patch area and seed‐bank longevity, plant height, and habitat preference. Regional frequency of occurrence was not correlated to species' responses to fragmentation and did not differ between the two emergent groups. Rare species, however, were smaller and produced fewer and shorter‐lived diaspores than common species. Forest fragmentation may thus threaten species differently, depending on their specific biological characteristics. Approaches based on life‐history traits potentially allow prediction of species' responses to habitat fragmentation and may therefore aid in the assessment of the endangerment of plant species and ultimately in the conservation of biological diversity.
Relationship between endogenous hormone levels of grapevine callus cultures and their morphogenetic behaviour.

Dark callus cultures from leaves and anthers of three grapevine genotypes (Seyval blanc, Riesling and Trollinger) were propagated in vitro for almost two years on medium deprived of growth regulators. Three different callus lines originated from these initial callus cultures: A dark non-embryogenic one, another composed by clusters of somatic embryos and a friable, whitish callus line that can produce somatic embryos under appropriate circumstances, Endogenous hormone levels viz , indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), abscisic acid (ABA), gibberellins A 1 , A 3 and A 20 , zeatin/zeatin riboside and N 6 (∆ 2 -isopentenyl) adenine/ N 6 (∆ 2 -isopentenyl) adenosine, were analysed in the different callus types. Only higher ABA levels correlated with the morphogenetic capacity of the cultures. When endogenous hormone levels were analysed in the line constituted by conglomerates of somatic embryos at different dates during the whole culture period, higher levels of IAA and ABA were found during the winter months even if the cultures were maintained permanently under constant temperature and photoperiod conditions. A 4-week chilling period led to a reduction of the endogenous ABA level.
Demand for aquaculture development: perspectives from Bangladesh for improved planning

Recently there has been a paradigm shift in the focus of aquaculture planning from a top-down to a demand-driven approach. Demand-driven planning for aquaculture development emphasizes that aquaculture development must meet the needs and priorities of stakeholders, and requires processing vast amounts of information ranging from opinions and verbalized needs from primary stakeholders to quantitative data on demand from various stakeholders. However, such an approach is rarely adopted in aquaculture development. In this review, the demand for aquaculture in Bangladesh from different stakeholders, based on an extensive literature review supplemented with an analysis of primary and secondary data, is presented. The analysis shows that gaps persist between the fish yields obtained at research stations and in farmers’ fields and that inefficiency exists among aquaculture operators in Bangladesh. Fish farmers need better technology and enabling environments to reduce yield losses and to improve efficiency in production. Aquaculture planners and policymakers also need to consider demand from different consumer groups at home and abroad.
DESARROLLO DE APIO MINIMAMENTE PROCESADO FORTIFICADO CON VITAMINA E, UTILIZANDO LA INGENIERIA DE MATRICES

El objetivo de este trabajo fue desarrollar un producto minimamente procesado fortificado con vitamina E, a partir de apio (Apium graveolens L. var.dulce), utilizando la ingenieria de matrices como metodologia de obtencion de alimentos funcionales. Trozos de apio impregnados al vacio con dlαtocoferol acetato emulsificado en una solucion isotonica al vegetal de NaCl, 1,2%, fueron evaluados en funcion del tiempo de almacenamiento y el envasado (con y sin vacio), en terminos de la cuantificacion de sus propiedades fisicoquimicas, color, textura, estabilidad de la vitamina E y caracteristicas sensoriales. Se formulo la emulsion con el objetivo de adicionar teoricamente un 73% del Valor Diario Recomendado (VDR) vitamina E/100 g de apio fresco y su cuantificacion se realizo por HPLC. La respuesta a la impregnacion en la matriz fue de 12,10±1,15%, lo cual permitio alcanzar un 112% VDR vitamina E/100g apio fresco, manteniendose este contenido durante el almacenamiento de 9 dias en ambos tipos de envasado. Los parametros fisicoquimicos del producto fueron afectados por la IV, el tiempo y el envasado, manteniendo su coloracion verdosa y presentando disminucion en la firmeza. La ingenieria de matrices constituye una metodologia efectiva para el desarrollo de apio minimamente procesado adicionado con vitamina E.
Mapping the potential distribution of shorebirds in Japan: the importance of landscape-level coastal geomorphology

Several recent studies have predicted potential habitats along coastal areas using large-scale physical environmental variables to identify target areas for conservation. However, no indices or methodologies for predicting tidal-flat habitats at a large spatial scale have been developed. Tidal flats supporting large populations of shorebirds have been identified in semi-enclosed seas. Thus, bays are probably important topographic units for evaluating the locations of shorebirds' non-breeding habitats. A GIS-based methodology was developed to extract ‘bay units’ at any scale from coastline data. Using three environment variables (the area of the bay units at three spatial scales, the percentage of shallow water area in each bay unit, and the spring-tide range), it was possible to predict tidal-flat habitats for six shorebird species with high accuracy (AUC > 0.95, sensitivity >90%). Results showed that the percentage of shallow water area in small- and medium-scale bays was the best predictor of tidal-flat habitats, followed by the area of bays at a large spatial scale. This indicates that the size (scale) of a bay and the percentage of shallow water present are highly related to the presence of tidal-flat habitats. The prediction maps for individual species of shorebirds clearly showed differences in the distribution patterns of species. These maps were overlaid to identify potentially species-rich areas and thus where conservation and restoration of the tidal flats in these bays would be important. The model, which uses simple coastal data, is a useful, resource-efficient method for identifying target conservation and restoration areas across broad scales. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Null Models and Fish Communities: Evidence of Nonrandom Patterns

Studies of ecological communities often make implicit assumptions that the species have nonrandom patterns organized through biotic and abiotic factors. Although such assumptions are generally not tested, the analyses and conclusions derived depend on nonrandom patterns' being present. Several "null" or "neutral" models have been proposed to test for these patterns. We contrast two of the more prevalent models and develop two new models, subsequently evaluating them with five sets of fish community data. Three of the null models provide similar results, from which it is concluded that fish communities from five regions of Ontario are nonrandomly structured. These three models evaluate pairs of species according to departures from null or random co-occurrence expectations. A Monte Carlo model based on the procedure proposed by E. F. Connor and D. Simberloff supports random community organization, but we attribute this discrepancy to the conservative pooling of species-pair information in that model. We recommend a hybrid model combining Monte Carlo and log-linear methods for future studies, although the log-linear model of M. E. Gilpin and J. M. Diamond provides a reasonable approximation. On the basis of species associations derived from the various models, we attribute much of the nonrandom structure to common habitat requirements among co-occurring species. A predominance of positively associated species generally involves pairs of species with similar ecological characteristics. Strong negative associations typically involve predatorprey species. Although competition is often identified as a significant feature in community ecology, we do not believe that competition is a major force structuring these fish communities.
Liana co-occurrence patterns in a temperate rainforest

Questions: Are liana–host interactions structured at the community level? Do liana–host interactions differ between species, growth form guilds or habitats? Location: Otari-Wilton's Bush, on the southern tip of North Island, New Zealand. The forest contains 75 ha of mature and regenerating conifer–broadleaf forest. Methods: Nine liana species were quantified among 217 trees to test for negative co-occurrence patterns. We also conducted additional analyses within and among compartments embedded in the community-level matrix. Liana and host abundance distributions were assessed across two contrasting habitats. Results: Community-level analyses revealed negative co-occurrence patterns. Positive, neutral and negative co-occurrence patterns were found among compartments within the community-level matrix. Host species compartments were consistent with randomized expectations, while positive co-occurrence patterns were found within the host species matrix. Negative co-occurrence patterns were found inconsistently among lianas that share the same region of host space, and those that do not. Conclusions: Overall, results indicate the liana community is structured non-randomly. Liana–host interactions appear to follow an opportunistic growth strategy and interactions are due mostly to habitat partitioning.
Home ranges of, and habitat use by, the grassland earless dragon (Tympanocryptis pinguicolla) in remnant native grasslands near Canberra

The grassland earless dragon (Tympanocryptis pinguicolla) is a habitat specialist restricted to the highly fragmented native temperate grasslands of the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) and nearby New South Wales (NSW). These grasslands, which are listed as an endangered ecological community, continue to be affected by a range of processes including development and overgrazing. Although changes to its habitat present a significant threat to the grassland earless dragon, little is known about its spatial and habitat requirements. We used radio-tracking to study the home-range areas and habitat requirements of 10 adult lizards in native grassland adjacent to Canberra, ACT. We found that burrows excavated by arthropods are an important resource for grassland earless dragons, with individuals having one or two home burrows around which they maintained home ranges of between 925 m2 and 4768 m2. Fidelity to these burrows increased with the onset of winter, indicating their importance as over-winter refuge sites. Within the native grasslands, grassland earless dragons were found to use a broad range of grassland structure as habitat. This result contrasts with the prevailing view that these dragons are confined to well drained, minimally disturbed areas, which include large patches of short grass dominated by Austrodanthonia. We conclude that habitat management (i.e. grazing, mowing, burning) for this species should aim to retain structural heterogeneity of native grasslands rather than impose a uniform structure.
Winter records of Myotis alcathoe in southern Poland and comments on identification of the species during hibernation

SACHANOWICZ K. , MLECZEK T. , GOTTFRIED T. , IGNACZAKM. , PIKSA K. , PISKORSKI M. 2012. Winter records ofMyotis alcathoe in southern Poland and comments on identification of the species during hibernation. Acta zool. cracov. , 55(1): 97-101. Abstract. Single hibernating males ofMyotis alcathoewere recorded in caves and mining adits at four localities in the Beskid Wyspowy Mts, Western Bieszczady Mts, Western Sudety Mts and Roztocze Upland. These are the first records of wintering individuals of the species in Poland and some of the first in Central Europe. Characters are described that may be useful for the identification of adult bats in winter roosts.
Validation of SpraySafe Manager, an aerial herbicide application decision support system

SpraySafe Manager (SSM) est un modele de pulverisation aerienne sur ordinateur dont l'utilisation est simple, contrairement aux modeles precedents. Le SSM ne predit pas seulement le depot mais il integre aussi cette donnee aux courbes de reponse des plantes en fontion de la dose d'herbicide. Cet ajout permet a l'operateur de predire la dimension de la zone tampon necessaire pour eviter d'endommager les plantes sensibles a l'exterieur de la zone de pulverisation et le niveau de controle de la vegetation dans les blocs pulverises. Des essais de validation montrent que, pour une pulverisation effectuee par helicoptere, le modele a tendance a surestimer le depot sur les plaques d'acier inoxydables placees a proximite des blocs a pulveriser. Il sous-estime le depot dans la zone situee entre 32 et 80 m du centre de la ligne de pulverisation et sur les plantes isolees. La precision du modele de prediction etait plus grande lorsque la pulverisation etait faite avec des buses D8-45 orientees a 90° qu'avec des buses D6 orientees a 0°. Les auteurs discutent des raisons qui expliquent ce resultat. Le modele peut egalement etre utilise pour predire le rythme auquel les travaux peuvent etre executes et le nombre d'hectares pulverises a l'heure. Il peut egalement servir d'outil d'entrainement.
Phylogenetic reconstruction of Chirita and allies (Gesneriaceae) with taxonomic treatments

Abstract Chirita D. Don, a large genus in the subfamily Cyrtandroideae of Gesneriaceae, has been the subject of much debate whether it is a natural group or not. In addition, the highly heterogeneous Chirita has also been very problematic with regard to delimitation and subdivision. Here we used the nrDNA internal transcribed spacer and cpDNA trnL‐F for molecular phylogenetic analaysis, combined with morphological data. Our results suggest that Chirita is an artificial, polyphyletic genus. The most important character that defines Chirita, the dorso‐ventrally oblique and bilamellar stigma, has evolved convergently in different clades of diandrous Cyrtandroideae. Chirita sensu stricto only includes the species of Chirita sect. Chirita, whereas Chirita sect. Microchirita is an independent clade located at the basal node of the phylogenetic tree. Chirita sect. Liebigia is closely related to Didymocarpus with an entire stigma unlike other species of Chirita. The species of Chirita sect. Gibbosaccus, Chiritopsis, Primulina, and Wentsaiboea form a monophyletic group that is sister to a strongly supported clade comprising four monotypic genera Paralagarosolen, Calcareoboea, Petrocodon, and Tengia. We further analyzed the morphological evolution of Chirita and identified a series of morphological synapomorphies for the monophyletic groups revealed herein, and thereby provide a taxonomic treatment in this study.
Preliminary DNA fingerprinting of the turf grass Cynodon dactylon (Poaceae: Chloridoideae)

Identification of different cultivars of turf grasses is often very difficult. In a preliminary attempt to identify different cultivars o f Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers. random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analyses of some well-known cultivars used in South Africa, i.e. Bayview. Cape Royal, Florida. Hamsmith. Silverton Blue. Skaapplaas and Titdwart. as well as 10 potential new cultivars, were done. These results were used to determine the genetic distances among cultivars. Only five primers w ere needed to obtain a specific fragment pattern for each cultivar. The degree o f amplification w as used as an additional criterion by including all visible fragments, excluding very faint fragments and only including the brightest fragments. The neighbour-joining trees o f C. dactylon showed best resolution from the data set w ith all visible fragments included. although fragment intensity did not affect the tree topology. The cultivars Silverton Blue and Bayview exhibited the greatest genetic variation and two potential new cultivars were identified. RAPD analyses can. therefore, be used to distin­guish between different C. dactylon cultivars and to determine the genetic variation between them by calculating genetic distances.
A framework for detecting natural selection on traits above the species level

To what extent can natural selection act on groupings above the species level? Despite extensive theoretical discussion and growing practical concerns over increased rates of global ecological turnover, the question has largely evaded empirical resolution. A flexible and robust hypothesis‐testing framework for detecting the phenomenon could facilitate significant progress in resolving this issue. We introduce a permutation‐based approach, implemented in the R package perspectev, which provides an explicit test of whether empirical patterns of correlation between upper level trait values and survivorship are reducible to correlations manifested at lower levels. The package is applicable to virtually any nested set of upper‐ and lower level groupings, a wide variety of upper level traits, and both historical and contemporary occurrence data. We apply this approach to five paleontological data sets that represent different magnitudes of extinction and differ in taxonomic breadth, geological timing and geographic extent. Using simulations, we demonstrate that this method is a robust means of detecting irreducibility in the relationship between upper level traits and survivorship, and outline circumstances in which the method is less effective. We also find evidence consistent with previous findings of selection above the species level for geographic range size in North American K‐Pg molluscs and show that this phenomenon was evident for the same molluscan genera globally. Ultimately, we conclude that at certain points in history, some higher level taxonomic groups have survived differentially with respect to geographic range size in a manner that is not explained by the same trait at the species level, and we show that evidence for this phenomenon varies across taxa and extinction events. We release our method as a flexible and easy‐to‐use R package that will allow others to help determine the relative frequency of this macroevolutionary phenomenon, both in the fossil record and in estimates of contemporary extinction risk.
Analysing ESL Students’ Perceptions towards Oral Communication for Social and Occupational Purposes

Fundamental principles of public speaking and appropriate organisational structure of ideas for occupational and social communication are vital aspects for undergraduates as a pathway to overcome employers’ grievances on graduates’ lack of communication skills (Malaysia Education Blueprint, 2015). This study was undertaken to explore the perceptions of a group of ten students at a tertiary institution in Malaysia to see how they utlise the theories and practice of effective communication skills beyond their course entitled “Oral Communication for Social and Occupational Purposes”. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with the participants. The study found that these students gained knowledge about effective communication for social and occupational purposes. The findings also indicate that students have benefitted in relation to communication in a formal way especially to higher authorities, and sharpening their communication and presentation skills. However, there were shortcomings that need to be addressed, particularly related to methods of teaching Oral Communication for Social and Occupational Purposes, time constraint in preparing for the tutorial sessions and producing a good quality video. Keywords: Social and Occupational , Communication, Oral skills, Theories and Practice
Ultrasonography of the urogenital organs of male water monitor lizard (Varanus marmoratus, Weigmann, 1834).

Eight apparently healthy male water monitor lizards (Varanus marmoratus), weighing 0.5-4.8 kg, were examined using an ultrasound machine equipped with a 5.0 MHz linear array scanner to determine the ultrasound appearance, dimensions and echo mean values of the urogenital organs. Based on snout to vent length, the eight animals were equally divided into small ( 70 cm) varanids. The kidneys of varanids were observed caudal to each gonad. They were elongated with hypoechoic parenchyma and hypoechoic to hyperechoic interlobular spaces. The testes of all eight males appeared as homogenous and moderately echogenic structures. The hemipenes appeared as anechoic structures with hypoechoic walls. The urinary bladder appeared as an elongated anechoic structure with hypoechoic walls. Significant differences in the length of left and right kidneys, length, width and circumference of left testes, length of hemipenes and length of the urinary bladder across sizes were observed. No differences were observed in the echo mean values of the different organs among small and large varanids. The data obtained in the study could serve as baseline values for evaluation of diseases and disorders of the male urogenital organs in water monitor lizards.
Food of the Barn Owl Tyto alba in the Yahmool Area, Northern Syria

Pellets regurgitated by the barn owl (Tyto alba) were collected in July 2000 from Yahmool Agricultural research station, 50 km north of Aleppo. Pellet analysis yielded 657 individual prey representing 7 species of rodents, 2 shrews, 1 bird, an unidentified lizard and at least 7 species of insects. By frequency, rodents constituted 84.9% of the prey items, shrews 9.6%, birds 1.5%, insects 3.7% and lizards 0.3%. The social vole, Microtus socials, was the main food of the barn owl, constituting 59.5% of prey items. Pellets' content indicated that the barn owl consumes 1 to 5 prey per day (average 2.53 ± 1.03) depending on availability and the size of prey species.