Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Geographic Variation in Trace Element Composition of Juvenile Weakfish Scales

Abstract We determined Mg: Ca, Mn: Ca, Sr: Ca, and Ba: Ca levels in scales from juvenile weakfish Cynoscion regalis from five estuarine locations along the Atlantic coast of the United States using laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Significant variability in the multivariate elemental signatures was found among sites within an estuary, among estuaries, and between collections from 1996 and 1997. Bootstrapped 95% confidence ellipses on mean scores from a canonical discriminant analysis found that most estuaries were significantly separated in discriminant space in both years. Linear discriminant function analyses (LDFA) were then used to classify individual weakfish to their natal estuary. In 1996, cross-validated classification accuracy ranged from 38% for Delaware Bay to 86% for Pamlico Sound, with an overall accuracy of 67%. Classification accuracy in 1997 ranged from 41% for Chesapeake Bay to 83% for Pamlico Sound, with an overall accuracy of 65%. The use of artificial neural.
Toward a framework of integrated knowledge of terrestrial vegetation system: The role of databases of phytosociological relevés

Abstract In this article, we consider the meaning of the phytosociological relevé of the Braun-Blanquet's approach as a source of biodiversity matrices. We stress the importance of phytosociological relevé for the integrated vegetation studies dedicated to understand the vegetation system and its ecosystem role at different hierarchical levels. We review the state of the art of building databases of the Italian vegetation under the perspective to develop a knowledge database of Italian vegetation based on formal ontologies. This would constitute a node in the possible network of knowledge databases of European Union and of the world that is proposed within the International Association of Vegetation Science.
Homoplasy: The Result of Natural Selection, or Evidence of Design Limitations?

Similarity in morphological form may arise from common ancestry (failure to evolve), from parallel evolution, from convergence, or from reversal to an apparently ancestral condition. Homoplasy from convergence, parallelism, and reversal is common, and its ubiquity creates difficulties in phylogenetic analysis. Convergent evolution often is considered one of the most powerful lines of evidence for adaptive evolution. But an alternative explanation for convergence and other evolved similarities is that limited developmental and structural options exist. Identical forms can be obtained when particular developmental phenomena are triggered by very different kinds of stimuli or when constraints exist that shape external form or limit morphological expression to a few options. Examples from plethodontid salamanders are used to illustrate an approach combining internalist and externalist analytical methods. In order to explain how morphologies evolve in lineages, both functionalist and structuralist approaches are necessary, combined in a context in which phylogenetic hypotheses and their tests are continuously pursued. When homoplasy is rampant, as in salamanders, we can expect discordance with phylogenetic analyses based on nonmorphological data sets.
The ecology of freshwater epipelic algae: an update

A. Poulíčková, P. Hašler, M. Lysáková and B. Spears. 2008. The ecology of freshwater epipelic algae: an update. Phycologia 47: 437–450. DOI: 10.2216/07-59.1. Epipelic algae perform a range of ecosystem functions including biostabilisation of sediments, regulation of benthic–pelagic nutrient cycling, and primary production. There is a growing need to understand their ecological role in light of current and future alterations in sediment loading resulting from land-use change and land management practices. Although the majority of recent work on epipelic algal ecology has been conducted within estuarine ecosystems, significant advances have also been made in freshwaters. We review these recent studies in combination with more classical freshwater approaches to highlight the importance of freshwater epipelic algal ecology and to aid discussions regarding future research. A summary of benthic algal groups is given with particular emphasis on substratum preference and habitat boundaries. No standard methodology exists for sampling freshwater epipelon, and we discuss the advantages and disadvantages of a suite of currently employed methodologies. Spatial variability in epipelic community biodiversity is discussed from the micro-scale (i.e. vertical migration in the sediment surface) to the ecosystem scale (i.e. lake vs river habitats), and finally at the geographic scale (i.e. the ‘ubiquity’ of epipelic species). Factors regulating epipelon community composition and biomass (e.g. reproductive strategies, habitat disturbance, grazing pressures, resource limitation, resilience, symbiosis, and parasitism) are also reviewed. Finally, examples of specific epipelic ecosystem functions (e.g. primary production, biostabilisation, and regulation of biogeochemical cycling) are given and areas of research requiring particular focus in the future are outlined.
Characterization and cross‐species amplification of microsatellite markers in cherimoya (Annona cherimola Mill., Annonaceae)

Fifteen polymorphic microsatellites were developed using a CT/AG-enriched genomic library of cherimoya cv. Fino de Jete and screened on 23 genotypes from different geographical areas. This is the first set of microsatellites developed in Annonaceae. Fourteen of the microsatellites detected a single locus and only one detected two loci. The number of alleles in the single locus microsatellites ranged from two to six and the observed and expected heterozygosity ranged from 0.17 to 0.61 and from 0.12 to 0.76, respectively. Most of the simple sequence repeats were transferable to other species in the family.
Uptake and effects of microcystin‐LR on detoxication enzymes of early life stages of the zebra fish (Danio rerio)

The effects of cyanotoxins on fish have been studied mainly in adults, rather than in early life stages which could be more sensitive or, in view of their immobility, more readily affected. The uptake of microcystin‐LR by different early life stages of the zebra fish (Danio rerio) was investigated using 14C‐labelled microcystin‐LR. The effects on the activity of the detoxication enzymes, microsomal and soluble glutathione S‐transferases (GST), and glutathione peroxidase (GP‐X) were examined. There was a detectable uptake of microcystin from the first day of embryonic development up to 5 day old larvae. On average, an absorption of 0.5 ng microcystin for eggs and eleuthero‐embryos was calculated over the entire exposure time. Because of the differences in volume of the eggs and eleuthero‐embryos, there was an increase in the microcystin‐LR concentration between these stages. In the eggs, approximately 25% of the medium concentration was found, and in eleuthero‐embryos an equilibrium between fish and medium was reached.
EGG TRANSFER IN SHEEP

to parturition (P<0\m=.\001),with maximum results in ewes in oestrus 12 hr before to 12 hr after their respective donors. (2) Age of eggs. Eggs were collected 48 to 60, 60 to 72 and 72 to 84 hr after the donors were first observed in oestrus. There was a significant increase in the number of ewes which lambed (P<0\m=.\02)and lambs born (P<0\m=.\01)with increase in age of the transferred eggs. (3) Site of transfer. Transfers were made to the Fallopian tubes or uterine horns. Tubal transfers were significantly more successful than uterine transfers in the number of ewes which lambed (P<0\m=.\05)and number of lambs born (P<0\m=.\01). There were no significant interactions.
Colonic Fermentation Capacity in vitro : Development during Weaning in Formula-Fed Infants

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of weaning on the ability of formula-fed infants to ferment complex carbohydrates. A cross-sectional study of 46 infants was performed. Fresh faeces were collected from normal exclusively formula-fed infants at pre- ( n =15), early ( n =15) and late weaning ( n =16). Faecal bacteria were incubated with simple and complex carbohydrates (glucose, lactose, raftilose and soyabean polysaccharide) in vitro. In addition, a control culture with no added carbohydrate was also incubated. Short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) and lactate were measured in culture supernatant after anaerobic incubation for 24 hours. There were no significant differences between any stages of weaning for SCFA production for any substrate. However, there was a consistent trend for the percentage of butyric acid production to increase with age. The greater similarity of the colonic flora of the formula-fed infants to that of the adult results in less impact of weaning on the development of fermentation capacity for complex carbohydrates than that previously reported for the simpler flora of the breast-fed infant.
Dawn singing in the great tit (Parus major) : mate attraction, mate guarding, or territorial defence ?

In a number of passerine bird species, mated males sing at dawn and this song activity peaks in the fertile period of the mate. We present the hypothesis that an important function of such dawn singing is to maintain the territory. We suggest that mate guarding and territorial defence are demanding and often mutually exclusive activities. Losing paternity is so costly that males give priority to mate guarding. Males therefore use the early morning period, before their mate emerges from the roost, to claim territory ownership. We report some preliminary tests of this hypothesis from a study of great tits (Parus major). Simulating male intrusion by a playback experiment showed that the resident male was more often absent from central parts of the territory, following the mate, during the periods of nest building and egg laying than during incubation. This supports the assumption of conflicting demands between mate following and territorial defence. From the hypothesis we expected males to spend effort in defending their territory as soon as they were free to do so. Consistent with this prediction, we found that male song activity was high before the mate left the nest at dawn, when she temporarily visited the nest during the day, and when she entered the nest to roost at night. A female removal experiment showed that unmated males, having no mate to guard, sang as much at dawn as mated males. Only one of the eight widowed males succeeded to replace their mate. We discuss some alternative functions of dawn singing in the great tit, such as attraction of own mate, a replacement mate, and extra-pair mates. We conclude that the hypotheses are not mutually exclusive, and song may serve multiple purposes.
Spawning and nursery areas, longitudinal and cross-shelf migrations of the Merluccius capensis stock in the northern Benguela

We investigate the spatial distributions of juvenile and adult hake Merluccius capensis on the Namibian continental shelf using data from 25 biomass surveys (1990–2007) to identify (i) nursery/spawning areas, their spatial or temporal separation and change and (ii) length, depth and latitude preference patterns. The density of fish (number-of-fish per 30-min-haul) was examined in relation to fish total length (TL) and latitude and TL and bottom depth. Nursery aggregations were most frequent in central (22–25°S) and southern (26–29°S) Namibia, increasing in density in the south since 2000. Hatch dates of ≤17 cm fish were calculated from juvenile growth rates. Peaks occurred in winter and summer-autumn in the centre and slightly later in the south. Spawning areas appear to have shifted southward since the late 1970s, showing the plasticity of this stock as a response to fishing pressure and environmental variability and change. Merluccius capensis show a stable pattern of latitude preference over the 25 surveys examined. They first occur on the mid-shelf <9 cm, generally moving to the inner-shelf at 9–15 cm (<1 yr old). They generally prefer the northern and mid-shelf area between 24 and 45 cm (1.5–3.5 yr old), probably for feeding and building resources for spawning purposes. They later move to the outer-shelf and return southward and to the mid-shelf region to spawn at ≥45 cm TL (≥3.5 years old), a contained stock unit in the northern Benguela. We propose a complete migration life history of M. capensis for the first time, showing their extensive longitudinal migrations, similar to Merluccius species elsewhere.
Cladistic biogeography and the art of discovery

Cladistic biogeography is about discovering geographical congruence. The agreement of several taxon‐area cladograms (TACs) rarely yields a perfect result. Areas may overlap, taxa may not be evenly distributed, and thus, ambiguity may be prevalent in the data. Ambiguity is incongruence and may be resolved by reducing paralogy and resolving potential information. Recently, several new approaches in cladistic biogeography [i.e. Brooks parsimony analysis (BPA), Assumption 0] interpret ambiguity as congruence. These methods are problematic, as they are generational. Methods constructed under the generation paradigm are flawed concepts that are immunized from falsifying evidence. A critique of modified BPA reveals that taking an evolutionary stance in biogeography leads to flaws in implementation.
Modified Hybrid Genetic Algorithm-Based Artificial Neural Network Application on Wall Shear Stress Prediction

 Abstract — Prediction of wall shear stress in a rectangular channel, with non-homogeneous roughness distribution, was studied. Estimation of shear stress is an important subject in hydraulic engineering, since it affects the flow structure directly. In this study, the Genetic Algorithm Artificial (GAA) neural network is introduced as a hybrid methodology of the Artificial Neural Network (ANN) and modified Genetic Algorithm (GA) combination. This GAA method was employed to predict the wall shear stress. Various input combinations and transfer functions were considered to find the most appropriate GAA model. The results show that the proposed GAA method could predict the wall shear stress of open channels with high accuracy, by Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) of 0.064 in the test dataset. Thus, using GAA provides an accurate and practical simple-to-use equation.
STIMULATORY PROPERTIES OF FILTRATE FROM THE GREEN ALGA HORMOTILA BLENNISTA. I. DESCRIPTION 1, 2

A laboratory phenomenon involving autostimulation of growth by filtrates of the green alga Hormotila blennista is described, and stimulation attributed primarily to the secretion of organic metabolites. Filtrates obtained from actively growing cultures 1 through 4 weeks old showed maximum growth rate stimulation values in excess of 100%. Stimulatory properties of filtrate were heat labile, were not closely controlled by the starting pH within the limits normally encountered in culture, and did not result from depletion of essential nutrients. Concomitant with growth rate stimulation, filtrates characteristically extended the lag phase of culture growth. H. blennista filtrate can support bacterial growth and selectively stimulate or inhibit 2 planktonic green algae. It was suggested that extracellular organic products secreted by H. blennista during active growth could be of survival value to the organism, and could also play regulatory roles among other microorganisms in nature.
Taxonomic versus allometric constraints on non‐linear interaction strengths

Recently, the importance of body mass and allometric scaling for the structure and dynamics of ecological networks has been highlighted in several ground-breaking studies. However, advances in the understanding of generalities across ecosystem types are impeded to a considerable extent by a methodological dichotomy contrasting a considerable portion of marine ecology on the one hand opposite to traditional community ecology on the other hand. Many marine ecologists are bound to the taxonomy-neglecting size spectrum approach when describing and analysing community patterns. In contrast, the mindset of the other school is focused on taxonomies according to the Linnean system at the cost of obscuring information due to applying species or population averages of body masses and other traits. Following other pioneering studies, we addressed this lingering gap, and studied non-linear interaction strengths (i.e. functional responses) between two taxonomically-distinct terrestrial arthropod predators (centipedes and spiders) of varying individual body masses and their prey. We fitted three non-linear functional response models to the data: (1) a taxonomic model not accounting for variance in body masses amongst predator individuals, (2) an allometric model ignoring taxonomic differences between predator individuals, and (3) a combined model including body mass and taxonomic effects. Ranked according to their AICs, the combined model performs better than the allometric model, which provides a superior fit to the data than the taxonomic model. These results strongly indicate that the body masses of predator and prey individuals were responsible for most of the variation in non-linear interaction strengths. Taxonomy explained some specific patterns in allometric exponents between groups and revealed mechanistic insights in predation efficiencies. Reconciling quantitative allometric models as employed by the marine size-spectrum approach with taxonomic information may thus yield quantitative results that are generalized across ecosystem types and taxonomic groups. Using these quantitative models as novel null models should also strengthen subsequent taxonomic analyses.
Heritabilities and Correlations for Pod Yield and Leafspot Resistance in Peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.): Implications for Early Generation Selection1

Abstract The purpose of this study was to investigate early generation selection methods for the identification of peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) crosses with combined high yield and disease resistance. Eleven crosses were chosen in the S1 on the basis of yield and disease reaction. The S2 was evaluated under natural disease infection for pod yield and leafspot resistance, causal organisms Cercospora arachidicola Hori and Cercosporidium personatum (Berk. and Curt.) Deighton. Resistance was measured by leaf necrotic area and defoliation. Narrow sense heritabilities for all the traits were estimated by sib analysis and regression of S2 plant performance on S1 plant performance. Genetic correlations among traits and the relative efficiency of indirect selection for all the traits were also computed. The results suggest that selection among crosses for all the traits would be advantageous in the S1 (h2f = 67 to 79%) as compared to individual plant selection (h2 = 16 to 26%) or within family selection (h2w = 3 t.
In Vitro Antioxidant Activity of Brazilian Wines and Grape Juices

Abstract The antioxidant activity of eight commercial Brazilian wines and two grape juices was evaluated using the inhibition of lipid oxidation (average 25.75 to 59.66%) and the reducing power methods. The total phenolic content was determined (average 1647, 803 and 305 mg/L/GAE for red, pink and white wines, respectively, and 1150 mg/L/GAE for grape juices), and the resulting values were well correlated with antioxidant activity (for the inhibition of lipid oxidation, r = 0.86, and for the reducing power, r = 0.84). These results confirm that Brazilian red wines and grape juices are good sources of in vitro antioxidants, therefore providing beneficial effects of a moderate daily intake.
Experimental Analysis of Allocation in Two Divergent, Natural Salamander Populations

I explored contributions of phenotypic plasticity and local genetic differentiation to resource allocation patterns by juvenile salamanders from populations that are known to differ in age and size at maturity. Salamanders were raised in a realistic field-experimental system with a reciprocal transplant design crossed with a prey addition treatment. This design allowed simultaneous assessment of (1) environmental effects (prey and garden), (2) genetic effects (populations), and (3) interactions between environmental and genetic effects on overall allocation patterns and on particular response variables. Genetic differences in maturity but not growth were detected, suggesting local adaptation in age at maturity. Prey supplementation accelerated growth and increased gonad and fat body mass similarly in both populations. Gonad maturation was also accelerated by supplemental food, but the populations differed in the timing of this effect. Gonad development of low-elevation salamanders, known to mature earlier in nature, responded to high prey levels at smaller sizes (younger ages) than did high-elevation animals. The plasticity of overall allocation patterns in response to supplemental prey also differed between the populations. The result that these populations differ in maturation rates but not in growth potential suggests that growth capacity and maturation timing and size are free to evolve independently. I argue that correlations between growth rates and age and size at maturity observed in many taxa do not necessarily indicate causation but probably reflect correlated responses to local environments.
Fish community characteristics of the lower Gambia River floodplains: a study in the last major undisturbed West African river.

Summary 1. The Gambia River is the last major West African river that has not been impounded. However, a hydroelectric dam is being constructed and substantial changes to the hydrology and ecology of the system are expected. 2. Little information is available on the impact of water impoundments in semi-arid regions on downstream floodplain fish communities, due to the scarcity of pre-intervention data. Because profound impacts on physical habitat, salinity and nutrient transport can occur downstream of such impoundments, a knowledge of the species-habitat associations of biota such as fishes is necessary for understanding likely changes and how to limit them. 3. Fish were sampled using cast and hand nets along two transects on the floodplain, and with fyke nets in two ‘bolongs’ (creeks) from May to November 2005 and 2006 in the lower reaches of the Gambia River, close to the salt water front where ecological changes due to the construction of the dam are likely to be pronounced. 4. Greatest fish species richness was associated with low conductivity, low pH and deep water. Bolongs held greater species richness compared with other floodplain habitats, probably because they acted as conduits for fish moving on and off the floodplain. Species richness and catch biomass increased rapidly following the first rains and then declined. 5. Using a multivariate analysis, three main species groups were identified on the floodplain; one associated with deeper water, one with less brackish water and one with shallow, open water. Tilapia guineensis was the commonest species on the floodplains. 6. The floodplains provide nursery habitats as many fish captured were immature, particularly for species where adults are mainly encountered in the main channel. Several small-sized floodplain specialists were also represented by a high proportion of mature individuals. 7. Impoundment is expected to reduce seasonal flooding of the floodplain in the lower Gambia River, downstream of the impoundment, resulting in reduced occurrence of aquatic habitats, especially bolongs, together with lower dissolved oxygen and increased salinity, leading to alteration of the floodplain fish communities, benefiting salt-tolerant species, reducing overall species richness and probably reducing floodplain fish production.