Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Multiple Cues in Status Signalling: The Role of Wingbars in Aggressive Interactions of Male House Sparrows

During aggressive interactions, animals may signal their competitive ability by various ornaments referred to as badges of status. The use of a single badge predicting dominance rank occurs in many vertebrate species. However, animals often display multiple ornaments that may convey information about either different or the same aspects of the signaller’s quality, or alternatively, may serve as signal amplifiers. We observed the fighting behaviour of male house sparrows in two captive flocks to investigate whether they may use multiple cues in status signalling during aggressive interactions. Beside the status-signalling bib, male sparrows possess a conspicuous white wingbar that they often display upon aggressive encounters. We tested whether bib size and the wingbar’s conspicuousness (i.e. its achromatic contrast with the neighbouring dark feathers) or its area predicted success in various aspects of fighting. We found that bib size strongly predicted overall fighting success (i.e. proportion of fights won) and defence success (i.e. proportion of successful defences out of all attacks received). Wingbar conspicuousness was positively related to defence success after controlling for the effect of bib size in multivariate analyses. Furthermore, displaying the wings also tended to improve the birds’ success in defence but not in attack. Wingbar area was unrelated to any measured aspect of fighting ability. We suggest that bib size and wingbar conspicuousness may convey multiple messages on fighting abilities, specifically on overall aggressiveness and defending potential, respectively. Alternatively, wingbars may serve as amplifiers for the wing displays of aggressive motivation. Thus, male sparrows may use multiple cues in assessing the competitive ability of opponents during social interactions.
Notes on the Parasitism and Food Habits of the European Earwig, Forficula auricularia L. (Dermaptera: Forficulidae)

In 1936, 1937, and 1938 several colonies of Bigonicheta setipennis (Fall.), a dipterous parasite, were liberated in Vancouver, British Columbia, to aid in the control of the European earwig, Forficula auricularia L. During September and October, 1950, an investigation was initiated to determine the abundance and distribution of this parasite and, if possible, to obtain colonies for release in Newfoundland. Approximately 6,000 of B. setipennis were reared from 50,000 trapped earwigs.
THE LITTLE TERN IN SOUTHERN AFRICA

Summary Clancey, P. A. 1982. The Little Tern in Southern Africa. Ostrich 53:102-106 Since the latter part of last century two subspecies of the wide ranging Little Tern Sterna albifrons have been listed as wintering in the Afrotropics as far south as the Cape and Natal respectively, these being the nominate race and S. a. snundersi. A re-examination of material shows that in southern Africa only the nominate race occurs and that the alleged records of saundersi are based on misidentifications. S. a. albifrons has been recorded as far north as Kenya. The form occurring in Madagascar and Mauritius will probably prove to be the last-named subspecies. The three races occurring in the Afrotropics are redescribed and it is suggested that the presently understood nominate race is composite.
Feeding high energy supplements to pasture-fed dairy cows. Effects of stage of lactation and level of supplement

Five experiments were done in which stall-fed dairy cows were provided with a basal ration of pasture (6-7 kg DM) which was supplemented with varying amounts of a pelleted, high energy supplement (0-10 kg DM). Forty-seven cows at various stages of lactation were fed in this manner for up to 5 weeks. Responses to feeding the supplement depended on the stage of lactation at which the supplement was fed, and the amount of the supplement consumed. Marginal responses in milk production fell from 1.6 to 0.7 kg milk per kg supplement as lactation progressed, and as the level of feeding increased. Although responses in milk fat yield also decreased as lactation advanced, there was also a reduction in milk fat production when more than about 6 kg DM of supplement were fed. This was due to a severe depression in the fat content of the milk, which was found to be associated with intakes of diets with less than 250 g kg DM-1 neutral detergent fibre; diets with less than this level of fibre resulted in ratios of lipogenic to glucogenic volatile fatty acids in the rumen below 4:1. This occurred when the supplement constituted 0.4-0.5 of the diet on a dry matter basis. In addition, rumen ammonia levels were low when large amounts of supplement were fed. With all rumen characteristics, stage of lactation had no influence on values.
Relações treonina:lisina digestíveis e níveis de energia líquida para suínos em crescimento e terminação

Two experiments were carried out to evaluate the effect of five digestible threonine:lysine ratios (TL) on the nitrogen balance of growing pigs and five levels of net energy (NE) on growing-finishing pigs performance. In the first experiment, 15 high-lean commercial crossbred barrows, with initial weight of 37.0 ± 2.6 kg, were allotted to a completely randomized design, with five diets (digestible threonine:lysine ratio of 0.574, 0.624, 0.673, 0.722, and 0.772, in low protein diets, 14.7%) and three replications. Absorbed crude protein (ACP) and plasma urea nitrogen (PUN) showed a quadratic effect and the best threonine:digestible lysine ratio was 0.658 (mean of ACP and PUN). In the second experiment, five EL dietary levels were evaluated with digestible threonine:lysine ratio of 0.658. Forty pigs (20 barrows and 20 gilts) with 30.2 ± 1.3 kg were allotted to a completely randomized design, as a 5 × 2 factorial arrangement, composed of five levels of NE (2.410, 2.450, 2.490, 2.530, or 2.570 Mcal/kg) and two sexes, with one animal per cage. In the finishing phase and total period, increasing NE levels reduced feed intake (FI), improved feed:gain ratio (FGR) and increased fat deposition. Digestible threonine:lysine ratio of 0.658 improves nitrogen retention and the increasing net energy levels decrease FI and improve FGR, but may increase fat deposition in pigs.
Relative importance of burning, mowing and species translocation in the restoration of a former boreal hayfield: responses of plant diversity and the microbial community

1. The extensive loss of species-rich grasslands in Europe as a result of agricultural intensification has triggered a desire to recreate more diverse and natural grassland systems in set-aside fields. Appropriate management and species introductions are necessary to overcome residual soil fertility, lack of suitable plant propagules and dominance of undesirable invasive species. 2. A field experiment was performed in a boreal former hayfield to test the effect of turf inoculation, mowing (twice annually) and spring burning. We surveyed changes in plant diversity, composition and productivity over a 3-year period. Signature fatty acids and soil respiration measurements were employed to survey changes in the soil community. 3. Few changes in the vegetation and soil communities could be related to inoculation of turf monoliths. Most of the measured variables in mown plots differed from the set-aside (control) plots, while burned plots displayed mainly similar responses. Mowing increased plant species richness and diversity, mainly by enhancing the number and frequency of forb species. Small-statured forb species were promoted by mowing, whereas tall leafy grasses declined. Effects of mowing on soil communities comprised an increased soil respiration and stimulation of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. 4. Synthesis and applications. The results demonstrate the importance of reducing sward height in order to promote plant species coexistence in former boreal hayfields. In such systems, eliminating accumulated litter by spring burning has little influence on species composition when the sward is allowed to grow tall. Mowing is therefore the most efficient way of enhancing biodiversity. The results also show that mowing-mediated changes in above-ground plant communities may stimulate below-ground symbiotic micro-organisms, potentially resulting in a positive feedback on ecosystem development.
The next economy: from dead carbon to living carbon

In the early part of the 19th century, the global economy was largely based on carbon extracted directly or indirectly (via animals) from plants. The infant science of chemistry distinguished between products made from vegetables and those made from minerals, in effect, distinguishing between living carbon and dead carbon. By the mid 19th century, however, chemists had adopted a different terminology. Both dead carbon and living carbon, from that time, were lumped together as organic. During the next century the hydrocarbon displaced the carbohydrate as the fundamental building block of industrial societies. But at the dawn of the 21st century, a combination of technological, resource and political developments encouraged a renewed distinction between living and dead carbon and the emergence of a new carbohydrate economy. Copyright © 2006 Society of Chemical Industry
Relationships between land snail assemblage patterns and soil properties in temperate‐humid forest ecosystems

Aim The objectives were to (1) analyse the combined effects of soil pH, Ca content and soil moisture on total density and species richness of land snails in forest ecosystems, (2) explore relationships between the quantitative composition of snail assemblages and habitat characteristics, (3) investigate the relationships between soil pH and density of some of the most frequent species, and (4) compare the data with those from studies conducted in other temperate‐humid regions of Europe.
The River Shrimp Macrobrachium Ohione (Smith) (Decapoda, Palaemonidae): Its Abundance, Reproduction, and Growth in the Atchafalaya River Basin of Louisiana, U.S.A. 1)

[Se hicieron colecciones de Macrobrachium ohione por medio de trampas y redes en el rio Atchafalaya en Louisiana desde Septiembre de 1973 hasta Julio de 1975. M. ohione fue el mas abundante durante los meses de Agosto, Septiembre y Octubre. La recolecciones hechas en el rio prinpical y sus mayores tributarios dieron por resultado la mayor cantidad de camarones. El periodo de desove de M. ohione va desde Marzo hasta Septiembre con una mayor incidencia en Mayo y Junio. La mayoria de hembras ovigeras tuvieron entre 60 y 70 mm de longitud total (LT). Los huevos eran ovoides y median 0.52-0.65 mm X 0.39-0.52 mm. Las hembras tenian 6,273-24,800 huevos. El tamano de las hembras fue mayor que el do los machos de un ano de edad tenian 65-70 mm y 40-55 mm de longitud total (LT) respectivamente. M. ohione es un componente muy importante del ecosistema de la cuenca del Atchafalaya. , Se hicieron colecciones de Macrobrachium ohione por medio de trampas y redes en el rio Atchafalaya en Louisiana desde Septiembre de 1973 hasta Julio de 1975. M. ohione fue el mas abundante durante los meses de Agosto, Septiembre y Octubre. La recolecciones hechas en el rio prinpical y sus mayores tributarios dieron por resultado la mayor cantidad de camarones. El periodo de desove de M. ohione va desde Marzo hasta Septiembre con una mayor incidencia en Mayo y Junio. La mayoria de hembras ovigeras tuvieron entre 60 y 70 mm de longitud total (LT). Los huevos eran ovoides y median 0.52-0.65 mm X 0.39-0.52 mm. Las hembras tenian 6,273-24,800 huevos. El tamano de las hembras fue mayor que el do los machos de un ano de edad tenian 65-70 mm y 40-55 mm de longitud total (LT) respectivamente. M. ohione es un componente muy importante del ecosistema de la cuenca del Atchafalaya. ]
Efficacy of Supplemental Natural Zeolite in Broiler Chickens Subjected to Dietary Calcium Deficiency

Natural zeolite, or sodium aluminosilicate, influences calcium (Ca) and phosphorus (P) utilisation in chicks. A 2×2 factorial arrangement of treatments was used to investigate the effect of dietary Ca (recommended and below recommended levels) and zeolite (0 and 0.8%) on growth, plasma, tibia and faeces in chickens from 1 to 42 days of age. Zeolite supplementation did not affect overall body weight (BW) gain, feed intake (FI) or feed conversion ratio (FCR) of broiler chickens (P>0.05). Overall mortality of zeolite-fed chickens was lower than in untreated ones (P<0.01). Reduction of dietary Ca of approximately 10 to 18% decreased (P<0.05) BW at 14 and 42 days of age in association with reduced FI, but overall FCR was unchanged. Serum protein and sodium constituents were reduced in birds fed zeolite (P<0.05). Decreasing dietary Ca level increased (P<0.01) serum, total protein and glucose concentrations, but decreased Ca level. Zeolite decreased bone ash in birds fed a Ca-deficient diet while increased faecal excretion of ash, Ca, P and aluminum. However, zeolite increased tibia weight (P<0.05) and thickness (P<0.01). No significant response (P>0.05) in relative weight and gross lesion scores of liver or footpad lesion scores was found related to changes in dietary regimens. The results of the present study do not corroborate the hypothesis that the effectiveness of zeolite may be improved in Ca-deficient diets in association with its ion exchange capability.
Flight characteristics of birds:: I. radar measurements of speeds

This is the first part of a study on flight characteristics of birds and presents an annotated list of flight speeds of 139 western Palearctic species. All measurements were taken with the same tracking radar and corrected for wind influence according to radar-tracked wind-measuring balloons. Graphical presentation of the birds' air speeds emphasizes the wide variation of speeds within species and allows easy comparison between taxonomic groups, species, and types of flight. Unlike theoretical predictions, speeds increase only slightly with size. The larger species seem to be increasingly limited to speeds close to their speed of minimum power consumption Vmp',. Released birds, apparently reluctant to depart with migratory speed, fly at considerably lower speeds than migrating conspecifics. While large birds seem to be limited to speeds around Vmp', smaller birds seem to be capable of selecting between various speeds, approaching predicted Vmp, when tending to remain airborne at low cost, but flying at much higher speeds when tending to make best progress at low cost (around predicted speed of maximum range Vmr,). Predictions of air speeds by aerodynamic models proved to be too low for small birds because the models do not account for the gain in speed attained by the reduction in profile drag during bounding flight of small passerines. The models predict excessive speeds for large birds because the power output available for flight seems to decline much more with size than previously assumed.
Vital Statistics of Triatominae (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) Under Laboratory Conditions II. Triatoma maculata

A cohort of Triatoma maculata was studied under controlled laboratory conditions to obtain information on its life cycle. Egg incubation took 19 days; mean duration of 1st-, 2nd-, 3rd-, 4th-, and 5th-instar nymphs was 16, 20, 21, 40, and 56 days, respectively; mean time from egg to adult was 25.6 weeks; and adult longevity was 30.2 weeks. The proportion of ♀:♂ eclosing was 0.43. Females reproduced during 53 weeks, producing an average of 502 eggs/♀/lifetime; the average number of eggs/♀/week was 9.8. Age-specific survival and reproduction tables were constructed, and the following population parameters were calculated (rates are per week): generation time = 36.4 weeks; net reproduction rate (Ro) = 86.2; intrinsic rate of natural increase (r) = 0.143; instantaneous birth-rate (b) = 0.229; instantaneous death-rate (µ) = 0.086; and finite rate of increase (λ) = 1.153. These results, as well as other population variables (life expectancy, stable age distribution, reproductive values) were compared with those obtained in a similar study of Triatoma infestans.
Prescribed burning and its effect on plant biomass and species diversity in savanna ecosystem, Sokoto, Nigeria

Three burning regime (fire protected, early burning, late burning) and their effects on plant biomass and species diversity in Dabagi forest Reserve of Sokoto State were investigated. Prescribed burning was carried out on randomly selected plots (10 m x 10 m) in November (early burn) and March (late burn) 2004. The design of experiment was a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) and the burning treatments were replicated three times. The data obtained were analyzed using analysis of variance. The diversity index of the shrubs species was higher (P though the species richness index in the late burnt plot (d = 3.31) was higher than that of the early burnt plot (d=2.50). Species evenness index was higher (P plot (E=0.92), indicating that the shrub species in the early burnt plot shows greater uniformity in the distribution of individual among the taxa, hence the higher species diversity. Similarly for forbs and grasses, the diversity index was higher in the early burnt plot (H1=0.89) while it was least in the late burnt plot (H1=0.83). The grass species biomass (g/m2) production were higher in the early burnt plots than in the late burnt plot during the nine-month post fire sampling period, while late burning initiated higher forbs biomass than the biomass of grasses throughout the nine-month post fire period. Key words: Burning regime, evenness, indices, richness and species.
The effect of pathogen inoculation or chemical treatment on activities of chitinase and β-1,3-glucanase and accumulation of salicylic acid in leaves of green bean,Phaseolus vulgarisL.

Abstract Changes in activity of two pathogenesis-related (PR) proteins, β-1,3-glucanase and chitinase, and in amounts of free and bound (glucosylated) salicylic acid (SA) were measured in extracts of leaves at different times after treatment of the unifoliate leaves withColletotrichum lindemuthianumor 2,6-dichloro-isonicotinic acid (INA). There were no significant changes in β-1,3-glucanase activity in extracts of unifoliate leaves 1 day after either treatment compared with controls. Chitinase activity had increased slightly at this time in response to both treatments. Substantial increases in the activities of both enzymes were observed in extracts of unifoliate leaves 5 days after they had been treated withC. lindemuthianumand lesser increases after INA treatment. Significant increases in enzyme activity were also detected in extracts of first and second trifoliate leaves harvested 9 and 13–14 days after treatment respectively. Increases following INA treatment were then greater than those after fungal inoculation except for chitinase activity in first trifoliates. Salicylic acid levels were not affected in unifoliate leaves 1 day after treatment withC. lindemuthianumor INA. However,C. lindemuthianuminoculation caused massive increases in the accumulation of free and glucosylated SA in first trifoliate leaves 7 days after treatment. The amount of free and bound SA was 10.8 times and 33.5 times higher, respectively, than in water controls. In second trifoliate leaves harvested 13 days after treatment, the greatest accumulation of total SA occurred inC. lindemuthianum-inoculated plants. INA treatment did not enhance the accumulation of SA. Bound SA accounted for the majority of total SA in each sample.
An Experimental Study of Parental Investment and Polygyny in Male Blackbirds

Despite experimental reduction of the value of parental effort, male Brewer's blackbirds did not reallocate resources into mating effort; they did not attempt to mate polygynously. Although it was selectively advantageous for members of this population to do so, apparently no strong environmental potential for polygyny existed. Male yellow-headed blackbirds, when faced with a reduction of the marginal value of their 10 broods, reallocated investment toward their 20 broods but would not redirect feeding effort toward their 30 broods. Allocation of parental investment by these yellowheads was based on clutch size, nestling age and possible nestling sex.
Grain Yield of Sorghum Cultivars in a Double Cropping System

AbstractField experiments were conducted at the experimental field of Kyushu University, northern Kyushu in 1996 and 1997 to investigate the possibility of a double cropping of sorghum using early maturity cultivars. The effects of sowing date (early or late) and the cultivar on the yield were also examined. On the average, grain yield from double cropping was 556 g m−2 in 1996 and 746 g m−2 in 1997. Sowing date greatly influenced the major traits of the summer crop, but not significantly those in the spring crop, except for the days to heading. Late summer sowing decreased grain yield as much as 41.9%, decreased 100-grain weight by 22.4% and extended days to heading. Early sowing, early in April and late in July or early in August, is recommended for spring and summer crops, respectively, in a double cropping system to obtain a high grain yield. SA 403, D12, C8, C9, D5 C10-1 F4 line and D5 × C8 (F1 hybrid) were considered to be suitable for a double cropping system.
IL-4-Dependent Regulation of TGF-α and TGF-β1 Expression in Human Eosinophils

TGFs play important roles in wound healing and carcinogenesis. We have previously demonstrated that eosinophils infiltrating into different pathologic processes elaborate TGF-α and TGF-β1. Eosinophils infiltrating hamster cutaneous wounds were found to express TGFs sequentially. In this study, we examined the biologic mediators that may regulate the expression of TGF-α and -β1 by eosinophils. Eosinophils were isolated from the peripheral blood of healthy donors and cultured in the absence or presence of IL-3, IL-4, and IL-5. Cells were analyzed by in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry. Supernatants from these cultures were assayed for secreted TGF-α and TGF-β1 using TGF-specific ELISAs. IL-3, IL-4, and IL-5 independently up-regulated TGF-β1 mRNA and product expression by eosinophils in all donors. Interestingly, TGF-α production by eosinophils was up-regulated by IL-3 and IL-5 but was down-regulated by IL-4. Consistent with the ability of IL-4 to regulate eosinophil responses, IL-4 signaling molecules are present in human eosinophils. The observation that IL-4 can differentially regulate the expression of TGF-α and TGF-β1 suggests that IL-4 may serve as a physiologic molecular switch of TGF expression by the infiltrating eosinophils in wound healing and carcinogenesis.
Snakehead Channa sp.幼魚の飼料中タンパク質の要求量

The dietary protein requirement of juvenile snakehead Channa micropeltes was in vestigated by feediung eight semipurified diets containing varying levels of dietary protein within a range of 25.5 to 56.5% by weight over a 56-day feeding period at 28°C. On the basis of daily weight gain and daily protein deposition these results indicate that the requirement by juvenile snakehead for dietary protein was about 52% of protein in the diet when fish meal is used as the sole protein source. The relationship between dietary protein level and food conversion ratio, protein efficiency ratio, apparent net protein utilisation, apparent protein digesti-bility, apparent dry matter digestibility, hepatosomatic index, and gross carcass composition were determined and discussed in relation to other fish species.