Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Clutch size and the costs of incubation in the house wren

Trade-offs in the allocation of finite resources among different stages of a breeding attempt as well as between different reproductive events should shape the evolution of life-history traits. To investigate the effects of incubation effort on within-brood and between-brood trade-offs in house wrens (Troglodytes aedon), we manipulated the clutch size that females incubated. We isolated effects of incubation by reversing the manipulation at hatching to allow all parents to provision their natural brood sizes. Females that incubated enlarged clutches had longer incubation periods than control females, both early and late in the season, suggesting that the experimental treatment increased incubation effort. Contrary to predictions, however, increased incubation effort did not adversely affect the allocation of effort to nestling provisioning. Rather, in the early season, but not in the late season, females that incubated enlarged clutches appeared to allocate more effort to nestling provisioning, producing heavier and larger fledglings than control females. Although females with enlarged early-season clutches consequently lost more mass than control females, this was likely an adaptive response to reduce wing loading in anticipation of high provisioning demands. There were no treatment-related differences in fledgling mass or size, or in female mass loss, in the late season. Thus, elevated incubation demands negatively affected a fitness-related trait (duration of incubation) that may constrain clutch size but not the allocation of resources to subsequent stages of the same breeding event or to subsequent breeding events. We suggest that environmental conditions may mediate clutch-size effects on trade-offs in allocation of resources between incubation and nestling provisioning. Copyright 2006.
Speciation in Cave Faunas

Speciation in obligate cave faunas typically follows patterns reminiscent of faunas of other discontinuous habitats, such as islands, mountaintops, or desert springs (6, 95). Where cave systems are separated by frequent extrinsic barriers, as in the Appalachian Valley and Ridge province (i.e. the Appalachian Valley) of the eastern United States, many endemic species with small geographic ranges may occur ( 13, 74), but in terranes with extensive exposures of undisturbed cavernous limestones, as in the Mississippian plateaus farther west, fewer and more widely ranging cave species exist per unit area of exposed karst (4, 6). Cave speciation studies have not yet been integrated with the growing body of theory of island biogeography (92, 137), in part because progress in taxonomy of cave species has traditionally lagged behind that of most island species, but also because the degree to which various caves and cave systems are isolated from each other has not always been clear (18, 48, 49, 51, 52). Other factors to be considered in comparing caves with islands include (a) dependence of cave communities on allochthonous, epigean food sources (20); (b) dispersal of many aquatic and some small, terrestrial obligate cavernicoles widely through subterranean spaces in nonlimestone regions; and (c) separation (or not) of caves by extrinsic barriers to gene flow (and possible circularity of reasoning in determining this) (4, 6, 10, 13). The physical environment in both temperate zone and tropical caves and its implications for cave speciation have been reasonably well described (6, 20, 77). Remote from entrances, deep portions of caves are dark, with fairly
Effect of propionic acid and Lactobacillus plantarum UFLA SIL 1 on the sugarcane silage with and without calcium oxide

Alkaline agents reduce the fiber content, but results in a buffering of the silage that can benefit the growth of undesirable micro-organisms. The association of alkaline agents and additives capable of inducing a decrease in the initial pH may be interesting. Our aim was to evaluate the effects of a wild strain of Lactobacillus plantarum (UFLA SIL 1) and the addition of propionic acid on the fermentation and aerobic stability of sugarcane silages treated with and without calcium oxide. Propionic acid reduced the pH value, the number of yeasts, filamentous fungi and clostridia. The L. plantarum reduced DM losses in silages without calcium oxide, without changing other microbiological and fermentative parameters. The addition of calcium oxide reduced the neutral detergent fiber (NDF), the concentration of ethanol and acetic acid and increased the populations of clostridia, filamentous fungi and yeasts. Calcium oxide lengthened aerobic stability and reduced the temperature during aerobic exposition. Addition of propionic acid or the strain of L. plantarum was not able to improve the microbiological quality of the silage treated with calcium oxide. The addition of calcium oxide improved aerobic stability; however, this addition resulted in lower silage quality observed by higher counts of undesirable micro-organisms.
Persistent ecological effects of a salmon‐derived nutrient pulse on stream invertebrate communities

Pulsed resource subsidies can have ecological effects that persist over time. These subsidies can be particularly important in aquatic ecosystems, which are often resource-limited. Anadromous salmon (Oncorhynchus spp.) deliver annual nutrient pulses to many freshwater ecosystems around the North Pacific. The persistent ecological consequences of this nutrient subsidy are poorly understood across the range of Pacific salmon and likely depend on stream habitat, background nutrient dynamics, and the abundance of spawning salmon. Using a model selection approach, we examined relationships among spawning salmon density, stream habitats, and the abundance and diversity of stream invertebrates ten months after salmon spawning, across 21 streams in central British Columbia, Canada. Total invertebrate abundance increased with salmon density and with higher stream temperatures. Invertebrate diversity was more closely related to stream habitat characteristics than to salmon density. These results suggest that salmon nutrients have a greater impact on stream invertebrate population sizes than on the variety of taxa that inhabit these streams. The three most common invertebrate families—grazing mayflies (Heptageniidae), predatory stoneflies (Chloroperlidae), and chironomid midges (Chironomidae)—all increased in abundance with salmon density. Stream habitat variables (temperature, pH, and substrate size) also explained significant variation in the abundances of the three groups. These results suggest that salmon nutrients retained in the watershed from previous years help support greater abundances of some invertebrate taxa. Thus the pulsed nutrient subsidy provided by spawning salmon may have ecological effects that persist many months, or even years, after it is delivered.
Effects of Tannery Effluents on Survival and Histopathological Changes in Different Organs of Channa punctatus

The effects of effluents from tanning industry and its toxicity on survival, histopathological changes of snakehead, Channa punctatus were studied. Effluents are so toxic that fishes cannot survive in it even for two hours. Even dilution of the effluents by fresh water, had the same effects. However, when the fish was kept in the diluted effluents after treated with bacteria, it survived for longer period. It was also found that fishes survived longer periods after adding small quantities of glucose to the treated effluents. It can be inferred that released bacteria are able to degrade or detoxify the toxic pollutants. Fishes were dissected after 29 days of treatment to study the histopathological changes in the liver, kidney, intestine and stomach. Swelling and vacuolated formation of the hepatocytes and congestion and dilatation of sinusoidal space were observed in the liver. In the kidney, renal tubules were severely damaged, which caused disintegration of glomeruli. Increases in Bowman's space and tubular lumen were also observed. Degeneration of columnar epithelium, necrosis at the tips of the villi and distortion of basement membrane and goblet cells were recorded in the intestine and stomach.
Antiviral – Antimicrobial and schistosomicidal activities of Eucalyptus camaldulensis essential oils

The investigation was designed to determine the antiviral, antimicrobial and schistosomicidal, effects of the leaf essential oil of Eucalyptus camaldulensis. Rotavirus Wa strain, Coxsackievirus B4, and herpes virus type 1 were affected by essential oil with percentage of reduction 50%, 53.3%, and 90% respectively. On the other hand, no effect was found at all on adenovirus type 7. Regarding antimicrobial effect, essential oil has high effects against gram positive and negative bacteria with inhibition zones ranged from 9.3 to 12.5 Mm. The same effect was observed on yeast (21% inhibition) and fungi (10% inhibition). The Scanning Electron Microscope observation showed that IC90 of essential oil produced sever damage in schistosoma worm’s typography. Therefore, the essential oils from E. camaldulensis are active candidates and could be used as RNA antivirus, antimicrobial and shistosomicidal agents in new drugs preparation for therapy of infectious diseases.
Age-Dependent Fecundity and Life-Fertility Tables for Euborellia annulipes (Lucas) (Dermaptera: Anisolabididae) a Cotton Boll Weevil Predator in Laboratory Studies with an Artificial Diet

Abstract Little information regarding the biology and ecology of dermapteran predators has been reported. For possible use of Euborellia annulipes (Lucas) (Anisolabididae) in biological control programs against the cotton boll weevil Anthonomus grandis grandis Boheman (Curculionidae), it is important to know the effect of temperature on reproduction in this predator. Our objective was to evaluate the reproductive potential and the longevity of females of E. annulipes under laboratory conditions using an artificial diet, at 25 and 30°C, and to estimate life-fertility tables and growth rates. Fecundity began to decline on day 84 at 25°C and on day 74 at 30°C of adult age and ended with the death of the females at both temperatures. Females of E. annulipes oviposited an average of 206 and 306 eggs, and had a mean longevity of 198 and 149 d at 25 and 30°C, respectively. The gross reproductive rates were 89.2 at 25°C and 91.4 at 30°C; the net reproductive rates were 65.3 at 25°C and 40.3 at 30°C; the generation times were 195.2 d at 25°C and 142.9 d at 30°C; the doubling time was 33.0 d at 25°C and 26.7 d at 30°C; the intrinsic rates of increase were 0.02 at 25°C and 0.03 at 30°C, and the finite rates of increase were 1.02 at 25°C and 1.03 at 30°C. The predator population increased by 52 at 25°C and 20 at 30°C adult progeny per female per generation in the laboratory. The best age for inoculative releases of E. annulipes against cotton boll weevil populations is the age with the highest age-specific reproductive values, that is, newly emerged females at 25 or 30°C.
Across margin export of organic matter by cascading events traced by stable isotopes, northwestern Mediterranean Sea

We present a 1‐yr (2005‐2006) record of organic carbon (OC) and total nitrogen (TN) contents and their isotopic ratios (Δ13COC and Δ15N) in sinking particles from the western Gulf of Lions. Maximum OC and TN fluxes recorded in January 2006 and March‐April 2006 were associated with negative near‐bottom temperature anomalies. This reveals large inputs of resuspended organic matter from the shelf basinwards to depths ≫1500 m by dense shelf‐water cascading. The first pulse of organic matter had low Δ13COC (‐25.5‰) and N:C (0.08) and high Δ15N (6.6‰) values, indicative of the arrival of organic matter of terrestrial origin. In contrast, the second pulse had high Δ13COC (‐21.9‰) and N:C (0.15) and extremely low Δ15N (0.0‰) values, indicative of the transfer of organic matter with higher marine contribution. Though downslope export of organic matter from the adjacent shelf predominated, particles escaping from surface waters remained an important source of organic matter during low‐energy and low‐flux periods and especially during summer conditions, with significant contribution of N2 fixation to organic matter export. Overall, our results suggest the export of organic matter from different sources to the deep Mediterranean basin, which in turn might alter within a couple of months the quality of the sedimentary organic matter deposited on the sea floor and thus the dynamics of the deep ecosystems.
The Embryonic Central Nervous System Lineages ofDrosophila melanogaster

Abstract In Drosophila, central nervous system (CNS) formation starts with the delamination from the neuroectoderm of about 30 neuroblasts (NBs) per hemisegment. They give rise to approximately 350 neurons and 30 glial cells during embryonic development. Understanding the mechanisms leading to cell fate specification and differentiation in the CNS requires the identification of the NB lineages. The embryonic lineages derived from 17 NBs of the ventral part of the neuroectoderm have previously been described (Bossing et al., 1996). Here we present 13 lineages derived from the dorsal part of the neuroectoderm and we assign 12 of them to identified NBs. Together, the 13 lineages comprise approximately 120 neurons and 22 to 27 glial cells which we include in a systematic terminology. Therefore, NBs from the dorsal neuroectoderm produce about 90% of the glial cells in the embryonic ventral ganglion. Two of the NBs give rise to glial progeny exclusively (NB 6-4A, GP) and five to glia as well as neurons (NBs 1-3, 2-5, 5-6, 6-4T, 7-4). These seven NBs are arranged as a group in the most lateral region of the NB layer. The other lineages (NBs 2-4, 3-3, 3-5, 4-3, 4-4, 5-4, clone y) are composed exclusively of neurons (interneurons, motoneurons, or both). Additionally, it has been possible to link the lateral cluster of even-skipped expressing cells (EL) to the lineage of NB 3-3. Along with the previously described clones, the vast majority (more than 90%) of cell lineages in the embryonic ventral nerve cord (thorax, abdomen) are now known. Moreover, previously identified neurons and most glial cells are now linked to certain lineages and, thus, to particular NBs. This complete set of data provides a foundation for the interpretation of mutant phenotypes and for future investigations on cell fate specification and differentiation.
Age, growth, maturity, mortality, and yield-per-recruit for annular sea bream (Diplodus annularis L.) from the eastern middle Adriatic Sea

The population dynamics parameters of Diplodus annularis from the eastern middle Adriatic Sea were studied. Total lengths of 1704 specimens ranging from 3.3 to 23.0 cm were obtained from commercial and fishery-independent catches (2000-2002). The species spawns from April through the end of August, with a peak in May. Overall male to female ratio was 1.00 : 1.05. The species is a rudimentary hermaphrodite in the Adriatic Sea. Total lengths (TL) at 50% maturity were 9.0 cm for males and 10.0 cm for females. These estimated sizes were smaller than the minimum legal landing size (MLS = 15 cm) and greater than the actual minimum landing size (Lc = 7.1 cm) for the bottom trawl net. All specimens sampled were fully mature above 13 cm TL. The oldest individual was 13 years old. Length-weight relationship showed close to isometric growth (b = 3.073). Parameters of the von Bertalanffy growth equation were: L = 23.95 cm ; K = 0.126 per year ; t0 = -1.664 year ; r2 = 0.896. The low value of total mortality (Z = 0.72) was a consequence of the relatively low rate of natural mortality (M = 0.39) and fishing mortality (F = 0.33). The exploitation ratio was E = 0.46. Estimated parameters and the relative yield-per-recruit analysis did not indicate any overexploitation of the species in the study area. However, the estimates include uncertainties and require further confirmation, especially of the natural mortality.
The Black Sea Turtle (Chelonia mydas agassizii) at Lobos de Tierra Island, Northern Peru: High Densities in Small Areas

Abstract. Preliminary findings regarding black turtle (Chelonia mydas agassizii) occurrence in Lobos de Tierra Island, Northern Peru showed that 95% and 5% of turtles were juveniles and sub-adults, respectively, with an overall mean curved carapace length of 57.5 ± 7 cm (26.0–74.4 cm, n = 199). A total mean density of 180.4 turtles/km2 was found with highest densities found in bays and inlets located in the southeast. Inshore densities in shallow waters (< 1.5 m) were almost one order of magnitude greater than offshore at ∼ 1.5 km. In addition, based on structured qualitative interviews with fishermen, sea turtle capture and consumption still exists in the island, though occasional and sporadic. Jellyfish (Chrysaora plocamia) and green algae (Ulva sp.) consumption plays an important role in black turtle aggregations in the island, where densities are quite high compared to other feeding grounds elsewhere. We conclude that Lobos de Tierra constitutes an important Peruvian feeding ground, with high black turtle aggregations, close to the northern limit of the cold Humboldt Current.
Detection of AmpC Beta-lactamases among Escherichia coli isolates at a tertiary care hospital in Karnataka

Background & objective : AmpC �-lactamases are clinically significant because they may confer resistance to a wide variety of �-lactam drugs, including �-methoxy-�-lactams, such as cefoxitin, narrow-, expanded- and broad-spectrum cephalosporins, �-lactam-�-lactamase inhibitor combinations and aztreonam. Although reported with increasing frequency the true occurrence in different organisms remains unknown. The present study was conducted to determine the occurrence of AmpC �-lactamases among the clinical isolates of Escherichia coli . Methods : A total of 100 non-repeat clinical isolates obtained from urine, pus, sputum, blood and body fluids were taken. All the isolates were screened for AmpC �-lactamases by standard disc diffusion breakpoint for cefoxitin (30µg). Isolates with zone diameter less than 18 mm were tested for AmpC activity by AmpC disc test. Results : Of the 100 isolates that were tested, 30 yielded cefoxitin zone diameters less than 18 mm (screen positive). Production of AmpC �-lactamase was detected in 24 isolates by AmpC disc test. Conclusion : AmpC disc test can be used as a simple, convenient and rapid screening test for detection of AmpC � lactamase in clinical laboratories.
Microbial load on medicinal plants sold in Bini markets, Nigeria

Microbiological analysis was carried out on samples of 20 medicinal plants obtained from open markets in Benin and her environs. The standard plate count technique on Nutrient agar (NA) was used to determine the total aerobic bacterial count, mannitol salt agar and Baird-Parker agar for staphylococcal count, MacConkey agar for coliform count and potato dextrose agar for fungal counts. The purified bacterial and fungal isolates were then characterized and identified. All the samples examined contained microorganisms. The bacterial count ranged from 1.0×10 3 cfu/g to 9.8×10 4 cfu/g with Aframomum meleguata , Onyokea gore and Khaya ivorensis having the highest count of 9.8 × 10 4 cfu/g; 9.4 × 10 3 cfu/g and 8.8×10 3 cfu/g, respectively and Justicia flava had the lowest count of 1.0 × 10 3 cfu/g. The fungal counts were high in all the samples examined. The bacterial isolates were identified as Staphylococcus aureus (50.0%), Staphylococcus epidermidis (25.0%), Escherichia coli (10.0%) and Bacillus subtilis (40.0%) while fungal isolates included Aspergillus niger (85.0%) and Penicillium species (50.0%). The presence of these microorganisms in the samples could be due to improper handling and storage procedures as most of the samples were kept in bags on cold floors in very humid tropical stores (stalls).
The effect of temperature on the phenology of germination of Isoëtes lacustris

Biology Centre, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Institute of Hydrobiology, Na Sádkách 7, CZ–37005 České Budějovice, Czech Republic, e-mail: znachy@hbu.cas. cz; Institute of Botany, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Dukelská 135, CZ-37982 Třeboň, Czech Republic, e-mail: ctvrtlikova@butbn.cas. cz; Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Branišovská 31, CZ-370 05 České Budějovice, Czech Republic, e-mail: jaroslav.vrba@prf.jcu. cz
Chitin from the shell of two coastal portunid crabs of Bangladesh

A study of the chitin content in the shell of various body parts of two portunid crabs, Scylla serrata and Portunus pelagicus showed that the leg shell, body shell and claw shell of the former species contained chitin at a rate of 16.07, 11.67 and 10.42% respectively whereas in the latter species the percentage of chitin in the respective organs was 20.19, 13.51 and 11.67. Statistical studies revealed a positive correlation between the body shell and claw shell chitin in P. pelagicus while a negative correlation was found between the chitin in claw shell and leg shell in S. serrata
Host‐specificity of the endangered thick‐shelled river mussel (Unio crassus, Philipsson 1788) and implications for conservation

The complex life cycle of the endangered thick-shelled river mussel (Unio crassus, Philipsson 1788) includes an obligatory parasitic phase on a host fish. Consequently, knowledge of the interaction of U. crassus with its host species is crucial for the development of effective conservation strategies. The objective of this study was to assess systematically the host suitability of eight different fish species, including six native species which naturally co-occur with U. crassus, as well as two non-native species. All tested fish species were successfully infected with glochidia of U. crassus, which were present on their gills 2 days after exposure. Phoxinus phoxinus and Squalius cephalus were the most suitable hosts as indicated by both the highest total glochidial load and the highest fish-weight-normalized glochidial load after 16 days and 48 days. Salmo trutta, Alburnoides bipunctatus and Cottus gobio were less suitable, losing ~90% of glochidia within 16 days. Alburnus alburnus, invasive Neogobius melanostomus and introduced Oncorhynchus mykiss lost more than 98% of glochidia within 16 days, indicating they are unsuitable hosts. U. crassus larvae did not grow significantly (<15%) during their metamorphosis on suitable hosts, suggesting that the most obvious advantage of the host-dependent phase in the U. crassus life cycle is the dispersal by fish vectors. The observed differences in the developmental speed and the timing of excystment on different suitable host species are likely to increase the chances of successful dispersal and survival in adverse environmental conditions. The sustainable conservation management of U. crassus populations is closely linked to the effective management of their host fish populations. In particular, the currently underestimated ecological functions of low-valued fish species such as S. cephalus and P. phoxinus clearly deserve better consideration in the conservation management of U. crassus habitats and stream ecosystems. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Effect of Lambdacyhalothrin and Deltamethrin on the Haemocytes of Desert Locust, Schistocerca gregaria Forsk

Five haemocyte classes (Prohaemocytes, Plasmatocytes, Granulocytes, Oenocytoids and Spherulocytes) were distinguished in the adult of desert locust, Schistocerca gregaria Forsk. The total counts after application of insecticides were significantly increased comparing with those of the untreated females. Lambdacyhalothrin (Karate 2.5EC) caused more increase in the total counts than that caused by Deltamethrin (Decis 2.5EC) comparing with the total counts of untreated adult female. The insecticides also showed an increase in plasmatocytes and granulocytes percentage; whereas, a decrease in percentage took place for Oenocytoids and Spherulocytes. Abnormalities caused by insecticides to the haemocytes were: agglutination, denucleation and enlargement of cells, distortion of the cytoplasmic and nuclear membrane, and abnormal staining of the haemocytes.