Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Genetic variation of Saxifraga paniculata Mill. (Saxifragaceae): molecular evidence for glacial relict endemism in central Europe

Saxifraga paniculata Mill. is an amphi-atlantic species that is widely distributed in the Alps but also occurs with disjunct populations in central Europe. These isolated populations are considered to be glacial relicts. In the study presented here, we analysed the genetic variation within and between populations of Saxifraga paniculata in central Europe to test whether the molecular data give evidence for the supposed relict endemism. We used RAPD analysis and the analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) technique to investigate 30 populations of Saxifraga paniculata from different locations in central Europe and adjacent geographical areas. In the RAPD analysis, 319 fragments could be amplified of which 91.2% were polymorphic. The percentage of polymorphic bands within populations correlated significantly with population size, indicating a higher level of inbreeding in small populations. AMOVA revealed 43.60% of the variation within populations, only 15.45% between populations within locations, and 40.95% between locations. Genetic distance between locations (ΦST) correlated significantly with the geographical distance between locations, giving evidence for geographical isolation. In an UPGMA cluster analysis, based on RAPD data, the populations were grouped together according to their location. The results exhibit a strong genetic differentiation which is obviously due to genetic drift in the isolated populations. Our study therefore gives evidence for glacial relict endemism of Saxifraga paniculata in central Europe. © 2003 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2003, 80, 11–21.
Metabolite profiling--a fractionation method for analysis of major and minor compounds in rice grains

ABSTRACT A metabolite profiling methodology was developed using rice as model crop. The approach is based on consecutive extraction of lipids and polar compounds and subsequent fractionations of both extracts. Transesterification-solid phase extraction (lipids) and selective hydrolysis of silylated derivatives (polar compounds) are applied to separate major from minor constituents. The method covers a broad spectrum of chemical classes. Preliminary investigation of the four fractions by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) analysis of silylated derivatives identified more than 100 compounds. This unbiased approach can serve as an additional analytical tool for the safety assessment of genetically modified crops and may help to increase the chance to detect unintended effects due to the application of recombinant DNA techniques.
Replicase-Mediated Resistance to Cucumber Mosaic Virus Does Not Inhibit Localization and/or Trafficking of the Viral Movement Protein

Replicase-mediated resistance to cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) affects CMV replication and restricts CMV movement. Confocal laser scanning microscopic analysis of resistant plants inoculated with either CMV or potato virus X, expressing the CMV movement protein (MP) fused to the green fluorescent protein (GFP), showed that the CMV MP was not inhibited from either plasmodesmal association or trafficking in the CMV-resistant plants. CMV expressing free GFP was able to move to adjacent cells, demonstrating that replicase-mediated resistance did not directly block the trafficking of CMV RNA.
Chemical characterization of commercial organic fertilizers

A wide range of commercial organic fertilizers is currently available to organic farmers. Their use has numerous agronomic implications, including the supply of plant macro- and micronutrients, organic matter, but also pollutants such as toxic elements (metals (often referred to heavy metals), metalloids, and non-metals), persistent organic pollutants, pesticides, and antibiotic residues. For many organic fertilizers, the database concerning all these characteristics is weak. Therefore, in the frame of collections carried out throughout Germany, 77 samples of commercial organic fertilizers were analyzed for their nutrient and pollutant contents. Commercial organic fertilizers differ widely in nutrient concentration as well as in nutrient spectrum, meaning large differences among the fertilizers in their suitability to complement the nutrient supply by base organic fertilizers like composts, livestock manures, or digestates. The sampled commercial organic fertilizers show stable values for few characteristics (e.g. concentration of organic matter, carbon, and nitrogen), and high variation in the composition of the most other macro- and micronutrients as well as toxic metals. Consequently, the use of default values in budget calculation sheets can result in considerable errors of estimation. The concentrations of toxic elements, pesticides, and persistent organic pollutants are low, indicating the low risk of pollution related to their use.
The Late-glacial and Holocene vegetation of the Lang Lochs Mire area, Gulberwick, Shetland: a pollen and macrofossil investigation

summary A radiocarbon dated pollen and macrofossil record from Lang Lochs Mire, Shetland, is presented. Late-glacial minerogenic and early Holocene gyttja sediments underlie mid and late Holocene peal. These indicate that the area was free from ice sometime before 13000 BP and there is evidence for a typical Devensian Late-glacial climatic sequence as recorded elsewhere in Scotland. Until c. 10 500 BP an open vegetation with abundant masses amongst dwarf shrubs and herbs characterized the surrounding area. At c. 10500 BP gyttja deposition started, aquatic plants became abundant in the loch and Betula woodland developed around the loch. From r. 9700 BP to C. 7700 BP Corylus was also important. During this rime Alnus, Quercus and Ulmus pollen values rose but remained compatible with a long distance source for the pollen. At c. 7700 BP gyttja deposition ceased at the sample site and a poor fen developed. Around this, heathland and blanket peat vegetation started to develop from c. 7000 BP. By c. 6000 BP the area was largely treeless and after c. 5000 BP blanket peat spread and eventually dominated all but the steepest slopes. Pollen profile changes after c. 4500 BP can be attributed to either the spread of blanket peat or the effects of Neolithic peoples. The changes coincide with the arrival of Neolithic people elsewhere in Shetland. The first clear indication of Neolithic activity is dated to c. 3000 BP and coincides with increased activity in agriculturally more favourable areas of Shetland. Records of phytogeographically significant species are discussed and the value of combined macrofossil and pollen investigations is illustrated. The combined approach has helped to distinguish site and regional components of the pollen rain, the vegetational development of both the site and the surrounding area and has given a more accurate record of the occurrence of a number of taxa than could be achieved by pollen analysis alone.
A review of phylogeographic analyses of animal taxa from the Aegean and surrounding regions

We provide a review and synthesis of key findings in phylogeographic research on terrestrial animals in the Aegean archipelago (Greece) and surrounding regions (Greek mainland, southern Balkans and Asia Minor). A critical review of more than 100 phylogeographic articles on 76 animal genera (30 invertebrates and 46 vertebrates) that have been published so far for the region leads to the recognition of three types of distribution patterns: old ‘colonizers’ diversified in the Aegean before the formation of the mid-Aegean Trench (MAT – i.e. before 9 Mya), post-MAT colonizers that arrived to the Aegean in late Miocene and Pliocene and new colonizers that inhabited the region in the Pleistocene or even the Holocene. Several problems, mainly regarding the use of calibration points and/or molecular clock rates for clade chronology, have been identified in many analyses. Despite the large amount of phylogeographic work concerning the Aegean and surrounding regions, many groups remain unstudied (especially invertebrates, micro-organisms, fungi and plants), and many issues still remain unresolved. The relative roles of extinction, speciation, dispersal and vicariance, as well as the effects of adaptive and non-adaptive components of diversification, need further analyses with modern tools that can provide deeper insights. A more detailed reconstruction of the palaeogeography of the region is also of prime importance. The critical views presented herein may prove useful also for the evaluation of similar work in other regions.
International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS) and Local Government Financial Management in Nigeria

This paper explores the opinions of eighty professionals, experts and public sector leaders to estimate the future impact of the adoption of International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS) by the Nigerian government, with particular reference to the local government financial management system. Three hypotheses were formulated to examine to impact of IPSAS on transparency and accountability of local government financial management and to envisage the challenges of introducing a new order such as this. Being an ex-ante study, the researchers collected ordinal data from carefully but objectively determined respondents from across the geographical spread of Nigeria, the three tiers of government and across at least three generations of public sector operators. The responses were examined descriptively and inferentially using t-test of means set at p≤0.05. It was found among others that adoption of IPSAS has the huge potential of improving transparency and accountability in local government financial management. We recommended that the local government should gear up to face the challenges of adopting IPSAS as it has the ultimate benefit of improving local government governance system through its effect on the financial management practices of local authorities. Keywords: IPSAS, Local Government, Financial, Management, Nigeria.
Diversity of cyanophages infecting the heterocystous filamentous cyanobacterium Nodularia isolated from the brackish Baltic Sea

A collection of 17 cyanophage isolates able to infect the heterocystous, filamentous cyanobacterium Nodularia spumigena has been established from the Baltic Sea. These cyanophages have been characterized based on their morphology, cross infectivity and genetic structure. Short fragments (450 bp) of the gene encoding the major capsid protein (g23) were amplified and sequenced from several isolates, and the encoded protein was found to be 99% identical across all the N. spumigena-specific cyanophages tested. These results suggest that the Nodularia-specific cyanophages are very closely related. However, these cyanophages were found to be diverse in terms of their morphology and host range. Cyanophages belonging to two families within the order Caudovirales, Myoviridae and Siphoviridae, were included in the collection of isolates. The cyanophage particles are large in comparison with cyanophages previously isolated from the marine environment, with the largest capsid measuring 127×122×888 nm. Host ranges of the cyanophage isolates varied, some being able to infect up to five genotypically distinct strains of Nodularia spumigena, while others were very specific, infecting only one strain. We conclude that Nodularia-specific cyanophages form a diverse community in surface waters during summer and autumn months and that they may play a role both in the transfer of genetic information between Nodularia lineages and in promoting changes in the genetic structure of the host population.
Short‐term foraging responses of a generalist predator to management‐driven resource pulses

Generalist predators characteristically switch prey in response to resource pulses. Ungulate population reinforcement through translocation provides stressed and vulnerable prey, and apex predator reintroduction provides carrion, both resources that can be exploited by generalist predators. We investigated the dietary response of black-backed jackal to two management interventions in the Karoo National Park, South Africa, namely the reinforcement of the springbok population, and then the reintroduction of lions. By analysing jackal diets from scats collected before and after each management intervention, we show that the relative per cent occurrence and biomass consumed of springbok increased in the diet following the population reinforcement of springbok. In contrast, large ungulates were more prevalent in the diet following apex predator reintroduction. These results suggest that jackals took advantage of a potentially vulnerable abundant springbok population following their population reinforcement, and then switched to foraging on carrion provided by reintroduced lions. These results provide insights into the dietary response of a generalist mesopredator to management interventions. A key lesson from the study is that the diet of generalist predators is context-dependent and should be interpreted in that light. Resume Les predateurs generalistes changent typiquement de proies en reponse a la fluctuation de la ressource. Le renforcement d'une population d'ongules par une translocation procure des proies stressees et vulnerables, et la reintroduction de predateurs superieurs fournit des charognes, deux ressources qui peuvent etre exploitees par des predateurs generalistes. Nous avons etudie, dans le regime alimentaire du chacal a dos noir, la reponse a deux interventions de gestion dans le Parc National de Karoo, en Afrique du Sud, a savoir le renforcement de la population de springboks puis la reintroduction de lions. En analysant le regime alimentaire des chacals a partir des crottes recoltees avant et apres chaque intervention de gestion, nous montrons que le pourcentage relatif de presence et la biomasse de springbok consommee augmentaient dans le regime apres le renforcement de la population de springboks. Par contre, les grands ongules etaient plus courants dans le regime apres la reintroduction de predateurs superieurs. Ces resultats suggerent que les chacals ont profite d'une abondante population de springboks potentiellement vulnerables apres le renforcement de leur population et qu'ils ont ensuite commence a manger des charognes fournies par les lions reintroduits. Ces resultats donnent un apercu de la reponse alimentaire d'un meso-predateur generaliste a des interventions de gestion. Une lecon cle a tirer de cette etude est que le regime alimentaire des predateurs generalistes depend du contexte et qu'il faut l'interpreter en consequence.
Population Fluctuations and Distribution of Staging Eared Grebes (Podiceps Nigricollis) in North America

Eared Grebes (Podiceps nigricollis Brehm, 1831) use saline ecosystems throughout much of their life cycle, and greater than 90% of the North American population stage during fall at two hypersaline lakes. At one of these lakes, Great Salt Lake (GSL), Utah, a commercial harvest of brine shrimp (Artemia franciscana Kellogg, 1906) cysts occurs during fall and may impact Eared Grebe populations. We used photo surveys on the other hypersaline lake, Mono Lake, California, and on the GSL, as well as aerial counts on the GSL, to describe population fluctuations of Eared Grebes staging on these lakes. The long-term (1997–2012) Eared Grebe population was 1.4 million on the GSL and 1.0 million on Mono Lake. Populations changed on GSL and Mono Lake in synchrony, indicating population regulation is likely occurring at wintering, not staging, areas and is influenced by El Nino effects. Location of Eared Grebes on the GSL was influenced by brine shrimp densities and did not overlap with concentrations of commercial harv.
Density Dependent and Density Independent Regulation of Reproduction in the Gila Topminnow, Poeciliopsis Occidentalis (Baird and Girard)

Studies of the Gila topminnow, Poeciliopsis occidentalis, indicate that onset of reproduction, proportion of reproducing ♀ ♀, and numbers of embryos carried by ♀ ♀ are influenced by H2) temperature, photoperiod, food, and predation. Water temperature and photoperiod act upon the fishes regardless of population density, whereas, nutrition influences and predation are proportionate to population density. Therefore, density dependent and density independent factors operate to regulate reproduction and neither is mutually exclusive. See full-text article at JSTOR
Impact of eastern dwarf mistletoe in black spruce forests of Newfoundland

Eastern dwarf mistletoe, Arceuthobinm pusillum, is known in Newfoundland since 1902. However, it has recently become very conspicuous and damaging in some parts of the island, and is regarded as one of the principal agents damaging black spruce on the island. The mistletoe has been found to reduce volume through tree and branch mortality, decline in growth, and cone and seed production, cause alterations in nutrient contents, and induce malformation of stem.
A phylogenetic framework for the North American bumblebee species of the subgenus Bombus sensu stricto (Bombus affinis, B. franklini, B. moderatus, B. occidentalis & B. terricola) based on mitochondrial DNA markers. (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Bombus).

Koniginnen der vier Taxa Bombus affinis, B. moderatus, B. occidentalis and B. terricola wurden an verschiedenen Orten quer durch Nordamerika gefangen. Zusatzlich wurden Mannchen von B. franklini, B. occidentalis und B. terricola gesammelt. Mitochondriale Cytochrome Oxidase Untereinheit I (COI) von 25 Proben wurde sequenziert (Teilsequenzen 1005 bp Lange). Die Divergenz der Sequenzen zwischen den Taxa betragt 30–50 Basen-Substitutionen und die Tamura-Nei Genetische Distanz 0.05–0.13, wahrend innerhalb der Taxa die Divergenz nur 1 bis 2 Basen-Substitutionen betragt und die Tamura-Nei Genetische Distanz 0.001–0.002. Da die COI Sequenzen keine Lucken aufweisen, konnen die einzelnen Nukleotide wie homologe Positionen verwendet werden. Jedes Taxon besitzt 8–20 eigene Substitutionen, die als dia­gnostische Positionen verwendet werden konnen, um das Taxon zu charakterisieren. Das Phylogramm zeigt drei klar getrennte Cluster: B. moderatus, konspezifisch mit der ostasiatischen B. albocinctus, das Artenpaar B. affinis – B. franklini locker verwandt mit der eurasiatischen B. lucorum, und das Artenpaar B. terricola – B. occidentalis ohne Beziehungen zu irgendwelchen Arten der Alten Welt.
Application of bicuculline to the gerbil somatosensory cortex induces repetitive ear movements accompanied by induction of c-Fos immunoreactivity in the thalamus

We previously established a seizure-sensitive strain of Mongolian gerbil, MGS/Idr, in which seizure-inducing stimuli often elicit repetitive backward jerks of the ears at the beginning of seizures, and found that unilateral application of (−)-bicuculline methiodide (BMI) to an area of the somatosensory cortex in this strain induced similar, but long-lasting, repetitive movements of the contralateral ear. In the present study, we have extended this observation by using immunohistochemistry to look for areas of the brain in which c-Fos protein, an immediate early gene product, appeared unilaterally following BMI application. At 4 hr after BMI application, the cerebral cortex under the application site showed intense c-Fos immunostaining. In addition, c-Fos immunoreactivity appeared in restricted areas of the ipsilateral thalamus, including the ventroposterior nucleus, posterior nucleus, and reticular nucleus. Control saline-treated gerbils did not show unilateral staining in the corresponding thalamic areas. These areas may form a network with the somatosensory cortex that is involved in the recurrent phenomena, as proposed for other areas of the cerebral cortex.
Spatial and Temporal Variation of Seed Rain in the Canopy and on the Ground of a Tropical Cloud Forest

Spatial and temporal patterns of seed rain impact plant fitness, genetic and demographic structure of plant populations, and species' interactions. Because plants are sessile, they rely on biotic and abiotic dispersal agents to move their seeds. The relative importance of these dispersal agents may shift throughout the year. In tropical forests, seed dispersal of epiphytes constitutes a major but hitherto unknown portion of seed rain ecology. For the first time, we report on patterns of seed rain for both epiphytic and terrestrial plants across an entire year in a Neotropical montane forest. To examine seed rain, we placed traps in the canopy and on the ground. We analyzed seed dispersal syndrome (bird, mammal, wind) and plant habit (epiphyte, liana, shrub, small tree, large tree) across all seasons of the year (dry, misty, wet). We found that the community of species collected in canopy traps was significantly different from the community in ground traps. Epiphytes were the most common plant habit found in canopy traps, while large trees were most common in ground traps. Species with bird‐dispersed seeds dominated all traps. Species richness was significantly higher during the dry season in ground traps, but did not vary across seasons in canopy traps. Our results highlight the distinct seed rain found in the canopy and on the ground and underscore the importance of frugivores for dispersing both arboreal and terrestrial plants in tropical ecosystems.
Difference in Web Construction Behavior at Newly Occupied Web Sites Between Two Cyclosa Species

Animals make decisions based on subjective assessments of their environment. To determine their future foraging activities, animals probablyassess food availabilityfrom past foraging experiences. Thus, foraging also functions as a wayfor animals to collect information, with the uncertaintyof an assessment decreasing as foraging activityincreases. This suggests that different needs for a correct assessment mayaffect the investment made in foraging activities. Orb-web spiders sometimes relocate their webs and relocation rate differs among species. After web relocation, several spider species have been reported to construct the first webs at newlyoccupied web sites using less silk than usual, possiblyto avoid the risk of an overinvestment at sites where food availabilityhas not been determined. Nevertheless, theymaypaya cost, because of inadequate decisionmaking, if webs constructed with less silk conveyless information and increase the uncertaintyof an assessment. We expect that stronger site tenacity necessitates a greater requirement for correct assessment of web site and the degree to which spiders reduce the amount of web silk in the first web after web relocation is smaller in species that use the same site longer. To test this hypothesis, we examined web construction in two orb-web spiders, Cyclosa octotuberculata and C. argenteoalba. At the same time we found that these two species exhibit different web-site tenacity, as C. octotuberculata does not relocate its webs as frequentlyas does C. argenteoalba. After artificiallyinduced web relocation, C. argenteoalba constructed webs that were initiallysmaller and contained onlyabout 2/3 of the silk in control webs that were constructed at the original site. In contrast, C. octotuberculata did not exhibit such decreases in web size or in the amount of web silk used. This result is consistent with our
Extracting the amphibian chytrid fungus from formalin‐fixed specimens

1. Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis is a chytrid fungal pathogen driving many amphibian species extinct. For some species, the only place they can be found is in natural history museum collections. Harnessing molecular tools to uncover this pathogen’s date of arrival and movement throughout a region and through time will prove useful to broader B. dendrobatidis research. However, it has remained difficult to access B. dendrobatidis DNA from within preserved host tissues, especially specimens that were originally fixed in formalin.