Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Winter Food Abundance for Japanese Monkeys in Differently Aged Japanese Cedar Plantations in Snowy Regions

Abstract. Plantation areas of Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica) have often been recognized as low-quality habitats for Japanese monkeys (Macaca fuscata) due to the lack of food resources, although empirical studies on this are few, especially in cool-temperate forests. For monkeys, winter is the bottleneck season for food availability. Hence, we evaluated the monkeys' selectivity of winter food tree species by counting their feeding traces in 2008 and 2009; we then compared the number and variety of winter food resources among several forest sites comprising differently aged cedar plantations—with primary beech forests as a control area—in heavy snow regions of the northeastern Shirakami Mountains. We noted that (1) monkeys tended to prefer shade-intolerant trees as food resources; (2) the stem density and variety of such trees in plantations commonly decreased with increasing forest age; (3) dominant cedar tree thinning effectively increased the preferable food resources for monkeys; and (4) the stem density and variety of food resources in the plantations were greater than those in primary beech forests. These results indicated that cedar plantation areas are not always low-quality habitats for monkeys in cool-temperate forests, as long as appropriate cedar tree thinning for timber production is implemented.
La fauna de caprélidos (Crustacea: Amphipoda: Caprellidea) de la costa de Coquimbo, centro-norte de Chile, con una clave taxonómica para la identificación de las especies

Caprellids are abundant in many littoral habitats ofthe marine environment. Nevertheless, this group of amphipods has been scarcely studied along the coast of Chile. The study ofthe Caprellidea is particular! y difficult dueto the high degree of intra-specific morphological variability and the fact that literature and specimens from Museums are not easily located. The objective of the present study was to pro vide the taxonomical tools to identify the most common caprellid species from northem-central Chile. Severa! habitats were examined (buoys, boulders, algal/seagrass beds) and six caprellid species were found: Caprellina longicollis (Nicolet, 1849), Cap re/la equilibra S ay, 1818, C. scaura Templeton, 1836, C. verrucosa Boeck, 1871; Deutella venenosa Mayer, 1890 and Paracaprella pusilla Mayer, 1890. Cap re/la scaura, C. verrucosa and D. venenosa were most abundant among algae, hydrozoans and bryozoans growing on buoys. Cap re/la equilibra, al so present on buoys, was most abundant undemeath boulders in exposedrocky intertidal zones, where additionally D. venenosa and P. pusilla were found. Caprella scaura was dominant in plant beds above sandy subtidal bottom, especially among the alga Gracilaria chilensis and the seagrass Heterozostera tasmanica, where it occurred together with Caprellina longicollis. Paracaprella pusilla represents a new citation for the pacific coasts of S-America, being a new record for Chile. The species D. venenosa, which was recorded for the first time since the original description by Mayer in the year 1890, is considered an endemic species from the central coast of Chile.
FIRST INSIGHTS INTO IMPROVEMENT OF EICOSAPENTAENOIC ACID CONTENT IN PHAEODACTYLUM TRICORNUTUM (BACILLARIOPHYCEAE) BY INDUCED MUTAGENESIS 1

A strain improvement program was initiated based on mutagenesis with the goal of commercial production of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA)from EPA‐overproducing microalgal strains. Two rounds of mutation and selection were conducted using Phaeodactylum tricornutum Bohlin UTEX #640 as the parent strain. After the first round of mutagenesis, a putative mutant (provisionally labeled 114) was obtained. The EPA content (% of dry weight) of this mutant strain was 37% higher than that of the wild type. 114 was further mutated and another putative mutant (provisionally called II242) was isolated, the EPA content of which was 44% higher than that of the wild type. When cultured with aeration in 1‐L flasks, EPA content of the wild type and putative mutants 114 and II242 was, 17.3 mg · g−1, 31.5mg · g−1, and 38.6 mg · g−1 dry biomass, respectively. EPA productivity was 3.48 mg · L−1· d−1 4.01 mg · L−1· d−1, and 4.98 mg · L−1· d−1 respectively. These figures compare favorably with many other promising EPA‐producing microorganisms and suggest that the use of a single methodology such as mutation and selection is a way to improve the polyunsaturated fatty acid content of microalgae and other microorganisms.
Understanding population structure and historical demography in a conservation context: population genetics of an endangered fern

The construction of the world's largest hydroelectric scheme across the Yangtze River, the Three Gorges Dams (TGD), in the centre of a southern‐central Chinese biodiversity hot spot, the Three Gorges Reservoir Area (TGRA), has attracted international concern and conservation action. To examine whether landscape changes to date have impacted regional flora, and to establish long‐term monitoring baselines, we assessed the distribution and dynamics of an endangered and TGRA endemic fern, Adiantum reniforme var. sinense. For eight nuclear microsatellites, high levels of genetic diversity (HE = 0.653–0.781) and slightly elevated inbreeding (FIS = 0.077–0.197) were found across 13 surveyed populations. The population history of this fern is characterized by a balance of gene flow and genetic drift, where historical dispersal, inferred from coalescent (F = 0.129) and genetic differentiation (FST = 0.094 and RST = 0.180) approaches, is moderate, reflecting an isolation by distance relationship. Importantly, most populations exhibited mutation‐drift disequilibrium, suggesting a recent population decline, which is congruent with the known demographic history of the species following dam‐related activities. Based on these results, populations of A. reniforme var. sinense are expected to lose genetic diversity and increase genetic structure as dam‐related activities decrease size and increase genetic isolation of remnants.
Genetic variation in the soft-shelled Clam,Mya arenaria

Genetic variability for two popula-tions, Maine and Maryland, of the soft-shelled clam,Mya arenaria, was estimated from electrophoretic anal-yses of whole clams. Polymorphism (12.5% in Maine and 16.7% in Maryland clams) and heterozygosity per individ-ual (4.6% in Maine and 6.6% in Maryland) were low for the two populations based on 40 loci in Maine and 42 loci in MarylandMya.
In Situ Determination of the Effect of Symbiotic Algae on the Growth of the Fresh Water Sponge Spongilla Lacustris

Ahstract. The freshwater sponge, Spongilla lacustris, which usually occurs in an endosymbiosis with zoochlorellae, can be rendered aposymbiotic by providing darkened conditions. Utilizing this situation, we have determined, in situ, the contribution of the algal symbiont to the growth of this association. Pigment and ultrastructure analyses demonstrated that sponges maintained under darkened conditions were effectively aposymbiotic. Growth of sponges under normal conditions was significantly greater than for aposymbiotic organisms. In two separate experiments, aposymbiotic sponges grew to only 20% and 49% of the size of normal sponges. Clearance rate determinations revealed no difference in the feeding activities of normal and aposymbiotic sponges on Aerobacter aerogenes or Chlamydomonas reinhardti. The contribution from symbionts appears important to the high growth rate of this sponge and its successful utilization of soft-bottom habitats. This work represents the first in situ determination of the contribution by an alga in an endosymbiosis with an invertebrate.
STUDY OF MORPHOLOGICAL AND MILK PRODUCTION TRAITS OF A ROMANIAN BLACK AND WHITE COW POPULATION FROM THE SOUTH-WESTERN ROMANIA

The aim of the paper was to investigate the influen ce of the parity on the milk production and morphological traits in the Romanian Black and White cow population. Cows were divided into three groups: first, second, and third and over lactations. Morph ological traits were measured in 66 cows out of whi ch 15 primiparous cows, 22 cows at the second lactation a nd 29 cows at the third or higher lactation. The bo dy measurements were: height at withers, height at bac k, height at rump, oblique trunk length, chest dept h, trunk depth, chest width, hips width, pins width, rump le ngth, body length, heart girth and shinbone circumf erence. Body weight was determined with a special tape. Four body indices were calculated: lateral body format index, height difference index, chest depth index, and rum p shape index. For the milk production, a total num ber of 925 normal lactations were processed, out of which 323 first lactations, 354 second lactations, and 248 th ird and over lactations. Differences among the three age groups were tested using analysis of variance. Body sizes of the Romanian Black and White cows were significantly influenced by the parity (p 0.05), except for the rump shape index that was higher in older cows (p<0.05), meaning that the rump width at hips was 5.69% higher than rump length. Milk production per normal lactation was 4056.3 kg milk with 3.873% butterfat and 3.055% protein. This production was 5-6% significantly lower (p<0.05) th an milk produced by older cows.
STATISTICAL ASPECTS OF AQUACULTURE RESEARCH : SAMPLE SIZES FOR POND EXPERIMENTS

The present paper illustrates the need for greater pond replication in pond experiments. It demonstrates that increasing the number of fish sampled in each pond will not reduce the number of ponds needed when treatment effects are estimated. Sampling bias, skew distributions and heterogeneous fish populations are discussed in relation to fish sample sizes. When it is impossible to increase the number of replicate ponds, several methods of accounting for the pond variability are suggested.
Methane release from stands of water horsetail (Equisetum fluviatile) in a boreal lake

Summary 1. Annual and diel variations in methane (CH4) release in stands of Equisetum fluviatile were measured from June to November in Lake Paajarvi, southern Finland, where E. fluviatile is the dominant emergent macrophyte. An estimate of total annual release of CH4 from stands of E. fluviatile in this lake was also made. Diel variation was measured twice (June and August), whereas measurements for annual variation were performed monthly. The hypothesis that a relationship exists between the productivity of stands and CH4 release was also tested, whereupon net ecosystem exchange (NEE) of CO2 as well as standing stock of E. fluviatile were determined, in addition to simultaneous recordings of air temperature and solar radiation. 2. Seasonal variations in CH4 release were pronounced, with the highest release rate of 813 mg m–2 day–1 measured in July and the lowest 6.5 mg m–2 day–1 in November, when the shoreline was already frozen. 3. Methane release rates were strongly correlated with mean air temperature in the measuring chambers and with total solar radiation. There was no significant correlation between the instantaneous radiation and CH4 release rates. 4. The seasonal patterns of CH4 release and NEE of CO2 resembled each other, except in July when NEE suddenly dropped. The decrease in NEE coincided with the highest CH4 release rate measured and the highest temperature during the measuring period, i.e. 32 °C outside and 37 °C inside the chamber. Excluding this date, daily CH4 release was strongly correlated with NEE (r2 = 0.971). 5. No diel changes in CH4 release rates were detected. In June and August the maximum release rates were 11.4 and 16.8 mg CH4 m–2 h–1, respectively. 6. The standing stock of E. fluviatile at different times of the growing season was not correlated with CH4 efflux; the CH4 release rates could be related neither to the number of shoots, i.e. sufficient conduits for gas transport were always present, nor to the shoot biomass in the measuring chambers. 7. For an estimate of the annual release, the monthly values measured at noon were integrated over the entire growing season; this resulted in 43.7 g CH4 m–2 for the annual emission. The total annual emission of CH4 from the area covered with E. fluviatile in Lake Paajarvi was calculated to be ≈ 5000 kg. 8. Significant amounts of CH4 are released from stands of E. fluviatile in boreal lakes. The CH4 release rate follows a seasonal pattern but there is no diel pattern. Methane release rate can be related to temperature, solar radiation and NEE of CO2, but not to the standing stock of E. fluviatile or the number of shoots.
Odour movement, wind direction, and the problem of host‐finding by tsetse flies

ABSTRACT. Movement of host odour was modelled in natural tsetse habitats with smoke and ultra‐light 7‐cm‐long wind vanes; the speed and direction of the air movements were analysed from video recordings thereof. Wind of <1 ms‐1 did not move in straight lines, since large packets of air (>10 m across) often changed direction together. The rate of this change of direction (meander) correlated negatively with windspeed. In open woodland with a shrubby understorey (in which windspeed was reduced by a factor of >5 from that above the canopy, to ax 0.3 m s‐1), this wind meander fell by 2d̀ s‐1 change of direction for each 0.1 m s‐1 increase in windspeed (r2=0.96). Over open ground without shrub cover, the meander fell by 0.5d̀ s‐1 per 0.1 m s‐1 increase in windspeed (r2=0.85). In both situations, such meandering virtually ceased in winds of > 1 m s‐1. In woodland, the relationship between the direction of air movement near the surface of bare earth (one potential tsetse landing site) and that c. 0.5 m above ground level (flight height) was often weak (r2=0.2‐0.4), but this problem would be reduced if the fly averaged the ground‐level wind for at least 30 s. Odour (smoke) travelling from a source 15 m ‘upwind’ over open ground arrived at a notional tsetse fly for 80% of the time from a direction within 10d̀ of the true source direction. In typical tsetse woodland, however, the ‘odour’ arrived from all directions (including >90d̀ away from the source), with only a 30% bias towards the true source direction (±10d̀). Evidently, tsetse must navigate up odour plumes by means that get round these difficulties‐simple, moth‐type upwind anemotaxis alone seems unlikely to be adequate.
Effects of feeding time on behaviour, thermoregulation and growth of steers in winter

Two trials were conducted to determine whether the effects of morning (1000) vs. evening (2000) feed delivery on the frequency and duration of feedbunk visits, thermoregulatory physiology and growth performance of feedlot steers were modified by ambient winter temperatures. Night-time feeding behaviours were more pronounced for evening-fed than for morning-fed cattle during both the forage-based backgrounding and concentrate-based finishing periods. Evening feeding also led to increased core body temperatures during the coldest part of the day during the backgrounding period but had little effect during the finishing period. Although ambient temperatures were similar in both trials, evening feeding improved growth rate and efficiency during the coldest part of the backgrounding period in Trial 1 but not in Trial 2. Feeding time did not affect feedlot performance during the finishing period of either trial. Evening feeding successfully altered feeding behaviours and appeared to improve thermoregulatory sta.
Consistency of resistance to attack by the green spruce aphid (Elatobium abietinum Walker) in different ontogenetic stages of Sitka spruce

Abstract 1 The susceptibility of different genotypes of 29‐year‐old Sitka spruce to damage by the green spruce aphid, Elatobium abietinum, was investigated in a progeny trial where aphid damage on individual trees had previously been assessed twice in an earlier stage of ontogenetic development. The progeny trial comprised 14 open‐pollinated families originating from a clonal seed orchard that had been established using mature spruce trees selected for aphid resistance.
Anti-inflammatory and analgesic activity of Balanites aegyptiaca in experimental animal models

Th e anti-infl ammatory and analgesic eff ect of ethanolic and petroleum ether extracts of Balanites aegyptiaca were evaluated in experimental animals. We have determined the anti-infl ammatory and analgesic activity of ethanolic and petroleum ether extracts of dried aerial parts of Balanites aegyptiaca by oral administration at doses of 300 and 600 mg/kg/day of body weight to healthy animals. Th e extracts were studied for their anti-infl ammatory activity in carrageenan-induced hind paw edema in rats and the paw volume was measured plethysmometrically at 0 and 3h after injection. Th e ethanolic and petroleum ether extracts were also evaluated for analgesic activity using Eddy’s hot plate method and tail-fl ick method in albino rats. Th e ethanolic and petroleum ether extracts of Balanites aegyptiaca, signifi cantly (P<0.05) reduced carrageenan-induced paw edema in rats and analgesic activity evidenced by increase in the reaction time by Eddy’s hot plate method and tail-fl ick method in albino mice. Th e ethanolic and petroleum ether extracts showed a greater anti-infl ammatory and analgesic eff ect comparative to the standard drugs, indomethacin and diclofenac sodium respectively. Th e present results indicated the ethanolic extract of Balanites aegyptiaca exhibited more signifi cant activity than petroleum ether in the treatment of pain and infl ammation. Key words: Balanites aegyptiaca, indomethacin, infl ammation, pain, paw edema
Genetic and phenotypic trends for growth traits in Mecheri sheep

Data on growth of Mecheri sheep at Mecheri Sheep Research Station, Pottaneri, Tamil Nadu over a period of sixteen years from 1991 to 2006 were collected and analysed. Body weights for birth, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months of age were used to estimate the breeding values of sires by derivative-free maximum likelihood (DFREML) method. The genetic trends for birth, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months body weights of Mecheri lambs ranged from -0.15 to 0.23, -0.61 to 0.85, -1.12 to 0.91, -2.24 to 2.92 and -1.50 to 4.31 kg, respectively and their corresponding phenotypic trends varied from 2.02 to 2.72, 6.49 to 10.54, 9.94 to 14.33, 11.40 to 19.73 and 10.07 to 25.40 indicating an overall positive genetic change in growth traits.
Studies on the effects of treatment with chlorine dioxide on the properties of wheat flour. III.—Lipid changes and vitamin content of treated flours

This investigation shows that, in the development of rancidity of the flour lipid by air oxidation or by chlorine dioxide overtreatment of the flour, the palatability of the flour is affected, but that, even so, there is no demonstrable alteration in the nutritional value of the flour protein. Vitamin E is destroyed by all oxidative methods, but as it contributes only about 10% of the total dietary vitamin E, this, on present evidence, is not considered to be of serious nutritional significance to man.
Zooplankton and zoobenthos communities of selected northern Ontario lakes of different acidities

The zooplankton and zoobenthos were investigated in six lakes in the Sudbury area of Ontario in which pH values lay between 4.05 and 7.15. Zooplankton showed a significant reduction in species and numbers at the lower pH levels; the Rotifera showed the greatest changes. Zooplankton diversity index (DI) declined sharply below pH 5.3. Percentage similarity of community (PSc) and coefficient of community (CC) values were highest between lakes closest in pH, reflecting progressive changes in species composition.Significant relationships were found between the zooplankton standing crop and chlorophyll a concentrations and the zooplankton standing crop and areal primary productivity. Dry weights for Holopedium gibberum and Diaptomus minutus were lowest in the most acidic lakes. No significant relationship between body length or egg ratio, and lake pH were found for D. minutus.The zoobenthos was represented by a variety of taxa; however, only genera belonging to the Oligochaeta and Tendipedidae were represented .
Nutrients behavior from the association pig slurry and chemical fertilizers on soybean crop

This study aimed at evaluating the effects of pig slurry application with mineral fertilizer on ions leaching from the soil in soybean crop. The experiment was carried out in 24 drainage lysimeters under protection. The soybean cultivar CD 202/COODETEC was sown in a soil that received 0, 100, 200 and 300 m3ha-1of pig slurry in one cycle, with or without mineral fertilizer. There were three samplings of soil throughout the trial to determine the pH, N, NO3-, K+, Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+, Cu+2, Zn+2, OM, CEC, EC and SAR six times during the crop cycle. The yield was determined in the plants. In soil, pig slurry increased the concentrations of pH, NO3-, K+, Zn+2, OM and CEC, while mineral fertilizer increased P and Zn+2concentrations. The limits observed for the leachate parameters did not present environmental problems according to the Brazilian legislation, but in the intermediate and long term, there special attention should be given to NO3-, P, Na+, EC and SAR. Soybean yield was higher with mineral fertilizer and increased with pig slurry application.
Los últimos 30 años de estudios de la familia de lagartijas más diversa de Argentina. Actualización taxonómica y sistemática de Liolaemidae

The Liolaemidae family, it is formed by the genera Ctenoblepharys, Liolaemus and Phymaturus. Is the most diverse family of south Southamerica, and has experienced an impressive growth in the last 30 years. Many studies related to different disciplines within Biology have been carrying out using genera and species which are members of Liolaemidae. Nevertheless, taxonomic and phylogenetic results are the most evident. The genus Liolaemus is the most diverse of Iguania, and its number of taxa grows up considerably year after year. Phymaturus shows an intermediate diversity inside the family. However in the last decade, has tripled its species diversity. Owing to the diversity of the family, there have been proposed many taxonomic arrangement and phylogenetic proposals. Is unquestionable that the creation of the Asociacion Herpetologica Argentina in 1983, generate a fundamental advance in the study and knowledge of Herpetofauna from Argentina, and those is reflexed in the knowledge of Liolaemidae. In this work, we perform a taxonomic and phylogenetic update and review of the family Liolaemidae, emphasizing in the main papers of the last 30 years in Argentina.
Description and Ecological Observations of the Tadpole of Ranitomeya variabilis (Anura: Dendrobatidae)

ABSTRACT. The tadpole of Ranitomeya variabilis is described based on preserved specimens from captive breed specimens. The tadpole of R. variabilis is similar to other dendrobatid tadpoles regarding tooth row formula, body shape, location of the spiracle, vent tube, and oral disc. It differs from other dendrobatid species, e.g., Allobates, Oophaga, and Phyllobates, in various aspects such as the absence of submarginal papillae, the shape of the jaw sheath, interorbital distance, and total length. Ranitomeya variabilis tadpoles undergo ontogenetic changes in the number of marginal papillae, the presence of jaw sheath serrations, jaw sheath keratinization, and tail color. The facultative cannibalistic feeding behavior of R. variabilis is discussed with respect to the species feeding ecology.