Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
How the ladybird got its spots : effects of resource limitation on the honesty of aposematic signals

Summary 1. Prey species often possess defences (e.g. toxins) coupled with warning signals (i.e. aposematism). There is growing evidence that the expression of aposematic signals often varies within species and correlates with the strength of chemical defences. This has led to the speculation that such signals may be ‘honest’, with signal reliability ensured by the costliness of producing or maintaining aposematic traits. 2. We reared larval seven-spot ladybirds (Coccinella septempunctata) on a Low or High aphid diet and measured the effects on warning signal expression (elytral carotenoid pigmentation, conspicuousness, spot size), levels of defensive alkaloids (precoccinelline, coccinelline), and relationships between these traits. 3. High-diet individuals had greater total precoccinelline levels, and elytra carotenoid concentrations at adulthood which was detectable to a typical avian predator. However, larval diet did not significantly affect adult body mass or size, spot size or coccinelline levels. 4. Elytra carotenoid concentrations correlated positively with total precoccinelline levels in both diet groups and sexes. However, the relationship between elytra carotenoid concentrations and total levels of coccinelline depended on sex: in both diet groups, elytra carotenoids and coccinelline levels were positively correlated in females, but negatively correlated in males. Spot size and coccinelline levels correlated positively in Low-diet individuals, but negatively in High-diet individuals. 5. These results point to physiological linkages between components of aposematism, which are modulated by resource (i.e. food) availability and affect the honesty of signals. Developmental diet, but also sex, influenced the relationships between signals and toxin levels. Ladybirds are sexually size dimorphic, and thus in comparison with males, females may be more susceptible to resource limitation and more likely to be honest signallers.
Connectivity and the development of population genetic structure in Indo‐West Pacific coral reef communities

Aim: To identify connectivity patterns among coral reefs of the Indo-West Pacific. Projecting connectivity forward in time provides a framework for studying long-term source–sink dynamics in the region, and makes it possible to evaluate the manner in which migration shapes population genetic structure at regional scales. This information is essential for addressing critical gaps in knowledge for conservation planning efforts in one of the most biologically diverse regions on earth. Location: Coral reefs of the Indo-West Pacific, ranging from 15° S to 30° N and 95° E to 140° E. Methods: Individual-based biophysical dispersal models were used in conjunction with matrix projection to identify the expected patterns of exchange between coral reefs over time. Results: Present-day oceanographic conditions lead to the transport of larvae from the South China Sea into the Coral Triangle region via the Sulu Sea, and from northern Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands via Halmahera. The directionality of the system leads to the expected accumulation of organisms from outlying areas into the Coral Triangle region over time, particularly in the vicinity of the Maluku Islands and eastern Sulawesi. Coral reefs in Papua New Guinea, the Sulu Archipelago and areas within the Philippines are expected to be areas of high diversity as well. Main conclusions: Biophysical dispersal models, used in conjunction with matrix projection, provide an effective means of simulating connectivity structure across the Indo-West Pacific and thereby evaluating the directionality of genetic diversity. Migration appears to have a significant influence on population genetic structure in the region. Based on present-day ocean currents, coral reefs in the South China Sea, northern Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands are contributing to high levels of diversity in the Coral Triangle.
Digging up the dirty past: evidence for stormwater's contribution to pollution of an urban floodplain lake

Negative effects of urbanisation on the health of aquatic environments are well recognised; but more data are needed for an accurate assessment of the particular effects of residential development on the health of aquatic systems. This study explores the relationship between residential growth and increasing pollution, by analysing temporal trends of chemical fluxes into Willsmere Billabong – an urban floodplain lake of the Yarra River in South-East Australia. Sediment cores were extracted to reveal depositions over three centuries (~1700–2012). The cores were sub-sampled at high resolution and analysed for heavy metals, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and organochlorine pesticides (OCPs). Pollutant concentrations in the sediments appear to have been significantly affected by residential development in the local catchment. Normalised concentration profiles show these effects to be exacerbated from the mid-20th century, after a stormwater drain was installed in the billabong. The study suggests that urban stormwater management techniques are critical for the protection of aquatic systems incorporated into residential zones.
Composição e diversidade florístico-estrutural de um hectare de floresta densa de terra firme na Amazônia Central, Amazonas, Brasil

To investigate the composition and floristic diversity of one hectare of a dense forest on a terra firme oxisol plateau, 90 km from the Manaus (02o35"45" S e 60o12"40" W), all trees, lianas and palm trees with diameter at breast height (DBH) > 10 cm were inventoried along two parallel transects of 500 x 10 m. The landscape is vegetationally exuberant and homogeneous, with a large quantity of tall slender trees. A total of 670 individuals in 48 families, 133 genera and 245 species were registered in this floristic inventory. 467 of the plants sampled exhibited DBH 90 cm. Families with greatest species richness and importance value were Fabaceae, Sapotaceae and Lecythidaceae. The Shannon-Wiener diversity (H" = 5.1) and evenness (E" = 0.92) indices suggest that the forest environment is very diversified, but with a relative uniformity of species. However, a uniform spatial distribution of the species in this forest environment was not observed. According to Mantel"s test (p < 0.001), the highest floristic similarity is a function of geographic proximity among suplots.
Fire-history implications of fire scarring

Fire scars are widely used to reconstruct fire history, yet patterns of scarring are poorly understood, hampering effective sampling and analysis. Factors that influence the probability a tree will receive a scar (SP) and the fraction of trees that scar (SF) are little studied. We analyzed scarring in 16 fires in ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa Douglas ex P. Lawson & C. Lawson) forests in northern Arizona. SP was significantly related to char height, presence of a preceding scar, tree diameter, and years since a preceding fire. Mean SF was 0.375, but varied from 0.121 to 0.728, with SF significantly higher with higher mean char height, larger scar dimensions, higher fire severity, larger tree diameter, and where no preceding fire had burned within 30 years. The expected healing times exceeded 55 years for 33% of scars and 100 years for 11% of scars. Scars with a preceding scar were 38% larger than new scars, with expected healing about 20–25 years longer. Scars were clustered, particularly at scales from .
Plant abiotic stress: a prospective strategy of exploiting promoters as alternative to overcome the escalating burden

ABSTRACT Plants being sessile are shaped by evolution to adapt themselves and tolerate various stresses, be it salinity stress, drought, high/low temperature in nature. They have evolved with every alternate strategy to tackle serious abiotic stresses through considerable degree of developmental plasticity, including adaptation via cascades of molecular networks. Understanding the mechanism of genes responsible for plant adaptation to environment will help in predicting the scenarios, expanding the genetic aspect of abiotic stress-regulating genes to protect and extrapolate the level of tolerance or vulnerability conferred in natural ecosystems. Complementing the agronomic need for greater tolerance to abiotic stress, studying plant abiotic stress response can help in gaining insight into plant biology that can be practically applied to unlock the secrets in order to improve plant productivity to feed the ever increasing population of human beings.
A Race for Space? How Sphagnum fuscum stabilizes vegetation composition during long‐term climate manipulations

Strong climate warming is predicted at higher latitudes this century, with potentially major consequences for productivity and carbon sequestration. Although northern peatlands contain one‐third of the world's soil organic carbon, little is known about the long‐term responses to experimental climate change of vascular plant communities in these Sphagnum‐dominated ecosystems. We aimed to see how long‐term experimental climate manipulations, relevant to different predicted future climate scenarios, affect total vascular plant abundance and species composition when the community is dominated by mosses. During 8 years, we investigated how the vascular plant community of a Sphagnum fuscum‐dominated subarctic peat bog responded to six experimental climate regimes, including factorial combinations of summer as well as spring warming and a thicker snow cover. Vascular plant species composition in our peat bog was more stable than is typically observed in (sub)arctic experiments: neither changes in total vascular plant abundance, nor in individual species abundances, Shannon's diversity or evenness were found in response to the climate manipulations. For three key species (Empetrum hermaphroditum, Betula nana and S. fuscum) we also measured whether the treatments had a sustained effect on plant length growth responses and how these responses interacted. Contrasting with the stability at the community level, both key shrubs and the peatmoss showed sustained positive growth responses at the plant level to the climate treatments. However, a higher percentage of moss‐encroached E. hermaphroditum shoots and a lack of change in B. nana net shrub height indicated encroachment by S. fuscum, resulting in long‐term stability of the vascular community composition: in a warmer world, vascular species of subarctic peat bogs appear to just keep pace with growing Sphagnum in their race for space. Our findings contribute to general ecological theory by demonstrating that community resistance to environmental changes does not necessarily mean inertia in vegetation response.
Mineral requirements of dairy sheep

Abstract This paper reviews the major (Calcium, Phosphorus, Potassium, Sodium, Chlorine, Sulphur, Magnesium) and the trace elements (Iron, Copper, Cobalt, Iodine, Manganese, Zync, Molybdenum, Selenium) that play an essential role in animal metabolism. For each one the authors indicate not only the function, but also the more recent advances in terms of daily requirements for dairy sheep.
Environmental Habitat Conditions Associated with Freshwater Dreissenids

Abstract : The continued spread of two invasive dreissenid bivalve species, zebra (Dreissena polymorpha) and quagga (D. bugensis) mussels, into the southwestern and western United States indicates the need for improving understanding of habitat requirements and constraints for both species. This report summarizes results from published literature and reports that describe physical and environmental characteristics often associated with dreissenids. For example, data from the studies reviewed for this report indicate that at the upper incipient lethal temperature of approx. 30 deg C, adult growth may be limited at pH of approx. 5.5-6.5, calcium concentrations of approx. 15 mg/L are required for viable populations, and the lethal lower limit of oxygen concentration is approx. 4 mg/L at 18 deg C. Developing a better understanding of how dreissenids respond to variable habitats and environments will improve our ability to anticipate potential challenges posed by the continued expanding distribution of these species in the United States.
Effect of fruit retention and seed position on the seed yield and quality in pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata) cv Pusa Hybrid 1

A field experiment was conducted to study the effect of fruit retention and seed position in fruit on the seed yield and seed quality in pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata Duch. ex Poir.) cv. Pusa Hybrid 1 during summer 2008 and 2009, Seed Production Unit, IARI, New Delhi. Among two methods of fruit retentions, one fruit per vine (T1) showed superiority over two fruits per vine (T2) in fruit development and seed yield attributes, viz. fruit weight (4.46 kg), fruit length (22.35 cm), fruit width (20.53 cm), cavity size, filled seeds (473.50), total number of seeds per fruit (479.42), 100 seed weight (14.67 g) and seed yield per fruit (70.44 g). Similarly, T1 over T2 were highly significant for germination (94.27 %), total seedling length (32.76 cm), seedling dry weight (51.01 mg), vigour index- I (3032.24), vigour index- II (4721.10) and low moisture content. Within the fruit, middle segment showed highest number of filled seed (166.40), total number of seed (175.70), germination (90.64 %), seedling length (20.94 cm),seedling dry weight (47.53 mg), vigour indices I and II (2666.44 and 3491.82),and low moisture content (8.63%). Based on this, it is proposed to retain one fruit per vine and extract seed from middle and stylar segments of fruit for high quality seed production in pumpkin cv. Pusa Hybrid 1.
FATTENING PATTERNS IN CATTLE. 2. FAT DISTRIBUTION AMONG THE WHOLESALE CUTS

A trial is reported comparing fat distribution in carcasses from bulls and heifers of two breed-types: Hereford (HE) and Dairy Synthetic (DY). Twelve bulls and twelve heifers of each breed were grouped four to a pen at weaning (163 ± 15.1 (SE) days), and serially slaughtered from that time to approximately 16 mo of age. After slaughter, one side of each carcass was broken into eight wholesale cuts, which were separated into fat (subcutaneous fat (SF), intermuscular fat (IF), and body cavity fat (BCF)), muscle and bone. Depot fat accretion in each cut was investigated using the allometric equation with side fat weight as the independent variable. Coefficients for SF were significantly higher in the rib, chuck and flank for HE carcasses than for DY carcasses and higher in the rib and flank for heifers than for bulls. At equal total side fat, HE carcasses had significantly more SF in the brisket and in the loin than DY animals. Heifers had significantly more fat in the loin than bulls. Differences among coef.
Molecular systematics of Dolichopodidae (Diptera) inferred from COI and 12S rDNA gene sequences based on European exemplars

With ~7000 species in ~220 genera, the Dolichopodidae is one of the most speciose families of Diptera. Though the family as such is well defined, knowledge on the internal phylogenetic relationships is generally poor and although authors of successive monographs and catalogues indifferently listed most genera in specific subfamilies, their decisions were rarely based on sound phylogenetic analyses and never on molecular data. In a first attempt to unravel the phylogeny of Dolichopodidae, a combined COI + 12S rDNA dataset (1199 characters) of 119 samples of 101 European species was used in Bayesian (BAY), neighbour joining (NJ) and weighted/unweighted maximum parsimony analyses (MP). At the subfamily level, our study supports the monophyly of Dolichopodinae, Sympycninae, and Hydrophorinae (including Machaerium Haliday, 1832). Ten (Campsicnemus Haliday, 1851, Chrysotus Meigen, 1824, Dolichopus Latreille, 1796, Gymnopternus Loew, 1857, Medetera Fischer von Waldheim, 1819, Poecilobothrus Mik, 1878, Rhaphium Meigen, 1803, Teuchophorus Loew, 1857, Sciapus Zeller, 1842, Syntormon Loew, 1857) of the 14 multispecies genera formed monophyletic assemblages in all analyses and relationships among Argyra Macquart, 1834 species were supported in most analyses. At the subgeneric level, seven of the nine stable species-groups in Dolichopus as established during previous research were supported in most analyses. The validity of the recent transfer of Hercostomus chrysozygos Wiedemann, 1817 to Poecilobothrus was clearly supported in all analyses. Within Argyra and Rhaphium, interspecific relationships reflected previously used subgeneric classifications (Lasiargyra Mik, 1878, Leucostola Loew, 1857 and Argyra s.s. in Argyra; Porphyrops Meigen, 1824, Rhaphium s.s. and Xiphandrium Loew, 1857 in Rhaphium). Further, subclades within Medetera corresponded to species-groups defined by other authors featuring a different morphology and ecology. Anepsiomyia flaviventris (Meigen, 1824) most probably does not belong to Sympycninae but its current position within Peloropeodinae could not be confirmed.
Conservação pós-colheita de alface cultivada com composto orgânico

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o efeito da adubacao com composto orgânico, na presenca e na ausencia de adubacao mineral padrao, na conservacao pos-colheita das plantas de alface cultivar Baba. O composto orgânico foi aplicado nas doses de 0,0, 22,8, 45,6, 68,4 e 91,2 t/ha de materia seca. Foram avaliadas a perda de materia fresca em condicoes de ambiente e a degradacao da clorofila em câmara fria (4 o C) ate 84 horas e 12 dias, respectivamente, apos colheita. A aplicacao de doses crescentes de composto orgânico reduziu a perda de materia fresca apos a colheita em ate 7%; os teores de clorofila decresceram durante o armazenamento, em plantas adubadas com 45,6 e 91,2 t/ha de composto orgânico e adubo mineral, atingindo cerca de 0,3 mg/g de tecido fresco. A aplicacao conjunta de adubo mineral e composto acelerou a senescencia de alfaces mantidas em câmara fria, mas o cultivo com composto orgânico reduziu a perda de materia fresca em condicoes de ambiente.
Avoidable obstacles to colonization in classical biological control of insects

Most classical biological control attempts worldwide against pest insects have failed to meet the objective of solving the pest problems permanently. The dominant cause was failure by introduced agents to colonize. Most failures to colonize can be attributed to procedures that were detrimental to the numbers or health or the target-finding or field survival abilities of newly released agents. Administrative reactions to the low success rate, poor cost/benefit data, and overselling of the method were basically responsible for those procedures. As ways of avoiding such procedures exist, it is feasible to make colonization a probability. This should substantially improve the chances of control being successful, enable past failures to be reopened, and expand the scope of classical biological control.
Relationships Between N Response, Plant Population, and Row Width on Growth and Yield of Corn1

The leaf area index increased linearly as the plant population of corn (Zea mays L.) was increased from 34,500 to 69,000 plants per hectare. The leaf area per plant, however, decreased as the plant population increased. Nitrogen rates of 112 to 280 kg per hectare and row width had no effect on leaf area per plant nor the leaf area index. The yield of grain per plant was dependent upon the leaf area per plant. The efficiency of a given leaf area to produce grain was higher as nitrogen rates increased. The yield of grain per hectare of the long season hybrid was not influenced by row width except under drought conditions where 53-cm wide rows gave higher yields than 106-cm wide rows. Highest grain yields were obtained at 280 kg of N per hectare and 51,750 plants per hectare. Maximum yields were obtained with a leaf area index of 3.5 and remained constant up to an index of 4.5 with adequate nitrogen.
Unusual sex roles in a highly promiscuous parrot: the Greater Vasa Parrot Caracopsis vasa

We describe the unusual mating system of the Greater Vasa Parrot Caracopsis vasa. The dull black plumage of males and females is similar but females are significantly larger than males. Females are promiscuous and copulated with at least five different males. Copulations were either short (1-3 s) or very long (mean 35.9 min), and long copulations involved a copulatory tie facilitated by the male's enlarged cloacal protrusion. Multilocus DNA fingerprinting of 17 broods showed that all were of mixed paternity, and that some broods had three fathers. Males never visited nests directly, but during the incubation and chick-rearing periods females came off the nest and were fed regurgitated fruit by multiple males. Four had band-sharing coefficients that suggested they were unrelated. Males copulated with and provided food for several widely separated females simultaneously. During the chick-rearing period females defended a territory around the nest from conspecific females, developed conspicuous orange skin on the head (through feather loss), and uttered loud, complex vocalizations that we refer to as 'song' from prominent perches near the nest. Males showed none of these traits. Females with high song rates attracted more males and as a result received more food than other females. Play-back experiments in which female song rates were either increased or decreased, attracted more or fewer males respectively. We propose that female song, conspicuous head colour and territoriality have all evolved as a result of competition between females for the food provided by males. The selective pressures favouring this highly unusual breeding system in the Greater Vasa Parrot are unclear but some sort of ecological constraint, such as food availability, may be important.
Unheated and Minimally Heated Winter Greenhouse Production of Specialty Cut Flowers

Anemone (Anemone coronaria L.), snapdragon (Antirrhinum majus L.), larkspur [Consolida ambigua (L.) P.W. Ball & Heyw. ], delphinium (Delphinium ×cultorum Voss.), sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.), lupine (Lupinus hartwegii Lindl.), stock [Matthiola incana (L.) R. Br. ], and pansy (Viola ×wittrockiana Gams.) were grown in raised sandy loam ground beds in double-layered polyethylene-covered greenhouses which were either unheated (ambient) or had a 55 °F (13 °C) minimum night temperature in year 1 and 36 or 50 °F (2 or 10 °C) minimum night temperature in year 2. Results were species specific; however, the extreme low temperatures [21 °F (–6 °C)] in the unheated house limited delphinium and lupine production. The warmest greenhouses (55 and 50 °F) reduced production time for anemone, delphinium, larkspur, lupine (year 2), snapdragon (year 2),
How Does the Fetus Cope With Thermal Challenges

The fetus produces much metabolic heat and loses it mainly via the placental circulation, across a fetomaternal temperature gradient of ~0.5�C. During maternal hyperthermia, the risk of noxious fetal hyperthermia is less than expected. The thermal protection appears to result from the fetus's own thermal inertia and consequences of maternal thermoregulatory strategies.
Heteromorphism of rDNA Size in Pinirampus pirinampu (Pisces : Pimelodidae) Detected by in situ Hybridization

The ribosomal RNA genes of Pinirampus pirinampu have been localized by fluorescence in situ Hybridization hybridization (FISH) with 18S rDNA probe. This method allowed the location of FITC signals on the short arm of the biggest subtelocentric chromossomic pair and evidenced a size heteromorphism of hybridization signals between homologous chromosomes. This difference has been attributed to variation in the amount of rRNA genes per cluster, probably due structural modifications (i.e. duplications by unequal crossing over or transpositions) of NOR involving homologous segments.