Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Exploitation of intertidal Zostera species by Brent geese (Branta bernicla hrota): Why dig for your dinner?

Exploitation of intertidal Zostera spp by Pale-bellied Brent geese Branta bernicla hrota in Strangford Lough, Co. Down, was studied with respect to feeding method employed, plant parts exploited, the quality of the forage, and assimilation efficiency. Most Brent geese feeding activity involved digging behaviour, which, along with faecal analyses, indicated that birds were exploiting above (shoot) and below ground portions (rhizome) of the food plant. Nutritional information indicated that while rhizome was lower in overall energy, it contained more accessible energy in the form of water soluble carbohydrate and was lower in indigestible fibre than shoot. Feeding experiments indicated that Brent geese feeding on whole plants of Zostera noltii achieved 43% assimilation efficiency. Dig feeding of intertidal Zostera spp by Brent geese is likely to significantly increase the amount and quality of the forage available. Why dig feeding is not employed on all intertidal systems, and its potential effects on the food plants are discussed. R.G. Mathers (corresponding author), Bord lascaigh Reigiunach an Tuaisceart, Station Road, Ballyshannon, Co. Donegal and School of Biology and Biochemistry, Queens University of Belfast, Medical Biology Centre, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast; W.I. Montgomery and A.A. Portig, School of Biology and Biochemistry, Queens University of Belfast, Medical Biology Centre, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast. Received 19 May 1998. Read 1 October 1998. Published 30 December 1998. INTRODUCTION The use of intertidal Zostera spp by Brent geese during autumn and early winter is widely recorded (Madsen 1988; Portig et at. 1994; Fox 1996). Observations of Brent geese on intertidal Zostera spp on the Exe Estuary in England indicate that birds not only feed on the above ground portions of plants (shoots), but also actively dig for the underground portions (rhizomes) (Fox 1996). Some evidence from previous studies on Strang ford Lough concurs with this, indicating that Brent geese adopt digging behaviour as soon as they arrive at the site (Portig et al. 1994; Mathers and Montgomery 1996; Mathers et al. 1998). This was not observed in the Dublin bays (0 Briain 1991) or in the Wadden Sea where Brent geese dig for rhizomes onfly after the shoot biomass is signifi cantly reduced (Madsen 1988). The purpose of this study was to assess (1) if Brent geese on Strangford Lough feed on whole plants of Zostera spp during the early winter period, (2) if so, does this occur on all mudflats with Zostera spp within the system, (3) the importance of dig feeding in relation to other feeding methods used when exploiting Zostera spp, (4) the energetic profitability to Brent geese feeding on whole Zostera spp plants, taking into account nutritional quality of above and below ground portions of Z. noltii, which comprises 95% of the Zostera spp resource in Strangford Lough (Portig et al. 1994), and (5) the energetic efficiency of Brent geese feeding on whole Z. noltii plants.
Fish predation and macroinvertebrate abundance on snags in low-gradient blackwater streams

Investigations into how fish affect macroinvertebrates in lotic ecosystems have produced equivocal results, and few researchers have examined fish effects on invertebrates in sandy-bottomed blackwater streams. We measured the responses of macroinvertebrate density, biomass, and body size to varying levels of fish predation on snags in 2 southeastern USA blackwater streams. We manipulated fish densities in 3 large enclosures (46–64 m2) in each of 2 streams and included treatments without fish (0X = control), with fish at ambient density (1X), and with fish at 2× ambient density (2X). Macroinvertebrates in enclosures were sampled using 20 tag alder (Alnus serrulatus) snags, ½ of which were allowed to colonize for 2 wk (colonizing community) and ½ for 2 mo (established community). Increasing invertivorous fish biomass resulted in a significant decrease in total macroinvertebrate density, but not macroinvertebrate biomass, in both types of communities (colonizing and established). We found that the biomass of invertivorous fish was a better predictor of prey responses to manipulations than total fish biomass or density. We conclude that high fish levels can significantly reduce the density of macroinvertebrate prey in southeastern blackwater streams. We attribute this effect to prey vulnerability to a diverse assemblage of stream fishes that prey selectively on small invertebrates.
Taxonomic status and phylogenetic position of Phaeostigma in the subtribe Artemisiinae (Asteraceae)

Phaeostigma is a controversial taxon for its taxonomic status and phylogenetic position in the subtribe Artemisiinae, Asteraceae. To address those questions, a phylogenetic evaluation of Phaeostigma and its related genera of subtribe Artemisiinae was carried out based on molecular as well as morphological character data. DNA sequences of nuclear ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacer, the single copy nuclear CDS gene, and five chloroplast DNA loci (psbA‐trnH, rpl16, trnC‐ycf6, trnL‐F, and ycf6‐psbM) were used to construct gene trees, and variation patterns of 20 morphological characters were analyzed. In addition, pollen morphology was examined under scanning electron microscopy for representative species of Phaeostigma and Ajania, from which the former was separated by earlier taxonomists. All the above analyses showed: (i) Ajania tibetica (Hook.f. & Thomson) Tzvelev, A. purpurea C. Shih, and A. ramosa (Chang) C. Shih should be merged into Phaeostigma so that it is a monophyletic genus with six species, P. ramosum (A. ramosa), P. purpureum (A. purpurea), P. tibeticum (A. tibetica), P. quercifolium (W. W. Sm.) Muldashev, P. salicifolium (Mattf.) Muldashev, and P. variifolium (C. C. Chang) Muldashev; (ii) all six Phaeostigma species have the Artemisia‐type (microechinate) of pollen, reflexed leaf margin, and flowering branches with sericeous indumentum; (iii) two controversial species of Ajania, A. pallasiana and A. shiwogiku, have closer relationships with Ajania s.str. than with Phaeostigma, and should be kept in Ajania. Considering all the evidence from present and previous studies, we conclude that geographic and ecological factors as well as secondary contacts play important roles in the divergence and speciation of the genus Phaeostigma.
Evaluation of wild animals browsing preferences in forage resources

Excessive presence of wild ungulates can produce negative effects on herbaceous crops or woody species, and to face this problem, habitat improvements are often performed to recreate suitable environments for a given animal species and to attract animals far from cultivated crops. A common example of these interventions is represented by grassland restoration and to evaluate the real animal preferences on restored forage resources a proper trial was established in a hilly area of Tuscany (central Italy), inside the historical Park of Pratolino, near Florence. The trial compared six different forage species or mixtures sown in plots: vegetal material was represented by two pure stands ( Onobrychis viciifolia and Medicago sativa ) and four mixtures differing in number and kind of used species. Plots were utilised only by wild animals occurring in the area. Data collection consisted of botanical samples in each plot in different periods to obtain the percent presence of each species. At the same time, a visual estimation of animal intake on all occurring species was performed to obtain the browsing ratio of single species and overall defoliation rate for each species/mixture. Moreover, six camera traps were placed on the boundary of the experimental site to record videos of wild animals browsing in the area for identification of animals actually occurring on different plots and for comparison of these results with botanical data. Vegetation surveys permitted a proper evaluation of animals intake and of their feeding preferences. In general, sown species performed a major role in animal browsing, even if in some periods also a few native species (such as Plantago lanceolata or Cichorium intybus ) were utilised in a strong way, depending on vegetation context and existing biomass. Camera traps results permitted the identification of browsing animal species (mainly represented by roe deer) and plots frequentation resulted to be highly related to animal intake found by botanical releves.
Bee community and trophic resources in Joinville, Santa Catarina

Aiming to verify the relationships between native bees and floral resources in an urban area, their interactions were observed in Joinville, state of Santa Catarina, southern Brazil. Observations were established, lasting 8 hours daily, during different periods from 2009 to 2015. Bees and plants, after preparation, were identified and registered in a database. We sampled 3,073 bees, all of which 1042 were wild native species. The collected bees are included in 34 species and 44 morphospecies (Halictinae-35, Megachilinae-17, Apinae non corbiculate-15, Apinae corbiculate- 10, Andreninae-1). With the exception of Apis mellifera, the most abundant bee taxa sampled were Trigona spinipes (330 individuals), Xylocopa brasilianorum (92) and Pseudaugochlora graminea (92). Euglossini females and species poorly sampled in inventories such as Leiopodus lacertinus, Thygater (Thygater) armandoi, Anthodioctes megachiloides and Coelioxys aculeaticeps were captured. The bees were sampled over 83 botanical species of 38 families. The most visited botanical families were Lamiaceae and Asteraceae. The richness of the studied area is lower than those of other nearby compared places, indicating probably a decrease of the apifauna. The found diversity previews the place as a possible refuge.
Variation of Bacterial Metabolic Rates and Organic Matter in the Monsoon-Affected Tropical Estuary (Godavari, India)

ABSTRACT Bacteria play a central role in the oxidation of organic matter. In tropical estuaries, bacterial metabolic rates and carbon modification are regulated by physicochemical changes influenced by the annual monsoon-mediated river runoff. The present study is the first report on the effect of monsoon-influenced river discharge magnitude on bacterial metabolic rates and organic matter variation in the tropical Godavari estuary and adjacent coastal waters. Concentrations, nature, and sources of particulate organic carbon and nitrogen were investigated by elemental analyser-isotopic ratio mass spectrometer, whereas concentrations of dissolved organic carbon and nitrogen were determined by a high-temperature catalytic oxidation in surface waters of Godavari estuary, east coast of India. Bacterial abundance and metabolic rates were measured, and pCO2 levels were calculated for surface water samples. The maxima obtained in bacterial respiration (BR) rate (994 μg C l−1 d−1) were associated with maximum concentrations and the terrigenous nature of organic matter with high C:N ratio (∼12). The highly depleted δ13C POC (−32.9 ± 1.4‰) associated with Chl-a maxima suggest its contribution from freshwater planktons. The significant positive correlation of bacterial productivity (BP), bacterial growth efficiency (BGE), and BR with particulate organic matter associated with low DOC:POC ratio could imply a heterotrophic preference for an abundant form of organic matter. We, moreover, uncovered that terrigenous organic matter is modified efficiently in the estuarine transect by heterotrophic bacteria under favorable physicochemical conditions like low salinity and high nutrient content. Furthermore, the majority (76%) of BGE values were <8%, and average pCO2 levels were ∼14 times greater than the atmospheric levels. Overall, this study reported that the Godavari estuary is net heterotrophic and hence significantly contributes to global carbon cycle biogeochemistry.
The Effect of Cost Effective and Useful Diets on Blood Parameters in Female Mice

The high rate of cardiovascular disease is due to excessive intake of animal protein. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of the replacement of the soybean as a cost effective protein on the blood parameters. 110 immature female Balb/c mice three weeks of age were randomized, into eleven groups of 10 animals each based on following diets: 1) low protein, 2) full protein without soybean, 3) full protein with 20% soybean, and 4) full protein with 40% soybean,. The animals received their diet orally on a daily basis for three and six months. At the end of the study period, the blood samples were collected and blood parameters were measured. The data were analyzed with SPSS software using one-way ANOVA and Tukey’s test. Results: In the groups that received 20% and 40% soybean diet, the cholesterol, LDH, glucose, creatinine and urea levels showed meaningful decrease, and total protein level showed a significant increase in comparison with the other groups (P However, the mean values of ALT, AST, ALP, triglyceride, calcium and phosphorus did not show significant change among experimental groups (P 0.01). Results of the present study indicated that soybean as a cost effective protein could be suitable replacement for animal protein and soybean may have beneficial effects on health like reduction of cholesterol, LDH and urea.
Application of k-means clustering algorithm in grouping the DNA sequences of hepatitis B virus (HBV)

Based on WHO data, an estimated of 15 millions people worldwide who are infected with hepatitis B (HBsAg+), which is caused by HBV virus, are also infected by hepatitis D, which is caused by HDV virus. Hepatitis D infection can occur simultaneously with hepatitis B (co infection) or after a person is exposed to chronic hepatitis B (super infection). Since HDV cannot live without HBV, HDV infection is closely related to HBV infection, hence it is very realistic that every effort of prevention against hepatitis B can indirectly prevent hepatitis D. This paper presents clustering of HBV DNA sequences by using k-means clustering algorithm and R programming. Clustering processes are started with collecting HBV DNA sequences from GenBank, then performing extraction HBV DNA sequences using n-mers frequency and furthermore the extraction results are collected as a matrix and normalized using the min-max normalization with interval [0, 1] which will later be used as an input data. The number of clusters is two and the initial centroid selected of the cluster is chosen randomly. In each iteration, the distance of every object to each centroid are calculated using the Euclidean distance and the minimum distance is selected to determine the membership in a cluster until two convergent clusters are created. As the result, the HBV viruses in the first cluster is more virulent than the HBV viruses in the second cluster, so the HBV viruses in the first cluster can potentially evolve with HDV viruses that cause hepatitis D.Based on WHO data, an estimated of 15 millions people worldwide who are infected with hepatitis B (HBsAg+), which is caused by HBV virus, are also infected by hepatitis D, which is caused by HDV virus. Hepatitis D infection can occur simultaneously with hepatitis B (co infection) or after a person is exposed to chronic hepatitis B (super infection). Since HDV cannot live without HBV, HDV infection is closely related to HBV infection, hence it is very realistic that every effort of prevention against hepatitis B can indirectly prevent hepatitis D. This paper presents clustering of HBV DNA sequences by using k-means clustering algorithm and R programming. Clustering processes are started with collecting HBV DNA sequences from GenBank, then performing extraction HBV DNA sequences using n-mers frequency and furthermore the extraction results are collected as a matrix and normalized using the min-max normalization with interval [0, 1] which will later be used as an input data. The number of clusters is two and.
A model for autonomous and non-autonomous effects of the Hippo pathway in Drosophila

While significant progress has been made toward understanding morphogen-mediated patterning in development from both the experimental and the theoretical side, the control of size and shape of tissues and organs is poorly understood. Both involve adjustment of the scale of gene expression to the size of the system, but how growth and patterning are coupled to produce scale invariance and how molecular-level information is translated into organ- and organism-level functioning is one of the most difficult problems in biology. The Hippo pathway, which controls cell proliferation and apoptosis in Drosophila and mammalian cells, contains a core kinase mechanism that affects control of the cell cycle and growth. Studies involving over- and under-expression of components in the morphogen and Hippo pathways in Drosophila reveal conditions that lead to over- or undergrowth. Herein we develop a mathematical model that incorporates the current understanding of the Hippo signal transduction network and which can explain qualitatively both the observations on whole-disc manipulations and the results arising from mutant clones. We find that a number of non-intuitive experimental results can be explained by subtle changes in the balances between inputs to the Hippo pathway. Since signal transduction and growth control pathways are highly conserved across species, much of what is learned about Drosophila applies in higher organisms, and may have direct relevance to tumor dynamics in mammalian systems.
Assessment of genetic divergence through multivariate analysis in chilli (Capsicum annuum L.)

Abstract: An experiment was conducted to analyze the genetic diversity among 63 genotypes for ten quantitative and six qualitative characters in chilli at Horticultural Research Station, Lam, Guntur, Andhra Pradesh. The analysis of variance revealed significant differences among the genotypes for all the characters studied. Based on hierarchial cluster analysis, the 63 genotypes were grouped into 8 clusters. Among the clusters, cluster II was the largest, containing 18 genotypes followed by cluster III with 15 genotypes and cluster VIII had the minimum number (1) of genotypes. The highest inter cluster distance was observed between cluster IV and VIII (7941.635) whereas the lowest was observed between cluster VI and VIII (2836.497). Cluster VII (614.548) has exhibited highest intra cluster distance and the lowest was observed in cluster VIII (0.00). The maximum contribution towards genetic divergence was by fruit diameter (44.14%) followed by yellow carotenoids (16.90%), red carotenoids (10.45%), ascorbic acid (10.19%) and capsaicin (9.17%). From the principal component analysis, first six principal components with eigen value more than one were observed to contribute 76.83 per cent towards the total variability. Among the six principal components, PC 1 contributed maximum towards variability (25.06%). Considering diversity pattern and horticultural performance, the genotypes Warangal chapatta, LCA-702, LCA-724, LCA-756, LCA-353 and LCA-716 have been identified as better parents and were suggested for an efficient hybridization programme of chilli.
ENHANCEMENT OF PHOTOSYNTHETIC RATE THROUGH PHOTOPERIOD USING LED IN CUCUMBER (Cucumis sativus)

Previous studies have demonstrated that photosynthetic rate in plants could be enhanced by manipulating their photoperiods. Therefore the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of day length using combination of red (R), blue (B) and yellow (Y) light provided by LED (lightemitting diode) on photosynthetic rate of cucumbers. Two cucumber cultivars (Mercy and KE- 27187) were incubated under 8 h, 12 h, and 16 h photoperiod using a composition of RBY-LED light (80:10:10) and HPS + TLD lamps (as a control) inside growth chambers for 28 days. We obtained that 16 h photoperiod resulted in the best quality of plants, in terms of growth rate, sugar content, chlorophyll content, and mass balance among the treatments. However, LEDincubated plants consumed energy less efficiently compared to control plants. This indicates that precise LED specifications should be re-adjusted to maximize energy efficiency for plant production. Keywords Cucumber, Growth, LED, Photoperiod, Photosynthetic growth
First Crocodile-Tailed Lizard (Squamata: Pan-Shinisaurus) from the Paleogene Of Europe

ABSTRACT Crocodile-tailed lizards are represented by a single extant species, Shinisaurus crocodilurus, the Chinese crocodile lizard, which until 2006 was completely unknown in the fossil record. These lizards may play an important role in understanding squamate phylogeny, but their biogeographic history remains murky. A new specimen from the middle Eocene of Messel, Germany, is the first record of the clade in the Paleogene of Europe. The specimen comprises an autotomized tail preserved in complete articulation. It retains a number of plesiomorphies with respect to S. crocodilurus, and it also differs from the coeval species Bahndwivici ammoskius, but comparisons with other shinisaurs are necessarily limited. The present specimen documents for the first time in the fossil record the superficially crocodile-like tail for which the extant species is named, indicating aquatic adaptation already by the middle Eocene. It furthermore raises questions about the identification of isolated ‘necrosaur' material from the European Paleogene. Finally, it adds to growing evidence of a taxonomically similar squamate fauna in Europe and North America in the early Paleogene.
Least-biased Estimations of True Species Richness of Butterfly Fauna in Sub-urban Sites around Jhansi (India) and the Range of Inter-annual Variation of Species Richness

As a rule, most biodiversity inventories at local scales remain more or less incomplete, when dealing with relatively speciose taxonomic groups, such as butterfly in tropical regions. Yet, it remains possible to take maximum advantage of partial inventories and to develop reliable predictions by extrapolating the species accumulation curves beyond the already achieved samplings. Besides, due to the wide diversity of available estimators of total species richness, selecting for the less-biased estimator and the associated expression of the species accumulation curve is desirable. Accordingly, the “least-biased extrapolation procedure” is recommended in this respect. Least-biased extrapolation procedure was applied to nine inventories carried on by Ashok Kumar in (sub-) urban sites in the vicinity of Jhansi (Uttar Pradesh, India), thus providing more accurate evaluations of remnant butterfly species richness in these sites. The range of estimated sampling completeness of inventories was comprised between 65% and 99%, depending on sites and years and the estimated true species richness was comprised between 25 species (along Highway in Original Research Article Béguinot; AJEE, 2(1): 1-12, 2017; Article no.AJEE. 32040 2 2010) and 44 species (Jhansi Fort in 2011). Importantly, the levels of sampling completeness prove to be poorly correlated with sampling size. This highlights the fact that, contrary to still a current opinion, comparisons between levels of species richness may well remain irrelevant, even when made at a same sampling size (for example by using appropriate “rarefaction” procedure). Four, out of the nine studied inventories, were conducted at two same sites for two successive years (2010-2011) and, thus, provide opportunity to evaluate the range of inter-annual variations of true species richness of butterfly fauna in this sub-urban context. Inter-annual variations within the range 24% to 48% were registered, according to sites.