Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
THE VOCAL BEHAVIOUR OF MALE EUROPEAN TREEFROGS (HYLA ARBOREA): IMPLICATIONS FOR INTER- AND INTRASEXUAL SELECTION

[Calls and calling behaviour were studied over two years in a population of individually marked European treefrogs ( Hyla arborea ), a hylid frog with a prolonged breeding season and a lek mating system. A mean daily air temperature of 4.5°C and a nightly water temperature of 9°C were found to represent lower thresholds for nightly calling activity. Large choruses started calling earlier and showed a longer nightly duration of calling activity than small choruses. Temporal properties of advertisement calls were determined mainly by water temperature, which explained up to 88% of the observed variation. Dominant frequency was determined mainly by male body weight, which explained 20% of the observed variance. Within-bout call rate, call duration, pulse period, number of pulses per call and dominant frequency showed little within-male variability, but overall call activity and the number of calls per call bout varied considerably between different recordings of the same individual males. Statistically significant differences between different males were found for withinbout call rate, call duration, number of calls per call bout, number of pulses per call, and dominant frequency. Observed patterns of variability in call properties are discussed in the context of possible implications for female mate choice and male-male recognition. , Calls and calling behaviour were studied over two years in a population of individually marked European treefrogs ( Hyla arborea ), a hylid frog with a prolonged breeding season and a lek mating system. A mean daily air temperature of 4.5°C and a nightly water temperature of 9°C were found to represent lower thresholds for nightly calling activity. Large choruses started calling earlier and showed a longer nightly duration of calling activity than small choruses. Temporal properties of advertisement calls were determined mainly by water temperature, which explained up to 88% of the observed variation. Dominant frequency was determined mainly by male body weight, which explained 20% of the observed variance. Within-bout call rate, call duration, pulse period, number of pulses per call and dominant frequency showed little within-male variability, but overall call activity and the number of calls per call bout varied considerably between different recordings of the same individual males. Statistically significant differences between different males were found for withinbout call rate, call duration, number of calls per call bout, number of pulses per call, and dominant frequency. Observed patterns of variability in call properties are discussed in the context of possible implications for female mate choice and male-male recognition. ]
Criterion for oil uptake during deep-fat frying

The effect of added powdered cellulose and methyl cellulose on oil uptake during deep-fat frying of donuts and falafel balls was determined. A new criterion, UR, expressing the oil uptake ratio between the weight of oil uptake and the weight of water removed was introduced. This criterion was valuable in assessing effectiveness of reducing oil uptake during deep-fat frying. Methocel was significantly more effective than powdered cellulose in reducing oil uptake.
Occurrence of Phytophthora species in recirculated nursery irrigation effluents

ABSTRACT MacDonald, J. D. , Ali-Shtayeh, M. S. , Kabashima, J., and Stites, J. 1994. Occurrence of Phytophthora species in recirculated nursery irrigation effluents. Plant Dis. 78:607-611. Water samples were collected from effluent holding ponds at one northern and two southern California nurseries that practice the capture and recirculation of irrigation runoff water. Nursery effluent samples were collected approximately monthly over a 12-mo period and aliquots filtered through 0.45-J.! m Millipore filters. Filter residues were resuspended and dispersed onto selective agar media in petri dishes to estimate the numbers of viable propagules of Phytophthora spp. or total pythiacious fungi. Propagule numbers varied greatly from month to month at each nursery location. Pythium propagules were consistently the most numerous, ranging from 500 to 1,500 per liter, whereas the number of Phytophthora spp. propagules ranged from 0 to 400 per liter. At the northern California nursery, propagule numbers were lowest during winter months and highest during warm seasons. Seasonal fluctuations in inoculum load were not apparent in the southern California nurseries. P. citrophthora was the most commonly detected Phytophthora sp. Other species frequently recovered included P. citricola. P. cinnamomi, and P. cryptogea. Isolates of P. parasitica. P. megasperma, and P. syringae were recovered less frequently. Water samples also were tested for Phytophthora spp. using commercially available ELISA tests. The ELISA reaction intensity of filter pad extracts was correlated with the numbers of propagules estimated to be on the filters, but the correlation was stronger at some times than at others. This is believed to reflect temporal differences in water sample quality or species mixtures.
Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra) prey selection in response to a variation of fish abundance

Abstract In 2001 and 2002 we studied Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra) fish selection in southern Italy by comparing otter diet (805 analysed spraints) with fish availability, estimated by electrofishing. The surveyed river was dominated by cyprinids, particularly by chub (Leuciscus cephalus), roach (Rutilus rubilio) and bleak (Alburnus sp.). Roach and chub were the most common prey recorded in spraints. Otters ate mainly small prey (total length < 90 mm). Chub were widely consumed according to abundance, whilst roach and bleak consumption was not proportionate to their availability. Otters selected roach both in 2001 and 2002 and responded to a decrease in roach availability (–27.3%) by increasing their frequency of consumption rather than switching to an alternative prey. Despite their high abundance, bleak seemed to be markedly avoided by otters. We hypothesized that differences in microhabitat selection may influence the susceptibility of cyprinids to otter predation. The possible effects on fish community were briefly discussed.
Development and assessment of habitat suitability criteria for adult brown trout in southern New England rivers

– Habitat suitability criteria (HSC) for depth, mean velocity, nose velocity, substrate, embeddedness, and cover were developed for brown trout ≥170 mm (Salmo trutta Linnaeus) on the West Branch Farmington River, CT, USA. Microhabitat data was collected by underwater observation using an equal effort habitat sampling design; HSC were constructed using nonparametric tolerance limits. Transferability of previously published HSC to the West Branch Farmington River was poor; only 1 of 13 HSC tested was considered transferable. The HSC developed for the West Branch Farmington River were tested for transferability to the East Branch Westfield River, Massachusetts. First, a composite suitability index (SI) score was calculated using the source HSC for each occupied and unoccupied location in the Westfield River. Then, χ2-tests were used to determine if optimal or suitable locations were occupied in greater proportion than usable or unsuitable locations. Composite SI scores based on total depth, mean velocity, and cover were not transferable, but composite SI scores based only on total depth and mean velocity were. A multivariate profile analysis was also used to test for transferability. In each test, only total depth, fish depth, and mean velocity HSC were successfully transferred. Transferability of depth and velocity HSC between rivers shows promise for applications to similar systems where brown trout occur.
Double Migrations of the Northern Elephant Seal, Mirounga angustirostris

Adult northern elephant seals go to sea twice each year for periods of ≤ 8 months during which they range widely in the northern Pacific Ocean. Using new tracking technology, we showed that the species (and individuals) returned to the same foraging areas during postbreeding and postmolt movements, documenting the first double migration for any animal. We also showed segregation by sex during both migrations, the causes of which are unknown. Seals dove continually to depths of 250-550 m during both migrations and travelled linear distances of at least 18,000 (females)-21,000 km (males) during the 250 (males)-300 (females) days they were at sea. These are the longest annual migrations yet recorded for individual mammals. The double migrations apparently are modulated by the requirement for seals to return to land twice each year, to molt and to breed, although the reasons seals favor distant molting sites on the California Channel Islands over island and continental beaches nearer foraging areas are unknown
Yield and P uptake by rice and wheat grown in a sequence as influenced by phosphate fertilization with diammonium phosphate and Mussoorie rock phosphate with or without crop residues and phosphate solubilizing bacteria

The field experiments were carried out at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi during 1996–97 to 1998–99 to study the effect of phosphate solubilizing bacteria (PSB) and incorporation of wheat and rice residue on the relative efficiency of diammonium phosphate (DAP) and Mussoorie rock phosphate (MRP) in three cycles of rice–wheat cropping system. Application of MRP had no significant effect on grain and straw yield and P uptake by rice and wheat; however, when it was inoculated with PSB, it increased grain and straw yields as well as P uptake of both rice and wheat. Efficiency of MRP+PSB was further increased when rice and wheat residues were incorporated and this practice made MRP on a par with DAP. Available P in soil after three cycles of rice–wheat cropping was more after MRP+PSB and incorporation of rice and wheat residues than after DAP. The results of the present study, therefore, indicate that low grade rock phosphate such as MRP can be advantageously utilized in rice–wheat cropping system when applied with PSB inoculation and incorporation of rice and wheat residues.
Experimental analysis of patch dynamics in tallgrass prairie plant communities

Previous research has indicated that patch structure at small spatial scales (<100m2) in tallgrass prairies was defined by a diverse array of infrequent species because dominant species occurred in all samples at this scale. Also, patch structure was not significantly different from that derived from random species associations. Based on these results, we hypothesized that remo val of a dominant species would have no effect on patch structure in these prairies. We tested this hypothesis by removing a dominant grass, Schizachyrium scoparium (Poaceae), from half of each of four 10 m × 10 m study blocks, and comparing differences in patch structure between control and removal halves before and after removal. The minimum resolution in our study was 1 m2. Patches of similar species composition were defined by cluster analysis of presence/absence data and cover data. Patch sizes ranged from 1 to 34 m2. Following the removal of S. scoparium there was an overall increase in the number of species in the removal half of each block compared to pre-treatment levels. However, the number of patch types and number of spatially mapped groups, based on presence/absence or cover data, did not change between control and removal plots after the removal of S. scoparium. This supports the hypothesis that removal of a large, dominant species would have no effect on patch structure at this scale of resolution in these prairies. Thus, patch structure, as defined here, is an emergent property in these grasslands that is not predictable from changes in species composition. This property of stochastic patch structure results from interactions of processes operating at scales both larger and smaller than our scale of resolution. Stochastic models may provide a reasonable approach to modelling small-scale patch dynamics in tallgrass prairie communities.
Proposed Standard Weight (Ws) Equations and Standard Length Categories for 18 Warmwater Nongame and Riverine Fish Species

Abstract Relative weight (W r) is one of several condition indices used to assess the general health of fishes. Standard weight (W s) equations are required to calculate W r, but are unavailable for many nongame and riverine fish species. Therefore, we developed W s equations for the following taxa: longnose gar Lepisosteus osseus, spotted gar L. oculatus, common carp Cyprinus carpio, bigmouth buffalo Ictiobus cyprinellus, river carpsucker Carpiodes carpio, shorthead redhorse Moxostoma macrolepidotum, smallmouth buffalo I. bubalus, white sucker Catostomus commersoni, black bullhead Ameiurus melas, brown bullhead A. nebulosus, flathead catfish Pylodictis olivaris, white catfish A. catus, yellow bullhead A. natalis, white perch Morone americana, yellow bass M. mississippiensis, green sunfish Lepomis cyanellus, rock bass Ambloplites rupestris, and warmouth L. gulosus. These W s equations were evaluated with statistical validation approaches similar to previously defined regression-line-percentile equations.
Behavioural responses in three ichneumonid pollen beetle parasitoids to volatiles emitted from different phenological stages of oilseed rape

Pollen beetles (Meligethes spp.; Coleoptera: Nitiduliae) are a major pest of oilseed rape, Brassica napus L. (Brassicaceae) in northern Europe. Phradis interstitialis Thomson, P. morionellus Holmgr. , and Tersilochus heterocerus Thomson (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) are among the most frequent pollen beetle parasitoids. These three species differ in temporal occurrence, as well as in preferred host stage. The behavioural responses of female parasitoids to odours from oilseed rape at bud and flowering stage were evaluated in two‐choice experiments. The role of visual stimuli was examined by combining green and yellow colours with odour stimuli. All three species were attracted to odours from the bud stage of oilseed rape. Tersilochus heterocerus was attracted to odours of flowering rape, but the two Phradis species avoided the flower odours. However, when the odours of flowering rape were combined with yellow, and odours of the bud stage were combined with green, P. interstitialis was equally attracted to both stimuli, and T. heterocerus showed an increased preference for flower odours, while no effect of colours could be found in P. morionellus. The observed differences in responses between the parasitoids may reflect differences in their biology and may be involved in the niche segregation of these often coexisting species. The volatile blends released from the two phenological stages were identified and compared. Clearly, odours can be reliable cues for differentiating between oilseed rape in the bud and flowering stage. Of 20 identified compounds, 18 were released at a significantly higher rate from flowering plants. The terpenes sabinene, myrcene, limonene, and (E,E)‐α‐farnesene were the dominant volatiles in the bud and flower headspace. A group of aromatic compounds including benzaldehyde, methyl benzoate, and phenyl acetaldehyde were mainly released from flowering rape.
Molecular phylogeny of major lineages of the avian family Phasianidae inferred from complete mitochondrial genome sequences

Phasianidae is a large family of birds which contains most of the gallinaceous birds of the world. So far, the taxonomic status of many genera within Phasianidae has been controversial. The complete mitochondrial genome sequence of the white-eared pheasant (Crossoption crossoptilon) was determined in this study. Combining this with other previously published mitochondrial genome sequences, we reconstructed the phylogenetic relationships of Phasianidae and related species using maximum parsimony (MP), maximum likelihood (ML) and Bayesian inference (BI) methods. All analyses yielded a similar and well-supported topology, in which Crossoptilon grouped with Lophura. Perdix dauurica was sister taxon to the gallopheasants with high support, and Pucrasia was sister to this clade and separate from the other tragopans. Tetraophasis and Lophophorus grouped together, with Tragopan as the sister taxon. In addition, our results indicated that Meleagris clustered with Bonasa forming a monophyletic clade embedded in the pheasant‐partridge clade and the turkey–grouse lineage should be considered a part of the pheasant–partridge radiation.
Resistance to Polymyxa betae in Beta species of the section Procumbentes, in hybrids with B. vulgaris and in monosomic chromosome additions of B. procumbens in B. vulgaris

Resistance to Polymyxa betae was studied in Beta species of the section Procumbentes, in hybrids of B. vulgaris with B. procumbens or B. patellaris, and in monosomic additions of chromosomes of B. procumbens in B. vulgaris. In all experiments P. betae infested with beet necrotic yellow vein virus (BNYVV) was used. This virus causes rhizomania in sugar beet, and the effect of vector resistance was studied by measuring virus concentrations. Cystosori of P. betae were not found in the wild species and the hybrids. Virus concentrations in these plants were low, and in half the number of plants the virus could not be detected. Results of experiments with the monosomic additions indicate, that resistance to P. betae in B. procumbens is located on chromosomes 4 and 8. Some cystosori were present in these addition types, while cystosori were abundantly present in other addition types and all sib-plants. Virus concentrations in the addition types 4 and 8 were lower than in their sib-plants, but in almost all plants the virus could be detected. A significant correlation (r = 0.91; P < 0.05) between average numbers of cystosori and average virus concentrations was found when addition families of type 8 were tested together with B. procumbens and B. vulgaris cv. ‘Regina’.
Artificial Warming Advances Egg-Laying and Decreases Larval Size in the Dung Beetle Aphodius erraticus (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) in a Tibetan Alpine Meadow

The Tibetan Plateau is one of the areas in the world most sensitive to global warming. Dung beetles are the most abundant decomposer species group responsible for cattle dung removal in the Tibetan alpine meadow, and are critical to nutrient cycling and primary production of the grazing system. This study evaluates the possible effects of global warming on early life-history traits of dung beetles. We established three warmed open-top chambers (OTCs, about 2.3 °C higher than the control) and three ambient OTCs, each containing nine fresh dung pats that were bagged with a nylon screen (0.2 mm in mesh size). Twenty adults of a dominant coprophagous beetle species, Aphodius erraticus (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) had been put into each dung bag at the beginning of the experiment and the timings of egg-laying and hatching, and egg and larval size were followed for 80 days. Artificial warming advanced egg-laying and hatching by 4.1 and 7.2 days, respectively; warming decreased egg and larval size by 22.1% and 33.4%, respectively. This short-term study demonstrates that early lifehistory traits of A. erraticus are sensitive to artificial warming, which suggests that global warming may also change life history traits of other organisms in detritus-based systems.
Cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 Inhibitor Celecoxib Abrogates Activation of Cigarette Smoke-Induced Nuclear Factor (NF)-κB by Suppressing Activation of I-κB α Kinase in Human Non-Small Cell Lung Carcinoma

Cigarette smoke (CS) has been linked to cardiovascular, pulmonary, and malignant diseases. CS-associated malignancies including cancers of the larynx, oral cavity, and pharynx, esophagus, pancreas, kidney, bladder, and lung; all are known to overexpress the nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB)-regulated gene products cyclin D1, cyclooxygenase (COX)-2, and matrix metalloprotease-9. Whether the COX-2 inhibitor, celecoxib, approved for the treatment of colon carcinogenesis and rheumatoid arthritis, affects CS-induced NF-κB activation is not known, although the role of NF-κB in regulation of apoptosis, angiogenesis, carcinogenesis, and inflammation is established. In our study, in which we examined DNA binding of NF-κB in human lung adenocarcinoma H1299 cells, we found that cigarette smoke condensate (CSC)-induced NF-κB activation was persistent up to 24 h, and celecoxib suppressed CSC-induced NF-κB activation. Celecoxib was effective even when administered 12 h after CSC treatment. This effect, however, was not cell type-specific. The activation of inhibitory subunit of NF-κB kinase (IκB), as examined by immunocomplex kinase assay, IκB phosphorylation, and IκB degradation was also inhibited. Celecoxib also abrogated CSC-induced p65 phosphorylation and nuclear translocation and NF-κB-dependent reporter gene expression. CSC-induced NF-κB reporter activity induced by NF-κB inducing kinase and IκB α kinase but not that activated by p65 was also blocked by celecoxib. CSC induced the expression of NF-κB-regulated proteins, COX-2, cyclin D1, and matrix metalloproteinase-9, and celecoxib abolished the induction of all three. The COX-2 promoter that is regulated by NF-κB was activated by CSC, and celecoxib suppressed its activation. Overall, our results suggest that chemopreventive effects of celecoxib may in part be mediated through suppression of NF-κB and NF-κB-regulated gene expression, which may contribute to its ability to suppress inflammation, proliferation, and angiogenesis.
Spermatophore size and its role in the reproductive behaviour of the cricket, Gryllodes supplicans (Orthoptera: Gryllidae)

The spermatophore that a male cricket of Gryllodes supplicans transfers to the female during mating, includes a large gelatinous portion (spermatophylax) that is removed and consumed by the female after mating. In other North American cricket species, the spermatophore consists solely of a small sperm-containing ampulla. In this study, the role of spermatophore size in the reproductive behaviour of G. supplicans was examined, along with the costs associated with the provision of a more complex spermatophore. The mean intercopulatory interval of male G. supplicans that were allowed constant access to receptive females was 3.25 h; this period is long relative to those of other crickets. The estimated weight of spermatophores produced by males did not differ significantly from that of spermatophores produced by these same males 24 h later; males apparently hold constant their investment in subsequent copulations. The time taken by females to consume the spermatophylax fully increased linearly with the weight.
Optimizing parameters for two conceptual hydrological models using a genetic Algorithm: A case study in the Dau Tieng River Watershed, Vietnam

In recent years, many conceptual hydrological models have been constructed to calculate rainfall runoff for river watersheds, two of which, the Tank Model and the NAM Model, have been widely used in many Asian countries to forecast flooding and manage water resources because of their simplicity. However, obtaining good results can be time-consuming and costly because multiple model parameters must be calibrated. This requirement has led to an increased need for automated calibration. In this study, the two hydrological models had a genetic algorithm (GA) incorporated to model the rainfall runoff process and optimize model parameters. Calibration data were obtained at hydrological gauges of the river system upstream of the Dau Tieng River watershed, located along the upper Saigon River in Southeastern Vietnam. The GA optimization in this study concurrently adjusted eighteen of the Tank Model parameters and ten NAM Model parameters to improve modeling efficiency. The study concluded that both models showed good correlation between simulated and observed flows, with increased accuracy and convenience. The Tank Model produced better simulation results through error indicators such as root mean square error, efficiency, and relative error.