Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Do digestive contents confound body mass as a measure of relative condition in nestling songbirds

Relative nestling condition, typically measured as nestling mass or as an index including nestling mass, is commonly purported to correlate with fledgling songbird survival. However, most studies directly investigating fledgling survival have found no such relationship. We weighed feces and stomach contents of nestling golden-winged warblers (Vermivora chrysoptera) to investigate the potential contribution of variation in digestive contents to differences in nestling mass. We estimated that the mass of a seventh-day (near fledging) nestling golden-winged warbler varies by 0.65 g (approx. 9% of mean nestling mass) depending on the contents of the nestling's digestive system at the time of weighing, and that digestive contents are dissimilar among nestlings at any moment the brood is removed from the nest for weighing. Our conservative estimate of within-individual variation in digestive contents equals 72% and 24% of the mean within-brood and population-wide range in nestling mass, respectively. Based on our results, a substantive but typically unknown amount of the variation in body mass among nestlings is confounded by differences in digestive contents. We conclude that short-term variation in digestive contents likely precludes the use of body mass, and therefore any mass-dependent index, as a measure of relative nestling condition or as a predictor of survival in golden-winged warblers and likely in many other songbirds of similar size. © 2014 The Wildlife Society.
Molecular phylogeny of South African abalone, its origin and evolution as revealed by two genes

Abstract The marine family Haliotidae (Mollusca: Gastropoda) includes approximately 56 extant abalone species found worldwide. None of these species are globally distributed while four areas of endemism (temperate Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and North Pacific) have been recognized. Phylogenetic relationships of 18 abalone species including five South African species were reconstructed using a combined data set containing sequence data of the mitochondrial NADH-dehydrogenase subunit 1 (ND1) gene and the nuclear hemocyanin gene. The molecular topologies confirmed former findings of two major abalone lineages with Northern and Southern Pacific distribution within the Haliotidae family. The phylogeny revealed all five South African species as a monophyletic group with a sister relationship to the Australian endemics clade. It further suggested a relatively recent radiation of the South African species and places it within the same evolutionary context as the Mediterranean/Atlantic and Australasian clades. Molecular phylogeny also revealed a split within the South African group as well as further speciation within one of the two subclades. Possible place of origin for South African abalone are discussed and ecological specialization, e.g. differential adaptation to environmental conditions, is proposed as the most likely scenario describing divergence within the South African clade.
Radiotracer Experiments on Phosphorus Uptake and Release by Limnetic Microzooplankton

When carrier-free 32PO4 is added to lakewater, the planktonic ciliated protozoan Strombidium viride gradually becomes labeled over at least 30 h. The label enters S. viride primarily by the ingestion of labeled particles 0.2–1.0 μm in size; direct uptake of phosphate or uptake of larger particles (≥5 μm) is relatively slight or absent. When labeled S. viride are transferred to unlabeled lake water, they lose 32P by a discontinuous process, presumed to be defecation, plus a relatively slow, continuous process. The latter is assumed to be equivalent to what is usually termed excretion for crustacean zooplankton, and is equivalent to a turnover time for the animal's phosphorus content of many hours. Results of release experiments with the rotifer Keratella cochlearis are quantitatively similar, but defecation was a much larger part of the total. Excretion was similar in turnover time to that for S. viride. The soluble phosphorus released by both species was characterized as primarily phosphate using gel filt.
The world at your feet: desert biological soil crusts

Desert soil surfaces are generally covered with biological soil crusts, composed of a group of organisms dominated by cyanobacteria, lichens, and mosses. Despite their unassuming appearance, these tiny organisms are surprisingly important to many processes in past and present desert ecosystems. Cyanobacteria similar to those seen today have been found as 1.2 billion-year-old terrestrial fossils, and they probably stabilized soils then as they do now. Biological crusts are vital in creating and maintaining fertility in otherwise infertile desert soils. They fix both carbon and nitrogen, much of which is leaked to the surrounding soils. They also capture nutrient-rich dust, and can stimulate plant growth. These organisms are able to tolerate extreme temperatures, drought, and solar radiation, despite having relatively little wet time for metabolic activity. Under most circumstances, they are extremely vulnerable to climate change and disturbances such as off-road vehicles and grazing livestock. Recovery tim.
Primulina pseudoroseoalba (Gesneriaceae), a New Species from a Karst Cave in Guangxi, China

Primulina pseudoroseoalba Jian Li, F. Wen & L.J. Yan, a new species of Gesneriaceae from China, is described and illustrated. It is morphologically similar to P. roseoalba, but differs from it in the leaf blade being broadly ovate to elliptic, and its margin entire and abaxially glabrous; peduncle being much shorter; and bracts being ovate to orbicular-ovate, glabrous inside. Primulina pseudoroseoalba is rare and currently known only from a karst hill in Guangxi, China.
The control of floral evocation and morphogenesis

ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL . Genetics of Sensitivity to Environmental Factors . Control by Day Length .
Altitude of origin influences stomatal conductance and therefore maximum assimilation rate in Southern Beech, Nothofagus cunninghamii

Gas exchange measurements were made on saplings of Southern Beech, Nothofagus cunninghamii (Hook.) Oerst. collected from three altitudes (350, 780 and 1100 m above sea level) and grown in a common glasshouse trial. Plants were grown from cuttings taken 2 years earlier from a number of plants at each altitude in Mt Field National Park, Tasmania. Stomatal density increased with increasing altitude of origin, and stomatal con-ductance and carbon assimilation rate were linearly related across all samples. The altitude of origin influenced thestomatal conductance and therefore carbon assimilation rate, with plants from 780 m having a greater photosynthetic rate than those from 350 m. The intercellular concentration of CO2 as a ratio of external CO2 concentration (ci/ca) was similar in all plants despite the large variation in maximum stomatal conductance. Carboxylation efficiency was greater in plants from 780 m than in plants from 350 m. Altitude of origin has a strong influence on the photo-synthetic performance of N. cunninghamii plants even when grown under controlled conditions, and this influence is expressed in both leaf biochemistry (carboxylation efficiency) and leaf morphology (stomatal density).
Environmental and genotype effects on fertility in a commercial beef herd in central Queensland

Joining liveweight, proportion pregnant and calving date were recorded from relatively low fertility (RLF) and relatively high fertility (RHF) tropically adapted genotypes. RLF genotypes were F2 et seq. Brahman x British crossbreds and Brahman back crosses while RHF genotypes were F1 Brahman x British and Africander infused crossbreds. Year effects had the largest and most consistent influence on joining liveweight, proportion of cows pregnant and calving date. RLF genotypes had a lower proportion pregnant than RHF genotypes in yearling heifers, 2-5-year-old and >9- year-old lactating cows, but there was no difference in the 6-8-year age group. Calving dates tended to be later in the RLF genotypes in the 2-5-year age groups, but were the same as RHF genotypes in older age groups. Annual variation in joining liveweight was explained by May-October rainfall, which was an indication of pasture productivity levels. The proportion of cows pregnant was related to joining liveweight; to achieve a high proportion in the RHF genotypes, target joining liveweights of about 275 and 375 kg were indicated for yearling heifers and lactating cows, respectively. There was no difference between RLF and RHF in the 6-8-year lactating age group, but in other age groups RLF genotypes tended to require an extra 25-75 kg joining liveweight to approximate the proportion pregnant in RHF genotypes over the lower and mid-liveweight ranges. However, at highest joining liveweights, RLF had a lower proportion pregnant than did RHF genotypes. Calving date influenced the proportion that became pregnant during the subsequent joining season, young cows being more sensitive to calving date than old cows, and RLF more sensitive than RHF genotypes.
A New Vector of Haemoproteus colmubae in England

SUMMARY. Haemoproteus columbae of English wood pigeons (Columba palumbus palumbus L.) was found to undergo sporogony in Ornithomyia avicularia. It is suggested that this insect is a vector of H. columbae, in spite of the failure of six attempts to transmit the haemosporidian to uninfected domestic pigeons (C. livia var. domestica) by the bite, or injection, of infected O. avicularia.
Genetic analysis of some yield attributes in Indian mustard (Brassica juncea L.)

The present investigation on Brassica juncea L. genotypes is an attempt to study variations and to generate variability through hybridization and also to obtain genetic information on some yield attributes for selection in segregating generations. Eight promising genotypes were selected and crossed in all possible combinations under complete diallel system. Data was recorded for seed yield and some important yield attributes. Analysis of variance showed significant differences for all the traits and therefore further analyzed using Hayman’s approach, which showed existence of both additive and dominance gene effects governing all the traits. However, estimates for genetic components of variation revealed that additive effects were more important for seeds per siliqua and 1000-seed weight indicating possibility of selection for these traits in early segregating generations. Dominance effects were more prominent with presence of over-dominance for plant height, number of primary branches per plant, number of siliqua per plant, siliqua length and seed yield per plot, thus suggesting that selection could be effective in latter generations. Only siliqua length showed the presence of directional dominance, while asymmetrical distribution of dominant genes among the parents was identified for all the traits. Key words: Indian mustard, genetic analysis, gene action, yield attributes, complete diallel.
Molluscs Pseudotrichia rubiginosa Rossmässler 1838 and Limax maximus Linnaeus 1758 found in SW Finland

A living adult Pseudotrichia rubiginosa land snail was found on the slope of the southern shore of Ruissalo Island (co-ord. 671:323) in Turku, Finland in spring 2009. The species has never before been encountered in Finland. P. rubiginosa has been found in at least Sweden, Estonia and Latvia. It was also recently found as a new species in France. The primary distribution of the species in Europe has been in the east. It is in general a rather rare species, appearing however in many types of damp biotopes. The vegetation in the area where the species was found in Finland is characterised by Urtica dioica, Geum rivale, Ranunculus repens and Persicaria amphibia. More P. rubiginosa may possibly be found in Finland. The extent of the distribution in Ruissalo must be examined more closely. A body of Limax maximus samples was found in the collections of undefined samples in the Zoological Museum at the University of Turku. The body contains two rather young individuals. The information on the label reads, “Houtskar, Langholm 10.6. 1962, Pekka Lehtinen”. At the time the samples were collected Houtskar, Langholm was, and still is an uninhabited, grove-type island (co-ord. 669:318) with a wide distribution of limestone located in the outer parts of the Turku archipelago. There are only two other cases where the species was found, in the Turku archipelago of South-West Finland.
Behavioral persistence in captive bears: a critique

Vickery and Mason (2003) sought to establish a causal relationship from stereotypy behavior to abnormal behavioral persistence in field experiments with 6 Asiatic black bears (Ursus thibetanus) and 6 Malayan sun bears (Ursus malayanus). For that study, stereotypy behavior was defined as ". actions that were repetitive, invariant, and without obvious function" (Vickery and Mason 2003:37). Abnormal behavioral persistence was characterized by bears who continued to respond to a previously learned, rewarded task after having been deprived of that reward. Among 12 bears studied, Vickery and Mason reported a statistically significant correspondence between abnormal behavioral persistence and stereotypy behavior. Furthermore, they claimed that among the 29 bears from their first-year study, time spent in captivity correlated with greater degrees of stereotypy behavior and thus greater aberrant behavior. These findings led Vickery and Mason, in turn, to question the potential success of reintroduction programs with bears held captive for substantial time periods. "In the wild, where behavior must be adaptive and flexible to meet fluctuating conditions, such behavioral deficiencies could help account for reduced survivorship of reintroduced subjects" (Vickery and Mason 2003:35). In their view, the presence of stereotypy behavior and its associated abnormal behavioral persistence might render captive bears unable to adapt quickly to environmental change when reintroduced to the wild. Reintroduction is such a potentially important conservation tool that findings questioning its efficacy or limiting its implementation must be carefully examined. With this in mind, we have scrutinized Vickery and Mason's results and report here our serious concerns regarding their methods and the conclusions derived from them. We first claim that the relationship
Effect of soybean trypsin inhibitor, diarrhea and diet on flow rate, pH, proteolytic enzymes, and nitrogen fractions in calf intestinal digesta.

The exocrine response of the pancreas to soybean trypsin inhibitor (SBTI), diarrhea and composition of liquid diet was studied in calves. Digesta collected from four calves, each with one reentrant intestinal cannula, were analyzed for trypsin (T) and chymotrypsin (ChT) esterase activity, total nitrogen (TN), and non-protein nitrogen (NPN). Compared with whole milk alone, the addition of 1 mg of partially purified SBTI/ml of milk reduced the average T and ChT activity of digesta collected 2 and 5 hours after feeding from 32 and 18 units/ml to 3 and 1.8 units/ml, respectively; TN increased from 1.5 to 5 mg/ml, and the proportion of TN as NPN decreased from 73 to 43 percentage units. Lower levels of SBTI had a less marked effect on the calves. SBTI increased the flow rate of digesta in one of two calves used. During the first 15 min after treatment with neostigmine methyl sulfate (0.04 mg/kg body weight), the flow rate of digesta increased 2.7-fold, and total activity of T and ChT increased 2.3-fotd. Magnes.
Effects of Increasing Lysine to Calorie Ratio and Added Fat for Growing-Finishing Pigs Reared in a Commercial Environment: I. Growth Performance and Carcass Characteristics1

ABSTRACT Two experiments were conducted to determine the effects of none or 6.0% added fat (choice white grease) and different Lys:calorie ratios on growth performance and carcass characteristics of growing-finishing pigs (PIC C22 × 337) reared in a commercial environment. Gilts (n = 1,200, initially 24 kg) were used in Exp. 1 and barrows (n = 1,200, initially 34 kg) in Exp. 2. The corn-soybean meal-based diets were arranged in a 2 × 4 factorial in a completely randomized design with 25 pigs per pen and 6 pens per treatment. Diets were fed in 4 phases: in Exp.1, phases were 27 to 45, 45 to 75, 75 to 100, and 100 to 120 kg; In Exp.2, phases were 34 to 60, 60 to 80, 80 to 100, and 100 to 120 kg. Lysine:calorie ratios (g Lys/Mcal ME) for Exp. 1 were 2.96, 3.26, 3.56, and 3.86 in phase 1; 2.25, 2.50, 2.75, and 3.0 in phase 2; 1.64, 1.84, 2.04, and 2.24 in phase 3; and 1.12, 1.32, 1.52, and 1.72 in phase 4. In Exp. 2, Lys:calorie ratios were 2.41, 2.71, 3.01, and 3.31 in phase 1; 1.75, 2.0, 2.25, and 2.5 in phase 2; 1.38, 1.58, 1.78, and 1.98 in phase 3; and 1.02, 1.22, 1.42, and 1.62 in phase 4. For the overall study, added dietary fat decreased (P 0.14) in Exp. 1, and a tendency for increased backfat depth (P 0.57). These data indicate that 6.0% added dietary fat decreases ADFI and increases ADG and G:F. Also, the third (3.56, 2.75, 2.04, and 1.52 g Lys/Mcal ME) and fourth (at least 3.31, 2.5, 1.98, and 1.62 g Lys/Mcal ME) Lys:calorie ratio regimens appeared to maximize growth performance and carcass leanness in gilts and barrows, respectively.
Certain chemical thinning treatments advance maturity of Paulared apple

Mature Paulared (Malus ×domestica Borkh L.)/MM106 apple trees with a heavy bloom were sprayed with carbaryl [Sevin® XLR 1.25 mL L–1 (600 mg L–1 a.i.)], benzyladenine (BA)/gibberellic acids (GA4 + 7) [Accel® 1.22 mL L–1 (23.1 mg L–1/2.31 mg L–1 a.i.)], carbaryl [Sevin® XLR 1.25 mL L–1 (600 mg L–1 a.i.)] + BA/GA4 + 7 [Accel® 1.22 mL L–1 (15.6 mg L–1/1.56 mg L–1 a.i.)] and napthaleneacetic acid (NAA) [FruitoneN® 0.32 g·L–1 (1.13 mg L–1 a.i.)] when fruitlet diameter was 7 mm. Ethephon [Ethrel® 2.29 mL L–1 (549.6 mg L–1 a.i.)] was applied at the 13.5 mm fruitlet diameter stage. Carbaryl alone, NAA and ethephon all resulted in improved fruit size at harvest, whereas BA/GA4 + 7 was ineffective as a thinner and did not alter fruit size at harvest. Of these treatments, only ethephon significantly reduced crop load. Both NAA and ethephon, and especially ethephon, advanced fruit maturity at harvest as indicated by a lower Streif index. Only ethephon increased commercial levels of fruit colour and following-year blos.
Variations in seed germination behavior of Phleum hirsutum subsp. ambiguum and possible applications in semi-natural grassland restoration

Phleum hirsutum Honck. subsp. ambiguum (Ten.) Tzvelev is an important component of the vegetation of some semi-natural grassland habitats of central and southern Italy and especially of those referring to the 6210* habitat (Directive 92/43/EEC). Seeds of this species are required for the execution of restoration works concerning this habitat. Therefore, the recovery and the study of autochthonous germplasm are needed. This study focused on the intra-specific variations in seed mass and size and in seed germination behavior in this species since the knowledge of these aspects can be very useful in the planning of restoration projects. The present research evidenced significant differences in mean seed mass and size in the populations studied that were correlated to the precipitation values of their collection sites. Studied seeds are able to germinate under a wide range of temperatures. They reached their maximum germination between 5 and 25°C and are capable of germination even at 30°C but with a remarkable reduction in germination percentage. Temperature was found to strongly influence germination, especially in terms of the speed. Light was found to enhance germination in almost all the populations studied while the removal of outer covering structures was found to be of no effect.
Angiosperm phylogeny inferred from sequences of four mitochondrial genes

Abstract An angiosperm phylogeny was reconstructed in a maximum likelihood analysis of sequences of four mitochondrial genes, atp1, matR, nad5, and rps3, from 380 species that represent 376 genera and 296 families of seed plants. It is largely congruent with the phylogeny of angiosperms reconstructed from chloroplast genes atpB, matK, and rbcL, and nuclear 18S rDNA. The basalmost lineage consists of Amborella and Nymphaeales (including Hydatellaceae). Austrobaileyales follow this clade and are sister to the mesangiosperms, which include Chloranthaceae, Ceratophyllum, magnoliids, monocots, and eudicots. With the exception of Chloranthaceae being sister to Ceratophyllum, relationships among these five lineages are not well supported. In eudicots, Ranunculales, Sabiales, Proteales, Trochodendrales, Buxales, Gunnerales, Saxifragales, Vitales, Berberidopsidales, and Dilleniales form a basal grade of lines that diverged before the diversification of rosids and asterids. Within rosids, the COM (Celastrales–Oxalidales–Malpighiales) clade is sister to malvids (or rosid II), instead of to the nitrogen‐fixing clade as found in all previous large‐scale molecular analyses of angiosperms. Santalales and Caryophyllales are members of an expanded asterid clade. This study shows that the mitochondrial genes are informative markers for resolving relationships among genera, families, or higher rank taxa across angiosperms. The low substitution rates and low homoplasy levels of the mitochondrial genes relative to the chloroplast genes, as found in this study, make them particularly useful for reconstructing ancient phylogenetic relationships. A mitochondrial gene‐based angiosperm phylogeny provides an independent and essential reference for comparison with hypotheses of angiosperm phylogeny based on chloroplast genes, nuclear genes, and non‐molecular data to reconstruct the underlying organismal phylogeny.
Being in Tension: Faculty Explorations of the Meaning of Social Justice in Teacher Education

This study explores faculty perspectives of social justice in teacher education within one New York institution with a social justice focus. Grounded in the institution’s self-study process for accreditation, the researchers were a part of a team that collected data from structured interviews, including a card sort, of 42 full time teacher educators across 16 programs in the institution. Informed by sociocultural theories (Vygotsky, 1978; Wertsch, 1991), a content analysis revealed the language selected by faculty as well as their meaning-making process and describes how individuals contextualized those meanings. Findings demonstrated a range of meanings and lack of a shared understanding about social justice. Even where apparent consensus existed around particular terminology, the content analysis revealed that individual meanings were deeply contextualized within disciplines and, thereby, were quite distinct. We raise questions regarding how to use dialogue as a meaning making process, the possibilities for a range of meanings, and the significance of contextualizing social justice. The study suggests that significant tensions remain but that “being in tension” is a critical position and potentially informative to faculty who might consider using a framework that invites more diverse perspective rather than embrace a unitary meaning of the term.