Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Adaptive significance of egg size in the European Starling: experimental tests

Reproductive success in relation to egg size was studied in European Starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) by swapping whole clutches between nests at the start of the incubation period. Egg size did not reflect parental quality as no measure of reproductive success was correlated with the foster mothers' mean egg size. There was a significant positive relationship between the mean size of the cross-fostered eggs and the subsequent mean size of hatchlings. The mean size of cross-fostered eggs did not affect hatching success or nestling growth rates, and initial nestling size differences between broods with large and small eggs persisted for <1 wk. No effect of mean egg size on mean nestling survival could be detected. Furthermore, a partial cross-fostering experiment, where nestlings were swapped between nests the day after hatching, failed to demonstrate any lasting effect of egg size on nestling size. It is suggested that mean egg size may only influence reproductive success during particularly inferior environmental conditions (Less)
Direct and indirect effects of crayfish grazing in a stream community

In surveys and experiments in a Michigan stream I found that large crayfish (Orconectespropinquus) can indirectly facilitate epilithic diatoms and sessile, grazing insects by virtually excluding a filamentous alga (Cladophora glomerata) from deep water habitats. In shallow (< 20 cm) habitats, Cladophora cover and ash-free dry biomass usually exceeded 75% and 50 g/m2, respectively. In deep habitats (20-50 cm), Cladophora cover rarely exceeded 10% and ash-free dry biomass was usually <3 g/m2. Mean densities of large crayfish in deep water (3-11 individuals/m2) were 3-20 x greater than their densities in shallow water. Two field experiments were conducted to determine if large crayfish were responsible for the reduced abundance of Cladophora in deep water. In the first experiment, depth and current velocity were held constant for all substrata, and crayfish were excluded from half of the substrata. As physical factors such as current velocity and light may vary with water depth, a second experiment was conducted that compared the effect of substrata depth vs. crayfish grazing on Cladophora abundance. In both experiments, Cladophora biomass was at least 10 x greater on substrata which were not grazed by large crayfish. In the second experiment, substratum depth did not have a significant effect on Cladophora abundance. The results of both experiments demonstrated that grazing by large crayfish was the primary mechanism generating the pattern of Cladophora distribution observed in Augusta Creek. The virtual exclusion of Cladophora from deep water habitats by large crayfish can indirectly facilitate epilithic diatoms and sessile, grazing insects that consume these diatoms. Diatoms and sessile, insect grazers were found to be less abundant beneath Cladophora mats in field experiments. Total diatom abundance on substrata without a Cladophora canopy was 20 x that of substrata with a Cladophora canopy. Two sessile, grazing insects (Psychomyia flavida and Leucotrichia pictipes) were 2-3 x more abundant on substrata which did not have heavy Cladophora cover. These results suggest that crayfish are a keystone consumer in this stream community, but the effect is habitat specific and related to crayfish body size.
Abortion and Seed Set in Lodgepole and Western White Pine Conelets Following Feeding by Leptoglossus occidentalis (Heteroptera: Coreidae)

Abstract Leptoglossus occidentalis Heidemann is a serious pest of second-year cones in conifer seed orchards. We investigated the impact of this insect on first-year pine conelets. L. occidentalis adults and nymphs were caged on conelets of lodgepole pine, Pinus contorta var. latifolia Engelmann, and western white pine, Pinus monticola Dougl. ex D. Don. Abortion in lodgepole pine conelets was negligible, but feeding by nymphs reduced seed production by 75% compared with unexposed controls. Mortality of nymphs on lodgepole pine conelets was almost 100%, suggesting that conelets of this species are not a suitable food source for L. occidentalis. When nymphs had access to second-year cones, seed set in conelets was unaffected, and survival of nymphs greatly improved. Seventy-five percent of western white pine conelets exposed to L. occidentalis nymphs aborted, compared with none in unexposed controls. Seed set in surviving cones was reduced by 47%. Conelet abortion fell to 10% when nymphs were provided with an alternative food source. In pine seed orchards, damage to conelets probably is caused primarily by nymphs remaining on trees after second-year cones have been harvested.
Hypolipidaemic and Antiatherosclerotic Effects of Zingiber officinale in Cholesterol Fed Rabbits

Hyperlipidaemic rabbits when challenged with a 50% EtOH extract of Zingiber officinale showed a reduction in total cholesterol and serum LDL‐cholesterol. A reduction in HDL ratio was seen in atherofed rabbits compared with controls which were restored when challenged with the Zingiber extract. An atherogenic index of 4.7 was brought down to 1.2 using plant products. The tissue lipid profiles of liver, heart and aorta showed similar changes to those noticed in serum lipids. Zingiber extract feeding increased the faecal excretion of cholesterol thus suggesting a modulation of absorption.
Polyphasic approach and typification of selected Phormidium strains (Cyanobacteria)

Cyanobacteria (phylum Cyanophyta/Cyanobacteria, class Cyanophyceae) are among the most widespread organisms and are able to adapt themselves to different extreme environments. These micro‐organisms have an important ecological role, given their ability to perform oxygenic photosynthesis, and are employed in different fields based on their ability to produce several bioactive compounds. Their prokaryotic nature, the presence of many cryptic species, and the coexistence of different nomenclature systems make the taxonomic identification of cyanobacteria particularly difficult. Moreover, for several species, the original reference strains (holotypes) are lacking. Increasingly, authors are using a polyphasic approach to characterize cyanobacteria, while typification is a recent trend that is being used to solve the problem of missing holotypes in other micro‐organisms. Here we focus on a filamentous cyanobacterium, isolated from the Euganean Thermal District (Padova, Italy) and temporarily named strain ETS‐02, using a polyphasic approach that includes morphological, ultrastructural, biochemical (pigment and fatty acid content), physiological (nitrogen fixation), and genetic (16S rRNA, 16S–23S ITS, cpcB‐IGS‐cpcA, rpoC1, gyrB, rbcL, nifD loci) analyses. The description of Phormidium cf. irriguum CCALA 759 as the epitype of Phormidium irriguum was also used to complete the characterization of strain ETS‐02.
Types of floral nectaries and the concepts ‘character’ and ‘character‐state‘—a reconsideration

SUMMARY A new approach to the concepts ‘character’ and ‘character-state’, as well as additional observations on the floral nectaries, resulted in more comprehensive insights into the relations among the floral nectary types. Instead of treating the 1986 nectary types (nectaria caduca, n. persistentia, n. septalia and n. trichomalia) on a par, a hierarchical ordering is presented. Within the hierarchical system—which comprises types of floral nectaries delineated on the basis of their respective morphological nature—higher and lower level characters and character-states are distinguished. The n. trichomalia are not integrated in this character ordination because the presence of nectariferous trichomes is considered to be a feature of a different level. In addition, a proposal is made to replace the term ‘n. septalia‘ by ‘n. gynopleurica‘.
A comparison of maturation drying, germination, and desiccation tolerance between developing seeds of Acer pseudoplatanus L. and Acer platanoides L

SUMMARY Differences in maturation drying and desiccation tolerance during seed development were detected between the two contrasting Acer spp. , Norway maple (Acer platanoides L.), which shows orthodox seed storage behaviour, and sycamore (A. pseudoplatanus L.), which shows recalcitrant seed storage behaviour. In both species, the onset of germinability (150 d tests at 5 °C) occurred after percentage seed moisture content had begun to decline, but before net loss in seed moisture. The onset of germinability in Norway maple occurred 4 wk before physiological maturity (i.e. 4 wk before the end of the increase in seed dry matter), whereas in sycamore it occurred some ten weeks before physiological maturity when the seeds were only 60 % filled. Seeds of Norway maple were able to tolerate enforced rapid desiccation to 10% moisture content (f. wt) at physiological maturity, when maturation-drying had reduced seed moisture content to 54 %. Between 2 and 4 wk later seed moisture content rapidly declined naturally to 25 %, at which value the fruits were shed. In contrast, a constant rate of maturation-drying was observed in sycamore. The seeds were shed at 58 % moisture content and, in almost all cases, the seeds were intolerant of rapid desiccation to c. 10 % moisture content throughout seed development. A very small proportion of sycamore seeds did survive rapid desiccation when harvested between 6 September and 4 October, but no seeds survived desiccation to 5 % moisture content or below. A comparison of the germination of sycamore seeds harvested on four dates and dried to various moisture contents showed that the seeds tolerated greater desiccation as they matured between 12 July and 20 September, but there was no further change thereafter. The results are therefore compatible with previous classifications of seed storage behaviour in each species, and with the view that the initial decline in seed moisture content stimulates the developmental switch which results in the onset of germinability in both orthodox and recalcitrant seeds.
The phylogeny of lower Hymenoptera (Insecta), with a summary of the early evolutionary history of the order

A cladistic analysis of the lower Hymenoptera, including all the ‘symphytan’ families and the apocritan families Stephanidae, Megalyridae, Trigonalyidae, Ibaliidae, Vespidae and Gasteruptiidae, has been undertaken. A total of 98 characters were scored for 21 taxa. Twenty equally parsimonious minimum-length trees were obtained. The phylogenetic status of the Xyelidae is uncertain: they might be monophyletic. or the Xyelinae might be the sistergroup of the rest of the Hymenoptera. The non-xyelid Hymenoptera are probably monophyletic; the phylogeny Tenthredinoidea + (Megalodontoidea + (Cephidae + (Anaxyelidea + (Siricidae + (Xiphydriidae + (Orussidae + Apocrita)))))) is proposed for this clade. The Blasticotomidae are probably the sistergroup of all othe Tenthredinoidea, but tenthredinoid phylogeny is otherwise uncertain. Substantial homoplasy occurs within the ‘siricoid’ families, making the relative positions of the Anaxyelidae and Siricidae uncertain. The Stephanidae might be the sistergroup of the rest of the Apocrita; the phylogeny of the remaining apocritan taxa included is insufficiently elucidated. The phylogeny proposed here supports the hypothesis that the appearance of parasitism in the Hymenoptera took place in the common ancestor of Orussidae + Apocrita, the host of which was probably wood boring insect larvae. The exact larval mode of feeding of the ancestral hymenopteran cannot be determined due ot the diversity of lifestyles in the basal lineages of the order.
Beiträge zur Taxonomie der Gattung Calendula II. Taxonomische Revision der südeuropäischen perennierenden Calendula-Sippen

Die sudeuropaischen perennierenden Taxa der Gattung Calendula wurden einer taxonomischen Revision unterzogen. Nach einer Ubersicht uber die Erforschungsgeschichte folgen Beschreibungen morphologischer und cytologischer Merkmale, die in der Hauptsache an kultivierten Pflanzen analysiert wurden. Von den Wuchsformenmerkmalen sind die verschiedenen Langen der Hauptsproszonen, die Anzahl der Seitenzweig-Generationen pro Vegetationsperiode, das postflorale Verhalten der reproduktiven Zweigzonen, die Langenverhaltnisse zwischen vegetativen und reproduktiven Abschnitten der Seitenzweige und die unterschiedliche Innovationsintensitat bedeutungsvoll. Die an Laubblattern von Seitenzweigen I. Ordnung gefundenen Merkmale beziehen sich auf die Umrisform, Dicke und Viskositat. Die Zahl der Hochblatter an reproduktiven Zweigzonen ist mit Chromosomenzahlen korreliert. Weitere wichtige Merkmale ergeben sich aus der Achanenmorphologie, die ebenfalls z. T. mit den Chromosomenzahlen korreliert sind. Aus dem Studium der Pollenkornformen ergeben sich gewisse Anhaltspunkte zur Phylogenie der behandelten Taxa. Die untersuchten Calendula-Sippen werden zwei Formenkreisen zugeordnet, die sich teils um Calendula suffruticosa Vahl, teils um Calendula incana Willd. taxonomisch und chorologisch gruppieren. In Einzelbeschreibungen werden die bekannten Sippen besprochen und zwei neue Unterarten beschrieben. The south-european perennial taxa of the genus Calendula were revised taxonomically. A review of the exploring history is followed by descriptions of morphological and cytological characters, which were analysed mainly in cultivated specimens. Among the growth-habit characters the different length of the leading shoot's zones, the number of lateral branch generations/vegetation period, the postfloral attitude of the reproductive branch zones, the length ratio between vegetative and reproductive parts of lateral branches and the different intensity of innovation are important. The characters of leaves of secondary branches refer to the shape, thickness and viscosity. The number of bracts in the reproductive zones is correlated with chromosome number. Other important characters are derived from the achene's morphology, which are partly correlated with chromosome numbers too. The pollengrain-forms provide some criteria for the phylogeny of taxa treated. The Calendula-taxa studied are put in two groups, which in taxonomical and chorological respect partially belong to Calendula suffruticosa Vahl and partially to Calendula incana Willd. The known taxa discussed in detail and two new subspecies arc described.
Extracellular production in relation to growth of four planktonic algae and of phytoplankton populations from Lake Ontario

In four species of planktonic algae both carbon fixation and excretion on an ash-free dry weight basis increase with relative growth rate (K) of the culture measured in log10 units. In natural populations percentage excretion values are positively correlated with K values; however, environmental factors may be of relatively greater importance and determine the extent of excretion.
Studies of Dugons at Shark Bay, Western Australia I. Analysis of Population Size, Composition, Dispersion and Nabitat USe on the Basis of Aerial Survey

In midwinter dugongs concentrate in western Shark Bay, adjacent to Dirk Hartog I. , although scattered individuals or groups remain in other regions. Up to 496 dugongs were counted in intensively surveyed western areas in July 1979. At least 553 individuals are calculated to have been present in the region, and a minimum population of over 900 individuals estimated for the Bay as a whole. The population seems to be a well defined isolate, and is relatively undisturbed. Conditions are very favourable for more detailed study. A method for estimating the number of animals overlooked in the blind zone directly beneath the aircraft is described. Aerial counts of dugongs varied greatly with conditions. Cloud cover had a large depressing effect: surface turbulence and subsurface turbidity were less significant. Dugong activity is concentrated on the sublittoral platform. Sites of major aggregation may not be the same in successive years. Locally favoured habitats are at the seaward margins of the sublittoral platform, and on offshore shoals. Vegetation patterns at favoured sites may reflect dugong grazing. Persistent use of favoured localities, and local shifts in concentration were observed. Distribution of other large vertebrates, and of boats, relative to that of dugongs was examined and a significant correlation between sightings of large sharks and larger aggregations of dugongs was found. Analysis of dispersion revealed that most dugongs were in groups although most sightings were of single individuals. Cows with calves were less likely to be in the company of other dugongs than were adults without calves. From ll to 12% of individuals were calves.
The effects of industrial pollution on the development and succession of marine fouling communities. I: Analysis of species richness and frequency data

The effects of industrial pollution were determined by comparing the pattern of development of marine fouling communities situated along a pollution gradient within Port Kembla Harbour (Australia) with those from nearby Wollongong Harbour, a relatively unpolluted area. Fifty-three fouling species were found in the communities from Wollongong Harbour compared to only 40 in those from Port Kembla Harbour. Twenty-eight species (including many bryozoans) occurred only in the former, while 15 species occurred solely in the latter. Ten of the 25 species common to both areas were more numerous in Port Kembla Harbour, probably because of the greater availability of free substratum and food in this area. The species richness of fouling communities in Port Kembla Harbour was found to decrease as pollutant concentrations increased. In both study areas, communities established in summer showed significantly higher species richness than those whose development was initiated in winter. This difference was less pronounced in Port Kembla Harbour and was attributed to the effects of pollution on larval settlement. Although species richness increased at all sites through time, Wollongong Harbour communities contained a greater number of species at the end of the experiment than communities from Port Kembla Harbour. Despite this, fewer species were found in the very early developmental stages of the communities from Wollongong Harbour. This result highlights the inherent problems associated with using species richness or diversity measures as a means of determining marine environmental quality.
Effect of Aroclor 1248 and Two Pure PCB Congeners upon the Membrane Fluidity of Rat Renal Tubular Cell Cultures

The influence of different polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) upon dynamic properties of membranes from rat renal tubular cell cultures has been investigated. Studies have been realized with Aroclor 1248 (a commercial PCB mixture with 48% chlorine by weight), and two pure PCB congeners: 3,3′,4,4′-tetrachlorobyphenyl (a coplanar compound) and 2,2′,4,4′,5,5′-hexachlorobiphenyl (anortho-substituted nonplanar congener). Changes in the membrane fluidity were measured by the fluorescence polarization technique using the probe diphenylhexatriene. The treatment of cells with Aroclor 1248 increased membrane fluidity in a dose-dependent manner. Even though rat renal tubular cell cultures accumulated only a low amount of PCBs when cells were incubated in presence of the toxicant, that small quantity was enough to modify the membrane fluidity. Interestingly, a significant increase of membrane fluidity was found in presence of 2,2′,4,4′,5,5′-hexachlorobiphenyl, but no significant differences were detected in the presence of 3,3′,4,4′-tetrachlorobiphenyl. This means that changes in the membrane fluidity induced by the different PCB congeners are related to the coplanarity or lack of coplanarity of the toxic compounds.
Proteolysis in Ensiled Forage Legumes That Vary in Tannin Concentration

Extensive protein hydrolysis after harvest and during fermentation is characteristic of forage legumes preserved as silage. Differences in proteolysis among species have been observed, but plant characteristics associated with these differences have not been well defined. This study was conducted to determine if tannins play a role in modifying N transformations associated with the preservation of forage legumes as silage. In 1987, 12 legume genotypes (representing six species) were field grown and analyzed for tannin concentrations pre- and post-ensiling dry matter (DM), pH, and N forms. In 1988, 18 genotypes (representing seven species) were evaluated in a similar manner. Tannin concentrations range from 0 to 27 g tannic acid equivalents kg⁻¹ DM in 1987 and 0 to 31 g in 1988. Dry matter concentration pH, and concentration of total N, soluble nonprotein N (SNPN), free amino acid N , and ammonia N of fresh and ensiled herbage were within the range of previous literature reports for forage legumes. The proportion of total N in the form of SNPN after 35 d ensiling ranged from 32 to 73% in 1987 and 26 to 69% in 1988 and was negatively related to tannin concentration (r² = 0.75). Within sericea lespedeza [Lespedeza cuneata (Dum-Cours) G. Don], the only species with substantial variation for both tannin and silage SNPN concentrations r² values were 0.81 in 1987 and 0.88 in 1988. Red clover(Trifolium pratense L.) and cicer milkvetch(Astragalus cicer L.) did not contain measurable levels of tannins, but exhibited lower proteolysis than alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.). These results suggest that tannins play a major role in limiting proteolysis some legumes during ensiling, but other factors also are involved. A joint contribution of the Wisconsin Agric. Exp. Stn. and the USDA-ARS.
Variation in the mechanical properties of flight feathers of the blackcap Sylvia atricapilla in relation to migration

Migration causes temporal and energetic constraints during plumage development, which can compromise feather structure and function. In turn, given the importance of a good quality of flight feathers in migratory movements, selection may have favoured the synthesis of feathers with better mechanical properties than expected from a feather production constrained by migration necessities. However, no study has assessed whether migratory behaviour affects the relationship between the mechanical properties of feathers and their structural characteristics. We analysed bending stiffness (a feather mechanical property which is relevant to birds’ flight), rachis width and mass (two main determinants of variation in bending stiffness) of wing and tail feathers in migratory and sedentary blackcaps Sylvia atricapilla. Migratory blackcaps produced feathers with a narrower rachis in both wing and tail, but their feathers were not significantly lighter; in addition, bending stiffness was higher in migratory blackcaps than in sedentary blackcaps. Such unexpected result for bending stiffness remained when we statistically controlled for individual variation in rachis width and feather mass, which suggests the existence of specific mechanisms that help migratory blackcaps to improve the mechanical behaviour of their feathers under migration constraints.
Excretion of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and -furans in milk of cows fed on dioxins in the dry period

A toxicokinetic experiment with four cows fed polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and -furans in the dry period for about 100 days is described. The excretion of the dioxins in milk after calving was characterized by a distribution and an elimination phase. The distribution phase lated for about 7 days. The duration of the elimination phase depended on the kind of congener. The longest elimination half-life was found for hexachlorinated congeners