Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
PHYSIOLOGICAL AND OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF RHIZOSOLENIA FORMOSA (BACILLARIOPHYCEAE) IN THE CONTEXT OF OPEN‐OCEAN VERTICAL MIGRATION 1

Cultures of Rhizosolenia formosa H. Peragallo were studied to assess whether or not physiological and optical characteristics of this large diatom were consistent with the ability to migrate vertically in the open ocean. Time‐course experiments examined changes in chemical composition and buoyancy of R. formosa during nitrate (N)–replete growth, N starvation, and recovery. Cells could maintain unbalanced growth for at least 53 h after depletion of ambient nitrate. Increases in C:N and carbohydrate: protein ratios observed during N starvation reversed within 24 h of reintroduction of nitrate to culture medium. Buoyancy was related to nutrition: Upon N depletion, the percentage of positively buoyant cells decreased to 4% from 11% but reverted to 9% within 12 h of nitrate readdition. Cells took up nitrate in the dark. Nitrogen‐specific uptake rates averaged 0.48 d−1; these rates were higher than N‐specific growth rates (0. 15 d−1), indicating the potential for luxury consumption of nitrate, which can be stored for later use. Measurements of photosynthesis vs. irradiance, chlorophyll‐specific absorption (aph*(λ)), and pigment composition showed that cells may be adapted for growth under a wide range of irradiances. Values of aph*(λ) were lower for N‐depleted cells than for N‐replete cells, and N‐depleted cells had higher ratios of total carotenoids to chlorophyll a. Aggregation of chloroplasts was more pronounced in N‐depleted cells. These are possibly photoprotective mechanisms that would be an advantage to N‐depleted cells in surface waters. Compounds that absorb in the ultraviolet region were detected in N‐replete cells but were absent in N‐depleted cultures. Overall, these results have important implications for migrations of Rhizosolenia in nature. Cells may survive fairly long periods in N‐depleted surface waters and will continue to take up carbon; then they can resume nitrate uptake and revert to positive buoyancy upon returning to deep, N‐rich water. Uncoupled uptake of carbon and nitrogen during migrations of Rhizosolenia is a form of new production that may result in the net removal of carbon from oceanic surface waters.
Observations on the spread of perennial ryegrass by stolons in a lawn

Abstract Tufts of perennial ryegrass tillers excavated from a deteriorated Agrostis tenuis–Festuca rubra lawn were interconnected by underground stolons. The morphological character and induction of these structures are discussed in relation to reports of ryegrass stolons, rhizomes, and aerial tillers. Systematic excavation of all plant shoots from an area 1.2 × 0.8 m centred on a perennial ryegrass patch showed that ramets of perennial ryegrass genotypes identified both morphologically and by isoenzyme band patterns occurred across a patch 0.8 m diameter. Other genotypes formed smaller patches. When grown as spaced plants those genotypes which had spread to form patches had vegetative tillers with elongated internodes on the periphery of the tiller clump. These observations contradict the assumption often made in studies of the population dynamics of ryegrass that spread of the species by vegetative means is insignificant. Agronomic application of vegetatively spreading ryegrass is considered.
BRIDGES: evolution of basic and applied linkages in benthic science

Abstract Growing awareness of environmental degradation resulted in stricter environmental regulations and laws for aquatic ecosystems. These regulations were followed by an increase in applied research and monitoring beginning in the early 1970s. The number of applied scientists who were members of the North American Benthological Society grew at a commensurate rate. The editors of J-NABS recognized that, despite these increases, submitted manuscripts mostly addressed basic science. In response, the BRIDGES section of J-NABS was created in 1994 to provide a forum for linking basic ecological principles to applied science problems and issues. We examined the emergence of applied science topics in J-NABS and its predecessor, Freshwater Invertebrate Biology, from their beginning in 1982 to 2009. We classified papers among 11 categories that included a basic/applied science linkage. In the 1980s, applied papers were predominantly on effects of eutrophication/pollution and landuse changes. When BRIDGES was established in 1994, papers were solicited by editors and BRIDGES sections usually included >1 paper on a common theme to express complementary or alternate viewpoints. Forty-two papers appeared in BRIDGES between 1994 and 2009, but the number per issue declined after 2001. The total number of applied science papers in J-NABS has increased since ∼1994. Citation analysis of BRIDGES papers illustrates how information is being cited, but applied papers often are used in ways that might not lead to citations. BRIDGES transitioned to a new format in September 2009 to address new types of complex, multifaceted linkages. All new BRIDGES articles will be open access, and authors will be encouraged to produce lay-language fact sheets and to post them on the web.
A genetic analysis of the components of lifetime productivity in Scottish Blackface sheep

Reproductive performance, body growth, wool production and ewe survival were examined in Scottish Blackface sheep. The data set was from a large randomly selected population maintained under hill conditions between 1954 and 1974. Paternal half-sib analyses of variance were used to estimate heritabilities and genetic correlations, while maternal half-sib analyses of variance indicated the relative importance of maternal effects (both genetic and environmental). Among reproductive components, the heritability of fertility (ewes lambing per ewe mated) and lamb survival (lambs weaned per lamb born) were about zero. Litter size (lambs born per ewe lambing) had an estimated heritability of 0·12 (s.e. 0·04) and a repeatability of 0·22 (s.e. 0·02), indicating some scope for improvement. Additionally, the strong genetic correlation between adult body weight and litter size (0·66, s.e. 0·18) suggested greater response from a combination of indirect selection (on body weight) and direct selection (on dam's litter size). Prior to weaning, direct genetic effects on body weight were very small (heritability less than 0·1) with a large influence of maternal environment. After weaning, these maternal influences gradually diminished and the heritability of weight increased. Genetic correlations between body weights showed a similar increasing trend with age. Genetic improvement of early growth rate would be more effective by selecting on a post-weaning rather than a pre-weaning body weight. Fleece weight had a high heritability (about 0·5) but was genetically uncorrelated with other measures of performance. Ewe survival had a small genetic component although estimates of heritability were very imprecise.
Embryonic growth rates of marsupials with a note on monotremes

Earlier workers suggest that marsupial embryonic growth rates are slower than those of many eutherians and that there is little correlation between marsupial gestation lengths and their weight at birth. Previously, this latter observation has been explained as being due to the considerable variability in duration of the initial slow phase of marsupial embryonic growth. The latter phase of pregnancy has always been regarded as rapid and highly uniform in all marsupials. However, this review shows that there can be considerable variation in growth rate during this ‘fast’ phase and also that marsupials have similar rates of embryonic growth to most eutherians. Development within the monotreme egg may proceed at a similar rate to intra-uterine growth in therian mammals.
Non‐target effects of invasive species management: beachgrass, birds, and bulldozers in coastal dunes

Alteration of ecosystem processes by invasive species can lead to the decline of native species. Management actions targeted at removing these invaders and restoring native populations may have knock-on effects on non-target native species and ecosystems. For example, coastal dunes in the Pacific Northwest of North America are nearly monocultures of the introduced beach grasses, Ammophila arenaria and Ammophila breviligulata. These invasive grasses have converted open, low-lying sand dunes with a sparse covering of native plants to tall, densely-vegetated ridges dominated by the two invaders. As a result, the critical open-sand habitat of the federally threatened Western Snowy plover (Charadrius alexandrinus nivosus) has declined along with populations of several native dune plant species. Here we investigate how nearly 20 years of management targeted at the removal of Ammophila for plover recovery are impacting native plant species and dune morphology along 500 km of coastline in Oregon and Washington, U.
Ecologia de Tropidurus torquatus (Sauria: Tropiduridae) da Restinga de Guriri, São Mateus, ES

Ecological aspects of the collared lizard, Tropidurus torquatus, were studied monthly in a sandy coastal plain of southeastern Brazil, from February 1996 to March 1997. We collected 108 specimens using a pressure gun, of which 45 were males, 56 females, and 7 specimens which sex was not possible to identify. The snout vent length (SVL) ranged from 26.0 to 101.8 mm (mean = 61.7 mm; SD = 15.1). Total weight varied from 0.8 to 39.6 g (mean = 14.6 g; SD = 10.42). Based on the frequency of occurrence, major food items found in the stomach contents of T. torquatus were: ants (85.7%), beetles (32.4%), bees (31.4%), termites (22.8%), spiders (20.9) and flowers (20.0%). Based on the relative number of prey ingested, main food items were: ants (41.2%), and termites (40.8%). Total number of prey found in the stomachs of the collared lizard was 2,903, which varied in individual stomachs from 1 to 268 (mean = 27.6; SD = 36.2). Most of the time T. torquatus is a sit-and-wait predator. Its opportunistic feeding behavior, including invertebrates, small vertebrates (other lizard species), and vegetables (flowers and seeds), may contribute to the success of this lizard in colonizing a diversity of habitats.
Biological species problems in some Tetramesa (Hymenoptera, Eurytomidae)

Using horizontal starch gel electrophoresis, ten enzyme systems were surveyed in ten populations of Tetramesa reared from eight species of grass collected from different sites in Britain. Eight species of Tetramesa were recognized on the basis of the number and relative mobilities of electromorph bands for larvae, pupae and adults. No differences were found between populations of T. hyalipennis (Walk.) reared from Elymus repens (L.) and E.farctus (Viv.) or between populations of T. eximia (Gir.) reared from Calamagrostis epigejos (L.) Roth and Ammophila arenaria (L.) Link. Experiments on mate-choice and host preference also supported the electrophoretic results for populations of T. hyalipennis and T. eximia.
Cold hardiness and overwintering survival of the cabbage seedpod weevil, Ceutorhynchus obstrictus

The cabbage seedpod weevil, Ceutorhynchus obstrictus (Marsham) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), is a serious pest of brassicaceous crops in temperate regions and a chronic member of the pest complex that attacks canola in Canada. We conducted several laboratory and field experiments to quantify winter survival and its role in the population dynamics of this insect. We estimated the supercooling point of the weevil at −7 °C and its survival over 8 weeks decreased significantly at −5 °C relative to 5 °C, but extending the overwintering period at 5 °C to 18.5 weeks had no effect on mortality. Cumulative sub‐freezing degrees estimated from air temperature, and especially from soil temperature, were highly correlated with weevil survival. Our linear regression model predicted poor survival of the weevils in typical winters in northern Alberta. Our results indicate that if milder winters prevail, as predicted by global warming, there is potential for the weevils to establish and become a serious pest in northern canola‐growing regions of Canada.
Avaliação genética de bovinos da raça holandesa usando a produção de leite no dia do controle

153,963 test day milk yield records and 13,273 first lactations of Holstein cows calving between 1989 and 1998, were used with the objective of estimating genetic, phenotypic and environmental parameters for test day milk yield (PLDC) and 305 day milk yield (P305) and to study the convenience of using test day yields in genetic evaluations to replace P305. Four models were used. Models 1 and 2 differed according contemporary grouping and monthly milk records were considered as repeated measures. In model 1 (PLDCM01) records were grouped by herd-year-season of test day yield and in model 2 (PLDCM02) by herd-year-season of calving. In a third (model 3), monthly yield records were analyzed as individual traits (C01 to C10); and the fourth (model 4) was the traditional 305-day model. Restricted Maximum Likelihood methodology was used with the MTDFREML system. The estimates of heritability for PLDC, using model 1, model 2 and for P305 were 0.27, 0.15 and 0.25, respectively. Heritabilities for monthly milk records ranged from 0.11+0.02 (C01) to 0.21+0.03 (C08), with the largest values occurring beginning in the fourth month. Genetic correlation estimates between monthly records and P305 ranged from 0.76 to 1.00, with the highest correlations occurring in the middle lactation. It was concluded that using test day milk yield is promising and that selecting for middle lactation records could have advantages over 305-day milk yield.
Paleoecology of South African Australopithecines: Taung Revisited

The environmental context and stratigraphic position of the first australopithecine discovery, at Taung, South Africa, need to be reconsidered, since the Taung juvenile, as Australopithecus africanus, is the type specimen of the gracile lineage of Plio-Pleistocene hominids. Recent study of the site and its regional setting shows that two generalizations widely held today are either incorrect or dubious. In particular, the Taung hominid is found in deposits that clearly indicate a subhumid or humid environment and not a semidesert, thus questioning the original basis for hypotheses concerning an ecological differentiation of gracile and robust australopithecines. Furthermore, the Taung specimen relates to a younger geomorphologic cycle than postulated by F. E. Peabody, and this cycle appears to immediately predate the Middle Pleistocene "Younger Gravels" of the Vaal River. This and other, faunal criteria suggest that Taung is contemporary with or even younger than Swartkrans and Kromdraai rather than broadly coeval with Sterkfontein and Makapansgat. By implication, the Taung hominid may postdate the arrival of true Homo in southern Africa, opening up a new range of problems concerning the phylogeny and ecological adaptations of the australopithecines.
Effects of temperature on early development of the sea urchin Echinometra mathaei from the intertidal reef of Okinawa Island, Japan

Temperature tolerances of the early development (up to 4-arm pluteus) of Echinometra mathaei were investigated at 16-34°C. The critical lower and higher temperatures for embryonic development were 16 and 34°C, respectively. At these two temperatures, 100% of the embryos showed abnormality within 48h after incubation. The lower and higher temperature for development of healthy embryos and larvae were 19°C and 31°C, respectively. The developmental times from the 2-cell to early larval stages showed significant differences among 19 to 31°C. At 19 and 31°C, the embryos reached in healthy 2-arm pluteus stage in 72 and 26h after incubation, respectively. The larval growth performance and relative growth ratios of the different organs of 4-arm larvae showed that they were able to tolerate a wide range of temperature without any abnormality. The present findings will be useful for elucidating the possible mechanisms of larval dispersal, as well as the distribution of this sea urchin in various marine locations worldwide.
Age determination and growth of yellow eels, Anguilla anguilla (L.), from a brackish water, Norway

This paper describes the age determination of European yellow eels from a brackish water area in south-east Norway. Two different methods were used; clearing in 96% ethanol or burning and cracking. When reading the otoliths twice using the same method, the same age was found in 40% of the readings, a discrepancy of 1 year was found in another 40% of the readings (both methods). Burning and cracking yielded age estimates which were on average 1.25 years higher than those obtained by clearing.
Acquired tolerance of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum cv. Micro‐Tom) plants to cadmium‐induced stress

The effects of varying concentrations of cadmium (Cd) on the development of Lycopersicon esculentum cv. Micro-Tom (MT) plants were investigated after 40 days (vegetative growth) and 95 days (fruit production), corresponding to 20 days and 75 days of exposure to CdCl 2 , respectively. Inhibition of growth was clearly observed in the leaves after 20 days and was greater after 75 days of growth in 1 mM CdCl 2 , whereas the fruits exhibited reduced growth following the exposure to a concentration as low as 0.1 mM CdCl 2 . Cd was shown to accumulate in the roots after 75 days of growth but was mainly translocated to the upper parts of the plants accumulating to high concentrations in the fruits. Lipid peroxidation was more pronounced in the roots even at 0.05 mM CdCl 2 after 75 days, whereas in leaves, there was a major increase after 20 days of exposure to 1 mM CdCl 2 , but the fruit only exhibited a slight significant increase in lipid peroxidation in plants subjected to 1 mM CdCl 2 when compared with the control. Oxidative stress was also investigated by the analysis of four key antioxidant enzymes, which exhibited changes in response to the increasing concentrations of Cd tested. Catalase (EC 1.11.1.6) activity was shown to increase after 75 days of Cd treatment, but the major increases were observed at 0.1 and 0.2 mM CdCl 2 , whereas guaiacol peroxidase (EC 1.11.1.7) did not vary significantly from the control in leaves and roots apart from specific changes at 0.5 and 1 mM CdCl 2 . The other two enzymes tested, glutathione reductase (EC 1.6.4.2) and superoxide dismutase (SOD, EC 1.15.1.1), did not exhibit any significant changes in activity, apart from a slight decrease in SOD activity at concentrations above 0.2 mM CdCl 2 . However, the most striking results were obtained when an extra treatment was used in which a set of plants was subjected to a stepwise increase in CdCl 2 from 0.05 to 1 mM, leading to tolerance of the Cd applied even at the final highest concentration of 1 mM. This apparent adaptation to the toxic effect of Cd was confirmed by biomass values being similar to the control, indicating a tolerance to Cd acquired by the MT plants.
Aspectos da fenologia e ecologia de Hedychium coronarium (Zingiberaceae) na estação ecológica do Tripuí, Ouro Preto-MG

Hedychium coronarium is an aquatic macrophyte considered an alien and invasive plant outside the Himalayan region, its dispersal center. It was introduced in the Americas, occurring in different regions in Brazil, including the Tripui Ecological Station (EET) in Ouro Preto-MG. This plant has negative effects on regional biodiversity, thereby studies on its phenological and ecological aspects are needed to assist in control and management measures. Aspects such as height growth, flowering, fructification and stem duration were evaluated between August 2002 and July 2003 at different EET areas. Areas with shade between 60-80% allowed better height growth and fructification. These areas require more attention in management and control.
The Autecology of Cyathura Carinata (Crustacea: Isopoda) in a Cooling Water Discharge Lagoon

Cyathura is a genus of Anthurid isopods represented by some fourteen estuarine species around the world (Miller & Burbanck, 1961). They are unusual amongst the isopods in that the majority of individuals in a population show protogynous hermaphroditism, adults breeding as females in their first year, then changing to males over the following winter (Legrand & Juchault, 1963; Burbanck & Burbanck, 1974). The adults are tubicolous, virtually incapable of swimming, and have limited mobility, resulting in disjunct, stable populations, some of which, in the case of C. polita (Stimpson), are known to have maintained the same locations and densities over a period of 20 years (Burbanck & Burbanck, 1975). The embryos develop within a marsupium or brood pouch on the thoracic somites of the female, and are released as interstitial juveniles 1 mm or more in length. With populations averaging 200 to 400 individuals per square metre, these animals are convenient for autecological studies. Indeed, Burbanck & Burbanck (1979) considered that as hardy, euryokous animals, consistent in their tolerance to fluctuating environmental conditions, and convenient for study, Cyathura species are ideal ‘indicator organisms’ in estuaries.
Phylogenetic inferences in Antennaria (Asteraceae: Gnaphalieae: Cassiniinae) based on sequences from Nuclear Ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacers (ITS)

The phylogenetic relationships among sexually reproducing species of Antennaria (Asteraceae) are poorly understood. An earlier cladistic analysis based on morphology did not fully resolve the phylogeny of these taxa and therefore a different approach using molecular data was explored. The internal transcribed spacer regions (ITS-I and ITS-2) of nuclear ribosomal DNA were sequenced for 30 species of Antennaria and one species from each of the outgroup genera Anaphalis, Ewartia, Leontopodium, and Pseudognaphalium. The ITS-I sequence in Antennaria ranged from 253 to 260 base pairs (bp) in length, and the proportion of nucleotide differences between pairs of species of Antennaria ranged from 1 to 14%. For ITS-2, the divergence between pairs of species of Antennaria ranged from 0 to 8%. ITS-2 is shorter than ITS-1, ranging from 213 to 219 bp. Phylogenetic analysis indicates that, relative to the outgroups included, Antennaria is a well-supported monophyletic group. Based on the genera surveyed, Leontopodium appears to be the sister genus of Antennaria. The general topology of the molecular trees agrees with that based on previous morphological analyses and indicates that Antennaria is composed of six clades of equal rank, corresponding to the traditionally recognized informal groups, the Geyeriae, Argenteae, Arcuatae, Dimorphae, Pulcherrimae, and Catipes. Sequence and morphological data indicate that the Alpinae and Dioicae are unnatural, polyphyletic units that should be abandoned and redefined as the monophyletic Catipes group. Phylogenetic analysis of ITS sequences also suggests the dissociation of A. stenophylla from the Dimorphae, where it is traditionally placed, and its affiliation with the Argenteae, as well as the placement of A. arcuata in its own group.
The presence and absence of inorganic carbon concentrating systems in unicellular cyanobacteria

The response of eight species of unicellular cyanobacteria to growth under high and low CO2 regimes was measured by RuBisCO activity and the extent of inorganic carbon concentration. No significant increase in RuBisCO activity in CO2-limited batch cultures was observed. The main feature of the data presented is the absence of a bicarbonate concentrating process in the oceanic, phycoerythrin-containing species examined, this is discussed in light of bicarbonate supply in freshwater and ocean environments.