Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Socio‐genetic structure and mating system of a wild boar population

Wild boars Sus scrofa have a social organization based on female groups that can include several generations of adults and offspring, and are thus likely matrilineal. However, little is known about the degree of relatedness between animals living in such groups or occupying the same core area of spatial activity. Also, polygynous male mating combined with matrilineal female groups can have strong influences on the genetic structure of populations. We used microsatellite genotyping combined with behavioral data to investigate the fine-scale population genetic structure and the mating system of wild boars in a multi-year study at Châteauvillain-Arc-en-Barrois (France). According to spatial genetic autocorrelation, females in spatial proximity were significantly inter-related. However, we found that numerous males contributed to the next generation, even within the same social group. Based on our genetic data and behavioral observations, wild boars in this population appear to have a low level of polygyny associated with matrilineal female groups, and infrequent multiple paternity. Mortality due to hunting may facilitate the breakup of what historically has been a more predominantly polygynous mating system, and likely accelerates the turnover of adults within the matrilineal groups.
Breeding Summer-Dormant Grasses for the United States

Summer dormancy can lead to increased drought tolerance and persistence in cool-season grasses. Here we describe efforts to develop summer-dormant cultivars in the United States. Summer-dormant grasses are generally well adapted to the Southern Plains but have poor persistence as well as low productivity east and north of this region because of limited winter hardiness and other factors. This limited geographic adaptation is thought to be due to germplasm background rather than the summer dormancy trait. Depending on the target environment, improved cultivars could be developed by selecting within existing summer-dormant material or by crossing the trait into adaptive germplasm. Difficulties in phenotyping summer dormancy, and in some instances fertility barriers across germplasm sources, will need to be overcome to utilize the latter approach.
Antioxidant activity of rosemary and oregano ethanol extracts in soybean oil under thermal oxidation

Four experiments were conducted to measure the antioxidant activity of ethanol extracts of rosemary and oregano compared with synthetic antioxidants such as TBHQ and BHA/BHT. The antioxidant activity was determined and results differed from those of the Oven test at 63o C. Peroxide values and absorptivities at 232 nm of soybean oil under Oven test were lower in treatments with 25, 50, 75, 100 and 200 mg.Kg-1 TBHQ than in treatments with 1000 mg.Kg-1 oregano extract (O), 500 mg.Kg-1 rosemary extract (R) and their mixture R+O. All the treatments were effective in controlling the thermal oxidation of oils; the natural extracts were as effective as BHA+BHT and less effective than TBHQ. The natural extracts were mixed with 25, 50, 75 and 100 mg.Kg-1 TBHQ and then added to the oil. No improvement in antioxidative properties was observed. The best antioxidant concentration could be determined from polynomial regression and quadratic equation from the experimental data.
Fenologia, brotação de gemas e produção de frutos de macieira em resposta à aplicação de cianamida hidrogenada e óleo mineral

ABSTRACT PHENOLOGY, BUDBREAK AND APPLE FRUIT PRODUCTION BY HYDROGEN CYANAMIDEAND MINERAL OIL APPLICATION The budbreak promoters application is one of main management strategies used to decrease theproblems of insufficient winter chilling on temperate fruit trees. Because the influence of budbreakpromoters on productive behaviour of plants, detecting this effects along of productive season becameimportant. Thus, this study was carried out during 2007/2008 season, in Cacador, Santa Catarina State,Brazil, aiming to evaluate different hydrogen cyanamide and mineral oil combinations on phenology,budbreak and apple fruit production. The experimental design was a randomized block, with sixreplications, in factorial arrangement (5x2), with five budbreak promoter treatments (1. control; 2. mineraloil 3.2%; 3. mineral oil 3.2% + hydrogen cyanamide 0.20%; 4. mineral oil 3.2% + hydrogen cyanamide0.39%; 5. mineral oil 3.2% + hydrogen cyanamide 0.59%) and two cultivars (Imperial Gala and Suprema´sFuji). The budbreak promoters application anticipated and reduced the blooming period, increasing theblooming overlap between Imperial Gala and Suprema´s Fuji cultivars. The budbreak promoters equalizedand increased the budbreak in axillary and terminal buds, with the major budbreak level observed inImperial Gala cultivar with 0.44% of hydrogen cyanamide and 3.2% of mineral oil treatment. The increaseof hydrogen cyanamide concentration showed the tendency to decrease the fruit set. It was observeddifferent treatment responses on production and mean fruit weight, probably to be related to fruitproduction predominance in different frutification structures.
The relationship between the water level of the Amazon River and the fate of the zooplankton population in lago Jacaretinga. A Várzea Lake in the Central Amazon

Summary In a varzea lake of the Central Amazon the planktonic crustaceans disappear almost completely after the inflow of suspension‐rich Amazon water. An initial small increase in numbers of individuals is accompanied by increased egg production in Diaphanosoma sarsi and Notodiaptomus amazonicus, suggesting an improved food supply for the Zooplankton. Possible reasons for the complete disappearance of the crustaceans are discussed, these being a dilution effect, flushing out of the plankton by the current, and predation of planktivorous fish.
Ocorrência de Tuthillia cognata Hodkinson, Brown & Burckhardt, 1986(Hemiptera: Homoptera, Psyllidae) em plantios experimentais de camu-camu Myrciaria dubia (H.B.K.) Mc Vaugh em Manaus (Amazonas, Brasil)

The cultivation of camu-camu Myrciaria dubia (H.B.K.) Mc Vaugh has presented countless phytosanitary problems, among them, Tuthillia cognata Hodkinson et al. (Hemiptera: Homoptera, Psyllidae), which often is noticed as a secondary pest. This study aimed to determine the level and the intensity of infestation (%) for T. cognata, as well as to study the biological cycle and behavioural aspects of T. cognata, in experimental plantation of camu-camu. 17 and 14 specimens from plantation I and II, respectively, were randomly selected. The arithmetic average, the standard deviation, the variance and the total amplitude were calculated for each studied variable. A level of infestation of 82% (plantation I) and 57% (plantation II), an intensity of infestation of 94% (plantation I) and 75% (plantation II) and an average number of six nymphs/leaf in each plantation were found, indicating that T. cognata is one of the key pest on this culture. Adults of Chrysoperla sp. (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) and nymphs of Reduviidae (Hemiptera: Heteroptera), which can to be considered as probable biological control agents for T. cognata, were found in the plantations.
Influence of the ryegrass endophyte (Neotyphodium lolii) in a cool‐moist environment III. Interaction with white clover

Abstract White clover was grown together with either endophyte‐free or endophyte‐infected (strain either AR6 or wildtype) Nui ryegrass under four environmental conditions (covering low or moderate temperatures, moist or draughted soil, clippings removed or returned) in a glasshouse experiment. The presence of wildtype endophyte in ryegrass plants had in general, but especially under optimal growing conditions, a significant positive effect (P < 0.05) on white clover stolon length, number of growing points, and the number of nodules. No endophyte effect was observed on the distribution of nodules over root depth, size, and colour classes under any environment. It is postulated that endophyte‐associated compounds in root leachates may have an effect on mycorrhiza, the size of the effect increasing with the level of abiotic stress to which ryegrass plants are subjected.
Perinatal development and nutrient utilization in chickens : effects of incubation conditions

Suboptimal incubation conditions can negatively affect survival and development of chicken embryos. However, physiological mechanisms that may explain these effects, and the long-lasting consequences are largely unknown. Therefore, the first aim of this thesis was to investigate effects of eggshell temperature (EST) and O2 availability during incubation on survival, development, physiology, and nutrient utilization of chicken embryos. The second aim was to investigate long-lasting effects of suboptimal EST on survival and subsequent performance of broiler chickens. The first study investigated effects of a high (38.9°C) or a normal (37.8°C) EST combined with a low (17%), normal (21%), or high (25%) O2 concentration from day 7 until 19 of incubation on the survival rate, nutrient utilization, and the developmental and physiological status of broiler embryos. The second study investigated effects of high EST on glucose metabolism in broiler embryos using [U-13C]glucose. The third study investigated effects of high EST on growth performance and the incidence of ascites in broiler chickens. Finally, effects of a high EST and a hole in the air cell on the developmental and physiological status of layer hatchlings were investigated. Results showed that a high EST or low O2 availability from the first week of incubation onward negatively affected survival and development of broiler chickens from their perinatal period until slaughter age. Body development of broiler hatchlings was reduced after high EST incubation because of a lower efficiency in protein utilization for growth. This was possibly due to the use of glucogenic amino acids as a glucogenic energy source, because high EST increased the glucose oxidation in broiler embryos during the second half of incubation and resulted in lower hepatic glycogen. Body development was proportional to the O2 availability during incubation. In addition, differences in O2 concentration during incubation seem to affect the development of adaptive mechanisms, and these mechanisms might possible influence nutrient utilization and body development. High EST in the last week of incubation in layer embryos negatively affected hatchling development, but the effect of a hole in the air cell was minimal. Effects of high EST were long-lasting in broiler chickens expressed by a lower body weight and a higher ascites incidence during the growout period. In conclusion, negative effects of suboptimal incubation conditions can be partly explained by changes in nutrient utilization and metabolite levels in the perinatal period and can have long-lasting effects on the survival and performance of broiler chickens.
Inheritance of high palmitic acid content in the sunflower mutant CAS‐12 and its relationship with high oleic content

CAS-12 is a sunflower mutant with increased levels of palmitic (C16: 0 = 30%) and oleic (C18: 1 = 55%) acids in its seed oil, hence it has a reduced linoleic acid content (C18: 2 < 5%). This study was conducted to determine the inheritance of high C16: 0 content and its relationship with high C18: 1 content in CAS-12. Reciprocal crosses involving CAS-12, CAS-5 (high C16: 0 content), HAOL-9 (high C18: 1 content) and HA-89 (standard fatty acid profile) were made. The F 1 , F 2 and BC 1 F 1 generations were obtained. The genetic control of the high C16: 0 trait in CAS-12 was partially recessive and gametophytic. In all cases, this character segregated in the ratio 19: 38: 7 (low: intermediate: high C16: 0 content) in the F 2 generation. These results, together with the lack of segregation for C16: 0 content in crosses between CAS-12 and CAS-5, indicated that the genetic control of the high C16: 0 trait in CAS-12 was similar to that in CAS-5 in being controlled by partially recessive alleles (pl, p2, and p3) at three loci. Crosses between HA-89 and CAS-12, and HAOL-9 and CAS-5 (segregating for C16: 0 and C18: 1) demonstrated that the high C16: 0 and the high C18: 1 traits were independently inherited. However, C18: 1 segregation in these crosses exhibited reversal of dominance. Apparently, the low C18: 1 parental lines carried modifier genes causing the deviation.
Is drift the primary process promoting the resilience of river invertebrate communities? A manipulative field experiment in an intermittent alluvial river

Summary In river systems, aquatic invertebrate communities are surprisingly persistent over time and generally recover quickly from disturbances. Drift has long been viewed as the primary process promoting this resilience, and it plays a important role in predictive models of community composition and concepts in lotic ecology. More recently, other processes such as vertical migration from the hyporheic zone, aerial oviposition from distant refuges and the use of resistance forms (e.g. diapause) have received greater recognition and support for their importance. In this study, the view that drift is the primary process promoting invertebrate community resilience was challenged in an intermittent alluvial river using reach-scale flow manipulations. First, six treatment channels were completely dried for 1 week, while three others were left flowing to be used as controls. Second, flow was re-established in channels and drift was either allowed or blocked for a 4-week period. Third, during this period the resilience of community structure, composition and function was compared between treatments, and the potential for colonisation from the drift, hyporheic zone, aerial oviposition and resistance forms was measured. Communities recovered after only 2 weeks in all of the previously dried channels, and contrary to our hypotheses, invertebrate community structure, composition and functional trait composition were not altered by blocking drift, indicating it was not the primary process promoting resilience in this river. Three lines of evidence suggested colonisation from the hyporheic zone and not aerial oviposition nor resistance forms promoted resilience following rewetting including the following: (i) finding all common benthic taxa in the hyporheic zone during the drying event, (ii) a distinct decrease in invertebrate size upon rewetting in all treatment channels and (iii) a negative correlation between resilience and water table depth. This experiment highlighted the potential importance of the hyporheic zone as a key source of colonisation in alluvial rivers and emphasises the need for a three-dimensional perspective when considering community resilience in rivers. Adaptive management approaches are needed to direct attention to sources (e.g. hyporheic zone) that are essential to promoting community resilience in rivers facing increased pressures due to climate change, water abstraction and flow regime alteration.
QUALITATIVE PHTOCHEMISTRY PROFILE OF WATERMELON (CITRULLUS VULGARIS SCHRAD) RIND EXTRACTS WITH DIFFERENT SOLVENTS

ABSTRACT Introduction: Citrullus vulgaris Schrad. is known to contain bioactive compounds such as cucurbitacin, triterpenes, sterols and alkaloids, vitamins, minerals and has also proved to contain antioxidant and therapeutic properties. Objectives: The study focus to elucidate on the percentage of extractive yield and to screen the watermelon rind extracts using various solvents and hot aqueous extract for its phytochemical profile. Methods: The solvents used were methanol, ethanol, chloroform, petroleum ether, ethyl acetate, acetone and hot aqueous extracts. The rind samples were shade dried and powdered. It was then subjected to soxhlet extraction using the different solvents and pressurized hot water extraction. The obtained extracts were concentrated and screened for preliminary phytoconstituents using standard laboratory protocols. Results: The rind extracts with different solvents and pressurized hot water extract showed different yield percentages and on analysis, hot aqueous extract was found to have the highest extractive yield. The preliminary screening of the rind extracts with different solvents and pressurized hot water extract were tabulated and showed the presence and/or absence of various bioactive constituents including the primary and secondary metabolites. Conclusion: Thus, the phytochemical constituents such as the primary metabolites and the secondary metabolites and various other bioactive elements that are identifies are thought to be responsible for its antioxidant and therapeutic properties. Keywords: Citrullus vulgaris Schrad. , Metabolites, Phytoconstituents, Soxhlet extraction, Yield percentage, Watermelon rind.
Seed treatment with H2O2 modifies net photosynthetic rate and antioxidant system in mung bean (Vigna radiata( L. Wilczek) plants

Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) in minute concentrations serves as a signaling molecule for processes involved in the growth and development of plants. The present study aimed to explore the role of seed treatment with H2O2 on growth biomarkers, photosynthetic traits, activities of carbonic anhydrase, and various antioxidant enzymes in 45-day-old plants of mung bean (Vigna radiata L. Wilczek) cv. SML-668 under non-stress conditions. The seeds were soaked in 0, 0.01, 0.1, or 0.5 mM H2O2 for 2, 4, or 8 h, and then inoculated with Rhizobium, sown in sandy loam soil, and allowed to grow for 45 days. The plants that developed from the H2O2-treated seeds demonstrated improved growth and photosynthetic attributes, enhanced activity of various antioxidant enzymes (e.g., catalase, peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase), and higher accumulation of proline than plants from non-treated seeds. The H2O2-triggered upregulation of antioxidant enzymes and proline (osmolyte) could have resulted in the observed improvement of growt.
Assessing tiger–prey interactions in Sumatran rainforests

Little is known about interactions between the critically endangered Sumatran tiger Panthera tigris sumatrae and its prey because of the difficulties associated with detecting these species. In this study, we quantify temporal overlap between the Sumatran tiger and five of its presumed prey species from four study areas comprising disturbed lowland to primary submontane forest. Data from 126 camera traps over 8984 camera days were used to estimate species activity patterns and, in turn, their overlap through the coefficient Δ (ranging from 0 to 1, i.e. no overlap to complete overlap). A newly developed statistical technique was applied to determine confidence intervals associated with respective overlap, which is important, as such measures of precision are usually not estimated in these types of study. Strong temporal overlap was found between tiger and muntjac Muntiacus muntjac (Δ=0.80, 95%CI=0.71–0.84) and tiger and sambar Cervus unicolor (Δ=0.81, 0.55–0.85), with the latter illustrating the importance of measuring precision. According to the foraging theory, Sumatran tigers should focus on expending lower levels of energy searching for and then capturing larger bodied prey that present the least risk. Hence, surprisingly, there was little overlap between the crepuscular tiger and the largest-bodied prey species available, the nocturnal tapir Tapirus indicus (0.52, 0.44–0.60), suggesting that it is not a principal prey species. This study provides the first insights into Sumatran tiger–prey temporal interactions. The ability to estimate overlap statistics with measures of precision has obvious and wide benefits for other predator–prey and interspecific competition studies.
Diel vertical migration of individual jellyfish (Periphylla periphylla)

Vertical migration of the mesopelagic jellyfish Periphylla periphylla (Scyphozoa: Coronatae) was studied by use of hull‐mounted and submerged echosounders in a ~440 m deep Norwegian fjord. The research vessel was kept at a fixed position so that individual jellyfish remained in the acoustic beam for prolonged periods in the low advective environment of the deep fjord basin. The population of jellyfish was divided into different vertical modes with different migration behavior. A scattering layer (SL) of P. periphylla was located at 150‐200 m during the day; it migrated coherently to the upper 50 m at night and returned to depth the next morning. A deeper SL seemed to remain below 250 m both day and night. However, focus on individuals revealed additional, asynchronous migration activity. A pulse of P. periphylla left upper layers already a few hours after sunset, and there was interchange of individuals between shallow and deep water throughout the night, including ascent of individuals from the apparent nonmigrating deepest SL. Vertical migration velocities were ~2 cm s−1 both during ascent and descent, irrespective of time. Different types of swimming behavior were reflected in the acoustic records, affecting the recorded backscatter.
The Adaptive Significance of Egg Size and Laying Date in Thick‐Billed Murres Uria Lomvia

The effect of egg size and laying date on the fledging mass of Thick—Billed Murre chicks was examined at Cape Hay, Bylot Island, and Coburg Island, Northwest Territories, Canada, to test the idea that late—laying females face a trade—off between the time of egg laying and egg size. There was a seasonal decline in egg volume, and egg volume was correlated with mass and size (wing length) of chicks soon after hatching. Partial correlations showed that larger eggs hatch into heavier, but not larger chicks. Chics hatched early in the season fledged at heaver masses than late—hatched chicks. Hatching mass contributed significantly to this effect, but other factors (e.g., energy intake) were probably also important. A model, based on a multiple regression of the effects of hatching mass and hatching date on fledging mass, shows the possible combinations of egg size and timing of breeding while maintaining a constant fledging mass. Data on the replacement interval and size of replacement eggs suggest that females that lay late may do better (in terms of fledging mass of their chick) to minimize the delay in laying by producing a small egg earlier, rather than delay laying further in order to produce a larger egg. This is because they are unable to accumulate nutrients at a fast enough rate to make a delay worthwhile. This suggests that the seasonal decline in egg size is an adaptive response to a seasonal deterioration in environmental conditions.
Xylem water potentials and hydraulic conductances in eight species of ferns

Water potentials, flow rates, and anatomy of xylary elements were studied in eight species of ferns to assess the physical constraints that xylem structure presents to water flow. Comparisons were made among ferns of different leaf morphology as well as between a fern with vessels and ferns with tracheids only. Hydraulic conductance was measured by forcing a solution through excised plant segments. These hydraulic conductances were in close agreement with conductances calculated from water potential gradients and flows measured in intact plants. In three species, backflushing excised segments by forcing a basipetal flow increased subsequently measured conductances two- to six-fold, indicating that the xylem of these three species was partially blocked in intact plants. Hagen–Poiseuille estimates of conductance based on xylary element diameters were 1.8–2.7 times the conductances measured for excised segments. Hydraulic conductances of tracheids and vessels of ferns thus deviate from those of ideal capilla.