Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Variation in Serripes groenlandicus (Bivalvia) growth in a Norwegian high‐Arctic fjord: evidence for local‐ and large‐scale climatic forcing

We examined the growth rate of the circumpolar Greenland Cockle (Serripes groenlandicus) over a period of 20 years (1983–2002) from Rijpfjord, a high‐Arctic fjord in northeast Svalbard (80°10′N, 22°15′E). This period encompassed different phases of large‐scale climatic oscillations with accompanying variations in local physical variables (temperature, atmospheric pressure, precipitation, sea ice cover), allowing us to analyze the linkage between growth rate, climatic oscillations, and their local physical and biological manifestations. Standard growth index (SGI), an ontogenetically adjusted measure of annual growth, ranged from a low of 0.27 in 2002 up to 2.46 in 1996. Interannual variation in growth corresponded to the Arctic climate regime index (ACRI), with high growth rates during the positive ACRI phase characterized by cyclonic ocean circulation and a warmer and wetter climate. Growth rates were influenced by local manifestations of the ACRI: positively correlated with precipitation and to a lesser extent negatively correlated with atmospheric pressure. A multiple regression model explains 65% of the variability in growth rate by the ACRI and precipitation at the nearest meteorological station. There were, however, complexities in the relationship between growth and physical variables, including an apparent 1 year lag between physical forcing changes and biological response. Also, when the last 4 years of poor growth are excluded, there is a very strong negative correlation with ice cover on a pan‐arctic scale. Our results suggest that bivalves, as sentinels of climate change on multi‐decadal scales, are sensitive to environmental variations associated with large‐scale changes in climate, but that the effects will be determined by changes in environmental parameters regulating marine production and food availability on a local scale.
Suitability of strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa Duch.) microplants to the field cultivation

Suitability of strawberry microplants of cv. Teresa to the field cultivation was examined. In comparison to vegetatively propagated plants, microplants produced more leaves, runners and inflorescences. Also, yielding and resistance to leaf scorch of these plants were much higher. Good condition of microplants in the autumn positively influenced on the plant vigour and yielding in the next year of cultivation. The obtained results displayed, that strawberry microplants of cv. Teresa were more suitable for field cultivation when compared with standard propagated seedlings.
Invasion of Pinus halepensis from plantations into adjacent natural habitats

Abstract Questions: Do invasions of P. halepensis (Aleppo pine) from plantations into adjacent natural communities occur in the Mediterranean region, where the species is native? What are the spatio-temporal processes involved in pine invasions in contrasting Mediterranean and semi-arid climatic regions? Location: Mediterranean and semi-arid regions of Israel. Methods: The density of invading Pinus was measured in relation to the distance from the plantation edge. Plants were categorized by age, height, basal stem girth and developmental stage, their spatial distribution was also recorded. Results: Analysis of plant age distribution indicates that the invasion process started when the plantations were 20–25 years old. Most invading plants were found within 20 m from the plantation edge, but a few individuals reached distances up to 100 m and became new invasion foci. Plant density declined sharply with distance from adult trees, data showing a better fit to a power model than to a negative exponential model. Invading Pinus began to produce cones earlier in the semi-arid than in the Mediterranean region (9 vs 12 years to 50% reproductive plants). In both regions, higher densities of invading plants were found on the west side of the plantation, the opposite direction to the hot winds that prevail during seed release. Conclusion: The frontal advance of P. halepensis from plantations is relatively slow, but the populations also expand by a saltation process, creating spreading ‘islands’ of pine trees in the natural vegetation. Spatial pattern of recruits with distance from the source population was remarkably similar to the pattern of seed dispersal in the same region (Nathan et al. 1999). This implies that the probability of a dispersed seed developing into a plant is independent of the distance from the forest edge.
A numerical study of the effect of periodic nutrient supply on pathways of carbon in a coastal upwelling regime

A size-based ecosystem model was modified to include periodic upwelling events and used to evaluate the effect of episodic nutrient supply on the standing stock, carbon uptake, and carbon flow into mesozooplankton grazing and sinking flux in a coastal upwelling regime. Two ecosystem configurations were compared: a single food chain made up of net phytoplankton and mesozoo- plankton (one autotroph and one heterotroph, A1H1), and three interconnected food chains plus bacteria (three autotrophs and four heterotrophs, A3H4). The carbon pathways in the A1H1 simu- lations were under stronger physical control than those of the A3H4 runs, where the small size classes are not affected by frequent upwelling events. In the more complex food web simulations, the microbial pathway determines the total carbon uptake and grazing rates, and regenerated nitrogen accounts for more than half of the total primary production for periods of 20 days or longer between events. By contrast, new production, export of carbon through sinking and mesozooplankton grazing are more important in the A1H1 simulations. In the A3H4 simulations, the turnover time scale of the autotroph biomass increases as the period between upwelling events increases, because of the larger contribution of slow-growing net phytoplankton. The upwelling period was characterized for three upwelling sites from the alongshore wind speed measured by the NASA Scatterometer (NSCAT) and the corresponding model output compared with literature data. This validation exercise for three upwelling sites and a downstream embayment suggests that standing stock, carbon uptake and size fractionation were best supported by the A3H4 simulations, while the simulated sinking fluxes are not distinguishable in the two configurations.
Epidemiology and Control of Tomato Mosaic Virus

The cultivated tomato ( Lycopersicon esculentum) is subject to a range of diseases resulting from infection with certain strains of tobacco mosaic ¥irus (TMV). The mosaic disease in tomato was described in the Netherlands in 1910 (158), and in the USA in 1916 (9). Since then considerable efforts have been made to under­ stand its epidemiology and to devise control measures. The fact that the disease remains widespread suggests that the efforts to date have not been entirely successful. TMV is the most infectious plant virus known; young tomato plants are in­ fected when rubbed with infected tomato sap diluted one part in 5 million parts of water (27). It is also the most persistent virus in terms of its ability to survive outside plant cells and in dead tissues (38). Its numerous strains infect a very wide range of plant species, although there is considerable specificity between strain and host. It is not surprising, therefore, that the disease is ubiquitous wherever tomatoes are grown under glass and in many areas of outdoor cultivation. Tomatoes are not a cheap crop to produce, particularly under glass, and until recently about 20% of world production probably was lost because of TMV. The literature on TMV is voluminous; so also is the literature on the disease in tomato. Many of the papers mentioned in my 1960 review (25) are omitted from this paper.
Optimization of growout diets for red drum, Sciaenops ocellatus

Because of the high costs associated with feed inputs, as well as increased concern about waste production on fish farms, there is considerable interest in developing growout diets which are both cost effective and low polluting. In two 12week growth trials, the response of subadult red drum, Sciaenops ocellatus, fed either a diet of 440 or 360 g protein kg –1 diet (44% or 36%) with varying E:P ratios were tested. In the first experiment, five diets containing 440 g protein kg –1 diet and one diet containing 360 g protein kg –1 diet (reference) were offered to red drum (mean initial weight of 186 g). The five test diets contained 83, 103, 123, 143, and 163 g lipid kg –1 diet, resulting in E:P ratios ranging from 34.3 to 38.9 kJ g protein –1 . In experiment 2, five diets providing 360 g protein kg –1 diet and one diet containing 440 g protein kg –1 diet (reference) were offered to red drum (mean initial weight of 145 g). Dietary lipid levels included 83, 123, and 163 g lipid kg –1 diet, and dietary carbohydrate was diluted with 10% and 20% non-nutritive bulk filler in two of the diets to result in E:P ratios ranging from 34.5 to 46.7 kJ g protein –1 . In experiment 1, no significant differences in mean final weight, mean weight gain, feed efficiency, protein conversion efficiency or hepatosomatic index were observed between the five test diets providing 440 g protein kg –1 diet. Intraperitoneal fat generally increased with increasing dietary lipid. The results of experiment 2indicate that amongst the test diets with 360 g protein kg –1 diet, mean final weight, mean weight gain, feed efficiency, protein conversion efficiency and hepatosomatic index were not significantly different. Intraperitoneal fat significantly increased with increasing dietary lipid. In both experiments, fish offered diets with 440 g protein kg –1 diet produced significantly higher growth and FE values as compared to fish receiving diets containing 360 g protein kg –1 diet. This study indicated that subadult red drum are tolerant of shifts in E:P ratios and utilize a wide range of dietary lipid and carbohydrate without compromising growth.
Odontites valentinus sp. nov. (Scrophulariaceae), a new endemic taxon from eastern Spain

A new species, Odontites valentinus, is described. It is close to O. ka- liformis, and grows on saline soils of littoral salt marshes in the eastern territories of Spain. Data are also reported on its ecology and chorology, as well as on its conserva- tion status. Key words: Odontites, endemics, vascular plants, taxonomy, Valencian Community, Spain. RESUMEN: Se describe Odontites valentinus, nuevo endemismo de los saladares litorales iberolevantinos, que resulta afin a O. kaliformis. Se aportan datos sobre su ecologia, distribucion y situacion de sus poblaciones. Palabras clave: Odontites, en- demismo, plantas vasculares, taxonomia, Comunidad Valenciana, Espana.
POTENTIAL IMPACTS OF THE INVASIVE EXOTIC SHRUB RHAMNUS FRANGULA L. (GLOSSY BUCKTHORN) ON FORESTS OF SOUTHERN NEW HAMPSHIRE

Abstract This paper investigated the potential for the exotic shrub Rhamnus frangula L. (glossy buckthorn) to alter native plant community composition in southeastern New Hampshire. Stratified random sampling was performed with 2 m × 2 m plots randomly located in 5 m intervals along three 50 m transects in four even-aged Pinus-mixed hardwood forests, three of which were managed stands. The associations between R. frangula and the measured species abundances and environmental variables were investigated using linear, least-squares multiple regression and Non-metric Multidimensional Scaling Ordination. Plot basal area of R. frangula was inversely related to woody seedling density (p < 0.001), herb cover (p < 0.05), and species richness (p < 0.01). The relative contribution of R. frangula to explaining variance in seedling density was greater than canopy openness, soil pH, soil clay, or soil sand. Abundance of R. frangula was a statistically significant predictor (p < 0.05) of individual herb species abundances for all study sites. This evidence supports the hypothesis that R. frangula causes a decline in seedling density and alters native ground level plant species abundances. Furthermore, the patterns agree with the suppression of ground level plant species abundances by R. frangula found in removal experiments.
Power-Law Exponent Modulated Multiscale Entropy: A Complexity Measure Applied to Physiologic Time Series

Quantifying the complexity of physiologic time series has long attracted interest from researchers. The multiscale entropy (MSE) algorithm is a prevailing method to quantify the complexity of signals in a variety of research fields. However, the MSE method assigns increased complexity to the mixed signal of a physiologic time series added with white noise, although the mixed signal should become less complex due to the broken correlation. In addition, the MSE method needs users to visually examine its scale dependence (shape) to better characterize the complexity of a physiologic process, which is sometimes not feasible. In this paper, we proposed a new method, namely the power-law exponent modulated multiscale entropy (pMSE), as a complexity measure for physiologic time series. We tested the pMSE method on simulated data and real-world physiologic interbeat interval time series and demonstrated that it could solve the above two difficulties of the MSE method. We expect that the proposed pMSE method or its future variants could serve as a useful complement to the MSE method for the complexity analysis of physiologic time series.
Retrospective Analysis of the Application of the ECBs Key Interest Rates to the Macroeconomic Indicators of the CEMAC

This article focuses on a comparative analysis of the responses of the CEMAC macroeconomic variables to the shocks of the key interest rates fixed by the BEAC and the ECB. To do this, we used a panel for the period 2011-2018. Thanks to the analysis of the simulations made possible by the SVAR estimate, we find that the CEMAC macroeconomic variables namely real GDP, private investment and inflation respond positively to the shocks of the ECB lending marginal rate, unlike that of the BEAC. In addition, the economic activity and private investment of the CEMAC countries are sensitive to the shocks of the deposit facility rate of the ECB and not to that of the BEAC. Furthermore, the application of the BEAC deposit facility rate only stimulates inflation in the CEMAC. The CEMAC macroeconomic variables have similar responses both in shock of the BEAC TIAO and that of the ECB. Therefore, it would be advantageous for the monetary authorities of the BEAC to apply the marginal lending facility rate and the deposit facility rate of the ECB; because it is a pledge of economic prosperity of the CEMAC countries. However, the success of this monetary policy also requires the support of public authorities.
Chemoecological investigations of the invasive waterweeds Elodea spp.

The highly invasive waterweed Elodea nuttallii is still spreading vigorously in many European waterbodies and progressively displacing the formerly introduced E. canadensis. The full extent of this displacement seems underestimated because E. nuttallii exhibits a high phenotypic plasticity and may resemble E. canadensis in the vegetative state, thus impeding a clear taxonomic identification. We developed chemotaxonomic and molecular techniques that used species-specific flavonoid patterns and distinct length and base pair polymorphism in the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region. This allowed us to clearly identify even ambiguous specimens, which had primarily been determined as E. canadensis but turned out to be E. nuttallii. Our findings and the great support by many persons sending us samples confirmed the need for alternative taxonomic methods in addition to conventional morphological keys to prevent misidentifications occurring even in culture collections and scientific databases. Hybridization between E. canadensis and E. nuttallii in Europe seems unlikely because mostly female plants have been observed so far and male and female plants seemingly do not occur together in one water body. Further, our molecular and chemotaxonomic analysis did not support the existence of hybrids.
Taphonomic Characteristics of Micromammals Predated by Small Mammalian Carnivores in South Africa: Application to Fossil Accumulations

Micromammal (Murid, Soricid, Macroscelid and Chrysochlorid) bones and teeth may become incorporated into palaeontological and archaeological sites through the deposition of scats from small carnivores, or the regurgitated pellets of owls or diurnal birds of prey. The pellets and scats disaggregate over time leaving behind accumulations of micromammal bones and teeth. Such accumulations are frequently used in palaeoclimatic and palaeoecological research. This paper presents the results of a comparative taphonomic study of the micromammal assemblages recovered from the scats of some African species of small mammalian carnivore (including the genet (Genetta genetta), caracal (Felis caracal) and serval (Felis serval)) with the aim of investigating the digestion patterns produced by these predators in order to ascertain what taphonomic signature they are likely leave in fossil micromammal accumulations. The incisor digestion patterns from the comparative assemblages suggest that certain African small carnivores produce assemblages with 100% of teeth showing light to moderate digestion. The taphonomic signature of the caracal is compared to that of other previously researched felid species and results indicate that there is considerable variation within the Felidae. The incisor digestion patterns of the small carnivores investigated suggest that the mixing of a small carnivore assemblage from a predator such as the genet with a category 1 predator would produce a pattern of incisor digestion similar to that produced by a category 2 or category 3 predator. It is clearly important to establish the taphonomic patterns of assemblages produced by southern African small carnivore species in order to ascertain exactly what characteristics distinguish the small carnivores scat assemblages from each other, and from other categories of predator. This is turn will provide information which can be used to identify and interpret fossil micromammal assemblages which have been accumulated by more than one species of predator.
Variability of Essential Oil Content and Composition of Origanum vulgare L. Populations from a North Mediterranean Area (Liguria Region, Northern Italy)

Native populations of Origanum vulgare L. from the Liguria and Emilia regions of northern Italy were analysed for essential oil content and composition. Morphological characters suggested that the Ligurian samples belonged to the ssp. viride. The essential oil content of inflorescences ranged from less than 5 mg g ˇ1 in the samples from Emilia, to more than 50 mg g ˇ1 in some Ligurian samples, values similar to those reported for ssp. hirtum from southern Italy. Sixty-four compounds were identified in the essential oil. The samples were allotted to three main groups on the basis of oil composition: the first group had a high content of components belonging to the carvacrol/thymol biosynthetic pathway; the second was characterized by a diAerent sesquiterpene composition and a high linalool content; and the third, including the two samples of ssp. vulgare from Emilia, was characterized by the presence of abundant sesquiterpenes. The high essential oil content of the samples studied, and the presence of some particular morphological characters suggest that the taxonomy of O. vulgare, especially in its western distribution area, needs further investigation. Linalool types, although often not considered as ‘typical oregano’, may be useful in promoting wider utilization of the biodiversity of this species. # 2000 Annals of Botany Company
Assessing the Potential for Zone‐Specific Management of Cereals in Low‐Rainfall South‐Eastern Australia: Combining On‐Farm Results and Simulation Analysis

In the low-rainfall region of south-eastern Australia, distinctive soil types reflecting the typical landscape of higher elevated dunes and swale zones at the bottom can be found within one field. Different soil characteristics cause consequently large variability in cropping productivity between soils and across seasons. To assess the possibilities for zone-specific management, five farmer fields were zoned into a dune, mid-slope and swale zone. For each site, zone yields were mapped over 2 years and soil properties were surveyed. This information was used to parameterize and validate the APSIM model for each zone. Field-measured PAWC increased from the dune to the swale zone. On-farm results and simulation analysis showed distinctive yield performance of the three designed zones. However, yield is not related to PAWC, it is rather a complex relationship between soil type, fertility and rainfall. While in high-rainfall years, the swale zones yielded higher due to higher soil organic carbon content and less drainage losses, the dune zones performed better in the low-rainfall years due to lower evaporation losses. This study emphasizes that in this specific environment where soil variation in texture and subsoil constraints strongly influence crop performance, mechanistic crop models and long-term field observations are necessary for better understanding of zone-specific performance, and simple linear relationships across years or sites are not useful.
Exploitation of hybrid vigour in sesame (Sesamum indicum L.).

Nature and magnitude of gene action and extent of heterosis were studied in a set of 21 hybrids and their parents developed by diallel mating design without reciprocals in sesame. The parent G. Til-3 was found to be the best general combiner for seed yield per plant, number of capsules per plant, number of seeds per capsule and number of branches per plant, whereas KMR-74 was good combiner for number of branches per plant and seed yield per plant. The crosses, KMR-74 x Patan-64, KMR-24 x G. Til-3, KMR-74 x KMR-77 and G. Til-3 x G. Til-10 exhibited high sca effect and showed highly significant positive standard heterosis for seed yield per plant. The SCA variance was more than GCA variance for the traits capsule length, number of seeds per capsule and seed yield per plant indicating the role of non-additive gene action for the inheritance of these traits. Hence, it is suggested that yield can be improved by exploitation of hybrid vigour through heterosis breeding.
Factors Affecting Buffalobur (Solanum rostratum) Seed Germination and Seedling Emergence

Abstract Buffalobur is a noxious and invasive weed species native to North America. The influence of environmental factors on seed germination and seedling emergence of buffalobur were evaluated in laboratory and greenhouse experiments. The germination of buffalobur seeds occurred at temperatures ranging from 12.5 to 45 C, with optimum germination attained between 25 and 35 C. Buffalobur seeds germinated equally well under both a 14-h photoperiod and continuous darkness; however, prolonged light exposure (≥ 16 h) significantly inhibited the seed germination. Buffalobur seed is rather tolerant to low water potential and high salt stress, as germination was 28 and 52% at osmotic potentials of −1.1 MPa and salinity level of 160 mM, respectively. Medium pH has no significant effect on seed germination; germination was greater than 95% over a broad pH range from 3 to 10. Seedling emergence was higher (85%) for seeds buried at a soil depth of 2 cm than for those placed on the soil surface (32%), but no seedlings emerged when burial depth reached 8 cm. Knowledge of germination biology of buffalobur obtained in this study will be useful in predicting the potential distribution area and developing effective management strategies for this species. Nomenclature: Buffalobur, Solanum rostratum Dunal SOLCU.