Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Occurrence and distribution of Carangidae larvae (Teleostei, Perciformes) from the Southwest Atlantic Ocean, Brazil (12–23°S)

Summary The objective of this study was to identify larvae species composition, distribution and abundance of carangids along the Brazilian coastal shelf area in order to provide background information on the reproductive community patterns. All carangid larvae used in this study are from the larval fish collection of the Zooplankton and Ichthyoplankton Integrated Laboratory of Federal University of Rio de Janeiro – Brazil (DZUFRJ). Carangid larvae were collected in 13 surveys (nine in the dry season and four during the rainy season) between 1998 and 2008, from Bahia (12°S) to Rio de Janeiro (23°S), comprising 158 sampling stations (45 coastal; 98 oceanic; 15 over seamounts). A bongo net with 330 and 500-μm mesh size was towed at a speed of about two knots, obliquely (surface-bottom-surface) from a maximum depth of 200 m. Samples were collected both during the day and at night and combined in the analysis. A total of 1321 carangid larvae were identified representing 14 species: Decapterus punctatus (56.7%), Chloroscombrus chrysurus (16.8%), Caranx crysos (8.4%), Selar crumenophthalmus (6.3%), Trachurus lathami (6.3%), Caranx latus (2.4%), Carangoides bartholomaei (1.3%), Oligoplites spp. (0.6%), Pseudocaranx dentex (0.3%), Seriola dumerili (0.2%), Elagatis bipinnulata (0.2%), Selene setapinnis (0.2%), Trachinotus carolinus (0.2%) and Selene vomer (0.1%). There was no significant difference in carangid density (P = 0.17) or in species composition (P = 0.09) among the coastal, oceanic and seamount stations. Although there was a significant difference in larval densities between the dry and rainy periods (P = 0.000264), the community composition did not vary significantly (P = 0.47). Therefore, seasonality (rainy and dry periods) seems to be the main factor affecting carangid densities although the community composition is not influenced by sampling periods or by the gradient coast-ocean.
Pedological Characterization, Fertility Status and Classification of Some Typical Soils of Bako Tibe and Toke Kutaye Districts of Western Showa, Ethiopia

Purposive maize farm field selection was carried out in two districts of western Showa,Ethiopia. Four representative farm fields were selected based on landforms and otherphysiographic attributes in humid highland and sub humid mid altitude maize growingareas of Toke Kutaye and Bako Tibe districts. Four soil profiles were opened andcharacterized. Pedons are formed under udic and perudic moisture and iso-thermictemperature regimes for both districts. The soils were very deep, well-drained reddishbrown to dark reddish brown loamy sand to sandy clay loams, with thick reddish brownloamy sand top and sub soil for Bako Tibe and Toke Kutaye. Three pedons had clayeytop and sub soils. The pH of surface soil ranged from 3.26 -5.52 which was very stronglyacidic to strongly acidic. The soil organic carbon contents of the surface four pedonsranged from 2.07 to 2.69 % which were in medium to high but very low to high for thesubsurface horizons. Both the highland pedons have 20.06 to 54.17 cmol kg -1 soil CEC thatwas in medium to very high, while 10.82 to 23.52 cmol kg -1 soil CEC for two midaltitudes, which was low to medium. The total nitrogen concentration is 0.19 to 0.23 %for top soil, which was low to medium range, and 0.03 to 0.07 % for sub surface horizon,which was in very low range. According to USDA Soil Taxonomy, the four pedons wereclassified as Typic Hapludalfs (Nitisols according to WRB). The four pedons weredifferent in physicochemical properties, indicating the need to characterize soils to givesite-specific fertilizer recommendations for maize production.
Physiological potential of common landrace bean seeds (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)

The objective of this study was to characterize the physiologic potential of common landrace bean seeds. The seeds were produced in the 2007/2008 growing season with 26 genotypes from Lages-SC. The seed physiological potential was evaluated from the percentage germination, before and after accelerated ageing, the weight of 100 seeds, electrical conductivity, the length of the primary root and field emergence. The genotypes were grouped into classes using the Scott-Knott test and compared with a standard (commercial cultivars) using the Dunnett test, which indicated the BAFs 36, 55, 75, 102 genotypes as having a high physiological potential. Under field conditions, most landrace genotypes were adapted to environmental conditions, except for BAFs 4, 7, 23. The correlation analysis showed a positive association between the percentage initial germination and the length of the main root, and a negative correlation with the weight of 100 seeds. The genotypes with a lower seed mass showed more vigor.
West Nile virus from an avian conservation perspective

West Nile virus (WNV) is a widespread and ecologically adaptable virus for which birds are major amplifying hosts. Its unexpected arrival to North America in 1999 gained worldwide attention, in part because of the resulting mortality in birds. The virus is now endemic in North America, and sporadic outbreaks continue in Africa, the Middle East, as well as Europe and Russia. Avian taxa vary in their susceptibility to WNV-associated disease, with North American corvids being the most severely affected. Recent North American and European WNV strains have experimentally induced morbidity and mortality in birds; however, avian deaths have not been a prominent feature of WNV epidemiology outside of the United States and Canada. Bird species experiencing population declines include the Yellow-billed magpie Pica nuttalli, American crow Corvus brachyrhynchos and Blue jay Cyanocitta cristata. The American robin Turdus migratorius is noteworthy for its important role in transmission. Methods to reduce WNV transmission range from screened enclosures to aerial pesticide spraying. In addition, numerous vaccines have been administered to birds with unreliable but occasionally encouraging results. Avian conservation efforts will continue to be challenged with controlling WNV spread and transmission owing to the wide geographic range of the virus, diversity and abundance of mosquito vectors and global climatic trends.
Estimation of the spawning stock biomass of blue grenadier (Macruronus novaezelandiae) off western Tasmania based upon the annual egg production method

Egg production of the blue grenadier, Macruronus novaezelandiae, spawning stock off western Tasmania was surveyed from June through September in 1994 and 1995. In each year, daily egg production rates were calculated for each of three surveys and a normal curve was fitted to estimate annual egg production. The CV for the egg production estimate for the survey at the peak of the 1995 season was 14%. Daily egg mortality was not significant in any survey, but a value of 5% was assumed. The spawning biomass of blue grenadier on the west coast of Tasmania was estimated to be between 83 660 and 100 073 t in 1994 and between 59 727 and 71 376 t in 1995. Confidence limits of the estimates were obtained by a bootstrap where the highly skewed egg density data were resampled. Biomass was approximately inversely proportional to incubation time. Increases or decreases in mortality resulted in slightly smaller increases or decreases of biomass respectively. Uncertainty of the sex ratio between spawning and non-spawning periods caused the largest variation in biomass estimate (~30%). The proportion of the population that spawns each year remains a further uncertainty in the estimate of total stock biomass.
A New Eutherocephalian (Therapsida, Therocephalia) from the Upper Permian Madumabisa Mudstone Formation (Luangwa Basin) of Zambia

ABSTRACT A new therocephalian therapsid, Ichibengops munyamadziensis, gen. et sp. nov., is described on the basis of two partial skulls from the upper Permian (Wuchiapingian) upper Madumabisa Mudstone Formation of the Luangwa Basin, Zambia. The specimens offer insights into the diversity of therocephalians in a poorly sampled region, preserving unique maxillary structures, dental morphology that is intermediate between basal therocephalians and eutherocephalians, and a maxillovomerine bridge forming an incipient secondary palate. A phylogenetic analysis of 135 craniodental and postcranial characters from 56 therapsid taxa (including 49 therocephalians) recovered I. munyamadziensis as the sister taxon of the Russian Chthonosaurus, with both taxa resolving near the hofmeyriid C whaitsiid C baurioid clade (either as the sister group to this clade or nested near whaitsiids). Ichibengops shares with Chthonosaurus several features, including a ventral maxillary flange in which the upper postcanines are situated (also in Lycosuchus), anteroposteriorly short suborbital vacuities with strongly scalloped anterior borders, a furrowed or ridged surface texture on the palatal surface of the palatine, and a possible maxillovomerine bridge (although this latter structure is incompletely preserved in Chthonosaurus). The new taxon, along with its proposed relationship to Chthonosaurus, adds to a list of sister-group pairs of Wuchiapingian tetrapods in southern Gondwana and Laurasia, indicating that effective, though largely unknown, dispersal routes persisted in Pangea at least through early late Permian times.
Evolutionary changes in craniomandibular shape in the great cats (Neofelis Griffith and Panthera Oken)

Evolutionary shape changes in skull and mandibular anatomy was analysed in 223 specimens of pantherine felids (Neofelis nebulosa, Panthera leo, Panthera onca, Panthera pardus, Panthera tigris, Panthera uncia) compared to a small-felid outgroup, consisting of 86 specimens of nine different species, using digital surface morphometry on 25 (skull) and 17 (mandible) landmarks. Shape evolution in the pantherine species is complex and nonlinear, and involves both large-scale and small-scale shape changes. Shape changes frequently differ among the ingroup species, but the four large Panthera species (leo, onca, pardus, tigris) bear some resemblance to each other. The leopard and jaguar bear the closest resemblance to each other, and several shape changes are common to the lion and tiger, but have probably evolved convergently as a result of large size. The lion has undergone the largest and most numerous shape changes from a small-felid outgroup. Certain shape changes in the skull and, in some respects, the mandible of the clouded leopard bear resemblance to those in the four large Panthera species. The snow leopard is often regarded as the most primitive of the extant Panthera, and skull and mandibular shape changes often diverge markedly from those observed in the other five ingroup taxa; its overall skull shape is rather similar to the small-felid outgroup. This indicates that the shape changes in the clouded leopard are convergent with those of the four large Panthera species. Landmark integration showed no significant correlation with molecular phylogeny, chiefly owing to the snow leopard being placed among the four large Panthera species. A traditional phylogenetic topology with the snow leopard as the basal-most species of Panthera yielded a weak but nonsignificant phylogenetic signal. © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2008, 95, 766–778.
Phytoplankton Growth and Diel Variations in Beam Attenuation through Individual Cell Analysis.

Abstract : In order to understand diel variations in the bulk water inherent optical property beam attenuation, mean forward light scatter of different populations of phytoplankton, from flow cytometric analysis of individual cells, was determined. Forward light scatter showed diel patterns similar to those of beam attenuation, with a minimum near dawn and a maximum near dusk, for populations of prokaryotic picophytoplankton (Prochlorococcus and Synechococcus) and eukaryotic nanophytoplankton measured in the equatorial Pacific and the Sargasso Sea. The cell concentration patterns do not generally correspond to those of beam attenuation. Using a combination of empirical calibrations relating beam attenuation to flow cytometric measurements of pure cultures of phytoplankton in the laboratory, and Mie theory, the contributions of different groups of phytoplankton to the diel variations in beam attenuation were determined. The results indicate that the phytoplankton assemblage measured by flow cytometry can account for essentially all of the diel variation in the beam attenuation signal. In addition, flow cytometric measurements of phytoplankton light scattering and cell concentration over the diel light cycle were used to estimate in situ phytoplankton group-specific growth and loss rates in the equatorial Pacific and the Sargasso Sea.
Why do basic research? A lesson from commercial exploitation of miscanthus

Extended areas of new crops to produce not only food, but also energy and materials, was one of the visions when the EU agricultural policy was reformed in 1992. However, this vision remains unfulfilled. The perennial C4 grass Miscanthus, originating from eastern Asia, was one of the crops that caught major interest as a potential biomass crop due to its high productivity even in cool northern European conditions (Beale & Long, 1995). However, even very large initial programmes on Miscanthus were conducted almost exclusively within one genotype, namely the sterile, triploid, interspecific hybrid M. ×giganteus, and ran into significant problems of low first winter survival and prohibitive high costs of vegetative establishment. Thus, despite the many encouraging results on Miscanthus productivity (van der Werf et al., 1993), environmental acceptability (Christian & Riche, 1998) and harvest and storage suitability (Venturi et al., 1998), it is clear that the introduction of a new crop into agriculture is not simple, and that basic ecophysiological understanding is important to support commercial exploitation. The results in this issue from Clifton-Brown & Lewandowski (see pp. 287–294) contribute to this vital, basic understanding, revealing that low frost tolerance of M. ×giganteus rhizomes is probably the cause of low winter survival in cool parts of Europe, but that within the genus Miscanthus better frost tolerance exists.
A Study on the Ornithofauna of Sakaryabaşı/Eminekin Pond and Its Vicinity

The study was carried out to determine the ornithofauna of Eminekin Pond and its vicinity in Sakaryabasi, within the district of Cifteler in Eskisehir province. The study area is situated on one of the migration routes of birds. During the study period, from July 1995 to July 1996, a total of 102 bird species from 37 families were observed in the area and 37 of these species were resident, ten of them were winter visitors, forty six were summer visitors and only nine were found to be passage migrants.
THE STABILITY/DIVERSITY CONTROVERSY: A TEST OF HYPOTHESES'

This paper uses the hypothetico-deductive method (i.e., hypothesis testing) to ex- amine a venerable and still unresolved ecological issue: the relation between species diversity and community stability. Data from freshwater fish communities are used to test two related hypotheses. The data presented on fish species diversity from the four major lake basins of Africa support the hypothesis that stable environments have more species than relatively less stable ones. The data presented from a natural perturbation in Panama, the introduction of a predatory fish, refute the hypothesis that stable environments have greater resilience (i.e., faunal stability). In the latter test, predation by an introduced piscivore caused the local extermination of 13 of 17 native fish species in the environmentally stable lake system, but caused no local extermination in the adjacent and rela- tively less environmentally stable river system. The results provide empirical support for the hy- pothesis that stable environments, associated with a higher species diversity, will have lower (faunal) stability. It is suggested that system characteristics, such as physical heterogeneity or seasonality, may be more important in determining community species resilience than the number or species diversity of resident species.
Biodiversity of shipwrecks from the Southern Bight of the North Sea

The seabed of the Southern Bight of the North Sea is mostly composed of sandy soft sediments. Natural hard substrates like pebbles are rare and only occur locally. Lost cargos or shipwrecks lie on the seabed as results of unintentional processes, but because of their inherent structure, they effectively act as artificial reefs deprived of an a priori defined set of functions. On Belgian waters, 231 shipwrecks and other artificial hard structures are dispersed on the continental shelf. Together with the sunken vessels of the neighbouring countries, they create a network of individually isolated hard substrates available for the colonization of the epifauna. The faunal diversity of these shipwrecks has never been studied before. This thesis analyzed the diversity as well as spatial and temporal variation in community structure of ten Belgian shipwreck sites. A total of 224 macrospecies have been identified, with at least 50 species new or rare for the Belgian fauna and Southern North Sea. All shipwrecks are strongly dominated by cnidarians in terms of biomass and by amphipods in terms of abundances. The artificial hard substrate communities isolate strongly from the surrounding soft sediment communities by sharing few species, being dominated by different faunal groups and having a distinct trophic organization. Looking at a cross-shore gradient of sites, three groups of shipwrecks could be determined. Metridium senile, a sea anemone, dominates a species poor community of the coastal sites. Channel water masses influence the offshore sites causing a more stable abiotic environment. The hydrozoan Tubularia indivisa dominates this community. Intermediate sites are also dominated by T. indivisa, but a higher biomass is here observed. It also appears that this T. indivisa is a key species allowing for the settlement of a large set of secondary epibionts. The shipwreck network is further discussed in the context of the regional diversity, dispersal of species and fisheries based applications
Long-term effects of multiple applications of nitrogen fertiliser on grazed dryland perennial ryegrass/white clover dairy pastures in south-west Victoria. 2. Growth rates, dry matter consumed, and nitrogen response efficiencies

A 3-year grazing experiment undertaken on a commercial dairy farm in south-west Victoria ascertained the effects of multiple applications of different rates of nitrogen (N) fertiliser over autumn and winter on pasture growth rates, dry matter (DM) consumed, and N fertiliser response efficiencies. Four treatments, replicated 3 times in a randomised block design, comprised: zero N (A); 3 applications of 25 kg N/ha (B); 3 applications of 50 kg N/ha (C); and 3 applications of 75 kg N/ha (D), with N applied as urea (46% N). Treatments B, C, and D increased pasture growth rates relative to Treatment A, with Treatments C and D having the greatest affect. Treatments B, C, and D also increased pasture DM yield, with Treatment D having the greatest effect. Total pasture DM consumed in 1997 was 7.1, 7.9, 8.2, and 8.9 t DM/ha for A, B, C, and D, respectively. For 1998, the values were 5.4, 6.5, 7.2, and 8.7; and in 1999 5.7, 6.6, 6.9, and 7.7 t DM/ha. During 1997, N response efficiencies were 11, 7, and 8 kg DM/kg N for treatments B, C, and D, respectively. Based on a cost of AU$400/t urea (including freight, handling, and spreading), Treatment B was the most economical, costing 8 cents/kg additional pasture DM produced. Nitrogen application resulted in response efficiencies of 14, 12, and 15 kg DM/kgN in 1998 and 13, 8, and 9 kg DM/kg N in 1999 for Treatments B, C, and D, respectively. In 1998 the most economical application was Treatment D, costing 6 cents/kg additional pasture DM produced, whilst in 1999 Treatment B was most economical costing 7 cents/kg DM for additional pasture. The apparent recovery of applied N fertiliser by the pasture was calculated and found to fall within the range reported in the literature. Apparent recoveries estimated during 1997, 1998, and 1999, respectively, were Treatment B: 62, 78, and 70%; Treatment C: 50, 69, and 45%; and for Treatment D: 45, 82, and 51%. It is concluded that, for the range of N fertiliser rates tested, N fertiliser is a cost-effective option for the production of extra pasture DM during autumn and winter on grazed perennial ryegrass dairy pastures in south-west Victoria.
Effects of manufacturing process variables on the physicochemical and sensory characteristics of Galician chorizo sausage

Physicochemical and sensory changes were evaluated during the curing of Galician chorizo, comparing samples from three different manufacturers (each of whom uses different procedures for smoking and curing). The observed variations were in all cases largely explained by pairwise differences between one of the manufacturers (manufacturer C) and the other two and are probably attributable to the more traditional and less strictly controlled process conditions used by manufacturer C. Le chorizo est une saucisse de porc sechee presentant de nombreuses varietes regionales. La fabrication traditionnelle n'est pas normalisee et controlee subjectivement sans regulation stricte des variables du produit et du procede (temperature, humidite relative, flux d'air et conditions de fumage). Pendant la fabrication de produit carne de ce type, le materiau cru subit une serie de modifications dans le pH, teneur en eau, lipides, proteines, texture et flaveur etc. Le sujet de cette etude est de determiner les changements physicochimiques et sensoriels pendant la fabrication de chorizo Galicien. Elle compare les chorizos de 3 fabricants differents, chacun d'entre eux utilisant differentes procedures de fumage et de salage.
The role of HIG1/MYB51 in the regulation of indolic glucosinolate biosynthesis

Glucosinolates are amino-acid derived plant secondary metabolites found mainly in Brassicaceae, including the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana. Due to their role in plant defence and their cancer-preventive properties in human nutrition, they have gained increasing interest over the last years. This study presents the characterisation of the activation-tagging mutant HIG1-1D, which displays a high indolic glucosinolate phenotype, caused by an activation of the R2R3-type MYB transcription factor HIG1/MYB51. A positive correlation between HIG1/MYB51 transcription and the accumulation of indolic glucosinolates could be confirmed in gain and loss-of-function mutants. HIG1/MYB51 expression overlaps with sites of indolic glucosinolate biosynthesis and the expression of biosynthesis genes, which are activated by HIG1/MYB51 in trans. Unlike previously characterised mutants affected in indolic glucosinolate biosynthesis, HIG1-1D displays only minor effects on auxin biosynthesis. However, a role of HIG1/MYB51 in the biotic stress response of A. thaliana appears likely, due to the mechano-sensitive expression of HIG1/MYB51 along with an increased resistance of HIG1-1D plants against a generalist herbivore. Yeast-two-hybrid screening allowed identifying the interaction of HIG1/MYB51 with ATR2/bHLH05, a putative regulator of tryptophan and indolic glucosinolate biosynthesis. Therefore, HIG1/MYB51 appears to be part of a complex network controlling indolic glucosinolate biosynthesis.
Food and feeding habits of Heteropneustes fossilis (Bloch) froJtll the Brahmaputra river system, Assam

The food and feeding habits of Heteropneustes fossils (Bloch), an air-breathing cat fish of commercial importance from the Brahmaputra river system in Assam are described. The fry are planktophagus and the juveniles feed on crustacea, plant matter, miscellaneous matter and insects. Adults feed on insects, detritus and plant matter. Detailed studies on the index of preponderance, seasonal variation of foods, gastrosomatic index and feeding intensity are described.