Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A call to search for fossilised gastric pellets

Numerous extant carnivorous, piscivorous and insectivorous species – including birds, pinnipeds, varanid lizards and crocodiles and mammals – routinely ingest food combined with a high proportion of indigestible material that can be neither absorbed through digestion nor eliminated as faecal matter. Their solution is to egest the indigestible portion through the mouth as a gastric pellet. The status of gastric pellets in extant species is reviewed. Arguments based on phylogeny, anatomy and biomechanics strongly suggest that many extinct species, including crocodilians and pterosaurs, may also have produced gastric pellets routinely. The term ‘emetolite’ is proposed for fossilised gastric pellets produced by routine emesis. Unfortunately, few reports of emetolites have been made; those specimens reported to date are reviewed. Various hypotheses may explain this negative result, the strongest being a collection bias. Because paleontologists do not expect to find them, emetolites may go unrecognised or uncollected or could be destroyed inadvertently during preparation. Emetolites would offer a valuable fossil record, and thus they warrant consideration by field paleontologists and preparators. A greater awareness of their probable characteristics may lead us to discover that they are more abundant than has been assumed.
Raptor Migration at Concepción, Bolivia

Abstract I conducted the second austral autumn raptor count at Concepción Watch Site in the eastern Bolivian lowlands to document species composition, timing, and abundance of migrating raptors between 10 March and 6 April 2009. I counted migrants for 26 days (134.5 hrs) recording 6,979 migrating raptors of 16 species. Mississippi Kites (Ictinia mississippiensis) comprised 80% (n = 5,571), Black Vultures 11% (Coragyps atratus, n = 747), and Snail Kites 5% (Rostrhamus sociabilis, n = 396). The remaining 4% (n = 265) included 13 species and other unidentified raptors. I also recorded non-raptor species on migration from the lookout, including 36 Maguari Storks (Ciconia maguari), a flock of 11 Anhinga (Anhinga anhinga), and thousands of Barn Swallows (Hirunda rustica). My observations confirm previous records suggesting a significant raptor migration occurs at the Concepción Watch Site in the austral autumn. Raptor monitoring should continue at Concepción annually and the site used to promote raptor conservation and awareness in Bolivia.
Two New Species of Doridicola (Copepoda: Cyclopoida: Rhynchomolgidae) Associated with Opisthobranch Mollusks from Korea

Two new species of the genus Doridicola are described as associates of opisthobranch mollusks from Korean intertidal waters: Doridicola virguatus n. sp. associated with the notaspidean Pleurobranchaea japonica Thiele and D. portincola n. sp. associated with the nudibranch Hoplodoris armata (Baba). This is the first record for the copepod associates of opisthobranch mollusks from Korea.
Nutritional status of animals in peri-urban dairy complexes in Punjab, India

The study was taken up to assess the nutritional status of dairy animals in peri-urban dairy complexes in Punjab, India. About 24 to 29 dairy houses were selected randomly from each of Ludhiana (LDC), Amritsar (ADC), Jalandhar (JDC), Ferozepur (FDC) and Hoshiarpur (HDC) peri-urban dairy complexes. Buffaloes predominated in almost all peri-urban dairies, except in FDC. The animals of FDC had the lowest (P 28%. The milk urea nitrogen (MUN) was lowest (P<0.05) in animals of FDC (8.1mg/dl) and highest in animals of HDC (20.8mg/dl). About 24, 14, 64, 83 and 50% of the dairy houses of JDC, ADC, FDC, LDC and HDC, respectively, offered DM less than the requirement. The daily consumption of nutrients was over and above the requirements in JDC, ADC and HDC, but less (P<0.05) than the requirement in LDC (22% DM, 18%CP, 15%DCP and 21%TDN) and FDC (5%DM, 8%CP, 11%DCP and 7%TDN). Only 3.6% of the dairy houses of FDC and 25% of the dairy houses of LDC offered mineral mixture to their animals, while mineral mixture was not offered at all in JDC, ADC and HDC. It was concluded that CP and EE content in the diet of the animals was less than the recommended levels in all the peri-urban dairy complexes in Punjab, but the daily consumption of nutrients was less than the requirements, only in LDC and FDC. The farmers need to be motivated to feed nutritionally balanced diet.
Trypsin inhibitory activity measurement: Simplifications of the standard procedure used for pea seed

A major breeding criterion or pea (Pisum sativum L.) is a low seed trypsin inhibitor activity (TIA ), but the high cost of measurement limits the screening of new experimental lines. Our objectives were to devise two simplified procedures for screening for TIA using micro titration plates, In the first procedure, the inhibition induced by one single extract is measured. It allows for a rapid ranking of genotypes, hut not calculation of seed TIA. Conversely, the second procedure is a titration procedure, where results are expressed in conventional trypsin inhibitor units (TIU ). The time required for the measurements is reduced compared with that required with the standard procedures. The different methods were performed on cultivars ranging from low to high seed TIA. The results using the screening procedure showed very low standard deviations and allowed the ranking of the cultivars into three classes according to their seed TIA. The ranking was consistent with results obtained using the standard procedures. Results of the titration procedure were not significantly different from results obtained with the standard procedures on pea lines ranging from 2 to 10 TIU mg 1 dry weight.
Ceruchus chrysomelinus (Coleoptera, Lucanidae), a disappearing virgin forest relict species?

The lucanid beetle Ceruchus chrysomelinus Hochenwarth inhabits forests with a high density of moist red-rotten logs of both coniferous and deciduous trees. This habitat is very rare in Swedish forests of today and so is the species in itself. There are no recent records from the Swedish provinces of Skane, Halland, Vastergotland, Ostergotland and Halsingland, but new localities have recently been found on the island of Oland and in the provinces Sodermanland and Vastmanland. Palaeoentomological studies in southern Smaland indicate that the species was significantly more common 1 000 - 2 000 years ago than at present. In the few remaining large old-growth forests in northern and central Europe the species seems to be one of the most numerous wood beetle species, but it is probably dependent on a continuous supply of suitable logs at the landscape scale. At the majority of the present Swedish localities the number of suitable logs is low and the surrounding environments are unsuitable. Several sites with suitable habitat in the province of Uppland seem to be lacking the species, although populations exist only 1-2 km away. This could be explained by a low dispersal propensity. The largest populations now occur in Uppland at the lower part of River Dalalven and around Lake Vallen. During the last 25 years (1975-1999) Ceruchus chrysomelinus has been found on 10 localities outside of Uppland. We propose that the species can be used as an indicator species of forests with high conservation value.
The Role of a Flagship Species in the Formation of Conservation Intentions

Environmental agencies increasingly use flagship species (those popular, relatively large, charismatic animals) as tools to trigger concern for the species and motivate community members to conserve the flagship species and its habitat. However, little research has considered the mechanisms behind which this strategy works. Using the platypus as a flagship species, this study aimed to (a) determine whether exposure to the platypus flagship and/or (b) a person's level of environmental concern influences intentions to conserve the platypus and its habitat. Logistic regression analyses of questionnaire responses showed that exposure to educational materials promoting the conservation of the platypus and its habitat was a strong and reliable predictor of feelings of concern specific to the welfare of the platypus and its habitat. This concern influenced intentions to conserve the platypus and its habitat. It is hoped that managers will use these findings to improve their uses of flagship species to motivate community-wide conservation efforts.
Predation and Resource Partitioning in One Predator -- Two Prey Model Communities

Models of the dynamics of a predator and two competing prey are examined for conditions under which the predator's presence makes competitive coexistence possible. Despite the fact that the prey in the absence of the predator exploit identical resources, predation-induced coexistence can occur; but its occurrence depends on the prey being different in at least one of several ways. Suitable differences include differences in spatial refuges from the predator, differences in appearance and/or location which induce frequency-dependent predation, and a difference in energy allocation between competitive and predatory defense. Thus these models predict, in keeping with the results of field studies on predators, that predation can play a central role in determining community species composition. However, prey species coexistence still depends on their being somehow different; i.e., Gause's Law is just as true when predators are common and important as when they are absent. Most of those prey in nature whose coexistence is known to depend on predation differ in resource use; i.e., these prey appear to partition environmental resources just as is expected of coexisting species in predator-free systems. A large proportion of cases of coexistence of similar species in nature probably results not from resource partitioning alone or from predation alone but from both mechanisms operating simultaneously.
Pigeon Pea [Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.] Seed Meal in Layer Diets: 3. Effect of Higher Inclusion Level and Prolonged Feeding of Raw or Processed Pigeon Pea Seed Meal Diets from Pullet Chick Stage on the Laying Performance of Pullets

Black Bovan Nera pullets at point of lay (19 weeks old) that were fed pigeon Pea Seed Meal (PSM) diets during the pullet chick and grower stages of life were used to determine the effect of higher inclusion level and prolonged feeding of raw or processed PSM diets from the pullet chick stage on the laying performance of pullets. Brown colored pigeon pea seeds were used as raw, boiled for 30 min, toasted for 30 min, or soaked in water for 24 h, all of which were milled to pass through a 2 mm sieve. Each diet had three replications; each replicate had eight birds in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD). Parameters measured were feed intake, live weight, hen-day production, age at 1st, 25 and 50% egg production, external and internal egg quality characteristics. Results showed that layers fed boiled PSM diet had significantly (P<0.05) higher hen-day production (67.04%), egg weight (57.63 g), shell weight (6.50 g) while those fed raw PSM diet had the lowest (55.07%) hen-day production. It was concluded that raw or processed pigeon Pea Seed Meal (PSM) could be included as 30% of the whole diet of layers that had received 10 and 20% PSM based diets during their pullet chick and grower stages of life, respectively. Boiled PSM diet would improve hen-day egg production, toasted PSM diet would increase feed intake of layers while PSM diets will have no regular effects on external and internal egg quality characteristics of eggs laid by layers fed PSM diets.
Evolutionary Ecology of Arabidopsis thaliana: Interactions with Biotic and Abiotic Environmental Factors

Dr. M. Gabriela Bidart-Bouzat, Advisor Previous studies have demonstrated that plants may be affected by their interactions with both biotic and abiotic environmental factors. An important biotic factor that usually affects the performance of plants is insect herbivory. In addition, abiotic factors such as light, or more specifically ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation, can also affect growth and physiological processes in plants. Arabidopsis thaliana is an annual herbaceous plant species with documented defense strategies including resistance and tolerance. Studies have also shown that these plant responses to insect herbivory may be modified by other abiotic factors such as UVB radiation. In a series of common garden experiments, the role of insect herbivory per se and in combination with UVB radiation was evaluated. Using a population of recombinant inbred lines of A. thaliana, the first experiment (described in Chapter 1) investigated the role of plant trichomes and size on patterns of plant use by an insect community. In this experiment, it was also evaluated whether insect herbivory imposes selection on trichome production and plant size. In a second experiment (described in Chapters 2 and 3), the effect of UVB radiation on plant resistance and tolerance to insect herbivory as well as on their potential fitness costs was assessed. This experiment also evaluated the role of UVB on patterns of plant utilization by insect herbivores and whether this important abiotic factor may influence plant phenotypic responses. Results from these experiments revealed that plant trichomes influenced levels of herbivore damage and plant size had an effect on colonization of plants by insect herbivores. In addition, results from selection analyses revealed that insect herbivores exerted directional selection on trichome density in A. thaliana. The second study showed that UVB radiation influenced the expression
Agronomic Evaluation of Dry Bean Genotypes for Potassium Use Efficiency

Dry bean is an important legume worldwide, and potassium (K) deficiency is one of the important constraints for bean production in most of the bean growing regions. A greenhouse experiment was conducted with the objective to evaluate fifteen dry bean genotypes grown on a Brazilian lowland (Inceptisol) United States Soil Taxonomy classification and Gley humic Brazilian Soil Classification system), locally known as “Varzea” soil. The K rate used was 0 mg kg−1 (low, natural soil level) and 200 mg kg−1 (high, applied as fertilizer). Straw yield, seed yield, pods per plant, seeds per pod, 100 seed weight, and seed harvest index were significantly increased with the addition of K fertilizer. These traits were also significantly influenced by genotypic treatment. Similarly, root length and root dry weight were also influenced significantly by K and genotype treatments. The K X genotype interactions for most of these traits were also significant, indicating variation in these traits with the variation in K level. Based on seed yield efficiency index (SYEI), genotypes were classified as efficient, moderately efficient, and inefficient in K use efficiency. Maximum grain yield was obtained with 74 mg K kg−1 extracted by Mehlich 1 extracting solution. Similarly, K saturation required for maximum grain yield was 1.1%.
Reproductive anatomy, gonad development and spawning seasonality of nurseryfish, Kurtus gulliveri (Perciformes : Kurtidae)

The nurseryfish, Kurtus gulliveri, of northern Australia, is remarkable for the fact that the males carry the egg mass on a supraoccipital hook on their forehead. Plankton samples of larval nurseryfish indicate a prolonged spawning season (June–November) that more or less corresponds with the dry season in the Northern Territory. The paired, elongate testes are located in the posterior portion of the body cavity suspended by the mesorchium. The gonadosomatic index (GSI) of males was small and highly variable (mean 0.14, range 0.01–0.27) from June to November. The histological structure of testicular lobes showed maturing and mature stages that contained spermatocytes, spermatids, and spermatozoa. The paired, bean-shaped ovaries contained about 5500 oocytes (1176–9783) and were located in the rear of the abdominal cavity. GSI averaged 1.58 (range 0.36–4.48). Ovarian histology revealed primary growth, cortical alveolar oocytes, vitellogenic oocytes, coalesced yolk, and atresia. The occurrence of postovulatory follicles and late vitellogenetic oocytes in the ovaries clearly indicate that nurseryfish females are batch spawners. Maturing testes showed signs of previous spawnings indicating that males are capable of spawning several times throughout the spawning season. We speculate that nurseryfish may spawn in a manner similar to their closest relatives, cardinalfishes (Apogonidae), with eggs carried on the male’s hook instead of orally.
Effect of calcium concentration in nutrient solution before and after inoculation with Ralstonia solanacearum on resistance of tomato seedlings to bacterial wilt

Abstract We previously reported that calcium (Ca) nutrition in tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) significantly affected the resistance to bacterial wilt caused by Ralstonia solanacearum Smith. To elucidate the mechanisms underlying the Ca-dependent resistance, the effect of the Ca concentration in the nutrient solution applied before and after inoculation with the pathogen on the resistance of tomato seedlings to bacterial wilt was studied. One week before inoculation, seedlings were transferred to nutrient solutions containing Ca at concentrations of 0.4, 4.4, or 20.4 mM. Soon after inoculation, the seedlings that were treated with each concentration of Ca before inoculation were transferred to solutions containing the same three concentrations of Ca. Although the disease development was not affected by the concentration of Ca in the solution before inoculation, a higher concentration of Ca after inoculation reduced the disease severity. This result suggests that the concentration of Ca in the host,.
Relationship between Food, Fat, Sexual Maturation, and Spawning Time of Baltic Herring (Clupea harengus membras) in the Archipelago Sea

The effect of nutritional status on gonad maturation and timing of spawning was examined in the Baltic herring (Clupea harengus membras) in the Archipelago Sea. Fish were collected from overwintering areas in December and from the spawning grounds in May–July. Muscle fat content, amount of mesenteric fat, and condition factor were used as indicators of nutritional status of fish. In winter, fish were highly variable with substantial individual variation in nutritional status, gonad stage, gonad weight, and gonadosomatic index (GSI). Gonad weight was related to fat content, suggesting a close relationship with fish nutritional status and maturation rate. Spawning fish were separable into early and late spawners according to fat content, gonad weight, and GSI but not according to length. The spawning shoals consisted of mixtures of fish of all sizes. I concluded that in the study area, individual maturation cycles vary and timing of spawning is primarily determined by the feeding conditions prior to spawning.
Haematozoa of Zambian birds: I. General survey

Summary The results of a two year study on avian haematozoa in Zambia identified some 29 parasite species including two new haemoproteids and one leucocytozoid. Haemoproteus and Leococytozoon were the most common genera observed. A taxonomic appraisal is given of small trypanosomes with a characteristic terminal kinetoplast and it is suggested that T. everetti, T. fiadeiroi and T. oenae may all be synonyms of T. lobivanelli. Haematozoa were considered to be responsible for the clinical condition of two sick birds. Histopathological studies on a small number of birds revealed schizonts in two birds only. Very few ectoparasites were found and most were considered to be of little significance as vectors.
Pittosporum halophilum Rock (Pittosporaceae: Apiales): Rediscovery, Taxonomic Assessment, and Conservation Status of a Critically Endangered Endemic Species from Moloka'i, Hawaiian Islands

Abstract: Pittosporum halophilum Rock originally was known only from the type collections made in 1910 and 1911 along the windward sea cliffs of Moloka'i. In the most recent revision of Hawaiian Pittosporum it was treated as synonymous with the more common species P. confertiflorum A. Gray. Since 1994, several plants fitting the circumscription of P. halophilum have been discovered near the type locality. Careful studies of these individuals and of plants cultivated from their seeds clearly revealed that they are not only characterized by salt tolerance, but differ from P. confertiflorum also in several other characters (i.e., a small, shrubby habit; smaller leaves with cuneate bases and unique tan to golden yellow wooly dense tomentum on abaxial leaf surfaces; shorter petioles; subcuboid to ovoid capsules; and, in most individuals, functionally unisexual flowers). Based on these substantial differences we conclude that P. halophilum merits recognition on species level. In this paper we give a detailed description of P. halophilum including remarks on its conservation status.
Understanding Root Systems to Improve Seedling Quality

Root architecture can be very important in plant productivity. The importance of studies on root morphology and development is discussed to improve seedling growth. Root systems of dicotyledonous species are reviewed, with emphasis on differences between growth of basal and lateral roots. The presence of different types of roots in plant species suggests possible differences in function as well. The architecture of a root system related to its functions is considered. Classical methods for studying root systems comprise excavation of root system, direct observation, and indirect analyses. While the first method is destructive and the third is effective in understanding root architecture only on a relatively gross scale, observation methods allow the scientist a complete a nondestructive architectural study of a root system. The three groups are reviewed related to their potential to give valuable information related to the root architecture and development of the seedling, with emphasis on the availability of a medium-transparent plant-growing system, enabling nondestructive daily observations and plant measurements under controlled environmental conditions. Effects of CO2 enrichment on seedling growth is reviewed, emphasizing the effects of CO2 on root growth.
Behavioural context regulates dual function of ultrasonic hearing in lesser waxmoths: bat avoidance and pair formation

Abstract. Ultrasonic hearing in moths evolved to detect bat echolocation cries and has been co‐opted into the mating system of some species. Some moths evade or approach ultrasonic stimuli that overlap in their spectral and temporal features. The present study addressed the evaluation of ultrasonic stimuli by lesser waxmoths, a species in which ultrasonic hearing functions in bat evasion and pair formation. Playback experiments show that the role of different stimulus features varies with behavioural context. Flying moths have a single evasive response, which is performed mainly on the basis of pulse length and stimulus power: they dive upon hearing loud pulses ≥ 1 ms in length, and respond more strongly to high‐power stimuli above that pulse length. Female moths walking on the ground respond with positive phonotaxis mainly on the basis of pulse rate by orienting toward pulses delivered at rates ≥ 30 pulses s−1. Consequently, moths on the ground approach stimuli that elicit evasion when detected in flight. However, the different responses given to stimulus features by flying and walking moths match the distinguishing features of bat cries and conspecific males in both contexts. Stimulus evaluation, modified by behavioural context, gives lesser waxmoths the flexibility to show appropriate evasion or approach responses to stimuli that overlap in their features.