Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Evolutionary processes underlying latitudinal differences in reef fish biodiversity

Aim: To examine the dynamics among the processes of speciation, extinction and dispersal in marine environments using phylogenies to reveal the evolutionary mechanisms that promote latitudinal differences in biodiversity. Using phylogenetic comparative methods we assess whether tropical reef fish lineages show higher diversification rates and whether the majority of extratropical reef fish lineages have originated from tropical areas. Location: Shallow water tropical and extratropical reefs globally. Methods: Using fossil-calibrated phylogenies for four reef-associated fish families (Chaetodontidae, Labridae, Pomacentridae and Sparidae) we apply evolutionary models (GeoSSE and HiSSE) that allow the estimation of speciation, extinction and dispersal rates associated with geographical ranges and explore potential biases from unsampled characters. Results: We found that tropical lineages show higher rates of speciation and tended to have lower extinction rates. Overall, we identify higher net diversification rates for tropical lineages compared with those in extratropical regions in all four families. Rates of dispersal tended to be higher for lineages with tropical origins expanding into extratropical regions. Within the family Labridae, two tropical lineages were found to exhibit higher net diversification rates, above that expected from latitudinal differences. Main conclusions : Our results offer support for the predictions of the out of the tropics' and evolutionary speed' models of evolution, both of which highlight the marine tropics as an important evolutionary engine promoting latitudinal differences in reef fish biodiversity. Moreover, we find that two tropical labrid lineages are undergoing exceptional diversification associated with additional traits, possibly linked with the extreme sexual dichromatism observed in both clades.
EFFECT OF HYDROYEAST AQUACULTURE ® AS GROWTH PROMOTER FOR ADULT NILE TILAPIA Oreochromis niloticus

The objectives of the present study were to evaluate the effects of graded levels of a new commercial probiotic Hydroyeast Aquaculture ® (0, 5, 10 and 15 g/Kg diet) on both sexes of adult Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus , referred to treatments No. T 1, T2, T 3 and T 4, respectively, for males and T 5, T 6, T 7 and T 8 treatments for females, on their growth performance, feed and nutrients utilization and carcass composition for 8 weeks. The obtained results showed that tested probiotic at level of 15 g /kg diet (T 4) and 10 g /kg diet (T 7) for adult males and females O. niloticus respectively, significantly (P � 0.05) enhancing fish growth, feed intake and nutrients utilization, as well as realized slight improving of fish carcass composition. Hence, it could be concluded that Hydroyeast Aquaculture ® probiotic is useful at levels of 15 g /kg diet (T 4) and 10 g /kg diet (T 7) for enhancing production performance of adult males and females Nile tilapia (O. niloticus ) respectively, so may be using of this probiotic led to economic efficiency especially, for fish farming and hatcheries.
Bee species of Nova Scotia, Canada, with new records and notes on bionomics and floral relations (Hymenoptera: Apoidea)

Pollination is one of the most important processes in terrestrial ecosystems, leading to reproductive success within many plant communities. Pollination, for most angiosperms, is animal mediated, insects being the most important pollinators. Bees (Hymenoptera: Apoidea) are the most highly adapted of all anthophiles (flower visitors), possessing many anatomical and behavioral adaptations suiting a lifestyle completely dependant on floral resources. This dependence makes bees the most important of all pollinators, and as such, they are keystone components of almost all terrestrial ecosystems. Although there is historic knowledge of the importance of bees in agricultural plant communities, only recently has there been an appreciation of the fragility of many plant-pollinator relationships. Therefore, understanding the complex interactions of plants, pollinators and the ecosystems surrounding these relationships is crucial, especially when considering conservation of the species or their respective habitats. A key step in understanding these relationships is knowing which organisms are involved. This paper provides an annotated checklist of bee species in Nova Scotia, Canada, and includes summaries of their bionomics and floral relations. To date, 157 indigenous bees and two recently introduced species, representing 26 genera from six families, have been reported for Nova Scotia. New additions to the bee faunal record of Nova Scotia (based on the literature examined) include Agapostenion (Agapostemon) virescens (Fabricius), 1775; Andrena (Melandrena) dunningi Cockerell, 1898; Anthophora (Clisodon) furcata terminalis Cresson, 1869; Bombus (Pyrobombus) impatiens Cresson, 1863; Calliopsis (Calliopsis) andreniformis Smith, 1853; Colletes validus Cresson, 1868; Hoplitis (Alcidamea) producta producta (Cresson), 1864; Hylaeus (Prosopis) modestus modestus Say, 1837; Megachile (Megachile) relativa Cresson, 1878; Osmia (Nothosmia) tersula Cockerell, 1912; Perdita (Perdita) octomaculata octomaculata (Say), 1824: Protandrena (Pterosarus) nebrascensis nebrascensis (Crawford), 1903; Stelis (Stelis) foederalis (Smith), 1854; and Stelis (Stelis) subemarginata (Cresson), 1878.
Population biology and size at the onset of sexual maturity of the amphidromous prawn Macrobrachium olfersii (Decapoda, Palaemonidae) in an urban river in southeastern Brazil

Abstract Information on population biology is essential for a better understanding of the ecological stability of a species and the ecosystem in which it lives, especially in areas affected by anthropogenic activities. This study investigated the population biology of Macrobrachium olfersii in an ecosystem under human impact, focusing on sex ratio, reproductive period, and juvenile recruitment. The onset of sexual maturity was also estimated. Samplings were performed monthly in the daytime from June 2006 to May 2007 on the Taquaral River in the city of Ubatuba, São Paulo State, Brazil. The sex ratio was skewed towards females, and both the reproductive period and the juvenile recruitment were continuous. The estimated size at which the species reached sexual maturity corroborated studies on populations from other locations. Results from the current study strongly indicate that the ecosystem studied may have suffered environmental stress, which probably interfered with the migration and establishment of the species: during the study, the species was found in significant abundance, but six years later, it was not captured in samplings.
The role of the crop in poultry production

The importance of the crop is often underestimated in poultry production. In addition to storing ingested feed, it also can impact nutrient digestion by digesta softening and the initial activity of feed (endogenous and exogenous) and microbial enzymes. The crop represents the first major defence against poultry pathogens and zoonotic organisms with well established adaptive and innate immune function, and a lactobacilli dominated microbiota capable of reducing the passage of these organisms further along the digestive tract. However, the potential to improve bird productivity and health, as well as affect meat and egg safety, are influenced by the nature of the diet, and in particular feed entry and extended presence in the crop. This is required to promote lactobacilli fermentation, the production of lactic acid and other volatile fatty acids, and the lowering of crop pH. Management practices such as meal feeding and the use of lighting programs with extended dark periods encourage crop utilisation. Further, the use of feed additives such as prebiotics and probiotics may enhance crop function, which in turn contributes to well-being of the entire digestive tract. A healthy and functional crop, along with other segments of digestive tract, has increased importance in an era of reduced antibiotic use in poultry feeds.
Plant–soil feedbacks: role of plant functional group and plant traits

Plant–soil feedback (PSF), plant trait and functional group concepts advanced our understanding of plant community dynamics, but how they are interlinked is poorly known. To test how plant functional groups (FGs: graminoids, small herbs, tall herbs, legumes) and plant traits relate to PSF, we grew 48 grassland species in sterilized soil, sterilized soil with own species soil inoculum and sterilized soil with soil inoculum from all species, and quantified relative growth rate (RGR), specific leaf area (SLA), specific root length (SRL) and per cent arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi colonization (%AMF). Plant growth response to the plant species' own soil biota relative to sterilized soil (PSFsterilized) reflects net effects of all (generalist + specialized) soil biota. Growth response to the plant species' own soil biota relative to soil biota of all plant species (PSFaway) reveals effects of more specialized soil organisms. PSFsterilized showed that graminoids and small herbs have a negative and tall herbs a positive response to their own soil biota, whereas legumes responded neutrally. However, PSFaway showed that on average, all plant FGs benefitted from growing with other species' soil biota, suggesting that pathogens are more specialized than plant growth‐promoting soil biota. Feedback to plant growth from all soil biota (PSFsterilized) was stronger than from more specialized soil biota (PSFaway) and could be predicted by SRL and especially by %AMF colonization. Species with high SRL and low %AMF colonization when grown in away soil experienced most negative soil feedback. Synthesis. Plant species from all plant FGs grow better in soil from other species because of less net negative effects of soil biota (in graminoids), or because of more net positive soil biota effects (in tall herbs). Explorative plant species (high SRL, low %AMF colonization) suffer most from negative feedback of all soil biota, whereas more resource conservative species (low SRL, high %AMF colonization) benefit from soil feedback of all soil biota. These findings help to understand replacement of explorative species during succession. Moreover, we suggest a potentially larger role for species with positive feedback than for species with negative feedback to contribute to maintain plant community productivity of diverse communities over time.
Will the Italian endemic gudgeon, Gobio benacensis, survive the interaction with the invasive introduced Gobio gobio?

The genus Gobio in Italy was represented by the endemic species G. benacensis. The original distribution of this species was the Padano-Venetian district, but since a long time it was introduced in central Italy. Introductions of alien species to Italy during the last 10 years brought the sudden introduction of the Danubian G. gobio. Genetic and morphological analyses revealed the extensive presence of G. gobio, which rapidly colonised several rivers in Italy causing the progressive decline of G. benacensis, which now should be considered as an endangered species. Among examined populations those found in the Tagliamento River and transplanted in the Ombrone River represent genetic reservoirs of this species which will probably disappear in northern Italy.
Impact of controlled neonicotinoid exposure on bumblebees in a realistic field setting

Summary Pesticide exposure has been implicated as a contributor to insect pollinator declines. In social bees, which are crucial pollination service providers, the effect of low-level chronic exposure is typically non-lethal leading researchers to consider whether exposure induces sublethal effects on behaviour and whether such impairment can affect colony development. Studies under laboratory conditions can control levels of pesticide exposure and elucidate causative effects, but are often criticized for being unrealistic. In contrast, field studies can monitor bee responses under a more realistic pesticide exposure landscape; yet typically such findings are limited to correlative results and can lack true controls or sufficient replication. We attempt to bridge this gap by exposing bumblebees to known amounts of pesticides when colonies are placed in the field. Using 20 bumblebee colonies, we assess the consequences of exposure to the neonicotinoid clothianidin, provided in sucrose at a concentration of five parts per billion, over 5 weeks. We monitored foraging patterns and pollen collecting performance from 3282 bouts using either a non-invasive photographic assessment, or by extracting the pollen from returning foragers. We also conducted a full colony census at the beginning and end of the experiment. In contrast to studies on other neonicotinoids, showing clear impairment to foraging behaviours, we detected only subtle changes to patterns of foraging activity and pollen foraging during the course of the experiment. However, our colony census measures showed a more pronounced effect of exposure, with fewer adult workers and sexuals in treated colonies after 5 weeks. Synthesis and applications. Pesticide-induced impairments on colony development and foraging could impact on the pollination service that bees provide. Therefore, our findings, that bees show subtle changes in foraging behaviour and reductions in colony size after exposure to a common pesticide, have important implications and help to inform the debate over whether the benefits of systemic pesticide application to flowering crops outweigh the costs. We propose that our methodology is an important advance to previous semi-field methods and should be considered when considering improvements to current ecotoxicological guidelines for pesticide risk assessment.
Current perspective on endomyocardial fibrosis

Endomyocardial fibrosis (EMF) is an obliterative cardiomyopathy of uncertain etiology, with fibrotic deposits on the endocardial surface of the apices and inflow of either or both ventricles. The clinical presentation depends largely on the extent of diastolic ventricular filling abnormality and atrio-ventricular valve incompetence, subsequent to involvement of chordopapillary mechanism by the fibrotic process. Its prevalence is typically seen in the tropical regions and clinical diagnosis is facilitated by the availability of 2D echo Doppler evaluation. Over the past three decades, there has been a significant down trend in both the prevalence and severity in the presentation of EMF. It is postulated that the less severely involved cases are presenting later in the course of natural history of the disease, as evidenced by the higher age group and the less severe clinical symptomatology of patients. Surgical intervention is limited to severely symptomatic patients, as the fibrotic process rarely progresses over time, though the resultant hemodynamic alteration can progress over time, resulting in clinical deterioration.
Use of Nitrogen Fixing Bacteria Inoculants as a Substitute for Nitrogen Fertiliser for Dryland Graminaceous Crops: Progress Made, Mechanisms of Action and Future Potential

A range of free-living and endophytic N2 fixing bacteria have been isolated and used as inoculants on non-legume plants in attempts to maintain or increase yield while reducing the need for fertiliser N. Here, the literature on inoculation of dryland graminaceous crops with N2 fixing bacteria in temperate and tropical agricultural systems is reviewed and the progress made, mechanisms of action of the bacteria and future potential of this approach, assessed. Firstly, we consider the use of Azotobacter spp. in Russia in the 1940s and 1950s and Azospirillum spp. worldwide in the 1970s and 1980s. In both cases, effects on yield were inconsistent. Secondly, factors affecting yield responses to inoculation with Azotobacter and Azospirillum are discussed. A major weakness of using these bacteria as a substitute for N fertiliser is related to their mechanism of action. Evidence indicates that any additional N taken up by plants inoculated with Azotobacter and Azospirillum was primarily derived from the soil and not N2 fixation. It is stressed that the general N deficiency of soil cannot be countered consistently by a procedure that does not add substantial N to the system. Thirdly, we focus on recent projects which have sought N2 fixing bacterial inoculants for graminaceous crops which do add substantial N to the system. Effects of Agrobacterium radiobacter on wheat and barley, Azorhizobium caulinodans on wheat and Gluconacetobacter diazotrophicus, Herbaspirillum spp. and mixed endophytes on sugarcane and maize are considered. It is concluded that currently, no N2 fixing bacterial inoculant is available which can match N fertiliser in consistency to counter soil N deficiency. Endophytic bacteria may have potential as inoculants but substantial experimentation is required before this can be adequately assessed.
Effect of Deficit Irrigation on Yield and Quality of Sweet Corn

The yield and quality response of sweet corn (Zea mays L.) to variable water supply was evaluated in 1984 and 1985. Irrigation depths were established with sprinklers at five intervals from 0% to 100%, with the 100% treatment intended to refill the root zone to field capacity. The other treatments were considered as deficit irrigation. Irrigations were scheduled when 47–57% of the available water was depleted in the root zone of the 100% treatment level plots. Yields were similar when irrigation depths were 50% or greater in 1984 and 1985, although water application depths varied between years. Water balance measurements indicated very little deep percolation. Deficit irrigations of about 50% and 70% saved water and maintained yield. Yield, ear weight, and kernel weight decreased in the nonirrigated treatments or when water application depths were about 25%. Nonirrigated sweet corn tended to be more mature at harvest then irrigated corn.
Damage on south african coral reefs and an assessment of their sustainable diving capacity using a fisheries approach

Coral reefs in a marine reserve at Sodwana Bay (27°30'S) make it a premier dive resort. Corals are at the southern limits of their African distribution on these reefs which are dominated by soft corals. The coastline is exposed and turbulent. An assessment of the degree to which sport diving damages the reefs is needed for their management. This study showed that recognizable diver damage is generally concentrated in heavily dived areas. This damage and that of unknown cause probably attributable to divers exceeded natural damage on the reefs, despite the normally rough seas. Fishing line discarded in angling areas also caused considerable damage by tangling around branching corals which become algal fouled and die. Heaviest damage was caused in isolated areas by a minor crown-of-thorns outbreak. A linear regression indicated that 10% diver damage occurs at 9000 dives per dive site p.a. Taking uncertainty into account, a precautionary limit of 7000 dives per dive site p.a. was recommended. Further recommendations are that the reefs be zoned in terms of their sensitivity to diver damage, depth and use by divers according to qualification, and a ban be placed on the use of diving gloves to reduce handling of the reefs.
Syntaxonomy and synecology of Hedysarum brigantiacum communities in the western Italian Alps

Abstract Hedysarum brigantiacum is an endemic taxon recently typified in the southwestern Alps (France and Italy). In order to describe the phytosociologic and syntaxonomic aspects of H. brigantiacum communities, data from fifteen relevés realized on the Italian side of the Alps were analyzed. A new subassociation hedysaretosum brigantiaci is described within the Seslerio-Avenetum montanae. Two edaphic variants are identified within this subassociation: (1) var. with Festuca violacea, generally found at high altitudes on moderately steep slopes in soil of moderate organic matter accumulation, and (2) var. with Festuca quadriflora, characterized by relatively high slopes at moderate altitudes and rocky soils. Seslerio-Avenetum montanae hedysaretosum brigantiaci conservation depends on environmental factors and grazing management. Grazing should be carefully controlled to maintain relatively oligotrophic conditions by avoiding succession dynamics toward eutrophic coenosis.
Integrative taxonomy of Mexican cycads: biogeography, morphology and DNA barcoding corroborate a new sympatric species in Ceratozamia (Zamiaceae)

A new species, from the montane region of Los Tuxtlas (state of Veracruz, Mexico), Ceratozamia subroseophylla , is proposed in accordance with the integrative taxonomy framework and through application of the taxonomic circle rationale. Our identification of this new species is the result of a thorough re-evaluation of four formerly described Ceratozamia species, namely: (1) C. miqueliana , with which it overlaps geographically; (2) C. mexicana ; (3) C. robusta , which has also been previously seen as morphologically similar to C. miqueliana ; and (4) C. brevifrons , which was at the center of a controversy concerning the morphological and geographic limits when compared to C. mexicana . Even though there are morphometric affinities of C. subroseophylla with this set of species, there are apomorphies in qualitative morphological characters and diagnostic nucleotidic variants established through character-based DNA barcoding to allow the recognition of this new species. The implications that our integrative taxonomy-based assessment of systematic diversity in Ceratozamia species from Veracruz have for evaluating the overall taxonomic status of the genus are discussed.
‘Dr. Magie’ Gladiolus

‘Dr. Magie,’ a gladiolus (Gladiolus × hortulanus L.H. Bailey) with salmon-pink florets, was released in 1983 by the Univ. of Florida. It combines good cut-flower characteristics, such as straight spikes, floral bud count of 18-20, and the tendency to open from the “tight-bud” stage, with tolerance to Fusarium oxysporum Schlect. f. sp. gladioli Snyd. & Hans. Fusarium, expressed as either a corm or root rot, is one of the major diseases of gladiolus grown in Florida and has led to the demise of many successful gladiolus cultivars, including ‘Picardy,’ ‘Spic & Span,’ and ‘Friendship’. ‘Dr. Magie’ performed well in the North American Gladiolus Council trial gardens, which included 8 locations in the United States and 2 in Canada.