Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Relationship between Exotic Invasive Shrubs and American Woodcock (Scolopax minor) Nest Success and Habitat Selection

Habitat loss is thought to be a cause of woodcock population declines, however little is known about the impact of exotic invasive vegetation on woodcock nest site selection and nesting success. In March and April of 2009 and 2010, we examined nest success and nesting habitat selection in relation to the abundance of exotic invasive vegetation at 13 nests in southeastern Pennsylvania. We used logistic regression and Akaike's Information Criterion (AIC) to determine the best models for nest success and habitat use. Woodcock avoided exotic invasive vegetation when selecting nest sites. Nest success and habitat use decreased significantly with an increase in percentage of exotic invasive woody vegetation. Models containing percentage of exotic invasive woody vegetation were highly supported for nest success and habitat selection. We recommend that managers attempt to control and remove exotic invasive vegetation to promote increased woodcock nesting success and habitat use.
PREDATION BY PODISUS MACULIVENTRIS (SAY) ON MEXICAN BEAN BEETLE, EPILACHNA VARIVESTIS MULSANT, IN INDIANA SOYBEANS

Abstract Daily rates of predation by Podisus maculiventris (Say) (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) on Mexican bean beetle larvae, Epilachna varivestis Mulsant (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), were measured in soybeans, Glycine max (L.). The number of Mexican bean beetle larvae attacked per predator per day remained consistently low throughout 2 years of study. Estimates of the area searched by P. maculiventris were calculated from the number of prey attacked, number of prey available for attack, and leaf area. As leaf area increased, P. maculiventris searched more area, demonstrating a search strategy shared with other predators of canopy-inhabiting prey in soybeans. Résumé Le taux journalier de prédation par Podisus maculiventris (Say) (Heteroptera : Pentatomidae) sur les larves du coléopteré mexicain du soja, Epilachna varivestis Mulsant (Coleoptera : Coccinellidae) a été estimé en culture de soja, Glycine max (L.). Le nombre de larves du coléopteré attaqué par le predateur par jour est resté constamment bas au cours du 3 annuels d’étude. Les estimations de la superficie exploré par P. maculiventris ont été faites du taux d’attaque proportionnel et de la suface foliaire. Plus la surface foliaire augmente, P. maculiventris explore plus de superficie, démontrant une stratégie d’exploration commune aux autres prédateurs visant dans la canopie du soja.
Wildlife Exploitation: A Market Survey in Nagaland, North-Eastern India

With growing human population, increased accessibility to remote forests and adoption of modern tools, hunting has become a severe global problem, particularly in Nagaland, a Northeast Indian state. While Indian wildlife laws prohibit hunting of virtually all large wild animals, in several parts of North-eastern parts of India that are dominated by indigenous tribal communities, these laws have largely been ineffective due to cultural traditions of hunting for meat, perceived medicinal and ritual value, and the community ownership of the forests. We report the quantity of wild animals sold at Tuensang town of Nagaland, based on weekly samples drawn from May 2009 to April 2010. Interviews were held with vendors on the availability of wild animals in forests belonging to them and methods used for hunting. The tribes of Chang, Yimchunger, Khiemungan, and Sangtam are involved in collection/ hunting and selling of animals in Tuensang. In addition to molluscs and amphibians, 1,870 birds (35 species) and 512 mammals (8 species) were found in the samples. We estimated that annually 13,067 birds and 3,567 mammals were sold in Tuensang market alone, which fetched about Indian Rupees () 18.5 lakhs/ year. Temporal variation was observed with respect to various taxa sold; molluscs: almost all through the year; amphibians: June-August; and birds and mammals restricted to October-February. We suggest monitoring of all major markets of Nagaland to examine trends in exploitation of wild animals. However, considering the traditional dependency of people on wild resources, as well as their cultural sentiments and livelihoods, any interventions for wildlife conservation should have the involvement and support of local inhabitants.
Effects of field beans, fallow, lupins, oats, oilseed rape, peas, ryegrass, sunflowers and wheat on nitrogen residues in the soil and on the growth of a subsequent wheat crop

SUMMARY The effects on a winter wheat test crop of a preliminary year of winter or spring field beans (Vicia faba), winter oats, winter oilseed rape, winter or spring peas (Pisum sativum), winter wheat, spring lupins (Lupinus albus), spring sunflowers (Helianthus annuus) or a cultivated fallow were compared in three 2-year experiments on clay-with-flints soil at Rothamsted from 1986 to 1989. In one experiment, autumn-sown ryegrass (Lolium perenne) and an uncultivated fallow, given weedkiller, were also included in the first year. Plots of test-crop wheat were divided to compare no N fertilizer with an optimal amount estimated from a predictive model. Amounts of take-all (Gaeumannomyces graminis) in the test crop of wheat following wheat were very slight in the first experiment, but large in the second and third. All the break crops reduced takeall to none or very slight amounts. Amounts of NO3-N in the soil in autumn after the first-year crops ranged from 7 to 95 kg N/ha. On average, they were least after oats, and most after cultivated fallow. In autumn 1988they were least after autumn-sown ryegrass. In early spring, amounts of NO3-N were generally less, ranging from 7 to 55 kg N/ha, depending on preceding crops, sowing date of the wheat and the weather. Amounts of NH4-N in soil were little affected by preceding crops or weather and were generally smaller in spring. The estimated average N fertilizer requirement of test-crop wheat following winter wheat was 230kg N/ha. This was increased by 10 kg N/ha following winter oats, decreased by 40 kg N/ha after spring peas and by 30 kg N/ha after winter rape, winter peas, spring beans and cultivated fallow. Other preliminary crops not represented every year had effects within this range. Grain yields of test-crop wheat given optimal N averaged 7·2 t/ha after winter wheat, c.1·5 t/ha less than the average after most of the break crops. The yield after oats was limited by self-sown ‘volunteers’ and that after ryegrass by limited soil N after ploughing. Of the break crops tested, winter and spring beans, winter oats, winter rape and spring peas all gave satisfactory yields. A farmer should choose between these on the basis of local farm circumstances and current economics of the break crops. Differences between effects on take-all and savings on fertilizer N were too small to influence this decision.
Phylogeny of Horsetails (Equisetum) based on the Chloroplast rps4 Gene and Adjacent Noncoding Sequences

Abstract Equisetum is a genus of 15 extant species that are the sole surviving representatives of the class Sphenopsida. Chloroplast DNA sequence data were used to examine the monophyly of the two accepted subgenera (Equisetum and Hippochaete) and the putative basal position of Equisetum giganteum. A plastid DNA region that includes rps4 was sequenced for all species of Equisetum. Phylogenetic analyses using parsimony, likelihood or posterior probability criteria, all support the following inferences: (1) Equisetum bogotense is basal within the genus; (2) all other species group in two major sister clades: (i) the rest of subgenus Equisetum (7 species) and (ii) subgenus Hippochaete (7 species). On the basis of the present phylogeny, bisexuality would not be the ancestral state in the Equisetum genus, but characters shared among species of the subgenus Equisetum, such as superficial stomata and protruding antheridia, could be ancestral in the genus.
Insecticide resistance in Chinese populations of the Culex pipiens complex through esterase overproduction

In most parts of China, mosquitoes have been subjected to organophosphate (OP) insecticide treatments since the mid‐1960s, and resistance gene monitoring in the Culex pipiens complex (Diptera: Culicidae) started in only a few locations from the end of the 1980s. Many resistant alleles at the Ester locus have been found in field populations, including those commonly found around the world (EsterB1 and Ester2), and those endemic to China (EsterB6, EsterB7, Ester8, and Ester9). This situation is atypical, and may represent a complex situation for the evolution of insecticide resistance genes in China. To increase our understanding of the Chinese situation and our ability to manage resistance in the C. pipiens complex, a large study was performed. Twenty field populations were sampled from Beijing to Guangzhou. Bioassays with five insecticides (dichlorvos, parathion, chlorpyrifos, 2‐sec‐butylphenyl methyl carbamate, and propoxur) disclosed resistance levels variable according to the geographic origin, and up to 85‐fold for dichlorvos. Six overproduced esterases were identified, including two that have not been previously described. Most of them were found in all samples, although at variable frequencies, suggesting variable selection or a transient situation, e.g., each one was recently restricted to a particular geographic area. The results are discussed in the context of recent alterations to insecticide campaigns, and of the evolution of resistance genes in Chinese C. pipiens populations.
Diallel analysis in pigeonpea

A 6 x 6 diallel combining ability analysis in pigeonpea showed the predominant role of nonadditive gene action for seed yield perplant. Numberof pods and seeds/plant had equal importance of both additive and nonadditive genes. Genotypes No. 148 and T 21 exhibited significant and positive gca effects for seed-yield, pods and seeds/plant. Two crosses, ICPL 86007 x No. 148 and ICPL 86012 x No. 148, had positive and significant sca effect for seed yield, and pods and seeds/plant.
Genetic divergence in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

A field experiment was conducted during rabi season of 2003–2004 to study the genetic divergence in wheat (Triticum aestivum L). All the genotypes were grouped in 11 clusters. The highest number of genotypes were found in cluster I and II (10 each) followed by cluster III and IV (4 each) and cluster Vand VI (3 each). The maximum and minimum inter cluster distances were observed between cluster IV and cluster X (401.26) and cluster II and cluster IX (94.34), respectively. Highest cluster mean for seed yield per plant was found in cluster IX (22.46 g) and the lowest mean for this character was recorded in cluster VII (12.92), respectively. Leaf area of flag leaj (13.07) was found to contribute maximum towards total divergence. whereas number of grains spikeld (1.92) recorded the least to contribute total divergence.
Male tilapia production techniques: A mini-review

Tilapia culture has been growing over the past decades as an excellent source of high-quality protein. Some of the Tilapia´s advantages are the ability to breed and produce new generations rapidly, tolerate shallow and turbid waters, resist a high level of disease and be flexible for culture under many different farming systems. These characteristics are the main reasons for its commercial success. However, one of them contributes to the major drawback of pond culture: the high level of uncontrolled reproduction that may occur in grow-out ponds. Uncontrolled reproduction yields to stunted growth and unmar-ketable fish due to offspring competing with the initial stock for food, besides other problems like less dissolved oxygen, greater release of ammonia and feces, heterogeneous sizes and overpopulation stress. Monosex production has been preferred in order to deal with these issues. Males are preferred because they grow almost twice as fast as the females. This paper reviews monosex male production techniques and their results, comprising environment manipulation, hybridization, sex reversal and genetic manipulation. The choice of a particular technique would depend on the legislation of each country. This review’s should help to select the appropriate technique depending on the market target and the commercial technology available. Keywords: Monosex production, hybridization, sex reversal, environmental and genetic sex determination African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 12(36), pp. 5496-5502
School Counselors’ Involvement with a School-Wide Positive Behavior Support Intervention: Addressing Student Behavior Issues in a Proactive and Positive Manner

For schools using School-Wide Positive Behavior Supports, the school counselor is an essential member of the implementation team. Moreover, the prevention model corresponds with the school counselor standards and the ASCA National Model. This article shows how a school counselor teams with school staff in a K-3 elementary school of 600 pupils to implement and manage a School-Wide Positive Behavior Support targeted intervention called Check-in/Check-out (CICO). The authors review current research relevant to CICO and provide sample student data, daily behavior report cards, referral forms, and home reports. The article gives suggestions on using CICO to support students with mental health concerns including using data to collaborate with other community professionals.
An efficient inoculation method to screen tomato, brinjal and chilli entries for bacterial wilt resistance

Three inoculation methods were evaluated to screen solanaceous vegetable crops for bacterial wilt resistance. Of the three inoculation methods, viz., soil drenching, leaf clipping and axil puncturing, the soil drenching method of inoculation was found to be the best in all the three crops (tomato, brinjal and chilli) tested, as compared to leaf clipping and axil puncturing methods. The inoculation through soil drenching recorded significantly highest bacterial wilt incidence of 98.0, 95.0 and 90.0 per cent in tomato, brinjal and chilli, respectively, followed by inoculation through axil puncturing which recorded 78.0, 88.0 and 78.0 per cent wilt incidence. The leaf clipping method, however, recorded the lowest wilt incidence of 74.0, 48.0 and 40.0 per cent respectively.
Turgor and Cell Wall Yielding in Dicot Leaf Growth in Response to Changes in Relative Humidity

Epidermal cell turgor (P) and leaf growth in Begonia argenteo-guttata L. were monitored simultaneously following changes in air humidity in order to evaluate P–growth relations. A decrease in air humidity from 70 to 5% caused a decrease in P of 0.05 MPa. This small decrease in P resulted in cessation of growth. Subsequently, growth recovered partially at constant P, indicating an increase in wall yielding to P. Notwithstanding this increase in wall yielding, the steady growth rates showed a marked dependence on P. Decreases in P of 0.05 MPa caused a 30–40% reduction in the steady rate of elongation. These results were reversible. Upon a step increase in air humidity from 5 to 70%, P and growth rate rapidly increased. Subsequently, growth declined without a corresponding decrease in P, although the rate of growth remained higher than at low humidity. The partial self-stabilization of growth following P changes and the positive relationship between steady growth rate and P are consistent with the notion that wall yielding is controlled by interactions between P and metabolism. Results are discussed in relation to biophysical factors that control growth and to present theories that accommodate variable wall yielding.
Characterization of Lateral Root Development at the Onset of Storage Root Initiation in ‘Beauregard’ Sweetpotato Adventitious Roots

This study characterized lateral root (LR) development attributes during the onset of storage root (SR) initiation stage in 'Beauregard' sweetpotato. SR initiation has been defined as the appearance of cambia around the protoxylem and secondary xylem elements. Our results showed that 20-day-old adventitious roots (ARs) classified as SRs had 53% and 85% greater mean LR count than pencil roots (PRs) and lignified roots (LGs), respectively. SRs had 53% and 78% greater mean LR density relative to PRs and LGs, respectively. SRs had 66% and 130% greater mean total LR length than PRs and LGs, respectively. SRs had lower mean main root (MR)/LR length ratio compared with PRs (-38%) and LGs (-60%). SRs had 70% and 134% greater mean surface area than PRs and LGs, respectively. SRs had lower mean MR/LR surface area ratio compared with PRs (-42%) and LGs (-62%). The plot of the first and second principal components revealed the presence of a gradient between extreme LG and SR clusters, suggesting a developmental transition between LGs and SRs with PRs representing an intermediate developmental stage. Although AR architecture is not the sole determinant of SR formation, our data help provide a basis for integrating AR architecture attributes with other factors that are known to influence SR initiation. Growth substrate moisture variability influenced LR development during the critical SR initiation period. Relative to the control treatments, water deprivation 10 to 20 days after transplanting (DAT) reduced mean LR count, length, and surface area by 49%, 103%, and 94%, respectively. Saturated conditions 10 to 20 DAT reduced mean LR count, length, and surface area by 75%, 81%, and 77%, respectively. These results represent the first evidence for the association between anatomical cues of SR initiation and root architecture and provide corroborating data that soil moisture variability 10 to 20 DAT directly influences SR yield potential through AR architecture modifications that are associated with di- minished SR formation. This information can be used to further optimize SR yield by identifying agroclimatic and management variables that are associated with desirable LR development during the critical SR initiation stage.
Abundance and Distribution of Major and Understudied Archaeal Lineages at Globally Distributed Deep-Sea Hydrothermal Vents

Archaea that colonize deep-sea hydrothermal vent polymetallic sulfide deposits are phylogenetically and physiologically diverse. However, due to technological and sample limitations, the global archaeal inter-vent field patterns and the patterns between diverse sulfide deposit formations are still poorly understood. Of the archaeal lineages, the methanogens, Thermococcales and the Archaeoglobus often represent the dominant groups, while little is known about the ecological relationships of the much less abundant Nanoarchaeota and Ignicoccus spp. To investigate the global patterns of abundance and distribution of these archaeal groups, I used lineage specific and methanogen mcrA functional gene primers for qPCR analysis to compare the archaeal community abundance from 54 samples across ten globally distributed and geochemically distinct vent fields. The archaeal community assemblage varied dramatically from hydrothermal vents with different vent host rocks along the MidAtlantic Ridge and Eastern Lau Spreading Center. In contrast, two vent fields in the East Pacific, 9°N on the EPR and Guaymas Basin that are basalt and basalt-sediment hosted respectively were found to have similar community composition. The differences in community composition between the vent fields may be attributed to the metabolically available energy, as the hydrogen oxidizing archaeal groups were found in higher proportion in the ultramafic and fast spreading basalt vent fields that are more enriched in hydrogen. The lineage specific analyses of the Nanoarchaeota and Temperatures: a. 64.0 C b. 63.3 C c. 61.8 C d. 59.8 C e. 57.4 C f. 55.3 C g. 53.8 C h. 53.0 C
Genus Thrips (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) from Pakistan with Most Commonly Recorded Species

ABSTRACT Genus Thrips Linnaeus ranks as the most commonly distributed genus in Pakistan and as such, its members largely occur on crops. The species of genus Thrips L. are taxonomically reviewed and keyed. Amongst the 14 species recognized, six species T. alatus Bhatti, T. decens Palmer, T. florum Schmutz, T. garuda Bhatti, T. kodaikanalensis Ananthakrishnan and Jagadish and T. unonae Priesner are recorded for the first time from Pakistan. An account on habitat of 14 species presently known, along with detailed description and figures of 6 species is given for the future investigation.
New taxa of the Porphyridiophyceae (Rhodophyta): Timspurckia oligopyrenoides gen. et sp. nov. and Erythrolobus madagascarensis sp. nov

Yang E.C. , Scott J. West J.A. , Orlova E. , Gauthier, D. , Küpper F.C. , Yoon H.S. and Ulf Karsten U. 2010. New taxa of the Porphyridiophyceae (Rhodophyta): Timspurckia oligopyrenoides gen. et sp. nov. and Erythrolobus madagascarensis sp. nov. Phycologia 49: 604–616. DOI: 10.2216/09-105.1 Two new marine unicellular red algae are described: Timspurckia oligopyrenoides gen. et sp. nov. isolated from southeastern Australia and Erythrolobus madagascarensis sp. nov. isolated from Madagascar. Timspurckia oligopyrenoides cells are spherical, 7–11 µm in diameter, greyish red to reddish brown and surrounded by a conspicuous fibrillar matrix about 2 µm thick. Cells exhibit positive phototaxis. In the single chloroplast the lobes extend from several pyrenoids to occupy most of the cell. A peripheral thylakoid is absent. The pyrenoid matrices are filled with tubular thylakoids and are usually surrounded by starch sheaths in the adjacent cytoplasm. The nucleus is peripheral with a nucleolus appressed to the nuclear envelope usually closest to the cell center. Golgi bodies are associated with mitochondria usually at the cell periphery. Erythrolobus madagascarensis cells are spherical, 5–8 µm in diameter, greyish red to reddish brown and surrounded by a thin conspicuous fibrillar sheath. Cells exhibit positive phototaxis. Each cell has a single chloroplast with several lobes extending from an eccentric pyrenoid forming a complex parietal layer. A peripheral thylakoid is absent. The pyrenoid matrix is filled with tubular thylakoids, and a starch sheath is visible in the adjacent cytoplasm. The nucleus is eccentric and has a central nucleolus. Golgi bodies are associated with mitochondria usually at the cell periphery. Numerous conspicuous, electron-transparent, fibrous vesicles are always present in the cells. The sequence divergences of psaA and psbA genes and phylogeny support that E. madagascarensis sp. nov. and T. oligopyrenoides gen. et sp. nov. are newly uncovered natural entities within the class Porphyridiophyceae along with Erythrolobus coxiae, Porphyridium spp. and Flintiella sanguinaria. The low-molecular-weight carbohydrates (LMWCs) floridoside, digeneaside and trehalose are present in both taxa. Thus, three independent features – ultrastructural characters, plastid gene sequences and LMWC patterns – support the suggested phylogeny and taxonomy of these red algae.
Growth and survival of haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus) larvae in relation to planktonic prey concentration

When newly hatched haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus) larvae were fed zooplankters at nominal rates of 0.5, 1.0, and 3.0/ml in the laboratory at 7 C, they grew at similar rates. After 6 wk, they averaged 8.7, 10.0, and 11.2 mm in standard length and 810, 1300, and 1728 μg in dry weight, and had condition factors of 1.25, 1.22, and 1.32. When fed at 0.1 and 0.01 plankters/ml, all larvae died in 3 and 2 wk; at 0.5-3.0 plankters/ml, daily instantaneous mortality coefficients were 0.06–0.02 during 6 wk. Larvae began feeding 2 days after hatching, and the point of no return after they were deprived of food was 6 days after hatching, yolk absorption being completed on day 6 or 7. All larvae deprived of food until 8 and 10 days after hatching, although initiating feeding, did not survive another 4 days. Prey concentration also influenced delayed feeding with greater percentages of larvae able to initiate feeding at higher plankton levels on the point-of-no-return day.