Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Conserving the endemic birds on the Comoro Islands, III: bird diversity and habitat selection on Ngazidja

Summary Bird species diversity is investigated in different habitat types on Ngazidja (Grand Comoro), Comoro Islands. Total bird diversity does not differ significantly among different forest types, but the proportion of endemic species, endemic subspecies and non-endemic species does. Both intact mature forests and pioneer forests on the slopes of Mount Karthala are important for the preservation of bird endemism. The forests on La Grille are poor in endemic species, but their bird species diversity is high thanks to non-endemics. Planting of Eucalyptus is useless for endemic birds. Humblotia flavirostris, Turdus bewsheri and Nesillas brevicaudata avoid logged forests, but Alectroenas sganzini is numerous in them. Foudia eminentissima is common in forests with bananas planted in the undergrowth. La diversité en espèces d'oiseaux est étudiée dans différents habitats à Ngazidja (Grande Comore), lies Comores. La diversité totale ne varie pas d'une manière significative parmi les différents types de forêt, mais la fraction due aux especès endémiques, aux sous-espèces endémiques et aux espèces non-endémiques varie. Aussi bien les forêts intactes et matures et les forêts jeunes sur lave sont importantes pour la préservation d'oiseaux endémiques sur les flancs du Mont Karthala. Les forêts à La Grille sont pauvres en oiseaux endémiques, mais leur diversité est grande, grace aux espèces non-endémiques. Les plantations d'Eucalyptus n'ont pas de valeur pour les oiseaux endémiques. Humblotia flavirostris, Turdus bewsheri et Nesillas brevicaudata évitent les forêts exploitées pour le bois, mais Alectroenas sganzini y est nombreux. Foudia eminentissima est commun dans les forêts plantées de bananiers sous les arbres.
Effect of Celmanax on feed intake, live weight gain and nematode control in growing sheep

The role of yeast supplementation in small ruminants on rumen fermentation, animal performance, and nematode control is still unclear. The effect of Celmanax® (yeast culture product) in two diets using lambs on body weight gain, rectal temperatures and nematode loads were monitored. 24 sheep (17 ± 2.8 kg BW), housed in individual pens, were divided into four treatments and fed on four basal diets; lucerne meal (LC), lucerne meal plus Celmanax® (LCC), sunflower meal (SF), and 4 sunflower meal plus Celmanax (SFC), for 96 days including 14 days adaptation. Dry matter intake, average body weight gain and feed conversion efficiency were calculated. Rectal temperatures and nematode egg count/gram (EPG) were measured once a week. Feed intake was higher (P < 0.05) in LCC and SFC than in LC and SF, respectively. Overall, weight gain was higher in SFC (P < 0.05) than SF. Feed conversion efficiency was higher (P < 0.05) in LCC than LC. Nematode EPG were lower (P < 0.05) in Celmanax® supplemented diets (LCC and SFC) than in their controls. Rectal temperatures dropped (P < 0.05) in Celmanax® diets. These findings suggest that, Celmanax® has the potential of improving animal performance and may be used in conjunction with other anthelmintics to control nematodes. Key words: Celmanax®, yeast, nematode, dry matter intake.
Effect of dietary plant charcoal from Canarium schweinfurthii Engl. and maize cob on aflatoxin B1 toxicosis in broiler chickens

residual oil. These disposable clays are the byproduct that could be considered for animals feeding purposes. As mentioned previously, the limiting factor for their use, is mostly the high Al content. Therefore restricted consumption by animal species should be estimated, to avoid bioaccumulation. If Al accounts for 5.3% in wasted clays as an average, maximum intake of clays depending on animal tolerance is (g anim d): 151 in bovines, 19 in sheep, 7 in swine, 0.38 in poultry, 15.1 in horses and 2.3 in rabbits.
Endangered Species: Minimum Population Grows Larger

Two new population genetics studies provide sobering news for efforts to protect endangered species. The minimum number of individuals needed to provide a genetically robust population capable of long-term survival may be as high as 10,000. Previous estimates had put the figure at 500, and many endangered species are down to just a few dozen individuals.
POPULATION GENETICS OF EUROPEAN ANODONTINAE (BIVALVIA: UNIONIDAE)

Enzyme electrophoresis was used to study population genetics and molecular differentiation of European Anodontmae. The existence of two genera (Anodonta Lamarck 1799 and Pseudanodonta Bourguignat 1876) is supported by the number of diagnostic loa (4) and Net's D > 0.463 in all cases. In western and central Europe there are two species of Anodonta, A. ananna (Linnaeus 1758) and A cygnea (Linnaeus 1758) while two other taxa of still uncertain rank were identified in the Mediterranean area. An estimated medium level of gene flow and pronounced genetic differentiation between-the taxa support this view. Data on genetic distances suggest that the diversification of European Anodontinac took place in the middle-late Pleistocene
Defecation Rate Variability in the Common Duiker: Importance of Food Quality, Season, Sex and Age

A common population estimation method for cryptic species — dung-heap counts — is reliant on accurate defecation rate data. Diet quality, dominance level, and animal condition have been suggested to affect antelope defecation rate. We investigated the effects of sex and forage quality on defecation rate and faecal output in the common duiker (Sylvicapra grimmia Linnaeus, 1758), a territorial species with limited sexual size dimorphism. Using a repeated measures design, ten semi-captive individuals of both sexes and two age classes were fed two diets differing in fibre content in two seasons. Dry matter intake and faecal output were measured over ten days on each diet. Neither diet quality nor fibre content significantly affected defecation rate or the dry matter of egesta, despite greater intake on a low-fibre diet. Daily dry matter intake and egestion did not differ significantly between sexes, but younger animals produced more faecal matter. Males defecated more frequently (5.2 ± 0.2 piles/day) than females (3.1 ± 0.1 piles/day). Prime males had the highest defecation rate and produced smaller dung piles than other categories. A significant inverse relationship between defecation rate and faecal pile mass was detected, and we suggest that territorial male common duikers control faecal output to maximize scent-mark distribution.
Diversity and conservation of invertebrates on the sub-Antarctic Prince Edward Islands

The Prince Edward Islands form a unique component of South Africa's natural estate. Here we present an overview of the diversity of the invertebrate fauna found on Marion and Prince Edward Islands and the conservation threats facing it. The invertebrate fauna at the islands is well known owing to a significant recent effort to sample the entire fauna, although the nematodes remain poorly known. Mite, insect and springtail assemblages differ considerably between habitats and these patterns support an earlier distinction made between the epilithic and vegetated biotopes. Seasonal variation in the abundances of the arthropods is the norm, although the form of this seasonality varies considerably between species and between habitats. Froma regional perspective, the biogeographic affinities of the fauna remain enigmatic. Nonetheless, it seems likely that isolation has been an important contributor to local, indigenous species richness on Marion Island, and speciation has clearly contributed several endemic species to the fauna. Introduced insect species richness is more closely related to mean annual temperature and the number of humans occupying islands in the sub-Antarctic region, and this pattern is reflected locally in the distribution of indigenous and exotic springtails on Marion Island. The introduced species are common in warm, moist habitats, while the indigenous species prefer colder, drier sites. Local climate change, in step with global trends, seems set to have pronounced influences on the invertebrate fauna. Direct effects are likely to take the form of increased abundances of introduced species because of their shorter life cycles and greater fecundity compared to indigenous species, which tend to be long-lived with low reproductive output. Indirect effects are likely to be the result of changes in predation patterns of introduced house mice, and changes in plant communities precipitated by the spread of invasive vascular plants, which in turn have a marked influence on invertebrate assemblages. Undoubtedly the largest conservation threats at the island are the interactions between climate change, introduced species, and human use. In particular, climate change is likely to mean the ready establishment of alien species propagules, while increasing human use is likely to increase propagule pressure. Conservation of the invertebrates at the island will best be served by reduction in human use and stringent enforcement of the provisions of the management plan for these special nature reserves.
Effects of exogenous oxytocin on cervical penetration of Iranian ewes

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of exogenous oxytocin (OT) treatments on the cervix dilation of three breeds of Iranian ewes. Cervix dilation was measured by transcervical passage of scaled bovine catheter into the uterus of the ewes. Fifty four healthy Zandi ewes were equally assigned to six groups in the late breeding season. Thirty healthy Lori-bakhtiari breed ewes were equally assigned to six groups during anestrous. The ewes received 100, 80 and 60 IU of intravenous (i.v) and intramuscular (i.m) OT. In the breeding season, 120 healthy Zell breed ewes were equally assigned to six groups and received 150, 100 and 50 IU of i.v and i.m OT. Cervix dilation was examined before OT injection 10 to 15 min following treatment. This study indicates that injection of more than 80 IU OT can completely dilate the cervix of Iranian ewes (P < 0.05) and the reproductive seasons (anestrous, late breeding season and breeding season) and the type of injection (i.v or i.m) has no significant effect on induced cervix penetration by OT. Therefore, this dose is the applicable dose for the cervix dilation and transcervical artificial insemination and embryo recovery in Iranian ewes. Key words: Iranian ewes, oxytocin, cervical dilation, transcervical artificial insemination, transcervical embryo transfer.
Maturation temperature regulates germinability and chemical constituents of Scotch thistle (Onopordum acanthium) cypselas

The effects of maturation temperature on germinability and chemical constituents of Scotch thistle (Onopordum acanthium L.) cypselas (fruits) were determined as part of our ongoing investigation into the causes of intermittent germination in this species. Mature cypselas were collected from plants that were grown under higher (28 or 30 °C) and lower (20 or 22 °C) temperature regimes in greenhouses in 2000 and 2001. Two collections were made, from early- and late-ripening capitula. Germinability and the amounts of moisture, wax, phenolic compounds, and lignin were determined for cypselas from all collections. Cypselas that matured in the first year had lower amounts of moisture and wax than second-year cypselas, but did not differ in amounts of other components. Cypselas that matured under the higher temperatures generally had lower amounts of moisture, wax, and phenolic compounds, faster germination, and higher germination percentages. Early-matured cypselas had higher amounts of moisture and wax, faster .
Blocking Both E-Selectin and P-Selectin Inhibits Neutrophil Recruitment into the Murine Testis after Ischemia-Reperfusion-Induced Injury

Celebi M. , A.G. A. Paul: Blocking Both E-Selectin and P-Selectin Inhibits Neutrophil Recruitment into the Murine Testis after Ischemia-Reperfusion-Induced Injury. Acta Vet. Brno 76, 2008: 321-326. Ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury of the testis results in germ cell specific apoptosis, a process in which neutrophil recruitment to the testes plays a critical role. Adhesion molecules, in particular E- and P-selectins, play a critical role in this recruitment. The present study sought to characterize the inhibitory effect of function-blocking monoclonal anti-mouse E- and P-selectin antibodies on the migration of neutrophils into the IR-induced testis of the mouse. Mice were subjected to a 2 hr period of testicular torsion (ischemia) followed by detorsion (reperfusion). Ten minutes after the onset of reperfusion mice received either a mixture of 200 µg function-blocking monoclonal E-selectin and P-selectin antibody (FBMAb group; 100 µg; each) intravenously or 200 µg of isotype-matched control-antibody (IMCAb group). Separate groups of mice underwent sham- operation (SO group) or received 500 ng of TNF (IF group) to induce inflammation. Mice were sacrificed 24 h after reperfusion and testicular interstitial cells were isolated and analyzed for the presence of neutrophils by means of flow cytometry. The mixture of function-blocking monoclonal E- and P-selectin antibody (FBMAb) decreased neutrophil recruitment to the IR-induced testis significantly (FBMAb group as compared to the IMCAb group 20.2 ± 2.8 vs. 51.9 ± 4.0 % Gr-1+CD11b+ of total leukocytes; p = 0.0002). Therefore, blocking both E- and P-selectin may be therapeutically beneficial to protect postischemic testis.
Composicion química, extracción de proteína foliar y perfil de aminoácidos de siete plantas acuáticas

La utilizacion de la vegetacion acuatica como materia prima para la extraccion de proteina foliar, representa una nueva fuente de proteina para la dieta humana y animal. Por esto, el objetivo de esta investigacion fue hacer un estudio descriptivo de la composicion quimica, obtencion de concentrados de proteina foliar y cuantificacion de aminoacidos de estos concentrados en siete plantas acuaticas conocidas como: Lemna gibba, Nymphaea mexicana, Hydrocotyle ranunculoides Lin, Schoenoplectus sp. , Polygonum mexicanum, Typha domingensis y Azolla mexicana. Se realizo el analisis quimico aproximado, factores antifisiologicos, fracciones de fibra, minerales y contenido de aminoacidos. Los resultados se informan en base a materia seca. Hydrocotyle ranunculoides y Azolla mexicana tuvieron el mayor contenido de proteina cruda (37.1 y 31.26 %, respectivamente). El contenido de extracto etereo, en todas las plantas estudiadas, fue bajo (2.7 hasta 5.4 %). No se detectaron Cu, Pb, Cd ni Cr, tampoco saponinas ni glucosidos cianogenicos. Se hallo una cantidad considerable de alcaloides (en prueba cualitativa). En cuanto a los concentrados de proteina foliar de hojas de siete plantas acuaticas, se senala un contenido de proteina cruda entre 32.6 y 69.9 %, cenizas entre 1.69 y 10.09 % y extracto etereo entre 1.14 y 10.5 %. No se detectaron diferencias en el contenido de aminoacidos entre los concentrados de proteina foliar. Los tenores de aminoacidos esenciales en los extractos proteicos, comparados con el patron FAO indican que la proteina tiene los aminoacidos esenciales en adecuada cantidad. Se puede concluir que estas plantas acuaticas pudieran utilizarse en la alimentacion animal, de esta forma se contribuye al uso de estos recursos potenciales al ser una buena fuente de proteina de adecuada calidad por su contenido de aminoacidos esenciales. Por ultimo, seria un medio eficiente para controlar la propagacion de estas plantas.
Citizen science detects the undetected: the case of Abudefduf saxatilis from the Mediterranean Sea

Volunteers are increasingly involved in environmental research and their role in monitoring biological invasions is rapidly expanding in the Internet Era. On November 2012, a recreational diver reported the sighting of an unidentified and unfamiliar fish to an interactive web project ‘Seawatchers’ (http://www.observadoresdelmar.es) that aims to acquire geo-referenced observations of exotic fish species in the Mediterranean Sea. The individual was spotted on August 2009 along the coast of Tarragona, Spain and it was later identified as the Sergeant major Abudefduf saxatilis (Teleost, Pomacentridae), a tropical Atlantic species previously unrecorded in the Mediterranean Sea. This finding highlights the potential of citizen scientists in revealing the occurrence of new exotic fishes in the marine environment, providing a small but concrete advancement towards early detection, which is important for management of biological invasions.
Long-Term Mammalian Herbivory and Nutrient Addition Alter Lichen Community Structure in Alaskan Dry Heath Tundra

ABSTRACT Mammalian herbivores in arctic tundra often alter plant species composition and lichen abundance, with effects dependent on grazing season and herbivore preference. We investigated how long-term mammal exclosures designed to exclude large mammals (caribou) alone, large and medium-sized mammals (e.g., ground squirrels), or all mammals (including voles and lemmings) affected lichen abundance and species composition as well as the vascular plant community. The exclosures were partly established in combination with long-term soil nutrient additions to investigate the interaction between mammal activity and nutrient availability. Our study was conducted in dry heath tundra in northern Alaska, dominated by dwarf evergreen shrubs and lichens. Excluding mammals for 17 years allowed the lichen community to increase in biomass, particularly within the genus Cladonia, which also had more intrageneric diversity in the exclosures; after 10 years, results were subtler. Fertilization, however, almost eliminated the lichens, regardless of herbivore treatment. This coincided with a dramatic shift in vascular vegetation toward a more palatable grass-dominated community, similar to studies of other arctic heaths. Our results suggest that with greater soil nutrient availability that occurs with climate warming, lichens will decrease in abundance, and this effect may be exacerbated by increased mammalian herbivory.
Diagnosis Of Hookworm Infestation By Using Modified Kato-Katz Thick Smear

INTRODUCTION Intestinal nematode infections constitute a major health problem in the third world, particularly in tropical countries where optimal conditions exist for propagation of these helminths. High prevalence of the most important soil transmitted helminthiasis, Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura and Hookworm as well as their occurrance in multiple infections are commonly found in several areas in Indonesia and the infection are prominent among school children. The morbidity of hookworm infections in endemic areas is sustained primarily by children. In one study half of the children were infected before age 5; 90% were infected by 9 yr of age. Intensity of the infection increases up to age 6-7, then stabilizes for a few years. The diagnostic methods for hookworms and related nematode infections by the recovery of larvae from faecal samples have various advantage over the conventional diagnostic methods of the examine of parasite eggs in faeces. The culture methods are more snsitive and efficient for detection of the infection than direct examination of eggs in faeces, because the amount of faecal samples being examined is much larger; in routine faecal examinations, some 10 mg or less is examined in direct faecal smear method, some 50 mg in thick faecal smear method, but some 500 mg of faecal samples can be examined by using the test tube method and much more samples can be cultured in the polyethylene tube method.
Interspecific Hybridization: Potential for Movement of Herbicide Resistance from Wheat to Jointed Goatgrass (Aegilops cylindrica)1

The transfer of herbicide resistance genes from crops to related species is one of the greatest risks of growing herbicide-resistant crops. The recent introductions of imidazolinone-resistant wheat in the Great Plains and Pacific Northwest regions of the United States and research on transgenic glyphosate-resistant wheat have raised concerns about the transfer of herbicide resistance from wheat to jointed goatgrass via introgressive hybridization. Field experiments were conducted from 2000 to 2003 at three locations in Washington and Idaho to determine the frequency and distance that imidazolinone-resistant wheat can pollinate jointed goatgrass and produce resistant F1 hybrids. Each experiment was designed as a Nelder wheel with 16 equally spaced rays extending away from a central pollen source of ‘Fidel-FS4’ imidazolinone-resistant wheat. Each ray was 46 m long and contained three rows of jointed goatgrass. Spikelets were collected at maturity at 1.8-m intervals along each ray and subjected to an imazamox screening test. The majority of all jointed goatgrass seeds tested were not resistant to imazamox; however, 5 and 15 resistant hybrids were found at the Pullman, WA, and Lewiston, ID, locations, respectively. The resistant plants were identified at a maximum distance of 40.2 m from the pollen source. The overall frequency of imazamox-resistant hybrids was similar to the predicted frequency of naturally occurring acetolactate synthase resistance in weeds; however, traits with a lower frequency of spontaneous mutations may have a relatively greater risk for gene escape via introgressive hybridization. Nomenclature: Imazamox; jointed goatgrass, Aegilops cylindrica Host. #3 AEGCY; wheat, Triticum aestivum L. Additional index words: Herbicide-resistant wheat, hybridization, imidazolinone resistant, interspecific hybrids, introgression, outcrossing, pollen-mediated gene flow. Abbreviations: ALS, acetolactate synthase; BC, backcross generation; DAP, days after planting; PNW, Pacific Northwest.
Chinese Tortrix Cydia trasias (Lepidoptera: Olethreutidae): Suppression on Street-Planting Trees by Mass Trapping with Sex Pheromone Traps

Abstract Mass trapping to control the Chinese tortrix Cydia trasias (Meyrick) by removal of males using sex pheromone traps was evaluated in three plots of Chinese scholar-trees Sophora japonica L. in Beijing, China, in 2000. The traps, baited with 0.25 mg C. trasias synthetic sex pheromone (60% E8, E10-dodecadienyl acetate (E8, E10–12:Ac) and 40% E8, E10-dodecadien-1-ol (E8, E10–12:OH), were deployed in the trapping plots at a density of one trap per two trees. The trees in all plots were planted ≈4.5 m apart along pedestrian paths. In the trapping plot on Zhichun Road, the mating rates of caged virgin females were reduced by 70.65% and 66.48% when compared with the control plots during the overwintering- and second-generation moth flight-period, respectively. Population densities of hibernating larvae on tree trunks during the third generation were significantly lower than those of the overwintered generation (the third generation of the previous year). Tunneled petioles caused by first- and second-generation larvae were reduced by 47–79% and 62–81%, respectively. Bored seed pods caused by third-generation larvae were reduced by 87–96%. Higher initial populations in the trapping plot on North Shuangyushu Road may have led to the higher observed petiole and seed pod injuries than in the other two plots during the second and third generations. Thus, male removal using sex pheromone traps is a promising means of effectively controlling C. trasias on street-planted Chinese scholar-trees.