Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
EARLY ABSCISSION IN HACKBERRY LEAVES BEARING PACHYPSYLLA GALLS (HOMOPTERA: PSYLLIDAE)

Early leaf abscission has been reported in several species of plants attacked by insects, e.g., leaf miners (Faeth et al. 1981), gall aphids (Williams & Whitham 1986), and psyllids that do not form galls (Clarke 1962, 1963). In northern Florida, the leaves of hackberry ( Celtis leavigata Willd.) are commonly exploited by the glabrous nipple gall Pachypsylla sp. (possibly Pachypsylla celtidiscucurbita Riley, Yang & Mitter 1994). Observations of very early leaf fall from hackberry trees on the University of Florida campus in Gainesville, Florida, in late August revealed that most fallen leaves bore galls of this psyllid. Accordingly, we sampled leaf fall from hackberry trees throughout the autumn of 1995 to determine whether galled leaves represented a greater proportion in early than in late leaf falls. We chose 3 widely separated sites on the University of Florida campus. Site 1 was a large, solitary hackberry tree near Keys Residential Complex, site 2 was a small patch of hackberry trees of various sizes on the northwest edge of campus, and site 3 was a large, solitary hackberry tree near the Psychology Building. At each site on 8-IX-95, we delineated a sample area (1.5 m by 1.0 m) where we cleared all leaves. On 29-IX-95, 6-XI-95, 21-XI-95, 29-XI-95, and 6-XII-95, we collected all leaves in each sample area. We later inspected the leaves for galls and calculated the percent of leaves bearing galls. We analyzed the changes in percent galled leaves over time at each site with an ANCOVA model after arcsine transforming percent data. Our analysis of the data presented in Table 1 revealed that as autumn progressed, leaves bearing galls represented a significantly decreasing percent of fallen leaves ( P = 0.0009). The percent of fallen, galled leaves averaged over all 3 sites showed the expected trend: 50.55% (29-IX-95), 44.90% (6-XI-95), 40.97% (21-XI-95), 31.27% (29XI-95), and 30.60% (6-XII-95). Early abscission of exploited leaves may be an induced plant defense because it can kill exploiters by preventing them from completing development (Williams & Whitham 1986; Prezler & Price 1993). However, leaf abscission may more often be viewed as a plant response to leaf damage, especially if the attacker emerges before leaf abscission or completes development even in abscised leaves (Stiling & Simberloff 1989). Whether adults of P. sp. emerge before leaf abscission or nymphs complete development in abscised leaves is not known. But, adults of the closely related Pachypsylla celtidismamma (Fletcher) do emerge from galls in Celtis occidentalis L. before leaf fall (Lill 1998). Thus, early leaf abscission in trees attacked by gall-making psyllids could be simply a response to leaf damage. We thank Susan Halbert of the Florida Division of Plant Industry for taxonomic information on Pachypsylla species.
New Protocetid Whales from Alabama and Mississippi, and a New Cetacean Clade, Pelagiceti

Georgiacetus vogtlensis was originally described from a skull and relatively complete skeleton collected from the “Blue Bluff unit” of early Bartonian age from Georgia (Hulbert et al., 1998). This specimen is clearly a protocetid based on the retention of an upper third molar, the presence of a large innominate with a large, functional acetabulum, and the lack of large accessory denticles on the cheek teeth. All of these features are symplesiomorphies found in the currently-paraphyletic family Protocetidae. Georgiacetus does, however, usually cluster close to Basilosauridae in phylogenetic analyses, making it one of the most advanced protocetids known (Uhen, 2004; Geisler et al., 2005). The phylogenetic position of Georgiacetus is influenced by the lack of a bony connection of the innominate to the vertebral column, presence of incipient accessory denticles on the cheek teeth, the presence of an incipient pterygoid sinus fossa, and the relatively posterior position of the external nares (Hulbert et al. 1998). Thewissen and Fish (1997) outlined a five step evolutionary process to shift from quadrupedal paddling, which appears to be the apomorphic mode of aquatic locomotion for mammals, to caudal oscillation, the mode of aquatic locomotion found in all modern cetaceans. The steps are: quadrupedal paddling, pelvic paddling, pelvic undulation, caudal undulation, caudal oscillation. Thewissen and Fish identified modern analogs for each of the locomotory modes in their evolutionary scenario, and also suggested that cetaceans perhaps omitted the pelvic undulation mode in the development of caudal oscillation. Georgiacetus is important in such discussion. The large size of the innominate of Georgiacetus (see Hulbert, 1998) suggests that it probably had correspondingly large hind feet. Since these feet could not have functioned in terrestrial locomotion or in aquatic paddling (due to the lack of a bony connection to the vertebral column) (Hulbert et al., 1998), perhaps they were used as hydrofoils during pelvic undulation. Conversely, perhaps Georgiacetus had flukes on the tail, and used either caudal undulation or caudal oscillation to locomote underwater. The study of complete hind limbs and a complete series of caudal vertebrae would resolve matters, but until now the known specimens of Georgiacetus have only the innominata and the first caudal vertebra. The new specimens of Georgiacetus reported here add three additional anterior caudal vertebrae and a single more posterior caudal vertebra to the hypodigm, which prove to be extremely helpful in determining the locomotory mode of this advanced protocetid. Institutional Abbreviations— CIS, Cranbrook Institute of Science, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan; GSM, Georgia Southern Museum, Statesboro, Georgia; MMNS, Mississippi Museum of Natural Science, Jackson, Mississippi; UAM, University of Alabama Museums, Alabama Museum of Natural History, Tuscaloosa, Alabama; USNM, United States National Museum, Washington DC.
Phytoplankton diversity and abundance in Ndop wetland plain, Cameroon

Phytoplankton is very sensitive to nutrient changes. Very little work has been carried out on the effect of these changes on the phytoplankton community in the Ndop wetland. Four paddy-field sites were studied to evaluate the effect of some abiotic factors on their occurrence and abundance of phytoplankton. Water samples were collected from the paddy-fields sites following age gradient 34, 32, 22 and 5 years old fields. Potassium, sodium, nitrate-nitrogen, phosphate-phosphorus, conductivity and pH were the factors that contributed to phytoplankton diversity and density. There was a positive significant correlation between pH and potassium (r = 0.99, P ≤ 0.01), and pH and sodium (r = 0.977, P ≤ 0.05). A negative correlation (r = -0.992, P ≤ 0.01) was observed between pH and evenness. Eight divisions of phytoplankton were recorded: Chlorophyta (26.42%), Bacillariophyta (20.76%), Pyrrhophyta (20.76%), Cyanophyta (15.09%), Chrysophyta (1.87%), Xanthophyta (3.77%), Rhodophyta (1.87%), and Euglenophyta (7.55%). The most abundant species included Microcystis aeruginosa, Anacystis sp. , Chlorococcus disperses and Peridinum sp. These may be used as bioindicator of the water quality. Diversity index increased with increase in the age of paddy-fields sites. 43% of the species indicated eutrophic status, 16.9% mesotrophic, and 20.8% oligotrophic. Eutrophic species were more in the older paddy sites while the young paddy sites had more oligotrophic species. Key words : Phytoplankton, diversity, abundance, pollution, Ndop wetland.
Susceptibilidade a antimicrobianos de cocos Gram-positivos anaeróbios estritos isolados em primatas Calitriquídeos (Callithrix penicillata e Callithrix jacchus)

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the susceptibility profile to antimicrobial drugs of the anaerobic Gram-positive cocci from the oral cavity and fecal specimens of marmosets (Callithrix penicillata and Callithrix jacchus) maintained in captivity. The samples isolated from fecal specimens were found to be sensitive to penicillin G, cephalothin, cefotaxime, ampicillin and chloramphenicol as well as they showed resistance to clindamycin, cefoxitin, erythromycin, tetracycline, imipenem and metronidazole. The isolated oral samples were sensitive to penicillin G, cephalotin, cefoxitin, cefotaxime and chloramphenicol, but resistant to clindamycin, ampicillin, metronidazole, erythromycin, tetracycline and imipenem. The susceptibility profile to antimicrobial drugs of intestinal and oral Gram positive cocci of C. penicillata and C. jacchus showed the existence of multi-resistance in some strains, up to 5 drugs.
Incorporación de Espirulina (Spirulina Maxima) en dietas para alevines de truchas arco iris (Oncorhynchus Mykiss)

A nutritional assay was conducted with rainbow trout fry (oncorhynchus mykiss), from 2 up to 30 g body weight, using a spirulina meal (Spirulina maxima). The spirulina meal was incorporated in the feed at 0,0; 2,5 and 5,0% levels in order to verify the effects on productive performance, mortality (%) and uric acid levels (mg/dl). After 90 days, the productive performance (body weight, feed intake, feed conversion and specific growth rate) was not significantly affected (P≥ 0,05) by the presence of spirulina meal in the diets. The mortality was not significantly (P≥ 0,05) modified by the treatments, the same was observed in the uric acid levels. under the experimental conditions used, the results obtained show that a 5% of spirulina meal can be incorporated in the feed for rainbow trout fry.
Hexactinellida (Porifera) from the ANDEEP III Expedition to the Weddell Sea, Antarctica

New Hexactinellida from the deep Weddell Sea collected in 2005 during the ANT XXII/3 expedition (ANDEEP III ) are described. This hexactinellid fauna includes 12 species from 8 genera, 2 of which are new to science: Lophocalyx profundum n. sp. and L. topsenti n. sp. It further contains the first record of Caulophacus (Caulodiscus) valdiviae in the Weddell Sea, and the second findings of the species Acoelocalyx brucei and Caulophacus (Oxydiscus) weddelli since their original descriptions. The Southern Ocean deep-sea, including the deep Weddell Sea, still offers a challenging potential for the discovery of new taxa.
Bank Risk Taking and Liquidity Creation Following Regulatory Interventions and Capital Support

During times of bank distress, authorities often engage in regulatory interventions and provide capital support to reduce bank risk taking. An unintended effect of such actions may be a reduction in bank liquidity creation, with possible adverse consequences for the economy as a whole. This paper tests hypotheses regarding the effects of regulatory interventions and capital support on bank risk taking and liquidity creation using a unique dataset over the period 1999-2009. We find that both types of actions are generally associated with statistically significant reductions in risk taking and liquidity creation in the short run and long run. While the effects of regulatory interventions are also economically significant, the effects of capital support are only economically significant in the long run. Thus, both types of actions have important intended and unintended consequences with implications for policymakers.
Conservation assessment of the endemic plants of the Tuscan Archipelago, Italy

Abstract The Mediterranean islands support a rich diversity of flora, with a high percentage of endemic species. We used the IUCN categories and criteria to assess the conservation status of 16 endemic plant taxa (species and subspecies) of the Tuscan Archipelago, based on data collected during field surveys over 4 years. Our data were sufficient to use criteria B, C and D in our assessment. We used criterion B in the assessment of all 16 taxa, criterion C for four taxa, criterion D for 11 taxa and criteria B, C and D for three taxa, Centaurea gymnocarpa, Limonium doriae and Silene capraria. According to our results L. doriae, Romulea insularis and S. capraria are categorized as Critically Endangered and therefore require immediate conservation measures; eight taxa are categorized as Endangered, two as Vulnerable and three as Near Threatened. Compared to earlier assessments, eight species are recategorized with a higher degree of threat, two species are recategorized with a lower degree of threat, five are unchanged, and one species is assessed for the first time. Based on the IUCN categorization our results show that all the endemic species of the Tuscan Archipelago are directly and/or indirectly threatened by human activities, such as tourism and agriculture, and invasive species of plants and animals. The Tuscan Archipelago National Park is responsible for the conservation of all endemic species in the area.
Reduction of Western Wheatgrass by the Feeding of Two Rangeland Grasshoppers, Aulocara elliotti and Melanoplus infantilis

The avg reduction per day of western wheatgrass, Agropyron smithii Rydb. , by 2 species of rangeland grasshoppers confined in field cages was: adult Melanoplus infantilis Scudder 35.3 mg; adult Aulocara elliotti (Thomas) 60.9 mg; 5th-instar A. elliotti , 39.8 mg; and 4th-instar A. elliotti , 17.9 mg. Forage loss from a density of 1 A. elliotti /m2 was estimated to be 22 kg/ha. Food consumed and grasshopper weight were directly related. More forage was cut but not consumed by adult grasshoppers than by nymphs.
Selectivity of chemical weed control systems in conventional cotton

Cotton is highly susceptible to the interference imposed by weed community, being therefore essential to adopt control measures ensuring the crop yield. Herbicides are the primary method of weed control in large-scale areas of production, and usually more than one herbicide application is necessary due to the extensive crop cycle. This study aimed to evaluate the selectivity of different chemical weed control systems for conventional cotton. The experiment took place in the field in a randomized block design, with twenty nine treatments and four replications in a split plot layout (adjacent double check). Results showed that triple mixtures in pre-emergence increased the chance of observing reductions in the cotton yield. To avoid reductions in crop yield, users should proceed to a maximum mixture of two herbicides in pre-emergence, followed by S-metolachlor over the top, followed by one post-emergence mixture application of pyrithiobac-sodium + trifloxysulfuron-sodium.
Environmental determinants of marine benthic biodiversity dynamics through Triassic–Jurassic time

Abstract Ecology is thought to be of crucial importance in determining taxonomic turnover at geological time scales, yet general links between ecology and biodiversity dynamics are still poorly explored in deep time. Here we analyze the relationships between the environmental affinities of Triassic–Jurassic marine benthic genera and their biodiversity dynamics, using a large, taxonomically vetted data set of Triassic–Jurassic taxonomic occurrences. On the basis of binomial probabilities of proportional occurrence counts, we identify environmental affinities of genera for (1) carbonate versus siliciclastic substrates, (2) onshore versus offshore depositional environments, (3) reefs versus level-bottom communities, and (4) tropical versus non-tropical latitudinal zones. Genera with affinities for carbonates, onshore environments, and reefs have higher turnover rates than genera with affinities for siliciclastic, offshore, and level-bottom settings. Differences in faunal turnover are largely due to differences in origination rates. Whereas previous studies have highlighted the direct influence of physical and biological factors in exploring environmental controls on evolutionary rates, our analyses show that the patterns can largely be explained by the partitioning of higher taxa with different evolutionary tempos among environments. The relatively slowly evolving bivalves are concentrated in siliciclastic rocks and in level-bottom communities. Furthermore, separate analyses on bivalves did not produce significant differences in turnover rates between environmental settings. The relationship between biodiversity dynamics and environments in our data set is thus governed by the partitioning of higher taxa within environmental categories and not directly due to greater chances of origination in particular settings. As this partitioning probably has ecological reasons rather than being a simple sampling artifact, we propose an indirect environmental control on evolutionary rates. Affinities for latitudinal zones are not linked to systematically different turnover rates, possibly because of paleoclimatic fluctuations and latitudinal migrations of taxa. However, the strong extinction spike of tropical genera in the Rhaetian calls for an important paleoclimatic component in the end-Triassic mass extinction.
Leaf litter of the invasive Casuarina equisetifolia decomposes at the same rate as that of native woody species on oceanic islands but releases more nitrogen

Hata K, Kato H & Kachi N (2012). Leaf litter of the invasive Casuarina equisetifolia decomposes at the same rate as that of native woody species on oceanic islands but releases more nitrogen. Weed Research52, 542–550. Summary We tested whether the decomposition rates and N loss of leaf litter of an alien invasive tree, Casuarina equisetifolia, are affected by litter traits and environmental conditions in the Ogasawara Islands in the north-western Pacific Ocean. In a field experiment, we compared mass loss and N loss of leaf litter among four treatments in a 2 × 2 design of forest type (native and C. equisetifolia) × litter type (native and C. equisetifolia). The dry weight of C. equisetifolia litter remaining at the end of the experiment was significantly less than that of the litter of native species in both forest types. The dry weight of decomposing litter at the C. equisetifolia sites was significantly less than that at native forest sites, regardless of litter type. The dry weight of C. equisetifolia litter at the C. equisetifolia sites was similar to that of the litter of native species at the native forest sites. The C. equisetifolia leaf litter was significantly greater in N content and rate of N loss than the litter of native species. Our results demonstrate that the decomposition rate of C. equisetifolia litter is affected by both litter type and the forest type of the invaded sites and suggest that litter decomposition of C. equisetifolia may alter the total N and N cycling in invaded forest ecosystems.
Seasonal variations in the prevalence and infestation intensity of Gyrodactylus salaris Malmberg, 1957 (Monogenea : Gyrodactylidae) on Atlantic salmon parr, Salmo salar L., in the river batnfjordselva, Norway

The prevalence of Gyrodactylus suluris Malmberg. 1957 on both yearlings and older parr of Atlantic salmon (Sulmo sulur L.) in the River Batnfjordselva was 100% through most of the year. With one exception, uninfested fish were only found in the winter and spring after the water temperature had fallen to almost 0° C for 2–3 months. In general, the abundance (i.e. the mean number of parasites per investigated fish) of G. salaris increased during the warm period of the year (summer and early autumn). Abundanceas high as 1153 and 4418 in early autumn was found on yearlings and older parr, respectively. The abundance decreased during the cold period of the year (winter and early spring), in some cases to as low as two and four G. salaris on yearlings and older parr, respectively. About 86% of the G. salaris specimens were found on the fins of the salmon parr: mainly on the dorsal fin (34.4%) and the pectoral fins (27.0%). The remainder of the parasites were distributed on the body (7.8%), the head (3.5%), and the gills (2.6%).
Photosynthate allocation in Pinustaeda. I. Substrate requirements for synthesis of shoot biomass

Procedures were developed to estimate the amount of glucose substrate required to biosynthesize shoot biomass of Pinustaeda L. By using compositional data from our own analyses and from the literature, glucose requirements per gram of major biomass constituent fractions were calculated to be as follows: lipids, 3.019 g; phenolics, 1.919 g; lignin, 1.897 g; nitrogenous compounds, 1.579 g; organic acids, 1.484 g; and carbohydrates, 1.182 g. From determinations of shoot weight and composition we calculated that 1.574 g of glucose was required to produce 1 g of typical shoot biomass.The computational procedures were also applied to analytical data from four other tree species, with glucose requirements estimated to range from 1.216 g for the cambial zone of Eucalyptusregnans F. Muell. to 1.603 g for bark of Pinuselliottii Englm.Application of our findings to studies of biomass formation of forest trees are discussed.
Evaluation of fungicides, botanicals and bio-agents against Curvularia lunata, a causal agent of gain discoloration in rice

In vitro evaluation of four systemic fungicides revealed that the maximum inhibition of mycelial growth of Curvularia lunata was obtained from difenoconazole (98.80%) and propiconazole (98.10%) at 0.1 per cent concentration. Among the three non-systemic fungicides tested, mancozeb (98.80%) was found most effective followed by chlorothalonil (63.67%) at 0.2 per cent concentration. When the seeds were treated with fungicides, mancozeb gave highest seed germination (99.36%) and vigour index (1253.3) followed by difenoconazole with germination and vigour index of 94.88 per cent and 1232.4 respectively. Among the seven botanicals tested, garlic bulb extract (96.7%) was found to be effective at 10 per cent concentration followed by Eucalyptus leaf extract (93.45) in inhibiting the spore germination after four hours of incubation. Whereas, after 24 hours of incubation, leaf extract of neem (66.80%), eucalyptus (64.56%) and datura (64.20%) were found effective in inhibition of spore germination. Bacillus subtilis (97.77%), Trichoderma viride (96.44%) and T. harzianum (93.50%) among the bio-agents were found effective in inhibiting the radial growth of fungus. Whereas, seed treatment with T. viride recorded highest germination per cent (90.50) and vigour index 1170.00 followed by Bacillus subtilis.
, Trade-off Between Dispersal Efficiency and Seedling Fitness in Oroxylum indicum, A Wind-Dispersed , Tropical Tree

In Oro:rylul1I indicul1I1. , winged seeds are dispersed by ,wind following dehiscence of the capsule. The dispersal efficiency is influenced by seed weight which is negatively correlated with wing loading (area/weight ratio), vertical settling time and dispersal distance in still air. Vertical settling time increased with increase in wing loading. Seed surface area plays no role in determining wing loading because it does not vary with seed weight. Seed weight, on the other hand, positively influences germination percentage and production of normal seedlings. Thus, selection would favour small seeds to gain dispersal advantage and large seeds to maxi'lnise germination and seedling fitness. Seed weight is therefore shaped by a trade-off between these two opposing selective fbrces.