Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Plant Size Effects on Female and Male Function in Hermaphroditic Sabatia Angularis (Gentianaceae)

Variation in the contribution of different-sized individuals to female and male function was examined for the extremes of a size-structured population of hermaph- roditic Sabatia angularis (Gentianaceae). Local populations of S. angularis at Miller Dunes, Indiana consisted of 10-1 5% large plants (> 25 flowers) and - 50% small plants (< 7 flowers). Components of female function studied were (1) pollen grain deposition on stigmas, (2) probability of fruit set, (3) seed production per fruit, (4) average seed mass per fruit, and (5) seed dispersal distributions. Components of male function examined were (1) pollen production on a per flower basis, (2) pollen removal rates, and (3) pollinator observations and fluorescent dye experiments to infer pollen movement. Large plants contributed disproportionately through female and male function to the production of offspring compared to small plants. In one of the two years examined, the proportion of flowers developing into fruits was significantly greater in large plants than small plants. Seed production per fruit was overall twofold greater for fruits of large plants than small plants. Plant size had no effect on mean seed mass per fruit or the distance of primary and secondary seed dispersal. Flowers of large plants produced significantly more pollen per flower and had significantly more pollen grains deposited on their stigmas than flowers of small plants. However, there was no difference in the proportion of pollen removed from flowers of small and large plants, although the absolute number of pollen grains removed was greater for large plants. Large plants appeared to have the potential for more geitonogamous pollinations than small plants.
Reconstruction and systems analysis of metabolism in apicomplexan parasites Toxoplasma gondii and Plasmodium falciparum

Understanding of metabolism in disease-causing microorganisms promotes drug design through the identification of the enzymes whose activity is indispensable for important cellular functions of the pathogens. Nowadays such understanding arises from experimental as well as computational studies. These two approaches, long considered as rather orthogonal, in recent years began to converge and form a new field, where they are utilized as complementary. In this thesis I present my endeavors in bringing closer the fields of infection and systems biology with a particular focus on large-scale metabolic models and their analysis. Integrative, interdisciplinary nature of my project also included multiple experimental inputs as well as original experimental efforts on investigating model-derived hypotheses. In the scope of this thesis I explored metabolism of two of the most experimentally amenable apicomplexan species â human parasites Plasmodium falciparum and Toxoplasma gondii. As a foundation for the studies included in this thesis I used standard as well as recently developed computational algorithms, existing experimental datasets and innovative context- specific assumptions. I produced an extensive survey of the modeling efforts previously applied for studying metabolism of P. falciparum and available large-scale experimental datasets in comparison with the similar efforts made in other species. Further, I curated an existing model of metabolism in Plasmodium falciparum with respect to an up-to-date primary literature on metabolism of the parasite and addressed several important assumptions implicitly made in this model. Using a state-of-the-art approach, I reconstructed de novo a comprehensive metabolic model of T. gondii, and performed an extensive computational analysis to explore its metabolic needs and capabilities. I identified and classified the minimal set of substrates the parasite utilizes for growth, along with the genes and pairs of genes that are essential for cellular functions such as growth and energy metabolism. Subsequently, several of the model-driven hypotheses were confirmed experimentally, while for validation of the majority of the computational predictions forthcoming high-throughput approaches shall be used. Every confirmed hypothesis expands the scope of our knowledge on peculiarities of metabolism in apicomplexan parasites and hence can serve as an input for the pipeline of developing novel medicines.
Phylogeography of a subalpine tall-herb Ranunculus platanifolius (Ranunculaceae) reveals two main genetic lineages in the European mountains

A phylogeographical analysis of Ranunculus platanifolius, a typical European subalpine tall-herb species, indicates the existence of two main genetic lineages based on amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) markers. One group comprises populations from the Balkan Peninsula and the south-eastern Carpathians and the other includes the remaining part of the range of the species, encompassing the western Carpathians, Sudetes, Alps, Pyrenees and Scandinavia. The main phylogeographical break observed in this species runs across the Carpathians and separates the main parts of this range (western and south-eastern Carpathians), supporting a distinct glacial history of populations in these areas. The high genetic similarity of the Balkan Peninsula and south-eastern Carpathian populations could indicate a common glacial refugium for these contemporarily isolated areas of species distribution. The western and northern part of the species range displays an additional weak differentiation into regional phylogeographical groups, which could have been shaped by isolation in glacial refugia or even by a postglacial isolation. The observed weak phylogeographical structure could also be linked with ecological requirements, allowing survival along streams in relatively low, forested mountain ranges. © 2013 The Linnean Society of London
First record of Pithophora oedogonia (Montagne) Wittrock (Pithophoraceae) in the Upper Paraná River floodplain, Brazil

Pithophora is the only genus recorded of the Pithophoraceae family in Brazil. Pithophora specimens were found close to banks of Hydrilla verticillata (L.F.) Royle in the Upper Parana River floodplain. The specimens showed intercalary akinetes isospores in the same individual and morphologic similarities with Pithophora oedogonia reported in previous studies. This species constitutes a new citation for the Upper Parana River floodplain and the third report for Brazil.
Satellite-derived sea surface temperature from Caribbean and Atlantic coral reef sites, 1984-2003

Una base de datos del promedio mensual de la temperatura de la superficie del mar (SST, por sus siglas en ingles: sea surface temperature) entre 1984 y 2003, ha sido desarrollada con los registros del Radiometro Avanzado de Muy Alta Resolucion (AVHRR: Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer) del Satelite Operacional Polar Ambiental (POES: Polar Operational Environmental Satellite) de la Administracion Atmosferica y Oceanica Nacional de los Estados Unidos (NOAA: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). Estos registros corresponden a las coordinadas geograficas de 51 regiones arrecifales a lo largo del Mar Caribe y el Oceano Atlantico. Estos datos son parte de los registros de SST de 206 sitios de arrecife de coral distribuidos por todo el mundo, de la Base de Datos de SST de Arrecifes de Coral (www.globalcoral. org) de la Alianza Mundial de Arrecifes de Coral (GCRA: Global Coral Reef Alliance). Las series de temperaturas cubren dos decadas de un activo cambio climatico y de impacto en los ecosistemas marinos. Durante este periodo se reportaron blanqueamientos masivos de los arrecifes coralinos, el surgimiento de enfermedades, perdidas en la biodiversidad, mortalidad de especies, un decaimiento en las pesquerias, y una degradacion de las estructuras arrecifales. Los cambios en los arrecifes coralinos se producen cuando la anomalia de la SST mensual excede en 1.0°C el promedio de las epocas mas calidas, y se define como Punto Caliente (Hot Spot). Si la anomalia excede en 2°C o mas y/o si la duracion de la anomalia se prolonga en un mismo sitio, las respuestas ecologicas son mas severas. Las lineas de tendencias y coeficientes de regresion de la SST de cada sitio documentan tanto el grado como la tasa del cambio en la temperatura, lo que permite comparaciones entre los sitios. Los impactos del afloramiento costero, el cual hace circular a la superficie aguas profundas, frias y ricas en nutrientes, y altera la productividad de las pesquerias del arrecife, tambien estan presentes en el registro de la SST. Las temperaturas maximas y minimas, las variaciones anuales en la SST, y las fluctuaciones estacionarias pueden ser analizadas con esta base de datos. Estos datos calibrados y comparables, sirven para describir hasta que punto difieren o coinciden las tendencias de la SST entre sitios vecinos. Los registros de temperatura de un sitio especifico ofrecen las bases para desarrollar estrategias individualizadas de manejo y para formular politicas de conservacion unicas para los arrecifes regionales. Las diferencias entre las tendencias de temperatura podrian corresponder con la degradacion de algunos arrecifes y el poco impacto relativo en otros. Partiendo de este registro historico de las condiciones termicas de los arrecifes coralinos, podemos generar alertas sobre potenciales respuestas de los ecosistemas marinos al persistente cambio climatico.
Micropropagation of Selected Genotype of Aloe vera L.—An Ancient Plant for Modern Industry

Aloe vera Linn. (Syn. Aloe barbadensis Mill; Gwar-patha in Hindi) belongs to family Liliaceae. The plant, for its medicinal properties, has commercial value. Some of the genotypes of Aloe vera are consumed as a vegetable and processed to make curry and other edible products. We report here on the development of an efficient method for rapid clonal propagation by shoot proliferation from axillary meristem(s) of selected germplasm of Aloe vera. Explants were pretreated with 0.1% aqueous solution of both streptomycin and bavistin separately, each for 15 min. These were surface sterilized with 0.1% aqueous solution of mercuric chloride (HgCl2) for 4–5 min and washed several times with autoclaved water. These were kept in a chilled, sterile antioxidant (200.0 mg L−1 of ascorbic acid, 50.0 mg L−1 of citric acid, and 25.0 mg L−1 of polyvinylpyrrolidone; PVP) solution and cultured on semi-solid Murashige and Skoog's (MS) medium. The bud explants produced multiple (10.3 ± 0.675/explant) shoots on MS medium containing 13.32 μM of 6-Benzylaminopurine (BAP) and 100.0 mg L−1 of ascorbic acid, 50.0 mg L−1 each of citric acid and PVP, with 25.0 mg L−1 each of arginine and adenine sulphate as additives. The shoots were further multiplied by (a) repeated transfer to fresh MS medium with additives + 13.32 μM BAP, and (b) subculturing on MS medium with a lower (4.44 μM) concentration of BAP. On MS medium containing 4.44 μM of BAP and additives, a maximum number (27.8 ± 0.63) of shoots were produced. In liquid MS medium with 4.44 μM of BAP, the rate of shoot multiplication increased and the vigor of the shoots improved. One hundred percent of the cloned shoots rooted under in vitro conditions on hormone-free half-strength MS salts containing 200.0 mg L−1 of activated charcoal at 32 ± 2°C. The cloned shoots treated with 2.46 mM of indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) or 2.473 mM of β-naphthoxyacetic acid (NOA) for 5 min rooted under ex vitro conditions in the greenhouse. The rooted plants were hardened in the greenhouse and stored under an agro-net house. The cloned plants were transferred under different field conditions at various sites in Western Rajasthan. These plants grew normally. The higher rate of shoot multiplication and easier approach of direct rooting and hardening make this method superior to the methods previously reported on cloning/tissue culture of Aloe species. From a single shoot bud, approximately 5000 plants can be produced within 180 days.
Comparison of Floy Anchor Tags and Fingerling Tags for Tagging White Suckers

Abstract The loss rates of Floy FD-67 anchor tags and FTF-69 fingerling tags were compared in a double-tag experiment on adult white suckers Catostomus commersoni in a small northwestern Ontario lake. Twenty-seven out of 100 white suckers tagged in September 1978 were recaptured over a period of 7 years ending in 1985. Losses of fingerling tags were in excess of 70% after less than 1 year whereas losses of anchor tags averaged about 10% at each recapture period up to the seventh year.
Sex-Related Differences in Habitat Associations of Wintering American Kestrels in California's Central Valley

Abstract We used roadside survey data collected from 19 routes over three consecutive winters from 2007–08 to 2009–10 to compare habitat associations of male and female American Kestrels (Falco sparverius) in the Central Valley of California to determine if segregation by sex was evident across this region. As a species, American Kestrels showed positive associations with alfalfa and other forage crops like hay and winter wheat, as well as grassland, irrigated pasture, and rice. Habitat associations of females were similar, with female densities in all these habitats except rice significantly higher than average. Male American Kestrels showed a positive association only with grassland and were present at densities well below those of females in alfalfa, other forage crops, and grassland. Males were present in higher densities than females in most habitats with negative associations for the species, such as orchards, urbanized areas, and oak savannah. The ratio of females to males for each route was positively correlated with the overall density of American Kestrels on that route. Our findings that females seem to occupy higher quality habitats in winter are consistent with observations from elsewhere in North America.
A global review of island endemic birds

Although fewer than one-fifth of the world's bird species are restricted to islands, over 90% of bird extinctions during historic times have occurred on islands. The major identified cause has been the effects of exotic animal species introduced by man; the largest number of documented extinctions has occurred on islands of the Pacific Ocean. Some 39% (402) of threatened bird species are restricted to islands and more than 907; of these are endemic to a single geopolitical unit. The largest numbers occurring in such units are in Indonesia (91) and the Philippines (34). As a region, the Pacific holds more threatened species (110) than any other, including almost half of those considered Endangered and over 40% of the Vulnerable species. Most threatened island species are forest-dwelling. A high proportion of the Endangered species use seasonal/temperate forest. While habitat destruction now poses the greatest overall threat to island birds (affecting over half the species restricted to islands), the presence of introduced species threatens 30 of the 66 Endangered species. Although immediate extinctions of island species can best be averted by mitigating the effects of introductions, the removal of native forests will be a more severe problem in the longer term. There is an urgent need for ecologists to provide detailed information on the habitats of both threatened and endemic species so that more appropriate and effective conservation programmes can be developed.
Eficiências Reprodutiva e Produtiva em Vacas das Raças Gir, Holandês e Cruzadas Holandês x Zebu

To evaluate the reproductive efficiency and its relationship with productive traits and genetic composition of a herd, in tropical climate, 113 cows were ssigned to seven crossbreeding levels: 1/2, 3/4, 7/8, 9/16 and 15/16 Holstein x Zebu, crossbreed pure Holstein and Gir. The studied traits were: age at calving, calving season, interval from calving to first service, interval from first service to fertile service, number of services, service period, interval calving, reproductive efficiency, lactation period, milk production by lactation order and genetic groups of the herd. Analyses of multiple regression, variance and comparison of averages using Tukey test were performed in statistical software SAEG. The reproductive efficiency was influenced by the age at calving, lactation period, calving interval and genetic composition of the cows, but it was not influenced by milk production and season. The productive indexes were not influenced by the calving season, but were influenced by the genetic composition of the animals. In this study, the reproductive indexes were satisfactory, the zebu cows presented the smallest productive indexes and the taurine ones the smallest reproductive efficiency, probably by larger sensibility to handling.
Análise comparativa dos custos de produção de duas propriedades leiteiras, no município de Unaí-MG, no período de 2003 e 2004

Objetivou-se, neste estudo comparar os custos de producao do leite de duas propriedades localizadas no municipio de Unai - Minas Gerais, e a influencia deles na lucratividade. Trata-se de um estudo de dois casos, cujos dados foram extraidos de planilhas de analise tecnico-gerencial das propriedades, nos anos de 2003 e 2004. Observou-se uma diferenca entre os custos apurados, principalmente em funcao do nivel tecnologico adotado. Pode-se concluir que o aumento de escala de producao diluiu os custos fixos da atividade, diminuindo o custo total e aumentando as margens; que o uso de tecnologias viaveis possibilita uma melhor resposta do sistema a diversos fatores de producao, permitindo uma adaptacao mais rapida, o que influenciara no retorno financeiro. Concluiu-se tambem que, nas condicoes estudadas, nao e possivel definir o melhor sistema, pois os fatores de producao sao diferentes.
Occurrence of barley yellow dwarf virus in pastures of western France.

As pasture grasses are preponderant in the agriculture of western France, their role as reservoirs of barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV) and its aphid vectors has been studied from 1984 to 1986. Aphids were observed on most crops of five pasture grass species (brome grass, cocksfoot, tall fescue, Italian and perennial ryegrass) but in very low numbers. Rhopalosiphum padi was the most numerous species. The incidence of BYDV was high, with levels of infection ranging from 6 to 80% depending on the species of pasture grasses. Fescue pastures were highly infected with BYDV, whereas the virus was not detected in cocksfoot pastures. PAV-, RPV-, MAV-like isolates of BYDV were detected in pasture grasses, but RPV- and MAV-like isolates were only detected from ryegrass and brome grass, respectively. The role of these grasses as source of viruliferous aphids infecting cereals is discussed.
Estimation of Milk Production in Lactating Sows by Determination of Deuterated Water Turnover in Three Piglets per Litter

The milk intake in piglets from four lactating sows was measured in three 48 h periods, starting on days 3, 10 and 17 of lactation, using the deuterium oxide (D 2 O) dilution technique. The milk intake was estimated from the water turnover in the piglets corrected for the production of metabolic water. The water turnover was estimated from the water dilution space and the fractional turnover of body water, determined by the rate of D 2 O dilution. To determine the magnitude of isotopic recycling, a randomly selected piglet in each litter was not enriched with D 2 O. Milk production of the four lactating sows was also measured by the weigh-suckle-weigh (WSW) method on days 4, 11 and 18 of lactation. The average daily milk production determined by the D 2 O dilution technique (9.91 - 0.69 kg) was higher ( P <0.05) than that determined by the uncorrected WSW method (8.65 - 0.81 kg). Different procedures for selecting piglets were evaluated to obtain the best possible estimation of total milk production from three piglets in each litter. The total milk production of a sow based on three piglets in the litter was obtained from a quadratic model of the relationship between milk intake and daily gain. When the daily gain of all piglets were known the Pearson correlation between milk production determined for the whole litter ( n -1) and only three median piglets was 0.98.
Fine‐scale hydrological niche differentiation through the lens of multi‐species co‐occurrence models

Theory suggests spatial heterogeneity can facilitate species co‐occurrence at fine scales, but environmental data are rarely collected at sufficiently high resolution to test this empirically. Whilst there is emerging evidence that subtle variation in soil hydrology represents a fundamental fine‐scale niche axis within plant communities, this is largely derived from studies of soil hydrology in isolation from other environmental factors. We assessed the comparative importance of fine‐scale hydrological niche differentiation for species co‐occurrence using a high‐resolution study of soil hydrology and other edaphic variables, coupled with a long‐term (24 years) data set of herbaceous plant plots in a heathland community in south‐east Australia. For the analysis, we employed novel latent variable models (LVMs), which offer an explicit, model‐based approach to partitioning out the different drivers of species co‐occurrence patterns. Whilst the regression component of an LVM models the species‐specific environmental responses, the latent variable component can be used to identify residual patterns of co‐occurrence, which may be attributable to unmeasured factors and/or biotic interactions. Relative to a host of plant resources, non‐resource factors and ‘unmeasured’ latent variables, soil hydrology emerged as the best predictor of negative co‐occurrences within the community, with the dominant species exhibiting strongly differentiated responses across a comparatively narrow moisture gradient. Nevertheless, strong species‐specific responses to environmental variability only emerged at scales greater than those at which plants may be expected to compete for resources, throwing doubt on the direct role of spatial heterogeneity as a mechanism for local‐scale coexistence. Synthesis. This study confirms the vital role of hydrological niches for the maintenance of within‐community plant diversity, but also highlights the need for more rigorous analysis of scale dependencies to better understand the underlying coexistence mechanisms at play. In addition, it illustrates the inferential gains made possible with model‐based approaches to the analysis of species co‐occurrence. r code illustrating model fitting and inference is provided as a supplement.
A NEW AMAZONIAN SPECIES OF CRYPTOPHYLLOBATES (ANURA: DENDROBATIDAE)

A new genus, Cryptophyllobates, was recently described for a species of dendrobatid that was originally described as Phyllobates azureiventris. One of the distinguishing characters of this frog is the presence of dorsolateral stripes that end on the posterior back above the thighs. While conducting fieldwork in Acre, Brazil, I collected an unusual dendrobatid that transported all tadpoles in a clutch at one time; however, tadpoles of this species were more similar to Dendrobates than to Epipedobates. I subsequently discovered that this species is similar to Cryptophyllobates azureiventris and herein describe it as the second species in this genus. Molecular studies indicated that the new species and C. azureiventris are sister species and that they are closely related to some clades of Colostethus. Courtship of the new species was not observed, but tadpoles were found in a pool in a fallen tree, and adults were frequently seen in treefall gaps. Tadpoles are similar to those of Dendrobates in that they are predaceous, possibly as a result of convergence in behavior in response to development in similar restricted microhabitats.