Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Echolocation: Implications for Ecology and Evolution of Bats

Echolocation is polyphyletic among vertebrates and is currently known from some species in the orders Caprimulgiformes, Apodiformes, Chiroptera, Cetacea, Pinnipedia, Rodentia, and Primates. The ability to echolocate permits an animal to find roosts, food, or both, irrespective of light conditions. Microchiropterans are unique in producing echolocation calls that show structured changes in frequency over time; other echolocators rely on broadband clicks. The Microchiroptera are often treated as models for echolocation, since many of them use it to detect flying prey. Nevertheless, certain other species of Microchiroptera do not use echolocation when hunting, but depend in that activity upon vision, sounds emanating from the prey, or olfaction. Some bats capable of echolocation actually cease producing echolocation calls during their attacks on prey, although others do not, even when relying on different cues to find their targets. All Microchiroptera are not obligate echolocators. Playback experiments have demonstrated that echolocation calls serve a communication role in some species of bats. Furthermore, echolocation calls appear to be derived from communication signals, and the early echolocators may have used this mode of orientation to assess background rather than to choose targets, a role still played by the echolocation of birds and shrews. Echolocation divulges a great deal of information about the echolocator itself, and so permits intraspecific and interspecific piracy of information, a consequence that could be inconvenient or fatal. Echolocation has important implications for many aspects of the behavior and ecology of animals that use it.
Direct injection of foreign DNA into mouse testis as a possible alternative of sperm‐mediated gene transfer

Abstract The aim of this experiment is to transfect spermatogonia, a stem cell for matured spermatozoa, as well as matured sperm with foreign DNA by means of direct DNA injection into a testis, in order to obtain transgenic mice. Circular plasmid pSV2‐cat was co‐precipitated with calcium phosphate and directly injected via a needle into the mouse testis. Southern blot analysis indicated that the introduced DNA was present as a circular form at least up to 7 days after injection, but was undetectable upon autopsy at 28 days after injection. This suggests that spermatogonia as well as other testicular cells may not be stably transfected by the DNA. PCR (polymerase chain reaction) analysis revealed that the introduced DNA could be detectable in the freshly isolated spermatozoa from caput and cauda epididymides as early as 6 hours after the injection. Furthermore, the DNA was also detectable even in the ejaculated spermatozoa isolated from the uteri of females, which had been successfully mated to the male mi.
Bursaphelenchus species in conifers in Europe: Distribution and morphological relationships

The morphological relationship between European Bursaphelenchus species living in conifers was studied in order to provide key characters for their taxonomic identification. Several species have been newly described or recorded in Europe during the past few years and were morphologically investigated. Among the 28 conifer-inhabiting European species, four groups can be distinguished from each other by the number of lateral incisures, number and position of anal papillae of males and presence and size of a vulval flap of females. Two groups, each containing just one species show two and six lateral lines, respectively, whereas most Bursaphelenchus species belong to two groups, possessing either three or four incisures. Each of the last two groups can be divided into three subgroups, which can be differentiated by spicule shape, number and position of caudal papillae, presence and size of a vulval flap and some other features. A fifth group includes species with unclear group affiliation due to insufficient knowledge of their morphology. The B. xylophilus group (B. xylophilus, B. mucronatus, B. fraudulentus) with four lateral lines, unique spicule shape and characteristic position of the caudal papillae can clearly be differentiated from all other groups by morphology, also using only light microscopy. Within this group, B. xylophilus can clearly be differentiated morphologically from the other species, provided that adult specimens of both sexes are found and also provided that the round-tailed form of the species remains the only form present, as in Europe. Figures showing the important identification features of spicule shape and female tail shape are given for 28 species. A table shows the complete range of the most important morphometric measurements of these species. Data on the occurrence, host range and, as far as known, the vectors of these species were collected throughout Europe and references are given for each record.
Some Ecological and Biological Aspects of the Booklouse Liposcelis Bostrychophilus Badonnel 1931 (Psocoptera)

1. The presence of booklice in house dust is reported. 2. Optimal conditions for the growth of laboratory populations of L. bostrychophilus have been found to be provided by a variety of foods in the presence of living moulds, by a temperature of about 30° C, by relative humidity degrees of over 60 per cent, and by the absence of light. 3. Most of these findings are corroborated by data in the literature on the development of the egg stage and of nymphal stages, on oviposition rates, and on the critical equilibrium humidity. 4. The occurrence of L. bostrychophilus on various 'natural' and 'unnatural' locations is discussed.
GROWTH AND NITROGEN FIXATION OF THE DIAZOTROPHIC FILAMENTOUS NONHETEROCYSTOUS CYANOBACTERIUM TRICHODESMIUM SP. IMS 101 IN DEFINED MEDIA: EVIDENCE FOR A CIRCADIAN RHYTHM 1

Trichodesmium sp. IMS 101, originally isolated from coastal western Atlantic waters by Prufert‐Bebout and colleagues and maintained in seawater‐based media, was successfully cultivated in two artificial media. Its characteristics of growth, nitrogen fixation, and regulation of nitrogen fixation were compared to those of natural populations and Trichodesmium sp. NIBB 1067. Results indicate that the culture grown in artificial media had nitrogen fixation characteristics similar to those when the culture is grown in seawater‐based medium and to those of Trichodesmium sp. in the natural habitat. The study provides practical artificial media to facilitate the physiological studies of these important diazotrophic cyanobacteria, as well as the cultivation of other Trichodesmium species in future studies. Manipulations of the light/dark cycle were performed to determine whether or not the daily cycle of nitrogen fixation is a circadian rhythm. Cultures grown under continuous light maintained the cycle for up to 6 days. We demonstrated that the daily cycle of nitrogen fixation in Trichodesmium sp. IMS 101 was at least partially under the control of a circardian rhythm.
Habitat and distribution of the Wyoming pocket gopher (Thomomys clusius)

Abstract The Wyoming pocket gopher (Thomomys clusius) is among the least understood species of Geomyidae. It was petitioned for listing under the United States Endangered Species Act in 2007, but found not warranted for listing because of the poor state of knowledge. As of 2008, it was only known from a handful of specimens and a coarse, qualitative assessment of the landscape from which they were collected. To begin resolving this problem, we investigated the distribution and habitat use of T. clusius by conducting pocket gopher surveys across its known range and the adjacent, previously unsurveyed, landscape. We compared habitat features at sites occupied by T. clusius to unoccupied sites and those occupied by the common northern pocket gopher (T. talpoides). We found that T. clusius was uncommon throughout a very limited range that was completely encompassed by T. talpoides, and that habitat occupied by the 2 species differed. In contrast to T. talpoides, T. clusius was more restricted to areas with Gardner's saltbush, often in combination with other moderately halophytic species typically found in relatively flat areas of fine-textured soil. Its restricted range, relatively rarity, and association with limited habitat all suggest that T. clusius could be sensitive to habitat change. As such, monitoring populations in the face of impending changes may be important to its long-term conservation.
Oberservations on the life histories and biology of Ephemeroptera and Plecoptera in northeastern Alberta

Abstract During studies of the environmental effects of oil sands development in northeastern Alberta in 1976–1977, 36 species of Ephemeroptera and 21 of Plecoptera were collected using various techniques. Individuals of 18 mayflies and 17 stoneflies were taken in numbers sufficient to determine their basic life histories and habitat preferences. Among the mayflies, 8 (possibly 10) species exhibited fast seasonal development, 8 slow seasonal, and 2 non‐seasonal. Among the Plecoptera, these patterns were exhibited by 5, 7 and 5 species, respectively. Nymphs of most fast seasonal mayflies developed in pools and silty backwaters, often in association with aquatic macrophytes. Slow seasonal mayflies and most stoneflies were found in riffles, or on bedrock and debris in the Athabasca River. The fauna included a mixture of Eastern, northern and cordilleran species. Eastern species probably reached the Athabasca River drainage via glacial Lake Agassiz.
A comparison of strains of Xanthonema (= Heterothrix, Tribonematales, Xanthophyceae) from Antarctica, Europe, and New Zealand

Abstract Seventeen strains of Xanthonema Silva (Tribonematales, Xanthophyceae) are examined by light microscopy and transmission electron microscopy, and their salinity tolerance is investigated. Ten strains are from Antarctica where the genus is poorly known. These strains are compared with two strains from New Zealand and five from Europe, including the only existing authentic strains of three species. Stalk-like chloroplast lobes resembling pyrenoids are described for the first time for Xanthonema. There are two types: one projects from the end of the chloroplast and the other projects from the internal face of the chloroplast into an invagination of the nuclear envelope. The latter type is a new finding for the Xanthophyceae. Xanthonema sessile (Vinatzer) Ettl et Gartner and X. hormidioides (Vischer) Silva are new records for Antarctica. Other antarctic strains resemble seven other species, but difficulties in making confident identifications are discussed. Three of the strains were unable to tolerate.
Interactions between the stem‐mining weevils Ceutorhynchus napi Gyll. and Ceutorhynchus pallidactylus (Marsh.) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in oilseed rape

Abstract 1 The rape stem weevil Ceutorhynchus napi Gyll. and the cabbage stem weevil Ceutorhynchus pallidactylus (Marsh.) share the same habitat and food resource within the stems of oilseed rape, Brassica napus L. var. oleifera. Interactions occurring between these two sympatric species on this host were studied under both field and laboratory conditions.
Comparison of freshwater and marine performances of all‐female diploid and triploid Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.)

The performance of all-female diploid (AF2N) and triploid (AF3N) Atlantic salmon were compared in fresh water, under commercial production conditions in 1995 and 1996 year classes. The performance of the 1996 year class was also assessed for 14 months in a commercial sea farm. Freshwater mortality was higher in the triploid groups. The majority of losses occurred in the early stages of egg development and during the first feeding period, when the incidence of non-feeding fry was consistently higher. In growth studies, although diploid fry were significantly heavier during first feeding there were no significant differences in weight between groups some 8 months after fertilization or in presmolt growth periods from February to April in 1996 and 1997. Smolting rates were high (range 93.5–95.3%) and the incidence of deformities was low (< 1%) in both groups. Marine survival was lower in the triploid group, largely as a consequence of higher losses sustained during a period of chronic stress, when triploid losses were 9% higher. Growth patterns were similar for the first 11 months in sea water. Although graded triploid salmon were heavier in January 1998 (AF3N 1.62 ± 0.033 kg, AF2N 1.46 ± 0.36 kg, P < 0.05), when the fish were harvested in May 1998 diploid salmon were significantly heavier than triploid salmon although there was no significant difference in weights after evisceration (AF3N 2.40 kg ± 0.04 AF2N 2.49 kg ±0.03). The increase in weight of the diploids between winter and harvest reflects the growth spurt that occurs in maturing fish in the spring. Overall yields of triploid salmon in salt water were lower as a result of inferior survival.
Pollen production in halophytic species of the Chenopodiaceae in a Mediterranean marsh

Abstract The pollen production per anther has been analysed in ten species of Chenopodiaceae that grow in the salt marshes of the Marismas del Odiel Natural Park (Huelva, south-west Spain). The mean pollen production per anther is 5819, ranged from 580 in Salicornia ramosissima to 12 467 in Salsola vermiculata, and is related to the size of the anthers. In six of the species, pollen production per anther has been studied in two populations and a strong interaction between species and populations was found. Pollen production of central and lateral flowers has been compared in four species, showing that central flowers produce significantly more pollen than lateral ones. In Arthrocnemum macrostachyum, a comparison between the pollen production of upper and lower stamens was performed and no significant differences were found. The pollen/ovule (P/O) ratio has been estimated for each of the species studied for the monoecious species, using the previously calculated male flower/female flower ratio. The monoecious species have the highest P/O ratios, followed by those with hermaphrodite flowers and allogamous reproduction. The lowest P/O ratios were found in Salicornia ramosissima (681) and Suaeda albescens (6025), possibly due to them being autogamous, which is consistent with the annual cycle and ecology of the species. The biggest value was found in the monoecious species Halimione portulacoides (88 405). In the remainder of the species, the P/O ratio depends on the density of individuals of each species in the communities.
Carvão de resíduos de indústria madeireira de três espécies florestais exploradas no município de Paragominas, PA

The timber industry in Amazonia generates large quantities of residues from log processing. A viable alternative for the enterprises is the production of charcoal from these residues. This study evaluates the main properties of the charcoal from Manilkara amazonica (macaranduba), Lecythis pisonis (sapucaia) and Piptadenia suaveolens (timborana), carbonized in 7 and 10 days. The charcoal was produced from residues of timbers from the sawmill of Cikel Brasil Verde S. A. , in Rio Capim estate, Paragominas, PA. A series of 30 kilns was used, being 10 for each species, of which 5 kilns used a 7-day carbonization process and 5 kilns 10 days. After the carbonization, samples of the charcoal produced were collected for studying gravimetric yield and physical, chemical and mechanical properties. The main results were: gravimetrical yield of the charcoal varied from 21,47 to 29,59 % (humid base); the bulk medium density varied from 178,51 to 231,14 kg.m-3; apparent medium density from 0,38 to 0,53 g.cm-3; calorific power from 23451 to 28830 kj.kg-1; volatile materials content from 23,94 to 31,47 %; ashes from 0,7 to 2,5 %; fixed carbon from 68,29 to 74,49 %; and the friableness varied from 12 to 32,6 %. It was noted that species is the main factor that influences the properties of the charcoal. It was not possible to say which species produced the best charcoal, from the properties analyses, because all the three species present some good characteristics, but these are always accompanied by other inadequate characteristics.
Flume experiments on post-settlement movement in polychaetes

The ability of benthic polychaetes to move as adults and juveniles was examined using flume experiments. The main question asked was whether post-settlement movement is a passive process predictable from the hydrodynamic characteristics of the environment and the individual, or whether active behavior is involved. In one set of experiments, the percent of individuals moving during a six-hour period in low-food conditions was compared among five species of intertidal polychaetes. Flow speed was set at a velocity that did not cause sediment erosion but did cause bedload transport of anesthetized individuals. Species varied significantly in percent of movement, with Laeonereis culveri, Nereis succinea and Lumbrineris tenuis displaying negligible movement, Polydora cornuta having small but consistent movement, and Streblospio benedicti displaying the most movement (27% of individuals leaving original sediments in 6 h). Movement was not related to body size or mode of development, but showed a correlation with depth/feeding preferences: subsurface-feeders moved less than interface-feeders. Experiments with P. cornuta and S. benedicti that were extended to 18 hours indicated that post-settlement movement continued but the rate of movement during hours 6-18 was approximately half that during the first 6 hours. Experiments looking at the effects of experimental conditions on post-settlement movement in S. benedicti found that darkness had no effect, but that adding food, holding adults in still-water culture for 2.5 months, or growing larvae to adults in still-water cultures all significantly decreased movement. Overall, the results indicated an active component to post-settlement movement.
Studies in Corinnidae: cladistic analysis of 38 corinnid and liocranid genera, and transfer of Phrurolithinae

This paper studies the phylogeny of the spider families Liocranidae and Corinnidae as they have been delimited to date, using an exemplar approach. In the analysis, 40 species belonging to 24 liocranid and 14 corinnid genera are scored for 157 morphological characters. The genera Clubiona (Clubionidae) and Gnaphosa (Gnaphosidae) are used as outgroups. Under implied weighting, a single fittest tree is found. This hypothesis seriously challenges the presently prevailing classification of the former Clubionidae sensu lato. The subfamily Phrurolithinae (Liocranidae) turns out to be the sister group of Trachelinae and is transferred to Corinnidae. In the interest of taxonomic stability, no radical rearrangement of the families constituting Clubionidae sensu lato is proposed, as it is felt that the present results should first be further corroborated by additional, more elaborate analyses on an even larger data set.
Efeitos da seca sazonal e disponibilidade de luz na sobrevivência e crescimento de Bowdichia virgilioides em duas fitofisionomias típicas dos cerrados do Brasil Central

Bowdichia virgiliodes Kunth is a common legume tree in the savannas of Central Brazil. This study investigated the effects of shading and of seasonal variations of soil water on the establishment and development of B. virgilioides in the 'campo sujo', a grassland with scattered trees and shrubs, and the 'cerradao', a woodland with a well-developed arboreous canopy. Soil remained wet during most of the rainy season, but short dry spells affected soil water potential of the upper layers. The soil under 'campo sujo' vegetation dried faster in the dry season. A larger percentage of seedlings emerged in the 'campo sujo'. Most of the mortality occurred shortly after germination, still in the wet season. Seasonal drought was not an important mortality factor. The 'cerradao' was not a favourable environment for the development of B. virgiliodes. Few cerradao seedlings survived, and 15-month-old plants reached only 3.8 ± 0.7 cm (mean ± SD) of total stem length, whereas the 'campo sujo' plants reached 6.9 ± 1.3 cm. Canopy shading reduced the photosynthetic photon flux density (PFD) available for understory seedlings and may be a major constraint for seedling growth. Shading by the tree layer in the cerradao had a much higher impact on PFD interception. A horizontal leaf located 5 cm aboveground would potentially fix 30 to 60% less CO2 than a leaf beneath the grass canopy of a 'campo sujo' and 60 to 80% less CO2 than an unshaded leaf. Because the height of the herb layer was less than 50 cm, shading decreased markedly with plant height in the 'campo sujo'.
Mechanistic Studies Relevant to Bromouridine‐Enhanced Nucleoprotein Photocrosslinking: Possible Involvement of an Excited Tyrosine Residue of the Protein

The results of mechanistic studies on formation of uridine (U) and N‐acetyl‐in‐(5‐uridinyl)tyrosine N‐ethylam‐ide (2) from irradiation of aqueous, pH 7 solutions of bromouridine (BrU) and N‐acetyltyrosine JV‐ethylamide (1) are reported. Solutions were irradiated with monochromatic laser emission at 266, 308 and 325 nm. Quantum yield measurements as a function of excitation wavelength suggest that both products result from excitation of the tyrosine derivative followed by electron transfer to BrU, possibly with intermediacy of the hydrated electron. The BrU radical anion ejects bromide to form the uri‐dinyl radical, which then abstracts a hydrogen atom from 1 or adds to the aromatic ring of 1. Formation of adduct 2 is a model for photocrosslinking of nucleic acids bearing the bromouracil chromophore to adjacent tyrosine residues of proteins in nucleoprotein complexes. The value of 325 nm excitation in photocrosslinking, where the tyrosine chromophore is more competitive for photons, was demonstrated with an RNA bound to the MS2 bacteriophage coat protein; more than a 60% increase in the yield of photocrosslinking relative to that obtained with 308 nm excitation was achieved.
Heterogenous dopamine D2 receptor subtype messenger ribonucleic acid expression in clinically nonfunctioning pituitary adenomas

Little is known about differences in the expression, localization, and function of the two dopamine D2 receptor subtypes, D2short and D2long (D2s and D2l), in either normal or adenomatous pituitary. We investigated the messenger RNA (mRNA) expression of the D2 receptor (D2R) subtypes in clinically nonfunctioning pituitary adenomas by in situ hybridization using subtype-specific oligonucleotides. The five normal pituitaries studied expressed similar ratios of D2R subtypes mRNA with a predominant expression of the D2l isoform. In 2 of 18 clinically inactive adenomas no D2R mRNA was found, whereas in 16 a heterogeneous expression of D2R isoforms was observed. Six adenomas expressed only the D2l and 2 adenomas only the D2s subtype mRNA; the remaining 8 expressed extremely varying proportions of the two subtypes. The D2R was found only in a subset of the nonfunctioning adenoma cells. In gonadotropin-immunopositive adenomas, the D2R was mainly localized in LH- and FSH-immunopositive cells. Probably because of the heterogeneous D2R subtype expression, suppression of cell proliferation was observed in only 3 of 9 adenoma cell cultures in which the growth inhibitory effect of bromocriptine was studied. Although there is some evidence that the presence of the D2s receptor subtype favors the growth inhibitory response to bromocriptine, further studies with a larger number of inactive adenomas are needed to confirm this speculation.
Quantitative genetic analysis of cranial morphology in the cotton‐top (Saguinus oedipus) and saddle‐back (S. fuscicollis) tamarins

Patterns of morphological variation play an important role in evolutionary diversification and are critical to an informed interpretation of interspecific differences. When patterns of genetic variation have not diverged substantially, it is possible to reconstruct the differences in selection which gave rise to morphological differences among extant species. Morphological variation patterns are compared between two tamarin species, the cotton‐top tamarin (Saguinus oedipus) and the saddle‐back tamarin (S. fuscicollis illigeri).