Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Transplant age has little influence on yield of muskmelon (Cucumis melo L.)

Fig. 1. Mean cumulative yields resulting from 2-, 4-, 6-, and 8-week-old muskmelon transplants and a direct-seeded control (1993 only). Transplants are used extensively in the southeastern United States for vegetable crops, including muskmelon. Transplant age is important because growers often contract to receive transplants at a specific time and the performance of older transplants is uncertain. The relationship between transplant age and yield in several crops is not clear (Kratky et al., 1982; Lamont, 1992; Leskovar et al., 1991; McCraw and Greig, 1986; Weston, 1988; Weston and Zandstra, 1989). Recently, research with squash (Cucurbita pepo L.) (NeSmith, 1993) and watermelon [Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum. & Nakai] (Vavrina et al., 1993) indicated that transplant age had no influence on early and total yields of these cucurbit crops. The objective of this research was to examine the influence of transplant age on muskmelon yield. ‘Cordele’ muskmelon transplants of varying ages were grown in field experiments during 1992 and 1993 at the Georgia Station Horticultural Research Farm in Griffin. Transplants for both years were grown in 50-cm cells containing a commercial growing medium (Metro-Mix 300; W.R. Grace and Co., Cambridge, Mass.). Single seeds were planted in cells at different times so that transplants of designated ages (2, 4, 6, and 8 weeks old) were available for planting in the field on a common date. The transplants were watered daily and fertilized three times weekly with a solution of commercial fertilizer (20N–8.8P–16.6K plus micronutrients at a concentration of 200 ppm N; Peters Professional General Purpose Fertilizer, W.R. Grace and Co.). Minima and maxima in the greenhouse for transplant production were 20 to 21C and 25 to 30C. Only natural light was used, and its transmission into the greenhouse was ≈70% of sunlight. On 4 May 1992 and 27 Apr. 1993, transplants of all ages were hand-planted to a Cecil sandy clay loam (clayey, kaolinitic, Thermic Typic Hapludult) soil. Also included in the 1993 experiment was a direct-seeded treatment for comparison. Rows were 1.5 m apart,
Sperm activation in acorn barnacles by elevation of seawater pH

The sperm of most barnacle species show negligible motility unless exposed to oviducal gland fluid; a secretion associated with oviposition. Artificial activation has previously been induced in Semibalanus balanoides by elevating seawater pH using an ammonia buffer. To date, the information pertaining to barnacle sperm biology is rather limited. This study has investigated the activation of vesicular sperm from three species of acorn barnacles in response to the elevation of seawater pH using alkaline buffers, either sodium hydroxide (NaOH) or ammonium ( ). Elevation of seawater pH was observed to increase activation success, particularly for Balanus amphitrite and Elminius modestus. In all cases, there was a high degree of variability in the data. A median value of 20% sperm activation (mean ± SE = 20.65 ± 4.86%) was determined for E. modestus at pH 9 ( ). The lowest activation success was observed in S. balanoides which displayed maximal median activation of 1.79% at pH 8.4 (NaOH) (mean ± SE = 1.93 ± 0.44%). Balanus amphitrite and E. modestus showed greatest activation in seawater buffered with . This is the first study to artificially activate E. modestus and B. amphitrite sperm.
Interspecific Hybrids between Iris setosa var. setosa and I. laevigata and Their Relationships to I. setosa var. hondoensis or I. setosa var. nasuensis

Iris setosa var. hondoensis and I. setosa var. nasuensis are endemic to Japan, and their origins still remain to be clarified. In this study, we report the characterization of interspecific hybrids (allotriploids) from the cross between autotetraploid I. setosa var. setosa (4x) and diploid I. laevigata (2n=32) and their relationship to I. setosa var. hondoensis or I. setosa var. nasuensis. In reciprocal crosses between I. setosa var. setosa (2x, 4x) and I. laevigata, progeny plants were obtained only in the cross between I. setosa var. setosa (4x) and I. laevigata (2x). These progenies were identified as allotriploids (2n=54) and their aneuploids (2n=53) of I. setosa var. setosa (4x)×I. laevigata (2x) by flow cytometric (FCM), cytological and random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analyses, and the five hybrids (SL1–5) except SL6 were characterized. Furthermore, these characteristics of I. setosa var. hondoensis and I. setosa var. nasuensis were compared with those of SL1–5. These varieties were also examined by FCM, cytological, RAPD and cleaved amplified polymorphic sequence (CAPS) analyses, which comparative analyses showed that varieties have the hybrid nature between I. setosa var. setosa and I. laevigata, and maternal plants are organelle DNAs of the former species.
Can disturbance determine vegetation distribution during climate warming? A boreal test

Models of terrestrial vegetation distribution change during warming have generally paid little attention to ecological disturbances such as fire, even though these have been shown to be vitally important. A model predicting regionally dominant terrestrial vegetation in catastrophically disturbed landscapes is proposed: probability of a disturbance adapted species leaving progeny (Pr) is (-l1/MY-(l-1/M)s, where M is the mean return interval between disturbances, j is the age of organisms at onset of reproduction, and s is the age at which reproduction ceases. For non disturbance-adapted species, the model simplifies to (1-1/MAd. The model was tested in fireprone boreal forest landscapes in Ontario, Canada (48? 00'52? 00'N, 80? 00'-95? 30'W). A vegetation map whose classes and class geographical distributions were predicted using the above model was compared with a standard vegetation map.
Ecological Communities: Plant-mediated interactions in herbivorous insects: mechanisms, symmetry, and challenging the paradigms of competition past

Introduction Interspecific interactions between insect herbivores can be either negative (competitive) or positive (facilitative) (Damman 1993, Denno et al. 1995). In the context of traditional community ecology, however, negative interactions have received the most attention (e.g., Lawton and Strong 1981, Schoener 1982, Strong et al. 1984, Denno et al. 1995) until quite recently (e.g., Lill and Marquis 2003, Nakamura et al. 2003). Nonetheless, the importance of interspecific competition as a factor structuring communities of insect herbivores has experienced a controversial history to say the least (Strong et al. 1984, Damman 1993, Denno et al. 1995). During the 1960s and 1970s, competition was revered as a central organizing force structuring communities of phytophagous insects (Denno et al. 1995). During these decades, field investigations into interspecific competition were heavily dominated by observational studies of resource partitioning as evidence for reduced competition and thus coexistence (e.g., McClure and Price 1976, Rathcke 1976, Waloff 1979). Notably, experimental field studies documenting the occurrence of interspecific competition between insect herbivores were scarce (but see McClure and Price 1975). In the 1980s, the role of competition in structuring phytophagous insect communities was challenged severely, and within a few years it fell from a position of prominence to the status of a weak and infrequent process (Lawton and Strong 1981, Lawton 1982, Lawton and Hassell 1984, Strong et al. 1984).
Food web including metazoan parasites for an intertidal ecosystem in New Zealand

This data set presents a food web for Otago Harbour, an intertidal mudflat ecosystem in New Zealand. The harbor consists of a series of mudflats exposed at low tide, each separated from its closest neighbor by 200–400 m. This food web has three noteworthy attributes: (1) high resolution of free-living organisms, (2) inclusion of metazoan parasites and other infectious agents, and (3) inclusion of ontogenetic stages of parasites with complex life cycles. The food web contains 180 nodes, 142 species/assemblages, and 1924 links. Of the 142 species/assemblages, 3 are basal, 123 are free-living, and 19 are infectious. Data on the free-living assemblages and parasitism were gathered during original field sampling and supplemented with information from additional published sources and local expert knowledge. Taxonomic resolution is high, although a few functional or taxonomic groups (e.g., phytoplankton, macroalgae) are lumped into single nodes. Each ontogenetic stage of parasites with complex life cycles is tre.
CRECIMIENTO Y PRODUCCIÓN DE REPOLLO EN FUNCIÓN DE LA DENSIDAD DE POBLACIÓN Y NITRÓGENO

Actualmente, el mercado brasileno prefiere repollo (Brassica oleracea var. capitata) de menor tamano, que puede conseguirse aumentando la densidad poblacional pero este manejo puede alterar la dosis optima de nitrogeno (N), su segundo nutrimento mas requerido. El presente estudio se realizo en la Universidad Estatal Paulista de Jaboticabal, Sao Paulo, Brasil, de febrero a junio de 2004. El objetivo fue evaluar el efecto de la densidad de poblacion: 31 250 (D1) y 46 875 plantas ha–1 (D2) con 0, 100, 200 y 300 kg de N ha–1 en el crecimiento y produccion de repollo Astrus. El diseno experimental fue de bloques al azar, con arreglo factorial 2x4, y tres repeticiones. Se realizo analisis de varianza (prueba de F), las medias de la densidad poblacional fueron analizadas con la prueba de Tukey y las dosis de N con regresion polinomial. En D1 aumento, por planta, el numero de hojas internas y externas, la materia seca de hojas internas y externas, el diametro del tallo en la insercion de la cabeza, la materia seca y fresca del tallo. El maximo tamano de la planta en D2 fue 1.57 kg obtenida con 300 kg de N ha–1, mientras que en D1 fue 2.1 kg y se obtuvo con 244 kg de N ha–1. La dosis optima economica en D1 fue 227.1 kg de N ha–1. La mayor produccion (72.7 t ha–1) se obtuvo con la dosis de N mas alta en D2. Cabezas menores de repollo, preferidas comercialmente, se obtuvieron sin la aplicacion de N, independientemente de la poblacion de plantas
Weak climatic associations among British plant distributions.

Aim Species distribution models (SDMs) are used to infer niche responses and predict climate change-induced range shifts. However, their power to distinguish real from chance associations between spatially autocorrelated distribution and environmental data at continental scales has been questioned. Here, this is investigated at a regional (10 km) scale by modelling the distributions of 100 plant species native to the United Kingdom. Location UK Methods SDMs fitted using real climate data were compared to those utilising simulated climate gradients. The simulated gradients preserve the exact values and spatial structure of the real ones, but have no causal relationships with any species and so represent an appropriate null model. SDMs were fitted as generalised linear models or by the Random Forest machine learning algorithm and were either non-spatial or included spatially-explicit trend surfaces or autocovariates as predictors. Results GLMs erroneously detected significant effects (P<0.05) for 86% of null gradient-species combinations, with the highest error for strongly autocorrelated species and gradients and when species occupied 50% of sites. Even more false effects were found when curvilinear responses were modelled, and this was not adequately mitigated in the spatially-explicit GLMs. Non-spatial SDMs based on simulated climate data suggested 70-80% of the apparent explanatory power of the real data could be attributable to its spatial structure. Furthermore, the niche component of spatially-explicit SDMs did not significantly contribute to model fit in most species. Main conclusions The spatial structure in the climate, rather than functional relationships with species’ distributions, may account for much of the apparent fit and predictive power of SDMs. Failure to account for this means that the evidence for climatic limitation of species’ distributions may have been overstated. As such, predicted regional and national-scale impacts of climate change based on the analysis of static distribution snapshots will require re-evaluation.
Preharvest bagging improves packout and fruit quality of pears (Pyrus communis)

Abstract Preharvest bagging of pear fruit (Pyrus communis L. ‘Doyenne du Comice') with micro‐perforated polyethylene bags c. 30 days after full bloom increased the percentage of fruit accepted for export from 27.2 to 63.2%. This was achieved by reducing bird damage (from 28.4% for non‐bagged to nil for bagged fruit) and skin blemish (with fruit rejected for export being reduced from 49.3% for non‐bagged to 33.4% for bagged fruit). Bags also reduced the level of tracery russet. Preharvest bagging reduced the damaged area of the skin at harvest from 3.15 to 1.49 cm2/fruit for blemishes (preharvest friction damage) and from 1.17 to 0.51 cm2/fruit for friction discoloration (FD; post‐harvest friction damage). When trees were sprayed with pesticides 3 days before harvesting, bagging reduced fruit residue of captan (non‐systemic fungicide) and azinphos methyl (non‐systemic insecticide) (P < 0.05). For pears submitted to mechanical damage on a commercial grader, FD area was lower for fruit left protected by the bag (6.03 cm2/fruit) than for non‐bagged fruit (14.49 cm2/fruit). For fruit submitted to brush friction damage at harvest and after 8 weeks of cold storage, FD score was higher on non‐bagged than on bagged fruit. Bagged fruits that had the bags removed before being submitted to brush friction damage had the same level of FD than non‐bagged fruits. Preharvest use of micro‐perforated polyethylene bags represents an attractive technology for the pear industry since it can reduce bird damage and skin blemishes, as well as improving fruit postharvest quality by reducing FD and chemical residue.
Quantification of Leptosphaeria maculans Growth in Cotyledons of Brassica napus Using ELISA

The result of the Leptosphaeria maculans/Brassica napus interaction is usually assessed by symptom scoring following a cotyledon-inoculation test. However, an early evaluation of the interaction, and reliable quantitative data of fungal growth inside plant tissues are needed to supplement the visual assessment of the symptoms. For this purpose, we developed a quantitative double antibody sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (DAS-ELISA) using rabbit polyclonal antisera directed against soluble mycelial proteins. The specificity of the serum was first assessed by immunoblotting following isoelectric focusing of soluble proteins (Western blot) and by DAS-ELISA. Except for Alternaria brassicae, no cross-reactions were observed with mycelial extracts of saprophytes or pathogens of B. napus following DAS-ELISA. Although Tox + and Tox 0 isolates of L. maculans were unequivocally discriminated by Western blot, they were quantitatively indistinguishable following ELISA, thus enabling us to analyse a wide range of L. maculans isolates in planta. The detection limit of the assay was less than 10 ng of fungal proteins per ml of plant extract. For a given isolate, time-course studies showed that fungal growth in cotyledons was correlated with symptom scoring. In the case of hypersensitive response, only 34% of the plants were ELISA-positive, and these plants never contained more than 10 ng of fungal protein per cotyledon. In contrast, in the cases of susceptibility, 100% ofthe plants were ELISA-positive and fungal protein content was higher than 10 μg per cotyledon. Moreover, significant differences in ability to colonize the tissues were observed among Tox + isolates. Finally, using the ELISA quantification, intermediate symptoms could be differentiated as late-resistance responses or susceptibility
On a putative Gondwanan relic Afroserphus bicornis Masner (Hymenoptera: Proctotrupidae), with a description of the hitherto unknown female

The male of Afroserphus bicornis Masner is redescribed, and female of this species is described for the first time. This extremely rare species is recorded from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, Zambia, and South Africa. The genus Afroserphus is hypothesised to be a Gondwanan relic.
Benthic invertebrate distributions in the San Joaquin River, California, in relation to physical and chemical factors

The invertebrate fauna of nontidal portions of the lower San Joaquin River and its major tributaries is described in relation to water quality and habitat using canonical correspondence analysis, autecological metrics, and indicator species analysis. A large-scale (basin-wide) pattern in community response to salinity (sulfate-bicarbonate type) was detected when standardized, stable substratum was sampled. Community structure, taxa richness, and EPT (ephemeropterans, plecopterans, and trichopterans) richness varied with dissolved solids concentration (55-1700 mg total dissolved solids ·L-1), and distributions of many taxa indicated salinity optima. Distinct assemblages associated with either high or low salinity were evident over this range. Large-scale patterns in community structure were unrelated to pesticide distributions. Structure and taxa richness of invertebrate assemblages in sand substratum varied both with salinity and with microhabitat heterogeneity. The benthic fauna generally was dominated b.
Effects of pollen and artificial diets on the hypopharyngeal glands of newly hatched bees (Apis mellifera L.)

Summary The objectives of this experiment were to: 1. compare the hypopharyngeal gland development (by measuring the head weight) of caged newly hatched nurse bees fed on eight different pollen and artificial diets; and 2. examine the correlation between protein intake and head weight. The artificial diets: substitute 2; FeedBee®; substitute 1; and protein substitute stimulated (in order) significantly higher head weight than the pollen diets: pure irradiated mixed pollen; redgum (Corymbia calophylla); redgum + soyflour protein isolate; and pollen supplement. Only artificial diets stimulated overall head weight of more than 10 mg and maintained head weight above the emergent head weight for the duration of the experiment. Substitute 2 and FeedBee® stimulated the highest head weight, followed by substitute 1 and pollen substitute, pollen supplement, mixed pollen and redgum + soyflour protein isolate, and redgum. The only diets to have positive correlation (p < 0.05) between the crude protein consumption and head weight were substitute 1 and pollen substitute.
Effect of calcium supplementation on lead-induced genotoxicity and bioaccumulation in suckling Wistar rats

The study investigated the effect of calcium (Ca) supplementation on lead-induced toxicity in suckling male Wistar rats. The sucklings were exposed to lead acetate (5 mg/kg b wt./week) orally for a period of six weeks. The unexposed group of sucklings was the negative control. Out of the lead-exposed groups, two groups were supplemented with Ca at 3% and 6% as CaHPO4 × 2H2O in suspension in cow's milk. The artificial feeding regimen was followed for 7 h each day for 6 weeks. Sucklings exposed to lead with Ca supplementation recorded a significantly higher increase in body weight and a significant reduction of lead concentration in all tissues. The lead-induced histopathological alterations in the liver and kidney were also reversed with Ca supplementation. Sodium rhodizonate staining of liver sections showed distinct presence of lead granules in the group exposed to lead while the Ca-supplemented groups were comparable to the control. Lead exposure reduced the expression of rad 51 in the testis and liver which was markedly enhanced with Ca supplementation and was restored to the level in the control. Thus, Ca supplementation during the suckling period was effective in ameliorating the lead-induced toxicity.
Studies of the ground-dwelling mammals of eucalypt forests in South-eastern New South Wales : the effect of habitat variables on distribution and abundance

The distribution and abundance of ground-dwelling mammals was examined in 13 areas within 500 000 ha of eucalypt (Eucalyptus) forest in SE New South Wales. Data are presented on the distribution and abundance of species in relation to 3 environmental gradient types involving 9 variables: 2 direct gradients (temperature, rainfall); 6 indirect gradients (aspect, steepness of slope, position on slope, landform profile around the site, altitude, season) and a resource gradient (lithology). Many species of ground-dwelling mammal of the forests of SE New South Wales were present along all gradients examined, although wide variation in abundance occurred for some species. Eight species were correlated with direct gradients and all species were correlated with at least one indirect gradient. There was wide variation and species diversity with lithology, but the variation was not related to nutrient status. Although variations in abundance occurred along environmental gradients, the composition of the ground-dwelling mammal fauna in SE New South Wales forests changed little. A fourth gradient type, the substrate gradient (biomass of plants), had the greatest effect, because in the short-term disturbances such as logging and fire play an important role. Disturbance can have a profound influence on the substrate gradient, but no influence on environmental gradients. The results are discussed in relation to the arboreal mammals and avifauna in the region and Environmental and Fauna Impact studies and forest management.
Comparison of white clover and mixed sodgrass as orchard floor vegetation

Spartan apple trees on M•26 (Malus domestica Borkh.) rootstock, planted in 1983, were grown for 8 yr (1985–1992) at 60 and 180 kg N ha−1 yr−1 with five orchard floor vegetation management treatments. A white clover cover over the whole orchard floor increased leaf N concentration relative to complete sod cover, but had negative effects on tree vigour and yield. Maximum vigour and yield occurred when in-row weed competition was controlled in a 1.5-m-strip, regardless of orchard floor vegetation beyond the strip. Key words: Apple, leaf N, orchard floor vegetation management, vigour, yield
Genetically and geographically isolated lineages of a tropical bat (Chiroptera: Molossidae) show demographic stability over the late Pleistocene

The newly described molossid bat, Chaerephon atsinanana Goodman et al., 2010, endemic to eastern Madagascar, shows notably high levels of phylogeographic and genetic structure compared with allopatric Chaerephon leucogaster Grandidier, 1869 from western Madagascar. Such highly significant structuring of haplotypes among altitudinally and latitudinally stratified population groups is contrary to the expected panmixia in strong flying bats. The null model of concordance in historical demographic patterns across these two Chaerephon species was not supported. Mismatch and Bayesian skyline analyses indicated ancient stable C. atsinanana populations of constant size during the last two major Pleistocene glacial periods, making retreat into and expansion from glacial refugia an unlikely explanation for such high levels of structure, in accordance with expectations for tropical bats. Analyses were consistent with post-refugial population expansion in the less diverse and structured C. leucogaster during the end of the last Pleistocene glacial period. We hypothesise that the pronounced genetic structuring in C. atsinanana may result from female philopatry. Furthermore, differing demographic histories of the two species may have been shaped by differing climate or habitat preferences, consistent with evidence from MaxEnt ecological niche modelling, which shows differences in variables influencing the current predicted distributions. Fossil Quaternary pollen deposits further indicate greater stability in past climatic patterns in eastern versus western Madagascar. © 2012 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2012, 106, 18–40.