Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Some helminth parasites of marine fishes and cephalopods of South Africa: Aspidogastrea and the digenean families Bucephalidae, Haplosplanchnidae, Mesometridae and Fellodistomidae

Summary The following trematode worms are recorded and figured from South African waters: Lobatostoma sp. from Octopus vulgaris; Cotylogaster basiri from Rhabdosargus sarba; Multicalyx cristata from Sphyrna lewini and Odontaspis taurus; Bucephalus margaritae (syn: varicus) from Carangoides hedlandensis and Caranx sem; Prosorhynchus caudovatus from Epinephelus andersoni; Prosorhynchoides [ = Bucephalopsis] arcuatus comb. nov. from Pomatomus saltator; Haplosplanchnus caudatus from Mugil cephalus; H. purii (syns: bivitellosus, cuneatus, elongatus, indica) from Liza tricuspidens; Elstia (nom. nov.) [= Centroderma] stossichianum comb. nov. from Sarpa salpa; Steringotrema pagelli from Spondyliosoma emarginatum; Paradiscogaster farooqii from Monodactylus argenteus; and Tergestia pauca (syns: mauritanica, manteri) from Pomatomus saltator. Apart from Lobatostoma sp. and Multicalyx cristata all these are new records for this region. Paradiscogaster farooqii is described in detail and its genus, along with Discogast.
The role of El Niño–Southern Oscillation in the dynamics of a savanna large herbivore population

Our understanding of large-scale climatic phenomena and dynamics of large herbivore populations comes principally from research in northern regions with temperate, seasonal climate and animal communities with relatively low species diversity. To assess the generality of that perspective, we investigated effects of El Nino–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) on population dynamics of African buffalo Syncerus caffer inhabiting a semi-arid savanna with variable rainfall. We used linear and nonlinear-threshold models to investigate relationships between population parameters and explanatory variables affecting forage conditions (seasonal rainfall, Southern Oscillation Index [SOI]). El Nino-related droughts in 1982–1983 and 1991–1992 were associated with strongly negative population change, a pattern expected to coincide with a decrease in normally high and constant adult survival. Consistent with that nonlinear pattern, we detected threshold relationships between wet-season rainfall and population change. Juvenile recruitment was described best by linear relationships with dry-season. Because ENSO operates primarily through wet-season rainfall, whereas population dynamics were also related to dry-season rainfall, SOI did not have the predictive ability of individual weather components.
Gross anatomical and microscopic observations on the orbit and its contents in Notomys alexis

The gross anatomical arrangement of the orbit and its contents in N. alexis are described, with observations of these structures with the light microscope and of the retina with the transmission and scanning electron microscope. The eye is large compared with that of other rodents, and, in view of the rod outer segment length (43 ¼m), may afford sensitive nocturnal vision. It is unlikely that the animal has stereoscopic vision. Behavioural and microscopic evidence suggests that N. alexis has considerable processing of the visual signal at a retinal level, which may facilitate its rapid response to any sudden movement within the wide area of its visual field.
THE LIFE HISTORY OF GERRIS REMIGIS (HETEROPTERA: GERRIDAE) IN A SMALL STREAM IN SOUTHERN ONTARIO

Abstract Nymphs and adults of Gerris remigis Say were collected for 7 months from a stream with only this species of Gerridae. The colour markings of the nymphal stadia are described and illustrated. Measurements of antennal and hind limb segments are given and these can be used to distinguish successive instars.
Effects of Sedimentary Processes and Salinity on the Diatom Flora of the Columbia River Estuary

Effects of sediment properties and salinity on distributional patterns in sediment-associated and planktonic diatom assemblages were investigated in the Columbia River Estuary. The benthic diatom flora was characterized by the virtual absence of marine taxa, a relatively restricted distribution of brackish-water species, and widely distributed assemblages of freshwater species. The dominance of freshwater taxa in the phytoplankton was further evidence of a strong fluvial influence in the estuary. In the lower estuary, there was a lack of seasonal Variation in the species composition of the benthic flora which was attributed to the relatively high degree of sediment stability in this region. However, corresponding seasonal changes in the upper estuary were more pronounced, a pattern explained in part by seasonal inputs of allochthonous planktonic taxa to the Sediments and by the hydrologic processes of erosion and accretion which influence the relative abundances of epipelic and epipsammic species.
Polymorphisms in tumour necrosis factor‐α, transforming growth factor‐β, interleukin‐10, interleukin‐6, interferon‐γ, and outcome of hepatitis C virus infection

Cytokines play a key role in the regulation of immune responses. In hepatitis C virus infection (HCV), the production of inappropriate cytokine levels appears to contribute to viral persistence and to affect response to therapy. Cytokine genes are polymorphic at specific sites, and certain mutations located within coding/regulatory regions have been shown to affect the overall expression and secretion of cytokines. The aim of this study was to investigate the frequency of genotypes associated with polymorphisms of TNF‐α, TGF‐β, IL‐10, IL‐6, and IFN‐γ and to determine their association with the outcome of HCV infection. Genotyping was carried out by polymerase chain reaction sequence‐specific primers on genomic DNA isolated from 158 individuals. Of these, 66 had spontaneously recovered from infection (persistently HCV RNA negative), while 92 had persistent infection (persistently HCV RNA positive). All patients were genotyped as high or low producers of TNF‐α and IL‐6 and high, intermediate, or low producers of TGF‐β, IL‐10, and IFN‐γ based on single nucleotide substitutions. A significant proportion of patients with viral clearance were genotyped with a low IL‐6 production profile, whereas those with persistent infection were genotyped with a high production profile (P = 0.02). No associations were observed between polymorphisms of TNF‐α, IL‐10, or IFN‐γ and viral clearance or persistent infection. Furthermore, there were no associations between cytokine genotypes and severity of disease. Inheritance of some genotypes associated with polymorphisms of cytokine genes, such as IL‐6, may be host genetic factors associated with outcome of HCV in a well‐defined ethnically homogeneous cohort. J. Med. Virol. 71:212–218, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
PRODUCCION DE PIGMENTOS Y PROTEINAS DE LA CIANOBACTERIA ANABAENA PCC 7120 EN RELACION A LA CONCENTRACION DE NITROGENO E IRRADIANCIA

Algunas cianobacterias del genero Anabaena son productoras de pigmentos de interes comercial. Este articulo documenta el efecto de la concentracion de nutrientes en funcion del NaNO3 a 0, 1, 2, 4 y 8 mM y de la irradiancia a 78, 156 y 238 µmol m-2 s-1, sobre el contenido de proteinas y pigmentos de Anabaena PCC 7120 en cultivos discontinuos. El crecimiento de la cianobacteria fue poco afectado por la concentracion de nitrato, sin diferencia significativa entre 1 y 8 mM (p < 0,05). Sin embargo, a 8 mM se alcanzaron los valores mas elevados de ficocianina (174 ± 2 µg ml-1), clorofila a (17,4 ± 1,2 µg ml-1), proteinas (563 ± 2 µg ml-1) y carotenoides (4,5 ± 0,3 µg ml-1). Aunque las mayores densidades celulares (117 (± 11) x 106 celulas ml-1) se produjeron a una irradiancia de 78 µmol m-2 s-1, los valores mas elevados de proteina y pigmentos se obtuvieron a 156 µmol m-2 s-1. El numero de heterocistos por tricoma se redujo con el aumento de la concentracion de nitrato. La produccion de biomasa de Anabaena PCC 7120 enriquecida con ficocianina, clorofila a y proteinas fue estimulada con suficiencia en nutrientes y una irradiancia entre 78 y 156 µmol m-2 s-1
Active uptake of inorganic carbon by Chlamydomonas reinhardtii: evidence for simultaneous transport of HCO3− and CO2 and characterization of active CO2 transport

Washed protoplasts of low CO2 grown cells of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii were used to further characterize the ability for active CO2 transport. The CO2 transport mechanism and the high affinity for dissolved inorganic carbon were completely induced within 4 h after transferring 5% CO2 grown cells to ambient air (0.035% CO2). Net O2 evolution and CO2 uptake were saturable processes showing saturation between 100 and 200 μM DIC (1.6–3.2 μM CO2) at pH 8.0. For both O2 evolution in whole cells and CO2 uptake in the protoplasts the concentration of dissolved inorganic carbon required for 50% of the maximal rates was about 12 μM (= 0.20 μM CO2). Studies with 3-(3,4-dichloro-phenyl)-1,1 dimethylurea, dibromo-thymoquinone, tetramethyl phenylenediamine and protoplasts of a cytochrome c oxidase deficient mutant of C. reinhardtii indicated the CO2 transport was driven by cyclic or pseudocyclic ATP formation and oxidative phosphorylation was not involved. These studies also show that CO2 transport and CO2 fixation are.
Produção de morangueiro cv. "Cegnidarem" sob túnel plástico

The aim of this research was to evaluate the 'Cegnidarem' day-neutral strawberry yield, and to compare it to 'Aromas' and 'Diamante' under climatic conditions of the South region of Rio Grande do Sul state. The experiment was carried out in Pelotas, using tunnel system and dripping irrigation. The runners were transplanted in July 2007. The experimental design was a randomized complete block with split plot, with four replications. The experimental unit consisted of 30 plants. The number of fruits, yield and fresh fruit mass were analyzed weekly from October 2007 to January 2008. 'Cegnidarem' provided greater yield (613.9g of fruits per plant) than 'Aromas' (536.1g) and 'Diamante' (431.5g). 'Cegnidarem' also produced higher number of fruits per plant (39.2) than 'Aromas' (32.2) and 'Diamante' (22.6), but showed smaller average fruit fresh matter (15.3g) than 'Diamante' (18.5g). Concerning the yield performance, 'Cegnidarem' is another alternative to strawberry farmers of the Rio Grande do Sul South region.
Land use, habitat, and water quality effects on macroinvertebrate communities in three watersheds of a lake michigan associated marsh system

Abstract Three watersheds within a marsh system draining into Lake Michigan in northwest Indiana, USA, were studied for differences among land use, habitat conditions and water quality to determine their influence on macroinvertebrate community structure. Much of this area had been altered for agricultural, commercial, industrial and residential land uses. Land use, habitat conditions and water quality were significantly different among watersheds. Water quality varied more among streams than within streams. Several variables were related to land use, especially dissolved ions. Macroinvertebrate communities depicted neither a healthy wetland nor a healthy stream system. Some sites were typical of a sand-based, erosional stream system and others were more typical of a wetland system. Communities were different both in and among streams; relationships with water chemistry variables and land use suggested that community structure was a function of local-scale, abiotic factors rather than watershed-scale characteristics. These results show the importance of local-scale influences on the structure and function of macroinvertebrate communities. The development of the methods used to measure these local-scale landscape factors is important to restoration and management.
Generation of fuel type maps from Landsat TM images and ancillary data in Mediterranean ecosystems

This paper presents methods to generate fuel type maps from remote sensing data at a spatial and temporal scale adequate for operational fire management applications. Fuel type maps account for structural characteristics of vegetation related to fire behaviour and fire propagation. A fuel type classification system adapted to the ecological characteristics of the European Mediterranean basin was adopted for this study. The Cabaneros National Park (in cen- tral Spain) area was selected for testing and validating the methods. Fuel type maps were derived from two Landsat TM satellite images and digital elevation data. Atmospheric and topographic corrections of the satellite images were performed to reduce spectral variability. A sensitivity analysis was carried out to determine the most appropriate bands for fuel type mapping. The final classification was checked by an intense field survey, the final classification accuracy being estimated at 83%. The main problem was discriminating among those fuel types that differ only in vegetation height or composition of the understory layer. The mean mapping accuracy was 15 m (0.6 pixels), and no areal dis- crepancy or boundary displacement with vegetation maps was apparent. Resume : Cet article presente des methodes pour generer des cartes de types de combustible a partir de donnees de te- ledetection a des echelles spatiale et temporelle adequates pour etre utilisees dans la gestion operationnelle des feux. Les cartes de types de combustible tiennent compte des caracteristiques structurales de la vegetation en lien avec le comportement et la propagation du feu. Un systeme de classification des types de combustible adapte aux caracteristi- ques ecologiques du bassin de la Mediterannee europeenne a ete adopte pour cette etude. La region du parc national Cabaneros (dans le centre de l'Espagne) a ete choisie pour tester et valider les methodes. Les cartes de types de com- bustible ont ete produites a partir de deux images satellitaires Landstat capteur TM et de donnees digitales d'altitude. Les images satellitaires ont ete corrigees pour tenir compte des conditions atmospheriques et topographiques afin de re- duire la variabilite spectrale. Une analyse de sensibilite a ete effectuee pour determiner quelles bandes sont les plus ap- propriees pour cartographier les types de combustible. La classification finale a ete verifiee par un inventaire intensif sur le terrain et sa precision a ete estimee a 83 %. La principale difficulte consiste a distinguer les types de combus - tible qui different seulement par la hauteur ou la composition de la vegetation de sous-etage. La precision moyenne de la cartographie est de 15 m (0,6 pixels) et aucune divergence dans la superficie ni modification des contours ne sont apparentes comparativement aux cartes de vegetation.
Student teachers’ conceptions of teaching biology

The purpose of this qualitative study was to investigate prospective biology teachers’ conceptions of teaching biology and identify how these conceptions revealed their strategies for helping their future students’ learning of biology. The study utilized drawings, narratives and interviews to investigate the nature of the prospective biology teachers’ conceptions in a secondary science teacher education programme, in a university located in the south-west of the USA. Data analysis revealed that three conceptions of teaching biology were common among the participants: (1) teaching biology is an interactive process; (2) teaching biology is a lecture-based process; and (3) learning biology is a visual process. A common theme that underpinned the three conceptions was the simple perspective of using lectures, apparatus and models within interactive processes and lectures as reference points to help students to attach onto biology concepts rather than relating the reference points to prior knowledge and to cognitive activities that foster optimal learning.
Mono- and Duoculture of juvenile Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar) and Arctic Char (Salvelinus alpinus)

In a duoculture experiment with Atlantic salmon parr (Salmo salar) and two Arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus) strains, both species showed increased growth rates compared with monoculture. In duoculture, salmon dispersed more evenly than in monoculture, maintaining positions among the char. Less frequent occurrence of dorsal fin rot was observed in duoculture salmon, probably indicating decreased intraspecific aggression, compared with monoculture salmon. It is suggested that shading and increased dispersion allowed a decrease in intraspecific salmon aggression. Arctic char social hierarchy, indicated by variance of mean inter-renal cell nucleus area, was changed in the presence of salmon, favouring the largest individuals belonging to one of the strains. Different ecological adaptations and size differences can explain the difference in growth gain from duoculture between the char strains. Temperature is suggested as a behavioural regulator in salmon–char duoculture.
Assessing the ecosystem effects of the abalone Haliotis midae from its diet and foraging behaviour

The South African abalone Haliotis midae is commercially exploited and seriously threatened by overfishing. This not only affects the species itself but potentially the functioning of the ecosystem because of associated changes in community structure. The nature of effects that can follow the loss or reduction of a species depends in part on its position in the foodweb and its feeding behaviour. To assess the ecosystem effects of the adults and subadults of this previously abundant herbivore on the south-west coast of South Africa, we studied their diet and mode of food procurement by (a) in-field observations of adult and subadult abalone, (b) analysis of the gut contents of adults, (c) comparison of diet with the availability of algae, and (d) a mesocosm experiment on subadult feeding behaviour. Both field and dietary studies showed that adults subsist mainly by trapping drift kelp, but also occasionally graze on attached algae such as Plocamium spp. , and feed in a manner that is highly selective, with drift kelp constituting 95–98% of the diet, and several species of common algae being avoided. In the mesocosm experiment, subadults preferentially fed on drift kelp, but emerged at night to a greater extent to graze on microflora if no drift material was available. Their propensity to emerge was, however, reduced if the rock lobster Jasus lalandii was present. Collectively, this evidence indicates that any ecosystem effects that subadults and adults of H. midae have as grazers will be weak because they feed mainly by trapping drift material, and the frequency of grazing and the incidence of consumption of attached algae are low.
Placement of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium fertilizers by drilling in spring barley grown for malt without use of pesticides

Abstract The increasing consumer demand for food products that are produced without the use of pesticides are reflected in action plans to reduce the use of pesticides in agriculture. Most of the barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) produced is used for pig feed but some is used for malting – the primary step in the production of beer. The effects of fertilizer application method, type and rate on yield and grain quality were investigated in a malting barley crop without the use of pesticides. Twelve treatments where single and multiple nutrient fertilizers were either broadcast or placed in bands by drilling, were compared in a field experiment at two sites in Denmark during 1993–96. Weeds were controlled mechanically in all treatments, and chemical control of foliar fungal diseases and insects was only carried out in two treatments. The placement of a compound NPK-fertilizer increased the grain yield and the quality parameters grain size and grading when weeds are controlled mechanically by harrowing. The effect of fertilizer placement on grain yield and quality decreased in the order NPK > NP > N>P. Herbicide-free growing of malting barley may be possible using fertilizer placement, but the use of chemical control of foliar fungal diseases and insects may be critical when pests exceed certain thresholds as they significantly reduce grain yield, grain size and grading. The aim of growing malting barley satisfactorily without the use of pesticides was only partly met.
Effects of temperature on photosynthetic parameters and TEP production in eight species of marine microalgae

The effects of temperature on photo- synthesis and transparent exopolymeric particle (TEP) production for 8 planktonic species belonging to 3 microalgal phyla (Heteronkontophyta, Dinophyta and Haptophyta) were investigated. Nutrient-replete semi- continuous cultures were grown at 13 temperatures between 5 and 25°C or 35°C (depending on the lethal temperature). A non-linear parametric model was applied to data on growth rate, photosynthetic parame- ters (electron transport rate, ETR), light utilization effi- ciency, α) and TEP production. The maximal photosyn- thetic activity at optimal temperature of production varied from 2.70 (Pavlova lutheri) to 4.64 (Thalassiosira pseudo- nana) mmol e - (mg chl a) -1 h -1 . The variation in the photoacclimation state confirmed the similarity of accli- mation trends at low temperature to those at high irradi- ance. However, different responses were observed between species, highlighting the fact that photoacclima- tion mechanisms vary interspecifically for both light har- vesting and downstream photosynthetic metabolism. TEP production was lowest in Isochrysis galbana and greatest in Lepidodinium chlorophorum (6 vs. 380 mg xanthan equiv (mg chl a) -1 d -1 ). The proportion of carbon fixed by photosynthesis and excreted as TEP was 70.8% for L. chlorophorum, while other species excreted 6.7 to 30%. A linear relationship was found between the ETR(T) and TEP(T) models for the 3 diatoms, indicating a coupling between photosynthetic activity and TEP production. This provides a new outlook on carbon excretion, which has classically been described as a consequence of nutri- ent stress.
The value of RTUs and parataxonomy versus taxonomic species

Parataxonomy and the sorting of specimens to recognisable taxonomic units (RTUs) are common approaches to invertebrate biodiversity studies worldwide. However, there is an urgent need to assess and validate the use of RTUs as opposed to taxonomic species. Beetle (Coleoptera) assemblages were sampled from native and willow dominated riparian zones in the Hunua Ranges, Auckland. Beetles were sorted to RTUs by a parataxonomist, and then identified by a specialist Coleopterist. A comparison of the unverified (RTU) dataset with the verified (taxonomic species) dataset showed an overall 5.6% error rate, with seven more taxonomic species being identified than assigned to RTUs. RTU accuracy was problematic for several families, including Staphylinidae, Cryptophagidae and Latridiidae. However, in terms of ecological interpretation, both datasets gave almost identical results. Ranking of sites by species/RTU richness and the composition of the beetle fauna identified the same trends. Despite these results, we suggest that the RTU approach is overrated because of the loss in biological information associated with the RTU approach. We suggest the use of RTUs offers considerably less than a taxonomic species approach for invertebrate conservation in New Zealand, particularly in the long-term.