Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Factors Affecting Piping Plover Hatching Success on Long Island, New York

ABSTRACT Low hatching success may limit progress towards reaching productivity goals for Atlantic Coast piping plover (Charadrios melodus) recovery, despite management strategies to protect eggs from predators and decrease human disturbance of birds on nests. We measured piping plover hatching success on Eastern Long Island beaches and identified the major causes of egg failure to better understand why eggs that were otherwise intact (not depredated or destroyed by tidal flooding) failed to hatch. We documented egg and nest fates, dissected contents of unhatched eggs to determine viability, and recorded human and predator activity near a subset of plover nests on Suffolk County Parks properties. The low hatching success we recorded (0.60) in 2006 and 2007 would require higher chick survival rates than are typically observed for piping plovers to meet recovery targets for productivity. Few eggs showed signs of poor viability and overall egg hatchability was comparable to other ground nesting birds. Most egg failure was due to either depredation at unexclosed nests or nest abandonment by adults. The best predictor of nest abandonment was the maximum number of red fox tracks (Vulpes vulpes) counted on nearby transects (&bgr; = -1.16, 95% CI: -2.0 to -0.3) and we found evidence that plovers abandoned eggs in response to predation risk (e.g., a fox circling a nest exclosure). Adults from abandoned nests may have deserted eggs or been depredated. In either case, intact and viable eggs were abandoned. Nest abandonment was not related to human activity near nests, which were buffered from human disturbance by symbolic string fencing. Our results suggest that depredation and nest abandonment (e.g., desertion or death of adults) due to predator disturbance, not human disturbance or poor egg viability, contributed to the low hatching success we recorded. Active predator removal in addition to modification of predator exclosure use and design may be necessary to prevent direct (egg depredation) and indirect (nest abandonment) negative effects of predators on hatching success.
Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) and root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.) – a century-old battle

The encounter between Meloidogyne species and tomato is many centuries old. Meloidogyne species are known to cause high levels of economic loss worldwide in a multitude of agricultural crops, including tomato. This review was initiated to provide an overview of the damage potential of Meloidogyne spp. on cultivars of tomato ( Solanum lycopersicum ), and to compile the different studies done on the management of Meloidogyne spp. on tomato with particular emphasis on the Mi resistance gene. Numerous studies have been conducted to assess the damage potential of root-knot nematode on various tomato cultivars; its yield loss potential ranges from 25 to 100%. A range of management options from using synthetic nematicides to soilless cultures have been tried and are available for managing Meloidogyne spp. Resistant commercial cultivars and rootstocks carrying the Mi gene have been used successfully to manage Meloidogyne incognita , M. javanica and M. arenaria . However, virulent populations have been detected. Relying on a single root-knot nematode management strategy is an outdated concept and different management options should be used in an integrated management context by considering the whole system of disease management. In future management of Meloidogyne species, care must be taken in directly extrapolating the tolerance limit determined elsewhere, since it is affected by many factors such as the type of initial inoculum and physiological races of Meloidogyne spp. , environmental conditions, types of cultivars and experimental approaches used.
Where is positional uncertainty a problem for species distribution modelling

Species data held in museum and herbaria, survey data and opportunistically observed data are a substantial information resource. A key challenge in using these data is the uncertainty about where an observation is located. This is important when the data are used for species distribution modelling (SDM), because the coordinates are used to extract the environmental variables and thus, positional error may lead to inaccurate estimation of the species–environment relationship. The magnitude of this effect is related to the level of spatial autocorrelation in the environmental variables. Using local spatial association can be relevant because it can lead to the identification of the specific occurrence records that cause the largest drop in SDM accuracy. Therefore, in this study, we tested whether the SDM predictions are more affected by positional uncertainty originating from locations that have lower local spatial association in their predictors. We performed this experiment for Spain and the Netherlands, using simulated datasets derived from well known species distribution models (SDMs). We used the K statistic to quantify the local spatial association in the predictors at each species occurrence location. A probabilistic approach using Monte Carlo simulations was employed to introduce the error in the species locations. The results revealed that positional uncertainty in species occurrence data at locations with low local spatial association in predictors reduced the prediction accuracy of the SDMs. We propose that local spatial association is a way to identify the species occurrence records that require treatment for positional uncertainty. We also developed and present a tool in the R environment to target observations that are likely to create error in the output from SDMs as a result of positional uncertainty.
Photosynthesis and its related physiological variables in the leaves of Brassica genotypes as influenced by sulphur fertilization

In the present investigation, we examined the effect of sulphur fertilization on photosynthesis (Pn) and its related physiological variables in the leaves of field grown Brassica genotypes (Brassica juncea [L.] Czern. and Coss. cv. Pusa Jai Kisan and Brassica campestris L. cv. Pusa Gold) over a whole growing season. Sulphur fertilization significantly (P < 0.05) increased the Pn rate on leaf area basis at all the growth stages over -S treatment. The photosynthesis related variables such as soluble protein and Rubisco (ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase) protein were significantly higher in the leaves of plants grown with + S treatment, when compared to - S treatment. Sulphur fertilization also improved the chlorophyll, N and S content in the leaves of + S treated plants over - S treatment. Leaf-S content was linearly correlated with Pn rate, N-content and Rubisco protein in the leaves of both genotypes. An interesting relationship between N-content and Pn rate in the leaves of -S and +S treated plants was observed. In - S plants, the relationship between Pn rate and N-content per unit area of fully matured leaves became nonlinear when leaf-N exceeded 1.5 g m -2 , while in +S plants the same remained linear. Rubisco protein was linearly related to Pn rate and leaf-N content. The ratio of Rubisco/soluble protein was lesser in the leaves of - S treated plants than +S treated plants. The effect of sulphur fertilization on Pn is discussed in relation to improved nitrogen utilization efficiency of the plants that leads to incorporation of reduced-N into the protein, especially in Rubisco protein rather than the non-protein compounds.
Histopathological, microbiological and biochemical studies on uteri and ovaries of infertile slaughtered buffaloes in Dakahlia Governorate

SUMMARY S eventy uterine and ovarian samples were collected from adult female buffaloes, slaughtered in different slaughter houses in Dakahlia Province. The animals were suffering infertility. The specimens were examined bacteriologically, biochemically and pathologically. Ten blood samples (5 from normal and 5 from diseased buffaloes) were collected from the jugular vein, before slaughtering. The serum was separated and used for blood chemistry. The surface of uteri and ovaries were seared by a hot spatula and opened under complete aseptic precaution then a loopfull of the uterine content was directly cultured onto nutrient agar, MacConkey agar and blood agar. All the inoculated plates were incubated at 73°C for 24 h. The suspected colonies were examined culturally. Specimens were collected from the uteri and ovaries and fixed in 10% neutral buffered formalin. Five micron thick paraffin sections were prepared, stained by H & E and examined microscopically. The most prevalent microorganisms were E. coli (10%), Klebsiella oxytoca (2.85%), Proteus mirabilis (2.85%), Staph. aureus (5.7%) and Strept. pyogens (7.1%). Uterine adhesion, endometritis and cystic ovaries were encountered. The uterus showed degenerative changes in the uterine glands with periglandular mononuclear cell infiltration and edema besides congestion and vasculitis. The examined ovaries showed either thick walled follicular cysts or leutein cysts with luteinized granulosa cells, hyperplastic theca-interna and theca-externa besides atretic follicles and hyperplastic lining of other follicles. The blood vessels were congested and showed thickened walls of the coiled arterioles. The estrogen was significantly increased, meanwhile the progesterone, T3 and t4 hormones were significantly decreased. It could be concluded that the affection of the uterus and ovaries leads to infertility associated with hormonal disturbances. E. coli was the highest to isolate, but Klebsiella oxytoca and Proteus merabilis were the lowest.
Efeitos da calagem em semedura direta de milho

The effects of superficial lime application on chemical soil attributes under no-tillage systems and its influence on root growth and mineral nutrition in maize crops have not been thoroughly investigated yet. To evaluate these effects on maize and its reflexes on grain yield performance, a field trial was carried out on a dystrophic clayey Rhodic Hapludox, previously managed under no-tillage for six years, at Tibagi, State of Parana, Brazil. The experimental design was a randomized complete block with four replications, using 44.8 m2 plots. The treatments consisted of four liming rates (0, 1, 2 and 3 t.ha-1, pure CaCO3 equivalents) which represented 1/3, 2/3 and the total amount calculated for the soil to reach a base saturation of 70%, in the 0-20 cm layer. Dolomitic limestone (27% of CaO, 20% of MgO and 85% of ECCE) was broadcast-applied to the soil surface without incorporation. After 22 months, lime application increased soil pH in CaCl2 0.01 mol.L-1, exchangeable Ca and Mg, and base saturation, and reduced H + Al and exchangeable Al at the superficial layer (0-10 cm). It also increased exchangeable Ca and decreased exchangeable Al at the subsoil (20-40 cm). Liming did not significantly affect length and relative distribution of corn root at the 40 cm depth, reduced average root radius and increased plant uptake of P, Ca, Mg, and S, with no significant effects on grain yields. Surface lime application did not affect Cu, Fe, Mn and Zn concentrations in the soil and leaves or plant uptake of these micronutrients.
Levels of available phosphorus and calcium for broilers from 8 to 35 days of age fed rations containing phytase

Dois experimentos com pintos de corte da linhagem Cobb no periodo de 8 a 35 dias de idade foram realizados para avaliar o efeito da reducao dos niveis de calcio e fosforo disponivel (Pdisp) em racoes suplementadas com 500 ftu de fitase/kg sobre o desempenho das aves, o teor de cinzas na tibia, a energia metabolizavel (EMAn) da dieta e a metabolizabilidade da materia seca (MS) e da proteina bruta (PB). No experimento 1, foram utilizados 1.404 pintos de corte para avaliacao do consumo de racao, do ganho de peso, da conversao alimentar e da porcentagem de cinzas na tibia. No experimento 2, conduzido simultaneamente ao primeiro, um total de 390 aves foram transferidas para uma sala de metabolismo para determinacao da EMAn e da metabolizabilidade da MS e PB. Nos dois experimentos, utilizou-se delineamento inteiramente casualizado, em esquema fatorial 3 × 4 + 1, com tres niveis de fosforo disponivel (0,375; 0,325 e 0,275%) e quatro niveis de calcio (0,85; 0,75; 0,65 e 0,55%) nas dietas, suplementadas com fitase. Tambem foi usada uma dieta controle sem fitase, a base de milho e farelo de soja, formulada com 0,425% de fosforo disponivel e 0,85% de calcio. No experimento 1, a reducao dos niveis de calcio e fosforo nao ocasionou diferenca significativa no desempenho e na porcentagem de cinzas osseas. Os niveis de calcio e fosforo disponivel utilizados no experimento 2 podem ser reduzidos em ate 0,65 e 0,325%, respectivamente, pois os efeitos sao semelhantes aos obtidos com os niveis atualmente recomendados.
Factors Influencing Membership of Federal Wildlife Biologists in The Wildlife Society

Abstract Membership in scientific societies is an avenue wildlife professionals may use to maintain and enhance their professional capabilities. We studied factors influencing United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and United States Geological Survey (USGS) biologists' membership in scientific societies in general and The Wildlife Society (TWS) in particular. We conducted an internet census survey of 3,755 USFWS professionals and 932 USGS Biological Resource Division professionals. The survey collected data on membership and participation in scientific societies as well as other variables that we theorized could influence membership. We used logistic regressions to identify factors correlated with the membership of wildlife biologists in TWS. A greater proportion of USGS biologists (90.2%) than USFWS biologists (51.8%) were members of scientific societies, and the likelihood of wildlife biologists belonging to TWS was higher in USGS. Factors most consistently correlated with membership in TWS included minimal external constraints (e.g., family responsibilities and costs), supervisor support for membership, and membership of friends, peers, and supervisors in scientific societies. Our results suggest that membership in scientific societies is heavily influenced by the organizational culture of employing agencies. Agencies seeking to increase their employees' membership, and thus benefits from participation, in scientific societies will be most successful if they create a culture in which involvement in scientific societies is expected and in which peers and supervisors also participate.
Helminths of the Magellanic Penguin, Spheniscus magellanicus (Sphenisciformes), During the Breeding Season in Patagonian Coast, Chubut, Argentina

Abstract Twenty-seven Magellanic penguins, Spheniscus magellanicus (Sphenisciformes), were collected from September 1996 to November 2000 from Península Valdés (42°04′–42°53′S; 63°38′–64°30′W), on the Patagonian coast, Argentina and the gastrointestinal tract was examined for helminths. All birds were parasitized by at least 1 of the 5 following parasite species: Tetrabothrius lutzi (Cestoda); Cardiocephaloides physalis (Lutz, 1926) (Digenea), Contracaecum pelagicum (Johnston and Mawson, 1942), Cosmocephalus obvelatus (Creplin, 1825) (Nematoda), and Corynosoma sp. (Acanthocephala). The total mean intensity was 686. The helminth community composition of S. magellanicus is reported for first time in Argentina increasing the host range of many of the species registered.
Photochemically produced carboxylic acids as substrates for freshwater bacterioplankton>

High‐molecular‐weight dissolved organic matter is abundant in humic lakes and is a large potential source of energy for heterotrophic organisms. These substances are hard to degrade enzymatically because of their high aromaticity and complex structure. However, there is increasing evidence that photochemical processes render the material more bioavailable. We demonstrate a substantial photochemical production of four carboxylic acids (oxalic, malonic, formic, and acetic acid) in a humic lake. The combined production rate in the surface water of these four acids was 19 µg C liter−1 h−1 with natural sunlight. Furthermore, based on radiotracer studies, we found that the amount of carbon assimilated and oxidized to CO2 from malonic, formic, and acetic acid exceeded bacterial carbon production, sometimes by more than one order of magnitude. This implies that carboxylic acids were major bacterioplankton substrates. Nevertheless, under natural sunlight at the lake surface, microbial utilization of carboxylic acids was substantially lower than the photochemical production of the acids. Hence, photochemically produced carboxylic acids may accumulate in sunlight exposed environments and may also serve as bacterial substrates after mixing into deeper layers, or during night.
Lessons from native spruce forests in Alaska: managing Sitka spruce plantations worldwide to benefit biodiversity and ecosystem services

There is increasing interest worldwide in managing forests to maintain or improve biodiversity, enhance ecosystem services and assure long-term sustainability of forest resources. An important goal of forest management is to increase stand diversity, provide wildlife habitat and improve forest species diversity. We synthesize results from natural spruce forests in southeast Alaska and suggest strategies for managing Sitka spruce plantations in other parts of the world to benefit biodiversity and enhance a variety of forest ecosystem services. We also discuss the roles of fungi in increasing both biological and structural diversity in Sitka spruce forests. New silvicultural systems that use partial cutting in older spruce forests could alleviate some of the problems associated with conventional even aged management and increase both stand structural diversity and biodiversity. We found that mixed red alder-conifer stands in Alaska provided more heterogeneous structures than the pure conifer stands that typically develop after clearcutting. Well-planned silvicultural systems that include broadleaved species such as alder or birch could provide trees for timber production, improve wildlife habitat and a variety of other ecosystem services that are often compromised in young pure conifer forests.
Nitrogen fertilization of direct-seeded flooded vs. transplanted rice. II, Interactions among canopy properties

Growth analyses of transplanted and row-seeded IR64 rice (Oryza sativa L.) grown in the Philippines at six levels of applied N indicated that growth and CO 2 assimilation rates were low during reproductive growth in row-seeded as compared with transplanted rice. This study sought to quantify the effect on growth of various canopy properties, and to develop a concept for improving yield of direct-seeded tropical rice. Mathematical relationships among growth parameters were established based on empirical patterns of leaf area index (LAI), foliage N concentration, canopy CO 2 exchange rate (CER), and dry matter accumulation. Patterns of tissue death were used to estimate senescence. Relative foliage expansion rates were calculated from LAI patterns. Across all treatments and most developmental stages, uniform response patterns of foliage expansion, tissue death, and CER to LAI and foliage N concentration were observed. With increasing LAI, the minimum foliage N concentration for foliage expansion and tissue maintenance increased. Cessation of foliage expansion and onset of tissue death depended similarly on foliar N status and LAI. Canopy CO 2 exchange rate was positively correlated to LAI up to a certain LAI optimum, which dependend on foliage N concentration (LAI 3-6 at 10-40 g N kg −1 ). Further increases in LAI reduced CER. Leaf area limited biomass accumulation during the vegetative growth phase, whereas foliage N concentration became limiting thereafter, in all treatments. Over-expansion of foliage was particularly marked in row-seeded rice, due to the absence of transplanting shock and the high plant density, leading to an unfavorable respiration/photosynthesis ratio. Simulation suggested higher yield for direct-seeded lowland rice in a modified plant type with lower LAI and higher foliar N concentration during the reproductive growth phase, lower tillering ability, and higher assimilate storage capacity in the stems
Leptoderma macrophthalmum n.sp., a new species of smooth-head (Otocephala: Alepocephalidae) from the Mid Atlantic Ridge

A new species of Alepocephalidae, Leptoderma macrophthalmum n.sp. , is described from one specimen caught in 2004 at about 2100 m depth at the Mid Atlantic Ridge, north of the Azores. Morphological and molecular evidence indicate a relationship closest to the Pacific species Leptoderma lubricum.
PERFORMANCE AND ECONOMIC ANALYSIS OF BROILER STARTER CHICKS FED ENZYME SUPPLEMENTED SHEEP MANURE-BASED DIETS

A 35 day feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the effects of exogenous enzymes supplementation of heattreated sheep manure-based diets on the performance of broiler starter chicks. 210 7-day old broiler chicks were randomly allotted to seven groups in a completely randomized design. Each group was replicated three times. Seven experimental broiler starter diets were formulated such that diet 1 contained 0% heat-treated sheep manure (HSM). Diets 2, 4 and 6 contained 5%, 10% and 15% HSM without supplementation respectively, while diets 3, 5 and 7 contained 5%, 10% and 15% HSM supplemented with 100mg of exogenous enzyme (Roxayme G.), respectively. Results show significant (P<0.05) differences in the feed intake, body weight gain, feed conversion ratio, daily protein intake and protein efficiency ratio of the birds. The feed intake of the birds fed 10% and 15% unsupplemented HSM diets were significantly (P<0.05) higher than the other groups. Body weight gain, feed conversion and protein efficiency ratios of birds fed 15% unsupplemented diets were significantly (P< 0.05) depressed. Enzymes supplementation of HSM diets significantly (P<0.05) improved the performance of the birds, reduced the cost of feed intake and the cost of feed per kg weight gain over the control.
Hidden diversity in bent-winged bats (Chiroptera: Miniopteridae) of the Western Palaearctic and adjacent regions: implications for taxonomy

The taxonomic status of bent-winged bats (Miniopterus) in the Western Palaearctic and adjacent regions is unclear, particularly in some areas of the eastern Mediterranean, Middle East and Arabia. To address this, we analysed an extensive collection of museum materials from all principal parts of this distribution range, i.e. North Africa, Europe and southwest Asia, using morphological (skull) and genetic approaches (mitochondrial DNA). Linear and geometric morphometric analysis of cranial and dental characteristics, together with molecular phylogeny, suggested that Miniopterus populations comprise four separate species: (1) M. schreibersii sensu strictissimo (s.str.) – occurring in Europe, coastal Anatolia, Levant, Cyprus, western Transcaucasia, and North Africa; (2) M. pallidus – occurring in inland Anatolia, Jordan, eastern Transcaucasia, Turkmenistan, Iran and southern Afghanistan (Kandahar); (3) a Miniopterus sp. – recorded from Nangarhar province in eastern Afghanistan, which we tentatively assign to M. cf. fuliginosus; and (4) a Miniopterus sp. with Afro-tropic affinities confirmed from south-western Arabia and Ethiopia, which we tentatively name M. cf. arenarius. The latter two species are well differentiated by skull morphology, while M. pallidus possesses very similar skull morphology to M. schreibersii. The results also suggest the existence of a possible new taxon (subspecies) within M. schreibersii s.str. inhabiting the Atlas Mountains of Morocco. © 2012 The Linnean Society of London