Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Numerical response of small mustelids to vole abundance: delayed or not?

One of the most studied problems in population ecology has been to understand the relative roles of top–down and bottom–up forces in regulating animal populations. This has also been a key issue in studies of vole population dyna mics. Vole populations exhibit a wide variation of dynamics, from seasonal fluctuations to multiannual variations or cyclicity. One of the hypotheses to explain cyclic population dynamics is predation by the specialist predators. A common counterargument against the predation hypothesis has been the lack of conclusive observations of the time delay in the predators’ numerical response. We studied the interaction between voles and their specialist small mustelid predators, the stoat Mustela erminea and the least weasel Mustela n. nivalis, by modelling their interaction to data sets that cover large areas of Finland. Vole abundance was monitored with biannual trappings and their predators with snow-tracking. Results show a high dependence of the predators on the voles, and this connection is generally tighter in weasels than in stoats. Weasel abundance is affected most strongly by the vole abundance in previous spring, 8.5– 10 months earlier, while in stoats the effect of autumn abundance of voles, 2.5–6 months earlier, was the strongest. These results, together with the observation that the weasels’ effects on voles are stronger after a time lag of 6–9.5 than 2–4.5 months, indicate the existence of a time lag in weasels’ numerical response. A time lag in the predators’ numerical response is a necessary condition for the predators to drive population cycles in its prey, and therefore our results support the specialist predation hypothesis.
Density-dependent seed germination strategies in colonizing versus non-colonizing plant species.

Germination is a critical stage in the life of a plant. While much is known about the physiological processes which occur at that time, the adaptive aspects of germination strategies have received much less attention (Kozlowski 1972; Heydecker 1973). However, population biologists are aware of the importance of these strategies and have emphasized their critical role in the dynamics of plant populations (Harper 1965; Cohen 1967). This study deals with an aspect of germination which has to do with both physiology and ecological strategy: how the rate of seed germination is affected by clustering of seeds into dense arrays, and the relationship between this response to density and the propensity of a species to be colonizing or weedy as opposed to being a member of an indigenous, closed plant community. A few reports on density-dependent percentages and/or rates of germination are scattered in the literature, e.g. for pollen (Brewbaker & Majumder 1961), fungus spores (Toth 1973) and seed (Ballard 1958; Palmblad 1968). The responses of germination to greater density have included both increases (Ballard 1958; Brewbaker & Majumder 1961; Linhart & Pickett 1973; Toth 1973) anct decreases (Palmblad 1968; Toth 1973). However, comprehensive reviews of seed biology (Kozlowski 1972) and seed ecology (Heydecker 1973) do not discuss this phenomenon.
Dominance hierarchies and status recognition in the crayfish Procambarus acutus acutus

In the eastern white river crayfish, Procambarus acutus acutus, the processes that act during hierarchy formation were explored by analyzing the behavior of 23 symmetric pairs of form I males. The experimental design comprised three subsequent phases: isolation, familiarization, and experimental phases. In the latter, pairs were formed of (i) unfamiliar opponents having different status, (ii, iii) unfamiliar opponents having the same status, either two alphas or two betas, and (iv) familiar opponents. The first result was that P. a. acutus is capable of establishing stable dominance hierarchies. Secondly, behavioral differences between the winners and the losers, a fast assessment of status, and self-reinforcing effects of recent experience were demonstrated. Thirdly, P. a. acutus was found to recognize the status of its rival but not its individual identity. In fact, even if paired with unfamiliar opponents, previous winners and losers behaved as in the preceding days. Conversely, both frequency and inte.
Community Assembly, Niche Conservatism, and Adaptive Evolution in Changing Environments

The widespread correspondence between phenotypic variation and environmental conditions, the “fit” of organisms to their environment, reflects the adaptive value of plant functional traits. Several processes contribute to these patterns: plasticity, ecological sorting, and adaptive evolution. This article addresses the importance of ecological sorting processes (community assembly, migration, habitat tracking, etc.) as primary causes of functional trait distributions at the local and landscape level. In relatively saturated communities, plants will establish and regenerate in environments to which they are well adapted, so their distributions, and the distributions of associated functional traits, will reflect the distribution of optimal or near‐optimal environmental conditions in space and time. The predicted evolutionary corollary of this process is that traits related to habitat occupancy, e.g., environmental tolerances, will be under stabilizing selection. This process contributes to the widely observed pattern of phylogenetic niche conservatism, i.e., ecological and phenotypic similarities of closely related species. Evidence for niche conservatism in plants is reviewed. Based on Jackson and Overpeck’s concept of the realized environment, I propose three scenarios in which a species’ distributional responses to environmental conditions will lead to a “mismatch” between its environmental tolerances and the environments it occupies, thus creating opportunities for adaptive evolution: (1) the colonization of “environmental islands” (habitats that are discontinuous in niche space) that require large adaptive shifts in tolerance of one or more environmental factors; (2) the persistence of “trailing‐edge” populations in species tracking changing climate, if barriers to dispersal of competitors prevent competitive exclusion in the deteriorating conditions; and (3) responses to changes in the realized environment in multidimensional niche space, in which species are predicted to track environmental factors for which they exhibit narrow tolerances and exhibit adaptive evolutionary response along axes where they exhibit greater niche breadth. These three scenarios provide a conceptual framework that emphasizes the role of ecological sorting processes and stabilizing selection as the context for understanding opportunities for adaptive evolution in heterogeneous and changing environments.
Innate immunity against malaria parasites in Anopheles gambiae

Malaria continues to exert a huge toll in the world today, causing approximately 400 million cases and killing between 1‐2 million people annually. Most of the malaria burden is borne by countries in Africa. For this reason, the major vector for malaria in this continent, Anopheles gambiae, is under intense study. With the completion of the draft sequence of this important vector, efforts are underway to develop novel control strategies. One promising area is to harness the power of the innate immunity of this mosquito species to block the transmission of the malaria parasites. Recent studies have demonstrated that Toll and Imd signaling pathways and other immunity‐related genes (encoding proteins possibly function in recognition or as effector molecules) play significant roles in two different arms of innate immunity: level of infection intensity and melanization of Plasmodium oocysts. The challenges in the future are to understand how the functions of these different genes are coordinated in defense against malaria parasites, and if different arms of innate immunity are cross–regulated or coordinated.
Development in Vivo of AKR/N Mouse Blastocysts Developed from the 1-Cell Stage in a Phosphate-Free Medium

The AKR/N mouse eggs fertilized in vitro with ICR mouse epididymal spermatozoa were cultured in a phosphate-free medium. At 96 h after insemination, 48% of the fertilized 1-cell embryos developed to the ≥morula stage. When a total of 96 blastocysts obtained 96-100 h after insemination was transferred to 6 ICR mice, 52 (54%) implantation sites and 27 (28%) fetuses without detectable abnormality were observed in the uterine horns on Day 17.
Seven New Species of Tupiperla (Plecoptera: Gripopterygidae) from Brazil, With a Revision of the Genus

Tupiperla generic characters are discussed and the Brazilian species are revised. Tupiperla gracilis and T. tesselata are redescribed. Paragripopteryx eleonorae is transferred to Tupiperla. Seven new species, T. illiesi, T. modesta, T. oliveirai, T. reichardti, T. robusta, T. sulina and T. umbya, are described. A key to the known species is offered.
Diet of invertebrates sampled in leaf-bags incubated in a tropical headwater stream

The diet of macroinvertebrates sampled in leaf-bags incubated in a tropical stream was analyzed on a spatial scale (one forested and one deforested area) and on a temporal scale (dry and rainy seasons). The macroinvertebrates were mostly represented by detritivores specialized in fine detritus (69%), followed by generalist detritivores (10% with a diet based on fine and coarse detritus), carnivores (10%), omnivores (8%), and one detritivore genera specialized on coarse detritus (3%). The detritivores exhibited a broad spatial and temporal distribution and were represented mainly by Ephemeroptera, Trichoptera and Diptera. Phylloicus sp. (Trichoptera) consumed mostly coarse detritus (CPOM) and can be classified as the unique specialist shredder in this stream. Carnivores were represented by Anacroneuria sp. (Plecoptera), Hetaerina sp. and Heteragrion sp. (two Odonata). Omnivory was observed for Anacroneuria sp. and Smicridea sp. (Trichoptera), which evidently varied spatially and temporally in the proportion of the food consumed. The high diversity and the wide distribution of the taxa that used organic matter as food resource demonstrated the great importance of this food item to the macroinvertebrates community in this tropical stream.
Age and growth of the four-spotted megrim (Lepidorhombus boscii) in eastern Mediterranean waters

This paper analyses the age and growth pattern of the four-spotted megrim (Lepidorhombus boscii), collected in the north Aegean Sea. The otoliths of the species exhibit bilateral asymmetry. Our data indicates that males have shorter lifespans (0–6 y) than females (0–8 y) and reach lower asymptotic lengths. A significant difference in growth rate exists between the two sexes after the first year of life. Growth in length is greater in females than males, whereas males appeared to be heavier than females of the same size. The latter was also corroborated by the higher accumulation of lipids in the muscle of males in relation to females. The growth rate of the species in the Atlantic was higher than in the Mediterranean. The oligotrophic character of the study area seemed to have a negative effect on the growth of megrims.
High levels of genetic variation in the haploid leafy liverwort Porella platyphylla from the southeastern United States

Abstract The few studies that have investigated levels of genetic variation in liverworts have found very little polymorphism. Our electrophoretic data show, however, that the leafy liverwort Porella platyphylla maintains high levels of genetic variation in at least some natural populations from the southeastern United States. Within a single population from southwestern North Carolina, we detected 26 distinct multilocus genotypes and more than 80% of the enzyme loci we surveyed were polymorphic. It seems likely that earlier studies of mostly thalloid species from glaciated regions of Europe have presented a biased picture of levels of variation in liverwort populations.
Predation Risks and Anti‐Predation Parental Care Behavior: An Experimental Study in a Tropical Skink

The process of parental care can be complex, and it is rarely exhibited by reptiles. How predators influence the timing of parental care is still ambiguous in terrestrial vertebrates. In this study, we demonstrate that female skinks of Mabuya longicaudata adjusted to an experimental manipulation of interspecific intruders which were placed into skink nests. When the intrusion frequency of the reptile-egg eating snake, Oligodon formosanus, increased, the time spent on maternal care by M. longicaudata was significantly extended. In contrast, female M. longicaudata recognized two sympatric lizards (Sphenomorphus incognitus and Japalura swinhonis) which do not prey upon eggs or adults of M. longicaudata and did not attack those species; consequently, the time spent on egg-guarding did not significantly differ from the control treatment with intrusion by S. incognitus or J. swinhonis. Mabuya longicaudata also recognized the predatory snake, Elaphe carinata, and when that species entered a skink nest, the skink escaped and never returned. These results emphasize that the time spent on parental care is probably influenced by predators, and the duration of this behavior is dependent on the maternal defensive capability. As egg guarding is the most basic and primitive form of parental care, the current study provides evidence possibly leading to insights into the origin of parental care from reptiles to birds and mammals.
Planktonic and Biochemical Composition of Periphyton Grown on Some Biodegradable and Non-Degradable Substrates

ABSTRACT Ten locally available substrates, five biodegradable and five non-degradable, were evaluated for their potential to harbor periphyton in cement tanks fertilized with poultry manure. The tanks were fertilized regularly and the periphyton was allowed to grow for 70 days. Weekly samples of periphyton and plankton were collected for enumeration and biochemical analyses. Among the substrates, earthen tiles harbored negligible amount of periphyton. The phytoperiphyton genera encountered on the substrate belonged mainly to Chlorophyceae (14 genera), followed by Cyanophyceae (2 genera), Chrysophyceae (1 genus), Bacillariophyceae (1 genus), and Dinophyceae (1 genus). Nauplius, Keratella, Diaptomus, Cyclops, Moina, Chironomus and insect eggs were the zooplankton encountered on substrates. Phytoplankton density was higher on tyre (86,426 cells or colonies/cm2) and palm leaf (85,808 cells or colonies/cm2) and lowest on ceramic tile (21,081 cells or colonies/cm2). Glass plates harbored the highest number of zooplankton species per unit area (1050 cells or colonies/cm2), while arecanut leaf-sheath had the lowest (210 cells or colonies/cm2). All five families of phytoplankton present on the substrates were also present in tank water. While periphyton contained 26 genera, tank water had only 24. Periphytic dry matter, ash, ash-free dry matter, plankton density on substrates and water showed a general increase with respect to time. Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) (0.972 mg/cm2), glass (0.913 mg/cm2), and bamboo (0.897 mg/cm2) had higher periphytic dry matter and ceramic tile (0.262 mg/cm2) the lowest. All the proximate composition parameters of periphyton, except nitrogen free extract (NFE) varied significantly (P < 0.05) between the substrates. The moisture content of periphyton ranged from 85.58% (bamboo) to 95.27% (arecanut leaf-sheath). Crude protein was high in periphyton from bamboo (3.77%) and tyre (3.66%) and low in that from arecanut leaf-sheath (0.99%).
Distribution and abundance of eggs of the anchovy, Engraulis australis antipodum Gunther, in relation to temperature and salinity in the Gippsland Lakes

Observations on the abundance of anchovy eggs in the Gippsland Lakes were made. From these observations, the duration and extent of spawning were inferred. Ten stations along the main salinity gradient were sampled from November 1978 to March 1980. Egg densities ranged from 1 to 38 170 eggs per 100 m3, densities of over 1000 eggs per 100 m3 being recorded on 16 occasions. Larval densities were much lower, only five records being greater than 100 larvae per 100 m3. Spawning extended from October to March. Peak egg and larval densities occurred in January for the two spawning periods examined. Eggs were found from McLennans Strait to the Entrance, with a few also collected from Bass Strait. Limited spawning did occur in the La Trobe River and in Lake Wellington during the 1967-1968 drought, when salinities were considerably higher than normal. The mean 'bottom' to 'top' density ratio for eggs was 3.8 to 1, probably as a result of vertical differences in salinity. Eggs were collected over a temperature range of 14.8-24.2oC, although the main spawning occurred above 18oC. The observed range in salinity was 2.3-35.5, but egg numbers in water below 15.8 were very low.
Distribution of vultures in Uttar Pradesh, India

As carrion feeders vultures play an important ecological role. Counts and qualitative assessments were done over three seasons to assess the richness and abundance of vultures in Uttar Pradesh during 2010–11. Of nine species found in India, Uttar Pradesh has six: Egyptian Vulture Neophron percnopterus (45.9%), Slender-billed Vulture Gyps tenuirostris (25.4%), Indian Vulture (Long-billed Vulture) Gyps indicus (16.8%), White-rumped Vulture Gyps bengalensis ( 10.3% ) , Red-headed Vulture (King Vulture) Sarcogyps calvus (0.8%) and Himalayan Griffon Gyps himalayensis (0.7%). We observed a total of 1993 adults and 91 juveniles, with the Tarai region having the greatest species richness and abundance. Nesting tree species included Silk Cotton Bombax ceiba , Teak Tectona grandis , Haldu Haldina cordifolia and Sissoo Dalbergia sissoo . A qualitative assessment indicated that the vulture population had declined in the past 10–15 years, with the main causes being the use of diclofenac, shortage of food and habitat loss. Disposal of dead animals was mainly done by removing carcasses to village outskirts, where dogs, crows and egrets compete with vultures. Such a small number of avian scavengers in a large area like Uttar Pradesh should be protected by ensuring safe and sufficient food, recovery from accidents and rehabilitation, and a protected environment.
Notes on African Crowned Eagle Stephanoaetus coronatus diet in savanna and forest in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Our study reports on contrasts in prey items from African Crowned Eagle Stephanoaetus coronatus nesting in forest (n = 1) and savanna (n = 2) biomes in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. At least 12 taxa were identified at a forest nest, of which 92.1% were neonate/juvenile. Bovids and procaviids represented 73.7% and 19.6% of the diet, respectively, whilst Samango monkey Cercopithecus albogularis, a common forest species, represented only 1.7% of prey items. Other species made up 5.0% and included a range of species not found in the forest (e.g. Ourebia ourebi, Lepus sp. and Ovis capra). At the savanna nests at least four taxa were identified, of which 73.1% of prey items were adult. The majority of prey items were identified as procaviids (87.0%) with 5.6% and 7.4% of prey items represented by C. albogularis/C. pygerythrus and other remains (e.g. Capra hircus and Philantomba monticola), respectively. In South Africa, where total forest area is reduced compared to regions further north, the dietary range of African Crowned Eagles may include a wider diversity of prey from different biomes; feeding generalisation and opportunism may therefore be an important strategy for the maintenance of African Crowned Eagles populations in the region.
Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone Couples to 3′,5′-Cyclic Adenosine-5′-Monophosphate Pathway through Novel Protein Kinase Cδ and -ε in LβT2 Gonadotrope Cells

GnRH regulates the reproductive system by stimulating synthesis and release of gonadotropins. GnRH acts through a receptor coupled to multiple intracellular events including a rapid phosphoinositide turnover. Although the cAMP pathway is essential for gonadotrope function, the ability of GnRH to induce cAMP, as well as the coupling mechanisms involved, remain controversial. In this study, we established that GnRH increases intracellular cAMP levels in a concentration-dependent manner in LβT2 gonadotrope cells (maximal increase, 2.5-fold; EC50, 0.30 nm), and this was further evidenced by GnRH activation of a cAMP-sensitive reporter gene. The GnRH effect was Ca2+ independent, mimicked by the phorbol ester phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate, and blocked by the protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor bisindolylmaleimide, indicating that the GnRH effect was mediated by PKC. Pharmacological inhibition of conventional PKC isoforms with Go6976 did not prevent GnRH-induced cAMP production, whereas down-regulation of novel P.
Statistical power and plausible alternate hypotheses of gametic recapture estimates from wintering grounds of humpback whales

In Garrigue et al. (2004) we present multiple lines of evidence to suggest that humpback whales Megaptera novaeangliae from the winter grounds around New Caledonia (NC) form a small autonomous population unit that is relatively closed to demographic and reproductive interchange with other populations in the South Pacific. Our evidence included a 7 yr database of sighting–resighting records for both individual identification photographs (photo-identification) and microsatellite genotypes from small skin samples collected with a biopsy dart. From these we derived estimates and 95% confidence intervals (CI) of abundance for the non-calf population and for the sex-specific components of the population using standard closedpopulation, capture-recapture models (Fig. 1). The low coefficient of variation (CV) of these estimates, reflecting a high proportion of recapture for individuals across the 7 yr study, and the limited interchange documented with other breeding grounds (Garrigue et al. 2002) supported our conclusion that the population was small and closed demographically. From the total sample of 133 non-calf males, we also inferred the paternity of 5 calves from a total sample of 16 calves (representing about 42% of all cow–calf pairs sighted in the small population over 7 yr). Following the logic of capture-recapture models, we used the proportion of inferred paternities as a male ‘gametic’ recapture estimate of abundance for comparison to the male ‘organismal’ recapture estimate. These 2 estimates were essentially identical (Fig. 1), suggesting that the population of males wintering near NC were likely to be the fathers of the calves. Formally stated, we were unable to reject the null hypothesis that the number of paternities inferred from the sample of calves was greater or less than expected given the estimated number of males in the local population. This finding was unusual, as the success rate of paternity assignments in populations of marine mammals is generally below expectations, even when sampling of males is considerably more complete than in the case of the NC humpback population (e.g. WorthingtonWilmer et al. 1999, Gemmell et al. 2001, Krutzen et al. 2004). We considered that the evidence of relative
Mutagenic Effectiveness and Efficiency of Gamma-rays, Ethyl Methane Sulphonate and Their Synergistic Effects in Black Gram(Vigna mungo L.).

Mutation frequency, effectiveness and efficiency of gamma-rays, ethyl methane sulphonate (EMS) and synergistic effects of their combination treatment were assessed in T-9, an improved variety of black gram. Gamma-rays were more effective than EMS. However, EMS was 2-2.5 times more efficient than gamma-rays. There was a progressive increase in mutation frequency of chlorophyll and viable mutations with the increase in gamma-rays and EMS doses. Synergistic effects were observed for increasing mutation frequency in M2generation in combination treatment of gamma-rays with EMS.