Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Fighting Tactics of Fallow Bucks (Dama dama, Cervidae): Reducing the Risks of Serious Conflict

Competition between male fallow deer (Dama dama), during the breeding season was studied to determine if conflict strategies were consistent with the reduction of risk. Agonistic interactions between males were analysed in relation to age, dominance rank and availability of mating opportunities. The breeding season was divided into two main periods: the pre-rut began when all males had cleaned the velvet from their antlers and ended on the last day before matings were first observed, while the rut refers to the period between the first and last matings. Overall, socially mature males (≥4yr old) were involved in more interactions than immature (≤3yr old) males. Males established dominance rank largely by non-contact agonistic interactions during the pre-rut and there was substantial carry-over of rank to the rut, when it was correlated with mating success. The mating success of males was skewed; mature males achieved 99.4% of the matings and immature males accounted for 0.6%. A mature male was 13 times more likely to fight than an immature male; the mature males that fought most often did so between 0.4 and 0.5 times per hour. During the rut, the number of fights was positively correlated across days with the number of matings. The majority of agonistic interactions (79%) comprising dyads of immature males, involved antler contact. In contrast, mature males engaged antlers in only 42% of their interactions. Fights between mature males lasted more than twice as long as those between immature males and were more likely to occur between opponents with similar dominance ranks. However, towards the end of the rut formerly mismatched opponents were more likely to fight. Thus males operated conditional competitive strategies to decide when to interact and fight. The persistence of rank order from the pre-rut period to the rut and the tendency for mature males to resolve disputes without antler contact, served to reduce the frequency of fights and therefore the risk of serious injury.
Male behaviour and correlates of mating success in a natural population of African Painted Reed frogs (Hyperolius marmoratus)

We studied the behavior and mating success of a natural population of painted reed frogs, Hyperolius marmoratus, over 28 consecutive nights at the height of the breeding season. The operational sex ratio (OSR) was strongly biased towards males on every night. Larger choruses were characterized by a greater absolute number of females than small choruses. However, no relationship was found between chorus size and the OSR. Males showed a high degree of site fidelity both within and between nights. However, high male turnover between nights resulted in distributions that were largely independent from night to night. There was a strong positive relationship between the spatial location of males and females over the 28 nights so that most matings occurred where male density was highest. Male body size did not influence mating success over the 28 nights, within nights, or within local groups of males (males within 3 m of a pair). The mating success of males within nightly choruses was not influenced by nearest neighbor distance or the density of males in the immediate vicinity of amplexing pairs (local male density). Mating success of individual males was best predicted by chorus attendance. Male size did not influence chorus attendance, site fidelity, or the number of consecutive nights that males were present at the breeding site. Males that mated on one night had a significantly higher probability of mating the following night than males that did not mate the previous night. There was no evidence of positive assortative mating.
Water balance of a boreal Scots pine forest

In terrestrial ecosystems, the amount and availability of water is one of the key factors affecting the net primary productivity and other biological processes of the system. At the SMEAR-II station, we have monitored the water balance of two adjacent micro-catchments since 1997. In this study, we report the long-term measurements of precipitation, throughfall, snow depth, soil water content, runoff and evapotranspiration and the annual water balances based on these measurements and discuss the uncertainties related to different measurements. The proportion of throughfall, evapotranspiration and runoff was 67%, 43% and 32% of the annual precipitation, respectively. The measured amounts of evapotranspiration and runoff were so small that the aim of closing the water balance of the studied system was not fully reached. The largest uncertainties are related to the evapotranspiration measurements and the determination of the actual surface area of the catchments used in the calculation of the runoff.
Embriogênese somática e regeneração de plantas a partir de embrião maduro de aveia

Embryogenic callus has been the most used target tissue for cereal genetic transformation. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate the establishment of embryogenic calli and the in vitro plant regeneration from mature embryos of oat genotypes (Avena sativa L.). Mature embryos were taken out of the seeds and placed on a culture medium MS (Murashige & Skoog), containing 30,0 mg L-1 of sucrose and 2,0 mg L-1 of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D). From the induction period, embryogenic aggregates were isolated and subcultivated each 21 days into a fresh medium. After this period, embryogenic calli were transferred to a medium for shoot regeneration. Subsequently, the shoot was transferred to a medium for root induction. There was variability among genotypes for somatic embryogenesis and in vitro plant regeneration from mature embryos. This explant allowed the induction of calli with ability to multiply and regenerate high number of plants from genotypes as UFRGS 7 and UFRGS 19, what makes it capable for oat genetic transformation.
On the running of the gnu (Connochaetes taurinus) and other animals

1. A simple optical method was used to observe speed, stride length and stepping frequency in undisturbed walking or running wild animals. Most measurements were made on the gnu (adult and young calf) and Thomson9s gazelle. 2. The hypothesis that stepping frequency is independent of speed is not tenable for any gait. 3. The data are discussed in terms of N, the average number of feet in contact with the ground. It is suggested that the value required of N by the animal is the main consideration determining its choice of gait. 4. The height of the vertical jumps in galloping does not need to increase indefinitely with speed, and the power needed for the jumps is not likely to limit the maximum galloping speed. 5. Stepping frequency observations in the walk, trot and canter were analysed for 14 mammal species plus the gnu calf. Stepping frequency was found to vary with about the - 0.5 power of the linear dimensions in all three gaits. 6. It is suggested that only three gaits should be recognized, the walk, trot and canter, and that they should be distinguished on the basis of ( a ) the symmetry or otherwise of the stepping pattern, ( b ) the range of N over which the gait can be used, and ( c ) the nature of the energy transformations which occur at each step.
AVALIAÇÃO DO CRESCIMENTO DE MUDAS DE Psidium cattleianum Sabine A DIFERENTES NÍVEIS DE SOMBREAMENTO EM VIVEIRO

This study aimed to detect the influence of shading on the production of Psidium cattleianum Sab. , seedlings. After the transplant, the seedlings remaining for 120 days under the shading intensities 30%, 50% e 70%, and full sunlight in the nursery. Leaf area, height, caller diameter, dry matter weight of roots and aerial and survival rate were evaluated. The specie showed larger biomass accumulation (6,15g - p>0, 05) in the full sunlight. The 50%of shading had most leaf area (41.594, 88mm²-p>0, 05), in opposition to the 70% of shading that presented the smallest average for this variable (22.156, 25 mm²), even presenting larger average in height (17,74cm - p>0, 05). It was concluded o that at the 50% of shading, the plant shows a physiological adaptation of Psidium cattleianum to the environment shadow.
Alternative use of space strategies of female roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) in a mountainous habitat

Abstract The spacing behaviour of ten roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) females was studied from March 1997 until February 1998 in the Casentinesi Forest National Park, Italy. The study area is mountainous with a high percentage of forest cover (95%). Mean temperature was 8° C and snowfall occurred in autumn and winter. Data were collected with radio‐tracking techniques and annual, bimonthly and monthly home ranges were analysed. The results indicated two different spacing behaviours: stationary and roaming. Roaming females had larger home ranges than stationary ones. Only during the birth period, in May‐June, were home ranges similar for both groups of females, while the winter period showed great differences. Habitat quality and social factors seemed to influence the ranging behaviour of females in this mountainous habitat in the course of the year.
Cultivation of Pleurotus sajor-caju using different agricultural residues

Mycelial growth, colonization period, primordial initiation, harvesting time, yield, mushroom size and biological efficiency (BE) of Pleurotus sajor-caju were assessed on three different substrates namely maize stalk, pea residue (tendrils) and banana leaves with and without supplementation of rice bran and chicken manure. The faster mycelial growth and highest yield (348.13 g per 25 cm × 15 cm bag) with 87.03% BE was obtained from maize stalk with rice bran and second best yield (299.53 g) with 74.88% BE was recorded from pea residue with rice bran. Among the substrates used, maize stalk appeared best followed by pea residue and banana leaves. Rice bran showed best supplementation for mycelial growth and yield with all substrates. The study revealed that faster mycelial growth is consistent with better yield and highest biological efficiency.
Main Factors Affecting Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) Haploid Embryo Development and Haploid Plant Characteristics

This report gives the first detailed analysis of cucumber haploid plants and the first evaluation of genotype and season effects on haploid embryo development. Female flowers of four F1 varieties and two inbred lines were pollinated with 300 Gy-treated pollen and three-week old embryos were cultured in vitro on E20A medium. The variety ‘Polan’ produced the greatest number of embryos (1.34 per 100 seeds), 51 % of which were capable of further development. The number of embryos able to develop was four times higher in summer than in spring. All the plants obtained, except one, were haploids or aneuhaploids. Haploid plants grew slowly and were sterile, although they occasionally set seedless fruits. The length of the stems, leaves and guard cells was smaller than those of diploids.
Molecular phylogeny of Potamotrygonocotyle (Monogenea, Monocotylidae) challenges the validity of some of its species

Fehlauer‐Ale, K. H. & Littlewood, D. T. J. (2011). Molecular phylogeny of Potamotrygonocotyle (Monogenea, Monocotylidae) challenges the validity of some of its species. —Zoologica Scripta, 40, 638–658.
Dereplication and Prioritization of Natural Product Extracts for Antifungal Drug Discovery

The prevalence of opportunistic fungal infections in hospital settings are at alarming rates. Through technological advances in natural product research, plants have become a useful source for antifungal drug discovery. More samples can be screened at once, fractionated in less time, and biologically tested at smaller quantities. However, isolating antifungal compounds from these plant extracts and determining their specific chemical makeup can still take up a significant amount of time. Therefore, this thesis presents a prioritization technique to prevent the need to isolate every compound within an active fraction. With the guidance of literature research on the genus and species of each plant sample coupled with the biological activity data collected on each sample, plant extracts can be prioritized for isolation efforts or thrown out completely if found uninteresting. This method of prioritization also fuels dereplication efforts by preventing researchers from spending time and resources on plants that have already been worked on. Plants that have had little work done on them and that have highly active fractions will lead to the discovery of novel antifungal drugs.
Sterilization of the navel orangeworm, Paramyelois transitella (Walker), by gamma radiation (Lepidoptera: Phycitidae)

This paper presents fundamental investigations on the navel orangeworm and on its control by the release of sterilized navel orangeworm moths. The first essential for working with this insect was to develop effective techniques for its mass culture. The main problem, to induce mating under laboratory conditions, was solved by providing indirect air circulation, high relative humidity, temperatures between 10° and 16° C, and light intensity similar to that of the early-morning hours. The successful method is described in detail. The effects of gamma radiation were tested on all stages of the navel orangeworm. Mature, eight-day-old pupae were the best able to tolerate dosages sufficient to make all individuals completely sterile. The effective dosage, established at 50,000 rads ± 3.5 per cent, did not affect mating, egg-laying, or longevity of the moths. Treatment with 40,000 rads reduced fertility drastically but did not give complete sterility. Treatment with 80,000 rads reduced the mating capacities of both sexes, and the treated females laid very few eggs. There was no evident difference between the sexes in the sterilizing dosage. The introduction of sterilized female moths reduced the production of viable eggs in untreated laboratory populations at least as much as did introduction of sterilized males. Most significantly, when both sterilized females and sterilized males were added to untreated populations, the result was not to double but to square the amount of control effected by sterile moths of only one sex.
Progresso genético obtido pelo melhoramento do arroz de sequeiro em 21 anos de pesquisa em Minas Gerais

This work aimed to estimate the genetic gain obtained by the upland rice (Oryza sativa L.) breeding program developed in Minas Gerais State, Brazil, in cooperation with Empresa de Pesquisa Agropecuaria de Minas Gerais (Epamig), Embrapa-Centro Nacional de Pesquisa de Arroz e Feijao (CNPAF), Universidade Federal de Lavras (UFLA) and Universidade Federal de Vicosa (UFV), from 1974/75 to 1994/95. Results of the comparative trials of upland rice cultivars and lines conducted over the above quoted period were utilized. Because of irregular rainfall distribuition and the distinctive response of different cycles to climatic conditions, the option was to divide them into two groups, one encompassing the early genotypes and the other those of medium cycle. The achieved result showed that an average genetic gain of 1.26% and 3.37% for the early group and medium cycle, respectively, occurred. In addition, it was found that the early group statistically outyielded (P £0.01) as to grains the medium cycle group, denoting that in Minas Gerais the short cycle cultivars should be preferred.
Genetic Diversity and Population Structure ofVibrio cholerae

ABSTRACT Multilocus enzyme electrophoresis (MLEE) of 397 Vibrio cholerae isolates, including 143 serogroup reference strains and 244 strains from Mexico and Guatemala, identified 279 electrophoretic types (ETs) distributed in two major divisions (I and II). Linkage disequilibrium was demonstrated in both divisions and in subdivision Ic of division I but not in subdivision Ia, which includes 76% of the ETs. Despite this evidence of relatively frequent recombination, clonal lineages may persist for periods of time measured in at least decades. In addition to the pandemic clones of serogroups O1 and O139, which form a tight cluster of four ETs in subdivision Ia, MLEE analysis identified numerous apparent clonal lineages of non-O1 strains with intercontinental distributions. A clone of serogroup O37 that demonstrated epidemic potential in the 1960s is closely related to the pandemic O1/O139 clones, but the nontoxigenic O1 Inaba El Tor reference strain is not. A strain of serogroup O22, which has been identified as the most likely donor of exogenous rfb region DNA to the O1 progenitor of the O139 clone, is distantly related to the O1/O139 clones. The close evolutionary relationships of the O1, O139, and O37 epidemic clones indicates that new cholera clones are likely to arise by the modification of a lineage that is already epidemic or is closely related to such a clone.
New Mediterranean Biodiversity Records (April, 2019)

The Collective Article on “New Mediterranean Biodiversity Records” offers the means to publish biodiversity records in the Mediterranean Sea. The current article presents new biodiversity data information on 18 taxa (14 alien, 3 native and 1 cryptogenic species) belonging to 5 Phyla that are reported for 11 different countries listed according to their geographic position from the western to the eastern Mediterranean Sea. Algeria: the alien green alga Caulerpa taxifolia var. distichophylla and the heterobranchs Aplysia dactylomeda and Aplysia punctata are first reported from the entire country. France: a new record of the alien hydroid Porpita porpita is reported from the Corsican Sea, representing the second record of the species in the western Mediterranean Sea. Tunisia: the alien fish Scatophagus argus is reported from the Gulf of Gabès, probably representing an aquarium release. Italy: the well-established Mediterranean alien bivalve Malleus regula is first reported from the entire country. Slovenia: the alien marine bivalve Xenostrobus securis is reported for the first time from the entire country. Croatia: the alien gastropod Biuve fulvipunctata is reported for the first time from the country but also from the entire Adriatic Sea. Montenegro: the alien bivalve Rapana venosa is reported for the first time from the Montenegrin waters. Albania: the well-established alien fish Lagocephalus sceleratus and the rare native shark Rhizoprionodon acutus are reported for the first from the entire country. Greece: the rare native ray Leucoraja circularis is reported for the first time from the Argolikos Gulf and for the first time for the entire country its identification is confirmed morphologically and molecularly; additional records of the alien nomad jellyfish Rhopilema nomadic document its expanding distribution, while the occurrence and the alien fishes Sillago suezensis and Pomadasys stridens are reported for the first time from Hellenic waters. Turkey: additional records of the Egyptian Prawn Metapenaeopsis aegyptia are reported with some biological information. Cyprus: the alien fish Variola louti is reported for the first time for the entire Mediterranean Sea, probably released from an aquarium, while the alien moon crab Matuta victor is reported for the first time from the entire country.
On a Tightrope: Use of Open Sky Urban Telephone Wires by Azure-crowned Hummingbirds (Amazilia cyanocephala) for Nesting

ABSTRACT Birds are considered excellent bioindicators in urban areas. Some of the ecological processes behind bird ecological patterns in urban areas have been related to birds’ capacities to shift their behaviors. In this brief communication, we report a nest of Azure-crowned Hummingbird (Amazilia cyanocephala) built on a metallic structure that connects telephone wires, surrounded by other electricity and cable wires. After visiting the nest for 19 days, we did not have any evidence of predation, and because of the size and behavior of the chicks during the last two visits, we assume that the nest was successful. Previous studies have suggested that urban systems lay open to colonization by species that can reach them, use their resources, and survive their hazards. We recorded a nest of Azure-crowned Hummingbirds that was built on an open sky telephone. Our observation was a notable example of the degree of venture that some individual birds can exhibit in response to urbanization, suggesting a certain degree of ecological plasticity. Thus, future detailed studies are needed to untangle the advantages and disadvantages of nesting on open sky urban wires, to assess if it is profitable to nest on such structures.
Interspecific hybridization between carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) and golfish (Carassius auratus L.) from Victorian Waters

Naturally occumng hybridization between carp and goldfish was investigated. These hybrids were from Victoria and are probably derived from the Boolara strain carp; hybrids of Boolara strain carp and goldfish have not previously been described. A description using meristic and morphometric characters allowed identification of hybrids in the field. The characters of the hybrids were intermediate, but generally showed more carp-like features.
Variations in the relationship between oxygen consumption, body size and summated tissue metabolism in the winkle Littorina littorea

INTRODUCTION A considerable amount of data now exists on the relationship between metabolism and body size in a wide range of organisms from bacteria and protozoans through to large mammals. Much of this information has been reviewed by Kleiber (1932, 1947), Brody and Procter (1932), Brody (1945), Zeuthen (1947, 1953), Hemmingsen (1950, i960) and Bertalanffy (1957). In general the metabolism has been shown to be proportional to a fractional power of the body weight thus eggs, the larger metazoan poikilotherms and even homoiotherms is proportional to a constant power of the body weight. This factor has been shown to be 0.751 ± 0.015 by Hemmingsen (i960). Superimposed upon this general relationship are variations according to the weight range of the organisms concerned. Thus both Zeuthen (1953) and Hemmingsen (i960) have shown that the value of the constant b for unicellular organisms is approximately 0.7 (Zeuthen, 1953) or 0.751 (Hemmingsen, 1960), whilst that for small metazoans is 0.95 (Zeuthen, 1953) or 1.0 (Hemmingsen, 1960). Finally, the slope of the line relating the metabolism to body size in larger metazoans is 075 (Zeuthen, 1953) or 0.751 (Hemmingsen, 1960). That is, the value for b — 1 in equation (2) is likely to be between -0.3 and -0.249 in unicellular organisms; 0 and -0.05 in small metazoans and approximately -0.249 in larger metazoans. Despite this apparently fundamental relationship between metabolism and body size, there are many instances where for a particular species the relationship may not apply. Indeed in some species the metabolism may vary in its relationship to body weight according to conditions such as salinity, shore level, experimental temperature and acclimation temperature.
Genomic interactions in the resistance to mildew and rust fungi in hybrids and amphiploids involving the genera Triticum, Hordeum and Secale.

Hordeum chilense is highly resistant to mildew and brown rust fungi. The H. chilense resistance to powdery mildew conferred a substantial reduction of the infection frequency of Erysiphe graminis f.sp. tritici in wheat H. chilense amphiploids (tritordeum) and E. graminis f.sp secalis in rye H. chilense genome combinations. The reaction of H. chilense to rusts was overruled by the wheat reaction in tritordeum. Resistance of H. chilense to rye brown rust was expressed in rye H. chilense combinations. In tetraploid triticale (DDRR) wheat contributed to E. graminis f.sp. secalis and to P. recondita f.sp. recondita resistance, and rye contributed to E. graminis f.sp. tritici, P. recondita f.sp tritici and P. striiformis f.sp. tritici resistance.