Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Kleptoparasitic behaviour of Aphodius rufipes (L.) larvae in nests of Geotrupes spiniger Marsh. (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae)

Abstract. 1 Third instar larvae of A.rufipes were found in short vertical shafts in the soil beneath horse dung and they entered the underground brood masses of G.spiniger when these occurred beneath the same deposit of dung. 2 A.rufipes larvae excavated shafts (60–80mm deep) beneath dung in cages. Just before diapause they burrowed down to the floor of the cage. Burrowing was inhibited in compact soil and in very dry soil. The feeding larvae were attracted to dung and to moisture and they readily attacked other larvae with their mandibles. 3 In cages which contained G. spiniger nests the A.rufipes larvae burrowed down to feed on the G.spiniger brood masses. G.spiniger eggs and larvae did not act as attractants but they were often destroyed if the A.rufipes larvae encountered them by chance. 4 In cages which contained G.stercorarxus nests A.fossor larvae burrowed down to feed on the brood masses if no dung was provided at the surface. 5 This non‐obligatory parasitism arises from the normal behaviour of the larvae and is usually of trivial significance, but under certain conditions the protected environment of an underground nest may favour the survival of the invading larvae.
Environmental modulation of reproductive activity of the invasive mussel Limnoperna fortunei: implications for antifouling strategies

Limnoperna fortunei (Dunker, 1857) (Bivalvia) invaded Argentina through the Rio de la Plata estuary around 1990 and is presently established throughout five South American countries as a dominant component of the benthic fauna and a major nuisance for industry and power plants. Between 1997 and 2006 we monitored the reproductive activity of L. fortunei through weekly measurements of planktonic larvae in six South American water bodies: Rio de la Plata estuary, Parana and Carapachay rivers, Salto Grande, Itaipu and Embalse de Rio Tercero reservoirs. Mean larval densities varied between 4000 and 7000 individuals m⁻³; except in the reservoirs of Itaipu (450 ind. m⁻³) and Salto Grande (869 ind. m⁻³), where the mussel was first recorded shortly before our surveys, and upstream dispersal is limited (Salto Grande). In all cases, reproductive output decreases during the winter. At four of the six sites surveyed larval densities were comparatively high for 8.8-10.2 months per year. A lower food supply is possibly responsible for the shorter reproductive period of 5.9 months at Embalse. At Salto Grande, there is a well-defined mid-summer drop in larval numbers, coinciding with blooms of cyanobacteria. We propose that, in addition to temperature, two major factors may regulate the reproductive activity of L. fortunei: (i) the availability of food; and (ii) blooms of toxic cyanobacteria, significantly shortening the otherwise very long reproductive period. This information is important for the design of antifouling programmes involving the use of molluscicides, and has potential for reduced biocide use. These results provide supporting evidence for some fundamental ecological theories of invasions discussed here.
The yield, quality and irrigation response of summer forage crops suitable for a dairy pasture renovation program in north-western Tasmania

The yield and quality of perennial ryegrass, short-rotation ryegrass–perennial ryegrass mix, oats, millet, maize, rape, kale, pasja and turnips were determined over a 13-week summer period in 1995–96 and 1996–97. The experiment was conducted on the Elliott Research Station in north-western Tasmania (145˚E, 41˚S) and consisted of 2 irrigated and 2 dryland main plots. Within each main plot was a randomised complete block design with 9 forage crop subplots. Where forage is required through the summer, there is little advantage in establishing millet or oats over a spring-sown ryegrass pasture, mainly as the former still require replacement with permanent pasture in the autumn. However, if additional forage is required from late January then turnips are clearly superior to the other forages evaluated in all respects, apart from a low bulb crude protein (CP) content. Turnips responded significantly to irrigation, producing between 15 and 22 kg DM/ha.mm irrigation applied, with yields ranging between 7.9 and 10.6 t DM/ha dryland and between 13.5 and 14.4 t DM/ha under irrigation. The metabolisable energy (ME) and CP contents of turnips were 12.5 MJ/kg DM and 12.4% in the shoots and 13.4 MJ/kg DM and 7.0% in the bulbs, respectively. In comparison, the other fodder crops tested yielded between 4 and 6 t DM/ha under dryland conditions and between 5 and 7 t DM/ha under irrigated conditions. Turnips were most economic, costing on average A$120/t DM irrigated and $160/t DM dryland, while spring renovation to perennial ryegrass cost $385/t DM irrigated and $344/t DM dryland; clearly more expensive than purchased feeds for this period. These findings confirm the choice of many farmers that, of the species examined, turnips are the most suitable as a summer fodder crop, both irrigated or dryland, and integrate well with a pasture renovation rotation.
Effect of plant growth regulators on callus induction and plant regeneration in tuber segment culture of potato ( Solanum tuberosum L. ) cultivar Diamant

The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of different concentrations and combinations of growth regulators on callus induction and plant regeneration of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) cultivar Diamant. The tuber segments were used as explants and cultured on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with different concentrations of -naphthalene acetic acid (NAA), 2,4-Dichlorophenoxy acetic acid (2,4-D), benzyl adenine (BA) and thidiazeron (TDZ) alone and 2,4-D in combinations with BA for callus induction. The best degree for callus formation (6.0) was obtained on MS medium supplemented with 2,4-D alone at 3.0 mg/l or 2,4-D in combination with BA both at 2.0 mg/l. MS media supplemented with different levels of BA and TDZ were employed for shoot regeneration. MS medium containing 5.0 mg/l TDZ was the best for days to shoot initiation, the highest percentage of callus with shoot (81%) and highest number of shoot per callus (3.4). Callus derived shoots were rooted most effectively in half-strength MS medium containing 0.5 mg/l IBA. The success of plant tissue culture for in vitro culture of potato was encouraged by acclimatization of the plantlets in the greenhouse conditions. Regenerated plants were morphologically uniform with normal leaf shape and growth pattern.
Growth, density and biomass of crayfish, Pacifastacus leniusculus, in a British lowland river

Pacifastacus leniusculus has established hundreds of breeding populations in Britain since its introduction in 1976. One such population was established in the River Great Ouse, a major lowland river in mid-to eastern England, from 140 crayfish introduced in 1984. Estimates of growth, density and biomass of the population in 1992 are presented. Under laboratory conditions, the per moult increment (MI) and percentage per moult increment (PCMI) of crayfish were binomially correlated to their carapace length (CL), that is, the MI increased with CL and then decreased as crayfish grew old, and the PCMI decreased with increase in CL. Based on length frequency distribution data collected from the river in October and November and estimated by Bhattacharya's method, seven male cohorts while only four young female cohorts were identified because of insufficient data for old cohorts. The mean CL of each crayfish cohort was 16.6, 31.2, 41.6, 52.0, 57.8, 64.2, and 69.2 mm for 0+ to 6+ year old males respectively, and 15.4, 28.5, 39.7, and 49.8 mm for 0+ to 3+ females. There were no significant differences between growth rates of either CL or WW of males and females at age for 0+ to 3+ (no data of females > 3+ were available for comparison). In a riffle, the densities and biomass of crayfish were significantly different between four domains with different bottom substrats and highest in the habitat with the highest density of cobbles and thus, greatest density of potential shelters. The mean densities and biomass of crayfish of all sizes in this riffle were between 10.m2 and 61 g.m−2 respectively in July and 15.m−2 and 53 g.m−2 in November. In a pool, mean density and biomass of crayfish > 30 mm CL, estimated by Fish-Ford multiple capture-mark-recapture methods, were 0.8 m−2 and 37 g.m−2 between May and August.
Salmonella Enteritidis colonization in laying hens : diagnosis, population dynamics and surveillance

Salmonella is one of the major causes of bacterial gastro-enteritis of humans, and the consumption of eggs contaminated with Salmonella Enteritidis (S. Enteritidis) is known as an important source of these infections. Because consumers want to use raw eggs, public health organizations and retailers want to reduce the risk of human salmonellosis without treatment of the raw product. Consequently, control measures should be taken on primary farm level. Total eradication of Salmonella spp. from the environment is not to be expected, however, and the risk for introduction of the bacteria on laying hen farms most likely cannot be reduced to zero. Therefore, it is important to detect a colonized laying hen flock as soon as possible by adequate surveillance. The probability of detection of a colonized flock depends, amongst others, on the characteristics of the tests used for detection of S. Enteritidis in samples from laying hens. In this thesis, the quality of an immunological test using egg was examined. This diagnostic test offers the opportunity to perform multi-analyte analysis, i.e. to combine Salmonella surveillance with other surveillance objectives, like avian influenza, in a single run. Moreover, because sampling can be done automatically at egg-packing stations semi-continuous surveillance of laying hen farms could be performed. The efficacy of a surveillance programme also depends on the within-flock prevalence, which changes over time since introduction of the bacteria into the flock. For development or optimization of surveillance knowledge is required of how long it takes to reach a certain prevalence which in turn depends on the within-flock dynamics of S. Enteritidis. Transmission dynamics were studied in experiments with pairs and groups of laying hens, the latter being more representative for the practical situation. Control measures on primary farm level, like vaccination and hygiene measures, in combination with targeted testing have been associated with a lower reported incidence of S. Enteritidis in egg-laying flocks as well as in humans. By combining knowledge of transmission within flocks and characteristics of detection in surveillance, a further reduction of laying hen-related human exposure to S. Enteritidis may be obtained.
Effects of Botrytis fabae infection and mechanical defoliation on seed yield of field beans (Vicia faba)

SUMMARY Effects on seed yield of mechanical defoliation and inoculation with Botrytis fabae were compared using pot-grown plants of Vicia faba (cv. Maris Beagle). Treatments, which were made at the end of flowering, were applied singly and in all combinations to leaves (a) below, (b) at, and (c) above the flowering nodes (i.e. 23 factorial). Yield was unaffected by treatments applied to leaves below the flowering nodes. Removal of leaves at flowering nodes did not reduce the number of pods but yield was reduced because there were fewer and smaller seeds. Inoculation of this zone also reduced yield; pods were lost at some nodes but it could also be shown that, irrespective of pod loss, yield at individual nodes was reduced in proportion to the severity of infection on leaves at the same nodes. Removal of leaves above flowering nodes reduced yield almost to the same extent as removal of leaves at flowering nodes but inoculation resulted in only a small amount of infection and yield was not reduced significantly. These results, taken in conjunction with recent studies on the physiology of the host plant, show that beans are exceptionally vulnerable to attack by B. fabae at the stage of flowering and early pod development. At later stages of development infection is unlikely to have a substantial effect on yield.
Effects of salinity stress on growth and yield of Aloe vera L.

Salt stress is a limiting factor of plant growth and yield, and becoming a serious problem in the world. In this research the effect of salinity stress on Aloe plant was studied. Aloe plants were irrigated with nutrient solutions containing different levels of NaCl (0, 2, 4, 6 and 8 ds/m) in December and harvesting took place three times with one month interval in January, February and March. Results revealed that the salinity stress affected number of leaf, plant height, number of sprout, root weight, plant weight, leaf weight, total gel weight, root dry weight, Vitamin C and total soluble solids (TSS). Variance analysis also showed that sampling time relieves significant effect on number of leaf, plant height, root length, number of sprout, root weight, plant weight, leaf weight and total gel weight. All measured characteristics were highest for control. Interaction between salinity and sampling time on plant height, plant weight, leaf weight and total gel weight showed that these traits decreased in all salinity levels when sampling was 30 days after transplanting and the lowest value was related to highest salinity. Key words: Salt stress, nutrient solution, vitamin c, stress tolerant.
Sources of resistance to powdery mildew (Blumeria graminis f. sp. hordei) in Moroccan barley land races

Fifty-eight barley (Hordeum vulgare) land races from Morocco were tested for resistance to powdery mildew [Blumeria graminis f. sp. hordei], and a number of resistant land races were detected. Seventeen land races (29%), from which 26 single-plant lines were selected, expressed resistant reactions. These lines were tested at the seedling stage against 23 differential isolates of powdery mildew. The isolates were chosen according to their virulence spectra as observed on the differential set of cv. Pallas near-isogenic lines. Seven lines originating from six land races were resistant to all powdery mildew virulence genes prevalent in Europe. Twenty lines (77%) were moderately resistant (infection type 2) and six lines (23%) expressed resistance (infection type 0) to more than 50% of the isolates tested. In 22 lines (85%), the presence of unknown genes either alone or in combination with known genes were detected. Three different resistance alleles (Mlat, Mla1, and Mla3) were postulated to be present in the tested lines either alone or in combination with other genes. Among specific resistance alleles, the most common was the allele Mlat (resistance of cv. Atlas). This allele was postulated to be present in nine (35%) of the tested lines. Among seven provinces of northern Morocco from which the tested land races originated, the highest percentage of resistant land races was from provinces Oujda and Tétouan. The use of new sources of resistance to powdery mildew in barley breeding is discussed.
Use of expressed sequence tag microsatellite markers for population genetic research of Helicoverpa armigera (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) from India

Abstract Cotton bollworm, Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), is a serious pest of several crops throughout the world, representing millions of United States of America dollars worth of damage. This pest can adapt to various cropping systems in a wide geographical range and has high migratory potential. It features high fecundity and can develop resistance to almost all insecticides used for its management. Several investigations to develop microsatellite markers for H. armigera have not been successful because of the paucity of microsatellites in the lepidopteran genome. As well, collections of H. armigera from cotton fields of southern and western India were not yet studied for molecular genetic diversity. The current study aimed to screen publicly available expressed sequence tag resources for simple sequence repeats and assess their potential as DNA markers for assessment of gene flow between collections of southern and western India. We identified 30 polymorphic microsatellites for potential use in diversity analysis of H. armigera collections. Genetic diversity analysis revealed that the collections were widely diverse with population differentiation index (F st) of 0.17. Furthermore, gene flow analysis revealed a mean frequency of private alleles of 11% within the collections. The microsatellite resources we developed could be widely used for molecular diversity or population genetic research involving this important pest of cotton and food crops.
Spread of beech bark disease in the eastern United States and its relationship to regional forest composition

Beech bark disease (BBD) is an insect-fungus complex involving the beech scale insect (Cryptococcus fagisuga Lind.) and one of two canker fungi. Beech scale was introduced to Halifax, Nova Scotia around 1890, presumably with the fungus Neonectria coccinea var. faginata Lohm. The disease has subsequently spread through a large portion of the range of beech. We used historical maps of the extent of the advancing BBD front (defined by presence of scale insects) in North America to estimate its rate of spread as 14.7 + 0.9 kmlyear. This estimate did not account for stochastic "jumps" by the scale insects to several disjunct locations; therefore, this rate is a conservative estimate. Comparison of the year of scale colonization with beech density did not suggest a relationship between the scale spread rate and beech density. Our analyses also indicated that BBD has invaded less than 30% of regions where beech is present, but it has in- vaded most of the regions where beech is a dominant component of stands. Despite regional increases in beech mortality following invasion, considerable amounts of live beech remain in invaded areas. Moreover, the volume of beech has in- creased in most areas, though generally at lower rates than that observed for associated tree species. RCsurnC : La maladie corticale du hCtre est le risultat d'une association entre un insecte et un champignon impliquant la cochenille du hCtre (Cryptococcus fagisuga Lind.) et un ou deux champignons qui causent un chancre. La cochenille du httre a it6 introduite vers 1890 i Halifax, en ~ouvelle-~cosse, vraisemblablement accompagnee du champignon Neonec- tria coccinea var. faginata Lohm. La maladie s'est par la suite ripandue dans une grande partie de l'aire naturelle du h6tre. Nous avons utilisi de vieilles cartes qui retracent l'avance du front de la maladie corticale du hztre (dCterminC par la prisence de la cochenille) en AmCrique du Nord pour estimer son taux de progression B 14,7 + 0,9 kmlan. Cette estima- tion n'a pas tenu compte des > aliatoires de la cochenille vers plusieurs endroits isolis. Par consiquent, il s'agit d'une estimation conservatrice. Une comparaison entre l'annie de la colonisation par la cochenille et la densiti du h6tre n'a pas montri qu'il y avait une relation entre le taux de progression de la cochenille et la densiti du hztre. Nos analyses indiquent Cgalement que la maladie corticale du hetre a envahi moins de 30 % des rigions oii le hetre est prisent mais elle a envahi la plupart des rigions oii le hztre est une composante dominante des peuplements. MalgrC des augmentations rigionales de la mortalit6 du h6tre i la suite d'une invasion, des hCtres vivants sont toujours prisents en grande quantiti dans les zones qui ont it6 envahies. De plus, le volume de hCtre a augment6 dans la plupart des regions quoique ginirale- ment B une taux plus faible que ce qui a CtC observe chez les espkces qui y sont associCes. (Traduit par la Ridaction)
Morphological differentiation in the cave shrimps Troglocaris (Crustacea: Decapoda: Atyidae) of the Dinaric karst – a consequence of geographical isolation or adaptation?

Three Dinaric subgenera of cave shrimps from the genus Troglocaris s. l. : T. sg. Troglocaris Dormitzer, 1853 (=Troglocaris s. str.), T. sg. Spelaeocaris Matjasic, 1956 and T. sg. TroglocaridellaBabic, 1922 comprise 12 currently known species and phylogenetic lineages. On the basis of the results of previous molecular studies and the extensive morphometric analysis, appropriateness of several former and the existence of some new metric descriptors are examined by multivariate statistical methods. In discriminant function analyses (DFA), all subgenera are distinctly separated even when only sexually non-dimorphic characters are used. Since considerable number of these characters is acknowledged, a joined analysis of both sexes is proven to be appropriate for the identification of the subgenera. Characters for the species recognition of Spelaeocaris and Troglocaridella females are provided. In the subgenus Troglocaris s. str. , molecularly recognized phylogroups are separated by DFA despite the expressed clinal variation. Also, minimum spanning tree (MST) demonstrates the existence of considerable morphological differences. The amounts of morphological difference (indicated by the length of the MST lines) and genetic difference are concordant i.e. morphological differences among the subgenera exceed the ones within the subgenera. Zusammenfassung Drei dinarische Untergattungen der Hohlengarnelen aus der Gattung Troglocaris s. l. : T. sg. Troglocaris Dormitzer, 1853 (=Troglocaris s. str.), T. sg. Spelaeocaris Matjasic, 1956 und T. sg. TroglocaridellaBabic, 1922, bestehend aus 12 Arten und phylogenetischen Linien. Die molekulare Analyse von fruheren Studien war die Grundlage fur unsere morphometrischen Untersuchungen. Eine umfangreiche morphometrische Analyse zeigt die Angemessenheit der fruheren und die Existenz der neuen morphometrischen Merkmale. Bei der Diskriminanzanalyse wurden die sexuell dimorphen morphometrischen Merkmale nicht berucksichtigt. Weil eine Reihe von sexuell nicht dimorphen morphometrischen Merkmalen gefunden wurde, ist eine gemeinsame Analyse beider Geschlechter geeignet fur die Identifizierung der Untergattungen. Merkmale fur die Identifizierung der Arten von der Untergattungen Spelaeocaris und Troglocaridella werden diskutiert. Trotz der graduellen Variation ist es uns gelungen, Phylogruppen von Troglocaris s. str. zu erkennen. Der minimale Stammbaum (MST) bestatigt die Existenz von erheblichen morphologischen Unterschieden. Die Betrage der morphologischen Unterschiede (angedeutet durch die Lange der MST-Linien) und genetische Unterschiede sind ubereinstimmend: Morphologische Unterschiede zwischen den Untergattungen sind groser als innerhalb der Untergattungen.
Deforestation Predicts the Number of Threatened Birds in Insular Southeast Asia

The world’s tropical forests are being cleared rapidly, and ecologists claim this is causing a massive loss of species. This claim has its critics. Can we predict extinctions from the extent of deforestation? We mapped the percentage of deforestation on the islands of the Philippines and Indonesia and counted the number of bird species found only on these islands. We then used the species‐area relationship to calculate the number of species predicted to become globally extinct following deforestation on these islands. Next, we counted the numbers of insular southeast Asian endemic bird species considered threatened—i.e., those having “a high probability of extinction in the wild in the medium‐term future”—in the latest summary Red Data Book. The numbers of extinctions predicted from deforestation and the numbers of species actually threatened are strikingly similar. This suggests we can estimate the size of the extinction crisis in once‐forested regions from the extent of deforestation. The numbers of extinctions will be large. Without rapid and effective conservation, many of the species endemic to insular southeast Asia will soon be lost.