Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effectiveness of triploidy as a management tool for reproductive containment of farmed fish: Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) as a case study

Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) dominates aquaculture production in its native North Atlantic range, raising concerns about the impacts of escaped farmed fish on wild populations. While physical confinement and operational management practices have improved steadily with the development of this industry, some escapes are inevitable. In the absence of effective measures for the rapid recapture of escaped fish, the only practical method currently available to minimize their impacts on wild populations is to ensure that they are female triploids and therefore reproductively sterile. The technology for producing all-female triploid populations of Atlantic salmon is simple and easily applied on a commercial scale, and routinely results in populations that are entirely female and >98% triploid. Aside from sterility, there are no population-wide phenotypic effects of triploidy, although triploids do tend to perform less well than diploids with respect to commercial culture characteristics and are also less likely than escaped diploids to outcompete or displace native salmon. Some uncertainties exist with respect to their disease resistance and their potential to become reservoirs for the spread of pathogens to wild populations. If the spawning potential of escaped farmed Atlantic salmon is deemed to pose an unacceptable risk to native populations, then all-female triploid populations could be used as an alternative to reduce risk. Research should continue to focus on improving triploid performance through breeding programmes and optimization of husbandry conditions (including nutrition, environmental conditions and fish health), with the goal of making triploids an attractive option for fish farmers.
Variations of the lorica in the genus Parafavella (Protozoa: Tintinnida) in northern Norway waters

Photographs were made of the loricae of 272 specimens of the tintinnid genus Parafavella, encountered in plankton samples taken in the vicinity of Tromso, northern Norway. From the loricae alone it is impossible to distinguish among P. cylindrica, P. gigantea, P. denticulata, P. dilitata, P. obtusangula, P. parumdentata, and P. elegans. The results are compared with those of other authors working with this difficult genus. It is emphasized that additional methods for the distinction of species must be undertaken beyond simple examination of the loricae if the taxonomic obscurities of the genus are to be unravelled.
A comment on the use of exponential decay models to test nonadditive processing hypotheses in multispecies mixtures of litter

Abstract Many studies testing hypotheses about the effects of leaf litter diversity on litter processing rates contain a systematic bias that stems from mathematically incorrect assumptions. Assuming that the mean of single-species processing rates adequately describes noninteracting mixed-species rates will consistently underestimate or miss positive interactions between species. Further, the slope of log-transformed mass loss of litter mixtures vs time is affected by the duration of the experiment. Simple solutions to these errors include separating species from litter mixtures after incubation, or comparing masses remaining rather than comparing slopes.
Differential water uptake among plant species in humid alpine meadows

Question Do the three chosen species (Caltha palustris, Veratrum nigrum and Stellera chamaejasme) in humid alpine meadows take up water from different depths? Do these species differ in their responsiveness to rainfall? Location Mt. Balang, China. Methods Rainwater, soil water and plant water were collected from three plots over a 15-day period during JuneJuly 2006, and water isotopes analysed. The linear mixed models procedure was used to compare dD and d 18O values across soil depths, while three-factor ANOVA was performed to compare dD and d 18O values among the three species. The contributions of different soil depths to plant water sources were analysed using MixSir. A classic two-endmember linear mixed model was used to calculate the proportion of rainwater in plant stem water. Results Soil water showed substantial temporal shifts in isotopic profile from day to day, as influenced by rainwater input. The three plant species, C. palustris (CP), V. nigrum (VN) and S. chamaejasme (SC), acquired water from different soil depths, with their reliance on deeper soil water increasing in the order of CP VN > SC. Conclusions The isotopic profiles of soil water shifted dramatically in response to rainfall, suggesting rapid movement of soil water. There was separation of the plant water uptake depths among the three species, with SC depending less on surface soil and being associated with drier soil habitats compared with CP and VN. Moreover, CP absorbed rainwater before it percolated below the root zone, while VN and SC did not; the differential responsiveness to water pulses may be related to their different water requirements as a result of adaptation to different soil water conditions. Our study demonstrates inter-specific differentiation in plant water uptake in humid alpine meadows. Such information is important for species co-existence and plant community composition.
The effect of Meloidogyne incognita on the histopathology of Momordica charantia roots

Bitter gourd (Momordica charantia L.) was inoculated with root-knot nematode Meloidogyne incognita to investigate the anatomical abnormalities in the affected roots. Soon after inoculation the second-stage juveniles (J2) entered at or near the root caps and migrated intercellularly towards the zone of vascular differentiation. Discrete giant cells were observed after three days of inoculation. The nematode induced hypertrophy and hyperplasia near the giant cells. After six days, the juveniles moulted to their third stage (J3). At the same, time giant cell size and density of giant cell cytoplasm increased. The continuity of vascular strands remained unaffected. Between 12 and 24 days of inoculation the giant cells enlarged several times and became multinucleate and enclosed dense and granular cytoplasm. The nematodes became almost pyriform 18 days after inoculation. The orientation of vascular strands changed, due to hypertrophy, hyperplasia and enlargement of the nematode. After 30 days of inoculation the nematodes developed into mature females and started egg laying. A large amount of parenchyma transformed into abnormal xylem.
Calcium Oxalate Crystals in the Green Alga Spirogyra hatillensis (Zygnematales, Chlorophyta)

Vegetative cells of the freshwater green alga Spirogyra hatillensis Transeau contain numerous cruciate inclusions that are up to 34 μm long. A crystalline nature was shown by birefringence in polarized light. Rather than occurring free in the large central vacuole, these inclusions were associated with cytoplasmic strands that suspended the nucleus in a cytoplasmic embayment of the central vacuole and with the parietal cytoplasm, which contains the spiral chloroplasts. Some crystals moved directionally along the cytoplasmic strands, and their movement was arrested by cytochalasin B, indicating that actin microfilaments had a role in crystal movement. Solubility tests showed that the inclusions were composed of calcium oxalate; they were not soluble in concentrated acetic acid or sodium hypochlorite, but they dissolved rapidly without effervescence in weak hydrochloric acid. The Yasue cytochemical test for calcium oxalate stained the crystals intensely. The crystals were associated with a water‐soluble organic matrix that retained the shape of the crystal after demineralization. Scanning electron microscopy showed crystals to have arms with tapered tips and rhombohedral cross sections or with truncated ends and rectangular sections. Crystal growth in the Z‐axis occurred at the intersection of the axes as well as at other sites along the arms. Transmission electron microscopy showed the presence of bounding membranes around the mineral inclusions. A colorimetric enzymatic test for oxalate was used to quantify this compound in S. hatillensis, and it was also used in conjunction with microscopic examination. Neutral red was found to accumulate in numerous small vacuoles, up to 2 μm in diameter, that were present in the parietal cytoplasm and in the cytoplasmic strands supporting the nucleus. In filaments undergoing conjugation as part of sexual reproduction, unfused cells contained crystals, but zygotes did not.
The population pattern of Miniopterus schrebersii (Chiroptera) in north-eastern New South Wales

In north-eastern New South Wales Miniopterus schreibersii is found at a wide range of cave and mine roosts as colonies that may include up to several thousands of individuals. Between April 1960 and September 1963 a field study of the biology and population characteristics of this species was carried out. Field criteria permitting aging of individuals were developed. Age classes considered were juveniles ( 21 months). Seasonal changes in numbers, and in the sex and age composition of colonies were followed in detail at several roosts and comparative information was obtained at others. Movement patterns were assessed by a marking and recapture programme in which 1365 recoveries were obtained from a marked (toe clips and bands) population of 8775. Conspicuous sex or age biases or both were shown to exist in clusters of M. schreibersii at specific roosts and it was suggested that clustering in this species functions, in part, as a social spacing mechanism. Segregation of different sex or age classes at specific colonies permitted classification of colonies as (1) maternity colonies in which adult females and their young predominate, (2) "adult" colonies which are predominantly adult, or adult and yearling, in composition, and (3) "juvenile" colonies in which juveniles, or juveniles and yearlings, are almost prevalent. The observed social biases of colonies appeared to be related to particular phases of the reproductive cycle. Certain adult colonies were interpreted as important sites of copulatory behaviour. Recovery data for two of these mating colonies showed that adult females were more transient members of the colony than adult males. Juveniles are often well represented at adult colonies in the autumn, and during this season their presence may be correlated with a drop in the abundance of older males.
Speculations on the Probable Role of Relaxin in Cervical Dilation and Parturition in Rats

The role of relaxin in the maintenance of pregnancy and parturition in mammals has not been clearly defined. 1,2 There is little doubt that, during pregnancy, in certain species such as the guinea pig and mouse, relaxin is the hormone primarily responsible for the preparturient remodeling of the connective tissue of the pubic symphysis which results in the formation of a long interpubic ligament. 3,4 This transformation greatly increases the diameter of the bony pelvic canal to permit delivery of young which would otherwise be too large to pass through the structure. Less clearcut, both physiologically and ana tomically, are the effects of relaxin upon the uterine endometrium, myometrium
Behavioral Aspects of Population Dynamics in Unisexual‐Bisexual Poeciliopsis (Pisces: Poeciliidae)

Unisexual forms of Poeciliopsis require sperm from males of gonochoristic species. Selection pressures dictate that males discriminate against unisexuals until the latter become extinct. Most Poeciliopsis unisexual—bisexual populations have a unisexual—bisexual female ratio that favors unisexuals, indicating that selection for conspecific mating by males has either not been operative, not persisted for a sufficient period of time, or been disrupted by unknown factors. In mate selection and insemination tests single males show almost absolute preference for conspecific females, but social interactions among males result in unisexual inseminations. Mate selection reduces unisexual fecundity in natural populations, but the all—female forms receive sufficient sperm to sustain themselves. See full-text article at JSTOR
Could we obtain better estimates of plot species richness from multiple‐observer plant censuses?

Question: Could we better estimate plot species richness by asking several botanists to survey the same plots and using non-parametric estimators of richness? Location: Two French deciduous forests. Methods: Using replicated, independent censuses made by 11 professional botanists on the same eight 100-m2 forest plots, the relative performance of different richness estimators (Lincoln-Petersen, Jackknife 1&2, Chao 1&2, Bootstrap, Chao Mth, Darroch) and the variation in their performance with the number of botanists involved (teams with two to eight botanists) were investigated. The sensitivity of these estimators to the presence of misidentifications in the data was also assessed. Results: When misidentifications are removed, Chao Mth estimators converged fastest to true richness, but none of the tested estimators correctly accounted for differences in exhaustiveness between the teams. Finally, all estimators were highly sensitive to misidentifications. Conclusions: Richness estimators are of little help in the presence of misidentifications and are ineffective at removing between-team discrepancies, thus strongly limiting their usefulness in practice. Methods are presented to show how surveys can be designed to remove misidentifications and limit between-team discrepancies. A sensible sampling design for 100-m2 plots in temperate forests would involve triplets of botanists and correcting data with the Chao N1. Pairs of botanists would already significantly improve the richness estimates, but such estimates would still be biased low. However, further research is needed to design new richness estimators that are more robust to observer effects.
The Use of Entomopathogenic Fungi for Control of Termites

Termites are major pests of timber and timber products which live in warm, humid environments that are conducive to the development and spread of entomopathogenic fungi. Laboratory studies have shown that termite species are highly susceptible to entomopathogenic fungi from genera including the most commonly studied species, Metarhizium anisopliae and Beauveria bassiana . There appears to be very little host specificity among fungal isolates with many isolates being highly virulent to many species of termites. The grooming and other social interactions between termites are seen to have the potential to spread the fungus through the colony, allowing for colony control by the treatment of remote feeding sites. However, factors such as avoidance of the fungus conidia by the termites, the removal and burial of fungus-killed termites, together with defensive secretions and inhibitory components in termite frass and the possibility of humoral resistance may limit the spread of the disease in the colony. Field studies have shown mixed results. Direct application of fungi to nests has resulted in complete colony mortality, but studies where feeding sites or bait stations have been treated with fungus have yet to show similar success. The effectiveness of termite control in urban pest management, particularly in structural timber and dwellings, has yet to be reported in detail. Such studies require the examination of the complex relationships between dose, speed of kill, virulence, horizontal transmission and ultimate colony death, combined with avoidance and recognition factors, and survival of the fungi under field conditions. There is currently one commercial product available in the USA.
Carcass size shapes the structure and functioning of an African scavenging assemblage

The particle size of the food resource strongly determines the structure and dynamics of food webs. However, the ecological implications of carcass size variation for scavenging networks structure and functioning have been largely overlooked. Here we investigate differences in scavenging patterns due to carcass size in a complex vertebrate scavenger community, Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park, South Africa, while taking into account seasonality. We monitored the consumption of three types of experimental carcasses: ‘small’ ( 100 kg). We employed general lineal models to explore the influence of carcass size on 1) scavenging network structure (scavenger species richness per carcass) and 2) functioning (carcass detection time, consumption time, consumption rate and percentage of carrion consumed). We also tested whether the structure of the scavenging network of each carcass size was nested, i.e. whether the scavenging assemblage in species-poor carcasses was a subset of the assemblage consuming species-rich carcasses. We found strong evidence indicating that carcass size is a major factor governing the associated scavenger assemblage. Scavenger species richness per carcass and carcass consumption time and rate increased with carcass size, while carcass detection time and percentage of carrion biomass consumed were negatively related to carcass size. Strikingly, most of the carrion biomass was consumed by facultative scavengers, represented by large mammalian carnivores, rather than by obligate scavengers (i.e. vultures). Scavenging network nestedness tended to be higher at larger carcasses, and nestedness was sensitive to the removal of the most connected species in the network (spotted hyena) rather than vultures. When comparing scavenging and predation assemblages, crucial size-dependent differences emerge. Also, we identified a traditionally ignored mechanism by which hunting large prey could be relatively less profitable for predators, namely the costs associated with competition from scavengers and decomposers.
Genetic and environmental influences on in vitro digestibility of alfalfa

Abstract To study the relationships between in vitro NDF or true dry matter digestibility (NDFD and IVTDMD) and forage fibre content, 95 alfalfa samples from 5 cultivars grown in 3 different locations and from different cuts were analysed for fibre fractions and evaluated for NDFD and IVTDMD. NDFD was mainly influenced by order of cut and age of the fields. The multifoliate cultivar controlled did not appear to differ for fibre composition and NDFD from the other ones. Fibre fractions contents explained a large part of the difference in NDFD and IVTDMD, and no significant differences in this relationships appeared for first-cut vs. aftermath forage. The best predictive equation of NDFD from fibre factions was: NDFD = 73.61 -0.62 * NDF (% DM) – 56.33 * ADL/NDF (R2=0.39). Variations in fibre content and quality do not completely explain differences in NDFD suggesting the interference of other factors that are worth to be better studied.
FACTORS CONTROLLING SUCCESSION FOLLOWING SLASH-AND-BURN AGRICULTURE IN AMAZONIA

SUMMARY (1) Vegetation dynamics during five years of succession following slash-and-burn agriculture in the upper Rio Negro region of the Amazon Basin were elucidated by combining (i) permanent plot studies of plant-replacement dynamics and productivity, (ii) field analyses of the resource-procurement strategies of successional species, and (iii) field experiments on the role of regeneration strategies, establishment microhabitats and nutrient availability in controlling succession. (2) The main study plot was dominated by grasses and forbs during the first year of succession and then by pioneer trees, particularly Vismia spp. Pioneer trees exhibit greatest establishment in protected farm-site microhabitats, such as under fruit trees and among slash. By five years, Vismia mortality exceeded establishment and pioneer trees of the Melastomataceae were growing in the spaces vacated by Vismia. Primary forest species represented only 7% of all stems at this time. (3) The number of tree species ( > 2 m tall) increased from seventeen (year 1) to thirtyfive (year 5). The number of pioneer species remained constant (about twelve) while the primary forest species increased slowly. Nevertheless, most primary forest species were represented by only one individual after five years. (4) A key factor retarding succession is the slow rate at which primary forest species become established on abandoned farms. Diaspores of forest species that were artificially dispersed to a farm site had high rates of removal by animals. However, the probability that the diaspore of a species would escape removal and germinate increased as diaspore size increased. If these diaspores do germinate, they stand a high chance of surviving; seedlings of five forest species transplanted to an abandoned farm showed over 90% survival after 4 5 years. (5) Due to burning and to decomposition of forest wood and root residues, there is a dramatic decline in carbon stocks during slash-and-burn agriculture. After five years of succession, 86% of the plant mass from the pre-existing forest had disappeared from the main study plot. Biomass accumulation during five years of succession only added 38 t ha- '. Total site carbon stocks at five years were well below half of the pre-burn forest stocks. (6) Based on measurements of tree growth and litter production, total above-ground production averaged 1258 g m-2 year- ' over the five-year study period-a value almost identical to that measured for mature forest. Pioneer trees colonizing this site grew 1-2 m
Taxonomy of the Neisseriae: Fatty Acid Analysis, Aminopeptidase Activity, and Pigment Extraction

The cellular fatty acids of reference strains of most of the currently recognized species of Neisseria and Branhamella species were examined. Analysis of fatty acids with chain lengths of over 12 carbons supported the division of the species into two groups. Group I, comprised of N. meningitidis, N. gonorrhoeae, N. flava, N. subflava, N. perflava, N. sicca, N. mucosa, N. lactamica, and N. cinerea, contains methyl laurate, methyl palmitoleate, methyl palmitate, methyl oleate, and, often, methyl myristate as principal fatty acids. Group II, represented oy N. caviae, N. cuniculi, N. ovis, and B. catarrhalis, contains large amounts of a 17-carbon fatty acid with a retention time similar to those of methyl-14, methyl hexadecanoate, methyl heptadecanoate, and, often, methyl stearate in addition to those fatty acids found in group I organisms. The greatest distinction between the two groups was the percentage of major fatty acids with chain lengths greater than 16 carbons. Aminopeptidase activity was most useful in differentiating N. meningitidis from N. gonorrhoeae. N. cuniculi, N. ovis, N. caviae, and B. catarrhalis had similar aminopeptidase reactions. Pigment profiles were of limited taxonomic value but were useful in differentiating between selected pigmented species.
Effects of low-pungency ground mustard seed on oxidative stability, cooking yield, and color characteristics of comminuted pork

Comminuted pork samples were mixed with 0-2% low-pungency found mustard seed (LPGMS) or its extracts. The 2-thiobarbituric acid (TBA) values indicated a strong, concentration-dependent antioxidant activity for LPGMS, equivalent to that of nitrite and common phenolic antioxidants such as TBHQ. The antioxidant effect of an 85% methanolic extract of LPGMS was superior to that of its extracts in absolute methanol or in water. This observation parallels the total content of phenolics in these extracts. The cooling loss of meats treated with 0-2% LPGMS was markedly decreased. Use of LPGMS had no adverse effect on the color of both cured and uncured products, as measured by Hunter L, a, b values, and did not influence their color fading during accelerated light exposure