Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Seagrass patch size and survivorship of an infaunal bivalve

In nature, seagrass beds can occur as a mosaic of differently sized patches in a matrix of unvegetated sediments. While continuous, extensive seagrass meadows are recognized for their importance in providing refuge for a variety of organisms, the refuge potential of smaller (1-10 m across) vegetated patches has not been widely investigated. The degree of protection afforded by small seagrass patches may vary with patch size due to changes in edge to interior ratios and/or changes in plant characteristics. In mark-recapture experiments conducted at three separate sites, survivorship (i.e., those not lost to predation) of juvenile hard clams (Mercenaria mercenaria) varied among sites and increased with the areal extent of natural seagrass cover at all sites. At least 40% more clams were recovered live from one site than from the other two sites. Twice as many clams were recovered live from large patches of seagrass (5-10 m across) than from small (ca 1 m across), 18 times more were recovered live from large patches than from unvegetated sediments, and approximately eight times as many were recovered live from small patches than from unvegetated sediments. These patterns in clam survivorship were positively, but not significantly, correlated to patterns in below-ground biomass and shoot density among sites and seagrass patch-size treatments. When below-ground biomass and overall shoot density were held constant by using artificial seagrass mats there was no significant difference in the proportion of clams recovered live between 1 x 2 m and 4 x 4 m patches of seagrass. These results suggest that the refuge potential of natural patches of seagrass for infaunal prey species changes with patch size due to differences in the structural characteristics of the vegetation, not changes in the areal extent of the habitat.
Natural mortality of marine invertebrate larvae

Abstract Planktonic marine invertebrate embryos and larvae lead transitory lives of great risk and grave uncertainty. Estimation of the magnitude of risk and mortality, however presents a formidable challenge. Three methods are currently in use to estimate levels of mortality among populations of marine invertebrate larvae: 1) theoretical models where rates of instantaneous mortality are correlated with other life history parameters, 2) estimation of mortality based on laboratory observations of predator-prey interactions and 3) analysis of relationships among gamete production, larval populations, and densities of post-larvae in the field. Theoretical exercises indicate that rates of larval mortality are correlated with duration of the planktonic period, and that differences in mortality rates may be offset by differences in egg size and fecundity. Results from laboratory investigations suggest that mortality rates change with larval size or age. Attempts to monitor cohorts of larvae in the plankton offe.
Including mark-recapture data into a spatial age- structured model: walleye pollock (Theragra chalcogramma) in the eastern Bering Sea

Integrated assessment models used to evaluate fish stocks are becoming increasingly complex, with some capable of incorporating spatial considerations. Such a model has been developed to estimate movement of walleye pollock (Theragra chalcogramma) between the northwestern and southeastern eastern Bering Sea. In this study, we investigate the feasibility of estimating movement using spatially disaggregated data supplemented by tagging data. Monte Carlo simulation was used to test accuracy and variability of parameter estimation in model scenarios with and without tagging information. Total biomass estimates for models with and without tagging data were unbiased, but uncertainty was smaller when tagging data were available. Uncertainty was also reduced in regional biomass and movement parameters when including tagging data. Our findings indicate that tagging information would be important to provide reliable spatially explicit fisheries management advice for eastern Bering Sea pollock.
Leaf Structural Peculiarities in Sarcopoterium spinosum, a Seasonally Dimorphic Subshrub

Extensive investigations on the anatomy of the two leaf types in a seasonally dimorphic subshrub revealed interesting variations between summer and winter leaves. Summer leaves of Sarcopoterium spinosum possess a thick epidermis composed of tannin-containing cells and large amounts of mucilage secreted through the inner periclinal walls towards the mesophyll
Disentangling the heritable and plastic components of the competitive and facilitative effects of an alpine foundation species

Differences in effects between phenotypes of foundation species on subordinate species have been reported, but no study has separated their heritable and plastic components. In a subalpine community of the French Pyrenees, we observed two phenotypes of Festuca gautieri: tight cushions in dry convex outcrops with few subordinate species and loose cushions in wet concave slopes with many subordinate species, suggesting differences in effects of the two phenotypes on subordinates. Using two reciprocal transplantation gardens, we studied the responses of the two phenotypes to changes in environmental conditions, thus assessing the contribution of heritability and plasticity to the phenotypic variation. Using a target cross‐transplantation experiment, we assessed the plasticity and heritability bases of their contrasting effects. We also quantified the recolonization of resident plants within the reciprocally transplanted cushions. We found that morphological differences between cushions had both heritability and plasticity bases. The two competition experiments showed heritable increase in competitive effects from loose to tight cushions. This was counteracted by plasticity effects, which decreased competition from the benign to the stressful garden. Synthesis. We conclude that heritable effects overcome plasticity effects resulting in higher diversity in the loose phenotype from the benign habitats.
Nanodiamond particles induce I1-8 expression through a transcript stabilization mechanism in human airway epithelial cells

Nanodiamond particles (NDP) prepared by detonational processes have a number of industrial and analytical applications. Previous in vitro studies have reported NDP to be biologically inert with negligible cytotoxicity, implying that they are potentially suitable for novel drug delivery applications. Separate studies, however, have shown that elemental carbon particles, a material closely related to NDP, can induce inflammatory responses in the lung. To assess the potential toxicity of exposure to NDP, we examined its effects on IL-8 expression by human airway epithelial cells (HAEC) in vitro. Four-hour exposures of HAEC to 66 µg/ml NDP resulted in IL-8 mRNA increases up to 70-fold over control levels and were accompanied by up to 14-fold increases in IL-8 protein levels in the media. Adenoviral overexpression of catalase significantly reduced NDP-induced IL-8 mRNA expression in HAEC. Interestingly, exposure to NDP did not increase IL-8 transcriptional activity, as measured with the use of IL-8 promoter reporter constructs. Rather, NDP treatment was found to markedly increase the half-life of IL8-mRNA transcripts in HAEC. These findings show a pronounced increase in the expression of IL-8 in HAEC, suggesting that NDP inhalation can cause inflammatory responses in the human lung.
Potential adaptation of a Q biotype whitefly population from poinsettia to field crops

Abstract The invasive Q biotype whitefly was first detected in the US on poinsettia in 2004 and is still not a pest outside of greenhouse environments in the US. To assess the potential for the establishment of the Q biotype on field crops, population cage experiments were conducted to compare the performance of a poinsettia‐derived Q population named P’06 on poinsettia and six field crops (alfalfa, tomato, melon, cotton, cowpea and cabbage). P’06 adults reared on poinsettia as nymphs laid eggs on all six field crops. Significantly more eggs were laid on alfalfa, tomato, melon and cotton than on cabbage, cowpea and poinsettia. These eggs hatched and the nymphs developed to adults on the six field crops. Relative to poinsettia, whitefly survival was similar on cowpea, alfalfa, tomato and cabbage, but significantly higher on cotton and melon. Moreover, P’06 had significantly shorter development times from egg to adult on cotton, melon, cowpea, tomato and alfalfa than they did on poinsettia. However, the F1 adults raised on the six field crops had significantly shorter lifespans and laid 11‐ to 18‐fold fewer eggs than did the F1 adults raised on poinsettia. Taken together, while P’06 may have some potential to establish on field crops, the shorter lifespans and extremely low fecundities of the F1 adults raised on the six field crops suggests that P’06 is incapable of rapidly adapting to them. Poor adaptation to field crops may explain, at least partially, why the Q biotype has not established in the US field system.
Changes in latitude, changes in attitude: a perspective on ecophysiological studies of Australian birds

Abstract Ecophysiological studies of Australian native birds are relatively rare and have tended to focus on adaptations of birds to extreme environments. Much of this research over the last century has followed ornithological trends originating overseas, with the Australian avifauna being examined in the context of adaptations identified in Northern Hemisphere birds. This approach is clearly seen by the earlier research examining arid adaptations in Australian birds. These studies have largely supported existing theory, with recognition that many birds are preadapted for arid environments. Ironically, one of the unusual features repeatedly mentioned about certain old-endemic Australian birds, namely flexible breeding, was identified early in the past century, but received scant attention from reproductive biologists. Given the likely Gondwanan origin of Passeriformes and the wide range of habitats currently occupied by Australian birds, ecophysiological studies of Australian avifauna have tremendous potential to reveal how animal—environment interactions have shaped the range of breeding and physiological characteristics seen in passerines worldwide. As importantly, such studies are urgently needed to understand the ecological requirements of extant species with a view to better manage anthropogenic encroachment.
Potential Biofumigation Effects of Brassica oleracea var. caulorapa on Growth of Fungi

Biofumigation, as an environment-friendly alternative to methyl bromide is gaining attention in sustainable agricultural production systems. Based on the biofumigation suppression of growth of three soil-borne filamentous fungi (Fusarium sp., F. oxysporum and P. aphanidermatum), Brassica oleracea var. caulorapa was selected from eight Brassica and other plant species as a potential material for the purpose. Powdered tissues of plants were confined to individual Petri dishes without physical contact with each of the following 28 fungal isolates from 16 hosts: 13 Fusarium spp. , two Verticillium dahliae, two Ceratocystis fimbriata, Bipolaris sorokiniana, Gaeumannomyces graminis, Ceratobasidium cornigerum, Rhizotonia cerealis, Phytophthora parasitica, Phytophthora capsici, Botrytis cinerea, two Rhizoctonia solani, Sclerotinia sclerotiorum and Magnaporthe grisea. The level of suppression of growth 7 days after inoculation varied. Based on growth suppression, the 28 isolates were grouped into three clusters by Fuzzy clustering: Cluster I contains F. proliferatum with 20.5% suppression, Cluster II composed of 15 isolates, Fusarium sp. , two V. dahliae, two C. fimbriata, B. sorokiniana, C. cornigerum, two R. solani, R. cerealis, S. sclerotiorum, P. parasitica and M. grisea, with 75.2–100% suppression and Cluster III consisted of 12 isolates; five F. oxysporum, F. solani, F. azysporum, F. moniliforme, F. graminearum, F. verticillioides, G. graminis, P. capsici with 40.7–66.2% suppression. Ceratobasidium fimbriata and V. dahliae were more sensitive to biofumigation than S. sclerotiorum and F. culmorum when different amounts of ground powder were used. One gram of powder could suppress the growth of the former two up to 68.6% and 68.7%, but the growth suppression in the latter two by 12.7% and 24.0%, respectively. These results indicated that the amount of plant tissue to be used should be considered depending on target pathogen species. The swollen root of B. oleracea var. botrytis appeared a better material than the leaf for achieving suppression of growth in pathogenic fungi.
Changes in land use and physiological transitions of a Juniperus thurifera forest: from decline to recovery

Forest decline is frequently associated with infection; however, infections habitually affect trees that have been previously debilitated by environmental stress. Nevertheless, the causes and physiology of noninfectious forest decline are not well known. Some Juniperus thurifera L. forests presented severe (noninfectious) declines, with defoliations over 50%. The goal of this study was to determine the causes and characterize the physiology of this noninfectious decline, and we hypothesized that it could be related to environmental stress from increasing interspecific competition resulting from land abandonment. We randomly assigned 60 trees to either a control group or one of two competition-release treatments, i.e., vegetation clearing or soil ploughing. We characterized the physiological state of the trees both before treatment application and 14 months after treatment application. The J. thurifera trees that were declining experienced significantly lower soil nutrient and water availability, which res.
Liana Abundance Patterns: The Role of Ecological Filters during Development

We studied three different size classes of liana abundance representing proxies for three different life stages and aimed to identify the sequence of ecological filters that have led to current patterns of liana abundance. We tested the relationship between vegetation structure (including antagonistic support types) and soil texture on liana abundance, using 40 plots (1 and 0.25 ha) set at least 1 km apart, and distributed over 64 km2 in a Central Amazonian terra firme forest. Three support types were considered: palms, thin trees and an index of vegetation structure. Liana size classes responded hierarchically to ecological filters: larger size classes were progressively less associated with the environmental variables, while different aspects of vegetation structure were related to individual size classes. This hierarchical pattern suggests that selection mechanisms change throughout liana life cycles. Our results show that vegetation structure is an important predictor of liana abundance at a mesoscale and highlights the importance of considering the spatial structure in studies of tropical liana communities.
A nocturnal Provespa wasp species as the probable pollinator of epiphytic orchid Coelogyne fimbriata

Many vespid wasps visit flowers to forage nectar. These hymenopterans sometimes contribute to flower pollination. However, none of the nocturnal wasp species is a known pollinator. We collected individuals of light‐attracted Provespa nocturna workers in a montane rainforest on Peninsular Malaysia: some wasps collected bore orchid pollinia on their thoraxes. Among 114 trapped individuals, four bore pollinaria and nine bore only viscidia, suggesting that pollinia had been successfully transported. Molecular barcoding of the pollinia (based on their ITS sequences) assigned the orchid to a species in Coelogyne fimbriata complex. These findings and our other analyses suggest that this nocturnal wasp contributes to pollination of an epiphytic nectarless orchid that probably releases olfactory attractants. This discovery sheds light on the importance of mutualistic relationships between the nocturnal social wasps and epiphytic orchids in Southeast Asian tropical rainforest canopies.
Selecting Common Bean with Genes of Different Evolutionary Origins for Resistance to Xanthomonas campestris pv. phaseoli

Common bacterial blight (CBB) is an important seed-borne disease of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.). Low levels of resistance occur in the common and scarlet runner bean (Phaseolus coccineus L.), with higher levels available in the tepary bean (Phaseolus acutifolius A. Gray). Germplasm lines with CBB resistance separately from each of the three Phaseolus species and pyramided resistance are available. The objectives of this study were to: (i) determine the main and interaction effects of two isolates of Xanthomonas campestris pv. phaseoli (Xcp), one from Colorado and one from Wisconsin, and their inoculum densities with CBB resistance from the three species separately and pyramided; and (ii) identify the most useful germplasm for breeding for resistance. Thirty-one genotypes were evaluated at 14 and 21 d after inoculation (DAI) using two inoculum densities in 2005 and three in 2006 of each of the two Xcp isolates. Large differences in response to Colorado and Wisconsin Xcp isolates, densities, and evaluation time were observed. The resistance derived from the three species separately was not effective against the aggressive Wisconsin Xcp isolate at higher densities ≥10 8 , especially at 21 DAI. Resistance pyramided with the tepary bean was the most effective. No crossover interactions were observed between the 31 common bean germplasm sources and the two Xcp isolates at any density and evaluation date. Use of only pyramided resistance for breeding is advised.
Cognitive Ecology of Pollination: The effect of variation among floral traits on the flower constancy of pollinators

The interaction between floral traits and pollinator behavior has been an important force in the coevolution of plants and their animal pollinators. An element of conflict underlies this interaction because the ideal behavior of the pollinator from the plant’s point of view may often diverge from that dictated by the pollinator’s own self-interest. Because of their immobility, outcrossed plants require a reliable courier that has a high probability of placing their pollen where it has a chance of fertilizing a conspecific ovule. Pollen finding an inappropriate stigma is effectively wasted, and deposition of heterospecific pollen may block receptive sites on the stigma and reduce seed set (e.g., Waser 1978, 1983; Thomson et al. 1981; Campbell & Motten 1985). Thus, plants should benefit if pollinators tend to move sequentially among flowers of the same species, a pattern that an optimally foraging pollinator should rarely adopt unless energetic returns from one plant species regularly exceed those from a mixed diet of some or all of the flower species available. More often, pollinators distribute themselves in an ideal free pattern across resources (Dreisig 1995), thereby minimizing differences in rewards among many different plant species, a pattern that should make generalist foraging the best option. Yet pollinators often sequentially visit the flowers of one species even though they are bypassing flowers of other available, rewarding plant species (e.g., Grant 1950; Manning 1957; Free 1970; Waser 1983, 1986; Lewis 1989; Goulson & Cory 1993; Laverty 1994b). This “flower constant” foraging behavior has been described in many taxa, primarily honeybees (e.g., Wells & Wells 1986; Hill et al. 1997), bumble bees (e.g., Free 1970; Heinrich et al. 1977), and butterflies (Lewis 1986), but also more recently in solitary bees (Gross 1992), beetles (De Los Mozas Pascual & Domingo 1991), and dipterans (Goulson & Wright 1998).
Variations in overwintering depth distributions of Calanus finmarchicus in the slope waters of the NW Atlantic continental shelf and the Labrador Sea

Vertical depth distributions of Calanus finmarchicus were examined in autumn and winter (2001–2003) for the slope and offshore waters of the Canadian Atlantic continental shelf from the south Labrador Shelf in the north to the southwestern tip of the Scotian Shelf in the south as well as along sections across the Labrador Sea and in Cabot Strait. A total of 324 samples were collected at 53 stations that ranged over ~19 degrees of latitude and ~17 degrees of longitude. Calanus finmarchicus populations in the subsurface layers (depths >100 or 200 m) were dominated (>90%) by CV copepodites off the western Scotian Shelf, in Cabot Strait, the central Newfoundland slope waters and the Labrador Sea. Along the slope between Flemish Pass and the eastern Scotian Shelf CVs made up 60–80% of the population in autumn and 80–86% in winter, with accompanying CIVs being replaced by CVs and adults between autumn and winter. CVs were deepest off the Greenland Shelf (70% below 1 000 m) and shallowest in Cabot Strait (80% in the 100–300 m interval; bottom depth ~450 m). Overwintering depth intervals were generally broad and covered large ranges of temperature and salinity. There were relatively high concentrations (>15 m-3) of late stage (CIV–CVI) C. finmarchicus in the surface layers in the Cabot Strait region in autumn (2003) and in the slope waters off St. Pierre Bank (south Newfoundland Shelf) in winter (2003). These were probably the result of late seasonal production in the Gulf of St. Lawrence and Cabot Strait region, or on the Newfoundland Shelf where vertical ring net tows indicated high numbers (>10 000 m-2) of C. finmarchicus at stations upstream of the St. Pierre Bank sampling area. The vertical distribution data from winter 2003 suggest that transport of overwintering animals around the Tail of the Grand Bank where water depths are >1 000 m and southwestwards along the Scotian shelf break was limited, and that populations along the slope between the NW Grand Bank and the eastern Scotian Shelf had important local sources. There was also evidence of northeasterly transport of overwintering CVs from the western Scotian Shelf to the central Scotian Shelf slope waters between October and December 2003.
Effects of copper on immune system parameters of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

Aricultural, urban, industrial, and mining sources release metals into waterways. The effects of sublethal concentrations of metals on integrated physiological processes in fish, such as immunocompetency, are not well understood. The objective of this study was to determine the physiological effects of a range of sublethal copper concentrations (6.4, 16.0, and 26.9 μg Cu/L) on Shasta‐strain rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) exposed in soft water. Trout were sampled after 3, 7, 14, and 21 d of exposure to copper. The percentage of monocytes was consistently elevated at 26.9 μg Cu/L, and the percentage of lymphocytes was decreased. A consistent increase in the percentage of neutrophils occurred at 26.9 and 6.4 μg Cu/L. Respiratory burst activity was decreased for all concentrations at all sampling days, but a significant reduction occurred only at 14 and 21 d of exposure to copper. B‐like cell proliferation was decreased by exposure to the higher copper concentrations. Proliferation results, however, had high variability. T‐like cell proliferation and phagocytosis were not altered. Hepatic copper concentration was consistently elevated in trout exposed to 26.9 μg Cu/L; no correlation was found between hepatic copper concentration and the immune system responses investigated. Consistent alterations in immunological parameters suggest that these parameters could serve as indicators of chronic metal toxicity in natural systems.