Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Paropsine beetles (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) in south-eastern Queensland hardwood plantations: identifying potential pest species

Summary Paropsine chrysomelid beetles are significant defoliators of Australian eucalypts. In Queensland, the relatively recent expansion of hardwood plantations has resulted in the emergence of new pest species. Here I identify paropsine beetles collected from Eucalyptus cloeziana Muell. and E. dunnii Maiden, two of the major Eucalyptus species grown in plantations in south-eastern Queensland, and estimate the relative abundance of each paropsine species. Although I was unable to identify all taxa to species level, at least 17 paropsine species were collected, about one-third of which have not been previously associated with hardwood plantations. Paropsis atomaria Olivier and P. charybdis Stål were the most abundant species collected in E. cloeziana plantations, while Chrysophtharta cloelia (Sål) and P. atomaria were most commonly collected from E. dunnii. Occasional collections from Corymbia citriodora (Hook.) Hill and Johns, ssp. variegata revealed an additional four species implicated in plantation damage. Abundance and voltinism varied between species and sites. I predict which paropsine species are likely to threaten plantation productivity.
A cladistic analysis of Erythracarinae (Acarina: Prostigmata: Anystidae), with the description of a new genus

A cladistic analysis of sixty erythracarine species is presented and used to justify recent nomenclatorial changes to the classification of erythracarine genera. Erythracarinae is redescribed, and a new diagnosis for the subfamily and a key to the included genera are presented. Neotarsolarcus is recognized as a junior synonym of Tarsolarkus, which is recorded for the first time from North America. A new genus, Pedidromus, with six new species (P. agitatus sp.n. P. curiosus sp.n., P. durongensis sp.n., P. peliculus sp.n., P. pilotrix sp.n., P. velox sp.n.) is described.
Systematics of new subsocial and solitary Australasian Anelosimus species (Araneae : Theridiidae)

Abstract. Species of the cobweb spider genus Anelosimus range from solitary to subsocial to social, and sociality has evolved repeatedly within the genus. Thus, this genus allows studies of the traits that play a role in social evolution. However, taxonomic knowledge of Anelosimus is geographically narrow and nearly all sociobiological studies have been done in the Americas. Only one behaviourally unknown species has been described from all of Australasia. Here, I describe seven new Anelosimus from Papua New Guinea (Anelosimus potmosbi, sp. nov., Anelosimus pomio, sp. nov., Anelosimus eidur, sp. nov. and Anelosimus luckyi, sp. nov.), Bali (Anelosimus bali, sp. nov.), Australia (Anelosimus pratchetti, sp. nov.) and an unknown locality (Anelosimus terraincognita, sp. nov.), ranging from solitary to subsocial. A phylogenetic analysis supports the inclusion of these species in Anelosimus, and suggests that solitary Papuan species represent a second reversal from subsocial behaviour. Both solitary species inhabit the beachfront, a habitat that appears not to be conducive to social behaviour in spiders. Subsocial species, as in other parts of the world, are found in montane tropical forests of Papua New Guinea, and at relatively high latitudes in Australia. Thus, a global ecological pattern of sociality in Anelosimus is emerging as taxonomic, phylogenetic and ethological knowledge extends beyond the Americas.
Probability of yield response to inoculants in fields with a history of soybean.

Inoculants containing Bradyrhizobium japonicum are available for soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr. ] production but may not be necessary in fields where soybean previously has been produced. The objective of this study was to determine yield response and probability of an economic return from inoculants in fields with a recent history of soybean production. Fifty-one inoculant products were evaluated in experiments (n = 73) conducted in Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, and Wisconsin between 2000 and 2008. Inoculant products were similar and did not produce a yield response relative to an untreated control different from zero (P > 0.05) at 63 environments. Probability for a break-even economic return at a soybean sale price of $0.33 kg -1 was 59% for Nebraska, 36% for Wisconsin, 25% for Minnesota, 25% for Indiana, and 4% for Iowa. Attaining a return on investment of 67 kg ha -1 (a 2:1 return) reduced success to 11, 2, 1, 7, and 0.2%, for the five states, respectively. Data from this range of environments and products indicate that application of an inoculant offers limited success for either a yield increase or improved economic return on soils where soybean has previously been grown in the upper Midwest.
Effect of rainfall and temperature on yield of Vicia sativa under rainfed Mediterranean conditions

The productivity of Vicia sativa grown in rotation with barley under rainfed Mediterranean conditions was examined at two locations over several years (eighteen location × year situations). Rainfall during the growing season ranged from 200 to 500 mm. Vetch relied on indigenous rhizobia for nodulation and N fixation while for phosphorus it was fertilized with 20kgPha−1. Harvesting took place at the beginning of pod formation. The dry matter (DM) yield reached 6·6t ha−1 and the N offtake 215 kg ha−1. The highest yields were obtained when rainfall exceeded the 350 mm level. The N concentration of the forage was not influenced by rainfall or by the productivity of the plants. Yield of DM was related to the number of days of ground frost in January but not in February and March. Monthly minimum and maximum temperature was not related to the DM yield. The combination of monthly rainfall and temperature explained over 95% of the variation in yield.
A general model for the light-use efficiency of primary production

1. Net primary production (NPP) by terrestrial ecosystems appears to be proportional to absorbed photosynthetically active radiation (APAR) on a seasonal and annual basis. This observation has been used in 'diagnostic' models that estimate NPP from remotely sensed vegetation indices. In 'prognostic' process-based models carbon fluxes are more commonly integrated with respect to leaf area index assuming invariant leaf photosynthetic parameters. This approach does not lead to a proportional relationship between NPP and APAR. However, leaf nitrogen content and Rubisco activity are known to vary seasonally and with canopy position, and there is evidence that this variation takes place in such a way as to nearly optimize total canopy net photosynthesis. 2. Using standard formulations for the instantaneous response of leaf net photosynthesis to APAR, we show that the optimized canopy net photosynthesis is proportional to APAR. This theory leads to reasonable values for the maximum (unstressed) light-use efficiency of gross and net primary production of C-3 plants at current ambient CO2, comparable with empirical estimates for agricultural crops and forest plantations. 3. By relating the standard formulations to the Collatz-Farquhar model of photosynthesis, we show that a range of observed physiological responses to temperature and CO2 can be understood as consequences of the optimization. These responses include the CO2 fertilization response and stomatal closure in C-3 plants, the increase of leaf N concentration with decreasing growing season temperature, and the downward acclimation of leaf respiration and N content with increasing ambient CO2. The theory provides a way to integrate diverse experimental observations into a general framework for modelling terrestrial primary production. (Less)
Group Vigilance and Shoal Size in a Small Characin Fish

The relationship between shoal size and group vigilance was investigated in the laboratory using a strongly schooling characin fish, the glowlight tetra (Hemigrammus erythrozonus). Group vigilance, as measured by the probability that at least one fish in the group detected (i.e. exhibited a startle response to) a brief, artificial alarm stimulus, increased curvilinearly at a decelerating rate with increasing shoal size. This would be predicted by the proposed early predator warning function of social groups. The observed relationship between corporate vigilance and shoal size was similar in form to one predicted by a simple signal detection model. However, observed detection probabilities for shoal sizes above 7 fish were lower than expected on the basis of this model, suggesting that an individual's probability of detection was not always independent of shoal size nor of the probabilities of detection of other shoal members. The numbers of tetras in a shoal exhibiting a startle response to an alarm stimulus increased non-linearly with increasing shoal size and exceeded the values predicted by the above mentioned model for the larger shoals, which implies social transmission of the alarm response among shoal members. The importance of the enhanced predator detection ability of fish shoals and the social transmission of alarms within them is discussed in relation to predator avoidance behaviour and other activities of fish in shoals.
Association among aggressiveness, fungal colonization, and mycotoxin production of 26 isolates of Fusarium graminearum in winter rye head blight.

Fusarium graminearum infects winter rye in all growth stages. Twenty-six isolates collected on a worldwide basis were analyzed for aggressiveness for head blight of winter rye, host colonization, measured by ergosterol (ERG), deoxynivalenol (DON) and nivalenol (NIV) production in grain samples at two field locations in 1 year. Both aggressiveness traits, head blight rating and grain weight relative to non-inoculated plots, significantly differed among isolates. Twenty-two isolates produced DON and four isolates NIV in considerable amounts (5.8-72.6 and 4.5-15.8 mg kg -1 , resp.). All DON producers also secreted 3-acetyl DON, 18 of them additionally 15-acetyl DON. Mean aggressiveness was slightly higher for the DON producers. Correlations among head blight rating, relative grain weight, ERG content and DON production were tight (r = 0.8 - 0.9, P = 0.01). ERG content also differed significantly among isolates (34.7-159.1 mg kg -1 ). To evaluate DON production rate of the isolates irrespective of their amount of mycelium within host tissue, the DON/ERG ratio was calculated. This ratio, however, did not correlate with head blight rating and relative grain weight (r = 0.28 and -0.25, resp.) indicating that in the field DON might be not the most important factor of aggressiveness of F graminearum.
Gradient analysis of old spruce – fir forests of the Great Smoky Mountains circa 1935

The response of old-growth spruce – fir vegetation to environmental gradients was investigated using 1930s plot data from the Great Smoky Mountains. Gradients related to forest composition and position of the ecotone with the deciduous forest were identified using canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) and their role in vegetation response to climate change was considered. The data were subsequently stratified into three elevation classes and ordinated separately using CCA to identify gradients at various elevations. The effect of elevation on tree stratum composition and structure was profound. Secondary gradients influencing the tree stratum included slope aspect, potential solar radiation, and topographic position. Abies fraseri basal area and density were high above 1800 m elevation. Comparable basal area levels of Picea rubens were attained at elevations ranging from 1400 to 1900 m. Total stand basal area and density increased with elevation. The importance of topographic position increased with ele.
Effect of Drying on Total Phenolic Compounds, Antioxidant Activity, and Kinetics Decay in Pears

The polyphenols have been identified as food components sensitive to high temperatures; therefore, the application of heat treatments can lead to a significant reduction in the phenolic content and also on antioxidant capacity. The objectives of the present work were to investigate the decrease in total phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity in pears during air drying at different temperatures and to model the kinetics of those variations. The pears (cv. D. Joaquina) were dried at 60°C and 70°C in an electrical drying chamber with hot air at 0.5 m/s. Along drying several samples were collected for analysis, being submitted to multiple extractions with methanol and acetone solutions. The phenolic compounds were determined by the Folin-Ciocalteu method and the antioxidant activity was determined by the ABTS method. The results showed that three successive extractions with methanol followed by three extractions with acetone solution was necessary for an efficient quantification of the total phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity. The decrease along drying was found to be of about 40% for both parameters and for the two temperatures studied. Furthermore, a relatively strong relation was observed between total phenols and antioxidant activity. The mathematical modeling of the kinetics showed that a 3-parameter exponential decay function was the best function to describe the experimental data, and the kinetic constants were found to vary in the range 0.0136–0.0444 min−1.
Disentangling the ‘brown world’ faecal-detritus interaction web:dung beetle effects on soil microbial properties

Many ecosystem services are sustained by the combined action of microscopic and macroscopic organisms, and shaped by interactions between the two. However, studies tend to focus on only one of these two components. We combined the two by investigating the impact of macrofauna on microbial community composition and functioning in the context of a major ecosystem process: the decomposition of dung. We compared bacterial communities of pasture soil and experimental dung pats inhabited by one (Aphodius), two (Aphodius and Geotrupes), or no dung beetle genera. Overall, we found distinct microbial communities in soil and dung samples, and that the communities converged over the course of the experiment. Characterising the soil microbial communities underlying the dung pats revealed a significant interactive effect between the microflora and macrofauna, where the diversity and composition of microbial communities was significantly affected by the presence or absence of dung beetles. The specific identity of the beetles had no detectable impact, but the microbial evenness was lower in the presence of both Aphodius and Geotrupes than in the presence of Aphodius alone. Differences in microbial community composition were associated with differences in substrate usage as measured by Ecoplates. Moreover, microbial communities with similar compositions showed more similar substrate usage. Our study suggests that the presence of macrofauna (dung beetles) will modify the microflora (bacteria) of both dung pats and pasture soil, including community diversity and functioning. In particular, the presence of dung beetles promotes the transfer of bacteria across the soil–dung interface, resulting in increased similarity in community structure and functioning. The results demonstrate that to understand how microbes contribute to the ecosystem process of dung decomposition, there is a need to understand their interactions with larger co-occurring fauna.
Ryanodine Activates Sea Urchin Eggs

We have studied the effect on sea urchin eggs of ryanodine, a plant alkaloid that causes muscle contraction by opening calcium channels in the sarcoplasmic reticulum terminal cisternae. Ryanodine, although it is less effective that IP3, produces full or partial activation in 62% of injected sea urchin eggs. In addition ryanodine inhibits in a dose dependant manner 45Ca pumping in the isolated egg cortex or in eggs permeabilized with digitonin. Efflux experiments show that in fact ryanodine as IP3 stimulates the release of calcium sequestered intracellularly. We further show that these effects of ryanodine are inhibited by Mg++, ruthenium red and heparin. Our results suggest that ryanodine‐sensitive intracellular calcium channels exist in the sea urchin egg.
Refolding of Recombinant Histidine-Tagged Catalytic Domain of MMP-13 from Escherichia coli with Ion-Exchange Chromatography for Higher Bioactivity

The development of inhibitors and medicines for collagenase-3 (MMP-13) as a therapeutic target for the treatment of some diseases such as cancer and arthritis has attracted much interest. A key technology for screening inhibitors and medicines is to obtain the activated recombinant catalytic domain of collagenase-3 (cdMMP-13). In this study, for the first time, a chromatographic method was used to refold the Histidine-tagged (His-tagged) cdMMP-13 (His-cdMMP-13). After the optimization of gradient elution modes and chromatographic conditions, the recovery yield of His-cdMMP-13 reached ∼83% with a relative activity of ∼92%. Both the recovery yield and relative activity of the His-cdMMP-13 were higher than those obtained by dialysis. Finally, to prevent the slight autoproteolytic degradation in the desalting step, different small molecule inhibitors were separately added into the desalting buffer, and the results of circular dichroism (CD) spectral analysis indicate that the addition of inhibitors did not affect the secondary structure of the target protein. The His-cdMMP-13, refolded through chromatography with a good activity, may be used to screen inhibitors and medicines.
Immunocytochemical localization of P0 protein in Golgi complex membranes and myelin of developing rat Schwann cells

P0 protein, the dominant protein in peripheral nervous system myelin, was studied immunocytochemically in both developing and mature Schwann cells. Trigeminal and sciatic nerves from newborn, 7-d, and adult rats were processed for transmission electron microscopy. Alternating 1- micrometer-thick Epon sections were stained with paraphenylenediamine (PD) or with P0 antiserum according to the peroxidase-antiperoxidase method. To localize P0 in Schwann cell cytoplasm and myelin membranes, the distribution of immunostaining observed in 1-micrometer sections was mapped on electron micrographs of identical areas found in adjacent thin sections. The first P0 staining was observed around axons and/or in cytoplasm of Schwann cells that had established a 1:1 relationship with axons. In newborn nerves, staining of newly formed myelin sheaths was detected more readily with P0 antiserum than with PD. Myelin sheaths with as few as three lamellae could be identified with the light microscope. Very thin sheaths often stained less intensely and part of their circumference frequently was unstained. Schmidt-Lanterman clefts found in more mature sheaths also were unstained. As myelination progressed, intensely stained myelin rings became much more numerous and, in adult nerves, all sheaths were intensely and uniformly stained. Particulate P0 staining also was observed in juxtanuclear areas of Schwann cell cytoplasm. It was most prominent during development, then decreased, but still was detected in adult nerves. The cytoplasmic areas stained by P0 antiserum were rich in Golgi complex membranes.
Exploring Ecology's Attic: Overlooked Ideas On Intertidal Food Webs

While the above statement could preface reviews on any subject in ecology, it lacks two additional, interrelated cautions. First, both the current status of a subject and prevalent opinion may not be products of all relevant past research, if ecologists do not seek out those valid and useful findings that were previously reported but are presently overlooked. Second, when research is overlooked, rigorous testing of past ideas is precluded and the potential for restating former findings is great. These concerns extend beyond ecology and were summarized by the psychologist Wolfgang Köhler in 1913:
Evaluation of fungicides for the control of powdery mildew disease in coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.).

Six fungicides were evaluated at Raigarh (Chhattisgarh), for the control of powdery mildewdisease of coriander (Coriandrum sativum), caused by Erysiphe polygoni. All the fungicides re-duced the disease severity significantly, over control, with maximum reduction inhexaconazole (0.1%) that was on par with propiconazole (0.1%) and wettable sulfur (0.3%). Yield of coriander was higher 2.54, 2.00 and 2.20 times, over control, in hexaconazole (0.1%),propiconazole (0.1%) and wettable sulfur (0.3%), respectively. Cost-benefit ratio was 1:5.3,1:4.0 and 1:4.5 in hexaconazole (0.1%), propiconazole (0.1%) and wettable sulfur (0.3%),respectively.
Characterization of induced resistance in tomato plants

We have characterized, using several types of bioassays, the resistance induced in young tomato plants by feeding of the corn earworm, Helicoverpa zea. Beet armyworm larvae, Spodoptera exigua, and leafminers, Liriomyza trifolii, were used to assay the induced resistance. In whole‐plant experiments, damage localized to a single leaflet of four‐leaf tomato plants induced a systemic increase in resistance such that beet armyworm larvae confined to previously damaged (induced) plants grew at a rate about half that of larvae raised on control plants and consumed less leaf tissue from induced plants than from control plants. In experiments using excised leaves, beet armyworm larvae suffered increased mortality when reared on leaves from induced plants. The strength of this induced resistance varied spatially relative to the damaged position; moreover, the spatial distribution of induced resistance changed over a three‐week period following damage. Other experiments demonstrated that the mechanism of induced resistance in tomato foliage involves both a decrease in larval preference for and a decrease in the nutritional value of induced foliage. Induction also retarded the oviposition and/or early development of leafminers. Thus, induced resistance has relatively severe effects on the biology of subsequent herbivores. These data should allow us to begin to elucidate cause‐effect relationships between induced resistance and induced chemistry in tomato plants.
Genetic diversity and population structure of pencil yam (Vigna lanceolata) (Phaseoleae, Fabaceae), a wild herbaceous legume endemic to Australia, revealed by microsatellite markers

Pencil yam (Vigna lanceolata Benth.) (Phaseoleae, Fabaceae) is a herbaceous legume endemic to Australia. A previous morphological study suggested that pencil yam is a complex species of two or more related taxa with seven distinct morphological types (morphotypes) and, thus, taxonomic revision is necessary. In this study, we assessed genetic diversity and determined the genetic structure of a pencil yam collection of 62 accessions from seven morphotypes using 18 microsatellite (simple sequence repeat) markers with the aim to provide information for taxonomic study. In total, 138 alleles were detected with a mean of 7.67 alleles per locus. Polymorphism information content per marker varied between 0.06 and 0.90 with a mean of 0.61, while the overall gene diversity was 0.62. Bayesian clustering, principal coordinate, and neighbor-joining analyses consistently revealed that these accessions are grouped into two subpopulations with difference in number of alleles, allelic richness, and gene diversity. The pop.