Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Resource partitioning and asymmetric competition between sympatric freshwater and Omono types of ninespine stickleback, Pungitius pungitius

The freshwater and Omono types of ninespine stickleback, Pungitius pungitius (L., 1758), coexist in several ponds and a stream in the Omono River system, Japan. We tested the hypothesis that coexistence of the two types is accomplished by resource partitioning through interspecific competition. First, the stomach contents of the two types were compared between sympatric and allopatric populations: the stomach contents of the sympatric freshwater type consisted of almost all Copepoda, whereas those of the sympatric Omono type consisted of not only Copepoda, but also many large benthic invertebrates; the stomach contents of both allopatric types were similar, consisting of Copepoda and large benthic invertebrates. Second, behaviour related to resource use in a sympatric pond was observed in the nonbreeding season: the freshwater type showed little aggressive behaviour, but the Omono type had a high frequency of aggressive behaviour. These results indicate that the sympatric freshwater type does not hold a f.
Megabenthic biodiversity in two contrasting submarine canyons on Australia's southern continental margin

Abstract Submarine canyons are known to play an important role in enhancing productivity in adjacent surface waters, but their influence on the seabed fauna is poorly understood. Here we examine environmental conditions in two canyons with contrasting topographies, and evaluate their relative importance in structuring benthic megafaunal assemblages. Samples of benthic megafauna, sediment and water were collected from five sites at du Couedic Canyon (100–1500 m) and six sites at Bonney Canyon (100–2000 m) off South Australia. Sessile suspension-feeding organisms (primarily sponges, molluscs and cnidarians) dominated samples and comprised 97% of the biomass and 77% of the total species richness (184 spp.). Megabenthic biomass and species richness broadly declined with increasing depth in both canyons, but was markedly higher at du Couedic Canyon in an area subject to organically enriched seasonal outflows from Spencer Gulf. Multivariate analyses showed a strong environmental gradient running perpendicular to the coast in both canyons, and highlighted a progressive shift in species composition. Three station groupings were identified on the shelf (100–200 m), upper slope (500 m) and mid slope (1000–2000 m). These community groupings were largely explained by depth and dissolved oxygen concentration and coincided with depth-related discontinuities in water masses on Australia's southern continental margin.
Pre‐emergent herbicidal activity of some substituted amides and related compounds

A number of series of related aliphatic and aromatic amides have been examined as pre-emergent herbicides in both laboratory and greenhouse tests using wheat, cabbage and rye-grass as test plants. Some of these compounds were found to show specific activities at low dosage rates. Rates of hydrolysis of certain of the compounds were determined and the activity of the parent acids in standard tests for plant growth regulating activity was assessed. No general relationship could be drawn between pre-emergent herbicidal activity and chemical structure although the importance of ortho substitution in the benzamide and phenylacetamide series was established. In some cases selectivity was found to be greatly affected by slight structural modifications. o-Chlorophenylacetamide, for example, was markedly effective against cabbage at 10 lb. /acre but not against wheat, whereas the opposite type of selectivity was shown by its NN-dimethyl-analogue. These two compounds and o-chlorobenzamide and o-toluamide were further examined elsewhere using a wider range of crop plants and weeds and useful selective herbicidal properties were found. It is suggested that some of the compounds might well be examined further under field conditions.
Methanogen Diversity in Deep Subsurface Gas-Associated Water at the Minami-Kanto Gas Field in Japan

Methanogen diversity and methanogenic potential in formation water obtained from the Minami-kanto gas field in Japan were investigated by using 16S rRNA gene libraries and culture-based enrichment methods, respectively. This region is the largest gas field that produces natural gases of dissolved-in-water type in Japan. Although the microbial population density was below statistical quantification limits (1 × 104 cells ml−1), autofluorescent coccoid and rod-shaped cells indicative of methanogens were observed. The represented genera in the archaeal 16S rRNA genes libraries were comprised of Methanobacterium, Methanospirillum, Methanocalculus, Methanococcus, Methanolobus and Methanosaeta. The dominant archaeal sequences were related to the hydrogenotrophic methanogens in the genus Methanobacterium. Of the methanogenic substrates tested using the formation water-based medium,H2-CO2 yielded the highest methane production. These results strongly suggest that the formation water of the Pleistocene strata in the gas fields harbor viable hydrogenotrophic methanogens and have possibly been making a contribution to ongoing methanogenesis.
Phytosociology and ecology of a humid Afromontane forest on the Central Plateau of Ethiopia

This paper describes an analysis of the floristic composition and ecological relationships of the Jibat forest, a large remnant humid forest in western Shewa, Ethiopia. The description was based on cover-abundance data for both woody and understorey species. The environmental analysis included altitude, slope, aspect, and physical and chemical soil properties. The application of classification and ordination methods resulted in the recognition of eight community types, which could be arranged along an altitudinal gradient. Organic matter, cation exchange capacity, phosphorus, and silt are positively correlated, while clay, electrical conductance and magnesium are negatively correlated with altitude. A clearer result was obtained when Canonical Correspondence Analysis was applied only to the woody species composition.
Diet Ecology of Yellow Bass, Morone mississippiensis, in an Oxbow of the Mississippi River

ABSTRACT The yellow bass (Morone mississippiensis) is native to the Mississippi River drainage and some adjacent Gulf of Mexico tributaries where it inhabits backwaters, oxbows, and reservoirs. We described the diet ecology of yellow bass in an oxbow of the lower Mississippi River, assessed differences in diets between life stages, and measured diet overlap between yellow bass and coexisting species. Indices of diet breadth differed among age groups, with the diet of age-1 yellow bass being more specialized than that of larger fish. Although the yellow bass consumed a wide array of food items, it tended to rely on certain foods during different life stages. Age-1 yellow bass fed on chironomids, amphipods, and fish eggs, which accounted for 84% of the diet by weight. Age-2+ yellow bass consumed fish, fish eggs, amphipods, and benthic insects, which was over 70% of the diet by weight. Diet overlap was not significant (P > 0.20) between age-1 and age-2+ yellow bass, or between age-1 yellow bass and age-0 lar.
Laboratory evaluation of the toxic properties of forest anchomanes, Anchomanes difformis against pulse beetle Callosobruchus maculatus (Coleoptera: Bruchidae)

Abstract Laboratory experiments were carried out to investigate the efficacy of crude stem extracts of forest anchomanes, Anchomanes difformis (P. Beauv.) a plant occurring in West African forests, against the pulse beetle Callosobruchus maculatus (Fabricius). Crude stem extracts at 3% concentration showed high contact toxicity to adult beetles within 24 h after application, while it was moderately toxic to the beetles at the lowest (1%) concentration. At the highest application rate, the plant extract provided good protection to grains stored for 90 days. Grain viability and water absorption capacity were not affected by treatments with ethanol extracts of A. difformis. The significance of these findings is discussed in relation to biopesticide‐means of controlling cowpea bruchids.
Impact of long-term continuous soybean cropping on ammonia oxidizing bacteria communities in the rhizosphere of soybean in Northeast China

Continuous cropping can be a serious problem in Chinese soybean production. This can result in yield reduction, root diseases, and changes in microbial community structure. We studied community structure, clone libraries, and abundance of ammonia oxidizing bacteria (AOB) in soybean fields there were in continuous soybean production for up to 17 years (SC17). Results showed that the potential nitrification rate (PNR) and amoA gene abundance of soybean in continuous cultivation for seven years (SC7) was 0.34 µg NO3− g−1 and 4.71 × 10−5 amoA gene copies/g dry soil, respectively. These values were lower than other treatments. Phylogenetic affiliation analysis based on blast results of amoA gene clone sequencing showed that the sequences belonged to seven clusters: Cluster 1, Cluster 3b, Cluster 3a.1, Cluster 3a.2, Cluster 9, Cluster 10, and Cluster 4. Correlation of AOB community compositions with environmental factors was performed using canonical correspondence analysis (CCA). Results indicated that the composition of AOB communities in maize–soybean (MS) rotation and continuous cropping of soybean for two years (SC2) were positively related to the PNR of soil, soil moisture, and soil total nitrogen content. Soybean fields continuously cropped for 11 years (SC11) and SC7 fields had AOB community compositions that were negatively related to these factors. The AOB community composition of SC17 was positively correlated to the soil total carbon content of soil. The results in this study indicate that the potential activity and abundance of AOB community in soil significantly changed after seven years continuous cropping compared to other continuous cropping intervals. Cropping systems have important effect on the diversity of functional microorganisms and associated nitrogen cycles.
Non-volatile components effects on quality of "Serrano" dry-cured ham as related to processing time

Following long dry-curing periods, Spanish “Serrano” ham develops a specific “dry-cured ham” flavor. To determine the effects of length of curing on flavor generation, replicate hams were processed for 7 or 12 mo prior to amino acid, peptide, and flavor evaluation by reverse phase HPLC, capillary zone electrophoresis, and sensory analysis, respectively. Generation of dry-cured and pork flavors correlated with the accumulation of amino acids. The relation of these components with sensory descriptors was examined by factor analysis. Results indicated that combinations and proportions of taste-active components produced the specific dry-cured flavor characteristic rather than an accumulation of any single flavor component.
Fate of compatible solutes during dilution stress in Ectothiorhodospira halochloris

Ectothiorhodospira halochloris reacts upon enhancement of the water activity in the environment by excreting its major compatible solute, glycine betaine, thus decreasing the osmotic pressure inside the cell. A suddenly induced dilution stress leads to an overshoot of this reaction, so that more glycine betaine than necessary to compensate the external osmotic change is released. Subsequently the cells take up glycine betaine until they reach osmotic balance with the medium. E. halochloris possesses an active transport system that allows an uptake of glycine betaine against a concentration gradient. Glycine betaine is not metabolized in E. halochloris. Ectoine, a minor compatible solute of E. halochloris, is excreted in a similar manner to that of glycine betaine during dilution stress, whereas no excretion of the third compatible solute, trehalose, was detected.
Temporal changes in the egglaying behaviour of the Hessian fly

Responses of mated female Hessian flies were investigated by analysing the behaviour of individual flies in wheat and oats. The behavioural repertoire of such females included: flying, alighting on leaves, arching of the body so that the tip of the abdomen touched the leaf surface, antennation, movements of the tip of the abdomen across the leaf at right angles to leaf veins, sitting with the ovipositor straight but still extended, and sitting with the ovipositor telescoped into the body. After alighting, females on wheat showed a higher frequency of transitions from arching to antennation and a lower frequency of transitions from arching to abdomen straight than females on oats. During the first 5 min of observations, individuals released into arenas with wheat arched and antennated 2–3 times more frequently than females released into oats. Time allotted to behaviours also differed; during the first 5 min, females in wheat spent 50 percent more time arching, whereas females in oats spent 50 percent more time sitting. Females in wheat also stayed longer and laid 4 times more eggs than females in oats. Temporal changes in egglaying were monitored by quantifying hourly rates of egglaying in no‐choice assays for several hours following mating at 9:00 am. During the first and second hours post‐mating, egglaying occurred infrequently. However, during the third hour post‐mating (11:00 am to noon) females on wheat laid 5 times more eggs than females on oats. Rates of egglaying decreased on wheat but increased on oats during the fourth hour, and then during the fifth hour, decreased on both wheat and oats. Changes in egglaying responses were also evident when behaviours of individual females were measured 1–3 h vs. 3–7 h post‐mating. Females deprived of host plants and released into wheat or oats later in the day showed higher frequencies of arching and antennation and laid more eggs before leaving the arena.
The nutritional value of broad beans for laying hens

1. Three trials were conducted to study the influence of diets containing between 40 and 550 g broad bean (Vicia faba, Major) meal/kg on performance, egg quality and pancreas characteristics of White Leghorn hens. 2. The effect of broad beans on performance depended on the dietary content. Up to 100 g/kg did not affect productivity. Contents higher than 200 g/kg depressed egg weight (P<0.05). At 550 g/kg, food intake, egg weight and rate of egg production decreased but efficiency of food conversion was not impaired. 3. At 550 g/kg broad beans caused an increase in albumen density (P < 0.01). Broad beans did not affect shell thickness. 4. The size, weight, moisture content and histology of the pancreas were not affected by broad bean intake.
MIXED‐STOCK ANALYSIS OF ATLANTIC COD NEAR THE GULF OF ST. LAWRENCE BASED ON MICROSATELLITE DNA

The collapse of various stock complexes of cod (Gadus morhua) in the northwest Atlantic has prompted a clarification of relationships among stock components. Here we examine the genetic composition of >2300 cod collected during 1994-1997 in the Gulf of St. Lawrence and its approaches to determine whether: (1) stock components can be genetically identified; (2) population structure is temporally stable; (3) components are always separated and, if not, where and when are they mixed; and (4) component contributions to mixtures can be estimated. We use polymorphism at six microsatellite DNA loci from cod collected on or near their spring and summer spawning grounds to examine structure and then employ maximum likelihood analyses to estimate contributions of each component to mixtures overwintering near the entrance to the Gulf. Estimates of genetic structure (FST and RST) reveal significant differences among cod populations during stock- separated periods, and the structure appears to be temporally stable. Multidimensional scaling analysis of estimates of genetic distance (DA) suggest that the structure results from differences among cod collected within the Gulf of St. Lawrence and those collected near the entrance to the Gulf on either side of the Laurentian Channel in the Cabot Strait, as well as among cod collected south of Newfoundland along the north side of the Channel. Weak genetic heterogeneity among seven regional mixed-stock collections during the over- wintering period suggests that cod aggregations characteristically found in the overwintering region represent population mixtures that differ in the proportion of cod contributed to them by the various stock components. Maximum likelihood estimates indicate no signif- icant temporal changes in component contributions to the mixed-stock samples between 1996 and 1997. when all of the winter mixed-stock samples were pooled. The combined contribution of cod from the southern and northern Gulf of St. Lawrence to the. mixed- stock samples ranged between 46% and 71% (expected 64%). More precise estimates of contributions from these two regions are precluded by the weak genetic differentiation detected in our samples. The contribution by cod from the Cape Breton Island region was small and estimated at 3%. Contributions by cod from the eastern Scotian Shelf, southwest Newfoundland and south-central Newfoundland were in the range of 13-14%, 4%, and 8%, respectively. Contributions by inshore cod from Placentia and Fortune Bays in south Newfoundland were small to negligible (-3% each). The results indicate that future man- agement could be designed around the spatial and temporal scale of the stock structure identified during the stock-separated period and around the spatially varying contributions to the overwintering mixed-stock fishery.
Pine sawfly population dynamics: patterns, processes, problems

Northern Europe has 11 sympatric, monophagous pine sawflies (Diprionidae) feeding on Scots pine Pinus sylvestris. This paper describes patterns in the pine sawfly dynamics, and outlines the four major hypotheses that have been put forward to explain the patterns: plant defence (resistance), microparasites (virus), macroparasites (parasitoids), and generalist cocoon predators (shrews and omnivorous small mammals). The plant defence and cocoon predation hypotheses explain more observations about sawfly dynamics than the parasite hypotheses. One of the patterns is an association between gregarious larvae (five of the 11 species) and high outbreak frequency. The essential difference in population dynamics between the solitary and gregarious species is the risk-prone reproductive strategy of the latter, which increases the variance of density fluctuations. Chance dictates that gregarious species have occasional rapid build-ups of local populations, which may lead to an escape from the control of the regulating factors.
Locomotory Mechanisms in Caligidae (Crustacea: Copepoda)

Structure of locomotory appendages of Caligidae (Copepoda: Caligoida) is briefly reviewed from the point of view of functional morphology. Locomotory mechanisms are studied on examples of Lepeophtheirus salmonis and Caligus clemensi. Rapid propulsion is attributed to antagonistic movements of the first two pairs of legs, the second pair being a more important contributor. Beating towards each other, the legs produce a jet of water, which propels the parasite. In a subsequent recovery stroke, the second leg, made watertight by a dorsal membrane, gives further impetus to the jet, pushing it out through the sinus opening of the cephalothorax. Water is replenished under the cephalothorax by intake via space under the frontal plates. Settling movements help to improve the grip of the parasite on the host's surface and involve rapid side-to-side motion, involving the second maxillae. Steering is carried out by lateral and vertical movements of the posterior part of the body. Functions of other appendages are di.
Resilience to climate change: complex relationships among wetland hydroperiod, larval amphibians and aquatic predators in temporary wetlands

Amphibians that utilise temporary wetlands with unpredictable hydrology are living on the edge, maintaining viable populations under variable climatic conditions. Information on their breeding ecology will provide insight into their adaptive capacity and resilience to climate change. The environmental factors influencing breeding of a temporary wetland breeding frog (Litoria olongburensis) from eastern Australia were examined over two breeding seasons from August 2009 to March 2011. The influence of biotic and abiotic wetland characteristics on the abundance and seasonality of L. olongburensis aquatic larvae was quantified throughout the latitudinal range of the species. Substantial variation in yearly precipitation resulted in changes to the timing of breeding, and patterns of tadpole and predator abundance, which also varied along a hydroperiod gradient. Litoria olongburensis displayed adaptive strategies, including breeding when hydrological conditions were likely to last longest, and short time to hatching and metamorphosis. Concentrating breeding efforts early during wetland filling coincided with low predator densities. These pre-adaptations may reflect an adaptive capacity to predicted changes in frequency and reliability of precipitation as a result of climate change, and may apply to other temporary wetland species. Their conservation depends on preserving wetlands with a variety of hydroperiods within a landscape matrix.
Nitrogen deposition causes widespread loss of species richness in British habitats

We use national scale data to test the hypothesis that nitrogen (N) deposition is strongly negatively correlated with plant species richness in a wide range of ecosystem types. Vegetation plots from a national ecological surveillance programme were drawn from heathland, acid, calcareous and mesotrophic grassland habitats. Mean species number and mean plant traits were calculated for each plot and related to atmospheric N deposition. There was a significant reduction in species richness with N deposition in acid grassland and heathland even after fitting covarying factors. In acid grassland and heathland, evidence from trait changes suggested that acidification rather than increased fertility was responsible for species loss. In contrast, calcareous grassland showed evidence of eutrophication in response to increasing N deposition. Loss of species richness from chronic N deposition is apparent in infertile grasslands and heathland. Mechanisms associated with loss of species richness differ between habitats so mitigation of N deposition should be targeted to habitat type.
Two new height models for volume estimation of lodgepole pine stands

To reduce the cost and increase the efficiency of obtaining individual tree height information required for sample plot volume estimation, two general height–diameter (H/D) regression models were developed using two-stage regression analysis and data from 96 lodgepole pine (Pinuscontorta Dougl. var. latifolia Engelm.) sample plots. The derived models were examined using an independent data set of 28 plots. In addition to diameter at breast height (D), these models also included two easily measurable stand parameters as independent variables: quadratic mean diameter (Dq) and the height of a tree with diameter Dq (Hq). With a practical method to estimate Hq (from up to three heights measured) and using these two new H/D models in conjunction with available regional standard volume equations (V = f (D,H)), the stand volume estimates, on the average, were 0.003% higher (SD 4.1%) for the first model and 1.081% lower (SD 4.6%) for the second model than those obtained using traditional H/D curves for each plot b.