Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Opposite effects of ocean temperature on survival rates of 120 stocks of Pacific salmon (Oncorhynchus spp.) in northern and southern areas

To improve the understanding of linkages between ocean conditions and salmon productivity, we estimated effects of ocean temperature on survival rates of three species of Pacific salmon (Oncorhynchus spp.) across 120 stocks. This multistock approach permitted more precise estimates of effects than standard single-stock analyses. The estimated effects were opposite in sign between northern and southern stocks and were quite consistent across stocks within species and areas. Warm anomalies in coastal temperatures were associated with increased survival rates for stocks in Alaska and decreased survival rates in Washington and British Columbia, suggesting that different mechanisms determine survival rates in the two areas. Regional-scale sea surface temperatures (SST, within several hundred kilometres of a stock's ocean entry point) were a much better predictor of survival rates than large-scale climate anomalies associated with the Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO), suggesting that survival rates are primari.
Exploiting the pasture capacitance probe in agricultural research: a comparison with other methods of measuring herbage mass

Summary The precision of the capacitance probe in detecting herbage mass differences between treatments has been assessed on a cross section of field trials in Otago-Southland, New Zealand. Used thoughtfully, the probe appears at least as good as any other alternative. Corrected meter readings from the probe may be used directly for relative ranking of treatments although calibration is desirable for interpretation purposes, and becomes essential when swards of widely differing composition are to be related. Considerable overall time savings, especially in the laboratory, are possible in comparison with other methods.
Geographic And Seasonal Variation In Chaparral Vulnerability To Cavitation

Abstract Resistance of stem xylem to water stress-induced cavitation and embolism among chaparral shrub species in California has been extensively studied, providing the opportunity to examine broad patterns in cavitation resistance. We used previously published as well as unpublished vulnerability to cavitation curve data from 16 chaparral shrub species of southern California to examine the variability of cavitation resistance across sites, regions, and seasons. Additionally, these data provided a unique opportunity to address a recent methodological debate within the field of plant hydraulics. We found that different methods, specifically a centrifuge method and a dehydration method, produced similar results (P = 0.184). Vulnerability to cavitation varied seasonally, with species exhibiting greater susceptibility to water-stress induced cavitation during the wet season (P = 0.003). Cavitation resistance did not differ among sites that were less than 10 km apart even though these sites differed in their coastal exposure, precipitation, and temperatures (P = 0.476). However, across larger geographic distances and with increased climatic divergence, cavitation resistance significantly varied (P = 0.005), with populations from a higher rainfall mountain range exhibiting greater susceptibility to cavitation. These data suggest that species may be particularly susceptible to the onset of early summer drought before xylem has hardened. Variation in cavitation resistance may be limited locally, but broadly dispersed species may diverge in cavitation resistance across their range. Maintaining populations that vary in cavitation resistance may be an important component of species conservation planning in an era of increased climatic variability.
Temperature‐dependent developmental model of Neoseiulus californicus (McGregor) (Acari, Phytoseiidae)

The developmental time and survival of immature stages of Neoseiulus californicus were studied at nine constant temperatures (12, 16, 24, 24, 28 32, 36, 38 and 40°C), 60–70% RH, and a photoperiod of 16 : 8 (L : D) h. The total mortality of immature N. californicus was lowest at 24°C (4.5%) and highest at 38°C (15.2%). The total developmental time decreased with increasing temperature between 12°C (18.38 days) and 32°C (2.98 days), and increased beyond 32°C. The relationship between the developmental rate and temperature was fitted by five nonlinear developmental rate models (Logan 6, Lactin 1, 2 and Briere 1, 2). The nonlinear shape of temperature development was best described by the Lactin 1 model (r2 = 0.98). The developmental variation of each stage was well described by the three‐parameter Weibull distribution model (r2 = 0.91–0.93). The temperature‐dependent developmental models of N. californicus developed in this study could be used to determine optimal temperature conditions for its mass rearing, to predict its seasonal population dynamics in fruit tree orchards or greenhouse crops, or to develop a population dynamics model of N. californicus.
Review of the Toxicology of Chlorpyrifos With an Emphasis on Human Exposure and Neurodevelopment

This review examines the large body of toxicological and epidemiological information on human exposures to chlorpyrifos, with an emphasis on the controversial potential for chlorpyrifos to induce neurodevelopmental effects at low doses. The results of this review demonstrate that the use of urinary 3,5,6-trichlorpyridinol (TCPy), a metabolite of chlorpyrifos as a biomarker of nonoccupational exposure is problematic and may overestimate nonoccupational exposures to chlorpyrifos by 10-to 20-fold because of the widespread presence of both TCPy and chlorpyrifos-methyl in the food supply. Current “background” (nonoccupational) levels of exposure to chlorpyrifos are several orders of magnitude lower than those required to inhibit plasma cholinesterase activity, which is a more sensitive target than nervous system cholinesterase. However, several in vitro studies have identified putative neurodevelopmental mechanisms that are altered at concentrations of chlorpyrifos below those that inhibit cholinesterases. Although one human cohort study reported an association between maternal and cord blood chlorpyrifos levels and several measures of neurodevelopment, two other cohort studies that utilized urinary TCPy as a surrogate for chlorpyrifos exposure did not demonstrate an association. Although the weight of the scientific evidence demonstrates that current levels of chlorpyrifos exposure will not have any adverse effects on neurodevelopment that might result from inhibition of nervous system cholinesterases, several recent studies propose alternative mechanisms. Thus, further in vivo investigation on neurodevelopment in an appropriate animal model is needed; additional epidemiological studies may be warranted if a suitable, chlorpyrifos-exposed cohort can be identified and more rigorous measures of exposure are utilized.
MORPHOLOGICAL AND PHYSIOLOGICAL RESPONSES OF WINTER WHEAT SEEDLINGS TO NITROGEN AND PHOSPHORUS DEFICIENCY

Nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) deficiencies are major yield limiting factors in many parts of the world. A greenhouse experiment was conducted to study the effects of both N and P deficiency on morphological and physiological responses of wheat cultivars with and without purple coleoptiles in three types of soils. Before the 3-leaf stage, cultivar ‘Jagger’ with greenish coleoptile showed typical green color in leaves even if grown in soils known to be deficient in N and P. After 3-leaf stage, however, ‘Jagger’ grown in the same soils exhibited purple on leaves, which was considered a typical symptom of P deficiency. Before 3-leaf stage, cultivar ‘2174’ with purplish coleoptile showed purple on the tips of leaves even if grown in a soil not deficient in P, indicating that the leaf purple color is genetically controlled. Pre-plant P but not N fertilizer application could alleviate the purple severity of young seedlings (before 3 leaf stage). Top-dressing N fertilizer could alleviate the purple severity, but top-dressing P fertilizer could enable the severe purple leaves to return green at older seedlings (5–6 leaf stage), indicating that N and P had different effects on the morphological phenotype. There was a correlation between the purple severity and leaf chlorophyll readings, and N and P accumulation. The various responses of the cultivars to N and P deficiency resulted in significant differences in tiller occurrence and shoot and root dry matter production. Purple coloration is not only a visible symptom due to P deficiency but also a phenotype that can be used to diagnose N deficiency in wheat seedlings.
Effect of Host Plant on Beauveria bassiana- and Paecilomyces fumosoroseus-Induced Mortality of Trialeurodes vaporariorum (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae)

Abstract Conidial suspensions of Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) Vuillemin and Paecilomyces fumosoroseus (Wize) Brown & Smith were tested for pathogenicity to third-instar nymphs of Trialeurodes vaporariorum (Westwood) reared on cucumber and tomato plants. Nymphs were highly susceptible to infection by both fungi after a one-time application of conidia onto cucumber plants. In contrast, insects reared on tomato plants were significantly less susceptible to infection. We hypothesized that the glycoalkaloid tomatine might have been involved in antimicrobiosis on tomato leaves. Tomatine mixed with Noble agar at five concentrations was tested for its effects on germination of conidia of both fungi. Germination of conidia of B. bassiana was only slightly affected at the two highest concentrations of tomatine. In contrast, germination of conidia of P. fumosoroseus was completely inhibited at 500 and 1,000 ppm of tomatine. The in vitro tolerance of tomatine by B. bassiana contradicted our in vivo data. Sequestered tomatine by T. vaporariorum nymphs would explain, at least partially, the insect’s defense against the pathogens. That little in vitro inhibition of B. bassiana was found supported the hypothesis that B. bassiana was inhibited only in vivo, after the penetration process. Inhibition of P. fumosoroseus might have occurred on the insect’s cuticle before penetration, as evidenced by the complete inhibition of spore germination in vitro in the presence of tomatine at 500 and 1,000 ppm. An explanation for the differential in vitro sensitivity of B. bassiana and P. fumosoroseus to tomatine is being sought.
Substrate Specificity and Preparative Use of Recombinant Rat ST3Gal III

Abstract Recombinant rat α(2→3)‐sialyltransferase (ST3Gal III, EC 2.4.99.6) was expressed from baculovirus infected Sf 9 insect cells in preparative amounts. In order to elucidate substrate tolerances of ST3Gal III, the natural type I and type II substrates 21 and 22 as well as several non‐natural sugars were investigated. The non‐natural Gal‐β(1→3)‐Gal(N) (type III) disaccharides 11, 13, and 16 turned out to be surprisingly good substrates for ST3Gal III. All sialylations were run in preparative scale and kinetic parameters (V max and K m) were determined.
Megasporocyte Callose in Apomictic Buffelgrass, Kentucky Bluegrass, Pennisetum squamulatum Fresen, Tripsacum L., and Weeping Lovegrass

Callose, a β-1,3-glucan, is synthesized and deposited in the walls of megaspore mother cells (MMCs) of angiosperms that produce either normal monosporic (>90% of all angiosperm species) or bisporic embryo sacs. Such deposits are absent in angiosperms that produce tetrasporic embryo sacs and were recently shown to be absent in diplosporous Elymus rectisetus (Nees in Lehm.) A. Love & Connor, Tripsacum L. spp. , and Poa nemoralis L. We determined the extent of callose deposits in MMCs of diplosporous weeping lovegrass (Eragrostis curvula Schrad.), several additional diplosporous Tripsacum accessions and aposporous buffelgrass (Pennisetum ciliare (L.) Link), Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.), and Pennisetum squamulatum Fresen. Callose deposition was studied in pistils cleared in an aqueous aniline blue clearing medium and observed by means of UV microscopy. Pistils cleared with conventional clearing media were studied by means of interference contrast microscopy. Some pistils were cleared and analyzed in one clearing medium and recleared and reanalyzed in the other. A callosic MMC was observed in only one of 376 appropriately staged pistils taken from diplosporous species. This pistil, one of 89 weeping lovegrass pistils studied, was probably facultatively sexual. An absence of callose during megasporogenesis may be characteristic of most types of diplospory. Though present, the distributions and quantities of callose observed in MMC walls of aposporous apomicts were erratically reduced, possibly as a result of early MMC abortion or early activation of nucellar initials. Callose deficiencies and vacuolization patterns support the following hypotheses: (i) apospory is caused by a moderately precocious gametophytization of nucellar cells, and (ii) bispory, tetraspory, and diplospory are caused by a moderately to extremely precocious gametophytization of the MMC that is nearly complete in the latter case and variably incomplete in the former two cases. Understanding how these precocious gametophytizations evolved and are regulated may be crucial to the eventual transfer of apomixis to major crop species and to its successful manipulation by breeders.
Comparison of Vegetation and CO2 Dynamics Between a Restored Cut‐Away Peatland and a Pristine Fen: Evaluation of the Restoration Success

We studied the restoration success of a cut‐away peatland 10 years after restoration by comparing the vegetation and CO2 dynamics with those of a pristine peatland of similar nutrition level and climate. Vegetation and CO2 dynamics were monitored during one growing season. We used DCA (detrended correspondence analysis) and diversity indices to study the vegetation composition within and between the sites, and non‐linear regression models to estimate the seasonal CO2 fluxes and balances of the sites. Based on both DCA and diversity indices, the study plots in the restored site differed more in the vegetation composition than the study plots in the pristine site. The variation in the CO2 fluxes and balance was greater in the restored than in the pristine site, resulting from the heterogeneous vegetation in the restored site. The seasonal net CO2 balance was positive (sink) at both sites, the restored site binding on average 500 ± 410 g CO2/m2 and the pristine site 390 ± 265 g CO2/m2 (statistically not different, p = 0.575). The results indicate that the restoration of the vegetation composition is still incomplete but the vegetation coverage is sufficient for the restored site to function as a sink of atmospheric CO2.
Pollen Production of Fertility Restored Lines of Soft Red Winter Wheats1

Pollen production and seed set were compared for cultivars and derived homozygous pollinator “R” lines with cytoplasm and genetic restorers from Triticum timopheevi. Pollen production and anther extrusion were determined in the laboratory on excised spikes from greenhouse and field-grown plants. Some restored "R" lines were as good as their parent cultivars for pollen dispersal. In diverse controlled environments restored "R" lines were somewhat more sensitive to temperature and photoperiod than were normal cultivars. Apparently "R" lines developed with T. timopheevi cytoplasm will be satisfactory for most environments.
Population size and age determination in the Antarctic Fur seal Arctocephalus gazella

The population of Antarctic Fur seals Arctocephalus gazella at South Georgia is increasing rapidly and is therefore of great interest. Investigations of the population depend on two main techniques. (1) Population assessment, because the population size is now too large for direct counts to be completely reliable, and serious underestimates are appearing in areas of high density. Aerial photography was used but needs further refinement before it becomes a consistently useful technique. Marking all pups on sample beaches was largely unsuccessful because pups moved from beach to beach before they could all be marked. A mark–recapture method was finally adopted and indicated that the numbers of pups present may be up to 54% higher than the numbers actually counted. (2) The process of age determination from tooth characters, which is more difficult for Fur seals than other pinnipeds. The preparation and interpretation of the teeth of breeding cows is described, based on eleven specimens of known age. The most accurate results are obtained from whole teeth up to the age of 6, but thereafter interpretation of cement and dentine layers in thin sections must be used. It is concluded that while young animals are aged quite accurately, there is probably a tendency to underestimate the age of seals of more than 9 years.
Objective methods for the classification of vegetation. II. Fidelity and indicator value

A new index of fidelity is described, based on the ratio of frequencies for the species in two communities. The importance of significance tests in determining characteristic species is emphasized. The value of a species as indicator of a particular community is taken as the ratio of the frequency in that community to the frequency elsewhere within the area studied. An index to express this is proposed. The value of discriminant functions in enabling vegetation samples of uncertain affinities to be allotted to one of several possible communities is demonstrated. An example is given in which this technique has been used to determine whether one community can be regarded as intermediate between two others, or has special features of its own. The paper is illustrated by data taken from publications of the Zurich-Montpellier school, and by original data collected in the Victorian Mallee.
Population Structure and Genetic Diversity of Prunus scoparia in Iran

Over 30 Prunus species and taxa below the rank of species are known from Iran. These wild taxa provide an enlarged gene pool and may be considered a valuable germplasm source for breeding cultivated almonds. The present study is a genetic diversity analysis of six P. scoparia populations using six nuclear SSR markers. We also studied correlations between the population genetic differences, morphological differences and geographical distance. All six SSR primers produced amplification. The highest number of alleles occurred in the Fars and Lorestan populations, with 121 and 114 alleles, respectively. Some of the alleles were shared by all populations, while some others were specific to one population only. The observed heterozygosity ranged from 0.675 in the Tehran population to 0.900 in the Fars and Lorestan populations, while the expected heterozygosity ranged from 0.783 in the Tehran population to 0.948 in the Fars population. Bayesian model-based clustering showed a good separation of populations at K = 6. AMOVA indicated significant differences both among individuals and among populations. Mantel's test of SSR and morphological trees or geographical distance did not show any distinct pattern. Neighbour-joining and reticulation trees, as well as the STRUCTURE plots revealed admixture among the populations, indicating genetic exchange and presence of ancestral gene loci among them.
ESTABLISHMENT OF WEIGHT HIERARCHIES IN THE BROODS OF HOUSE MARTINS DELICHON URBICA

SUMMARY Nestling birds may differ in size and weight on the first day a clutch is fully hatched, mainly because eggs within clutches hatch over a period of several days. This asynchronous pattern of hatching is usually thought to facilitate brood reduction when the food supply is unpredictably restricted. The purpose of the study reported here was to examine the contribution of egg-weight, clutch-size, hatching spread, food supply and season to weight differences in newly hatched broods of the House Martin. At laying, heavy eggs had a greater moisture and dry weight content than light eggs and immediately before hatching there was a correlation between initial egg-weight and the dry weight of embryo and yolk. Heavier clutches also tended to give rise to heavier hatchlings. There was, however, no correlation of fresh egg-weight with the dry weight of embryos alone and the relative dry weight of embryos in a clutch was dependent on laying sequence. Hatching spread (the number of days between the emergence from the egg of the first and the last hatchling of the clutch) was 0.75 ± 0.46 days for clutches of two and increased with the size of the clutch up to 1.80 ± 0.79 days for clutches of five. When food was scarce during laying, hatching spread was greater. Weight difference in newly hatched broods was correlated with hatching spread and moreover in multivariate analysis was also correlated with periods of food scarcity during laying. It was concluded that all examples of weight hierarchies among hatchlings should not be considered adaptive; in some cases they may be imposed by food scarcity. This can lead to mortality of the runs even if food is plentiful. When the weight hierarchy is not adversely accentuated by food scarcity it may function as previously suggested, to allow brood reduction. Alternatively, particularly among House Martins, it may spread out the peak food needs of individual nestlings thereby spreading the demand on the adults.