Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Forage and migration habitat of loggerhead (Caretta caretta) and olive ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea) sea turtles in the central North Pacific Ocean

Satellite telemetry from 26 loggerhead (Caretta caretta) and 10 olive ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea) sea turtles captured and released from pelagic longline fishing gear provided information on the turtles’ position and movement in the central North Pacific. These data together with environmental data from satellite remote sensing are used to describe the oceanic habitat used by these turtles. The results indicate that loggerheads travel westward, move seasonally north and south primarily through the region 28–40°N, and occupy sea surface temperatures (SST) of 15–25°C. Their dive depth distribution indicated that they spend 40% of their time at the surface and 90% of their time at depths <40 m. Loggerheads are found in association with fronts, eddies, and geostrophic currents. Specifically, the Transition Zone Chlorophyll Front (TZCF) and the southern edge of the Kuroshio Extension Current (KEC) appear to be important forage and migration habitats for loggerheads. In contrast, olive ridleys were found primarily south of loggerhead habitat in the region 8–31°N latitude, occupying warmer water with SSTs of 23–28°C. They have a deeper dive pattern than loggerheads, spending only 20% of their time at the surface and 60% shallower than 40 m. However, the three olive ridleys identified from genetics to be of western Pacific origin spent some time associated with major ocean currents, specifically the southern edge of the KEC, the North Equatorial Current (NEC), and the Equatorial Counter Current (ECC). These habitats were not used by any olive ridleys of eastern Pacific origin suggesting that olive ridleys from different populations may occupy different oceanic habitats.
Marine biodiversity and resource management – what is the link?

Marine biodiversity refers to the variation of life at all levels and is much more than just a count of species. Marine biodiversity decline is occurring across the globe and is characterized not only by extinctions (sometimes local), but also by invasions and hybridizations, reductions in the abundance of some species, degradation of habitats and changes in ecosystem processes (e.g. cycling of water, nutrients and energy). The major threats and causes of marine diversity can be categorized as (i) unsustainable resource use, (ii) land-based impacts, (iii) coastal and marine pollution, (iv) introduced invasive species and (v) climate change. All these pose major risks in tropical seas where the high biodiversity in the past has allowed the tropical ecosystems to provide more services with less variability than more temperate systems. There is a strong link between better resource management and better biodiversity outcomes. With the introduction and acceptance of the concept of sustainable development, a way was opened up to ensure that human development did not impact irreversibly on the physical environment, thereby preserving biodiversity for future generation so that they could also enjoy the services that healthy ecosystems can provide. Along with the concept came a range of “approaches,” many of which developed in parallel by different sectors and disciplines. Because they were all developed to promote sustainable development there is considerable agreement on principles and management tools. This article proposes a course of action through an ecosystem approach for planning, implementation, and monitoring and evaluation that better integrates both ecosystem and sector management tools for more integrated management. There have been so many failures and biodiversity continues to decline. Several reasons for these failures are grouped under four pillars that are considered essential for successful resource management. These are: (i) enabling policy/legislative environment, (ii) good governance and institutions, (iii) full participation and (iv) adequate resources-people and finances to implement the management system. The use of large marine ecosystem management, exemplified by the Bay of Bengal Large Marine Ecosystem Project, is put forward as an approach that can address some of the issues that jeopardize success.
Food quality for Eudiaptomus gracilis: the importance of particular highly unsaturated fatty acids

1. Development times and survival of nauplii and copepodites of the freshwater calanoid Eudiaptomus gracilis were measured on comparably sized Cryptomonas sp. and two strains of Chlamydomonas reinhardii under food saturated conditions (1 mg C L -1 ) to investigate the nutritional quality of these algae. 2. Cryptomonas sp. supported complete ontogenesis of nauplii to adults, whereas both strains of C. reinhardii were inadequate for the development of nauplii and copepodites and resulted in high mortality. The nutritional deficiency of both strains of C. reinhardii was compensated for by Cryptomonas sp. when the latter constituted > 50% of dietary carbon. Pulses of Cryptomonas sp. had a similar compensatory effect. 3. In comparison to Cryptomonas sp. , both strains of C. reinhardii were deficient in the three highly unsaturated fatty acids (HUFAs) stearidonic, eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acid. We manipulated the fatty acid content of C. reinhardii by externally adding these three HUFAs to the alga so that the fatty acid profile resembled that of Cryptomonas sp. This supplementation did not improve food quality, however, indicating that the nutritional deficiency of both strains of C. reinhardii for the ontogenesis of E. gracilis is not due to a lack of these three HUFAs.
Reproductive Ecology of Opuntia macrocentra (Cactaceae) in the Northern Chihuahuan Desert

Abstract We studied the floral biology, floral visitors, levels of florivory, and mating system of Opuntia macrocentra in a population of ca. 300 individuals in order to describe what factors affect flower/fruit ratios. Blooming for the species occurred once a year during spring. Flowers were hermaphroditic, produced nectar, and remained open 6 to 9 h during a single day. Anther dehiscence starts at flower aperture and stigma receptivity starts approximately 1 h later. The most important floral visitors were solitary bees from the Anthophoridae family (genus Diadasia). Open- pollinated control and cross pollination treatments had the highest fruit set (96.8 ± 3.2% and 83.9 ± 6.7%, respectively), but fruit set for forced self-pollination treatment (77.4 ± 7.6%) did not differ from the cross-pollination treatment. Seed production was also highest in the open-pollinated treatment; the average number of seeds per fruit in the open-pollinated treatment was 40% higher than the cross-pollinated treatment and 64% higher than the self-pollinated treatment. The flowers were self-compatible and did not require a visitor to set fruit. Flower/fruit ratio was slightly above one over all pollination treatments (fruit ratios between 1.0–1.3), suggesting that almost all flowers turned into fruits. Outcrossing rates suggest a mixed mating system, but inbreeding depression was found for both fruit and seed set. Developing fruits were consumed by the caterpillar (Lepidoptera: Olycella subumbrella) and decreased fruit set from 20% to 100%. Florivory and inbreeding depression were the major factors that decrease fruit set for this species.
The effects of physiology and behaviour on the near-bottom distributions of Kareniabrevis on the West Florida shelf: a numerical study

The distribution of near-bottom populations of Karenia brevis depends on both cell physiology and behaviour. The migration distance of cells, and the subsequent exposure to light, may vary as a result of the nocturnal uptake of nitrate. The adaptive advantage of higher nocturnal uptake rates and upward migration is evident in clear deep (90m) water columns as well as in shallower (30m), more turbid water columns. In deeper offshore environments, migrating cells with high nocturnal uptake rates are able to access light levels needed to compensate growth, whereas migrating cells with slow nocturnal uptake rates or non-migrating cells cannot access the minimum light levels needed for growth. In shallow, more turbid environments, migrating cells access between 35% and 67% of the light needed to saturate growth, whereas cells that do not migrate are only exposed to 6% of the light needed to saturate growth. Vertical migration may not only extend the depth distribution of K. brevis but also provide an adaptation to persist in more turbid nearshore waters.
When pathogens determine the territory: Toward a concept of non-human borders

This article conceptualizes how infectious microbes create real borders that are not dependent on human meaning making or identity. By territorializing interfaces between contagion and ecology, infectious agents engage in bordering practices by determining where citizens can move around safely, and thereby challenge the bordering practices and biosecurity efforts of nation-states. Based on empirical examples of microbial borders, evidence from the natural sciences, interviews with public health practitioners, and theoretical support from ethnographic encounters with Amazonian ontologies, the conceptualization links the geopolitics of microbial bordering to biodiversity loss and deforestation, and suggests that microbial bordering should prompt acknowledgment of the role humans play in ecological patterns that far exceed human control and meaning making. The concept of microbial borders is relevant to global health and security efforts in general, expands the theoretical agenda for critical border studies, and contributes to the fields of global health security and New Materialism in International Relations by highlighting that international relations include our relations with non-humans, and that how we choose to cohabitate with them has large implications for human security.
The Stata Journal

We present an extension of Sasieni, Royston, and Cox’s bivariate smoother running to the multivariable context. The software aims to provide a picture of the relation between a response variable and each of several continuous predictors simultaneously. This may be a valuable tool in exploratory data analysis, before constructing a more formal multiple regression model.
Avian influenza: The current perspectives

The avian influenza virus (AIV), belonging to genus Influenzavirus A of the family Orthomyxoviridae, is the causative agent of ‘bird flu’ or ‘avian flu’ that mainly affects domesticated birds with very high flock mortality. Free flying and aquatic birds are believed to be important reservoirs for the virus where usually it does not cause disease. On the basis of pathogenicity the disease is categorized into highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) and low pathogenicity avian influenza (LPAI). The virus has caused severe disease outbreaks in domesticated poultry worldwide accounting for huge economic losses. HPAI is an extremely contagious, multi-organ systemic disease placed under “List A” disease of OIE, having the potential of very serious and rapid spread, irrespective of national borders, and of serious socio-economic or public health concern. Most AI viruses are of low pathogenicity and produce either subclinical infections or respiratory and/or reproductive diseases in a variety of domestic and other bird species. The AI virus H5N1 subtype, which has been limited to poultry, now has spread to migratory birds also and has emerged in mammals and among the human population too. This subtype, having a significant zoonotic potential, has caused several disease outbreaks in poultry in many Asian and few of the European countries leading to losses of more than 200 million birds and has claimed more than 70 human lives, indicating that this flu virus is now becoming more dangerous. HPAI has never been reported in the Indian sub-continent. Fortunately with this less number of human deaths, the virus has not yet acquired the ability of rapid human to human spread, which if happens, could trigger a deadly human pandemic like the human influenza pandemic during ‘Spanish flu’ of 1918. Extreme genetic variations exhibited by the virus make the disease difficult to be controlled. This highlights the importance of addressing the issue of bird flu globally and to frame out appropriate strategies for its timely prevention, control and eradication. Strict biosecurity measures, disease surveillance and judicious vaccination strategies are of paramount importance in preventing the disease in birds, limiting its epidemic potential and avoiding an imminent human pandemic. Effective vaccines for protecting birds as well as the humans against the H5N1 subtype virus are not available, for which the scientific community all over the world is trying to find out effective solutions exploiting the recent advances in vaccinology. This could prevent the financial losses to the poultry industry as well as save the precious lives of millions of people having put under a possible pandemic threat.
Dilemmas of justice in the post-neoliberal educational policies of Ecuador and Bolivia

The election of the first indigenous president in Bolivia, Evo Morales (leader of the Movimiento al Socialismo, MAS), and of Rafael Correa in Ecuador (leader of Alianza País, AP) were important turning points in the social and economic history of these two countries. Both were elected with anti-neoliberal platforms of social movements. Their election promised radical changes in public policy in order to change the historical injustices that had remained unresolved with the rise of democracy. Redistribution, recognition of ethnic differences, and broader participation in the policymaking process were the three bottom-up demands for justice that brought these governments to power. In this article, I discuss how in these two cases the three bottom-up demands for justice – that emerged under the double transition to democracy and neoliberalism – have been incorporated, in different ways, in education policy.
Effect of UV-C radiation on transcription level of polyketide synthase gene (pksI) and photosystem II D1 protein gene (psbA) in Evernia prunastri

The present work was to investigate the effects of UV-C radiation on pksI (polyketide synthase type 1 gene) and psbA (a gene for photosystem-II major D1 protein) relative gene transcription levels and glutathione reductase (GR) activity in lichen Evernia prunastri (L.) Ach. (Parmeliaceae). E. prunastri thalli were exposed to UV-C (254nm) radiation for 30, 60, 120 and 180 minutes. After treatments GR activity of samples were measured and we showed that GR activity increased for the first treatment (30 min) compared to control and then decreased to control levels for other treatments. Transcriptional analysis was performed with semi- quantitative reverse transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR) and these results were obtained: The pksI gene transcription levels decreased ~80% compared to control at 60 min UV-C treatment but then increased at 120 min UV-C treatment. Exposure to UV-C for 60 min decreased the transcript abundance of psbA ~60% compared to control. However, exposure to UV-C for 180 min increased psbA transcripts to control level again. Considered together with all data, we conclude that photosystem II D1 protein synthesis was not significantly changes by UV-C radiation and E. prunastri is tolerant to UV-C radiation for the time periods used. The mechanism of this tolerance could be related with polyketide content in this organism.
Distribution and characterization of Streptomyces species causing potato common scab in Germany

Field-grown potatoes showing scab infections were sampled in two successive years and analysed for prevailing Streptomyces strains. In 2008 and 2009, 293 Streptomyces isolates were collected in Germany and analysed for morphology, pathogenicity and strain type. Isolates varied in mycelium colour, sporulation and pigmentation. Based on their morphology, no clear differentiation of species was possible. At the genetic level, sampled isolates, as well as a number of type strains from culture collections, were characterized by PCR using 16S rRNA-specific primers and PCR-RFLP of the 16S–23S internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region with Hpy99I. Using this fingerprinting approach, Streptomyces species could be differentiated genotypically. The data from this study show that diversity among scab-causing species in Germany is much higher than previously thought. Isolates belonged to various Streptomyces spp. previously associated with common scab. This is apparently the first report of pathogenic strains of S. europaeiscabiei, S. stelliscabiei, S. acidiscabiei, S. turgidiscabiei and S. bottropensis within Germany. Streptomyces europaeiscabiei was the predominant species found. Other scab-causing species were identified, but their local distribution was uneven. For most of the isolates, the presence of the txtAB gene was demonstrated, indicating pathogenicity. This analysis is one of the first reports to examine the distribution of common scab-causing species in Germany.
Risks Lie Ahead Following Stronger Trade in 2006

Risks in financial and property markets and large trade imbalances in goods and services mean increased uncertainty in 2007 and raise the prospect of weaker economic and trade expansion in the coming year, according to WTO economists. “A successful conclusion to the Doha Round holds great potential for boosting growth and alleviating poverty,” Director-General Pascal Lamy said. “An agreement would also deliver more relevant trade rules, helping to establish a more stable and certain foundation for today's dynamic global marketplace. ”
Cold gelation of β-lactoglobulin in the presence of iron

To protect and transport iron, we investigated the trapping properties of a network formed from β-lactoglobulin. We studied the influence of different parameters-pH, iron, and protein concentrations-on gel properties (optical and mechanical properties, WHC, and microstructure). For all conditions tested, the results show the formation of a cold gel in the presence of iron. The mechanical properties reveal that the elastic behavior and the strength of rupture increase with higher protein concentrations and decrease with higher iron concentrations. The water holding capacity is high for low iron concentrations. The microstructure shows that, at low iron/protein ratios, a homogeneous filamentous network is obtained whereas, at high iron/protein ratios, more random aggregated particles are present. Pour proteger et transporter le fer, cette etude evalue les proprietes de piegeage d'un reseau forme par la β-lactoglobuline. Elle etudie l'influence de differents parametres, pH, concentrations en fer et en proteine, sur les proprietes optiques, mecaniques, capacite de retention d'eau et microstructure du gel. Les proprietes mecaniques revelent que le comportement elastique et la force de rupture augmentent avec des concentrations plus fortes en proteines et diminuent avec des concentrations fortes en fer.
Why are estimates of the terrestrial carbon balance so different?

The carbon balance of the world's terrestrial ecosystems is uncertain. Both top‐down (atmospheric) and bottom‐up (forest inventory and land‐use change) approaches have been used to calculate the sign and magnitude of a net terrestrial flux. Different methods often include different processes, however, and comparisons can be misleading. Differences are not necessarily the result of uncertainties or errors, but often result from incomplete accounting inherent in some of the methods. Recent estimates are reviewed here. Overall, a northern mid‐latitude carbon sink of approximately 2 Pg C yr−1 appears robust, although the mechanisms responsible are uncertain. Several lines of evidence point to environmentally enhanced rates of carbon accumulation. Other lines suggest that recovery from past disturbances is largely responsible for the sink. The tropics appear to be a small net source of carbon or nearly neutral, and the same uncertainties of mechanism exist. In addition, studies in the tropics do not permit an unequivocal choice between two alternatives: large emissions of carbon from deforestation offset by large sinks in undisturbed forests, or moderate emissions from land‐use change with essentially no change in the carbon balance in undisturbed forests. Resolution of these uncertainties is most likely to result from spatially detailed historical reconstructions of land‐use change and disturbance in selected northern mid‐latitude regions where such data are available, and from systematic monitoring of changes in the area of tropical forests with satellite data of high spatial resolution collected over the last decades and into the future.
Niche properties of Central European spiders : shading, moisture and the evolution of the habitat niche

Aim Niche theory emphasizes the importance of environmental conditions for the distribution and abundance of species. Using a macroecological approach our study aimed at identifying the important environmental gradients for spiders. We generated numerical values of niche position and niche width. We also investigated relationships between these niche properties as well as the degree of phylogenetic conservatism in order to draw conclusions about the evolution of the habitat niche. Location Central Europe: lowlands of Austria, Belgium, Germany, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Switzerland. Methods We analysed 244 published spider communities from 70 habitat types by correspondence analysis. The resulting community scores were used to test for correlations with habitat characteristics. Species scores were used to derive niche position (mean scores) and niche width (standard deviation of scores). To test for niche conservatism we estimated variance components across the taxonomic hierarchy. Results The first two axes of the correspondence analysis were correlated with shading and moisture, respectively. Niche width had a hump-shaped relationship to both environmental gradients. β-diversity was strikingly higher in open habitats than in forests. Habitat niche conservatism was lower than phylogenetic conservatism in body size. Main conclusions Environmental factors are important drivers for the β-diversity of spiders, especially across open habitats. This underlines the importance of preserving the whole range of moisture conditions in open habitats. Narrow niches of species occurring at the ends of both environmental gradients indicate that adaptations to extreme habitats lead to constraints in ecological flexibility. Nevertheless, the habitat niche of species seems to evolve much faster than morphological or physiological traits.
Dissolved organic carbon production and consumption in anoxic marine sediments: A pulsed‐tracer experiment

The degradation of phytoplankton and seagrass organic carbon (OC) in sulfate‐reducing (SR) and methaneproducing (MP) sediments was tracked by measuring concentrations of particulate OC (POC), hydrolysis products (HP), fermentation products (FP), and inorganic end products (EP). This experiment used the novel approach of amending sediment with organic substrates having δ13C values unique from that of the OC pool originally present in the sediment. As a result, we could monitor changes in the dynamic dissolved OC pool and gain insight into processes that control the fate of OC. Rates of hydrolysis, fermentation, and terminal metabolism were greater in the phytoplankton‐amended treatments than in the seagrass‐amended treatments during the period of active decomposition. At the end of the incubation, concentrations of HP and FP in amended treatments were not significantly different from those in the controls. An analysis of the δ13C values of HP from the amended treatments indicated that the addition of fresh organic matter stimulated the decomposition of carbon present in the sediment at the time of collection. Hydrolysis of this carbon accounted for >=50% of the total carbon hydrolyzed in the sediment amended with seagrass.