Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects of Temperature Acclimation Pretreatment on the Ultrastructure of Mesophyll Cells in Young Grape Plants (Vitis vinifera L. cv. Jingxiu) Under Cross‐Temperature Stresses

: Leaves from annual young grape plants (Vitis vinifera L. cv. Jingxiu) were used as experimental materials. The ultrastructural characteristics of mesophyll cells in chilling-treated plants after heat acclimation (HA) and in heat-treated plants after cold acclimation (CA) were observed and compared using transmission electron microscopy. The results showed that slight injury appeared in the ultrastructure of mesophyll cells after either HA (38 °C for 10 h) or CA (8 °C for 2.5 d), but the tolerance to subsequent extreme temperature stress was remarkably improved by HA or CA pretreatment. The increases in membrane permeability and malondialdehyde concentration under chilling (0 °C) or heat (45 °C) stress were markedly inhibited by HA or CA pretreatment. The mesophyll cells of plants not pretreated with HA were markedly damaged following chilling stress. The chloroplasts appeared irregular in shape, the arrangement of the stroma lamellae was disordered, and no starch granules were present. The cristae of the mitochondria were disrupted and became empty. The nucleus became irregular in shape and the nuclear membrane was digested. In contrast, the mesophyll cells of HA-pretreated plants maintained an intact ultrastructure under chilling stress. The mesophyll cells of control plants were also severely damaged under heat stress. The chloroplast became round in shape, the stroma lamellae became swollen, and the contents of vacuoles formed clumps. In the case of mitochondria of control plants subjected to heat stress, the outer envelope was digested and the cristae were disrupted and became many small vesicles. Compared with cellular organelles in control plants, those in CA plant cells always maintained an integrated state during whole heat stress, except for the chloroplasts, which became round in shape after 10 h heat stress. From these data, we suggest that the stability of mesophyll cells under chilling stress can be increased by HA pretreatment. Similarly, CA pretreatment can protect chloroplasts, mitochondria, and the nucleus against subsequent heat stress; thus, the thermoresistance of grape seedlings was improved. The results obtained in the present study are the first, to our knowledge, to offered cytological evidence of cross-adaptation to temperature stresses in grape plants. (Managing editor: Wei WANG)
Capuchin monkey tool use: Overview and implications

Nutcracking capuchins are mentioned in reports dating as far back as the sixteenth century, 1 , 2 as well as in Brazilian folklore. 3 However, it was barely a decade ago that primatologists “discovered” the spontaneous use of stones to crack nuts in a semi‐free ranging group of tufted capuchin monkeys. Since then, we have found several more capuchin populations in savanna‐like environments which employ this form of tool use. 5–7 The evidence so far only weakly supports genetically based behavioral differences between populations and does not suggest that dietary pressures in poor environments are proximate determinants of the likelihood of tool use. Instead, tool use within these capuchin populations seems to be a behavioral tradition that is socially learned and is primarily associated with more terrestrial habits. However, differences in the diversity of “tool kits” between populations remain to be understood.
Non-volant small mammals at an Atlantic forest area situated nearby a limestone quarry (Limeira quarry), state of São Paulo, Brazil

Our aim was to survey the non-flying small mammals inhabiting an Atlantic forest area situated nearby a limestone quarry (Limeira quarry), located at Ribeirao Grande municipality (SP), southeastern Brazil. Species were captured with pitfall and Sherman traps along eight pairs of 60 m transects distributed at four different distances from the quarry (60, 220, 740 and 1300 m). Between October 2005 and January 2008, 20 small mammal species (11 rodents and nine marsupials) were captured through 4080 pitfall trap-nights and 2040 Sherman trap-nights. The high values of richness, diversity (H' = 2.65) and equability (J = 0.88), and the presence of endemic and threatened species indicates a preserved study site and small mammal assemblage. Marmosops incanus, Monodelphis americana and Oligoryzomys nigripes were the commonest species at the study site. Trapping sites located closer to the quarry (60 and 220 m away from the quarry) presented lower richness and were dominated by disturbance-tolerant species, such as O. nigripes, that usually benefit from habitat alterations. On the other hand, sites located away from the quarry and closer to Serra do Mar Protected Area (740 and 1300 m away from the quarry) presented higher richness and diversity, and a higher abundance of disturbance-intolerant species. These results suggest a negative distance-dependent impact of quarrying on small mammal communities. In this way, our results point out to the importance of long-term monitoring of quarrying impacts on small non-flying mammal communities and populations, and the need of conservation strategies in order to ensure species persistence in these areas.
Studies on the reactions of animals to infestation with ticks. III. The reactions of laboratory animals to repeated sublethal doses of egg extracts of Haemaphysalis bispinosa Neumann

Rabbits and mice have been immunized or sensitized, and guinea-pigs sensitized, with saline extracts of the eggs of Haemaphysalis bispinosa. Immunization, without sensitization, invariably followed intravenous inoculation of the antigen once or twice per week for 3 weeks. Sensitization, with or without development of precipitating antibody, usually followed daily inoculation for 3 to 5 days, subcutaneous administration possibly being more effective than intravenous. Development of sensitization was capricious. Immunized animals were protected against the toxic egg extracts, but not against attachment of larval ticks. Their sera contained complement-fixing and precipitating antibody, which was not destroyed at 56°C for 4 hr. Sensitizing antibody could not be demonstrated in these sera by direct skin test or passive transfer. Sensitized animals responded to intradermal injection of antigen by a characteristic skin reaction, and were protected against effective attachment of larval ticks. Sensitization could be transferred passively by subcutaneous inoculation of serum, and was not reduced by absorbing out any precipitating antibody that may have been present. The sensitizing antibody was destroyed by heating to 56°C for 4 hr. In passive transfer tests, sera of immunized animals blocked local reaction to antigen in sensitized animals, but the blocking antibody rapidly diffused from the site, whereas sensitizing antibody remained fixed. Electrophoretic evidence suggests that the immune antibodies are principally y-globulins, whereas the sensitizing antibodies are mainly s-globulins.
Sequence variation in the putative effector gene SIX8 facilitates molecular differentiation of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense

Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense (Foc), causal agent of fusarium wilt of banana, is among the most destructive pathogens of banana and plantain. The development of a molecular diagnostic capable of reliably distinguishing between the various races of the pathogen is of key importance to disease management. However, attempts to distinguish isolates using the standard molecular loci typically used for fungal phylogenetics have been complicated by a poor correlation between phylogeny and pathogenicity. Among the available alternative loci are several putative effector genes, known as SIX genes, which have been successfully used to differentiate the three races of F. oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici. In this study, an international collection of Foc isolates was screened for the presence of the putative effector SIX8. Using a PCR and sequencing approach, variation in Foc-SIX8 was identified which allowed race 4 to be differentiated from race 1 and 2 isolates, and tropical and subtropical race 4 isolates to be distinguished from one another.
A morphological and chemotaxonomic study of Teucrium arduini L. in Croatia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina

Abstract A study on the type and distribution of trichomes, morphological traits of the calyx and content of antioxidant compounds was conducted on Teucrium arduini L. populations in Croatia and in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Non-glandular trichomes, peltate trichomes and small capitate trichomes with four secretory head cells were observed on leaves, stems and calyx, whereas long capitate trichomes with a unicellular head cell were observed exclusively on the calyx. Average calyx length was 5.23–6.51 mm, calyx tube length 2.92–3.68 mm, lower lip length 1.25–2.42 mm and upper lip length 1.89–2.99 mm. The concentration of antioxidant compounds in all populations was the highest in leaves: total polyphenols (TP): 8.43–13.55%; tannins (T): 1.79–7.33%; flavonoids (TF): 0.28–0.40%; phenolic acids (TPA): 2.90–5.07%. Inflorescences generally contained the smallest amount of TP (5.89–11.42%), T (0.87–6.50%) and TPA (1.66–2.27%), while the smallest content of TF was obtained for the majority of stem samples (0.06–0.12%). The researched populations did not differ with regard to the type and overall distribution of the trichomes, though the Bosnian populations have a shorter calyx tube and longer upper lip. Some variability was observed in the TP and T content between sampling sites, while quite high variability was noted in the TF and TPA content.
The Relation between Habitat Availability and the Short‐Term Carrying Capacity of a Stream Reach for Smallmouth Bass

Abstract We used the behavioral carrying capacity (BCC) technique to test the assumption of the instream flow incremental methodology (IFIM) that a positive linear relation exists between available fish habitat (weighted usable area, WUA) and fish biomass for populations of smallmouth bass Micropterus dolomieu at carrying capacity. The BCC experiments were performed at various streamflows, and WUA was measured at each flow. In each BCC experiment, a section of a stream was overstocked with juvenile smallmouth bass, excess fish were trapped as they emigrated, and the remaining resident fish were collected after a 10-d period. We did not find a positive relation between WUA and BCC, and we found a negative relation between stream discharge and BCC. High BCC values recorded during low-flow experiments resulted from less upstream and downstream movement by juvenile smallmouth bass. Such behavioral changes may prevent smallmouth bass populations from being limited by habitat availability during low flows. The .
Practical network approaches and biologic interpretations of co-expression analyses in plants

The completion of plant genome sequences and advances in DNA microarray technology have contributed to the accumulation of a vast number of plant gene expression datasets. Co-expression analyses using such datasets can be used to predict the functions of many plant genes. A network approach has been incorporated into co-expression analysis to visualize gene-to-gene functional relatedness (co-expression network analysis). Applying of this analysis to plant gene expression datasets has led to the accumulation of large quantities of information on plant gene function. Plant gene expression datasets and genome-level information obtained using co-expression analyses in plants can be retrieved from various types of databases. Here, we summarize practical approaches for detecting co-expressed genes in plants and review recent progress in plant co-expression analyses.
Galactose stabilizes various missense mutants of α-galactosidase in Fabry disease

The effect of galactose on alpha-galactosidase missense mutants causing Fabry disease was investigated in the COS-1 cell expression system and lymphoblasts. Three mutant enzymes, A156V, L166V and Q279E, showed increases in activity and amount in COS-1 cells cultured with galactose. Another mutant without catalytic activity, C142Y, did not show any changes. In lymphoblasts cultured with galactose, the enzyme activity increased significantly in four classical Fabry patients with the respective mutations, A156V, L166V, G260A and G373S, and in three atypical Fabry patients with the respective mutations, Q279E, R301Q and M296I. Such an increase was not observed in the other four classical Fabry patients, with C142Y, E66Q/R112C, G328R and N320K, respectively. This suggests that many missense mutations in the alpha-galactosidase gene causing Fabry disease allow the expression of catalytically active mutant enzymes regardless of the clinical phenotype, which are rapidly degraded under physiological conditions and stabilized by galactose.
Mechanistic aspects of xanthophyll cycle‐dependent photoprotection in higher plant chloroplasts and leaves

Higher plants must dissipate absorbed light energy that exceeds the photosynthetic capacity to avoid molecular damage to the pigments and proteins that comprise the photosynthetic apparatus. Described in this minireview is a current view of the biochemical, biophysical and bioenergetic aspects of the primary photoprotective mechanism responsible for dissipating excess excitation energy as heat from photosystem II (PSII). The photoprotective heat dissipation is measured as nonphotochemical quenching (NPQ) of the PSII chlorophyll a (Chl a) fluorescence. The NPQ mechanism is controlled by the trans-thylakoid membrane pH gradient (ΔpH) and the special xanthophyll cycle pigments. In the NPQ mechanism, the de-epoxidized endgroup moieties and the trans-thylakoid membrane orientations of antheraxanthin (A) and zeaxanthin (Z) strongly affect their interactions with protonated chlorophyll binding proteins (CPs) of the PSII inner antenna. The CP protonation sites and steps are influenced by proton domains sequestered within the proteo-lipid core of the thylakoid membrane. Xanthophyll cycle enrichment around the CPs may explain why changes in the peripheral PSII antenna size do not necessarily affect either the concentration of the xanthophyll cycle pigments on a per PSII unit basis or the NPQ mechanism. Recent time-resolved PSII Chi a fluorescence studies suggest the NPQ mechanism switches PSII units to an increased rate constant of heat dissipation in a series of steps that include xanthophyll de-epoxidation, CP-protonation and binding of the xanthophylls to the protonated CPs; the concerted process can be described with a simple two-step, pH-activation model. The xanthophyll cycle-dependent NPQ mechanism is profoundly influenced by temperatures suboptimal for photosynthesis via their effects on the trans-thylakoid membrane energy coupling system. Further, low temperature effects can be grouped into either short term (minutes to hours) or long term (days to seasonal) series of changes in the content and composition of the PSII pigment-proteins. This minireview concludes by briefly highlighting primary areas of future research interest regarding the NPQ mechanism.
Determinants of bird species richness: role of climate and vegetation structure at a regional scale

We examined the respective roles of climate and vegetation structure on geographical variation in bird species richness. The Province of Buenos Aires (central‐eastern Argentina) was divided into 146 squares of 50 km on a side. For each square we evaluated the number of bird species, the value of thirteen climatic variables, and the value of a vegetation strata index. The climatic matrix was analyzed by Principal Component Analysis (PCA), and the first factors resulting from PCA were considered as multifactorial climatic gradients. Simple and Partial Correlation Analysis among bird species richness, vegetation strata, and the first two factors derived from PCA (65% of total variation) indicated that bird richness distribution was determined by the availability of vegetation strata, associated with different vegetation types that, at the same time, were influenced by the climatic conditions summarized in the first climatic factor (a gradient of precipitation, relative humidity, annual termical amplitude, and frost occurrence). This relationships reflect the complexity of factors that can act directly as well as indirectly on the geographical patterns in species richness. Also, we evaluated the importance of study scale comparing our results with previous studies at macrogeographic and local scales, found out that the vegetation structure was the principal determinant of bird species richness at this three geographical scales.
UTILISATION DU MODÈLE ÉCREVISSE COMME ESPÈCE BIOINDICATRICE DE POLLUTION. APPLICATION À L'ÉTUDE DES TRANSFERTS TROPHIQUES DU CADMIUM.

La bioaccumulation des metaux par les organismes aquatiques est directement liee aux modalites d’exposition : contamination directe via le milieu ou contamination trophique via l’ingestion de proies contaminees. Pour apprehender les perturbations des ecosystemes, il apparait important de determiner des especes « bioindicatrices » et de mesurer la part respective de ces deux voies d’exposition. Les travaux presentes concernent le transfert trophique du cadmium entre une proie, le bivalve benthique Corbicula fluminea, et un de ses predateurs, l’ecrevisse Astacus astacus. Afin d’insister sur l’importance des modalites de predation de ce crustace, nous avons realise 2 approches experimentales complementaires. La premiere concerne la consommation « naturelle » de proies contaminees pendant 30 jours d’exposition, la seconde consiste a introduire directement un bol alimentaire de proies contaminees dans l’estomac des ecrevisses par une technique de gavage. Les resultats montrent une difference importante entre ces deux approches experimentales.
Heterochronic hierarchies: Application and theory in evolution

Heterochrony is an abundant mode of evolution that is not limited to minor allometric changes, contrary to common belief. This misconception, along with confusion over terminology, has resulted from historically restricting our view to timing and rate changes that occur late in ontogeny and affect only major organs. By focusing on finer scales of space and time, at cellular levels and changes early in ontogeny, much of the confusion over heterochrony is eliminated. Heterochrony is redefined: change in the timing and rate of dialogue during cellular self‐assembly. Therefore it naturally follows that temporally‐related spatial nesting of growth fields occurs during ontogeny. Local allometric changes, as well as major morphological “leaps”; may be explained by such alterations. Following a fossil example of hierarchical heterochronic change, a nomenclatural classification is presented along with branching tree models to illustrate the processes.
Competition for Pollinators between Simultaneously Flowering Species

Species with similar floral structures and with similar flowering periods and time of pollen and nectar presentation may compete for the service of the same pollinators. The outcome of interspecific competition was analyzed with a simple two-species model. The reproductive success of a species depends on its relative frequency. The minority species will be at a reproductive handicap because it suffers a larger percentage of heterospecific pollinations. The reproductive handicap of the minority species leads to a smaller standing crop in the next generation, which in turn enhances the minority disadvantage. This should lead to rapid exclusion of the minority species from the immediate flora. An increase in pollinator constancy to a given plant species retards the elimination of the rarer species. Pollinator preference for a given plant species may enhance or retard this progression depending on whether the minority species is preferred, since preference alters the effective frequencies of the two species. The minority disadvantage is reduced if the competing species have different habitat requirements or if they form large patches of regular size.
Age and Growth of the White Perch Morone americana in the Lower Connecticut River

Abstract White perch age and growth data were obtained from 1,706 fish collected in a 63-km section of the lower Connecticut River between 1966 and 1969. Peak annulus formation occurred from late April to mid-May and fish formed their scales around 20 mm standard length. Most growth (53%) occurred in the first 2 yr of life. Growth rate was faster than in 15 other populations. Growth in the upper Connecticut River was similar to that of the species in the lower river for the first 2 yr of life, but thereafter none of the populations grew as fast as white perch in the lower Connecticut River. Longevity was lowest in the Connecticut River and other waters of Connecticut, maximum observed age being seven. Older fish have been found in all other white perch populations. The length-weight relationship was Log W(g) = -1.425 + 2.891 Log L (r = .96). There was a reduction in the average calculated length in all age classes in each succeeding year. This trend is directly opposite that of Lee's phenomenon and sugges.
A new technique to distinguish between immature and adult snakes and between males and females in six species of the neotropical colubrid snakes Philodryas

This paper reports the observed maximum and minimum SVL's of six species of the neotropical colubrid snakes Philodryas. A new sexing technique using the SVL: W‐ratio is presented, in addition to a proposed SVL critical value, which is useful in distinguishing between adult and immature snakes within the species studied. There is no sexual dimorphism of SVL x W for any of the studied species.
The Influence of Feral Goats on Koa Tree Reproduction in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

Goats were introduced to the Hawaiian Islands nearly 200 years ago. They have become wild and today roam in many Hawaiian ecosystems with dry—season climates from the lowlands to the mountains. A quantitative analysis was made to evaluate the influence of feral goats on tree reproduction of Acacia Koa var, hawaiiensis Rock in the mountain park—land ecosystem on the east flank of Mauna Loa. In this ecosystem, the endemic koa is the only important tree species. Here it reproduces vegetatively from root suckers. Suckering has resulted in the formation of small, dense tree colonies. Ten transects were established through a goat exclosure constucted 3 years earlier (in 1968). In addition, six transects were run across several typical nonfenced koa colonies. All suckers were counted, measured for height, and mapped. It was shown that koa reproduction below 10 cm height is abundant outside the exclosure and at the unfenced colonies, but almost totally missing are suckers between 0.5 m and 2 m height. However, hundreds of this height grow inside the goat exclosure. Most of the few trees of this height found outside the fenced area were dying or dead, showing that the current goat pressure is so high that the replacement cycle of koa is nearly disrupted. The vigorous growth of suckers inside the exclosure was a direct response to their release from goat browsing. In contrast, the high stocking density of suckers was a response to goat browsing prior to fence construction, since it was found that goat feeding of small herbaceous suckers increased suckering density at the fringes of the existing koa colonies. Trampling on shallow roots may contribute to an increase in suckering density. When released from goat pressure these suckers grow into stands probably much denser than those that existed before goats were introduced to the islands. From the viewpoint of community evolution on islands, this distortion of stocking density is unnatural.