Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Plant Chemistry, Insect Adaptations to Plant Chemistry, and Host Plant Utilization Patterns

The role of plant chemistry in determining the suitability of herbivore-free individuals within a plant population has rarely been investigated. In this study, we ex- amined the importance of furanocoumarin chemistry in determining distribution patterns of the parsnip webworm (Depressaria pastinacella) in a population of its host plant, wild parsnip (Pastinaca sativa). Parsnip webworms feed almost exclusively on wild parsnip, a species that produces furanocoumarins, compounds that are toxic or deterrent to many insects. Samples of plants hosting actively feeding parsnip webworms (attacked) and plants exhibiting no damage (unattacked) were collected in the field and brought to the laboratory, where they were examined for content of three furanocoumarins, xanthotoxin, bergapten, and sphondin. In addition, they were bioassayed with ultimate-instar parsnip webworms; growth, consumption rate, and rate of in vitro metabolism of furanocoumarins were com- pared between larvae fed undamaged tissue from attacked plants and larvae fed tissue from unattacked plants. Attacked plants contained less than half the amount of xanthotoxin and sphondin, two of the three furanocoumarins assayed, than did unattacked plants. Growth and consumption rates of larvae fed tissue of unattacked plants also were reduced signif- icantly (40 and 24%, respectively) compared to larvae fed attacked plants. Moreover, in vitro metabolism of xanthotoxin and bergapten was reduced by 50% in larvae fed tissue from unattacked plants compared to larvae fed tissues of attacked plants. Cluster analysis placed plants into three groups based on furanocoumarin chemistry. One group, charac- terized by high concentrations of all three furanocoumarins, contained only unattacked individuals. A second group consisting of plants intermediate in furanocoumarin concen- tration, contained predominantly unattacked individuals, and the last group, characterized by low concentrations of all three furanocoumarins, was dominated by attacked individuals. When larvae are fed plant tissues with below-average total furanocoumarin concentrations, consumption rate is the most important larval characteristic determining growth rate. However, when larvae are fed plant tissues with above-average concentrations of furan- ocoumarins, the capacity to metabolize furanocoumarins is also important. These results indicate that plant chemistry, relative to larval ability to tolerate plant chemicals, can to a large extent explain the distribution of this insect within a population of its host plant.
Long‐term monitoring of endoparasites in birds‐of‐paradise at Al Wabra Wildlife Preservation, Doha

We evaluated results of over 4400 documented faecal parasitological examinations between 2000 and 2007 in more than 90 individuals of six species of Birds of Paradise (BoP). Between 2000 and 2007, 83.2% of investigated samples were negative for parasites, and the number of negative samples increased consistently over the years; in positive samples, the proportion of Capillaria sp decreased (from 100% to 4.8%) and that of Coccidia sp increased (from 0% to 67.5%). Differences in prevalence of endoparasites between species, epidemiological units (houses) and sexes were found. The Twelve-wired bird-of-paradise Seleucidis melanoleuca, which has the highest reported proportion of insects in its natural diet, had the highest prevalence of tapeworms, indicating a high propensity to ingest intermediate hosts. Coccidia sp were particularly prevalent in an epidemiological unit with high exposure to free-ranging birds. The number of offspring per female and year correlated with the percentage of negative samples taken in the according year and species. The results indicate that consistent antiparasitic management leads to a reduction of parasite species; that parasites with intermediate hosts are more difficult to control; that exposure to free-ranging birds should be minimized; and that a tight antiparasitic management potentially contributes to the improved breeding success in bird species.
Conservation status of imperiled north American freshwater and diadromous fishes

Abstract This is the third compilation of imperiled (i.e., endangered, threatened, vulnerable) plus extinct freshwater and diadromous fishes of North America prepared by the American Fisheries Society'S Endangered Species Committee. Since the last revision in 1989, imperilment of inland fishes has increased substantially. This list includes 700 extant taxa representing 133 genera and 36 families, a 92% increase over the 364 listed in 1989. The increase reflects the addition of distinct populations, previously non-imperiled fishes, and recently described or discovered taxa. Approximately 39% of described fish species of the continent are imperiled. There are 230 vulnerable, 190 thretened, and 280 endangered extant taxa, and 61 taxa presumed extinct or extirpated from nature. Of those that were imperiled in 1989, most (89%) are the same or worse in conservation status; only 6% have improved in status, and 5% were delisted for various reasons. Habitat degradation and nonindigenous species are the main threat.
Coral health levels of wild ornamental coral in East Belitung waters, Indonesia

Abstract. Johan O, Ginanjar R, Priyadi A. 2015. Coral health levels of wild ornamental coral in East Belitung waters, Indonesia. Nusantara Bioscience 7: 133-138. The distribution of coral diseases has been reported in waters having coral reef in the world including Indonesia, but there had been no report from East Belitung, Indonesia. This study was conducted on 25 March 2014 and on 26-27 April 2014 in nine locations, offshore of Belitung, namely in the Islands of Memperak, Bakau, Buku Limau, Pesambung, Muranai, Sembilan, Berlian, Tempuling, and Gresik. The objective of this study was to distinguish the levels of ornamental coral health due to infection and other coral health compromises. Data were collected using line transect method to estimate coral cover condition and using belt transect method to estimate coral disease prevalence. The results showed that the Black Band Disease (BBD), White Syndrome (WS), and Skeleton Eroding Band (SEB) were the main diseases, while the coral health compromisers were competition among coral, algae, sedimentation and pigmentation response. This is the first report of SEB disease from East Belitung, while other diseases have been found frequently. The prevalence of diseases was categorized as normal, and so, no management intervention is needed.
The growth, composition and nutrient uptake of spring wheat: Effects of fertilizer-N, irrigation and CCC on dry matter and N, P, K, Ca, Mg, and Na

SUMMARY Kloka spring wheat grown on a sandy-loam soil was given 50, 100, 151 or 201 kg N/ha as fertilizer, was irrigated during drought or not irrigated, and was sprayed with CCC (2-chloroethyltrimethylammonium chloride) or not sprayed. Samples, taken approximately weekly from brairding to heading and less frequently to maturity measured the production of dry matter. The dried samples were analysed for percentage N, P, K, Ca, Mg and Na and the uptakes of these were calculated to measure the effects of treatments on the composition of the crop and the weights of nutrients it contained. Increasing amounts of fertilizer-N up to 151 kg N/ha increased the maximum weight of straw without irrigation and up to 201 kg N/ha with irrigation; similarly, maximum weights of ears were with 100 kg N/ha without irrigation and 151 kg N/ha with irrigation. The maximum weight of straw was at flowering and of ears at maturity. Irrigation increased yields of straw and ears, more with the two larger than with the two smaller amounts of fertilizer-N. Spraying with CCC decreased the yield of straw, and did not affect the yield of ears. Increasing amounts of fertilizer-N increased percentage nutrients in the green crop and in the straw, and of N, P and Mg in the ears. Effects of irrigation and spraying with CCC on composition differed between nutrients and between ears and straw, sometimes increasing, sometimes decreasing, and sometimes having no effect, on percentage in dry matter. Increasing fertilizer-N increased the maximum weight of N, K, Ca and Na in the crop. P and Mg increased with up to 151 kg N/ha, but was no more with 201 kg N/ha. Maximum weight of N, P, Mg and Na was found at or near maturity, of K at heading and of Ca at flowering.
First Record of the Family Otopheidomenidae (Acarina Mesostigmata) in Australia, with Description of Nabiseius melinae sp.n.

The family Otopheidomenidae is recorded from Australia for the first time on the basis of Nabiseius melinae sp.n. , collected from Creontiades sp. (Hemiptera: Miridae), on which it is presumed to be parasitic. A checklist of the family Otopheidomenidae is provided.
Estimating the Diet of a Sluggish Predator from Field Observations

Predation often occurs slowly, so that observing a sufficiently large sample of entire predation episodes represents an inconvenient means of quantitatively estimating the predator's diet. Fortunately, related data are usually available specifying the proportions of predators found feeding on each prey type. We demonstrate how dividing the observed proportion of all predators found feeding on a given prey type by the average contact time required to consume a single item of that prey type produces an estimate of the relative frequency of the prey in the predator's diet. The analogous procedure, when based upon residence times in the gut, serves to derive a quantitative estimate of diet from numerical data on gut contents. Key words: dietary analysis, feeding frequencies, stomach contents, predator–prey contact times
Phaeocollybia longistipitata sp. nov. from Costa Rica

Phaeocollybia longistipitata is described as a new species from the Talamanca Mountains of Costa Rica. Macroscopically, the taxon is easily recognized both by its small and slender stature and the very long, equally cylindrical stipe lacking a distinctive pseudorhiza. This differs markedly from the gradual or abruptly tapering to fusoid pseudorhiza shape usually found in the genus. Distinctive microscopic features are the amygdaliform roughened basidiospore with an unusually low apical callus and the presence of clamp connections.
Desempenho de cultivares de tomateiro em sistema orgânico sob cultivo protegido

Organic agriculture in Brazil has been increasing about 30% per year over the last few years, since consumers are seeking for healthier foods, i.e. nutritious and free of pesticide residues. Among organically grown vegetable crops, tomato is an attractive economic opportunity for growers. However, the lack of information about management practices and adapted cultivars to organic production systems under protected cultivation are pointed out as important constraints that prevents this activity to expand. This work aimed at evaluating the performance of indeterminate tomato cultivars in organic management systems in unheated plastic greenhouse. In both experiments tomato plants were staked. Plant spacing was 1.5 m between rows and 0.35 m between plants. They were planted in double line and spaced 0.8 m between lines and 0.6 m between plants (about 20,000 plants ha-1). The experiment was set up in a randomized complete block design, with four replications and eight treatments (cultivars: Avalon, Colibri, HTX-5415, HTX-8027, Sahel, San Marzano, San Vito, and Jane). Sahel hybrid exhibited an outstanding performance for marketable yield under organic cultivation. Tomato pinworm (Tuta absoluta) was a serious limiting pest for organically grown tomatoes, responding for 17% of damage in the fruits harvested from the evaluated cultivars.
Effects of a trawling moratorium on the breeding success of the Yellow‐legged Gull Larus cachinnans

The establishment of a two month commercial fishing moratorium, which overlapped each year with different stages of the breeding cycle of the Yellow-legged Gull Larus cachinnans at the Ebro Delta, Spain, provided the opportunity of testing the effects of food limitation on the breeding success of this species. The study was carried out in 1993, when the chick rearing stage occurred with normal commercial fishing activity and in 1994, when the chick rearing stage overlapped with the trawling moratorium. We recorded diet of the chicks, breeding phenology, clutch size, egg volume, hatching success and productivity of adult birds. There was a highly significant difference in the diet of the chicks between the two years and significantly lower productivity in 1994, whilst the other parameters examined did not change. These results show that a dependence on discards from commercial fishing activities may be a limiting factor in the breeding success of this seabird.
The ecology and phylogeny of cyanobacterial symbionts in sponges

Cyanobacteria have flexible photosynthetic apparatus that allows them to utilise light at very low levels, making them ideal symbionts for a wide range of organisms. Sponge associations with cyanobacteria are common in all areas of the world, but little is known about them. Recent research has revealed new cyanobacterial symbionts that may be host specific and two major clades, ‘Candidatus Synechococcus spongiarum’ and Oscillatoria spongeliae, that occur in widely separated geographic locations in unrelated sponge hosts. These clades may represent a cluster of closely related symbiont species, or may be single species that are maintained by periods of horizontal transmission over large distances. Erroneous assumptions regarding the importance of cyanobacterial symbionts to the survival of individual sponges or species may arise from cyanosponges being deemed to be phototrophic or mixotrophic without studies of their photophysiology. This review brings together recent and past research on cyanobacterial associations with sponges, including their biogeography, phylogeny, host specificity, and ecology.
Survey on the digenean and monogenean helminthes of Clupeidae (Teleostes) from southern part of Caspian Sea.

The helminthes parasites fauna of 313 specimens of Caspian herrings (Clupeonella cultriventris, Clupeonella engrauliformis, Clupeonella grimmi) caught from catching localities situated in southeast of Caspian Sea Were investigated during winter 2008 until autumn 2009. A total of 3 helminthes species were found. They were including Pseudopentagramma symmetrica from intestine (mid gut, hind gut and cecae) Bunocotyle cingulata in intestine, Mazocreas alosae the only monogenean with Marine origin in the gills of infected specimens. In addition to two zoonotic species including Contracecum sp. and Anisakis sp. in digestive system, muscle and ovary and an Acanthocephal, Corynosoma strumosum in intestine which were previously reported. We can conclude that the main characteristic of the helminthes parasites community of Clupeidae species studied is the dominance of the endoparasites species due mainly to the digenean Pseudopentagramma symmetrica and Bunocotyle cingulata and the relative scarcity of ectohelminthes fauna. In this paper the latest data of helminthes fauna and community ecology of digenean of Clupeidae species are presented and the community structure of Pseudopentagramma symmetrica is discussed.
Selfing Rate in an Alfalfa Seed Production Field Pollinated with Leafcutter Bees

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) self-pollination (i.e., selfing) causes inbreeding depression. Determining factors influencing alfalfa seed production selfing rates could inform potential mitigation strategies to reduce selfing. We measured in situ selfing rates from seed sampled from random plants in a commercial alfalfa seed production field pollinated by leafcutter bees (Megachile rotundata F.). Alfalfa selfing rates were estimated by genotyping ~24 progeny from each of 38 maternal plants. Maternal plant distance to pollinator domicile, pod position on racemes, raceme position on stems, and seeds per pod were noted during seed and tissue collection. Selfing rates averaged 11.8% with individual selfing rates ranging from 0% to 52.2%. Seed from pods collected from upper parts of racemes had lower selfing rates (9.1%) compared to pods from lower parts of racemes (15.1%). When “low” self-compatible (<15% selfing rate in 3+ seeded pods) and “high” self-compatible (≥15% selfing rate in 3+ seeded pods) plants were examined separately, however, this pattern remained significant only for low self-compatible plants (upper raceme selfing rates 3.1% vs. lower raceme 8.3%). Low self-compatible plants had higher selfing rates in 1-2 seeded pods (12.9%) compared to 3+ seeded pods (3.8%) while high self-compatible plants showed no differences in selfing rates based on seed number per pod. Genetic differences for self-pollen’s ability to outcompete outcross pollen when growing down the style best explained observed differences between low and high self-compatible plants. Best management practices and selection could help reduce but not eliminate selfing in alfalfa seed production fields. H. Riday and J.A. Raasch, U.S. Dairy Forage Research Center, USDAARS, Madison, WI 53706; P. Reisen, Forage Genetics, Nampa, ID 83605; E. Santa-Martinez, Dep. of Entomology, Univ. of WisconsinMadison, Madison, WI 53706, and J. Brunet, USDA-ARS, VCRU, Dep. of Entomology, Univ. of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706. Mention of trade names or commercial products in this publication is solely for the purpose of providing specific information and does not imply recommendation or endorsement by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Received 10 Apr. 2014. Accepted 16 Dec. 2014. *Corresponding author (Heathcliffe.Riday@ars.usda.gov). Abbreviations: PCR, polymerase chain reaction; SSR, simple sequence repeats. Published in Crop Sci. 55:1087–1095 (2015). doi: 10.2135/cropsci2014.04. 0295 © Crop Science Society of America | 5585 Guilford Rd., Madison, WI 53711 USA All rights reserved. No part of this periodical may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. Permission for printing and for reprinting the material contained herein has been obtained by the publisher.
Distribution of Selected Timber Species of a Central African Rain Forest in Relation to Topography and Soil Heterogeneity: Implications for Forest Management

Several studies have looked at the relative importance of habitat association of tree species in maintaining tropical tree species diversity at a variety of scales including the importance of edaphic factors. The objective of this study was to test hypotheses on the distribution of important timber species in relation to topographic position and soil chemical parameters. Tree species from a Central African rain forest were selected within a 100-ha plot in southwestern Central Africa Republic. Individuals of Lovoa trichilioides, Nesogordonia papaverifera, Pterocarpus soyauxii, Terminalia superba ≥ 10 cm diameter at breast height (dbh) were inventoried then mapped to topography using a survey laser. A torus translation was performed to test for associations between tree species distribution and topographic position as well as soil mineral nutrients for three of the four species. Trees ≥ 30 cm dbh of all three species showed no association with topographic position. However, the distribution of T. superba was significantly associated with high concentrations of soil mineral nutrients. Evidence from mineral nutrient levels indicates that extrapolating topography to define habitat and soil type can be very misleading. Because many of Central Africa's most important timber species have distributions linked to edaphic factors, it is clear that soils must be considered equally as much as topographic position for management plans of logging concessions within Central African tropical forests.
Can behaviour buffer the impacts of climate change on an arid-zone bird?

Behavioural thermoregulation, particularly the use of cool microclimates, is one method by which organisms could avoid the worst effects of climate warming. However, retreat into cool microsites, e.g. shady vegetation or burrows, may carry important lost-opportunity costs. These could include reduced opportunity for foraging, breeding or territorial defence, each carrying implications for fitness. We investigated patterns of microclimate use and foraging behaviour by Southern Fiscals Lanius collaris in the Kalahari. We used Ivlev's electivity index to assess preference of breeding males for perch types with different thermal properties. We found that Southern Fiscals preferred to hunt from high, sunny perches at all times, except on hot afternoons (air temperature >35 °C), when they switched their preference to high, shaded perches. Black-bulb thermometers indicated shaded perches were always cooler than sunny perches, especially on hot afternoons. Therefore, Southern Fiscals could reduce thermoregulatory costs by switching foraging locations. However, Southern Fiscal foraging success rates were highest when hunting from sunny perches, and were reduced by c. 50% when hunting from shaded perches. Our data suggest that Southern Fiscals were making a trade-off on hot afternoons, compromising foraging intake in return for thermal benefits. We discuss potential costs and consequences of this trade-off under climate change.
Hypotheses on Seed Size: Tests Using the Semiarid Flora of Western New South Wales, Australia

Seed size varies over several orders of magnitude in any one community. We outline a number of hypotheses that could account for this variation, briefly discuss the reasoning and evidence underlying each of these hypotheses, and then test each hypothesis with a database of 248 species from the semiarid woodlands of western New South Wales, Australia. Information on seed weight, growth form, plant longevity, height, dispersal mode, dormancy, and germination season was used. We considered not only pairwise relationships between seed weight and each other variable, but also alternative hypotheses whereby relationships arose as a result of indirect correlations through other variables. The strongest associations of seed size were with plant height and growth form. The seed-size variation accounted for by growth form largely overlapped with that accounted for by plant height, but each also accounted for some further variation independently of the other. Of the five hypotheses tested, the correlative patterns were inconsistent for two. Two others showed the predicted pattern, but these patterns could alternatively be interpreted as arising from secondary correlation via the combination of plant height and growth form. Only plant height, growth form, and dispersal mode had significant associations with seed size independent of the other attributes measured.