Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Appropriateness of full‐, partial‐ and no‐dispersal scenarios in climate change impact modelling

Species distribution models (SDMs) generally use correlative relationships between the species location and the associated environment to project the species potential distribution under climate change. While projecting a future suitable climatic space is relatively simple using SDMs, predicting a species ability to occupy that space relies on understanding dispersal capacity; a lack of knowledge about species‐specific dispersal ability, varying geographical contexts and technical constraints of simple SDMs has limited the consideration of dispersal in most studies. We review the current treatment of dispersal in SDM studies addressing the effects of climate change and explore how incorporating ‘partial‐dispersal’ scenarios could lead to more realistic projections of species distributions into the future.
Sample design for quantitative estimation of sedentary organisms of coral reefs

Various methods of sampling sedentary organisms on Australian coral reefs have been examined and a standardized photographic procedure has been suggested to suit the needs of an ecological study of Acanthaster planci and Linckia laevigata. To obtain reliable estimates of percentage cover of sedentary organisms and their spatial distribution metre square quadrats should be taken every fourth metre along transects orientated at right angles to the reef perimeter.
Identifying resistance genes to Leptosphaeria maculans in Australian Brassica napus cultivars based on reactions to isolates with known avirulence genotypes

Abstract. Blackleg disease, caused by the fungus Leptosphaeria maculans, is the major disease of canola (Brassica napus) worldwide. A set of 12 Australian L. maculans isolates was developed and used to characterise seedling resistance in 127 Australian cultivars and advanced breeding lines. Plant mortality data used to assess the effectiveness of seedling resistance in canola growing regions of Australia showed that Rlm3 and Rlm4 resistance genes were less effective than other seedling resistance genes. This finding was consistent with regional surveys of the pathogen, which showed the frequency of Rlm4-attacking isolates was >70% in fungal populations over a 10-year period. Differences in adult plant resistance were identified in a subset of Australian cultivars, indicating that some adult gene resistance is isolate-specific.
MELANIN-BASED BLACK PLUMAGE COLORATION IS RELATED TO REPRODUCTIVE INVESTMENT IN CARDUELINE FINCHES

Abstract Avian color ornaments produced by different mechanisms (i.e., melanin, carotenoid, and structural colors) can communicate different sets of information due to differences in their condition or developmental constraints. Although this suggests that different color signals should be analyzed separately, few comparative studies have focused on specific types of coloration. In cardueline finches, interspecific variation in overall plumage brightness (which integrates all types of coloration) was previously shown to be affected by sexual selection and to covary with fecundity and parental care. Using a phylogenetic comparative approach, we extended this line of research and tested whether a specific component of plumage ornamentation, the melanin-based black frontal coloration of finches, showed a similar association with reproductive effort. We found that the extent of male melanization and melanin dichromatism increased in species with reduced clutch sizes, whereas female melanization was negatively correlated with incubation length. These results remained significant when we controlled for the effects of several ecological variables, and were also consistent between two alternative multivariate model-selection approaches. Our results are consistent with the hypothesis that interspecific variation in melanization may be related to fecundity and parental care through trade-offs between investment in sexual signals and parental efforts.
Differential Prey use by Male and Female Cougars in Washington

ABSTRACT Male and female predators are often assumed to have the same effects on prey. Because of differences in body size and behavior, however, male and female predators may use different species, sexes, and ages of prey, which could have important implications for wildlife conservation and management. We tested for differential prey use by male and female cougars (Puma concolor) from 2003 to 2008 in Washington State. We predicted that male cougars would kill a greater proportion of larger and older prey (i.e., adult elk [Cervus elaphus]), whereas females would kill smaller and younger prey (i.e., elk calves, mule deer [Odocoileus hemionus]). We marked cougars with Global Positioning System (GPS) radio collars and investigated 436 predation sites. We located prey remains at 345 sites from 9 male and 9 female cougars. We detected 184 mule deer, 142 elk, and 17 remains from 4 other species. We used log-linear modeling to detect differences in species and age of prey killed among cougar reproductive classes. Solitary females and females with dependent offspring killed more mule deer than elk (143 vs. 83, P < 0.01), whereas males killed more elk than mule deer (59 vs. 41, P < 0.01). Proportionately, males killed 4 times more adult elk than did females (24% vs. 6% of kills) and females killed 2 times more adult mule deer than did males (26% vs. 15% of kills). Managers should consider the effects of sex of predator in conservation and management of ungulates, particularly when managing for sensitive species.
The Influence of Achene Type and Plant Density on Growth and Biomass Allocation in the Heterocarpic Annual Catanache lutea (Asteraceae)

Catananche lutea is a heterocarpic species with a complex fruit polymorphism in terms of shape, size, mass, dispersal, and germination. This species produces two types of subterranean achenes (amphic-1 and amphic-2) and three types of aerial achenes (peripheral, intermediate, and central). Both types of subterranean achenes are larger than aerial achenes and do not disperse; their germination produces plants in dense clusters, which results in competition among them. Aerial achenes are smaller, can disperse, and produce plants that, under normal conditions, do not compete. We examined the effect of plant density on growth and biomass allocation and studied competition at variable densities in C. lutea plants produced by amphic-1, peripheral aerial and central aerial achenes. Plants from the different types of achenes were grown at different densities (two, four, and eight plants/pot) in pure and mixed stand in a greenhouse. In pure stands, the effect of competition was similar for the plants produced by amphic-1 and peripheral aerial achenes at the densities studied. Density stress was found to affect vegetative biomass markedly, the number of subterranean capitula and, especially, that of aerial capitula. The plants produced by these two types of achenes are initially more vigorous and flower earlier than those produced by central aerial achenes, in which an increased plant density affects moreover other variables (achene biomass). These plants respond differently to density stress from those produced by amphic-1 and peripheral achenes. Competition has different effects on the production of subterranean and aerial achenes. The negative influence of density stress on the number of aerial capitula and achenes is much more marked relative to subterranean capitula and achenes. When the environment remains stable, plants from subterranean achenes gather in dense clusters, and competition among them favors the production of subterranean (nondispersing) fruits over aerial (dispersing) fruits. The tests conducted on mixed cultures revealed that the plants from subterranean achenes exhibited a higher relative competitive ability; by contrast, plants from central aerial achenes were the least competitive.
Behaviourally mediated suppression of reproduction in female primates

Social dominance hierarchies are commonly found in many different primate societies. One effect of such a social system is the suppression of reproduction among socially subordinate individuals. Socially-induced suppression of reproduction is more marked among subordinate females than subordinate males. Dominant females produce more offspring than subordinate females. A spectrum of reproductive deficiencies contributes to the poor reproductive performance of subordinate females in different primate species. At best, suppression of reproductive output in female subordinates is manifest as a low rate of survival of their infants. At worst, it leads to complete inhibition of ovulation and total infertility. This paper considers why, how and at what physiological level dominant females suppress reproduction in female subordinates, and then concentrates on the specific physiological mechanisms that impose inhibition of ovulation in subordinate female marmoset monkeys. With stress becoming increasingly implicated with infertility in women, understanding natural stress-related infertility in subordinate female primates may generate invaluable information about the physiological transcription of stress into infertility.
Phylogenetic systematics and historical biogeography of the Neotropical electric fish Sternopygus (Teleostei: Gymnotiformes)

Abstract Interrelationships among 10 extant species of the Neotropical electric fish Sternopygus are inferred from phylogenetic analysis of 66 morphological characters, including features of pigmentation, body proportions, meristics and osteology. A total of 287 lots containing 677 specimens were examined. The important findings of this study are: (1) S. branco is the most basal species unique among congeners in being restricted to whitewater rivers in the Central Amazon Basin, (2) S. sp. ‘cau’ from the Rio Caura of Venezuela is the sister taxon to (S. obtusirostris + S. astrabes), (3) S. castroi is a junior synonym of S. astrabes, (4) S. macrurus is the sister taxon to (S. arenatus + S. xingu + S. aequilabiatus species group) and (5) S. arenatus is the sister taxon to (S. xingu + S. aequilabiatus species group). A key to the adults of Sternopygus species is provided. Several features of S. astrabes previously thought to be plesiomorphic are now considered derived, including: short body cavity, paedomorphic cranial osteology, and the habitat restriction to terra firme streams. Sternopygus species assemblages in the Pacific (trans‐Andean) and Atlantic (cis‐Andean) slopes of northwestern South America are not monophyletic and do not result exclusively from local or regional radiations. The clade composed of S. macrurus, S. arenatus, S. xingu and the S. aequilabiatus species group is inferred to predate the Middle Miocene uplift of the Eastern Cordillera (c. 11.8–12.2 Ma). As currently recognized S. macrurus is the most widely distributed and most eurytopic gymnotiform species, inhabiting all hydrogeographical regions of tropical South America and most lowland aquatic habitats. Other Sternopygus species have much more restricted geographic and ecological distributions. Perceptions of phylogenetic patterns in Sternopygus are shown to be highly sensitive to taxon sampling.
Lipase-Catalyzed Solid Phase Synthesis of Sugar Fatty Acid Esters

A wide variety of unprotected sugars were acylated in high-yields with non-activated fatty acids in a regioselective manner using commercial lipase preparations. The reactions were performed in a (mainly) solid phase in the presence of an organic solvent, serving as adjuvant to maintain a small catalytic liquid phase. Optimum conditions were found using solvents with a low log P value such as acetone or dioxane, lipase from Candida antarctica (Novo SP 435) and saturated fatty acids with chain lengths from C12 to C18 as acyl donors. The esterification ofβ-D(+)-glucose with palmitic acid resulted in up to 86% conversion after 48 h and a productivity of 0.4 mmol 6-O-β-D(+)-glucose palmitate per gram lipase and hour. α-D(+)-Glucose, sorbitol, D(+)-mannose and mannitol were also successfully acylated.
The Coincidence of Mimicries and Other Misleading Coincidences

In a recent note in The American Naturalist Barnard (1979) criticized the concept of social mimicry as described and interpreted by early workers (Moynihan 1960, 1962, 1968; Cody 1969, 1973a, 1973b). This concept was originally used to explain certain remarkable convergences of bright or otherwise conspicuous colors (including black and white) among not particularly closely related species of birds which often associate with one another in mixed flocks. It was hypothesized that the similarities of color facilitated the associations, and that they had been favored by natural selection because they had this particular effect. Barnard proposed another explanation, apparently as an alternative. He sugge.sted that the resemblances which have been ascribed to social mimicry are not only protective but that at least some of them are examples of Batesian and/or Mfillerian mimicry. The suggestion isnot entirely new since the possibility of such functions was mentioned in several of the papers cited above. The hypothesis of social mimicry still seems to me to be plausible, insofar as it goes and if phrased in suitably cautious terms. Barnard's critique, however, does provide a convenient occasion to review some of the factors that influence or control divergence and convergence of superficial characters among associated species, and to comment upon the kinds of evidence that may or may not be pertinent in the context. One should begin with a brief consideration of problems of communication (details and references in Moynihan 1970, 1978, 1979). Why are conspicuous colors selected for in the first place? The answer must depend upon the sensory capabilities of the animals involved, as well as on their biological and physical environments. Vivid colors can subserve a variety of functions, imultaneously or sequentially. In many species of birds they may appear, to a human observer, to have little to do with either interspecific gregariousness or predation. They may seem to be primarily concerned with intraspecific display (consider the peacock) or with the maintenance of reproductive isolation (e.g., the breeding plumages of the males of holarctic ducks). The colors must also, however, have multiple consequences. They can hardly fail to be noticed by predators and therefore to have eventual effects upon defenses against predation. They may also have repercussions upon other interspecific relations. There are constraints upon the consequences. Resources are limited; both time and energy are usually in short supply. Any time or energy saved by a more efficient performance of one activity can be used to advantage for some other purpose, for rest and recuperation ifnothing else. One animal always occupies or preoccupies ome resource-space at least-which would otherwise be available for use by another animal. Neighbors are seldom irrelevant to one another. Thus, there will often be selection pressure in favor of making the interactions between any two animals as rapid and as definite, positive or negative, as possible in the
Development of Fuzzy Risk Score Assessment Framework for Sanctions Screening

Analyzing Risk Scoring Assessment for sanctions screening is necessary to evaluate the risk weight rate of data elements involved during screening. Sanctions Screening is the process of reviewing sanctions lists to check if any investor in a fund is involved in fraud by matching the investor information (as Stop Descriptor) with the Sanctions List which contains the names of individuals who are known to be involved in financial crime or terrorism. This paper aims to develop a Fuzzy Risk Score Assessment Framework that will be used in building an appropriate fuzzy expert system to logically distribute the weight rate of risk scoring components with different match comparison result. The study will also present the inherent capability of Edit Distance algorithm or the Damerau-Levenshtein Distance algorithm to address many common misspellings and typos in string matching through insertion, deletion, transposition and substitution which are considered as a significant component of fuzzy possible success rating.
The effect of Koji-feed (fermented distillery by-product) on the growth performance and nutrient metabolizability in broiler

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the Koji-feed made by fermentation using Aspergillus awamori as a feed additive. Metabolizable energy of Koji-feed was also measured. In experiment 1, effects of the diets containing 0.05 and 1.0% Koji-feed on performance and abdominal fat content in broiler chicks were tested. In experiment 2, metabolizable energy of Koji-feed was measured in addition to reexamining the effect of the diet containing 1.0% Koji-feed to confirm the growth promoting effect of Koji-feed. In experiment 1, it was shown that Koji-feed supplementation improved body weight gain significantly. No effects on feed intake and feed efficiency were observed. Carcass weight was significantly increased and the breast muscle weight tended to be improved (p<0.14) by 0.05% Koji-feed. Abdominal fat and plasma triglyceride were decreased significantly by 1.0% Koji-feed. In experiment 2, metabolizable energy of Koji-feed was estimated to be 1070 kcal/kg and the effects of 1.0% Koji-feed was consistent with those of experiment 1. In conclusion, the present results showed that Koji-feed could improve broiler performance and decrease abdominal fat content.
Laminiscus n.g. (Monogenea: Gyrodactylidae) from capelin, Mallotus villosus (Muller), (Pisces: Osmeridae) in the northwest Atlantic with redescriptions of L. gussevi n. comb., Gyrodactyloides petruschewskii, and G. andriaschewi

Three species of viviparous monogenea, Gyrodactyloides petruschewskii Bykhovskii, 1947, G. andriaschewi Bykhovskii and Polyanskii, 1953, and Laminiscus gussevi (Bykhovskii and Polyanskii, 1953) n. comb. , from the gills of capelin, Mallotus villosus (Muller), taken in the northwest Atlantic and Icelandic waters are redescribed in order to provide a better understanding of the functional morphology of the haptor. Laminiscus n.g. is proposed with L. gussevi n. comb. , which is transferred from Gyrodactyloides, as type-species. Laminiscus is distinguished by having a sclerotized plate which supports the haptor and in lacking the ventral suction disc and associated sclerites which characterize Gyrodactyloides. Two other species, which do not parasitize capelin, are included in Laminiscus: L. strelkowi (Bykhovskii and Polyanskii, 1953) n. comb. , and L. dogiele (Zhukov, 1960) n. comb. An emended generic diagnosis for Gyrodactyloides is included. All three specific reports are new geographic records.
Toward a quantitative nutritional ecology: the right‐angled mixture triangle

A recent area of progress in nutritional ecology is a growing awareness that nutritional phenotypes are best understood in a multidimensional context, where foraging is viewed as a process of balancing the intake and use of multiple nutrients to satisfy complex and dynamic nutrient needs. Numerous laboratory studies have shown that this view can yield novel insights into unresolved questions and provide a framework for generating new hypotheses. By contrast, progress with this multidimensional view has been slow in the arena of ultimate interest to functional biologists, the field. One reason for this is that the Geometric Framework for nutrition that has been extensively used in laboratory experiments focuses on amounts of nutrients (e.g., required, eaten, or retained), and such data are typically very difficult or impossible to collect for most free-ranging animals. Further, many problems in field-based nutritional ecology involve comparisons of mixtures that are expressed as proportions (e.g., food, diet, body, or fecal compositions), rather than absolute amounts. As yet, however, no geometric framework has been established in nutritional ecology for this. Here I recommend an approach for the geometric analysis of nutritional mixtures, and illustrate its use in a variety of contexts by reanalyzing published data. Despite its simplicity, this approach holds considerable promise for furthering the study of field-based nutritional ecology.
Plant Population Density and Maturity Effects on Profitability of Short‐Season Maize Production in the Midsouthern USA

Maize (Zea mays L.) production in the Midsouthern USA has increased dramatically in recent years, primarily as a function of growing nematode pressure in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) and soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr. ] fields as well as the increasing yield potential of maize hybrids. Traditionally, 112- to 120-d maturity hybrids (full season) have been grown using 76-cm row spacing at population densities of ≈6 to 8 plants m -2 . These hybrids, however, reach the reproductive phase of development during the period of a typical midseason drought. Shorter-season (<110-d maturity) hybrids, by contrast, avoid a large portion of this drought and require substantially less irrigation. The yield potentials of short-season hybrids are similar to those of full-season hybrids, but they require substantially narrower rows (50 cm) and increased populations (10 to 12 plants m -2 ). In this report, economic trade-offs among irrigation, seeding rates, yield potential, and seasonal market price trends for production of short-season hybrids are evaluated. Shorter-season hybrids were comparable to longer-season hybrids in terms of yield potential and partial returns. In general, profit-maximizing seeding rates were higher for shorter-season hybrids, and higher seasonal prices were insufficient to offset higher seeding costs and thereby change optimal hybrid choice. While irrigation use was curtailed with shorter-season hybrids, irrigation savings, at current irrigation costs, were insufficient to offset higher seeding costs. Finally, using a simple decision rule of picking maize hybrid by selecting top-yielding hybrids is challenged in this study as lower-yielding hybrids with lower seeding requirements exhibited higher comparative returns than the highest-yielding hybrids at one of the locations.
International bond diversification strategies: the impact of currency, country, and credit risk

We investigate the incremental role of emerging market debt and corporate bonds in internationally diversified government bond portfolios. Contrary to earlier results, we find that international diversification among government bonds does not yield significant diversification benefits. This result is obtained using mean–variance spanning and intersection tests, with restrictions for short sales, both for currency unhedged and hedged internationally developed market government bonds. Currency hedged international corporate bonds in turn do offer some diversification benefits, and emerging market debt, in particular, significantly shifts the mean–variance frontier for a developed market investor. Since especially unconstrained mean–variance spanning and intersection tests can indicate significant diversification benefits, but lead to frontier portfolios with extreme weights, we also consider some ex-ante global government bond portfolio strategies. We find that passive global benchmarks such as GDP-weighed government bond portfolios perform quite well within developed countries.