bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
High levels of polyandry, but limited evidence for multiple paternity, in wild populations of the western rock lobster (Panulirus cygnus)
Authors: Loo Jacqueline , Kennington Winn Jason , de Lestang Simon , How Jason , Evans Jonathan P. 
Published: April 2018

AbstractPolyandry, where multiple mating by females results in the temporal and spatial overlap of ejaculates from two or more males, is taxonomically widespread and occurs in varying frequencies within and among species. In decapods (crabs, lobsters, crayfish, and prawns), rates of polyandry are likely to be variable, but the extent to which patterns of multiple paternity reflect multiple mating, and thus are shaped by postmating processes that bias fertilization toward one or a subset of mated males, is unclear. Here, we use microsatellite markers to examine the frequency of multiple mating (the presence of spermatophores from two or more males) and patterns of paternity in wild populations of western rock lobster (Panulirus cygnus). Our data confirm that >45% of females had attached spermatophores arising from at least two males (i.e., confirming polyandry), but we found very limited evidence for multiple paternity; among 24 clutches sampled in this study, only two arose from fertilizations by two or more males. Single inferred paternal genotypes accounted for all remaining progeny genotypes in each clutch, including several instances when the mother had been shown to mate with two or more males. These findings highlight the need for further work to understand whether polyandry is adaptive and to uncover the mechanisms underlying postmating paternity biases in this system.
The effects of vegetative type, edges, fire history, rainfall, and management in fire‐maintained habitat
Authors: Breininger David R. , Foster Tammy E. , Carter Geoffrey M. , Duncan Brean W. , Stolen Eric D. , Lyon James E. 
Published: April 2018

AbstractThe combined effects of fire history, climate, and landscape features (e.g., edges) on habitat specialists need greater focus in fire ecology studies, which usually only emphasize characteristics of the most recent fire. Florida scrub‐jays are an imperiled, territorial species that prefer medium (1.2–1.7 m) shrub heights, which are dynamic because of frequent fires. We measured short, medium, and tall habitat quality states annually within 10‐ha grid cells (that represented potential territories) because fires and vegetative recovery cause annual variation in habitat quality. We used multistate models and model selection to test competing hypotheses about how transition probabilities vary between states as functions of environmental covariates. Covariates included vegetative type, edges (e.g., roads and forests), precipitation, openings (gaps between shrubs), mechanical cutting, and fire characteristics. Fire characteristics not only included an annual presence/absence of fire covariate, but also fire history covariates: time since the previous fire, the longest fire‐free interval, and the number of repeated fires. Statistical models with support included many covariates for each transition probability, often including fire history, interactions, and nonlinear relationships. Tall territories resulted from 28 yr of fire suppression and habitat fragmentation that reduced the spread of fires across landscapes. Despite 35 yr of habitat restoration and prescribed fires, half the territories remained tall, suggesting a regime shift to a less desirable habitat condition. Edges reduced the effectiveness of fires in setting degraded scrub and flatwoods into earlier successional states, making mechanical cutting an important tool to compliment frequent prescribed fires.
The ecological and life history correlates of boldness in free‐ranging lizards
Authors: Ward‐Fear Georgia , Brown Gregory P. , Pearson David J. , West Andrea , Rollins Lee A. , Shine Richard 
Published: April 2018

AbstractIn many animal populations, individuals exhibit repeatable behavioral traits across a range of contexts, and similarly, individuals differ in ecological traits such as habitat use, home range sizes, growth rates, and mating success. However, links between an individual's positions on behavioral vs. ecological axes of variation remain relatively unstudied in the wild. In the course of fieldwork on a remote floodplain in tropical Australia, we quantified boldness and ecological traits in 86 free‐ranging (radio‐tracked) monitor lizards (Varanus panoptes). These large (up to 7 kg) lizards exhibited a spectrum of boldness, as reflected in correlated scores of responses to approach, handling, and novel prey. Bolder lizards had larger core home ranges and higher mating success and spent more time in areas of high predator abundance, and their seasonal regimes of predation‐induced mortality differed from those of shyer lizards. Thus, behavioral differences among lizards underpin much of the variation in ecological traits and individual fitness within this population. Analyses of ecology and microevolution in natural populations cannot afford to ignore the complex covariation between behavior, ecology, and evolution in the wild.
Drawing a map of invasion biology based on a network of hypotheses
Authors: Enders Martin , Hütt Marc‐Thorsten , Jeschke Jonathan M. 
Published: April 2018

AbstractInvasion biology is a thriving ecological research field, and confusingly many hypotheses, concepts, and ideas about biological invasions populate today's literature. Moreover, some of these hypotheses are very similar, whereas others contradict each other. It is not clear whether in such a situation a plausible global relational structure—or map—of these hypotheses emerges in the minds of the involved researchers and, if so, how this map can be reliably reconstructed from the expertise of individuals. Here, we report results of an online survey with 357 experts on invasion biology and several reconstructions of such a map. Using the distance information between hypotheses provided in the survey, the resulting network is essentially random. This finding implies that invasion biologists currently do not have a joint vision how invasion hypotheses are related to each other. However, the pattern of pairwise familiarities between the hypotheses in the survey yields joint‐mentions networks with highly non‐random features. These networks allow us to assign conceptual roles to many of the hypotheses in the field on purely topological grounds. Such hypothesis networks can help everyone interested in research fields to understand their conceptual structure. They can serve as maps of research fields.
Springs as hydrologic refugia in a changing climate? A remote‐sensing approach
Authors: Cartwright Jennifer , Johnson Henry M. 
Published: April 2018

AbstractSpring‐fed wetlands are ecologically important habitats in arid and semi‐arid regions. Springs have been suggested as possible hydrologic refugia from droughts and climate change; however, springs that depend on recent precipitation or snowmelt for recharge may be vulnerable to warming and drought intensification. Springs that are expected to maintain their ecohydrologic function in a warmer, drier climate may be priorities for conservation and restoration. Identifying such springs is difficult because many springs lack hydrologic records of adequate temporal extent and resolution to assess their resilience to water cycle changes. This study demonstrates proof‐of‐concept for the assessment of certain spring types (i.e., helocrene, hypocrene, and hillslope springs) in terms of hydrologic and ecological resilience to climatic water stress using freely available remote‐sensing and climate data. We used the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) from 1985 through 2011 to delineate surface‐moisture zones (SMZs) associated with 39 clusters of 172 springs in a montane sage‐steppe landscape in southeastern Oregon, USA. We developed and synthesized seven NDVI‐based indicators of SMZ resilience to interannual changes in water availability: (1) mean and (2) standard deviation of July NDVI; (3) mean difference in July NDVI and (4) difference in coefficient of variation for July NDVI between each SMZ and its surrounding watershed; (5) response of SMZ July NDVI to 90‐day antecedent precipitation; (6) response of SMZ July NDVI to the previous winter's snowpack; and (7) range of NDVI values from an exceptionally wet year followed by three dry years. Because all resilience indicators were highly inter‐correlated, we derived an overall metric of SMZ resilience using principal components analysis that accounted for 66% of total variance. This overall resilience score was positively correlated with SMZ elevation, slope, mean annual precipitation, and with the number of associated springs. Resilience was greater for SMZs on topographically shaded, north‐facing slopes. Several high‐resilience SMZs were located immediately below persistent snowbanks, suggesting a possible source of steady recharge throughout the growing season. The approach presented here—if combined with field assessments of spring hydrogeology, discharge, and groundwater age—could help identify spring‐fed wetlands that are most likely to serve as hydrologic refugia from climate change.
Do wolves ambush beavers? Video evidence for higher‐order hunting strategies
Authors: Gable Thomas D. , Stanger Trent , Windels Steve K. , Bump Joseph K. 
Published: April 2018

AbstractOver the past decade, there has been much debating about whether wolves possess high‐order cognitive abilities that facilitate deliberate or cooperative hunting strategies such as ambush to capture prey. Beavers can be important alternate or primary prey for wolves in North America and Europe, but no observations of wolves hunting and killing beavers exist. We describe the first documented observation of a gray wolf killing a beaver, an observation that has provided valuable insight into how beavers defend themselves when attacked by wolves, how wolves hunt beavers, and the predatory strategies and cognitive abilities of wolves. Our observation confirms that wolves do hunt and kill beavers by surprising and ambushing them, which demonstrates that wolves have a unique ability to switch between cursorial and ambush hunting strategies depending on the prey. We suggest that wolves learn how to hunt beavers using high‐order mental abilities combined with information learned from prior interactions with beavers.
Effects of labile carbon and phosphorus addition on N transformations with N‐ vs. non‐N‐fixing tree plantations
Authors: Wang Wenjuan , Li Yingwen , Zhao Qian , Liu Xiaodong , Long Fengling , Mo Qifeng 
Published: April 2018

AbstractPhosphorus (P) is the primary factor limiting soil organic matter (SOM) decomposition and carbon (C) storage in the tropical P‐deficient plantations. However, the mineralization of SOM derived from N‐fixing and non‐N‐fixing plantations may respond differently to P addition within the laboratory‐ or field‐based incubation experiment. In this study, the effects of P addition (+P) combined with glucose (+Glu) on soil N mineralization within Eucalyptus urophylla (EU) and Acacia auriculiformis (AA) plantations were evaluated using a 60‐d laboratory aerobic incubation assay in subtropical China. The results showed that Glu addition significantly affected the net N mineralization and nitrification in both EU and AA plantations. In the 7th day incubation, +Glu treatment enhanced the N mineralization, whereas +Glu+P dramatically accelerated the N immobilization in EU plantation. However, +Glu+P treatment increased N mineralization while +Glu enhanced N immobilization in AA plantation, suggesting that P addition greatly affected the direction of N transformation within different plantations under the labile C input in the early stage of incubation. However, in the 15th day incubation, +Glu increased while +Glu+P greatly reduced the N immobilization in EU plantation. On the contrary, +Glu promoted while +Glu+P further accelerated the N immobilization in AA plantations, indicating that P addition had the contrasting effects on N immobilization within EU and AA plantations. After the 15th day incubation, Glu addition further facilitated the N immobilization in two plantations. Although +Glu increased the fungi and bacteria PLFA biomass, +Glu+P significantly increased F/B ratios, which may contribute to the direction and magnitude of N transformations in two plantations. However, in these two plantation forests with low soil P availability, single P addition would not significantly alter the N mineralization mediated by microbe in the laboratory incubation experiment without the labile C input. Therefore, the significant effects of P addition on the N mineralization or immobilization varied with the incubation stage and plantation types. We recommend that the P availability has profound implications on SOM decomposition and C sequestration in subtropical plantations.
Transitional climate mortality: slower warming may result in increased climate‐induced mortality in some systems
Authors: Buma Brian 
Published: April 2018

AbstractThe potential for climate change to cause mass tree mortality in forested systems by pushing environmental conditions past physiological tolerance thresholds is well documented. Less well studied is damage and mortality associated with climatic transitions, where mortality is less on either side of the transition; the shift from freezing winter conditions to thawed winter conditions in temperate and high latitudes is a clear example. “Transitional climate mortality” is sporadic, but widespread, associated with exposure to mortality during these climatic transitions, and triggered by proximal weather events like a hard freeze after a period of above freezing temperatures. Interestingly, this suggests that slower warming could result in more intensive mortality because of extended exposure to potential mortality events. The concept is tested using a well‐studied species (Callitropsis nootkatensis) on the US/Canadian Pacific coast. To identify the transitional mortality zone, statistical modeling combined with a current mortality map and bioclimatic variables was used. This process identified the −5° to 0°C zone (mean temperature of the coldest month) as particularly associated with transitional mortality. Weather station data from multiple locations were used to validate observations. Four GCMs (General Circulation Model) and two future warming scenarios (representative concentration pathway 2.6 and 8.5) were used to estimate time and spatial extent of exposure at broad scales; slower warming results in more intensive cumulative exposure than faster warming. Finally, by combining the observed mortality zone with weather station data a generalizable binomial model was tested as a means to estimate potential future mortality. This model is applicable to any system where the transitional mortality zone (e.g., temperature range) and the frequency of proximal mortality triggers are known. This type of mortality phenomena has been understudied but may be a large driver of future forest change, given the frequency of mortality events and the ubiquity of the freeze–thaw transition across temperate systems globally.
Effect of nicotine and alpha‐7 nicotinic modulators on visceral pain‐induced conditioned place aversion in mice
Authors: Bagdas D. , Meade J.A. , Alkhlaif Y. , Muldoon P.P. , Carroll F.I. , Damaj M.I. 
Published: April 2018

AbstractBackgroundPreclinical assays of affective and sensorial aspects of nociception play a key role in research on both the neurobiology of pain and the development of novel analgesics. Therefore, we investigated the effects of nicotine and alpha‐7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) modulators in the negative affective and sensory components of visceral pain in mice.Methods and ResultsIntraperitoneal acetic acid (AA) administration resulted in a robust stretching behaviour and conditioned place aversion (CPA) in mice. We observed a dose‐dependent reduction in AA‐induced stretching and CPA by the nonselective nAChRs agonist nicotine. Mecamylamine, a nonselective nAChRs agonist, was able to block its effects; however, hexamethonium, a peripherally restricted nonselective nicotinic antagonist, was able to block nicotine's effect on stretching behaviour but not on CPA. In addition, systemic administration of α7 nAChR full agonists PHA543613 and PNU282987 was failed to block stretching and CPA behaviour induced by AA. However, the α7 nAChR‐positive allosteric modulator PNU120596 blocked AA‐induced CPA in a dose‐dependent manner without reducing stretching behaviours.ConclusionsOur data revealed that while nonselective nAChR activation induces antinociceptive properties on the sensorial and affective signs of visceral pain in mice, α7 nAChRS activation has no effect on these responses. In addition, nonselective nAChR activation‐induced antinociceptive effect on stretching behaviour was mediated by central and peripheral mechanisms. However, the effect of nonselective nAChR activation on CPA was mediated centrally. Furthermore, our data suggest a pivotal role of allosteric modulation of α7 nAChRS in the negative affective, but not sensory, component of visceral pain.SignificanceThe present results suggest that allosteric modulation of α7 nAChR may provide new strategies in affective aspects of nociception.
Carbon/Li4Ti5O12 Composite Spheres Prepared Using Chinese Yam as Carbon Source with Ultrahigh Capacity as Anode Materials for Lithium Ion Batteries
Authors: Liang Tingting , Liu Xuehua , Liu Xiaowei , Guan Xianggang , Wang Chao , Fu Aiping , Li Yanhui , Guo Peizhi , Li Hongliang 
Published: April 2018

AbstractSpinel structured Li4Ti5O12 (LTO) spheres modified with carbon (Carbon/LTO composites) using Chinese yam (CY) as carbon source have been obtained by a hydrothermal method combining with a calcining at 700 °C in N2 atmosphere. The influences of the additions of CY on the morphology, structure, carbon content and also the electrochemical properties of the resulted carbon/LTO composite spheres have been investigated in details. SEM and TEM investigations show that all the composites possess spherical morphology and consist of nanosized Li4Ti5O12 crystals modified with carbon. With the increase of CY additions, the size of Li4Ti5O12 primary crystals decrease gradually, and reach to a turn over point and then the crystal size turn to large ones when the CY content increased further. It has been demonstrated that carbon modification of Li4Ti5O12 with Chinese yam as carbon source could efficiently improve the electrochemical performance of Li4Ti5O12. One of the composite sample named as C/LTO‐10 shows an ultrahigh initial specific capacity of about 211.9 mAh ⋅ g−1 at a current density of 1 C. It shows excellent cycle performance and maintains a specific capacity of 184.5 mAh ⋅ g−1 even after 300 cycles. A specific capacity of 123.5 mAh ⋅ g−1 still could be delivered at a high current density of 30 C, exhibiting also superior rate capability.
Sliding Angle Characterization of Physicochemical and Roughness Changes of GDL Surfaces after Fuel Cell Operation
Authors: Planes E. , De Moor G. , Bas C. , Flandin L. 
Published: April 2018

AbstractThe effect of proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) operation on physicochemical properties and roughness of gas diffusion layers (GDL) was evaluated in this work. In addition to static contact angle measurements commonly used for GDLs, sliding angle measurements were also performed on a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) both new and used in service within commercial PEMFC. These latter revealed significant changes after 4,000 h in service that were not detectable with the static counterparts. The main novelty of this study is to correlate the contact and sliding angle measurements and to combine them with various modeling approaches developed for modeled surfaces. After 4,000 h of aging, it was thus shown that the surface of the GDLs became more hydrophilic, contrary to the roughness, which remains unchanged.
The Bi/Bi2WO6 heterojunction with stable interface contact and enhanced visible‐light photocatalytic activity for phenol and Cr(VI) removal
Authors: Jia Jia , Xue Peng , Wang Ruimiao , Bai Xue , Hu Xiaoyun , Fan Jun , Liu Enzhou 
Published: April 2018

AbstractBACKGROUNDSemiconductor photocatalysis is the most promising green and energy‐saving technology for environmental remediation. Unfortunately, photocatalysis nanotechnology for its practical application is often challenged by the low capturing ability for visible light and use of expensive noble metals. In this work, we report the non‐noble Bi nanoparticles assembled on Bi2WO6 with enhanced visible‐light photocatalytic activity for decontamination of phenol and hexavalent chromium in water.RESULTSThe 3% Bi/Bi2WO6 composite had the highest photocatalytic activity compared to pristine Bi2WO6, which could completely decompose phenol into small products within 120 min. More importantly, the Cr(VI) removal rate of the 3% Bi/Bi2WO6 catalyst in the presence of triethanolamine (TEOA, 2%) after irradiation for 12 min was up to 96.2%.CONCLUSIONSThe improved photocatalytic performance could be due to the fast transfer of photogenerated charge carried by the formation of an anti‐barrier layer at the interface between metal Bi nanoparticles and the n‐type Bi2WO6 semiconductor; the enhancement of electron energy may be attributed to the localized surface plasmon resonance properties of Bi nanoparticles, as well as conspicuously strengthened and broad light‐capturing ability across the whole visible‐light range. This strategy could provide some inspiration for the design of other Bi‐based semiconductor heterostructures for decomposing harmful organic pollutants in wastewater and purifying hazardous gases in the air. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry
How far are we from viral hepatitis elimination service coverage targets?
Authors: Hutin Yvan J‐F , Bulterys Marc , Hirnschall Gottfried O 
Published: April 2018

AbstractIntroductionIn 2016, the Global Health Sector Strategy (GHSS) on viral hepatitis called for elimination of viral hepatitis as a major public health threat by 2030 (i.e. 90% reduction in incidence and 65% in mortality). In 2017, WHO's first‐ever Global Hepatitis Report presented the baseline values for each of the core indicators of the strategy. We review the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead in order to reach the 2030 service coverage targets.DiscussionThree‐dose coverage of hepatitis B vaccine in infancy reached 84% in 2015 (2030 target: 90%); however, only 39% received the timely birth dose (2030 target: 90%). Blood safety (97% of blood units screened with quality assurance, 2030 target: 100%) and injection safety (5% unsafe injections, 2030 target: 0%) had made substantial progress while harm reduction fell short (27 syringe and needle sets distributed per person who injects drugs per year, 2030 target: 300). Worldwide, 9% and 20% of the HBV‐ and HCV‐infected population respectively, were aware of their status (2030 targets: 90%). In the short term, to reach the 2020 target of diagnosing 50% of those infected, 107 million HBV infected persons and 15 million HCV infected persons should be urgently diagnosed. Overall, in 2015, less than 10% of known infected persons were on HBV treatment or had started HCV treatment (2030 targets: 80%).ConclusionsThe prevention component of elimination is on track with respect to hepatitis B vaccination, blood safety, and injection safety. However, coverage of the hepatitis B vaccine timely birth dose requires a substantial increase, particularly in sub‐Saharan Africa, and harm reduction needs to be taken to scale as injecting drug use accounts for a third of mortality from HCV infection. A promising but limited start in hepatitis testing and treatment needs to be followed by immediate and sustained action so that we reach the service coverage targets required to achieve elimination by 2030. Treating persons coinfected with HIV and hepatitis viruses is particularly urgent and needs to be promoted in the context of the HIV response.