bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Maternal investment and reproductive success in Chinese water deer
Authors: Mauget Christiane , Mauget Robert 
Published: September 2019

Abstract
Among cervids, maternal investment, estimated as the amount of resources and care allocated to the offspring, was expected to be related to species body size. Therefore, maternal investment in a herd of captive Chinese water deer Hydropotes inermis, a relatively small species of cervid, was investigated over 3 years. Except during the lactation period, reproductive females spent about 2-fold more time resting than feeding. During lactation, the amount of time spent feeding increased highly (25.3 min/h during lactation vs 17.3 min/h during the gestation period). Females spent less than 30% of time in communal behaviours with offspring. They did not reject alien fawns during this care period. Frequency and duration of suckling events decreased exponentially from the second week onwards. More than 10% of suckling bouts were non-filial. Prenatal investment leads to a mean litter mass (about 12% of maternal mass) higher than in most cervid species. Postnatal investment in fawns represents a daily mass gain of ca. 85 g/d during the first 2 weeks, without any sexual difference. Female production, timing and synchrony of births and survival of fawns characterized reproductive success. Seventy percent of mature females gave birth, with a mean of 1.9 offspring per female. The sex ratio was even. Births were synchronous, 80% of births occurring in 25 days. In this herd, 0.74 fawn per female was successfully weaned and 0.56 fawn per female survived through their first year. Based on these results we conclude that reproductive strategy of Chinese water deer was efficient and characterized by mother-offspring relationships typical of hiders and high levels of pre- and postnatal investments. This strategy seems typical of small species of cervids without marked sexual dimorphism.
A populational survey of 45S rDNA polymorphism in the Jefferson salamander Ambystoma jeffersonianum revealed by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH)
Authors: Bi Ke , Bogart James P. , Fu Jinzhong 
Published: September 2019

Abstract
The chromosomal localization of 45S ribosomal RNA genes in Ambystoma jeffersonianum was determined by fluorescence in situ hybridization with 18S rDNA fragment as a probe (FISH-rDNA). Our results revealed the presence of rDNA polymorphism among A. jeffersonianum populations in terms of number, location and FISH signal intensity on the chromosomes. Nine rDNA cytotypes were found in ten geographically isolated populations and most of them contained derivative rDNA sites. Our preliminary study provides strong indication of karyotypic diversification of A. Jeffersonianum that is demonstrated by intraspecific variation of 45S rDNA cytotypes. rDNA cytotype polymorphism has been described in many other caudate amphibians. We predict that habitat isolation, low dispersal ability and decline of effective population size could facilitate the fixation and accumulation of variable rDNA cytotypes during their chromosome evolution.
Population structure of the Atlantic sand fiddler crab Uca pugilator along the eastern coast of US revealed by molecular data
Authors: Weese David A. , Mclain Denson K. , Pratt Ann E. , Fang Quentin Q. 
Published: September 2019

Abstract
The Atlantic sand fiddler crab Uca pugilator is an extremely abundant crab found along the eastern coast of the United States. Fiddler crabs have a life cycle with an obligatory planktonic larval phase of 30 - 90 days, which might be expected to lead to widespread larval dispersal and consequent genetic homogeneity over considerable distances. However, a large amount of morphological and behavioral variation is found between northern and southern populations along the eastern coast. This study was undertaken to determine the population genetic structure of U. pugilator and to determine whether these differences may have a genetic basis. The population structure of the fiddler crab was analyzed using 472 individuals collected from 12 sites along the eastern coast. PCR-based single stand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) was used to investigate between-site variation in the mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene of these individuals. Analysis of genetic variation indicated frequent gene flow between nearby localities' but much reduced levels between populations separated by larger geographic distances. Thus, despite the potential for high dispersal by planktonic larvae, population differentiation and isolation by distance is evident between northern and southern populations of U. pugilator. A high amount of genetic differentiation (FST = 0.3468) was found between northern and southern regions suggesting that the morphological and behavioral differences between these two regions have a genetic basis and may represent subspecies.
Melatonin and schistosomal antigens ameliorate the anti-oxidative and biochemical response to Schistosoma mansoni infection in hamster
Authors: El-Shenawy Nahla S. , Soliman Maha F. M. , Abel-Rahman Shimaa E. 
Published: September 2019

Abstract
The present study was designed to investigate the potential protective effect of melatonin as an antioxidant separately or in combination with antigens (cercarial; CAP or soluble worm; SWAP) against Schistosoma mansoni infection in hamsters. Each hamster was sensitized with an initial immunization of 0.6 ml of the extracted antigen (30 μg protein/mL). After four days, a second injection of 0.4 mL was given (20 μg protein/mL). Then, each hamster was exposed to 260 ± 20 S. mansoni cercariae followed with melatonin treatment (3.5 mg/ kg) for thirty days from the 1st day of post infection. Levels of lipid peroxidation (LPO) products, catalase (CAT) activity, hepatic glutathione (GSH) and biochemical changes in the liver and kidneys functions were investigated. The results revealed a high significant increasing of LPO and decreasing of CAT and GSH in liver of infected hamsters. Biochemical observations showed severe damage in the liver enzyme activities and increasing cholesterol level in infected animals. Melatonin co-treatment with antigen to the infected-hamster attenuated the increase of LPO and restored the activity of CAT and levels of hepatic GSH. Also, the biochemical damages in the liver and kidneys functions were reduced. The present study suggests that melatonin may be useful in combating free radical-induced damage due to infection toxicity. The immunization with previous antigens resulted in a remarkable improvement on the liver enzyme activities, which were increased after infection. Thus, vaccination of hamsters with antigens (both CAP and SWAP) and melatonin treatment has more potent effect on the enhancement of antioxidant and biochemical of S. mansoni infected-hamster than each treatment separately. Immunization of the hamster with SWAP followed by melatonin was the best way among the other regime treatments to improve the biochemical and antioxidant parameters of the infected-hamsters.
Are local plague endemicity and ecological characteristics of vectors and reservoirs related? A case study in north-east Tanzania
Authors: Laudisoit Anne , Neerinckx Simon , Makundi Rhodes H. , Leirs Herwig , Krasnov Boris R. 
Published: September 2019

Abstract
The pattern of plague endemicity in Tanzania is characterized by continuous re-appearance of the disease in some locations, while in other neighbouring villages the disease has never or seldom been observed. To understand the reasons for this pattern, we studied small mammal and flea species composition, diversity and relative abundances in two plague-endemic and two plague-free locations. We asked (a) whether fleas more abundant in plague-endemic locations differ in their characteristic abundance and the degree of their host specificity from fleas more abundant in plague-free locations and (b) whether hosts most abundant in plague- endemic locations differ in the diversity of their flea assemblages from hosts most abundant in plague-free locations. We characterized (a) each host species by species richness and degree of taxonomic relatedness of its flea assemblages and (b) each flea species by its mean abundance and size, and degree of taxonomic relatedness of its host spectrum and compared their relative abundances between locations. No significant difference between plague- endemic and plague-free locations in either host density or any variable related to flea abundance or diversity was found. However, there was marginally significant effect of taxonomic distinctness of a flea assemblage harboured by a host on its probability to be more abundant in either plague-endemic or plague-free locations. Furthermore, hosts more abundant in plague-endemic locations tended to harbour closely-related fleas. Finally. while opportunistic and specialist fleas were equally distributed in both sets of locations, fleas exploiting distantly-related hosts were found mainly in plague-free locations during the rainy season. We suggest that the observed patterns might arise due to seasonal and spatial differences in local microclimatic conditions and landscape connectivity.
Age effect of deafening on stereotyped song maintenance in adult male bengalese finches Lonchura striata domestica
Authors: Sun Yingyu , Wang Rui , Shao Shuli , Zeng Shaoju , Zuo Mingxue 
Published: September 2019

Abstract
Birdsong is a complex learned vocal behavior that relies on auditory experience for development. However, it appears that among different species of close-ended songbirds, there are some variations in the necessity of auditory feedback for maintaining stereotyped adult song. In zebra finches, the deterioration of adult songs following deafness depends on the birds’ age. It is unknown whether this age effect is a general rule in other avian species as well. Therefore, we chose Bengalese finches, whose songs show more complexity and have much heavier dependency on auditory feedback than that of zebra finches, to compare the degree of song degradation after hearing loss in old (over 18 months old) and young adult birds (5 - 6 months old). We found that both syllable sequence and syllable phonology were much less severely affected by deafening in old adults than that in young ones. Moreover, young adults almost lost their capability to sing trills over 6 months following deafening, while old birds continued to sing plenty of trills and trilled syllables after the same period of deafening. Our results suggest that age plays an important role in affecting the dependency of adult song maintenance on auditory feedback in Bengalese finches. Furthermore, the age dependency may be a general phenomenon in different species of close-ended songbirds.
Temperature acclimation affects thermal preference and tolerance in three Eremias lizards (Lacertidae)
Authors: Li Hong , Wang Zheng , Mei Wenbin , Ji Xiang 
Published: September 2019

Abstract
We acclimated adult males of three Eremias lizards from different latitudes to 28°C, 33 °C or 38°C to examine whether temperature acclimation affects their thermal preference and tolerance and whether thermal preference and tolerance of these lizards correspond with their latitudinal distributions. Overall, selected body temperature (Tsel) and viable temperature range (VTR) were both highest in E. brenchleyi and lowest in E. multiocellata, with E. argus in between; critical thermal minimum (CTMin) was highest in E. multiocellata and lowest in E. brenchleyi, with E. argus in between; critical thermal maximum (CTMax) was lower in E. multiocellata than in other two species. Lizards acclimated to 28°C and 38 °C overall selected lower body temperatures than those acclimated to 33°C; lizards acclimated to high temperatures were less tolerant of low temperatures, and vice versa; lizards acclimated to 28 °C were less tolerant of high temperatures but had a wider VTR range than those acclimated to 33°C and 38°C. Lizards of three species acclimated to the three temperatures always differed from each other in CTMin, but not in Tsel, CTMax and VTR. Our results show that: temperature acclimation plays an important role in influencing thermal preference and tolerance in the three Eremias lizards, although the degrees to which acclimation temperature affects thermal preference and tolerance differ among species; thermal preference rather than tolerance of the three Eremias lizards corresponds with their latitudinal distributions.
How do soil fauna and soil microbiota respond to beech forest growth?
Authors: Chauvat Matthieu , Zaitsev Andrei S. , Gabriel Ernst , Wolters Volkmar 
Published: September 2019

Abstract
The dynamics and performance of soil biota during forest rotation were studied in monoculture beech stands forming a chronosequence of four different age-classes (30, 62, 111, 153 yr). Biomass was monitored in major groups of microflora, microfauna, mesofauna, and macrofauna. Resource availability (litter layer, soil organic mater), biomass of the two dominant decomposer groups (microflora, earthworms) as well as the biomass of mesofauna and microfauna were found to remain quite stable during forest succession. Nevertheless, the marked increase of the biomasses of primary decomposers (fungi, saprophagous macroinvertebrates) in the 62-year-old stand, followed by an increase of the biomasses of macropredators in the 111-year-old stand, indicate substantial changes of several components of edaphic communities during forest development. However, constant values of soil respiration suggest that the overall performance of the soil food web does not change during beech forest succession. Thus, the decomposer system of lowland managed beech forests on calcareous soils seems to be very stable over time. We suggest that earthworm activity might have masked impacts of forest development on other soil biota and led to an astounding stability of decomposer assemblages during beech forest rotation.
Cloning, characterization of two female-specific AFLP markers and development of PCR-based sex identification method for the half-smooth tongue sole Cynoglossus semilaevis
Authors: Ma Hongyu , Chen Songlin , Li Jing , Bi Jin-Zhen , Xu Tianjun 
Published: September 2019

Abstract
Two female-specific AFLP (amplified fragment length polymorphism) markers (named CseF464 and CseF136) were isolated by using one selective primer combination (E-AGC/M-CTG) from the genomic DNA of 20 females and 20 males of the half-smooth tongue sole Cynoglossus semilaevis. Both the markers were re-amplified, recovered from the agarose gels, cloned and sequenced. Bioinformatics analysis indicated that the length of the two markers were 468 bp and 134 bp, respectively, and the sequences showed no similarity to each other, as well as to the known sequences deposited in the GenBank database using BLASTn. Two pairs of SCAR (sequence characterized amplified regions) primers were designed based on the sequences of the two female-specific markers. Furthermore, PCR-based genetic sex identification method was developed in Cynoglossus semilaevis. A specific fragment was amplified in all females but not in any males by using these SCAR primers on the initial 20 female and 20 male individuals of Cynoglossus semilaevis. The feasibility of the two SCAR primer pairs was confirmed in additional 100 individuals (50 females and 50 males). This allowed for reliable, rapid molecular identification of genetic sex of the species, genetic mapping on the sex chromosomes and better understanding of the sex determination and sex differentiation in the half smooth tongue sole.
Restoration of sea eagle population: A review
Authors: Rajchard Josef , Procházka Jan 
Published: September 2019

Abstract
The population density of the white-tailed sea eagle Haliaeetus albicilla is very low in many countries. In last twenty years, the sea eagle population in South Bohemia was restored by strict protection subsidized by reintroduction. The active help consisted of feeding during winter and building of artificial nests. A new sea eagle breeding population arose in the Třeboň basin area in the early 1980’s. Until this time sea eagles had used former breeding places only for wintering, probably coming from the Baltic. The South Bohemian sea eagle population is very unique: it exists in a densely man-occupied landscape, mainly in areas with very intensive carp breeding in artificial fishponds and was partly artficially (help to wintering birds and reintroduction of some individuals) restored. The experience from South Bohemia may have importance for populations of the sea eagle in other areas of its occurence, primarily in the continental conditions
Efficient production of transgenic chickens using self-inactive HIV-based lentiviral vectors
Authors: Xu Shiyong , Sun Yan , Ding Hongmei , Wang Meng , Cai Yafei , Chen Jie , Liu Honglin 
Published: September 2019

Abstract
We demonstrated the simple and effective production of transgenic chickens, in which the enhanced green fluorescence protein (EGFP) was expressed by using third-generation self-inactive HIV-based lentiviral vectors. In our experiments, lentiviruses were injected into 204 fertilized eggs, from which 30 (15%) chickens were hatched. The exogenous gene was detected in the genomes of 16 out of 30 (53%) chickens. The green fluorescence signal was observed directly in various body parts, and was particularly significant in the testes. The transgenes were also found in the offspring of these chickens. The results indicate that HIV-based lentiviral vectors can be used to generate transgenic birds economically and effectively
Susceptibility of pine stands to bark stripping by chacma baboons Papio ursinus in the Eastern Highlands of Zimbabwe
Authors: Katsvanga C.A.T. , Jimu L. , Mupangwa J.F. , Zinner D. 
Published: September 2019

Abstract
The aim of this study was to determine the susceptibility, intensity and distribution of pine trees to bark stripping by chacma baboons Papio ursinus in three plantations in the Eastern Highlands of Zimbabwe. The number of plots/ha, stripped trees/plot and stripped trees/ha was recorded during the pre-rainy, rainy and post-rainy seasons from August 2006 to May 2007. During data collection, altitude, aspect, season and other site predictor variables (e.g., roads and fire traces, water points, indigenous vegetation conservation areas, crop fields, human settlements, wattle scrubs, rocky areas, open grasslands, earlier stripped sites and roost sites) were recorded for each plot in association with selected predictor variables within plantation estates. Data on the number of stripped plots/ha, stripped trees/plot and stripped trees/ha were analysed as dependent variables using the Generalised linear Model (GLM) through SPSS version 15 (2006) to determine which predictor variables were significantly related to bark stripping. Differences between means were tested using Bonferroni tests with a 5% level of significance. Our findings show that bark stripping of pine trees by baboons occurred at all altitudes and aspects. Overall, the number of bark stripped trees/ha did not significantly vary by season. The number of bark stripped plots/ha was lower during the pre-rainy season than the rainy season, whereas the number of bark stripped trees/plot was higher during the pre-rainy than the rainy season. Bark stripping of pines occurred more often in the vicinities of areas with abundant food and water.
Homozygous lethality and heterozygous spotting due to a novel missense mutation in the mouse Kit gene
Authors: Wu Baojin , Yin Lijing , Yin Xiaoshu , Yang Weiwei , Chen Bing , Xue Zhengfeng , Wu Peilin 
Published: September 2019

Abstract
N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea (ENU) mutagenesis in mice can be used to study gene function in vivo and to establish genetic mouse models of human disease. In this study, a white spotted mouse (named KitW-1 Bao) was obtained by ENU-induced mutagenesis. Inheritance testing showed a single-gene dominant mutation and lethality in the KitW-1 Bao homozygous mice. The mutation was mapped to Chromosome 5 between markers D5 Mit356 and D5 Mit308. The region contains the Kit gene, whose mutations are known to lead to pigmentation defects in mice. Sequence analysis of the Kit cDNA from KitW-1 Bao heterozygotes revealed an A to T missense mutation resulting in an amino acid substitution of Asp (D) by Val (V) at amino acid position 849 within a highly conserved tyrosine kinase domain. The combined phenotype displayed by the KitW-1 Bao heterozygous and homozygous mutant mice demonstrates the critical function of the highly conserved aspartic acid residue at position 849 in the Kit gene product.
Assessing feeding competition between lake whitefish Coregonus clupeaformis and round whitefish Prosopium cylindraceum
Authors: Macpherson Andrew , Holmes John A. , Muir Andrew M. , Noakes David L. G. 
Published: September 2019

Abstract
We collected lake whitefish Coregonus clupeaformis and round whitefish Prosopium cylindraceum from the main basin of Lake Huron and Georgian Bay in the Laurentian Great Lakes of North America to investigate details of diet and feeding tactics of these species in different seasons. Lake whitefish supports important commercial fisheries in Lake Huron and both species make use of habitats near the Bruce Nuclear Power Development, on the eastern shore of Lake Huron. Most fish of both species showed generalist feeding behavior, but some lake whitefish appeared to show specialist prey selection. The invasive spiny water flea Bythotrephes longimanus was an important component of the diet of both species. There was considerable dietary overlap between the whitefish species, but the ecological implications of these dietary overlaps are mitigated by the fact that dominant prey species differed in most seasons. We conclude that the potential for ecologically significant interactions between lake whitefish and round whitefish resulting from competition for similar benthic food resources in the main basin of Lake Huron is probably low.
Factors influencing the establishment of dominance hierarchies of the grey triggerfish Balistes capriscus
Authors: Cleveland David W. , Lavalli Kari L. 
Published: September 2019

Abstract
Unlike other balistids, grey triggerfish Balistes capriscus occur in social groups in subtropical reef assemblages and have been noted to cooperate in capturing large crustacean prey. The objective of this study were to determine the structure of dominance hierarchies of these social groups and the factors that influence hierarchies of wild-caught grey triggerfish in a naturalistic setting. From observations of four groups of triggerfish (n = 19 fish) in both dyad and group (4 - 5 fish) settings, we provide a description of triggerfish behaviors and coloration patterns and an explanation of the social context in which suites of behaviors are used by dominant, middle-ranking, and subordinate fish. Sixteen behaviors and nine coloration patterns were noted for grey triggerfish. Grey triggerfish groups form linear hierarchies in both dyads and groups as measured by Landau's Index of Linearity (h = 1.0 for Groups 1, 3, and 4 and h = 0.95 for Group 2 in dyads; h = 1.0 for all groups in group settings). Dyadic hierarchies, however, were not necessarily good predictors of the hierarchies found in larger group settings, as they only predicted two of the four group hierarchies. Sex played no role in influencing status or behavior. Size had the greatest influence on dominance status, with larger fish being more dominant than smaller fish. An individual's dominance ranking influenced both body coloration and posture. These results suggest that color patterns and body postures may also be used by observers as an indicator of an individual's social status in groups.