bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Foraging modality and plasticity in foraging traits determine the strength of competitive interactions among carnivorous plants, spiders and toads
Authors: Jennings David E. , Krupa James J. , Rohr Jason R. 
Published: April 2016

Summary

Foraging modalities (e.g. passive, sit‐and‐wait, active) and traits are plastic in some species, but the extent to which this plasticity affects interspecific competition remains unclear.

Using a long‐term laboratory mesocosm experiment, we quantified competition strength and the plasticity of foraging traits in a guild of generalist predators of arthropods with a range of foraging modalities.

Each mesocosm contained eight passively foraging pink sundews, and we employed an experimental design where treatments were the presence or absence of a sit‐and‐wait foraging spider and actively foraging toad crossed with five levels of prey abundance. We hypothesized that actively foraging toads would outcompete the other species at low prey abundance, but that spiders and sundews would exhibit plasticity in foraging traits to compensate for strong competition when prey were limited.

Results generally supported our hypotheses. Toads had a greater effect on sundews at low prey abundances, and toad presence caused spiders to locate webs higher above the ground. Additionally, the closer large spider webs were to the ground, the greater the trichome densities produced by sundews. Also, spider webs were larger with than without toads and as sundew numbers increased, and these effects were more prominent as resources became limited. Finally, spiders negatively affected toad growth only at low prey abundance.

These findings highlight the long‐term importance of foraging modality and plasticity of foraging traits in determining the strength of competition within and across taxonomic kingdoms. Future research should assess whether plasticity in foraging traits helps to maintain coexistence within this guild and whether foraging modality can be used as a trait to reliably predict the strength of competitive interactions.
Phylogenetic community structure of North American desert bats: influence of environment at multiple spatial and taxonomic scales
Authors: Patrick Lorelei E. , Stevens Richard D. 
Published: April 2016

Summary

Numerous processes influence community structure. The relative importance of these processes is thought to vary with spatial, temporal and taxonomic scales: density‐dependent interactions are thought to be most important at small scales; at intermediate scales, environmental conditions may be the most influential factor; and biogeographic processes are thought to be of greater importance at larger scales. Additionally, the stress‐dominance hypothesis suggests that communities experiencing harsher environmental conditions will be predominantly structured by habitat filtering, whereas communities experiencing more favourable conditions will be structured predominantly by density‐dependent interactions such as competition.

The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of environmental factors on phylogenetic community structure (PCS) of North American desert bats at multiple spatial and taxonomic scales. We also examined whether the stress‐dominance hypothesis is upheld in desert bats across an environmental gradient.

Phylogenetic community structure metrics were calculated using species pools that differed in spatial (from all deserts to individual deserts) and taxonomic (all bat taxa, a single family and a single genus) scales. We calculated mean temperature, precipitation and seasonality for each site to determine whether environmental gradients were related to degree of community structure.

At the largest spatial and taxonomic scales, communities were significantly phylogenetically clustered while degree of clustering decreased at the smallest spatial and taxonomic scales. Climatic data, particularly mean temperature and temperature seasonality, were important predictors of PCS at larger scales and under harsher conditions, but at smaller scales and in less stressful conditions there was a weaker relationship between PCS and climate.

This suggests that North American deserts, while harsh, are not uniform in the challenges they present to the faunas residing in them. Overall, the relationship between PCS and climatic data at large spatial and taxonomic scales, and in harsher conditions, suggests the influence of habitat filtering has been important in North American desert bat community assembly and that other processes have been important at smaller scales.
Effects of fire on pollinators and pollination
Authors: Brown Julian , York Alan , Christie Fiona , McCarthy Michael 
Published: April 2016

Summary

Increased incidence of landscape fire and pollinator declines with co‐extinctions of dependent plant species are both globally significant. Fire can alter species distributions, but its effects on plant–pollinator interactions are poorly understood so its present and future role in coupled plant–pollinator declines cannot be assessed.

We develop a conceptual model of fire effects on plant–pollinator interactions. We review the empirical literature in the context of this model to identify important knowledge gaps regarding the processes underlying these effects and the phenotypic traits of flowering plants and pollinators mediating these effects. Fire generates, and plant–pollinator interactions respond to, heterogeneity at multiple spatial scales. There is evidence of local‐scale fire effects on these interactions, but landscape‐scale effects are poorly understood. Nest location and floral resource utilization primarily mediate pollinator survival during and after fire. Voltinism and mobility traits are potentially important, but poorly studied. Plant traits mediating flowering responses to fire include growth form, phenology and potentially bud location, seasonal changes in bud exposure and response to bud damage.

Synthesis and applications. We suggest management actions and an agenda for future research to fill knowledge gaps currently inhibiting predictions of fire effects on plant–pollinator interactions. Fire regimes promoting floral diversity at local scales provide a surrogate means of managing pollinators and pollination while empirical research continues. Above‐ground nesting, univoltine pollinators may be particularly vulnerable under expected fire regime changes. Improved knowledge of traits mediating the exploitation of landscape heterogeneity could be used to enhance the persistence of these species. Ultimately, our conceptual framework could be used as a basis for understanding fire effects on aggregate network properties to inform fire management strategies buffering plant–pollinator networks against secondary species extinctions.
Extreme prescribed fire during drought reduces survival and density of woody resprouters
Authors: Twidwell Dirac , Rogers William E. , Wonkka Carissa L. , Taylor Charles A. , Kreuter Urs P. 
Published: April 2016

Summary

Management intervention in ecosystems with degraded environmental services requires innovative resource management strategies that go beyond conventional restoration and conservation practices. We established a unique study that experimentally targeted extreme fire conditions during drought in humid subtropical and semi‐arid ecoregions.

In the southern Great Plains of North America, conventional restoration and conservation practices have been either historically ineffective or economically cost‐prohibitive at restoring grass‐dominated ecosystems following conversion to resprouting shrublands. Our aim was to assess the potential for extreme fire during drought to force the system along an alternate ecological trajectory from its current progression towards closed‐canopy resprouting shrubland, something that conventional fire prescriptions have been unable to accomplish.

We first tested the potential for high‐intensity fires exhibiting extreme behaviour to disrupt the progression from grassland to shrubland. In both ecoregions, significant levels of mortality were observed for mature woody resprouters. As a result, densities were either maintained or reduced 3 years following extreme fire treatments, whereas resprouter densities continued to increase in areas that were not burned.

A second interventionist approach involving extreme fire and herbicide treatment combinations was not supported. Interactions between prescribed extreme fire and herbicide did not significantly reduce resprouter densities more than using herbicide alone at either site.

Synthesis and applications. Extreme fires during drought resulted in exceptionally high levels of mortality across all sizes of woody resprouters and limited recruitment, resulting in 35–55% lower densities of resprouters than in areas not burned. These findings counter prevailing scientific and management expectations, which are based largely on studies that impose tight controls over prescribed fire conditions and avoid extreme fire behaviour. Future interventions for controlling woody resprouters with fire may require rethinking the present ideology that extreme fire behaviour has no place in modern social–ecological landscapes.
Lack of functional redundancy in the relationship between microbial diversity and ecosystem functioning
Authors: Delgado‐Baquerizo Manuel , Giaramida Luca , Reich Peter B. , Khachane Amit N. , Hamonts Kelly , Edwards Christine , Lawton Linda A. , Singh Brajesh K. 
Published: April 2016

Summary

Biodiversity is declining world‐wide with detrimental effects on ecosystems. However, we lack a quantitative understanding of the shape of the relationship between microbial biodiversity and ecosystem function (BEF). This limits our understanding of how microbial diversity depletion can impact key functions for human well‐being, including pollutant detoxification.

Three independent microcosm experiments were conducted to evaluate the direction (i.e. positive, negative or null) and the shape of the relationships between bacterial diversity and both broad (i.e. microbial respiration) and specialized (i.e. toxin degradation) functions in five Australian and two UK freshwater ecosystems using next‐generation sequencing platforms.

Reduced bacterial diversity, even after accounting for biomass, caused a decrease in broad (i.e. cumulative microbial respiration) and specialized (biodegradation of two important toxins) functions in all cases. Unlike the positive but decelerating BEF relationship observed most frequently in plants and animals, most evaluated functional measurements were related to bacterial diversity in a non‐redundant fashion (e.g. exponentially and/or linearly).

Synthesis. Our results suggest that there is a lack of functional redundancy in the relationship between bacterial diversity and ecosystem functioning; thus, the consequences of declining microbial diversity on ecosystem functioning and human welfare have likely been considerably underestimated.
Early colonization of functional groups of microbes in the infant gut
Authors: Pham Van T. , Lacroix Christophe , Braegger Christian P. , Chassard Christophe 
Published: April 2016

SummaryThe colonization of the infant gut is crucial for early life development. Although the composition and diversity of the infant gut microbiota (GM) has been well described at a taxonomic level, functional aspects of this ecosystem remain unexplored. In the infant gut, lactate is produced by a number of bacteria and plays an important role in the trophic chain of the fermentation process. However, little is known about the lactate‐utilizing bacteria (LUB) community in infants and their impact on gut health. By combining culture‐based and molecular methods, we intensively studied LUB in fecal samples of 40 healthy infants on both taxonomic and functional levels. We demonstrated metabolic cross‐feeding of lactate and identified keystone species specified for lactate utilization. The interactions of such species and their metabolic outcome could have direct impacts on infant health, either beneficial (production of short chain fatty acids) or detrimental (accumulation of hydrogen or hydrogen sulfide). We identified mode of delivery as a strong determinant for lactate‐producing and ‐utilizing bacteria levels. These findings present the early establishment of GM with a novel perspective and emphasize the importance of lactate utilization in infancy.
The human gut microbiome in health: establishment and resilience of microbiota over a lifetime
Authors: Greenhalgh Kacy , Meyer Kristen M. , Aagaard Kjersti M. , Wilmes Paul 
Published: April 2016

SummaryWith technological advances in culture‐independent molecular methods, we are uncovering a new facet of our natural history by accounting for the vast diversity of microbial life which colonizes the human body. The human microbiome contributes functional genes and metabolites which affect human physiology and are, therefore, considered an important factor for maintaining health. Much has been described in the past decade based primarily on 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing regarding the diversity, structure, stability and dynamics of human microbiota in their various body habitats, most notably within the gastrointestinal tract (GIT). Relatively high levels of variation have been described across different stages of life and geographical locations for the GIT microbiome. These observations may prove helpful for the future contextualization of patterns in other body habitats especially in relation to identifying generalizable trends over human lifetime. Given the large degree of complexity and variability, a key challenge will be how to define baseline healthy microbiomes and how to identify features which reflect deviations therefrom in the future. In this context, metagenomics and functional omics will likely play a central role as they will allow resolution of microbiome‐conferred functionalities associated with health. Such information will be vital for formulating therapeutic interventions aimed at managing microbiota‐mediated health particularly in the GIT over the course of a human lifetime.
Therapist implementation and parent experiences of the three phases of Functional Family Therapy
Authors: Hartnett Dan , Carr Alan , Hamilton Elena , Sexton Thomas L. 
Published: April 2016

Despite the widespread adoption of manualized model‐driven approaches to family therapy, little is known about how therapists implement and families experience the specific guiding practices involved in individual models. The aim of the present study was to use a qualitative methodology to describe therapist implementation and family experiences of the three phases of Functional Family Therapy (FFT). Five FFT therapists and four parents of families who had been treated by those therapists were interviewed and thematic analysis performed to analyse the data. Results suggest that both common factor and model‐specific treatment elements, flexibility within model delivery, and strategies which aim to improve parental self‐efficacy and communication are key elements of successful therapy when practised within a manualized model‐driven framework. Limitations such as the retrospective nature of the study, and avenues for future research, such as the inclusion of the entire client family, are discussed.Practitioner points

Early in FFT, combine basic therapeutic skills such as empathy, warmth and unconditional positive regard with model specific skills such as reframing
In the middle sessions of FFT, match the development of specific behaviour change skills (e.g. communication, conflict management, and emotional regulation) to families’ particular goals
In later sessions of FFT, support the generalization of gains made within therapy to other contexts and future situations to prevent relapse
A Case of Lethal Idiopathic Plasmacytic Lymphadenopathy with Polyclonal Hypergammaglobulinemia: A Medical Challenge for the Forensic Pathologist
Authors: Tattoli Lucia , Solarino Biagio , Schiraldi Oronzo , Di Vella Giancarlo 
Published: April 2016

AbstractA rare case of lethal idiopathic plasmacytic lymphadenopathy (IPL) with polyclonal hyperimmunoglobulinemia with chronic renal failure is described. A 40‐year‐old woman who had suffered from upper airways disease was admitted to the Emergency Room with acute renal failure and hypergammaglobulinemia. She developed pericardial effusion, a pruritic rash, splenomegaly and fell into a coma after 6 days. Multiple myeloma, infection, collagenopathy, and coagulopathy were ruled out. Finally, a form of malignant hypergammapathy was suspected. At autopsy, lymph nodes were infiltrated by polyclonal plasma cells and lymphocytes, with erythrophagocytosis features; immunohistochemistry confirmed the plasma cells (CD138+), with a prevalence of kappa‐positive cells, B (CD20+) and T (CD3+) cells. Kidneys showed advanced glomerulosclerosis containing similar infiltrates. The cause of death was IPL with polyclonal hypergammaglobulinemia and advanced renal failure. Similar cases are unusual, and possible medical liability associated with failure to diagnose and treat idiopathic plasmacytic lymphadenopathy deserves discussion and further studies.
Phenotypic plasticity in Drosophila cactophilic species: the effect of competition, density, and breeding sites
Authors: Fanara Juan Jose , Werenkraut Victoria 
Published: April 2016

AbstractChanges in the environmental conditions experienced by naturally occurring populations are frequently accompanied by changes in adaptive traits allowing the organism to cope with environmental unpredictability. Phenotypic plasticity is a major aspect of adaptation and it has been involved in population dynamics of interacting species. In this study, phenotypic plasticity (i.e., environmental sensitivity) of morphological adaptive traits were analyzed in the cactophilic species Drosophila buzzatii and Drosophila koepferae (Diptera: Drosophilidae) considering the effect of crowding conditions (low and high density), type of competition (intraspecific and interspecific competition) and cacti hosts (Opuntia and Columnar cacti). All traits (wing length, wing width, thorax length, wing loading and wing aspect) showed significant variation for each environmental factor considered in both Drosophila species. The phenotypic plasticity pattern observed for each trait was different within and between these cactophilic Drosophila species depending on the environmental factor analyzed suggesting that body size‐related traits respond almost independently to environmental heterogeneity. The effects of ecological factors analyzed in this study are discussed in order to elucidate the causal factors investigated (type of competition, crowding conditions and alternative host) affecting the election of the breeding site and/or the range of distribution of these cactophilic species.
Beyond habitat structure: Landscape heterogeneity explains the monito del monte (Dromiciops gliroides) occurrence and behavior at habitats dominated by exotic trees
Authors: SALAZAR Daniela A. , FONTÚRBEL Francisco E. 
Published: April 2016

AbstractHabitat structure determines species occurrence and behavior. However, human activities are altering natural habitat structure, potentially hampering native species due to the loss of nesting cavities, shelter or movement pathways. The South American temperate rainforest is experiencing an accelerated loss and degradation, compromising the persistence of many native species, and particularly of the monito del monte (Dromiciops gliroides Thomas, 1894), an arboreal marsupial that plays a key role as seed disperser. Aiming to compare 2 contrasting habitats (a native forest and a transformed habitat composed of abandoned Eucalyptus plantations and native understory vegetation), we assessed D. gliroides' occurrence using camera traps and measured several structural features (e.g. shrub and bamboo cover, deadwood presence, moss abundance) at 100 camera locations. Complementarily, we used radio telemetry to assess its spatial ecology, aiming to depict a more complete scenario. Moss abundance was the only significant variable explaining D. gliroides occurrence between habitats, and no structural variable explained its occurrence at the transformed habitat. There were no differences in home range, core area or inter‐individual overlapping. In the transformed habitats, tracked individuals used native and Eucalyptus‐associated vegetation types according to their abundance. Diurnal locations (and, hence, nesting sites) were located exclusively in native vegetation. The landscape heterogeneity resulting from the vicinity of native and Eucalyptus‐associated vegetation likely explains D. gliroides occurrence better than the habitat structure itself, as it may be use Eucalyptus‐associated vegetation for feeding purposes but depend on native vegetation for nesting.
Tolerance Testing for Cooked Porridge made from a Sorghum Based Fortified Blended Food
Authors: Chanadang Sirichat , Chambers Edgar IV , Alavi Sajid 
Published: April 2016

AbstractProducts that will be prepared by consumers must be tolerant to various cooking procedures that those consumers may use. Fortified blended foods (FBFs) are used as a source of nutrition for disaster or famine relief in developing countries. Many FBFs are served as porridge and may have a wide of solids content, cooking times and variations in added ingredients. Sorghum is being examined as a potential alternative to wheat and corn based FBF products. This study was intended to evaluate the tolerance to preparation variations for porridge made as a FBF intended for food aid. Whole Sorghum Soy Blend (WSSB), a fortified, extruded, ground cooked cereal was selected as the FBF for this study. Descriptive sensory analysis and Bostwick flow rate measurements were performed to evaluate the tolerance of porridge products made from variations in ingredients and cooking procedures. The results showed that most sensory properties were only marginally affected although some expected large differences in a few sensory properties were found when solids content varied (that is, thickness, adhesiveness) or fruit (banana flavor) was added. Moreover, Bostwick flow rate was a reasonable indicator of thickness characteristics of porridges in some cases, but not in others. Tolerance testing showed that the sensory properties of WSSB had high tolerance to variations in cooking procedures, which means that the product can be modified during preparation by consumers without having a major impact on most sensory properties other than ones they intended to change such as thickness, sweetness, or fruit flavor.