bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Sexual differentiation and seasonal variation in response to conspecific and heterospecific acoustic signals
Authors: Sosa‐López J. Roberto , Mennill Daniel J. , Renton Katherine 
Published: June 2017

AbstractInterspecific territoriality is frequently reported between closely related species; however, few studies have demonstrated interspecific territoriality between distantly related species living in sympatry. We conducted playback experiments to investigate territorial behaviour in male and female White‐bellied Wrens (Uropsila leucogastra) in response to simulated conspecific and heterospecific intruders during the breeding and non‐breeding seasons. We explored whether heterospecific songs of the Happy Wren (Pheugopedius felix), a distantly related species and ecological competitor, elicited antagonistic responses from focal White‐bellied Wrens, and whether such responses differed between the sexes. We also examined whether male and female responses to conspecific and heterospecific rivals varied with season. We found that male White‐bellied Wrens always responded to conspecific song, and responded significantly more to heterospecific song compared to a control stimulus (Tropical Parula,Setophaga pitiayumi). In contrast, although female White‐bellied Wrens responded strongly to conspecific song, their response to heterospecific song did not differ significantly from the control stimulus. The proportion of males that responded to heterospecific songs and the proportion of females that responded to conspecific songs varied seasonally, showing significantly lower responses during the breeding season. The intense responses of male White‐bellied Wrens to playback of heterospecific songs suggest that they recognise ecological competitors based on their vocal signals. Furthermore, the decrease in agonistic interactions during the breeding season is in line with the hypothesis that aggressive behaviour may be detrimental to reproductive and parental activity, and the hypothesis that heterospecific animals pose less of a threat during the breeding season.
Dodging the moon: The moon effect on activity allocation of prey in the presence of predators
Authors: Pratas‐Santiago Luís P. , Gonçalves André L. S. , Nogueira António J. A. , Spironello Wilson R. 
Published: June 2017

AbstractAnimals can adapt their activity patterns throughout the circadian cycle. Prey may use moonlight as a predation risk cue and allocate their activity to lower risk periods. Here, we assessed moon transit influence on the activity allocation of nocturnal mammalian prey, in the presence of a predator (pumas, Puma concolor), during different moon phases, through camera trapping in Central Amazon. Thirty camera traps were installed 2 km apart from each other in each of our three study sites. Prey record distributions were assessed across the moon cycle, and their daily activity patterns were described in each moon phase. The record distributions of pacas (Cuniculus paca) (N = 262) and armadillos (Dasypus sp.) (N = 244) were concentrated in darker nights, contrasting with red brocket deer (Mazama americana) (N = 123) and pumas (N = 31), whose records were evenly distributed through the moon cycle. Yet, every prey was found to avoid the brighter times of the night regardless of the moon phase. These findings suggest prey can shift the temporal distribution of their activities under different moon phases when predators are present, perhaps in response to predation risk variations.
Developing flow–ecology relationships: Implications of nonlinear biological responses for water management
Authors: Rosenfeld Jordan S. 
Published: June 2017

Abstract

Empirical relationships between stream flow and ecological responses (flow–ecology relationships) are essential for establishing environmental flows and evaluating tradeoffs between instream values and out‐of‐stream uses. Establishing the shape of flow–ecology relationships (i.e. slope, linearity versus nonlinearity) is particularly important to avoid crossing ecological thresholds in water management.

This review focuses on ecological responses to discharge at low summer flows when out‐of‐stream water demand is often highest, and identifying ecological contexts where nonlinearities are most likely. Most physical attributes (temperature, dissolved oxygen, available habitat) and ecological responses (energy flow, fish survival, recruitment, community structure) show at least some evidence of nonlinear relationships with flow, although assumptions of linearity may be reasonable across limited discharge ranges which may include low flows.

Nonlinearities are most likely in systems that are near existing thresholds (e.g. cold‐water transitional fish communities that are close to upper thermal tolerances). The probability of nonlinearities is likely to increase under future landuse and climate change scenarios, particularly in combination with other stressors, such as eutrophication, which may greatly accelerate temperature‐related decline in dissolved oxygen under climate warming.

Managers need to anticipate changes in flow–ecology relationships and develop management systems that are robust to change. Field programmes to establish the slope and linearity of local flow–ecology relationships are essential for regional management, but developing generalisable flow–ecology relationships that are transferrable to regions with limited resources also needs to be a priority.

Generalised relationships can be generated through meta‐analysis of empirical flow–ecology relationships, and may prove especially useful if they can capture how environmental and ecological context (channel size and morphology, landuse, flow regime, antecedent conditions, habitat or taxonomic guild) affect flow–ecology relationships. For instance, linking empirical data from flow–ecology relationships to available habitat predicted by physical habitat simulation models (e.g. PHABSIM) may provide a better mechanistic basis for modelling ecological responses, while providing much needed validation for habitat simulation approaches. This would also help bridge the gap between emerging holistic environmental flow modelling approaches and more traditional habitat simulation methods.
Inconsistencies of interannual variability and trends in long‐term satellite leaf area index products
Authors: Jiang Chongya , Ryu Youngryel , Fang Hongliang , Myneni Ranga , Claverie Martin , Zhu Zaichun 
Published: June 2017

AbstractUnderstanding the long‐term performance of global satellite leaf area index (LAI) products is important for global change research. However, few effort has been devoted to evaluating the long‐term time‐series consistencies of LAI products. This study compared four long‐term LAI products (GLASS, GLOBMAP, LAI3g, and TCDR) in terms of trends, interannual variabilities, and uncertainty variations from 1982 through 2011. This study also used four ancillary LAI products (GEOV1, MERIS, MODIS C5, and MODIS C6) from 2003 through 2011 to help clarify the performances of the four long‐term LAI products. In general, there were marked discrepancies between the four long‐term LAI products. During the pre‐MODIS period (1982–1999), both linear trends and interannual variabilities of global mean LAI followed the order GLASS>LAI3g>TCDR>GLOBMAP. The GLASS linear trend and interannual variability were almost 4.5 times those of GLOBMAP. During the overlap period (2003–2011), GLASS and GLOBMAP exhibited a decreasing trend, TCDR no trend, and LAI3g an increasing trend. GEOV1, MERIS, and MODIS C6 also exhibited an increasing trend, but to a much smaller extent than that from LAI3g. During both periods, the R2 of detrended anomalies between the four long‐term LAI products was smaller than 0.4 for most regions. Interannual variabilities of the four long‐term LAI products were considerably different over the two periods, and the differences followed the order GLASS>LAI3g>TCDR>GLOBMAP. Uncertainty variations quantified by a collocation error model followed the same order. Our results indicate that the four long‐term LAI products were neither intraconsistent over time nor interconsistent with each other. These inconsistencies may be due to NOAA satellite orbit changes and MODIS sensor degradation. Caution should be used in the interpretation of global changes derived from the four long‐term LAI products.
Differential sensitivity of total and active soil microbial communities to drought and forest management
Authors: Bastida Felipe , Torres Irene F. , Andrés‐Abellán Manuela , Baldrian Petr , López‐Mondéjar Rubén , Větrovský Tomáš , Richnow Hans H. , Starke Robert , Ondoño Sara , García Carlos , López‐Serrano Francisco R. , Jehmlich Nico 
Published: June 2017

AbstractClimate change will affect semiarid ecosystems through severe droughts that increase the competition for resources in plant and microbial communities. In these habitats, adaptations to climate change may consist of thinning—that reduces competition for resources through a decrease in tree density and the promotion of plant survival. We deciphered the functional and phylogenetic responses of the microbial community to 60 years of drought induced by rainfall exclusion and how forest management affects its resistance to drought, in a semiarid forest ecosystem dominated byPinus halepensisMill. A multiOMICapproach was applied to reveal novel, community‐based strategies in the face of climate change. The diversity and the composition of the total and active soil microbiome were evaluated by 16SrRNAgene (bacteria) andITS(fungal) sequencing, and by metaproteomics. The microbial biomass was analyzed by phospholipid fatty acids (PLFAs), and the microbially mediated ecosystem multifunctionality was studied by the integration of soil enzyme activities related to the cycles of C, N, and P. The microbial biomass and ecosystem multifunctionality decreased in drought‐plots, as a consequence of the lower soil moisture and poorer plant development, but this decrease was more notable in unthinned plots. The structure and diversity of the total bacterial community was unaffected by drought at phylum and order level, but did so at genus level, and was influenced by seasonality. However, the total fungal community and the active microbial community were more sensitive to drought and were related to ecosystem multifunctionality. Thinning in plots without drought increased the active diversity while the total diversity was not affected. Thinning promoted the resistance of ecosystem multifunctionality to drought through changes in the active microbial community. The integration of total and active microbiome analyses avoids misinterpretations of the links between the soil microbial community and climate change.
Stacked species distribution and macroecological models provide incongruent predictions of species richness for Drosophilidae in the Brazilian savanna
Authors: da Mata Renata Alves , Tidon Rosana , de Oliveira Guilherme , Vilela Bruno , Diniz‐Filho José Alexandre Felizola , Rangel Thiago Fernando , Terribile Levi Carina 
Published: June 2017

Abstract

We tested the adequacy of two richness‐modelling approaches within the ‘spatially explicit species assemblage modelling’ (SESAM) framework for drosophilid flies in a tropical biome.

The pattern of drosophilid species richness throughout the Brazilian savanna was investigated by comparing richness estimates from macroecological models (MEM) and stacked species distribution models (S‐SDM). We used occurrence records for macroecological modelling and to generate geographic ranges by modelling species’ niches, which were stacked to generate SDM richness. Richness predictions were compared between models and with empirical data from well‐sampled areas.

The spatial variation in drosophilid richness for both estimates revealed more species in the central and south‐eastern regions of the biome. Nonetheless, MEM generated a more fragmented pattern than S‐SDM, with scattered patches of high richness. S‐SDM produced richness estimates nearer to the empirical values than MEM, which in turn strongly underestimated richness.

The correlation between S‐SDM and observed richness suggests that climate is the major (indirect) driver of drosophilid richness in the Brazilian savanna. Richness estimates based on macroecological modelling are, however, almost certainly affected by inventory incompleteness and sampling bias. We emphasise that S‐SDM can be a valuable approach to explore species richness patterns in poorly sampled regions.
Parental attitudes towards oral health and caries‐risk in their children
Authors: Vermaire JH , van Exel NJA 
Published: June 2017

AbstractObjectivesThe aim of this study was to investigate whether parents can be matched with attitudes towards oral health by means of a short vignette sheet, developed based on the results of an earlier Q‐methodological study. Furthermore, this study aims to explore how the attitudes associate with diet and oral hygiene habits and with clinical outcomes in children.MethodsA total of 170 parents of 6‐ to 9‐year‐old children completed a questionnaire including the vignette sheet and clinical scores (oral hygiene, caries) were retrieved from the follow‐up measurement of a RCT on caries‐preventive measures.ResultsOf the 170 respondents, 159 (93.5%) could be matched to a single best matching attitude. Respondents identified “well” to “very well” with at least one of the attitudes and seemed to be able to differentiate well the extent to which they matched to the different attitudes. Parents scoring high on different attitudes were found to be associated with different lifestyle patterns and clinical outcomes.ConclusionsIt was concluded that using a self‐assessed attitude tool, derived from the results of a Q‐methodological study, it is possible to identify different groups of parents with different oral health‐related risk factors. Of course, it is hardly likely that people are 100% only 1 type of parent; parents can be considered to be a mix of different typologies. However, information on the composition of that mix may be helpful for the dental professional to estimate risks and to deliver a more tailored prevention strategy in children.
Using image J to document healing in ulcers of the foot in diabetes
Authors: Jeffcoate William J , Musgrove Alison J , Lincoln Nadina B 
Published: June 2017

AbstractThe aim of the study was to assess the reliability of measuring the cross‐sectional area of diabetic foot ulcers using Image J software. The inter‐ and intra‐rater reliability of ulcer area measures were assessed using digital images of acetate tracings of ulcers of the foot affecting 31 participants in an off‐loading randomised trial. Observations were made independently by five specialist podiatrists, one of whom was experienced in the use of Image J software and educated the other four in a single session. The mean (±SD) of the mean cross‐sectional areas of the 31 ulcers determined independently by the five observers was 1386·7 (±22·7) mm2. The correlation between all pairs of observers was >0·99 (P < 0·001). There was no significant difference overall between the five observers (ANOVA F1.538; P = 0·165) and no difference between any two (paired samples test t = −0·787–1·396; P ≥ 0·088). The correlation between the areas determined by two observers on two occasions separated by not less than 1 week was very high (0·997 and 0·999; P < 0·001 and <0·001, respectively). The inter‐ and intra‐reliability of the Image J software is very high, with no evidence of a difference either between or within observers. This technique should be considered for both research and clinical use in order to document changes in ulcer area.
Dispersion of aluminum‐doped zinc oxide nanopowder in non‐aqueous suspensions
Authors: Li Chia‐Chen , Li Ming‐Jyun , Huang Yung‐Pin 
Published: June 2017

AbstractThis study proposes appropriate dispersants for dispersing aluminum‐doped zinc oxide (AZO) nanopowder in the commonly used organic solvent‐dimethylacetamide (DMAC). The dispersion efficiencies and stabilization mechanisms of four DMAC‐soluble dispersants, poly(acrylic acid) (PAA), polyethyleneimine (PEI), poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA), and poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP), are compared. The non‐polyelectrolyte‐based PVA and PVP surprisingly exhibit greater efficiency than the polyelectrolyte‐based PAA and PEI. This is because the nano AZO is soft‐agglomerated in DMAC and easily de‐agglomerated by the application of ultrasonic power; therefore, the increased viscosity contributed from additions of PVA and PVP efficiently prevent reagglomeration and sedimentation of the nanopowder. This stabilization mechanism is evidenced by an experimental analysis of zeta potentials and rheology and also by theoretical calculations based on Stokes’ law.
Full reoxidation of CuMn2O4 spinel catalyst triggered by epitaxial Mn3O4 surface nanocrystals
Authors: Trapp Maximilian , Müller Mathis M. , Nazarpoor Zahra , Kleebe Hans‐Joachim 
Published: June 2017

AbstractTransmission electron microscopy was performed on a model system of a novel CuMn2O4 spinel catalyst in order to study the effects of reduction by carbon monoxide and subsequent reoxidation by oxygen both processed at 600°C. A phase transition from CuMn2O4 spinel into separated MnO and Cu‐rich phases, which are CuO or Cu depending on the reduction period, was observed in the reduced samples. Furthermore, a surface coverage of the MnO grains by epitaxially grown, nanocrystalline Mn3O4 was found in all reduced samples. These Mn3O4 nanocrystals are assumed to act as seed crystals in the subsequent reoxidation step completely reversing the phase transitions and reconstituting single‐phase CuMn2O4 spinel. In addition, superlattice reflections due to cation ordering occurred as a typical feature in the as‐prepared spinel. In the reoxidized spinel, the superlattice reflections were absent, hence indicating a disordered cation distribution.
Climate‐biomes, pedo‐biomes or pyro‐biomes: which world view explains the tropical forest–savanna boundary in South America?
Authors: Langan Liam , Higgins Steven I. , Scheiter Simon 
Published: June 2017

AbstractAimIt remains poorly understood why the position of the forest–savanna biome boundary, in a domain defined by precipitation and temperature, differs in South America, Africa and Australia. Process based Dynamic Global Vegetation Models (DGVMs) are a valuable tool to investigate the determinants of vegetation distributions; however, many DGVMs fail to predict the spatial distribution or indeed presence of the South American savanna biome. Evidence suggests that fire plays a significant role in mediating forest–savanna biome boundaries; however, fire alone appears to be insufficient to predict these boundaries in South America. We hypothesize that interactions between precipitation, constraints on tree rooting depth and fire affect the probability of savanna occurrence and the position of the savanna–forest boundary.LocationTropical forest and savanna sites in Brazil and Venezuela north of 23S.MethodsWe tested our hypotheses using a novel DGVM, aDGVM2, which allows plant trait spectra, constrained by trade‐offs between traits, to evolve in response to abiotic and biotic conditions. Plant hydraulics is represented by the cohesion–tension theory, this allowed us to explore how soil and plant hydraulics control biome distributions and plant traits. The resulting community trait distributions are emergent properties of model dynamics.ResultsWe showed that across much of South America the biome state is not determined by climate alone. Interactions between plant rooting depth, fire and precipitation affected the probability of observing a given biome state and the emergent traits of plant communities. Simulations where plant rooting depth varied in space provided the best match to satellite derived biomass estimates and generated biome distributions that reproduced contemporary biome maps well.Main conclusionsOur findings support the contention that areas where multiple vegetation states are possible are widespread and highlight the importance of considering the influence of fire and constraints on plant rooting depth for predicting biome boundaries.
Genetic accommodation in the wild: evolution of gene expression plasticity during character displacement
Authors: Levis N. A. , Serrato‐Capuchina A. , Pfennig D. W. 
Published: June 2017

AbstractEcological character displacement is considered crucial in promoting diversification, yet relatively little is known of its underlying mechanisms. We examined whether evolutionary shifts in gene expression plasticity (‘genetic accommodation’) mediate character displacement in spadefoot toads. WhereSpea bombifronsandS. multiplicataoccur separately in allopatry (the ancestral condition), each produces alternative, diet‐induced, larval ecomorphs: omnivores, which eat detritus, and carnivores, which specialize on shrimp. By contrast, where these two species occur together in sympatry (the derived condition), selection to minimize competition for detritus has causedS. bombifronsto become nearly fixed for producing only carnivores, suggesting that character displacement might have arisen through an extreme form of genetic accommodation (‘genetic assimilation’) in which plasticity is lost. Here, we asked whether we could infer a signature of this process in regulatory changes of specific genes. In particular, we investigated whether genes that are normally expressed more highly in one morph (‘biased’ genes) have evolved reduced plasticity in expression levels amongS. bombifronsfrom sympatry compared toS. bombifronsfrom allopatry. We reared individuals from sympatry vs. allopatry on detritus or shrimp and measured the reaction norms of nine biased genes. Although different genes displayed different patterns of gene regulatory evolution, the combined gene expression profiles revealed that sympatric individuals had indeed lost the diet‐induced gene expression plasticity present in allopatric individuals. Our data therefore provide one of the few examples from natural populations in which genetic accommodation/assimilation can be traced to regulatory changes of specific genes. Such genetic accommodation might mediate character displacement in many systems.
Wear mechanisms of the biotribological nanocomposite a‐C : H coatings implanted by metallic nanoparticles
Authors: MAJOR L. , JANUSZ M. , LACKNER J.M. , KOT M. , DYNER M. , MAJOR B. 
Published: June 2017

SummaryRecently, to reduce the residual stress and increase the mechanical properties of a‐C:H coatings, metallic nanoparticles have been implanted into their structure. In the present work, to improve the properties of the coating, metallic nanoparticles, including Cu, Nb, Ta, Zr, AgPt and Ag, were inserted into the a‐C:H structure. The applied biological and mechanical analysis allowed the optimal biotribological parameters to be indicated for the potential application as protective coatings for metallic medical tools. Wear mechanisms operating at the small length of the designed biotribological coating, such as a‐C:H implanted by Zr nanoparticles, were studied by means of transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The TEM analysis confirmed very good coating adhesion to the metallic substrate.