52 research outputs found
The mammals of Angola
Scientific investigations on the mammals of Angola started over 150 years
ago, but information remains scarce and scattered, with only one recent published
account. Here we provide a synthesis of the mammals of Angola based on a thorough
survey of primary and grey literature, as well as recent unpublished records. We present
a short history of mammal research, and provide brief information on each species
known to occur in the country. Particular attention is given to endemic and near endemic
species. We also provide a zoogeographic outline and information on the conservation
of Angolan mammals. We found confirmed records for 291 native species, most of
which from the orders Rodentia (85), Chiroptera (73), Carnivora (39), and
Cetartiodactyla (33). There is a large number of endemic and near endemic species,
most of which are rodents or bats. The large diversity of species is favoured by the wide range of habitats with contrasting environmental conditions, while endemism tends to
be associated with unique physiographic settings such as the Angolan Escarpment. The
mammal fauna of Angola includes 2 Critically Endangered, 2 Endangered, 11
Vulnerable, and 14 Near-Threatened species at the global scale. There are also 12 data
deficient species, most of which are endemics or near endemics to the countryinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Morphological Definition of Actin Architecture at the T Cell Immunological Synapse
Abstract
T lymphocytes (T cells) are the major mediators of adaptive immune response. They detect pathogens primarily via the interaction of their T cell receptor (TCR) with the cognate pathogen-derived peptide displayed in the context of MHC on the infected cell. A critical step in T cell activation is the formation of immunological synapse, a specialized cell–cell conjugate interface between the T cell and infected cell, where massive TCR-induced actin remodeling and polymerization take place. Dynamic actin polymerization at the immunological synapse is essential for T cell activation and subsequently, immune response
Fluid flow through the sedimentary cover in northern Switzerland recorded by calcite-celestite veins (Oftringen borehole, Olten)
Abundant veins filled by calcite, celestite and pyrite were found in the
core of a 719 m deep borehole drilled in Oftringen near Olten, located
in the north-western Molasse basin, close to the thrust of the Folded
Jura. Host rocks are calcareous marl, argillaceous limestone and
limestone of the Dogger and Malm. The delta O-18 values of vein calcite
are lower than in host rock carbonate and, together with
microthermometric data from fluid inclusions in vein calcite, indicate
precipitation from a seawater-dominated fluid at average temperatures of
56-68A degrees C. Such temperatures were reached at the time of maximum
burial of the sedimentary pile in the late Miocene. The depth profile of
delta C-13 and Sr-87/Sr-86 values and Sr content of both whole-rock
carbonate and vein calcite show marked trends towards negative delta
C-13, high Sr-87/Sr-86, and low Sr content in the uppermost 50-150 m of
the Jurassic profile (upper Oxfordian). The Sr-87/Sr-86 of vein minerals
is generally higher than that of host rock carbonate, up to very high
values corresponding to Burdigalian seawater (Upper Marine Molasse,
Miocene), which represents the last marine incursion in the region. No
evidence for internally derived radiogenic Sr (clay minerals) has been
found and so an external source is required. S and O isotope composition
of vein celestite and pyrite can be explained by bacterial reduction of
Miocene seawater sulphate. The available data set suggests the vein
mineralization precipitated from descending Burdigalian seawater and not
from a fluid originating in the underlying Triassic evaporites
Spatial avoidance of invading pastoral cattle by wild ungulates: insights from using point process statistics
Traditional rangelands in many developing countries are currently being encroached by cultivation, driving some herders to illegally use protected areas for grazing their cattle. Since cattle are an exotic species in these ecosystems, they might have an impact on the local wild herbivore communities, notably through competition. We used point pattern statistics to characterise the spatial relationships between wild ungulate species and cattle herds within a protected area in west Africa undergoing seasonal intrusions by cattle. We predicted that the wild ungulate species that are ecologically and morphologically similar to cattle, in terms of body mass and diet, would be more sensitive to grass depletion by cattle and would be separated from cattle to a larger extent. The spatial distribution of browsing and mixed-feeding antelopes did not seem to be affected much by cattle presence, whereas most grazing species showed spatial separation from cattle. Interestingly, elephants also showed significant separation from cattle herds. We discuss the likely processes that may have contributed to the observed spatial patterns. Thespatial displacement of certain wild species, including megaherbivores, affects the whole community structure and, thus, other components of the ecosystem
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