34 research outputs found
Habitat-Specific Morphological Variation among Threespine Sticklebacks (Gasterosteus aculeatus) within a Drainage Basin
Habitat-specific morphological variation, often corresponding to resource specialization, is well documented in freshwater fishes. In this study we used landmark based morphometric analyses to investigate morphological variation among threespine sticklebacks (Gasterosteus aculeatus L.) from four interconnected habitat types within a single lowland drainage basin in eastern England. These included the upper and lower reaches of the river, the estuary, a connected ditch network and a coastal salt marsh. We found significant habitat-specific differences in morphology, with three axes of variation describing differences in orbit diameter, body depth, caudal peduncle shape and pectoral fin positioning as well as variation in relative dorsal and pelvic spine size. Interestingly, the ditch system, an artificial and heavily managed habitat, is populated by sticklebacks with a characteristic morphology, suggesting that human management of habitats can in some circumstances lead to morphological variation among the animals that inhabit them. We discuss the mechanisms that conceivably underlie the observed morphological variation and the further work necessary to identify them. Finally, we consider the implications of habitat-specific body shape variation for the behavioural ecology of this ecologically generalist species
Materials produced from plant biomass: part II: evaluation of crystallinity and degradation kinetics of cellulose
Multi-responsive, bidirectional, and large deformation bending actuators based on borax cross-linked polyvinyl alcohol derivative hydrogel
Tough, thermo-Responsive, biodegradable and fast self-healing polyurethane hydrogel based on microdomain-closed dynamic bonds design
Skin-inspired nanofibrillated cellulose-reinforced hydrogels with high mechanical strength, long-term antibacterial, and self‐recovery ability for wearable strain/pressure sensors
Synthesis of multifunctional high strength, highly swellable, stretchable and self-healable pH-responsive ionic double network hydrogels
Increase in biomass productivity and protein content of Spirulina sp. LEB 18 (Arthrospira) cultivated with crude glycerol
In situ small angle X-ray scattering investigation of the thermal expansion and related structural information of carbon nanotube composites
In-situ thermal expansion tests on a series of carbon nanotube bucky-paper composites were performed with direct heating within a synchrotron SAXS source. The impact of the samples density and morphology as well as the chemistry and degree of decoration of the carbon nanotubes on the scattering patterns were investigated and correlated to the materials macro-properties. The results demonstrate that simple densification techniques, such as acetone dipping or gold electroless deposition, could reduce greatly the displacements of the carbon nanotubes within the structure and lead to more thermally stable materia