183 research outputs found
Sexual Selection: Do Flies Lie with Asymmetric Legs?
SummaryA newly described species of empidid or âdance flyâ shows a bizarre polymorphism in their forelegs, which presumably serve as a mating lure. This trait may have evolved by frequency-dependent deceptive male signalling
Comparative algological and bacteriological examinations on biofilms developed on different substrata in a shallow soda lake
According to the European Water Framework Directives, benthic diatoms of lakes are a tool for ecological status assessment. In this study, we followed an integrative sample analysis approach, in order to find an appropriate substratum for the water qualification-oriented biomonitoring of a shallow soda lake, Lake Velencei. Six types of substrata (five artificial and one natural), i.e., andesite, granite, polycarbonate, old reed stems, Plexiglass discs and green reed, were sampled in May and in November. We analysed total alga and diatom composition, chlorophyll a content of the periphyton, surface tension and roughness of the substrata and carbon source utilisation of microbial communities. Water quality index was calculated based on diatom composition. Moreover, using a novel statistical tool, a self-organising map, we related algal composition to substratum types. Biofilms on plastic substrates deviated to a great extent from the stone and reed substrata, with regard to the parameters measured, whereas the biofilms developing on reed and stone substrata were quite similar. We conclude that for water quality monitoring purposes, sampling from green reed during springtime is not recommended, since this is the colonization time of periphyton on the newly growing reed, but it may be appropriate from the second half of the vegetation period. Stone and artificially placed old reed substrata may be appropriate for biomonitoring of shallow soda lakes in both spring and autumn since they showed in both seasons similar results regarding all measured features
Community Level Physiological Profiles (CLPP), Characterization and Microbial Activity of Soil Amended with Dairy Sewage Sludge
The aim of the present work was to assess the influence of organic amendment applications compared to mineral fertilization on soil microbial activity and functional diversity. The field experiment was set up on a soil classified as an Eutric Cambisol developed from loess (South-East Poland). Two doses of both dairy sewage sludge (20 Mg·haâ1 and 26 Mg·haâ1) and of mineral fertilizers containing the same amount of nutrients were applied. The same soil without any amendment was used as a control. The soil under undisturbed native vegetation was also included in the study as a representative background sample. The functional diversity (catabolic potential) was assessed using such indices as Average Well Color Development (AWCD), Richness (R) and ShannonâWeaver index (H). These indices were calculated, following the community level physiological profiling (CLPP) using Biolog Eco Plates. Soil dehydrogenase and respiratory activity were also evaluated. The indices were sensitive enough to reveal changes in community level physiological profiles due to treatment effects. It was shown that dairy sewage amended soil was characterized by greater AWCD, R, H and dehydrogenase and respiratory activity as compared to control or mineral fertilized soil. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) and principal component analysis (PCA) were used to depict the differences of the soil bacterial functional diversity between the treatments
Effect of lead, cadmium, and mercury coâcontaminants onbiodegradation in PAHâpolluted soils
Contamination of land by persistent organic pollutants has significant implications for human health and for future development potential. Bioremediation is an effective method for reducing the concentrations of such contaminants to below harmful levels, but the presence of coâcontaminants may hinder this process. Here, we present the results of a 40âweek microcosm study in which the biodegradation of 16 United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs; total: 2,166 mg kgâ1) was followed in the presence of 3 different concentrations of cadmium (up to 620 mg kgâ1) and lead (up to 782 mg kgâ1) in a high organic matter soil. In the absence of metal treatment, 82% of PAHs were removed during the study period. Lead exerts a greater negative effect on total PAH removal than cadmium at low concentrations (approximately 100 mg kgâ1) whilst cadmium exerts the greatest effect at higher concentrations (up to â27.7% reduction). Mercury, intended as the abiotic control (approximately 1,150 mg kgâ1), exerts the greatest effect overall (â37%). Principal Component Analysis showed that PAH degradation was strongly associated with soil respiration rate, biomass content, and Ecoplate Average Well Colour Development. During the initial phase of the experiment, reduced microbial diversity was associated with increased PAH removal, consistent with literature observations for other organic contaminants, though this association was reversed after Week 12. Degradation of higher molecular weight PAHs showed the greatest sensitivity to the health of the microbial community. The effect of metal treatments on biotic parameters in microcosms without PAH amendment is also presented
Peruvian Red Uakaris (Cacajao calvus ucayalii) Are Not Flooded-Forest Specialists
In the literature, particularly in primatological books, the Peruvian red uakari (Cacajao calvus ucayalii) is generally considered as a species that is specialized on living in flooded forest, despite existing evidence to the contrary. Here we review all available information on habitats where Cacajao calvus ucayalii have been observed. Most sightings are from terra firme, including palm swamps, or from mixed habitats, including terra firme and flooded forest. Therefore, we conclude that the species is not a flooded-forest specialist, but is flexible in its habitat requirements and generally uses terra firme forests or a mixture of habitats. Proper recognition of habitat requirements is important for understanding the ecoethological adaptations of a species and for appropriate conservation measures
Bird-spiders (Arachnida, Mygalomorphae) as perceived by the inhabitants of the village of Pedra Branca, Bahia State, Brazil
This paper deals with the conceptions, knowledge and attitudes of the inhabitants of the county of Pedra Branca, Bahia State, on mygalomorph spiders locally known as 'caranguejeiras' (bird-spiders). It is launched here a new filed within ethnozoology: ethnoarachnology, which is defined as the transdisciplinary study of the relationships between human beings and bird-spiders. Data were collected from February to June 2005 by means of open-ended interviews carried out with 30 individuals, which ages ranged from 13 to 86 years old. It was recorded some traditional knowledge regarding the following items: taxonomy, biology, habitat, ecology, seasonality, and behavior. Results show that bird-spiders are classified as "insects". The most commented aspect of the interaction between bird-spiders and inhabitants of Pedra Branca is related to their dangerousness, since they said these spiders are very venomous and can cause health problems. In general, the traditional zoological knowledge of Pedra Branca's inhabitants concerning these spiders is coherent with the academic knowledge
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Novel European free-living, non-diazotrophic Bradyrhizobium isolates from contrasting soils that lack nodulation and nitrogen fixation genes - a genome comparison
The slow-growing genus Bradyrhizobium is biologically important in soils, with different representatives
found to perform a range of biochemical functions including photosynthesis, induction of root nodules
and symbiotic nitrogen fixation and denitrification. Consequently, the role of the genus in soil ecology
and biogeochemical transformations is of agricultural and environmental significance. Some isolates of
Bradyrhizobium have been shown to be non-symbiotic and do not possess the ability to form nodules.
Here we present the genome and gene annotations of two such free-living Bradyrhizobium isolates,
named G22 and BF49, from soils with differing long-term management regimes (grassland and bare
fallow respectively) in addition to carbon metabolism analysis. These Bradyrhizobium isolates are
the first to be isolated and sequenced from European soil and are the first free-living Bradyrhizobium
isolates, lacking both nodulation and nitrogen fixation genes, to have their genomes sequenced and
assembled from cultured samples. The G22 and BF49 genomes are distinctly different with respect
to size and number of genes; the grassland isolate also contains a plasmid. There are also a number
of functional differences between these isolates and other published genomes, suggesting that this
ubiquitous genus is extremely heterogeneous and has roles within the community not including
symbiotic nitrogen fixation
The Nuclear Protein Sge1 of Fusarium oxysporum Is Required for Parasitic Growth
Dimorphism or morphogenic conversion is exploited by several pathogenic fungi and is required for tissue invasion and/or survival in the host. We have identified a homolog of a master regulator of this morphological switch in the plant pathogenic fungus Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici. This non-dimorphic fungus causes vascular wilt disease in tomato by penetrating the plant roots and colonizing the vascular tissue. Gene knock-out and complementation studies established that the gene for this putative regulator, SGE1 (SIX Gene Expression 1), is essential for pathogenicity. In addition, microscopic analysis using fluorescent proteins revealed that Sge1 is localized in the nucleus, is not required for root colonization and penetration, but is required for parasitic growth. Furthermore, Sge1 is required for expression of genes encoding effectors that are secreted during infection. We propose that Sge1 is required in F. oxysporum and other non-dimorphic (plant) pathogenic fungi for parasitic growth
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