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Biometry: the principles and practice of statistics in biological research
... Dessa forma, notou-se que 24,4% das participantes que apresentaram risco aumentado para disfunção sexual faziam uso de ACO, enquanto que 26,7% das usuárias desse método não possuíam tal risco. (Sokal;Rohlf, 1995). ...
... Dessa forma, notou-se que 24,4% das participantes que apresentaram risco aumentado para disfunção sexual faziam uso de ACO, enquanto que 26,7% das usuárias desse método não possuíam tal risco. (Sokal;Rohlf, 1995). ...
... Além disso, o Coeficiente de Cramer foi calculado para quantificar a força da associação entre as duas variáveis categóricas estudadas (Sokal;Rohlf, 1995). O cálculo resultou em 0,071, evidenciando uma associação muito fraca entre o risco aumentado para disfunção sexual feminina e o uso da pílula combinada. ...
Buscou-se verificar a associação entre o uso de anticoncepcionais combinados orais (ACOs) e a presença de disfunção sexual em um grupo de pessoas do sexo feminino, com idades entre 20 e 39 anos, sexualmente ativas com parceiros do sexo masculino e de nacionalidade brasileira. Foi realizado um estudo de inquérito on-line, descritivo/analítico e de caráter transversal. O formulário on-line englobou o questionário para coleta de dados sociodemográficos, biológicos, ginecológicos e obstétricos, além do Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) para identificação de disfunção sexual. Na amostra estudada, verificou-se redução do desejo entre as mulheres usuárias de ACOs, quando comparadas com as que não empregavam esse método. O domínio do orgasmo foi melhor pontuado entre as usuárias da pílula combinada. A aplicação do Teste Qui-Quadrado de Pearson demonstrou não haver evidência estatística suficiente de associação entre o uso de ACOs e o risco aumentado para disfunção sexual feminina. Além disso, a força de associação entre as duas variáveis analisadas foi, no máximo, moderada. Por fim, para uma análise mais fidedigna sobre o impacto do uso da pílula combinada na vivência da sexualidade entre a população feminina brasileira, é importante a avaliação de outros fatores possivelmente relacionados à etiologia da disfunção sexual.
... Similarly, Walton and Pennock [6] observed no incorporation of sterols after 24-32 h with injected [ 14 C]-mevalonate in Cardium edule and Mytilus edulis. Sterols can be elongated by C 24 -alkylation, and sterol breakdown can occur through C 24 -dealkylation [2]. Phytosterol alkylation has been demonstrated in oysters, such as Crassostrea gigas and Crassostrea virginica [7,8]. ...
... When necessary, post hoc analyses with the Least Significant Difference (LSD) test were applied. Percentage data were arcsinetransformed to normalize variance [24]. Differences were considered statistically significant if P ≤ 0.05. ...
... The biometric and morphometric data were described, in general, by the mean, (Sokal & Rohlf, 1995). Subsequently, the data were organised in 2-cm length classes to plot the cumulative relative frequency of the two sexes by body size. ...
... The matrix of biotic data was transformed to normalise the values, and make them homoscedastic. The percentage participation of each factor in the variability of the data was assessed using a Monte Carlo permutation test, with 999 randomisations (Sokal & Rohlf, 1995). All analyses were run in Statistica 7.0, and considered a 5% significance level. ...
Acetes paraguayensis Hansen, 1919, é a única espécie do gênero que ocorre em águas completamente doces. É considerada uma espécie de grande importância ecológica, social e econômica, inclusive com potencial aquícola, porém é muito pouco estudada, não constando nas estatísticas oficiais de desembarque. A pesca é artesanalmente realizada por famílias ribeirinhas, utilizando matapi, alguns dos quais com atratores luminosos. A história de vida desta espécie é pouco conhecida, assim, o presente estudo visou determinar a estrutura populacional, a proporção sexual e as relações bio-morfométricas de A. paraguayensis, a partir de amostras mensalmente obtidas no rio Tapajós (Santarém-PA), as quais foram coletadas por meio de matapis com e sem atratores luminosos, no período de maio de 2016 a junho de 2018. Os indivíduos foram identificados e sexados, utilizando-se chaves de identificação e literatura especializada. Através de um paquímetro digital, foram medidos o comprimento total (mm) e comprimento da carapaça (mm), sendo os organismos posteriormente pesados (mg) em uma balança de precisão. Para determinação da estrutura populacional e da proporção sexual, foi utilizado o teste do Qui-quadrado (p<0.05). Foram analisados 3690 indivíduos (fêmeas = 2325 e machos =1365), sendo os machos mais abundantes nas menores classes de tamanho, e as fêmeas, dominantes em classes maiores. As fêmeas apresentaram comprimento total médio (LT= 21.44 ± 2.39 mm) e de carapaça (LC=5.13 ± 0.68 mm) maiores que os machos (LT=19.19 ± 2.11 mm) e (LC=4.50 ± 0.58 mm), respectivamente. Já a proporção sexual foi de 1.7♀: 1♂. No que concerne às relações entre o peso e comprimento total, os machos e sexos agrupados (machos mais fêmeas) apresentaram crescimento alométrico negativo (b<3), enquanto que as fêmeas, crescimento isométrico (b=3). Para as relações entre comprimento total (mm) e comprimento da carapaça (mm), todos os grupos (machos, fêmeas, e sexos agrupados) apresentaram crescimento alométrico positivo (b>1). Os resultados obtidos no presente trabalho são inéditos, e demonstram, que essa espécie, apesar da elevada importância ecológica, econômica e social onde ocorre, nunca tinha sido pesquisada, em razão da falta de informações científicas disponíveis e da escassez de pesquisadores interessados, sendo de grande valia para trabalhos futuros que visem o manejo populacional e a preservação dessa espécie, que vem sendo intensamente explorada na região em estudo.
... Two-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was used to assess whether student performance in Natural Science differs between school type and location. When the result of the Anova was significant (p-value<0.05), the Tukey post-hoc test was used to assess which means showed significant differences (Sokal & Rohlf, 1995). The normality of the residuals was tested using the Anderson-Darling test (Razali & Wah, 2011) and the homogeneity of variances was tested using Bartlett's test (Sokal & Rohlf, 1995). ...
... When the result of the Anova was significant (p-value<0.05), the Tukey post-hoc test was used to assess which means showed significant differences (Sokal & Rohlf, 1995). The normality of the residuals was tested using the Anderson-Darling test (Razali & Wah, 2011) and the homogeneity of variances was tested using Bartlett's test (Sokal & Rohlf, 1995). Since the residuals did not show a normal distribution and the variances were not homogeneous, a Kruskal-Wallis test (non-parametric) was used. ...
As in other countries, Brazil has used standardized tests as a tool to measure the quality of education. The Ministry of Education, incorporated large-scale assessments into its educational policy in the early 1990s through the System for Basic Education Assessment. In addition to the exam used to assess elementary school, students are also assessed through the National High School Exam, created in 1998 to assess school performance at the end of Basic Education. This study investigates student performance of Brazilian state public schools in the 2017 National High School Exam [ENEM] area of Natural Sciences. We compared student performance between different types of public schools localized in urban and rural areas. In addition, the factors that may cause these differences were assessed. The influence of school infrastructure, proportion of teachers with training in the area of Natural Sciences, and teacher qualification was evaluated upon student performance. Student performance varied by the type of school and between both rural and urban schools with the higher scores founded in civic-military schools and urban areas. Among the factors evaluated, school infrastructure was the most important factor in student performance, followed by the proportion of teachers with a background in Natural Sciences, and finally, teacher qualification. The heterogeneity of performance between school type and location shows how much we still need to improve resource management, school infrastructure, teacher training and qualification.
... The obtained data were evaluated using the SPSS statistical package program. The phenotypic relationships between the two characters were estimated using the Pearson correlation coefficient with the assistance of a specific equation (Sokal and Rohlf, 1995) ...
This study aimed to investigate the effects of ash utilization on the morphological characteristics of Kurrajong (Brachychiton
populneus Schott.) and Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) seedlings. The appropriate handling and use of waste materials is a
critical issue in promoting environmental sustainability. Therefore, it is essential to explore alternative waste management
methodologies, such as studying the impact of ash on plant growth. In this research, we applied various types of growing media
and ash to Kurrajong and Scots pine seedlings. We evaluated the morphological attributes of the seedlings using parameters
such as seedling height, root collar diameter, fresh and dry weight of stem and root, Dickson quality index, and sturdiness
quotient. The seedlings in the control group and those subjected to different ash treatments exhibited significant differences at
a 99.9% confidence level. The results indicated that ash utilization positively influenced the morphological attributes of
Kurrajong and Scots pine seedlings. Moreover, the application of ash seemed to have a beneficial effect on seedling length,
root collar diameter, and seedling weight. This research introduces an innovative waste management strategy by evaluating the
impact of ash on plant growth, thereby highlighting the potential use of waste materials as alternative growing media.
... The correlation between similarity and cophenetic coefficients for the clusters (CCC) was computed. Principal coordinate analysis (PCoA) was performed to classify D. maidis females from the six sampled populations in tri-dimensional graphics and to estimate the variability explained by each component (Sokal & Rohlf, 1983). This allowed us to improve the cluster identification and evaluate the discriminatory power of each molecular marker (eigenvectors). ...
The corn leafhopper, Dalbulus maidis (DeLong & Wolcott) (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) is the vector of the Corn stunt disease, caused by a complex of pathogens, a serious threat to corn production in tropical and subtropical regions of the American continent. The aim of this study was to conduct an exploratory analysis to estimate the structure and genetic differentiation of D. maidis populations from three geographical regions collected during two maize growing seasons in northwestern Argentina using inter-simple sequence repeats (ISSR) markers. Populations in the High-elevation Valley and Dry Plain sites, despite being geographically separated by mountains of high elevations, were genetically similar, while the nearest populations located in Dry Plain and Humid Piedmont were the most genetically different. The results suggested that populations of D. maidis in subtropical maize-growing areas are structured according to the climatic conditions, mainly humidity and precipitation. Additionally, this structure might be influenced by annual migrants from northern tropical areas, as well as by individuals that occasionally survive from one season to the next as occurs in the Humid Piedmont. Darker body coloration of females sampled during the second year in Dry Plain and Humid Piedmont might be associated with colder temperatures during the winter before maize cultivation. This study is the first conducted in Argentina on the genetic diversity of populations of D. maidis. The results presented here highlight the need for further investigation into the origin and potential movement of D. maidis populations. Knowing how the crop is colonized will aid in the development of well-fitting models, for preventing the disease caused by the pathogens transmitted by this insect.
... (Johnson and Omland 2004). The selection of the best model for each relationship analyzed was based on the F-test with a significance level of p < 0.05 (Sokal and Rohlf 1989). ...
This study investigated the early development and growth patterns of Rhaphiodon vulpinus (Characiformes, Cynodontidae), a top predator relevant to subsistence and sport fishing in the Amazon basin. Morphological, meristic, and morphometric variations throughout early ontogeny were analyzed and discussed in relation to the species' ecomorphology and taxonomy. Larvae and juveniles were collected from riverine (Amazon, Japurá, Solimões, and Tapajós Rivers) and lacustrine systems (Maicá and Uruxi Lakes) in the Amazon basin between 2010 and 2023. Different collection methods were employed to maximize the capture of all early developmental stages. In the laboratory, R. vulpinus larvae and juveniles were sorted, identified, and classified according to developmental periods and stages. Additionally, all individuals were morphometrically measured, described regarding their body characteristics, and the initial growth pattern was analyzed using regression models. A total of 153 individuals were examined, with standard lengths ranging from 3.85 to 59.45 mm. R. vulpinus is altricial, with body shapes varying from elongated to moderate, and small to moderate head and eye sizes. The total myomere count ranges from 67 to 69, a distinctive feature of R. vulpinus among Cynodontidae species, along with a unique morphometric pattern throughout ontogeny. The early growth of R. vulpinus was characterized by breakpoints between the preflexion, flexion, and postflexion stages, indicating considerable body and physiological changes, such as adaptations for locomotion and predation. This study expands the knowledge of the early ontogeny of R. vulpinus, provides insights into morphometric patterns, and updates effective characteristics for identifying R. vulpinus larvae and juveniles.
... Linear regressions were also used to determine the relationship between 2 variables of interest. A multiple regression was used to determine the major and minor influences if 1 parameter was influenced by more than 1 parameter (Sokal & Rohlf 1982; Sigma plot ver. 13). ...
Resilience is the ability of an ecosystem or species to maintain key functions and processes by resisting or adapting to changes when faced with stress. To survive stressful environmental conditions caused by climate change, populations must respond via genetic adaptation (microevolution) or phenotypic plasticity. We used 25 yr of green turtle nesting data from Lanyu Island in Taitung County, Taiwan, to determine if climate change influenced nesting biology during this time. We found that the recorded global increase in air temperature did not negatively impact the nesting green turtle population, likely because nests were protected in a shaded area and there is little hunting pressure in their foraging areas or during their migrations. Given this, we suggest that management actions at this site should focus on anthropogenic impacts such as light pollution and nesting habitat suitability rather than incubation temperatures.
... for Windows (R Core Team 2018). A one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by Tukey's test was used to statistically analyze the data, with a significance level of p < 0.05 (Sokal and Rohlf 1969). Normality and homogeneity of the variances were performed using Shapiro-Wilk and Levene's tests. ...
One of the emerging technologies that aims to optimize production and minimize environmental impact in aquaculture is biofloc technology (BFT). This technology controls ammonia buildup by adding carbon to encourage the growth of heterotrophic bacteria. This study aimed at describing and characterizing the composition, size, and sedimentation rate of bioflocs formed using three different carbon sources (molasses, chancaca, and seaweed meal) while rearing the northern river shrimp Cryphiops caementarius in rectangular tanks (107 × 63 × 45 cm). The C/N ratio of 15 was maintained for all treatments. The size range of the predominant biofloc in BFT with chancaca and molasses was from 70 to 1.2 µm, representing 59.6% and 64.63%, respectively, while with algae meal, it was from 20 to 1.2 µm, representing 56% of the total biofloc.The average settling velocities for bioflocs were 0.1133 ± 0.1226 cm s⁻¹ for molasses and chancaca and 0.1132 ± 0.1225 cm s⁻¹ for seaweed meal. Overall, this study showed that the choice of carbon source utilized affects the composition, particle size, and settling velocity of biofloc and water quality. Understanding the influence of carbon sources on biofloc properties is relevant for the design of gravity and physical removal devices utilized for enhancing BFT systems.
... The data generated from the stomach content analysis was analyzed by using Microsoft Excel 2019. A chi-square (χ 2 ) test was used to compare the frequency of occurrences of the different food categories during dry and wet season samples (Sokal and Rohlf, 1995). Whereas, the independent sample t-test was used to compare the volume of the different food categories consumed during wet and dry season samples. ...
... An arcsine transformation was used to normalise the distribution of relative abundances of species remains at each site (Sokal and Rohlf, 1995). The initial data for the calculation are given in Supplementary Fig. 3. Position of the Palaeolithic sites discussed in the article in relation to NGRIP (Rasmussen et al., 2014) and LR04 (Lisiecki and Raymo, 2005) δ 18 O series. ...
Palaeontological methods, including the study of fossil small mammals (Lagomorpha, Rodents, Eulipotyphla), are instructive for paleoenvironmental reconstructions. This paper presents results of fossil small mammals' investigation in cultural layers of six Late Pleistocene sites related to Middle and Upper Palaeolithic. In addition to prehistoric sites at Betovo, Khotylevo 2, Eliseevichi 2, Yudinovo, Novgorod Severskaya, and Byki 7, we analyse two synchronous Late Pleistocene natural faunal localities in Arapovichi and Troitsa 2, all in the centre East European Plain. The main aim of this paper is to reconstruct the transition of the regional small mammal fauna from the end of MIS 3 (the so-called Bryansk = Denekamp Interstadial) to the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) of Marine Isotope stage 2 (MIS2) (~32-17 ka BP). All small mammal assemblages show low species richness (3-16 taxa), with cold adapted tundra and steppe animals dominating, while forest mammals are rare or practically absent. Palaeozoological data indicate the existence of mosaic periglacial landscapes in the area, such as complicate composition of shrub tundra-like and periglacial steppe. The three-dimensional descriptive model reproduces changes in local faunal (LF) composition caused by the general climate trend during the transition from interstadial conditions at the end of MIS3 to the extremely cold conditions of the LGM (mid-MIS2). We distinguish four main phases of this transformation: phase I that corresponds to the end of MIS3 and the beginning of MIS2 and is characterised by the dominance of Dicrostonyx sp., relatively low occurrence of Lasiopodomys anglicus/gregalis, low occurrence of Ochotona pusilla; the next phase II is characterised by some decrease of Dicrostonyx sp. remains but the increase of L. gregalis. Phase III corresponds to the most severe climatic conditions in the GS-2.1 stadial. The youngest fauna of the Yudinovo site is characterised by the dominance of the collared lemming and the narrow-headed vole and corresponds to phase IV and the end of the LGM.
... We checked the significance of the band differences in RAI for all observed common chameleons, both adults and juveniles, and for arthropod number, biomass, and richness using a Kruskal-Wallis [K-W] test for the mean ranks with a Dunn's post-hoc test (Sokal & Rohlf, 1981). Thus, the RAI ALL , RAI AD , and RAI JUV per band were used as the predictor variables, and the five bands were used as the categorical explanatory variable. ...
Currently, roads are conspicuous components of most landscapes around the world, with mid‐21st century forecasts predicting that the number of both roads and vehicles will increase. Roads are considered one of the main drivers of biodiversity loss. We show the effects of a highway on the spatial behavior and the abundance of a common chameleon population. We used the Favorability Function (FF) to assess how the observations (i.e., presence/absence) of common chameleons were affected by distance from the highway, habitat characteristics, and food availability. In addition, we assess if the relative abundance of common chameleons were affected by distance from the highway. We obtained a significant favorability model with two variables (shrub and the distance to the highway). Higher proportions of ground covered by shrub were associated with lower favorability for the presence of common chameleon, while greater distances from the highway were significantly related to more favorable areas for the species. The relative abundance of common chameleons was significantly higher in the bands furthest from the highway. Both results constitute the first evidence regarding the common chameleon and the indirect impact of highways on adjacent habitat. This road‐avoidance behavior may be the result of an ecological effect known as the road‐effect zone (REZ). Due to the linear nature of roads and their length, even small avoidance zones can imply the loss of large tracts of habitat, highlighting a landscape‐scale impact and possible population level impacts. This is of particular significance in peninsular Spain where the distribution of the common chameleon is mostly restricted to highly anthropized coastal areas with a high road density.
... As características granulométricas e químicas do solo foram relacionadas ao índice de diversidade de Shannon (H'), à equabilidade (J), à densidade (D), à altura média em metro (h), ao diâmetro à altura do peito (DAP), à área basal por hectare (AB) e ao volume por hectare (Vol). Determinaram-se os coeficientes de correlação entre os dados de solo com as variáveis de vegetação e, por meio de análises de variâncias, testaram-se as significâncias pelo teste F, com 5% e 1% de nível de confiança (Sokal & Rohlf 1995). ...
Correlations between soil and vegetation characteristics in Cardoso Island, Cananeia, Brazil). In the Atlantic Forest of Cardoso Island, Brazil southeast, soil samples were collected from five areas, located in restinga (high and low), slope (1 and 2) and lowland forest. The physical and chemical characteristics of the soils were related to the phytosociological variables: Shannon’s diversity index (H'), equability (J), average height (h), diameter at breast height (DAP), density (D), basal area.ha⁻¹ (AB) and volume.ha⁻¹ (Vol). The simple correlation coefficients were determined using analysis of variance and F-tests were carried out. Our results show that there is an increasing gradient of H', h, DAP, AB and Vol from the restinga forests to the lowland and slope forests, while D decreases in the same direction. Density increases in less fertile soils with lower clay content, while biometric variables and diversity increase in clayey soils with higher fertility. In general, factors that improve soil fertility favor species diversity and decrease equability.
Keywords:
Diversity; equability; fertility; Atlantic Forest; phytosociological variables
... To test for associations between herbaceous ground cover (independent variable) and abundances of small mammal species (dependent variable), we used species-specific linear regression analyses. We tested regression assumptions using Shapiro and Wilk (1965) normality tests for residuals, a runs test for residual autocorrelation (Sokal & Rohlf, 1969), and the Durbin-Watson test (Durbin & Watson, 1950, 1951 for homoscedasticity. All statistical analyses were conducted using the software Statistix 10 (Analytical Software, Tallahassee, FL). ...
Forest fires in the southern Rocky Mountains are changing due to climate warming and increased fuel loads. Landscape‐scale stand‐replacement fires create extensive treeless swaths without regenerative seed sources, leading to long‐term conversion of coniferous forest to montane meadows and chaparral. Small mammal wildlife responds to these abrupt habitat changes, influencing post‐fire succession via trophic interactions (herbivory, granivory, insectivory, and fungivory) and soil disturbance (burrowing, foraging, and seed caching). We examined the effects of the 2011 high‐severity Las Conchas wildfire on post‐fire small mammal and vegetation successional changes in northern New Mexico's mixed conifer and ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) forests. We sampled forest stand composition and herbaceous vegetation immediately after the fire, then sampled herbaceous vegetation and small mammals each spring and autumn for 3 years (2012–2014) on replicated burned and unburned stands. We recorded 15 small mammal species (11 rodents, one rabbit, and three shrews). Herbaceous vegetation cover increased from 10% to 12% on burned sites in 2011 to 91% in 2014, with no observed conifer regeneration. Small mammals exhibited lower species richness on burned mixed conifer sites than on unburned sites, but species richness was only slightly lower on burned ponderosa pine sites than on unburned sites. Deer mouse (Peromyscus maniculatus) abundances were comparable between burned and unburned sites, but two species of chipmunks (Neotamias minimus, Neotamias quadrivitattus), woodrats (Neotoma spp.), red squirrels (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus), three species of shrews (Sorex spp.), and mountain cottontail rabbits (Sylvilagus nuttallii) were rare or absent in burned forests. Golden‐mantled ground squirrels (Callospermophilus lateralis) were more abundant on burned mixed conifer sites than on unburned sites, and voles (Microtus) colonized the burned sites within 3 years (Microtus montanus in 2013, Microtus longicaudus in 2014). Rodent demographic data indicated that mixed sex and age classes were present for the more abundant species, including reproductively active adult females; the exception was M. longicaudus in burned ponderosa pine forests, which had only male adults and subadults. Vole colonization occurred after burned sites attained 80%–90% herbaceous cover. Given the lack of conifer regeneration, we anticipate that the small mammal community will retain its composition of meadow‐grassland species for the foreseeable future.
... FloodHydrology). To address our objectives, we tested whether a relationship between taxa-specific richness (fishes or mussels) and density and watershed areas existed with generalized linear models (GLM; function glm()) with a log link and Poisson distribution (Underwood 1997;Sokal and Rohlf 2013). We used the function Anova to conduct likelihood ratio tests and obtain p-values for the generalized linear models, as implemented in the car package (Fox and Weisberg 2019). ...
Freshwater mussels (Order: Unionida) and fishes are two imperiled taxa that make up an important part of global freshwater biodiversity. Mussels exhibit a complex life cycle that can contribute to their imperilment. Most mussels parasitize a host fish during their larval stage to reach maturity, making host fishes and the mussels that they support coevolved taxa thus mussel diversity and distribution can correspond to that of fishes. The Host-Habitat Continuum Concept (HHCC) seeks to explain mussel distribution by combining life history theory, host fish distributions, and stream ecological gradients. The HHCC predicts increases in fish and mussel species richness, shifts in mussel life history strategy and fish family composition as habitat area, complexity, and stability increase with stream size. Here, we combined observational data on fish and mussel assemblages from seven mussel bed reaches with published mussel and host fish relationships and mussel life history traits to evaluate if HHCC explains mussel and fish distribution. We found weak support for HHCC as fish and mussel species richness, increased with watershed area, but only mussel densities were positively related to watershed. The relationship between fish densities and watershed area was seasonally dependent, showing no relationship in summer when stream discharge was greater and a negative relationship in autumn when stream discharge was lower. Centrarchids (sunfish) and leuciscids (minnows) were the most abundant fishes among sites, equilibrium life history strategies and luring host infestation strategies dominated mussels assemblages, but there was no longitudinal change in proportional abundances of fish families, mussel life history or infestation strategies as expected. There was a high degree of host partitioning among coexisting mussels, but we found no relationship between known host fish occurrences and mussel occurrences. The complex nature of freshwater systems and biological interactions between species likely influenced our ability to detect strong associations. Strong host fish partitioning among mussels at sites distributed along a stream size gradient indicates that management aimed at protecting interactions between fishes and mussels may be valuable for conserving these codependent taxa.
... Survival rate of birds was estimated from dead recoveries by the recent modifications of stochastic Brownie-type models (Brownie et al. 1985), included in the computer programme MARK, version 2.1 (White and Burnham 1999;Cooch and White 2001). Other statistical tests followed Sokal and Rohlf (1998). ...
One of the mass migratory routes of birds in Europe is the White Sea-Baltic migration route, which runs through the eastern Baltic area. In order to study bird migration by ringing, Vogelwarte Rossitten, the world’s first ornithological station, was founded on the Curonian Spit, the work of which was continued by the Rybachy Biological Station of the Zoological Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences. The 3,214,217 birds of 202 species were ringed here during 1956–2020, and 10,165 reports of distant ring recoveries from 99 bird species were received. The paper provides a brief overview of these results. The main attention is paid to the following topics: a) the effectiveness of ringing in different bird species, including a decrease in the proportion of ring recoveries, b) the geographical distribution of migrants with an example of migration connectivity between geographical areas in different seasons, c) the possibilities of studying population dynamics based on annual trapping data, as well as d) various aspects of the demographic study of populations based on the results of ringing. Throughout the entire White Sea-Baltic migration route, the well-known interactive Eurasian-African Bird Migration Atlas (2022) includes the results of ringing from Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Belarus and Poland. However, for reasons unrelated to science, our aforementioned results were not included in this atlas. The article has been written in order to familiarize the international ornithological community with the results of bird ringing at the Rybachy Biological Station.
... Data on pathogenic variability was analysed by analysis of variance (ANOVA) to compare the difference between the host differentials against isolates using SAS 9.4 (Statistical Analysis Systems Institute Inc. 2016). Prior to analysis, the per cent wilt incidence data was subjected to arcsine-transformation to make residuals normal and then back-transformed for the presentation of the results [49,50]. Significance of mean differences within host differentials and isolates was tested by the Student's t-test in combination with Bonferroni correction at P = 0.01 level of probability. ...
Background: Fusarium wilt (Fusarium udum Butler), an important soil-borne disease of pigeonpea [Cajanus cajan (L.)], causes significant yield losses across the major pigeonpea production regions. Widespread and high diversity in F. udum hampers the breeding for pigeonpea wilt resistance. The study aimed to elucidate the pathogenic diversity and distribution of F. udum variants in major pigeonpea growing regions of India. Results: The roving survey was conducted in major pigeonpea-growing states of India to collect the F. udum isolates. Pathogenic variability of 60 F. udum isolates which are selected from diverse geographical locations and pathogenicity test were performed against 11 pigeonpea host differentials cultivars [ICP 8858, ICP 8859, ICP 8862, ICP 8863, ICP 9174, C 11, BDN 1, BDN 2, LRG 30, ICP 2376 and Bahar (ICP 7197)]. The current study indicated distribution of F. udum isolates into nine variants (0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8). Variant-2 and 3 were found to be widespread and predominant in most pigeonpea producing regions. Variant-7 (Karnataka) and Variant-8 (Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra) were found highly virulent, as most of the host differentials were susceptible to these variants. Three host differential cultivars namely ICP 9174, BDN-2 and Bahar (ICP 7197) were found resistant to most of the F. udum isolates. Conclusion: The present study generated significant information in terms of variants of F. udum which could be used further for the deployment of location-specific wilt resistant cultivars for optimized disease-management strategies. Study is also useful for development of broad-based wilt resistant cultivars to curtail the possible epidemics.
... At the beginning and end of the bioassay, all fish in each replicate were counted, measured and weighed to estimate the average increase in TW, TL, Fulton's condition factor (K) (Leyton et al. 2015), [K = (TW TW -3 ) × 100], specific growth rate (% weight d -1 ) [SGR = (ln final weight -ln initial weight) × 100 / t in days], weight gain (g d -1 ) [WG = (final weight -initial weight) / t in days], feed conversion rate [FCR = feed consumption weight (g) / (final biomass -initial biomass in g)] and survival [(number of surviving fish / number of initial fish) ×100]. The normality of data was analyzed using the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test and Levene's homogeneity of variance test (Sokal & Rohlf 1981). When needed, data were transformed (log, 1/χ, or √χ) before the analysis to meet a priori assumptions. ...
The spotted rose snapper Lutjanus guttatus (Steindachner, 1869) is a commercially valuable and potentially cultivable species, but management stress compromises productivity. Some highly diluted bioactive compounds (HDBC) enhance relaxation and nutrition; thus, they were experimentally evaluated in 300 (n = 60: per treatment) juveniles (8.72 ± 4.07 g total weight, 8.47 ± 1.24 cm total length), temperature: 26.9 ± 1.5°C, salinity: 35, in 10 experimental flow-through units (120-L) for 30 days. Three HDBC treatments [PaV 31CH (Passival ® MX), InM 3CH (RubioPharma ® MX) and PaV+InM] and two controls [ET (Ethanol Similia ® MX) and DW (distilled water] were sprinkled (5% volume/weight) in balanced food (Silver Cup ® 45% protein) and administered five times a day to satiety. Treated juveniles presented higher productive performance with increases (P < 0.05) in weight and length with PaV (4.26 g and 0.95 cm), PaV+InM (5.34 g and 1.26 cm), and InM (3.91 g and 0.83 cm) vs. ET and DW (0.59 and 1.62 g, and 0.07 and 0.5 cm, respectively). Specific growth rate (1.54, 1.19, and 1.79% g d-1), weight gain (0.141, 0.130, and 0.178 g d-1), feed conversion rate (1.23 to 1.47), and Fulton's condition factor (K = 1.5) were higher (P < 0.05) in treated fish vs. controls. The average survival was higher in groups treated with PaV, InM, and PaV+InM with 90.0 ± 2.72, 93.3 ± 2.71, and 88.3 ± 1.36%, respectively, than ET and DW controls (65.0 ± 1.31 and 73.3 ± 5.44%), suggesting HDBC use could optimize L. guttatus sustainable farming.
... This nonparametric test has the advantage of not requiring that particular assumptions are met (e.g. homogeneity of variance) nor precise measurements (thus accommodating uncertainty in our N e estimates; Sokal and Rohlf, 1995;Whitlock and Schluter, 2015). ...
Modern genomic methods enable estimation of a lineage’s long-term effective population sizes back to its origins. This ability allows unprecedented opportunities to determine how the adoption of a major life-history trait affects lineages’ populations relative to those without the trait. We used this novel approach to study the population effects of the life-history trait of seasonal migration across evolutionary time. Seasonal migration is a common life-history strategy, but its effects on long-term population sizes relative to lineages that don’t migrate are largely unknown. Using whole-genome data, we estimated effective population sizes over millions of years in closely related seasonally migratory and resident lineages in a group of songbirds. Our main predictions were borne out: Seasonal migration is associated with larger effective population sizes ( N e ), greater long-term variation in N e , and a greater degree of initial population growth than among resident lineages. Initial growth periods were remarkably long (0.63–4.29 Myr), paralleling the expansion and adaptation phases of taxon cycles, a framework of lineage expansion and eventual contraction over time encompassing biogeography and evolutionary ecology. Heterogeneity among lineages is noteworthy, despite geographic proximity (including overlap) and close relatedness. Seasonal migration imbues these lineages with fundamentally different population size attributes through evolutionary time compared to closely related resident lineages.
... Notably, the observed variations among different accessions inform which traits should be targeted in breeding programs. Breeders can utilize this data to determine which traits are prevalent and what variations exist, allowing them to develop strategies for improving crop yields (Sokal and Rohlf 2012). Accordingly, the frequency distribution for the measured qualitative morphological characteristics in the studied B. integerrima accessions is presented in detail in Table 2. ...
Berberis integerrima L., commonly known as seedy barberry, is a significant member of the Berberidaceae family, known for its nutritional and medicinal attributes. In this study, the phenotypic diversity of 96 accessions of B. integerrima was investigated using 30 morphological traits, evaluated from the Jasb region in the Markazi province, Iran. One‐way ANOVA (p < 0.05) revealed significant differences among the accessions. The coefficient of variation (CV) ranged from 11.34% (berry width) to 78.74% (berry shape), with 23 of the 28 traits (82.14%) having CVs greater than 20.00%, indicating a high degree of variation among the accessions. Leaf length ranged from 16.53 to 53.06 mm, while berry length varied between 7.03 and 11.58 mm, and berry weight was recorded from 0.05 to 0.37 g. According to the frequency distribution, shrub height was categorized into low (39), intermediate (34), and high (23) groups, while growth habits were identified as weeping (8), spreading (59), and upright (29), with spreading being the predominant habit. Canopy density and leaf density were classified as low (23 and 12), intermediate (59 and 70), and high (14), indicating their importance in optimizing light intake and enhancing plant health. According to principal component analysis, the first three components (PC1 = 10.59%, PC2 = 9.95%, PC3 = 9.52%) account for 30.06% of the total variation, highlighting their significant representation of the analyzed traits. The first 10 components explain 76.66% of the total variation. The correlation matrix analysis revealed strong positive correlations among several traits; for example, the correlation between leaf length and width was found to be 0.568**. Additionally, berry weight showed significant positive correlations with berry length (r = 0.553**), bunch weight (r = 0.709**), and berry width (r = 0.841**), highlighting the interconnected nature of fruit development. Hierarchical cluster analysis revealed that subgroup A2 exhibited the greatest morphological diversity, consisting of 43 accessions. The standardized beta coefficients obtained from the multiple regression analysis were supported by the principal component analysis. Consequently, the accessions “Jasb‐7”, “Jasb‐40”, “Jasb‐17”, “Jasb‐41”, and “Jasb‐3” not only ranked among the first twenty promising accessions but also fell outside the 95% confidence ellipse, exhibiting distinct morphological and pomological traits. This indicates that these genotypes possess valuable potential for selection breeding programs. In particular, the unique characteristics of these accessions may offer new opportunities in both agricultural and medicinal contexts.
... < 0.001. P values were obtained by two-way ANOVA, and are given after false discovery rate correction Variation in any hibernation parameter of interest between the western and eastern populations, as well as among age-sex classes, was evaluated using a two-way ANOVA (Sokal and Rohlf 1995), according to the following statistical design: ...
Geographic variation in phenotypic traits offers key insights into how organisms adapt to diverse environmental conditions. In this study, we studied how elevational and associated environmental gradients shape geographic variation in the bioclimatic niche, hibernation, and body size of Anatolian ground squirrels ( Spermophilus xanthoprymnus ). Specifically, we used presence data (170 out of 538 present records) from across the species’ range, body temperature data from 51 free-living individuals in two natural populations located 880 km apart, and body size data from 167 individuals across 10 populations to explore geographic variation in bioclimatic niche, hibernation, and body size across elevational and associated environmental gradients. Our results revealed that the bioclimatic niches of two deeply divergent mitochondrial (mt)DNA lineages (i.e. the western and eastern lineages) are distinct. However, this pattern appears to result from the underlying bioclimatic differences between the regions the western and eastern lineages inhabit. Anatolian ground squirrels from the eastern population, which inhabits a higher-elevation, colder, wetter, and more seasonally variable environment, exhibit longer hibernation periods, spend a higher proportion of this period in torpor bouts, and achieve deeper reductions in body temperature than conspecifics from the western population. Adult males exhibit shorter hibernation periods and spend a smaller proportion of this period in torpor bouts than the other age-sex classes. Anatolian ground squirrels from the eastern lineage, which inhabits areas at higher elevations with colder, wetter, and more seasonally variable environments, are morphologically larger than conspecifics from the western lineage, particularly among males. Overall, our results demonstrate that spatial and environmental gradients shape phenotypic variation in Anatolian ground squirrels through lineage-, population- and demographic-level responses. By integrating bioclimatic niche, hibernation, and body size, this study highlights the importance of combining multiple trait dimensions to improve our understanding of eco-evolutionary divergence in hibernating mammals.
... Therefore, two-way ANOVA was calculated using type-III sum of squares to account for the unbalanced design. If the assumptions of normality of the data and homogeneity of variances were not met, the Scheirer-Ray-Hare test (Sokal and Rohlf, 2013) was performed as a non-parametric alternative for two-way ANOVA. Finally, the data was scaled after which hierarchical clustering analysis was performed using Euclidean distances and complete linkage and a heatmap was generated. ...
... The analysis of the dataset involved an evaluation of data normality utilizing the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test method outlined by Sokal and Rohlf (2012). In instances where the normality assumptions were not satisfied, a logarithmic transformation with a base of 10 was implemented. ...
This study was motivated by the challenge of declining productivity and vitality in older apricot trees, especially the "New Castle" variety (Prunus armeniaca L.). As these trees age, they often grow more slowly, produce less fruit, and generally become less vigorous, which can threaten both orchard sustainability and economic returns for growers. Traditional approaches, such as fertilization and pruning, are commonly applied to manage tree health, yet the precise combination and intensity of these treatments that best support rejuvenation has not been extensively explored, especially in aging apricot orchards. This research explores the synergistic effects of nitrogen fertilization and pruning interactions. Using a factorial randomized block design, the study examined ten interaction treatments involving three levels of pruning (20%, 40%, and 60%) and three nitrogen fertilization doses (500g, 625g, and 750g N/tree). The findings demonstrate that strategic pruning in combination with appropriate nitrogen doses significantly accelerates tree vigour and fruiting. Notably, the interaction treatment involving light pruning (20%) and the highest nitrogen dose (750g per tree) yielded the most promising results, enhancing tree trunk girth, height, volume, fruit set, and productivity. Substantial pruning (60%) combined with the maximum nitrogen dose (750g per tree), resulted in enhanced canopy spread, increased annual shoot extension, greater pruning wood weight, expanded leaf area, and elevated chlorophyll contents. Crucially, the examined parameters exhibited a reliable and continuous growth trend, progressively increasing from the commencement of the study to its culmination as a result of the various rejuvenation treatments employed. This research sheds light on effective strategies for rejuvenating aging fruit trees and ensuring sustained productivity.
... Statistical differences in GSI, density of single type A und spermatogonia, surface occupied by spermatogonial, spermatocyte, and spermatid cysts, seminiferous tubule diameter, proliferation index, as well as surface occupied by apoptotic structures were evaluated by an ANOVA followed by Tukey-Kramer post hoc test. Prior to the ANOVA, normality of variance was assessed through Shapiro-Wilk W test and percentage and proportion data were arcsine transformed 45 . Statistical analyses were performed with SAS ® OnDemand for Academics (SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC, USA). ...
he effects of recombinant meagre follicle stimulating hormone (rFsh) and luteinizing hormone (rLh) were evaluated on testicular maturation in pre-pubertal meagre Argyrosomus regius, an upcoming aquaculture species in the Mediterranean region. Fish (body mass 1092.9 ± 178.8 g) received seven weekly injections of meagre rFsh, together with an rLh injection at week 6. One group was further treated with weekly rFsh or rLh until week 11 and was sacrificed at week 12 (rFsh/rLh group, TREATED 12). The second group received further weekly injections of rFsh until week 12 and was then left untreated until week 21 (single rLh group, TREATED 21). Control fish received injections of saline solution. At week 12, the testes of the rFsh/rLh-treated fish (TREATED 12) showed increased gonadosomatic index and seminiferous tubule diameter, reduction of spermatogonial density, increase of post-meiotic spermatocysts and accumulation of luminal spermatozoa. In the single rLh-treated group (TREATED 21), apoptosis increased towards pre-treatment levels, demonstrating that the withdrawal of the Fsh stimulus ceased the process of spermatogenesis. The results demonstrated the effectiveness of rFsh/rLh treatment in stimulating testicular growth, spermiogenesis and spermiation in pre-pubertal meagre.
... For these inversions, we generated networks to visually inspect whether configurations were variable or conserved. We employed a replicated G-based goodness of fit test [37] to assess whether relationship patterns were conserved or variable across the nine genetic families (crosses). For both 3×3 and 2×2 table frameworks, we determined the G total , G pooled , and G het statistics and contrast them against the χ 2 distribution with appropriate degrees of freedom. ...
Chromosomal inversions are structural genetic variants that can play a crucial role in adaptive evolution and speciation. Patterns of attraction and repulsion among unlinked inversions — whether they tend to be carried by the same or different individuals— can indicate how selection is acting on these polymorphisms. In this study, we compare analytical techniques using data from 64 inversions that segregate among 1373 F2 plants of the yellow monkeyflower Mimulus guttatus. Mendelian assortment provides a strong null hypothesis for χ2 contingency tests. Here, we show how co-occurrence metrics used in community ecology can provide additional insight regarding coupling and repulsion of inversions at genotypic level. The centered Jaccard/Tanimoto index and the affinity score describe the specific way that inversions interact to generate epistasis for plant survival. We further explore the use of network analysis to visualize inversion interactions and to identify essential third and fourth order interactions, which expand the traditional pairwise scope of the co-occurrence metrics. We suggest that a combination of different statistical approaches will provide the most complete characterization of the fitness effects, both for inversions and other polymorphisms essential to adaptation and speciation.
... For the one-way experimental design, we applied the Kruskal-Wallis one-way analysis of variance 33 , followed by Dunn's test for post-hoc comparisons 34 . For the two-way experimental design (experimental groups × time points), we utilized the Scheirer-Ray-Hare test, an extension of the Kruskal-Wallis test adapted for factorial designs [35][36][37] followed by Dunn's test 34 . Data were expressed as median ± SD. ...
Damage to the peripheral nerve impairs quality of life. Despite the advances in surgery to facilitate nerve regeneration, complete recovery remains elusive. Human olfactory ecto-mesenchymal stem cells (OEMSC) have potential for the treatment of peripheral nerve injury through the release of extracellular vesicles (EV). The current research investigates the therapeutic effects of a venous bridge, filled with freshly purified or cryoconserved OEMSC-derived EVs after a peroneal nerve loss of substance.
Injured peroneal nerve was bridged with a vein into which freshly purified or cryoconserved EVs were injected or not. Nerve repair was analyzed by measuring locomotor function, muscle mechanical properties, muscle mass, axon number, and myelination. The EVs significantly increased locomotor recovery, maintained the contractile phenotype of the target muscle, and augmented the number of growing axons.
These results demonstrate that EVs display a positive effect on peripheral nerve regeneration, representing an alternative to cellular therapies for peripheral nerve repair.
... The test used month of flowering initiation (number from 1 to 12) as the response variable, plot as the unit of replication, and season of fire as the main effect. This non-parametric rank-based test was chosen for its robust application in analyses where there is a semi-continuous response variable (month), measurements with zero variance (e.g., when all plots within a treatment have the same month of initial flowering), and frequent ties (Sokal and Rohlf 1995). In cases of overall significant results for a species, we ran a Conover-Iman non-parametric rank-based test for multiple comparisons among treatments (Conover and Iman 1979). ...
Background
Fire maintains many grasslands and savannas worldwide, including pine savannas of the southeastern US. In these ecosystems, lightning initiates fire during the spring and summer, while humans have more often managed these systems with winter burning. Changes in season of fire potentially alter ecosystem function, including flowering phenology, i.e., the seasonal pattern of flowering, which could ultimately influence species composition. On the other hand, ability to burn in different seasons increases capacity to maintain frequent fire regimes. Little research has been conducted on the effects of fire season on flowering phenology in pine savannas, and the few studies available mostly focus on the differences among winter, spring, and summer fires. In order to more fully understand the effects of season of fire, including fall fires, on flowering phenology, we compared number of species flowering, co-flowering assemblages, and month of first flowering among plots burned in each of the four seasons over the course of a year.
Results
We found 175 species flowering during the study, with peak flowering in September and October. There were no differences in the average number of species flowering among season of fire treatments, but there were among months. Co-flowering assemblages did not differ among season of fire treatments, but spring, summer, and winter burns showed delayed flowering of certain species. We also identified species that flowered following fire regardless of season, did not flower when burned during a particular season, reflowered if burned while flowering, or, most commonly, showed delayed flowering following the most recent burn.
Conclusion
Our results suggest that flowering phenology of upland pine savanna species is generally resilient to differences in season of fire, with a few exceptions mentioned above. The mostly subtle shifts in flowering phenology in response to season of fire suggest that any resulting changes to plant community composition would occur over periods much longer than this study. These results suggest that spreading prescribed burns more widely over the course of the year to achieve management objectives would have minor impacts on flowering of the plant community.
... Only taxa representing at least 0.15% of the total abundance were included in the CCA to minimize the effects of rare taxa. To stabilize the variances and improve normality, the abundance (x) of each taxon and the environmental variables data were log10(x + 1)-transformed (Sokal & Rohlf, 1995). ...
2 0 2 5 S i h a m C h a b a M o u n a e t a l. Th i s wo r k i s l i ce n s e d u n d e r t h e Cre at i ve Co m m o n s At t r i b u t i o n-N o n Co m m e rc i a l-N o D e r i vs L i ce n s e (ht t p : / / c re at i ve co m m o n s. o rg / l i ce n s e s / by-n c-n d / 4. 0 /) Abstract The water-quality biomonitoring programs based on macroinvertebrates of the Kebir-Rhumel wadi remain limited. We assessed macroinvertebrate assemblage structure and biological water quality to explore the impact of two discontinuities (a dam and a tributary) on biotic conditions. We sampled site communities above and below the Beni Haroun dam and in two tributaries in April, July, and November 2017. Sites above the dam had lower macroinvertebrate richness compared to reaches below the dam, while the tributaries had a relatively negligible effect on the confluence and mainstem communities. Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, and Trichoptera (EPT) taxa richness; Hilsenhoff Biotic Index (BI); Iberian Biological Monitoring Working Party (BMWP') index; and Average Score Per Taxon (ASPT) demonstrate a fairly poor quality above the dam and a fair quality below it. One-way analysis of similarity (ANOSIM) and similarity percentage procedure (SIMPER) analyses revealed dissimilar community structures, with pollution-tolerant and pollution-sensitive species most contributing to the dissimilarity between studied reaches. This study has suggested only small changes in macroinvertebrate structure downstream of the dam and no significant impact of tributaries on the mainstem community composition.
... The software SPSS 21 (SPSS Inc. 2012) was used to perform all statistical analysis. Obtained data were log (x+1) transformed before analysis to stabilize the variance (Sokal and Rohlf 1981). A generalised linear model (GLM) was carried out to test: firstly, the effect of temperature, relative humidity and strain as well their interactions on parasitism and adult emergence of two strains (Italian vs Tunisian) of T. cacoeciae parasitoids; and secondly, the effect of temperature, relative humidity and generation, as well their interactions, on parasitism and adult emergence of two T. cacoeciae strains. ...
Temperature and relative humidity are key factors affecting the physiological and behavioural responses of natural enemies, including Trichogramma parasitoids frequently employed as biological control agents. Here, the effect of three temperatures (25, 30 and 35 °C) and relative humidity levels (10, 75 and 100%) on the fitness of two Trichogramma cacoeciae (Marchal) strains (Tunisian/Italian) were evaluated. Results indicated that temperature and relative humidity influenced all life-history parameters of parasitoids. Parasitism of the G0 generation by the Tunisian strain was higher compared to that of the Italian strain at 30 °C (10% RH) (22.33 ± 5.94 and 16.46 ± 6.45, respectively, for the Tunisian and Italian strain) and 35 °C (75% RH) (16.26 ± 5.11 and 11.33 ± 5.81, respectively, for the Tunisian and Italian strain). Furthermore, the parasitism rate is better in the G1 compared to the G0 generation only for the Italian strain at 25–30 °C and at 10, 75 and 100% RH. Emergence was significantly decreased for both strains at 35 °C regardless of the relative humidity level. For the G1 generation, no parasitism and emergence were shown by the Italian strain at 35 °C for all tested relative humidities. Our data indicate the Tunisian strain is adapted to higher temperatures. The implications of these results to improve the biological control of lepidopteran pests are discussed.
... 7.0, Media Cybernetics Software): 9 morphometric variables and 7 indices to describe otolith shape, and 6 morphometric variables and 2 indices to describe the sulcus acusticus (Table 1) [13,41]. The effects of fish size magnitude on otolith variables were eliminated using an ANCOVA and a homogeneity of slopes (b) test [42]. Variables that correlated with fishing site (main factor) and individual FL (covariate) were eliminated from the analysis. ...
Yellowtail snapper Ocyurus chrysurus is commercially important throughout its distribution range. In southern Gulf of México, it is caught as part of a largely undocumented multispecific snapper fishery. Samplings were done at three fishing sites with the highest landings volume of Yucatán, México: Celestún, Dzilam de Bravo, and Río Lagartos. Age and growth parameters were generated with the von Bertalanffy growth model via annuli counts in otolith thin sections of 1,124 individuals. Marginal increment analysis confirmed that opaque zone formation is annual and occurs from July to September. Overall age range was 0 + to 12 years (17.7 to 38.9 cm fork length) but differed between Celestún (0 + to 9 years), Dzilam de Bravo (1 to 12 years), and Río Lagartos (2 to 12 years). Growth parameters and lifespan for combined sexes also varied between sites: Celestún (L ∞ = 41.59 cm, K = 0.11 year⁻¹, tmax = 22.41 years); Dzilam de Bravo (L ∞ = 38.36 cm, K = 0.16 year⁻¹, tmax = 15.5 years); and Río Lagartos (L ∞ = 40.28 cm, K = 0.12 year⁻¹, tmax = 20.01 years). Age at maturity was 1.3 years for females and < 1 year for males. Natural mortality based on tmax was 0.28 year⁻¹ overall. A principal coordinates analysis identified morphometric variables as explaining 92.2% of otolith differentiation by fishing site, with average centroid distances: Celestún, 1.98; Dzilam de Bravo, 2.22; and Río Lagartos, 2.75. Differences in growth rate, lifespan, natural mortality and otolith shape indicate that O. chrysurus in southern GoM exhibits structural complexities that suggest the occurrence of repercussions from fishing-induced demographic changes.
This comprehensive report describes the Bugs Matter citizen science survey in the UK as of December 2023. The methods and any changes to the methods are described. The results of a statistical analysis to determine the annual change in the number of insect splats is presented. The model incorporates a range of independent variables and integrates pre-existing data from 2004, which was collected as part of a national survey using the same sampling method led by the RSPB (‘Big Bug Count’), which provides an opportunity to assess invertebrate abundance over a 19-year timeframe (TinsleyMarshall et al., 2021a, 2021b). Data on the number of journeys, the characteristics and environmental conditions of the journeys, and the number of insects splats are presented, supported by appendices. It is hoped that the Bugs Matter survey will continue every year, providing an increasingly valuable dataset on flying insect abundance in the UK, with promising applications beyond.
Murine typhus, a fleaborne bacterial disease caused by Rickettsia typhi, has reemerged and spread in the United States. We tested spinosad, an oral flea preventive, in opossum flea reservoirs. Spinosad killed 98% of fleas infesting opossums. Oral preventives could control fleas in host species and curb murine typhus spread to humans.
The zoophytophagous mirid Nesidiocoris tenuis (Reuter) (Hemiptera: Miridae) is an important biological control agent that primarily acts against small insect pests of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L., Solanales: Solanaceae). In Japan, biological control programs in vegetable greenhouses are primarily implemented using N. tenuis and cleome (Cleome hassleriana Chod., Brassicales: Cleomaceae), which is a suitable banker plant for maintaining this mirid. However, the preference of N. tenuis for crop or banker plant remains unclear. Here, we assayed the plant preference of N. tenuis between tomato and cleome using three colonies—individuals reproduced on Crassula ovata (Mill.) Druce (Saxifragales: Crassulaceae), tomato, and cleome. Moreover, we evaluated the effect of temporary (24 h) plant experience on the preference of N. tenuis. The plant preference was assayed by a dual-choice test using potted plants. The results showed that individuals reproduced on C. ovata showed equal preference for tomato and cleome, suggesting that N. tenuis has no innate preference for either of these plants. In contrast, individuals reproduced on tomato or cleome had a strong preference for the plant species on which they were grown. Furthermore, individuals who were temporarily exposed to a plant were more likely to prefer that plant. Our findings demonstrate that the preference of N. tenuis between tomato and cleome changes reversibly through learning, indicating that plant preference may be artificially manipulated. This study can help develop effective release strategies for N. tenuis, leading to improved banker plant systems for biological control.
Alstroemeria is a genus endemic to South America, with a wide distribution in Brazil and Chile. There are many taxonomic uncertainties or species complexes that make its taxonomy complicated. This is a genus of enormous importance in ornamental horticulture and one of the most important as cultivation and cutting plants. In Chile, there are 39 species and 11 complexes, being one of them Alstroemeria werdermannii, which presents two geographically separated varieties recognized for their distinct flower morphology and coloration differences. The chromosomes from both varieties (var. werdermannii and var. flavicans) were compared. Chromosomes were measured with the assistance of the software MicroMeasure 3.3. For each population analyzed (10 metaphase plates), the intrachromosomal asymmetry index MCA and the interchromosomal asymmetry index CVCL were used. The data obtained in this investigation indicate that the three analyzed populations of A. werdermannii have the same karyotype, i.e. 2m + 2sm + 2st-sat + 2t-sat. No differences in chromosome architecture were found among the varieties. This means that the chromosome set of all analyzed populations is identical, independent of the variety; yet, their different distribution and flower coloration makes it possible to recognize them as varieties.
Environmental variability modifies forest structure through interactions among soil properties, topography, and climate. These factors influence the occurrence of contrasting forest types in northern Amazonia (Brazil), such as forests in highlands (Terra Firme) and forests under regular flooding (Várzea). Flooding regimes influence soil formation and modify soil geochemistry, nutrient distribution, and organic matter accumulation, shaping forest structure and composition. The objective was to determine the relationships between structure and soil characteristics in non-flooded and flooded tropical forests. We compared forest structure and soil characteristics at both conditions (n = 2 treatments × 20 replicas = 40 plots) using univariate and multivariate analyses. We found significant differences in most of the studied variables between forest types, both chemical and physical properties. Our results showed that flooding defines forest structure and composition (e.g., tree density, height, and volume) and influences soil nutrient characteristics. Floodplain forests exhibited higher soil nutrient concentration and organic carbon content, likely due to periodic litter accumulation, sediments, and reduced decomposition rates. In contrast, non-flooded forests were characterized by lower nutrient levels, higher sand content, and greater forest structure values (e.g., height, basal area, and volume). These insights contribute to understanding the functioning of both forest ecosystems.
In an increasingly urbanized world, biodiversity, and more specifically, birdlife located in urbanized ecosystems, faces several threats. Among these, noise pollution has proven to be one of the most significant, as it affects the effectiveness and efficiency of acoustic communication. We studied the relationship between noise and the diversity and abundance of birds breeding in urban areas in the central region of the Iberian Peninsula (Spain). We analyzed how species diversity and density varied across three levels of noise pollution (high, medium, and low). Species diversity decreased in areas with high noise pollution as compared to sites with medium and low levels of noise. We analyzed the density of the most frequent species found within each category. We identified eight additional noise-tolerant species whose density had significantly increased in environments with high levels of noise (e.g., Blackbird, Eurasian Tree Sparrow, and the Coal Tit). The ten most sensitive species, such as the Common Linnet, House Sparrow, and the European Greenfinch, had significantly decreased densities when the level of noise increased. Identifying the sensitivity (the effect) of urban bird species to acoustic pollution is vital for effective conservation management measures and for the sustainable planning and management of cities.
As aves são um dos grupos taxonômicos mais representativos da Amazônia, porém, ainda são pouco conhecidos aspectos da sua distribuição e fatores ecológicos e históricos que a determinam. Geralmente, para modelar a distribuição, são usadas variáveis climáticas e topográficas em diferentes escalas que prevem ou não sua ocorrencia. Sendo assim, o objetivo
do presente estudo foi gerar os melhores mapas preditivos para aves amazônicas, comparando
e testando as previsões com duas abordagens, afim de auxiliar estudos futuros com
ferramentas mais apropriadas para construir modelos de distribuição. Primeiro foram feitos
modelos de distribuição utilizando camadas de polígonos das áreas de endemismo.
Posteriormente, foram construídos modelos com variáveis do clima e topografía, utilizando o
algoritmo matemático MAXENT. Não existiram diferenças significativas entre as abordagens
para Topaza pyra, Rhegmatorhina gymnops, Touit huetii, Lophotriccus galeatus e
Knipoleugus orenocensis e não foi identificado um padrão geral. Foi encontrado que para T.
pyra, R. gymnops e T. huetii os modelos feitos com áreas de endemismo (MAE) foram mais
acertados que os modelos com variáveis abiótias (MVA). Por sua vez, os modelos com
variáveis abióticas (MVA) foram mais acertados que os modelos de áreas de endemismo
(MAE) para, L. galeatus, T. pyra, R. melanosticta e Knipolegus orinoicensis. Em geral todos
os modelos mostraram altos valores de desempenho, e apenas para Heliodoxa schreibersii e
Synallaxis propinqua a taxa de omissão foi mais alta que a sensitividade. Conclui-se que em
geral nenhuma das duas abordagens foi mais acertada. Mesmo assim é preciso entender como
interagem as duas abordagens em modelos tradicionais, estender as análises para outras
espécies e obter maior quantidade e qualidade de dados e informação ambiental para fazer
inferências mais precisas e confiáveis sobre as previsões da distribuição e obter conclusões
definitivas
Sexual dimorphism (SD) in morphology may be attributed to a variety of ecological pressures, including sexual selection, differential growth rate, age at maturity, longevity, and niche partitioning. This morphological variation between the sexes can help us better understand the evolution of life histories and fill gaps about species/populations from less-explored regions. We investigated sexual dimorphism in morphometric characters of Lysapsus bolivianus from a floodplain environment in Eastern Amazon based on 273 specimens collected between 2013 to 2019. Females of L. bolivianus attain larger body sizes (Snout-to-Vent Length), but males have proportionally higher heads than females. Previous studies indicate that SSD in L. bolivianus can be linked to differential growth rate and age to maturity between sexes, whereas differences in head morphometry can be explained by differences in prey volume ingested by males and females. Nevertheless, the species inhabits a highly seasonal environment and bear a high pressure of predation. In this sense, males and females may cope with different selective pressures due to size differences.
The spatial and temporal distribution of resources influences animal movement patterns and search efficiency. Woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) in northwestern Ontario offer a compelling case study of how landscape disturbance affects long-distance movements and home range behaviors. While greater landscape fragmentation is typically associated with increased dispersal distances, this study found that woodland caribou reduced long-distance movement when cumulative disturbance exceeded 20% of the home range. Barriers such as clear-cuts and fires limited dispersal and altered movement behaviors, creating less permeable landscapes and isolating populations. Fractal analyses revealed that caribou perceive and respond to habitat disturbance at multiple scales, with disturbance affecting both dispersal and home range use. In highly disturbed areas, caribou exhibited restricted movement patterns and developed clumped distributions, likely in response to increased competition with moose (Alces alces) and elevated mortality risks. Furthermore, displacement distances decreased significantly with time since disturbance, suggesting that initial post-disturbance movements are extensive but decline as animals habituate to altered landscapes. These patterns raise concerns about the long-term viability of caribou meta-populations, as limited inter-patch dispersal could increase the risk of local extinctions. Overall, the study highlights the critical role of cumulative disturbance in shaping movement ecology and underscores the need for conservation strategies that maintain habitat connectivity to support woodland caribou persistence.
The present study was conducted along the southeast coast of Tamil Nadu between 2022 and 2023, focusing on the species Metapenaeopsis andamanensis. The catch per unit effort (CPUE) was estimated at 0.517, with a maximum sustainable yield (MSY) of 62,832 kg and a Fmsy value of 23,056 kg. Diet composition analysis revealed that the predominant food item was left digestive material (31%), followed by detritus (29%) and copepods (20%). The observed size range was 4.0–13.5 cm for females and 4.0–11.5 cm for males. The overall sex ratio (male to female) was recorded as 1:1.3. Peak spawning activity occurred during March–April and October–November. The size at first maturity was 5.5 cm for males and 6.5 cm for females. The gonadosomatic index (GSI) for females ranged from 0.62 to 3.82. The species exhibited a relative fecundity ranging from 41,426 to 112,531 eggs per female. Growth parameters estimated using the von Bertalanffy growth function included an asymptotic length (L∞) of 19.21 cm, a growth coefficient (K) of 0.392 per year, and a theoretical age at zero length (t₀) of -0.46 years. The growth performance index (ϕ) was calculated as 2.46, with an M/K ratio of 1.15 and an L₅₀/L ∞ ratio of 0.473. Mortality estimates included a total mortality (Z) of 3.57, natural mortality (M) of 2.26, and fishing mortality (F) of 1.31, resulting in an exploitation rate (E) of 0.36. The length at which 50% of the population was vulnerable to capture was 8.95 cm. Recruitment analysis indicated a peak in April, accounting for 16.05% of total recruitment. Based on the current findings, M. andamanensis is presently underexploited at the studied sampling stations, suggesting the potential for increased fishing pressure within sustainable limits.
Scallop aquaculture is of economic importance along the east coast of the tropical Pacific. However, scallop diseases have been observed and there is limited knowledge about bacterial pathogens, especially in hatcheries. The objective of this study was to identify and characterize one of the predominant bacteria in outbreaks of vibriosis that occurred in a scallop hatchery in south-central Ecuador. The strain SA-10GR was isolated from moribund veliger larvae of the scallop Spondylus limbatus. SA-10GR was identified as Vibrio rotiferianus by phenotypic characterization and whole genome sequence analysis. SA-10GR is a strain with lytic activity, susceptible to many antibiotics except amoxicillin (25 μg), capable of producing siderophores and extracellular products with alkaline phosphatase, esterase, lipase esterase, leucine arylamidase, acid phosphatase, among others. The genome of V. rotiferianus consists of 5,579,217 bp; 5160 genes; 5086 protein-coding sequences (CDSs); 74 RNA genes (57 tRNA, 13 rRNA, and 4 ncRNA), and 40 pseudogenes. A total of six resistance genes vanT, adeF, E. coli parE, txR, CRP, and PBP3 were identified, and 110 virulence factors were detected. Functional characterization of SA-10GR shows extracellular products that cause damage to the fish model cell line (Epithelioma Papulosum Cyprini) and pathogenicity against larvae of the scallop Spondylus crassisquama and the oyster Magallana gigas (≥86 % mortality at a concentration of 104 CFU mL−1 at 24 h post-challenge). Both species of larvae infected with the SA-10GR strain showed clinical signs of vibriosis. This study represents the first documentation of a Vibrio rotiferianus strain as a potential pathogen of two important cultured bivalve species along the Pacific coast, expanding the susceptible host range and geographic distribution for this Vibrio species.
BACKGROUND
Pyrethroid insecticides have been a primary strategy for managing Dalbulus maidis (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) in Brazil. Howeve, failures in the control of D. maidis with pyrethroids have been reported. In this study, we selected a bifenthrin‐resistant strain of D. maidis under laboratory cage conditions to investigate the inheritance pattern of resistance, cross‐resistance to other insecticides, and resistance stability.
RESULTS
The estimated LC50 of the Bif‐R was 2,055.72 μg a.i. mL⁻¹, while that of the susceptible (Sus) strain was 0.64 μg a.i. mL⁻¹, resulting in a 3,170‐fold resistance ratio (RR). Reciprocal crosses (H1: Bif‐R ♀ × Sus ♂ and H2: Bif‐R ♂ × Sus ♀) and backcrosses between heterozygous H1 and H2 with the Sus strain indicated autosomal, incompletely dominant, and polygenic resistance. Potential cross or multiple‐resistance was observed between Bif‐R and lambda‐cyhalothrin, imidacloprid, and acetamiprid, with resistance ratios varying from 300‐ to 2,000‐fold. No cross‐resistance was detected between Bif‐R and methomyl, carbosulfan or acephate. Cage studies with different proportions of Sus and Bif‐R strains revealed that resistance of D. maidis to bifenthrin is unstable. A decrease in the LC50 of the field‐collected population from 113.61 to 10.73 μg bifenthrin mL⁻¹ was detected in the absence of selection pressure.
CONCLUSIONS
Our findings provide insights into the evolution of resistance of D. maidis to bifenthrin. This study is the first comprehensive analysis of pyrethroid resistance in D. maidis and will contribute to insect resistance management (IRM) strategies to preserve the efficacy of bifenthrin and other insecticides. © 2025 The Author(s). Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.
Snakes are a useful model for gaining insights into the relationships between predator and prey sizes and resource utilization because their anatomy limits the size of prey that can be swallowed whole. However, data are sparse regarding how commonly gape‐limited predators eat or attempt to eat prey with sizes up to or exceeding their maximal gape. Thus, for an invasive predator, the brown treesnake (Boiga irregularis), we fed captive snakes dead birds with an extremely large range (17%–447%) of relative prey area (RPA = prey cross‐sectional area/snake gape area) to test the predictive value of RPA for snakes attempting to ingest or successfully ingesting prey. As expected, RPA significantly predicted (logistic regression p < 0.0001) the probability of birds being eaten, with an upper size limit similar to the maximal gape of the snakes. Although RPA also significantly predicted (p = 0.003) the probability of attempting to eat a bird, it was less accurate in predicting attempts than successes, and many snakes attempted to eat birds too large to swallow. Twenty‐five snakes attempted to eat birds with RPA ranging from 130% to 447%. The longest durations of unsuccessful feeding attempts were often for values of RPA near 100% rather than the extremely large values. For six large birds with mean measured RPA = 93%, the prey diameter soon after ingestion averaged 14% less than that measured prior to ingestion, which can allow snakes to consume 30% more mass than would otherwise be possible. Our findings complement a recent field study that concluded brown treesnakes regularly attempt to eat live birds too large to swallow. Our results also greatly expanded the known range of avian prey sizes that these snakes attempt to eat. Consequently, brown treesnakes pose a risk to birds with sizes well beyond the limit on prey size imposed by gape.
BACKGROUND
Cyantraniliprole, a diamide insecticide, is widely used in Brazil to control sucking and defoliating pests, including the fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda), a major agricultural pest. However, increasing resistance to diamides has raised concerns about the long‐term effectiveness of cyantraniliprole. This study aimed to (i) assess the evolution of cyantraniliprole resistance in field populations of S. frugiperda, (ii) investigate cross‐resistance to other diamides, and (iii) analyze the role of the I4790K mutation in resistance mechanisms.
RESULTS
A significant decrease in the susceptibility to cyantraniliprole was observed in field populations of S. frugiperda in Brazil, particularly in regions with intensive agricultural systems, such as the Brazilian Cerrado, from 2017 to 2023. A cyantraniliprole‐resistant strain of S. frugiperda was selected from a field‐collected population in Bahia (BA) using the F2 screening method. The inheritance of resistance to cyantraniliprole in this strain was autosomal recessive and monogenic, with 3414‐fold resistance ratio. High cross‐resistance to the diamides flubendiamide, chlorantraniliprole, and cyclaniliprole was also detected. Molecular analysis confirmed the presence of the homozygous I4790K mutation in the ryanodine receptor gene as one of resistance mechanisms of this cyantraniliprole‐resistant strain.
CONCLUSION
These findings highlight the decreased susceptibility of field populations of S. frugiperda to cyantraniliprole and the role of the I4790K mutation in accelerating the evolution of resistance to diamide insecticides due to cross‐resistance. These results underscore the urgent need for integrated pest management (IPM) strategies, including insecticide rotation and resistance monitoring, to preserve the efficacy of cyantraniliprole and other insecticides. © 2025 The Author(s). Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.
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