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Full-Text Articles in Life Sciences
Creepy Crawly Compensation: Examining The Costs Of Ectoparasite-Induced Compensatory Growth In Late-Stage Nestlings, Elliot Lusk
Creepy Crawly Compensation: Examining The Costs Of Ectoparasite-Induced Compensatory Growth In Late-Stage Nestlings, Elliot Lusk
Biology
When normal growth rates are suppressed, organisms may undergo a rapid period of increased growth in order to match the physical requirements of a developmental benchmark. This compensatory growth, however, is not without its costs, which can have varying consequences. In nestlings, a major benchmark is that of fledging, which requires advanced physical maturation. In previous studies, compensatory growth and some of its associated costs have been shown in prefledging nestlings but fledging-aged nestlings and the costs they may have sustained needs further study. Here we examine the costs of compensatory growth in late-stage European starling (Sturnus vulgaris) nestlings under …
Exotic Legume's Leaf Litter Beneficial To Prairie Plants, Asher Gardner
Exotic Legume's Leaf Litter Beneficial To Prairie Plants, Asher Gardner
Biology
Lespedeza cuneata is an invasive, non-native species of bush clover that is invading prairies where the native Lespedeza capitata grows. Both species of bush clover are legumes, which are nitrogen fixers. Legumes and their senescent leaves (i.e., “litter”) are well known for increasing levels of available nitrogen in the soil. However, the exotic L. cuneata also produces tannins that reduce the rate of germination in some prairie plants. The purpose of this study was to clarify whether these compounds in the litter of the invasive species of bush clover deter early growth in its native competitors, and to determine whether …