Life Sciences Commons^™

What Can We Learn From Confusing Olivella Columellaris And O. Semistriata, Two Key Species In Panamic Sandy Beach Ecosystems?, Alison Troost, Samantha Rupert, Ariel Cyrus, Frank Paladino, Benjamin Dattilo, Winfried Peters

Benjamin F. Dattilo

Patterns Of Life History And Habitat Use Of An Important Recreational Fishery Species, Spotfin Croaker, And Their Potential Fishery Implications, Jonathan Williams, Jeremy Claisse, Daniel Pondella, Lea Medeiros, Charles Valle, Michael Shane

Daniel Pondella

Spotfin croakers Roncador stearnsii, a prized recreational catch, were collected throughout the Southern California Bight, primarily as bycatch from a long-term, scientific gill-net collection effort. The maximum otolith-based age in the present study was 24 years—14 years greater than in a previous scale-based aging study. Multiple models were used to estimate mean length at age, including models that utilize larvae as well as juveniles and adults, and the model selection results suggest sexual dimorphism in growth patterns. The juvenile and adult catch per unit effort reflected a clear pattern of habitat selectivity, with fish strongly preferring soft-bottom habitats. Catches …

El Niño Periods Increase Growth Of Juvenile White Seabass (Atractoscion Nobilis) In The Southern California Bight, Jonathan Williams, Larry Allen, Mark Steele, Daniel Pondella

Daniel Pondella

Studies of the impact of El Niño periods on marine species have usually focused on negative, highly visible eVects, e.g., decreasing growth rates or increasing mortality due to a decline in primary productivity in typically nutrient rich upwelling zones; but positive effects related to elevated water temperature are also known. This study examined how the growth rate of juvenile white seabass, Atractoscion nobilis, responded to changes in ocean temperature in an El Niño period (1997–1998) in the northern portion of the Southern California Bight, USA. Growth rates of juvenile white seabass during their first 4 years of life were …

Catalogue Of Type Material In The Entomological Collection Of The University Of La Laguna (Canary Islands). I – Arachnida, Ana Reboleira, Antonio Pérez, Nuria Macías-Hernandez, Heriberto López, S. De La Cruz, Pedro Oromí

Ana Sofia P.S. Reboleira

A catalogue of arachnid type specimens of the collection kept at the Department of Animal Biology, University of La Laguna (Spain) is presented. It harbours type material of 104 species belonging to 23 families of arachnids, represented by 21 holotypes and 164 paratypes for 23 species of pseudoscorpions, and 49 holotypes, 218 paratypes and 3 syntypes for 81 species of spiders. This collection is using the criteria and standards of the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) for cataloguing and computerization of the specimens. Type specimens were checked with the original descriptions, and relevant additional information from original labels not included …

Lusoblothrus, A New Syarinid Pseudoscorpion Genus (Arachnida) From Portugal, Occupying An Isolated Position Within The Holarctic Fauna, Ana Reboleira, Juan Zaragoza, Fernando Gonçalves, Pedro Oromí

Ana Sofia P.S. Reboleira

The new pseudoscorpion genus Lusoblothrus of the family Syarinidae is described from a cave in the Algarve region, southern Portugal, to accommodate L. aenigmaticus sp. nov., whose morphological affinities within the Holarctic syarinid fauna are not clear and resembles the Gondwanan genera. This discovery emphasizes the relevance of the Algarve region as a hotspot for relictual hypogean fauna within the Iberian Peninsula.

Gonadotropin Concentrations, Follicular Development, And Luteal Function In Pituitary Stalk-Transfected Ewes Treated With Bovine Follicular Fluid, G. Larson, David Mallory, R. Dailey, P. Lewis

David S. Mallory

Two experiments, each arranged as a 2 x 2 factorial, were conducted in ewes to examine direct effects of bovine follicular fluid (bFF) on follicular development and luteal function and to further characterize follicular development and luteal function after pituitary stalk transection (SS). In Exp. 1, ewes were sham-operated or SS on d 6 of an estrous cycle and received 5 ml of saline or bFF three times daily on d 5 through 11 of the same cycle. In Exp. 2, all ewes were SS on d 6 of an estrous cycle and treated with saline or bFF three times …

Ecomorphology Of Plesiosaur Flipper Geometry, F. O’Keefe

F. Robin O’Keefe

The Plesiosauria is an extinct group of marine reptiles once common in mesozoic seas. Previous work on plesiosaur hunting styles has suggested that short-necked, large-headed animals were pursuit predators, whereas long-necked, small-headed animals were ambush predators. This study presents new data on the aspect ratios (ARs) of plesiosaur flippers, and interprets these data via comparison with AR in birds, bats and aircraft. Performance trade-offs implicit in AR variation are well-understood in the context of aircraft design, and these trade-offs have direct ecomorphological analogues in birds and bats. Knowledge of these trade-offs allows interpretation of variation in plesiosaur AR. By analogy, …

Properties Of Tooth Enamel In Great Apes, Paul Constantino, Brian Lawn, James Lee, Peter Lucas, Dylan Morris, Tanya Smith

Paul J. Constantino

A comparative study has been made of human and great ape molar tooth enamel. Nanoindentation techniques are used to map profiles of elastic modulus and hardness across sections from the enamel–dentin junction to the outer tooth surface. The measured data profiles overlap between species, suggesting a degree of commonality in material properties. Using established deformation and fracture relations, critical loads to produce function-threatening damage in the enamel of each species are calculated for characteristic tooth sizes and enamel thicknesses. The results suggest that differences in load-bearing capacity of molar teeth in primates are less a function of underlying material properties …

What Can We Learn From Confusing Olivella Columellaris And O. Semistriata, Two Key Species In Panamic Sandy Beach Ecosystems?, Alison Troost, Samantha Rupert, Ariel Cyrus, Frank Paladino, Benjamin Dattilo, Winfried Peters

Winfried S. Peters

Squamatinia Algharbica Gen. N. Sp. N., A Remarkable New Coletiniinae Silverfish (Zygentoma: Nicoletiidae) From Caves In Southern Portugal, Ana Reboleira, Fernando Gonçalves, Pedro Oromí, Luís Mendes

Ana Sofia P.S. Reboleira

A new genus of Coletiniinae silverfish (Nicoletiidae) similar to Coletinia Wygodzinsky and Lepidospora Escherich is described to accommodate the new species Squamatinia algharbica gen. n. sp. n. Many individuals were collected over all seasons of the year in four caves of the Algarve karst massif in the south of Portugal. An identification key for the known genera of Coletiniinae is provided, as well as some biogeographical and ecological comments.

The Behavioural And Sensory Ecology Of Agaronia Propatula (Caenogastropoda, Olividae), A Swash-Surfing Predator On Sandy Beaches Of The Panamic Faunal Province, Ariel Cyrus, Samantha Rupert, Amy Silva, Monika Graf, Jeremy Rappaport, Frank Paladino, Winfried Peters

Winfried S. Peters

Jessie Maye Smith, Christy Allen

Christy Allen

No abstract provided.

Viability Of Lactic Acid Bacteria And Sensory Evaluation In Cinnamomum Verum And Allium Sativum-Bio-Yogurts Made From Camel And Cow Milk, Ahmad Salihin Hj Baba, Shori A. B.

Ahmad Salihin Hj Baba

The present study investigate the effect of herbal water extract prepared from Allium sativum and Cinnamomum verum on the viability of lactic acid bacteria (Lactobacillus spp and Streptococcus thermophilus) in cow- and camel-milk yogurts during 21 day refrigerated storage. The organoleptic properties of fresh-yogurts were evaluated. Lactobacillus spp count for fresh cow milk-yogurts (0 day) in both present and absent of C. verum and A. sativum was ranged from 1.4×0 6 to 2.1×10 6 cfu/mL. These values were not significantly changed throughout the 21 days of refrigerated storage. Lactobacillusspp count in fresh plain camel milk- yogurt was 13.2×10 6 cfu/mL …

A New Eusuchian Crocodyliform With Novel Cranial Integument And Its Significance For The Origin And Evolution Of Crocodylia, Casey Holliday, Nicholas Gardner

Nicholas Gardner

Crocodyliforms were one of the most successful groups of Mesozoic tetrapods, radiating into terrestrial, semiaquatic and marine environments, while occupying numerous trophic niches, including carnivorous, insectivorous, herbivorous, and piscivorous species. Among these taxa were the enigmatic, poorly represented flat-headed crocodyliforms from the late Cretaceous of northern Africa. Here we report a new, giant crocodyliform from the early Late Cretaceous (Cenomanian) Kem Kem Formation of Morocco. Represented by a partial braincase, the taxon has an extremely long, flat skull with large jaw and craniocervical muscles. The skull roof is ridged and ornamented with a broad, rough boss surrounded by significant vascular …

Do Larval Traits Re-Evolve? Evidence From The Embryogenesis Of A Direct-Developing Salamander, Plethodon Cinereus, Ryan Kerney, David Blackburn, Hendrik Muller, James Hanken

Ryan Kerney

Recent molecular phylogenies suggest the surprising reacquisition of posthatching metamorphosis within an otherwise directdeveloping clade of lungless salamanders (family Plethodontidae). Metamorphosis was long regarded as plesiomorphic for plethodontids, yet the genus Desmognathus, which primarily includes metamorphosing species, is now nested within a much larger clade of direct-developing species. The extent to which the putative reacquisition of metamorphosis in Desmognathus represents a true evolutionary reversal is contingent upon the extent to which both larva-specific features and metamorphosis were actually lost during the evolution of direct development. In this study we analyze development of the hyobranchial skeleton, which is dramatically remodeled during …

Allometry And Growth, Andrew Kerkhoff

Andrew J Kerkhoff

No abstract provided.