Methods of quantitative and qualitative analysis of bird migration with a tracking radar

Methods of analyzing bird migration by using tracking radar are discussed. The procedure for assessing the rate of bird passage is described. Three topics are presented concerning the grouping of nocturnal migrants, the velocity of migratory flight, and identification of species by radar echoes. The height and volume of migration under different weather conditions are examined. The methods for studying the directions of migration and the correlation between winds and the height and direction of migrating birds are presented

Dinoflagellates

(251pp.

Nearshore marine ecology at Hutchinson Island, Florida: 1971-1974. VI. plankton dynamics, 1971-1973, VII. phytoplankton 1971-1973, VIII. zooplankton, 1971-1973, IX. diel plankton, 1973-1974, X. benthic algae species list

(Document has 122 pages.

Effects of dried distillers grain with solubles on nursery pig performance

A total of 482 pigs (initial BW of 21.9 lb) were used in a 22-d study to determine the effects of dried distillers grains with solubles (DDGS) on growth performance of nursery pigs reared in a commercial environment. Pigs were allotted to one of two dietary treatments based on corn-soybean meal and containing either 0 or 10% DDGS. There was a tendency for pigs fed the diet containing 10% DDGS to have decreased (P0.21). For economic analysis, the DDGS price was compared at $109,$93, or $80/ton. There were no differences in feed cost per pound of gain in diets containing DDGS at the three price levels (P>0.29). Pigs fed the diets containing 10$0.52, $0.54, and$0.56), regardless of DDGS price ($106,$93, or $80/ton, respectively). Although only a trend for decreased ADG was observed, feeding diets containing DDGS was less economical, as measured by margin over feed costs

A Role of Angiogenin in Models of Parkinson\u27s Disease

Parkinson\u27s Disease (PD) is the most common neurodegenerative movement disorder and is characterized by the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra. Gene multiplication of alpha-synuclein causes an autosomal dominant inheritance pattern of PD. A mouse model overexpressing alpha-synuclein demonstrates some of the phenotype seen in PD. In a microarray of these mice, a downregulation of angiogenin was observed prior to symptom onset, demonstrating a potential link of angiogenin to pathology in this model. Angiogenin has also been associated with the onset of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), and is neuroprotective in models of ALS through activation of the Akt pathway, a pro-survival signaling pathway. Based on these findings we hypothesized that angiogenin is protective in models of PD through activation of the Akt pathway. The goals of these studies was to determine whether 1) angiogenin was protective in cellular models of PD, 2) angiogenin required the Akt pathway to be protective, and 3) angiogenin was protective in a mouse model of PD. We first demonstrate that angiogenin is protective in two dopaminergic cell lines against toxins used to model PD. This finding supports angiogenin\u27s function in neurons to be important for cell survival. We then demonstrate that angiogenin induces Akt phosphorylation in a dopaminergic cell line, but inhibition of Akt signaling did not inhibit angiogenin\u27s protective response. We next investigated a mutant of angiogenin, K40I, for its ability to be protective in cellular models of PD. This mutant has previously been shown not to be protective in motoneurons and fails to activate Akt phosphorylation. Our findings revealed that K40I does not phosphorylate Akt in a dopaminergic cell line. We further demonstrate K40I still has the capacity to be protective, indicating angiogenin to promote survival of dopaminergic neurons in a different manner than motoneurons. Lastly, we investigated angiogenin\u27s ability to be protective in a mouse model of PD. Our results demonstrate that in our experimental paradigm angiogenin was not protective, and that other delivery options to investigate angiogenin\u27s protective effect may be necessary. These studies demonstrate that angiogenin provides a neuroprotective effect in cellular models of PD and with further investigation may be a potential therapeutic agent for PD

Mycorrhizal arbitrage, a hypothesis: or, how mycoheterotrophs could profit from inefficiencies in the biological marketplace

(1)Mycoheterotrophy, whereby plants acquire both carbon and nutrients from a fungal partner, is an evolutionarily puzzling phenomenon. According to biological market models, mycoheterotrophs have nothing to offer, and thus should be shunned as trading partners by discriminating fungi. Nevertheless, mycoheterotrophy is common, particularly among orchids, and an estimated 10% of all plant species are facultatively mycoheterotrophic at early stages in their life cycle. (2)Reconciling mycoheterotrophy with biological market models, I describe how mycoheterotrophs could use arbitrage trading to net a profit of carbon and nutrients, without acquiring either from the abiotic environment. The model requires that mycoheterotrophs simultaneously buy and sell both carbon and nutrients, exploiting variability in the trading ratios offered by mycorrhizal fungi. (3)The model relies on several conditions, including the ability of the mycoheterotroph to form indirect hyphal associations with two or more neighboring autotrophic-mycorrhizal associations, the existence of variable carbon:nutrient exchange ratios among these associations, and the ability of mycoheterotrophs to invert the net-direction of resource trade. Evidence that these conditions occur in a state of nature varies from incontrovertible to plausible given available models. (4)The arbitrage model provides evolutionary rationale for mycoheterotrophy from both the plant and fungal perspective. Accordingly, mycoheterotrophs match trading ratios offered by autotrophic plants and, thus, need not be antagonists. The model makes novel predictions that distinguish it from source-sink models, most notably in the existence of resource exchange inversions at the plant-mycorrhizal interface. Finally, the model emphasizes market inefficiencies as the foundation on which mycoheterotrophs construct an arbitrage niche. <br/

The Coexistence of Hosts with Different Abilities to Discriminate against Cheater Partners: An Evolutionary Game-Theory Approach

Evolutionary theory predicts that mutualisms based on the reciprocal exchange of costly services should be susceptible to exploitation by cheaters. Consistent with theory, both cheating and discrimination against cheaters are ubiquitous features of mutualisms. Several recent studies have confirmed that host species differ in the extent that they are able to discriminate against cheaters, suggesting that cheating may be stabilized by the existence of susceptible hosts (dubbed “givers”). We use an evolutionary game-theoretical approach to demonstrate how discriminating and giver hosts associating with mutualist and cheater partners can coexist. Discriminators drive the proportion of cheaters below a critical threshold, at which point there is no benefit to investing resources into discrimination. This promotes givers, who benefit from mutualists but allow cheater populations to rebound. We then apply this model to the plant-mycorrhizal mutualism and demonstrate it is one mechanism for generating host-specific responses to mycorrhizal fungal species necessary to generate negative plant-soil feedbacks. Our model makes several falsifiable, qualitative predictions for plant-mycorrhizal population dynamics across gradients of soil phosphorus availability and interhost differences in ability to discriminate. Finally, we suggest applications and limitations of the model with regard to coexistence in specific biological systems

Classification and identification of Pfiesteria and Pfiesteria-like species

Dinoflagellates can be classified both botanically and zoologically; however, they are typically put in the botanical division Pyrrhophyta. As a group they appear most related to the protistan ciliates and apicomplexans at the ultrastructure level. Within the Pyrrhophyta are both unarmored and armored forms of the dominant, motile flagellated stage. Unarmored dinoflagellates do not have thecal or wall plates arranged in specific series, whereas armored species have plates that vary in thickness but are specific in number and arrangement. In armored dinoflagellates, the plate pattern and tabulation is a diagnostic character at the family, subfamily, and even genus levels. In most cases, the molecular characterization of dinoflagellates confirms the taxonomy on the basis of external morphology; this has been demonstrated for several groups. Together, both genetic and morphological criteria are becoming increasingly important for the characterization, separation, and identification of dinoflagellates species. Pfiesteria and Pfiesteria-like species are thinly armored forms with motile dinospore stages characterized by their distinct plate formulae. Pfiesteria piscicida is the best-known member of the genus; however, there is at least one other species. Other genetically and morphologically related genera, now grouped under the common names of Lucy, Shepherd\u27s crook, and cryptoperidiniopsoid, are being studied and described in separate works. All these other heterotrophic dinoflagellate groups, many of which are thought to be benign, co-occur in estuarine waters where Pfiesteria has been found