Search results for "Systematic"
showing 10 items of 7608 documents
Intercohort competition causes spatial segregation in brown trout in artificial streams
1999
When together in a flume, 13-cm LS (age-1) trout appeared to increase their activity and behaved more aggressively, whereas 10-cm LS (age-0) trout tended to move less and were rarely aggressive in the presence of the larger size class. Both size classes were less mobile and preferred lower water velocities in winter than in summer, and increased their use of instream cover in winter. When both size classes were present, only small trout decreased their use of low water velocities and cover. The results indicate that intercohort competition may cause spatial segregation among size groups of brown trout, especially in winter when trout attempt to minimize their maintenance costs.
On the real identity of the Strelitzia cultivated in Sicily’s historic gardens
2016
The authors, on the basis of field observations and literature search, conclude that all tree-like plants of Strelitzia grown in Sicily belong to Strelitzia nicolaii. Therefore Strelitzia alba (= Strelitzia augusta), which was generally considered to be commonly cultivated in Sicily since the nineteenth century, if it ever was cultivated on the island, is not currently found there. The Lectotypes of the names S. nicolaii and S. alba are here designated.
Exploitation competition between hole‐nesters ( Muscardinus avellanarius , Mammalia and Parus caeruleus , Aves) in Mediterranean woodlands
2005
Data from a long-term study (1993-2003) using artificial nest-boxes, were analysed to examine competition for nesting between blue tit Parus caeruleus and common dormouse Muscardinus avellanarius in Sicily. Occupation rates and the reproductive biology of the blue tit in sample woodlots outside the distribution area of the common dormouse were used as a control in sample areas where the two species were syntopic. A selection test showed that the two species, when living in syntopy, actively chose the small nest-boxes, thus overlapping in the use of the same spatial resource. The experimental exclusion of the common dormouse from nest-boxes caused an increase of blue tit occupation rate. Onc…
Density‐dependent influence of male characters on mate‐locating efficiency and pairing success in the waterlouse Asellus aquaticus: an experimental s…
2005
Population density is likely to determine the form of competition in which males are engaged for access to females. At low density, scramble competition should be of paramount importance because of the low probability of encounter between males and females. Consequently, sexual selection should favour characters that allow rapid detection of females. Conversely, at high population density, sexual selection should favour attributes that raise the fighting ability of males because of the more frequent contacts between males. These general predictions were tested in this study for the precopulatory mate-guarding isopod, Asellus aquaticus. In this species, male-biased sexual dimorphisms are rep…
Behaviour of cyclic bank voles under risk of mustelid predation: do females avoid copulations?
1993
Mustelid odours have been shown to suppress breeding in captive bank voles (Clethrionomys glareolus) from cyclic populations (Ylonen 1989; Ylonen and Ronkainen 1994). The mechanism behind the suppression is unknown. Based on a series of behavioural trials and breeding experiments with pairs of bank voles in breeding condition, we suggest that the primary cause for breeding suppression is a change in female mating behaviour. Experimental female-male pairs (n=34) exposed to mustelid odour decreased their general activity compared to control pairs (n=34). When encountering males in behavioural trials, females exposed to stoat odour were more aggressive and actively avoided precopulatory behavi…
Sex ratio and spatial distribution of male and female Antennaria dioica (Asteraceae) plants
2011
Sex ratio, sex spatial distribution and sexual dimorphism in reproduction and arbuscular mycorrhizal colonisation were investigated in the dioecious clonal plant Antennaria dioica (Asteraceae). Plants were monitored for five consecutive years in six study plots in Oulanka, northern Finland. Sex ratio, spatial distribution of sexes, flowering frequency, number of floral shoots and the number and weight of inflorescences were recorded. In addition, intensity of mycorrhizal fungi in the roots was assessed. Both sexes flowered each year with a similar frequency, but the overall genet sex ratio was strongly female-biased. The bivariate Ripley’s analysis of the sex distribution showed that within…
Where are you from, stranger? The enigmatic biogeography of North African pond turtles (Emys orbicularis)
2014
Abstract The European pond turtle (Emys orbicularis) is a Nearctic element in the African fauna and thought to have invaded North Africa from the Iberian Peninsula. All North African populations are currently identified with the subspecies E. o. occidentalis. However, a nearly range-wide sampling in North Africa used for analyses of mitochondrial and microsatellite DNA provides evidence that only Moroccan populations belong to this taxon, while eastern Algerian and Tunisian pond turtles represent an undescribed distinct subspecies. These two taxa are most closely related to E. o. galloitalica with a native distribution along the Mediterranean coast of northern Spain through southern France …
Breeding system and conservation strategy of the extremely endangered Cistus carthaginensis Pau (Cistaceae) of Spain
2001
Cistus carthaginensis is one of the most endangered plants in Europe: at present there exist only a few individuals in Murcia and one in Valencia (SE and E Spain). To design an adequate conservation strategy able to avoid the extinction of this species, various aspects of its reproductive biology were studied. The extreme rarity of C. carthaginensis is not related to problems of development and/or fertility of pollen or ovules produced by the few existing specimens. Meiosis in the pollen mother cells is always regular and chromosome segregation is completely equilibrated in the male gametes. Pollen and ovule production is high and similar to that reported for other related species of Cistus…
The floral nectaries in theLimnanthaceae
1992
Floral nectaries in theLimnanthaceae are established as exoscopic basal bulges of the episepalous stamens. Their nectariferous tissues include the epidermis and hypodermal parenchyma and inLimnanthes are vascularized by phloematic branches of the staminal bundles. Secretion occurs mainly through anomocytic stomata but, in addition, probably through the outer cuticularized thin walls of the epidermal cells. The flower structure is comparatively simple. The nectar is often slightly concealed. A wide range of pollinators can be expected, but bees are observed to be the dominant ones. The systematic position of the family is still obscure. Taxonomic placement near to any other geranialian famil…
Developmental speed affects ecological stoichiometry and adult fat reserves in Drosophila melanogaster
2020
Abstract The elemental composition of organisms belongs to a suite of functional traits that change during development in response to environmental conditions. However, associations between adaptive variations in developmental speed and elemental body composition are not well understood. We compared body mass, elemental body composition, food uptake and fat metabolism of Drosophila melanogaster male fruit flies in relation to their larval development speed. Slowly developing flies had higher body carbon concentration than rapidly developing and intermediate flies. Rapidly developing flies had the highest body nitrogen concentration, while slowly developing flies had higher body nitrogen lev…