Geographical ecology of the gymnophthalmid lizard Neusticurus ecpleopus in the Amazon rain forest

1998 ◽  
Vol 76 (9) ◽  
pp. 1671-1680 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laurie J Vitt ◽  
Peter A Zani ◽  
Teresa Cristina Avila-Pires ◽  
Maria Cristina Espósito
Keyword(s):  
Prey Size ◽  
Size Variation ◽  
Morphological Characteristics ◽  
Prey Type ◽  
Morphological Characters ◽  
Microhabitat Use ◽  
Body Temperatures ◽  
Lowland Tropical Forest ◽  
Amazon Rain Forest ◽  
Substrate Temperatures

Lizards in four distantly separated populations of the gymnophthalmid lizard Neusticurus ecpleopus in the Amazon region of South America were strikingly specific in habitat and microhabitat use, being restricted to streams and swamps and living between the water line and the bank-forest interface. They were as likely to be active during cloudy periods as during sunny periods, but most individuals were not exposed to direct insolation while active. Activity occurred through much of the day, with most activity at two sites during between 11:00 and 14:30. Body temperatures were 27.0 ± 0.02°C and were correlated with substrate temperatures. Body temperatures were higher than substrate temperatures, indicating behavioral or possibly physiological thermoregulation. These lizards ate a variety of prey, but eight prey categories accounted for a major proportion of the total diet at all sites. There were differences among sites in prey type, prey size, relative prey size, and total stomach fullness. Even though there was some size variation among sites, variation in other morphological characters was more striking. Even withstanding the differences among populations in ecological and morphological characteristics, it appears that much of the ecology of N. ecpleopus is constrained by fidelity to specific habitat patches (stream banks) distributed linearly through lowland tropical forest.

Ecology of the lizard Kentropyx pelviceps (Sauria: Teiidae) in lowland rain forest of Ecuador

1995 ◽  
Vol 73 (4) ◽  
pp. 691-703 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laurie J. Vitt ◽  
Peter A. Zani ◽  
Janalee P. Caldwell ◽  
Edwin O. Carrillo
Keyword(s):  
Clutch Size ◽  
Morphological Characteristics ◽  
Maximum Size ◽  
Female Size ◽  
Body Temperatures ◽  
Lowland Rain Forest ◽  
Lowland Tropical Forest ◽  
Treefall Gaps ◽  
Direct Exposure ◽  
Males And Females

Kentropyx pelviceps was studied in lowland tropical forest of eastern Ecuador. Most individuals were first observed in leaf litter of treefall gaps or forest, approximately 30% being first observed above ground on trunks or branches of fallen trees. Activity occurred from 10:00 to 16:00 in microhabitats receiving maximum insolation. Body temperatures of active lizards averaged 34.1 ± 0.4 °C. Lizards active when sun was available had higher body temperatures than lizards active when sun was not available. When sun was available, lizards spent more time moving and moved farther than when sun was not available. When sun was hidden behind clouds, lizards typically ceased foraging, pressed their bodies against the substrate, and basked, receiving direct exposure. Most time active was allocated to basking, presumably as a result of limited availability of sunlight. Prey consisted primarily of roaches, orthopterans, and spiders, and prey size was determined to a large extent (69.6% of variation) by lizard body size. Males and females reached sexual maturity at 80 mm snout–vent length. Males reached a larger maximum size than females, and sexual dimorphism was apparent in nearly all morphological characteristics of adults when the effect of size was removed. Clutch size averaged 6.5 ± 0.3 eggs, and there was no relationship between clutch size and female size. Evidence suggests that the breeding season is extended. Comparisons with other studied species of Kentropyx suggest that many aspects of the ecology of K. pelviceps in eastern Ecuador are affected by the reduced time available for activity resulting from reduced sun availability.

Ecology of the arboreal tropidurid lizard Tropidurus (=Plica) umbra in the Amazon region

1997 ◽  
Vol 75 (11) ◽  
pp. 1876-1882 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laurie J. Vitt ◽  
Peter A. Zani ◽  
Teresa Cristina S. Avila-Pires
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Dimorphism ◽  
Tropical Forest ◽  
Clutch Size ◽  
Sexual Maturity ◽  
Prey Size ◽  
Amazon Region ◽  
Body Temperatures ◽  
Dietary Specialization ◽  
Lowland Tropical Forest

The tropidurid lizard Tropidurus umbra lives on medium-sized trees in lowland tropical forest of the Amazon region. Individuals may be active on tree trunks in sun or shade, with most activity occurring from 11:00 to 13:00. Body temperatures average 29.1 °C. The diet consists nearly exclusively of ants and there is no relationship between prey size and lizard size. Females reach sexual maturity at 79 mm snout–vent length (SVL) and males at 78 mm SVL. Although there appears to be no sexual dimorphism in SVL, males have relatively larger heads than females. Clutch size is usually two eggs and females appear to produce more than one clutch per season. Comparisons with other studied tropidurid lizards suggest that dietary specialization on ants, reduced sexual dimorphism, and reduced clutch size are derived characters.

Life at the interface: ecology of Prionodactylus oshaughnessyi in the western Amazon and comparisons with P. argulus and P. eigenmanni

2003 ◽  
Vol 81 (2) ◽  
pp. 302-312 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laurie J Vitt ◽  
Teresa Cristina S. Avila-Pires ◽  
Peter A Zani ◽  
Maria Cristina Espósito ◽  
Shawn S Sartorius
Keyword(s):  
Rain Forest ◽  
Null Model ◽  
Prey Type ◽  
Microhabitat Use ◽  
Body Temperatures ◽  
Insect Larvae ◽  
Ambient Temperatures ◽  
Forest Sites ◽  
Amazonian Rain Forest ◽  
Arboreal Habitat

The gymnophthalmid lizard Prionodactylus oshaughnessyi was studied at two Amazonian rain-forest sites. These lizards live at the interface of the terrestrial habitat and arboreal habitat, are active throughout the day at relatively low body temperatures, and maintain body temperatures (29.0 ± 0.34°C) slightly higher than ambient temperatures. Grasshoppers and crickets, roaches, insect larvae, and spiders dominate their carnivorous diet. Sexual size dimorphism is not apparent but differences in coloration and relative head size exist, with males having brighter and more vivid coloration and a relatively larger head. Differences in activity time, prey type, prey size, and microhabitat use exist between populations. A comparison of three species of Prionodactylus from Amazonian rain forest revealed some ecological similarity. However, differences in microhabitat use and diet exist. Differences in Baupläne were consistent with differences in microhabitat use. Dietary overlaps were relatively low; nevertheless, diets of the Prionodactylus species were more similar to each other than expected, based on a null model analysis in which a sampling of all diets was used for comparison.

Inheritance of Some Morphological Characteristics of Parental Lines in Mustard-Rape Hybrid

2020 ◽  
pp. 23-30
Keyword(s):  
First Generation ◽  
Agronomic Traits ◽  
Morphological Characteristics ◽  
Morphological Characters ◽  
Hybrid Plant ◽  
Distant Hybridization ◽  
Degree Of Dominance ◽  
Whole Plant ◽  
Row Width ◽  
The Difference

Distant hybridization is known to play an important role in expanding the gene pool of any crop. It is believed that the combination of different genomes in one nucleus, as a rule, is accompanied by the phenomenon of “genomic shock”, resulting in a variety of genetic and epigenetic changes. This provides a wealth of material for the selection of genotypes adapted to different environmental conditions. Interspecific hybrids in different combinations were obtained in the genus Brassica, however, until now, interest in distant hybridization in this genus has not died out, since such important crops as rapeseed and mustard demand an improvement of many important agronomic traits. The aim of this work was to study the degree of manifestation of morphological characters of a leaf, flower, and plant as a whole in the hybrid obtained by crossing of brown mustard of the variety Slavyanka and a collection specimen of spring rape. Seeds were sown in the spring of 2019 in a field with 30 cm row width. During the flowering period a number of morphological characters of a flower, leaf, and the whole plant were analyzed. Each parameter was evaluated with 10 plants. The degree of dominance in first-generation hybrid was calculated by the formula of Beil, Atkins (1965). The dominance coefficients were not determined in the case when the difference between the parental samples was insignificant. Differences between parental samples were determined by Student t-test. The level of heterosis was calculated according to the formula of Rasul et al (2002). In a mustard-rapeseed hybrid, the size of the leaves of the lower row was inherited by the type of rapeseed, which had larger leaves than mustard. The height of the hybrid plant was inherited by the type of mustard (hp = 1.32, Ht = 4.89%), and intermediate inheritance was observed for the length of the internodes (hp = -0.48). The size of the flower petals and sepals was inherited by the type of rapeseed, and significant heterosis was observed for the length of the pistil (Ht = 33.57%). The data obtained are of interest for understanding the interaction of genes of different genomes in the genus Brassica.

scholarly journals Morphometry and Phylogeny of the Different Populations of Selaginella tamariscina (P. Beauv.) Spring and S. pulvinata (Hook. & Grev.) Maxim. in Northern Thailand

2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Udon Pongkawong ◽  
◽  
Jatupol Kampuansai ◽  
Rossarin Pollawatn ◽  
Arunothai Jampeetong ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Phylogenetic Analysis ◽  
Southern China ◽  
Phylogenetic Analyses ◽  
Dna Barcode ◽  
Morphological Characteristics ◽  
Taxonomic Status ◽  
Morphological Characters ◽  
The Philippines ◽  
Northern Thailand ◽  
Selaginella Tamariscina

Abstract “Dok Hin” is the Thai local name for Selaginella species that form rosettes. They commonly distributes in Siberia, Manchuria, southern China, Japan, the Philippines and Thailand. Morphology of Dok Hin is very resemble leading to misidentification. So, exactly number of species of Dok Hin in Thailand and their differences in morphological characteristics is not well understood. Thus, revision of morphological characters and phylogenetic confirmation of the taxonomic identification are needed. This study aims to examine morphological charateristics and phylogenetic patterns in eight populations of the Dok Hin in Northern Thailand. Morphology of Dok Hin from each populations was quantitatively examined using 15 vegetative and 6 reproductive characters meanwhile phylogenetic analyses was explored by DNA barcode ITS2. The results of the phylogenetic analysis revealed the existence of two species of Dok Hin, S. tamariscina and S. pulvinata. Selaginella tamariscina can be distinguished from S. pulvinata by its presence of a pseudotrunk above ground and ridges of dorsal leaves. On the other hand, the results of phylogenetic analysis indicated the differences among populations of S. pulvinata as well. Chiang Mai populations of S. pulvinata was characterized by peculiar set of characters long leaves and leaf apices look like caudate, while the rest of their populations have shorter leaves and leaf apices look like aristate. It indicates that S. pulvinata has genetic and phenotypic divergence among populations. However, additional studies of Dok Hin populations in other parts of Thailand and studies on different genetic markers are necessary to confirm the taxonomic status of S. pulvinata. Keywords: Dok Hin, Morphometric, Phylogeny, Pseudotrunk, Resurrection plant

scholarly journals Gübrelemenin Kayacık (Ostrya carpinifolia Scop.) Fidanlarının Morfolojik Gelişimine Etkisi

2016 ◽  
Vol 4 (10) ◽  
pp. 813 ◽  
Author(s):  
Şemsettin Kulaç ◽  
Özge Yıldız
Keyword(s):  
Morphological Characteristics ◽  
Vegetation Period ◽  
Morphological Characters ◽  
Morphological Development ◽  
Compound Fertilizer ◽  
Seedling Length ◽  
Collar Diameter ◽  
Root Collar ◽  
Ostrya Carpinifolia ◽  
Made In

In this study, in order to help the mass production of seedlings, the effect of fertilization on the morphological development of hornbeam leafy European hophornbeam (Ostry carpinifolia Scop) seedlings were investigated. For this, seedlings, which were obtained from the seeds coming from different European hophornbeam populations (Düzce-Yığılca, Antalya-Finike, Antalya-Akseki, Kastamonu-Şehdağ ve Adana-Saimbeyli) from various parts of Turkey, were used. European hophornbeam seedlings were treated with different fertilizers, including urea, ammonium sulphate, compound fertilizer 15-15-15 and 20-20-0, and 6-9 months Osmocote release fertilizer, and effects of these fertilizers on the morphological characters were investigated. Fertilization contained the same amount of nitrogen, and was made in three different ways; (1) mixing with habitat, (2) topical application and (3) liquid application. The development of germinated European hophornbeam seeds, which were spring-sowed in the same medium were monitored during the vegetation period. At the end of vegetation period, seedlings were removed from the soil and morphological characteristics of root (seedling length, root collar diameter, root length, fresh root and stem weight of the seedlings, dried root and stem weight of the seedlings and bud number) were measured. As a result, it was observed that fertilization positively affects the development of seedlings and depending on the fertilization type the seedlings of European hophornbeam populations were found to exhibit different improvements/growing. In addition, 6-9 months Osmocote release fertilizers were determined to be the best fertilizers affecting the morphological (diameter and height) development of European hophornbeam populations effectively, and among the populations, Düzce and Kastamonu populations showed the best improvement/growing.

scholarly journals Morphological correlates of prey consumed by Podarcis melisellensis (Braun, 1877) and P. siculus (Rafinesque, 1810) (Sauria, Lacertidae) from two mainland regions in the eastern Adriatic area

2013 ◽  
Vol 65 (3) ◽  
pp. 1015-1025
Author(s):  
S.Z. Stamenkovic ◽  
Rada Matic
Keyword(s):  
Resource Availability ◽  
Optimal Foraging ◽  
Morphological Traits ◽  
Prey Size ◽  
Morphological Characteristics ◽  
Optimal Foraging Theory ◽  
Variance Partitioning ◽  
Morphometric Data ◽  
Lizard Species ◽  
Trophic Resource

The correlation between trophic utilization and morphology was studied for two lizard species (Podarcis melisellensis and P. siculus) from two mainland localities in the eastern Adriatic area; this is the first report of trophic and morphometric data for P. melisellensis from mainland populations. Variance partitioning showed that most of the variation in morphological traits for the analyzed lizards was the result of differences between species, and to a lesser extent between sexes. Locality did not have a strong effect on the variation of morphological traits. Prey weight is the only characteristic of prey that generally exhibits correlations with morphological characteristics rather than prey size. The pattern of correlations is generally weaker for P. melisellensis than for P. siculus. Optimal foraging theory predictions were generally confirmed: P. siculus is more constrained by trophic resource availability, with a premium on larger and heavier prey consumed in the less productive locality (SM), which can be relaxed in more productive regions (KL). P. melisellensis shows such constraints only for males in the less productive region (SM). Females of both species consume heavier prey.

scholarly journals Study morphology of loquat plants (Eriobotrya Japonica Lindl.) from Karo, Dairi, and Simalungun Districts, North Sumatra

2021 ◽  
Vol 912 (1) ◽  
pp. 012103
Author(s):  
Elimasni ◽  
R A Nasution
Keyword(s):  
Binary Data ◽  
Morphological Characteristics ◽  
Morphological Characters ◽  
Seed Morphology ◽  
Flowering Plant ◽  
Morphological Data ◽  
Eriobotrya Japonica ◽  
Morphological Observation ◽  
Limited Information ◽  
The Public

Abstract Abstrak. Loquat (Eriobotrya japonica Lindl.) is a flowering plant that belongs to the Rosacea family. The loquat has many health benefits. Cultivation and information about loquat plants in Indonesia are still limited, so they are rarely found and known by the public. Limited information and data regarding loquat plants is also an obstacle to the development of loquat plants. Research on loquat plants aims to analyze the morphological characters in three districts, namely, Karo, Dairi, and Simalungun districts. This research was conducted using a descriptive method. The analysis of the morphological characteristics of loquat plants using morphological data scoring into binary data. The similarity between individuals was analyzed using clusters with the NTSYS program version 2.0 with the UPGMA method of the SimQual function. Morphological Observation Results Loquat plants (Eriobotrya japonica Lindl.) in Karo, Dairi, and Simalungun Districts have uniform characters in the morphology of stems, leaves, and flowers. However, the observed fruit and seed morphology showed different characters. Different characters exist in the shape of the fruit and seeds. The morphological similarity level of loquat plants was grouped at a similarity coefficient value of 95%. Clusters I and II have the highest similarity with a coefficient value of 100%. Cluster III has the lowest similarity with a coefficient value of 97%.

The comparative ecology and evidence for resource partitioning in two pholidid fishes (Pisces: Pholididae) from southern British Columbia eelgrass beds

1985 ◽  
Vol 63 (1) ◽  
pp. 76-85 ◽  
Author(s):  
Grant W. Hughes
Keyword(s):  
British Columbia ◽  
Activity Patterns ◽  
Prey Type ◽  
Microhabitat Use ◽  
Similar Species ◽  
Intertidal Habitat ◽  
Comparative Ecology ◽  
Saanich Inlet ◽  
Breeding Habitats ◽  
Eelgrass Beds

A comparative analysis of the ecology of sympatrically occurring Pholis laeta and Pholis ornata was conducted in Saanich Inlet, British Columbia. Summer microhabitat use of eelgrass bed depths, intertidal habitat use, prey type, and characteristic location of prey taken differed in fish older than 1 year and may have facilitated the coexistence of these morphologically similar species. Prey sizes and activity patterns were similar between species. Winter segregation of the species during the breeding season may have reduced the possibility of hybridization. Competition for breeding habitats and differences in trophic apparatus may partly explain the observed patterns of resource use.

Geographic variation in body size of American mink ( Mustela vison ) / Variation géographique de la taille du corps chez le vison d'Amérique ( Mustela vison )

Mammalia ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 70 (1-2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard T. Stevens ◽  
Michael L. Kennedy
Keyword(s):  
Body Size ◽  
American Mink ◽  
Size Variation ◽  
Mustela Vison ◽  
Morphological Characters ◽  
Geographic Proximity ◽  
Multivariate Statistical ◽  
Components Analysis ◽  
Individual Variables ◽  
Variation Géographique

AbstractSpatial variation in 26 morphological characters of American mink ( Mustela vison ) from 35 localities in North America was investigated using univariate and multivariate statistical analyses. Localities were chosen based on watersheds, and it was hypothesized that high levels of gene flow in minks would prevent partitioning of body size variation within watersheds. All 26 characters in males and 25 of 26 in females exhibited significant interlocality variation. The patterns of variation in body size resulting from principal components analysis indicated that, for both sexes, minks were largest in Alaska, Manitoba, and Alberta; smallest minks were found in Florida and Quebec. There did not appear to be a relationship between body size and geographic proximity. Environmental factors collectively were found to be related to body size, although individual variables were not typically significant. Of 16 environmental variables examined, only longitude was correlated with body size in both sexes, with largest minks in the west and smallest in the east. Latitude was also correlated with body size in females. It was concluded that variation in body size of mink was likely the result of more than one factor that includes both biotic and abiotic features.

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