The freshwater crocodile inhabiting Papua New Guinea, currently recognized as Crocodylus novaeguineae, exhibits morphological, molecular, and ecological divergence between the northern southern versants of Central Highlands occupies separate evolutionary trajectories. A robust body work has long encouraged formal description Guinea crocodiles from versant highlands a distinct lineage with taxonomy that reflects diagnosed relationships. Here, we use geometric morphometric techniques to assess...

Areas of endemism have been recognized as important units in historical biogeography, and much attention has given to methods identifying these operationally. Interestingly, little written about the philosophical nature areas endemism. The purpose this essay is make an ontological argument for individuals discuss consequences such a conclusion. recognition species crucial argument. Several criteria are identified entities be considered individuals, all which shown An concept area presented....

Abstract Crocodilians comprise an ancient and successful lineage of archosaurs that repeatedly raises questions on how they survived a mass extinction remained relatively unchanged for ~100 million years. Was their success due to the change‐resistant retention specific set traits over time (phylogenetic conservatism) or flexible, generalist capabilities (e.g., catholic diets, phenotypic plasticity in behavior), some combination these? We examined evolution reproductive ecology behavior...

Abstract Understanding how biological patterns translate into functional processes across different scales is a central question in ecology. Within spatial context, extent used to describe the overall geographic area of study, whereas grain describes unit observation. This study aimed characterize snake skin microbiota (grain) and determine host–microbial assemblage–pathogen effects extents within Southern United States. The causative agent fungal disease, Ophidiomyces ophiodiicola, pathogen...

Abstract Evolvability has become an enormously popular concept in evolutionary biology and machine learning software architecture. While it is claimed that the term was coined 1988 by Richard Dawkins, used as early 1931 a characteristic of life John A. Thomson. We quote review earliest uses definitions evolvability biological frameworks up until 1989, which are remarkably few. The meaning changed from simply “ability to evolve” various versions including necessary variation predict whether...

Capsule: Whinchat Saxicola rubetra foraging behaviour was significantly influenced by habitat structure and grazing.Aims: To assess how habitats selected breeding Whinchats differed from wider territory attributes under contrasting grazing management in multiple upland areas Scotland: principally sheep grazed, Red Deer grazed or ungrazed, to identify differing land use may limit suitable areas.Methods: We compared fine-scale vegetation patches chosen for regimes.Results: were less likely...

The events during the pathogenesis of chicken anemia virus (CAV) infection following intramuscular (IM) and oral inoculation were further elucidated compared by sequential clinical, pathologic, morphometric histopathologic evaluations, determination CAV genome concentrations in different organs. Specific-pathogen-free chickens inoculated IM or routes with same dose (2 x 10(6) mean tissue culture infective [TCID50]) isolate 03-4876 at 1 day age. Weights hematocrits obtained 7, 10, 14, 18, 21,...

This study uses the American Alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) to assess use of reproductive allometry as a tool infer crocodilian population marginality based on conformation advantageous life-history strategies. It is hypothesized that allometry, morphometric relationship between mother's size and her output, varies intraspecifically populations this variation reflects size, stress, temporal exploitation, habitat fragmentation, and/or presence social hierarchy. hypothesis tested using...

A male-biased sex ratio of 3:1 has been reported for a population American crocodiles (Crocodylus acutus) in the Tempisque River Basin, Guanacaste, Costa Rica. If confirmed, this would constitute one largest ratios any member genus Crocodylus. Here, we examine aforementioned C. acutus and report on hatchling, juvenile, adult age classes within sample 474 captured Basin between May 2012 June 2014. Hatchling is exceptionally male biased (3.5:1), an imbalance that maintained juveniles but...

Abstract The kidneys of the Mediterranean Gecko, Hemidactylus turcicus (Gekkonidae), were investigated using light and electron microscopy with primary focus placed on morphology sexual segment kidney. nephrons male H. are composed five distinct regions: 1) a renal corpuscle glomerulus, 2) proximal convoluted tubule, 3) an intermediate segment, 4) distal 5) kidney/collecting duct. Female is similar but lack kidney hypertrophied during months March through August, which corroborates previous...

Recent interest in diagnoses and relationships between lineages of the alligator snapping turtle (Macrochelys temminckii) present conflicting patterns molecular variation across taxon's range. This study uses geometric morphometric techniques to test hypotheses. We analyse cranial amongst populations (i.e. drainages) with hypothesis that turtles recovered as monophyletic by previous studies are more similar each other shape. Dorsal, lateral ventral shape analyses corroborate uniqueness...

Abstract Stream fish diversity is threatened by anthropogenic environmental alterations to landscapes, and successful conservation requires knowledge of the processes that degrade diversity. A primary step in identifying losses comparison between historical contemporary states landscapes assemblages, but uncertainty remains regarding appropriate spatial scales investigation. Historical data collected 1976 were paired with two years replication (2015, 2016) assess change at 10 sites Blackburn...

Gladwyn Kingsley Noble was the first investigator to collectively examine courtship glands and correlate their function tail-straddling walk in plethodontid salamanders. While mental caudal have received majority of attention since Noble's seminal work, described other from Eurycea bislineata that were putatively involved little or no (e.g., at temporal regions heads males). Previous studies demonstrated males enlarge during mating season some indicated enlargement because previously glands;...

Anthropogenic alterations of the environment have increased, highlighting need for human–wildlife coexistence and conflict mitigation. Spatial ecology, use passive satellite movement technology in particular, has been used to identify patterns as a function shared resources that present potential dangerous situations. Here, we aim remotely indicative human–crocodile Guanacaste, Costa Rica by exploring site fidelity diverse modes (i.e., land water) across space between nuisance (relocated)...

Functional nephrons of the kidney with secondary sexual function are rare in vertebrates and descriptions these structures do not unequivocally conclude that they aid reproduction. This statement holds true for collecting ducts pelvic kidneys male salamanders, which appear to synthesize abundant secretory material during times reproductive activity. To indirectly test hypothesis salamanders indeed structures, we investigated correlation duct activity seasonal growth cycles three known...

The behavioral variation in alligator nest attendance has characterized the species as iconic common lore and perplexed biologists for decades. Here, we quantify patterns among mothers well such throughout two nesting seasons. We employed camera traps controlled by circuit boards to capture time-lapse photographs of areas duration each season. Data revealed a bimodal pattern over time that significantly varied across incubation days both 2011 2012, also differed between years. Nest hours...

The harvest and incubation of American Alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) eggs is an important component to the commercial alligator industry in southeastern United States. As a result, various methodologies have been used monitor populations including abundance counts, stress quantification, nesting surveys. Past studies dismissed importance egg shape crocodilians, Squamates, turtles deemed birds other amniotes as similar, relation functionality. complexity crocodilian has examined,...