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Micronutrients applied as nanoparticles of metal oxides have shown efficacy in vegetable and other crops for improving yield and reducing Fusarium diseases, but their role in ornamental crop management has not been investigated. In 2017, 2018, and 2020, nanoparticles of CuO, Mn2O3, or ZnO were foliarly applied at 500 mug/mL (0.6 mg/plant) to chrysanthemum transplants and planted in potting soil noninfested or infested with Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. chrysanthemi. An untreated control and a commercial fungicide, Fludioxonil, was also included. Chrysanthemums treated with nanoscale CuO had a 55, 30, and 32% reduction in disease severity ratings compared to untreated plants in 2017, 2018, and 2020, respectively. Specifically, the average dry biomass for the three years was reduced 22% by disease, but treatment with nanoscale CuO led to a 23% increase when compared to controls. Similar trends with plant height were observed. Horticultural quality was improved 28% with nano CuO and was equal to the fungicide. Nanoscale Mn2O3 and the fungicide did not consistently reduce disease ratings or increase dry biomass each year. Nanoscale ZnO was ineffective. Nanoscale CuO-treated plants had 24 to 48% more Cu/g tissue than controls (P < 0.001). These findings agree with past reports on food crops where single applications of nanoscale CuO improved plant health, growth, and yield and could offer significant impacts for managing plant diseases on ornamentals.

When restoring gene flow for conservation management, genetic variation should be viewed along a continuum of genetic divergence between donor and recipient populations. On the one hand, maintaining local adaptation (low divergence between donors and recipients) can enhance conservation success in the short term. On the other hand, reducing local adaptation in the short term by increasing genetic diversity (high divergence between some donors and recipients) might have better long-term success in the face of changing environmental conditions. Both Hoffman et al. (2020) and a paper we previously published in a Special Issue on Maladaptation in Applied Conservation (Derry et al., 2019) provide frameworks and syntheses for how best to apply conservation strategies in light of genetic variation and adaptation. A key difference between these two studies was that whereas Derry et al. (2019) performed a quantitative meta-analysis, Hoffman et al. (2020) relied on case studies and theoretical considerations, yielding slightly different conclusions. We here provide a summary of the two studies and contrast of the main similarities and differences between them, while highlighting terminology used to describe and explain main concepts. © 2021 The Authors. Evolutionary Applications published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd

Fish and wildlife agencies produce a bounty of information aimed at the public. Under the right circumstances, that information can be compiled into scientifically useful data to complement full scientific studies. This poster describes some preliminary results from a project to compile mentions of gamefish species, locations, and sizes throughout the Long Island Sound and surrounding waters from the Weekly Fishing Report (2006, 2008-2018) and the Trophy Fish Report (2009-2017), both produced by the Connecticut Dept. of Energy and Environmental Protection. The dataset consists of more than 20,000 entries from the reports collected weekly by DEEP employees from tackle shops and charter companies. The current portion of the analysis is to determine the characteristics of the dataset, such as entry types, species counts, and some general trends. Presented at the 2019 NEAFWA Conference in Groton, CT and the 2019 CSCU Faculty Research Conference at SCSU in New Haven, CT.

As a fully aquatic mammal, the Florida manatee (Trichechus manatus latirostris) spends a limited amount of time at the water's surface. However, as a mammal that breathes air, they do need to filter, warm, and humidify that air, and anecdotal evidence indicates manatees have a sense of smell. This study characterized the nasal turbinate system, including identification of the olfactory epithelium, and compared it to other mammals using a combination of gross and micro-anatomic examination. Major turbinates were present, including nasal, maxillary, and ethmoturbinates, but with minimal convolution. The respiratory epithelium was found throughout much of the nasal cavity and covered maxillary and nasal turbinates, as well as the septum. Mucus-producing cells and cavernous veins were extensive. The olfactory epithelium was found in the dorsocaudal ethmoturbinates. As a herbivore that feeds predominantly underwater, the manatee likely relies on taste and touch for assessing food and, therefore, does not need to use smell in the same way as other marine mammals such as mysticetes (Bouchard et al., 2019) and pinnipeds (Kowalewsky et al., 2006). However, there are still substantial numbers of olfactory cells, especially considering the decreased amount of exposure time to odorants when breathing at the surface. Therefore, the question remains of why manatees have maintained their ability to smell while other fully aquatic species such as odontocetes have not. Future research should focus on a combination of behavioral and molecular techniques to fully understand the olfactory capabilities of the Florida manatee. © 2020, European Association for Aquatic Mammals.

Vineyards in the New England region of the USA were surveyed for the occurrence of grapevine viruses. A total of ten vineyards were visited and 62 composite samples of leaves with the petioles were collected from symptomatic grapevines (Vitis spp.). All of the samples were assayed by double-antibody sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (DAS-ELISA) using antibodies specific for four major grapevine leafroll-associated viruses (GLRaV-1, GLRaV-2, GLRaV-3, and GLRaV-4), grapevine fanleaf virus (GFLV), tobacco ringspot virus (TRSV), and tomato ringspot virus (ToRSV). Positive ELISA samples were further tested by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) with primers specific for each of the viruses to confirm the ELISA results. Twenty-two samples were infected with at least one of the viruses tested. GLRaV-3 (24.19%) was the most prevalent virus detected followed by GLRaV-1 (12.90%), ToRSV (3.23%), and GLRaV-2 and TRSV (1.61%). This is the first study reporting on the presence of grapevine viruses in New England. Extensive surveys need to be conducted to evaluate the prevalence and economic impact of these viruses on New England vineyards. © 2020 Elsevier Ltd

Recent work in Australia and Africa has shown that heterothermy is widespread among phylogenetically diverse tropical and subtropical mammalian taxa. However, data on the use of heterothermy by Neotropical mammals are relatively scant, and those studies that exist focus on insect-eating bats. We investigated the capacity of fruit-eating Neotropical bats to use heterothermy when exposed to acute cold temperatures, and compared this to previous data focused on insect-eating bats sampled from the same region and time of year. We measured rectal temperatures prior to acute cold exposure (1 hr at an air temperature of 6, 7, or 10°C), and again after exposure. Our data show considerable variation in the thermoregulatory patterns of Neotropical bats, and generally, our results show that smaller bats cool quicker and to a greater extent than larger bats. Our results highlight the importance of energy conservation even in environments in which resources are relatively abundant. © 2020 The Association for Tropical Biology and Conservation

The Florida manatee, Trichechus manatus latirostris, is a fully aquatic, threatened marine mammal for which increased understanding of their physiology, reproduction, and nutrition supports management decisions. Manatees may use taste to distinguish saltwater gradients, toxin detection, food assessment, and social interactions. This study sought to locate and characterize manatee taste buds comparing location, structure, number, and size to other species. Entire heads from manatees (6 males, 4 females) of various ages were obtained. The muzzle, tissue surrounding the nares, oral cavity, and epiglottis were examined grossly for pits and papillae. Tissues were examined using light and transmission electron microscopy. Within the predominant taste bud location, the tongue root, taste bud number was estimated using samples from four animals. The average number of taste buds within the tongue root was 11,534 (range 2,711–23,237) with sparse taste buds located on the soft palate and epiglottis. The location along the lateral surface of the tongue root and bordered by grooves, through which tastants could be easily transported, has functional significance. Large numbers of taste buds within the tongue root suggest that taste is an important component of manatee sensory systems and behavioral research would clarify this. © 2020 Society for Marine Mammalogy

The ED50 of a strain of Serratia marcescens for microinjected instar III and IV gypsy moth larvae was 7.5 and 14.5 viable cells, respectively. Percentage and rate of mortality were found to be highly variable among replicates of the same instar and between instars in free-feeding bioassays. Mortality in second instar larvae occurred before ecdysis, whereas practically no mortality occurred in third and fourth instars until the molting period. Neither Boivin endotoxin preparations nor culture filtrates were toxic to instar III larvae when administered per os or by microinjection. Histological evidence indicated that the microorganism invaded the hemocoel of healthy or predisposed insects through the gut wall. The rapid multiplication of the bacterium in the hemocoel of infected insects, followed by death in the absence of extensive tissue damage, indicated mortality was due to a septicemia. The histological and biological evidence presented indicated that the microorganism would be less than effective if utilized as a conventional microbial insecticide. © 1976.

A gram-negative bacillus, pathogenic for gypsy moth larvae, was characterized culturally, morphologically, and physiologically as a member of the Serratia group of the family Enterobacteriaceae. The microorganism lacked the pigmentation characteristic of the group but was generally distinguished from closely related members of the family by its inability to produce gas from glucose, inositol, glycerol, and cellobiose; its rapid liquefaction of gelatin; and its failure to ferment raffinose or arabinose. The microorganism displayed lecithinase, deoxyribonuclease, and chitinase activity. The percentage of G + C in DNA from this bacterium was within the range reported for known strains of Serratia marcescens. © 1976.

1. 1. The influence of thermal acclimation on cable constants of the median giant axon of earthworms, Lumbricus terrestris L., has been studied using standard intracellular stimulating and recording techniques. 2. 2. Acute cooling of axons from warm-acclimated worms resulted in changes in cable constants, some of which were partially compensated for (reversed) after cold acclimation. 3. 3. Of special interest is the relative behavior of specific axoplasm resistance in response to acute temperature change in warm- and cold-acclimated worms. 4. 4. The results suggest that thermal acclimation alters the properties of the axoplasm and that the resulting changes in cable constants contribute to compensatory adjustments in nerve conduction velocity after acclimation. © 1973.

Growth and survival of scaled sardine, Harengula pensacolae, larvae were evaluated in laboratory rearing experiments at temperatures ranging from 21 to 35 C. Fertilized eggs were obtained in plankton collections made near Miami, Florida, in summer 1971. Larvae were reared for 15 days after hatching in temperature-controlled, 75-liter aquaria. Hatching success was high at all temperatures but larvae did not survive at 35 C, and survival was poor at 21-23 C. Survival was best at temperatures between 26 and 32 C. Mean daily growth increments ranged from 0.056 mm at 21-23 C to 1.035 mm at 32 C. Growth in relation to temperature was expressed by the equation Y = -0.8474 + 0.0537X, where Y equals daily growth increment and X equals temperature. Larval behavior was normal at 26 to 33.5 C. Critical high and low temperatures for larval survival were 35 C and approximately 20 C. © 1972 by the American Fisheries Society.

The most commonly used measurement of radiation damage to seeds is seedling height, the mean height a lot of seeds attains at some time during exponential growth. If planted immediately post-irradiation, seeds of a dose lot give a normal height distribution, but if stored before planting give very abnormal and even bimodal height distributions. By within-seed comparisons of chromosome abnormality (from roots excised at 24-36 hr) with height (attained by 7-9 days) in irradiated barley seeds, it is shown that damage to height and to chromosomes are closely correlated, even within a treatment in which great heterogeneity occurs. The two effects have equal radiosensitivity, but different shoulders to their dose curves. Seedling height is not depressed until 25-30 per cent of the cells bear chromosomal abnormalities. The heterogeneity observed is not due to a between-seed heterogeneity in dose or in oxygen content, and probably not in moisture. These experiments show that the heterogeneity arises from factors that operate on post-irradiation (indirect) storage damage, but are without effect on during-irradiation damage (direct). © 1969 Pergamon Press Ltd.