Breeding territoriality plays a role in determining the reproduction outcome of many passerines species. The spot-mapping was used to estimate the breeding territory size of a territorial male of Oriental Magpie robin (Cospychus saularis) at Dahlia College, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak which is located within Kota Samarahan. It was conducted by mapping the song perching locations established by a marked male. The breeding territory size of the male was estimated to be 0.78 hectares. The data analysis was done using Minimum Convex Polygon (MCP) which was constructed by using Google Earth Pro software. Study on breeding territory size of this bird species is crucial to understand more regarding the breeding behaviour of this species. Data on the behavior of this species could be used for future studies of this bird in Borneo.
This article presents an overview of long acting products used in animal health, production
and reproduction. The topic represents a niche field of controlled release that few formulation scientists become specialists and experts in, but it is a field which has made significant contribution to the area of controlled release technology, and one which is of major importance to human kind due to their dependence on farmed animals as a source of hide, protein, milk and eggs.
Corticotomy is an essential procedure for deformity correction and there are many techniques described. However there is no proper classification of the fracture pattern resulting from corticotomies to enable any studies to be conducted. We performed a retrospective study of corticotomy fracture patterns in 44 patients (34 tibias and 10 femurs) performed for various indications. We identified four distinct fracture patterns, Type I through IV classification based on the fracture propagation following percutaneous corticotomy. Type I transverse fracture, Type II transverse fracture with a winglet, Type III presence of butterfly fragment and Type IV fracture propagation to a fixation point. No significant correlation was noted between the fracture pattern and the underlying pathology or region of corticotomy.
The fracture behaviour represents the most critical issue in the automotive and aerospace engine fields. Thus, the objective of this study was to estimate and analyze the crack criteria by using the
Mathematical laws that were limited in E 1820 standard and the results affirmed by applying the numerical solutions of ANSYS to estimate the fracture toughness value KIC, besides the energy release rate of biomass composite. The specimens were prepared from different percentage of kenaf mat (KM) and unsaturated polyester resin (UP) 20% KM – 80% UP and 40% KM – 60% UP, respectively, as well the other composite properties which were calculated using the stress-strain data. The fracture characterizations of this composite were carried out using the compact tension (CT) specimen that was commonly used to determine Mode-I fracture properties. The fracture toughness has been found to be independent of pre-crack length. Meanwhile, the tests were performed at room temperature. The numerical simulations of the ANSYS model results demonstrated a good agreement between the experiments computed results of the fracture toughness. The fracture toughness KIC of 20% KM – 80% UP and 40% KM – 60% UP was equivalent to 0.76 MPa√m and 2.0 MPa√m, respectively. Thus, the fracture propagation is dependent on the fibre percentage of the composite. On the other hand, there are unlimited mechanisms of crack paths derived from randomly kenaf mat packs, particularly in the frontal process zone of crack tip.
The effect of maternal mowing on seed traits of an invasive weed, Erigeron annuus, in farmland was discussed by
comparing mowing plants with intact (no-mowing) plants. The maternal mowing effect resulted in the decrease of seed
mass, achene size, pappus length and germination percentage and the increase of variation in achene size, pappus length,
dispersal distance and germination non-uniformity. To some extent, the individuals suffered mowing might accelerate
the environmental adaptation through the increase of these variations. Our study indicated the mean of mowing in
farmland will restrain the growth and reproduction of weed E. annuus. However, it also increases the diversity of seeds
through a more unequal provision to seeds that shares the risk and increases fitness to a wider range of heterogeneity
of farmland condition.
Growth performance, sexual reproduction and clonal propagation of I. japonica population in contrast reciprocal habitats; Open Area of Forest Edge (OAFE) and Bamboo Forest (BF) on Jinyun Mountain were studied to understand the adaptability of growth and reproductive of I. japonica in different habitats. The results were as follows: quantitative characteristics of growth and clonal propagation of I. japonica at genet (a group of genetically identical individuals, consists of whole ramets) level and at ramet (a unit composed of a shoot and root, with independent morphological and physiological traits in the same genet) level were higher in BF. However, quantitative characteristics of sexual reproduction at genet and ramet level were higher in OAFE. Biomass and allocation also showed the same trend as quantitative characteristics. Reproductive components (at ramet level) were significantly different and had trade- off in contrast reciprocal habitats. Allocation to clonal propagation and sexual reproduction of mother ramet was significantly negative correlation with allocation to daughter ramet (especially in BF). There was a trade-off between reproduction components (allocation to sexual reproduction and clonal propagation of mother ramet) in OAFE. Therefore, it showed predominantly sexual reproduction in OAFE and clonal propagation in BF. The results indicated that the contrast environmental stress shaping growth performance and reproduction variation of I. japonica in genet and ramet level in contrasting habitats might pronounce adaptive population differentiation among forest habitats.
A reciprocal transplant-replant experiment was carried out to investigate the clonal plasticity and local specialization of OAFE population (O type) and BF population (U type) of a clonal rhizome herb Iris japonica in contrasting reciprocal heterogeneous habitats on Jinyun Mountain. U Population had better performance of plant size and clonal propagation (including allocation to clonal propagation, daughter ramet and fine rhizome) in different reciprocal heterogeneous habitats than O population. Both the population origin and reciprocal spatial heterogeneous habitat had effects on clonal ramets and biomass of clonal components of experimental plants. The plasticity of clonal growth had difference in clonal components to balance High light-Low soil resources (water) (HL) or Low light-High soil resources (LH) due to the ecological isolation of the two I. japonica populations. Our findings indicated that two major types of patterns of spatial covariance of resources can have different effects on the growth and local variation of clonal plants.
A study was conducted to investigate the duration of growth stages and flowering behaviour of a landscape tree,
Xanthostemon chrysanthus (F. Muell.) Benth. This species is known as golden penda and locally known as jambu kuning.
It is widely planted for urban beautification due to its distinctive coloured flowers. Under local climate condition, this
species flowers throughout the year. However, the flowering of this species has not been studied extensively. In the present
study, the growth of selected trees aged approximately six years after planting was monitored for a year. The growth
duration was determined using the extended Biologishe Bundesanstalt, Bundessortenamt and Chemical Industry (BBCH)
scale. Percentages of flower and fruit and new leaf abundances were expressed as estimated percentage of each stage as
compared to total surface area of the tree crown. The vegetative and reproductive stages of the species required 198 and
176 days, respectively. The flowering period took about 40 days from inflorescence bud swelling to drying and senescence
of stamens and petals. Unsynchronized flowering was observed among the trees. The occurrence of flowers was also
influenced by the development of new leaves or fruits. The information on the duration of each growth stage and the
flowering behaviour of the species may enhance a more detailed study related to flowering of urban trees in Malaysia.
Ganoderma boninense, the causal agent of basal stem rot (BSR) disease, has been recognized as a major economic threat to commercial plantings of oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) in Southeast Asia, which supplies 86% of the world's palm oil. High genetic diversity and gene flow among regional populations of 417 G. boninense isolates collected from Sabah, Sarawak, and Peninsular Malaysia (Malaysia) and Sumatra (Indonesia) were demonstrated using 16 microsatellite loci. Three genetic clusters and different admixed populations of G. boninense across regions were detected, and they appeared to follow the spread of the fungus from the oldest (Peninsular Malaysia and Sumatra) to younger generations of oil palm plantings (Sabah and Sarawak). Low spatial genetic differentiation of G. boninense (FST = 0.05) among the sampling regions revealed geographically nonrestricted gene dispersal, but isolation by distance was still evident. Analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) confirmed the little to no genetic differentiation among the pathogen populations and the three genetic clusters defined by STRUCTURE and minimum spanning network. Despite G. boninense being highly outcrossing and spread by sexual spores, linkage disequilibrium was detected in 7 of the 14 populations. Linkage disequilibrium indicated that the reproduction of the fungus was not entirely by random mating and genetic drift could be an important structuring factor. Furthermore, evidence of population bottleneck was indicated in the oldest oil palm plantations as detected in genetic clusters 2 and 3, which consisted mainly of Peninsular Malaysia and Sumatra isolates. The population bottleneck or founding event could have arisen from either new planting or replanting after the removal of large number of palm hosts. The present study also demonstrated that migration and nonrandom mating of G. boninense could be important for survival and adaptation to new palm hosts.
Menstruation is arguably the first stage in a woman's reproductive cycle. Among the Temiar, as in many other traditional societies, menstruation represents a time during which a woman is considered to be vulnerable or polluted and there may be food or behavior avoidances and restrictions. The Temiar is one of the eighteen indigenous sub-ethnic groups in Peninsular Malaysia. The objective of this study was to examine the food restrictions and taboos imposed on menstruating Temiar women. A total of 38 participants from four different locations took part in five focus group discussions which represents different lifestyle experiences of the Temiar sub-ethnic group. The findings unfolds many practices: foods to be avoided and spirit in the landscape in order to protect the menstruating woman; isolating the menstruating woman in order to protect the community; consequences of not observing the menstruation food taboos and maintenance of the menstrual taboos. The menstruating women in all locations were prohibited from consuming salt, cooking oils, wild or domesticated animals, and Monosodium glutamate to protect themselves from the excessive flow of menstrual blood and future ill-health. They must eat separately from others because they are deemed polluted and dangerous to the community. The study concludes that the taboos directed towards the menstruating women often do have a caring and protective intention. Menstrual restrictions function not only to protect the menstruating women and the community but also to keep intact the symbolic boundary between human and the non-human world from which disease and weakness comes.
Body size influences many life-history traits, with small-bodied animals tending to have short life spans, high mortality and greater reproductive effort early in life. In this study, the authors investigated the life-history traits and reproductive strategies of three small-bodied coral reef gobies of the genus Trimma: Trimma benjamini, Trimma capostriatum and Trimma yanoi. The authors found all Trimma species studied attained a small body size of <25 mm, had a short life span of <140 days and experienced high estimated daily mortality of 3.0%-6.7%. Furthermore, the pelagic larval phase accounted for 25.3%-28.5% of the maximum life span, and maturation occurred between 74.1 and 82.1 days at 15.2-15.8 mm, leaving only 35%-43% of the total life span as a reproductively viable adult. All mature individuals had gonad structures consistent with bidirectional sex change, with bisexual gonads including both ovarian and testicular portions separated by a thin wall of connective tissue. In the female and male phases, only ovaries or testes were mature, whereas gonadal tissue of the non-active sex remained. One T. benjamini individual and one T. yanoi individual had ovarian and testicular tissue active simultaneously. The results of this study highlight the life-history challenges small CRFs face on their path to reproduction and reproductive strategies that could be beneficial in fishes with high and unpredictable mortality and short reproductive life spans.
Asymmetric body traits in bilateral organisms are common and serve a range of different functions. In crustaceans, specifically among brachyuran crabs, heterochely and handedness in some species are known to aid in behavioural responses such as food acquisition, and sexual and territorial displays. However, the heterochely of the intertidal mud crab genus Scylla is still poorly understood. This study investigated the cheliped morphometric characteristics of orange mud crab Scylla olivacea and the relation of heterochely and handedness to sex. Scylla olivacea is heterochelous, with predominant right-handed (70.2%). Three morphometric variables, i.e., propodus length (PL), propodus depth (PD), and propodus width (PW) were significantly larger in the right cheliped and the estimated handedness based on these three variables were consistent with the presence of molariform teeth. The effect of sex had no influence on the occurrence of heterochely or handedness. The frequency of left-handedness increased with size, especially in males. We postulate that handedness reversal, a phenomenon seen in other crab species when the dominant hand is lost, also occurs in S. olivacea, thereby resulting in a change in left-handedness frequency. The use of chelipeds by males in mate and territorial defenses might provide an explanation for the higher risk of losing a dominant cheliped and thus, higher left-handedness frequency compared to females. Future behavioural research could shed light on the selective forces that affect the handedness distribution in mud crabs. Knowledge on heterochely and handedness of mud crabs could be useful for future development of less aggressive crab populations by claw reversal and the optimisation of limb autotomy techniques.
17beta-estradiol (E2) is a female hormone which is known to be one of the strongest estrogenic chemicals in the environment. The present study investigated the effects of E2 on the reproduction of the estuarine fish, Java-medaka (Oryzias javanicus). Starting from the embryonic stages, Java-medaka was exposed for 6 months to 9.5, 16, 68, 159 and 243 ng/l of E2. The fecundity of Java-medaka exposed to E2 levels >16 ng/l was significantly lower than that of the control. The appearance of secondary sexual characteristics seemed to be inhibited by exposure to 159 and 243 ng/l E2. Vitellogenin concentrations in the liver of male fish exposed to 68, 159 and 243 ng/l were significantly higher than that of the control. Thirty-three and sixty percent of male fishes exposed to 159 and 243 ng/l, respectively, had testis-ova. These results suggest that reproduction in the Java-medaka, especially the male fish, could be affected by exposure to E2 concentrations greater than 16 ng/l.
Kisspeptins encoded by the kiss1 and kiss2 genes play an important role in reproduction through the stimulation of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) secretion by activating their receptors (KissR1 EU047918 and KissR2 EU047917). To understand the mechanism through which temperature affects reproduction, we examined kiss1 and kiss2 and their respective receptor (kissr1 and kissr2) gene expression in the brain of male zebrafish exposed to a low temperature (15°C), normal temperature (27°C), and high temperature (35°C) for 7-days. kiss1 mRNA levels in the brain were significantly increased (2.9-fold) in the low temperature compared to the control (27°C), while no noticeable change was observed in the high temperature conditions. Similarly, kissr1 mRNA levels were significantly increased (1.5-2.2-folds) in the low temperature conditions in the habenula, the nucleus of the medial longitudinal fascicle, oculomotor nucleus, and the interpeduncular nucleus. kiss2 mRNA levels were significantly decreased (0.5-fold) in the low and high temperature conditions, concomitant with kissr2 mRNA levels (0.5-fold) in the caudal zone of the periventricular hypothalamus and the posterior tuberal nucleus. gnrh3 but not gnrh2 mRNA levels were also decreased (0.5-fold) in the low and high temperature conditions. These findings suggest that while the kiss1/kissr1 system is sensitive to low temperature, the kiss2/kissr2 system is sensitive to both extremes of temperature, which leads to failure in reproduction.
Pollinator syndrome is one of the most important determinants regulating pollen dispersal in tropical tree species. It has been widely accepted that the reproduction of tropical forest species, especially dipterocarps that rely on insects with weak flight for their pollination, is positively density-dependent. However differences in pollinator syndrome should affect pollen dispersal patterns and, consequently, influence genetic diversity via the mating process. We examined the pollen dispersal pattern and mating system of Shorea maxwelliana, the flowers of which are larger than those of Shorea species belonging to section Mutica which are thought to be pollinated by thrips (weak flyers). A Bayesian mating model based on the paternity of seeds collected from mother trees during sporadic and mass flowering events revealed that the estimated pollen dispersal kernel and average pollen dispersal distance were similar for both flowering events. This evidence suggests that the putative pollinators - small beetles and weevils - effectively contribute to pollen dispersal and help to maintain a high outcrossing rate even during sporadic flowering events. However, the reduction in pollen donors during a sporadic event results in a reduction in effective pollen donors, which should lead to lower genetic diversity in the next generation derived from seeds produced during such an event. Although sporadic flowering has been considered less effective for outcrossing in Shorea species that depend on thrips for their pollination, effective pollen dispersal by the small beetles and weevils ensures outcrossing during periods of low flowering tree density, as occurs in a sporadic flowering event.
Knowledge about the timing and synchrony of coral spawning has important implications for both the ecology and management of coral reef ecosystems. Data on the timing of spawning and extent of synchrony, however, are still lacking for many coral reefs, particularly from equatorial regions and from locations within the coral triangle. Here we present the first documentation of a multi-species coral spawning event from reefs around Pulau Tioman, Peninsular Malaysia, a popular diving and tourist destination located on the edge of the coral triangle. At least 8 coral species from 3 genera (Acropora, Montipora and Porites) participated in multi-species spawning over five nights in April 2014, between two nights before and two nights after the full moon. In addition, two Acropora species were witnessed spawning one night prior to the full moon in October 2014. While two of the Acropora species that reproduced in April (A. millepora and A. nasuta) exhibited highly synchronous spawning (100% of sampled colonies), two other common species (A. hyacinthus and A. digitifera) did not contain visible eggs in the majority of colonies sampled (i.e., <15% of colonies) in either April or October, suggesting that these species spawn at other times of the year. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first detailed documented observation of multi-species coral spawning from reefs in Malaysia. These data provide further support for the contention that this phenomenon is a feature of all speciose coral assemblages, including equatorial reefs. More research is needed, however, to determine the seasonal cycles and extent of spawning synchrony on these reefs and elsewhere in Malaysia.
Two taxonomically undescribed Colocasiomyia species were discovered from inflorescences of Alocasia macrorrhizos in Kota Kinabalu City, Sabah, Borneo, Malaysia. The aims of this study were to investigate the reproductive ecology of the flies and the plant, ascertain the importance of the flies as pollinators and examine the intimate association between flowering events and life history of the flies. We conducted sampling, observations and field pollination experiments. The flies were attracted by the odour of female-phase inflorescences in the early morning on the first day of anthesis. They fed, mated and oviposited in the inflorescences for 1 day. On the second day, the flies, covered with pollen grains, left the male-phase inflorescences for the next female-phase inflorescences. The immature forms of both fly species hatched, developed and pupated within the infructescences without damaging the fruits, and developed adults emerged when the mature infructescences dehisced. The flowering events and fly behaviours were well synchronized. In field pollination experiments, inflorescences bagged with a fine mesh (insect exclusion) produced almost no fruits, whereas those bagged with a coarse mesh (bee exclusion) produced as many fruits as the open-pollinated controls. These results indicate that these flies are the most efficient and specialised pollinators for their host, A. macrorrhizos. These flies, in return, depend on A. macrorrhizos for food and habitat through most of their life cycle. This study provides a deeper insight into the less recognised, highly intimate pollination mutualism between Araceae plants and Colocasiomyia flies.
Etroplus suratensis, a southern Asian cichlid, has established populations in Singapore. The fish, which was first collected in 1995, was probably introduced via the aquarium trade or through the Johor River in Malaysia. The growth, feeding and reproductive characteristics were found to follow its ecology in its native range in southern Asia, and its establishment in Singapore could be due to the similarity in environment and availability of food. Changes in intestinal length indicated diet shifts from a predominantly herbivorous to an omnivorous one as it matured. Stomach contents did not provide comparable evidence. Diet similarity to two other introduced cichlids may imply that interspecies resource competition exists. Closer monitoring is needed to determine its effects on the local environment.
Love darts are hard 'needles' that many snails and slugs use to pierce their partner during mating. In a few species, darts have been shown to play a role in sperm competition. Two new papers, by Davison et al., and Koene and Schulenburg, might further pique researchers' interest, because they show how the full potential of darts can be tapped for studies of sexual selection in hermaphrodites.
Wolbachia is an alpha-proteobacterial symbiont widely distributed in arthropods. Since the identification of Wolbachia in certain animal-parasitic nematodes (the Onchocercidae or filariae), the relationship between arthropod and nematode Wolbachia has attracted great interest. The obligate symbiosis in filariae, which renders infected species susceptible to antibiotic chemotherapy, was held to be distinct from the Wolbachia-arthropod relationship, typified by reproductive parasitism. While co-evolutionary signatures in Wolbachia-arthropod symbioses are generally weak, reflecting horizontal transmission events, strict co-evolution between filariae and Wolbachia has been reported previously. However, the absence of close outgroups for phylogenetic studies prevented the determination of which host group originally acquired Wolbachia. Here, we present the largest co-phylogenetic analysis of Wolbachia in filariae performed to date including: (i) a screening and an updated phylogeny of Wolbachia; (ii) a co-phylogenetic analysis; and (iii) a hypothesis on the acquisition of Wolbachia infection. First, our results show a general overestimation of Wolbachia occurrence and support the hypothesis of an ancestral absence of infection in the nematode phylum. The accuracy of supergroup J is also underlined. Second, although a global pattern of coevolution remains, the signal is derived predominantly from filarial clades associated with Wolbachia in supergroups C and J. In other filarial clades, harbouring Wolbachia supergroups D and F, horizontal acquisitions and secondary losses are common. Finally, our results suggest that supergroup C is the basal Wolbachia clade within the Ecdysozoa. This hypothesis on the origin of Wolbachia would change drastically our understanding of Wolbachia evolution.