1,720,971 research outputs found
Morphometric analysis of the kingfisher cranium (AVES)
Full text linkThis study demonstrates that both size and shape are important components of the morphological differentiation of the skull of subfamilies of kingfishers. Our findings are in partial agreement with those of previous taxonomic studies on kingfishers. Alcedinids and Halcyon spp. have a very similar braincase. The similarity among crania of the Cerylidae and Alcedinidae are largely related to the shape of the bill and the morphology of the musculature, which are in turn related to similarities in feeding habits. Halcyon amauroptera has a highly divergent bill and cranial shape compared to species of the genus Halcyon
Analisi preliminari finalizzate alla redazione di un piano di gestione per il canneto (Phragmitetum vulgaris) nella Palude di Colfiorito (Umbria - Italia)
No full textPreliminary analyses aimed at the editing of a management plan for cane thicket (Phragmitetum vulgaris) in Colfiorito Marsh (Umbria - Italy) - Colfiorito Marsh is a wetland sited in the
Umbria-Marches Apennine ridge at 754 m a.s.l., subjected, during the last decades, to many changes in land mosaic composition and structure, linked almost to man land use. Cane thicket
(Phragmitetum vulgaris) actually represents the most spread ecosystem, tending to replace the original vegetation mosaic. The natural silting processes of water bodies and the socio-
economic processes leading to the abandonment of wet and marshy meadows mowing are causing a quick expansion of cane thicket that is likely to determine heavy modifications of botanic and faunistic components. For this reason “Colfiorito Regional Park” has charged University of Camerino to develop a preliminary analysis to define the need to elaborate a
management plan for the plant community dominated by ditch reed (Phragmites australis), determining its optimal status to preserve biodiversity. The studies carried out emphasized the
need to actively manage cane-thicket and led to the formulation of a series of management guidelines
Comparison Between Two Different Methods for EvaluatingRumen Papillae Measures Related to Different Diets
No full textAlthough the Geographical Information System (GIS), which integrates computerized
drawing computer assisted design (CAD) and relational databases (data base management
system (DBMS)), is best known for applications in geographical and planning cartography, it can
also use many kinds of information concerning the territory. A multidisciplinary project was initiated
since 5 years a multidisciplinary study was initiated to use GIS to integrate environmental
and ecological data with findings on animal health, ethology, and anatomy. This study is chiefly
aimed at comparing two different methods for measuring the absorptive surface of rumen papillae.
To this scope, 21 female sheep (Ovis aries) on different alimentary regimes (e.g., milk and forage
mixed diet, early herbaceous diet, dry hay diet, and fresh hay diet at the maximum of pasture flowering
and at the maximum of pasture dryness) were used; after slaughtering, 20 papillae were randomly
removed from each sample collected from four indicator regions of rumen wall, placed near a
metric reference and digitally photographed. The images were developed with the ArcGISTM software
to calculate the area of rumen papillae by means of GIS and to measure their mid-level width
and length to calculate the papillae area as previously performed with a different method. Spatial
measurements were analyzed using univariate and multivariate methods. This work demonstrates
that the GIS methodology can be efficiently used for measuring the absorptive surface of rumen
papillae. In addition, GIS demonstrated to be a rapid, precise, and objective tool when compared
with previously used method
Approccio geosinfitosociologico alla definizione della carrying capacity potenziale degli ecosistemi forestali dell’Appennino centrale nei confronti del capriolo (Capreolus capreolus L.)
Full text linkAn intense debate is developed on the opportunity and the possibility to realize a system of representation of the ecosystems as fundamental element for the territorial planning, the sustainable
development, the management of the habitats and animal communities. This work is aimed to the definition of the theoretical carrying capacity of the more diffused forest ecosystems in the Province of Macerata by means of the analysis
of the edible phytomass from the roe deer in the winter period, corresponding to the vegetative stasis. For the evaluation of such availability, besides the floristic-structural characteristics of the forest ecosystems, it needs to know the length of the vegetative stasis period (related to every ecosystem and correlated to the bioclimatic peculiarities of the territory) as well as of the behavioural aspects in the assumption of food and the anatomical characteristics of alimentary tract of the studied kind. The analysis of the harvested phytomass (inside sample areas related to every forest ecosystem) has shown a notable variability in the quantity of edible phytomass within the considered forest ecosystems, testifying as a notable difference of vocation for the roe deer exists among different ecosystems
Going Beyond Counting First Authors in Author Co-citation Analysis
Full text linkThe present study examines one of the fundamental aspects of author co-citation analysis (ACA) - the way co-citation
counts are defined. Co-citation counting provides the data on which all subsequent statistical analyses and mappings
are based, and we compare ACA results based on two different types of co-citation counting - the traditional type that
only counts the first one among a cited work's authors on the one hand and a non-traditional type that takes into
account the first 5 authors of a cited work on the other hand. Results indicate that the picture produced through this non-traditional author co-citation counting contains more coherent author groups and is therefore considerably clearer. However, this picture represents fewer specialties in the research field being studied than that produced through the traditional first-author co-citation counting when the same number of top-ranked authors is selected and analyzed. Reasons for these effects are discussed
Biometrical study to evaluate the relationship between body parameters and winter feeding resources in central Italy Apennine roe deer population
No full textThe study analyses the biometrical data obtained from animals pertaining to class 0 (0-11 months) and 2 (over 2 years), in roe deer population of central Italy Apennine. The biometrical analysis was performed on body and cranial parameters of 234 roe deer obtained by selective shooting. For the mandible morphometric analysis, 58 samples were treated with the GeoGebra’s program. To evaluate the relationship between size/shape of body structure/parameters and the feeding resources available during the autumn-winter period, an environmental category (derived from the carrying capacity of forest ecosystems relative to the hunting zone/district) was attributed to each specimen. Statistical analysis was performed by ANOVA. Shape variables were generated using Generalized Procustes TPS Analysis program. In class 0 the analysis showed no significant differences neither between sex nor among environmental categories. In class 2 the analysis showed significant differences for four body parameters (but not for the cranial ones) between sex; among environmental categories the mandible length showed significant differences, in addition there is an increasing trend for tooth line and body weight from lower to higher environmental category. Males pertaining to class 2 showed an increasing trend in the tooth line related to environmental category; in females, this parameter had similar values in the different environmental categories, while the mandible length showed significant differences inversely linked to environmental category. Shape analysis showed a more open mandibular angle in class 0 subjects living in the hunting zone characterized by highest feeding resources; however, additional data occur to confirm this statement
Gut dysbiosis and irritable bowel syndrome: The potential role of probiotics
No full textObjective: To discuss the role of gut dysbiosis in the development of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and the impact of probiotics as a potential therapeutic measure. Methods: PubMed was used to search for all of the studies published over the last 15 years using the key words: “irritable bowel syndrome” and “gut dysbiosis” or “probiotic”. More than 800 articles were found, but only those published in English or providing evidence-based data were included in the evaluation. Results: IBS is a common disease for which no resolutive therapy is presently available. In recent years, strong evidence of a possible relationship between modifications of the gut microbiota composition and development of IBS has been collected. Moreover, the evidence showed that attempts to treat acute infectious and post-antibiotic gastroenteritis with some probiotics were significantly effective in a great number of patients, leading many experts to suggest the use of probiotics to address all of the clinical problems associated with IBS. Conclusion: The available data are promising, but presently, a precise definition of which probiotic or which mixture of probiotics is effective cannot be made. Moreover, the dose and duration of treatment has not been established. Finally, we do not know whether probiotic treatment should be different according to the type of IBS. Further studies are needed before probiotics can be considered a reliable treatment for IBS
Preliminary study on butterflies of the Colfiorito plateaus: Annifo plain and Colfiorito marsh (Lepidoptera).
No full textThe authors present the results of the first year of sampling that took place between April and September 2006 within the
catchment basin of the Colfiorito plateaus in the eastern part of the Umbria region. The study area was located in two of seven plateaus of Colfiorito, known for their historical value and natural beauty: the Annifo plain (cod. IT5210032) and the Colfiorito marsh (cod.IT5210034). A preliminary fauna list was compiled in which Euphydryas aurinia (Rottemburg, 1775) and Eriogaster catax (L., 1758) are of particular interest as they are included in the EC Habitats Directive 92/43 EEC. Subsequently, the lepidopteran community diversity was analysed using the following ecological indices: Margalef ’s, Shannon-Wiener’s, Simpson’s and Species evenness. Diversity was calculated each month throughout the sampling period as well as for the vegetation that characterises the sampling stations
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