Although energetics is fundamental to animal ecology, traditional methods of determining metabolic rate are neither direct nor instantaneous. Recently, continuous blood oxygen (O2) measurements were used to assess energy expenditure in diving elephant seals (Mirounga angustirostris), demonstrating that an exceptional hypoxemic tolerance and exquisite management of blood O2 stores underlie the e...

Comparative analyses of vertebrate genomes continue to uncover a surprising diversity of genes in the globin gene superfamily, some of which have very restricted phyletic distributions despite their antiquity. Genomic analysis of the globin gene repertoire of cartilaginous fish (Chondrichthyes) should be especially informative about the duplicative origins and ancestral functions of vertebrate ...

Conservation strategies for African elephants would be advanced by resolution of conflicting claims that they comprise one, two, three or four taxonomic groups, and by development of genetic markers that establish more incisively the provenance of confiscated ivory. We addressed these related issues by genotyping 555 elephants from across Africa with microsatellite markers, developing a method ...

The Asian elephant (Elephas maximus), which has shared a long and rich cultural relationship with humans in India, is endangered in the country today, largely because of habitat loss. There are an estimated 41,400-52,300 Asian elephants worldwide, of which over half range in India. I describe studies that examined the evolutionary history of the Asian elephant, uncovering a surprising coexisten...

In this study, minimum audible angles (MAAs) of aerial pure tones were measured in and compared between a northern elephant seal (Mirounga angustirostris), a harbor seal (Phoca vitulina), and a California sea lion (Zalophus californianus). Testing was conducted between 0.8 and 16 kHz in the elephant seal and 0.8 and 20 kHz in the harbor seal and sea lion in a hemi-anechoic chamber using a left/...

As a close relative of garlic, elephant garlic contains abundant allicin, which means the extract of elephant garlic might induce apoptosis in breast cancer cells. The elephant garlic was extracted in alcohol with Solvent Microwave Extraction. The main component was analyzed by liquid chromatography. The MCF-7 (michigan cancer foundation -7) cells were cultured in vitro. The apoptosis rate was ...

The genomes of several vertebrates, including six mammals, the chicken, Xenopus and four ray-finned fishes have been sequenced or are currently being sequenced to provide a better understanding of the human genome through comparative analysis. However, this list does not include cartilaginous fishes, which are the most basal living jawed vertebrates [1]. The genomes of the current ‘popular’ car...

BACKGROUND The identification of temporal thresholds or shifts in animal movement informs ecologists of changes in an animal's behaviour, which contributes to an understanding of species' responses in different environments. In African savannas, rainfall, temperature and primary productivity influence the movements of large herbivores and drive changes at different scales. Here, we developed a ...

In this paper the author considers cultural and historical phenomenon of elephant in life Thais as a manifestation coexistence nature man. The role State policy preserving Indian population Thailand educating people to respect its cults is emphasized. researcher focuses on Hindu origin mystical cult elephant. worship deity Eravana, Ganesha, white considered.