BACKGROUND Coral reefs are hotspots of biodiversity, yet processes of diversification in these ecosystems are poorly understood. The environmental heterogeneity of coral reef environments could be an important contributor to diversification, however, evidence supporting ecological speciation in corals is sparse. Here, we present data from a widespread coral species that reveals a strong associa...

Recent reports of contamination of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park by herbicides used in antifouling paints and in agriculture have caused concern over the possible effects on corals in nearshore areas. Pulse-Amplitude Modulated (PAM) chlorophyll fluorescence techniques were used to examine changes in the maximum effective quantum yield (∆F/Fm’) of symbiotic dinoflagellates within the host t...

Recent increases in Pinus ponderosa Dougl. ex Laws. forest density in the southwestern United States have severely reduced understory herbaceous biomass and altered understory species composition. To examine whether changes in graminoid species composition are caused by increased shading, we studied the effects of shade on leaf gas exchange, biomass, and reproductive characteristics of five gra...

The Crested porcupine (Hystrix cristata L.) has been shown to have considerably increased in numbers, and to have occupied new territories in Tuscany, which is the northernmost part of its range. New data on its ecology and biology, and the negative effects of an excessive density of these rodents on the rural and natural environment are reported. Since this species is protected by law in Italy...

Brooding corals often exhibit daily planulation peaks in certain phases of lunar months during their reproductive season. The mechanism controlling this diurnal phenomenon, however, remains uncertain. Seriatopora hystrix populations of Southern Taiwan exhibit a highly synchronized planulation rhythm characterized by pre-dawn peak release episodes over a period of 4-6 days per month throughout t...

With the aim of improving shade tolerance of cucumber, Cucumis × hytivus, a newly synthesized allotetraploid, was obtained by crossing a shade tolerant wild relative, Cucumis hystrix, with a cultivated cucumber, Cucumis sativus L. 'BejingJietou.' The results show that the new C. × hytivus only partly is an intermediate hybrid and it has not only chlorophyll deficiency, which recovers during lea...

Tung-Yung Fan, Jan-Jung Li, Sheng-Xian Ie and Lee-Shing Fang (2002) Lunar periodicity of larval release by pocilloporid corals in southern Taiwan. Zoological Studies 41(3): 288-294. Lunar patterns of larval release by 3 brooding corals, Seriatopora hystrix, Pocillopora damicornis, and Stylophora pistillata, in southern Taiwan were investigated. Corals were collected and maintained in outdoor, f...