Many species of millimetric fungus-harvesting termites collectively build uninhabited, massive mound structures enclosing a network of broad tunnels that protrude from the ground meters above their subterranean nests. It is widely accepted that the purpose of these mounds is to give the colony a controlled microclimate in which to raise fungus and brood by managing heat, humidity, and respirato...

This article discusses the construction details of mounds erected over large Viking ship burials in Norway and shows that they form an integral part mortuary practice. Moreover, elements are potentially unique to this type monument repeated, suggesting a knowledge properties materials their inter-relationships within mounds. Here, referencing between is considered alongside connections these so...

Sedges and grasses have a competitive advantage over cattails at higher elevations in Great Lakes wetlands where periodic low lake levels result soils too dry to support cattails. Regulation of Lake Ontario water eliminated lake-level years, resulting cattail invasion. At wetland scale two sites, we tested restoration methods by dredging channels through cattails, using spoil materials create m...

Our objective was to evaluate the effects of burrowing activities by banner-tail kangaroo rats (Dipodornys spectabilis Merriam) on plant community structure and species dominance for two patch types at the ecotone between shortgrass steppe and desert grassland in New Mexico, USA. 10mounds produced by kangaroo rats were selected in patches dominated by Bo~ireloua gracilis (the dominant in shortg...

Histopathological studies were made on 9 necropsy specimens of ductus arteriosus with hypoplastic left heart syndrome and I with rubella syndrome. A control group of 40 normal specimens were also studied. In the 17th week of gestation, ductus arteriosus was composed of few elastic fibers, a thick continuous internal elastic lamina and a wide hypocellular area. In the 8th month of gestation, the...

Facilitation, when one species enhances the environment or performance of another species, can be highly localized in space. While facilitation in plant communities has been intensely studied, the role of facilitation in shaping animal communities is less well understood. In the Chihuahuan Desert, both kangaroo rats and harvester ants depend on the abundant seeds of annual plants. Kangaroo rats...