Relative Growth In Length Research Articles

Life History Characteristics and Vital Rates of Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout in Two Headwater Basins

AbstractThe Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout Oncorhynchus clarkii bouvieri is native to the Rocky Mountains and has declined in abundance and distribution as a result of habitat degradation and introduced salmonid species. Many of its remaining strongholds are in headwater basins with minimal human disturbances. Understanding the life histories, vital rates, and behaviors of Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout within headwater stream networks remains limited yet is critical for effective management and conservation. We estimated annual relative growth in length and weight, annual survival rates, and movement patterns of Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout from three tributaries of Spread Creek, Wyoming, and two tributaries of Shields River, Montana, from 2011 through 2013 using PIT tag antennas within a mark–recapture framework. Mean annual growth rates varied among tributaries and size‐classes, but were slow compared with populations of Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout from large, low‐elevation streams. Survival rates were relatively high compared with those of other Cutthroat Trout subspecies, but we found an inverse relationship between survival and size, a pattern contrary to what has been reported for Cutthroat Trout in large streams. Mean annual survival rates ranged from 0.32 (SE = 0.04) to 0.68 (SE = 0.05) in the Spread Creek basin and from 0.30 (SE = 0.07) to 0.69 (SE = 0.10) in the Shields River basin. Downstream movements from tributaries were substantial, with as much as 26.5% of a tagging cohort leaving over the course of the study. Integrating our growth, survival, and movement results demonstrates the importance of considering strategies to enhance headwater stream habitats and highlights the importance of connectivity with larger stream networks.Received February 17, 2016; accepted June 18, 2016 Published online September 30, 2016

Modeling the stipe growth of the Oenocarpus bataua palm in the Central Cordillera of the Andes, Colombia

Over 9.4years in the premontane natural forest of Colombia, we measured the annual rates of growth in length (RGL) of the stipes, the stipe length (l) and the annual rates of leaf scars (RLS) in 109 palms of Oenocarpus bataua. We counted leaf scars on the stipes and the leaves of the crown of each palm (SPL) and determined the position of the scar from the first inflorescence on 79 stipes. The RLS are not correlated with the RGL, are not constant and show negative allometry with l. We correct the RLS of each palm with the mean value of a function to obtain the mean rates of leaf scars (MRLS). We estimate the age (t) for each l, dividing SPL by MRLS for each l. We model l as a function of t in years using von Bertalanffýs growth model (l=f(t)) and the relative growth in length, RGL ((1/l)dl/dt=f(t)), which we integrate to obtain a new expression of von Bertalanffýs growth model. For the same ages, both growth equations estimate very similar values of l that are not significantly different from the values of l for 27 palms whose ages were determined using 14C bomb dating. By averaging the values of the two growth equations, we obtained the following results regarding the life history of O. bataua: (i) the life span once the elongation of l begins is 169years, (ii) the half-life is 35years, (iii) the mean residence time is 33.3years, (iv) the maximum RGL(dl/dt) is 0.37myear−1 and occurs at 17.3years, (v) and the maximum l/t, is 0.31myear−1 and occurs at age 31. Moreover, the age of the first reproductive event occurs at 18.03±6.08years and at l heights of 5.53±1.79m.

Novel patterns for the growing main bronchi in the human fetus: an anatomical, digital and statistical study

PurposeIntensive progress in prenatal medicine results in performing airway management in the fetus affected by life-threatening congenital malformations. This study aimed to examine age-specific reference intervals and growth dynamics for length, proximal and distal external transverse diameters, and projection surface areas of the two main bronchi at varying gestational ages, including their relative growth in length and projection surface area.Materials and methodsUsing anatomical dissection, digital image analysis and statistics, length, proximal and distal external transverse diameters, and projection surface areas of the right and left main bronchi were examined in 73 human fetuses (39 males, 34 females) aged 14–25 weeks, derived from spontaneous abortions and stillbirths.ResultsStatistical analysis showed no sex differences. Between the 14 and 25th week of gestation, the lengths of the right and left main bronchi increased from 1.43 ± 0.18 to 3.18 ± 0.39 mm, and from 2.97 ± 0.16 to 7.58 ± 1.95 mm, in accordance with the functions: y = - 4.850 + 2.452 x ; text{ln}left( {text{Age}} right) pm 0.400;{text{and}};y = - 15.005 + 7.093x ; text{ln} left( {text{Age}} right) pm 0.579 , respectively. The proximal external transverse diameters of the right and left main bronchi varied from 2.13 ± 0.41 to 4.24 ± 0.20 mm, and from 1.84 ± 0.06 to 3.67 ± 0.66 mm, following the logarithmic models: y = - 8.666 + 4.018x ; text{ln}{rm (Age)} pm 0.367;{text{and}};y = - 6.938 + 3.305x{text{ ln(Age) }} pm 0.323 , respectively. The distal external transverse diameter rose from 2.09 ± 0.47 to 4.24 ± 0.20 mm, as y = - 8.723 + 4.021x{text{ ln(Age)}} pm 0.392 for the right main bronchus, and from 1.85 ± 0.04 to 3.67 ± 0.66 mm, like y = - 6.924 + 3.280x{text{ ln(Age)}} pm 0.348 for the left one. On either side, there were no statistically significant differences between values of the proximal and distal transverse diameters of the main bronchus. The projection surface areas of the right and left main bronchi ranged from 2.95 ± 0.19 to 13.34 ± 2.12 mm2, and from 5.57 ± 0.21 to 28.52 ± 5.24 mm2, as y = - 10.212 + 0.943x{text{ Age}} pm 1.739 and y = - 19.119 + 1.875x{text{ Age}} pm 3.054 . The two main bronchi revealed a proportionate increase in both length and projection surface area, since the right-to-left bronchial length ratio and the right-to-left bronchial projection surface area ratio were stable, 0.41 ± 0.07 and 0.47 ± 0.08, respectively, throughout the analyzed period.ConclusionsThe main bronchi show no sex differences. The right and left main bronchi grow logarithmically in length and external transverse diameter, and linearly in projection surface area. The right and left main bronchi evolve proportionately, with the right-to-left bronchial ratios of 0.41 ± 0.07 for length, and 0.47 ± 0.08 for projection surface area.

Biometric relationships of the Argentinean prawn Artemesia longinaris (Decapoda: Penaeidae) in the south-western Atlantic

Biometric relationships of size and weight were estimated for the Argentinean prawn (Artemesia longinaris), a new commercial penaeid prawn exploited in the south-western Atlantic. Morphometric and meristic traits were used to elucidate population structure of this species along its distribution area. The morphological relationships were estimated by a simple linear regression, considering total length (TL) as the dependent variable. The males collected in southern Brazil, an area under influence of the Subtropical Convergence, presented a slightly lower TL increment than females. A marked reduction in slopes of males between populations from southern Brazil was observed in autumn and winter. Additionally, relative growth in length of males from Argentina is similar to that observed during autumn and winter in southern Brazil. The other morphometric and meristic variables used also indicated higher similarities between southern Brazil and Argentina, which may be explained by relative growth associated to water temperatures or migration during winter, taking advantage of the oceanographic systems connecting both sites. Moreover, the population from Rio de Janeiro seems morphologically apart from the others, forming a separate unit stock.

Critical vortex line length near a zigzag of pinning centers

A vortex line passes through as many pinning centers as possible on its way from one extremety of the superconductor to the other at the expense of increasing its self-energy. In the framework of the Ginzburg-Landau theory we study the relative growth in length, with respect to the straight line, of a vortex near a zigzag of defects. The defects are insulating pinning spheres that form a three-dimensional cubic array embedded in the superconductor. We determine the depinning transition beyond which the vortex line no longer follows the critical zigzag path of defects.

Northern fur seal young: interrelationships among birth size, growth, and survival

We investigated size at birth, growth, and early survival of northern fur seals (Callorhinus ursinus) from birth to weaning at Bering Island, Russia, over 8 breeding seasons from 1982 to 1989. One thousand and thirteen fur seals (565 males and 448 females) were measured in a longitudinal study and an additional 2697 animals were measured at birth. At birth, female pups were about 10% lighter and about 3% shorter than male pups. The coefficients of variation of mass (12.5 and 12.8%) and length (4.5 and 4.7%) were similar for the two sexes. We partitioned the lactation period into four time periods: 1, the perinatal period (ages 0-10 days); 2, the early development period (ages 11-40 days); 3, the period of intensive molting (ages 41-80 days); and 4, the preweaning period (ages 81-140 days). We investigated four measures of growth: absolute growth in mass (AGM) in grams per day, absolute growth in length (AGL) in millimetres per day, relative growth in mass (RGM) as a percentage per day, and relative growth in length (RGL) as a percentage per day. For both sexes, AGM was highest during period 4 (mean = 124.8 g/day, SE = 7.4 g/day, and mean = 109.6 g/day, SE = 6.8 g/day for males and females, respectively) and AGL was highest during period 2 (mean = 3.74 mm/day, SE = 0.18 mm/day, and mean = 3.42 mm/day, SE = 0.21 mm/day for males and females, respectively). RGM (mean = 1.06%, SE = 0.09%, and mean = 1.02%, SE = 0.11% for males and females, respectively) and RGL (mean = 0.53%, SE = 0.03%, and mean = 0.50%, SE = 0.03% for males and females, respectively) were highest during period 2 for both sexes. For both sexes, growth rates were slowest during the molting period. Sexual differences were detected in AGM in period 4 and for the combined data over periods 1-3. Sexual differences in AGL were detected for the combined data over periods 1, 3, and 4 only. No sexual differences in relative growth were found. Subsequent growth in mass and length was correlated with birth size. We found the greatest annual variation during the periods when growth was fastest. Condition indices were calculated using the allometric relationship between length and mass separately for neonates and pups older than 5 days. The condition indices at birth varied significantly annually. The condition index was lowest during the molting period (3). Animals that survived for at least 40 days were larger at birth and had a higher condition index than those that did not survive. In years of moderate or high pup survival rates, survival rates were higher in animals born later in the breeding season.

Rates of corolla growth in tobacco determined with the plastochron index

The growth of vegetative and reproductive shoots of Nicotiana tabacum L. cv. Xanthi is analyzed with the plastochron index to estimate the relationship between corolla growth and time. The plastochron of leaves 9 through 20 declines steadily at each successive node. The flower plastochron increases steadily during the growth of an individual cyme, with the most distal flower to open having the longest plastochron. Variation in the flower plastochron is the result of variation in the rate of flower initiation, not the growth rate of individual flowers. The corolla has an extended phase of approximately constant relative growth in length (between 0.2 · d(-1) and 0.3 · d(-1)) until a peak of growth (0.5 · d(-1)) 2-3 d before anthesis. Corollas also have periodic peaks and troughs of growth that are low in amplitude (0.1 · d(-1)), but persist throughout most of corolla development. The pattern of corolla expansion contrasts strongly with earlier reports of the pattern of tobacco leaf growth.

Adaptive Variation in Swimbladder Length and Volume in Dace, Genus Rhinichthys

Relative growth in length and volume of swimbladder is described in four species of dace, genus Rhinichthys. Swimbladder volume varied widely in R. atratulus, R. cataractae, and R. osculus as they adjusted buoyancy by altering swimbladder volume, but variability was less in R. falcatus whose range was overlapped by the other three species. A variety of relative growth patterns in swimbladder length was found due mainly to the presence or absence of an inflection which, when present, varied at fork length of occurrence. Where ecological information was known, the length at occurrence of inflection corresponded to a change in environment occupied, from still to current. In the laboratory, R. atratulus and R. cataractae adjusted swimbladder volume to compensate for different water velocities. All age-groups of the former attained a greater buoyancy than the latter, while R. cataractae reached a lower negative buoyancy. Young R. cataractae made greater adjustments of swimbladder volume than older fish; the reverse occurred with R. atratulus. These adjustments resulted in a significant change in swimbladder length independent of age, except for R. cataractae from Lake Winnipeg which had very short swimbladders. The hypothesis that occurrence of the inflection in swimbladder length was caused by the shift from a still to current environment, resulting in a decrease in swimbladder volume and length was accepted for R. atratulus, but rejected for R. cataractae. An additional hypothesis based on environmental control is proposed.

In vitro radioprotection of mouse tail bones by dimethyl sulphoxide, glycerol and anoxia.

SummaryTail bones from 7-day-old mice were irradiated in vitro by x-rays under oxygenated and anoxic conditions and in various concentrations of glycerol and dimethyl sulphoxide. After irradiation the bones were transplanted under the renal capsules of syngeneic animals and allowed to grow for three weeks. The relative growth in length of the irradiated and control bones was used to draw dose—response curves, from which radioprotective factors were assessed. The following radioprotective factors were found: oxygen 1·0; 2 molar glycerol 1·32; 2 molar DMSO 2·25; anoxia 2·65; anoxia plus 2 molar DMSO 3·23.