We have measured lung mass and trachea dimensions in 46 giraffes of both genders ranging in body mass from 147 kg to 1441 kg, calculated static and dynamic lung volumes, and developed allometric equations that relate changes in them to growth. We found that relative lung mass is 0.6±0.2% of body mass which is significantly less than it is in other mammals (1.1±0.1%). Total lung volume is signif...

Here, we present the draft genome of the endosymbiont "Candidatus Ruthia magnifica" UCD-CM, a member of the phylum Proteobacteria, found from the gills of a deep-sea giant clam, Calyptogena magnifica. The assembly consists of 1,160,249 bp contained in 18 contigs.

BACKGROUND Around 80% of the people of Ethiopia are estimated to be relying on medicinal plants for the treatment of different types of human health problems. The purpose of this study was to describe and analyse the use and management of medicinal plants used for the treatment of human health problems by the Maale and Ari communities in southern Ethiopia. METHODS Quantitative and qualitative...

Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA Departamento de Ecología Evolutiva, Instituto de Ecología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Apartado Postal 70-275, C.P. 04510, México Distrito Federal, México Departamento de Ecología de la Biodiversidad, Estación Regional del Noroeste, Instituto de Ecología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de...

Centaurea corymbosa (Asteraceae) is endemic to a small area (< or = 3 km2), and < 500 individuals reproduce in any given year. Nevertheless, enzyme polymorphism was found within and among the six local extant populations, the most distant at 2.3 km. Levels of gene flow among populations and seed and pollen dispersal data indicated very low dispersal capacity. Rarity of long distance dispersal e...