An extended multiplicative error model of allometry: Incorporating systematic components, non-normal distributions, and piecewise heteroscedasticity.

Allometry refers to the relationship between the size of a trait and that of the whole body of an organism. Pioneering observations by Otto Snell and further elucidation by D'Arcy Thompson set the stage for its integration into Huxley's explanation of constant relative growth that epitomizes through the formula of simple allometry. The traditional method to identify such a model conforms to a regression protocol fitted in the direct scales of data.

A Revision of the Traditional Analysis Method of Allometry to Allow Extension of the Normality-Borne Complexity of Error Structure: Examining the Adequacy of a Normal-Mixture Distribution-Driven Error Term.

Huxley's model of simple allometry provides a parsimonious scheme for examining scaling relationships in scientific research, resource management, and species conservation endeavors. Factors including biological error, analysis method, sample size, and overall data quality can undermine the reliability of a fit of Huxley's model. Customary amendments enhance the complexity of the power function-conveyed systematic term while keeping the usual normality-borne error structure.

Examination of the Effects of Curvature in Geometrical Space on Accuracy of Scaling Derived Projections of Plant Biomass Units: Applications to the Assessment of Average Leaf Biomass in Eelgrass Shoots.

Conservation of eelgrass relies on transplants and evaluation of success depends on nondestructive measurements of average leaf biomass in shoots among other variables. Allometric proxies offer a convenient way to assessments. Identifying surrogates via log transformation and linear regression can set biased results.

On the suitability of an allometric proxy for nondestructive estimation of average leaf dry weight in eelgrass shoots I: sensitivity analysis and examination of the influences of data quality, analysis method, and sample size on precision.

Background: The effects of current anthropogenic influences on eelgrass (Zostera marina) meadows are noticeable. Eelgrass ecological services grant important benefits for mankind. Preservation of eelgrass meadows include several transplantation methods.

The effect of parameter variability in the allometric projection of leaf growth rates for eelgrass (Zostera marina L.) II: the importance of data quality control procedures in bias reduction.

Background: Eelgrass grants important ecological benefits including a nursery for waterfowl and fish species, shoreline stabilization, nutrient recycling and carbon sequestration. Upon the exacerbation of deleterious anthropogenic influences, re-establishment of eelgrass beds has mainly depended on transplantation. Productivity estimations provide valuable information for the appraisal of the restoration of ecological functions of natural populations.

A method for calculating the area of Zostera marina leaves from digital images with noise induced by humidity content.

Despite the ecological importance of eelgrass, nowadays anthropogenic influences have produced deleterious effects in many meadows worldwide. Transplantation plots are commonly used as a feasible remediation scheme. The characterization of eelgrass biomass and its dynamics is an important input for the assessment of the overall status of both natural and transplanted populations.

Surface aggregation patterns of LDL receptors near coated pits III: potential effects of combined retrograde membrane flow-diffusion and a polarized-insertion mechanism.

Although the process of endocytosis of the low density lipoprotein (LDL) macromolecule and its receptor have been the subject of intense experimental research and modeling, there are still conflicting hypotheses and even conflicting data regarding the way receptors are transported to coated pits, the manner by which receptors are inserted before they aggregate in coated pits, and the display of receptors on the cell surface. At first it was considered that LDL receptors in human fibroblasts are inserted at random locations and then transported by diffusion toward coated pits. But experiments have not ruled out the possibility that the true rate of accumulation of LDL receptors in coated pits might be faster than predicted on the basis of pure diffusion and uniform reinsertion over the entire cell surface.

Using allometric procedures to substantiate the plastochrone method for eelgrass leaf growth assessments.

Estimation of leaf productivity in eelgrass (Zostera marina L.) is crucial for evaluating the ecological role of this important seagrass species. Although leaf marking techniques are widely used to obtain estimates of leaf productivity, the accuracy of these assessments, has been questioned mainly because these fail to account for leaf growth below the reference mark and also because they apparently disregard the contribution of mature leaf tissues to the growth rate of leaves.

An evaluation of leaf biomass : length ratio as a tool for nondestructive assessment in eelgrass (Zostera marina L.).

The characterization of biomass and its dynamics provides valuable information for the assessment of natural and transplanted eelgrass populations. The need for simple, nondestructive assessments has led to the use of the leaf biomass-to-length ratio for converting leaf-length measurements, which can be easily obtained, to leaf growth rates through the plastochrone method. Using data on leaf biomass and length collected in three natural eelgrass populations and a mesocosm, we evaluated the suitability of a leaf weight-to-length ratio for nondestructive assessments.

Surface aggregation patterns of LDL receptors near coated pits II. The retrograde membrane flow-diffusion and generalized plaque-form insertion mechanism.

This study presents a theoretical exploration of the effects of mechanisms that, in addition to diffusion, may influence the surface dynamics and display of unbound receptors in the low-density lipoprotein (LDL) endocytic cycle in human fibroblasts. The factors considered here are a transverse membrane flow and a generalized plaque-form insertion mode. The proposed model permits estimations of aggregation rates of unbound receptors in coated pits as well as pictorial representations of their expected steady-state display on the cell surface.

An allometric method for the projection of eelgrass leaf biomass production rates.

We demonstrate that an allometric model for eelgrass leaf-growth rates can be derived from data on leaf architecture and growth form. Using this construct, we produced indirect assessments of growth rates of leaves that we call projections, which can be easily obtained in terms of allometric parameters and proxy values for leaf area, expressed as the product of leaf length and width. These projections of leaf-growth rates displayed a high level of correspondence with values observed in our data, as well as with other sets of reference data.

Mortality rate estimation for eelgrass Zostera marina (Potamogetonaceae) using projections from Leslie matrices.

The main goal of this study is to provide estimations of mean mortality rate of vegetative shoots of the seagrass Zostera marina in a meadow near Ensenada Baja California, using a technique that minimizes destructive sampling. Using cohorts and Leslie matrices, three life tables were constructed, each representing a season within the period of monthly sampling (April 1999 to April 2000). Ages for the cohorts were established in terms of Plastochrone Interval (PI).

An economical non-destructive method for estimating eelgrass, Zostera marina (Potamogetonaceae) leaf growth rates: formal development and use in northwestern Baja California.

Seagrass beds provide much of the primary production in estuaries; host many fishes and fish larvae, and abate erosion. The present study presents original analytical methods for estimating mean leaf-growth rates of eelgrass (Zostera marina). The method was calibrated by using data collected in a Z.

The fish species composition and variation of catch from the small-scale gillnet fishery before, during and after the 1997-1998 ENSO event, central Mexican Pacific.

In the tropical and subtropical coastal zone, were highly diverse fish communities occur, it is important to study the small scale fisheries exploiting these communities. For this study, 219 fishing days were carried out in Bahia de Navidad, Jalisco, Mexico. Four gillnets with different mesh sizes (76.

Improved leaf area index based biomass estimations for Zostera marina L.

The application of special scanning technologies in plant population studies makes it now possible to offer reliable indirect estimations of Leaf Area Index (LAI). This has stimulated the adaptation of related biomass assessment methods and has provided a way to simplify tedious laboratory procedures whilst avoiding destructive sampling. Particularly, above-ground biomass for Zostera marina L.

A functionally diverse population growth model.

The present work deals with a single species population growth model, exhibiting diverse functional modes. The model is based on the principle of limiting factors for population growth. This paradigm was adapted from the law of the minimum, and the law of the tolerance.

An upgraded method to relocate marked shoots of the seagrass Zostera marina.

This paper presents a new method for the recovery of marked seagrass blades. The introduction of a plastic belt surrounding the marked shoot at a sediment level provided a relocation arrangement which was unloosed by drag forces or grazing. The relocation method was tested on Zostera marina L.

Optimal control of receptor reinsertion in the low density lipoprotein endocytic cycle.

On the basis of this study, it is concluded that within physiological limits the minimum value for the mean capture time of LDL receptors by coated pits must be induced fundamentally by an optimal characterization of their insertion rate function. The corresponding steady-state surface aggregation patterns for the unbound receptors are consistent with experimental observations. The implications of the derived results for the estimation of the minimum physiological value for the referred mean capture time are also discussed.

Effect of membrane flow on the capture of receptors by coated pits. Theoretical results.

Coated pits trap cell surface receptors and mediate their internalization. Once internalized, many receptors recycle back to the cell surface. When recycled receptors are inserted into the plasma membrane, they move until they are again trapped in coated pits.

Effect of preferential insertion of LDL receptors near coated pits.

Recent experiments suggest that low density lipoprotein (LDL) receptors on human fibroblasts are not inserted into the plasma membrane uniformly, as earlier experiments indicated, but are inserted into specialized regions, called plaques, where coated pits form. If the consequent reduction in the time required for LDL receptors to diffuse to coated pits were significant, this could alter conclusions drawn from previous calculations based on the assumption that LDL receptors are inserted uniformly. In particular, the conclusion could be wrong that diffusion of LDL receptors to coated pits is the rate limiting step in the interaction of cell surface LDL receptors with coated pits.