Wachstum und Vermehrung der Erdmans(Microtus agrestis L.) auf Forstkulturen

Growth and reproduction of the Field Vole (Microtus agrestis L.) in forest plantations The growth of the Field Vole was persecuted by means of the capture mark and recapture method in the years 1971–75. Investigations were made about the number of embryoes, the condition of the gonads and the blood glucose content of specimens which were trapped in comparable areas nearby and killed immediately after capture.In each year a peak of number of embryoes, percentage of pregnant females and a short distance between pregnancy was observed in May and June. At this time also males reached a high index weight of the testes and young males with juvenile coat were sexually mature. The growth of the testes began at the end of February and was followed by a rapid increase of body weight in the spring. In the midsummer a fast decline in body weight was observed and the havier males disappeared. At this time the blood glucose content was at a minimum about 25–90 mg./ 100 ml. blood. The highest level over 250mg./100ml. was observed in winter. The high energy requirement for growth and reproduction of the voles in early spring can cause damages in forest plantations. At this time trees with freshly gnawed bark were observed.     

Influence of climate on radial growth of Pinus cembra within the alpine timberline ecotone

Radial growth variability and response to interannual climate variation of Cembran pine (Pinus cembra L.) were studied in the timberline ecotone on Mt. Patscherkofel (2246 m a.s.l.). The study area, which is in the inner alpine dry region of the Central Austrian Alps, is characterized by a continental climate with minimum precipitation in winter (about 150 mm during December-February) and frequent occurrence of warm dry winds (F?hn) in early spring. The hypothesis that spatial and temporal variability of radial growth is caused by site-related differences in sensitivity to winter stress (i.e., desiccation) was examined by applying dendroclimatological techniques. Ordination methods applied to tree ring time series revealed that spatial variability in radial growth is influenced by the local site factors elevation and slope aspect. Growth-climate relationships were explored using Pearson product-moment correlation coefficients and multiple regression analysis. Radial growth at the timberline was positively correlated with temperature in July and was also strongly correlated with mild temperatures in the previous autumn and high precipitation in winter (January-March). At the tree line, temperatures in the previous autumn and precipitation in late winter (March) also controlled radial growth, whereas July temperature was not significantly correlated with ring width. Because previous autumn temperature and winter precipitation were the main growth-determining factors at the timberline and the tree line, and both of these climate variables are known to influence susceptibility of trees to winter stress, the results support the working hypothesis. Analysis of climatic conditions in extreme growth years confirmed the high sensitivity of tree ring growth to precipitation in late winter (March) at the tree line plots. Furthermore, extent of growth reduction and release varied spatially and temporarily, with south- and west-facing stands showing a higher sensitivity to climate variation in the most recent decade (1990s) than the north-facing stand. This aspect-related change in sensitivity to climate may be associated with effects of climate warming on cambial activity.     

Aus der Vorratsschutz-Arbeit des Pflanzenschutzamtes Berlin. Tierische Schädlinge in Nahrungs- und Genußmitteln der Großlagerhaltung und Bekämpfungsmaßnahmen in den Jahren 1980–1986

Zusammenfassung Es wird über das Auftreten von 25 Vorratsschädlingen, darunter 17 Käfer- und 3 Mottenarten, in den Lägern der Bevorratungsabteilung des Senators für Wirtschaft und Arbeit, der sonstigen Großlagerhaltung sowie in den Vorräten privater Haushalte berichtet. Die häufigsten Schädlinge in der Großlagerei waren Brotkäfer (Stegobium paniceum L.) und Speichermotten (Ephestia elutella Hbn.). Für den Vorratsschutz interessante Fälle und besondere Arten werden ausführlicher behandelt. Außerdem wird ein Überblick über die Entwesungs- und Entseuchungsarbeiten gegeben, bei denen neben den Begasungsmitteln mit den Wirkstoffen Methylbromid, Phosphorwasserstoff und Blausäure auch Vorratsschutzmittel auf der Grundlage von Dichlorvos, Pyrethrum und Piperonylbutoxid in verschiedenen Anteilen eingesetzt werden.

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Stored products protection activities of the Plant Protection Office Berlin. Pests of foodstuffs and pest-control in warehouses from 1980 to 1986

It is reported about the appearance of 25 stored-product pests, within 17 species of beetles and 2 species of moths in warehouses of the Bevorratungsabteilung des Senators für Wirtschaft und Arbeit as well as in the other warehouses and private households. The drugstore bettle (Stegobium paniceum L.) and the warehouse moth (Ephestia elutella Hbn.) were the most common pests. Cases of special interest and particular species are described in detail. Also is given a survey about the pest-controlling measures carried out with poisongas as methylbromide, phosphine and hydrocyanic acid and with insecticides on basis of dichlorvos, pyrethrum and piperonylbutoxide.

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Mit einer Abbildung und 3 Tabellen     

Concept and feasibility study for the integrated evaluation of environmental monitoring data in forests

In the 1970s unexpected forest damages, called “new type of forest damage” or “forest decline”, were observed in Germany and other European countries. The Federal Republic of Germany and the German Federal States implemented a forest monitoring system in the early 1980s, in order to monitor and assess the forest condition. Due to the growing public awareness of possible adverse effects of air pollution on forests, in 1985 the ICP Forests was launched under the convention on long-range transboundary air pollution (CLRTAP) of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UN-ECE). The German experience in forest monitoring was a base for the implementation of the European monitoring system. In 2001 the interdisciplinary case study “concept and feasibility study for the integrated evaluation of environmental monitoring data in forests”, funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research, concentrated on in-depths evaluations of the German data of forest monitoring. The objectives of the study were: (a) a reliable assessment of the vitality and functioning of forest ecosystems, (b) the identification and quantification of factors influencing forest vitality, and (c) the clarification of cause-effect-relationships leading to leaf/needle loss. For these purposes additional data from external sources were acquired: climate and deposition, for selected level I plots tree growth data, as well as data on groundwater quality. The results show that in particular time series analysis (crown condition, tree growth, and tree ring analysis), in combination with climate and deposition are valuable and informative, as well as integrated evaluation of soil, tree nutrition and crown condition data. Methods to combine information from the extensive and the intensive monitoring, and to transfer process information to the large scale should be elaborated in future.

Nebenwirkungen von Toxaphen auf Maüse

Side-effects of Toxaphene of Mice. Albino-mice (swiss) and wild-captured voles and mice were given a high dose of 50 mg toxaphene (M 5055) per kg body weight daily for a period of some weeks or months. Three weasels and one ermine were fed on 300 of these sublethally poisoned mice without showing any negative effect. The following parameters of mice unpoisoned and poisoned with a sublethal dose of toxaphen were examined: mortality, number of litters, resorption rate of embryoes, growth, haematological values, activity of enzymes, amino acids and proteins in serum and urine. In the group of poisoned mice a slight increase of neutrophile blood cells (Tab. 2), a higher level of enzyme activities (SP, GPT, GT; Tab. 3) in serum and a typical change in uric proteins were observed. (Abb. 1).In the field 6 liters of toxaphen (M5055) were sprayed over a forest plantination of 1,5 ha for mouse control. The following development of mice, especially of the Common Vole (Microtus agrestis) was investigated with the capture, mark and recapture (CMR) method. Toxaphene had an influence on the parasitic complex of the vole for a long time. The number of fleas, mites, ticks, blood protozoa, grahemella and haemobartonella of the voles was reduced for more than 6 months in the treated area. This may be one reason for the fast recovery, good growth and increasing number of the voles observed after control with the insecticide toxaphene.

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Die Arbeiten wurden durch Mittel der Gesellschaft für Strahlen- und Umweltforschung (GSF), München-Neuherberg, unterstützt     

Risk factors to incidental leptospirosis and its role on the reproduction of ewes and goats of Espírito Santo state,Brazil

Ovine and caprine stockbreeding have been gaining attention in developing countries as an attractive investment. On these animals, infectious diseases of the reproductive tract, such as leptospirosis, can compromise the production leading to economic losses. The present study aimed to determine the risk factors associated with incidental leptospirosis and its influence on the reproductive parameters of ewes and goats of Espírito Santo state, Brazil. A total of 737 animals distributed on 24 herds/flocks were studied, and an overall prevalence of 10.9 % seroreactive animals was observed. Serogroup Icterohaemorrhagiae was the most frequent in goats (97.0 %) as well as in ewes (78.3 %). Regarding risk factors related to leptospirosis, the presence of waterholes and the semi-intensive breeding system were the most important associated to seroreactivity. Besides, there was an observed association between seroreactivity and reproductive failures (P?<?0.05). Moreover, seroreactive ewes (relative risk (RR)?=?1.3) and goats (RR?=?1.9) presented more chances to have abortions than seronegative animals. Furthermore, seroreactive ewes presented 11.6 more chances of having premature births when compared to the seronegative ones. It can be concluded that Leptospira infection, mainly those caused incidental strains (such as Icterohaemorrhagiae serogroup), is a significant factor to reduce the productivity of small ruminants’ herds/flocks in the studied region, and environmental measures must be considered on control programs.

     

Evaluation of the effectiveness of Duddingtonia flagrans and Monacrosporium thaumasium in the biological control of gastrointestinal nematodes in female bovines bred in the semiarid region

Brazil has a herd of 212 million cattle and 171 million hectares of pastures that produce approximately 96 % of Brazilian beef. The Brazilian production system enables animal infection by endoparasites, which are considered one of the main obstacles for the development of this industry and are responsible for considerable economic losses. The control of parasitic diseases is performed via the administration of antiparasitic drugs, but they leave residues of the products in the treated animal, affect non-target organisms and select resistant strains of the parasites. The species D. flagrans and M. thaumasium are promising and sustainable alternatives for controlling gastrointestinal helminths of ruminants and other herbivores. In this study, we evaluated the efficacy of isolates of these species, formulated in a sodium alginate matrix and administered twice a week, to reduce the number of environmental infective larvae of gastrointestinal nematodes that affect prepubescent zebu females. The treated animals presented fewer eggs and a lower number of infective larvae per gram of faeces (p?<?0.05). The pastures occupied by treated animals showed a statistically significant reduction (p?<?0.05) of the number of L₃ and, furthermore, the genera Cooperia sp., Haemonchus sp., and Oesophagostomum sp. were the most prevalent. The average weight of the animals did not differ statistically (p?>?0.05) among the treated and control groups. The use of sodium alginate pellets as vehicle for delivery of the fungus mycelia D. flagrans (isolate AC001) and M. thaumasium (isolate NF34A) proved effective in controlling trichostrongylids in prepubescent cows bred in the semi-arid region, with an effective reduction in the number of infective larvae in the pastures.     

Effects of the needle bladder rust (Chrysomyxa rhododendri) on Norway spruce: implications for subalpine forests

Norway spruce trees in the subalpine forests of the European Alps are frequently attacked by the needle rust Chrysomyxa rhododendri. The obligate parasite undergoes a complex life cycle with a host shift between rhododendrons (Rhododendron sp.) and Norway spruce [Picea abies (L.) Karsten] and causes a yellowing and defoliation of the current-year needles in summer. Infected trees show several anatomical, morphological and physiological modifications, including a decrease in pigment content and net photosynthesis of infected needles, lower biomass production and reduced radial and height growth. The consequences are diminished timber yield and cripple growth. Because of repeated heavy infections in recent years, forest managers report increasing difficulties in both natural regeneration and afforestation at high elevation sites, where rhododendrons occur. This review gives a summary of the present knowledge about the effects of C. rhododendri infections on Norway spruce, including so far unpublished findings and with particular attention to the phenomena of resistant trees. Implications for subalpine forests and counter strategies are discussed.