Dynamic Development of Aphelenchoides besseyi on Rice Plant by Artificial Inoculation in the Greenhouse

A study was done on the relationship between Aphelenchoides besseyi and the symptoms of small grains and erect panicles. This is an important rice disease in Jiangsu Province, China. A. besseyi was extracted from small grains and erect panicles and cultured artificially, and then inoculated into bud and leaf sheaths of seedlings of two Oryza sativa cultivars, namely Zhendao 2 and Wuyunjing 7 in a greenhouse. The effect on rice growth, in particular the small grains and erect panicles, was revealed by the extent of the disease, seed expansion stages, nematode load, and nematode mortality. In contrast to healthy seedlings, the height, length, and the numbers of spikelets of unhealthy panicles of Zhendao 2 were decreased by 6.7, 16.4, and 13.5%, respectively. Before anthesis, nematodes were attracted to the leaf sheath and apical meristem, nematode load increased by 40%; after anthesis, nematodes occurred in spikelets principally and the number increased by 90.8%. The percentages of infected seeds and nematode load were highest in plump seeds and lowest in empty seeds. Nematode mortality on grain with normal endosperm was lower than seeds with abnormal endosperm. Results indicated that A. besseyi was the pathogen in rice with the symptoms of small grains and erect panicles. Wuyunjing 7 manifests only the small grains and erect panicles symptoms and not the symptoms of leaf white-tip. These symptoms of small grains and erect panicles are new symptom records for the disease caused by A. besseyi on rice.     

微波辐照对舞毒蛾的卵及幼虫的处理效果

本文根据微波与物质的相互作用情况，用微波照射舞毒蛾虫卵和幼虫，观察照射后虫卵孵化率和幼虫的死亡率的变化情况，目的是为物理辐照灭虫的研究和实际应用提供理论依据。实验表明：随着微波辐照剂量增大孵化率有明显下降趋势，而幼虫的死亡率有明显上升的趋势。     

Salinity tolerance in young Allis shad larvae (Alosa alosa L.)

Abstract –  Estuarine migration in Allis shad ( Alosa alosa ) usually does not take place before mid-summer, but exposure to salinity in brackish water may occur earlier as many spawning areas are of necessity located in upper estuarine zones due to the placement of dams. Therefore, Allis shad conservation programmes need to consider the risk of mortality due to the ability of young Allis shad to tolerate salinity. To evaluate larval mortality due to the inability of larvae to withstand salinity during early ontogeny, we exposed larvae of different ages (from few days old to 27 days old) to salinities ranging from 0 to 30 g·l⁻¹. Results indicate that direct seawater exposure induces high mortality in young larvae whatever the ontogenetic stage. However, young larvae can easily deal with upper estuary salinity conditions.     

达里湖东北雅罗鱼的生长、死亡和生活史类型的研究

达里湖东北雅罗鱼(Leucisus waleckii)的种群结构参数(体长、体重和年龄)进行测定,估算种群的生长和死亡参数,并研究种群的生活史类型。结果显示:东北雅罗鱼的体长和体重的关系式Wt=0.0281L2t.8152,其vonBertalanffy生长方程各参数为渐近体长L∞=28.9763 cm,渐近体重W∞=366.95 g,生长系数k=0.2586,t0=-0.3237;自然死亡系数M为0.322,总死亡系数Z为0.9386,捕捞死亡系数F为0.6166;生活类型为r-选择。结果表明:作为渔业管理对策,达里湖东北雅罗鱼的起捕年龄应定为3龄以上。     

Effects of density and food ration on the growth rate, mortality and biomass return of abalone in slab tanks

We determined how varying stocking density and food ration can influence the growth, mortality and biomass return of abalone raised in slab tanks. The abalone used were 2- year-old hybrids of Haliotis laevigata and Haliotis rubra . The experimental design involved replicate tanks and three levels of each factor (normal practice and ±20% density or food ration). Although increasing density from that typically used in farm practices reduced the growth rate by roughly 6%, biomass return increased by 15.5%, over the 9-month period. Increasing feed ration by 20% boosted biomass by significantly increasing abalone growth during the first 3 months by 4%, but was less effective as the animals grew. Growth, mortality and food conversion ratios were optimized in tanks with a low density and a low feed ration, but economic gains were dominated by the increased biomass return from tanks with a higher stocking density. It is thought that reduced dissolved oxygen and differing access to food contributed to the patterns observed.     

Comparative virulence of Infectious salmon anaemia virus isolates in Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L.

Infectious salmon anaemia virus (ISAV) surveillance in the Bay of Fundy has identified the existence of a large number of genetically distinct ISAV isolates which appear to be of variable virulence. Genetically distinct isolates are currently being designated based on sequencing of the hyper polymorphic region (HPR) of genomic segment 6, which encodes the haemagglutinin–esterase protein, but it has been difficult to elucidate a clear association between these molecular variations and variations in virulence. This has hampered the establishment of proactive management decisions regarding infected fish, and ISAV infections, regardless of type, must be treated as one. Field data of ISAV infections is difficult to collect and to compare between infections because of a wide range of confounding factors including time of year, fish stock, cage site location, mitigating factors and stressors. An important tool in determining the relationship between molecular differences and virulence comes from analysis of quarantine studies. The goal of this study was to compare the virulence, by co-habitation and intraperitoneal injection, of four regionally common and recent ISAV isolates in a controlled environment. We found significant differences in mortality between ISAV molecular isolates, and present data showing that survival of ISAV infection confers significant resistance to re-infection with a different ISAV isolate. These findings, if borne out in field studies, will significantly alter the way ISAV infections are managed in the Bay of Fundy and elsewhere.     

Reedbeds as refuges for water voles (Arvicola terrestris) from predation by introduced mink (Mustela vison)

The water vole has recently undergone a catastrophic decline in the UK. This has resulted from loss and fragmentation of suitable habitat leaving water vole populations highly vulnerable to the impact of predation by introduced American mink. However, at some reedbed sites water voles and mink have apparently coexisted for many years. To determine if reedbeds offer a refuge from predation, 70 voles were radio-tagged at three sites in England and overwinter mortality monitored. Water vole perception of predation risk was also assessed. Mortality was high (64%), predation by mustelids, including mink, being the chief cause. Experiments suggested that voles failed to perceive areas of highest predation risk. However, predation rate declined strongly with the distance water voles lived from a main water channel. Thus, reedbeds provide a refuge from predation, even by mink, and calculations suggest that they may support source populations enhancing the viability of water vole metapopulations. Consequently reedbeds are now being used as one focus for the conservation of water voles in England and Wales.     

Beyond the wetland border: Estimating the impact of roads for two species of water snakes

We used models integrating road maps, traffic volume, and snake movements to examine the potential for roads to contribute to mortality in two species of water snakes that differ in their vagility, use of terrestrial habitats, and conservation status. Road networks and traffic volumes typical of three regions in Indiana, USA, may account for mortality of 14-21% of the population per year in the more vagile, terrestrial, and imperiled copperbelly water snake (Nerodia erythrogaster neglecta) but only 3-5% mortality in the more sedentary, aquatic, and common northern water snake (Nerodia sipedon). The majority (>91%) of road crossings and associated mortality are predicted to occur during overland migrations to other wetlands, suggesting roads bisecting travel routes between wetlands may function as mortality sinks. Our models highlight the proportionately greater risk of mortality for the more vagile and imperiled species, N. e. neglecta, and suggest current wetland conservation strategies that focus on the wetland alone are unlikely to adequately protect wetland biodiversity from certain types of anthropogenic habitat modification. What is needed is a landscape approach to wetland conservation that considers not only the quality of wetlands and nearby terrestrial habitats, but also ensures that terrestrial corridors between wetlands remain permeable and offer safe passage for wildlife.     

Mortality in a cohort of flat-coated retrievers in the UK

A cohort study of 174 flat-coated retrievers was undertaken to establish the importance of cancer in flat coat mortality in terms of the prevalence of neoplasia in the breed and also the relative effect of cancer on lifespan in relation to other forms of mortality. Dogs aged 2–7 years were recruited in 1996 and followed until 2007. An annual health census was used to collect the data. Two dogs were lost to follow-up and 72 dogs (42%) died from confirmed neoplasia. Twenty dogs (11.6%) died of unconfirmed tumours and 61 (35%) died from non-neoplastic conditions. The cause of death was unknown for 19 dogs. Soft tissue sarcoma (especially histiocytic sarcoma) was the predominant cancer type, affecting 32 dogs (44% of neoplasms). Six dogs died with malignant melanoma and three with lymphoma. Median age at death was 9 years for dogs with tumours (eight for sarcoma patients) and 12 years for non-neoplastic fatalities. The results confirm that soft tissue sarcoma, particularly histiocytic sarcoma, is a major cause of mortality in this breed.     

血浆蛋白粉不同时间饲喂对肉鸡免疫功能的影响

选用1日龄AA肉鸡240只,随机分为4个处理,每个处理6个重复,每个重复10只鸡.处理一为基础日粮组,处理二、三、四分别添加2.5%血浆蛋白粉(SDPP)替代基础日粮中部分蛋白饲喂7、14、21 d后,换喂相同日粮直到49 d试验结束.前期饲喂21 d后,从每个处理中选择接近平均体质量健康鸡8只腹腔注射大肠杆菌O_2攻毒.结果表明:(1)前期1～14 d连续添加SDPP生产成绩最好,显著高于处理一(P<0.05).后期和全期以1～21 d添加的生产性能略好,与1～14 d差异不显著.(2)添加SDPP提高了肉鸡Ea、Et、脾脏指数、胸腺指数和法氏囊指数,极显著(P<0.01)提高淋巴细胞转化率.(3)SDPP明显降低内鸡死亡率.结果表明,在1～14 d添加SDPP,可促进内鸡生长,增强免疫功能,前期获得最佳ADG的时间是饲喂1～14 d.该饲喂时间肉鸡抗菌能力最强.