Effects of Seven Fungicides on Non-Target Aquatic Fungi

Aquatic risk assessments for fungicides are carried out without information on their toxicity to non-target aquatic fungi. This might cause an underestimation of the toxic effects to the aquatic fungal community. This study focuses on the question whether recently derived concentrations limits for fungicides considered to protect populations of primary producers and (in)vertebrates also do protect the aquatic fungi. A panel of fungal species and Oomycetes was isolated and identified from unpolluted surface waters in the Netherlands. Toxicity tests were used to determine effects of seven fungicides with different modes of actions. For the triazoles epoxiconazole and tebuconazole, the chronic lowest observable effect concentration was lower than the regulatory acceptable concentration based on acute HC5 values.     

Guidelines for zoo and aquarium veterinary medical programs and veterinary hospitals

These guidelines for veterinary medical care and veterinary hospitals are written to conform with the requirements of the Animal Welfare Act, which states that programs of disease prevention and parasite control, euthanasia, and adequate veterinary care shall be established and maintained under the supervision of a veterinarian. Ideally the zoo and aquarium should be providing the best possible veterinary medical care for the animals in their collections. Many of these animals are rare and endangered and the institutions should endeavor both to provide for the long term health and well being of these animals and to advance the field of non-domestic animal medicine. It is hoped that this publication will aid in this process.     

Environment and farm factors associated with exposure to Theileria parva infection in cattle under traditional mixed farming system in Mbeere District,Kenya

The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between seroprevalence to Theileria parva infection in cattle and potential environmental and farm-level effects in 80 farms under traditional crop–livestock system in Mbeere District, Kenya. A standardized questionnaire was used to collect the effects characteristics as related to T. parva infection epidemiology. Serum samples were collected from 440 cattle of all ages for detection of T. parva antibodies by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay technique. The association between the variables was assessed using a generalized estimation equation logistic regression model. The overall T. parva seroprevalence, accounting for correlation of responses, was 19.3% (95% confidence interval (CI) 14%, 25%). Two variables, “administrative division” and “presence of the vector tick on the farm”, were significantly associated with the T. parva seroresponse. Respectively, cattle from farms in Gachoka, Evurore, and Mwea divisions were (and their 95% CI) 1.3 (0.36, 4.8), 4.4 (1.2, 15.9), and 15.2 (4.9, 47.1) times more likely to be seropositive relative to those from Siakago Division (P = 0.000). Cattle from farms in which the vector tick was present were 2.9 (1.2, 6.7) times more likely to be seropositive (P = 0.011). Results of this study suggested that both environmental and farm factors may be associated with T. parva infection epidemiology in Mbeere District. Under such circumstances, characterization of environmental suitability for the vector tick and corresponding environment-specific farm management practices in the district is required both for improved understanding of the disease and in planning disease control programs.     

Breeding options for improving common bean for resistance against bean fly (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Ophiomyia</Emphasis> spp.): a review of research in eastern and southern Africa

Bean fly (Ophiomyia spp.) is a key pest of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) throughout eastern and southern Africa. It is known to cause total crop loss especially under drought stress and low soil fertility. This review underscores the importance of bean fly to bean production. It discusses the research achievements on genetic improvement of common bean for resistance against bean fly attack and highlights further opportunities available for rapid advance. The paper dwells on conventional breeding approaches and possibilities for utilization of marker-assisted selection. Mechanisms of common bean resistance to bean fly have been considered with a view to understand the genetic control. To maximize the effectiveness of host-plant resistance against bean fly, multiple insect resistances should be incorporated into a single bean genotype in order to ensure stability. However, this should be within the background of integrated pest management strategy.     

桃下毛瘿螨的研究

桃下毛瘿螨(Acalitus persicae Luo et Jiang)是北京地区为害桃芽的新害螨。植物保护学报18卷据调查在平谷、海淀、石景山、丰台、延庆和昌平等县、区桃园均有不同程度的发生,以平谷县大华山乡后北宫桃园发生较重,1985年发生面积已达2000余亩,被害严重的桃树死芽率达60一70%,轻的在20%,当年经济损失20余万元,是桃树生产中急待解决的问题。作者于1985一1988年对该靖的生物学特性及防治技术作了调查研究,结果如下。一、被容症状桃下毛瘦蜻主要为害桃芽,在芽鳞片内侧为害,幼芽被害后,随被害芽生长出现畸形扭曲,     

A Multi-Omics Characterization of the Natural Product Potential of Tropical Filamentous Marine Cyanobacteria

Microbial natural products are important for the understanding of microbial interactions, chemical defense and communication, and have also served as an inspirational source for numerous pharmaceutical drugs. Tropical marine cyanobacteria have been highlighted as a great source of new natural products, however, few reports have appeared wherein a multi-omics approach has been used to study their natural products potential (i.e., reports are often focused on an individual natural product and its biosynthesis). This study focuses on describing the natural product genetic potential as well as the expressed natural product molecules in benthic tropical cyanobacteria. We collected from several sites around the world and sequenced the genomes of 24 tropical filamentous marine cyanobacteria. The informatics program antiSMASH was used to annotate the major classes of gene clusters. BiG-SCAPE phylum-wide analysis revealed the most promising strains for natural product discovery among these cyanobacteria. LCMS/MS-based metabolomics highlighted the most abundant molecules and molecular classes among 10 of these marine cyanobacterial samples. We observed that despite many genes encoding for peptidic natural products, peptides were not as abundant as lipids and lipopeptides in the chemical extracts. Our results highlight a number of highly interesting biosynthetic gene clusters for genome mining among these cyanobacterial samples.     

野桑蚕和家蚕的环境适应性比较研究

野桑蚕和家蚕对不同组分人工饲料的食性比较研究表明 ,野桑蚕不取食无桑叶粉的人工饲料 ,4 8h不出现疏毛现象 ,其食性较家蚕单一。以完成虫态的积温研究二者对气象环境的适应性 ,发现野桑蚕对气象环境的适应性较家蚕强 ,野桑蚕完成不同虫态所需的有效积温较稳定。对野桑蚕和家蚕添食农药和紫外辐照处理 ,结果表明野桑蚕对不良的环境的耐受性较家蚕强 :添食相同浓度的农药 ,家蚕全部中毒死亡 ,而野桑蚕却部分存活 ,且正常化蛹 ;紫外线辐照可使野桑蚕提前老熟营茧     

Why are there fewer signs of mink in England? Considering multiple hypotheses

Understanding the causes that determine the spread and subsequent population trends of invasive species is important as it can help predict and manage their impact, as well as advance the theory of invasion. The American mink Mustela vison is a riparian mustelid and an invasive species in several countries. Mink have been introduced to England in the early decades of the last century and have been expanding their range until the mid-eighties. Since then, however, the number of sites occupied by mink has been declining. We investigated three possible causes of such a decline: (1) A downtrend of the fur farming industry; (2) An increase of European polecats Mustela putorius; (3) An increase of Eurasian otters Lutra lutra. Mink trends were derived from data collected by the National Otter Survey, a large-scale long-term survey of the whole of England from 1977 to 2002. We discuss how the observed decline in the number of sites occupied by mink may be due to a combination of an actual decrease in the distribution and density of mink and to a change in the focus of mink activities away from water, rather than to a change in their marking behaviour. Taken together, our results suggest that the decline of mink is related to an increase in the native otter population through interspecific competition, although at a local level also other factors may be important. As the otter population is still increasing, it is likely that the number of sites occupied by mink will continue to decline, a process that may be beneficial to aquatic and semi-aquatic species suffering from mink predation.