Assessing vulnerability of New Zealand lakes to loss of conservation value from invasive fish impacts

1. Predictions of invasion risk for seven non‐indigenous fish species, ecological impact scores for individual species, and lake conservation rankings were linked to develop Invasion Risk Impact (IRI) and Lake Vulnerability (LV) indices that help identify New Zealand lakes most at risk of loss of conservation value from potential multi‐species invasions.
2. Species‐specific IRI scores (the product of predicted invasion risk and species impact) highlighted Eurasian perch (Perca fluviatilis) and the brown bullhead (Ameiurus nebulosus), as the species most likely to spread and cause ecological harm in lakes. For 3431 lakes >1 ha throughout New Zealand, total IRI tended to be highest for lowland riverine and dune lakes most of which are already colonized by multiple invasive fish species.
3. The LV index indicated that lakes most at risk of loss of conservation value from invasive fish impacts were predominantly (i) in the northern half of the North Island where several uncommon lake types occur, and (ii) along the west coast of the South Island where conservation value is often greater, largely because of low catchment modification.
4. The IRI and LV indices can be used to assist with setting priorities for surveillance monitoring, advocacy, and response planning targeted at preventing the establishment of invasive fish in moderate‐to‐high value lakes most susceptible to ecological impacts. Both indices can be adapted to accommodate alternative impact and conservation scoring systems, providing a flexible tool for local‐ and national‐scale assessments of lake vulnerability to fish invasion impacts.

Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Semisynthetic ferulic acid derivative: an efficient feed additive for Genetically Improved Farmed Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)

Ferulic acid (FA) derivative was synthesized by modifying the functional groups of FA as dietary additive in the feeding of Genetically Improved Farmed Tilapia (GIFT) juveniles. Structural confirmation of this compound was based on IR, ¹H and ¹³C NMR techniques. This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary FA derivative supplementation on growth performance, antioxidant status and serum biochemical parameters of GIFT juveniles compared with that of FA. A total of 675 fish with an average initial weight of 10.73 ± 0.40 g were fed nine diets supplemented with 0, 0.26, 0.52, 1.04 and 2.08 mmol kg^?1 FA, or 0.26, 0.52, 1.04 and 2.08 mmol kg^?1 FA derivative. Each diet was assigned to three replicate groups of 25 experimental tilapia for 56 days. Weight gain (WG) in groups of fish fed FA derivative was much higher than that of fish fed FA diet (P < 0.05). The antioxidant enzyme activities (SOD, CAT and GPx) in serum and liver of tilapia fed the FA derivative diets were significantly higher, while the malondialdehyde values were significantly lower than those of the fish fed the FA diets (P < 0.05). The serum biochemical parameters of GIFT were significantly improved by the FA derivative supplement. Moreover, feed conversion ratio, hepatosomatic index and viscerosomatic index were significantly decreased in fish fed FA or FA derivative diet at 0.52 mmol kg^?1 feed (P < 0.05). The investigation on the semisynthetic FA derivative provides a new way for developing safe and efficient feed additives.     

Linking small pelagic fish and cetacean distribution to model suitable habitat for coastal dolphin species,Delphinus delphis and Tursiops truncatus,in the Greek Seas (Eastern Mediterranean)

1. A large‐scale assessment of the summertime suitable habitat for Delphinus delphis (short‐beaked common dolphin) and Tursiops truncatus (common bottlenose dolphin) in Greek Seas (Eastern Mediterranean) was conducted using data from dedicated and opportunistic cetacean surveys and published data records.
2. Using a presence/absence approach, generalized additive models were applied to define a suite of environmental, bathymetric and biotic factors that best describe common and bottlenose dolphin spatial distribution, during early (May, June, July) and late (August, September) summer.
3. A geographic information system (GIS) was used to integrate sightings data with environmental characteristics, distance from the coast and sardine probability of presence. These variables were considered as good proxies for defining species‐suitable habitat within the study area's coastal environment.
4. The final selected models were used to produce annual probability maps of the presence of the species in the entire Greek Seas, as a measure of habitat suitability. Based on the mean probability and standard deviation maps for the study period GIS techniques were subsequently used to determine the persistent (areas with high mean and low variation) and occasional (high mean and high variation) habitat of each species.
5. Results showed that there was a high probability of common dolphin presence in areas with a high probability of sardine presence. For bottlenose dolphin, higher probability of the presence of species occurred in areas closer to the shore, with a high probability of sardine presence and with high concentrations of chlorophyll‐a.
6. In both seasons, the North Aegean Sea and the Inner Ionian Sea Archipelago were indicated as the most suitable areas for common dolphin distribution. Persistent habitat areas of the bottlenose dolphin included enclosed seas, continental shelf waters, and waters surrounding islands. The indicated suitable areas are discussed along with deficiencies of the models and future implications for conservation.

Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Sorghum extrusion process combined with biofortified sweet potato contributed for high iron bioavailability in Wistar rats

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of sorghum and sweet potato on the bioavailability of iron, gene expression of proteins involved in iron metabolism and the plasma antioxidant capacity in animals fed with whole sorghum grains processed by dry heat or extrusion, combined or not with sweet potato flour with high content of carotenoids. Five experimental groups were tested (n = 7): dry heat sorghum flour (DS); extruded sorghum flour (ES); whole sorghum flour + sweet potato flour (DS + SP); extruded sorghum flour + sweet potato flour (ES + SP) and positive control (FS). The evaluations included: hemoglobin gain, hemoglobin regeneration efficiency, gene expression of divalente metal transporter 1 (DMT-1), duodenal citochroma B (DcytB), ferroportin, hephaestin, transferrin and ferritin and total plasma antioxidant capacity (TAC). The ES + SP group showed higher (p < 0.05) expression of DcytB, ferroportin and hephaestin when compared to the control group. The DS group showed high (p < 0.05) expression of DMT-1 and the ES showed high mRNA expression of transferrin and ferritin. The changes in the sorghum physicochemical properties from extrusion process reduced the iron and phytate content, and increased the gene expression of proteins involved in iron metabolism, improving iron bioavailability. The combination of sweet potato and sorghum flour (dry or extruded) improved the iron capture and total antioxidant capacity, probably due to the presence of β-carotene and antioxidant compounds.     

Characterizing the pigmented traditional rice cultivars grown in temperate regions of Kashmir (India) for free and bound phenolics compounds and in vitro antioxidant properties

The purpose of the research was to identify the phenolic and flavonoid compounds of seven different traditional pigmented whole rice cultivars grown in the temperate regions of Kashmir so as to study their relationship with in vitro antioxidant capacities. The completely pigmented rice cultivars were found to have higher phenolic, flavonoid, anthocyanin contents and exhibited higher antioxidant capacities than the light colored and sparely colored rice cultivars. A total of 40 compounds had been identified in the analyzed rice cultivars that were found to be distributed in 6 major categories with 6-phenolics, 6-flavonoids, 11-hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives, 7-hydroxybenzoic acid derivatives, 3-anthocyanins and 7-flavonoid glucosides of different flavonoid compounds. Among the free and bound fractions for each cultivars the light and sparsely colored depicted higher content of phenolics and in vitro antioxidant properties in bound faction, while the completely pigmented cultivars showed higher antioxidant properties in free fractions. The anthocyanins quercetin-3-O-galactoside, cyanidin-3-O-rutinoside and pelargonidin-3-O-diglucoside had been identified by LC-MS existing in the free fractions of the analyzed rice cultivars whereas, the free fraction of acetone + H₂O possessed higher percentage of phenolic compounds as compared to methanolic extracts and bound fractions. The black colored cultivars possessed higher DPPH scavenging activity and lipid peroxidation inhibition.     

Dough rheological properties and noodle-making performance of non-waxy and waxy whole-wheat flour blends

Dough rheological properties and noodle-making performance of non-waxy whole-wheat flour (WWF) with partial- or full-waxy (PW- or FW-) WWF substitution were studied. The substitution levels were 0, 250, 500, 750, and 1000 g/kg, respectively. FW-WWF reduced the peak viscosity and pasting temperature of WWF blends as its substitution level was increased due to its higher proportions of B-type starch granules and short amylopectin chains, while PW-WWF increased peak viscosity with the increasing substitution level because of its higher amylopectin content. As demonstrated by farinograph and rheometer measurements, FW-WWF interfered with gluten development because of the increased competition for water by arabinoxylans and amylopectin; however, PW-WWF enhanced dough strength due primarily to its increased protein content. Consequently, FW-WWF showed a detrimental effect on cooked noodle texture as the cooked noodle hardness was reduced by 50% at the 1000 g/kg substitution level. In contrast, PW-WWF enhanced noodle integrity and elasticity by increasing cooked noodle cohesiveness and resilience by 10.1% and 14.8%, respectively, at the 1000 g/kg substitution level. The results suggest that with waxy WWF substitution, the changes in starch composition, arabinoxylans, and protein content could modify the interactions among flour components and influence the quality characteristics of noodle products.     

Replication of neurovirulent equine herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1) in CD172a+ monocytic cells

Equine herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1) is responsible for respiratory disorders, abortion and myeloencephalopathy (EHM) in horses. Two pathotypes of EHV-1 strains are circulating in the field: neurovirulent (N) and non-neurovirulent (NN). For both strains, CD172a⁺ monocytic cells are one of the main carrier cells of EHV-1 during primary infection, allowing the virus to invade the horse’s body. Recently, we showed that EHV-1 NN strains showed a restricted and delayed replication in CD172a⁺ cells. Here we characterize the in vitro replication kinetics of two EHV-1 N strains in CD172a⁺ cells and investigate if the replication of these strains is similarly silenced as shown for EHV-1 NN strains. We found that EHV-1 N replication was restricted to 7–8% in CD172a⁺ cells compared to 100% in control RK-13 cells. EHV-1 N replication was not delayed in CD172a⁺ cells but virus production was significant lower (10^3.0 TCID₅₀/10⁵ inoculated cells) than in RK-13 cells (10^8.5 TCID₅₀/10⁵ inoculated cells). Approximately 0.04% of CD172a⁺ cells produced and transmitted infectious EHV-1 to neighbour cells compared to 65% of RK-13 cells. Unlike what we observed for the NN strain, pretreatment of CD172a⁺ cells with histone deacetylases inhibitors (HDACi) did not influence the replication of EHV-1 N strains in these cells. Overall, these results show that the EHV-1 replication of N strains in CD172a⁺ cells differs from that observed for NN strains, which may contribute to their different pathogeneses in vivo.     

A new lean no time test baking method with improved discriminating power

In response to customer concerns related to gluten strength in commercial baking, the Canadian Grain Commission assessed whether the Canadian Short Process (CSP) test bake method was generating useful data related to intrinsic strength of wheat varieties. Assessment of CSP loaf volume data for Canadian variety trials spanning 2003 to 2013 showed very little correlation with dough strength parameters as measured by farinograph and extensigraph. A lean no time (LNT) test baking method was developed that can better discriminate genotypes and provide objective indicators of the effect of intrinsic dough strength on baking quality. From early method development, through method validation and verification using diverse sets of samples targeting different Canadian wheat classes and grown in three different crop years, results showed the LNT method to be more discriminating and easily adopted by other laboratories. In 2015, the LNT method was adopted as the method of choice in future Canadian variety registration trials. The LNT method is fast, simple and well-suited to high throughput test baking conditions encountered in the evaluation of large numbers of breeder lines. A new objective parameter, loaf top ratio, was also introduced and found to correlate well with dough strength and dough handling properties.     

保护地黄瓜新品种唐杂6 号的选育

唐杂6 号是以雌性系S16 为母本，以自交系S26 为父本配制的强雌型黄瓜一代杂种。生长势强，商品瓜短棒状， 瓜长12～14 cm，横径4.0～4.3 cm，非特异性环境下雌花率95% 以上，瓜皮嫩绿有光泽，白刺，刺瘤稀小，平均单瓜质量 131.8 g 左右，高抗霜霉病，抗细菌性角斑病，耐白粉病；春保护地栽培平均产量可达8 000 kg·（667 m²） ^-1，秋冬保护地栽 培产量可达6 500 kg·（667 m²） ^-1；适合河北、北京、天津及东北地区春、秋保护地种植。     

氮磷钾用量对小麦冠层不同层次光截获和干物质分配的影响

为明确不同氮、磷、钾用量对小麦冠层不同层次光截获和干物质分配的影响，以济麦22为供试材料，设置F0（不施肥）、F1（N 180 kg·hm^-2，P₂O₅ 75 kg·hm^-2，K₂O 60 kg·hm^-2）、F2（N 225 kg·hm^-2，P₂O₅ 120 kg·hm^-2，K₂O 105 kg·hm^-2）和F3（N 270 kg·hm^-2，P₂O₅ 165 kg·hm^-2，K₂O 105 kg·hm^-2）4个施肥量处理，比较分析开花后不同氮、磷、钾用量对小麦叶面积指数、冠层不同层次光截获特性和成熟期干物质分配的影响。结果表明，F1处理下叶面积指数显著高于F0处理，而与F2和F3处理间无显著差异；开花后15 d，F1处理下小麦冠层不同层次及总PAR截获率和截获量均显著高于F0处理，而与F2和F3处理间无显著差异。F1处理下成熟期干物质在小麦冠层不同层次营养器官中的分配量、籽粒中的分配量及总干物质积累量显著高于F0处理，而与F2和F3处理间无显著差异。成熟期干物质在小麦冠层不同层次营养器官和籽粒中的分配量以及总干物质积累量与冠层上层（顶部至株高2/3）、中层（株高2/3至株高1/3）和总PAR截获率均呈显著正相关。F1处理（N 180 kg·hm^-2，P₂O₅ 75 kg·hm^-2，K₂O 60 kg·hm^-2）为本试验条件下的最优处理。