U-Pb ages from the neoproterozoic Doushantuo Formation, China

U-Pb zircon dates from volcanic ash beds within the Doushantuo Formation (China) indicate that its deposition occurred between 635 and 551 million years ago. The base records termination of the global-scale Marinoan glaciation and is coeval with similar dated rocks from Namibia, indicating synchronous deglaciation. Carbon isotopic and sequence-stratigraphic data imply that the spectacular animal fossils of the Doushantuo Formation are for the most part younger than 580 million years old. The uppermost Doushantuo Formation contains a pronounced negative carbonate carbon isotopic excursion, which we interpret as a global event at circa 551 million years ago.     

Pasteurella haemolytica A1 and Bovine Respiratory Disease: Pathogenesis

The severe fibrinonecrotic pneumonia associated with pneumonic pasteurellosis usually results from colonization of the lower respiratory tract by Pasteurella haemolytica biotype A, serotype 1(A1). Despite recent research efforts, the authors lack a detailed understanding of the interactions and host response to P. haemolytica in the respiratory tract. The authors hypothesize that management and environmental stress factors or viral infection alters the upper respiratory tract (URT) epithelium allowing P. haemolytica to colonize the epithelium. Once the URT is colonized, large numbers of organisms enter the lung where they interact with alveolar macrophages. Endotoxin, released from the bacteria, crosses the alveolar wall where it activates pulmonary intravascular macrophages, endothelium, neutrophils, lymphocytes, platelets, complement, and Hageman factor leading to complex interactions of cells and mediators. It is the progression of this inflammatory response with neutrophil influx that is ultimately responsible for the pulmonary injury. Leukotoxin is a major virulence factor of P. haemolytica that allows it to survive by destroying phagocytic cells. At subcytolytic concentrations it may also enhance the inflammatory response by activating cells to produce mediators and release reactive oxygen metabolites and proteases.     

So much for the city: Urban–rural song variation in a widespread Asiatic songbird

Song plays a fundamental role in intraspecific communication in songbirds. The temporal and structural components of songs can vary in different habitats. These include urban habitats where anthropogenic sounds and alteration of habitat structure can significantly affect songbird vocal behavior. Urban–rural variations in song complexity, song length and syllable rate are not fully understood. In this study, using the oriental magpie‐robin (Copsychus saularis) as a model, we investigated urban–rural variation in song complexity, song length, syllable rate, syllable length and inter‐syllable interval. Comparing urban and rural songs from 7 countries across its natural Asiatic range (Bangladesh, India, Malaysia, Nepal, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Thailand), we found no significant differences in oriental magpie‐robin song complexity. However, we found significant differences in temporal song variables between urban and rural sites. Longer songs and inter‐syllable intervals in addition to slower syllable rates within urban sites contributed the most to this variance. This indicates that the urban environment may have driven production of longer and slower songs to maximize efficient transmission of important song information in urban habitats.     

Rainfall Interception by Singleleaf Piñon and Utah Juniper: Implications for Stand-Level Effective Precipitation

The expansion of piñon and juniper trees into sagebrush steppe and the infilling of historic woodlands has caused a reduction in the cover and density of the understory vegetation. Water is the limiting factor in these systems; therefore, quantifying redistribution of water resources by tree species is critical to understanding the dynamics of these formerly sagebrush-dominated rangelands. Tree canopy interception may have a significant role in reducing the amount of rainfall that reaches the ground beneath the tree, thereby reducing the amount of available soil moisture. We measured canopy interception of rainfall by singleleaf piñon (Pinus monophylla Torr. & Frém.) and Utah juniper (Juniperus osteosperma [Torr.] Little) across a gradient of storm sizes. Simulated rainfall was used to quantify interception and effective precipitation during 130 rainfall events ranging in size from 2.2 to 25.9 mm hr^? 1 on 19 trees of each species. Effective precipitation was defined as the sum of throughfall and stemflow beneath tree canopies. Canopy interception averaged 44.6% (± 27.0%) with no significant difference between the two species. Tree allometrics including height, diameter at breast height, stump diameter, canopy area, live crown height, and width were measured and used as predictor variables. The best fit predictive model of effective precipitation under canopy was described by stump diameter and gross precipitation (R² = 0.744, P < 0.0001). An alternative management model based on canopy area and gross precipitation predicted effective precipitation with similar accuracy (R² = 0.741, P < 0.0001). Canopy area can be derived from various remote sensing techniques, allowing these results to be extrapolated to larger spatial scales to quantify the effect of increasing tree canopy cover on rainfall interception loss and potential implications for the water budget.     

Reproductive seasonality in Saanen goats kept under tropical conditions

Tropical Animal Health and Production - This study aimed to verify the reproductive seasonality in Saanen goats from distinct parity orders (nulliparous, primiparous, and pluriparous) throughout an...     

Northern Bobwhite (Colinus virginianus) Space Use Minimally Affected by Oil and Gas Development

Despite the fact that the northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus Linnaeus; hereafter, bobwhite) is one of the most well-studied and widely distributed wildlife species in North America, we know little about how bobwhite respond to oil and gas infrastructure. We investigated the impacts of oil and gas development on space use of bobwhite using a multiseason approach. We captured and monitored bobwhite in the breeding season (1 April–30 September, n = 135 individuals) and nonbreeding season (1 October–31 March, n = 30 coveys) and modeled their habitat selection in a resource-utilization function (third order, within home range selection) and resource-selection function (second order, home range selection) format. Generally, energy infrastructure effects on bobwhite were neutral, but breeding season bobwhite did select for areas near low-traffic roads (β = ? 0.31 ± 0.15 SE). In the nonbreeding season, coveys selected for areas within their home range with a limited viewshed (i.e., areas with limited visibility of anthropogenic structures; β = ? 0.03 ± 0.02 SE). Selection differed between sexes for well pads (t = ? 2.12, P = 0.04) but was otherwise similar. At the level of home range selection, bobwhite exhibited a preference for areas with a low density of oil and gas wells and a high density of low-traffic roads during both the breeding and nonbreeding seasons (breeding: β_well = ? 0.14 ± 0.02, β_road = 0.26 ± 0.27; nonbreeding: β_well = ? 0.08 ± 0.03, β_road = 0.16 ± 0.03). As a generalist species, bobwhite appear to be largely tolerant of energy infrastructure and associated disturbances at moderate levels of development but may be sensitive to high densities of oil and gas pads.     

Ungulate Herbivory Is Correlated with High Aspen Suckering Density but Reductions in Aspen Growth Rates and Recruitment

Aspen is a foundation species that provides vital habitat for hundreds of plant and animal species. However, changing ungulate herbivory regimes may be altering recruitment success and resilience of aspen forests. The objective of this observational study was to quantify the impacts of ungulate herbivory on aspen recruitment potential. We sampled 36 aspen dominant stands on the Fishlake National Forest in Utah for browse of apical meristems, suckering density (< 180 cm in height), and recruitment density (≥ 180 cm). Our analysis indicated that for each 10% of apical meristems browsed, annual vertical and radial growth rates and recruitment density were reduced by 1.2 cm, 0.02 mm, and 17 ha^? 1, respectively. In contrast, aspen suckering density increased by 1 230 suckers ha^? 1, with each 10% browse of apical meristems. This suggests that ungulates contribute to aspen suckers persisting in the understory for longer periods and may alter recruitment success of aspen stands. Aspen that were under high ungulate browse pressure were associated with lower growth rates and persisted for twice as long in the understory. For example, a 5-yr-old sucker was predicted to be 115 cm without browse of apical meristems and 60 cm with 100% browse of apical meristems. Further, aspens of the same height with 100% browse of apical meristems were nearly 4 yr older on average than aspens with no evidence of browse of apical meristems. Approximately 34% of aspen suckers had persisted in the understory < 100 cm for ≥ 6 yr, and 7% of suckers had persisted in the understory for ≥ 10 yr. Our results suggest that high rates of meristem removal are correlated with increased aspen suckering yet reduced aspen growth and recruitment.