Genetic parameters for resistance against Flavobacterium columnare in Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus (Linnaeus, 1758)

Columnaris disease is a major cause of mortality in tilapia hatcheries and commonly occurs during the summer season in Thailand. One way of reducing the problem is by selective breeding for increased disease resistance. The objective of this study was to estimate quantitative genetic parameters for resistance against columnaris in the Chitralada 4 strain of Nile tilapia. Data from 43 full‐sib families (2,580 records) of fry (age = 32 ± 4 days post‐hatch) were used in the analyses. Initially, fry were subjected to bath challenge with Flavobacterium columnare (LD₅₀ concentration = 1.2 × 10⁶ CFU/ml) for 14 days. Disease resistance was defined as the number of days from challenge until death (DD) or as a binary trait (dead/alive) on day 14. Linear animal and sire‐dam models were used for DD, while threshold animal, threshold sire‐dam, binary linear animal and binary linear sire‐dam models were used for binary outcomes. Covariate effect of age, fixed effect of challenge day and random effects of the individual animals or sires and dams were included in the models. Mean survival was 32.4 ± 11.6%, and survival rates of the best and poorest families were 70% and 8%, respectively. The highest estimate of heritability (0.30 ± 0.025) was obtained under the threshold sire‐dam model. Heritability estimates for DD (0.16 ± 0.034 and 0.17 ± 0.046) were comparable to those obtained from the threshold animal (0.15 ± 0.031) and the binary linear (0.14 ± 0.045 and 0.15 ± 0.044) models. The linear animal and sire‐dam models for DD and the threshold sire‐dam models performed equally with similar values of r_EBV (0.629, 0.628 and 0.627) and accuracy of selection (0.793, 0.793 and 0.791). This study reveals the potential of selective breeding to increase disease resistance to F. columnare in the studied population of Nile tilapia.     

Development of a continuous cell line from larval Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) and its use in the study of the microsporidian,Loma morhua

In vitro cell culture methods are crucial for the isolation, purification and mass propagation of intracellular pathogens of aquatic organisms. Cell culture infection models can yield insights into infection mechanisms, aid in developing methods for disease mitigation and prevention, and inform commercial‐scale cultivation approaches. This study details the establishment of a larval cell line (GML‐5) from the Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) and its use in the study of microsporidia. GML‐5 has survived over 100 passages in 8 years of culture. The line remains active and viable between 8 and 21°C in Leibovitz‐15 (L‐15) media with 10% foetal bovine serum and exhibits a myofibroblast phenotype as indicated by immuno‐positive results for vimentin, α‐smooth muscle actin, collagen I and S‐100 proteins, while being desmin‐negative. GML‐5 supports the infection and development of two microsporidian parasites, an opportunistic generalist (Anncaliia algerae) and cod‐specific Loma morhua. Using GML‐5, spore germination and proliferation of L. morhua was found to require exposure to basic pH and cool incubation temperatures (8°C), in contrast to A. algerae, which required no cultural modifications. Loma morhua‐associated xenoma‐like structures were observed 2 weeks postexposure. This in vitro infection model may serve as a valuable tool for cod parasitology and aquaculture research.     

Spawning site fidelity and apparent annual survival of walleye (Sander vitreus) differ between a Lake Huron and Lake Erie tributary

Fidelity to spawning habitats can maximise reproductive success of fish by synchronising movements to sites of previous recruitment. To determine the role of reproductive fidelity in structuring walleye Sander vitreus populations in the Laurentian Great Lakes, we used acoustic telemetry combined with Cormack–Jolly–Seber capture–recapture models to estimate spawning site fidelity and apparent annual survival for the Tittabawassee River in Lake Huron and Maumee River in Lake Erie. Walleye in spawning condition were tagged from the Tittabawassee River in Lake Huron and Maumee River in Lake Erie in 2011–2012. Site fidelity and apparent annual survival were estimated from return of individuals to the stream where tagged. Site fidelity estimates were higher in the Tittabawassee River (95%) than the Maumee River (70%) and were not related to sex or fish length at tagging. Apparent annual survival of walleye tagged in the Tittabawassee did not differ among spawning seasons but was higher for female than male walleye and decreased linearly as fish length increased. Apparent annual survival of walleye tagged in the Maumee River did not differ among spawning seasons but was higher for female walleye than male walleye and increased linearly as fish length increased. Greater fidelity of walleye tagged in the Tittabawassee River than walleye tagged in the Maumee River may be related to the close proximity to the Maumee River of other spawning aggregations and multiple spawning sites in Lake Erie. As spawning site fidelity increases, management actions to conserve population structure require an increasing focus on individual stocks.     

有害生物风险分析定量评估模型及其比较

全球化的进程使有害生物入侵问题日益严重,植物检疫工作备受重视。有害生物风险分析(pest risk analysis,PRA)是植物检疫的支撑技术之一,风险评估是其核心内容,定量评估模型的研究与应用成为近30年来该领域的热点。本文在收集、整理国内外PRA文献和相关信息的基础上,针对有害生物入侵风险半定量评估模型、定量评估模型及软件的发展进行了系统性的回顾和分析。同时,我们比较了主要模型和软件的特点、优势和局限性,归纳总结出了适用于不同起点的有害生物定量风险评估集成技术体系,并展望了我国有害生物风险分析技术的未来发展。本综述能够为我国生物入侵防控管理机构、推广部门、高等院校及科研单位提供重要的工作参考,对植物检疫工作具有理论和实践意义。     

A probability model for root and butt rot in Picea abies derived from Norwegian national forest inventory data

Root rot in Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) causes substantial economic losses to the forestry sector. In this study, we developed a probability model for decay at breast height utilizing 18,141 increment cores sampled on temporary plots of the Norwegian National Forest Inventory. The final model showed a good fit to the data and retained significant relationships between decay and a suite of tree, stand and site variables, including diameter at breast height, stand age, altitude, growing season temperature sum (threshold 5°C), and vegetation type. By comparing model predictions with recorded decay at stump height in an independent data set, we estimated a proportionality function to adjust for the inherent underestimation of total rot that will be obtained by applying a probability model derived from increment cores sampled at breast height. We conclude that the developed model is appropriate for national and regional scenario analyses in Norway, and could also be useful as a tool for operational forestry planning. This would however require further testing on independent data, to assess how well the new model predicts decay at local scales.     

Fast measurement of starch content in cold-treated seedlings by infrared spectra

Despite the importance of starch for tree growth, methodological challenges in starch analysis slow down the research on its ecological importance. In this study, a rapid monitoring method was developed for measuring starch content in Pinus taeda L. seedlings after cold treatments. A linear mixed-effects model was used to analyze the effects of cold treatments, seedling tissue types and their interaction on starch content. Mid-infrared (MIR) and near-infrared (NIR) spectra were surveyed, and the results were analyzed using partial least squares regression to determine the starch content. The determination coefficient for calibration and residual predictive deviation were compared between MIR and NIR models to assess the variability of the established models. The results showed that the effects of cold treatments, seedling tissue types and their interaction on starch content were significant. Compared to MIR spectra, NIR spectra is more suitable to estimate starch content in the seedlings. Using NIR spectra, roots provided the most accurate estimates of starch content. The presented guidelines regarding data accuracy as a function of MIR/NIR spectra of samples represent an important methodological reference for starch quantification, which will improve the understanding of the fundamental role of starch in seedlings against environmental forces.     

Site index models for Calabrian pine in the central Mediterranean region of Turkey

Stem analysis data of 432 trees were obtained from even-aged, pure natural stands of Calabrian pine in the central Mediterranean Region of Turkey. Eight dynamic site equations derived with the Generalized Algebraic Difference Approach (GADA) were compared, based on autoregressive analysis and a thorough evaluation of the goodness of fit. We used generalized nonlinear least squares methods for model fitting. The adjusted coefficients of determination (0.9825–0.9842), root-mean-square errors (0.8004–0.8435 m), and Akaike’s information criterion differences (0–145) indicated a good fit of the eight site index equations. The Hossfeld equation (M3) provided the best result. The Durbin-Watson test statistic did not reveal an autocorrelation issue while the Hossfeld equation provided a satisfactory solution to the serial correlation problem in stem analysis data as time series using autoregressive modeling. This study presents new site index models for Calabrian pine forests in the central Mediterranean region of Turkey where it is the most important commercial tree species. The site index equation, based on the Hossfeld model is recommended for height growth prediction and site classification of Calabrian pine stands in the central Mediterranean region of Turkey, providing a new basis for growth prediction and yield estimation in these important forest ecosystems.     

“一带一路”对接欧盟背景下中国木质家具出口法国贸易波动分析

“一带一路”倡议提出至今,积极作用日益显著,欧盟越来越重视与“一带一路”倡议的对接关系。法国作为欧盟的核心国之一,目前正积极开展与中国在“一带一路”框架下的经济合作。文中以2009年金融危机结束和2014年欧盟开始对接“一带一路”为时间节点,将2001年中国加入WTO至2016年这一段时间分为3个阶段,应用恒定市场份额模型和显性比较优势指数对中国木质家具出口法国贸易波动进行分析,发现影响中国木质家具出口的主要因素是竞争力,并且中国木质家具出口法国具有显性比较优势;根据实证结果,针对如何在“一带一路”与欧盟对接这一背景下更好地与法国开展木质家具贸易提出可行建议。     

中国森林火灾发生规律及预测模型研究

量化分析森林火灾发生规律能为预测和防治森林火灾提供科学依据。文中采用四参数Weibull分布描述了我国森林火灾发生次数和火场面积分布规律,运用Spearman相关系数分析承灾主体因子、灾害管理因子、孕灾环境因子与森林火灾发生次数、面积间关系,基于全国森林火灾数据分别建立灰色系统理论模型、BP人工神经网络模型和时间序列ARIMA模型,并采用Markov随机过程改进已建立模型。结果表明,我国森林火灾发生次数分布呈左偏正态分布,火场面积呈倒J型分布,火灾次数和火场面积分布模型拟合决定系数分别为0.63和0.66;承灾主体、孕灾环境和灾害管理对森林火灾次数和火场面积影响程度依次减小,人工林面积、累年年平均气温、年降雨量平均差值、年最低气温平均日数与森林火灾发生具有明显相关性,影响森林火灾的因子与森林火灾发生次数、火场面积间存在指数型关系;不同模型对森林火灾发生次数和火场面积拟合优度次序为BP模型、GM（1,1）-Markov模型、BP-Markov模型、GM（1,1）模型、ARIMA模型、ARIMA-Markov模型,采用Markov过程能显著改进GM（1,1）预测模型对火灾随机性的预测效果,可以更好地反映森林火灾发生规律。     

Studies on the material resistance and moisture dynamics of Common juniper,English yew,Black cherry,and Rowan

The overall aim of this study was to provide comprehensive durability characteristics of wood species underutilized but frequently occurring in Central and Northern Europe: Common juniper (Juniperus communis L.), Black cherry (Prunus serotina Ehrh.), English yew (Taxus baccata L.), and Rowan (Sorbus aucuparia L.). Decay resistance was tested against white and brown rot causing basidiomycetes and soft rot causing micro-fungi in terrestrial microcosms. Their wetting ability was determined in terms of capillary water uptake at the end-grain, the liquid water uptake during submersion, the water vapor uptake at high humidity, and the water release during drying. All tests were performed with unleached and leached specimens. Durability classes were assigned based on results from the different tests. Juniper and Yew were classified very durable (Durability class DC 1); Black cherry and Rowan were found to be less durable (DC 3–5). Leaching did not affect the durability classification significantly. Durability characteristics were completed with different indicators for the wetting ability of the four wood species. The combined effect of wetting ability and inherent decay resistance was considered for service life modeling based on a resistance model using dose–response relationships between material climate (dose) and fungal decay above ground (response).