Linking Land-use, Water Body Type and Water Quality in Southern New Zealand

Land-use and vegetation cover have been linked to the nutrient levels (nitrogen, phosphorus) of surface waters in several countries. However, the links generally relate to streams and rivers, or to specific types of standing water, for example shallow lakes in a geologically defined region. We measured physical variables and nutrient chemistry of 45 water bodies representative of the wide range of lentic wetland environments (swamps, riverine wetlands, estuaries, reservoirs, shallow lakes, deep lakes) in Otago, New Zealand, and related these to catchment variables and land-use in order to assess the potential influence of catchment modification on water quality of these diverse wetlands. Catchment boundaries and land cover were derived from maps using ArcView GIS software. Our predictions that concentrations of nutrients and other components of water quality would correlate positively with the nature and intensity of catchment modification were confirmed in multivariate analyses. Physical and chemical measures were positively related to the extent of modification in the catchment (percentage of the catchment in pasture, planted forest, scrub and urban areas), and negatively related to lack of catchment modification (more of the catchment in bare ground, tussock grassland and indigenous forest). The strong negative correlations between nutrient concentrations, suspended sediment, water colour and the percentage of tussock cover in the catchment imply that increased conversion of the␣native tussock grassland to pastoral farming in␣Otago will increase nutrient concentrations and␣reduce water quality of the diverse lentic ecosystems.     

A weight‐of‐evidence approach for defining thermal sensitivity in a federally endangered species

1. Managing for threatened and endangered species under changing environmental conditions is a challenge faced by resource managers worldwide. Lack of basic knowledge of the biology and habitat requirements of these species can contribute to this difficulty but is exacerbated by the limitations of working with rare species (i.e. few individuals) or unrefined and non‐lethal methods for evaluating stress.
2. A weight‐of‐evidence approach was used to evaluate the thermal biology of the federally endangered dwarf wedgemussel (Alasmidonta heterodon), using cumulative results from multiple experimental assessments, co‐occurring species, and their host fish to begin defining the thermal limits and optimal conditions for the species.
3. Results suggest that dwarf wedgemussel and its host fish are thermally sensitive species compared with other Atlantic‐slope mussels, with a lower critical thermal maximum (CTM) and the selection of reduced temperatures during choice experiments.
4. Physiological studies resulted in a lack of statistical significance, primarily owing to low power, which was a function of sample size – an unavoidable problem when studying rare species. Given these limitations, thermal choice and CTM may be more useful end points than physiological processes such as clearance and respiration rates when dealing with sample‐size limitations.
5. These results suggest that management strategies that avoid exposing dwarf wedgemussel and its thermally sensitive host fish to extreme temperatures could be important for species conservation.

     

Pharmacokinetics and clinical efficacy of a cinchophen and prednisolone combination in the dog

The kinetics and efficacy of a cinchophen prednisolone combination preparation (PLT) were assessed in the dog. Cinchophen administered at a dose rate of 12-5 mg/kg intravenously had a volume of distribution (Vd area) of 0–13 litres/kg, a clearance rate (Cl) of 0–15 litres/h and a half-life (t _1/2β of 7–92 hours. Following oral administration the bioavailability was 87-21 per cent. Prednisolone administered at a dose rate of 0–15 mg/kg intravenously had a Vd area of 2–7 litres/kg, a CI of 0–116 litres/h and a t_1/2β of 1–11 hours. PLT given to dogs with osteoarthritis at a dosage range of between 25 and 44 mg/kg per day cinchophen and between 0–125 and 0–220 mg/kg per day prednisolone for a maximum of 14 days significantly improved lameness (P<0–001), weight bearing (P<0–005), joint mobility (P<0–01) and stiffness (P<0–001) scores and was similar in clinical efficacy to phenylbutazone.     

No DNA loss in autotetraploids of Arabidopsis thaliana

To address the issue of genome evolution in autopolyploids and particularly to investigate whether rapid sequence elimination also occurs in autopolyploids as in allopolyploids, amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) fingerprinting was employed to examine a large number of genomic loci in F₁ hybrids between two different autotetraploids of Arabidopsis thaliana accessions, namely Ler and Col. Using this approach, perfect additivity in the F₁ hybrids was found between the newly‐formed autopolyploids when compared with their parental lines. Using flow cytometry, the study was extended in a quantitative manner, in which the nuclear DNA contents in one autotetraploid A. thaliana accession Ler, was determined. The increase in genome size of the autotetraploid line was additive. Taken together, no evidence was found for genome size reduction due to autopolyploidization of A. thaliana. The results indicating that there was no DNA loss in autotetraploid A. thaliana suggest that a different type of genome evolution may occur in autopolyploids during the initial stages of their formation when compared with allopolyploids.     

Elemental and redox analysis of single bacterial cells by x-ray microbeam analysis

High-energy x-ray fluorescence measurements were used to make elemental maps and qualitative chemical analyses of individual Pseudomonas fluorescens strain NCIMB 11764 cells. Marked differences between planktonic and adhered cells were seen in the morphology, elemental composition, and sensitivity to Cr(VI) of hydrated cells at spatial scales of 150 nm. This technology can be applied to natural geomicrobiological systems.     

Rapid flow cytometric analysis of the cell cycle in intact plant tissues

Mechanical chopping of plant tissues in the presence of mithramycin released intact nuclei representative of the cells within the tissues. The amount of nuclear DNA in the homogenates of monocotyledonous and dicotyledonous plants was accurately and rapidly determined by flow microfluorometry, and the distribution of nuclei involved in the cell cycle was charted for tissues selected from different physical locations or developmental stages.     

Polymerizing actin fibers position integrins primed to probe for adhesion sites

Migrating cells extend protrusions, probing the surrounding matrix in search of permissive sites to form adhesions. We found that actin fibers polymerizing along the leading edge directed local protrusions and drove synchronous sideways movement of beta1 integrin adhesion receptors. These movements lead to the clustering and positioning of conformationally activated, but unligated, beta1 integrins along the leading edge of fibroblast lamellae and growth cone filopodia. Thus, rapid actin-based movement of primed integrins along the leading edge suggests a "sticky fingers" mechanism to probe for new adhesion sites and to direct migration.     

Early origin and recent expansion of Plasmodium falciparum

The emergence of virulent Plasmodium falciparum in Africa within the past 6000 years as a result of a cascade of changes in human behavior and mosquito transmission has recently been hypothesized. Here, we provide genetic evidence for a sudden increase in the African malaria parasite population about 10,000 years ago, followed by migration to other regions on the basis of variation in 100 worldwide mitochondrial DNA sequences. However, both the world and some regional populations appear to be older (50,000 to 100,000 years old), suggesting an earlier wave of migration out of Africa, perhaps during the Pleistocene migration of human beings.