Molecular tracing confirms that infection with infectious pancreatic necrosis virus follows the smolt from hatchery to grow‐out farm

Infectious pancreatic necrosis (IPN) is an important restraint to production of salmonids in aquaculture globally. In order to implement efficacious mitigation strategies for control of this disease, it is important to understand infection routes under current production systems. IPN virus has been shown to be transmitted vertically in Rainbow trout, from broodstock to fingerlings in hatcheries, and there is circumstantial evidence suggesting that vertical transmission can also occur in Atlantic salmon, in addition to horizontal transmission between grow‐out fish in farms. In this study, we show that the smolt carries infection with IPN from hatchery to the marine farm. We do this by comparing sequences from fish groups taken both in hatcheries and on corresponding marine grow‐out farms. We use statistical analysis to prove that sequences obtained from the same fish group in both hatchery and marine farm are more similar than sequences obtained from random fish groups on hatcheries and marine farms.     

The effects of deficit irrigation on nitrogen consumption,yield,and quality in drip irrigated grafted and ungrafted watermelon

The aim of this study is to determine the effects of deficit irrigation on nitrogen consumption,yield,and quality in grafted and ungrafted watermelon.The study was conducted in Cukurova region,Eastern Mediterranean,Turkey,between 2006 and 2008,and employed 3 irrigation rates(full irrigation(l_(100)) with no stress,moderate irrigation(Dl_(70)),and low irrigation(Dl_(50));Dl_(70) and Dl_(50) were considered deficit irrigation) on grafted(CTJ,Crimson Tide+Jumbo) and the ungrafted(CT,Crimson Tide) watermelon.The amount of irrigation water(IR) applied to the study plots were calculated based on cumulative pan evaporation that occurred during the irrigation intervals.Nitrogen consumption was 16%lower in CTJ plants than in CT plants.On the other hand,consumption of nitrogen was 28%higher in Dl_(50) plants than in Dl_(70) plants while it was 23%higher in Dl_(50) plants than in l_(100) plants.By grafting,the average amount of nitrogen content in seeds,pulps and peels for CTJ was 30,43 and 56%more than those of CT,respectively.The yield and the quality were not significantly affected by the deficit irrigation.In this respect,grafting of watermelon gave higher yield,but,it had a slight effect on fruit quality.The highest yield values of 16.90 and 19.32 kg plant~(-1) in 2008 were obtained with l_(100)and in CTJ plants,respectively.However,Dl_(50) treatment could be taken into account for the development of reduced irrigation strategies in semiarid regions where irrigation water supplies are limited.Additionally,the yield increased by applying CTJ treatment to the watermelon production.     

Compositions and antimicrobial activities of the essential oils of two Hypericum species from Turkey

The chemical compositions of essential oils obtained from Hypericum hyssopifolium var. microcalycinum and Hypericum lysimachioides var. lysimachioides were analysed by using GC and GC-MS. Caryophyllene oxide was found to be the major component. The essential oils of both Hypericum species showed antimicrobial activity against nine microorganism at a concentration of 60 to 80 microg/ml.     

Quantification of Leaf Water Potential,Stomatal Conductance and Photosynthetically Active Radiation in Rainfed Hazelnut

Hazelnut (Corylus avellana L.) is mostly grown in rainfed condition in Turkey as well as other some countries in the world without more yield reduction. However, there is not enough information about how to give yield without more reduction in rainfed hazelnut orchard. In an endeavor to search this question, quantifications of leaf water potential (LWP), stomatal conductance (g_s) and photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) of hazelnut tree were investigated in rainfed hazelnut orchard in the summer of 2013 and 2014. Additionally, possible effects of those quantifications on rainfed hazelnut trees vs. soil water content (SWC) was investigated. Results of this study exhibited that yearly ET (evapotranspiration) of rainfed hazelnut trees was higher in 2014 than 2013 even though seasonal ET of rainfed hazelnut trees was higher in 2013 than 2014. Hence, yield, LWP and g_s were higher in 2014 than 2013 but PAR and SWC (even all the study season) were mostly higher in 2013 than 2014. Moreover, relationships of LWP, g_s and PAR and responses of LWP, g_s and PAR to SWC were non stronger. These differences could be attributed differences of climate variability such as precipitation and temperature during the observed period throughout the season in the studied years. However, rainfed hazelnut trees may be required supplement irrigation in dry summer, such as year of 2013, to avoid summer water stress. Finally, it can be concluded that hazelnut trees can be grown well and give normal yield for the areas which have about 950 mm precipitation.     

Larval group differentiation in Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) inside and outside the Gullmar Fjord

The spatial and temporal occurrence of pelagic fish stages and their biological variability may affect their dispersal and survival, and ultimately fish recruitment. We collected Atlantic cod larvae at one station inside and at one station outside the Gullmar Fjord, eastern Skagerrak, in order to investigate small-scale larval group differentiation. Rectangular midwater trawl hauls were taken every 6 h (during 24 h) from three separate depth intervals between the surface and 70 m depth. About 80% and 20% of all larvae occurred above the halocline at the Fjord station and the Coastal station, respectively. Hatching (at both stations) occurred from the 3rd week in February to the 1st week in May, indicating that cod larvae were present for at least 5 months (from late February to early August). The length and hatch date frequency distributions of larvae from the surface layer were unimodal inside the fjord but bimodal outside the fjord. Analyses of seven microsatellite DNA loci indicated that larvae collected inside the fjord (where local spawning occurs) were genetically distinct from larvae sampled on the outside (F_ST = 0.0026). The two age cohorts outside the fjord were not, however, genetically different, nor were larvae collected at different depths. We conclude that small-scale variability of vertical concentration and larval life history variability should have consequences for interpreting models of larval dispersal and survival, and subpopulation structure analyses.     

Brucella pinnipedialis hooded seal (Cystophora cristata) strain in the mouse model with concurrent exposure to PCB 153

Brucellosis, a worldwide zoonosis, is linked to reproductive problems in primary hosts. A high proportion of Brucella-positive hooded seals (Cystophora cristata) have been detected in the declined Northeast Atlantic stock. High concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) have also been discovered in top predators in the Arctic, including the hooded seal, PCB 153 being most abundant. The aim of this study was to assess the pathogenicity of Brucella pinnipedialis hooded seal strain in the mouse model and to evaluate the outcome of Brucella spp. infection after exposure of mice to PCB 153. BALB/c mice were infected with B. pinnipedialis hooded seal strain or Brucella suis 1330, and half from each group was exposed to PCB 153 through the diet. B. pinnipedialis showed a reduced pathogenicity in the mouse model as compared to B. suis 1330. Exposure to PCB 153 affected neither the immunological parameters, nor the outcome of the infection. Altogether this indicates that it is unlikely that B. pinnipedialis contribute to the decline of hooded seals in the Northeast Atlantic.     

Landscape heterogeneity and the effect of environmental conditions on prairie wetlands

Populations can vary considerably in their response to environmental fluctuations, and understanding the mechanisms behind this variation is vital for predicting effects of environmental variation and change on population dynamics. Such variation can be caused by spatial differences in how environmental conditions influence key parameters for the species, such as availability of food or breeding grounds. Knowing how these differences are distributed in the landscape allows us to identify areas that we can expect the highest impact of environmental change, and where predictions on population dynamical effects will be most precise. We evaluated how wetland dynamics in the North-American prairies (pond counts; a key parameter for several waterfowl populations) were related to spatial and temporal variation in the environment, as measured by weather variables, primary productivity and phenology derived from annual normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) curves, and agricultural composition of the landscape. Spatial and temporal variation in pond counts were closely related to these environmental variables. However, correlation strength and predictive ability of these environmental variables on wetland dynamics varied considerably across the study area. This variation was related to landscape characteristics and to the spatial scaling of the wetland dynamics, such that areas with late onset of spring, low spring temperature, high primary productivity, and high proportion of cropland had more predictable and spatially-homogenous dynamics. The success of predicting environmental influences on wetlands from NDVI measures derived from satellite images indicates they will be useful tools for assessing effects of changing landscape and climatic conditions on wetland ecosystems and their wildlife populations.     

A morphological and stereological study on brain,cerebral hemispheres and cerebellum of New Zealand rabbits

The aim of this research was to determine brain, cerebral hemispheres and cerebellum volume and volume ratios by using stereological methods and investigate morphological differences between female and male New Zealand rabbits. The study was applied on 14-month old (10 male and 10 female) New Zealand rabbits. The materials removed from the cavum cranii using dorsal approach. After following routine histological procedure, paraffin blocks were prepared and cut every seventieth section at 10 μm thickness. Slides were stained with Crossmon's triple stain and photographed. The sectional images obtained were transferred to ImageJ program to estimate grey and white matter volume on cerebral hemispheres and cerebellum with principle of Cavalieri. According to results, there was no asymmetry on the left and right cerebral hemispheres of New Zealand rabbits. In the total hemisphere volume calculated by Cavalieri principle, grey and white matter ratio was 81.57% and 18.43% in female, 82.80% and 17.20% in male. It was found that the white matter was significantly higher in females than males in cerebral hemispheres (p < .05). Also, it was found that grey and white matter ratio in total cerebellum volume was 67.82% and 32.18% in female, 67.94% and 32.06% in male respectively. It was determined that the females' white matter was larger than male rabbits in cerebellum (p < .05). It is thought that morphometric data obtained from this study will contribute to the existing anatomical knowledge and also considered as reference values in the clinical sciences.     

Determination of Heavy Metals and Comparison to Gross Radioactivity Concentration in Soil and Sediment Samples of the Bendimahi River Basin (Van, Turkey)

An investigation of radioactivity and some heavy metal distribution in soil and sediment of the river basin (Bendimahi River, Van-Turkey) was conducted in two seasons of 2005. The samples of soil and sediment were collected from the basin and investigated for concentrations of some heavy metal and natural radioactivity. Concentrations of Pb, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Cu, Zn and Cd have been determined by Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (AAS), gross-alpha and gross-beta activity concentrations have been obtained by using gas-flow proportional counter in nuclear spectroscopic system. Correlation analysis was made for radioactivity and heavy metal concentrations and the Pearson correlation coefficients between gross-alpha and gross-beta radioactivity and heavy metal were determined.