The response of land snail assemblages below aspens to forest fire and clear-cutting in Fennoscandian boreal forests

Species can persist in a landscape with recurrent disturbances either through local survival or by dispersing to sites of a preferred successional stage. This study investigated in what extent forest floor dwelling land snails survived forest fires and clear-cutting. Snail fauna in LFH (litter, fermenting litter and humus) samples below retained aspen trees in disturbed areas were compared with samples under scattered aspens in adjacent forests by extracting snails from LFH samples below five aspens in several stands of each type (five forest fires, six clear-cuts, and seven undisturbed forests). LFH samples from burnt sites had a higher pH than from forests, but on average a lower abundance of individual snails (11 vs. 30 in 0.5 l LFH) and 50% lower species density (3 vs. 6 species). The abundances and species densities in the clear-cuts were less affected. There was generally a positive relationship between pH and both species density and abundance in all the stand types. Burning apparently depleted the snail fauna considerably and some species may be dependent on dispersal if they are to recover within the burnt area, while the snail assemblages at clear-cuts did not differ significantly in species composition from adjacent forests. The positive relationship between pH and snail prevalence on the burnt sites raises questions regarding the pre- and post-fire spatial variation in pH (and available minerals) within and among stands and how it relates to snail survival rates and their capacity to track suitable places after the disturbance. Retained aspens at clear-cuts seem to harbour a forest like land snail fauna.     

Freely dissolved PCDD/F concentrations in the Frierfjord,Norway: comparing equilibrium passive sampling with “active” water sampling

Introduction  

Equilibrium passive samplers consisting of 55-μm polyoxymethylene (POM) and 170-μm polydimethylsiloxane were tested for the analysis of polychlorinated dibenzodioxin/furan (PCDD/F) in the pore water and overlying water of the Frierfjord, a bay in southern Norway. This fjord is heavily polluted with PCDD/Fs due to emissions from a former Mg smelter.     

A shifting algorithm to simulate thinnings from below and above

Thinning is a silvicultural practice to improve tree growth and health. Thinning from below for the even-aged silviculture and thinning from above for the uneven-aged silviculture are the two mainly applied thinning practices. In forest management simulations, algorithms that describe which individual trees to be removed from a forest have developed in five growth simulators (Söderbergh and Ledermann, 2003). We have developed a shifting algorithm that determines the proportion of trees to be thinned from different diameter classes to complement the individual tree selection algorithms. Sampled (or mapped) tree diameters are grouped into diameter classes. Given the target thinning volume, the algorithm automatically computes the thinning rate in each of the diameter classes using the three-parameter Weibull distribution. The thinning rate is obtained by shifting the location parameter of an estimated Weibull distribution either to the right or to the left for thinnings from below and above, respectively. A modified bisection method is used to search for the new location parameter that yields the desired thinning volume. The proposed algorithm is demonstrated in examples by using experimental forest datasets. A stand-alone program called Weibull_thinning is downloadable at http://www.it.abo.fi/suswood/weibull_thinning/.     

Disaggregating ecosystem services and disservices in the cultural landscapes of southwestern Ethiopia: a study of rural perceptions

Context

Cultural landscapes provide essential ecosystem services to local communities, especially in poor rural settings. However, potentially negative impacts of ecosystems—or disservices—remain inadequately understood. Similarly, how benefit–cost outcomes differ within communities is unclear, but potentially important for cultural landscape management.

Objectives

Here we investigated whether distinct forest ecosystem service–disservice outcomes emerge within local communities. We aimed to characterize groups of community members according to service–disservice outcomes, and assessed their attitudes towards the forest.

Methods

We interviewed 150 rural households in southwestern Ethiopia about locally relevant ecosystem services (provisioning services) and disservices (wildlife impacts). Households were grouped based on their ecosystem service–disservice profiles through hierarchical clustering. We used linear models to assess differences between groups in geographic and socioeconomic characteristics, as well as attitudes toward the forest.

Results

We identified three groups with distinct ecosystem service–disservice profiles. Half of the households fell into a “lose–lose” profile (low benefits, high costs), while fewer had “lose–escape” (low benefits, low costs) and “win–lose” (high benefits, high costs) profiles. Location relative to forest and altitude explained differences between the “lose–escape” profile and other households. Socioeconomic factors were also important. “Win–lose” households appeared to be wealthier and had better forest use rights compared to “lose–lose” households. Attitudes towards the forest did not differ between profiles.

Conclusions

Our study demonstrates the importance of disaggregating both ecosystem services and disservices, instead of assuming that communities receive benefits and costs homogenously. To manage cultural landscapes sustainably, such heterogeneity must be acknowledged and better understood.

     

Quantitative requirement of Penaeus kerathurus for a natural unprocessed diet

Juvenile Penaeus kerathurus (average weight = 0.64 g) were fed three different daily amounts (40%, 60% and 100% of biomass) of an unprocessed and unsupplemented diet composed of 43% anchovy, 33% shrimp head and 24% squid, whose suitability for P. kerathurus had been previously assessed. The experiment was performed with an animal density of 30/m² at 23° C for a period of 180 days. From the results obtained, it is concluded that, of the three feeding rates employed, 100% of biomass was suitable for animals weighing 0.64–1.8 g. For animals 1.8–4.3 g a feeding rate of 60% was appropriate, while a reduction to 40% seemed satisfactory for animals over 4.3 g in this experiment.     

A cross-sectional study of Tritrichomonas foetus infection among healthy cats at shows in Norway

Background

In recent years, the protozoan Tritrichomonas foetus has been recognised as an important cause of chronic large-bowel diarrhoea in purebred cats in many countries, including Norway. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to determine the proportion of animals with T. foetus infection among clinically healthy cats in Norway and to assess different risk factors for T. foetus infection, such as age, sex, former history of gastrointestinal symptoms and concurrent infections with Giardia duodenalis and Cryptosporidium sp.

Methods

The sample population consisted of 52 cats participating in three cat shows in Norway in 2009. Samples were examined for motile T. foetus by microscopy, after culturing and for T. foetus-DNA by species-specific nested PCR, as well as for Giardia cysts and Cryptosporidium oocysts by immunofluorescent antibody test (IFAT).

Results

By PCR, T. foetus-DNA was demonstrated in the faeces of 11 (21%) of the 52 cats tested. DNA-sequencing of five positive samples yielded 100% identity with previous isolates of T. foetus from cats. Only one sample was positive for T. foetus by microscopy. By IFAT, four samples were positive for Giardia cysts and one for Cryptosporidium oocysts, none of which was co-infected with T. foetus. No significant associations were found between the presence of T. foetus and the various risk factors examined.

Conclusions

T. foetus was found to be a common parasite in clinically healthy cats in Norway.     

Minor corral changes and adoption of good handling practices can improve the behavior and reduce cortisol release in Nellore cows

Inadequate corral facilities and improper handling are major causes of stress in beef cattle. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of minor changes in the corral and adoption of good handling practices on the behavior, cortisol release, and time spent taking blood samples in Nellore cows. Minor corral changes included obstructing the cow’s vision when the handler walked deep into the animal’s flight zone and the elimination of bright objects, color contrasts, puddles, shadows, and darkness in the corral. Handling was improved by eliminating dogs, electric goads (prods), and yelling, as well as adopting a calm behavior. A total of 141 Nellore cows from two typical extensive livestock farms were studied. The cows were evaluated individually before and after the corral changes. Blood samples were collected in the restraint device for cortisol measurement. The minor corral changes and the adoption of good handling practices result in better results for all variables studied. The results showed differences in the interactions between treatment and ranch for chute score (P = 0.0091) and exit score (P < 0.0001). The cortisol release was lower (P < 0.001) and better for the improved methods, resulting in calmer cows compared to cortisol released before the minor changes (41.03 ± 2.9 vs 60.40 ± 3.8 ng/mL). Minor changes made in the corrals and the adoption of good handling practices were effective in improving cow behavior in the chute and in reducing exit velocity, cortisol released, and the time spent taking blood samples.