A behavioural approach of dominance establishment in tank‐held sea bream (Sparus aurata L.) under different feeding conditions

Dominance is a strong behaviour exhibited by farmed species that very often impinges on fish growth and welfare. This study presents a behavioural approach of dominance, where colour pattern differentiation was tested as a signal of dominance presence in small sea bream population. The phenotype of dominance was first described in detail, referring to vertical dark stripes and splayed fins. Fish were kept in triplicate tanks for 21 days, during which they were exposed to three feeding conditions (well fed, limited fed and no‐fed) and continuous video recordings. Each tank was stocked with 15 individuals (~30.34 ± 1.70 g), and they were confined to the half volume of the tank via a removable net pen. Percentage of dominants per population was found up to 40%, while duration was calculated to 53.52 ± 7.44 s. Dominance behaviour was further quantified via colour pattern differentiation on sea bream body (CDA, contrast of dominance appearance). The results demonstrated that the body colour of sea bream is directly linked to species social hierarchies and such variations are visual signal of dominance rank inside the population. The fish feeding conditions had an influence on the dominance presence, but not on the dominance rank (as measured by the CDA) between fish groups. The described study provides state‐of‐the‐art knowledge on sea bream dominance. In relevance to aquaculture, dominance quantification would be a reliable tool to evaluate non‐equal food distribution in tank‐held populations, thus, avoid non‐regulate growth performance of fish before transfer to sea‐cage installations.     

First record of the citrus red mite <Emphasis Type="Italic">Panonychus citri</Emphasis> in Cyprus

A new phytophagous mite species, Panonychus citri (McGregor) (Acari: Tetranychidae) (the citrus red mite), was found in Cyprus during spring 2008, infesting citrus plantations. Mites occurred in large numbers, mainly in the canopy of orange, lemon and mandarin trees. The adults and larvae preferred the upper surfaces of mature leaves of the above citrus species, although they occurred on both leaf surfaces. Orange, lemon and mandarin trees were greatly affected by this mite, as its high population densities under hot and dry conditions in the spring caused heavy leaf drop (firing) and twig dieback.     

Notomelia in a piglet (Sus scrofa): Case report and review of the literature

This report describes a case of notomelia in a female piglet. The extra limb was attached at the interscapular region and was significantly undergrown. Its appendage was bifurcated with a unilateral keratinized tip. This is probably the first report of notomelia in a pig. The observations were compared with the bovine and ovine cases of notomelia reported so far.     

Formulation of Indices to Describe Intrinsic Nitrogen Transformation Rates for the Implementation of Best Management Practices in Agricultural Lands

Water, Air, &; Soil Pollution - Mining creates large amounts of processed waste in the form of mine tailings. Sulfide mine tailings are of particular concern due to the biotic and abiotic...     

Temperature dependence of relaxation spectra for highly hydrated gluten networks

In the present investigation, the temperature dependence (0–50 °C) of the relaxation spectrum of hydrated gluten was studied using novel numerical algorithms. Tikhonov regularization, in conjunction with the L-curve criterion for optimal calculation of the regularization parameter, was used to generate the relaxation spectrum from stress relaxation measurements on shear. The methodology used revealed six molecular events with baseline resolution that could be grouped into fast- and slow-relaxation regimes. The fast-relaxation regime exhibited strong temperature dependence whereas the slow one is temperature independent indicating on the whole two dominant mechanisms of interactions. The “loop and train” structural model for gluten interactions was found adequate to describe the relaxation events in this system, with the fast regime being assigned to interactions due to hydrogen bonding whereas the slow one to permanent cross-linking of the entire network. Findings of the present investigation provide fundamental understanding and give new insights into the complexity of interactions and relaxation modes of hydrated gluten.     

Storage of olives (Olea europaea L.) under CO2 atmosphere: liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry characterization of indices related to changes in polyphenolic metabolism

Olives (Olea europaea cv. Chondrolia) were stored under a CO2 atmosphere immediately after harvesting for a period of 12 days. Samples obtained at 24-h intervals were analyzed by HPLC to identify components that may reflect changes in the biochemical behavior of the tissue. Four substances were shown to undergo significant fluctuations during storage, while their evolution was found to be different in olives stored under CO2 from those stored under regular atmospheric conditions (control). On the basis of data provided by liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization mass spectrometry, these substances were tentatively identified as hydroxytyrosol glucoside, demethylated ligstroside aglycone, ibotalactone A methyl ester, and verbascoside. The data are discussed in relation to the effect of postharvest treatments of olives for purposes of manipulating their polyphenolic content and plausible development of novel debittering processes.     

Assessment of the Intrinsic Vulnerability of Agricultural Land to Water and Nitrogen Losses via Deterministic Approach and Regression Analysis

A set of indices was developed in order to classify the vulnerability of agricultural land to water and nitrogen losses (LOS), setting a basis for the integrated water resources management in agricultural systems. To calibrate the indices using multiple regression analysis, the simulation results of Groundwater Loading Effects of Agricultural Management Systems (GLEAMS) model for combinations of different soil properties, topography, and climatic conditions of a reference field crop were used as “observed values.” GLEAMS quantified (1) the annual losses of the percolated water beneath the root zone, (2) the annual losses of the surface runoff, (3) the annual losses of the nitrogen leaching beneath the root zone, and (4) the annual losses of nitrogen through the surface runoff, which were used to calibrate the following indices LOSW-P, LOSW-R, LOSN-PN, and LOSN-RN, respectively. All the simulations to gain the LOS indices were carried out for the same reference field crop, the same nitrogen fertilization, and the same irrigation practice, in order to obtain the intrinsic vulnerability of agricultural land to water and nitrogen losses. The LOS indices were also combined to derive nitrogen concentrations in the percolated and in the runoff water. Finally, the connection of LOS indices with the groundwater was performed using an additional equation, which determines the minimum transit time of the percolated water to reach the groundwater table.     

Modelling of Soil Water Dynamics in an Irrigated Corn Field using Direct and Pedotransfer Functions for Hydraulic Properties

A simulation study of the soil waterdynamics in a corn field was carried out inan area of Northern Greece during the 1996growing period. The soil water dynamicswere evaluated using a one-dimensionalmodel based on the Galerkin finite elementmethod. The simulations were carried out ontwo plots in the field which differed as tothe amount and timing of nitrogenfertilizer application. The irrigationwater was applied to the field ininadequate quantities, which resulted inlow water availability. Two procedures forobtaining soil hydraulic properties weretested with regard to the application inthe simulations. The pedotransfer functionsdeveloped by Vereecken et al. (1989,1990) were used to determine the parametersof the soil hydraulic functions, which werethen used in the model to simulate the soilwater dynamics. The simulated results werecompared with available measurements ofwater content at different depths in thesoil during the growing period. Thequalitative and quantitative procedures formodel evaluation showed that there was goodagreement between the simulated and themeasured values of water content atdifferent depths of soil. Results show thatsimulations based on pedotransfer functionspredict the water content reasonably wellcompared to results with the directedestimated hydraulic functions.