Effects of different variable sets on the potential distribution of fish species in the Amazon Basin

Estimating species’ potential distribution is one of the main objectives of macroecology, especially when sampling biases can affect knowledge on how environmental variables affect species distribution. Ecological niche models estimate species’ environmental niches from different variables and their occurrences. Using the presence-only data from eight Amazonian fish species, which inhabit rivers and streams, we aimed to (a) explore the effect of different sets variables on the spatial distributions of target species and (b) evaluate the predictive responses of MaxEnt to sets of variables with different degrees of complexity. MaxEnt has high flexibility in relation to the input data and its performance is influenced by a moderate number of adjustable parameters, allowing for high precision results when balancing underestimation and overestimation errors. We used environmental predictors in MaxEnt the principal components of climatic, topographic and edaphic variables as inputs. The combination of topographic and edaphic variables produced more precise and spatially restricted distribution ranges for all species when compared to those generated with climatic variables. All models reached high AUC values, especially for stream species. Modelled range sizes were broader for the river species, suggesting different tolerance thresholds and habitat preferences when compared to stream species. The complexity of the different variables sets did not affect MaxEnt's prediction capacity. However, for stream species, MaxEnt showed a greater predictive power. This work increases the knowledge with regards to the influence of different environmental predictors on the spatial patterns of the distribution of Amazonian fish.     

Homogeneous shear stress field of wood in an Arcan shear test configuration measured by means of electronic speckle pattern interferometry: description of the test setup

Wood Science and Technology - Several studies have dealt with the problem of how to measure the shear modulus of small clear wood specimens, avoiding bias from normal compression, bending, tension...     

Chromosomal location of genes for resistance to powdery mildew in common wheat (Triticum aestivum L. em Thell.). 9. Gene MlZec1 from the Triticum dicoccoides-derived wheat line Zecoi-1

The Triticum dicoccoides-derived wheat line Zecoi-1 provides effective protection against powdery mildew. F₃ segregation analysis of Chinese Spring × Zecoi-1 hybrids showed that resistance in line Zecoi-1 is controlled by a single dominant gene. Amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) analysis of bulked segregants from F₃s showing the homozygous resistant and susceptible phenotypes identified eight markers, of which four were associated with the resistance allele in repulsion phase. Following the assignment of these four repulsion phase AFLP markers to wheat chromosome 2B with the aid of Chinese Spring nulli-tetrasomic lines, they were physically mapped in the terminal breakpoint interval 0.89 (2BL-6)–1.00 (telomere) of chromosome 2BL. Genetic and physical mapping of simple sequence repeat markers from the distal half of chromosome 2BL located the wild emmer-derived powdery mildew resistance gene distal of breakpoint 0.89 in deletion line 2BL-6. Based on disease response patterns, genomic origin and chromosomal location the resistance gene in Zecoi-1 is temporarily designated MlZec1.     

Carry-over of thermophilic Campylobacter spp. between sequential and adjacent poultry flocks

Nineteen flocks of four poultry species were monitored at a veterinary field station to investigate the distribution and spread of Campylobacter genotypes between sequential and adjacent flocks. Caecal and liver samples were obtained at frequent intervals from birds of all flocks and examined for Campylobacter. Amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) analysis was performed to genotype Campylobacter isolates. Of the 1643 caecal and liver samples investigated, 452 (27.5%) caecal samples and 11 (0.7%) liver samples contained Campylobacter. Of the caecal isolates 76.3% were identified as Campylobacter jejuni and 23.7% were identified as Campylobacter coli. Poultry flocks were largely colonized by more than one AFLP type and an intense exchange of Campylobacter genotypes between different poultry flocks occurred. These findings indicate that multiple genotypes can constitute the Campylobacter population within single poultry flocks, hinting to different sources of exposure and/or genetic drifts within the Campylobacter population. Nevertheless, in most flocks single Campylobacter genotypes predominated. Some strains superseded others resulting in colonization by successive Campylobacter genotypes during the observation period. In conclusion, the data demonstrate that the large genetic diversity of Campylobacter must be considered in epidemiological evaluations and microbial risk assessments of Campylobacter in poultry.     

Versuche zur Verwendung von „Ersatzwirten” bei Laborzuchten der Zehrwespen Micropleetron fuscipennis Zett. (Chalcididae,Eulophinae) und Pteromalus alboannulatus Ratz. (Chalcididae,Pteromalinae)

Zusammenfassung 1. Die Weibchen der ChalcididePteromalus alboannulatus Ratz. sind in Laborzuchten außer an Puppen der Kieferneule(Panolis flammea Schiff.) erfolgreich auch zur Fortpflanzung an Puppen vonBupalus piniarius L.,Ellopia prosapiaria L.,Hematurga atomaria L.,Boarmia bistortata Goeze undSphinx pinastri L. zu bringen.2. Zuchten der ChalcidideMicroplectron fuscipennis Zett. lassen sich bei Mangel anDiprion-Kokons mit Hilfe der Kokons vonLygaeonematus abietum Htg., besser mit solchen vonLygaeonematus wesmaeli Tischb. weiterführen. Im Freilandversuch ergibt sich jedoch eindeutig eine Bevorzugung derDiprion-Kokons.Neuerdings auch:Dahlbominus.Neuerdings auch:Dirhicnus.     

The carbon budget of an adult <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pinus cembra</Emphasis> tree at the alpine timberline in the Central Austrian Alps

We investigated carbon (C) uptake and respiratory losses of an adult Pinus cembra tree at the alpine timberline throughout an entire year by means of an automated, multiplexing gas exchange system. These chamber measurements were then combined with biomass data for scaling up the C budget to the tree level. Integrated over an entire year, the cumulative C gain of the tree under study was 23.5 kg of C in 2002. The daily C balance was negative for 5 months and the estimated total wintertime respiratory losses were 9% of the amount of C fixed during the growing season. The total annual C loss of the tree consumed 55% of the annual net C gain and the remaining surplus was stored in new tissues (36%) and used for fine root growth (9%). Thus, the overall C budget of P. cembra at the upper timberline is balanced fairly well, although the C sink strength in fine roots is strongly limited owing to low root zone temperatures when compared to conifers at lower elevation sites.     

Age effects on Norway spruce (Picea abies) susceptibility to ozone uptake: a novel approach relating stress avoidance to defense

Cumulative ozone (O3) uptake and O3 flux were related to physiological, morphological and biochemical characteristics of Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) trees of different ages. Under ambient CO2 conditions, photosynthetic capacity (Amax) declined in mature trees when cumulative O3 uptake into needles, which provides a measure of effective O3 dose, exceeded 21 mmol m-2 of total needle surface area. A comparable decline in Amax of seedlings occurred when cumulative O(3) uptake was only 4.5 mmol m-2. The threshold O3 flux causing a significant decline in Amax ranged between 2.14 and 2.45 nmol m-2 s-1 in mature trees and seedlings subjected to exposure periods of > or = 70 and > or = 23 days, respectively. The greater O3 sensitivity of young trees compared with mature trees was associated with needle morphology. Biomass of a 100-needle sample increased significantly with tree age, whereas a negative correlation was found for specific leaf area, these changes parallel those observed during differentiation from shade-type to sun-type needles with tree ontogeny. Age-dependent changes in leaf morphology were related to changes in detoxification capacity, with area-based concentrations of ascorbate increasing during tree ontogeny. These findings indicate that the extent of O3-induced injury is related to the ratio of potentially available antioxidants to O3 influx. Because this ratio, when calculated for ascorbate, increased with tree age, we conclude that the ratio may serve as an empirical basis for characterizing age-related differences in tree responses to O3.     

What is new about new forest owners? A typology of private forest ownership in Austria

With structural changes in agriculture, new types of forest owners have become increasingly important. This article develops an empirically-based typology of forest owners in Austria. Based on a representative survey and by means of cluster analysis, seven types of forest owners are identified. These types form a sequence, ranging from forest owners with a strong agricultural background to forest owners with no agricultural background at all. The latter exhibit markedly different behaviour in various respects, e.g. in their interest in forest-related information. The increasing number of ‘new’ forest owners raises important questions for forest policy, especially how policy instruments can reach these owners and how extension services can address them.     

Untersuchungen über die Ausbreitung von Nonnenfaltern durch Markierung mit Seltenen Erden

Zusammenfassung In der vorliegenden Arbeit werden Laborversuche zur Markierung von Nonnenraupen und Nonnenfaltern mit den Seltenen Erden Europium und Dysprosium behandelt, sowie Freilanduntersuchungen zum Studium der Ausbreitung mit Europium gekennzeichneter Nonnenfalter. Imagines, die mit Mengen von 1/Exemplar im Raupenstadium besprüht worden waren, erwiesen sich, ebenso wie im Vorjahr in derselben Weise behandelte Kiefernspinner, als deutlich markiert. Zur Kennzeichnung der Falter gelangten im Labor und im Freiland 10 Europium, im Labor auch 10 Dysprosium/Exemplar mittels Besprühung erfolgreich zur Anwendung. Die Ausbreitungsuntersuchungen ergaben einen Überflug markierter Falter auf eine Entfernung von 2 km.

---

Summary The present paper describes laboratory experiments in marking nun-caterpillars and nun-moths with the rare earths Europium and Dysprosium, as well as field studies on the spread of nun-moths marked with Europium. Nun-moths, sprayed with quantities of 1/individual in the caterpillar stage, proved distinctly marked, and so did pine spinners(Dendrolimus pini) treated the same way past year. Marking of moths succeeded in both laboratory and field by spraying with 10 Europium, in the laboratory also with 10 Dysprosium per individual. Spreading studies revealed marked moths overflying distances of 2 kilometres.

---

Résumé L'ouvrage présent traite d'essais en laboratoire sur le marquage de chenilles et de papillons de la Nonne(L. monacha) au moyen des terres rares Europium et Dysprosium, ainsi que de recherches au terrain sur l'expansion de papillons de cette espèce marqués d'Europium. Les images de la Nonne, ayant été aspérgées au stade larvaire d'une dose de 1 par individu, se sont avérées distinctement marquées, de même que les Bombyx du Pin traités de la même manière l'année passée. — Le marquage de papillons a été effectué avec succès au laboratoire et au terrain au moyen de 10 d'Europium — au laboratoire aussi de 10 de Dysprosium — par individu, appliqués par aspersion. Les recherches sur l'expansion ont révélé un survol de papillons marqués à une distance de 2 km.

---

---

Für weitgehende Unterstützung der entomologischen Untersuchungen sei den Herren Dr. W. Schedl, Förster C. Holzschuh und Förster F. Stradner der forstlichen Bundesversuchsanstalt, der physikalischen Auswertung Herrn Ing. D. Koch, Reaktorzentrum Seibersdorf, herzlich gedankt. Besonderer Dank sei auch der Landesforstinspektion Niederösterreich, der Bezirksforstinspektion Waidhofen/Thaya und der Forstverwaltung von Fischen-Ankern für großzügige Hilfe bei der Durchführung der Freilanduntersuchungen ausgesprochen.     

Ernährungsweise und wirtschaftliche Bedeutung des Trauerschnäppers

Ohne Zusammenfassung