A virological survey in migrating waders and other waterfowl in one of the most important resting sites of Germany

Wild birds are considered a potential reservoir or a carrier of viral diseases and may therefore play a role in the epidemiology of economically important or zoonotic diseases. In 2001 and 2002, a survey with special emphasis on virus isolation in migrating waders and some other birds were conducted. In one of the most important inland resting sites for migratory waterfowl, tracheal and cloacal swabs were collected from 465 waders representing 19 different species, and 165 other birds that were not captured on purpose. A total of 42 avian viruses were isolated, 34 of these were identified as paramyxoviruses (PMVs). The majority of isolates came from waders and wild ducks, and were characterized as PMV-1. In contrast, PMV-4 was found in wild ducks only, PMV-6 was mainly detected in wader species. Four avian influenza viruses (AIVs), belonging to H4 and H3 haemagglutinin subtype, were isolated from wild duck species. Furthermore, four reo-like viruses were isolated from one particular wader species for the first time. The majority of virus positive birds were <1 year old and did not show any clinical symptoms. There was no evidence for the presence of West Nile virus in these birds. These results confirm that the restricted resting sites in Western Europe must be considered as important locations for the intra- and interspecies transmission of avian viruses.     

Grazing regime as a tool to assess positive side effects of livestock farming systems on wading birds

Wet grasslands support large populations of waders. As these birds are very sensitive to sward height and heterogeneity, grazing management is a key issue to their conservation. On a French coastal marsh consisting of 816 fields of wet grasslands, birds were monitored in spring and grazing regimes were assessed at three periods: year, spring, autumn. Each species was associated with a particular annual grazing index lower than the mean for all grazed fields. During spring, grazing intensity was significantly lower for fields occupied by birds than for those of the entire landscape. Different species of waders showed different preferences to grazing intensity with redshanks and curlews representing two extremes of a gradient going from low to high intensity. In early spring, the more precocious species selected fields with a significantly higher mean and variance in autumn stocking rate than for all grazed fields in previous autumn. These results highlight the need to maintain a variety of grazing regimes if conservation of the waders is to be achieved at the community level. On the basis of our analysis, useful indicators related to thresholds on livestock density and turn-out date can be derived to assess positive side effects of livestock farming systems.     

Foot use and hand preference during feeding in captive black‐and‐white snub‐nosed monkeys (Rhinopithecus bieti)

Postural origin theory predicts that body postures are related to hand preference in nonhuman primates due to hemispheric specialization. Foot preference, especially in manipulating objects, is also a good predictor of hemispheric specialization in humans. We studied limb (hand and foot) preferences in 11 captive adult black‐and‐white snub‐nosed monkeys (Rhinopithecus bieti) to see how limb preference is influenced by postures and foot manipulation. Hand preference was significantly different for this group between quadrupedal standing and clinging postures, and sitting and clinging postures, but not between bipedal standing and clinging postures. Individuals were significantly more likely to use the right hand in the clinging posture than in quadrupedal standing or sitting postures. In the sitting posture, individuals maintained their respective hand preference even when the food was on the other side of the body. There was a gender difference in the sitting posture, where females preferred their right hand but males preferred their left. Individuals who did not routinely use their feet to manipulate objects, compared to those who did, shifted to greater right hand use from the clinging posture to the bipedal posture. One male individual and his offspring were more likely to use their feet to manipulate objects than the rest of the monkeys. In the present study, we reveal the first evidence of a postural effect on hand preference in R. bieti as well as a foot preference in this species. Our results mostly agree with the postural origin theory and hemispheric specialization.     

Arid-Zone adaptations of waders (Aves: Charadrii)

Waders (birds of the suborder Charadrii) have radiated into the arid zones of the world through the successful use of adaptations formerly evolved in response to a marine or brackish shoreline, habitat These preadaptations are traced through the rnajor lines of wader radiation, ending in such highly specialized taxa as the sandgrouse (family Pteroclidae), which refined existing adaptations or evolved further adaptations to suit them to a diet of seeds and the need to drink in.an environment poor .in surface water.     

鸟类对猫捕食敏感性的种间差异研究

哺乳类捕获猎物的方法与猛禽不同,前者通常依靠伏击捕猎.这种捕猎行为上的差异,对不同猎物对被猎杀的敏感性有重要影响,并能改变猎物的日常行为.在分析了大量的猎物丰富度和可获得猎物等数据的基础上,我们研究了鸟类对家猫(Felis catus)捕食的敏感性.不同鸟种对被猫捕食的敏感性与对被雀鹰(Accipiter nisus)捕食的敏感性无显著相关性,但与对被苍鹰(Accipiter gentilis)捕食的易感性呈显著相关.鸟类对被猫和雀鹰捕食的敏感性被分别用来预测了它们对被苍鹰捕食的敏感性.鸟类尾羽缺失的比例会随着被猫捕食的敏感性的加大而增多,也验证了我们关于鸟类对被猫捕食敏感性的看法.猫对雄鸟的捕食比例较高,尤其当雄鸟处于植被较低层的位置鸣唱以及鸣唱时起飞距离较短时,被捕食的几率更高.集群繁殖的鸟类对被捕食的敏感性要低于独居鸟类.对细菌感染免疫力较高的鸟类同样也对猫的捕食有着较高的敏感性.这些结果说明猫的捕食己成为一个重要的选择压力,对普通鸟类的抗捕食行为、性别炫耀和免疫功能产生影响.     

Aggressive display and territoriality of the bateleur Terathopius ecaudatus

Bateleurs exhibit an aggressive display to conspecifies that incorporates an ‘attack’ pattern; the display has a territorial function because it drives intruders away from the nest, usually by a gain in altitude by the intruder. Resident breeding adults typically displayed at adults of the same sex or any of the non-adult age-classes, and each sex displayed equally often. The intensity of adult aggression was highest during the incubation period and decreased thereafter. Territories were maintained throughout the year, even after breeding failure and in non-breeding years. Bateleurs seem to maintain territories mainly for feeding, but other causes of territory formation, such as mate, progeny or nest-site protection, are not discounted. The intensity of adult aggression towards non-adults may influence non-adult movements, local distribution, and abundance. Aggression by non-adults was infrequent and was considered to be ‘play’ behaviour.     

Anaplasma phagocytophilum - the most widespread tick-borne infection in animals in Europe

The bacterium Anaplasma phagocytophilum (formerly Ehrlichia phagocytophila) may cause infection in several animal species including human. The disease in domestic ruminants is also called tick-borne fever (TBF), and has been known for at least 200 years. In Europe, clinical manifestations due to A. phagocytophilum have been recorded in sheep, goat, cattle, horse, dog, cat, roe deer, reindeer and human. However, seropositive and PCR-positive mammalian have been detected in several other species. Investigations indicate that the infection is prevalent in Ixodes ricinus areas in most countries in Europe. A. phagocytophilum infection may cause high fever, cytoplasmatic inclusions in phagocytes and severe neutropenia, but is seldom fatal unless complicated by other infections. Complications may include abortions, and impaired spermatogenesis for several months. However, the most important aspect of the infection at least in sheep is its implication as a predisposing factor for other infections. Factors such as climate, management, other infections, individual conditions etc. are important for the outcome of the infection. A. phagocytophilum may cause persistent infection in several species. Based on the 16S rRNA gene sequences several variants exist. Different variants may exist within the same herd and even simultaneously in the same animal. Variants may behave differently and interact in the mammalian host.     

Functional and structural comparison of cytokines in different species

As the number of recombinant cytokines increases, so does our knowledge of their structure and function in different species. The biological cross-reactivity of cytokines from one species on cells from a different species has been reported on in the literature but this information is scattered over many publications and some of it has not yet been published. Comparing sequence information combined with three-dimensional and receptor-binding information (i.e. biological cross-reactivity) in different species provides insight into the underlying rules governing cross-reactivity and conservation. It was observed that there is quite a strict threshold of 60% amino acid identity above which cytokines tend to cross-react. Below this threshold few cytokines cross-react on cells from a different species. When comparing frequencies of reported species cross-reactivities between cytokines belonging to different cytokine-folding families it is obvious that not all cytokines within these folding families are equally cross-reactive. The underlying reason for these differences may lay in the ability of certain folding families to accumulate more mutations and still produce a protein, which is able to fold in the desired tridimensional structure. For example, cytokines belonging to the short 4-alpha-helix bundle can accumulate mutations in the 4-alpha-helices and large loops connecting the 4-alpha-helices and are the least cross-reactive. In contrast, cytokines belonging to the beta-sheet based folds (beta-trefoil and beta-sandwich) are the most cross-reactive and also the most conserved cytokines amongst the different species studied.     

黔西北铅锌矿废渣场优势草本植物种群生态位及种间关系

本研究以黔西北铅锌矿废渣场为研究区，对矿渣堆及周边区域16种优势草本植物共有种生态位与种间联结性进行对比分析，以期为矿区生态恢复提供科学依据。结果表明：知风草(Eragrostis ferruginea)、狗尾草(Setaria viridis)、细柄黍(Panicum psilopodium)、鼠尾粟(Sporobolus fertilis)和牛筋草(Eleusine indica)等禾本科和艾蒿(Artemisia argyi)等菊科植物有较高的重要值和生态位宽度，分布相对广泛；禾本科植物如知风草、狗尾草、细柄黍、鼠尾粟和牛筋草等，因生态位相似且对重金属适应能力强，故生态位重叠度较高；矿渣堆和周边区域优势草本植物共有种总体均呈显著正联结，但种对间却以负联结为主，表明该矿渣场植物群落演替总体呈现进展演替，但演替进程缓慢，仍处于演替初期阶段。综上，矿渣堆因富集重金属而影响着区域植物群落构建；生态治理中，应将禾本科知风草、狗尾草、细柄黍等植物作为先锋植物，促进植被恢复。     

那拉提草原草地群落结构及种间关联性研究

针对新疆新源县那拉提山地高草草甸退化草地恢复与合理利用问题,选取生长季节围栏+打草草地和当地自由放牧草地为研究对象,采用Dahl多样性指数、Shannon-Weaver多样性指数、Sorensen相似性指数、Pielou均匀度指数,2×2列联表Fisher精确检验、Pearson相关系数和Spearman秩相关系数来进行草地群落及种间关联性的研究。结果表明:围栏+打草草地物种多样性和均匀度指数均小于自由放牧区;2样地内物种总体关联性均表现出显著正相关;Spearman秩相关分析结果较2×2列联表Fisher精确检验和Pearson相关系数结果更为精确,Spearman秩相关分析结果显示,围栏+打草草地内显著相关种占总种数的7.69%,自由放牧样地显著相关种占总种数的8.02%;生长季节的围栏+打草和自由放牧2种不同利用方式下,形成完全不相同的生境,导致共有种关联不显著。因此,对那拉提山地草甸退化草地必须进行适度放牧利用的同时增加人为防治毒害草措施。     

Sexual behavior of mares

Behavior during the estrous phase of the ovulatory cycle of the mare is analogous in most ways to that of estrous females of other species. Proceptive behaviors bring the mare into the proximity of the male and attract his attention. Positioning facilitates mounting, intromission, and ejaculation. Estrous signs appear to be more intense in the few days prior to ovulation than during the transition periods that separate the recurring estrous and diestrous phases. Sexual behavior is absent during diestrus. Detection of estrus in mares is problematic in that it requires the presence (or at least facsimile acoustic or tactile stimuli) or a stallion. Unexplained conditions such as silent or subestrus make reliable determinations even more difficult. The choice of methods for distinguishing estrous from nonestrous mares depends, among other factors, upon characteristics of individual mares, as well as the number of mares to be evaluated. Detection of true estrus--that is, sexual behavior that is associated with follicular growth and ovulation--is confounded by the occurrence of estrus-like behavior independent of gonadal stimulation. Seasonally anovulatory and ovariectomized mares may regularly solicit and accept copulation despite low or even no circulating levels of ovarian steroids. Instead, endocrine support of sexual behavior in these mares appears to be provided by adrenal cortical androgens and/or estrogens. A smaller percentage of pregnant mares may also show some signs of estrus but are not likely to be receptive to mating. The ability of the mare to dissociate sexual behavior from ovulation is unique among infraprimate species studied. The display of estrous behavior and willingness to copulate, even at times when conception is impossible, may have functional significance in promoting band cohesiveness in wild and feral populations. Even without copulation, continued motivation to remain in proximity to the band stallion may contribute to the stability of the social unit outside the ovulatory season.     

Seminal plasma proteins as modulators of the sperm function and their application in sperm biotechnologies

Seminal plasma (SP) is known to play an important role in mammalian fertilization. However, the variability found in its composition among species, males and even fractions of the same ejaculate has made difficult to completely understand its effect in sperm function. Proteins are one of the major SP components that modulate sperm functionality. During the last years, intensive work has been performed to characterize the role of these proteins. They have been found to influence sperm capacitation, formation of the oviductal sperm reservoir and sperm-oocyte interaction. Sperm biotechnologies, such as sperm cryopreservation and flow cytometric sex-sorting, that involve a substantial dilution of the SP are detrimental to sperm quality. Attempts to improve the outcome of these biotechnologies include the restoration of SP, which has produced contradictory results. To overcome this variability, different research groups have proposed the application of isolated SP proteins. Herein, we will review the current knowledge in the role of the major SP proteins as modulators of sperm functionality. Furthermore, we will discuss the possible applications of the SP proteins in sperm cryopreservation and flow cytometric sex-sorting.     

Some Feeding Adaptations and Postures of the Yellow White-Eye (Zosterops Senegalensis)

Yellow white-eyes were observed in the Kivu Highlands of the Eastern Zaire both in the field and in an aviary.

Some feeding adaptations are described, among them the ability to reach most points of the feeding ground among twigs and leaves by clinging in almost every body position even to weak supports and by hovering, ‘Zirkeln’ (enlarging of crevices by introduction of the closed bill which then opens and presses its edges apart), intake of liquids by licking and examination of shallow cavities with the tip of the tongue.

Some aspects of the flock structure, clumping and allopreening are discussed.

The agonistic behaviour patterns are described. While fighting is still of a relatively general passerine pattern, threat and submissive postures are partly ritualized. Threat postures consist of bill-opening, pivoting, wing-dropping and bill-clattering, each of them manifesting increasing aggressive tendencies in this order. Submission is expressed by becoming motionless and, in higher intensity, by fluffing, whereby certain plumage areas, crown and back, are already fluffed maximally in low intensity displays and re-direct the aggressive tendencies of an eventual partner towards allopreening.

Only a few observations were made on courtship behaviour. Horizontal wing-quivering is the usual approach of males to their potential mates whose aggressive tendencies are cut off by the offer of the male's head and neck plumage for allopreening.

The described postures are compared with what is known of comparable behaviour of other Zosterops species.     

A generalized framework for AMOVA with multiple hierarchies and ploidies

The analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) is a widely used statistical method in population genetics and molecular ecology. The classic framework of AMOVA only supports haploid and diploid data, in which the number of hierarchies ranges from two to four. In practice, natural populations can be classified into more hierarchies, and polyploidy is frequently observed in extant species. The ploidy level may even vary within the same species, and/or within the same individual. We generalized the framework of AMOVA such that it can be used for any number of hierarchies and any level of ploidy. Based on this framework, we present four methods to account for data that are multilocus genotypic and allelic phenotypic (with unknown allele dosage). We use simulated datasets and an empirical dataset to evaluate the performance of our framework. We make freely available our methods in a new software package, polygene , which is freely available at https://github.com/huangkang1987/polygene .     

抗伊氏锥虫变异表面糖蛋白单克隆抗体的初步研究

应用淋巴细胞杂交瘤技术制备了2个抗伊氏锥虫变异表面糖蛋白的McAb。特异性实验结果表明,2个McAb只与伊氏锥虫同一变异型表面抗原发生特异反应,而不与同种异株或同株不同变异型伊氏锥虫发生交叉反应,亦不与路氏锥虫等不同种抗原反应。运用正辛酸与硫酸铵二步沉淀法纯化了腹水MeAb,纯化后的McAb活性没有明显降低。应用2个McAb,以ELISA抑制试验检测了4份伊氏锥虫血清,结果均未出现明显的抑制作用,表明血清样本间很少或完全没有与McAb相类似的抗体,进而说明伊氏锥虫存在多个血清型亦即变异抗原型。     

Survey for Newcastle disease virus in northern Queensland birds

Of 1,235 individual birds from 130 species tested for haemagglutinating virus and/or NDV antibody in far northern Queensland, none gave a positive response. On available evidence pittas and rainforest pigeons are considered the species most likely to bring virulent NDV into Australia followed by gulls and night herons which move between dense seabird breeding colonies and other avian communities. Both can easily be monitored by strategic sampling along migratory pathways or at breeding islands. Wild parrots, waterfowl and migratory waders appear to present a minimal threat.     

Are Endocrine Disrupting Compounds a Threat to Farm Animal Health,Welfare and Productivity?

Contents The sources and characteristics of endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) are reviewed and discussed with respect to their potential effects on farm animal health, welfare and productivity. The importance of certain properties of these compounds in relation to the expression of their biological effects is addressed together with potential routes of exposure. It is concluded that little is known of factors affecting the tissue concentrations of EDCs in farm animals, the concentrations that are required to perturb physiological function in these species, the effects of prolonged exposure to low doses, the effect of cocktails of EDCs and other pollutants or the responses of specific organs and physiological systems that are affected by EDCs. Much of the available information pertaining to EDCs is derived from epidemiological studies of wildlife species and from laboratory animal studies and while these studies have significant limitations, they are considered to be valuable indicators of potential effects in farm animal species. The results of such studies, together with the small amounts of data from studies of ruminants, indicate that there may be significant effects of exposure to environmental levels of EDCs on farm animal health, even although effects are not generally apparent in practice, at this time.     

Retinal Photoreceptor Fine Structure in the Red-Tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis)

The retinal photoreceptors of the red-tailed hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) consist of rods, single cones and double (unequal) cones present in a ratio of about 2: 11 5. In the light-adapted state, the rods are slender elongated cells with outer segments that reach to the retinal epithelial (RPE) cells. The inner segment displays an ellipsoid of mitochondria, plentiful polysomes, some rough ER and Golgi zones. The rod nucleus is located deep within the outer nuclear layer and the synaptic spherule displays both invaginated (ribbon) and superficial (conventional) synaptic sites. Single cones show a thin tapering outer segment, a large electron lucent oil droplet at the apex of the inner segment and an ellipsoid of mitochondria. Double cones consist of a larger chief member which displays a thin tapering outer segment and an electron dense oil droplet as well as a smaller accessory cone which shows no oil droplet, an ellipsoid and a paraboloid of glycogen. As in the single cone, polysomes, RER and Golgi zones are also noted in the inner segments of both members of the double cone. Near the external limiting membrane the chief and accessory cones show membrane specializations indicative of junctions on their contiguous surfaces. All cone photoreceptors are of a smaller diameter than is normally reported for avian species. Both single and double cones display several invaginated synapses as well as numerous superficial synaptic sites.     

Acceptance and palatability for domestic and wildlife hosts of baits designed to deliver a tuberculosis vaccine to wild boar piglets

Tuberculosis (TB) caused by Mycobacterium bovis, a member of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex, is an important health problem worldwide. The control of TB through vaccination of wildlife reservoirs may potentially have advantages over other management strategies. The most practical approach to deliver vaccines to wildlife is using oral baits that are stable under field conditions and effective in reaching the target species. Baits were developed in our laboratory to deliver oral vaccines to wild boar piglets. However, these baits were well accepted by other wild species. Therefore, bait consumption by different M. bovis hosts was evaluated herein. The results showed that the baits were well accepted by cattle, feral pigs, and adult red deer whereas small mammals like badgers and possums showed varying bait acceptance. Bait acceptance by different species has the advantage of targeting more than one wildlife reservoir when they coexist in the same area and need to be vaccinated for TB control. However, bait delivery methods such as the use of selective feeders to target the desired species should be developed to avoid bait consumption by other species.     

海南省不同地区几种热带牧草微量元素含量

从海南省5个地区分别采集5种热带人工牧草样品,以原子吸收分光光度法测定其中铁、铜、锌和锰的含量。给出了热带地区牛、羊舍饲常用的5种人工牧草中上述元素的平均含量。从测定结果还可看出,不同地区的同种牧草,有些微量元素的平均值相近,但多数微量元素含量存在一定、甚至较大的差异;同一地区同一种牧草样品间也有差异。