The Birds of the Alien Acacia Thickets of the South Western Cape

The plough shell, Bullia rhodostoma (Mollusca: Gastropoda), has been studied on an open sandy beach where it is a common scavenger. Samples taken over a year indicate hatching of young individuals from December to February. They reach a length of about 10 mm after 1 year and 40 mm after 10 years. The von Bertalanffy growth equation is L_t = 47 (1 - e^{-0,19(t+0,23)}) and the annual mortality rate is 0,79. Mean decalcified dry biomass is 209 mg m^-2 and production by growth 189 mg m^-2 y^-1 giving a P/B of 0,9. Most production by adults (>15 mm shell length) goes into reproduction, particularly In the females which grow larger than the males. Production by reproduction is estimated to be about 135 mg m^-2 y^-1. Average calorific values are 19,04 kJ g^-1 dry tissue     

Aboveground and Belowground Carbon Pools After Fire in Mountain Big Sagebrush Steppe

Postfire succession in mountain big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata Nutt. subsp. vaseyana [Rydb.] Beetle) ecosystems results in a gradual shift from herbaceous dominance to dominance by shrubs. Determining the quality, quantity, and distribution of carbon (C) in rangelands at all stages of succession provides critical baseline data for improving predictions about how C cycling will change at all stages of succession under altered climate conditions. This study quantified the mass and distribution of above- and belowground (to 1.8-m depth) biomass at four successional stages (2, 6, 20, and 39 yr since fire) in Wyoming to estimate rates of C pool accumulation and to quantify changes in ecosystem carbon to nitrogen (C∶N) ratios of the pools during recovery after fire. We hypothesized that biomass C pools would increase over time after fire and that C∶N ratios would vary more between pools than during succession. Aboveground and live coarse roots (CR) biomass increased to 310 and 17 g C · m^?2, but live fine roots (FR) mass was static at about 225 g C · m^?2. Fine litter (≤ 1-cm diameter) accounted for about 70% of ecosystem C accumulation rate, suggesting that sagebrush leaves decompose slowly and contribute to a substantial soil organic carbon (SOC) pool that did not change during the 40 yr studied. Total ecosystem C (not including SOC) increased 16 g · m^?2 · yr^?1 over 39 yr to a maximum of 1 100 g · m^?2; the fastest accumulation occurred during the first 20 yr. C∶N ratios ranged from 11 for forb leaves to 110 for large sagebrush wood and from 85 for live CR to 12 for bulk soil and were constant across growth stages. These systems may be resilient to grazing after fire because of vigorous regrowth of persistent bunchgrasses and stable pools of live FR and SOC.     

The population dynamics of the estuarine isopod Exosphaeroma hylocoetes (Barnard, 1940) within three temporarily open/closed southern African estuaries

The population dynamics of the estuarine isopod, Exosphaeroma hylocoetes, was investigated monthly from February 2006 to August 2007 in three temporarily open/closed Eastern Cape estuaries, the East and West Kleinemonde and Kasouga Estuaries. Mean isopod abundances and biomasses ranged between 0 and 4791 ind/m² and 0 and 9.65 mg/dwt/m² in the West Kleinemonde Estuary and between 0 and 108 ind/m² and 0 and 0.318 mg/dwt/m² in the nearby East Kleinemonde Estuary. In the Kasouga Estuary, the values ranged between 0 and 3650 ind/m² and 0 and 5.105 mg/dwt/m². Temporal changes in the abundance and biomass of E. hylocoetes within the three systems was primarily linked to mouth phase, with populations crashing when the mouth was open and to a lesser extent, seasonality. In all three estuaries maximum abundance and biomass was recorded in the middle reaches, which could be ascribed to the presence of submerged macrophytes. E. hylocoetes demonstrates strong sexual dimorphism, with males being significantly larger than females (P < 0.05). Sex ratios were skewed in favour of females in all three estuaries. Females were encountered carrying young from an overall length of 2.5 mm throughout the year     

Soil Carbon Pools in California’s Annual Grassland Ecosystems

Rangeland ecosystems cover approximately one-third of the land area in the United States and half of the land area of California. This large land area, coupled with the propensity of grasses to allocate a considerable proportion of their photosynthate belowground, leads to high soil carbon (C) sequestration potential. Annual grasslands typical of the Mediterranean climates of the western United States differ in their life history strategies from the well-studied perennial grasslands of other regions and thus may also differ in their soil C pools and fluxes. In this study we use the literature to explore patterns in soil C storage in annual grass-dominated rangelands in California. We show that soil C is highly predictable with depth. Cumulative soil C content increased to 2–3-m depth in rangelands with a woody component and to at least 1-m depth in open rangelands. Soil C within a given depth varied widely, with C content in the top 1-m depth spanning almost 200 Mg C · ha^?1 across sites. Soil C pools were not correlated with temperature or precipitation at a regional scale. The presence of woody plants increased C by an average of 40 Mg · ha^?1 in the top meter of soil. Grazed annual grasslands had similar soil C content as ungrazed grassland at all depths examined, although few details on grazing management were available. Soil C pools were weakly positively correlated with clay content and peaked at intermediated levels of aboveground net primary production. Our results suggest that annual grasslands have similar soil C storage capacity as temperate perennial grasslands and offer an important resource for mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions and climate change.     

Influence of 90 Years of Protection From Grazing on Plant and Soil Processes in the Subalpine of the Wasatch Plateau,USA

Human communities in the Intermountain West depend heavily on subalpine rangelands because of their importance in providing water for irrigation and forage for wildlife and livestock. In addition, many constituencies are looking to managed ecosystems to sequester carbon in plant biomass and soil C to reduce the impact of anthropogenic CO₂ on climate. This work builds on a 90-year-old grazing experiment in mountain meadows on the Wasatch Plateau in central Utah. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence of 90 years of protection from grazing on processes controlling the input, output, and storage of C in subalpine rangelands. Long-term grazing significantly reduced maximum biomass in all years compared with plots within grazing exclosures. For grazed plots, interannual variability in aboveground biomass was correlated with July precipitation and temperature (R² = 0.51), while there was a weak correlation between July precipitation and biomass in ungrazed plots (R² = 0.24). Livestock grazing had no statistically significant impacts on total soil C or particulate organic matter (POM), although grazing did increase active soil C and decrease soil moisture. Grazing significantly increased the proportion of total soil C pools that were potentially mineralizable in the laboratory, with soils from grazed plots evolving 4.6% of total soil C in 1 year while ungrazed plots lost 3.3% of total soil C. Volumetric soil moisture was consistently higher in ungrazed plots than grazed plots. The changes in soil C chemistry may have implications for how these ecosystems will respond to forecast climate change. Because grazing has resulted in an accumulation of easily decomposable organic material, if temperatures warm and summer precipitation increases as is anticipated, these soils may become net sources of CO₂ to the atmosphere creating a positive feedback between climate change and atmospheric CO₂.     

Carbon Stocks and Fluxes in Rangelands of the Río de la Plata Basin

Grasslands are one of the most modified biomes on Earth. Land use changes had a large impact on carbon (C) stocks of grasslands. Understanding the impact of land use/land cover changes on C stocks and fluxes is critical to evaluate the potential of rangeland ecosystem as C sinks. In this article we analyze C stocks and fluxes across the environmental gradients of one of the most extensive temperate rangeland areas: the Río de la Plata Grasslands (RPG) in South America. The analysis summarizes information provided by field studies, remote sensing estimates, and modeling exercises. Average estimates of aboveground net primary production (ANPP) ranged from 240 to 316 g C· m^?2·yr^?1. Estimates of belowground NPP (BNPP) were more variable than ANPP and ranged from 264 to 568 g C· m^?2·yr^?1. Total Carbon ranged from 5 004 to 15 008 g C· m^?2. Plant biomass contribution to Total Carbon averaged 13% and varied from 9.5% to 27% among sites. The largest plant C stock corresponded to belowground biomass. Aboveground green biomass represented less than 7% of the plant C. Soil organic carbon (SOC) was concentrated in the slow and passive compartments of the organic matter. Active soil pool represented only 6.7% of the SOC. The understanding of C dynamics and stocks in the RPG grasslands is still partial and incomplete. Field estimates of ANPP and BNPP are scarce, and they are not based on a common measurement protocol. Remotely sensed techniques have the potential to generate a coherent and spatially explicit database on ANPP. However, more work is needed to improve estimates of the spatial and temporal variability of radiation use efficiency. The absence of a flux tower network restricts the ability to track seasonal changes in C uptake and to understand fine-scale controls of C dynamics.     

The Zooplankton of Mgazana,A Mangrove Estuary in Transkei,Southern Africa

Mgazana, a mangrove estuary inTranskei, was investigated from May 1972 to March 1973 at six-week intervals. Salinities were consistently above 25 parts per thousand in the middle and lower estuary. In the upper estuary the salinity varied between 4 and 29 parts per thousand. Water temperatures varied between I5,5°C and 28°C. One hundred and fifteen taxa of zooplankton organisms were recorded in the samples. The copepods Acartia naialensis and Oithona brevicornis reached high population densities and numbers exceeding 100 000/m³ of water were recorded. Mysids were major contributors to zooplankton biomass. A maximum biomass of I 200 mg/m³ was recorded in February in the middle estuary and was attributed to the mysid Mesopodopsis africana. Species of mysids showed clear seasonal and spatial patterns of distribution in the estuary.     

Soil Phosphorus,Cattle Stocking Rates,and Water Quality in Subtropical Pastures in Florida,USA

Minimizing nonpoint source nutrient pollution is important to the sustainability of grazing lands. Increased nutrient loads have reduced water quality in Lake Okeechobee in south Florida, prompting establishment of a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) that will require large reductions in phosphorus (P) runoff into the lake. A significant portion of this reduction must come from beef cattle ranches, the major land use in the region. A large-scale research project, consisting of a 420-ha array of 8 improved summer and 8 semi-improved winter pastures, was established from 1998–2003 to investigate the influence of beef cattle stocking rate on nutrient loads in surface runoff. Each pasture type had two replicates of four different cattle stocking rates including a control with no cattle and stocked pastures with low, medium, and high stocking rates (1.3, 1.0, 0.6 ha·AU^-1 [animal unit] in summer pastures; 2.1, 1.6, and 0.9 ha·AU^-1 in winter pastures). Cattle stocking rate did not affect nutrient concentrations or loads in surface runoff during the study period. Average annual P discharges were 1.71 kg·ha^-1 from summer pastures and 0.25 kg·ha^-1 from winter pastures. Average total P concentrations in runoff were 0.63 mg·L^-1 for summer pastures and 0.15 mg·L^-1 for winter pastures. Differences in runoff P were related to differences in soil P test results, a difference believed to be due to prior fertilization practices. Our findings show that reducing cattle stocking rates on beef cattle pastures is not an effective practice for reducing nutrient loads, and that accumulation of P in soil from historical fertilization has an overriding influence on P loads in surface runoff. Results indicate that reducing the overall volume of surface discharges would be a more effective strategy than altering cattle stocking practices to reduce nonpoint runoff of P from cattle pastures in this region.     

Physiological and Morphological Characterization of Basalt Milkvetch (Astragalus filipes): Basis for Plant Improvement

Astragalus filipes Torr. ex A. Gray (basalt milkvetch or threadstalk milkvetch) is a legume that is widely distributed in western North America and holds promise for revegetation and restoration programs in the western United States. Seed of 67 accessions was collected in 2003 from Utah, Nevada, Idaho, Oregon, California, and Washington. Field-collected forage samples from these accessions had nondetectable or low levels of selenium, swainsonine, and nitrotoxins. Accessions were evaluated at Providence and Millville in northern Utah in 2005 and 2006. At Providence accessions from north-central Oregon exhibited comparatively high biomass yield in summer and fall during both years. Basalt milkvetch accessions with low biomass generally had high crude protein concentration. Acid-detergent fiber and neutral-detergent fiber were positively correlated with biomass yield (r = 0.42, P < 0.0001; r = 0.57, P < 0.0001, respectively). At Millville accessions from north-central Oregon exhibited comparatively high biomass and seed yield. Seed weight per 100 seeds varied among basalt milkvetch accessions in both years at Millville. Plants at Millville treated with imadicloprid insecticide had greater seed yields than nontreated plants in 2006, but not in 2005. When averaged across sites and years, a high correlation between number of stems and biomass (r = 0.82, P < 0.0001) indicated that number of stems is a reliable predictor of high biomass and seed yield. Principal component analysis of seven consolidated plant traits identified two principal components that accounted for 60% and 15% of the variation among accessions. The first principal component was negatively correlated with elevation (r = -0.71, P < 0.01) and positively correlated with latitude (r = 0.46, P < 0.01). The second principal component was positively correlated with elevation (r = 0.36, P < 0.01) and negatively correlated with latitude (r = -0.47, P < 0.01). These results are beneficial in identifying basalt milkvetch accessions that hold promise for plant improvement efforts.     

Determinations of the reproductive output of populations of a thalassinid prawn Upogebia africana (Ortmann) in the Swartkops estuary

Populations of large and ‘stunted’ (adult carapace lengths = 17,0–24,0 and 12,0–19,0 mm respectively) Upogebia africana were regularly and quantitatively sampled in the Swartkops estuary. At the site with ‘stunted’ prawns a well-defined spring (July to October) and summer (December to March) breeding cycle was recorded. The ‘stunted’ female prawns produced two broods of eggs per annum and the brood size ranged from about 305 to 2282 eggs depending on the size of the female. At the site with large prawns the spring and summer breeding cycles tended to merge, forming a longer breeding season, with the adult females apparently producing three broods of eggs per annum. The brood size of these females ranged from about 1304 to 4819 eggs. The calculated reproductive output (Pr) and reproductive biomass ratio (Pr/B) of the latter population were much greater than those of the ‘stunted’ prawns (1331 kJ m^?2 y^? and 0,53 v. 332 kJ m^?2 y^?1 and 0,26).     

Activity of the Namib Desert dune ant,Camponotus detritus

The activity of the ant Camponotus detritus was studied in the dunes of the central Namib Desert. Activity was divided into two components: transit activity and honeydew collection. Temperature governed both forms, but light controlled the initiation and termination of transit activity, which was bimodal in warm conditions and unimodal in cool conditions. No transit activity occurred at night. Ants were active over a surface temperature range of 10-55°C. Owing to a steep thermal gradient above the sand surface during the day in summer, the temperatures which the ants bodies experienced at 5 mm above the sand were 10-15°C lower than surface temperatures; well within the ants' physiological limits. Winds of about 16 km h^-1 inhibited activity which ceased when wind speeds reached about 25 km h^-1. In summer, the number of ants collecting honeydew was negatively correlated with air temperature while in winter it was positively correlated.     

Tidal exchange of two decapod larvae Palaemon pacificus (Caridea) and Upogebia africana (Thalassinidae) between the Swartkops River estuary and adjacent coastal waters

Two 24-h plankton and seine-netting studies were carried out in the Swartkops estuary mouth, one during a spring-tide, the other on a neap-tide in order to determine larval movements of the prawns Palaemon pacificus and Upogebia africana in and out of the estuary. Two size classes of the former were caught, namely zoea 6 and adults. No zoeae 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5, post-larvae or juveniles were caught. Zoea 1 of U. africana are flushed out of the estuary into Algoa Bay on the nocturnal ebb-tide with very few returning on the subsequent flood-tide. Net fluxes were 97,1% and 99,9%. Larval life is then spent at sea after which the pre-postlarvae invade the estuary to reach the estuarine nursery areas. For P. pacificus this was during zoea 6, mainly on the nocturnal flood-tides. Net fluxes of P. pacificus zoea 6 were 95,8% and 100%. Most larval movement occurred at peak velocities as they utilize the tidal currents in dispersion and recruitment. Some P. pacificus zoea 6 are washed out again on ebb-tides, but lateral movement to the banks during slack-tide appears to be a mechanism to prevent this occurring. P. pacificus adult movement in the mouth region was better cor-related with nocturnal activity than with tidal movements.     

Seasonal Losses of Surface Litter in Northern Great Plains Mixed-Grass Prairies

Surface litter protects rangeland soils against wind and water erosion and provides food and nesting materials for wildlife and insects. However, the ability of grassland systems to provide these services depends on the little studied topic of seasonal surface litter decomposition. Seasonal and annual surface litter decomposition rates were determined between 2014 and 2015 in central and western South Dakota at three mixed-grass prairie locations. Residue bags containing surface litter were placed in the field in late fall (1 November) of 2014 and removed after the winter (1 April), spring (1 July), and summer + fall seasons (1 November) of 2015. The litter was analyzed for total C, total N, acid detergent fiber (ADF), and acid detergent lignin (ADL). Average winter temperatures ranged from −5^oC to −15^oC, while summer temperatures ranged from 10^oC to 35^oC. Litter decomposition was lowest during the winter (0.57−0.86 g [kg × day]⁻¹) and greatest during the summer + fall (2.12−2.69 g [kg × day]⁻¹). Over the entire season, 40.8−62% of the surface litter decomposed. Winter litter decomposition was positively correlated with air temperature (r = 0.62, P < 0.01) and snow depth (r = 0.61, P < 0.01), and negatively correlated with C/N ratio (r = −0.65, P < 0.01), ADF (r = −0.35, P < 0.05), and ADL (r = −0.25, P < 0.05) concentrations. These findings indicate that winter decomposition cannot be ignored and that winter surface litter decomposition increases with snow depth.     

Prevalence of Infectious Hypodermal and Hematopoietic NecrosisVirus (IHHNV) in Wild Adult Blue Shrimp Penaeus stylirostris from the Northern Gulf of California,Mexico

Abstract

Conventional histopathology and molecular methods, including dot blot hybridization with a specific DNA probe and polymerase chain reaction (PCR), were used to assess the prevalence and degree of severity of infectious hypodermal and hematopoietic necrosis virus (IHHNV) infection in wild adult blue shrimp Penaeus stylirostris captured in the Northern Gulf of California. Through histopathological analysis, a presumptive diagnosis of IHHNV was initially determined by demonstrating the presence of Cowdry type A inclusion bodies. Prevalence rate ranged from 80% to 100% in females and was 60% in males. Using the dot blot technique, the results showed that the presence of IHHNV varied in females from 86% to 89% and in males from 56% to 57%. Results were further validated using PCR to assess the prevalence of IHHNV in eggs and sperm. The PCR results showed that IHHNV prevalence in unfertilized eggs was 100% and in sperm was 60%. We concluded that wild adults of P. stylirostris are infected with IHHNV but that they do not show clinical signs of disease. Our data suggest that in the 10th year of the IHHNV epizootic in the Gulf of California, a host–pathogen relationship might have reached a putative equilibrium.     

Species Richness and Abundance of Clinid Fish (Teleostei; Clinidae) in Intertidal Rock Pools

Factors affecting species richness and abundance of clinid fish(Fam. Clinidae)in 19 intertidal rock pools near Muizenberg, South Africa, were investigated. Some measure of cover is the most important predictor of clinid species richness, abundance and biomass. Intraspecific partitioning of habitat by Clinus superciliosus was observed, and apparently occurs in C. cottoides as well. Fish were observed to move between pools during high tides, and some individuals showed fidelity to particular pools. There is some evidence for suggesting that C. superciliosus might be a colonizing species.     

Respiration and ecological energetics of the sea urchin Parechinus angulosus

Respiration rates of Parechinus angulosus collected from intertidal pools at Dalebrook, False Bay, were measured in the laboratory at 16 #x00B0;C using the sealed-vessel method. No respiratory rhythms were detected over three 26-hour runs each Involving eight animals of different sizes. Respiration rates, expressed for an animal of standard diameter, increased proportionally to gonad Index. Annual production of the intertidal P. angulosus population was calculated from the respiration and population data using the P/R regression of Miller, Mann and Scarratt (1971), and was estimated to be about 1200 kJ m^-2 year^-1.     

Reproductive season and male effect on quantitative and qualitative traits of individually collected Muscovy duck (Cairina moschata) semen

Males of Muscovy duck (Cairina moschata) are mainly used for mule duck production via artificial insemination of females originated from wild mallard duck (Anas platyrhynchos); therefore, the quantity and quality of drake semen play a crucial role. The assessment results of male reaction to sexual stimulation by dummy female and basic semen characteristic (ejaculate volume, sperm concentration and morphology) of 12 individually kept Muscovy drakes carried out during the entire reproductive season are described. The male and period of the reproductive season effect on scored semen traits are documented. In total, 792 individual semen collections and evaluations were performed. The average of positive reaction in the entire reproductive season varied from 90.6% in December and April to 50.0% in July, while for individual males, it varied between 97.1% and 29.0%. Throughout the season, the ejaculate volumes ranged from 0.05 to 2.45 ml, sperm concentration from 0.15 × 10⁹ ml⁻¹ to 4.44 × 10⁹ ml⁻¹, total number of live spermatozoa from 68.0% to 100% and live normal (properly formed, with any deformations) from 51.0% to 99.0%. Our study indicates the necessity of male breeders pre-selection before the onset of the reproductive season, and the need to leave an appropriate number of males to ensure adequate amount of semen for female insemination, especially when using Muscovy drakes (Cairina moschata) for interspecies crossing with Anas platyrhynchos ducks.