Recruitment of catarina scallop (Argopecten ventricosus) larvae on artificial collectors off the NE coast of the Gulf of California

We evaluated recruitment of larvae of catarina scallop, Argopecten ventricosus, in the area of Puerto Peñasco, NE Gulf of California. We moored artificial collectors in six sites from June 2007 to August 2008 and replaced them every 2 months. We used monthly (July 2002–September 2011) sea surface temperature (SST, °C) and surface chlorophyll‐a concentration (SSChl, mg m^?3) Aqua/MODIS satellite data to describe seasonal environmental behaviour study area. Also, we recorded bottom temperature at each site every 4 h, and every 2 months measured sea surface salinity, temperature and dissolved oxygen. We used a repeated measures anova to evaluate differences in the number of recruited spat between main factors, and analysed the presence of multimodal spat shell size frequency distributions. Overall, spat recruitment was negatively correlated with seawater temperature and showed higher spat recruitment abundances throughout winter, which is the season with the highest surface chlorophyll a concentration. We estimated multimodal shell size frequency distributions characterized by more than one modal size. The natural collection of A. ventricosus spat on artificial collectors in the area can be successfully performed over a protracted period (November–December to May–June). Our results extend the area where collection of A. ventricosus spat can be successful.     

Effects of live prey availability on growth and survival in the early stages of cuttlefish Sepia officinalis (Linnaeus, 1758) life cycle

This investigation examined the effects of live prey availability on growth and survival of Sepia officinalis. Two independent experiments, comprising two feed rations each, were performed, using adequate prey size. In the first experiment, cuttlefish hatchlings were fed live mysids, Paramysis nouvelli [(feed ratio I (fr I)], at 15% body weight per day (bw day^?1) (fr I₁₅) and 30% bw day^?1 (fr I₃₀). In the second experiment, juvenile cuttlefish were fed live Atlantic ditch shrimp, Paleomonetes varians (fr II), under the same experimental design. In both experiments, the final mean weight, feeding rate and instantaneous growth rate were higher when animals were fed feed ratio fr II₁₅ and fr II₃₀ (30% bw day^?1). The results indicate that prey availability influenced weight gain, irrespective of the prey used, during the first 2 months of cuttlefish life cycle. This effect seems to be more noticeable when a certain limit of prey is achieved. For cuttlefish fed fr II, the optimal prey density is thought to be under 2.5 g prey L^?1 (i.e. 14 shrimp L^?1). Results indicate that cuttlefish can withstand prey densities up to 120 mysids L^?1 for cuttlefish up to 3 weeks old and 19 shrimps L^?1 for cuttlefish up to 6 weeks old.     

Use of Aloe vera gel coating preserves the functional properties of table grapes

Table grapes (Vitis vinifera L. cv. Crimson Seedless) were coated with Aloe vera gel according to our developed patent (SP Patent P200302937) and then stored for 35 days at 1 degrees C, and the subsequent shelf life (SL) was monitored at 20 degrees C. Uncoated clusters showed a rapid loss of functional compounds, such as total phenolics and ascorbic acid. These changes were accompanied by reduction of the total antioxidant activity (TAA) and increases in total anthocyanins, showing an accelerated ripening process. On the contrary, table grapes coated with Aloe vera gel significantly delayed the above changes, such as the retention of ascorbic acid during cold storage or SL. Consequently, Aloe vera gel coating, a simple and noncontaminating treatment, maintained the functional properties during postharvest storage of table grapes.     

Antibacterial and antioxidant activities of essential oils isolated from Thymbra capitata L. (Cav.) andOriganum vulgare L

Antilisterial activities of Thymbra capitata and Origanum vulgare essential oils were tested against 41 strains of Listeria monocytogenes. The oil of T. capitata was mainly constituted by one component, carvacrol (79%), whereas for O. vulgare three components constituted 70% of the oil, namely, thymol (33%), gamma-terpinene (26%), and p-cymene (11%). T. capitata essential oil had a significantly higher antilisterial activity in comparison to O. vulgare oil and chloramphenicol. No significant differences in L. monocytogenes susceptibilities to the essential oils tested were registered. The minimum inhibitory concentration values of T. capitata essential oil and of carvacrol were quite similar, ranging between 0.05 and 0.2 microL/mL. Antioxidant activity was also tested, the essential oil of T. capitata showing significantly higher antioxidant activity than that of O. vulgare. Use of T. capitata and O. vulgare essential oils can constitute a powerful tool in the control of L. monocytogenes in food and other industries.     

Thinning enhances stool resistance to an extreme drought in a Mediterranean Quercus ilex L. coppice: insights for adaptation

New Forests - Mediterranean holm oak forests are subjected to chronic seasonal droughts coinciding with the warmest conditions during the summer. Importantly, climate change projections support...     

塔里木河流域水量变化对生态环境影响分析

本文以塔里木河流域的10个水文站1961~2000年观测资料为基础,对塔里木河流域的径流变化及其对下游生态环境影响进行了分析。分析得出:(1)20世纪60年代以来,塔里木河各源流的出山口径流量增加23.82×108m3,增幅达14.97%,但是,能汇入塔里木河干流的水量并没有增加,而且比60年代减少了8.8×108m3,减幅达17.41%。(2)近40年以来,由于塔里木河干流上中游地区的耕地面积急剧扩大,用水量剧增,使下游的来水量比60年代减少7.72×108m3,减幅达76.13%。(3)由于塔里木河上中游耗水量的增加,塔里木河下游来水量逐年减少以至断流,由此造成下游生态环境出现较大的变化,主要表现有:河水盐化严重,灾害性天气出现的次数大幅增加,河道断流,地下水位下降,天然植被严重衰败,沙漠化过程加重。(4)实施塔里木河流域水资源的统一管理,统筹分配上、中、下游水量,调整大农业生产方向,完善流域节水改造配套工程,发展节水型农业,是塔里木河下游受损生态环境恢复与重建的关键。     

Obstetric and fetal outcomes in dystocic and eutocic sows to an injection of exogenous oxytocin during farrowing

Sixty hybrid Yorkshire-Landrace penned sows, 30 with eutocic farrowing and 30 experiencing a dystocic parturition, were studied to evaluate the obstetric and neonatal outcomes to low doses of oxytocin administered at advanced stages of parturition. Animals in each group were randomly subdivided into 2 subgroups: 15 eutocic and 15 dystocic sows received oxytocin 0.083 IU/kg (equivalent to 1 IU/12 kg body weight), administered intramuscularly after the delivery of the 5th piglet; the other 15 eutocic and 15 dystocic sows received saline solution intramuscularly at the same time. Oxytocin decreased the number of intrapartum deaths by approximately 50% (P = 0.002). No piglet was born dead from the saline- and oxytocin-treated eutocic sows. The highest viability score was observed among piglets born to eutocic sows treated with oxytocin. In summary, this dose schedule would help to decrease the number of stillbirths in both eutocic and dystocic farrowing sows.     

渭干河—库车河三角洲绿洲植物气候生产力变化特征分析

收集位于渭干河-库车河三角洲绿洲区的库车气象站和沙雅气象站1961～2000年的气温和降水实测资料,应用Thamthwaite Memorial模型计算渭于河一库车河三角洲绿洲区近40 a来自然植被净第一性气候生产力,并以回归分析和趋势线分析方法分析了其年际变化特征.结果表明:①近40 a来渭干河-库车河三角洲绿洲区自然植被净第一性气候生产力呈现出明显的增长趋势,其变化倾向率为28.21 g/(m2·10a),在40 a中增加约为112.84 g/m2,近40 a来研究区自然植被净第一性气候生产力的变化趋势为自北向南显著增加.②由于研究区水热条件的不同,自然植被净第一性气候生产力有明显的区域差异,整个研究区近40 a的自然植被净第一性气候生产力平均值为123.35 g/(m2·a),北部库车县137.10 g/(m2·a),南部沙雅县110.16 g/(m2·a),即自然植被净第一性气候生产力的空间分布是北高南低.③研究区自然植被净第一性气候生产力与年降水量的相关性优于自然植被净第一性气候生产力与年均气温之闻的相关性,因为渭干河-库车河三角洲绿洲是个干旱区绿洲,气候干燥,水资源短缺,降水是自然植被净第一性气候生产力的主要限制因子.