Pampas deer (Ozotoceros bezoarticus) courtship and mating behavior

Background

Pampas deer, Ozotoceros bezoarticus (Linnaeus 1758), is a South American grazing deer categorized as "near threatened". However, knowledge about pampas deer behavior including courtship and mating is scarce and incomplete. The aim of this study was to characterize the courtship and mating behavior of the pampas deer (Ozotoceros bezoarticus), an endangered species from South America.

Methods

We performed focal observations of 5 males allocated at the Estación de Cría de Fauna Autóctona Cerro Pan de Azúcar, Uruguay, 4 times a day from 5 to 20 minutes each time on a daily basis from February to May. During that period we recorded all courtship and mating behaviors, as well as quantified the frequency of the specific behaviors shown. As mating were rarely observed, we recorded that behavior when it was observed in the context of other studies performed in the same population during the following 2 years.

Results

During the observation period we recorded 928 courtships and 5 mating periods. In addition, we recorded 10 more matings performed during other studies, totaling 15. The duration of each mating calculated from the 15 recordings was 3.9 ± 0.4 s, and the total period of female receptivity (from first to last mating acceptance) was 8.2 ± 1.1 min. Main observed courtship behaviors in males were “chase” and “ostentation”, while the most observed close to mating were “chinning”, “raised head” and “anogenital sniffing”. The most observed behaviors in females during the mating period were “vulva exhibition” and “move away”.

Conclusion

This is the first detailed report in pampas deer mating behavior. Estrus lasted only 8 min accepting only 3 short copulations per estrus. However, female behavior during courtship can be characterized as highly proceptive.     

Wool traits of three sympatric sheep populations in Chiapas Region, México

A total of 344 pure animals, representing seven American and South European breeds (White Chiapas Blanca, Brown Chiapas Café, Black Chiapas Negra, Churra Badana, Churra da Terra Quente, Chilean Latxa, and Spanish Merino), were randomly sampled and wool evaluated for isoalcohol scouring yield, length, and proportion for each type of fiber (long-thick, short-thin, and kemp), average of fiber diameter, and F30 (percentage of fibers with a diameter of >30 μm). The objective of this study was to characterize these breeds according to their wool traits. A low percentage of the phenotypic variability in the analyzed animals was due to differences among breeds, and that the largest part of that variability is due to differences within breeds. The obtained topology in the principal coordinates analysis showed the grouping of the three Chiapas breeds clearly separated, but the similarity with their original breed was only evident for Brown Chiapas Café. The three Chiapas sheep breeds must be regarded as clearly sympatric populations.     

Evaluation of cytokines as adjuvants of infectious bovine keratoconjunctivitis vaccines

In this work two cytokines were used in combination with inactivated bacteria (bacterin) to test the bovine conjuctival immune response to the pathogen Moraxella bovis, the causative agent of Infectious bovine keratoconjunctivitis (IBK). Treatments using the bacterin vaccine combined with interleukin-2 and interferon-α as adjuvants (Group A), the bacterin vaccine only (Group B), and controls without treatment (Group C), were applied by ocular spraying to evaluate the local immune response in the corneal structure of cattle experimentally infected with M. bovis. Six weeks after infection, 14 out of a total of 34 animals presented different corneal lesions; 9 corresponding to the control group C, 4 to the group B and only one to the group A. According to the clinical manifestations, a numeric score was calculated. Control animals presented the highest score value (12 points), followed by group B (7.5 points) and group A (1 point). These results suggest that the addition of cytokines to M. bovis treatments can reduce not only eye injuries caused by IBK but also the number of diseased animals.     

Sclerotinia resistance in sunflower. II. Combining ability and midparent heterosis for reaction to ascospore infections at flowering

In Argentina, susceptibility of the sunflower crop to Sclerotinia sclerotiorum capitulum attacks can cause significant yield losses. We reported earlier two hybrids among a series obtained from crosses between inbred lines following a factorial mating design that had a sufficient level of resistance to be adapted to the main Argentina sunflower growing area. Results concerning the per se behavior of the parental lines involved in these crosses and the combining ability and heterosis effects of such parental genotypes are presented in this article. The lines showed different responses to white rot incidence and relative incubation period. There were significant effects for general and specific combining ability and also for midparent heterosis, for the two variables evaluated. Preponderance of additive gene effects on genetic control white rot resistance level was shown. The development of sunflower inbred lines to be used as parents in the production of hybrids for areas requiring moderately resistant hybrids is an important phase in breeding programs. To optimize the use of resources and time, our results suggest that testing general combining ability at early generations of selfing followed by testing of hybrids may be considered as an adequate strategy in breeding for white rot resistance.     

Expression of matrix metalloproteinases, type IV collagen, and interleukin-10 in rabbits treated with morphine after lamellar keratectomy

Purpose To study the effects of topical administration of 1% morphine on corneal analgesia in rabbits submitted to lamellar keratectomy and to assess the expression of matrix metalloproteinase‐1, metalloproteinase‐2, metalloproteinase‐9 (MMPs), type IV collagen, and interleukin‐10 (IL‐10) during the treatment. Methods Morphine group (MG) received 50 μL of topical 1% morphine four times daily, while the control group received saline instead. Corneal touch threshold (CTT) and the wound area were assessed until corneal healing. Corneal samples were processed for routine histology, immunohistochemistry, zymography, and ELISA. Results Following keratectomy, CTT increased significantly from 6 to 96 h time points. Mean corneal re‐epithelization rate and scores of leukocyte infiltration did not differ significantly between treatment groups. Immunolabeling pattern for MMP‐1, MMP‐9, and type IV collagen was similar in both treatment groups. In the MG, zymography indicated significantly higher levels of active MMP‐2 on days 6 and 12; and in the latent MMP‐9, on days 3 and 6, and in the active MMP‐9, on day 6. Latent MMP‐2 and MMP‐9, and active MMP‐9 decreased to values close to those of healthy corneas on day 12, but levels of active MMP‐2 remained significantly elevated in the MG. IL‐10 levels measured on days 1–6 were reduced as compared to those of healthy corneal tissue and returned to levels close to those of healthy corneas on day 12. Conclusion Topical morphine promoted corneal analgesia for up to 4 days and did not delay corneal re‐epithelization. The re‐establishment of MMPs and IL‐10 to levels close to baseline values at the end of the study and the expression of type IV collagen in both groups reinforce that, with caution, 1% morphine can be used after lamellar keratectomy in rabbits.     

Population structure and range expansion: the case of the invasive gastropod Cyclope neritea in northwest Iberian Peninsula

Biotic invasions have a reputation for unpredictable behavior. Here, we report how slight changes in human activity responsible for the introduction and range expansion of a non-native mollusk have led to detectable differences in the genetics of the invasion. Cyclope neritea is a non-predatory gastropod introduced to 2 areas of the European Atlantic: the northwest Iberian Peninsula (NWIP) and the French Atlantic coast (FAC). Shellfish seabed farming is intense in both areas but focuses on different commercial species. Using mitochondrial gene sequences, the lower genetic diversity recorded along the NWIP suggests a more homogeneous range of source populations than in the FAC. Unlike FAC, genetic diversity and haplotype composition in the NWIP correlate with the date of first occurrence of C. neritea at each site rather than with geographical location. Although this pattern evokes the genetic signature expected under a serial-founder colonization model from a single initial enclave, a comparison with samples from potential source populations suggests that the NWIP probably experienced several independent reintroductions. The jump dispersal pattern of C. neritea in the NWIP, together with the observation that populations established in the same year are genetically undifferentiated, point to human transport as the most plausible explanation for the current range expansion. Despite evidence for human-mediated dispersal, C. neritea managed to develop a seemingly non-random genetic pattern in the NWIP. It is suggested that caution must be exerted when interpreting genetic patterns in invaders.     

Linking like with like: optimising connectivity between environmentally-similar habitats

Habitat fragmentation is one of the greatest threats to biodiversity. To minimise the effect of fragmentation on biodiversity, connectivity between otherwise isolated habitats should be promoted. However, the identification of linkages favouring connectivity is not trivial. Firstly, they compete with other land uses, so they need to be cost-efficient. Secondly, linkages for one species might be barriers for others, so they should effectively account for distinct mobility requirements. Thirdly, detailed information on the auto-ecology of most of the species is lacking, so linkages need being defined based on surrogates. In order to address these challenges we develop a framework that (a) identifies environmentally-similar habitats; (b) identifies environmental barriers (i.e., regions with a very distinct environment from the areas to be linked), and; (c) determines cost-efficient linkages between environmentally-similar habitats, free from environmental barriers. The assumption is that species with similar ecological requirements occupy the same environments, so environmental similarity provides a rationale for the identification of the areas that need to be linked. A variant of the classical minimum Steiner tree problem in graphs is used to address c). We present a heuristic for this problem that is capable of handling large datasets. To illustrate the framework we identify linkages between environmentally-similar protected areas in the Iberian Peninsula. The Natura 2000 network is used as a positive ‘attractor’ of links while the human footprint is used as ‘repellent’ of links. We compare the outcomes of our approach with cost-efficient networks linking protected areas that disregard the effect of environmental barriers. As expected, the latter achieved a smaller area covered with linkages, but with barriers that can significantly reduce the permeability of the landscape for the dispersal of some species.     

Chemical Composition of Cloud Water in the Puerto Rican Tropical Trade Wind Cumuli

In this biological oxygen demand (BOD) study, the manometric respirometric BOD OxiTop® method was used to monitor the biodegradation of two summer grade (SFO 1 and 2) and two winter grade light fuel oils (WFO 1 and 2) in OECD 301 F conditions, in groundwater, and in two different Finnish forest soils (mineral-poor and mineral-rich). The biodegradation measurements in the OECD 301 F conditions were carried out in two nutrient solutions for 28 days. In both solutions WFO 1 reached the highest biodegradation degree, 32% in the solution OECD 301 F, and 70% in a solution containing additional ammonium chloride. In groundwater conditions all the biodegradation degrees of fuel oils remained below 2% within the 28-day period. SFO 1 reached the highest 30 day biodegradability (4%) in mineral-poor soil, 18% in mineral-rich soil. In a 189-day measurement in a mineral-rich soil, the biodegradation degree for the SFO 1 was 94%. The manometric respirometric method proved to be a very suitable and practicable measurement method for the purpose of biodegradation studies of highly volatile light fuel oils, because in this method samples are treated to a lesser degree than in conventional methods, and dilutions are not needed. Results also indicated a considerable effect of conditions on the biodegradability in both water and soil environments. The results of these biodegradation studies could be used when planning in situ treatment methods based on natural biodegradation. In situ treatment methods are eco-efficient, and are especially suitable for sparsely populated sites.     

Removal of Cadmium By Natural and Surfactant-Modified Mexican Zeolitic Rocks in Fixed Bed Columns

The dynamic removal of cadmium from aqueous solutions by natural and surfactant-modified Mexican zeolitic rocks (clinoptilolite–heulandite type) in fixed bed column systems was investigated. The performances of fixed bed columns were described through the breakthrough curves obtained from column experiments and the values of column parameters predicted as a function of bed height. The column adsorption data were evaluated in terms of the bed adsorption capacity and the efficiency of the process. The experimental results fitted well the bed depth service time model (BDST) for both adsorbents, and the empty bed residence time model (EBRT) was used to optimize column operating conditions. The surface modification of the zeolitic rock with surfactant affected the removal of cadmium in fixed bed systems. Moreover, a column experiment with surfactant modified zeolitic rock previously saturated with 4-chlorophenol was carried out and the results showed that this saturation had a negative effect on the performance of the column.