Field maple and hornbeam populations along a 4-m elevation gradient in an alluvial forest

Tree species composition of Central European alluvial hardwood forests has changed with the arrival of flood-intolerant and mesic species. Within this group of tree species, a dominant role is played by field maple (Acer campestre) and European hornbeam (Carpinus betulus). This study was performed in the Lanzhot natural forests at the confluence of the Morava and the Dyje Rivers, which are considered to be one of the most natural alluvial hardwood forests in Central Europe and where the absence of the direct influence by humans for 75 years has allowed spontaneous development. Our basic research questions were as follows: (1) does the mutual proportion and structure of field maple and hornbeam populations change along an elevation gradient of 4 m in an alluvial forest and (2) does the tree spatial pattern of field maple and hornbeam change along this gradient? The study found significant differences in the development of hornbeam and field maple populations with increasing elevation in an alluvial hardwood forest. While the strength of the hornbeam population clearly increases with increasing elevation, the field maple population does not. Compared to hornbeam, field maple is closer to the r-strategy side of the K-r continuum on alluvial sites. Our study reveals that field maple and hornbeam are mainly distributed in clusters on alluvial sites. Both species are concentrated at places with lower flooding intensity, i.e. to higher elevation sites. The study shows that tree spatial patterns could change dynamically along a short elevation gradient in alluvial hardwood forest.     

Secondary endosymbionts of Turkish Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) populations

Secondary endosymbionts of Turkish Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) populations were determined by PCR-based DNA analysis. Experiments were conducted with B. tabaci samples collected from various host plants between 2007 and 2012. Four secondary endosymbionts, namely, Rickettsia, Hamiltonella, Arsenophonus and Wolbachia, were detected from two different B. tabaci species (B and Q). While Arsenophonus and Wolbachia were determined only from the Q, Hamiltonella was found only on the B. Rickettsia was determined on both B and Q. Forty percent of individuals were infected with Arsenophonus, followed by Hamiltonella (32.4 %), and Wolbachia (8 %). Infection rate of Rickettsia was found to be higher on B (29.7 %) than on Q (21.6 %). This study is the first report of endosymbionts of B. tabaci populations collected from Turkey, and studies should be continued to cover larger areas, more host plants and B. tabaci populations.     

Toxoplasmosis in nilgais (Boselaphus tragocamelus) and a saiga antelope (Saiga tatarica).

Three captive female nilgais (Boselaphus tragocamelus) either showed late-term abortion or their newborn calves died within 2 days of birth. Toxoplasma gondii DNA was demonstrated in the brain and liver of each fetus and in one of the two neonates by single-stage polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with TGR1E and by seminested PCR with B1 gene. Retrospectively, antibodies titers > or =640 to T. gondii by indirect fluorescence were found in the sera of all three female and one male nilgais. No other cause of abortion was detected. Fatal toxoplasmosis was also diagnosed in one captive, adult female saiga antelope (Saiga tatarica), which died suddenly. Toxoplasma gondii was detected in the liver, lung, spleen, kidney, and intestine. An unusual finding was the presence of numerous tissue cysts in the liver of this animal. Toxoplasmosis was confirmed by PCR with TGR1E and immunohistochemically. Toxoplasmic hepatitis and pneumonia were considered to be the primary causes of death.     

Pharmacokinetics of enrofloxacin following intravenous and intramuscular administration in Angora rabbits

The pharmacokinetic behaviour and bioavailability of enrofloxacin (ENR) were determined after single intravenous (iv) and intramuscular (im) administrations of 5mg/kg bw to six healthy adult Angora rabbits. Plasma ENR concentrations were measured by high performance liquid chromatography. The pharmacokinetic data were best described by a two-compartment open model. ENR pharmacokinetic parameters were similar (p>0.05) for iv and im administrations in terms of AUC0-infinity, t1/2beta and MRT. ENR was rapidly (t1/2a, 0.05 h) and almost completely (F, 87%) absorbed after im injection. In conclusion, the pharmacokinetic properties of ENR following iv and im administration in Angora rabbits are similar to other rabbit breeds, and once or twice daily iv and im administrations of ENR at the dose of 5mg/kg bw, depending upon the causative pathogen and/or severity of disorders, may be useful in treatment of infectious diseases caused by sensitive pathogens in Angora rabbits.     

Dietary Spirulina (Arthrospira platensis,Gomont, 1892) improved the flesh quality and shelf life of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss,Walbaum, 1792) fed fish meal or plant‐based diet

This study was carried out to determine the effects of fish meal or plant‐based diets with supplementation of dietary Spirulina (4%) on shelf life of rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss. Rainbow trout (initial weight: ~135 g) were fed four experimental diets (fish meal‐based FM, plant meal‐based‐PM, Spirulina included at 4% of fish meal‐based‐FM/S or plant meal‐based PM/S) for 12 weeks. After the feeding trial, trout were stored on ice at 4°C for 0, 5, 10, 15 and 20 days. The chemical, microbiological and sensory analyses of fish were subjected to each sampling days for flesh quality evaluation. TBA of supplemented dietary Spirulina was lower than that non‐supplemented dietary Spirulina. pH values of all groups decreased significantly between days 0 and 20 during the storage period (p < 0.05). Luminosity (L*) value of all groups increased with time in storage period. Fish fed Spirulina supplemented diets showed an increased red/green tonality (a*) (p < 0.05) compared with fish fed non‐Spirulina supplemented diets. In the end of the storage period, the total coliforms values of fish fed with PM/S diet lower than that of other all diets. In conclusion, dietary Spirulina could be allowed the shelf life of the rainbow trout to be extended.     

Effect of dietary microminerals in early weaning diets on growth,survival, mineral contents and gene expression in gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata,L) larvae

In previous studies, combined inclusion of Zn, Mn and Se in early weaning diets improved larval growth, but suggested a potential toxicity by one of these elements. The present study aimed to determine the effect of the single inclusion of Zn, Mn, Se or Cu, their combination (Control+) or their absence (Control?) on larval diets. At the end of the trial, survival was significantly (p < .05) lowest in fish fed C+ diet (17.16 ± 7% mean ± SD), followed by that of larvae fed Mn diet (21.91 ± 7%). The highest survival was obtained by Cu diet (35.27 ± 15%), followed by C? diet (34.58 ± 9%). Cu and Se supplementation significantly improved total length and body weight, in comparison with the C? fish. On the contrary, fish fed Mn and C+ showed the lowest growth. Supplementation with Zn or Cu significantly increased CuZnsod, whereas gpx was significantly upregulated in fish fed Se and C+ diets. ARA/EPA level was significantly highest and DHA/EPA lowest in larvae fed the Cu diet in fish fed C+ diet. The results pointed out the importance of supplementation with Cu, as well as Se and Zn, on early weaning diets for gilthead sea bream, and the potential toxic effect of Mn.     

Tree layer dynamics of the Cahnov–Soutok near-natural floodplain forest after 33 years (1973–2006)

The paper deals with the issue of the spontaneous development of Central-European floodplain forests. The research object was the Cahnov–Soutok National Nature Reserve situated on the confluence of Dyje R. and Morava R. in the Czecho–Slovak-Austrian borderland area. This locality has been left to spontaneous development since the beginning of the 1930s. In the years 1973, 1994 and 2006, the surveyed site was subjected to the measurement of standing and lying, live and dead trees reaching a diameter at breast height of 10 cm and the whole area regeneration of woody species. The work objective is to describe the most pronounced trends in tree layer changes having occurred in the period of study and to capture changes in the total tree volume and production of dendromass during the disintegration of the old grazing oak layer. The survey into the near-natural floodplain forest of Cahnov–Soutok showed that (1) the most significant trend is a decreased representation of Quercus robur in all monitored indicators and conversely an expanding representation of Acer campestre, Carpinus betulus and Tilia cordata and (2) that the floodplain forest ecosystem demonstrates a high-level stability in the total volume of tree biomass with an essential change in the tree species composition, spatial structure and average stem volume of individual trees.     

Intravenous pharmacokinetics of moxifloxacin following simultaneous administration with flunixin meglumine or diclofenac in sheep

In this study, the pharmacokinetics of moxifloxacin (5 mg/kg) was determined following a single intravenous administration of moxifloxacin alone and co-administration with diclofenac (2.5 mg/kg) or flunixin meglumine (2.2 mg/kg) in sheep. Six healthy Akkaraman sheep (2 ± 0.3 years and 53.5 ± 5 kg of body weight) were used. A longitudinal design with a 15-day washout period was used in three periods. In the first period, moxifloxacin was administered by an intravenous (IV) injection. In the second and third periods, moxifloxacin was co-administered with IV administration of diclofenac and flunixin meglumine, respectively. The plasma concentration of moxifloxacin was assayed by high-performance liquid chromatography. The pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated using a two-compartment open pharmacokinetic model. Following IV administration of moxifloxacin alone, the mean elimination half-life (t_1/2β), total body clearance (Cl_T), volume of distribution at steady state (V_dss) and area under the curve (AUC) of moxifloxacin were 2.27 hr, 0.56 L h⁻¹ kg⁻¹, 1.66 L/kg and 8.91 hr*µg/ml, respectively. While diclofenac and flunixin meglumine significantly increased the t_1/2β and AUC of moxifloxacin, they significantly reduced the Cl_T and V_dss. These results suggest that anti-inflammatory drugs could increase the therapeutic efficacy of moxifloxacin by altering its pharmacokinetics.