Antioxidant enzyme activities and immune responses in rainbow trout (Onchorhynchus mykiss) juveniles fed diets supplemented with dandelion (Taraxacum officinalis) and lichen (Usnea barbata) extracts

Fish Physiology and Biochemistry - In the present study, antioxidant activity, immune responses, and growth performance of rainbow trout (Onchorhynchus mykiss) juveniles fed with diets supplemented...     

Field evaluation of synthetic sex pheromone traps for the cocoa mirid Sahlbergella singularis (Hemiptera: Miridae)

BACKGROUND: Field trapping experiments were conducted to evaluate the attractiveness of five different pheromone blends as well as the impact of trap design on attractiveness towards cocoa mirids, Sahlbergella singularis Hagl. and Distantiella theobroma (Dist.), in Cameroon. RESULTS: A total of 361 adults of S. singularis (359 males and two females) were caught. The highest numbers of mirids were found in traps with pheromone blends that combined a monoester and a diester, compared with traps with the diester or the monoester individually and control traps with no pheromone. Rectangular traps caught significantly more mirids compared with delta traps. The mean number of 5.1 mirids trap^?1 year^?1 caught in rectangular traps was significantly higher compared with the 1.8 mirids trap^?1 year^?1 for the delta traps. CONCLUSION: The data revealed that rectangular traps containing pheromone blends combining both the monoester and the diester have a good potential to lure and trap adult males of S. singularis on cocoa farms. The pheromone blends used were specific for S. singularis, and the use of pheromone traps appears to be a promising strategy for incorporation into integrated pest management strategies for the monitoring or even the control of S. singularis in cocoa plantations. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry     

Round table on morbilliviruses in marine mammals.

Since 1988 morbilliviruses have been increasingly recognized and held responsible for mass mortality amongst harbour seals (Phoca vitulina) and other seal species. Virus isolations and characterization proved that morbilliviruses from seals in Northwest Europe were genetically distinct from other known members of this group including canine distemper virus (CDV), rinderpest virus, peste des petits ruminants virus and measles virus. An epidemic in Baikal seals in 1987 was apparently caused by a morbillivirus closely related to CDV so that two morbilliviruses have now been identified in two geographically distant seal populations, with only the group of isolates from Northwest Europe forming a new member of the genus morbillivirus: phocid distemper virus (PDV). Because of distemper-like disease, the Baikal seal morbillivirus was tentatively named PDV-2 in spite of its possible identity with CDV. The appearance of morbilliviruses in the Mediterranean Sea causing high mortality amongst dolphins should further increase the research activities on protection strategies for endangered species of marine mammals.     

A Field Investigation into Delivery Systems for Agents to Control Moniliophthora roreri

This paper describes a factorial trial designed to investigate the delivery systems of fungal biological agents (Clonostachys rosea), applied as single strain or as strain mixture, in comparison with copper hydroxide as a chemical standard against Moniliophthora roreri in cocoa. Application techniques compared were motorised mistblowers fitted with rotary atomisers and hydraulic sprayers fitted with cone nozzles giving a narrow angle of spray. The third factor was the presence or absence of an emulsifiable rape-seed adjuvant oil in the tank mixture. Copper fungicide was the best agent for moniliasis control and resulted in the highest yield. Both the mycofungicides reduced sporulation of the pathogen. Net reduction of inoculum was best for the hydraulic sprayer-applied copper fungicide and the motorised mistblower-applied single-strain biocontrol agent. Overall, directional hydraulic sprays were found to be somewhat superior to the motorised mistblower technique, with its dissipated cone of spray. Addition of the adjuvant oil was the least important of the factors, but efficacy depended on the agent used, with a significant enhancement in the efficacy of copper with oil but a detrimental effect on C. rosea.     

Effect of slurry application techniques on nitrous oxide emission from temperate grassland under varying soil and climatic conditions

The effect of slurry application techniques and slurry N stabilizing strategies on nitrous oxide emission from grasslands is poorly understood and, therefore, can result in large uncertainties in national/regional inventories. Field experiments were, thus, conducted to estimate the effect of different fertilization techniques on nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions. Fertilizer was applied (135–270 kg N ha⁻¹ year⁻¹) as calcium ammonium nitrate (CAN), untreated or treated cattle slurry. The slurry was either treated with sulfuric acid (target pH = 6.0), applied using trailing shoes or treated with 3,4-dimethyl pyrazole phosphate and applied via slot injection. N₂O fluxes were sampled using the closed chamber technique. Cumulative N₂O emissions ranged 0.1–2.9 kg N ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ across the treatment, sites and years. The N application techniques showed inconsistent effects on soil mineral N content, cumulative N₂O emission and N yield. The fertilizer replacement value of slurry was low due to low N use efficiencies at the sites. However, a close positive relationship (r = 0.5; p = .013) between slurry value and biomass yield was observed, highlighting the benefit of high slurry value on crop productivity. N₂O-N emission factors were low for all treatments, including CAN, but were 2–6 times higher in 2019 than in 2020 due to lower precipitation in 2020. Variations in N₂O emission were largely explained by soil and climatic factors. Even with the low N₂O emissions, this study highlights the benefit (significant mitigation of N₂O emissions) of replacing the increasingly expensive chemical fertilizer N with input from slurry under favourable conditions for denitrification.     

Ecological impact and cost-effectiveness of wildlife crossings in a highly fragmented landscape: a multi-method approach

Landscape Ecology - Road infrastructure construction is integral to economic development, but negatively affects biodiversity. To mitigate the negative impacts of infrastructure, various types of...     

Occurrence of filamentous fungi and mycotoxins in wrapped forages in Sweden and Norway and their relation to chemical composition and management

A study was conducted on 124 farms in Sweden and Norway where fungal (all farms) and mycotoxin (100 of the 124 farms) presence was examined in wrapped forage bales. Samples were also analysed for chemical composition, and data on the bale production and storage system on each farm were collected. Fungi, analysed by three common sampling methods, were found in bales from 89% of the visited farms (110 farms). The most frequently isolated fungal species from the bale surface was Penicillium roqueforti. Mycotoxins were present in 39% of the 100 samples analysed. The most common mycotoxins present were enniatin B (14 farms) followed by deoxynivalenol (12 farms). The risk of finding fungi in baled forage samples was higher with odds ratio (OR) of 5.1 when less than eight layers of stretch film were applied, low seal integrity of wrapping (OR 172 at <10 s of seal integrity), higher dry‐matter content (OR 1.17–1.56 per % unit DM) and higher concentrations of acetic acid (OR 47.5 per g DM) and ethanol (OR 3.4 per g DM). Mycotoxin presence was not found to be correlated with any of the chemical characteristics of the baled forage, or with any forage production and management factors. A positive correlation was present between total fungal counts and general mycotoxin presence, but not between specific mycotoxins and the toxin‐producing fungal species.