The status of the world's land and marine mammals: diversity, threat, and knowledge

Knowledge of mammalian diversity is still surprisingly disparate, both regionally and taxonomically. Here, we present a comprehensive assessment of the conservation status and distribution of the world's mammals. Data, compiled by 1700+ experts, cover all 5487 species, including marine mammals. Global macroecological patterns are very different for land and marine species but suggest common mechanisms driving diversity and endemism across systems. Compared with land species, threat levels are higher among marine mammals, driven by different processes (accidental mortality and pollution, rather than habitat loss), and are spatially distinct (peaking in northern oceans, rather than in Southeast Asia). Marine mammals are also disproportionately poorly known. These data are made freely available to support further scientific developments and conservation action.     

SIR1, an upstream component in auxin signaling identified by chemical genetics

Auxin is a plant hormone that regulates many aspects of plant growth and development. We used a chemical genetics approach to identify SIR1, a regulator of many auxin-inducible genes. The sir1 mutant was resistant to sirtinol, a small molecule that activates many auxin-inducible genes and promotes auxin-related developmental phenotypes. SIR1 is predicted to encode a protein composed of a ubiquitin-activating enzyme E1-like domain and a Rhodanese-like domain homologous to that of prolyl isomerase. We suggest a molecular context for how the auxin signal is propagated to exert its biological effects.     

Precision agriculture technology adoption: a qualitative study of small-scale commercial “family farms” located in the North China Plain

Precision Agriculture - Precision agriculture (PA) technologies offer a potential solution to food security and environmental challenges but, will only be successful if adopted by farmers. Adoption...     

Triple bottom line reporting to promote sustainability of irrigation in Australia

Irrigation development induces considerable environmental change, but the expectation has been in the past that the economic and social benefits would be greater than the environmental costs. However, public attitudes change over time from acceptance of development and exploitation to greater concern regarding environmental issues and sustainability. Recently, the irrigation industry has found it difficult to communicate to the wider populace the regional benefits of irrigation and the current activities and investment undertaken to address the environmental sustainability concerns. To address this, irrigation water supply businesses are investigating using a broader reporting structure that includes financial, environmental, and social and cultural elements. This triple bottom line, holistic approach should provide a more balanced view of water use with socio-economic benefits and environmental consequences demonstrated. It is anticipated that this approach embedded in the newly developed Irrigation Sustainability Assessment Framework will lead to a more transparent and informed debate on the sustainable use of resources between all parties.     

Mixis in rotifers of the lineage 'Nevada', belonging to the Brachionus plicatilis species complex, under different feeding regimes

A strain of Brachionus‘Nevada’, which belongs to the Brachionus plicatilis species complex, and is commonly found in European hatcheries, was investigated in terms of its mixis potential. Two feeding regimes used for mass culturing were employed. Rotifer populations were fed on phytoplankton (Tetraselmis suecica) and either baker's yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae (treatments A) or Culture Selco^® (treatments B). In order to promote mixis, the salinity of the culture medium was reduced from 40 to 20 g L⁻¹. Indeed, the rotifer populations of lower salinity (A 20, B 20) showed a twofold increase in mixis rates compared with those of higher salinity (A 40, B 40). In addition, treatment A 20 showed significantly higher levels of mixis (22.59±2.07%) compared with B 20 (16.56±1.46%). The opposite trend was observed for the parthenogenetic growth rates (A 20: 0.46±0.01; B 20: 0.62±0.01). It is thus concluded that Culture Selco leads to a higher abundance of amictic ovigerous females, whereas yeast supports a higher abundance of males and mictic females carrying resting eggs. The two types of feeding regimes can be used for different purposes in a hatchery.     

Successful medical treatment for globe penetration following tooth extraction in a dog

A five‐year‐old entire male Tibetan Terrier was referred for left‐sided periorbital swelling and blepharospasm 4 days following ipsilateral maxillary tooth extraction. Examination of the left eye revealed mild exophthalmos, pain on retropulsion, and absent menace response and pupillary light reflexes. Examination of the posterior segment was not possible owing to the anterior segment pathology. Differential diagnoses considered were iatrogenic globe penetration and peribulbar abscess/cellulitis. Ocular ultrasound was consistent with a penetrating wound to the globe. Treatment with systemic prednisolone and marbofloxacin, and topical atropine sulfate 1%, prednisolone acetate, and brinzolamide was started. Marked clinical improvement allowed visual confirmation of the perforation. Oral prednisolone was tapered over the following 10 weeks. At final re‐examination (10 months), the patient was visual, and fundic examination revealed an additional chorioretinal scar, most likely an exit wound that was obscured by vitreal debris on initial examinations. Neither scar was associated with retinal detachment. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first reported case of successful medical management of iatrogenic globe penetration following exodontic procedures.     

Delivery of sevoflurane to dogs using a Stephens anaesthetic machine

ObjectiveTo investigate the sevoflurane concentrations produced within the Stephens anaesthetic machine circuit (vaporizer in-circle system) at different fresh gas flow rates (FGFRs), temperatures, vaporizer settings and vaporizer sleeve positions when used to anaesthetize dogs of different body sizes.Study designExperimental non-blinded studies.AnimalsEighteen mixed breed dogs, weights 4–39 kg.MethodsAnaesthetic induction with propofol was followed by maintenance with sevoflurane in oxygen via the Stephens anaesthetic machine. In study 1, the vaporizer setting, temperature and circuit FGFRs were altered with the vaporizer sleeve down (n = 3), or in separate experiments, up (n = 3). Delivered (Fi’SEVO) and expired sevoflurane concentrations were recorded. Study 2 determined the vaporizer settings (sleeve up) required to achieve predetermined multiples of minimal alveolar concentration (MAC) of Fi’SEVO when sevoflurane was delivered to dogs (n = 12) of different bodyweights and at different FGFRs.ResultsDelivered concentrations of sevoflurane were sufficient to maintain anaesthesia in all dogs, regardless of bodyweight, FGFR, vaporizer temperature and sleeve position. Fi’SEVO increased with increasing temperature, when the vaporizer sleeve was down, when vaporizer setting was increased and when FGFR was decreased. As the FGFR increased or the dog’s bodyweight decreased, higher vaporizer settings were required to produce the same Fi’SEVO. The median Stephens vaporizer settings to achieve an Fi’SEVO of 1.3 MAC ranged from 4.3 to 5.0 for a small dog (1–10 kg), 2.5 to 5.6 for a medium dog (15–25 kg) and 2.5 to 3.5 for a large dog (30–40 kg), depending on the FGFR.Conclusion and clinical relevanceThe Stephens anaesthetic machine can deliver to dogs, weighing 4 kg and above, concentrations of sevoflurane sufficient or in excess of that required to maintain anaesthesia, at temperatures from 10 to 35 °C, FGFRs of 1 to 5 times the patient’s estimated metabolic oxygen requirement and at any vaporizer sleeve position.