Ecotourist trail-use affects the taxonomic,functional and phylogenetic diversity of mammals in a protected area: lessons for conservation management

Ecotourism, by definition, aims to engage peoples’ interest in wildlife and the environment. The use of tourist roads and trails to access sites within protected areas (PAs) can detrimentally affect the behavior and distribution of species. The way mammals respond to anthropogenic pressures may differ across taxonomic, functional, and phylogenetic groups; nevertheless, how ecotourist trail-use affects these different diversity remains under-investigated. Here, we assessed 6 metrics of taxonomic, phylogenetic, and functional diversity for a mammal community in a PA in central China, recording how Trail use (using Trail type as a proxy) and habitat variables affected sightings and signs of mammals across 60 replicate 0.5 km transects. We then examined how Trail use affected the taxonomic, functional, and phylogenetic diversity indices of species (>1 kg). Using generalized liner mixed modeling, we identified that more used trail types had a greater adverse effect on all diversity richness indices than did less used trail types. Consequently, tourist pressure was associated with a general tendency to homogenize the site's mammal community. In contrast, the effects of Trail Types on all diversity evenness indices were non-significant. Furthermore, more developed and more heavily used trail types had a greater, significant negative effect on taxonomic, functional, and phylogenetic richness, whereas these richness indices were unaffected by minor trail types, used less intensively. As a general principle, lower biodiversity indices reduce ecosystem resilience, and so it is vital to better understand these responses to balance public access against biodiversity management in PAs.     

Efficacy of dog-appeasing pheromone (DAP) for ameliorating separation-related behavioral signs in hospitalized dogs

Dogs hospitalized in veterinary clinics are likely to show signs of separation-induced anxiety from hospitalization. The study assessed the effect of dog-appeasing pheromone (DAP) on 10 typical separation-related behavioral signs in hospitalized dogs. A DAP treated group (n = 24) was compared with a placebo control group (n = 19). There was overall amelioration of the signs without ‘vigilance’ and ‘anorexia’ in the DAP-treated dogs; marked decreases were noted in elimination (P = 0.038), excessive licking (P = 0.005), and pacing (P = 0.017). The results suggest that the use of DAP could decrease separation-induced anxiety, distress, and fear in inpatients, and possibly facilitate recovery in hospitalized dogs.     

Pax-7 immunoreactivity in the post-natal chicken central nervous system

In this immunocytochemical study on the constitutive expression of Pax-7 protein in the postnatal chicken brain, Pax-7 showed region and cell type specific expression. In the optic tectum, only cells in grey matter showed positive immunoreactivities (IRs), whereas those in the white matters did not show any IRs. In thalamic nuclei and several pontine nuclei, we also localized Pax-7 positive IRs. On the contrary, in the cerebellum, Pax-7 was mainly localized within the Bergmann glia, whereas Purkinje cells did not show any IRs. In double immunolabelling studies, most of the Pax-7 IRs did not originate from neuroglial cells such as oligodendrocytes, microglia or astrocytes, but from neurons, with the exception of Bergmann glia in the cerebellum. The presence of Pax-7 IRs in the adult chicken brain could suggest that Pax-7 might play a role in maintaining normal physiological function in some postnatal chicken brain cells.     

甘肃省草原产草量动态监测模型

利用MODIS数据和地面实测资料,研究了甘肃省不同草原区的最适草原生物量遥感估算模型,并反演了甘肃省2005-2009年的草原产草量,分析了其空间分布特征。结果表明,不同草原区适合的植被指数和反演模型类型存异,其中河西走廊高平原荒漠草原区适合的植被指数是RVI、模型类型为对数模型,甘南高原草甸草原区适合的植被指数是EVI、模型类型为指数模型,而黄土高原温性草原区适合的植被指数是NDVI、模型类型为二次多项式模型。甘肃省2009年草原总产鲜草3 718.30万t,整体呈现东北低、西南高的空间变化过程,形成3个高产中心,分别是甘南高原、祁连山北麓中东段和陇南南部。与1985年相比,2005年草原明显减产(相对变化率V=19.34%),但2005-2009年间甘肃省草原产草量有总体上升的趋势。     

Micro-computed tomography evaluation and pathological analyses of female rats with collagen-induced arthritis

Imaging techniques have been introduced to assess the efficacy and toxicity of developing pharmaceuticals. The purpose of this study was to perform a comprehensive characterization of collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) in rats using micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) and to compare the results with data from conventional pathological examination. Arthritis was induced by collagen in 24 female Wistar rats. Micro-CT and pathological analyses were performed to assess arthritis progression. Micro-CT analysis showed marked joint destruction occurring in a time-dependent manner following collagen administration. Bone volume was significantly decreased in the tibia at weeks 3 and 4 compared to week 0 (p < 0.05 and p < 0.01, respectively). Additionally, percent bone volume was significantly reduced in the tibia at week 4 compared to week 0 (p < 0.05). In contrast, bone surface/bone volume and trabecular separation were significantly increased in the tibia of the animals at week 4 compared to week 0 (p < 0.05). Severe joint destruction with extensive inflammation, erosion of cartilage and bone, and infiltration of inflammatory cells were observed in the knee joints of the collagen-treated rats. Taken together, micro-CT made it possible to quantify CIA lesions and should be performed with pathological examination in rats.     

富硒女贞子粗多糖对小鼠免疫功能的影响

从富硒女贞子及女贞子中提取粗多糖,探讨其对小鼠免疫功能的影响。将90只小鼠随机均分为3组:对照组、富硒女贞子粗多糖组、普通女贞子粗多糖组。对照组灌服生理盐水,试验组小鼠灌服粗多糖液,灌服2次,每次连续5 d。2次灌胃的第3天注射卵清蛋白,二免后测定胸腺脾脏指数;MTT法检测脾淋巴细胞增殖水平;ELISA试剂盒检测血清中IL-2、IL-4、IFN-γ生成水平及相应抗体生成水平。结果显示:与对照组相比,试验组脾脏和胸腺指数明显升高,脾淋巴细胞增殖作用显著提高;IL-2、IL-4、IFN-γ生成水平明显提高,其中IFN-γ与对照组存在显著差异;而对特异性卵清抗体生成影响不大。这表明富硒女贞子粗多糖较普通女贞子粗多糖能更好地促进机体非特异性免疫及细胞免疫,从而增强机体免疫功能,在特异性体液免疫的作用方面则没有表现出明显的规律性,还需进一步研究。     

桑树多倍体育种材料遗传背景的AFLP分析

利用AFLP(Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism)分子标记技术,即扩增片段长度多态性,从DNA分子水平对19份人工三倍体桑育种材料进行了遗传背景分析,构建了指纹图谱.19份育种材料可组配70个杂交组合,各材料间AFLP相似系数大于0.750 0的有54个组合,经AFLP分析认为,它们不宜作亲本间杂交组合;AFLP相似系数小于0.750 0的有16个组合,经AFLP分析认为它们适于作亲本间杂交组合.本研究从基因组DNA分子水平上为人工三倍体桑品种选育以及杂交亲本的选择和组配提供了遗传背景依据.     

内蒙古阿拉善左旗4年采用机械模拟飞播牧草效益调查

阿拉善左旗４年机械模拟飞播牧草累计面积为２９８０ｈｍ＾２,实播面积为２９８０ｈｍ＾２,１９９７年１０月调查,保存面积为２９７０ｈｍ＾２,保存面积率为９９．７％,４年来播区植被盖度提高８．９６倍,有苗面积率提高３１．５３倍,牧草产量提高３５．９１倍,第一性生产产值和第二性生产产值分别是飞播总投资的０．６７倍和０．９７倍,机械模拟飞播牧草表现出明显的经济效益、生产效益和社会效益。     

Effects of chilled drinking water on the performance of lactating sows and their litters during high ambient temperatures under farm conditions

Heat stress has detrimental effects on lactating sows and their litters, including decreased feed intake and milk production in sows and decreased weight gain in their offspring. It also increases respiration rate, rectal temperature, and weaning to estrus interval in sows. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of chilled water (CW) on the performance of lactating sows and their litters exposed to high ambient temperatures for 21 days. Ninety multiparous sows (Yorkshire × Landrace; parity range: 2 to 5) and their litters (Yorkshire × Landrace × Duroc) were divided into 3 blocks (30 each). Sows and their litters within each block were randomly assigned to one of the three treatment groups (n = 10 each). Each group was provided with drinking water at 10, 15, or 22 °C (control) under farm conditions where ambient temperature above 25 °C was consistent during the experimental period. Sows on CW (both 10 and 15 °C) consumed more feed and water than did control (P < 0.01) and higher estimated milk production compared with control (P < 0.01), but had lower rectal temperature and respiration rate compared with control (P < 0.01). Mean weaning weight (P < 0.01) and average daily gain (P < 0.01) of litters in CW groups were higher than those in control group. There were no differences in the measured variables, with the exception of the respiration rates, between the two CW treatment groups. These results suggest that CW may improve the performance of sows and their litters exposed to high ambient temperatures and the 15 °C water, from an energy viewpoint, may be more effective.