Fish community responses to stream flow alterations and habitat modifications by small hydropower projects in the Western Ghats biodiversity hotspot,India

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Ticks and tick-borne disease in Guatemalan cattle and horses

Blood samples and ticks were collected from 48 cattle and 74 horses from seven sites in the Peten region of Guatemala. Data on body condition, mucous membrane capillary refill time and tick infestation levels were recorded for each animal in the study. Horses had significantly higher levels of tick infestation than cattle, as well as poorer body condition scores. Seroprevalence of Babesia spp. was 95.8% for B. bovis in cattle, 89.6% for B. bigemina in cattle, and 92.7% for B. equi in horses. Seroprevalence of Anaplasma marginale in cattle was 87.5%, similar to reports in animals from other regions of Central America. This is the first time that A. phagocytophilum has been reported in animals from this region, with overall PCR-prevalence of 27.6% in cattle and horses, and seroprevalence of 28.4% (52% in cattle and 13% in horses). An agent was identified with serological cross-reactivity and close genetic relatedness to Ehrlichia ruminantium, but further testing confirmed that the agent in Guatemalan cows was not the agent of heartwater. Ticks were identified to species with the predominant species identified on cattle as Boophilus microplus and Amblyomma cajennense, while Anocentor nitens and A. cajennense were most commonly found on horses. Prevalence of infection, tick infestation levels, host factors and environmental data were analyzed for association; A. nitens was significantly associated with A. phagocytophilum prevalence by village.     

Analysis of genetic diversity in Indian taro [Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott] using random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers

Taro [Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott] germplasm accessions collected from different parts of India were subjected to RAPD (Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA) analysis to assess the genetic diversity prevalent and also to test the genetic basis of morphotypic classification. Thirteen random decamer primers out of the 22 tested were used to analyse 32 taro accessions belonging to 28 morphotypes. Three out of these thirteen primers analysed showed 100 per cent polymorphism. Per cent polymorphism varied from 60 to 100 among the polymorphic primers. High genetic diversity was revealed as the similarity coefficient values ranged from 0.50 to 0.98. No two accessions analysed in the present study showed a similarity coefficient value of one thereby indicating their distinctness and presence of high genetic diversity in Indian taro germplasm. Dendrogram obtained from UPGMA analysis grouped 32 accessions in four clusters and three accessions were placed as outliers. Clustering pattern did not show any strict relationship with geographical distribution, morphotype classification and genotypic diversity. Further, accessions classified, as belonging to the same morphotypic group did not always cluster together. Presence of a very close genepool of the wild, weedy and cultivated forms with extreme levels of phenotypic and genotypic variation is suggested as the reason for high genetic diversity reported. Usefulness of DNA markers such as RAPD in characterising and assessing the genetic diversity in Indian taro germplasm is hereby demonstrated.     

Just Add Water and Salt: the Optimisation of Petrogenic Hydrocarbon Biodegradation in Soils from Semi-arid Barrow Island, Western Australia

We investigated the potential of soil moisture and nutrient amendments to enhance the biodegradation of oil in the soils from an ecologically unique semi-arid island. This was achieved using a series of controlled laboratory incubations where moisture or nutrient levels were experimentally manipulated. Respired CO₂ increased sharply with moisture amendment reflecting the severe moisture limitation of these porous and semi-arid soils. The greatest levels of CO₂ respiration were generally obtained with a soil pore water saturation of 50?C70%. Biodegradation in these nutrient poor soils was also promoted by the moderate addition of a nitrogen fertiliser. Increased biodegradation was greater at the lowest amendment rate (100 mg N kg^?1 soil) than the higher levels (500 or 1,000 mg N kg^?1 soil), suggesting the higher application rates may introduce N toxicity. Addition of phosphorous alone had little effect, but a combined 500 mg N and 200 mg P kg^?1 soil amendment led to a synergistic increase in CO₂ respiration (3.0×), suggesting P can limit the biodegradation of hydrocarbons following exogenous N amendment.     

Species-specific myoglobin oxidation

The effect of the lipid oxidation product, 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal (HNE), on oxidation of oxymyoglobin (OxyMb) from seven different meat-producing species was investigated. Relative to controls, HNE increased OxyMb oxidation within all species (p < 0.05) at both 25 and 4 °C, pH 5.6. The relative effect of HNE was greater for myoglobins (Mbs) that contained 12 ± 1 histidine (His) residues than for those that contained 9 His residues (p < 0.05); HNE efficacy in all species except chicken and turkey decreased with time. Mono-HNE adducts were detected in all species except chicken and turkey. In general, HNE alkylation increased the Mbs' ability to accelerate lipid oxidation in a microsome model. However, neither an HNE nor a Mb species dependent effect was observed. Results suggested that microsome model system associated lipid oxidation overshadowed HNE and species effects on OxyMb oxidation observed in lipid-free systems.     

Phenotypic characterization and nuclear microsatellite analysis reveal genomic changes and rearrangements underlying androgenesis in tetraploid potatoes (Solanum tuberosum L.)

Two (di)haploids (2n = 2x = 24) and nine tetraploids (2n = 4x = 48) obtained from Solanum tuberosum through anther culture were characterized for nDNA variation, phenotypic variation and nuclear microsatellite polymorphism. Androgenic (di)haploids were also characterized for late blight resistance. The (di)haploid C-13 was derived from Indian tetraploid potato cv. Kufri Chipsona-2, while D4 from TPS (true potato seed) parental line JTH/C-107, which is an interspecific hybrid between Indian tetraploid cv. Kufri Jyoti and diploid (2n = 2x = 24) cultivated species S. phureja Juz. & Buk. IVP-35. C-13 and D4 (both male-fertile) could be distinguished from their corresponding tetraploid anther donors based on plant height, shoot number, terminal leaflet length and width, leaf ratio, anther length, pollen diameter and corolla width and radius. A complete reversal of flower color occurred in D4, and C-13 was highly resistant to late blight. Most interestingly, about 3–7% increase in nDNA content occurred in most of the anther-derived tetraploids. Both the androgenic (di)haploids and their anther donors had unique genotypes at the microsatellite loci POTM1-2, STM0015 and STM0019b. However, the nine anther-derived tetraploids shared the same allelic profiles with their anther donor JTH/C-107 at all the microsatellite loci, except at STM0019a where they were characterized by the absence of a standard donor allele (186-bp). A typical (di)haploid-specific allele was detected for the locus STWAX-2 where the standard donor alleles were replaced by a 230-bp allele in both C-13 and D4. The over-expression of microsatellite variation in D4 that also shows triallelic profiles at the microsatellite loci POTM1-2 and STM0015 can perhaps be attributed to its chimeric structure, which might have been formed through incomplete fusion of two different pro-embryos during the first steps of microspore division.     

Multi-polarized Radarsat-2 satellite sensor in assessing forest vigor from above ground biomass

Accurate estimates of forest biomass are increasingly important in relation to sequestration of carbon by forest trees.Satellite remote sensing is a useful tool for biomass estimation and monitoring of forest ecological processes.Microwave synthetic aperture radar(SAR) can increase the accuracy of estimations of forest biomass in comparison to optical remote sensing, due to the unique capacities of SAR, including high penetrability, volumetric scattering, interaction with surface roughness, and dielectric property.We studied the potential of multi-polarized C-band Radarsat-2, a SAR technology, with HH, HV and VV polarization for estimating biomass of moist tropical Indian forest.Backscatter values are correlated with fieldbased biomass values and are regressed to generate models for estimating biomass.HH polarization provided maximum information regarding tree biomass.A coefficient of determination of 0.49 was calculated for HH polarized C-band image with in situ measurements.An exponential model was proved to be best suited for estimating forest biomass.Correlation of 0.62 and RMSE of 24.6 t ha~(-1) were calculated for the relationship between estimated and predicted biomass values for the best fit model.The average absolute accuracy of the model was 61%, while Willmott's index of agreement was 0.87.Results suggest that most of the biomass of the area ranged within70 t ha~(-1) a probably due to the saturation of C-band around 60–70 t ha~(-1) for tropical forests.